[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/drpyjmER"] [Date "2019.06.05"] [Round "-"] [White "Nietsoj"] [Black "fh42"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1764"] [BlackElo "1955"] [TimeControl "1800+15"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A40"] [Opening "English Defense"] [StudyName "Game study"] [ChapterName "Nietsoj - fh42"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/avsI9n1V/8JYRPC7q"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Nietsoj"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 0:30:00] } 1... e6 { [%clk 0:30:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 0:29:49] } 2... b6 { [%clk 0:30:08] } 3. a3 { [%clk 0:29:26] } 3... Bb7 { [%clk 0:30:14] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 0:29:28] } 4... f5 { [%clk 0:29:25] } 5. d5 { [%cal Gg8f6,Gb8a6,Ga6c5,Gg2g3,Gf1g2,Gg1h3] [%clk 0:28:33] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 0:28:20] } 6. g3 { [%clk 0:28:02] } 6... Bf6 { [%clk 0:27:14] } 7. Qc2 { So far, this is preparation. A friend of mine plays this line. His main line is 5...Nf6. But once, he played this variation and I got completely outplayed. So 7. Qc2 is my antidote. } { [%clk 0:28:14] } 7... Ne7 { [%clk 0:25:53] } 8. Bg2 { [%clk 0:28:22] } 8... O-O { [%clk 0:25:44] } 9. Nh3 { [%clk 0:27:58] } 9... Nc8 { This move was new to me. Usually, black plays Na6-c5. But I guess this is another way of putting more pressure on the e4-square. } { [%clk 0:25:01] } 10. O-O { [%clk 0:26:16] } 10... Nd6 { [%clk 0:25:02] } 11. b3 { I wasn't too happy with this move. It weakens the long diagonal and the b-pawn may become weak further down the road. But I wanted to challenge the bishop on f6 and get my rook to the d-file. So I guess it's ok all things considered. } { [%clk 0:25:40] } 11... Na6 { [%clk 0:24:44] } 12. Bb2 { [%clk 0:23:09] } 12... Nc5 { I would like to play e4, but it doesn't quite work. Kicking the knight away with b4 is an option, but it may be annoying if it lands on on e4. } { [%clk 0:19:32] } 13. Rad1 { [%clk 0:20:52] } 13... Qe7 { I didn't expect this move, but I probably should have. It makes perfect sense getting off the d-file and preparing to pile up on the e-file. } { [%clk 0:18:55] } 14. Rfe1 { At this point, I am aiming to push e4. Preferably, I would like to expel the knight from c5 without getting it to e4. So 14. b4 was an option. } { [%clk 0:19:53] } 14... a5 { [%clk 0:17:21] } 15. e4?! { Here, I miscalculated. I only looked at trades on e4, and failed to consider the zwischenzug Bxc3. } { [%clk 0:18:07] } 15... Bxc3! { [%clk 0:16:06] } 16. Bxc3 { [%clk 0:17:26] } 16... Ncxe4 { [%clk 0:16:00] } 17. Ba1 { I quite like my bishops, and especially this one. So I felt it was best to hang on to it as best I could. } { [%clk 0:13:06] } (17. Bxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe4 19. Qxe4 { I considered this, but didn't think I had compensation for the material. After Rad8, I think white is just worse. }) 17... Rae8 { It is hard to find a good plan for white here. I would like to get rid of the knights, as they have a lot of central control. } { [%clk 0:10:11] } 18. b4 { [%clk 0:10:24] } (18. f4 h6 19. Nf2 { This was an option I was considering. But I don't like my king position. The dark squares are rather weak, and Qc5 in combination with opening up the a8-h1 diagonal is potentially deadly. }) 18... axb4 { [%clk 0:10:14] } 19. axb4 { [%clk 0:10:36] } 19... h6 { This move doesn't feel quite right to me. There is no need to weaken the king position without provocation. } { [%clk 0:08:21] } 20. Nf4 { My initial thought was to continue with my queenside plans and play c5. But since my opponent opened up his king like this, I felt that I could get my knight into the game with tempo. } { [%csl Ge7,Gf8][%cal Gf4g6] [%clk 0:07:28] } 20... Qf7 { [%clk 0:08:00] } 21. c5 { Back to the plan. Besides pushing the knight around, there is a tactical reason behind my plan. } { [%clk 0:06:10] } 21... bxc5 { [%clk 0:07:51] } 22. bxc5 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 22... Nb5 { [%clk 0:06:02] } 23. dxe6 { [%clk 0:06:11] } 23... dxe6 { [%clk 0:06:12] } 24. c6 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 24... Bc8 { I missed this move altogether. I thought I would win the queen. But still, I have improved my position significantly since the bishop is more or less out of play. My ambition was to achieve this and then take on e4 and win back my pawn. But then I found a better solution. } { [%clk 0:06:17] } (24... Ba8?? 25. Rd7) 25. Rxe4! { [%clk 0:05:05] } (25. Bxe4 fxe4 26. Rxe4 { White wins back the pawn, but has given up the bishop pair and weakened the light squares around the king. }) 25... fxe4 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 26. Bxe4 { Although white has given up material, this is better than having the same position with a rook on e4 instead. The bishops are super strong, and all white's pieces are aiming at the black king. Black has more material, but poor coordination and a passive position. White is much better. } { [%clk 0:05:20] } 26... Rd8 { At first, I thought this was a strong move, and felt an urge to defend. But I didn't know quite what to do. I was getting low on the clock, so I wanted to use the increment for what it's worth. } { [%clk 0:06:24] } 27. Bh7+! { At first, I played this move to gain some time. I was toying with the idea of following up with Bg6 to gain another tempo. But it doesn't amount to much. } { [%clk 0:04:43] } 27... Kh8 { After this move, I saw the winning combination. } { [%clk 0:06:30] } 28. Ng6+! { [%clk 0:04:51] } 28... Kxh7 { [%clk 0:06:12] } 29. Nxf8+ { 1-0 Black resigns. } { Since it's a double check, the king has to move, and white will win more material (29...Kf8 30. Rxd8). The computer announces mate in five, but any decent player will see that the position is resignable for black. } { [%clk 0:05:01] } 1-0