[Event "U.S. Chess Championships 2024"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2024.10.14"] [Round "4"] [White "Yu, Jennifer"] [Black "Cervantes Landeiro, Thalia"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2267"] [BlackElo "2302"] [Annotator "FM Zoey Tang"] [FEN "3r1rk1/p3q1pp/1pb1p3/2ppP3/4pP2/2P1P2P/PP2B1P1/3RQRK1 w - - 0 21"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "2024 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women's Championship"] [ChapterName "Yu, Jennifer - Cervantes Landeiro, Thalia"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/K5XjRsoK/GbzRiLZv"] [FEN "3r1rk1/p3q1pp/1pb1p3/2ppP3/4pP2/2P1P2P/PP2B1P1/3RQRK1 w - - 0 21"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { White is slightly more in control of the position. The advanced e5-pawn provides extra space, and a potential kingside expansion with g2-g4 and f4-f5 is possible. The pawns are also fixed on squares favorable for White. Yet Black's counterplay is also clear, beginning with the ... d5-d4 break or queenside play with ... b6-b5-b4. } 21. g4 { Looks risky, but this is a good and logical move. Push on the majority! } 21... b5 22. b4? { Creating tensions on this side of the board allows Cervantes to hasten her original plan for free. } (22. Qg3 b4 23. cxb4 d4 24. b5 Bb7 25. Bc4 $14 { Essentially the ostrich strategy of sticking one's head in the sand regarding the opponent's threats, but it works well in certain race situations. }) 22... a5! 23. bxc5 Qxc5 { The c3-pawn is a big target now. } 24. Rd4?! { The rook is awkwardly placed. } (24. Qd2 Bd7 25. h4 Rc8 26. Rc1 Qa3 27. h5 Rc5 28. f5 $15) 24... Bd7 25. Qd2 Rc8 26. a4 Qxc3?! (26... Qa3! { More greedy, as Black aims for ... Rc8xc3 and then ... Rc3xe3, but here greed is good. }) 27. Bxb5? (27. axb5 { was the only option, though the position is still difficult to play. } 27... Qa3 28. f5 Rc5 29. Rf2 Rfc8 $17) 27... Bxb5 28. axb5 { Even though it's equal materially, Black is completely winning. The b5- and e3-pawns are as good as dead, and White's pieces are uncoordinated. } 28... Qb3 29. Rf2 Rc3 30. Re2 Rfc8 31. Kf2 Rd3 32. Qb2 Rxe3! 33. Qxb3 Rxb3 34. f5 Rxb5 35. fxe6 Kf8 36. Red2 Rcc5 37. Ke3 Ke7 38. Kf4 Kxe6 39. Ra4 Rb8 40. Rda2 Rf8+ { White resigned. } 0-1