[Event "Ex. 12"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.19"] [Round "4"] [White "Watson, John"] [Black "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "2280"] [Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2020.01.15"] [SourceVersionDate "2017.12.24"] {[%evp 0,68,26,-12,-6,-15,30,-29,-34,-34,-25,-23,-23,-30,-32,-25,-25,-19,-23, -55,-55,-55,-33,-38,-14,-78,-22,-33,-34,-61,-19,-35,-21,-73,-112,-115,-98,-109, -109,-183,-177,-201,-194,-226,-227,-238,0,0,0,0,0,-109,-109,-109,-34,0,0,0,0,0, 0,0,0,0,0,-389,-414,-621,-621,-29995,-29996]} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Qc2 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 {Through this move order I was caught in an unfamiliar line and soon erred.} O-O 6. Nd5 Bc5 (6... Re8 {is the main move, with lots of theory.}) 7. a3 a5 8. Ng5 g6 9. h4 {(1:12)} (9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Ne4 Qe7 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 {should be close to even.}) 9... d6 {(1:27) My feeling is that white must have an advantage here -- the c5 bishop is not conducive with the move ... g6 -- but it is very difficult to prove this advantage analytically. Already here my opponent began spending a lot of time.} (9... Re8 {Also seems very natural -- the black dark-squared bishop remains in touch with the weakened kingside.} 10. Bd3 (10. h5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Qxg5 12. Qxc5 (12. dxc6 b6) 12... b6 13. Qc2 Nd4 14. exd4 exd4+ 15. Kd1 Bb7) 10... Bf8 11. h5 (11. b3 Bg7 12. Bb2 d6 13. O-O-O) 11... Nxd5 12. Nxf7 Ndb4 (12... Kxf7 13. hxg6+ Kg8 14. cxd5) (12... Nd4) 13. axb4 Kxf7 14. Bxg6+ (14. hxg6+ Kg8 15. gxh7+ (15. g7 Bxg7 16. Bxh7+ Kf8) 15... Kh8 16. bxa5 Nb4 17. Qb1 d5 18. b3 Qg5 19. Kf1 Bg7 20. Bb2 Rf8) 14... Kg7 15. Bxh7) 10. b3 {(48) The first real decision for white.} (10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Ne4 (11. d3 Bf5 12. Be2 h6 13. Ne4 Bxe4 14. dxe4 {should be fine for black.}) 11... Qe7 12. Nxc5 (12. h5) (12. b3) 12... dxc5 13. b3 Bf5 14. d3 Rad8 15. Bb2 Rd6) (10. Bd3 {The bishop will probably lose a tempo anyway with Bc4, so playing b2-b3 makes more sense if white is to go for h5-Nh7 ideas.} Nxd5 (10... a4 {[%CAl Ra4b3, Gb2b3]} 11. Nc3 (11. h5 Nxd5 12. Nxh7 Ndb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Qb1 Kxh7 15. hxg6+ Kg8 16. gxf7+ Rxf7) 11... Bd7 12. Qd1 (12. Nxa4 Nd4 13. exd4 Bxa4 14. b3 Bxd4)) 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. h5 Nxd5 {Picking up the gauntlet.} (12... h6 13. Ne4 (13. Nf3 g5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qxc5 Nxd5 {is the same position.}) 13... g5 ( 13... Bb6 14. hxg6 fxg6 15. Rxh6 Kg7 16. Rh1 Rh8 17. Rxh8 Qxh8 18. b3 Nxd5 19. Bb2) 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. Qxc5 Nxd5 (15... b6 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. b3 Qxd5 18. f3 Qd6 19. Bb2) 16. b3 Qd6 (16... Nf4 17. Bf1 Nd3+ (17... Qd5 18. Qxd5 Nxd5 19. Bb2 f6) 18. Bxd3 Qxd3 19. Qxe5 Bg4 20. f3 Rfe8 21. Qc5 Be6 22. Bb2 Bxb3 23. Rc1 {The opposite-coloured bishops position seems favorable to white.}) (16... b6 {Trying to quickly set up a blockade on the dark squares. After slow play black may still be fine, but white can quickly engineer d4 with an advantage:} 17. Qc2 Be6 18. Bb2 f6 19. Bc4 {[%CAl Rd2d4]} Qe8 20. d4 exd4 21. Bxd4 Qf7 22. O-O-O) 17. Qxd6 (17. Qc2 Be6 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. Be2 f5) 17... cxd6 { [%CAl Rc8e6,Ra8c8] The endgame is probably fine for black -- the white DSB is well-restricted and black can quickly get active piece play with Be6 and rooks on the c-file.}) 13. Nxh7 Kxh7 14. hxg6+ Kg8 (14... Kg7 15. Rh7+ Kf6 (15... Kg8 16. Bc4) 16. Qc4 Ke6 (16... c6 17. Qh4+ Ke6 18. Rxf7 Qxh4 19. Bf5#) 17. e4) 15. Bc4 {We have reached the same position except with white's pawn on b2. Here analysis shows that black is surviving:} Nf6 (15... c6 16. d4 (16. g7 Kxg7 17. Qh7+ Kf6 18. d4 Bf5 19. Qh6+ Ke7 20. dxc5 Rh8 21. Qg5+ f6 22. Rxh8 fxg5 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 (23... Rxd8 24. e4) 24. cxd6 Kd7 25. f3 e4) 16... Qg5 (16... exd4 17. g7 Kxg7 18. Qh7+ Kf6 19. e4) 17. g7 (17. dxc5 Qxg2 18. Rh6 Qg1+ 19. Bf1 Nf6 20. gxf7+ Kxf7 21. cxd6 Kg7) (17. Kf1 Qxg6 18. Bd3 f5 19. dxc5 Nf6 20. cxd6 Be6) 17... Qxg7 18. dxc5 Nf6 19. Bd2 (19. cxd6 Qxg2 20. Rf1 {is not so clear.} ({or} 20. Rh6 Ne4)) 19... d5 20. Bd3) 16. gxf7+ Kg7 17. d4 d5 (17... b5) (17... Bb6 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Bd2 {[%CAl Re1c1, Ra1d1]}) 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. Bd3 Rh8 20. Rxh8 Qxh8 21. Bxe4 Qh1+ 22. Kd2 dxe4 23. Qxc5 Kxf7 24. Qxc7+ Ke8 {White is three (!!) pawns up, but black's pieces are about to get into the game very fast, with Bg4(e6) and Rd8(c8) coming. White's only move is} 25. Qc4 (25. Kc2 Be6 {[%CAl Ra8c8]}) 25... Qxg2 {with a wild position.}) 10... Nxd5 {(1:18) Probably a good decision. Black needs to play this move to change the course of the game, as otherwise he will get a very unpleasant position after simple moves like Bb2, Bd3, etc.} (10... h6 { seems overly weakening; white gets a very pleasant position after} 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Bb2 f5 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. g3) (10... Bf5 11. Bd3 { doesn't help matters.}) 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. Bc4 {(46) Surprisingly, this natural move allows black to seize the initiative.} (12. h5 Bf5 {May be more circumspect.} (12... Nxd5 13. Nxh7 Kxh7 14. hxg6+ Kg7 (14... Kg8 15. Bc4 c6 (15... Nf6 {is refuted brilliantly by} 16. d4 d5 17. dxe5 Ne4 18. e6 $1 {Here we see the usefulness of b2-b3: the white bishop plays a key role on the a1-h8 diagonal.} Bxe6 19. Bb2 fxg6 (19... f6 20. O-O-O) 20. Qxe4) 16. d4 exd4 17. g7 Kxg7 18. Qh7+ Kf6 19. exd4 Bxd4 20. Bg5+ Kxg5 21. Qh6+ { and white mates.}) 15. d4 Bb6 (15... exd4 {just helps white open more lines: } 16. Rh7+ Kf6 17. Qe4) 16. Rh7+ Kf6 17. Qe4 Bf5 (17... Ke6 18. g7 Rg8 19. Bc4 c6 20. dxe5 dxe5 (20... Qg5 21. Bb2 dxe5 22. Rd1) 21. Rh6+ Ke7 22. Qxe5+ Be6 23. e4) 18. Qxd5 Bxg6 19. Rh3) 13. Bd3 (13. e4 Bd7 14. Bb2 Nxd5 (14... f6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 g5) 15. Nxh7 Kxh7 16. exd5 Rh8 17. hxg6+ Kg7 18. Rxh8 Qxh8 19. gxf7 Qh5) 13... h6 14. Ne4 (14. hxg6 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 hxg5) 14... Bxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bd3 g5 17. Bb2 Qd7 18. f4 (18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Qxc5 Nxd5)) 12... c6 {(1:10) With this central break black manages to quickly finish the development of his pieces.} 13. dxc6 d5 14. Bd3 ( {Perhaps stronger was} 14. Be2 Bb6 {it's better to keep the queen on d8 so that the knight on g5 is always hanging after h5.} (14... Qd6 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. h5 Rac8 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Qb2 (18. Qb1 {is weaker:} f6 19. Nf3 e4 20. Ng1 d4) 18... f6 19. d4 exd4 20. exd4 Bb6 21. Nf3 Kf7 22. Be3 Rh8 23. Rxh8 Rxh8 24. O-O-O) 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. h5 Rc8 17. Qb2 d4 {Nf5 is next, chasing away the white knight. Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn.}) ({There is also the very interesting computer suggestion of} 14. Bf1 {(!!)} Bb6 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. h5 Rc8 {The point is that now white has} 17. Qd1 { , and white's queen can quickly enter the game through g4. Here the position is very unbalanced.}) 14... Qd6 {(1:05)} ({Similarly, here} 14... Bb6) ({or } 14... Bd6 {deserved consideration; the position is far from clear.}) 15. h5 { (24)} ({It looks like} 15. Bb2 {was stronger. White acknowledges that his pieces will be pushed back with ...h6 and wants to complete development before that happens.} h6 16. cxb7 (16. Nf3 e4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Ng5 hxg5 19. hxg5 f6 20. gxf6 Rxf6 {refutes white's play.}) 16... Bxb7 17. Nh3 Rac8 18. Qd1 { White's position is unpleasant, but he at least has an extra pawn to show for it.}) 15... h6 {(57) Basically the only move.} (15... e4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Bb2 {Much stronger than the "natural" 17. Nxe4. There is no defense against hxg6.} (17. Nxe4 Qxc6 18. Bb2 Bf5 19. Qc3 f6 20. Nxf6+ (20. Nxc5 Qxg2) 20... Qxf6 21. Qxf6 Rxf6 22. Bxf6)) ({Against both bxc6 and Nxc6 white's play is the same:} 15... bxc6 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Bb2 {[%CAl Rf2f4]}) (15... Nxc6 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Bb2) 16. cxb7 {(17)} (16. Nh3 g5) ({Not capturing on b7 doesn't change much:} 16. Nxf7 Kxf7 17. hxg6+ Kg7 18. Qd1 Nxc6 19. Qh5 Rh8 20. Bb2 d4) 16... Bxb7 17. Nxf7 (17. hxg6 hxg5 18. gxf7+ Rxf7) 17... Kxf7 {(53)} 18. hxg6+ Kg7 19. Bb2 d4 {White does not have enough compensation for the piece.} 20. Rh5 {(10)} ({or} 20. Be4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Rab8) 20... Rac8 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxc5 {The last try. It should be mentioned that my opponent had only 3 minutes left here.} fxe3 {Only 6 minutes spent on this blunder.} ({I calculated the following variation accurately and assessed it correctly:} 22... Rxc5 23. Qxc5 Qxc5 24. Bxd4+ Qxd4 25. exd4 Bxg2 { However, I felt that the text move should be an elementary win, missing a stunning resource.}) 23. Qc4 {Everything else loses immediately. Not only does white create threats of taking on d4, he frees the c2 square for his king. } Qg3+ {I spent about 20 minutes on this. I hadn't found anything concrete, but since this was the only way to continue and I knew that I had a draw in hand, I decided to play a few moves down the line to clarify the position.} ( 23... exd2+ {is less logical, giving white the extra option of} 24. Kd1) 24. Kd1 Qg4+ 25. Be2 (25. Ke1 {I felt during the game that black should be winning here, but after thinking for twenty minutes could not find a knockout blow. It seems that none exists...} exd2+ {Black has no choice.} (25... Qh4+ 26. Kd1 {and black must repeat with} Qg4+) 26. Kxd2 Nf5 {The only way to play for a win, but it should backfire.} (26... Qxg2+ 27. Be2 Qg5+ 28. Rxg5 Rxc4 29. Rb5) (26... Qf4+ 27. Kd1 Qg4+ 28. Kd2) 27. Bxf5 (27. Rc7+ Kxg6 28. Qe6+ Rf6 29. Bxf5+ Qxf5 30. Qxf5+ Rxf5 31. Rxb7 Rf2+ 32. Kd3 Rxb2) (27. Rxc8 Qf4+ 28. Ke2 Bxc8 29. Bxf5 Qe3+ 30. Kd1 Qg1+ 31. Kd2 Qxg2+ 32. Kc1 Qg1+ 33. Kd2 Qf2+ 34. Kd1 Qxf5 35. Qxd4+ Kxg6) 27... Qf4+ 28. Kd1 Rxf5 29. Bxd4+ Kxg6 30. Rxc8 Bxc8 31. Qg8+ Kh5 32. Kc2 Qc7+ 33. Qc4 (33. Kb2 Rf2+ 34. Bxf2 Qe5+ 35. Kc2 Bf5+ 36. Kd2 Qb2+ 37. Ke3 Qe5+) 33... Qxc4+ 34. bxc4) 25... Rf1+ 26. Kc2 Rxc5 {(18)} ({The strongest continuation was} 26... Be4+ $1 27. Bd3 Bxd3+ 28. Kxd3 Rd8 29. Rxf1 Qxg6+ 30. Rff5 (30. Ke2 Qxg2+) 30... Nxf5 31. Kc2 {Amazingly, no discovered checks are dangeorus. The position is not altogether clear, but black should be on top, for example:} exd2 (31... a4) (31... Kh7 32. Rc7+ Ng7+) 32. Kxd2 (32. Qd3 Ne3+ 33. Kxd2 Qxg2+ 34. Qe2 Qg3 {leads to the same position}) 32... Qg5+ (32... Qxg2+ 33. Qe2 Qxe2+ 34. Kxe2) 33. Kd3 Qe3+ 34. Kc2 Qe4+ 35. Qd3 Ne3+ 36. Kd2 Qxg2+ 37. Qe2 Qg3) 27. Qxc5 (27. Bxg4 {forces black to find some amazing moves to win:} Be4+ 28. d3 Rf2+ 29. Kc1 Rxc4+ 30. bxc4 Nc6 {Black gives up a piece for the sake of his passed pawns. The resulting variations are almost study-like. Needless to say, during the game I saw none of this. In fact, when I played 26...Rxc5, both of us missed that the black queen was hanging!} 31. dxe4 Kxg6 {[%CAl Rd4d3]} 32. Bf3 d3 33. Kb1 h5 {Amazingly, this position is a zugzwang. Whatever move white makes, he loses material.} (33... a4 {also wins, but here black needs to find the extremely accurate} 34. e5 Rf1+ $1 (34... e2 35. Bc3 Nxe5 36. c5 Nxf3 37. gxf3 Rf1+ 38. Kb2 Rxa1 39. Kxa1 {and here black is not in time.}) 35. Ka2 e2 36. Bc3 Nxe5 37. Be4+ Kg5 38. c5 Kf4 39. Bb7 Ke3) 34. e5 (34. Ka2 Nd4) (34. c5 Rc2) 34... e2 35. Bc3 Nxe5 36. c5 Nxf3 37. gxf3 Rf1+ 38. Kb2 Rxa1 39. Kxa1 Kf5) 27... Be4+ 28. Bd3 Bxd3+ 29. Kxd3 Qxg6+ 30. Kxd4 Rf7 {The point of the combination. This is a very difficult move to see in advance. Our intuition is so much geared towards checks and captures that one often misses quiet moves like this when calculating. After this white can still hold the game, but the level of accuracy required to do so is impossible to achieve with only 2 minutes remaining on the clock.} 31. Kxe3+ Kh7 32. g4 (32. Rg1 {Calmly keeping everything defended. Amazingly, black has no win.} Qg3+ (32... Nf5+ 33. Ke2 Qg4+ 34. Kd3 Qg6 35. Ke2) 33. Ke2 Qg4+ 34. Kd3 Nd5 35. Qd4 (35. Qxd5 Rd7) 35... Nb4+ 36. axb4 Rd7 37. bxa5 Rxd4+ 38. Bxd4 Qf5+ 39. Kc4 Qxa5) 32... Qxg4 33. Kd3 Rf3+ 34. Kc2 Qe4+ 0-1