[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/slMpeirH"] [Date "2019.05.18"] [Round "-"] [White "maxply"] [Black "Nietsoj"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1780"] [TimeControl "2700+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D00"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System"] [StudyName "Game study"] [ChapterName "maxply - Nietsoj"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/SFJJdTsU/Fwk42MWV"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Nietsoj"] [Orientation "white"] { This was round 4 of the #TwitterChessTournament 2019 } 1. d4 { [%clk 0:45:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 0:45:00] } 2. Bf4 { [%clk 0:44:50] } 2... c6 { Before the game, I had briefly consulted a book on the London system, and read that c6 and Qb6 is the most challenging response for white. } { Some good opening preparation from my opponent! This is an unusual move and good from a psychological perspective in that it may unbalance the London player who is just used to rolling-out the 'normal' moves. It is not a bad move statistically and had the desired effect in that it took me out of my comfort zone; Personally I'm not keen on it as the pawn really wants to be on c5 and black has to use another tempo to play this move later in the opening } { [%clk 0:45:02] } 3. e3 { Perhaps slightly inaccurate. 3.c3 allows the queen to come out to b3 to challenge the black counterpart. } { This is the main-line move here and perfectly good but I was disappointed in that I played it 'automatically' without proper thought, (an important lesson to learn). Personally, I prefer } { [%clk 0:44:34] } (3. c3 { in this position because now after an early } 3... Qb6 { white can meet it with } 4. Qb3 { and then if black plays the usual and best } 4... Bf5 { white is able to respond with } (4... Qxb3 5. axb3 $14 { gives white pressure on the queenside with the half open a file and a more centralized pawn with ready made preparation for a c4 push }) 5. Nd2) 3... Qb6 { A good move to combat this opening, an early c pawn push and Qb6 statistically produces the best outcomes for black against the London system } { [%clk 0:44:26] } 4. Qc1 { This is why I wasn't keen on my last move, in that now I am forced to put my queen on what feels like an awkward square and essentially waste a tempo as I may need to redevelop it again. Objectively white is no worse after this move but has effectively already lost his initial advantage (scoring 50.5% from this position) } { [%clk 0:42:57] } 4... Nd7?! $146 { In hindsight, Bf5 feels much better. I don't know why I discarded it in favor of Nd7. But during the game, I reasoned that the knight would come there anyway, and felt that it was a flexible move. 4... Bf5 is better. } { Agree with this assessment, Black's inaccuracy here fails to provide me with the most challenging response and punish me for my move order to date. This is the move I feared in this variation and it scores well for black } { [%clk 0:43:39] } (4... Bf5 { This is the move I feared in this variation and it scores well statistically for black (in fact 53% black score to black) - Black needs to play actively and this move is the normal development route for the black bishop in conjunction with an early Qb6 }) 5. Nf3 { [%clk 0:42:34] } 5... Ngf6 { 5... e6 was a candidate. But I don't think that the move order matters much at this stage. } { [%clk 0:42:52] } 6. c3 { [%clk 0:41:47] } 6... e6 { [%clk 0:41:11] } (6... Nh5 7. Bg3 Nxg3 8. hxg3 { This was a possibility, but I didn't like the open h-file. }) 7. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:41:24] } 7... c5 { Hoping for an exchange and preparing to develop the dark squared bishop. } { Perhaps the downside of black's 2nd move in that an extra tempo is required to get the pawn to c5 } { [%clk 0:40:29] } 8. Bd3 { [%clk 0:37:39] } (8. dxc5?! { I don't think this exchange is good for white - why help black to develop his pieces? In the London system, white wants to keep control of the important e5 square as this is a basis for attacking possibilities - I really want my d pawn not to be exchanged on c5 but to recapture a piece on e5 and become the bulwark for a kingside attack } { [%csl Ge5] } 8... Bxc5) 8... Bd6 { [%clk 0:39:11] } 9. Bg3 { Offering black the opportunity to open the h file } { [%clk 0:36:33] } 9... O-O { Once again, Nh5 was a candidate, but it doesn't seem to be good for black. } { [%clk 0:37:32] } (9... Nh5 10. Qc2 Nxg3 11. hxg3) 10. Ne5 { A natural move, and rather bothersome for black. Of course, taking is not an option. } { Other than having my queen on c1, I was quite comfortable with my position and game at this point - I have managed to establish the standard London setup, black had castled and given me something to aim at. My intention was to try and attack quickly on the kingside and argue that black's queen is now offside and out of play on the queenside } { [%clk 0:32:43] } 10... Qc7 { The queen has done what she can on b6, and can help put some pressure on the knight. } { [%clk 0:34:23] } (10... Nxe5?? 11. dxe5 Be7 12. exf6 $18) (10... Bxe5?! { As white, this would have been my ideal outcome - securing a pawn on e5 which could then be supported by f4 and be the prelude to an attack (maxply) } 11. dxe5 { The knight will have difficulties finding a good home. } 11... Ng4 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Qd1 h6 $15 { was seen in the game Starek, Stanislav (1862) -- Olsar, Zdenek (1967) Tournament Open (5) Kouty nad Desnou CZE 2011.03.15 1/2-1/2 (53) }) 11. f4 { Quite natural. This opens up for a rook lift. } { [%clk 0:31:43] } 11... b6 { Although it feels a little slow, I thought this was a sensible attempt by black and could see he was looking to exchange his bad liqht squared bishop for my well developed and placed equivalent } { [%clk 0:31:14] } 12. Qd1 { This move controls h5 and g4, but I think I would prefer the queen on c2. } { The thought here was that I didn't like the position of my queen and I wanted to reposition her to better influence a kingside pawn advance } { [%cal Gd1h5] [%clk 0:29:42] } (12. O-O Bb7 13. Be1 { This looks good for white. } { Yes agreed, this was also in my mind as a possible approach - a learning point for me in this game, is not to stick too rigidly to a plan (it was always my intention to advance my kingside pawns but I should have realized when this was no longer the best option and changed plans) } { [%cal Gf1f3,Gf3h3,Gh3h7,Gd3h7] }) (12. Bb1 { was the other move I was considering with the intention of lining up a battery on the b1/h7 diagonal after Qc2 } { [%cal Gc1c2] }) 12... a5 { My idea is to play Ba6 and trade off the bishops, or alternatively prevent white from castling. } { [%clk 0:27:28] } (12... Bb7 13. Qf3 c4 14. Bc2 b5 15. Bh4 b4 16. Qh3?! $15 { was seen in the game Chernyshov, Konstantin (2558) -- Brinck-Claussen, Bjorn (2361) It (cat.8) (8) Budapest HUN2006.05.14 1/2-1/2 (31) } (16. O-O $16 { is better according to the engine })) 13. h4?! { This seems wrong. Black can lock up the kingside and gets good control over the game. However, it does induce some weaknesses in the black position. But it is a double edged move, as g4 is now a weak square. } { Agreed, as per earlier note, a failing I have is sticking too rigidly to a course of action - I should have foreseen black's response and realized I need to adopt a different approach - much better here is } { [%clk 0:28:21] } (13. O-O $16) 13... h5 { Stops the pawn from advancing and secures an outpost for the knight on g4. } { This effectively stops my attacking plans in their tracks, yes it is weakening black's kingside to some extent, but the reality it will take me an age to exploit it } { [%csl Gg4,Gg5] [%clk 0:26:22] } 14. Bf2?! { This felt a mistake during the game, again I am guilty of failing to let go of a faulty plan, the thinking behind this move was simply to get my bishop out of the way to prepare g4 and try and blast open the black kingside - the initiative turns here as I feel to see black's response } { [%clk 0:25:29] } (14. Nef3? { looking to take advantage of the newly established outpost on g5 is not good for white as it allows black to immediately take control of and reinforce g4. Black seems to have a tight grip of the kingside after this continuation } { [%cal Gf3g5] } 14... Ng4 15. Qe2 Ndf6 $17 { the engine thinks black is clearly better here }) 14... Bxe5 { I wanted to get rid of the knight in order to secure g4. } { [%clk 0:25:49] } 15. fxe5 { [%clk 0:25:02] } 15... Ng4 { [%clk 0:25:56] } 16. Be2? { The computer seems to think that 16... Nxf2 is winning. I don't really see how or why. I should probably look into it more closely. } { Again foolishly still trying to clear a way on the kingside, but this is risky and after playing it, I did see the potential exchange which with black being forced to capture with the king, gives white a crucial tempo due to the threat of check after f6 is played } { [%clk 0:19:29] } (16. O-O $10 { was still possible here }) 16... f5 { The engine still thinks the game is equal but I could feel the tide of the game had changed - my king is now becoming exposed (if the f file opens), black has a dangerous knight which is difficult to remove without opening up the white kingside. I felt the game slipping away somewhat and now felt in defensive mode } { [%clk 0:26:01] } (16... Nxf2! 17. Kxf2 f6 18. Rf1 fxe5+ 19. Kg1 Nf6 20. Qe1 e4 21. Rf4 cxd4 22. cxd4 e5 23. dxe5 Qxe5 $19 { Black is much a better being a pawn up (threatening another) with better pawn structure and more active pieces }) 17. g3?! { I felt I had to keep the f file closed and stop black playing f4 } { [%clk 0:16:52] } (17. exf6? { opening the f file is crazy for white } 17... Ndxf6 $19 { Black has resources to support the knight on g4. An important detail. }) (17. Nf3 { is better, I was considering this but felt I could play it next move }) 17... Ba6 { Now that I have control over the kingside, I can aim to trade off the bishops and relieve white of his bishop pair. } { [%clk 0:22:30] } 18. Nf3 { Now I not so worried if light squared bishops are exchanged as mine is no longer so good as it was, and feeling my position somewhat under pressure, i felt any exchange would be helpful. I knew I had to get some counterplay and it seemed natural to head to the g5 outpost - here I could ensure I tied down at least one black piece and I felt I could hold the kingside together with a knight on g5 } { [%csl Gg5] [%clk 0:16:19] } 18... Bxe2 { [%clk 0:22:03] } 19. Qxe2 { [%clk 0:16:19] } 19... c4 { The kingside is stable, so now I am focusing my attention on the queenside. I wanted to fixate the c-pawn and play b5-b4-bxc3 and play on the b-file. } { I was pleased to see this move, I felt it was an inaccuracy in that black is closing the position down on the queenside and reducing potential play for himself. I am under pressure and if I don't need to worry about the queenside, I can just focus on defending on the kingside } { [%clk 0:20:15] } 20. Ng5 { The aim was simply to tie a black piece to the defence of e6 - if it is the black queen so much the better! } { [%cal Gg5e6] [%clk 0:15:59] } 20... Qc6 { The knight has an eye on e6, so I need to guard it. } { [%clk 0:20:14] } 21. O-O { It is now safe to castle (the engine agrees with this move here) and my rook now reinforces the f file } { [%clk 0:15:25] } 21... b5 { Onwards, men! } { [%clk 0:19:05] } 22. Rfb1 { The idea here was to keep control of the b file - my intention was never to exchange pawns willingly or otherwise open the position so if black played b4 and then exchanged pawns, I had enough resources to contest the B file and prevent black from securing any outpost or staging post } { [%clk 0:14:17] } 22... Rfb8 { A dual purpose move. It prepares invasion on the b-file and vacates the f8 square for the knight. } { [%csl Gf8][%cal Gf8e6,Gf8h7,Gh7g5,Gd7f8] [%clk 0:17:55] } 23. Qd1 { It was about this point that I offered a draw, I could see no way for black really to make any progress } { [%clk 0:13:50] } 23... Nf8 { [%clk 0:17:05] } 24. Qd2 { To some extent this is a bit of piece shuffling - I am happy with my defensive formation and pieces felt to be in their optimal positions at this point } { [%clk 0:12:58] } 24... Nh7 { [%clk 0:16:08] } 25. Nh3 { [%clk 0:12:22] } (25. Nxh7? Kxh7 { Exchanging knights would be bad for white - it gives up his best piece (which is exerting pressure on the black position) and crucially offers black a way in to the white position via g5 - I felt this square was the only real weakness in my position so I needed to keep control/possession of it } { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gg7g5,Gb8g8] }) 25... b4 { [%clk 0:13:00] } 26. Qd1 { [%clk 0:11:28] } 26... b3? { At this point, I lost my nerve, and didn't feel quite confident about my attack. I was afraid that white could get counter chances on the open files and enter my position. However, white doesn't have any active possibilities, so I could take my time. I should have kept the tension between the pawns and doubled (or even triples) on the b-file before taking on c3. That is probably a winning plan. } { Yes I thought this was a mistake if black was trying to win the game - it seemed a tacit draw offer as it allows me just to totally lock the queenside up } { [%clk 0:10:26] } (26... Rb7 27. Qe2 bxc3 28. bxc3 Rab8 { This is one variation that the computer suggested. }) 27. a3 { [%clk 0:11:29] } 27... a4 { This reminds me of Monty Python. Brave Sir Robin turned about and gallantly he chickened out. This move basically seals the draw. As pointed out by @wmiltti on Twitter: "The final position looks like one that any human would give up as a draw but AlphaZero would win in 150 moves." } { [%clk 0:10:33] } 28. Qf3 { Indeed, the computer suggests that there is still play left in the position. A well timed g5-break could be playable, and black could very well manage to break through and get a winning attack. If all the heavy pieces were to be traded off, the advanced pawns on the queenside would give black some chances. A knight sacrifice on a3 would give black a super strong passed pawn. } { The point of the queen move was to get in to position to reinforce g5 if necessary - so the next move would be Qf4. The only way for black to make progress or continue was via g5 and if I had control of this square the draw was secure in my mind. The engine still has black up a little at the end (the eval drops below a pawn after Qf4). } { [%csl Gg5][%cal Gf3f4,Gg7g5] [%clk 0:10:36] } 28... Rf8 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } { I played this move and offered a draw. I think brave Sir Robin would have done the same. =) } { I accepted the draw without hesitation, as it felt it had been drawish for a few moves - some important learning for me - particularly about not slavishly sticking to a plan, disappointed with my play around moves 13-14 which my opponent exploited well but pleased I managed to adopt a defensive mindset and hold things together after the game swung in black's favour } { [%clk 0:09:37] } 1/2-1/2