[Event "Spring Classic Armageddon Final"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.04.??"] [Round "13"] [White "Bok, Benjamin"] [Black "Sevian, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Gledura,Benjamin"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A06"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/c11NJVjr/f3BeQAZX"] [Orientation "white"] { We could say that this was the most important game of the tournament, as it decided the first place. } 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c5 3. b3 { A smart opening choice by White, as it is very easy to play. The moves Bc1-b2 followed by Bf1-b5, d2-d4, and then 0-0 come fast and naturally. } 3... a6 { Usually Black stops Bb5 in order to maintain a healthy development. } 4. Bb2 Nc6 5. d4 Nf6 6. dxc5! { An interesting concept. White gives up its central pawn in order to achieve a flexible position with Nb1-d2, a2-a3 followed by b3-b4 and Bf1-d3 and finally 0-0. Bok is quite an experienced blitz player, and it shows. He wants to get a middlegame position where his moves are easy. } 6... e6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. b4 Be7 10. Bd3 b6 (10... b5 11. O-O Bb7 { Seems a better setup for Black compared to the game. }) 11. O-O Bb7 { Now, that both sides have finished developing their minor pieces, it is time to decide what plan to choose. } 12. Qe2! { The best square for the queen. White basically has two plans, and both are associated with opening the position more. Bok will have to choose from e2-e4 or c2-c4. } 12... b5!? { Stopping c2-c4 makes a lot of sense, but it is also wasting a tempo. } 13. e4! Rc8 14. Rfe1 (14. e5 Nd7 15. Nb3 $16 { White's position feels very comfortable. It looks like a bad French Defense for Black. Next is Nb2-d4. }) 14... Qb6 15. exd5 (15. e5 Nd7 16. Nb3 $16 { This position is even slightly better for White compared to 14.e5 because now the queen on b6 is taking the square away from the d7-knight. }) 15... Nxd5 16. Qe4! { White makes use of the bishops to attack the kingside. } 16... g6 17. c4! bxc4 18. Nxc4 Qd8 19. Rad1 $16 { Benjamin must have been pleased with what he achieved out of the opening. All the White pieces are in use, and that gives a comfortable advantage. } 19... Bf6! { Black has to exchange the dark-squared bishops to defend his king. } 20. Bxf6 { A natural move but not the best. } (20. Bf1 Bxb2 21. Nxb2 Qf6 22. Na4 $16 { White would keep a stable advantage. Next stop: Na4-c5! }) 20... Qxf6 { It feels like Black is back in the game. The queen is very well placed on f6, as it helps with attacking ideas like ... Nd5-f4. } 21. Rc1 Rfd8 (21... Nf4! { A missed opportunity by Sevian. I believe he felt that this was the moment where he had a good move, but he played a more natural move in the game. } 22. Bf1 Na5 23. Qe5 Nh3+! { The point! } 24. Kh1 Nxf2+ 25. Kg1 Nh3+ 26. Kh1) 22. Bf1 Nde7 23. Nfe5 Na5 (23... Rd4 { After the game ended, I suggested this move to Sam, which I thought would have given him a decent position. He agreed, but the engine still thinks that White has a small advantage. } 24. Qb1 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Rd2 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 (26... Nxc8 27. Nd3 $16) 27. Nf3 $14) 24. Qe3 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 { White has a very stable position. The kingside is secured and safe. The only question is whether White can make use of its pawn majority on the queenside. } 25... Bd5 (25... Bc6 { This would have been better with the idea of ... Bc6-b5, but it is not an easy move to make. } 26. Nb6 Rb8 27. Bxa6 Bxg2! { White cannot move its bishop from f1 because the kingside would become too weak. } 28. Kxg2 Nf5 { with a dangerous attack. }) 26. Nb6 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 (27. Qxc1 $16 { With the idea of Qc1-c7. }) 27... Qb2 28. Na4 { A smart choice by Bok. He gives no counterplay. } 28... Qf6 29. Nc5 { White now has all the pieces ideally placed. Black has to creative counterplay on the kingside otherwise sooner or later the a6 pawn will fall. } 29... Nf5 30. Qc3 Qg5!? { A logical move but not the best. } (30... Nd4! { The best chance for Black. The d4-knight and the d5-bishop seem to give enough play for Black. } 31. Qg3 $14 (31. Nxa6? Qg5 $19 { Black has too many threats here, such as ... Nd4-e2+ and ...Bd5-xg2. })) 31. Rd1 Rc8?! (31... a5 { Black's best chance is to give up the a-pawn on its own terms. } 32. bxa5 Rc8 33. a6 $16 { White keeps a very good winning chance. }) 32. Qe5! $18 { Bok finds the very best square for the queen. Now all kinds of knight moves are not possible for Black anymore, plus Benjamin sets up a serious threat. } 32... a5 { A logical move but misses White's idea. } 33. Nd7! { The immediate frustration on Sevian's face was clearly visible. He clearly missed the move and he knew that the position was completely lost. There's no way to stop Nd7-f6. } 33... Bb3 34. Nf6+ Qxf6 { The best practical chance but not enough to save the game. } (34... Kf8 35. Nxh7+ $18) (34... Kh8 35. Ne4+ f6 36. Nxf6 Bxd1 37. Ne4+ $18) 35. Qxf6 Bxd1 36. bxa5 Bb3 37. g4! { A good practical decision to open the back rank. } 37... Nd6 38. Qe7 Rc6 39. a6 Kg7 40. a7 Nc8 41. Qb7 Nxa7 42. Qxb3 Rd6 43. Qc3+ Kg8 44. Qc7 { A deservedly won game by Benjamin Bok. It is fair to say that he definitely knows how to play good blitz and Armageddon, especially when it counts. } 1-0