[Event "XXXIII Pan-American Youth U18 Female"] [Site "McCormick Convention Center C"] [Date "2023.08.16"] [Round "2.32"] [White "Jessica Hyatt"] [Black "Erin Bian"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1783"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "1957"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D00"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Stonewall Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/NdPr3HIs/LhMNZzjx"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 d5 3. Bd3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4 Bg4 6. Ne2 e6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nd2 O-O 9. Nf3 Bf5! { A very mature move. Many players have a bias against "retreating" moves, especially when they can induce their opponent to spend time with h2-h3. But Bian correctly understands that White's light-squared bishop is the "quarterback" of her kingside attack and, accordingly, that moves like h2-h3 and g2-g4 might even accelerate that attack. So, instead, she nips it in the bud. Remember the bishop would have been 'en prise' on f5 before playing ... e7-e6, and she needed the bishop outside the pawn chain first in order to keep this possibility alive for later. } 10. Ng3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 cxd4 12. exd4 Rc8 13. Ne5 Nd7 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. f5 Bxg3 16. Qxg3 exf5 17. Bf4 Rfe8 18. Rf2 Re4 19. Raf1 f6! { I like this move. Between White's dark-squared pawns and Black's f6-pawn, White's bishop is a bystander. The g7-square is no longer a potential object of attack, and Black's knight will have far more fun than White's bishop. } 20. Bd2 Ne7 21. Rf4 Qe6 22. Qd3 Re8 23. b3 Rc8 24. Rc1 Rxf4 25. Bxf4 Qe4 26. Qxe4 (26. Qf1 { is passive, and after } 26... Ng6 27. Bd2 f4 { Black is clearly for choice. But I'd still rather have White here, with doubled f-pawns and an isolated d-pawn to play off of, than in the game after fixing Black's structure. }) 26... fxe4 27. g4 Kf7 28. Kf2 Ke6 29. c4 Rd8 30. Ke3 g5 31. Bg3 f5! { Black has taken control, and should be solidly winning now. } 32. gxf5+ Nxf5+ 33. Kd2 Nxd4 34. cxd5+ Rxd5 35. Ke3 Nf5+ 36. Kxe4 Nxg3+!? { One of the hardest parts of playing an endgame is when multiple general principles come into conflict. The side ahead in material wants to trade pieces (not pawns). But the side playing for a win wants to avoid a pure rook-and-pawn endgame, even if pawn-up. So, what to do? } (36... h5! { Black's knight is still much better than White's bishop, so there are more opportunities to coordinate pieces to improve her advantage here than after the trade of minors. } 37. Bb8 Rd2 38. a4 a6 39. Re1 Rd4+ 40. Kf3+ Kf7 { and Black is in control, with the b3- and h2-pawns both being weak. } (40... Kd5?? 41. Re5+)) 37. hxg3 Rb5? { Black neglects the h-pawn! } (37... h5 38. Rc7 Rd7 $19) 38. Rc7?! (38. Rh1!) 38... h5 39. Rh7 Rb4+ 40. Ke3? { White's desire to keep her king's options open is understandable, but Black's king is racing to the g4-square now! } 40... h4 (40... Kf5! 41. Rxh5 Kg4 $19 { is much cleaner. Not only will Black again be pawn-up, but she will already have her king ideally situated in front of her passed pawn, boxing out the enemy monarch. }) 41. gxh4 gxh4 42. Kd3 (42. Rh5 { Seems more prudent, cutting Black's king off. As we just saw, Black is fighting to get her king in front of her passed pawn. So White's goal should be to stop Black from letting it happen. }) 42... a5 43. Kc3? { The losing move. Now Black's king is going to flex. } (43. Rh5!) 43... Kf5 44. a3 (44. Rh5+ Kg4 45. Rxa5 Rf4 46. Ra8 h3 47. Rg8+ Kf3 48. Rh8 Kg3 49. Rg8+ Rg4 50. Rh8 h2 51. Kd3 Rh4 $19) 44... Kg6 45. Rd7 Rb6 46. Rd4 Kg5 47. Rd5+ Kg4 48. Rxa5 h3 49. Ra8 Rh6 { That's that! } 50. Rg8+ Kh4 51. Rg1 h2 52. Rh1 Kg3 53. a4 Kg2 { As promised, Black's king was an important player. } 54. Rxh2+ Kxh2 55. b4 Kg3 56. b5 b6 57. Kb3 Rh4 { Black Won } 0-1