[Event "2026 National Elementary K-6 Championsh"] [Site "Baltimore, United States"] [Date "2026.05.01"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Yang, Aimee"] [Black "Varfolomeev, Nikolai"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2246"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "1594"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2026 National Elementary School Championships"] [ChapterName "Yang, Aimee - Varfolomeev, Nikolai"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/7oZFKhAd/Kp7HBlc0"] [FEN "4r3/3n1pkp/p2rp1p1/1p4P1/2qN4/2P1R1QP/PP3P2/4R1K1 b - - 0 26"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { Nikolai had played a very good game up to this point. Here, it seemed like White didn't have a way to make progress — despite the advancement of the g-pawn — due to Black's lack of weaknesses. So, Aimee kept her calm and improved her position bit by bit. Black has to keep the d6-rook protected, but the way he chose to do this in the game allowed for some geometrical ideas. } 26... Qd5?? (26... Rd5 { This keeps everything covered, allowing Black to now consider grabbing the a2-pawn. } 27. Nc2 Rc8 { would have kept the position safe for Black. }) 27. Qh4? (27. Rd1! { Aimee missed the chance to gain an advantage here as Nd4-f5 and/or Nd4xe6 are difficult to stop. } 27... Kg8 28. Rdd3 Qc5 29. Nb3 $18 { and Black has to drop material. }) 27... e5 (27... Qxa2 { seems to be working as well, though Black has to keep the rest of the pieces defending his king. } 28. Rf3 Re7 29. b3 Qd2) 28. Rd1 Qc5 29. Kh2 Rd5? { Black must have underestimated White's attacking ideas. Leaving the rook on the d-file ultimately led to his downfall. } (29... f6 30. f4 e4 31. f5 fxg5 32. Qxg5 Qe5+) 30. b4 Qd6?? { The final mistake, and Aimee converted by taking advantage of a cute geometrical idea. } (30... Qc7 { could have been the final way to try to avoid material loss while keeping the queen active, but after } 31. Nf5+ gxf5 32. Rxd5 e4+ 33. Kg2 f4 34. Re1 Qxc3 35. Rxd7 Qxe1 36. Qxf4 Rf8 37. a3 { White maintains the advantage due to active pieces and Black's weakness on e4. }) 31. Qh6+! Kg8 32. Nf5! { And now Black cannot avoid the material loss. } 32... gxf5 33. Qxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Nb8 35. Red3 Kg7 36. Rd8 Rxd8 37. Rxd8 Nc6 38. Rd6 Ne7 39. Rxa6 Nd5 40. Rc6 e4 41. Rc5 Ne7 42. Rxb5 Kg6 43. h4 f4 44. a4 Nf5 45. Kh3 e3 46. fxe3 f3 47. Kg4 Nxh4 48. Rb6+ Kg7 49. Kxh4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0