[Event "Farley League"] [White "Jim Attaya"] [Black "John Manning"] [Site "RCC"] [Round "1"] [Annotator ""] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2021.05.03"] [WhiteElo "1559"] [BlackElo "1752"] [PlyCount "107"] [TimeControl "80"] {This was a game played by Jim Attaya and John Manning in our Monday Night league, John said that this was the best game Jim Attaya ever played against him, even though Jim unfortunately caved to time trouble in the games last moments. Annotations are by me, TJ Weaver. Without further ado, let's take a look.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 {Black takes control of the central dark squares, especially d4} 5. Nge2 {By developing the knight to e2 white keeps the option of playing f4 at some moment, but the knight doesn't protect the e5 pawn if white chooses to play e5 without f4} d6 6. d3 e5 {Black gains some space in the center and adds extra attackers to the d4 square, but he also blocks in the g7 bishop and creates a hole on d5. e6 covering the d5 square was another option.} (6... e6 )7. Nd5 {White naturally hops into the newly opened d5 hole} Nge7 {Attempting to trade off the strong knight on d5} 8. Nec3 {White prepares to take back the knight with a knight.} Nxd5 9. Nxd5 0-0 10. c3 Ne7 11. Bg5 f6 {This move is ugly because it weakens the a2-g8 diagonal, but it is necessary to save the knight, and Blacks position still remains very solid because of his strong center} 12. Nxe7+ {Keeping the light square diagonal a2-g8 open, if white allowed black to take on d5 then white would have to take back with the e pawn on d5 and close the diagonal on which black is weak.} Qxe7 13. Be3 Be6 14. g4 {Jim has the right idea with this move to attack the kingside, but using the g pawn is slightly worse than using the h pawn or f pawn because pushing the g pawn weakens whites kingside somewhat, and now the g pawn doesn't help support the f4 break} (14. h4 )(14. f4 )Rad8 15. c4 {This move seeks to prevent d5} Rf7 {This move by John is a bit mysterious, perhaps he hopes to double on the f file, or maybe he will move the queen out of the way and double somewhere else} 16. h3 Qc7 17. Qe2 b5 {Black seeks to break open the queenside where he has more pieces} 18. b3 bxc4 19. bxc4 Rb8 20. 0-0 {Of course} Qc8 {Preparing to double on the b file and this supports f5 at some moment} 21. Bf3 $6 {White needs to fight for the b file, this move doesn't do that and the bishop was probably better placed on g2 anyway, the g pawn isn't under enough threat to justify this move, black is now slightly better} Rfb7 22. Rfc1 Rb4 {Black is just waiting with this move} 23. Kh2 {This move also just seems to be a waiting move} Bd7 {More waiting} 24. a3 Rb3 25. Ra2 Qa6 {Now black is attempting to tickle the a pawn, although white doesn't have much trouble defending it} 26. Rca1 Ba4 27. Qd2 Bc6 28. Bg2 {Neither player is in any rush} Qb7 29. Rd1 Qc7 30. Qe2 R8b7 {Black is preparing to play Qb8 and put a rook on the 1st or 2nd rank} 31. h4 {White seeks counterplay by generating weaknesses on the kingside} Qb8 {Alekhine's gun} 32. a4 {Both sides are waiting until the right moment to put their plans into action} Bd7 33. a5 a6 34. Bf3 Qc8 35. Rg1 Qb8 36. Bh1 $6 {This is a poor square for this bishop and the time is now right for John to invade with the rook} Rb2 37. Rxb2 Rxb2 38. Qf3 Qd8 $6 {Black should seek to close the kingside with h6 and g5 and then proceed on the queenside by invading with the queen to b4.} 39. g5 Ra2 $6 {Black can calm things down on the queenside by just taking the pawn and playing Qf8, but after this move white has the chance to make a very nice breakthrough} (39... fxg5 40. Bxg5 Qf8 )40. h5 $1 {A very nice find by Jim. The tables are turned and now white has an advantage, because the opening of the kingside like this will favor him. Whites pieces are pointed at the black king.} f5 {Black tries to close things on the kingside, but this move actually multiplies his difficulties because the opening of the center is also bad for the black king, and the kingside isn't really closed by the move anyway} 41. exf5 $1 {Of course $1 Anything else would let black close things again.} Bxf5 42. Qd5+ $1 {All of a sudden whites pieces are coming to life and the black king is going to get demolished} Kh8 43. hxg6 $1 {Opening the black king up} Bxg6 44. Be4 $1 {Removing a key defender of the king for black} Bxe4 45. dxe4 Rxa5 46. Rg3 {Bringing the rook into the attack} Qf8 47. Qe6 Ra2 48. Kg1 Ra1+ 49. Kg2 Rb1 50. Rh3 {White is close to turning the lights out for black} Qg8 51. Qxd6 Bf8 52. Qxe5+ Qg7 53. Qe8 Rb7 54. Qc8 $6 {This is still totally winning for white, but short on time Jim didn't find the knockout blow and eventually lost the game when he was unable to put it away and his time dwindled. A tragic way to lose, but a wonderful game from him otherwise. If he had more time I have no doubt Jim would've found the following.} (54. g6 $1 {And all Black moves lose in short order} h6 (54... Qxg6+ 55. Qxg6 Rg7 56. Qxg7+ )(54... Qf6 55. Rf3 Qxg6+ 56. Qxg6 hxg6 57. Rxf8+ )(54... Re7 55. Rxh7+ Qxh7 56. Qxf8+ Qg8 57. Qh6+ Rh7 58. Qxh7+ )55. Bxh6 Qxh6 56. Qxf8# {If black plays differently he loses differently} )0-1