[Event "Rated Classical game"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2021.03.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "John, Maxamillian"]
[Black "Pleasants, Allan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1923"]
[BlackElo "2039"]
[Annotator "peter"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"]
[TimeControl "2700+15"]
1. d4 d6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Be3 a6 5. h4 h5 {This is the standard reaction
to h4 in these lines of the Modern but it is an interesting question whether
it is best when White plays h4 quite so early.} (5... Nf6) (5... h6) 6. Be2 Nf6
7. f3 Nc6 (7... b5 {Leads to Black's normal set up where White has played the
probably sub-optimal Be2 instead of the more normal Qd2 or Nh3.}) 8. g4 e5 (
8... hxg4 {Almost always a bad idea but it works here} 9. fxg4 Qd7 $1 {The
point} 10. g5 (10. h5 Nxg4 11. Bxg4 Qxg4) 10... Ng4 11. Bxg4 {otherwise the d4
pawn will fall} Qxg4 12. Qxg4 (12. Kf2 Rxh4) (12. Qd2 Qg3+ 13. Bf2 $2 Qg2)
12... Bxg4 13. Nge2 e5 $17) 9. d5 (9. dxe5 {gives rise to the type of position
that normally give White an edge whichever way Black recaptures.}) 9... Ne7 10.
g5 Nd7 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O {Leads to a position that is much more
comfortable for Black than White.} (12. a4 {Preventing b5 seems sensible})
12... b5 {It is hard to see a good active plan for White here. Meanwhile
Black can play Rb8, Nb6, Bd7, Nc8 and prepare action on the queenside,
possibly with c6 or c5.} 13. f4 {This attempt at aggression only helps Black -
it gives him e5 and opens the long diagonal.} exf4 14. Bxf4 {Now Black has
several nice options for how to proceed.} Ne5 (14... b4) (14... Nc5) 15. Re1 {
Freeing the d1 square for the knight but also removing pressure on the d-file.}
(15. Nf3 Ng4 16. Rhf1 (16. Rde1 Bd7 $17 (16... Nf2 {seemingly Black can also
go pawn grabbing, though it is psychologically tough to give up your lovely
dark squared bishop.} 17. Rh2 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Nxe4 19. Qd4 Nc5 $17)) 16... b4 17.
Nb1 $17) 15... b4 {The floodgates open and Blacks pieces spring to life.} 16.
Nd1 c6 17. Nf2 cxd5 18. exd5 Qa5 19. Kb1 Nxd5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Bf3 Be6 (21...
Nc3+) 22. Kc1 Bxb2+ 23. Kd1 (23. Kxb2 Qa3+ 24. Ka1 Nc3) 23... Nc3+ 0-1