[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/tSJcSqhf"] [Date "2021.06.05"] [White "JRWright"] [Black "rafiandranigian"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1745"] [BlackElo "1525"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D35"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/KIPuH7qv/scLj2Bkk"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:00:05] } 2... e6 { [%clk 1:00:04] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:00:09] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:00:11] } (3... Be7 { Some people that try to avoid the usual exchange lines opt for this move. }) 4. cxd5 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 4... exd5 { [%clk 1:00:17] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 1:00:12] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 1:00:19] } 6. e3 { [%clk 1:00:10] } 6... c6 { [%clk 0:59:59] } 7. Bd3 { Yermolinksy dedicates a chapter in his "Road to Chess Improvement" to this opening. White aims to follow up with h3, Nf3, 0-0 and take from things from there. Depending on black's set up White can go a minority attack on the queenside, some central breakthrough based on f3 and e4, or some kingside attack after moves like Ne5 and f4. The key is to stay flexible. } { [%clk 1:00:09] } 7... h6 { [%clk 0:59:35] } (7... Nbd7 8. Qc2 Nh5 { is one attempt black can employ to equalize. }) 8. Bh4 { [%clk 1:00:13] } (8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. b4) 8... O-O { [%clk 0:58:14] } 9. Nf3?! { [%clk 1:00:03] } (9. Qc2 { Is probably the most flexible continuation }) 9... Bg4 { Solving the light squared bishop problem. } { [%clk 0:58:03] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:59:52] } 10... Be6? { h3 is a useful move. If black didn't want to exchange on f3 he could have played Be6 directly. } { [%clk 0:57:38] } (10... Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Re8 { and black is ok. }) 11. O-O { [%clk 0:59:48] } 11... Nh7 { [%clk 0:57:19] } 12. Bxe7 { [%clk 0:58:38] } (12. Bg3!?) 12... Qxe7 { [%clk 0:57:24] } 13. Qc2 { [%clk 0:55:07] } 13... Nf6 { [%clk 0:57:22] } 14. Rfe1 { [%clk 0:53:51] } (14. Rab1 { [%cal Gf1c1] }) 14... Re8 { [%clk 0:55:51] } 15. a3 { [%clk 0:52:45] } (15. Rab1!? { same idea, getting the minority attack started. Since Rb1 needs to be played anyway, it's a good idea to start with it. } 15... a5 { If black tries to stop b4 white can play } 16. a3 { now. }) 15... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:55:28] } 16. b4 { [%clk 0:52:47] } 16... Nb6 { [%clk 0:55:15] } 17. Ne5 { [%clk 0:49:22] } 17... Nfd7 { [%csl Gf6] [%clk 0:54:53] } (17... Nc4) 18. f4 { [%clk 0:49:02] } 18... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:49:51] } 19. fxe5 { [%clk 0:46:28] } 19... Qg5 { [%clk 0:48:07] } 20. Kh2 { [%clk 0:46:17] } 20... Rac8 { [%clk 0:44:46] } (20... Rf8 { preparing f6 and black is fine. }) 21. Qf2 { [%clk 0:45:13] } 21... Rc7 { That is too passive. } { [%clk 0:44:03] } (21... f6! 22. exf6 Rf8) 22. Ne2 { [%csl Gc3] [%clk 0:41:48] } (22. Rf1 Nc4 23. Rae1 (23. Ne2) 23... Nxa3) 22... Nd7 { This move too is too passive. } { [%clk 0:43:37] } (22... f6!) 23. Nf4 { [%clk 0:39:43] } 23... Bf5?? { now it's all over. } { [%clk 0:42:57] } (23... Nf8 { White is much better here, but at least black's knight on f8 is a well placed defender. White can now calmly increase the pressure on the kingside before swinging over to the queenside and initiate some activities there. }) 24. h4 { [%clk 0:36:57] } 24... Qe7 { [%clk 0:26:57] } (24... Qg4) 25. Bxf5 { [%clk 0:36:59] } 25... Nb6 { [%clk 0:27:02] } 26. Bd3 { [%clk 0:34:55] } 26... Na4 { [%clk 0:26:42] } 27. Nh5 { [%clk 0:33:18] } 27... g6 { [%clk 0:26:17] } 28. Nf6+ { [%clk 0:33:17] } 28... Kh8 { [%clk 0:26:22] } 29. Qf4 { [%clk 0:32:39] } 29... Kg7 { [%clk 0:26:12] } 30. Nxe8+ { [%clk 0:32:31] } 30... Qxe8 { [%clk 0:26:20] } 31. Qf6+ { [%clk 0:32:32] } 31... Kh7 { [%clk 0:26:27] } 32. Rf1 { [%clk 0:31:53] } 32... Nb6 { [%clk 0:26:10] } 33. h5 { [%clk 0:31:13] } 33... Re7 { [%clk 0:25:42] } 34. hxg6+ { [%clk 0:29:58] } 34... fxg6 { [%clk 0:25:48] } 35. Bxg6+ { [%clk 0:30:00] } 35... Qxg6 { [%clk 0:25:35] } 36. Qxe7+ { [%clk 0:30:05] } 36... Kg8 { [%clk 0:25:41] } 37. Rf8# { 1-0 White wins by checkmate. } { [%clk 0:29:54] } 1-0