[Event "US Open - Invitationals"] [Site "Middleton, WI, United States"] [Date "2025.07.29"] [Round "2.5"] [White "Nichols, Anthony Thomas"] [Black "Taylor, Timothy W"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2087"] [BlackElo "2283"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [FEN "2k1rb1r/2p3pp/1p1np3/pPn5/3N2B1/P3P3/1B3PPP/2R1K2R w K - 0 22"] [WhiteClock "0:05:47"] [BlackClock "0:02:41"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 1-4 and Invitationals"] [ChapterName "Nichols, Anthony Thomas - Taylor, Timothy W"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/foytapOs/AvxiklPI"] [FEN "2k1rb1r/2p3pp/1p1np3/pPn5/3N2B1/P3P3/1B3PPP/2R1K2R w K - 0 22"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { After a very well-played Albin Countergambit, White has gotten this pleasant position. The only thing missing is the rook on h1. White rushed, feeling that it was necessary to take advantage of the weak e6-pawn, but the real good position would have happened after castling. } 22. Rxc5? (22. O-O! { now Black's f8-bishop and h8-rook remain stuck, while ideas with getting the knight to the d3-square don't lead to much, so White is able to improve a bit further before needing to think of concrete variations. } 22... Nde4 (22... Nd3 23. Nxe6 Nxc1 24. Nxg7+ Kd8 25. Nxe8 $18) 23. Rc2 h5 24. Be2 $16) 22... bxc5 23. Nxe6 Kb8 24. Nxc5 Nxb5 25. Nd7+ Ka7 26. Nxf8 Rhxf8 { White is still slightly better due to the pair of bishops, but being precise and getting the h1-rook into play is imperative! } 27. a4?! { creates an easier target for Black. } (27. Be2 Rf5 28. a4 Nd6 29. g4 Rf7 30. Bd4+ Kb7 $14) 27... Re4 28. axb5?? { After the trade of the bishop for the knight, White is now in a difficult situation. In addition, the passed a-pawn is menacing! It wasn't long until Black was able to convert his advantage. } (28. Bd1 Rb4 29. Bxg7 Rg8 30. Bf6 Nd6 31. Bd4+ $14) 28... Rxg4 $19 29. Bd4+ Kb7 30. O-O Rg5 31. f4 Rxb5 32. Bxg7 Rf7 33. Be5 c5 34. g4 Kc6 35. Kf2 c4 36. Bd4 Rb3 37. f5 Kd5 38. Ra1 Ke4 39. Rxa5 c3 40. Re5+ Kd3 41. Rd5 c2 42. Bb2+ Kc4 43. Rd4+ Kb5 44. Bc1 Rb1 45. Bd2 Rd1 46. Ke2 Rc7 47. Rb4+ Ka6 48. Ra4+ Kb7 49. Rb4+ Kc8 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1