1.Nf3 (0:00) Nf6 (0:00) 2.c4 (0:01) e6 (0:06) 3.g3 (0:01) d5 (0:12) 4.d4 (0:02) dxc4 (0:07) 5.Bg2 (0:03) a6 (0:14) 6.O-O (0:57) Nc6 (0:39)
tyrionsapprentice(1758) whispers: opinel using Rybka as we speak 7.e3 (4:39)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Anything other than the main line with 7...Bd7 would be a surprise. 7...Bd7 (2:46)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: White has a choice here between Nc3 and Qe2, both are theoretically okay.
hugozver(1935) whispers: Go Albido!! 8.Nc3 (3:57)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 8. Qe2 is arguably more ambitious than Nc3, which tends to result in endgames with a small plus fairly often.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: For my purposes an endgame with a small plus is fine. 8...Bd6 (2:32) 9.Qe2 (0:18) b5 (0:12) 10.e4 (0:14)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: The critical position for the entire 5...a6 6. 0-0 Nc6 line. 10...Be7 (1:18) 11.d5 (0:13)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Still in book...
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 10...Be7 is black's safest, 10...e5 is the other option, but is supposed to be dubious. 11...Nb4 (1:10) 12.Ne5 (0:23)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Key point to knowing this line - 12...exd5 is met by 13. a3 12...exd5 (0:50) 13.a3 (0:04) Nd3 (0:39) 14.Nxd3 (0:04) Bg4 (1:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: That would be a new move.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 14...cxd3 is routine.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 15. Qd2 is likely forced here.
xombie(1931) whispers: wonderful opening
Pawnadian(1933) whispers: A novelty? This should be interesting. 15.Qd2 (2:34) cxd3 (0:32)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Off-hand I'm going to guess 14...Bg4 was a engine's improvement.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Kudos to my opponent if he came up with it himself on the spot. 16.exd5 (5:08)
Pawnadian(1933) whispers: Did BPaulsen just suggest publicly that his opponent is cheating? That is a significant TL rule violation!
xombie(1931) whispers: dont think so 16...O-O (3:03) 17.Qxd3 (0:08)
RxR(1695) whispers: could have been a suggestion that his opponent was better prepared
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 16...Bf5 was stronger.
hugozver(1935) whispers: we'll ask him later
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: In retrospect 15. f3 may have been playable. 17...Qd7 (5:33) 18.Bf4 (1:23) Rad8 (1:19) 19.Rfe1 (0:38) Rfe8 (2:40)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: The Bg4 is annoying, as is the prospect of c6 20.Qf1 (3:28)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Intending h3 20...h6 (6:37) 21.h3 (0:32) Bf5 (0:37)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Bd6 is annoying, (Bxd6 cxd6 heavily favors black due to my shut-down Bg2 in that case) now
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Be5 comes to mind given Bd6 would be met by Bxf6 22.Be5 (1:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Perhaps 20...h6 wasn't the best, given my position seems to be finally coming to life now. 22...h5 (3:59)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 14...Bg4 was strong, I'm not totally sure 15. Qd2 was white's best now (15. f3!?), 16...0-0 is weaker than 16...Bf5 when black may be better (I'm not convinced d6 and Bxa8 is that good due to black's strong pawn on d3), and 20...h6 has given me more activity that I should have had. 23.Rac1 (1:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Now the backwards c-pawn is to be pressurized.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'm not sure I understand 22...h5 - his ...h4 isn't a big deal, and neither is my g4. Maybe he's got something deeper in mind.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: At some point I need to play b4 in order to make options like Bd4-c5 or Nd4-c5 more effective. 23...Rc8 (4:07) 24.b4 (0:20)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Now seems like a good time given black has switched to passive defensive moves.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Kh2 and doubling on the e-file continues the build-up.
easybreezy(1351) whispers: nice advantage on the clock too 24...Nh7 (2:24)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Unexpected.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I guess he wants Bf6 or Bd6 that badly.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Well, I see no reason not to continue with my intended Kh2. 25.Kh2 (1:43) Bd6 (1:05)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: f4 looks like a serious option here.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'd have to be wary of ...h4 then ...g5 though.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Pfft, never mind, he has to play Bg4 after h4 and then my g4
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: *Bg6 26.f4 (1:29) Nf8 (1:10)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Ng6 is obviously intended.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: If at all possible I'd prefer to prevent that.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Qf3 seems to achieve that goal.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Since Qf3 ...g6 renders it impossible, and Qf3 h4 g4 Bh7 (to keep Ng6 alive) looks awkward for black
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I think if he goes down that road I have a very real chance to entomb his Bh7 with f5
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'd surrenders the e5 square in the process, but he'd be playing effectively a piece down. 27.Qf3 (3:36) f6 (1:12) 28.Bd4 (0:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Bxd6 only eases his defense.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 27...f6 was unexpected, I expected ...h4, but he outfoxed me and didn't want to enter the positions with a bad bishop. 28...h4 (1:18) 29.g4 (0:04) Bh7 (0:25)
tjradd(2228) whispers: bg4 interesting
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: His Ng6 idea is back.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Question here is Kh1 or Kg1 (any other way of defending the f4 pawn runs the risk of Rxe3 or Rxe2)
IMgooeyjim(2096) whispers: its interesting firebird evaluates this as equal... I'd much rather play white here...
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: The only difference I can envision between the K moves is Kg1 may be more useful if Kf2 becomes a serious option.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I don't think there's any risk of dark-squared checks in the future. 30.Kg1 (4:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I intend to meet 30...Ng6 with f5, the same theme of entombing his B. 30...Ng6 (1:19) 31.f5 (0:10)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Very unclear position, but I don't mind my chances unless he reactivates the Bh7 31...Ne5 (0:52) 32.Qf1 (0:34)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I was wary of Nc4 then Bg3 if Qf2
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Didn't like Qd1 because I may want Qf2 some time in the future.
tjradd(2228) whispers: can trade a for h? 32...Nc4 (0:53)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Don't really have a fully a satisfactory defense of the a3 pawn.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Ne4-c5-e6 is appealing.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: So is Re6
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I like Re6 the more I look at it. 33.Re6 (3:52)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: It's too pretty to pass up.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Ne4-c5-e6 might be stronger, but couldn't really tell.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Even if he wins the a3 pawn he's still basically a piece down.
Twikki(2020) whispers: Kf8
easybreezy(1351) whispers: you could set up a sweet bishop sac 33...Nxa3 (2:03) 34.Bc5 (0:06)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Ne4, Qf2, etc., are all coming
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'll likely pick up the h4 pawn along the way as insurance. 34...Bxc5+ (1:21) 35.bxc5 (0:03)
xombie(1931) whispers: amazing
xombie(1931) whispers: nimzo reincarnated? 35...c6 (3:13)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Possibly his only defense.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Ne4 appeals, intending the obvious cxd5 Nd6
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'd like to play dxc6 but Qf4 is annoying, so Qf2 is also curious.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: There it is! I think I see it.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: 36. dxc6 Qd4+ 37. Qf2 Qxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Rxe6 39. fxe6 Kf8 40. Rd1 36.dxc6 (8:44)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I haven't seen a way black can stop all the pawns. 36...Qd4+ (0:35) 37.Qf2 (0:03) Qxf2+ (0:07) 38.Kxf2 (0:00) Rxe6 (0:04) 39.fxe6 (0:00) Kf8 (0:09) 40.Rd1 (0:02)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I'm going to be kicking myself if 36. Qf2 or 36. Ne4 were better. 40...Bg8 (2:14) 41.c7 (0:29)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: This has to be winning.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Bxe6 Rd8+ Nd5, etc. 41...Rxc7 (0:55) 42.Rd8+ (0:08) Ke7 (0:21) 43.Rxg8 (0:02) Rxc5 (0:15) 44.Rxg7+ (0:12) Kxe6 (0:05) 45.Ne2 (0:06)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Stil have to be careful not to let the connected passed pawns let him draw this.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: First I need to win the f6 pawn 45...a5 (1:49) 46.Nf4+ (0:08)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: If Ke5 then Nd3
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: If Kd6 then Rf7 46...Kd6 (0:34) 47.Rf7 (0:02)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: I have to watch for scenarios where I trade Ns/Rs because only a B + passed h-pawn is drawn.
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Here if Ke5 then nd3 Ke6 Rxf6 Kxf6 Nxc5 47...Rc2+ (1:39) 48.Ke3 (0:12) Ke5 (0:08) 49.Re7+ (0:21) Kd6 (0:08)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: He's still losing the pawn 50.Re6+ (0:08) Kc5 (0:19) 51.Rxf6 (1:13)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Had to check if Nd3 somehow won material. It doesn't so no reason to delay Rxf6 51...Nc4+ (0:48) 52.Ke4 (0:11) b4 (0:23) 53.Rf5+ (0:44)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Usually a good idea to cut off the K in endings. 53...Kb6 (0:25) 54.Kd4 (0:07)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Just have to keep inching towards his pawns. 54...Nd6 (1:01)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: With no K assistance it'll be hard for him to do much with them. 55.Rf6 (0:09) Kc7 (0:12)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Debating 26. g5
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Or putting Bd5 in, since it prevents b3 56.Bd5 (1:59)
Opinel(2468) whispers: complicated game, smart choice. White is winning easily here 56...Rc3 (0:38)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: If I dislodge the Nd6 he's lost. 57.Ne6+ (1:36)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: Kd7 meets Nc5+ followed by Rxd6 and then a N fork on e4 57...Kc8 (0:45) 58.g5 (0:27)
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: He can't stop the pawn .
BPaulsen(2372) whispers: g6, g7 are both covered, and Rf8+ with g8 covers the queening square.
GaraE(1481) whispers: Nice coverage of the pawn's passage. 58...Rxh3 (4:49) 59.g6 (0:21) Rg3 (0:14) 60.g7 (0:04) Kd7 (1:34) 61.Nc5+ (0:27) Albido resigns 1-0

Comments

Login to add comments

See also:

• instruction how to publish this game on your website
• information what is Watchbot and how to use it
• more games played by bpaulsen
• more games played by albido
• general game search