[Event "Round 6: Abrahamyan, Tatev - Mardov, Dimitar"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/7uJQhOyu/VlrRUQF3"] [White "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Black "Mardov, Dimitar"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2306"] [WhiteTitle "WGM"] [WhiteFideId "13301918"] [BlackElo "2457"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [BlackFideId "30919495"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ralphptorres"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C58"] [Opening "Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bishop Check Line"] [UTCDate "2024.04.25"] [UTCTime "04:42:17"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/n8kS32as/VjNgy5YE"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:28:57] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:30:55] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:13] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:20] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 1:29:40] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:45] } 4. Ng5 { [%clk 1:29:49] } 4... d5 { [%clk 1:32:10] } 5. exd5 { [%clk 1:30:17] } 5... Na5 { [%clk 1:32:36] } 6. Bb5+ { [%clk 1:30:43] } 6... c6 { [%clk 1:33:01] } 7. dxc6 { [%clk 1:31:10] } 7... bxc6 { [%clk 1:33:27] } 8. Bd3 { [%clk 1:31:36] } 8... Nd5 { [%clk 1:32:33] } 9. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:38] } 9... Bd6 { [%clk 1:31:51] } 10. O-O { [%clk 1:31:53] } 10... O-O { [%clk 1:32:16] } 11. Re1 { [%clk 1:32:00] } 11... f5 { [%clk 1:32:07] } 12. Nxe5 { [%clk 1:32:19] } 12... Qf6 { [%clk 1:32:20] } 13. Nf3 { [%clk 1:32:41] } 13... g5 { [%clk 1:32:33] } 14. c4 { [%clk 1:33:17] } 14... Nf4 { [%clk 1:32:19] } 15. Bf1 { [%clk 1:33:40] } 15... g4 { [%clk 1:32:45] } 16. d4 { [%clk 1:34:03] } 16... gxf3 { [%clk 1:33:11] } 17. Qxf3 { [%clk 1:34:28] } 17... Ne6 { [%clk 1:32:47] } 18. Qc3 { [%clk 1:31:58] } 18... Nb7 { [%clk 1:31:27] } 19. c5 { [%clk 1:30:39] } 19... Bc7 { [%clk 1:31:48] } 20. b4 { [%clk 1:29:58] } 20... a5 { [%clk 1:32:00] } 21. b5 { [%clk 1:29:32] } 21... cxb5 { [%clk 1:32:25] } 22. Bxb5 { [%clk 1:29:05] } 22... a4 { The final move in my preparation. I knew the position here was about equal but I firmly believe that white has a practical advantage because it is just simply harder to play with a weakened king in such a messy position. } { [%clk 1:31:33] } 23. Bc4 { [%clk 1:11:45] } 23... Re8 { During the game, for some reason I was convinced that this was what I had seen in my preparation when analyzing this variation. Turns out that it is just a mistake and that I most likely mixed up my lines. } { [%clk 1:11:29] } (23... Na5 24. Bd5 Rb8 25. Qe3 Re8 $13 { and the game continues in a very }) 24. d5 { [%clk 0:51:23] } 24... Qxc3 { [%clk 1:10:22] } 25. Nxc3 { [%clk 0:50:00] } 25... Ba5 { [%clk 0:56:31] } 26. Bd2 { [%clk 0:50:02] } 26... Nbxc5 { [%clk 0:35:03] } (26... Ng7 { I dwelled on this move for a bit, trying to find a way to remain up a piece, but white is just better here. } 27. d6+ Be6 28. Rxe6! Rxe6 29. Bd5 Nxc5 30. Bxa8 Rxd6 31. Be1 $16) 27. dxe6 { [%clk 0:39:41] } 27... Bxe6 { [%clk 0:34:15] } 28. Bxe6+ { [%clk 0:23:20] } 28... Nxe6 { And so I entered this position, knowing that I had no chance of winning the game anymore. } { [%clk 0:27:30] } 29. Rad1 { [%clk 0:16:21] } 29... Red8 { [%clk 0:18:36] } 30. Nb1 { [%clk 0:14:07] } 30... Nd4 { [%clk 0:15:07] } (30... Bxd2 { It was necessary to trade off a rook pair for better chances of holding the game. } 31. Rxd2 (31. Nxd2 Rac8!) 31... Rxd2 32. Nxd2 Nd4) 31. Bxa5 { [%clk 0:10:21] } 31... Rxa5 { [%clk 0:15:26] } 32. Rd2 { At this moment, I realized that holding the draw would be harder than I thought. Although the threat of doubling up on the d-file appears to be a simple threat, there isn't an easy way to counter it. } { [%clk 0:09:42] } 32... Rb5 { [%clk 0:11:33] } 33. Kf1 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 33... Rb4 { [%clk 0:08:05] } 34. Nc3 { [%clk 0:03:40] } 34... Rc4 { [%clk 0:05:38] } 35. Ne2 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 35... Nc6 { [%clk 0:04:36] } 36. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:03:10] } 36... Nxd8 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 37. Rc1 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 37... Rb4 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 38. Ke1 { [%clk 0:02:43] } (38. a3! { Not an easy move to find for white, but a necessary one. My opponent was probably worried about Rb3 but Nd4 with a nice tactic is just winning for white. } 38... Rb3 39. Nd4! Rxa3 40. Rc8 $18) 38... Ne6 { [%clk 0:04:58] } 39. Kd2 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 39... Kf7 { [%clk 0:04:50] } 40. Kc3 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 40... Rb6 { [%clk 0:04:32] } 41. Rd1 { [%clk 0:02:21] } 41... Kf6 { [%clk 0:04:32] } 42. Rd5 { [%clk 0:02:22] } 42... a3 { [%clk 0:04:19] } 43. Rd2 { [%clk 0:01:26] } 43... Nc5 { And suddenly, I have my pawn on a3 and my knight is active. While the computer still shows white as +1 here, I have a good amount of compensation for the pawn and white's position isn't easy to play. } { [%clk 0:04:01] } 44. f3 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 44... Na4+ { [%clk 0:03:40] } 45. Kd3 { [%clk 0:01:04] } (45. Kc2 { My opponent had to retreat their king back to the first rank, but this isn't an easy idea to find in time pressure. }) 45... Nb2+ { [%clk 0:03:37] } 46. Kc3 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 46... Rc6+ { [%clk 0:02:52] } 47. Kb4 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 47... Rb6+ { [%clk 0:03:11] } 48. Kc5 { [%clk 0:01:34] } 48... Na4+ { [%clk 0:03:26] } 49. Kd4 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 49... Rb2 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 50. Ke3 { [%clk 0:02:16] } 50... Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 51. Nc1? { Losing any chance of playing on for a win. } { [%clk 0:01:28] } (51. g3! { It was necessary for white to prevent me from playing f4 in order to keep playing for the win. I have nothing better to do in this position than just sit and wait. It's up to my opponent to find a way to break through. }) 51... f4+! { [%clk 0:01:11] } 52. Ke2 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 52... Nc3+ { [%clk 0:01:13] } 53. Kd3 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 53... Nd5 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 54. Re2+ { [%clk 0:00:51] } 54... Kd6 { [%clk 0:01:30] } 55. Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 55... Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 56. Re2+ { [%clk 0:01:12] } 56... Kd6 { [%clk 0:02:19] } 57. Rd2 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 57... Ke5 1/2-1/2