[Event "WS/O/1507"] [Site "ICCF"] [Date "2023.01.06"] [White "Surý, Radim"] [Black "Irons, Robert"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2239"] [BlackElo "1896"] [Annotator "Irons,Robert"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B45"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation"] [StudyName "Check is in the Mail: April 2023"] [ChapterName "Surý, Radim - Irons, Robert"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/aJvcBgxN/4AU7oo3M"] [Orientation "white"] { [%evp 0,61,30,12,56,47,61,38,51,33,27,29,44,20,13,25,18,5,8,-8,0,31,50,47,59, 37,32,62,25,23,46,56,49,28,62,34,22,25,57,49,46,75,57,57,53,15,20,12,58,86,82, 12,41,-20,9,31,31,-3,1,0,18,0,36,33] } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 { The Four Knights Variation has long had the reputation of being solid, and my experience with it has convinced me of its truth. } 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 $14 { Black's strategy in this line is counterattack. White has loosened his kingside pawns to play for space and the weak dark squares in the center, while Black will force White's king out in the open and cause it to be an obstruction. } 10. c4 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Be3 Qd8 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Bb7 16. Rd1 (16. Kd1 c5 17. Qxc5 Be4 18. Be2 { is worth a look. }) 16... Rc8 17. Rg1 c5 18. g4 Rf8 19. g5 Ne4 20. Qd3 Rc7 { Besides defending the bishop (and the rest of the 7th rank), this makes way for the queen! } 21. Bh3 Bc6 22. Bc1 Qa8 23. Rde1 Ke7 24. Kf1 d5 { Black maintains his share of the center and the position is roughly equal. } 25. Qe2 { Threatening Qh5. } 25... g6 26. Rg3! Kf7 27. Kg1 Re7 28. Re3 Kg8 29. Bg2 a5 30. b3 Rxf4 31. Rxe4 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } (31. Rxe4 Bxe4 32. dxe4 Rf1 33. e5 Be3 34. Qc8 { Black has plenty of counterplay. }) 1/2-1/2