[Event "Chessable Masters Play In"]
[Site "chess.com INT"]
[Date "2023.03.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
{German GM Matthias Bluebaum is known to beat 2700 rated GMs such as Hikaru
Nakamura and Maxime Vachier Lagrave. He is theoretically prepared using
complicated chess openings. This game shows how he handles the white pieces
pretty well against Super GM Alireza Firouzja.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6 {Here, black uses the King's Indian Defense, let us see how it goes
against the lower rated German GM.} 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 {This is the Classical
variation.} e5 7. Be3 {Now, the 7. Be3 variation is enticing black to play 7...
Ng4.} Ng4 ({If} 7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4) 8. Bg5 {
Yes, this is the preferable move than 8. Bc1.} f6 9. Bh4 {I have never studied
this line since I am a fan of the Bayonet Attack versus the King's Indian
Defense, but this is another line which interests me.} g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 {The
knight backs off to have a place at f7 square for defense positioning.} 11.
dxe5 {HERE, ANALYZE THIS POSITION, WHICH PAWN SHOULD TAKE THE e5 PAWN?} fxe5 {
Check the g5 square where the knight at f3 would place a strategic position
for white to annoy black at kingside.} 12. h4 g4 13. Ng5 Nc6 14. c5 {This is
expected, and known strategy to open up black's position and to place the
bishop at c4 square as well.} Nd4 ({If} 14... dxc5 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Bc4+ Kh8
17. Nd5 Nb4 18. O-O-O Nxd5 19. Rhe1) 15. Bc4+ Kh8 16. cxd6 Qxd6 17. O-O {
KINDLY ANALYSE POSITION: IF YOU PLAY WHITE, PLAN AHEAD, FIND BEST STRATEGY TO
PENETRATE BLACK'S WEAKNESS.} Qb4 18. Bb3 Nxb3 19. Qxb3 {This move shows how GM
Bluebaum is well experienced in this type of setup.} Qe7 {Of course...} ({If}
19... Qxb3 20. axb3 Nf7 21. Nd5 Nxg5 22. hxg5 Rf7 23. Rfc1 c6 24. Nb6) 20. Nd5
Qd8 21. Rad1 {White is already enjoying a plus score here, black's position is
awkward.} c6 22. Nf4 {Lovely knight maneuver, white is dictating the position.
I hope you are learning how GM Bluebaum executes accuracy to find the best
place for his pieces.} Qe7 23. Nfe6 Bxe6 24. Nxe6 Rf6 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. Bxe5 {
The final stroke, black should resign here when white's pieces are well
coordinated soon to add more injury to black's position.} Raf8 27. Qc3 Kg6 28.
Bxf6 Rxf6 29. e5 Re6 30. Rd6 Rxd6 31. exd6 Qxd6 32. Qc2+ Nf5 33. Rd1 {Black is
helpless here, there is not much to do to defend the wrecked position.} Qe7 34.
Qc4 h5 35. Qg8+ Ng7 36. Qd8 Qf7 {Black resigned due to the threat of 37. Rd7.
GM Matthias Bluebaum showed his class in defeating 2785 GM Alireza Firouzja. I
have learned a lot about how to place the best square for pieces to execute
strategy to pressure black's position. Loved this game.} 1-0