[Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "St Louis"] [Date "2023.10.05"] [Round "1.5"] [White "Yan, Ruiyang"] [Black "Cervantes Landeiro, Thalia"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2206"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackElo "2303"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Davis Zong Jr."] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "2r2rk1/p2bppbp/1q1p2p1/3Pn3/1p1N4/2P4P/PP3PP1/R1BQRBK1 w - - 0 16"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/b0nfXV2i/QL2lCFY7"] [Orientation "white"] { Black has launched a minority attack on the queenside, but the strong d5-pawn and more central space gives White great chances to play for a win. } 16. Be3 Qb7?! (16... bxc3! { Although the pawn capture drops an exchange, the passed c-pawn that ensues would have yielded enough compensation for Cervantes. } 17. Nc6 Qxb2 18. Nxe7+ Kh8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 $44) 17. cxb4 (17. Qb3 { was more precise, pinning the pawn while protecting the d5-pawn. } 17... a5 18. a4! $18 { a clever motif. White is prepared to trade on b4 and advance her a-pawn all the way. Additionally, f2-f4 trapping the knight is an ominous threat. }) 17... Nc4 (17... Qxb4 18. b3! { Notice that the e5-knight is out of squares! Funnily enough, it is very awkward for black to stop f2-f4 here. } 18... f5 (18... Be8?? 19. f4 Nd7 20. Nc6 $18) 19. f4 Nf7 20. Bf2 Rfe8 21. Bc4 $18) (17... Qxd5 { In the ensuing unbalanced pawn majorities, Yan will have an easier time advancing the queenside pawns. } 18. b3 Bf6 19. a4 $16) 18. Nc6! $16 { A nice infiltration by Yan. Fearless of the three defenders, she charges the knight deep into enemy territory, simultaneously pressuring e7 and c4. This allows her to keep the bishop pair. } 18... Bxc6 19. Bxc4 Bb5 (19... Bd7 $16) 20. Bxb5! Qxb5 21. Qd2 Rc4 22. a3 Rfc8 23. Rac1 Be5 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Bxa7 { With a series of forcing and accurate moves, Yan now has a strong three-pawn body on the queenside and was on her way to a decisive first round upset. However, the game eventually ended in a draw after stubborn defense by Cervantes and a long endgame fight from both sides. } 1/2-1/2