[Event "Schachbundesliga"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2022.11.26"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Grandelius, Nils"] [Black "Schroeder, Jan-Christian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2651"] [BlackElo "2544"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Sweden"] [BlackTeam "Germany"] [WhiteTeamCountry "SWE"] [BlackTeamCountry "GER"] 1. e4 {The advantage of playing board 1 in the Bundesliga is that it's usually easy to predict which opponent one gets. This time it was trickier, as Schröder plays very few tournaments, and when he does, he plays a lot of different openings. Somehow I got a bit lucky and managed to predict exactly what he would do!} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 (6. d3 {During the last couple of years I have mainly played this slower move, but for this game I wanted to try out some mainlines.}) 6... b5 7. Bb3 O-O { Nowadays almost everybody plays the Marshall instead of the more old-fashioned Spanish lines like the Breyer or the Zaitsev, so this was to be expected.} 8. a4 Bb7 {A move that at one point was regarded as rather passive, but has in the last couple of years become almost as popular as 8...b4. For me personally I have good memories, as I used it in Bundesliga a couple of years ago to beat Niclas Huschenbeth as Black!} (8... b4 {This is still the mainline in my opinion, and I even played it myself as Black.}) (8... Rb8 {This was how World Champion Magnus Carlsen played when defending his title againt Nepomniatschi, but World Championship matches are not the same as normal games. In my opinion White has a very pleasant position if Black is not incredibly well prepared.}) 9. d3 {As a rule of thumb in the Spanish, if Black puts their bishop on b7 it's a good idea to play d3 rather than d4 as White. The reason is that the bishop on b7 can become a bit passive, biting into the well-defended e4-pawn.} d6 10. Nbd2 Nd7 {This manouver is what made this line popular again. The knight will bring some quick counterplay on the queenside.} 11. Nf1 {An interesting sideline. My main inspiration for trying this out was the game Felix Blohberger - Rasmus Svane from earlier this year. It was curious to have both players around in the playing hall!} (11. c3 {The mainline and how Huschenbeth played against me} Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 $1 { Is the point of the line for Black. There will be some decent counterplay and especially a lot of trades on the queenside, which makes Black's position very solid.}) 11... Nc5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bd5 {Now I am keeping the pawn on c2 to defend c3. It means that there is no play with pushing d4, but instead the idea is to bring the knight to f5 and attack on the kingside.} Nd8 {A good and typical move for Black in these positions. Trading pieces is always beneficial, and the knight is well placed on e6.} 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Ne3 Nde6 17. Nf5 {All this is very normal, and was played in the aforementioned game.} Bf6 18. h4 {This is the idea! By pushing the h-pawn I get access to the g5-square. In general, the strategic foundation for what White is doing is that it's much easier for me to bring all my pieces to the kingside than it is for Black, while in the meantime my center is solid and hard for Black to attack. The only downside is that Black can take the a-file.} Ra8 {Actually a novelty.} (18... b4 {Rasmus' choice, but it's rather similar to the game.} 19. b3 g6 {This was a bit panicky, and is in fact a serious mistake as it weakens the kingside a lot.} (19... Ra8 {Very similar to the game.}) 20. Nh6+ Kh8 21. Ng5 $1 {followed by Qf3 gave White a huge attack in Blohberger-Svane, 2022, although Rasmus won in the end.}) 19. Be3 Nd7 {A solid move, not giving me the option of taking on c5.} 20. Ng5 {This was the last move of my preparation! An interesting thing here is that the engines are giving this as roughly equal, whereas I believe in practical play it looks much easier for White to play.} Ndf8 {Solid, but a bit passive. However, it's not that easy to say what the most solid way for Black is.} (20... Ra2 21. Qg4 {Looks dangerous. Taking the b2-pawn is way too slow and Black will get mated in the meantime.}) (20... Bxg5 $5 {Perhaps this is actually the best, but it looks risky to give up the bishop.} 21. hxg5) 21. Qh5 $6 (21. Qf3 $1 {This was very strong! The idea is that if Black plays like in the game, the e4-pawn is protected meaning I can push d4.} Bxg5 (21... Nxg5 22. hxg5 Bd8 23. d4 $1 {A big difference to the game. Now I can open the d-file next and activate my rook.}) 22. Bxg5 $1 f6 ( 22... Nxg5 $2 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. hxg5 {Black can't defend f7.}) 23. Be3 Ra2 { This was the main reason I did not play 21.Qf3 in the game. I thought Black looks solid and that my e3-bishop is a bit passive, but there is a straightforward idea I didn't consider at all.} 24. c3 $1 {I didn't consider just giving up b2, but in hindsight it looks incredibly strong.} Rxb2 25. d4 $16 {Intending d5, and then attack the g7-pawn. The attack does look very strong.}) 21... Nxg5 $1 {The better move order.} (21... Bxg5 $6 {I was hoping for this during the game.} 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. hxg5 {Now f7 is hanging.} Ng6 25. Re3 $1 {I calculated this line during the game, but was a bit surprised when it turned out it was all correct.This does not happen so often to me with such beautiful lines} Nxe7 {Otherwise Rh3 just wins.} 26. Rh3 h6 {The only move to try to survive.} (26... Kg8 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Qh8+ Ng8 29. Rh7 {is hopeless. When g7 falls, everything falls.}) 27. Qxf7 Ng8 {It might look like Black has defended everything, but:} 28. Rg3 $1 $18 {Switching to attacking g7 instead. It's just mate.}) 22. Bxg5 $6 (22. hxg5 {More natural and logical. I can't really explain why I thought Black's bishop was stronger than mine...} Bd8 23. f4 $1 {After the game we analyzed this position and concluded that White has a dangerous attack, which seems correct.} Qc6 (23... exf4 24. Bd4 $1 {Lubo pointed out this nice tactic.} Ne6 25. Bxg7 {followed by Nh6+.}) 24. Rf1 {Now I am threatening to open the f-file and win f7.} Ng6 $5 25. Nxg7 $5 {Not forced, but we had a lot of fun checking this after the game. The conclusion was that White's attack is very strong. The engines don't entirely agree and says that Black will defend, but again, this is very hard in a practical game.} Kxg7 26. f5 Qe8 $1 {Bringing the queen to the defense} ( 26... Kg8 $2 27. Rf3 $1 {followed by Rh3 is incredibly dangerous for Black.}) 27. fxg6 fxg6 {I have won back the piece and keep some initiative, but there is nothing direct.}) 22... Bxg5 23. hxg5 {I thought I would have a nice initiative here, but Black is very solid and all pieces are able to join the defense.} Re8 24. Re3 $6 {An instructive mistake, and a bit typical of me. I play too concretely for tricks and tactics instad of building up my position slowly.} (24. g3 $1 $14 {followed by Kg2, perhaps Rg1, or even pushing f4 one day. There is no rush, as Black lacks counterplay.}) 24... Qc6 25. Rf3 Qd7 { I liked that Black was forced to defend passively with the queen on d7, but the problem is that it's now also very difficult for me to make progress. If no tactics work, then the rook is looking stupid on f3.} 26. Ne3 $6 {Hoping to give mate with Ng4-f6, but Black can easily stop it...} (26. c3 $5 {An excellent suggestion by Rasmus after the game. In spirit it's similar to 24.g3. I try to gain a little bit of space, intending b4 next, but the important thing is to not rush and not play for tricks.}) 26... Re6 $1 {With the rook coming to g6 there is no talk about any real attack for me anymore.} 27. Nf5 { Practically wise. The knight is simply best placed on f5, which I realized a bit too late.} (27. Ng4 $2 Rg6 $1) 27... c6 {Due to me losing two tempi Schröder gets a bit ambitious, but this is very risky as the d6-pawn gets weak.} (27... Rg6 {This was objectively best, and the move I expected.} 28. Nh4 {Otherwise g5 is weak.} Re6 29. Nf5 $11 {I think I would simply have repeated, as otherwise I risk being worse.}) 28. Re3 $1 {Finally I realize the rook is simply misplaced on f3.} Qd8 $2 {A natural move, but actually a serious mistake from Black!} (28... Re8 $1 {would be rather balanced still.}) 29. d4 $1 {Suddenly the downside of Black's previous play becomes clear. the d4-pawn can't be taken, as then c6 would be lost.} Qd7 $2 {another slow move, giving me a chance to fully change direction.} 30. Qd1 {I was very happy with this move after the game, as I liked the geometrical motife of changing to the queenside.} (30. dxe5 $1 {This was however a better move order.} Rxe5 31. Qd1 $16 {Same idea, but better version!}) 30... d5 {The best try, as otherwise I would trade on e5 and enter with my rook on the d-file.} 31. dxe5 Rxe5 $4 { Schröder was visibly discomforted by the sudden change of character in the position, as well as getting low on time. While being strategically good, this move simply loses on the spot.} (31... dxe4 {The only chance.} 32. Qxd7 Nxd7 33. Rxe4 Rxe5 34. Rxe5 Nxe5 35. Kf1 $16 {I thought we would get this knight ending. It's equal pawns, but my king reaches the center much faster and Black's queenside pawns are weak. I don't know if it's possible to hold, but at least it will be extremely difficult.}) 32. Qd4 {Suddenly there are huge problems on the d4-g7 diagonal!} Ng6 33. b4 $1 {A nice move that I really enjoyed playing. By taking control over c5 I threaten to play f4 next, but I also get the possibility of entering on the a-file with Ra3, Qa1 later. Unsurprisingly Schröder now collapses immediately, but it was in fact already lost.} (33. f4 $4 c5 $1 {The last trick not to miss!}) 33... Qe6 (33... f6 { The best try.} 34. gxf6 gxf6 35. Ra3 $18 {White has a huge attack with Ra7 coming next.}) 34. Ra3 (34. f4 $1 {Lubo pointed out this nice tactic after the game. I saw that 34.Ra3 looked winning so didn't bother to look for alternatives, but this one is even stronger.} Nxf4 35. exd5 $18 {Black is overloaded and loses the e5-rook next.}) 34... h6 35. gxh6 Nf4 $6 {Played with 2 seconds left, but it was too late anyway.} (35... gxh6 36. Qd2 $1 $18 { I will win the h6-pawn and continue my attack.}) 36. Ra8+ {Black resigned due to 36...Kh7 37.hxg7 with a new queen soon emerging on g8.} 1-0