[Event "NY GM/IM President's Days Invitational"] [Date "2025.02.15"] [Round "6"] [White "Pagan, Jonathan"] [Black "Vertetics, Attila"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2092"] [BlackElo "2428"] [Annotator "Alex"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E16"] [Opening "Queen's Indian Defense: Yates Variation"] [StudyName "NYC Norms February 2025 RR"] [ChapterName "Pagan, Jonathan - Vertetics, Attila"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/Uaq5SkLD/l79fWex4"] [Orientation "white"] { The biggest rating upset in the event was the victory of Jonathan Pagan (2092 FIDE) over the Hungarian IM Attila Vertetics (2428). This upset was the driving force behind a major milestone in Pagan's chess career... reaching the NM title by securing a 2207 post-tournament US Chess rating! Hopefully the achievement of the newly minted 30 year old master brings motivation to any adult improvers reading this. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 d6 9. Rc1 h6 10. Re1 Qe7 11. Qc2 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qd1 Nbd7 { A typical Bogo/Queen's Indian battle unfolds as Black has traded off one of his bishops but finds harmonious perches for the rest of the pieces. } 14. Bh3 c5 15. b3 a4 16. b4 d5 { Tremendous tension in the center unfolds, which might be a nice opportunity for White to open up the dormant (but unopposed!) c3-bishop. } 17. bxc5 bxc5 18. dxc5 { [%cal Rc3h8] } 18... Qxc5 19. Bd4 Qa3 20. c5! Rfc8 (20... Qxa2 { is a dangerous pawn to grab as White dominates after } 21. c6 Nb8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Nd4 $16 { [%csl Rg8] }) 21. c6 Nb8 22. Qd2?! { This threatens to trap Black's queen with Bd4-c5, and it also eyes the kingside h6-pawn. But, it has a tactical flaw! } { [%cal Rd4c5,Rc5a3,Rd4f6,Rd2h6] } 22... Qe7? { This natural to defend against the threats, but it is too safe and passive! } (22... Bxf3! 23. exf3 (23. Bc5?? { traps the queen but... } 23... Ne4 $19 { [%cal Re4c5,Re4d2] }) 23... Nxc6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 { Perhaps some continuation with with Bd4xf6 like this worried Vertetics, but Black's king is fine. } 25. Qxh6? Nd4 { Now, this turns the table on White as Black is threatening some very annoying forks. }) 23. Ne5 Ra6 24. f3 Bh7 25. e4 (25. Qb2! { , as played later, was already very powerful: } { [%cal Rb2b7,Rd4h8] } 25... Nxc6 26. Qb5 $18 { [%cal Rb5a6] }) 25... dxe4 26. Bf1 Ra8 27. Qb2 Na6?? (27... exf3 $13 { would lead to chaos as } 28. Qb7?? { fails to } 28... Nxc6! $19) 28. Bxa6 Rxa6 29. Qb7! { With overwhelming threats. } { [%cal Rb7e7,Rb7c8,Rb7a6,Rb7f7] } 29... Qd8 30. Red1 Raa8 31. Qxf7+ Kh8 32. Qxe6 Bg8 33. Ng6+ Kh7 34. Qf5 Qd5 35. Be5 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0