[Event "Pro Chess League 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Heinemann, Josefine"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2336"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A82"] [Opening "Rat Defense: Balogh Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/r4rOm8dU/QOBjb4JM"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 f5 { My sources tell me this is the Staunton Variation of the Dutch Defense. Nakamura is known for playing unusual variations in these events, particularly against lower-rated opposition. } 3. exf5 Bxf5 4. Bd3 Qd7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bxf5 Qxf5 7. O-O Nc6 8. c3 (8. Nc3! { Perhaps White was worried about artificially isolating the d-pawn. Or, perhaps she was not interested in precluding her queen from accessing the b3-square. Regardless, after } 8... e5 9. Nb5! O-O-O 10. d5 Ne7 11. c4! $16 { White has solved both of these worries, with some added tempi to boot. }) 8... e5 9. dxe5?! (9. Qb3 { would be more consistent. Now, after } 9... O-O-O 10. d5 { this move makes sense, locking the center once Black clarifies his king's position. } 10... Ne7 11. c4 $16) 9... dxe5 10. Re1 Bd6 11. h3?! { Creating this hook wll accelerate Black's plan to attack on opposite flanks. } 11... O-O-O 12. Qe2 e4 13. Nh2 Ne5! { I love how Nakamura can turn odd, unappealing positions into such dream attacking structures in less than ten moves. It is hard to imagine how White got here, considering her position so recently. } 14. Be3 Nd3 15. Rd1 h5 16. Na3 g5?! { Hardly an error, and had Nakamura won this game, likely a move that would pass unnoticed. But, as is, this allows one of White's flimsiest pieces to improve slightly. Moreover, the ...g5-g4 push can be met by h3-h4, so it is unclear whether the move is as effective as it would be appear. } (16... Bxa3! 17. bxa3 Nd5! { I like this devastating strategy of playing for weaknesses all over the board. }) 17. Nc4 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 g4 19. h4 Nd5? { But now, this natural move does not achieve much! } (19... g3+! 20. fxg3 Qg4!! 21. Qc2 (21. Qxg4+? { White wants to trade queens given the severity of Black's attack, which is why Black's previous offer was so shocking. But, just because she wants to doesn't mean she can. } 21... Nxg4+ 22. Kg1 b5 $19) 21... Rhg8 22. Bf2 Nd5 $19) 20. Kg1! { An excellent prophylactic move. White understands that, once she blunts the ...g4-g3+ idea, Black does not have a concrete follow-up. It is hard to play such a move rather than "improve a piece". But the pressure is now on Black to show what he's got up his sleeve. } 20... a6 21. Rd2 Rhg8 22. Rad1 g3? { Too hasty. } (22... b5! 23. Na5 g3 24. f3 Qf6 25. Bg5 Qb6+ { The point: without the knight guarding this square, Black crashes through. } 26. Kf1 Rxg5 27. hxg5 Ne3+ $19) 23. f3 Qf6?? { But now, the attack simply isn't there. } (23... Nxe3 { was best, but after } 24. Nxe3 Qf6 25. fxe4 Qxh4 26. Nf1 { and, by the skin of her teeth, White has survived the onslaught and has slightly better chances in the resulting position. }) 24. Bg5 Rxg5 { There is nothing better. } 25. hxg5 Qxg5 26. Qxe4 N3f4 { Black's pieces begin a sorry retreat. There is no compensation for the material. } 27. Ne3 Qh4 28. Nf1! c6 29. c4 Rd7 30. cxd5 Re7 31. Qf5+ Kb8 32. dxc6 Ne2+ 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Qf8+ Kc7 35. Qd6+ Kb6 36. c7+ Ka7 37. c8=Q { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0