[Event "U.S. Women's Chess Championship"] [Site "Saint Loui, US"] [Date "2024.10.16"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Yip, Carissa"] [Black "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2418"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2374"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "IM Carissa Yip"] [WhiteClock "0:05:11"] [BlackClock "0:00:58"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C00"] [Opening "French Defense: King's Indian Attack"] [StudyName "Inside Story: U.S. Women's Champs, Yip's First Nine Games"] [ChapterName "Yip, Carissa - Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/FoS9A5pp/6tOsG9Pm"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e6 { An immediate surprise! I spent quite a bit of time figuring out the setup I wanted, and eventually settled upon my usual. } 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. g3 { A King's Indian fianchetto setup, from the White side. } 4... Nc6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Ngf3 dxe4 7. dxe4 e5 { I was a bit surprised at this choice; White just gets a very nice long-term advantage: the d5-square. } 8. O-O Be7 9. c3 O-O { [#] } 10. Qc2 { It was more accurate to just play } (10. Nc4 { , because the e4-pawn is close to untouchable: } 10... Nxe4 { Instead, Black should play } (10... Qc7 { But once the knight gets to e3, White is very happy: } 11. Ne3 Rd8 (11... Be6 12. Ng5) 12. Nd5) 11. Nfxe5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Nf6 14. a4 { and White has good pressure because Black cannot develop her queenside. }) 10... b5 11. a4 b4 12. Rd1 Be6 13. Nc4 Qb8 { Black's alternative, } (13... b3 { was a must-calculate. Black forces an endgame where the c2-pawn can become either an asset or a weakness. After } 14. Rxd8 bxc2 15. Rxa8 Rxa8 { there are a variety of tries here. I suspect Begim discarded 13...b3 because of the main line, but I will also show some alternatives: } 16. Nfd2 (16. Ne3 Rd8 17. Nd2 { This transposes to the main line. }) (16. Na3 Bb3 17. Ne1 { Black wins after } (17. Nd2?? Na5 { as White's queenside is totally tied up }) 17... Rd8 18. Nexc2 Rd1+ 19. Bf1 Nxe4 20. f3 Nd2 { After } (20... Nf6 21. Ne3 Rd8 22. Nac4 { Black's pawns are weak and White's knights are very happy dominating the light squares }) 21. Ne3 Nxf3+ 22. Kf2 Rxf1+ 23. Nxf1 e4 { and surprisingly, Black can get good enough counterplay with ... g7-g5 and ... f7-f5 to keep the balance. }) 16... Rd8 17. Ne3 Na5 18. Nxc2 c4 { This last move is the key, and perhaps also the hardest to see and evaluate. White's pieces are just far too uncoordinated, and Black is fine with giving up a pawn to keep them that way. }) 14. Qe2 h6 15. Bd2 Rd8 16. Be1 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 bxc3 18. bxc3 Qc7 { The other tempting move here was } (18... Qb3 { After } 19. Nfxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Qxa4 { the key move is } 21. c4 { , ensuring Black cannot play ... c5-c4 herself and activate the dark-squared bishop. I had planned to follow this up with Be1-c3 hoping for some kingside play, perhaps with f2-f4 coming, but it would take a bit too much time to set up and make work, while Black's a-pawn will move fast. It's a complicated position, and the engine calls it equal, but I was optimistic for my chances here. }) 19. Nfd2 Rd8 20. Ra1 { Now for some slow improvement. } 20... Na5 21. Bf1 { Fortifying the hold on the light squares. } 21... Nxc4 22. Nxc4 Bc8 { Embarking upon the wrong plan. Black's main focus should be disrupting White's hold on the c4-square. Another way to think about it: White's best piece is the knight, and one of Black's worst pieces is the knight. So } (22... Ne8 { may seem slow, but White is not quite in a position to break through, and Black has time to put the knight on d6 and the bishop on f6. After } 23. Rb1 Bf6 24. a5 Nd6 { Black is feeling much better with the knights off the board. }) 23. f3 Ba6 24. Qa2 Bf8 25. Rb1 Bc8 { Already, it's quite unpleasant for Black. There are simply no good plans. She never wants to make the exchange } (25... Bxc4 26. Bxc4 { ; the f7-pawn is too weak, and White will slowly squeeze on the queenside with a4-a5-a6. }) 26. a5 { White has made a lot of progress in the last few moves, while Black hasn't been able to do much but shuffle. Now, the plan is a5-a6 followed by Qa2-a5 with a completely winning endgame. The a7-pawn will be fixed as a perpetual weakness, and White has full control of the b-file. } 26... Nh7 27. h4 { White is much better after } (27. a6 Ng5 28. Kf2 { -- the king looks a bit silly and perhaps overexposed on f2, but Black cannot do anything about it, and Qa2-a5 is coming. } 28... Ne6 { Black can try } (28... Nh3+ { , but it doesn't quite work: } 29. Bxh3 Bxh3 30. Rb7 { and once again the f7-square is a fatal weakness. }) 29. Qa5 $16) 27... Kh8 28. a6 g5 29. h5?? { Here, I totally hallucinated. Strategically, this move makes no sense because the h4-pawn is doing good work in ensuring Black's knight stays on h7. I wanted to play } (29. Qa5! { , but I did not see a knockout blow. I didn't see a sufficiently convincing way to defend the a6-pawn after } 29... Qxa5 30. Nxa5 Rd6 { but it turns out I don't have to: I can play } 31. Nc4! Rxa6 (31... Re6 32. Bh3) 32. Nxe5 Rf6 33. Rb8 Be6 { [#] I had calculated this far, and deemed it insufficient because material was still equal and I'd lost my main trump in the position, the a-pawn. However, I missed the next move and did not properly evaluate the following position: } 34. c4! { At first this all still looks normal enough, but if one takes the time to really examine the position, it's evident White is winning through complete domination. Black's rook is in a truly unpleasant position, and it cannot be freed up because the knight is dominating it. The light-squared bishop has no possible squares; the dark-squared bishop is pinned; the knight is cornered and stuck to the bishop's defense. Even though material is currently equal, Black will soon be forced into zugzwang. The lack of coordination means the loss of material is imminent; for instance } 34... Kg8 { Black can try freeing up some squares with } (34... gxh4 { still doesn't work: } 35. gxh4 Rf4 36. Kg2 { Protecting the pawn and threatening either Ne5-d3 or Kg2-g3 } 36... Kg7 (36... Kg8 37. Kg3 Rf6 38. Bc3 { The rook is trapped, and Black will soon be out of moves } 38... h5 39. Nc6 { With the devastating threats of Bc3xf6 and Nc6-e7. }) 37. Nd3 Rf6 38. Bc3) 35. h5 { and none of Black's pieces can move! After } 35... a6 36. Ba5 { the only way Black can avoid immediate material loss is to put the king on the long diagonal, and then the bishop jumps back to c3: } 36... g4 37. f4 Kg7 38. Bc3 { and White's winning. }) 29... g4 30. fxg4 { I'd thought that even though the knight gets to hop back in the game, I'm at least up a pawn. Unfortunately, Black gets to have it all with this next move. } 30... Nf6 { And now it's also very difficult to defend the e pawn! Not } (30... Bxg4?? 31. Rb7 { and White wins. }) 31. Qa5 { I'd considered } (31. Ne3 Nxe4 32. Bg2 Ng5 33. c4 { but it was very risky: Black gets the d4-square; her king is not actually unsafe, and the a6-pawn could soon become a weakness. }) 31... Bd6 { Keeping things very solid. Black really should avoid the endgame that arises after } (31... Qxa5? 32. Nxa5 Nxe4 { or } (32... Nxg4 33. Be2 { covering the d1-square: } 33... Nf6 34. Rb8) 33. Nc6 Rd6 34. Bg2 { and if the knight moves, Rb1-b8 is coming. Black has to play } 34... Rxc6 { and White is back to being a happy camper after } 35. Bxe4 Rc7 36. Rb8) 32. Be2 Nxe4 33. Qa4 Bd7 34. Qc2 Bc6 35. Rd1 Be7 { Not } (35... Ng5 36. Qf5 { when White has some pressure. }) 36. Rxd8+ Bxd8 37. Qd3 Be7 38. Bf3 Ng5 39. Bxc6 Qxc6 40. Nxe5 Qe6 { After a flurry of moves, both players have reached time control. Black can still hold, but all the tactical ideas work out in White's favor. } 41. Qf5 Qa2 { Black loses after } (41... Qxe5 42. Qxe5+ { because the check means Black has no time for ...Ng5-f3+. It's a loss after }) (41... Bf6 42. Qxe6 fxe6 43. Nc6 { and }) (41... Qd5 { would be dangerous if it weren't for } 42. Ng6+) 42. Nf3 Nxf3+ 43. Qxf3 Kg7 44. Qb7 { White is up a pawn and looks to win the a7-pawn as well, and the only reason Black can keep the balance is because White's king is open as well. But it's practically very difficult. This is one such critical moment: Where should the bishop go? } 44... Bd6 { I thought the easiest was } (44... Bg5 { when Black has multiple paths to a draw: } 45. Bf2 (45. Qxa7?? { White must not get greedy here: } 45... Be3+ 46. Kh1 (46. Kf1 Qc4+ 47. Kg2 Qe2+) 46... Qe2 $19) 45... Qe2 (45... Qa1+ 46. Kg2 Qxc3 47. Qxa7 { when } 47... Be3! { is the only move, but good enough to force a perpetual. }) (45... Qd2 46. Qf3 (46. Qxa7 Be3) 46... Qd6 47. Qe2 { and White could keep trying here, but Black is very solid. }) 46. Qd5 Qxa6 47. Qxc5 { I thought this was still playable, but with best play, Black should definitely be holding. There's also: }) (44... Bf6 { Black can also hold with this move, but it requires a bit more precision. In many lines, Black isn't even truly threatening to take on c3, so the bishop on f6, even though it looks nice, is not doing much at all. } 45. Bf2 Qd2 { The best move to equalize. After } (45... Qa1+ 46. Kg2 Qxc3 47. g5 hxg5 48. h6+ Kg6 49. Qc6 { White has very nice pressure -- the queen is on the long diagonal, meaning Black is currently low on checks. The c5-pawn is falling shortly, followed by a7. }) (45... Bxc3?? { just loses: } 46. Qxa7 Qa1+ 47. Kg2 Bd4 48. Qb7 Bxf2 49. Kxf2 { White's king will hide on h2/h3 from the checks, and the queen can always jump back to g2 to its defense. }) 46. Qxa7 Qxc3 { Now Black is threatening ... Bf6-d4 with a draw, so White must take on c5. Unfortunately, both means of capture will lead to equality: } 47. Qxc5 { or } (47. Bxc5 Qxg3+) 47... Qa1+ 48. Kg2 Qxa6 { and with the a-pawns gone, Black can breathe. }) 45. Bf2 Qe2 { It's important to know that every time White can take on a7 and Black doesn't have an immediate draw, it's completely winning. So } (45... Qa1+ 46. Kg2 Qxc3 47. Qxa7 { and White wins. This is a repeated theme. }) 46. Qc6 { [#] } 46... Qd1+?? { Surprisingly, this is the losing move. Black should wait with } (46... Bf8 { or }) (46... Be7) 47. Kg2 { Now, every move Black makes will lead to a concession. Because of Black's queen move, White is threatening c3-c4, gaining control over the d5-square; Qc6-d5 will be devastating for Black to deal with. If Black moves the bishop, g4-g5 breaks through. } 47... Qd3 { Now if } (47... Be7 { then } 48. g5 { disrupts Black's coordination. After } 48... hxg5 { The bishop must stay guarding the c5 pawn. She could have tried } (48... Bxg5 49. Qxc5 Bf6 { but } 50. c4 { covers the check on d5 and a7 will fall. But black is still in danger after 48. ... hxg5: }) 49. h6+ { Black's king has nowhere to go to avoid losing material! After } 49... Kh7 (49... Kg8 50. Qe8+ { , but if Black plays }) (49... Kf8 { then } 50. Qc8+ Qd8 51. Qxd8+ Bxd8 52. Bxc5+ Kg8 53. Bxa7 { is winning. }) 50. Qe4+ { White wins, and there is a similar breakthrough after: }) (47... Bf8 48. g5 { Even though the bishop is more protected, this still works! } 48... hxg5 49. h6+ Kh7 { or } (49... Kg8 50. Qa8 { with the double threat of Qa8xa7 and h6-h7 } 50... Qe2 51. Qxa7) 50. Qf3! Qd7 { After } (50... Qxf3+ 51. Kxf3 Kxh6 52. Ke4 { we reach an endgame where White gave up two pawns Black has no hope: The king is running to b7, picking up a7, and promoting }) 51. Qb7 Qe6 52. Qxa7 { and White wins. }) 48. c4!! { The only winning move, and it's geometrically very nice. The queen is cut off from the a6-pawn; White gets all the light squares, and most importantly, Qc6-d5 is a big threat. } 48... Be7 49. Qb7 Bf8 50. Qxa7 Qe4+ 51. Kg1 Qb1+ 52. Kh2 Bd6 { If } (52... Qc2 53. Qb7 Qxf2+ 54. Qg2 { and Black has no way to stop the a-pawn. }) 53. Bd4+ { Gets the job done, although the most logical choice is } (53. Qb7 Qf1 { or } (53... Qa2 54. Kg1) 54. Qb2+ { I missed this one, but it's very nice. White gives a check to protect the bishop and cover the a1-square -- after the king moves, 55.a7 and the pawn promotes. }) 53... cxd4 54. Qxd4+ Kh7 55. Qxd6 { White is just up too many pawns, and the king is safe from checks. } 55... Qc2+ 56. Kh3 Qxc4 57. Qf6 { Covering f1. } 57... Qa2 58. Qf5+ Kg7 59. Qe5+ Kh7 60. Qe4+ Kg8 { Or } (60... Kg7 61. Qd4+ Kh7 62. a7) 61. Qb7 f5 62. Qc8+ Kg7 63. Qd7+ Kg8 64. a7 fxg4+ 65. Qxg4+ Kh7 66. Qe4+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0