Opening: Queen’s Pawn Game
Title: A Difficult Beginning! – Firouzja vs Wesley So | Skilling Open Day 1
[Event “2020-champions-chess-tour-skilling-open”]
[Date “????.??.??”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Firouzja, Alireza”]
[Black “So, Wesley”]
[Result “1-0”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 {Black can dictate the pace of the game because
there are many good setups that Wesley So can play: e6 or Bf5 out of the pawn
chain are the two most played ideas} c5 {is probably the most aggressive one}
4. dxc5 e6 5. b4 a5 {is the right idea because white can’t protect with a3} 6.
c3 axb4 7. cxb4 b6 {attacking the most advanced pawn} 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+
Nbxd7 10. a4 bxc5 {Black regains the pawn is a difficult position for both
players.} 11. b5 {Firozuja’s got two connected and passed pawns but So has got
his own passed pawn plus more central control. Black must be a bit better} Bd6
12. Bb2 O-O 13. O-O Qc7 {is a little inaccurancy because it’s interfering with
his own bishop} 14. Nbd2 {keeps developing} c4 15. Bc3 e5 {controlling d4 is a
novelty and a good move. The game is more or less equal with a small advantage
for white.} 16. a5 e4 17. b6 Qb8 18. Nd4 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Be5 20. Nc6 Qd6 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. g3 Nfg4 23. Kg2 {only move to prevent a forced checkmate. This is an
important moment of the game. Black shoud keep pushing on the kingside,
beginning with} Qe6 (23… f5 24. Bd4 Nd3 25. b7 Ra6 {and then it’s not so
easy for white. the bishop for example can’t move} 26. Bc3 Ndxf2) 24. Rb1 Rfb8
25. Qe2 Nd3 26. Rb5 {this rook manevuer looks unnatural but is threatening
what? to capture the pawn to win the Knight and lose the exchange but for two
pawns? because Qxg4 is threatening checkmate on g7 and white will also win e4}
Ra6 {this is is a blunder and I really don’t understand why Firouzja didn’t
play what he prepared} (26… f5 {is simpe and strong and Black is better}) 27.
Nb1 {again f5 is one of the best ideas} (27. Rxd5 {wins on the spot} Qxd5 28.
Qxg4 g6 29. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 30. Nxe4 {c4 will fall with a winning endgame}) 27… h5
28. Bd4 {clears c3 to double the attack against d5} h4 29. Rh1 hxg3 30. fxg3
Nh6 31. Nc3 Qd6 32. Rxd5 Qa3 33. Rxh6 gxh6 34. Qg4+ Kf8 35. Bg7+ {is checkmate
in 3 and Black resigns} Kg8 36. Bxh6+ Kh7 37. Qg7# 1-0
Photos by:
Lennart Ootes
FIDE Master and Professional Photographer
You can follow him here:
@LennartOotes
