Chess.com 2024, 3rd round, E08 - Wading through complications
21st of June
First quick think of the day:
I saw last night a very interesting idea here – Bb5, which goes after the hamstrung white knight with a temporary pawn sacrifice. (I was planning the more mundane Be6 a few moves/days back).
Looks very promising. If this works, it could be one of the best moves of the tournament for me.
I was overly enthusiastic here, but it is indeed a very good move and the only way to continue fighting for a win. On the flip side, I did not analyze more natural responses for white, such as Rb2 or Rd2 which would defend the knight on the 2nd rank.
Last move notwithstanding, I don’t feel good about my playing last few days. There were a few wishful thinking moves as well as completely missed responses from my opponents.
My first proper look at the game below – one of the last ones to get out of the opening book:
Let’s do an eval. To play captain obvious for a moment – white has exchange for a pawn. Black has a very strong center, with e5-e4 betting to be played. White’s last move, Bd2, is presumably to hold on to the b3 pawn with b3-b4. The more cynical reason is that he’s following the opening book to the ‘T’, and that’s where white has won the lonely game. White’s rook pair can make itself felt on the c- or the a-file. White will obviously have to play Qh4 at some point.
Coming back to white’s last move: let’s see what difference it makes if I still go after that b3 pawn.
He may also route the bishop to c3, though that is going to invite d5-d4. In any case, I’ll start with Qb6 – that move is necessary sooner or later, and it can also help white clarify the intentions of his last move.
A very good decision. The line with 9. Nf4 never came in serious games against me before – only in blitz. Based on this game, I don’t mind it coming up again.
There is a pivotal decision in this game:
Should I give up two minor pieces for a rook and a pawn after Bxa4? I calculate an improved line below, where the eval of the resulting endgame is crucial:
I decide to go for it. This is another game I should try to win, and my compass tells me black is standing better with the two passers, and the rook for two knights.
Absolutely correct. I also calculated the top line.
Last game for this morning’s session is this topsy-turvy affair:
I’m quite unhappy about the way it went. I should have played Kd2 two moves ago and now black is exacting a heavy price. Kd2 seems mandatory now – better later than never. If I don’t play it, black is playing Ba4 and I’m done for. He’ll likely play h6, after which I’ll have to fight for a draw again.
My issue was on this move, not on the previous ones which apparently were forced. I missed Ra3 as an option here, as it allows black to imprison the rook with Ba4. However, there is a forced line that extricates the rook:
Granted, this was not easy to see, but not impossible either. Kd2 allowed black to move the rook to the kingside with Rg4. This is not losing but inflicts more trouble than whatever I was trying to prevent with Kd2. The main point is that white can play Ra3 in the different lines – as I assumed otherwise, it led me onto a different path. The eval drops from +0.35 to a nice round 0.00.
The black game against Draqlek is getting very interesting:
He read my idea and played the best move. My plan was to play R4c6 and install the bishop on c4. After a bit of thought I decide on R4c7, which can take the rook out of a Nd4 tempo in some lines.
I missed a beautiful idea here.
This line is a thing of beauty and if I saw it, I’d submit it for a move of the tournament. I didn’t and hence my winning chances went away in a puff of smoke. This is not a massive regret, since this kind of idea is above of what I’d expect of myself.
The furiously fast black game also got very interesting. He just sacrificed an exchange, and I don’t see the compensation. I did look at this option before, so it’s not a complete shock, but I suspect the shock will come later. This guy keeps surprising me at every turn.
My suspicion was correct – I didn’t see the entire line until later. I was a level below my opponent when it came to calculations.
Moving on to dumblecore, who refuses to grant more timeouts:
The knight just went to b7 and back, which gives me a couple of tempos. I expected him to play a5, which seems much more consistent. I suspect he really doesn’t want me to play Nc6.
My intuitive plan is Qe2, Rfd1 and f4-f5. Black can prepare moves like e6 and f5; otherwise, I don’t see a lot of ideas, assuming he does not shuffle the knight back and prepare a5. Either of the moves seems to do more damage to black than white:
We get another minor result in the meantime – Artem bags another draw:
Speaking of nasty surprises:
Black’s last move, Nd5, wasn’t in my field of vision. This player does three nasty surprises to me in two days: must be some kind of negative record. I’m not losing immediately, but this swings the balance in black’s favour. My options are:
- Bd2. Looks quite dodgy with the knight hanging there all unprotected in the middle of the board.
- Kf2. Gives him a bishop pair in an open position.
- fxe5. Same as above.
All the other moves lose material. I’ll discard the last move from the list, as it just gives him both bishop pair and the e5 weakness.
The lines after Bd2 are very complex. They get especially crazy if black plays Nd3 or Nb6. I’m putting my money on Nd3, as that looks like the strongest option. I should have a way out, but it looks extremely thin.
The more I think about all the craziness of the lines above, the more I lean toward Kf2.
In the end I decide for Kf2. I’d rather escape this game with a draw and Kf2 seems safer. Enough chess for now.
This was the right choice in a very complex position. I won’t even go into dissecting my calculations above as they went too deep. I didn’t see black’s next move again, but granted – few people would have.
Going for the late evening session, starting here:
He is goading me to play g4, which creates holes on f4 and h4. Black’s threatening e5-e4, so I need to act fast. My intuitive move is Nd5, as it puts the option of g4 on the table and takes some of the sting out from e4.
Intuition betrayed me a few times during the last couple of days, but this time around, I don’t see any reason why it would be off.
It didn’t betray me this time – it’s a decent move. The eval is +0.44.
He did not go for the Bc5 complications – thank heavens for that. The a7-g1 diagonal should be my domain now. I suspect he wants to do some damage on the a-file: go a5, build up the rooks behind the pawn, and then open the file at a convenient moment. Moves like a7-a5, Ra6, Rca8, and then exchange the pawns. I can of course play passively and just hunker up with Qb2 protecting the rook, not letting the opening of the a-file become a disaster. An alternative is to attack on the kingside with g2-g4, or Bg4-h3 and then g4.
Let’s do a couple of sample lines for both options. The passive option:
The passive option seems to hold. I’m thinking that first I should execute it and minimize his potential on the queenside and then consider going for kingside with g4, h3, Kh2, Rg1 and f5. I’m sure he can block that too, but at least I don’t have to sit doing nothing.
I should have switched to a purely defensive mindset. This over-optimism is something I need to adjust: especially against stronger players. a3 was also more precise, but the real trouble came later.
Dumblecore granted another timeout in the meantime: of course, not to me. This is getting annoying:
Last game for now:
He clearly does not want my knight there. I can correct that impression with N3h4. In fact, I think that’s the only reasonable move here to keep up the pressure. He can go Ng6, but that also leads to interesting lines in white’s favour.
22nd of June
A few more timeouts last night in the group from the outsiders. None of them went my way (naturally). We have the first player in our group that is done with his tournament – andyh.
On a more important note, furiously fast continues pulling surprises on me. I feel outplayed for the first time in a long while.
I saw Ng5 here but did not calculate it far enough. I have two choices here: f5 and g6. From a cursory check, I was sure that the former leads to a win, but now I see a direct draw. g6 just seems plain risky. I might keep my extra material there, but white will have full domination on the black squares. Considering how this game was going so far, I’d rather take a draw:
g6 apparently also worked. I got agonizingly close in the calculations above to finding the path to a draw but missed a couple of tricks a few moves down the line. That being said, f5 was an equivalent option, so my main impact was on the mental side – the position is still close to equal.
Quick switch to the dumblecore game, who is refusing to time out, but on the other hand, grants me a pawn:
Is there any reason I shouldn’t take on b5? If there is one, I don’t see it. Off with their heads!
According to the engine, I’ve cashed out too soon and should have kept the queens on the board with f2-f3-f4. Still, the eval is +1.8 after my choice, so it’s not all bad.
In the Draqlek white game, he didn’t play Rg4, which was my biggest concern:
I think either Rb4 or Nd4 work here, but Rb4 is more precise, since it reduces the dangers of h6. He’s very unlikely to play that considering he’s been avoiding that move like the plague, but never say never.
In the black game, he continues playing the only moves:
My plan is to cement with Bc4, get the king into the game, then continue reusing the dominance of the superior bishop over knight and the weakness on c3. White might be able to hold by counterattacking the a6 pawn. Either way, Bc4 is the only option, so I’ll delay the endgame planning until later.
Not sure why I thought Bc4 was the only option, since Rd7 seems a more precise way to follow the same plan. The eval is still very close to equal – the engine doesn’t see a win.
This leaves just one game for this morning’s session, which is also the most complicated one:
I’m still clutching to my extra pawn here, though white made his intentions clear with Rac1. He wants to retake what’s rightfully his. Here’s my plan:
- Try to exchange rooks, as his rooks are clearly doing a better job. So, re-route Ra6 to d8.
- Put the bishop on e6, to make moves like b3 more difficult and to keep an eye on the h3 pawn (though white can spend a king tempo to protect it)
One headache here is the pawn on e5 which needs constant protection and removes options like Qb4 and Nfd7-c5-b3 from me. I don’t see a great way to deal with it for now. Let’s make a few moves:
One observation – if and when the c-file opens, things are going to get real spicy real fast. I should adapt my plan a bit. Start with Be6, protect the e5 pawn with Nbd7 and then pile up on the b-file. I’m sure white will prevent this, but it looks far more promising than my previous idea.
I suspect the line above is very likely. He’s going to play Na2, Nd2 and just go after that pawn at all costs. Be6 is mandatory here. Enough for this morning’s session.
I found the strongest move and quite a few nice ideas, so self-appreciation is in order. On the other hand, I again did not consider the more natural move for white, which 19. Nb1 – not sure why I assumed Na2 which is a lousy home for the knight.
Starting the afternoon session after a bit of sports with Euro 2024 as the backdrop. The black furiously fast game went down the line I expected this morning. He refused a draw, which is both worrying and annoying.
Now staring at the game with VFK where things are slightly worse than I thought:
He can combine threats on the a8-h1 diagonal with the c-file; going e4-e3 at the right moment and then taking on c3. I’m thinking a setup with Rc1 and Bf1 should hold it.
I didn’t see all of black’s options here – for example exchanging the white-squared bishops and pressing on the d-file. Mental note: spend more time looking for my opposition’s plan – not just my own.
And now to the white furiously fast game where he pulled another ace out of his sleeve. Let's do another puzzle:
I didn’t see this move at all at all and it’s yet another nasty surprise. I obviously can’t take on e5 due to Nxe3 and Bg5+. My options are: Nf3, g5, Bd2 and Nf5. A ton of tactics, where my opponent is clearly shining and I’m not.
I’ll discard Bd2, as it leads to similar insane lines from yesterday, only with my king on f2 and his bishop on e7, which clearly makes things only worse for me.
Nf5 will be my backup option. The pros there is the opposite bishop colour ending, the cons being the ruined pawn structure and compromised king position.
In the end, I decide on Nf3. This is by far the saner option, with less opportunities for crazy tactics, which my opponent is gradually becoming famous for. I should also keep a decent pawn structure, with the only downside being his bishop pair. Won’t be very easy to hold but seems like the lesser of two evils.
Be7 is the strongest move played against me in the entire tournament. If there is a GM-level move in these pages, this is the one. It’s not intuitive at all. The lines are not at all complex once you see it but taking that first step is not something meant for an average player. For once, I’m not going to apply self-criticism for not seeing it. On that note, I also selected the best reply through the right line of reasoning.
Artem has another draw – this time against one of the top players. I don’t feel so bad about my draw anymore.
Starting the evening session with the white Trustcarefully game:
His last move looks a bit passive, but I don’t see anything forcing. Let’s list white’s ideas:
- Exchange the f5 bishop with Ne3 and Bd5.
- Gain space on the queenside with b5.
- Attack on the kingside with g4 and Kg3.
Right now, white stands better because of more active piece placement, but that will dissipate quickly if I don’t take swift action.
The more I stare at Ne3, the better it looks. Unless I’m missing something (very likely), he will lose a pawn. (Or he plays something like Bc8, which seems sad).
Black didn’t lose a pawn (yet), but again I played the top line. I’ve been doing surprisingly well this part of the tournament.
On to the next game, where I have a dilemma - to grab a pawn or not to grab a pawn (way more important than Hamlet’s question).
On one hand, I like free pawns. On another, it looks dangerous considering white’s bishop pair. Also, black usually plays e4 in these lines to block white bishop’s malevolent gaze on g6. On the other hand, I really don’t see how he can punish me. Since he played Bd2 rather than Bg5, there are no nasty threats with Bxf6, Qh7, Qxg6+. However, this sacrifice looks worrying:
I’d rather go e4, to stay on the safe side. If he plays Be2, I’ll take the pawn.
I should have taken it; that sacrifice I quoted is a mirage – white is just down material with black having several ways of defending himself. Taking the pawn after e4 Be2 is more dangerous than in the current position.
Next, going to furiously fast games. I have plenty of time there, but I’d like to navigate at least one of them to a draw to decrease my load.
The natural move here is a6-a5 and then to proceed to a setup with Re7, g6 and Kg7, where everything seems defended. My king’s position is not ideal, but otherwise, I don’t see why black should be worse here.
The comp agrees 100% on all points. The eval is +0.18.
In the other game, he has retreated with the knight, which finally gives me a bit of respite with all the tactics. I’m quite happy with my choice of Nc3 there:
The tempting move is f5, in order to immure the black bishop and remove the pawn from the knight’s crosshairs. On the other hand, he will have the unopposed, black-squared bishop, and I’m leaving all the black squares open. That’s going to be a problem in the endgame.
There are very complicated lines there, but the main problem is that I just don’t see other moves:
Actually, Nc5 is worth considering. However, the lines there are just too complicated. If I lose this game over inability to calculate mind-boggling lines, so be it. I know my limits and at this point I’m spending too much time on chess. Done for today.
f5 was an ok move, but I paid later for the black-square weakness. I shouldn’t have made a move in a tired state; if my brain operated at 100%, I would’ve found the more cautious Bd2.
Continued here: https://www.chess.com/blog/RomanKleiner/chess-com-2024-3rd-round-e09-meeting-007