[Event "U.S. Open Championship and Tournament of State Champions 2024"] [Site "Norfolk, Virginia"] [Date "2024.07.31"] [Round "08"] [White "Chong, Hanford"] [Black "Mackenzie S Molner"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1954"] [BlackElo "2553"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C55"] [Opening "Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. Open"] [ChapterName "Chong, Hanford - Mackenzie S Molner"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/hE6CNQRX/7MPCn2W3"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:40:57] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:40:51] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:41:21] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:41:15] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 1:41:39] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:41:37] } 4. d3 { [%clk 1:41:59] } 4... h6 { [%clk 1:41:46] } 5. O-O { [%clk 1:42:09] } 5... d6 { [%clk 1:42:00] } 6. h3 { [%clk 1:40:50] } (6. a4 Be7 7. c3 { is a logical way to play, taking the "bite" out of ... Bc8-g4 as now there is no ... Nc6-d4 follow-up. }) 6... g5! { With a pawn on h3 and Black's king still uncastled, this is definitely the best move. Black has the initiative. } { [%clk 1:40:06] } 7. c3 { [%clk 1:38:58] } (7. Nh2! { might be necessary. } 7... Rg8 8. Nc3 g4 9. hxg4 Nxg4 10. Qf3 { is one benefit of vacating the f3-square. The result is a beautiful mess with mutual chances: } 10... Rg7 11. Nxg4 Bxg4 12. Bxf7+ Kd7 13. Qg3 Qf6 14. Bb3 Nd4 15. f4 $13) 7... g4 { [%clk 1:38:23] } 8. hxg4 { [%clk 1:39:20] } 8... Bxg4 { Black has gotten precisely what White intended to prevent, plus a dangerous g-file! } { [%clk 1:36:59] } 9. Nbd2 { [%clk 1:34:22] } 9... Qd7 { [%clk 1:36:42] } 10. Re1 { [%clk 1:30:59] } 10... Rg8 { [%clk 1:27:00] } 11. Nf1 { [%clk 1:28:13] } 11... O-O-O { [%clk 1:13:00] } 12. b4 { [%clk 1:25:33] } 12... d5! { Black's kingside is open, but not an issue as he has castled long. White is the one trying to launch a flank attack, so Black responds thematically. } { [%clk 0:48:25] } 13. exd5 { [%clk 1:25:59] } 13... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:48:46] } 14. Bd2 { [%clk 1:26:10] } 14... Nf4 { [%clk 0:39:52] } 15. Bxf4 { [%clk 1:25:49] } 15... exf4 { [%clk 0:40:18] } 16. b5 { [%clk 1:05:14] } 16... Bh3 { [%clk 0:25:03] } 17. g3 { [%clk 1:02:37] } (17. bxc6 Rxg2+ 18. Kh1 Qxc6 { is cruel. } 19. N1h2 Rxf2 $19 { and the h1-a8 diagonal is fatal. }) 17... Bxf1 { [%clk 0:20:56] } 18. bxc6 { [%clk 1:02:40] } 18... Qh3 { [%clk 0:20:24] } 19. cxb7+ { [%clk 1:02:23] } (19. Rxf1 { was better, as it left White with swindling chances of Qd1-b3-xb7 mate. } 19... fxg3 20. Qb3 gxf2+ 21. Kxf2 { at lest forces some precision from White. Only } 21... Qg2+ { keeps the win: } 22. Ke3 Bc5+ 23. d4 Rge8+ $19 (23... Rde8+? 24. Be6+ Rxe6+ 25. Qxe6+ fxe6 26. Rg1! { is one nice desperado. } 26... Qxg1+ 27. Nxg1 { and Black is only up a pawn. })) 19... Kb8 { [%clk 0:20:40] } 20. Rxf1 { Black mates shortly. } { [%clk 1:01:37] } 20... fxg3 { [%clk 0:19:11] } 21. Re1 { [%clk 1:00:10] } 21... gxf2+ { [%clk 0:19:16] } 22. Kxf2 { [%clk 1:00:32] } 22... Rg2+ { [%clk 0:19:36] } 23. Ke3 { [%clk 1:00:47] } 23... Re8+ { [%clk 0:19:56] } 24. Kd4 { [%clk 1:00:35] } 24... c5+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:20:19] } 0-1