[Event "National Middle School Championship"] [Site "Round Rock, TX"] [Date "2023.04.23"] [White "Eric Chang Liu"] [Black "Brewington Hardaway"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2322"] [WhiteTitle "CM"] [BlackElo "2431"] [BlackTitle "FM"] [Annotator "FM Sandeep Sethuraman"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/JIs7Thj7/One8jw9m"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by FM Sandeep Sethuraman } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 { The Giuoco Piano is a frequent guest at top level games, and this is a matchup between the two highest rated players in the tournament. Brewington has ceded a draw, so he is going into this needing to win as Black, while Eric also wants a win to seperate from the competition. } 5... d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 h6 8. O-O Ba7 { The premature ... Bc5-a7 was first popularized in a different move order, but as opening theory is evolving, players are constantly trying new ideas. } (8... O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Nf1 { is the "normal" continuation. }) 9. Re1 g5!? { Hardaway makes his intentions clear out of the gate. This move isn't for the faint of heart, but Hardaway's style, and tournament situation, call for drastic measures. } 10. Nf1 g4 (10... Nh5!? { Based on the move times, both players had still been in prep until Hardaway was surprised by Liu's tenth move. Here the move played in the game is by far the most common, but this seems like an interesting way to enter new waters. } 11. Be3 Nf4 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. d4 g4 { and both sides have chances. Exactly the type of position that both sides were shooting for. }) 11. N3d2 (11. Nh4? Nxe4 12. dxe4 Qxh4) 11... h5! { This type of move is automatic for players of Hardaway's caliber, but instructive nonetheless. Black doesn't waste time with developing the queenside, realizing that the most urgent matter is to justify his expansion with an attack. } 12. Nc4! { Liu was still likely in his preparation at this point, and this untangling of the pieces is the only way to prepare for the coming pawnstorm. } (12. g3? { Making pawn moves on the side you are being attacked on is almost never a good idea. } 12... h4 { Now, the h-file will be opened with decisive effect. }) 12... h4 13. Be3 { Removing a strong attacker. } 13... Qe7 { This isn't a new move, but it seems Black had alternatives. } (13... Bd7 14. Bxa7 Nxa7 15. d4 { has been White's main try so far, but perhaps a quieter move might be more effective. } (15. Nce3!? { might be an interesting novelty for any Italian players. } 15... Rg8 16. Bd5!? { This is a most unusual idea } 16... Nxd5 17. Nxd5 c6 18. Nde3 { and White can claim that Black's kingside expansion has led to nothing, and that now White will strike in the center. }) 15... Qe7 16. f4!? gxf3 17. Qxf3 O-O-O { and as Grandmaster Hungaski showed in his game from 2021, Black is fine here. }) 14. Bxa7 Nxa7 15. d4 Bd7 16. Qc2? { Taking a step in the wrong direction. The queen was fairly useful on the kingside. } (16. f4! exf4? 17. e5 O-O-O!? (17... dxe5 18. Nxe5 O-O-O 19. Nxf7 { and White wins material. }) 18. exd6! (18. exf6?! Qxf6 { and here, Black is surprisingly fine as his kingside initiative must not be underestimated. }) 18... Qf8 19. dxc7 Kxc7 20. Ne5 { and White holds a solid advantage. }) 16... O-O-O 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nce3 Nh5? { Giving away the advantage. The knight was actually more useful on f6, as it controlled some key squares like d5 and e4. } (18... Kb8 { Sometimes the best plan is just to improve slowly. } 19. Rad1 Nb5 { The idea is to reroute to the versatile d6-square. } 20. Nf5 { Trading for the bishop while he still can. } 20... Bxf5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. exf5 Nd6 { and Black is clearly better. }) 19. g3 (19. Nf5!? Bxf5 20. exf5 Nb5 21. Qe2 { and now we see why the knight was better placed on f6. }) 19... Ng7?! { It still wasn't to late to admit that 18. ... Nh5 was a mistake, but this can be extremely difficult to do during a game. } (19... Nf6! { would have kept a nagging edge. } 20. Rad1 hxg3 21. fxg3 Kb8 { and Black has a safer king. }) 20. Rad1 Ne6? { The Knight is headed for f3, but it won't get there in time. } (20... Kb8 21. Qe2 Nc8 22. Nxg4 Nd6 { would have maintained equality, as the removal of the pawn opens another attacking file for Black. }) 21. Bxe6? { White had to make use of the f5-square he was gifted so generously, but Liu wanted to eliminate the knight before it could land on f3. } (21. Nf5 Qg5 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Nxh4 { and White's king is surprisingly safe. } 23... Rxh4? 24. gxh4 Qxh4 25. Re3 { never works out for Black. The h2-pawn is always sufficiently defended by the knight. }) 21... Qxe6 22. b3 (22. Nf5 { was still an option. } 22... hxg3 23. fxg3 Qxa2 24. N1e3 Bxf5 25. exf5 $10 { and Black's weak pawns compensate for the loss of the a2-pawn. }) 22... Nb5 23. Nf5 hxg3 24. fxg3 Bc6 (24... Qb6+!? { would have asked some questions. } 25. N1e3 Qc5 26. Rc1 Bxf5 27. exf5 Nd6 { and Black is playing for some small hope that he will be able to win the f5-pawn. }) 25. N1e3 Nd6 26. Nxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Qxd6 { Now the game is very equal, which isn't ideal for either player, but much more concerning for Hardaway than for Liu. } 28. b4 Rg8 (28... Bd7 { was a final try to make something of the position. } 29. Nd5 f5 30. c4 f4! { Pushing is the only way forward } (30... fxe4 31. Qxe4 Re8 32. Rf1 { gives nothing for Black }) 31. gxf4 exf4 32. Qf2 (32. e5? Qh6 { is disaster }) 32... f3 33. Qg3 Qxg3+ 34. hxg3 Be6 { and Black's advanced passer gives him good winning chances. }) 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. Nd5 Qe6 31. Qf2 Kb8 32. c4! { Cementing the knight on d5 and effectively eliminating any remnants of Black's advantage. } 32... Rd8 33. Rf1 b5! { Played in time trouble, trying to undermine White's central hold. } 34. cxb5 axb5 (34... Bxd5!? { was equal, but with a series of difficult moves by both sides. } 35. exd5 Rxd5 36. b6 Rd7! 37. bxc7+ Rxc7 { and the game is headed for a draw. }) 35. Qc5 Kb7 36. Rc1 Rd7 37. Nc3 { 1-0 White wins. The position is completely equal here. Both sides still have chances, but the most likely outcome was a draw. That is, until Brewington flagged. With that win, Eric put himself in a great position to win the whole event in the final round. } 1-0