Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim(2374)
1:30:00
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Yip, Carissa(2418)
1:30:00
1.e4e62.d3...The main line 2. d4 is over 10x more common, but 2. d3 allows Yip to reach her signature King's Indian-esque setup with the King's Indian Attack.2....d53.Nd2c54.g3Nc65.Bg2Nf66.Ngf3dxe4!?An interesting choice, clarifying the tension in the center. Perhaps Tokhirjonova wanted to clear the d5-square for the f6-knight in case White decided to push e4-e5.6...Be77.O-OO-Omaintained equality.7.dxe4e58.O-OBe79.c3O-O10.Qc2...10.Nc4!offers a slight edge for Yip. The fianchetto bishop is super strong, and while White's c3 pawn guards the d4-square, and Black's d5-square is weak.Qc711.Ne310....b511.a4b412.Rd1Be613.Nc4Qb814.Qe2h615.Bd2Rd816.Be1Rxd117.Rxd1bxc318.bxc3Qc719.Nfd2Rd820.Ra1Na521.Bf1Nxc422.Nxc4Bc823.f3Ba624.Qa2Bf825.Rb1Bc826.a5Nh727.h4Kh827...g5!28.Qb2Ba629.Ne328.a6!...Keep an eye on this pawn! It might be important later.28....g5A strong thrust by Tokhirjonova. If nothing happens on the kingside, Yip will inevitably crash through on the queenside.29.h5...29.Qa5!Offering a queen trade immediately was more accurate, softening the second player's defenses.Qxa530.Nxa5Rd631.Nc4Rxa632.Nxe5Rb633.Ra1±29....g4!=30.fxg4Nf631.Qa5Bd632.Be2Nxe433.Qa4Bd734.Qc2Bc635.Rd1Be736.Rxd8+Bxd837.Qd3Be738.Bf3Ng539.Bxc6Qxc640.Nxe5Qe641.Qf5Qa242.Nf3Nxf3+43.Qxf3Kg744.Qb7Bd645.Bf2Qe246.Qc6...Both players have been playing really precisely up to here, but a natural-seeming check turns out to be the tipping point of the game. Black's drawing mechanism is perpetual check/attack on the bishop whenever White goes for the a7 pawn, but she doesn't want to deliver the check just yet.46.Qxa7Qd1+47.Kh2Qe248.Kg1Qd1+=46....Qd1+?46...Be747.Qb7Bg548.Qxa7Be3=47.Kg2Qd348.c4!...A fantastic touch by Yip! The pawn is taboo, and Qc6-d5 is threatened, forcing the bishop away.48....Be749.Qb7Bf850.Qxa7Qe4+51.Kg1Qb1+52.Kh2Bd652...Qc2A key detail due to the passivity of Black's bishop! White need not acquiesce to a draw by repetition, instead sacrificing her bishop to promote the pawn.53.Qb7!Qxf2+54.Qg2+−53.Bd4+cxd454.Qxd4+Kh755.Qxd6+−...The white king can find refuge on the h3-square, and the a-pawn will be escorted home.55....Qc2+56.Kh3Qxc457.Qf6Qa258.Qf5+Kg759.Qe5+Kh760.Qe4+Kg861.Qb7f562.Qc8+Kg763.Qd7+Kg864.a7fxg4+65.Qxg4+Kh766.Qe4+1-0 White wins.1-0