[Event "Checkmate: USA vs India 2025"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2025.10.04"] [Round "01-01"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Erigaisi Arjun"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [BlackElo "2708"] [TimeControl "600"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A00"] [Opening "Saragossa Opening"] [StudyName "Checkmate: USA vs India"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Erigaisi Arjun"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/CMl7gcnF/rx3nyDfX"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { Caruana was fresh off his Grand Chess Tour Finals victory in Brazil the previous day, and his good form continued in this game. } 1. c3!? { [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 2... exd4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 3. cxd4 { [%clk 0:09:59] } 3... d5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 4. Nc3 { Note: Problems with the clock display plague the rest of this game, so disregard the timestamps. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 4... c6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 5. Bf4 { Despite the unusual first move, we're in a line of the Semi-Slav with c4xd5 and ... e6xd5. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 5... Bd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 6. Bg3!? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (6. Bxd6 { is more common. }) 6... Ne7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 7. e3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 7... Nf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 8. Bd3!? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (8. Bxd6 { is, again, the typical try. }) 8... Nxg3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9. hxg3 { White has gained the half-open h-file for the bishop pair. But Black hasn't castled yet, so this is risky. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9... g6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 10. Nf3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 10... Nd7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 11. Qd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 11... Qe7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 12. O-O-O { [%clk 0:00:00] } 12... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 13. Kb1!? { [%clk 0:00:00] } (13. e4!? { was a good try. Black doesn't want to castle kingside, but hasn't prepared to castle long just yet. } 13... dxe4 14. Bxe4!? { Aiming to keep the knights on the board!? } 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bf5 { The point is that Black had nothing better. } (15... Bc7?? 16. d5 $18)) 13... Bg4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 14. Qc2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 14... O-O-O!? { The right idea, but it invites Nc3-b5. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 15. Rde1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (15. Nb5 Bb8 16. Rc1 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2 { is promising. }) 15... Kb8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 16. Nd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 16... Be6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 17. Nb3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 17... h5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 18. a3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 18... Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 19. Na4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 19... b6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 20. Nc3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 20... Qb7?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } (20... c5 { would have given Black a massive initiative, but Arjun overestimates how much time he has to improve his position first. } 21. Ba6 { did not have to be prevented, as } 21... Bf5 { forces } 22. e4 { since } (22. Bd3? Bxd3 23. Qxd3 c4 { wins. }) 22... Nxe4 $17) 21. Qe2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 21... Qd7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 22. Rc1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 22... Bg4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 23. Qd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 23... Bf5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24. Ka1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 24... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25. Qxd3 { Now, Black's d5-pawn is too vulnerable to allow for ... c6-c5. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 25... Ng4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 26. Rc2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 26... Rhe8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 27. Rhc1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 27... Qb7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28. Nd1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 28... a5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 29. Nd2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 29... Ka7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 30. Nf1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 30... f5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 31. Nd2 { The maneuvering phase of the game has begun! } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 31... Rc7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32. f4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 32... Nf6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 33. Nf2?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } 33... Re6?! { [%clk 0:00:00] } (33... c5! { with the point that White's knight has strayed too far from the c3-square! }) 34. Qb3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } (34. Nf3 { was more consistent. The idea is to provoke } { [%cal Gf3e5] } 34... c5 { and meet it with } 35. dxc5 bxc5 (35... Bxc5?? 36. Nd4! $18 { [%cal Gd4e6,Gd4b5,Rc5d4,Gc1c7] }) 36. Ng5 Ree7 37. Qc3 $13 { using the weakness of the a-pawn after forcing ... b6xc5. }) 34... Ne4? { The wrong approach. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } (34... c5! 35. dxc5 bxc5 36. Qa4 { is likely what Black feared, but } 36... Kb8 37. Qxa5?? c4 $17 { gives Black far too much pressure, making the a-pawn untouchable. } { [%csl Re3][%cal Gd6c5] }) 35. Ndxe4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 35... fxe4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36. g4! $14 { From here, White takes a small advantage on the kingside and grinds it to victory. } { [%clk 0:00:00] } 36... b5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 37. gxh5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 37... gxh5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 38. g4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 38... a4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 39. Qa2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 39... hxg4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 40. Nxg4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 40... Qb6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 41. Rc3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 41... Kb7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 42. Ne5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 42... Bxe5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 43. dxe5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 43... Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 44. Rc5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 44... Rh7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 45. Qb1 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 45... Rh3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 46. Qc2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 46... Rhh6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 47. Qc3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 47... Reg6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 48. f5 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 48... Rg2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 49. e6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 49... b4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 50. axb4 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 50... a3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 51. Qxa3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 51... Rhh2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 52. e7 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 52... Rxb2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 53. e8=Q { [%clk 0:00:00] } 53... Ra2+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 54. Qxa2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 54... Rxa2+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 55. Kxa2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 55... Qa6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 56. Kb2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 56... Qe2+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 57. R1c2 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 57... Qxe3 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 58. Qxc6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 58... Kb8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 59. Qb6+ { [%clk 0:00:00] } 59... Ka8 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 60. Rc8# { [%clk 0:00:00] } 1-0