Lichess Game of the Month February 2026 - Contest

Why this Game? It features sharp tactics—a knight capture on f8 gaining an edge, culminating in a spectacular queen blunder straight into mate—while maintaining high accuracy for a clean, exciting finish. https://lichess.org/16Rfefww

GOOD!!!

https://lichess1.org/game/export/gif/white/grmjlFLl.gif?theme=wood4&piece=merida&players=true&ratings=true&glyphs=true&clocks=false

https://lichess.org/d3Upvx0NH4wO

https://lichess.org/study/AxLirC76/A7CX1zce

https://lichess.org/TlRnKIphLmg1 I hope to win with this game

https://lichess.org/8yrnd8p2/black#0

https://lichess.org/gVeq9x3b .

This is my game: https://lichess.org/BWReU0ji Just a simple tactic but it seemed to work. (-;

https://lichess.org/IFc73M58 [Event "rated blitz game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/IFc73M58"] [Date "2026.02.02"] [Round "-"] [White "BZ333"] [Black "Nurasyllll"] [Result "1-0"] [GameId "IFc73M58"] [UTCDate "2026.02.02"] [UTCTime "07:36:14"] [WhiteElo "1371"] [BlackElo "1339"] [WhiteRatingDiff "+12"] [BlackRatingDiff "-7"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "180+2"] [ECO "B07"] [Termination "Normal"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] 1. Nc3 { [%eval -0.04] } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 1... Nf6 { [%eval 0.12] } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 2. e4 { [%eval 0.08] } { [%clk 0:03:01] } 2... d6 { [%eval 0.47] } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 3. d4 { [%eval 0.38] } { [%clk 0:03:01] } 3... g6 { [%eval 0.51] } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 4. Bg5 { [%eval 0.49] } { [%clk 0:02:57] } { B07 Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation } 4... Bg7 { [%eval 0.39] } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 5. h3 { [%eval 0.28] } { [%clk 0:02:52] } 5... O-O { [%eval 0.25] } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 6. e5 { [%eval 0.16] } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 6... dxe5 { [%eval 0.07] } { [%clk 0:02:47] } 7. dxe5 { [%eval 0.12] } { [%clk 0:02:55] } 7... Qxd1+ { [%eval 0.43] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } 8. Rxd1 { [%eval 0.29] } { [%clk 0:02:57] } 8... Nfd7 { [%eval 0.36] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } 9. e6 { [%eval 0.37] } { [%clk 0:02:52] } 9... fxe6 { [%eval 0.25] } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 10. Bc4 { [%eval -0.21] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 10... Nb6 { [%eval -0.24] } { [%clk 0:02:24] } 11. Bb3 { [%eval -0.43] } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 11... Bxc3+?! { (-0.43 0.19) Inaccuracy. c5 was best. } { [%eval 0.19] } { [%clk 0:02:11] } (11... c5 12. Na4 Nxa4 13. Bxa4 a6 14. c3 b5 15. Bc2 Bb7 16. Bxe7 Re8 17. Bxc5) 12. bxc3 { [%eval 0.02] } { [%clk 0:02:50] } 12... Nc6 { [%eval 0.47] } { [%clk 0:02:01] } 13. Nf3 { [%eval 0.45] } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 13... Rf7?! { (0.45 1.24) Inaccuracy. Nd5 was best. } { [%eval 1.24] } { [%clk 0:01:40] } (13... Nd5 14. Bh6 Rxf3 15. gxf3 Nxc3 16. Rd3 Nd5 17. c4 Nf6 18. O-O e5 19. c5+) 14. O-O { [%eval 1.06] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } 14... Rg7? { (1.06 2.91) Mistake. Nd5 was best. } { [%eval 2.91] } { [%clk 0:01:40] } (14... Nd5 15. Bd2 Rf8 16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. Ng5 a5 18. a4 Kg7 19. c4 Nf6 20. c5) 15. Rfe1?! { (2.91 1.81) Inaccuracy. Bh6 was best. } { [%eval 1.81] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } (15. Bh6 a5 16. a4 Nd5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rxd5 b6 20. Re1 Kf6) 15... Kf8?? { (1.81 4.14) Blunder. Rf7 was best. } { [%eval 4.14] } { [%clk 0:01:34] } (15... Rf7 16. Bh6 Rxf3 17. gxf3 Kf7 18. Kh2 Bd7 19. Bf4 Rc8 20. c4 Nd8 21. c5) 16. Bxe6?? { (4.14 0.68) Blunder. Bh6 was best. } { [%eval 0.68] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } (16. Bh6 Kg8 17. Ng5 a5 18. a4 Kh8 19. Re3 Rb8 20. Rf3 Bd7 21. Bxg7+ Kxg7) 16... Bxe6 { [%eval 0.77] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 17. Rxe6 { [%eval 0.57] } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 17... Kf7? { (0.57 1.84) Mistake. Rf7 was best. } { [%eval 1.84] } { [%clk 0:01:25] } (17... Rf7 18. Rde1 Re8 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21. cxd4 Nc8 22. d5 Nb6 23. R1e5) 18. Re4?! { (1.84 0.92) Inaccuracy. Rde1 was best. } { [%eval 0.92] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } (18. Rde1 Nd5 19. c4 Ndb4 20. R6e2 Ke8 21. Bc1 Rg8 22. Ng5 h5 23. Ne6 Kd7) 18... Nd5?? { (0.92 5.11) Blunder. Kg8 was best. } { [%eval 5.11] } { [%clk 0:01:16] } (18... Kg8 19. Bf4 Rf7 20. Bxc7 e5 21. Bxb6 axb6 22. a4 Rf4 23. Rxf4 exf4 24. Rd7) 19. Rxd5 { [%eval 5.06] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } 19... e6 { [%eval 6.02] } { [%clk 0:01:14] } 20. Rd7+ { [%eval 5.28] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } 20... Kf8?! { (5.28 8.48) Inaccuracy. Kg8 was best. } { [%eval 8.48] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } (20... Kg8 21. Rxg7+ Kxg7 22. Rxe6 Kf7 23. Re1 Re8 24. Rd1 Re2 25. Rd7+ Ke6 26. Rxc7) 21. Rf4+?! { (8.48 5.11) Inaccuracy. Bh6 was best. } { [%eval 5.11] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } (21. Bh6 Ne7 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rxe7+ Kg8 24. Rxc7 Rf8 25. Kh2 Rf7 26. Rc8+ Rf8) 21... Kg8 { [%eval 5.01] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 22. Rxg7+ { [%eval 4.9] } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 22... Kxg7 { Black offers draw } { [%eval 4.94] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 23. Bf6+ { [%eval 4.83] } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 23... Kg8 { [%eval 4.71] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 24. Bg5 { [%eval 4.81] } { [%clk 0:02:39] } 24... Rf8 { [%eval 4.84] } { [%clk 0:01:11] } 25. Rxf8+ { [%eval 4.84] } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 25... Kxf8 { [%eval 4.76] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 26. Bh6+ { [%eval 4.79] } { [%clk 0:02:40] } 26... Kf7 { [%eval 5.02] } { [%clk 0:01:14] } 27. Nd4 { [%eval 4.32] } { [%clk 0:02:41] } 27... Nxd4 { [%eval 4.32] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 28. cxd4 { [%eval 4.33] } { [%clk 0:02:43] } 28... Kf6 { [%eval 4.45] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 29. Kf1 { [%eval 4.36] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } 29... e5 { [%eval 4.59] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 30. Be3 { [%eval 4.93] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } 30... exd4 { [%eval 5.57] } { [%clk 0:01:16] } 31. Bxd4+ { [%eval 5.45] } { [%clk 0:02:46] } 31... Ke6 { [%eval 5.19] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 32. Ke2 { [%eval 4.86] } { [%clk 0:02:47] } 32... Kd5 { [%eval 5.14] } { [%clk 0:01:14] } 33. Kd3 { [%eval 5.07] } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 33... c5 { [%eval 5.41] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 34. Bb2 { [%eval 4.69] } { [%clk 0:02:39] } 34... c4+ { [%eval 5.63] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 35. Ke3 { [%eval 5.51] } { [%clk 0:02:40] } 35... b5 { [%eval 5.37] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 36. Kf4 { [%eval 4.77] } { [%clk 0:02:40] } 36... b4 { [%eval 4.77] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 37. Kg5 { [%eval 5.46] } { [%clk 0:02:41] } 37... c3?! { (5.46 7.51) Inaccuracy. Ke6 was best. } { [%eval 7.51] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } (37... Ke6 38. Kh6 g5 39. Kxg5 a5 40. Kf4 Kd5 41. Ke3 a4 42. Bc1 a3 43. f3) 38. Bc1 { [%eval 7.67] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } 38... a5 { [%eval 6.94] } { [%clk 0:01:14] } 39. Kh6 { [%eval 7.07] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } 39... g5 { [%eval 9.19] } { [%clk 0:01:11] } 40. Kxg5 { [%eval 7.53] } { [%clk 0:02:42] } 40... Kd4 { [%eval 8.84] } { [%clk 0:01:11] } 41. Kh6 { [%eval 7.64] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } 41... a4 { [%eval 8.47] } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 42. Kxh7 { [%eval 7.79] } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 42... b3 { [%eval 10.25] } { [%clk 0:01:15] } 43. axb3 { [%eval 9.99] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } 43... axb3 { [%eval 9.3] } { [%clk 0:01:17] } 44. cxb3 { [%eval 8.23] } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 44... Kc5? { (8.23 Mate in 17) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kd3 was best. } { [%eval #17] } { [%clk 0:01:19] } (44... Kd3 45. h4 Ke2 46. Kg6 Kxf2 47. h5 Ke1 48. h6 Kd1 49. Bg5 c2 50. h7) 45. h4 { [%eval #17] } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 45... Kb4 { [%eval #17] } { [%clk 0:01:20] } 46. Bg5?! { (Mate in 17 14.57) Lost forced checkmate sequence. h5 was best. } { [%eval 14.57] } { [%clk 0:02:44] } (46. h5 Kxb3 47. Kg6 Kc2 48. Bg5 Kd1 49. h6 c2 50. h7 Ke2 51. f3 Kd3) 46... Kxb3 { [%eval 14.64] } { [%clk 0:01:21] } 47. h5 { [%eval 74.34] } { [%clk 0:02:45] } 47... c2 { [%eval 17.45] } { [%clk 0:01:23] } 48. h6 { [%eval 16.43] } { [%clk 0:02:46] } 48... Kc4 { [%eval 81.15] } { [%clk 0:01:23] } 49. Kg8 { [%eval 14.3] } { [%clk 0:02:46] } 49... Kd5?! { (14.30 Mate in 11) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kd3 was best. } { [%eval #11] } { [%clk 0:01:25] } (49... Kd3 50. h7 Ke2 51. g4 Kf3 52. h8=Q Kxg4 53. Qh7 c1=Q 54. Bxc1 Kf3 55. Qf5+) 50. h7 { [%eval #12] } { [%clk 0:02:47] } 50... Ke6 { [%eval #8] } { [%clk 0:01:27] } 51. h8=Q { [%eval 12.93] } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 51... Kf5?! { (12.93 Mate in 5) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kd6 was best. } { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:01:29] } (51... Kd6 52. Qc3 c1=Q 53. Bxc1 Ke6 54. Qf3 Kd7 55. g4 Kc7 56. Bg5 Kd6 57. Qe3) 52. Qf6+ { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 52... Kg4 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:29] } 53. Qf4+ { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 53... Kh5 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:31] } 54. Qh4+ { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 54... Kg6 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 55. Qh6+ { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 55... Kf5 { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 56. g4+ { [%eval #8] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 56... Kxg4 { [%eval #7] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 57. Qh4+ { [%eval #7] } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 57... Kf5 { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:01:34] } 58. Qf4+ { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:02:55] } 58... Kg6 { [%eval #3] } { [%clk 0:01:36] } 59. Kh8 { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:02:54] } 59... Kh5 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:35] } 60. Bd8 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 60... c1=Q { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:31] } 61. Qxc1 { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:02:53] } 61... Kg6 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 62. Qc6+ { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:02:55] } 62... Kf5 { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 63. Qf6+ { [%eval #7] } { [%clk 0:02:56] } 63... Ke4 { [%eval #7] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 64. Qg5 { [%eval #8] } { [%clk 0:02:57] } 64... Kf3 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 65. Qh4 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:02:58] } 65... Ke2 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 66. Qg3 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:02:58] } 66... Kf1 { Black offers draw } { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 67. Qa3 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:02:48] } 67... Kxf2 { [%eval #6] } { [%clk 0:01:31] } 68. Qd3 { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:02:49] } 68... Kg2 { [%eval #5] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 69. Qe3 { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 69... Kf1 { [%eval #4] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 70. Qd2 { [%eval #3] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 70... Kg1 { [%eval #3] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 71. Qe2 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:02:52] } 71... Kh1 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:33] } 72. Bc7 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:02:50] } 72... Kg1 { [%eval #2] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 73. Kg7 { [%eval #1] } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 73... Kh1 { [%eval #1] } { [%clk 0:01:32] } 74. Qh2# { [%clk 0:02:51] } { White wins by checkmate. } 1-0