[Event "World op"]
[Site "Philadelphia"]
[Date "2000.07.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bonin, Jay R"]
[Black "Shchukin, Sergey A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2419"]
[Annotator "Hartmann, John"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/p3R2p/2p1N3/4K3/1r3P2/8/5n1P/8 b - - 0 38"]
[PlyCount "16"]
[EventDate "2000.06.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]

{[#]} 38... h5 (38... Rb5+ $145 39. Kd6 (39. Kf6 $4 Ne4#) (39. Kd4 a5 40. Ke3 (
40. Rg7+ Kh8 41. Rc7 Kg8 42. Rxc6 Ng4 43. Kc4 Rb4+ 44. Kc5 Nxh2 45. Rc7 h5 $11)
40... Ng4+ 41. Kf3 Nxh2+ $11 (41... h5 $11)) 39... Ne4+ (39... Rf5 $11) 40.
Kxc6 Ra5 $11 41. Rg7+ (41. Nc7 Rc5+ 42. Kb7 (42. Kd7 Nf6+ 43. Kd6 Rh5) 42...
Nd6+ 43. Kb8 a5) 41... Kh8 42. Rf7 h6 $1) 39. Kf6 Ne4+ 40. Kg6 Rb8 41. Rg7+ Kh8
42. Ng5 $4 Rf8 $4 43. Nf7+ Rxf7 44. Rxf7 Kg8 45. Rxa7 Kf8 46. f5 1-0

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.27"]
[Round "9.10"]
[White "Teimour Radjabov"]
[Black "Olexandr Bortnyk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "akantor"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 Bf5 7. c4 Qc8 8. h3 c5
9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Rc1 Bh6 11. d5 Bxc1 12. Qxc1 Nd4 13. g4 Bd7 14. Qh6 Nxf3+ 15.
Bxf3 Ne8 16. Ne4 f6 17. h4 Bxg4 18. h5 gxh5 19. Ng5 fxg5 20. Qxg5+ Kf7 {[#]}
21. Qxh5+ Bxh5 22. Bxh5+ Kg8 23. Rg1+ Ng7 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rxe7+ Rf6 26. Bxf6+
Kg8 27. Rg7+ Kf8 28. Rxh7 Qf5 29. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "Rosenwald 1954/55"]
[Site "New York, NY USA"]
[Date "1954.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Arthur Bisguier"]
[Black "James T Sherwin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1954.12.19"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 Qb6 5. Nc3 Qxb2 6. Nb5 (6. Na4 Qa3 7. c3 (
7. Nxc5 Bxc5 8. dxc5 Qc3+) 7... Ne4) 6... Qb4+ 7. c3 Qa5 8. Nd2 a6 9. Nc4 {[#]}
Qxb5 (9... Qd8 10. Ncd6+ Bxd6 11. Nxd6+ Kf8 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qh5 Ke7 14. Qxc5
Nc6 15. Nf5+) 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Bxb5 axb5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. O-O Be7 14. e4 d6
15. f4 b4 16. d5 bxc3 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 f5 19. d6 Bd8 20. Qf3 Ra3 21. Qe3
Nc6 22. Qxc5 Ra5 23. Qxc3 Bb6+ 24. Kh1 Bd4 25. Qd2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 Rxe5 27. Qg5
Rd5 28. Qg7 Rf8 29. Qxh7 Rxd6 30. Qg7 Ke7 31. Re1 e5 32. h4 Rg6 33. Rxe5+ Nxe5
34. Qxe5+ Re6 35. Qc5+ Rd6 36. h5 b6 37. Qe5+ Be6 38. h6 f6 39. Qg3 Rdd8 40.
Qc7+ Rd7 41. Qxb6 Rh8 42. Qe3 Kf7 43. a4 Bd5 44. Kg1 Kg6 45. a5 Rxh6 46. a6 Rh8
47. a7 Ra8 48. g4 fxg4 49. Qd3+ f5 50. Qa6+ Kg5 51. Qb6 Raxa7 52. Qe3+ Kg6 53.
Kf2 Re7 54. Qd4 Ra2+ 55. Kf1 g3 56. Qc3 f4 57. Qd3+ Re4 58. Kg1 f3 0-1

[Event "Queen vs Rook exhibition"]
[Site "New Jersey / Berkeley"]
[Date "1978.01.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Walter Shawn Browne"]
[Black "Belle (Computer)"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "K3r3/8/5k2/Q7/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]

1. Kb7 {This is the 1978 exhibition Queen vs Rook ending in which GM Walter
Browne failed to win against the BELLE Computer Program.} Re7+ 2. Kc6 Re6+ 3.
Kd7 Re7+ 4. Kd8 Re4 5. Qc5 Re5 6. Qd4 Kf5 7. Kd7 Re4 8. Qd3 Kf4 9. Kd6 Re3 10.
Qd4+ Re4 11. Qf2+ Kg4 12. Kd5 Re8 (12... Rb4 13. Qe2+ Kf4 (13... Kh4 14. Qe1+)
14. Qd2+) (12... Rf4 13. Qg2+ Kf5 14. Qh3+ Rg4 15. Qf3+ Rf4 16. Qh5+ Kf6 17.
Qe5+) 13. Qf6 (13. Kd4 Rd8+ 14. Ke5 Re8+) 13... Re3 14. Kd4 Rf3 15. Qg6+ Kf4
16. Qg2 {[#]} Ra3 17. Qc6 Ra1 18. Qc7+ Kf5 19. Qc2+ Ke6 20. Qd2 Ra7 21. Qb4 Re7
22. Ke4 Kf6+ 23. Kf4 Ke6 24. Qd4 Rf7+ 25. Ke4 Rf6 26. Qd5+ Ke7 27. Ke5 Rh6 28.
Qb7+ Kd8 29. Qf7 Rc6 30. Kd5 Rb6 31. Kc5 Ra6 32. Qc4 Rf6 33. Qh4 Ke7 34. Kd5
Kf7 35. Ke5 Re6+ 36. Kf5 Rd6 37. Qc4+ Ke7 38. Ke5 Rh6 39. Qc7+ Kf8 40. Kf5 Ke8
41. Qc1 Rd6 42. Qc8+ Ke7 43. Qc7+ Rd7 44. Qc5+ Kd8 45. Ke6 Rb7 {[#]} 46. Qd6+
Kc8 47. Qc6+ Kb8 48. Kd6 Ka7 49. Qf3 Kb6 50. Qg2 Ka6 51. Kc6 Rb6+ 52. Kc7 {[#]}
Rb4 53. Qd5 Rb6 54. Qc4+ Ka5 55. Qc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.26"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Shakhriyar Mamedyarov"]
[Black "Lu Shanglei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. h4 Bg7 5. h5 e6 6. hxg6 hxg6 7. Rxh8+ Bxh8 8.
Nh3 Qe7 9. Bg5 Qf7 10. g3 d5 11. Bg2 c6 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. O-O-O Nb6 14. c5 Nbd7
15. Rh1 b6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Ng5 Qg8 18. e4 Bxd4 19. Qa4 e5 20. Qxc6 Rb8 21. Nxd5
Bb7 22. Nc7+ Kd8 23. Nge6+ Kc8 {[#]} 24. Nb5+ Bxc6 25. Nd6# 1-0

[Event "World Blitz Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.29"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2840"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "196"]
[EventDate "2016.12.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O e5 5. d3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nfd2 Ng8 8.
Bxe7 Ngxe7 9. c4 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. a3 Rc8 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Rxa7
dxc4 15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. dxc4 Rxc4 17. Qb3 Qd4 18. Nb5 Qc5 19. Rxb7 Nec6 20. e3
Na5 21. Qxc4 Qxc4 22. Nd6 Qe6 23. Rxb4 Qxd6 24. Rb5 Nc4 25. Rc1 Nb6 26. Rbc5 g6
27. h4 Kg7 28. Rc7 Rd8 29. R7c6 Qd2 30. R6c2 Qb4 31. Bf3 Rd2 32. Kg2 Rxc2 33.
Rxc2 Nc4 34. Bd5 Nd6 35. Rc6 Kf6 36. Kg1 Ke7 37. Rc7+ Kd8 38. Rc6 Kd7 39. Ra6
Qc5 40. Bf3 e4 41. Be2 Nf5 42. Kg2 Ke7 43. Ra4 Qd5 44. Kg1 Kf8 45. Bf1 Nd6 46.
Rd4 Qe5 47. Bg2 f5 48. Bf1 h6 49. Ra4 g5 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Bg2 f4 52. gxf4 gxf4
53. exf4 Qxf4 54. Rd4 Qe5 55. Rd1 e3 56. fxe3 Qxe3+ 57. Kh1 Ke7 58. Rf1 Qe5 59.
Rf3 Nf5 60. Kg1 Nh4 61. Rf2 Qe1+ 62. Bf1 Qe3 63. Bg2 Nf5 64. Bf3 Nd4 65. Kg2
Kd6 66. Bg4 Qe4+ 67. Kg3 Ke5 68. Kh3 Qh1+ 69. Kg3 Qg1+ 70. Rg2 Qe3+ 71. Kh2 Kf4
72. Bd1 Nf3+ 73. Bxf3 Qxf3 74. Kg1 Qd1+ 75. Kf2 Qd4+ 76. Ke2 Qe4+ 77. Kf1 Kf3
78. Rf2+ Kg3 79. Rd2 Kf3 80. Rf2+ Kg3 81. Rd2 Qb1+ 82. Ke2 Qe4+ 83. Kf1 Qc4+
84. Ke1 Kf3 85. Kd1 Ke3 86. Rb2 Qa4+ 87. Kc1 Kd3 88. Kb1 Qd1+ 89. Ka2 Kc3 90.
Rh2 Qa4+ 91. Kb1 Qb5+ 92. Ka1 Qf1+ 93. Ka2 Qf7+ 94. Kb1 Qg6+ 95. Ka2 {[#]} Qa6+
(95... Qg8+ 96. Kb1 Qg1+) 96. Kb1 Qb6+ 97. Ka2 Qa7+ 98. Kb1 Qb8+ 0-1

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.26"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "Surya Shekhar Ganguly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2840"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. e3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2
Nc6 9. h4 h6 10. g4 Nxc3 11. dxc3 e5 12. g5 h5 13. Bc4 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15.
Nd2 Qe8 16. Rf1 b5 17. Qe4 a5 18. a4 bxa4 19. bxa4 Qd7 20. Ke2 Rad8 21. Rad1
Qb7 22. Ba3 Rd5 23. c4 Qa6 24. Ke1 Rd7 25. Qg6 Nb4 26. Bxb4 cxb4 27. Qxh5 Rfd8
28. Qg4 Rd3 29. Ke2 b3 30. Nxb3 Rxb3 31. Rxd8+ Bxd8 32. Rd1 Be7 33. Kf3 Rb4 34.
Kg3 Qxc4 35. Qh5 Qc6 36. Qg6 {[#]} Rxa4 (36... Rg4+ 37. Kxg4 Qg2+ 38. Kh5 Qf3#)
37. h5 Qc4 38. Rd8+ Bxd8 39. Qe8+ Kh7 40. Qg6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.27"]
[Round "8.30"]
[White "Pavel Tregubov"]
[Black "Alexander Moiseenko"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E44"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2657"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Ne4 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 O-O 10. b4 Qh4 11. Bb2 d6 12. d5 Qh6 13. Rd1 Nd7 14. Be2 Rae8
15. O-O f5 16. dxe6 Rxe6 17. c5 Ne5 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Qc7 Nf3+ 20. Bxf3 Bxf3
21. Qc4 d5 22. Rxd5 {[#]} Qh3 23. gxh3 Rg6+ 0-1

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.26"]
[Round "12.5"]
[White "Leinier Dominguez Perez"]
[Black "Levon Aronian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nbd2 Bc5 12. Qe2 Qe7 13. h3 Rd8 14. Nc4 Nd4 15.
Nxd4 Rxd4 16. Be3 Rxe4 17. Qf3 Bb7 18. Na5 Rxe3 19. Qxb7 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Re8 21.
Qxa6 e4 22. Nc4 e3 23. Nxe3 Ne4 24. Qc4 g6 {[#]} 25. Ng4 Nd2 (25... Kh8 26.
Rxe4 Qxe4 27. Qxc5) 26. Qxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxe8+ 1-0

[Event "World Rapid Championship"]
[Site "Doha QAT"]
[Date "2016.12.27"]
[Round "9.10"]
[White "Teimour Radjabov"]
[Black "Olexandr Bortnyk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.12.26"]
[EventType "rapid"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 Bf5 7. c4 Qc8 8. h3 c5
9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Rc1 Bh6 11. d5 Bxc1 12. Qxc1 Nd4 13. g4 Bd7 14. Qh6 Nxf3+ 15.
Bxf3 Ne8 16. Ne4 f6 17. h4 Bxg4 18. h5 gxh5 19. Ng5 fxg5 20. Qxg5+ Kf7 {[#]}
21. Qxh5+ Bxh5 22. Bxh5+ Kg8 23. Rg1+ Ng7 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rxe7+ Rf6 26. Bxf6+
Kg8 27. Rg7+ Kf8 28. Rxh7 Qf5 29. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Matthew Shirvell"]
[Black "HappyandFuzzy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "1655"]
[BlackElo "1652"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2017.03.06"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 {Diagram [#]} dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 a6 6. Nf3 d6 7.
O-O {Diagram [#]} e6 (7... Bg4 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Ng5+) 8. a3 (8. Qe2) 8... b5 {
[#]} 9. Bd3 Be7 10. Be3 Nf6 11. Qc2 {Diagram [#]} Bb7 12. Rac1 (12. Nxb5 axb5
13. Bxb5 O-O 14. Bxc6 Rc8 15. Nd4 e5) 12... O-O 13. Nd4 Rc8 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15.
Rfd1 {Diagram [#]} Bb7 (15... Qe8) (15... h6) (15... e5) 16. e5 Nd5 (16... dxe5
17. Bxh7+ Nxh7 18. Rxd8 Rfxd8) 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 {Diagram [#]} 18. exd6 Bxd6 19.
Qd3 (19. Be4) 19... Qh4 20. Be4 {Diagram [#]} Qxh2+ (20... Nxc3 21. bxc3 (21.
Bxb7 Qxh2+ 22. Kf1 Qh1#) 21... Bxh2+ 22. Kf1 Bxe4) 21. Kf1 Nxe3+ 22. Qxe3 {[#]}
Bc5 23. Qf3 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 {Diagram [#]} Bb6 (24... Qe5) 25. Nc3 (25. Rxc8 Rxc8
26. Qxf7 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qxg2 28. Qxe6 Rf8 29. Rd3) 25... g6 (25... Rc5) 26. Qf6+
Kh7 27. Ke2 Bd8 28. Qd4 Kg8 29. Rh1 {Diagram [#]} e5 30. Qxd8 Qxg2 31. Qh4 {[#]
} (31. Qf6 Qg4+ 32. f3) 31... Kg7 32. Ne4 Rh8 33. Qf6+ 1-0

[Event "US Championship (Women)"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nazi Paikidze"]
[Black "Carissa Shiwen Yip"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2369"]
[BlackElo "2234"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 {The Catalan has been a
mainstay of players looking to secure active piece play, even if it costs a
pawn in the process. Lower rated players and grandmasters alike have long
struggled to equalize with Black, as strong central control is difficult to
combat.} c5 {Personally, I recommend steering clear of this line if you are
someone who suffers in positional games that require a lot of maneuvering and
minimal piece activity. It really is unpleasant to defend a position when it
feels like every move is a burden, whereas you see many easy ideas for your
opponent. While the line may seem solid for Black, one of the easiest ways to
lose is by aiming for a draw.} 6. O-O Nc6 7. dxc5 {This variation has become
popular thanks to those who seek to avoid theory and enter an endgame with a
real edge and minimal risks. Practically speaking, White has a nagging plus
because the bishop on g2 dominates its counterpart.} ({Kasparov used} 7. Ne5 {
to defeat Deep Blue in 1996. Of course theory has greatly evolved since then,
but the line remains competitive, if not a bit outdated.}) ({Among other fine
victories by strong grandmasters, Kramnik and Caruana both used} 7. Qa4 {
to dispatch Naiditsch in Dortmund, in 2010 and 2015 respectively.}) 7... Qxd1
8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 {Other moves stray further away from equality. In the
1980s, before engines completely refuted such lines, strong grandmasters like
Chernin and Seirawan attempted obscure moves like 9...Na5 and 9...Ng4, both of
which are insufficient. The pawn push is meant to ruin the white structure,
but does it actually do so? While the pawns are no longer connected, the open
b-file allows White to apply pressure on the b7 pawn. White's plan forward -
Nb3, Bb2, c4, etc. - comes naturally. Black's? Good question.} (9... Na5) (9...
Ng4) 10. bxc3 {[#]} O-O 11. Nb3 Be7 ({Completely illogical would be} 11... Bb6
{because it cedes the a3-f8 diaganol and invites c3-c4-c5 with tempo.}) 12. Bb2
{Paikidze's move is by no means bad and in most lines transposes to
continuations stemming from 12. c4, but it is technically inaccurate. It
doesn't really make sense to begin with the bishop, since in some lines it
very well may be better placed on f4. In this position the order is
unimportant but in another the subtleties can make all the difference.} ({
Gata Kamsky, whose positional expertise I have long admired, played a
brilliant ending to defeat Yury Shulman for the 2011 U. S. Championship. He
initiated a series of exchanges that restored pawn structure symmetry and left
Black without any activity. Passive survival is often a lost cause in practice.
} 12. Nfd4 Bd7 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. c4 a5 16. Bd2 a4 17. Na5 Ra6 18.
Rab1 {eventually White's extra space and superior piece placement led him to
victory.}) (12. c4 Rd8 13. Rxd8+ Nxd8) 12... Nd7 $2 {[#] This knight retreat
makes very little sense, though, ironically, it is completely understandable.
When we lack strategies we tend to play odd moves in the hope that our
opponents falter. Yet Black is suffering from underdevelopment and does not a
concrete way to keep her position intact while fending off her opponent's
straightforward approach.} ({If Yip wanted to steer back toward chartered
waters, she could have played} 12... Bd7 {after which} 13. c4 Rfd8 14. Nfd4
Rac8 ({In order to play} 14... Nxd4 {Black must feel confident that even if a
queenside pawn is lost, drawing chances remain high. Such an evaluation would
be overly optimistic, for defending an endgame a pawn down is never fun and is
always difficult. An additional point is that if Black tries to maintain
material equality with 15. Bxd4 Bc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 then 17. f3 is very
preferable for White, since the black pawns are easier to target and again the
activity of White's minor pieces is frustrating to handle.} 15. Bxd4 Bc6 16.
Bxc6 bxc6 17. f3) 15. Nb5 Be8 16. c5 {transposes to Wesley So's win over
Gregory Kaidanov at the 2015 Millionaire Open. Even a cursory glance at the
current position informs us that the white bishops that control both long
diagonals are simply much stronger than the passive black bishops. Moreover, a
clear demonstration of how Black is unable to break the bind is that 16...b6
transforms the edge from positional to material as 17. Bxc6! marks the fall of
both a7 and b6. In that game, Kaidanov tried 16...Nd5, but 17. Nd6 allowed So
to increase his advantage.} b6 (16... Nd5 17. Nd6) 17. Bxc6) ({As I mentioned,
mixing up your move order can have great consequences. While White is better
in all lines, Yip perhaps had the opportunity to try} 12... Rd8 13. Rxd8+ Nxd8
{(Here, unlike after 12. c4 Rd8 13. Rxd8+ Nxd8, White does not have the option
of playing 14. Bf4. This is a pretty significant nuance, since that inclusion
makes queenside development onerous. If 14...Bd7 15. Ne5, the bishop can't
retreat due to the threat of Na5. The essential point: Black's rook does not
have the b8 square available to it.)} 14. Rd1 Bd7 15. Ne5 {and now 15...Be8
works out fine because 16. Na5 is met by Rb8.} Be8 16. Na5) 13. Nfd2 {Removing
the knight from the bishop's path is wise. 13. Nfd4 was more forceful, as Yip
can't get away with exchanging on d4, lest Paikidze improve her pawn structure
and open the c-file for her rook. However 13...Nce5 (13...Nde5 is met by the
strong 14. Bc1!) can get tactical: 14. Nb5 Nc4 15. Bxb7 Rb8! 16. Bxc8 Nde5!!
and White is up a pawn in an ending that actually gives Black excellent
drawing chances.} (13. Nfd4 Nce5 (13... Nde5 14. Bc1) 14. Nb5 Nc4 15. Bxb7 Rb8
16. Bxc8 Nde5) 13... Nb6 {A sensible followup to the previous move, but a
change of plan would have produced better chances. It's never easy to admit
your mistakes, but with this Yip provokes her opponent to launch her queenside
pawns. Instead, the teenager could have tried 13...e5!? Paikidze would be
tempted to try 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Na5, but here Black is relatively content
playing 15...Re8 16. Nxc6 Bf8 and attempting to hold a draw with two bishops
as compensation for a pawn deficit. While this would remain an uphill battle,
14. a4! is a stronger response that keeps Black's forces completely restricted.
An important lesson is that sustained pressure often proves more valuable than
an extra pawn.} (13... e5 14. Bxc6 (14. a4) 14... bxc6 15. Na5 Re8 16. Nxc6 Bf8
) 14. a4 a5 {14...Rd8 does not help matters. 15. a5 is tempting but premature
since it allows Nd5 16. c4 Ndb4 with complications. 15. c4! keeps Black at bay.
} (14... Rd8 15. a5 (15. c4) 15... Nd5 16. c4 Ndb4) 15. c4 Rd8 16. c5 Nd5 (
16... Nd7 {keeps the bishop entombed, and White can continue naturally with 17.
Nc4 since the pawn on c5 is tactically protected.} 17. Nc4 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Rxd1+
19. Rxd1 Bxc5 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. Rd8+ Bf8 22. Nb6) 17. Nc4 Ndb4 {Now Black is
completely lost. Yip must have missed White's 19th move, or else she would
have tried something like 17...Bd7. Because White has so many good moves in
response, it can get confusing. Humans can't calculate everything so the
following analysis reflects the many options at White's disposal. For instance,
winning material with 18. e4 Nf6 19. Nb6 Rab8 20. e5 (The most testing
continuation requires quite extensive foresight. Dear readers, can you
determine if this variation leads to victory? 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. e5! Bxe5 22.
Nxd7 Bxa1 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Nxa5 Rbc8 25. Nb7 Bc3 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 and here the
work is yours!) Nd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Bxd5 and 22. Rxd5 allows Black respite.
Instead of having material equality as compensation for getting squeezed,
suddenly Black has activity as compensation for sacrificed material. White is
still ahead, but precision is required or else the advantage completely
dissipates.} (17... Bd7 18. e4 Nf6 19. Nb6 Rab8 20. e5 (20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. e5
Bxe5 22. Nxd7 Bxa1 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Nxa5 Rbc8 25. Nb7 Bc3 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 {[#]})
20... Nd5 21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Bxd5 (22. Rxd5)) 18. Nb6 Rb8 {[#]} 19. Nxa5 $1 Bxc5
({Yip might have overlooked that her rook on b8 is trapped, leaving her a full
exchange down with no compensation.} 19... Nxa5 20. Be5 {and the issue isn't
the rook on b8, but the bishop on c8! White trades everything and then
captures a free piece.} Nac6 21. Bxb8 Nxb8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Nxc8) 20. Nxc6 ({
Although it looks odd,} 20. Rxd8+ {is also winning. At first it seems that
Black will get two minors for the rook, but the bishop on c8 has nowhere to go.
} Nxd8 21. Be5 Bxb6 22. Nc4 Ba7 23. Bxb8 Bxb8 24. Nb6) 20... Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1
Nxc6 22. a5 $1 {Paikidze has a field day on a5, this time cementing her knight
in enemy territory. With Bxc6 looming, Yip is forced to capture on b6. The
pawn secures victory.} f6 23. Bxc6 Bxb6 24. axb6 bxc6 25. Rd8+ Kf7 26. Ba3 Ra8
{[#]} 27. Rxc8 $1 {Easiest. Also completely winning was 27. Bc5, since Black
has means of covering b7 and her rook is tied down to the bishop. The rest is
elementary as no fortress exists with so many pawns remaining.} (27. Bc5) 27...
Rxc8 28. Bd6 Rd8 29. b7 Rxd6 30. b8=Q Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Rc1 32. Qa7+ Kg8 33. Qe3 Rc2
34. Qxe6+ Kf8 35. Qe4 1-0

[Event "US Championship (Women)"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.03.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Jennifer R Yu"]
[Black "Anna Zatonskih"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2196"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be6 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. Nge2 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Qc2 Nxg3 12. Nxg3 h5 13. a3 h4 14. Nf5 Qf6 15.
h3 Nb6 16. Ne2 O-O-O 17. g4 hxg3 18. Nexg3 Kb8 19. b4 Nc8 20. O-O-O Bd6 21. Kb2
Bxg3 22. fxg3 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Nd6 24. Bd3 Qe6 25. Qf2 Rde8 26. Rde1 Rh6 27. h4
Rf6 28. Qe2 gxh4 29. gxh4 Rh6 30. Qf2 Reh8 31. Qg3 a6 32. Rh3 Ka7 33. Reh1 Rh5
34. R1h2 Qf6 35. Rf2 Qe7 36. Rf4 f5 37. Qf2 R5h6 38. Kb3 Rh5 39. Bxf5 Nxf5 40.
Rxf5 Rxh4 41. Rxh4 Rxh4 42. Re5 Qh7 43. Qc2 Qxc2+ 44. Kxc2 Kb6 45. Kb3 a5 46.
a4 Rh1 47. bxa5+ Kxa5 48. e4 Rh3+ 49. Kc2 Kxa4 50. exd5 cxd5 51. Rxd5 b5 52.
Rd8 Rh2+ 53. Kd3 b4 54. Ra8+ Kb3 55. d5 Rh1 56. Rb8 Ka3 {[#]} 57. d6 Rd1+ 58.
Kc2 1-0

[Event "ch-USA 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.03.30"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2r2k1/1pqb1pp1/p3pn1p/8/PbBN4/1P5P/1BP1QPP1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 19"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

19. Rd3 $5 {The start of some complications, but it's all fine for White.} e5
20. Nf3 e4 21. Bxf6 exd3 22. Bxd8 $4 (22. Qe4 $1 {[#] and White is doing at
least fine. He has the deadly threat of Qg6 and the d8 rook is hanging, so he
at least gets his material back.}) 22... Qxc4 {The move that Kamsky overlooked.
Material is still level, but with an e2 pawn the game is just over.} (22...
Qxc4 23. bxc4 dxe2 24. Bb6 Re8 $19) 0-1

[Event "ch-USA 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.05"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Zherebukh, Y."]
[Black "Caruana, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.10"]

1. e4 {I am proud to present the following game to the chess public, which is
my best game played to date.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.
Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13.
Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20.
Bg5 {So far, we were following a well-known theoretical line of Breyer
variation.} Bg7 $2 {The root of Black's problems and eventual loss; the bishop
simply doesn't belong on g7.} (20... Be7 {would've been a correct response,
and Black should be alive and well in nowadays so underestimated Breyer.} 21.
Rf1 Nh7 $1 {the point!} 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 $11) 21. Rf1 $5 {No disguise :) My
intentions are as obvious as possible. Smashing attack, checkmate, and a medal
on my chest saying "beat 2800+, lifelong achievement"-at this point I vividly
imagined such an improbable scenario, considering the pre-game odds.} (21. Nh4
{was also strong} Qc7 22. Bh6 Bh8 23. f4 $40 {with a nasty attack.}) 21... Qc7
22. Bh6 Bh8 (22... Qe7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qe3 Kg8 25. Nd2 $14 {but, at least,
he's not under attack, and this game could have never made it to this magazine.
}) 23. Ng5 Nh7 24. Nxh7 Kxh7 25. Be3 Qe7 26. f4 {Boy, oh boy, am I almost
mating?} exf4 27. Bxf4 Kg8 28. Rf3 $1 {The game is flowing smoothly. I just
follow the basic principle of "all pieces in the game".} Bg7 29. Raf1 Nd7 30.
Bh6 {The winning move.} Bxh6 (30... Ne5 31. Bxg7 Nxf3+ (31... Kxg7 32. Nf5+
gxf5 33. Rg3+ Ng6 34. exf5 $18) 32. Rxf3 Kxg7 33. Nxh5+ Kh7 (33... gxh5 34.
Rg3+ Kh7 35. e5+ f5 36. Bxf5+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ Qh7 38. Qxh7#) 34. Qd4 $3 $18) 31.
Qxh6 Qf8 32. Qd2 (32. Nf5 {would've been a quicker win, but my move is also
good enough to maintain the winning position.} Ne5 33. Rg3 Qxh6 34. Nxh6+ Kf8
35. Rxg6 $1) 32... Ne5 33. Rf6 Rad8 34. Qg5 Qg7 35. Bd1 $1 {The idea is to
employ the daydreaming bishop on c2 for destructive purposes (sacrifice on h5).
} Bc8 36. Qh4 Kf8 37. Qf4 {Manouvering and waiting for the best moment to take
a pawn on h5, which will give me the key to Black's castle} ({I considered for
a bit an immediate} 37. Bxh5 $4 {which, unfortunately, leads to the opposite
result!} g5 $19 {and my queen is trapped. This fragment shows the importance
of maintaining the highest concentration level even when you belive the game
is done!}) 37... Qg8 38. Kh1 {Still preparing Bh5} Re7 39. Bxh5 bxa4 (39...
gxh5 40. Nxh5 Ke8 41. Rh6 $18) 40. Bd1 Qg7 41. Bxa4 Qh7 42. Qg5 a5 43. Kg1 Qh8
44. R1f4 {Starting Tetris-like moves with the rooks with the idea of
penetrating the h-file.} Qg7 45. Rh4 Nd3 46. Rh6 Ne5 47. Rf4 Bd7 48. Qh4 Kg8
49. Qxe7 Re8 50. Qg5 Bxa4 51. Rf6 1-0

[Event "ch-USA 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.07"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Black "So, W."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2822"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.10"]

{Wesley So played in his usual style, very solid and never missing a slightest
chance provided by his opponents. He deservingly won the 2017 U.S.
championship and was beaming with happiness at the closing ceremony. The
following game is his best gem from the tournament.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Rd1 Bc6 10. Nc3
Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bg5 Rb8 14. e3 c5 {The easiest way to
equalize in this overall quite line.} 15. dxc5 Qe8 16. Rd4 $6 {The move isn't
bad, but requires a lot of precision from white.} ({If Jeffery was content
with a draw (which most likely he was; So is a Terminator not to be messed up
with), he shoud've played much safer} 16. Ne2 Qc6 17. Qxc4 Rxb2 18. Bxf6 Bxf6
19. Nd4 {with a very likely draw.}) 16... Nd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. c6 $2 (18. f4
$3 Nxc5 19. Rxc4 Nb3 20. Rb1 Na5 21. Re4 $1 $11) 18... Ne5 $1 {The genie is
out of a bottle.} 19. Qe4 Qc5 20. Nd5 Nd3 21. Nxc7 Nxf2 $3 22. Kxf2 $2 {
Losing move.} ({The most resilient defense was} 22. Nxa6 Qg5 23. Kxf2 Rxb2+ 24.
Ke1 Rxh2 25. Qf3 Rh1+ $1 {[#]} ({I encourage the readers to grab a set and
play out the following line on a board. Aesthetic pleasure guaranteed!} 25...
Qa5+ 26. Kf1 e5 27. Kg1 $1 exd4 28. Kxh2 d3 29. c7 Qxa6 30. Rb1 c3 31. Rb8 c2 {
[#] what a position!} 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Qd5 Qh6+ 34. Kg2 Qh1+ 35. Kxh1 c1=Q+
36. Kg2 Qxc7 37. Qxd3 {smoke went down, forces counted their units, and agreed
to call the battle a draw.}) 26. Qxh1 Qxe3+ 27. Kf1 Qxd4 28. Re1 Qb6 29. Qh5 $3
{[#]} Qxc6 30. Nb4 Qd6 31. Na2 Qxg3 32. Qe5 {and Black is still a bit better,
but White is in the game.}) 22... Rxb2+ 23. Kf1 Qh5 24. Qg4 Qxh2 25. Qf3 c3 26.
Rc1 e5 27. Rh4 Qd2 28. Rd1 Rd8 $3 {[#]} 29. Nd5 (29. Rxd2 Rdxd2 {GM Aaron
Nimzowitsch was right in his My System: rooks on the seventh (second) rank are
indeed a fomidable force.} 30. Kg1 c2 $19) 29... Rxd5 30. Rd4 Rxd4 31. exd4
Qxd1+ 0-1

[Event "ch-USA 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.07"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1kb4r/ppn2p2/2p3p1/4PPq1/2pP2P1/2N5/PP1N3r/1K1RQ1R1 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

27... Qf4 {A complicated queen's gambit seems to have left Onischuk in the
driver's seat. His control over the h-file, active queen and solid structure
more than compensate for White's potentially powerful pawns. However, things
are not clear at all, as Hikaru proves:} 28. e6 $1 gxf5 (28... fxe6 29. fxg6 {
leaves Black in a very awkward situation on how to defend against the advance
of the g-pawn.}) 29. exf7 Be6 $1 30. Rf1 Qxg4 31. Nf3 $44 {[#] White has
compensation for the pawn in terms of activity.} Rg2 32. d5 $1 cxd5 33. Nxd5 $2
{An error, uncharacteristic of Nakamura.} (33. Qe5 $1 Qg7 34. Rg1 $1 {A tough
move to find, but it's also not easy to defend against. White uses the power
of the f-pawn to his advantage.} Rxg1 35. Rxg1 Qxe5 36. Nxe5 Rf8 37. Nxd5 $3 {
And White's compensation is superb} Bxd5 (37... Nxd5 38. Nd7+ $1 Bxd7 $2 (38...
Kc8 39. Nxf8 Bxf7 $14) 39. Rg8) 38. Nd7+) 33... Qg7 $1 34. Nc3 Qxf7 {Black has
corraled the pawns and is two pawns to the good. The rest is still very
complicated, but Onischuk shows superb technique.} 35. Qe5 Re8 36. Qd6 Qf8 37.
Nb5 Qxd6 38. Nxd6 Rh8 39. Rh1 Rxh1 40. Rxh1 Rg8 41. Nd4 f4 42. Rh6 Bc8 43. Nxc4
Nd5 44. Kc2 Rd8 45. Rd6 Rxd6 46. Nxd6 Bh3 47. a3 Kc7 48. Ne4 a5 49. Nd2 b6 50.
Kd3 Bg2 51. Nc2 Ne7 52. b4 a4 53. Nd4 Kd7 54. Ke2 Bd5 55. Nb5 Kc6 56. Nc3 b5
57. Kd3 Nf5 58. Nd1 Kd6 59. Nc3 Bc6 60. Nce4+ Ke7 61. Ng5 Kf6 62. Nge4+ Ke7 63.
Ng5 Bg2 64. Nge4 Ke6 65. Nf2 Kd5 66. Nd1 Nd6 67. Nf2 Nc4 68. Nxc4 Bf1+ 69. Kc3
Bxc4 70. Nh3 Ke4 71. Kd2 Be6 72. Ng5+ Kd5 73. Nf3 Bg4 74. Nh4 Ke4 75. Ke1 Ke3
0-1

[Event "ch-USA 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.07"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pkn/3Q2p1/4Nq2/4p2p/4P2P/6P1/7K w - - 0 76"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

76. Qd4 {The position is probably close to a draw, it is impossible to make
progress for Black.} f6 $4 77. Qa7+ {Suddenly Caruana is simply lost.} Kh6 (
77... Kg8 78. Qf7+ Kh8 79. Nxg6+) (77... Kf8 78. Qf7#) 78. Ng4+ Kg5 79. Qxh7 {
A mistake of this size simply cannot be explained.} 1-0

[Event "ch-USA w 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.08"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[Black "Paikidze, Nazi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2364"]
[BlackElo "2369"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4rrk1/2R2pb1/3p1qpp/2nP1N2/2P5/1P3N2/2QB2PP/5RK1 b - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

24... gxf5 {White should be winning, but from a practical point of view it is
always difficult to play positions in which your pieces are very
discoordinated. White has to be careful as Black's pieces are well organized.}
25. b4 Ne4 26. b5 Ng5 27. Nxg5 hxg5 28. Qd3 $6 (28. Bb4 $1) 28... f4 29. h4 $2
{[#] An unnecessary weakening of the king, that Paikidze immediately exploits.}
Qd4+ 30. Qxd4 Bxd4+ 31. Kh2 Re2 32. Bb4 Kg7 $1 {With the seconds ticking, it
is almost impossible to defend this position.} 33. Rd1 $2 (33. Bxd6 Rh8 34.
Bxf4 gxf4 35. Rxf4 Be5 36. Rcxf7+ {would lead to a bizarre endgame.}) 33... Be5
34. Kg1 g4 $6 35. Rc6 $2 {A crucial loss of tempo. Abrahamyan simply was not
her sharp self this tournament.} (35. Re7 $1 {Threatening to take on d6}) 35...
g3 $1 {[#] Now White is lost, her king is simply in a mating net.} 36. b6 Ra8
37. Re1 Bd4+ {White will be promptly mated.} 0-1

[Event "ch-USA w 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.08"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Foisor, Sabina-Francesca"]
[Black "Zatonskih, Anna"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2272"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rr4/bb2q1k1/p3p2p/1p3pp1/1P6/P1NnP1P1/B1RNQPP1/5RK1 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2017.03.29"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

{Anna Zatonskih is clearly one of the best chess players in the World. She,
however, has one main weakness: her nervousness, which in turn, converts into
awful time management. She plays a beautiful game here against Foisor only to
spoil it because, by this point, she is under ten minutes on the clock.} 27...
Qf6 $1 28. Nd5 Rxc2 $1 29. Nxf6 Rxa2 $1 30. Qh5 Bc6 $1 {White's knight on f6
is trapped, and Black's very active pieces create a powerful impression.} 31.
Nf3 Nxf2 $4 {When you have no time on your clock, how can you calculate?} (
31... Rf8 32. Nh7 Be8 $1 33. Qh2 Rh8 $19) 32. Ne5 $1 {Swfit and brutal
punishment.} Kxf6 (32... Nh3+ 33. Kh2 $1 $18 {Only move, but sufficient.}) 33.
Nxc6 {The powerful bishop on c6 is eliminated, and Black's position is
collapsing as everything she owns is being targetted.} Rdd2 34. Qxh6+ Kf7 35.
Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37. Qxe6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Qxg5+ Kh8 40. Qf6+ Kh7 41.
Qxf5+ 1-0

[Event "ch-USA TB 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1q1rk1/p1p2ppp/4n1b1/4P3/2Q2P2/3PN3/Pb2B1PP/1RB2RK1 b - - 0 18"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2017.04.10"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

18... Qd4 {This is wildly complicated position. So many pieces are under
attack, time is ticking, and So finds a resource that I did not even think was
legal.} 19. Rxb2 Rxb2 20. Bg4 $1 {What a concept! The rook on b2 is left en
prise, while now White threatens both Bxe6 and f5. Black only has one resource
to keep equality.} Rb4 {Onischuk is not up to the task.} (20... Qb6 $1 $13) 21.
Qxd4 Rxd4 22. f5 {The rest is pointless.} Nf4 23. Nc2 Ra4 24. Bxf4 h5 25. Bd1
Bh7 26. Ne3 Rxa2 27. e6 fxe6 28. Bb3 Re2 29. fxe6 Re8 30. e7+ Kh8 31. Bg5 1-0

[Event "ch-USA TB 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.04.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2822"]
[Annotator "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/4q1p1/1p3p2/2n5/2P2QPP/8/5PBK/8 w - - 0 41"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2017.04.10"]
[SourceDate "2015.02.07"]

41. Qb8+ Kh7 {Onischuk has simply outplayed his opponent. White has two
choices, and that is not necessarily a good thing.} 42. Qxb6 $2 {This allows
Black a nearly miraculous counterplay.} (42. Bd5 $1 Qe5+ 43. Qxe5 fxe5 44. g5
$1 {Should be a won endgame.}) 42... Qe5+ 43. Kg1 Qd4 44. Qb1+ Nd3 45. Qc2 Kh8
46. Qe2 Ne5 47. Bd5 g5 48. h5 Kg7 49. Kg2 Kh6 50. Kg3 Qf4+ 51. Kh3 Qd4 {
Yes, White is up two pawns, but with time ticking and no clear plan, things
are far from obvious. Objectively, I'm not even sure that White is winning any
more.} 52. Kg3 Qf4+ 53. Kg2 Qd4 54. Be6 Nd3 55. Kg1 Nf4 56. Qc2 Qa1+ 57. Kh2
Qe5 58. Bg8 Nxh5+ 59. Kg2 Nf4+ 60. Kf3 Ng6 61. Qe4 Nh4+ 62. Ke3 Ng2+ 63. Kf3
Ne1+ 64. Ke3 Nc2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "2017-usa-college-chess-final-four"]
[Site "http://www.chessbomb.com"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Robson, Ray"]
[Black "Vorontsov, Pavlo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "Lawrence,Al"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:32"]
[BlackClock "0:00:32"]

{In round 1, the Webster Gorlocks put significance distance between themselves
and Texas Tech, ultimately the second-place finisher, by scoring 3-1. That's a
meaty lead in a three-round contest determined by game points. In this Board 2
match-up, GM Ray Robson shows a Mephistophelean understanding of unbalanced
material. It's truly the grandmaster's purview to grasp the subtly changing
relative values of the pieces as the specifics of a position shift.} 1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 {Both 5. ... a6 and 5. ... e6 are
twice as popular as Black's choice, and both prevent white's next.} 6. Nb5 Qb6
7. Na3 {NOTE} c6 8. Nc4 Qd8 9. Nce5 Bg7 10. Bc4 O-O 11. O-O Nbd7 {Diagram [#]
Every serious amateur knows only too well the admonition not to trade your two
developed minor pieces for rook-and-pawn against black's castled king in the
opening.} 12. Nxf7 {Robson knows more. Now CB's giant online database shows
only one game with this position--this one!} Rxf7 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Ng5+ Kg8
15. Ne6 {Diagram [#] White sinks the knight into e6 with tempo against black's
peripatetic queen.} Qb6 16. Qe2 Bh8 17. Re1 Qb5 18. Qxb5 cxb5 19. Nc7 Rb8 20.
Rxe7 Nb6 21. Bf4 Bd7 22. Nxb5 Rc8 23. Nc3 {Diagram [#]} Rxc3 ({Vorontsov's
idea turns out badly for him. But it's hard to blame him.} 23... Bc6 24. Be5
Rd8 25. Re1 {and despite white's three extra pawns, black's extra piece makes
it hard to see white's path to victory. We would have liked to see what Robson
had in mind. .}) 24. bxc3 Nbd5 {So Black ggave up an Exchange on c3 and gets
it back with this fork and will still have two pieces for a rook. But--the
pawns! Which one do you think will be the little engine that could?} 25. Rxd7
Nxd7 26. Bd2 N7b6 27. Kf1 Nc4 28. Ke2 b5 29. a4 a5 30. axb5 Kf7 31. Kd3 Nb2+
32. Ke4 Nf6+ 33. Kf3 Nc4 {Diagram [#]} 34. b6 $1 {The exclam is awarded for
sangroid! Dropping a bishop with check! Other moves, like 34. Bf4 or 34. Bg5
save the piece and also win. It's as if Robson wants to win with the fewest
number of pieces.} Nxd2+ 35. Ke2 Nd7 36. Kxd2 Nxb6 37. Kd3 {Diagram [#]} a4 38.
c4 {And we can see that the pawns will roll forward, chomping and ultimately
promoting. With this victory, Robson displayed both deep understanding and
panache, giving both and instructional and spectator candy. We'll wait to see
if anyone else at the top wants to test either side of his 12. Nxf7. Or will 5.
... g6 go under an even darker cloud?} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.03.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Torres Rosas, Luis"]
[Black "Ali Marandi, Cemil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[Annotator "Rosas, Luis Carlos Torres"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 $6 (3... d6 {is more accurate because White
doesn't have h4 idea.}) 4. h4 $5 {Diagram [#] Creating some problems right at
the begining of the game.} Bg7 5. h5 d6 (5... Nxh5 $5 6. e4 fxe4 7. Rxh5 gxh5
8. Qxh5+ Kf8 9. Bh6 d6 10. Nxe4 Qd7 11. Bxg7+ Kxg7 12. Qg5+ Kf7 13. Qe3 $40 {
with an attack}) 6. hxg6 (6. h6 $5 {this was probably better but I decided to
weak black's pawn structure.} Bf8 7. Nf3 $16) 6... hxg6 7. Rxh8+ Bxh8 8. Nf3 e6
$6 {This move is too slow.} 9. Bg5 Qd7 10. Qc2 {White has to attack quicly in
order to take advantage of black position. Qe2 is the idea of e4 so that black
has to start worrying about his pawn structure and weaknesses.} b6 $6 11. e4
Bb7 12. d5 $1 e5 13. Nh4 {This is the most complicated way to exploid black's
position, exf5 was simpler and strong enough.} (13. exf5 gxf5 14. g3 (14. c5))
13... f4 {Diagram [#]} 14. c5 $1 {I give an exclamation mark to this move
because it is necesary for White to play this otherwise black can try to
organize his pieces.} bxc5 15. Bb5 c6 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Nd5 $18 (17. O-O-O {
was good enough.}) 17... Nh7 (17... Qf7 18. Qa4 Rc8 19. Bc4 $18) (17... Kf7 18.
Qc4 Qe6 19. Nxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxe6+ Kxe6 21. Bc4+ Ke7 22. Nxg6+ $16) 18. Bh6 $2 (
18. Qb3 $1 Nf8 (18... Nxg5 $2 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. Qg8+ Ke7 21. Nxg6#) 19. Ne7)
18... O-O-O 19. Nxg6 Bf6 20. Qa4 Kb8 21. O-O-O {With the thread of Nxf6 and
Nxe5.} Qe8 {Diagram [#]} 22. Nf8 $1 {After Nf8 black's position is hopeless.}
Nxf8 23. Nxf6 Qg6 24. Bxc6 Qxh6 25. Bxb7 f3+ 26. Kc2 Qxf6 27. Bd5 Rc8 28. Qa6
Kc7 29. Bb7 Rd8 30. Qc6+ Kb8 31. Ba6 Qe7 32. Rd3 c4 33. Rd5 {Diagram [#] Black
resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Porz"]
[Site "Porz, Cologne FRG"]
[Date "1982.01.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anthony Miles"]
[Black "Helmut Reefschlaeger"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C15"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1982.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nge2 dxe4 {[#]} 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 (6. bxc3)
6... Nc6 7. Bb5 Nge7 8. Be3 (8. Nxe4) 8... O-O 9. Qd2 a6 10. Bxc6 Nxc6 11.
O-O-O f5 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. f3 exf3 14. gxf3 Nd8 15. Rhg1 c6 16. Rg3 Rf7 17. Rdg1
b5 18. Bf6 {Analysis: Raa7 19.Qh6 Qf8 20.Be5 Kh8 21.Rh3 Qg8 22.Ne2 f4 23.Rxg7
Rxg7 24.Nxf4} Raa7 (18... Rxf6 19. Rxg7+ Kh8 (19... Kf8 20. Rg8+) 20. Qg5) 19.
Qh6 Qf8 20. Be5 Kh8 21. Rh3 Qg8 22. Ne2 f4 23. Rxg7 Rxg7 24. Nxf4 Qf7 25. Qxh7#
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.04.26"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM I"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1b5k/8/8/4n3/7q/6RQ/6RK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1... Ng3# (1... Nf2#) 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM II"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/r7/8/8/8/5bPq/5QRP/6RK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

1... Qxh2+ 2. Kxh2 Rh7# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM III"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k4r2/2Q5/8/1N6/4b3/5q2/6PP/6RK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Qxg2+ 2. Rxg2 Rf1# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM IV"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/8/8/8/6q1/5R2/6rP/3Q1R1K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Rxh2+ 2. Kxh2 Qg2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM V"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "b1q4k/8/8/8/4n3/6P1/4R1QP/6RK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Nxg3+ 2. hxg3 Qh3# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM VI"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/8/1Q6/7q/7B/5rP1/5P1K/5bR1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Qxh4+ 2. gxh4 Rh3# 0-1

[Event "U.S. Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.04.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "116"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 dxc4 6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Nbd7
8. a4 c5 9. e3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. Qb4 Nd5 14. Qc5
b6 15. Qc6 Bd7 16. Qd6 Nf6 17. b3 Rc8 18. Bb5 Bxb5 19. Qxd8 Rfxd8 20. axb5 Rd5
21. O-O Rc7 22. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 e5 24. Nc6 Rxb5 25. Nxa7 Rxb3 26. Nc6 Rb5
27. h3 Ne4 28. f3 Nd6 29. e4 Kh7 30. h4 h5 31. Kh2 f6 32. Ne7 Rc5 33. Rd1 Nc8
34. Nd5 b5 35. Ne3 b4 36. Rb1 Rb5 37. Rb3 Ne7 38. Kg3 Nc6 39. Nd5 Rc5 40. Rb2
Rb5 41. Rb3 f5 42. Kf2 fxe4 43. fxe4 Rb7 44. g4 hxg4 45. Kg3 Kg6 46. Kxg4 Kf7
47. h5 Ke6 48. Kg5 Kd6 49. Kg6 {[#]} Kc5 50. Kh7 (50. Nxb4 Nxb4 51. Rf3 {[#]}
Kd4 (51... Nc2 52. Rf7 (52. Rc3+) 52... Rb6+ 53. Kxg7 Nd4 54. Rf6 Ne6+ 55. Kf7
Ng5+ 56. Kg6) (51... Kd6 52. Rf7 Rb8 53. Kxg7 Ke6 54. Rf6+) (51... Nd5) 52. Rf7
Rxf7 53. Kxf7 Nd3 54. Kxg7 Nf4 55. h6 Ne6+ 56. Kf6) 50... Kd4 (50... Kc4 51.
Rg3 b3 52. Rc3+ Kd4 53. Rxc6 b2 54. Nc3 b1=Q 55. Nxb1 Rxb1 56. Kxg7 Kxe4 57. h6
Rb7+ 58. Kg6 Kf3 59. h7 Rxh7 60. Kxh7 e4) 51. Nxb4 (51. Rg3 Kxe4 52. Rxg7 Rxg7+
53. Kxg7 Kxd5 54. h6 b3 55. h7 b2 56. h8=Q b1=Q) 51... Nxb4 52. Rg3 Kxe4 53.
Rxg7 {[#]} Rb6 (53... Rxg7+ 54. Kxg7) 54. Rg6 {[#]} Rb8 (54... Rxg6 55. Kxg6 (
55. hxg6 Nd5) 55... Nd5 (55... Kd3 56. h6 e4 57. h7 e3 58. h8=Q Nc2 {[#]} (
58... e2)) 56. h6 Ne7+ 57. Kf7 (57. Kg5) 57... Kf5 58. Kxe7 Kg6) 55. h6 Nd5 56.
Kg7 Rb7+ 57. Kf8 Kf5 58. Rg1 Nf6 0-1

[Event "U.S. Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.04.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "157"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 O-O 8.
O-O Nbd7 9. b3 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qc8 14. Rad1
Nf6 15. Qc2 e4 16. Nd4 Ng4 17. Bb2 Ne5 18. Ne2 Qg4 19. Nf4 Qf5 20. Rd2 c6 21.
Rfd1 h5 22. h3 h4 23. Rd6 Bh8 24. c5 a5 25. a3 Kh7 26. Qe2 Bg7 27. Qc2 Bh8 28.
Kf1 Re7 29. Rd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Bf6 31. Qd2 a4 32. Qc2 axb3 33. Qxb3 Nd7 34. Qc2
Kg7 35. Ne2 Qxc5 36. Bxf6+ Kxf6 37. Nc3 Kg7 38. Kg1 Qxa3 39. Qd2 Nf6 40. Qd4
Qa1+ 41. Kh2 Qa5 42. Kg1 Qe5 43. Qb4 b6 44. Ne2 Qc7 45. Ra8 c5 46. Qb2 Rd7 47.
Ra1 Rd6 48. Nc3 Qe7 49. Nb5 Rd3 50. Rb1 Qe6 51. Nc7 Qd7 52. Qxb6 c4 53. Nb5
Rd1+ 54. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 55. Kh2 Qd5 56. Nd4 Nd7 57. Qd8 Qd6+ 58. Kg1 c3 59. Kh1 Qd5
60. Kg1 Qb7 61. Qe7 Kg8 62. Qe8+ Nf8 63. Qa4 Qb1+ 64. Kh2 Qe1 65. Qc6 Qd2 66.
Kg1 Nh7 67. Qc8+ Kg7 68. Qc7 Qe1+ 69. Kh2 Qxf2 70. Qxc3 Kh6 71. Nc6 Qg3+ 72.
Kh1 Qc7 73. Qc5 Qc8 74. Qd6 Qf5 75. Ne5 Kg7 76. Qd4 {[#]} f6 77. Qa7+ Kh6 (
77... Kg8 78. Qf7+) (77... Kh8 78. Nf7+) 78. Ng4+ Kg5 79. Qxh7 1-0

[Event "U.S. Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.04.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Yu, Jennifer"]
[Black "Nguyen, Emily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2196"]
[BlackElo "2173"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "105"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Qd1 e6 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Nf3 Bb4 12. O-O O-O 13. Ne5 h6 14. Rc1 Qe8
15. Qe2 a6 16. Rc2 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Bb5 19. c4 dxc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4
21. Bxc4 Nxc4 22. Qxc4 Qc8 23. Rc1 Qxc4 24. Rxc4 Nd5 25. Bd6 Rd8 26. Ba3 Rd7
27. e4 Rc7 28. Rxc7 Nxc7 29. Bc5 f5 30. d5 exd5 31. exf5 Nb5 32. f3 Kf7 33. Kf2
Nc3 34. a3 b5 35. Ke3 a5 36. Kd3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Bxb4 Nb5 39. g4 Kf6 40.
h4 h5 41. Bd2 Ke5 42. Bg5 hxg4 43. fxg4 Nd6 44. Be3 d4 45. Bg1 Nxf5 {[#]} 46.
Bh2+ Kf6 47. gxf5 Kxf5 48. Bd6 g5 (48... Kg4 49. Be7) 49. h5 g4 50. h6 Kg6 51.
Bf4 g3 52. Ke2 d3+ 53. Kf3 1-0

[Event "2015 Women's World Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yuan, Yuanling"]
[Black "Muzychuk, Mariya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2257"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Yuan, Yuanling"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/pp3pk1/3b2p1/1n1P1p2/6rq/1P1R1QN1/P2B1PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{[#]} {It was the very first time that I qualified for the Women's World
Championship and in the first round, I was paired against the 8th seed of the
tournament. The odds were not in my favor. 30 moves into the game, I knew that
I was already in deep trouble. Muzychuk had an enormous kingside attack and
every move she made seemed to weaken my already collapsing fortress of defense.
Better yet, I only had 3 minutes to make the next 6 moves.} 35. a4 {A
fruitless move disguised as a counterattack. Under these circumstances, I had
to try something.} Nc7 $2 (35... Bc5 $1 36. Kf1 (36. axb5 $4 Rxg3 {Threatening
37...Qh1#}) 36... Nd4 {Threatening 37...Qh1+ 38.Nxh1 Rxh1#}) (35... Nd4 $2 36.
Rxd4 Rxd4 37. Bc3 {Significantly reducing Black's attack}) 36. Bc3+ f6 {
I am still slightly worse, but removing Black's knight from the action makes
my life a little easier. My "counterattack" was working.} 37. Kf1 Rf4 38. Qd1 (
38. Qe3 {Would have been the better response, preventing Bc5}) 38... Bc5 39.
Rf3 Qg4 $4 {Diagram [#] Under time pressure, Muzychuk made the fatal mistake
that gave away her winning position.} (39... Rd8 {Preventing the advance of
the d-pawn while still maintaining pressure on white's kingside.}) 40. d6 $1 {
With 30 seconds left on the clock, I didn't even bother calculating all of
Black's potentially mating combinations. Counterattack is the best defense.}
Rxf3 41. Re7+ $1 (41. gxf3 Qh3+ 42. Ke2 Re8+ 43. Kd2 Rxe1 44. Kxe1 Qg2 45. Qd2
Ne6 $11) 41... Kf8 {Forcing the Black king to cut off the rook's mobility on
the back rank.} 42. gxf3 Qh3+ 43. Ke2 Qg2 44. Be1 Ne8 45. Qd5 Nxd6 46. Re6 {
Black resigned. Today, this game serves as a constant reminder that even in
the worst circumstances against the toughest adversaries, I am capable of
turning fate around - as long as I have the willpower to do so.} 1-0

