[Event "U.S. Women's Chess Championship"] [Site "Saint Loui, US"] [Date "2024.10.22"] [Round "10.2"] [White "Lee, Alice"] [Black "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2395"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2374"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D07"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Main Line"] [StudyName "Inside Story: U.S. Women's Champs, Yip's First Nine Games"] [ChapterName "Lee, Alice - Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/FoS9A5pp/8s8LPLqb"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bxe7 Ngxe7 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. d5 Nb8 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nc8 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. O-O Nd6 15. e4 a6 16. Rac1 Rc8 17. Rc2 c5 18. dxc6 Rxc6 19. Rd1 Nc5 20. Qg3 Qe8 21. Rcd2 Qe6 22. Qe3 h6 23. Be2 Nc4 24. Bxc4 Qxc4 25. Rd5 Re8 26. Rd8 Rxd8 27. Rxd8+ Kh7 28. Rd5 Na4 29. Nxa4 Qxa4 30. a3 Qc2 31. Rxe5 Qxb2 32. Re7 Qc1+ 33. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 34. Kh2 f6 35. Rxb7 Rc3 36. Ra7 Rxa3 37. g4 a5 38. h4 h5 39. g5 fxg5 40. hxg5 Kg6 41. f4 h4 42. f5+ Kxg5 43. Rxg7+ Kf4 { Annotations by WGM Katerina Nemcova } 44. f6?! { This move keeps equality, but there was a simpler way to play for a draw with } (44. Re7 { , defending the pawn and aiming to push the f-pawn: } 44... Kg5 45. Rg7+ Kf4 46. Re7) 44... Kxe4 45. Rg4+ Ke5?? { Suddenly Black is losing, but it requires a problem-like move. The only, but sufficient, way to draw was: } (45... Kd5! { followed by sacrificing the rook. After } 46. Rf4 Rb3 47. f7 Rb8 48. f8=Q Rxf8 49. Rxf8 Kc4 50. Ra8 Kb4 51. Kh3 (51. Kg2 a4 52. Kf2 h3 53. Rh8 a3 54. Rxh3 a2 55. Rh1 Kb3 56. Ke2 Kb2 57. Kd2 a1=Q 58. Rxa1 Kxa1) 51... a4 52. Kxh4 a3 53. Kg4 Kb3 54. Kf4 a2 55. Ke3 Kb2 56. Kd2 a1=Q 57. Rxa1 Kxa1 { it's a draw. }) 46. Rf4!! { An excellent move by Lee! White forces Black to block the f-file. } 46... Kxf4 47. f7! Kg4 48. f8=Q { This position is won for White, and Lee shows very good technique. The a-pawn will easily fall into White's hands, because cannot stray far away from the king to defend it or else there will always be opportunities for a double attack. } 48... Rg3 49. Qc8+ Kh5 50. Qe8+ Kg4 51. Qa4+ Kh5 52. Qxa5+ { The first goal is accomplished. Now for the other pawn ... } 52... Kg6 53. Qd8 Kh5 54. Qe8+ Kg5 55. Qe4 Kh5 56. Qf4 Rg5 57. Qf7+ Kg4 58. Qc4+ Kh5 59. Qe2+ Kg6 60. Kh3! { Now that the king has been forced to move away, White's king can head for the last pawn. When Black tries to defend it, there will be options for a double attack. } 60... Rh5 61. Qe6+ Kg7 62. Kg4 Rh6 63. Qe7+ Kg6 64. Qe8+ Kf6 65. Qf8+ Kg6 66. Qg8+ { With Qg8-g5+ winning the rook next move, Black resigned. } 1-0