[Event "U.S. National Championships 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.07.15"] [Round "07"] [White "Fishbein, Alexander"] [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2368"] [BlackElo "2478"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Matt Clibanoff"] [ECO "B32"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Godiva Variation"] [StudyName "2025 U.S. National Championships"] [ChapterName "Fishbein, Alexander - Shabalov, Alexander"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/wghfXDuv/1t8s64io"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:51] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:30:53] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:18] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:17] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:31:44] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:31:43] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:32:12] } 4... Qb6!? { Fun! Unfortunately for Shabalov, his odd opening play did not serve him well this game. } { [%clk 1:32:05] } 5. Nb3 { [%clk 1:32:06] } 5... e6 { [%clk 1:32:28] } 6. Bd3 { [%clk 1:31:12] } 6... Nf6 { [%clk 1:27:19] } 7. Nc3 { [%clk 1:31:16] } 7... Qc7!? { We're basically out of theory here. Black's plans are more or less unclear. } { [%clk 1:27:17] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:29:04] } 8... a6 { [%clk 1:27:42] } 9. f4! { Logical. If Black isn't going to develop toward the center, White may as well grab the space. } { [%clk 1:27:31] } 9... d6 { [%clk 1:28:07] } 10. Qf3 { [%clk 1:27:33] } 10... Be7 { [%clk 1:23:23] } 11. Bd2 { [%clk 1:27:34] } 11... Nb4 { [%clk 1:07:49] } 12. Nb5! { [%clk 1:10:30] } 12... Qb6+ { [%clk 0:56:23] } (12... axb5 13. Bxb4) 13. Be3 { [%clk 1:10:26] } 13... Qd8 { [%clk 0:56:40] } 14. N5d4 { [%clk 1:04:25] } 14... Nxd3 { [%clk 0:52:35] } 15. cxd3 { An interesting idea. Pulling more pawns toward the center at the expense of the bishop pair. White likely figured that Black's light-squared bishop was going to have long-term issues. } { [%clk 1:04:51] } 15... O-O { [%clk 0:52:59] } 16. Rac1 { [%clk 0:59:39] } 16... a5 { [%clk 0:45:36] } 17. Rc2 { [%clk 0:54:39] } 17... Bd7 { [%clk 0:29:22] } 18. Rfc1 { [%clk 0:48:11] } 18... g6 { [%clk 0:26:44] } 19. h3 { [%clk 0:45:07] } 19... Ra6 { [%clk 0:19:16] } 20. Qf2 { [%clk 0:35:33] } 20... Re8 { [%clk 0:17:48] } 21. Nf3 { [%clk 0:24:45] } 21... Bf8 { [%clk 0:17:39] } 22. Bd4 { [%clk 0:23:33] } (22. g4!? { This is where my head is at, but perhaps this isn't patient enough. } 22... a4 23. Nbd2 Bb5 24. Nc4 { It seems as though White will likely gain the bishop pair and have a decent attack, though Black can likely defend. }) 22... Nh5 { [%clk 0:15:51] } 23. Be3 { [%clk 0:19:12] } 23... Bb5 { [%clk 0:11:01] } 24. Qd2 { [%clk 0:17:54] } 24... e5? { [%clk 0:10:40] } 25. fxe5 { [%clk 0:16:16] } 25... dxe5 { [%clk 0:11:02] } 26. Nc5 { [%clk 0:15:57] } (26. Rc8!! Qf6 (26... Qxc8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Nxe5 { White's attack is coming together. The misplaced rook on a6 is definitely hurting Black's pieces' cohesion. }) 27. Rxe8 Bxe8 28. Rc8) 26... Rc6 { [%clk 0:08:09] } 27. a4! { White grabs the bishop pair and steals whatever small long-term compensation Black can claim. } { [%clk 0:15:10] } 27... Bxc5 { [%clk 0:07:21] } 28. Rxc5 { [%clk 0:14:54] } 28... Bxa4 { [%clk 0:06:42] } 29. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:14:47] } 29... Rxc5 { [%clk 0:05:23] } 30. Rxc5 { [%clk 0:15:11] } 30... b6 { [%clk 0:03:59] } 31. Rd5 { [%clk 0:15:08] } 31... Qc7 { [%clk 0:03:37] } 32. Ng4 { The dark-squared holes around Black's king are menacing, but it's not impossible to muster some kind of defense. } { [%clk 0:14:59] } 32... Rd8?? { Losing on the spot. } { [%clk 0:01:42] } (32... Re6! { Keeping an eye on f6 and possible sliding into c6 to attempt liquidation. }) 33. Qc3 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:14:15] } 1-0