[Event "Herky Del Mundo Memorial Rapid"] [Site "Manila"] [Date "2022.??.??"] [Round "3"] [White "GM Rogelio \"Joey\", Antonio Jr."] [Black "FM Christopher, Castellano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B27"] [WhiteElo "2354"] [BlackElo "2065"] [Annotator "Sales,Jesse Noel"] [PlyCount "123"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [EventType "swiss (rapid)"] [EventCountry "PHI"] {GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr is always a fearless fighter. His chess style is methodical and always based on theories. He visualizes the middle game position where strategy is applied to gain an advantage such as the knight versus bishop endgame which is shown in this game.} 1. e4 {GM "Joey" as we call him in the Philippines is a dangerous 1. e4 player. Playing him, be better prepared.} c5 {The "Sicilian Defense"} 2. Nf3 {Sometimes, he plays 2. c3 the Alapin variation depending on the opening sequence by black.} g6 { Black may be avoiding the "Rossolimo variation" if plays 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 or If 2..d6 then white will play his favorite delayed Alapin 3. c3.} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {This is expected of GM "Joey" style of play...} Nf6 5. Bb5 ({If} 5. e5 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 7. Qe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:25]}) 5... Nc6 (5... a6 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 6. Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:45]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 8. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 9. a4 {[%emt 0: 00:18]}) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {Obviously, there is a problem with black's position here, white must take advantage of black's uncastled king like castle queenside later.} 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Bf4 {Restricting black's king from hiding at c7 square, this is not good for black.} Nh5 10. Be5 f6 ({If} 10... Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 12. Ke2 { [%emt 0:00:22]}) 11. O-O-O+ {This is the idea. White is totally developed and preparing to double his rook at d file.} Bd7 12. Rd3 Ke8 13. Rhd1 Bg4 ({If} 13... Be6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:00]}) 14. Bc7 Rc8 15. Bg3 Nxg3 16. fxg3 {Best take instead of the h pawn, to open up the file for the rook because soonest the black king will find shelter at f7 square.} e5 {Try to visualize the position, imagine that there are no more rooks. It is easy to say that black has the advantage. Now, due to white's control of the d file, then it is a different situation, white has the advantage.} 17. Na4 Bf8 {Necessary...} 18. h3 Be6 19. g4 h6 20. b3 {I like this move...because the knight at a4 will soon have the option of posting via b2 to go to e3 if allowed. Black cannot exchange his dark bishop via Ba3 due to dark squares at d file being weak and having knight versus bishop endgame would be white's advantage.} Rh7 {Yes, black tries to release tension by exchanging one rook.} 21. Nb2 Ba3 22. Kb1 b5 23. Nh4 {Yes, white dictates the position at every corner. Bad thing is black is forced to react.} Kf7 24. c3 { White king must take action too...} Be7 {Black knows it, he cannot exchange the dark bishop, it's too important at the moment. Also, bishop at e7 has a threat at the knight at h4 soon.} 25. Nf3 g5 {I am not buying this idea because the f5 square will be a great post for the white knight soon. I think exchanging both rooks and retaining the 2 bishops would be better, my opinion.} 26. Rf1 {Now, the pressure switches at black's kingside. Check the knight at b2 where it now can maneuver via d1 to e3.} Kg6 27. Nd1 h5 28. gxh5+ Rxh5 29. Ne3 {Here it is.. I hope all subscribers checking this game are learning from GM "Joey" way of playing.} Rhh8 30. Nf5 {Yes... Good move...} Bc5 ({If} 30... Bxf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. exf5+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kxf5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Nxe5+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 33. Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kf5 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 34. Rxe7 {[%emt 0:00:10]}) 31. Nh2 {After black's 25... g5 move, the light squares at kingside are being infiltrated by these knights} Rhd8 {This is too late...black has already weakened his kingside...} 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Kc2 Bxf5 34. Rxf5 {Now, TAKE TIME BY ANALYZING THIS POSITION... WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST STRATEGY TO ADD MORE INSULT TO BLACK'S POSITION?} Be7 35. Ng4 {This knight is pivoting to take control soon of the f5 square.} a5 36. Rf3 a4 37. b4 {Yes, not allowing exchange and opening a file for black rook.} Rd7 38. a3 Rc7 {Pushing the c6 pawn is the idea but watch how the white knight soon takes control of both f5 and d5 squares making the black bishop helpless.} 39. Ne3 Bf8 40. Rf1 Rd7 41. Rd1 Rxd1 42. Kxd1 {Now, we shift to the Knight versus Bishop ending. ANALYZE IT, WHICH IS BETTER POSITION?} c5 43. Kc2 cxb4 44. cxb4 {The pawns at black's queenside are vulnerable, this is already considered a resignable position.} Kh5 45. g3 {Of course...do not allow black to progress...} Bh6 46. Nd5 Bg7 47. Nc3 g4 48. h4 {It is locked but black has some tricks so white must be careful.} Bh6 49. Nd5 {Best move...} ({If} 49. Nxb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 50. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bxg3 { [%emt 0:00:04]} 51. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:02]}) 49... Bf4 50. Nxf6+ {This is over...} Kg6 51. Nxg4 Bxg3 52. Ne3 Bxh4 53. Nd5 Kg5 54. Nc3 { Black should have resigned here...already.} Kf4 55. Kd3 Kf3 56. Nxb5 Bg5 57. Nc3 Bc1 58. b5 Bxa3 59. b6 Bd6 60. Nxa4 Kf4 61. b7 Kg5 62. Nc5 {Fantastic game shown by GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio, Jr., it is a masterpiece, this game is very educational, highly instructive endgame. Thanks GM "Joey" and FM Castellano for this game...} 1-0