[Event "Peninsular cup final"] [White "Mazek, Marek"] [Black "Ellis, Mark"] [Site ""] [Round ""] [Annotator "Damian"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2020.02.26"] [PlyCount "75"] 1. d4 {} Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd2 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 0-0 9. e3 d6 {having traded off his dark squared bishop Mark proceeds logically by planning to se up a bogo indian like structure with the remaining pawns set up on the dark squares.} 10. Be2 Qe7 11. 0-0 e5 12. d5 {Black is unconcerned by the knight going back to b8 as his idea is (or should be) to swing it back around to c5 via b8 and a6. The loss of tempo is not so critical given the closed nature of the position.} Nb8 13. Nd2 f5 14. Rae1 Rf6 {I would hesitate to critisize a player of Marks calibre but this move seems to be super optimistic, it is highly unlikely that black can generate any meaningful attack on the kingside with only a queen and rook, much more sensible would have been to first proceed with a5 and develop his queenside pieces.} ({for example} 14... a5 15. f4 {c5 is also interesting} Na6 16. Qxa5 (16. Nf3 e4 17. Nd4 Nc5 {and the game is balanced} )exf4 { would be fine for black} )15. f4 e4 {It feels like white has achieved a very nice position, the black bishop on c8 is not at all happy with the pawns on f5 and e4 and white is ready to start making progress on the queenside.} 16. Nb3 Rh6 {Mark continues with his unlikely attack, but having played Rf6 he probably feels he has burnt his bridges.} 17. g3 Nd7 18. Nd4 Nf6 19. Rf2 Bd7 20. Bd1 a5 21. b3 {In order to ensure b4 can be played, if a3 straight away black could respond a4 when b4 is then met by enpassant} Qf7 22. a3 Qg6 23. Rg2 {White is still in no danger with black unable to bring any more pieces into the attack} Rh3 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Ng4 {Marek now seizes the chance to trade off his bishop for this active knight, leaving black with a sad looking bishop on d7 and no attack.} 26. Bxg4 Qxg4 27. b5 (27. c5 {also looks strong opening lines} Rh6 28. cxd6 cxd6 29. Qc7 {for example} )h5 28. b6 cxb6 29. Qb4 h4 30. gxh4 Qxh4 31. Qc3 {is the queen going to be overloaded, with the loose rook on e1?} Ra3 32. Nb3 {No, white answers the threat with a threat of his own, mate on g7} Qh6 33. Qb2 Ra4 34. Kh1 Be8 {If black could insert this bishop on f3 he will be winning luckily he is a temp short of being able to do this} (34... Rh4 {was the last precise chance to defend via the g4 square.} )35. Reg1 g6 36. Qf6 Kh7 37. Qe7+ Qg7 38. Qxe8 1-0