[Event "1000GM Winter GM/IM Invitational 2024"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/sZBlQ3aL/hgElGQ0p"] [Date "2024.01.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Korley, Kassa"] [Black "Ghazarian, Kirk"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2442"] [BlackElo "2432"] [Annotator "Ostrovskiy, Aleksandr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D37"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/sZBlQ3aL/hgElGQ0p"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 b5!? { A relatively modern concept in the Vienna QGD. } (5... Bb4 { Is the main line } 6. Bxc4!? (6. Bg5) 6... Nxe4 7. O-O $44) 6. e5 Nfd7 7. Nxb5 Nb6 { Black accepts a wrecked queenside structure in return for control of the light squares such as the a8-h1 diagonal and the d5-outpost. Additionally while the c4-pawn is a bit weak, it could also be a bit annoying in restricting White's pieces. } { [%csl Ra7,Rc4,Rc7][%cal Gc8b7] } 8. Be2 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Qd2 Nb4 13. Nc3 Rb8 { Play has been thematic by both sides. Kirk is zeroing in on the d5-outpost and the b-file while Kassa is completing development and gaining pressure in the center. } 14. Rfd1 h6 { I'm not completely sure if Kirk needed this luft, and personally I would be uncomfortable having to consider my opponent sacrificing on h6. Perhaps that was the provocation Kirk was playing for! } { [%csl Rh6] } (14... Qd7 { A recent game continued } 15. Bf4 Ba8 16. h4 N4d5 17. Bg5 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 Bd5 20. Nh2 h6 21. Qg3 Kh7 22. Ng4 Na4 23. Rd2 Qe7 24. Bd1 Qa3 25. Bc2+ Kh8 26. Rcd1 Nxc3 27. Qe3 Nb5 28. Qf4 Qe7 29. Nxh6 f5! $19 { and Black won in Prisacaru – Grebnev, Batumi, 2023. } { [%csl Rh6][%cal Ge7h7] }) 15. d5!? { Kassa comes up with a very ambitious concept to "punish" Black's ... h7-h6. The point is that White wants to follow up with a Rd1-d4 rook lift. } 15... exd5 16. Bxh6 c5!! { A great move by Kirk as he correctly ignores the sacrifice and instead pushes his massive pawn phalanax forward. } (16... gxh6?? 17. Qxh6 { [%cal Rd1d4,Rd4g4] } 17... c5 18. Ne4! $18 { is an example of what White was hoping for! } { [%cal Ge4f6] }) 17. a3 Nd3 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Qf4? (19. Bxg7!! { was the only move for Kassa but very difficult. After } 19... Kxg7 20. Qf4 Rg8 { to avoid perpetual } { [%cal Gg7f8] } 21. Rxd3 $44 { , the engine claims White has enough compensation, but this is not an easy choice to make during the game. }) 19... gxh6 20. Rxd3 Rc8!? { According to the engine not the best move, but I like it! The rook prepares to swing over to cover the kingside. } { [%cal Gc8c6] } 21. Rcd1 (21. Qxh6 Rc6 $19 { [%cal Gc6g6] }) 21... Rc6 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 Qb6 24. Rd6 { Kassa throws more wood into the fire and tries to block the sixth rank, but he is running low on pieces. } 24... Bxd6 25. exd6 Qb3 26. Qg4+ Kh8 27. Rd2 Rd8 28. Qf4 Qe6 29. Re2 Qxd6 30. Qxf7 Rc7 { An exciting game as Kassa came up with a creative sacrificial concept, but Kirk's calm defense defused any danger and brought him a crucial win. } 0-1