[Event "Women's Candidates"] [Site "Toronto"] [Date "2024.04.13"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2521"] [WhiteTeam "CHN"] [BlackElo "2550"] [BlackTeam "CHN"] [Annotator "GM Eugene Perelshteyn"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: London System"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Mez4h4WA/MA6qnUz2"] [Orientation "white"] { [Annotations by GM Eugene Perelshteyn] This was the highlight of the round, as Lei was able to take revange from her first-round loss to Tan and catch up to her in a tie for first. } 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 { Another London System! We've seen Firouzja use this versus Gukesh, but the opening didn't go so smoothly for the Frenchman. Tan has also won with the Jobava London against Vaishali in round two. } 3... c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 { This is a solid system, a good choice for those who don't want to learn too much theory and prefer their bishop outside the pawn chain. } (5... cxd4 6. exd4 { and here Black can play } 6... Bg4 (6... Bf5)) 6. c3 e6 7. Qb3 Qc8 { Typically, White is happy to force the queen to c8. However, in this system it's not easy to put pressure on the c-file with pawns being on c3 and c5. } 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nh4 { The idea is to win the bishop pair with g2-g4, followed by Nh4xg6. } 9... Be7 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 { Now the game resembles a normal Slav structure: White has the bishop pair but Black is rock solid. } 12. Be2 a6 13. h4 { An aggressive approach. However, as long as Black doesn't castle short she's fine. } 13... b5 14. h5 c4 15. Qd1 Qd8 16. Rg1 (16. Bf3! { is a clever waiting move since Black can't play for ... b5-b4 due to the Nb2-xc4! tactic. } 16... b4? 17. Nxc4) 16... gxh5! { A good decision from Lei as she correctly evaluates that giving White the g-file is not a big deal. } 17. gxh5 Bd6! { I like this pawn sacrifice. } 18. Bg5 { I thought White was making a good practical decision to force the repetition, as Tan would maintain her lead in first place. } 18... Be7 19. Bf4 Bd6 20. Bg5 Be7 21. f4? { A baffling decision! White could have claimed a draw with a three-fold repetition, but instead goes for it! While it's a brave decision, objectively Black is better as she has a clear plan with ... b5-b4, while it's not obvious how White plans on attacking on the kingside since Nd2-f3 weakens the e4-outpost for Black's knight. } 21... Rb8 { Black is preparing the logical ... b5-b4 push. } (21... b4! { right away is also quite strong. }) 22. a3 a5 23. Bh4?! { A dubious regrouping. } 23... Kf8 24. Bg3 Bd6 { Black is clearly better now. It's unclear what Tan was thinking playing for a win like this. } 25. Bh4 Ne7! { Excellent play from Lei, she's making good progress. } 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Bf1 b4! { Black breaks through with a sizeable edge now. } 28. axb4 axb4 29. Bh3 f5! { No counterplay for you! The bishop on h3 is quite sad. } 30. Qf3 Bc7 31. Ke2 Ng8! { A clever regrouping, and the knight is heading to f6 and e4. } 32. Qg3 Nf6 33. h6 Ke7! { The king is quite safe on e7. } 34. Qg5 Qf8 (34... Kd7! { is even stronger. }) 35. Ra7 Rc8 36. Bg2 (36. Bxf5! { A missed shot to get the much-needed counterplay, albeit a difficult one. } 36... exf5 37. Rh1! { Surprisingly, Black is so tied up that she's not even better, despite being up a whole piece! A great example of domination! }) 36... Rxh6 { Now as my coach Dzindzi used to the say: Black has the extra pawn and the compensation! White is totally lost. } 37. Nf3 Rh5 38. Qg3 Ne4 39. Qe1 bxc3 40. bxc3 Qg7 41. Bf1 Qh8 42. Qa1 Kf6 43. Rg2 Rh3 44. Ne5 Qh5+ 45. Ke1 Rxe3+ { Now it's all over... } 46. Re2 Qh4+ 47. Kd1 Rxe2 48. Bxe2 Qxf4 49. Qb2 Rh8 50. Bf3 Rh2 51. Qc1 { A great game from Lei! } 0-1