[Event "Staunton Memorial"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2006.08.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Adams, M."]
[Black "Lanchava"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2389"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2006.08.19"]
[SourceDate "2006.08.19"]
[WhiteTeam "England"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]

1. e4 d6

"The Pirc Defence, sometimes known as the Ufimtsev Defence, is a chess opening characterised by Black responding to 1. e4 with 1. ...d6 and 2. ...Nf6 and allowing White to establish an impressive-looking centre with pawns on d4 and e4. It is named after the Yugoslav Grandmaster Vasja Pirc (pronounced "peerts"). The Pirc Defence is a relatively new opening. In the 1930s it was considered inferior, but by the 1960s it was found to be quite playable. This opening is tricky to play and correct play is sometimes counterintuitive. Black, in hypermodern fashion,does not immediately stake out the center with pawns, but rather works to undermine White's pawn centre with pieces." (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Pirc_Defence)}

2. d4 g6

(Analysis:The usual second move for ♗lack in the pirc is 2... Nf6)

3. Nc3 Bg7

(Again it is more common for ♗lack to play the move 3... Nf6 on move three.)

4. Be3

Adams intends to move his queen to d2 and this sets up a battery attacking the black bishop on g7.

4... c6

The most often played move by ♗lack in
this position, preparing the pawn advance ....b5.

5.Qd2

The most often played move by White in this position.

5...b5

This move is the most often played move for ♗lack in this position.

6. Nf3

A less common idea for White at this time,pressuring the black bishop on g7.} The move 6...♘f6 is the most popular continuation for ♗lack in this position,preparing to castle on the kingside.

7. Bd3

According to my database a move almost always played by White at this stage of the game.Adams completes the development of his minor pieces.

7...O-O

( Analysis:In this position ♗lack usually plays the developing move7... Nbd7 and play usually continues: 8. Bh6 O-O 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Qf4 Ndxe5 13. Nxe5 Qd6 14. Nxg6 fxg6 15. Qxd6 exd6) Returning to the moves played in the game:

8.h3

This move is the most frequently played by White in this position, preventing the pinnng move ...♗g4.

8... Nbd7

The most popular continuation for ♗lack in this position,developing another minor piece.

9. O-O Qc7

The most often played move by
♗lack in this position, preparing the counterattacking pawn advance ...e7-e5.

10. Ne2

Adams intends to move this knight to g2 in the near future. (According to my database two moves are more popular at this stage of the game for white they are: (a) 10. Bh6) (and (b) 10. Rfe1).

Lanchava counterattacks in the center.

11. dxe5

The only move White has played in this position according to my database.

11... dxe5

The only move ♗lack has played in this position in my database,creating an open d-file.

12. a4

Adams creates the threat of 13.axb5 cxb5 14.♗xb5 winning a pawn.

12... Bb7

Saving her pawn.

13. Ng3

Adams overprotects his weak e-pawn.♘ow he once again threatens to play axb5. (Analysis:If Adams had captured on b5 Lanchava would have been okay after: 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Bxb5 Bxe4 15. Ne1 Rfb8 =) Returning to the moves played in the game for her next move Lanchava played:

13... a6

Lanchava spends a tempo to save her b-pawn.

14. c4

Once again threatening to win a pawn by 15.axb5 cxb5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.♗xb5.

14...bxc4 N

Analysis:Apparently this move is a novelty for the position.

15.Bxc4 c5

Lanchava opens up the diagonal for her bishop which creates a discovered double attack against the White e-pawn winning a tempo.

16. Qc2

The lost tempo. (Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Qd6 Qa5 18. b3 Ne8 19.Bd2 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Nxb6) Returning to the moves played in the game, which continued:

16... Rac8

Overprotecting her isolated c-pawn. ( Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 16... Ne8 17. Rfd1 Nd6 18. Bd5 Rfd8 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Bxb7 Nxb7 21. b3 Nb6 )

Adams for his next move played:

17. Rac1

Adams increases the pressure against her isolated c-pawn.

17...Qd6

For the moment gaining control of the open file. (Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 17... a5 18. Rfd1 Nb6 19. Bb3 c4 20. Nd2 h5 21. Ba2 Qc6 22. Ne2 Nxa4 23. Nxc4 Ba6 24.Rd6 Qxd6 25. Nxd6 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Rb8 ) Returning to the moves played in the game, for his next move Adams played:

18. Rfd1

Attacking the queen winning a tempo and gaining control of the open d-file.

18...Qe7

The lost tempo.

19. h4 Ng4

Attacking the White bishop forcing Adams to decide the future of this piece.

20. Bg5

Avoiding the loss of a tempo (unless Lanchava plays ...f6)

20... Bf6

She offers the exchange of bishops.

21. Qe2

Double-attacking Lanchava's a-pawn winning a tempo.

21...Nb8

The lost tempo. (Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 21... Rb8 22. b3 (22. Bxa6 Bxa6 23. Qxa6 Rxb2 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Bxg5 26. hxg5 Rb7) 22... Rfd8 23. Bxf6 Ngxf6 24. Ng5 Rf8 25. Qd2 Rbd8 ) Going back to the game for his next move Adams played:

22. Nf1

Intending ♘e3.

22...h6

23. Ne3!?

Adams offers to exchange his bishop on g5 for her knight on g4. (Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Ng3 Rfd8 25. h5 !? Nxh5 26. Nxh5 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 gxh5 28. Bd5 Bc6 29. Bxc6 Rxc6 ) 23... hxg5 24. Nxg4 gxh4 Winning a pawn. Going back to the game, for his next move Adams played:

25. Qe3

Adams creates the threat of 26.♘h6+ or 26.♕h6. ( Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 25. Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. Bd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 Qf4 28. Rcxc5 Rxc5 29.Rxc5 Nd7 30. Rc6 a5 31. Ra6 Nf6 32. Rxa5 Rc8 33. Ne1 Ng4 34. Kf1 Nh2+ 35. Kg1 Ng4 =

25... Bg7

Lanchava contests the placement of his knight on h6.

26.Qg5

Adams offers to exchange queens on g5. (Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28. Bxf7 Qxf7 29. Rxc5 Nc6 30. Nxh4 Kg8 31. Qg3 Nd4 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Qxg6 Qxg6 34. Nxg6 Bf6 35. f4 Ne2+ 36. Kf2 Nxf4 37. Nxf4 exf4 38. e5!? Bg5 ♗lack would lack sufficient compensation for the pawn.) Going back to the moves played in the game, Lanchava now played:

26... Qxg5

and play continued

27. Nxg5 Rc7

Overprotecting her double-attacked f-pawn.

28. Rd6

Adams creates the threat of 29.♖xg6.

28... Bc8

Attacking his undefended knight.

29. Nh2

({Analysis:Hiarcs 8:Better was
29. Nxf7 ! and play might have continued: 29... Rcxf7 30. Rxg6 Kh7 31. Bxf7 Rxf7 32. Rg5 Nd7 33. a5 (33. f3 Nf6 34. Nxe5 Rb7 35. Rxc5 Bh6 36. Rxc8 !? Bxg5 37. Nc4 Nd7 =) 33... Nf6 34. Nxe5 Rc7 35. Rc4 Bh6 36. Rg6 Bg7 37. b4 Re7 38. Rxc5 Bb7 39.Rg5 Bh6 40. Rf5 Nxe4 41. Rc2 Rg7 And ♗lack would have compensation for the pawn.)

29... Rc6 ?

FM Steve Giddins at the official tournament website indicates this move is a mistake as it allows Adams to play 30.♖xf7! (which he missed at first).

(Analysis:Junior 9:} 30. ♘xf7 ♖xd6 31. ♘xd6+ ♔h7 32. ♘xc8 Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 32. Bd5 Bd7 33. Rxc5 Bxa4 34. Nf3 Nd7 35. Ra5 Bb5 36. Nxb5 axb5 37. Rxb5 Rc8 38. Nxh4 Nf6 ) 32... Rxc8 33. Nf3 Bf6 34. Rd1 a5 35. Rd5 Nc6 36. Ba6 Rd8 37. Rxc5 Rd6 38. Bc4 g5 39. Bd5 Nd4 40. Nxd4 exd4 41. e5! Bxe5 42. Be4+ Kg8 43. Rxe5 ) Returning to the game for her next move Lanchava played:

30... Bh6?

A mistake as this allows Adams to play 31.♘xf7! (Analysis:Hiarcs 8:♗etter was 30...♗f6: 30... Bf6 31. Nxf7 Kg7 32. Rxc6 Nxc6 33. Nd6 Rd8 34. Rd5 Ne7 35. Rd3 a5 36. Kf1 h3 37. g4 Rh8 ) Returning to the moves played in the game, the players now played these moves:

31. Nxf7! Rxf7

32.Rxc6 Nxc6
33. Rd6 Bb7
34. Bxf7+ 1-0

(Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 34.Rd7 Na5 35. Bxf7+ Kf8 36. Bxg6 Bc6 37. Rc7 h3 38. Ng4 Bg7 39. gxh3 Kg8 ) 1-0