[Event "Live Chess - Chess960"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2019.07.28"] [White "GM Matibar"] [Black "visualdennis"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2483"] [BlackElo "2258"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Variant "Chess960"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/visualdennis"] [FEN "rbnqbknr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBNQBKNR w KQkq - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/V3hGm7Ko/55libvP9"] [Orientation "white"] { This is actually exactly the same position i ve had against GM Sam Sevian (Konavets) in 5th game! But this time im playing with the black pieces. } 1. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:55] } 1... d5 { 1. Nf3 d5 sounds like a normal opening from the regular chess. My thoughts about the position is same as in 5th game, so i dont think its necessary to repeat. As black i put bit more emphasis on challenging the center and play as actively as i can to even up with potential disadvantages of playing with black pieces. } { [%clk 0:10:01] } 2. O-O { [%clk 0:09:55] } 2... c5 { Natural move. Both of my bishops and queen have now space and options for development. Knight is likely to go b6. Rooks and kingside knight are on their usual place, so 0-0 and Nf6 is expected. Again, the main question is what do i do with the bishop on e8 and the knight on c8.. } { [%clk 0:09:59] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:09:41] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 4. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:09:42] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 5. c4 { [%clk 0:09:35] } 5... Nb6 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 6. e4 { Now there is too much pressure on d5 and my pawn is pinned so i have to take on either e4 and c4 with a knight. Whatever i take, the other pawn will be pushed and i have to retreat my knight to capture that pawn back after white capturing d5. So my knights will be either on e5 and d7 or c5 and d7. Obviously, i prefer having knights on e5 and d7 then c5 and d7 because i can exchange it on f3, it is supported by the bishop as well, but on c5 it would feel silly and there can be tactics to deal with for me. } { [%clk 0:08:41] } 6... Nxc4 { [%clk 0:09:26] } 7. e5 { [%clk 0:08:39] } 7... Nd7 { [%clk 0:09:07] } 8. Qxd5 { [%clk 0:08:18] } 8... Ncxe5 { [%clk 0:08:59] } 9. Bc3 { [%clk 0:07:57] } 9... Nxf3+ { [%clk 0:08:44] } 10. Qxf3 { [%clk 0:07:59] } 10... Qc7 { In the current position, there is not a single pawn that is advanced. Due to whites pawn sacrifice for initiative, i m pawn up, but i have to build a solid structure not to give him a quick chance to make use of his activity. Therefore i try to develop with tempos such as Qc7, Ne5.. } { [%clk 0:08:37] } 11. Qh3 { [%clk 0:07:36] } 11... Ne5 { Nf6 was also possible. But now that queen is on h3, i kinda want to disturb his queen with Bd7 and Ne5 takes at least two squares (f3 and d3) from his queen. Also i can jump to g4 with knight or if the queen leaves h2 undefended, Nf3 sacrifices are always an idea. But it was also important to restrict the power of c3 Bishop with either Ne5 or Nf6. } { [%clk 0:08:26] } 12. Ne2 { [%clk 0:07:34] } 12... Bd7 { [%clk 0:07:59] } 13. Qg3 { [%clk 0:07:28] } 13... h5 { Actually why not? I have a battery looking to h2, a knight on e5 for potential discovery attacks, a rook on h8 and the queen on g3 lets my h pawn to advance with tempo. I could also 0-0 but then what would be my game plan? I d be safe (or actually not, since the bishop pair is eyeballing g7 and h7) maybe but it would be white who would dictate the direction of the game. Now the game is double-edged. } { [%clk 0:07:02] } 14. Rd1 { [%clk 0:07:28] } 14... h4 { [%clk 0:06:10] } 15. Qf4 { [%clk 0:07:27] } 15... g5! { Continuing to attack with tempo. I want to distract the queen to make h2 undefended and Nf3 checks available for me. The g5 pawn is immune due to Qg5 Nf3 gf3 Rg8. It is then queen for rook and knight but his kingside camp is also too ruined that it is probably winning for black. } { [%clk 0:05:38] } 16. Qd4 { [%clk 0:06:50] } 16... f6 { This ugly looking f6 is forced since i have no other choice to protect my knight and Nf3 now would be premature. I cannot move my knight as h8 rook would be en price. Now i have very unique and weird kingside structure with h4-h5-f6-e7. But it holds! Not that i ve calculated all of whites possibilities to exploit my kingside, but i dont see how he can attack and i feel it should somehow be safe for my king. I dont have time for 0-0-0 and i cannot go 0-0. The position has very unique dynamics, which probably can only occur in Fischer Random. } { [%clk 0:04:54] } 17. Be4 { [%clk 0:06:45] } 17... a6 { My plan is putting the king on g7, where he seems to be most safe for now. I want to put my bishops on the diagonals a7-g1 and a6-f1. Im still trying to work the theme of Nf3 Qh2 work, but i need my bishop on b5 to pin the knight on e2 after Qh2 Kf1 so that Qh1 is mate. And in case of a need, i can play Ba7 with tempo. } { [%clk 0:04:13] } 18. Rac1 { [%clk 0:06:42] } 18... Kg7 { [%clk 0:03:19] } 19. h3 { [%clk 0:05:20] } 19... Bb5 { [%clk 0:03:10] } 20. Kf1 { This is a strong move that ruins my plans of Nf3. Now king can simply run to queenside in urgency. } { [%clk 0:05:04] } 20... Ba7 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 21. Qd5 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 21... Qc4 { Here i have burnt quite some time. My time went from 02:51 mins to 25 seconds and i could not make any tactic work against his king to make use of my bishop pair combined with my queen and knight. I didnt see a way of exploiting the e2 pin immediately and/or penetrating to his kingside with my queen (via h2). So i decided to be practical at least and go into endgame and make things bit simplified. Also im pawn up and even if i lose b7 pawn, it would only even the material. } { [%clk 0:00:25] } 22. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:04:21] } 22... Nxc4 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 23. Bxb7 { [%clk 0:03:52] } 23... Rab8 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 24. Bf3 { [%clk 0:03:48] } 24... Rhd8 { My plan is simple, i want to trade all the rooks and go into endgame and then try to activate my king and advance on the kingside with my pawns. The rest of the game i played with less than 20 seconds, living on the increment. } { [%clk 0:00:22] } 25. Ke1 { [%clk 0:03:45] } 25... Bb6 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 26. Nd4 { [%clk 0:03:42] } 26... Bxd4 { I have to take, i cannot deal with the weak spots (e6-f5) on my kingside all the time. The knight on d4 is so annoying that it is worth giving bishop pair up. } { [%clk 0:00:17] } 27. Bxd4 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 27... Rd6 { To double the rooks on the d-file and exchange them as i said earlier. } { [%clk 0:00:13] } 28. Bg4 { [%clk 0:03:26] } 28... Rbd8 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 29. Bc3 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 29... Rxd1+ { [%clk 0:00:13] } 30. Rxd1 { [%clk 0:03:28] } 30... Rxd1+ { [%clk 0:00:14] } 31. Kxd1 { [%clk 0:03:29] } 31... e5 { Yes, all my pawns are on the color of his c3 bishop, but in this case, my pawns are limiting his ability. At least for now. Table can turn anytime, if black is not careful, then all those pawns on dark squares will be a target. } { [%clk 0:00:15] } 32. Be2 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 32... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 33. f3 { i think this move weakens the kingside, making g2 pawn a potential target for my knight if the bishops are exchanged. } { [%clk 0:03:01] } 33... Bxe2+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 34. Kxe2 { Now we have an unbalanced minor piece ending, where i prefer my knight over his bishop to be honest. Im stronger on the kingside, he is stronger on the queenside. But my a6 pawn is untouchable for now and i can hold my queenside a bit. This means, he would need to play b5 at some point to create a passed pawn, but my knight on d6 perfectly hinders that. I only need to centralize my king as quickly as possible and try to create a counter play on the kingside while keeping eye on the queen side. } { [%clk 0:03:02] } 34... Nf5 { I can comeback to d6 if i need and i want to keep an eye on g2 pawn, in case of Kc4 (Ne3). Now that knight has left queenside a bit alone, i have to hurry up with my king to the center. } { [%clk 0:00:16] } 35. a4 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 35... Kf7 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 36. Kd3 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 36... Ke6 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 37. b4 { If Kc4 instead of b4, i m not sure about if the race with Ne3 followed by Nxg2 and f5 is winning or losing for me and i certainly dont have time to calculate that but my intuition tells me it is premature to enter that race so i d play Kd6-c6 first probably. } { [%clk 0:03:02] } 37... Kd5 { Now i feel much better about my position. I can keep eye on the potential passed pawn on b-file as my king is too close to it but now i can also start to use my majority on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:00:18] } 38. Be1 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 38... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 39. Bf2 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 39... Nc4 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 40. Kc3 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 40... Nd6 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 41. Bc5 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 41... Nb7 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 42. Bb6 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 42... f5 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 43. b5 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 43... axb5 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 44. axb5 { [%clk 0:02:28] } 44... e4 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 45. fxe4+ { [%clk 0:02:28] } 45... Kxe4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 46. Bc7 { White could maybe play Kd2 to prevent my king coming to e3 but i think white disliked that i can play Nd6 and take b pawn and im the only one who is playing for two results after that. But draw is more likely due to Bd8 after Nd6 and if Kf4, then Bc7 Ke4 Bd8 perpetual or i have to play g4 and give up the h4 pawn. } { [%clk 0:02:13] } 46... Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 47. Kc4 { Now the race begins. I feel like i should be faster.Because my knight is on b7 which means if i leave it there, king has to capture it and move away from the b file for b pawn but also bishop on c7 has to come to b6 first to prevent my f pawn promoting and then has to waste one more move to open the way for b pawn, which in the end quite some time for my king to collect pawns on the kingside and push them. } { [%clk 0:01:48] } 47... Kf2 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 48. Kd5 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 48... Kxg2 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 49. Kc6 { [%clk 0:01:51] } 49... f4 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 50. Kxb7 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 50... f3 { [%clk 0:00:10] } 51. Bb6 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 51... Kxh3 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 52. Bc5 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 52... g4 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 53. Kc6 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 53... g3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 54. b6 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 54... f2 { [%clk 0:00:15] } 55. b7 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 55... f1=Q { [%clk 0:00:17] } 56. b8=Q { [%clk 0:01:37] } 56... Qf3+ { [%clk 0:00:18] } 57. Kd7 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 57... Qd5+ { [%clk 0:00:18] } 58. Bd6 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 58... Qf5+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 59. Kc6 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 59... Qe4+ { [%clk 0:00:20] } 60. Kd7 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 60... Qh7+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 61. Ke6 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 61... Qg6+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 62. Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 62... Qg5+ { [%clk 0:00:19] } 63. Ke4 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 63... Qg4+ { [%clk 0:00:20] } 64. Kd5 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 64... Qf5+ { [%clk 0:00:20] } 65. Be5 { [%clk 0:01:32] } 65... g2 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 66. Qb3+ { [%clk 0:01:29] } 66... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 67. Qc4+ { [%clk 0:01:22] } 67... Kh3 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 68. Qc3+ { [%clk 0:01:19] } 68... Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 69. Qd4+ { [%clk 0:01:20] } 69... Kh5 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 70. Qd1+ { [%clk 0:01:20] } 70... Qg4 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 71. Qg1 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 71... Qf3+ { [%clk 0:00:17] } 72. Ke6 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 72... Qf1 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 73. Bd4 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 73... h3 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 74. Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:05] } 74... Kg4 { Here i spotted the idea Kg3 and that his only move is probably Qe3 which gives me the opportunity to exchange queens with nice little intermediate check on f5. Until now i was spending not more then few seconds per move and finally i could breathe after spotting this line or idea. } { [%clk 0:00:14] } 75. Qe3 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 75... Qf5+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 76. Kd6 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 76... Qf4+ { [%clk 0:00:16] } 77. Qxf4+ { [%clk 0:00:46] } 77... Kxf4 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 78. Bg1 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 78... Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 0-1