[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Setiadikurnia, Sloan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C29"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2082"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[GameId "2199180482764863"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,68,16,5,5,-6,-6,4,4,-17,-17,-8,11,-39,-31,-30,-30,-13,-15,-26,-25,-13,-18,-25,-16,-6,-6,2,10,1,10,-7,7,0,-4,8,0,-6,0,39,45,48,49,49,101,-158,-163,-158,-177,-188,-192,-213,-232,-240,-220,-325,-338,-381,-475,-471,-486,-492,-505,-510,-510,-510,-520,-520,-536,-558,-563]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Qh4+ 8. g3 Qe4+ 9. Qxe4 dxe4 10. Ne2 Bd7 11. Bf4 Nxe5 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. Bxc7 Rc8 14. Bf4 Be7 15. O-O-O Nb6 16. Nd4 O-O 17. Nf5 Rfe8 18. Rhe1 Bf8 19. Bd6 Re6 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Nd6 Rd8 22. Nxe4 Rde8 23. g4 f5 24. gxf5 Rxe4 25. Rg1 Kf7 26. b3 Rf4 27. Rg5 Rf2 28. Rdg1 Ree2 29. Rxg7+ Kf6 30. Rxh7 Rxc2+ 31. Kb1 Nd5 32. Rh6+ Ke5 33. Re1+ Kf4 34. Rh4+ Kg5 0-1

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Fan, Theodore"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "963"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[GameId "2172913389260926"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 c5 5. Nc3 c4 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne5 Nfd7 9. e4 Nf6 10. Bf3 Bb4 11. Bg5 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 Be7 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Re1 Re8 17. Qd2 Rb8 18. Rab1 e5 19. dxe5 Rxe5 20. Rxe5 Be6 21. Rbe1 Rd8 22. Qd4 Qe7 23. Bg4 Rd6 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. f4 a6 26. f5 Qf6 27. Qc5 exf5 28. Re8+ Kf7 29. R1e7+ Kg6 30. Qe3 d4 31. Qg3+ Kh5 32. Rxg7 Qg6 33. Rxg6 Rxg6 34. Qf3+ Kg5 35. h4+ Kxh4 36. Qf4+ Kh5 37. Re7 Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 h6 39. Re6 dxc3 40. Rxh6# 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Palathingal, Rafael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "1950"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[GameId "2172914855202978"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 c6 3. Nf3 d6 4. h3 Nf6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Nbd7 9. b3 a5 10. Bb2 b5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 b4 13. Na4 cxd5 14. exd5 Bb7 15. c4 bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nc5 17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Ba3 Nfd7 19. Rc2 Rfe8 20. Nd2 Ba6 21. Nc4 Bxc4 22. bxc4 f5 23. Rb2 Qd8 24. Nb5 Ra6 25. Rbe2 Rb6 26. Qd2 Ra6 27. h4 e4 28. f3 Be5 29. f4 Bg7 30. Kh2 Kf7 31. Rb1 Bf8 32. Nd4 Qc7 33. Bh3 Nb6 34. Qc2 Ncd7 35. Rc1 Rc8 36. Qd1 Nc5 37. Bxc5 Qxc5 38. Rb2 Bg7 39. Ne6 Qa3 40. Rbc2 Bb2 41. Bxf5 Ke7 42. Rb1 Nxc4 43. Qe2 Qf3 44. Bg4 Qd3 45. Rcxb2 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Yang, Jimmy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "1490"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[GameId "2172915928535209"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. dxc5 e6 7. Na4 Qa5+ 8. c3 Bxc5 9. Nxc5 Qxc5 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bg3 Rac8 15. Bc2 Nde5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Qxe5 Rc4 20. Rfd1 Qc5 21. Rd4 Rc8 22. Rxc4 Qxc4 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. exd4 b5 25. a3 a5 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Ke2 Rc4 28. Kd3 Ke7 29. h4 Kf6 30. g4 g5 31. h5 Kg7 32. f3 Kh6 33. Rc1 a4 34. Rb1 Rc7 35. b3 Ra7 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. Rb3 Kg7 38. Kc2 Ra5 39. Kb2 Kh6 40. Ka2 Kg7 41. Rb1 Kh6 42. Kb3 Ra6 43. Rf1 Ra7 44. Ra1 Ra4 45. Ra2 Rc4 46. Rf2 Rc7 47. Kb4 Ra7 48. Ra2 Rb7 49. Kc5 Rc7+ 50. Kxb5 Rxc3 51. a4 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Ganesan, Vidur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "1517"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[GameId "2172919388496053"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Ne2 e6 6. Nbc3 Nge7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 a6 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Qc7 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Ne4 Nxd4 13. Nd6 Rd8 14. exd4 Nf5 15. Nxf5 exf5 16. Re1 d6 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. Qf4 Bc6 19. d5 Bxa1 20. Rxa1 Be8 21. Qh4 h5 22. Bb2 f6 23. Qxf6 Rd7 24. Re1 Rdd8 25. c5 Bb5 26. c6 bxc6 27. dxc6 Rf8 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Sepehri, Arman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[GameId "2172920929583307"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 Bf5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O e6 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. cxd5 Ncxe5 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Qb3 Nc5 14. Qb4 Qd6 15. Rad1 a5 16. Qa3 Qe7 17. Bxe5 Rad8 18. Nb5 c6 19. Bd6 Qd7 20. Bxf8 Qxd1 21. Qxc5 Qd7 22. Be7 Re8 23. e4 Bg6 24. Nd6 Rxe7 25. e5 Qc7 26. Qc1 b6 27. Qc4 Rd7 28. Qxe6+ Bf7 29. Qg4 Re7 30. Nxf7 Rxf7 31. e6 Re7 32. Rd1 a4 33. Rd7 Rxd7 34. exd7 Kf7 35. Bh3 Qd6 36. Qf5+ Ke7 37. Qe4+ Kf7 38. Qe8+ Kf6 39. d8=Q+ 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Dann, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "1642"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[GameId "2172918010851356"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bb5 f6 6. c4 Nge7 7. Nc3 a6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. d4 e4 10. c5 exf3 11. Qxf3 Bf5 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. O-O h5 14. Ba3 Bg4 15. Qf4 Nc8 16. e4 Qa5 17. Na4 O-O 18. f3 Bd7 19. Bxd6 g5 20. Bc7 Qxa4 21. Qg3 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 h4 23. Qe1 Ra7 24. Rd1 Qc5 25. Ba5 Re8 26. Bc3 Qf8 27. Qd2 Be6 28. f4 Nd6 29. fxg5 Nxe4 30. Qe3 Rh7 31. gxf6 Bg4 32. Qd4 Qf7 33. Rde1 Ng3+ 34. Kg1 Ne2+ 35. Rxe2 Bxe2 36. Re1 Qa7 37. Kf2 Qxd4+ 38. Bxd4 Bh5 39. Rc1 Re2+ 40. Kf1 Rc7 41. a4 Kf7 42. h3 Rc8 43. Bf2 Re4 44. Kg1 d4 45. Rc5 Be2 46. Be1 Kxf6 47. Bd2 Re5 48. Rc2 c5 49. Ba5 Bd1 50. Rf2+ Rf5 51. Rb2 Rb8 0-1

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Goyal, Ankush"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "907"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[GameId "2172922422874366"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 d4 5. O-O c5 6. b4 Nc6 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. b5 Qa5 9. Qb3 Nd8 10. Ne5 e6 11. d3 Bd6 12. Bf4 Qc7 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Nd2 Nf6 16. Qa3 O-O 17. Nb3 Nd7 18. Rad1 Qb6 19. e3 e5 20. Rfe1 Ne6 21. Qa5 Rfb8 22. a4 a6 23. Qxb6 Nxb6 24. a5 Na4 25. b6 Nc3 26. Ra1 Kf8 27. exd4 exd4 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nxc5 Kf7 30. Nxb7 Ke7 31. Nc5 Kd6 32. Nb3 e5 33. c5+ Ke6 34. c6 Nd5 35. c7 Nxc7 36. bxc7 Rxb3 37. Bxa8 Kd7 38. Be4 g6 39. Rc1 Rc3 40. Rb1 Rxc7 41. Rb6 Ra7 42. Kg2 Kc7 43. h4 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Troff, Kayden"]
[Black "Fletcher, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A99"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2025"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[GameId "2172955130232185"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. b3 f5 2. Bb2 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Qe8 8. c4 Qh5 9. Nc3 Na6 10. e3 Bd7 11. Re1 Ne4 12. Nd2 Qxd1 13. Raxd1 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 c6 15. e4 f4 16. Bh3 Rad8 17. d5 e5 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. b4 Rb7 21. a3 Nc7 22. Nb3 Ne6 23. Rd3 fxg3 24. hxg3 Ng5 25. Kg2 Nf7 26. f4 Bf6 27. c5 dxc5 28. Nxc5 Re7 29. f5 Rc8 30. Red1 g6 31. g4 gxf5 32. gxf5 Kh8 33. Rd7 Rg8+ 34. Kf3 Rge8 35. Ne6 h6 36. Nc7 Rxd7 37. Rxd7 Re7 38. Rxe7 Bxe7 39. Ne6 Bd6 40. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Grand Knights Simul"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2025.05.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kayden, Troff"]
[Black "Harishkumar, Karthikeyan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2062"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[GameId "2199180482764872"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. d4 Bb7 8. Ne5 Na6 9. c4 Qc8 10. Nc3 Rd8 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Rc1 Qe6 14. f4 f6 15. f5 Qd6 16. Nd3 c5 17. Nf4 Rac8 18. e3 Qd7 19. Qg4 Bf8 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. exd4 Re8 23. Ne6 Nc7 24. Rfe1 Nxe6 25. fxe6 Qd6 26. Rxc8 Bxc8 27. Qf5 Qb4 28. Rd1 Bxe6 29. Bxd5 Bxd5 30. Qxd5+ Kh8 31. Qd7 Qe7 32. Qxe7 Rxe7 33. Kf2 Kg8 34. Rc1 Kf7 35. Rc6 Ke8 36. Rc8+ Kd7 37. Rh8 g6 38. h4 Ke6 39. Ke3 Kf5+ 40. Kf3 h5 41. Ra8 Rd7 42. Ke3 g5 43. Rf8 gxh4 44. gxh4 Re7+ 45. Kd3 Rg7 46. Re8 Kg4 47. d5 f5 48. Kd4 f4 49. d6 f3 50. Rf8 Kg3 51. Ke3 Rd7 52. Rg8+ Kxh4 53. Rg6 Rf7 54. Kf2 Kh3 55. Rg3+ Kh4 56. Rxf3 Rd7 57. Rf6 Kg5 58. Re6 h4 59. Kg2 a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Washington Fathers Day Open : Skywalker"]
[Site "HOTEL 116 BELLEVUE"]
[Date "2025.06.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pikh, Akim"]
[Black "Porter, Ryan W"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "1844"]
[BlackElo "2226"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[GameId "2212376046506343"]
[EventDate "2025.06.14"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,78,28,19,61,67,71,43,43,15,25,24,24,18,35,11,38,36,28,8,12,10,3,6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-15,-23,-26,-26,-43,-43,-50,-47,-47,-57,-43,-52,-44,-29,-32,-47,-55,-39,-84,-48,-132,-142,-142,-132,-148,-149,-151,-173,-229,-229,-286,-297,-286,-285,-296,-309,-304,-223,-228,-226,-240,-231,-231,-246,-491,-496,-29997,-29998,-29999,-29999]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 a6 7. h3 g6 8. c5 Ne4 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 $5) 9... Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Be3 (11. Na4 $5 e5 12. Nb6 Rb8 {and now the liquidation} 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Qxd5 Qxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxc5 {may leave White with a tiny edge:} 17. Bh6 Rd8 18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. Rac1 Ne6 20. Nxc8 Rbxc8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Bf3) 11... Nxc5 $1 ({A reliable equalizing tactic. An alternative central counter appears to gain space, but after} 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 e5 13. Rb1 e4 14. Ne1 {, White has a nice compact development and pressure on the b-line, while Black has yet to solve the bishops.}) 12. dxc5 d4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bc4 Nf5 15. Qc1 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qd4 (16... Bd4 17. Qh6 Bxc5 $6 {allows White to develop an initiative.} (17... Bg7 18. Qe3 Bd4 {could repeat}) (17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 Bf5 $13) 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Ne4 Qe5 20. Rfe1 {looks ominous.}) 17. Qxd4 (17. Bd5) 17... Bxd4 $15 {Master + bishop-pair = potentially long grind.} 18. Na4 Bd7 19. Nb6 Rad8 20. Rad1 Bc6 21. b4 Bc3 (21... e5 $5) 22. a3 e6 23. Rb1 Rd2 24. Rb3 (24. Bb3 Bb5 25. Bc4 (25. Nc4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 Rfd8 27. Rb3 Bd4 {It's generally easy to claim Black has at least a small advantage in many of these positions; it is another matter to figure out what to do with it.}) 25... Rfd8 26. Bxb5 axb5 27. a4 bxa4 28. Nxa4 Bd4 29. Nb6 $15 {The white rooks appear a bit passive in defense here, but that knight promises to make a nuisance of himself while Black comes up with a plan to progress.}) 24... Bd4 (24... Bf6 25. Rd3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 $15 {is a different idea, aiming to exchange the potentially pesky knight.}) 25. a4 $2 ({Creates more possible targets. This is not the time to attempt aggression. White can nearly neutralize the d-file play with} 25. Rd3 Rxd3 26. Bxd3 Rd8 27. Bc2 (27. Rd1 Bc3 28. Bc2 Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 a5 $15 {, creating some queenside pawn weaknesses on which the bishops can chew.}) 27... Bb2 (27... Bc3 28. Ba4 Bxa4 29. Nxa4 $13) 28. Rb1 (28. Nc4 Bb5 29. Nxb2 Bxf1 30. Kxf1 Rd2 31. Be4 Rxb2 32. Bxb7 {is also interesting and imbalanced.}) 28... Bc3 29. Nc4 $13) 25... Rd8 26. Rbb1 Kf8 27. Bb3 Be4 28. Rbe1 Rb2 29. Bc4 (29. Rxe4 Rxb3 {leaves b4 indefensible.}) 29... Bc6 30. Rb1 Bxf2+ $1 {One of those inherent tactics that have just been waiting for the opportunity.} 31. Kh2 Rdd2 32. Rxb2 Rxb2 33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 Be4 35. Na4 Rc2 36. Bb3 Rd2 37. c6 (37. Rd1 Rxd1 38. Bxd1 Bd4 39. c6 bxc6 40. b6 Ke7 41. b7 Ba7 $19) 37... Bd4 38. Re1 Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Re2# {A nice example of making the most of relatively small advantages.} 0-1

[Event "Charles Edward FIDE"]
[Site "Boise, Idaho"]
[Date "2025.08.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Machin, Alex"]
[Black "Semancik, Zackary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "1812"]
[BlackElo "1714"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[GameId "2209885163700224"]
[EventDate "2025.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,47,28,10,64,-5,-3,-2,-2,6,45,32,39,39,58,61,35,54,55,55,88,61,58,61,128,127,141,99,91,111,140,103,77,67,125,94,285,304,381,390,382,374,608,681,1142,1148,29997,29998,29999,29999]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 ({The 2.c3, or Alapin, Sicilian. White boldly prepares to control the center with a pawn duo on e4 and d4. The cost is an extra pawn move in the opening that isn't being used for direct development, and the loss of the c3-square for the b1-knight.} 2. Nf3 {followed by 3.d4 leads to the so-called open variations of the Sicilian, in which White develops quickly and Black keeps an extra center pawn. 2.Nc3 could lead to a closed Sicilian, often characterized by a kingside fianchetto.}) 2... d5 ({A standard counter to the Sicilian Alapin variation. Black allows the queen to be drawn into the center early, as White is unable to attack it with the usual Nc3. Another plan for Black is the Alekhine-esque development of the knight to f6,} 2... Nf6 {, tempting White to gain space in the center while perhaps leaving weaknesses in the wake of the advancing pawns.}) 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 ({It's slightly unusual to capture on d4 this early. Black isolates the white queen pawn, but tends to allow easy development for the white minor pieces and rooks, including the desirable Nc3.} 4... Nf6 {is the most popular choice here, often delaying a capture on d4 until the b1-knight has committed elsewhere.}) 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 e5 ({The usual choice here, trying to maintain the queen on d5 for awhile, and suggesting a center liquidation. As an alternative, Black doesn't appear to be doing too badly after} 6... Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. Nc3 Qa5 9. h3 Bh5 {, but White has the interesting pawn sacrifice} 10. d5 exd5 11. Nd4 Bxe2 (11... Nxd4 12. Bxh5) 12. Qxe2+ Be7 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. O-O {when the pressure on the e-file is uncomfortable.}) 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 (9. bxc3 exd4 10. cxd4 Nf6 {is fine for Black.}) 9... e4 10. Ne5 ({If theory is boring,} 10. Nd2 Nf6 (10... Nxd4 $4 11. Nc4 $18) 11. Bc4 Qg5 (11... Qf5 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Ne3 $14) 12. d5 {is a complex alternative to the main line. Stockfish evaluates this as quite even, but the small number of actual games I've seen tend to favor White by a rather large margin.} Ne5 (12... Qxg2 13. Rf1 Ne7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. d6 Nc6 16. Qb3 {and Stockfish says White is ahead.}) 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Nexd7 15. O-O O-O $13) 10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Be6 $6 ({The bishop is going to be needed to block checks on the a4-e8 diagonal. The "right" way to defend the queen is} 11... Ne7 12. Qa4+ (12. Be2 {and}) (12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rd1 {are other tries, likely slightly favoring White, who does, after all, still have a pair of bishops.}) 12... Bd7 13. Qa3 Qe6 14. Rd1 O-O {. An astute observer might notice that play in this theoretical line is very similar to the game, with one big exception: Black is a whole move behind, having played ...Be6-d7 instead of the recommended ...Ne7/...Bd7.}) 12. Qa4+ $1 Bd7 13. Qa3 ({White follows the strong theoretical plan, interfering with Black's health and happiness by pressuring the a3-f8 diagonal. Stockfish also approves another idea, directly challenging the queen:} 13. Bc4 Bxa4 (13... Qc6 14. Qb3) (13... e3 14. Qb3 $1 (14. fxe3 $16) 14... Qxg2 (14... exf2+ 15. Kf1 $18) 15. Bxf7+ Kf8 16. O-O-O {with a decisive attack.}) 14. Bxd5 Bc6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. O-O-O Ne7 17. Rhe1 $16) 13... Ne7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Rd6 Qf5 16. Be2 ({White hints at g2-g4.} 16. Bc4 {is another aggressive development, perhaps adding to the impact of a future e5-e6.}) 16... h5 (16... Bc6 17. g4 Qf4 18. Qc5 {doesn't look like much of an improvement. Black is faced with a thankless defensive task.}) 17. e6 Bc6 $4 (17... Bxe6 18. Qa4+ Kf8 (18... Bd7 19. Qd4 Nc6 20. Qxg7 $16) 19. Qxa7 $1 {is fun, though White's actual advantage isn't yet decisive.}) 18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. exf7+ Qxf7 (19... Kxf7 20. Rf6+) 20. Bf6 $1 Rxg2 (20... Nf5 21. Qc5 $1 Nxd6 22. Qxd6 ({or} 22. Bxh5 $18) 22... Rg6 23. Bxh5 $18) 21. Bxh5 $1 Qxh5 (21... Ng6 22. Qc5 $1 {makes many threats, including the quiet line-interference Bg5!}) 22. Rd8+ $3 ({Pow!} 22. Re6 $4 {The superficially attracctive pile-on of the pinned knight would be a fatal error, allowing Black to escape with} O-O-O $1 $19 {, threatening mate on d1.}) 22... Kxd8 (22... Kf7 23. Qxe7+ Kg6 24. Rd6 {, among others, wins.}) 23. Qxe7+ Kc8 24. Qd8# {A very fun game, at least for White.} 1-0

