[Event "USAT22"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2022.11.13"] [Round "2"] [White "Graif, William"] [Black "Pan, Christopher"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2342"] [BlackElo "2156"] [TimeControl "5400+5"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B00"] [Opening "Owen Defense"] [StudyName "USAT playoffs"] [ChapterName "Graif, William - Pan, Christopher"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/OUTmvF4C/GRpJ2646"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. Qe2 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. exd5+ Qe7 8. c4 Qxe2+ 9. Kxe2 d6 10. Nc3 a6 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Kf1+ Be7 13. Bf4 Kd8 14. h3 (14. Rxe7! { This sacrifice was not strictly necessary, but provides so much more than full compensation for the material: } 14... Kxe7 15. Re1+ Kf8 (15... Kd8? 16. Ng5!) 16. Bxd6+ Kg8 17. Ne5 { Not only does White's passed d-pawn pose a menacing threat, but Black's h8-rook is a non-factor. White is functionally up a bishop, not down an exchange! }) 14... h6 15. a4 Re8 16. a5 Kc7 17. Reb1 b5 18. cxb5 Nxd5 19. b6+ Kc8 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Rd1 Bb3 22. Rd2 Nf6 23. Bf5+ Be6 24. Bc2?! (24. Bxe6+ fxe6 25. Bxd6 { Perhaps White thought his attack would provide greater returns than the pawn, but this simplification clearly favors White. Moreover, Black lacks the chance of gaining a powerful center, as in the game. }) 24... d5! { Suddenly, White's pieces lack total control of the center. } 25. Ba4 Bd7 26. Bxd7+ Kxd7 27. Ne5+ Ke6 28. Re1 Ne4 { White has once again achieved a winning advantage, but now picks an odd time to sacrifice. } 29. Rxe4?! dxe4 30. Nc6 Rac8 31. Na7? (31. Nxe7 Rxe7 32. Rd6+ Kf5 33. Rd5+ { Was the proper path, as the f4-bishop is untouchable } 33... Kxf4?? 34. g3+ Kf3 35. Rf5#) 31... Rcd8 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Bc7? { White has realized that pushing the b-pawn would not lead to victory, but misses how close he is to defeat. } (33. b7 Bd6 { Did White miss this variation? } 34. Nc6 Bxf4 35. Nxd8+ Kd7 36. Nxf7 c4 $10) 33... Rd1+! 34. Ke2 Rb1 35. Ke3 Rxb2 36. Nc6 f5 37. Nb8 Bg5+ { Black's pieces create too many problems for White to make use of the slow queenside pawns. } 38. f4 exf3+ 39. Kxf3 Bd2 40. Nxa6 Bxa5 41. Nxc5+ Kd5 42. Nd7 Kc6 43. Ne5+ Kb7 44. Nc4 Rb3+ 45. Ke2 Bb4 46. Bd6 Kc6 47. Be5 Bc3 48. Bc7 Kd5 49. Nd6 Be5 50. Nxf5 Bf6 51. Nd6 Kc6 52. Nf5 h5 53. Nd6 Rb4 54. Kf3 g6 55. g4 h4 56. Ne4 Bd4 57. Bd8 Rb3+ 58. Kg2 Re3 59. Ng5 Rg3+ 60. Kh2 Bg1+ 61. Kh1 Bxb6 62. Bf6 Be3 63. Ne4 Rf3 64. Kg2 Rf4 65. Bg5 Rxe4 66. Kf3 Bxg5 67. Kxe4 Kd6 68. Kd4 Ke6 69. Ke4 Bc1 70. Kd4 Kf6 71. Ke4 Kg5 72. Kf3 Bd2 73. Ke4 Bf4 74. Kf3 Bc1 75. Ke4 Kf6 76. Kd5 Bf4 77. Ke4 g5 78. Kd5 Bh2 79. Kd4 Ke6 80. Ke4 Be5 81. Ke3 Kd5 82. Kd3 Bf4 83. Ke2 Ke4 84. Kf2 Be3+ 85. Kg2 Kf4 86. Kh1 Kf3 87. Kh2 Bf4+ 88. Kh1 Kg3 89. Kg1 Kxh3 90. Kh1 Kxg4 91. Kg2 Bg3 { White resigns } 0-1