[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Sevian, Samuel"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2699"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2698"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Davis Zong Jr."] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "3rk3/4b1p1/pR2P3/3p2qp/8/6P1/2Q2BKP/8 b - - 0 34"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/aJQ3AUir"] [Orientation "white"] { After an incredibly sharp French, we have a dynamically balanced position with both kings highly unsafe. White's e6-pawn looks like a huge asset, but it is blockaded well by the defensive e7-bishop. } 34... Qg4 (34... Rc8) 35. Qc6+!? { This move itself is not a blunder, but it veers towards dangerous territory, as White's king is now only guarded by the bishop and two pawns. } (35. Rxa6! { was the safest option, settling for a drawn rook + bishop endgame. However, Robson likely wanted to play for the win } 35... Qe4+ 36. Qxe4 dxe4) 35... Kf8 36. Rb7?! (36. Qc2! { It still wasn't too late to return, but a move like this is so hard to play once you've committed already. } 36... Kg8 37. Rxa6) 36... h4! 37. h3 Qe4+ 38. Kg1 hxg3 $17 { All of sudden, White's king is the exposed one! } 39. Bxg3 Qe3+ 40. Bf2 Qg5+ 41. Kf1 Qf5 42. Kg2?? { A natural-looking unpinning move is the last move one would expect to be a blunder, but this one tiny slip decides the game. } (42. h4! { This move becomes apparant once you see the game response to White's 42nd move. } 42... a5 43. Kg2 { With the g5-square controlled, black has no ...Kf8-g8, so the king is stuck in the center. } 43... Qg4+ 44. Kf1) 42... Kg8! { Since the bishop is tactically protected by ...Qf5-g5+, Black's king reaches safety, and his passed d-pawn will decide the game. } 43. Qxa6 (43. Rxe7 Qg5+ 44. Kh2 Qxe7 $19) 43... Qe4+ 44. Kg1 Rc8 45. Qf1 Qg6+ (45... Bd6! { The e6-pawn is going nowhere, so it was more accurate to keep the commanding queen position for one more move. }) 46. Kh1 Qxe6 47. Rb1? (47. Qd3! { would have yielded serious drawing chances because White's pieces get active. } 47... Bf6 $17) 47... Rc3 $19 { The h3-pawn will fall and Sevian is able to convert the two extra pawns. } 0-1