[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.08"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Shankland, Sam"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2698"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2753"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Davis Zong Jr."] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2023 U.S. Championships rds 1-9"] [ChapterName "Shankland, Sam - So, Wesley"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/dYEWKIMh"] [FEN "r4k1r/1p6/1npb1pp1/p2p3p/3P3P/2NBPPP1/PP3K2/R6R b - - 0 17"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] 17... f5 { A seemingly peaceful endgame has arisen. Opposite-colored bishops are present, pawns are ready to be traded, and rooks are ready to be connected on both sides. What complications could possibly occur? } 18. e4 (18. Rag1 { was the other breakthrough idea, which leads to a likely liquidation and simple draw after: } 18... Be7 19. g4 hxg4 20. fxg4 Rxh4 21. gxf5 gxf5 22. Bxf5 Kf7 23. Rxh4 Bxh4+ 24. Ke2) 18... dxe4 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Be7 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 $13 { The engine thinks the position is drawn, but already it looks somewhat dangerous for Black due to the bishop-versus-knight with pawns on two sides. } 22... Na4 23. Bxg6 Kg7 24. Bc2 Rhf8+ 25. Kg2 Nxc5 26. Rhf1 Rxf1 27. Rxf1 Re8 28. Rf5 Re2+ 29. Rf2 Re7 30. Bd1 $14 { White enjoys a slight pull due to the dangerous passed pawns on the kingside and the better minor piece. } 30... Re5 31. Rd2 Kf6 32. Rd6+ Ke7 (32... Kg7! { It was essential to stop Rd6-h6, winning the h5-pawn. } 33. Kf3 Re7 34. Rd4 Re5 $14) 33. Rh6 Rd5 34. Rxh5?! (34. Bxh5! { This would hide the bishop into a safer spot so that it won't get trapped like in the game. } 34... Rd2+ 35. Kf3 Rxb2 36. Rh7+ Kd6 37. Bf7 $16 { This looks very dangerous for the second player. The passed g-pawn seems to have a clear path to promotion. }) 34... Rd2+! 35. Kh3 Nd3! { All of a sudden, White's bishop feels claustrophobic and the game is equal. } 36. Bb3 b5 37. Rh7+ Kd6 38. g4 c5 39. Rh6+ Ke5 40. Kg3 c4! { Strong counterplay by So has trapped the bishop. Shankland is able to bail out by winning several pawns for the piece, but the active black pieces guarantee the draw. } 41. Rh5+ Ke4 42. Rxb5 cxb3 43. axb3 Ne5 44. Rxa5 { Four pawns against a piece might work in some cases, but definitely not this one. } 44... Rd3+ 45. Kg2 Nxg4 46. Ra4+ Kf5 47. Rb4 Rd2+ 48. Kg3 Rd3+ 49. Kg2 Ne5 50. Rb5 Rd2+ 51. Kg3 Rxb2 52. h5 Rb1 53. Kg2 Kf4 54. Rb4+ Ke3 55. Rb8 Rb2+ 56. Kg3 Rb1 57. Kg2 Rb2+ 58. Kg3 Rb1 59. Kg2 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2