[Event "Eastern Open"]
[Site "Washington DC USA"]
[Date "1997.12.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "William Strum"]
[Black "John McManus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C35"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Bh4+ 5. Kf1 Nh6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d4 Ng4 8.
Nxh4 Qxh4 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. Bxf4 Nxd4 11. Qd2 Qf6 12. Nd5 Qd8 13. Qxd4 d6 14. h3
c6 15. hxg4 cxd5 16. Qxd5 Be6 17. Qh5 Bxc4+ 18. Kf2 h6 19. g5 Qb6+ 20. Be3 Qxb2
21. Rac1 Kh7 22. gxh6 g6 23. Qd1 Qf6+ 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ 25. gxf3 Rfe8 26. a3 d5 27.
exd5 Bxd5 28. Rcd1 Be6 29. c3 b6 30. Rh4 Rac8 31. Rf1 f6 32. f4 Rf8 33. Kg3 Rc4
34. Bd4 g5 35. fxg5 fxg5 36. Re1 Bg4 37. Re7+ Kg6 38. h7 Rf3+ 39. Kxg4 Rfxc3 {
Diagram [#]} 40. h8=N# 1-0

[Event "2007 National Open, Under 2200"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.06.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gerard Grotenhuis"]
[Black "Robert F. Keating"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A06"]
[BlackElo "2010"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. a4 e6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Ne5
Rc8 9. d3 Be7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Qe2 Qa5 12. O-O Rfd8 13. f4 Be8 14. g4 Nd7 15. g5
f6 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. gxf6 Bxf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Kf2 Kh8 20. Rg1 Rg8 21. Nf3
Rcf8 22. Qd2 Qxd2+ 23. Nxd2 Rg6 24. Rg3 Kg7 25. Rag1 Kf7 26. Nf3 Rfg8 27. e4 d4
28. c3 dxc3 29. Rc1 Rc8 30. Rxc3 Ke7 31. e5 f5 32. Rh3 h6 33. d4 cxd4 34. Rxc8
Bxc8 35. Nxd4 Bd7 36. Ke3 Kd8 37. Kd3 Kc7 38. a5 b6 39. b4 Bc6 40. axb6+ Kxb6
41. Nxc6 Kxc6 42. Kc3 Kd5 43. Rd3+ Ke4 44. Rd4+ Ke3 45. b5 Rg2 46. Ra4 Rg7 47.
Rc4 Rb7 48. Rb4 Rb6 49. Kb3 a5 50. bxa6 Rxa6 51. Rc4 Rb6+ 52. Kc2 h5 53. h4 Rb5
54. Rc6 Kxf4 55. Rxe6 Rxe5 56. Rg6 Re2+ 57. Kd3 Rh2 58. Ra6 Rxh4 59. Ke2 Rh2+
60. Kf1 Rb2 61. Ra3 Kg4 62. Kg1 f4 63. Ra8 h4 64. Rg8+ Kf3 65. Kh1 h3 66. Rh8
Kf2 67. Rxh3 Rb1+ 68. Kh2 f3 69. Rh7 Rb4 70. Rh6 Rg4 71. Kh1 Kf1 72. Kh2 f2 73.
Re6 Rg8 74. Rh6 Rg2+ 75. Kh1 Rg1+ 76. Kh2 Ke2 77. Re6+ Kd3 78. Rd6+ Ke4 79.
Re6+ Kd5 80. Rf6 {Diagram [#]} f1=R 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Underpromotion"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/3P3P/6P1/8/5K2/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1. Kg5 Kg7 2. d8=B 1-0

[Event "ACP Golden Classic 2014"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.07.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Vocaturo, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Kavutskiy,Kostya"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/3b1qb1/3p2np/1p1Pp1pn/1P2P3/5PP1/1Q1BBN1K/2RN4 b - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.07"]

{The following game was played in the 2014 ACP Golden Classic, which was won
by Wesley and allowed him to cross the 2750 mark. This position could be a
good problem for solving -- Black to play and find the best move.} 31... Nxg3 (
{The day after the game my opponent told me about the fantastic move} 31...
Ngf4 $1 32. gxf4 Ng3 $1 {which gives Black at least equal chances! Neither of
us saw this method of sacrificing two knights during the game, and the
variations are extremely hard to calculate. The great tactician Emil Sutovsky
joined us during the analysis session, and even he admits that White's
position would be practically impossible to defend! Of course I objected and
tried to defend my side but it's definitely easier to play Black here. Take a
look at some lines below, they are very fun to analyze:} 33. Bd3 (33. Kxg3 $2 {
loses immediately after} exf4+ 34. Kg2 Bxb2 35. Nxb2 h5 36. Nbd3 Ra2 37. Rd1
Qg7 $19 {Black's queen is too powerful and White cannot defend against the
kingside pawn storm.}) (33. f5 Nxe2 34. Rc7 Rc8 35. Rxc8+ Bxc8 36. Qa3 {This
might be White's safest line. He is safe for the time being, but Black's
knight is very active.}) 33... Qh5+ $1 (33... exf4 34. Bc3 Qh5+ 35. Kg1 $1 {is
not the same, White is winning after} Bxc3 36. Qxc3 Qxf3 37. Qf6 $18) 34. Kg2
exf4 {Diagram [#]} 35. Qc2 (35. Bc3 g4 ({Everything leads to a draw:} 35...
Bxc3 36. Qxc3 g4 37. fxg4 Bxg4 38. Nxg4 Qxg4 39. Nf2 f3+ 40. Kh2 Qh4+ 41. Nh3
Qg4 $1 42. Ra1 Rxa1 43. Qxa1 Ne2 44. Qf1 Qg3+ 45. Kh1 Qg4 $11) 36. fxg4 Bxg4
37. Nxg4 Qxg4 38. Nf2 f3+ 39. Kh2 Qf4 40. Nh3 Nf1+ 41. Kh1 Ng3+ 42. Kh2 $11)
35... g4 36. fxg4 f3+ 37. Kxg3 (37. Kg1 Bxg4 38. Ne3 Bh3 39. Qc6 Rf8 40. Qxd6
Be5 {looks very scary for White.}) 37... Be5+ 38. Bf4 Bxf4+ 39. Kxf4 Rf8+ 40.
Kg3 Qe5+ 41. Kh3 Qh5+ $11 (41... h5 42. Ne3 Rf7 {should also lead to perpetual.
})) 32. Kxg3 Nf4 33. Nc3 Rf8 34. Be3 g4 $2 {Diagram [#] I was surprised to see
this move, it just loses by force. White must be better, but the realization
of the advantage shouldn't have been easy.} (34... h5 35. Rg1 Bh6 36. Qd2 Kh8
37. Bxf4 exf4+ 38. Kg2 g4 39. Bxb5 Bc8 40. Ne2 Rg8 41. Kf1 $18) 35. fxg4 h5 36.
Rg1 $1 {I like this move, the rook comes to defend and the Black king might
also become vulnerable along the g-file.} hxg4 (36... Qf6 37. Qd2 Kh7 38. Rh1
Bh6 39. Bxb5 Bxg4 40. Nxg4 hxg4 41. Be2 Nxe2+ 42. Qxe2 Qf3+ 43. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 44.
Kxg4 Rxe3 45. Nb5 Rxe4+ 46. Kf5 Rxb4 47. Nxd6 $18 {liquidates to a winning
ending. I had a vision of transposing to a good ending like this sometime
during the game.}) 37. Bxg4 {Diagram [#] White is completely winning.} Nd3 38.
Qe2 Nxf2 39. Bxd7 Qxd7 (39... Qg6+ {is safely answered with} 40. Bg4) 40. Bxf2
Rf6 41. Be3 Qf7 42. Kh2 Kf8 43. Rg2 {My opponent was gracious enough not to
waste time continuing the game.} 1-0

[Event "Tbilisi FIDE GP 2015"]
[Site "Tbilisi GEO"]
[Date "2015.02.23"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, M."]
[Black "Tomashevsky, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Kavutskiy,Kostya"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3q4/3nb1kp/2Q5/8/4P1b1/8/1P3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 29"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2015.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.23"]

{White has a rook and four pawns versus three light pieces. I have never seen
anything like that before. How can we asses the situation? Well, obviously the
pawns can become dangerous in an endgame if there is time to advance them. If
not, they will be targets. The three light pieces can easily unite their
efforts and any pawn will quickly be lost as the rook cannot defend on its own.
The general rule is that the smaller parts should be better than the major
piece as long as they are united. This is the case here, the pieces are
clearly better. One more thing that helps is that two of them are bishops!} 
29... Ne5 30. Qc3 Bf6 31. Qg3 h5 32. h3 ({Or} 32. f4 $2 h4 33. Qe3 Nd3 $19 {
with the threat Bd4.}) 32... h4 33. Qe3 Be6 {Black has coordinated his forces
and starts attacking White's pawns.} 34. b4 Qd3 {True to his style, Evgeny
removes the queens from the board as well as the possibility of a perpetual.}
35. Kh2 Be7 36. f4 Qxe3 37. Rxe3 Nc4 38. Re2 {Diagram [#]} {At a glance it
seems as White should be OK, but the reality is that he is about to lose all
his pawns one by one...} Bxb4 {One down, more to go.} 39. g3 ({Passive defense
would not help. After} 39. Rf2 Nd2 40. e5 Kg6 {Black will bring the king to f5,
the bishop to e3 and chop the pawns off.}) 39... Nd2 40. gxh4 {White has taken
all of Black's pawns, but Black is still left with enough pieces to eventually
win the game.} ({Naturally White would prefer to keep his pawns together, but
after} 40. g4 Bd6 41. e5 Bb4 42. f5 Bc4 43. Rf2 Bd5 {Black can suddenly start
creating mating threats with his pieces.}) 40... Bc4 41. Rg2+ Kh6 42. Kg3 {The
king leaves the danger zone.} (42. e5 $2 Nf1+ 43. Kg1 Bc5+ 44. Kh1 Bd5 $19)
42... Bf1 ({Also good is 42...Nxe4+ 43.Kf3 Bd5} 42... Nxe4+ 43. Kf3 Bd5 $19)
43. Rh2 Bd3 44. Kg4 Nxe4 {Two down, three to go.} 45. Kf5 Bd6 46. Rg2 Kh5 47.
Rg8 Ng5+ 48. Kf6 Nh7+ 49. Kg7 Bxf4 {Three down, two to go!} 50. Ra8 ({Of course
} 50. Rh8 Be5+ $19 {loses on the spot.}) 50... Be5+ 51. Kf7 Kxh4 {That's four.}
52. Ra4+ Kh5 (52... Kxh3 $4 53. Ra3 $11) 53. h4 Bb2 54. Rf4 Bc3 55. Ke6 Be1 56.
Rf3 Bg6 57. Rf1 Bb4 ({The immediate} 57... Bxh4 {was already good enough.}) 58.
Rf4 Nf8+ 59. Kd5 Be7 60. Rf1 Bc2 61. Rg1 Bb3+ 62. Ke4 Ng6 63. Kf5 Bd8 64. Ke4
Be6 65. Rd1 Be7 66. Ra1 Bc8 67. Ra5+ Kxh4 {Diagram [#] Five! Tomashevsky has
swiped all the pawns off and is left with a theoretically won position.} 68.
Ra1 Kg5 69. Rg1+ Bg4 70. Rg2 Bc5 71. Rg3 Nf4 72. Ke5 Bf2 73. Ra3 Bh3 74. Ra5
Bg2 {The bishops cut White's king along the diagonals and the knight assists
them to push the king towards the back rank.} 75. Ra3 Ne2 76. Ra5 (76. Ra2 Bg3+
77. Ke6 Bd5+ $1 78. Kxd5 Nc3+ $19) 76... Bg3+ 77. Ke6+ Kg6 78. Ra6 Nd4+ 79.
Ke7+ Kg7 80. Ra1 Bh3 81. Rh1 ({In case of} 81. Rg1 Nf5+ 82. Ke6 Ne3+ 83. Ke7
Ng2 84. Rh1 Nf4 85. Rg1 Ng6+ {White's king is forced back to the eigth rank
anyways.}) 81... Bg4 82. Rg1 Ne2 83. Rf1 Bf4 84. Rd1 Nc3 85. Rd3 Ne4 86. Kd8
Nc5 87. Rd5 Ne4 88. Rd3 Ng5 89. Ke7 Nf7 90. Rd4 Bg5+ 91. Ke8 Ne5 {Picturesque
domination. The threat of Bh5 can only be stopped at the expense of White's
rook. White resigned, and Tomashevsky ended up with one of the best
performances of his career, winning clear 1st place.} 0-1

[Event "URS-ch39"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1971.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smyslov, Vassily"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "Kavutskiy,Kostya"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pb2bppp/1pn1pn2/8/3P4/P1N2N2/1PB2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 13"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1971.??.??"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.07"]

{I'd like to show two examples of treating a position with an isolated center
pawn. In a nutshell, the player with the isolani accepts a static weakness
with hopes that the added open files and diagonals will allow for dynamic play
where the piece activity will more than compensate for the weakness. The
defender wants to block the isolani from advancing, attack it directly and/or
enjoy the outpost in front of it, and trade minor pieces (the firepower of the
opponent) to accentuate the weakness.} 13. Qd3 {A typical isolani position
that can arise from several different openings. Here after 13...g6 14. Bh6 Re8
15. Rad1 White's activity slightly outweighs the weakness of his center pawn.
Instead the then-future World Champion played the somewhat naive} Rc8 $2 14.
Bg5 {Smyslov, another former World Champion missed a chance for a big
advantage:} (14. d5 $1 exd5 $6 ({The lesser evil, although still not great is} 
14... Na5 15. Bg5 Rxc3 {The only move!} 16. Qxc3 $16 {White is up material,
and is much better}) 15. Bg5 $1 {Diagram # And the variations are really fun
to go over:} g6 (15... Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Qxe4 g6 18. Qh4 $1 f6 (18... Bxg5
19. Nxg5 h5 20. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Nf7+ Rxf7 23. Qxf7 $18 {White is
crushing!}) 19. Bh6 Re8 20. Qc4+ Kh8 21. Rad1 Qc7 22. Qe6 $1 $18 {Black is
paralyzed and White is completely winning.}) 16. Rxe7 $1 Qxe7 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 $18 {and White is happy once again.}) 14... g6 {The d5 shot is gone,
but the rest of the game is still worthy, as it shows how dangerous White's
piece play can be.} 15. Rad1 Nd5 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Ba4 a6 $6 {Diagram [#]} ({
Better was} 17... Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bxa3 19. c4 {where White has some initiative
for the pawn, but Black is doing fine.}) 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 ({The passive} 18...
exd5 {was already necessary.}) 19. Qe3 $1 {Prophylactically defending the
bishop on h6.} Bf6 ({In case of} 19... Qh5 20. d5 $1 Bc5 (20... exd5 21. Qxb6
$18) 21. Qf4 exd5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. g4 Qh3 24. Ng5 {and White wins.}) 20. Bb3
Qh5 21. d5 $1 Nd8 22. d6 $6 ({Even stronger would have been} 22. Bg5 $1 Bxg5
23. Nxg5 {where Black's position immediately collapses.}) 22... Rc5 23. d7 Re7
24. Qf4 Bg7 $2 (24... Bxf3 $1 25. Qxf6 Qxh6 26. Qxe7 Qg5 {At least keeps the
fight going!}) 25. Qb8 Qxh6 26. Qxd8+ Bf8 27. Re3 {The engines like 27. Rxe6!
but the text is more than enough.} Bc6 28. Qxf8+ Qxf8 29. d8=Q 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.22"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Diagram 104"]
[Black "White #3"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hartmann, John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/7b/8/1NpN4/2p1p3/2p1P3/kbK5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. Ne6 $1 Bf8 {(any bishop move is met with its being captured)} (1... Ba2 2.
Nxc2#) 2. Nxf8 Ba2 3. Nxc2# 1-0

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "Hastings, England"]
[Date "1895.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mikhail Chigorin"]
[Black "Harry Nelson Pillsbury"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C30"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1895.08.05"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. d3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
Nd4 9. Qg3 Nxc2+ 10. Kd1 Nxa1 11. Qxg7 Kd7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Rf1 Be7 14. Qxf7
Kc8 15. Bg5 Rf8 16. Qe6+ Kb8 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Qxe5 Nd7 19. Qh5 Nb6 20. Bd5 a6
21. Kd2 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Rg8 23. g4 Bb4+ 24. Nxb4 Qd4 25. Nc2 Nxc2 26. Kxc2 Rg6
27. Bd2 Rd6 28. Rf3 Qa4+ 29. Kc1 Qxa2 30. Bc3 Rc6 31. Qxh7 b5 32. Qe7 Qb3 33.
Kd2 a5 34. Rf5 Kb7 35. Rc5 Raa6 36. g5 Rxc5 37. Qxc5 Rc6 38. Qd5 Qa4 39. g6 b4
40. g7 bxc3+ 41. bxc3 Qa3 {Diagram [#]} 42. g8=Q Qxc3+ 43. Ke2 Qc2+ 44. Kf3
Qd1+ 45. Kg3 Qg1+ 46. Kh4 Qf2+ 47. Kh5 Qf3+ 48. Qg4 Qf6 49. Qgf5 Qh6+ 50. Kg4
Qg7+ 51. Qg5 1-0

[Event "Linares ;CBM 34 Anand"]
[Site "10"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anatoly Karpov"]
[Black "Garry Kasparov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E86"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. Rd1 a6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. b3 b5 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Qxd6 Nfd7 14. f4 b4
15. Nb1 Ng4 16. Bd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Rxa2 18. h3 c5 19. Qg1 Ngf6 20. e5 Ne4 21. h4
c4 22. Nc1 c3 23. Nxa2 c2 24. Qd4 {Diagram [#]} cxd1=Q+ 25. Kxd1 Ndc5 26. Qxd8
Rxd8+ 27. Kc2 Nf2 0-1

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk RUS"]
[Date "2009.12.03"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Peter Svidler"]
[Black "Vladimir Malakhov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.11.21"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. c5 g6 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3
9. Qxf3 Bg7 10. g4 e5 11. Qg3 Nfd7 12. Ne2 Qe7 13. O-O h5 14. f3 Nf8 15. a4 b4
16. Bd2 a5 17. e4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Ne6 19. Rae1 h4 20. Qf2 O-O 21. f4 exd4 22. f5
Nxc5 23. Bb1 d3 24. Nc1 Qd6 25. Ba2 Bd4 26. Be3 Ne4 27. Qxh4 g5 28. Qh5 d2 29.
f6 Qxf6 30. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 31. Kg2 {Diagram [#]} dxe1=N+ (31... dxe1=Q 32. Bxf7+)
32. Rxe1 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivan Saric"]
[Black "Maxime Vachier-Lagrave"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2015.01.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 12. Rg1 Nb6 13. Na5 Rc8 14. g5 Nh5 15.
Kb1 g6 16. a3 Qc7 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bd7 19. h4 Bd8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6
Qxc6 22. Bh3 Rc7 23. Qxd6 Qxc2+ 24. Ka1 Nf4 25. Bg4 b4 26. Rc1 Qb3 27. Bxf4
exf4 28. Rxc7 bxa3 29. Rg2 Bxc7 30. Qxc7 Rb8 31. Rd2 axb2+ 32. Kb1 {Diagram [#]
} Qa2+ 33. Kxa2 b1=Q+ 34. Ka3 Qb3# 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.23"]
[Round "11.5"]
[White "Radoslaw Wojtaszek"]
[Black "Ding Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. O-O e5 8. Be3
c6 9. d5 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 12. Ne1 h5 13. a3 Nh6 14. h3 Nf7 15. Nd3 Bh6
16. b4 Bd7 17. Rb1 b6 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxc5 dxc5 20. a4 Nd6 21. Qd3 Kg7 22.
Rb2 Bg5 23. Bg3 h4 24. Bh2 Qe8 25. Ra1 Nb7 26. Kh1 Qe7 27. Qc2 Bf4 28. Bg1 f5
29. Bd3 Rf6 30. d6 Rxd6 31. Nd5 Qf7 32. Qc3 Kh7 33. Re1 Re8 34. Rbe2 fxe4 35.
Bxe4 Nd8 36. Nxf4 exf4 37. Bd5 Ne6 38. Bh2 Qg7 39. Re5 g5 40. Qf3 Kh6 41. Bxf4
Rf8 42. Rxe6+ Rxe6 43. Bxg5+ Kxg5 44. Qg4+ Kf6 45. Rxe6+ Bxe6 46. Qxe6+ Kg5 47.
Qg4+ Kf6 48. Qe6+ Kg5 49. Qg4+ Kf6 50. Qxh4+ Qg5 51. Qe4 Qe5 52. Qh4+ Qg5 53.
Qe4 Qe5 54. Qc2 Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Kg7 56. f3 Re8 57. Qf5 Qe5+ 58. Qxe5+ Rxe5 59. Be4
Re6 60. Kg3 Rd6 61. Bd5 a5 62. Bb7 {Diagram [#]} b5 63. cxb5 (63. axb5 a4)
63... c4 64. Be4 c3 65. Kf4 Rd2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Loek van Wely"]
[Black "Yifan Hou"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2015.01.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
c4 Nc7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Qh4 f6 12. Nc3 Ne6 13. Ne4 fxe5 14. Nfg5
Nxg5 15. Bxg5 Qb6 16. c5 Qxb2 17. Rad1 d5 18. cxd6 exd6 19. Rxd6 Bf5 20. Nf6+
Bxf6 21. Bxf6 Rab8 {Diagram [#]} 22. Qc4+ Rf7 23. Red1 Qb1 (23... Rbf8 24. Rd8)
24. h3 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel (Group B)"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bart Michiels"]
[Black "David Klein"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2517"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6 5. e4 c5 6. d5 Qe7 7. Bd2 exd5 8. Nxd5
Nxd5 9. cxd5 Bxd2+ 10. Kxd2 O-O 11. Nf3 d6 12. Re1 Bg4 13. Qc3 Nd7 14. Bb5 a6
15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. Nh4 Qa4 17. f3 Bd7 18. g4 b5 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. gxf5 f6 21.
Rhg1 Ra7 22. Ra1 b4 23. Qc4 Qe8 24. Rg3 Qe5 25. Kc2 a5 26. Rag1 a4 27. R3g2 Rb8
28. Kd3 Qf4 29. Ke2 Re8 30. Qb5 Qe5 31. Ke3 Rae7 32. Kf2 Qxb2+ 33. Kg3 Qe5+ 34.
Kh3 Kf8 35. Qxa4 g5 36. Qc2 Ra8 37. Qb2 Ra3 38. Qxe5 Rxe5 39. Kg4 Re7 40. h4
Rg7 41. Kh5 h6 42. Rf2 Kf7 43. e5 fxe5 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. Rxg5 Rxg5+ 46. Kxg5
Ra8 47. f4 Rg8+ 48. Kh6 e4 49. Kh7 {Diagram [#]} Rg3 (49... Rg1) 50. Rh2 (50.
Kh6 Kf6 51. Kh5 e3) 50... e3 51. f6 e2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel (Group B)"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ari Dale"]
[Black "Robin van Kampen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2291"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2015.01.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
b6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Bd3 Ne4 13. Bb2 f5 14. Bf1 Rf6 15.
Ne5 Rh6 16. f3 {Diagram [#]} Qh4 17. fxe4 (17. h3 Qf2+ 18. Kh1 Rxh3+ 19. gxh3
Ng3#) 17... Qxh2+ 18. Kf2 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qh4+ 20. g3 (20. Ke2 Ba6+ 21. Kd2 Rd8+)
(20. Kg1 fxe4) 20... Qh2+ 21. Bg2 Bxe4 22. Rg1 Rg6 23. Kf1 Rxg3 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2015.01.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Maxime Vachier-Lagrave"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2015.01.09"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3
Be6 9. Bg2 Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. O-O Rc8 12. Be3 Nb6 13. b3 d5 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15.
Nxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. c4 Qd6 18. a5 f5 19. Qd3 h4 20. g4 O-O 21. Nc3 e4
22. Qe3 Bd8 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Nxe4 Qf4 25. Qxf4 Rxf4 26. f3 Be7 27. Kf2 Rcf8
28. Ke3 Be8 29. c5 Bb5 30. b4 {Diagram [#]} Rxe4+ 31. Kxe4 (31. fxe4 Rxf1)
31... Re8 32. Kf4 (32. Rfe1 Bxc5+ 33. Kf5 Rf8+ 34. Kg5 Bxb4) 32... g5+ 33. Kf5
Kf7 34. Rfe1 (34. Rad1 Bd7+ 35. Ke4 Bxc5+ 36. Kd3 Bb5+) 34... Bd3+ 35. Re4 Bf6
0-1

[Event "Eastern Open 2014"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wells, Sterling"]
[Black "Ou, Brandon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D04"]
[WhiteElo "1781"]
[BlackElo "1624"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.03.07"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 (4... Bxf3 5. Qxf3) 5. g4 Bg6 6. Ne5 {
Diagram [#]} Nbd7 (6... Nfd7 7. h4 Nxe5 8. dxe5 h6) 7. h4 h5 8. Nxg6 fxg6 9.
Bd3 Kf7 10. g5 Ne4 11. Qf3+ Kg8 {Diagram [#]} 12. Bxe4 (12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Bxg6)
(12. Nd2) 12... dxe4 13. Qxe4 Kh7 14. c4 (14. f4) (14. Nc3) 14... e5 15. dxe5 (
15. O-O) 15... Nc5 16. Qd5 Qe8 {Diagram [#]} (16... Nd3+) 17. f4 (17. O-O)
17... Rd8 18. Qf3 Qa4 {Diagram [#]} (18... Nd3+) 19. O-O Qxc4 (19... Nb3 20. f5
gxf5 (20... Nxa1 21. fxg6+ Kxg6 22. Qe4#) 21. g6+ Kg8 (21... Kxg6 22. Qxf5+ Kh6
23. axb3 Qxa1 24. e4+) 22. axb3) 20. f5 Qg4+ 21. Qxg4 hxg4 22. f6 gxf6 23. exf6
Kg8 24. b4 {Diagram [#]} Nd3 (24... Ne6 25. f7+ Kg7 26. Bb2+) 25. Kg2 Rxh4 26.
Kg3 Rh7 27. a3 Bd6+ 28. Kxg4 Rh2 29. Rg1 Ne5+ 30. Kf4 Nf7+ 31. Ke4 Be5 32. Nc3
Bxc3 33. Rb1 Rh5 34. Bb2 Bxb2 35. Rxb2 Rxg5 36. Rbg2 Rxg2 37. Rxg2 {Diagram [#]
} Nh8 (37... Nd6+) 38. Kf4 Kf7 39. Kg5 Rd5+ 40. Kg4 {Diagram [#]} Rg5+ 41. Kxg5
1-0

[Event "2015 US Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Holt, Conrad"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E90"]
[Annotator "Finegold, Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/ppp3bq/3p4/3Pp3/1nP1N2N/6P1/PPbQBP2/R1B3KR b - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.01"]

21... Qxe4 {Holt has been doing well thus far, and now has two ways to secure
a nice advantage, 22.Bh5 or 22.Ng2 give white a nice position.} 22. Bf1 $2 {
Too passive. Now Hikaru gets full compensation for his sacrificed pawn.} (22.
Bh5) (22. Ng2) 22... Bd3 $1 23. Bh3 Nc2 $1 {It takes a strong will to allow
Be6+, but this was forced and Hikaru always trusts his calculation.} 24. Be6+
Rf7 25. Nf5 $4 {Almost any reasonable move was fine and the game would be a
tossup. Here, however, Holt undefends f3 and g2 with his move, and now the
game ends suddenly. Certainly, Holt assumed Black would play Nxa1 at some
point, but, Hikaru finds a better idea!} Ne1 $3 {And it's all over!!! If white
tries to stop Qg2 mate with 26. Nh4, then 26..Qg2+ anyways!! Followed by 27...
Nf3#} 26. Ne7+ (26. Nh4 Qg2+) 26... Kf8 27. Ng6+ Ke8 {White is helpless
against Qg2# or Nf3+ winning for Black.} 0-1

[Event "US Championships 2015"]
[Site "St Louis, MO"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Finegold, Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/1p1bppb1/3p1np1/p3n1Bp/3NP2P/PBP2P2/1KP3P1/3R3R b - - 0 18"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

18... Kf8 {Nakamura sacrificed the exchange, more or less because he thought
he was forced to do so. White should be better here, but Daniel was not on his
game this tournament.} 19. Ne2 $6 {The knight was better placed on d4.} Bb5 20.
Nd4 $6 {Perhaps White was hoping for a repetition? Not against Nakamura!} Ba6
21. Rhe1 Nfd7 22. f4 $2 {Now Black is probably better.} ({Best was} 22. a4 Nc4+
23. Ka2 {and the game is balanced.}) 22... Nc4+ 23. Bxc4 Bxc4 24. f5 Nc5 25.
Re3 Ke8 26. Bf4 $2 {Several inaccurate moves have given Black a great position.
} Na4+ 27. Kc1 Ba6 28. e5 $2 {A blunder. Did Daniel miss that Bxe5 was
impossible due to Bh6?} dxe5 {Hikaru finishes the game very efficiently.} 29.
Rxe5 (29. Bxe5 Bh6) 29... Bxe5 30. Bxe5 Nxc3 31. Re1 gxf5 32. Bf6 $2 ({Even
though white is losing, he should at least try} 32. Nxf5 Ne2+ 33. Kd2 Rc5 34.
Ng7+ Kf8 35. Ba1 Ng3 {and Hikaru would likely win.}) 32... Ne4 33. Nxf5 Bd3 $1
{Everything is hanging.} 34. c3 Rc5 $1 35. Nxe7 Rb5 $1 0-1

[Event "2015 U.S. Women's Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anna Sharevich"]
[Black "Irina Krush"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A62"]
[Annotator "Klein, Mike"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rxf4 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7
15. Nc4 Na6 16. Qd2 Bh6 17. e3 b6 18. Rb3 Nc7 19. Re1 Ba6 20. Qc1 Qd7 21. Ra3
Bxc4 22. Qxc4 b5 23. Qe2 a5 24. Rc3 a4 25. Qf3 b4 26. Rcc1 Nb5 27. Bh3 Qb7 28.
Bf1 Na3 29. e4 b3 30. axb3 axb3 31. Bd3 b2 32. Rcd1 c4 33. Bb1 Qb4 34. e5 c3
35. Qd3 Rc8 36. Qa6 Rd8 37. e6 fxe6 38. dxe6 Nxb1 39. e7 Re8 40. Qc6 Qb8 41.
Rxd6 Nd2 {Diagram [#]} 42. Rxg6+ (42. Rd8 Rxd8 43. e8=Q+ Rxe8 44. Rxe8+ Qxe8
45. Qxe8+) 42... hxg6 (42... Bg7 43. Qd5+ (43. Rxg7+ Kxg7 44. Qxc3+ Kf7 45.
Qxd2 b1=Q 46. Qd5+ Kg7 47. Qg5+ Qg6) 43... Kh8) 43. Qxg6+ Bg7 44. Qe6+ Kh7 45.
Qf5+ Kg8 46. Qd5+ Kh8 47. Qh5+ Kg8 48. Qd5+ Kh8 49. Qh5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "ch-USA w 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2015.04.08"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Nemcova, Katerina"]
[Black "Virkud, Apurva"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2279"]
[BlackElo "2132"]
[Annotator "Nemcova, Katerina"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.13"]

{When I was preparing for this game, I found out that there are not many games
available of my opponent. Therefore, I decided to search for some Sicilian
sidelines that would provide interesting and nonstandard play where we both
need to think early on.} 1. e4 c5 2. b3 {This is the pick! Alexander
Morozevich is probably currently the strongest advocate for this line, in 2014
he has 16 (!) games with this 2.b3 move; however, we can find also Magnus
Carlsen and other strong player playing it time to time.} d6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Nc3
{More popular is immediate 4.Bb5 or 4.f4, but it's okay my move is fine too.} (
4. Bb5) (4. f4) 4... Nf6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. f4 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Qe2 e6 9. Nf3 Qc7
{Now we both developed a majority of our pieces and it's time to decide where
to castle.} 10. O-O-O {There is no problem with castling kingside. To be
honest, I even think that with more aggressive players such as Irina Krush or
Alisa Melekhina, I would chose the more peaceful alternative. In this game I
aimed for a more complicated position though.} (10. O-O Be7 11. e5 dxe5 12.
Nxe5 O-O 13. Rae1 {and although it's probably equal, I feel that White has a
slightly more comfortable position.}) 10... O-O-O 11. d4 d5 $1 {Diagram [#]
Very strong move by Apurva. Without this move, Black gives space to White's
pieces and donates quite an advantage.} 12. e5 ({Not so appealing is} 12. exd5
Nxd5 {for White is opening the position without having its pair of bishops...
There might be no real danger immediately but I still don't like the idea.} 13.
Nxd5 Bxd5 14. g3 $2 c4 $1 $15 {and now it's clear how excellent the bishop on
d5 is.}) 12... Nd7 ({Possible, but less accurate is} 12... Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4
14. Ng5 {with the key move} e3 $1 {where Black opens the black-squared bishop
and creates and interesting play for both colors.} 15. Qxe3 Bxg2 16. Rhg1 {I
still think it is easier to play such position for White.}) 13. dxc5 {I have a
need to occupy the d4 square and I don't see a reason to wait.} Bxc5 14. Nd4 {
Here we have a kind of French pawn structure with my extra b3 move. I though
that this position is more comfortable for White, because Black's white
squared bishop has limited space and I have some future g4-f5 plan. However,
Black has also a future with doubling rooks on the c-file and pressing on
c2-pawn. Objectively speaking, Black should have no troubles as well.} Qb6 15.
Qd3 {Preparing Nce2 to support or recapture on d4 with knight.} Bb4 $5 {I like
this idea of Black to exchange the other knight and have a quick knight
transportation to the central e4-square.} ({Possible was also} 15... Bxd4 16.
Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 {and White still can transfer the remaining knight to d4
and then wonder whether to follow a plan with g4 and f5, or some pawn
advancement on the queenside.}) 16. a3 {Although I planned to play the above
mentioned Nce2, I realized that I don't like the black bishop on b4 where it
has some future possibilities of cooperation with Nd7-c5-e4 and Qa5. It looked
better to take him off the board.} Nc5 17. Qe3 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Ne4 19. Qe3 Kb8
20. Rhe1 Rc8 21. Kb1 {Diagram [#]} g6 $6 {In the game I thought it looks
natural, but unnecessary as well. I am not sure if I would make such a move.
White's immediate f5 can only help Black's bishop to develop.} (21... -- 22. f5
Bd7 23. fxe6 (23. g4 h5 {and Black is opening the position more and more.})
23... fxe6 {and here we go, the diagonal b1-h7 is weakened and bishop has an
excellent spot on g6 or h5.}) 22. Nf3 {I decided to exchange queens and go for
more a positional play where I will try to explore weakened black squares.}
Qxe3 23. Rxe3 Rc7 24. Rd4 Rhc8 25. Ng5 h6 26. Nxe4 dxe4 {Although computer
evaluates this as dead equal, I see White's position as far more comfortable.
White has important d6 square and a pawn majority on the queen side that will
get to action soon.} 27. a4 Bd5 $2 {Quite a brave move... but not very good.
It helps White to get time and fix queenside pawn structure in White's favor.
Better was to fight the pawn's advancement with immediate 27...b5 while
getting some space for Black's maneuvering.} (27... b5) 28. c4 $1 Bc6 29. Ba3
Ka8 30. a5 $1 {Diagram [#] White is in time to get pretty much everything she
wants in this position. White pieces will soon completely nominate the
position.} h5 31. h4 Re8 32. Kb2 Rcc8 33. Kc3 Ka7 34. Bc5+ Ka8 35. Bb6 Kb8 36.
Rd6 Ka8 37. Kd4 Kb8 38. Re1 Rg8 39. g3 Rge8 40. Ra1 Rg8 41. Ra2 Rge8 42. Re2
Rg8 43. Rd2 Rge8 44. Ke3 $16 {Now I see White as in the best possible set-up
to create something. White king is blocking the e4 pawn from any future
advancement, rooks take care of the d-file, bishop of black squares, and pawns
are ready to advance.} Rg8 45. R2d4 Rge8 46. b4 Rg8 47. Bc5 Rh8 48. Rd2 Rhg8
49. Rxc6 $1 {While it's nice to move around and keep a good position with a
clear advantage, the point for the game will not just appear out of nowhere.
Therefore, this was a crucial moment to calculate properly, see the emerging
forced rook endgame and evaluate it correctly.} Rxc6 50. Rd7 Rg7 ({Computer
recommends} 50... Kc8 51. Rxf7 Rc7 52. Rf6 Kd7 53. Kxe4 Rg7 {and trying to
keep this position in a passive way. I still believe that White will be able
to break through on the queenside and win. There are just too many weaknesses
in the black position, black is two pawns down and there is no reason why one
of the black rooks should be better that perfectly placed bishop on either c5
or d6.}) 51. Rd8+ Kc7 52. Rh8 $1 {Now the black rook on g7 is quite locked.}
Rxc5 {This is pretty much the only choice for Black - trying to survive a rook
endgame.} (52... Kd7 53. Bf8 $18) 53. bxc5 Kc6 54. Rc8+ {Just getting time,
there is no other point in this move.} Kd7 55. Rf8 Kc6 56. Kxe4 Kxc5 57. Rc8+
Kb4 58. Kd4 Kxa5 59. c5 {Diagram [#] This was the position that had to be
calculated 10 moves ago during the exchange sacrifice. If this endgame is a
draw, then the whole thing was a mistake and White should have tried to press
on the queenside with pawns. Luckily, everything is fine.} b5 ({A more
challenging move is} 59... b6 $5 {where I calculated} 60. Ra8 (60. c6 $2 Kb5 $1
{and this position is equal at the end. White has no more power to support the
c-pawn and playing c7 is self destructing for it gives Kc6 with a winning
position for Black.} 61. Kc3 Rh7 62. Kb3 Rg7 $11) (60. Rb8 $1 {is the most
accurate win for it immediately placed the rook to cut off the king.}) 60...
bxc5+ 61. Kxc5 Rh7 62. Rb8 {and thought its much better, but not 100% winning.
It is winning though.} Ka4 63. Kd6 a5 64. Ke7 Ka3 65. Rb6 a4 66. Kf8 {and the
king mercilessly goes to capture the rook or f7 pawn. Black has no chances to
escape such a thread.}) 60. Rb8 $1 {No way back for the black king!} Kb4 61. c6
$18 f5 62. exf6 Rc7 63. Ke5 Rxc6 64. f7 Rc5+ 65. Kxe6 Rf5 66. f8=Q+ Rxf8 67.
Rxf8 a5 68. Kf6 a4 69. Kxg6 a3 70. Ra8 Kb3 71. f5 a2 72. f6 {I think this game
is very instructional in regard to opposite-color bishop play and the
advantage of fixing a pawn structure for one's favor. There was a long
preparation prior to the sacrifice and a deep analysis of emerging rook
endgame involved. I considered this game as one of the most critical at the
championship.} 1-0

[Event "US Women's Championships 2015"]
[Site "St Louis, MO"]
[Date "2015.04.09"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Melekhina, Alisa"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2477"]
[Annotator "Krush, Irina"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3k1/p1q1bp1p/bpn1pBp1/2r1P3/4B3/2P1QN2/P2R1PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:13"]
[BlackClock "0:19:21"]

{Diagram [#] The decision I took in the diagram position is definitely one of
the top two over- the- board decisions I made in Saint Louis ("decision" as in
more than a simple move, but something that led to the game going in a
completely different direction.) I had been looking at this exchange sac for a
while, but this is the first moment in the game I can actually implement it.
The alternative was 21...Na5, trying to win the c3 pawn, but the c3 pawn is
not such a valuable prize when the king is weak.} 21... Nxe5 $1 (21... Na5) 22.
Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 {Diagram [#] The forced result of the exchange sac.
The pride of White's position, the e5 pawn and Bf6, is gone, and so are all
hopes of attacking the king. Black has a very solid structure and can
realistically win a second pawn as well. The only problem is, material is
limited, and if more pieces are traded, White will be fine even if Black wins
the second pawn. However, White really needed to grasp the essence of the
position immediately, which is not so easy to do as it has just appeared on
the board. Alisa plays a very natural move, Qd4, trying to trade pieces, but
Black can run away from the trade.} 24. Qd4 (24. Bd3 $5 {I'd say this is
definitely not an obvious move, making no effort to save the c3 pawn} Qxc3 25.
Rad1 $11 {This will lead to trades, either of light squared bishops or rooks 
(Rc2 is coming).}) (24. Bb7 $5 {a neat tactical approach:} Qxe3 25. fxe3 Bxb7
26. Rd7 Bc5 27. Rxb7 Bxe3+ {Well, this is not quite a draw yet, there is play
left in the endgame.}) 24... Qg5 {An important question in chess is: what to
trade and what to leave on the board? I certainly made sure to answer this
question for myself during the game. I understood: Black wants to trade
nothing. Definitely not queens. Not rooks. Light squared bishops would be the
least evil. By the way, ...Rd8 is threatened.} 25. Rad1 Rc4 26. Qd3 Bb5 $1 {
Little moves like this won the game. Just improving the bishop, getting it
under the queen's protection, controlling d7 just in case, and allowing a
future ...Ba4 idea.} 27. Rb2 {I was pretty sure Alisa was not happy with her
position at this point. I thought 27.Rb2 was a tricky move. If I am not
careful, it could be preparing something like a4 or Bc6!?! (at some point).
But if Black is paying attention, then in itself, Rb2 doesn't help White.} Qc5
{Protecting the rook so that on a4 the bishop can take. Also attacking the c3
pawn.} 28. Bf3 {When I saw this move, which doesn't help White in any
particular way, I got very optimistic about my position.} Ba4 29. Re1 (29. Rc1
Bg5 {the other bishop comes into play- that's why ideally Black keeps all
pieces on the board; they can be used for the attack.}) 29... Bf6 {Diagram [#]}
30. Qe3 {A blunder, but White's position is bleak by this point.} Bxc3 31. Rd2
Bxd2 32. Qxd2 Rc2 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qh4 {Black can take a third pawn, but
there's a way to play for mate.} Rc1 35. Qe4 Qc3 36. Rf1 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Bb5+ {
Psychological exchange sacs are a powerful thing, as Tigran Petrosian showed :)
} 0-1

[Event "2015 U.S. Women's Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jennifer R. Yu"]
[Black "Irina Krush"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A26"]
[Annotator "Klein, Mike"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 d6 8. Rb1
a6 9. b4 Nd4 10. a4 Bg4 11. e3 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 c6 14. d4 Re8 15.
d5 e4 16. Qd1 Qd7 17. Kg2 Ng4 18. Bb2 Qf5 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. Na2 Bxb2 21. Rxb2
Ne5 22. Rc2 Nd3 23. Qe2 Rab8 24. Rb1 Re6 25. Kg1 Rf6 26. Rd2 Ne5 27. Kg2 Nf3
28. Rdb2 Ng5 29. Kh1 Qh3 30. Qf1 Qg4 31. Nc3 Nf3 32. b5 {Diagram [#]} g5 33.
bxa6 Rxb2 34. Rxb2 Rh6 35. Qg2 Qh3 (35... Rxh2+ 36. Qxh2 Nxh2 37. Kxh2) 36.
Qxh3 Rxh3 37. Kg2 Rxh2+ 38. Kf1 Rh1+ 39. Kg2 (39. Ke2 Re1#) 39... Rg1+ 40. Kh3
h5 0-1

[Event "US Championships 2015"]
[Site "St Louis, MO"]
[Date "2015.04.09"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Troff, Kayden W"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A63"]
[WhiteElo "2532"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Finegold, Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1bqr1k1/1p1n1pbp/p2p2p1/2pPn3/P3P3/2N3P1/1P1N1P1P/R1BQRBK1 b - - 0 14"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

14... g5 {A novelty. Dutch Super-IM Benjamin Bok played 14...Nf6 in 2014 and
drew. Hikaru's move livens up the game and tries to prevent white from easily
playing f4.} (14... Nf6) 15. h3 (15. f4 {is the most testing move. Likely,
Troff did not want to go into the complications that Hikaru had looked at,
likely, in home analysis.} gxf4 16. gxf4 Ng6 17. Nc4 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Nf6 {is one
interesting line, with a dynamic balance.}) 15... Qf6 16. Qh5 $6 Bh6 $5 {A
surprising move, with the idea of Qg7 and Nf6 kicking out the queen, followed
by g4 and black has the initiative.} 17. Nd1 $5 {I suggested this move in the
commentary room before Troff played it, to try to get the knight to either f5,
g4, or c4. But it is a bit too slow.} g4 $1 18. Ne3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Qg7 20. hxg4
Nxg4 $2 ({Stronger is} 20... Nf6 $1 21. Qh1 Nfxg4 22. Re2 f5 {and Black has
the initiative.}) 21. Rc3 $6 {Diagram [#] Hikaru thought 21.Re2 was best, and
that White should be better. The rook is oddly placed on c3.} (21. Re2) 21...
Ndf6 22. Qh1 Re5 23. Qf3 $6 (23. Nc4 Nxe4 $1 (23... Rxe4 24. f3 $1 Rxc4 25.
Bxc4 {is good for White.}) 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Bf4 Qd4 26. Be3 Qxd5 27. Bg2 {is
another position that looks like both sides have chances, irrespective of the
engines evaluation 0.00!}) 23... Bd7 {Diagram [#] Hikaru highly criticized
this move in the post-game press interview and added "White is winning after
24.Rb3." Although the engines may not agree with that assessment (again, 0.00)
we can see Hikaru was not happy with this play this game. The result, however,
says otherwise!} 24. Qd3 $2 {The losing move. White cannot afford to move all
of his pieces away from his king!} (24. Rb3) 24... Qh6 25. Bg2 {An up and down
Benoni has finally gone in Hikaru's favor and he blows away Troff with a
blistering attack.} Qh2+ 26. Kf1 {Diagram [#]} Nxf2 $1 {Very accurately
calculated by Hikaru.} 27. Kxf2 Bh3 28. Qf1 (28. Qf3 Ng4+ 29. Kf1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2
Qxg2+ 31. Qxg2 Bxg2 $19) 28... Rxe4 $3 {Hikaru said this was the key to the
knight sacrifice. Now Black is winning due the open white king and misplaced
white pieces on the queenside.} 29. Nxe4 ({Also losing for White is} 29. Qh1
Ng4+ $1 30. Kf3 (30. Kf1 $2 Qxh1#) 30... Bxg2+ 31. Qxg2 Ne5+ 32. Kf2 Re2+ $1)
29... Nxe4+ 30. Ke3 Bxg2 31. Qf4 Nxc3 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. bxc3 Re8+ 34. Kf2 (34.
Kd3 Bf1#) (34. Kf4 Re4+ 35. Kf5 Qh3+ 36. g4 Re5+ 37. Kf6 Re6+ 38. dxe6 Qxc3+
39. Kf5 Qe5#) 34... Bh1+ 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Black "Aghasaryan, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

{This game was played after the blitz tournament, so it was definitely a long
day of chess...} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 {These kind of
set-ups are my favorite to play. If you want more info, buy my Reti DVD! It's
somewhere in this magazine! Without any more shameless plugs, lets move on...}
c5 6. O-O O-O 7. e3 Nc6 8. Qe2 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Nc3 {This position is
surprisingly complicated, and I have been able to beat many strong players
from this deceivingly simple structure. The potential hanging pawns structures
for both sides are sometimes difficult to understand. I was hoping to catch my
opponent in one of these, but it was not meant to be.} d4 $1 {This move in
this precise moment is good.} 11. exd4 Nxd4 $1 {Forced.} (11... cxd4 12. Ne4 {
and your engine will tell you that Black is better, but it lies worse than any
one in Wall Street. The structural weaknesses and obvious play for White means
that unless you are playing Stockfish or Houdini, Black will find himself in a
difficult situation rather soon.} (12. Nb5 $5)) 12. Nxd4 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qxd4 {
This is kind of the point, Black has no structural weaknesses and even the d4
advance would not bring White an advantage.} (13... cxd4 14. Ne4 {is slightly
more pleasant for White, but should also be around equal.}) 14. d3 {Setting up
Nd5, as the bishop on b2 is defended.} Qg4 $6 (14... Qd7 15. Rad1 Qc6+ $11) 15.
f3 $1 {Surprisingly we will see that White does have an initiative here.} Qg6
16. f4 $1 {The point. f5 is a real threat. The computer gives some weird moves
here but the position is already unpleasant.} Rfe8 17. Nb5 $1 {The point. Nc7
is the obvious threat, but there is more than that.} Rad8 {counterattacking d3.
} (17... Rac8 18. Nxa7 {is simply an extra pawn.}) 18. f5 $1 Qg4 (18... exf5
19. Nc7 Bd6 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Qf3 f4 22. Rae1 {gives Black insufficient
compensation for the lost exchange.}) 19. Rf3 (19. Rae1 {was apparently
stronger, but I liked my solution.}) 19... Nh5 {Threatening a little trick on
f4. Thankfully I'm strong enough to see those things, as sunburnt as I was.} (
19... Bd6 {was the only move to keep chances, but after} 20. Nxd6 Rxd6 21. h3
Qg5 22. Re1 {clearly things are going well for White.}) 20. Re1 Bf8 {I saw the
following winning sequence, and decided that it was better than taking the two
rooks for the queen after Nxa7.} 21. h3 $1 (21. Nxa7 exf5 22. Qxe8 Rxe8 23.
Rxe8 f4 24. Nc8 $1 $16 {And white should still be better.}) 21... Qg5 22. Nc7
$1 Re7 23. Bc1 {What an awkward situation for the queen, it finds itself
nearly trapped!} Qf6 24. fxe6 Qg6 25. exf7+ Rxf7 26. Nd5 {I evaluated this
position as nearly winning. Not only am I up a pawn, my knight on d5 is pretty
monstrous.} Rxf3 27. Qxf3 Nf6 {Simplifying my task, but honestly it was just
torture from here on.} 28. Re6 1-0

[Event "President's Cup"]
[Site "New York Athletic Club, New Yo"]
[Date "2015.03.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Quang Liem Le, Webster University"]
[Black "Yaroslav Zherebukh, Texas Tech"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Mac Clain, Dylan"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 {With Texas Tech
needing as many wins as possible, Zherebukh chose the Benoni Defense. Le wrote,
"In my opinion, the Benoni is a very risky opening. Black always tries to
complicate the game and get dynamic play, but often he just has a worse
position."} 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 {Also possible and more
common moves were 6. e4 or 6. g3. Le chooses a "quiet" line to avoid excessive
complications. He said, "I wanted to play positionally for two results. The
situation of my team was good, therefore, there was no need to take risks. I
knew that my opponent needed to try for a win and hope for a miracle to happen
(the only chance for Texas Tech to win the Final Four was to beat Webster 4-0
in the last round). So I decided just to play a normal game, not shying away
from complications, but not playing too aggressively either."} (6. e4) (6. g3)
6... g6 7. Nd2 {The Nimzovich or Knight's Tour Variation.} Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2
{Though this move does not look ambitious, the bishop is better on e2 than on
d3 where it might later become a target of a black knight on e5 or if black
pushes his c pawn to c4. It is also important to control g4, which the bishop
does from e2.} Re8 {Black had other possibilities here, including 9....a6, 9...
.Ne8. The rook also seems misplaced on e8 as often Black tries to push his
pawn to f5, in which case the rook would be better on the f file.} (9... a6) (
9... Ne8) 10. O-O Na6 {Black wants to bring the knight to c7 so that it can
support a push of the b pawn. 10 ...a6 and 10...Nbd7 were other good
possibilities.} (10... a6) (10... Nbd7) 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 {White wants to stop
Black from ever playing b5.} Nd7 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Ne3 {White does not want to
trade pieces as that would make Black's defensive task easier. In addition,
the knight on e3 attacks the f5 square.} f5 {For Black to have a chance to win,
this pawn push had to happen sooner or later.} 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 {Black's f
pawn is blocked and isolated. It also blocks his light-square bishop. In short,
it has become another liability.} Ng6 17. Kh1 {A useful move by White to
prevent his knight from being pinned by Black playing Bd4.} Qf6 18. Bd3 Bd7 19.
Qc2 Rf8 {The rook's return to f8 shows that the earlier move to e8 was not
successful.} 20. Bd2 Ne7 21. Rab1 Rac8 {Diagram [#] Black would like to push
his c pawn to c4 so this move is intended to support that idea.} 22. Nb5 {
Though Le could not single out one turning point in the game, he wrote of this
move, "I was glad to find the positional idea 22. Nb5. Of course there were
other plans, but I think this was a good practical decision because after the
exchange of those knights, Black had some weaknesses to defend and White's
position got much easier to play."} Nxb5 23. axb5 Qf7 {23....c4 would not have
worked because after 24 Bc4 Bb5, White would have 25. Bc3, and Black would
lose material after 25....Bc4 26. Bf6 Bf1 27. Bc3.} (23... c4 24. Bxc4 Bxb5 25.
Bc3 Bxc4 26. Bxf6 Bxf1 27. Bc3) 24. Bc4 Ra8 25. Qd3 {Le patiently improves the
position of his queen.} Kh8 26. b4 b6 27. Rfe1 Ng6 28. g3 Qf6 29. bxc5 bxc5 30.
Rb3 Qd4 31. Qc2 Qe4+ {Diagram [#] Le wrote, "Yes, initially I wanted to double
my rooks on the a-file to attack a7-pawn. But with the queen exchange on e4 in
the game, I did not have enough time to execute this plan because my opponent
would have counterattack on b5. Fortunately, the idea to break through with b6
is also very strong. If on move 31 my opponent had played 31...Rfe8 (instead
of 31...Qe4+), then 32. Bc3 Qe4+ 33. Qe4 fe (33...Re4 34. Bg7 Kg7 35. Ra1 +-)
34. Bg7 Kg7 and White would still have the move 35. b6!, winning the d6 pawn.
This shows that Black was already in a very difficult position at this point."}
(31... Rfe8 32. Bc3 Qe4+ 33. Qxe4 fxe4 (33... Rxe4 34. Bxg7+ Kxg7 35. Ra1) 34.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 35. b6) 32. Qxe4 fxe4 33. b6 axb6 34. Rxb6 {White wins a pawn and
Black has no compensation for it.} Rfb8 35. Rxd6 Bh3 36. Ra6 Rxa6 37. Bxa6 Bd4
38. Bf1 Bxf1 39. Nxf1 Rd8 40. Rxe4 Rxd5 41. Ne3 Rd8 42. Nf5 {Diagram [#]
Despite the reduced material, White"s edge is overwhelming.} Bb2 43. Be3 Ba3
44. Re6 Nf8 45. Rc6 Rd5 46. g4 h5 {Desperation.} 47. Rh6+ Kg8 48. Rxh5 Rd1+ 49.
Kg2 c4 50. Rg5+ Kf7 51. Rg7+ Ke6 52. Rc7 Kd5 53. Bf2 {With the threat of Ne3,
Black must lose his c pawn, so he throws in the towel.} 1-0

[Event "President's Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Valentin Yotov"]
[Black "Vasif Durarbayli"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[Annotator "Durarbayli, Vasif"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 (5... dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. d5 O-O
8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bxb5 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxb5 13. h5 Qc4
14. Rh4 Qxc3+ 15. Bd2 Qd3 16. hxg6 fxg6 17. Bh6 Qxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Re8) 6. Bg5 dxc4
(6... O-O 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. h5 Bf5 9. e3 e6 10. hxg6 Bxg6 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. Qe2 e5
13. Bxg6 hxg6 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Rd1 Qa5 17. Kf1 Rad8 18. Nd4 Qc5
19. Nb3 Qc6 20. Na5 Qc7 21. Nb3 Qc6 22. Na5 Qc7 23. Nb3 Qc6) 7. e4 b5 8. e5 Nd5
9. h5 h6 10. Bd2 g5 11. a4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Na6 13. Be2 Nc7 14. Qb1 {Diagram [#]}
(14. O-O Bf5 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Nh2 Nd5 17. f4 gxf4 18. Qe1 O-O 19. Bxf4) 14...
Bg4 15. Bd1 Qd7 16. Bc2 a5 17. Nh2 Be6 18. O-O Nd5 19. Be4 O-O 20. axb5 cxb5
21. f4 gxf4 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23. Bxf4 b4 24. Qc1 Kh7 25. Qc2+ {Diagram [#]} f5 26.
exf6+ Bf5 27. Qd2 Bxf6 28. Nf3 Rg8 29. Rf2 Be4 30. Ne5 Raf8 31. Ng6 Bxg6 32.
hxg6+ Rxg6 33. Be5 bxc3 34. Qc2 {Diagram [#]} Bxe5 35. Rxf8 Bxd4+ 36. Kf1 Qh5
37. Qe4 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qxg2+ 39. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 40. Kf3 Rf2+ 41. Ke4 Rxf8 0-1

[Event "President's Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "GM Leonid Kritz, L."]
[Black "GM-elect Tanguy Ringoir, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C60"]
[Annotator "Kritz, Leonid"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.16"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 {This came as a surprise - during preparation
I considered only 3....g6 with similar ideas.} (3... g6) 4. d4 $6 {This is too
simple. Better are the main lines with 4.c3 or 4.0-0 and c3 later.} (4. O-O g6
5. c3) (4. c3) 4... exd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O {I think black
should have no problems here. He has two ideas, one is to play d5, another one
to play f5, possibly after some preparation.} 8. Qd2 $5 (8. O-O a6 9. Be2 (9.
Ba4 b5 10. Bb3 Na5 $11 {/\Nxb3-Bb7}) 9... d6 $11 {f5 is coming.}) 8... d5 $1 {
Diagram [#] This move is best because it equalizes immediately.} 9. O-O-O (9.
exd5 Nxd5 {Black has good play everywhere.} 10. Nxc6 (10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Nxc6 (
11. Bxc6 $2 bxc6 12. O-O c5 $17) 11... Qxb5 12. Ne7+ Kh8 13. Nxc8 Qxb2 $15 {
Diagram [#]}) 10... bxc6 11. Nxd5 (11. Bxc6 Nxe3 $1 12. Qxe3 (12. Bxa8 Qxd2+
13. Kxd2 Nc4+ 14. Ke1 Nxb2 $44) 12... Rb8 $44) 11... cxb5 12. O-O-O c6 13. Nb4
Qf6 $11 {Diagram [#]}) (9. Bxc6 {This is an interesting continuation. However,
positions in this line are pretty complicated and entail risk for both sides.
In the final round of team competition I wanted to avoid risk and preferred to
play an equal endgame knowing that my opponent feels much more comfortable in
complications rather than endings.} bxc6 10. Bh6 $5 Bxh6 11. Qxh6 c5 (11...
dxe4 $2 12. O-O-O $16) 12. Nb3 (12. Nf3 f6 13. exd5 g5 $3 {Cool idea!} 14.
O-O-O Nf5 15. Qh3 (15. Qh5 Ng7 16. Qh6 Bg4 $1 $17) 15... Ne3 16. Qg3 Nf5 17.
Qh3 $11) 12... Rb8 $1 13. O-O-O c4 14. Nd4 c6 $132) 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 c6 $2 {
This gives white additional chances. Actually, the position becomes "playable"
- black missed the chance to fully equalize.} (10... dxe4 $1 {This was the
most unpleasant move because the endgame is very close to being draw,
eventhough white still has some chances.} 11. Bxg7 Qxd2+ 12. Rxd2 Kxg7 13. Nxe4
a6 14. Bd7 b6 $1 15. Re1 Bb7 $11) 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qd4+ Kg8 13. Be2 {Also
interesting was 13.Bc4, but I haven't seen how black is going to get an
acceptable position after Be2.} (13. Bc4 Bg4 (13... b5 14. Bb3 a5 15. a4 (15.
a3 b4 16. Na4 bxa3 17. bxa3 Qd6 18. Kb2 Be6 19. h4 h5 $132) 15... b4 16. Ne2
$14) 14. f3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 dxc4 16. Qe5 Qe8 17. h4 $44) 13... Be6 14. h4 (14.
Qf6 $5 {This is also an interesting opportunity.} Nc8 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. exd5
cxd5 17. Bf3 Ne7 {and black should be able to hold it.}) 14... dxe4 (14... h5
15. g4 dxe4 16. Qe5 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. gxh5 $16) 15. Qe5 $1 {That is the
idea - white plays on black squares, in particular now Nxe4-Nf6 is a very
dangerous threat.} Qb8 {I think it is the best defense.} (15... Nd5 16. Nxe4
Qb8 17. Rxd5 Bxd5 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. Qd4 (19. Qc3 Qf4+ 20. Kb1 Rae8 21. Nxd5+ (
21. Nxe8+ f6 22. Nxf6 Qxf6 23. Qxf6+ Rxf6 24. f3 $16) 21... Qe5 22. Qxe5+ Rxe5
23. Ne3 f5 $14) 19... c5 20. Qd2 $1 Be6 21. Qh6 $18) 16. Rd6 $1 {Diagram [#]
Position of black becomes more and more dangerous. There is only move that can
save black from immediate loss, but it is not easy to find.} Nf5 $2 {Very
straightforward played. Now black loses by force.} (16... Rd8 $2 17. Rxe6 fxe6
18. Qxe6+ Kf8 19. Qf6+ Ke8 20. Bc4 Nd5 (20... Rd6 21. Qf7+ Kd7 22. Nxe4 $18)
21. Nxd5 Rxd5 (21... cxd5 22. Bb5+ $18) 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. h5 $18) (16... Re8 $3
{This is not obvious, but only way for black to stay in the game.} 17. h5 Bd5 (
17... Nf5 18. hxg6 fxg6 (18... Qxd6 19. gxh7+ Kf8 20. Qf6 $18) 19. Nxe4 Nxd6
20. Nf6+ Kf8 21. Rxh7 $18 {Diagram [#] Black is lost because there is no
defense against Nd7-Qh8}) 18. hxg6 (18. h6 Nf5 $19) 18... Nxg6 19. Qh2 $14 {
White has solid advantage, but at least black does not lose immediately.}) 17.
Nxe4 Nxd6 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. h5 $1 {Diagram [#] The inclusion of this move is
crucial. All the same variations with the pawn on h4 result in almost equal
endgame.} g5 (19... Nf5 20. hxg6 h6 21. Rxh6+ Nxh6 (21... Kg7 22. Rh7+ Kxg6 23.
Bh5+ Kg5 24. Ne4+ Kh4 25. Qf6#) 22. g7+ Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qxh6#) (19... Ne8
20. hxg6 Nxf6 21. Qxf6+ Kg8 22. gxh7#) 20. Nd7+ f6 21. Qxe6 Qc7 (21... Qe8 22.
Qxd6 Rf7 23. Bg4 Rd8 24. Rd1 $18) 22. Nxf8 Rxf8 {The position of black by
itself looks bad, but not lost. However, white has crucial manoever Rd1 and
the rook gets to the seventh row.} 23. Rd1 Ne8 (23... Re8 24. Qxf6+ Qg7 25.
Qxd6 Rxe2 26. Qd8+ Qg8 27. Qf6+ Qg7 28. Rd8+ $18) (23... Nc8 24. Rd7 Qf4+ 25.
Kd1 Qxf2 26. Qe4 $18) 24. Rd7 Qe5 (24... Qf4+ 25. Kd1 $18) 25. Qxe5 fxe5 26. h6
{Now the rook cannot leave f8 because of Rd8.} e4 (26... Rxf2 27. Rd8 Rf8 28.
Bh5 $18) 27. Rd8 {And because of unavoidable Bh5 or after 27....Kg8.28.Bc4-Bf7
black resigned.} Kg8 28. Bc4+ Kh8 29. Bf7 1-0

[Event "US Championship 1963/64"]
[Site "New York City, NY USA"]
[Date "1963.12.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Robert James Fischer"]
[Black "Pal Benko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 {Diagram [#]} 4. f4 (4. Nf3) (4. Be3) (4. Bg5) (4.
f3) (4. Be2) (4. Bc4) (4. g3) 4... Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 (6... Na6) 7. h3 (
7. Be3) 7... Bxf3 8. Qxf3 (8. gxf3) 8... Nc6 (8... Na6) 9. Be3 e5 10. dxe5 (10.
fxe5 dxe5 11. d5 Nd4) 10... dxe5 11. f5 gxf5 12. Qxf5 (12. exf5) 12... Nd4 13.
Qf2 Ne8 14. O-O (14. O-O-O) 14... Nd6 15. Qg3 Kh8 (15... f5) 16. Qg4 (16. Bh6)
16... c6 (16... f5 17. exf5) 17. Qh5 Qe8 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Rf6 (19. e5 f5 20.
Qxe8 Nxe8) 19... Kg8 (19... Bxf6 20. e5) 20. e5 h6 21. Ne2 Nb5 (21... Bxf6 22.
Qxh6) 22. Qf5 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#1"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7k/8/8/8/4R2q/5P1b/4R2K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Bg3+ 2. Kg1 Qh2+ 3. Kf1 Qxf2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#2"]
[Black "Obstruction"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/5b2/8/3p4/q5P1/5r2/1BP5/1KRQ4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Rc3 2. Bxc3 d4 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#3"]
[Black "Discovered Defense"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1krq4/1bp1p3/4np2/Q2P4/8/4B3/8/1KR5 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... c5 2. Qxd8 Nxd8 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#4"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/6p1/4b3/8/q2p4/2P1N3/1B6/1KRQ4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Ba2+ 2. Ka1 Bb3+ 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#5"]
[Black "Fork"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2bqr1k1/5pb1/3p4/8/3nN3/2N3Q1/6P1/2B2RK1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Rxe4 2. Nxe4 (2. Bh6 Rg4) 2... Ne2+ 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "#6"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r2/6k1/5b2/8/8/6P1/3B2P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Diagram [#]} 1... Bd4+ 0-1

[Event "ch-USA 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2015.04.10"]
[Round "9.6"]
[White "Naroditsky, D."]
[Black "Holt, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.13"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3
Nbc6 9. Qh5 Ng6 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. Be3 c4 12. Bxg6 fxg6 13. Qg4 Qf7 14. Ng5 Qe8
15. h4 Bd7 16. Qe2 b5 17. g4 a5 18. h5 gxh5 19. Rxh5 h6 20. Nh3 Qg6 21. Nf4 Qh7
22. Rh1 b4 23. g5 Rxf4 24. Bxf4 bxc3 25. Be3 h5 26. Rxh5 Qg6 27. O-O-O Kf7 28.
Rdh1 Ke7 29. Rh7 Rg8 30. Qf3 Qf7 31. Qh3 Qg6 32. Qf3 Qf7 33. Qg4 Be8 34. Rh8
Kd7 35. g6 Rxh8 36. Rxh8 Qxg6 37. Qxg6 Bxg6 38. Rg8 Bf5 39. Rxg7+ Kc8 {Diagram
[#]} 40. f4 {Diagram [#]} (40. f3 a4 41. Bf2 Kb8 42. Be1 Nxd4 43. Bxc3 Nxf3)
40... a4 41. Bf2 Kd8 (41... Kb8 42. Rg3 Na7 43. Rxc3 Nb5 44. Rg3 Kb7 {Diagram 
[#]} 45. Be1 (45. c3 Nxa3 46. Kb2 Nb5 47. Be1 Kb6 48. Rg8 a3+ 49. Ka2 Kc6) (45.
Kb2 c3+ 46. Kc1 Be4 47. Be1 Nxd4 48. Rg7+ Ka6 49. Bxc3 Nxc2 50. Rf7 {Diagram 
[#]} Ne3 51. Bd4 Nc4 52. Ra7+ (52. f5 Bxf5) 52... Kb5 53. Rb7+ Kc6 54. Rb4 Nxa3
55. Rxa4 Nc4 {Diagram [#]}) 45... Nxd4 46. Rg2 Kc6) 42. Rg3 Na7 (42... Kc7 43.
Rxc3 Na7) 43. Be1 {Diagram [#]} (43. Rxc3) 43... Nb5 44. Bxc3 Ke8 45. Kb2 Kf7
46. Rg2 Be4 47. Rd2 Bf5 (47... Kg6 48. Bb4 Kf5 49. c3 Kxf4 50. Rf2+ Bf3 51. Rh2
) 48. Ba5 Bg6 49. c3 Na7 50. Bd8 {Diagram [#]} Nc6 51. Bf6 Be4 52. Rh2 Ke8 53.
Rh8+ Kd7 54. Rg8 Kc7 55. Rg7+ Kb6 56. Be7 Bf5 (56... Nxe7 57. Rxe7 Bf5) 57.
Bc5+ Ka6 58. Rf7 Bg4 59. Kc2 (59. f5) 59... Kb5 60. f5 1-0

[Event "ch-USA 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2015.04.08"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Holt, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.13"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4
Be7 9. e3 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nfd7 11. Ndf3 Ne5 12. Nxe5 Bxh4 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Bd2 Nd7
15. O-O-O O-O-O 16. Kb1 Rhe8 17. Rc1 Nc5 18. f4 e5 19. g5 f5 20. gxf6 Bxf6 21.
fxe5 Qxe5 22. Qg4+ Ne6 23. c3 Qf5 24. Qxf5 gxf5 25. h4 g6 26. h5 gxh5 27. Rxh5
Ng7 28. Rh7 Rh8 29. Rch1 Rxh7 30. Rxh7 Kd7 31. Kc2 Ke7 32. e4 dxe4 33. dxe4
fxe4 34. Bxe4 Kf7 35. a4 Kg8 36. Rh1 Ne6 37. Be3 a6 38. Bd3 Nc7 39. Bb6 Rd7 40.
Bf5 Re7 41. Bc8 Kg7 42. a5 Nd5 43. Bc5 Rc7 44. Bf5 Be5 45. Kd3 Nf6 46. Re1 Nd7
47. Bf2 Bd6 48. Bd4+ Kf7 49. Kc4 Nf8 50. Bg4 Re7 51. Bh5+ Kg8 52. Rg1+ Kh7 53.
Bg4 Kg6 {Diagram [#]} 54. Bc8+ Kh5 55. Rg7 1-0

[Event "ch-USA w 2015"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2015.04.04"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Virkud, Apurva"]
[Black "Krush, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2132"]
[BlackElo "2477"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2015.04.06"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Bb7 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Qc2 d6 11. e3 Nd7 12. Ne2 Qe7 13. f3 Nxg3 14. Nxg3 h5 15.
O-O-O O-O-O 16. Bd3 Kb8 17. e4 h4 18. Ne2 h3 19. g3 d5 20. Kb1 c5 21. Rhe1 dxc4
22. Bxc4 cxd4 23. Nxd4 Ne5 24. Be2 Rd7 25. Nb5 Rhd8 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rd1 a6
28. Qc3 Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 Ng6 30. Nd4 Qd6 31. Be2 Ne5 32. Kc1 Ka7 33. Bf1 {
Diagram [#]} g4 34. f4 Nd7 35. Be2 Nc5 36. Bxg4 Bxe4 37. Bf3 (37. Kd2) 37...
Qxd4 38. Qxd4 Nb3+ 39. Kd1 Bxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Marshall Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.07.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jay Bonin"]
[Black "Irina Krush"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "Bonin, Jay"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nbd2 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. b3
c5 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. a3 a5 13. Nc4 Qe7 14. e4 Nf6 15.
e5 Nd5 16. Nfd2 b5 {Diagram [#]} 17. Ne4 bxc4 18. bxc4 Ne3 (18... Nc7 19. Nf6+
gxf6 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. exf6) 19. fxe3 Bxe3+ 20. Kh1 Rad8 21. Qh5 h6 22. Rf3 Bd4
23. Nf6+ Kh8 24. Bc1 Bxe5 (24... Bxa1 25. Bxh6 Rd1+ 26. Bf1 Rxf1+ 27. Kg2) 25.
Bxh6 Bxf6 26. Rxf6 Qxf6 (26... gxf6 27. Bxf8+) 27. Bg5+ Kg8 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29.
Rf1 Rd7 30. Qg4+ Kh7 31. Rxf6 1-0

