[Event "U.S. Junior Championship - Open"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2024.07.24"] [Round "9"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Wang, Jason"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2523"] [BlackElo "2425"] [Annotator "IM Robert Shlyakhtenko"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E11"] [Opening "Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation"] [StudyName "2024 National Championships (Junior/Girls' Junior/Senior) Rds 7-9"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Wang, Jason"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kt4PLoQ4/gSvcIxxv"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b3 b6 9. Bc1 { This approach shouldn't threaten Black. Most likely, Andy just wanted to play a long game and play extremely solidly, knowing that his opponent would eventually have to take risks. } 9... Nbd7 10. Bb2 a5 { The first sign that Black is trying to play creatively. Had he been content with equality, he would have played the simple 10. ... Bb7. } 11. Qc2 b5 { A non-standard way of playing, but it gives Jason the structural imbalance that he needs. } 12. c5 b4?! { This move, however, is definitely wrong. Black wants to activate the bishop with ... Bc8-a6, but it does not do much there, and in the long-term White's newly-gained ability to force open the queenside with a2-a3 will be much more important. } (12... Ne4! 13. Nbd2 f5 { makes more sense to me. }) 13. Ne1?! { This is also not very logical. White brings the knight to d3 only to allow it to be traded off for Black's bad light-squared bishop. } (13. Nbd2 Ba6 14. Rfe1 { was natural and best. White will follow with a2-a3. }) 13... Ba6 14. Nd3 Qc7 15. a3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 (16. exd3!? { deserves attention, since here at least Black is discouraged from playing ... e6-e5. }) 16... e5! { Being able to play this break is definitely a good sign for Black. } 17. e3 e4 { The opening has been a success for Jason: he has achieved an unbalanced position with mutual chances. However, now Black has to find the right plan. } 18. Qe2 g6 { Black has in mind the idea of ... Nf6-h5 followed by ... f7-f5 and then eventually ... g6-g5 and ... f5-f4. As Andy managed to show in the game, preparing ... f5-f4 is too difficult, especially as Black always has to worry about lines opening on the other side of the board. In my opinion, Black should have tried to advance ... h5-h4 instead, developing a kingside initiative while maintaining a compact position. } (18... h5 { is possible immediately, and now a natural continuation is } 19. Nd2 Rfe8 { (prophylaxis against f2-f3, and preparing ... Nd7-f8) } 20. Ra2 Nf8 21. Rfa1 Qb7 { and Black has good counterplay. }) 19. Nd2 Nh5 20. Ra2 f5 21. Rfa1 Qb7 22. Nf1! { The right regrouping. White's bishop will come to d2, where it both impedes ... f5-f4 and puts pressure on the b4-pawn. } 22... Ndf6 (22... Ng7 { is a better setup if Black wants to continue playing for ... f5-f4. For example, } 23. Bc1 Ne6 24. Bd2 g5 { with counterplay. }) 23. Bc1 g5 24. Bd2 f4? { This just doesn't work. } (24... Kf7 { was more solid; now after } 25. axb4 axb4 26. Ra4!? Rfb8 27. Bxb4 Rxa4 28. Rxa4 Ng7 { White has won a pawn, but will have great difficulty consolidating it (now ... f5-f4 is a realistic idea). }) 25. exf4 gxf4 26. gxf4 Ng7 { Initially it looks like Black is getting some counterplay (e.g., ... Nf6-h5 is coming). But Woodward finds a series of strong moves to consolidate his extra pawn. } 27. Ng3! h5 28. Bh3! Kh7 (28... h4 { is now met by } 29. Nf5!) 29. Qe3 Ng8 { Black continues to regroup. His idea is now ... Ng8-h6 followed by ... Be7-f6, ... h5-h4, and ... Ng7-f5. Before this can happen, Andy immediately takes advantage of Black's temporary disharmony by opening the center. } 30. f3! h4 31. Nxe4! { The clearest way to refute Black's play. } 31... dxe4 32. fxe4 { Black is powerless in the face of the connected passed pawns. } 32... Nf6 33. Kh1 Rae8 34. axb4 Bd8 35. e5 Nd5 36. Qd3+ Kh8 37. f5 Nxb4 38. Bxb4 Qxb4 39. Rg1! { Shifting all the pieces to the kingside. } 39... Rf7 40. Rag2 Nh5 41. Qf3 Rh7 42. Qxc6 Rf8 43. Qd5 Ng3+ { Desperation. } 44. hxg3 Qc3 45. Kh2! Rg8 (45... Bg5 { is met by } 46. Qe4!) 46. f6 Qe3 47. gxh4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0