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| Move | N | Result | Elo | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c3 White apparently
wants to avoid a theoretical duel in the Leningrad variation, settling for an
uncommon solid-seeming move rather than the usual c4. The immediate logic is
obvious, to reinforce the d4 strongpoint, but the line is certainly less
challenging to Black. One difference that Black should keep in mind, though,
is that White now has Qb3+ without a pawn blocking the diagonal. a5 Black
cheekily answers with an offbeat response of his own. This pawn move seeks to
restrain White's potential follow-up play on the queenside, including b4.
Prior to this game, however, it scored horribly, with no Black wins and White
scoring a similar number of wins and draws. 7.Nbd2 the natural square (c3)
having been occupied, White needs to take some extra time to get his knight
developed. From here White may also think about supporting the e4 advance. Nc6 when Black can get away with this knight development in the Leningrad, it's
usually a good idea to play it, since it fights directly for e5. The usual
advance d5 here is not playable for White, due to the c-pawn being a square
short of its usual post. 8.Re1 d5 a strong central reaction. Black sees
that exerting control over e4 and c4 is more important than any potential
resulting pawn structure weaknesses. 9.Nb3 the knight has now taken two
moves to get to a not-very-useful square. Ne4 another move Dutch players
always love to be able to execute unchallenged. 10.a4 otherwise Black
threatens to push the a-pawn and kick the hapless Nb3. e6 the structure is
now a hybrid of Stonewall and Leningrad. However, the main point of the move
was not the pawn placement, but rather to open the diagonal and support
Black's following move. 11.Bf4 g5 yet another favorite move in the Dutch.
Although Houdini still rates the position as equal, the fact that Black has
been able to consistently play his desired thematic moves and take over the
initiative this early is bad news for White. 12.Be5 Bh6 Black chooses to
avoid exchanging the Bg7 while also preventing White from establishing a
useful outpost on e5. 12...Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qe7= 13.Rf1 it seems that
White is already running out of good moves and can do little in the face of
Black's initiative. g4 14.Ne1 Nxe5 now Black exchanges, with the knight
out of the way. 15.dxe5 now the pawn on e5 will be a source of weakness for
White. c5 playing this without preparation is possible for Black, although
perhaps not the strongest continuation. 15...b6 is favored by Houdini. 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Nxc5 Qb6 18.b4?! 18.Nb3 instead would allow White to
regroup and address his backwards development while Black spends time
regaining the pawn. Bg7 19.Qc2 Bxe5 20.Ng2= 18...Rd8 an easy decision
to seize the only open file. 19.Qb3 White now attends to his weak b-pawn,
but Black is able to continue making threats and improving his pieces without
impediment. Rd5 a powerful centralization move, threatening both e5 and c5
due to the pin of the b4 pawn against the unprotected Qb3. 20.Qc4?
unfortunately for White, this just moves into another pin. 20.Qb1 20...Qc7 attacking e5 again and pinning the Nc5. White has no good way to meet all the
Black threats. 21.Nc2 the least worst option, leaving the Nc5 to its
fate but trying to stir up some counterplay. 21.Qa2 withdrawing the queen
helps, but is not sufficient to get White out of danger in the rest of his
position. axb4 22.cxb4 Rd2 made possible by the offside yet influential Bh6.
23.Qb1 Qxe5 24.Ra2 Rxa2 25.Qxa2 b6 26.Nb3 Qd5-+ and now Black's two
bishops are going to carve White up, assisted as needed by his central pawns
and more active major pieces. 21.Qb5 would be a perhaps too-obvious try
for a swindle. b6? 21...Kf7-+ 22.Qe8+ Kg7 23.Nxe6+ Bxe6 24.Qxe6 Rxe5 25.Qb3 21...b6 22.Nd4 the point being that the knight now threatens to
take on f5, with some counterplay, as the Rd5 would be hanging if Black
recaptured with the e-pawn. Rxe5 Black (perhaps in some time pressure?) goes
for the safe-looking choice. 22...bxc5 simply taking the piece, however,
looks best. 23.Nxf5 Bg7 and regardless of what White does, Black takes
the e-pawn and has a fine position. 23.Nb5 Qe7 24.Nb3 White has
managed to extricate himself from the pin, with only a slightly worse game
according to the engine, although Black still looks threatening and the
defender will have to walk a tightrope. Unfortunately, White cannot maintain
equilibrium. e3 the only real try for an advantage. 25.Qd4 25.N3d4
is preferred by the engine, but this is not at all obvious. 25...exf2+ 26.Rxf2 Re4 the strongest option for the rook, attacking the queen and keeping
control of e3, with the threat of ...Be3. 27.Qxb6 axb4 27...Be3 28.cxb4? after this White is lost. 28.Nd6 the only move that lets White keep
equality, according to the engine. A sample line: Be3 29.Qc6 Bxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Qa7+ 31.Qc5 Qxc5+ 32.Nxc5 Re5 33.cxb4= although down an exchange for a
pawn, the two connected passed pawns should be enough compensation. 28...Be3 28...Rxb4 also wins. 29.N3d4 29.Qc6 here does not work due to Bb7
which would be prevented in the above variation by the Nd6. 29...Bb7 30.Rd1 Ra6 31.Qc5 Qxc5 Black decides to accept the trade and exchange down into a
simpler won position. 32.bxc5 Re5 33.Nd6 Ba8 34.Nc4 Bxf2+ Black is forced
to finally pull the trigger on the pinned rook to win the exchange. 35.Kxf2 Rxc5 White has no compensation for the exchange and Black's rooks and bishop
can run rampant in the position. 36.Ne3 Kf7 37.Nb3 Rc3 38.Nc1 Be4 39.Na2 Ra3 the a-pawn will fall and then Black will just chew White up with his
stronger pieces and extra pawn. 0–1
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| White | EloW | Black | EloB | Res | ECO | Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bologan,V | 2655 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2735 | 0–1 | A81 | 4.5 |
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