[Event "Rated Rapid game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/4stQKfH1"] [Date "2021.10.07"] [White "degroot-n"] [Black "tylerrn"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1418"] [TimeControl "900+5"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B07"] [Opening "Pirc Defense"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Giannatos"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/wmaQpOwL/9L5gNZx1"] [Orientation "white"] { Quintin Degroot (Novetta) vs Tyler Nielsen (IBM) } 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 1... d6 { [%clk 0:15:00] } 2. d4 { [%clk 0:14:51] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 0:14:57] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 0:14:49] } 3... g6 { [%clk 0:14:58] } 4. Bf4 { [%clk 0:14:36] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 0:14:54] } 5. Nf3 { The Pirc Defense is a dynamic option against e4. It has been used by many Grandmasters who are really looking for a fight with the Black pieces. } { [%clk 0:14:34] } 5... Nh5 { Not a good use of time. Black should Castle and then decide how to expand on the queenside or center. } { [%clk 0:14:51] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 0:14:01] } 6... O-O { [%clk 0:14:50] } 7. Bc4 { [%clk 0:13:59] } 7... Nc6 { [%clk 0:14:25] } 8. O-O { [%clk 0:13:54] } 8... e5 { [%clk 0:14:09] } 9. a3 { [%clk 0:13:41] } 9... Bg4 { [%clk 0:13:26] } 10. Be2? { A big blunder by White, who underestimates the number of attackers pointing at d4. } { [%clk 0:13:21] } 10... Bxf3 { [%clk 0:12:55] } 11. Bxf3 { [%clk 0:13:16] } 11... exd4 { This fork costs White a piece. } { [%clk 0:12:58] } 12. Bxh5 { [%clk 0:12:12] } 12... gxh5 { [%clk 0:13:01] } 13. Bf4 { [%clk 0:10:21] } 13... dxc3 { [%clk 0:12:57] } 14. bxc3 { [%clk 0:10:26] } 14... Bxc3 { [%clk 0:12:44] } 15. Rb1 { [%clk 0:10:20] } 15... Kh8 { [%clk 0:12:01] } 16. Rxb7 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 16... Qh4 { [%clk 0:11:16] } 17. Bh6 { [%clk 0:09:01] } 17... Rg8 { [%clk 0:11:10] } 18. f3 { [%clk 0:07:52] } 18... Rg6 { [%clk 0:10:24] } 19. Rxc7 { [%clk 0:07:52] } 19... Rag8 { [%clk 0:09:10] } 20. g3 { [%clk 0:06:35] } 20... Rxg3+! { Black, who was already up material, now goes for a strong sacrificial attack. The Rook cannot be taken. } { [%clk 0:08:45] } 21. Kf2 { [%clk 0:05:57] } (21. hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Kh1 Qg2#) (21. Kh1 Rg2! $19) 21... Bd4+ { [%clk 0:07:28] } 22. Ke2 { A long king walk ensues. } { [%clk 0:05:35] } 22... Qxh2+ { [%clk 0:07:04] } 23. Kd3 { [%clk 0:04:50] } 23... Ne5+ { [%clk 0:05:49] } 24. Kxd4 { [%clk 0:04:23] } 24... Qg2 { [%clk 0:04:27] } 25. Kd5 { [%clk 0:02:38] } (25. Kc3 { White, who has regained a piece, should absolutely take the chance to run for cover on the queenside. }) 25... Nxf3 { [%clk 0:04:09] } 26. Kxd6 { [%clk 0:01:43] } (26. Qa1+! { A hard move to see, but a strong one. } 26... Ne5 27. Rfxf7 { With unstoppable threats on h7. White would now be winning! }) 26... R8g6+ { [%clk 0:03:44] } 27. Kd7 { Going the wrong way, although the White King on d7 does make quite an impression! } { [%clk 0:01:24] } 27... Rxh6 { [%clk 0:03:46] } 28. Rxf3 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 28... Rxf3 { [%clk 0:03:47] } 29. Qd4+ { [%clk 0:01:08] } 29... f6 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 30. e5 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 30... fxe5 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 31. Qxe5+ { [%clk 0:00:58] } 31... Rff6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 32. Qe8+ { [%clk 0:00:53] } 32... Kg7?? { [%clk 0:02:56] } (32... Qg8 { essentially forces the trade of Queens, after which Black will win easily. }) 33. Kc8+ { An amazing discovered check, completing the King's journey to the opposite side of the board. Black is mated! } { [%clk 0:00:45] } 33... Rf7 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 34. Qxf7+?? { The seemingly more natural move, but White misses a "ladder checkmate" } { [%clk 0:00:48] } (34. Rxf7+ Kg6 35. Qg8# { Mate! }) 34... Kh8 { The dust settles, and material is roughly equal, and neither side is getting mated. The omnipresent engine ranks the game as completely equal (0.00) .... } { [%clk 0:02:27] } 35. Qf8+ { [%clk 0:00:44] } 35... Qg8 { [%clk 0:02:29] } 36. Qxg8+ { [%clk 0:00:43] } 36... Kxg8 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 37. Rxa7 { As no one would have predicted 10 moves ago, we are now in an equal Rook endgame, where correct play would lead to a draw. } { [%clk 0:00:44] } 37... Rc6+ { White, who was in time pressure, makes the unfortunate decision to trade Rooks into this "Searching for Bobby Fischer" pawn race. } { [%clk 0:02:35] } 38. Rc7 { [%clk 0:00:46] } (38. Kd7 Rxc2 39. Ke6 $10 { Black's h-pawns will not be able to win the game. }) 38... Rxc7+ { [%clk 0:02:33] } 39. Kxc7 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 39... h4 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 40. a4 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 40... h3 { [%clk 0:02:42] } 41. a5 { [%clk 0:00:45] } 41... h2 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 42. a6 { [%clk 0:00:49] } 42... h1=Q { Unfortunately for White, Black promotes with plenty of time to stop White from promotion. The rest is quite easy. } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 43. a7 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 43... Qa8 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 44. Kb6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 44... h5 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 45. c4 { [%clk 0:00:58] } 45... h4 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 46. c5 { [%clk 0:01:03] } 46... h3 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 47. c6 { [%clk 0:01:08] } 47... h2 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 48. c7 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 48... h1=Q { [%clk 0:02:47] } 49. c8=Q+ { [%clk 0:01:13] } 49... Qxc8 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 50. a8=Q { [%clk 0:01:14] } 50... Qcxa8 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 51. Kc7 { [%clk 0:01:18] } 51... Qh7+ { [%clk 0:02:54] } 52. Kd6 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 52... Qa6+ { [%clk 0:02:57] } 53. Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:23] } 53... Qh5+ { [%clk 0:02:59] } 54. Kf4 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 54... Qa4+ { [%clk 0:03:02] } 55. Ke3 { [%clk 0:01:31] } 55... Qh3+ { [%clk 0:03:04] } 56. Kd2 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 56... Qa2+ { [%clk 0:03:08] } 57. Ke1 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 57... Qh1# { 0-1 Black wins by checkmate. } { [%clk 0:03:07] } 0-1