[Event "Pro Chess League Qualifier 2020"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/xvNWRvku/vjCRiEoV"] [Date "2023.02.03"] [White "Livaic"] [Black "Durarbayli"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "r4rk1/pp3ppp/q3p3/2RpPn2/3P4/2Q2N2/PP3PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 18"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/xvNWRvku/vjCRiEoV"] [Orientation "white"] { Last but not least, even though the following game is not an OTB game nor is perhaps the most remarkable game of Leon's career, it is very dear to me as the manager of the Croatia Bulldogs as it was played in the playoff stage of the 2020 Pro Chess League Qualifier and was one of the instrumental games in getting us to the main event. I, therefore, couldn't refrain from showing it in the context of this video/study! --- In this game, Leon faced the strong and experienced GM Vasif Durarbayli. This was not their first game in the Qualifier - and Leon actually beat him twice, not without some luck. However, these games must have given him some confidence, as in this game, he went to completely outplay him from an equal-looking position. --- We join the game on move 18. We have a symmetrical structure that arose from the French Defence. Seemingly, White is doing more than fine due to the control over the c-file. However, as we will see - there is a way for Black to contest this control and solve all the problems at once - and Leon did manage to find it. } 18... b6 { The first step - attacking the rook on c5 and opening up the queen's path to the c8 square, preparing to challenge White's control over the c-file. } { [%cal Gb6c5,Ga6c8,Gf8c8] } 19. Rc7 Rac8 20. g4 { This is a bit too optimistic. White thought he could afford to take a moment to dislodge the knight from f5, but this is met with the very accurate intermediate move. } { [%cal Rg4f5] } (20. Rc1 { Of course, moving the other rook to the c-file was much more natural. Maybe Durarbayli was worried about the a-pawn, but Black shouldn't be tempted with that. After } 20... Rxc7 21. Qxc7 Qxa2 { Is posible, but not THAT good due to } (21... h5 { Instead of taking the pawn, securing the knight on f5 is also possible - and it is actually Black who has a difficult position. }) 22. g4 Nh6 23. h3 Qxb2 24. Kg2 { When White has more than sufficient compensation for the two pawns due to the activity. Not an easy line to evaluate and see. }) 20... Rxc7 21. Qxc7 Qe2 { A very nasty intermediate move, hitting the knight on f3 and threatening all kinds of tactics associated with Nxd4 and Qxg4, } { [%csl Rf3][%cal Re2g4,Rf5d4] } 22. Qc3 { Already the only move, covering the d4 pawn. } (22. Kg2 { White can't defend the knight with the king as it runs into } 22... Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Qxg4+) 22... Ne7 { But now the knight can go to e7 as the queen is no longer attacking this square - and it is much more preferable than h6. } { [%csl Ge7] } 23. Qa3 { But this is another mistake, seemingly creating a double attack on the knight and the pawn, but not really, as the knight on f3 is hanging. } { [%cal Ra3a7,Ra3e7] } (23. Re1 { Activating the rook to e1 or c1 was preferable. }) 23... Ng6 { Now the knight gets reactivated. And White can't take on a7 as the knight on f3 would hang. } 24. Re1 Qc2 { Another good move, keeping the queen active on the second rank. Now it transpires that White can't take on a7. } { [%cal Rc2b2] } 25. Qxa7 Nf4 { And the threat of Nd3/Nh3 is very much deadly. Durarbayli didn't fall for this, of course, but went on to lose nevertheless and this game turned out to be one of those crucial games that allowed us to win the Qualifier and qualify for the Pro Chess League. } { [%cal Rf4h3,Rf4d3] } *