Svane, Frederik(2627)
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Niemann, Hans Moke(2676)
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1.e4c52.Nf3e63.Nc3Nc64.h3Be75.g3d66.Bg2Nf67.O-OO-O8.d3Rb89.a4a610.Be3b511.axb5axb512.Nd2N...The first new move, although this entire line is essentially uncharted territory. White's knight often prefers to be on e2 (or even h3) in Closed Sicilian set-ups. Although the combination of g2-g3 and Ng1-f3 is more common against e6-Sicilian set-ups, Black usually goes for ... d7-d5 rather than ... d7-d6, also explaining the relative lack of games here.12....d5!?12...Qc713.f4b414.Ne2Bb7is a more consistent way for Black to play, opting to wait on ... d6-d5 until White commits more firmly to the kingside, for instance with15.g4(15.c3Nd716.f5exf517.Rxf5Nce518.d4Nd3illustrating one possible line where the more closed center can favor Black's powerful knights.)d5!16.e5Nd717.c3Rfc813.exd5exd514.Bf4Rb6Energetic, and consistent, play from Svane. With the d-pawn break established, Black's rook enjoys an "open rank" and thus discourages White from kingside expansion.15.Ra8h616.Nb3Ra617.Rxa6Bxa6A neat way to neutralize White's grip on the open a-file while developing a piece.18.Re1Re819.Be5Nxe520.Rxe5...White's plan is to pressure the d5-pawn and provoke overextension.20....c420...d421.Nd5Nxd522.Bxd5Rf823.Qf3keeps the pressure coming, butBd624.Rf5Qc7might not amount to much.21.Nd4Bc522.Nc6...The game has now turned swiftly into tactical waters, which makes sense given the decisions to open up the center after Black's ... d6-d5.22....Qd6?!22...Bxf2+was the forcing line Niemann had to assess:23.Kxf2Qb6+24.d4Qxc625.Nxd5Nxd526.Rxe8+Qxe827.Bxd5is equal, and Black has no improvements. White should be happy to have advanced d3-d4, and Black must play urgently to stay equal.Bc8!=23.Rxe8+Nxe824.Nxd5...Or24.d4immediately is also good for White:Qxc625.Bxd5Qc826.dxc5Qxc527.Qf3when the extra set of knights help White argue for a small advantage on the attacking front.24....Kf824...cxd325.Qxd3Kh8If one extra set of minor pieces helped White fight, imagine how happy he'd be here with three minor pieces remaining.26.Nf4±with pressure against the weak b-pawn and relatively little to worry about from Black's light-squared bishop.25.Nc3...25.d4!would neutralize the bishop pair, but the resulting variations are hard to evaluate properly.Qxc626.Nc3!Qc827.dxc5b4(27...Qxc528.Qd7Qb629.Bc6Nf630.Qd6+Kg831.Nd5!is the point of regrouping to c3 in the first place. White is better afterNxd5(31...Qxf2+!32.Kxf2Ne4+33.Ke3Nxd634.Kd4Kf8(34...Nf5+35.Kc5±)35.Ke5±)32.Qxd5±But, more surprisingly, is also better with the active king as more than sufficient compensation for the pawn, after)28.Ne4f529.Nd6Qxc530.Nxe8Kxe831.Bd5although this is still a difficult position to assess, with ... f5-f4 and ... c4-c3 giving Black complications to worry about.25....cxd3?25...Bb7!26.d4(26.Qf3Bxc627.Qxc6Qxc628.Bxc6cxd329.cxd3b430.Nb5gives White an extra pawn, but the threat of a trade of bishops should keep Black within the drawing margin.)Bxc627.dxc5Qxc528.Bxc6Qxc629.Qh5b430.Nd5looks like White's pieces dominate, butb3!=gives Black meaningful, and sufficient, counterplay in terms of White's weak queenside pawns.26.Qxd3Qf626...Qxd327.cxd3b428.Na4Bd629.d4±gives White a mean passed central pawn, making it unlikely that Black's bishop pair provides compensation for the one-pawn deficit.27.Qd2Nd6?27...Bc8!28.g4(28.b4Bxf2+29.Qxf2Qxc3=)Nc729.b428.b4!...28.Nd5Qxb229.Nb6is also winning.28....Nc428...Bxf2+?29.Qxf2Qxc330.Qb6!explains why Black is not equalizing. For instance:Bc8(30...Qxg331.Qd8+Ne832.Qe7++−)31.Qd8+Ne832.Qe7+Kg833.Qxe8+Kh734.Qxc8+−29.Qe1Bxf2+30.Qxf2Qxc331.Qc5+!Kg832.Ne7+Kh833.Kh2Qf634.Qa7...The key position that White must have calculated when playing 28. b4!.34....Kh735.Be4+g636.Bxg6+Kg737.Bd3...White is up a pawn, Black's pieces are stuck, and Black's king is still weak. This is winning, and Niemann converts rather flawlessly.37....Nd638.Nd5Qe539.Qxa6Qxd540.Qa1+f641.Qa7+Kf842.Qb8+Ke743.Qa7+Kd844.Qe3Qg545.Qxg5fxg546.Kg21-0 White wins.1-0