[Event "Champions Showdown - The Kings 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.03.04"] [Round "02-02"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Robson, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2734"] [BlackElo "2652"] [TimeControl "900+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A06"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening"] [StudyName "Champions Showdown: The Kings"] [ChapterName "Nakamura, Hikaru - Robson, Ray"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/nVekuyCm/HtKML3t9"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 1... d5 { [%clk 0:15:12] } 2. e3 { [%clk 0:15:14] } 2... c5 { [%clk 0:14:56] } 3. b3 { [%clk 0:15:18] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 0:14:45] } 4. Bb2 { [%clk 0:15:21] } 4... g6 { [%clk 0:14:46] } 5. c4 { [%clk 0:14:50] } 5... Bg7 { [%clk 0:13:47] } 6. cxd5 { [%clk 0:14:42] } 6... Qxd5 { [%clk 0:13:50] } 7. Nc3 { [%clk 0:11:04] } 7... Qd8 { [%clk 0:13:01] } 8. Na4 { [%clk 0:10:53] } 8... b6 { [%clk 0:11:33] } 9. d4 { [%clk 0:10:51] } 9... cxd4 { [%clk 0:11:20] } 10. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:10:37] } 10... O-O { [%clk 0:10:49] } 11. Qf3 { [%clk 0:10:39] } 11... Qd5 { [%clk 0:09:21] } 12. Rc1 { [%clk 0:08:37] } 12... Bb7 { [%clk 0:07:49] } 13. Qxd5 { [%clk 0:05:45] } 13... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:07:56] } 14. Be2 { [%clk 0:04:47] } 14... Nd7 { Nakamura's non-standard opening sees him under five minutes before move 15 in the rapid game. But the fresh position proves ripe for improvisation, as we soon see. } { [%clk 0:07:15] } 15. e4!? { Conceding the f4-square is not necessary, but it is interesting! } { [%clk 0:03:38] } (15. O-O Rfc8 $10 { would be a more straightforward and balanced continuation. }) 15... Nf4 { After over two minutes of thought, Robson decides he can allow Rc1-c7. } { [%clk 0:04:53] } 16. Rc7 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 16... Nc5? { The position was too complicated even for the perennial puzzle king. } { [%clk 0:03:03] } (16... Bxd4! { was most accurate. } 17. Bxd4 (17. Rxb7?! Bxb2 18. Rxd7 Ba3 $17 { sees Black save the e7-pawn, while White's rook is drifting. }) 17... Bxe4 18. Rxd7 Rfd8? { Either rook is fine, but the point is that Black gets the piece back after } 19. Rxd8+ (19. Bb5 Rxd7 20. Bxd7 Rd8 { also regains the piece. }) 19... Rxd8 20. Be5 Nxg2+ { The point! } 21. Kf1 Ne3+ 22. fxe3 Bxh1 $17) (16... Bxe4!? 17. Rxd7 Nxg2+ 18. Kf1 Ne3+ 19. fxe3 Bxh1 20. Rxe7 { is similar, except White at least gained the e-pawn. }) 17. Nxc5 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 17... bxc5 { [%clk 0:03:11] } 18. Rxb7 { [%clk 0:03:35] } 18... cxd4 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 19. Bc4 { [%clk 0:03:36] } 19... Nxg2+ { White is pawn-down, but the active pieces promise an advantage. } { [%clk 0:03:04] } 20. Kd2!? { [%clk 0:02:59] } (20. Kf1 Nf4 21. Rxe7 { was better, but perhaps White feared the king being further from the d-pawn. }) 20... e6 { [%clk 0:02:48] } 21. Rg1 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 21... Nf4!? { [%clk 0:02:46] } (21... Nh4! { would better exploit the king's placement on the d2-square. } 22. Rg3 (22. Be2 f5 { is another neat idea. }) 22... Be5 $15) 22. Ba3 { [%clk 0:03:14] } 22... Rfc8 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 23. Bd6 { [%clk 0:03:23] } 23... Bh6 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 24. Rg4 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 24... Nh3+ { [%clk 0:00:39] } 25. Ke2 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 25... Rd8?! { [%clk 0:00:27] } (25... d3+ { put Black's pieces in a better position: } 26. Bxd3 Rc3 27. Rg3 Nf4+ 28. Bxf4 Bxf4 29. Rf3 g5 $15 { when the dark-squared dominance offers a slight edge to Black. }) 26. e5 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 26... Nf4+?! { [%clk 0:00:13] } (26... d3+) 27. Kf3 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 27... d3? { Black overestimated the d-pawn, and White's active king becomes the hero! } { [%clk 0:00:20] } (27... Nh5 28. Rxd4 $16) 28. Rxf4! { [%clk 0:00:59] } 28... Bxf4 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 29. Kxf4 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 29... d2 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 30. Be2 $18 { The pawn is caught, and White is winning. } { [%clk 0:01:18] } 30... Rac8 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 31. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 31... Rc2 { [%clk 0:00:11] } 32. Rxa7 { [%clk 0:01:17] } 32... Rdc8 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 33. Bd1 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 33... Rb2 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 34. a4 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 34... Rc3+ { [%clk 0:00:15] } 35. Ke2 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 35... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 36. Be7 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 36... Rc1 { [%clk 0:00:12] } 37. Rd7 { [%clk 0:00:22] } 37... Rbb1 { [%clk 0:00:14] } 38. Rxd2 $18 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 38... Ra1 { [%clk 0:00:16] } 39. h4 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 39... Kh6 { [%clk 0:00:20] } 40. Bg5+ { [%clk 0:00:32] } 40... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 41. b4 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 41... Rc4 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 42. Bf6+ { [%clk 0:00:37] } 42... Kh6 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 43. b5 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 43... Ra3 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 44. Bg5+ { [%clk 0:00:54] } 44... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 45. Bf6+ { [%clk 0:01:02] } 45... Kh6 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 46. Kf1 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 46... Ra1 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 47. Kg2 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 47... Rcc1 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 48. b6 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 48... Rcb1 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 49. Bg5+ { [%clk 0:00:49] } 49... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 50. Bf6+ { [%clk 0:00:58] } 50... Kh6 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 51. Bd8 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 51... Rb4 { [%clk 0:00:32] } 52. Be7 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:00:53] } 1-0