[Event "4NCL Online Division 3"] [Site "Lichess Online"] [Date "2024.01.23"] [Round "1.51"] [White "Taylor, Robert P"] [Black "Sanger, Jake M"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D03"] [WhiteElo "1653"] [BlackElo "2260"] [Annotator "Donnelly,MJ"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2024.01.23"] [SourceVersionDate "2008.05.10"] [WhiteTeam "Ashfield Anonymous C"] [BlackTeam "Lenzie Basilisks"] {[%evp 0,50,33,27,30,2,8,-10,54,-6,16,6,20,12,18,4,13,-4,18,4,13,16,8,-6,4,-15,-11,-25,-5,-2,1,6,161,25,21,20,26,15,66,82,146,101,145,136,180,127,157,-84,-76,-78,-112,-131,-131]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 {One of the more steady replies to the Trompovsky Opening. Black reduces the chances of White dominating the centre with e4 but may incur slight damage to the kings-side pawn structure in allowing Bxf6. The latter may be avoided by the very popular move 2...Ne4 which, although involving moving a piece twice in the early opening, does gain time by attacking the Bg5.} 3. e3 {White plays the opening flexibly without as yet committing either knight.} c5 4. c3 {A very reasonable continuation where White reinforces the d4 square as is typically also done in the London Opening. However, c3 is not an active continuation and instead White mostly choses here} (4. Bxf6 {as has been preferred frequently by Nakamura for example.}) 4... e6 {A little explored continuation, which does not block the exit of the often problematic Bc8, is} (4... Bf5 {as played recently in Kohler-Yashmetov, Titled Tuesday intern op Chess.con blitz 2023. If White now attempts to show b7 is weak with} 5. Qb3 {then Black can play} c4 6. Qxb7 Nbd7 {with a slight lead in development and a misplaced White queen as compensation.}) 5. Nd2 Qb6 {An active reply this time with Black attempting to show the b-pawn is vulnerable.} 6. Qb3 ({After} 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. Qxb6 axb6 {as in Bombek-Franzen, SVK-chT1W 2019, Black is, despite the two sets of doubled pawns, very comfortable and may start a queen's-side attack with c4/b5 and b4, or control e4 with the move f5, as well as occupy the g-file when appropriate.}) 6... Nc6 (6... c4 {with a similar pawn-structure to some lines of the London System is here a little early as White is better following} 7. Qc2 Qa5 8. Ngf3 {Tipary-Erdy, Budapest 1955.}) 7. Ngf3 Bd7 (7... Be7 8. Qxb6 axb6 9. a3 Bd7 10. Be2 h6 {is one of several equally valid lines of play, for instance, as in Vitiugov-Radjabov, W-ch Blitz Berlin 2015. That Black has several reasonable options indicates White has obtained little from the opening.}) 8. Be2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {White is the first to commence active operations after both sides have completed development and connected rooks. However, as Black's pieces are co-ordinated and effectively placed this move does not cause any significant difficulties.} (10. Qxb6 {may perhaps offer very slightly more chances but after} axb6 11. Ne5 Rfd8 12. f4 h6 13. Bh4 Ne4 {Black is fine but not} (13... c4 14. a3 b5 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nxd7 Rxd7 {when White is to be preferred as in Moradiabadl-Efimenko, W-ch Blitz Dubai 2014.})) 10... Rfd8 11. Qc2 {This retreat doesn't achieve anything tangible but allows Black to line up the queen's rook up againt the queen threatening to take on d4.} (11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. a3 {keeps the game balanced as played in Reshetkov-Firman, Geller Memorial op-A Odessa 2011.}) 11... Rac8 12. Ndf3 cxd4 13. Nxc6 (13. Bxf6 {doesn't prevent the loss of a pawn after} Bxf6 14. Nxd7 Rxd7 15. exd4 Nxd4) 13... Bxc6 14. exd4 {Black also has an easy game after other recaptures eg} (14. cxd4 Bb5 15. Qd1 Rc7 {with doubling of rooks on the c-file or}) (14. Nxd4 Bd7 {threatening to control the centre with e5.}) 14... Bb5 {OK but safer was} (14... h6 15. Bxf6 ({or} 15. Bh4 Bb5 16. Ne5 Bxe2 17. Qxe2) 15... Bxf6) 15. Ne5 a5 $2 {This move, possibly aiming to clamp down on the queen's-side with a4 followed by a3, is a mistake that should have lost. The next few moves seem to be a case of mutual chess blindness which may be termed something like "computer screen overload" as opposed to the slower physical movement of pieces.} (15... Qxd4 {is here also a losing move:} 16. cxd4 Rxc2 17. Bxb5 Rxb2 18. Bd3 $18) (15... Bxe2 {is simplest with an even position.}) 16. Rfe1 $2 (16. Qb3 {simply wins a piece no matter how Black replies.}) 16... Bxe2 17. Rxe2 Qc7 18. Rae1 b5 $6 {This looks entirely logical and aims to follow with b4 with great pressure on White's queens-side. The move , however, overlooks a nice tactical shot by the much lower rated White player.} (18... Ne4 {keeps it level.}) 19. Nxf7 {Good play.} Kxf7 20. Rxe6 Re8 $2 {Although guarding the Be7 White's rooks now X-ray the Re8.} (20... Rd7 {is correct with White again attacking after 21.Qf5.}) 21. Qf5 {This is also strong in this position and in fact gives White a winning position.} Kf8 ({Should Black follow the original plan with} 21... b4 {then White wins after} 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qxh7+ Bg7 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Rxe8+) 22. Bf4 {Threateing the queen with tempo as well as g4-5 winning the knight.} Bd6 (22... g6 {loses quickly to} 23. Qxf6+ Bxf6 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rxe8+ Kxe8 26. Bxc7) 23. Rxe8+ $2 ({Unfortunately for White missing} 23. Bxd6+ Qxd6 24. g4 Rxe6 25. Rxe6 Qc7 (25... Qd7 26. Rxf6+) 26. g5 {recovering the piece with interest.}) 23... Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Kxe8 25. Qe6+ $2 {Shortens the game but after} (25. Be5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Qd7 27. Qd3 Ne4 {White has only 2 pawns for the piece and the apparently strong move} 28. f3 {can be met by} Qa7+) 25... Qe7 ({After} 25... Qe7 {White has no sensible reason to play on. For example,} 26. Qxe7+ (26. Qc8+ Kf7 27. Bxd6 (27. Be3 Bf4 28. Kf1 Bxe3 29. fxe3 Qxe3 30. Qb7+ Kg6 31. Qxb5 Qc1+ 32. Ke2 Qc2+ 33. Kf1 Qd1+ 34. Kf2 Ne4+ {soon mates}) 27... Qe1#) 26... Kxe7 {with an easily winning ending. Despite the 600+ elo rating advantage Black was very fortunate to win this game.}) 0-1