[Event "Women's American Cup Upper Bracket"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/american-cup-2026--women--champions-quarterfinals/game-1/vqGhhAHk/N1PwHzdh"] [Date "2026.03.03"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Krush, Irina"] [Black "Tang, Zoey"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2402"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2012782"] [BlackElo "2366"] [BlackTitle "WGM"] [BlackFideId "30952530"] [TimeControl "90+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A13"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense"] [StudyName "American Cup 2026"] [ChapterName "Krush, Irina - Tang, Zoey"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kwMRDjiP/jcjtlwl7"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:30:57] } 1... e6 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:11] } 2... d5 { [%clk 1:31:21] } 3. g3 { [%clk 1:30:28] } 3... dxc4 { [%clk 1:31:12] } 4. Qa4+ { [%clk 1:28:01] } 4... Qd7 { A very rare move already from Tang. } { [%clk 1:31:06] } (4... Nd7 { is most common, when White chooses between } 5. Bg2 { and } (5. Qxc4 { , with Black likely expanding on the queenside in either case. })) 5. Qxc4 { [%clk 1:27:58] } 5... c5 { [%clk 1:31:28] } (5... Qc6 { has also been tried, when } 6. b3 { gives White an edge due to the presence of both center pawns and the lead in development. }) 6. Bg2 { [%clk 1:24:45] } 6... Nf6 { [%clk 1:27:53] } 7. d4 { Already, we reach a fresh position. } { [%clk 1:15:40] } 7... cxd4 { [%clk 1:27:29] } 8. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:13:55] } 8... a6 { [%clk 1:27:01] } 9. Qc2 { A very strong move, stepping away from potential ... b7-b5, using the fact that the c8-bishop hangs if Black takes the d4-knight. } { [%clk 1:04:15] } 9... e5 { [%clk 1:22:32] } 10. Nb3 { [%clk 1:02:20] } 10... Nc6 { [%clk 1:21:22] } 11. O-O { [%clk 1:02:27] } 11... Be7 { [%clk 1:18:03] } 12. Bg5 { [%clk 0:56:01] } 12... O-O { [%clk 1:16:08] } 13. Rd1 { [%clk 0:54:57] } 13... Qc7 { [%clk 1:11:30] } 14. N1d2 { The product of a 16-minute think and the beginning of a rerouting to the e3-square. } { [%clk 0:38:54] } (14. Nc3 { was also strong. } 14... Be6 (14... Nb4 { would be allowed, however, which was the idea behind keeping the knight off the c-file. But now } 15. Qb1 Be6 16. Rc1 { is fine for White: } 16... Qd7 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Na5 $14 { [%cal Ga2a3] }) 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nc5 { is one idea. } { [%cal Gc3e4] }) 14... Be6 { [%clk 1:07:25] } 15. Nf1 { [%clk 0:33:46] } (15. Rac1 { is simple. }) 15... Rac8 { [%clk 1:06:46] } 16. Ne3 { [%clk 0:33:34] } 16... Qb6 { [%clk 1:02:15] } (16... Ng4! { is the engine's preference. } 17. Bxe7 (17. Nxg4 Bxg5 $17 { [%cal Ge6g4] }) 17... Nxe3 18. Qc5 { might be better than recapturing with awful structure, and } 18... Nxd1 19. Bxf8 Nxb2 20. Bd6 Qd7 21. Bxe5 $13 { is unclear, which should be considered a success for Black. }) 17. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:27:57] } 17... Bxf6 { [%clk 1:00:31] } 18. Nd5 { [%clk 0:28:11] } 18... Bxd5 { [%clk 1:00:10] } 19. Bxd5 { [%clk 0:28:38] } 19... Nb4 { [%clk 0:44:11] } 20. Qe4 { This line has been mostly forced for the past four moves. } { [%clk 0:28:51] } 20... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:44:31] } 21. Rxd5 { Black's bishop is very limited, but White still has work to make it a good-knight-versus-bad-bishop situation. } { [%clk 0:29:15] } 21... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:44:15] } 22. Rad1 { [%clk 0:29:08] } 22... g6 { [%clk 0:39:33] } 23. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:22:52] } 23... Rxd8 { [%clk 0:37:17] } 24. Rxd8+ { White is clarifying into the knight-versus-bishop endgame. } { [%clk 0:23:06] } 24... Qxd8?! { [%clk 0:37:40] } (24... Bxd8! { is the engine's suggestion, pointing out that } 25. Qxe5 Bf6 26. Qc5 Qe6 { [%cal Ge6a2,Gf6b2] } 27. Qc2 { should be full compensation after } 27... h5 $10 { since one of White's queenside pawns will fall whenever she tries to activate her pieces. }) 25. Nc5?! { [%clk 0:19:18] } (25. Qxb7 { White could just take this pawn: } 25... Qd1+ 26. Kg2 Qxe2 { and even though Black gets the pawn back, now } 27. Nc5 { defends the b2-pawn while going after the a6-pawn, plus with threats of Nc5-d7. White is for choice after } 27... Qb5 (27... a5?? 28. Ne4 { is just winning for White due to the threat of Ne4-d6 with insurmountable pressure on the f7-square. } { [%cal Ge4d6] }) 28. Qxb5 axb5 29. b3 $16 { [%cal Gc5e4] }) 25... Qc7 { [%clk 0:29:58] } 26. b4 { [%clk 0:13:12] } (26. Nxb7 Qc1+ { is a whole different ballgame: } 27. Kg2 Qxb2 { thanks to Black's pressure on the a-pawn, and } 28. a4 Qb6 $10 { is closer to equal as White doesn't have pressure against the a6-pawn. }) 26... a5?! { [%clk 0:27:58] } (26... Be7 { It was positionally necessary to start making inroads against the powerful knight. } 27. Qd5 a5 28. Qxb7 Qxb7 29. Nxb7 Bxb4 $10 { This is much different than the line with ... a5xb4, as the knight is dominated on b7! }) 27. Nxb7?! { [%clk 0:11:13] } (27. Qxb7! Qxb7 28. Nxb7 axb4 29. f3 $16 { [%cal Re5e4] }) 27... axb4 { [%clk 0:28:17] } 28. Qxb4 { [%clk 0:11:34] } 28... Qc2 { [%clk 0:23:08] } 29. Qb3 { [%clk 0:04:34] } 29... Qd2?? { [%clk 0:16:57] } (29... Qc1+ { was the most resilient path: } 30. Kg2 Qc6+ { as White has no way to stay out of danger. } 31. Qf3 e4! { Black's bishop is not so bad anymore. } 32. Qb3 { The knight has to be protected. } 32... e3+ 33. f3 Qa6 { Black has counterplay, and after } { [%cal Ga6e2,Ga6a2] } 34. Kf1 Be7 35. a4 Qc6 $13 { Black's counterplay continues to rage on. }) 30. Kg2! { White correctly spots that the e-pawn is untouchable. } { [%clk 0:02:38] } 30... Be7?! { [%clk 0:12:47] } (30... Qxe2?? 31. Nd6 $18) 31. e4 { White's king is perfectly safe, and her extra pawn on the queenside should be great. } { [%clk 0:02:22] } 31... Qe2 { [%clk 0:05:43] } 32. Qd5 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 32... Bb4? { [%clk 0:06:07] } 33. Nd8 $18 { What a difference control of the d-file makes! } { [%clk 0:02:34] } 33... Qd2 { [%clk 0:02:08] } 34. Qxf7+ { [%clk 0:02:41] } 34... Kh8 { [%clk 0:02:33] } 35. Ne6 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 1-0