[Event "Chess.com SIG Bullet Wild"] [Site "Chess.com INT"] [Date "2021.04.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Bortnyk, Olexandr"] [Black "Nihal, Sarin"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2598"] [BlackElo "2620"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 g6 {GM Nihal Sarin starts with setting up the Modern Defense first, let us see how it will transpose to Pirc Defense.} 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 Nc6 { This is a different theme..black is building a strong center soon to push e5. It all depends on the chosen style of play.} 5. Qd2 ({If} 5. Nf3 e5 6. Qd2 exd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 Nf6 9. O-O-O O-O 10. f3) 5... e5 6. d5 {This is different line, tempting knight at c6 to go to d4.} Nce7 (6... Nd4 7. Nge2 Nxe2 ({If} 7... c5 8. dxc6 bxc6 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Bxd4 Nf6 11. O-O-O O-O 12. Bc4) 8. Bxe2 Nf6 9. f3) 7. O-O-O {GM Olexandr Bortnyk is ready to attack black's kingside, awaiting black's intention.} Nf6 ({If} 7... f5 8. f4 fxe4 9. Nxe4 Nf6 10. Nxf6+ Bxf6 11. Nf3 Nf5 12. Bb5+) 8. f3 {White is preparing for pawn rolling, hoping black castles at kingside.} a6 {Preventing Bb5 ch.} 9. g4 h5 10. g5 Nd7 11. h4 {LET'S STOP HERE. IT SEEMS THAT BLACK DELAYED CASTLING. IF YOU PLAY WHITE, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?} b5 {Now, I see something similar opening set-up which is the Ruy Lopez with bishop at g7.} 12. Kb1 {This is necessary (SOP), for the white king to be more safe.} O-O 13. f4 {Yes, black castles and this is what white is waiting for...now..time to stir-up the position.} exf4 14. Bxf4 Ne5 15. Be2 b4 {GM Sarin is a very strong bullet player. With this type of position it looks like black is up here.} 16. Na4 {Here, this knight has no options but at a4 square. Black must grab this opportunity to disrupt white's queenside.} Bd7 17. b3 Bxa4 18. bxa4 {AGAIN: At this stage, white's queenside looks wrecked. Check the bishop at g7 looks SUPER.} Qd7 19. Nf3 Ng4 {There is a saying, " Do not relax in a winning position... strike while the iron is hot. ..make use of that opportunity immediately!!!} 20. Rhf1 Qxa4 {Black's position is fantastic here. But why black did not win? Many things can happen when you are on time trouble...so learn from this game.} 21. Nd4 c5 ({Better is} 21... Nc8 22. Qd3 Na7 23. Qb3 Nb5) 22. dxc6 Nxc6 23. Nb3 {White's king is protected by the knight and queen at d2. Black's d6 pawn is weak, it seems that this game is going in a different direction where white soon be controlling the position and getting the advantage.} Rfd8 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. h5 gxh5 26. Qd5 { Wow!!! What a positional transition.. in just a few moves.} Qb5 27. Qd2 Ne5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 {I think both players are on time trouble here...as you see it, there is a direct mate at b2.} 29. c4 {Yes this avoids mate at b2 but 29...bc3 is good.} Qa1+ {HUGE BLUNDER BY GM SARIN...} 30. Nxa1 {Very entertaining game!!! In a bullet or blitz game, anything can happen. But if GM Magnus Carsen or GM Wesley So play the black side, we already know what to expect. Thanks GM Olexandr Bortnyk... you played so tenacious and very patient. I hope to all beginners and experts that you learned something from this game as I do too... Cheers...} 1-0