[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [White "mronemore"] [Black "drchessdad"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2147"] [BlackElo "2138"] [TimeControl "2700+45"] [Annotator "MARK"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C10"] [Opening "French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nz7sL9TQ/VhlS08IU"] [Orientation "white"] { Round 2 of the lichess league season 25. Another round, another day playing as Black } 1. e4 e6 { Some background: I had played my opponent before around 6 months ago with the same colors! } 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4!? { I'm the first to deviate because I was pretty sure that my opponent was well prepared for my previous line. } 4. Nxe4 Nd7 { The French Rubinstein. A popular line amongst club players because it cuts down on a lot of theory. it can be played against 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2 } 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3! { one of the most testing lines in the French Rubinstein } 6... c5! { the most aggressive way to fight for equality } 7. O-O! { my opponent chooses the most testing continuation. Correct for White is to prioritise development above all else. Thankfully I was also prepared for this line } 7... Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bd3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5! { in general Black wants to develop his dark squared bishop to c5 in one move } (10... Qxd4?? 11. Bb5+ { How many of us have fallen for this trap early in our chess journey? }) 11. Nb3 Be7?! { the first inaccuracy. Solid but passive. } (11... Bd6 12. Re1 (12. Bb5+ { doesn't work } 12... Bd7! 13. Qxd6 Bxb5 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Re1 O-O $10) (12. Bg5 Bd7 13. Re1 (13. Qf3 Qc7! 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qxf6 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Be5) 13... Qc7! { and Black has equalised with either options of castling queenside } 14. Bxf6 gxf6) 12... Qc7 13. g3 Bd7 { keeps both options of casting either kingside or queenside }) 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Qf3! { stops me from playing ..b6 and..Bb7 for now } 13... Qd5 { Trading queens would more or less end any hopes of a kingside attack from White's point of view. } 14. Qe3 b6 { if Black manages to activate his Light square bishop on b7 or a6, he has more or less equalised. } (14... Qh5 { may be the most accurate move here } 15. c4 { stopping any ideas of ..Nd5 } 15... Bd7 16. Rfe1 Bc6 17. h3 Rad8 18. Qg3) 15. Rad1 { the critical position } 15... Qh5?! 16. Be2 Qf5? (16... Qg6 17. Qf3 (17. Bf3 Ba6) 17... Nd5 18. Bd3 Qf6 19. Qe4 Qh4 20. Be5 Qxe4 21. Bxe4 Ba6 22. Rfe1 { Black still holds on }) 17. Nd4 Qc5 { here i thought Black is going to equalise with Nd5 and Bb7 coming up but my opponent finds a killer blow } 18. b4! { and it's all over } 18... Nd5 (18... Qxb4 19. Nc6 Qc5 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bd6 { White wins the exchange. }) 19. bxc5 Nxe3 20. Bxe3 Bxc5 21. Bf3 Ba6 22. Bxa8 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 Rxa8 24. Ke2 Kf8 25. Nf3 Bxe3 26. Kxe3 Ke8 (26... Ke7? 27. Ne5 f6 28. Rd7+ Ke8 29. Rxg7 Kf8 30. Rxh7 Kg8 31. Rc7 fxe5 32. Ke4 Rd8 33. Kxe5 Rd5+ 34. Kxe6) 27. Rd3 { the rest is just too easy for my opponent who grinds me down } 27... Rc8 28. Kd2 f6 29. Nd4 Ke7 30. f4 Rc4 31. g3 Kf7 32. Nb5 Kg6 33. Nd6 Ra4 34. a3 h5 35. h4 Ra5 36. c4 Kh7 37. Nb5 a6 38. Nc7 e5 39. fxe5 Rxe5 40. Nd5 Re4? 41. Nxb6 { I'm down just too much material } 1-0