Lichess4545 Ledger

[Event "Rated game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/H6MJY1jp"]
[Date "2016.10.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "KSops"]
[Black "Anunzio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "1719"]
[BlackElo "1733"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2016.9.10"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 {We have a symmetrical English. This  is a
really difficulat opening to analyse since there are many reasonable
alternatives for both sides to consider almost every half-move. I will do my
best to point out interesting moments however.} 4. d4 {Some players might not
be fans of this decision to play d4 so early, arguing that white gives up a
central pawn without a fight but it is perfectly reasonable. This choice
transforms the struture into one resembling a Sicilian where white has already
played c4 - setting up for a Maroczy bind on d5.} cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 $5 {It's
often difficult to recognise 'big' transpositions. We're all used to our
opponents picking an odd move order in our favourite openings but ending up
back in our theory after a couple of moves. It's easy to to adjust your
thought processes when that happens, but here black has gone from playing a
symmetrical English to playing a Sicilian and I'm not sure that he quite
realised it. e5 missed a key point that someone willing to play a Sicilian
probably wouldn't. White has managed to develop his knight to c3 without
obstricting the c-pawn and has an unusually stong grip on d5 very early in the
game. Most accurate is probably a plan involving e6, Bb4 to get the bishop out
before playing d6.} (5... e6 {This is the typical response, contesting d5.} 6.
g3 Qb6 7. Nb3 Ne5 8. e4 Bb4 {This is looking like an odd Taimanov and has been
played many times before.}) 6. Nf5 $2 {White exposes his knight to a discovery
and allows black to play d5 unpunished. All the talk of strong control of d5
was for nought! Most Silician player would be grinning madly by this point. A
d5 break on move 6? Yes please.    To be fair, the correct move in this
position looks quite unnatural and is very difficult to spot without prior
knowledge.} (6. Ndb5 $1 {But wait, that's not a real outpost. Is it?    While
the knight isn't stable in the long term there is a plan for white to win the
bishop pair here. White wants to play Nd6 to force Bxd6 and black cannot
really avoid it.  If...} d6 (6... Bc5 7. a3 O-O 8. b4 $1 {And white is just in
time with a tempo move to stop a6 from being annoying. The black DSB is going
to be won shortly.}) 7. Nd5 $1 {And the threat of a fork  on c7 forces black's
hand.} Nxd5 8. cxd5 a6 9. Nc3 {And white hasn't won the bishop pair  but the
bishop on f8 is really going to struggle to make itself relevant.}) 6... d5 $1
7. Bg5 $2 {I beg your pardon? You knight is hanging! o.O} Bxf5 $19 {Lichess'
mean computer marked this a mistake because of a more incisive move that is
available, but who can blame Anunzio for snatching material when his team was
down 3-0.} (7... d4 $1 {Ignoring the hanging knight and giving white another
attacked piece for his troubles. This resolves the problem of the pressure on
black's d5 pawn before winning material. There's no way out for white. The c3
knight has the worse set of options for squares to run to, so if white tries
to save the f5 knight...} 8. Ng3 dxc3 9. bxc3 Be7 {And black is golden.}) 8.
Bxf6 $2 {If there was any hope for white it was with cxd4 and hoping for a
blunder from his opponent.    When you're down in material keep in mind that
your opponent will be looking to simplify by trading material, occasionally
you can exploit this mentality to create opportunities for your opponent to
err, but even more importantly, don't help him simplify by initiating unforced
trades like this one.} (8. cxd5 {White can pretend his better center gives him
compensation... and it does, but not nearly enough.} Nb4 {Threatening a fork
on c2.} 9. e4 Bd7 $1 ({Not} 9... Bg6 $4 10. Qa4+)) 8... Qxf6 9. Nxd5 $6 {This
is worse than cxd5 for several reasons, but most critically: though it appears
to win a tempo more powerfully than cxd5 by attacking the queen rather than
the knight black has a really  irritating intermezzo - which was played in the
game, so no further detail here.} Bb4+ $1 10. Nxb4 Nxb4 {And black has secured
more trades.} 11. Qa4+ {I give white points for effort.} Nc6 12. c5 {To be
honest there aren't very many plans that help white's cause too much, but I
would have preferred e3 to get the bishop out.} O-O {Black makes sure
everything is safely nailed to the floor before continuing. There isn't much
more to say about this game but I would like to comment on two more moves.} 13.
e4 $6 {e3 is better, as explained in a couple of moves.} Bg6 14. f3 {This is
why e3 would have been better than e4 - having to move the f-pawn to support
e4 weakens a critical diagonal. In addition, if white had played e3 instead
there would not be an outpost for black pieces on d4.} Rfd8 15. Bc4 Rd4 16. Qb5
a6 17. Qa4 Rad8 18. O-O Qe7 19. Rac1 Qxc5 20. Qxa6 {Discovered checks are
powerful. This is why you do not move the f-pawn without very good reason.}
Rxc4+ $1 {I hope both players are happy with this review, I'm a bit sad that
this game had to be decided by a blunder on move 7 because the opening looked
very interesting and held a lot of promise. All credit to Anunzio for
converting smoothly and playing practical moves for the rest of the game. As
for KSops, better luck in the next round my friend!} 0-1