[Event "125th US Open - 2025"] [Site "Middleton, Wisconsin"] [Date "2025.07.29"] [Round "02"] [White "Shetty, Anshul"] [Black "Santosh, Siddharth"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2220"] [BlackElo "1794"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A05"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen Variation"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 1-4 and Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Shetty, Anshul - Santosh, Siddharth"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/foytapOs/6L63lnxF"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by JJ Lang } 1. Nf3 { [%clk 1:40:47] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 1:40:54] } 2. b3 { [%clk 1:41:13] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:41:01] } 3. Bb2 { [%clk 1:41:36] } 3... e6 { [%clk 1:41:27] } 4. c4 { [%clk 1:42:02] } 4... c5 { [%clk 1:41:53] } 5. cxd5 { [%clk 1:41:55] } 5... exd5 { [%clk 1:41:34] } 6. e3 { More experienced players tend to pick up experience in flank openings, and these can be great weapons to play against lower-rated opponents to avoid a theoretical discussion with whichever grandmaster's opening book they've been reading. } { [%clk 1:42:18] } 6... Bg4?! { Already, not a great decision. The bishop can be kicked, and it might have belonged on the long diagonal. I'm mentioning this because it's the kind of "drifting" or aimless move that you're more likely to see when you've taken your opponent out of prep. } { [%clk 1:41:26] } 7. Be2 { [%clk 1:42:24] } 7... Nc6 { [%clk 1:41:35] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:41:14] } 8... Be7 { [%clk 1:41:53] } 9. d4 { [%clk 1:40:31] } 9... O-O { [%clk 1:40:41] } 10. dxc5 { [%clk 1:40:31] } 10... Bxc5 { [%clk 1:40:51] } 11. Nc3 { White has created a relatively favorable set of circumstances to play against an IQP. Black wants to keep pieces on, so the g4-bishop is misplaced! } { [%clk 1:40:52] } 11... a6 { [%clk 1:37:10] } 12. h3 { [%clk 1:38:52] } 12... Be6 { [%clk 1:32:53] } 13. Na4 { [%clk 1:38:48] } 13... Ba7 { [%clk 1:31:23] } 14. Nd4 { [%clk 1:38:55] } (14. Rc1 { made more sense. White wants to keep a piece on the d4-square, so blockading the dark-squared bishop with Na4-c5 is consistent. }) 14... Qd6?! { Another strategic error thanks to White asking probing questions. } { [%clk 1:30:48] } (14... Ne4 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rc1 Qg5 { is much more like the game Black wants, with the attack already in full swing. There is no good way to stop ... Be6xh3, as } 17. Kh1? Qh4 18. Kg1 Rae8 $17 { is dominating. } { [%cal Ge6h3,Ge8e6,Ge6g6,Ya7e3] }) 15. Nxc6 { [%clk 1:35:34] } 15... Qxc6 { [%clk 1:27:13] } 16. Bxf6 { [%clk 1:35:49] } 16... gxf6 { [%clk 1:27:37] } 17. Bd3 { [%clk 1:35:56] } 17... f5 { [%clk 1:27:00] } 18. Qh5 { [%clk 1:36:01] } 18... b5 { [%clk 1:17:53] } 19. Rac1 { [%clk 1:35:42] } 19... Qd6 { White should have the advantage with so many weak pawns, but the board is opening up and Black does have the bishop pair... } { [%clk 1:17:47] } 20. Qg5+?! { Pushing Black's king where it wants to go, as now Black can argue that the half-open g-file is actually more of a problem for White's king! } { [%clk 1:35:19] } 20... Kh8 { [%clk 1:18:04] } 21. Qf6+ { [%clk 1:35:24] } 21... Kg8 { [%clk 1:18:25] } 22. Nb2 { [%clk 1:34:39] } 22... Bb8 { Counterplay! } { [%clk 1:12:22] } 23. f4 { [%clk 1:34:05] } 23... Qd8! { With the e3-pawn a glaring weakness, Black would be thrilled to take the bishop pair into an endgame. } { [%clk 1:04:58] } 24. Qh6 { [%clk 1:33:46] } 24... Ba7 { [%clk 1:04:09] } 25. Rf3 { [%clk 1:33:18] } 25... Kh8 { [%clk 1:03:50] } 26. Kh2 { [%clk 1:30:44] } 26... Rg8 { [%clk 1:00:52] } 27. Nd1? { This gives Black the initiative. Necessary was } { [%clk 1:27:59] } (27. g4! $13) 27... Rg6 { [%clk 0:58:19] } 28. Qh5 { [%clk 1:28:24] } 28... Qf6 { [%clk 0:55:50] } 29. Rf2 { [%clk 1:27:36] } 29... Rag8 { Black is playing fantastically, and it is always easier to play with the clear plan of setting up a kingside attack than it is to play a more "abstract" positional imbalance. } { [%clk 0:53:48] } 30. Rc7 { [%clk 1:25:08] } 30... Bb8 { [%clk 0:51:32] } 31. Rc6 { [%clk 1:19:59] } 31... d4! { Now, Black's light-squared bishop comes to life. This is where, as White, I would be going over to the pairing sheet to make sure I read my opponent's rating correctly. } { [%clk 0:43:59] } 32. Qe2 { [%clk 1:12:46] } 32... dxe3 { [%clk 0:43:40] } 33. Nxe3 { [%clk 1:11:33] } 33... Qd4 { Black's advantage is now going to include some material. } { [%clk 0:31:23] } 34. Nf1 { [%clk 1:01:01] } 34... Bxf4+ { [%clk 0:26:21] } 35. Kh1 { [%clk 0:58:10] } 35... Rxg2! { [%clk 0:25:10] } 36. Rxg2 { [%clk 0:58:13] } 36... Bd5 { [%clk 0:25:36] } 37. Rc8 { Even in a hopeless position, White is doing a good job forcing Black to use time. } { [%clk 0:58:12] } 37... Rxc8 { [%clk 0:24:57] } (37... Bxg2+ 38. Qxg2 Rxc8 39. Bxf5 Rg8 { is just as good, but at least Black had to consider both options. }) 38. Bxf5 { [%clk 0:55:07] } 38... Rg8 { [%clk 0:25:20] } 39. Bg4 { [%clk 0:55:30] } 39... h5? { Black's first error in 25 moves. } { [%clk 0:25:07] } (39... Qe4 $19 { is simplest, anticipating Bg4-f3 ideas and forcing a queen trade to go along with the extra pawn and Exchange. }) (39... Bxg2+ $19 { is also fine, and now we can think about ... h7-h5. }) 40. Bf3 { It would be one thing to decline the free Exchange in order to preserve the bishop pair. But now Black gets neither the material nor strategic advantage. } { [%clk 1:25:24] } 40... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:51:29] } 41. Qxf3 { The h5-pawn is now a targt, too! } { [%clk 1:24:30] } 41... Rxg2? { [%clk 0:51:53] } (41... Qe5 { was the only way to fight for an advantage. } 42. Rf2 { is likely what discouraged Black, but } 42... Qg5! { reminds White that a mate threat is more pressing than the threat on a bishop. }) 42. Qxh5+ { [%clk 1:22:43] } 42... Kg7 { [%clk 0:51:59] } 43. Kxg2 { [%clk 1:23:08] } 43... Qb2+ { The players have reached the time control, and this endgame is equal. But fortune favors the more experienced player in such a position, where nuances of knight-versus-bishop can be quite subtle. } { [%clk 0:51:03] } 44. Kf3 { [%clk 1:23:03] } 44... Bh6 { [%clk 0:46:52] } 45. Qg4+ { [%clk 1:22:53] } 45... Kh7 { The position remains balanced for quite some time, with both players remaining active enough to keep the other side on their toes. } { [%clk 0:47:04] } 46. Qe4+ { [%clk 1:23:04] } 46... Kg7 { [%clk 0:47:06] } 47. Qe2 { [%clk 1:23:07] } 47... Qf6+ { [%clk 0:47:00] } 48. Kg2 { [%clk 1:23:18] } 48... Qc6+ { [%clk 0:47:03] } 49. Kg1 { [%clk 1:23:11] } 49... Qc3 { [%clk 0:43:41] } 50. Qg2+ { [%clk 1:22:28] } 50... Kh7 { [%clk 0:43:35] } 51. Qb7 { [%clk 1:20:13] } 51... Qc5+ { [%clk 0:42:49] } 52. Kh1 { [%clk 1:20:30] } 52... Qf5 { [%clk 0:43:13] } 53. Qg2 { [%clk 1:20:23] } 53... Qb1 { [%clk 0:42:43] } 54. Qe2 { [%clk 1:20:15] } 54... Qf5 { [%clk 0:42:55] } 55. Kg2 { [%clk 1:20:14] } 55... Qg6+ { [%clk 0:41:53] } 56. Kh1 { [%clk 1:14:40] } 56... Qf5 { [%clk 0:41:31] } 57. Qg2 { [%clk 1:14:59] } 57... Qb1 { [%clk 0:41:47] } 58. Qf3 { [%clk 1:12:58] } 58... Kg7 { [%clk 0:39:11] } 59. a4 { [%clk 1:11:55] } 59... bxa4 { [%clk 0:39:09] } 60. bxa4 { [%clk 1:12:24] } 60... Qa1 { [%clk 0:39:19] } 61. Qg4+ { [%clk 1:12:07] } 61... Kh7 { [%clk 0:39:21] } 62. Qe4+ { [%clk 1:11:57] } 62... Kg7 { [%clk 0:39:44] } 63. Kg1 { [%clk 1:12:11] } 63... Qf6 { [%clk 0:39:54] } 64. Ng3 { [%clk 1:11:33] } 64... Qa1+ { [%clk 0:38:42] } 65. Kg2 { [%clk 1:11:41] } 65... Qb2+ { [%clk 0:38:58] } 66. Kf3 { [%clk 1:12:02] } 66... Qc3+ { [%clk 0:39:07] } 67. Kg4 { [%clk 1:12:04] } 67... Qc8+ { [%clk 0:37:49] } 68. Nf5+ { [%clk 1:09:03] } 68... Kg6 { [%clk 0:38:11] } 69. h4 { [%clk 1:09:12] } 69... Bd2 { [%clk 0:33:35] } 70. h5+ { [%clk 1:07:29] } 70... Kh7 { [%clk 0:33:36] } 71. Qd3 { [%clk 1:07:08] } 71... Bc1 { [%clk 0:32:35] } 72. Kh4 { [%clk 1:05:40] } 72... Qc7!? { This loses a pawn, and likely was played because of Black did not think about White's intermezzo response. } { [%clk 0:29:25] } 73. Ng3+ { Stopping any ... Qc7-h2+ perpetual ideas. } { [%clk 1:02:18] } 73... Kg8 { [%clk 0:29:00] } 74. Qxa6 { Still, with White's king so exposed, this does look drawish. } { [%clk 1:00:38] } 74... Qd8+ { [%clk 0:27:34] } (74... Qf4+?! 75. Kh3 { only drives White's king to safety. }) 75. Kh3 { [%clk 0:59:51] } 75... Qd7+ { [%clk 0:27:51] } 76. Kg2 { [%clk 0:58:01] } 76... Qd5+ { [%clk 0:28:07] } 77. Kh3 { [%clk 0:58:19] } 77... Qd7+ { [%clk 0:27:37] } 78. Kh2 { [%clk 0:57:02] } 78... Bf4 { [%clk 0:21:00] } 79. Qa8+ { [%clk 0:48:02] } 79... Kg7 { [%clk 0:21:25] } 80. Kg2 { [%clk 0:43:08] } 80... Qd2+ { [%clk 0:21:16] } 81. Kh3 { [%clk 0:40:59] } 81... Qd7+ { [%clk 0:21:41] } 82. Kh2 { [%clk 0:32:32] } 82... Bxg3+!? { Going into the pure queen-and-pawn endgame is a bold choice, as these endgames are less forgiving without minor pieces. } { [%clk 0:20:14] } 83. Kxg3 { [%clk 0:32:39] } 83... Qd6+ { [%clk 0:20:28] } 84. Kg4 { [%clk 0:31:22] } 84... Qd1+ { [%clk 0:18:12] } 85. Kg5 { [%clk 0:28:28] } 85... Qd2+ { Still, White's king is too exposed to dream of pushing the extra pawn. } { [%clk 0:14:35] } 86. Kf5 { [%clk 0:28:30] } 86... Qd7+ { [%clk 0:14:48] } 87. Ke5 { [%clk 0:28:28] } 87... f6+ { [%clk 0:14:52] } 88. Ke4 { [%clk 0:25:54] } 88... Qe6+ { [%clk 0:14:46] } 89. Kd4 { [%clk 0:25:44] } 89... Qe5+ { [%clk 0:15:05] } 90. Kd3 { [%clk 0:25:48] } 90... Qxh5 { Black wins the pawn back, but the a-pawn is further advanced than the f-pawn, and White's king has made progress towards the a-file. Still, this is objectively drawn. } { [%clk 0:14:57] } 91. Qg2+ { [%clk 0:25:27] } 91... Kf8 { [%clk 0:15:02] } 92. Kc4 { [%clk 0:22:43] } 92... Qd1 { [%clk 0:12:23] } 93. Qa8+ { [%clk 0:21:18] } 93... Ke7 { [%clk 0:12:44] } 94. Qe4+ { [%clk 0:21:02] } 94... Kd7 { [%clk 0:12:13] } 95. Qb7+ { [%clk 0:20:27] } 95... Kd8 { [%clk 0:12:08] } 96. Qb6+ { [%clk 0:20:47] } 96... Kd7 { [%clk 0:12:32] } 97. Qb5+ { [%clk 0:20:34] } 97... Kc7 { Black has made progress to the queenside, and should be safe. } { [%clk 0:12:13] } 98. Qc5+ { [%clk 0:20:49] } 98... Kd7 { This feels a little hope-chessy, since the endgames after 99. Qd5+/Qd4+ are drawn, and this is trying to bait White into clarifying the game. But the king belongs in the path of the a-pawn. } { [%clk 0:12:36] } (98... Kb7 99. Kb5 { would have been much easier to rebuke, for instance, as Black has } 99... Qd7+ $10 { since the d7-square wasn't occupied. }) 99. Kb5 { [%clk 0:19:37] } 99... Qd3+ { [%clk 0:11:19] } 100. Kb6 { [%clk 0:19:26] } 100... Qg3 { [%clk 0:10:42] } 101. Qc6+ { [%clk 0:18:36] } 101... Ke7?! { This does not change the objective evaluation, but now we see that Black's plan is clearly to push the f-pawn and support it with the king as much as possible. This is a much harder plan to pull off with the less-advanced pawn. } { [%clk 0:09:23] } 102. a5 { [%clk 0:17:34] } 102... f5?? { [%clk 0:08:28] } (102... Kd8! { is the only move, conceding the f-pawn with check in order to get back into position: } 103. Qxf6+ Kc8 104. Qc6+ Kd8 105. Qa8+ Kd7 106. Qb7+ Kd8 { White can't make progress without use of the b8- or c7-squares, and } 107. a6 { allows Black a choice of perpetual checks, e.g. } 107... Qe3+ 108. Ka5 Qa3+ 109. Kb5 Qb3+ 110. Kc5 Qc3+ $10) 103. a6 { [%clk 0:17:26] } 103... Qb3+ { [%clk 0:07:43] } 104. Kc7 { [%clk 0:17:23] } 104... Qg3+ { [%clk 0:07:20] } 105. Kc8 { [%clk 0:15:13] } 105... Qg8+ { [%clk 0:07:43] } 106. Kb7 { [%clk 0:14:20] } 106... Qb3+ { [%clk 0:07:56] } 107. Qb6 { [%clk 0:14:23] } 107... Qf3+ { [%clk 0:06:35] } 108. Kb8! $18 { Now, the checks have run out, and Black's pawn is too far back. } { [%clk 0:14:37] } 108... Qg4 { [%clk 0:04:58] } (108... Qf4+ 109. Qc7+ { was the point. }) 109. Qc5+ { [%clk 0:13:09] } 109... Kd7 { [%clk 0:04:37] } 110. Qd5+ { [%clk 0:13:10] } 110... Ke7 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 111. a7 { [%clk 0:10:56] } 111... Qf4+ { [%clk 0:04:50] } 112. Kc8 { [%clk 0:10:58] } 112... Qc1+ { [%clk 0:04:18] } 113. Kb7 { [%clk 0:11:15] } 113... Qb2+ { [%clk 0:04:31] } 114. Kc6 { [%clk 0:11:27] } 114... Qa1 { [%clk 0:04:03] } 115. Qd7+ { [%clk 0:10:40] } 115... Kf6 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 116. Qd8+ { [%clk 0:10:26] } 116... Ke5 { [%clk 0:04:49] } 117. Qh8+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:10:40] } 1-0