[Event "U.S. Women's Championship"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.10.07"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Black "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2350"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2262"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E04"] [Opening "Catalan Opening: Open Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/Go4LPCkX"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Rb8!? { An interesting sideline that gets the rook off the h1-a8 diagonal and plans to secure the c4-pawn by the ...b7-b5 move. } 7. a4 (7. Nc3 { is the theoretical continuation in this line, focusing on pushing pawns in the center and taking advantage of the emptied d5-square. } 7... a6 8. e4 Be7 9. Qe2 b5 10. Rd1) 7... a6 8. a5 b5 9. axb6 cxb6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Ne5 Ne7 12. Bc6+ Nxc6? (12... Kf8! { Although this move may not look great at first sight, it is actually a very good one. The king is safe on f8-square, and Black can now focus her energy on the queenside and three pawns vs one pawn advantage. Additionally, Black has somewhat good coordination with her light pieces. }) 13. Nxc6 Qc7 14. Bxd6! Qxd6 15. Nxb8 $16 Qxb8 16. Qa4+ b5 17. Qb4 Bb7 18. Nd2 (18. b3!? { is better, immediately targeting the pawn structure and planning to develop the b1-knight to better pastures. } 18... cxb3 19. Nd2! { The idea is to recapturing with the knight and then transfer it to the c5-square. }) 18... h5!? { Very good attempt at creating counterplay. } 19. e4 h4! 20. Rfe1 hxg3 21. hxg3 Ng4 (21... Kd7!! { is an incredibly strong move for Black, but very difficult to find. The idea is to allow the black queen to get to the h-file or to offer a queen trade via f8. } 22. Rad1 Rh5 23. d5 Qh8! $13) 22. Nf1? f5! { Opening up the diagonal for b7-bishop. } 23. f3 Nh2! 24. Kg2? (24. Nxh2?? Qxg3+ 25. Kf1 Rxh2 $19) (24. exf5 { This is the only move that does not lose for White. However, it is a difficult one to make as it allows the opening of the kingside. } 24... Nxf3+ 25. Kf2 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 Bd5 $15) 24... Nxf1 25. Rxf1 fxe4 26. Rh1 exf3+ (26... Kd7!! { And here we go again! This time, it actually secures a win for Black. The same idea remains: Black needs to activate her queen. } 27. Rxh8?! exf3+ 28. Kf2 Qxh8 $19 { threatening Qh2 with a win. }) 27. Kf2 Rxh1 28. Rxh1 Kf7 29. Rh4 Qd8 30. Qc5 Bd5 31. Qa7+ Kg8 32. Rf4 Qe8 33. Rg4 Qf8 34. Qd7 Qf7 35. Qd8+ Qf8 36. Qg5 a5 37. Rh4 Qf6?? 38. Qh5! { White tricked her opponent and now there is no way to avoid losing a queen. } 38... g5 (38... Kf8 39. Rf4 $18) 39. Qe8+ Kg7 (39... Qf8 40. Rh8+! $18) 40. Qh8+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0