[Event "SoCal Championship"] [Site "LAX"] [Date "2026.05.22"] [Round "1"] [White "Arman Mikaelyan"] [Black "Andrey Baryshpolets"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2511"] [BlackElo "2556"] [TimeControl "40/90, SD/30, +30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B22"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation"] [StudyName "2026 Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up"] [ChapterName "Arman Mikaelyan - Andrey Baryshpolets"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/SNrtQXpx/9dlLIlGr"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. O-O d6 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Rd1 Na5 11. Bd3 Nb4 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Be4 f5 14. Bd3 Nxd3 15. Rxd3 (15. Qxd3 { is the "usual" in this admittedly rare position, and it's equal. }) 15... b6 16. Rd1 $146 (16. b4 { was tried in both of the previous games to reach this position, and even though Black canp lay } 16... Nc4 { the point is } 17. Rc3 b5 18. a4 { allows White some counterplay. But } 18... Bb7 19. axb5 Bxf3 20. gxf3! (20. Rxf3?! Qxd4 21. Nc3 (21. Qxe6+?! Kh8 22. Nc3 Rae8 $17 { gives Black too much pressure against White's still-weak back rank. }) 21... Bxb4 $15) 20... Nb6 21. Rc6 Qxd4 22. Nc3 Kh8 { might be best. White is still fighting for a small plus after } (22... Bxb4 23. Qxe6+ $16 { is better for White. }) 23. Be3 $14 { , however. }) 16... Bb7 17. Nc3 (17. b3 { was more prudent, with the point that } 17... Bf6? { is met by } 18. Ba3 $16) 17... Bf6 { Black has a lot of pressure against the d4-pawn. } 18. Ne5 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 { And now Black is pressuring White's king directly. } 20. f3 Rad8 21. Be3 a6 (21... Rd7 { would be even more direct. } { [%cal Gf8d8] }) 22. Rac1 Qd6 23. Qe1 Rfe8 { With the weakened white kingside, Black can play for ... e6-e5 to trade off weak pawns while maintaining an initiative. } 24. a3 b5 25. Kh1 Rc8 26. Bf2 e5 27. Bg3!? (27. dxe5 Qxe5 28. Qd2 Rcd8 29. Qc2 Qe6 { is slightly easier for Black to play due to the bishop pair, but White is probably okay. }) 27... f4 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. Bf2 Rc4 { Despite restricting the e5-bishop, Black's ... f5-f4 actually improves his position by further fixing White's kingside. } 31. Re1 Kf7 32. Rcd1 Bc6 33. Rd3 a5 (33... b4 34. axb4 Rxb4 35. Re2 a5 { was more direct. }) 34. h3?? { This misses a way to reduce pressure and also weakens the g3-square for the future. } (34. Rxe5! { The engine calmly suggests this saving resource. } 34... Rxe5 35. b3 { Material will be returned. } 35... Rcc5 36. h4 { Black's c5-rook is still out of squares, so White should first slow down Black's play on the kingside. } 36... h6 37. Bxc5 Rxc5 38. Ne2 g5 $10) 34... b4! 35. axb4 axb4 36. Nd1 Rc1 { The b-pawn is very weak! } (36... Bf6 { was another try: } 37. Rxe8 Bxe8 38. Kh2 Bb5 39. Rd2 Ba4 $19 { wins the b-pawn again. The trade of rooks clarifies Black's advantage more, too. }) 37. Kh2 (37. Rg1 g5 38. Be1 { It's hard to suggest a move for White! } 38... Bb5 39. Rd5 Bc4 40. Rc5 Bd4 $19) 37... Bf6 38. Rxe8 Kxe8 39. b3 Bb5 40. Rd6 Kf7 41. Bb6 (41. Rb6 Bf1 42. Rd6 Rc2 $19 { [%cal Gc2g2] }) 41... Bh4! { Now the power of Black's kingside pressure becomes clear. } 42. Bf2 Rxd1 43. Rxd1 Bxf2 { The bishops will overpower the rook here. } 44. Rd5 Bc6 45. Rd6 Be8 { White resigned. } 0-1