[Event "2026 National Invitational Tournaments"] [Site "Grand Rapids, MI"] [Date "2026.08.05"] [Round "4.7"] [White "Gaw, Chloe"] [Black "Su, Jasmine Zhixin"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2241"] [BlackElo "2328"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D85"] [Opening "Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack"] [StudyName "2026 U.S. Open and Invitationals, Pt. 1"] [ChapterName "Gaw, Chloe - Su, Jasmine Zhixin"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/GybCbfWL/60KfeYWj"] [Orientation "white"] { This is a very instructive game! It wasn't decided by a flashy tactical sequence, but rather through better piece coordination, exploiting pawn weaknesses, and superior endgame technique. Su gradually outplayed her opponent after Gaw compromised her kingside structure. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 { The Grunfeld is one of those Defenses where Black allows White to take control over the center in order to later attack it. } 5. Na4!? { An interesting sideline: The knight is temporarily offside, but it does stop ... c7-c5 and may have the intention to take control of the c5-square by placing the knight on it later. } 5... Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Bxf3 { The doubled pawns also create an open g-file, but without any possibility of immediate attack, they're more of a liability than an asset. } 11. gxf3 (11. Bxf3 { was a possible response, but it would have allowed some active play by Black as follows: } 11... Ne5 12. Be2 Nec4 13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. Bd4 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Nb6 { with a comfortable position for Black, who has been able to trade the majority of minor pieces. Now White's extra space is not as relevant. }) 11... Nb8 12. O-O c6 { The right way to continue the development (by challenging White's center). } 13. dxc6 (13. Nxb6 { could have been an interesting alternative to the game. } 13... axb6 14. f4 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Qxd5 16. exd5 Nd7 17. d6! { Nobody said White couldn't create weaknesses as well! } 17... exd6 18. Rad1 Rxa2 19. Rxd6 Rxb2 20. Rxd7 Rxe2 21. Rxb7 { This endgame could likely end in a draw. }) 13... Nxc6 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Nc5 (15. Nxb6 { was once again possible to keep the balance. } 15... axb6 16. Bxb6 Rd2 17. Bc4 Ne5 18. Bb3 Rxb2 19. Rab1 Rxb1 20. Rxb1 Nxf3+ 21. Kg2 Nd2 22. Rc1 Be5 $15 { Black is up a pawn, but at least White maintains activity. }) 15... Rab8 16. Rad1 Nd4 17. Bxd4?! (17. Rd2 { would have been a better choice. } 17... Nxe2+ 18. Rxe2 Nc4 19. Rc1 Nxe3 20. fxe3 { with a slightly inferior position for White, but it should be holdable. }) 17... Bxd4 18. Nd3 Rbc8 19. Rc1 Na4 20. b3? { The mistake that put White into a close-to-losing position. Once Black was able to place the knight on c3, there was no going back. } (20. Rfd1 { White should have given up the pawn in order to keep her rook active! } 20... Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Nxb2 22. Nxb2 Bxb2 23. Rc7 Rd2 24. Kf1 { White should have drawing chances due to the existence of opposite-color bishops and her active rook on the seventh rank. }) 20... Nc3 21. Rc2 { Black's position is dominant, but how should she actually take advantage of this? My first instinct was to force things, but Jasmine showed deep positional understanding when following up with... } 21... Bg7! { Calm and prophylactic! Why try to force things when White is already struggling with coordinating her pieces. It's not really a zugzwang , but White is in need of a move given the ... Nc3xe2+ threat. } 22. Nf4 e6 (22... Bh6 { would have worked as well. } 23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. exd5 Rc2 { This is different than the variation discussed earlier, as White's rook has not had the chance to get activated on the seventh rank! }) 23. Bc4 b5 24. Nxe6 { The final try for counterplay, but Black's play after the trades showed class as she went on to convert the game. } 24... bxc4! 25. Nxd8 cxb3 26. axb3 Rxd8 { Despite the equal material, Blacks coordination of the knight, bishop, and rook (along with White's passive rooks) made it impossible for White to find counterplay. Slowly, Black improved to eventually take home the point. } 27. Rfc1 Rd3 28. Kg2 Bd4 29. Kf1 Rxf3 30. Rd2 Nb5 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rb8 Bb6 33. Kg2 Rxb3 34. Rb7 Rc3 35. e5 Rc7 36. Rb8 Re7 37. f4 Nc7 38. Kf3 Ne6 39. Rc8 f6 40. exf6+ Kxf6 41. Rc6 Kg7 42. Rcd6 Nc5 43. Rc6 Nb3 0-1