[Event "US Masters 2024"] [Site "Charlotte, NC"] [Date "2024.12.01"] [Round "09"] [White "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim"] [Black "Kevlishvili, Robby"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2385"] [BlackElo "2556"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "2024 US Masters"] [ChapterName "Tokhirjonova, Gulrukhbegim - Kevlishvili, Robby"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/p6WHvngL/ue1OULzb"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:23:30] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:30:42] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:23:31] } 2... d6 { [%clk 1:30:52] } 3. d4 { [%clk 1:23:53] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 1:31:17] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:24:14] } 4... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:38] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 1:24:37] } 5... a6 { [%clk 1:31:55] } 6. f3 { [%clk 1:24:29] } 6... e5 { [%clk 1:29:39] } 7. Nb3 { [%clk 1:24:15] } 7... Be6 { [%clk 1:29:58] } 8. Be3 { [%clk 1:24:37] } 8... h5 { [%clk 1:30:07] } 9. Be2 { [%clk 1:23:10] } 9... Nbd7 { [%clk 1:29:35] } 10. f4 { [%clk 1:21:00] } 10... g6 { [%clk 1:25:39] } 11. h3 { [%clk 1:19:32] } 11... Rc8 { [%clk 1:22:52] } 12. O-O { [%clk 1:14:09] } 12... h4 { [%clk 1:18:21] } 13. f5! { A clever move order from Tokhirjonova moved from an English Attack against Black's Najdorf into something closer to a 6. Be2 set-up with kingside castling and f2-f3-f4-f5. Despite the extra tempo, Black's pieces are a bit tangled up, and now Black lacks a good reply. } { [%clk 1:10:36] } 13... gxf5 { [%clk 1:18:33] } (13... Bxb3 { was a grim alternative, although } 14. cxb3 g5!? { could use the decoy of White's bishop off the g1-a7 diagonal to prepare a thematic ... Rc8xc3 sacrifice. } 15. Rc1! $16 (15. Bxg5?! Qb6+ 16. Kh2 Rxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe4 18. Bc1 Ng3 $132)) (13... Bc4 { Ordinarily, Black would rather play like this with White's pawn still on the e4-square, so it can be targeted, but here } 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. fxg6 fxg6 16. Nd5! { gives White an overwhelming initiative. } 16... Bg7 (16... Rxe4 17. Bb6 $18) 17. Bg5 $16) 14. exf5 { [%clk 1:11:05] } 14... Bc4 { [%clk 1:18:51] } 15. Bxc4 { [%clk 1:09:30] } 15... Rxc4 { [%clk 1:18:36] } 16. Qd3 { [%clk 1:09:48] } 16... Rc8 { [%clk 1:13:07] } 17. a4 { Better was playing against the center with } { [%clk 1:08:05] } (17. Nd2 Qc7 18. Nde4 $16) 17... Qc7 { [%clk 1:12:32] } 18. Rf2 { White is struggling to untangle her pieces now that there is pressure against the c2-pawn. } { [%clk 1:05:18] } 18... Rg8 { Black has plans of ... Rg8-g3 further keeping White's pieces restricted. } { [%clk 1:06:33] } 19. Re1 { [%clk 0:58:45] } 19... Qc6 { [%clk 1:02:42] } 20. Na5 { [%clk 0:57:55] } 20... Qc7 { [%clk 1:03:07] } 21. Nb3 { [%clk 0:58:15] } 21... Be7 { [%clk 1:03:31] } 22. Rd2 { [%clk 0:54:06] } 22... Qc4 { [%clk 1:02:20] } 23. Bf2 { Maneuvering from White has got her closer to freeing her c3-knight, and now Black misevaluates the position. } { [%clk 0:46:50] } 23... Nh5? { White trades queens under better circumstances than after } { [%clk 0:56:23] } (23... Qxd3 24. Rxd3 (24. cxd3 Nh5 $15 { allows pressure with ... Nh5-g7 }) 24... Nh5 25. Nd5 Ndf6 26. Nxf6+ Nxf6 27. Rd2 Nh5 $15) 24. Qxc4! { [%clk 0:45:00] } 24... Rxc4 { [%clk 0:56:26] } 25. Na5 { [%clk 0:45:15] } 25... Rb4 { [%clk 0:54:51] } 26. Nd5! { Black must have missed the point behind this move. } { [%clk 0:43:40] } 26... Rxb2 { [%clk 0:21:59] } 27. Nc4 { The rook is short on squares. } { [%clk 0:41:43] } 27... Ra2 { [%clk 0:21:56] } 28. Nc3 { The rook is out of squares! } { [%clk 0:39:24] } 28... d5 { [%clk 0:22:09] } 29. Nxd5!? { White decides that, since the a2-rook is so out of play, she'd rather have two central knights than a material advantage. } { [%clk 0:36:55] } (29. Nxa2 dxc4 30. Red1 $16) 29... Bg5 { [%clk 0:19:26] } 30. Rde2 { [%clk 0:34:49] } 30... Nf4 { [%clk 0:16:47] } 31. Nxf4 { [%clk 0:31:24] } 31... Bxf4 { [%clk 0:16:58] } 32. Bxh4 { [%clk 0:31:44] } 32... Rxa4 { Material has remained equal but Black's tangled pieces have left White with an edge that is reflected by the clock situation as well. } { [%clk 0:15:48] } 33. Re4 { [%clk 0:29:38] } 33... Kf8 { [%clk 0:15:34] } (33... b5 34. Rxf4 Rxc4 35. Rxc4 bxc4 36. Re4 $16) 34. Rd1! { A great move. As Nc4-d6 does not come with check anymore, it looks like Black might have chances to force favorable exchanges or even pressure the c4-knight. But they never do! } { [%clk 0:28:17] } 34... Rh8 { [%clk 0:14:47] } (34... Nb8 35. Bf6 Nc6 36. g4 $16) 35. Bd8 { With no ... Nd7-f6, White's pieces remain safe and Black's remain at a loss for plans. } { [%clk 0:26:02] } 35... Rh6 { [%clk 0:06:17] } (35... Ke8 36. Nd6+ $18 { wins material. }) 36. Rxd7 { [%clk 0:26:08] } 36... Rc6 { [%clk 0:04:17] } (36... b5 37. Rxf4! { solves the problem of the pinned knight, and after } 37... exf4 38. Ne5 $18 { the two pieces have monstrous attacking chances whereas Black's passed a-pawn is too slow to make an impact. }) 37. Rc7 { [%clk 0:20:08] } (37. Rxf4 { also worked here. }) 37... Rxc7 { [%clk 0:03:08] } 38. Bxc7 { [%clk 0:20:36] } 38... b5 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 39. Nd6 { White remains piece-up, and wins from here. } { [%clk 0:20:55] } 39... Ra2 { [%clk 0:03:54] } 40. g3 { [%clk 0:19:27] } 40... Bxg3 { [%clk 0:03:26] } 41. Re2 { [%clk 0:18:22] } 41... Bf4 { [%clk 0:03:23] } 42. f6 { [%clk 0:18:26] } 42... Ra3 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 43. h4 { [%clk 0:18:10] } 43... Rc3 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 44. Bd8 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:18:09] } 1-0