NIC 2023-2024, reeks 5G, ronde 1, 24 september 2023
Mechelen 6 – Leuven Centraal 9, bord 1
Wit: Pascal Vanden Eede (1594)
Zwart: Pablo Rojas Garcia (NC)
Analysis by Pablo Rojas Garcia
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4
Note: My opponent took his bishop and tried to play Bxd4. Funny moment.
4. … Bg4 5. Qxd4 Bxf3
I probably become to ambitious here. Because I almost take immediately rather than considering other lines. Definitely a novice mistake.
6. gxf3 Nd7
A critical strategical mistake that I released later in the game. it just gives white a nice initiative. While I lose tempos untangling my pieces and dealing with white threads.
Lines that I considered but just qualify them as too passive for my plan; a critical mistake of my part that I realize a few moves later in the game: 6. … Pc6 7. Bb5 a6 (7. … Nge7; maybe the planning of attacking the f3 pawn could not be fulfill following this strategy, but it does not have to. A novice mistake of my part of getting obsessed with the attack on the f3 pawn instead of analyzing and evaluation the possible postions.) 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 (I want to avoid giving white the same structure that he has. Definitely I was not thinking clearly.)
7. Be3 Ne5
I am just loosing tempos for a plan that can not be achieved successfully while white is gathering a beautiful initiative that unfortunately I release too late. Stubborn I know!!.
8. Bb5+
This moves was super interesting for me because usually this moves is for provoking the c6 movement and not allowing a comfortable knight development through c6 but for this positions is probably for not allowing the retreat.
8. … c6
(8… Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 – In this line I was simply not happy. I would giving what he wants and I would have loss all those tempos of development for nothing.)
9. Be2 Qf6 10. Nd2 Ne7 11. O-O-O
My opponent was choosing a natural line, developing and coordinating so naturally while I was still struggling to untangle my pieces. The price of Nd7 and my unfeasible plan to get an immediate advantage by attacking the f3 pawn.
11. f4 Nd7 12. Qxf6 Nxf6: I was consider this line as a possible one. but yet my analysis during the moment was scarce as this.
11. N7g6 12. h4 h5 13. Bg5 Qe6
(diagram)
I miss details in my calculations. I saw piece blocking the d2 square and I thought I could lead perfectly against the line of my opponent. A calculation mistake considering the piece was the knight. 13… Nf4 was much better line that I completely missed.
14. f4 Qxa2 15. fxe5 dxe5
Despite the lose of quality, this is far from over. In fact a problems comes but another goes away. My pieces are now untangled and I got two pawns for the knight. A clearly fightable position. If white does not catch the right ideas for the attack.
16. Qc4 Qa5 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. Qd3 Be7 19. Bxe7 Kxe7 20. Qc4 b6 21. Kb1
I did not really get this move. I was not getting what white was afraid of. In fact a dubious move for me. that help in my defense.
21. … a5 22. Rd3 Nf4
Knight in the outpost and few ways to kick it out thanks to the f3 weakness.
23. Rf3 b5 24. Qc5+ Qd6 25. Qxd6+ Kxd6 26. Rd1+ Kc7 27. Bf1 Rhd8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Kc1
29. Nxa5 Kb6
29. … Kb6 30. c4
I was counting with this line which I thought was manageable.
30. … a4 31. Nd2 Rd4 32. b4 (nice attempt) 32. … Rd7
32. … a4 31. Nd2 Rd4 32. b4
33. c5+
Super interesting endgame position!
33. Kc7
Now I was happy. I have reached the position I was aiming. the bishop is neutralized in the queenside and my rook hasthe open column. While my knight in the f4 is too strong for the fight in the king side. A draw can be perfectly achieve and I knew it. Before proceeding important note: My team have finished their games with 1 won, 1 drawn and 1 loss. So a balance team score was pending on me. And I was committed to achieve it at all cost. And now it was possible.
34. Kc2 Rd4 35. Kc3
Finally the blunder moment. After a four hours ardous fight and fatigue by both sides. I conceed and in a moment of distraction and relief of my hardly achieved results I blunder. My position collapse and I resign. Great resistance of my opponent.
35. … g6
I was looking to get the pawn structure which I thought it was correct. which was not.And completely miss the tactic.} After 35… Rd7 36. Re3 f6 37. Nf3 I have the correct pawn structure for continue fighting for the draw.
36. Rxf4 1-0