[Event "12th Washington International - Championship"] [Site "Rockville, Maryland USA, United States"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Steingrimsson, Hedinn"] [Black "Rahul Srivatshav P"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2492"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2300117"] [BlackElo "2455"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "25059653"] [TimeControl "G/100; +30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E73"] [Opening "King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System"] [StudyName "12th Washington International"] [ChapterName "Steingrimsson, Hedinn - Rahul Srivatshav P"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/eHKbQVyR/LBEa2lWH"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [UTCDate "2025.08.15"] [UTCTime "19:23:47"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:07] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 1:15:12] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:30:11] } 2... g6 { [%clk 1:15:04] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:30:38] } 3... Bg7 { [%clk 1:15:16] } 4. e4 { [%clk 1:31:04] } 4... d6 { [%clk 1:15:37] } 5. Be2 { [%clk 1:31:32] } 5... O-O { [%clk 1:15:37] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 1:31:59] } 6... Na6 { [%clk 1:15:57] } 7. g4!? { An interesting try in the Semi-Averbakh Variation of the King's Indian Defense. } { [%clk 1:31:09] } (7. h3 { is more flexible, waiting to see if Black commits to } 7... e5 { before pushing the g-pawn. The point is that after } (7... c5 { , White might prefer } 8. Nf3 { and going into something closer to a Maroczy Bind structure than a Benoni where White's pieces were not particularly well-placed. But now }) 8. d5 Nc5 9. Qc2 a5 10. g4 $16 { and Black's ... f7-f5 has been shut down, making it harder to justify the placement of the e5-pawn. }) 7... c5! { [%clk 1:12:56] } 8. d5 { [%clk 1:30:30] } 8... Nc7 { One reason why Black's position is perfectly fine here is that the space disadvantage is not relevant. The knights will be well-placed on the c7- and d7-square, and the bishop can be useful on the h3-c8 diagonal even without moving. } { [%clk 1:06:36] } 9. a4 { [%clk 1:25:00] } 9... e6 { [%clk 1:02:50] } 10. g5 { White needs to mind Black's pressure on the g4-square before playing Ng1-f3. } { [%clk 1:25:26] } (10. h3 { was the other option, forcing Black to look for another way to improve the light-squared bishop via a ... b7-b5 break after, for instance } 10... a6 11. Nf3 exd5 12. exd5 Rb8 13. O-O b5! { , when Black still has an easier game to play. }) 10... Nd7 { [%clk 1:02:25] } 11. Nf3 $146 { [%clk 1:25:28] } 11... exd5 { [%clk 0:47:49] } 12. exd5 { The better recapture, as the e4-pawn would be a target after c4xd5. } { [%clk 1:25:00] } 12... Ne5 { Suddenly, Black's pieces come to life! } { [%clk 0:44:39] } 13. Nd2 { [%clk 1:16:10] } 13... Re8 { [%clk 0:39:06] } 14. h4 { [%clk 1:10:40] } 14... Bf5 { The downside to pushing g4-g5 too early is that it concedes the f5-square. But, as mentioned, the ... b7-b5 motif was a useful countermeasure if White did not play g4-g5. } { [%clk 0:37:34] } 15. Nf1 { [%clk 1:08:10] } 15... Na6 { [%clk 0:32:09] } 16. f4?! { With the king in the center and the e-file fully open, this is too much for White's position to handle. } { [%clk 1:07:08] } (16. Ng3 { was necessary, removing the bishop as quickly as possible. } 16... Qd7 17. Nxf5 Qxf5 18. Qb1 { and White has neutralized Black's pressure. } 18... Qd7 19. Qe4! $10 { Counterintuitive, but any knight move would allow Qe4-g4, so White is solid here. } { [%cal Ge4g4] }) 16... Nd7 { [%clk 0:27:16] } 17. Kf2 { [%clk 1:02:12] } 17... Nb4 { [%clk 0:26:08] } 18. Rc1 { [%clk 0:59:58] } 18... Bd4 { [%clk 0:15:58] } 19. Rg1!? { [%clk 0:51:35] } (19. Qd2) 19... Rxe3! { Black fires off the thematic Exchange sacrifice. } { [%clk 0:15:03] } 20. Nxe3 { [%clk 0:50:27] } 20... Qe7 { [%clk 0:15:31] } 21. Rg3 { [%clk 0:48:22] } 21... Re8 { [%clk 0:15:47] } 22. Qd2 { [%clk 0:48:12] } 22... a6 { There's nothing White can do now. } { [%clk 0:15:24] } 23. Rcg1 { White returns the material, but this will not quell the initiative. } { [%clk 0:37:26] } (23. Bf1 f6 $17 { would just keep opening up the board while White is paralyzed. }) 23... Nc2 { [%clk 0:13:13] } 24. Nd1 { [%clk 0:37:54] } 24... Qe4 { Black's play along the e-file is instructive for fans of Benoni structures with e4xd5. } { [%clk 0:13:08] } 25. Rf3 { [%clk 0:38:06] } 25... b5 { [%clk 0:08:39] } 26. axb5 { [%clk 0:35:11] } 26... axb5 { [%clk 0:09:05] } 27. b3? { [%clk 0:35:40] } (27. Rgg3 { returns material after } 27... Nxe3 28. Nxe3 Nb6 $17 { and Black keeps pushing. }) 27... bxc4 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 28. bxc4 { [%clk 0:36:08] } 28... Rb8?! { The rook already had a purpose on the e-file, and this turns out to give White more breathing room. } { [%clk 0:07:29] } (28... Nxe3 29. Nxe3 h5 $19 { and White remains frozen. }) 29. Kg3 { [%clk 0:30:38] } 29... Nxe3 { [%clk 0:07:19] } 30. Rxe3 { [%clk 0:30:33] } 30... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:07:28] } 31. Qxe3 { [%clk 0:30:56] } 31... Qc2 { [%clk 0:07:28] } 32. Kf2 { [%clk 0:25:10] } 32... Nb6?! { [%clk 0:06:46] } (32... Rb3 { was more precise. Even with } 33. Qe8+ { Black can play } 33... Nf8 34. Rg3 Rb1 $17 { with continued pressure. }) 33. Qc3 { [%clk 0:25:05] } 33... Qe4 { [%clk 0:07:14] } 34. Qe3 { [%clk 0:25:32] } 34... Qc2 { [%clk 0:07:40] } 35. Qc3 { [%clk 0:26:00] } 35... Qe4 { [%clk 0:08:01] } 36. Qe3 { [%clk 0:26:13] } 36... Re8 { [%clk 0:07:48] } 37. Re1? { White underestimates the danger after Black's intended transformation. } { [%clk 0:24:24] } (37. Qxe4! { was necessary: } 37... Rxe4 (37... Bxe4?! 38. Nc3 Bf5 39. Ra1 $14) 38. Nc3 Rxf4+ { and Black wins a pawn, but } 39. Kg3 Rd4 40. Nb5 { wins it right back! Black can try } 40... Rd2 41. Kf3 { but } 41... Bd3! $10 { keeps the hunt on the c4-pawn alive. }) 37... Qd4! { [%clk 0:06:33] } 38. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:23:58] } 38... cxd4 { The half-open c-file promises Black winning chances! } { [%clk 0:07:00] } 39. Bf1 { [%clk 0:19:09] } 39... Ra8 { [%clk 0:07:26] } 40. Re7 { White is struggling to find any attacking plans. } { [%clk 0:14:37] } (40. Kg2 Ra3 41. Re7 d3 { is no more promising for White. }) 40... Ra1 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 41. Rb7 { [%clk 0:11:51] } 41... Na4 { [%clk 0:06:29] } 42. Be2 { [%clk 0:11:57] } 42... Nc3 { [%clk 0:06:15] } 43. Nb2 { [%clk 0:11:57] } 43... Rb1 { [%clk 0:06:29] } 44. Rb4 { [%clk 0:10:11] } 44... h5 { [%clk 0:06:09] } (44... d3 { worked, as even } 45. h5 Kf8 { wins, but Black was spooked by } (45... dxe2?? 46. Rb8+ Kg7 47. h6# { and looked elsewhere. })) 45. gxh6 { [%clk 0:09:08] } 45... Kh7 { [%clk 0:06:34] } 46. h5 { [%clk 0:09:10] } 46... Kxh6 { [%clk 0:06:45] } 47. hxg6 { [%clk 0:09:37] } 47... fxg6 { [%clk 0:07:09] } 48. Bf1?? { White finally collapses under the pressure. } { [%clk 0:07:34] } (48. Bf3! { was the best try, when } 48... Rc1 49. Rb6 Rc2+ 50. Ke1 d3 51. Nxd3 Bxd3 52. Rxd6 { would give White some outside chances due to the connected passers, although Black should be winning. }) 48... Rxb2+ { Simplifying and ending the game instantly. } { [%clk 0:06:45] } 49. Rxb2 { [%clk 0:07:09] } 49... Nd1+ { [%clk 0:07:08] } 0-1