1e4c62d4d53e5Bf54Nf3e65Be2h66O-ONe77Nbd2Nd78Nb3g59a4Bg710a5O-O11Bd2Rc8?!11...b6!?A better move was played in this position by GM Hans Niemann, immediately targeting the pawn on a5 and creating options for ... c6-c5:12.Bb4c5!?13.dxc5Nc614.Ba3bxa5∞in Vignesh – Niemann, Ciutadella de Menorca, 2023.12Bb4!...Yip found this excellent idea of transferring the bishop to the a3-f8 diagonal and further blocking Black from creating active play.12...f6!?Paikidze is trying to quickly target the center and create counterplay on the f-file.13exf6Bxf614Bd6!...This bishop is even better positioned here as it watches over the most critical dark squares in the position.14...Rf715Ne5!Bxe516dxe5c517c3a618Re1Rc619c4!±...This is the perfect time to attack the center and open up the h1-a8 diagonal. White's position is strategically winning.19...dxc420Bxc4g421Rc1Ng622Bf1Qg523g3Rc824Nxc5Nxc525Rxc5Rxc526Bxc5h527Bg2...Although this move does not ruin White's advantage, it is not necessary to move the bishop to this diagonal. White can immediately push her pawns on the queenside.27.b4!h428.b5axb529.Bxb5+−And White's bishops are ready to join the attack on the black king.27...h428Qd6h329Bh1Kh730Be3Qe731Rc1?...31.f3!One way to play for a win was to free up the white king from potentially being checkmated on the first rank. Additionally, White also gets to activate her h1-bishop.Qc732.Qxc7Rxc733.fxg4Bxg434.Be4+−31...Qd7!Paikidze is finding the best defensive moves. Black needs to activate her pieces to launch some counterplay on the locked king.32b4Qb5!33Rc7Nxe534Bxb7Rxc735Qxc7+Kg636Qc8Kf7!36...Qxb4??37.Qg8+Kf638.Bg5#37Bh6Qxb438Qc7+...And White needs to make a perpetual check otherwise she risks her own position.38...Ke839Qc8+Kf740Qc7+Ke841Qc8+Kf742Qc7+Ke81/2-1/2 The game is a draw.
2023 U.S. Championships rds 1-9: Yip, Carissa - Paikidze, Nazi4