Game of the Week - Kovalyov vs. Panjwani

[Event "Third Annual Fall Festival"] [Site "Dearborn"] [Date "2013.10.25"] [Round "4"] [White "Kovalyov, Anton"] [Black "Panjwani, Raja"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B38"] [Annotator "Louie"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. e4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 d6 8. f3 O-O 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Be2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. O-O a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Be3 Nc5 15. Rac1 {A less common move, Rab1 is the most popular one.} b6 {Usually Black plays Qb6 here, and it does seem rather awkward to put the pawn of b6.} 16. Rfd1 Ra7 {At this point theory come to an end. Black's rook lift is very interesting, it allows for both a quick doubling on the a-file should White try for a3-b4, and also allows for future breaks in the center (f5) to be more menacing, since the rook would have all of the 7th rank to position itself.} 17. Bf1 $14 {White is in no rush. He places his pieces at their ideal position and leaves the question to Black. What can he do?} Rd7 18. Qc2 {Hinting at a3-b4 since the rook left the a-file. Black decides on an aggressive counter in the center rather than passively wait for White to break through.} e5 $6 $16 {Although this move is somewhat suicide positionally, given it weakens the d6 pawn, gives the d5 square and blocks the bishop on g7, it allows him to attack the center.} 19. a3 {White is not worried about Black's attack and continues his original plan. The hope for Black lies in his initiative against the center, since in the long run White is vastly ahead.} f5 20. Nd5 $2 {A slight miscalculation on White's part. By playing Nd5 early, he is now unable to play b4 and Black's knight on c5 becomes temporarily safe. He should have continued} (20. b4 Ne6 {and here} 21. Qa2 $1 axb4 22. axb4 Re8 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Nd5 { With a very comfortable position for White. Black has succeeded in breaking open the center, but has ended up with more weaknesses than he can cover.}) 20... fxe4 21. fxe4 Qh4 {A minor error, though it was difficult to foresee that the pawn on e4 is poisonous. Instead} (21... Rdf7 22. g3 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Bf6 $1 {an amazing resource} 24. Rcd1 Bg5 {that allows for Black to equalize comfortably. White must exchange into opposite colored bishop ending, or risk allowing Black entry through his dark squares.} 25. Bxc5 (25. Bxg5 Qxg5 26. Re1 Rf3 $17) 25... bxc5 26. R5d3) 22. g3 $5 {White gives up the e4 pawn, but gains enough back through exploiting Black's weaknesses that he should be able to reclaim the pawn and retain a small edge.} Qxe4 {Last chance to back out, although retreating would be admitting defeat and dropping a full tempo to White.} (22... Qg4 23. Bg2 Rdf7 24. Nc3 $14 {followed by b4 should net White a comfortable plus.}) 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Bg2 {The computer prefers} (24. Nxb6 Rb7 25. Bg2 Rfb8 26. b4 Rxb6 27. b5 $3 {an incredible intermezzo} Ba8 28. Bxb6 Rxb6 29. c5 Nxc5 30. Bxa8 $16 {with a material edge for White that borders on decisive.}) 24... Bxd5 25. Rxd5 {White's choice almost forcibly converts into an endgame where the two bishops net White a very pleasant edge. Although there is no decisive advantage, no one particularly relishes defending against the bishop pair in the endgame. White displays exquisite technique in pressuring Black with the pair of bishops.} Nc5 26. Rcd1 Nxb3 27. Rxd6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Nd4 29. Bd5+ Kh8 30. Rxb6 Nc2 {Black's knight is slightly misplaced here. Better was} (30... Nf5 31. Bc5 Rc8 32. Kf2 Rxc5 33. Rb8+ Bf8 34. Rxf8+ Kg7 35. Rf7+ Kh6 36. Ra7 {with a very unpleasant defense ahead of him.}) 31. Bc5 Rc8 32. Rc6 Rxc6 $16 {objectively speaking, Black should be able to hold this endgame. However, it is not as easy as it appears.} 33. Bxc6 Bh6 34. Kf2 Bc1 35. a4 Bb2 36. Bd6 {Simple moves by White, giving Black the choice of where to put his pieces.} Kg7 37. Be4 {A very sly attack on Black's misplaced knight on c2.} Nb4 $6 {Arguably losing the game. Instead} (37... Na3 38. Bd5 (38. c5 $2 Nc4 $5 {equalizes.}) 38... Bd4+ 39. Ke1 Nc2+ 40. Ke2 Nb4 $16 {is much better}) 38. c5 Ba3 $2 {the last mistake} (38... Bd4+ 39. Kf3 Na6 40. c6 Bb6 41. Bxe5+ Kf7 $18 {was Black's last hope for defense.}) 39. Bxe5+ Kf7 40. c6 Ke6 41. c7 Kd7 42. Bb7 Nd3+ 43. Ke3 {and White will promote. White's endgame was very precise, and although there were some missed chances to gain an advantage, he pressured with the two bishop pair very well. All it took were minute piece misplacement by Black and the game was over. Black refused to sit still and defend earlier in the game, but e5 is objectively speaking a positionally bad move. However, it is very difficult to stay passive and watch as White's pieces get into perfect position. A bad plan is better than no plan. Indeed, it almost paid off, but White's masterful endgame netted him the point.} 1-0