[Event ""] [White "Murali,Santosh"] [Black "Sam,Pearson"] [Site ""] [Round ""] [Annotator ""] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.11.12"] [PlyCount "41"] 1. d4 b6 2. Bf4 Nc6 {Slightly odd when Bb7 was obvious} 3. e3 {Sticking with what you know makes sense but its worth thinking if you can take advantage of blacks second move with 3.d5 or 3.e4} Bb7 4. c3 e6 5. Nd2 Nf6 6. Bd3 {Generally it is better to develop 6.Ngf3 first as the N has nowhere else to go, but although Bd3 is good, it also has possibilities on e2, b5 and in some tactics on a6.} d5 7. Ngf3 Bd6 8. Bg3 {Good. It is generally better to allow your opponent to make the exchanges.} Bxg3 9. hxg3 {Now that you have the open h-file, it will be dangerous for black to castle kingside} Qd7 10. Ne5 {The e5 square is a superb outpost for the knight and 11.Ne5 is fine but it does allow black to exchange the knight with 10.Nxe5} (10. Bb5 $1 {Why move the B again when it was fine on d3 and is a much better piece than blacks Nc6? The plan is to play Ne5 without allowing it be exchanged.} a6 (10... O-O 11. Ne5 Qd6 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. g4 $1 {A key idea - this doesnt weaken whites pawn structure as there is still a pawn on g2, but it gains space and threatens blacks kingside} )(10... Qd6 11. Ne5 a6 {transposes} )11. Ne5 Qd6 12. Bxc6+ Bxc6 13. g4 Ne4 14. g5 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 f6 16. Ng6 )Qd6 11. Ndf3 h6 12. Qc2 Ne7 $6 13. a4 {Okay but theres no need for this yet - and castling queenside becomes more risky now} (13. g4 $1 {Remember this idea after black plays Bxg3 in the London System} )g6 14. Ng5 $1 {Nice spot! Black is in serious trouble now} Rf8 15. Rxh6 Nh5 16. Rh7 {Winning. N(either)f7 also wins.} f6 17. Bxg6+ Nxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kd8 19. Ngf7+ Ke7 20. Nxd6+ Kxd6 21. Rd7# 1-0