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ANNOTATED GAME

Team match
justinian (1593) vs. topazg (1565)
Annotated by: topazg (1717)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B35), accelerated fianchetto, modern variation with Bc4
Interactive Show all comments All annotated games View chessboard as:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O
Because everyone loves the dragon ...

 
8. f3 Qb6 9. Bb5 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5
Pinning the knight.

 
11. O-O a6 12. Bc4 b5 13. Bb3 d6
Developing and creating space for the black bishop and hoping to create strong counterplay.

 
14. Nd5
Seems strong. After the exchange my rook is hanging, and both white bishops are preventing it from escaping.

 
14... Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bxd4+
The check is required to save the rook.

 
16. Qxd4 Rb8
Qa7 is not the threat that Ba7 would have been, now I have to get the bishop of the back rank and develop.

 
17. e5
The exchange of pawns is obviously bad.

 
17... e6 18. Bb3 d5
However, locking the position up here is outstanding for black. Now there is a fighting chance to remain in the game.

 
19. h4 Qb6
Forcing the exchange.

 
20. Qxb6 Rxb6 21. c3 d4
Played the sacrifice to get some counter-play.

 
22. cxd4 Rd8 23. Rfd1 Bb7 24. Rac1 Bd5
Played the exchange as it is hard to see how white can continue to defend the d4 pawn.

 
25. Bxd5 Rxd5 26. g4
Seems strange. I think white had to work to double rooks.

 
26... Rb7 27. Rc6 a5
black really has not pulled this off, white can play b3 and Ra6 - I'm not doing a good job here. Alternatively Rc2 or Rc3 can simply defend the d pawn.

 
28. Kf2
Fortunately this allows black to level material.

 
28... Rbd7 29. Ke3 Rxe5+
d pawn pinned - the exchange seems like material should stay even.

 
30. Kf4 Red5 31. Ke3 e5 32. Rc2 Kf8 33. Rcd2 Ke7 34. dxe5 Rxe5+ 35. Kf2 Rxd2+ 36. Rxd2 Ke6
Draw agreed with even material. Game annotation for team benefit --