[Event "U.S. National High School Championship 2024"] [Site "Baltimore, MD"] [Date "2024.04.05"] [Round "02"] [White "Liu, Ethan"] [Black "Park, Evan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1990"] [BlackElo "2338"] [TimeControl "5400+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B68"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/fbYDIs5O/sWvG4u2Q"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:29:31] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:29:31] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:29:31] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:29:13] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 5... d6 { [%clk 1:29:13] } 6. Bg5 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 6... e6 { [%clk 1:28:33] } 7. Qd2 { [%clk 1:29:56] } 7... a6 { [%clk 1:28:33] } 8. O-O-O { [%clk 1:29:55] } 8... Bd7 { [%clk 1:28:33] } 9. f4 { [%clk 1:29:55] } 9... Be7 { [%clk 1:27:50] } 10. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:51] } 10... b5 { [%clk 1:27:30] } 11. e5 { [%clk 1:29:29] } 11... b4 { [%clk 1:27:30] } 12. exf6 { [%clk 1:29:27] } 12... bxc3 { [%clk 1:27:30] } 13. Qxc3 { [%clk 1:29:23] } 13... gxf6 { [%clk 1:27:14] } 14. Bh4 { [%clk 1:27:25] } 14... Rg8 { [%clk 1:25:54] } 15. Nd4 { [%clk 1:24:07] } 15... Nxd4 { [%clk 1:16:13] } 16. Qxd4 { [%clk 1:23:04] } 16... Rg4 { [%clk 1:13:42] } 17. g3 { [%clk 1:13:39] } 17... d5 { [%clk 0:56:11] } 18. Be2 { [%clk 1:09:45] } 18... Rxh4 { [%clk 0:49:49] } 19. gxh4 { [%clk 1:09:10] } 19... Bd6 { [%clk 0:44:06] } 20. Kb1 { [%clk 0:54:12] } 20... Rb8 { [%clk 0:41:53] } 21. Rhf1 { [%clk 0:46:46] } 21... Rb4 { We pick up in this "typical" Classical Sicilian position. Black has sacrificed an Exchange, but the bishop pair can prove menacing once it activates. But Black's king is permanently stuck in the center, so untangling is far from obvious. Still, give Black enough time and he should be able to prove compensation. Which is why... } { [%clk 0:32:52] } 22. c4! { A cold-blooded move. White weakens his own king (with Black's light-squared bishop still on the board) and walks into a pin, but, of course, Black's pieces are coming under fire too. This shows an appreciation of the stakes, namely that Black's compensation for the Exchange is long-term, not initiative-based, and thus such dynamic play is required. } { [%clk 0:38:28] } 22... Bc6 { [%clk 0:22:44] } 23. a3 { [%clk 0:28:25] } 23... Ra4 { [%clk 0:22:11] } 24. Qc3 { [%clk 0:26:48] } 24... Qb6 { The critical moment. Black now has something resembling an initiative. But if it looks too good to be true, maybe it is. } { [%clk 0:17:15] } 25. Ka2? { A move that "looks defensive" but it is unclear what the real threat was that this defends. } { [%clk 0:17:21] } (25. Qxf6 { is best, as } 25... Bxa3 26. Bh5! $19 { is crushing. There is no attack, so why not attack? }) (25. cxd5 { is also good, as } 25... Bxd5 26. Bf3 $17 { liquidates the bishop pair. }) 25... Ke7! { Now, there is no Qc3xf6, and c4xd5 is less effective when Black's recapture comes with check. In other words: Black's king has found safety while White's has not! } { [%clk 0:15:22] } 26. Rc1 { [%clk 0:14:09] } 26... dxc4 { [%clk 0:12:52] } 27. Bf3 { [%clk 0:12:34] } (27. Bxc4?? { is another reason why the king is not safe on a2: } 27... Rxc4 28. Qxc4 Bd5 $19) 27... Bb5 { [%clk 0:12:10] } 28. Bd1 { [%clk 0:10:43] } 28... Ra5 { [%clk 0:12:10] } (28... Bb4!? $13) 29. Be2 { [%clk 0:10:22] } 29... Ra4 { [%clk 0:11:52] } 30. Bd1 { and, again Black opts not to muddy the waters, and repeats with } { [%clk 0:10:10] } 30... Ra5 { [%clk 0:11:35] } 31. Be2 { with a draw. } { [%clk 0:10:10] } 1/2-1/2