US Champ R7: Deadly Precision

by Alejandro Ramirez
4/9/2015 – Many crucial games were played with excellent technique today in the U.S. Championship. Sam Shankland played without a wrinkle against Timur Gareev, while Wesley So did the same against Alexander Onischuk. With more trouble, but winning at the end, Robson took out Naroditsky to tie for first. In the Women's Katerina Nemcova won again, keeping her tournament lead.
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The 2015 U.S. Championship is an elite national championship event, featuring 12 of the strongest chess players in America. Over the course of eleven rounds, these competitors will battle for $175,000 in prize money, qualification into the World Championship cycle, and the coveted title of 2015 U.S. Champion.

U.S. Chess Championship - Round Seven

Table White Rating Black Rating Result
1 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2622 GM Troff, Kayden W 2532 0-1
2 GM Kamsky, Gata 2683 GM Holt, Conrad 2530 1-0
3 GM So, Wesley 2788 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2665 1-0
4 GM Naroditsky, Daniel 2633 GM Robson, Ray 2656 0-1
5 GM Shankland, Samuel L 2661 GM Gareev, Timur 2604 1-0
6 GM Sevian, Samuel 2531 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2798 ½-½

 

Akobian, Varzuhan 0-1 Troff, Kayden
Akobian obtained a nice edge from this Grunfeld, and it seemed as if Troff would be tortured for some time. However, a big blunder from Akobian allowed a nice combination from Troff. After this Black had a very pleasant endgame that he was able to convert.

After winning his first round, Varzuhan Akobian seems to be completely out of shape

Kamsky, Gata 1-0 Holt, Conrad

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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d3 Bg4 5.Nbd2 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4!? A double-edged move. 7.0-0 Be7 8.e4 is more typical for King's Indian Attack. 7...Bg6 8.Nh4 White secures the two bishops, but is seriously lacking in space. Be7 9.e3 Qc7 10.Qe2 Nfd7 Black tries to force White to clarify the position with Nxg6. 11.Ndf3 Ne5!? Black wants to put the other knight on d7. 12.Nxe5 Bxh4 While I don't think you can call this move an error, it looks a little awkward to put the bishop here. 12...Qxe5 13.Nxg6 hxg6 looks simpler to me, leaving the bishop back on e7. 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bd2 Nd7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Kb1 Despite the slightly unusual opening, this position is pretty standard. White has the bishops, but Black has an excellent structure that controls them well. Rhe8 17.Rc1 Nc5?! This move looks artificial to me. 17...Kb8 looks like a non-committal improving move, waiting to see White's plans. 18.f4 A logical move, expanding and making Black think about g5. 18.c4 looks strong as well, with the idea that if dxc4 19.d4! followed by taking on c4 and White has opened up lines for the g2 bishop. 18...e5 Black has to try a central break, or else he'll simply end up worse. 18...Be7 19.h4 Kb8 20.h5 and White is taking over the kingside. 19.g5 f5?! It is understandable to want to free the bishop, but this severely weakens his pawn structure. 19...Ne6 20.Qg4 Rh8 and while the bishop is awkward on h4, it can't be won. I'd definitely take White here, but it isn't easy to prove anything. 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Qg4+ Ne6 Black looks very active, but he has no real threats. 23.c3! This move looks very passive, but it kills all of Black's play. The bishop on d2 is bad temporarily, but can come into the game later. 23.d4 Qg5 also looks promising for White, but now he has to worry about a knight landing on e4. 23...Qf5 24.Qxf5 gxf5 25.h4 This ending is actually very dangerous for Black, despite the fact that Kamsky fixed Holt's structure a little bit. The f5 is still a weakness, and the two bishops are potentially very dangerous. g6?! This allows White to penetrate with his rook. 25...Rh8 was a more stubborn defense, but after 26.h5 Rdf8 27.Rcf1 Black is still under pressure. 26.h5 gxh5 27.Rxh5 Despite the reduced material, Black will be hard pressed to defend here. Ng7 28.Rh7 Rh8 29.Rch1 Rxh7 30.Rxh7 Kd7 31.Kc2 Ke7 I think this is the wrong approach. 31...Re8 32.Bh3 Kd6 would be my defensive setup of choice, keeping the king closer to the queenside. Black is pretty immobilized, however, so White will have plenty of time to expand on the queenside and improve his pieces. 32.e4! Kamsky shows excellent understanding of the position. Despite the fact this leads to 3 vs 3, the bishops are extremely strong, and Black's king will have serious problems. dxe4 33.dxe4 fxe4 34.Bxe4 Kf7 35.a4 Gata is in no hurry. Kg8?! I understand that Black wanted to free his knight, but the king will simply be too far from his pawns. 35...Re8 36.Bd3 Ke6 36.Rh1 Ne6 37.Be3 a6 38.Bd3 Nc7?! Conrad was scared of Bc4, but it was by far the lesser evil. 38...Kf7 39.Bc4 b5 is complicated, but Black seems to hold on. 40.Rh7+ Kg8 41.Rh6 Kg7! 42.Bd3 and while Black is still under pressure, he's not losing anything yet. 42.Bxe6?! Re8 wins the piece back and Black should survive. 39.Bb6 39.Rg1+ was even more accurate, but the idea is similar. 39...Rd7 40.Bf5 Re7 41.Bc8 Black's queenside looks very tender, and it isn't so easy to keep it defended. Kg7 42.a5! Gata fixes the pawns on the light squares. Nd5 43.Bc5 Rc7 43...Re2+ 44.Kc1 Bg5+ 45.Kb1 and Black's activity has run out. 44.Bf5 Be5 45.Kd3 Black's pieces are running out of squares. Nf6 46.Re1 46.Ke3! and Black has no moves, though this is far from an obvious zugswang. 46...Nd7 47.Bf2 Bd6 48.Bd4+ Kf7 49.Kc4 Nf8 50.Bg4 Black is unable to contend with threats against his king and the queenside. Re7 50...c5 was likely necessary, but after 51.Rf1+ Kg6 52.Bf5+ the future looks grim. 51.Bh5+ Kg8 52.Rg1+ Kh7 53.Bg4 Black's king is nearly mated. Bf5 is a powerful threat. Kg6 54.Bc8+ Kh5 55.Rg7 Black's king survives, but his queenside won't once the rooks are off. Gata recovers nicely from his loss yesterday with this win. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kamsky,G2683Holt,C25301–02015A06U.S. Championship 20157

So, Wesley 1-0 Onischuk, Alexander
A cool game: So was able to put a lot of pressure on Onischuk in a position that seemed relatively harmless at first. Black had regained his gambited pawn in the Marshall, but So proved that the piece placement was still dangerous for Black. Onischuk blundered a piece in a position where he was already under severe pressure.

Naroditsky, Daniel 0-1 Robson, Ray
Naroditsky's attempt in this Grunfeld was double-edged. His attack on the kingside was beat back, and Robson obtained a positional initiative with a monster bishop on d5. The Californian kept trying to invade and put pressure on his opponent's position, threatening checks and counter play, but Robson had it all under control. At one point, Robson was completely winning, but missed the excellent resource 54.g4! turning a completely won position into a draw.

Tied for first: Ray Robson

Naroditsky had the chance to give a perpetual and end the game, but he missed it and Robson was able to get some new winning chances. In horrible time pressure for both players Robson won the game, again, and this time finished it off.

A marathon game, but Ray pulled it off in the end

Shankland, Sam 1-0 Gareev, Timur

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 One of Timur's more mainstream lines. 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 Bc5 7.Bxc6 7.Qd3 is the other main line these days, but Black has been doing okay here. 7...bxc6 8.Nxe5 0-0 9.Nc3 d6 10.Na4 This has been played quite a few times recently. It looks fancy, but the idea is to ensure Black's dark-squared bishop gets captured.. 10.Nd3 is the most common move, but after Bd4 Black gets to keep his bishop. 10.Nxc6 Qe8 and Black will capture on e4 if the knight retreats. 10...Qe8 11.Nd3 Bg4 This has been played twice by GM and Schliemann expert GM Roeland Pruijssers. He won both games against strong players, so we must assume he knows what he's doing. 12.Qe1 Bd4 13.c3 Bb6 14.Nxb6 axb6 All rather forced. 15.c4!? Shankland's novelty, though I'm not sure if it was prepared or over the board inspiration. 15.f3 Be6 was played in Bok-Pruijssers, and it looks quite unclear. 15...Be6 16.b3 Sam's idea is to take control of the light squares, which wasn't possible in the 15. f3 line. b5! Timur has to play actively, or else he's just be down a pawn. 17.e5 A principled try. 17.cxb5 Bxb3 is the idea, and after 18.Qc3 Ba4 with a messy position. 17...Bf5! 17...bxc4 18.exf6 cxd3 19.fxg7 Rf5! is unclear, but Timur understandable didn't want his kingside to get decimated. 18.Nb4! Both sides are playing accurately. 18.exf6 Bxd3 19.fxg7 Rf7 20.Qxe8+ Rxe8 21.Rd1 and Black can choose between drawing with Bc2-Bd3 or playing for a win with bxc4. I think both continuations are close to equal. 18...dxe5 19.Qe3 Logical, although maybe not best. 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.Be3 looks nice for White due to his better structure. 19...bxc4 20.bxc4 Qe6 21.Bb2 Shankland correctly sacrifices a pawn. Qxc4?! 21...Rab8! was a strong move, but the idea is far from obvious. 22.a3 c5! 23.Qxc5 Nd7 If White doesn't grab c7, c5 will be very strong. 24.Qxc7 Rfc8 25.Qa5 Black has sacked a couple pawns, but the queen is completely out of play now. There are many choices here, but I like Be4 with the idea of taking Ra8-Rc5 trapping the queen as well as Bxg2 with a perpetual. 22.a3 Black is temporarily up a pawn, but he has a lot of weaknesses. Ng4 23.Qc1! Clearly best, or else c5 was coming. Qe2 23...Qxc1 24.Raxc1 and Black's pawn weaknesses ensure he will suffer here. 24.h3 Be4! Retreating the knight allows Re1 and Black's pawns all fall, so this was the move Timur counted on. Sam has a powerful response, however. 25.Qe1! 25.hxg4? Bxg2 and White is in trouble. The bishop is poisonous due to 26.Kxg2 Qxg4+ 27.Kh1 Rf5 and mate will be delivered shortly. 25...Qxb2?! 25...Qxe1 was the better choice, but after 26.Raxe1 Nf6 27.Bxe5 White has a pleasant edge. 26.Qxe4 Nf6 27.Qc4+ Kh8 28.Nxc6 The queens on help White, since Black's king is less safe than its counterpart on g1. Rxa3 29.Rxa3 Qxa3 30.Nxe5 This reminds me a lot of Kamsky's game from today. Despite the simplified material, Black will find holding this nearly impossible. Qa5 31.Nf7+ Kg8 There are no killer discoveries, but Shankland finds the most accurate way to play. 32.Rd1! The knight can't be taken due to back rank mate, and Black doesn't have a lot of great options. Qh5 32...g6 looks best, giving the king a little breathing room, but after 33.Ng5+ Kh8 34.f4! followed by Kh2 and the attack will continue.. 33.Ne5+ Kh8 34.Re1 The queen is a bit stuck on h5. Ng8?! 34...Qe8 extricating the queen looks best. 35.Qxc7 Qf5 36.Qc5 Nh6 This ends up being an unfortunate square for the knight, but it was hard to suggest a better move. 37.g4! Qf4? 37...Qc8 was necessary to continue the fight, but after 38.Qd5 White is still dominating. 38.Re4! Now Black is dead lost. Qf6 38...Qxe4 39.Qxf8+ Ng8 40.Nf7# isn't helpful for Black. 39.Nd7 Qa1+ 40.Kh2 The problem for black is that g5 is coming, and there is no adequate defense. Ra8 41.g5 Qa7 and Gareev resigned, not waiting for Shankland to play Qxa7 and gxh6. A very high calibre game despite the complexity of the position, and Sam played the latter part of the game almost flawlessly. 41...Nf7 42.Qe7 and Black can't defend against both Qxf7 and Qe8+. 41...Ng8 42.Ne5 and Nf7 is a monster threat that can't be stopped. For instance, if Qa2 42...Qa7 43.Ra4! and neither piece can be taken due to Nf7. 43.Rf4 Ra7 and White switches gears with 44.Ng6+! hxg6 45.Rh4+ Nh6 46.gxh6 with mate coming soon. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Shankland,S2661Gareev,T26041–02015C63U.S. Championship 20157

Sam Shankland played a fantastic game today

Sevian, Samuel ½-½ Nakamura, Hikaru
Nakamura got the better of Sevian in the opening, with his Berlin threat he forced Sevian into a passive Ruy Lopez. Sevian might have outplayed Nakamura slightly after that, and the players agreed to a draw in an equal position around move 40.

Sam Sevian draws number one seed Hikaru Nakamura

Pairings for Round Eight

Table White Score Rating Black Score Rating
1 GM Troff, Kayden W 4.0 2532 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 5.0 2798
2 GM Gareev, Timur 2.0 2604 GM Sevian, Samuel 4.0 2531
3 GM Robson, Ray 5.0 2656 GM Shankland, Samuel L 3.5 2661
4 GM Onischuk, Alexander 3.5 2665 GM Naroditsky, Daniel 1.5 2633
5 GM Holt, Conrad 2.5 2530 GM So, Wesley 4.5 2788
6 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2.5 2622 GM Kamsky, Gata 4.0 2683

Standings

Replay Round Seven Games

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.c3 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Re1 0-0 8.Nbd2 a6 9.Ba4 h6 10.Nf1 b5 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.d4 exd4 14.cxd4 Bg4 15.d5 Nc4 16.Ne3 Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Re8 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Nd7 20.Rb1 Qh4 21.Re2 c4 22.Qf4 Qe7 23.Bd2 a5 24.Qg3 Nc5 25.b3 cxb3 26.Bxb3 Nxe4 27.Qd3 f5 28.Qxb5 Bd4 29.Be1 Qf7 30.Qd3 Qf6 31.Rd1 Be5 32.Qf3 a4 33.Bc4 Rec8 34.Bb5 Nc3 35.Bxc3 Rxc3 36.Re3 Rc2 37.Re2 Rxe2 38.Qxe2 Qh4 39.Qc2 Bd4 40.Bd7 Kh7 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Sevian,S2531Nakamura,H2798½–½2015C65ch-USA 20157
Naroditsky,D2633Robson,R26560–12015D85ch-USA 20157
So,W2788Onischuk,A26651–02015C89ch-USA 20157
Kamsky,G2683Holt,C25301–02015A07ch-USA 20157
Akobian,V2622Troff,K25320–12015D85ch-USA 20157
Shankland,S2661Gareev,T26041–02015C63ch-USA 20157

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U.S. Women's Championship - Round Seven

Table White Rating Black Rating
Result
1 WGM Nemcova, Katerina 2279 WCM Virkud, Apurva 2132
1-0
2 WGM Foisor, Sabina 2235 WFM Yu, Jennifer R 2180
½-½
3 WIM Ni, Viktorija 2188 WGM Abrahamyan, Tatev 2322
½-½
4 IM Paikidze, Nazi 2333 FM Melekhina, Alisa 2235
1-0
5 GM Krush, Irina 2477 WIM Wang, Annie 1901
1-0
6 IM Goletiani, Rusudan 2311 WGM Sharevich, Anna 2267
0-1

 

Nemcova, Katerina 1-0 Virkud, Apurva
Nemcova absolutely destroyed Virkud positionally. The finish with the exchange sacrifice and the total domination of Black's pieces was very fitting.

Katerina running away with the trophies?

Foisor, Sabina ½-½ Yu, Jennifer
Foisor blundered a pawn against Yu, who proceeded to outplay her opponent. With an extra two pawns, it seemed as if the game would surely be over, but somehow Yu failed to convert a very basic endgame. Actually, she did not even really try to make any progress...

Ni, Viktorija ½-½ Abrahamyan, Tatev
A bold Grand Prix attack from two players that were making their way up the rankings in the tournament after a slow start. Abrahamyan had scored the last 3.5/4 and Ni won her last two games. A sharp pawn sacrifice was followed by an exchange sacrifice that forced a perpetual.

Viktorija Ni was slightly lucky Tatev Abrahamyan allowed a perpetual

Paikidze, Nazi 1-0 Melekhina, Alisa

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1.Nf3 g6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 Nc6 We've transposed into a Symmetrical English. 5.Nc3 d6 This move order is very clever. 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 7.Ne1 is a typical idea, but here it is inaccurate due to Be6! 8.d3 Nge7 and Black is ready to play d5 before White's knight lands on e3. 7...Nge7 8.a3 0-0 9.Rb1 a5 This move is a little weakening, but allowing b4 without a fight is usually just a pleasant edge for White. 10.Bd2 Rb8 11.Ne1 Be6 12.Nc2 d5 Black achieves the desired break, but the inclusion of a3-a5 gives White some weaknesses to work with. 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Ne4 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.b4 is an alternative, but it looks pretty comfortable for Black. cxb4 17.axb4 b6∞ 14...b6 15.Ng5 White has to play for concrete threats, or else she'll simply be on the wrong side of a bad maroczy bind. Bc8 16.Ne3 Nxe3 Ideally Black would like to keep pieces on the board, but in this case I think Alisa made the right decision. 16...Nde7 17.Nc4 and I'm not sure how Black should consolidate. 17.Bxe3 Nd4 Black has to be happy with how she's emerged from the opening. 18.b4?! A normal idea, but it shouldn't work very well here. 18.Re1 is a sad move, but it prepares b4 and waits waits for Black to commit the light-squared bishop. 18...cxb4 19.axb4 Bg4 19...a4 was simple and strong. The pawn is immune to capture, and if Black gets in b5 she'll be slightly better. 20.f3?! This ugly move shouldn't be necessary. 20.Re1 Once again, I'd prefer this timid move over the text. 20...Bd7 21.Ne4 axb4? This is completely the wrong approach. Black almost never wants to simplify on the queenside in these lines. 21...a4 and Black is just much better. 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Qb3 Now the game is far less clear. Re8 24.f4 Bf8 25.Ng5 Be6? This looks completely unnecessary. 25...Qf6 26.Bd5 and Black can play Rxe2 27.Bxf7+ Kh8 and I'd still take Black. 26.Nxe6 fxe6 White's position is now more solid than Black's, despite the temporary pawn deficit. 27.f5 in the right spirit of the position. White should be playing against Black's king. gxf5 28.Rxf5 Rc8 29.Bd5!? A spectacular looking move, but not one which really changes the evaluation much. 29.Rf4 followed by doubling on the f-file looks simpler. 29...Qd6 30.Rg5+ Kh8 31.Be4 Rc5 Alisa has defended well, and the White rook is a little out of place now. 32.Rg4 b5?! I'm not sure what this move does. 32...Rec8 looks more useful, with the idea that b4 can't be captured due to Rc1+. 33.Rf1 Rc3 34.Rf7! Nazi chooses to ignore the attack on her queen. Rc7 35.Rf5! and prepares Rh5. Her rook is immune again, this time due to mate on g8. Bh6?! 35...Rc5 was better, preventing White from achieving her aim. 36.Rxb5 Be3+ 37.Kg2 The bishop on e3 looks nice, but that's about all it does. White's snapped a pawn for free, and is ready to continue her attack. Qf8 38.Bf3 Rc1 This doesn't really threaten anything, but it's hard to recommend a better move. 39.Qxb4 Rg1+?! The king on h3 will be perfectly safe, while the rook on g1 is merely a tourist. 39...Qxb4 40.Rxb4 Rc7 is Black's best shot, but this ending will be pure suffering. 40.Kh3 Qf7 This loses right away, but it was lost anyway. 41.Qd6 Qf6 42.Rb8 Black has no defense to the numerous threats. Qh6+ 43.Rh4 Qg6 44.Rxe8+ Qxe8 45.Qe5+ Kg8 46.Rg4+ Black resigns before White can deliver mate. Alisa won the opening battle, but after a couple of errors Nazi took over the initiative and never let it go. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Paikidze,N2333Melekhina,A22351–02015A37U.S. Womens Championship 20157

Krush, Irina 1-0 Wang,Annie
Krush destroyed Wang in a positional struggle, and normally that would be sufficient to wrap up the game's summary. However it is almost incomprehensible how a full-fledged grandmaster like Irina Krush, top seed and defending U.S. Women's Champion, was able to miss the simplest combination on move twelve that would simply have won a piece. You can take a look at the game and surely you will find it without any problem.

The moves after this were 9...Qxf6 10. dxc3 Bc5 11. Bxe6 fxe6?? 12.Nf3?? Can you find the missed win?

Goletiani, Rusudan 0-1 Sharevich, Anna

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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.b3 It is slightly unusual to commit to the fiancetto so early, but it isn't unheard of by any means. Bg4 5.Bb2 Nbd7 6.0-0 Qc7 This move has a strange feel to it, as I'm not sure the queen wants to be here in many lines. 6...e6 is standard. 7.d4 7.c4 would be my choice, with the idea of playing Nc3-Rc1 later and making the queen feel unwelcome on c7. 7...e6 8.c4 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3 10.Rc1 still looks good to me, although it does a lot less with the pawn on d4, since White won't have d3-e4 ideas later. 10...Bf5 11.Nd2 11.Nh4 would be desireable, but Be4 12.Nxe4 12.f3 is possible with the pawn back on h2, but not here. 12...dxe4 and the knight is very awkward on h4. 12...Nxe4 13.Nf3 f5 is also perfectly fine for Black. 11...Rad8 12.Rc1 Qb8 13.e3 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Ncxe4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nf6 and Black has nothing to fear. All trades are helpful, and Black can slowly gang up on the d4 pawn. 13...b5 13...h6 followed by Bh7 gives White even less to work with, but what Anna played is standard and can't be wrong. 14.cxb5 cxb5 15.Qe2 a6 16.a3 16.e4 should be on White's radar now, since it opens lines for White's pieces. Note how the g2 bishop is a lot better when it doesn't run into b7-c6. dxe4 17.Ncxe4 Nd5 and White can choose between ideas of Nf3-e5 and a3-b4 followed by Nc5. The position is roughly equal. 16...h6 17.g4? This is just completely the wrong approach. White's pieces just aren't prepared for attacking, and the open c-file will give Black plenty of counterplay. 17.e4 Now I would certainly play this move, as b4-Nc5 can be played even faster. 17...Bh7 18.f4 Rc8 19.Bf3 19.g5 looks like a logical follow up, but after hxg5 20.fxg5 Ne8 21.h4 Nd6 It is clear White's king is in worse shape than Black's. 19...Ne8 20.Kg2 20.e4 This looks loose, but I'd try to play this move while I had the chance. dxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Ndxe4 and while I'd still take Black, White has some counterplay coming with Qf3-f5. 20...Nd6 21.Rh1?! Bh4! I like this move a lot, as it keeps White from trying anything on the h-file. 22.Rhg1 a5 23.Kh1 Rc7 24.Qh2 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.Na4 Rfc8 Sharevich is playing excellent chess. White is in huge trouble. 27.Rxc7 Rxc7 28.f5 Rusa's only try. Rc2 29.Bd1 29.Rc1 would probably have been my move, but after Rxc1+ 30.Bxc1 exf5 31.Bxd5 fxg4 32.hxg4 Be7 White's king is simply too exposed. 29...Rc8? Anna misses her chance. 29...Rxd2! 30.Qxd2 Ne4 and White is just toast. After the forced 31.Qh2 Ng3+ 32.Rxg3 32.Kg2 exf5 is hopeless. 32...Bxg3 and Black will take on f5 with an overwhelming position. 30.Nc5! Rusa spots her chance, and the game has become unclear. Nxc5 31.dxc5 Rxc5 32.fxe6 fxe6 32...Qf8 might be safer, but it is clear something has gone wrong for Black. 33.Qe5 Now Black is the one who has to be careful. Rc3! Sharevich finds the best defensive move. The b2 bishop has to be blocked at all costs. 34.Rf1 Bf6 34...Kh8 I'd get the king out of the check ASAP. 35.Qxe6+ Nf7 36.Bf3 Bxd5 is a major threat. Rc2? I'd imagine there was severe time pressure here, and both players made some severe errors. 36...Kh8 Once again, I want to extricate my king, but here I rely on a tactic. 37.Qxf7 Rc7 38.Qxd5 Bxb2 and despite being down a pawn, Black's king is safe and the two bishops should promise enough counterplay. 37.Bxd5?? A huge blunder. 37.Bxf6 is winning pretty simply. Bg6 37...gxf6 38.Bxd5 is over. 37...Rxd2 38.Be5! is a key resource, and maybe what Rusa missed. The idea is that after Qxe5 39.Qc8+ leads to mate. 38.Bxg7! Kxg7 39.Bxd5 Rxd2 40.Rxf7+ Bxf7 41.Qxf7+ Kh8 42.Qf6+ Kh7 43.Be4+ Kg8 44.Qg6+ Kf8 45.Qxh6+ and White has way too many pawns. 37...Bg6?? Anna returns the favor. 37...Rxd2 38.Qxf7+ Kh8 and mate on h2 can't be stopped without huge material losses. One key point is that after 39.Be5 Bxe5 40.Qf8+ Black has Bg8 and Black remains up a piece. 38.Bxf6 Now Rusa is won again. Rxd2 39.Be5 Qd8 40.e4?? As has happened to so many players, the last blunder comes on move 40. 40.Rxf7 leads to a won rook ending. Qxd5+ 41.Qxd5 Rxd5 42.Rxg7+ Kf8 43.Rxg6 Rxe5 44.Rf6+ Kg7 45.Rf3 and two pawns should be enough to win. 40...Qh4 Now mate is inevitable. 41.g5 Bxe4+ 42.Kg1 Qxg5+ 43.Qg4 Rg2+ Quite an exciting game. Sharevich held a large advantage for most of it, but towards the end the point was really up for grabs. A much needed win for Anna, and a rough loss for Rusa, who's chances of playing for first are severely compromised. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Goletiani,R2311Sharevich,A22670–12015A06U.S. Womens Championship 20157

Pairings for Round Eight

Table White Rating Black Rating
1 WCM Virkud, Apurva 2132 WGM Sharevich, Anna 2267
2 WIM Wang, Annie 1901 IM Goletiani, Rusudan 2311
3 FM Melekhina, Alisa 2235 GM Krush, Irina 2477
4 WGM Abrahamyan, Tatev 2322 IM Paikidze, Nazi 2333
5 WFM Yu, Jennifer R 2180 WIM Ni, Viktorija 2188
6 WGM Nemcova, Katerina 2279 WGM Foisor, Sabina 2235

Standings

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Commentary provided for the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis by Josh Friedel:

Joshua Friedel

Josh was born in 1986 in New Hampshire, USA and is currently living in Wisconsin. He obtained his international master title in 2005 and his grandmaster in 2008. He has participated in six US Championships, including a tie for fourth in 2008. Major Open tournament victories include: the 2003 Eastern Open, 2005 Berkeley Masters, 2008 National Open, 2009 Edmonton International, 2009 North American Open, 2010 Saint Louis Open, 2010 American Open, 2013 Chicago Open.

Josh will be annotating the games for the Saint Louis Chess Club.

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Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez has been playing tournament chess since 1998. His accomplishments include qualifying for the 2004 and 2013 World Cups as well as playing for Costa Rica in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Olympiads. He currently has a rating of 2583 and is author of a number of popular and critically acclaimed ChessBase-DVDs.

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