Lichess Game of the Month February 2026 - Contest

Black wins (Me)
White resigns

(Pawn Checkmate)

[Event "rated rapid game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/fmA6dl1a"]
[Date "2026.03.06"]
[Round "-"]
[White "DEDXASANchik"]
[Black "Bishop_0N0N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[GameId "fmA6dl1a"]
[UTCDate "2026.03.06"]
[UTCTime "09:53:19"]
[WhiteElo "2296"]
[BlackElo "2258"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "-7"]
[BlackRatingDiff "+26"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[TimeControl "600+5"]
[ECO "C65"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]

1. e4 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 0:10:00] } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 0:10:00] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 0:10:03] } 2... Nc6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 0:10:03] } 3. Bb5 { [%eval 0.15] [%clk 0:10:07] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 0:10:04] } 4. d3 { [%eval 0.07] [%clk 0:10:10] } { C65 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation } 4... d6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 0:09:58] } 5. O-O { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 0:10:08] } 5... Bg4 { [%eval 0.5] [%clk 0:09:58] } 6. Nbd2 { [%eval 0.35] [%clk 0:10:11] } 6... Qd7 { [%eval 0.57] [%clk 0:09:58] } 7. Re1 { [%eval 0.74] [%clk 0:10:14] } 7... Be7 { [%eval 0.78] [%clk 0:10:00] } 8. Nf1 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 0:10:17] } 8... a6 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 0:10:01] } 9. Ba4 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 0:10:18] } 9... b5 { [%eval -0.18] [%clk 0:10:05] } 10. Bb3 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:10:21] } 10... Nd4 { [%eval -0.19] [%clk 0:10:06] } 11. N1d2 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 0:10:22] } 11... a5 { [%eval -0.14] [%clk 0:09:58] } 12. c3 { [%eval -0.24] [%clk 0:10:25] } 12... Nxf3+ { [%eval -0.27] [%clk 0:09:05] } 13. Nxf3 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 0:10:27] } 13... O-O?! { (-0.22 0.37) Inaccuracy. a4 was best. } { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 0:08:56] } (13... a4 14. Bc2 O-O 15. h3 Bh5 16. d4 exd4 17. cxd4 d5 18. exd5 Rfe8 19. Bg5) 14. Bc2 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:10:27] } 14... h6 { [%eval 0.35] [%clk 0:08:44] } 15. d4 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 0:10:24] } 15... Bxf3 { [%eval 0.48] [%clk 0:08:39] } 16. Qxf3 { [%eval 0.41] [%clk 0:10:26] } 16... c5 { [%eval 0.59] [%clk 0:08:42] } 17. Be3 { [%eval 0.16] [%clk 0:10:25] } 17... Qe6 { [%eval 0.43] [%clk 0:08:25] } 18. h3 { [%eval 0.45] [%clk 0:10:22] } 18... Rfd8 { [%eval 0.9] [%clk 0:08:23] } 19. Bb3 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 0:09:57] } 19... c4 { [%eval 0.46] [%clk 0:08:25] } 20. Bc2 { [%eval 0.53] [%clk 0:10:01] } 20... Nh7 { [%eval 0.76] [%clk 0:08:23] } 21. Qe2 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:09:32] } 21... f6?? { (0.28 2.44) Blunder. Bg5 was best. } { [%eval 2.44] [%clk 0:08:13] } (21... Bg5 22. Bxg5 Nxg5 23. f4 Nh7 24. Rf1 Nf6 25. Rad1 b4 26. Rf2) 22. a4 { [%eval 2.27] [%clk 0:09:34] } 22... b4 { [%eval 2.28] [%clk 0:07:55] } 23. d5 { [%eval 2.28] [%clk 0:09:34] } 23... Qc8 { [%eval 2.06] [%clk 0:07:58] } 24. Bd1?! { (2.06 1.30) Inaccuracy. cxb4 was best. } { [%eval 1.3] [%clk 0:09:27] } (24. cxb4 axb4 25. Rec1 Qa6 26. Bd1 Rdc8 27. Qf1 f5 28. exf5 Bg5 29. Bxg5 Nxg5) 24... b3 { [%eval 1.54] [%clk 0:07:51] } 25. Qh5 { [%eval 1.46] [%clk 0:09:28] } 25... f5 { [%eval 1.4] [%clk 0:07:14] } 26. exf5 { [%eval 1.47] [%clk 0:09:15] } 26... Bf6 { [%eval 1.76] [%clk 0:07:15] } 27. h4 { [%eval 1.81] [%clk 0:09:09] } 27... Qc7 { [%eval 1.94] [%clk 0:07:14] } 28. g4? { (1.94 0.68) Mistake. Be2 was best. } { [%eval 0.68] [%clk 0:09:07] } (28. Be2 Rac8 29. g3 Rf8 30. Kg2 Qd7 31. g4 Bd8 32. Rad1 Qxa4 33. g5 Qe8) 28... Qf7 { [%eval 1.06] [%clk 0:07:10] } 29. g5?! { (1.06 0.41) Inaccuracy. Bb6 was best. } { [%eval 0.41] [%clk 0:05:58] } (29. Bb6 Rdc8 30. Re4 Qxd5 31. Re1 e4 32. Be2 Qf7 33. Qxf7+ Kxf7 34. Rad1 Rc6) 29... Qxh5 { [%eval 0.39] [%clk 0:06:56] } 30. Bxh5 { [%eval 0.36] [%clk 0:06:03] } 30... hxg5 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 0:07:00] } 31. hxg5 { [%eval -0.16] [%clk 0:06:05] } 31... Bxg5 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:06:58] } 32. Kg2 { [%eval -0.5] [%clk 0:05:57] } 32... Bxe3 { [%eval -0.5] [%clk 0:06:49] } 33. Rxe3 { [%eval -1.0] [%clk 0:06:01] } 33... Nf6 { [%eval -1.12] [%clk 0:06:51] } 34. Be2 { [%eval -1.14] [%clk 0:06:03] } 34... Rdc8 { [%eval -0.59] [%clk 0:06:42] } 35. Rh1 { [%eval -0.83] [%clk 0:05:54] } 35... Nxd5 { [%eval -0.72] [%clk 0:06:37] } 36. Re4 { [%eval -0.69] [%clk 0:05:57] } 36... Nf4+ { [%eval -0.47] [%clk 0:06:39] } 37. Kf3 { [%eval -0.46] [%clk 0:05:52] } 37... Nxe2 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:06:41] } 38. Kxe2 { [%eval -0.01] [%clk 0:05:53] } 38... Rc7 { [%eval 0.03] [%clk 0:06:26] } 39. Rg4 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:05:25] } 39... Kf7 { [%eval -0.02] [%clk 0:06:01] } 40. Rg6 { [%eval -0.12] [%clk 0:05:27] } 40... Rc6? { (-0.12 1.38) Mistake. d5 was best. } { [%eval 1.38] [%clk 0:06:03] } (40... d5 41. Rhg1 Kf8 42. f6 d4 43. Kd2 Raa7 44. f4 exf4 45. cxd4 gxf6 46. Rf1) 41. Ke3 { [%eval 1.09] [%clk 0:05:26] } 41... Rd8?! { (1.09 2.05) Inaccuracy. Rcc8 was best. } { [%eval 2.05] [%clk 0:05:58] } (41... Rcc8 42. Rhg1 Rg8 43. Rxd6 Rgd8 44. Rdg6 Rd3+ 45. Ke4 Rg8 46. f6 Rd2 47. Rxg7+) 42. Rhg1 { [%eval 1.8] [%clk 0:05:28] } 42... Rg8 { [%eval 2.09] [%clk 0:05:51] } 43. f6?? { (2.09 0.07) Blunder. Ke4 was best. } { [%eval 0.07] [%clk 0:05:31] } (43. Ke4 Rb6 44. R1g4 Rbb8 45. Rxd6 Rb7 46. f3 Rh8 47. Rdg6 Kf8 48. Kd5 Rf7) 43... d5 { [%eval 0.03] [%clk 0:05:19] } 44. Rxg7+ { [%eval 0.02] [%clk 0:05:34] } 44... Rxg7 { [%eval -0.01] [%clk 0:05:22] } 45. Rxg7+? { (-0.01 -1.60) Mistake. fxg7 was best. } { [%eval -1.6] [%clk 0:05:17] } (45. fxg7 Kg8 46. f4 d4+ 47. cxd4 c3 48. bxc3 Rxc3+ 49. Ke4 exf4 50. Kxf4 b2) 45... Kxf6 { [%eval -1.38] [%clk 0:05:20] } 46. Ra7 { [%eval -1.25] [%clk 0:05:17] } 46... Rc5?! { (-1.25 -0.61) Inaccuracy. Kg6 was best. } { [%eval -0.61] [%clk 0:05:21] } (46... Kg6 47. Ra8 Rd6 48. f3 Kh7 49. Rc8 Rg6 50. Kf2 Rh6 51. Kg2 Rd6 52. Kf2) 47. Ra6+ { [%eval -0.77] [%clk 0:05:19] } 47... Kf5?! { (-0.77 0.00) Inaccuracy. Ke7 was best. } { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:23] } (47... Ke7 48. f4 d4+ 49. cxd4 c3 50. Ra7+ Ke6 51. f5+ Kf6 52. bxc3 Rb5 53. axb5) 48. f3?? { (0.00 -2.66) Blunder. Rd6 was best. } { [%eval -2.66] [%clk 0:05:22] } (48. Rd6 Kg5 49. Re6 d4+ 50. cxd4 c3 51. bxc3 Rb5 52. axb5 b2 53. Rxe5+ Kg4) 48... d4+?? { (-2.66 -0.01) Blunder. Rc8 was best. } { [%eval -0.01] [%clk 0:04:06] } (48... Rc8 49. Rxa5 d4+ 50. cxd4 c3 51. Rxe5+ Kf6 52. bxc3 Rb8 53. Rh5 b2 54. Rh6+) 49. cxd4 { [%eval -0.61] [%clk 0:05:26] } 49... c3 { [%eval -0.07] [%clk 0:04:05] } 50. bxc3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:29] } 50... Rb5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:57] } 51. axb5 { [%eval -0.05] [%clk 0:04:38] } 51... b2 { [%eval -0.23] [%clk 0:04:00] } 52. Rxa5 { [%eval -0.04] [%clk 0:04:42] } 52... b1=Q { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:02] } 53. b6 { [%eval -0.28] [%clk 0:04:46] } 53... Qxb6 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:46] } 54. Rxe5+ { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:48] } 54... Kf6 { [%eval -0.22] [%clk 0:03:49] } 55. Kd3 { [%eval -0.24] [%clk 0:04:48] } 55... Qb1+ { [%eval -0.31] [%clk 0:03:50] } 56. Kd2 { [%eval -0.29] [%clk 0:04:51] } 56... Qf1 { [%eval -0.2] [%clk 0:03:44] } 57. Rc5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:53] } 57... Qxf3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:42] } 58. Re5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:56] } 58... Qf2+ { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:38] } 59. Kd3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:59] } 59... Qf1+ { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:41] } 60. Kd2 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:03] } 60... Qb1 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:40] } 61. Rc5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:05] } 61... Ke6 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:40] } 62. Ke3? { (0.00 -1.36) Mistake. Re5+ was best. } { [%eval -1.36] [%clk 0:04:59] } (62. Re5+ Kd6 63. Ra5 Kc7 64. Re5) 62... Kd6? { (-1.36 0.00) Mistake. Qc2 was best. } { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:42] } (62... Qc2 63. Re5+ Kf7 64. Rc5 Kf6 65. c4 Kf7 66. Rc7+ Ke6 67. Rc5 Kf6 68. Kf4) 63. Kf3?? { (0.00 -2.34) Blunder. Kd2 was best. } { [%eval -2.34] [%clk 0:05:03] } (63. Kd2 Qg6 64. Re5 Kc7 65. Rc5+ Kb6 66. Re5 Qh7 67. Rc5 Qg6) 63... Qe1?! { (-2.34 -1.71) Inaccuracy. Qd3+ was best. } { [%eval -1.71] [%clk 0:03:36] } (63... Qd3+ 64. Kg4 Qe3 65. Kf5 Qf3+ 66. Kg6 Qf4 67. Kg7 Qg3+ 68. Kf7 Qg4 69. Kf6) 64. Kg4 { [%eval -2.24] [%clk 0:05:06] } 64... Qf2 { [%eval -1.97] [%clk 0:03:39] } 65. Kh3 { [%eval -2.13] [%clk 0:05:09] } 65... Qg1 { [%eval -2.15] [%clk 0:03:42] } 66. Kh4 { [%eval -2.41] [%clk 0:05:13] } 66... Qg2 { [%eval -2.39] [%clk 0:03:46] } 67. Kh5 { [%eval -2.4] [%clk 0:04:52] } 67... Qg3 { [%eval -2.48] [%clk 0:03:48] } 68. Kh6 { [%eval -2.46] [%clk 0:04:56] } 68... Qg4 { [%eval -2.41] [%clk 0:03:48] } 69. Kh7 { [%eval -2.52] [%clk 0:04:45] } 69... Qe6 { [%eval -2.27] [%clk 0:03:41] } 70. Kg7 { [%eval -2.28] [%clk 0:04:45] } 70... Kd7 { [%eval -2.21] [%clk 0:03:22] } 71. Kh7 { [%eval -2.36] [%clk 0:04:18] } 71... Qf6 { [%eval -2.35] [%clk 0:03:13] } 72. Kg8 { [%eval -2.36] [%clk 0:04:11] } 72... Qg6+ { [%eval -2.34] [%clk 0:03:05] } 73. Kh8?? { (-2.34 -5.27) Blunder. Kf8 was best. } { [%eval -5.27] [%clk 0:04:10] } (73. Kf8 Kd6 74. c4 Qf6+ 75. Kg8 Qf4 76. Re5 Qf2 77. Rc5 Ke7 78. Rc7+ Kd8) 73... Qf7?? { (-5.27 -2.42) Blunder. Qg3 was best. } { [%eval -2.42] [%clk 0:02:52] } (73... Qg3 74. Ra5 Qxc3 75. Ra4 Ke8 76. Kg7 Qc7+ 77. Kg8 Qg3+ 78. Kh7 Qh2+ 79. Kg7) 74. Re5 { [%eval -2.42] [%clk 0:03:50] } 74... Qg6 { [%eval -2.47] [%clk 0:02:36] } 75. Rc5?! { (-2.47 -3.93) Inaccuracy. Ra5 was best. } { [%eval -3.93] [%clk 0:03:29] } (75. Ra5 Qg2 76. Re5 Kd6 77. Kh7 Qc2+ 78. Kh6 Qxc3 79. Kg5 Qxd4 80. Rf5 Qg1+) 75... Kd6? { (-3.93 -2.41) Mistake. Qg3 was best. } { [%eval -2.41] [%clk 0:02:34] } (75... Qg3 76. Ra5 Qxc3 77. Ra4 Ke6 78. Kg7 Qc7+ 79. Kh6 Qc6 80. Ra7 Kf6 81. Ra1) 76. Re5 { [%eval -2.52] [%clk 0:03:18] } 76... Qh6+ { [%eval -2.33] [%clk 0:02:07] } 77. Kg8 { [%eval -2.36] [%clk 0:03:19] } 77... Qd2 { [%eval -2.34] [%clk 0:02:10] } 78. Rc5 { [%eval -2.4] [%clk 0:03:22] } 78... Ke6 { [%eval -2.41] [%clk 0:02:09] } 79. Rc6+ { [%eval -2.35] [%clk 0:03:23] } 79... Kd7 { [%eval -2.34] [%clk 0:02:05] } 80. Rc5 { [%eval -2.33] [%clk 0:03:26] } 80... Ke7 { [%eval -2.35] [%clk 0:02:07] } 81. Rc7+ { [%eval -2.35] [%clk 0:03:29] } 81... Kd8 { [%eval -2.34] [%clk 0:02:09] } 82. Rc5 { [%eval -2.33] [%clk 0:03:33] } 82... Qf4 { [%eval -2.31] [%clk 0:02:04] } 83. Kg7 { [%eval -2.33] [%clk 0:03:35] } 83... Ke7 { [%eval -2.27] [%clk 0:02:03] } 84. Kg6 { [%eval -2.33] [%clk 0:03:39] } 84... Qg4+ { [%eval -2.37] [%clk 0:02:05] } 85. Kh6 { [%eval -2.4] [%clk 0:03:41] } 85... Kf8 { [%eval -2.47] [%clk 0:01:57] } 86. Re5?? { (-2.47 Mate in 4) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Ra5 was best. } { [%eval #-4] [%clk 0:03:31] } (86. Ra5 Qg7+ 87. Kh5 Qg3 88. Rf5+ Ke7 89. Rc5 Kf6 90. Rc6+ Kf7 91. Rc5 Qf4) 86... Kf7 { [%eval #-3] [%clk 0:01:54] } { White resigns. } 0-1

97% accuracy with Black, conceding just 1 inaccuracy. Multiple only move-defenses, such as 22...f6!, the only move to maintain the -1.2 advantage.