[Event "ch-USA 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.18"] [Round "1"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Robson, R."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2660"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. h4 (8. c4 {is more common. Nakamura said in a "different situation" he may have played alternate moves at various points.}) 8... a5 9. c4 Nb6 10. Nd2 Qe6 11. Nf3 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 (12. Kd1 {would have been his choice "on another day...It looks kind of weird but I suspect it's playable." He then offered the line:} Ba6 13. b3 {and his plan would have been Bb2 and g3 where he gets very quick development.} O-O 14. Nd4 Qe8 15. Bb2) 12... Bxd2+ 13. Nxd2 (13. Kxd2 $1 { is also playable here, as Nakamura and Robson discusses after the game.}) 13... O-O 14. O-O-O Re8 15. f4 d6 (15... d5 {would have been Nakamura's choice, followed by ...Ba6.}) 16. Rh3 Qh6 17. Re3 Qxf4 18. Re4 Qg3 19. exd6 Be6 20. dxc7 (20. c5) 20... Qxc7 21. Nf3 Nd7 22. Ng5 Nf8 23. Qf2 Rad8 24. Bd3 h6 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Qf3 Red6 27. Ree1 Rd4 28. g3 Ne6 29. Kb1 h5 30. Bc2 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 g6 32. Bc2 Nd4 33. Qc3 {"I'm disappointed I didn't create more chances," Nakamura said afterward, although an abundance of caution was his major theme in the post-mortem.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "St Louis, MO USA"] [Site "St Louis, MO USA"] [Date "2018.04.18"] [Round "1"] [White "Yaroslav Zherebukh"] [Black "Wesley So"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2640"] [BlackElo "2786"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 c5 {Of course this move is not a surprise, but So has been a king's pawn player in recent events. Then again, most of his opposition is a bit higher rated than Zherebukh is.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 {In response to Zherebukh's quiet opening choice, So opts for the most challenging line.} (3... Bd7 4. Bxd7+ (4. a4 {was always a favorite of mine.}) 4... Qxd7 5. c4 {is too solid; So would likely find a path to neutralize White's opening advantage, but there would be little hope for more.}) 4. Ba4 $6 (4. d4 {is the most common and principled. White strikes in the center and develops naturally, though Black of course has typical Sicilian chances.}) 4... Ngf6 5. O-O a6 6. c4 g6 ({ Playing into White's hands with} 6... Nxe4 $2 {would have been a poor choice, considering that So had no idea this variation was going to be played. White's play is straightforward:} 7. Re1 Nef6 8. d4 cxd4 (8... g6 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Bf4 {spells huge trouble for Black. The extra pawn is not worth the deficit in development.}) 9. Nxd4 e6 (9... g6 10. Bf4 e5 11. Nc3 Be7 (11... Bg7 12. Nc6 $1 bxc6 13. Qxd6 Nb8 14. Qxe5+ Kf8 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. Qd4) 12. Bh6 {is tragic. Black is pinned all over the place.}) 10. Rxe6+ fxe6 11. Nxe6 Qb6 12. Qe2 { is a line that no rational human voluntarily enters.}) 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. d3 O-O 9. h3 b6 10. Rb1 Bb7 11. Bg5 {The first new move.} (11. Be3 {was played last month by Boruchovsky, though the game continuation allows White to play Qd1-d2 with a gained tempo, hitting the pawn on h6.}) 11... h6 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Qd2 Kh7 14. b4 {Zherebukh appears to have achieved everything a player wish for. He has more space, controls the immediate pawn breaks, and has no weaknesses. Yet there is no clear path to obtain more than a symbolic advantage. In order to turn an edge into a full point, a second weakness is typically required. So, in his defensive effort, is in no rush to do much of anything.} Rac8 15. Rfc1 { necessary to defend the knight and thus prevent ...cxb4 followed by b5.} e6 16. Ne2 (16. Rc2 {tests So's setup. Black has to be attentive to the impending pressure down the b-file. Breaking with} d5 {might backfire:} (16... Rfd8 17. Rcb2 cxb4 18. Rxb4 b5 19. Bxb5 $1 {requires Black to be ultra accurate to avoid defeat.} axb5 20. Nxb5 Qb8 21. Ba7 Qa8 22. Nxd6 Bxe4 23. dxe4 Qxa7 24. Nxc8 Rxc8 25. Rb7 Qc5 26. Rxd7 Nxd7 27. Qxd7 Rc7 {when Black should hold.}) 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bf4 Qd8 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. bxc5 {with many hanging pawns and vulnerable squares.} bxc5 (20... dxe4 21. Ne5 Qd4 22. Rxb6 Ba8 23. Rxa6 exd3 24. Nxd3 {provides compensation at best for the sacrificed material.}) 21. e5 { with an initiative.}) 16... Rfd8 17. Ng3 Ba8 18. a3 Nb8 19. Nh2 Nc6 20. f4 Nd4 21. Rf1 $2 {Clearly overlooking the power of Wesley's response.} (21. Qf2 { or a similar noncommittal move kept the balance.}) 21... b5 $1 {Ouch. Black expands without any repercussions.} 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Bd1 (23. Bxd4 {would be acceptable if not for} Nxe4 $1 24. dxe4 Bxd4+ 25. Kh1 bxa4) 23... Qa7 24. Ra1 cxb4 (24... Nf5 $3 25. exf5 Nd5 {wins on the spot. The rook and bishop on e3 can't be defended all at once (the threat is ...Nxe3 followed by Bd4).}) 25. Qxb4 Nd7 26. Kh1 {This was not Yaro's day; he seemed to be missing everything. He could have stayed in the game with} (26. Ra2) 26... Nc2 {and the rest is fairly straightforward. So never gave his opponent an opportunity to get back into the game.} 27. Bxa7 Nxb4 28. Rb1 Nxd3 29. Rxb5 Bc6 30. Rb1 Ra8 31. Be3 Rxa3 32. Bf3 h5 33. Ne2 N3c5 34. Bxc5 Nxc5 35. e5 Ba4 36. exd6 Rxd6 37. Rbc1 Nb3 38. Rc7 Nd2 39. Re1 Rd7 40. Rxd7 Bxd7 41. Rd1 Ra2 42. Nc1 ({Perhaps} 42. Nf1 Nxf3 43. Rxd7 {gave Zherebukh some hope though} Nh4 {seems to paralyze White's forces} (43... Rxe2 44. gxf3 Kg8 45. Rd8+ Bf8 46. Nd2 {actually is not so simple. The knight will be quite strong on e4 and the White pawns are not easy to attack.}) 44. Nd2 Nf5) 42... Ra1 43. Nd3 Rxd1+ 44. Bxd1 Ne4 45. Nf3 Bb5 46. Nfe1 h4 47. Kh2 Bc3 48. Bc2 Bd2 49. Nf3 Bxd3 50. Bxd3 Bxf4+ 51. Kg1 Be3+ 52. Kf1 Ng3+ 53. Ke1 Kg7 {White tipped his king, as} (53... Kg7 54. Nxh4 e5 { is lights out. So follows up with 55...e4 and the knight on h4 is trapped.}) 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.18"] [Round "1"] [White "Yu, Jennifer"] [Black "Paikidze, N."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "2367"] [BlackElo "2352"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d6 3. e4 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. h3 c5 8. d5 $2 (8. Be3 {is strange but necessary to prevent the text. White lost a tempo, but it is imperative to keep the center stable.}) 8... b5 $1 9. Nxb5 (9. Bxb5 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qxb5 $17 {and Black's control of the light squares trumps her weaknesses on the dark squares.}) 9... Nxe4 10. c3 Nb6 11. Qc2 Bf5 {Clearly the trade of Black's side pawn for White's center pawn has favored the second player.} 12. g4 Nxf2 13. gxf5 Nxh1 {Paikidze told Chess. com that even though her knight is in the corner, there's no easy way for White to win it. It just takes too long and Black poses too many problems.} 14. c4 a6 15. Nc3 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Ne4 exf5 (17... gxf5 {was more accurate because} 18. Nxd6 e5 {and the Nd6 is lost. Paikidze told Chess.com she saw this idea right after she took with the e-pawn, but then tried not to analyze it too much to not get bogged down on a possible mistake. Even after her actual move, she's still plenty winning.}) 18. Nxd6 Qe7 19. Kf1 g5 $1 {First .. .b5 and now ...g5!} 20. Nxg5 (20. Bh2 g4) 20... Ng3+ $1 21. Bxg3 Qxg5 22. Bh2 Rad8 23. Bf3 f4 24. Ne4 Qg6 25. h4 Qf5 26. Kg2 Nd7 27. Rg1 Ne5 28. Qf2 Rd3 29. Ng5 Nxf3 30. Nxf3 Qg4+ 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Lenderman, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2599"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. h4 $1 {The late night "New In Chess" idea.} Nc6 10. h5 h6 11. Qd1 cxd4 $2 {Setting in motion a roller coaster for Black's queen that she was definitely not tall enough to ride. Caruana said this idea opened up the position, to the benefit of only his pieces.} 12. Nf3 $1 dxc3 (12... b6 13. Rh4 Ba6 14. Nxd4 {Threatening Nxe6+ discovered attack on the queen, so} Nxd4 15. Rxd4 (15. cxd4 {May have been Caruana's backup plan if he didn't like what he saw after taking with the rook, with the idea of Bb4+}) 15... Bc4 16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. Qf3 Rb8 {And Caruana thought he was OK as long as he didn't let Black's knight harbor on d5.} (17... Rc8 18. Qb7 Qc6 19. Rd8+)) 13. Bxc3 {Now, how to stop 14. Rh4, trapping the queen? The computer prefers the grotesque 13...Nb8. No and thank you. "I don't know what he expected when he took on c3," Caruana said.} g5 {Caruana said this must be lost, but Black was really struggling to find anything else.} 14. hxg6 Qe4+ 15. Be2 Qxg6 16. Qd2 (16. Bd3 Qxg2 (16... Qg7 17. Rh3) 17. Ke2 d4 18. Bd2 (18. Bb2 {has the added benefit of giving White's queen a hole on d2 to be able to connect rooks and play Rag1}) 18... b6 {and White was worried about light-squared pressure.}) 16... Nge7 17. Bd3 Qxg2 (17... Nf5 18. Bb4+ Nxb4 19. Qxb4+ Ke8 20. g4) 18. Ke2 Qg4 19. Rh4 Qg7 20. Rg1 Ng6 21. Rf4 Nce7 22. Bb4 a5 23. Rxg6 {Ouch.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.19"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Foisor, Sabina-Francesca"] [Black "Goletiani, Rusudan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A84"] [WhiteElo "2308"] [BlackElo "2306"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Bb2 b6 9. Qc1 Bb7 10. Ba3 Nbd7 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Qb2 O-O 13. e3 Rac8 14. Na3 Ne4 15. Ne5 Qe7 16. f3 Nef6 17. Rfe1 a5 18. Rac1 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. Red1 Kh8 21. Nc2 Ba6 22. Bf1 Bb7 23. a3 c5 24. Ne1 Bc6 25. f4 Ra8 26. Bg2 a4 27. cxd5 exd5 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 axb3 30. Rcd1 Ra7 31. Qxb3 Rb8 32. Qd3 Nf8 33. Nf3 b5 34. Qxf5 c4 {White should win without too many dead boyfriends, but instead...} 35. Qg5 $2 {Seems logical enough, likely assuming that if Black goes for counterplay, that the 8th rank will be too weak, but actually...} Qxa3 $1 36. f5 (36. Rd8 Qxe3+ 37. Kg2 Ra2+ 38. Kh3 Qxf3 $1 {is a draw.} 39. Rxb8 Qg2+ 40. Kg4 Qe2+ 41. Kh4 Qxh2+ 42. Kg4 Qe2+ 43. Kf5 Qc2+ (43... g6+ $2 44. Kf6 $1 Ra6+ 45. Kf7 Ra7+ 46. Kxf8 {heroic but not forced})) 36... c3 37. Nd4 Qb2 38. f6 c2 39. Nxc2 Qxc2 40. Rd7 $2 (40. e6 $1 {holds the balance since if the pawn is captured:} Nxe6 41. fxg7+ (41. Qe5 {even let's White keep pushing for the win}) 41... Rxg7 (41... Nxg7 42. Rd8+) 42. Rd8+ Nxd8 (42... Nf8 $2 43. Qf6 $1) 43. Rxd8+ Rxd8 44. Qxd8+ Rg8 45. Qf6+ Rg7 46. Qd8+) 40... Rxd7 41. Rxd7 Qc1+ $2 { But it wasn't time to bail out since} (41... Ne6 $1 {and Black wins after} 42. fxg7+ Kg8 43. Qf6 Qg6) 42. Kf2 Qc2+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kf2 Qc2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Robson, R."] [Black "Izoria, Z."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2660"] [BlackElo "2599"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Nd7 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Nd2 Nc5 13. Nc4 Qd7 14. Kh1 Ne6 15. g3 a6 16. Be3 Bd4 17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. Qg4 Rae8 19. Rad1 Qc5 20. Ne3 a5 21. Rde1 Nd4 22. f4 exf4 23. gxf4 Nxc2 24. Nf5 g6 25. Rc1 Qb5 26. Rf3 Nb4 {White has a forced win, but it's tough...} 27. Nh6+ Kh8 28. Qd7 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 $2 (29. Nf5 $3 {Yes, combined with So's missed chance to play ...Nf5 yesterday, this seems to be the square of "dud fireworks" this tournament!} gxf5 (29... Rg8 30. Qxh7+ $1 {Queen sac number one...} Kxh7 31. Rh3#) 30. Rg1 Rg8 31. Qxh7+ $1 { Queen sac number two!} Kxh7 32. Rh3#) 29... Rxe4 30. Nf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nd8 Rfe8 $2 (33... Qb4 {apparently saves Black due to the counterplay and perpetuals after ...Re1+}) 34. Qf7+ Kh8 35. Qxf6+ Kg8 36. Qf7+ Kh8 37. Qf6+ Kg8 38. Nf7 Qh5 39. Ne5 Rf8 40. Rd8 {Black resigned since after the rook trade, he is mate on the back rank, or after running to h6 via Qf8#.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.19"] [Round "2"] [White "So, W.."] [Black "Onischuk, Al"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2786"] [BlackElo "2672"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bc2 Nb6 12. Nf1 d5 13. Ng3 Bg6 14. Qe2 Re8 15. Be3 Qd6 (15... d4 {was So's improvement though} 16. cxd4 (16. Bd2 {to maintain the current pawn structure and force Black to make the game-altering decisions might be preferable.}) 16... exd4 {enters a position with a tricky pawn structure. The four on three on the kingside can be troublesome for Black if White can push the pawn to f4, which admittedly is not easy to accomplish. On the queenside, Black can play a6-a5-a4 (and maybe a3!) and expand.}) 16. Bxb6 cxb6 17. h4 $1 {A very strong move, taking advantage of the limited bishop. With the pawn on d5 impossible to defend with a minor piece or pawn, Wesley prepares to rip open the a2-g8 diagonal.} h6 18. Bb3 {You have to be impressed by the restraint. Many would play h4-h5 without thinking twice, though this would demonstrate a lack of patience. Rather, having Black commit his pawn to h6 actually weakens the protection of the bishop on g6. If this sounds ridiculous, just wait a few turns.} d4 (18... dxe4 19. dxe4 Rad8 {is similar to the game in that White controls the board's most vital squares, whereas Black has no plan at all. Rad1, a4, Bd5, h5, Nf5 are all ideas. For Black? Shuffling.}) 19. cxd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Qxd4 21. Qg4 {Threatening Qxg6.} Qd6 (21... Qxd3 22. Re3 (22. Qxg6 {overlooks the tactic} Qxb3 {though White is still better thanks to an amazing knight outpost after} 23. Qxg7+ Kxg7 24. Nf5+ Kh7 25. axb3) 22... Qb5 23. Rf3 {threatening h5 and Bxf7.} (23. Qxg6 Qxb3 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. Nf5+ Kh7 26. Rxb3 {is a much improved version of 22. Qxg6})) 22. d4 $1 Kh8 (22... exd4 23. e5 Qb4 24. e6 {is devastating.}) 23. Rad1 $1 {This move gains an important tempo.} (23. h5 Bh7 24. Bxf7 Rf8 25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. Qe6 Qf4 { is a problem for White.}) 23... Qf6 24. h5 Bh7 25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. Bxf7 Rf8 27. Qe6 Bf6 ({With So's rook on d1, Onischuk can't get away with} 27... Qf4 28. Qxe7 Rxf7 {because the back rank is exposed.} 29. Rd8+ Rxd8 (29... Bg8 30. Qxf7 Qxf7 31. Rxa8 {is easily winning. If two rooks weren't enough for the queen, the straightforward Rc1-c8 simply wins the bishop on g8 thanks to the mating net.}) 30. Qxd8+ Rf8 31. Qxb6) 28. Qxe5 Bxe5 29. Rd7 Rad8 30. Rxd8 (30. Rxb7 Rd2 {is activity that Onischuk was desperate to obtain.}) 30... Rxd8 31. b3 Rd7 32. Be6 Re7 {This move seals Onischuk's fate. He had one last opportunity to get active.} (32... Rd2 33. Nf5 {remains tough for Black, but activity often keeps a defending player in the game. Sitting passively led to a slow but sure demise.} (33. Rc1 g5 $1 {Ridding White of his back rank checkmate ideas.})) 33. Bd5 Bxg3 {So agreed with the decision to give up the bishops to cripple the pawns. He said he still wasn't sure White was winning, until...} 34. fxg3 Bg8 35. Kf2 Be6 {Now.} (35... g6 {Was So's best try for his opponent, but it is still really bad.}) 36. Bxe6 Rxe6 37. Ke3 Kg8 38. Rf1 g6 39. hxg6 Rxg6 40. Rf3 Kg7 41. e5 Rg4 42. Kd3 b5 43. e6 Rg6 44. e7 Rd6+ 45. Ke2 {And Black resigned in view of} Re6+ 46. Re3 Rxe3+ 47. Kxe3 Kf7 48. Kf4 Kxe7 49. Kf5 Kf7 50. b4 { and White plays g5, trades pawns, and wins with his outside passer.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Xiong, Jeffery"] [Black "Caruana, F..."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2665"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 {I considered the Benoni to be a wise choice against Xiong. The asymmetrical pawn structure makes it difficult for White to force drawish tendencies, meaning Xiong had to prove his might against the hottest player in the world. Caruana's repertoire has been great, particularly with Black: he is playing solidly and chooses openings that keep the games dynamic, giving him chances to play for more than just a draw.} 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 ({The main line has been} 7. e4 Bg7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 {with a complicated dynamic. Agressive elite players like Topalov and the late Vugar Gashimov were frequently on the Black side of the Benoni.}) 7... Bg7 8. e3 ({Disrupting Black's coordination with} 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. e4 { has proven quite successful for White. The bishop on d7 occupies the knight's developing square while the queen tends to be a bit uncomfortable on c7 - bishops tend to win those staredowns.}) 8... O-O 9. h3 Qe7 10. Nd2 Nh5 11. Bh2 f5 12. Be2 f4 13. O-O (13. Bxh5 $5 fxe3 14. fxe3 gxh5 (14... Qxe3+ $2 15. Qe2 { leaves White up a piece.}) ({Getting greedy with} 14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qxe3+ 16. Qe2 Qxc3 {fails to the simple} 17. Rb1 gxh5 18. Bxd6 {when Black's position collapses.}) 15. Nce4) 13... fxe3 14. Nde4 (14. Bxh5 exd2 15. Qe2 {is just bizarre. Black always has to keep an eye out for his weak d6 pawn.}) 14... exf2+ 15. Kh1 Bxc3 $1 {Giving up the bishop is scary, but White now must capture with the knight and temporarily delay pressure on the d6 pawn.} 16. Nxc3 Ng7 {Finally the knight reroutes to the center.} 17. Bf3 Nd7 (17... Nf5 18. Rxf2 Nd7 {transposes to the game.}) 18. Rxf2 Ne5 19. Re2 Nf5 {Heading for d4. If it gets there, White is in grave danger.} 20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. d6 $1 { A thematic and timely (second) pawn sacrifice. White was unable to sit and wait, since Nd4 was a powerful threat.} Nxd6 22. Qd5+ ({Xiong misses an opportunity to achieve equality:} 22. Nd5 Qg7 23. Nc3 {when Black can repeat with Qe7. If Black tries to play for a win with} Nf7 {White can continue by attacking (pinning) the knight on f7, which is required to defend the e5 pawn. Both 24. Bd5 and 24. Qb3 seem strong.}) 22... Nf7 {Now Black has a lasting slight edge.} 23. Ne4 Rb8 24. Qxc5 (24. Nxc5 {doesn't help at all; Black's development is complete and Xiong's forces are being pushed back.} Rd8 25. Qc4 b6) 24... Qxc5 25. Nxc5 b6 26. Ne4 Bf5 ({The bishop would love to fianchetto, though here White will just fork the enemy rooks.} 26... Bb7 27. Nf6+ Kg7 28. Nd7) 27. Nc3 Rbd8 28. a4 $2 {This move is a bit careless. Xiong allows Caruana to fix the pawn structure on the queenside. Even if he were to regain his lost pawn, White's remaining pawns are vulnerable.} a5 29. Bd5 Rfe8 30. Bxf7+ ({ Xiong isn't able to pile up on the e5 pawn before capturing the knight, since} 30. Rae1 {is met by} Be6) 30... Kxf7 31. Rf1 Ke6 32. Rfe1 Kf6 33. Rf1 Ke6 34. Rfe1 Kd6 35. Re3 ({A miraculous line that Caruana showed in his post-mortem is: } 35. Nb5+ Kc5 (35... Kd7 {keeps the slight edge.}) 36. b4+ $3 Kxb4 ({not} 36... axb4 $2 37. Rc1+ Kd5 38. Nc7+ Kd4 39. Nxe8 Rxe8 40. Rb2 {when White is ahead.}) 37. Rb2+ Kc4 38. g4 {Black's vulnerable king gives White legitimate chances here. Caruana understood he wasn't in too much danger of losing in this position, but clearly this is a huge improvement for White compared to the game, which was a slow grind.}) 35... Kc6 $1 36. Nb5 ({Winning the e-pawn restores material equality, but only for a few moves.} 36. Rxe5 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Rd2 38. Rb5 (38. Re2 Rxe2 39. Nxe2 Kc5 {with king infiltration is a straightforward win. White will lose both pawns on the queenside.}) 38... Rc2 { followed by Bd3.} (38... Bd3 $4 39. Rd5 {is a deadly pin.})) 36... Re7 37. g4 Bd3 38. Nc3 Bc4 39. Rc1 {Threatening Nb5, but Caruana wasn't falling for any tricks.} Kb7 40. Re4 Rd4 41. Kg1 Bb3 42. Kf2 Rd2+ 43. Re2 Rf7+ 44. Ke3 Rd4 45. Nb5 Rdd7 (45... Rxa4 $2 46. Nd6+) 46. Nc3 Rf4 47. Rd2 Rfd4 48. Rf2 Bxa4 49. Rf6 Bc6 0-1 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Xiong, Jeffery"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2665"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {(0)} Nf6 {(6)} 2. Nf3 {(0)} e6 {(16)} 3. c4 {(57)} c5 {(43)} 4. d5 { ( 10)} d6 {(10)} 5. Nc3 {(39)} exd5 {(6)} 6. cxd5 {(7)} g6 {(5)} 7. Bf4 {(1:18) } Bg7 {( 16)} 8. e3 {(1:54)} O-O {(13)} 9. h3 {(7)} Qe7 {(40)} 10. Nd2 { (13:10). This came as a surprise to Fabiano, who admitted that although perfectly logical, he had failed to consider it in his preparation. he was now more or less on his own.} Nh5 {(11:09)} 11. Bh2 {( 13)} f5 {(4)} 12. Be2 { (8:58)} f4 {(2:41)} 13. O-O {(4:10)} fxe3 {(3:01)} 14. Nde4 {(19:49)} ({ After the game, Caruana also analyzed the possible} 14. Nc4 exf2+ 15. Kh1 (15. Rxf2 $2 Bd4) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxh3 $1 17. Bxh5 {"A complete mess" -- Caruana } ({The point is obviously} 17. gxh3 $2 Qe4+) 17... gxh5 18. Qxh5 {and here after the sample continuation} Bxg2+ (18... Bd7 {and the d6-pawn falls.}) 19. Kxg2 Qe4+ 20. Kh3 {Black cannot actually take the knight on c4} Qxc4 {else he gets mated with} 21. Rg1+ $3 fxg1=Q 22. Rxg1+ Kh8 23. Qe5+ {The bishop works too, but this gets extra points for purely aesthetic reasons.} dxe5 24. Bxe5+) 14... exf2+ {(23:54)} 15. Kh1 {(3)} Bxc3 $1 {(41)} 16. Nxc3 {(03)} Ng7 {(11)} 17. Bf3 {(2:09)} Nd7 {(1:31)} 18. Rxf2 {(2:22)} Ne5 {(45)} 19. Re2 {(11:57)} Nf5 {(1:56)} 20. Bxe5 {(2:45)} dxe5 {(13)} 21. d6 $1 {(08)} Nxd6 {(4:59)} 22. Qd5+ {(10)} (22. Nd5 $11 {was better.} Qg7 23. Nc3) 22... Nf7 $17 {( 31)} 23. Ne4 {(9)} Rb8 {(10:05)} 24. Qxc5 {(9:29)} Qxc5 {(16)} 25. Nxc5 {(3)} b6 {(14)} 26. Ne4 {(01:20)} Bf5 {(2:52)} 27. Nc3 {(1:47)} Rbd8 {(23:21)} 28. a4 $15 { [#] (1:54) Caruana felt this was a very serious mistake, even if the engines seem to underestimate it. The reason is that it creates weaknesses that will allow a king march to exploit and create pressure. It may not be losing, but it does make White's task of holding a lot more challenging.} a5 {(4:23)} 29. Bd5 {(6:52)} Rfe8 {(4)} 30. Bxf7+ {(2:37)} Kxf7 $17 {(5)} 31. Rf1 {(05)} Ke6 { (2:07)} 32. Rfe1 {(3)} Kf6 $36 {(2:52). Black is more active.} 33. Rf1 {(2)} Ke6 {(2:15)} 34. Rfe1 $1 {(2)} Kd6 {(2:21)} 35. Re3 $2 {(3:55) "Definitely a big mistake" according to Fabiano.} ({White had to play} 35. Nb5+ {immediately. He most likely did not, as he failed to realize that Black cannot play} Kc5 $2 {due to the nasty trick} 36. b4+ $1 {and now if} Kxb4 (36... axb4 $2 {would be a serious mistake due to} 37. Rc1+ Kd5 38. Nc7+) 37. Rb2+ Kc4 38. g4 Be6 39. Rc1+ {leads to a perpetual.}) 35... Kc6 {(1:49)} 36. Nb5 {(04:57)} Re7 {(11)} 37. g4 {(1:15)} Bd3 {( 47)} 38. Nc3 {(2:36)} Bc4 {(51)} 39. Rc1 {(30)} Kb7 { (21)} 40. Re4 {(42)} Rd4 {(30:39)} 41. Kg1 {(03:55)} Bb3 {(0)} 42. Kf2 {(5:12)} Rd2+ $19 {( 00)} 43. Re2 {(15)} Rf7+ {(0)} 44. Ke3 {(1:52)} Rd4 {(0)} 45. Nb5 { (5:52)} Rdd7 {(0)} 46. Nc3 {(01:17)} Rf4 {(0)} 47. Rd2 {(4:40)} Rfd4 {( 00)} 48. Rf2 {(2:41)} Bxa4 {(0)} 49. Rf6 {(48)} Bc6 0-1 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Izoria, Zviad"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2599"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "161"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(0)} e5 {(18)} 2. Nf3 {(0)} Nc6 {(9)} 3. Bc4 {(0)} Bc5 {(39)} 4. c3 Nf6 {(24)} 5. d3 {(14)} d6 {(3:21)} 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 {(1:34)} O-O {(1:21)} 8. h3 { (1:57)} a5 {(2:05). A classic Giuoco Pianissimo in which Black tries to inhibit White's queenside expansion ideas of a4 and b4 with an early ...a5.} 9. Nbd2 a4 10. Nf1 {(1:46)} Bd7 {(5:11)} 11. d4 {(27)} Bb6 {(7)} 12. Ng3 {(58)} Re8 {(5:18)} 13. Bf1 {(8:10)} Qb8 {(6:51)} 14. d5 Ne7 {(2:23)} 15. Nh4 {(1:30)} Kh7 {(9:44)} 16. Qf3 {(3:39)} Qd8 {(1:07)} 17. Bd2 {(16:31)} Neg8 {(5:05)} 18. Nhf5 $14 {(58)} g6 {(4:30)} 19. Ne3 {(59)} Kg7 {(28)} 20. Nc4 {(4:22)} Ba7 { (1:39)} 21. Be3 {(1:08)} Bxe3 {(11:02)} 22. Qxe3 {(41)} Nh7 {(7:53)} 23. f4 { (7:00)} b5 24. Nd2 exf4 {(11:02)} 25. Qxf4 {(5:28)} Qf6 {(1:50)} 26. Qe3 { (2:40)} Ne7 {(4:08)} 27. Qf3 {(7:04)} Rab8 {(3:42)} 28. a3 {(7:42)} c5 {(37)} 29. Rad1 {( 12:27)} Nc8 30. Qe3 {(9)} Nb6 {(2:54)} 31. Nf3 {( 24)} Ng5 {(36)} 32. Nh2 $1 {(9:09)} Nh7 33. Be2 Qg5 {(7:36)} 34. Qf2 {(57)} Qf6 {(8)} 35. Qe3 { (6:02)} Qg5 36. Qf3 {(1:21)} Qf6 {(1:03)} ({A more enterprising continuation for Black, who stands better here, might be} 36... h5 $15) 37. Bd3 {(7)} Qxf3 { (1:30)} 38. Nxf3 f6 {(18)} 39. h4 {(1:21)} h5 {(24)} 40. Kf2 {(1:41)} Nf8 { (31:24)} 41. Nd2 {( 06:50)} Nc8 $1 {[#] (0) A lovely idea, which should really have been a hint to Caruana that his opponent is not to be underestimated. Black plans to reposition the knight all the way to e5 if allowed, but g4 at the very worst via the maneuver Nc8-e7-g8-h6-g4. The position is fairly static at the moment so this sort of undertaking is perfectly feasible.} 42. Rb1 { (3:13)} Ne7 {(0)} 43. Ngf1 {(3:15)} Ng8 {(0)} 44. Ne3 Nh6 {(0)} 45. Be2 {(5:20) } f5 {(0)} 46. b3 {(4:27) A strong move that Izoria admitted in the post-mortem that he had missed and was uneasy about.} axb3 {( 00)} 47. Rxb3 { (4)} c4 {(0)} ({A mistake would be} 47... fxe4 $6 {and White can suddenly play} 48. Reb1 $14 {with certain recovery of the pawn with interest.} c4 $2 {would not be possible due to} 49. Ndxc4 $1 {and the pawn is pinned.}) 48. Rb4 {(5)} fxe4 {(0)} 49. Reb1 {(2:57)} Ra8 {[#] (0)} 50. a4 $1 {(5)} Rxa4 {(40)} 51. Rxa4 {(3)} bxa4 {( 06)} 52. Ndxc4 {(4)} Nf7 {(42)} 53. Rb7 {(36). White stands a bit better thanks to his piece activity, but it is minimal due to the counterweight of the protected passed a-pawn.} Kf6 {(54)} 54. Bd1 {(2:44)} Ra8 {(4:37)} 55. Nb6 {(7)} Rd8 {(2)} 56. Nec4 {(1:14)} Bb5 {( 47)} 57. Nd2 {(1:02)} ({Why not eliminate that thorn with} 57. Bxa4 $14 {?} Bxa4 58. Nxa4) 57... Bd3 {(28)} 58. Ke3 $132 {(1:46)} Ne5 {(15)} 59. Bxa4 {(1:03)} g5 {(1:52)} 60. hxg5+ {(2:16)} Kxg5 {(2)} 61. Nxe4+ {(45)} Bxe4 {( 07)} 62. Kxe4 {(2)} Nfg6 {(12)} 63. Nd7 {(1:42)} Rc8 {(21)} 64. Bc6 {(2:27)} Nxc6 {(14)} 65. dxc6 {(3)} Rxc6 $11 {(12)} 66. Kd4 {(1:00)} Nf4 {( 46)} 67. c4 {(19)} Nxg2 {(51)} 68. Kd5 { (1:07)} Rc8 {(33). aiming for ...Ne3+.} 69. Nb6 $2 {(42) White's refusal to let go, and take the draw finally catches up with him.} (69. Kxd6 $11 {remains equal.} Rxc4 70. Rb5+ Kh6 71. Ne5) 69... Ne3+ $1 $17 {(3)} 70. Ke6 {[#] (3)} Rc6 $2 {(1:36) A mistake that might have cost him his edge.} ({Instead} 70... Rh8 $1 {would have been completely winning for Black.} 71. Rg7+ Kf4 72. Nd5+ Nxd5 73. Kxd5 Rh6 $19) 71. Kd7 {(1:10)} Nxc4 {( 11)} 72. Kxc6 $2 {-2 (11) This loses much quicker and makes Black's task easy.} (72. Nd5 {would have offered more stubborn defence, though it still loses objectively after} Ne5+ 73. Ke6 Rc1 74. Rg7+ Ng6 75. Kxd6 {and here the tablebases annnounce mate in 50 for Black.}) 72... Na5+ $19 {(7)} 73. Kxd6 {(12)} Nxb7+ {(9)} 74. Kd5 {(39)} Kf4 { (27)} 75. Nc4 {(42)} h4 {(20)} 76. Nd2 {(10)} h3 {(1:13)} 77. Nf1 {(2)} Nd8 { (31)} 78. Kd4 {(1:03)} Nf7 {(25)} 79. Kd5 {(52)} Ne5 {(47)} 80. Kd4 {( 38)} Ng4 {(28)} 81. Kd3 {(6)} 0-1 [Event "US-ch Women 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Black "Sharevich, Anna"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2352"] [BlackElo "2281"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(0)} c6 {(2:00)} 2. Nc3 {(0)} d5 {( 39)} 3. Nf3 {(0)} Bg4 {(4:36)} 4. h3 {(1:32)} Bxf3 {(3:26)} 5. Qxf3 {(7)} d4 {(2:09)} 6. Ne2 {(17)} e6 {(14:12) Needless to say, this is already becoming higly unorthodox. The usual continuation is ...e5} 7. d3 {(23:04)} Nf6 {(6:31)} (7... Qb6 8. a3 Nd7 9. Ng1 Bd6 10. Qe2 Ne7 11. Nf3 c5 12. g3 Nc6 13. Bg2 O-O 14. O-O Qc7 15. Bd2 Rfe8 16. b4 a6 17. Rfb1 Red8 18. bxc5 Nxc5 19. e5 Bxe5 {1/2-1/2 (19) Pfretzschner,R (2546)-Brodda,W (2592) ICCF email 2011}) 8. g4 {(1:25) Grabbing the bull by the horns. White is saying: If Black wants to play offbeat paths, then get ready and show what you're capable of.} Na6 {[#] (20:25)} 9. Bg2 {(2:27)} ({ White also had} 9. g5 $1 $16 Nd7 10. Nxd4 Ne5 $14 {and here White has the surprising resource} 11. Qg3 $1 {and while Black wins the knight with} Qxd4 { White will recover it just as quick after} 12. c3 $1 Qd6 13. Bf4 f6 14. d4 { and White's advantage is not in doubt}) 9... Qa5+ {(1:29)} 10. c3 {(1:18)} Rd8 {(5:13)} 11. O-O {( 06:26)} dxc3 {(33)} 12. bxc3 {(1:33)} Nc5 {(29)} 13. d4 { (9:18)} Ncxe4 {(2:08)} 14. c4 {(8:05)} Nd2 {(7:12)} 15. Bxd2 $1 {(7)} Qxd2 {(5) } 16. Rfd1 {(44)} Qg5 {(1:50)} 17. Qb3 $14 {(5:09)} Rd7 {(2:44)} 18. d5 $1 { (3:28)} cxd5 {(1:31)} 19. cxd5 {(5)} e5 {(53)} 20. Rac1 $16 {(2:37). White has strong compensation.} Be7 {(7:32). Black wants to play ... 0-0.} 21. Rc8+ { (7:11)} Bd8 {(57)} 22. Qa3 {(47)} h5 {(1:28)} 23. f4 $1 $36 {(1:59). White is showing her attacking chops.} exf4 {[#] (1:46)} 24. Nd4 $1 {(6:13). Re1+ is the immediate threat.} Qe5 $2 {(2:28) Black buckles almost immediately under the pressure.} ({The only move according to the engines is the completely bizarre} 24... Ng8 $1 $11 {after which White will be challenged to prove the attack is still going. Black's idea is to be able to cover the e7 square with the knight and develop the rook on h8 via the luft h6. But regardless, it is far easier to play as White and there is no question that the burden is on Black to walk the tightrope to safety.}) 25. Nf5 $18 {(24) With the threat of Nxg7 mate.} Nxd5 {(4:41)} 26. Bxd5 {(1:33)} Rxd5 {(34)} 27. Qa4+ {(15) And Black resigned in view of} b5 28. Qxb5+ $1 Rxb5 29. Rdxd8# 1-0 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Shankland, Samuel"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 cxd4 8. exd4 g6 $146 {Let's put it this way: this over-the-board inspiration won't be winning any Best Novelty of the Year prizes.} ({Predecessor:} 8... Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h4 Nb4 12. Ne5 Nc6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Rc1 Rd8 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. Bg5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 {1-0 (91) Jobava,B (2664)-Ivanchuk,V (2786) Dresden 2008}) 9. Nc3 Bg7 $1 10. d5 {This move emphasizes the issue with Black's fianchetto concept.} exd5 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 O-O $1 14. Bxe6 fxe6 {The e6 pawn is clearly a sitting duck, but as Shankland explained, he refrained from taking just yet because each line he analyzed showed some compensation for Black. He decided he would grab it if he could consolidate as well.} 15. Qe2 Qd5 16. Rd1 Qf5 17. Ng5 Nc6 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Ne6 Be5 21. Be3 Re8 22. Nc5 Bf4 23. Bxf4 Rxf4 24. f3 Rb4 25. Rd2 Re7 26. Kf1 a5 27. Re1 Rxe1+ $1 28. Kxe1 $14 Kg8 29. b3 b6 30. Rd6 {[#] Threatening Na6 that would win.} Ne7 31. Nd7 Rxb3 32. Rxb6 Ra3 33. Nc5 Ra2 34. Re6 Nd5 35. Re2 Ra1+ 36. Kf2 Nc3 37. Re8+ Kf7 38. Ra8 Ra2+ 39. Kg3 g5 {Black has done a great job of holding his position together in spite of the pawn deficit and is now ready to steer the game towards a draw.} 40. Kg4 Rxg2+ $11 41. Kf5 {Black must now prevent Ra7+.} Rxh2 42. Ra7+ Ke8 43. Rxa5 Rf2 44. Kxg5 1/2-1/2 [Event "US-ch Women 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Krush, Irina"] [Black "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2422"] [BlackElo "2352"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 b6 8. O-O Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. b4 a6 (10... c6 11. Rb1 a5 12. f3 axb4 13. axb4 Na6 14. b5 Nb4 15. bxc6 Bxc6 16. Bb5 Bb7 {1-0 (28) Navara,D (2725)-Movsesian,S (2673) Prague 2016}) 11. Qb3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11. Rb1 Qe7 12. f3 c5 13. bxc5 bxc5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nd4 Nc6 16. Nf5 Qc7 17. Na4 Ba7 18. Qe1 Bc8 19. Kh1 Ne5 20. Qg3 Nh5 21. Qg5 Nxd3 22. Qxh5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Qc2 {0-1 (23) Peralta,F (2569) -Henderson de la Fuente,L (2365) Montcada 2017}) 11... Qe7 12. b5 a5 13. a4 Rd8 14. h3 c5 15. bxc6 $1 Nxc6 16. Nb5 ({But not} 16. Qxb6 $2 Nb4 $19 {and White loses material.}) 16... Bb4 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Bf5 Rb8 19. Rac1 g6 20. Bd3 Ne4 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 $11 22. Ba3 Rbc8 23. Nf4 Ba6 24. Nd3 Bxa3 25. Qxa3 Bxb5 26. axb5 Na7 {[#]} 27. Ne5 $1 $36 {A powerful move that sets up a deadly invasion.} Nxb5 $2 {This really should have cost Black the game, but never underestimate the will to live.} ({Black should try} 27... Qh4 $1 $14) 28. Qb2 (28. Qe7 $1 { was also a strong continuation.} Qf5 29. Nc6 $1 {and Black loses material. For example} Re8 30. g4 $1 Qf3 31. Ne5 $1 {and the castle of cards collapses.}) 28... Nd6 29. Qxb6 ({The engine says that correct was} 29. Rxc8 $18 Nxc8 30. g4 {but finding a move like g4 is less than obvious.}) 29... Ra8 {[#]} 30. Ra1 { Again, missing the killer blow.} (30. Qc7 $1 $18 Qh4 31. Rc6 {attacking the defender of f7 and the rest is easy.}) 30... Nc4 31. Nxc4 dxc4 32. Rxa5 Rab8 33. Qc7 Rdc8 34. Qd7 c3 35. Ra7 Qe6 36. Qxe6 $1 fxe6 $14 37. Rc1 c2 38. Raa1 { Necessary to prevent ...Rb1} Rb5 39. Kf1 {[#]} e5 {This seemingly innocuous move is key to Black's defense. Opening the d-file is what allows Black's rooks to prevent White from ganging up on the c2 pawn.} 40. dxe5 Rxe5 41. Ke2 Rc7 42. f4 Rec5 {The position is equal.} 43. Ra3 h5 44. g4 Kf7 45. g5 R5c6 46. Rd3 Kg7 47. h4 Kf7 48. Kd2 Kg7 49. Rd4 Kf7 50. e4 Ke6 51. Rd8 Rc4 52. Ke3 Rc3+ 53. Rd3 R3c4 54. Rd8 Rc3+ 55. Rd3 R3c4 56. Rd8 1/2-1/2 [Event "US Women's Chess Championships 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "5.6"] [White "Goletiani, Rusudan"] [Black "Feng, Maggie"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2306"] [BlackElo "2243"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Ne5 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. f4 a5 10. g4 $5 {The pesky knight on f6 is holding everything together for Black and preventing the kind of heroics Goletiani is going for.} Nd7 { Now the pawn on g4 prevents the queen's access to h5, so...} 11. g5 e5 $1 { Following the usual mantra to answer a flank attack with one in the center. This also has the added idea of advancing to e4 to blunt the Bd3.} 12. Bxh7+ $6 {White goes all in, trying to justify the g-pawn's advanced.} (12. c4) 12... Kxh7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 14. Rf3 $2 {Goletiani's gear selector in this game only says "checkmate."} (14. f5 Be7 15. f6 (15. g6 Nf6) 15... Nxf6 16. gxf6 Bxf6 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 {with a slight pull for Black due to the compromised light squares around the white king.}) 14... Re8 15. Rh3 Kf8 {The king calmly runs away.} 16. Na3 {This knight is out of play all game. Even spending a tempo to play d3 and develop it more centrally may have been worth it, although White is already struggling to justify all of this.} (16. f5 Ke7 $1 {and Black is fine, which shows how futile the attack is becoming}) 16... Ke7 17. Rf1 Ba6 { At this point, Feng said she felt fine, since she can also now challenge the h-file battery with ...Rh8.} 18. fxe5 Bxf1 19. Rf3 {Desperation but} (19. exd6+ Kxd6 20. Kxf1 Rh8 21. Qxh8 Qxh8 22. Rxh8 Rxh8 23. Bxg7 Rxh2 24. Bc3 Ne5 { isn't too hard for Black to convert}) 19... Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxf7+ Kd6 22. Rxf1 Rf8 23. Re1 Qe8 24. Qg4 Qe6 25. Qxe6+ Kxe6 26. d4 Bd6 27. c4 Rf5 28. h4 Bg3 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Krush, Irina"] [Black "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E48"] [WhiteElo "2422"] [BlackElo "2352"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 b6 8. O-O Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. b4 a6 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. b5 a5 13. a4 Rd8 14. h3 c5 15. bxc6 Nxc6 16. Nb5 Bb4 17. Bb2 Rac8 18. Bf5 Rb8 19. Rac1 g6 20. Bd3 Ne4 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Ba3 Rbc8 23. Nf4 Ba6 24. Nd3 Bxa3 25. Qxa3 Bxb5 26. axb5 {Here Paikidze told Chess.com that she went "back and forth" contemplating 26...Na7 and 26... Qe7 (the best move). She settled on moving the queen, but then reached out and moved the knight to a7. She didn't realize her mistake until letting go of the knight. While not the worst touch-move offering, it also wasn't the first time she's done this, as she told Chess.com.} Na7 {Paikidze must have remained cool. Krush told Chess.com that she didn't notice anything untoward about the action. Of course, Paikidze lives in Las Vegas, so maybe she learned a poker face.} ( 26... Qe7 {is equal}) 27. Ne5 $1 Nxb5 $2 28. Qb2 {is good, but...} (28. Qe7 $1 {is close to winning} Qf5 (28... Rf8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qxf7+) 29. Nc6 $1 { Krush loosely saw this, but didn't realize the power, or the follow-up...} Rd7 (29... Re8 {is the same} 30. g4 $1 Qe6 31. Qxe6 fxe6 32. Ne7+)) 28... Nd6 29. Qxb6 Ra8 30. Ra1 Nc4 31. Nxc4 dxc4 32. Rxa5 Rab8 33. Qc7 Rdc8 34. Qd7 c3 35. Ra7 Qe6 36. Qxe6 fxe6 37. Rc1 c2 38. Raa1 Rb5 39. Kf1 e5 40. dxe5 Rxe5 41. Ke2 Rc7 {If the pawn is ever approached by the king, then a check on the d-file drives him back.} 42. f4 Rec5 43. Ra3 h5 44. g4 Kf7 45. g5 R5c6 46. Rd3 Kg7 47. h4 Kf7 48. Kd2 Kg7 49. Rd4 Kf7 50. e4 Ke6 51. Rd8 Rc4 52. Ke3 Rc3+ 53. Rd3 R3c4 54. Rd8 Rc3+ 55. Rd3 R3c4 56. Rd8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Shankland, Samuel"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Albert Silver"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 cxd4 8. exd4 g6 $146 {Let's put it this way: this over-the-board inspiration won't be winning any Best Novelty of the Year prizes.} ({Predecessor:} 8... Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h4 Nb4 12. Ne5 Nc6 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Rc1 Rd8 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. Bg5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 {1-0 (91) Jobava,B (2664)-Ivanchuk,V (2786) Dresden 2008}) 9. Nc3 Bg7 $1 10. d5 {This move emphasizes the issue with Black's fianchetto concept.} exd5 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 O-O $1 14. Bxe6 fxe6 {The e6 pawn is clearly a sitting duck, but as Shankland explained, he refrained from taking just yet because each line he analyzed showed some compensation for Black. He decided he would grab it if he could consolidate as well.} 15. Qe2 Qd5 16. Rd1 Qf5 17. Ng5 Nc6 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Ne6 Be5 21. Be3 Re8 22. Nc5 Bf4 23. Bxf4 Rxf4 24. f3 Rb4 25. Rd2 Re7 26. Kf1 a5 27. Re1 Rxe1+ $1 28. Kxe1 $14 Kg8 29. b3 b6 30. Rd6 {[#] Threatening Na6 that would win.} Ne7 31. Nd7 Rxb3 32. Rxb6 Ra3 33. Nc5 Ra2 34. Re6 Nd5 35. Re2 Ra1+ 36. Kf2 Nc3 37. Re8+ Kf7 38. Ra8 Ra2+ 39. Kg3 g5 {Black has done a great job of holding his position together in spite of the pawn deficit and is now ready to steer the game towards a draw.} 40. Kg4 Rxg2+ $11 41. Kf5 {Black must now prevent Ra7+.} Rxh2 42. Ra7+ Ke8 43. Rxa5 Rf2 44. Kxg5 1/2-1/2 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.23"] [Round "6"] [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Black "Shankland, Samuel"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2647"] [BlackElo "2671"] [Annotator "Arne Bracker"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 (4... O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b5 $5 { is suggested by GM Kasimdzhanov with in-depth analysis on his new DVD about the Nimzo-Indian, which you can find it in the ChessBase Shop via the link below} 7. cxb5 c6 $132 {4.Qc2 0-0-6.Qxc3 b5 main lines [Kasimdzhanov]}) 5. a3 ( 5. cxd5 exd5 {main line} (5... Qxd5 $5 6. e3 (6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qb3 $5 (7. Qd1 e5 $1) (7. Qxf5 exf5 8. a3 Be7)) 6... c5 (6... e5 7. dxe5 Qxe5 8. Nf3 Qc5 9. Bd2 Bf5 10. Bd3) 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 (8. bxc3 O-O))) (5. Nf3 $6 dxc4 $1 {0-1 (27) Mamedyarov,S (2760)-Carlsen,M (2881) Shamkir 2014 CBM 160 [Ftacnik,L] Gusti}) 5... Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 $5 ({is the other main line} 6... Ne4 {was featured 2 days ago in Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S (2778) Shamkir 2018} 7. Qc2 c5 8. dxc5 (8. e3) 8... Nc6 9. Nf3 $5 (9. e3 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 (28) Kramnik, V-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 069 ext (28)}) (9. cxd5 exd5 $1 (9... Qa5+ $2 10. Bd2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 $16) 10. Nf3 Bf5 11. b4 d4 $1 {is a highly discussed tabiya in the past}) 9... Qa5+ 10. Bd2 $5 (10. Nd2 $6 Nd4) 10... Qxc5 11. e3 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 (12. Qxd2 dxc4 13. Qc3 (13. Rc1 $2 $17 b5 $1 $17 14. a4 a6 $17) 13... Qa5 $1 14. Bxc4 $6 Qxc3+ 15. bxc3 Bd7 $11) 12... dxc4 {According to Alex Yermolinksy: 'It's just hard for White to get anything out of this position.'} (12... d4 $5) (12... Bd7 13. b4 (13. Nb3 Qd6 (13... Qe7 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qc5 Qf6 (15... Qe5 16. Bb5 b6 17. Qc2 (17. Qc1 O-O 18. Bxc6 Rac8 19. Nd4 Bxc6 20. Qd2) 17... Qe4 18. Qxe4+ dxe4 19. Nd2 f5 20. Nc4 Ke7 $11) 16. Bb5) 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Nc5 O-O) (13. Bd3 Ne5 14. O-O dxc4) 13... Qd6 14. cxd5 ( 14. Bd3 Ne5 15. O-O dxc4 16. Be4 f5 (16... Qc7 17. f4 Ng4 18. Qc3 Nf6 19. Bf3 O-O) 17. f4) 14... exd5) 13. O-O-O $5 {Shakh tries!} (13. Nxc4 O-O 14. Rd1 (14. b4 Qg5 15. Bd3) 14... Ne5) (13. b4 Qf5 {So-Karjakin, Candidates 2018}) (13. Bxc4 O-O 14. b4 Qe7 15. Bd3 h6 {Giri-Adams, 2015}) 13... Qf5 {The ever-cautious Karjakin seeks a queen trade.} (13... b5 14. Ne4 Qb6 15. Nd6+ Ke7 {looks OK for Black, but this means dealing with computer-generated preparation, something that today's players aren't keen to do.}) 14. Ne4 O-O 15. Bxc4 Ne5 16. g4 $1 {The only way for White to continue.} Nxg4 17. Rhg1 Nf6 ({Significantly more direct was} 17... b5 $5 {One computer-approved line} 18. Bd3 Ne5 19. Rg5 Nxd3+ 20. Qxd3 Qf3 21. Rg3 {AlexYermo: 'ends, like many of those do, in a draw by move repetition.'} (21. Qd4 f6) 21... Qf5 22. Rg5 (22. Rdg1 g6) 22... Qf3 23. Rg3 {ends, like many of those do, in a draw by move repetition.}) 18. Bd3 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Qh5 20. f4 f5 $5 {Karjakin finds a radical way of dealing with White's initiative.} 21. Bh1 Qf7 22. Kb1 e5 $1 {There will be no kingside attack, as Black is about to complete his development.} 23. fxe5 Be6 24. Rd6 Rac8 25. Qd2 Rc5 26. Bxb7 Rxe5 27. Qd4 Ba2+ 28. Ka1 Re7 29. Bc6 Bb3 30. Rc1 f4 $11 31. exf4 Qxf4 32. Bd5+ Bxd5 33. Qxd5+ Kh8 34. Qd2 h6 35. Ka2 { 1/2-1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S (2778) Shamkir 2018 [AlexYermo]} Qf7+ 36. Ka1 Qf4 37. Ka2 Qf7+ 38. Ka1 Qf4 39. Ka2 {1/2-1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S (2778) Shamkir 2018 [AlexYermo]}) 7. Qxc4 b6 8. Nf3 Ba6 9. Qa4+ Qd7 10. Qc2 h6 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Be4 13. Qd1 Nc6 14. O-O Rd8 15. Be3 O-O 16. Rc1 Qd5 17. Qa4 Ng4 (17... a5 $5 {GM Chirilia} 18. Rfd1 $2 {would be a big blunder} b5 $19) 18. Rc3 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Qd6 20. Nh4 $6 (20. Rfc1 $1 Ne7 21. Rxc7 Nd5 22. R7c6 Qb8 23. Ne1 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 $16) 20... Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Ne7 22. Qxa7 Nd5 23. Rc2 Ra8 24. Qb7 c5 25. dxc5 (25. Rxf7 {Shankland mentioned he didn't notice this move during the game which explains why was quite critical about his performance after the game.} Rxf7 26. Qxa8+ Rf8 27. Qa4 {was a try for White as well}) (25. Kh1 {is what Shankland thought about, threatening ...e4} f5) 25... bxc5 26. Qb5 $6 {Shankland: "now I thought only Black can be better and he was low on time as well."} (26. Rxf7 $1 Rxf7 27. Qxa8+ Rf8 28. Qa5 Qe5 29. Qd2 Qf6 30. Qe1 (30. Rc1 $4 Qf2+ 31. Kh1 Qf1+) 30... c4 {was given by GM Maurice Ashley - there is compensation for the two pawns in a practical game for sure.}) 26... Rfb8 27. Qd3 Qe5 $13 28. Rxc5 $2 Qxb2 $15 29. Rfc1 Rd8 30. Qe4 $6 (30. R5c2 Qxa3 31. Qxa3 Rxa3 32. Kf2 g5 $15) 30... Qxe2 31. R5c2 Qb5 32. Nf4 Nf6 33. Qb4 Qe5 34. Qc5 $2 {White collapses, his position was hard to play anyway, even more so because Akobian was quite short on time} Qxc5 35. Rxc5 g5 $19 (35... Rxa3 $19) 36. Ne2 Rxa3 37. Rc8 Rxc8 38. Rxc8+ Kg7 39. Rc3 Ra1+ 40. Kg2 Ra2 41. Kf1 Ne4 42. Rd3 g4 43. Rd4 f5 44. Rd3 Kf6 45. Rd8 Ng5 46. Rh8 Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Nh3 48. Rb8 Re1 49. Rb2 Ke5 50. Ra2 Ke4 51. Ra4+ Kxe3 52. Ra3+ Ke4 53. Ra2 Ke5 54. Rb2 Kf6 55. Ra2 e5 56. Ra6+ Kg5 57. Ra2 Kh5 58. Rb2 f4 59. gxf4 Rxe2+ 0-1 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.23"] [Round "6"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2660"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Arne Bracker"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff, Fabiano's pet line currently} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O (7... Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 ( 9... Bf6 10. Kb1 Qd7 11. h4 O-O-O 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be5 14. Qe3 Qa4 15. b3 Bxd4 16. Rxd4 Qc6 17. Be2 Qc5 18. Bf3 h5 19. Re1 Rhe8 20. Qd2 g6 21. Kb2 Kb8 22. a4 a5 23. g3 Qb6 24. Rde4 Qc5 25. R4e3 Rg8 26. R3e2 Qf5 27. Bg2 Qf6 28. Bd5 Bg4 29. Re4 Bf5 30. R4e3 c6 31. Bg2 Be6 32. Rd3 Kc7 33. Kb1 Rge8 34. Rde3 Bd7 35. Rf3 Rxe1+ 36. Qxe1 Qe6 37. Re3 Qf6 38. Re7 Kc8 39. Re3 d5 40. Re5 Qd6 41. Re3 Bf5 42. Qc1 d4 43. cxd4 Qxd4 44. Bf1 Qd2 45. Be2 Qb4 46. Bc4 Rd2 47. Qb2 Rxc2 48. Qh8+ Kc7 49. Qe5+ Kb6 50. Qd4+ Kc7 51. Qe5+ Qd6 52. Qxa5+ Kd7 53. Qxf5+ gxf5 54. Kxc2 Qc5 55. Kd2 f4 56. Rf3 fxg3 57. fxg3 f6 58. Ke2 Qg1 59. Bd3 Ke6 60. Kd2 Qg2+ 61. Be2 Ke5 62. Kd1 Ke4 63. Rc3 Qg1+ 64. Kd2 Qd4+ 65. Kc2 Qf2 66. Kd2 Qg2 67. Kd1 Kd4 68. Rd3+ Ke4 69. Rc3 Qg1+ 70. Kd2 Qf2 71. Kd1 Qd4+ 72. Kc2 Qe5 73. Rd3 Kf5 74. Bxh5 Qc5+ 75. Kd2 Qb4+ 76. Kc2 Qc5+ 77. Kd2 Ke5 { 1/2-1/2 (77) Vidit,S (2707)-Wei,Y (2734) Liaocheng 2018}) 10. a3 a6 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Rg8 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh7 Rh8 15. Be4 Kf8 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bxa6 Qa4 18. Be2 d5 19. Qe3 Rxb2 20. Kxb2 Bxa3+ 21. Kb1 Ke7 22. Bc5+ Kd7 23. Rxd5+ Bxd5 24. Qe7+ Kc6 25. Bxa3 Rb8+ 26. Kc1 Qa5 27. Bb4 Qa7 28. Qe3 Qa1+ 29. Kd2 Qxh1 30. Qc5+ Kb7 31. Qxd5+ c6 32. Qd7+ {1-0 (32) Bacrot,E (2718)-Li,C (2732) Liaocheng 2018}) 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O {Caruana has some resent experience here already} c6 (9... Nf6 {was played by Fabiano just two weeks ago at the Grenke Chess Classic (Karlsruhe, Germany)} 10. h3 c5 11. Bf4 Be6 12. a3 d5 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. g4 Bc6 15. Bg2 Re8 16. Qd3 Bd6 17. Qg3 Bxf4+ 18. Qxf4 h6 19. Nf3 Qb8 20. Qxb8 Raxb8 21. Nd2 Re2 22. Rhf1 b6 23. Rde1 Rbe8 24. Rxe2 Rxe2 $11 {1/2-1/2 (98) Caruana,F (2784)-Hou,Y (2654) Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2018}) 10. Kb1 d5 11. c4 Nb6 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bc4 {Fabiano explained to GM Maurice Ashley that he knew about this position. He remembered that both bishop moves to e6 or f5 are possible and going to f5 is interesting...} Bf5 (13... Be6 14. Rhe1 {is equal according to Caruana} Bb4 (14... Re8 15. Bg5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Nd4 $14 { 1-0 (61) Zhigalko,S (2625)-Sychev,K (2529) Moscow 2018}) (14... Bf6 15. Bd4 b5 $13 {0-1 (37) Von Bahr,O (2431)-Antonsen,M (2445) Sweden 2017}) 15. c3 Be7 16. Bb3 Qa5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Bc2 Rfe8 19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Bc5 Bxc5 21. Nxc5 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Qe2 Kf8 25. g3 Nf6 26. Qe3 b6 {1/2-1/2 (26) Vachier Lagrave,M (2744)-Giri,A (2793) Baku 2015}) 14. Bxd5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Qc8 { Fabiano played so fast the commentators wondered if he might be still in preparation...White is a pawn up - but Black has the bishop pair) which gives him some compensation - will it be enough though?} 16. Nd4 Bg6 17. Ka1 (17. h4 {is a critical move according to Fabiano} h5 {was what Fabiano knew about the position, his engine claimed the position is equal - here his home-preparation ended, as he mentioned quite frankly after the game.} 18. f4 $5 (18. Ka1) 18... Bf6 19. f5 Bxd4 20. fxg6 $6 (20. Bxd4 Qxf5 21. Qxf5 Bxf5 $11) (20. Rxd4 Bxf5 $11) 20... Bxe3 21. gxf7+ (21. Qxh5 fxg6) 21... Rxf7 22. Rhf1 Qc7 {was what Fabiano was calculating during the game - mentioning "this could be completely incorrect" - it is quite good for Black actually, White should not allow this according to my engine.}) 17... Re8 18. Rhe1 Bf6 (18... Bb4 19. c3 (19. Re2) 19... Bxc3) (18... Bf8 19. Bf4 $1) 19. c3 Re5 20. Qb3 a6 21. Bf4 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Qd7 23. Be5 Re8 24. f4 Bd8 25. a4 $6 {Fabiano didn't liked this move} h6 $5 ( 25... b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. f5 $1 Bh4 28. Bg3 Ra8+ 29. Kb1 Bxg3 30. hxg3 Bxf5+ 31. Nxf5 Qxf5+ 32. Qc2 Qd5 $15 {Fabiano - probably a draw}) 26. Rd1 Qg4 (26... b5 27. Nxb5 Qb7 $1 28. Nd4 Qxb3 29. Nxb3 Bc2 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Ka2) 27. Rd2 b5 $5 28. axb5 axb5 29. Qd1 $2 $15 {a mistake} ({better was} 29. Qxb5 $142 $1 $16 f6 30. Bd6 Re1+ 31. Ka2 Qc8 (31... Be7 32. Bxe7 Rxe7 33. f5 Bf7+ 34. Ne6 $16) 32. Qc6 $1 $18 {is a winning edge} (32. Qc5 Qa6+ 33. Qa3 Qf1 $19 {Fabiano}) ( 32. c4 {Maurice Ashley/Fabiano Caruana})) 29... Qd7 30. f5 Bg5 $1 31. Rd3 (31. fxg6 Bxd2 32. gxf7+ Qxf7 33. Qxd2 Qf1+ 34. Ka2 Rxe5 $19) 31... Bxf5 32. Nxf5 Qxf5 33. Bg3 $6 (33. Bc7 Qf2 $19 {is hopeless in the long run as well}) 33... Ra8+ 34. Kb1 Rd8 35. Kc2 b4 36. cxb4 (36. Qf3 Qxd3+ 37. Qxd3 b3+ $1 $19) 36... Rc8+ 37. Kb3 Qe6+ 38. Rd5 Rd8 39. Kc4 Qc6+ (39... Qc6+ 40. Rc5 Qe4+ $19) 0-1 [Event "ch-USA 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.23"] [Round "6"] [White "Akobian, V.."] [Black "Shankland, S.."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E36"] [WhiteElo "2647"] [BlackElo "2671"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 b6 8. Nf3 Ba6 9. Qa4+ Qd7 10. Qc2 {It may seem weird to move your queen so many times, but this is a known opening plan. White wants to prevent Black from playing c7-c5, and the queen on d7 occupies the knight's preferred destination. } h6 {Shankland deviates from a previous Akobian game against a pretty famous player:} (10... Qc6 11. Qxc6+ Nxc6 12. Bf4 O-O-O 13. Rc1 Kb7 14. g3 Rhe8 15. Bg2 Nd5 16. Bd2 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. e3 Kb8 20. Bc3 Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Re6 22. Bf3 Red6 23. Rc2 c5 24. Be2 Bb7 25. f3 Bc6 26. b3 Bd5 27. Rb2 c4 28. bxc4 Bxc4 29. O-O Bxe2 30. Rxe2 Rd3 31. Ra1 Rd1+ 32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 33. Kg2 Ra1 34. e4 Rxa3 35. f4 Rc3 36. e5 Kc8 37. Rd2 b5 38. Rd5 b4 39. Rb5 b3 40. f5 a6 41. Rb6 Kc7 42. Rb4 a5 {0-1 (42) Akobian,V (2647)-Anand,V (2782) Riyadh KSA 2017}) 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Be4 {Shankland stated that he knew he was better after this move. His preparation likely stopped here, but Black has gained a lot of space and can finish his development with ease.} 13. Qd1 Nc6 14. O-O Rd8 (14... O-O-O {was worthy of consideration, though Shankland was likely (understandably) concerned about the potential of an attack down the c-file. For White it is frustrating that he will not gain control of the long diagonal, but Be3, Rc1, Qa4 ideas are straightforward.}) 15. Be3 O-O 16. Rc1 Qd5 17. Qa4 Ng4 18. Rc3 Nxe3 (18... Qh5 19. h3 (19. Nh4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nxe3+ 21. fxe3 Ne7 {is fine for Black.}) 19... Nxe3 20. Rxe3 {seems problematic. White intends to head back to the c-file with devastating effect.} b5 {is a good move that might force White into an exchange sacrifice.} 21. Qd1 (21. Qa6 Rb8 22. Rxe4 Rb6 23. Re5 Nxe5 24. Qxa7 Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 {can't be bad for Black, with an extra exchange for just one pawn. White has real compensation, but not more.}) 21... Qd5 22. Rxe4 Qxe4 23. e3) 19. fxe3 Qd6 (19... b5 {is worse now that d4 is extremely well defended.} 20. Qb3 {and despite the potential weakness on e3, White can claim a small plus due to Black's vulnerable queenside.}) 20. Nh4 {A bizarre inaccuracy (though still a good move) by Akobian, who said that if he was playing a blitz game he would immediately have played the superior 20. Rfc1. The game continuation gives Shankland more options than he deserved.} (20. Rfc1 Ne7 21. Rxc7 Nd5 22. R1c6 (22. R7c6) 22... Nxc7 23. Rxd6 Rxd6 24. Ne5) 20... Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Ne7 22. Qxa7 Nd5 23. Rc2 Ra8 24. Qb7 c5 25. dxc5 (25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Qxa8+ Rf8 27. Qa4 Qe7 28. dxc5 Qf7 29. Nf4 e5 (29... g5 30. Qe4 gxf4 31. exf4 bxc5 32. Rxc5 {with a whopping four pawns for a knight, White stands better. Black's kingside is airy and all queen trades favor the side with all of the pawns.})) 25... bxc5 26. Qb5 (26. Rxf7 Rxf7 27. Qxa8+ Rf8 28. Qa5 Qe5 29. Qd2 {again can never be worse for White. Black has more compensation here than after 25. Rxf7 thanks to the accessibility of the e5 square, but still faces an uphill battle. Two pawns are two pawns, even with an open f-file.}) 26... Rfb8 27. Qd3 Qe5 28. Rxc5 {Played with under a minute on the clock. Akobian starts capturing pawns in time trouble, but he needed to activate his knight.} (28. e4 {maintained equality after something like} Nf6 29. Ne3 Nxe4 30. Nc4) 28... Qxb2 29. Rfc1 Rd8 30. Qe4 Qxe2 31. R5c2 Qb5 32. Nf4 Nf6 (32... Nxf4 33. exf4 Rxa3 {gives White significantly more hope than he deserves. For example, in a single rook ending the four on three is not enough to win. There are many theoretical draws at risk, so it is not worth immediately winning the pawn but fixing the White pawn structure. That pawn on a3 was not going anywhere!}) 33. Qb4 Qe5 34. Qc5 Qxc5 35. Rxc5 g5 36. Ne2 Rxa3 37. Rc8 Rxc8 38. Rxc8+ {Trading one pair of rooks doesn't help with the shattered pawn structure. Black's path forward is simple: take over the second rank, play g5-g4 and infiltrate with your knight.} Kg7 39. Rc3 Ra1+ 40. Kg2 Ra2 41. Kf1 Ne4 42. Rd3 g4 43. Rd4 f5 44. Rd3 Kf6 45. Rd8 Ng5 46. Rh8 Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Nh3 48. Rb8 Re1 49. Rb2 Ke5 50. Ra2 Ke4 51. Ra4+ Kxe3 52. Ra3+ Ke4 (52... Kxe2 $4 53. Re3+ Kd2 (53... Kxe3 {is stalemate}) 54. Rd3+ Kc2 55. Rc3+ {and the checks will never stop.}) 53. Ra2 Ke5 54. Rb2 Kf6 55. Ra2 e5 56. Ra6+ Kg5 57. Ra2 Kh5 58. Rb2 f4 59. gxf4 Rxe2+ 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.23"] [Round "6"] [White "Robson, R."] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2660"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O c6 10. Kb1 d5 11. c4 Nb6 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bc4 Bf5 $5 { Caruana said he knew 13...Be6 was equal, but that this was "playable" even though he had not analyzed it.} 14. Bxd5 {Caruana said White should take the pawn "at least if he wants to play for anything."} cxd5 15. Qxd5 Qc8 16. Nd4 Bg6 17. Ka1 ({Caruana anticipated} 17. h4 h5 18. f4 Bf6 19. f5 Bxd4 20. fxg6 Bxe3 21. gxf7+ (21. Qxh5 fxg6 {and king hides on the a file with help of ... Bh6 if needed}) 21... Rxf7 22. Rhf1 Qc7) 17... Re8 18. Rhe1 Bf6 (18... Bb4 19. Re2 (19. c3 Bxc3)) (18... Bf8 {controls d6 "so Nb5 is less threatening" [Caruana]}) 19. c3 Re5 20. Qb3 a6 21. Bf4 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Qd7 23. Be5 Re8 24. f4 Bd8 25. a4 {Caruana called this "such a psychotic move."} h6 26. Rd1 Qg4 27. Rd2 b5 28. axb5 axb5 29. Qd1 Qd7 30. f5 Bg5 31. Rd3 Bxf5 32. Nxf5 Qxf5 33. Bg3 Ra8+ 34. Kb1 Rd8 35. Kc2 b4 36. cxb4 Rc8+ 37. Kb3 Qe6+ 38. Rd5 Rd8 39. Kc4 Qc6+ 0-1 [Event "St Louis, MO USA"] [Site "St Louis, MO USA"] [Date "2018.04.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Fabiano Caruana"] [Black "Varuzhan Eduardovich Akobian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2647"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e6 {Playing the French against Caruana has proven to be a risky venture. Lenderman tried - and failed - in round three, essaying a Winawer. This time around Akobian attempted a Steinitz, though here too the world number two player was extremely well prepared.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 b6 {Far less popular than the main continuation.} ( 8... O-O {is typically played here. If White continues with} 9. Be2 b6 { now has no real drawback. The position remains slightly better for White thanks to the superior light-squared bishop, but Black has no tactical issues.} ({I've actually played this line once as Black. A slightly better endgame for White can appear by force, though of course the players can choose to keep queens on the board.} 9... a6 10. O-O b5 11. a3 Qb6 12. Nd1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Bc5 16. c3 Bxd4+ 17. cxd4 Nb8 18. Kf2 Nc6 19. Ke3 Bd7 20. Rc1 Rfb8 21. Rc5 b4 22. a4 b3 23. Nc3 Nb4 24. Bd3 Nc2+ 25. Bxc2 bxc2 26. Rc1 Rxb2 27. Kd3 Rb4 28. Rxc2 h5 29. Ra2 Ra7 30. g3 Kh7 31. h3 Rab7 32. Ra5 Rc7 33. Rxa6 Rcc4 34. Ne2 Bxa4 35. Ra7 Kg8 36. Ra8+ Kh7 37. Ra7 Be8 38. Ke3 Rb3+ 39. Kf2 h4 40. Re7 Rc8 41. Kg2 Bb5 42. Rb7 hxg3 43. Rxf7 Bd3 44. Nxg3 Bg6 45. Re7 Rcc3 46. Nf1 Be4+ 47. Kf2 Rf3+ 48. Ke2 Rxf4 49. Nd2 Rxh3 50. Rxe6 Bd3+ { 0-1 (50) Patel,A (2478)-Hess,R (2568) Las Vegas USA 2017})) 9. Bb5 Qc7 (9... Bb7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. f5 b5 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Ne2 c4 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Rhf1 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Qd7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Qh3 Rh7 20. Qf3 Rh8 21. Qh3 Rh7 22. Qf3 Rh8 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qh3 {1-0 (24) Bok,B (2614)-Kjartansson,G (2457) Gjakova 2016}) 10. O-O-O {Apparently a novelty, and new to Akobian. Caruana was clearly well prepared for this line and obtained a huge advantage.} a6 { This move is slow. I already didn't love Black's position - less space and a that terrible French bishop on c8 - but this allows White a straightforward attack.} ({There is mutual room for improvement, but an absolutely crazy game happened two years ago in this line:} 10... O-O 11. h4 a6 12. Bd3 f5 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 cxd3 15. fxe6 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 23. e6+ Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rh2 Nxd5 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxd5 Bh7 28. b3 Ke8 29. g6 Bxg6 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Qc3 33. Bg5+ Kxe6 34. Rf6+ Qxf6 35. Bxf6 Kxf6 36. Rh6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 Kd5 38. Kb2 Nc6 39. a3 Kc5 40. Rb7 Rg8 41. Rh7 Rg2 42. Rh5+ Kd6 43. Kc3 Rg3+ 44. Kb2 Rg2 45. Kc3 Rg3+ 46. Kb2 Rg2 {1/2-1/2 (46) Kramnik,V (2812) -Buhmann,R (2653) Dortmund 2016}) 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. f5 $1 {The move plays itself. As is typical of the French, Black can not afford to capture the pawn lest he compromise his pawn structure and lose the d5 pawn.} c4 (12... exf5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Nxd5 {is a huge advantage for White.}) (12... O-O 13. f6 gxf6 14. Bh6 Bb7 (14... fxe5 15. Qf2 f5 (15... Kh8 $2 16. Bxf8 Bxf8 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qf6+ $1 Bg7 $2 (18... Kg8 19. dxe5 $18) 19. Qd8+ $18) 16. Qg3+ Kf7 17. Qg7+ Ke8 18. dxe5 $16)) 13. f6 $1 {Fabiano plays with fire. He knew that he would be better in other variations, but he felt this was most forcing.} (13. fxe6 Qxe6 {seems reasonable. Queens tend to be poor blockaders, though in the absence of a knight getting to g5 (or f4) extremely quickly, Black can try to maintain the position.} (13... fxe6 14. Bg5 Bf8 {was mentioned by Caruana in the post-mortem, though here Black is too far behind in development after} (14... Bb4 15. a3 Ba5 16. Rhf1 O-O 17. Be7 {would be devastating. The bishop plants itself on d6 and White takes over the f-file.}) 15. Nh4) 14. Bg5 Bxg5) 13... gxf6 14. exf6 Bxf6 (14... Nxf6 $2 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Rhf1 $18) 15. Rhf1 $36 (15. Bg5 Bg7 16. Rhf1 h6 {was an imprecise move order. Black kicks White from the g5 square, which slows the pressure on the f7 square.}) 15... b5 $6 {Caruana felt that this move was too slow, but Black was already in huge danger. Akobian desperately needed to castle queenside as quickly as possible.} (15... h6 16. Bxh6 Be7 17. Rde1 (17. Bg5 f6 {is actually good for Black, since White's attack has successfully been parried.}) 17... Bb7 {and White needs to come up with something concrete to prevent long castling. The position is certainly still better for White, but Black is hanging tough.}) (15... Be7 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Bb7 18. Qf2 O-O-O 19. Bxb6 {lets Black live, but the resulting position is absolutely terrible for Black. Material equality is restored and once again the same theme is at play: The French bishop (now on b7) can't liberate itself from the pawn chain that blunts it.}) (15... Bb7 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 f6 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Rde1 Ne5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Rxe5 (21. Qg5 ) 21... Qxe5 22. Re1 $16) 16. Qf2 $1 {The position is already lost. In every variation Black is losing material or getting mated.} (16. Bg5 $1 Bg7 (16... b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. Qg5 cxb2+ 19. Kb1 Nxf6 20. Qxf6 Rg8 (20... Rf8) 21. Ng5 $16) 17. Bh6 $36) 16... b4 17. Ne2 $5 $36 (17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. Qxf7+ Kd8 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. dxe5 {was mentioned by Caruana as unnecessarily messy. He figured this was still very good for him, with Akobian's king still being hunted, but saw no knockout blow and did not want to sacrifice material.} Rf8 21. Qxh7 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Qe6 (22... Bb7)) (17. Ne4 $1 dxe4 18. Ne5 {was brought to Caruana's attention after the round. He saw similar ideas, though this specific variation did not catch his eye.} Bxe5 (18... Nxe5 $4 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Qxf7#) 19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 Kc7 21. Rd6 Qb5 22. Rfd1 $16) 17... b3 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 bxa2 21. Kd2 Rf8 22. Qxh7 Rxf1 23. Rxf1 d4 24. Qg8+ { Protecting the g2 pawn, just in case.} Kc7 25. Nxd4 Qd5 26. Qxe6 $18 Qa5+ $2 ( 26... Qxg2+ 27. Rf2 Qxf2+ 28. Bxf2 a1=Q {is an extra rook for Black, but mate ensues} 29. Qd6+ Kb7 30. Qd5+ Kb8 31. Nc6+ Kb7 32. Nd8+ Kc7 33. Qd6+ Kxd8 34. Bh4+ Ke8 35. Qe7#) (26... Bb7 27. Qxd5 (27. Ra1 Rh8 28. Qxd5 (28. Rxa2 c3+ ( 28... Qxg2+ 29. Kc3 $18) 29. Kxc3) 28... Bxd5 29. Bf4) 27... Bxd5 28. Bf4 (28. g3) 28... Nc5 29. Ra1) 27. c3 Nxe5 28. Rf7+ $1 Nxf7 29. Bf4+ Kb7 30. Qxf7+ (30. Qc6+ $2 {seems like it must be winning, since it forces the king to the a-file. Yet this is the way to throw away wins. Instead, Caruana mates.} Ka7 31. Nb5+ axb5 32. Be3+ Kb8 33. Bf4+ Ka7) 1-0 [Event "US-ch Men 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2018.04.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2647"] [Annotator "Arne Bracker"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 b6 9. Bb5 Qc7 10. O-O-O $5 $146 {is a new move in a known position} (10. O-O a6 (10... a5 11. f5 Bb7 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Nh4 Rhg8 17. Ng6+ Kd8 18. Rf7 cxd4 19. Ne2 d3 20. Nd4 Qc5 21. Qe3 Ke8 22. Re7+ Qxe7 23. Nxe7 Kxe7 24. cxd3 Rac8 25. Qh3 Nc5 26. Rc1 Rge8 27. Nb5 Rf8 28. Nd6 Rb8 29. d4 Nd7 30. Qh4+ {1-0 (30) Smirnov,A (2415)-Steadman,M (2258) Auckland 2014}) 11. Bd3 (11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. f5 h6 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Ne2 Bb7 15. Nf4 Nf8 16. c3 O-O-O 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. b4 g5 19. Nd3 g4 20. Nfe1 c4 21. Nc5 Ng6 22. Nc2 d4 23. Nxd4 Bxc5 24. bxc5 Qd5 25. Rab1 Nxe5 26. Rb6 Qxc5 27. Rfb1 Rd7 28. Qe2 Qd5 29. Bf4 Nd3 30. Bg3 e5 31. Nf5 Rf8 32. Nd6+ Rxd6 33. Qxg4+ Rd7 34. Rxb7 Qc5+ 35. Kh1 Rfd8 36. Qe6 Qd5 37. Rb8+ {1-0 (37) Freitag,M (2380)-Pilaj,H (2354) Austria 2017}) 11... Bb7 12. Nd1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Bd4 f5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. c3 O-O 18. Nf2 a5 19. Rfe1 a4 20. Re3 a3 21. b3 Rac8 22. Bc2 Qc7 23. Rh3 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Re1 Bxd4 26. Qxd4 Rcd8 27. Qe3 Rxf4 28. Rg3 e5 29. b4 Rdf8 30. Re2 Bd5 31. Rd2 Qf7 32. c4 Bxc4 33. Qxb6 e3 34. Qxe3 Bxa2 35. h3 Be6 36. Qb6 a2 37. Ra3 Rd4 38. Rb2 Qf5 39. Qa6 Bc4 {0-1 (39) Gonzales,J (2399)-Volkov,S (2627) Sitges 2017}) (10. Bxc6 Qxc6 11. f5 exf5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nxd5 Bd8 {Akobian's prepartion the morning before the game - as he mentioned after the game.}) 10... a6 (10... O-O 11. g4 $40 {"I didn't like" - Akobian}) 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. f5 $1 {typical move in these positions} c4 (12... exf5 $2 13. dxc5) (12... O-O 13. f6 gxf6 14. Bh6 Bb7 (14... fxe5 $6 15. Qf2 $1 f5 $142 (15... Kh8 $2 16. Bxf8 $1 Bxf8 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qf6+ $1 Bg7 $2 (18... Kg8 19. dxe5 $18) 19. Qd8+ $18) 16. Qg3+ Kf7 17. Qg7+ Ke8 18. dxe5 $16)) 13. f6 $5 (13. Bg5 Bf8 {Caruana}) 13... gxf6 14. exf6 Bxf6 (14... Nxf6 $2 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Rhf1 $18) 15. Rhf1 $36 (15. Bg5 $1 $44 Bg7 (15... Bxg5 16. Qxg5 $36) 16. Bh6) 15... b5 $6 (15... Be7 $142 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Bd7 18. Qf2 O-O-O 19. Bxb6 {Akobian}) (15... Bb7 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 f6 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Rde1 Ne5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Rxe5 (21. Qg5) 21... Qxe5 22. Re1) 16. Qf2 $1 {a strong move by Fabi} (16. Bg5 $1 {was strong as well} Bg7 (16... b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. Qg5 cxb2+ 19. Kb1 Nxf6 20. Qxf6 Rg8 (20... Rf8) 21. Ng5) 17. Bh6 $36) 16... b4 17. Ne2 $5 $36 {keeping all the options} (17. Ne4 $1 dxe4 18. Ne5 Bxe5 (18... Nxe5 $4 19. dxe5 $18 Bxe5 20. Qxf7#) (18... Qd5 19. Nxd7 Kxd7 20. Qxf6 $16) 19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 Kc7 21. Rd6 Qb5 22. Rfd1 {Maurice Ashley}) (17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. Qxf7+ Kd8 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. dxe5 Rf8 21. Qxh7 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Qe6 {Caruana "I didn't see a knock-out, so why doing it"} ({or} 22... Bb7 {Caruana})) 17... b3 $6 (17... Bd8) (17... Bg7) (17... Be7 18. Ne5 Nxe5) 18. Ne5 $1 (18. Nc3) 18... Bxe5 19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 bxa2 21. Kd2 Rf8 22. Qxh7 Rxf1 23. Rxf1 d4 24. Qg8+ Kc7 25. Nxd4 Qd5 26. Qxe6 $18 {18 min (Caruana) vs. 2 min (Akobian) in a objectively lost position made it very difficult if not impossible to come back for Akobian} Qa5+ $2 (26... Bb7 27. Qxd5 (27. Ra1 Rh8 28. Qxd5 (28. Rxa2 c3+ (28... Qxg2+ 29. Kc3 $18) 29. Kxc3) 28... Bxd5 29. Bf4 $18) 27... Bxd5 28. Bf4 (28. g3) 28... Nc5 29. Ra1) 27. c3 Nxe5 28. Rf7+ $1 Nxf7 29. Bf4+ $1 Kb7 30. Qxf7+ 1-0 [Event "ch-USA 2018"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.26"] [Round "8"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Shankland, S.."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2671"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. b3 {While this move is rarely seen in classical chess, it is a staple of Nakamura's blitz repertoire. Shankland is known to have particularly strong opening preparation. So what does a struggling super GM play against the US Championship upstart who is tied for first? An offbeat line, of course.} e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 e4 (4... Bd6 5. Na3 Na5 {has become popular, though it's an odd continuation.}) 5. f3 (5. Ne2 a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Ng3 h5 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. Nge2 Qd7 10. h3 Bf5 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. h4 O-O-O 13. Qe2 Bd6 14. O-O-O Rhe8 15. Qf1 Ng4 16. Kb1 f6 17. Nce2 Bf7 18. f3 exf3 19. gxf3 Nh6 20. Rg1 Be5 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Nf4 Qe7 23. e4 Qa3 24. Nge2 g5 25. hxg5 fxg5 26. Ng2 a5 27. f4 Rc5 28. Ne3 a4 29. Nc1 axb3 30. cxb3 Ng4 31. Nc2 Qa7 32. fxg5 Bg6 33. Qe2 Rxg5 34. d3 Qc5 35. Rdf1 Qe7 36. Ne3 Rc5 37. Nxg4 hxg4 38. Qxg4+ Kb8 39. Qxg6 {1-0 (39) Karjakin,S (2773)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2017}) 5... a6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe2 {This appears to be a novelty, though I have a hard time believing that Nakamura has yet to play this in online games. In fact, my fellow commentator Eric Hansen informed me that he was on the Black side of this opening against Nakamura on Chess.com in recent weeks. White keeps the pawn tension, intending to trade at a favorable moment.} Bf5 8. fxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bg6 10. Nc3 Bc5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. e4 Ba3 {Unable to keep his bishop, Nakamura becomes susceptible to a queenside attack. Strategically the massive center favors White, but the path forward is uncertain.} 13. g4 {Nakamura held nothing back, though some restraint, in retrospect, would have given him better chances.} (13. Nf3 a5 14. Qd2 a4) 13... a5 14. g5 Nh5 {Black's minor pieces look bad since they lack squares. Yet Nakamura has no impending threats and Shankland's attack is not easy to stop.} 15. Qe3 O-O 16. Nge2 b5 17. Bxa3 Qxa3+ 18. Kb1 a4 19. Nc1 (19. Nd4 {was an active try, targeting the c-pawn. The main drawback is that the knight does not come to the aid of the a2 pawn, but perhaps it is not required in the defense. Sometimes the best defense is a timely counter-attack!} Ra6 20. Rhf1 {after which White intends to save his queenside and play for Rd2, Nf5 and so on.}) 19... Rfb8 20. Rhe1 c5 21. Ka1 axb3 (21... c4 22. Nb1 Qe7 23. bxc4 bxc4 24. dxc4 (24. d4 {was mentioned by Shankland in the post-mortem. During the game, Sam admitted he overlooked the overpowering} Qb4 {with mate to follow. If not for this idea, White actually is doing great because Black's pawns are isolated and split.}) 24... Qe5+ 25. Nc3 Nf4 {looks incredible for Black. White's king will not find shelter anytime soon, whereas now that the knight is free from its cage on h5, it can help Black start picking off weak pawns.}) 22. cxb3 c4 23. Nb1 Qa6 (23... Qe7 {is a more flexible retreat. The queen spies on the pawn on g5, while b4 is covered. Whenever White plays} 24. d4 {the e4 pawn can immediately be challenged.} Re8 (24... f6) 25. e5 Qe6) 24. Rd2 f5 $2 {This move is a bit careless. The bishop would like to switch diagonals to pressurize the b3 and a2 squares. Maintaining the bind provided more winning chances than allowing White to open the position and relocate his pieces to supeior squares.} (24... f6 {helps spring the knight free and lets the bishop reroute.}) 25. exf5 (25. e5 f4 26. Qf3 Qe6) 25... Bxf5 26. b4 $2 ( 26. Nc3 {is a huge improvement over the game.The knight can't sit idly on b1 as White claws back into the game.} cxb3 (26... b4 27. Nd5 c3 28. Rf2 {flips the script. White went from being on the defensive to unleashing an unstoppable attack.}) (26... c6 27. dxc4 bxc4 28. Qc5 {with a growing initiative.}) 27. Nd5 $1) 26... Qg6 27. Rf1 (27. Nc3 Re8 28. Qf3 {is very messy. The queen on f3 is an exceptional piece, keeping the knight trapped on h5 and spying on the rook on a8 as well.}) 27... c6 28. Nc3 Re8 29. Qf3 Bxd3 30. Nxd3 Rf8 (30... cxd3 31. Rfd1 (31. Rxd3 Rf8 {transposes to the game.}) (31. Qxd3 Qxg5) 31... Qxg5 32. Rxd3) 31. Qd1 cxd3 32. Rxf8+ Rxf8 33. Rxd3 Qxg5 34. Rd6 Qf4 (34... Rf6 35. Qb3+ Kf8 36. Rd8+ Ke7 {was an absolutely astounding variation that GM Maurice Ashley was wondering about with the assistance of an engine. No human is voluntarily walking his king into the center of the board like this, even if you're a pawn to the good. For example, walking your king further up the board seems preposterous but immediate analysis fails to see a win for White.} 37. Qd1 Kf7 38. Rd7+ Kg6) 35. Rxc6 Qxb4 36. Qd5+ Kh8 37. Qxb5 { Fortunately for Nakamura, the queen covers the f1 square} Qf4 38. Qc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.27"] [Round "9"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2787"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nc4 Bd6 10. Bg5 b5 11. Ne3 Qe7 12. Nh4 Qe6 13. Nhf5 Bf8 14. f4 { Too ambitious according to Caruana.} (14. a4 {is a completely alternate way to play.}) 14... Nd7 15. Ng3 {Caruana saw ...f6 coming. "I have to get my pieces coordinated, which is very difficult," he said. He wanted to go for the gusto with:} (15. Nxg7 {"I was so tempted to play Nxg7 but I couldn't make it work." -- Caruana.} Bxg7 16. f5 Qd6 17. Qh5 h6) (15. fxe5 Nxe5 {"Is very comfortable for Black." -- Caruana} 16. d4 Ng6 {and Caruana didn't like his weakened central pawns and his misplaced bishop on g5.}) 15... f6 16. f5 Qf7 (16... Qd6 17. Bh4 Nc5 18. Qf3 {"I have to go for a mess, I can't really go back anymore. " -- Caruana} (18. Qg4 {is another mess.} g5 19. Nh5 Kh8 20. Nxf6 Qxf6 21. Bxg5 ) 18... Nxd3 19. Rad1 Rd8 20. Ng4 (20. Rxd3 $2 Qxd3 21. Rd1 Qxe3+) 20... c5 21. Nh5 c4 {And Caruana was prepared to rip open Black's king and hope to mate.}) 17. Bh4 Bb7 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Nh1 Nc5 20. Rfd1 Rd6 (20... a5 {and pushing it again worried Caruana more. He didn't understand Black's rook's placement on d6.}) 21. Nf2 Red8 22. Rd2 a5 23. g4 g5 24. Bg3 Ba6 25. Rad1 b4 {meant to help prevent the d4 advance. The other way to do that was:} (25... Na4 26. d4 Qxa2 27. dxe5 (27. Nf1 {was Caruana's intent.}) 27... Nxc3) 26. c4 b3 27. a3 R6d7 28. Qe1 Nb7 29. Nh1 Nc5 30. Qe2 Rd4 31. Be1 R8d6 32. Nf2 Qd7 33. Kg2 Qd8 34. h3 Rd7 35. Nf1 Na4 36. Nh2 Bc5 37. Nf3 R4d6 38. Rc1 Bxf2 39. Qxf2 c5 40. Qe2 Rxd3 41. Rxd3 Rxd3 42. Bxa5 Bb7 43. Kf2 Qd7 (43... Nxb2 44. Qxb2 Bxe4 {And Caruana said he can't keep the piece.} 45. Nd2 (45. Rc3 Bxf3 46. Rxb3 Rxb3 47. Qxb3 { and Caruana thought he could "hold this one."}) 45... Rxh3 {"And he's probably just crushing me."}) 44. Re1 Rd6 45. Rc1 Qc6 46. Re1 Rd8 $2 {"Shocking to me." -- Caruana} (46... Qxe4 $1 47. Qxe4 Bxe4 48. Rxe4 Nxb2 49. Nd2 (49. Ke2 Nxc4 50. Bc3 b2 51. Bxb2 Nxb2 {Was discussed by the players after the game.} 52. Nd2 {Wasn't clear according to what Nakamura told Caruana, but Fabiano thought} Rd4 {was winning.} (52... Rd3 53. Nc4 Rb3 {and the rook ending is also winning according to Caruana. "I was just completely shocked," Caruana said about Nakamura not playing 46...Qxe4.})) 49... Rxd2+ $1 50. Bxd2 Nd1+ 51. Ke2 b2) 47. h4 h6 48. hxg5 hxg5 49. Kg3 Rd7 50. Qh2 Rh7 51. Qd2 Rd7 52. Qh2 Rh7 53. Qd2 1/2-1/2 [Event "St Louis, MO USA"] [Site "St Louis, MO USA"] [Date "2018.04.27"] [Round "9"] [White "Samuel Shankland"] [Black "Yaroslav Zherebukh"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2640"] [PlyCount "141"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] {Sam Shankland is having the tournament of his life. His struggles at the U.S. Championship have been a source of confusion for many of his fans and followers, but things seem to be clicking for him in 2018. While by his own admission his opponents seem to be overlooking tactics against him, Shankland has made the most of these missed chances and has converted his own. In this game his opening did not gain him an advantage; in fact, Zherebukh had the preferable position. And then suddenly his opponent made a poor move, compounded by a second oversight. Although Zherebukh fought valiantly to get back into the game, he fumbled away a drawn ending and Shankland seized the U. S. Championship lead.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 ({It would have been interesting to see what Shankland had prepared against} 3... c5 {White has a number of options (4. g3, 4. d4, etc.) but} 4. e4 Nc6 5. e5 Ng8 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Ndb5 {is a fun line.}) 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Rc1 c6 9. a3 (9. Bd3 {is more popular, though it does allow} dxc4 {after which the bishop must make its second consecutive move. The game continuation discourages the immediate capture on c4.}) 9... a6 10. c5 e5 {A thematic pawn break, trying to get to chip away at the chain on the dark squares.} 11. Nxe5 ( 11. Be2 {invites} e4 {after which Black can remove his knight and play f5 and attempt to crash through the kingside. White will eventually play for a4, b4-b5 and a queenside break. The evaluation rests on who gets there first.}) 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qd4 Nxe5 {Black has completely neutralized White's opening edge. The pawn on c5 can turn into a liability rather than an asset as time goes on, while the kingside provides no opportunities for White. Black appears to be in control.} 15. Be2 Qg5 {I really liked this move, provoking a weakening move.} 16. g3 (16. O-O Bh3 { picks up an exchange.}) 16... Qe7 17. O-O Bh3 18. Rfe1 f5 $2 {White stops the plan and traps the bishop all at once!} (18... Rad8 {was mentioned by Shankland as a move that kept Black's slight edge, though White remains solid.} ) 19. f3 Rae8 20. Nd1 Qf7 $2 (20... f4 {was necessary here, snagging three pawns for a piece.} 21. Nf2 (21. exf4 $4 Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Qxe1#) (21. gxf4 $2 Qh4 22. Nf2 Re6 {is winning.} 23. Ng4 (23. fxe5 Rg6+ 24. Ng4 Rxg4+ 25. fxg4 Qf2+ 26. Kh1 Qg2#) 23... Nxg4 24. fxg4 Bxg4 {White's king is exposed and with no extra material for his troubles, he's lost.}) 21... fxg3 22. Nxh3 Nxf3+ 23. Bxf3 Rxf3 24. Kg2 Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Qxe3 26. Rxe3 Rxe3 27. hxg3 Re2+ 28. Kf3 Rxb2 { should result in a draw, though White has some hopes of playing for a win.}) 21. Nf2 (21. Qh4 Bg4 $1 22. fxg4 fxg4 {entombs the White queen. Best is the imbalance of two minor pieces for rook and pawn} 23. Rf1 Qxf1+ 24. Bxf1 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Nxh4+ 26. gxh4) 21... Qh5 22. Qh4 Qxf3 23. Qxh3 (23. Bxf3 $2 Nxf3+ 24. Kh1 Nxh4) 23... Qxe3 24. Bh5 Nf3+ 25. Bxf3 Qxf3 26. Qg2 Qb3 27. Nh3 {The dust has settled and White is up a knight for two pawns. An earlier variation would have netted Zherebukh a third. Here, he is lost but he fights hard.} Re4 28. Qd2 b6 29. Nf2 (29. cxb6 Qxb6+ 30. Kg2 {likely was simpler. White keeps more material on the board and should consolidate, turning his advantage into a win. }) 29... Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1 bxc5 31. Rxc5 (31. Qe6+ Kh7 32. Qxc6 c4 33. Qxd5 Qxb2 34. Rxc4 Qxa3 {is worrisome. White is running out of remaining pawns, so if queens get traded the resulting ending is getting closer to a draw.}) 31... Qxb2 32. Qc3 Qb8 (32... Qb1+ 33. Kg2) 33. Nd3 (33. Rxc6 f4 34. Rc7 d4 35. Qc4+ Kh8 36. gxf4 Qb1+ 37. Qc1 Qf5 {looks enticing for Black, but the only way to win back the f4 pawn is to exchange queens. With the a-pawns remaining, White is doing well.}) 33... Qb1+ 34. Kg2 f4 $1 {A necessary sacrifice to keep drawing chances alive.} 35. Nxf4 Qe4+ 36. Kg1 (36. Qf3 $2 Qxf3+ 37. Kxf3 g5 { wins back the knight, though White will be a pawn ahead in the rook endgame after} 38. Rxc6 gxf4 39. gxf4 {With so few pawns left on the board, drawing chances are high.}) 36... g5 37. Ng2 Qf5 38. Qe1 ({A careless move emphasizes the problems with having a fianchettoed knight:} 38. Qc1 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Qf1+ 40. Qxf1 Rxf1#) 38... Qf6 39. Rc1 d4 40. Qe2 c5 41. Ne1 Rc8 42. Nd3 c4 43. Qe4 Qd6 44. Ne5 (44. Nb4 {heading to d5 is really strong. The passed pawns are annoying to deal with, but the Black king is exposed.} c3 (44... d3 45. Nxd3) 45. Nd5 Rd8 46. Ne7+ Kh8 47. Rf1 c2 48. Kg2 d3 49. Rf7 {with mate to follow.}) 44... c3 45. Nd3 (45. Rf1 {was precise but hard to see. Black can't keep his pawns due to tactics.} c2 46. Nc4 $1 Qc6 47. Qxc2 {and the knight is immune since the Black queen needs to keep the g6 square under control.}) 45... Kg7 46. Kg2 Rc7 47. Re1 c2 48. h4 $2 {Shankland criticized himself for allowing a pawn trade here. The more pawns on the board, the better his winning chances. After this, the game should already be nearing a draw.} Qc6 49. Qxc6 Rxc6 50. Kf3 gxh4 51. gxh4 Rc3 52. Ke4 Rxa3 53. Rc1 Rc3 (53... Ra2 {was the move I suggested during live commentary. The point is that Black intends to attack the h4 pawn rather than keep his own pawns.} 54. Nb4 (54. Kxd4 Ra4+ 55. Kc3 Rxh4 {is an immediate draw. Rook and knight versus rook is easy to hold.}) (54. Ne1 Kg6 55. Ng2 Kh5 56. Kxd4 Kg4 {The king can go after the knight and then win the h-pawn.}) 54... d3 $1 55. Kxd3 (55. Nxa2 $4 d2 {and Black queens!}) 55... Ra4 56. Kc3 a5 {and the h-pawn is lost.}) 54. Kxd4 Rc8 (54... Ra3 { followed by Ra4 back was a draw.} 55. Rxc2 (55. Nf4 Ra4+ 56. Ke5 Rc4 {and White can't cut off the rook and attack the c2 pawn at the same time. Pushing to h5 doesn't help, since the knight can't stay on f4 forever.}) 55... Ra4+ 56. Rc4 Rxc4+ 57. Kxc4 Kg6) 55. Nc5 Kg6 56. Rxc2 Kh5 57. Rh2 Rg8 $2 {Throwing away a draw. It was already getting increasingly difficult, but here Black had to jettison his extra rook pawn. White has no stable means of defending his h-pawn, so Shankland would be forced into (at best) rook and knight versus rook.} (57... a5 58. Ne4 a4 59. Nf6+ Kg6 60. Ke5 Rc5+ 61. Nd5 a3) 58. Ne4 Rg1 59. Nf6+ Kg6 60. Ke5 Re1+ 61. Ne4 Kh5 62. Kf4 {Now it is an easy win. The a-pawn never got going, and Shankland's king has come to his pawn's defense.} Rf1+ 63. Kg3 Re1 64. Nf6+ Kg6 65. Nd5 Rd1 66. Nf4+ Kf5 67. Ra2 Rg1+ 68. Ng2 Rb1 69. Rxa6 Rb3+ 70. Kh2 Kg4 71. Rxh6 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.28"] [Round "10"] [White "Abrahamyan, T.."] [Black "Paikidze, N.."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B15"] [WhiteElo "2366"] [BlackElo "2352"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] {Entering the round, Nazi Paikidze was a full point behind upstart Annie Wang. In order to compete for first in the championship, wins would be needed. While Wang drew a solid game against Zatonskih, Paikidze outlasted Tatev Abrahamyan in this hectic game.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 b5 $6 {Surprisingly this move has been played a decent number of times. The point is to dislodge the knight from its defense of the e4 square, though it requires Black to cede control of the dark squares (namely c5).} 4. Bd3 (4. e5 e6 5. Be3 Ne7 6. Nf3 Nf5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O b4 9. Ne2 Ba6 10. Bxf5 exf5 11. Re1 O-O 12. Ng3 Bc8 13. Qd3 g6 14. Qd2 a5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qf4 Be6 17. Nh5 Nd7 18. Ng7 c5 19. Nxe8 Qxe8 20. h4 Rc8 21. h5 cxd4 22. Nxd4 Nc5 23. Rad1 Na4 24. Qc1 Nc5 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Bg5 a4 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Qh6 Ne4 29. Re3 Bd7 30. Rh3 Qxe5 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Qh8+ Qxh8 33. Rxh8+ Kg7 34. Rxc8 Bxc8 35. Nc6 a3 36. Nxb4 axb2 37. Rb1 d4 38. Rxb2 Bd7 39. Nd3 Ba4 40. Rb4 Bxc2 41. Rxd4 Kf6 42. Nb4 Bb1 43. Rd1 Nc3 44. Nd5+ {1-0 (44) Almasi,Z (2590)-Ekstroem,R (2430) Buekfuerdo 1995}) 4... b4 5. Nce2 dxe4 6. Bxe4 Nf6 7. Bf3 e6 8. Nh3 ({White can attack Black's overextended pawn structure on the queenside with the immediate} 8. a3 bxa3 (8... Qb6 9. axb4 Bxb4+ 10. c3 Be7 11. Nh3 O-O 12. O-O) 9. b3 $1 {a thematic (temporary) pawn sacrifice, where Black's queenside is in shambles. Black is by no means lost, but it is very unpleasant. Even if she eventually gets c6-c5 in, the a-pawn will be very weak.}) 8... Bd6 9. Nhf4 Qc7 10. Nd3 {The knight went on a little journey, and from d3 it prevents Black from playing both c5 and e5 breaks. Paikidze's position isn't so terrible, but if she can't finish her development and gain some space she will have longstanding issues.} Nbd7 11. Bf4 {The right call. Once the bishops are swapped, Black struggles to control the dark squares.} Bxf4 12. Nexf4 Rb8 13. O-O O-O 14. a3 a5 15. axb4 axb4 16. Qd2 Qd6 ({ Paikidze could have lashed out with} 16... e5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 { with near equality. The central issue is the backwards c-pawn, but it's hard to target.}) 17. Qe3 Nd5 18. Bxd5 $1 {The correct capture. The bishop has a limited future, blockaded by Black's pawn mass. The knight on the other hand can hop into} cxd5 19. b3 Ba6 20. Ra4 Rfc8 21. Rc1 Rb6 ({Black could have earned equality in this line by simply doubling her rooks:} 21... Rc3 22. Qd2 Bxd3 23. Nxd3 Rbc8 {ties White down to the defense of c2. The b4 pawn is immune as it is defended via tactics.} 24. Nxb4 (24. Rxb4 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 Qxb4) 24... Nb6 {removes the guard.}) 22. Qd2 Rcb8 {Instead of gaining activity down the c-file, Paikidze has settled for a passive defense. Her rooks are inactive, giving Abrahamyan the time to coordinatre her forces and attack the isolated pawn on b4.} 23. Rca1 Bxd3 24. Nxd3 h6 {Giving the king luft is important. Black will eventually have to search for a plan, but in the interim she should take care of all potential issues before taking action.} 25. Ra7 Re8 (25... Nf6 26. f3 {at the very least loosens up some of the dark squares, meaning Black can keep perpetual check ideas in the back of her mind.} (26. Ne5 Ne4 27. Qd3 R6b7 {is beneficial for Black. White remains slightly better, but the knight has improved its situation and may even hop into c3.})) 26. h3 Reb8 27. R1a4 Nf6 28. Nc5 (28. Qe3 {was a very strong move. The queen has oscillated between e3 and d2, but on e3 the queen is no longer susceptible to a knight attack and White can choose Nc5 or Ne5.} Ne4 29. Nc5 Nf6 30. Qe5) 28... e5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Na6 Ne4 31. Qe3 d4 32. Qe1 Re8 33. Nxb4 Rg6 {In Abrahamyan's time trouble, Paikidze plays for a win. It was a really smart practical choice, since White has no pieces currently defending on the kingside.} (33... Nc5 34. Qxe5 Rxe5 35. Nd3 Nxd3 36. cxd3 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Re2 {equalizes. White has too many undefended pawns to claim an edge.}) 34. Ra8 Rxa8 35. Rxa8+ Kh7 36. Ra6 f6 { Playing to win no matter what. Objectively the position is bad, but practically White needs to find several only moves.} (36... Rxa6 37. Nxa6 f5 { is an interesting attempt to hold. The essential claim is that the pawn on d4 supports a knight on c3 and prevents the c2 pawn from pushing, giving Black compensation for the pawn deficit. It becomes hard to push the b-pawn.}) 37. Nd3 Qf5 38. Ra5 $2 {An understandable mistake made with time running low. Attacking the queen seems like a good idea, but it actually pushes the powerful piece into the attack.} (38. Kh2 {avoids all pins on the g2 square. The knight on d3 is an incredible piece, defending f2 and taking away any checks for the queen. Black is technically losing here.}) 38... Qf3 {The end is swift.} ({Abrahamyan must have been relying on the response} 38... Qxh3 { which loses for Black.} 39. Qxe4 (39. Nf4)) 39. Qf1 Nd2 40. Ne1 $2 (40. Kh1 { keeps White in the game, but Black will keep the queens on with something like} Qc6 {and can at least grab the c-pawn, or keep the pressure on the kingside.} 41. Qg1) 40... Qd1 (40... Qe4 41. f3 {keeps White in the game.} Qxe1 42. Qxe1 Nxf3+ 43. Kf2 Nxe1 44. Kxe1 Rxg2 {is of course excellent for Black, but the endgame requires a good deal of work.}) 0-1 [Event "St Louis, MO USA"] [Site "St Louis, MO USA"] [Date "2018.04.29"] [Round "11"] [White "Sabina-Francesca Foisor"] [Black "Annie Wang"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D61"] [WhiteElo "2308"] [BlackElo "2321"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] {Annie Wang entered the final round of the U.S. Women's Championship with an undefeated 8/10. She had some close calls, but when her position became preferable she generally converted smoothly. Nazi Paikidze's undefeated 7.5/10 had her in striking distance, though a win would seal the national title for Wang. Some nervous play and imprecision prevented her from winning the 2018 Championship outright, instead settling into a playoff with Paikidze.} 1. d4 e6 {Wang is a French player, so this move order comes as no surprise. She dares her opponent to play 2. e4.} 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Qc2 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Nc3 h6 8. Bh4 c5 ({Wang could have chosen a particularly solid setup with} 8... c6 {though she does not seem to like playing particularly passively. }) 9. cxd5 cxd4 (9... Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 {leaves Black with an isolated pawn, but Black has found a way to equalize. In fact, a filtered search by rating indicates that GMs haven't lost these positions.} 13. Be2 Bg4 14. O-O Rac8 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. h3 Ne6 17. Qa4 Bh5 18. Rd2 d4 19. Qxa7 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qb4 21. Rad1 Rc1 22. Rxc1 Qxd2 23. Rd1 Qxb2 24. Qxb7 Qxa2 25. Qb1 Qxb1 26. Rxb1 dxe3 27. fxe3 Ng5 28. h4 Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 {1/2-1/2 (29) Kasparov,G (2812)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017}) 10. Nxd4 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 (11... Qxe7 12. Nxd5 exd5 {is an inferior version of the previous note, since White stabilizes a knight on d4 and has free access to the c-file. Essentially, Black's capture on d4 allows White to cover important ground.} 13. Rc1) 12. O-O-O Qa5 (12... a6 {was better. It's important to prevent knight hops to d6 via b5, and Black will play b5 herself next move.}) 13. Nb3 (13. Kb1 {was the preferred move here, keeping Nb3 in the arsenal. The queen on a5 isn't very well placed, so the knight retreat forces the queen to a superior square. In general, a knight on d4 is a good thing.}) 13... Qe5 14. g4 $6 {Foisor made her intentions clear: she was not ending a subpar U.S. Women's Championship without a huge fight. Ambitious and eventually the reason she won the game, but also very risky since Black's next few moves are straightforward.} (14. g3 {with the idea of playing e4 and f4 typically is strong. Except that White is just a little slow in making it work.} Nf6 15. Bg2 (15. e4 b6 16. f4 Qc7 17. Bg2 e5 $1 {is good for Black.}) 15... Ned5) 14... Nf6 15. Be2 Bd7 16. h4 Rfc8 17. Kb1 (17. g5 {doesn't come in time since the pressure down the c-file is overwhelming.} Nfd5 18. Nd4 b5 {when gxh6 can be ignored.}) 17... Nfd5 18. Ka1 $1 {A really sneaky move played by Foisor, who realized she was actually worse here. White tucks her king in the corner to avoid potential checks and pins.} Bc6 (18... Nxc3 19. Rxd7 Nxe2 20. Qxe2 Rd8 $1 {is a ridiculous tactic, making use of the fact that two rooks will be attacked on the long diagonal and both can't be saved:} 21. Rxe7 Kf8 22. Rxb7 Qe4 {White will get compensation but not more after} 23. Rxf7+ Kxf7) 19. Rhg1 Nb4 $2 {Playing with fire. Now White is ready to start crashing through on the kingside, whereas this knight move merely attacks the queen. Perhaps Wang didn't sense the danger or nerves got to her, but either way she could have safely entered an ending without real losing chances.} (19... Nxc3 20. Qxc3 Qxc3 21. bxc3) ({It doesn't seem practical, but during live commentary I briefly considered the ultra greedy} 19... Qh2 $5 {White can't really keep her pawns defended.} 20. Ne4 Ba4 21. Qd2 a5 {followed by Bxb3 and a4, busting open the queenside.}) 20. Qd2 Ned5 { Very principled, but the attack comes too quickly. Black needed to try something like 20...Qh2 to stay in the game. After this the game is practically over.} 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. g5 {And now White's attack plays itself.} hxg5 ({Sadly,} 22... h5 23. Bxh5 {might help Black survive longer, but it's a free pawn.}) 23. Rxg5 Qf6 24. Rdg1 {Understanding the dynamic of queen versus two rooks is largely about one thing: king safety. It's paramount, and Wang's king never finds shelter.} Ne7 25. Rxg7+ Qxg7 26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Qd4+ f6 28. Qd6 Kf7 29. Nc5 Bd5 30. Bh5+ Kf8 31. b4 Rxc5 32. bxc5 f5 33. f3 Rc8 34. e4 fxe4 35. fxe4 Bxe4 36. Qxe6 Bd5 37. Qf6+ 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.29"] [Round "11"] [White "Shankland, S."] [Black "Liang, Awonder"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B13"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2552"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 e5 $1 { A newer move which has mostly been seen in recent years. Black has scored well, most notably in a tiebreaker game to the Wei Yi-Navara match from earlier this year.} 8. h3 $1 {Equally stunning! Also a very recent idea, with only a few games existing.} (8. dxe5 Nh5 {is the plan to get the pawn back.}) 8... exf4 $6 (8... Na5 {was forced according to Shankland.} 9. Qc2 exf4 10. hxg4 Nxg4 { was Shankland's prep. He said he has plenty of compensation for the pawn and intended} 11. Kf1 $1 (11. Qe2+ Qe7 {saves the piece}) 11... h5 {and the players are violating every opening rule of chess, but it sure would have been a fun fight!}) 9. hxg4 Qe7+ 10. Kf1 O-O-O (10... Nxg4 {was playable but risky}) 11. Nd2 {Now Shankland said the position resembled his analysis, except it didn't require him to invest a pawn.} g6 (11... Nxg4 12. Bf5+) 12. Re1 Qc7 13. g5 Nh5 14. Be2 Ng7 15. Ngf3 {That "extra" pawn on g5 proves very useful. It keeps the f-pawn from coming to f6 and taking away the foothold on e5, and it ensures the h7-pawn remains backward. Both of these elements come into play.} Ne6 16. Bb5 Bg7 17. Qa4 Rd6 18. Nb3 {The beginning of an exotic maneuver, but Shankland correctly sees he has all the time he needs.} b6 19. Nc1 Nb8 20. Nd3 Kb7 21. Nb4 {"Dr. Shankland" is performing surgery on these weaknesses.} Qd8 22. Ne5 Qc7 23. Qb3 Rhd8 24. Rxh7 a6 25. Bd3 Ka7 26. Qa4 a5 27. Bb5 Kb7 28. Nbd3 {Threatening Nxf4 since the Ne6 is overworked.} Rg8 29. Nf3 Rh8 30. Rxh8 Bxh8 31. a3 Nc6 32. Bxc6+ $1 {Trading off the light-square pressure for a queen infiltration and easy ending. That's a good way to calm the nerves.} Rxc6 33. Nde5 Bxe5 (33... Rd6 34. Qe8) 34. Nxe5 Rd6 35. Qe8 Rd8 (35... Nxg5 36. Nxf7 Nxf7 37. Re7) 36. Qxf7 Nxg5 37. Qxc7+ Kxc7 38. Nxg6 f3 39. Nf4 Kc6 40. gxf3 Nxf3 41. Re6+ Kb5 42. Ke2 Ng1+ 43. Kd3 {Already up two pawns, Nxd5 is the immediate threat. White can also consider trapping the black knight.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis USA"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2018.04.28"] [Round "10"] [White "Zherebukh, Y."] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "2640"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2018.04.18"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. g3 {Notes all based on Caruana's analysis.} b5 5. Bg2 {"I was very happy to see what he did..It's a possible line, about equal...I'm not going to get blown off the board and I get a fight."} Bb7 6. d3 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. Ng5 h6 9. Nh3 Nf6 10. f4 Be7 {"I think this is theory."} 11. f5 b4 12. Ne2 (12. fxe6 {"The critical line" which Caruana went into in great [and fun!] detail.} bxc3 13. exf7+ Kxf7 14. bxc3 Re8 (14... g5 {was Caruana's backup plan:} 15. Rb1 Bc8 16. e5 Nxe5) 15. Rb1 Bc8 (15... Qd7 16. Nf4 {Didn't appeal to Caruana} (16. e5 dxe5 17. Rxb7 Qxb7 18. Bd5+ Kg6 {is as convincing as simpler play} (18... Kf8 19. Qh5 Bd8 20. Ng5 $1))) 16. e5 Bxh3 (16... Nxe5 17. Bxa8 (17. Bd5+ Kf8 (17... Be6 18. Qh5+ g6 19. Ng5+ hxg5 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bxe6) 18. Qh5 Bg4 19. Qxh6 gxh6 20. Bxh6#) 17... Bxh3 18. Bd5+ Kf8 19. Qh5) 17. Qh5+) 12... exf5 13. Rxf5 O-O 14. c4 bxc3 15. bxc3 Ne5 16. c4 Bc8 17. Rf1 Rb8 18. Nhf4 $2 {"Very bad move. Nc3 is how you should play it."} (18. Nc3 Qa5 19. Qd2 Bxh3 20. Bxh3 Rb7) 18... g5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Bf6 21. d4 cxd4 22. Nxd4 Bg4 23. Qa4 (23. Qd2 Bg7 24. Kh1 Qb6 {"He just can't stop ...Nc4."}) 23... Nd3 24. Qc4 (24. Be3 Rb4 25. Qxa6 (25. Qc2 Bxd4 26. Qxd3 Bxa1 {transposes to the game}) 25... Nc5) (24. Ba3 Rb4 $1 25. Bxb4 Bxd4+ 26. Kh1 Bxa1 27. Ba5 (27. Rxa1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Qb6 {"And it's very difficult to stop the smothered mate...I've never in my life given smothered mate."} 29. h3 Qd4 {"completely devastating."} ) 27... Bd7 28. Qa3 Bb2) 24... Rb4 25. Qxd3 Bxd4+ 26. Be3 Bxa1 27. Rxa1 Qf6 28. Re1 Rc8 29. h3 Bd7 30. Qxa6 Rc2 31. Rf1 0-1