[Event "Promote to King vs. Planet Chess Club - Board 8"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2026.01.26"] [White "gtrwolfi"] [Black "benztoyzII"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1335"] [BlackElo "1297"] [TimeControl "1/259200"] [Termination "benztoyzII won by resignation"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B54"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line"] [StudyName "https://PlanetChess.Club: Tourney Game of The Week"] [ChapterName "Chess.com: gtrwolfi vs benztoyzII"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/vRvrHR9j/MEwSog9v"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/PlanetChessClub"] [Orientation "black"] { In this game, the shaky opening lead to an advantage for White, rated 1335. But persistence paid of for Black, rated 1297, as White played rather aimlessly after the trade of Queens. } 1. e4 { [%clk 5:28:51] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:57:26] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:28:47] } 2... d6 { [%clk 0:06:56] } 3. d4 { [%clk 0:14:51] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 0:01:54] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:00:23] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 0:09:37] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:07:52] } 5... e5 { [%clk 0:13:23] } 6. Nf5 { Not the most trying of moves. Nf5 allows Black to remove the last of White's pawns from the center, while maintaining their own. This should give Black good chances, as the ability to push the pawns forward affords central space and control. Can you spot the move?! Also the following were all better options for white: } { [%clk 0:01:37] } (6. Nb3) (6. Nf3) (6. Bb5+) 6... Bxf5 { Nope! This is not the answer to the last question. 6. ... Nxe4 is that answer, and would lead to the following variation: } { [%clk 0:00:55] } (6... Nxe4 7. Nxg7+ Bxg7 8. Nxe4 d5 { When Black's lion's share of the center give great prospects. }) 7. exf5 { [%clk 0:07:26] } 7... Be7 { Once the e-pawn captures, d5 is ready to be played with support from the Queen and Knight. Central pawns typically stand best abreast. } { [%clk 0:01:03] } 8. Bc4 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 8... a6 { Since White's light-squared Bishop has already moved once, and their Knight does nothing but get kicked from b5 with ... b6, there is no need to play a6 here. Nc6 would do nicely. } { [%clk 0:08:41] } 9. O-O { [%clk 0:00:52] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:07:57] } 10. Bd5 { [%clk 0:03:40] } 10... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:16:21] } 11. Qxd5 { [%clk 0:02:06] } 11... Bf6 { The start of a series of unfortunate events from Black's point-of-view. Dropping the b-pawn and removing the defense of their d-pawn puts White firmly in control. And with TEMPO! } { [%clk 0:00:34] } 12. Qxb7 { [%clk 0:07:50] } 12... Nd7 { The only move to defend the all of materiel on the Queen's side of the board. } { [%clk 0:32:07] } 13. Rd1 { Attacking the undefended d-pawn. } { [%clk 0:00:44] } 13... Nc5 { [%clk 0:02:14] } 14. Qc6 { Pressuring the d6 weakness again. } { [%clk 0:09:21] } 14... Qa5 { Black abandons the pawn for hopeful prospects. 14. ... Be7, hanging on a bit longer could be tried instead, but would only delay the attack. } { [%clk 1:00:16] } (14... Be7) 15. Rxd6 { [%clk 0:01:02] } 15... Rac8 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 16. Qb6 { [%clk 0:02:13] } 16... Qxb6 { [%clk 0:26:21] } 17. Rxb6 { [%clk 0:09:01] } 17... e4 { Black gives the f6 Bishop more squares to use, but Rfd8 controls more squares. } { [%clk 1:09:05] } 18. Bd2 { [%clk 0:47:48] } 18... h6 { Again, black should focus on controlling as much space as possible. When the game is already this bad, trying to piece-max is the way. } { [%clk 4:04:48] } 19. Re1 { [%clk 7:27:24] } 19... Rfd8 { [%clk 2:33:24] } 20. Be3 { [%clk 4:45:47] } 20... Bxc3 { Doubling pawns on the c-file. This makes the both pawns less useful, and more clumsy. Already Black has a Rook waiting to be unleashed on the unwary foot soldiers, of the c-file, and the a-pawn is looking lonely. The weakness of White's queenside pawns, while better, is of little consolation to Black. } { [%clk 1:12:07] } 21. bxc3 { [%clk 5:33:38] } 21... Na4 { [%clk 0:59:59] } 22. Rxa6 { [%clk 0:09:17] } 22... Nxc3 { Now Black is fighting, at least! } { [%clk 1:11:27] } 23. a4 { [%clk 8:21:54] } 23... Rd1 { Typically, one wants to avoid trading pieces when down, as they can potentially attack the opponent's position or frustrate their plans. Generally, one would seek to trade pawns when down pawns, with hope that the play can be simplified to a theoretical draw. Sometimes not! } { [%clk 0:05:38] } 24. Rxd1 { [%clk 0:01:28] } 24... Nxd1 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 25. a5 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 25... Rxc2 { [%clk 0:36:22] } 26. Ra8+ { [%clk 6:01:18] } 26... Kh7 { [%clk 4:40:57] } 27. a6 { [%clk 13:41:55] } 27... Ra2 { White is doing all that they should! } { [%clk 3:19:09] } 28. a7 { [%clk 9:28:20] } 28... Ra1 { OUCH! 28. a7 is a blunder, and draws the game with best play. White needed to keep the Bishop and avoid the back rank checkmate. Note that as long as the Black Rook is on the a-file, and the Bishop no longer defends the a7 pawn, then the White Rook cannot move, or even give check to try to queen the pawn. Study your endgames! This means that the Bishop is essential for White to win, and its elimination essential to Black's survival. } { [%clk 12:03:09] } 29. h3 { cls:red Losing. Necessary was 29. Bc1 blocking the discovered check offered by the Rook and Knight was the only move. The rest of the moves almost forced. For your viewing pleasure... } { [%clk 1:31:02] } (29. Bc1 Rxc1 30. Rh8+ Kxh8 31. a8=Q+ Kh7 32. h3 Ne3+ 33. Kh2 Nf1+ { Draw by repetition. }) 29... Nxe3+ { [%clk 0:05:25] } 30. Kh2 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 30... Nxf5 { [%clk 1:32:22] } 31. g4 { White has resigned to leaving the rook on a8 and making other moves, but the only moves available only invite demise. } { [%clk 0:01:28] } 31... Nh4 { Waving the web around White's King! } { [%clk 0:00:32] } 32. Kg3 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 32... g5 { [%clk 0:35:01] } 33. Kh2 { cls:red It's over. } { [%clk 1:11:48] } 33... Nf3+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { Mate follows with ... Rg1# after the customary spite checks by White. White resigned. } { [%clk 1:18:53] } 0-1