[Event "U.S. Junior Chess Championships 2024"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2024.07.24"] [Round "9"] [White "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"] [Black "Daggupati, Balaji"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2607"] [BlackElo "2480"] [Annotator "IM Robert Shlyakhtenko"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D45"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation, Shabalov Attack"] [StudyName "2024 National Championships (Junior/Girls' Junior/Senior) Rds 7-9"] [ChapterName "Yoo, Christopher Woojin - Daggupati, Balaji"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kt4PLoQ4/rfSXEc3N"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4!? { Given that Christopher was leading by a half-point, this aggressive line might seem like a strange choice. But as we've seen throughout the tournament, it's often more rewarding to stay true to your own style than to play according to requirements of the tournament situation. } 7... h6 8. Rg1 e5 9. Be2!? { Christopher's take on this position. After Black plays ... e5-e4, the position will be reminiscent of a reversed French Tarrasch, where the move g2-g4 does does not look out of place. } 9... e4 10. Nd2 Nf8 (10... Bxh2? { is much too greedy, since after } 11. Rh1 { any bishop retreat is met by g4-g5. }) 11. h4 g5 { The most solid response, although other approaches were possible. Over the next few moves, the fight for the center defines the play. } 12. cxd5?! { A risky decision. If White doesn't manage to get pressure against Black's center, then releasing the tension so early may come back to haunt him. } 12... cxd5 13. Qb3 Qa5? { This is not a move that Black wants to play. } (13... Be6! { was much more resolute. I assume that Balaji feared } 14. Qxb7 { , but after } 14... Ng6 15. hxg5 hxg5 { Black has a serious lead in development. After } 16. Nb3 { Black can even trade queens with } 16... Qc8! 17. Qxc8+ Rxc8 { and Black's positional compensation is obvious, with concrete ideas such as ... Ng6-h4 also in the air. }) 14. Bb5+ (14. f3! { The immediate strike in the center was even stronger. }) 14... Kd8 15. hxg5 (15. f3! { This should be played immediately. It turns out that allowing ... g5xh4, rather than opening the h-file, was the lesser evil. } 15... gxh4 16. fxe4 Bg3+ 17. Kf1 Bxg4 18. e5 Qb6! 19. Kg2! { with a chaotic position. }) 15... hxg5 16. f3 Qb4? { But this is just a blunder. I'm not sure what Balaji missed. } (16... Be6! { was correct. Without the inclusion of 15. hxg5, White could sacrifice the Exchange with } 17. fxe4 dxe4 18. Bc4 Bxg4 19. Rxg4 { Now, however, Black is able to counterattack with } 19... Rh1+ 20. Ke2 Nxg4 21. Ndxe4 Qf5!) 17. fxe4 Qxb3 (17... dxe4 { just drops a pawn after } 18. Qxf7) 18. axb3 dxe4 19. Ndxe4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 { A complete turnaround! Now Black's center has collapsed, and his position has lost all of its purpose. Christopher's technique did not disappoint. } 20... Bb4+ 21. Bd2 Bxd2+ 22. Kxd2 Be6 23. Bc4 Rh2+ 24. Kc3 b5 25. Bxb5 Bd5 26. Nd6 Kc7 27. Bc4! Bxc4 (27... Kxd6 28. Ra6+ Bc6 29. d5 { wins back a piece. }) 28. Nxc4 Nd7 29. Ra6 Kb7 30. Rga1 Rg2 31. Nd6+ Kc7 32. Nxf7 Re8 (32... Rxg4 { loses immediately to } 33. Rxa7+ Rxa7 34. Rxa7+ Kc8 35. Rxd7!) 33. Rxa7+ { The rest is clear. } 33... Kc6 34. R1a6+ Nb6 35. Ne5+ Kd5 36. Kd3 Rb8 37. Nd7 Na4 38. Nf6# { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0