1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. d3 Nf6 6. O-O

A sort of Reverse Benoni. The fact that black has not played c5 early, means that she can maneuver her knight to that square.

6... Nd7 7. e3

This is the most common move in the position. White wants to open up the center whilst black has yet to castle.

7... Be7 8. exd4 exd4 9. Re1 O-O 10. Na3

I expected this move when doing live commentary, but, white also plays 10.Nbd2 in this position. I thought the text move made more sense, and white can play Nc3 later, attacking d4, preparing b4, and the Qd1 protects the d3 pawn, unlike when white plays the knight to d2.

10... Nc5 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 c6 13. Nc2 a5 14. b3 Bd6

Surprisingly, this has all been played before! White played 15.Re1 in the game Barle-Mikhalchisin, 1995, which black eventually won. Here, I suggested 15.Rh5 in the commentary room, but, I thought it was more of a "fun, blitz move" than a serious move. Imagine my surprise when that is exactly what Rusa played! After the game, Zatonskih said she thought 15.Rh5 was fine.

15. Rh5!? Ne6

This is what I expected during the live commentary. Rybka prefers 15... g6.

16. Bb2 Be7 17. Re5 Bf6 18. Re1

After a little detour, the rook finds a reasonable home on e1. Zatonskih has done well to protect her d4 pawn, and now, she completes development with simple moves.

18... Qb6 19. Rb1 Bd7

I thought the position was about equal, and Zatonskih agreed. Now, Rusa plays a move I did not like, but, she thought it was ok, but that her later 24.f4? was to blame. I dislike moving the pawns in front of white's king, as it seems to weaken her king more than it does to put pressure on black's king.

20. h4!? c5

Anna solidifies her d4 pawn, and at the same time attempts to trade off the strong Bg2.

21. Qh5 Bc6 22. Bh3?

Jen did not like this move. She thought giving away the a8-h1 diagonal was more important than the pressure white gets with Bh3. I agree.

22... g6 23. Qg4 Rfe8 24. f4?

This is the losing move. Now white has too many weaknesses around her king. Anna's play hereafter is aggressive and accurate.

24... Ng7 25. Qd1 Nh5 26. Kh2 Qc7 27. Bg4?

Losing quickly. A spectator in the live audience suggested 27.Qg4! which allows white to still play on. Now Anna executes a brutal sacrificial mating attack.

27... Nxf4! 28. Rf1

28. gxf4 Qxf4+ 29. Kh3 Qf2

28... Be5! 29. gxf4 Bxf4+ 30. Kh3

30. Kg1 Bh2+ 31. Kf2 Qg3#

30. Rxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Kh3 h5

30... h5! 31. Bxh5 gxh5 32. Qxh5 Bd7+! 33. Kg2 Ra6!

Normally, I do not give exclamation points to so many moves, but, in this game, Anna played so many powerful/best moves, it is easy to see why she has 6.5-0.5!

34. Rf3 Rg6+ 35. Kf1 Bg4 36. Qd5 Re5

An incredible final position.

0-1 [Finegold B. IM]