[Event "1000 GM"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/ZQ372yTp/SOypugTu"] [Date "2022.11.06"] [White "FM Andy Woodward"] [Black "IM Zurab Javakhadze"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2488"] [BlackElo "2578"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D30"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZQ372yTp/SOypugTu"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { The stakes were high in this last round encounter with Andy Woodward needing a win to clinch a norm and Zurab Javakhadze closing in on 2500 fide and the GM title. } 1... d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O dxc4 8. Qc2 Bxd2 9. Nbxd2 b5 10. a4 c6 11. b3 cxb3 12. Nxb3 b4 13. e4 Nbd7 14. Qxc6 Ra6 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Ne5 Qb8 { This move seems to be a novelty at the GM level, the main move is 16...Qa8. Stockfish seems like 16...Nxe5 at least at a glance so perhaps that's a new move we'll see in the future. Qb8 seems solid enough securing c7 but lacks coordination with the Bishop and pressure on white's e4 pawn. } 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Rfc1 Rc6 19. Qe2 Ba6 20. Qh5 Rfc8 21. Rxc6 Rxc6 22. Qxa5 { Black's main weakness has fallen, White temporarily gains an extra pawn. This comes though at the cost of piece coordination and Black gets a burst of activity. } 22... Bc4 23. Nd2 Bd3 { Black's main weakness has fallen, White temporarily gains an extra pawn. This comes though at the cost of piece coordination and Black gets a burst of activity. } 24. Bf1 Ra6 25. Qh5 Bxf1 26. Kxf1 Qa7 27. Nb3? (27. Qb5 { Holds White's position together, because... } 27... Qxd4 28. Nb3 { [%cal Gb3a1,Gb3d4,Gb5d7,Gb5a6] } 28... Qd6 29. Ke2! { [%cal Ga1d1] } 29... Rb6 30. Rd1 Qxd1+ 31. Kxd1 Rxb5 32. axb5 { Leads to a practically winning endgame because of White's more active King! How did Andy miss this variation? I thought kids today were supposed to see everything, including Ke2 ideas in the late middle game...just joking ;) }) 27... Rxa4 28. Rc1 Qa6+ 29. Kg2 g6 30. Qg5 Qb7 31. d5! { Time to make something happen! } 31... Ra8 32. Rc6 Re8? { The losing move according to engine analysis. } (32... exd5 33. Qxd5 Rb8 { Leads to a position that is still balanced. }) 33. Qf4! { Well spotted by Andy, the only move for a serious advantage. } 33... exd5 34. Rc7! Qb5 35. Nd4 { White exploits Black's misplaced pieces with every move as he optimizes his position. } 35... Qa4 36. Nc6! Rxe4 (36... b3 37. Rxd7 Qxe4+ 38. Qxe4 dxe4 { Leads to a technically winning endgame for White where Black would have a sufferer's chance of survival, but Javakhadze decides to go out in a blaze of glory. }) 37. Qd6 Re6 38. Qxd7 { Well okay...maybe not so much glory. I will say though that Javakhadze is a tenacious player with a professional style who really seems to enjoy the game, I'm sure he'll make GM soon. As for Andy at such a young age the sky is the limit. } 1-0