[Event "Cairns Cup 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis, US"] [Date "2024.06.20"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Zatonskih, Anna"] [Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2327"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2501"] [BlackTeam "SUI"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D10"] [Opening "Slav Defense"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/oG53fNqo/CtBuDJX1"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O Bd6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 O-O 12. Bg5 Nf6 13. Qe2 h6 14. Bh4 c5 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rd3 Rfd8 17. d5 Re8 18. Qd1!? { An usual move but the engine likes it. The idea is to put pressure on the d-file, potentially attack the bishop on d6, and remove the queen from possible trades on the e-file. } (18. dxe6 { This simplification is also possible, giving White a small edge. But the game would continue in a completely opposite manner to the actual game. } 18... Qxe6 19. Qxe6 Rxe6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. Rfd1 $14) 18... e5 19. Re1 g5 20. Nxg5!! { One of the most beloved sacrifices for all players and a very strong one in this position. The engine gives it thumbs up as well. } 20... hxg5 21. Bxg5 e4 22. Rh3 Qe5 23. f4! { The only good choice here. White defends the bishop and attacks Black's queen. } (23. Ree3?? Qxg5 24. Reg3 Bxg3 25. Rxg3 Qxg3 26. hxg3 $19 { and White gave away too much material. }) (23. Bxf6? { Simplifications help the defending side. After this trade, White will not have enough attacking force to create any danger. } 23... Qxf6 24. Qh5 Qg7 25. Ree3 Re5 $19) 23... Qf5 24. g4 { Not a preferred move by the engine, but a still a move that puts some pressure on Black. } (24. Ree3!? { A preferable choice by the engine: making a rook lift and bring her into the attack via the g3-square. } 24... Kf8! { Running away from the danger. } 25. Reg3 e3! { Black is hoping for trades while getting the pawn closer to the promotion square. } (25... Bxf4? 26. Qf1! $18) 26. Rh8+ Kg7 27. Bxf6+ Kxf6 28. Rh6+ Ke7 29. Rxe3+ Kd8 (29... Kd7 30. Qa4+!! $18) 30. Rxd6+ Kc7 31. Rxe8 Rxe8 32. Rh6 Qxf4 33. Rh3 $14) 24... Qxg4+ 25. Rg3 Qxd1 26. Bxf6+ Kh7 (26... Kf8?? { This is putting the king into mating nets. } 27. Rxd1 Bxf4 28. Rh3 $18 { And a checkmate is inevitable in three moves. }) 27. Rxd1 e3?? { This move gave Zatonskih a chance to finish in a style and aim at the best game prize of the tournament (if there is such a prize). } 28. Rf3? { Not this way. Black is out of trouble after the next move. } (28. f5!! { Brilliancy alert! } 28... Bxg3 29. hxg3 { White does not care that she is an Exchange down, or that Black's e-pawn is dangerously close to the promotion square. It is the black king that is in trouble. Notice the mating net that only needs a rook on the h-file to finish it off. } 29... e2 30. Re1 Kg8 (30... Rg8 31. Kg2 Rg7 32. d6 { White can choose from a million of ways to win this position. }) 31. Kg2! Re4 32. Rh1 $18) 28... Kg6 29. Bc3 Kf5 30. Be5?? (30. Rd3!? { It is suddenly Black who starts applying the pressure. However, the engine is still calling it balanced. } 30... Bxf4 31. Kf1 Ke4 32. Ke2 Rg8 33. Rdxe3+!? { This is the key move that one needed to see down the road. } 33... Bxe3 34. Rxe3+ Kf4 35. Rf3+ Ke4 36. Re3+) 30... Ke4 { This king survived a tough situation earlier and now is ready to march forward. } (30... Bxe5! 31. fxe5+ Ke4 32. Rxf7 e2 33. Re1 Ke3 $19) 31. Rff1? { A final mistake of the game. } (31. Rxe3+!? { An interesting idea to try in this situation. } 31... Kxe3 32. Bxd6 { White finally removes the dangerous pawn and now has two pawns and a bishop for a rook. Given the strong structure and the passed pawn on e5, this position would not be easy to win for Black. }) 31... Bxe5 32. fxe5 Rxe5 $19 { Game over. The e3-pawn is very advanced and will decide the game. } 33. Rxf7 e2 34. Ra1 Ke3 35. Rg7 Kd2 36. Rg2 Rf8 37. h4 Ref5 38. d6 Rf1+ 39. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 40. Kh2 Ke3 41. d7 e1=Q 42. Rg3+ Kf4 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1