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ANNOTATED GAME

Miniture Roy Lopez berlin defence with several noveltys
elyhim (2256) vs. armandon (2462)
Annotated by: elyhim (1200)
Chess opening: Ruy Lopez (C67), Berlin defence, open variation
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Pages: 12
This is a well known Roy Lopez Berlin defense game that is almost alway a draw. Despite that, I thought I would annodate it for your viewing pleasure because from white's prespective it is full of tactical ideas that can easily give an unprepared black player a quick and swift death. The line I choose in the game is perfect for novices who love to attack. There are two critical moments in the game the first is on move 10. Where white has to choose where to move his attacked rook.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Standard Roy Lopez

 
3... Nf6
This is the Berlin defence a very solid defence for black.

 
4. O-O
castling and preparing to meet 4. ...Nxe4

 
4... Nxe4
This is the whole point of why black plays 3. ...Nf6. Black grabs a pawn and plans to play Nd6 checking the bishop on b5.

 
5. Re1
?! This the old main line that has fallen out of favor somewhat mostly because as this game proves black gets very good play from it. However, 5. d4!? is very dangerous for black.

 
5... Nd6 6. Nxe5
!? This is it folks. Nothing really earth shattering but it is a very cheeky response to black. White deferres the retreat of the bishop for a quick tactical shot. The idea is that white regains the pawn and if black plays 6. ...Nxb5?? 7. Nxc6+ winning the queen. So black's next move is forced
2 comments
 
6... Be7
Now black threatens 7. ...Nxe5 8. Rxe5 0-0 9. Nc3 Bf6 gaining tempo against white's rook.
1 comment
 
7. Bd3
Now 7. Bf1 is played most of the time but I did not like the idea of placing my bishop on an useless square. So I opted for 7. Bd3 with prospects of attacking h7. The drawback of course is that the DSB is going to be hard to develop.

 
7... Nxe5
A strong move, Shirov Alexei 2695 - Ivanchuk Vassily 2740 , Monte Carlo 1995 went 7... O-O 8. Nc3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 c6 10. b3 Ne8 11. Qf3 d5 12. Bb21/2 1/2. This is blacks best since after 8. Rxe5 black can improve his pieces by attacking the rook.

 
8. Rxe5 O-O
castles in order to be able to play Bf6 putting the bishop on a very nice diagonal.

 
9. Nc3
Developing the knight and creating potential threats on f6 via Nd5

 
9... Bf6
attacking the rook and improving the strength of the bishop

 
10. Re3
Novelty. !? This is an interesting alternative to Re1 because it keeps the rook as active as possible. Now the attack on h7 is starting to take shape. This is exactly the types of positions that are very difficult to defend for black. He has no really counter play. White on the other hand has real prospects on h7.
1 comment
 
10... Bd4
This is black's most active defense. Other defenses include ..Bg5 and ..g6 all lead to equality. The key for black is his active bishop and White's rook that has very few options.

 
11. Bxh7+
This is an immediate draw but on the other hand it also gives white the best chance to pull off a quick win.

 
11... Kxh7 12. Qh5+ Kg8 13. Rh3
Threatening mate on h8.

 
13... f5
!! the only move. As 13. ...f6 is better for white after. 14. Qd5! Rf7 15. Qxd4 Qe7 16. Kf1 Nf5 17. Qd3 and white's advantage is getting clearer.

 
14. d3
The threat is to play 15. Bg5 when something like 15. ...Qe8 16. Qh7+ Kf7 17. Kf1 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qe6 19. Rh6! with a huge advantage.

 
14... Ne8
Defending against Bg5 by planning to interpose the knight on f6.

 
15. Bg5
The most aggressive since 15.Nd5 Nf6 16. Nxf6 Bxf6 17. Bf4 d6 is a very dull ending.

 

Pages: 12