[Event "U.S. Senior Chess Championship 2023"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.07.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Khachiyan, Melikset"] [Black "Akopian, Vladimir"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2403"] [BlackElo "2612"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B41"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZBuAQUT7/UYfC0Pop"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by IM Robert Shylakhtenko } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 { This is currently the most popular way to meet the Sicilian Kan. } 5... Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. a3 b6 { Since White has prevented the move ... Be7-b4, Black enters a Hedgehog structure. } 8. Be3 Bb7 9. f3 Be7 10. Rc1 O-O 11. Be2 d6 12. O-O Nbd7 13. b4 Rac8 14. Qd2 Qb8 15. Rfd1 Rfe8 16. Bf1 { A standard position arises. In view of White's space advantage, Black must accurately deploy his forces on the first three ranks and find a way to provoke some weakness or disharmony in White's camp, with the ultimate goal of achieving the pawn breaks ... b7-b5 or ... d7-d5. } 16... Ne5 { To me, this move seems overly aggressive. } (16... Bd8 { allows White to change the pawn structure with } 17. Nb3 Bc7 18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 { . This position is playable for Black, but is not to everyone's taste. }) (16... h5 { would be my choice. Black hints at some kingside counterplay, while keeping his piece placement flexible. }) 17. Na4 Ba8? { Leaving the b6-pawn underprotected, even for a moment, could have proved costly for Black. } (17... Nfd7 { should have been played. }) 18. Nb3?! (18. Nxb6! Qxb6 19. Nf5 Qc7 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Qxd6 { gives White a clearly better position: the queenside pawns are much stronger than the piece. }) 18... Nxc4! { A correct Exchange sacrifice which muddies the waters. } 19. Bxc4 b5 20. Nb6 bxc4 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Nd4 (22. Na5! { was better. The point is that after } 22... d5 23. exd5 { Black must recapture with the pawn, which keeps the structure static. }) 22... d5 23. Bf4 (23. exd5 Nxd5! { Black's activity more than compensates for the Exchange. }) 23... e5!? { A very ambitious move, but it has a downside: White's pieces now become very active. } (23... Qb6! { keeps the position unclear. For instance, after } 24. e5?! Nd7 { Black will create counterplay with ... a6-a5. }) 24. Nf5?! (24. Bg3! { would set more difficult problems for Black. }) 24... Bf8 25. Bg5 dxe4 (25... d4 { is another way to handle the position, leading to tense complications after } 26. Qe2 Qb5 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. f4!) 26. Bxf6 Qb6+ 27. Qe3 (27. Qf2!? Qxf6 28. fxe4 { is a better choice, with the idea to trade queens with Nf5-d6. }) 27... Qxf6 28. fxe4 { Black's ambitious play has been rewarded: the complex middlegame proved difficult to handle for both sides, and now Black can even try to take over the initiative. } 28... a5?! (28... g6! 29. Ng3 (29. Nh6+ Bxh6 30. Qxh6 Bxe4) 29... a5 { White must play very accurately here. } 30. Qf3! { Seeking relief in the exchange of queens. } 30... Qxf3!? { (other moves are also possible) } 31. gxf3 axb4 32. axb4 Bxb4 { and Black is certainly the one playing for two results. }) 29. Qh3! { A strong find by Khachiyan. White threans a discovered attack on the c8-rook, as well as the a5-pawn. } 29... Qe6? { A blunder. } (29... Rc7!? { holds everything together, } 30. Qf3 axb4 31. axb4 Bxb4 32. Rb1 { The back rank is weak, but Black saves himself with } 32... Bc5+ 33. Kh1 Rc8 34. Qg4 Rf8 $13 { . }) (29... Qb6+ { is the more "human" defense. After } 30. Kh1 Qe6! { White has no advantage: } 31. Nd6 (31. Rd7!? Bxe4 32. Ne7+ Bxe7 33. Qxe6 fxe6 34. Rxe7 axb4 35. axb4 c3 36. Rxe6 c2 37. Rxe5 Rc4) 31... Qxh3 32. gxh3 Bxd6 33. Rxd6 Bxe4+ { The difference: Black captures with check. } 34. Kg1) 30. Nd6! { By trading queens, White eliminates Black's counterplay. } 30... Qxh3 31. gxh3 Bxd6 32. Rxd6 g6? { The decisive mistake. } (32... Kf8! { was the only move, and after } 33. b5 Bxe4 34. Ra6 $16 { Black can still continue the fight. }) 33. Rcd1! { Forcing the trade of rooks, after which Black's position immediately becomes hopeless. } 33... Rf8 34. Rd8 Bxe4 35. bxa5 Bb7 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Rd7 Ba6 38. Rd6 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0