[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/J8eeyFpv"] [Date "2024.03.22"] [White "iourique"] [Black "irakliberadze"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2483"] [BlackElo "2686"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B20"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Staunton-Cochrane Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [StudyName "NACCL Season 9 Week 5"] [ChapterName "Yury Volvovskiy (Google) - IM Irakli Beradze (Symetra)"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/TQqugYLU/gNpPLfFA"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. c4 { An offbeat way of handling the Sicilian. White aims to avoid theory and either create a Botvinnik setup or a Maroczy Bind. } { [%clk 0:09:59] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 3... d6 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 4. g3 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 4... g6 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 5. Bg2 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 5... Bg7 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 6. Nge2 { Black's play revolves around controlling the weak d4 square. White does not have equivalent control of d5 since black's e-pawn can always move to e6. } { [%csl Gd4] [%clk 0:10:02] } 6... Bg4 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 7. O-O { [%clk 0:09:59] } 7... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 8. a3 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 8... O-O { [%clk 0:09:31] } 9. Rb1 { Aiming to break on the queenside with b4 } { [%cal Gb2b4] [%clk 0:09:49] } 9... a5 { A natural response, preventing white's idea. } { [%clk 0:09:29] } 10. d3 { [%clk 0:09:45] } 10... Bxe2!? { Typically giving up the bishop pair unprompted is a strange decision but here it makes perfect sense. White's central pawns are on light squares, stifling black's LSB. Also the bishop removes a key defender of the weak d4 square. } { [%clk 0:08:51] } 11. Nxe2 { [%clk 0:09:39] } 11... Nd7 { [%clk 0:08:53] } 12. Be3 { [%clk 0:09:29] } 12... Nd4!? { Not strictly necessary yet since white isn't really threatening to play d4, but also not bad. } { [%clk 0:08:48] } 13. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:08:38] } 13... cxd4 { [%clk 0:08:48] } 14. Bd2 { The pawn structure has changed in white's favor. The d4 hole is plugged and white can now freely expand on the queenside. } { [%clk 0:08:21] } 14... Nc5 { [%clk 0:08:48] } 15. Qc2 { [%clk 0:06:55] } 15... Qc7 { [%clk 0:07:51] } (15... a4 { might have been well-timed to prevent the natural queenside expansion. }) 16. b4 { [%clk 0:06:49] } 16... axb4 { [%clk 0:07:53] } 17. Bxb4!? { A strange looking move but not a bad one. White is showing an intent to trade off the bishop for the Nc5. } { [%clk 0:06:44] } (17. axb4 Na4 { this might be what white was worried about but white is still doing fine here. }) 17... Ra7 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 18. f4 { [%clk 0:06:33] } 18... Na4 { [%clk 0:06:30] } 19. Kh1?! { A slow move, the king isn't really any safer on h1 than on g1. } { [%clk 0:05:56] } (19. Qf2 { is a clever move preventing Nc3 due to the x-ray on the a7 rook. White may even follow up with h4 next! }) 19... b5! { taking advantage of the pin to break open white's pawn structure. } { [%cal Gc7c2] [%clk 0:05:38] } 20. Rfc1 { [%clk 0:05:37] } 20... bxc4 { [%clk 0:05:28] } 21. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:05:26] } 21... Nc3 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 22. Qxc7 { [%clk 0:04:29] } 22... Rxc7 { [%clk 0:05:31] } 23. Ra1 { [%clk 0:04:06] } 23... Rfc8 { [%clk 0:05:25] } 24. h3 { [%clk 0:03:43] } 24... h5 { White is in some trouble now. The knight can't be taken and black has a lot of freedom of action. } { [%clk 0:05:17] } 25. Kh2 { [%clk 0:03:40] } (25. Bxc3? dxc3 26. Rc2 Rb8 27. Bf3 Bd4 { White is completely lost due to the incredibly strong c3 pawn and the imminent b-file invasion. }) (25. h4! { trying to lock the kingside was the way to go }) 25... h4! { [%clk 0:05:15] } 26. g4 { [%clk 0:03:35] } 26... Ne2 { The dark squares in white's camp are extremely weak } { [%clk 0:05:14] } 27. Rxc7 { [%clk 0:03:28] } 27... Rxc7 { [%clk 0:05:16] } 28. e5!? { Rather than get dominated positionally, white aims to create chaos and go down swinging. A good practical idea, especially in such a short time control. } { [%clk 0:02:39] } (28. f5 Be5+ 29. Kh1 Rc3!! { is a very nice way for black to continue }) 28... dxe5 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 29. a4 { White is just going to push the a-pawn and hope for the best. The pressure is actually on black to prove the win with the pawn acting as a time limit. } { [%cal Gg2a8,Ga4a8] [%clk 0:02:15] } 29... Nxf4 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 30. Be4 { [%clk 0:02:08] } (30. a5 Nxd3 31. a6 Nxb4 32. a7 { The white pawn makes it but black has taken so much material that black can simply give it back and win } 32... Rxa7 33. Rxa7 d3 $19) 30... Rc2+ { [%clk 0:03:06] } 31. Kh1 { [%clk 0:02:07] } 31... Nxh3 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 32. a5 { [%clk 0:01:40] } (32. Be1! { taking a split second to defend against Nf2 was worthwhile. Black still has to reckon with the a-pawn. }) 32... Bh6?? { Missing the win, but it was not a simple one. } { [%clk 0:01:56] } (32... Nf2+ 33. Kg1 Nxe4 34. dxe4 Bh6 35. a6 Be3+ 36. Kh1 d3! { and the pawn is cleverly stopped } { [%cal Ge3a7] } 37. a7 Bxa7 38. Rxa7 d2 39. Bxd2 (39. Rd7 { does not help either: } 39... Rc1+ 40. Kh2 d1=Q) 39... Rxd2 { the rook endgame is easily winning }) 33. a6 { [%clk 0:01:23] } (33. Be1 { White is actually drawing now! }) 33... Nf2+ { [%clk 0:00:59] } 34. Kg1 { [%clk 0:01:22] } 34... Be3! { [%clk 0:00:41] } 35. Kf1 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 35... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 36. dxe4 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 36... Rf2+ { [%clk 0:00:13] } 37. Ke1 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 37... h3! { a nicely calculated finish } { [%clk 0:00:15] } 38. a7 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 38... h2 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 39. a8=Q+ { [%clk 0:00:37] } 39... Kg7 { White has queened with check and even has another move to spare, but cannot do anything about the black h2 pawn. White is completely lost! } { [%clk 0:00:17] } 40. Kd1 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 40... h1=Q+ { [%clk 0:00:16] } 41. Be1 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 41... Rd2+ { [%clk 0:00:17] } 42. Kc1 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 42... Qxe1# { 0-1 Black wins by checkmate. } { [%clk 0:00:16] } 0-1