[Event "Round 3: Alcala Gonzalez, Cesar - Hardaway, Brewington"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/vRGqNmj9/Jll1Qwzt"] [Date "2024-08-25"] [Round "3.13"] [White "Alcala Gonzalez, Cesar"] [Black "Hardaway, Brewington"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2269"] [WhiteTitle "FM"] [WhiteFideId "24584878"] [BlackElo "2471"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [BlackFideId "30941849"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/broadcast/-/-/vRGqNmj9"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E32"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation"] [StudyName "Brewington Hardaway Third GM Norm"] [ChapterName "Alcala Gonzalez, Cesar - Hardaway, Brewington"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/f2XZ3ocd/vRNHaEKe"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 1:27:11] } 1... Nf6 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:30:50] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:27:36] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.11] [%clk 1:31:16] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:28:02] } 3... Bb4 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:31:42] } 4. Qc2 { [%eval 0.07] [%clk 1:28:27] } 4... O-O { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 1:32:02] } 5. e4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:28:37] } 5... d5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:32:13] } 6. e5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:29:00] } 6... Ne4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:32:38] } 7. Bd3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:29:26] } 7... c5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:33:04] } 8. Nf3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:29:50] } 8... cxd4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:33:28] } 9. Nxd4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:30:14] } 9... Nd7 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:33:48] } 10. Bf4 { [%eval 0.01] [%clk 1:30:39] } 10... Ndc5 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:34:12] } 11. O-O { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:30:37] } 11... Bxc3 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:34:31] } 12. bxc3 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 1:31:05] } 12... Bd7 { [%eval 0.14] [%clk 1:34:53] } 13. cxd5 { [%eval -0.11] [%clk 1:12:46] } 13... Ba4 { [%eval -0.08] [%clk 1:32:56] } 14. Nb3 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 1:06:12] } 14... Qxd5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:32:59] } 15. Rad1 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:58:13] } 15... Rfd8 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:58:28] } 16. c4 { [%eval 0.02] [%clk 0:56:09] } 16... Bxb3 { [%eval 0.23] [%clk 0:51:43] } 17. axb3 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:55:45] } 17... Qd4 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 0:52:03] } 18. Be3 { [%eval -0.06] [%clk 0:29:49] } 18... Qxe5 { [%eval -0.04] [%clk 0:52:28] } 19. Bxc5 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:30:11] } 19... Nxc5 { [%eval -0.07] [%clk 0:52:53] } 20. Bxh7+ { [%eval -0.06] [%clk 0:30:36] } 20... Kf8 { [%eval -0.05] [%clk 0:42:12] } 21. b4 { [%eval -0.11] [%clk 0:30:43] } 21... Na6 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:39:51] } 22. Qe4 { [%eval -0.19] [%clk 0:28:40] } 22... Qxe4 { [%eval -0.21] [%clk 0:36:42] } 23. Bxe4 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:29:08] } 23... Nxb4 { [%eval -0.25] [%clk 0:37:05] } 24. Bxb7 { [%eval -0.23] [%clk 0:28:03] } 24... Rxd1 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:37:04] } 25. Rxd1 { [%eval -0.21] [%clk 0:23:10] } 25... Rb8 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 0:37:23] } 26. Bf3 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:19:31] } 26... Rc8 { [%eval -0.21] [%clk 0:31:30] } 27. Be2 { [%eval -0.24] [%clk 0:18:12] } 27... Ke7 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:30:29] } 28. Ra1 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:16:42] } 28... Rc7 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:30:22] } 29. Ra4 { [%eval -0.06] [%clk 0:15:23] } 29... Nc2 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:29:55] } 30. f4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:01] } 30... Nd4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:30:09] } 31. Kf2 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:09] } 31... Nb3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:30:15] } 32. Ke3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:10] } 32... Nc5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:29:52] } 33. Ra3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:15] } 33... Kd6 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:29:27] } 34. Kd4 { [%eval -0.08] [%clk 0:04:29] } 34... Kc6 { [%eval -0.02] } { The play has been even up until here. Black's outside passed pawn on the queenside is not going anywhere anytime soon, but White is even further away from creating an outside passer on the h-file. Play is dynamically balanced. } { [%clk 0:21:32] } 35. Bf3+?! { [%eval -0.26] } { White begins to drift, giving up the grip on the d3-square first. } { [%clk 0:03:15] } (35. Ke3 { is more prudent, stepping off the d-file. If Black does nothing, White is fine. If Black pushes for the a-pawn, White is ready to cut the king off. } 35... Kb6 36. Ra2 a5 37. Rb2+ Kc6 (37... Ka6 $10 { also leads to Black's king being cut off. }) 38. Bf3+ Kd6 39. Rb6+ Ke7 40. Rb5 a4 41. Ra5 $10) 35... Kb6 { [%eval -0.39] [%clk 0:21:57] } 36. Kc3?! { [%eval -0.88] [%clk 0:03:39] } (36. Re3 { was better prophylaxis, as to play Kd4-c3 when the d3-square is still defended. }) 36... Rd7! { [%eval -0.94] } { Black begins to make progress along the d-file. Hardaway actually never gives up the initiative from here. } { [%clk 0:22:02] } 37. Ra2 { [%eval -1.43] [%clk 0:03:35] } (37. Be2 { was a concession, but best. Now, } 37... Ne4+ 38. Kb4 Rd2 39. Re3 a5+ 40. Kb3 a4+! 41. Kb4 (41. Kxa4?? Rxe2 42. Rxe2 Nc3+ $19) 41... Nc5 42. Ka3 Rc2 $17) 37... Rd3+ { [%eval -1.3] [%clk 0:22:07] } 38. Kc2 { [%eval -1.4] [%clk 0:04:03] } (38. Kb4?? { is to be avoided: } 38... Rb3#) 38... Rd4 { [%eval -1.22] } { Black picks up a pawn. } { [%clk 0:22:30] } 39. Kc3 { [%eval -1.54] [%clk 0:03:11] } 39... Rxf4 { [%eval -1.46] [%clk 0:22:56] } 40. Rb2+ { [%eval -1.19] [%clk 0:33:36] } 40... Kc7 { [%eval -1.21] [%clk 0:53:20] } 41. Rb5 { [%eval -1.2] [%clk 0:32:27] } 41... Rf5 { [%eval -1.26] [%clk 0:50:19] } 42. Kd4 { [%eval -1.71] [%clk 0:18:44] } 42... Kd6 { [%eval -1.69] [%clk 0:49:40] } 43. Rb8 { [%eval -1.67] [%clk 0:19:04] } 43... Rf4+ { [%eval -1.69] [%clk 0:47:45] } 44. Kc3 { [%eval -2.2] [%clk 0:19:24] } 44... Na4+ { [%eval -2.1] [%clk 0:47:50] } 45. Kd3 { [%eval -2.18] [%clk 0:18:00] } 45... Nc5+ { [%eval -1.66] } { A slight strategic error. The knight is slightly more precarious on the c5-square, oddly, due to recurring threats of Rb8-c8. } { [%clk 0:46:14] } (45... g5 46. h3 (46. Rc8 g4 47. Ke3 Ke5 48. Ba8 f5 $17) 46... f5 { and Black is in control. }) 46. Kc3 { [%eval -1.57] [%clk 0:18:28] } 46... g5!? { [%eval -0.71] [%clk 0:46:17] } (46... Na4+ 47. Kd3 (47. Kb3 Nb6 $17) 47... g5 { is more accurate. }) 47. h3? { [%eval -2.05] [%clk 0:17:22] } (47. Rc8! { Takes advantage of the threat of Rc8-c6+, winning the knight, to slow down Black's kingside pawns ever-so-slightly. } 47... Na4+ 48. Kb3 Kd7 49. Rg8 Nc5+ 50. Kc3 f6) 47... f6?! { [%eval -0.41] [%clk 0:40:42] } (47... Na4+! 48. Kd3 Nb6 $19) (47... f5!? 48. Rc8 Ne4+ 49. Kd3 Ke5 $17) 48. Ra8? { [%eval -1.7] [%clk 0:16:51] } (48. Rc8! { was again necessary. }) 48... a6? { [%eval -0.54] [%clk 0:40:51] } (48... Na4+ 49. Kd3 (49. Kb3 Nb6 50. Rxa7 Nxc4 $17) 49... Nb2+ $17) 49. Ra7? { [%eval -1.4] } { The next-to-last mistake. The rook again needed to be on the c-file. } { [%clk 0:17:14] } (49. Rc8!) 49... e5! { [%eval -1.42] [%clk 0:40:11] } 50. Bd5 { [%eval -2.0] [%clk 0:17:22] } 50... Rf2?! { [%eval -0.33] [%clk 0:40:10] } (50... Rf1! 51. Ra8 f5 52. Rd8+ Ke7 53. Rg8 { is different because now Black has } 53... Rc1+! { when the knight covers the rook after } 54. Kb2 Nd3+ 55. Kb3 { and the e-pawn is fast enough: } 55... e4 $19) 51. Rf7?? { [%eval -2.67] [%clk 0:10:19] } (51. Ra8! { is more resilient now: } 51... Rf1 (51... f5?! 52. Rd8+ Ke7 53. Rg8 e4 54. Kd4! $10 { is the problem. This is why Black needed the rook further down the f-file as to play ... Rf1-c1+ before ... e5-e4. }) 52. Rc8 Rc1+ 53. Kb4 Nd3+ 54. Kb3 f5 { is a bit too slow now: } 55. Rc6+ Kd7 56. Rf6! f4 (56... e4 57. Rxf5 e3 58. Bf3 $10) 57. Rxa6 $10) 51... a5 { [%eval -2.3] } { This is enough to win now. } { [%clk 0:30:47] } 52. Ra7?! { [%eval -3.35] [%clk 0:08:46] } 52... a4 { [%eval -2.9] [%clk 0:31:07] } 53. Ra8 { [%eval -2.72] [%clk 0:09:02] } 53... f5 { [%eval -2.14] [%clk 0:23:21] } 54. Rc8 { [%eval -2.17] } { Finally! But it is too late. With the pawn already on f5, Black is ready with } { [%clk 0:08:44] } 54... Ne4+! { [%eval -1.85] } { transforming into a won rook-and-pawn endgame. It's also worth noticing Hardaway's excellent clock management. He had played rather quickly with the initiative until now, but spent a combined 13 minutes on his last two moves. This makes sense: the trade of minor pieces requires more precise calculation. Astute on his part both to save the time for a moment like this, and to use it here! No other move kept a winning advantage, for reasons similar to variations covered above. } { [%clk 0:18:10] } 55. Bxe4 { [%eval -3.94] [%clk 0:05:26] } 55... fxe4 { [%eval -3.82] [%clk 0:18:38] } 56. Rd8+ { [%eval -4.4] [%clk 0:05:55] } 56... Ke7 { [%eval -3.89] [%clk 0:18:44] } 57. Rd5 { [%eval -4.49] [%clk 0:06:17] } 57... Ke6 { [%eval -4.22] [%clk 0:19:01] } 58. Ra5 { [%eval -4.36] [%clk 0:04:09] } 58... Rxg2 { [%eval -4.14] [%clk 0:18:58] } 59. Rxa4 { [%eval -4.29] [%clk 0:04:37] } 59... Rg3+ { [%eval -4.4] [%clk 0:19:04] } 60. Kd2 { [%eval -4.71] [%clk 0:04:18] } 60... Rxh3 { [%eval -4.61] [%clk 0:18:45] } 61. Ra8 { [%eval -4.37] [%clk 0:04:13] } 61... g4 { [%eval -4.61] } { That's too many pawns to stop! } { [%clk 0:14:49] } 62. Rg8 { [%eval -4.97] [%clk 0:03:54] } 62... Kf5 { [%eval -4.9] [%clk 0:14:56] } 63. c5 { [%eval -5.15] [%clk 0:01:42] } 63... Rd3+ { [%eval -5.09] [%clk 0:15:12] } 64. Ke2 { [%eval -4.87] [%clk 0:01:57] } 64... Rc3 { [%eval -4.9] [%clk 0:15:36] } 65. Rf8+ { [%eval -4.86] [%clk 0:01:39] } 65... Kg5 { [%eval -4.94] [%clk 0:15:55] } 66. Rc8 { [%eval -4.96] [%clk 0:02:04] } 66... e3 { [%eval -4.88] [%clk 0:15:06] } 67. c6 { [%eval -5.65] [%clk 0:00:52] } 67... Kf4 { [%eval -5.36] [%clk 0:15:33] } 68. c7 { [%eval -7.05] [%clk 0:01:09] } 68... Ke4 { [%eval -6.69] [%clk 0:15:55] } 69. Rg8 { [%clk 0:01:05] } 69... Rc2+ { [%clk 0:16:21] } 70. Kd1 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 70... Rxc7 { [%clk 0:16:49] } 71. Rxg4+ { [%clk 0:01:37] } 71... Kd3 { [%clk 0:17:16] } 72. Rg2 { [%clk 0:02:02] } 72... e2+ { [%clk 0:17:44] } 73. Rxe2 { [%clk 0:02:28] } 73... Rc1+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:18:12] } 0-1