Lichess Game of the Month February 2026 - Contest

Hello, this is my game. I played a nice game and finish with a funny position.

Have a nice day!

Pawn sacrifice 19. f6 followed by not recapturing the bishop and an apparent queen sacrifice 21. Qxe3.

Also, 24. ... Rd7 25. Rxf7 Qxf7 26. Rxf7 Rxf7 27. Qe6+ would have been not just a double attack, but also would pin rook f7, for there is another undefended rook behind it (because of which 27. ... Rd7 does not achieve much). That seems to be uncommon.

In this game the h-pawn ran straight to promotion in spite of the number of pieces remaining.

#Quote
[Event "Hourly Rapid Arena"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/scJxLST3"]
[Date "2026.02.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "amritrmenda1997"]
[Black "zambur10"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1622"]
[BlackElo "1735"]
[ECO "C46"]
[TimeControl "600+0"]
[GameId "scJxLST3"]
[UTCDate "2026.02.18"]
[UTCTime "05:38:23"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "+14"]
[BlackRatingDiff "-7"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[Opening "Three Knights Opening"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]
[Source "Analyze This App"]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:58]} 2... Nc6
   {[%clk 0:09:58]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:57]} {C46 Three Knights Opening} 3... Bc5
   {[%clk 0:09:56]} 4. Bb5 {[%clk 0:09:56]} 4... d6 {[%clk 0:09:46]} 5. d3
   {[%clk 0:09:53]} 5... Bd7 {[%clk 0:09:42]} 6. a3 {[%clk 0:09:51]} 6... a6
   {[%clk 0:09:37]} 7. Bxc6 {[%clk 0:09:49]} 7... Bxc6 {[%clk 0:09:35]} 8. O-O
   {[%clk 0:09:47]} 8... h6 {[%clk 0:09:32]} 9. Re1 {[%clk 0:09:46]} 9... Nf6
   {[%clk 0:09:29]} 10. Be3 {[%clk 0:09:44]} 10... Ba7 $6 {[%clk 0:09:16]}
   {(0.04 0.78) Inaccuracy. Bxe3 was best.} (10... Bxe3 11. Rxe3 Qe7 12. d4 O-O
2. h3 b5 14. b4 Rfe8 15. Qd3 Qf8 16. Rae1 ) 11. Bxa7 {[%clk 0:09:42]} 11...
   Rxa7 {[%clk 0:09:15]} 12. d4 {[%clk 0:09:40]} 12... Qe7 {[%clk 0:09:01]} 13.
   dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:39]} 13... dxe5 {[%clk 0:08:58]} 14. Qe2 {[%clk 0:09:31]} 14...
   O-O {[%clk 0:08:50]} 15. Rad1 {[%clk 0:09:28]} 15... Nh7 $2 {[%clk 0:08:44]}
   {(0.18 1.56) Mistake. Raa8 was best.} (15... Raa8 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Rfe8
3. c4 Qd6 19. Nh4 g6 20. Nf3 Rad8 21. h3 ) 16. Nd5 {[%clk 0:09:26]} 16... Bxd5
   {[%clk 0:08:08]} 17. Rxd5 {[%clk 0:09:24]} 17... Ng5 {[%clk 0:08:02]} 18. Nxg5
   {[%clk 0:09:13]} 18... Qxg5 {[%clk 0:08:00]} 19. Qe3 {[%clk 0:09:05]} 19... Qxe3
   {[%clk 0:07:48]} 20. Rxe3 {[%clk 0:09:02]} 20... f6 {[%clk 0:07:46]} 21. f3 $6
   {[%clk 0:09:01]} {(1.15 0.57) Inaccuracy. Red3 was best.} (21. Red3 Raa8 22.
   Rd7 Rac8 23. Kf1 h5 24. Ke2 b6 25. b3 b5 26. h4 a5 ) 21... Rf7 $6
   {[%clk 0:07:39]} {(0.57 1.24) Inaccuracy. Raa8 was best.} (21... Raa8 22. Rb3
   Rab8 23. h4 Rf7 24. Rbd3 Re7 25. h5 Kf7 26. Kh2 b6 ) 22. Red3 $6
   {[%clk 0:08:59]} {(1.24 0.36) Inaccuracy. Rd8+ was best.} (22. Rd8+ Kh7 23. h4
   h5 24. Red3 a5 25. R8d7 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 b5 27. b3 Kh6 ) 22... Ra8 {[%clk 0:07:37]}
4. Rd8+ {[%clk 0:08:57]} 23... Rxd8 {[%clk 0:07:34]} 24. Rxd8+ {[%clk 0:08:56]}
   24... Kh7 {[%clk 0:07:32]} 25. Kf2 {[%clk 0:08:53]} 25... Kg6 {[%clk 0:07:21]}
5. Ke3 {[%clk 0:08:51]} 26... f5 {[%clk 0:07:14]} 27. g3 {[%clk 0:08:47]} 27...
   Kf6 $6 {[%clk 0:06:49]} {(0.11 0.85) Inaccuracy. f4+ was best.} (27... f4+ 28.
   Ke2 Rf6 29. Rd5 fxg3 30. hxg3 Rc6 31. c3 Kf6 32. f4 exf4 33. gxf4 ) 28. exf5
   {[%clk 0:08:42]} 28... Kxf5 {[%clk 0:06:46]} 29. Re8 {[%clk 0:08:33]} 29... a5
   $6 {[%clk 0:06:23]} {(0.52 1.56) Inaccuracy. h5 was best.} (29... h5 30. h4 g6
6. Rb8 b6 32. c3 Rd7 33. Rf8+ Ke6 34. Rc8 Kf5 35. a4 ) 30. g4+ {[%clk 0:08:30]}
   30... Kf6 {[%clk 0:06:19]} 31. Ra8 $2 {[%clk 0:08:25]}
   {(1.42 0.29) Mistake. Ke4 was best.} (31. Ke4 b6 32. Rxe5 Rd7 33. Rf5+ Ke6 34.
   Ke3 Rd1 35. h4 a4 36. Rf4 Rb1 ) 31... b6 {[%clk 0:06:15]} 32. Rd8
   {[%clk 0:08:20]} 32... Re7 $6 {[%clk 0:06:04]}
   {(0.48 1.43) Inaccuracy. Ke6 was best.} (32... Ke6 33. Re8+ Kd5 34. h4 Kd6 35.
   Rg8 Ke6 36. a4 Kd6 37. c3 Kd5 38. b3 ) 33. h4 $6 {[%clk 0:08:17]}
   {(1.43 0.35) Inaccuracy. Ke4 was best. White offers draw} (33. Ke4 Re6 34.
   Rf8+ Kg6 35. h4 h5 36. c3 Rd6 37. Rc8 Rc6 38. Kxe5 Rc4 ) 33... Ke6
   {[%clk 0:05:29]} 34. c4 {[%clk 0:08:13]} 34... c6 $4 {[%clk 0:04:56]}
   {(0.30 2.94) Blunder. Rf7 was best.} (34... Rf7 35. Re8+ Kd6 36. h5 Kc5 37. b3
   Kd6 38. Rd8+ Ke6 39. Rc8 Kd6 40. Rg8 ) 35. b4 $4 {[%clk 0:08:10]}
   {(2.94 0.47) Blunder. Rb8 was best.} (35. Rb8 Kd6 36. Rxb6 Kc5 37. Ra6 Kxc4
7. Rxc6+ Kb5 39. Rc8 h5 40. g5 Rf7 ) 35... axb4 {[%clk 0:04:53]} 36. axb4
   {[%clk 0:08:09]} 36... g5 $4 {[%clk 0:04:05]}
   {(0.65 4.06) Blunder. Ra7 was best.} (36... Ra7 37. Re8+ Kd6 38. Rg8 Ra3+ 39.
   Ke4 Rc3 40. c5+ bxc5 41. bxc5+ Rxc5 42. Rxg7 ) 37. h5 {[%clk 0:08:06]} 37... Kf7
   $6 {[%clk 0:03:47]} {(3.63 4.67) Inaccuracy. Rf7 was best.} (37... Rf7 38. Rb8
   Rf4 39. b5 Rxc4 40. Rxb6 Rc3+ 41. Ke4 Rc4+ 42. Kd3 Kd5 43. Rxc6 ) 38. Rd6
   {[%clk 0:07:58]} 38... Re6 {[%clk 0:03:45]} 39. Rd8 $6 {[%clk 0:07:56]}
   {(3.68 2.61) Inaccuracy. Rd7+ was best.} (39. Rd7+ Re7 40. Rd8 Re6 41. Rb8 c5
8. bxc5 bxc5 43. Rc8 Rf6 44. Rxc5 Rf4 ) 39... Re7 $2 {[%clk 0:03:40]}
   {(2.61 4.93) Mistake. Rf6 was best.} (39... Rf6 40. Rd7+ Ke6 41. Rb7 Rf4 42.
   b5 Rxc4 43. Rxb6 Rc3+ 44. Kd2 Rxf3 45. Rxc6+ ) 40. Rb8 {[%clk 0:07:52]} 40... b5
   {[%clk 0:03:36]} 41. cxb5 {[%clk 0:07:50]} 41... cxb5 {[%clk 0:03:33]} 42. Rxb5
   {[%clk 0:07:48]} 42... Rd7 {[%clk 0:03:26]} 43. Ke4 {[%clk 0:07:47]} 43... Ke6
   {[%clk 0:03:25]} 44. Rxe5+ {[%clk 0:07:45]} 44... Kf6 {[%clk 0:03:21]} 45. Rf5+
   {[%clk 0:07:44]} 45... Kg7 {[%clk 0:03:19]} 46. b5 {[%clk 0:07:41]} 46... Rb7 $6
   {[%clk 0:03:13]} {(5.61 10.88) Inaccuracy. Rd1 was best.} (46... Rd1 47. Rc5
   Kf6 48. b6 Rb1 49. Rc6+ Ke7 50. Rxh6 Rb4+ 51. Kd5 Rb3 52. Kc4 ) 47. Kd4
   {[%clk 0:07:36]} 47... Rc7 {[%clk 0:03:05]} 48. b6 {[%clk 0:07:33]} 48... Rb7
   {[%clk 0:03:03]} 49. Kc5 {[%clk 0:07:32]} 49... Kg8 $2 {[%clk 0:02:57]}
   {(8.67 Mate in 14) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Rb8 was best.} (49... Rb8 50.
   Kb5 Kh7 51. Rf7+ Kg8 52. Rc7 Kf8 53. b7 Ke8 54. Rc8+ Kd7 55. Rxb8 ) 50. Kc6
   {[%clk 0:07:31]} 50... Rb8 {[%clk 0:02:55]} 51. Kc7 {[%clk 0:07:29]}
   {Black resigns.} 1-0

Commentary_
Here is a contest-optimized version designed for the Lichess Game of the Month thread.
It is shorter, dramatic, and highlights key moments where readers can insert diagrams.
The Silent Squeeze
amritrmenda1997 (1622) vs zambur10 (1735)
Rapid Arena • 10+0
Not every win begins with fireworks.
Sometimes a game starts quietly... and ends with the opponent slowly suffocating.
Opening: A Small Structural Edge
The game begins in the Three Knights Opening.
After
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5 4.Bb5
White introduces a Ruy Lopez flavor. Soon after:
7.Bxc6 Bxc6
White willingly gives up the bishop pair to damage Black’s coordination.
The position remains balanced — but White has a long-term idea:
central control and piece activity.
Diagram 1 – After 17.Rxd5
Position after:
16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.Rxd5
White’s rook lands on a powerful central outpost.
From here the strategic themes become clear:
• Active rook
• Better coordination
• Easier endgame
Black’s pieces begin drifting away from the center.
The Endgame Begins
Queens come off and the position simplifies:
19...Qxe3 20.Rxe3
The structure looks equal — but the activity is not.
White’s plan is simple:
Activate the king.
Diagram 2 – King Centralization
After:
25.Kf2 26.Ke3
The king heads confidently toward the center.
In endgames, this is often the most important piece.
Black struggles to generate counterplay while White slowly improves.
The Critical Mistake
The position finally cracks after:
34.c4 c6?
A small move — but a huge concession.
Black weakens the pawn structure and creates permanent targets.
Moments later the position collapses further:
36...g5??
Diagram 3 – Structural Collapse
After:
37.h5
White fixes the pawn weakness forever.
Now the endgame plan becomes crystal clear:
• Attack weak pawns
• Improve king position
• Create a passed pawn
The Breakthrough
White gradually increases the pressure.
Then comes the decisive sequence:
44.Rxe5+
Material falls and Black’s position begins to crumble.
And then:
46.b5!
A dangerous passed pawn appears.
Diagram 4 – The King Escort
White’s king now takes command:
47.Kd4
49.Kc5
50.Kc6
51.Kc7
The king personally escorts the pawn forward while Black’s rook remains tied to defense.
At this point promotion — or decisive material gain — is inevitable.
Black resigns.
Key Takeaways
Activity beats symmetry.
White’s rook on d5 dictated the entire middlegame.
King activity wins endgames.
The march Kf2–Ke3–Ke4–Kd4–Kc5–Kc6–Kc7 was decisive.
Pawn weaknesses are permanent.
Moves like ...c6 and ...g5 sealed Black’s fate.
A quiet opening...
a slow squeeze...
and a textbook endgame conversion.
Sometimes the cleanest wins are the ones where the opponent simply runs out of moves.