[Event "Chess Open"] [Site "Grenke"] [Date "2025.04.21"] [Round "08"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Postlmayer, Jakob"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2536"] [BlackElo "2403"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D19"] [Opening "Slav Defense: Czech Variation, Dutch Variation"] [StudyName "2025 Grenke"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Postlmayer, Jakob"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/XtXAyuAR/9RseX8Al"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:30:54] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:31:16] } 2... c6 { [%clk 1:31:20] } 3. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:25] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:45] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 1:28:12] } 4... dxc4 { [%clk 1:30:52] } 5. a4 { [%clk 1:25:52] } 5... Bf5 { [%clk 1:31:07] } 6. e3 { [%clk 1:23:51] } 6... e6 { [%clk 1:29:43] } 7. Bxc4 { [%clk 1:24:07] } 7... Bb4 { [%clk 1:30:07] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:24:17] } 8... O-O { [%clk 1:30:21] } 9. h3 { [%clk 1:18:14] } 9... Ne4!? { [%clk 1:26:55] } (9... Nbd7 { is the main move. }) 10. Qb3 { [%clk 1:06:55] } 10... Qb6 { [%clk 1:19:34] } 11. g4 $146 { Logically restricting Black's bishop. } { [%clk 0:55:39] } 11... Bg6 { [%clk 1:18:23] } 12. Ne5 { [%clk 0:50:25] } 12... Bxc3 { [%clk 1:15:33] } 13. bxc3 { [%clk 0:49:46] } 13... Qxb3 { [%clk 1:15:45] } 14. Bxb3 { [%clk 0:50:05] } 14... Nxc3 { [%clk 1:15:52] } 15. Bb2 { For the pawn, White has two bishops facing Black's king, a lead in development, and a strong grip of the center. } { [%clk 0:24:50] } 15... Ne4 { [%clk 1:10:23] } (15... Nd5 { was slightly more prudent, discouraging f2-f3 ideas by eyeing the e4-pawn. } 16. Rae1 f6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. e4 Nf4 $14 { is a bit more double-edged. }) 16. Rad1 { [%clk 0:23:40] } 16... Nf6 { [%clk 1:03:11] } 17. f3 { [%clk 0:23:43] } 17... Nfd7 { [%clk 1:00:52] } 18. Nc4 { [%clk 0:21:07] } (18. Ba3 Rd8 19. Nc4 a5 20. Be7 Re8 21. Bh4 $16) 18... b6?! { [%clk 0:55:53] } (18... a5 { was Black's best idea. Key lines involve running the a-pawn down the board to keep White's pieces occupied. The knight's placement on the c4-square further expedites this plan. } 19. Ba3?! (19. e4!? b5 20. Nd6 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Nb6 22. Bb3 a4 23. Ba2 a3 24. Bc1 Rd8 25. Nb7 Rd7 26. Nc5 Rda7 27. f4 h6 $13) (19. Nd6 $16 { , pre-empting ... b7-b5, is probably enough for an advantage. }) 19... b5! 20. Nd6 (20. Bxf8? bxc4 $17) 20... bxa4 21. Bxa4 Nb6 22. Bb3 a4 23. Ba2 Nd5 24. e4 Nc3 $14) 19. e4 { [%clk 0:17:53] } 19... Na6 { [%clk 0:55:57] } 20. Rfe1 { Without play on the queenside, Black's position is passive. } { [%clk 0:17:57] } 20... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:48:20] } 21. f4! { From here, White handles the space advantage instructively. } { [%clk 0:16:49] } 21... h6 { [%clk 0:48:35] } 22. f5 { [%clk 0:16:45] } 22... Bh7 { [%clk 0:48:56] } 23. h4 { [%clk 0:09:07] } 23... Rab8 { [%clk 0:42:18] } 24. Bc1 { Space begets more space. The bishop now has more control of the h2-b8 diagonal. } { [%clk 0:08:32] } 24... b5 { Black has to open up the board somehow, but there's no way to do so without making exploitable concessions. } { [%clk 0:37:15] } 25. Na5 { White could have played Nc4-d6 at a number of points, but the threat is stronger than the execution. By staying home, the knight is able to grab the a5-square after ... b6-b5. } { [%clk 0:08:46] } 25... bxa4 { [%clk 0:37:21] } 26. Bxa4 { [%clk 0:06:56] } 26... Nb6 { [%clk 0:31:29] } 27. Bb3 { [%clk 0:07:15] } (27. Bxc6 Nb4 28. Bb5?! (28. Bf4! { is a nice intermezzo, as Black's rook has to move to a light square, and } 28... Rbc8 29. Bb7 Rc2 { isn't much of a nuisance since White is prepared to play } 30. d5 $16 { with back-rank threats justifying the break. }) 28... Nc2 { was likely what worried White. }) 27... Re8 { [%clk 0:31:04] } 28. Nxc6 { [%clk 0:06:34] } 28... Rbc8 { [%clk 0:30:55] } 29. Ne5 { [%clk 0:06:07] } 29... Rc3 { [%clk 0:25:09] } 30. Re3 { White is not even up material, but the bishop pair is well-equipped to handle Black's outside passer. That, plus the horrible light-squared bishop on h7, make White's position dominant. } { [%clk 0:05:59] } 30... Rec8 { [%clk 0:25:21] } 31. Bd2 { [%clk 0:06:15] } 31... Rxe3 { [%clk 0:25:16] } 32. Bxe3 { [%clk 0:06:43] } 32... Rc3 { [%clk 0:25:09] } 33. Rd3 { [%clk 0:07:06] } 33... Rxd3 { [%clk 0:25:34] } 34. Nxd3 { [%clk 0:07:30] } 34... Kf8 { [%clk 0:24:39] } 35. Bf4 { [%clk 0:06:24] } 35... Ke7 { Until here, White's simplifications have further clarified his advantage. } { [%clk 0:22:16] } 36. d5?! { [%clk 0:05:19] } (36. Kf2 { just improves the king, and now we see the value of the pawn staying on the d4-square: } 36... h5 37. Nc5! { If Black allows the knight to stay here, then White can play f5xe6 and g4xh5 without the e4-pawn dropping. } 37... Nb4 (37... Nxc5 { If Black trades, then after } 38. dxc5 Nc8 39. gxh5 exf5 40. e5 $18 { we have a lovely domination! }) 38. fxe6 fxe6 39. gxh5 $18 { Again, Black's pieces are dominated. }) 36... exd5 { [%clk 0:21:40] } 37. exd5 { [%clk 0:05:40] } 37... h5! { The negative side of space: White's kingside pawns now might feel like a smattering of weaknesses. } { [%clk 0:21:52] } 38. d6+ { [%clk 0:05:52] } 38... Ke8 { [%clk 0:21:49] } 39. gxh5?! { [%clk 0:00:59] } (39. Ne5 { was more testing: } 39... f6 40. Nc6 hxg4 41. Be6! $16) 39... Bxf5 { [%clk 0:22:04] } 40. Ne5 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 40... f6 { [%clk 0:21:51] } 41. h6 { The concrete idea behind White's previous moves. } { [%clk 0:01:01] } (41. Nc6 Nc5 $10 { is stronger for Black now that the f5-pawn is already off the board, taking away Bb3-e6 ideas. }) 41... gxh6 { [%clk 0:19:44] } 42. Bf7+ { [%clk 0:00:45] } 42... Kd8 { [%clk 0:20:08] } 43. Nc6+ { [%clk 0:01:08] } 43... Kd7 { [%clk 0:20:14] } 44. Nxa7 { White has nabbed the a-pawn, but the position is still within the drawing margin with so few pawns remaining. } { [%clk 0:00:42] } 44... Be6 { [%clk 0:17:30] } 45. Bg6 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 45... Nd5!? { [%clk 0:16:45] } (45... Nc4 46. Bxh6 Nxd6 $10 { was simpler. }) 46. Bxh6 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 46... Kxd6 { [%clk 0:17:01] } 47. h5 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 47... Ke7 { [%clk 0:11:57] } 48. Nc6+ { [%clk 0:01:39] } 48... Kd7 { [%clk 0:12:26] } 49. Nd4 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 49... Ne7 { [%clk 0:12:42] } 50. Bd3 { [%clk 0:01:22] } 50... Bg4?! { [%clk 0:09:45] } (50... Nc7 { was the main alternative: } 51. Bd2 Bg8 52. h6 Ncd5 $14) 51. Bb5+ { [%clk 0:01:12] } 51... Kd8 { [%clk 0:09:08] } 52. Bxa6 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 52... Bxh5 { White is out of pawns, but has an extra piece. Can Woodward win it? } { [%clk 0:09:32] } 53. Bg7 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 53... Nd5 { [%clk 0:08:10] } 54. Bc4 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 54... Bf7 { [%clk 0:08:00] } 55. Bf8 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 55... Ke8 { [%clk 0:08:15] } 56. Bd6 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 56... Kd7 { [%clk 0:08:28] } 57. Bc5 { [%clk 0:01:55] } 57... Bg8 { As we'll see, White's goal is to keep the bishop pair. Lines that allow a knight-for-bishop trade make the draw trivial. In fact, White's best bet is keeping all three minor pieces. Three pieces and a king can create a mating net! } { [%clk 0:08:29] } 58. Kh2 { [%clk 0:02:03] } 58... Bf7 { [%clk 0:07:42] } 59. Bd3 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 59... Nc3 { [%clk 0:07:13] } 60. Kg3 { [%clk 0:02:26] } 60... Nd5 { [%clk 0:06:03] } 61. Bc4 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 61... Nc3!? { [%clk 0:05:30] } 62. Bd3! { [%clk 0:03:07] } (62. Bxf7? Ne4+ 63. Kf4 Nxc5 $10) 62... Nd5 { [%clk 0:05:53] } 63. Ba6 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 63... Kc7 { [%clk 0:06:01] } 64. Kg4 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 64... Bg6 { [%clk 0:05:50] } (64... Ne3+! 65. Kf3 Bc4! $10) 65. Bb5 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 65... Ne3+ { [%clk 0:05:19] } 66. Kf3 { [%clk 0:03:48] } 66... Nd5 { [%clk 0:05:33] } 67. Ne6+ { [%clk 0:04:03] } 67... Kb7 { [%clk 0:05:52] } 68. Bd4 { [%clk 0:04:30] } 68... Bf5 { [%clk 0:05:50] } 69. Ng7 { [%clk 0:04:01] } 69... Bg6 { [%clk 0:06:08] } 70. Kg4 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 70... Kc7 { [%clk 0:06:09] } 71. Bc5 { [%clk 0:03:26] } 71... Kb7 { [%clk 0:06:16] } 72. Kh4 { [%clk 0:02:07] } 72... Kc7 { [%clk 0:05:01] } 73. Ne6+ { [%clk 0:01:56] } 73... Kb7 { [%clk 0:05:22] } 74. Bc4 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 74... Kc6 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 75. Ba3 { [%clk 0:02:05] } 75... Nc7 { [%clk 0:04:15] } 76. Nd4+ { [%clk 0:02:23] } 76... Kd7 { [%clk 0:04:39] } 77. Bb3 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 77... Be8 { We are half-way to 50 moves since the last pawn push/capture. } { [%clk 0:03:04] } 78. Kg4 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 78... Bg6 { [%clk 0:03:28] } 79. Bc5 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 79... Be4 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 80. Kf4 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 80... Bg6 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 81. Ba4+ { [%clk 0:03:19] } 81... Kc8 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 82. Kg3 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 82... Be8 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 83. Bb3 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 83... Kd7 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 84. Bc2 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 84... Kc8 { [%clk 0:03:16] } 85. Be4 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 85... Kd8 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 86. Nf5 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 86... Bg6 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 87. Kg4 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 87... Kd7 { [%clk 0:02:26] } (87... Bxf5+?! 88. Kxf5 Na6 (88... Ne8?? 89. Bc6 $18) 89. Bd6 $14) 88. Bc2 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 88... Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 89. Ba4+ { [%clk 0:01:09] } 89... Kc7 { [%clk 0:00:54] } 90. Bd6+ { [%clk 0:01:29] } 90... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 91. Ne3 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 91... Be4 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 92. Be7 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 92... Bc6 { [%clk 0:01:02] } 93. Bd1 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 93... Bd7 { [%clk 0:00:58] } 94. Nd5+ { [%clk 0:00:40] } 94... Kb7 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 95. Nxf6 { After 43 moves, reset the 50-move counter! } { [%clk 0:01:06] } 95... Bc6 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 96. Bd6 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 96... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 97. Bc2 { [%clk 0:00:39] } 97... Nc7 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 98. Bg6 { [%clk 0:00:37] } 98... Nb5 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 99. Be5 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 99... Nc7 { [%clk 0:02:15] } 100. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 100... Kb7 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 101. Bf7 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 101... Kb6 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 102. Kf4 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 102... Nb5 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 103. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 103... Kc5 { [%clk 0:02:22] } 104. Kd3 { [%clk 0:02:02] } 104... Bg2 { [%clk 0:02:16] } 105. Be6 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 105... Bf1+ { [%clk 0:02:34] } 106. Ke3 { [%clk 0:02:01] } 106... Bg2 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 107. Bf4 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 107... Kb6 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 108. Kd3 { [%clk 0:02:01] } 108... Bf1+? { With the magic of tablebases, we can pinpoint this as the losing move! } { [%clk 0:03:07] } (108... Kc5 { is given as "win prevented by 50-move rule." }) 109. Ke4 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 109... Bg2+ { [%clk 0:03:18] } (109... Kc5 110. Ke5 { shows why the check actually improved White's king placement: } 110... Bg2 111. Nd7+ Kc6 112. Nf6 Kc5 113. Be3+ Kb4 114. Nd5+! { The engine drops, but the tablebase says White wins if Black captures. }) 110. Ke5 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 110... Bc6 { [%clk 0:03:25] } 111. Be3+ { [%clk 0:03:06] } 111... Kb7 { [%clk 0:03:45] } 112. Ng8 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 112... Bg2 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 113. Ne7 { [%clk 0:03:17] } 113... Nc7 { [%clk 0:02:31] } 114. Bc8+ { [%clk 0:03:34] } 114... Kb8 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 115. Bd7 { [%clk 0:03:58] } 115... Ka8 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 116. Kd6 { [%clk 0:04:18] } 116... Kb7 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 117. Bf2 { [%clk 0:04:05] } 117... Bf3 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 118. Bc8+ { [%clk 0:04:22] } 118... Kb8 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 119. Bg3 { [%clk 0:04:34] } 119... Bb7 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 120. Kd7 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:04:59] } 1-0