[Event "Pro Chess League 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.14"] [Round "2"] [White "Liang, Awonder"] [Black "Preotu, Razvan"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2643"] [BlackElo "2494"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A04"] [Opening "Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation"] [StudyName "PCL: Instructive moments from weeks 1 and 2"] [ChapterName "Liang, Awonder - Preotu, Razvan"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/r4rOm8dU/I2hEGf5b"] [Orientation "white"] { Endgame woes } 1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. c4 O-O 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5 Qxd5 9. Nc3 Qf5 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Ne2 Nb4 13. Ng3 Qd5 14. Bc4 Qd6 15. a3 Nc6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Ne4 Qc7 18. Nxc5 Be8 19. Qe2 Qb6 20. d4 e5 21. Na4 Qa5 22. d5 Ne7 23. Nc3 Qxa3 24. Rfd1 Nf5 25. Ne4 Bg7 26. Nfd2 Qb4 27. g4 Ne7 28. Nf3 b5 29. d6 bxc4 30. dxe7 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 cxb3 32. Rd8 Qxe4 33. Qb5 Qxg4+ 34. Kf1 h5 35. Qxe8+ Kh7 36. Qg8+ Kh6 37. e8=Q Qxf3 38. Qh8+ Bxh8 39. Qxh8+ Kg5 40. Qxe5+ Kg4? { I like this position because it forces the attacking side (now: White) to figure out what their goals are before they begin calculating. If the goal is to somehow win the a8-rook, or deflect the queen onto the a8-square as to scoop up the passed b-pawn, I can't imagine one would spend much time considering moving the rook off the back rank here. } (40... Kh6 { and White has nothing better than } 41. Qh8+ Kg5 42. Qe5+ Kh6 43. Qh8+) 41. Qd4+?? { Now Black is winning. } (41. Rd4+ { But Black's king is far too low on squares to get fixated on defense. } 41... Kh3 42. Qg5! { and mate is unstoppable. } 42... Qh1+ (42... Qg4 43. Rxg4 hxg4 44. Qh6# { could be easy to miss, too. }) 43. Ke2 Qf1+ 44. Kxf1 b2 45. Qg3#) 41... Kh3 { Without the dual threats on the h4- and g3-square, Black's king is safe. } 42. Rxa8 b2 (42... Qh1+ 43. Ke2 Qxa8 44. Qb2 Qd5 $19) 43. Rb8 b1=Q+ 44. Rxb1 Qh1+ 45. Ke2 Qxb1 46. Qd7+ f5 47. Qxa7 Qc2+ 48. Ke1 Qc1+ 49. Ke2 Qc2+ 50. Ke1 Kxh2 51. Qe7 Qc1+ 52. Ke2 Qc4+ 53. Ke1 Kg2 54. Qb7+ Qe4 55. Qb2 Qf3 56. Qd2 h4 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1