2025 SCO Games - Test

[Event "30th Space Coast Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.05.03"] [Round "3"] [White "Blanco Milhet, Leandro"] [Black "Stone, Wang"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Blanco Milhet,Leandro"] [ECO "D02"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2178563455131703"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] {[%evp 0,89,24,23,24,22,21,23,30,17,24,15,24,20,41,44,43,36,43,20,35,35,29,-6,27,24,9,16,47,47,48,48,96,96,79,70,79,49,45,45,39,39,37,34,34,26,33,58,32,24,64,17,81,43,150,108,269,265,286,281,660,770,846,617,705,693,721,721,679,725,1040,1036,1419,1537,1537,1538,2120,2367,29985,29986,29987,1477,1670,1225,1178,1219,29993,29994,29997,29998,29999,-29999]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 d5 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Ngf3 Qb6 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. h4 $5 {Interesting move. White risks everything for the attack and leaves his King in the middle of the board for a while.} (11. Qh5 g6 12. Qh6 $16) 11... g6 $2 (11... f5 $142 12. h5 $16) 12. h5 $16 g5 13. h6 $1 {Sacrificing the bishop in an early stage of the game, but it is impossible to take it cause it will lead to mate in three.} Kh8 (13... gxf4 $4 14. Qg4+ Bg5 15. Qxg5+ Kh8 16. Qg7#) 14. Bg3 c4 15. Bc2 f6 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qh5 e5 {Black occupies the center with his pawns.} 18. Nf3 Qd8 19. Rd1 e4 20. Nd4 $16 (20. Nxg5 $142 $1 Bxg5 21. Rxd5 Bf6 22. Rh4 Bxh4 23. Bxh4 Qe8 24. Qd1 Qe6 25. Qd4+ Rf6 26. Bxe4 Kg8 27. Rg5+ Kf8 28. Bd5 Qd6 29. Rg8+ Ke7 30. Qe4+ Qe5 31. Bxf6+ Kxf6 32. Qh4+ Kf5 33. g4#) 20... Nc5 21. O-O Nd3 22. b3 Qe7 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. f3 exf3 25. Qxf3 g4 $2 (25... Bd7 $142 26. Bxd3 cxd3 27. Qxb7 Bg4 28. Qxe7 Bxe7 29. Be5+ Kg8 30. Rxd3 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 $16) 26. Qe2 $18 Ne5 27. Rf2 Nf7 28. Qxc4 {And finally the last of the three proud black pawns falls and there is no trace of the former dominant center.} Nxh6 29. Qd3 Qg7 30. Rdf1 Ng8 31. e4 $1 (31. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 (31... Nxf6 32. Be5 Kg8 33. Bb3+ Kh8 34. Nb5 a6 35. Rxf6 Rxf6 36. Qd8+ Rf8 37. Qxf8#) 32. Rxf6 (32. Be5 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Nf6 34. Kg1 Kg8 35. Bb3+ Kf8 36. Nb5 $18) 32... Nxf6 33. Be5 Kg8 34. Bb3+ Kf8 35. Nb5 $18) 31... Bd7 32. e5 $1 {And so begins the triumphal march of the E pawn.} Be7 33. e6 $1 Rxf2 34. Rxf2 Nf6 {Wang preferred to sacrifice the piece rather than allow the brilliant sequence that will follow whether he played Be8 or Bc6 while saving his bishop.} (34... Be8 35. Be5 $1 Bf6 36. Rxf6 Nxf6 37. Bxf6 Bg6 38. Bxg7+ Kxg7 39. Nf5+ $18) (34... Bc6 35. Be5 Nf6 36. Rxf6 Bxf6 37. Bxf6 $18) 35. exd7 Qh6 36. Nf5 Qc1+ 37. Rf1 Bc5+ 38. Kh2 Qg5 39. d8=Q+ Bf8 40. Qxf6+ Qxf6 41. Qd4 Qxd4 42. cxd4 Rc8 43. Be5+ Kg8 44. Bb3+ Rc4 45. Bxc4# 1-0 [Event "30th Space Coast Open"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2025.05.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Amburgy, Ryan"] [Black "Atwell, Rose"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Amburgy,Ryan"] [ECO "E07"] [PlyCount "93"] [GameId "2178563717910622"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 $5 {Usually I play Bf4 here, but I wanted a different kind of game today. She normally plays the Bb4+ line against the Catalan, so I figured that this was a decent idea to get her out of her usual prep} O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qd3 b6 9. e4 Ba6 10. b3 c5 {This is where I started out of theory} 11. e5 $6 (11. exd5 exd5 (11... Nxd5 {Is probably a better move, but seems less scary}) 12. Rd1 {I think I was afraid of the center collapsing, but its actually quite solid and white is doing great here}) 11... dxc4 12. bxc4 Nd5 13. Nb5 Bxb5 14. cxb5 {I liked the activity my pawns on b5 and e5 would guarantee me in the long run, but in the short run black can obtain counterplay against them} Rc8 15. h4 Qc7 16. Bg5 c4 $2 {While not hated by the engine, I think this was a really big mistake, giving her a position with very little counterplay} (16... cxd4 {The tactics all work out here} 17. Rfc1 (17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Qxd4 Rfd8 $36 {Black is a little better here, I wanted to avoid this}) 17... Nxe5 18. Rxc7 Nxd3 19. Rxe7 Nxe7 20. Bxe7 Rfe8 21. Bg5 e5 $13 {While white for sure has the long term advantage with the two minors, getting the pieces ideally placed is not easy, especially as the appealing Nd2 traps the bishop on g5}) 17. Qc2 Ba3 18. Bc1 Be7 19. Ng5 Bxg5 20. hxg5 $1 {Opening up the potential for the future idea of Be4, Kg2, and Rh1} (20. Bxg5 $2 {Would unquestionably be much weaker}) 20... Rfd8 21. Ba3 Nf8 22. Rac1 (22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Kg2 {Was what the engine wanted, but I didn't trust that I actually had anything on the kingside and that the c4 pawn would be a long term asset for black.}) (22. Bd6 {Was another option, but black has good compensation after the exchange sacrifice} Rxd6 23. exd6 Qxd6) 22... Qd7 23. Qb1 a6 $5 {A very aggressive option, sacrificing a pawn to get a protected passer on c4} (23... Ng6 {Was more solid}) 24. bxa6 Ng6 25. Bd6 b5 26. a4 b4 27. Bxd5 exd5 28. Qxb4 Nf4 {I completely overlooked this move, and got lucky that I still had a good response} (28... Qg4 29. a7 {With complications that should favor me is what I expected}) 29. Qd2 $1 Nd3 30. Rb1 Ra8 31. a5 Rxa6 32. Rb6 Qa7 33. Bc7 $2 {A careless move that wasn't punished} (33. Rfb1 {there is no reason not to play this immediately, I forgot that black can't take on a5 even here} Rxa5 (33... Rxb6 34. axb6 {Leads to the game continuation}) 34. Rb8 $18) 33... Rc8 $2 (33... Ra8 $1 34. Rxa6 Qxa6 {White is still much better, but now the game is not so clear}) 34. Rfb1 $1 {This was my idea behind Bc7, black is tied up everywhere} g6 35. Bd6 Rxb6 36. axb6 Qb7 37. Qd1 Ra8 38. Qf3 Rc8 39. Kh2 Ra8 40. Kg1 Rc8 41. Qe2 Rc6 (41... Re8 42. Qa2 {and white finally breaks through}) 42. e6 $1 Rc8 43. exf7+ Kxf7 44. Ra1 Re8 45. Qf3+ Kg8 46. Ra7 Qxb6 47. Qf7+ 1-0 [Event "30th Space Coast Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.05.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Brink, Xander"] [Black "Allen, Clayton"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/TheManInTheFedora"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "866"] [BlackElo "999"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2173795601805312"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%eval 18,0]} d6 {[%eval 43,0]} 2. d4 {[%eval 43,0]} Nf6 {[%eval 43,0]} 3. Nc3 {[%eval 38,0]} g6 {[%eval 63,0]} 4. Nf3 {[%eval 44,0]} Bg7 {[%eval 56,0]} 5. Bc4 {[%eval 19,0]} O-O {[%eval 15,0][%csl Ge2,Ge4][%cal Gd1e2,Gc4b3]} 6. O-O {[%eval 17,0]} Nxe4 {[%eval 13,0]} 7. Nxe4 {[%eval 16,0]} d5 {[%eval 21,0]} 8. Bd3 {[%eval 2,0][%cal Gc4d3]} dxe4 {[%eval 5,0]} 9. Bxe4 {[%eval 22,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 65,0][%csl Gd4]} 10. Be3 {[%eval 12,0]} (10. c3 {[%csl Gb2,Gc3,Gd4][%cal Gg7b2]}) 10... Qd7 $6 {[%eval 82,0] Inaccuracy. Bg4 was best.} (10... Bg4) 11. Qd2 {[%eval 38,0]} Qg4 $6 {[%eval 136,0] Inaccuracy. Rd8 was best.} (11... Rd8 12. c3 e5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh6 Qf7 15. h3 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 exd4 17. Rad1) 12. Bxc6 {[%eval 132,0]} bxc6 {[%eval 153,0]} 13. Bh6 {[%eval 149,0][%cal Ge3h6,Gg7h6]} Ba6 $6 {[%eval 259,0] Inaccuracy. Bxh6 was best.} (13... Bxh6 14. Qxh6 f6 15. Rfe1 Qd7 16. Rad1 Re8 17. c3 Qf5 18. Re3 c5 19. Rde1) 14. Rfe1 {[%eval 254,0]} Bc4 $6 {[%eval 384,0] Inaccuracy. Qd7 was best.} (14... Qd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Re5 f6 17. Rc5 Rfe8 18. Re1 e5 19. dxe5 Qxd2 20. Nxd2) 15. Bxg7 {[%eval 381,0]} Kxg7 {[%eval 381,0]} 16. Rxe7 {[%eval 345,0]} Rac8 {[%eval 373,0]} 17. Ne5 $4 {[%eval 163,0] Blunder. h3 was best.} (17. h3 Qf5 18. Rae1 Bd5 19. Ne5 Rfe8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. c4 Be6 22. Nxc6 Bd7) 17... Qe2 $4 {[%eval 427,0] Blunder. Qh4 was best.} (17... Qh4 18. Nxc6) 18. Qxe2 {[%eval 424,0]} Bxe2 {[%eval 425,0]} 19. Nxc6 {[%eval 452,0][%cal Gc6a7,Ge7c7]} a6 $6 {[%eval 651,0] Inaccuracy. Rce8 was best.} (19... Rce8 20. Rxc7 Rc8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. d5 Ba6 23. c3 Bc4 24. Nxa7 Ra8 25. Nc6) 20. Rxe2 {[%eval 649,0]} h5 {[%eval 704,0]} 21. Rae1 {[%eval 703,0]} Kh7 {[%eval 739,0]} 22. Nb4 {[%eval 657,0]} a5 {[%eval 699,0]} 23. Nc6 {[%eval 705,0]} a4 {[%eval 708,0]} 24. Re7 {[%eval 698,0]} Kg7 {[%eval 679,0]} 25. R1e6 {[%eval 644,0]} Kg8 {[%eval 729,0]} 26. Rf6 {[%eval 638,0]} Kg7 {[%eval 699,0]} 27. Rf3 {[%eval 688,0]} Rce8 {[%eval 752,0]} 28. Rfxf7+ {[%eval 756,0]} Rxf7 {[%eval 748,0]} 29. Rxe8 {[%eval 717,0]} Rf6 {[%eval 768,0]} 30. Re7+ {[%eval 773,0]} Kh6 {[%eval 793,0]} 31. Rxc7 {[%eval 784,0]} Re6 {[%eval 791,0]} 32. f3 {[%eval 735,0]} Re2 {[%eval 786,0]} 33. Nb4 {[%eval 792,0]} Rd2 {[%eval 757,0]} 34. Rd7 {[%eval 699,0]} Kg5 {[%eval 747,0]} 35. b3 {[%eval 662,0]} a3 {[%eval 723,0]} 36. c4 {[%eval 716,0]} Kf4 {[%eval 765,0]} 37. Rf7+ {[%eval 712,0]} Ke3 {[%eval 843,0]} 38. Re7+ {[%eval 833,0]} Kf4 {[%eval 827,0]} 39. d5 {[%eval 801,0]} Kf5 {[%eval 832,0]} 40. c5 {[%eval 807,0]} Kf6 {[%eval 1006,0]} 41. Re6+ {[%eval 973,0]} Kf7 {[%eval 997,0]} 42. c6 {[%eval 869,0]} Rd4 $2 {[%eval 32734,0] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Rd1+ was best.} (42... Rd1+ 43. Kf2 Rc1 44. Ke3 g5 45. Kd4 g4 46. Re2 Rh1 47. c7 Rc1 48. Nc6) 43. c7 {[%eval 1395,0]} Rd1+ {[%eval 1112,0]} 44. Kf2 {[%eval 1035,0]} Rc1 $6 {[%eval 32752,0] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Rxd5 was best.} (44... Rxd5 45. Nxd5 Kxe6 46. c8=Q+ Kxd5 47. Ke3 Kd6 48. Ke4 Ke7 49. Qc7+ Ke6 50. Qe5+) 45. Nc6 {[%eval 32754,0]} Ra1 {[%eval 32756,0]} 46. c8=Q {[%eval 32758,0]} Rxa2+ {[%eval 32758,0]} 47. Kg3 {[%eval 32760,0]} h4+ {[%eval 32760,0]} 48. Kxh4 {[%eval 32762,0]} g5+ {[%eval 32762,0]} 49. Kg3 {[%eval 32762,0]} Rxg2+ {[%eval 32762,0]} 50. Kxg2 {[%eval 32764,0]} a2 {[%eval 32764,0]} 51. Qd7+ {[%eval 32766,0]} Kf8 {[%eval 32766,0]} 52. Re8# 1-0 [Event "30th Space Coast Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.05.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Mersilus, Joudel"] [Black "Brink, Xander"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/TheManInTheFedora"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "1146"] [BlackElo "866"] [PlyCount "114"] [GameId "2173836072763392"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] 1. Nf3 {[%eval 14,0]} d5 {[%eval 18,0]} 2. g3 {[%eval 15,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 13,0]} 3. d4 {[%eval 33,0]} Bf5 {[%eval 3,0]} 4. Bg2 {[%eval 28,0]} Nf6 {[%eval 36,0]} 5. O-O {[%eval 36,0]} Qd7 {[%eval 71,0]} 6. b3 $6 {[%eval 11,0] Inaccuracy. Ne5 was best.} Bh3 {[%eval 2,0]} 7. c4 {[%eval 12,0]} Bxg2 {[%eval 19,0]} 8. Kxg2 {[%eval 24,0]} h5 $6 {[%eval 125,0] Inaccuracy. O-O-O was best.} 9. h4 $6 {[%eval 38,0] Inaccuracy. cxd5 was best.} Ne4 {[%eval 59,0]} 10. Nbd2 {[%eval 49,0]} Nxd2 {[%eval 84,0]} 11. Qxd2 {[%eval 78,0][%csl Ge6][%cal Ge7e6]} g6 {[%eval 107,0]} 12. Re1 {[%eval 81,0]} Bg7 $6 {[%eval 178,0] Inaccuracy. e6 was best.} 13. Bb2 $6 {[%eval 92,0] Inaccuracy. cxd5 was best.} O-O-O $2 {[%eval 239,0] Mistake. e6 was best.} 14. c5 $4 {[%eval 15,0] Blunder. cxd5 was best.} Bh6 $6 {[%eval 92,0] Inaccuracy. g5 was best.} 15. Qc3 {[%eval 85,0][%cal Gg6g5]} f6 {[%eval 117,0]} 16. b4 {[%eval 103,0]} g5 {[%eval 103,0]} 17. a4 {[%eval 98,0]} gxh4 {[%eval 126,0]} 18. Nxh4 $2 {[%eval 18,0][%cal Gh6h5] Mistake. b5 was best.} Bg5 $4 {[%eval 105,0][%cal Gg5h4,Gb4b5,Gb5c6] Blunder. e5 was best.} 19. Rh1 $4 {[%eval 2,0] Blunder. b5 was best.} Qg4 $2 {[%eval 131,0] Mistake. e5 was best.} 20. f3 {[%eval 108,0]} Qe6 {[%eval 102,0]} 21. Rae1 $2 {[%eval 27,0] Mistake. Kf2 was best.} Be3 $6 {[%eval 59,0] Inaccuracy. Rhg8 was best.} 22. Qa3 $4 {[%eval -62,0] Blunder. b5 was best.} Bxd4 $6 {[%eval 27,0] Inaccuracy. Rdg8 was best.} 23. Bxd4 {[%eval 27,0]} Nxd4 {[%eval 26,0]} 24. Qd3 {[%eval 3,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 28,0]} 25. b5 {[%eval 36,0][%csl Gb4,Gc4][%cal Gc6b4,Gc6e5,Ge5c4]} Nb4 {[%eval 19,0]} 26. Qb3 $6 {[%eval 86,0] Inaccuracy. Qf5 was best.} a5 {[%eval 39,0]} 27. bxa6 {[%eval 25,0]} Nxa6 {[%eval 2,0]} 28. Qc2 $2 {[%eval -55,0] Mistake. c6 was best.} d4 $6 {[%eval 87,0] Inaccuracy. Rhg8 was best.} 29. Ng6 {[%eval 88,0]} Rh6 {[%eval 73,0]} 30. Nf4 {[%eval 66,0]} Qe5 $2 {[%eval 56,0] Mistake. Qc6 was best.} 31. Nd3 $6 {[%eval 5,0] Inaccuracy. c6 was best.} Qg5 $6 {[%eval 36,0] Inaccuracy. Qd5 was best.} 32. a5 $4 {[%eval -179,0][%cal Gd8g8] Blunder. c6 was best.} Rg6 $4 {[%eval 14,0] Blunder. h4 was best.} 33. Rh3 {[%eval 3,0]} h4 $6 {[%eval 64,0][%cal Gh4g3] Inaccuracy. c6 was best.} 34. g4 $4 {[%eval -276,0] Blunder. c6 was best.} f5 {[%eval -299,0]} 35. Ne5 $6 {[%eval -359,0] Inaccuracy. Nf2 was best.} fxg4 {[%eval -368,0]} 36. Nxg4 {[%eval -379,0]} Qh5 $6 {[%eval -277,0] Inaccuracy. d3 was best.} 37. Qe4 $6 {[%eval -361,0][%cal Ga6c5] Inaccuracy. Reh1 was best.} e5 $4 {[%eval -13,0] Blunder. Nxc5 was best.} 38. Rc1 $6 {[%eval -106,0] Inaccuracy. Reh1 was best.} Rdg8 $6 {[%eval -91,0] Inaccuracy. d3 was best.} 39. Rg1 $4 {[%eval -563,0] Blunder. Kh1 was best.} Rxg4+ {[%eval -545,0]} 40. fxg4 {[%eval -545,0]} Rxg4+ {[%eval -536,0]} 41. Qxg4+ {[%eval -536,0]} Qxg4+ {[%eval -536,0]} 42. Kh2 {[%eval -595,0]} Qxe2+ {[%eval -567,0]} 43. Rg2 {[%eval -521,0]} Qe4 {[%eval -538,0]} 44. c6 {[%eval -543,0]} Qxc6 $6 {[%eval -338,0] Inaccuracy. bxc6 was best.} 45. Rxh4 {[%eval -425,0]} b6 {[%eval -587,0]} 46. axb6 {[%eval -491,0]} Qxb6 {[%eval -429,0]} 47. Rhg4 {[%eval -548,0]} Qh6+ {[%eval -573,0]} 48. Kg1 {[%eval -544,0]} d3 {[%eval -576,0]} 49. Rg6 {[%eval -627,0]} Qxg6 {[%eval -649,0]} 50. Rxg6 {[%eval -662,0]} d2 {[%eval -664,0]} 51. Rg8+ {[%eval -783,0]} Kd7 {[%eval -632,0]} 52. Rg7+ {[%eval -617,0]} Kd6 {[%eval -666,0]} 53. Kh1 {[%eval -769,0]} d1=Q+ {[%eval -638,0]} 54. Rg1 $2 {[%eval -32737,0] Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kg2 was best.} Qxg1+ {[%eval -32739,0]} 55. Kxg1 {[%eval -32739,0]} Kd5 {[%eval -32739,0]} 56. Kf2 {[%eval -32739,0]} Kd4 {[%eval -32741,0]} 57. Ke2 {[%eval -32741,0]} Ke4 {[%eval -32727,0]} 0-1 [Event "30th Space Coast Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.05.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Hawkins, Aaron"] [Black "Kristjansson, Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Kristjansson,Alexander"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "1692"] [BlackElo "1790"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2177563486625792"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] {This was round 4 of the tournament. At the time, my opponent and I were both tied for 3rd place at 2.5 points. Going into this game I was excited at the opportunity to get another chance against my skillful opponent who had beaten me at the CFCC 2024 Autumn Open. The opening was some kind of Neo-Catalan that led to a reversed Benoni structure. I played ambitiously to occupy the center with my pawns, and while I'm two tempi down from a normal Benoni position, my opponent has committed to the moves b3 and Bb2. We reached a dynamic middlegame position and my opponent played a very tricky idea, 15. Qe2!?. The queen pins the e-pawn, threatening Nxd4 and forcing my knight back to f6. I had to come up with a different plan for preparing ...e4 than playing for ...f5, but the queen on e2 also has its drawbacks. My opponent undoubtedly had a difficult time maneuvering a full army in limited space and exchanged light-squared bishops with 24. Be4, but this allowed me to get ...f5 with tempo and prepare for ...e4. In trying to stop the e4 advance, he only made it stronger with the inaccurate 24. Re2, followed by doubling rooks. Now I can utilize the intermezzo ...e4 dxe4 ...d3 with a fork. In trying to avoid these threats my opponent had to lose time retreating his pieces and I got an overwhelming position. I chose to share this game, because I felt like the overall quality of play between me and my opponent was high (and surprisingly the engine agrees). Additionally, the game was dynamic and imbalanced as can be expected in the Benoni structure. Despite material remaining equal throughout the game, tactics played a major role for both sides in trying to justify or prevent respective strategic goals.} 1. c4 {[%eval 12,0]} e6 {[%eval 25,0]} 2. Nf3 {[%eval 19,0]} d5 {I’m intending to play a Queen’s Gambit Declined if White plays d4.} 3. b3 {[%eval 24,0] This struck me as a slightly odd move order to reach the Neo-Catalan. White may have wanted to not have to worry about the c4 pawn.} (3. g3 {Starting with g3 is a more common way to reach the given position. The following is a variation given by one of my repertoire sources which closely mirrors the game.} Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 d4 8. e3 (8. b4 a5) 8... Nc6 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Re8 11. d3 Rb8 {An odd- looking move. Black is intending ...b6 and ...Bb7 to neutralize White’s light-squared bishop.}) 3... Nf6 {[%eval 5,0]} 4. g3 {[%eval 21,0]} (4. e3 {A popular alternative to the set up with g3.}) 4... d4 {I take this opportunity to seize space in the center and make sure to play ...d4 before having played ...c5, otherwise White can exchange on d5 and if ...exd4 then d4 would leave me with an isolated pawn.} (4... c5 5. cxd5 exd5 (5... Nxd5) 6. d4 {What I prefer to avoid}) 5. Bg2 {[%eval 4,0]} c5 {[%eval 17,0]} 6. O-O {[%eval 25,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 26,0]} 7. e3 {[%eval 18,0]} e5 {[%eval 0,0]} 8. exd4 {[%eval 5,0]} cxd4 {Recapturing with the c-pawn is standard here and defines the pawn breaks for both sides. White will try to expand on the Queenside with b4 and I will be looking to advance my central pawn majority with ...e4.} 9. Bb2 {[%eval 66,0]} Bd6 {[%eval 74,0]} 10. Re1 {[%eval 82,0]} O-O {[%eval 78,0]} 11. d3 {[%eval 86,0]} (11. c5 {This was a possibility that occurred to me in the game and noticed it has been played several times in the Lichess database. I intended to meet it by ...Bc7 when White has the strong c4 square, but also some weaknesses.} Bc7) 11... Re8 {[%eval 85,0]} 12. Na3 {[%eval -72,0]} Bf8 {Both sides are playing standard moves and developing independent of each other for now.} 13. Nc2 {[%eval 46,0]} a5 {[%eval 5,0]} 14. a3 {[%eval 51,0]} Nd7 {I go for this standard idea to play for ...f5 and ...Nc5, I might need to further prepare ...e4 with ...g6 and ...Bg7 to provide support to the d4 pawn.} 15. Qe2 $5 {This is a creative move that forces me to play my knight back to f6 and reconsider how I'll achieve ...e4. The queen will be vulnerable on d3 after 15... Nf6 to the intermediate move ...e4 dxe4 ...d3, however this tactic does not yet work due to (...e4) Nxd4 and White's pressure on the d4 pawn pays off.} Nf6 {This is more or less forced due to White's threat of Nxd4 with the pin on the e-pawn. I have to rethink my plans for playing ...Nc5 and ...f5 for now, but I have another idea to develop my light-squared bishop to f5 when I would now be threatening ...e4 and now Nxd4 fails to ...exd3 when the bishop supports the pawn.} 16. Rab1 {Moving the rook to support the b4 break. Currently the bishop is in the way of the rook, but I also considered some lines in which b4 is played as a sacrifice and White plays Bxd4 with a discovered attack on b4.} h6 {I wanted to rule out Nh4 before developing my light-squared bishop, because I didn't like the prospects for my bishop on the g4 square.} (16... e4 17. Nfxd4 exd3 18. Qxd3) (16... Bf5 17. Nh4 (17. Nd2 e4) 17... Bg4 (17... Bc8) 18. Qf1 {Black's problem is that the bishop is discoordinated on g4, but there's no better square for it on the c8-h3 diagonal other than returning to c8. White can follow up with h3 and if ...Bh5 g4.}) 17. Nd2 {[%eval -93,0]} (17. Bc1 {White's bishop has to stay on the long diagonal to meet ...e4 with Nxd4 and avoid the d3 fork.} e4) (17. Ba1 {This move would prepare b4, but after ...Bf5 White needs to deal with the threat of ...e4.} Bf5 18. Qf1 (18. b4 e4)) 17... Bg4 {[%eval -89,0]} 18. Qf1 {[%eval -96,0]} (18. f3 Bh5) 18... Nd7 {[%eval 2,0]} (18... Qc7) 19. h3 {[%eval 83,0]} Bf5 {This move is a little inconsistent with my plans of moving the f6 knight to play ...f5, but I was being flexible to target the d3 pawn with ...Nc5.} (19... Bh5) 20. Be4 $2 {[%eval -91,0]} (20. g4 {My chess coach pointed out this idea, fighting against the f5 break and preparing f4 when ready} Bg6) 20... Bxe4 {[%eval -11,0]} 21. Nxe4 {[%eval -1,0]} (21. dxe4 {I thought this to be a better try, but the engine evaluates both recaptures as roughly equal.}) 21... f5 {[%eval -13,0]} 22. Nd2 {[%eval -1,0]} Nf6 {[%eval -51,0]} 23. Qg2 {[%eval -12,0]} Qc7 {[%eval -93,0]} 24. Re2 $2 {[%eval -181,0] Part of a flawed plan. My opponent must have missed that now ...e4 is a real threat due to the follow-up dxe4 ...d3 with a fork on the rook and knight.} Rad8 {[%eval -173,0]} (24... e4 25. Nxd4 exd3) 25. Rbe1 {[%eval -287,0]} e4 {[%eval -277,0]} 26. Qf1 {[%eval -294,0]} Be7 $5 {I was really proud to come up with this move, by simply blocking the e-file I'm threatening to win material with ...exd3 and White will lose material by exchanging off his rooks.} 27. Na1 {[%eval -386,0]} Ne5 {If I take on d3 immediately White can play Re6. After the ...Ne5 I'm still not threatening to take on d3, but the knight can jump to d3 anyways.} 28. dxe4 {[%eval -398,0]} fxe4 {[%eval -399,0]} 29. Qg2 {Here White had the opportunity to get a pawn for the exchange and this is the engine's best.} (29. Nxe4 Nf3+) (29. Rxe4 Nxe4 30. Rxe4) 29... Nd3 {Here I carry out an exchanging maneuver that simplifies and wins a pawn. White will be left with a useless knight on a1.} 30. Rb1 {[%eval -427,0]} Nxb2 {[%eval -419,0]} 31. Rxb2 {[%eval -429,0]} d3 {[%eval -426,0]} 32. Re1 {[%eval -417,0]} (32. Re3 Bxa3 33. Rb1 Bc5 34. Ree1) 32... Bxa3 {[%eval -419,0]} 33. Rbb1 {[%eval -597,0]} (33. Ra2 Bb4) 33... Bb4 {[%eval -418,0]} 34. Red1 {[%eval -625,0]} Bxd2 {[%eval -641,0]} 35. Rxd2 {[%eval -632,0]} e3 {This pawn sac is the best move, but wasn't necessary to win. I wanted to bring the knight into e4 and possibly c3 later, while also removing the blockade of the d3 pawn. Black can win back the pawn on g3 at the very least but has much more direct threats.} 36. fxe3 {[%eval -631,0]} Ne4 {White Resigned White resigned here. The only move to save the rook is 37. Rdb2 (the engine suggests giving up the exchange with 27. Kh2), when I intended 37... Nc3 38. Rc1 d2 39. Rxd2 Qxd2 40. Qxg3+ and White has serious problems with his king. Regardless it's clear that White is losing due to his passive pieces, especially the knight on a1 with no squares, weak king and Black's strong pieces and d3 pawn.} 0-1 [Event "30th Space Coast Open, Board 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.05.04"] [Round "5"] [White "Rodriguez, Eric"] [Black "Gospodinov, Antony"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Rodriguez,Eric"] [ECO "B18"] [WhiteElo "2258"] [BlackElo "1965"] [PlyCount "97"] [GameId "2178717047591826"] [EventDate "2025.??.??"] [TimeControl "90+30"] {Final Round of SCO, must win situation. The opening phase goes not as planned, but managed to get out to a unique middle game with only heavy pieces! The rook endgame was very instructive and I'm still figuring out what the best moves where} 1. e4 {[%eval 18,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%eval 23,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 2. d4 {[%eval 24,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%eval 24,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Nd2 {[%eval 9,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} dxe4 {[%eval 31,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nxe4 {[%eval 28,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Bf5 {[%eval 25,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Qf3 {[%eval 5,0] [%emt 0:00:00] had nothing special vs the caro kann, this move avoids the main lines} e6 {[%eval 17,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Ne2 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nd7 {[%eval 2,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 7. N2g3 {[%eval 2,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Bg6 {[%eval 26,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 8. Bg5 {[%eval 13,0] [%emt 0:00:00] not great, allows black to remove pieces too easily} Ndf6 {[%eval 8,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Bd3 {[%eval 14,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%eval 3,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 10. O-O {[%eval 48,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nxe4 {[%eval 58,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Bxe7 {[%eval 68,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nd2 $6 {[%eval 12,0] [%emt 0:00:00] Inaccuracy. Nxe7 was best.} (11... Nxe7 12. Bxe4 Qxd4 13. Rad1 Qe5 14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. h3 Nd5 16. Ne4 b5 17. b3) 12. Qf4 {[%eval 12,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nxe7 {[%eval 2,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Bxg6 {[%eval 18,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} hxg6 {[%eval 8,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Qxd2 {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nf5 {[%eval 8,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 15. Nxf5 {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} gxf5 {[%eval 1,0] [%emt 0:00:00] this is interesting position, Black plan seems obvious he will combine queen and rooks, castle long and push his king side pawns, in the meantime White will have to defend creatively and use his space advantage in the center and the queenside} 16. a4 {[%eval 14,0] [%emt 0:00:00] I thought a rook on the third could be useful} Qd6 {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} (16... Qh4 17. h3 O-O-O 18. Rfd1 g5 19. Ra3 g4 20. Rg3 {I was looking at positions similar to these, where id have a rook on g3 defending and king might need to run to e2} Rhg8 21. Qf4 Qh5 22. Rdd3 {\}) 17. h3 {[%eval 55,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} f4 $6 {[%eval 12,0] [%emt 0:00:00] I thought using the g pawn to break through, would of been more dangerous} (17... O-O-O 18. Rfd1 g5 19. Ra3 g4 20. Qa5 $1 {computer recomends this move, defending with counterplay! in some lines white king will run to e2. Black is better but White keeps his chances alive} a6 (20... Kb8 21. Rad3 gxh3 22. gxh3) 21. Rb3 gxh3 22. gxh3 Rdg8+ 23. Kf1) 18. Ra3 {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} O-O-O {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Rd3 {[%eval 12,0] [%emt 0:00:00] White position appears so much better than before, with his rooks centralized} g5 {[%eval 32,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 20. Re1 {[%eval 11,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} (20. Qa5 {Qa5 looks like it forces the queens of the board} g4 21. hxg4 f3 22. Qe5 fxg2 23. Kxg2 Qxe5 24. dxe5 Rxd3 25. cxd3 Rd8) 20... f5 {[%eval 47,0] [%emt 0:00:00] black is moving quickly} 21. Re5 {[%eval 36,0] [%emt 0:00:00] Another Nice square for the Rook} f3 {[%eval 6,0] [%emt 0:00:00] can't capture the pawn} 22. Qe3 {[%eval 75,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} g4 {[%eval 81,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Rxe6 {[%eval 67,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} gxh3 $6 {[%eval 142,0] [%emt 0:00:00] Inaccuracy. Qd5 was best.} (23... Qd5) 24. g3 {[%eval 159,0] [%emt 0:00:00] queen can't be captured} h2+ {[%eval 148,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 25. Kh1 {[%eval 102,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Qb4 {[%eval 162,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Qxf3 {[%eval 147,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Qxb2 {[%eval 153,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 27. Qxf5 {[%eval 137,0] [%emt 0:00:00] defending the back rank for the moment with discover attack} Kb8 {[%eval 127,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Rde3 $6 {[%eval 3,0] [%emt 0:00:00] I decided to trade queens and go into the rook endgame, best would of been Rd1 and white is somehow defending all his pawns for the moment} (28. Rd1) 28... Qxd4 {[%eval 23,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Qe5+ {[%eval 19,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Qxe5 {[%eval 25,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 30. R6xe5 {[%eval 34,0] [%emt 0:00:00] reach this interesting rook endgame} Rd1+ $6 {[%eval 121,0] [%emt 0:00:00] Inaccuracy. a5 was best.} (30... a5) 31. Re1 {[%eval 117,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Rd2 {[%eval 113,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 32. R5e2 {[%eval 124,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Rd4 {[%eval 121,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Re8+ {[%eval 77,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Rxe8 {[%eval 34,0] [%emt 0:00:17]} 34. Rxe8+ {[%eval 4,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Kc7 {[%eval 53,0] [%emt 0:00:26] interesting moment! the subtle Re7 probably best, forces the King to d6 other squares would be akward} 35. Kxh2 {[%eval 41,0] [%emt 0:02:01]} (35. Re7+ Kd6 36. Rxb7 Rxa4 37. f4) 35... Rxa4 $2 {[%eval 168,0] [%emt 0:01:01] this move leaves black playing catch up, b5 was important and quickest way to remove the A pawn.} (35... b5 36. axb5 cxb5 37. f4 Rd2+ 38. Kh3 Rxc2 {when game should end in a draw}) 36. f4 {[%eval 107,0] [%emt 0:09:42]} Rc4 $6 {[%eval 296,0] [%emt 0:01:05] Inaccuracy. Kd7 was best.} (36... Kd7 37. Re1) 37. f5 $4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:01:17] Blunder. Re2 was best.} (37. Re2 $1 {best move, keeping the double passer advantge and its difficult for black to get behind the pawns. a5 would be a bit too slow} a5 38. f5 a4 (38... Rg4 39. Kh3 Rg8 40. g4) 39. f6) 37... Rxc2+ {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:01:09]} 38. Kh3 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:04]} Rf2 $4 {[%eval 451,0] [%emt 0:00:32] Blunder. b5 was best.} (38... b5 39. g4 b4 40. f6 Rf2 41. g5 b3 42. Kg3 Rf5 43. Kg4 Rf2 {race is somehow even. although there are pitfalls for example} 44. Re7+ Kd6 (44... Kb6 $2 45. Re3 b2 46. Rb3+)) 39. g4 {[%eval 401,0] [%emt 0:00:22]} b5 {[%eval 465,0] [%emt 0:02:45]} 40. Re4 $6 {[%eval 362,0] [%emt 0:00:38] Inaccuracy. Re7+ was best.} (40. Re7+ Kd6 41. Re1 b4 42. Kg3 Rc2 43. f6 Rc3+ 44. Kf4 Rc2 45. g5 Rf2+) 40... Kd6 {[%eval 388,0] [%emt 0:02:40]} 41. Kg3 {[%eval 403,0] [%emt 0:00:05]} Rc2 {[%eval 432,0] [%emt 0:02:16]} 42. f6 {[%eval 451,0] [%emt 0:06:12]} Rc3+ {[%eval 448,0] [%emt 0:03:32]} 43. Kh4 {[%eval 444,0] [%emt 0:00:04]} Rf3 {[%eval 309,0] [%emt 0:01:09]} 44. g5 {[%eval 491,0] [%emt 0:01:45]} Rf1 {[%eval 502,0] [%emt 0:03:15]} 45. Kh5 {[%eval 481,0] [%emt 0:00:15]} a5 {[%eval 496,0] [%emt 0:00:48]} 46. g6 $4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:30] Blunder. Kg6 was best.} (46. Kg6 {the correct move} b4 47. Kf7 b3 48. Re2 a4 49. g6 Kd5 50. g7 Rg1 51. g8=Q Rxg8) 46... Rh1+ $4 {[%eval 773,0] [%emt 0:00:30] Blunder. Rf5+ was best.} (46... Rf5+ $1 {beautiful move would of forced White to make a difficult decision to save the game. The King must go to h4, that way King could make it back in time without being blockaded by opponents King. In the Time pressure Im sure I would of blundered again and gone to h6} 47. Kh4 Rxf6 48. g7 Rg6 49. Rg4 Rxg7 50. Rxg7 a4 51. Kg4 a3 52. Ra7) 47. Kg5 {[%eval 686,0] [%emt 0:00:30]} Rg1+ {[%eval 801,0] [%emt 0:00:30]} 48. Kh6 {[%eval 738,0] [%emt 0:00:30]} (48. Kh5 Rf1 49. Kh4 Rxf6 50. Kh5 Rf1 51. Kh6 Rf6 52. Kh7 Rf1) 48... Rh1+ 49. Kg7 {grateful for the win, could have lost at the last moment. my opponent fought well} 1-0