[Event "Round 4: Luger, Sam - Jacobson, Brandon"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/35th-annual-chicago-open/round-4/v4D4k1SD/scqbsirU"] [Date "2026.05.23"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Luger, Sam"] [Black "Jacobson, Brandon"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2201"] [WhiteFideId "30985773"] [BlackElo "2594"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "30901561"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B67"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation"] [StudyName "2026 Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up"] [ChapterName "Luger, Sam - Jacobson, Brandon"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/SNrtQXpx/RnR98six"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:18:19] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:16:07] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 1:17:47] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:15:59] } 3. Nf3 { [%clk 1:17:47] } 3... d6 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 4. d4 { [%clk 1:16:31] } 4... cxd4 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 5. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:16:31] } 5... Nf6 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 6. Bg5 { [%clk 1:16:31] } 6... e6 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 7. Qd2 { [%clk 1:15:46] } 7... a6 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 8. O-O-O { [%clk 1:15:46] } 8... Bd7 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 9. Nxc6 { [%clk 1:14:57] } 9... Bxc6 { [%clk 1:14:31] } 10. f3 { [%clk 1:14:57] } 10... Be7 { [%clk 1:14:28] } 11. Kb1 { [%clk 1:14:57] } 11... h6 { [%clk 1:14:21] } 12. Be3 { [%clk 1:12:31] } 12... Qc7 { [%clk 1:14:21] } (12... d5 { is the other try. }) 13. Ne2 { [%clk 1:04:09] } 13... O-O { [%clk 1:14:19] } 14. Nd4 { [%clk 1:02:51] } 14... Rfd8 { [%clk 1:14:19] } 15. c4 $146 { Judging by the clock, White has been on his own for a few moves, but this is the first new move of the game. And it makes a lot of sense, restricting Black's center while also attempting to ward off queenside play before attacking on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:44:19] } 15... Nd7 { [%clk 1:03:27] } 16. g4!? { [%clk 0:32:28] } (16. Rc1 { was a consistent way to follow up c2-c4 with slightly slower play. }) 16... Ne5 { [%clk 1:02:19] } (16... d5!? { With the h1-a8 diagonal weakened, this thrust is more justified. } 17. exd5 exd5 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bf4 $13 { Black's structure is flimsy on the queenside, but eventually the b-file could prove useful. }) 17. Qc2 { [%clk 0:31:20] } 17... Bd7 { [%clk 0:57:20] } 18. Rc1 { [%clk 0:24:29] } 18... Rdc8 { [%clk 0:39:47] } 19. Qb3!? { [%clk 0:20:37] } (19. Qg2! { Preparing f3-f4, h2-h4, and g4-g5 with a breakthrough. }) 19... Qa5 { [%clk 0:38:59] } 20. Be2 { [%clk 0:18:54] } 20... b5 { The queen is misplaced on the b3-square as it facilitates Black's thematic ... b7-b5 break. } { [%clk 0:29:33] } 21. cxb5 { [%clk 0:18:54] } 21... axb5 { [%clk 0:29:33] } 22. Rxc8+ { [%clk 0:17:12] } 22... Rxc8 { [%clk 0:29:33] } 23. Bxb5!? { [%clk 0:12:35] } 23... Bxb5?! { [%clk 0:29:33] } (23... Rb8 { was an improvement. After } 24. a4 Bxb5 25. axb5 (25. Nxb5?! Nxf3 $17) 25... Bf6 $15 { Black has the more coordinated army. }) 24. Qxb5 { [%clk 0:12:10] } 24... Qa8 { [%clk 0:29:33] } 25. Rc1 { [%clk 0:10:58] } 25... Rb8 { [%clk 0:29:33] } 26. Qe2 { White has won a pawn and is able to stave off most of Black's attempts at counterplay on the queenside as his pieces are just not ready to join the heavy pieces. } { [%clk 0:10:50] } 26... Bf6 { [%clk 0:29:23] } 27. Nb3 { [%clk 0:06:07] } 27... Qa4 { [%clk 0:29:03] } 28. Rc2 { Very precise prophylaxis! } { [%clk 0:03:37] } 28... Kh7 { [%clk 0:07:37] } (28... Ra8 29. Nc1 { was the point. } 29... Rb8 30. b3 $16) 29. Bd2 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 29... Qa7 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 30. Be3 { [%clk 0:03:13] } 30... Qa4 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 31. Bd2 { [%clk 0:03:13] } 31... Ra8 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 32. Nc1 { [%clk 0:03:12] } 32... Qa7 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 33. Be3 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 33... Qd7 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 34. f4 { With the queenside taken care of, White finally takes strides to expand on the kingside. } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 34... Ng6 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 35. Qd3 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 35... Qb7 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 36. Nb3 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 36... Kg8 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 37. Qxd6 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 37... Rd8?! { [%clk 0:00:23] } (37... Qxe4 38. Qc6 $16 { favored White, but Black had nothing better. }) 38. Qc6 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 38... Rd1+ { [%clk 0:00:23] } 39. Bc1 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 39... Qxc6 { [%clk 0:00:17] } (39... Qb4 { Yes, Black can decline the queen trade. But after } 40. e5 $18 { White is still the one attacking. And White has two connected outside passers! }) 40. Rxc6 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 40... Nxf4 { [%clk 0:00:17] } 41. a4 $18 { The outside passers will decide things. All Black can do is watch. } { [%clk 0:25:27] } (41. Kc2 Rf1 42. a4 { was similar. }) 41... Ne2 { [%clk 0:15:46] } 42. a5 { [%clk 0:23:28] } 42... Nxc1 { [%clk 0:12:40] } 43. Rxc1 { [%clk 0:19:51] } 43... Rd8 { [%clk 0:08:11] } 44. a6 { [%clk 0:14:08] } 44... Ra8 { [%clk 0:07:24] } 45. Rc6 { [%clk 0:13:52] } 45... Kf8 { [%clk 0:07:24] } 46. Na5 { [%clk 0:08:05] } 46... Be7 { [%clk 0:05:41] } 47. Nc4 { [%clk 0:04:22] } 47... Ke8 { [%clk 0:05:41] } 48. Kc2 { [%clk 0:03:45] } 48... Bb4 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 49. Kb3 { [%clk 0:03:20] } 49... Be1 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 50. Ka4 { [%clk 0:03:20] } 50... Rd8 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 51. a7 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 51... Ra8 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 52. Rc8+ { A cute simplification tactic to end the game. } { [%clk 0:02:17] } 1-0