[Event "2023 Cadets"] [Site "Chicago"] [Date "2023.06.22"] [Round "1"] [White "Erick Zhao"] [Black "Ryo Chen"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B60"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/tWxguHFZ/L8QVkG4e"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 a6 7. Qd2 Qb6 8. Nb3 e6 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6!? { This unforced capture has not scored well for White in practice, although it is in the spirit of the Richter-Rauzer. Black likely will not need to castle, anyways, and can start the flank attack right away. } 11... gxf6 12. Bd3 b4 $146 13. Ne2 Bd7 14. f5 e5 15. Bc4?! (15. Kb1 { Perhaps White thought he was provoking Black's knight move, but in practice it just gave Black a vital tempo to conduct the attack. This prophylactic move is more logical. }) 15... Nd4 16. Bd3 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 a5 18. Bc4 Bc6 19. Bd5 Rc8 20. c4 a4?! 21. Kc2 (21. Qxb4! { was playable, as } 21... axb3 (21... Rb8?? 22. Bxc6+) 22. Qxb3 { is perfectly fine. }) 21... axb3+ 22. Kxb3 Bh6 23. Bxc6+ Qxc6 24. Qd5 Ke7 (24... Rg8 25. Ng3 Ke7 26. Qxc6 Rxc6 27. Ra1 Rc7 $14) 25. Qxc6 Rxc6 26. Kxb4 $18 Rb6+ 27. Kc3 Rg8 28. g3 Rg4 { It looks like Black has gained enough counterplay, and after White's next move the game is equal. But one subtle finesse ensured a lasting plus: } 29. Kd3? (29. Rhe1! Kd7 (29... Rxe4? 30. Nf4! Rxe1 31. Nd5+ Kd8 32. Rxe1 Ra6 33. Nxf6 $18) 30. Ng1 $18 { and where's Black's counterplay? The bad bishop and backwards d6-pawn will be fatal. }) 29... Rxb2 30. Nc3 Kf8 31. Nd5 Bg5 32. Nc3 h5 33. Nb5 h4 34. Kc3 Re2? { Another subtle point. The pawn is vulnerable on d6 now: } (34... Rf2! 35. Rxd6 (35. Nxd6 Be3) 35... Be3 36. gxh4 Bc5 37. Rd8+ Ke7 38. Rhd1 Bd4+ 39. R1xd4 exd4+ 40. Rxd4 Rff4) 35. gxh4 (35. Nxd6! Be3?? { Is the right idea, using the time White took to go after the d6-pawn to disconnect White's pieces. } 36. Kd3! { This is why the rook should not have been on e2. }) 35... Be3 36. Kd3 Rgg2 37. Rhe1 Rxe1 38. Rxe1 Bc5 39. Re2 Rg4 40. Nc3 Rxh4 41. Rg2 Rh3+ 42. Kc2 Bd4 43. Nd5 Ra3 44. Kd1 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Rc1? { Black has been holding serve, but overestimates his chances. The c4-pawn is weak, but once Black takes it, there is no longer a serious weakness in White's camp to go after. } (45... Ra3 46. Nxf6 Ke7 47. Nd5+ Kf8 48. f6 Bc5 { and White has no way to make progress, as: } 49. h4 Rh3 $14 { is equal. }) 46. Nxf6 Rc2+ 47. Kf3 Rc3+ 48. Kg4 Rxc4 49. Kh5 Ke7 50. Nd5+ Kf8 51. Kh6 Rc1 52. Kh7 Rg1 { Now, White misses a mating net. } 53. Rxg1? (53. Rc2! Bc5 54. Ra2 Ke8 { There is no other way out. } 55. Ra8+ Kd7 56. h4 Rh1 { and while Black picks up the h-pawn, it doesn't matter: } 57. Kg7 Rxh4 58. Kxf7 Bf2 59. Rg8 $18 { with a winning position. }) (53. Ra2 $18 { also works. }) 53... Bxg1 54. h3 Bh2 55. Kh6 Bf4+ 56. Kh5 Bd2 57. f6 Kg8 58. Ne7+ Kf8 59. Kg4 (59. Nf5 { was winning here, but White finds it soon. } 59... Bb4 60. Kh6 Bc5 61. h4 $18) 59... Bc1 60. h4 Bd2 (60... Ke8! { was the next-to-last chance, helping Black's king get back to the queenside in time to meet White's king. } 61. h5 Kd7 62. Kf5 Ke8 63. Ng8 Kf8) 61. h5 Bc1 62. Kf5 (62. Nf5 Ba3 63. Kg3 Bc5 64. Nh6 Bb4 65. Kf3 Bd2 66. Ng4 Bg5 67. Ke2 Bf4 68. Kd3 $18) 62... Bd2?? { Now it is too late. } (62... Ke8 { was the last chance. }) 63. Kg4 Bc1 64. Nf5 Ba3 65. Kf3 Bc1 66. Kg4 Ba3 67. Kh4 Bb4 68. Ne3 Bd2 69. Ng4 Bf4 70. Kh3 Kg8 71. Kg2 d5 (71... Kh8 72. Kf3 Kh7 (72... Bd2 73. Ke2 Bb4 74. Kd3 Bc5 75. Kc4 Kh7 76. Kd5 Kg8 77. Kc6 Kf8 78. Kd7 Ba3 79. Ne3 { illustrates what happens if Black attempts to passively hold the d-pawn. }) 73. Ke2 Kg8 74. Kd3 Kh7 75. Kc4 { is clearly winning. }) 72. exd5 e4 73. Nf2 e3 74. Ng4 Bg5 75. d6 Bf4 76. d7 Bc7 77. Nxe3 Kh7 78. Ng4 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0