[Event "Strategy/Technique"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/OH3is8Ig/SBZwJRha"] [Date "2014.03.01"] [Round "3"] [White "Moon, Kyle"] [Black "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2100"] [BlackElo "2535"] [Annotator "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "2rr2k1/pp2bpp1/2p1pn1p/8/2PP3P/1PB2N2/P3RPP1/2KR4 w - - 0 20"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/OH3is8Ig/SBZwJRha"] [Orientation "white"] { [#] } 20. Ne5 { Find a plan for Black } 20... h5! { A strong idea for two reasons: 1. We prevent White's potential kingside expansion with g4 2. We prepare to play Ne8-Nd6-Nf5-Bf6 (White can't deny us f5 with g4) to target White's d4 pawn. Although the evaluation of the position is around 0.00, Black is on pace to overtake the intiative, if not objectively then psychologicaly! Being able to execute a 2-3 move mini-plan is a creates an OTB impression that one side is starting push more than the other. } 21. Kb2 Ne8 22. g3 Nd6 23. Ba5 b6 24. Bc3 Bf6 25. Re3 Nf5 26. Red3 g6 { The mini-plan is complete and now Black needs to figure out how to make furthur progress. For now, White is tied down to the d4 pawn. Black can try c5-b5 ideas, or just wait with some other improving moves. I have often found that a powerful weapon is to "pass" the decisions/moves to my opponent... they find it hard to stay still and can often make an error! } 27. f4? { A very unforced error that creates permanent structural weaknesses } (27. Kc2) (27. Kb1) (27. Kc1 { My engine gives these three moves as top choices for White but it is understandbly difficult to just wait like this. Black can try some improvement/waiting tactics, for example Bg7+B5 }) 27... Bg7 28. b4 { Both a tactical and positional error } 28... f6! 29. Nxg6 (29. Nf3 Nxg3) 29... Kf7 30. g4 hxg4 31. h5 Nd6 32. Kb3 b5! 33. c5 Ne4 34. Be1 Rd5 35. Re3 f5 36. Bh4 Rc7 37. h6 Kxg6 38. hxg7 Rxg7 39. a4 a6 40. axb5 axb5 41. Re2 Rh7 { [#] } 42. Rh2 Rhd7 43. Ra2 Rxd4 44. Rxd4 Rxd4 45. Ra6 g3 46. Bxg3 Rd3+ 47. Kc2 Rxg3 48. Rxc6 Kf6 49. Rb6 Rc3+ 50. Kb2 Nxc5 51. Rxb5 Ne4 52. Re5 Rf3 53. b5 Rxf4 54. b6 Nd6 { Conclusion: While 20...h5! was objectively a strong idea from a positional/ prophylactic perspective, it was also a great strategy in terms of planning. In balanced positions it is a useful weapon to have a series of mini-plans to improve your position. This also serves the effect of having your opponent defend against your plan, in turn creating the feeling of an intiative. Players tend to react poorly under pressure, and in this game my opponent made a mistake by playing 27. f4? instead of staying still. } 0-1