[Event "Nakhchivan op"]
[Site "Nakhchivan"]
[Date "2012.05.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Bf4 Nf6 {The Queen's Gambit: Many chessplayers
like this set-up, it's easy to remember and a solid repertoire.} 5. e3 O-O 6.
Qc2 {I prefer this line because there is an option to play tactically to
castle queenside.} c6 {We study this line to cover all black's responses when
we play the 4. Bf4.} 7. Nf3 Nbd7 {Black has to develop the bishop at c8
because the queenside is congested. If black can not do that, it is going to
be difficult for black to coordinate pieces.} 8. h3 a6 {Yes, slowly, black is
building the queenside either playing dc4 then b5.} 9. Rd1 {White allows dc4
but what is white's plan here?} b6 {Black maybe sensed bad intentions from
white so GM Grachev decided to play safe and just wanted to develop the bishop
at b7 square.} 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. O-O {Now, white's pieces are all set-up and
coordinated. It is high time to execute pressure.} c5 {WE STOP HERE: Why black
moved c5? Is this move too soon? What will be the consequences of this move?}
12. cxd5 exd5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. e4 d4 15. Na4 {This is the consequence. Black
has a back-rank pawn at c5 which will be the major weakness for black,
eventually the c4 square will become an outpost for pieces to exert pressure
on black's position.} h6 16. Nd2 Bc6 17. Bh2 {Obviously, white will push f2 to
f4 to control more space at the center and kingside.} Bxa4 18. Qxa4 Nb6 19. Qc2
Nfd7 20. a3 {This is a prophylactic move to prevent Nb4 move due to white
plans to move e5 then chance for black knight at b6 to move to d5.} a5 21. e5
Rc8 22. Ba6 Rc6 23. Bb5 Re6 24. Rfe1 Qa8 25. Bd3 a4 26. f4 {White must use
this advantage, that is the idea of moving Bh2.} Bh4 27. Re2 Nd5 28. Nf3 Qd8
29. Bc4 N5b6 ({If} 29... N7b6 30. Ba2 Rfe8 31. Bb1) 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. Qg6 {
Life is easy for white here, e6 pawn is weak.} Re8 {This is blunder...} 32.
Nxh4 {Free bishop... if 32...Qh4 then simply, 33. Qe8 ch wins.} Nf8 33. Qg3 {
This is over, f5 looks good move for white.} c4 34. Nf3 d3 35. Red2 Nfd7 36.
Qf2 {White plays extra careful but there is nothing to worry at all.} Qc7 37.
Kh1 Nc5 38. Bg1 Nbd7 39. Rc1 Ne4 40. Qe1 Nxd2 41. Nxd2 {Still a piece up for
white and attacks the c4 pawn.} Nb6 42. Bxb6 Qxb6 43. Nxc4 Qd4 44. Qe3 Qd5 45.
Nd2 {Black still hopes for a win but he should resign now.} Rd8 46. Qb6 Rf8 47.
Rc4 Rd8 48. Rxa4 {There is no point that GM Graciev continues to move, it is
not improving his position.} Kh7 49. Rc4 Rd7 50. Qc6 {Black Resigned: Due to
forced exchange of queens. The start of black weakness on move 11...c5. I hope
you have learned how to deal with the move 6...c6 line. Thanks GM Sergei
Zhigalko for this instructive game. Keep safe always and follow health
protocols... God Bless...} 1-0