vast thorn
This game was played in round 3 of 2025 Daily Chess Championship:
chess.com user: Tsubasa
https://www.chess.com/game/daily/823918880
18. Rh3 
was the best move of this game. 👍
My opponent’s last move was capturing the pawn on a3 with their 
. For a while, it seemed to me that my position was hopeless. 😂
Of course, I can’t take the on a3, because after 
c3 it would be very hard to defend against all the threats the black would create. Apart from the simplest a3, much more dangerous is a1, and after 
d2 I would also lose the 
on d4 ( d4).
Since we know that capturing the is out of the question, we have to check the remaining threats. Although it looks a bit strange, the 
on b2 is pinned. That’s why the black can safely capture my on c3 on the next move. Even the seemingly trivial capture of the on f4 ( xf4) could also prove dangerous.
The only move that saves the position is 18. 
h3.
Now defends the on c3, capturing the on a3 becomes possible. The also effectively controls the entire third rank. My opponent chose to capture the on f4 with check. I calmly moved my to b1 and eventually I managed to win the game.
half lark
