[Event "U.S. Chess Championships 2024"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2024.10.14"] [Round "4"] [White "Liang, Awonder"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2677"] [BlackElo "2693"] [Annotator "FM Zoey Tang"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship"] [ChapterName "Liang, Awonder - Robson, Ray"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/K5XjRsoK/Fdl6XrZx"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 { The Adams attack. White plans to plan an early g2-g4-g5 to solidify control over the d5-square, followed up with Bf1-g2. } 6... e5 7. Nb3 Be6 { Based on timestamps, it seems like Robson was already out of preparation by this point. Usually, this is not great in such a sharp opening as the Sicilian, especially as the black side. Yet Robson continues to simply play logical moves. } 8. Qf3 { Home-cooked prep. This has only been played ten times before. The idea is to control d5 first so that the dark-squared bishop is more flexible in its options. } (8. Be3 Be7 9. Qf3 O-O 10. O-O-O b5 11. g4 $14 { is one of the main lines. }) 8... Be7 9. Bd2 { Looks rather strange, but the dark-squared bishop can eventually maneuver to a5. } 9... O-O 10. O-O-O b5 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bc8 13. Ba5 Qe8 14. Kb1 f5 15. Bb4! { Planning to redistribute the knight to a5 instead. } 15... Nd7 16. Na5 Nf6 17. Qa3?! { The tempo looks nice, but Black has a very simple defense. } (17. g3 Bd8 18. Bg2 Qd7 19. Qa3 { Neither side is particularly hurried in executing the traditional pawn storm. }) 17... Ne4 { This move also hits f2. } 18. Rg1? (18. Be1 Bd7 19. f3 Nc5 { is kind of admitting defeat, but at least Black has no clear initiative. }) 18... Nxf2 { Correctly realizing that there's no danger here. } 19. Re1 Ne4 20. Bd3 Rf6?! (20... Bh4 21. Re2 Qf7 $17 { is a better version of the same idea; Black activates his pieces and is not afraid of losing the e4-pawn, since there are back rank threats. }) 21. g4 Ng5 22. Bxf5? { Helping black develop his last piece, though it's difficult to suggest an alternative. } (22. Be2 { , guarding f3 and trying to claim that a pawn deficit won't really matter in an opposite-side castling position, was better. } 22... fxg4 23. hxg4 Bd7 24. Bd2 $17) 22... Bxf5 23. gxf5 Rxf5 24. Nc6 Nf3 25. Rgf1 e4! 26. Rxe4 Nd2+ 27. Bxd2 Rxf1+ 28. Be1 Bh4! { White resigned. A picturesque finish. Black will give back rank mate or win decisive material no matter what. } 0-1