[Event "NY GM/IM President's Days Invitational"] [Date "2025.02.13"] [Round "2"] [White "Lin, Bryan Enming"] [Black "Barbosa, Oliver"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2290"] [BlackElo "2433"] [Annotator "Alex"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B40"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: French Variation"] [StudyName "NYC Norms February 2025 RR"] [ChapterName "Lin, Bryan Enming - Barbosa, Oliver"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/Uaq5SkLD/0ojPH1RJ"] [Orientation "white"] { FM Bryan Lin was the sensation of the Invitational as he scored his first IM norm with an imposing 7/9 score. At only 13 years old, I am sure he is one of the future stars of American chess. With a 2400 rating he is the #1 player for his age in the country. What's even more impressive is he has only played his first OTB event less than 3.5 years ago. His 7/9 finished was bolstered by a strong 3-0 start including the following round 2 victory over the very solid GM Oliver Barbosa. } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 { Lin is fond of this Anti-Sicilian variation. In fact he used this line in the last round to score a win to clinch his norm as well. } 3... Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Qe2 e5 6. O-O Be7 7. c3 O-O 8. Na3 Re8 9. d3 d6 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Nc2 { By playing the more "modest" 3. g3 instead of 3. d4, White has given Black an opportunity to gain some control of the center (such as Black's c- and e-pawns). However, now White has a plan of playing for the light squares around Black's dark-squared pawn mass. What's instructive in the upcoming middlegame is how efficiently Lin carries out his plans. } 11... h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Ne3 { [%csl Rd5] } 13... g6 14. Nd2 Bg7 15. f4! { Suddenly White's passive looking setup is uncoiling into a dangerous initiative on the kingside, much like many King's Indian Attacks. } { [%cal Rf4f5] } 15... exf4 16. gxf4 b5 17. Qf2 Bd7 18. e5! { A thematic but brilliant concept. Lin wants to push through with f4-f5, but he first sacrifices a pawn to activate his pieces while stymying Black. } (18. f5? Ne5! { This variation helps us appreciate 18. e5! as Black's extra pawn would block this important resource: the e5-knight is extremely strong in both offense and defense! } 19. d4 { doesn't help after } 19... cxd4 20. cxd4 Nd3 { with lots of threats as White's game is on the verge of collapse! } { [%cal Rd3f2,Rg7d4,Rd3b2] }) 18... dxe5 19. f5! { [%cal Rg2a8,Gd2e4,Rf2f7] } 19... e4? { Barbosa tries to take a page from Lin's strategy by sacrificing a pawn back to activate his pieces, but unfortunately White's activity will be overwhelming. } 20. Nxe4 Re5 21. fxg6 f5 22. Nxc5! { A nice tactical shot. Black's position is just too full of weak pawns and weak squares. } 22... Rxc5 23. d4 { [%csl Rc5] } 23... Rc4 24. Nxf5 { The g8-king will not survive the attack. White isn't even down material! } { [%csl Rg8] } 24... Qf8 25. Nxg7 Qxg7 26. Qf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxf7 Be8 28. Rc7 Rd8 29. Re1 Bd7 30. Bd5+ Kg7 31. Bxc4 bxc4 32. Re6 Nb8 33. Rd6 Kf8 34. Rxa7 Ke7 35. Rb6 Rf8 36. g7 Rg8 37. Kf2 h5 38. h4 Rd8 39. b3 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0