[Event "Dorset Rapidplay 2022"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.03.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Lock, Gavin"] [Black "Webb, Laurence"] [Result "*"] [ECO "A43"] [Annotator "peter"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [EventType "rapid"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O {An unusal line but there are over 740 games with in the Chessbase database, so it is definitely a "real" variation.} (5... d6 {Leads to a normal Schmidt Benoni which is generally considered a little better for White}) 6. e5 Ng4 ({After} 6... Ne8 { the choice of the GMs is} 7. h4 {which scores heavily for White.}) 7. Ng5 d6 ( 7... Nxe5 8. f4 Nec6 (8... f6 9. Nxh7 Kxh7 10. fxe5 {keeps the piece but looks very shaky for Black}) 9. dxc6 Nxc6 {is one way to sac the piece}) 8. e6 Nxf2 9. Kxf2 fxe6+ 10. Nf3 exd5 11. Nxd5 {Black has two central pawns for his piece and, for the time being at least, White's king is a bit drafty. You have to preume that with perfect play this is winning for White but in practice these types of position can be very difficult if the central pawns get rolling.} Nc6 12. Be2 {A natural developing move that many of us would choose, with the idea of developing the rook on f1 or e1 and then playing Kg1.} (12. h4 $16 {One of the engines' top choices with an obvious attacking intent, but you need to be brave to further loosen the position around your king}) (12. Kg1 $16 {Another engine top choice, immediately getting the king off the dangerous file and deferring the decision on where to put the bishop until Black has declared his hand.}) 12... e6 (12... e5 {is disruptive and seems to give Black enough compensation e.g.} 13. Ke1 (13. Kg1 $2 e4 14. Ng5 Bd4+) (13. Nc3 Nd4 (13... Be6 ) (13... Bf5) 14. Rf1 d5 15. Kg1 Bf5 $15) 13... e4 14. Ng5 {which is extremely complicated but seems to resolve to rough equaility (with a perpetual in some lines)}) 13. Ne3 d5 14. Re1 d4 (14... Nd4 {was apparently best}) 15. Nf1 e5 16. Bc4+ Kh8 17. Kg1 Bf5 18. Ng3 {The position has stabilised and White is about to blockade the pawns with a clear advantage} Nb4 $6 19. Nxf5 Rxf5 20. Bd3 (20. a3 Nc6 21. Bd3 {looks simpler}) 20... Nxd3 21. Qxd3 (21. cxd3 {is a real option as c4 and e4 are tightly controlled and the d3 pawn is hard to attack with pieces}) 21... Qd5 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Rxe4 Kg8 24. Bd2 Re8 25. Rae1 Kf7 26. Ng5+ Ke7 27. g4 Rff8 28. Nxh7 {White has won a pawn and still has the e4 blockade. It might look straightforward from here but Black manages to create some difficulties.} Rg8 29. Ng5 Kd6 30. Kg2 Kd5 31. Nf3 Rgf8 32. b3 b5 33. c3 a6 {temporarilly giving up another pawn in the interests of getting some piece activity.} 34. cxd4 cxd4 35. Nxd4 Rc8 36. Nf3 Rc2 37. R1e2 Rxa2 {getting the pawn back} 38. Bb4 (38. R4e3 $1 {threatens Nxe5 and after} Re8 {White can swap off without allowing Black so much activity} 39. Bb4 Rxe2+ 40. Rxe2) (38. Nxe5 $2 Rxd2) 38... Rf4 39. Rxa2 Kxe4 40. Ng5+ Kd3 41. Bd2 Rxg4+ {Suddenly both of White's remaining pawns look vulnerable but Gavin very impressively manages to hold everything together. It is doubly impressive when you consider he only had 22 seconds left on his clock at this point!} 42. Kf1 (42. Kf3 Rh4 43. Kg3 { was perhaps simpler}) 42... e4 43. h3 Rh4 (43... Rg3 44. Bf4) 44. Be1 Rf4+ ( 44... Rh5 {may have offered more practical chances, though after} 45. Ne6 Be5 46. Kg2 e3 47. b4 {White seems to have everything under control}) 45. Kg2 Rf6 { defending a6 but walking into a very pretty finish in which White's piece coordinate superbly} (45... Rf5 46. h4 Bc3 47. Bxc3 Kxc3 48. Rxa6 Kxb3 49. Rxg6 $18) 46. Rd2+ Ke3 47. Rd7 Bf8 (47... Ke2 48. Nxe4 Rf4 49. Nc5 $18) 48. Bd2+ Ke2 49. Nxe4 Re6 50. Nc3# *