[Event "Women"] [Site "Saint Louis, US"] [Date "2024.03.14"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Black "Lee, Alice"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2365"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2356"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/R6LLNwTu/5IYACDvb"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 d4 7. Bb2 c5 8. e3 Nc6 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 a5 11. Na3 Re8 12. d3?! { Not only does this help Black activate her dark-squared bishop against the e1-rook, it also accelerates her plan of ... e6-e5 with a sort of reversed Benoni structure where White's dark-squared bishop is "biting on granite" against the d4-pawn. } (12. Nb5 { was essential: } 12... Bc5 13. Ne5 $14 { and White has prevented ... e6-e5 just in time! }) 12... Bb4 13. Re2 e5 14. Nb5 Bg4 (14... Bf5 { was better, targeting the weak pawn and considering ... e5-e4 breaks. } 15. h3 h6! $17) 15. h3 Bh5 16. a3 Bc5 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nh4 { This makes White's life much easier. Her position becomes easier to play with even one trade of a pair of minor pieces, and this also eyes the e4-square. } 18... Nd7 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Qd2 Nf8 21. f4 Qd7 22. f5 gxf5 23. gxf5 Nh7?! (23... Qxf5 { was an interesting Exchange sac: } 24. Nc7 Qg6 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Rf1 Ne6 $44 { when Black's pieces sure look awesome! }) 24. Rf1 (24. Be4! { could stubbornly hang on to the extra pawn, when it's hard to see what compensation Black can claim. }) 24... Nf6 25. Bf3? { White's last two moves are inconsistent, as she has weakened both her f- and h- pawns without even blockading the ... e5-e4 threat, which Lee now executes at the right time. } (25. Kh1 e4 26. Bxe4 Nxe4 27. dxe4 f6 { although White has the flashy } 28. Nc3! { and has to be considered slightly better. }) 25... e4 26. Bxe4 Nxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. dxe4 Re8 { Black has gained excellent pressure on White's center in exchange for a single pawn. } 29. Qg2 (29. f6?? Qxh3 $19 { is of course a problem, with ... d4-d3 as a discovered check deciding the game. }) 29... f6 30. Kh1 Qe7 31. Rf4 Rd8 32. Bc1 Ne5 33. Rf1 Nd3 34. Bd2 b6 35. Qf3?! { why give Black a good move with tempo? } (35. Rd1 Ne5 36. Bf4 { is a half-step faster. }) 35... Ne5 36. Qg3 a4! { Time was of the essence. Lee makes use of the "free" turn forced by 36. Qg3 to undermine White's queenside and secure an advantage. } 37. Bh6 axb3 38. Rg1 g5! { That's nice defense! } 39. fxg6 d3 40. Rd1 Nxc4 41. Nc3 b2 42. Qf3 Ne5 { White has no attack, and resigns shortly. } 43. Qg2 Qe6 44. Nd5 Rxd5 45. exd5 Qf5 46. d6 Nf3 47. d7 Be7 48. Qg4 Qd5 49. Qg2 Qf5 50. g7 d2 51. Qg3 Bd8 52. Qg4 Qd5 53. Qg2 b1=Q { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1