[Event "1000 GM Bay Area"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/klN1Ppmb/v0YJGQiq"] [Date "2022.12.10"] [White "Alexander Katz"] [Black "Mark Heimann"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/klN1Ppmb/v0YJGQiq"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 h5 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Na5 Qc7 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. c4 e4!? (14... Be7 { It is understandable why Black did not want to play passively, considering the difficult position he reaches after } 15. b4 O-O 16. Be2 Nf6 17. O-O Qd7 18. Rfd1 $16 { where White is quickly executing his plan of mobilizing the queenside. }) 15. Be2 exf3 16. Bxf3 Ne5 17. O-O Be7 18. c5! { The concrete problem with Black's (overly) energetic central play. } 18... Nxf3+ 19. Rxf3 Bg4 20. Rff1 dxc5 (20... O-O { does not fare much better. } 21. Nc4 { is the point! The c5-pawn is invulnerable, due to the devastating threat of d5-d6. } 21... Qd8 22. h3 Bd7 23. b4 dxc5 24. d6! Bh4 25. bxc5 $18) 21. h3 Bd7 22. Bf4 Bd6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Nxb7 Qb6 25. Qe3+ { It took a while to materialize, but ultimately Black's problems can be traced back to the decision to open the center before ensuring he had time to safely castle. Excellent, astute play from Katz. } 25... Kf8 26. Nxc5 Kg8 27. Qe7 Be8 28. d6 Rh6 29. Qb7! Qxb7 30. Nxb7 Rc6 31. Rxc6 Bxc6 32. Rd1 Rg6 33. d7 Rxg2+ 34. Kf1 Bxd7 35. Kxg2 Bc6+ 36. Kg3 Bxb7 37. Rd8+ Kh7 38. Rd7 Bc8 39. Rxf7 Be6 40. Ra7 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0