[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.08"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2372"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2350"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Davis Zong Jr."] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C45"] [Opening "Scotch Game: Mieses Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/wb72HKgw"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 { With such an imbalanced pawn structure on as early as move seven and queens blocking kingside bishops, it is no surprise that the Mieses Scotch leads to very unique positions. } 8. h4 { This "Alpha Zero" -esque pawn push has become really popular lately as a less committal option for White. } 8... a5 9. c4 Nb6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. b3 O-O-O 12. Rh3 f6 13. exf6 Qf7 14. Bb2 Re8 15. Re3 Bc5 16. Re4 (16. fxg7!? { A messy series of captures that settles down to triple zeroes. It's daunting to play this in game though because one tiny miscalculation could lose immediately. } 16... Bxe3 17. gxh8=Q Bxf2+ 18. Kd2 Rxh8 19. Ne4 Rf8 20. g3) 16... Rxe4 17. Nxe4 Bb4+! $15 18. Kd1 gxf6 19. Qf3 Rf8 (19... d5! { With the safer king, Black should rip open the central cover to attack. } 20. a3 (20. Qxf6 Rf8! 21. Qxf7 Rxf7 $17) 20... Be7 $15) 20. Kc2 d5 21. cxd5 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 cxd5 23. Qf5+ Kb7 24. Ng3 Qe7 25. Qd3 f5 26. f4 Rg8 (26... a4! { An uncomfortable breakthrough for White. Taking and not taking this pawn both expose weaknesses. } 27. Kb1 Qe6 $15) 27. Kb1 Qxh4 28. Nxf5 Qh2 29. g3 a4 30. a3 Bf8 31. bxa4 Qg2 32. Rd1 (32. Re1! { White should play for the win here because either the rook gets in or the king gets safe. } 32... Nxa4 (32... Bc5 33. a5 Nc4 34. Re2 Qh1+ 35. Ka2 $16) 33. Qb5+ Nb6 34. Re8 { with Nf5-d4 to follow. }) 32... Nxa4 33. Qxd5+ Qxd5 34. Rxd5 Bxa3 35. Ba1 Nb6 36. Rd2 Bb4 37. Rh2 Be1 38. Rh3 Nc4 39. Ng7 Ne3 40. Bd4 h6 41. f5 c5 42. Bxe3 Rxg7 43. Bf4 Rh7 44. Kc2 c4 45. Kd1 Bf2 46. Rh2 Bd4 47. Rxh6 Rxh6 48. Bxh6 Kc6 49. g4 Kd5 50. Kc2 Ke4 51. Bd2 Kf3 52. Bc3 Kxg4 53. Bxd4 Kxf5 54. Kc3 Ke4 55. Kxc4 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2