[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.10"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2667"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2742"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B40"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/WmEKv9Xy"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. e5 d4 5. d3 Ne7 6. g3 dxc3 7. bxc3 Bd7 8. Bg2 Bb5 9. c4 Bc6 10. O-O Nf5 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Qe2 h5 { According to the engine, this may be the first step in the wrong direction. Black's attack on the kingside may have more potential when we develop the queenside pieces first. } (12... Qc7!? 13. Nc3 (13. Nbd2 h5!? 14. Rab1 Nd7) 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nc6) 13. Nbd2 h4 14. Ne4 hxg3 15. fxg3!? { An unusual but strong way of recapturing the pawn. Niemann goes against the rules of capturing towards the center because he wishes to open up the f-file for his rook. } 15... Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Nc6 17. g4! { A very strong move immediately challenging the black knight. } 17... Nfd4? (17... Nh4! { A better move because it does not change the pawn structure in the center which will benefit White. } 18. Nxh4 Bxh4 19. Rad1 Bg5 { And White also has to be careful of breaking in in the center prematurely. White's pawns are weakened and potentially are bad for an endgame. Additionally, the black king may appear actually safer than white's because of all the open files and diagonals around him. }) 18. Bxd4! cxd4 19. Rab1 $16 Qc7 20. g5 g6 21. h4 Bb4 22. Nh2 O-O-O 23. Rb3 Bd2 24. Rfb1 $18 { Very good technique by Niemann. He kept on developing his pieces and preventing Black from any obtaining any counterplay. } 24... Be3+ 25. Kf1! (25. Kh1? { Going under the h-rook may bring nothing but trouble for the king. }) 25... b6! { It is crazy that the best move in the position is to leave the c6-knight up for grabs. On the other hand, Black will get a few pawns and may fight for compensation. } 26. Qxc6 Qxc6 27. Bxc6 Rxh4 { According to the engine, this position is dead lost. However, in practical chess, Black certainly has opportunities to complicate things. } 28. Nf3 Rg4 29. Re1 Rh8 30. Rxe3 dxe3 31. Ke2 Rh3 32. Be4 Rg2+ 33. Kxe3 Rxg5 34. Kf2 Rg4 35. Ra3 Kb8 36. Ra6 g5 37. Nd4 Rf4+ 38. Ke2 Rh2+ 39. Ke3 Rh3+ 40. Kd2 Rh2+ 41. Kc3 Rxe4 42. dxe4 g4! { And here we go! Things did get complicated and Aronian is back in the game. } 43. Kd3 Rf2? (43... g3!! { An amazing chance for Aronian to fight for equality in this game. } 44. Ne2 (44. Ke3 Rb2! 45. Nf3 (45. Kf3?? g2 46. Ne2 Rxe2 47. Kxe2 g1=Q $19) 45... g2) 44... g2 45. Ke3 Rh5! { A key move that is easily missed. Once Black manages to capture the e5-pawn and trade the e4-pawn, then the changes for a draw tremendously increase. } 46. Kf2 Rxe5 47. Ng3 f5 48. exf5 exf5 49. Kxg2 Kb7) 44. Ke3! { White's pieces will now untangle and find cooperation. This position is no longer possible for Black to save. } 44... Rf1 45. Ke2 Rf4 46. Ra3 Rxe4+ 47. Kd3 Re1 48. Ne2 $18 Kb7 49. Kd2 Ra1 50. Nc1 Rb1 51. Rg3 Rb2+ 52. Kc3 Rf2 53. Rxg4 a5 54. a4 Rf1 55. Nd3 Ra1 56. Rf4 Ra3+ 57. Kd4 Rxa4 58. Rxf7+ Kc8 59. Nf4 b5 60. Nxe6 Rxc4+ 61. Kd5 a4 62. Ra7 Rc1 63. Nd4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0