[Event "USATE round 3"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/nQB7ckiZ/qsa65ocg"] [Date "2023.02.19"] [White "Peterson, Ryan"] [Black "Medina, Benjamin"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Zong, Davis"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D45"] [Opening "Semi-Slav Defense: Stoltz Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/nQB7ckiZ/qsa65ocg"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Be7 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O (10. a3! $14 { This was White's best try for an opening advantage. With the battle revolving around the c5-square, White threatens to play b2-b4, permanently locking in Black's minor pieces. If Black responds with ...a7-a5 and ...b5-b4, then the a-file will be opened. }) 10... Rc8 11. e4 b4 12. Na4 c5! { With an early ...c6-c5, Black has a comfortable position and has equalized out of the opening. } 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Qe2 (15. Bb5+!? { was an interesting line because it deprives Black of his castling rights. Blocking with the bishop or knight loses material, leaving the awkward choice of ...Ke8-f8 or ...Ke8-e7, } 15... Ke7 (15... Bc6?? 16. Qxc5 $18) (15... Nd7?? 16. Rd1 Bc6 17. Ba6 Ra8 18. Rxd7 $18) 16. e5 Ne4 17. Qe2 $14) 15... Qb6 16. Bg5 Nd7 17. Rfd1 f6?! { A weakening move that hands White the advantage; White's bishop was not threatening much on g5 anyways. } (17... O-O) (17... h6) 18. Bf4 O-O 19. a4! $14 { A strong strategic choice. White gains space on the queenside and fixes the pawn structure in his favor. If Black takes en passant, White will have the open b-file to work with. } 19... a5 20. Bb5 Nb8? { The knight is now "dominated" by the bishop. Black was probably counting on regrouping his pieces, but White's initiative is too quick. } (20... Ne5! { This was Black's only chance to hold on. White's two-versus-one attack on the e5-square is fictitious because of the f2 weakness. All of a sudden, Black gets his own active counterplay. } 21. Nd2 $14) 21. Nd2! { This knight suddenly becomes a star piece on c4. } 21... e5 22. Nc4 Qa7 23. Be3 $18 { Despite equal material, White is already winning. His superior pawn structure on the queenside and better minor pieces are highly favored in the ensuing endgame. } 23... Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxe3 25. fxe3 Rc7 (25... Bxe4? 26. Nd6!) (25... h5 26. Nxa5 Bxe4) 26. Nxa5 { Ryan displays great technique in the conversion, and ultimately won on move 60. } 26... Bxe4 27. Rac1 Ra7 28. Nb3 Bg6 29. Nc5 Rc8 30. Nd3 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Bxd3 32. Bxd3 Kf7 33. Bb5 Ke6 34. Rc4 b3 35. Rc3 Nd7 36. Rxb3 Nc5 37. Ra3 Ne4 38. a5 Rc7 39. Ra1 Nd6 40. Be2 Rc2 41. a6 Nc8 42. Bd3 Rxb2 43. a7 Nxa7 44. Rxa7 g6 45. Rxh7 f5 46. Bc4+ Kf6 47. h4 e4 48. Rf7+ Ke5 49. Re7+ Kf6 50. Re6+ Kg7 51. Ra6 Rc2 52. Bb5 Rc8 53. Kf2 Rb8 54. Ba4 Rb2+ 55. Kg3 Re2 56. Be8 Rxe3+ 57. Kf4 Re2 58. Rxg6+ Kf8 59. Bd7 Kf7 60. Rg5 Rf2+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0