[Event "ch-USA 2022"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2022.10.06"] [Round "2.6"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2563"] [Annotator "Rizzitano, James"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C42"] [Opening "Russian Game: Classical Attack, Staunton Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/dfRDZs7P/QKWQmhGj"] [Orientation "white"] { [%evp 0,80,26,30,22,29,29,25,31,26,26,1,2,34,56,66,55,57,44,56,48,17,42,22,27, 2,0,0,25,-6,35,48,55,49,48,50,48,55,52,52,67,26,41,40,53,72,70,70,146,70,70,50, 67,65,51,-37,101,62,78,-52,77,59,36,67,140,120,61,-142,0,0,0,-36,-35,-35,-35, -35,0,-28,0,0,0,0,57] } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 { This is the Marshall Variation of the Petroff - another solid opening idea of Frank James Marshall, U.S.Champion from 1909 -1936. One of his famous quotes is "The hardest thing in chess is to win a won game." } 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qd7 { [#] } 11. c5 (11. Nc3 { is White's most popular choice - play continues with } 11... Nxc3 12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. bxc3 (13. Qxb7 { is a less popular alternative. }) 13... b6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qb5 Qd7! 16. a4 (16. Qxd5?? Bxh2+ { wins the queen. }) 16... Qxb5 17. axb5 a5 { with equal chances and a 33 move draw in Carlsen - Nepomniachtchi, WCh (4), Dubai 2021. }) 11... Bc7 12. Qc2!? (12. Nbd2 { is the usual move } 12... Be6! { a well-known tactical idea to prepare ...f5 to support the centralized knight on the e4-square. } 13. Nf1 { now in his 2020 book Playing the Petroff, GM Swapnil Dhopade recommends } 13... h6! 14. Ng3 Na6! { with the comment "Black is ready to play ...Rae8 followed by .. .f5, with good attacking chances on the kingside". The game continuation appears to be a novelty. }) 12... Na6 (12... Re8 { also looks reasonable for Black. }) 13. a3 Bg6 { Christopher retreats his bishop to open a path for ...f5 to support the centralized knight. } 14. Nc3 f5 15. Ne2 Bh5 16. Ng3 Bg6 17. Ne2 Bh5 18. Ng3 Bg6 19. b4!? { Wesley expands on the queenside and avoids a draw by three-fold repetition. } 19... Rae8 20. Bb2 (20. Rb1! { gives White a slight edge as the rook move accelerates White's play on the queenside. }) 20... Re6 21. Ne2 Qe7 (21... Qe8!? { may be a safer square for the queen. }) 22. Ne5 f4 23. Nxg6 (23. f3!? Bxe5 24. dxe5 Ng5 25. Nd4 { favors White. }) 23... Rxg6 24. f3 Qh4 25. Nc3! (25. fxe4?? f3 { gives Black a decisive attack. }) 25... Rh6 { [#] } 26. h3? (26. Nxe4! Qxh2+ 27. Kf1 dxe4 28. Bxe4 Bd8 29. d5 Bh4 30. Red1 { gives White a clear edge as his king can run to the queenside and Black is left with an offside knight on the a6-square. }) 26... Ng5 27. Qf2 Qh5 (27... Qxh3 28. gxh3 Nxh3+ 29. Kg2 Nxf2 30. Kxf2 Rh2+ 31. Kf1 Rxb2 32. Re7 Rb3 33. Rc1 { gives White adequate counterplay despite his two-pawn deficit. }) 28. b5 Nb8 29. a4 Bd8 30. Re2 Qf7 31. Kf1? (31. Qf1! { enables White to maintain the balance. }) 31... Nd7 32. a5 { [#] } 32... Nxh3! { The knight sacrifice gives Black a crushing attack. } 33. gxh3 Rxh3 34. Qg2 Qh5 35. Rf2 Rg3 36. Qh2 Rh3 37. Qg2 Re8 { After nearly half an hour, Yoo makes the critical, winning move. } 38. Ne2 Re3! { Black is winning, but time pressure was becoming a factor for both players. } 39. Ra3 Rh1+ 40. Ng1 Nf6? { [#] Letting So back into the game. Better was } (40... Bxa5! { (threatening mate on e1) } 41. Rxa5 Rxd3 42. Ke2 Re3+ 43. Kd2 Qf5 44. Qf1 cxb5 { gives Black a decisive advantage. }) 41. Bc1? (41. Bf5!! Rxg1+ (41... Qxf5 42. Qxh1 Qb1+ 43. Kg2 Qg6+ 44. Kf1 Qb1+ { is just a draw by repetition. }) 42. Kxg1 Qxf5 43. a6 { is fine for White as he has strong queenside counterplay. }) 41... Qh4 42. Bxe3 fxe3 43. Bxh7+ Qxh7 44. Rxe3 Bc7 (44... Qb1+ 45. Re1 Qd3+ 46. Rfe2 Nh5 { favors Black. }) 45. Re7? Qb1+ (45... Nh5 { also wins. }) 46. Re1 Qd3+ { [#] } 47. Rfe2 (47. Ree2 Nh5 48. Qxh1 Ng3+ 49. Kg2 Nxh1 50. Re8+ Kh7 51. Kxh1 Qxd4 { wins for Black. }) 47... Rh2 48. Qg5 Nh5 { and White resigned as there is no defense to the knight check on the g3-square. } 0-1