[Event "2023 U.S. Chess Championship"] [Site "Saint Louis, United States"] [Date "2023.10.13"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [BlackElo "2711"] [Annotator "WGM Sabina Foisor"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Piano"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/6qsRBl8A"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a5 8. Re1 h6 9. Nbd2 a4 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 13. Ng3 Bb6 14. Nh4 d5 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. d4 { In this main line of the Giuocco Piano, Shankland misplayed his defenses and allowed Caruana to get his knight into f5 too soon. } 16... Nc6? (16... Rfd8) 17. Nh5 (17. Ngf5 { seems to have been a better option and it could have continued as follows } 17... Kh7 18. Nxg7! Kxg7 19. dxe5 Qxd1 20. exf6+ Kxf6 21. Rxd1 Rad8 22. Bf4 $16 { and White is simply a pawn up. }) 17... Qd8? (17... Qe6 { Sam could have stopped Nh4-f5, but possibly may have not realized its power. } 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Be3 (19. Bf4 { allows the cool } 19... Ra5! $15 { [%cal Ra5h5] }) 19... Rfd8 20. Bd4 Nxh5 21. Qxh5 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxe5 Rxh4 24. Rxe6 Rxh5 25. Re7 Rb5) 18. Nf5! Nxh5 19. Qxh5 Qf6 20. Re4! { Despite not being fully developed, White is ready to take advantage of Black's unprotected king. } 20... Qg6 (20... Rfd8 { allows the sacrifice } 21. Nxh6+ gxh6 22. Bxh6 Ne7 23. dxe5 Qe6 24. Bg5 $18) 21. Qf3 { and now the idea with Re4-g4 is unstoppable, so Sam decided to let the queen go and get some material in return. } 21... exd4 22. Nxh6+ gxh6 23. Rg4 Kh7 24. Rxg6 fxg6 { Now, White is up a queen for a rook and a knight, but if he doesn't find a way to bring his remaining bishop and rook into play, it is Black that seems to be ahead in the position. This is not easy to do. } 25. Qg4?! (25. Qd3 { is Stockfish's choice. The idea is to get on the c1-h6 diagonal and weaken Black's king in such a way that after the development of the bishop and rook will come. } 25... Rad8 26. Qd2 g5 27. cxd4 Nxd4 28. Qd3+ Kg7 29. Qc4 $18 { followed by Bc1-e3 and bringing the rook out and White is much better. }) 25... Rae8 26. cxd4? { This gives away the advantage as it allows Black's activity on the first rank and White will have to give back material to get out of the pin. } (26. Qh4 { was the last attempt to maintain the advantage. } 26... h5 27. Qg5 Ne5 28. cxd4 Bxd4 29. Be3 Bxe3 30. fxe3 Kg7 31. Rd1 $16) 26... Re1+ 27. Kh2 Rf5 28. Qh4 h5 29. Be3 Rxa1 { Now, White has to be okay with a draw. } 30. g4 Rf7 31. gxh5 gxh5 32. Qxh5+ Kg8 33. Qg6+ Rg7 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qe4+ Kg8 36. Qe6+ Kh7 37. Qe4+ Kg8 38. Qe6+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kg8 40. Qe6+ Kh7 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2