[Event "2024 National Middle School Championship: Nemcova - Richard"] [White "Katerina Nemcova"] [Black "Gideon Sunjay Richard"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "WGM"] [BlackElo "1370"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D45"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line"] [StudyName "2024 National Middle School Championship"] [ChapterName "Nemcova - Richard"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/O4mAGfsa/i9n87Z4I"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [UTCDate "2024.05.11"] [UTCTime "14:26:05"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c6 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. b3 Nbd7 9. Bb2 Nf8 10. Rc1 Ng6 11. Bd3 b6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7 14. Qc2 (14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. c5! { Is surely what Nemcova would play in a slow game. The thematic idea is to blockade the c-pawn on c6 as to hamper Black's light-squared bishop terribly. }) 14... Nxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bd3 Qc7 (16... c5 { was necessary. } 17. d5! Nf4! (17... exd5 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Bc4 { should give White compensation for the pawn due to the target on f5, Black's weakened king, and White's rooks' potential to dominate the central files. }) 18. Rcd1 $10) 17. Rfe1 (17. c5! { again secures an advantage, which White would have an easier time spotting if her attention were not split 29 other ways. }) 17... Rad8 18. Ne5 (18. c5!) 18... c5! { Black is now better, with threats of ... Ng6-f4 coordinating with the monstrous light-squared bishop. Indeed, the e5-knight is a liability, making it impossible for White to push d4-d5. } 19. Qe2? (19. Nxg6 { This loses a pawn, but eliminates Black's best attacker. } 19... Bxh2+ 20. Kf1 hxg6 21. d5 { It also allows White to play for this undermining break again. } 21... Bd6 22. Rcd1 e5 { Black is clearly for choice, though. }) 19... Bxe5! { Well-spotted. White chooses to resign rather than face 20. dxe5 Nf4 and the loss of the g2-pawn with a crushing attack to follow. A bit of a generous resignation against a player rated 1370, but one that shows respect for Black's seizing of the initiative with 18. ... c5!. } 0-1