[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/ygVQKEbc"] [Date "2021.02.27"] [White "axel_muller"] [Black "WeirdCreator"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1965"] [WhiteTitle "NM"] [BlackElo "1500"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C79"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Steinitz Deferred"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [StudyName "Rubinstein Round 2"] [ChapterName "NM axel_muller - WeirdCreator"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/TbfAyrSO/aeq40029"] [Orientation "white"] { Thanks to Dan we have an even number of players now. Thanks for joining the tournament. } 1. e4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:00:09] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 1:00:13] } 3... a6 { [%clk 1:00:03] } 4. Ba4 { [%clk 1:00:20] } 4... d6 { The Steinitz Variation. There are different approaches on how to handle the Ruy. Some advocate to start with a sideline others think it's better to fully commit and just play a mainline. } { [%clk 1:00:07] } (4... Nf6 5. O-O { black really doesn't have to worry too much about any of the alternatives white can throw at them. Having a good understanding of the mainline and the general principles of the Ruy will help to navigate those. } 5... Be7 6. Re1 { only now e5 is threatened. } 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 { This is the main tabyia of the Ruy Lopez. Black has a lot of reliable systems to chose from. Since we are already nine moves into the game these systems share some concepts but play differs quite a bit. Looking at a few games starting from this position won't be a waste of time. }) 5. O-O { [%clk 1:00:21] } (5. c3 { is also very popular. }) 5... Nf6 { [%clk 1:00:14] } (5... Bd7 { That move is central to the the Modern Steinitz Defense } 6. c3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. Re1 Nge7 9. d5 Nb8 10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 { is one way to play this. The position looks much more like a King's Indian than a Ruy. That's one of the appeals of this line. }) 6. Re1 { [%clk 0:59:58] } 6... b5 { [%clk 1:00:13] } 7. Bb3 { [%clk 1:00:05] } 7... Na5 { Black is not ready for this. } { [%clk 1:00:05] } (7... Be7 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 { and we reach the tabiya discussed earlier. }) 8. d4 { [%clk 0:59:31] } 8... Nxb3 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 9. axb3 { [%clk 0:59:39] } 9... Ng4 { [%clk 0:59:13] } (9... exd4 { This makes some sense as black has the bishops. Watson talks about this in his book Modern Chess Strategy. Black invested quite some time and incurred a few weaknesses in the process of netting the bishops. So opening up the position has some direct benefits for white. } 10. Nxd4 { Black needs to catch up in development and will have to give up the pair of bishops one way or another. }) (9... Bb7 { Attacking the pawn on e4 and controlling some of the weakened light squares. White enjoys a stable advantage and can proceede with common sense moves such as } 10. Nc3) (9... Nd7 { That was the only move to defend the pawn directly, but the black position remains problematic. }) 10. h3 { Now the e5 pawn is lost and it's difficult to come back from this. } { [%clk 0:59:20] } 10... Nf6 { In addition to losing the pawn, black also spent two moves on the Nf6-g4-f6 maneuver. } { [%clk 0:59:05] } 11. dxe5 { [%clk 0:59:26] } 11... dxe5 { [%clk 0:57:49] } 12. Qxd8+ { [%clk 0:59:31] } 12... Kxd8 { [%clk 0:57:54] } 13. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:59:37] } 13... Be6 { [%clk 0:57:46] } 14. Nc3 { White's remaining pieces join the game by attacking black's weaknesses. It's very difficult for black to come up with a decent plan here. Thanks again, Dan. I hope you had some fun and learned a bit about the Ruy. } { [%cal Gc3b5] [%clk 0:59:37] } 14... Bd6 { [%clk 0:57:45] } 15. Nd3 { [%cal Ge4e5,Ge5d6,Ge5f6] [%clk 0:59:31] } 15... b4 { [%clk 0:57:23] } 16. Nb5 { [%clk 0:57:56] } 16... Nd7 { [%clk 0:55:48] } 17. Nxd6 { [%clk 0:57:52] } 17... cxd6 { [%clk 0:55:47] } 18. Nxb4 { [%clk 0:58:00] } 18... Nb8 { [%clk 0:55:00] } 19. Bf4 { [%clk 0:57:59] } 19... Kd7 { [%clk 0:53:56] } 20. Rad1 { [%clk 0:57:59] } 20... Ke7 { [%clk 0:50:44] } 21. Bxd6+ { [%clk 0:57:58] } 21... Kf6 { [%clk 0:50:46] } 22. Nd5+ { [%clk 0:57:49] } 22... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:50:44] } 23. exd5 { [%clk 0:57:48] } 23... Rd8 { [%clk 0:50:45] } 24. Be7+ { [%clk 0:57:55] } 24... Kg6 { [%clk 0:50:37] } 25. Bxd8 { [%clk 0:58:01] } 25... Nd7 { [%clk 0:50:42] } 26. Bc7 { [%clk 0:57:58] } 26... f6 { [%clk 0:49:24] } 27. Re7 { [%clk 0:58:02] } 27... Ne5 { [%clk 0:49:21] } 28. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:58:08] } 28... fxe5 { [%clk 0:49:22] } 29. Rxe5 { [%clk 0:58:17] } 29... Kf7 { [%clk 0:49:12] } 30. Rd3 { [%clk 0:58:23] } 30... Re8 { [%clk 0:49:03] } 31. Rf3+ { 1-0 Black resigns. } { [%clk 0:58:28] } 1-0