[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/5mlQwyBV"] [Date "2019.05.05"] [Round "-"] [White "Nietsoj"] [Black "PaulProteus"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1722"] [BlackElo "1549"] [TimeControl "1800+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D31"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation"] [StudyName "Game study"] [ChapterName "Nietsoj - PaulProteus"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/Y4DOsZaP/vY2psXr7"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Nietsoj"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 0:30:00] } 1... d5 { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 0:30:00] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 0:30:02] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 0:29:59] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.27] } { I had checked out a few of his previous games, and saw that he liked to play the QGD. So I was prepared for this. } { [%clk 0:29:58] } 3... dxc4 { [%eval 0.5] } { This was a surprising move. And I cannot remember having seen it before. } { [%clk 0:29:56] } 4. e3 { [%eval 0.24] } { I was considering taking control of the center with e4, but didn't know if he had prepared something. Also, I didn't like the fact that my d-pawn looked a bit lonely. I guess Bxc4 followed by d5 would be a way out, but that could lead to muddy waters. } { [%clk 0:29:07] } 4... Bb4 { [%eval 0.39] } { Another relatively unexpected move. I was expecting more timid play, with Be7 and Nf6. } { [%clk 0:28:44] } 5. Bxc4 { [%eval 0.52] } { I was briefly considering Qa4+, but after Nc6, that doesn't do much. } { [%clk 0:28:50] } 5... Nf6 { [%eval 0.55] } { My candidates here were Nge2, Qa4+ and f3. I didn't want to allow the knight to get to e4, so I chose the latter. } { [%clk 0:28:28] } 6. f3?! { [%eval -0.08] } { Inaccuracy. Best move was a3. } { [%clk 0:27:53] } (6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8. Bb2 c5 9. Nf3 b6 10. O-O Bb7) 6... c5 { [%eval -0.27] [%clk 0:27:50] } 7. Ne2 { [%eval -0.1] } { I briefly considered taking the pawn, but the queen exchange and Bxc5 is just good for black. I ended up with the candidates Qa4+, Bb5+ and Nge2. After 7. Qa4 Nc6, 8. Bb5, things could get interesting. } { [%csl Gd1,Ga4,Gb8][%cal Gd1a4,Gb8c6,Ga4e8,Gc4b5] [%clk 0:27:09] } 7... O-O { [%eval 0.03] } { I felt it was time to get castled and allow the knight on c3 to move if needed. } { [%clk 0:27:00] } 8. O-O { [%eval 0.02] [%clk 0:26:43] } 8... Re8?! { [%eval 1.02] } { I am not entirely sure what the intention of this move is. If 9... e5, I have 10. d5 with good control of the center. Probably, queenside development should be a priority. } { [%clk 0:26:28] } 9. a3 { [%eval 1.02] } { I briefly considered Ng3, but felt that it was time to ask the bishop a question. If he would exchange on c3, my center would be reinforced. However, the a-pawn is a bit lonely, but black shouldn't be able to exploit it. } { [%clk 0:25:19] } 9... Ba5?! { [%eval 1.97] } { Inaccuracy. Best move was Bxc3. } { At this point, I was starting to develop some kind of plan. I wanted to get my queen off the d-file, my bishop to b2, Rad1 and open up the center. } { [%clk 0:26:23] } (9... Bxc3 10. bxc3) 10. Qc2? { [%eval -0.07] } { Mistake. Best move was dxc5. } { This was according to my plan, but I failed to recognize that the c-pawn is hanging. In this position, the queen trade is fine, as the king is tucked away. Horrible lack of awareness! } { [%clk 0:22:42] } (10. dxc5 Nc6) 10... Nc6 { [%eval 2.07] } { Black also fails to recognize the issue with the c-pawn. But I finally saw it! } { [%clk 0:26:08] } 11. dxc5 { [%eval 1.84] [%clk 0:21:48] } 11... Bc7 { [%eval 1.93] } { Just as well. The bishop would need to go there after b4 anyway. Just reinforcing the c-pawn and carrying on with my plan. Bb2 and Rad1 to come. Here, I felt that the position was playing itself. } { [%clk 0:25:03] } 12. b4 { [%eval 2.15] [%clk 0:21:10] } 12... a6 { [%eval 2.03] } { This seems a bit slow. Almost like a passing move. Black is underdeveloped, and need to activate his pieces. I don't think b4 (from white) is a threat; the knight can come to e5 with tempo, and black has b6 well covered. } { [%clk 0:24:43] } 13. Bb2 { [%eval 1.9] } { If black is passing, I'll just move forward with my plan. } { [%clk 0:20:54] } 13... b5?! { [%eval 2.47] } { Inaccuracy. Best move was b6. } { A mistake. I was briefly considering taking e.p., but I stopped myself. With this move, black has just given me a protected passed pawn for free. And my bishop can stay on the diagonal and have the option of coming to b1 with possible mate threats. } { [%clk 0:24:24] } (13... b6 14. Bd3) 14. Ba2 { [%eval 2.39] [%clk 0:19:45] } 14... Ne5 { [%eval 3.4] } { This looks visually appealing, since the knight is centralized and seemingly active. But it is also underprotected on that square and can be pushed around. Also, the next stage of my plan is not prevented, so I can just move the rook with tempo. } { [%clk 0:23:08] } 15. Rad1 { [%eval 3.39] [%clk 0:19:14] } 15... Qe7 { [%eval 3.61] [%clk 0:21:28] } 16. Ne4 { [%eval 3.24] } { I felt the position was virtually screaming at me to play this move. My bishops are opened up, and if we trade knights, my queen is eyeing both a8 and e5. Also, Bb1 and mate threats are in the cards. I felt quite confident at this point. But it is easy to get cocky and lose control of the game. } { [%clk 0:18:41] } 16... Nc4? { [%eval 5.67] } { Mistake. Best move was Nxe4. } { Bb1 is a cheeky move. After trading on e4, Qxe4 threatens both a8 and h7. But the bishop on b2 is hanging. I was considering Bxf6, but I wanted to preserve my bishop. } { [%clk 0:20:51] } (16... Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Bb7 18. Qxb7 Nc4 19. f4 Nxb2 20. Rd2 Na4 21. Bb3 Bd6 22. Qe4 Nxc5 23. bxc5) 17. Nxf6+ { [%eval 5.33] [%clk 0:17:34] } (17. Bb1 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 { [%cal Ge4h7,Ge4a8,Gc4b2] }) (17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Qxc4) 17... gxf6 { [%eval 5.5] } { Forced. } { [%clk 0:20:40] } 18. Bxc4 { [%eval 5.43] } { Again, I was considering Bb1, as Nxb2 leads to mate. But Bxc4 wins a pawn and gets rid of that annoying knight. With two extra pawns and a dominant position, this should be a win for white. } { [%clk 0:17:00] } (18. Bb1 Nxb2?? 19. Qxh7+) 18... bxc4 { [%eval 5.31] [%clk 0:20:21] } 19. Qxc4?! { [%eval 4.53] } { Inaccuracy. Best move was Qe4. } { This move was quite natural, but apparently not the computer's first choice. Instead, Qe4 } { [%clk 0:17:05] } (19. Qe4 { [%cal Ge4a8,Ge4g4] } 19... Ra7 20. f4 { [%cal Gf1f3,Gf3g3,Gg3h3,Gh3h7,Ge4h7] } 20... f5 21. Qxc4 { This little maneuver induces some weaknesses in the black position and gives the rook some avenues for attack. }) 19... f5? { [%eval 5.66] } { Mistake. Best move was e5. } { [%clk 0:20:03] } (19... e5 20. Ng3 f5 21. Qc3 Be6 22. f4 Rad8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. fxe5 Rd5 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Rxf5) 20. Qc3 { [%eval 4.75] } { I was considering Nf4-h5-f6 with a fork. But the black queen controls a lot of squares on the kingside, and can converge on h2 with the bishop. Qc3 threatens mate and black must close off the diagonal towards h4. } { [%clk 0:15:40] } (20. Nf4 Qh4 { [%cal Gh4c4,Gh4h2,Gc7h2] }) 20... f6 { [%eval 5.22] [%clk 0:19:13] } 21. Qxf6 { [%eval 5.13] } { Another pawn bites the dust. } { [%clk 0:15:07] } 21... Qxf6 { [%eval 5.09] [%clk 0:19:04] } 22. Bxf6 { [%eval 4.89] [%clk 0:15:12] } 22... a5? { [%eval 7.18] } { Mistake. Best move was Kf7. } { Ra1 was a candidate for a microsecond, but just pushing the pawns seems very strong. } { [%clk 0:18:49] } (22... Kf7) 23. b5! { [%eval 7.08] [%clk 0:14:35] } 23... Kf7 { [%eval 7.05] [%clk 0:17:40] } 24. Bh4 { [%eval 7.21] } { I wanted to go here anyway, to challenge black's control of the dark squares. } { [%clk 0:14:27] } 24... Rb8 { [%eval 6.86] } { I briefly considered a4 and Rb1, but this pawn push leaves black with the choice of giving up more material with Bxb6, cxb6 Rxb6 or getting positionally squashed. } { [%clk 0:17:01] } 25. b6 { [%eval 6.53] [%clk 0:14:20] } 25... Be5 { [%eval 6.91] } { Black chose the second option. Positionally squashed it is! } { [%clk 0:16:49] } 26. Nd4 { [%eval 6.28] } { The threat is Nc6 with a fork. } { [%clk 0:13:59] } 26... Ba6?? { [%eval 9.56] } { Blunder. Best move was Bxd4. } { I was tempted to play Nc6 anyway. And according to the computer, I should have! But I wanted to retain my rook. } { [%clk 0:16:30] } (26... Bxd4 27. Rxd4 e5 28. Ra4 Rb7 29. Rd1 Bd7 30. Rxa5 Bc6 31. Kf2 Rg8 32. Ra7 Rxa7 33. bxa7) 27. Rf2?? { [%eval 4.04] } { Blunder. Best move was Nc6. } { [%clk 0:13:25] } (27. Nc6 Bxf1 (27... Bb2 28. Rd7+ Kg6 29. Rb1 Rb7 30. Rxb7 Bxb7 31. Nxa5 Bf6 32. Nxb7 Bxh4 33. Nd6 Rb8) 28. Nxe5+ Kg8 29. Kxf1 { This position is completely winning for white, but I didn't want black to have any possibility of counterplay. However, reviewing it now, I see that black has nothing at all. The white rook controls the open file thanks to the support from the bishop. So black is left with futile attempts to stop the menacing pawns. }) 27... Rbd8?? { [%eval 10.04] } { Blunder. Best move was Rec8. } { He must have missed that my bishop controls that square. } { [%clk 0:15:12] } (27... Rec8 28. Rc2) 28. Bxd8 { [%eval 9.95] [%clk 0:13:22] } 28... Rxd8 { [%eval 9.7] [%clk 0:14:59] } 29. Rfd2?! { [%eval 8.96] } { Inaccuracy. Best move was f4. } { Just activating my worst piece. } { [%clk 0:13:20] } (29. f4 Bf6 30. c6 Be7 31. Rc2 Rb8 32. Rb1 Bd6 33. c7 Rc8 34. Nc6 Kf6 35. Nxa5 Bd3) 29... Rd7? { [%eval 16.14] } { Mistake. Best move was Rc8. } { I was considering pushing the c-pawn, which is also good, but Nc6 is just crushing. } { [%clk 0:14:28] } (29... Rc8 30. Rc2) 30. Nc6! { [%eval 14.9] [%clk 0:12:39] } 30... Rxd2 { [%eval 23.68] [%clk 0:14:16] } 31. Nxe5+ { [%eval 25.16] [%clk 0:12:43] } 31... Kf6 { [%eval 22.73] [%clk 0:14:13] } 32. Nd7+ { [%eval 18.87] } { Apparently a blunder. Taking the rook and pushing the pawns was stronger. But still, this is completely winning. } { [%clk 0:12:35] } (32. Rxd2 Kxe5 33. c6 a4 34. b7 Bxb7 35. cxb7) 32... Rxd7 { [%eval 21.52] [%clk 0:13:58] } 33. Rxd7 { [%eval 15.97] [%clk 0:12:40] } 33... h6?? { [%eval #11] } { Checkmate is now unavoidable. Best move was f4. } { [%clk 0:13:50] } (33... f4 34. c6) 34. b7 { [%eval #10] } { Maybe 34. c6 is stronger, but this gets the job done. } { [%clk 0:12:37] } 34... Bxb7 { [%eval #10] [%clk 0:13:46] } 35. Rxb7 { [%eval #9] [%clk 0:12:39] } 35... a4 { [%eval #7] [%clk 0:13:46] } 36. c6 { [%eval #6] } { 1-0 Black resigns. } { My first win in the Twitter chess tournament! It is always nice to win, but this was a bit one-sided. Apart from missing the loose pawn on move 10, I am quite satisfied with my play. } { [%clk 0:12:37] } 1-0