[Event "USA tt"] [Site "ICC INT"] [Date "2010.08.23"] [Round "1"] [White "Becerra Rivero, Julio"] [Black "Barcenilla, Rogelio"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2557"] [BlackElo "2518"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] {The origin of chess theory is based on past games. As we review games from the latest and now. This game was played almost 13 years ago and still we can learn a lot from it. Let's find out.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {The Ruy Lopez } a6 4. Ba4 ({IF} 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Ne2 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bd7 10. Be3 O-O-O) 4... Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. a4 Bb7 {THE ASSIGNMENT: Previous series, we studied Bd7, lets compare. Obviously, black want to develop the bishop at b7 then be useful in diagonal a8 to h1} 8. d3 d6 9. Nc3 b4 10. Ne2 {Whenever the bishop leaves its post the diagonal c8 to h3 is unguarded.Therefore, the knight is best to be at g3 to explore the f5 square.} O-O 11. a5 Na7 {Preparing for c5 push.} 12. Ng3 c5 13. Nf5 Bc8 14. N3h4 Ne8 ({IF} 14... g6 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bg5) 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Qh5 { White is tempting black to play g6 here. But it opens room for white's dark bishop at c1.} Be6 17. Nf5 {Both knight and bishop at b3 are important but black must decide which one is much less. Anyway, the queen at e7 is threatened.} Qc7 18. f4 {Timely indeed.} Bxb3 19. cxb3 Nc6 20. Rf3 {It is going to be a rough road for black since the pressure is mounting at kingside.} g6 21. Rg3 f6 22. Qh4 Nd4 23. Nxd4 {Yes, no choice.} cxd4 24. f5 g5 25. Qh6 Rf7 ({IF} 25... Qg7 26. Bxg5) 26. h4 g4 27. Rxg4+ Kh8 28. Qd2 {The Tail must go first before the Head so the queen is fixing it for the bishop to go to h6.} Rc8 29. Kh2 Qc2 30. Qxc2 Rxc2 31. Bh6 {This is it...} Rfc7 32. Rf1 {GM Julio Becerra Rivero wants to double the rook at g file.} Ng7 33. h5 Rxb2 ({IF} 33... Nxh5 34. Rf3 Rxb2 35. Rh3 Rxb3 36. Rxh5 Rxd3 37. Bf8 b3 38. Rh6 Rf7 39. Bxd6 Rg7 40. Rhh4 b2) 34. Rf3 Nxh5 35. Rh3 Rxb3 36. Rxh5 Rxd3 37. Bf8 b3 {Dangerous pawn.} 38. Rh6 Rf7 39. Bxd6 b2 40. Rxf6 {This is something black underestimated, there is a mate threat.} Rxf6 41. Bxe5 h5 42. Bxf6+ Kh7 43. Rg7+ Kh6 44. Rb7 Rd2 45. Rb8 {There is a mate at h8. Lovely game by GM Julio Becerra Rivero, his masterful delegation of pieces at black's kingside. GM Rogelio Barcenilla must have missed some chances at move 33. Yet, this game has shown us the idea behind the 8. a4 variation. I hope you like and enjoy it. Thank you and have a nice day to all...} 1-0