by National Master Loal Davis

Gata Kamsky   A fairly balanced game – BUT – Shulman was more passive.  In those positions it is very dangerous to open lines.  On move 32 Black should have played ‘Rd8′ and gotten Rooks off the board.  Instead, Black played ‘f5′, simultaneously making his own Pawns weaker and allowing White to keep his Rook on the board.  Even this was not critical.  Shulman’s final mistake was in opening up files on the Kingside (move 35 / DIAGRAM).  Why? He was only opening up files for Kamsky’s Rook.  If Shulman had just left the Pawns intact, the only file White could open would be the ‘g’ file, BUT Black controls the only entry point ‘g1′ with his Bishop; No Entry.  Once Kamsky was able to penetrate with his Rook, it was all over.   In the final moves Shulman could not stop the quickly advancing ‘a’ Pawn. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nb3 Be7 12. Nfd4 Bd7 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. c4 a5 16. Bd2 a4 17. Na5 Ra6 18. Rab1 Rfa8 19. Nb7 Kf8 20. Be3 Ne4 21. Rd3 Rb8 22. Bf4 Rba8 23. f3 Nc5 24. Nxc5 Bxc5+ 25. Kf1 Ke8 26. Be5 g6 27. Bf6 Rb6 28. Rxb6 Bxb6 29. Ke1 Bc5 30. Kd2 Rb8 31. Kc2 Be7 32. Bc3 f5 33. Rd1 Bc5 34. h3 h5 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 fxg4 37. fxg4 Rd8 38. Rb1 Kd7 39. Rb7+ Kd6 40. Rg7 Rh8 41. Rxg6 Rh2 42. Kd2 Rh3 43. Rg8 Rg3 44. Kc2 Be3 45. Rd8+ Ke7 46. Rd3 Bf4 47. Bb4+ Kf6 48. Rxg3 Bxg3 49. Kb2 Kg5 50. Ka3 Kxg4 51. Kxa4 Bf2 52. c5 Kf4 53. Ka5 Ke3 54. Kb6 Kxe2 55. Kxc6 Kd3 56. Kb5 Kd4 57. a4 Kd5 58. a5 1-0

by National Master Loal Davis

I have chosen NOT to cover the Semi-Finals tie-breakers which are conducted at a faster pace than tournament level chess.  In my opinion that is akin to having a tie-break at Wimbledon (tennis) being played in a back room on a ping pong table.  This has only a slight similarity to ‘real’ tennis, entertaining for the audience, but (again in my opinion) having little or no connection to the ‘real’ game.  All of that aside, the two finalists for US Chess Championship and the two finalists for the US Women’s Championsip are pictured below.  The Finals begin on Tuesday April 26.

  Gata Kamsky              

 

 

 

 

 

Yuri Shulman

 

Tatev Abrahamyan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna Zatonskih

 

by National Master Loal Davis

Zatonskih’s ‘e5′ break on move 13 was a natural move to undermine White’s central Pawns.   Krush thought it was a mistake for Black to immediately capture ‘Bxc5′ after White’s ’14. dxe5′ (DIAGRAM) because of ‘Qc2′ which threatened both the ‘h7′ Pawn and ‘Nxd5′ with an exposed attack on the loose Bishop on ‘c5′.  What she overlooked was that Black had ‘Qg5′ not only hitting the ‘e5′ Pawn, but also ‘Bxh3′.  Even later Black could have improved with ’16. …. Qa5′ instead of the played ‘a5′ as it was important to remove the Queen from the ‘c’ file and the ‘penetrating eyes’ of the Rook on ‘c1′.  Krush’s move ’26. Bxg6′ was the beginning of the end for Black.       1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Be5 c6 9. h3 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. O-O e5 14. dxe5 Qc7 15. f4 Bxc5 16. Kh1 g6 17. Rc1 a5 18. a3 a4 19. Rf3 f6 20. exf6 Rxf6 21. Nxa4 Ba7 22. Nc3 Qd6 23. Qb3 Rff8 24. Rcf1 Be6 25. Qc2 Rae8 26. Bxg6 Qd7 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Ne2 d4 29. Nxd4 Bxd4 30. exd4 Bd5 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. f5 Qd6 33. Qf2 Qf6 34. Re1 Rf8 35. Qf4 Rg8 36. Qe5 Qxe5 37. Rxg8+ 1-0

by National Master Loal Davis

Shankland started to go downhill on move 14 when he exchanged Queen’s, drawing White’s Rook to the ‘d’ file and feeding Kamsky’s development.  14. …. Qc7 15. Bd6 Qd7 and Castling Queenside would have been quite playable – maybe even pleasant for Black as his King is not cut off (as in the game) but performing the nice function of defending the Queenside Pawns.  If White played ’23. Bxc6′, then Black could get the piece back with ‘Rc8′.  Black’s King continued to be an obstacle to his other pieces and not really performing a meaningful function throughout the game.  On move 40, White played ‘h4+’ (DIAGRAM).  White was winning even without Black capturing this Pawn, but the fact that Shankland did capture it allowed Kamsky to finish off the game with a nice mating net.  Capturing all of the pieces on ‘c6′ removes the guard of ‘e7′ and allow White to execute a nice ‘Be7+’ with mate to follow.  Shankland saw this, gave a spite check and then resigned.   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. g4 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2 Bb4 11. O-O Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nc6 14. Ba3 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Rd8 16. Bd6 f6 17. Rab1 Bc8 18. Rd3 Kf7 19. Bc7 Rxd3 20. cxd3 Re8 21. Bb6 Be6 22. Bc5 b5 23. a4 Rb8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra1 Bd7 26. Bd5+ Ke8 27. Be4 Kf7 28. f3 Rc8 29. Kf2 g6 30. d4 exd4 31. cxd4 f5 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Bd3 Be6 34. Bxb5 Bd5 35. Ra6 Kg6 36. Rb6 Kg5 37. Kg3 f4+ 38. Kf2 h5 39. Kg2 Rc7 40. h4+ Kxh4 41. Bxc6 Rg7+ 42. Kf2 1-0

by National Master Loal Davis

Samuel Shankland              

Gata Kamsky

  A tense filled game that ‘should have’ gone in favor of Kamsky.  Black’s 16th move ‘Rd5′ (DIAGRAM) set the stage for a nice Bishop sacrifice and ripping open of White’s Kingside.  Alas – Kamsky mistimed his moves overlooking a fine retreating move of 24. ‘Qh2′ by Shankland.  Kamsky had the opportunity of getting his last piece into play with ‘Re8′ on move 20.  That move would have prevented the defensive assistance of the White Queen.  His ‘Re8′ made it to this important square – but unfortunately three moves later.  That slip gave White a virtually winning position.  Now it was Black’s turn to suffer – and suffer he did – down a piece.  Kamsky slugged it out and was able to reach a draw on the 49th move.   1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Bf4 O-O 8. e3 Bf5 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. Nh4 Be6 12. O-O Nxc5 13. dxc5 d4 14. Qc2 dxc3 15. Be5 Rd8 16. Bxc3 Rd5 17. Bd4 Bxh3 18. gxh3 Qxh3 19. Bxf6 exf6 20. Ng2 Rg5 21. Qe4 f5 22. Qf3 Qh6 23. Qf4 Re8 24. Qh2 f4 25. Qxh6 Bxh6 26. exf4 Rxc5 27. Bf3 Bg7 28. Ne3 Re7 29. Rab1 Bh6 30. Ng2 a5 31. Rfe1 Kf8 32. b3 Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rc2 34. Re2 Rc3 35. Re3 Rc2 36. a4 b5 37. Be4 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 bxa4 39. bxa4 Rc4 40. Kg3 Bg7 41. Bf3 Bd4 42. Rd3 Rxa4 43. Bxc6 Rc4 44. Bd5 Rb4 45. Ne3 Ba7 46. Rb3 Bb8 47. Rxb4 axb4 48. Kf3 f5 49. Nc2 1/2-1/2

by National Master Loal Davis

A very hard fought battle between the top two highest rated players in the event.  Anna snatched a Pawn on move 14 and spent most of the game simultaneously defending, holding onto the Pawn, and trying to turn the initiative back on her opponent.  Krush resigned in the final position as her ‘b5′ Pawn was falling which would put her down two Pawns and staring at a complex of three pawns rolling down the board for promotion.   1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Na3 cxd4 6. Nb5 Na6 7. Qxd4 e5 8. Qa4 Bd7 9. Be3 Rc8 10. Rd1 Qe6 11. Qb3 Qxb3 12. axb3 Nc7 13. Nxc7+ Rxc7 14. Bxa7 b5 15. Bb8 Rc6 16. b4 Rb6 17. Bc7 Rc6 18. Bb8 Rb6 19. Ba7 Ra6 20. Be3 Bd6 21. Nf3 Ke7 22. Be2 Rc8 23. O-O Ng4 24. Bc1 e4 25. Rfe1 Kf8 26. Ng5 e3 27. Bxg4 exf2+ 28. Kxf2 Bxg4 29. Rd4 h5 30. h3 Bf5 31. Bf4 Be7 32. Rd5 Bg6 33. Nf3 Ra2 34. Rd2 Bf5 35. Re5 g6 36. Bh6+ Ke8 37. Bg5 1-0

 

 

Group A

 

 

Group B

 

 

Womens

   

by National Master Loal Davis

Ben Finegold

       

Alexander Shabalov

Finegold executed a fine Bishop sacrifice on move 13 for what appeared to be a crushing attack.  Actually 15. Re1 Kf7, 16. Qa4 instead of Ben’s 15. Qb3 was absolutely devastating and would have been one of the best games of the US Championship.  Shabalov intentionally stepped into the possibility of an exposed/double check position (DIAGRAM) with his own King as the target in an attempt to run away from the onslaught.  Black slugged it out to a King/Bishop/Knight ending against White’s lone King.  Black had maximum of 50 moves to complete the checkmate or fall into a draw.  After 13 moves Finegold saw that Shabalov was shuttling him off into the correct corner (same color as the Bishop) and resigned.   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nbd7 5. d3 b6 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. O-O g6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Ng5 Bb7 12. Bc4 e6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 Qf6 15. Qb3 Qf5 16. Nc7+ Kd8 17. Ne6+ Ke8 18. Nc7+ Kd8 19. Ne6+ Ke7 20. Re1 Kf7 21. Nd8+ Kg7 22. Ne6+ Kg8 23. Nc7+ Qf7 24. Nxa8 Bxa8 25. Bg5 Bd5 26. Qg3 h6 27. Bf4 Qf6 28. Rac1 g5 29. Bd2 Rh7 30. Rc8 Rf7 31. Be3 a5 32. b3 Kh7 33. Rec1 Qf5 34. h3 Nf6 35. R1c7 Be7 36. Rb8 Be6 37. Rc1 Nd5 38. Rb7 Qd3 39. Re1 Qa6 40. Rxe7 Rxe7 41. h4 g4 42. Bc1 Qb5 43. Ba3 Bd7 44. Rxe7+ Nxe7 45. Qxd6 Nf5 46. Qf6 Qd5 47. Qxb6 Nxh4 48. f3 gxf3 49. Qf6 Nf5 50. Qe5 Qxd4+ 51. Qxd4 Nxd4 52. Bc5 Ne6 53. Bb6 fxg2 54. Kxg2 a4 55. bxa4 Bxa4 56. Ba7 Kg6 57. Bb8 Kg5 58. Kg3 h5 59. Bd6 h4+ 60. Kh3 Kh5 61. Bb8 Ng5+ 62. Kg2 Kg4 63. a3 Bc6+ 64. Kf2 Ne4+ 65. Kg1 Nd2 66. Kf2 Nc4 67. a4 Bxa4 68. Bc7 Bc6 69. Bb8 Nb2 70. Bc7 Nd3+ 71. Ke3 Nb4 72. Kf2 Nd5 73. Bd6 Nf6 74. Kg1 Ne4 75. Bc7 Bb5 76. Kg2 Be2 77. Kg1 Bc4 78. Kg2 h3+ 79. Kg1 Ng5 80. Bb8 Nf3+ 81. Kf2 h2 82. Bxh2 Nxh2 83. Ke3 Nf3 84. Ke4 Be6 85. Kd3 Kf4 86. Kc2 Ke3 87. Kc3 Nd2 88. Kc2 Ne4 89. Kc1 Kd3 90. Kb2 Kd2 91. Ka3 Kc3 92. Ka4 Nd6 93. Ka5 Kc4 94. Kb6 Ne8 95. Kc6 Kb4 1-0