[Event "U.S. National Middle School Championship 2024"] [Site "Atlanta, Georgia"] [Date "2024.05.11"] [Round "05"] [White "Eric Chang Liu"] [Black "Anjaneya Sripathy Rao"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2468"] [BlackElo "2182"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation"] [StudyName "2024 National Middle School Championship"] [ChapterName "Eric Chang Liu - Anjaneya Sripathy Rao"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/O4mAGfsa/ihTcAlCR"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { Black chooses a rare variation in the Classical French and quickly ends up with a passive position that is difficult to navigate. Unable to create counterplay, White crashes through on the kingside rather quickly (and accurately). } 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 1... e6 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 4. e5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 4... Nfd7 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 5. f4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 5... c5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 6. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 6... Nc6 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 7. Be3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 7... a6 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 8. Qd2 { [%clk 1:24:22] } 8... b5 { [%clk 1:29:51] } 9. a3 { So far we are in the main line of the Classical (3. Nc3) Steinitz (3. ... Nf6) French Defense. The position takes a more solid character than the Winawer (3. ... Bb4), with trades likely coming on the c5-square. } { [%clk 1:22:24] } 9... g6!? { A rare move, perhaps aimed at anticipating f4-f5 from White. But this doesn't seem to be White's main aim, as the d4-pawn will trade off shortly and then f4-f5 weakens the e5-pawn. As we'll see in the game below, Black often wants ... g7-g5 to undermine the f-pawn, welcoming f4-f5. } { [%clk 1:21:03] } (9... Qa5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bxc5 Nxc5) (9... Bb7 { is an offbeat favorite of GM Alexander Morozevich, which means it's a good try for a sharper game. } 10. Bd3 Qc7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Nd1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 g5 { A thematic idea against White's f4-pawn. } 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Bd4 gxf4 16. Qxf4 { White's e5-pawn is now a liability. } 16... Rg8 17. Ne3 f6 18. exf6 (18. Ng4 { was necessary. }) 18... e5 19. f7? (19. Qf5 exd4 20. f7 Rg7 21. Ng4 { was more playable. } 21... Qg6 { but Black is better. }) 19... Rxg2+! { and White resigned in Svidler – Morozevich, Monte Carlo, 2007 (Blindfold). }) 10. dxc5 { Very principled. This is a move White will often make, and the g6-pawn suggests that White's e5- and f4-pawns can enjoy more stability as to allow for expansion elsewhere. } { [%clk 1:15:05] } 10... Nxc5 { [%clk 1:15:59] } 11. h4 { Very reasonable! Black's ... f7-f6 is less tempting with the g-pawn on g6. The best way to respond to flank attacks is in the center, so a more controlled center justifies this h-pawn sortie. } { [%clk 1:10:34] } 11... Bb7 { [%clk 1:05:04] } (11... b4 { is more energetic. If White is going to push on the kingside, then creating an open file seems wise. } 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. h5 Rb8 14. hxg6 fxg6 15. Nd4 Be7 16. Be2 O-O $14 { Black enjoys some counterplay for the exposed king. }) 12. Qf2 { Threatening the c5-knight and forcing Black to make a decision. } { [%clk 0:45:51] } 12... Ne4?! { [%clk 0:51:58] } (12... b4! { Clearly the most complicated option, but given that Black's position is troublesome, it is consistent with the position to try and make sense of it. } 13. axb4 (13. Bxc5 bxc3 14. Bxf8 cxb2 15. Rb1 Kxf8 16. Rxb2 Qa5+ 17. Qd2 Rb8 $16 { and Black will still be passive in the endgame but has at least succeeded in transforming the character of the position. }) 13... Ne4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Ng5 Nxb4 $16 { gives Black more counterplay than in the game variation. }) 13. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:45:51] } 13... dxe4 { [%clk 0:51:58] } 14. Ng5 { [%clk 0:30:23] } 14... Ne7 { [%clk 0:51:30] } (14... Be7 { observes that the pawn is untochable. } 15. Nxe4? (15. Be2 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Ne7 $16 { and, okay, a trade of minors might be useful! }) 15... Nxe5!) 15. h5! { [%clk 0:30:11] } 15... h6? { This move misses the point of h4-h5. The idea was to preserve the knight's prime location on the g5-square, as now this move is met by h5xg6, pinning the h6-pawn to Black's rook. } { [%clk 0:50:05] } (15... gxh5 { is a move nobody wants to play, but might not be unreasonable. } 16. Rxh5 Nf5 17. Bb6 e3! { is an energetic pawn sac to activate the light-squared bishop. } 18. Bxe3 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Qa5+ 20. c3 b4 $16 { Black must be constantly asking questions to survive here! }) 16. hxg6! { [%clk 0:26:26] } 16... Nxg6 { [%clk 0:50:05] } 17. f5! { [%clk 0:15:29] } 17... exf5 { [%clk 0:47:39] } (17... Nxe5 { also allows White to crash through: } 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qd6 (19... Qe7 20. Qf5 Nf7 21. O-O-O $18) 20. Qf6 Rg8 21. Rd1 $18) 18. Nxf7! { [%clk 0:11:45] } 18... Qd7 { [%clk 0:46:30] } (18... Kxf7 19. Qxf5+ Kg7 20. Rd1! $18 { was the point, bringing in the rook with tempo. }) 19. Nxh8 { [%clk 0:11:36] } 19... Nxh8 { [%clk 0:40:12] } 20. Bxh6 { [%clk 0:11:36] } 20... Bxh6 { [%clk 0:26:08] } 21. Rxh6 { [%clk 0:11:36] } 21... O-O-O { [%clk 0:26:08] } 22. Rd6 { [%clk 0:11:09] } 22... Qe7 { [%clk 0:22:40] } 23. Qxf5+ { [%clk 0:10:58] } 23... Kb8 { [%clk 0:22:40] } 24. O-O-O { [%clk 0:10:38] } 24... Nf7 { [%clk 0:20:55] } 25. Rd7 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 25... Rxd7 { [%clk 0:19:20] } 26. Rxd7 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 26... Nh6 { [%clk 0:19:13] } 27. Rxe7 { [%clk 0:07:11] } 27... Nxf5 { White has held the extra material and Black has nothing to play for in this endgame. } { [%clk 0:19:13] } 28. Rf7 { [%clk 0:07:11] } 28... Bc8 { [%clk 0:16:19] } 29. Be2 { [%clk 0:06:22] } 29... e3 { [%clk 0:15:45] } 30. Rf8 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:06:06] } 1-0