[Event "U.S. Senior Chess Championship 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis, US"] [Date "2024.07.16"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Becerra Rivero, Julio"] [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2419"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2460"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "IM Carissa Yip"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann Defense: Advance Variation, Short Variation"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. National Championships (Junior/Girls' Junior/Senior)"] [ChapterName "Becerra Rivero, Julio - Shabalov, Alexander"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/HdJRwKaQ/wkIQpXkq"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O a5?! { A relatively rare sideline, though it has been gaining popularity amongst some strong GMs online. The drawback is that Black's typical ... c6-c5 break is no longer quite so viable because the b5-square is weakened. } 7. a4 (7. c3 a4 { The point: at least delaying, if not preventing, White's typical space-grabbing on the queenside. }) 7... f6 { So, Black finds another central break :D } 8. Nbd2 fxe5?! { Releasing the tension a bit too early, which, thanks to a tactical resource, allows White a decent advantage. } (8... Nh6 9. Nb3 Nf7 10. exf6 Qxf6 { and Black is quite happy here. }) 9. dxe5 Bc5 10. Nb3 Ba7 11. Nbd4?! { Letting Black off the hook. } (11. Bg5! Ne7 12. Nfd4 { Threatening g2-g4, which is very difficult to stop without some great concessions. } 12... h6 (12... O-O 13. g4 c5 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. f4 $18) (12... Nxe5 { The pawn is untouchable; Black's king soon finds itself under siege. } 13. Bh5+ g6 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. Re1) 13. Be3 Qb8 14. f4 { Black's queenside is uncoordinated and he still has to deal with g2-g4. }) 11... Ne7 12. Bd3 (12. Bg5 O-O { No g4 here, and Black is fine }) 12... Nc5 13. Bxf5 Nxf5 14. Nxf5 exf5 15. Be3 O-O 16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. Qd3 Qb6 { Now Black begins some nice play on the dark squares. } 18. b3 Rad8 19. Rae1 Qb4 20. Re2 Qf4 21. Rfe1 Rde8 22. c3 Re7 23. g3 { Objectively fine, but underestimating Black's chances for kingside play. } 23... Qh6 24. Kg2 (24. c4 { White needed to try this break at some point. }) 24... g5! 25. Nd4 Bxd4 26. cxd4 f4 { Even though only the queens and rooks are left on the board, the light-squared weaknesses around White's king makes this difficult to play. } 27. Kh1 Qh3 28. Rd2 f3 29. Qf1 Qf5 30. Qd3 Qg4 31. Qf1 Re6 32. Re3 Rh6 33. Rdd3 Rf7 34. Qd1?? { The decisive blunder } 34... Qh3 35. Qg1 g4 { With the fatal threat of ... Rf7-f5. } 36. e6 Re7 37. Re5 Rhxe6 38. Rde3 Rxe5 39. dxe5 Kf7 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1