[Event "U.S. Junior Chess Championships 2024"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2024.07.23"] [Round "07"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Hardaway, Brewington"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2523"] [BlackElo "2459"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E08"] [Opening "Catalan Opening: Closed"] [StudyName "2024 National Championships (Junior/Girls' Junior/Senior) Rds 7-9"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Hardaway, Brewington"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kt4PLoQ4/QjmKaYAo"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 2:00:54] } 1... d5 { [%clk 2:00:51] } 2. c4 { [%clk 2:00:45] } 2... e6 { [%clk 2:01:07] } 3. Nf3 { [%clk 2:00:59] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 2:01:26] } 4. g3 { The Catalan has been gaining a lot of popularity recently due to its combination of solidity and its ability to slowly squeeze for a win, which are characteristics a lot of players like. } { [%clk 2:00:43] } 4... Be7 { [%clk 2:01:41] } 5. Bg2 { [%clk 2:00:25] } 5... O-O { [%clk 2:01:54] } 6. O-O { [%clk 1:59:54] } 6... c6 { [%clk 2:02:06] } 7. Qc2 { [%clk 1:55:24] } 7... b6 { [%clk 2:02:28] } 8. Bf4 { [%clk 1:40:34] } 8... Nbd7 { [%clk 2:00:03] } 9. Nbd2 { [%clk 1:36:07] } 9... Bb7 { [%clk 1:56:00] } 10. e4 { [%clk 1:28:07] } 10... dxc4 { [%clk 1:55:44] } 11. Nxc4 { [%clk 1:27:32] } 11... c5 { [%clk 1:55:51] } 12. Rfe1 { [%clk 1:27:29] } 12... cxd4 { [%clk 1:53:46] } 13. Nd6 { [%clk 1:26:31] } 13... Bxd6 { [%clk 1:54:06] } 14. Bxd6 { [%clk 1:26:49] } 14... Rc8 { [%clk 1:54:11] } 15. Qb1 { [%clk 1:14:53] } 15... e5! { An Exchange sacrifice! Hardaway gives up his rook for White's best minor piece and prepares to launch a kingside attack with his extra central space and active pieces. Objectively, the position is equal, but dynamic positions are often harder to play for the defender. } { [%clk 1:18:24] } 16. Bxf8 { [%clk 0:53:52] } 16... Qxf8 { [%clk 1:18:49] } 17. Qd1 { [%clk 0:53:45] } 17... Qd6 { [%clk 1:04:08] } 18. Nd2 { [%clk 0:45:27] } 18... Nc5 { [%clk 0:57:18] } 19. Qf3 { [%clk 0:35:51] } 19... Ne6 { [%clk 0:47:37] } 20. Qb3 { [%clk 0:28:24] } 20... h5 { [%clk 0:33:04] } 21. Rac1 { [%clk 0:27:25] } 21... Rd8 { [%clk 0:32:44] } 22. Nc4 { [%clk 0:17:15] } 22... Qb8 { [%clk 0:31:44] } 23. Qa3 { [%clk 0:17:24] } 23... h4 { [%clk 0:28:01] } 24. Nd2 { [%clk 0:16:08] } (24. f3! { Intending to slide away the bishop was more precise, though it somewhat goes against basic intuition to "unguard" the g3-pawn, expose the king, and blunt the g2-bishop. } 24... g6 25. Bh3 Ng5 26. Bg2 Ne6 $10) 24... g6 { [%clk 0:24:58] } 25. f3 { [%clk 0:05:44] } 25... Kg7 { [%clk 0:24:03] } 26. Kf2 { [%clk 0:05:48] } 26... Rh8 { [%clk 0:19:37] } 27. Nc4 { [%clk 0:05:20] } 27... Nc5 { [%clk 0:19:47] } 28. b4 { [%clk 0:05:09] } 28... Ne6 { [%clk 0:20:05] } 29. Nb2 { [%clk 0:05:22] } 29... Ng5 { [%clk 0:17:46] } 30. b5? { [%clk 0:04:22] } (30. Nd3! { Bringing the knight into the defense! The subtle idea is that White has Nd3-f2 at the end of the complications to form a safety cocoon around the king. } 30... hxg3+ (30... Qd6! $17) 31. hxg3 Rh2 32. Kg1 Qh8 33. Nf2! $10) 30... hxg3+ { [%clk 0:15:40] } 31. hxg3 { [%clk 0:04:50] } 31... Rh2 { [%clk 0:15:34] } 32. Qe7 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 32... Qh8 { Very commanding play by Hardaway so far. The attack seems to be crashing through very soon. } { [%clk 0:12:36] } 33. Rh1 { [%clk 0:02:04] } 33... Ngxe4+! { [%clk 0:04:04] } 34. fxe4 { [%clk 0:02:25] } 34... Bxe4 { [%clk 0:04:31] } 35. Rcf1 { Stubborn defense by Woodward. Instead of guarding the g2=bishop, Woodward seeks counterplay along the f-file, eyeing the weaknesses on the f6- and f7-squares. } { [%clk 0:00:42] } 35... Bxg2 { [%clk 0:04:11] } 36. Ke1 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 36... Bxf1 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 37. Rxf1 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 37... Ng4?? { Saving the knight is natural but allows a rare but effective resource. The way to win was sacrificing the knight but activating the queen. } { [%clk 0:01:17] } (37... Qf8! 38. Qxf6+ Kg8 39. Nd3 e4 $19) (37... Kh6! 38. Rxf6 Qc8! 39. Rc6 Qf5 $19) 38. Rxf7+! { [%clk 0:02:03] } 38... Kh6 { [%clk 0:01:46] } 39. Rf8 { A good find by Woodward. The queen is semi-trapped, so the game ends in a draw. } { [%clk 0:00:59] } 39... Qg7 { [%clk 0:02:13] } 40. Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 40... Qg8 { [%clk 0:02:38] } 41. Rf8 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 41... Qg7 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 42. Rf7 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 42... Qg8 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 43. Rf8 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 43... Qg7 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } { [%clk 0:03:27] } 1/2-1/2