[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