[Event "FIDE Women's World Cup"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2023.08.02"] [Round "10.11"] [White "Krush, Irina"] [Black "Ouellet, Maili-Jade"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2447"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2201"] [BlackTeam "Canada"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A18"] [Opening "English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation"] [StudyName "2023 World Cup and Women's World Cup"] [ChapterName "Krush, Irina - Ouellet, Maili-Jade"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/QLPThvQV/677YSe88"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 e5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Be4 h6 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Qd3 Bg4 14. Bb2 Rad8 15. h3 Bh5 16. Bc3 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 { At first sight it may look like White is better: she has strong pawns in the center and somewhat dangerous-looking bishops. However, Black is also doing fine here. he is completely developed and ready to pressure the d4-pawn, the e4-bishop, and to play tricks with possible attacks on the kingside. } 17... Nb4 18. Qd2 Bf4! { Maili-Jade is playing the only and best moves in the position that keep the game equal. Any other move she makes and Black's position is immediately much worse. } (18... c6? 19. d5! Qe7 20. Bh7+ $19) (18... Bxf3? 19. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 $18) 19. Qd1 c5! 20. Qb3 Bxf3 (20... Rxe4!? { A cool Exchange sacrifice is possible here given the white queen is somewhat removed from the kingside. } 21. Rxe4 Bxf3!? { And enjoy this totally crazy computer line leading to a perpetual check. } (21... Qf5!? { According to the computer, this option is also possible and secures a draw for Black. }) 22. gxf3 Nd3! 23. Rd1 Qg5+ 24. Kf1 (24. Kh1 Nxf2#) 24... Nxf2! 25. h4 (25. Kxf2?? Qg3+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ 27. Kd3 Qxf3+ 28. Kc2 Qxe4+ $19) 25... Qxh4 26. Be1! f5 27. Rxf4 Qh1+ 28. Kxf2 Re8 29. Qd3 Qh2+ 30. Kf1 Qh1+) 21. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Nd3 23. d5 Be5 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. Qxb7 Nxf3+ 26. gxf3 Qg6+ 27. Kh1 Qf5? { Literally, the ONLY mistake in the game. Fortunately for Irina, one opponent's mistake is enough for her to win the game. } (27... Qc2! { The only move that keeps drawing chances alive. This move attacks the important f2-pawn and also the c4-pawn. } 28. Qc7 (28. Kg1? Qxc4 $15) 28... Qxf2!! { Black can sacrifice her rook here because there will be an unstoppable perpetual check. } 29. Qxd8+ Kh7 30. Rg1 (30. Qe7 Qxf3+ 31. Kh2 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qf3+ 33. Kg1 Qg3+) 30... Qxf3+ 31. Kh2 Qf2+ 32. Rg2 Qf4+ 33. Kg1 Qc1+ 34. Kf2 Qd2+ 35. Kf3 Qd3+) 28. Qe7! $18 Qxh3+ (28... Rc8 29. Kg2 Qg6+ 30. Kh2 { White has an extra and dangerous-looking pawn on d5. Game is over. }) 29. Kg1 Rb8 30. Qxc5 Qxf3 31. Qd4 f5 32. d6 Kh7 33. c5 a5 34. d7 Qa8 35. Qd6 Rb4 36. c6 Rg4+ 37. Kh2 Qd8 38. Re7 Qb6 39. Re3 Rd4 40. Qe6 Qc5 41. Rg3 Rd6 42. Qe3 Qc2 43. Rg2 Qc4 44. Qg3 Qd4 45. c7 f4 46. Qxg7+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0