[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