[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/4bfnqDal"] [Date "2024.03.15"] [White "irakliberadze"] [Black "cyang"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2668"] [WhiteTitle "IM"] [BlackElo "2530"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E51"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Ragozin Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/SiuHx7wu/IARPUo1h"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 2... e6 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:10:02] } 3... Bb4 { [%clk 0:10:02] } 4. e3 { The Nimzo-Indian is a highly regarded opening at the top level. Many players with white prefer to deviate with 3.Nf3 to avoid the Nimzo since black is often able to equalize without too much effort. } { [%clk 0:10:03] } 4... d5 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 5... O-O { [%clk 0:09:59] } 6. Bd3 { [%clk 0:10:04] } 6... dxc4 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 7. Bxc4 { [%clk 0:10:05] } 7... b6 { [%clk 0:10:00] } (7... c5 { is the simplest path to equality }) 8. a3 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 8... Bxc3+ { [%clk 0:09:54] } 9. bxc3 { [%clk 0:10:05] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 10. O-O { [%clk 0:09:50] } 10... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:09:56] } (10... c5 { again should be played a bit more quickly }) 11. a4 { [%clk 0:09:45] } 11... c5 { [%clk 0:09:44] } 12. a5 { A positionally sound idea - white simply aims to trade off the weak a-pawn and target black's queenside pawns later on. } { [%clk 0:09:31] } 12... Qc7 { [%clk 0:09:36] } 13. Be2 { [%clk 0:08:48] } 13... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:08:05] } 14. Bb2 { [%clk 0:08:29] } 14... Rac8 { [%clk 0:07:47] } 15. h3 { White has played solidly but slowly and as a result the game is just equal. } { [%clk 0:06:35] } 15... h6 { [%clk 0:06:39] } 16. Qa4?! { [%clk 0:06:15] } 16... Bc6 { [%clk 0:06:08] } (16... b5! { is a very unexpected positional tactic with a couple of counterintuitive points } 17. Bxb5 (17. Qxb5? Rb8! { and unexpectedly white is just losing a piece! Quite an unusual x-ray / skewer tactic. }) 17... Bxf3 18. gxf3 Nf8 { Black is down a pawn but white's kingside is wrecked and black's knights are quite scary. } { [%csl Gh4][%cal Gf8g6,Gg6h4] }) 17. Qb3 { [%clk 0:06:01] } 17... Ne4 { [%clk 0:05:51] } 18. axb6 { [%clk 0:05:38] } 18... axb6 { [%clk 0:05:51] } 19. c4 { [%clk 0:05:37] } 19... b5!? { Sacrificing a pawn for some activity. Black is arguing that white's b-pawn won't be too scary in the future as long as there are a lot of pieces on the board. } { [%clk 0:04:45] } 20. cxb5 { [%clk 0:05:13] } 20... Bd5 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 21. Bc4 { [%clk 0:04:08] } 21... Nb6 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 22. Bxd5 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 22... exd5? { [%clk 0:04:48] } (22... Rxd5! { keeps black's pawn structure intact (once the c and d pawns are traded) and also helps to add pressure to the b5 pawn. }) 23. dxc5 { [%clk 0:04:04] } 23... Qxc5 { [%clk 0:04:48] } 24. Rfc1 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 24... Nc4 { [%clk 0:04:47] } 25. Ne5 { White is a clean pawn up but facing practical difficulties since the b5 pawn is quite weak. } { [%clk 0:03:11] } 25... Ned2 { [%clk 0:04:29] } 26. Qc3 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 26... f6? { [%clk 0:04:17] } (26... d4! { is a beautiful way to jam the a1-h8 diagonal } 27. exd4 Qxb5 { and black is completely fine }) 27. Nc6 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 27... Ne4 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 28. Qd4 { White now has a technical win with an extra pawn and a positional advantage } { [%clk 0:02:21] } 28... Rd7 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 29. Ba3 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 29... Qxd4 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 30. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 30... Rb8 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 31. Bb4 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 31... Kf7 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 32. f3 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 32... Ng5 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 33. e4?! { dxe4 is impossible due to the knight hanging on c4 but in the long term white does not want to trade these two pawns since black's d5 pawn is a liability } { [%clk 0:00:28] } 33... Ne5 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 34. exd5 { [%clk 0:00:22] } 34... Rxd5 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 35. Nf5?? { missing a tactic due to time pressure } { [%clk 0:00:23] } 35... Ne6?? { [%clk 0:00:43] } (35... Nexf3+ 36. gxf3 Rxf5 { and suddenly black is winning! }) 36. Ra7+ { [%clk 0:00:23] } 36... Rd7 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 37. Rxd7+ { [%clk 0:00:24] } 37... Nxd7 { [%clk 0:00:38] } 38. Ra1 { b5 is not hanging due to Nd6 } { [%clk 0:00:21] } 38... Nec5 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 39. Bxc5 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 39... Nxc5 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 40. Ra7+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 40... Kg6 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 41. g4 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 41... Kg5 { [%clk 0:00:15] } (41... Rxb5 42. Rxg7# { is the idea }) 42. Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 42... Rd8 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 43. Ne2 { Both players are at 10 seconds each and the endgame becomes a frenzy } { [%clk 0:00:10] } 43... Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 44. Kf2 { [%clk 0:00:06] } 44... Rb2 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 45. Rxg7+ { [%clk 0:00:06] } 45... Kh4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 46. Ke3?? { [%clk 0:00:07] } (46. Rg6 { White should collect as many pawns as possible }) 46... Kxh3?? { [%clk 0:00:11] } (46... Rxb5! { This was the much more important pawn to grab }) 47. Rg6 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 47... Rxb5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 48. Rxh6+ { [%clk 0:00:08] } 48... Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 49. Nd4 { [%clk 0:00:06] } (49. Nf4+ Kg1 50. Rxf6 { Was the cleanest win }) 49... Ra5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 50. Rxf6 { [%clk 0:00:07] } 50... Ra3+! { Now it is not so simple. Even though white is up two pawns, black has substantial counterplay. } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 51. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 51... Nd3+ { [%clk 0:00:12] } 52. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 52... Nc5+? { [%clk 0:00:13] } (52... Nf2+! { Seems to hold the draw but the calculations are impossible with low time. } 53. Kd5 Nh3! { is a nice way of blockading the pawns } { [%cal Gh3g5,Gh3f4] }) 53. Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 53... Nd7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 54. Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 54... Ra5+ { [%clk 0:00:13] } 55. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } (55. Ke6! { is the way forward. The pawns will catch up }) 55... Nc5+ { [%clk 0:00:13] } 56. Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 56... Ra3+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 57. Kf4 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 57... Ra4 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 58. Ke5 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 58... Nd3+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 59. Kd5 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 59... Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 60. g5 { Now black wins a pawn and is very close to a draw } { [%clk 0:00:12] } 60... Ra5+ { [%clk 0:00:11] } 61. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 61... Nf2+ { [%clk 0:00:11] } 62. Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 62... Rxg5 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 63. Ne2+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 63... Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 64. f4 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 64... Rg3+?? { A very unfortunate blunder with low time. Black had come so close to holding this one. } { [%clk 0:00:11] } (64... Ng4+ 65. Ke4 Ra5 { Black can sacrifice the knight for the pawn at anytime to ensure an easy draw. }) 65. Nxg3 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 65... Ng4+ { [%clk 0:00:11] } 66. Ke4 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 66... Kxg3 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 67. Rg7 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 67... Kh4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 68. Rxg4+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 68... Kxg4 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 69. f5 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 69... Kg5 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 70. Ke5 { 1-0 Black resigns. } { [%clk 0:00:22] } 1-0