[Event "Round 11: Krauchi Romero, Martin - Das, Aditeya"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-youth-chess-championships-2025--open-u14/round-11/xIFWeMFx/wWyNSHYv"] [Date "2025.10.15"] [Round "11.10"] [White "Krauchi Romero, Martin"] [Black "Das, Aditeya"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2346"] [WhiteTitle "FM"] [WhiteFideId "54766648"] [BlackElo "2248"] [BlackTitle "FM"] [BlackFideId "30975972"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A13"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense, Semi-Slav Defense"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE World Youth"] [ChapterName "Krauchi Romero, Martin - Das, Aditeya"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/jZcqSxJ4/hoQyYlDZ"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:30:58] } 1... e6 { [%clk 1:28:19] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:31:21] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:28:36] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:31:44] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:29:02] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:32:08] } 4... c6 { [%clk 1:29:24] } 5. d4 { [%clk 1:31:54] } 5... Bb4+ { [%clk 1:29:45] } 6. Nbd2 { [%clk 1:31:03] } 6... O-O { [%clk 1:25:21] } 7. O-O { [%clk 1:31:20] } 7... b6 { The closed Catalan has a reputation for leading to quiet games. But White is following a line from fellow Spaniard GM Alvar Alonso Rosell that leads to sharp games. What ensues is nothing short of chaos and one of the most rich, complex, entertaining games I've seen all year. } { [%clk 1:24:10] } 8. Qc2 { [%clk 1:26:08] } 8... Ba6 { [%clk 1:23:09] } (8... Bb7 { might be more solid here. Black isn't stopping e2-e4, so there's no need to put the bishop on the edge. }) 9. b3 { [%clk 1:17:48] } (9. Rd1 { is the main alternative. }) 9... Nbd7 { [%clk 1:21:52] } 10. e4 { [%clk 1:13:09] } 10... Rc8 { [%clk 1:19:37] } (10... c5 { is worth further exploration. }) 11. a3 { [%clk 1:01:57] } 11... Be7 { [%clk 1:15:04] } (11... Bxd2 { might have made more sense. In some lines, we'll see the bishop be a bit of a target on e7. }) 12. Bb2 { [%clk 1:02:06] } 12... c5 { Ramping up the tension! } { [%clk 1:14:54] } 13. exd5 { [%clk 0:58:42] } 13... exd5 { [%clk 1:13:07] } 14. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:55:30] } (14. Rfe1 { would be a bit more worrisome. After } 14... Re8 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 { avoiding the tempo-gain after recapturing with the queen, } 17. Rd1 $16 { gives White lingering pressure. This sort of sophisticated line was one reason to prefer 11. ... Bxd2. }) 14... cxd4 { [%clk 0:57:07] } 15. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:55:41] } 15... Qc7?! { This move gives White an advantage, but the computer's alternative is an appetizer of the sort of messy position we're ready to see. } { [%clk 0:50:12] } (15... b5!? { Undermining the c4-pawn against White's queen is not strange on its own, but this move invites: } 16. Nf5 { with pressure on both e7 and g7, when } 16... bxc4 17. bxc4 Re8 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 { is what the engine had in mind, allowing } 19. Nxg7 { and ignoring the hit on the rook with } 19... Bc5 $13 { and good luck making an evaluation here. }) (15... Re8 { might be the simplest, sanest alternative. } { [%cal Ge7f8] }) 16. Rac1 { [%clk 0:50:54] } 16... dxc4?! { [%clk 0:48:05] } 17. Nc6? { [%clk 0:50:24] } (17. Nxc4 { gives White a strong initiative due to the two open bishops and fully open center. What should Black play? After } 17... Rfe8 (17... Bc5 { could be tried, but now } 18. Nf5 { is better, going straight for the g7-square and illustrating why keeping the knight on d4 was more flexible. }) 18. Nc6 Bf8 19. b4 { space is only growing, and } 19... Bb5 20. Ne3! $16 { marks a kingside shift. } { [%cal Gb2g7,Ge3f5] }) 17... Bc5 { [%clk 0:40:19] } 18. Nxc4 { [%clk 0:40:19] } 18... Bb7 { [%clk 0:38:34] } 19. N4e5 { As Agadmator would say, you might want to pause the video here. Or you can follow along and enjoy the show. } { [%clk 0:39:46] } 19... Nxe5?? { So, it turns out this was a DGT error. } (19... Nb8!! { In the game, Adi found the only move! } 20. Nxb8 { was played in the game. } (20. Qf5 { was an interesting alternative. } 20... Bxc6 (20... Nxc6?? 21. Nd7! $18 { illustrates why Black's knight needed to stay on the b8-square! } { [%cal Gb2g7] }) 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Be4 { threatens mate, but } (23. Qxf6 Qe5 $19 { just leaves Black piece-up. }) 23... Rfd8 { says there is nothing there. White is a full piece down, but after } 24. Re1 Ne5 25. b4 $14 { regains material. }) 20... Qxb8 { was played in the game. Now, the board will transpose to the position seen in the main variation after "20. Qb8." } (20... Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qxb8 { is a fine position for Black. })) 20. Nxe5 { See previous comment. This was a DGT error. Black's last move was 19. ... Nb8! and White's move was 20. Nxb8. } { [%clk 0:25:18] } 20... Qb8? { See previous comment. This was a DGT error. Black's last move was 19. ... Nb8! and White's move was 20. Nxb8, and this should read "20. ... Qb8." After this the moves are correct. } { [%clk 0:32:26] } 21. Nd7?? { Now, the moves are correct. This is too ambitious, and now Black's bishops prove to be more dangerous! } { [%clk 0:23:55] } (21. Qf5 { was necessary preparation. }) 21... Nxd7 { [%clk 0:32:26] } 22. Rxd7 { [%clk 0:24:14] } 22... Bxg2! { Sniping the light-squared bishop will be a key part of Black's successful counterattack. } { [%clk 0:32:23] } 23. Qf5 { [%clk 0:13:46] } (23. Kxg2 Be3 $19) 23... Bxa3?? { [%clk 0:19:38] } (23... Qa8! { was winning for a very subtle reason. White is close to making mate threats, but must play } 24. Qg4 { as } (24. Qg5? { gives up the f3-square and allows } 24... Bxf2+! 25. Kxf2 Qf3+ 26. Kg1 Rxc1+ $19 { when White must relinquish the attack in order to recapture. But after 24. Qg4, }) 24... g6 $19 { just stops everything, as there is no way to reach the g7-square. }) 24. Bxa3 { [%clk 0:10:07] } 24... Rxc1+ { [%clk 0:20:06] } 25. Bxc1?! { [%clk 0:10:36] } (25. Kxg2!) 25... Bc6 { [%clk 0:19:35] } 26. Rd4 { [%clk 0:08:05] } 26... Ba8 { [%clk 0:10:04] } (26... Re8 27. Bd2 Qb7 $17) 27. Rd7? { [%clk 0:04:36] } 27... Qe8! { White's queen is overloaded. } { [%clk 0:07:32] } 28. Be3 { [%clk 0:03:35] } 28... Be4 { [%clk 0:07:55] } (28... Qc8! { [%cal Gc8c6] }) 29. Qg4 { [%clk 0:03:39] } 29... h5 { [%clk 0:07:07] } 30. Qh3?? { The final blunder, although Black was already much better. } { [%clk 0:03:58] } (30. Qd1! Bf3! 31. Qd6 Qe4 $17) 30... Qc8! { The rook is perma-pinned! What an exhilarating game. } { [%clk 0:07:20] } 0-1