Petrov's (Russian) Defence Thematic
jk1970 (2551) vs. omnipotent00 (2532)
Annotated by:
charleshiggie
(2197)
Chess opening:
Petrov (C42), classical attack, Chigorin variation
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1. e4
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I am annotating this wonderful win by K Priyanka against a higher rated opponent. In over-the-board chess she is a Women's International Master. Aged only 20 years old, in this game she grinds out a win in a long game, against very strong opposition |
 
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1... e5
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So it starts conventionally enough, naturally as this was a Petrov Defence tournament, where all the games had the same opening |
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2. Nf3
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The usual move. This move was pre-ordained by the rules of the tournament of course. |
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2... Nf6
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This is The Petrov's Defence, also known as The Russian Defence. Though this symmetrical response has a long history, it was first popularised by Alexander Petrov, a Russian chess player in the mid-19th century. In recognition of the early investigations by the Russian masters Petrov and Carl Jaenisch, this opening is called the Russian Game in some countries. |
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3. Nxe5
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White of course takes, the Classical Variation |
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3... d6
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Black should not continue to copy White's moves and try to restore the material balance immediately with 3...Nxe4?!. After 4.Qe2 Black cannot play 4...Nf6?? because 5.Nc6+ wins the queen, and after 4...d5?! 5.d3 Qe7 6.dxe4 Qxe5 7.exd5 Black loses a pawn. Relatively best for Black is 4...Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nc6, and after for example 8.Nc3 (8.Bb5 is also good) 8...Qxe5 9.Qxe5 Nxe5 10.Nb5 (or 10.Bf4) White has a clear advantage. |
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4. Nf3
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So the white knight is driven back. |
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4... Nxe4
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Now black can take the pawn. |
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5. d4
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White follows the main line |
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5... d5
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As does black |
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6. Bd3
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Priyanka will try to drive Black's advanced knight from e4 with moves like c4 and Re1. If White achieves this, then she is up two tempi (Nf6–e4–f6, plus the tempo White starts the game with). |
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6... Nc6
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Developing. Black attacks d4, which is currently protected Nf3, but this move stops white from playing Nf3-e5 |
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7. O-O
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Priyanka castles, bringing her king to safety, an excellent move. |
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7... Bg4
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This move indirectly puts pressure on d4 as the white knight on f3 defending d4 is now pinned. This was the starting position for all games in this tournament, as you can see from this link https://gameknot.com/mt.pl?id=88291 |
1 comment
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8. c4
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Priyanka boldly ignore this and continues with her own play of undermining the black knight on e4 by attacking the pawn on d5 protecting it. |
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8... Be7
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With the centre potentially opening up, black blocks the e file and prepares to castle. |
2 comments
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9. cxd5
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Priyanka takes. |
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9... Qxd5
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Black takes back. |
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10. Nc3
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Attacks the Qd5 and Ne4, black's reply is forced. |
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10... Nxc3
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Forced |
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