[Event "U.S. Junior Championship - Open"] [Site "Saint Louis, US"] [Date "2024.07.16"] [Round "1.5"] [White "Guo, Arthur"] [Black "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2529"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2607"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "IM Carissa Yip"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B13"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. National Championships (Junior/Girls' Junior/Senior)"] [ChapterName "Guo, Arthur - Yoo, Christopher Woojin"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/HdJRwKaQ/53RE4MjY"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 e6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. a4 Qc7 11. Na3 a6 12. Nc2 f6 13. Ne3 Bd7 14. c4 Bb4 15. Re2 Be8 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Nf5 Nxf5 18. Bxf5 Bf7 19. Bc2 Rfe8 20. Be3 Bd6 { It seems that, around here, White started losing the thread. } 21. Qd3 (21. Nh4 { is logical and good. }) 21... Re4 22. Qd1 Qd7! { Leaving the rook en prise. Note that Black essentially has killed all counterplay, because Nf3-h4 is no longer an idea. So White is forced to just shuffle around a bit. } 23. Nd2 (23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Nd2 f5 { Objectively equal, but obviously very difficult to play as White. }) 23... Rh4 24. Nf3 Rxh3! 25. Qd3? (25. gxh3 { The only move to hold the balance. } 25... Qxh3 { Now White has to find a series of difficult moves to not lose: } 26. Bc1 Qg4+ 27. Kf1 Bh5 28. Re3 f5 { Honestly, this is a very unclear position, and it's not super obvious how Black improves. But White's pieces are so tied up, that any attempt at disentangling will lead to tactical retort: } 29. Bb3 Kh8 30. Bc2 Rc8 { Eventually, White may try to move the knight on f3, in which case Black takes twice on d1 and plays the endgame down an Exchange with two pawns and great activity. Meanwhile, Black can improve the position slowly(!!) and create threats here and there. }) 25... Rxf3 26. gxf3 Qh3 27. f4 Qg4+ 28. Kh2 Nb4 (28... Re8 29. Rg1 (29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7) 29... Bxf4+ 30. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Kg2 Rxe2 32. Qxe2 Nxd4 $19) (28... Nxd4 { immediately regains the Exchange and wins. } 29. Qxd4 (29. Bxd4 Bxf4+ 30. Kh1 Qh5+ 31. Kg1 Qh2+ 32. Kf1 Qh1#) 29... Qxe2 30. Bd1 Qe1) 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Bg8 31. f3 (31. Bh7 { The resource to keep the fight going. } 31... Kf7 32. Ree1! { Black can't do anything really good against the threat of Re1-g1. } 32... Nc6 (32... Bxf4+ 33. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 34. Kg1 Nc6 35. Ra3 Nxd4 36. Rg3 Nf3+ 37. Kf1 Ng5 38. Rge3 { White has just enough counterplay for equality. }) 33. Rg1 Qh5+ 34. Kg2 Bxh7 35. Qxh7 Re8 36. Kf1 { Black is still better, but White is holding on. }) 31... Qh5+ (31... Qxf3 32. Rg2 Qxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Nxc2 $19 { as in the game. }) 32. Kg1 Qxf3 33. Rg2 (33. Bh7 Kf7 34. Bg6+!! { The key. } 34... Kxg6 35. Rg2+ Kf5 36. Bd2 { White's pieces are just active enough to exploit Black's weak king and maintain the balance. }) 33... Qxe3+ 34. Kh1 Qh3+ 35. Kg1 Qxg2+!! 36. Kxg2 Nxc2 { And White's queen is trapped. } 37. Rg1 Bxf4 38. Kf3 Bg5 39. Kg4 Ne3+ 40. Kh5 Kf7 { Checkmate is coming, and White resigned. } 0-1