[Event "U.S. Open Championship and Tournament of State Champions 2024"] [Site "Norfolk, Virginia"] [Date "2024.07.27"] [Round "01"] [White "Wang, Grace Ofia Nuoyi"] [Black "Tang, Zoey"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1657"] [BlackElo "2337"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A45"] [Opening "Indian Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/2q59AWVe/yq7W2uzJ"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:59] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:55] } 2. Bf4 { The London System is a popular opening with players of all ages, but especially younger players who don't want to memorize a ton of theory. While White might not get an advantage out of the opening, this is the first of two games where Black does not get much play against a much lower-rated opponent, either. } { [%clk 1:31:12] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:31:20] } 3. e3 { [%clk 1:31:27] } 3... g6 { The ... g7-g6 set-ups are a clever way to challenge the London. I like switching gears and playing c2-c4 here, reaching some sort of non-standard Grunfeld-ish position. But, most London players are attracted to the idea of a "system" that can be deployed against anything, and are thus resistant to such audibles. } { [%clk 1:31:44] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:45] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 1:32:08] } 5. Bd3 { I've been taught that White's bishop does not belong on d3 against ... g7-g6 setups in the London, as the bishop "bites on granite" against the g6-pawn. But, with Black's pawn on d5 instead of d6, the ... e7-e5-e4 "fork threat" is less of an issue for now. Still, considering the lack of long-term prospects on this diagonal, it looks like all risk and no reward. } { [%clk 1:31:56] } 5... c5 { [%clk 1:31:58] } 6. c3 { [%clk 1:32:14] } 6... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:17] } 7. Nbd2 { [%clk 1:32:22] } 7... O-O { [%clk 1:30:25] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:32:32] } 8... b6 { [%clk 1:28:09] } 9. Ne5 { [%clk 1:32:05] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 1:27:12] } 10. a3 { [%clk 1:23:02] } 10... a5 { [%clk 1:19:30] } 11. Bb5 { [%clk 1:19:16] } 11... Na7 { [%clk 1:18:45] } 12. Bd3 { [%clk 1:13:43] } 12... Nh5 { [%clk 1:17:32] } 13. Qg4 { [%clk 1:06:15] } 13... Nxf4 { [%clk 1:16:13] } 14. Qxf4 { [%clk 1:04:05] } 14... Qd6 { [%clk 1:07:25] } 15. Qg3 { [%clk 0:57:15] } 15... f6 { [%clk 1:07:05] } 16. Nef3 { [%clk 0:54:02] } 16... Qxg3 { [%clk 0:58:27] } 17. hxg3 { On the one hand, Black does not have much claim to an objective advantage, so White should be pleased to escape the opening entirely in tact. But, on the other hand, Black's position is much easier to play, and blunders tend to come from difficult positions. } { [%clk 0:54:11] } 17... Rac8 { [%clk 0:58:38] } 18. Rfc1 { [%clk 0:52:59] } 18... e5!? { A very ambitious try, attempting to dominate the center while playing against White's misplaced d3-bishop. But it was not necessary to hurry here. } { [%clk 0:54:12] } (18... Rfd8 { I'm not sure what White's next move is. That, alone, is a good reason to play a flexible move like this before committing to ... e7-e5. }) 19. e4? { [%clk 0:49:09] } (19. dxe5! fxe5 20. e4! { actually causes Black some serious problems. } 20... c4 (20... d4 21. Nc4 Ba6 22. Bf1 $14 { Black is likely going to have to part with her bishop pair, lest the e-pawn fall. }) (20... dxe4? 21. Bxe4 $16 { gives White fantastic play against the isolated, blockaded e-pawn. }) 21. Bb1! (21. Bc2 d4! $10 { is more dangerous here, with threats of ... d4-d3. }) 21... d4? 22. Ba2! { also shows why the bishop was better on b1 than c2. }) 19... f5! { This is why White needed to provoke ... f6xe5 first! Now, Black's superior pieces demonstrate that White cannot hold the center. The misplaced d3-bishop is the real reason why White is in such hot water here, as so many moves and variations are refuted by ... e5-e4! } { [%clk 0:54:07] } 20. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:47:52] } 20... fxe4 { [%clk 0:51:01] } 21. Be2 { [%clk 0:47:20] } 21... Bh6 { Black's pieces keep springing to life! } { [%clk 0:45:15] } 22. Rd1 { [%clk 0:44:22] } 22... cxd4 { [%clk 0:45:40] } 23. Bg4 { [%clk 0:43:35] } (23. cxd4? Rc2 { wins. }) 23... Rc7 { [%clk 0:41:34] } 24. cxd4 { [%clk 0:40:04] } 24... Nb5 { Another black attacker! } { [%clk 0:41:56] } 25. Nd7 { [%clk 0:38:06] } 25... Rd8 { [%clk 0:41:46] } 26. Nxb6 { [%clk 0:37:25] } 26... Rd6 { [%clk 0:39:34] } 27. Na4 { [%clk 0:35:21] } 27... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:39:57] } 28. Nc3 { [%clk 0:33:55] } 28... Re7 { [%clk 0:32:41] } 29. Ne2 { [%clk 0:29:11] } 29... Bg7 { [%clk 0:29:27] } 30. Rab1 { [%clk 0:14:43] } 30... h5 { [%clk 0:29:06] } 31. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:14:24] } 31... Bxd4 $19 { Black enjoys the bishop pair and dangerous central pawns. } { [%clk 0:29:32] } 32. Be2 { [%clk 0:13:34] } 32... Rf6 { [%clk 0:26:19] } 33. Rf1 { [%clk 0:10:55] } 33... Ref7 { [%clk 0:25:48] } 34. Nb3 { [%clk 0:07:05] } 34... Bb6 { [%clk 0:25:47] } 35. Rbc1 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 35... Rxf2 { [%clk 0:25:59] } 36. Rxf2 { [%clk 0:04:13] } 36... Rxf2 { [%clk 0:26:18] } 37. Bf1 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 37... Rxb2+ { [%clk 0:24:15] } 38. Nc5 { [%clk 0:03:10] } 38... Bxc5+ { [%clk 0:20:21] } 39. Rxc5 { [%clk 0:03:20] } 39... Rb1 { [%clk 0:20:48] } 40. Rxa5 { [%clk 0:03:15] } 40... e3 { [%clk 0:19:37] } 41. a4 { [%clk 0:02:57] } 41... e2 { [%clk 0:20:01] } 42. Rb5 { [%clk 0:03:12] } 42... exf1=Q+ { [%clk 0:20:23] } 43. Kh2 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 43... Qh1# { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:20:49] } 0-1