[Event "US Championship"] [Site "lichess.org INT"] [Date "2020.10.28"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Jeffery Xiong"] [Black "Hikaru Nakamura"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "2709"] [BlackElo "2736"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2020.10.26"] 1. e4 g6 {This is the Modern Defense but eventually will transpose to PIRC Defense.} 2. d4 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg7 {Now it transposed to Pirc Defense. We will study Modern Defense in future blogs.} 5. Be3 {I play the 5. Bg5 line, but this move has many transformations, white can castle queenside or play the Classical Line 6. Be2 then castle kingside.} c6 {GM Hikaru Nakamura delayed kingside castling for the purpose of expanding first the queenside pawns and pieces. He is aware that white will play Qd2 then Bh6.} 6. Qd2 b5 7. Bd3 { Needs to protect the e4 pawn due to black's b4 push.} Nbd7 8. h3 {This move hinders the knight at f6 to play Ng4 attacking the bishop at e3. We call this prophylactic move or preventive move.} e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. a4 b4 11. Ne2 a5 12. c3 c5 13. O-O O-O 14. Ng3 {Finally, it transposed to the Ruy Lopez Opening. It is important to learn chess openings in order to be aware of opening transpositions.} Bb7 {Black has developed all pieces. The bishop at g7 becomes a liability for now due to not being needed at the moment in this type of position.} 15. Rfd1 {White must protect the e4 pawn but there is something fishy going on with the Rfd1 move. What is it?} Qe7 16. Rac1 Rfc8 17. cxb4 cxb4 18. Bc4 {Yes, the pawn at e4 cannot be taken due to the knight at d7 hanging, that is the purpose of Rfd1.} Nf8 19. Qd6 {NOW, WE STOP HERE. KINDLY ANALYZE WHY WHITE WANTS TO EXCHANGE THE QUEEN?} Qxd6 20. Rxd6 Rc7 ({If} 20... Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Ng5) 21. Rb6 Re8 ({If} 21... Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. Ng5 Bf5 24. Bd5 Rxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Ra7 26. Be3 Rd7 27. Rb5) 22. Ng5 Ba8 23. Ra6 Bb7 24. Rxa5 { White has all the moves....} Ba8 ({If} 24... Rec8 25. Bxf7+ Rxf7 26. Nxf7 Rxc1+ 27. Bxc1 Nxe4 28. Nxe4 Bxe4 29. Nxe5) 25. Bb3 Rd7 26. Ra6 h6 {White is expecting this move but has a ready plan.} 27. Nxf7 Rxf7 28. Bxf7+ Kxf7 29. Rc7+ {This is an example of a one sided game. There are many reasons why GM Nakamura may never recover from this position. It's WIN WIN for white. I have mentioned a while ago that the bishop at g7 has no play in this type of position....I hope you learned something about this set-up.} Kg8 30. Rca7 { Forces the bishop to take the e4 pawn.} Bxe4 31. Rxf6 {Fantastic move!!!} Bxf6 32. Nxe4 Bd8 33. Ra8 Ne6 {Black Resigned: Due to 34. Nf7 ch... if 34...Bf6 35. Re6 wins. This is a game of strategy, well prepared opening line ...very systematic approach against the Pirc Defense. Thanks for this wonderful game GM Jeffery Xiong...} 1-0