[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/IX6oYUi9"] [Date "2021.04.24"] [White "JRWright"] [Black "shunshunpro"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1727"] [BlackElo "1811"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D35"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/eMaKZSNM/umfa5whK"] [Orientation "black"] { Annotating a game you played poorly in is never fun, but hopefully you learn something in the process. And so it was that young Arthur Zhang got me (JRWright) turned around in an opening I play often. Take a look. } 1. d4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 0:59:52] } 2... e6 { [%clk 1:00:05] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:59:59] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:00:07] } 4. cxd5 { [%clk 1:00:05] } 4... exd5 { [%clk 0:59:35] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 1:00:09] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 0:58:33] } 6. e3 { [%clk 1:00:13] } 6... O-O { [%clk 0:58:30] } 7. Bd3 { [%clk 1:00:19] } 7... h6 { Not a move that you often see in the QGD Exchange. It is, however, routinely played if Black is able to go for the Lasker or Tartakower variation. But in the Exchange, Black normally brings his Q Knight to d7 and f8 and then to g6. Another common plan is to transfer the N to e6, then play g6, Ng7 and then Bf5. So the problem according "to theory" with h6 is that it weakens the g6 square. No one told my opponent } { [%clk 0:58:31] } 8. Bf4 { Bh4 is played much more often but this move scores better. Nevertheless, keeping the Bishops pressure on the h4-d8 diagonal is more consistent with QGD Exchange strategy. My move allows Black to play a pawn break he otherwise would not have } { [%clk 0:59:51] } 8... c5 { And this is it! Were my B still able to capture on f6 the Black d5 pawn would be to weak to justify this thrust } { [%clk 0:56:56] } 9. Nf3 { [%clk 0:54:12] } 9... c4 { Where would you move the B? } { [%csl Gd3] [%clk 0:55:58] } 10. Be2 { I'm sure most of you said to either c2 or b1 without much thought. Why surrender the diagonal and let Black get in Bf5. Well, I really don't have a good answer! I thought I could undermine the c4 pawn better if I stayed on this diagonal and played a later b3. But then when I had the opportunity to do so, I second guessed myself. } { [%clk 0:53:30] } 10... Nc6 { [%clk 0:55:42] } 11. Ne5 { To stop Nh5 } { [%clk 0:52:38] } 11... Bf5 { Of course! } { [%clk 0:54:44] } 12. Nxc6 { [%clk 0:51:36] } 12... bxc6 { [%clk 0:54:42] } 13. O-O { [%clk 0:50:19] } 13... Qb6 { [%clk 0:52:50] } 14. Na4 { [%clk 0:46:15] } (14. b3 { was better }) 14... Qa5 { [%clk 0:51:21] } 15. h3 { [%clk 0:42:39] } 15... Ne4 { [%clk 0:50:45] } 16. f3 { [%clk 0:41:42] } 16... Nd2 { Despite all of White's contorted moves, the computer still likes my position and thinks Nd2 is a mistake. Now I should play Rf2 , a move I saw, and try to put pressure on the wayward Knight. But computer evaluations don't mean much if you don't feel comfortable with your own position. And as I said, I find myself in a position I never anticipated } { [%clk 0:46:54] } 17. e4 { I think it is common to try and resort to some move like this to try and free yourself when you are under pressure. Even if it is imagined pressure. But this is the losing move. I thought I could acquire a B and N for my Rook and felt this would solve my problems. But the idea as some tactical flaws } { [%clk 0:41:32] } 17... Nxf1 { [%clk 0:41:13] } 18. exf5 { [%clk 0:41:33] } 18... g5 { I saw this move, but not the consequences. I saw that I could capture e.p. and then figured I just move my B. But then of course, the Black Knight can escape and i am just down an exchange } { [%clk 0:40:53] } 19. fxg6 { [%clk 0:38:16] } 19... fxg6 { No good choices here. } { [%clk 0:40:47] } 20. Bxh6 { [%clk 0:38:22] } 20... Ng3 { The right move! My only hope was that Black would want to keep his material advantage. Now there is the threat of Nxe2 and then Qxa4. White is busted. } { [%clk 0:40:32] } 21. Bxf8 { I had a bad feeling about getting back the exchange as I have no control over the dark squares around my King. 21. Nc3 was called for .White is still lost but at least could have put up a better fight } { [%clk 0:30:52] } 21... Rxf8 { [%clk 0:39:55] } 22. Nc3 { [%clk 0:27:07] } 22... Bg5 { An excellent move! } { [%clk 0:39:13] } 23. Qe1 { [%clk 0:22:59] } 23... Be3+ { [%clk 0:37:51] } 24. Kh2 { [%clk 0:23:03] } 24... Qc7 { Oops, I can't take the N. Shun shun (Arthur's AKA) is having some "fun fun!" } { [%clk 0:37:41] } 25. f4 { [%clk 0:21:57] } 25... Bxf4 { [%clk 0:37:23] } 26. Bf3 { [%clk 0:21:02] } 26... Be3 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:36:32] } 0-1