[Event "U.S. National Championships 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.07.15"] [Round "07"] [White "Woodward, Andy"] [Black "Hardaway, Brewington"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2567"] [BlackElo "2498"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Matt Clibanoff"] [ECO "A05"] [Opening "King's Indian Attack: Spassky Variation"] [StudyName "2025 U.S. National Championships"] [ChapterName "Woodward, Andy - Hardaway, Brewington"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/wghfXDuv/LzBWVMJ7"] [Orientation "white"] 1. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:54] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:48] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:31:14] } 2... b5!? { This is certainly a choice! Black is playing an offbeat sideline (although, with d2-d4 included, this would be a less obscure approach) as a means of playing for a win. Shabalov tried this as White in round 6. Hardaway tries it as Black in round 7. } { [%clk 1:30:56] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:27:11] } 3... Bb7 { [%clk 1:31:17] } 4. d4 { [%clk 1:24:14] } 4... e6 { [%clk 1:31:35] } 5. Bg5 { [%clk 1:21:44] } 5... c5 { [%clk 1:29:47] } 6. O-O { [%clk 1:21:56] } (6. c3! { Perhaps the more crucial try. The alternative allows Black to trade off White's light-squared bishop. }) 6... cxd4 { [%clk 1:11:17] } 7. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:22:13] } 7... Bxg2 { [%clk 1:11:19] } 8. Bxf6 { [%clk 1:22:27] } 8... Qxf6 { [%clk 1:10:10] } 9. Kxg2 { After an exciting opening, it feels as though both players are content with liquidation. } { [%clk 1:22:45] } 9... a6 { [%clk 1:10:10] } 10. Qd3 { [%clk 1:19:35] } 10... Bc5 { No more theory to follow here, and the game is about even. } { [%clk 1:05:08] } 11. Nb3 { [%clk 1:19:15] } 11... Be7 { [%clk 1:04:22] } 12. c3 { [%clk 1:07:01] } 12... Nc6 { [%clk 1:01:43] } 13. N1d2 { [%clk 1:06:09] } 13... Ne5 { [%clk 0:49:55] } 14. Qd4 { [%clk 0:56:03] } 14... Nc6 { [%clk 0:45:26] } 15. Qe3! { A good indication that White isn't necessarily settling for a draw just yet. Trading queens would have likely iced it. } { [%clk 0:45:03] } 15... O-O { [%clk 0:44:06] } 16. Nd4 { [%clk 0:44:46] } 16... e5 { [%clk 0:39:30] } 17. Nxc6 { [%clk 0:43:43] } 17... Qxc6+ { [%clk 0:39:54] } 18. Kg1 { [%clk 0:43:10] } 18... f6 { [%clk 0:36:11] } 19. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:39:51] } 19... d5 { [%clk 0:36:13] } 20. Nf1 { [%clk 0:37:52] } 20... Rad8 { [%clk 0:32:36] } 21. Qf3 { [%clk 0:33:21] } 21... f5 { [%clk 0:28:49] } 22. Ne3 { [%clk 0:31:03] } 22... e4 { [%clk 0:28:04] } 23. Qf4 { This is a fine move, but White missed a more crucial try. } { [%clk 0:27:36] } (23. Nxf5! { Eyeing the fork on e7. } 23... Bc5 24. Qf4 Qe6 25. g4 g6 { Looking to exploit the pin. } 26. Qg3! { Tough to see this at the end of the line. Black cannot take on f5 because of the discovery. }) 23... Qe6 { [%clk 0:25:04] } 24. Nc2 { [%clk 0:28:05] } 24... g5 { [%clk 0:17:12] } 25. Qc7 { [%clk 0:28:33] } 25... f4 { [%clk 0:16:40] } 26. Nd4 { [%clk 0:28:10] } 26... Qf6 { [%clk 0:11:56] } 27. Rf1 { [%clk 0:20:09] } 27... Bd6 { [%clk 0:10:12] } 28. Qc6! { White wisely forces the queen trade. Without a bishop on either e5 or e7, White will win a pawn, but without this resource Black's pawn storm is looking strong. } { [%clk 0:20:16] } 28... Be5 { [%clk 0:10:12] } 29. Qxf6 { [%clk 0:19:48] } 29... Rxf6 { [%clk 0:10:30] } 30. Rfd1 { [%clk 0:18:49] } 30... Rb6 { [%clk 0:06:41] } 31. Rd2 { [%clk 0:16:22] } 31... Kf7 { [%clk 0:06:26] } 32. a4 { [%clk 0:16:50] } 32... Bxd4 { [%clk 0:05:36] } 33. Rxd4 { [%clk 0:17:11] } 33... bxa4 { [%clk 0:06:03] } 34. Ra2 { [%clk 0:16:49] } 34... Rdb8 { [%clk 0:04:15] } 35. Rxd5 { [%clk 0:14:52] } 35... Rxb2 { [%clk 0:04:40] } 36. Rxa4 { [%clk 0:15:09] } 36... Rxe2 { [%clk 0:04:56] } 37. gxf4 { [%clk 0:15:34] } 37... e3 { [%clk 0:02:13] } 38. Rf5+ { [%clk 0:14:55] } (38. fxe3?? { Careful! } 38... Rb1+ { With mate coming. }) 38... Kg6 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 39. Rxg5+ { [%clk 0:15:19] } 39... Kf7 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 40. Rf5+ { [%clk 0:13:30] } 40... Kg6 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 41. Rg5+ { [%clk 0:13:53] } 41... Kf7 { [%clk 0:03:10] } 42. Rf5+ { [%clk 0:14:17] } 42... Kg6 { [%clk 0:30:07] } (42... Ke6?? { Black cannot step onto the e-file without losing the e3-pawn. } 43. Re5+) (42... Kg8 43. Rg5+ Kh8 { This feels possible, but it is so alien to positional principles that no one could reasonably be expected to play it. }) 43. Rg5+ { Draw. } { [%clk 0:13:34] } 1/2-1/2