[Event "SPICE Cup 2022"] [Date "2022.12.22"] [Round "8.18"] [White "Colas, Joshua"] [Black "Rahul, Srivatshav"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2228"] [BlackElo "2498"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D45"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Normal Variation"] [StudyName "Winter Norm Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Colas, Joshua - Rahul, Srivatshav"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/klN1Ppmb/ldfsL7lT"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Bd6 6. Bb2 O-O 7. d4 Nbd7 8. cxd5?! exd5 9. Bd3 Re8 { White's trade of c-for-e-pawns makes it easier for Black to prevent White's thematic e3-e4 break (after the knight vacates the f3-square and White pushes f2-f3). It also allows Black to play to clamp on the e4-square, perhaps after ...f7-f5. Typically, White would also consider a "stonewall" plan with f2-f4 after Nf3-e5, or a "minority attack" with b2-b4-b5. But the inclusion of b2-b3 slows the latter plan down, and the former is not available. As such, Black's position is preferable. } 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. O-O Ne4 12. Rae1 f5 13. Nd2? { An instructive mistake. It looks like White, do to being a bit cramped, would like to trade minor pieces. Additionally, it looks like Black can use the closed center to open the kingside with ...g7-g5-g4. Therefore, proactively vacating the f3-square and offering a trade would presumably be logical. But here, White's counterplay actually comes from keeping Black's knight on the e4-square as to play the probing f2-f3. } (13. Ne2 { Presumably, White was afraid of } 13... g5 (13... Rf8 { If Black does not play aggressively, White is happy to shuffle patiently. } 14. Nf4 g5 15. Nh5 Qf7 16. Ng3 Qe6) 14. Kh1 g4 { but now, White has a spectacular pawn sacrifice. } 15. Ne5! Nxe5 (15... Qh4 16. g3 Qe7 17. f3! { Again, White should have equalized here. }) 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. f3! { Here is the position that demonstrates why White wanted to leave Black's knight where it was. } 18... gxf3 19. gxf3 Kh8!? 20. Nf4 (20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Ba6 bxa6 22. Qxc6 Bg4 23. Nd4 Rg8 $13) 20... Nf6 21. Qg2 Rg8 22. Qh3 $44) 13... Qh4 14. f4 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Nf6 { The other knight re-routes to take up its fallen comrade's post. This nice sequence also provokes the weakening h2-h3, as ...Nf6-g4 is also threatened. } 16. h3 Bd7 17. Qf2 Qh6 18. Qc2 Ne4 19. Bxe4 fxe4 { White still has his bad bishop, and Black's "bad" bishop now has an eye on the h3-pawn. } 20. Qc1 Rad8 (20... b5! { An improvement, anticipating White's intention to trade off his worst piece, and preventing it by threatening ...b5-b4. }) 21. Ba3 Bb8 { Now, White can argue that controlling the f8- and e7-squares can be useful in preventing Black from coordinating. } 22. Ne2 g5 { Black decides to strike! Surely, this is fine, but White still struggled to find improving or activating moves, so forcing matters likely plays into White's hand. } 23. fxg5 Qxg5 24. Nf4 Kh8 25. Qd2 (25. Re2 { Apparently this subtle difference gives White a new resource after } 25... Rg8 26. g4 h5 27. Rh2! { . }) 25... Rg8! 26. Re2 Rg7 27. Kh1 Qh6 28. Ref2 Qh4? (28... Bc7! 29. Qe2 Bg4 30. Qe1 Rdg8 31. Bf8 Rxf8 32. Ng6+ hxg6 33. Rxf8+ Kh7 { Notice that, were Black's bishop still on the back rank, White would scoop it up. }) 29. Qe2 Bg4 30. Qe1 Qg3 (30... Rdg8 { Now, this move is met by } 31. Bf8! Rd7 (31... Rxf8?? 32. Ng6+ hxg6 33. Rxf8+ { where both the Queen hanging on the h4-square and the bishop hanging on the back rank are improvements for White. })) 31. hxg4 Rxg4 32. Be7? (32. Kg1 { White holds a draw, but barely, so it is understandable why he did not want to risk going into this line after } 32... Rh4 33. Rb2 Qh2+ 34. Kf2 Rg8 35. Ke2 Rxf4 36. exf4 Rxg2+ 37. Kd1 Rxb2 38. Bxb2 Qxb2 39. Qb4 Qb1+ 40. Ke2 Qd3+ { with a perpetual. }) 32... Rd6?? { A gross miscalculation! } (32... Bxf4 $19 33. exf4 (33. Bf6+ Kg8 34. exf4 Rd6 $19) 33... Rd6 $19) 33. Nh3! { Simply put, Black needed to remove this knight before White could consolidate. } 33... Re6 34. Rf8+ Kg7 35. Qxg3 Bxg3 36. R1f7+ Kg6 37. Rf6+ Rxf6 38. Rxf6+ Kg7 39. Rf1 { The dust has settled and White is a healthy piece up. It takes time, but he converts without leaving room for any doubt. } 39... Rg6 40. a4 Bc7 41. Bg5 Ba5 42. Bf4 Bd2 43. g3 Kf6 44. Kg2 Ke7 45. Kf2 h6 46. Ke2 Bb4 47. Be5 Ke8 48. Rf6 Rxf6 49. Bxf6 Kf7 50. Be5 Kg6 51. g4 Be7 52. Kf2 Bh4+ 53. Kg2 Be1 54. Bg3 Bd2 55. Kf2 Bb4 56. Bc7 Bd2 57. Bd6 Kf6 58. Nf4 Kf7 59. b4 a6 60. Ke2 Bc1 61. a5 Ke8 62. Ng2 Kf7 63. Kd1 Ba3 64. Nf4 Kf6 65. Nh3 Kg6 66. Kc2 Kf6 67. Bf8 Kf7 68. Kb3 Kxf8 69. Kxa3 Kf7 70. Kb3 Kg6 71. Kc3 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0