[Event "2023 U.S. Chess Championship"] [Site "Saint Louis, United States"] [Date "2023.10.13"] [Round "8.5"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Niemann, Hans"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2689"] [BlackElo "2674"] [Annotator "WGM Sabina Foisor"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "r5k1/1bpqbppp/3pnn2/4p3/1PB1P3/3P1N1P/2NB1PP1/3QR1K1 b - - 0 18"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/ZMzDmFxX"] [Orientation "white"] { The players followed an Anti-Marshal line in the Ruy Lopez, but here Hans seems to have given Ray some ideas to fight for improvements. } 18... Qa4?! (18... Bc6 { or 18. ... Ba6 would be some interesting alternatives, attempting to trade the light-squared bishop prior to finding improvements for the knight and e7-bishop. }) (18... Ba6) 19. Qb1 Nd7 20. Bb3 Qb5 21. Bc4 Qa4 { It seemed that Hans would have been okay with a repetition in this position, but Ray decided to continue on as White's pieces are slightly better placed, while Black doesn't seem to have a plan. There isn't much to do on the a-file, and the b-pawn is surprisingly strong, restricting the c5-square that could have otherwise been utilized by one of Black's knights. } 22. Bb3 Qb5 23. Ne3! Bf8 24. Rc1 c6 { Black is planning for some ... d6-d5, but White was first attempting to trade his b-pawn after another repetition. } 25. Bc4 Qa4 26. Bb3 Qb5 27. Bc4 Qa4 28. b5 Ndc5 { White gives up the c5-square, but gains d5 and with it possibly the bishop pair. } 29. bxc6 Bxc6 30. Nd5 Qa7 31. Be3 Rb8 32. Qc2 Qa3 33. Qd1 Qb2 34. Rc2 { It is here that Hans blundered unexpectedly. It was heartbreaking to see this as he was also doing well on time, (he had 49 minutes to Ray's four). Unfortunately, I have experienced myself such blunders and I didn't dare to ask Hans what he missed, but we all have blind-spots... } 34... Qa3?? (34... Qb7 { would have continued the game and even if the engine does give a small advantage for White, it isn't easy to find a clear continuation given the symmetrical pawn structure. } 35. Qf1 Bxd5 36. Bxd5 Qb1 $14) 35. Ra2! Ba4 36. Qa1 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0