While I have generally felt well prepared against 1.e4, I have tried many different things against 1.d4 and always felt a bit unsatisfied. A short time ago Chessable released their Nimzo Indian/Ragozin repertoire and I bought it because it seemed to offer what I was looking for in an answer to 1.d4. I thought my second round game might be a good time to try out what I’d gotten through so far. I ended up deviating from the repertoire early in the opening, but still got a familiar position.
White had some opportunities to get some advantage, but missed it and I was able to get into a potentially good looking endgame. As it turns out the rook endgame is a pretty interesting study in the many drawing resources of a rook endgame. I couldn’t actually find a clear win for Black, only opportunities for White to escape with draws. With time dwindling, my opponent made a grievous mistake which allowed me to win the ending without much trouble.
[Event "Twitter Chess Tournament II: Round 2: xrosstheh vs show_me_patzer"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/4ms3oQLl/Okoaqag3"]
[Result "*"]
[UTCDate "2019.10.26"]
[UTCTime "14:53:43"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "E11"]
[Opening "Bogo-Indian Defense: Wade-Smyslov Variation"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/show_me_patzer"]
1. d4 { [%clk 0:30:00] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:30:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 0:29:56] } e6 { [%clk 0:30:03] } 3. Nf3 { I recently purchased the new Nimzo-Indian/Ragozin opening repertoire on Chessable and originally thought this game would be a good time to try out what I’ve studied so far. I messed up a bit by not playing 3…d5, but I haven’t studied the lines after 4.cxd5 much and didn’t want to end up in territory I wasn’t familiar with. } { [%clk 0:29:55] } 3... Bb4+ { The Bogo-Indian is an opening I’ve played some so I’m not unfamiliar with it. I just haven’t had great success with it. I figured my opponent would reply 4.Nc3 and I’d transpose into the Chessable repertoire after 4…d5. } { [%clk 0:29:56] } (3... d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 { And we’ve arrived at the Ragozin variation of the QGD which is covered in the Chessable repertoire. }) 4. Bd2 { [%clk 0:30:01] } a5 { [%clk 0:29:32] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 0:29:54] } (5. Bxb4 axb4 { Now White can’t develop the knight to c3 which would be the best square as it helps control d5. Black also has some ideas of rook lifts with …Ra6 or …Ra5 in some lines. }) (5. g3 { This is the most popular line and there are several options for Black, but } 5... d5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O dxc4 { is comfortable. }) 5... b6 { [%clk 0:28:46] } 6. e3 { [%clk 0:29:43] } O-O { Black can also go ahead and put the bishop on b7 or a6 at this point, but I wasn’t sure which I wanted to go to so I castled. } { [%clk 0:28:27] } 7. Be2 { [%clk 0:29:26] } (7. Bd3 { I think the bishop is better placed on d3. It helps prepare e4, which is a standard idea for White in the Nimzo/Bogo Indians. }) 7... Ba6 { [%clk 0:27:54] } (7... Bb7 { In hindsight I think putting the bishop here would have been a better idea. I thought I might be able to get some play against the c pawn with the bishop on a6, but I just couldn’t find a way to make it happen. }) 8. O-O { [%clk 0:29:13] } d5 { [%clk 0:26:18] } (8... Re8 { Might have been a better option. This move vacates the f8 square for the bishop to retreat to and then Black can get about undermining White center with …d5, …Nbd7, and …c5. } 9. a3 { Not forced forced by any means, but it does clarify things a bit as it forces Black to decide about the bishop. } 9... Bf8 10. e4 { If the bishop had been developed to b7 then e4 wouldn’t be possible right now. } 10... d5 11. cxd5 exd5 (11... Bxe2 12. Qxe2 exd5 13. e5 { is advantageous for White because Black’s knight cannot go to e4 (13…Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4), 13…Nfd7 loses the d pawn, and h5/g4 sideline the knight from the action. White cannot take the knight just yet thanks to the pin on the e file, but White can work on building up an attack while Black is cramped up. }) 12. e5 Ne4 13. Re1 Nxc3 14. bxc3 { White seems a little better due to having more space and Black’s pieces are mostly sitting on the back rank. I think Black could be okay here, but will have to play carefully. }) 9. cxd5 { [%clk 0:26:47] } Bxc3 { [%clk 0:25:34] } (9... exd5 { Seems better as it keeps the material equality instead of having knight vs bishop. I didn’t think that White’s bishop was going to be all that good though given the pawn structure. }) 10. Bxc3 { [%clk 0:24:49] } Bxe2 { [%clk 0:24:49] } 11. Qxe2 { [%clk 0:24:52] } Qxd5 { [%clk 0:25:01] } (11... exd5 { I liked having the queen centralized on d5, but this move may be a better way to restrain e4. } 12. Ne5 Ne4 13. Rac1 Nd7 14. Nd3 Re8 15. Rfd1 Nf8 { This seems like it would be a hard move to find (or maybe it’s just me), but the computer gives it as Black’s best way to keep equality. } 16. Be1 Ne6) 12. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:22:07] } Nbd7 { [%clk 0:23:35] } 13. Ne5 { [%clk 0:21:19] } Ne4 { [%clk 0:23:13] } (13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 { Equals bad news as Black is losing the knight. }) 14. Nxd7 { [%clk 0:18:19] } Qxd7 { [%clk 0:23:25] } 15. Be1 { [%clk 0:18:12] } (15. Rac1 { I don’t think White necessarily needs to move the bishop and should instead focus on getting pressure down the c file. } 15... c6 16. Rc2 Nxc3 17. Rxc3 Rac8 18. Rdc1 { While White doesn’t have a tangible advantage he does have the initiative (Black is being forced to react to White’s threats) which can certainly be intimidating to face. }) 15... f5 { Gives the knight some support and if White kicks it away with f3, then it can drop back to f6 and e4 isn’t such an attractive option for White. } { [%clk 0:21:32] } 16. Rac1 { [%clk 0:17:57] } Rac8 { [%clk 0:20:01] } 17. f3 { [%clk 0:17:11] } Nf6 { [%clk 0:19:47] } 18. Bg3 { The bishop has found itself a bothersome diagonal. } { [%clk 0:17:01] } 18... Nd5 { [%clk 0:17:17] } 19. Be5 { [%clk 0:17:00] } (19. e4 Ne7 { With the idea of playing …f4 and shutting the bishop out of it’s nice diagonal. } (19... fxe4 20. fxe4 Nf4 21. Qe3 Ng6 22. h4 { I didn’t like the looks of this. })) 19... Ne7 { [%clk 0:17:12] } 20. f4 { I don’t think White should entomb his bishop like this. Now it’s going to be traded off at some point with Black’s knight and Black will be okay. } { [%clk 0:15:25] } (20. Bg3 Ng6 21. Bf2 Rfd8 22. e4 { White’s center is rolling and now Black has some difficulties. } 22... fxe4 23. fxe4 Nf4 24. Qe3 e5 25. Bg3 Qg4 26. Bxf4 exf4 27. Qb3+ Kh8 28. e5 { White is doing well. He has the passed e pawn, more control in the center, and with the ability to restrain the Black queenside pawns with a4 Black will find it difficult to get counterplay. }) 20... Ng6 { [%clk 0:15:59] } 21. Rc2 { [%clk 0:14:50] } Rfd8 { [%clk 0:15:17] } 22. Rdc1 { [%clk 0:13:21] } Nxe5 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 23. dxe5 { Gives Black the queenside pawn majority which potentially allows the creation of a passed pawn that could cause some problems for White. } { [%clk 0:13:25] } (23. fxe5 { Leads to a bunch of trades that result in and endgame that looks drawn. } 23... f4 24. Rc6 (24. exf4 Qxd4+ 25. Qf2 c5 { Black has some advantage here due to the queenside pawn majority. }) 24... fxe3 25. Qxe3 Qxd4 26. Qxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxe6 Rd2 28. Rxb6 (28. Rec6 Rxb2 29. Rxc7 Rxc7 30. Rxc7 Rxa2 31. e6 Kf8 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rxg7 h5 34. h4 Re2 35. Rg5 a4 36. Rxh5 a3 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Ra8 a2 39. Kh2 Kxe6 40. Ra6 Kd5 41. h5 b5 42. h6 Re6 43. Rxa2 Rxh6+ { Is a drawn rook endgame. }) 28... cxb6 29. Rxc8+ Kf7 30. Rc7+ Kf8 31. e6 Re2 32. Rb7 Rxb2 33. Rf7+ Kg8 34. Rc7 Kf8 { A draw by perpetual is the likely outcome. }) 23... c5 { [%clk 0:14:37] } 24. b3 { [%clk 0:12:25] } Qd3 { [%clk 0:11:00] } (24... a4 { I really liked this move at first, but unfortunately after } 25. Qa6 axb3 26. axb3 { Black’s queenside pawn majority amounts to nothing. } 26... Qd3 (26... Qc6 27. b4 Ra8 28. Qe2) 27. Qxb6 Qxe3+) 25. Qxd3 { This queen trade seems problematic as it gives Black a lot of control over the d file. } { [%clk 0:07:59] } 25... Rxd3 { [%clk 0:11:09] } 26. Kf2 { [%clk 0:08:11] } Rcd8 { [%clk 0:10:59] } 27. Kf3 { [%clk 0:08:10] } h6 { Since Black has the potential to create a past pawn on the queenside, I felt I could turn my attention to the kingside for a bit. If I can make sure that White can’t get any counter play over there then I could put a lot of pressure on him. } { [%clk 0:08:28] } 28. Rc3 { [%clk 0:07:16] } Rd2 { I’m trying to avoid an exchange of rooks, because I felt like I had better winning chances with both rooks on the board. When I first started analyzing the trade though I thought Black had some good winning prospects. As it turns out, White has some amazing drawing chances in the rook endgame. It was a very rewarding study. } { [%clk 0:08:12] } (28... Rxc3 29. Rxc3 Rd2 30. a3 g5 31. h3 Ra2 32. b4 axb4 33. axb4 cxb4 34. Rc8+ Kf7 35. Rc7+ (35. Rc4 b3 36. Rb4 Rb2 37. Rxb6 Rb1 38. Kg3 (38. Ke2 { If White tries to run toward the pawn then things get dicey for him. } 38... b2 39. Kd3 Rd1+ 40. Kc2 Re1 41. Rxb2 Rxe3 42. Rb7+ Ke8 43. Rb6 Kd7 44. Rd6+ Ke7 45. Rd3 Re2+ 46. Rd2 Re4 47. Kd3 Rxf4 48. Ra2 Re4 49. Ra5 { Black’s king is now free to go to the kingside and White is lost. }) 38... b2 39. Kh2 Ke7 40. Rb7+ Ke8 41. fxg5 hxg5 42. g3 { Seems to be drawn. The Black king cannot get off the back rank to help his pawns and the rook is tied to the defense of the pawn on b2. }) 35... Kf8 36. Rc6 b5 37. Rb6 (37. Rxe6 b3 38. Rb6 Ra5 { Black’s b3 pawn is going to become a queen before too long. }) 37... Ra5 38. Ke2 g4 39. hxg4 fxg4 40. Kd3 g3 41. e4 Ra3+ 42. Ke2 Ra2+ 43. Kf3 Ra5 44. f5 b3 45. Rb8+ Kf7 46. Rb7+ Kg8 { With a perpetual. }) 29. R1c2 { [%clk 0:07:21] } Kf7 { [%clk 0:07:21] } 30. Rxd2 { [%clk 0:07:10] } Rxd2 { [%clk 0:07:33] } 31. a4 { [%clk 0:07:19] } (31. a3 { Would likely just transpose into the lines analysed on move 28. }) 31... g5 { [%clk 0:07:24] } 32. h3 { [%clk 0:07:20] } Kg6 { [%clk 0:07:13] } 33. g4 { [%clk 0:06:43] } h5 { [%clk 0:06:24] } (33... fxg4+ 34. hxg4 h5 35. gxh5+ Kxh5 36. Rc1 (36. f5 { The race to promote doesn’t work. } 36... exf5 37. e6 Kg6 38. e7 Kf7 { Black gets back in time. }) 36... gxf4 37. exf4 Rd3+ 38. Ke4 Rxb3 39. f5 Rb4+ 40. Kf3 exf5 41. Re1 Kg6 42. e6 Re4 43. Rxe4 fxe4+ 44. Kxe4 Kf6 45. Kd5 Ke7 46. Ke5 c4 47. Kd4 Kxe6 48. Kxc4 Kd6) 34. gxf5+ { [%clk 0:06:14] } Kxf5 { [%clk 0:06:07] } 35. e4+ { [%clk 0:06:19] } Kg6 { [%clk 0:06:19] } 36. Re3 { [%clk 0:05:06] } (36. fxg5 Kxg5 37. h4+ Kxh4 38. Rc1 Kg5 39. Rg1+ Kh6 40. Rg8 h4 (40... Rd3+ 41. Kf4 Rxb3 42. Rg6+ Kh7 (42... Kxg6 { Stalemate! }) 43. Rxe6) 41. Re8 Kg5 42. Rg8+ Kh5 43. Rh8+ Kg6 44. Rxh4 Rd3+ 45. Kf4 Rxb3 46. Rh8) 36... Rd4 { [%clk 0:05:59] } 37. f5+ { A fatal mistake. Black wins some pawns and the result is a technically won endgame. } { [%clk 0:04:19] } 37... exf5 { [%clk 0:05:25] } 38. e6 { [%clk 0:03:32] } (38. exf5+ Kxf5 39. e6 Rd8 40. e7 Re8 41. Kg3 Kf6 42. Rf3+ Kxe7 { Assuming Black doesn’t make any serious mistakes, this should be winning. }) 38... f4 { [%clk 0:05:30] } 39. Re1 { [%clk 0:03:14] } Rd3+ { [%clk 0:05:05] } 40. Kg2 { [%clk 0:03:16] } Kf6 { [%clk 0:05:12] } 41. e7 { [%clk 0:01:47] } Kxe7 { [%clk 0:05:23] } 42. h4 { [%clk 0:01:39] } g4 { [%clk 0:05:09] } 43. e5 { [%clk 0:01:29] } Rd2+ { [%clk 0:04:23] } 44. Kg1 { [%clk 0:01:27] } f3 { [%clk 0:04:29] } 45. Rf1 { [%clk 0:01:29] } Ke6 { [%clk 0:04:33] } 46. Rf2 { [%clk 0:01:29] } Rxf2 { [%clk 0:04:39] } 47. Kxf2 { [%clk 0:01:36] } Kxe5 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 48. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:43] } Kd5 { [%clk 0:04:53] } 49. Kf2 { [%clk 0:01:42] } c4 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 50. bxc4+ { [%clk 0:01:47] } Kxc4 { [%clk 0:05:16] } 51. Kg1 { [%clk 0:01:16] } g3 { [%clk 0:05:26] } 52. Kh1 { [%clk 0:01:03] } Kd3 { [%clk 0:05:36] } 53. Kg1 { [%clk 0:01:08] } Ke2 { [%clk 0:05:46] } 54. Kh1 { [%clk 0:01:12] } g2+ { [%clk 0:05:55] } 55. Kg1 { [%clk 0:01:16] } f2+ { [%clk 0:06:08] } (55... Ke3 56. Kh2 Kf2 57. Kh3 g1=R 58. Kh2 Rc1 59. Kh3 Rh1# { Would have been a pretty mate. }) 56. Kxg2 { [%clk 0:01:13] } f1=Q+ { [%clk 0:06:20] } 57. Kh2 { [%clk 0:01:23] } Qf4+ { [%clk 0:06:04] } 58. Kh3 { [%clk 0:01:09] } Qg4+ { [%clk 0:06:17] } 59. Kh2 { [%clk 0:01:17] } Kf2 { 0-1 White resigns. } { [%clk 0:06:29] } 0-1
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