[Event "Rated Rapid game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/gwvfn7ks"]
[Date "2021.02.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paulcarrero"]
[Black "AleXandroviTCH92"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Paulcarrero"]
[BlackElo "2236"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[TimeControl "600+0"]
[UTCDate "2021.05.03"]
[UTCTime "03:57:28"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[WhiteElo "2339"]

1. d4 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:09:57] } 2... d5 { [%clk 0:09:39] } 3. g3 { [%clk 0:09:54] } 3... g6 { [%clk 0:09:36] } 4. Bg2 { [%clk 0:09:53] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 0:09:35] } 5. O-O { [%clk 0:09:53] } 5... O-O { [%clk 0:09:34] } 6. b3 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 6... b6 { [%clk 0:09:33] } 7. Bb2 { [%clk 0:09:51] } 7... Bb7 { [%clk 0:09:32] } 8. Nbd2 { A pretty solid structure for white so far. The minor pieces get out without major inconvenients. [%csl Gb2,Gg2,Gf3,Gd2] [%clk 0:09:51] } 8... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:09:31] } 9. c4 { [%clk 0:09:50] } 9... c5 { [%clk 0:09:28] } 10. Rc1 { [%clk 0:09:46] } 10... dxc4 { [%clk 0:09:27] } 11. Nxc4 { [%clk 0:09:43] } 11... cxd4 { [%clk 0:09:26] } 12. Qxd4 { [%clk 0:09:23] } 12... Nc5 { Should we trade queens on d8 as white?
Of course not!
The only advantage I have in this position is that my rook already went out to c1. Trading queens on d8 will only help black get his rooks active.
An important principle that can be used in many positions is: "Don't trade, allow him to trade". Being patient can be beneficial in many situations. [%csl Gc1] } 13. Rfd1 { [%csl Gd8,Gd1,Gc1][%cal Gf1d1,Gd1d8] } ( 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8 { With his active rook, black equalizes. [%csl Rf1][%cal Rd8d1] } ) 13... Qxd4 { [%clk 0:09:13] } 14. Bxd4 { [%clk 0:09:02] } 14... Nfe4 { [%clk 0:08:43] } 15. Bxg7 { [%clk 0:08:23] } 15... Kxg7 { White keeps strong rooks, on the other hand, the f8 and a8 rooks look passive. It is time to play actively, otherwise black will get his rooks into better squares, equalizing. [%csl Gc1,Gd1,Rf8,Ra8][%cal Gc1c8,Gd1d8] [%clk 0:08:39] } 16. b4 $1 { Removing the defender of the square d7 is necessary, b4 allows Rd7! [%csl Yc5,Rd7][%cal Yb4c5,Rc5d7,Gd1d7] [%clk 0:08:22] } 16... Na4 17. Rd7 { The rook gets active. [%cal Rd7h7,Rd7a7] } 17... Ba6 18. Rxe7 { White grabs a pawn. [%csl Be4][%cal Ye7e4] } 18... Rfe8 { Black plays the human move to activate his passive rook and defend his knight on e4. [%cal Re8e4] [%clk 0:07:28] } ( 18... Nec3 $132 { The computer suggestion creates a complicated position, gives black some counter play, puts pressure on the e2 pawn, and stops the action of the rook on c4. [%csl Ye2,Bc1][%cal Rc3e2,Ya6e2,Bc1c3] } ) 19. Rxe4 $5 $36 $44 { Studying the games of Mikhail Tal has taught me a thing:
Sometimes nothing really matters other than fighting for the initiative and piece coordination.
You can give away material, as long as you compensate. } 19... Rxe4 20. Nfd2 { [%csl Ra8,Re4,Ra4,Ra6][%cal Rg2a8] } 20... Ree8 { Black wants to keep his rook. } ( 20... Rxc4 $1 21. Rxc4 ( 21. Nxc4 Rc8 { Threatening b5 with decisive advantage [%csl Rc1,Bb5][%cal Rc8c1,Bb6b5] } ) 21... Bxc4 22. Bxa8 Bxa2 { With a difficult endgame for white. [%csl Rb4,Re2,Bb6,Ba7] } ) 21. b5 $5 { I could have taken on a8 with the bishop, however I wanted to keep the pressure. Luring the bishop to b5. [%csl Rb5][%cal Rb4b5,Ra6b5,Gg2a8] } ( 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Nd6 ) 21... Bxb5 22. Nd6 { There are pretty few things as uncomfortable for a chess player as to keep all of his pieces attacked at once in a passive position. The exchange is compensated as white has more active pieces and a lot of tension. Aside from that, black keeps a passive knight on a4. [%csl Ra4][%cal Gd6e8,Gd6b5,Yg2a8] } 22... Bxe2 { [%clk 0:05:59] } 23. Rc7 $1 { White is a pawn down, but not for long. The tension is pretty uncomfortable to deal with. [%cal Rc7f7,Yd6e8,Yd6f7,Gg2a8] } ( 23. Bxa8 { Simplifies the position, making it more comfortable for black. } ) 23... Rab8 { [%clk 0:05:01] } ( 23... Rf8 { [%csl Gf7,Be2,Ba4][%cal Gg2a8,Gc7f7] } ) 24. Rxf7+ { [%clk 0:03:03] } 24... Kh6 25. N2e4 { Black's king looks exposed, it might get into a mating net, bringing more pieces towards the king forces black to keep defending. [%cal Ye4g5,Ye4f6,Yf7h7] } ( 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxa7 ) 25... Rf8 { Finally, black pieces are not under attack anymore, but at what cost?
They've gotten disorganized. [%clk 0:04:26] } ( 25... Rxe4 26. Nxe4 ) 26. Rxa7 { Gaining a pawn. [%csl Ga4][%cal Ga7a4] [%clk 0:00:48] } 26... Nc5 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 27. Nc3 $5 $138 { The mating net could be formed if I manage to push g4 and h4. However, the e2 Bishop stops the pawn from moving. Nc3 forces the bishop to define its position, if it gets out of the diagonal d1-h5, g4 would be possible. [%csl Rh5,Re2][%cal Gg3g4,Gh2h4,Rd1h5,Bc3e2,Bc3d1] } 27... Bd3 { The diagonal is now free. [%csl Yh5][%cal Yd1h5,Gg3g4] [%clk 0:04:02] } ( 27... Bf3 $1 { Simplifies, giving black oxygen to reorganize his pieces. } ) 28. g4 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 28... Ne6 { [%clk 0:03:53] } 29. h4 { Time trouble for white. The mating net is starting to consolidate.
Defending for a long period of time is a pretty difficult task.
As one of my trainers used to say "Any idiot can attack, even you Paul. Defending, defending is hard". [%csl Rh6][%cal Yg4f5,Yg4h5,Yh4g5,Rb7h7,Gd6f7] [%clk 0:00:41] } 29... g5 { [%csl Gh6] [%clk 0:03:41] } ( 29... b5 30. g5+ Kh5 { [%cal Gg2h3] } 31. Bh3 { [%cal Ga7h7] } 31... Kxh4 32. Rxh7+ Kxg5 { [%cal Gf6e6,Gh3e6] } ) 30. Nf7+ { Black's king is now dubious. [%clk 0:00:34] } 30... Kg6 { [%clk 0:03:35] } ( 30... Rxf7 31. Rxf7 ) 31. h5+ { [%clk 0:00:33] } 31... Kf6 { [%clk 0:03:33] } 32. Nd5+ $1 { Bring everybody towards the attack. [%csl Rf6][%cal Rd5f6] } 32... Kg7 { Black's king is falling. [%cal Ya7h7,Rf7g5] } 33. Nxg5+ { [%clk 0:00:29] } 33... Kh8 { [%cal Gg5e6] [%clk 0:03:17] } 34. Rxh7+ $2 { With a few seconds on the clock, I miscalculate. [%cal Gd3h7] } ( 34. Nxe6 $3 { With an advantage of +8.3, but probably I could have been flagged with this line. [%csl Gh8] } ) 34... Kg8 $4 ( 34... Bxh7 35. Nxe6 { White still has some chances with three connected passed pawns for two qualities, but it is time for mental gymnastics. [%csl Gf2,Gg4,Gh5][%cal Rf2f4,Rg4g5,Rh5h6] } ) 35. Ne7# { 1-0 White wins by checkmate. } 1-0