[Event "U.S. Open Championship and Tournament of State Champions 2024"] [Site "Norfolk, Virginia"] [Date "2024.08.03"] [Round "14"] [White "Moradiabadi, Elshan"] [Black "Mackenzie S Molner"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2596"] [BlackElo "2553"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. Open"] [ChapterName "Moradiabadi, Elshan - Mackenzie S Molner"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/hE6CNQRX/quT1zJ0L"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:40:57] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:39:15] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:41:14] } 2... d6 { [%clk 1:38:11] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:41:24] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:38:25] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:41:48] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:38:45] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:42:14] } 5... a6 { [%clk 1:39:02] } 6. Bd3 { A recent trend against the Najdorf. This is still not one of the 10 (!) most popular moves, but perfectly playable and not without its own subtleties. } { [%clk 1:41:15] } 6... g6 { With the d-file clogged, the a1-h8 diagonal can become more appealing. Thus, this is one of those lines where the much-maligned "Dragondorf" system with both ... a6 (Najdorf) and ... g6 (Dragon) is perfectly playable. } { [%clk 1:36:42] } 7. O-O { [%clk 1:39:56] } 7... Bg7 { [%clk 1:36:50] } 8. Be2 { The bishop is better placed covering the g4-square, and now the knight is not hanging on d4. Black has equalized, as the ... a7-a6 move might not have been their first choice in a Dragon, but it sure isn't bad. In contrast, White is down two tempi. } { [%clk 1:40:24] } 8... O-O { [%clk 1:36:13] } 9. a4 { [%clk 1:40:26] } 9... Bd7 { [%clk 1:29:30] } 10. Be3 { [%clk 1:33:05] } 10... Nc6 { [%clk 1:29:45] } 11. f3 { [%clk 1:33:30] } 11... Rc8 { [%clk 1:21:22] } 12. Qd2 { [%clk 1:33:54] } 12... Nb4!? { [%clk 0:58:12] } (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qa5 14. Rfd1 Rfe8 $10) 13. Nd1 { [%clk 1:19:46] } 13... Nc6 { [%clk 0:55:12] } 14. Nxc6 { [%clk 1:15:12] } 14... Bxc6 { [%clk 0:55:17] } 15. a5 { [%clk 1:11:50] } 15... d5 { Having handed back the tempi with ... Nc6-b4-c6, Black's position is a bit awkward, even with White's knight misplaced on d1. } { [%clk 0:52:50] } 16. e5 { Black's d-pawn takes on an awkward, semi-isolated status, as Black does not want to permanently weaken the dark squares by pushing ... e7-e6. } { [%clk 1:12:16] } 16... Nd7 { [%clk 0:52:45] } 17. f4 { [%clk 1:12:28] } 17... g5!? { Bold, but logical. If Black wins the center, it's their game to lose. } { [%clk 0:52:03] } 18. Bd4 { [%clk 0:55:58] } 18... gxf4 { [%clk 0:43:31] } 19. Qxf4 { [%clk 0:55:56] } 19... Qc7 { [%clk 0:43:05] } 20. Bg4 { [%clk 0:35:01] } 20... e6 { [%clk 0:41:30] } 21. Re1 { [%clk 0:34:38] } 21... f5 { [%clk 0:35:04] } 22. Bf3 { [%clk 0:34:15] } 22... Bb5 { [%clk 0:30:35] } (22... Rf6!? { is one of those cute moves that is also perfectly logical. } 23. Nf2 Bb5 24. Bh5 Rh6 25. Qg5 $10) 23. Qg5?! { There are some devious tactics here, including some potential queen sacrifices. Still, it looks like Black had seen most of the ideas here and was prepared. } { [%clk 0:25:49] } (23. Nc3! Bc6 (23... Nc5 24. Nxb5 axb5 25. Kh1 Ne4 26. c3 b4 27. g4 $13 { is a very interesting position with three results still in play. }) 24. Ra3 $14) 23... Kh8 { [%clk 0:28:35] } 24. Nf2? { [%clk 0:08:39] } (24. Nc3 { is an improvement: } 24... Nxe5 25. Qxg7+ Qxg7 26. Bxe5 Rf6 27. Nxb5! axb5 28. a6 bxa6 29. Rxa6 Kg8 30. Bxf6 Qxf6 31. c3 $15 { White's a6-rook is a nuisance, and this is why the knight was better-placed on c3, capturing on b5. }) 24... Nxe5 { White took 17 minutes to make his last move, and Black replied with similar caution. } { [%clk 0:15:14] } 25. Qxg7+ { [%clk 0:09:07] } 25... Qxg7 { [%clk 0:15:36] } 26. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:09:35] } 26... Rf6 { [%clk 0:15:56] } 27. Nh3 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 27... Kg8 { [%clk 0:15:39] } 28. Rad1 { [%clk 0:06:17] } 28... Qh6 { [%clk 0:12:32] } 29. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:06:17] } (29. c3!? { does not regain any of the material, but in hindsight we've learned that White's material was not sufficient for equality. } 29... Rf7 30. Nf4 $17 { and one could argue that Black's rooks are poorly equipped to handle the multiple threats on the d5- and e6-pawns. }) 29... Qxf6 { [%clk 0:12:42] } 30. Rxe6 { White was relying on this point, but there's nothing here after: } { [%clk 0:05:45] } 30... Qxb2 { [%clk 0:07:06] } 31. Bxd5 { [%clk 0:04:56] } 31... Kh8 { [%clk 0:07:27] } 32. Bxb7 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 32... Qxc2 { Black has played everything since move 24 quickly, and indeed he is in control. } { [%clk 0:07:19] } 33. Nf2 { [%clk 0:03:11] } 33... Rg8 { [%clk 0:03:43] } 34. Red6 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 34... Qc3 { [%clk 0:03:30] } 35. Bd5 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 35... Re8 { [%clk 0:03:30] } 36. g3 { [%clk 0:01:22] } 36... Re1+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:03:28] } 0-1