[Event "Grand Prix All Levels Arena"] [Site "https://lichess.org/NViQN8RE"] [Date "2023.06.14"] [White "FciWally"] [Black "ALNC"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2215"] [BlackElo "1831"] [TimeControl "300+1"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C44"] [Opening "Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, London Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/sANdeEP2007"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/SInQdIlX/OnXYHrg8"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bb4+!? { Not a very common move amongst GMs, but the computer likes it, and Black keeps the pawn } 5. c3 dxc3 6. O-O! { When you sacrifice for development, you should be ready to sacrifice even more, and Wally does just that } 6... Nf6 7. e5 d5! { This is a common way to combat the e5-push, and here it's the only way for Black to stay in the game } 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qxd8+ Nxd8 10. fxg7 Rg8 { After all of the exchanges, we have reached an endgame where Black is at least fine and possibly better. } 11. Re1+ Be6 (11... Ne6 { was even stronger to secure the winning of the pawn on g7 }) 12. Nxc3 Nc6 (12... Rxg7 { Noah should take this when he has the chance. Next move, it might be defended. }) 13. Bh6 { Now the pawn becomes a pain to deal with } 13... O-O-O 14. a3 Be7 (14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rd6 { was also interesting with the idea of trying to win the g-pawn }) 15. Ne4 Bd5 16. Neg5? { This move looks strong with the idea of winning the h7 pawn, but this pawn isn't contributing to the immediate position, and now White's bishop is more or less trapped } 16... Bxf3 (16... Rd6!? 17. Rad1! { would save White for the time being } 17... Bxf3 18. Rxd6 Bxg5 19. Rxc6 Bxc6 20. Bxg5 Rxg7 { and Black is up a pawn }) 17. Nxf3 Bf6! { winning the pawn } 18. Rac1 Bxb2 19. Rxc4 Bxg7 { Now Black will be up a pawn in the endgame, and his 3-1 majority on the kingside gives him excellent winning chances } 20. Bf4 Rge8 (20... Rd3! { would have poked at the weaknesses and been winning }) 21. Rec1 (21. Rxe8 Rxe8 { was the best chance. One rook endgames are usually much easier to draw than two rook endgames for the defending side }) 21... Bb2 22. Rb1 Bxa3 { Now, up two pawns and with 3 connected passers it seems Black has secured the win } 23. h3 Bd6 24. Be3 a6 25. Ra4 Ne5 26. Nd2 Re7?? { Simply forgetting to check the opponent's resources. The crazy thing is that Black is still better even after this } 27. Bg5 Nc6? { Too passive, and likely a result of realizing the blunder. Now that Black is going to be down an exchange, he has to make sure his minor pieces are as strong as they can be } 28. Bxe7? { This is a very common mistake. Wally grabs the exchange, but he could've waited and forced Black to lose a tempo before taking. } (28. Ne4 Ree8 29. Bxd8 { and now we take }) 28... Bxe7 29. Nf3 Bf6 30. Rf4 Rd6 31. Re4 Nd4? { Now this is a bad time to force a trade. Less pieces on the board favors the rooks, because they can poke and prod at the black pawns much more easily } (31... b5! { Passed pawns should be pushed. Now that we are in an endgame there are no concerns for Black's king safety }) 32. Nxd4 Bxd4 33. Re8+ Kd7 34. Rf8 { Now without the knight to anchor the position, everything falls apart } 34... Ke7 35. Rc8 Kd7 36. Rf8 Ke7 37. Ra8!? { I don't know whether to call this a brilliant move because of the fighting spirit, or call it a mistake because it does lose the game, so I'll call it both. } 37... b5 { Now the 3 connected passers should decide the game } 38. Re1+ Kd7 39. Rc1 f6?! { The kingside shouldn't be moving here. Play on the side where you're stronger } (39... c5!) 40. Rh8 b4?? { Now there was no way to defend the h-pawn, but there definitely was a way to defend c7. This is a case of panic. Noah realized he made a mistake, but he forgot he was winning anyway } 41. Rxh7+ Ke6 42. Rhxc7 b3 43. Rb1 b2 44. Rc4 { Now it's still a draw because of the advanced passer } 44... Be5 45. f4 Bd4+ 46. Kh2 (46. Rxd4 Rxd4 47. Rxb2 Rxf4 48. Rb6+ Kf7 49. Rxa6 { is a well-known draw }) 46... Ba7?? { Forgetting that the bishop needs to defend the pawn at all times } (46... f5 { was holding a draw }) 47. Rxb2 f5 48. Re2+ Kd7 49. Ra4 Bb6 50. Re5 { and the rest is a matter of technique } 50... Rf6 51. Kg3 (51. Rxa6 Bg1+ 52. Kxg1 Rxa6 53. Rxf5 { was also winning }) 51... Kd6 52. Kh4 Kd7 53. Kg5 Rd6 54. Rxf5 a5 55. Rfxa5 Bxa5 56. Rxa5 Ke7 57. g4 Kf7 58. Rf5+ Kg7 59. Re5 Rd3 60. h4 Rd4 61. h5 Kh7 62. Re7+ Kg8 63. f5 Kf8 64. Re5 Kf7 65. f6 Rf4 66. Kxf4 Kxf6 67. Rf5+ Ke6 68. Kg5 Ke7 69. h6 Ke6 70. h7 Ke7 71. h8=Q Kd7 72. Qf6 Kc7 73. Re5 Kc8 74. Re7 Kb8 75. Qf8# { 1-0 White wins by checkmate. } 1-0