This week's game is a bit older than usual (from November 2014), but has a lot to teach!
[Event "RA November op"] [Site "Ottawa CAN"] [Date "2014.11.28"] [Round "1"] [White "Gelblum, Robert"] [Black "Palsson, Halldor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A84"] [WhiteElo "2251"] [BlackElo "2045"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2014.11.28"] [EventRounds "5"] [EventCountry "CAN"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 c6 4. e3 f5 {And we now transposed to the Stonewall variation of the Dutch Defense.} 5. Nbd2 $5 (5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O {Is more common} ) 5... Nf6 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. b3 {A frequent move in such positions} ({Also possible is} 7. c5 Bc7 8. b4) 7... a5 8. a3 $5 {Black does not really threaten to play a4, and White's plan should not really be to push b4 at this point, so a3 is not necessary for now.} (8. O-O O-O 9. Ne5 {And White has a pretty good position}) 8... O-O 9. Bb2 Ne4 10. Qe2 b6 {Since Black realizes his bishop needs better squares} 11. h3 {There is pretty much only reason White would play this move in this position : because it intends to play g4. So, it's now Black's turn to prevent this.} Ba6 (11... Bb7 $1 {Placing the bishop on the a8-h1 diagonal is a good idea if White plans to push g4.}) 12. g4 $5 { Objectively, it is not the best move. However, it greatly complicates the position and this may have been White's plan.} Nd7 13. cxd5 $2 {Releasing pressure and allowing Black to exchange his weak bishop.} Bxd3 14. Qxd3 cxd5 { It's a good time to stop and evaluate the position. Black's pieces are active and he has a powerful knight in e4. Meanwhile, White has a rather weak bishop and his knights are not cnotrolling a lot of important squares. White does have some attacking chances, but with his king in the center, it is clear that Black is much better.} 15. gxf5 {Hoping to put pressure on the g-file.} Nxd2 $2 {Why exchange a powerful knight for a weak one? Simply taking back in f5 assured Black a lasting advantage.} 16. Nxd2 Rxf5 17. e4 $2 {Again, this is taking too much risks. White's king is in more danger than Black's.} dxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf8 (18... Qe8 $1 {Black's queen can now protect e6 while leaving Black's knight into the action.}) 19. O-O-O Rc8+ ({Probably slightly better was} 19... a4 20. b4 Bf4 {And Black has a strong edge}) 20. Kb1 Rxf2 (20... b5 21. Rhg1 Rc7) 21. Rhg1 Bh2 $2 {There is no way this move can be useful...} 22. Rg2 Rxg2 23. Qxg2 {White is suddenly now much better than a few moves ago and now has real attacking chances.} Bf4 24. d5 Bh6 $2 {Clearly calling for tactics} (24... Qg5 25. Qxg5 Bxg5 {And the position is pretty balanced}) 25. Ne4 exd5 26. Nf6+ $2 (26. Rxd5 $1 {And White is pretty much winning}) 26... Kh8 27. Rxd5 Qe7 28. Ng4 $2 (28. Rh5 Qe1+ 29. Ka2 Qd2 30. Qxd2 Bxd2 {Again leads to a balanced position}) 28... Bf4 {Missing a much stronger move} (28... Bc1 $3 {Very hard to see, obviously, but beautiful} 29. Bxc1 Qe1 30. Qd2 Rxc1+ 31. Qxc1 Qe4+) 29. Qf3 (29. Ne5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 Qf7 $11) 29... Ng6 $2 (29... Qc7 {Was the logical move, protecting f4 while keep some threats on White's king}) 30. Qd3 $1 Rg8 31. Qd4 {Black probably didn't realize it, but White now has a very strong attack and threatens to sacrifice his queen very soon} Qe1+ {This loses right away...} (31... a4 32. Qxa4 (32. b4 Bg5 {And Black is fine}) 32... Rd8 33. Rxd8+ Qxd8 {And it's tough for Black, but he may still have a chance to draw the game}) 32. Ka2 {Black has absolutely no way to protect g7} Bc1 (32... Qe7 33. Rd7) 33. Qxg7+ $1 Rxg7 34. Rd8+ 1-0
