[Event "The American Cup 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.03.24"] [Round "3"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aryan Chopra"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2620"] [Annotator "Dell"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C41"] [Opening "Philidor Defense: Lion Variation"] [StudyName "2025 American Cup"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Aryan Chopra"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/BAeuvodV/9GZluZLu"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 c6 8. Re1 h6 9. h3 Re8 10. Be3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Bf8 12. Bd3 Nc5 13. Qf3 a5 14. Nf5 Nxd3 15. cxd3 d5 16. Bd4!? { Fabi decides to go all-in, which is a very logical decision, particularly in a blitz game. } (16. exd5 { would lead to much more drawish positions } 16... Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 cxd5) 16... dxe4 17. Nxh6+! Kh7 { This was the critical moment of the game, which Fabi recognized and spent a full minute of his time. However, that wasn't enough to make the right choice. } (17... gxh6 { Black shouldn't take due to } 18. Qxf6 Qxf6 19. Bxf6 Bg7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. dxe4 $14) 18. dxe4 (18. Nxe4! { It was crucial to take with the knight and trade off the crucial defender of the black king. } 18... Nxe4 19. Nxf7 Qxd4 20. dxe4 $16 { Black's king is exposed, giving White a much more pleasant position. }) 18... Qxd4 19. Nxf7 Kg8 { Now Black's king isn't in much danger, as the knight on f6 keeps the position together. Aryan proceeded to win the game without any major issues, delivering Fabi a shocking early loss. } 20. Ng5 Qe5 21. h4 Bg4 22. Qd3 Rad8 23. Qc4+ Be6 24. Qe2 Bc5 25. Nf3 Qf4 26. e5 Ng4 27. Ne4 Bd5 28. g3 Qxe4 29. Qxe4 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 Nxf2 31. Rc4 Nd3+ 32. Kg2 Bb4 33. Re4 Nxb2 34. Kh3 Nd3 35. Kg2 Nc5 36. Re2 Ne6 37. Rh1 Rd5 38. h5 Nd4 39. Nxd4 Rxd4 40. h6 gxh6 41. Rxh6 Bf8 42. Rh5 Bg7 43. e6 Rd5 44. Rh4 Re5 45. Rb2 Re7 46. Rg4 R5xe6 47. Rd2 Re2+ { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1