[Event "US Championship (Women, Rapid Tiebreaks"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Irina Krush"]
[Black "Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E56"]
[WhiteElo "2489"]
[BlackElo "2366"]
[Annotator "FM Mike Klein"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2014.05.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. dxc5 Bg4 10. Na4 Qe7 11. a3 Ba5 12. b4 Bc7 13. Bb2 Rad8 14. Be2 Rfe8
15. b5 Na5 16. Qc2 Bb8 17. Bd4 Ne4 18. Nb2 Qe6 19. Rfe1 Qh6 20. g3 Re6 21. Nh4
Bh3 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 g5 24. Nf5 Qh3 25. f3 Qxf5 26. fxe4 Qxe4 27. Qf2 Qg6
28. Rad1 Rde8 29. a4 Nb3 30. Nd3 Re4 31. c6 bxc6 32. bxc6 Rc8 33. Nb4 Qe6 34.
Qf6 Nxd4 35. Qxg5+ Kf8 36. Rxd4 Rxe3 37. Nxd5 Re2 38. Nf6 Be5 39. Rd7 Bxf6 40.
Qxf6 Qe3+ 41. Kh1 Qe4+ 42. Qf3 Qxf3+ 43. Rxf3 Rxc6 44. Rdxf7+ Kg8 45. Rf2 Re4
46. Rxa7 Re1+ 47. Kg2 Ra1 48. Rd2 Rc8 49. Rdd7 h5 50. Rg7+ Kf8 51. Rh7 Kg8 {
Starting Diagram here} 52. Rxh5 {The moves to this game do not accurately
convey the tension. The players were under one minute with a five-second
increment, and Krush had to figure out a safe king path to get her three extra
pawns going.} Rc2+ 53. Kh3 Raa2 54. Kg4 Rc4+ 55. Kh3 Rcc2 56. Rg5+ Kf8 57. Rf5+
Kg8 58. Kg4 Rc4+ 59. Kg5 (59. Rf4 {was simpler, and more importantly for White,
less complicated}) 59... Rxh2 60. Rb5 Rc8 61. Kg6 Kh8 {Diagram [#]} (61... Rc6+
{would have asked White what she was up to}) 62. g4 $2 {again, Rh5+ would have
made the win elementary. The continuity of the four rooks kept the crowd on
their feet!} (62. Rh5+) 62... Rg8+ 63. Kf5 Rf2+ 64. Ke6 Rg6+ 65. Kd5 Rg5+ 66.
Kc6 Rf6+ (66... Rxg4 67. Rb8+ Rg8 68. Rxg8+ Kxg8 {is a win (by one tempo!)
since Black's king is so far away. Hard to fault Krush for not going for this
with 15 seconds on her clock!}) 67. Kb7 Rxg4 68. Ka8 {What a run the king
completed!} Kg8 69. a5 {Diagram [#] It is clear that in the waning moments,
Krush didn't trust the win existed by trading one set of rooks -} (69. Rb8+ Rf8
70. Rxf8+ Kxf8 71. a5 Ke8 {and this time, she was right! This position is a
theoretical draw.}) 69... Ra4 $2 (69... Rf8+ 70. Rb8 Rxb8+ 71. Kxb8 Rg5 {
Paradoxically, trading one set of rooks is now the right way for Black. Only
the move ...Rg5 holds, reaching a position so famous it has a name - the
Vancura Position.}) 70. a6 {Played with two seconds remaining. Pretty, but
starting with} (70. Rb8+ Rf8 71. a6 {sure seemed easier to figure out in a
pinch}) 70... Rf8+ (70... Raxa6 71. Rb8+ Rf8 72. Rxa6 {is the point}) 71. Rb8
Rb4 72. Rab7 Ra4 73. Rxf8+ Kxf8 74. a7 Ke8 75. Kb8 Kd8 76. a8=Q {That was some
rook-and-pawn ending!} 1-0

[Event "US Championship (Rapid Tiebreaks)"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gata Kamsky"]
[Black "Varuzhan Akobian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "FM Mike Klein"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.05.20"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bd6 6. Bg3 Nf6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. c4
Ne4 9. Qb3 Bxg3 10. hxg3 Nd7 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O Rb8 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. Qa3 a6
15. Rac1 Re8 16. b4 Qe7 17. Qb2 dxc4 18. Nxc4 e5 19. Rfd1 exd4 20. Rxd4 Nf6 21.
Rcd1 {Diagram [#] Starting position here.} c5 {It is reasonable to not sit
idle while Kamsky invades the queenside, but Black is not well poised to open
the position. "I understand why he played ...c5, but I consider that the
losing move," Kamsky said. "After that I get the pawn on b7."} 22. bxc5 Qxc5
23. Nd6 Rf8 (23... Re7 {doesn't save the queenside, since now} 24. Bxa6 {is
possible.}) 24. Nxb7 {Akobian may have thought the pin was worth more than it
was. He also suffered from a 12 minute to 2 minute time deficit at this point.}
Qa7 25. Rb4 Be4 26. Nd6 Rxb4 27. Qxb4 Bd5 28. Nf5 Re8 29. Qf4 Be6 {Diagram [#]
Precariously low on time, Akobian missed the shot} 30. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 31. Qg5+
Kf8 32. Qxf6 Kg8 33. Qg5+ Kf8 34. Bd3 a5 35. Bxh7 Rc8 36. Bf5 Bxf5 37. Qxf5 Qc5
38. Rd8+ {An elegant way to become the fourth man with five U.S. Championships.
} 1-0

[Event "ch-USA 2014"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.16"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Erenburg, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "GM Akobian"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 {This move came as a little surprised since Sergey usually
plays the Slav Defense.} 3. Nf3 {This move prevents black from playing 3...e5.}
Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. a4 {Important move to force
black to play b4 and weaken the c4 square and f1-a6 Diagonal.} b4 9. Qe2 c5 10.
Nbd2 Be7 11. Nb3 (11. a5 O-O 12. Nb3 Nbd7 {with roughly equal position.}) 11...
Nbd7 {Diagram [#] I had a very similiar position in last round of 2013 US
Championship game vs GM Kaidanov.} 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. e4 $1 {
White is slight better due to more control of the center and blacks weak pawns
on Queen side.} h6 15. a5 O-O 16. e5 ({Also possible} 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Be3 Bxe3
18. Qxe3 Nf4 19. Bc4 {White is slightly better}) 16... Nd7 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. Be4
$1 {Diagram # very important to exchange the active light square bishop since
a6 pawn will be more weak and I can try to use the weak c6 square for my rook.}
Rfb8 19. Rfc1 Ba7 20. Bxb7 ({This move looks very natural but its not so good.
} 20. Rc7 $6 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Nc5 $1 22. Qc6 Qe8 $1 23. Qxe8+ Rxe8 24. Rd1 Nb3 25.
Rdd7 Bb8 26. Rc4 Ra7 {and black equalizes}) 20... Rxb7 21. Rc6 $1 Nc5 22. Qc4
Rd8 23. Be3 Nd3 $2 (23... Rc7 24. Bxc5 Bxc5 25. Qxa6 Rxc6 26. Qxc6 {White is
better}) 24. Bxa7 $2 (24. Rd6 $1 {This is a very strong move that I missed
after which blacks position is practicly lost.} Nc5 {only move that doesn't
lose immediately} (24... Rxd6 25. exd6 Qxd6 26. Qc8+ $18) (24... Nxb2 25. Qxa6
$18) (24... Bxe3 25. Qxd3 $18) 25. Bxc5 Rc8 26. Qxa6 Bxc5 27. Rc6 Rxc6 28. Qxc6
{white has good winning chances.}) 24... Rxa7 25. b3 Rd5 $1 26. h3 Nxe5 $6 (
26... Qb7 $1 {Very strong move} 27. Rc8+ Kh7 28. Qe4+ g6 29. Rc4 {white is
only slightly better}) 27. Nxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxa6 Rxa6 29. Qxa6 Qc7 30. Qb6 $1 {
Diagram # Very important move otherwise black will equalize.} Qc3 ({Black best
try probalby is} 30... Qxb6 31. axb6 Rb5 32. Ra8+ Kh7 33. Rb8 $1 Kg6 34. b7 Kf5
35. Kf1 Ke4 36. Ke2 Rb6 37. f3+ Ke5 38. Kd3 Kd6 39. Rd8+ Kc7 40. b8=Q+ (40. Rf8
) 40... Rxb8 41. Rxb8 Kxb8 42. Kc4 Kc7 43. Kxb4 Kb6 44. Kc4 Kc6 45. b4 Kb6 46.
b5 {White is winning this king and pawn endgame due to the B passed pawn.}) 31.
Qd8+ Kh7 32. Qd1 $1 {Protecting Rook and b3 pawn and ready to advance the a
pawn.} Qb2 $2 (32... Rd5 {only move} 33. Qb1+ g6 34. a6 Rd8 35. a7 Ra8 36. Ra5
{white has a big advantage but still needs to convert this position to a win.})
33. a6 Rf5 (33... Rd5 34. Qe1 $1 Rd8 (34... Re5 35. Qf1 $18) 35. a7 Ra8 36.
Qe4+ f5 37. Qxa8 Qxa1+ 38. Kh2 Qe5+ 39. g3 {white wins}) 34. a7 {I was very
happy to win my fourth game in a row against a very strong opponet.} 1-0

[Event "ch-USA 2014"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.17"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Shankland, Sam"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "GM Shankland"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]

{Going into this game, I was not feeling too great. The tournament had so far
been a disaster for me, as one of the higher players I was sitting on -1 after
8 rounds, in particular the previous two games had been unmitigated disasters.
Conversely, Var had just won four games in a row and was leading the
tournament. I was very happy with myself for keeping it together and fighting
hard in all the rest of my games, which salvaged a decent overall result,
qualified me to the Olympiad team, and won me the best game prize} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 {Black is provoking a fight early on. He
has other more solid options as well, but in those lines the onus is on him to
prove the lack of space is not important.} 6. O-O $5 {A trendy move, though I
think 6. Be3 is objectively a better try for an advantage} (6. Be3 {I tried
this one earlier in the year against GM Macieja and won a nice game. Having
not reviewed the Caro-Kann at all for the present game, I figured Var and his
second had cooked up something new in this sharp position and I didn't really
want to find out what it was.}) 6... Nc6 7. c3 {This move was inspired by the
late Igor Kurnosov's win over Evgeny Postny to take first in Biel 2012, a game
that I saw live and that made a strong impression on me. RIP} cxd4 8. Nxd4 {
Diagram [#]} Nge7 {In my opinion, this is the first mistake. Theory regards
black's position as solid enough, but I had done some work here and I thought
white should be a bit better} (8... Nxd4 {I think black is better off
accepting the challenge but it's very dangerous if unprepared. The game opens
up very fast} 9. cxd4 Ne7 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. g4 Bg6 12. f4 {Let the fun begin!
Obviously one cannot go for a position this sharp without knowing the theory,
but objectively it seems black can equalize. Here is one recent top level
encounter:} f5 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. f5 exf5 15. Be3 Bd6 16. Nxd5 Qh4 17. Bf4 Rd8
18. Bxd6 Rxd6 19. Nc7+ Kd8 20. Nb5 fxg4 21. Nxd6 g3 22. hxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Kh1 Qh3+
24. Kg1 Qg3+ 25. Kh1 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 Qg3+ {1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S (2772)-Mamedyarov,S
(2760)/Shamkir AZE 2014}) 9. Nxf5 Nxf5 10. Bd3 Bc5 {This looked strange to me,
though even after the main move g6 (which is best, in my opinion), I still
would prefer white's position.} (10... g6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Re1 Bg7 13. Bf4 Nfe7
14. Nd2 h6 15. Bg3 g5 16. c4 h5 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. h3 O-O-O 19. Rac1 Kb8 20. Nb3
Qb6 21. Qf3 Nf4 22. Be4 Nxe5 23. Bxf4 gxf4 24. Qxf4 Qd6 25. Qg3 Bh6 26. Rc5 Nd3
27. Qxd6+ Rxd6 28. Bxd3 Rxd3 29. Rxh5 Bg7 30. Rb5 b6 31. Re2 Rc8 32. Rg5 Bf8
33. g3 a5 34. Rg4 Rcd8 35. Kg2 Kb7 36. h4 Bh6 37. Rc4 Rc8 38. Rd4 Rd8 39. Rc4
Rc8 40. Rxc8 Kxc8 41. f4 Bg7 42. h5 Rd1 43. Rc2+ Kd7 44. Nd2 e5 45. fxe5 Bxe5
46. Nc4 Ke6 47. Re2 f6 48. Kh3 Rd4 49. b3 Kf5 50. g4+ Kf4 51. Rf2+ Ke4 52. Nxe5
Kxe5 53. h6 Ke6 54. Kh4 Kf7 55. h7 Kg7 56. Rxf6 Rb4 57. Rf7+ Kh8 58. Kh5 Rd4
59. g5 Rd2 60. Kh6 {1-0 Kurnosov,I (2663)-Postny,E (2653)/Biel 2012/CBM 149
Extra}) 11. Nd2 {The knight belongs on f3, and the tactics are favoring white}
g6 {This makes a lot of sense- Black is now really threatening Nxe5, Nf3 can
be met with Nh4 (not possible after 11. ... 0-0) to trade pieces and put more
pressure on e5, and it blunts the d3 bishop. However, one wonders about
playing Bc5 and then g6- if g6 will be played anyway, the bishop should
probably go to g7.} (11... Nxe5 $6 {The fpawn is pinned so white does not win
a piece, but he still ends up on top} 12. Bxf5 exf5 13. Re1 f6 14. Nf3 O-O (
14... Qd6 15. Bf4 O-O 16. Nxe5 fxe5 17. Rxe5 $16) 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Rxe5 {d5
is falling, and black should lose}) (11... Nh4 {I spent some time calculating
this one, attempting to win e5 directly. Luckily white is able to hold
everything together} 12. Qe2 (12. Qh5 {The computer's recommendation might be
even stronger. I did not even consider this move during the game}) 12... Qg5 {
It looks like I am losing a pawn, but the tactics are favoring white} 13. g3
Ng6 (13... Nxe5 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. Kh1 Nhg6 16. f4 $18) 14. Nb3 Qe7 15. Nxc5 Qxc5
16. Be3 $1 {Breaking the pin on the fpawn} Qa5 17. f4 $16 {White was able to
stabilize his position and retain all of his plusses, while black lost a
second bishop and wasted time with his queen. Probably white is close to
winning}) (11... O-O {I noticed an amusing trick here} 12. Nf3 Nh4 $2 (12... h6
13. Re1 $14) 13. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg6 15. Qg4 Nxe5 16. Qxh4 Rh8 17. Qg3
$18) 12. Nf3 Nh4 13. Re1 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 $14 {The position has become static,
and white is clearly better due to his extra space and bishop pair. However,
black has a solid structure and no real weaknesses, so breaking through will
not be easy. The 2 main mechanisms white has at his disposal are h5 and c4} Rc8
(14... O-O {Here and on the next move, black could consider castling. It may
have been better than how he played in the game but I still think it looks
dangerous} 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qg3 $1 {I liked this plan a lot- push through h4-h5}
Bf8 17. Bf4 Bg7 18. h4 {The black kingside is under some pressure, and an
attack will materialize reasonably fast}) 15. a3 {A refined move (maybe too
much so). I wanted to wait on Bh6 until black castled so he would have to
waste time with Re8 before challenging with Bf8, and I thought taking the b4
square under control would be important if I ever want to get c4 in (or if
black plays d4)} (15. Bh6 {Of course this was the other natural choice} Bf8 16.
Bf4 Bg7 17. Qg3 O-O 18. h4 {I thought this was a worse version for me than if
black had castled on move 14- the rook on f8 will be better than on e8 when h5
comes, and obviously the rook on c8 is useful. Indeed, black can even open the
center with d4 here.} d4) 15... Be7 {Var was understandably reluctant to
castle. With this move he creates the positional threat of Bg5, trading one of
the bishops} (15... O-O 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Qg3 Bf8 18. Bf4 Bg7 19. h4 {Now we are
back to the good version- black does not have d4, he wasted a move on Re8 when
the rook is probably better on f8. I like white} d4 20. c4 $1) 16. Qg3 (16. Bh6
Bg5 (16... Bf8 17. Bf4 Bg7) 17. Bg7 Rg8 18. Bf6 Bxf6 19. exf6 {I was unsure
about this position but the engine is going nuts}) 16... a6 (16... Bh4 {Black
cannot force Bg5 through} 17. Qg4 $1 h5 18. Qh3 {White has weakened black's
kingside, a nice strategical asset, and it provides him with a nice tactical
opportunity to meet Bg5 with:} Bg5 $2 19. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 20. Qxe6+ Be7 (20... Kf8
$2 21. Bxg5 Qxg5 22. Qxc8+) 21. Qxg6+ $16 {Not even the best move, but still
massive for white}) 17. Bh6 {I could no longer see any improving moves} Bf8 18.
Bf4 Bg7 $2 {In my opinion, this move should lose the game} (18... Be7 $14 {
White is clearly better but black is not collapsing. Breaking through will be
tough}) 19. h4 $1 {Now I believe black is almost lost. Once the pawn gets to
h5 he will be unable to castle without a massive attack coming, but leaving
the king in the center and waiting for me to play c4 is no cakewalk either} Bf8
{Var was heavily criticized for moving his bishop so many times, but what else
was there to do? 0-0 would walk straight into h5, and if he is not going to
castle, what other piece will he move? The rest of his army is on good squares}
(19... h5 {Stopping h5 would be nice, but it is met with a natural shot} 20.
Bxg6 $1 fxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kf8 22. Qxe6 {With 3 pawns and a huge initaitive, white
is close to winning}) 20. h5 Be7 21. Rad1 {Preparing the attack on all flanks}
(21. b4 {Preventing Na5 deserved consideration as well, though I don't think
the text spoiled anything}) 21... Na5 22. Qg4 {A bit optimistic- Sacs won't
work if black doesn't blunder, but it doesn't really spoil anything either-
black cannot improve his position} Nc4 23. Re2 Qb6 24. Bc1 Qc7 25. Qg3 {What
idiot put the queen on g4 in the first place?} b5 {The sacs on g6 are not
quite working here- black only has one weakness to defend. I was very happy
with my next few moves, opening more avenues of attack} 26. Bc2 $1 {Diagram [#]
A multi-purpose attacking move. White is now "threatening" a4 to open the
queenside, as well as Qh3, which will pin the hpawn, threatening g6 and Kd7
will be met with Rxd5+} Qc6 {Black makes a natural move, stopping a4 and
lending support to d5. But now, I have found another weakness to attack} 27.
Rd3 $1 {Black had been holding together by a thread, and introducing one more
threat- even a primitive and obvious one like Rf3-xf7- and black falls apart.
As primitive as Rf3-xf7 is, it is surprisingly difficult to defend against} Rd8
(27... Kd7 {Running the king to shelter on the queenside does no good} 28. Rf3
{Either rook to f8 can be met with Bh6}) 28. Rf3 {Rxf7 is the key threat, and
black has basically nothing to say about it, so he is forced to play g5.
However, this irreparably weakens his kingside} g5 (28... a5 29. hxg6 (29. Rxf7
{Also works but is messier} Kxf7 30. hxg6+ Ke8 31. g7 Rg8 32. Bxh7 Kd7 33. Qg6
{This is winning though white had simples solutions as well}) 29... fxg6 (29...
hxg6 30. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7 31. Bxg6+ Kf8 32. Qf4+) 30. Qh3 {Bxg6 is coming} Kd7 {
The only way to stop it, but now...} 31. Rf7 $1 {Decisive penetration-
Rd1-d3-f3-f7!}) 29. h6 $1 {Diagram [#] Freezing the black kingside. Now h7, g5,
and f7 are all about to get plucked. If black sits and does nothing Qg4-h5
will immediately decide the game, as after Rf8 white has a pleasant choice
between Bxh7 and Bxg5, so he opened the center, making the best practical
choice in a lost position} d4 30. Qg4 dxc3 (30... Qd5 {This looks natural, but
I had worked it out to a forced win} 31. cxd4 $1 {Opening the dfile before the
exchange sacrifice} Qxd4 32. Qh5 Nxe5 33. Rxe5 $1 Qxe5 34. Qxf7+ Kd7 35. Rd3+ (
35. Bd2 {The computer prefers this one, which I had not considered, but my
move is quite sufficient}) 35... Kc8 36. Qxe7 Rxd3 37. Bxd3 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qxc1
39. Qxe6+ Kb7 (39... Kd8 40. Qf6+) (39... Kb8 40. Qb6+ {With mate next}) (39...
Kc7 40. Qe5+ {Picks up the rook}) 40. Be4+ Ka7 41. Qe7+ Kb6 42. Qd6+ Ka5 (42...
Ka7 43. Qd4+) 43. Qb4+ Kb6 44. Qd4+ $18 {Finally I grab the rook}) 31. Rxc3 {
Black has staved off the pressure on f7, but now the queenside is wide open}
Qb6 32. b3 $1 {Diagram [#]} (32. Bxg5 $2 {Not quite ready for this} Rg8 {Oops})
32... Qa5 (32... Nxa3 {This was the absolute last chance} 33. Bxa3 b4 $1 {I
have to confess, I missed this move. Luckily white is still winning} (33...
Bxa3 34. Qxg5 {Black's kingside collapses, and soon my hpawn might queen}) 34.
Bxb4 Qxb4 35. Qf3 {Black will not survive this attack}) (32... Na5 {Retreating
the knight fails} 33. Bxg5 $1 Rg8 34. Be3 $1 {A key resource now that the
queen is no longer defended on b6. White has won a pawn and is about to win a
lot more}) 33. Qf3 g4 {Desperation} (33... Nxa3 34. b4 $1 Bxb4 35. Rxa3 Bxa3
36. Bxa3 $18 {The bishops will easily finish off the black king}) 34. Qc6+ Kf8
35. b4 $1 {The queen is trapped} Bxb4 (35... Qb6 36. Rxc4) 36. Rxc4 {Diagram 
[#] Keeping it simple. The rest requires no comment} (36. axb4 Qa1 {White's
rook and bishop are forked, and Rxc4 fails to Qxc1 with check. He is still
winning but he has to be precise, so I preferred the simple way.} 37. Qc5+ Kg8
(37... Ke8 38. Be4 Qxc3 39. Bc6+ Rd7 40. Bg5) 38. Kh2 Qxc3 (38... Qxc1 39.
Bxh7+) 39. Qe7) 36... bxc4 37. axb4 Qa1 38. Qc5+ Ke8 39. Re1 g3 40. fxg3 Qd4+
41. Qxd4 Rxd4 42. Bg5 Rg8 43. Ba4+ Kf8 44. Be3 1-0

[Event "US Championship"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.09"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[Black "Timur Gareev"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E44"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "FM Mike Klein"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Bd6 7. d5 O-O 8. g3 a5
9. Bg2 Na6 10. Rb1 Re8 11. O-O exd5 12. cxd5 Nc5 13. b4 axb4 14. axb4 Nce4 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. f3 Nf6 17. e4 Qe7 18. Nd4 Bxb4 19. Nf5 Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Qd8 21. Bg5
d6 22. f4 Ba6 23. Re1 Bc8 {Diagram [#] Starting Diagram here} 24. Nxg7 $5 {Not
as strong as Kamsky's Nxg7, but a good practical chance. Black would have
removed that knight with ...Bxf5 if Lenderman didn't strike soon. Given enough
time, Black would eventually make use of his queenside majority.} Kxg7 25. Qc2
(25. e5 {too hasty. Gareev has the resource} dxe5 26. fxe5 Ng4 $1 27. Bxd8 Nf2+
28. Kg1 Nxd1+ 29. Kh1 (29. Kf1 Ba6+) 29... Nf2+ 30. Kg1 Rxd8 $19) 25... Kg6 {
as dangerous as it looks, this is best. Black needs to be able to answer e5
with the counterattack ...Bf5} 26. e5+ Bf5 27. Qxf5+ Kxf5 28. Bxf6 dxe5 (28...
Qb8 $2 29. Bh3+ Kg6 30. f5+ Kh6 31. Re4 {leads to mate}) 29. Bxd8 Raxd8 30.
Be4+ Kf6 31. Bxh7 exf4 32. Rxe8 Rxe8 33. gxf4 Bd6 {Diagram [#] White's pawns
on dark squares are weak, giving Black good winning chances despite the
opposite colored bishops.} 34. Rf1 Rh8 35. Bd3 Rh4 36. Kg2 Bxf4 37. h3 Ke5 38.
Bc2 Kd4 39. Rb1 Bd6 40. Rf1 Bf4 41. Rd1+ Kc4 42. Rd3 f6 43. Rd1 b5 44. Bd3+ Kc5
45. Be2 b4 46. Rd3 f5 47. Bd1 Be5 48. Bb3 Rd4 49. Rf3 {Diagram [#] Trading
rooks was no bargain since Black's king can control b3 and b1 very quickly.}
Rd2+ 50. Kg1 Rb2 51. h4 f4 52. h5 {After methodically improving his position,
Gareev hallucinates a win. The h-pawn was not as fast as it may have seemed.}
Rxb3 $2 53. Rxb3 Kc4 54. Rb1 b3 55. Kf2 b2 56. h6 Kc3 57. Kf3 Kc2 58. Rh1 b1=Q
59. Rxb1 Kxb1 {Diagram [#] Visually this looks winning, but a closer look
reveals that the bishop has too many tasks - guarding both pawns and keeping
an eye on h8.} 60. Ke4 Bb2 61. h7 Kc2 62. Kxf4 Kd3 63. Kf5 Kc4 64. Ke6 Kc5 65.
Kd7 Be5 (65... Kb6 66. Ke6 {and Black can't make progress} (66. d6 {works too,
and Black better capture, otherwise} c5 67. Ke8 $18) 66... Kb7 67. Kd7 Kb8 68.
Kc6 Be5 69. h8=Q+ Bxh8 70. d6 {is one way to hold the balance.}) 66. h8=Q Bxh8
67. Kxc7 Kxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "2014 U.S. Championship"]
[Site "Saint Louis, MO, USA"]
[Date "2014.05.14"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:15:11"]
[BlackClock "0:08:42"]

{The following game was played in round 7 of the 2014 US Championship.
Lenderman was the leader for the first six rounds, torching the field for a 4/
5 start. However, he met a roadblock in round 6, getting outprepared and
losing to GM Sam Shankland. Heading into the seventh round, Akobian and
Lenderman were tied for first with 4/6 and Kamsky was just half a point back.
In the commentary room, GM Ben Finegold and I knew that Lenderman would be
facing an uphill battle against the reigning US Champion.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 {Kamksy opted for a slow,
positional battle against the typically well-prepared Lenderman. Although
Lenderman dabbles in the French defense (including a nice win over GM
Alejandro Ramirez in round 3), Kamsky is a world-class positional player.
During the round, I knew this setup would favor Kamskys grind-it-out style.}
Nc6 8. Re1 b5 {Aggressive and best, in my opion. The reasonable-looking} (8...
b6 {seems acceptable, but here Black is not striving for active play, as in
the game. For example} 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 Qc7 11. Bf4 Bb7 12. h4 h6 13. N1h2 {
And Black is cramped while White just goes through with his typical plan,
trying to crash through on the underprotected kingside.}) 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 b4
11. h4 a5 12. h5 {Diagram [#] Here Lenderman faced a critical decision. Either
he allows Kamsky to push to h6 and weaken the dark squares around the Black
king or he stops the pawn in its tracks with 12...h6, allowing a potential
sacrifice on that very square. Lenderman opts for the former, which by the end
of the game he may have come to regret (even though it was the best choice in
the position).} a4 {This sample line looks scary for Black, as it certainly is
hard to see through the calculations:} (12... h6 13. N1h2 Ba6 14. Ng4 Qc7 15.
Bf4 Rab8 16. Qd2 Rfe8 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Nxh6+ Kg7 19. Ng5 Ndxe5 20. Nhxf7) 13.
h6 g6 14. N1h2 Ba6 15. Ng4 {White has reached the position he's dreamed about
when choosing this variation to play. His pieces are very well placed, his
structure is quite stable, and his king is a great deal safer. Black's
position is certainly not so bad, but it is difficult to play.} Nd4 16. Nxd4
cxd4 17. b3 {This move stops Black from pushing his pawn here, which would put
pressure on the d3 pawn. Now it is Black's d4 pawn that is looking
particularly vulnerable.} a3 $2 {While the computer does not hate this move as
much as I did during live commentary, it relieves the queenside tension far
too early. The c2 pawn is very backward, but it's hard to take once White goes
Bd2 followed by Rc1. That d4 pawn looks like a bigger target. In my eyes,
better was a variation like:} (17... Qa5 18. Bb2 Qc5 19. Rb1 Rfc8 20. Re2 Bb5
21. Qe1 axb3 22. axb3 Ra2 23. Nh2 Nb8 24. Nf3 Nc6 {And the position seems
approximately balanced.}) 18. Nh2 Rc8 19. Nf3 Qb6 20. Bg5 Bxg5 21. Nxg5 Rc6 (
21... Qc7 {I thought this might be Lenderman's idea, attacking both e5 and c2.
However, White gains the upper hand in tactical fashion with:} 22. Qg4 Qxc2 23.
Bxd5 $1 (23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Qxe6+ Rf7 25. Qxa6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh2 Rc2 27. Qa8+ Nf8
28. Qxd5 {is too unclear for us mere mortals, but the computer says all zeros,
indicating some sort of odd dynamic equality (likely a perpetual check
somewhere down the line)}) 23... Rc5 24. Bc4 Bxc4 25. dxc4 Nxe5 26. Qxd4 Qf5
27. Kf1 ({Not blundering the queen for rook and knight with:} 27. Qxc5 Nf3+ 28.
Nxf3 Qxc5) 27... Rfc8 28. f4 f6 29. Rad1 fxg5 30. Rxe5 {gives White a
significant advantage, as Black has no perpetual checks and trading major
pieces only helps White (passed c-pawn, better pawn structure, weak Black king)
}) 22. Qd2 Qc5 {Diagram [#] This is the beginning of the end for Lenderman.
Interestingly, there is no concrete way to protect his d4 pawn. Black has
issues on both sides of the board, and Kamsky pounces on his opportunity.} (
22... Rc3 {looks acceptable, except} 23. Bxd5 $3 exd5 24. e6 fxe6 25. Rxe6 Qb7
26. Re7 {is crushing}) 23. Nf3 Qxc2 24. Qxb4 Qc5 25. Qd2 (25. Qxd4 Qxd4 26.
Nxd4 Rc3 27. Bf1 Rfc8 28. Rad1 {also leaves Kamsky up a pawn, but this allows
Black some drawing chances. With the queens on the board, White keeps all his
threats available. The d4 pawn will fall sooner or later, demonstrating an
important lesson: sometimes there is no need to rush!}) 25... Rfc8 26. Rad1 Qb6
27. Qg5 Qb4 28. Rd2 Rc1 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kh2 Qf8 31. Bh3 Rc3 {Rerouting the
rook to b2 doesn't quite work, as Black's king is just too weak. For instance:}
(31... Rb1 32. Nxd4 Rb2 (32... Qe8 33. Rc2 Rb2 34. Rc7 Rxa2 35. Rxd7 Qxd7 36.
Qf6) 33. Nxe6 Qe8 34. Nc7 Nxe5 35. Kg2 Qf8 36. Qxe5 Rxd2 37. Ne6 {is winning
for White. The e6 square provides some pretty tactics in these variations,
only fair since this is a French structure!}) 32. Nxd4 Kh8 {Diagram [#]} 33.
Ne2 {Kamsky misses a nice tactical shot:} (33. Bxe6 $1 fxe6 34. Nxe6 Qe8 35.
Nf4 Rc8 36. e6) 33... Rc8 (33... Rxd3 34. Rc2) 34. d4 Bxe2 35. Rxe2 Kg8 {Black
is completely paralyzed. White is up a passed queenside pawn, has an attack on
the kingside, and can take his time. What more could Kamsky ask for?} 36. Qd2
Nb8 37. b4 Rc4 38. b5 Nd7 39. Qe3 Qb4 40. Rd2 Rc8 (40... Qxb5 41. Bf1) 41. Rd3
Qxb5 42. Rxa3 Qb6 43. Bf1 Qd8 44. Ra7 Nb8 45. Qf4 Qf8 46. Bb5 Nc6 47. Bxc6 Rxc6
48. Kg2 {Here Lenderman resigned, as he had no way to stop the following
sequence: a4, a5, a6, Rb7, a7, Rb8. Black needs to keep the rook on the 8th
rank to prevent Ra8 by White, distracted the Black queen from protecting g7
with mate. Kamsky made a great opening choice, and then smoothly outplayed the
surging Lenderman. This was a nice positional squeeze by Kamsky, and really
the turning point for the US Champ, who had only one win and five draws before
this fine victory. It's only fitting that both players sat in a three-way tie
after the final round.} 1-0

[Event "2014 U.S. Chess Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "64"]

{GMs Varuzhan Akobian and Aleksandr Lenderman battled to a draw in round 11 of
the US Championship. Their reward? A rematch the next day.   Lenderman again
had the white pieces, but this time had time odds to Akobian's draw odds.
During live commentary, I actually predicted whoever had the draw odds would
not just draw, but win the game. Here's how my prediction came true} 1. c4 e5 {
For the second straight day, Lenderman opted for 1. c4. Akobian wasn't looking
to repeat the dreadful position he received in that game, and changed his
reply. A wise move, as Lenderman demonstrated exceptional preparation
throughout the event.} 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 (4... Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6.
e3 d6 7. Ne2 a6 {was played in Wang, Hao (2747) - Fressinet, Laurent (2708) in
the 2013 Paris FIDE Grand Prix event. These elite players drew, but there are
subtleties in every move order.}) 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 a6 7. Nge2 d6 8. O-O h6 {
Black is trying to stay as noncommital as possible. The light-squared bishop
has yet to find a home, so it was clever of Akobian to wait for a good square
to open up. Also, b7 could become a target if the bishop relinquishes its
defense of that pawn. Perhaps better, and less deliberate, was:} (8... Bf5 9.
d4 Ba7 (9... exd4 $2 10. Nxd4 {gives White a simple (yet slight) advantage})
10. b4 Re8 {which looks similar to the game.}) 9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb2 Rb8 $2 {
Diagram [#] This move is not awful, and I understand its idea to protect b7
from future threats, but it is very passive. Lenderman was now able to seize
the initiative, but instead played} 11. d4 {This is not a move I like at all.
I think Lenderman had good chances to play for an advatage with} (11. Nd5 Nxd5
(11... Re8 12. f4 Nxd5 13. cxd5 Ne7 14. Rc1) 12. cxd5 Ne7 13. d4 f6 14. Rc1)
11... exd4 12. exd4 Bf5 {Finally the bishop comes out, and Akobian has already
completely equalized.} 13. c5 {The bishop on a7 is closed out of the game, but
Black still does not have any huge weaknesses. Akobian quickly built up a
solid position thanks to somewhat cautious play by Lenderman.} Qd7 14. Nf4 Rfe8
15. Rc1 {Too passive. In a must-win game, Lenderman had to seize the initative.
It appears the d5 square was not to his liking this game.} (15. Ncd5 Nxd5 16.
Nxd5 Be4 (16... Ne7 17. Ne3 Bh3 18. Bxh3 Qxh3 19. Qf3) 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Qf3
Rbe8 19. Rad1 {And White has a small, but stable, plus in all lines.}) 15...
Ne7 16. Re1 c6 {Diagram [#] Excellent play by Akobian. Now he attempts to shut
down the center. If Lenderman fights for it, trades will ensue. Advantage goes
to the player with draw odds.} 17. Qb3 (17. d5 dxc5 18. bxc5 cxd5 19. Ncxd5
Nfxd5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Bxd5 Be6 23. Qd4 f6 24. Bg2 Qxd4 25.
Bxd4 Re7 {looks very drawish.}) 17... Ng6 18. Nxg6 Bxg6 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. d5 {
Black was already a bit better, but now his advantage is huge. Lenderman
became desperate for a win, but it's already too late.} (20. Qd1 d5 21. Qd2 Bb8
(21... Qe6 22. a4 Bb8 23. b5 Bc7 {gives Black a slight edge, due to complete
control over the open e-file.}) 22. Re1 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qe6 {is risk-free
equality for Black.}) 20... dxc5 21. dxc6 {I can't really offer any
improvements here. The following line doesn't help matters at all:} (21. bxc5
Bxc5 22. dxc6 {still runs right into the game-winning tactic} Bxf2+ 23. Kh1 (
23. Kxf2 Qd4+ 24. Kf1 Bd3+ 25. Ne2 Bxe2+ 26. Ke1 Bb5+ 27. Qe3 Qxe3+ 28. Kd1
Qe2#) 23... bxc6 {Black is easily winning, up two pawns with an attack.}) 21...
bxc6 22. Na4 c4 (22... cxb4 {accomplishes the same winning tactics as in the
game, with a pawn to boot.}) 23. Qxc4 Bxf2+ $1 24. Kxf2 (24. Kh1 {is your best
move, you know you are in trouble. A fabulous winning line occurs after} Be3
25. Bxc6 Qd6 26. Re1 (26. Bxe8 Be4+ {wins the queen, with mate to come.}) 26...
Bd3 27. Qc3 Bd4 $3 28. Rxe8+ Nxe8 29. Qc1 Bb5 $1 {If White's light-squared
bishop leaves the h1-a8 diagonal, mate ensues. White must retreat the bishop,
losing the knight on a4. A terrific combination!}) 24... Qd2+ 25. Kg1 Re2 26.
Bxc6 (26. Qxe2 {was White's "best" move according to the computer. The result
is clear.}) 26... Ne4 27. Bd4 Rg2+ 28. Kf1 Rf2+ 29. Kg1 Rg2+ 30. Kf1 {Diagram 
[#] Akobian could repeat, claim a draw, and move on to face Kamsky. However,
the position is completely winning, so he instead takes the full point} Rxh2
31. Qc2 Rh1+ 32. Bg1 Nxg3# {With checkmate on the board, Akobian moved on to
face Gata Kamsky for the title. This game was very instructive. White had some
opportunities to press for an edge, especially with Nd5 ideas. However, with
the draw odds in his back pocket, Akobian was able to maintain equality and
force Lenderman to start making objectively suspicious moves in order to find
winning chances. They were never there, and Akobian showed class in a smooth
victory. Lenderman undoubtedly was disappointed, but he played an amazing
tournament to find himself tied after round 11. Both players deserve ample
applause.} 0-1

[Event "ch-USA w 2014"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.17"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Krush, I."]
[Black "Zatonskih, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2489"]
[BlackElo "2469"]
[Annotator "GM Krush"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "1"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.19"]

{I was ready to play a long game on this day. Despite the discouraging
tournament situation and the accompanying worries that I would not be able to
reverse it, it never crossed my mind to give up my title without a fight.} 1.
c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 {I'd never played this set up before; the g3 fianchetto
occurs very rarely in my practice. But it was a good choice for a lengthy game,
avoiding better known positions and forcing lines.} d5 4. Bg2 c5 {This hadn't
featured in Anna's games either. Surprised by my opening choice, she also
decides to deviate from her usual paths. Altogether a rather normal course of
events. A few moves into the game, we're on our own.} 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 dxc4 7.
Qa4 {Li Ruofan had played this way against me in the Chinese League in 2005,
and I lost after falling into a tricky opening trap. Learning from my opponent,
I now try this line as White :)} cxd4 {I played 7...Bd7 against Li Ruofan. Now
the next couple of moves are forced, as White needs to regain the sacrificed
pawns.} 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bxc6+ Bd7 10. Rd1 {Diagram [#] A critical position
came up early, and Anna spent a while here. Neither of us knew this position,
although it's all been reached before...many many times.} Bxc6 (10... Qxd1+ 11.
Qxd1 Bxc6 {this queen sacrifice, first played in 1976, is the other
alternative. It looked like it gave Black decent compensation, still...it's
not easy to give up your queen on move ten in a game where you only need a
draw. I thought White may be a bit better here, and the computer also prefers
White; however he probably underestimates Black's potential fortress setups in
the endgame. All in all, this must be a preferable continuation to 10...Bxc6,
which gives Black quite a bleak endgame to defend.}) 11. Qxc6+ bxc6 12. Rxd4 {
And this position was reached back in 1937! Even though the queens and two
minor pieces have come off so early, this is by no means a "boring" endgame.
White is simply much better due to Black's pawn weaknesses on the queenside,
and I was very happy at the result of the opening. White is about to win back
the c-pawn. The database shows that in the hands of good players, White wins
this endgame with a large percentage.} Nd5 13. Rxc4 Kd7 14. e4 {Kicking the
knight out of the center is an important part of White's plan.} Nb6 15. Rc2 {
A great square for the rook- no need to be tempted by the check on d4. White
is aiming for the setup Be3-Nd2-Nb3, Rac1, etc. After these natural moves
Black's position will be hardly tenable.} f5 $5 {Of course Anna understands
that Black's prospects are dim, and tries to change the nature of the position
with this break, hoping to get at least the d5 square back for her knight.
White actually has several tempting options now other than the one I chose,
which was to keep the position essentially as it is.} 16. f3 (16. Be3 fxe4 17.
Nd2 Nd5 18. Nxe4 Be7 19. Bc5 {was what I was considering during the game.}) ({
My coach suggested} 16. exf5 $5 exf5 17. Nc3 {and just trying to attack the
Black king on the open files!}) 16... fxe4 17. fxe4 Bd6 18. Be3 Rhc8 19. Nd2 e5
20. Rd1 {Threatening Bxb6 and Nc4, thus forcing Black's response} Ke6 21. Rdc1
Kd7 22. Nb3 ({Paradoxically, the knight transfer to the other side of the
board was much stronger!} 22. Nf3) 22... Rc7 23. Na5 Rac8 24. Kg2 {This was a
tricky move that was pleasing to make. It is not only a simple "improving the
king", but a preparation for Bxb6 followed by the winning Nc4, ensuring no ...
Bc5 check! But Anna also saw this and played 24...c5 quickly.} c5 {Diagram [#]
However, guarding against the tactical problem of Bxb6, Black is definitely
making another positional concession by placing one more pawn on a dark square.
I thought we were now in a textbook endgame, where with decent technique White
shows why several pawn weaknesses combined with having those pawns fixed on
the same color as your bishop is not viable in the long run.} 25. Nb3 $6 {I
was not sure yet about trading knights and decided on this maneuver, which
gives Black unnecessary counterplay.} Na4 26. Nd2 Nb6 (26... c4 $1 {A thematic
and strong move, advancing the c- pawn off the dark square. I had seen it, but
miscalculated in my variations..} 27. Nxc4 (27. Rxc4 Nxb2 28. Rxc7+ Bxc7 29.
Bxa7 Ra8) 27... Nxb2 28. Rxb2 Rxc4 29. Rxc4 Rxc4 30. Rb7+ Ke6 31. Kf3 {I
thought White was doing well here, about to pick off a pawn, but Black has the
strong} Rc3 $1 {and the tactical threat of ...Bc5 is enough to equalize the
game.}) 27. Nc4 {Going back to the right idea.} Nxc4 28. Rxc4 Ke6 29. b3 {A
typical small improvement in structure: putting pawns on the color squares
where your opponent's bishop can't attack them. Black is tied down to the
defense of c5.} Kd7 (29... a6 $5 {I thought it was desirable to at least get
one pawn off a dark square, and guard it via the sixth rank, thus not giving
White a chance to get on the sixth rank himself.}) 30. Ra4 Ke7 31. Kf3 Rf8+ 32.
Ke2 Rb8 33. Ra5 Rbc8 34. Rc4 Ke6 {Diagram [#] Everything was building up
nicely for White, and here Ra6 (a great square for the rook, which I had been
intending to use all along) followed by more improvements like Kd3 were in
order. I got a little too ambitious and too careless with my next move; I
wanted to force Black to defend the a7 pawn with Ra8, and thought that after
35...c4 I was winning easily enough, but it turned out not to be easy at all!}
35. Rca4 $2 {This move could have cost me a half point, and it is a good
example of bad technique. What is good technique? Building up your advantage
incrementally and not giving your opponent any counterplay! But the premature
35.Rca4 gives Black an opportunity to activate his pieces for a mere pawn, and
White's winning task is immeasurably harder.} c4 $1 36. Rxc4 Rxc4 37. bxc4 Rxc4
38. Kd3 Rb4 39. Rxa7 $6 (39. Ra6 $1 {, threatening Bc5, was much better than
the immediate capture on a7.}) 39... h5 $1 {In time pressure Anna finds a very
good move.} 40. Rxg7 Rb2 {Diagram [#] I knew I had thrown away a huge part of
my advantage. I spent a long time calculating here. Of course, White wants to
hold on to the a-pawn and advance it as far as possible, but that's easier
said than done.} 41. a4 Ra2 $1 42. Rh7 (42. Ra7 $4 {falls into a trap:} Ra3+
43. Ke2 Rxe3+ 44. Kxe3 Bc5+ {and Black wins!}) 42... Ra3+ $1 {More good
defense from Anna, not hurrying to capture the a4 pawn. With checks and pins,
Black will force White's king to an awkward position on h3.} 43. Ke2 Ra2+ 44.
Kf3 Ra3 45. Kf2 (45. Rxh5 Bc5 $19 {is the point, so White's king has to move
off the third rank.}) 45... Ra2+ 46. Kf1 Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Ra2+ 48. Kh3 Rxa4 {Black
captures the pawn only once White's king has been exiled to h3.} 49. Rh6+ Kd7
50. Rxh5 Rxe4 {Diagram [#] It is rather ironic that the game was won from this
stage, when White's advantage is at the lowest point it's been from the
opening. I knew that Black was more or less ok here, but that didn't really
deter me, because...the game had to be won, no matter from what position.
White still has an extra pawn, after all. The trick is, how to actually
coordinate the pieces, stop the e-pawn, push your pawns without losing them...
and to do all this with a couple minutes left on the clock. But I had one idea
in mind and somehow I got to carry it out.} 51. Bg5 Ke6 52. Rh8 ({I rejected
the immediate} 52. Rh4 {because of} Kf5 53. Rxe4 Kxe4 {and I evaluated the
bishop ending as fine for Black.}) 52... Ra4 53. Rh4 $1 {Diagram [#] I think
this move won the game for me. The idea is to wrest control of the 4th rank so
the king could come out to g4, possibly back to f3, block checks with Be3,
defend the bishop with Re4, etc. And there is no Kf5, defending the rook, as
on the previous move.} Ra2 54. Kg4 Kd5 55. Rh8 Ra4+ 56. Kf5 {The king is well
situated here.} Ra2 57. h4 {Diagram [#] The advance of the h- pawn signifies
real progress for White. I started to feel optimistic here. In fact, the
computer says White has a winning position already.} Rf2+ 58. Kg4 e4 59. Rd8
Ke6 60. Re8+ Kd5 61. h5 Rf3 62. Bh4 Rf7 63. h6 Be5 64. Bg5 Kd4 65. Be3+ Kxe3
66. Rxe5 Kd3 67. Kh5 e3 68. g4 e2 69. g5 Ra7 70. Re8 Ra8 71. Rxe2 Kxe2 72. h7
Kf3 73. g6 Ra5+ ({Black could have gotten the endgame rook versus queen with} 
73... Kf4 74. g7 Ra5+ 75. Kg6 Ra6+ 76. Kf7 Ra7+ 77. Kf6 Ra6+ 78. Ke7 Ra7+ 79.
Kd6 Rxg7 80. h8=Q {but just prior to the tournament I had browsed through
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual and fortunately knew about the triangulation
maneuver White has in the key defensive position.}) 74. Kh6 Kg4 75. h8=Q {
Thank you to everyone who rooted for me throughout this tough event! And a big
thank you to my coach Giorgi, who once again was a key part of my title win.}
1-0

[Event "US Championship (Women, Rapid Tiebreaks"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Irina Krush"]
[Black "Tatev Abrahamyan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E56"]
[WhiteElo "2489"]
[BlackElo "2366"]
[Annotator "FM Mike Klein"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2014.05.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. dxc5 Bg4 10. Na4 Qe7 11. a3 Ba5 12. b4 Bc7 13. Bb2 Rad8 14. Be2 Rfe8
15. b5 Na5 16. Qc2 Bb8 17. Bd4 Ne4 18. Nb2 Qe6 19. Rfe1 Qh6 20. g3 Re6 21. Nh4
Bh3 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 g5 24. Nf5 Qh3 25. f3 Qxf5 26. fxe4 Qxe4 27. Qf2 Qg6
28. Rad1 Rde8 29. a4 Nb3 30. Nd3 Re4 31. c6 bxc6 32. bxc6 Rc8 33. Nb4 Qe6 34.
Qf6 Nxd4 35. Qxg5+ Kf8 36. Rxd4 Rxe3 37. Nxd5 Re2 38. Nf6 Be5 39. Rd7 Bxf6 40.
Qxf6 Qe3+ 41. Kh1 Qe4+ 42. Qf3 Qxf3+ 43. Rxf3 Rxc6 44. Rdxf7+ Kg8 45. Rf2 Re4
46. Rxa7 Re1+ 47. Kg2 Ra1 48. Rd2 Rc8 49. Rdd7 h5 50. Rg7+ Kf8 51. Rh7 Kg8 {
Starting Diagram here} 52. Rxh5 {The moves to this game do not accurately
convey the tension. The players were under one minute with a five-second
increment, and Krush had to figure out a safe king path to get her three extra
pawns going.} Rc2+ 53. Kh3 Raa2 54. Kg4 Rc4+ 55. Kh3 Rcc2 56. Rg5+ Kf8 57. Rf5+
Kg8 58. Kg4 Rc4+ 59. Kg5 (59. Rf4 {was simpler, and more importantly for White,
less complicated}) 59... Rxh2 60. Rb5 Rc8 61. Kg6 Kh8 {Diagram [#]} (61... Rc6+
{would have asked White what she was up to}) 62. g4 $2 {again, Rh5+ would have
made the win elementary. The continuity of the four rooks kept the crowd on
their feet!} Rg8+ 63. Kf5 Rf2+ 64. Ke6 Rg6+ 65. Kd5 Rg5+ 66. Kc6 Rf6+ (66...
Rxg4 67. Rb8+ Rg8 68. Rxg8+ Kxg8 {is a win (by one tempo!) since Black's king
is so far away. Hard to fault Krush for not going for this with 15 seconds on
her clock!}) 67. Kb7 Rxg4 68. Ka8 {What a run the king completed!} Kg8 69. a5 {
Diagram [#] It is clear that in the waning moments, Krush didn't trust the win
existed by trading one set of rooks -} (69. Rb8+ Rf8 70. Rxf8+ Kxf8 71. a5 Ke8
{and this time, she was right! This position is a theoretical draw.}) 69... Ra4
$2 (69... Rf8+ 70. Rb8 Rxb8+ 71. Kxb8 Rg5 {Paradoxically, trading one set of
rooks is now the right way for Black. Only the move ...Rg5 holds, reaching a
position so famous it has a name - the Vancura Position.}) 70. a6 {Played with
two seconds remaining. Pretty, but starting with} (70. Rb8+ Rf8 71. a6 {sure
seemed easier to figure out in a pinch}) 70... Rf8+ (70... Raxa6 71. Rb8+ Rf8
72. Rxa6 {is the point}) 71. Rb8 Rb4 72. Rab7 Ra4 73. Rxf8+ Kxf8 74. a7 Ke8 75.
Kb8 Kd8 76. a8=Q {That was some rook-and-pawn ending!} 1-0

[Event "U.S. Amateur East Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.07.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vinko Rutar"]
[Black "Sandi Hutama"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A18"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.02"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. e4 d6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. Bd2 Rb8 12. Rac1 b6 13. h3 Bb7 14. Kh2 Rfe8
15. b3 Bf8 16. Rfe1 Rbd8 17. Qd3 Qb8 18. Qb1 Qa8 19. Re2 g6 (19... d5) 20. Rce1
Bg7 21. Nf3 Nc5 22. Ng1 Bc6 23. a4 Rb8 24. Qc2 Rec8 25. Bf4 Ne8 26. b4 Bxc3 27.
Qxc3 Nxa4 28. Qb3 b5 29. c5 e5 30. Bh6 dxc5 31. f4 exf4 32. gxf4 c4 33. Qg3 a5
34. f5 Rb7 (34... axb4) 35. fxg6 fxg6 (35... hxg6) 36. Nf3 Ng7 (36... Re7 37.
Ne5 Ng7) 37. Ne5 Re7 {Diagram [#]} (37... Ra7 38. Rf1 axb4 39. Qf2 Qb8 40. Bf4
Ne6 41. Nxc6 Qxf4+ 42. Qxf4 Nxf4 43. Nxa7 Nxe2 44. Nxc8 c3 45. e5 Nc5 46. Bf3
Nd4 47. Bd5+ Kg7 48. Ne7 c2 49. Rf7+ Kh6 50. Kg3 g5 (50... c1=Q 51. Ng8+ Kh5
52. Nf6+) 51. Rf6+ Kg7 52. Rf7+ Kh6 53. Rf6+) 38. Nxc6 (38. Rf2 Qb8 (38... axb4
39. Ref1 Ra7 40. Qe3 Qb8 41. Bf4 Qb6 42. Qxb6 Nxb6 43. Nxc6 Rxc6 44. Bb8) (
38... Rce8 39. Ng4) 39. Bf4) 38... Qxc6 {Diagram [#]} 39. Bg5 (39. e5 Qe6 40.
Bxg7 Kxg7 41. bxa5 Nc5 42. Rf1 Nd7 43. h4 Rce8 (43... b4 44. Bh3 Qc6 45. h5)
44. Bh3) 39... Nh5 40. Qg4 Re5 41. Bf3 axb4 42. Qg2 Qc5 43. Be3 Qe7 44. Bg4 Rf8
45. Rf2 Rxf2 46. Bxf2 Nf4 47. Qh1 Nd3 48. Rf1 Nxf2 49. Rxf2 Rxe4 50. Qf3 b3 51.
Rd2 b2 52. Rd8+ Kg7 53. Rd7 b1=Q 0-1

[Event "U.S. Amateur East Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.05.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Sandi Hutama"]
[Black "Drew John Serres"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.02"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. h3
Nd7 {Diagram [#]} 9. Rb1 f5 10. d3 Nf6 11. b4 Nh5 12. Nd5 Ne7 13. Bb2 Kh8 14.
f4 Nxd5 15. cxd5 (15. Bxd5) 15... exf4 16. Bxg7+ Kxg7 17. gxf4 Qe7 18. Qd2 b6
19. Nd4 g5 {Diagram [#]} 20. Rbe1 g4 21. hxg4 fxg4 22. Be4 Ng3 23. Qg2 Nxf1 24.
Rxf1 h5 25. f5 Qg5 26. Rf4 Rf6 (26... Bd7) 27. Qc2 h4 (27... Rf7 28. Ne6+ Bxe6
29. dxe6) 28. Qe2 (28. Qc6 Rb8 29. Qxc7+) (28. Qxc7+) 28... Kf7 29. Rxg4 Qh6
30. Qf2 Bd7 31. Kh2 (31. Rxh4 Qg5+ 32. Kf1 Rh6) 31... Rg8 32. Rxg8 Kxg8 33.
Qg1+ Kf8 34. Qc1 Rf7 (34... Qg5) 35. Qxc7 Qxe3 (35... Kg7) 36. Qxd6+ (36. Qd8+
Kg7 37. f6+ Rxf6 38. Qxd7+) 36... Kg8 37. Qb8+ Rf8 38. Qe5 Qf2+ 39. Kh3 Rf6 40.
Ne6 Qe3+ 41. Kg4 (41. Kxh4 Rh6+ 42. Kg4 Qh3+ 43. Kf4 Rh4+ 44. Kg5 Rg4+ 45. Kf6
Qh4+ 46. Ng5 Qxg5#) 41... Qg1+ 42. Kf3 {Diagram [#]} Ba4 (42... Qf1+) 43. Qb8+
Kh7 44. Qxa7+ (44. Qb7+ Kh6) 44... Kh6 45. Qxa4 h3 46. Qe8 Qd1+ 47. Kf4 Qc1+
48. Ke5 1-0

[Event "37th Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "Turin ITA"]
[Date "2006.05.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bu Xiangzhi"]
[Black "Mark Paragua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd2
Nbd7 9. b3 dxc4 10. bxc4 e5 11. Rb1 Qc7 12. h3 Be7 13. Be2 g5 14. O-O Kf8 15.
Be1 g6 16. f3 exd4 17. exd4 Nh5 18. d5 f5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20. Re1 Nc5 21. Bf1 Bd6
22. Qd4 Kf7 23. Rbd1 Rad8 24. Ne2 b6 25. Qc3 Be5 26. Qa3 cxd5 27. Nxf4 Bxf4 28.
cxd5 Bd6 29. Qe3 Rde8 30. Qc3 Rhf8 31. Bb5 Rxe1+ 32. Rxe1 Kg8 33. Qc4 Kh7 34.
h4 g4 35. fxg4 fxg4 36. Qe2 Rxf2 37. Qxf2 Bg3 38. Re7+ Qxe7 39. Qxg3 Ne4 40.
Qe3 g3 41. Bd3 Qc5 42. Qxc5 Nxc5 43. Bc2 Kh6 44. Bd1 Kg7 45. Kf1 Ne4 46. Bc2
Nf6 47. d6 Nd7 48. Ba4 Nc5 49. d7 Ne6 50. Bb3 Nd8 51. Ke2 g5 52. hxg5 Kg6 53.
Kf3 Kxg5 54. Kxg3 Kf6 55. Kf4 Ke7 56. Bd5 Kxd7 57. Ke5 Ke7 58. g4 b5 59. g5 {
Diagram [#]} Kd7 (59... Kf8 60. Kf6) (59... Nf7+ 60. Bxf7 Kxf7 61. Kd5 Kg6 62.
Kc5 a6 63. Kb6 Kxg5 64. Kxa6 b4 65. Kb5 Kf6 66. Kxb4 Ke7 67. Kb5 Kd8 68. Kb6
Kc8 69. a4 (69. Ka7 Kc7) 69... Kb8) 60. g6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Open"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2007.02.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vladimir Malakhov"]
[Black "Evgeny Najer"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2007.01.27"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. Bb3 Ba7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
d6 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Be6 12. Ng3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Qd7 14. O-O Qe6
15. b4 h6 16. Nh4 Ne7 17. Qf3 Ng6 18. Nhf5 Rfd8 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rad1 Kh7 21.
Bc1 Ne7 22. Kh2 Nxf5 23. Nxf5 c5 24. bxc5 Bxc5 25. g4 Qc6 26. Ng3 Be7 27. g5
hxg5 28. Bxg5 g6 29. Rg1 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 Qe6 31. Bc1 Rd8 32. Qf3 Rd7 33. Kg2 a5
34. Qe2 Qd6 35. Be3 Qc6 36. Bc1 Qd6 37. Qc4 Bd8 38. Be3 Qd3 39. Qxd3 Rxd3 40.
Kf3 Bb6 41. Ke2 Rd6 42. Ra1 Bxe3 43. Kxe3 b6 44. Ne2 Kh6 45. b4 axb4 46. cxb4
Kg5 47. Ra8 Rc6 48. Rb8 Rc4 49. h4+ Kxh4 50. Rxb6 Rxe4+ 51. Kd3 Kg5 52. Rxf6
Rxe2 53. Rxg6+ Kxg6 54. Kxe2 Kf5 55. Kd3 Ke6 56. Kc4 Kd6 57. Kb5 e4 58. Kc4 Kc6
59. Kd4 Kb5 60. Kxe4 Kxb4 {Diagram [#]} 61. Ke5 (61. Kd4 Kb5 62. Kd5 Kb6 63.
Kd6 Kb5 64. f4 Kc4 65. f5 Kd4 66. f6 Ke4 67. Ke7) 61... Kc5 62. f3 (62. f4 Kc6
63. Kf6 Kd5 64. Kxf7 (64. f5 Ke4)) 62... Kc6 63. f4 Kd7 64. Kf6 (64. f5 Kc6 65.
Kf6) 64... Ke8 65. Kg7 {Diagram [#]} f5 66. Kf6 Kf8 67. Kxf5 Kf7 68. Ke5 Ke7
69. f5 Kf7 70. f6 Kf8 (70... Ke8 71. Ke6 Kf8 72. f7 Kg7 73. Ke7) 71. Ke6 Ke8
72. f7+ Kf8 73. Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "USSR Championship"]
[Site "Moscow (RUS)"]
[Date "1951.12.13"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Lev Aronin"]
[Black "Vasily Smyslov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Be3 c6 7. Qd2 b5 8. Bd3
Ng4 9. Bf4 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Bg3 h5 12. Bh4 f6 13. h3 Bh6 14. Qe2 b4 15. Na4
g5 16. Bg3 h4 17. Bh2 Nxh2 18. Nxh2 Nd7 19. Bc4 Bf8 20. Ng4 Nb6 21. Rd1 Qe7 22.
Bb3 Rb8 23. O-O Nxa4 24. Bxa4 Rb6 25. Qc4 Qe6 26. Qd3 Qe7 27. Qd5 Be6 28. Qd3
Bg7 29. Bb3 O-O 30. Ne3 Bxb3 31. Qxb3+ Qf7 32. Nf5 Qxb3 33. axb3 Rf7 34. Rd8+
Kh7 35. Ra1 Bf8 36. Ra8 Rbb7 37. Rd1 Rbc7 38. Rdd8 Bg7 39. Kf1 Rfd7 40. Rxd7
Rxd7 41. Rc8 Kg6 {Diagram [#]} 42. Rg8 (42. Rxc6) 42... Kh7 43. Rxg7+ Rxg7 44.
Nxg7 Kxg7 45. g4 (45. Ke2 Kf7 (45... Kg6 46. Kd3 f5 47. exf5+ Kxf5 48. Kc4 e4)
46. Kd3 Ke6 47. Kc4 a5 48. Kc5 Kd7 49. Kb6) 45... hxg3 (45... Kf7 46. Ke2 Ke6
47. Kd3 Kd6 48. Kc4 a5 49. f3 Kd7 50. Kc5 Kc7 51. c3 bxc3 52. bxc3 Kb7 (52...
Kd7 53. Kb6) 53. Kd6) 46. fxg3 g4 47. h4 (47. hxg4 Kg6) 47... c5 48. Ke2 Kh7
49. Kd3 Kh6 50. c3 a5 51. cxb4 axb4 {Diagram [#]} 52. Kc4 f5 53. exf5 (53. Kd3
f4) 53... e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "David Janowski"]
[Black "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D60"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 a6 9. a4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Nb6 12. Bd3 Nbd5 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Ne5 Rc8
15. Qf3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rc7 17. Re3 Bc8 {Diagram [#]} 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 (18... gxf6
19. Bxh7+ (19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. Qh5 f5 21. Rh3) 19... Kg7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Qh5 f5
22. Rh3) 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rh3 1-0

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[Black "Oldrich Duras"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B16"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Bd3 Qd5 8.
Bxf5 Qxf5 9. Qf3 Qxf3 10. Nxf3 Nd7 11. Bf4 O-O-O 12. O-O Nb6 13. Rfd1 e6 14.
Kf1 Bg7 15. a4 Rhe8 16. a5 Nd5 17. Bd2 f5 18. g3 f6 19. Nh4 Ne7 20. f4 Ng6 21.
Nf3 h5 22. Kf2 Rh8 23. Re1 Rde8 24. Re2 Kd7 25. Rae1 Bf8 26. c4 Bd6 27. Bc3 h4
28. a6 b6 29. d5 hxg3+ 30. hxg3 Bc5+ 31. Kg2 cxd5 32. cxd5 e5 33. fxe5 Reg8 34.
e6+ Ke7 35. d6+ Bxd6 36. Rd2 Nf4+ 37. Kf2 Nh3+ 38. Ke2 Bxg3 39. Bb4+ Kxe6 40.
Rf1 Bf4 41. Nd4+ Kf7 42. Rc2 Rd8 43. Nxf5 Rhe8+ 44. Kf3 Rd3+ 45. Kg2 {Diagram 
[#]} Rg8+ 46. Kh1 Nf2+ 47. Rcxf2 (47. Rfxf2 Rd1+) 47... Rh3+ 0-1

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Siegbert Tarrasch"]
[Black "Alfred Ehrhardt Post"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Bc2 d4 12. Ne4 Bd5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Nxd4 Bxd4
15. cxd4 Bc4 16. Be4 Qd7 17. Re1 O-O 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh4 f5 20. exf6 Rae8 21.
Bh6 Rf7 {Diagram [#]} 22. b3 Qe6 (22... Be6 23. d5 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1
Qxd5 26. Re8+) 23. bxc4 Nxd4 24. Re3 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 Rxf6 26. Bd5+ Ne6 27. Rae1
1-0

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Rudolf Spielmann"]
[Black "Jacques Mieses"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 Nc6 7. d5 Bxf3 8.
Bxf3 Ne5 9. b3 g6 10. Bb2 Bg7 11. Nc3 c6 12. O-O Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 cxd5 14. c5 Nc8
15. Rad1 O-O 16. Nxd5 Qa5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. b4 Qxa2 {Diagram [#]} 19. Qc3+ (19.
Nc3 Qa6 20. b5 Qf6 21. Qxb7) 19... Kg8 20. Rd2 Qa4 21. Ra1 Qc6 22. b5 Qxb5 23.
Nc7 1-0

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[Black "Carl Johan Margot Carls"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D93"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. Bf4 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Qb3 Qa5 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 b6 11. Bxf7+ Rxf7 12. Ng5 Nd5 13. Nxf7 Kxf7 14. e4 e6
15. exd5 exd5 16. Ne4 Bxd4 17. Nd6+ Kg8 {Diagram [#]} 18. Qh3 Qa6 19. Qe6+ Kh8
20. Nf7+ Kg8 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Mannheim 1914"]
[Site "Mannheim GER"]
[Date "1914.07.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Walter John"]
[Black "David Janowski"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B34"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1914.07.20"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Ng8 8.
Bc4 d5 9. exd6 exd6 10. Qf3 d5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Bxd5 Qe7+ 13. Be3 Rb8 14. O-O
Bg7 15. Bf4 Rb6 16. Bc6+ Rxc6 17. Qxc6+ Qd7 18. Rfe1+ Ne7 {Diagram [#]} 19.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 20. Re1+ Kf8 (20... Kd8 21. Bg5+ f6 22. Bxf6+) 21. Bd6+ Kg8 22. Re8+
Bf8 23. Rxf8+ Kg7 24. Qc3+ 1-0

[Event "Westfield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Berrios, Mic hael"]
[Black "Liu, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "1547"]
[BlackElo "1805"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.05.06"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 {Diagram [#]} e6 (3... c6 4. -- Bf5 (4... Bg4)) 4.
O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 {Diagram [#]} 8. e5 Nd7 9. Re1 b5 10.
Nf1 a5 11. h4 {Diagram [#]} Qb6 (11... Ba6 12. Bf4 b4 13. Bh3 Qb6 14. Ng5 Bxg5
15. hxg5 c4 16. Nh2 cxd3 17. cxd3 Qd4) (11... a4 12. a3 b4 13. Bf4 bxa3 14.
bxa3 Na5 (14... Ra6 15. Re3 Nd4 16. c4) 15. Ne3 Ba6 16. Bh3 d4 17. Nf1 Nb6 18.
Ng5) 12. N1h2 Ba6 13. h5 {Diagram [#]} h6 14. Ng4 Kh7 15. b3 (15. Bf4) 15... d4
16. Bf4 c4 17. Qc1 cxd3 {Diagram [#]} 18. Bxh6 d2 (18... gxh6 19. Qxh6+ Kg8 20.
Ng5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5+ Kh8) (18... dxc2 19. Bxg7) 19. Qxd2 gxh6 (19... Bb4 20. Qd3+
) 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. Nf6+ Nxf6 25. exf6
1-0

[Event "Merano"]
[Site "it"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[Black "Georges Koltanowski"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]

1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qb3 b6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
exf5 Nd5 9. Bd3 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Bg5 O-O {Diagram [#]} 12. Rac1 Qd6 13. Rfe1
Nd7 14. fxg6 hxg6 15. Ba6 Rab8 16. Bh4 Bh6 17. Bg3 Bf4 (17... Nf4 18. Bxf4 Bxf4
19. Ne5) 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 19. Ne5 Nxe5 (19... Qxd4 20. Rcd1) 20. dxe5 Qd2 (20...
Qd5 21. Qg3) 21. Bc4 e6 22. Rcd1 Qa5 23. Re4 Nh5 (23... Nd5) 24. Bxe6 Ng7 (
24... fxe6 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 (25... Kg7 26. Rg4 Nf4 27. Rd7+) 26. Rg4 Ng7 27. Rxg6)
25. Bc4 b5 26. Bf1 Rfd8 27. Rc1 (27. Rxd8+ Rxd8) 27... Qb6 28. e6 Rd5 (28...
Nxe6 29. Rxe6 fxe6 30. Qxe6+ Kg7 31. Rxc6 Qb7 32. Qxg6+) 29. exf7+ Kxf7 30.
Rf4+ Kg8 (30... Ke7 31. Re1+ Ne6 32. Rfe4) 31. Rf6 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#1"]
[Black "Fork"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/1pr2p2/6p1/8/8/bPPB4/3K4/R3R3 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Bb2 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#2"]
[Black "Skewer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/5ppp/8/7b/8/3Q1N2/q4PPP/1R4K1 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Bg6 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#3"]
[Black "Overload"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/2q3p1/5nbp/5N2/8/2BQ4/6P1/1K6 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Bxf5 2. Qxf5 Qxc3 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#4"]
[Black "Trapping"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k6/4n3/Bppp4/8/8/3P4/1P6/1K6 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]

{Diagram [#]}  0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#5"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pkp/8/8/2Q1p1K1/1PP1q1P1/7r/5R2 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "7"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... f5+ 2. Rxf5 h5+ 3. Rxh5 Qf3+ 4. Kg5 Rxh5# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#6"]
[Black "Pin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/1p3pp1/1q6/5r2/1P1R4/1QP1N3/4K1P1/8 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Rfe5 0-1

[Event "Westfield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Berrios, Mic hael"]
[Black "Liu, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "1547"]
[BlackElo "1805"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.05.06"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 {Diagram [#]} e6 (3... c6 4. -- Bf5 (4... Bg4)) 4.
O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 {Diagram [#]} 8. e5 Nd7 9. Re1 b5 10.
Nf1 a5 11. h4 {Diagram [#]} Qb6 (11... Ba6 12. Bf4 b4 13. Bh3 Qb6 14. Ng5 Bxg5
15. hxg5 c4 16. Nh2 cxd3 17. cxd3 Qd4) (11... a4 12. a3 b4 13. Bf4 bxa3 14.
bxa3 Na5 (14... Ra6 15. Re3 Nd4 16. c4) 15. Ne3 Ba6 16. Bh3 d4 17. Nf1 Nb6 18.
Ng5) 12. N1h2 Ba6 13. h5 {Diagram [#]} h6 14. Ng4 Kh7 15. b3 (15. Bf4) 15... d4
16. Bf4 c4 17. Qc1 cxd3 {Diagram [#]} 18. Bxh6 d2 (18... gxh6 19. Qxh6+ Kg8 20.
Ng5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5+ Kh8) (18... dxc2 19. Bxg7) 19. Qxd2 gxh6 (19... Bb4 20. Qd3+
) 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. Nf6+ Nxf6 25. exf6
1-0

[Event "Buenos Aires ol (Men)"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1978.10.25"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[WhiteTeam "Israel"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 c6 7. O-O Qa5 8. Nbd2
Qh5 9. e4 Bg4 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nfd7 12. Re1 Na6 13. Nc4 Rad8 14. Qe2 Nb4
15. Ne3 Nxe5 16. Nxg4 Nxg4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qc4 Qb5 19. Qxg4 Nxc2 20. Re5 Rd5
21. Rxd5 Qxd5 22. Ne1 Qd4 23. Qxd4+ Nxd4 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Kf1 Rd6 26. Nf3 Nc2
27. Rxd6 exd6 28. Ke2 Nb4 29. a3 Nc2 30. a4 a5 31. Nd2 d5 32. Nf3 f6 33. h4 h5
34. Kd2 Nb4 35. Ne1 Kf7 36. f3 f5 37. Nd3 Na6 38. Nf4 Kf6 39. Bf1 Nb8 40. Kd3
Nd7 41. Kd4 b6 {Diagram [#]} 42. Nxd5+ (42. Nd3 Ke6 43. f4 Kd6 44. Ne5 Nc5 45.
Kc3 Ne4+ 46. Kc2 Nxg3) 42... cxd5 43. Kxd5 g5 (43... Ke7 44. Kc6 Kd8 45. f4 Kc8
46. Bc4 Kd8 47. Bf7) 44. Kc6 (44. f4 g4 45. Kc6 Nc5 46. Kxb6 Ne4 (46... Nxb3
47. Bd3 Kg6 48. Bc2 Nd2 (48... Nd4 49. Bd1) 49. Kxa5 Nf1 50. Kb5 Nxg3 51. a5
Ne2 52. a6 g3 53. a7 g2 54. a8=Q g1=Q 55. Qe8+) 47. Kxa5 Nxg3 48. Bg2 Ne2 49.
Kb6 Nxf4 50. Bb7 (50. a5 Nxg2 51. a6 Nxh4 52. a7 g3 53. a8=Q Kg5) 50... Ne6 51.
a5 f4 52. a6 f3 53. a7 f2 54. Bg2) 44... Ne5+ 45. Kxb6 Nxf3 46. Kxa5 (46. hxg5+
) 46... Nd2 {Diagram [#]} 47. hxg5+ (47. Bg2 Nxb3+ (47... gxh4 48. gxh4 f4 49.
Kb4 f3 50. Bxf3 Nxf3 51. a5 Ne5 52. a6 Nc6+ 53. Kc5) 48. Kb4 Nd4 49. a5 gxh4
50. gxh4 f4 51. a6 f3 52. Bxf3) (47. Be2 g4) (47. b4 gxh4 48. gxh4 Nxf1 49. b5
Ne3 50. b6 Nc4+ 51. Kb5 Nxb6) 47... Kxg5 {Diagram [#]} 48. Bg2 (48. Be2 Nxb3+
49. Kb6 Kf6 50. Bc4 Nd2 51. Bd5 Ke7 52. a5 Kd8 53. a6) 48... Kg4 (48... Nxb3+
49. Kb6) 49. Kb6 Kxg3 50. a5 (50. Bd5 Ne4 51. a5 h4 52. a6 h3 53. a7 h2 54.
a8=Q h1=Q) 50... Kxg2 51. a6 h4 52. a7 h3 53. a8=Q+ Ne4 (53... Nf3 54. Qg8+ Kf2
55. Qh8) 54. Qg8+ Ng3 55. Qd5+ Kf2 56. Qd2+ Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Benasque Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.07.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Black "Arizmendi Martinez, Julen "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2486"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 b6 8. Ne4
a5 9. Nd6+ Bxd6 10. exd6 Ba6 11. Bf4 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nc6 13. O-O c4 14. Qe2 b5
15. b3 O-O 16. a4 Nb6 17. axb5 Na7 18. Qb2 Nxb5 19. bxc4 Nxd6 20. c5 Nbc4 21.
Qc2 Nb5 22. Qb3 Na7 23. Qa4 Qe8 24. Ne5 Qxa4 25. Rxa4 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Nb5 27. Rc1
f6 28. Bf4 Rfc8 29. Bd2 e5 30. Rca1 Rcb8 31. Kf1 Kf7 32. Ke2 Ke6 33. Kd3 Nc7
34. Rxa5 Rxa5 35. Rxa5 Kd7 36. Kc2 Ra8 {Diagram [#]} 37. c4 (37. Rxa8 Nxa8 38.
dxe5 fxe5 39. f4 Kc6 40. fxe5 Kxc5 41. Be3+ Kc6 42. Kd3 Kd7 43. Kd4 Nb6) 37...
dxc4 38. Rxa8 Nxa8 39. dxe5 fxe5 (39... Kc6 40. exf6 gxf6 41. Be3 Nc7 42. Kc3
Kd5) 40. Kc3 Kc6 41. Kxc4 Nc7 42. Bc3 Ne6 43. Bxe5 g5 44. Bd6 g4 45. f4 gxf3
46. gxf3 Ng5 47. f4 Ne4 48. Kd4 Nxd6 49. cxd6 Kxd6 50. f5 Ke7 51. Ke5 Kf7 52.
f6 h5 53. h4 1-0

[Event "Buenos Aires sim"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1997.09.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Panno, Oscar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.09.06"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 c5 8. e3
d6 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. O-O-O Ne4 11. Qd3 Nxf2 12. Bxd8 Nxd3+ 13. Bxd3 Rxd8 14. Be4
d5 15. cxd5 Bb7 16. Ne2 Nd7 17. dxe6 Bxe4 18. e7 Re8 19. Rxd7 f6 20. Ng3 Bg6
21. h4 h6 22. h5 Bh7 23. Rh4 Kf7 24. Rc4 Rxe7 25. Rxe7+ Kxe7 26. Rxc5 Kd6 27.
b4 Re8 28. Kd2 Re5 29. Rxe5 Kxe5 30. a4 Bg8 31. b5 Bb3 32. a5 Bc4 33. b6 axb6
34. axb6 Bd5 {Diagram [#]} 35. e4 Bb7 36. Ke3 Bc6 37. Nf5 (37. Kd3 f5 38. exf5
Bxg2) 37... Bxe4 38. g4 Bxf5 39. b7 1-0

[Event "Houston Open"]
[Site "Houston, Texas"]
[Date "2009.07.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adrian Keatinge-Clay"]
[Black "Chris Land"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2245"]
[BlackElo "2219"]
[Annotator "Land, Chris"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2009.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5
Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6 13. Bd3 O-O 14. O-O Nbd7
15. c5 Qc7 16. Re1 e5 17. Bc2 Rfd8 18. Nd2 exd4 19. exd4 Qf4 20. g3 Qg5 21. Bb3
Qf5 22. Qe2 {Diagram [#]} Nxc5 23. Bc4 (23. dxc5 Rxd2 24. Qxd2 Qf3 25. Kf1 (25.
Bxf7+ Kh8 (25... Kxf7 26. Kf1 Ng4 27. Qd7+) 26. Kf1 Ng4 27. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. Qg5+
(28. Qd4+) 28... Kh8 (28... Kxf7 29. Re7+)) 25... Qg2+ (25... Ng4) 26. Ke2 Bf3+
27. Ke3 Ng4+ 28. Kf4) 23... Re8 24. Qf1 Nfe4 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bd3 Qf3 27. Re3
Nd2 28. Rxf3 Nxf3+ 29. Kg2 Nd2+ 30. f3 Nxf1 31. Bxf1 Re3 32. Kf2 Rxf3+ 33. Ke2
Re8+ 0-1

