[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.15"] [Round "9.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2699"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/P53vEt3Z"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 h6 8. Be3 O-O!? { Robson is not worried about this damaged pawn structure, as it will allow him to attack on the queenside. } 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. Nd5 Be6 11. Ne3 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 Re8 { Black needs to defend the vulnerable e5-pawn. } (12... Qe7 { This move was played in a recent tournament: } 13. a5 Rfb8 14. Kh1 b5 15. axb6 cxb6 16. Ne3 b5 17. Nh4 g6 18. f4 $16 { and White converted his advantage in another 14 moves in Sindarov – Maritrosyan, Astana, 2023. }) 13. a5 { It is unclear what to think about this move. On one hand, it will help Black to restore his doubled pawns. On the other, it does not allow Black to have an open file and it allows White to think seriously about the weak d5-square. } 13... b5 14. axb6 cxb6 15. Ne3 b5 16. b3 a5 17. c4 Nb4 (17... b4!? 18. Nd5 $13) 18. Nd5 Nbxd5 19. cxd5 Nd7 20. Ra2 Ra7 21. Qd2 Qb6 22. Qc3 f6 { Black wishes to free up the rook from defending the weak e5-pawn. } 23. h4 Rea8 24. h5 a4 25. Nh4 b4 26. Qb2 c4! { A very nice positional sacrifice! Robson is giving up a pawn in exchange of an amazing square for his knight on d5. Furthermore, this knight will attack the e4-pawn and help the b-pawn to advance. } 27. dxc4 Nc5 $44 28. bxa4 b3 29. Ra3 Rxa4 30. Rxa4 Rxa4 31. Nf5? { A blunder by So. Black is winning now. } (31. Kh2 { According to the engine, this is the only move that keeps the position balanced. However, it is very difficult to understand what is going on here and how to continue. Both players need to be careful. White has to be especially careful about the b3-pawn being promoted, and Black about being checkmated with the knight on g6 and another helper. } 31... Rxc4 32. Ra1 Na4 (32... Rxe4?? 33. Ra8+ Kf7 34. Ng6 Nd7 35. Qc3 $18 { with unstoppable mating threats. }) 33. Ng6 Qb8 34. Qa3 Qb4 35. d6 Qxa3 36. Rxa3 Nc5! $13) 31... Rxc4? (31... Ra2! $19 { is again winning according to the engine. }) 32. d6! Kh7 33. Qe2 Rxe4 34. Qf3 Qb7 35. Rb1? { Another big blunder by So. } 35... Qd7? { Robson returns the favor. } (35... Rb4! 36. Qg3 Qf7 37. Qe3 Qxh5! 38. Qxc5 Qxf5 $19) 36. Ne7 Qg4 37. Qc3 Rc4 38. Qa5?? b2 (38... Qxh5!? 39. Qd8! Qf7 40. d7 Nxd7 41. Qxd7 Rd4 42. Qb7 b2 43. f3 (43. Rxb2?? Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Qh5+ 45. Kg3 Rd4!! $19) 43... Qc4 $13) 39. Qd2 Rd4? (39... Qxh5!! { And Black is winning now. } 40. d7 Rh4!! $19 { A very difficult trick to see here. Black is threatening checkmate and gains a winning advantage. }) 40. Qc2+ Qe4?? { In the last move before reaching the time control, Robson blunders. The position is forcibly hopeless for Black. } 41. Qxb2! Rxd6 42. Qb8 { Threatening checkmate on g8. } 42... Rd8 43. Qxd8 Qxb1+ 44. Kh2 Qb3 45. Qc8!! { The only move that wins in this position. } 45... Na4 (45... Nd3 46. Qf5+ Kh8 47. Ng6+ Kg8 48. Qc8+ Kf7 (48... Kh7 49. Qh8#) 49. Qd7+ Kg8 50. Qe8+) 46. Qf5+ Kh8 47. Qd7! { With this move, So is signaling that he wishes to transfer the knight to e6-square and attack the g7-pawn. Black has no defense against this plan. } 47... Nb2 48. Ng6+ Kh7 49. Nf8+ { 1-0 White wins. } (49... Kg8 50. Ne6!! $18) 1-0