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ANNOTATED GAME

1st Reti System mini-tournament
mybookrunsdeep (2060) vs. a_professional_idiot (1745)
Annotated by: mybookrunsdeep (1431)
Chess opening: Reti opening (A05)
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Pages: 12
1. Nf3
This is the Queen's Indian Defense d5-pawn sac line. A nice positional crush up to the sacrificial finish. Feel free to leave comments, especially if you're going to give it 1 star!!!

 
1... Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4
6. Nc3 0-0; 7. Re1! is more topical and now 7...Ne4, 7...c5, or 7...d5 are possible.

 
6... c5
It's difficult to believe that such a seemingly natural move is a mistake, however, White's next move not only cramps the Black position, but gives White dangerous initiative.
2 comments
 
7. d5
This temporary pawn sacrifice can also occur when Black plays 6...0-0; 7. d5 ed; 8. Nh4 c6!?, with roughly equal chances. With the c-pawn on c5 the White pawn center will permanently cramp the Black position.
1 comment
 
7... exd5 8. Nh4
A typical theme in the QID, white exploits the pin on the h1-a8 diagonal to win back the pawn. The h4-knight also prepares to sink in on f5 with threats against the Black king.
1 comment
 
8... d6
Another idea is 8...Na6 followed by ...Nc7.
1 comment
 
9. cxd5 Nbd7
Black chooses the more central deployment of the knight, retaining the possibility of dropping in on e5.
1 comment
 
10. Nc3
Preventing any "comeback" tactics on the d5-pawn due to the queen and bishop battery on the h4-d8 diagonal.

 
10... O-O 11. Nf5
I was in no rush to play e4 and want to meet ...g6 with Nh6 , keeping the Black pieces awkwardly placed.
1 comment
 
11... Ne5 12. Bg5
This move turns out to be not so good, as Black gets some tempi by kicking it around.
2 comments
 
12... h6 13. Bf4
Then again, h6 does become the scene of a later sacrifice!

 
13... Ng6 14. Bd2
Operating on the premise that any exchanges favor the cramped side, I preserve the bishop for later deployment. It also seems that the Black knight is better on e5 than on g6, but I could be wrong.
1 comment
 
14... Re8 15. Qc2
Preparing the centralize the rooks and push the e- and f-pawns.
1 comment
 
15... Bf8
It seems that Black has made the most of his reorganization. White still has the advantage due to the static space advantage and better placed pieces.

 
16. Rfe1
I was entertaining the idea of Ra-e1 also.
1 comment
 
16... Qd7
Black continues to unravel, all would be well, if Black could play ...d5.
1 comment
 
17. Rac1
Not so sure about this move, as I was intending Rad1, but at the last minute I had some idea about slowing down Black's queenside play as I was sure ...b5 and ...c4 was sure to come.
1 comment
 
17... b5
Black's only feasible plan of expansion.
1 comment
 
18. e4
Now it's a race!
1 comment
 
18... b4 19. Nd1
The knight wants to go to c4 via e3.

 

Pages: 12