[Event "2023 U.S. Senior Chess Championship"] [Site "Saint Louis, United States"] [Date "2023.07.21"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Khachiyan, Melikset"] [Black "Root, Douglas"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2403"] [BlackElo "2469"] [Annotator "FM Alex King"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "5k2/p2r1p2/2p3p1/7p/2K5/1P1R2PP/P4P2/8 b - - 0 41"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ZBuAQUT7/3BWKs0NU"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by FM Alex King } 41... Rxd3? $18 { In a pawn endgame, king activity can be a decisive factor even if material is equal. } (41... Re7! $13 { But in a rook endgame, rook activity can cover a multitude of faults. }) 42. Kxd3 Ke7 43. Kd4 Kd6 44. b4! { Securing the c5-square as an entry point for White's king. } 44... Ke6 45. Kc5 Kd7 46. f3 Kc7 47. g4 h4 { Suggesting Black's intention to make a run for the kingside and try to queen this pawn. } (47... hxg4 48. hxg4 g5 { is no better: } 49. b5 cxb5 50. Kxb5 Kb7 { But here White has to find some accurate moves: } 51. a3! a6+ 52. Kc5! Kc7 53. Kd5! Kd7 54. a4! f6 55. Kc5 Kc7 56. a5! $18 { Mutual zugzwang. }) 48. g5 Kd7 49. a3 Kc7 50. a4 Kd7 51. b5 cxb5 52. Kxb5 Ke6 { Black burns his bridges, but the alternative was also losing. } (52... Kc7 { would let White break through on the kingside: } 53. a5 Kb7 54. f4 Kc7 55. Kc5 a6 56. Kd5 Kd7 57. Ke5 Ke7 58. f5 gxf5 59. Kxf5 Ke8 60. Kg4 $18) 53. Ka6 Kf5 54. Kxa7 Kf4 55. a5 Kg3 56. a6 Kxh3 57. Kb6 Kg2 58. a7 h3 59. a8=Q h2 { Without the additional f- and g-pawns for both sides, this would be a draw, but here Black is not able to stalemate himself. } 60. f4+ Kg1 61. Qa1+ Kg2 62. Qb2+ Kg3 63. Qc1 Kg2 64. Qd2+ Kg1 65. Qe1+ Kg2 66. Qe2+ Kg1 67. Qg4+ Kh1 68. Kc5 { Not stalemate. } 68... f5 69. gxf6 g5 70. Qf3+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0