[Event "U.S. National Elementary School Championship 2024 K6"] [Site "Columbus, Ohio"] [Date "2024.04.28"] [Round "07"] [White "Khanbutaev, Artemiy"] [Black "Muneepeerakul, Analaya"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1984"] [BlackElo "1854"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D09"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/RWJ340a8/PksmTEuT"] [Orientation "white"] { With eight players entering the final round on 5/6 scores, and all eight being paired against each other, it seemed inevitable that we would have some co-champions. Instead, boards one through three all drew, while Black begun this game with a furious attack that came close to winning. But one imprecision allowed White to regain his footing, and Black quickly stumbled from there. Enjoy a fittingly epic conclusion to the K-6 Championship: } 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 1... d5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2. c4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2... e5 { The Albin Countergambit! This opening is not without its bite, even if it has a little bit less respect than its cousin the Budapest (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5). } { [%clk 1:30:00] } 3. dxe5 { [%clk 1:29:29] } 3... d4 { The point of the gambit is to expand in the center and cover the c3- and e3-squares, making White's development awkward. } { [%clk 1:30:00] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:11] } 4... Nc6 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 5. g3 { [%clk 1:27:17] } 5... Nge7 { The main move, typically associated with ... Ne7-g6 and piling on the e-pawn. } { [%clk 1:29:42] } 6. Nbd2 { [%clk 1:16:26] } (6. Bg2 Ng6 7. O-O Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. b3 $14 { is one of the main lines. White tries to show that Black's d4-pawn is over-extended, and enjoys two excellent bishops. }) 6... Be6!? { An unusual way of playing the opening. Typically, Black combines pressure on White's e5-pawn with quick kingside development to castle into safety. But, here, Black seems comfortable keeping the king in the center, and instead might be planning a ... Qd8-d7 and ... Be6-h3 battery against White's castling attempt. } { [%clk 1:28:31] } (6... Ng6 7. Nb3 { is perhaps what Black was concerned with: } 7... Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. Qxd4 { since White has kept the pawn. But Black has compensation: } 9... Bb4+! { is a key idea in lines where White does not play a2-a3, as now } 10. Bd2 (10. Kd1 { *is a massive concession: } 10... O-O $17) 10... Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Nxc4+ $10 { regains the pawn with a pleasant position. }) 7. Bg2 { [%clk 1:11:49] } 7... Nf5 { There's nothing wrong with this move in and of itself. But what is Black's plan? Usually, it involves corralling the e5-pawn with ... Ne7-g6. After ... Bc8-e6, it might involve ... Be6-h3. But now, what is it? Keep the d4-pawn and, well, Black is still pawn-down. It's understandable that White is spending so much time here, as that suggests that he is taking these questions seriously! } { [%clk 1:26:10] } (7... Qd7 8. O-O Ng6 9. Nb3 O-O-O { could make some sense, combining the the plan of ... Be6-h3 with an opportunity to defend the d-pawn an additional time. } 10. Bg5! (10. Bd2 { If White plays slow, however, then Black has chances: } 10... Bh3! 11. Rc1 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 h5 $40) (10. Re1 { is another idea White might try, as to meet } 10... Bh3 { with } 11. Bh1 { but } 11... h5 { should continue to apply some pressure. } 12. Bg5! $14 { Again, White's best bet is untangling and getting rid of the bad bishop. }) 10... Be7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qd3 $16 { does not give Black much compensation, however. }) 8. O-O { [%clk 1:04:00] } 8... Be7 { [%clk 1:24:12] } 9. a3! { When kids in the K-6 Championship play such moves — aiming to expand on the queenside and play the full board — I am always impressed by their positional acumen. } { [%clk 1:01:21] } 9... h5 { Now Black's plan is coming together. White might fear playing h2-h4 and giving Black a "hook" as to blast the kingside open with ... g7-g5. But this means the h-file can open for Black's rook. } { [%clk 1:22:44] } 10. Qc2 { [%clk 0:46:48] } 10... Qd7 { [%clk 1:19:33] } 11. b4 { [%clk 0:45:51] } 11... h4 { [%clk 1:18:24] } (11... d3!? { is worth consideration. Black sacs a second pawn, but } 12. exd3 Nfd4 { clears the h3-c8 diagonal for the bishop, restricts White's center, and dreams of Anastasia's Mate ideas with ... Nd4-e2+ and a rook sac on h2. } 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qd1! { Covering the e2-square is essential. } 14... h4 15. Nf3 hxg3 16. hxg3 Bg4 { and we have to admit White is under a bit of pressure, although } 17. Bb2 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Qh3 19. Re1 $16 { White escapes just in the nick of time. Black is not developed enough to break through. But this clearly would have required some precision and care from White. }) 12. g4? { This plays into Black's hands, counter-intuitively. } { [%clk 0:42:07] } (12. Rd1 hxg3 13. hxg3 $16 { and now what? This is a good time to bring up the famed "Shankland Rule" of GM Sam Shankland: if your opponent is clearly trying to execute a plan, the first question to ask is, "what if we let them do it anyways?" Here, Black's queen is so far from reaching the h-file, which is itself well covered on key squares such as h1 and h2. And if White really has to march the king to the queenside, there might even be time for that. }) 12... h3! { The tactics work out if White enters a series of trades, as in the game. Any retreat, such as } { [%clk 1:17:59] } (12... Nh6? { was indeed bad, as } 13. h3 $16 { is perfectly safe for White, while Black's pieces have been forced backwards. It's important to note this as to understand that 12. g4? was a mistake only for the concrete reasons beginning with 12. ... h3, and not because of any general positional or strategic considerations around lines like this, which are indeed very prophylactic and strong. }) 13. gxf5? { It was better to retreat with } { [%clk 0:41:48] } (13. Bh1 { , but now the g4-pawn is indeed vulnerable precisely because White cannot play h2-h3. Additionally, Black's knight need not even retreat: } 13... Nh4 14. Re1 Rd8 15. Bb2 Bxg4 $17) 13... hxg2 { [%clk 1:17:49] } 14. Rd1 { [%clk 0:41:11] } (14. Kxg2 Bxf5 $19 { is even worse, as White cannot both defend the queen and stop ... Bf5-h3+, although Black might be even better off eschewing the material grab. }) (14. fxe6 gxf1=Q+ { is the tactical point, although I'm not sure this is much worse for White than the game variation. } 15. Nxf1 Qxe6 16. Bf4 { Okay, White is down an Exchange, but the worst of Black's attack has subsided, White has an extra pawn for the Exchange and better pieces. With so many pawns on the board, maybe the rook won't even matter too much? } 16... O-O-O $17 { That said, two rooks and a half-open h-file make a nice team. }) 14... Bxf5 { [%clk 1:16:48] } 15. Qb2!? { [%clk 0:37:46] } (15. Qa4 { at least keeps the b2-square free for the bishop. }) 15... d3 { Black is now in control, and continues opening the center to activate more pieces. } { [%clk 1:08:06] } (15... O-O-O! { Why not over-protect the d-pawn while activating the final piece? It's not like White is in a position to stop ... d4-d3, and the threat is often stronger than the execution. }) 16. Nb3? { White overlooks a tactical threat } { [%clk 0:33:08] } (16. exd3 Qxd3 { makes it difficult to even suggest a move for White, but the engine actually likes } 17. Re1 O-O-O 18. Re3 { with White's pieces taking the first steps to untangling. } 18... Qd7 19. Qc3 g5! $17 { We still have to like Black, though. }) 16... Be4 { Black now threatens ... Qd7-h3 and ... Be4xf3. } { [%clk 1:05:54] } 17. Nbd4 { [%clk 0:25:59] } (17. b5 Qh3! 18. Rxd3! (18. Bf4 { saves mate, but only at the risk of great material loss. } 18... dxe2 19. Qxe2 Bxf3 $19) 18... Bxf3?? { would be a grave error, as now } (18... Bxd3 19. bxc6 Be4 20. Bf4 Bxf3 21. exf3 Qxf3 22. Bg3 Qxc6 23. Nd4 { probably does not give White compensation for the exchange. } 23... Qe4 $17 { But it's still a game. }) 19. Bf4 $16 { and White regains the bishop. }) 17... Qh3 { [%clk 1:01:29] } (17... Qg4 { was also strong. The point is to combine pressure on the f3-knight with indirect pressure on the e2-square and a plan of ... Qg4-h4 to attack the h2-square without allowing Bc1-f4! } 18. Nxc6 (18. Rxd3 { is again best, but } 18... Bxd3 19. exd3 Nxd4 { wins, since White cannot recapture with the knight. } 20. Qxd4 Qxf3 $19 { and Black is up a rook for a pawn. }) 18... Bxf3 19. exf3 Qh4!) 18. Bf4 { The most sensible defense. White is down to 24 minutes, while Black has over an hour. This would be a good time for Black to "tank" and spend some time figuring out how to continue. On the one hand, there is a lot to calculate with both ... d3xe2 and ... Be4xf3, as well as ... Nc6xd4. Maybe there's a knockout blow here. But, on the other hand, can we get the a8-rook into the game? Does White have any threats, such as e2xd3, if Black slows down? By asking this second set of questions, Black might appreciate that there is no need to go into forcing lines. } { [%clk 0:24:22] } 18... dxe2?? { [%clk 1:00:14] } (18... O-O-O { is best. } 19. Nxc6 (19. Rxd3 { is again an idea, but } 19... Bxd3 20. Nxc6 bxc6 { leaves Black up a rook, making the weakened king position less relevant. } 21. b5 c5 $19 { Black can even borrow White's earlier "push-past" idea! }) 19... Bxc6 { does not ease up Black's attack. The threat of ... Bc6xf3 is real, the d-pawn is untouchable, and even } 20. Qb3 Bxf3 21. Rxd3 { fails } 21... Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Bg4 $19) (18... g5 { If Black really wanted to attack, I like this idea of disrupting the pieces while keeping the threat of capturing on e2. } 19. Bg3 g4 20. Nxc6 (20. Rxd3 Bxd3 21. exd3 gxf3 $19) 20... Bxc6 $17 { is good, but so is the flashier: } (20... gxf3 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. exf3 Rag8 { is a twisted touch. } 23. fxe4? { gets mated } (23. Bf4 { would be forced, although } 23... Qxf3 $17 { keeps the initiative. }) 23... Rxg3 24. fxg3 Qxh2+ 25. Kf2 g1=Q+)) 19. Qxe2 { Of course, keeping the f3-knight guarded. } { [%clk 0:24:10] } 19... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:55:58] } 20. Nxf3 { Materially, the position is equal. But Black has lost two useful attackers, and now ideas of e5-e6 could expose Black's king, who might not find much safety on the queenside anymore either. } { [%clk 0:23:45] } 20... g5 { [%clk 0:54:55] } 21. b5 { [%clk 0:12:56] } (21. Bg3 { is also fine: } 21... g4 22. Nd4 Bh4 23. Bf4 Bg5 $10) 21... Nd8 { [%clk 0:51:40] } 22. Bg3 { [%clk 0:12:32] } 22... Ne6 { [%clk 0:41:28] } 23. Nd4 { [%clk 0:10:41] } 23... Rh6 { [%clk 0:31:39] } (23... Nf4 { is well-met by } 24. Bxf4 gxf4 25. Nf3 { and White regroups just in time to cover the h2-square. } 25... Kf8 26. Qe4 Kg7 27. Qxf4 $16 { is White's plan. }) 24. Qf3 { [%clk 0:08:38] } 24... O-O-O?? { White's pieces finally make sense, which means Black had to be far more alert for tactics now than a few turns ago. } { [%clk 0:24:42] } (24... Nxd4 25. Rxd4 { Not } (25. Qxb7?? Ne2#) 25... c6 26. bxc6 Rxc6 { was an idea. } 27. Rb1 $16 { and Black's king is quickly becoming weaker than White's, however! }) 25. Nf5! { Winning material on the spot. } { [%clk 0:08:12] } 25... Bc5 { [%clk 0:20:58] } 26. Nxh6 { [%clk 0:08:05] } 26... Qxh6 { [%clk 0:20:40] } 27. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:07:51] } 27... Nxd8 { [%clk 0:19:29] } 28. Rd1 { [%clk 0:07:40] } 28... Qe6 { [%clk 0:17:57] } 29. Qd3 $18 { White is up an Exchange, but also Black's remaining pieces are disjointed and the kingside pawns are weak. With a queen trade, this is a straightforward win. } { [%clk 0:06:35] } 29... Qe7 { [%clk 0:17:11] } 30. a4 { [%clk 0:06:35] } 30... Ne6 { [%clk 0:16:10] } 31. Qe4 { [%clk 0:05:58] } 31... Qf8 { [%clk 0:14:52] } 32. a5 { But, without a queen trade, the queenside expansion proves decisive. } { [%clk 0:05:36] } 32... Nd8 { [%clk 0:12:55] } 33. a6 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 33... c6 { [%clk 0:12:23] } 34. axb7+ { [%clk 0:04:59] } 34... Nxb7 { [%clk 0:10:53] } 35. Qxc6+ { [%clk 0:04:59] } 35... Kb8 { [%clk 0:10:45] } 36. e6+ { [%clk 0:04:58] } 36... Ka8 { [%clk 0:10:23] } 37. Rd7 { Black resigns, and we have an outright K-6 champion! } { [%clk 0:04:30] } 1-0