[Event "USCF/WS/25VP11"] [Date "2025.11.10"] [White "Flaherty, Michael"] [Black "Martinez, Chris"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1800"] [BlackElo "1800"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C65"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation"] [StudyName "Check is in the Mail - June 2026"] [ChapterName "Game 6"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/a7fBsM03/Pg5GyYu2"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/jkfrench"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 Re8 { C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0-0 Bc5. } 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 { White is clearly better. } 10. Be3 Bb6 (10... Bxe3 $16 11. fxe3 Re6) 11. Nbd2 $18 Nd7 $146 { Variations and Predecessor: } (11... Bxe3 { might work better. } 12. fxe3 Qd7) (11... c5 12. Qc1 h6 13. Nh2 c6 14. Nc4 Qe7 15. Bf4 Rad8 16. Qe3 Qe6 17. Rfe1 g5 { 1-0 Gormally,D (2553)-Beardsworth,A (2160) UK-ch Blitz Leamington Spa 2022 (2) }) 12. Qe1 c5 (12... a5 13. Nh2 f6) 13. Nh2 Ba5 14. c3? (14. g4 $18) 14... Ne5 15. d4 (15. Bxc5 Nxd3 16. Qe3 Nxb2 $17) (15. g4 { simplifies } 15... Bg6 16. Qe2 Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Nxd3 18. Nc4) 15... cxd4 (15... Nd3 16. Qb1 cxd4 17. cxd4 Be2) 16. Bxd4 Nd3 17. Qe3 Nxb2 18. Qg3 Bg6 19. Nb3 Bb6 20. e5! Bxd4 21. cxd4 Nd3 (21... a5!) 22. Rad1? (22. f4! $18 Bf5 23. Ng4 Bxg4 24. Qxg4 (24. hxg4? Nb4 $18)) 22... Nb2! $14 23. Rd2 (23. Rc1! $16) 23... Nc4 { Inhibits f4. } 24. Re2 { f2-f4 should not be overlooked } 24... a5 { a5-a4 is the strong threat. } 25. Rc1 Qd5 26. Qf3 $132 { White puts up resistance } 26... Qxf3 27. Nxf3 b5 28. Kh2 a4 29. Nbd2 (29. Nc5) 29... Bd3 $15 30. Ree1 Rad8 31. Nxc4 Bxc4 32. a3 Re6 33. Re3! Kf8 34. Ng5 (34. Rec3 $15) 34... Re7 35. Rd1 (35. Nf3! $15) 35... h6 36. Nf3 c5 37. Re4 f6 (37... b4 38. Rc1 Bd5) 38. Nh4? (38. Rf4 Rf7 39. Ra1) 38... Ree8 $19 { Black is clearly winning. } 39. f3 (39. f4 Bd5 40. Re2) 39... g5 40. Nf5 fxe5 41. d5 Rxd5 42. Rxd5 Bxd5 43. Re3 b4 44. axb4 cxb4 45. Nd6 Rd8 { Weighted Error Value: White=0.59/Black=0.22 (precise) Loses game: White=1 Black=1 Missed win: White=1 --- Mistake: White=6 Black=5 OK: White=11 Black=12 Best: --- Black=4 Strong: White=2 Black=1 } 0-1