1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

The O'Kelly Variation, which apparently holds fond memories for Krush.

3. d4

Apparently this is not the best move against 2... a6 but it is surprising how often it is played. Finegold said in his commentary that most GMs would play 3.c3 or 3.c4.

3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nb3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Qh5

Tsagaan plays the most aggressive line, as usual.

11... Nc6

Krush said after the game that she spent a lot of time here trying to find the right set up. Most other games that have reached this position have continued with either Nd7-f6, Be6 and Nd7 or the immediate g6.

12. Rd1 Be6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. O-O Ne7 15. c4 Ba3

The immediate 15... Ng6 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Qf3 Bxc4 18. Rfe1 Bf7 leads to a position similar to what happens in the game.

16. c5!?

Tsagaan plays the move that Krush was trying to prevent anyway. Once again this is the most active continuation and Tsagaan commented after the game that she didn't want black to get castled, which other safe moves like 16. Rfe1 would allow.

16... Ng6 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qf3 Bf7!

Krush is going to get castled anyway, despite Tsagaan's best efforts.

19. Qh3

19. Qe4 O-O 20. Qa4 Bb2 21. Rd7 b5!?

19... O-O 20. Rd7 Qc8

Best. 20... Qc6 allows 21. Na5 Qxc5 22. Nxb7 and white's knight gets into the action.

21. Be7 Be8

Krush plays the best move again as both players were getting short of time. 21... Re8 22. Rfd1 is still ok for black but why settle for just ok?

22. Rd3 Qxh3 23. Rxh3 Rf7 24. Bd6 b6 25. Re1 Rd8 26. Rd3

Better was 26. Rhe3 ganging up on the e-pawn.

26... Bb5 27. Rdd1?

It wasn't too late to switch back to ganging up on the e-pawn 27. Rde3 Bxc5 28. Bxc5 bxc5 29. Rxe5 c4 30. Nc5 Rd2 31. a4 Bc6 32. R5e2=

27... Rfd7! 28. Rb1 Bb4

Setting a nasty trap while the players had very little time to reach the 40 move mark.

29. Rxe5?

29. Rec1 would have avoided the trap but black is better after 29... Bc3

29... bxc5

The bishop cannot move because of back rank problems.

30. h4 Rxd6 31. Nxc5 Rd1+ 32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 33. Kh2 Rc1 34. a4 Bf1 35. Rd5 Rxc2 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Ne4 a5 38. Rd7+ Kf8 39. Ng5 Bc4 40. Nxh7+ Ke8 41. Rxg7 Bd6+ 42. Kh3 Be6+ 43. g4 Rxf2 0-1 [Bird C.]