[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/jhZYciPX"] [Date "2020.11.07"] [White "nimzotech"] [Black "axel_muller"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1728"] [BlackElo "2079"] [BlackTitle "NM"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C86"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Worrall Attack, Delayed Castling Line"] [StudyName "Steinitz Open Round 2"] [ChapterName "nimzotech - NM axel_muller"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/NZRYEk3I/W7zhK0Wh"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:00:03] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:59:58] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 1:00:09] } 3... a6 { [%clk 1:00:04] } 4. Ba4 { [%clk 1:00:13] } 4... Nf6 { [%cal Gd1e2] [%clk 1:00:11] } 5. O-O { This is better than playing } { [%clk 1:00:14] } (5. Qe2 { directly as played in our previous game. } 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 { allows black a more active setup. }) 5... Be7 { Now that black commited to Be7 white can play } { [%clk 1:00:16] } 6. Qe2 { The Worral Attack, not as common as 0-0 or d3 but still a good move. } { [%clk 1:00:04] } 6... b5 { Bxc6 was now a real threat. } { [%clk 1:00:00] } 7. Bb3 { [%clk 1:00:09] } 7... d6 { [%clk 0:59:32] } 8. c3 { [%clk 1:00:02] } 8... O-O { [%clk 0:58:40] } 9. a4 { Going straight for the weakened black queenside. The main idea behind Qe2 however is } { [%clk 0:59:07] } (9. Rd1) 9... Bd7?! { This is too passive. I was tempted by } { [%clk 0:52:51] } (9... Bg4 { which was also Short's choice. } 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Na5 { but I was a bit worried about giving up my light squared bishop. }) (9... b4 { is the most common move here and black should be fine. }) (9... Rb8 { I played this move in our last game. }) 10. axb5 { This releases the tension too soon. } { [%clk 0:58:47] } (10. d4 { is probably more in the spirit of the Qe2 system }) 10... axb5 { [%clk 0:52:29] } 11. Rxa8 { [%clk 0:58:53] } 11... Qxa8 { [%clk 0:52:36] } 12. d4 { [%clk 0:57:57] } 12... exd4?! { returning the favor and also releasing the tension too soon } { [%clk 0:51:43] } (12... Qb7 $10 { was stronger }) 13. Nxd4? { [%clk 0:57:54] } (13. cxd4 Re8) 13... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:45:09] } 14. cxd4 { [%cal Gf8e8] [%clk 0:57:57] } 14... c5 { This move is still ok. But better was } { [%clk 0:44:21] } (14... Qxe4! { The idea behind d4 was that this move does't work due to the alignment of black pieces on the e-file. } 15. Qxe4 Nxe4 16. Re1 { I should have looked at this position a bit longer. } 16... Bf6 17. Rxe4 Bf5 18. f3 Bxe4 19. fxe4 Bxd4+ { Black got two pawns and a rook for the bishop and knight and the mobile majority of the queen side looks threatening. } 20. Kf1) 15. e5 { [%csl Gc1] [%clk 0:57:01] } 15... Nd5 { [%clk 0:37:05] } (15... dxe5! 16. Qxe5 (16. dxe5 Nd5 { black is comfortably better }) 16... Re8 17. dxc5 Bc6 { and black has a lot of play for the pawn. }) 16. Nc3 { [%cal Gc5c4,Gb3c2,Gc3e4] [%clk 0:56:00] } 16... Nxc3 { [%clk 0:31:53] } (16... c4 { This is more ambitious. } 17. Bc2 g6 18. Bh6 Re8 { I considered this continuation a bit too risky. I like black's queenside but all of white's pieces are pointing towards my king ... }) 17. bxc3 { [%clk 0:56:04] } 17... Bc6 { [%clk 0:31:32] } 18. Qg4 { [%clk 0:55:26] } 18... dxe5 { [%clk 0:29:17] } 19. dxe5 { [%cal Gg8f8] [%clk 0:54:38] } 19... Kh8? { [%clk 0:27:50] } (19... Re8) (19... h5 20. Qxh5 Bxg2 21. e6 f5) (19... Qc8 20. Qg3?! (20. Qf4 Bd7 21. Qg3 Bf5 $15) 20... Qf5 { And black is better white's kingside initiative never took off and the mobile queenside majority will get moving. }) 20. c4 { [%clk 0:51:33] } 20... Qc8 { [%clk 0:25:26] } 21. Qh5 { [%csl Gc2] [%clk 0:50:05] } 21... g6 { [%clk 0:23:56] } 22. Qe2 { [%clk 0:49:03] } (22. Qh6? bxc4 23. Bxc4?? Qg4) 22... b4 { [%clk 0:21:41] } 23. Bb2 { [%clk 0:47:08] } 23... Kg8 { [%clk 0:19:36] } 24. Re1 { [%clk 0:42:11] } 24... Bd7 { [%clk 0:18:17] } (24... Rd8 { was much stronger, but the correct continuation is not so easy to see in a game. } 25. e6 Qxe6 26. Qxe6 fxe6 27. Rxe6 Rd3! $17) 25. Bc2 { [%clk 0:40:02] } (25. e6 { For better or worse, this was the move to play here. } 25... fxe6 { This gives white at least full compensation for the pawn. The black king won't feel safe anytime soon. } (25... Bxe6?? 26. Qe5)) 25... Bf5 { [%clk 0:15:56] } (25... Be6) 26. Be4 { [%clk 0:32:16] } (26. e6 Bxc2 (26... fxe6 27. Bxf5 gxf5 (27... Rxf5)) 27. exf7+ Rxf7 { [%csl Gh8] }) 26... Bxe4 { [%clk 0:14:17] } 27. Qxe4 { [%clk 0:32:22] } 27... Qf5 { A safe choice, black aims to extinguish white's attack and shift the focus towards the queenside pawns. } { [%clk 0:13:25] } 28. Qxf5 { [%clk 0:30:22] } 28... gxf5 { [%clk 0:13:35] } 29. e6?? { [%clk 0:30:26] } (29. Ra1 Rd8 { and the position is more or less equal }) 29... fxe6?? { [%clk 0:13:15] } (29... Ra8 { white is in trouble. }) 30. Rxe6 { [%clk 0:30:32] } 30... Rd8 { [%clk 0:10:29] } 31. Kf1 { [%clk 0:27:52] } 31... Bf8 { [%clk 0:10:15] } (31... Kf7 32. Rh6 (32. Re5 Rd1+ 33. Re1 (33. Ke2?? Rb1 { traps the bishop }) 33... Rd7 34. Re5 { and it's not that easy for black to make progress. }) 32... Rd2) 32. Ke2 { [%clk 0:25:15] } 32... Ra8 { [%clk 0:08:53] } 33. Kf3 { [%clk 0:20:33] } 33... Ra2 { [%clk 0:08:18] } (33... Rd8 34. Ke2) 34. Re2 { [%clk 0:11:51] } 34... Bg7?! { after this move white needs to find only one more correct move and a draw is unavoidable. } { [%clk 0:06:28] } (34... Kf7 35. g3 (35. Be5 Rxe2 (35... Ra3+ 36. Re3 (36. Kf4) 36... Bg7 37. Bxg7 Kxg7 38. Ke2) 36. Kxe2) 35... Be7 36. Be5 Rxe2 37. Kxe2 Bf6 38. Bxf6 Kxf6 39. f4) (34... f4 35. Be5 Rxe2 36. Kxe2 Bg7 37. Bxf4) (34... Bh6 { Do not hurry! White is tight up and out of good options. } 35. Re6 Rxb2 36. Rxh6 Rc2 { The c-pawn falls and the connected passers on the queenside will decide the game. }) 35. Bxg7 { [%clk 0:11:55] } 35... Rxe2 { [%clk 0:06:34] } 36. Kxe2 { [%clk 0:12:04] } 36... Kxg7 { [%clk 0:06:43] } 37. f4! { The black king is kept out and white secures the draw. } { [%csl Gh4] [%clk 0:10:09] } 37... Kg6 { [%clk 0:06:50] } (37... h5 38. h4) 38. h3 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 38... h5 { [%clk 0:06:04] } (38... Kh5 39. g3 Kg6 40. g4 (40. Ke3 { [%cal Gh3h4] }) 40... fxg4) 39. h4! { If only there was an extra file next to the a-file ... } { [%clk 0:09:25] } 39... Kf7 { [%clk 0:05:43] } 40. Kd3 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 40... Ke6 { [%clk 0:05:51] } 41. Ke2 { [%clk 0:09:05] } 41... Kd6 { [%clk 0:05:59] } 42. Kd2 { [%clk 0:09:05] } 42... Kc6 { [%clk 0:05:53] } 43. Kc2 { [%clk 0:08:53] } 43... Kb6 { [%clk 0:05:44] } 44. Kb2 { [%clk 0:08:58] } 44... Ka6 { [%clk 0:05:43] } 45. Ka2 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 45... Ka7 { [%clk 0:05:48] } 46. Ka1 { [%clk 0:08:54] } 46... Kb6 { [%clk 0:05:26] } 47. Kb2 { [%clk 0:08:57] } 47... Kc7 { [%clk 0:04:52] } 48. Kc1 { [%clk 0:08:53] } 48... Kb8 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 49. Kb2 { [%clk 0:07:46] } 49... Kb7 { [%clk 0:04:47] } 50. Kb1 { [%clk 0:07:42] } 50... Kb6 { [%clk 0:04:51] } 51. Kb2 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } { [%clk 0:07:49] } 1/2-1/2