[Event "2026 National State Invitationals"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2026.08.03"] [Round "01"] [White "Bitoon, Richard"] [Black "Farfel, Vlad"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2384"] [BlackElo "2065"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A10"] [Opening "English Opening"] [StudyName "2026 U.S. Open and Invitationals, Pt. 1"] [ChapterName "Bitoon, Richard - Farfel, Vlad"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/GybCbfWL/4THxYwEt"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 1... d6 { [%clk 1:30:25] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:37] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:31:20] } 3... e5 { [%clk 1:30:08] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 1:31:36] } 4... c6 { [%clk 1:30:19] } 5. d4 { [%clk 1:29:35] } 5... Qc7 { [%clk 1:29:04] } 6. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:48] } 6... Bg4 { [%clk 1:27:27] } 7. O-O { [%clk 1:28:38] } 7... Nbd7 { [%clk 1:26:45] } 8. h3 { [%clk 1:28:28] } 8... Bh5 { [%clk 1:26:57] } 9. e4 { [%clk 1:24:54] } 9... Be7 { [%clk 1:26:27] } 10. Be3 { [%clk 1:24:27] } 10... O-O { [%clk 1:26:28] } 11. Qc2 { [%clk 1:14:22] } 11... Rfc8 { [%clk 1:00:13] } 12. Nh4 { [%clk 1:10:52] } 12... Ne8 { [%clk 0:54:15] } 13. Nf5 { [%clk 1:08:23] } 13... Bf8 { [%clk 0:54:26] } 14. b3 { [%clk 1:00:33] } 14... f6 { [%clk 0:51:23] } 15. f4 { [%clk 0:56:22] } 15... Bf7 { [%clk 0:49:48] } 16. Qf2 { [%clk 0:47:04] } 16... a6 { [%clk 0:41:24] } 17. dxe5 { [%clk 0:42:07] } 17... dxe5 { [%clk 0:41:31] } 18. c5 { [%clk 0:41:36] } 18... g6 { [%clk 0:29:04] } 19. Nh4 { [%clk 0:42:00] } 19... exf4 { [%clk 0:29:22] } 20. gxf4 { [%clk 0:41:00] } 20... Be7 { Despite Black's space disadvantage and relatively scattered pieces, the position is still close to equal. White's e- and f-pawns could both become flimsy later in the game, and it's not yet clear whether the c5-pawn will be more of a long-term asset, restricting Black's activity, or a target. } { [%clk 0:29:39] } 21. e5!? { This is asking for trouble. Probably, something like } { [%clk 0:32:31] } (21. Na4 { or }) (21. Rad1 { would keep the pressure on. }) 21... f5? { Stabilizing White's center is the decisive strategic error. } { [%clk 0:29:10] } (21... Ng7 { Remarkably, Black is now for choice. Black prepares ... Rc8-f8 and ... f6xe5, when White's e-pawn and f-file will both be vulnerable. Therefore, White should play } 22. exf6 Nxf6 { when the f-pawn will still be targeted after ... Rc8-f8, so } 23. f5 { is probably best, but } 23... Rf8 24. Bf4 Qa5 $15 { makes it clear that Black's pieces are not impeded by the c-pawn! }) 22. Nf3 { [%clk 0:32:45] } 22... Ng7 { [%clk 0:28:53] } 23. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:31:57] } 23... Rd8 { [%clk 0:27:38] } 24. Rd6! { Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian would approve. What's scary is that today's engines also understand that this is the best move. } { [%clk 0:27:36] } 24... Nf8 { [%clk 0:26:50] } (24... Bxd6 { is no better: } 25. cxd6 Qa5 26. Rc1 { is crushing for White. Even } 26... Ne6 { , angling for the blockade, is met by } 27. Bf1 $16 { when Black's rooks are worthless! } { [%cal Gf1c4] }) 25. Na4 $18 { White's superior pieces take over in style. } { [%clk 0:27:17] } 25... Rab8 { [%clk 0:25:24] } 26. Nb6 { [%clk 0:27:00] } 26... Nge6 { [%clk 0:20:15] } 27. Rad1 { [%clk 0:26:53] } 27... Be8 { [%clk 0:20:25] } 28. Bf1 { [%clk 0:22:13] } 28... Bxd6 { [%clk 0:19:22] } 29. exd6 { [%clk 0:19:18] } 29... Qg7 { [%clk 0:19:42] } 30. Bc4 { [%clk 0:19:23] } 30... Bf7 { [%clk 0:19:39] } 31. Ne5 { [%clk 0:18:48] } 31... h6 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 32. Kh1 { [%clk 0:16:23] } 32... Kh7 { [%clk 0:14:49] } 33. Bc1 { [%clk 0:15:36] } 33... g5 { [%clk 0:12:46] } 34. Bb2 { [%clk 0:15:41] } 34... Bh5 { [%clk 0:12:33] } 35. Ng4 { [%clk 0:11:30] } 35... fxg4 { [%clk 0:09:21] } 36. Bxg7 { [%clk 0:11:13] } 36... Nxg7 { [%clk 0:09:18] } 37. Re1 { [%clk 0:09:50] } 37... Ng6 { [%clk 0:06:15] } 38. f5 { [%clk 0:10:04] } 38... Nf4 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 39. Re7 { [%clk 0:10:17] } 39... Nxh3 { [%clk 0:04:20] } 40. Qd4 { [%clk 0:10:45] } 40... Rg8 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 41. Nd7 { [%clk 0:10:54] } 41... Kh8 { [%clk 0:04:19] } 42. Nf6 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:10:15] } 1-0