[Event "Canadian Open 2014"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.07.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sevian, Samuel"]
[Black "Cao, Jason"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2464"]
[BlackElo "2177"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 {This move often leads to Ruy-Lopez-like
positions. Jason probably prefers closed positions, in comparison with the
more open positions that usually result from Bd7, the most popular move.} 4. c3
Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 e5 {This is very similar to a Ruy Lopez variation in
which White played Qe2} 7. O-O Be7 8. d4 cxd4 $6 {A slightly odd move. Black
usually keeps the pressure in the center by playing a move like 0-0 or b5.} 9.
cxd4 b5 10. Bc2 Bb7 11. a3 O-O 12. Nc3 Re8 13. d5 $5 {Deciding when to play d5
is often very difficult in the Ruy Lopez. On one hand, White blocks the b7
bishop and limits the activity of the f6 knight, but on the other hand it will
be much harder to create weaknesses in Black's position.} Rc8 14. Bd2 Nb6 15.
b3 Nfd7 16. Rac1 f5 $5 {Black is now getting some counterplay and White must
play carefully.} 17. exf5 Nxd5 18. Ne4 h6 {To prevent White from moving a
piece in g5. But every tempo is important in this position.} 19. b4 N5f6 $2 {
Although logical, this move doesn't quite work. Perhaps he didn't realize how
important it would be to have a piece ready to block the c-file.} (19... N5b6
$1 20. Bb3+ d5 21. Rxc8 Qxc8 $11 22. Rc1 Nc4) 20. Bb3+ d5 21. Rxc8 Qxc8 22. Rc1
{With a knight in b6, Black could have played Nc4...} Qa8 23. Ng3 Bd6 24. Nh4
$5 {The computer doesn't like this move, but that's only if Black plays
perfectly. Nh4 makes Black's task much more difficult, which cannot be bad.}
Nb6 25. Nh5 Qd8 26. Rc3 e4 27. Rh3 {White has nearly all his pieces aiming at
Black's king. Meanwhile, Black has more control over the center. This is
pretty much an all-in situation for White ; he must continue his attack and
hope it works.} Nc4 28. Bxc4 bxc4 29. Ng6 $2 Bc8 $2 {Unfortunately Black
missed his only chance, and he won't have another one. With a perfect play,
Black might be able to defend, but in practice, it will be extremely hard.} (
29... Nxh5 30. Qxh5 Qf6 $19) 30. Bc3 Bxf5 $2 {Again, Black missed the only
move.} (30... Nxh5 31. Qxh5 d4 32. Bxd4 Bxh2+ 33. Kxh2 Qxd4 34. Rg3 Qxf2 {With
a very dynamic position for both sides.}) 31. Nxf6+ gxf6 32. Rxh6 {It's now
over.} d4 33. Qh5 Qc8 34. Rh8+ Kf7 35. Ne5+ Ke7 36. Qf7+ 1-0
