[Event "2024 National Middle School Championship: Nemcova - Santosh"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/O4mAGfsa/lsP6iN75"] [White "Katerina Nemcova"] [Black "Saharsh Santosh"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "WGM"] [BlackElo "2016"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B53"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "2024 National Middle School Championship"] [ChapterName "Nemcova - Santosh"] [UTCDate "2024.05.10"] [UTCTime "20:09:26"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/O4mAGfsa/lsP6iN75"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Nd4 Rc8 12. f4 Qa5 13. Kb1 a6 14. Rhe1 h6 (14... b5 { is more normal, with the queen still contributing to the attack against White's king. }) 15. Bh4 Qh5 { We finally reach a new position! White must figure out how to improve in the center before Black improves on the queenside further. } 16. Bg3 Rfd8 17. h3 b5 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Bf2 b4 20. Ne2 Rdc8 (20... Qa5 21. Nd4 Rcc8 { is a more harmonious way to defend the a6-pawn and continue pressing on the queenside. }) 21. Nd4 Rc4 { White has gained the upper hand because her c2-pawn is very well defended and Black's forces are not yet concentrated on her queenside. Black's queen seems misplaced on h5. } 22. g4?! { Rather than embark on the complications following either of the below moves, White plays for a more strategic attack, but this allows Black's queen to get back into position! } (22. e5! dxe5 23. Rxe5 { wins material after } 23... Qg6 24. Qxg6 fxg6 25. Rxe6 { when White can even part with the c-pawn, allowing } 25... Bc5 26. Rxa6 Bxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxc2 { due to } 28. Rd8+! $18) (22. f5 { is also promising: } 22... e5?! { would be the normal reply, but here White can play } 23. g4 Qg5 24. Nf3 Qf4 25. Nd2! { which wins material after } 25... Rxc2 (25... Qxf2 26. Nxc4 { kills Black's attack. }) 26. Bg3 { and even } 26... Rxd2 27. Rxd2 Qg5 { is insufficient. The queen survives, but } 28. Qxa6 { White is up a full Exchange. }) 22... Qa5 23. Nb3 Qc7 { Black mounts more pressure on the c-pawn. } 24. Rc1 d5 { Fantastic play from Black, who understands that as White's pieces leave the center, this break is often their best chance. } 25. e5 (25. exd5 Nxd5 { just adds more fuel to Black's fire. }) 25... Ne4 26. Bd4 a5 27. Nd2 Nxd2+ 28. Qxd2 Bc5 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 30. f5 a4 31. f6 { Black plays fearless even though White's pawn reaches the sixth rank first. } 31... a3 (31... g5! { also shuts down White's attack. } 32. Rh1 { prepares h3-h4, but is too slow due to } 32... a3 33. b3 Re4 34. h4 Re2!! 35. Qd3 Qc7 { and Black's queen is getting to b2 before White can use the open h-file. }) 32. fxg7 Qd4 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. Re3 axb2 35. Kxb2 Kxg7 36. Rb3 Re4 37. Rf1 Re2 38. Rc1 Rc4 { White resigns, as her attention is better spent elsewhere. The rooks are both pacified and Black's last two moves show that he understands the value of activity in these endgames. } 0-1