[Event "U.S. National Championships 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.07.15"] [Round "04"] [White "Atwell, Rose"] [Black "Yan, Ruiyang"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2271"] [BlackElo "2209"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "FM Davis Zong"] [ECO "C41"] [Opening "Philidor Defense: Lion Variation"] [StudyName "2025 U.S. National Championships"] [ChapterName "Atwell, Rose - Yan, Ruiyang"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/wghfXDuv/GkQcaaN8"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:59] } 1... d6 { [%clk 1:30:05] } 2. d4 { [%clk 1:31:21] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:30] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:31:23] } 3... e5 { [%clk 1:30:54] } 4. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:21] } 4... Nbd7 { The second Philidor Defense today! The engine likes these positions for White, but despite having less space, black is solid. } { [%clk 1:31:15] } 5. Bc4 { [%clk 1:31:04] } 5... Be7 { [%clk 1:31:36] } 6. O-O { [%clk 1:29:48] } 6... O-O { [%clk 1:31:58] } 7. Re1 { [%clk 1:30:12] } 7... c6 { [%clk 1:32:23] } 8. a4 { [%clk 1:30:26] } 8... h6 { [%clk 1:32:47] } 9. h3 { [%clk 1:27:45] } 9... Re8 { [%clk 1:33:07] } 10. b3 { [%clk 1:24:44] } 10... a5 { [%clk 1:28:42] } 11. Ba3 { [%clk 1:18:55] } 11... Qc7 { [%clk 1:17:04] } 12. Qd2 { [%clk 1:17:54] } 12... Nb6 { [%clk 1:06:35] } 13. Bf1 { [%clk 1:16:36] } 13... Be6 { [%clk 1:05:30] } 14. Rad1 { [%clk 1:13:04] } 14... Bf8 { [%clk 0:55:50] } 15. Qe3 { [%clk 1:04:05] } 15... Nbd7 { [%clk 0:44:47] } 16. d5! { Strong play by Atwell, pressing her queenside space advantage. } { [%clk 0:55:44] } 16... cxd5 { [%clk 0:45:08] } 17. exd5 { [%clk 0:55:57] } 17... Bf5 { [%clk 0:45:33] } 18. Nb5 { [%clk 0:53:14] } (18. Nd2! { was the best way to press the advantage. The c4-square is open to pile up on the d6-pawn, and Black can't win a pawn on c2 either. } 18... Bxc2 19. Rc1 Bg6 20. Nb5 Qb8 21. Nc7 $14) 18... Qb8 { [%clk 0:44:36] } 19. c4 { [%clk 0:52:02] } 19... b6 { Now we get a Sicilian-like pawn structure, despite coming from the Philidor! } { [%clk 0:44:04] } 20. Nd2 { [%clk 0:47:23] } 20... Nc5 { [%clk 0:41:17] } 21. Bxc5 { [%clk 0:43:49] } 21... bxc5 { [%clk 0:41:39] } 22. Bd3 { [%clk 0:41:55] } 22... Bxd3 { [%clk 0:40:28] } 23. Qxd3 { [%clk 0:42:21] } 23... Qc8 { [%clk 0:31:24] } 24. Ne4 { [%clk 0:38:03] } 24... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:31:11] } 25. Qxe4 { [%clk 0:38:25] } 25... Qd7 { [%clk 0:28:51] } 26. g4 { [%clk 0:35:27] } 26... g6 { [%clk 0:24:52] } 27. Qe3 { [%clk 0:29:56] } 27... Rab8 { [%clk 0:21:15] } 28. Rd3 { [%clk 0:26:16] } 28... Kh7 { [%clk 0:18:59] } 29. Qf3 { [%clk 0:22:55] } 29... Bg7 { [%clk 0:17:54] } 30. h4 { [%clk 0:22:04] } (30. Kh1! { White must brace for Black's incoming ... f7-f5 break, and sidestepping the king is a good start. } 30... Rf8 31. Rde3 f5 32. Qg2 $10) 30... f5! $17 { The attack starts. Black will pile up the major pieces on the kingside, and the b5-knight ends up being more stranded than outposted. } { [%clk 0:15:45] } 31. gxf5 { [%clk 0:21:45] } 31... gxf5 { [%clk 0:16:10] } 32. Qh3 { [%clk 0:19:11] } (32. Qh5! { was the most stubborn resistance. }) 32... e4 { [%clk 0:15:50] } 33. Rde3 { [%clk 0:18:10] } 33... Bd4 { [%clk 0:13:28] } 34. R3e2 { [%clk 0:15:04] } (34. Nxd4 { rids the sidelined knight, but gives Black three powerful central pawns. } 34... cxd4 35. Rg3 Qf7 { Rg8 is coming, and black should win. }) 34... Be5 { [%clk 0:09:58] } 35. Kh1 { [%clk 0:14:39] } 35... Qf7 { [%clk 0:08:57] } 36. f4 { [%clk 0:10:14] } 36... exf3 { [%clk 0:08:12] } 37. Rf2 { [%clk 0:09:34] } 37... Rg8 { [%clk 0:05:16] } 38. Rxf3 { [%clk 0:08:50] } 38... Rbf8 { [%clk 0:05:38] } 39. Ref1 { [%clk 0:02:06] } 39... f4 { [%clk 0:06:00] } 40. R3f2 { [%clk 0:01:03] } 40... Qh5 { The attack is irresistible because Black controls the open files and is also effectively up a piece and pawn. } { [%clk 0:04:58] } 41. Qf3 { [%clk 0:17:05] } 41... Rg4 { [%clk 0:32:50] } 42. Rh2 { [%clk 0:15:35] } 42... Rfg8 { [%clk 0:33:14] } 43. Rh3 { [%clk 0:13:07] } 43... Qg6 { Alekhine's gun! The three major pieces concentrate on a single file, preparing ... Rg4-g1. } { [%clk 0:32:49] } 44. Qd1 { [%clk 0:04:28] } 44... f3! { The pawn marches forward, attacked by three but vulnerable to none. } { [%clk 0:30:33] } 45. h5 { [%clk 0:04:15] } (45. Qxf3 Rg1+ 46. Rxg1 Qxg1#) (45. Rhxf3 Rxh4+ 46. Rh3 Rxh3#) (45. Rfxf3 Rg1+ 46. Qxg1 Qxg1#) 45... Qe4 { [%clk 0:30:58] } 46. Rfxf3 { [%clk 0:04:24] } 46... Qxf3+! { A brilliant queen sacrifice to conclude a great attacking game by Yan. } { [%clk 0:31:13] } 47. Rxf3 { [%clk 0:04:20] } 47... Rh4+ { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:31:40] } 0-1