[Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Niemann, Hans Moke"] [Black "Mishra, Abhimanyu"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2738"] [BlackElo "2652"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "169"] [GameId "2234148942371828"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 Bb6 8. Bb3 Ne7 9. Nc4 Ng6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bc2 c6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. d4 b5 (13... Qc7 14. h3 h6 15. Be3 Bd7 16. a4 c5 17. Nd2 b5 18. dxc5 dxc5 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Qf3 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Nf4 22. Re1 b6 23. Bb3 Bc6 24. Bc2 Bb5 25. Nf1 Nh7 26. Ng3 Ng5 27. Qg4 Nge6 28. Nf5 Kh7 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. e5 {1-0 Firouzja,A (2759)-Ju,W (2560) Chessable Masters Prelim chess24.com INT rapid 2021 (5)}) 14. h3 h6 15. a3 Bd7 (15... Qc7 16. Be3 Be6 17. Nd2 Rad8 18. Qf3 Qe7 19. a4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Bc8 21. Qe2 Nh7 22. f3 Ng5 23. Kh1 h5 24. Qf2 Ne6 25. Bd3 h4 26. Bf1 Nef4 27. Raa1 Be6 28. Ra7 Ra8 29. Rea1 Rxa7 30. Rxa7 exd4 31. Bxd4 Ne5 32. b4 Bc8 33. Nc4 Nxc4 34. Bxc4 Be6 35. Bf1 Nh5 36. Kg1 Bc8 37. Ra1 Ng3 38. Qd2 f5 39. exf5 Bxf5 40. Bf2 Qf6 41. Rd1 d5 42. Re1 Rxe1 43. Qxe1 Kh7 44. Bd4 Qe6 45. Qd2 Bg6 46. Be3 Qf5 47. Qd4 Qf6 48. Qd2 Qf5 49. Qc1 Qc2 50. Qxc2 Bxc2 51. Bg5 Nf5 52. Kf2 Kg6 53. f4 Kf7 54. Be2 b5 55. Bg4 g6 56. Bxf5 gxf5 57. Bxh4 Bd1 58. Bd8 Bh5 59. Kg3 Bd1 60. Bb6 Be2 61. Kh4 Kg6 62. Bd4 Bd1 63. g4 Be2 64. Kg3 Bd1 65. Be5 Be2 66. Kf2 Bd1 67. gxf5+ Kxf5 68. Ke3 Ke6 69. h4 Bg4 70. Kd4 Bf5 71. h5 Bc2 72. Kc5 Kd7 73. h6 Bh7 74. Bf6 Bc2 75. Bh4 Bh7 76. Kd4 Ke6 77. Kc5 Kd7 78. Kd4 Ke6 {½-½ Dominguez Perez,L (2713)-Bruzon Batista,L (2668) Capablanca Memorial Elite 45th Havana 2010 (1)}) (15... Be6 16. Be3 Qe7 17. Qd2 Nh5 18. Kh2 Rad8 19. a4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Ra8 21. Rea1 Rxa4 22. Rxa4 Nf6 23. Ra7 Bc8 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 26. Bf4 Nxe4 27. Qe3 Qe6 28. f3 g5 29. Bxe4 gxf4 30. Qxf4 d5 31. Bb1 Qe5 32. Qxe5 Rxe5 33. Ra8 Re8 34. Kg3 Kf8 35. Kf4 Ke7 36. Bf5 Bd7 37. Ra7 Rb8 38. g4 Be8 39. h4 f6 40. b4 Kd6 41. Ke3 c5 42. bxc5+ Kxc5 43. Ra5+ Kd6 44. Kd4 Bc6 45. Bg6 b5 46. Ra6 Rc8 47. f4 Kc7 48. Bf5 Rb8 49. Kc5 Be8 50. Rxf6 b4 51. cxb4 Rb5+ 52. Kd4 h5 53. g5 Rxb4+ 54. Ke5 Kd8 55. Rd6+ Ke7 56. Rxd5 Rb2 57. Rc5 Rh2 58. Rc7+ Kd8 59. Ra7 Rxh4 60. Kd6 {1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2751)-Le,Q (2709) Aimchess US Rapid Prelim chess24.com INT 2021 (10)}) 16. Be3 $146 (16. Bd2 Qc7 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Nd2 d5 19. Qf3 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 exd4 22. Bxd4 Be6 23. Qe3 Bd5 24. Bb6 Qd6 25. f3 Ra8 26. Qd2 Ne5 27. Bxd5 Qxd5 28. Qxd5 cxd5 29. Bf2 Nc4 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. b3 Nd2 32. Rd1 Nxb3 33. Rxd5 Ra8 34. Rxb5 Rxa3 35. Rxb7 Nc1 36. c4 Rc3 37. Rb8+ Kh7 38. Rc8 Nd3 39. Bd4 Rc2 40. Kf1 Nf4 41. g3 Nxh3 42. Be3 Ng5 43. Bxg5 {½-½ De Andres Senra,S (2361)-Wojcik,W (2372) EU-ch 2022 sf20 email ICCF email}) 16... Qc7 17. Nd2 d5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Bd4 Qf4 20. g3 Qd6 $11 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. f4 Nxf4 $5 (22... Qe6 23. f5 Qd6) 23. gxf4 Qxf4 24. Qe2 dxe4 (24... Bxh3 $142 $11) 25. Nxe4 $14 Bxh3 26. Qf2 Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Rad8 28. Nd6 (28. Kg3 $142 Be6 (28... Bc8 $6 29. Nd6 $16) 29. Nc5 Bc8 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Ne4 $14) 28... Rxe1 29. Rxe1 b6 30. Bf5 Kf8 31. Bxh3 Rxd6 32. Re4 g6 {The engine calls it equal, but practically the advantage is with White. He enjoys what winning chances there are here.} 33. Rb4 Ke7 34. Bf1 f5 35. c4 Rd4 $1 36. Rb3 Rf4+ 37. Ke1 Re4+ 38. Be2 bxc4 39. Rxb6 {It's still equal, or "equal", but now that White has a passer Black's task is a little more difficult.} Kd6 40. Kd2 g5 41. Rb8 g4 (41... Rh4 {is probably safer, not offering any pawns at this point.}) 42. Rh8 Re6 $2 (42... g3 $1 43. Rxh6+ Ke5 $1 (43... Kc5 $2 44. Rh5 $18) 44. Rg6 (44. Rxc6 $4 g2 45. Rg6 Rg4 $1 $19) 44... f4 45. Rxc6 Rd4+ 46. Ke1 Re4 $1 47. Rxc4 Re3 48. Kf1 f3 49. Bxf3 Rxf3+ 50. Kg2 Rf2+ 51. Kxg3 Rxb2 $11) 43. Bxc4 $16 Rg6 44. Ke3 $2 (44. Rg8 $1 $18) 44... f4+ 45. Kf2 $16 g3+ (45... Kc5) 46. Kg1 Ke5 $1 47. Re8+ $6 (47. Be2) 47... Kd4 $11 48. Be2 c5 $1 49. a4 c4 $2 (49... Rb6 $1 {was the only way to maintain "equality".}) 50. Rd8+ $1 Ke3 51. Bxc4 f3 52. Rd3+ $1 (52. Bd5 Rf6 53. Rg8 Rf5 54. Bb7 Rf7 $1 {Not letting the bishop stay on b7.} 55. Bd5 Rf5 56. Ba8 Kf4 57. b4 h5 58. a5 f2+ 59. Kg2 h4 60. a6 h3+ 61. Kf1 Re5 62. Rf8+ Kg5 63. Rxf2 gxf2 64. Kxf2 Rb5) 52... Ke4 53. a5 $2 {A mistake, but the win is far from obvious.} (53. Rd7 $3 {was the move, and you'll get the point if you compare this line to the variation with 52.Bd5. The essential idea is that with White's rook on the 7th rank his bishop will be safe on b7 where it doesn't get in the a-pawn's way.} Ke3 54. Bd5 Rf6 55. Rg7 Rf5 56. Bb7 Kf4 57. b4 h5 58. a5 f2+ 59. Kg2 h4 60. a6 h3+ 61. Kf1 $8 Re5 62. Rf7+ Kg5 63. Rxf2 gxf2 64. Kxf2 Rb5 65. a7 $18) 53... g2 $2 (53... h5 $1 $11) 54. Rd1 $1 Ke3 55. Re1+ $1 Kf4 56. Bd5 $1 Rg5 57. Bxf3 $1 Kxf3 58. Ra1 $1 {The fifth straight "only-move" to keep a winning advantage.} Ke4 59. b4 Kd5 60. b5 Kc5 61. b6 Kc6 62. Rc1+ Kb7 63. Rc7+ Ka8 64. a6 Rg8 65. Rh7 (65. b7+ Kb8 66. a7+ $1 Kxc7 67. a8=Q Rb8 68. Kxg2 Rxb7 {White will eventually win, but there's no need to both with queen vs. rook.}) 65... h5 66. Rxh5 Rb8 67. Rh6 Rg8 68. Rh7 Kb8 (68... Rb8 69. Ra7#) 69. Rh2 Ka8 70. Rxg2 Rb8 71. Rg6 Rd8 {There's no need to play out this ending, which is a trivially easy win, but no harm done either - and it's nice to see the mate with which Niemann ends the game.} 72. Kf2 Re8 73. Kf3 Kb8 74. Kf4 Ka8 75. Kf5 Rb8 76. Ke5 Rf8 77. Kd5 Kb8 78. Kc6 Ka8 79. Rg5 Rh8 80. Kb5 Rd8 81. Rc5 Rh8 (81... Kb8 82. a7+ Kb7 83. Rc7+ Ka8 84. Ka6 $18) 82. Rc8+ $5 (82. a7 {is faster to mate, but not as nice as the game.}) 82... Rxc8 83. b7+ Kb8 ({After} 83... Ka7 {White must underpromote to a bishop or knight to avoid stalemate. Either way wins.} 84. bxc8=B (84. bxc8=N+)) 84. Kb6 $1 Rc7 {Very sporting.} 85. a7# 1-0 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Woodward, Andy"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2698"] [BlackElo "2590"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2234148942384117"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,72,14,16,7,0,-111,20,12,24,29,21,32,33,15,21,22,27,26,0,-95,2,0,12,81,81,95,100,83,84,101,93,93,55,112,56,0,69,29,32,52,79,1,43,21,-1,-36,-18,9,-16,-60,-254,-277,-187,-226,-319,-358,-337,-283,-333,-321,-164,-339,-323,-347,-403,-304,-473,-373,-625,-463,-631,-627,-367,-626]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2 f6 9. Na3 {Not especially common, but it has been tried by some great players like Caruana, Gukesh, and Le.} Be6 10. Nc2 Qd7 $146 ({The position before this move had occurred six times (and this position appears in 11 games). Interestingly, three of those six (or 11) games featured Sevian - but only on the black side.} 10... O-O 11. e4 Qd3 12. Re1 Rad8 (12... Rfd8 13. Bf1 Qd7 14. d4 exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bb4 17. Qf3 (17. Re3 c5 18. Nxe6 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Rxd1 20. a3 Be1 21. Nxc5 Rad8 22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Ra1 24. Kg2 Rdd1 25. Be2 Rg1+ 26. Kf3 Rgc1 27. Rxc1 Rxc1 28. Nxb7 Rc3+ 29. Kf4 Rxb3 30. a4 Kf8 31. a5 Nd7 32. a6 Ne5 33. Nc5 Rc3 34. Ne6+ Kf7 35. Nd4 Rc5 36. Nb5 Nc6 37. Nd6+ Kf8 38. h4 Rc2 39. Ke3 Ra2 40. Bc4 Ra3+ 41. Ke2 Nd4+ 42. Kf1 Ra1+ 43. Kg2 Nc6 44. Nc8 g6 45. g4 Nb4 46. Nxa7 Nxa6 47. Nc6 Nc5 48. f3 Rc1 49. Na5 Rc2+ 50. Kg3 g5 51. hxg5 fxg5 52. e5 h6 53. Nc6 Rxc4 {0-1 Yoo,C (2455)-Sevian,S (2660) Titled Tuesday intern op 16th Mar Chess.com INT blitz 2021 (9)}) 17... Bxe1 18. Rxe1 Bg4 19. Qf4 Re8 20. a4 a5 21. Rc1 c6 22. Rc5 Qe7 23. Qxg4 Qxc5 24. Nf5 Qf8 25. Ba3 Rxe4 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. Qxe4 Qxa3 28. Nf7+ Kg8 29. Qe6 Qf8 30. Nd6+ Kh8 31. Bd3 g6 32. Nxb7 Nd5 33. Bc4 Nb6 34. Bd3 Nd5 35. Bc4 Nb6 36. Bf1 Nd5 37. Qxc6 Nb4 38. Qb6 Rb8 39. Bg2 Qe7 40. h4 Kg7 41. h5 Nd3 42. Kh2 Ne5 43. Kg1 Nd3 44. Qd4 Qe1+ 45. Kh2 Nxf2 46. h6+ Kxh6 47. Qf4+ Kg7 48. Qc7+ Kh6 49. Qf4+ Kg7 50. Qc7+ Kh6 51. Qxb8 Ng4+ 52. Kh3 Nf2+ 53. Kh2 Ng4+ 54. Kh3 Nf2+ 55. Kh2 {½-½ Gukesh,D (2563)-Sevian,S (2660) RBI op Final Chess.com INT rapid 2020 (1.2)}) 13. Bf1 Qd7 14. d4 exd4 15. Ncxd4 Bg4 16. Qc2 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Rfe8 18. Rac1 c6 19. b4 Kh8 20. b5 c5 21. Nf5 Bf8 22. h3 Bxf5 23. exf5 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 c4 25. a4 Bb4 26. Re4 Qd2 27. Qxd2 Bxd2 28. Bxc4 Nxa4 29. Ba3 Nb6 30. Bb3 Nc8 31. Bd5 a6 32. b6 Nxb6 33. Bxb7 a5 34. Bc5 Na8 35. Rc4 Bb4 36. Be3 h6 37. h4 Kh7 38. g4 Rb8 39. Be4 Nb6 40. Rc7 Na4 41. g5 Nc3 42. Bf3 Nb5 43. Rd7 hxg5 44. hxg5 Kh8 45. g6 Nc3 46. Bd2 a4 47. Rd3 a3 48. Bxc3 Bxc3 49. Bd5 Bd2 50. Rxd2 Rb1+ 51. Kg2 a2 52. Bb3 Rg1+ 53. Kf3 {1-0 Caruana,F (2812)-Sevian,S (2654) FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss Douglas 2019 (2)}) 11. e4 Bc5 (11... Bg4 $142 {Black can't prevent d2-d4, but should at least do what he can to fight against it.} 12. d4 Nxd4 13. Ncxd4 exd4 14. a4 $1 a5 15. Bxd4 Bb4 $11 {/?}) 12. d4 $1 exd4 13. Ncxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 $14 Bg4 15. Nf3 $1 O-O (15... Qxd1 $142 16. Rfxd1 c6) 16. Qc2 $16 {Sevian has done very well so far, but the game steadily and then suddenly falls away from him.} Bd6 17. a4 (17. Rad1 $16 {is probably a little better, not giving up the b4 square just yet.}) 17... a5 18. Rfe1 (18. Rad1 $142) 18... Bb4 19. Red1 (19. Bc3 $142) 19... Qe7 $11 20. h3 Bh5 21. g4 Bf7 22. Nd4 Rad8 23. Qe2 (23. Rac1 $142) (23. Nf5 $142) 23... Qe8 (23... g6 $142 $15) 24. Qe3 Qe5 25. f4 $4 (25. Qe2 $1 $11) 25... Nd5 $1 $19 {There's no second chance for White: he's completely lost after this tactically alert move.} 26. Qf2 (26. fxe5 Nxe3 27. e6 (27. Rdc1 Nxg2 28. Kxg2 fxe5 $19) 27... Nxd1 28. exf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxd1 c5 $19) 26... Nxf4 27. Nc6 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Qxe4 $1 {A lovely shot, but White's loss can't be blamed on this as Black had other winning moves as well. (This was the best of the batch, however, in addition to being the flashiest.)} 29. Nxb4 (29. Bxe4 Nxh3+ 30. Kg2 Nxf2 31. Kxf2 bxc6 $19) 29... Nxg2 30. Rd4 Qb1+ 31. Kxg2 axb4 32. Qd2 (32. Rxb4 Bd5+) 32... c6 33. Rd7 Re8 34. g5 Bd5+ 35. Rxd5 Qe4+ 36. Kf2 Qxd5 {Sevian won the first part of the game, but from move 16 on Woodward thoroughly outplayed his higher-rated opponent.} 0-1 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Robson, Ray"] [Black "Shankland, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "2664"] [BlackElo "2654"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "2004887"] [PlyCount "120"] [GameId "2234148942388214"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. h3 c6 6. g4 h6 7. a4 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Bg2 Re8 10. O-O Nh7 11. Nd2 Ndf8 12. f4 Ne6 13. Ne2 b6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. f5 Nd4 16. c3 Bg5 17. Bxg5 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Qxg5 19. a5 Ba6 20. Qxa6 Qxd2 21. axb6 Qe3+ 22. Kh2 Qxb6 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rd1 Nf6 26. Kg3 Kf8 27. h4 Ke7 28. Bf3 g5 29. fxg6 fxg6 30. Kf2 Ra2 31. Rb1 Ne8 32. Ke3 Nc7 33. Bd1 Ra8 34. Bb3 Rf8 35. g5 hxg5 36. hxg5 Rf4 37. Rh1 Rg4 38. Rh7+ Kd6 39. Rf7 Rxg5 40. Rf6+ Kd7 41. Bf7 Nb5 42. Rxg6 Rxg6 43. Bxg6 Nd6 44. b4 Ke7 45. Bh5 Kf6 46. Bg4 Kg5 47. Bd7 c5 48. bxc5 bxc5 49. Bc6 Kg4 50. Bd5 Kg3 51. Bc6 Kg2 52. Ke2 Kg3 53. Ke3 Nc4+ 54. Kd3 Na5 55. Bd5 Kf3 56. Be6 Kf2 57. Bd5 Ke1 58. Be6 Kd1 59. Bd5 Kc1 60. Be6 Kd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Liang, Awonder"] [Black "Oparin, Grigoriy"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2661"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "208"] [GameId "2234148942388215"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8. h3 g5 9. d4 g4 10. hxg4 Bxg4 11. dxc5 Rg8 12. Na3 dxc5 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Nh4 Be6 15. g3 b5 16. Nc2 c4 17. b4 Be7 18. a4 Ng4 19. Nf5 Bg5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra6 Bxc1 22. Rxc1 Bxf5 23. exf5 Ne7 24. f6 Nd5 25. Na3 e4 26. Nxb5 e3 27. fxe3 Ngxf6 28. Nc7+ Nxc7 29. Rxf6 Rxg3+ 30. Kf2 Rxe3 31. Bxc4 Re7 32. Rc2 Nd5 33. Bb5+ Kf8 34. Rd2 Re5 35. Bc6 Ke7 36. Rf3 Rd6 37. b5 Nb6 38. Ra2 Rde6 39. Rf4 Kd6 40. Rxf7 Re7 41. Rf4 Kc5 42. Bf3 Re3 43. Rc2 R3e5 44. c4 R7e6 45. Rc1 Re7 46. Rh1 Rc7 47. Be2 Rd7 48. Rh3 h5 49. Rhf3 Rc7 50. Bf1 Kb4 51. Rf6 Na4 52. R3f4 Nc5 53. Kg1 Rce7 54. Kh2 Re4 55. Rxe4 Nxe4 56. Rf4 Nd2 57. Bg2 Nxc4 58. Bf1 Kxb5 59. Rxc4 Kb6 60. Kh3 Rc7 61. Ra4 Kc5 62. Kh4 Kd5 63. Bg2+ Ke5 64. Bf3 Rc3 65. Bxh5 Re3 66. Kg5 Re4 67. Ra5+ Kd4 68. Kf5 Re1 69. Bf3 Re8 70. Ra4+ Kc5 71. Be4 Rf8+ 72. Ke5 Re8+ 73. Kf4 Rb8 74. Ra6 Kd4 75. Rd6+ Kc5 76. Rd7 Rh8 77. Rd5+ Kc4 78. Rd1 Kc5 79. Ke3 Rb8 80. Rd5+ Kc4 81. Rd6 Rb3+ 82. Kf4 Rh3 83. Ke5 Rh5+ 84. Bf5 Kc5 85. Rd8 Kc4 86. Rc8+ Kb5 87. Ke4 Kb4 88. Be6 Rh4+ 89. Kd3 Kb5 90. Bd5 Kb4 91. Be4 Rh3+ 92. Kd4 Rh4 93. Rb8+ Ka4 94. Rb7 Rg4 95. Kd5 Ka3 96. Bd3 Rb4 97. Rh7 Rg4 98. Kc5 Kb2 99. Rh3 Rg8 100. Be4 Rc8+ 101. Kd4 Rd8+ 102. Bd5 Kc2 103. Rh2+ Kd1 104. Ra2 Rd7 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Swiercz, Dariusz"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2577"] [BlackElo "2789"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "120"] [GameId "2234148942388216"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,120,8,19,26,15,34,31,34,20,17,14,27,21,32,28,22,26,49,37,34,33,23,31,35,43,41,35,33,43,55,31,59,49,13,68,-38,60,54,65,50,24,26,17,9,5,4,-22,-51,-5,-23,-19,-31,-31,113,-31,61,-53,-72,-51,-16,62,-43,-155,-59,-87,-1,-164,-121,-55,-158,-162,-204,-238,-239,-237,-241,-252,-269,-257,-1,-269,-245,-287,-261,-179,-296,-395,-313,-268,-271,-304,-284,-137,-142,-101,-289,-292,-164,-281,-252,-289,-297,-352,-148,-236,-386,-499,-434,-509,-457,-662,-466,-717,-709,-999,-1043,-1184,-1004,-1113,-1218,-1220,-1340]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. c3 h6 7. O-O Nd7 8. Nbd2 Qc7 9. Re1 a6 10. Nf1 c5 11. Ng3 Bh7 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. Bd2 Be7 15. h3 O-O-O 16. Rab1 Kb8 17. b4 c4 18. Qc2 b5 19. a4 Kb7 20. a5 $6 {White voluntarily eliminates any chance he might have of creating queenside counterplay. This gives Black a free hand to build on the kingside; additionally, Swiercz was very short on time. Within a few moves he was living off the increment, and couldn't maintain the balance.} Rdg8 $15 21. Qd1 Qd8 22. Nh2 g6 23. Qf3 Rh7 24. Qe2 h5 25. f4 Bh4 $1 26. Qf2 g5 $1 {Good in its own right, and especially as a way of playing off White's time trouble.} 27. fxg5 Bxg5 28. Bxg5 Qxg5 29. Ne2 $2 (29. Re3 $142 $1 $15) 29... Rhg7 $2 (29... f6 $1 30. exf6 Nxf6 $17 {[%CAl Bh7g7,Bf6e4]}) 30. Nf4 $11 Ne7 31. h4 $2 {Logical but wrong.} (31. Rb2 $1 $11 {followed (in most cases) by Nf1 was better, waiting.}) 31... Qh6 $19 32. Re3 Nf5 33. Rh3 Nf8 (33... f6) 34. Re1 Ng6 35. Nxg6 Rxg6 36. Nf3 (36. Re2) 36... Rxg2+ $1 37. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Qf4 {Black's queen is brilliantly placed. Sooner or later, she and the knight will win the game.} 39. Re2 Kc7 {Bringing the king to defend the f-pawn before going for something committal.} 40. Re1 Kd7 41. Kf2 Qg4 42. Reh1 Ke7 43. Ng5 Qf4+ 44. Rf3 Qd2+ 45. Kf1 f6 $5 46. exf6+ Kxf6 47. Rhh3 Ke7 48. Rf2 (48. Kg1 Nxh4 $1 $19) 48... Ne3+ 49. Rxe3 (49. Kg1 Qe1+ $19) 49... Qxe3 50. Rf7+ Ke8 51. Rf3 Qc1+ $1 52. Ke2 e5 $5 53. dxe5 d4 $1 54. cxd4 c3 55. Ne4 c2 56. Nd6+ Kd7 57. d5 {Threatening to give perpetual check with Rf7+, Rf8+, Rf7+ and so on.} Qd1+ 58. Kf2 Qd2+ 59. Kg3 Qe1+ 60. Kg2 Qxe5 {No more perpetual, and so no more reason for White to continue.} 0-1 [Event "ch-USA 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.6"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C47"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2722"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "58"] [GameId "2234148942388217"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,58,12,-15,14,21,18,-2,10,9,7,-92,22,14,1,0,8,6,6,-4,34,-21,16,6,6,-5,14,12,17,22,21,-23,29,21,30,17,56,57,58,43,49,36,37,29,42,25,52,36,38,36,34,42,38,29,33,23,18,40,21,33,24]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 {Really? This is how one goes from sole leader to joint leader. It's one thing to play for a draw with Black; another thing altogether as White.} exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. Bd2 {A moderately interesting (but also well-explored) alternative to the usual 8.exd5.} O-O 9. O-O Bxc3 10. Bxc3 dxe4 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Bxe4 Qxb2 13. Bxc6 Rb8 14. Rb1 Qxb1 15. Qxb1 Rxb1 16. Rxb1 {This has happened in more than 140 games, most of which were pro forma draws.} Rd8 17. Bf3 Bf5 (17... Kf8 {is more common, albeit without being more interesting.}) 18. Rb7 Bxc2 19. Rxc7 Be4 20. Rxa7 Bxf3 21. gxf3 {Nothing new so far. Five previous games got here, all of which - brace yourself for a shock - finished in a draw.} g5 {Almost a novelty.} ({Two higher-rated games saw} 21... g6 {:} 22. a4 (22. Kg2 Kg7 23. a4 Rd4 24. a5 Ra4 25. Ra8 h5 26. a6 Kf6 27. Kg3 h4+ 28. Kh3 g5 29. Ra7 Kg6 30. Kg2 f6 31. Ra8 Kf5 32. h3 Kf4 33. Ra7 Ra1 34. Ra8 Ra3 35. Ra7 Ke5 {½-½ Dragnev,V (2589)-Huschenbeth,N (2609) AUT-chT 2324 Austria 2023 (2.1)}) 22... Rd3 23. Kg2 Ra3 24. Kg3 Kg7 25. Ra6 h5 26. h4 Ra1 27. Kg2 Ra2 28. f4 Ra3 29. f3 Ra2+ 30. Kg3 f5 31. a5 Kf7 32. Ra7+ Kg8 33. a6 Kf8 34. Kh3 Kg8 35. Kg3 Kf8 36. Kh3 Kg8 37. Kg3 {½-½ Ganguly,S (2608)-Shirov,A (2704) Olympiad-44 Chennai 2022 (4.1)}) 22. Kg2 (22. a4 {and draw agreed was a 2022 game between Stachecki (1928) and Starosciak (1989).}) 22... Kg7 23. Ra6 Rd4 24. Ra7 h5 25. Ra6 f6 26. Ra7+ Kg6 27. Ra6 Kg7 28. Ra7+ Kg6 29. Ra6 Kg7 {Aronian is strong and tricky, but one doesn't win tournaments [generally speaking] by throwing away the white pieces against a slightly lower-rated opponent.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Cervantes Landeiro, Thalia"] [Black "Zatonskih, Anna"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2311"] [BlackElo "2310"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "135"] [GameId "2234149027101843"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 h6 9. Bh4 Ne8 10. Bg3 Nd6 11. Qc2 Re8 12. O-O Bf8 13. b4 Nd7 14. b5 Nb6 15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Na4 Nxa4 17. Qxa4 Bd7 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Rab1 Qa5 20. Nc1 Ne4 21. Nb3 Qa4 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Rfc1 Be6 24. h3 Bd5 25. Ra1 Ba3 26. Nc5 Qa5 27. Rcb1 Bxc5 28. dxc5 Re7 29. Bd6 Rd7 30. Rb2 Qa6 31. Rd1 Rcd8 32. Rd4 Rb7 33. a4 Rdd7 34. Rdb4 Rxb4 35. Rxb4 Rb7 36. Qb2 Rxb4 37. Qxb4 Kh7 38. Kh2 Qe2 39. Bg3 Qc4 40. Qa5 a6 41. Be5 Qe2 42. Qc3 f6 43. Bg3 Qd3 44. Qb4 Bb3 45. a5 Bc4 46. Qb7 Qd5 47. Bd6 Kg8 48. Qd7 Kh7 49. Qe8 Bb5 50. Bf8 Qf5 51. Qe7 Qg6 52. Kg1 Kg8 53. Qd8 Kh7 54. Qd7 Kg8 55. Bd6 Kh7 56. Qe6 Kh8 57. Kh2 h5 58. g4 hxg4 59. hxg4 Qh6+ 60. Kg2 Qg6 61. Kg3 Be2 62. Bf4 Kh7 63. Bc7 Bf3 64. Qf5 Qxf5 65. gxf5 Kg8 66. Kf4 Kf7 67. Bd6 Kg8 68. Bc7 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Paragua, Megan Althea"] [Black "Krush, Irina"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "2259"] [BlackElo "2388"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "128"] [GameId "2234149027105940"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,128,24,0,23,-34,20,24,7,0,7,7,7,5,17,28,0,8,-56,-9,-12,-23,0,-3,-68,-7,-4,-29,1,0,5,-27,53,12,173,25,-5,4,30,25,17,14,18,13,29,-26,-32,-32,24,36,30,23,14,-45,-137,-93,-68,-92,-116,-106,-101,-60,-67,-50,-40,-113,-174,-96,-141,-107,-75,-157,-234,-140,-258,-148,-158,-121,-126,-130,-50,-164,-114,-226,-101,-209,-219,-229,-255,-238,-171,-218,-178,-203,-197,-212,-208,-217,-199,-205,-139,-145,-173,-153,-162,-139,-95,-146,-98,-90,-127,-120,-55,-145,-71,-75,-92,-103,-87,33,-163,-198,-247,-207,-157,-252,-497,-527,-527,-557,-577]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. g3 b5 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. d3 d6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Re1 Nbd7 9. h3 Be7 10. Bf4 e5 11. Bd2 b4 12. Ne2 O-O 13. Nh4 a5 14. Nf5 Re8 15. g4 Bf8 16. Neg3 Kh8 17. g5 Ng8 18. h4 g6 19. Ne3 f6 20. Bh3 fxg5 21. hxg5 Nb6 22. Nc4 Nxc4 23. dxc4 h6 24. Qg4 Bc8 {Despite having all her pieces on the back rank Black stands better. The advantage quickly grows.} 25. Qh4 Be7 26. Rad1 Kg7 27. Bxc8 hxg5 28. Qh2 Qxc8 29. Kg2 Nh6 30. Rh1 Rh8 31. Qh3 Qg8 32. b3 Qf7 $19 33. Rdf1 Nf5 34. Nxf5+ gxf5 35. Qxf5 Qxf5 36. exf5 Kf6 37. a4 Kxf5 38. Rxh8 Rxh8 39. Be3 g4 40. Rd1 Rh3 41. Rd2 Bf8 42. Rd1 Bh6 43. Bxh6 Rxh6 {Not all rook endings are drawn.} 44. Kg3 Rh3+ 45. Kg2 Ke6 46. Rd2 Rc3 47. Kh2 e4 48. Kg2 Ke5 49. Kf1 g3 50. fxg3 Rxg3 51. Rd5+ Kf4 $1 52. Rxd6 Kf3 53. Rd5 Rh3 54. Rf5+ Ke3 55. Rxc5 Kd2 56. Rxa5 Rf3+ 57. Kg2 Kxc2 (57... Rf6 $19 {is good too, leaving Black the pleasant option of gobbling up White's pawns on the one hand or trying to promote the e-pawn on the other.}) 58. Re5 Kxb3 59. Rxe4 Rf6 60. a5 Ka3 61. a6 Rxa6 62. Kf3 b3 63. Re5 b2 64. Rb5 Ra4 {A very good technical win for Krush.} 0-1 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Pourkashiyan, Atousa"] [Black "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "C03"] [WhiteElo "2291"] [BlackElo "2406"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "74"] [GameId "2234149027105941"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,74,28,25,23,13,25,-11,25,42,33,14,26,40,43,51,44,35,46,-33,31,34,4,19,30,12,25,19,19,-7,15,5,-102,-15,-23,-32,-72,-25,-15,-96,-70,-50,-76,-103,-90,-105,-90,-89,-105,-106,-112,-218,-143,-150,-215,-227,-184,-231,-242,-257,-250,-224,-252,-195,-285,-456,-368,-417,-529,-507,-571,-818,-777,-1354,-1351,-1571,-1659]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 h6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. O-O g5 9. Nb1 cxd4 10. cxd4 g4 11. Ne1 Nxd4 12. Qxg4 Nc6 13. f4 Nc5 14. Nc3 Qb6 15. Kh1 Bd7 16. Qd1 O-O-O 17. Bb1 Rg8 18. Nf3 Kb8 19. Bc2 $2 d4 $19 {Black is winning, and shows powerful form the rest of the way to finish with a series of power shots.} 20. Na4 Nxa4 21. Bxa4 Qa6 22. Bc2 Nb4 23. Bh7 Rg7 24. Be4 Ba4 25. b3 Bxb3 26. Qe1 Nc2 27. Bxc2 Bxc2 28. Bd2 Ba3 29. Bc1 Bc5 30. Bd2 Rdg8 31. Rf2 Qc6 32. g3 Be4 33. Kg2 h5 $1 34. Rc1 h4 35. Rxc5 hxg3 $3 {Finishing in style.} 36. Rxc6 gxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Rg2+ (37... Rg2+ 38. Kf1 Bd3+ 39. Qe2 Bxe2+ 40. Ke1 Bxf3 {Even stronger than taking the rook. Now Black will finish with a speedy mate:} 41. Rd6 Rxh2 {Sooner or later, ...Rg1+ will come, and it will probably be mate.}) 0-1 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Yu, Jennifer"] [Black "Atwell, Rose"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2256"] [BlackElo "2353"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "94"] [GameId "2234149027110038"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,94,19,0,14,19,21,19,24,26,24,14,14,18,17,20,16,13,29,-1,1,0,16,-14,-3,-11,16,-35,-25,-8,-86,-6,-5,-34,-8,-8,41,-1,35,-11,56,29,16,35,-52,-63,-35,-21,-2,110,40,24,20,9,211,289,451,371,259,431,260,431,267,283,294,254,280,97,309,242,176,210,227,154,198,211,175,125,161,98,20,104,81,69,26,83,106,91,87,137,38,16,36,22,1,14,1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 c6 7. h3 Bf5 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. g4 Bg6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nh4 Be4 13. f3 Nh5 14. gxh5 Bxh4+ 15. Kd2 Bf5 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. e4 dxe4 18. fxe4 Be6 19. h6 g6 20. a4 f5 21. d5 Bf7 22. exf5 cxd5 23. b4 gxf5 24. Rhg1+ Kh8 25. Bb5 Nf6 26. Be5 Bg6 27. Raf1 Kg8 28. Rf4 Rfe8 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. Rxf5 Kf7 31. Rf4 Rxe5 32. Rxh4 Ne4+ 33. Nxe4 dxe4 34. Ke3 Rd5 35. Rf4+ Ke6 {White is completely winning and has more than one way to bring home the point. Unfortunately, the idea she decided on threw away the win.} 36. Rh4 $6 {Intending to take on g6 and then play h7.} (36. Rxg6+ {doesn't queen the h-pawn but leads to a winning rook ending after} hxg6 37. Rxe4+ Kf7 38. Rf4+ Ke6 39. Rh4 Rd8 40. h7 Rh8 41. Kf4 Kf6 42. Kg4 $18 {lets White penetrate and win.}) 36... Rd3+ 37. Ke2 Bf5 38. Rg7 $2 (38. Rg8 $1 {seems strange as the rook doesn't attack any pawns at all. The reason this improves on the text is that the rook needs some checking distance in the following line - compare the note to White's 39th move in the game.} Rd4 39. Re8+ Kf6 40. Rf4 Rxb4 41. Rf8+ $18) 38... Rd4 $1 $16 39. Rxb7 (39. Rf4 Rxb4 $14 {and there's no check on e7.}) 39... Rxb4 40. Rh5 (40. Rf4 Rxa4 $11) 40... Kf6 $1 $11 {White's rook is trapped, and so the extra exchange is without value. The game is drawn.} 41. Rg7 Rxa4 42. Rg8 Ra2+ 43. Ke1 Ra1+ 44. Kd2 Ra2+ 45. Ke1 Ra1+ 46. Kd2 Ra2+ 47. Ke1 Ra1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Sargsyan, Anna M."] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2452"] [BlackElo "2369"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "75"] [GameId "2234149027110039"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,75,9,25,28,25,36,29,19,30,17,32,32,31,29,13,33,37,57,22,24,-32,71,44,11,22,35,62,26,13,30,20,45,15,48,24,28,9,34,30,35,37,122,152,136,17,132,-1,140,136,238,195,228,125,263,204,295,110,135,82,291,306,403,317,249,263,436,643,813,725,754,533,647,581,602,646,705,628]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 f5 $6 {A risky and slightly bad line in an already risky variation. One has to admire Sargsyan's ambition and daring, but maybe not her lack of prudence against the top seed.} 7. N1c3 a6 8. Bg5 Qd7 9. Na3 f4 $146 10. Nd5 $16 Qf7 11. f3 Be6 12. Bh4 Rc8 13. Bf2 Nf6 14. Be2 Be7 15. Qd2 O-O 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. O-O g5 $1 {Black has done well - and White not so well - over the last half-dozen or so moves. It's still anyone's game, but that's an improvement from where she (Sargsyan) was a few moves ago.} 18. Rfd1 Rcd8 (18... g4 $1 {Meh to the d-pawn. The attack's the thing.} 19. Qxd6 Qf7 20. Nc2 Rce8 $44 {Black is building up a King's Indian Defense-style attack without having to worry about the bad fianchettoed bishop or White's queenside breakthrough. White has won the d-pawn, but for now it carries no further implications.}) 19. b4 $1 $14 g4 20. b5 $1 g3 $2 {Natural but mistaken.} (20... axb5 21. cxb5 gxf3 $1 22. Bxf3 (22. gxf3 Nd4 $1 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Nc2 (24. Qxd4 $2 d5 $1 $17 {[%CAl Bd5e4,Be7a3] /-+}) 24... d5 $1 25. Nxd4 dxe4 26. Qxf4 Bc8 $15) 22... d5 $1 23. bxc6 dxe4 24. Qb2 exf3 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. cxb7 Rb8 27. Qxe5 Rxb7 $11) 21. hxg3 $18 fxg3 22. Qg5+ $1 Kh8 23. Qxg3 {This last sequence reminds me a little of the game between Carlsen and Polgar from the 2014 World Blitz Championship. (Be sure to watch it on YouTube with Dmitry Komarov's brilliant and hilarious commentary.)} Rg8 24. Qh2 $1 Nb4 25. Bf1 Rdf8 26. c5 Bg4 27. cxd6 Qg7 28. Bg3 $1 Bxf3 29. Bxe5 $1 {Yip's play the last dozen moves has been great, and she keeps it up to the end.} Re8 30. Rd2 Qg5 31. Nc4 axb5 32. d7 $1 Rd8 33. Rf2 $1 bxc4 34. Rxf3 Rg6 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. Rxf4 Kg7 37. Rd1 Nc6 38. Bc3 {White is already up a pawn, and threats like Rd6 and e5-e6 (not to mention the pedestrian though usefully greedy Bxc4) leave Black without hope.} 1-0 [Event "ch-USA w 2025"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2025.10.17"] [Round "5.6"] [White "Paikidze, Nazi"] [Black "Lee, Alice"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "2297"] [BlackElo "2409"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "52"] [GameId "2234149027110040"] [EventDate "2025.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.01.05"] {[%evp 0,52,13,12,-2,1,14,-9,0,-15,-9,-18,-13,-36,-30,-43,-41,-24,69,-51,-67,-112,-55,-138,-86,-160,-58,-104,-85,-76,-82,-72,-40,-31,29,-116,-175,-175,-176,-153,-225,-201,-273,-181,-224,-161,-135,-2,-126,-90,-180,-374,-363,-385,-382]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Qf3 c5 $2 (5... b5 $1 6. a3 c5 $1 $11) 6. O-O-O $2 (6. g4 $1 $16) 6... Nc6 (6... b5 $142 $15) 7. g4 b5 $11 8. g5 b4 $1 9. Nb1 $2 {Far too passive.} (9. gxf6 bxc3 10. fxg7 cxb2+ 11. Kb1 Bxg7 12. Qg3 $44) 9... Ne4 $17 {/-+ Paikidze is already in serious trouble.} 10. dxc5 $2 Qa5 $19 11. Bd3 b3 $6 {Unnecessarily flashy.} (11... Nxc5 {is far better.}) 12. axb3 Nb4 13. Na3 Nxd3+ $2 (13... Nxc5 $19) 14. Rxd3 Bxc5 15. Ne2 $2 (15. Nb1 Qe1+ 16. Rd1 Qxf2 17. Rf1 Qxf3 18. Nxf3 f6 $1 {Otherwise White would be (mostly) fine. Even here White is at least not getting mated and maintains material equality.}) 15... Bb7 $4 (15... Bxa3 {What do people have against obvious winning moves?} 16. bxa3 Qxa3+ 17. Kb1 (17. Kd1 Qa1+ 18. Nc1 O-O $19 (18... Bd7 $19 {[%CAl Ba8c8,Bd7b5]})) 17... a5 $1 $19 {[%CAl Bc8a6]}) 16. Be5 $2 (16. Nb1 $15) 16... Bxa3 $19 17. bxa3 d4 $1 {This is of course what Black wanted to set up with her 15th move. The biggest threat now is to take on a3 followed by a knight check and then ...Bxf3.} 18. Qf4 Nc5 {Winning one rook or the other.} 19. Rhd1 Nxd3+ 20. Rxd3 Qe1+ 21. Kb2 Qxe2 {Making it a full extra rook. Some care is still required though, as Black's king isn't entirely safe.} 22. Bxd4 O-O $1 23. Qe5 f6 24. Qxe6+ Rf7 $8 (24... Kh8 $4 25. gxf6 $18) 25. g6 hxg6 26. Bc5 {Threatening Rd7. White wins against every move but one!} Qh5 $1 (26... g5 {looks like it might be a harmless transposition but it's not.} 27. Rd7 Qh5 28. Rxb7 $18) (26... Qh5 27. Rd7 Qe5+ $19 {is the point of ...Qh5.}) 0-1