[Event "Budapest Spring op"] [Site "Budapest"] [Date "2017.03.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Sanal, Vahap"] [Black "Livaic, Leon"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2531"] [BlackElo "2446"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "r2r4/pb2ppkp/1pn3p1/3q4/3N4/1P2P1P1/P4PBP/2RQ1RK1 b - - 0 15"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/xvNWRvku/99H3lNg2"] [Orientation "white"] { Let's start our journey through Leon's games with the following game played back in his junior days - at the Budapest Spring Open in the pre-pandemic times in 2017. His opponent was a well-known and also very talented Turkish Grandmaster Sanal Vahap. We join the action on the move 15. We can see that White has just moved the knight to d4 and attacked Leon's queen - but also the knight on c6. There is a move that is begging to be played - but can you follow it up in the best manner? } 15... Qxg2+ { Boom! This is not only very pretty - but also reasonably necessary, as otherwise, Black would simply lose material. With this queen's sacrifice, Leon draws the king to a square where a discovered check will be delivered. Black will gain two pieces for the queen - and White's king will be permanently exposed. And even though this is not yet sufficient for an advantage - suddenly White has to start defending very carefully. } { [%csl Gg2][%cal Rb7g2] } 16. Kxg2 Nxd4+ { This discovered check was, of course, the point of the combination. Also note that there are some potential discoveries on the queen on d1 because the rook is on d8. } { [%cal Rd8d1] } 17. Kh3 { The only move! } (17. f3 Nxf3 { And Black wins material due to the discoveries and pins! } { [%cal Rd8d1,Rb7g2] }) (17. Kg1 Nf3+ { Is even worse as the queen on d1 will be lost. } { [%cal Rd8d1] }) 17... Nf3 { A very nice quiet move, uncovering the attack on the queen and placing the knight on a good square. Black starts to slowly circle the White king. } { [%csl Gf3,Rh3] } 18. Qc2 h5 { Another very strong move, greatly reducing the effect of the g4 pawn push. } { [%cal Gh5g4] } (18... a6 19. g4 { If White were allowed to play g4 in peace, he would be winning as the square on g3 would be available for the king. }) 19. Qb2+ f6 20. g4? { Under pressure, the Turkish Grandmaster blunders. Now this advance of the g-pawn is totally faulty as it allows Black to weave a mating net! } (20. Rc7 { There were many good moves for White, but probably the simplest was this rook move, seizing the 7th rank. White arguably didn't want to allow the draw after } 20... Ng5+ 21. Kh4 Nf3+ { but now he goes from bad to worse and quickly goes on to lose! }) 20... h4 { This is a cold shower. Black prevents the king from reaching the safe g3 square and now Ng5 and Rh8 is a massive threat. } { [%cal Gh4g3] } 21. e4 { White tries to open the 3rd rank and some squares, but it is not sufficient! } (21. a3 { Just to illustrate a threat - Black was actually threatening mate in four. } 21... Ng5+ 22. Kxh4 Rh8+ 23. Kg3 Rh3+ 24. Kf4 Rf3#) (21. Kg2 { Going back with the king doesn't help as here Black has another powerful strike } 21... Rd2 { Not only attacking the queen - but also preventing the f-pawn from moving later. } { [%cal Yd2b2,Bd2f2] } 22. Qc3 Ng5+ { And White has to lose a lot of material, e.g. } 23. e4 Bxe4+ 24. Kg1 Rd3 25. Qxd3 Bxd3 { When the endgame should be easily winning for Black. }) (21. g5 { Also doesn't help as after } 21... Nxg5+ 22. Kg4 Bf3+ 23. Kf4 { The king is in too much peril and many moves win, the cleanest being } 23... Rd5 { With the deadly threat of e5 mate. } { [%cal Ge7e5] }) 21... Bxe4 22. g5 Nxg5+ 23. Kg4 (23. Kxh4 Rh8+ 24. Kg4 Rh3 { Is no better - the White king is in the mating net. }) 23... Rd3 { Now many moves wins as the king is too exposed on g4, but Leon finds a very nice finish! } { [%cal Ge4f5] } 24. f3 Bf5+ 25. Kxh4 Ne4 { Rh8 is unavoidable so White resigned! A brilliant attacking game that demonstrates Leon's creativity and calculating capability - as well as willingness to take risks. } { [%cal Ga8h8] } 0-1