[Event "Chessable English Seniors Championships"] [Site "Holiday Inn Kenilworth"] [Date "2022.05.08"] [Round "7.13"] [White "Di Mattia, Luciano"] [Black "Hall, Alan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "1494"] [BlackElo "1710"] [Annotator "MJDonnelly"] [PlyCount "34"] [EventDate "2022.05.04"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.05.10"] {[%evp 0,34,33,33,33,29,35,27,27,27,27,27,27,28,56,56,48,40,50,-11,-14,-16,-16, -14,0,-30,-30,-488,-492,-492,-492,-490,-490,-787,-781,-837,-850]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petrov (or Russian Defence) is played by a surprisingly diverse type of player ranging from highly tactical players such as Frank Marshall to many modern GMs with a similar style as well as those with a more positional style.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 ({The main alternative is an attempt to exploit the exposed knight to gain time and open lines for White's pieces by} 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Bd3 {Karjakin-Grischuk, Moscow Tal Memorial Rapid 2018 but of course this comes at the expense of incuring doubled pawns on the c-file.}) (5. Qe2 {is the other way to try and exploit the knight's location but leads to simplification and few problems for Black after a typical game in this line:} Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Be7 { Nakamura-Mamedyarov, Berlin FIDE GP 2022.}) 5... d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 {This is an acceptable line for Black although much more commonly played is} (6... Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 {with chances for both sides.}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Re8 9. Bxe4 $6 {This exchange is too compliant and gives Black a very comfortable game. Undermining the e4 knight is the correct way to handle this opening and a representative example went} (9. c4 c6 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Rxe1+ 12. Qxe1 h6 13. c5 {Kamsky-Andreikin, Titled Tuesday INT blitz Chess.com 2020.}) 9... dxe4 {The alternative of} (9... Rxe4 {is not so effect since after} 10. Be3 { the the position is pretty level. Instead a game Baser-Cheetham, Canadian open Edmonton 2005 went} (10. Nc3 Rxe1+ 11. Qxe1 c6 12. Bg5 f6 {when Black is to be preferred.})) 10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Nc3 (11. f3 {initially looks a promising way to continue but White is behind in development and Black is much better after} exf3 12. Rxe8+ ({and also} 12. Nxf3 Nc6 {Rezki-Estevez, Vitrolles Majeur op 2004.}) 12... Qxe8 13. Nxf3 Bg4 {Guardamino-Jacome Cueva, Pan American U10 Girls Santiago 2010.}) 11... Nc6 {A good move. Othe moves played here seem too simplifying eg} (11... Nd7 12. Ngxe4 Bxe4 (12... Bxh2+ {is just level after} 13. Kxh2 Bxe4 14. Nxe4) 13. Rxe4 (13. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 14. Kf1 $14 {is a little better for White since} Qh4 {can be drastically met by the winning move} 15. Bg5) 13... Rxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Qh4+ 16. Kg1 Qxe4 {again reduces to an equal position as in Tersigni-Buffoni, Ars op 1995.}) ({or} 11... h6 12. Ngxe4 Bxh2+ (12... Bxe4 13. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 14. Kf1 Nc6 {doesn't alter the evaluation of the posiiton.}) 13. Kxh2 Qh4+ 14. Kg1 Bxe4 15. Rxe4 Rxe4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Be3 {once again a completely level game has resulted as in Guntorajati-Pham, Yungtau U-14 2000.}) 12. Ngxe4 $6 (12. d5 {randomises the game somwhat so gives a bit more hope following} Nb4 13. a3 e3 14. axb4 Qxg5 15. Bxe3 Qh4 16. g3 Qxb4 17. Qd2 ({but not} 17. Rxa7 Rxa7 18. Bxa7 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Kf8 {with a nice game for Black (Segal-Makarycheva, Moscow (women) 1990).})) 12... Nxd4 13. Qxd4 $2 {A very serious mistake. White does not notice that amongst all the lines with complex tactical play against h2 and e4 this is the one that works well for Black.} (13. Be3 {was required although Black is better following} Bxe4 14. Bxd4 ({not} 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. Bxd4 Rxd4 16. Qxd4 Bxh2+ {wins as in the main game.}) 14... Bg6 15. Rxe8+ Qxe8 $17) 13... Bxh2+ 14. Kxh2 Qxd4 15. Be3 {A queen for a piece down White plays on for a few moves but does not obtain anything meaningful from attacking the queen.} Qe5+ 16. Kg1 Bxe4 17. Bd2 Qf5 {Simplest although Black could even allow White to capture on e4 but still obtain an easily winning game.} ({eg} 17... Rad8 18. Rxe4 Qf5) 0-1