ODT140610

=**Thrilling finale to US Championships**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 3.

The 2014 United States Championships took place again in Saint Louis last month. The Mid-West city has become the chess capital of the country, due to generous support by local billionaire philanthropist, Rex Sinquefield. At the end of the final round, extremely close competition lead to a three-way tie for first place in both the Open championship and the Women’s' Championship. The rules required playoffs: first an Armageddon game between the second and third players on tie-break. This is where a draw counts as a win to Black, who starts with a time handicap. The winner faced the remaining player in a two-game rapid match. In the end experience told. The Open winner was defending champion GM Gata Kamsky taking his fifth US title. The Women’s' Championship was also won by the defending Champion, GM Irina Krush, taking her sixth US title. Both had come from behind in the main event to reach the playoffs. Today's game is Krush's demolition of WGM Camilla Baginskaite from the fourth round of the Women's Championship. media type="custom" key="26177718" **1.d4 Nf6** **2.c4 e6** **3.Nc3 Bb4** **4.e3 O-O** **5.Bd3 d5** **6.Nf3 c5** **7.O-O Nc6** **8.cxd5!?** Deviating from the Nimzo-Indian Rubinstein main line 8. a3. The central pawn exchanges free Black's game but leave her with an isolated d-pawn. **8... exd5** **9.dxc5 Bxc5** **10.h3 Re8** Another possibility is 10... Qe7 planning to bring the rook to the d-file to support the pawn. Although Black's pieces seem to have free movement, the need to keep d5 defended restricts their options. **11.b3 Ne4** It was possibly better to hold this move in reserve and continue developing with 11... Be6 or restrict the white pieces by 11... a6. The looseness of the Black position soon allows White to seize the initiative. **12.Bb2 Bf5** **13.Rc1 Bb6** **14.Na4! Bc7** Black can't allow this important piece to be exchanged for a knight. **15.Nc5 Nxc5?!** This exchange activates the white pieces. Better to hold tight with the 15... Qc8! Although the queen is put on the same file as the rook, it is hard for White to make progress. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16.Rxc5!?** A simpler way to advantage was 16. Bxf5! Ne4 17. Qc2 Qd6 18. Rfd1 with pleasant pressure against the d-pawn. The move played is more aggressive. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16...** **Be4?!** Although this move gets rid of the weak d-pawn, the opening of the central file allows White to whip up a devastating kingside attack out of nowhere. The critical line was to force an exchange sacrifice by 16... Bb6! 17 Rxc6! (17. Bxf5!? is also good for White) 17... Bxd3! 18. Rxb6! Bxf1 19. Rxb7 Ba6 20. Qd4 f6 21. Rxa7 Be2! 22. Ne1! Rxa7 23. Qxa7 with two connected passed pawns for the exchange. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.Bxe4! dxe4** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.Rd5 Qc8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.Ng5! f6?** With the white pieces suddenly swarming around the black king, this weakening of the 7th rank and a2-g8 diagonal is immediately fatal. Black best defence lay in jettisoning the e-pawn to close the long diagonal: 19... Be5! 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Rxe5 Nxe5 22. Qd5 Qc7 23. Rd1 h6 24. Nxe4 with a significant White advantage. The other try 19... h6 is more clearly losing after 20. Qh5! hxg5! (20... Re7 21. Bf6! Qe8 22. Qg4! Ne5! 23. Rxe5 Rxe5 (23... Bxe5 24. Nxe4! Qf8 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nd7 etc.) 24. Ne6! Rg5 25. Nxg5 hxg5 26. Qxg5 Qf8 27. Rd1 with a big advantage.) 21. Rxg5 Be5 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 when the e-pawn requires defending and the kingside is weakened. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.Rd7! Ne7** There is no defence. E.g. 20... Re7 21. Qd5+ Kh8 22. Nf7+ Rxf7 (22... Kg8 23. Nd6+) 23. Qxf7 etc. The move played allows a pretty finish. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.Qh5!! Qxd7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Qf7+ Kh8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Bxf6! Resigns** Mate can only be averted at enormous cost in material after 23... Nf5.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**1-0**


 * Solution:** 1. Qb8+ Rc8 2. Qd6+! Bxd6 3. Rd7#.