[pgn] [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "NN"] [Black "Spreek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B07"] [PlyCount "60"] e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 {The goal of this opening is to reach the solid Phillidor Hanham variation without risking some dangerous lines in the traditional move-order (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6).} 4. dxe5 {My lower-rated opponent was evidently eager to trade queens.} dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {This queenless middlegame is pretty famous, and the verdict seems to be that it is harmless for Black.} 6. Bg5 (6. Bc4 {might be more dangerous for Black.} Bb4 (6... Be6 { is played more often but seems to be more of a drawing weapon.} 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. f3 Bd6 9. Be3 $14 {I feel like only White can win a position like this.}) 7. Bd2 Ke7 8. Nf3 Be6 $5 {An interesting idea that has only been tried a few times. Play might continue:} (8... Nbd7 {With the e5 pawn secure, Black is finally threatening to take on c3 (and then e4).} 9. O-O-O {Far better than passive options like Bd3.} Bd6 10. h3 $14 {It seems that White has a little pull here.}) 9. Nxe5 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nxe4 11. Bb4+ Kf6 12. Bxe6 Kxe6 13. Nd3 { This position appears roughly equal.}) 6... Be6 {An important move. Black prepares the harmonious Nbd7 without blocking in the c8 bishop. Also he frees the c8-square for his king if need be.} 7. O-O-O+ Nbd7 8. f4 {Probably better than the alternative} (8. Nf3 {which someone played against me a few rounds earlier. I quickly got a winning position after} Kc8 9. Bb5 $6 c6 10. Be2 Bb4 Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nh4 Nc5 13. f3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Na4 $17) 8... exf4 {The only move that makes sense.} 9. Bxf4 (9. e5 $6 {looks cool at first, but Black can escape the pin with the typical} h6 10. Bxf4 Ng4 {when White's e-pawn is hopelessly exposed.}) (9. Nf3 $5 {is the standard move.}) 9... c6 $6 {I was on my own after my opponents last move, and I think the move I chose was a mistake. White's plan is to strangle any chance of counterplay with h3 and Nge2, so this is my best chance to strike.} (9... Bb4 $1 10. Nge2 Ng4 {White has no pleasant way of dealing with the threat of Nf2, as the natural} 11. Bg3 $6 {allows} Ne3) 10. h3 $1 {White has a very good approach to this position. He knows that I want to play against his isolated e-pawn, so he immediately takes steps to secure it. This move prevents an annoying Ng4 move, and thus gives him an idea of e5.} Bb4 {It's hard to suggest anything else, but I quickly fall into a passive position.} 11. Nge2 $1 {It's important for White not to allow me to fracture his pawn structure with Bxc3.} Bc4 $6 {I compound my problems by continuing to play actively when I should have accepted a small disadvantage. Instead 11...Bc4 has the idea of taking on e2, then taking on c3, and finally taking on e4. However this is easily parried by White's next move.} (11... Re8 {A move like this or even}) (11... h6 {would have been far more in line with my position.}) 12. Rd4 b5 {Obviously the only move, others would give up material.} 13. e5 Ne8 14. Ne4 (14. Rd1 $6 {The computer loves this move (with the idea of Nd4), but it is hardly a move a human would make.}) 14... h6 $2 {Oblivious to potential ideas from White.} 15. b3 $2 {Allowing me to achieve a playable position.} (15. N2g3 $1 {was the simplest solution. Once White forces the exchange of bishops, I will be stuck in a hopelessly passive, undeveloped position.} Nc7 (15... Bxf1 $4 16. Rxf1 a5 17. Rfd1 $18) 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Rhd1 Nd5 18. Nf5 $18 {Black is totally screwed here.}) 15... Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Be6 17. N2c3 {White sensibly plans to bring his final pieces into the game. } Ke7 {Finally getting out of the horrible pin on the d-file. Though I'm fortunate not to be lost, my position is still very unpleasant.} 18. g4 { Preparing to aim the f1-bishop along the long diagonal h1-a8.} a5 {I know White wants to pressure my c6 pawn, so I decide to prepare a natural defense with Ra6. Hopefully, I'll be able to organize some queenside play with ...a4 later} (18... Nc7 $1 {is far better however.} 19. Bg2 Nd5 $1 20. Nxd5+ Bxd5 { And now White's only hope for an advantage is the murky exchange sac} 21. Rxd5 cxd5 22. Nd6 $13) 19. Bg2 Ra6 20. Rhd1 Nc7 21. Nd6 g6 $4 {A losing blunder} ( 21... Rd8 {was necessary.}) 22. Nde4 $4 {A mistake in return.} (22. Nxf7 $1 { is absolutely crushing.}) 22... Nd5 23. Nxd5+ Bxd5 24. Nf6 Bxg2 25. Rxd7+ Ke6 { Feeling the position turning around, my opponent decided to force a draw here with} 26. R1d6+ (26. R7d2 $1 {would give him decent winning chances.} Bf3 ( 26... Bxh3 $2 27. Rh1 {and the bishop is trapped.}) 27. Rf1 Bd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 Be3 {leaves White with a huge positional advantage, along with the brutal threat of Rf6+}) 26... Bxd6 27. Rxd6+ Ke7 28. Rd7+ Ke6 29. Rd6+ Ke7 30. Rd7+ Ke6 $11 {And here we agreed to a draw.} (30... Kf8 $4 {would give White a stunning finisher with} 31. Bxh6+ $3 Rxh6 32. Rd8+ Kg7 (32... Ke7 33. Re8#) 33. Rg8#) 1/2-1/2 [/pgn]

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