[Event "US Open"] [Site "Cherry Hill, NJ"] [Date "2021.08.06"] [Round "5"] [White "Tim Antonelli"] [Black "Andrew Ballantyne"] [Result "*"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "1523"] [BlackElo "948"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {The third most popular move, called the Scotch, typically leads to open positions and has the advantage that opponents are often less prepared} (3. Bc4 {The most popular, leading to the Gioco Piano or Italian Game}) (3. Bb5 {The second most popular, named the Ruy Lopez or Spanish Game}) 3... exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 {This is the less popular Potter Variation, which avoids the sharp and often tricky mainline.} (5. Be3 {is the main line}) 5... Bb6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. f3 Be6 10. Qd2 { Preparing to castle long} g5 (10... Nxe4 {wins at least a pawn for Black, which we both missed.} 11. Nxe4 (11. Bxd8 Nxd2) 11... Qxh4+) 11. Bf2 Qd7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 $4 15. Qxd4 {forking the a-pawn and knight.} Qe7 16. Qxa7 {I suspected mate was coming soon, but my opponent defended well.} c6 17. Ba6 Qc7 18. Qa8+ Qb8 19. Bxb7+ Kc7 20. Qxb8+ Rxb8 21. Ba6 g4 22. Be2 {Up two pawns, I managed to eventually lose a RN v RN endgame, vowing I would never play chess again. Then instead buying a book on endgames (Silman's endgame book for all levels. As penance I'm starting at the very beginning).} *