[Event "Spring Chess Classic Armageddon"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.04.13"] [Round "10"] [White "Swiercz, Dariusz"] [Black "Quesada Perez, Yasser"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2657"] [BlackElo "2498"] [Annotator "Gledura,Benjamin"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2023 Spring Classic"] [ChapterName "Swiercz, Dariusz - Quesada Perez, Yasser"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/c11NJVjr/gW8eY0T7"] [FEN "1r1q1rk1/3nbppb/2p1pn1p/1p6/pP1pPP2/P1NP2P1/1BPNQ1BP/R4R1K w - - 0 16"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { [#] } 16. Nd1 { This sharp position occurred in the first game of the Armageddon section. Dariusz must have been pleased to see this complexity on the board considering that he had to win. } 16... c5 17. Nf3 (17. bxc5 { The immediate exchange of the pawns would have given White a long-term advantage, as the d4-pawn would have remained a weakness for the rest of the game. } 17... Bxc5 18. Nf3 Qb6 19. Nf2 $14 { With a plan of g2-g4! }) 17... cxb4! 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. Nxd4 { The pawn structure shifted in Black's favor. Now Black has a quite dangerous protected passed pawn. However, the position remains very complex as White has attacking chances on the kingside. } 19... Qc7 20. e5 { This may not be the best move according to the engine but it gives White an opportunity to develop an attack against Black's king. } 20... Nd5 21. Bxd5! { White gives up the bishop pair to get the pawn majority on the kingside. } 21... exd5 22. Ne3 a3! { A great move by Yasser. This move might have been missed by White, but the game is just getting started! } 23. Rxa3! Bxa3 24. Bxa3 b4 25. Bb2 { Black's an exchange up but it is a rather unpleasant position to play considering that you only need a draw. The White knights and bishop are very well placed in the center. The d5-pawn is under pressure with e5-e6 and f4-f5 pawn breakthroughs always in the air. Black has to be careful! } 25... Ra8 (25... b3!? { This makes Black's position easier to play, as it opens the b-file. } 26. cxb3 Nc5 $132) 26. Ndf5! { White grabs the momentum and targets the kingside. } 26... Bxf5 27. Nxf5 { [#] It is a hard position to defend with Black. White is threatening with e5-e6 and Qe2-g4, and both look scary. The clock is ticking and there's no increment ... What do you do? } 27... Ra2? (27... Kh7! { The only move to save the game. } 28. Qg4 Rg8! { The only way to protect the g7-pawn. The game is obviously not over, but Black seems to get away. } (28... g6? 29. Nxh6 Kxh6 30. f5 $18 (30. e6 $18)) 29. Nxh6 gxh6 30. Qf5+ Rg6 31. Qxf7+ Rg7 32. Qxd5 $13 { The result remains undecided. }) 28. Qg4! g6 { It feels like White has to be doing well, but it is not easy to figure out what the best move is. } 29. Ne7+? { Dariusz misses his chance to win. } (29. Nxh6+ Kh7 30. f5! { This attack would have most likely led White to win the game. } 30... Rxb2 31. Nxf7! Nxe5 32. Qh4+ Kg7 (32... Kg8 33. Qh8+ Kxf7 34. Qh7+) 33. f6+ Kxf7 34. Qh7+ Ke8 35. Qxc7 $18) 29... Kh7 30. f5 Nxe5! { Perhaps this move was undervalued by White. } 31. Bxe5 Qxe7! (31... Qxe5? 32. fxg6+ Kh8 33. Qh4! $18) 32. fxg6+ fxg6 33. Rxf8 Qxf8 34. Qd7+ Kg8 35. Qxd5+ { It appears that White has a good attack, but the black queen grants enough defense for Black to survive. } 35... Qf7 36. Qd8+ Qf8 37. Qd5+ Qf7 38. Qd8+ Qf8 39. Qd5+ Qf7 { The game ended in a draw, but that gave Quesada his desired result. } 1/2-1/2