[Event "Stavanger Chess Challenge - Round 9:"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.07.10"] [White "Andreas G Tryggestad"] [Black "Mads Vestby-Ellingsen"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D33"] [Opening "Tarrasch Defense: Dubov Tarrasch"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/JoaBN"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/jt5O3apD/mpoD4U2M"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 { The Tarrasch Defence is one of the most dynamic openings available for Black against 1.d4. } 5. cxd5 exd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 Bb6 { Black has an isolated pawn in the centre, but in return gets active pieces and easy development. White's strategy here is to increase the pressure on d5 or gain control over the d4-square - preferably with a minor piece. } { [%csl Rd5] } 10. O-O d4 { Disrupting White's harmonic set-up, but also opening up for the bishop on g2. } { [%csl Rc3,Gg2] } 11. Na4 O-O 12. Bg5 Re8 13. Re1 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Re4 19. Nxc6 Bb7 20. f3 Rc4 $16 { The opening looks like a huge success for White who is two pawns up in this late middlegate following a nearly forced sequence of moves. However, Black is not dead lost here - White needs to find a couple of precise moves to maintain the pressure. } 21. Ne5 (21. Ne7+! Kf8 22. Nf5 { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gf5d6] } 22... Rc2 23. b3 Rcxa2 24. Rxa2 Rxa2 25. Kf2 $16 { The knight is coming to the central square d4 where it will protect the b3-pawn. White's king is active and can cover the knight from e3. White should be able to win this with a healthy pawn up. } { [%csl Gd4,Gb3][%cal Gf5d4,Gf2e3] }) 21... Rc2 22. Nd3 Ba6! { This is the difference from the variations starting with 21.Ne7. White's knight comes under attack from the Black bishop on d3 which wasn't possible from d4. Now Black's pieces are working together very harmoniously. } 23. Nb4 Rxb2 24. Nxa6 Rxa6 25. a4 Rb4 { Black's active rooks maintains the balance. } 26. Reb1 Raxa4 27. Kf2 (27. Rxb4 Rxa1+ $10 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga1a6] }) (27. Rxa4 Rxb1+ $10 { [%cal Gb6b5] }) 27... b5 28. Rxb4 Rxb4 29. Ra8+ Kh7 30. Rb8 g5 31. Rb6 Kg7 32. g4 Rb2 33. Kg3 Rxe2 34. Rxb5 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } { Draw agreed in this symmetrical endgame - a tough fight in which White should have been able to convert his nearly winning position in the late middlegame. } 1/2-1/2