This week's game is particularly complicated, and both players should not feel bad about the mistakes they made as it seemed like every inaccuracy was enough to turn the tables. Still, I believe readers will enjoy the game.
[Event "Aurora Summer Open 2015"]
[Site "Canadian Royal Legion"]
[Date "2015.??.??"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Liang, Hairan"]
[Black "Pace, Christopher"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "1785"]
[BlackElo "2087"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.07.04"]
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 {The Modern Defense, as featured recently in another GOTW.}
3. Nf3 d6 4. Bd3 {It is not a very common move, as in many lines the bishop
could be severely restricted by its own pawns, but it is still seen from time
to time.} c5 $5 ({Another plan for Black could try to push e5, in order to
limit White's bishop.} 4... Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Nc6 7. Re1 e5) 5. c3 (5. dxc5
Qa5+ 6. c3 Qxc5 7. Be3 {Is also worth considering for White}) 5... cxd4 6. cxd4
Bg4 7. Bb5+ $6 {It is not clear what White wishes to achieve here. There are
several ways to protect the d4 pawn.} (7. Nbd2 $5 Nc6 (7... Bxd4 $4 8. Qa4+) 8.
h3 Bd7 9. Nb3) (7. Be3 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Bb5+) 7... Nd7 8. Nc3 (8. Be3 {Is much
more logical, for at least White can take back in f3 with the queen if
necessary.}) 8... Bxf3 9. gxf3 a6 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bb3 {It seems like White did
not make any major mistake in its last few moves, yet its positions
quicklydeteriorated. It probably shows how important it is to play accurately
in such a position, as each inaccuracy can be extremely costly.} e6 12. f4 $2 {
This only weakens White position.} (12. Bf4 $5 {Attacking d6} Ndf6 (12... Qb6
13. Be3 Qc7 14. Rc1)) 12... Qh4 13. Be3 Qh3 ({A simple move such as} 13... Ne7
{Would have given Black a solid position as well.}) 14. Qd3 Ne7 15. O-O-O Rc8 (
15... b4 16. Ne2 O-O {And Black has definitely an edge.}) 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Rdg1
Nb6 $2 ({Again} 17... b4 {Was the best move}) 18. Rg3 $1 {A simple inaccuracy
by Black and White is suddenly much better} Qh4 19. f5 h6 ({As ugly as it may
seem, Black had only one move that allowed him to survive.} 19... Bh6) 20. fxg6
d5 21. gxf7+ Rxf7 22. Qd2 $4 {Not realizing the strength of the b1-h7 diagonal.
White just went from a winning position to a losing position!} (22. Rhg1 Kh8
23. Bc2 {And the game is over!}) 22... b4 $2 (22... Rxc3 $1 23. Qxc3 (23. bxc3)
23... Qxe4+ $19) 23. Qe2 (23. Rhg1 bxc3 24. bxc3 Kh8 25. Rg4 Qh5 {And while
White is a piece down, it actually has decent attacking chances thanks to its
strong bishop pair. The engine evaluates this position as pretty much equal,
but obviously for that White has to find extremely precise moves.}) 23... bxc3
24. Rg4 Qf6 25. Rhg1 e5 $2 (25... dxe4 {Would have provided Black with a
lasting advantage.}) 26. dxe5 {Again an inaccuracy that can cost a lot} (26.
bxc3 Rxc3 27. Qd2 {Wins the exchange, as Black cannot protect both its rook
and the h6 pawn.}) 26... Qxe5 27. Bc2 $2 {While the idea is interesting, Black
has a tactical ressource :} Nc4 $1 28. f4 (28. Bxh6 Nd2+ 29. Bxd2 cxd2 {And
suddenly it's Black's bishop that is extremely powerful.}) 28... Qb8 29. b3
Nxe3 (29... Na3+ 30. Ka1 Nxc2+ 31. Qxc2 dxe4 {And White doesn't have much
compensation for the piece anymore.}) 30. Qxe3 Qb4 31. f5 Qa3 32. Qc1 Qxc1+ 33.
Kxc1 {The game is now over} Kh8 34. e5 Bxe5 35. Re1 Bg7 36. Rf1 Bf6 37. h4 Rg8
38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. Rf4 Nc6 0-1
