[Event "U.S. Open Championship and State Tournam"] [Site "Norfolk, Virginia, US"] [Date "2024.07.28"] [Round "2.21"] [White "Debmisra, Ariv"] [Black "Ted Wang"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1828"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [Annotator "IM Robert Shlyakhtenko"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B22"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation"] [StudyName "2024 Tournaments of State Champions"] [ChapterName "Debmisra, Ariv - Ted Wang"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/2q59AWVe/nK0hSHHZ"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by IM Robert Shlyakhtenko } 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bb5+ { The latest trend in the Alapin Sicilian. White first provokes ... Bc8-d7 before retreating the bishop to its usual home on c4. As this game went, however, the move ... Bc8-d7 simply turned into a free tempo for Black. } 5... Bd7 6. Bc4 e6 (6... Nb6 7. Bxf7+!? Kxf7 8. e6+ { (with Nf3-g5+ to follow) is one of White's ideas, though objectively it leads to no advantage after correct defense. }) 7. d4 Nb6 8. Bb3 cxd4 9. cxd4?! (9. exd6! { is much more testing. }) 9... dxe5 10. dxe5 Bc6 11. Qxd8+ { Going for an endgame against a higher rated player may seem like a good idea, but in reality, Black welcomes any kind of trade in this variation. } (11. Qe2 { was more ambitious, even though Black should have no opening problems. }) 11... Kxd8 12. Bg5+?! { The same comment applies here. With this move, White only speeds up Black's development. } 12... Be7 13. Bxe7+ Kxe7 { This position is already clearly better for Black. His pieces will coordinate better and the e5-pawn is a permanent weakness. } 14. Nbd2 N8d7 15. O-O Rad8 (15... Rhd8 16. Rac1 Nd5 { is natural, followed by ... Nd5-f4 and an invasion on d3. However, Black had a different idea in mind. }) 16. Rac1 g5! { An excellent decision. White is hard-pressed to defend his central pawn. } 17. Nxg5 (17. h3 { is probably the best try. It is well met, however, by } 17... Rhg8 18. Rfe1 h5! { , and after } 19. g4 Nf8! { Black will make use of the f4-square. }) 17... Nxe5 18. Ngf3? (18. Ndf3 { was an only move. }) 18... Nd3? (18... Rhg8! { would have finished the game immediately. It is quite unusual that on move 19, in an endgame, Black is already delivering a decisive attack! Now on } 19. Kh1 { there follows } 19... Rxd2!) 19. Rc2 Rhg8 20. Nh4? { Losing material, but the position was already very difficult. } (20. g3 { puts up more resistance. }) 20... Nb4! 21. Rxc6 Nxc6 { Now Black's victory is not in doubt. } 22. Ndf3 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Nf3 Rd6 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Nxc8 27. Kf1 a5 28. Ng5 h6 29. Ne4 Rd4 30. Nc5 b6 31. Na4 b5 32. Nc3 a4 33. Bc2 Rd2 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1