[Event "WMSG Rapid Pair 1st"] [Site "Beijing"] [Date "2008.10.11"] [Round "8"] [White "Paragua, Mark"] [Black "Greet, Andrew"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2526"] [BlackElo "2440"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2008.??.??"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. e4 e5 {This first move response against 1. e4 is becoming the favorite weapon in grandmaster level tournaments.} 2. d4 {The Center Counter.} exd4 3. Qxd4 ({Other moves} 3. c3 dxc3 {We will study this on our next blog (CGC2).}) 3... Nc6 4. Qe3 {This is the best placement for the queen (not Qd1) intending to castle at queenside.} Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 {Yes, these moves are standard developing moves for both sides.} O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 {This rook move plans to hit the center by moving d5 next.} 8. Qg3 {Avoiding rook's bad intention to play d5.} Rxe4 {This is the prefered move to take the e pawn.} ({If} 8... Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Rxe4 10. Bxb4 Rxb4 11. Qe3 d6 12. a3 Rg4 13. Ne2 Bf5 14. f4 {White is pawn down but has more play due to expansion of king side pawns such as h3 then g4.}) 9. a3 Bd6 {Instantly, black attacks the Queen at g3 but, this congests black's position where the d pawn is blocked. Yes, black is pawn up but delayed in development. That is the idea why white gives up the pawn at e4. } 10. f4 Re8 {This rook must go back to e8 which the only viable square.} 11. Bd3 {White slowly builds pieces that hit towards black's kingside. This is going to be interesting to how will white initiate the attack here.} Bf8 (11... Bc5 {Other move: we will study this too on the next chess blog.}) 12. Nf3 d5 { Yes.. this is our main topic about this side line, another move is 12...d6.} 13. Rhe1 {White wants to exchange rooks to take advantage of delayed development of the bishop at c8 and the took at a8. This strategy means that white wants to undermine the center.} Rxe1 14. Rxe1 Ne7 {The knight will jump to f5 to stir pressure but not much.} 15. Qh4 Nf5 16. Qf2 c5 {Quite annoying pawns but it does not hurt white's position. White is the one controlling the game here.} 17. h3 {Here comes the pawn rolling...} d4 18. Ne4 Nd5 {True, the e3 square looks like a good post for the knight but will not interfere white's plans.} 19. g4 Nfe3 20. Neg5 {Hits the h7 pawn.} g6 {Forced...} ({If} 20... h6 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22. Nxf7+) 21. f5 c4 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Ne5 {Pretty dangerous position for black, white offers to take on the bishop at d3.} Qe7 24. Bxc4 { Fantastic move!!!} Nxc4 25. Nxc4 {Now, better position for white obviously.} Qf6 {Exchanging queens will not help black at all.} 26. Qxf6 Nxf6 27. Nf3 { d4 pawn is too weak.} b5 28. Nce5 Bc5 29. Nd3 Bb6 30. Bg5 Nd5 31. Nde5 { White is enjoying the position... lots of piece mobility.} Bb7 32. Nd7 Bc7 33. Nxd4 {White is pawn up plus a winning position.} a6 34. Nf6+ Nxf6 35. Bxf6 Bd8 {Blunder!!!} 36. Re8+ {Black Resigned: The idea behind giving up the pawn at e4 in the opening is significant on white's quick piece development. The ability to control and execute strategic moves by GM Mark Paragua demonstrated his vast knowledge on this opening variation theoretically. Thanks GM Paragua for this wonderful game...} 1-0