[Event "GRENKE Chess Open"] [Site "Karlsruhe, Germany"] [Date "2024.04.01"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Ivic, Velimir"] [Black "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2582"] [BlackElo "2676"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0uX2KYO/fMKWI440"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Be2 Bh4+ 13. g3 Be7 14. O-O-O a5 (14... Nd7 { is more common. }) 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Kb1 $146 a4 17. Nc1 Qa5 { Black follows the old adage that queen trades in open Sicilian positions favor Black, and here he seems justified. White's queenside advances do not seem to cause much of a problem, while Black will enjoy a grip on the center after ... f7-f5. } 18. Qxa5 (18. Ne2 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 a3 20. c4 Na6 { is also fine for Black. }) (18. Qf2 { keeping queens on would be a mistake, passing the initiative to Black after } 18... a3 19. Bb6 Qb4 { when best is probably } 20. c3 Qxb2+ 21. Qxb2 axb2 22. Ne2 h4 $17 { and more active rooks, with the minor pieces catching up shortly after ... Nb8-a6-c5. }) 18... Rxa5 19. c4 f5 20. h3 Ra8 21. g4 g6 22. gxf5 gxf5 23. c5?! { White is playing thematically, but prematurely. } (23. f4 { would be an unprincipled move, playing on the side of the board where White is weaker, but at least forcing } 23... e4 { and claiming the dark squares wtih } 24. Bd4 Rh7 25. Be2 $10 { restricts Black's play a bit. }) 23... Na6! { The lack of queens make this an easier break for Black to ignore. } 24. cxd6 (24. Ne2 { would continue the game normally: } 24... Rg8 { anticipating Ne2-g3 } 25. Rhg1 Rxg1 26. Rxg1 Nb4 $15) 24... Bxd6 25. Rhg1 Kf7 26. a3 Rag8 27. Ne2? Nc5 (27... f4! { would disconnect White's pieces for good. } 28. Bb6 Rxg1 29. Rxg1 Bc5 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Bg6+ Kf6 32. h4 Nb3 $17 { gives Black a strong game. } (32... Bg4!! { is apparently winning, according to the engine! } 33. fxg4 Kxg6 34. gxh5+ Kxh5 35. Kc2 Rf8 $19)) 28. Bc2 Nb3 29. h4 Be7 (29... Rxg1 30. Rxg1 f4 31. Bf2 Nd2+ 32. Kc1 Nxf3 33. Rg6 Bc7 34. Nc3 Bd8! 35. Rd6 Bg4 $17 { was more precise, so it's worth appreciating the "human" approach to slowly improving his position that Niemann employs here instead. }) 30. f4 Rxg1 31. Rxg1 e4 32. Nd4 Bxh4 33. Nxb3 axb3 34. Bxb3 Rh7?! 35. d6+? (35. Bb6! { was White's best chance. } 35... Bf6 36. d6+ Be6 37. Kc2 Bxb3+ 38. Kxb3 Ke6 39. Rg6 Kf7 40. Rg1 $10) 35... Be6 36. Ba4 (36. Kc2 Bxb3+ 37. Kxb3 Ke6 { is much better for Black now, since there is no Bb6-c7. }) 36... Bd8 37. Rh1 h4 38. Bf2? (38. Rh2 Bd5 39. Bd7 { offers more resistance. } 39... Be6 40. Bb5 Bb3 41. Bd7 Be6 42. Bb5 Rg7 43. d7 { only now, after ... b7-b5 has been anticipated. }) 38... Bd5 { Black now dominates the key diagonals. } 39. Rh3 (39. Be3 Ke6 40. d7 Bc4 $19 { with ... b7-b5 coming. }) 39... Ke6 40. d7 Bc4 41. Kc1 b5 { Another reason White need to anticipate the ... b7-b5 push with 35. Bb6! is now apparent! The d7-pawn falls, and with it any chances for White to hold. } 42. Bc2 Rxd7 43. Bxh4 Rh7 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1