[Event "The American Cup | Group B 2023"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.03.27"] [Round "1"] [White "Nemcova, Katerina"] [Black "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2325"] [BlackElo "2294"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Annotator "Zong, Davis"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A18"] [Opening "English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/DZGTvv5d/oSTjb2kF"] [Orientation "white"] { [%evp 0,114,22,-3,-3,-14,-3,1,1,4,11,21,6,6,44,27,28,17,46,46,93,52,43,38,91, 88,92,82,77,81,63,21,53,46,106,61,40,17,14,2,0,-40,-24,-34,-25,-25,-25,-8,-4, -20,-4,-1,-16,-3,-1,-44,-48,-36,-57,-52,-8,-26,-12,-12,9,0,0,-21,-24,-101,-55, -51,-61,-93,-74,-82,-62,-82,-82,-135,-130,-108,-31,-167,-159,-252,-263,-228, 122,140,298,300,300,255,255,139,187,54,19,0,0,0,0,-214,-194,-337,-337,-338, -338,-339,-344,-577,-489,-29989,-29990,-29991,-29992] } 1. c4 { [%emt 1:05:43] } 1... Nf6 { [%emt 1:05:50] } 2. Nc3 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 2... e6 { [%emt 0:00:40] } 3. e4 { [%emt 0:00:23] } 3... d5 { [%emt 0:00:33] } 4. cxd5 { [%emt 0:00:32] } 4... exd5 { [%emt 0:00: 26] } 5. e5 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 5... Ne4 { [%emt 0:01:51] } 6. Nf3 { [%emt 0:00:26] } 6... Be7 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 7. d4 { [%emt 0:00:28] } 7... c5 { [%emt 0:03:25] } 8. Bd3 { [%emt 0:00: 33] } 8... Nxc3 { [%emt 0:03:22] } (8... Qa5 { was slightly more accurate, using the early pin to put some pressure on White's c3-knight. } 9. Bd2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 c4 $10) 9. bxc3 $14 { [%emt 0:00:23] This pawn chain is often good for White, because the extra central space gives chances for a kingside attack. } 9... Bg4 { [%emt 0:00:33] } 10. O-O { [%emt 0:02:21] } 10... Nc6 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 11. Be3 { [%emt 0: 01:55] } (11. h3! { This is a hard move to play because it loses a pawn, but Black can't take it without giving White a large initiative. } 11... Bxf3 (11... Bh5! 12. dxc5 $14) 12. Qxf3 cxd4 13. Qg3 { Unfortunately, Black can't castle here and White's lead in development gives her a close to winning advantage. } 13... g6 (13... O-O 14. Bh6 $18) 14. cxd4 Nxd4 15. Bh6 $18) 11... O-O { [%emt 0:01:34] } 12. h3! $16 { [%emt 0:03:01] Better late than never! } 12... Bh5 { [%emt 0:04:06] } 13. Qb1 { [%emt 0:03:24] } 13... Bxf3 { [%emt 0:03:20] } 14. gxf3 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 14... g6 { [%emt 0:00:40] } 15. f4 { [%emt 0:05:09] With a semi-open g-file, bishop pair, and more space, Nemcova starts pushing the pawns for an attack. } 15... cxd4 { [%emt 0: 04:04] } 16. cxd4 { [%emt 0:00:54] } 16... f5 { [%emt 0:01:24] } (16... Bb4! { defending the b7-pawn was required here. }) 17. a3 { [%emt 0:03:30] } (17. Qxb7! { It may look poisonous, but White is actually just winning a pawn here. } 17... Nb4 18. Bb5 Rb8 19. Qd7 Qxd7 20. Bxd7 $18) 17... Qd7 { [%emt 0:01:41] } 18. Kh2 { [%emt 0:01: 04] } 18... Rac8 { [%emt 0:00:39] } 19. Qa2 { [%emt 0:01:46] } 19... Na5 { [%emt 0:01:07] } 20. Rac1?! { [%emt 0:00:23] Surprisingly, this natural move spoils White's advantage, as Black gets in ...b7-b5 and ...Na5-c4 now with heavy counterplay on the queenside. } (20. Rfb1 a6 21. a4 $16 { Prophylaxis against ...b7-b5 was needed to keep the advantage. }) 20... b5! $10 { [%emt 0:00:28] } 21. Rg1 { [%emt 0:03:25] } 21... Nc4 { [%emt 0:00:31] } 22. a4 { [%emt 0:00:28] } 22... a6 { [%emt 0:00:40] } 23. axb5 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 23... axb5 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 24. Qb3 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 24... Rc7 { [%emt 0:00:34] } 25. Ra1 { [%emt 0:01:07] } 25... b4 { [%emt 0:01:46] } 26. Ra6 { [%emt 0: 00:44] } 26... Qc8 { [%emt 0:00:52] } 27. Qa4 { [%emt 0:03:29] } 27... Nb2 { [%emt 0:01:07] } 28. Qb3 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 28... Nxd3 { [%emt 0:00:58] } 29. Qxd3 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 29... Qd7 { [%emt 0:00:56] } 30. Bd2 { [%emt 0:00:44] } 30... Rc4 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 31. Rga1 { [%emt 0:00:39] } 31... Rfc8 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 32. Ra7 { [%emt 0:00:26] } 32... R8c7 { [%emt 0: 00:29] } 33. Ra8+ { [%emt 0:00:28] } 33... Kg7 { [%emt 0:00:29] } 34. Rb8 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 34... Rb7 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 35. Rxb7 { [%emt 0:00:53] } 35... Qxb7 $15 { [%emt 0:00:21] Both sides have played a great game for the past 15 moves, but here with less than a minute on each clock and White under 30 seconds, time trouble starts to play a big role. } 36. Rb1 { [%emt 0:00:26] } (36. Qb3! { White should hold on to the open file. Notice that the d4-pawn is taboo due to Bd2-e3 followed by Ra1-a7. } 36... Qb6 (36... Rxd4?? 37. Be3 Rc4 38. Ra7 $18)) 36... Qb6 { [%emt 0:00:31] } 37. Be3 { [%emt 0:00:23] } 37... Qa7 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 38. Rg1 { [%emt 0:00:26] } 38... Kf7 { [%emt 0:00: 29] } 39. Qd1 { [%emt 0:00:31] } (39. Qe2! { With the same ideas as Qb3-d1 but keeping control of the critical secondnd rank. }) 39... Qa2 { [%emt 0:00:58] } 40. Qf3 { [%emt 0:00:41] } 40... Rc3? { [%emt 0:00:25] } (40... Ke6! $19 { The difference is subtle and hard to find under time pressure, but the idea of Ke6 is to sidestep a potential Q3-h3-xh7+ in later lines and gain a decisive tempo. } 41. h4 Bxh4 42. Qh3 Bxf2 43. Rg2 Rc2 44. Qxh7 { Notice the difference: this is not check anymore. } 44... Bg1+! 45. Kxg1 Rxg2+) 41. Qg2? { [%emt 0:00:29] } (41. h4! { White needs to generate counterplay here before Black's attack or passed pawn crashes through. } 41... Bxh4 42. Qh3 Bxf2 43. Qxh7+ { Without Ke6, this move comes with a check and a draw by perpetual is the most likely result. } 43... Kf8 44. Qh8+ $10) 41... Ke6 { [%emt 0:00:39] } 42. h4! { [%emt 0:00:34] A good counter shot! } 42... Bxh4 { [%emt 0:00:37] } (42... b3! { The cold engine proposes that Black advance the pawn and ignore the scary h4-h5 threat. 43. ...Qe2 is not a move a human would normally play under time pressure. } 43. h5 Qe2 44. hxg6 Qh5+ 45. Qh3 Qxh3+ 46. Kxh3 hxg6 47. Rxg6+ Kd7 48. Rb6 Ba3 $19) 43. Qh3 { [%emt 0:00:28] } 43... Rxe3? { [%emt 0:00:35] Now White has enough activity to draw. } (43... Bxf2! { This capture was stronger, keeping White's queen from checking Black. } 44. Rg2 Rc2 45. Qxh7 Bg1+ $19) 44. Qxh4 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 44... Rf3? { [%emt 0:00:28] } (44... Rc3! { Blocking the c-file so that White's rook is denied an invitation to the party. } 45. Qf6+ Kd7) 45. Qf6+! $18 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 45... Kd7 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 46. e6+ { [%emt 0:00:32] } 46... Kc7 { [%emt 0:00:26] } 47. Rc1+ { [%emt 0:00:29] } (47. Qe7+ Kc6 48. Qc5+ Kb7 49. Qxb4+ { Taking the passed pawn with check, but the win is still far from trivial. }) 47... Rc3 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 48. Qe7+ { [%emt 0: 00:25] } (48. Qe5+! { It's a razor sharp position, but this move's advantage is that it parries Qa2-e2 later on. } 48... Kb7 49. Rf1 Rc2 50. Kg1 Re2 51. Qd6 $18) 48... Kc6 { [%emt 0:00:26] } 49. Qd7+ { [%emt 0:00:51] } 49... Kb6 { [%emt 0:00:22] } 50. Qd6+ { [%emt 0:00:25] } 50... Kb5? { [%emt 0:00:35] } (50... Ka7 51. Rf1 Qe2! 52. Ra1+ Ra3 53. Rxa3+ bxa3 54. Qxa3+ Kb6 $10) 51. Qb8+? { [%emt 0:00:30] } (51. Rf1 { was still enough to win. White's king is still safer and the active queen and passed e-pawn will decide. } 51... Qe2 52. Qxd5+ Kb6 53. Qd6+ Kb5 (53... Kb7 54. Qxb4+ $18) (53... Ka7 54. Ra1+ Ra3 55. Rxa3+ bxa3 56. Qxa3+ $18) 54. Qe5+ $18) 51... Kc4! { [%emt 0:00:29] AND... suddenly the tides have turned in Black's favor now. The king is surprisingly safe, sandwiched between the pawns, and the pawn promotes one tempo earlier. } 52. Qc7+ { [%emt 0:00:32] } 52... Kd3 { [%emt 0: 00:36] } 53. Rxc3+ { [%emt 0:00:33] } 53... bxc3 { [%emt 0:00:21] } 54. Kg2 { [%emt 0:00: 25] } 54... Qe2 { [%emt 0:00:35] } 55. e7 { [%emt 0:00:27] } 55... c2 { [%emt 0:00:34] } 56. Qe5 { [%emt 0:00:41] } 56... Qg4+ { [%emt 0:00:38] } 57. Kh2 { [%emt 0:00:24] } 57... c1=Q { [%emt 0: 00:30] 0-1 Black wins. After promoting, we would have had a wild position with four queens on the board (!) but Black mates immediately with ...Qcg1#. Seeing this, Nemcova threw in the towel. An amazing game that really shows how complicated queen endgames can be, especially in time trouble! } 0-1