[Event "1st Spiros Tryfonas"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.02.11"] [Round "4"] [White "Makris, Spiros"] [Black "CM Nathanail, Manos"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A59"] [WhiteElo "1951"] [BlackElo "1948"] [Annotator "fondas"] [PlyCount "59"] [SourceVersionDate "2024.03.03"] {[%evp 0,23,19,9,42,-10,-6,40,73,62,60,72,99,64,69,62,63,59,53,71,79,80,80,70,83,75]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 {[#] The black player chooses to sacrifice a pawn and in return gains pressure on the two open columns a and b and along the long diagonal (a1-h8).} g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 {[#] White forfeits the right to castle. However, in the course of the game, they will ensure the safety of their king with the moves h3 and Kg2 or g3 - Kg2} Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3 Nbd7 12. Qe2 {"The main line is Re1, but this move is also very good. The Rook from the f-file will prove useful somewhere else."} Qb6 13. a4 $1 {[#] The idea is to close the queenside with the move Nb5.} Rfb8 14. Bd2 {the pawn on b2 doesn't fall, as the queen gets trapped.} Qa6 (14... Qxb2 $4 15. Rhb1 Qc2 16. Ne1 $18) 15. Nb5 $14 {[#] "White, having more space, doesn't facilitate Black by exchanging Queens." This is a point that troubles many players: White has an extra pawn, so logic dictates that we should exchange as many pieces as possible and exploit our material advantage. However, here is a case where exchanging Queens actually helps Black more than White.} Ne8 $6 {"A minor inaccuracy, but the position is very complex." Another typical idea: the knight from f6 comes to c7 to pressure the knight on b5, which blocks Black's play on the queenside. At the same time, the bishop from g7 has been activated.} ({a better idea was...} 15... Nb6 16. b3 Ne8 17. Rab1 Nc7 18. Bg5 Kf8 19. Rhe1 {with White keeping a slight edge.}) 16. Bc3 $1 $16 Nc7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. b3 {The pawn formation with b3 and a4 in combination with the knight on c4, in order to completely shut down Black's play, is a known idea which gives the advantage to White.} (18. b4 $1 {"this move was even stronger" - tactically the knight on c7 is now under attack} cxb4 $4 (18... Nxb5 {the best defence but even that move isn't enough} 19. axb5 Qb6 20. bxc5 Nxc5 {this leaves the d4 sguare: the knight might go there and maybe later on c6.} (20... dxc5 21. h4 {this is the move suggested by the computer} Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Nf6 (22... Qxb5 $2 23. Qxb5 Rxb5 24. Ra7 Nf6 25. Rxe7 $18) 23. Rb1 $18)) 19. Qb2+ {the queen evades the pin and White wins} Kg8 20. Nxc7 {the knight falls}) 18... f6 (18... Nxb5 19. axb5 Qb6 (19... Qxb5 $4 20. Qxb5 Rxb5 21. Rxa8) 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. e5 {another typical idea}) 19. Nd2 $5 {"White chooses a variation where Black has to play accurately"} Nxb5 20. axb5 Qxa1 {"the best idea"} (20... Qb6 21. Ra4 $1 $18) 21. Rxa1 Rxa1 {[#]} 22. e5 $5 {the position is quite complex and one must try to understand what both players are trying to achieve} dxe5 $6 {an inaccuracy - this capture is inferior to (fxe5) because it allows White to break down Black's defense. There is, for example, the advance d6, the threat with Nc4, and the move Qd3. In simple words: dxe5 keeps the position closed and White has to try hard to open up the game and activate his pieces.} (22... fxe5 23. Nc4 $13 {the idea is to play f4} Rb7 $13 (23... Rxb5 $2 24. Nxe5 $18)) 23. d6 $1 e6 $2 {"a mistake in a difficult position"} (23... exd6 $16 24. Qd3 Rb6 25. Ne4 {white's pieces break down black's defenses.}) 24. Qc4 Kf7 25. Ne4 Ra7 26. Nxc5 Nxc5 27. Qxc5 Rab7 {[#]} 28. Qc7+ $3 {"This had been anticipated by White with the move 19.Nd2. After much thought, Black resigned." - The climax of White's aggressive game, a beautiful "queen sacrifice," forcing Black to resign.} {(a?} Rxc7 (28... Ke8 29. d7+) (28... Kf8 29. b6 Rxb6 30. Qe7+ Kg8 31. d7) 29. dxc7 Rc8 30. b6 {)} 1-0