2009 US Women's Ch. (4) |
2009 US Women's Ch. (4) |
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6
9... gxf6 doesn't lead to a pawn sacrifice and may have been a better option for this game. Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Krush tries a different move, a rather unusual one at that, from the one that lost quickly back in the Netherlands last year 10... Be7 11. Qg3
10... Be5 is actually the most common continuation in this line 11. Qc5 Qxc5 12. Nxc5 Ke7
11. Qc5 Bd4 12. Qxb6 Bxb6 13. Bb5 a6 14. Bxc6
The commentary room did not like the idea of voluntarily giving Krush the bishop pair. Ben Finegold gave some good advice when he said do not always be so hasty to trade off pieces when ahead on material. Sometimes your pieces are better than your opponent's.
14... Bxc6 15. a4 Ke7 16. Ke2 Rhc8 17. f3 Be8 18. g3 Rc4 19. Rhd1 g5 20. a5 Ba7 21. Rd3 h5
Black has to create some open lines for the bishops. White's knights do well at defending but they have to remain very passive, giving black compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
22. Nd2 Rd4 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 24. Ra3 h4 25. f4 hxg3 26. hxg3 g4
26... gxf4 27. gxf4 Bc6 28. Rb3 is equal and the position has simplified. Krush wants to keep the position complicated and the advanced g-pawn may eventually become important if she can infiltrate on the kingside.
27. Nd1 Bb5+ 28. c4 Bc6 29. b4 Rh8 30. Ne3 Rh2+ 31. Kd3 Bxe3 32. Kxe3 f5
32... Rg2 33. Nf1 Rb2 34. e5 Rxb4 may have been a more testing variation for Krush to go for.
Krush's compensation has disappeared and she is now just a pawn down.
34... Rg2 35. Kd4 Kd6 36. Kc3+ Ke6 37. Kd4 Kd6 38. Kc3+ Ke6 39. Kd4 Kd6
Fan is happy to accept her first half-point of the tournament, especially against Krush.
1/2-1/2 [Bird C.]
Fan Y.
Game(s) in PGN