[Event "45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest"] [Date "2024.09.11"] [Round "01"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Serina Arafat"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2386"] [BlackElo "1552"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "45th FIDE Olympiad"] [ChapterName "Yip, Carissa - Serina Arafat"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/y8ExkpJx/DkQDz1WR"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:58] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:30:35] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:31:24] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:47] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:31:50] } 3... e6 { [%clk 1:30:20] } 4. O-O { [%clk 1:32:10] } 4... Be7 { [%clk 1:28:33] } 5. c4 { [%clk 1:32:26] } 5... b6 { A very rare response to Yip's move order. Typically Black plays ... c7-c6 to close the h1-a8 diagonal against White's light-squared bishop, rather than invite such opportunities. } { [%clk 1:23:45] } 6. Qa4+ { [%clk 1:27:55] } 6... Qd7 { [%clk 1:19:31] } 7. Qc2 { [%clk 1:28:00] } 7... Bb7 { White wanted her queen on the c2-square, defending the c4-pawn and preparing possible e2-e4 ideas. Black did not want her queen on the d7-square, but she did not want either of her knights or her bishop there, either, so 6. Qa4+ was a success. } { [%clk 1:14:43] } (7... Nc6 { would prevent Nf3-e5, but } 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 { leaves Black unable to defend the d5-pawn with ... c7-c6! }) 8. Ne5 { Yip gives her opponent no time to even think about ... d5xc4 to trade off her bad bishop. } { [%clk 1:20:34] } 8... Qd8 { [%clk 1:11:51] } 9. d4 { [%clk 1:20:42] } 9... O-O { [%clk 1:08:45] } 10. Rd1 { [%clk 1:20:42] } 10... Nbd7 { A bit passive, considering White is tempo-up. } { [%clk 0:57:45] } (10... c5 { would be the most confrontational. } 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Rxd4 Nbd7 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. cxd5 exd5 $16 { might have been the best Black could ask for. The isolated pawn will be weak, but at least a set of minor pieces has been traded. Still, this position nicely illustrates why 5. ... b6 was such an odd commitment, as the bishop makes no sense stuck behind this pawn. }) 11. cxd5 { [%clk 1:19:35] } 11... exd5 { [%clk 0:45:09] } 12. Nc3 { Yip chooses to keep pieces on the board. } { [%clk 1:05:41] } (12. Nc6 { Gripping the c6-square and winning the bishop pair was definitely on Yip's mind. But the light-squared bishop is not so good, and White welcomes d4xe5 transformations, so chooses to stay put and let Black make the decisions. }) 12... c6 { [%clk 0:37:08] } 13. Qf5 { [%clk 0:53:52] } 13... Nxe5 { [%clk 0:30:55] } 14. dxe5 { [%clk 0:53:26] } 14... Nd7?! { [%clk 0:30:58] } (14... g6 { This intermezzo helped tremendously. } 15. Qf4 (15. Qh3!? Bc8 16. exf6! Bxh3 17. fxe7 Qxe7 18. Bxh3 $13 { is a funny position with three pieces for the queen! }) (15. Qf3 Nd7 { is what Black would have wanted, as now e2-e4 has less bite. } 16. e4 d4! { A thematic temporary sacrifice, as now } 17. Rxd4 Nxe5 { gives Black a fine game. }) 15... Nh5 16. Qd2 Qc7 17. e4 d4 18. Qxd4 Rfd8 $13 { with compensation and complications! }) 15. e4! { [%clk 0:50:47] } 15... Bc8?? { Black does not navigate the complications correctly. } { [%clk 0:16:38] } (15... d4? 16. Rxd4 { comes with deadly pressure on the pinned knight, now. }) (15... g6! { was again necessary. }) 16. exd5 { [%clk 0:50:52] } 16... Nc5 { [%clk 0:16:14] } 17. Qh5 { [%clk 0:47:21] } 17... Qd7 { [%clk 0:08:26] } 18. dxc6 { White has won two pawns, kept her lead in development, and added some kingside pressure to boot. } { [%clk 0:46:28] } 18... Qc7 { [%clk 0:08:13] } 19. Nd5 { [%clk 0:46:46] } 19... Qd8 { [%clk 0:07:14] } 20. Nf6+! { Winning the queen. } { [%clk 0:45:13] } 20... Bxf6 { [%clk 0:07:21] } 21. Rxd8 { [%clk 0:45:39] } 21... Rxd8 { [%clk 0:07:40] } 22. c7 { Having to part with a rook as well, Black resgined. } { [%clk 0:44:51] } 1-0