[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/vA9Xr7St"] [Date "2021.03.20"] [White "ArtemAleksenko"] [Black "ArmenAndranigian"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1690"] [BlackElo "1938"] [TimeControl "3600+10"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A36"] [Opening "English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/axel_muller"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/qHKJBeOc/SSGyEXEh"] [Orientation "black"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:00:00] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 1:00:08] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:00:08] } 3. g3 { [%clk 1:00:06] } 3... g6 { [%clk 1:00:16] } 4. Bg2 { [%clk 1:00:15] } 4... Bg7 { The Symmetrical English. Despite some lines that can be drawish it is also one of Black's most aggressive responses } { [%clk 1:00:26] } 5. e4 { White chooses the Botvinik System, named for the Soviet World Champion who worked out much of the theory } { [%clk 1:00:23] } 5... e6 { Black's second most popular choice. 5 - d6 is the first } { [%clk 1:00:31] } 6. Nge2 { [%clk 0:59:03] } 6... Nge7 { [%clk 1:00:39] } 7. O-O { [%clk 0:58:56] } 7... O-O { [%clk 1:00:45] } 8. d3 { [%clk 0:58:56] } 8... Nd4 { IM Valeri Lilov refers to Black's structure as a "dark square strategy" due to the control of the d4 square thanks to the dominance of the Knight and its support by the g7 Bishop and c5 pawn } { [%clk 1:00:36] } 9. f4 { [%clk 0:54:31] } 9... Rb8 { [%clk 0:59:59] } 10. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:53:50] } 10... Bxd4+ { Taking with the c pawn is the normal move. Now we are out of book } { [%clk 0:59:46] } 11. Kh1 { [%clk 0:53:59] } 11... b6 { [%clk 0:58:55] } 12. Nb5 { [%clk 0:54:03] } 12... Nc6 { [%clk 0:58:21] } 13. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:48:28] } 13... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:58:25] } 14. f5 { This advance appears premature. 14 Be3 followed by Qd2 with a slow build up is what the engine suggest } { [%clk 0:48:13] } 14... exf5 { [%clk 0:57:51] } 15. Bh6 { [%clk 0:48:11] } 15... Re8 { [%clk 0:57:49] } 16. exf5 { [%clk 0:47:05] } 16... Nxf5 { and Black is quite safe } { [%clk 0:57:55] } 17. Rxf5 { Hoping to open up some lines for the White Queen } { [%clk 0:47:13] } 17... gxf5 { [%clk 0:57:54] } 18. Qh5 { [%clk 0:39:34] } 18... Qf6 { [%clk 0:54:39] } 19. Rf1 { [%clk 0:38:15] } 19... d6 { The c8 Bishop finally makes its presence felt } { [%clk 0:54:33] } 20. g4 { White has the right idea--open lines at all cost, but Black has enough resources to fend off the attack } { [%clk 0:34:19] } 20... Qg6 { [%clk 0:54:11] } 21. Qh4 { [%clk 0:33:40] } 21... Qxg4 { [%clk 0:53:29] } 22. Qf2 { White has to keep his Queen to have any hope } { [%clk 0:32:59] } 22... Re2 { Black has other ideas and keeps the pressure on the White Q } { [%clk 0:53:21] } 23. Qf4 { [%clk 0:31:19] } 23... Qxg2# { 0-1 Black wins by checkmate. } { Both sides played along known lines in the opening and it was only the early f5 pawn push that got White into trouble. Such advances take a lot of patience and preparation. Rushing in head first comes with risks as the game showed } { [%clk 0:53:16] } 0-1