[Event "USAT22"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2022.11.13"] [Round "1"] [White "Balakrishnan, Praveen"] [Black "Carter, Emmanuel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2617"] [BlackElo "2208"] [TimeControl "5400+5"] [Annotator "jjlang"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation"] [StudyName "USAT playoffs"] [ChapterName "Balakrishnan, Praveen - Carter, Emmanuel"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/OUTmvF4C/TV1V7WRD"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2 b5 9. c3 Be7 10. h4 Bb7 11. h5 h6 12. a3 Qc7 13. Ng3 O-O-O 14. Bd3 f5 15. Ne2 c4 16. Bc2 Rhg8 17. Qd2 a5 { At first glance, this could be a textbook 'closed center' position. Each side attempts to expand on the flanks, as neither can be punished in the center for doing so. } 18. Kf2! { But, looking deeper, we realize that Black will easily be endangered if the queenside opens up. In contrast, White's king is secure on f2, even after opening the kingside. } 18... Rdf8 19. Rag1 g6 20. g4! fxg4 21. Rxg4 g5 22. Rh3 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Neg1 b3 25. Bh7 Rg7 26. Bg6 Bd8 27. Ke2 Ne7 28. Bb1 Nf5 29. fxg5 { Black has no ways to create problems on the queenside, whereas White's king is out of the way of the kingside expansion. } 29... Nxe3 30. Qxe3 hxg5 31. h6 Rgf7 32. h7 { The h-pawn is decisive. } 32... Rh8 33. Nxg5 Bxg5 34. Rxg5 Qd8 35. Rhg3 Kc7 36. Rg8 Rf8 37. Qg5 Qe8 38. Rxh8 Rxh8 39. Qg8 Qh5+ 40. Nf3 Nxe5 41. Qxh8 Nxf3 42. Qg7+ Kb6 43. Rxf3 Qh2+ 44. Rf2 Qh5+ 45. Kd2 Qh1 46. h8=Q Qxb1 47. Qd8+ Ka6 48. Qxb7+ Kxb7 49. Rf7+ Ka6 50. Qd6+ Ka5 51. Qc5+ Ka6 52. Ra7# { Black checkmated } 1-0