[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/Oy0ZpWm8"] [Date "2024.03.08"] [White "cyang"] [Black "VladimirBelous"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2487"] [BlackElo "2747"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [TimeControl "600+2"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B32"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kalashnikov Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/kyrongriffith"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/YzRGo9Ay/9vzCSSRo"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 4... e5 { [%clk 0:10:02] } 5. Nb5 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 5... d6 { The Kalashnikov Variation of the Sicilian is less popular than the very similar Sveshnikov variation at the top level these days since this line gives white a bit more freedom of action. } { [%clk 0:10:03] } 6. c4 { This move for example would not be possible in the Sveshnikov with Nf6 and Nc3 already included. } { [%clk 0:10:00] } 6... g6 { [%clk 0:10:01] } 7. Be3 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 7... a6 { [%clk 0:10:02] } 8. N5c3 { The c3 knight will soon jump to d5 and the b1 knight to c3 to shortly thereafter. } { [%clk 0:09:58] } 8... Be6 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 9. Be2 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 9... Bh6 { A typical, but still nice positional idae. Black's DSB is the bad bishop while white's DSB is the good bishop. Swapping them only makes sense for black. White might even think to do the same with the LSBs via Bg4 someday. } { [%clk 0:10:03] } 10. Bxh6 { [%clk 0:09:49] } 10... Nxh6 { [%clk 0:10:05] } 11. Qd2 { [%clk 0:09:50] } 11... Ng8 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 12. Na3 { White decides to send this knight to c2 to keep an eye on the d4 square from blacks' c6 knight. } { [%clk 0:09:46] } 12... Nd4 { [%clk 0:08:55] } 13. O-O { [%clk 0:09:24] } 13... Ne7 { [%clk 0:08:37] } 14. Nd5 { [%clk 0:09:10] } 14... O-O { [%clk 0:08:22] } 15. Nc2 { [%clk 0:07:32] } 15... Nxc2 { [%clk 0:07:57] } 16. Qxc2 { [%clk 0:07:32] } 16... Nc6! { Black is cleverly setting up a strong positional idea. Black's plan is to swap the Be6 for the Nd5, then plant the c6 knight on d4 and we will end up in a scenario where the d4 knight is eternally stronger than white's LSB. } { [%clk 0:07:57] } 17. f4 { [%clk 0:05:46] } 17... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:07:48] } 18. cxd5 { [%clk 0:05:38] } 18... Qb6+ { [%clk 0:07:37] } 19. Kh1 { [%clk 0:05:39] } 19... Nd4 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 20. Qd2 { The engine proclaims the position is equal but practically, black is having all the fun. } { [%clk 0:05:39] } 20... Rac8 { [%clk 0:07:35] } 21. Bd3 { [%clk 0:05:15] } 21... exf4?! { Black is attempting a dark-square strategy, but this move has a very concrete drawback: the knight on d4 is no longer secure! } { [%clk 0:07:27] } (21... f6! { The engine insists that keeping the dark square blockade is the way to go. }) 22. Rxf4 { [%clk 0:05:08] } 22... Qd8 { [%clk 0:07:00] } 23. Raf1 { Now the f-file is a great source of counterplay for white. } { [%clk 0:05:04] } 23... Qg5?? { A simple blunder but the position was already getting unpleasant for black. } { [%clk 0:06:52] } (23... Qe7 24. Qf2 Nb5 25. h4 { and white's kingside pressure continues. }) 24. Qf2 { simply creating two huge threats that can't both be handled. } { [%csl Gd4,Gf7] [%clk 0:04:42] } 24... Qe5 { [%clk 0:03:43] } 25. Rxf7 { [%clk 0:04:42] } 25... Rxf7 { [%clk 0:03:08] } 26. Qxf7+ { [%clk 0:04:44] } 26... Kh8 { [%clk 0:03:09] } 27. Qxb7 { White cleans up black's pawns and black has no sources of counterplay } { [%clk 0:04:39] } 27... Rg8 { [%clk 0:03:11] } 28. Rf7 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 28... Qh5 { [%clk 0:03:09] } 29. Qe7 { [%clk 0:03:22] } 29... Nf5 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 30. Qf6+ { [%clk 0:02:57] } (30. exf5?? Qd1+ 31. Bf1 Qxf1# { is black's last trick }) 30... Ng7 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 31. Qxd6 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 31... Qd1+ { [%clk 0:02:19] } 32. Bf1 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 32... a5 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 33. Qf6 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 33... a4 { [%clk 0:01:58] } 34. d6 { [%clk 0:02:14] } 34... Qd2 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 35. d7 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 35... a3 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 36. bxa3 { [%clk 0:02:05] } 36... h6 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 37. Rxg7 { [%clk 0:02:00] } 37... Rxg7 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 38. d8=Q+ { 1-0 Black resigns. } { Black was playing a clean positional game but underestimated the drawbacks of trading off the e5 pawn. White was clinical in converting the advantage once it was presented. } { [%clk 0:02:00] } 1-0