[Event "New Orleans"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1845.12.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Stanley, Charles"]
[Black "Rousseau, Eugene"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1845.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The US championship was decided in unofficial events for almost a century.
When the railroads were built, it became possible to travel comfortably
between cities and start chess competitions. Two immigrants brought the
European chess tradition to America: Rousseau had played in the Café de la
Régence and Stanley visited the chess divans.  The Northern Stanley met the
Southern Rousseau at the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans. They battled for
a stake of $1000 in xii 1845.} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. h3
O-O 6. d3 Be6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Ne2 Qe7 9. Ng3 {They play a quiet Italian Game.}
Nd4 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. c3 Bb6 12. O-O d5 $2 {
Black allows an attack on the kingside.} ({Preferable is} 12... h6 13. Qf3 c6)
13. Bg5 $1 c6 $2 (13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qe6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qg4+
Qxg4 18. Nxf6+ Kg7 19. Nxg4 {only costs a pawn.}) 14. Nh5 $1 dxe4 15. dxe4 Bxb3
16. Qf3 $1 {Stanley chooses the elegant solution.} Bc4 17. Bxf6 Qe6 18. Nxg7
Be2 $5 19. Nxe6 Bxf3 20. Nxf8 {
White has won a rook. Rousseau was humiliated in the first game.} 1-0

[Event "New Orleans"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1845.12.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Stanley, Charles"]
[Black "Rousseau, Eugene"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1845.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+
8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne4 Bg4 $1 {
Rousseau plays the Italian Game well.} 12. h3 $6 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nxd4 14. Qg3 {
White has sacrificed a pawn.} c6 $6 (14... Nb6 $1 15. Bd3 f5 {counters.}) 15.
Rad1 Nf5 16. Qb3 $1 Nfe7 17. Qxb7 {He regained the pawn.} Qb6 18. Qd7 $5 {
Exchange equalises.} Rad8 19. Qg4 f5 $5 20. Qg5 $1 fxe4 21. Qxe7 Rfe8 22. Rxd5
$2 ({Correct is} 22. Qg5 Qxb2 23. Bxd5+ cxd5 24. Rxd5 {drawn.}) 22... cxd5 23.
Bxd5+ Kh8 24. Qb7 e3 25. fxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 Qe2 27. Qf7 Qe7 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29.
b3 Red7 30. Bc4 Rd1 31. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 32. Kh2 Rd2 33. a4 a5 $1 34. h4 g6 35. Kh3
Kg7 36. g3 Kf6 37. Kg4 Rf2 38. Kh3 h5 39. Bg8 Ke5 40. Bc4 Kd4 41. Bf7 Rxf7 {
Rousseau came back in the match.} 0-1

[Event "New Orleans"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1845.12.??"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Rousseau, Eugene"]
[Black "Stanley, Charles"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C53"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1845.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. O-O d6 6. d4 Bb6 7. dxe5 $5 (7. Bg5
Nf6 8. a4 {occurred in Polerio - Lorenzo, Sora 1570.}) 7... dxe5 8. Bg5 Nf6 9.
Nbd2 h6 10. Bh4 Bg4 11. Qc2 Rd8 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Bg3 Nd7 15. h3
Bh5 16. Bh2 f6 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nh4 Bh7 19. Kh1 $6 ({Preferable is} 19. Nf5 Qf7
20. b4) 19... Nc5 $1 20. Rg1 $4 (20. f3 {protects a weakness (Stanley).}) 20...
Rxd2 $1 21. Qxd2 Nxe4 22. Qe2 Nxf2+ 23. Kg2 Be4+ {Black plays for mate.} 24.
Kg3 f5 $1 25. Nxf5 Rxf5 $1 26. Rgf1 Qg5 27. Bg1 Qf4+ 28. Kh4 Rh5+ $1 29. Kxh5
Qg5# {Stanley led in the match.} 0-1

[Event "New Orleans"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1845.12.27"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Stanley, Charles"]
[Black "Rousseau, Eugene"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C24"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1845.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. h3 Nf6 5. d3 Be6 6. Bb3 h6 7. Be3 Bb6 8. Nbd2
Nbd7 9. Nf1 Qe7 10. Ng3 c6 11. Nh4 g6 12. Qd2 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 d5 14. Nxg6 fxg6
15. Ng3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 d4 17. Qe4 Rg8 18. O-O g5 19. f3 O-O-O 20. Rfe1 Rdf8 21.
Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Qg4 Re8 23. Re2 Kc7 24. a3 Rg6 25. Rae1 c5 26. Qe4 Qc6 27. Nf1
Qxe4 28. Rxe4 Kd6 29. Nd2 Rge6 30. c3 Nf6 31. R4e2 b5 32. a4 a6 33. axb5 axb5
34. Ra1 Kc7 35. c4 b4 36. Ra5 Rc6 37. Re1 Kd6 38. Rea1 Rec8 39. Rb5 h5 40. Nb3
h4 41. Na5 R6c7 42. Nb7+ Ke7 43. Raa5 Nd7 44. Kf2 Rg8 45. Ra7 Rgc8 46. Ke2 Ke6
47. Ra6+ Ke7 48. Kd2 Rc6 49. Ra7 R8c7 $4 ({Correct is} 49... R6c7) 50. Na5 $1
Kd6 51. Nxc6 Rxc6 52. Rbb7 Nf6 53. Rf7 Ke6 54. Ke2 Kf5 55. Rac7 Rxc7 56. Rxc7
Nh5 57. Rxc5 Nf4+ 58. Kd2 Nxg2 59. Rc8 Nf4 60. c5 Nxh3 61. c6 Nf4 62. Rf8+ Ke6
63. c7 {Stanley triumphed and gained $1000, because he had won fifteen games
(+15, =8, -8). The match reminds of the long encounter between La Bourdonnais
and McDonnell in London 1834. Stanley was regarded as the first US champion.}
1-0

[Event "Washington"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1850.02.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Turner, John"]
[Black "Stanley, Charles"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C38"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1850.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Stanley was challenged by Turner in 1850 The stake was $1000 for eleven wins.
The Great Match lasted seventeen games in four days (11-14 ii 1850 in
Washington). Turner expected to have prepared a winning line in the King's
Gambit.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. c3 h6 7. d4 {
Turner advances in the King's Gambit.} Ne7 8. g3 $5 ({Known is} 8. h4) 8... g4
$5 9. Nh4 f3 10. h3 h5 11. Bg5 (11. Qb3 $5 {will be played in later games.})
11... f6 12. Bd2 Nd7 $5 13. Qb3 $1 Rf8 $5 14. Nf5 Nxf5 15. exf5 Rh8 $2 ({
Correct is} 15... c6 $1 16. Re1+ Ne5 17. dxe5 fxe5 $1 {
and Black has sufficient compensation for the knight.}) 16. Bf7+ Kf8 17. Bg6
Qe7 18. Re1 Ne5 19. dxe5 fxe5 20. h4 Bf6 21. Na3 c6 22. Nc2 d5 23. Be3 $2 (23.
c4 $1 Bxh4 $1 24. Bf4 $1 Bf6 25. cxd5 Qc5+ 26. Be3 {brings the expected win.})
23... Bxh4 $1 24. Bf2 Bf6 25. Qb4 Qxb4 26. Nxb4 e4 27. Bd4 $5 Bxd4+ 28. cxd4
Kg7 29. Kf2 $5 Kf6 30. Rh1 Kg5 31. Rh4 Bxf5 32. Bxf5 Kxf5 33. Rah1 Kg5 34. Nc2
Rad8 $5 35. Ne3 c5 36. Rd1 $2 ({Right is} 36. dxc5 d4 37. Nxg4 $1) 36... Rh6
37. Rd2 Rb6 $2 (37... Ra6 $1 38. a3 Rb6 $1 39. dxc5 Rb3 $1 {wins for Black.})
38. b3 $2 a5 $2 39. Rh1 a4 40. dxc5 Rb5 41. Rhd1 Rxc5 42. Rxd5+ Rcxd5 43. Rxd5+
Rxd5 44. Nxd5 axb3 45. axb3 h4 46. Ne3 h3 $2 {He should exchange.} 47. Nf1 Kf5
48. Nh2 b5 49. Ke3 b4 50. Kd4 f2 51. Ke3 Ke5 52. Nxg4+ Kf5 53. Nxf2 h2 54. Nh1
$2 (54. Kd4 $1 {leads to a fatal zugzwang.}) 54... Kg4 $1 55. Nf2+ Kxg3 {
The first application of the King's Gambit did not result in a success.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Washington"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1850.02.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Turner, John"]
[Black "Stanley, Charles"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C38"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1850.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. O-O h6 6. c3 d6 7. d4 Ne7 8. g3 g4
9. Nh4 f3 10. h3 h5 11. Qb3 $5 ({The thematic} 11. Nxf3 $5 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Bxh3
$6 13. Qxf7+ Kd7 14. Qxg7 Bxf1 15. Bxf1 {
will be played in Steinitz - Kolisch, Paris 1867.}) 11... O-O $1 {
Stanley has found an improvement.} (11... Rf8 12. Qb5+ Nbc6 $2 13. Qxh5 {
led to a winning position in the second King's Gambit, but Stanley won
eventually.}) 12. Bg5 Qe8 13. Bxe7 $2 {Turner wants to gain material.} ({
Correct is} 13. Na3 Nbc6 14. Bd3) 13... Qxe7 14. Ng6 $2 Qxe4 $1 15. Nxf8 d5 $1
16. Nd2 ({The pointe is} 16. Bxd5 Qe2 {(Staunton).}) 16... Qe3+ 17. Rf2 dxc4
18. Nxc4 Qe4 19. Nd2 Qc6 20. d5 Qb6 21. Qc2 Bxf8 22. Re1 Bc5 23. Re8+ Kg7 24.
Ne4 Bf5 25. Qd2 Be3 {Turner made a poor result in the King's Gambit. Stanley
scored the decisive eleventh win on the fourth day (+11, =1, -5).} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "First USA Congress"]
[Date "1857.10.06"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Thompson, James"]
[Black "Morphy, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1857.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The first National Chess Congress was organised by Daniel  Fiske. It happened
from 6 x until 10 xi 1857 in the Descombe Rooms at 764 Broadway, New York.
Sixteen men competed in a knockout system. Paul Morphy was the young talent.} 
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. Ne2 $5 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. h3
Kh8 {They apply the slow positional play of the time.} 9. Ng3 Nh7 $5 10. Qc2 f5
$5 {Morphy takes the initiative.} 11. exf5 d5 $1 ({Not} 11... Bxf5 $2 12. Nxf5
Rxf5 13. d4 Rxf3 $1 14. dxc5 $1 {and White has an advantage.}) 12. Bb3 e4 $2 {
Morphy plays with optimism.} 13. dxe4 dxe4 14. Ng1 $4 {
Thompson allows a devastating attack.} (14. Qxe4 $1 Re8 15. Be6 $1 {
gains an advantage.}) 14... Ne5 15. Be3 Nd3+ $1 16. Ke2 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Qh4 18.
Nxe4 Qxe4 19. Qxd3 Qxg2+ 20. Kd1 Bxf5 21. Qe2 Qxh1 {Morphy defeated Thompson
by 3-0. Lichtenstein narrowly ousted the former champion Stanley by 3-2 in
round one.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "First USA Congress"]
[Date "1857.10.16"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Morphy, Paul"]
[Black "Meek, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1857.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Morphy met Judge Meek in the second round.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 g6 3. Bd3 Bg7 4.
Be3 Ne7 $5 5. Ne2 b6 6. Nd2 Bb7 {Meek plays cautiously.} 7. O-O d5 8. e5 O-O 9.
f4 f5 10. h3 {Morphy takes the initiative on the kingside.} Nd7 11. Kh2 c5 12.
c3 c4 {He wants to resist in a closed position.} 13. Bc2 a6 14. Nf3 h6 $6 {
Black defends his king actively.} 15. g4 $1 Kh7 16. Rg1 Rg8 $5 17. Qe1 $1 Nc6
18. Nh4 $6 (18. h4 $1 Ne7 19. h5 $1 {storms his opponent.}) 18... Qf8 $4 (18...
Ne7 $1 19. Qg3 Qe8 {defends g6.}) 19. Nxg6 $1 {A hunt of the black king starts.
} Kxg6 20. gxf5+ Kf7 21. fxe6+ Kxe6 22. f5+ Ke7 23. Qh4+ $1 Ke8 24. f6 $1 Bxf6
25. exf6 Rxg1 26. Rxg1 Nxf6 27. Bg6+ Kd7 28. Bf5+ Ke8 29. Bxh6 Qh8 30. Rg7 Ng8
{White announced mate in three. Morphy defeated Meek by 3-0.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "First USA Congress"]
[Date "1857.10.22"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Lichtenstein, Theodor"]
[Black "Morphy, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C56"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1857.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Morphy encountered Lichtenstein, a New York merchant, in the third round.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 {
They play a line of the Two Knights.} 7. Nxd4 $5 (7. O-O {
was played in Dufresne - Anderssen, Berlin 1851.}) 7... Bd7 8. Nxc6 ({
Usual has become} 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O {(Marshall - Napier, New York 1896).})
8... bxc6 9. Bd3 Bc5 10. Bxe4 Qh4 $1 {Morphy takes the initiative.} 11. Qe2
dxe4 12. Be3 $2 {White allows a decisive attack.} ({Correct is} 12. O-O Bd4 13.
c3 Bxe5 14. f4 Bd6 15. Qxe4+) 12... Bg4 $1 13. Qc4 $2 (13. g3 Qh5 14. Qc4 Rd8
15. Nd2 Bxe3 16. fxe3 O-O 17. Qxe4 {offers more resistance.}) 13... Bxe3 $1 14.
g3 Qd8 15. fxe3 Qd1+ 16. Kf2 Qf3+ $1 17. Kg1 Bh3 18. Qxc6+ Kf8 $1 {
Morphy sacrifices two rooks for a mate.} 19. Qxa8+ Ke7 {
Lichtenstein was defeated by 31/2-1/2.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "First USA Congress"]
[Date "1857.11.06"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Morphy, Paul"]
[Black "Paulsen, Louis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1857.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Morphy met Paulsen in the fourth and final round. Louis Paulsen was an
excellent chess player, emigrated from Germany. The standings became 2-2 (+1,
=2, -1) after four games.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qb6
6. Nb5 $5 Nf6 (6... Bxe3 7. fxe3 Qxe3+ $2 8. Be2 Na6 9. Nd6+ {favours White.})
7. Bxc5 Qxc5 8. Nd6+ (8. N1c3 $1 {gains an advantage.}) 8... Ke7 9. Nxc8+ Rxc8
10. Bd3 Nc6 11. O-O h5 12. Nd2 h4 13. h3 g5 14. a3 Rg8 15. b4 Qb6 16. Nc4 Qc7
17. f3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Qd2 Rg7 20. Rad1 Rd8 21. Qf2 b6 22. f4 gxf4 23.
Qxf4 Qg5 24. Rf2 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 {
White has a slight advantage due to the pressure on h4.} Rdg8 ({
Black can liberate his position by} 25... d5 $1 26. exd5 Nxd5 $1 27. Rxh4 Ne3
28. Rd2 Nxc2 $1 29. Rxc2 Rxd3 30. Rc7+ Rd7) 26. Rd2 Rh8 {
The rook moves to a passive position.} 27. e5 Nd5 28. Rd4 f6 29. exf6+ Nxf6 30.
Rc4 Kd8 31. a4 Nd5 32. Be4 Nc7 33. Bf3 d5 34. Rc6 Rd7 $6 ({Better is} 34... Rf8
$1 35. Bg4 Kd7) 35. Bg4 Rh6 36. Re2 Ke7 37. Kh2 Kf7 38. g3 hxg3+ 39. Kxg3 Re7
40. h4 Ne8 41. h5 Nf6 $1 ({Strangulation results from} 41... Nc7 $2 42. Kh4 Kg7
43. Kg5 Rf6 44. c3) 42. Rcxe6 Rxe6 43. Bxe6+ Kg7 $2 ({Fiske suggests} 43... Kf8
$1 {The idea is} 44. Re5 Rxh5 45. Rxh5 Nxh5+ 46. Kf3 Ke7 47. Bxd5 {
White has won a pawn, but Black will be able to defend himself.}) 44. Bg4 Nxh5+
45. Bxh5 Rxh5 46. Re7+ Kf6 47. Rxa7 Ke5 48. Ra6 Rg5+ 49. Kf3 Rf5+ 50. Ke2 b5
51. axb5 Rf4 52. c3 d4 $1 {Black grabs his last chance.} 53. c4 $1 Rh4 54. c5
Rh2+ 55. Kd3 Rh3+ 56. Kc2 Rh2+ 57. Kb3 Rh3+ 58. Ka4 ({Not} 58. Kc4 $4 Rc3#)
58... Kd5 59. Rd6+ Kc4 60. c6 Rh1 61. Rxd4+ $1 ({Morphy avoids the prosaic} 61.
Ka5) 61... Kxd4 62. c7 Rh8 63. b6 Kc4 64. b7 {
Paulsen needed a lot of contemplation time: the game lasted ten hours.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "First USA Congress"]
[Date "1857.11.07"]
[Round "4.6"]
[White "Paulsen, Louis"]
[Black "Morphy, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1857.10.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The sixth game of the final became very special.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O O-O $5 6. Nxe5 Re8 $5 (6... Nxe5 7. d4 Bd6 8. dxe5 Bxe5 {
will occur in Paulsen - Winawer, Baden-Baden 1870.}) 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Bc4 b5 $1
(8... Nxe4 $2 9. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 10. Nxe4 {costs a pawn.}) 9. Be2 Nxe4 10. Nxe4
Rxe4 11. Bf3 Re6 12. c3 $6 (12. d3 {keeps the equality.}) 12... Qd3 $1 {
The queen blockades.} 13. b4 $6 ({Preferable is} 13. Re1 Rxe1+ 14. Qxe1 Bd7 15.
Qf1 {and the blockader will be exchanged.}) 13... Bb6 14. a4 $5 bxa4 15. Qxa4
Bd7 $6 (15... Bb7 $1 {(protects square a6)} 16. Qd1 Rae8 17. Bb2 Ba6 $1 {
wins for Black.}) 16. Ra2 $2 (16. Qa6 $1 Qf5 (16... Qxa6 17. Rxa6 Rae8 18. Bg4
{leads to exchanges.}) 17. d4 {ends the restriction of the white forces.})
16... Rae8 17. Qa6 Qxf3 $1 {A famous Morphy combination begins.} 18. gxf3 Rg6+
19. Kh1 Bh3 20. Rd1 ({Or} 20. Qd3 f5 $1 21. Rd1 Bg2+ 22. Kg1 Bxf3+ 23. Kf1 Bxd1
) 20... Bg2+ 21. Kg1 Bxf3+ 22. Kf1 Bg2+ (22... Rg2 $1 23. Qd3 Rxf2+ 24. Kg1
Rg2+ 25. Kh1 Rg1# {amuses.}) 23. Kg1 Bh3+ 24. Kh1 Bxf2 25. Qf1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1
Re2 27. Ra1 Rh6 28. d4 Be3 {Morphy also won the next two games and therefore
the final (+5, =2, -1). The first prize was a silver plate with an inscription.
Paulsen became second and Lichtenstein third.} 0-1

[Event "Cleveland"]
[Site "Second USA Congress"]
[Date "1871.12.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mackenzie, George "]
[Black "Hosmer, Henry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1871.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Second American Congress took place in Cleveland from 4 until 15 xii 1871.
Nine men played a double rounds tournament for a prize fund of $290.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. e5 Ne4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9.
Qxd4 Nc5 10. Bb3 $5 Nxb3 11. axb3 d6 (11... O-O 12. Bf4 f6 $2 13. Qc4+ Kh8 14.
exf6 Bxf6 15. Bxc7 {favoured White in Mackenzie - Elder, Cleveland 1871.}) 12.
exd6 Qxd6 $2 ({Correct is} 12... O-O $1 13. Bf4 Bxd6) 13. Qxg7 $1 Bf6 $2 (13...
Qf6 14. Qxf6 Bxf6 {avoids a quick loss.}) 14. Re1+ Kd8 15. Bg5 $1 {The level wa
s poor. Final standings: Mackenzie 14/18, Hosmer 12, Elder 11, Judd 10, etc.
Mackenzie won $100. He was a military mercenary and came to the USA as fighter
for the Union.} 1-0

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "Third USA Congress"]
[Date "1874.07.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Judd, Max"]
[Black "Mackenzie, George "]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1874.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Third American Congress happened in Chicago from 7 until 16 vii 1874. A
prize-fund of $450 was available at the Chicago Chess Club. Eight men were
supposed to play double rounds, but there were many forfeits. Captain
Mackenzie was the great man again.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6
5. c3 d6 6. d3 Bb6 7. Bg5 $5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 h5 $5 {The Captain charges.} (
{Usual will become} 9... Bg4) 10. Nxg5 h4 $1 11. Nxf7 Qe7 12. Nxh8 hxg3 13. Nf7
$5 gxf2+ $5 14. Kh1 Bg4 15. Qd2 Na5 16. Nh6 Nxc4 17. dxc4 Nxe4 $2 (17... Be6
18. Qg5 Bxc4 {shows two attackers.}) 18. Qd3 $1 Qg5 19. Qxe4 Bd7 20. Qh7 $1
O-O-O 21. Nf7 Qe7 22. Nd2 $1 Rf8 23. Nxd6+ $1 Qxd6 24. Ne4 Qd3 25. Qg7 Rd8 26.
Nxf2 Qc2 27. Rac1 Qf5 28. Rcd1 $2 {White misses the win.} (28. Nd3 $1 Qxd3 29.
Rcd1 $1 Qe4 30. Qxd7+ {brings mate.}) 28... Bxf2 29. Rd2 Be6 $2 30. Rxd8+ Kxd8
31. Rd1+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ $4 (32. Qxc7 $1 {ends the game.}) 32... Kf7 33. Qd8 Bb6
$6 34. c5 $1 Bxc5 35. Qxc7+ Be7 36. Qxb7 e4 37. Qxa7 Qf4 38. Re1 Bc4 39. b4 $5
Bd3 40. a4 Qd2 41. Qg1 Bf6 42. h3 Bxc3 43. Rd1 Qe2 44. b5 e3 45. b6 $2 (45. Rc1
$1 Bd2 46. Rc7+ Ke6 47. b6 Be4 48. b7 Bb4 49. b8=Q Bxg2+ 50. Qxg2 Qd1+ 51. Qg1
Qf3+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 45... Be4 46. Rd7+ Ke6 47. Rd8 Ke7 $1 48. Rc8
$5 Bxg2+ $1 49. Qxg2 Qd1+ 50. Qg1 e2 $1 51. Rxc3 Qxg1+ {
The Captain was used to warfare and had survived battle wounds before.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "Third USA Congress"]
[Date "1874.07.10"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mackenzie, George "]
[Black "Hosmer, Henry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1874.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Be3 Be7 {They know the Open Ruy Lopez.} 10. Nbd2 $5 Nc5 11. Qe2 $6 (11.
Bxc5 Bxc5 12. c3 {controls square d4.}) 11... d4 $1 12. Bf4 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nb4
14. c3 Nc2 $6 (14... dxc3 15. bxc3 Qd3 16. Qxd3 Nxd3 {keeps the initiative.})
15. Rxa6 $1 {Mackenzie comes back by a tactical trick.} d3 16. Rxa8 dxe2 17.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Rc1 Bf5 19. g4 $5 Bd3 20. Kg2 g5 21. Be3 c5 22. Ne1 Nxe1+ 23.
Rxe1 h5 24. h3 hxg4 25. hxg4 f6 $2 ({Better is} 25... Kd7 26. Nf3 Ra8 27. Bxg5
Ra2 {and Black has counter-play.}) 26. Nf3 $5 fxe5 $2 (26... f5 27. gxf5 Bxf5
28. Rxe2 g4 29. Nd2 Kd7 {offers more resistance.}) 27. Nxe5 Be4+ 28. f3 $1 Bd5
29. Rxe2 Rf8 $2 30. Rd2 {
Mackenzie won the tournament half-a-point before Hosmer.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "Fifth USA Congress"]
[Date "1880.01.08"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Grundy, James"]
[Black "Mackenzie, George "]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1880.01.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Fourth American Congress, Philadelphia 1876, did not count as a
championship, because the Englishman Mason won it and Mackenzie was absent.  
The Fifth American Congress occurred in New York from 6 until 26 i 1880. Ten
men played double rounds.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6.
Bb3 Bc5 7. O-O d6 8. c3 Bg4 9. Be3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Qd7 $5 (10... Qe7 {
drew in Grundy - Judd (round one).}) 11. Re1 Rad8 12. Bc2 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Ne7 14.
a4 c6 15. Qe2 Ra8 16. Qf2 Ng6 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Nxf3 h6 19. Red1 Qe7 20. Nd2 Nh7
$5 21. Nf1 Nh4 $5 22. Ng3 g6 $2 {
Black has made a number of doubtful moves and weakened the kingside.} (22...
Qg5 $1 23. d4 Nf6 {reorganises the black position.}) 23. d4 $1 Rad8 24. axb5 $1
axb5 25. Ra6 c5 26. Rda1 {White occupies the open file.} b4 27. Ra7 Rd7 28.
Rxd7 Qxd7 29. Nf5 $1 {Grundy plays a fine positional game.} Nxf5 $5 30. exf5
bxc3 31. bxc3 cxd4 32. exd4 exd4 $6 ({Correct is} 32... g5) 33. fxg6 $1 fxg6
34. Qxd4 Qe6 35. Ra6 $1 Rf6 36. Be4 Kg7 $6 (36... Qe5 $5 37. Qxe5 dxe5 38. Rxf6
Nxf6 39. Bxg6 {costs a pawn in the ending.}) 37. Ra7+ $1 Kh8 38. Ra8+ Kg7 39.
Bd5 $1 Qe1+ 40. Kh2 h5 41. Ra7+ Kh6 42. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7 43. Qxf6 h4 44. Qf7+ Kh6
45. Qf4+ Kh7 46. c4 {The event became a race between Grundy, Mackenzie and
Moehle. When the ninth and last round started, Grundy led by 121/2/16, one
point before Mackenzie and Moehle. Then Grundy lost his first game to Ware,
the other two won and the lead was shared by three men. Mackenzie won and
Moehle drew the second game. Grundy came back from a lost game against Mare.
When Grundy won, an accusation of fraud was made by Mare, but the complaint
was not accepted. The final standings became: Grundy and Mackenzie 131/2/18,
Moehle 13, etc. The top two had to carry out a playoff.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "Fifth USA Congress Playoff"]
[Date "1880.01.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mackenzie, George "]
[Black "Grundy, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C46"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1880.01.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The playoff occurred on 31 xii 1880.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nxe5
Bxf2+ $2 {This was a credible line in 1880.} ({Wiser is} 4... Nxe5 5. d4 Bd6 6.
dxe5 Bxe5) 5. Kxf2 Nxe5 6. d4 Ng6 7. Bc4 d6 8. Rf1 Qh4+ $6 (8... Be6 {
was played twice by Winawer.}) 9. Kg1 $1 {White has 'castled'.} Nf6 10. g3 $1
Qh3 11. Bg5 Bg4 12. Qd2 O-O-O 13. Rxf6 $5 gxf6 14. Bxf6 Rdg8 $5 15. Bf1 Qh5 16.
Bg2 Re8 17. Bxh8 Rxh8 18. Rf1 {White wins easily.} Ne7 19. Qf4 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5
21. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 22. Qxf5+ $5 Qxf5 23. Rxf5 Nb4 $2 (23... Ne3 24. Rf2 Re8 25.
Re2 {offers more resistance.}) 24. c3 Nc6 25. Bxc6 bxc6 26. Rf7 a5 27. Kf2 Kb7
28. g4 a4 29. Kg3 a3 30. bxa3 Ra8 31. Rxh7 Rxa3 32. g5 Rxc3+ 33. Kf4 Rc4 34. g6
Rxd4+ 35. Kf5 Rd1 36. h4 Re1 37. g7 {
Mackenzie won the second playoff game as well and gained $500. Grundy won $300.
} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "Sixth USA Congress"]
[Date "1889.??.??"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Delmar, Eugene"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1889.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Sixth US Congress was played in New York from 25 iii until 27 v 1889.
Twenty men carried out double rounds. It was a candidates' tournament for the
world championship. The strongest American players participated. The most
successful American became champion of the USA. We look at games by Lipschuetz
against countrymen.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bg6 $5 5. f4 e6 6. Nf3
c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. O-O c4 9. Bc2 Nh6 10. Nbd2 b5 11. Re1 Be7 12. Nf1 Qb6 13. Ne3
Bxc2 14. Qxc2 g6 {They play a closed Caro-Kann quietly.} 15. g4 O-O-O 16. f5 {
He makes the thematic advance.} gxf5 17. gxf5 Rdg8+ 18. Kh1 Ng4 19. Nxg4 Rxg4
20. f6 Bf8 21. Be3 Rg6 22. Rg1 Qb7 23. h4 $1 b4 24. h5 Rxg1+ 25. Rxg1 h6 {
The passivity of two black pieces does not have to be a problem.} 26. Kh2 Qa6
27. Qb1 Qa5 28. Bd2 Qb5 29. Nh4 Qb6 30. Kh3 a5 $2 (30... bxc3 $1 31. bxc3 Qxb1
32. Rxb1 Rg8 {defends a difficult position.}) 31. Ng6 $1 fxg6 $2 (31... bxc3
32. bxc3 Qxb1 33. Rxb1 Rg8 34. Rg1 Kc7 {offers more resistance.}) 32. hxg6 Qc7
33. g7 Rg8 34. Qh7 Qf7 35. gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 36. Qxf7 Rxf7 37. Rg7 $1 Rxg7 38. fxg7
Ne7 39. cxb4 axb4 40. Bxb4 Ng8 41. Kh4 Kd7 42. Kh5 Ke8 43. Kg6 h5 44. Be1 Ne7+
45. Kf6 Kd7 46. Kf7 Nf5 47. g8=Q Nh6+ 48. Kf8 Nxg8 49. Kxg8 Kc6 50. Kf7 Kb5 51.
Kxe6 {Lipschuetz opened the kingside by a knight sacrifice.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "Sixth USA Congress"]
[Date "1889.??.??"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C22"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1889.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 d6 5. Nf3 $5 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O Ng4 9. Qe2 Nge5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Nd5 Bh4 12. Bd2 f5 $5 13. exf5 Nxd3
14. Qxd3 Bxf5 15. Qc4 Kh8 16. g3 Bf6 17. Nxf6 Qxf6 {The chances are even.} 18.
Bc3 (18. Qxc7 $6 Bh3 19. Bc3 Rf7 20. Bxf6 Rxc7 {costs an exchange.}) 18... Qg6
19. f3 $5 Rf7 20. Rf2 Raf8 21. Re1 h5 22. Rfe2 Bd7 23. Re7 Bc6 24. R1e3 Qg5 25.
f4 Qf5 ({The alternative is} 25... Rxe7 $5 26. fxg5 Rxe3) 26. Qe6 Qxc2 27. Re2
Qb1+ 28. Re1 Qc2 29. Re2 Qb1+ 30. Re1 Qc2 31. Re2 Qd1+ 32. Re1 Qc2 33. Qh6+ $1
{White makes an effort to win.} Kg8 $5 (33... Qh7 {keeps the equality too.})
34. Qxg7+ Rxg7 35. Rxg7+ Kh8 36. Rg5+ Rf6 $4 {Showalter miscalculates.} (36...
Kh7 37. Re7+ Kh6 38. Bg7+ Kh7 39. Bxf8+ Kh8 40. Bg7+ Kg8 $1 {
leads to perpetual check.}) 37. Bxf6+ Kh7 38. Re7+ Kh6 39. Bg7+ Kh7 40. Bc3+ $1
Kh6 41. Re6+ Kh7 42. Rg7+ {Black will be mated in two.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "Sixth USA Congress"]
[Date "1889.??.??"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Delmar, Eugene"]
[Black "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1889.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 $5 {
Delmar plays a Réti, half-a-century before its time.} d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg2 c6
6. d3 Bc5 7. d4 $5 Bd6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Qc2 Bg4 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. Nd1
$5 ({More active is} 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5) 12... Ne4 13. Ne3 Nxd2
14. Qxd2 Bh5 15. Nf5 Bf8 16. Rfe1 h6 17. a3 Qf6 18. Ne3 g5 19. Bh3 Qd8 $5 20.
Bf5 Bg7 21. g4 Bg6 22. Qd3 Re4 $1 23. Bxg6 fxg6 24. Rad1 $2 (24. h3 $1 Nf8 25.
Nf1 $1 {applies prophylaxis.}) 24... Nf8 $1 {
Black threatens the pawns d4 and g4.} 25. Nf1 $5 Rxg4+ 26. Ng3 Rf4 $1 27. e4
dxe4 28. Rxe4 Qd5 29. Ne5 $2 Rd8 $1 30. Rde1 Rxe4 31. Qxe4 Qxd4 {
He has gained two pawns.} 32. Nc4 Qxe4 33. Nxe4 Rd7 34. b3 b6 35. Ncd6 c5 36.
a4 Ne6 37. Ne8 Rd3 38. N4d6 Nf4 39. h3 Nxh3+ 40. Kg2 Nf4+ 41. Kg1 Kf8 42. Nb5
a6 43. Nbc7 Bd4 44. Ne6+ Nxe6 45. Rxe6 Rxb3 46. Nc7 Kf7 47. Rd6 Rb2 48. Rd7+
Kf6 49. Nxa6 Bxf2+ 50. Kh1 g4 51. Nc7 Bd4 52. Nb5 Kg5 53. Rd6 Kh4 54. Nxd4 cxd4
55. Rxd4 Kh3 56. Kg1 g3 57. Rd1 Ra2 58. Rb1 Rxa4 59. Kf1 b5 60. Rxb5 g2+ 61.
Kf2 Ra2+ {Lipschuetz finished as sixth in New York 1889. As the highest placed
American, he became the first official U.S. champion. He took up the task to
defend the title in matches.} 0-1

[Event "Indianapolis"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1890.02.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1890.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Showalter became the first challenger to the title. He was a gentleman farmer.
The match happened in Indianapolis 1890. Only game one stayed known.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 {Louis Paulsen played this opening.} Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. Nge2 d6
6. d3 a6 7. O-O Bg4 $5 {Black provokes h3.} ({Known is} 7... Be6) 8. h3 Be6 9.
Kh2 h5 10. Nd5 Qd7 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. f4 $6 {He weakens the kingside.} Bg4 $1
13. c3 $1 {Capture of the bishop leads to mate. White prevents ..Nb4.} h4 $2 {
Showalter overestimates his chances.} (13... O-O-O $1 14. b4 Ba7 {
continues the attack.}) 14. f5 $2 {
Lipschuetz also misses the hidden opportunity.} ({Right is} 14. hxg4 $1 Qxg4
15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 $1 (16. cxd4 $2 hxg3+ 17. Kg1 Qxe2 $3 18. Qxe2 Nxd4 {
was found by contemporaries}) 16... Qxg3+ 17. Kh1 {and White has an advantage.}
) 14... hxg3+ $1 15. Kxg3 Bh5 16. Qe1 O-O-O 17. Kh2 Rh7 18. Ng1 d5 19. exd5 Ne7
$1 20. Qe4 Qxd5 21. b4 Bb6 22. a4 Qxe4 $5 23. Bxe4 $5 Bg4 $1 24. Kg3 Bxf5 $1
25. Rxf5 Rg7+ $1 26. Kf3 Rxg1 27. Bb2 $5 Rxa1 28. Bxa1 Nxf5 29. Bxf5+ Kb8 {
Black has gained material.} 30. c4 Bd4 31. Bxd4 Rxd4 32. Kg3 c6 33. h4 $5 ({Or
} 33. a5 Rf4 $1 34. Bg4 f5) 33... b5 $1 34. axb5 axb5 35. cxb5 cxb5 36. h5 Rxb4
37. h6 Rd4 38. h7 Rd8 39. Kh4 Kc7 40. Kh5 Kd6 41. Kh6 Kd5 42. Kg7 Kd4 43. Kxf7
b4 44. Kxf6 Rh8 45. Kg7 Rxh7+ 46. Bxh7 b3 47. Bg8 b2 48. Ba2 Kxd3 49. Kf6 e4
50. Bb1+ Kd4 51. Kf5 e3 {
We do not know the other games. Showalter became the winner and gained $50.}
0-1

[Event "St. Louis"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1890.05.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Judd, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C80"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1890.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The title had gone to Showalter. He played a match against Judd from 19 v
until 4 vi 1890, three months after the previous one. Seven wins were needed
for a victory.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5
7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Ne7 9. Re1 Nc5 $5 ({Usual is} 9... Bb7) 10. Nd4 Ne6 $1 11. c3
c5 {Black counters well.} 12. Nf3 Bb7 13. Nbd2 g6 14. Nf1 Bg7 15. Be3 $5 Qc7
16. Qc1 h6 $5 17. a4 Bc6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8+ Bxa8 20. Qa1 Bb7 21. Qa7 $2 ({
Better is} 21. Ng3) 21... O-O $1 {Black threatens ..Ra8.} 22. Qa1 Nf5 23. Bd2
$5 d4 $1 24. Bc2 Bxf3 25. Bxf5 gxf5 26. gxf3 f4 $1 27. cxd4 Nxd4 28. Qd1 Bxe5 {
Judd has won a pawn and continues the attack.} 29. h3 f6 30. Kh1 Qd7 31. Nh2
Kh8 32. Bc3 Qxh3 33. Rg1 Qf5 34. Rg2 Rg8 35. Rxg8+ Kxg8 36. b4 Qc2 37. Qxc2
Nxc2 38. Bxe5 fxe5 39. bxc5 Kf7 {He wins the knight ending easily.} 40. Ng4 Ke6
41. c6 Nd4 42. Nxe5 Kd6 $1 43. Nd3 Ne6 44. Nb4 Kc5 45. c7 Nxc7 46. Nd3+ Kd4 47.
Nxf4 b4 48. Kg2 b3 49. Ne2+ Kc4 50. Ng3 b2 51. Ne4 Kd3 52. Nc5+ Kc2 {Judd could
counter in the centre, after Showalter had made a premature charge on the
queenside.} 0-1

[Event "St. Louis"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1890.06.03"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Judd, Max"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C60"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1890.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Be7 4. Nc3 Bf6 {
The king's bishop has been developed in an old-fashioned way.} 5. Nd5 $5 (5. d3
Nce7 6. d4 {happened in Weiss - Showalter, New York 1889.}) 5... a6 6. Ba4 b5
$5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Nce7 $5 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 $5 Bb7 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. Ng5
O-O 13. f3 Ng6 14. O-O h6 15. Nh3 Bc8 $5 16. Nf4 $1 Nxf4 17. Bxf4 Kh8 $5 18.
Be3 Bb7 19. Bc2 Nh7 $5 20. g4 $5 h5 $2 ({Better is} 20... Qf6) 21. h3 $1 Qh4
22. Kg2 g6 23. Qd2 f5 24. Bf2 Qg5 25. Qxg5 Nxg5 26. Be3 $1 {
White has a fine endgame.} f4 27. Bd2 Ne6 28. Bc3 Kh7 29. d5 Nc5 30. gxh5 gxh5
31. Kf2 Nd7 $2 (31... Na4 32. Bd4 Kh6 {offers more resistance.}) 32. e5+ $1 Kh6
33. Rg1 Rg8 34. exd6 Nb6 $5 35. Rae1 Bxd5 36. Bd2 Raf8 37. dxc7 h4 38. Rxg8
Bxg8 39. Rg1 Bh7 40. Bxh7 Kxh7 41. Rg4 Nd5 42. Rxh4+ Kg6 43. Bxf4 Nxf4 44. Rxf4
Rc8 45. a4 Rxc7 46. axb5 $2 ({Correct is} 46. Kg3 bxa4 47. Rxa4 Rc6 48. Kg4 Rb6
49. b4 {and White wins.}) 46... Rc2+ $1 47. Kg3 Rxb2 $1 48. bxa6 Ra2 49. Rb4
Rxa6 {Black has reached a theoretical draw, as we know nowadays.} 50. Kg4 Kf6
51. f4 Kg6 52. h4 Ra7 $2 (52... Rc6 53. h5+ Kf6 {draws.}) 53. Rb6+ Kg7 54. h5
$2 Kh7 $2 55. Kg5 {White wins again.} Ra5+ 56. f5 Ra8 57. Rb7+ Kg8 58. h6 Kh8
59. Kg6 Rf8 60. f6 Rg8+ 61. Rg7 Ra8 62. Rh7+ {Judd had won the match by +7, -3.
} 1-0

[Event "St. Louis"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1891.12.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Judd, Max"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1891.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{A rematch between Judd and Showalter took place after one-and-a-half year. It
happened in St. Louis from 8 xii 1891 until 11 i 1892. Seven wins were needed
again.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6
bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4 O-O 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Re1 Ne6 12. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 {
The passive knight has been exchanged and Black achieved equality.} 13. Qc4 Qe8
14. Be3 d5 $1 {Showalter takes the initiative.} 15. Qg4 c5 $1 16. Nd1 $6 (16.
Ne2 Qf7 17. f3 {defends more accurately.}) 16... Rf5 17. f4 Bb7 18. Re2 $5 Qc6
{Black pieces move to offensive positions.} 19. Bf2 $2 (19. Bd2 $1 Raf8 20. c4
{protects pawn f4.}) 19... d4 $1 20. Be1 Raf8 21. Bd2 {
White has spoiled two tempi.} c4 22. Nf2 Bc5 23. Rd1 d3 $1 24. cxd3 cxd3 25.
Ree1 Rxf4 $1 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 $1 {
Judd will be mated soon. Showalter showed his great abilities as an attacker.}
0-1

[Event "St. Louis"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1892.01.11"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Judd, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1891.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The rematch was almost finished at the end of December of 1891, because
Showalter had won six games, but game 14 had to be postponed for two weeks due
to illness of Judd.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4
b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Ne7 9. Ng5 Nxg5 10. Bxg5 Bb7 11. Qf3 Qd7 12. Nc3 $1 {
Showalter attacks the centre.} (12. Nd2 {
happened in Mackenzie - Zukertort, London 1883.}) 12... c6 13. Rfe1 Qe6 $6 (
13... Qf5 $1 14. Qxf5 Nxf5 {exchanges the queens.}) 14. Rad1 Qg6 15. Qe3 O-O-O
$5 16. Bf4 $1 Nf5 17. Qb6 $1 Qg4 18. Rd3 $1 Bb4 ({The pointe is} 18... Qxf4 19.
Nxd5 $1 cxd5 20. Rc3+) 19. Bg3 Bxc3 $2 (19... Nxg3 20. Rxg3 Qe6 {defends well.}
) 20. Rxc3 Nxg3 21. Rxc6+ $1 {A brutal end follows.} Bxc6 22. Qxc6+ Kb8 23.
Qb6+ Kc8 24. Qc6+ Kb8 25. Qb6+ Kc8 26. Qxa6+ {Jackson Showalter had won by +7,
=3, -4. Max Judd became Consul General in Austria after his matches with
Showalter.} (26. Qxa6+ Kc7 27. Qa7+ Kc6 28. hxg3 {wins easily.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1892.04.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C26"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1892.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Showalter and Lipschuetz played their second match in New York from 19 iv
until 23 v 1892. Seven wins were needed for a gain of $750. The match started
by three draws.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Be7 $5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nge2 d6 6. O-O
Bd7 7. d3 Qc8 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Nd5 Bd8 11. f4 Bg4 12. c3 Ne7 $6 13.
Ne3 $1 Bxe2 $6 14. Qxe2 c6 $6 {Showalter plays passively.} ({Preferable is} 
14... exf4 15. gxf4 Ng6) 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Qh5 $1 Ng6 17. Nf5 $6 (17. Bh3 $1
Qc7 18. Be6 $1 {attacks.}) 17... O-O 18. Qg4 Kh7 19. Rf3 f6 $2 {
The g-file becomes vulnerable.} 20. h4 $1 Rg8 $6 21. h5 $1 Nf8 22. Bh3 Qc7 23.
Nh4 Qb6+ 24. Rf2 Qe3 $1 25. Kg2 Qxd3 $4 {Black takes the poisoned pawn.} (25...
Bb6 $1 26. d4 exd4 27. Nf5 Qg5 28. Qxg5 hxg5 29. cxd4 Ne6 {
leads to a defendable endgame.}) 26. Ng6 $1 Qb5 27. Qf5 $1 {
Lipschuetz puts his queen in an ambush.} (27. Qf5 Nxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kh8 29. Bf5 {
mates quickly.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1892.05.23"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C80"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1892.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Ne7 9. Ng5 Nxg5 10. Bxg5 c6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne2 $5 (12. Kh1 {
occurred in Showalter - Judd, St. Louis 1890 (7).}) 12... Qc7 13. Bxe7 $6 (13.
Nd4 c5 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. c3 {keeps an openings' edge.}) 13... Bxe7 14. f4 g6
15. c3 O-O 16. Ng3 $5 f5 $5 17. exf6 $6 ({Better is} 17. Ne2 $1 Bf7 18. Nd4 c5
19. Nf3) 17... Rxf6 18. f5 $5 gxf5 19. Nh5 Rh6 20. g3 $5 Rf8 21. Nf4 {
White blockades on f4.} Bc8 22. Qd2 Rhf6 23. Rae1 Bc5+ 24. Kg2 Kh8 25. Re2 Bd6
26. Nh5 Rg6 27. Bc2 c5 28. Ref2 Qc6 29. Bxf5 $2 {
Showalter falls into a trap by the capture of a poisoned pawn, like in game 4.}
(29. Bd1 $1 d4+ 30. Bf3 Qb6 31. Re1 f4 32. Be4 Bb7 {
shows a proper white defence against the black initiative.}) 29... d4+ $1 30.
Kh3 $2 (30. Kg1 Bb7 31. Rf3 Rgg8 32. Bg4 {offers more resistance.}) 30... Rxf5
$1 31. Rxf5 Qe4 $1 {Lipschuetz won the match convincingly by +7, =7, -1. He
had a frail health and went to California for a recovery.} (31... Qe4 32. Qf2
Rg5 33. Nf6 Rxf5 {gains material.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1894.02.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Hodges, Albert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C62"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1894.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When Lipschuetz had gone to the West, the US championship was regarded as
vacant. A match between Showalter and Hodges was organized. The first part
happened in New York from 10 ii until 10 iv 1894.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. Nc3 Nge7 6. Bg5 f6 7. Be3 Ng6 8. Qd2 Be7 $5 {
Black has a crammed game.} ({The exchanges} 8... exd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4
Bxb5 11. Nxb5 {occurred in Showalter - Taubenhaus, New York 1893.}) 9. O-O-O
O-O 10. Bc4+ Kh8 11. h4 {Showalter takes the initiative.} exd4 12. Nxd4 Nge5
13. Be2 Qe8 $6 14. f3 a6 $6 ({Preferable is} 14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 c6) 15. Nd5
Bd8 16. g4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bb5 18. h5 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nc6 $6 ({More active is} 
19... c6 20. Ne3 Qe6) 20. Bc3 h6 $5 21. Nf4 Rf7 22. Ng6+ Kh7 23. f4 Qe6 24. Kb1
$1 Be7 25. f5 Qd7 26. g5 $1 Bf8 $5 {Black defends h6.} (26... fxg5 27. e5 $1
Qxf5 28. Rdf1 Qe6 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. e6 Qe8 31. Rf1 {wins for White}) (26...
hxg5 27. h6 gxh6 28. Rxh6+ Kxh6 29. Rh1+ Kg7 30. Qh5 {
leads to mate. Showalter mentioned these lines in the New York Record.}) 27.
gxh6 $1 gxh6 28. Nxf8+ Raxf8 29. Rdg1 $1 Ne7 30. Qe3 Ng8 31. Rg6 Rg7 32. Rhg1
Rff7 33. b3 Qe7 34. Qf4 Kh8 35. R1g4 Qf8 36. Bd2 Kh7 37. Qf1 {
White prepares 38.Qc1 and pawn h6 will fall.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1894.04.09"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Hodges, Albert"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1894.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. O-O
b5 9. Bd3 $5 Bb7 10. b3 cxd4 11. exd4 Be7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Rc1 Nb4 14. Be2 Qa5
15. a3 Nbd5 16. b4 Qb6 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Ne5 Rfd8 19. Bf3 a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21.
Qb3 Qa6 22. Ra1 Ra8 23. Rfd1 Ra4 $6 (23... Bxa3 24. Bxa3 Rxa3 25. Rxa3 Qxa3 26.
Qxb5 Qe7 {draws.}) 24. Be2 $1 Ra5 $5 25. a4 $1 Nf4 26. Bxb5 Qb6 $2 {
Showalter collapses.} (26... Bd5 $1 27. Qc2 Qb7 {defends actively.}) 27. Nc4 $1
Ne2+ $2 28. Kf1 $1 Qc7 29. Nxa5 Rxa5 30. Kxe2 Qxh2 31. Qh3 Qf4 32. Bd3 Bh4 33.
g3 Qf3+ 34. Ke1 g5 35. Ra3 {Standings became: +6, =4, -6. The match could have
ended as drawn, but the players decided to play an extension: the required
number of wins was increased from seven til eleven.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1894.04.10"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Hodges, Albert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1894.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The extension started at the end of the first playing period.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4
O-O 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Rd1 Qe8 12. b3 d5 $6 (12... Ne6 {
drew in Showalter - Lipschuetz, New York 1892.}) 13. exd6 cxd6 $6 (13... Bxd6
$1 14. Qxe8 Rxe8 15. Nxc6 Bd7 16. Nd4 Ne4 {gains compensation for the pawn.})
14. Nxc6 Qxc6 $5 15. Qxe7 Bb7 16. Nd5 Rae8 17. c4 $1 {
Showalter attacks elegantly.} Qa6 $1 18. Qg5 Bxd5 $2 ({Better is} 18... f6 $1
19. Qh5 Re5 20. Qf3 Bxd5 21. cxd5 Rfe8 {and Black has counter-play.}) 19. Bb2
$1 Ne6 20. Qxd5 {White has a superior position.} Rd8 21. Rd3 $1 Nf4 22. Qg5 $1
Ng6 23. Rh3 h6 $2 24. Qd2 $2 (24. Rxh6 $1 gxh6 25. Qxh6 Ne5 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27.
Qxa6 {gains material.}) 24... Rd7 $2 25. Bxg7 $1 {
Showalter finds the sacrifice this time.} Kxg7 26. Qxh6+ Kf6 27. Re1 $1 Qc6 28.
Ree3 {The standings became +7, =4, -6. Showalter had won the $100 Manhattan
purse. Hereafter, the match was suspended for one month, a confusing
arrangement.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1894.06.20"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Hodges, Albert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C66"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1894.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The second part of the match was played from 14 v until 20 vi 1894. When the
last game began, both men had won ten games.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4.
O-O Be7 5. Nc3 d6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Re8 11.
Qd3 Bf8 12. Rae1 $5 (12. Rad1 c5 13. Nde2 {
was played in Tarrasch - Steif, Nürnberg 1891.}) 12... c5 13. Nde2 Bc6 14. Ng3
g6 15. f4 Bg7 16. h3 a5 $5 17. Nd1 $6 (17. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Ne3 $1 19. Rxe3
Kxg7 {leads to equality.}) 17... a4 18. f5 axb3 19. axb3 Rb8 $5 20. fxg6 $6 ({
Preferable is} 20. Qf3) 20... hxg6 21. Qf3 Re6 22. Ne3 Qf8 $1 23. Ng4 $6 (23.
Nd5 Nxd5 24. exd5 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Bxb2 26. dxc6 {exchanges a lot.}) 23... Nxg4
24. Bxg7 Qxg7 $1 25. Qxg4 Rbe8 26. Rf4 f5 $1 {Black attacks.} 27. Qg5 Re5 28.
Ref1 fxe4 29. Qg4 Bd7 30. Qe2 d5 $1 31. Qa6 $5 Rg5 32. Kh2 Qc3 33. Ne2 Qe5 34.
Kh1 $6 (34. h4 Rg4 35. g3 Rxf4 36. Qxg6+ Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Nxf4 {
fights back.}) 34... Qd6 35. Qxd6 cxd6 36. Rf6 Bb5 $1 (36... Be6 {
defends the extra pawn.}) 37. c4 $1 dxc4 38. Nc3 cxb3 $1 39. Nxb5 d5 40. Nc7 $5
Rc8 $1 41. Ne6 Rf5 $1 42. Rxg6+ Kf7 $1 43. Rxf5+ Kxg6 44. Rxd5 b2 45. Nf4+ Kf6
46. Rd1 Ra8 $2 (46... Rd8 $1 47. Rb1 Rd2 48. Nd5+ Ke5 {wins elegantly.}) 47.
Nd5+ Ke5 48. Nc3 $2 {The Kentucky Lion roars but does not bite.} ({
The unexpected} 48. Nb6 $1 Ra2 49. Nc4+ {stops the black pawns and draws.})
48... Ra1 $1 49. Nb1 c4 50. Rg1 Rxb1 $1 51. Rxb1 c3 {Hodges had won the match
by +11, =5, -10. Everybody considered him as the champ, except for Lipschuetz,
who objected from California. But Hodges had fulfilled his ambition in the
struggle for the US championship  and withdrew gracefully. He became a
successful businessman and stayed a chess lover.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1895.11.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1895.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{A battle between Showalter and Lipschuetz was the way to settle the dispute.
Their third match was played at the Manhattan Chess Club from 2 x until 27 xii
1895. They played for seven wins at a stake of $1500.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10.
f4 Re8 11. Qf3 $5 (11. f5 d5 12. Qf3 {
was played in Mason - Martinez, Philadelphia 1875.}) 11... Rb8 12. b3 d5 13. e5
Bc5+ 14. Kh1 $5 Ng4 15. Qg3 Bd4 16. Bd2 f5 $6 ({Preferable is} 16... Nh6 $1)
17. h3 Nh6 18. Rae1 Re6 19. Ne2 Bb6 20. Qf3 Rg6 21. Be3 Qh4 22. Bf2 Bxf2 23.
Qxf2 Qxf2 24. Rxf2 {White has aan edge.} c5 25. Ng1 Rgb6 26. Nf3 Nf7 $2 27. Nh2
$2 (27. c4 $1 d4 28. b4 $1 cxb4 29. Nxd4 {wins for White.}) 27... g6 28. g4 Nh6
29. gxf5 Nxf5 30. Ng4 Ng3+ $2 ({Correct is} 30... Re8 31. Kh2 Kf7 {
and Black controls e6.}) 31. Kh2 {White threatens Nf6+.} Nh5 32. f5 $1 {
He starts a decisive attack.} gxf5 33. Bxf5 Be6 34. Bxe6+ Rxe6 35. Rf5 Ng7 36.
Rf6 h5 37. Rxe6 Nxe6 38. Nf6+ Kh8 39. Nxd5 Nd4 40. Rf1 Re8 41. Rf7 $1 Rxe5 42.
Nf6 Nf3+ 43. Kg3 Ng5 44. Rxc7 Rf5 45. h4 Rf3+ 46. Kg2 Rxf6 47. hxg5 Rf5 48. g6
a5 49. Kh3 Rf3+ 50. Kh4 Rc3 51. Kg5 $1 {Lipschuetz led by 31/2-11/2.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1895.11.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1895.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2 $5 ({The quiet} 5. Qxd4 d5 6.
exd6 Nxd6 {drew in game seven.}) 5... Bb4+ 6. Kd1 $5 {
Lipschuetz plays a risky move.} d5 $1 7. exd6 f5 8. Ng5 $2 {
He overestimates his chances.} ({Preferable is} 8. Nbd2 Bxd2 9. Nxd2) 8... O-O
$1 {The Kentucky Lion sacrifices a piece.} 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Qc4+ Kh8 11. Qxb4
$6 {White achieves a material gain at fatal costs.} (11. dxc7 $5 Bg4+ 12. Be2
Bxe2+ 13. Kxe2 d3+ 14. Kd1 Qd7 15. Be3 {offers more resistance.}) 11... Bg4+ $1
12. Be2 (12. Ke1 Qf6 $1 13. Qd2 e3 $1 14. fxe3 dxe3 15. Qxe3 Nd7 {
also brings a decisive attack.}) 12... Bxe2+ 13. Kxe2 Nc6 14. Qe1 Qxd6 {
Black occupies the centre and leads in development.} 15. Kd1 $5 ({Or} 15. Kf1
Rae8 $1) 15... Rae8 16. b3 e3 17. Ba3 Qf4 18. Bxf8 e2+ $1 19. Qxe2 Rxe2 20.
Kxe2 d3+ $1 21. Kxd3 Qd4+ 22. Ke2 Qxa1 23. c3 b6 24. Re1 Kg8 25. Ba3 Qxa2+ 26.
Kf1 Qxb3 27. h3 Kf7 28. Kg1 a5 29. Kh2 Qa2 30. Kg3 Qd5 31. Bc1 Qd3+ 32. Be3 a4
33. Rc1 Na5 34. Re1 Nc4 {Showalter took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1895.12.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Lipschuetz, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1895.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qc2 a6 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Ng5 $5 {Showalter choses an aggressive approach.} (10. O-O
{drew in game twelve.}) 10... g6 11. h4 Nh5 {Black defends quietly.} 12. Ne2 $5
c5 $1 13. g4 $5 Nxf4 14. Nxf4 {White forces move to the kingside.} c4 $5 {
Black triggers two sacrifices.} (14... Bxg5 15. hxg5 Qxg5 16. f3 Re8 17. Qh2 h6
{counters in the centre.}) 15. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 $2 {He makes a fatal mistake.} ({
Correct is} 15... fxg6 $1 16. Nxh7 $1 (16. Nxg6 $2 Rf6 $1 17. Nxh7 Bb4+ 18. Kf1
Kxh7 {favours Black.}) 16... Kxh7 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Qh6+ {and perpetual check.}
) 16. Nxg6 $1 f5 ({The pointe is} 16... fxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Qh7#) 17. Ne6
Bb4+ 18. Ke2 $1 Qf6 19. Ngxf8 Bxf8 20. gxf5 Nc6 21. Rag1+ $1 {
The charge continues.} Kf7 22. Rg6 Qh8 23. h5 Nb4 24. Qa4 b5 25. Qa5 Re8 26.
Ng5+ {Showalter had won the match by +7, =3, -4.} (26. Ng5+ Ke7 27. Qc7# {
prolongs the game by one move.}) 1-0

[Event "Philadelphia"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1896.03.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Kemeny, Emil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1896.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Hungarian immigrant Emil Kemeny lived in Philadelphia for some time.
There he played a match against Showalter from 24 ii until 6 iv 1896.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. dxe5 Nb7 8. Nd4 Nc5
9. Nc3 Ne6 10. Ne4 $5 {White has a superior position.} (10. Nxe6 fxe6 {
(Neustadl - Porges, Prague 1884).} 11. Qh5+ $1 g6 12. Qf3 {favours White.})
10... Be7 11. Nf5 $5 ({Even stronger is} 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Qh5+ Kf8 13. Ng5)
11... O-O 12. Qg4 Kh8 13. Bd2 f6 14. Bc3 fxe5 15. Bxe5 Bf6 $2 (15... Rf7 $1 16.
Rad1 Qe8 {defends properly.}) 16. Nxf6 gxf6 17. Bc3 Rg8 18. Qh4 Rg6 19. f4 $1
Qf8 20. Kh1 $5 (20. Rf3 $1 Qc5+ 21. Ne3 $1 {plays for mate.}) 20... d5 $1 21.
Rf3 d4 $5 {Desperation.} 22. Nxd4 Rh6 23. Qf2 Ng7 24. Re1 c5 25. Nb3 Bb7 26.
Rg3 Re8 27. Rxe8 Qxe8 28. Nxc5 Bc6 29. Rd3 Nf5 30. Qe1 Qg8 31. Ne4 Qg4 32.
Bxf6+ Kg8 33. Qb4 Qxf4 34. Rd8+ Kf7 35. Ng5+ Qxg5 36. Bxg5 Re6 37. Qc4 Ng7 38.
h4 Kg6 39. Rg8 {
Showalter led by 31/2-11/2. Eventually, he won the match by +7, =4, -3.} 1-0

[Event "Boston"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1896.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Barry, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1896.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Showalter played his next match against the Boston lawyer John Barry. The
event occurred at the challenger's home from 15 v until 20 vi 1896. $2000 were
at stake. Barry started with two draws and one win.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4
d5 4. exd5 $5 e4 $6 {It becomes a doubtful gambit.} 5. Ne5 Nxd5 6. Bc4 Be6 7.
Qe2 f5 8. O-O Nd7 9. Bxd5 Bxd5 10. Qb5 $5 c6 $1 11. Qxb7 {
White has gained a pawn.} Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bc5 $2 ({Preferable is} 12... Qb8 13.
Qxb8+ Rxb8 14. b3 Kf7 {and Black has compensation for the pawn.}) 13. c4 $1
Bxc4 14. Qxc6+ Kf7 15. e6+ $1 {He improves his position.} Kg6 16. Qxc5 Bxf1 17.
Nc3 $1 ({Not} 17. Kxf1 $4 Qd1#) 17... Ba6 18. Nd5 $1 Re8 19. Nf4+ Kf6 20. Qc3+
{A king hunt begins.} Ke7 21. Qxg7+ Kd6 22. Be3 Kc6 23. Rc1+ Kb5 24. Qe5+ Ka4
25. b3+ Ka3 26. Bc5+ Kxa2 27. Qa1+ Kxb3 28. Rc3# {Barry did not recover from
this humiliation. Showalter won the match by +7, =3, -2.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.02.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Showalter challenged Pillsbury for a match, although he was the champion.
Pillsbury was not interested in the title but in the stake of $2000. They
played at the Hamilton Chess Club in New York from 10 ii until 14 iv 1897.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 d6 5. d3 a6 6. Be3 $5 Bxe3 7. fxe3 Na5 8.
Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 Nh6 $5 (9... Nf6 {makes the natural move.}) 10. O-O c6 11. d4
$1 {Pillsbury takes the initiative.} Qe7 12. Qe1 O-O 13. Qg3 f6 14. h3 Be6 15.
Rf2 Rae8 16. Raf1 Bc8 17. Nh4 Kh8 18. d5 c5 19. Nf5 Bxf5 $5 ({Even better is} 
19... Nxf5 $1 20. exf5 Bd7) 20. exf5 Rc8 21. Qh4 Qf7 $5 22. g4 Qe7 $6 {
Black spoils time.} 23. Ne4 Nf7 24. Qh5 $1 Kg8 $2 {
Showalter misses the proper defence.} ({Better is} 24... c4 $1 25. h4 cxb3 26.
cxb3 Nh6 $1 27. g5 Ng8 {and Black holds the kingside.}) 25. h4 $1 h6 26. Rg2 $5
Rc7 27. Kh1 $1 {White plays with his foe.} c4 28. Rfg1 cxb3 29. cxb3 Rfc8 30.
g5 $1 hxg5 31. hxg5 Nxg5 32. Rxg5 $1 {An elegant sacrifice decides the game.}
fxg5 33. Nxg5 g6 34. Qxg6+ Qg7 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Rg3 Rc1+ 37. Kg2 R8c2+ 38. Kf3
Rf1+ 39. Ke4 $1 Rh1 40. Qe8+ {White will mate soon. Pillsbury won the fourth
and fifth game too. Then the winner of Hastings 1895 led by 4-1.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.03.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Showalter came back into the match by a win in game six.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Nf5 f6 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. f4 $6 (14. exf6 Qxf6 15.
Ne4 Qg6 16. Ng3 {was played in Taubenhaus - Showalter, New York 1889.}) 14...
fxe5 15. Qxe5 d6 16. Qe4 d5 17. Qd3 Qd6 18. g3 a5 19. b3 Ba6 20. Qd2 Rae8 21.
Bb2 Qc5+ {Black has the initiative.} 22. Kh1 $5 Bb7 $2 (22... d4 $1 23. Ne4 Qf5
{favours Black.}) 23. Re5 $1 Qd6 24. Rae1 d4 $5 25. Ne4 $1 c5 $1 26. Kg1 Bxe4
$2 ({Correct is} 26... Qc6 $1) 27. R1xe4 $4 {Pillsbury collapses.} (27. R5xe4
$1 c6 28. Qe2 Nc7 29. Qc4+ Qd5 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Rxe8+ Nxe8 32. Ba3 Qxc4 33.
bxc4 Nd6 34. Bxc5 Nxc4 35. Bxd4 {gains a pawn in the ending.}) 27... Ng5 $1 28.
Rxg5 Rxe4 29. Qxa5 Rexf4 30. Qxc5 Rf1+ 31. Kg2 R8f2+ 32. Kh3 Qe6+ 33. Rg4 Rh1 {
Showalter won the eighth game too and the standings became 4-4, a surprising
result for the outsider.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.03.22"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D66"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Both parties had won five games, when round thirteen began.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Rc1 O-O 7. Nf3 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5
10. Bd3 a6 $5 ({Known is} 10... Bb7 {(Maroczy - Charousek, Budapest 1895).})
11. O-O c5 $1 12. Ne4 c4 $1 13. Nxf6+ Nxf6 14. Bb1 Bb7 15. Ne5 {Pillsbury occup
ies the centre and Showalter has the initiative on the queenside.} Ne4 16. Bxe7
Qxe7 17. f3 Nd6 18. Qc2 g6 19. Qd2 f6 20. Ng4 Nf7 21. e4 Rad8 22. Qe3 h5 23.
Nf2 Kg7 24. Nh3 $5 Qd6 25. Rcd1 Qb6 26. Rfe1 $6 ({Better is} 26. Nf4 e5 27. Ne2
) 26... Rd7 $5 27. e5 $6 (27. Kf1 $5 e5 28. d5 Qxe3 29. Rxe3 b4 {
brings a plus for Black.}) 27... fxe5 28. Ng5 $1 Nxg5 29. Qxg5 Rf6 30. Qxe5 Rd5
31. Qe4 $2 (31. Qb8 $1 h4 32. h3 Rf8 33. Qh2 {defends properly.}) 31... e5 $1
32. Kh1 exd4 {Black has gained a centre pawn.} 33. Qe8 Rd8 $1 34. Qe7+ Rf7 35.
Qe5+ Qf6 36. a4 d3 37. axb5 axb5 38. Kg1 Qxe5 39. Rxe5 Rd5 40. Re3 Rfd7 41. Kf2
Kf6 42. Rde1 R5d6 43. h4 b4 44. Rc1 Ba6 45. Ba2 Rc7 46. Bb1 c3 47. bxc3 bxc3
48. Bxd3 Rxd3 49. Rxd3 Bxd3 50. Ke3 Bf5 51. Kd4 c2 52. Ke3 Rd7 53. g4 Rd1 {
Showalter had won his sixth game.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.03.24"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 {Showalter had won in game ten and twelve with the
Ponziani. If he strikes again, he triumphs in the match.} d5 4. Qa4 f6 5. Bb5
Nge7 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. O-O Bd7 (7... e4 $1 8. Bxc6+ Nxc6 9. Re1 {
occurred in game twelve.}) 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Ne5 $1 10. Nc3 Nxf3+ 11. gxf3 Qf5
12. Re1 $5 (12. d5 a6 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {
happened in Showalter - Albin, New York (6).}) 12... a6 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Qc4
O-O-O {Black has the better pawn structure.} 15. Bf4 Ng6 $1 16. Bg3 Bd6 {
He neutralises the white initiative.} 17. Na4 Kb8 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Qxc5 f5 $5
20. Be5 Nh4 21. Re3 f4 $1 {Black sacrifices two pawns for the attack.} 22. Bxf4
Qh3 23. Bxc7+ Ka8 24. Qg5 Rxd4 25. Qg3 $2 {Showalter blunders material.} (25.
Kh1 $1 Rc8 26. Be5 Nxf3 27. Qg3 Qxg3 28. Bxg3 {equalises.}) 25... Qd7 $1 26.
Bb6 Nf5 27. Qe5 $6 (27. Qc7 $5 Qxc7 28. Bxc7 Nxe3 29. fxe3 Rd2 {
costs an exchange.}) 27... Rd5 $6 (27... Rd6 $1 28. Rb3 Nh4 $1 {wins quickly.})
28. Qe6 Nxe3 29. Qxd7 Rxd7 30. fxe3 Rd2 {
Pillsbury will need time in the endgame.} 31. Bd4 Rf8 32. Bc3 Re2 33. e4 Rd8 $5
34. Rf1 g6 35. Rf2 Rxf2 36. Kxf2 Kb8 37. Kg3 $5 Kc8 38. Kg4 Rf8 39. f4 Re8 40.
Be5 h6 41. h4 Kd7 42. a3 ({Or} 42. h5 gxh5+ 43. Kxh5 Rxe5+ 44. fxe5 Ke6 {
(Sergeant).}) 42... Rxe5 $1 43. fxe5 Ke6 {Black wins the pawn ending easily.}
44. Kf4 b5 45. b3 g5+ $1 46. hxg5 hxg5+ 47. Kxg5 Kxe5 48. a4 b4 49. a5 Kxe4 50.
Kf6 Kd4 51. Ke6 Kc3 52. Kd5 Kxb3 53. Kc5 Kc3 54. Kb6 b3 55. Kxa6 b2 56. Ka7
b1=Q 57. a6 Kc4 58. Ka8 Qe4+ 59. Kb8 Qe8+ 60. Kb7 Qb5+ {Both sides had gained
six games. Hereafter, ten wins were needed for a final triumph.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.03.29"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 {They play the Berlin Defence again.
} 5. d4 Nd6 6. Ba4 e4 7. Re1 Be7 8. Ne5 O-O 9. Nc3 Bf6 $5 (9... Nf5 {
occurred in game six.}) 10. Bf4 Nf5 11. Rxe4 ({The alternative is} 11. Nd5 $5
Nfxd4 12. Ng4 Bh4 13. Bxc7 Qg5 14. Ngf6+ gxf6 15. Rxe4 Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Qxd5 17.
Rg4+ {with  great complications.}) 11... Nfxd4 {White has sacrificed a pawn.}
12. Ng4 ({Not} 12. Rxd4 $2 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 d6 {(Sergeant).}) 12... Ne6 13. Nxf6+
Qxf6 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Qh5 d6 $2 ({Correct is} 15... Nxf4 16. Rxf4 d6) 16. Bd2 $2
(16. Be3 $1 g6 17. Qh6 f5 18. Rxe6 $1 Bxe6 19. Bg5 {attacks.}) 16... Ne5 $2 (
16... Nc5 $1 17. Rf4 Nxa4 18. Rxa4 Be6 {defends well.}) 17. Rh4 $1 h6 18. f4 $4
{Showalter misses a great opportunity.} (18. Bxh6 $1 Ng6 19. Rh3 $1 gxh6 20.
Qxh6 Ng5 21. Rh5 c6 22. Rxg5 cxd5 23. Rh5 {wins for White.}) 18... Ng6 $1 19.
Rg4 Nd4 20. f5 $5 Nxf5 21. Rf1 $2 (21. Ba5 Be6 22. Nxc7 Rc8 23. Nxe6 Qxa5 24.
Bd7 {offers more resistance.}) 21... c6 22. Nc3 Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Qc5 24. Qh3 Nfe7
25. Ne4 Bxg4 26. Qxg4 f5 27. Bb3+ Kh8 28. Qxg6 fxe4 $1 {
Pillsbury took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.04.09"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8.
dxe5 Nb7 9. Nd4 O-O 10. Nf5 $5 ({Usual is} 10. Nc3) 10... d5 11. Qg4 Bxf5 12.
Qxf5 Qc8 13. Qxc8 Raxc8 {Black has equalised.} 14. Be3 c5 15. Nd2 a5 16. f4 f5
$6 (16... f6 $1 {charges the centre.}) 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. b3 Kf7 19. Kf1 Ke6 20.
Nf3 h6 21. c3 Rg8 22. h4 Nd8 23. b4 $1 axb4 24. cxb4 cxb4 $6 25. Nd4+ Kd7 26.
Nxf5 c6 27. Nxe7 Kxe7 28. Bc5+ $6 (28. a3 $1 bxa3 29. Rxa3 {
attacks on the queenside.}) 28... Ke6 29. Kf2 g5 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Rh1 gxf4 32.
Rh6+ Kf5 $5 (32... Kxe5 33. Re1+ Kf5 34. Be7 {leads to perpetual check.}) 33.
Re1 $5 Rg6 $5 34. Rh8 Ra8 35. Re2 Ne6 $1 {Showalter takes the initiative.} 36.
Rxa8 Nxc5 37. Rf8+ Ke6 38. Kf3 Nd3 39. Rf6+ Rxf6 40. exf6+ Kxf6 41. Rd2 Ne5+
42. Kxf4 Ng6+ 43. Ke3 Ke5 {
The chances in the rook versus knight ending are equal.} 44. Rf2 c5 45. g4 d4+
46. Kd2 c4 $1 47. g5 c3+ 48. Kc2 Ke4 49. Re2+ Kd5 50. Re8 Ne5 51. Kb3 $2 (51.
Kd1 d3 52. Kc1 Kd4 53. Rb8 {draws.}) 51... d3 $1 52. Rd8+ Ke4 53. Rb8 d2 $2 (
53... Nc6 $1 54. Re8+ Kf5 {wins for Black.}) 54. Kc2 Nc6 55. Re8+ Kf5 56. Rf8+
$2 (56. g6 $1 Nd4+ 57. Kd1 Kxg6 58. Rd8 $1 Nf5 59. Rxd2 {escapes.}) 56... Kxg5
57. Rf2 Nd4+ 58. Kd1 Nf5 $1 59. Rxd2 Ne3+ $1 60. Kc1 cxd2+ 61. Kxd2 Kf4 $1 62.
Kc1 ({The pointe is} 62. Kd3 Kf3 $1) 62... Nc4 63. Kc2 Na5 $1 64. Kd3 Ke5 $1
65. Ke3 Kd5 66. Kd3 Kc5 67. Kd2 Kd4 68. Kc2 Kc4 69. Kb2 Kd3 70. Kb1 Kc3 71. Kc1
Nc4 72. Kb1 Kd2 {
Both parties had won eight games, an excellent result for Showalter.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.04.12"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 Nc6 4. f4 Nb4 5. Nf3 Nxd3+ 6. cxd3 e6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Bd2 b6 10. Ne5 $5 (10. Rc1 {drew in game two.}) 10... Bb7 11. Qa4 $5
c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Ne2 Qb6 14. Qc2 $6 {White wastes time.} ({Preferable is} 
14. Bc3 $1 Ba6 15. Rae1) 14... Rac8 15. b3 $5 Ba6 16. Rf3 $5 Rfd8 17. Rh3 $5 {
The attack has no effect.} g6 18. Qd1 $6 Nd7 19. Qe1 $2 (19. Nxd7 Rxd7 20. Be1
Qb5 21. Nc1 {defends the weakling d3.}) 19... Nxe5 20. fxe5 Bxd3 $1 {
Pillsbury sacrifices beautifully.} 21. Ba5 Qb8 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Rf3 $5 Qxe5
24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Nxc3 {Black has an overwhelming compensation for the exchange.
} e5 26. Re1 e4 27. Rf2 f5 28. Na4 d4 $1 {He conquers the centre.} 29. exd4
cxd4 30. Nb2 Ba6 31. Rc2 d3 $1 32. Rc6 Bb5 33. Rc7 Bd6 34. Rc4 $5 Bxc4 35. Nxc4
Bc5+ 36. Kf1 e3 37. Rb1 Rd4 38. g3 f4 39. Ne5 e2+ 40. Ke1 Bb4+ 41. Kf2 e1=Q+
42. Rxe1 Bxe1+ 43. Kxe1 Re4+ 44. Kd2 Rxe5 45. gxf4 Rd5 46. b4 Kf8 47. a4 Ke8 {
Pillsbury needed one more win.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1897.04.14"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1897.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{If Showalter wins, both men have won nine games and the match will be drawn.} 
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bf4
({Pillsbury avoids the loss of a tempo by} 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4) 8... dxc4 9.
Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bg3 N7b6 11. Bd3 $1 {White gains an edge.} (11. Bb3 $5 {
drew in game fifteen.}) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 c5 $1 13. c4 $5 cxd4 14. exd4 Bb4+
15. Kf1 $1 Bd7 $5 16. c5 $5 (16. Qb3 $1 Be7 17. c5 Rc8 18. Qb1 $1 Nd5 19. Bxh7+
{gains a pawn.}) 16... Nd5 $6 ({Better is} 16... Ba4 $1 17. Qe2 Nd5) 17. Bd6 $1
Re8 18. Ne5 g6 19. Qf3 {He restricts the hostile position.} f5 20. h4 Bc6 21.
Qg3 Qf6 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Be5 Qd8 $6 {The queen should go to e7.} 24. f4 $1 (
24. h5 $6 g5 $1 {halts the attack.}) 24... Bd2 25. Rb1 Ba5 $6 26. h5 $1 g5 27.
Rb7 $1 Bc7 28. fxg5 Bxe5 29. Qxe5 Qxg5 30. h6 $2 (30. Rh3 $1 Qf4+ 31. Qxf4 Nxf4
32. Rg3+ Kh8 33. Rgg7 {wins for White.}) 30... Qc1+ $2 {
The players blunder on the last move before the time control.} (30... Qf4+ 31.
Qxf4 Nxf4 {defends well (Sergeant).}) 31. Ke2 $1 {
Black does not win a rook but loses a knight.} Qe3+ 32. Qxe3 Nxe3 33. Kxe3 Kh8
34. g4 Rg8 35. Rg7 Rxg7 36. hxg7+ Kxg7 37. gxf5 exf5 38. Bxf5 h6 39. Rg1+ Kf6
40. Be4 {Pillsbury had won the match by +10, =3, -8.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1898.02.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1898.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The rematch was played at the Postal Telegraph Building in New York from 25
ii until 1 iv 1898 for $2000.  Showalter started with a win.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxe7 $5 (7. Bxc6 Bxg5 8.
dxe5 dxc6 9. Nxg5 Qxg5 10. exd6 {
drew in Pillsbury - Lasker, St Petersburg 1895.}) 7... Qxe7 8. dxe5 $6 {
Showalter makes a doubtful pawn sacrifice.} ({Preferable is} 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9.
dxe5 Nf5 {(Fischer - Fuller, Bay City 1963).}) 8... Nxb5 9. a4 d6 10. axb5 Nxe5
11. Nd4 $6 (11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qf3 {almost keeps the equality.}) 11... O-O 12.
Nc3 c6 $5 13. bxc6 bxc6 14. Re1 Qc7 15. f4 $5 Ng4 $1 16. f5 $5 Nf6 17. Ne4 $2
Nxe4 18. Rxe4 d5 $2 (18... c5 $1 19. Nb5 Qc6 20. Qe2 a6 21. Nc3 Bxf5 {
captures a second pawn.}) 19. Rh4 $5 Qd6 20. Qh5 h6 21. Rf1 $5 Qf6 $1 22. Rhf4
Bd7 $5 23. Nb3 Rae8 24. Nc5 Bc8 25. c3 Re7 26. h4 $5 Rfe8 $1 27. R1f2 Re3 28.
Kh2 R8e5 29. Nb3 Qd6 30. Kg1 $2 Re1+ 31. Rf1 Ba6 32. Rxe1 Rxe1+ {
Pillsbury levelled the match. Hereafter, he took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1898.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1898.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O a6 6. Bc4 $5 ({Usual is} 6.
Ba4) 6... Bc5 7. c3 {White plays a gambit.} ({An alternative will become} 7. e5
$5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. fxg7 Rg8) 7... Nxe4 $1 8. cxd4 Be7 (8... d5 $5 9. dxc5
dxc4 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {takes a risk.}) 9. d5 $1 Na7 $5 10. Re1 Nd6 11. Bd3 O-O
12. Nc3 Ne8 $6 13. Qe2 Bf6 14. Ne4 d6 15. Bg5 $6 (15. Neg5 {gains a plus.})
15... Bxg5 $1 16. Nexg5 Nf6 17. Qc2 h6 18. Nh7 Nxh7 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Be4 Bd7
21. Qb3 c5 22. Qxb7 $4 {Showalter consumes a poisoned pawn.} Nb5 $1 23. Ne5 Ra7
$1 24. Nc6 Rxb7 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 {Black has won a knight.} 26. b3 Nd4 27. Rad1 Bb5
28. Kh1 Re7 29. a4 Be2 30. Bd3 Rde8 31. Bxe2 Rxe2 32. Rf1 Nxb3 {
Pillsbury led by +6, =2, -2.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1898.03.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C14"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1898.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
f4 c5 9. Nb5 a6 $1 ({The alternative is} 9... Nc6) 10. Nd6 cxd4 11. Nf3 Nc6 12.
Bd3 $5 {Pillsbury turns the opening into a gambit.} (12. Nxd4 f6 $1 13. Nxc6
bxc6 14. Nxc8 Rfxc8 {favours Black.}) 12... f6 $1 13. Nxc8 Raxc8 14. exf6 Qxf6
15. O-O h6 $6 ({Even better is} 15... Qxf4 16. Bxh7+ $1 Kh8 $1 17. Qxf4 Rxf4)
16. Rae1 Nc5 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Rc7 $5 19. Qe2 Rc6 20. Qg4 Nxd3 21. cxd3 Kh7
22. h4 Qg6 23. Qxg6+ Kxg6 {Black has an extra pawn in the ending of rooks.} 24.
g4 Kf6 25. Rfe1 g6 26. R1e2 h5 $1 27. gxh5 Rh8 $1 28. hxg6 Rxh4 29. Rg5 $5 Rc8
30. Rge5 $5 Rg4+ 31. Kf2 Rxf4+ 32. Kg3 Re4 $1 33. R5xe4 $6 (33. dxe4 $5 Kxe5
34. exd5+ Kxd5 35. Kf4 Rg8 36. Re5+ Kd6 37. Rg5 Ke7 38. Rg2 Kf6 39. Ke4 {
offers more resistance.}) 33... dxe4 34. Rxe4 e5 35. Kf3 Rg8 36. Rh4 Rxg6 37.
Rh7 Rg7 38. Rh6+ Kf5 39. b4 Rg1 $1 40. Rh5+ Ke6 41. Rh7 Re1 $1 42. Rxb7 Re3+
43. Kf2 Rxd3 {Showalter has two passed pawns.} 44. Rb6+ Kd5 45. Rxa6 e4 46. b5
Rd2+ 47. Kg3 e3 48. Ra8 e2 49. Kf2 d3 50. Rd8+ Kc4 51. a4 Rd1 {
The Kentucky Lion showed his claws.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1898.04.01"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Pillsbury, Harry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1898.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. e5
Ne8 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 d5 11. b4 $2 (11. Nc3 {
drew in Bird - Wisker, London 1868.}) 11... c6 $1 12. Bb2 Nc7 13. a3 a5 $1 {
Black has a superior pawn structure.} 14. c3 Bf5 15. Qb6 $5 Qc8 16. Nd2 Ne6 17.
Nf3 Nf4 $1 18. Bb3 $2 ({Better is} 18. Bd1 {(Kemeny).}) 18... Nxg2 $1 19. Red1
Be4 $1 {Black threatens ..Qg4+.} 20. Nd2 Ra6 21. Qd4 Nf4 22. Qe3 Qg4+ 23. Kf1
Bd3+ 24. Qxd3 Qg2+ 25. Ke1 Nxd3+ {Pillsbury won the match by +7, =2, -3. This
time he liked the money and the title. However, he hoped to play for the world
championship, but his life would be too short for this event. The avalanche of
US championship matches had come to an end.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "Seventh USA Congress"]
[Date "1904.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Jaffe, Charles"]
[Black "Marshall, Frank"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1904.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Seventh USA Congress became Saint Louis, October 1904. The tournament was
called a US championship until Pillsbury protested from his sickbed.} 1. d4 d5
2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bg5 $5 ({Theory is} 5. g3 {
(Chigorin - Albin, Nürnberg 1896).}) 5... f6 6. exf6 Nxf6 7. e4 Bb4+ 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Qb3 a5 10. a3 a4 11. Qc2 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 Qe8 13. Bxf6 $6 ({More active is
} 13. c5 Qh5 14. h4 h6 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Be2) 13... Rxf6 14. f3 Ne5 15. Bd3 $5
c5 16. O-O Qh5 $1 {Marshall starts an attack on the kingside.} 17. Rf2 Qg5 $1
18. Re1 Bd7 19. Kh1 Raf8 $1 20. Nf1 Rh6 21. Qd2 Qh4 22. Kg1 b5 $5 {
He gives the attack an impulse on the other flank.} 23. cxb5 Rb8 24. Qc2 Nxd3
25. Qxd3 Bxb5 26. g3 $2 ({Better is} 26. Qc2 $1 Bxf1 $2 27. g3 $1) 26... Bxd3
27. gxh4 Rhb6 $1 28. Rd1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 Rxb2 30. Rc1 Rb1 31. Re1 c4 32. Rc2 d3
33. Rd2 c3 $1 34. Rxd3 Rxe1+ 35. Kxe1 Rb1+ {
Marshall defeated his opponent in a counter-gambit.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "Seventh USA Congress"]
[Date "1904.10.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Judd, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D21"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1904.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Marshall and Judd competed for the first place in the congress. Judd saw the
tournament as a championship. Shipley argued against it, on behalf of
Pillsbury, and prevailed.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Ne5 Bf5 $6 ({
Known is} 4... Bh5) 5. Nc3 f6 $4 {Judd goes down quickly.} ({Better is} 5...
Nf6 $5) 6. e4 $1 Be6 ({Or} 6... fxe5 7. exf5 Nf6 8. Bxc4 exd4 9. Qb3 dxc3 10.
Bf7+ Kd7 11. Qe6#) 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6 $1 Bf7 9. Qb5+ $1 c6 10. Qxb7 hxg6 11.
Qxa8 Qc7 12. d5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qe5 14. Bxc4 e6 15. Bb5+ Kd8 16. Bf4 Qxe4+ 17.
Kf1 {Judd had lost two battles. Marshall won the congress by 81/2/9.} 1-0

[Event "Lexington"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1909.11.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1909.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Capablanca and Marshall played a match during the spring of 1990. When Capa 
won by 8-1, he tried to claim the US title. Shipley looked into the matter and
concluded: Capablanca has to become a US citizen and challenge Showalter for
the US championship. Frank and Carrie Marshall took the train to Lexington and
challenged Showalter. Capablanca stayed a Cuban and became a diplomat.  
Showalter and Marshall played a match of fifteen games at the Phoenix Hotel in
xi 1909. The stake was 2 x $500.} 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 d3 {
Showalter refuses an old gambit.} 4. Bxd3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 $5 {
Marshall has the initiative.} Nf6 7. Bf4 $5 Be7 $5 {He declines a pawn again.}
(7... Nxe4 8. Bxf7+ $5 Kxf7 9. Qd5+ Ke8 10. Qxe4+ Qe7 {equalises.}) 8. Nbd2 O-O
9. O-O Bg4 10. Re1 Nh5 $5 11. Bg3 $6 (11. Be3 $1 Ne5 12. Be2 {keeps an edge.})
11... Nxg3 12. hxg3 Ne5 13. Bf1 Bg5 $6 ({Preferable is} 13... c6 $1) 14. Qb3
Bxd2 15. Nxd2 Be6 $6 {B7 could have been protected.} 16. Qxb7 {
Marshall grabs the pawn.} a6 $5 17. Nf3 $5 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 Qd7 19. Qb4 $1 Rfb8
20. Qa3 a5 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. Re3 f6 23. Rd4 Qb6 24. b3 c5 25. Rd2 a4 26. c4 $5
axb3 27. Qxb3 Qc7 28. Qd1 Rb6 29. f4 Qb8 $2 (29... Rba6 30. Red3 $1 Re8 31. f3
Bxc4 32. Rxd6 Bxf1 33. Kxf1 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Kh8 {defends properly.}) 30. Rb3 $1
Rxb3 31. axb3 Ra6 32. e5 $1 Qa7 33. Rxd6 g6 34. Rxa6 {Marshall led by 31/2-1/2.
} 1-0

[Event "Lexington"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1909.11.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Showalter, Jackson"]
[Black "Marshall, Frank"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1909.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nce2 Nc6 7. c3 cxd4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 O-O $5 (9... Qb6 10. Nf3 O-O {
happened in Tarrasch - Noa, Hamburg 1885.}) 10. Nf3 f6 11. Bxb4 Nxb4 12. Qb3
Nc6 13. O-O-O Na5 14. Qc3 b5 15. Ng3 Bb7 16. Kb1 Rc8 17. Qb4 Nc4 $1 {
Marshall takes the initiative on the queenside.} 18. Bd3 $1 ({Not} 18. Qxb5 $2
Bc6 $1 19. Qb3 Nxb2 $1) 18... fxe5 19. Ng5 $5 {
Showalter counters on the kingside.} Rc6 20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21. dxe5 Rxf4 22. h4 Qf8
23. Qxf8+ Nxf8 24. Bd3 Nxe5 25. Bxb5 {
The exchanges have led to an about equal position.} Rb6 26. Rdf1 Rf6 27. Be2
Kg8 28. Nh5 Rxf1+ 29. Rxf1 Ba6 $6 30. Bxa6 Rxa6 31. Nf4 $1 {
Pawn e6 has become a target.} Neg6 32. Nh5 Ne5 33. Nf4 Neg6 34. Nh5 Ne5 35. Rc1
$1 {White makes an effort to win.} d4 36. Rc8 Ned7 37. Nf4 e5 38. Nd3 $6 {
Showalter misses a chance.} (38. Nfe6 $1 Rb6 39. Ra8 {attacks.}) 38... Rf6 $1
39. Re8 Rf1+ 40. Kc2 Rg1 41. Nxe5 Rxg2+ 42. Kd3 Nxe5+ 43. Rxe5 Rxb2 44. Ra5 Rb7
45. Kxd4 Rb4+ 46. Ke3 Rb7 47. h5 Re7+ 48. Kf4 Nh7 49. Ne4 Rf7+ 50. Rf5 Rb7 51.
Rc5 Rf7+ 52. Ke5 Re7+ 53. Kf5 Rf7+ 54. Ke6 Nf8+ 55. Kd6 Rd7+ 56. Kc6 Rd4 57.
Ng5 Ra4 58. Rc2 Ra5 59. Rg2 Nh7 60. Nxh7 {Marshall defended well in this game.
He won the match by +7, =3, -2 in two weeks.   It was important for Marshall
to gain the US title, because he had lost the world championship match to
Emanuel Lasker in 1907. Champion of the USA remained Marshall's asset until
1936.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lasker, Edward"]
[Black "Marshall, Frank"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The match between Marshall and Edward Lasker of 18 games was established
after long negotiations. $5000 was available for prizes and expenses. They
started at the Marshall Chess Club in New York on 15 iii 1923.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be6 7. e4 dxe4 8. Bb5+ $5 (8. Nxe4
cxd4 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. O-O {drew in Schlechter - Maroczy, Karlsbad 1907.}) 8...
Bd7 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nxe4 Qb6 11. Qe2 $5 Be7 12. dxc5 Qa5+ $5 13. Nfd2 O-O 14.
Bd3 f5 $6 ({Preferable is} 14... Nc6) 15. O-O $1 Re8 $1 ({Not} 15... fxe4 $2
16. Qxe4 Bf5 17. Qd5+ Kh8 18. Bxf5) 16. Nb3 $6 (16. Nc4 $1 Qc7 17. Ned6 {
gains an advantage.}) 16... Qc7 17. Ng3 Bf6 18. Qc2 g6 19. Ne2 Nc6 20. Nc3 Nb4
21. Bc4+ Kh8 22. Qd2 Bc6 23. Nb5 Bxb5 24. Bxb5 Re4 25. Qd6 Qg7 26. Rad1 a6 $5
27. c6 $1 bxc6 28. Bxc6 Nxc6 29. Qxc6 Qf8 30. Rd2 a5 31. Rc2 a4 32. Nd2 Re2 33.
Nf3 Ree8 34. Qc4 Re4 35. Qc6 Ree8 36. Qb5 Reb8 37. Qe2 Re8 38. Qd2 Qf7 39. a3
Rad8 40. Qc1 Qg7 $6 (40... Qb3 $1 {equalises.}) 41. h4 Rb8 42. Rc7 Re7 43. Rc8+
Re8 44. Rxe8+ Rxe8 45. Qc6 Qf8 46. Rb1 Re2 47. b4 $1 axb3 48. Rxb3 Qd8 49. Rb1
Bxh4 50. Nxh4 Qxh4 51. Qc3+ Kg8 52. Rb8+ Kf7 53. Rb7+ Re7 54. Qb3+ Kg7 55. Qc3+
Kf7 56. Qb3+ Kg7 57. Qc3+ Kf7 58. Rxe7+ Qxe7 59. a4 $1 {
White has the distant passed pawn in the queen ending.} Qe2 60. Qc7+ Kf6 61.
Qb6+ Ke5 62. Qc5+ Ke6 63. Qc6+ Kf7 64. Qc1 g5 $2 (64... Qe5 {
prevents the next move.}) 65. a5 $1 f4 66. Qf1 $1 Qa2 67. Qb5 Kg6 68. Qb6+ Kh5
69. a6 $1 g4 70. Qc5+ Kg6 71. a7 g3 72. fxg3 fxg3 73. Qd6+ Kf7 74. Qf4+ Ke7 75.
Qe3+ Kd7 76. Kf1 Qa6+ 77. Ke1 Kc7 78. Qxg3+ Kd7 79. Qg7+ Kc8 80. Qg8+ Kb7 81.
Qb8+ {Lasker tortured Marshall.} 1-0

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C30"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3
Nd4 9. Qg3 Qe7 (9... Nxc2+ 10. Kd1 Nxa1 11. Qxg7 {
happened in Chigorin - Pillsbury, Hastings 1895.}) 10. Bb3 O-O-O $5 11. Rf1 Nf5
$6 {Marshall looks perplexed. He cannot capture the knight.} 12. Qg5 $1 g6 $6 {
Preferable is the retreat of the knight.} 13. fxe5 Qxe5 14. Qf4 Qe7 $1 15. g4
d5 $1 16. gxf5 g5 $5 17. Qf3 $5 {He finds the capture of the pawn too risky.}
dxe4 18. dxe4 Bb4 19. Bxg5 $1 Rhg8 20. Bh4 Rd4 21. Bd5 Re8 $1 22. Bxf6 $2 (22.
Kf2 $1 Qe5 23. Qg3 Rd2+ 24. Kf3 $1 Bxc3 25. Qxe5 Bxe5 26. Bxf7 {wins for White.
}) 22... Qxf6 23. Rd1 c6 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. a3 $2 Bxc3+ 26. bxc3 Qxd5 27. Qd3
Qxe4+ 28. Qxe4 Rxe4+ {Black has an advantage in the rook ending.} 29. Kd2 Rh4
$5 30. Rf3 $5 Kd7 {The game is adjourned.} 31. Rg3 Rh5 32. Rg7 Ke7 33. Rg8 Rxf5
34. Rb8 Rd5+ 35. Kc1 b6 36. Rc8 c5 37. Rc7+ Rd7 38. Rc6 f5 39. Rh6 Kf8 $1 40.
Rh5 f4 $1 41. Rh4 f3 $1 42. Rf4+ Rf7 43. Rxf7+ Kxf7 {
Black wins the pawn ending easily.} 44. Kd2 Ke6 45. Ke3 Kd5 46. Kxf3 Kc4 47.
Kg4 Kxc3 48. Kg5 Kxc2 49. Kh6 Kb3 50. Kxh7 c4 {The two wins by Lasker were a
surprise. He spoiled a favourable position before the first time control in
the third game. It became a draw in 104 moves. Lasker had scored well in New
York.} 0-1

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.04.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The games 4 through 7 were played at the Hamilton Club in Chicago.} 1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be6 8. O-O Be7 9.
dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bg5 d4 {They play the Tarrasch Defence again.} 11. Bxf6 $5 ({
Known is} 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 {(Burn - Tarrasch, Breslau 1912).}) 11...
Qxf6 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Rc1 Qb6 15. Ng5 $1 Bf5 $1 ({Not} 15... Qxb2
$2 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Rb1) ({or} 15... Bxa2 $6 16. Qd3 $1 Rd8 17. Bxc6+ bxc6 18.
Qe4+) 16. e4 $5 dxe3 $2 {Lasker allows a strong sacrifice.} ({Correct is} 16...
Bg6 $1 17. h4 h6 18. h5 hxg5 19. hxg6 f6) 17. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 18. Qd6 $1 Bd7 (
18... exf2+ 19. Rxf2 Bd7 20. Qe5+ $1 Kf8 21. Qd6+ Ke8 22. Kf1 $1 {
wins for White.}) 19. Qe5+ Kf8 20. fxe3 f6 21. Rxf6+ $1 {
A second sacrifice decides the game.} gxf6 22. Qxf6+ Ke8 ({The pointe is} 22...
Kg8 23. Qf7#) 23. Qxh8+ Ke7 24. Qe5+ $1 (24. Qxa8 $2 Qxe3+ 25. Kf1 Qc1+ {
leads to perpetual check.}) 24... Kd8 25. h4 $5 Kc8 26. Nf7 a5 27. Nd6+ Kb8 28.
Nb5+ $6 (28. Nc4+ Qc7 29. Nb6 $1 {wins at once (Soltis).}) 28... Kb7 29. Nd6+
Kb8 30. Qe7 $6 Qc7 $6 (30... Bc8 {offers more resistance.}) 31. Qf8+ Ka7 32.
Nb5+ $1 Kb6 33. Qxa8 Kxb5 34. Bf1+ Kb4 35. Qf8+ c5 36. Qg7 c4 37. Kh2 Qc6 38.
Qc3+ Kb5 39. Qb3+ $1 {Marshall chased the hostile king all over the board.} 1-0

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.04.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lasker, Edward"]
[Black "Marshall, Frank"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D61"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1
Qa5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 $5 ({Usual is} 10. Be2 {
(Rubinstein - Teichmann, San Sebastian 1912).}) 10... h6 11. Bh4 c4 12. Bh7+ $5
({The alternative is} 12. Bf5 $1) 12... Nxh7 13. Bxe7 Re8 14. Bd6 Ndf6 15. O-O
Bg4 $1 {Marshall develops his pieces swiftly.} 16. Rde1 Re6 17. Bf4 Bxf3 18.
gxf3 Nh5 19. Qf5 $6 ({Preferable is} 19. Be5) 19... Nxf4 $1 20. exf4 {
White has to accept a triple pawn.} (20. Qxf4 $2 Rf6 21. Qe5 Ng5 $1 {
wins for Black.}) 20... Rae8 21. Re5 (21. Nxd5 Qd8 $1 {(Marshall)} 22. Ne3 Qxd4
{favours Black.}) 21... Qb6 22. Rxd5 $2 (22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Qe5 Nf6 24. Rb1 {
defends stubbornly.}) 22... Rg6+ 23. Kh1 Qxb2 $1 {
He attacks on all fronts and threatens 24...Qxf2!} 24. Ne4 Qe2 $1 ({
Lasker hoped for} 24... Rxe4 $4 25. Rd8+ Nf8 26. Qc5 $1) 25. Qh3 Rxe4 $1 26. f5
Rh4 $1 27. Re5 Qd3 28. Re3 Rxh3 29. Rxd3 cxd3 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rd1 Rxf3 32.
Kg2 Rf5 33. Rxd3 Nf6 {Marshall had equalised the match. Lasker won the fifth
game due to a blunder of Marshall. When the sixth game was adjourned, Lasker
had a kidney attack. He spoiled a queen ending after the resumption. The match
was level, when they left Chicago.} 0-1

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.04.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game 8 was drawn in Milwaukee. They went for three games to Cleveland. The
ninth game ended in a draw.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3
Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. Bg5 O-O 9. O-O h6 $5 {
Lasker has a new idea in the Tarrasch. He delivers a temporary pawn sacrifice.}
10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. dxc5 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Be6 13. Nd4 $1 Qa5 14. e4 $1 Qxc5 (14...
dxe4 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rb1 {also favours White.}) 15. Nb3 $6 (15. Nxe6 fxe6 16.
exd5 Rad8 17. Rb1 $1 {takes an advantage.}) 15... Qxc3 16. Rc1 Qb4 $6 (16...
Qf6 $1 17. exd5 Rfd8 {equalises.}) 17. exd5 Rad8 18. Nc5 $1 Bg4 19. a3 $1 {
White achieves a better endgame.} Qxc5 20. Rxc5 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd6 22. Re1 Nd8
$5 (22... Nd4 $1 23. Rc7 a6 $5 24. Rxb7 Nc2 {is suggested by Lasker but} 25.
Rc1 $1 Nxa3 26. Rc6 {brings a white attack on the queenside.}) 23. Re7 Kh7 24.
Be4+ g6 25. Rcc7 Kg7 26. f4 h5 27. a4 Kf6 28. Kf2 Rb6 29. Red7 Rb2+ 30. Bc2 $2
Kg7 $2 (30... Nc6 $1 31. Rd6+ Kg7 32. Rxg6+ $1 Kh8 33. Rgxc6 bxc6 34. Rxc6 Rd8
{probably draws.}) 31. Ke3 $1 a5 32. Rd6 $1 Kg8 33. Kd2 b6 34. Rcd7 $1 {
White wins a piece.} Ne6 $5 35. dxe6 fxe6 36. Kc1 Rb4 37. Rxe6 Rc8 38. Rxg6+
Kf8 39. Rh6 Kg8 40. Kd1 {
Lasker failed to win game eleven. Marshall led when they left Cleveland.} 1-0

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.04.23"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 c5 5. e4 cxd4 $5 ({Known is} 5... e6) 6.
Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 e5 8. Ndb5 Na6 $6 ({The alternative will become} 8... Kd8 $1
9. Be3 Be6 10. Bxa7 Nbd7 {and Black has enough compensation for the pawn.}) 9.
Bxc4 Be7 $2 (9... Bc5 $1 {protects pawn a7.}) 10. Be3 Bd7 11. O-O $6 ({
Even better is the immediate} 11. Nxa7 $1 Bc5 12. Bxc5 Nxc5 13. Nab5) 11... O-O
12. Nxa7 Bc5 $1 13. Nab5 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Bxb5 $6 {
Lasker misses his last opportunity.} (14... Nb4 $1 15. Rf3 Rac8 16. Be2 Bxb5
17. Bxb5 Rfd8 {gives some counter-play.}) 15. Bxb5 Nc5 16. Rf5 Ng4 17. Re1 g6
18. Rf3 Kg7 19. Ref1 Nh6 20. Bc4 Rad8 21. Bd5 Nd3 22. h3 Rb8 23. g4 f6 24. b3
b5 25. g5 $1 fxg5 26. Rxf8 Rxf8 27. Rxf8 Kxf8 28. Nxb5 g4 29. h4 g3 30. Kg2 Ng4
31. Kxg3 Nxe3 32. Kf3 Nc2 33. Bc4 Nc5 34. a3 Ne1+ 35. Kf2 Nc2 36. Ke2 Ke7 37.
b4 Na6 38. Kd2 Nxa3 39. Nxa3 Nxb4 40. Bb5 $1 Kd6 41. Nc2 Nc6 42. Bxc6 Kxc6 43.
Ne3 Kd6 44. Ng4 Ke6 45. Kd3 Kd6 46. Nh6 Ke6 47. Kc4 Kf6 48. Kd5 g5 49. Ng4+ Kg6
50. Nxe5+ Kh5 51. hxg5 {
Marshall led by 7-5, when he left Detroit. Lasker escaped in Cincinnati.} 1-0

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.04.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{They played one game in Baltimore.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5.
e3 Nd7 6. Bd3 Bxd3 $5 (6... Bg6 {occurred in Em. Lasker - Mieses, Leipzig 1889.
}) 7. Qxd3 Ngf6 8. O-O Bd6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 12. Ng3 O-O
13. Nf5 Nd5 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Kh8 $1 16. Qg3 Rg8 {
Black protects his weakness firmly.} 17. b3 Qd7 18. Qf3 f6 19. e6 $2 {
The pawn sacrifice turns out to be a blunder.} Qxe6 20. Bb2 Rge8 21. Rae1 Qf7
22. Re4 Bf8 23. Rh4 Rad8 24. Qh3 Qg6 {Lasker defends accurately.} 25. Nd4 Re4
26. Ne6 Rxh4 27. Qxh4 Re8 28. Nxf8 Rxf8 29. Bd4 b6 30. Rc1 Re8 31. f3 Re2 32.
Bf2 Rxa2 $1 33. g3 ({The pointe is} 33. Rxc6 Ra1+ 34. Be1 Qe8 $1) 33... Qd3 34.
Qh3 h6 35. Qc8+ Kh7 36. Qxc6 Qxf3 37. Rf1 Qxb3 38. Qc1 Nc3 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3
Ne4 41. Qf4 Ra4 42. Rd1 Ng5+ 43. Kh4 Rxf4+ 44. gxf4 Qxd1 45. fxg5 Qf3 46. Bg3
h5 47. Kh3 Kg6 {Lasker trailed by one point.} 0-1

[Event "US cities"]
[Site "match"]
[Date "1923.05.05"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Marshall, Frank"]
[Black "Lasker, Edward"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C30"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1923.03.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Lasker survived in Washington. The last three game were played in Long Island.
} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Qxf3 Nd4 9. Qg3 Qe7 10. Kd1 c6 11. fxe5 $5 ({Known is} 11. Rf1 b5 12. Bb3 {
(Chigorin - Burn, Karlsbad 1907).}) 11... dxe5 12. Rf1 Rg8 13. Bg5 O-O-O 14.
Qh4 $2 ({Correct is} 14. a3) 14... b5 $1 15. Bb3 a5 $1 16. g4 $5 {
White has to lose a piece.} (16. a3 $6 Qd7 $1 17. Ba2 $2 Nxc2 18. Kxc2 Qxd3+ {
wins for Black.}) 16... a4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxf6 Qxf6 19. Rxf6 axb3 20. axb3
Rg7 21. Ne2 Be7 22. Rf1 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 Kb7 24. Rf5 f6 25. Raf1 Rf8 26. c3 Ra8
27. b4 Ra2 28. g5 Rxb2+ 29. Ke3 Bd8 $1 30. gxf6 Rg3+ 31. R1f3 Bb6+ 32. d4 exd4+
33. cxd4 Rb3+ 34. Ke2 Bxd4 $4 {Lasker makes a grave miscalculation.} (34...
Rgxf3 $1 35. Rxf3 ({or} 35. f7 Rxh3 $1 36. f8=Q Rh2+ 37. Rf2 Rb2+) 35... Rxf3
36. Kxf3 Bxd4 37. f7 Bg7 {decides the game.}) 35. Rxg3 Rxg3 36. f7 Bg7 37. f8=Q
Bxf8 38. Rxf8 Rxh3 39. e5 Kc7 40. Rf7+ Kd8 41. e6 Rh4 42. Rd7+ Ke8 43. Rc7 Rc4
44. Rxh7 $1 Rxb4 45. Kd3 {
The rook ending is drawn. Marshall demonstrates a great "Swindle".} Rc4 46. Rb7
Rc1 47. Ke4 Rc5 48. Rc7 b4 49. Rb7 Rh5 50. Kd4 c5+ 51. Kc4 Re5 52. Kb5 Kd8 53.
Kc6 Rxe6+ 54. Kxc5 {The final games became two dull draws. Marshall won the
match by 91/2-81/2. Lasker challenged him for a rematch. When Edward scored
poorly in New York 1924, the interest wavered. Marshall would defend his title
only once.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Simonson, Albert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C86"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Marshall and Kashdan tried to organise a match in 1934. A fund of $5000 was
needed. Only $900 became available during the economic crisis. Then Marshall
gave up his title and biannual championship tournaments could start.   The
first regular championship was New York, 25 iv - 16 v 1936. Eight players were
seeded. The other eight qualified in an event for 48 men. Favourites for the
title were Kashdan, Reshevsky and Fine.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nf4 11. Qe4
Nxe5 12. d4 Nh3+ $2 {The first new move is a blunder.} ({Theory will become} 
12... Bb7 13. Qxb7 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 Nxc1 15. Rxc1 Nd3) 13. gxh3 Ng6 ({Or} 13...
Bxh3 14. dxe5 Bxf1 15. Kxf1) 14. Qxa8 $1 {White eats all he can chew.} Bd6 15.
f4 Qh4 16. Qf3 Bxh3 17. Qg3 Qh5 18. Re1 Qf5 19. Bc2 Qxc2 20. Qxh3 Bxf4 21. Na3
Qa4 22. Bxf4 Nxf4 23. Qf3 {Kashdan had an easy start.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Adams, Weaver"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e4 Bc5 5. Be2 $5 ({Theory is} 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6.
d4) 5... d6 6. O-O Bg4 7. d3 O-O 8. Bg5 h6 9. Be3 Bb6 10. Kh1 Nh5 $6 11. Nd5 f5
$6 ({More solid is} 11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nf6) 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. d4 $5 exd4 14.
Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Nf6 17. Bf3 Kh8 18. Ne3 Bc8 $5 19. Rad1 Qe7
20. Rfe1 Qf7 $2 (20... Qe5 $1 {is needed.}) 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 $1 Qg6 ({
The pointe is} 22... Qxf2 $2 23. Re8 $1 Qf5 24. g4 $1 {(Hilbert and Lahde).})
23. Re7 c6 24. Bf3 Rf6 25. Rde1 Kh7 26. Bh5 $1 Qg5 27. h4 $6 {
The win becomes harder.} Qf4 $1 28. Qxf4 Rxf4 29. g3 $1 Rxc4 $5 (29... Rxf2 30.
Re8 $1 Rxb2 31. Bf7 h5 32. Bg8+ Kg6 33. Rf8 Rxa2 34. Bf7+ Kh7 35. Ree8 {
also wins for White.}) 30. Re8 $1 b6 31. Bf7 Rg4 32. h5 Bb7 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34.
Re8 $1 {The young Fine won in his solid way.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E23"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Ne4 {
They play a fashionable opening.} 7. Bd2 Nxd2 8. Nxd2 f5 9. e3 Bxc5 10. O-O-O
O-O 11. Nf3 b6 $1 {Black has gained an edge in the opening.} (11... a6 {
occurred in Rosselli - Duchamp, Nice 1931.}) 12. Be2 Qe7 13. Rd2 $5 Bb7 14.
Rhd1 Rfd8 15. a3 Rac8 16. Kb1 Qe8 17. Nb5 Na5 18. Qa2 $5 a6 19. Nd6 $2 {
This blunder costs an exchange.} ({Correct is} 19. Nc3) 19... Bxd6 20. Rxd6
Be4+ 21. Ka1 Bc2 $1 {Black threatens ..Nb3+.} 22. b4 Bxd1 23. Rxd1 Nc6 24. Rd6
Qe7 25. Qd2 Rc7 26. Bd1 Rb8 27. Kb1 a5 28. b5 Nd8 29. Ne5 Nf7 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31.
Ka2 Ke8 32. Be2 Kd8 33. a4 Rc5 34. f4 Kc7 $1 35. Rd4 e5 36. fxe5 Rxe5 37. Bf3
Re8 $1 {He has developed all pieces.} 38. h3 Rxe3 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Rxd7+ Kc8 41.
Bd1 Qa3+ 42. Kb1 Qb4+ 43. Qxb4 axb4 44. Rd6 R8e6 45. Rd5 g6 46. Kb2 Kc7 47. Rd4
R3e4 48. Rd2 Rd6 49. Rc2+ Kd8 50. Bf3 Red4 51. Kb3 g5 52. Bc6 Rd3+ 53. Kxb4
R6d4+ 54. Rc4 g4 55. hxg4 fxg4 56. Be4 Rxc4+ 57. Kxc4 Rd2 58. g3 h5 59. Bg6 h4
60. gxh4 g3 {Kashdan won his fourth game in a row.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Ng3 h5 6. Qd3 h4 $5 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8.
Qxe4 Nd7 9. Bg5 $6 Qb6 $1 10. O-O-O Qa5 $1 {Black gains a pawn.} 11. Nf3 Qxa2
12. Bd3 $5 Qa1+ 13. Kd2 Qa5+ $6 {He should have captured a second pawn.} 14. c3
h3 15. Rhe1 $5 Nf6 16. Qf4 Nd5 17. Qg3 hxg2 18. h4 g1=Q 19. Qxg1 b5 20. Ra1 Qb6
21. Ne5 {White has sufficient compensation for the pawn.} b4 22. Rac1 bxc3+ 23.
bxc3 e6 24. Qg4 Bd6 25. h5 Bxe5 $6 26. Rxe5 Rb8 27. Bh4 Kf8 $1 28. Qg3 $1 f6 $4
{Reshevsky collapses.} ({Correct is} 28... Qa5 $1 29. Rxd5 $5 Rb2+ 30. Ke3 $5
Qxd5 31. Rg1 Ke8 32. Qc7 Qd7 33. Qe5 Qd5 34. Qc7 {and a repetition of moves.})
29. Rxd5 $1 e5 ({The pointe is} 29... cxd5 30. Rb1 Qxb1 31. Bxb1 Rxb1 32. Qc7
$1) 30. Rxe5 $1 Ba6 ({Or} 30... fxe5 31. Qf3+ Ke8 32. Bg6+ Kd7 33. Qf7+ Kd6 34.
Qe7+ Kd5 35. c4+ Kxd4 36. Qd6#) 31. Rb1 Qd8 32. Rxb8 Qxb8 33. Rc5 Qb2+ 34. Bc2
{Reshevsky lost in the third and fourth round, so he made a poor start.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. dxc5 d4 10. Na4 Bf5 11. Ne1 Be4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qc2 $5 ({Known is} 13.
Nd3) 13... Qd5 14. Nd3 Rac8 15. f3 Ng5 16. Qb3 Qd7 $1 17. Bd2 Rfe8 18. Rae1 Bf6
19. Nf4 Rcd8 20. Kh1 Be5 21. Nh5 $5 Nh3 22. f4 $6 Bc7 $6 (22... d3 $1 23. e4
Bd4 {gains a plus.}) 23. Qf3 Ba5 24. Rd1 Qf5 25. g4 $5 Qc2 $1 26. Qxh3 Qxa4 27.
f5 $6 Rxe2 28. Bg5 $5 Rde8 $2 {The tables turn by a tactical trick.} (28... Bc7
$1 29. Bxd8 Rxh2+ 30. Qxh2 Bxh2 31. Kxh2 Nxd8 {favours Black.}) 29. Nxg7 $1
R8e3 ({The pointe is} 29... Kxg7 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. Bf6) 30. Bxe3 Rxe3 31. Qh6 $6
(31. Qh4 $1 Kxg7 32. f6+ Kf8 33. Qxh7 {wins quickly.}) 31... Bc7 $2 (31... Qc2
$1 32. Rxd4 $1 Nxd4 33. Qxe3 Bc7 $1 34. Qg1 Qe4+ 35. Qg2 Qxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Kxg7 {
defends well.}) 32. Nh5 Be5 33. f6 {Reshevsky achieved a score of 50%.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Treysman, George"]
[Black "Simonson, Albert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 h5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nd5 $5 (6. Nh3 Bc5 7. Nd5
{happened in Alekhine - Euwe, Amsterdam 1921.}) 6... Bc5 7. Nh3 Ncxe5 8. f3 $2
{White fails in the Budapester.} ({Better is} 8. b4 $1 Bf8 9. a3) 8... c6 $1 9.
fxg4 $2 (9. Nc3 $1 Ne3 10. Bxe3 Bxe3 11. Qd6 {defends properly.}) 9... cxd5 10.
gxh5 $2 {A disaster follows.} Qh4+ $1 11. g3 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Qxe2+ $6 (12... Bb4+
$1 13. Bd2 Nf3+ 14. Kd1 Nxd2 {wins quickly.}) 13. Bxe2 dxc4 {
He will need time in the endgame.} 14. Bf4 d6 15. Nf2 b5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Bf3
Rb8 18. Ne4 Bb4+ 19. Kf2 f5 20. Ng5 e4 21. Be2 Ke7 22. Nh3 Bb7 23. Rhd1 Rhd8
24. Nf4 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8 Kxd8 27. Ne6+ Ke7 28. Nxg7 Kf6 29. h6 Bc5+
30. Ke1 Kg6 31. Ne6 Bb6 32. Bh5+ Kxh6 33. Be8 b4 34. Bb5 Bd5 35. Nf4 Bf7 36. h4
c3 37. bxc3 bxc3 38. Kd1 Bf2 39. Ne2 Bh5 40. Kc2 Bxe2 41. Bxe2 Bxg3 42. Kxc3
Bxh4 43. Kd4 Kg5 44. Ke3 Bg3 45. Bd1 Be5 46. Ba4 Kf6 47. Bb5 Bb2 48. Kf4 Bc1+
49. Kg3 Ke5 50. Bc6 f4+ 51. Kg4 f3 52. Kg3 Kd4 53. Kf2 Bf4 54. a4 Ke5 55. Bb7
Bh2 56. Ke3 Bg1+ 57. Kd2 Kf4 58. Ke1 Bb6 59. Ba6 Ba5+ 60. Kf1 e3 61. Bb5 Ke5 {
Simonson participated in the US Olympiad team.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Factor, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B29"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 e6 6. Bd3 $5 ({Theory is} 6.
Bc4) 6... Nc6 7. Qe4 Ncb4 8. O-O Nxd3 9. Qxd3 Be7 10. Nbd2 Qc7 11. c4 Nf4 12.
Qe4 Ng6 13. Re1 Rb8 14. Qd4 Bc5 15. Qd3 b6 16. Ne4 Bb7 17. Nxc5 Qxc5 18. b4 $5
Qc7 (18... Qxb4 $5 19. Rb1 Qa4 20. Ba3 $1 {
brings a positional advantage for White.}) 19. Nd4 a6 20. Bd2 Rc8 21. Rac1 Nxe5
22. Qc3 $2 (22. Qg3 $1 Ng6 23. Nf5 $1 Qxg3 24. hxg3 O-O 25. Nd6 Rb8 26. a4 {
leads to about equal chances.}) 22... f6 $1 23. Bf4 $2 O-O $2 {
Black could have captured pawn c4.} 24. Qg3 Qd6 $1 25. Rxe5 $5 Qxd4 $5 26. Ree1
Rf7 $6 (26... e5 $1 27. Bh6 Rf7 {keeps an edge.}) 27. Be3 Qb2 28. Qd6 Qxa2 29.
Qxb6 Be4 30. b5 $6 (30. Bc5 $1 Bc6 31. f3 {
hinders the development of the black position.}) 30... axb5 31. cxb5 Rxc1 32.
Rxc1 Rf8 33. Qc7 Qd5 34. f3 Bd3 35. b6 Ba6 36. Ra1 Rc8 $1 37. Qf4 Bb7 38. Qd4
Qxd4 39. Bxd4 Kf7 40. Ra7 Rc1+ 41. Kf2 Bc6 42. Ke3 e5 43. Kd2 Rb1 44. Be3 Ke6
45. Rc7 g5 46. Rc8 g4 $5 47. fxg4 Bxg2 48. h4 Bf3 49. Rc4 f5 50. gxf5+ Kxf5 51.
Rc5 $6 h5 $6 (51... d5 $1 {occupies the centre.}) 52. Rc1 $6 Rxc1 53. Kxc1 Bb7
$1 {
Black will triumph in the centre, despite the bishops of a different colour.}
54. Kd2 d5 $1 55. Bh6 d4 56. Bg7 Ke4 57. Ke2 Kd5 $1 58. Kf3 e4+ 59. Ke2 Ba6+
60. Kf2 Kc4 61. Bf6 Kd3 62. Ke1 e3 63. Kd1 Ke4 64. Kc2 d3+ 65. Kc3 d2 66. Kc2
Be2 {Kashdan had scored 5/6.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hanauer, Milton"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Ne5 9. e3 O-O $5 10. Be2 Ng6 11. Bg3 $5 Ne4 12. Qc2 Re8 13. O-O d6 14.
Rab1 c5 15. Nf3 b6 16. Nd2 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Bb7 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qf6 20. Rbd1
Qe6 21. Rd2 Red8 22. Rfd1 Rac8 23. Qd3 $5 Rc7 24. Qd5 Qf6 25. Rd3 Ne7 26. Qh5
$5 Qe6 27. g4 f6 28. Qh2 $6 ({Correct is} 28. Nd2 $1) 28... Rcd7 29. Qg3 Nc6
30. Rd5 Na5 31. Qf4 g5 $1 {Black has the initiative.} 32. Qh2 Kg7 33. Nd2 Nc6
34. Nf1 Ne7 35. R5d3 d5 36. cxd5 Nxd5 37. Ng3 Ne7 38. Nh5+ Kf7 39. Rxd7 Rxd7
40. Rxd7 Qxd7 41. Qg3 Qd5 42. a3 Qe5 $6 43. Qxe5 fxe5 {
The exchange of queens has decreased the black advantage.} 44. e4 $2 (44. Ng3
$1 Ke6 45. Kf1 Kd5 46. Nf5 Ng8 47. Ke2 Kc4 48. Kd2 Kb3 $1 49. Nd6 {
defends well in the knight ending.}) 44... Nc8 45. f3 Nd6 46. Kf2 ({Or} 46. a4
a5) 46... Nb5 47. Ke3 Nxa3 48. Ng3 c4 49. Kd2 a5 50. Nf5 Ke6 51. Kc1 b5 $1 52.
Nxh6 b4 $1 53. Nf5 Kd7 54. Kb2 Kc6 55. Ng7 Nb5 56. cxb4 axb4 57. Ne6 Nd4 58.
Nxg5 c3+ 59. Kb1 b3 60. Nf7 c2+ 61. Kb2 Ne2 62. Nxe5+ Kb5 63. Nd3 Kc4 64. Ne5+
Kd4 65. Nc6+ Ke3 {Reshevsky kept on winning.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E23"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. dxc5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7. e3 O-O 8.
Be2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. a3 $5 (10. Rd1 {
was played in Grünfeld - Sämisch, Wien 1922.}) 10... Qe7 11. Rd1 Rfd8 12. Bd2
d5 $1 {Black liberates his position.} 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Be1 $2 ({Better is} 14.
Na4 $1 Ne4 $5 15. Nxc5 bxc5) 14... d4 $1 15. exd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 {
Black has the initiative.} 17. Bf1 Qe5 18. h3 h5 19. Rd2 Bc5 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.
Rd1 Rxd1 22. Qxd1 Bd6 23. g3 Bc5 $1 24. Kh2 $1 h4 $1 25. Qd8+ Ne8 26. Qd2 Nd6
$5 27. f4 hxg3+ 28. Bxg3 Qe3 $6 {He should have continued the attack.} 29. Qxe3
Bxe3 30. a4 Bc1 31. b3 Bd2 32. Nb5 Nxb5 33. Bxb5 g6 34. Kg1 $6 (34. Bc4 $1 Kg7
35. Kg1 Kf6 {(Fine)} 36. Bh4+ {comes close to a draw.}) 34... Bd5 35. Bc4 Bxc4
36. bxc4 {White has four weak pawns in the bishop ending.} Kg7 37. Kf2 $6 ({
Preferable is} 37. f5 $1 gxf5 38. Bb8 Be3+ 39. Kg2) 37... Kf6 $1 38. Ke2 Bc1
39. Kd1 $2 ({Fine advices} 39. Kf3) 39... Ba3 $1 40. Ke2 Kf5 41. Kf3 Bd6 $1 {
Black achieves zugzwang.} 42. Bh2 ({Or} 42. h4 f6 43. Bh2 g5) 42... g5 $1 43.
Bg1 Bxf4 {He has gained a pawn.} 44. c5 bxc5 45. Bxc5 a6 46. Bb6 Bd6 47. Bd8
Be5 48. Ba5 Bf6 49. Bb6 Be7 50. Ba5 Ke6 51. Kg4 f5+ 52. Kf3 Kd5 53. Bc7 Kc5 54.
Ba5 Kc4 55. Bc7 Kb4 56. a5 Kc5 $1 57. Bb6+ Kc6 58. Be3 Bd8 59. Bd2 Kb5 60. Kf2
f4 61. Bc3 Kc4 62. Bd2 Be7 $1 {Fine threatens ..Bb4.} 63. h4 gxh4 64. Bxf4 Bd8
65. Bd2 Kb5 66. Kg2 Bxa5 $1 67. Bg5 Bb6 68. Bxh4 a5 {Black wins by one tempo.}
69. Kf3 a4 70. Ke2 a3 71. Bf6 Kc4 72. Kd2 Kb3 73. Kc1 a2 {
The black bishop moves through c5 and a3 to b2. It was a 'fine' bishop ending.}
0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Qd2 Bxd4 8.
cxd4 d5 9. Nc3 dxe4 10. d5 Ne5 $5 (10... Nb8 {
was played in Paulsen - Schottlaender, Nürnberg 1883.}) 11. Nb5 $1 {
White gains a plus.} O-O $1 12. Nxc7 Rb8 $5 (12... Bf5 13. Nxa8 Rxa8 14. Rd1
Nd3+ 15. Bxd3 exd3 {also brings compensation for the exchange.}) 13. Bxa7 Bg4
14. Bxb8 Rxb8 15. Nb5 $2 ({Preferable is} 15. Rc1 N7g6 16. Rc3 Nf4 17. Qe3
Ned3+ 18. Kd2 Nxb2 19. Qxe4) 15... N7g6 $1 16. Rc1 Nf4 {Black attacks.} 17. Rc3
Ned3+ 18. Bxd3 exd3 $1 19. O-O $4 (19. f3 Nxg2+ $1 20. Kd1 Qxf3+ 21. Kc1 Nf4 {
brings a great advantage (Reshevsky).}) 19... Qg5 $1 20. h4 Nh3+ $1 21. gxh3
Qxd2 22. hxg4 Qe2 23. Rc4 d2 24. Rd4 Qxb5 25. Rd1 Re8 26. R4xd2 Re4 27. f3 Re2
28. Rc1 h5 29. Rcc2 Qb6+ {
Kashdan was eliminated in the race for the first place.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Treysman, George"]
[Black "Hanauer, Milton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{George Treysman was an excellent coffeehouse player.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3.
c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ c6 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 $5 ({Known is} 6. Nc3) 6... Nbd7 7. Bg2 h6
8. O-O e6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Qd1 $6 O-O 12. Nc4 Qa6 13. Nfd2 c5 {
Black has a superior development.} 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16. e4 Bg6 17. d5
exd5 18. exd5 Bd3 19. Re1 c4 20. Qc3 Rfe8 21. Nf1 Bd6 $2 (21... Qb5 $1 {
keeps an advantage.}) 22. Bxh6 $1 {The coffeehouse player grabs his chance.}
Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Qxa2 24. Bd2 Qa5 $6 25. Qc1 $6 (25. Qxd3 $1 cxd3 26. Bxa5 Rxa5
27. Ne3 {equalises.}) 25... Qc5 26. Be3 Qc7 27. Bd4 Re8 $2 ({Correct is} 27...
Bb4 28. Bc3 Qd6 29. Bxb4 Qxb4) 28. Rxe8+ Nxe8 29. Qe3 $1 Qe7 30. Bxb6 Qxe3 31.
Nxe3 Be5 32. Bf1 Nd6 33. Bc7 $1 b5 $6 34. Ng4 $1 Bxb2 35. Bxd6 Be4 36. Ne3 Bd4
37. Bg2 Bd3 38. Bb4 c3 39. d6 c2 40. Bd2 b4 41. d7 Bb6 42. Bd5 Kh7 43. Bb3 Bxe3
44. Bxe3 {Treysman competed well.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Simonson, Albert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 a6 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 c6 10. O-O-O Re8 11. Kb1 $5 ({The aggressive alternative is} 11.
g4) 11... Nf8 12. Ka1 $5 Be6 13. h3 Qa5 14. Bf4 $6 {Fine makes passive moves.}
Rac8 15. Nd2 b5 $1 16. g4 $1 {At last.} N6d7 17. Nb3 Qd8 18. Ne2 a5 19. Nc5
Nxc5 20. dxc5 a4 21. Nd4 Qa5 22. Rc1 b4 23. Rhd1 Qa7 $1 24. Qd2 $2 {
White gives away a pawn.} ({Correct is} 24. Bd6 {(Woodger).}) 24... Bxc5 $1 25.
Kb1 Kh8 26. Be2 Bd7 27. Ba6 Rcd8 28. Bf1 Ne6 29. Bh2 Ng5 30. Qc2 Bxd4 31. exd4
b3 $1 32. Qd3 ({The pointe is} 32. axb3 Nf3 $1 33. Be5 Nxe5 34. dxe5 axb3 35.
Qxb3 Ra8 {and Black wins.}) 32... Ne4 33. Qa6 Qxa6 34. Bxa6 Nxf2 35. Rf1 Nxh3
36. Rxf7 Ng5 37. Rff1 Bxg4 38. Bc7 Rd7 39. Rxc6 Nf3 40. Rd1 Nxd4 $1 41. Rxd4
Re1+ 42. Rc1 Rxc1+ {A rare defeat by Fine had occurred.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.09"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Treysman, George"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Be2 Ne4 $5 ({Known is} 5... Bb7) 6.
Qc2 Nxc3 $6 7. bxc3 Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 {Both sides have lost one tempo.} h6
10. Be4 c6 11. O-O Ba6 12. Bh7+ Kh8 13. Bd3 c5 14. Rd1 cxd4 $5 15. cxd4 Nc6 16.
Bd2 Bb7 17. Rab1 d6 18. Bc3 Rc8 19. Qe2 Nb8 20. Nd2 Nd7 21. f4 f5 22. e4 $6
fxe4 23. Bxe4 d5 $1 24. Bf3 Rxf4 25. Qxe6 Nf8 26. Qe1 $5 Qd7 27. g3 Rf6 28. Qe2
dxc4 {Black has gained a pawn.} 29. d5 Rf7 30. Ne4 Bc5+ $6 (30... Bxd5 31. Nd6
Bxd6 32. Bxd5 Rf5 {achieves an advantage.}) 31. Nxc5 Rxc5 32. Bg4 Qc7 33. Be5
Qe7 34. Be6 Nxe6 $2 ({Better is} 34... Nd7 $5 35. d6 Qe8 36. Bxf7 Qxf7 37. Rf1
Qd5 38. Bxg7+ Kh7 39. Bb2 Qh1+ {and great complications.}) 35. dxe6 Rf5 $5 ({
The pointe is} 35... Qxe6 $2 36. Bxg7+ $1) 36. Rd7 $2 (36. Bxg7+ $1 Kxg7 37.
Rd7 {wins for White.}) 36... Rcxe5 37. Qxe5 Rxe5 38. Rxe7 Bd5 39. Rxa7 Rxe6 40.
Rb2 Rc6 {White has a fine endgame.} 41. Ra3 Be4 42. Rc3 Bd3 43. Kf2 Re6 44. Rc1
Kg8 45. a3 Kf7 46. Re1 Rc6 47. Ke3 Bf5 $6 (47... Re6+ 48. Kd2 $5 c3+ $1 49.
Kxc3 Rxe1 50. Kxd3 Ra1 {escapes from a difficult position.}) 48. Kd4 c3 49. Rf2
Kg6 50. g4 $1 Bxg4 51. Rc1 Rd6+ 52. Kxc3 Kg5 53. Rg1 Kh4 54. Rf4 h5 55. Rg3 Rd1
56. Rf2 g5 57. Rd3 Rc1+ 58. Kb2 Rc6 59. Rd4 Kh3 60. Rd5 Kh4 61. Rd4 Kh3 62. a4
Be6 $2 {Kashdan allows a mate attack.} 63. Rf3+ $1 Kg2 ({Or} 63... Kxh2 64.
Rd2+ Kg1 65. Ra3 $1 Bc4 66. Rg3+ $1 Kf1 67. Rc3 $1) 64. Ra3 $1 Bc4 65. Rd2+ Kg1
66. Rc3 Rc5 67. Rdc2 Be6 68. Rg3+ Kh1 69. Rxc5 bxc5 70. Rxg5 h4 71. a5 Kxh2 72.
a6 Bc8 73. a7 Bb7 74. Kc3 h3 75. Kd2 c4 76. Ke3 c3 77. Kf2 c2 78. Rc5 Be4 79.
Rxc2 Bxc2 80. a8=Q Be4 81. Qa1 {White avoids stalemate.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.10"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Simonson, Albert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 a6 7. a3 $5 {
White postpones the development of his king's bishop.} dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3
c5 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 Qb6 13. Bb1 Rfe8 14. Ne5 Nf8 15. f4 cxd4
16. exd4 $5 (16. Rxd4 Rad8 {leads to exchanges.}) 16... Rad8 17. f5 $2 (17. Qe3
Ng6 18. Kh1 {prepares an attack.}) 17... exf5 $2 (17... Rxd4 $1 18. Be3 $2 Bc5
$1 19. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20. Kh1 exf5 {wins for Black.}) 18. Bxf5 $2 (18. Ba2 $1 Ne6
19. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 20. Rxf5 {brings a great battle.}) 18... Rxd4 $1 19. Kh1 Rxd1
20. Qxd1 Ng6 $2 ({Better is} 20... Bd8 $1) 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Qb3 $1 Rf8 $2 23.
Nxg6 $1 Re8 24. Ne5 Qe6 $1 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Rd1 Ng4 27. Nxg4 Bxg5 28. Nf2 Bf6
29. Rd7 Re7 30. Rxe7 Bxe7 {Black has two bishops in the ending.} 31. Nce4 Kf7
32. Kg1 e5 33. Kf1 Ke6 34. Nc3 $2 (34. Ke2 $1 a5 35. Ke3 {
supports the blockade in the centre.}) 34... Bc5 35. Nfe4 Bd4 36. Ng5+ Kd6 37.
g4 Bxc3 38. bxc3 Kd5 39. Ke2 Kc4 40. Kd2 Bd5 $1 41. Kc2 e4 42. h4 e3 43. h5 a5
44. Nh3 Be6 45. Nf4 Bxg4 46. Ng2 Bf5+ 47. Kb2 Kd3 48. a4 bxa4 {
White failed to use his king as a defender in the endgame.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.10"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Treysman, George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Be7 7. Qc2 c6 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Nf3 Re8 10. h3 Nf8 11. Bf4 Bd6 $5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O Be6 14. Rfb1
$5 {He takes the initiative on the queenside.} Re7 $5 15. b4 Rc7 16. Qd2 Qe7
17. Qc2 Ne8 18. a4 Nd6 {Black does not counter on the kingside.} 19. Rc1 Rac8
20. Qb2 {White does not hurry either.} Ng6 21. b5 $1 {
The minority attack functions.} Qf6 $2 (21... c5 $1 22. dxc5 Rxc5 {
almost equalises.}) 22. bxc6 bxc6 {Reshevsky has gotten a target.} (22... Rxc6
$5 23. Nb5 $1 Rxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Nxb5 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Qxb5 Qd8 {
also brings a hard defence.}) 23. Ba6 $1 Rd8 24. Nb5 $1 Nxb5 25. axb5 Rb8 $2 (
25... c5 $1 26. b6 Rb8 $1 27. bxa7 Rxb2 28. a8=Q+ Nf8 29. Rxc5 Rxc5 30. dxc5
Rc2 {fights for the last chance.}) 26. Qa3 Bf5 27. Rc5 Qd6 28. Qa5 Be6 29. Rac1
$1 {Pawn c6 is going to fall.} Rb6 30. bxc6 Rbxc6 ({Or} 30... Rcxc6 31. Bd3 a6
32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Rxc6 Rxc6 34. Rxc6 Qxc6 35. Qd8+ Kh7 36. Ng5+ Kh6 37. Nxf7+
$1 Bxf7 38. Qh4#) 31. Bb7 Rxc5 32. dxc5 Qe7 33. c6 $1 Bc8 34. Bxc8 Rxc8 35.
Qxd5 Qe6 36. Qc5 Rc7 37. Nd4 Qe7 38. Nb5 $1 {Sammy defeated a main competitor.}
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.13"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kevitz, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 d5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Re1 Qc7 10. Qe2 b6 $5 (10... Re8 {
was played in Colle - Schubert, Scarborough 1928.}) 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. f4 Rfe8 13.
g4 $1 Nf8 $5 14. g5 N6d7 15. Nf1 $5 (15. Qh5 $1 f5 16. Ndf3 {charges.}) 15...
Re7 16. Ng3 f6 17. gxf6 gxf6 $2 ({Correct is} 17... Nxf6) 18. Nxd7 Rxd7 19. Nh5
$1 {He attacks the open kingside.} Rf7 20. f5 $1 exf5 21. Bxf5 Kh8 22. Bh6 $1
Bc8 23. Rf1 Qe7 24. Qxe7 $5 (24. Qf3 {continues the offensive.}) 24... Bxe7 25.
Bxc8 Rxc8 26. Rf5 $1 Rd8 27. Nf4 Ng6 28. Nxd5 {White has gained a pawn.} Nh4
29. Nxe7 Rxe7 30. Rf4 Ng6 31. Rxf6 Rg8 32. Kf1 Re4 33. Rf2 Nh4 34. Bf4 h5 35.
Bg3 Reg4 36. Re1 Ng6 37. Rf3 h4 38. Bf2 Kh7 39. h3 Rf4 40. Re7+ Kh8 41. Rxf4
Nxf4 42. Re3 Rf8 43. Rf3 Kg7 44. Be3 {Reshevsky had scored 91/2/10 after a
poor start. The top became at the end of the penultimate round: Reshevsky and
Simonson 11/14, Treysman 101/2, Fine 91/2.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.16"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Simonson, Albert"]
[Black "Factor, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A27"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Simonson wants to win at all costs.} 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 f5 4. d4 e4 5.
Nd2 Bb4 6. e3 Nf6 7. f3 $6 {Simonson makes a premature advance.} (7. Be2 {
happened in Maroczy - Taubenhaus, Ostend 1905.}) 7... O-O 8. fxe4 $5 Nxe4 9.
Ndxe4 fxe4 10. Bd2 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 d6 12. Qc2 $6 (12. Qh5 $1 Rf5 13. Qe2 Bd7 14.
O-O-O {consolidates.}) 12... Bg4 $1 13. Qxe4 Qh4+ 14. g3 Qh5 15. Qd5+ Qxd5 16.
cxd5 Bf3 17. Rg1 Bxd5 18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Rxg2 Rae8 {
Black has gained a positional advantage.} 20. Re2 $5 d5 $1 21. Kd2 Re4 $1 {
He blockades the centre.} 22. a4 a5 23. Ra3 $6 {
White starts a doubtful manoeuvre.} b6 24. Rb3 Rf5 25. Kd3 Kf7 26. Be1 $2 {
He should have played another waiting move.} Nxd4 $1 {
Factor conquers an exchange.} 27. Rc3 Nxe2 28. Rxc7+ Re7 29. Rxe7+ Kxe7 30.
Kxe2 Kd6 31. Bc3 g6 32. Bd4 Kc6 33. g4 Rf7 34. b3 h5 35. h3 Rb7 36. Kf3 Rf7+
37. Kg3 hxg4 38. Kxg4 Rf5 39. h4 b5 40. Bc3 b4 41. Bd4 Rh5 42. Bf6 d4 $5 43. e4
$5 d3 44. Kf3 Rh7 45. Ke3 Rd7 46. Kd2 Kc5 47. e5 Rd5 48. e6 Kd6 49. e7 Kd7 50.
Bg5 Ke8 51. Bf6 Rf5 52. Bg5 Rf3 53. Be3 Kxe7 54. Bb6 Kd6 55. Bxa5 Kc5 56. Bd8
Kd4 57. Bb6+ Ke4 58. a5 Rh3 59. a6 Rxh4 60. Bg1 Rg4 {Reshevsky had a winning
position against Kupchik, but offered a draw. He had become the champion.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 1"]
[Date "1936.05.16"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Treysman, George"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C86"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1936.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Treysman and Fine battle for third place.} 1. e4 Nc6 $5 2. Nf3 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. d3 $5 {
Usually, White accepts the pawn sacrifice.} Bf6 11. Ng5 Nf4 12. Bxf4 exf4 $6 (
12... Bxg5 13. Bxe5 Nxe5 14. Qxe5 Re8 {about equalises.}) 13. Nxh7 $1 Kxh7 14.
Qe4+ g6 15. Qxc6 {White has gained a pawn.} Rb8 16. Qd5 $6 {
Exchange helps Black.} (16. Qf3 $1 c5 $1 17. Rd1 {achieves an advantage.})
16... Qxd5 17. Bxd5 Rd8 $1 {Black has sufficient compensation.} 18. Be4 $1 c5
19. Nd2 Bg7 20. Nb3 f5 21. Bf3 c4 $1 22. dxc4 bxc4 23. Na5 Rxb2 24. Nxc4 Rc2
25. Rfc1 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. Rc1 Bg7 {Fine has recovered the pawn.} 28. Kf1
Be6 $1 29. Bb7 a5 30. a4 Rd4 31. Ba6 Bf8 32. Bb5 Bb4 33. Ne5 Kg7 34. h4 Kf6 35.
Nf3 Rd6 36. Ng5 Bb3 37. Nf3 Rd1+ 38. Rxd1 Bxd1 {
The two bishops restrict in the ending.} 39. Bc6 Bc3 40. Be8 Ke7 $1 41. Bb5 $1
(41. Bxg6 Bxa4 42. Bxf5 Bb5+ 43. Kg1 a4 {favours Black.}) 41... Kd6 42. Ne1 Bf6
43. Nd3 f3 $1 44. gxf3 $6 ({Preferable is} 44. g3 $1 Be2+ 45. Kg1 g5 46. hxg5
Bxg5 47. Ba6) 44... Bxh4 45. Nb2 $5 Bxf3 46. Nc4+ Kc5 47. Nxa5 $4 ({Right is} 
47. Ne5 $1 Bh5 ({or} 47... Be4 $5 48. Nxg6 Bf6 49. Ke2 {(Woodger)}) 48. Nd3+
Kd6 49. Nf4 Bf3 50. Nxg6 {and White awaits a hard defence.}) 47... Bd5 $1 48.
Ba6 Bd8 49. Nb7+ Kb6 {Black will win a piece in a few moves.   The final
standings became: Reshevsky 111/2/15 ($600), Simonson 11 ($400), Fine and
Treysman 101/2 ($200), Kashdan 10 ($100), Kupchik and Dake 9, Kevitz 71/2,
Horowitz 7, Factor 61/2, Steiner and Denker 6, Bernstein 5, Hanauer 41/2,
Morton and Adams 3.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kupchik, Abraham"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D75"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Seven qualifiers and ten seeded players competed at the RCA Building in New
York from 2 until 24 iv 1938. We follow Fine and Reshevsky.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6
3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c5 $5 {
Fine delivers a novelty in the Grünfeld.} 8. dxc5 Na6 9. c6 $5 bxc6 10. a3 Rb8
11. Qc2 $5 ({Fine prefers} 11. e4 $1) 11... Qa5 $1 12. Nbd2 ({Not} 12. Qxc6 $2
Nab4 13. Qc4 Ba6 14. Qe4 Nf6 $1 15. Qe5 Qxe5 16. Nxe5 Nc2 17. Ra2 Bxe2 18. Nc6
Bc4 $1 {and Black gains material.}) 12... Qc5 13. Qd3 $5 Nac7 $1 14. Ne4 Qb5
15. Qc2 $5 Ba6 16. Re1 Ne6 17. Bf1 Qc4 18. Qxc4 Bxc4 19. Ned2 Bb5 20. Ra2 $5 a5
{Black has the initiative on the queenside.} 21. b3 $6 ({Preferable is} 21. e4
$1 Nb6 22. b3) 21... a4 $1 22. b4 c5 23. bxc5 Rfc8 24. Bb2 Nxc5 25. Bxg7 Kxg7
26. Rc2 $6 ({Fine suggests} 26. Rb2 $1) 26... Nb3 $1 27. Rb2 $6 (27. Rxc8 Rxc8
28. e4 $1 Nc3 29. e5 Bxf1 30. Kxf1 {defends more actively.}) 27... Be8 28. e3
Nc3 29. Nd4 $5 Nxd2 30. Rxd2 e5 31. Nf3 f6 32. Rc2 Nb5 33. Ra2 Rc3 34. Bxb5
Rxb5 35. Nd2 Bc6 36. Nb1 Rcb3 37. Ra1 $6 (37. Nd2 $5 Rb2 38. Rxb2 Rxb2 39. Rc1
Bd5 {leads to a black advantage.}) 37... Rc5 38. Ra2 Bd5 39. Ra1 Rc2 40. Rd1
Be6 41. Nd2 Rbb2 42. Ne4 Bf5 43. Nd6 Rxf2 44. Nxf5+ gxf5 45. Rab1 Rg2+ 46. Kf1
Rbf2+ 47. Ke1 Ra2 48. Kf1 Rxh2 49. Kg1 Rhc2 {Fine pushed Kupchik off the board.
} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Treysman, George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. Qc2 Ne4 8. O-O
$1 {White gains an edge.} Nxd2 9. Nbxd2 c6 10. e4 $1 {He grabs the initiative.}
Bxd2 $6 (10... Ba5 11. e5 Bc7 {keeps the strong bishop.}) 11. Nxd2 dxe4 12.
Nxe4 Nd7 {Black has a problem in development on the queenside.} 13. c5 $1 e5 $5
14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Rfe1 Ng6 $6 ({Preferable is} 15... Ng4 $5 16. Nd6 Be6 17. f4
Qc7) 16. Nd6 $1 Qc7 17. f4 Bd7 18. f5 $1 Nh8 {A knight has to move offside.}
19. Re7 b6 20. b4 bxc5 21. Qxc5 Rad8 22. b5 Qb8 $1 23. a4 $1 {
The restriction increases.} cxb5 24. axb5 Bc8 25. Rc7 Qb6 26. Qxb6 axb6 27. Rc6
g6 28. g4 h5 29. h3 hxg4 30. hxg4 Kg7 31. Kf2 Bd7 32. Rxb6 Rb8 33. f6+ $1 Kh6 (
{Or} 33... Kxf6 34. Ne8+ $1 {(Ryumin).}) 34. Kg3 Kh7 35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. g5 $1
Rb6 37. Ra6 Rb8 38. Bc6 Bf5 39. Ra8 Rxa8 40. Bxa8 Bd3 41. b6 Ba6 42. Bb7 {
Black has been humiliated.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Dake, Arthur"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C79"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 Nxe4 8.
Qe2 f5 9. dxe5 d5 10. Nbd2 $5 (10. Rd1 {
was played in Wolf - Rubinstein, Wien 1922.}) 10... Bc5 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Be3 c5
13. Nfd2 Nxd2 14. Nxd2 O-O 15. f4 a5 16. Rf3 Ba6 17. c4 a4 18. Rc1 Qe8 19. Qe1
$6 ({Preferable is} 19. Bf2 d4 20. Bh4) 19... d4 $1 20. Bf2 Ba5 $1 {
Black has the initiative.} 21. Qd1 Rb8 22. b3 Bb7 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Be1 Ra8 25.
Nf3 Bxe1 26. Nxe1 axb3 27. Qxb3 $6 {Connected pawns would have been stronger.}
Be4 28. Nd3 Ra5 29. a3 Qe7 30. Re1 Qe6 31. Nf2 Bc6 32. Qa2 h6 33. Rc1 Kh7 34.
Nd3 Rfa8 $1 35. Qe2 Be4 36. Nf2 Bc6 37. Nd3 Rb8 $5 38. Qh5 $5 Be8 39. Qd1 Rb6
40. Qd2 Rba6 41. Qc2 Bd7 42. Qb2 Qb6 43. Qe2 Qe6 44. Qb2 Qe7 45. Ra1 Be6 46.
Qc1 Qf8 $1 47. Nb2 Qa8 48. a4 Rb6 49. Qc2 Rb4 {Reshevsky has manoeuvred well.}
50. Rb3 $2 (50. Re1 $1 Qb7 51. Qd2 $1 Qb6 52. Re2 {
keeps the heavy black pieces out.}) 50... Qe4 $1 51. Qxe4 {
Other moves cost matter.} fxe4 52. Rxb4 cxb4 53. h3 h5 54. Re1 e3 55. Kf1 g5 {
He opens the defence.} 56. Rd1 c5 57. fxg5 Kg6 58. Ke2 Kxg5 59. Rf1 Rxa4 $1 {
A rook sacrifice opens the queenside.} 60. h4+ $1 Kg4 $1 (60... Kxh4 $2 61.
Rh1+ $1 Kg4 62. Nxa4 Bxc4+ 63. Ke1 b3 {will be hard to win.}) 61. Nxa4 Bxc4+
62. Ke1 d3 $1 (62... Bxf1 63. Kxf1 {(Soltis)} c4 $1 64. e6 c3 $1 {
also wins for Black.}) 63. Rh1 d2+ 64. Kd1 Bb3+ 65. Ke2 Bxa4 66. e6 Kf5 67. e7
Ke4 $1 68. Rb1 Bb5+ 69. Kd1 Kd4 $1 {White cannot stop the pawns. Hodges and
Marshall will have enjoyed this game as spectators.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Cohen, Sam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Na4 Be7 11. Be3 Ne4 12. Rc1 Be6 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Qa5
15. a3 Rac8 16. Nc3 Nd6 $6 (16... Nxc3 17. Bxc3 Qb5 {
drew in Koenig - Tarrasch, Wien 1922.}) 17. Qd3 Nc4 18. Rc2 $6 (18. b4 $1 Qxa3
19. Ra1 Qxb4 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 {gains an advantage.}) 18... Rfd8 19. Rfc1
Rc6 20. Rb1 Rd7 21. Rbc1 a6 22. h3 {White hesitates.} b5 23. e3 g6 $6 ({
More solid is} 23... f6) 24. g4 $1 h5 $5 25. Bf3 $5 Qc7 $6 ({Better is} 25...
Qd8 $1 26. Ne2 hxg4 27. hxg4 Bd6) 26. Ne2 hxg4 27. hxg4 Bg5 28. Kg2 f6 $4 29.
Qxg6+ Kf8 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Qxf6+ Rf7 32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Nd4 Rd6 34. b3 Bxg4 35.
Bxg4 Rg6 36. Qh4+ Ke8 37. Qh8+ Rf8 38. Qh5 Qf7 39. Rh1 Rfg8 40. Kf1 $4 {
Sammy is plagued by time pressure in this tournament, because he has to play
40 moves in two hours.} ({Correct is} 40. bxc4 Rxg4+ 41. Kf1) 40... Nxe3+ $1
41. Ke2 Nxc2 42. Nf5 Nd4+ 43. Kd3 Nxf5 44. Bxf5 Rf6 $2 (44... Rg1 $1 45. Bd7+
Kf8 {ends the game.}) 45. Qe2+ $6 Qe7 $2 (45... Kf8 $1 46. Rh7 Qe8 47. Qc2 Qc6
{closes the position for intruders.}) 46. Qh5+ Kd8 47. Rc1 Qe5 48. Rc8+ Ke7 49.
Qh7+ Rf7 50. Qh4+ Rf6 51. Qh7+ Rf7 52. Qh4+ {
Reshevsky draws by perpetual check.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Cohen, Sam"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B18"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nh3 Nd7 7. Nf4 e5 8.
Nxg6 hxg6 9. dxe5 Qh4 10. e6 fxe6 11. Qe2 O-O-O 12. Bd2 Ngf6 13. O-O-O Bc5 14.
Be3 $2 ({Better is} 14. f3) 14... Ng4 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. c3 {
All these moves are known.} Rxd1+ $5 (16... Qg5+ 17. Kc2 Rxd1 18. Kxd1 Rf8 {
won for Black in Steiner - Opocensky, Lodz 1935.}) 17. Kxd1 Rd8+ 18. Kc2 Nxf2
$1 19. b4 ({The pointe is} 19. Qxf2 Qa4+ 20. b3 (20. Kc1 Rd1#) 20... Qxa2+ 21.
Kc1 Nxb3# {(Reinfeld).}) 19... Nxh1 20. Nxh1 Ne4 21. Qe3 Qg4 22. Kb2 Qd1 $1 23.
Qxe4 Rd2+ 24. Ka3 Qc1+ 25. Kb3 Qb2+ {White will be mated soon.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.18"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fine, Reshevsky and Kashdan produced wonderful scores until round thirteen.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. e4
Nb6 $5 (8... Nf6 {drew in Ragozin - Eliskases, Moscow 1936.}) 9. Nc3 cxd4 10.
Nxd4 Bf6 ({The alternative will become} 10... Nc6 $1 11. Nxc6 bxc6) 11. Ndb5
Nc6 12. Be3 Nc4 13. Bc5 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 Rd8 $2 {
Black will be restrained after the rook exchange.} ({Preferable is} 14... a6 $1
15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Nc7 Rb8 17. e5 Bxe5 18. Nxa6 bxa6 19. Bxc6 Nxb2 20. Rc1 Nd3
21. Rcd1 Nb2 {drawn.}) 15. Rxd8+ Bxd8 16. b3 Bb6 $5 17. Na4 Bxc5 18. Nxc5 N4e5
19. f4 Nd7 20. Nxd7 Bxd7 21. Rd1 {White has a dominating position.} Be8 22. Nd6
Rb8 23. e5 Kf8 24. a3 Ke7 $5 25. b4 a6 $5 26. Rc1 $1 f6 27. Rc5 $1 fxe5 28.
fxe5 Bd7 $6 (28... Nxe5 $1 29. Nxe8 Nd7 30. Rc7 Kxe8 31. Rxb7 Rxb7 32. Bxb7 Nb8
{offers more resistance.}) 29. Nxb7 $1 Rxb7 30. Bxc6 Rc7 31. Be4 $1 Rxc5 32.
bxc5 {White has an extra pawn in the bishop ending.} h6 33. Kf2 Kd8 34. Ke3 Kc7
35. Kd4 a5 36. Bd3 Be8 37. Bc4 Bd7 38. Bb3 Bc8 39. Ba4 Bb7 (39... Ba6 $1 40. h4
$1 Be2 41. c6 $1 Kb6 42. c7 Kxc7 43. Kc5 Ba6 44. Bb3 {
wins for White (after Averbakh and Chekhover).}) 40. Kc4 $1 Ba6+ 41. Bb5 Bb7
42. Kb3 {
White is going to win a second pawn. Kashdan was getting out of the race.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.18"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Santasiere, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D83"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 $5
8. Nf3 Nb6 9. Be2 Be6 10. Qc2 Nfd5 (10... Rc8 $5 {
will be played in future games.}) 11. Be5 Rc8 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14.
b4 Bf5 15. Qb2 Nc4 16. Qb3 Nb6 17. Qc3 Qd6 18. a3 Nd5 19. Qb2 Bg4 20. O-O c6
21. Rfc1 {White has a plus.} f6 22. Rc5 e6 23. Rac1 a6 24. a4 Qb8 $2 {
Black gets a passive position.} ({Preferable is} 24... Nb6 $1) 25. h3 $1 Bxf3
26. Bxf3 Rfd8 27. Qb3 f5 28. g3 Kf6 29. Kg2 h6 30. h4 g5 $6 {
He weakens his kingside.} 31. e4 $1 fxe4 32. hxg5+ hxg5 33. Bxe4 Ke7 $6 {
The king becomes a target.} 34. Re1 $1 Kd6 35. Bxd5 exd5 36. Re5 Rg8 37. Rcxd5+
$1 cxd5 38. Qxd5+ Kc7 39. Qc5+ Kd7 40. Qe7+ Kc6 41. Qe6+ {
Reshevsky and Fine shared the lead.} (41. Qe6+ Qd6 42. Rc5+ {wins a queen.})
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.20"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Hanauer, Milton"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O e5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8. d3
Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Rc1 Be6 $5 ({Known is} 10... Ne6) 11. a3 b6 12. Nh4 Nd5 13.
Nf5 $5 Bf6 14. Be4 Rc8 15. Qd2 Nd4 {Black develops his pieces pleasantly.} 16.
Bxd4 exd4 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qf4 Re8 19. Rc2 $2 ({Right is} 19. Nd6 $1 Be5 20.
Qf3 Qxd6 21. Bxd5 {and White equalises.}) 19... Bxe4 $6 (19... Bb3 $1 20. Rcc1
Bg5 {wins immediately.}) 20. dxe4 Rc6 $5 21. Rd1 Rce6 22. f3 g6 $5 23. Nh6+ Kg7
24. h4 $5 Qb8 $2 (24... Be5 $1 25. Qxf7+ Kxh6 $1 {(Fine overlooks this move)}
26. f4 R8e7 {decides the game (Denker).}) 25. Qxb8 Rxb8 26. Ng4 Be7 27. Nf2 Bd6
28. f4 Be7 29. Kg2 Rd8 30. Kf3 Rc6 $6 31. e3 $1 dxe3 32. Rxd8 Bxd8 33. Kxe3 {
Hanauer improves his position slowly.} b5 34. e5 c4 35. Kd4 c3 $6 36. bxc3 Be7
37. Ne4 Bxa3 38. Ra2 Rc4+ 39. Kd3 Ra4 40. Nd6 a6 41. Kc2 {The sealed move.} Kf8
42. g4 f6 43. Nc8 Bc5 $2 (43... fxe5 $1 44. Nb6 $1 Ra5 45. Kb3 exf4 46. Rxa3
Rxa3+ 47. Kxa3 f3 48. Nd5 a5 {brings a black survival.}) 44. Rxa4 bxa4 45. exf6
Be3 $5 46. c4 $5 Bxf4 47. c5 $1 g5 $5 48. hxg5 Bxg5 49. c6 Bf4 ({The pointe is
} 49... Bxf6 50. c7 $1 Be5 51. Nd6) 50. Ne7 Kf7 51. Nd5 Bh2 52. g5 Be5 53. Kb1
$1 Bh2 54. Kb2 Bd6 55. Ka2 Kg6 56. Ne7+ Kf7 57. Nf5 Bc7 58. Ka3 Kg6 59. Kxa4
Kf7 60. Kb3 a5 61. Ka4 Bd8 62. Kb5 Ke6 63. Kc4 Kf7 64. Kd5 Bb6 65. Nd6+ Kf8 66.
Ke6 a4 67. Nc4 Bc7 68. Ne5 $1 {Reshevsky led by one point on Fine.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.21"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E03"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bg2 a6 7. Qxc4 c5 $5 (
7... b5 8. Qc6 Ra7 {happened in Capablanca - Reshevsky, Nottingham 1936.}) 8.
O-O $6 ({The main line will become} 8. Qc2 $5 cxd4 9. Nxd4) 8... b5 9. Qd3 Bb7
10. a4 b4 11. Nbd2 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Bc5 13. Qh4 O-O 14. b3 Nd5 $1 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 {
Black has a plus.} 16. Bb2 Nc3 $1 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. Rac1 Nf6 19. e3 Ba7 20. Nc4
Nce4 $6 (20... Nfe4 $5 21. Ng5 {(Euwe)} Bd5 {keeps an edge.}) 21. Ng5 Bd5 22.
Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Red1 f6 24. Kf1 $6 (24. h3 $5 h6 25. a5 {
makes appropriate waiting moves.}) 24... Kf8 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Rxd4 Nd2+ $1 27.
Rxd2 Bxg2+ 28. Ke1 $1 Rxd2 29. Kxd2 Bd5 {
Black exerts some pressure in the endgame.} 30. Kd3 e5 31. e4 Be6 32. Rc2 Ke7
33. Nd2 Rxc2 34. Kxc2 Kd6 {He has the better bishop in the ending.} 35. Kd3 Kc5
36. Ke3 g6 37. Kd3 f5 38. f3 $2 {Kashdan misses the forced draw.} ({Correct is
} 38. f4 $1 exf4 39. gxf4 fxe4+ 40. Kxe4 Bf5+ 41. Ke5 $1 Bc2 42. Ne4+ Kc6 43.
Nd2 {and White escapes from the potential zugzwang.}) 38... f4 $1 {
Black controls square e3.} 39. gxf4 exf4 40. h4 h6 $1 {
Black has achieved zugzwang.} 41. a5 Bd7 42. Kc2 Kd4 43. Nc4 Be6 44. Nd2 Ke3 $1
45. Kd1 Kf2 46. Kc2 Ke2 47. Kc1 h5 48. e5 g5 49. Ne4 gxh4 50. Ng5 h3 51. Nxe6
h2 52. Nxf4+ Kxf3 {Reshevsky remained one point ahead of Fine.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.23"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Dake, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E02"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bg2 a6 7. Nc3 c5 8. O-O
Be7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qh4 Bb7 12. Bg5 b4 $5 (12... O-O {
drew in Alekhine - Euwe, World Championship (16).}) 13. Na4 Be7 14. Rfd1 Qa5
15. b3 Rd8 16. Nb2 Nb6 $5 ({More solid is} 16... Bd5 $1) 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Nd3
Be7 19. Bd2 Ne4 $2 {Dake allows a tactical trick.} (19... Nfd5 $1 20. Qd4 O-O
21. a3 {(Fine)} Nc3 $1 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Qe5 Nbd5 24. axb4 Qb5 25. Bxc3 Bf6 {
is alright for Black.}) 20. Qxe7+ $1 Kxe7 21. Bxb4+ Qxb4 22. Nxb4 {
White has gained a pawn.} Nc3 $6 (22... a5 $5 23. Nd3 Nc3 {
achieves positional compensation.}) 23. Nd4 Nbd5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Nxd5+ Bxd5
26. Rc1 Kd6 27. f3 f5 28. Kf2 Rb8 29. Ke3 g6 30. f4 Rg8 31. Nf3 Ra8 32. Ng5 a5
33. Nxh7 a4 $5 ({The natural} 33... Rh8 34. Nf6 Rxh2 35. Nxd5 exd5 36. Rc8 $1 {
leads to a won rook ending for White.}) 34. bxa4 Rxa4 35. Nf8 $1 Rxa2 36. Nxg6
Ra8 37. Ne5 Ra3+ 38. Kf2 Ra7 39. h4 Rh7 40. Rc8 {
Fine neared Reshevsky at the end of the penultimate round.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 2"]
[Date "1938.04.23"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E22"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1938.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fine needs a win for the championship.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3
Nc6 5. Nf3 a5 $5 6. a3 a4 7. Qc2 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3 h6 {Reshevsky shows prudence.}
9. d5 exd5 10. cxd5 Na5 11. d6 $5 {Fine wants the initiative.} cxd6 12. Bf4 O-O
13. Rd1 Re8 14. e3 Ne4 15. Qc2 Nb3 16. Bc4 $6 (16. Bxd6 Nxd6 17. Rxd6 Re6 {
brings equality.}) 16... Qa5+ $1 17. Kf1 b6 18. Kg1 Ba6 19. Rd5 $6 (19. Bxb3 $5
Rac8 20. Qb1 axb3 21. Nd4 {slightly favours Black.}) 19... Nbc5 $1 20. h3 {
Fine deliberates forty-five minutes. He has a poor position.} Bxc4 21. Qxc4 b5
22. Qd4 ({Simonson suggests} 22. Qe2 $1) 22... Nb3 23. Qd3 Nbc5 24. Qe2 b4 25.
axb4 Qxb4 26. Bxd6 Nxd6 27. Rxd6 Rab8 28. Rd2 Ne4 29. Rc2 Rec8 30. Kh2 $5 Rxc2
31. Qxc2 d5 {Reshevsky offers a draw.   The final standings became: Reshevsky
13/16 ($600), Fine 121/2 ($400), Simonson 11 ($250), Horowitz 10 ($150),
Kashdan 91/2 ($100), Polland and Dake 9 ($72), Kupchik 81/2 ($68), Bernstein
71/2 ($60), Santasiere and Treysman 7 ($56), Hanauer, Cohen and Reinfeld 61/2
($52), Shainwit 51/2 ($44), Morton 5 ($40), Suesman 2 ($16).   The USA
dominated the Olympiads during the thirties. Fine and Reshevsky competed in
AVRO 1938. It were heydays for American chess.} (31... d5 32. Ra1 Qxb2 33. Qxb2
Rxb2 34. Rxa4 Nxf2 35. Rd4 Rb5 {plays for a win.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.04.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Kupchik, Abraham"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The third US championship was played in New York from 27 iv until 19 v 1940.
It became another race between Reshevsky, Fine and Kashdan.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Nc6
10. c5 $5 {Kashdan aims at restriction.} ({Known is} 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Be3)
10... Bg4 11. Be3 Qc8 $6 (11... Bxc5 $1 12. dxc5 d4 {will draw in future games.
}) 12. Re1 Re8 13. h3 $1 Be6 $6 ({Preferable is} 13... Bh5 14. Bb5 {(Reinfeld)}
Bf8) 14. a3 $1 Nb8 $6 {The reorganisation will cost too much time.} 15. Qc2 c6
$6 16. Ng5 $1 g6 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Bg5 Qd7 19. Re3 Bd8 20. Qe2 Rxe3 21. Qxe3
Nh5 22. Re1 Bxg5 23. Qxg5 Ng7 $5 ({The alternative is} 23... f6 24. Qe3 Ng7 25.
Qe7 Qxe7 26. Rxe7 {and Black has a lost endgame.}) 24. Re7 $1 Qd8 25. Qf6 Qf8
26. Rxb7 Ne6 27. b4 Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Ne2 a5 30. b5 cxb5 31. Bxb5 Na6 32.
Bxa6 Rxa6 33. Rd7 Ra8 34. Rxd5 Rb8 35. c6 Rb2 36. Re5 Nc7 37. Nc3 {
Kashdan started well again.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.04.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Two matadors met in the second round.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6
5. Nbd2 Ne4 6. Nxe4 dxe4 7. Nd2 f5 8. f3 Bd6 9. g3 exf3 $5 ({
Alekhine once played the ambitious} 9... O-O) 10. Nxf3 Nd7 11. Qb3 c5 $1 12.
Bg2 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 14. Bd2 Nf6 15. Rad1 Ne4 16. Bc3 b6 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Rxd2
Bb7 19. Qd1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rad8 21. Qf3 Qc7 22. b3 Rf7 23. Rfd1 Bf8 24. a4 Qb7
25. a5 cxd4 $6 ({More solid is} 25... g6 $1 26. Qxb7 Rxb7) 26. exd4 Qxf3+ 27.
Kxf3 bxa5 28. Bxa5 {White has an edge after the exchanges.} Rb8 29. Rb1 Bb4 30.
Ra2 Bxa5 31. Rxa5 Rfb7 $6 ({Better is} 31... Rd7 $1 32. Ke3 Rbd8) 32. Kf4 $1
Kf7 (32... Rxb3 $6 33. Rxb3 Rxb3 34. Rxa7 {favours White.}) 33. Ke5 Rd7 34. b4
Rbd8 35. Rd1 Rb8 36. Rda1 $1 Rbb7 37. b5 $2 (37. R1a4 $1 g5 38. Rc5 $1 {
attacks in the endgame.}) 37... Rbc7 38. Ra6 $4 {
White blunders a pawn. The tables turn.} Rxc4 39. Rd6 Rb7 40. Rxe6 Rxb5+ 41. d5
Re4+ 42. Kd6 Rb6+ 43. Kc5 Rbxe6 44. dxe6+ Rxe6 45. Rxa7+ Kf6 {
Black has an extra pawn in the rook ending.} 46. Kd4 Re2 47. h4 Re4+ 48. Kd3
Rg4 $2 ({Right is} 48... Kg6 $1 {(prepares ..Rg4)} 49. Ra3 Kh5 50. Kd2 g6 {
and Black wins.}) 49. Ra6+ $1 Kf7 50. Ke3 $1 h5 (50... Rxg3+ 51. Kf4 Rh3 52.
Kxf5 Rxh4 53. Ra7+ {delivers perpetual check.}) 51. Kf3 g6 52. Ra7+ Kf6 53.
Ra6+ Kg7 54. Ra7+ Kh6 55. Ra6 Re4 56. Ra7 {The battle ended in a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.04.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Woliston, Philip"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5
8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rad1 Qc7 $5 (12... Qe7 {
happened in Maroczy - Von Bardeleben, Wien 1908.}) 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Be4 Rad8
15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nd2 Be7 17. Ne4 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Qd3 Be7
21. h3 Qc7 22. Qg3+ Qxg3 23. Nxg3 {
A knight versus bishop ending has been reached quickly.} Kf8 24. Kf1 Ke8 25.
Ke2 Kd7 26. Kd3 Kc6 27. Ne2 Bc5 28. f4 b5 $6 (28... f5 $1 29. Nd4+ Kd7 30. g4
fxg4 31. hxg4 h6 {defends well.}) 29. g4 $1 {
Now White has pressure on the kingside.} a6 30. Ke4 Bf8 $5 31. Nd4+ Kd6 32. Nb3
Be7 33. Nd2 Bf8 34. c4 $1 Kc5 35. cxb5 axb5 36. Nb3+ Kd6 37. Nd4 Kc5 $6 (37...
b4 $1 38. f5 Bh6 39. Nb3 e5 {resists more actively.}) 38. f5 $1 e5 39. Nf3 h6
40. h4 Be7 41. h5 $1 {White threatens g5.} Bd6 42. a3 $1 b4 $2 (42... Bf8 $1
43. b3 Bg7 44. Nd2 Bf8 {offers a strong resistance.}) 43. a4 $5 (43. g5 $1 {
wins at once.}) 43... b3 $1 44. Nd2 Kb4 45. a5 $1 Kxa5 (45... Kb5 $5 46. Nxb3
Bf8 47. Kd5 Bb4 48. Nc1 Kxa5 49. Nd3 Bf8 50. g5 $1 {breaks the pawn structure.}
) 46. Nc4+ {Reshevsky won a fine endgame.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Simonson, Albert"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Qc2 Nbd7 6. Nf3 a6 7. a4 Bb4 8. Bd3
dxc4 $5 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. e4 Bxc5 13. Qe2 b6 $6 (13...
Ng4 $1 {prevents the next move.}) 14. e5 $1 Ng4 15. Bf4 Bb7 16. Ne4 Ngf6 $5 17.
Nxc5 bxc5 18. Ng5 Qc6 19. f3 Nh5 20. Bd2 g6 21. g4 $1 {
Simonson plays for a win.} Ng7 22. Bc3 Nb6 23. Ne4 Ne8 24. Rad1 $6 (24. b3 $5 {
keeps an advantage (Sansatiere).}) 24... Nxa4 25. Ba5 Nb6 26. Nf6+ $5 Nxf6 27.
exf6 Nxc4 28. Qxc4 e5 29. Bc3 Rfe8 30. Rde1 Rad8 $5 (30... e4 31. Rxe4 Rxe4 32.
Qxe4 Qxe4 33. fxe4 Bxe4 {brings too many exchanges.}) 31. Bxe5 h6 32. h4 Qd5
33. Qf4 Kh7 34. h5 $6 g5 $1 35. Qf5+ Kh8 36. Rd1 $4 {
He misses a deadly counter.} (36. Kf2 $1 c4 37. Bc3 Qxf5 38. gxf5 Rxe1 39. Rxe1
{defends properly.}) 36... Qxd1 $1 37. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 38. Kf2 Rd2+ 39. Kf1 Kg8 $5
40. Bc3 Rd5 41. Qc2 Bc6 42. Kf2 Bb5 43. Qb3 Re2+ 44. Kg3 Rd3 $1 {
Black has a mating attack.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Nd2 $5 ({The alternative is} 10. Qxe4 Qb4+ 11. Nd2 Qxb2
12. Qb1 Qxb1+ 13. Rxb1 {(Flohr - Thomas, Margate 1936).}) 10... f5 11. c5 Nd7
12. Bc4 Nf6 13. O-O Kh8 14. f3 e5 $5 15. fxe4 Ng4 16. Qc3 f4 $1 {
Tactics have started.} 17. exf4 exd4 $1 18. Qd3 $1 ({Not} 18. Qxd4 $2 Rd8 19.
Qc3 Qxc5+ 20. Kh1 b5 $1) 18... Ne3 19. Rf2 Qxc5 20. a3 b5 21. Ba2 Qb6 22. Nf3
c5 23. b4 c4 $1 24. Qxd4 Rxf4 25. h3 Bxh3 $5 (25... Bb7 $1 26. Qxb6 axb6 27.
Nd4 Rxe4 28. Nxb5 Bc6 {favours Black.}) 26. Qxb6 axb6 27. Ng5 $1 Rxf2 28. Kxf2
Rxa3 $2 (28... Ng4+ 29. Kg1 Ne5 30. gxh3 Rxa3 31. Rf1 g6 32. Ne6 h6 {
about equalises.}) 29. gxh3 h6 30. Nf7+ Kg8 $2 (30... Kh7 $1 31. Rc1 Rc3 $1 32.
Rg1 $1 Nc2 {fights for the last chance.}) 31. Nd6 $1 Nd1+ ({Or} 31... Nc2 32.
Nxb5 $1 Rxh3 33. Bxc4+) 32. Rxd1 Rxa2+ 33. Ke3 $1 Rb2 34. Nxb5 Rxb4 35. Nc3 Rb2
36. Rb1 Rh2 37. Rxb6 Rxh3+ {Reshevsky has gained material.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Simonson, Albert"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C79"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8.
Qxd4 c5 9. Qd3 Be6 $5 10. c4 Be7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. h3 Nd7 13. b3 Bf6 14. Bf4 Qe7
15. Rfe1 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 f6 $1 17. Bg3 Qf7 18. Nh4 Ne5 19. f4 Nc6 20. Nf3 Rad8
21. Rad1 h6 22. Rd2 Rfe8 23. Red1 Qf8 (23... Qg6 $1 24. Nh4 $1 Qxe4 25. f5 Bxf5
26. Re1 Qxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Rxe1+ {gains a lot of material for a queen.}) 24. e5 f5
$6 ({Better is} 24... Bf5) 25. exd6 cxd6 26. Bf2 Bf7 27. g4 $6 {
Simonson opens his kingside.} fxg4 28. hxg4 Re4 29. Bg3 Rde8 $1 30. Rxd6 $5 Nd4
$1 31. R6xd4 cxd4 32. Rxd4 Re3 33. Rd3 Qc5 $5 34. Bf2 $1 Rxd3 35. Qxd3 Qa3 36.
Qc2 Qd6 37. Ne5 {White has the initiative.} Be6 38. Kg2 Bc8 39. Kg3 Rxe5 $1 40.
fxe5 Qxe5+ 41. Kg2 Bxg4 {Black takes over.} 42. Qd3 Bf5 43. Qd2 $5 Qe4+ 44. Kh2
Qg4 45. c5 $2 {White allows a dangerous attack.} (45. Qd5+ $1 Kh7 46. Qg2 Qh5+
47. Kg1 {equalises.}) 45... Be4 $1 46. Be3 Kh7 $5 47. b4 Bc6 48. Bf4 $5 (48.
Qd3+ g6 49. Qf1 Qh4+ 50. Qh3 Qxh3+ 51. Kxh3 g5 $1 {looks promising for Black.})
48... Qf3 49. Kg1 g5 50. Bb8 Kg6 51. Qc2+ Kh5 52. Qh2+ Kg4 53. Qd2 Qh1+ 54. Kf2
Qg2+ 55. Ke3 Qxd2+ 56. Kxd2 Kf3 $1 57. Ke1 g4 {The h-pawn marches on.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Hanauer, Milton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 d6 9. O-O $5 Qe7 10. Re1 Ne4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Nd2 Bb7 13. e4 e5 14. Nf1
Nc6 15. Ne3 exd4 16. Nd5 $1 Qh4 17. cxd4 Rae8 18. Bf4 Re6 $6 (18... f5 $1 19.
Re3 $5 Rxe4 20. Rh3 Qd8 21. Qh5 Nxd4 22. Qxh7+ Kf7 23. Qh5+ {
leads to perpetual check.}) 19. Bg3 Qd8 20. Qd3 Na5 21. Nb4 c5 22. d5 Ree8 23.
Nc2 Ba6 24. Ne3 Qf6 25. Red1 Rd8 26. Rac1 Rd7 $6 (26... Bc8 $1 {
prevents the next move.}) 27. Nf5 $1 Re8 $2 (27... Qd8 {defends pawn d6.}) 28.
Nxd6 $1 Rxd6 29. e5 Rxd5 ({Or} 29... Bxc4 30. exf6 Bxd3 31. Bxd6) 30. cxd5 Bxd3
31. exf6 c4 32. d6 gxf6 33. d7 $1 Rd8 34. Rxd3 $1 cxd3 35. Rc8 d2 36. Rxd8+ Kg7
37. Rg8+ $1 {Reshevsky ended the game by a 'petite combinaison'.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Green, Matthew"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 e5 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. O-O Bg4 10. e3 $5 ({Known is} 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Nd5) 10... Re8 11. h3 Bh5
12. Nh4 Qd7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Ne7 15. e4 f6 16. Be3 Bd6 17. Nf5 $6 ({
Preferable is} 17. g4 $5 {(Green)} Bf7 18. Nf5 Nxf5 19. gxf5) 17... Nxf5 18.
exf5 Rad8 19. Be4 Qb5 20. Bd3 $1 Qd7 21. Be4 b6 22. Rac1 Re7 23. f3 Bf7 24.
Rfd1 Qb5 25. Rd3 Red7 26. Rcd1 Bf8 27. Qb3 $6 Qxb3 28. axb3 g6 $1 {
Black has gained an edge.} 29. g4 gxf5 30. gxf5 Bh5 31. Kf2 h6 32. Ke2 Kh7 33.
Kf2 Bb4 34. Ke2 Rg7 35. Rg1 Rxg1 36. Bxg1 Rg8 37. Bf2 Be8 $1 {
The attack comes from different directions.} 38. Rd1 Rg2 39. Kf1 Rh2 $1 40. Kg1
Rxh3 41. Ra1 a5 42. d6 $5 Bxd6 43. Rd1 b5 44. b4 $5 axb4 $1 ({The trap was} 
44... Bxb4 $2 45. Rd8 Bf7 46. Rd7) 45. Ra1 Rh5 46. Be3 Bd7 47. Kg2 Bxf5 $6 {
Fine tries to liberate his rook too soon.} (47... Kg7 $1 {prepares for ..Bxf5.}
) 48. Rh1 $1 Bxe4 49. Rxh5 Bd5 50. Rxh6+ {
White has gained an exchange as compensation.} Kg7 51. Rh1 f5 52. Rc1 Kf7 53.
Kf2 f4 54. Ba7 $5 Ke6 55. Bc5 Bxc5+ 56. Rxc5 c6 57. Rc1 Kd6 58. Rc2 $6 (58. Rh1
c5 59. Rh6+ Be6 60. Ke2 c4 {wins for Black.}) 58... c5 $1 59. Rc1 c4 60. Ke2 b3
{White cannot stop the avalanche of pawns.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E33"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bf4 $6 ({Theory is} 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3) 8... Ne4 9. e3 g5 $1 10. Be5 f6 11. Bg3
h5 {Black goes forwards on a large front.} 12. h3 Nxg3 13. Qg6+ $2 (13. fxg3
Qd6 14. Kf2 {utilises the white king and queen as defenders.}) 13... Kf8 $1 14.
fxg3 Qd6 15. O-O-O ({The alternative is} 15. Kf2 $5 Ne7 16. Qd3 Bf5) 15... Bxc3
16. bxc3 Ne7 17. Qb1 Qa3+ 18. Kd2 (18. Qb2 Qxb2+ 19. Kxb2 Nf5 {
costs a pawn (Fine).}) 18... Nf5 $1 19. Bd3 Nxg3 20. Rhe1 Kg7 21. h4 g4 22. Ng1
b5 $5 23. Rc1 Bd7 24. Qb4 Qxb4 25. cxb4 c6 26. a4 $6 bxa4 $1 27. Rc5 Rhb8 28.
Kc3 Re8 29. Kd2 Rab8 30. Rb1 Re7 31. Ra5 Be8 $6 (31... Bf5 $1 32. Rxa4 Bxd3 33.
Kxd3 Nf5 {wins more quickly.}) 32. Ne2 Nxe2 33. Bxe2 Reb7 34. Rxa4 c5 35. b5 c4
36. e4 Bxb5 37. Rab4 a5 38. R4b2 Ba6 39. Rxb7+ Rxb7 40. Re1 Re7 41. exd5 c3+
42. Kxc3 Rxe2 43. Ra1 Re3+ 44. Kc2 Re7 45. Rxa5 Bb7 46. Kd3 f5 47. d6 Be4+ 48.
Ke3 Rd7 49. Kf4 Kf6 {The top three were still racing against each other.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.21"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C86"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Again the problems for Kashdan started during the last part of the
championship.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Qe2 b5 7.
Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bg4 9. c3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. d3 $5 (11. g4 Bg6 12. d3 {
drew in Kashdan - Horowitz, New York 1938.}) 11... Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. axb5 axb5
14. g4 Bg6 15. Nbd2 Qc7 16. Nh4 d5 $1 17. Ndf3 dxe4 18. dxe4 c4 $1 {
Black takes the initiative.} 19. Nf5 Nb7 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Nh4
Nc5 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. exf5 e4 $1 {An attack in the centre starts.} 25. Rd1 $6 ({
More appropriate is} 25. f3 $5) 25... Re8 26. Rd4 h6 27. Be3 Nd3 28. Bxd3 $6
cxd3 $6 29. Qd1 Nd7 30. Kg2 Nb6 31. Qb3 $1 Nc4 32. Qxb5 Nxe3+ 33. fxe3 h5 $6 (
33... Rd8 {keeps an edge.}) 34. f6 gxf6 35. Qxh5 $6 Rd8 $1 36. Qa5 Rxd4 37.
cxd4 Qb7 $1 38. Qd8+ $6 Kg7 39. g5 f5 40. Kf2 $2 Qxb2+ {
Black has a won queen ending.} 41. Kg3 Qb7 $1 42. Kf2 Kh7 $2 43. h4 $2 (43. Qf6
{draws.}) 43... f4 44. exf4 d2 $2 (44... Qb2+ $1 45. Kg3 d2 $1 46. g6+ Kg7 47.
h5 Qa3+ 48. Kh2 d1=Q {wins for Black.}) 45. Ke2 e3 46. Qf6 Kg8 47. Qd8+ Kh7 48.
Qf6 Qc7 49. g6+ fxg6 50. h5 $1 Qc4+ 51. Kxe3 d1=Q 52. Qe7+ Kh6 53. Qg5+ Kg7 54.
Qxg6+ $4 (54. Qe7+ $1 Qf7 55. h6+ $1 {(Reshevsky)} Kg8 56. h7+ Qxh7 57. Qe8+
Kg7 58. Qe7+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 54... Kf8 55. Qd6+ Ke8 {
Kashdan was out of the race by a blunder at the end.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.18"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kupchik, Abraham"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E09"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nbd2
$5 (8. Ne5 {was played in Fine - Ragozin, Semmering/Baden 1937.}) 8... Bb7 9.
Rd1 Nbd7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Qc7 13. b3 Nf6 14. Qe2 Rad8 15. Bb2
c5 16. dxc5 Bxf3 $6 (16... Bxc5 {keeps the equality.}) 17. Bxf3 Bxc5 18. Qe5
Qe7 19. Kg2 h6 20. Bc3 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rc8 22. Rd3 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. b4 Bd6
25. Qe2 Qc7 26. Qd3 Nd7 27. Qe4 Ne5 28. Be2 Qc6 29. Qxc6 Nxc6 {
White has a better ending due to the two bishops.} 30. a3 Kf8 31. f4 e5 $6 ({
Preferable is} 31... a5 32. b5 Nb8 33. Bb2 Nd7) 32. Bf3 Nd4 33. Be4 f6 34. Kf2
Ke7 35. Ke3 Ne6 36. fxe5 $5 fxe5 $2 {All black pawns become weaknesses.} (36...
Bxe5 $1 37. Bxe5 fxe5 {exchanges bishops.}) 37. Bb1 Nd4 38. Ke4 $1 {
Gaining a pawn draws.} Ke6 39. Ba2 Kd7 40. Bb1 Kc6 41. g4 a5 42. Bd3 axb4 43.
axb4 Bc7 44. Ke3 Bd6 45. Bg6 Kd7 46. Be4 Ke7 47. h4 g5 48. h5 Kf6 49. Kd3 Ke7
50. Bb7 Ke6 51. Bd2 Be7 52. Bc8+ Kf6 53. Bd7 Bd6 54. Ke4 {
White has entered the hostile position.} Ke7 55. Bc8 Nc2 56. b5 $1 Nd4 57. Be3
Kf6 58. Bf2 $1 Bc7 59. Kd5 $1 Bd8 60. c5 bxc5 61. Kxc5 Be7+ 62. Kc4 Nxb5 $5 {
Black could have given up.} (62... Bd8 63. Bg3 Bc7 64. Kc5 Ne2 65. Bh2 Nd4 66.
b6 {slowly wins for White.}) 63. Kxb5 Ba3 64. Kc4 Bc1 65. Kd5 Ba3 66. Bc5 Bb2
67. Bb6 Bc1 68. Ba6 Bb2 69. Bd8+ Kg7 70. Ke4 Bc3 71. Kf5 e4 72. Kxe4 Bd2 73.
Kf5 Bc1 74. Bf6+ Kg8 75. Bd4 Ba3 76. Kf6 Bf8 77. Ke6 Bb4 78. Bd3 Bf8 79. Bc2
Bb4 80. Kf6 Be7+ 81. Kg6 {
Reshevsky could take the sole lead, because Fine drew.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1940.05.19"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C59"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1940.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fine has to defeat Rehevsky in the last round.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5 {He surprises his opponent.} d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. f4 Qc7 12. O-O O-O $5 (12... Bxe5 13. fxe5
Qxe5 14. d4 Qd6 {was played in Leffmann - Schallopp, Nürnberg 1883.}) 13. Nc3
Bxe5 14. fxe5 Qxe5 15. d4 exd3 16. Qxd3 {
White has returned the pawn and gained a plus.} Ng4 $6 17. Bf4 $6 (17. Rf4 $1
Qc5+ 18. Qd4 Qxd4+ 19. Rxd4 {brings a superior endgame (Reinfeld).}) 17... Qc5+
18. Kh1 Nf2+ 19. Rxf2 Qxf2 20. Rf1 Qh4 21. Qd6 $6 (21. Qe4 $1 Bd7 22. Bd3 f5
23. Qb4 {achieves an edge.}) 21... Bg4 22. Ba6 Bc8 23. Bd3 Be6 24. Qb4 Qh5 $2 {
Reshevsky blunders.} (24... Nc4 $1 25. Bxc4 Bxc4 26. Qxc4 g5 {
leads to the game.}) 25. Bc7 $1 Nc4 $5 26. Bxc4 Qh4 27. Bf4 $2 (27. Rf4 $1 Qe1+
28. Bf1 {conquers the title for Fine.}) 27... Bxc4 28. Qxc4 g5 29. g3 Qg4 30.
Qxc6 $5 ({Fine notices the escape} 30. Ne4 Qe6 $3 31. Qd4 f5 $1 32. Nc5 Qe2 33.
Rf2 Qe1+ 34. Kg2 gxf4 35. Qxf4 {and equality.}) 30... gxf4 31. Rxf4 Qe6 32. Qf3
f5 33. Qd5 Rae8 34. Kg2 Qxd5+ 35. Nxd5 Re2+ 36. Rf2 Rxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Kf7 {
The endgame will be defendable easily.} 38. c4 a5 39. b3 Re8 40. a3 Rc8 41. Nc3
Ke6 42. Ke3 Ke5 43. Kd3 Rb8 44. Nb5 Rd8+ 45. Kc2 h5 $1 46. b4 axb4 47. axb4 h4
48. c5 hxg3 49. hxg3 Kd5 50. Kd3 Rg8 51. Nc3+ Kc6 52. Ne2 Rg4 53. Kc3 Kd5 54.
Nf4+ Kc6 55. Kc4 Rxg3 56. b5+ Kd7 57. Kd5 Rg1 58. Nd3 Rd1 $1 59. Kc4 Rb1 60.
Nf4 Rb2 61. Nd5 Rb1 62. Nb6+ Kc7 {Reshevsky prolongated his title after seven
hours of play. The final standings became: Reshevsky 13/17, Fine 121/2,
Simonson 11, Horowitz 10, Kashdan 91/2, Polland and Dake 9, Kupchik 81/2,
Bernstein 71/2, Santasiere and Treysman 7, Hanauer, Cohen and Reinfeld 61/2,
Shainswit 51/2, Morton 5, Suesman 2.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1941.05.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1941.05.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When the biannual championships began, it remained possible to challenge the
champ for a title match. Horowitz could not participate in 1940 and challenged
Reshevsky. They played a match of sixteen games in New York and nearby cities
from 4 until 29 v 1941. The prize fund was $5000. It started with four draws.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Nge2 Na6
9. O-O Nc5 10. h3 Ne8 11. Be3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. f4 $5 b6 $5 14. fxe5 $1 Bxe5
15. g4 Bd7 16. Rxf8+ Kxf8 17. Qd2 Kg8 18. Nd4 Rc8 $5 19. Ncb5 Nf6 20. Na7 Ra8
21. Nac6 Qe8 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. Bd4 Nfe4 $1 25. Qe3 {
White has little advantage.} Qg3 26. dxc6 Qxe3+ 27. Bxe3 Re8 28. Re1 Kf8 29.
Bd4 g5 30. Re3 Re7 31. b3 h6 32. Kf1 Rf7+ 33. Ke1 Re7 34. Kd1 Kf7 35. a3 Nf6 $5
({Even better is} 35... Nf2+ $1 36. Ke2 Nfd3) 36. Rf3 Nce4 37. Rf5 Kg6 38. Kc2
h5 39. Bxe4 Nxe4 40. Rf8 hxg4 41. hxg4 Rh7 $2 {Horowitz makes a fatal error.} (
{Right is} 41... Nc5 $1 42. b4 Ne6 43. Rf6+ Kh7 {and Black will draw.}) 42. b4
$1 a4 43. Kd3 Re7 44. Rg8+ $1 Kh6 45. Rd8 {The black pieces are misplaced.} Ng3
46. Rd7 Re1 47. Bxb6 $1 Ra1 48. Rxd6+ $1 {Reshevsky took the lead.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1941.05.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C97"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1941.05.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The games six and seven were drawn.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 O-O 12. a4
Bd7 13. axb5 axb5 14. Nbd2 $5 (14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nbd2 {
was played in Reshevsky - Adams, New York 1940.}) 14... Nc6 15. Rxa8 Rxa8 16.
d5 Nd8 17. Nf1 c4 18. g4 Ne8 19. Ng3 g6 20. Kh2 Ng7 21. Rg1 f6 $1 {
Black play passively but defends well.} 22. Be3 Nf7 23. Qc1 Kh8 24. Ne1 Qa5 25.
Ng2 b4 26. cxb4 Qxb4 27. Bd2 $1 Qc5 28. f4 $5 {Horowitz starts a risky attack.}
exf4 29. Nxf4 Ne5 30. Rf1 Ne8 31. Bc3 Ng7 32. Nfe2 Kg8 33. Qf4 Qc8 34. Rg1 h5
$5 35. Nf5 $6 (35. gxh5 $5 g5 $1 36. Qf1 Bxh3 37. Qxh3 Nf3+ 38. Kg2 Nh4+ {
leads to perpetual check by Black.}) 35... gxf5 36. gxh5 $5 Kf7 $5 37. Bxe5 $5
fxe5 38. Qh6 $6 {White does not compromise.} (38. Qg3 $1 Bf6 39. h6 Ne8 40.
Qg8+ Ke7 41. h7 {aims at equality.}) 38... Qh8 $2 (38... Bf6 $1 39. Rg6 Qd8 40.
exf5 Bxf5 41. Bxf5 Nxf5 42. Qh7+ Ng7 {tries to win.}) 39. Qg6+ Kf8 40. h6 Ne8
41. h7 Nf6 42. Qh6+ Kf7 ({Not} 42... Ke8 $2 43. Rg7 Kd8 44. Qg6) 43. Qg6+ Kf8 {
Perpetual check by White ends the game. Reshevsky kept the lead.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1941.05.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "1941.05.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 Be7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Nf3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Ne5 Ng4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nxg4 Bxg4 14. Ne2
Rad8 15. Ng3 Qh4 $5 (15... g6 {drew in Flohr - Ragozin, Leningrad/Moscow 1939.}
) 16. b4 Rd6 17. Bf5 Rf6 18. Bxg4 Qxg4 19. Rab1 {
White prepares a minority attack.} a6 20. a4 b5 $2 {
Black weakens his queenside.} ({Right is} 20... h5 $1) 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ra1 $1
Ng6 23. Ra6 Rc8 24. Rfa1 h5 $2 {This blunder costs a pawn.} 25. h3 $1 Qd7 $5 ({
The pointe is} 25... Qg5 26. Ra8 $1 Rxa8 27. Rxa8+ Kh7 28. Rc8) 26. Nxh5 Re6
27. Qc5 Qe8 28. Qc3 Kh7 29. Ra7 Re7 30. R7a6 Re6 31. Ng3 Nh4 32. Qc2+ Rg6 33.
Ra7 f5 $6 34. Qd1 $6 {White could capture pawn f5.} Rh6 35. R1a3 Rd8 36. Kh2
Rd7 37. Qa1 Rxa7 38. Rxa7 Qe6 39. Qc3 Rg6 40. Qc2 Qf6 41. Kh1 Qe6 42. Qb1 Kg8
43. Ra8+ Kh7 44. Rf8 Rf6 45. Rb8 g6 46. Rb7+ Rf7 47. Rxf7+ Qxf7 48. Ne2 g5 49.
Ng1 Kh6 50. g3 Ng6 51. Kg2 Qe6 52. Nf3 Ne7 53. Nd2 f4 $5 54. exf4 gxf4 55. Nf3
$1 Qe4 56. Qc1 $1 Ng6 $5 57. Qxc6 fxg3 58. Kxg3 $1 {
Black has no perpetual check.} Kg7 59. Qd7+ Qe7 60. Ne5 Qxd7 61. Nxd7 Ne7 62.
Nb6 Kf6 63. h4 Ke6 64. h5 Kf5 65. f4 Nc6 66. Nxd5 Nxd4 67. Ne3+ $1 Kf6 68. Kg4
Nc6 69. Nd5+ Kf7 70. Kf5 Kg7 71. Kg5 Nd4 72. h6+ Kh7 73. f5 Nf3+ 74. Kh5 Ne5
75. Nc7 Nf7 76. Nxb5 Nxh6 77. Nd6 Ng8 78. Ne8 Nh6 79. Kg5 Nf7+ 80. Kf6 Kg8 81.
Ke7 Ng5 82. b5 {Reshevsky increased his lead.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1941.05.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1941.05.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game ten was drawn.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3
e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O Be7 9. h3 $5 ({More enterprising is} 9. Qe2 {
(Ed. Lasker - Horowitz, New York 1931).}) 9... O-O 10. Bd3 $5 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Qc7
12. e4 e5 13. Bg5 Rad8 14. Qe2 $5 exd4 15. Nxd4 Rfe8 16. Qc2 $2 Bd6 $2 (16...
Ng4 $1 17. hxg4 Bxg5 {takes the initiative.}) 17. Rad1 h6 18. Bh4 Be5 19. Nde2
Nf8 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 21. f4 Bd4+ $6 ({Preferable is} 21... Bxc3 $1 22. Nxc3 Ng6 $1
{and equality.}) 22. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 23. Bf2 Qb4 24. e5 Nd5 25. Ne4 {White attacks.}
Ne6 26. g3 $5 Nd4 27. Qd3 Nf5 28. b3 g6 $2 ({Better is} 28... b6 $1) 29. Bc5 $6
(29. Bxa7 $1 b6 $5 30. Qc4 $1 Qa5 31. Qxc6 Rd8 32. Nf6+ Nxf6 33. Bxb6 $1 {
gains material.}) 29... Qa5 30. g4 Ng7 31. Bd6 Qb6+ 32. Kh1 a5 {The game is
adjourned at 1:45 AM. They have a supper with Marshall, Hodges and other
guests. The resumption starts at at 3:30 AM.} (32... Ne6 $5 33. f5 $1 Nef4 $2
34. fxg6 $1 Nxd3 35. gxf7+ Kg7 36. fxe8=Q {also wins for White.}) 33. f5 $1
gxf5 34. gxf5 Kh8 35. e6 $1 f6 36. Bc5 Qa6 37. Qf3 Rg8 38. Rg1 Ne8 39. Qh5
Rxg1+ 40. Kxg1 Ng7 41. Qxh6+ Kg8 42. Bf8 {Reshevsky led by 7-4.} ({
Horowitz notices} 42. Bf8 Nxf5 (42... Kxf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxg7+ Ke8 45. Qf7+
Kd8 46. Qd7#) 43. Qg6+ Kxf8 44. Qf7#) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 3"]
[Date "1941.05.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C83"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "198"]
[EventDate "1941.05.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{They had some hours to reach Woodside and started game twelve.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3
Be7 10. a4 b4 11. Nd4 Nxe5 12. f4 Bg4 $5 (12... Nc4 {
occurred in Euwe - Alekhine, World Championship 1935 (16).}) 13. Qc2 c5 14.
fxe5 cxd4 15. cxd4 O-O 16. Be3 Be6 $5 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 f6 19. Rac1 Qb6 20.
Qd3 Qb7 21. Bc2 g6 22. Bh6 Rf7 23. Qg3 f5 24. Bb3 {White has the initiative.}
Bd8 25. Bg5 Qa7 26. Rcd1 Bxg5 27. Qxg5 Rc8 28. h4 Kg7 29. Qf4 h6 30. Qf3 Qb7
31. Qe3 Qe7 32. Qf3 $1 Qb7 33. Rc1 Rfc7 $6 ({Preferable is} 33... Qb6) 34.
Rxc7+ Rxc7 35. h5 $1 gxh5 ({The pointe is} 35... g5 $5 36. g4 $1 f4 37. Qd3 $1)
36. Qxh5 Kh7 37. Rxf5 $1 Bxf5 38. Qxf5+ Kg7 39. Qf6+ Kh7 40. Bc2+ $1 Rxc2 ({Or
} 40... Kg8 41. Bf5 $1) 41. Qf5+ Kg7 42. Qxc2 {
White has an extra pawn in the queen ending.} Qd7 43. b3 a5 44. Qc5 Qd8 45. Kf1
Kg6 46. Qd6+ $5 {The pawn ending is won, if White plays accurately.} Qxd6 47.
exd6 Kf6 48. Kf2 Ke6 49. Kg3 Kxd6 50. Kg4 $2 {
He misses the win in the pawn ending.} ({Right is} 50. Kh4 $1 Ke6 51. g4 $1 Kf6
52. Kh5 Kg7 53. g5) 50... Ke6 51. Kh5 Kf5 $1 52. Kxh6 Ke4 $1 53. g4 Kxd4 54. g5
Kc3 55. g6 d4 56. g7 d3 57. g8=Q d2 58. Qd5 Kc2 59. Qxa5 $5 (59. Qc4+ Kb2 60.
Qd3 Kc1 {does not win for White, because the opponent controls c3.}) 59... d1=Q
60. Qxb4 Kb2 {It has become a theoretical draw.} 61. Kg6 Qc2+ 62. Kg5 Qg2+ 63.
Kf6 Qc6+ 64. Kf7 Qd5+ 65. Ke7 Qe5+ 66. Kd7 Qf5+ 67. Kc7 Qf7+ 68. Kb6 Qe6+ 69.
Ka7 Qd7+ 70. Qb7 Qd4+ 71. Qb6 Qd7+ 72. Ka6 Qd3+ 73. Qb5 Qd6+ 74. Ka5 Ka3 75.
Qc4 $5 (75. b4 {does not help either.}) 75... Qd8+ 76. Kb5 Qb8+ 77. Kc5 Qc7+
78. Kd5 Qd8+ 79. Ke4 Qe7+ 80. Kd3 Qh7+ 81. Qe4 Qf7 82. Qc4 Qh7+ 83. Kd2 Qh6+
84. Kc2 Qh2+ 85. Kc3 Qh8+ 86. Qd4 Qc8+ 87. Kd2 $5 Kxb3 88. a5 Qc2+ 89. Ke1 Qf5
90. Qb6+ Kc4 91. a6 Qe5+ 92. Kf1 Qf5+ 93. Qf2 Qb1+ 94. Kg2 Qg6+ 95. Kh2 Kb5 96.
a7 Qh7+ 97. Kg1 Qg7+ 98. Kf1 Qa1+ 99. Ke2 Qa2+ {They were obliged to play
sixteen games. Hereafter, four dull draws completed the match (91/2-61/2).
Reshevsky remained the champion.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C86"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The United States Chess Federation considered to cancel the fourth
championship due to the war. Later it was thought to be good for morale. The
event was played at Hotel Astor in New York from 10 until 30 iv 1942. Fine
could not participate.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.
Qe2 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bg4 9. c3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Rd1 $5 b4 $1 12. d4 bxc3
13. g4 $2 (13. bxc3 $1 Rb8 14. Bc2 {equalises.}) 13... Qb8 14. Bd5 Nxd5 15.
exd5 Bg6 16. bxc3 Na5 17. Nbd2 exd4 $5 {Black sacrifices a piece.} 18. Qxe7 $2
({Preferable is} 18. Nxd4 Re8 19. Nf5 Bf6 20. Qf3) 18... Re8 $1 19. Qg5 dxc3
20. Nh4 ({The pointe is} 20. Nf1 f6 $1 21. Qf4 Re4 22. Qg3 c2 23. Rd3 Qb1 $1
24. Rda3 Nb3 {and Black wins.}) 20... f6 21. Qf4 Bc2 22. Nf5 $5 Bxd1 23. Ne4
Rxe4 $5 24. Qxe4 Qe8 $1 25. Qb4 Nb3 26. Rb1 Nxc1 $5 (26... Qe1+ $1 27. Kg2 Bc2
{ends the game.}) 27. Rxc1 c2 28. Qb7 Qd8 29. Qb3 Rb8 30. Qa2 h5 31. Nd4 hxg4
32. hxg4 Qe8 33. Nxc2 Qe2 34. g5 fxg5 35. Qa3 Bxc2 36. Qc3 Be4 37. Qxc7 Qg4+ {
Sammy delivers mate in two.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 d5 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. Nf3 cxd4 $5 10. exd4 b6 11. c4 Qd6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Bb2
Rfd8 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. f3 Rac8 17. Qe2 Qd6 18. f4 {
Reshevsky has the initiative.} g6 19. Rae1 Re8 20. Rf2 Nh5 21. Qg4 Ba6 22. Rc1
Re7 23. c5 $1 bxc5 24. Bxa6 Qxa6 25. dxc5 Rec7 26. Qg5 f6 27. Bxf6 Nxf6 28.
Qxf6 Rxc5 29. Rxc5 Rxc5 30. Qd8+ Kf7 31. Qd7+ Kf8 $1 {
White has little advantage.} 32. h3 Qb6 33. Kh2 Rc1 34. Re2 Qg1+ 35. Kg3 Rc3+
36. Kh4 Qc5 37. Qxh7 Qe7+ $2 (37... Qd4 $1 38. Qh6+ Kf7 {seems to draw.}) 38.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 39. a4 Kf6 40. Re4 Ra3 41. g4 $2 (41. Kg4 Ra2 42. g3 a5 43. h4 Ra3
44. Rc4 $1 Ra1 45. h5 {plays for a win.}) 41... a5 42. Rc4 Rf3 43. Rc5 $5 Rxf4
44. Rxa5 g5+ $2 45. Kg3 $2 (45. Rxg5 Rxa4 46. Kh5 $1 {
takes advantage of a blunder.}) 45... Rb4 {The time scramble had ended in a
drawn position. When the arbiter could not see the consumed times, he placed
the clock at the other side! Then, one player overstepped the limit. The
arbiter concluded: "Denker has lost on time!" So Reshevsky gained half-a-point.
Denker was out of the race for the first place.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Levy, Louis"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C32"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 e4 5. d4 Bb4 6. Bb5+ $5 ({The old line is
} 6. Bc4 Nxd5 7. Nge2 {(Schlesinger - Falkbeer, Germany 1854).}) 6... Bd7 7.
Bc4 $6 ({The alternative will become} 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. Nge2 Nxd5 9. O-O) 7...
Bg4 8. Qd2 O-O 9. h3 Bf5 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. a3 e3 $5 12. Qd1 $5 (12. Qxe3 $6 Re8
13. Qf3 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Be4 15. Qf2 Bxc2 {favours Black.}) 12... Bxc3+ 13. Nxc3
Nb6 14. Bd3 Nfxd5 15. O-O Bxd3 $5 16. Qxd3 Re8 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. c4 $2 {
Levy makes a decisive mistake.} ({Right is} 18. Rf3 $1 e2 19. Bd2 {
and White has gained a plus.}) 18... Qh4 $1 19. Qe2 ({The pointe is} 19. cxd5
e2) 19... Nxf4 20. Qf3 e2 21. Bxf4 exf1=Q+ 22. Rxf1 Re1 23. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 24. Kh2
c6 25. d5 cxd5 26. cxd5 Qe7 27. d6 Qd7 28. Qd5 Rc8 29. Qd3 h6 30. Qg3 Qe6 31.
h4 Rc4 32. b3 Rd4 33. b4 Qf5 34. Be5 Rg4 35. Qc3 Rxh4+ 36. Kg1 f6 37. Bg3 Re4
38. Qd2 Re8 39. Qd4 Rc8 40. Bf4 g5 41. Bd2 b6 42. Bc3 Kf7 43. a4 Rd8 44. b5 Qc5
{Kashdan and Reshevsky battled for the first place.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. g3 $5 Bb4 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Qa4 Nd5 8.
Bd2 O-O 9. e4 Bxc3 10. bxc3 N5b6 11. Qc2 h6 12. O-O Re8 13. Bf4 Nf8 14. Nd2 Bd7
15. a4 a5 16. Ra3 $5 Ng6 17. Be3 Bc6 18. Rfa1 f5 19. f3 Qd7 20. Qa2 $1 Kh7 21.
Nxc4 Nxa4 $6 (21... Nxc4 22. Qxc4 Rad8 {is alright.}) 22. Nd2 b5 23. c4 Nb6 24.
cxb5 Bxb5 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5 f4 $1 27. Bf2 (27. gxf4 Nxf4 $1 28. Bxf4 Qxd4+
29. Kh1 Ra8 30. Qxb5 Rxa1+ 31. Bf1 {brings little advantage.}) 27... Ra8 28.
Qc3 Qc6 29. Qb2 Rxa1+ 30. Qxa1 Qc2 31. Qb1 $1 Qxd2 32. Qxb5 {
White has achieved an edge.} Qd1+ 33. Qf1 Qc2 34. Bh3 $1 e5 $2 ({Better is} 
34... Qc6) 35. Bf5 $1 fxg3 36. hxg3 exd4 37. Qb5 $1 {He threatens 38.Bxg6+.}
Qc1+ 38. Kg2 Qg5 39. f4 Qf6 40. Bxd4 $1 Qf7 ({The pointe is} 40... Qxd4 41.
Bxg6+ Kxg6 42. Qf5#) 41. Bxb6 cxb6 42. Qxb6 h5 43. Bxg6+ Qxg6 44. Qxg6+ Kxg6
45. Kh3 Kh6 46. Kh4 g5+ 47. fxg5+ Kg6 48. e5 {Kashdan wins the pawn ending.}
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Hahlbohm, Herman"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nc3 Ne7 $5 ({Theory is the sharp line} 3... Qh4+ 4. Ke2
d5) 4. Nf3 d5 5. d4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Nd5 7. Qe2 $6 ({More solid is} 7. Bc4 Be7 8.
O-O) 7... Bb4+ 8. c3 O-O $1 {Reshevsky plays like a Calabrean.} 9. cxb4 Re8 10.
Ne5 $6 f6 $2 (10... Nc6 $1 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Kf2 Bf5 13. Kg1 Rxe4 {
regains a piece in a won position.}) 11. Qh5 $1 g6 $1 ({The pointe is} 11...
fxe5 $6 12. Bc4 c6 13. O-O {and White has the initiative.}) 12. Qh4 fxe5 13.
Qxd8 Rxd8 14. dxe5 Bf5 $6 (14... Kg7 $1 15. Nf6 Nxb4 16. Kf2 Nc2 17. Rb1 Ne3 {
favours Black.}) 15. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 16. exf6 Re8+ 17. Kf2 Nd7 18. Bc4+ Be6 $1 19.
f7+ Kxf7 20. Bxe6+ Rxe6 21. Bxf4 Rae8 22. Rhe1 c6 23. Rxe6 Rxe6 24. Re1 Rxe1
25. Kxe1 Ke6 26. Kd2 Kd5 27. Kd3 a6 28. a3 Nf6 29. Bc7 Ne8 30. Bb8 Ng7 31. Ba7
Ne6 32. Be3 b5 33. Bd2 h5 34. Be3 g5 35. g3 Ke5 36. h3 Kf5 37. Bf2 Ke5 38. Be3
Kd5 39. Bf2 Nd8 40. Bb6 Ne6 41. Be3 Ke5 42. Ba7 Kd5 43. Be3 Ke5 44. Ba7 Kd5 45.
Be3 Ke5 {Reshevsky did not utilise his chances in an interesting opening.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.29"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Chernev, Irving"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D93"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kashdan trailed Reshevsky by half-a-point.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4.
Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qb3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Be2 Be6 11.
Qc2 Nbd5 12. Be5 Bf5 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Nxd5 $5 (14. Nd2 Qxb3 15. Nxb3 {
happened in Capablanca - Flohr, Semmering/Baden 1937.}) 14... Nxd5 15. Bc4 Rfd8
16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rac1 f6 18. Bxd5 Rxd5 19. Qa3 $1 {
The queens should not be exchanged.} (19. Qxb6 $2 axb6 20. a3 Rb5 {
costs a pawn.}) 19... Re8 20. Qc3 Qa5 21. a3 $2 ({Preferable is} 21. b4 Qa4 22.
a3) 21... Qxc3 22. Rxc3 Rb5 23. b4 a5 $1 24. bxa5 Rxa5 25. Re1 Rea8 26. e4 Bg4
27. Ree3 Rd8 28. Rb3 $2 (28. Rc4 Bxf3 29. gxf3 e5 30. Rc5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 {
exchanges towards a hard rook ending.}) 28... Bxf3 29. gxf3 Rxd4 30. Rxb7 $2
Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Rg5+ $1 {
Chernev experiences a nasty surprise. His opponent delivers mate in four moves.
} 32. Kh3 Rdg1 33. Rxe7+ Kh6 {Kashdan had put the pressure on Reshevsky.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4"]
[Date "1942.04.29"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1942.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Bd6 8.
Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Nge2 Re8 11. O-O-O $5 {Reshevsky plays for a win.} ({
Known is} 11. h3) 11... Qa5 12. Kb1 b5 13. Ng3 $5 Bf8 14. Nge2 $5 Bb7 15. Rc1
$6 ({Preferable is} 15. Nc1) 15... b4 $1 {Horowitz takes the initiative.} 16.
Na4 Ne4 17. b3 Rac8 $6 (17... c5 $1 18. dxc5 Rac8 {keeps an edge.}) 18. f3 $1
Nd6 19. Nc5 $2 {This move loses a pawn.} Nxc5 20. dxc5 Nb5 21. Bxb5 cxb5 {
C5 falls.} 22. Qd3 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Bxc5 24. Nd4 Qb6 25. Bf2 a6 26. Rc1 Bc8 27.
Qc2 Bxd4 28. exd4 Qf6 29. Ka1 Bf5 30. Qd2 Qg5 $6 31. Qxg5 hxg5 {
Black has an additional pawn in the endgame.} 32. Re1 Rc8 33. Be3 Rc2 34. g4
Bg6 35. Bxg5 Rxh2 36. Be7 Rf2 37. Bxb4 Rxf3 38. Re5 Be4 39. Re8+ Kh7 40. g5
Rf1+ 41. Kb2 Rf2+ 42. Ka3 $5 Bb1 $1 43. Ba5 Rxa2+ 44. Kb4 Kg6 45. Bd8 Bf5 46.
Rg8 Kh7 47. Rf8 Be6 48. Be7 Rd2 49. Kc5 b4 $5 50. Ra8 Rd3 51. Kxb4 $5 Rxd4+ {
The two extra pawns have little importance due to the bishops of a different
colour.} 52. Kc5 Rd3 53. b4 Ra3 54. Kb6 $5 d4 55. b5 Rb3 $1 56. Rxa6 d3 $5 57.
Ka5 $2 ({Right is} 57. Ra4 $1 d2 58. Rh4+ $1 Kg6 59. Rd4 Rb2 60. Ba3 $1 {drawn.
}) 57... d2 $1 58. Rd6 Bc4 $2 (58... Ra3+ $1 59. Kb4 (59. Kb6 Ra2 60. Kc5 Bb3)
59... Ra7 $1 60. Bd8 Rd7 {would have costed Sammy the championship.}) 59. Rxd2
$1 {White survives.} Rxb5+ 60. Ka4 Rb7 61. Bd8 Kg6 62. Rd4 Be6 63. Ka5 Rb8 64.
Be7 Re8 65. Bd8 Rxd8 66. Rxd8 Kxg5 67. Kb4 Kf4 68. Kc3 g5 69. Kd2 g4 70. Ke2 g3
71. Rd4+ Ke5 72. Rh4 {The final standings became: Reshevsky and Kashdan 121/2/
15, Denker and Pinkus 101/2, Steiner 10, Horowitz 9, Seidman 7, Levin and Levy
61/2, Chernev and Pilnick 6, Baker and Lessing 51/2, Altman, Green and
Hahlbohm 4. A playoff between Reshevsky and Kashdan became necessary.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.10.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D83"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The playoff match happened in the New York region from 7 x until 27 xii 1942.
Four games happened in Army bases. Game one occurred in Fort Jay on Governors
Island.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 c5 7. dxc5
Ne4 8. cxd5 Qa5 9. Nge2 Nxc5 {They follow Capablanca - Flohr, AVRO 1938.} 10.
Qd1 $5 ({Known is} 10. Qc4) 10... e5 11. Bg5 f6 12. a3 $1 {A battle rages.} Ne4
$2 ({Better is} 12... fxg5 13. b4 {(Alekhine)} Qd8 $1 14. bxc5 Na6 $1 {
and Black attacks the centre.}) 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 f5 15. f3 $1 Nxc3 16. Nxc3
f4 17. Bf2 e4 $1 18. Rc1 $1 {Reshevsky defends well.} Bf5 $5 {
Kashdan tries to create chaos.} 19. Be2 exf3 20. gxf3 $1 fxe3 21. Bxe3 Nd7 22.
O-O $6 (22. Rg1 $1 h6 23. h4 {takes over the attack.}) 22... Rae8 23. Bd4 Ne5
24. Kh1 a6 25. d6 Kh8 26. b4 $1 Qd8 (26... Qxa3 $2 27. Nd5 Qa2 {(Reshevsky)}
28. Rc5 $1 {wins for White.}) 27. Nd5 g4 $2 (27... Qxd6 28. Bc5 Qh6 29. Bxf8
Rxf8 30. Ne3 Bd7 {offers a strong resistance.}) 28. Nc7 gxf3 29. Bxf3 $1 Nxf3
30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxe8+ Qxe8 32. Rc7+ {White plays elegantly.} Kg8 33. Re7 Qg6
34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Rxf3 {Kashdan oversteps the time limit in a lost position.}
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C75"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The second game happened in Camp Upton at Yaphank.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 Nge7 7. Bb3 h6 8. Be3 Ng6 $5 (8... g6 {
occurred in Teichmann - Steinitz, Hastings 1895}) (8... g5 9. Bxg5 $5 hxg5 10.
Nxg5 d5 {led to a  spectacular draw in Ahues - Rubinstein, San Remo 1930.}) 9.
Nbd2 Qf6 ({Usual will become} 9... Be7 $5) 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O-O Nf4 12. Bxf4
Qxf4 13. Kb1 Na5 $5 ({The natural move is} 13... O-O) 14. Bc2 O-O 15. Nf1 Bb5
16. Bd3 f5 $1 {Reshevsky takes the initiative.} 17. dxe5 Bxd3+ 18. Qxd3 fxe4 $2
{Black overestimates his chances.} (18... Qxe4 $1 19. Ng3 Qxd3+ 20. Rxd3 {
brings equality (Kashdan and Alekhine).}) 19. Qd5+ $1 Kh8 20. Rd4 dxe5 $2 (
20... Rad8 21. Rxe4 dxe5 22. Rxf4 Rxd5 23. Rxf8+ Bxf8 24. Ne3 Rd6 25. Nxe5 Kh7
{offers more resistance.}) 21. Nxe5 $1 Rf6 {The rest is agony.} 22. Rxe4 Qxf2
23. Qxa5 Rb6 24. Nd3 Qxg2 25. Ng3 Bd6 26. Re2 Qc6 27. Ne5 Qe8 28. Qd5 Bxe5 29.
Qxe5 Qg6+ 30. Qf5 Qd6 31. Rhe1 Rg8 32. Re8 Qg6 33. Rxg8+ Kxg8 34. Qxg6 Rxg6 35.
Re7 Rc6 36. Kc2 g6 37. Kd3 h5 38. Ne4 a5 39. Kd4 a4 40. Ke5 Rb6 41. Rxc7 Rxb2
42. Kf6 Rb6+ 43. Kg5 Kf8 44. a3 Rb3 45. Kxg6 Ke8 46. Rxb7 $1 Rxa3 47. c4 {
Reshevsky resigned on the next day. It was his first loss in the USchampionship
since 1936.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D81"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game three was played in Pine Camp at Great Bend.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Be6 6. Qd3 $5 ({Usual was} 6. Qb5+ Nc6 7. Nf3) 6... Bg7
7. e4 c6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Ne8 $5 10. O-O Nd6 11. Qc2 Bc4 12. Bf4 Bxe2 13. Qxe2
Qb6 14. Rad1 Qa6 {Black wants to exchange.} 15. Rd3 $1 {
Black avoids the plan and continues the development.} Nd7 16. e5 $5 Nb5 17. Ng5
$5 Nxc3 18. bxc3 h6 19. Ne4 {Reshevsky prepares an attack on the kingside.} c5
$1 {Kashdan counters in the centre.} 20. Rfd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Rac8 22. Qd2 Rfd8
23. h4 ({The pointe is} 23. Bxh6 $6 Nxe5 $1 {(Alekhine)} 24. dxe5 Qxd3 25. Qxd3
Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Bxh6 {and equality.}) 23... Kh7 24. h5 g5 25. Bg3 Rc4 26. f4 f5
$1 27. Nc3 $5 {Sammy keeps the game going.} gxf4 28. Bxf4 e6 $6 {
Black blocks the protection of the kingside by his queen.} 29. Rg3 $1 Nf8 $2 (
29... Rdc8 $1 30. Rb1 Qc6 31. Rb3 Nb6 {
counters on the queenside and keeps the answer available.}) 30. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7
31. Bxh6+ Kh7 32. Qg5 Rd7 33. Bxf8 Rxc3 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Qe8 $2 {
The players miss a trick during the time pressure.} ({Better is} 35. h6 $1 Rcc7
36. Bg7+ Rxg7 37. hxg7+ Kg8 38. Qh6 Rxg7 39. Rc1 $1 b5 40. d5 $1 {
and White has a decisive attack.}) 35... Rcc7 $2 (35... Rg3 $1 36. Be7+ $5 Kh7
37. Qxd7 Rxg2+ $1 38. Kxg2 Qe2+ 39. Kg3 Qe3+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 36.
Be7+ Kg7 37. Qf8+ Kh7 38. Qf7+ {Reshevsky delivers mate. He led by 2-1.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.10.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fourth game occurred in Plattsburg Barracks at Plattsburg.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qxd4 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. b3 Rfe8 13. Bb2 Bf8 14. Rad1 $5 (14.
Rfe1 {occurred in Keres - Thomas, Hastings 1937.}) 14... Re6 $6 {
Black has a crammed position.} ({Preferable is} 14... c6 $5 15. f3 Qc7 {
and the black queen moves to a better square.}) 15. Rfe1 Rae8 16. f3 Kh8 $6 {
A useless move.} 17. Ne2 $1 Qc8 18. Qf2 $5 Nd7 19. Nd4 R6e7 $6 (19... Rg6 $1
20. Nf5 Be7 {tries to counter.}) 20. Qg3 f6 21. Nf5 Re6 22. h4 {
Black has been outplayed.} b5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. h5 Qa6 25. a3 c5 $5 26. Rd5 Ne5
27. Red1 Nf7 28. Qh4 Ne5 29. f4 Nf7 30. h6 $1 g6 $1 31. Bxf6+ Kg8 32. Ng3 $2 ({
Better is} 32. Bg7 $1 gxf5 33. exf5 Bxg7 34. fxe6 Rxe6 35. hxg7 {
and White wins.}) 32... Bxh6 33. Bb2 Bg7 34. f5 Bxb2 $1 35. fxe6 Rxe6 36. Qg4
Re8 37. Qd7 Rd8 38. Qe7 Rf8 39. Rf1 Be5 $2 (39... Qa8 $1 40. Rd3 Qe8 {
moves the black queen to e8 timely.}) 40. Rd3 $1 Qc8 41. Rdf3 $1 Qe8 42. Rxf7
$1 Qxe7 43. Rxe7 Bxg3 44. Rxf8+ Kxf8 45. Rb7 c4 46. bxc4 {
Kashdan equalised again. The soldiers had seen fighting chess.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.11.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E29"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The match was resumed in the Marshall Club after a month. A crowd of 200
spectators followed game five.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5.
bxc3 c5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nf3 d6 9. Qc2 e5 10. d5 $5 Ne7 11. O-O Kh8 $6 {
Black loses time.} (11... e4 $5 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 14. Qf4 Bd3 15. Rd1
Ng6 16. Qg3 ({not} 16. Qg4 $2 Be2 17. Rd2 Ne5) 16... Bxc4 {about equalises.})
12. Ne1 Ne8 13. f4 $1 exf4 14. exf4 g6 $5 15. Nf3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Nxf5 17. g4 $1 {
The attack begins.} Nh6 $5 18. f5 $6 {Reshevsky makes a risky pawn sacrifice.}
(18. h3 f5 19. g5 Nf7 20. h4 Ng7 {equalises.}) 18... Nxg4 19. h3 Ne5 20. Nxe5
dxe5 21. Bh6 Rg8 22. f6 g5 $6 (22... Nd6 $1 23. Bg7+ Rxg7 24. fxg7+ Kxg7 {
leads to a black plus.}) 23. Qf5 Rg6 24. Bf8 Nd6 $5 ({More solid is} 24... Nxf6
25. Qxe5 Qxf8 26. Rxf6 Rxf6 27. Qxf6+ Qg7 {(Reshevsky).}) 25. Bg7+ $5 Kg8 $1
26. Qxe5 Qd7 $6 (26... Nxc4 $1 27. Qe2 Nd6 {harvests a pawn.}) 27. Rae1 h5 $2 (
27... Rd8 $1 28. Qe7 Qc8 $1 {defends carefully.}) 28. Qe7 $1 Qxe7 29. Rxe7 Rd8
30. Rfe1 Kh7 31. Kg2 g4 $2 {Kashdan allows an attack on his king.} (31... a6 $1
32. Rc7 b6 {resists strongly.}) 32. R1e5 $1 gxh3+ 33. Kxh3 Rg1 34. Rxh5+ Kg6
35. Ree5 Rh1+ 36. Kg4 Ne4 $2 {Time pressures.} (36... Rg1+ 37. Kf3 Rf1+ 38. Kg2
Rf5 {(Reshevsky)} 39. Rhxf5 Nxf5 40. Kf3 Rd7 41. Kf4 Nxg7 42. fxg7 Kxg7 {
tries to survive in a rook ending.}) 37. Rxh1 Nf2+ 38. Kf4 {
Reshevsky led by 3-2.} ({The pointe is.} 38. Kf4 Nxh1 39. Rg5+ Kh7 40. Rh5+ Kg6
41. Rh6#) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.12.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game six ended in a draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5
Qxd5 6. Nf3 c5 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Nc6 9. e3 O-O 10. Rd1 $5 Qxa2 $5 (10... cxd4
$1 11. Nxd4 e5 12. Nf3 Qxa2 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Be6 {equalises.}) 11. dxc5 {
White controls more territory.} Nd5 12. Be2 Ncb4 13. Qd2 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Nd5 15.
Qd2 b6 16. cxb6 axb6 17. O-O Bb7 18. Rc1 Rfc8 19. Ne5 Nf6 20. Nc4 Qb3 21. Qd4
Rc6 $2 (21... Qb4 $5 22. Nxb6 Qxd4 23. exd4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Ra2 25. Nc4 Kf8 {
creates sufficient counter-play.}) 22. Nd6 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qd5 24. Qxd5 Bxd5 25.
Rc8+ Rxc8 26. Nxc8 Kf8 27. Nxb6 {White has gained a pawn.} Bb7 28. f3 Ke7 29.
Kf2 Ne8 30. Nc4 f6 31. Ke1 e5 32. Kd2 Nc7 33. Bd3 h6 34. Na5 Bc8 35. Bc4 Kd6
36. Kc3 Nd5+ $6 {The exchange helps White.} 37. Bxd5 Kxd5 {
Sammy has a won knight versus bishop ending.} 38. e4+ Ke6 39. Nc4 Ba6 40. Ne3
$2 (40. Kb4 $1 Kd7 41. Kc5 {wins for White.}) 40... h5 $2 (40... g6 $1 41. Kb4
Kd6 42. Nc4+ Kc6 {hinders the white king.}) 41. Kb4 $1 g6 ({The pointe is} 
41... Kd6 $2 42. Nf5+) 42. Kc5 $1 f5 43. b4 $1 fxe4 44. fxe4 $2 {
He blunders a pawn.} (44. b5 $1 Bb7 45. Kb6 $1 Ba8 46. Ka7 $1 {ends the game.})
44... Bd3 45. b5 Bxe4 46. g3 Bf3 47. h3 Bh1 48. b6 Ba8 49. Nc4 Kf5 $5 (49...
Bh1 $1 {keeps the white king out.}) 50. Kd6 $1 h4 $2 (50... e4 $1 51. Ne3+ Kf6
52. Nc2 Kf5 {leads to a black escape.}) 51. gxh4 e4 52. Ke7 $1 Bc6 53. Kf7 $1
Bd5+ 54. Kg7 Ba8 55. Kh6 Bc6 56. Na5 Bd5 57. b7 Bxb7 58. Nxb7 e3 59. Nc5 Ke5
60. Nd3+ Ke4 61. Ne1 Kf5 62. Kg7 e2 63. Nc2 {Reshevsky increased his lead.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 4 playoff"]
[Date "1942.12.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D93"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1942.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The games eight and nine were drawn.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7
5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Qb3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Be2 Be6 11. Qc2
Nbd5 12. Be5 Bf5 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Bc4 $5 (14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bc4 {
happened in Chernev - Kashdan, New York 1942.}) 14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 Ne4 16. Qa3
Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Qc7 18. Rad1 Nd6 19. Bb3 a5 $1 {Black threatens ..a4.} 20. Qc1 a4
21. Bc2 c5 $5 ({More solid is} 21... Be6 22. a3 f6 23. Nd3 b6) 22. Bxf5 Nxf5
23. e4 $5 {White weakens the centre.} cxd4 24. Ng4 $5 (24. exf5 Qxe5 25. fxg6
hxg6 26. Rxd4 {exchanges towards equality.}) 24... Nd6 25. Rxd4 Rac8 26. Ne3 $6
{The exchange of pawns draws.} Nb5 $1 27. Rc4 Qe5 28. f4 $5 {
Alekhine considers the situation as desperate. But White can still resist.} Qe6
$5 29. f5 $1 Qb6 30. Rxc8 $2 (30. Rb4 $1 Nxc3 $1 31. Rxb6 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 Nxc1 33.
Rxb7 Nxa2 34. Nd5 $1 {escapes from a difficult position.}) 30... Rxc8 31. c4
Nd6 32. Kh1 Nxe4 {Black has gained a pawn.} 33. Nd5 $6 Qd6 $1 34. fxg6 hxg6 35.
Qb1 Rxc4 36. Qxb7 Nf2+ $1 37. Kg1 Ng4 38. Nxe7+ Kg7 39. Qb2+ f6 {Reshevsky won
game eleven too. The standings became 71/2-31/2 (+6, =3, -2). Kashdan could
have continued for another three games, but he resigned the playoff.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 5"]
[Date "1944.04.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Shainswit, George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1944.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifth US Championship was played in New York from 15 iv until 7 v 1944.
Reshevsky did not take parts, because he studied for accountancy. The
favourite was Fine.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5
Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 {
Black has accepted a pin in the Slav Defence.} Be7 $5 12. O-O Be6 13. Nxe5 Nxe5
14. a5 a6 15. Ne4 Rd8 16. Qc2 O-O 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Bf4 Rfe8 20. Be4
g6 21. Bd2 Bd5 22. Bc3 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qf7 24. Rad1 Rd5 $6 ({More solid is} 24...
Rd7 25. Rxd7 Qxd7) 25. Rxd5 cxd5 {Black has an isolated pawn.} 26. Qf4 Nc6 27.
e3 Kg7 28. Rd1 Qe6 $2 ({Correct is} 28... h5) 29. Rxd5 $3 {
A rook is sacrificed for a mate attack.} Qxd5 30. Qxf6+ Kh6 31. Qg7+ Kg5 ({Or} 
31... Kh5 32. h3 $1 Ne5 33. Qxh7+ Kg5 34. f4+ Kf5 35. fxe5 Qd1+ 36. Kf2 Qc2+
37. Ke1 Qc1+ 38. Ke2 Qc2+ 39. Bd2 {and White has a great advantage (Fine).})
32. Qf6+ Kh6 33. Qf4+ Qg5 (33... g5 $5 34. Qf6+ Kh5 35. h3 Re4 $1 36. Qg7 h6
37. g4+ Rxg4+ 38. hxg4+ Kxg4 39. Qxh6 {leads to a won endgame (Woodger).}) 34.
Bg7+ Kh5 35. Qf3+ Qg4 36. Qd5+ Qf5 $2 ({Euwe analyses} 36... Ne5 $1 37. Bxe5
Qf5 38. f4) 37. Qd1+ Qg4 38. f3 Qe6 39. g4+ Kg5 ({A pointe is} 39... Kh4 40.
Qe1+ Kg5 41. h4#) 40. Kg2 $3 Qxe3 41. h4+ Kxh4 42. Qh1+ {
Fine will mate on the next move. He has played his 'evergreen'.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 5"]
[Date "1944.04.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1944.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fine was trailing Denker by half-a-point. He had to avoid a loss.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne4 7. O-O $5 {
Denker develops something special at the board.} ({Theory is} 7. Qc2) 7... Nxc3
$5 ({The solid answer will become} 7... f5) (7... Bxc3 $5 8. bxc3 Nxc3 9. Qc2
Bxf3 10. gxf3 Qg5+ 11. Kh1 Qh5 {will draw in Petrosian - Averbakh, Moscow 1955.
}) 8. bxc3 Bxc3 9. Rb1 Ba5 $5 {Fine wants to keep the pawn.} 10. Ba3 d6 11. c5
$1 O-O 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. e4 {White has an attacking position for the pawn.} Re8
14. e5 $5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Qg5 $1 16. g3 g6 $6 ({Woodger and Soltis advice} 16...
Rc8 $1 17. Nxf7 $2 {but} Qd5 $1 18. f3 Kxf7 19. Be4 Qd7 {refutes this idea.})
17. Qa4 Qd8 {Fine feels uncomfortable in his chair.} 18. Rfc1 b5 $2 {
He makes another mistake.} (18... Na6 $1 19. Bb5 Qd5 20. Bc6 Bxc6 21. Nxc6 Qd7
{makes an effort to survive.}) 19. Bxb5 Qd5 20. f3 Bb6 21. Rc5 $1 Bxc5 (21...
Qxa2 22. Rd1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Bc4 {catches a queen.}) 22. Bxc5 Rf8 ({Or} 
22... f6 23. Bc4 Bc6 24. Qb3 Qd8 25. Bxe6+) 23. Bc4 Bc6 24. Bxd5 Bxa4 25. Bxa8
{White has won a bishop. Fine would make a great score, but his last try for
the title failed.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 5"]
[Date "1944.04.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Rothman, Aaron"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1944.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Arnold Denker was a successful amateur boxer. He also delivered many hits in
chess.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. b4 {Rothman plays a sharp gambit.} cxb4 4. d4 d5
$5 ({Usual is} 4... Nf6 {(Keres - Eliskases, Semmering/Baden 1937).}) 5. exd5
Qxd5 6. c4 $1 bxc3 7. Nxc3 Qd8 $6 (7... Qa5 $5 {will be played in future games.
}) 8. Bc4 $1 {White has a pleasant game.} Nf6 9. O-O e6 10. d5 $1 {
He utilises his advantage in development.} exd5 $6 ({More prudent is} 10... Bc5
$5 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Bxe6 fxe6) 11. Re1+ $6 ({The elegant line} 
11. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 {(Soltis)} 12. Ne5 $1 Be6 13. Bb5+ Nd7 14. Bxd7+ Bxd7 15. Qxd5
Be6 16. Qb5+ {wins for White.}) 11... Be7 12. Ba3 $1 Nc6 13. Qe2 $2 (13. Bxe7
Nxe7 14. Nxd5 Nfxd5 15. Bxd5 O-O 16. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 17. Qb3+ {
brings a strong white attack.}) 13... dxc4 $2 (13... Be6 $1 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 {
wins for Black.}) 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. Bxe7 $4 (15. Ne5 $1 O-O 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17.
Bxe7 Qa5 18. Bxf8 Qxc3 19. Bc5 {gains a plus.}) 15... Qxe7 $1 {
Aaron goes knockout!} 16. Qxc4 Be6 17. Rxe6 fxe6 18. Re1 O-O 19. Rxe6 Na5 $1
20. Qe2 Qc5 21. Re7 Rae8 {Denker managed to score 141/2/15! Two quiet draws
followed. The final standings became: Denker 151/2/17, Fine 141/2, Horowitz
and Steiner 14, Pinkus 131/2, Shainswit 111/2, Altman 9, Adams and Almgren 8,
DiCamillo and Weinstock 7, Isaacs, Neidich and Rothman 61/2, Stromberg 5,
Chernev 41/2, Gladstone 21/2, Persinger 1/2.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 5 match"]
[Date "1946.05.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1946.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Denker was crushed by Botvinnik and Steiner defeated Bondarevsky during the
radio match in 1945. Thereafter, Steiner challenged Denker for a match. They
played in Los Angeles from 4 until 18 v 1946.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4.
Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3 Ne4 9. Bf4 Ndf6 10. Qc2 O-O
11. O-O Bd6 $5 ({Known is} 11... Nd6 {
(Stahlberg - Bogoljubow, Gothenburg 1930).}) 12. Bxd6 $1 (12. Bxe4 $2 Nxe4 13.
Nxe4 Bxf4 $1 14. exf4 Bf5 $1 {favours Black.}) 12... Nxd6 13. Ne5 g6 14. Rae1
$5 (14. b4 $1 {starts a minority attack.}) 14... Bf5 15. Ne2 $6 (15. Bxf5 $1
Nxf5 16. f3 {begins a charge in the centre.}) 15... Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nd7 17. Ng3
Re8 18. f4 f5 19. Qb3 {White threatens e4.} Kg7 20. Re2 Nf6 21. Rf3 $5 Qb6 $1
22. Qc3 Rec8 $1 {Black takes the initiative on the queenside.} 23. Rc2 a5 24.
Nf1 $6 Nde4 $1 25. Qe1 c5 $1 {Denker punches.} 26. dxc5 Rxc5 27. Rxc5 Qxc5 28.
Qh4 $6 {The queen moves in the wrong direction.} d4 29. exd4 Qxd4+ 30. Kh1 Rc8
$6 {He should capture a pawn.} 31. Nd3 $6 (31. Qe1 $1 Nd5 32. Nd3 {
offers more resistance.}) 31... Rc2 32. Qe1 Ng4 33. h3 Ngf2+ 34. Nxf2 Rxf2 35.
Rb3 b6 36. Qc1 $6 (36. Ng3 $5 Qc4 $1 37. Kg1 Rxf4 {costs a pawn.}) 36... a4 $1
37. Ra3 b5 $1 38. Kh2 Qxb2 39. Qc7+ Kh6 40. Qe7 Rxg2+ 41. Kh1 Qf2 $1 {
Denker had won with Black.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 5 match"]
[Date "1946.05.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1946.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Steiner had blundered in the second and drawn in the third game.} 1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 e6 3. g3 Be7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. b3 d5 6. Bb2 a5 7. O-O a4 8. bxa4 Bd7 $5 ({
Theory is} 8... Nbd7) 9. Nc3 Ne4 $2 (9... dxc4 $1 {equalises.}) 10. cxd5 Nxc3
11. Bxc3 Bxa4 $5 (11... exd5 12. Qb3 Bxa4 13. Qb2 $1 f6 14. Qxb7 Nc6 15. Qb1 $1
{also costs a pawn.}) 12. Qb1 $1 exd5 13. Qxb7 {White has gained a pawn.} Nc6
14. Ne5 $1 (14. Nd4 $2 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Rb8 $1 16. Qa7 Ra8 {leads to a perpetual.}
) 14... Qd6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Qb1 Ra4 17. e3 Rfa8 18. Qb2 $1 f6 19. Rfc1 Qe6
20. Qb3 Ra3 21. Qc2 Bd6 $2 ({Better is} 21... Ba4 22. Qb1 Be8) 22. Bb4 $1 R3a6
({The pointe is} 22... Bxb4 23. Qxc6 Qxc6 24. Rxc6 Bxd2 {(Ftacnik)} 25. Rc2 $1
Bb4 26. Bxd5+ {and White wins an exchange.}) 23. Qb3 $1 Bxb4 24. Rxc6 $1 Qe7
25. Bxd5+ Kh8 26. Rxc7 $1 Qxc7 27. Bxa8 Bxd2 28. Bd5 g6 29. Qd3 Qa5 30. Qe4 Qd8
31. Rd1 Qc7 $2 32. Qd3 {Denker led by 31/2-1/2.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 5 match"]
[Date "1946.05.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "1946.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5
Nb8 9. e4 a5 $5 10. b3 Na6 11. Ne1 Bd7 12. a3 Qb8 $5 13. Qe2 Nc5 14. Rb1 a4 $5
15. b4 $1 Nb3 16. Nc2 Nxc1 17. Rfxc1 Bh6 18. Ne3 Qa7 19. Rc2 Bxe3 $6 20. Qxe3
Qxe3 21. fxe3 Ng4 22. Re1 b6 23. h3 Nf6 $6 ({Preferable is} 23... Nh6) 24. Rf1
Kg7 25. Rcf2 Ng8 26. g4 h6 27. b5 $1 {
He has gained territory on both flanks. It will be hard to defend pawn a4.} Ra5
28. Kh2 Ne7 29. Bf3 Rfa8 30. Bd1 Be8 31. h4 g5 32. h5 Ng8 33. Rf3 f6 34. R3f2
Bd7 35. Kg3 Kf7 36. Rb2 Ne7 37. Rb4 Ng8 38. Rf2 Ke8 39. Ra2 Kd8 40. Rxa4 Rxa4
41. Bxa4 {White has gained a minor pawn.} Kc8 42. Bd1 Kb7 43. Kf2 Ne7 44. Ke1
Rf8 45. Kd2 Ra8 46. Kc2 Rd8 47. Kb3 Nc8 48. Rf2 Rf8 49. Na2 Ne7 50. Nb4 Ng8 51.
Na6 Ne7 52. Be2 Ng8 53. Rf1 Ne7 54. a4 Ng8 55. a5 $1 Ne7 56. Rd1 Nc8 57. Kc3
Ne7 58. Rg1 Nc8 59. Ra1 Rd8 60. Nb4 Rf8 61. Nc6 Rh8 62. Rf1 Rf8 63. Kb4 Ka8 64.
Kb3 Bxc6 $2 (64... Kb7 $1 65. a6+ Ka8 66. Nb4 Na7 {keeps the position closed.})
65. bxc6 Rf7 66. Ka4 Kb8 67. Rb1 Rf8 68. Kb5 Ka7 69. Ra1 Kb8 70. Ka6 Rf7 $5 (
70... bxa5 71. Rb1+ Ka8 72. Kxa5 Rg8 73. Rb7 Rg7 74. Kb4 Rf7 75. c5 dxc5+ 76.
Kxc5 Nd6 77. Rxc7 $1 Rxc7 78. Kxd6 {also wins for White.}) 71. Rb1 $1 Rg7 72.
axb6 cxb6 73. Rxb6+ $1 Nxb6 74. Kxb6 {The fortress has been opened.} Ra7 75. c5
Ra2 76. Bb5 $1 f5 77. cxd6 {Steiner was trailing by two points.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 5 match"]
[Date "1946.05.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "1946.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Nbd7 5. O-O c6 6. d3 Bd6 7. e4 $5 ({
Known is} 7. b3) 7... dxe4 8. dxe4 Qc7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qe2 e5 11. h3 Re8 12. Nh4
Nc5 13. b4 $6 {White weakens his queenside.} ({Better is} 13. Be3 a5 14. Rad1)
13... Ne6 $1 14. c5 Bf8 15. Be3 b6 16. cxb6 axb6 17. Rfc1 Qb8 $5 {
He could capture b4.} 18. Qb2 Bd7 $6 (18... Nd4 $1 19. Nf5 c5 {
conquers the centre.}) 19. Nf3 h6 20. Ne2 Bd6 21. Nd2 c5 22. Nc4 Bc7 23. bxc5
bxc5 24. Qxb8 Rexb8 25. Nc3 Nd4 26. Kh2 {The chances are about equal.} Ne8 27.
Nd5 f6 28. Nd2 $6 {The knight leaves a fine post.} Bd6 29. Bf1 Rb2 30. Bc4 Kh8
31. Nb3 Nc2 $1 32. Nb6 $2 Ra7 $2 ({He misses the elegant} 32... Nxe3 $1 33.
Nxa8 Rxf2+ {and wins.}) 33. Rxc2 $5 Rxc2 34. Nd2 Bc6 35. Bb3 Rc3 36. Rd1 Rb7
37. Nbc4 $6 Bb5 38. Nxd6 $2 (38. Nb2 Be7 39. Nb1 Rxe3 40. fxe3 {defends well.})
38... Nxd6 39. Nb1 Rd3 40. Rc1 c4 $6 (40... Nxe4 $1 41. Bc2 Rxe3 $1 42. fxe3
Bc6 {wins for Black.}) 41. Bc2 Nxe4 $2 {
Black should avoid the bishops of a different colour in the endgame.} (41...
Rxe3 $1 42. fxe3 Bd7 {gains a great positional advantage.}) 42. Bxd3 cxd3 43.
Nd2 Nxd2 $5 44. Bxd2 {White blockades the passed pawn.} Ra7 45. Ra1 Ba4 46. Kg1
Rb7 47. Kf1 Rb2 48. Ke1 Kh7 49. a3 Kg6 50. Rc1 Ra2 51. Rc3 e4 52. Rc4 Bb3 53.
Rc3 Rxa3 54. f3 f5 55. Kf2 Ra2 56. Ke3 Bd5 57. fxe4 fxe4 $6 {
Steiner cannot make progress, hereafter.} (57... Bxe4 $1 58. Rc7 h5 59. h4 Kf6
{hopes for a breakthrough on the kingside.}) 58. Rc5 Bb7 59. Rb5 Bc6 60. Rc5
Ra6 61. h4 Kf7 62. h5 Ke6 63. Bc3 Bd5 64. Rc7 Ra2 65. Bd2 Kf6 66. Bc3+ Kf5 67.
Bd2 g5 68. hxg6 Kxg6 69. Rc5 Be6 70. Ra5 Rc2 71. Ra6 Kf7 72. g4 Bxg4 73. Rxh6
Bf5 {Black will not be able to advance his pawns.} 74. Ra6 Bg6 75. Rb6 Rc8 76.
Ra6 Kg7 77. Rd6 Rc2 78. Ra6 Kh6 79. Ra1 Bf5 80. Rc1 Ra2 81. Rg1 Kh5 82. Rg2 Rc2
83. Kf4 Bh7 84. Rh2+ {Denker had escaped.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 5 match"]
[Date "1946.05.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D62"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1946.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Denker had a hard time in the games 7, 8 and 9, but he drew all three.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. cxd5 exd5
9. Be2 Qa5 10. O-O Re8 $5 11. Bb5 Rd8 $5 12. Ne5 Nf8 13. Be2 Ne6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6
15. Ng4 Be7 16. Rad1 cxd4 17. exd4 Bd7 18. f4 Rac8 19. Kh1 $6 {
A messy segment begins.} (19. Qb3 $5 Qb4 20. Qxb4 Bxb4 21. f5 {brings equality.
}) 19... Bb4 $1 20. Rf3 $2 (20. Rd3 $5 {grabs the right rook.}) 20... Nf8 $2 (
20... Bxc3 $1 21. Rxc3 Ba4 $1 {gains an exchange.}) 21. f5 $5 Bxc3 $5 22. bxc3
$2 (22. Rg3 $1 Ba4 23. Nh6+ Kh8 24. Nxf7+ {draws.}) 22... Ba4 $2 (22... h5 $1
23. Nh6+ gxh6 {plays for a win.}) 23. Qd2 Bxd1 24. Nh6+ $2 (24. f6 $1 Rc6 25.
Nh6+ $1 gxh6 26. Qxh6 Rxf6 27. Qxf6 Bxe2 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qf6+ {
achieves a repetition of moves.}) 24... gxh6 $1 25. Qxh6 Rc6 $2 (25... Rxc3 $1
26. f6 Ne6 {wins for Black.}) 26. f6 $1 Rxf6 27. Qxf6 Bxe2 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29.
Qf6+ Kg8 30. Qf7+ Kh8 31. Rg3 $5 Ng6 32. Qf6+ {
Denker had defeated Steiner by 6-4 and kept the title.} (32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Rxg6+
hxg6 34. Qxg6+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 6"]
[Date "1946.10.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1946.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The sixth US championship was played in New York from 26 x until 17 xi 1946.
It became a race between Kashdan and Reshevsky.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. O-O Re8
11. Ng3 b6 $5 ({Known is} 11... Ne4) 12. a4 Qc7 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Ba3 Ne7 15. a5
Ng6 16. a6 $1 Bc8 17. Bb5 Rd8 $5 18. f3 h5 19. Qd2 h4 20. Nf1 Bf5 21. Rac1 c4
22. Qf2 Bd3 23. Nd2 Rac8 24. Kh1 Kh7 25. e4 $1 {
At last White attacks in the centre.} dxe4 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 $6 (26... Qf4 $1 27.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 {defends the kingside.}) 27. fxe4 Ng4 28. Qg1 $1 Nf4 29. Rc2 Rh8 $2
({Wiser is} 29... Nd3 30. Rf1 Kg8) 30. e5 $1 Kg8 $2 {
Steiner delivers an incorrect sacrifice.} 31. Re4 Nh5 32. Rxg4 Ng3+ 33. Rxg3 $1
{White gives a rook for two knights.} ({Not} 33. hxg3 $4 hxg3+) 33... hxg3 34.
h3 Qd8 35. Bd6 Qh4 36. Qe3 Rh6 37. Rc1 Rh5 38. Bd7 Rd8 39. e6 fxe6 40. Bxg3 Qg5
41. Qxg5 Rxg5 42. Bxe6+ {Kashdan had defeated the former challenger.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 6"]
[Date "1946.10.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Denker, Arnold"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1946.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Sammy had started by two draws. Thereafter, he became a winning machine.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. a3 $5 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 O-O 11. Nf3 c4 $1 12. Be2 Bf5 13. Qb2 Qb6 $5 (13...
Nd7 $1 14. Qxb7 $6 Qd6 15. Qb2 Rab8 {shows more aggression.}) 14. Qxb6 axb6 15.
Nd2 Re8 16. O-O Ra5 17. Rfe1 Nd7 18. e4 $1 Bxe4 19. Bxc4 $1 {
Denker liberates his game.} Rc8 20. Bf1 $5 Bf5 21. c4 $5 ({The alternative is} 
21. Re3 Rca8 22. c4) 21... Ra4 $1 22. Rec1 Be6 $5 23. cxd5 $1 Rxc1 24. Rxc1
Bxd5 25. Bc4 $6 (25. Rc8+ $1 Kh7 26. Nc4 b5 27. Ne3 Rxd4 28. Bxb5 Be6 {
equalises.}) 25... Nf6 $1 26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. Nc4 b5 $1 28. Nd6 Rxa3 29. Rc8+ $4
{White leaves the first rank unprotected.} ({Right is} 29. Nxb5 Rb3 30. Nd6 {
and White draws easily.}) 29... Kh7 30. h4 b4 31. Rb8 b6 $1 32. Nc4 Ra1+ 33.
Kh2 b3 34. Rd8 Nc3 35. d5 Ra4 36. Nxb6 Rb4 37. Nd7 h5 38. Nf8+ Kh6 39. Nd7 b2
40. Ne5 Rxh4+ 41. Kg3 b1=Q 42. Rh8+ Kg5 43. Nf3+ Kf6 44. Nxh4 Ne4+ 45. Kh2 Nxf2
46. Rxh5 Qh1+ 47. Kg3 Ne4+ 48. Kf4 g5+ {
Reshevsky defeated the defending champion.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 6"]
[Date "1946.11.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1946.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. f3 ({Kashdan played} 10. O-O {in round one.}) 10...
Re8 11. O-O Qc7 $5 12. Rb1 Bd7 13. Qe1 Rad8 14. g4 {
Reshevsky advances on the kingside before he marches in the centre.} h6 15. Kh1
Bc8 16. Rg1 g5 $6 17. Qg3 $1 Qe7 $5 (17... Qxg3 18. Nxg3 b6 {
also favours White.}) 18. Qf2 $5 ({More direct is} 18. h4 $1) 18... Kg7 19. Ng3
Rh8 $5 20. Bf5 $1 {He plans to exchange bishops before the knight goes to f5.}
(20. h4 $5 Rdg8 $1 {defends the king.}) 20... Be6 $1 21. e4 $1 Kf8 $2 (21...
dxe4 22. fxe4 Bc4 {resists in the central area.}) 22. e5 $1 Ne8 23. Bxe6 fxe6
24. f4 $1 {Sammy opens the defence line.} gxf4 ({Or} 24... Rh7 25. fxg5+ Rf7
26. Qc2 hxg5 27. Nh5 cxd4 28. Qg6 Nxe5 29. Qh6+ Ng7 30. Qh8#) 25. Qxf4+ Kg8 26.
Nh5 Rh7 27. g5 $1 hxg5 28. Rxg5+ Kh8 29. Rxb7 $1 Nc7 ({The pointe is} 29...
Qxb7 30. Qf8#) 30. Rxc7 $1 {White will mate soon.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 6"]
[Date "1946.11.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sandrin, Albert"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1946.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. O-O Qe7 $5
8. d3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Qe2 h6 11. Be3 Bb4 12. Kh2 $6 g5 $1 {
Black takes the initiative on the kingside.} 13. g4 $5 Bg6 14. Kg3 $6 {
The king becomes a target.} O-O-O $1 15. Bd2 $6 {White loses time.} Nd7 $1 16.
a3 Bd6 17. Nd1 Nf8 18. Ne3 Ne6 19. Nf5 $2 ({Preferable is} 19. Nc4 $1 h5 20.
Nxd6+ cxd6 21. Rh1) 19... Bxf5 20. gxf5 Nf4 $1 21. Qe1 $6 (21. Bxf4 exf4+ 22.
Kg2 h5 23. f6 Qxf6 24. e5 Qe6 25. Qe4 {offers more resistance.}) 21... h5 22.
Rh1 g4 $1 23. hxg4 Rdg8 24. Nh2 hxg4 (24... Qh4+ $1 25. Kxh4 hxg4+ 26. Kg3 Rh3#
{ends the game elegantly.}) 25. Nxg4 Qg5 26. f3 Rxh1 27. Qxh1 Nh5+ {
Sandrin failed to organise an active defence.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 6"]
[Date "1946.11.13"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1946.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Reshevsky led on Kashdan by one-and-a-half point at the start of the last
round. So the championship was decided, when the stars met.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6
3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3 b5 9. Rc1 $5 (9.
O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {drew in Bernstein - Kashdan, New York 1940.}) 9... Bb7 10. a4
b4 11. Nb1 Nc6 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. O-O Nh5 $5 ({A solid move is} 13... Rc8) 14.
Be5 $1 f6 $6 (14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 g6 {
avoids the following complications (Soltis).}) 15. Ng5 $1 Qe8 $1 16. Bxh7+ Kh8
17. Bb1 $1 fxe5 (17... fxg5 $2 18. Qc2 $1 Rf5 19. g4 {gains material.}) 18.
Nxe6 exd4 $2 19. Nxf8 $2 (19. Nc7 $1 Qf7 20. Nxa8 Bxa8 21. Rxc6 Bxc6 22. Qc2
Nf6 23. Qxc6 {wins a pawn.}) 19... Bxf8 20. exd4 Nf6 {
Reshevsky has a rook and two pawns for two minor pieces.} 21. Re1 Qh5 22. Qxh5+
Nxh5 23. Nf3 {Reshevsky has achieved a better endgame.} Nf6 24. Re6 Rc8 25. Bf5
$2 Ne7 $2 (25... Nxd4 $1 26. Rxc8 Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 Bxc8 {(Soltis)} 28. Rxf6 $1
gxf6 29. Bxc8 a5 {draws.}) 26. Rxc8 Nxc8 27. Ne5 Kg8 28. Ng6 Nd6 29. Bh3 Nc4
30. b3 $1 Na5 31. Rb6 Kf7 32. Nxf8 Kxf8 33. Rxb4 Bc6 34. Rb6 Be8 35. Rxa6 Nxb3
36. a5 Ke7 37. Re6+ Kd8 38. a6 Kc7 39. a7 Kb7 40. Rb6+ $1 {The final standings
became: Reshevsky 16/18, Kashdan 131/2, Santasiere 13, Levin 121/2, Denker and
Horowitz 12, Steiner 11, Pinkus 101/2, Kramer 91/2, Sandrin 8, Ulvestad 71/2,
Rubinow 7, Adams, Dicamillo, Rothman and Suesman 61/2, Drexel 5, Fink 4,
Kowalski 31/2.} 1-0

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The organisers had put their funds in the prize money. When Reshevsky asked
for an appearance fee, his demand was not accepted and Sammy refused to come.
It was too late, when he changed his mind. The seventh US Championship was
played in South Fallberg, New York, from 10 until 31 viii 1948. Favourite
became Kashdan. His opponent in round nine was a sixteen-years-old talent.} 1.
d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Be2 Bb7 $5 8. O-O a6
9. Ne5 f6 $5 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Bd2 Nh6 $2 {Eveans misses a tactical point.} 12.
Nxb5 $1 cxb5 13. Bxb4 {
White has regained the pawn and won a positional advantage.} Kf7 14. b3 cxb3
15. a5 Bd5 16. Nd2 Rc8 17. Nxb3 $5 ({Preferable is} 17. e4 $1 b2 18. Rb1 Bb7
19. Qb3) 17... Bc4 18. Rc1 Bxe2 $2 19. Qxe2 Re8 $6 {
Black has opened the position.} 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Rc1 $1 Qd8 22. Rc6 $5 Nb8 23.
Rd6 $6 ({Better is} 23. Rb6 $1 Qc8 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Bd6) 23... Qc8 24. Nc5 Kg8
$2 (24... Nc6 $1 25. Bc3 Nf5 26. Rd7+ Kg8 27. Qa2 Kh8 {offers more resistance.}
) 25. Qa2 $1 Kf7 26. Rb6 Nf5 27. h3 Nc6 28. Bd2 Nb8 29. Bb4 Nc6 30. Bc3 Nb8 31.
e4 $1 Nh4 32. Qb3 Re7 33. Bb4 Nc6 34. d5 Nxb4 35. dxe6+ Ke8 36. Qxb4 Rc7 37.
Nxa6 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Rh1+ $1 {The youngster sets a last trap.} 39. Kg3 $1 {
Kashdan avoids perpetual check. He had scored 8/9.} 1-0

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Rubinow, Sol"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kashdan experienced his Elba in this game.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4.
d4 exd4 5. Nd5 {Rubinow plays a sharp opening.} Nxd5 6. exd5 Nb4 $5 ({Theory is
} 6... Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qe7+ 8. Be2 $6 d3 $1 {(Richter - Becker, Berlin 1938).}) 7.
Bc4 b5 $5 8. Bb3 ({Or} 8. Bxb5 $5 Qe7+ 9. Be2 d3 $1 {
and Black has the initiative.}) 8... Qe7+ 9. Kd2 $6 (9. Kf1 {is fine.}) 9... g6
10. Qe1 ({The pointe is} 10. Re1 $4 Bh6+) 10... Bb7 11. Nxd4 a6 12. d6 $1 cxd6
$6 {Kashdan wants to win.} (12... Qxe1+ 13. Rxe1+ Kd8 14. dxc7+ Kxc7 {draws.})
13. Kc3 $2 (13. Kd1 $1 Qxe1+ 14. Rxe1+ Kd8 15. Bg5+ Kc7 16. Bf6 {
gains an advantage.}) 13... Bg7 $2 (13... Rc8+ $1 14. Kxb4 Be4 $1 15. Bd5 $5
Rc4+ $1 {He sacrifices a rook for a line clearance.} 16. Bxc4 d5+ 17. Ka5 Qd8+
$1 18. Kxa6 Qc8+ 19. Ka5 Qc7+ 20. Ka6 Be7 {leads to a mate attack.}) 14. Bg5
Bxd4+ 15. Kxd4 Nc6+ 16. Kc3 Qe5+ $1 17. Qxe5+ dxe5 18. Rad1 $6 Rc8 $1 19. Rd6
$2 {White allows a strong counter.} Nd4+ $1 20. Kd3 Bxg2 21. Rg1 Bc6 $4 {
The tables turn.} (21... Nxb3 $1 22. axb3 Rc6 $1 23. Rxc6 Bxc6 $1 {
wins for Black.}) 22. Rxd4 $1 d5 $6 (22... exd4 $5 23. Re1+ Kf8 24. Bh6+ {
(Soltis)} Kg8 25. Re7 d5 26. Kxd4 a5 27. Ke5 $1 Rd8 28. Rc7 Ba8 29. a4 {
wins for White.}) 23. Bf6 e4+ 24. Ke3 {He has gained a bishop.} O-O 25. c3 Rfe8
26. Bxd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 Rc6 28. Rd8 Rxd8 29. Bxd8 f5 30. Rd1 Kf7 31. Bg5 Ke6 32.
Rd8 h5 33. h4 Ke5 34. Rd7 Ke6 35. Rg7 Kd5 36. Rf7 Ke5 37. Bf4+ Ke6 38. Rc7 Rb6
39. Kd4 b4 40. c4 b3 41. a3 a5 42. Kc5 {
Hereafter, Steiner, Ulvestad and Kashan stood at the top.} 1-0

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.21"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Steiner had caught up with Kashdan in the previous round.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6
3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Be2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe3 Nc6 14. Rac1 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Re8
$5 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. Bb1 {
White has an edge in the centre. Black can counter on the queenside.} Qb4 18.
e5 $6 Ne7 $1 19. Ng5 $5 {Kashdan plays for a win.} h6 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rb1 Qc3
$6 (21... Qa5 $1 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nf5 {favours Black.}) 22. Qxc3 $5 Rxc3
23. Ne4 Rcc8 $5 (23... Bxe4 $1 24. Bxe4 Rd8 {takes the initiative.}) 24. Nd6
Kxh7 25. Nxb7 Rc2 26. Nd6 Rf8 27. a3 Nd5 28. Rdc1 Ra2 29. Ra1 Rxa1 30. Rxa1 f6
31. Rc1 {White has achieved an equal endgame.} fxe5 32. dxe5 Rf4 33. Rd1 Ne7 ({
Not} 33... Ra4 $4 34. Rxd5 $1 exd5 35. e6) 34. g3 Ra4 35. Rd3 g5 36. Rf3 Nd5
37. Kg2 g4 38. Rb3 Kg6 39. h3 h5 40. hxg4 hxg4 41. Rd3 a6 42. Rb3 Rd4 43. Kf1
b5 44. Ke2 Kg7 45. Ne8+ Kf8 46. Nd6 Ke7 47. Rd3 Ra4 {
Steiner kept up with Kashdan.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.22"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 e5 6. d5 a5 7. Bg2 Na6 8. Nge2 Nc5
9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Ne8 11. Be3 f5 12. exf5 gxf5 13. f4 b6 14. fxe5 $5 (14. a3
Kh8 15. b4 {drew in Winter - Tartakower, Warsaw 1935.}) 14... dxe5 15. d6 $1
Rb8 16. dxc7 Nxc7 17. Nd5 $5 {Evans avoids the exchange of queens.} (17. Qxd8
$1 Rxd8 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5+ {gains a plus.}) 17... Nxd5 18. Bxd5+ Kh8 19.
Kh2 Qc7 20. Qd2 Bb7 21. Nc3 Rbd8 22. Bh6 Rd6 23. Nb5 $2 {
White allows a favourable simplification.} Bxh6 24. Qxh6 Rxh6 25. Nxc7 Bc8 26.
Bg2 Nd3 27. b3 f4 $1 {Black attacks in the central area.} 28. Nd5 Bg4 $1 29.
gxf4 Be2 $2 (29... exf4 30. Nxb6 f3 {wins for Black.}) 30. Rg1 $2 (30. Rfe1 $1
Nxe1 31. Rxe1 Bg4 32. Rxe5 {equalises.}) 30... exf4 31. Bf1 Re8 32. a3 $6 f3 $6
(32... Bxf1 33. Raxf1 Re2+ 34. Rg2 f3 $1 {ends the game.}) 33. b4 Bxf1 34.
Raxf1 Re2+ 35. Kg3 f2 36. Rg2 Re4 37. Kh2 Rhe6 38. bxa5 bxa5 39. Rb1 $1 {
Evans fights for his last chance.} Re1 $1 ({Not} 39... Rxc4 $4 40. Rb8+) 40.
Nf6 $1 f1=N+ $1 {He decides the game elegantly.} 41. Kg1 Ng3+ 42. Rxe1 Rxe1+
43. Kh2 Nf1+ 44. Kh1 Ne3+ 45. Rg1 Rxg1+ 46. Kxg1 Nxc4 {
Herman Steiner played the tournament of his life.} 0-1

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.30"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Howard, Franklin"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kashdan and Steiner shared the lead by 14/18, when the last round began.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 Na5
9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 Nc6 12. Be3 Bd7 13. Nbd2 O-O 14. Rc1 Rfc8 15. Nf1
Be8 $5 (15... Na5 {was played in L.Steiner - Asztalos, Maribor 1934.}) 16. Ng3
g6 17. Ne2 Nd7 18. Nh2 Nb6 $6 {Black should exchange in the centre.} 19. b3 $1
{The white position has been rearranged for an advance.} a5 20. d5 Nd8 21. f4
f6 22. Rf1 a4 23. Qe1 axb3 24. axb3 Ra2 25. Qg3 Nd7 26. f5 g5 27. h4 $1 {
White attacks on the kingside.} h6 $2 ({Preferable is} 27... Nf7 $1 28. hxg5
fxg5 $1) 28. Ng4 Bf8 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Qh3 Nf7 31. Kf2 $1 Bg7 32. Ng3 Nf8 33.
Nh5 $1 Qe7 34. Nxg7 Kxg7 35. Rh1 Kg8 36. Kf3 Rca8 37. Qg3 Rb2 38. Nh6+ $2 {
The nervous Howard misses the decisive strike.} (38. Rh5 $1 Kg7 39. Qh2 $1 Bd7
40. Bxg5 $1 Nxg5+ 41. Rxg5+ $1 fxg5 42. f6+ {wins for White.}) 38... Nxh6 39.
Rxh6 Qg7 $1 40. Rh2 Raa2 41. Qf2 $2 Qb7 $2 (41... b4 $1 42. cxb4 c4 $1 43. bxc4
Ba4 {strikes.}) 42. g4 b4 43. c4 Ba4 $5 44. bxa4 b3 45. Qg3 $2 {
He fails terribly.} (45. Rch1 $1 Qg7 46. Bxb3 $1 Rxf2+ 47. Rxf2 Ra3 48. Rb2 {
defends well.}) 45... Rxc2 46. Rhxc2 Rxc2 47. Rxc2 bxc2 48. Qe1 Qb3 49. Qa1
Qxc4 50. a5 Qa6 51. Qc1 $5 Qxa5 52. Qxc2 Qe1 53. Bf2 Qh1+ 54. Kg3 Qh4+ 55. Kf3
Qh2 56. Qe2 Qh3+ 57. Bg3 Qh1+ 58. Ke3 Qc1+ 59. Kf3 $5 c4 $1 60. Bf2 c3 61. Be3
Qh1+ 62. Qg2 Qd1+ 63. Kg3 c2 64. Qd2 Qxd2 65. Bxd2 Nd7 {
Black will play ..Nc5-b3 and win. Steiner had scored a lucky and important win.
} 0-1

[Event "South Fallberg"]
[Site "USA 7"]
[Date "1948.08.30"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kramer, George"]
[Black "Kashdan, Isaac"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E19"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1948.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kashdan had to win his last game in his last US championship, but he met his
Waterloo.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3
Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 f5 10. Ne1 Bxg2 11. Nxg2 Bf6 12. Rd1 $5 Nc6 13. e3 $2 (
13. Be3 $1 Qe7 14. Qd2 {unpins.}) 13... e5 $1 14. c5 $5 Kh8 15. b4 bxc5 16.
bxc5 Rb8 17. a3 Qe8 $1 18. Ra2 exd4 19. exd4 Qe4 20. Be3 Rb1 21. Rad2 Rfb8 22.
Rd3 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rb1 24. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 25. Ne1 Nxd4 $2 {
Kashdan misses the first opportunity.} (25... Qd1 $1 26. Kf1 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Qxd4
{wins a pawn in the right way.}) 26. Bxd4 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxe1+ 28. Kg2 {
The queen ending offers new chances for White.} Qe6 29. h4 $6 ({Better is} 29.
Qb4 $1 Qc6+ 30. Kg1 Kg8 31. Qb8+ Kf7 32. Qxa7) 29... Kg8 30. Kh2 a6 31. Qf4 d6
$2 {He overlooks the second opportunity.} (31... c6 $1 32. Qb8+ Kf7 33. Qa7 $2
Qd5 $1 {plays for a win again.}) 32. Qb4 $1 Qd7 33. Qc4+ d5 34. Qxa6 d4 35. c6
Qe6 36. Qb7 Qe5 37. a4 f4 38. Qc8+ Kf7 39. Qd7+ Kf6 40. a5 fxg3+ 41. fxg3 Qe2+
42. Kh3 Qf1+ 43. Kh2 Qf2+ 44. Kh3 Qf1+ 45. Kh2 Qe2+ 46. Kh3 d3 47. a6 d2 48.
Qd8+ $1 {Kramer escapes from a difficult situation.} (48. a7 $2 d1=Q 49. Qxd1
Qxd1 50. a8=Q Qh1+ 51. Kg4 h5+ $1 {favours Black.}) 48... Kf5 49. Qd5+ Kf6 50.
Qd8+ Kf7 51. Qxc7+ Kg6 52. Qd6+ Kf5 53. Qf4+ Kg6 54. Qg5+ Kf7 55. Qf5+ Ke7 56.
Qd7+ {White delivers perpetual check. The final standings became: Steiner 15/
19, Kashdan 141/2, Kramer and Ulvestad 13, Hesse, Rubinow and Shainswit 12,
Adams, Evans and Shipman 111/2, Sandrin and Santasiere 101/2, Poshel 8, Platz
71/2, Heitner 7, Whitaker 6, Howard 51/2, Almgren 41/2, Suraci 3, Janes 2.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Santasiere, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E44"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Twenty-four players showed up for the eighth US championship in New York,
July 1951. Twelve men qualified for the final. The main competitors in the
final (5-19 August) were Reshevsky, Seidman and Evans.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Ne4 6. f3 Nxc3 $5 (6... Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nd6 {
drew in Rubinstein - Kashdan, Hamburg 1930.}) 7. bxc3 Be7 8. e4 {
White has occupied the centre.} Nc6 9. Ng3 Ba6 10. Bd3 Na5 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O
d5 $2 (12... d6 13. f4 c5 {applies the indirect approach.}) 13. cxd5 Bxd3 14.
Qxd3 exd5 15. Nf5 {The offensive starts.} Re8 16. e5 c5 17. f4 Qd7 18. Rf3 Bf8
19. Rh3 {White threatens Ne7+ and mate.} g6 20. Ne3 $1 ({No effect has} 20.
Nh6+ $2 Bxh6 21. Rxh6 Nc4) 20... cxd4 21. cxd4 Rac8 ({The alternative is} 21...
f5 22. g4 fxg4 23. Rg3 Bg7 24. f5 {and White attacks.}) 22. f5 $1 Nc4 $6 (22...
Bg7 $5 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. fxg6 {also favours White.}) 23. Ng4 $1 Bg7 ({
The pointe is} 23... Qxf5 $2 24. Qxf5 gxf5 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Rg3+ Kh8 27. Rg8#)
24. Rxh7 $3 Kxh7 25. Qh3+ Kg8 26. f6 $2 (26. Bh6 $1 f6 27. fxg6 f5 28. Nf6+
Bxf6 29. exf6 {wins for White.}) 26... Qxg4 $2 {
Black misses a surprising counter.} (26... Qa4 $1 27. fxg7 Qd1+ 28. Kf2 Qc2+
29. Ke1 $1 f5 $1 30. Nf6+ Kf7 31. Bf4 Nb2 $1 {leads to an unclear position.})
27. Qxg4 Bxf6 28. exf6 Re1+ 29. Kf2 Rce8 30. h4 R8e4 31. Qg5 R4e2+ 32. Kg3 Nd6
33. Kh2 Ne4 34. Qxd5 Nxf6 35. Qd8+ Ne8 36. Bb2 Rxa1 37. Bxa1 f6 38. d5 Re4 39.
d6 Rxh4+ 40. Kg3 Re4 41. d7 {Evans had a lively start.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B73"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8.
O-O Nc6 9. f4 Qb6 10. Qd3 Ng4 11. Nd5 Bxd4 12. Nxb6 Bxe3+ 13. Kh1 Bxb6 14. Bxg4
Bxg4 {Black has gained three minor pieces for a queen.} 15. f5 Bh5 16. Rae1 Ne5
17. Qh3 f6 $5 {Reshevsky has a plus.} ({Theory is} 17... Rac8 {
(Ahues - Richter, Berlin 1930).}) 18. Qh4 Bg4 19. Rf4 $6 ({The pointe is} 19.
h3 $5 g5 20. Qg3 Bh5) 19... h5 20. fxg6 Nxg6 21. Rxg4 hxg4 22. Qxg4 Kf7 {
Now Black has a rook, bishop and knight for a queen.} 23. Rf1 Rh8 24. Qd7 Rac8
25. c3 Rc7 26. Qb5 Rc5 27. Qd7 Rc7 28. Qb5 Rc5 29. Qd7 Rch5 $1 30. h3 Rb8 $5 ({
More active is} 30... Rh4 $1 31. Qxb7 $6 Nf4) 31. Qa4 Ne5 32. Qd1 Rg5 33. a4
Rbg8 34. a5 $5 Be3 $1 35. Qd5+ Kf8 36. Qxb7 Rxg2 37. Qa8+ Kf7 38. Qd5+ e6 39.
Qb7+ Ke8 40. Qc8+ Ke7 41. Qc7+ Nd7 42. e5 fxe5 43. Qb7 R2g3 {
Reshevsky had a good start against an old opponent.} (43... R2g3 44. Kh2 Bf4 $1
{wins quickly.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shainswit, George"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Nfd7 $5 (
{Best known is} 7... a6 {(Euwe - Alekhine, Netherlands 1935 (12)).}) 8. Bf4 c6
9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qb3 Be6 11. Qc2 Bg4 $5 12. Be2 $1 {White sacrifices a pawn.}
Bxf3 13. gxf3 $2 (13. Bxf3 Bxd4 14. Ne2 c5 15. e5 Nc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. O-O {
gains an edge.}) 13... Bxd4 14. Bh6 Re8 15. h4 e5 16. h5 N8d7 17. f4 Qe7 18.
Bg5 Qc5 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. f5 $1 {He gives a second pawn for the initiative.}
Bxf2+ 21. Kf1 Be3 $2 ({Right is} 21... Bg3) 22. Bxe3 $2 (22. b4 $1 Qxb4 23.
Bxe3 {wins a piece.}) 22... Qxe3 23. Rd3 Qg5 24. Rg1 Qh6 $1 25. Rdg3 Kf8 $6 26.
Qd3 $6 ({Better is} 26. fxg6 $1 Ke7 27. gxf7 Rf8) 26... gxf5 27. Rh3 Qf4+ 28.
Rf3 Qh6 29. Rh3 Qf6 30. exf5 e4 31. Nxe4 Qxf5+ 32. Rf3 $1 Qd5 $1 ({
The pointe is} 32... Qxe4 $2 33. Qd6+ {(Soltis)} Re7 34. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 35. Bh5+
) 33. Ng5 $5 Ne5 $1 34. Nh7+ $2 (34. Qa3+ $1 c5 35. Rf5 Ke7 36. Nxf7 Nbc4 37.
Nxe5 Nxa3 38. Ng6+ Ke6 39. Rxd5 Kxd5 40. bxa3 {almost equalises.}) 34... Ke7
35. Qa3+ Qd6 $1 {The black queen accomplishes miracles as a defender.} 36. Qe3
Nd5 37. Rxf7+ Kxf7 38. Qg5 (38. Bh5+ Ke7 39. Rg7+ Kd8 {
leads to an escape by the black king.}) 38... Rg8 $1 {Larry played creative
chess. The game Evans - Reshevsky in round three became a quick draw. Both men
had scored 21/2 points.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Nge2 e5 8. O-O
Re8 9. d5 a5 10. h3 Nc5 11. Be3 Nh5 $5 ({Horowitz played} 11... Nfd7 {
another time.}) 12. a3 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. b4 axb4 15. axb4 Rxa1 16. Qxa1 Nd3
$1 17. Qb1 e4 18. c5 $5 Ne5 $5 19. Nb5 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 $5 (20. Bxf3 $6 exf3 21.
Nf4 Nxg3 $1 22. fxg3 Rxe3 23. Qc1 Qe8 $1 24. Nxc7 $2 Qe4 $1 {wins for Black.})
20... Bd7 21. Na3 Qf6 22. c6 $5 bxc6 23. dxc6 Bc8 $6 (23... Be6 $1 {
supports the attack.}) 24. Nb5 Qf7 25. Rc1 f4 $6 26. gxf4 $6 Qe7 $6 27. Ng1 $6
Rf8 $2 {Horowitz allows a counterattack. Probably, the players were already
plagued by time pressure.} 28. Nxc7 $1 Qxc7 29. Qxe4 Nxg1 30. Kxg1 Kh8 31. b5
$1 d5 32. Qb4 Nxf4 33. b6 Qe5 $6 34. Bxf4 Rxf4 35. b7 $2 (35. Qd2 $1 {
protects pawn f2, before the advance on the queenside proceeds.}) 35... Bxb7
36. Qxb7 Rxf2 $1 37. Kh1 $5 (37. Kxf2 Qd4+ 38. Ke2 Qe5+ 39. Kd2 Qd4+ 40. Kc2
Qc3+ 41. Kb1 Qa1+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 37... Rxg2 $6 38. Qc8+ Bf8 39.
Qxf8+ Rg8 40. Qf3 Rg3 $2 {Black commits the last blunder.} (40... Rc8 41. c7 d4
{fights for survival.}) 41. c7 $1 Rxf3 42. c8=Q+ Kg7 43. Qg4+ {
The race between Evans and Reshevsky continued.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mengarini, Ariel"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B71"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be2 Qb6 $2 {
Reshevsky blunders in the Sicilian Defence against a cut-throat player.} ({
Theory is} 7... Bg7) 8. Be3 $1 Bg7 (8... Qxb2 $2 9. Ndb5 $1 Qb4 {(Soltis)} 10.
Bd2 {brings a horrible position for Black.}) 9. e5 $1 Nd7 ({The pointe is} 9...
dxe5 $2 10. Nxc6 Qxe3 (10... Qxc6 11. Bb5) 11. Qd8# {(Soltis).}) 10. Nf5 $1
Qxb2 11. Nxg7+ Kf8 12. Bd2 $2 {Sammy gets a new opportunity.} (12. Nb5 $1 Kxg7
13. Bd2 $1 Nb4 14. Bc3 Qxc2 15. exd6+ Nf6 16. Bxb4 {crushes the resistance.})
12... Nd4 $1 13. O-O $5 Qxc2 14. Qe1 Kxg7 15. f5 dxe5 $5 (15... Nxe5 16. f6+ $1
exf6 17. Bh6+ $1 Kxh6 18. Qh4+ Kg7 19. Qxf6+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 16.
Bc4 $1 Qb2 17. fxg6 Nf6 $2 {He had a bad day.} (17... f5 $1 18. gxh7 Qb6 {
defends properly.}) 18. gxf7 Be6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rb1 $1 Qa3 21. Rxb7 Rhf8 22.
Kh1 $6 Rxf7 23. Qxe5 Rd8 $6 24. Qxe6 Rxd2 25. Ne4 Qe3 26. Rxe7 Rd7 27. Qxf7+ {
Evans led on Reshevsky by one-and-a-half point.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D49"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 Qb6 13. O-O Nc5 $2 {
Bernstein will lose control over the centre.} ({Theory is} 13... gxf6 14. Be4
Bb7 {(Fine - Horowitz, New York 1934).}) 14. Nxd4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 {
Two white pieces dominate the central area.} Ba6 16. Be3 gxf6 (16... b4 $2 17.
Qc2 Bxf1 18. fxg7 Bxg7 19. Nf5 $1 {wins for White.}) 17. Rfd1 b4 18. Qc2 Bb7
19. Rac1 {Larry has prepared a centre attack.} Rg8 $5 {Black counters.} 20. g3
$1 f5 ({Or} 20... Rg6 21. Qe2 Bh6 22. Nxe6 $1 Qxe6 23. Qb5+ Kf8 24. Qxb7) 21.
Nxf5 $1 Qa5 22. Nd6+ Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Rc8 24. Qd1 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Rg6 26. Bb6 Qe5
27. Qd2 Qe4 28. Rd8+ Ke7 29. f3 $1 Qc6 ({The pointe is} 29... Qxf3 30. Rd7+ Ke8
31. Rxb7 $1 Rxg3+ 32. hxg3 Qxg3+ 33. Qg2 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qh4+ 35. Qh3 Qf4+ 36. Qg3
{and Black runs out of checks soon.}) 30. Qxb4+ Kf6 31. Qd4+ {
Evans delivers mate in three.} (31. Qd4+ Ke7 32. Re8+ Qxe8 33. Bc5#) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 8"]
[Date "1951.08.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A52"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1951.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Ng6
$5 {Black has a crammed position in the Budapester.} ({Known is} 7... Nec6) 8.
Nc3 d6 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. O-O Nc5 12. Bc2 a5 13. Nd4 f6 $5 14. Rae1 Bd7
15. Kh1 Re8 16. Re3 Bc6 17. b3 Nf8 $5 18. a3 Kh8 $5 19. Rfe1 Qe7 20. f5 $5 {
He opens square e5.} Ncd7 $1 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. Nf4 $5 Ne5 $1 23. Qe2 Qe7 24. Rh3
Qf7 25. Nde6 Rac8 $2 ({Correct is} 25... Nxe6 26. fxe6 Rxe6 27. Nxe6 Qxe6) 26.
b4 $2 {It takes some time until Reshevsky finds the right move.} Bd7 $2 27.
Nxf8 $1 Rxf8 28. c5 $2 {Again Sammy needs time.} dxc5 $2 29. bxc5 $2 a4 $2 30.
Bb1 $2 Qe8 $2 31. Ng6+ $1 {He finds the decision at last.} Nxg6 32. Rxh7+ $1
Kxh7 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. fxg6 Rf7 35. e5 $1 Be6 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38.
exf6+ Kd7 ({Or} 38... gxf6 39. Qh3 Qd7 40. Ba2) 39. Qxe8+ Rxe8 40. gxf7 Bxf7
41. Bf5+ $1 {Sammy won the last four games, but it was not enough for the
championship. The final standings became: Evans 91/2/11, Reshevsky 81/2, Pavey
7, Seidman 61/2, Horowitz 51/2, Bernstein and Santasiere 5, Mengarini 41/2,
Shainswit 4, Hanauer, Pinkus and Simonson 31/2. Evans became the youngest
champion at nineteen.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 8 match"]
[Date "1952.06.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Steiner, Herman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1952.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Herman Steiner had not participated in the last event. As former champion, he
challenged his successor. They played for a prize fund of $3000 from 13 vi
until 3 vii 1952 in the West. Ten games could occur in Los Angeles, because
Steiner was active in Hollywood.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4
Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 O-O 11. bxc4 bxc4 12.
Bxc4 Qc7 $5 (12... Bb7 {happened in Showalter - Lipke, Wien 1898.}) 13. Qb3 Nc6
14. O-O {
White has a pleasant position by the two bishops and a superior centre.} Rb8
15. Qa2 Bb7 16. Rfc1 Ba8 17. h3 Qe7 18. Ne5 Ne4 $5 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Be1 $1
Rfc8 21. Bd3 ({Even better is} 21. f3 $1 Nd6 22. Bg3) 21... Nf6 $2 {
This blunder costs a pawn.} (21... Nd6 $1 22. Qxa7 $6 Qxa7 23. Rxa7 Bxg2 $1 24.
Rxc8+ Nxc8 $1 25. Rd7 Nb6 {defends brilliantly.}) 22. Qxa7 Nd7 (22... Qxa7 23.
Rxa7 Bxg2 $2 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Kxg2 {loses a piece.}) 23. Ba6 $1 Qg5 24. Rxc6
$1 Rxc6 25. Qxd7 Rcb6 26. Bd3 g6 27. Rc1 Rd8 28. Rc8 Rb8 29. Qxd8+ Qxd8 30.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. f4 h5 32. Kf2 Kg7 33. e4 f6 34. Ke3 Rc8 35. Bd2 Kf7 36. d5 e5
37. fxe5 fxe5 38. Bb5 Rc5 39. Bc6 Rc4 40. Kf3 Rd4 41. Be3 Rc4 42. Bg5 Rc3+ 43.
Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Kf1 {The d-pawn will advance in triumph.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 8 match"]
[Date "1952.06.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E48"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1952.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nge2 c5 7. cxd5 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. a3 Be7 11. Qc2 h6 12. Rd1 Nxc3 $6 ({Known is} 12...
Bf6) 13. bxc3 $1 {White strengthens the centre.} b6 14. Ng3 Bb7 15. Qe2 $5 Na5
16. Rb1 Qd5 17. Be4 Qd7 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Nh5 $1 {He attacks the kingside.}
Rfc8 $2 (19... Kh7 $2 20. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 21. Qg4+ Kh7 22. Qh5 {
also wins for White}) (19... f5 $1 20. Rd3 Nd6 21. Rg3 Rf7 {defends properly.})
20. Bxh6 $1 g6 ({The pointe is} 20... gxh6 21. Qe5 $1 f6 22. Qg3+) 21. Qe5 $1
f6 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Qf7 24. Qxf7+ Kxf7 {White has won two pawns.} 25.
Rd3 Rc6 26. Re1 Rac8 27. Bd2 Na5 28. Ree3 Nc4 29. Rf3+ Kg7 30. Bc1 b5 31. h4
Ra6 32. Rg3 Rh8 33. Rg4 Nxa3 34. Rdg3 Nc4 35. Rxg6+ Kf7 36. Bh6 Ra1+ 37. Kh2
Ke7 38. R3g5 Rb1 39. Rc5 a5 40. Bg5+ Kd7 41. Rg7+ Kd6 42. Rb7 e5 43. Rxc4 bxc4
44. Rxb1 exd4 45. Bf6 Rh6 46. Bxd4 Rxh4+ 47. Kg3 {Steiner had equalised.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 8 match"]
[Date "1952.06.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1952.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Evans won the games three, four and five. An interesting battle developed in
round six.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3
Nd7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. Qe2 $5 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. g4 $6 {
Steiner makes a premature advance.} Nc5 $1 12. Ne5 $1 {
White has to protect his g-pawn.} Nxd3+ $6 (12... Bd6 $1 13. O-O-O Bxe5 14.
dxe5 Nxd3+ 15. Rxd3 Qxe5 {gains a centre pawn.}) 13. Nxd3 Qh4 14. h3 f5 15. Nf4
Kh7 16. O-O-O fxg4 17. hxg4 Qxg4 18. f3 Qf5 19. Rdg1 $1 {
White has great compensation for the pawn.} Bg5 20. Qg2 $6 {
White threatens Qxg5.} (20. Nd3 Be6 21. f4 Be7 22. Ne5 {conquers the centre.})
20... Kg8 21. Nce2 Rf7 $6 (21... Bd7 $1 22. Rh5 Rae8 {develops the queenside.})
22. Rh5 Kf8 23. Qh2 Ke7 24. Rgxg5 $1 {Steiner gives an exchange for the attack.
} hxg5 25. Qg2 Kd8 26. Rxg5 Qf6 27. e4 $1 dxe4 28. fxe4 Bd7 29. Qg3 Re7 30. e5
Qf7 31. e6 $1 Bxe6 32. Rxg7 $1 Qf6 (32... Qxg7 $2 33. Qxg7 Rxg7 34. Nxe6+ {
favours White.}) 33. Rg6 Qf7 (33... Qf5 $5 34. d5 $1 Bxd5 35. Nd4 Qe4 36. Nxd5
cxd5 37. Rg8+ Re8 38. Qd6+ Kc8 39. Rg7 Qe1+ 40. Kc2 Qe4+ 41. Kc3 Qe3+ {
leads to perpetual check.}) 34. Rg7 Qf6 35. Rg6 Qf7 36. Rg7 {
The game ends by a repetition of moves. Herman Steiner could attack elegantly.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 8 match"]
[Date "1952.06.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1952.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game seven ended in a draw.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
d6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Nb3 O-O 9. f4 b5 10. Bf3 ({The pointe is} 10. Bxb5
Nxe4 $1) 10... b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Na5 13. Nxa5 $5 (13. Nd4 Qb6 14. c3 {
was played in Abramov - Fridstein, Moscow 1949.}) 13... Qxa5 14. Re1 Re8 15.
Kh1 Bf5 $1 {Black has the initiative.} 16. g4 $5 {
The counter brings a weakening.} Bd7 17. a3 Rac8 18. Re4 Qc7 19. Re2 ({
The pointe is} 19. Rxb4 $6 a5 $1 20. Re4 Qxc2) 19... Bb5 20. Rg2 a5 21. axb4
axb4 22. h4 $5 (22. Rb1 $1 Qc5 23. f5 Be5 24. Bg5 {develops the queenside.})
22... e5 $5 23. dxe6 Rxe6 24. f5 Ree8 25. h5 $5 {
Steiner applies a forwards defence.} Qe7 26. Bd2 $5 g5 $6 27. Bxb4 Bxb2 28. Rb1
Be5 29. Ba5 $6 (29. Bxd6 $1 Bxd6 30. Rxb5 Qe1+ 31. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Rg1 {draws.})
29... Bc6 $1 30. Bb4 $6 Qb7 31. Bxc6 $6 (31. Rb3 $1 {
activates the queen's rook as a defender.}) 31... Qxc6 32. Bd2 h6 33. Be3 Re7
34. Bd4 $2 {Probably, White suffered from time pressure.} (34. Kg1 $1 {
de-pins a rook.}) 34... Bxd4 35. Qxd4 Re2 $1 36. Rbg1 Qf3 37. Qxd6 Rcxc2 $1 38.
Qb8+ Kh7 {Evans was successful in his counterattacks against Steiner. He led
by four points.} (38... Kh7 39. Qh2 Rf2 40. f6 Rfe2 {leads to a fatal zugzwang.
}) 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 8 match"]
[Date "1952.06.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Steiner, Herman"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E31"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1952.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The ninth game was drawn.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 h6 6.
Bh4 d6 7. e3 e5 8. Bd3 e4 9. Bc2 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Bf5 11. Ne2 $5 ({Known is} 11.
Ba4+ Bd7 12. Ne2) 11... Qe7 $5 12. Qb1 $5 Nbd7 13. O-O $5 {White hesitates.} (
13. Qxb7 $5 O-O $1 14. Ng3 Bh7 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. O-O Nb6 {
leads to a two-sided position.}) 13... b6 14. a4 g5 15. Bg3 Kf8 16. Ra2 Kg7 17.
f4 Bg6 18. h3 Rhe8 19. Qe1 Nh5 20. Bh2 f5 21. Ng3 Nxg3 22. Qxg3 gxf4 23. exf4
$6 Kh7 24. Qe3 {The queen is a poor blockader.} Rg8 25. Bd1 Nf6 26. Bg3 Bh5 27.
Bh4 Bxd1 28. Rxd1 Rg7 {Evans prepares an attack.} 29. Qe1 Rag8 30. Kh2 Qf7 $1
31. Rf2 Nh5 $1 32. Qe3 Ng3 $1 33. Bxg3 $2 {
Steiner has difficulties as a defender.} ({Correct is} 33. Ra1 $5 Qh5 34. Bxg3
Rxg3 35. Qxg3 Rxg3 36. Kxg3 Qg6+ 37. Kh2 Qg7 38. Rc2 $1 {
and White tries to defend a fortress.}) 33... Rxg3 34. Qxg3 Rxg3 35. Kxg3 Qg7+
$1 36. Kh2 Qxc3 37. a5 $5 Qxc4 38. axb6 axb6 39. Ra1 Qxd5 {
Black has a queen and three pawns for two rooks.} 40. Rb2 e3 41. Re2 Qe4 42.
Rae1 Qxf4+ 43. g3 Qf3 44. Rxe3 Qf2+ 45. Kh1 c4 $2 46. R1e2 $2 {
White misses the escape.} Qf1+ 47. Kh2 b5 $2 48. Re7+ $1 {
Steiner turns the right way.} Kg6 49. R2e6+ Kh5 50. Rg7 $2 {
He misses the drawing mechanism again.} ({Correct is} 50. Rf7 $1 c3 51. Rff6 $1
Qf2+ {and Black has to deliver perpetual check.}) 50... Qf2+ 51. Kh1 c3 52.
Rgg6 Qd2 53. Rgf6 Qd5+ 54. Kh2 Qxe6 $1 {Evans led by 71/2-21/2. Hereafter,
four games were played in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Reno. The two games in
New York were cancelled. Final standings: 10-4.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.05.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Pavey, Max"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The ninth championship was plagued by a lack of money of the United States
Chess Federation. Six men qualified during a poor event in 1953. The main
tournament happened at the Marshall Chess Club from 29 v until 13 vi 1954.
Reshevsky, Kramer, Denker and the Byrne brothers had refused the invitation.} 
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Bd6 8. Bg3
O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. O-O $5 ({Usual is the immediate} 10. Rc1) 10... Bxg3 11. hxg3
b5 12. Rc1 Bb7 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Nd2 Nd7 15. Nb3 Na5 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Nc4
18. b3 Na3 {Black takes the initiative on the queenside.} 19. Qg4 Qe7 $1 20.
Nxd5 $4 ({Correct is} 20. b4 h6 21. Rfd1) 20... exd5 21. Qb4 Nc4 $1 22. bxc4
dxc4 23. Bf5 Rxc5 {He has netted a pawn.} 24. Rfd1 Rc7 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. Rd6 g6
27. Bg4 f5 28. Be2 Kg7 29. Kf1 Rf6 30. Rd4 Rff7 31. a4 Rd7 32. axb5 axb5 33.
Ra1 Rxd4 34. exd4 Bd5 35. Rb1 Rb7 $1 36. Rb4 Kf6 $1 37. Ke1 Ke6 38. Kd2 Kd6 39.
f3 Kc6 40. Kc3 Ra7 41. Rb2 Ra3+ 42. Kb4 Ra4+ 43. Kc3 Kb6 44. Rb1 Ka5 45. g4 b4+
46. Kd2 Ra2+ 47. Ke3 f4+ $1 48. Kf2 c3 49. Kf1 b3 50. Re1 b2 51. Bd3 Ra1 52.
Kf2 Rxe1 53. Kxe1 Bb3 {Bisguier ended the game in a solid style.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.06.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mengarini, Ariel"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 a6 5. Be3 $5 ({Usual is the immediate} 5.
c4) 5... Nf6 6. c4 Nc6 7. Qd3 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O Nd7
12. Qd2 Nde5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Rfd1 Nd4 15. Bf1 $2 {
He misses a 'petite combinaison'.} ({Correct is} 15. Nd5) 15... Bxh3 $1 16.
Bxd4 $6 {White makes matters worse.} exd4 17. Ne2 Bg4 18. f3 Bd7 19. Nxd4 {
The pawn has been regained at a positional cost.} Qb6 20. Qf2 Rfd8 21. Rac1 Ba4
$1 22. Nb3 Qxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Be5 25. Rd5 Rxd5 26. exd5 b5 27. cxb5
Bxb5 28. Bxb5 axb5 {Black has an extra pawn in the endgame.} 29. Nc1 Ra5 30.
Ke3 Kg7 31. Nd3 Bd6 32. Rb2 h5 33. Kd4 Kf6 34. Ke4 Kg5 35. f4+ Kg4 $5 36. Ne5+
Kg3 37. Rb3+ $5 ({The exchanges by} 37. Nxf7 Ra4+ 38. Kd3 Kxf4 39. Nxd6 exd6
40. Rxb5 Rxa2 {lead to a won rook ending for Black.}) 37... Kxg2 38. Rb2+ Kf1
39. Rb1+ Ke2 40. Rb2+ Kd1 41. Nd3 Ra3 42. Nf2+ Ke1 43. Nd3+ Kf1 44. Rb1+ Kg2
45. Rb2+ Kg3 46. Rxb5 h4 {Evans competed at the top.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.06.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Hearst, Eliot"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 dxe4 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ng5 Be6 10. Nxe6+ fxe6 11. Bg5 $5 (11. Bc4 {
won in Bolbochan - Maderna, Mar del Plata 1953.}) 11... Bb4 $6 ({Preferable is
} 11... Nc6 12. O-O-O+ Ke8 13. Bb5 Be7) 12. O-O-O+ {White develops quickly.}
Ke8 13. Nxe4 $1 {He starts a strong attack.} Nxe4 14. Rd8+ Kf7 15. Rxh8 Nxg5
16. Bc4 Bf8 $2 {Black imprisons a rook, but the action backfires.} (16... Ke7
17. Rd1 Nf7 $1 18. Rg8 g6 19. Be2 Nd6 {defends well.}) 17. f4 $1 Nd7 $1 (17...
Ne4 18. Re1 Nc5 19. b4 {wins for White.}) 18. Bb5 $1 ({The pointe is} 18. fxg5
$2 Rc8 19. b3 $2 {(Soltis)} Ba3+ $1) 18... Ne4 19. Bxd7 Nf6 20. Rd1 $1 g6 21.
g3 e5 $1 22. Rxf8+ $1 ({Not} 22. fxe5 $2 Bh6+ 23. Kc2 Rxh8 24. exf6 Kxf6 {
and equality.}) 22... Kxf8 23. fxe5 {Bisguier has an extra pawn in the endgame.
} Ng8 24. Bh3 Re8 25. Rd5 Re7 26. Kd2 Kf7 27. Kd3 Rc7 28. e6+ $5 Ke7 29. Rd7+
Rxd7+ 30. exd7 Nh6 $5 (30... Nf6 31. Kd4 Nxd7 32. Bxd7 Kxd7 33. Kd5 Ke7 34. Ke5
{also leads to a won pawn ending for White.}) 31. Be6 $1 Nf5 32. Bxf5 gxf5 33.
Kd4 Kxd7 34. Ke5 Ke7 35. Kxf5 Kf7 36. g4 Kg7 37. g5 Kf7 38. h4 Kg7 39. h5 Kf7
40. a4 Ke7 41. b4 Kf7 42. b5 Kg7 43. a5 Kf7 44. g6+ {
Evans, Bisguier and Sherwin competed for the first place.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.06.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hearst, Eliot"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B93"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Qc7 7. Bd3 e5 8. Nf3
b5 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. a3 g6 $5 ({Known is} 11... Be7) 12. Kh1 Bg7 13.
fxe5 dxe5 14. Qf2 O-O 15. Qh4 Nh5 16. Ng5 $1 {White provokes a weakening.} h6
17. Nh3 Qd8 18. Qf2 Qf6 19. Qe1 Qd6 20. Be2 Nhf6 21. Qh4 {
Pawn h6 is threatened.} g5 22. Bxg5 $1 {He charges.} hxg5 23. Nxg5 Qe7 $2 {
Black should have left square e7 open.} (23... Rfe8 $1 24. Rad1 Qc7 $1 25. Bh5
Re7 26. Nh7 $1 Re6 $1 27. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 28. Rxf6 Rxf6 29. Nxf6+ Bxf6 30. Qxf6 {
brings a white initiative.}) 24. Rad1 $1 Rfd8 25. Bh5 $1 Nxh5 26. Rxf7 $1 Qxf7
27. Nxf7 Kxf7 28. Qxh5+ Kg8 29. Qf5 $5 Nc5 $5 30. Nd5 Bxd5 31. exd5 Rxd5 $6 (
31... Rd6 $5 32. h4 Rad8 33. b3 Rxd5 34. Rxd5 Rxd5 35. b4 Rd1+ 36. Kh2 Nd7 37.
Qe6+ Kf8 38. Qxa6 {wins for White.}) 32. Rxd5 Rf8 33. Qxf8+ Bxf8 34. Rxe5 {
Hearst has a material advantage in the endgame.} Kf7 35. Rf5+ Kg7 36. Rd5 Na4
37. Rd7+ Kf6 38. Ra7 Nc5 39. b4 Ne4 40. Rxa6+ Ke5 41. Ra5 Nc3 42. a4 $5 {
A surprising win follows.} Bxb4 43. Rxb5+ Nxb5 44. axb5 Bc5 45. g3 $1 Kd4 46.
Kg2 Kc4 47. Kf3 Kxb5 48. Ke4 Kc4 49. g4 Kc3 50. g5 Kxc2 51. h4 Be7 52. Kf5 Kd3
53. Ke6 Bb4 54. g6 Bc3 55. h5 Ke4 56. h6 {Evans lost an important game.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.06.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Sherwin, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D01"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Sherwin had lost to Evans during the previous round.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3.
Bg5 Bf5 4. f3 c6 5. Qd2 Nbd7 6. O-O-O h6 7. Bh4 e6 $5 ({Known is} 7... g5 8.
Bf2 h5 $5) 8. e3 Be7 9. Kb1 b5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. cxd3 O-O 12. f4 a5 {
Both sides want to attack the hostile king.} 13. Nf3 a4 14. Rc1 b4 15. Ne2 c5
$5 16. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 $5 17. g4 Qa5 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Ned4 Qa6 20. Rcd1 Rfc8 21.
h4 Rc7 22. Qe2 $5 Rac8 23. g5 $1 h5 $6 24. Ne1 $5 (24. Rhg1 $1 {
supports the charge.}) 24... Nb3 $5 {
Black has two minutes for the next twenty-six moves. Many mistakes will follow.
} 25. Nec2 $5 ({The pointe is} 25. axb3 $4 axb3 26. Nxb3 Ra7) 25... e5 $2 ({
Correct is} 25... Nxd4 26. Nxd4 a3 27. b3 Bc5) 26. Qxh5 $2 (26. gxf6 $1 Bxf6
27. Qxh5 exd4 28. Qh6 $1 {wins for White.}) 26... exd4 27. Rdg1 Nd2+ 28. Ka1
Nb3+ 29. Kb1 Nd2+ 30. Ka1 Nb3+ 31. axb3 $4 {
Bisguier wants to prolong the game, but the effort might have become fatal..}
axb3+ 32. Na3 Rc1+ $1 33. Rxc1 bxa3 $2 (33... Rxc1+ $1 34. Rxc1 bxa3 {
leads to mate in a few moves.}) 34. Rxc8+ Qxc8 35. Qd1 axb2+ 36. Kxb2 Qc3+ 37.
Kb1 Ba3 38. Rh2 dxe3 39. gxf6 Kf8 40. Rg2 Ke8 41. d4 Kd8 $2 (41... Bd6 $1 42.
h5 Bxf4 {stops the passed pawn.}) 42. h5 $1 Kc8 43. h6 b2 44. Rc2 {Sherwin was
out of the race for a top position. Bisguier had a great time. He went to
college during the day, played a game later and slept upstairs in the Marshall
Chess Club.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 9"]
[Date "1954.06.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Pavey, Max"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1954.05.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bb3
b4 9. Ne2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ng3 c5 12. e4 Bb7 13. Re1 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ne5 {
Black has a fine position.} 15. Bc2 $2 (15. Be3 $6 {
lost in Tolush - Simagin, Moscow 1954.}) ({Preferable is} 15. Bf4 $5 Nfg4 16.
Rc1) 15... Qb6 $1 16. Be3 $2 Rfd8 $1 17. Nh5 Bc5 {
Black has won the fight for the centre.} 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 19. Qh5 Bxd4 20. Qh4
Ng6 21. Qh6 Qc5 22. Bb3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Qg5 24. Qh3 Qh4 25. Qf3 f5 $1 {Bisguier l
ed by half-a-point on Evans. The lead increased to one point in the last round.
Final standings: Bisguier 10/13, Evans 9, Seidman 8, Pavey and Sherwin 71/2,
Bernstein and Rossolimo 7, Berliner and Wachs 61/2, Hearst 6, Burger 51/2,
Pilnick 5, Brandts 3, Mengarini 21/2.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Denker, Arnold"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Reshevsky played ten games against Bisguier in the summer of 1957. It was not
a championship but a training match, financed by the American Chess Foundation.
The Foundation was allowed to transform its fourth Rosenwald tournament into
the tenth US championship. It happened in New York from 17 xii 1957 until 7 i
1958. The event became annual and the financial basis was solid. All important
players participated. They were invited on the basis of rating.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2.
g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 d5 6. c4 Nbd7 $5 ({Usual is} 6... Be7) 7. cxd5
Nxd5 8. e4 N5f6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 $1 {White occupies the centre.}
Bb4 12. Qc2 h6 $5 13. a3 Bxc3 $5 14. bxc3 e5 $6 ({Preferable is} 14... c5 $1
15. e5 Nd5 16. c4 Ne7 $5 17. Ng5 hxg5 18. Bxb7 Nf5 $1 19. dxc5 Rb8 20. Be4 Nxe5
{and an interesting position has arisen.}) 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Ng4 $2 {
Denker starts incorrect tactics.} ({Better is} 16... Nd7 $1 17. f4 Qe7) 17. f4
$1 Qe7 18. h3 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 Qf2 (19... Nf2+ 20. Kh2 {will also cost a piece.})
20. Re2 $1 {The knight is lost.} Qxg3 21. hxg4 Rad8 22. Be3 Qxg4 23. Ree1 f5
24. Qe2 $5 Qh4+ 25. Kg1 fxe4 26. Rf1 Rf5 27. Bf2 $1 Qxf4 28. Bh4 $1 Qxh4 29.
Rxf5 e3 30. Rd1 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Bxg2 32. Kxg2 Qe4+ 33. Qf3 Qc2+ 34. Kg1 Qc1+ 35.
Qf1 $1 Qxa3 36. Qc4+ Kh8 37. Rf3 b5 38. Qf1 Kg8 39. Rxe3 Qc5 40. Qf2 a5 41. e6
Qe7 42. Qf5 c6 43. Rf3 {Reshevsky was the favourite for the title.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B41"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The 14-years-old Bobby Fischer was regarded as an outsider, because he had
shared the first place in the Open US with Bisguier A great test occurred in
round three.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7.
Bd3 Qb6 $6 ({Usual is} 7... Nc6) 8. Be3 $1 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. O-O $1 d6 ({
Not} 10... Qxc3 $2 11. e5 $1) 11. c5 $1 Qc7 $6 ({Correct is} 11... dxc5 12. Nb3
Qc7 13. Bxc5 Nbd7 14. Ba3 b5) 12. cxd6 Qxd6 13. f4 Qe7 14. c4 $6 (14. Qf3 $1 e5
15. fxe5 Ng4 16. Bf4 {favours White.}) 14... e5 $1 15. Nb3 Nbd7 16. fxe5 $5
Nxe5 17. Bc5 Qd8 $6 ({Better is} 17... Qc7) 18. Bd4 $5 Qc7 19. Qd2 Be6 20. Qf4
$6 (20. Be2 $1 Nfd7 21. Qg5 O-O 22. Nc5 $1 {keeps the initiative.}) 20... Nfd7
21. Be2 f6 22. Bh5+ g6 23. Be2 O-O 24. Rac1 Rac8 25. c5 Nc6 26. Qe3 Nde5 27.
Bb2 Rcd8 28. h3 Rd7 29. Kh1 Qd8 30. Rfd1 Rff7 31. a3 Rxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Rd7 33.
Rxd7 Qxd7 34. Nd4 Nxd4 35. Qxd4 Qxd4 36. Bxd4 Kf7 37. Kg1 Bc4 38. Bxe5 Bxe2 39.
Bd6 {The rest is simple.} Bd3 40. e5 f5 41. Kf2 g5 42. g3 Be4 43. Ke3 Bd5 44.
Bc7 Ke7 45. h4 f4+ 46. gxf4 gxh4 47. f5 h3 48. Bd6+ Kf7 49. Kf2 Be4 50. Kg3 $5
Bxf5 51. Bc7 Bd7 52. Ba5 Ke6 53. Bb4 Kxe5 54. Kh2 h5 55. Kg3 Kd5 56. Kh2 h4 57.
Kg1 {Bobby survives against Sammy, because he can stop the black pawns on both
flanks.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Nbd7 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. g4 b5 11. Bg2 $5 Bb7 12. Rhe1 $6 b4 $1 {
Bobby provokes a doubtful sacrifice.} 13. Nd5 $2 ({Wiser is} 13. Na4) 13...
exd5 14. exd5 Kf8 15. Nf5 $5 ({Müller suggests} 15. Nc6 $1) 15... Re8 $5 16.
Qe3 $5 Bd8 $1 17. Qd4 Bc8 $5 18. Bh4 $5 Nc5 $5 19. Nxg7 $5 {
White tries his last opportunity.} Kxg7 20. g5 Bf5 $1 {
Bobby applies a forwards defence.} 21. gxf6+ Kh6 $1 22. Qc4 Nd7 23. Qxc7 Bxc7
24. Bf3 Bd8 25. Bg5+ Kg6 26. Rg1 Bxf6 27. Bh4+ Kh6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Rg5 Be4
30. Rf1 Bg6 31. Rfg1 Re3 32. Bd1 Ne4 33. R5g2 f5 34. Be2 a5 35. h4 Rh3 36. h5
Bxh5 37. Bd3 Bg6 38. Rf1 Rf8 39. Kd1 Nf6 40. Re1 Nxd5 41. Rf2 Re3 42. Rg1 Re7
43. Kd2 Kg7 44. Rf3 {White resigned at last.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qd7 7. Qg4 f5 8. Qg3
Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Ne2 O-O-O 11. a4 Kb7 12. O-O $5 (12. Nf4 {
was played in Tolush - Zilber, Leningrad 1957.}) 12... Qf7 13. c4 Ne7 $5 14.
Bg5 $5 dxc4 15. Qc3 Nd5 $6 ({Müller prefers} 15... h6 $1 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qxc4
Qd7) 16. Qxc4 Ra8 17. Bd2 f4 18. Ra3 $1 g5 19. a5 $1 {White attacks.} c6 20.
axb6 axb6 21. Qb3 Nac7 22. c4 Rxa3 23. Qxa3 Ra8 24. Qb3 Ne7 25. Nc3 Qf5 26. Qb4
$6 (26. Na4 $1 Nc8 27. Nc5+ Kb8 28. Nd7+ Kb7 29. Rb1 {charges on the defence.})
26... Nc8 27. Na4 f3 $1 28. Nc5+ Kb8 29. Nd7+ Kb7 30. Qb3 $1 Qg4 $5 31. Nc5+
Kb8 32. g3 $1 Qxd4 33. Be3 Qa1 34. Rb1 Ra3 $6 (34... Qa2 $5 35. Nd7+ Kb7 36.
Qb4 Qa5 37. Qb2 Qa2 38. Qc1 b5 39. Bxg5 {wins for White.}) 35. Nd7+ Kb7 36. Qd1
$1 Qa2 37. Nxb6 Nxb6 38. Rxb6+ Kc8 39. Qxf3 Qxc4 40. Qf8+ Kd7 41. Qxa3 {
Bobby has defeated the ruling champion.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Turner, Abe"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E66"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. d5 Na5 8. Nd2
c5 9. O-O e6 $5 10. Qc2 exd5 11. cxd5 Re8 12. Nb3 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 a6 $1 14. Bg5
$2 ({More useful is} 14. a4) 14... h6 $1 15. Bf4 b5 $1 16. Rfe1 Ra7 17. h3 g5
$1 18. Bc1 Rae7 19. a3 Bf5 {Black controls the position.} 20. Bd2 Nd7 21. Qd1
Nb6 22. e4 Bg6 23. g4 $2 ({Better is} 23. f4 $1 gxf4 24. Bxf4 f5 25. h4 {
and White has some counter-play.}) 23... Nc4 $1 24. Qc2 Nxd2 25. Qxd2 Bxc3 26.
Qxc3 Bxe4 {Black has gained a pawn.} 27. Bxe4 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Rxe4 29. Rd1 Qe7
30. Qa5 Re2 31. Qc3 Qe5 32. Qa5 $2 Qf4 33. Rf1 Rxb2 34. Qxa6 Rb3 35. Re1 Rxh3
36. Qc8+ Kg7 37. Qd7 Qf3 {
Reshevsky had scored 51/2/6, one point more than Fischer.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Sherwin, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B87"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O b5 8. Bb3
b4 9. Nb1 Bd7 $5 ({Known is the acceptance by} 9... Nxe4 10. Qf3 d5 11. c4 bxc3
12. Nxc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3) 10. Be3 Nc6 11. f3 Be7 12. c3 bxc3 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 ({Not
} 13... cxb2 $2 14. Nxd8 bxa1=Q 15. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 16. Bd4 $1) 14. Nxc3 O-O 15.
Rc1 Qb8 16. Nd5 $5 exd5 $6 (16... Bxd5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 {
equalises (Müller).}) 17. Rxc6 dxe4 18. fxe4 Qb5 $6 19. Rb6 Qe5 $5 20. Bd4 $1
Qg5 21. Qf3 $5 Nd7 22. Rb7 (22. Bxf7+ $1 {gains a pawn.}) 22... Ne5 23. Qe2 Bf6
24. Kh1 a5 25. Bd5 Rac8 26. Bc3 a4 27. Ra7 Ng4 28. Rxa4 $6 Bxc3 29. bxc3 Rxc3
$2 ({Correct is} 29... Ne3 $1 30. Qd2 h6 {(Müller).}) 30. Rxf7 $1 Rc1+ $2 (
30... h5 $3 31. Rc4 Rxc4 32. Qxc4 Rxf7 33. Bxf7+ Kh7 {offers more resistance.})
31. Qf1 $1 h5 32. Qxc1 $1 Qh4 33. Rxf8+ Kh7 34. h3 Qg3 35. hxg4 h4 36. Be6 {
Bobby was trailing the leader by half-a-point.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B46"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Qe2 d6 $5 ({Usual is} 9... d5) 10. f4 Nd7 11. Be3 Be7 12. Rf3 Rb8
13. Na4 Bf6 14. Rb1 a5 15. c4 Ba6 16. Rc1 h5 17. Rff1 $5 {The players hesitate.
} Be7 18. Bd4 e5 19. Bc3 exf4 $5 20. Bxg7 Rh7 21. Bc3 Ne5 22. Bd2 ({
Preferable is} 22. Kh1 $1 h4 23. Bd2) 22... Qa7+ $1 23. Kh1 Qd4 $1 24. Rf3 $1 {
Bisguier has to sacrifice an exchange.} Nxf3 25. Qxf3 Rh6 26. Bxf4 Rf6 27. g3
$2 {He weakens his defence.} ({Better is} 27. b3 Bc8 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. Bxe3)
27... Bc8 $1 {Black prepares ..Bg4.} 28. Kg2 $6 (28. Re1 Bg4 29. Qe3 Qxe3 30.
Rxe3 {prolongs the game.}) 28... Bg4 $1 29. Qf1 $6 h4 $6 (29... Rxf4 $1 30.
gxf4 Qe3 31. Re1 Qd2+ 32. Be2 Bh4 {ends the game.}) 30. b3 $6 hxg3 31. hxg3 Kd7
32. Be2 Bxe2 33. Qxe2 Rxf4 $1 34. gxf4 Rg8+ 35. Kf3 Bh4 $1 {
Reshevsky kept the lead.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1957.12.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Berliner, Hans"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. Nc3 b5 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. a4 b4 10. Ne4 Bb7 11. Ned2 Be7 12. a5 O-O 13. Nc4 Rc8 $5 (13... Qc7 {
happened in Alekhine - Bogoljubow, Germany 1934 (2).}) 14. Qe2 Qc7 15. Nfe5
cxd4 16. exd4 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qd6 18. Rd1 g6 19. Be3 Nd5 20. Bh6 Rfe8 21. Be4 f5
$5 22. Bf3 Bf6 23. Nc4 Qd8 24. Nb6 Rc7 25. h3 Nxb6 26. axb6 Rd7 27. Bxb7 Rxb7
28. Rxa6 Rxb6 29. Rxb6 Qxb6 {The exchanges have kept the equality.} 30. d5 $1
Rd8 $2 (30... Qd6 $1 31. dxe6 Qxe6 {draws.}) 31. Ra1 $1 Qd6 $6 ({Preferable is
} 31... Rd6 $1 32. dxe6 Rxe6 33. Qc4) 32. dxe6 {White has an extra pawn.} Re8
33. Re1 Qd5 34. Qc2 g5 $6 (34... Be5 $1 35. f4 b3 36. Qc1 Bd6 {
offers more resistance.}) 35. Qc7 $1 {
Sammy gives the pawn for a decisive attack.} Rxe6 36. Qc8+ Kf7 37. Qf8+ Kg6 38.
Qg8+ $1 Kxh6 39. Qxe6 Qd4 40. b3 f4 41. Qf7 {Reshevsky stayed ahead of Fischer.
} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1958.01.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lombardy, William"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. d5 Na5 8. Nfd2
c5 9. a3 b6 $5 ({Known is} 9... Nd7 10. Ra2 Ne5) 10. b4 Nb7 11. Bb2 a5 12. b5
$1 e5 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. e4 e5 15. Nc3 {White has the better pawn structure.}
Rb8 16. Nd5 Be6 17. a4 Nd7 $5 18. Ra3 Bh6 19. f4 exf4 20. Nxf4 Bf7 21. Nd5 Bxd5
22. cxd5 $6 (22. exd5 {gains an edge.}) 22... Rxf1+ 23. Bxf1 Bg7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7
25. Nc4 Ne5 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Qg4 $5 Qe7 28. Rd3 Nd6 $1 29. Qe6 Re8 $1 30. Bh3
$2 {White should exchange.} Qc7 $1 31. Qd7+ Qxd7 32. Bxd7 Rd8 $1 33. Bc6 Nxe4 {
Fischer has grabbed a pawn.} 34. Re3 Nd2 35. Re2 Nc4 36. Re4 Nb2 $1 37. Kf2
Nd1+ $2 (37... Kf6 $1 {wins for Black (Müller).}) 38. Ke1 Nc3 39. Rxe5 Nxa4 40.
Re7+ Kh6 41. Kd2 c4 42. Re4 Nc5 43. Re7 Na4 44. h4 $6 {
White should repeat the moves.} Rf8 $1 45. d6 $2 {Matters go wrong again.} (45.
Re4 $1 c3+ 46. Ke2 $1 c2 47. Rc4 {wins a passed pawn.}) 45... c3+ 46. Kc2 $6
Rf2+ $1 47. Kb3 Rb2+ $1 48. Kxa4 c2 49. Re1 Rb4+ $1 50. Ka3 Rb1 51. Be4 Rxe1
52. Bxc2 Re6 53. d7 Rd6 {Fischer defeated a main competitor.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1958.01.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Sherwin, James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E87"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 a6
9. O-O-O f5 10. exf5 gxf5 11. Bd3 Qe8 $5 12. Nge2 Nd7 13. Rde1 Kh8 $6 {
Sammy has a hard time in the Sämisch Variation.} ({Better is} 13... Ndf6) 14.
Bc2 Nc5 $2 ({Correct is} 14... Ndf6 $1 15. Bg5 b5) 15. f4 $5 Qe7 $6 ({
The alternative is} 15... e4 $5 16. b4 $1 Nd7 17. g4 fxg4 18. Nxe4 Ndf6) 16.
Ng3 $1 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Bd7 $6 (17... b5 $5 {starts a counter.}) 18. g4 $1 Rae8
19. gxf5 Qf6 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Ne4 Qb6 22. f6 $1 Rxf6 ({The pointe is} 22...
Bxf6 23. Nxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxh7+ Kg8 25. Rxd7) 23. Nxf6 Qxf6 24. fxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxe5
Qxe5 26. Bxh7 Bf6 27. Kb1 Kg7 28. Qh6+ Kf7 29. Qh5+ Qxh5 30. Rxh5 Bg4 31. Rh1
Be2 32. b3 b5 33. Re1 Bg4 34. Bd3 Bd7 35. Kc2 b4 36. Rf1 Kg7 37. Bf5 Be8 38. g4
a5 39. Rh1 Kf8 40. Rh7 Bg7 41. Kd3 {Fischer overtook the lead from Reshevsky.}
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1958.01.04"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "DiCamillo, Attilio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E02"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nc6 2. d4 d5 {The Chigorin Defence is played.} 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 e6 5.
O-O Be7 6. c4 dxc4 $5 (6... O-O {drew in Blackburne - Lee, London 1900.}) 7.
Qa4 Bd7 8. Qxc4 Na5 9. Qc2 Rc8 10. Nc3 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. e4 Nc6 $2 ({
More active is} 12... Qb6 $1) 13. e5 Nb4 $5 14. Qd2 Nfd5 15. a3 Nxc3 16. axb4
Bxb4 17. bxc3 Bxc3 18. Qa2 Bxa1 19. Qxa1 O-O 20. Qxa7 {
White achieves a material plus.} Bc6 21. Ba3 Re8 22. Bd6 Ra8 23. Qe3 Ra4 24.
Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qa5 26. Rb1 Qd5+ 27. Nf3 Rc8 28. Qb6 h6 29. Qxb7 Qxb7 30.
Rxb7 Rc2 31. Rb5 Raa2 32. Bc5 Rab2 33. Ra5 Ra2 34. Rb5 Rab2 35. Ra5 Ra2 36.
Rxa2 Rxa2 37. Bd6 {Bobby has two minor pieces for a rook in the endgame.} Rb2
38. Nd4 Ra2 39. Nb3 Ra4 40. Nc5 Ra2 41. Nd7 Ra4 42. Nc5 Rc4 43. Kf3 Rc3+ 44.
Ke4 Rc2 45. Nd3 Re2+ 46. Kf3 Rc2 47. h4 Rc3 48. Ke4 Rc6 $5 ({Müller prefers} 
48... Rc4+) 49. Bc5 Ra6 50. h5 Ra4+ 51. Bd4 Ra2 52. g4 Re2+ 53. Be3 Ra2 54. f4
g6 $6 {Black should wait and see.} 55. hxg6 fxg6 56. Nc5 $1 Kf7 57. f5 $1 gxf5+
58. gxf5 exf5+ 59. Kxf5 h5 60. Ne4 Ra5 61. Bg5 Rd5 62. Nf6 Rd1 63. Nxh5 Rd5 64.
Nf6 Ra5 65. Ne4 Rd5 66. Nd6+ Kf8 67. Ke6 Rd1 68. Be7+ Kg7 69. Kd7 Ra1 {
Fischer kept the lead. He had won five games in a row.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 10"]
[Date "1958.01.07"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1957.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Bobby Fischer leads by half-a-point, when the last round begins. He plays a
quick draw against Abe Turner and waits for the result by Reshevsky.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nc6 {
The Mar del Plata Variation of the King's Indian Defence happens.} 8. d5 Ne7 9.
Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bd2 g5 {
It is still difficult to analyse this line by a computer.} 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. Nb5
a6 15. Na3 Nf6 16. c5 g4 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Nc4 g3 {
They attack on different flanks.} 19. h3 $6 (19. Ba5 $1 gxh2+ 20. Kxh2 Qe7 {
occurred in Rabar - Smailbogovic, Sombor 1957.}) 19... Bxh3 $1 20. gxh3 $6 ({
Better is} 20. Ba5 $5 b6 21. Bxb6 Qd7 22. Ncxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Rc7 Qd6
25. Rc6 Qd7 26. Qc2) 20... Qd7 $6 (20... b5 $1 {charges on both sides.}) 21.
Nf2 gxf2+ 22. Kh2 $5 Qe7 23. Rxf2 Nh5 24. Bb4 Rad8 25. Qd3 $6 (25. Ba5 {
counters.}) 25... Nh4 $1 26. Rg1 $6 Ng3 $1 {Bobby watches the game at about
this time and notices the favourable developments.} 27. Bf1 Rf6 $1 28. Rc2 Rg6
$1 29. Be1 Bh6 30. Nb6 $6 {White stops defending.} (30. Bxg3 fxg3+ 31. Kh1 {
offers more resistance.}) 30... Kh8 $1 31. Bg2 Rdg8 32. Rc8 Bf8 $1 33. Rc2 Qg7
34. Na8 $5 Qh6 $1 35. Bf1 ({The pointe is} 35. Bh1 Nxh1 36. Rxh1 Rg2+ 37. Rxg2
Rxg2# {(Soltis).}) 35... Nxf1+ 36. Rxf1 Qg7 37. Qe2 Rg2+ 38. Qxg2 Nxg2 39. Rg1
Nxe1 40. Rxg7 Bxg7 {The final standings became: Fischer 101/2/13, Reshevsky 91/
2, Sherwin 9, Lombardy 71/2, Berliner 7, Feuerstein, Denker and Mednis 61/2,
Seidman 6, Bernstein and Bisguier 5, Turner and DiCamillio 41/2, Kramer 3.
Bobby's championship was the greatest sensation in American chess since Morphy.
The tournament was a zonal event for two places. Reshevsky refused to go, but
Fischer and Sherwin went to the interzonal in Portoroz.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Kalme, Charles"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C98"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The eleventh US championship was played in New York from 18 xii 1958 until 4
i 1959. Fischer defended the title against a strong opposition. He had become
a young grandmaster by qualifying for the candidates' tournament.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5
10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nf1 Be6 15. Ne3 Rad8 16.
Qe2 g6 17. Ng5 Bc8 18. a4 c4 19. axb5 axb5 20. b3 b4 $2 ({Theory is} 20... Na5)
21. Qxc4 $1 h6 22. Nd5 $1 (22. Nf3 $2 Be6 23. Qe2 bxc3 {equalises.}) 22... Nxd5
23. exd5 hxg5 24. Qxc6 Qxc6 25. dxc6 bxc3 26. Rxe5 {White has gained a pawn.}
Bf6 27. Rea5 Rfe8 28. Bxg5 $2 (28. Be3 $1 {consolidates (Müller).}) 28... Bxg5
29. Rxg5 Rd2 $1 30. Rc1 Ree2 31. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 32. Rxc3 $1 Kh7 33. b4 Re1+ 34.
Kh2 Rxf2 35. b5 Rb2 36. Kg3 Kh6 37. Rcc5 Re3+ 38. Kf4 Reb3 39. Rgd5 Rxg2 40.
Rd8 Be6 41. Ke5 Bxh3 42. Rh8+ Kg7 43. Rxh3 Rxh3 44. c7 Rh8 45. Rd5 Re2+ 46. Kd6
Kf6 47. b6 Rb2 $6 (47... Re6+ $1 48. Kc5 Rh1 49. b7 Rc1+ 50. Kb5 Rb1+ 51. Ka5
Ra1+ {draws by perpetual check.}) 48. Kc6 $1 Rc8 $2 ({Right is} 48... Ke6 $1
49. Rc5 Ra8 $1 {and} 50. b7 $4 {fails due to} Ra6# {(Müller).}) 49. Rd8 Rc2+
50. Kb7 R8xc7+ 51. bxc7 Kf5 52. c8=Q+ Rxc8 53. Rxc8 $1 g5 54. Kc6 g4 55. Kd5
Kf4 56. Kd4 Kf3 57. Kd3 {Fischer scored positive results in lengthy games.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B88"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Bb3 O-O 9. f4 Bd7 10. Be3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. Qe2 b5 13. Nxb5 Bxb5 14. Qxb5
Nxe4 15. f5 Bf6 16. Qd3 d5 17. Bxf6 $5 (17. Rad1 {
drew in Gipslis - Boleslavsky, Voroshilovsgrad 1955.}) 17... Nxf6 18. c4 dxc4
19. Qxd8 Rfxd8 20. Bxc4 e5 {The chances are equal in the endgame.} 21. Rfe1 e4
22. Rad1 g6 $2 ({Preferable is} 22... Kf8 $1 23. b3 Re8) 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. h3
Kf8 25. Kf2 Ke7 26. Ke3 $1 {The white king functions as a blockader.} Rdc8 27.
b3 Rc5 28. Rf1 Rac8 29. Rf2 R5c6 30. Rdf1 Rd6 31. Rf4 Rcd8 32. h4 Rh8 33. g3
Rh7 34. Ke2 Rh8 35. a3 Rg8 $2 {He should not lift the pressure on pawn h4.} (
35... Rh7 $1 36. g4 Rxh4 37. g5 Rxf4 38. Rxf4 Nd5 39. Rxe4+ Kd7 40. Kf3 f6 {
tries to survive (Müller).}) 36. g4 $1 g5 37. Rf5 $1 gxh4 38. g5 $1 Nh5 39.
Re5+ Kd8 ({The pointe is} 39... Kf8 40. Rxf7#) 40. Rxf7 Ng3+ $6 (40... Rg7 $5
41. Rxg7 Nxg7 42. Rxe4 h3 43. Rh4 Rg6 44. Rxh3 Rxg5 {grabs the last chance.})
41. Ke3 h3 42. Ree7 h2 43. Rxa7 Rc6 44. Rfd7+ Kc8 45. Rh7 Kb8 46. Rab7+ Kc8 47.
Bxg8 $1 h1=Q 48. Rxh1 Rc3+ 49. Kd2 Rd3+ 50. Kc2 Kxb7 51. Re1 Rd8 52. Bc4 Rh8
53. g6 Rh2+ 54. Kc3 Rh3 55. Re3 Ne2+ 56. Kd2 Rxe3 57. Kxe3 Ng3 58. Kf4 {
Fischer started by 31/2/4.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E64"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. d5 d6 7. Nc3 Na6 8. O-O
Nc7 9. Bf4 a6 10. a4 Rb8 11. a5 b5 12. axb6 Rxb6 13. b3 Nh5 $5 ({Known is} 
13... Bd7) 14. Bd2 e6 15. dxe6 Bxe6 (15... fxe6 $5 {
will be tried in a future game.}) 16. Ng5 Bd7 17. Na4 Rb8 18. Ra3 h6 19. Ne4 f5
20. Nec3 Be6 21. e4 $6 {This pawn is going to hinder white pieces.} (21. Qc2
Qe7 22. Rd1 {keeps an edge.}) 21... f4 $1 22. g4 $2 {He allows a mate attack.}
({Correct is} 22. Nd5 $1) 22... f3 $1 23. Bxf3 Qh4 $1 24. Kg2 (24. gxh5 Be5 $1
{leads to mate.}) 24... Nf4+ 25. Bxf4 Rxf4 26. Be2 Be5 27. h3 Rbf8 {
Sammy competed with Bobby again.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 Na5 $2 9. e5 Ne8 $2 10. Bxf7+ $1 {Bobby knows the theory.} Kxf7 ({Or} 10...
Rxf7 11. Ne6 $1) 11. Ne6 $1 {
Black resigned in Bastrikov - Shamkovich, Sochi 1958.} dxe6 $5 12. Qxd8 Nc6 13.
Qd2 Bxe5 14. O-O Nd6 15. Bf4 Nc4 16. Qe2 Bxf4 17. Qxc4 Kg7 18. Ne4 Bc7 19. Nc5
Rf6 20. c3 e5 21. Rad1 Nd8 22. Nd7 Rc6 23. Qh4 Re6 24. Nc5 Rf6 25. Ne4 Rf4 26.
Qxe7+ Rf7 27. Qa3 Nc6 28. Nd6 Bxd6 29. Rxd6 Bf5 30. b4 Rff8 31. b5 Nd8 32. Rd5
Nf7 33. Rc5 a6 34. b6 Be4 35. Re1 Bc6 36. Rxc6 bxc6 37. b7 Rab8 38. Qxa6 Nd8
39. Rb1 Rf7 40. h3 Rfxb7 41. Rxb7+ Rxb7 42. Qa8 {
Reshevsky tried to decrease the humiliation by lengthening the game.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nc3 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e4 d6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 O-O 8. h3
Rb8 9. a4 a6 $5 10. Be3 b5 11. axb5 axb5 12. e5 $5 dxe5 13. Bxc5 Qc7 14. Re1 b4
$1 15. Na4 Rd8 16. Nd2 $5 Nd4 17. Nc4 Nd5 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. b3 Bb7 20. Qd2 e5
21. Nab2 Ra8 22. Kh2 h5 $5 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24. Qxb4 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Qd7 26. Qe1 Qf5
27. Nd2 h4 28. Nbc4 hxg3+ 29. fxg3 Qe6 30. Ne4 f5 $1 {
Bobby has an edge, despite the minus pawn.} 31. Qa5 $6 {
The next tactics are better for Black.} ({Preferable is} 31. Ng5) 31... Ra8 $1
32. Qxa8+ Bxa8 33. Rxa8+ Bf8 34. Ned6 $2 (34. Ng5 $1 Qe7 35. h4 e4 36. Ra6 exd3
37. Rxg6+ Bg7 38. cxd3 Qe2+ 39. Kg1 f4 40. gxf4 Qxd3 {favours Fischer.}) 34...
Qd5 $1 35. Re8 Qf3 36. h4 Qf2+ 37. Kh3 Qg1 {White will be mated soon.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1958.12.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E69"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4
c6 9. h3 Qb6 10. Rb1 $5 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxe4 $6 12. Nxe4 Bxd4 13. b4 $1 (13. Nxd6
$5 {will become the alternative.}) 13... Ne5 $2 14. c5 $1 {
White is going to win a piece.} dxc5 15. bxc5 Qd8 ({Or} 15... Bxf2+ 16. Rxf2
Qxb1 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Qd2) 16. Bh6 b5 ({The pointe is} 16... Re8 17. Bg5 $1)
17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rfd1 Bxc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Rbc1 $1 Nc4 22. Rd8+
Kg7 23. Qe8 Qa3 24. Re1 Nb6 25. Qh8+ Kh6 26. Rg8 $1 {Lombardy will be mated.}
1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1959.01.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Rfc8 15.
Ne3 Nc6 16. a3 a5 17. d5 $5 ({A novelty will become} 17. Nd5 $1 {
(Hracek - Kunte, Koszalin 1998).}) 17... Nd8 18. Bd2 a4 19. Bb4 Bf8 20. Bd3 Nb7
21. Qe2 Qb6 22. Nd2 Nc5 $1 23. Kh2 g6 24. Rac1 Bh6 25. Bb1 Rc7 26. Qf3 Bg5 27.
g3 h5 28. Kg2 Kg7 29. Rf1 h4 $1 {Bisguier takes the initiative.} 30. Qe2 Rh8
31. Rh1 $2 ({Preferable is} 31. g4 Bf4 32. Kh1) 31... Nh5 $1 32. Nf3 hxg3 33.
fxg3 Bf4 $1 34. Be1 Qb8 $5 35. Bf2 Qc8 $1 36. h4 $5 Bg4 $2 (36... Bxg3 $1 37.
Bxg3 Nxg3 38. Kxg3 Nxe4+ $1 39. Bxe4 Rxc1 40. Rxc1 Qxc1 {
wins for Black (Müller).}) 37. Rc3 Bd7 38. Nf1 Bh6 39. N1d2 Nf6 40. Be3 Bxe3
41. Qxe3 Ng4 42. Qe2 Nb3 43. Rxc7 Qxc7 44. Nxb3 axb3 45. Nh2 Qc4 46. Bd3 Qd4
47. Nxg4 Bxg4 48. Qxg4 Qxd3 {The chances are equal.} 49. Rf1 Rf8 $6 50. h5 $1
Rh8 51. Qf3 Qxf3+ 52. Rxf3 gxh5 53. Rxb3 {Fischer has gained a plus.} Rb8 54.
Rb4 f5 $1 55. exf5 Kf6 56. a4 Ra8 57. axb5 Kxf5 58. b6 e4 $1 59. Kf2 Ke5 60.
Ke3 Kxd5 61. Rxe4 Rb8 62. Rh4 Rxb6 63. Rxh5+ Ke6 $1 64. Rh2 Ke5 65. Kd3 Rb3+
66. Kc4 Rxg3 67. Re2+ Kf5 68. Kd5 Rd3+ 69. Kc6 d5 70. b4 d4 $2 ({Correct is} 
70... Rb3 71. b5 d4 $1) 71. Kd5 $1 Rd1 72. Rf2+ $1 Kg4 73. Kc4 $2 ({Right is} 
73. b5 $1 d3 74. Rb2 $1 Rc1 75. Rd2 $1 Rb1 76. Kc5 Rc1+ 77. Kb6 Rc3 78. Ka5 $1
Kf5 79. Kb4 $1 {as we know nowadays.}) 73... d3 $2 {
Mistakes are made in the seemingly simple rook plus pawn ending.} (73... Kg3 $1
74. Rb2 Kf3 75. b5 Ke3 76. b6 Rc1+ {draws.}) 74. Kc3 $1 Rb1 75. Rd2 Kf4 76.
Rxd3 Ke4 77. Rd8 Rc1+ 78. Kb3 Ke5 79. Ka4 Ke6 80. Rd2 Rc7 81. b5 Rd7 82. Rxd7
Kxd7 83. Ka5 Kc7 84. Ka6 Kb8 85. Kb6 Kc8 86. Ka7 {
Fischer kept the lead of one point on Reshevsky.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1959.01.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Sherwin, James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 8. Nge2
a6 9. Nc1 cxd4 10. Bxd4 Ne5 11. Be2 $5 Qc7 12. b3 Nc6 13. Nd5 Qd8 $6 ({
Preferable is} 13... Qb8) 14. Bb6 $1 Qd7 15. Rb1 e6 $1 {
Black has to liberate his crammed position.} 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. O-O d5 $1 18.
cxd5 exd5 19. exd5 $6 (19. Rd1 $1 {keeps a plus.}) 19... Ne7 20. d6 Qc6 $1 21.
Bf2 Rd8 $1 22. Rd1 $6 Bf5 $1 23. Nd3 Rxd6 $1 {
Sammy has regained the pawn cleverly and pressures on the open d-file.} 24.
Rbc1 Qd7 25. Bc5 Rd5 26. Qe3 Rc8 27. Nf2 $2 (27. Kh1 $1 b6 28. Ba3 Rxc1 29.
Bxc1 Bd4 30. Qf4 {defends properly.}) 27... Bb2 {He wins material.} 28. Rc4 $5
b5 $1 29. Qxe7 bxc4 30. Rxd5 Qxd5 31. Bb4 c3 $1 32. Bc4 Qd7 33. Qxd7 Bxd7 34.
Nd3 Bf5 35. Bxa6 Ra8 36. Bc4 c2 37. Bd2 {
Reshevsky gained the second place on Sherwin.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 11"]
[Date "1959.01.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Sherwin, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E59"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1958.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Bd3 e5 12. Qc2 Re8 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Qxe5 15. f3 Bd7 16. Rd1 Rad8 17. e4 Bc6 18. Bb2 c4 $2 ({Known is} 18... Nh5)
19. Bf1 $2 {White should grab the pawn.} ({Probably they missed} 19. Bxc4 $1
Qc5+ 20. Rd4 $1) 19... Bxe4 $1 {Black delivers a better sacrifice this time.}
20. fxe4 Ng4 21. g3 {He avoids mate in one.} Ne3 22. Qe2 Nxd1 23. Rxd1 Rxd1 24.
Qxd1 Qxe4 25. Bc1 h6 26. a4 $5 Qe1 $5 27. Qd7 Re6 28. Bd2 Qd1 29. Kg2 Qc2 30.
Qd8+ Kh7 31. Qd4 Rc6 32. h4 f5 $6 33. a5 $6 (33. Qd5 $1 Rc7 34. Kf2 b6 35. Be2
{favours White.}) 33... b5 $1 34. axb6 Rxb6 35. Kg1 $2 ({Better is} 35. Kf2 $1
Rb2 36. Ke3 $1 Qd1 37. Bxc4 Qg1+ 38. Ke2 Qg2+ 39. Kd1 Qh1+ {
and Black delivers perpetual check.}) 35... Rb1 $1 36. Qd5 $2 (36. h5 $5 Qd3
37. Qxd3 cxd3 38. Kf2 Rd1 {wins for Black.}) 36... Rd1 $1 37. Qf7 Rxd2 38. h5
Rd8 39. Bxc4 Qd1+ 40. Bf1 Qg4 41. Kh2 Rd2+ 42. Bg2 Qe4 {Sherwin became third.
The final standings became: Fischer 81/2/11, Reshevsky 71/2, Sherwin 7, D.
Byrne, Lombardy, Bisguier and Evans 6, Benko 51/2, R.Byrne and Kalme 4, Mednis
and Weinstein 3.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A63"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twelfth US championship was played in New York from 18 xii 1959 until 5 i
1960. Fischer protested against the drawing of lots in private. Although the
procedure was not repeated in public, he participated.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. a4
Nbd7 11. Bf4 Qe7 12. Qc1 Re8 13. Bh6 $5 Rb8 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. a5 b5 16. axb6
Nxb6 17. Nd2 h5 18. h3 Na8 $6 ({More active is} 18... Bb7 $5 19. e4 Nfd7) 19.
Nc4 $1 Nc7 20. Qf4 $6 (20. e4 $1 Nd7 21. Na5 $1 {takes the initiative.}) 20...
Rd8 21. Ra3 $6 Rb4 $1 22. b3 $6 Nb5 $1 23. Nxb5 axb5 {
Reshevsky has strengthened his queenside.} 24. Qe3 Qxe3 25. Nxe3 Rd4 26. Ra8 $5
Re8 27. Rb8 $2 Rb4 $2 (27... Bxh3 $1 28. Rxb5 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Nxd5 {gains a pawn.
}) 28. Rb1 Bf5 $5 29. Nxf5+ gxf5 30. Rb6 $6 (30. Rxe8 Nxe8 31. Kf1 {
grabs the last chance.}) 30... c4 $6 31. Rxd6 $6 Rxb3 $1 32. Rxb3 cxb3 33. Rb6
Nd7 $1 {Reshevsky played a smart endgame.} (33... Nd7 34. Rxb5 Rb8 {
leads to an unstoppable pawn.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Qxe2+ 8.
Bxe2 Be7 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. d4 h6 12. Bh4 O-O-O 13. Bc4 Rdf8 $5 (
13... Rhf8 {drew in Fine - Alexander, Hastings 1935.}) 14. Rde1 Bd8 15. d5 Nb8
16. Nd4 Re8 17. Ndb5 {White threatens a smothered mate.} Bxb5 18. Bxb5 Rxe1+
19. Rxe1 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxh4 21. g3 Bg5+ 22. f4 c6 $1 (22... Bd8 $5 23. Ne7+
Bxe7 24. Rxe7 Rf8 25. Bc4 Kd8 26. Rxf7 Rxf7 27. Bxf7 {brings a white edge.})
23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Re7 $1 cxd5 25. Rxf7 Rxh2 26. Rxg7 {White has the initiative.
} Nc6 27. Rxg5 Ne5 28. Rg7 Rg2 29. Bd3 Nc4 $1 30. Bxc4 dxc4 31. a4 $1 {
White has little advantage in the rook ending.} d5 $5 32. c3 Rg1+ 33. Kd2 Rg2+
34. Kc1 Rg1+ 35. Kc2 Ra1 36. Rg5 Rxa4 37. Rxd5 Kc7 38. g4 (38. Rb5 Kc6 39. Rb4
Rxb4 40. cxb4 Kd5 41. Kc3 Ke4 42. Kxc4 Kf3 {draws.}) 38... Kc6 39. Rd2 Ra5 40.
Kd1 Rd5 $6 (40... Rg5 $1 41. Rd4 b5 42. Ke2 a5 43. Kf3 Kc5 44. Kf4 Rg8 45. g5
b4 46. Kf5 a4 47. g6 a3 {equalises easily.}) 41. Ke2 $1 Rxd2+ 42. Kxd2 Kd5 43.
Ke3 $1 Ke5 44. Kf3 $1 {Bobby has the distant passed pawn.} a5 $1 45. Ke3 a4 46.
g5 $5 ({Or} 46. Kf3 $1 Kf6 $1 {(Müller).} (46... b5 $2 47. Ke3 b4 48. cxb4 c3
49. Kd3 $1 {wins for White})) 46... Kf5 47. Kd4 Kxg5 48. Kxc4 Kf4 $1 49. Kb4
Ke3 50. Kxa4 Kd2 $1 51. Kb3 Kd3 52. c4 Kd2 53. Ka4 Kc2 $1 54. Ka3 Kd3 55. Kb3
b6 $2 {Bisguier succumbs at last.} ({Right is} 55... Kd2 56. Kb4 Kc2 $1 57. b3
b6 $1) 56. Kb4 Kc2 57. Ka3 $1 Kd3 58. Kb3 Kd2 59. Ka4 Kc2 60. b4 $1 {
Fischer showed a great fighting spirit in the pawn ending.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Robert Byrne had made a great progress in the game. So Fischer meets a strong
opponent again.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 c5 6. e3 Nc6
7. Bc4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe2 b6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 Bb7 13. Be3 $5
({The alternative is} 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 {
(Saemisch - Rellstab, Wesermuende 1948).}) 13... Rac8 14. Bd3 cxd4 15. cxd4 Ba3
16. e5 $1 {White attacks.} Nb4 $1 17. Ng5 h6 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Qh5 Nd5 $1 20.
Bd3 Qe7 $6 (20... Nb4 $1 21. Bh7 Nd5 22. Bd3 {draws.}) 21. Nh7 $1 Nxe3 22. fxe3
Rfd8 23. Rf1 Rd7 24. h4 $5 (24. Nf6 Rdc7 25. Rae1 Rc1 {brings exchanges.})
24... Rc3 $2 ({Right is} 24... Qb4 $1 25. Ng5 $5 Qb2 26. Nxf7+ Rxf7 27. Qg6 Rf5
28. Rxf5 $1 exf5 29. Bxf5 Qxa1+ 30. Kh2 Kg8 31. Be6+ Kh8 32. Bf5 {
and a repetition of moves.}) 25. Ng5 $1 Rxd3 26. Rxf7 {
White has intensified the battle.} Rd2 $1 27. e4 Qxf7 $6 (27... Kg8 $5 28. Rxe7
Rxe7 {offers more resistance (Müller).}) 28. Nxf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Bxe4 30. Re1
$6 (30. Qxe6 $1 {captures an important defender.}) 30... Rxg2+ 31. Kf1 Bd5 32.
Re2 Rg4 33. Rc2 $6 Kh7 $6 {Both sides do not take a pawn.} 34. h5 Rg5 35. Ke2
$6 Rg2+ 36. Kd3 Rg3+ 37. Ke2 Rg2+ 38. Ke3 Rg3+ 39. Kf2 Rg5 $5 40. Ke2 $2 {
Bobby can claim a draw, because 40...Rg2+ leads to a threefold repetition of
positions.} (40. Qe8 $1 {still plays for a win.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb4 7. d5 c6 8. Ne2
cxd5 9. a3 N4c6 $5 10. exd5 Ne5 11. f4 Ng4 12. h3 Nf6 {
The king's knight has returned to f6.} 13. Be3 O-O 14. Nbc3 Nbd7 15. O-O Nb6
16. Bf2 Nc4 17. Nd4 $1 h5 $5 ({The pointe is} 17... Nxb2 $4 18. Qe2 $1) 18. Rc1
Nd6 19. Re1 Bh6 20. Nf3 Re8 21. Rc2 Bd7 22. Rce2 Nb5 23. Nxb5 Bxb5 24. Rd2 Qa5
$2 ({Better is the blockade by} 24... Qd6) 25. d6 $1 exd6 26. Rxd6 Bg7 27. Ne5
$1 {White controls the central area.} Ba6 28. Qb3 Re7 29. Red1 Qb5 30. Rd8+ $6
{He wants a material edge.} (30. Qa2 $1 {keeps the positional advantage.})
30... Rxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kh7 32. Qxb5 Bxb5 33. Bxa7 Nd7 34. Nxd7 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 Bxd7
36. b3 b5 {The extra pawn has a limited value.} 37. Bc5 Bb2 38. h4 Kg7 39. Kf2
Kf6 40. Ke3 Ke6 41. Kd3 Be8 42. Be4 Bf6 43. Kc2 Bg7 44. b4 $1 Bf6 45. Kb3 Bg7
46. Bf2 Bf6 47. a4 $1 bxa4+ 48. Ka3 Bd8 $6 (48... Bb5 $1 49. Bc2 Kd5 50. Bxa4
Bxa4 51. Kxa4 Bc3 {restricts the passed pawn.}) 49. Bd3 Be7 50. Bc2 Kd5 51.
Bxa4 Bxa4 52. Kxa4 Ke4 $5 (52... Bf6 53. Be1 Kc6 54. b5+ Kb7 55. Kb4 {
also wins for White.}) 53. b5 Bd8 54. b6 Bxb6 55. Bxb6 Kf3 56. f5 $1 {
Byrne won a fine bishop ending.} ({The pointe is} 56. f5 $1 Kxg3 57. fxg6 fxg6
58. Bd8) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B93"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e5 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Bc4
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. fxe5 $5 dxe5 11. Kh1 Qc7 12. Qe2 b5 13. Bb3 b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Rb8 (15... Bb7) 16. Bg5 Nb6 17. Bb3 Ra8 (17... Bb7) 18. Qf2 Bd6 19.
Qh4 (19. c3 bxc3 20. Rac1) 19... Be6 $2 (19... Nc4 20. Bh6 f6 21. Qg3) 20. Bf6
$1 gxf6 21. Ng5 $1 fxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Rf3 $1 {
White wants more than perpetual check.} Rfe8 (24... Bg4 25. Rg3 Qd7 26. h3 Be7
27. Qxb6) 25. Qh6 $1 Bg4 26. Rg3 Qd7 27. Rf1 $1 Bf8 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Rxg4 Qxg4
30. Qxg4 Bh6 31. Bxf7 Rf8 32. Qe6 Bg7 33. Qxb6 Rac8 34. Bc4 Rfd8 35. Bd3 h6 36.
h3 Re8 37. Qg6 Red8 38. Rf7 Rg8 39. Rf5 Rgf8 40. Rh5 Rf1+ {
He has reached the time control.} 41. Kh2 {
Reshevsky did not compete for the first place.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D83"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8.
Nf3 Nb6 9. Be2 Be6 10. Qc2 Rc8 11. e4 Nh5 12. Be3 Nc4 13. Ng5 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bd7
$6 (14... Bh6 $1 {was played in Kluger - Honfi, Budapest 1955.}) 15. Bxh5 $1 e5
$1 (15... gxh5 $2 16. e5 $1 f5 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 19. Qxh5 {
wins for White.}) 16. Nf3 exd4 17. exd4 gxh5 18. O-O-O Kh8 $5 19. Kb1 f5 20. e5
c6 21. Qf2 $5 f4 22. Ka1 b5 23. d5 $6 (23. Ne4 $1 Be6 24. Nd6 {
gains a great positional advantage.}) 23... b4 $1 24. dxc6 Rxc6 25. Nd5 Qa5 26.
Nxb4 Be6 27. a3 Rb6 28. Rd4 Qb5 29. Qd2 a5 30. Nd5 $1 Rb7 31. Rc1 Bg8 $5 32.
Rc2 Rd8 33. Nf6 $2 (33. Nc3 $1 Qf1+ 34. Qd1 Qxd1+ 35. Rxd1 {keeps an advantage.
}) 33... Rxd4 34. Nxd4 Qxe5 35. Nxg8 Kxg8 $2 36. Rc4 $4 {
White blunders a knight.} (36. Nc6 $1 Qe4 37. Nxa5 {grabs a pawn.}) 36... Rd7
$1 37. Rc8+ Kf7 38. Qe2 Rxd4 $1 {Byrne defeated an important competitor.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D78"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 c6 6. O-O d5 7. Nbd2 Bf5 8. b3
Ne4 9. Bb2 a5 10. Nh4 $5 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Be6 12. Rfc1 $5 (12. f4 $1 {
keeps a plus.}) 12... Nd7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Bxe4 a4 15. Ng2 Nc5 $1 16. Bc2 Bf5
17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Nf4 $6 ({Better is} 18. Qe3 a3 19. Bc3 Ne4 20. Nh4) 18... a3
19. Bxa3 $4 (19. Bc3 Ne4 20. Qe1 Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Qxd4 {costs a pawn.}) 19... Ne4
$1 20. Qb4 Qxd4 21. c5 ({Or} 21. Rf1 Nxf2 22. Rxf2 Qxa1+) 21... Qxf2+ 22. Kh1
Qf3+ 23. Ng2 Bxa1 24. Rxa1 Rfd8 {Benko won easily.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 e4 10. dxc6 exf3 11. Qxf3 Bg4 12. Qg3 Bd6 {
This line of the Marshall favours White.} 13. Qh4 $5 ({Known is} 13. f4 Re8 14.
Re5) 13... Re8 14. f3 $1 Bf5 15. d4 Bxh2+ $1 {
Otherwise Bobby will develop his pieces without a problem.} 16. Kxh2 Ng4+ 17.
Kg3 Qxh4+ 18. Kxh4 Rxe1 19. fxg4 Rxc1 20. gxf5 Rd8 $5 {
Black has a rook and positional compensation for two minor pieces and a pawn.}
21. a4 b4 $6 ({Preferable is} 21... bxa4 22. Bxa4 Re8 {(Müller)} 23. Bb3 $1 Kf8
$1) 22. d5 Rb8 23. d6 $1 cxd6 24. Bc4 Rc8 25. Bxa6 Rxc6 26. Bb5 $6 (26. Bd3
bxc3 27. bxc3 R6xc3 28. Nxc3 Rxa1 29. Bb5 {gains winning chances.}) 26... Rb6
$2 (26... Rc5 $1 27. cxb4 Rxf5 {gets a drawing position.}) 27. c4 $5 d5 $2 (
27... Kf8 28. a5 Rb7 29. a6 Ra7 {prolongs the game.}) 28. a5 $1 {
Rook a1 has been activated.} g5+ $5 29. Kxg5 h6+ 30. Kg4 Rb8 31. a6 dxc4 32. a7
Ra8 33. Bc6 h5+ 34. Kg5 Rxb1 35. Rxb1 Rxa7 36. Rc1 Ra2 37. Rxc4 Rxb2 38. f6 {
Fischer achieved the victory in a remarkable game.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. a3 Bb7 13. f5 e5 14. Nde2 $5 ({
The alternative is} 14. Nb3) 14... Nb6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rc8 17. Nc3 Nc4 $6
({Better is} 17... Na4 18. Rd3 Bf8 {(Müller).}) 18. Bxc4 bxc4 $6 19. Kb1 Rb8
20. Ka2 h5 $5 21. gxh5 Bf8 22. Rhg1 Ke7 23. Qe2 Bh6 24. Rg4 Rhc8 25. Qf2 Rb7
26. Rb1 Rcb8 27. Ne4 $5 Rb6 $6 (27... Qb6 $1 28. Qxb6 Rxb6 {
exchanges the main attacker.}) 28. Nxf6 $1 Qb7 ({The pointe is} 28... Kxf6 $2
29. Qh4+ Kxf5 30. Rf1+ Bf4 31. Rgxf4+ exf4 32. Qxf4#) 29. Ng8+ Kf8 $5 30. c3 $2
{Mednis misses the victory.} ({Right is} 30. b4 $1 cxb3+ 31. cxb3 Rxb3 32. Nxh6
Qxd5 33. Rg8+ Ke7 34. f6+ Kd7 35. Qf5+ Kc7 {(Müller)} 36. Rc8+ $1 Rxc8 37. Rxb3
{and White wins.}) 30... Bc1 $1 {Bobby plays a strong counter.} 31. Rg2 $2 {
The tables turn.} (31. Nf6 $1 Ke7 32. Ng8+ Kf8 {leads to a repetition of moves.
}) 31... Rxb2+ 32. Rxb2 Bxb2 33. Qc2 $5 (33. Qxb2 Qxb2+ 34. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 35. Kxb2
Kxg8 {wins for Black (Müller).}) 33... Qb5 34. f6 Qa5 35. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 36. Kxb2
Qxd5 37. Rg7 Qd2+ 38. Kb1 Qd1+ 39. Kb2 Qb3+ 40. Kc1 Qxc3+ {
Fischer had been close to a defeat against Mednis.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 12"]
[Date "1959.12.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1959.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. f3 Rd8 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Qf2 Nd7 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. g4 a6
15. N5d4 Nde5 $5 ({Taimanov had drawn twice by} 15... Qc7 16. h4 Nce5) 16. g5
d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. h4 Nc4 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Bc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 Qf4+ 22. Kb1
Ne3 23. Re1 d4 $5 24. Bd3 $1 ({Not} 24. Qxc6 $2 Bf5 25. Bd3 Rdc8) 24... Be6 25.
Be4 Nf5 $5 26. Bxf5 $5 Bxf5 27. Qe5 Qxe5 28. Rxe5 g6 29. Rd1 d3 30. cxd3 Bxd3+
31. Kc1 Bc4 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Nc5 Bd5 34. f4 Kf8 ({Avoids} 34... Bxa2 $2 35.
b3 $1) 35. b3 a5 36. Re3 f6 $2 (36... h6 $1 37. gxh6 Kg8 38. h5 Kh7 39. hxg6+
fxg6 40. Rh3 Rf8 41. Rh4 Rf5 {draws.}) 37. Ne6+ $1 Bxe6 38. Rxe6 fxg5 39. fxg5
Rd4 $1 {He has to counter in the rook ending.} 40. Rxc6 Rxh4 41. Ra6 Rh1+ 42.
Kb2 Rh2+ 43. Ka3 Rh3 44. Rxa5 {White has won a pawn.} h6 45. Ra8+ $6 {
Bobby should capture at once.} Kf7 46. gxh6 Rxh6 47. Kb4 $2 {
The b-pawn should start running.} g5 48. Ra7+ Kf6 $1 49. a4 g4 50. Rd7 g3 51.
Rd6+ Kf7 $5 52. Rd7+ Kf6 53. Rd1 g2 $5 54. Rg1 Rg6 55. a5 Ke7 $1 {
The king can stop the passed pawns.} 56. a6 Rb6+ $2 ({Right is} 56... Rxa6 57.
Rxg2 Kd7 58. Rc2 Ra8 {and a theoretical draw (Müller).}) 57. Ka5 $1 Rxb3 58.
Rxg2 Ra3+ 59. Kb6 Rb3+ 60. Kc5 Ra3 61. a7 Ke6 ({The alternative} 61... Kf6 $1
62. Kb6 Rb3+ 63. Kc7 Rc3+ 64. Kb7 Rb3+ 65. Ka8 Kf7 66. Rc2 Ke6 67. Rc8 Kd6 68.
Rb8 Rh3 69. Kb7 Rb3+ 70. Kc8 Rc3+ 71. Kd8 Rh3 72. Rb6+ Kc5 73. Rb3 Rxb3 74.
a8=Q {can be found on a CD-ROM.}) 62. Rg7 Ra1 63. Kc6 Ra2 64. Kb7 Rb2+ 65. Kc8
Ra2 66. Kb8 Rb2+ 67. Rb7 Rh2 68. a8=Q Rh8+ 69. Ka7 {Bobby had won his fourth
game in a row. He drew with Reshevsky in the last round. The final standings
became: Fischer 9/11, R.Byrne 8, Reshevsky 71/2, Benko 7, Bisguier 61/2,
Weinstein 6, Seidman 51/2, Sherwin 5, Mednis 41/2, Bernstein 4, Denker 3, Ault
0.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirteenth US championship was played in New York from 18 xii 1960 until
3 i 1961. Fischer met a strong resistance in round one.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bd7 10.
Bd3 c4 11. Be2 O-O-O 12. Ba3 f6 13. O-O Nf5 14. Rfe1 $5 ({The immediate} 14. g4
{stems from I.Rabinovich - Botvinnik, Leningrad 1939.}) 14... Be8 $6 15. g4
Nfe7 16. Bf1 Bd7 $5 17. Bh3 h6 18. Bd6 Rdf8 19. Rab1 Rf7 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Bg3
Ng6 22. Rb5 Qa6 $5 23. Reb1 b6 24. Qc1 $6 Qxa4 $1 25. R5b2 $6 Qa3 $1 {
The extra pawn starts to count.} 26. Qe3 Kb7 27. Nh4 Nxh4 28. Bxh4 e5 $2 {
The opening of the centre helps White.} (28... h5 $1 29. Bg3 hxg4 30. Bxg4 Rg7
{brings an advantage.}) 29. dxe5 fxe5 $2 {The tables turn.} ({Better is} 29...
Re8 30. Rxb6+ axb6 31. Qxb6+ Kc8 $1 32. g5 $5 Qa8 $1 {
and great complications (Müller).}) 30. Rxb6+ $1 Ka8 ({The pointe is} 30...
axb6 31. Qxb6+ Kc8 (31... Ka8 32. Qb7#) 32. Qb7#) 31. R6b5 $5 Be6 32. Bg3 e4 $2
33. Qxh6 $3 {Fischer threatens mate on the eighth rank.} (33. Qxh6 Rxh6 34.
Rb8+ Nxb8 35. Rxb8#) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lombardy, William"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B55"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 Nc6 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Be3
O-O 9. Nc2 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Qc7 13. Qb5 $2 (13. Be2 Be6
14. Qb5 {drew in Foguelman - Piro, Buenos Aires 1959.}) 13... Bd7 $1 14. Rc1 $6
Nb4 $1 15. Nxb4 Qxc1+ $1 16. Bxc1 Bxb5 {
Black has gained an exchange for a pawn.} 17. Nd5 $5 Bh4+ $1 18. g3 Bxf1 19.
Rxf1 Bd8 $1 20. Bd2 $6 (20. g4 $1 {
prevents the counter in the central area (Hübner).}) 20... Rc8 21. Bc3 f5 $1
22. e5 Rc5 $1 {He has a won endgame.} 23. Nb4 Ba5 $1 24. a3 Bxb4 25. axb4 Rd5
26. Ke2 Kf7 27. h4 Ke6 28. Ke3 Rc8 29. Rg1 Rc4 30. Re1 $2 ({Better is} 30. Ra1
a6 31. Rg1 {(Fischer).}) 30... Rxc3+ $1 31. bxc3 Rxe5+ 32. Kd2 Rxe1 33. Kxe1
Kd5 {Black decides the pawn ending easily.} 34. Kd2 Kc4 35. h5 b6 36. Kc2 g5
37. h6 f4 38. g4 a5 $1 39. bxa5 bxa5 40. Kb2 a4 41. Ka3 Kxc3 42. Kxa4 Kd4 43.
Kb4 Ke3 {Bobby triumphed in his second game. He had defeated a main opponent.}
0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 e5 6. d5 Nh5 7. Nge2 O-O 8. O-O
f5 $5 {Black wants to attack on the kingside.} 9. exf5 $1 gxf5 10. f4 Nd7 11.
Rb1 $5 exf4 $5 12. Nxf4 Nxf4 13. Bxf4 Ne5 14. Ne2 $5 Qe8 $5 15. Qd2 $5 Bd7 $5
16. b3 Qg6 $6 (16... Nxd3 $1 17. Qxd3 Qe4 $1 18. Rbd1 Rae8 {almost equalises.})
17. Bc2 Rae8 18. Nd4 Ng4 19. Nb5 Bxb5 20. cxb5 Nf6 21. Rbe1 Ne4 $1 22. Qd3 Re7
23. Qc4 Rfe8 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Re3 $6 (25. Be3 $1 Qh5 26. a4 {keeps an edge.})
25... Rf7 26. h3 Kh8 27. Kh2 Qf5 28. Rg3 $6 e3 $1 29. Bh6 $2 {
White should stop the passed pawn.} Bxh6 $1 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 31. Qd4+ Ree5 32. Rg4
e2 33. Re4 Bg7 $1 {Byrne overstepped the time limit in a lost position.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O c5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Be1 c4 11. g4 Bb4 $5 ({Usual is} 11... Nb6) (11...
Nxg4 $5 12. Nxd5 b5 {looks risky.}) 12. Ne5 Re8 13. Bg2 Nb6 $5 14. f3 $5 Nfd7
$1 15. Bg3 $2 {Benko overestimates his attacking possibilities.} ({Better is} 
15. Kb1) 15... Nf8 16. g5 $5 Qxg5 17. f4 Qd8 18. e4 $5 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 f6 $1 {
Black counters decisively.} 20. Kb1 fxe5 21. dxe5 $1 Bg4 $1 22. Rd2 Na4 $5 23.
Qb4 b5 24. Rxd5 a5 $1 25. Qd2 Qe7 26. Rxb5 $6 Reb8 $1 27. Qc2 Qe8 28. Bf1 Rxb5
29. Qxc4+ Be6 30. Qxb5 Nc3+ $1 31. bxc3 Rb8 32. Qxb8 Qxb8+ 33. Ka1 Qc7 34. Be1
Qd7 35. Be2 Qa4 {Bisguier cannot be stopped.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lombardy, William"]
[Black "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E71"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 $5 8. Nf3
h6 9. Be3 exd5 10. exd5 Bf5 $5 11. g4 $5 {
Lombardy wants to attack the hostile king.} ({The alternative is} 11. Bd3)
11... Be4 12. Be2 Nbd7 13. Rg1 $1 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 a6 15. Be2 Qa5 16. Kf1 $1 {
His king goes to a safe haven.} Rfe8 17. Qd2 Kh7 18. Qc2 Qb4 $2 (18... b5 $1
19. cxb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Rxe3 21. fxe3 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Qxb5+ {
counters aggressively.}) 19. Bd2 $1 Qb6 20. h4 $1 {A charge begins.} Kg8 21. g5
hxg5 22. hxg5 Nh7 23. Rg3 Qd8 24. Kg2 $1 Nhf8 25. Rh1 $1 Bd4 26. Ne4 Qe7 27.
Bd3 {All white pieces are aimed at the kingside.} Bg7 $6 (27... Nh7 28. Rgh3
Ndf8 {reorganises the defence.}) 28. Rgh3 $1 Ne5 29. Bc3 $1 f5 30. gxf6 Bxf6
31. f4 Ng4 32. Rg3 $1 Bxc3 33. Qxc3 Qd7 $5 34. Qh8+ Kf7 35. Rh7+ $1 Nxh7 36.
Qxh7+ Kf8 37. Qxd7 Re7 38. Qxg4 {Lombardy carried out a great offensive.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Sherwin, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C19"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3
Bd7 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. Qd2 c4 11. Be2 f6 12. Ba3 Ng6 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Bd6 Rde8 $5
(14... Nce7 {was played in Fischer - Uhlmann, Buenos Aires 1960.}) 15. Rfe1 h5
16. h4 Nd8 17. Bf1 Nf7 $1 18. Bb4 Qc7 {Sherwin has equalised the position.} 19.
Qe2 a5 20. Ba3 Bxa4 21. Bf8 $2 {The exchange helps Black.} Rhxf8 22. Rxa4 Nd8
$2 (22... fxe5 23. dxe5 Nh6 $1 24. g3 Ng4 {
combines a material with a positional advantage (Müller).}) 23. g3 b5 24. Ra2
Nc6 25. exf6 $1 gxf6 26. Bh3 Kb8 27. Qd1 Ka7 $2 {He blunders a pawn.} ({
Better is} 27... f5 28. Kg2 Rf6 29. Ng5 e5) 28. Bxe6 $1 Qd6 29. Bf5 Rxe1+ $6
30. Nxe1 Nge7 31. Qxh5 Nxf5 32. Qxf5 Re8 33. Ng2 Qe6 34. Qh5 f5 35. Ra1 Qd7 36.
Ne3 Rf8 37. Qf3 f4 38. Nxd5 fxg3 39. Qxf8 gxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Qxd5 {
Fischer wins easily, when he exchanges the queens.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Bg4 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. h3 Bd7 11. Qc2 a6 12. b3 b5 13. Bb2 Rb8 14. Rab1 Qc7 15. e4
bxc4 16. bxc4 {This opening's scheme was popular in the sixties.} Rb7 $5 17.
Rfc1 Rfb8 18. Nd1 Ne8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 $5 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Nb2 e5 22. f4 {
Reshevsky takes the initiative on the kingside.} f6 23. Nd3 Rb6 24. g4 h6 25.
Qd1 exf4 $2 (25... g5 $1 {closes the kingside.}) 26. Nxf4 Rb2 27. Rc2 Rb6 28.
Qf3 Bc8 29. Qd3 $1 {White threatens 30.e5.} Qf7 $1 30. Nf3 Nb7 31. Rf2 Nd8 32.
Nh4 $1 g5 33. Nh5+ Kg8 34. Nf3 (34. e5 $1 dxe5 35. Nf3 Qh7 36. Nxe5 Qxd3 37.
Nxd3 {gains a positional advantage.}) 34... Qg6 35. Qc3 $1 Nf7 $5 36. Nd2 $1
Ne5 37. Qa5 $1 Nd7 (37... Rb8 38. Qd8 $1 {completes an encirclement.}) 38. e5
$1 dxe5 39. Be4 Qf7 40. Bf5 $1 Rd6 41. Ne4 $1 {White pieces blockade black
pawns on four squares! Reshevsky produces a moderate result in this tournament.
} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1960.12.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Nf4 bxc5 $5 ({Theory is} 9... a5 10. Bb2 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 {
(Ragozin - Konstantinopolsky, Tbilisi 1937).}) 10. bxc5 Ba6 $6 ({
A novelty will become} 10... c6 $5 11. Be2 Qc7 {
(Nakamura - Lobron, Wijk aan Zee 2004).}) 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Nb8 13. Bd2 Nc6
{This knight has made a long journey.} 14. Qa4 Qd7 15. Nd3 a5 16. f3 Rfd8 17.
Rfb1 Ne8 18. f4 Nf6 19. Rb7 Ne4 20. Be1 g5 $6 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. fxe5 Qxa4 23.
Nxa4 {White rules the open file.} Rdc8 24. Rab1 Kf8 25. R1b5 Ke8 26. Nb2 $5 a4
$5 27. Kf1 f6 28. Nd3 fxe5 29. Nxe5 Bf6 30. Nc6 Kd7 31. Na7 Rf8 32. c6+ Ke8 33.
Ke2 Bd8 {The black position looks horrible.} 34. Ra5 Rf6 35. Nb5 $1 Rxa5 36.
Bxa5 Rf2+ 37. Ke1 Rb2 38. Rb8 $2 (38. Nxc7+ Bxc7 39. Rxc7 {(Müller)} Rb1+ 40.
Ke2 Rb2+ 41. Kd1 Nf2+ 42. Ke1 Nd3+ 43. Kf1 Rf2+ 44. Kg1 Rc2 45. h3 {
wins for White.}) 38... Kf7 $6 {
Suddenly Bobby does not play for a repetition but counters.} 39. Rxd8 Rxb5 40.
Bxc7 $6 (40. Rd7+ Ke8 41. Bb4 {keeps an advantage (Müller).}) 40... Rb1+ 41.
Ke2 Rc1 $1 {Fischer bites.} 42. Rd7+ Kg6 43. Be5 Rxc6 44. Rg7+ Kh6 45. g4 Rc2+
46. Ke1 Nf2 $1 47. h3 Nd3+ 48. Kd1 Rc3 49. Kd2 Rxa3 50. Re7 Nxe5 51. dxe5 Ra1
52. Rxe6+ {The chances are equal in the rook ending.} Kg7 53. Ra6 a3 54. Kc2
Kf7 55. Rh6 $2 (55. Rf6+ Ke7 56. Kb3 a2 57. Rh6 {draws.}) 55... Re1 $1 56.
Rxh7+ Ke6 57. Kb3 Rxe3+ 58. Ka2 d4 $1 59. Ra7 Rxh3 {
Fischer made a great comeback in the game.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1961.01.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Berliner, Hans"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E77"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 c5 6. d5 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. Be2 exd5
9. exd5 Bf5 10. O-O Ne4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Ng5 Re8 13. Bd3 $5 ({Known is} 13.
Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Bd3 Re8 15. Rb1 {(Wade - Petrosian, Belgrade 1954).}) 13... Bxd3
14. Qxd3 h6 15. Nxf7 $2 {
White overestimates his chances. He should have retreated the knight.} Kxf7 16.
f5 Nd7 $5 ({Even stronger is} 16... Bd4+ $1 17. Kh1 g5 $1 18. f6 Rh8) ({
Black avoids the trap} 16... g5 $4 17. f6 $1 Bxf6 18. Qh7+) 17. fxg6+ Kg8 18.
Qh3 Ne5 19. Qh5 $5 (19. Bxh6 Nxg6 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qc3+ Re5 {defends well.})
19... Qd7 20. h3 $5 Rf8 21. Bxh6 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qg7 23. Qe3 Qxg6 {
White has no compensation for the given material.} 24. b3 Rae8 25. Qc3 Kh7 26.
Kh1 Nd3 27. Qc2 Rxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Re3 $1 29. Qd1 Kg8 30. a3 a5 31. Qd2 Qe4 32. Kg1
b6 33. a4 Kh7 $1 34. Kh2 Kg6 35. Qd1 Re2 {
Lombardy scored well after his loss against Fischer.} ({The pointe is} 35...
Re2 36. Rg1 Qe5+ 37. Kh1 Nf2#) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 13"]
[Date "1961.01.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1960.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bf4 c5 6. d5 d6 7. e4 Qa5 $5 8. Bd3
Bg4 9. O-O Nbd7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 a6 14. Bd2 Nd7
$1 15. b3 Qc7 16. f4 $6 (16. a4 $1 {prevents the next move.}) 16... b5 $1 17.
cxb5 $5 Qb6 $1 18. Kh2 axb5 19. Nxb5 $5 {Bisguier counters on the queenside.}
Bxa1 20. Rxa1 Rfc8 21. Qc4 Qa6 22. a4 Nb6 23. Qc2 c4 24. b4 c3 $1 {
Fischer fights for the initiative.} 25. Nxc3 $1 (25. Bxc3 $2 Nxa4 $1 {
costs material.}) 25... Qc4 26. b5 Qd4 $6 (26... Ra5 $1 27. Ra3 Rca8 {
increases the pressure.}) 27. Be1 $1 Nc4 $5 28. Qf2 Ne3 29. Rd1 $6 (29. Rc1 $1
Qd3 30. Qf3 Rxa4 31. Rd1 {(Müller)} Rxc3 32. Rxd3 Rxd3 {keeps the equality.})
29... Qxc3 $1 {He gives a queen for two rooks and a minor pieces.} 30. Bxc3
Nxd1 31. Qd4 $6 Nxc3 32. b6 Rc5 $1 33. e5 $2 (33. Qb4 $1 Rxa4 34. Qb3 Ra8 35.
b7 Rb8 36. Qb6 {offers a strong resistance (Müller).}) 33... Rxa4 34. b7 Rxd4
35. b8=Q+ Kg7 36. exd6 exd6 37. Qxd6 Rcxd5 38. Qc7 Ne2 39. f5 Rxf5 40. Qa7 Rfd5
41. Qa1 Nf4 {The final standings became: Fischer 9/11, Lombardy 7, Weinstein
61/2, Bisguier, Reshevsky and Sherwin 6, Kalme 5, Benko, Berliner, R.Byrne and
Saidy 41/2, Seidman 21/2. The distance from Bobby to the field was two points.}
0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1961.12.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Turner, Abe"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fourteenth US championship was played in New York from 17 xii 1961 until
4 i 1962. Three stars were missing: Fischer prepared himself for the
interzonal tournament, Reshevsky sold insurances and Lombardy studied for
priesthood.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7.
Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nf1 Nc4 13. b3 $5 Nb6 {
They manoeuvre quietly in the Closed Ruy Lopez.} 14. Ne3 g6 15. h3 Bd7 $2 ({
Preferable is} 15... Bb7 $1 16. d5 c4 {
and Black becomes active on the queenside.}) 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. c4 $1 Rfe8 18.
Bb2 Bd6 19. a4 bxa4 20. bxa4 Bc6 21. Bc3 Nbd7 $5 22. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 23. cxd5 Nh5
$6 ({More active is} 23... c4 $1 24. a5 Nc5) 24. a5 Nhf6 $5 25. Nd2 Reb8 26.
Nc4 Rb5 27. Ba4 Rab8 $5 28. f4 $1 Re8 29. Bxb5 axb5 30. Nxd6 Qxd6 31. fxe5 Nxe5
32. a6 $1 Nfd7 33. Qe2 b4 34. Bxe5 Nxe5 35. Rec1 Ra8 36. a7 c4 37. Rxc4 $1 Nxc4
38. Qxc4 Qb6+ 39. Kh2 Rxa7 40. Rxa7 Qxa7 41. Qxb4 {
White has an extra pawn in the queen ending.} Qe3 42. Qb8+ $1 Kg7 43. Qe5+ Kg8
44. d6 $1 Qd2 45. Qe8+ Kg7 46. Qc6 $1 Qf4+ 47. Kg1 Qe3+ 48. Kh1 $1 {
Black has no perpetual check.} f5 $6 49. Qd5 $6 (49. Qc7+ $1 Kh6 50. d7 f4 51.
Qa5 $1 {wins quickly.}) 49... Qc1+ 50. Kh2 Qf4+ 51. Kg1 Qc1+ 52. Kf2 Qc2+ 53.
Kg3 f4+ $5 54. Kf3 $1 ({The trap is} 54. Kxf4 $4 Qf2+ 55. Kg4 h5+ {
and Black wins.}) 54... Qc3+ 55. Kxf4 Qc1+ 56. Kf3 Qc3+ 57. Kf2 Qf6+ 58. Kg1
Qf4 59. d7 Qe3+ 60. Kf1 Qc1+ 61. Kf2 Qb2+ 62. Kg3 Qb8+ 63. e5 Qd8 64. Kh2 h5
65. Qd6 Kh6 66. e6 h4 67. e7 Qa5 68. d8=Q Qe5+ 69. Qxe5 {
The favourite Evans started with a win.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1961.12.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hearst, Eliot"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Be7 9. Kh1 d6 10. f4 Bd7 11. Qe2 Rc8 $5 ({Usual is} 11... O-O) 12. Nf3 $5
O-O 13. Ng5 $6 {Provocation of a weakening costs time.} h6 $1 14. Nh3 $5 Nb4 $1
15. Rf3 $6 {The planned attack will not be effective.} Nxd3 16. cxd3 d5 $1 17.
Rg3 $2 ({Better is} 17. Bd4 $1 dxe4 18. dxe4 b5 19. e5 Ne8 20. Ne4) 17... dxe4
18. dxe4 Qc4 $1 19. Qf3 Bc6 $1 {The counter in the centre becomes strong.} 20.
Nf2 {White pieces hinder each other.} Rfd8 21. Re1 Kf8 $5 22. Bc1 $6 (22. Ba7
$5 Bb5 23. Qe3 {reorganises the defence.}) 22... b5 $1 23. b3 Qc5 24. Bb2 Qh5
25. a3 Qxf3 26. Rxf3 Rd2 $1 27. Bc1 Rc2 $1 28. Kg1 Bc5 29. Nb1 Bxe4 $1 {
Evans won a model game.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1961.12.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Evans was a real fighter in chess.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5.
Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. dxc5 dxc5 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Nd5 e6 11. Bd2 Qd8 12.
Nc3 Qe7 13. Qc1 Ng4 $5 (13... Nd7 {drew in Reshevsky - D.Byrne, New York 1957.}
) 14. h3 $1 Nge5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 $5 16. b3 Rd8 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Rb8
$1 20. Qa3 b6 21. Rad1 a6 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rd1 Qc7 $5 24. Bf4 f5 $1 25. Qc1
$1 Bb7 26. Bxb7 Rxb7 27. Qe3 $1 {The pin hinders Black.} b5 $2 (27... Bf6 28.
Na4 h5 29. Nb2 Qg7 $1 {ends the pin timely.}) 28. cxb5 axb5 29. a4 $1 bxa4 30.
Nxa4 $1 Rb5 31. Nb2 $1 c4 $5 {Otherwise, he will lose a piece.} 32. Nxc4 {
Another pawn will fall.} h5 33. Bxe5 Bxe5 34. f4 Bg7 35. Qxe6+ {
Robert has gained material.} Kh7 36. Rd7 Qc5+ 37. Kg2 Rxb3 38. Qf7 $2 {
Byrne fails under time pressure.} ({Correct is} 38. Ne5 $1 Rxg3+ $1 39. Kxg3
Qe3+ 40. Nf3 $1 Qxe6 41. Ng5+ {(Soltis).}) 38... Rxg3+ $1 39. Kxg3 Qg1+ 40. Kf3
Qf1+ 41. Ke3 Qxh3+ 42. Kf2 ({Or} 42. Kd2 Qc3+) 42... Qh4+ 43. Kg2 Qg4+ 44. Kf1
Qxf4+ 45. Ke1 Qg3+ 46. Kd1 Qb3+ $1 {
Black delivers perpetual check. Evans had survived in a lost game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1961.12.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Bernstein, Sidney"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C85"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 c5 9. Nc4 f6 10. Nh4 O-O 11. f4 $5 {Evans takes the initiative.} exf4 12.
Bxf4 Rf7 $6 ({Preferable is} 12... Nb6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Qd4+ 15. Kh1 Nxc4
16. dxc4 Qxc4 17. Bxc7 {and Black has almost equalised.}) 13. Nf5 $1 Nf8 14.
Be3 a5 $6 15. Qh5 $1 Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Qd7 17. Qf2 $1 {He threatens 18.Ne5.} Bd6
18. Bxc5 Bxc5 19. Qxc5 {White has gained a pawn.} Ne6 20. Qf2 a4 21. Rad1 b5
22. Ne3 a3 23. b3 b4 24. Nd5 Rb8 25. c3 bxc3 26. Nxc3 f5 $5 27. d4 $6 fxe4 28.
Qe3 $6 (28. Qxf7+ Qxf7 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Kf2 Nf4 31. Nxe4 {
keeps the extra pawn.}) 28... Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Rf8+ 30. Kg1 Qf7 $5 31. d5 Ng5 $2
{He blunders a knight.} ({Right is} 31... Nf4 $1 32. Nxe4 Qh5 33. Rd2 Qe5 34.
Rd1 Qh5 {and a repetition of moves.}) 32. h4 $1 Nf3+ 33. gxf3 Qg6+ 34. Qg5 $1
Qb6+ 35. Kh1 exf3 36. Ne4 f2 37. Kg2 Qb5 38. Ng3 Qe8 39. Rf1 Qe1 40. Qg4 Qd2
41. Qe6+ {Evans led by 5/6.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1961.12.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Kramer, George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D28"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Nc3
b5 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. a4 $6 ({Theory is} 11. d5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13.
Bxd5) 11... c4 $6 ({An improvement will become} 11... Na5 $5 12. Bc2 b4 13. Nb1
c4 {and Black had an advantage (Marzolo - Brethes, Nancy 2010).}) 12. axb5 cxb3
13. bxc6 Qxc6 14. Bd2 Nd5 $2 (14... Bd6 $1 15. Rac1 O-O {develops quickly.})
15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. Ra5 Qd8 $5 17. Qc4 Bd5 18. Qa4+ Qd7 19. Ra1 Qxa4 20. R5xa4
Bb7 {He has to bring out pieces.} 21. Bc3 $5 Rb8 22. Nd2 Bc8 $5 23. Rc4 Bd6 24.
Nxb3 {He grabs a pawn.} Bd7 25. Nc5 Bb5 26. Nb7 $1 Kd7 27. Nxd6 Kxd6 28. Rc5 f6
29. f3 Rhc8 30. Rh5 h6 31. Rh3 $5 Rc4 32. Rg3 Rb7 33. e4 Ra4 34. Rc1 Be8 35. f4
$5 Bc6 36. Re1 Be8 37. Rd3 Ke7 38. g4 Bb5 39. Rd2 Rc4 40. f5 Bd7 41. h3 Kf7 42.
fxe6+ Kxe6 43. d5+ Kd6 $6 (43... Kf7 $5 44. Rf2 Kg8 45. Kg2 {
will win for White, gradually.}) 44. e5+ $1 fxe5 45. Bxe5+ Kc5 46. Bxg7 h5 47.
Bf8+ Kb5 48. gxh5 Bxh3 49. h6 Rf7 50. Bg7 Bf5 51. d6 Rf4 52. Re7 Bd7 53. Rxf7
Rxf7 54. Rf2 {Robert Byrne won a game after six draws.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1962.01.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Sherwin, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Be2 e5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Qc7 10. Nd2 Nh7 11. f3 $5 a6 12. a3 Nd7 13. Bf2 f5 $5 14. b4 $5 f4 15.
Rb1 Nhf6 16. Qb3 b6 17. O-O {White controls more territory.} Rf7 18. bxc5 bxc5
19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Rb2 Nf8 21. Rfb1 {He occupies the open file.} Bc8 $6 (21... Rb8
$1 22. Nb3 Bc8 23. Na5 Rxb2 24. Rxb2 g5 {offers an active resistance.}) 22. Qc6
$1 {The attack starts.} Ra7 23. Rb6 Rd7 $2 (23... Qd8 $1 24. Bh4 N8d7 $1 25.
R6b3 Nf8 {stops the penetration on the queenside.}) 24. Qxc7 $5 Raxc7 25. Nb3
$1 Ne8 26. Na5 Bf6 27. Rb8 Rg7 28. Ra8 $1 Nd7 29. Na4 Kf7 30. Nb6 $1 Nxb6 31.
Rxb6 Rg8 32. Rc6 Bd7 33. Rxe8 $1 Bxc6 34. Rxg8 Be8 35. Rxe8 Kxe8 {
White has two minor pieces for a rook.} 36. Bd1 Rc8 37. Ba4+ Kf7 38. Nb7 Be7
39. Be1 Rb8 40. Bc6 g5 41. Kf2 h5 42. h3 g4 43. hxg4 hxg4 44. fxg4 $1 Rh8 45.
Ba5 Rh1 46. g5 $1 Rc1 47. Bc7 $1 Rc2+ 48. Ke1 $5 Rc1+ 49. Kd2 Bxg5 $5 50. Nxd6+
({Not} 50. Kxc1 $4 f3+) 50... Kg6 51. Be8+ Kg7 52. Bd8 $5 Rg1 53. Bxg5 Rxg2+
54. Kd3 Rxg5 55. Nf5+ Kf6 56. d6 Rg1 57. d7 Ke6 58. Nd4+ $1 Ke7 59. Nc6+ Kf8
60. d8=Q {Robert Byrne had won his third game.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 14"]
[Date "1962.01.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Hearst, Eliot"]
[Black "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1961.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O g6 5. d3 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Nbd2 Rb8 8. a4
a6 9. h3 $5 b5 10. c3 Bb7 11. Ne1 $6 b4 $1 12. c4 d6 13. f4 Nd7 14. Kh2 f5 $5
15. exf5 gxf5 16. Ndf3 e6 17. Ra2 Qe7 18. b3 Kh8 19. Nc2 $6 ({
The natural move is} 19. Re2) 19... Rg8 20. Be3 Bf6 21. Bf2 Rg6 22. Rg1 Rbg8
23. Ne3 Qg7 24. Bh1 Qh6 {He aims his pieces on the hostile king.} 25. Bg2 Ba8
26. Qf1 Ne7 27. Ne1 d5 28. cxd5 e5 $6 29. fxe5 $2 {White misses the escape.} (
29. d6 $1 exf4 30. Bxa8 fxe3 31. Bxe3 Qxe3 32. Re2 Qh6 33. dxe7 Ne5 {equalises.
}) 29... Nxe5 $6 {Hearst gets a second chance.} (29... Bxe5 $1 30. Nf3 Bxg3+ {
wins for Black.}) 30. d6 $2 {The long diagonal should remain closed.} (30. Kh1
$1 Ng4 31. Nxg4 Rxg4 32. Bf3 {defends properly.}) 30... f4 $1 31. gxf4 Qxf4+
32. Kh1 Nf5 33. Nxf5 Qxf5 34. Kh2 $5 Bxg2 35. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 36. Qxg2 Rxg2+ 37.
Kxg2 Nxd3 38. Nxd3 Qxd3 39. Bg3 Qd5+ 40. Kg1 Qxb3 41. Rg2 Qd3 {Evans led by
half-a-point on Byrne and one point on Seidman at the end of the penultimate
round. The game Seidman - Evans was played during the last round. Larry failed
in the opening but escaped eventually. The final standings became: Evans 71/2/
11, R.Byrne 7, Benko, Mednis, Seidman and Sherwin 61/2, Hearst 51/2, D.Byrne 5,
Weinstein 41/2, Turner 4, Kramer 31/2, Bernstein 3. Larry got $1000 as first
prize.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C19"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The sixteenth championship was played at the Henry Hudson Hotel in New York
from 16 xii 1962 until 3 i 1963. It was a zonal tournament. Fischer, Reshevsky
and Bisguier were lured to the event by an increase of the first prize.} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. a4 Ne7 9.
Bd3 Nbc6 10. O-O c4 11. Be2 f6 12. Ba3 $5 O-O 13. Re1 Rf7 14. exf6 gxf6 $5 15.
Bf1 Re8 16. Nh4 Ng6 17. Qh5 Rg7 18. g3 Qa5 19. Bb2 Nd8 20. Re3 Nf7 21. Kh1 Nd6
22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Qe2 $6 Rh7 $6 (23... Nf5 $1 24. Rf3 e5 $1 {
gains a positional advantage.}) 24. Kg1 Kf7 25. h4 f5 26. Qf3 Ne4 27. Qf4 Rc8
28. Bg2 Qc7 29. Qxc7 Rxc7 {The chances are about equal.} 30. a5 Rc6 31. Ba3 Ra6
32. Bb4 Rh8 33. Ree1 Bc6 34. Bf3 Nd2 35. Be2 Ne4 36. Kg2 Nf6 37. Rh1 Be8 38.
Kf3 Ne4 39. Ke3 Nf6 40. f3 Bd7 41. g4 Be8 42. Kf4 Bb5 43. h5 gxh5 44. Rag1 $5 {
Bobby gives a pawn.} ({Preferable is} 44. g5 $1 Ne8 45. Ke5) 44... Be8 45. Ke3
b6 46. axb6 Rxb6 47. Ra1 Rb7 48. Bd6 Rh7 49. gxf5 exf5 50. Rh4 Ke6 51. Bh2 $5
Rb2 52. Kd2 Rhb7 53. Kc1 R2b6 54. Bf1 $5 Ng8 55. Bf4 a5 $1 56. Rh2 a4 $1 57.
Bh3 Ne7 58. Bg5 Kf7 {Mednis plays very solidly, as usual.} 59. Re2 $2 {
The exchange of rooks helps Black.} ({Correct is} 59. Bg2) 59... Re6 $1 60.
Rxe6 Kxe6 61. Kd1 $5 Nc8 62. Kd2 Bd7 63. Bg2 Ra7 64. Re1+ Kd6 65. Bh6 $5 a3 66.
Bf8+ Kc6 67. Bc5 Ra8 68. Ra1 a2 69. Ke3 Nd6 70. Kf4 Nb5 71. Bb4 h4 72. Bh3 Nc7
73. Be7 $6 {Fischer suffered his first loss in a US championship.} ({
Müller analyses} 73. Be7 Re8 $1 74. Bxh4 Rh8 75. Kg5 Ne6+ {
and Black wins a piece.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B73"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. f4 Re8 11. Nb3 $5 Bg4 $5 12. Bc4 Bd7 13. h3 Na5 14. Be2
Bc6 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bf3 Nd7 17. Bd4 e5 18. fxe5 Nxe5 19. Be2 Bd7 $5 20. Rad1
Be6 $5 21. Nb5 $1 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Red8 23. Nc7 Rac8 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. c3 Nc4 26.
Bxc4 Rxc4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. e5 $1 {White takes the initiative.} d5 29. Rf6 Re8
30. Rd4 Rc7 31. Ra4 b6 32. Kf2 Rf8 33. Rxf8 Kxf8 {
He has a plus in the rook ending.} 34. Ke3 Rf7 35. Ra6 Kg7 36. g4 $5 (36. a4 $1
{keeps an edge.}) 36... Kh6 $1 37. h4 Re7 $6 {Mednis should become active.} (
37... g5 $1 38. h5 Rf4 $1 39. Rxa7 Rxg4 40. Rb7 Re4+ 41. Kf2 Rxe5 42. Rxb6 Kxh5
{equalises.}) 38. a4 Kg7 $2 {Mednis lets the opportunity go.} (38... g5 $1 39.
h5 Rf7 40. b4 Rf4 41. Rxa7 Rxg4 {counters timely.}) 39. a5 bxa5 40. Rxa5 Rb7
41. Kd4 $1 Rxb2 $6 (41... h5 $1 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. Ra6 Kf7 44. b4 Rc7 {
tries to survive by a passive defence.}) 42. Rxa7+ Kg8 43. Kc5 $1 Rb3 44. Kd6
Rxc3 45. Kxe6 d4 46. Rd7 Rc8 $6 47. Rxd4 Re8+ 48. Kf6 Rf8+ 49. Ke7 Rf7+ 50. Kd8
Ra7 51. e6 Ra8+ 52. Ke7 Kg7 53. g5 Ra6 54. Rd8 Ra7+ 55. Kd6 Ra6+ 56. Ke7 Ra7+
57. Ke8 Ra6 58. e7 Ra7 59. Rc8 {
Bisguier defeated Mednis. He would become the competitor of Fischer.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Addison, William"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Nbd2 b6 8. b3
Bb7 9. Bb2 c5 10. e3 Rc8 11. Ne5 cxd4 $5 12. exd4 Rc7 13. Qe2 Qa8 $1 14. f4
dxc4 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. bxc4 b5 $1 17. c5 $2 {White meets a tactical refutation.
} (17. cxb5 $5 Rc2 $1 18. Rab1 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Nd5 20. Rfc1 Rfc8 {
brings a black edge.}) 17... Nxc5 $1 18. dxc5 $6 Bxc5+ 19. Rf2 Bxf2+ 20. Qxf2
Rc2 $1 21. Qd4 Qb6 $1 22. Qxb6 axb6 {Black has a positional advantage.} 23. Bc1
Rd8 24. Nf1 Rd1 25. Bb2 Rxa1 26. Bxa1 Rxa2 27. Bd4 Nd5 28. Nf3 b4 29. N1d2 Kf8
30. Kf1 Rc2 31. Ke1 f6 32. Kd1 Rc8 33. Ke2 Ke7 34. Kd3 Kd7 35. Nc4 b5 36. Na5
Nc3 37. Nd2 Kd6 38. Nb7+ Kc6 39. Nc5 Kd5 40. Nd7 Na4 {
Addison did not resume the game. Bisguier was one point ahead of Fischer.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 g6 7. g4 Bg7 8. g5 $5
Nh5 9. Be2 e5 10. Nb3 Nf4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 Nc6 {Black is okay.} 13. Bg4
Bxg4 14. hxg4 Qc8 $1 15. Qd1 Nd4 $2 (15... d5 $1 16. exd5 Nb4 17. c3 Qc4 $1 18.
cxb4 $2 Qe4+ {favours Black (Fischer).}) 16. c3 $1 {White takes the initiative.
} Nxb3 17. axb3 Qe6 18. Ra5 $1 f6 $6 ({Fischer prefers} 18... O-O 19. Rd5 Rad8)
19. Qd5 $1 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 Kd7 21. gxf6 Bxf6 {White has a better endgame.} 22. g5
$1 Be7 23. Ke2 Raf8 24. Be3 Rc8 25. b4 b5 $6 {
He has weak pawns on a6, d6 and h7.} 26. Rdd1 Ke6 27. Ra1 Rc6 28. Rh3 $1 ({Not
} 28. Rh4 $2 h5 $1) 28... Bf8 (28... d5 $2 29. exd5+ Kxd5 30. Rah1 {
costs a pawn.}) 29. Rah1 Rc7 30. Rh4 $1 {
Black has been manoeuvred in a position of zugzwang.} d5 $6 ({Better is} 30...
Rc4 $1 31. f3 $1 Rc7 32. Ra1 Rc6 33. Rd1 Rc7 34. Rdh1 $1 {
(White has lost another tempo)} Rf7 35. Ra1 Be7 36. Rxa6 h5 37. Rb6 Rhf8 38.
Rh3 Ra8 39. Rh1 Raf8 40. Rf1 $1 {He is going to win another pawn and the game.}
) 31. Ra1 $1 Rc6 32. exd5+ Kxd5 33. Rd1+ Ke6 34. Rd8 Kf5 35. Ra8 Re6 36. Rh3 $1
Bg7 37. Rxh8 Bxh8 38. Rxh7 Re8 39. Rf7+ Kg4 $6 40. f3+ Kg3 41. Kd3 $6 (41. Kf1
$1 {plays for mate.}) 41... e4+ 42. fxe4 Rd8+ 43. Bd4 Kg4 44. Rf1 Be5 45. Ke3
Bc7 46. Rg1+ Kh4 47. Kf3 Rd7 48. e5 Rf7+ 49. Ke4 Rf5 50. e6 Bd8 51. Bf6 $1 Bxf6
52. gxf6 Rxf6 53. Kd5 Rf2 54. Re1 {
Fischer defeated his competitor Reshevsky in a great ending.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Berliner, Hans"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+
Nfd7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Nge2 Na6 11. O-O Nc7 12. a4 $5 a6 13. Ra3 $5 {
Berliner choses an artificial method.} (13. Be3 {develops naturally.}) 13...
Rb8 14. Rb3 b5 $1 15. axb5 c4 $6 (15... axb5 16. Bxb5 Nxb5 17. Rxb5 Rxb5 18.
Nxb5 Ba6 19. Nbc3 f5 {gains sufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 16. Bxc4 Nc5
$2 ({Preferable is} 16... axb5 $1 17. Bd3 Nc5) 17. Ra3 $2 (17. bxa6 $1 Nxb3 18.
a7 Ra8 19. Qxb3 Rxa7 20. Be3 {favours White.}) 17... axb5 18. b4 $1 Nxe4 $1 19.
Bd3 Nxc3 20. Nxc3 Bb7 21. f5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. fxg6 $2 ({Better is} 23. f6
$1 Bxf6 24. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 25. Qxd5 Be5 26. Rh3) 23... Qb6+ 24. Kh1 fxg6 $1 25.
Be2 ({The pointe is} 25. Bxg6 $2 Rxf1+ 26. Qxf1 hxg6) 25... Qc6 26. Bf3 Bxf3
27. Raxf3 Rxf3 28. Rxf3 Ra8 29. Ba3 Be5 30. h3 Qc4 31. g3 Qe4 32. Kh2 Rc8 33.
h4 Rc2+ 34. Kg1 d5 35. Qd3 Bd4+ 36. Kf1 Rf2+ 37. Rxf2 Qxd3+ {
Evans came back after a poor start.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Addison, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bd2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 f6 $5 {
Addison hopes to draw soon after the exchanges, but Fischer has a plus.} ({
Known is} 12... O-O) 13. f4 Bd7 14. Bc4 O-O-O 15. O-O Kc7 16. Rde1 Rhe8 17. Rf3
Bc8 18. Rg3 Re7 19. Rge3 Rd6 $6 (19... Nd4 $1 20. Re4 $5 Red7 $1 21. Bxe6 $5
Nxe6 22. Rxe6 Rd1 23. Re7+ R8d7 24. Rxd7+ Rxd7 {
brings bishops of a different colour at the cost of a pawn.}) 20. b4 Nd8 $6 (
20... Nd4 $1 21. Rd3 $5 b5 $1 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. Bxd4 bxc4 24. Bxa7 Bd7 25. Bd4
Ba4 {also leads to drawing chances.}) 21. b5 $1 Red7 22. Bd3 h6 23. Rg3 {
The restriction continues.} b6 $5 24. Bb4 Rd4 25. Rf1 $2 (25. f5 $1 e5 26. Bf8
{wins material (Müller).}) 25... Nb7 26. Bf8 Nc5 27. Bxg7 Nxd3 28. cxd3 Rf7 $2
(28... Rxd3 29. Rg6 f5 30. Be5+ Kb7 31. Rxh6 R7d5 {fights back.}) 29. Rg6 Kd6
30. Bxf6 Rxd3 31. Rxh6 Bb7 32. Be5+ Kd5 $5 33. a4 Rd2 34. h3 Kc4 35. Rf2 Rfd7
36. Rxd2 Rxd2 37. Rg6 Kb4 38. h4 $1 Be4 39. Rg7 Kxa4 40. h5 $1 Kxb5 41. h6 $1
Rd8 42. Re7 a5 43. h7 Bxh7 44. Rxh7 a4 45. Ra7 Kb4 46. g4 {
Fischer played another fine endgame.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Berliner, Hans"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. d4 Be7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bf4 c6 7. Qc2 g6 8. e3
Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nh5 $6 ({Usual is} 10... Nbd7) 11. Bh6 $1 Bf8 12. Bxf8
Kxf8 13. b4 Qe7 14. O-O $1 {The attack starts by a pawn sacrifice.} Qxb4 $5 15.
Rab1 Qe7 16. e4 $1 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Kg7 18. Rfe1 $1 Rd8 $2 (18... b6 $1 19. d5
cxd5 20. Qxd5 Na6 {offers more resistance.}) 19. Ng3 $1 Qf6 20. Nxh5+ gxh5 21.
Re5 $1 Nd7 22. Rf5 Qd6 23. Ng5 f6 24. Ne4 Qe6 $5 25. Rxh5 Nf8 26. Nc5 Qe8 27.
Rxb7+ Kg8 28. Qg3+ Qg6 29. Ne4 $1 Nd7 ({Or} 29... Rxd4 30. Qxg6+ Nxg6 31. Nxf6+
) 30. Rxd7 $1 Rxd7 31. Nxf6+ Kf7 32. Rxh7+ {
Reshevsky came back in the championship.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Steinmeyer, Robert"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D77"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 d5 4. d4 Bg7 5. c4 dxc4 6. Qa4+ Nfd7 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Qxc4 O-O 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qb3 Be6 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. Qb3 $6 ({Theory is} 12. e4 $1)
12... a5 $1 13. Nc3 $6 ({Better is} 13. Na3 $5 a4 14. Qc3) 13... a4 14. Qa3 Ra5
15. Nb1 $5 Bc2 $6 (15... Bxd4 $1 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Nc3 c5 $1 {
(threatens  ..Nc4)} 18. b3 Qa8 $1 {wins for Black.}) 16. Re1 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4
{Bobby has gained a pawn.} 18. Qb4 Ra8 $6 19. e3 $6 Bg7 20. Na3 Bf5 21. Bxb7
Rb8 22. Bg2 Qd6 23. Qa5 Be6 24. e4 Qe5 25. Qa6 Rfd8 26. Rb1 Ra8 27. Qe2 Bxa2
28. Bf4 Qd4 29. Bxc7 $6 Bxb1 30. Bxd8 Rxd8 31. Rxb1 Qd2 32. Qxd2 Rxd2 33. b3
Bd4 $1 34. bxa4 Rxf2 35. Kh1 Nxa4 {Black has regained his extra pawn.} 36. Nb5
Be5 37. Kg1 Rd2 38. Kh1 Rb2 $6 39. Na3 $6 h5 $6 40. Bf1 $6 h4 $6 41. Nc4 $4 {
Fischer caught up with Bisguier at the end of the next round.} (41. Rxb2 Bxb2
42. Nc4 hxg3 43. Nxb2 Nxb2 44. hxg3 {
comes close to a draw in the bishop versus knight ending.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1962.12.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Addison, William"]
[Black "Berliner, Hans"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D29"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bb3
Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. e4 b4 $2 ({Better is} 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 b4 {
(Piazzini - Reshevsky, Stockholm 1937).}) 12. Nd5 $1 {
Addison refutes the opening by a piece sacrifice.} ({Theory is} 12. e5 bxc3 13.
exf6) 12... exd5 13. exd5+ Be7 ({The alternative brings} 13... Kd8 $5 14. Ng5
c4 $5 15. Nxf7+ Kc8 16. Bxc4 Nb6 17. Qe6+ Kb8 18. Bb3 Rg8 19. d6 Qd7 20. Qxd7
Nbxd7 21. Bd2 {and White has a decisive attack.}) 14. dxc5 Nxd5 $6 (14... Qxc5
$5 15. d6 O-O 16. Be3 Qh5 17. dxe7 {also favours White.}) 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16.
Rxd5 Nxc5 17. Be3 Nd7 $6 (17... Ne6 {intervenes on the open file.}) 18. Bg5 $1
f6 19. Re1 $1 Nb6 20. Bf4 $1 Qb7 21. Rc5 $1 Rc8 22. Bd6 $1 Rxc5 23. Qxe7+ {
Addison achieved a positive score.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 15"]
[Date "1963.01.03"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1962.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fischer and Bisguier shared the first place at the end of the penultimate
round. They met in the last round.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4
5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {
Bisguier applied the Berlin Defence during this championship.} 9. Nc3 Ke8 10.
Ne2 Be6 11. Nf4 Bd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. g4 Ne7 14. Bf4 c6 $5 ({Known is} 14... c5
) 15. Rfe1 Ng6 16. Bg3 Bc5 17. c3 Nf8 18. b4 Bb6 19. Kg2 Ne6 20. Nh4 $5 h5 $1
21. h3 hxg4 22. hxg4 g6 23. Rh1 Bd8 $2 {Bisguier misses an elegant manoeuvre.}
({Correct is} 23... Kd7 $1 24. Rad1 a5 {and Black has a pleasant game.}) 24.
Nf5 $1 Rxh1 25. Nd6+ Kf8 26. Rxh1 b5 27. f4 Kg8 28. f5 $1 Nf8 $2 (28... gxf5
29. gxf5 Ng7 {avoids a collapse.}) 29. e6 $1 f6 ({The pointe is} 29... fxe6 30.
Be5 $1 exf5 31. Rh8#) 30. Nf7 Be7 31. Bf4 g5 32. Bd6 Re8 33. Bxe7 Rxe7 34. Nd8
Re8 35. Nxc6 Nxe6 36. fxe6 Rxe6 37. Nxa7 {The final standings became: Fischer
8/11, Bisguier 7, Addison, Evans and Reshevsky 61/2, R.Byrne 6, Berliner and
Mednis 5, Benko and Rossolimo 41/2, Seidmeyer 4, Sherwin 21/2. Bobby made
$2000. Three places were at stake in the zonal event. A playoff had to decide
about the third spot.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "Playoff third place"]
[Date "1963.02.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Addison, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1963.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Addison, Evans and Reshevsky carried out a playoff for the third place in
February 1963. Addison had defeated Reshevsky during the tournament.} 1. c4 Nf6
2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Ne7 6. Nf3 Nbc6 7. b4 a6 8. O-O g6 9. a3
Bg7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. d3 Nf5 12. e3 $5 Nd6 13. Qc2 Bf5 14. Nh4 Bd7 15. Na4 g5 $5
16. Nf3 a5 17. bxa5 $5 Rxa5 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. Nd2 Ne7 20. Rac1 c6 $2 (20... b6 $1
21. Ncb3 Ra7 {leads to equality.}) 21. Ndb3 Ra7 22. d4 exd4 23. Nxd4 b6 $5 24.
Ne4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 {White gains a pawn.} c5 26. Bxh7+ Kh8 27. Nb5 Bxb2 28. Qxb2+
Kxh7 29. Nxa7 Bh3 $1 30. Qe2 $1 g4 31. Nb5 $5 Nc6 $2 {
Black should capture the exchange.} 32. Rfd1 Qa8 33. e4 $5 Ne5 34. Rc3 Rd8 35.
Re3 $5 Rxd1+ 36. Qxd1 Qh8 37. Nc3 Nc4 38. Qd7 $5 Nxe3 $5 39. Qxf7+ Kh6 40. Qf4+
Kg6 41. Qxe3 {He has two extra pawns.} Qe5 42. a4 Kg7 43. Qd3 Kh6 44. f4 gxf3
45. Kf2 Bg4 46. Qd2+ Kg6 47. Nd5 Qxe4 48. Nxb6 Be6 49. a5 c4 50. Na4 Qf5 51. h4
Kh7 52. Nc3 $2 {It is hard to win a won game.} (52. a6 $1 Qb5 53. Qd6 Bd5 54.
Qe7+ Kg6 55. Qg5+ Kh7 56. g4 {favours White.}) 52... Qxa5 53. Kxf3 Qf5+ 54. Qf4
Qd3+ 55. Qe3 Bg4+ $1 56. Kf2 Qc2+ 57. Ke1 Bf5 58. Qa7+ Kg6 59. Qa6+ Kh5 60.
Qxc4 Bd3 $5 61. Qd4 Qc1+ 62. Nd1 Qa3 $2 (62... Bc2 $1 63. Qd5+ Kg4 64. h5 Qxd1+
65. Qxd1+ Bxd1 66. Kxd1 Kxh5 {draws.}) 63. Qe3 Qa5+ 64. Kf2 $1 Ba6 65. Kg1 Kg6
66. Nf2 Qa1+ 67. Kh2 Qa2 68. g4 $1 Kg7 69. Kg3 Qa1 70. Qe7+ Kg8 71. Ne4 Qg1+
72. Kf4 Qc1+ 73. Kf5 {Reshevsky defeated Addison and Evans with White during
the double rounds. So Fischer, Bisguier and Reshevsky qualified for the
interzonal event. Eventually, Reshevsky and Evans participated in Amsterdam
1964.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The sixteenth US championship was played at the Hudson Hotel in New York from
15 xii 1963 until 2 i 1964. Fischer had prepared some special ideas and
started with an ancient opening.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5.
d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 Nxe4 9. Qe2 $5 ({Usual is} 9. Nxe4
d5) 9... d5 10. Nxe4 O-O $1 11. O-O-O $1 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 dxc4 14. Qxc4
Qh4 15. Kb1 Qf4 16. d5 Ne5 17. Qxc7 Rac8 18. Qd6 ({The alternative is} 18. Qxb7
$5 Nc4 19. Ka1 Qxf3) 18... Rcd8 19. Qc7 Rc8 20. Qd6 Rfd8 21. Qe7 Nxf3 22. d6
Ne5 23. Rhe1 Rd7 $2 24. Qg5 $2 {Both parties miss the decisive tactics.} (24.
Rd5 $1 Rxe7 25. dxe7 Nc6 26. Nd6 Nxe7 27. Nxc8 g6 28. Nxe7+ {
(Müller) wins for White.}) 24... Qxg5 25. Nxg5 f6 26. Ne4 Ng6 27. Rc1 Rxc1+ 28.
Rxc1 b6 29. Rc7 Nf8 $1 30. Kc2 Kf7 31. Kc3 Ke6 32. Rc8 Ng6 33. Kd4 h6 34. Re8+
Kf7 35. Rc8 Nf4 $5 36. h4 g6 37. Rh8 f5 38. Rh7+ $2 {
The exchange of rooks helps Black.} ({Correct is} 38. Ke5 Nd3+ 39. Kd5 Nb4+ 40.
Ke5 fxe4 41. Rh7+ Ke8 42. Rh8+ {and perpetual check.}) 38... Ke6 $1 39. Rxd7
Kxd7 40. Nc3 Kxd6 41. Nb5+ Kd7 42. Nxa7 Ng2 $1 43. Ke5 Nxh4 44. Kf4 g5+ $6 ({
Preferable is} 44... Ng2+ 45. Kf3 Ne1+ 46. Ke2 Nc2) 45. Kg3 $6 (45. Ke5 f4 46.
Nb5 {offers more resistance.}) 45... Ng6 46. a4 f4+ 47. Kg2 g4 48. Nb5 Ne5 49.
Nc3 Ke6 50. b4 Nc6 51. f3 h5 52. b5 Ne5 53. fxg4 hxg4 54. Kf2 Nd3+ 55. Kg2 Nc5
56. Kf1 Kf5 57. Kg2 Ke5 58. Kf2 Nd3+ 59. Ke2 g3 $1 60. Kf3 Ne1+ 61. Ke2 g2 62.
Kf2 f3 {Fischer has his revenge for a loss in the previous championship.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C33"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 {Bobby makes a courageous choice.} exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ ({
A strong alternative brings} 3... Nc6 4. Nf3 g5) 4. Kf1 d6 5. Nc3 Be6 6. Qe2 $5
c6 (6... Nc6 $5 7. Nf3 Qh5 {will be played in Sutovsky - Nisipeanu, Pune 2004.}
) 7. Nf3 Qe7 8. d4 Bxc4 9. Qxc4 g5 10. e5 $5 {
White has the initiative for a pawn.} d5 11. Qd3 Na6 12. Ne2 Nb4 13. Qd1 O-O-O
{Black is alright.} 14. c3 Na6 15. h4 $1 g4 16. Nh2 $5 h5 17. Nxf4 Qxh4 $2 {
The tables turn.} ({Better is} 17... Qd7 $1 {(Fischer)} 18. Kg1 Ne7 $1 19. Nf1
Nf5 {and Black has a plus.}) 18. Kg1 $1 Nh6 19. Nf1 $1 Qe7 20. Nxh5 Rg8 $5 21.
Nfg3 Rg6 22. Nf4 Rg5 23. Be3 Nc7 $6 (23... Rg8 $5 24. Qd2 f6 {
offers more resistance.}) 24. Qd2 $1 {
Rook g5 and knight h6 are attacked indirectly.} Rg8 25. Nfe2 f6 26. exf6 Qxf6
27. Bxh6 Bd6 28. Rf1 Qe6 29. Bf4 Rde8 30. Rh6 Bxf4 31. Qxf4 Qe7 32. Rf6 Ne6 33.
Qe5 Ng5 34. Qxe7 Rxe7 35. Rf8+ Rxf8 36. Rxf8+ {
Fischer had defeated Evans for the first time.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D71"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8. Nge2
Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. b3 $5 (10. Nf4 {
drew in Marini - Eliskases, Mar del Plata 1960.}) 10... Ba6 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Qd2
e5 $1 {Fischer takes the initiative.} 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Rfd1 $2 {
He moves the wrong rook.} ({Right is} 14. Rad1 $1 Qc8 $1 15. Bd6 $1 {(Müller)}
Nd3 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Rd8 18. Bxa8 Qxa8 19. Ba3 Bf6 $1 20. e4 Nxf2 21.
Qxd8+ Bxd8 22. Rxf2 {and Black has little advantage.}) 14... Nd3 $1 15. Qc2 $2
{This move meets a sharp refutation.} (15. Nd4 $1 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bb2 Rc8
{only brings a black edge (Fischer).}) 15... Nxf2 $1 16. Kxf2 Ng4+ 17. Kg1 Nxe3
18. Qd2 Nxg2 $1 19. Kxg2 d4 $1 20. Nxd4 Bb7+ 21. Kf1 ({Fischer analyses} 21.
Kg1 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 Re1+ $1 23. Kf2 Qxd4+ 24. Rxd4 Rxa1) ({and} 21. Kf2 Qd7 $1
22. Rac1 Qh3 23. Nf3 Bh6 24. Qd3 Be3+ 25. Qxe3 Rxe3 26. Kxe3 Re8+ 27. Kf2 Qf5
$1 {Black wins.}) 21... Qd7 $1 {Bobby had produced his evergreen.} ({Spectators
regarded Fischer as lost, until Robert Byrne showed the following line} 21...
Qd7 $1 22. Qf2 Qh3+ 23. Kg1 Re1+ $3 24. Rxe1 Bxd4 $1 25. Qxd4 Qg2#) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C98"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nf1 Rd8 15.
Qe2 Nh5 16. g3 g6 17. h4 $5 (17. Kg2 {
was played in Weinstein - Addison (round2).}) 17... Be6 18. Ne3 f6 19. Nd5 $1
Qb7 $5 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Nh2 Ng7 $5 22. Ng4 c4 $5 ({Preferable is} 22... Ne8
23. h5 g5) 23. Qf3 $1 Bxg4 24. Qxg4 Ne6 25. h5 $1 {Fischer has the initiative.}
Kh8 $5 26. Kg2 $5 g5 $1 27. Be3 Nf4+ $1 28. Kh2 ({Not} 28. gxf4 $2 gxf4) 28...
Nd3 29. Bxd3 cxd3 $2 {The passed pawn will become vulnerable.} ({Better is} 
29... Rxd3 $1 30. Red1 Rad8 {and equality.}) 30. Red1 Rd7 31. Rd2 Na5 $6 (31...
Rad8 32. Rad1 Qf7 33. Bb6 Rb8 34. Bc5 Rbd8 {offers more resistance (Fischer).})
32. b3 $1 Qd6 $6 33. Rad1 Re8 ({Or} 33... Rad8 34. Rxd3 Qxd3 35. Rxd3 Rxd3 36.
Bb6 $1 {and White wins material.}) 34. Rxd3 Qxd3 35. Qxd7 $1 {
Bobby wins a pawn and occupies the seventh rank.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. e3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Be2 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nf3 Bg4 $5 11. g3 $6 {White creates a weakness.} ({
Theory will become} 11. b3 $5) 11... Bb4 12. Bd2 Ne4 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Rc8 16. Rb1 b6 17. Rb5 Qe7 18. a4 Be6 19. Qa1 Qf6 20. Kg2 Na5 21. Nd4
Nb7 22. Rb4 Nd6 23. a5 $1 Ne4 24. axb6 axb6 25. Qb2 Nxc3 26. Ba6 Rc5 27. Kg1
Bh3 28. Ra1 b5 29. Bxb5 Nxb5 30. Rxb5 Rxb5 31. Qxb5 Qe5 32. Re1 h5 33. Nc6 Qc3
34. Rb1 Qc2 35. Ne7+ Kh8 36. Nxd5 Rc8 $1 {Black threatens 37...Qc1+.} 37. Nc3
$4 (37. Qb4 $1 Rc4 38. Qe1 {draws.}) 37... Rxc3 38. Qxh5+ Kg8 39. Rb8+ Rc8 40.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 41. Kf1 Ba6+ 42. Ke1 Qc3+ 43. Kd1 Qd3+ 44. Kc1 Qc3+ 45. Kd1 Bc4 46.
Qf3 Bb3+ 47. Ke2 Qc4+ {
Bobby will mate soon. He had defeated five strong opponents in a row.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Steinmeyer, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. h4 h6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e6 10. Bd2 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. c4 O-O-O 13. Bc3 Qf4+ $6 14. Kb1
Nc5 $2 ({Better is} 14... Bd6) 15. Qc2 $1 Nce4 16. Ne5 $1 (16. Ba5 $2 {
happened in Shamkovich - Goldberg, Moscow 1961.}) 16... Nxf2 (16... Nxc3+ 17.
bxc3 $1 {wins for White.}) 17. Rdf1 $1 {
Queen f4 is vulnerable. The weakness of f7 becomes fatal.} ({Notice} 17. Rdf1
Qxg3 18. Rxf2) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Addison, William"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Na5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qxd4 Ne7 $5 ({
Known is} 7... Nxb3 8. axb3 Ne7 9. O-O) 8. c3 $6 (8. O-O $1 {
leads to a familiar position.}) 8... Nxb3 9. axb3 Bb7 10. Bf4 $6 ({Euwe prefers
} 10. O-O $1) 10... d5 $1 11. e5 $5 c5 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Qxc5 $4 Nf5 $1 {
catches a queen.}) 12... Ng6 13. Bg3 Be7 14. Nbd2 Nf8 $1 15. O-O Ne6 16. Rad1
g5 $5 17. h3 h5 18. Rfe1 Qb6 19. Nf1 d4 $1 20. N3d2 g4 21. h4 Qc6 $1 22. Qe4 $2
{White will suffer in the endgame.} ({Better is} 22. Ne4 c4 $1 23. Qb1 $1)
22... O-O-O 23. Qxc6+ Bxc6 24. c4 Kd7 $1 25. Ra1 Ra8 26. Ne4 Bxe4 $1 27. Rxe4
Ng7 $1 28. Nd2 Nf5 29. Rf4 $2 (29. Bf4 $1 Bxh4 30. b4 $1 cxb4 31. Nb3 $1 {
counters in the central area.}) 29... Ke6 $1 30. Ne4 bxc4 31. bxc4 Rhb8 $1 32.
Ra2 Rb4 33. Nd2 Nxh4 34. Bxh4 Bxh4 35. Re4 Bg5 36. f4 gxf3 37. Nxf3 Be3+ 38.
Kh2 Rxc4 {Bobby scored his seventh win.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Weinstein, Raymond"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C96"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 $5 ({Usual is} 
13... Rc8) 14. Nbd2 g6 $2 ({Preferable is} 14... Bd7 15. b4 Nb7 16. a4 Qc7) 15.
b4 $1 Nb7 16. a4 Bd7 17. axb5 axb5 $5 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Re3 $1 Qc8 20. Ra3 Qc7
21. Nb3 Nh5 22. Bd3 Rc8 23. Qf1 Nf6 24. Bg5 Rb8 25. Ra7 Qd8 26. Qa1 Qe8 $6 (
26... Ne8 $5 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Qa6 Nc7 29. Qb6 Na8 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Qxb7 Qd8 {
offers more resistance (Müller).}) 27. Qa6 Qc8 28. Nxe5 $1 dxe5 29. Bxf6 Bxf6
30. Qxf6 Qc3 31. Nc5 $1 Nxc5 32. bxc5 Be8 33. Bf1 Qxc5 34. Re7 b4 35. d6 Qb6 $6
36. Bc4 $1 {Black overstepped the time limit in a lost position.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Byrne, Donald"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. g3 c5 2. Bg2 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. e4 Bg7 5. f4 e6 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O Rb8 $5 ({
Theory is} 7... O-O) 8. Nbd2 d6 9. a4 O-O 10. c3 a6 11. g4 b5 12. axb5 axb5 13.
Nh4 $6 {The knight goes into the wrong direction.} ({Better is} 13. Nb3 $1 f5
14. gxf5 exf5 15. Be3 b4 16. Qc2 {and White has developed his queenside.})
13... b4 $1 14. c4 Nd4 15. g5 Bd7 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Bg7 19.
Rb1 $5 Ra8 20. Be3 Ra2 21. Qd2 Re8 22. Qf2 Bc6 23. d4 $1 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4 25.
Qxd4 Ba8 26. Ra1 $2 ({Preferable is} 26. b3 $1 e5 27. Qe3) 26... e5 $1 27. Qd2
Rxa1 28. Rxa1 exf4 29. b3 $1 Nc6 30. Qxf4 $6 (30. Nf3 $1 Ne5 31. Nxe5 dxe5 32.
Qxb4 {offers more resistance (Müller).}) 30... Nd4 $1 31. Qe3 Nc2 32. Qa7 Qxa7
33. Rxa7 Nd4 34. Rd7 $1 Nxb3 35. Rxd6 Nc5 36. Rb6 b3 37. Kg1 Bxe4 38. Nf3 Ra8
39. Rb5 b2 $1 40. Rxb2 Ra1+ 41. Kf2 Nd3+ 42. Ke3 Nxb2 43. Kxe4 Nxc4 44. Kf4 Ra2
45. Kg3 Ne3 46. Bh3 {The public became very interested in the championship,
because Fischer was aiming at a 'clean sweep'.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1963.12.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Bg4 {
Benko choses a doubtful line.} 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. Be3 e5 10. dxe5 $1 {
Fischer brings a novelty.} ({Known is} 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. d5 Nd4 12. Qf2) 10...
dxe5 11. f5 $1 {The attack starts.} gxf5 $2 ({Better is} 11... Nd4 $1 12. Qf2
b5 $1 {(Parma - Planinc, Ljubljana 1977).}) 12. Qxf5 $1 Nd4 13. Qf2 Ne8 $5 {
Black wants to counter on the f-file.} 14. O-O Nd6 15. Qg3 $5 Kh8 $6 (15... f5
$1 16. Bg5 Qd7 {strives for counter-play.}) 16. Qg4 c6 17. Qh5 Qe8 $2 (17...
Ne6 {(Fischer)} 18. Rad1 Qe7 {avoids an immediate disaster.}) 18. Bxd4 exd4 19.
Rf6 $3 {Black has no defence against the threat 20.e5!} ({Not} 19. e5 $2 f5 $1)
19... Kg8 $5 20. e5 h6 21. Ne2 $1 {Benko has been humiliated.} (21. Ne2 $1 Bxf6
22. Qxh6 {will mate soon.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 16"]
[Date "1964.01.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1963.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{So far, Fischer had won ten games. The other players hoped for a positive
result by Saidy.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5
Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 d5 9. e3 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Bf5 12. Nb5 Qb6 13.
O-O a6 14. Nd4 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 Rac8 17. Bd1 $5 (17. Rd1 Rfe8 18.
Kf1 Bc2 19. Re1 {drew in Khasin - Stein, Moscow 1961.}) 17... Bc2 18. Be3 Bxd1
19. Rfxd1 Rc2 20. Rd2 Rfc8 21. Rxc2 Rxc2 22. Rc1 $1 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 {
A bishop versus knight ending has arisen. Bobby will take his time.} Nd7 24.
Kf1 Nf8 25. Ke2 Ne6 {Black has improved the position of his knight.} 26. Kd3 h5
$1 27. Be3 Kh7 28. f3 Kg6 29. a4 Kf5 30. Ke2 g5 31. Kf2 Nd8 32. Bd2 Kg6 33. Ke3
Ne6 34. Kd3 Kf5 35. Be3 f6 36. Ke2 Kg6 37. Kd3 f5 38. Ke2 $5 {
White defends passively.} f4 $1 39. Bf2 Ng7 40. h3 $5 Nf5 $1 41. Kd3 g4 $5 42.
hxg4 hxg4 43. fxg4 Nh6 {The position is adjourned.} 44. Be1 $2 {
Bobby smiles when he sees the sealed move.} ({Saidy calculates 45 minutes on} 
44. Ke2 $1 Nxg4 45. Bg1 Kf5 46. Kf3 Nf6 47. Bh2 $1 ({not} 47. g3 $4 fxg3 48.
Kxg3 Ke4) 47... Nh5 48. a5 Kg5 49. g3 $1 {
drawn. But he does not trust his analysis and blunders.}) 44... Nxg4 45. Bd2
Kf5 46. Be1 Nf6 47. Bh4 Nh5 $6 {Black might lose the momentum.} ({Better is} 
47... Ne4 $1 {(Müller).}) 48. Be1 $6 (48. a5 $1 Kg4 49. Bf2 Ng3 50. b3 Nf5 51.
Ke2 {seems to escape (Müller), but} Kg5 $3 {leads to zugzwang.} 52. Kd3 (52.
Kf3 Ne7 53. g3 fxg3 54. Kxg3 Nc6 {gains a pawn}) 52... Nd6 53. Be1 Kh5 54. Bf2
Ne4 55. Be1 Kg4 $1 56. Ke2 Ng3+ 57. Kf2 Nf5 58. Bc3 Ng7 59. Bb2 Kf5 60. Kf3 Ne6
{and Black is going to penetrate in the centre.}) 48... Kg4 $1 49. Ke2 $5 (49.
b3 Ng7 50. Bf2 Nf5 51. Ke2 a5 $1 {(zugzwang)} 52. Ke1 f3 53. gxf3+ Kxf3 {
decides the game.}) 49... Ng3+ $1 50. Kd3 Nf5 $1 51. Bf2 Nh4 52. a5 ({
The pointe is} 52. Bxh4 Kxh4 53. Ke2 Kg3 54. Kf1 f3) 52... Nxg2 53. Kc3 Kf3 54.
Bg1 Ke2 55. Bh2 f3 56. Bg3 Ne3 {Bobby has completed the clean sweep. The final
standings became: Fischer 11/11, Evans 71/2, Benko 7, Reshevsky and Saidy 61/2,
R.Byrne 51/2, Weinstein 5, Bisguier 41/2, Addison and Mednis 31/2, Steinmeyer
3, D.Byrne 21/2.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Rossolimo, Nicolas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fischer had only played the Capablanca Memorial 1965 after the last US
championship. The seventeenth installment happened in New York from 12 until
31 xii 1965.   Rossolimo remained best known by his chess games and endgame
studies, but he had to work in odd jobs to feed his family.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10.
Nd5 Nbd7 $5 11. Nxe7+ $2 (11. Qd3 $5 {will become an improvement.}) 11... Qxe7
12. Bf3 {Evans prevented ..d5, but he has a passive position.} Rfd8 13. Qd2
Rac8 14. Rfd1 Nf8 $1 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Rac1 $5 Ng6 $1 18. Qe3 Nh4
19. Nd2 d5 $1 {Black makes the liberating move.} 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5
22. Ne4 Qg6 23. Qh3 Rxc2 $1 24. Qxh4 Rd4 $1 25. Qd8+ $5 Rxd8 26. Rxd8+ Kh7 27.
Rxc2 Qxe4 {He has gained a pawn.} 28. Rc1 Qe2 29. Rb1 f5 30. Rdd1 e4 31. Re1
Qc4 32. a3 Qa2 33. g3 Kg6 34. Kg2 Qb3 35. Kg1 Qa2 36. Kg2 Kf6 37. f3 Ke5 38.
fxe4 fxe4 39. h4 Qb3 40. Kh3 Qc2 41. Rec1 Qf2 42. Rf1 Qb6 $6 {
The queen becomes less active.} 43. Kg2 g6 44. Rf8 Qb5 45. Rf2 $1 e3 46. Re1 $1
Ke4 47. a4 $1 Qc5 48. Kh3 b5 49. axb5 axb5 50. Rf6 $6 Qe5 $6 ({Better is} 50...
Kd3 $1) 51. Rf8 Qe7 52. Rf4+ $2 (52. Rf2 $1 {stops the passed pawn.}) 52... Kd3
$1 53. Rf3 Kd2 54. Rfxe3 Qxe3 55. Rxe3 Kxe3 56. Kg4 Ke4 57. b4 Ke5 $1 58. Kf3
Kd5 59. Kf4 Kc4 $1 60. g4 Kxb4 61. g5 h5 62. Ke5 Kc5 63. Kf6 b4 64. Kxg6 b3 65.
Kh6 b2 66. g6 b1=Q 67. g7 Qb3 68. Kh7 Kd6 $1 69. g8=Q Qxg8+ 70. Kxg8 Ke5 71.
Kf7 Kf5 $1 {Rossolimo wins with his last pawn.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Addison, William"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. Rd1 $5 ({An alternative is} 10. e4 e5 11. Bg5) 10... Qe7
11. e4 e5 12. d5 $1 {White has an edge.} cxd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nf6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. h3 Rb8 $1 18. Rac1 Rd8 19. Rc3 Bd7 20. Nh2 $1 Qe7 21.
Qh5 $1 Be8 $6 ({Correct is} 21... Be6 $1 22. Ng4 Rbc8) 22. Rf3 $1 {
White aims at f7.} Rd7 $2 ({Better is} 22... Bc7 $1 23. Ng4 Kh7) 23. Ng4 $1 Kh7
{Evans has no proper defence.} (23... Qg5 24. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 25. Rg3 {
wins for White}) ({and} 23... Bc7 24. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 25. Qg6+ {leads to mate.})
24. Rf6 $3 Qf8 ({The pointe is} 24... gxf6 25. Qxh6+ Kg8 26. Rd3 $1) 25. Rxh6+
$1 gxh6 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Qf5 Rbd8 ({Or} 27... Qe7 28. Qh7+ $1 Kxf6 29. Qxh6# {
(Belov).}) 28. Rd3 Qh8 29. Rg3+ Kf8 30. Nh7+ Ke7 31. Rg8 $1 Qxh7 (31... Qxg8
32. Qf6#) 32. Qxh7 {Addison executed a great attack.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Ba6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Nxc3 d5 8. b3
Nc6 9. Be2 O-O 10. a4 dxc4 $5 {
Fischer plays a sharp line of the Nimzo Indian Defence.} ({Known is} 10... Re8)
11. Ba3 Re8 12. b4 $6 ({An improvement will become} 12. bxc4 Na5 13. Nb5) 12...
Ne7 $1 13. O-O $2 ({Better is} 13. b5 $1 Bb7 14. O-O {(Müller).}) 13... Ned5 $1
14. Rc1 $5 c6 $1 15. Bf3 b5 16. a5 Qc7 17. Qc2 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Bb7 19. Rd2 $6 (
19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 f5 21. Bf3 {offers more resistance.}) 19... Nxc3 20. Qxc3
c5 $3 {Bobby opens the position at the cost of a pawn.} 21. dxc5 Bxf3 22. gxf3
Rxd2 23. Qxd2 Rd8 24. Qe1 Rd3 25. Bb2 Nd5 26. Bc3 f6 27. Ba1 e5 28. Kg2 Qd7 29.
Rc2 e4 $1 30. Rc1 exf3+ 31. Kh1 Nxb4 32. Qg1 Kf7 33. Bd4 Nc6 34. Qg3 Nxd4 35.
exd4 Rxd4 36. Rg1 g5 37. c6 Qxc6 38. Qb8 Rd7 39. h3 Qe6 40. Rg3 c3 41. Qh8 Qf5
42. Kh2 Rd2 43. Rxf3 Rxf2+ $5 44. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 45. Kh1 Qf3+ 46. Kh2 Qf4+ 47. Kg1
Qe3+ 48. Kf1 Qxh3+ 49. Ke2 g4 50. a6 Qf3+ 51. Ke1 Qe3+ 52. Kf1 Qd3+ 53. Kf2 g3+
54. Kg2 Qe4+ 55. Kxg3 Qg6+ {Fischer will continue by 56...Qg8.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nh4 Nb6 12. Nd2 $5 c5 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Nf5 Bxf5
$5 15. exf5 Qc7 16. g4 $6 h6 17. h4 $5 {
The advance on the kingside is somewhat premature.} c4 $1 18. Bc2 Nh7 $6 ({
Preferable is} 18... Nfd5 $1 19. Nf3 Rad8 {(Müller).}) 19. Nf3 f6 20. Nd2 $5
Rad8 21. Qf3 h5 $4 {Benko ruins his kingside.} (21... Rd7 22. a4 Rfd8 {
defends solidly.}) 22. gxh5 Nd5 23. Ne4 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. Kh1 $1 {
The g-file becomes available for the rooks.} Kh8 26. Rg1 Rf7 27. Rg6 Bd6 28.
Rag1 Bf8 29. h6 $1 Qe5 30. Qg4 Rdd7 31. f3 Bc5 $5 32. Nxc5 Qxc5 33. Rxg7 Rxg7
34. hxg7+ Kg8 35. Qg6 Rd8 36. Be4 Qc8 $6 37. Qe8+ $1 {
Fischer wins an exchange by a brilliant move.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "196"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. Bd2 cxd4 12. exd4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 $5 (13...
Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qxc4 15. Qxa8 Nc6 16. Qb7 Nd5 17. Rac1 Rb8 18. Qd7 Rd8 {
drew in Lenguel - Flesch, Budapest 1965.}) 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Nbd7 16. c4
Qb7 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. Rc2 h6 19. Rdc1 Rfd8 20. Qb3 Nb8 21. h3 Qa6 22. Be3 Nc6
23. a4 Qb7 24. Qb5 Ne7 25. c5 $6 (25. a5 $1 Nd7 26. axb6 Nxb6 27. Rc3 {
keeps an edge.}) 25... Nfd5 26. c6 $2 {He weakens a pawn.} Qc7 27. a5 Rd6 28.
Bd2 f6 29. axb6 axb6 30. Bb4 $5 Rxc6 31. Rxc6 Nxc6 {Black has gained a pawn.}
32. Ba3 Qb7 33. Kh2 Na7 34. Qe2 Qd7 35. Re1 Re8 36. g3 Nb5 37. Bc1 Nd6 38. Nh4
b5 39. Qg4 Qf7 $1 40. Bf4 h5 41. Qf3 Nc4 42. Ng2 e5 43. Bc1 Nc7 44. dxe5 Nxe5
45. Qd1 Qd5 46. Kh1 Ra8 47. Be3 Qxd1 48. Rxd1 b4 $1 49. Nf4 b3 50. Rb1 Rb8 51.
Nxh5 $5 Nd5 52. Bd4 Nc4 53. Kg2 b2 54. h4 Rb3 $1 {Black threatens 55...Nc3.}
55. Bxb2 Rxb2 56. Rxb2 Nxb2 57. g4 Kf7 58. Kf3 Nd3 59. Ke4 g6 60. Ng3 N3f4 61.
Nf1 Ke6 62. Nd2 Ng2 63. Nf3 $5 Nc3+ 64. Kd3 Nd1 65. Ke2 Nb2 66. h5 g5 67. Nd2
Nf4+ 68. Kf3 Ke5 69. Kg3 Kd5 70. f3 Nc4 71. Ne4 Ke5 72. Nc5 Nd2 73. h6 $1 Ng6
74. h7 Nh8 $2 75. Nd7+ Ke6 76. Nxf6 $6 {White sets a trap.} (76. Nc5+ $1 Kd6
77. Nd3 Kd5 78. f4 {offers more resistance.}) 76... Nf1+ $1 (76... Kxf6 $2 77.
f4 $1 Ng6 78. fxg5+ Kxg5 79. h8=Q Nxh8 {leads to a theoretical draw.}) 77. Kf2
Kxf6 78. Kxf1 Kg7 79. Kf2 Kxh7 80. Ke3 Ng6 $1 81. Ke4 Kg7 82. Kf5 Kh6 83. Ke4
Nf4 84. Kf5 Ne2 85. Ke5 Kg6 $1 86. Ke4 Kf6 87. Kd5 Nf4+ 88. Kd6 Ng6 89. Kd5 Ke7
90. Ke4 Ke6 91. Kd4 Nf4 92. Ke4 Nd5 93. Kd4 Nf6 94. f4 gxf4 95. g5 Nh5 96. Ke4
Kf7 97. Kf3 Kg7 $1 98. Kg4 Kg6 {Reshevsky played a solid game.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E45"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Ba6 6. Ng3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d5 8.
Qf3 O-O 9. e4 $5 dxc4 $6 (9... dxe4 $5 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Qd7 $1 {
will happen in Portisch - Fischer, Santa Monica 1966.}) 10. Bg5 $1 h6 11. Bd2
$2 {The tables turn.} ({An interesting line is} 11. h4 $1 hxg5 $5 12. hxg5 Re8
$1 13. gxf6 Qxf6 14. Qh5 $1 Kf8 15. e5 {and White has an advantage.}) 11...
Nbd7 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nf5 $5 exf5 14. Qxd5 Re8 15. Bxc4 $2 ({Preferable is} 15.
Be3 Qe7 16. Be2) 15... Nxe5 $3 16. Qxd8 Nxc4+ {Bobby sacrifices an exchange.}
17. Qxe8+ Rxe8+ 18. Kd1 Nxd2 19. Kxd2 Re2+ 20. Kc1 Rxf2 {
He has regained sufficient material and gained a positional advantage.} 21. g3
Bb7 22. Re1 Be4 23. Re3 Rxh2 24. a4 h5 25. Ra3 g5 26. Rb3 f6 27. a5 h4 28. gxh4
Rxh4 29. Ra3 Rh7 30. axb6 axb6 31. Ra7 Re7 32. d5 Kf7 $1 33. Kd2 f4 $1 34. Re1
f5 35. c4 g4 36. Rb7 g3 37. d6 cxd6 38. Rxb6 f3 {The pawns are marching on.}
0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Fischer had started by 61/2/7.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 e5 5. exd5
Qxd5 6. Ngf3 exd4 7. Bc4 Qh5 8. O-O Nf6 9. Qe1+ Be7 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. Be2 Bg4
12. Nxc6 $4 (12. h3 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Qxe2 14. Nxe2 {
drew in Goncalves - Van den Broeck, München 1958.}) 12... Bd6 $1 {
He threatens mate.} 13. h3 ({Or} 13. Ne7+ Kh8 $1 {(Müller).}) 13... Bxe2 {
Black wins an exchange.} 14. Nd4 Bxf1 15. Qxf1 Rfe8 16. N2f3 a6 17. Bg5 Qg6 18.
Rd1 Re4 19. Be3 Nd5 20. Bc1 Rae8 21. Nd2 R4e7 22. Nc4 Bf4 23. Nf3 c6 24. Nb6
Bxc1 25. Nxd5 cxd5 26. Rxc1 Re2 27. Rb1 Qc2 28. Rc1 Qxb2 29. Rb1 Qxc3 30. Rxb7
Rxa2 31. Kh2 h6 32. Qb1 Rxf2 33. Qf5 Qxf3 $5 34. Qxf3 Rxf3 35. gxf3 Rd8 36. Rb6
d4 {Even Fischer can blunder.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Bxc3 8.
bxc3 Be4 9. Qc2 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 d6 11. e4 e5 $2 {
The black kingside becomes a target.} ({Known is} 11... Nc6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4
{(Minev - Hecht, Varna 1962).}) 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Nh4 $1 h6 14. Bd2 Re8 15. Rae1
$1 Nf8 16. Nf5 $1 Ng6 17. f4 $1 exd4 18. cxd4 {
White has an impressive pawn structure.} c6 19. d5 cxd5 20. cxd5 Ne7 21. Ng3
Rc8 22. Bc3 Ng6 23. Bd4 Kh7 24. Nf5 Rc7 25. Kh1 Rg8 $6 26. Re3 $6 (26. Bxf6 $1
Qxf6 27. e5 $1 {wins quickly.}) 26... Nh5 27. Ref3 Nf6 28. Rh3 $1 b5 $5 29. g4
$1 {He opens a file.} Nxg4 30. Qg3 Qe8 $5 {A last try.} 31. Nxd6 Qe7 32. e5 Nf6
33. f5 $1 Nxd5 34. fxg6+ $5 ({Even better is} 34. e6 $1) 34... fxg6 35. Nf7
Qxf7 36. Rxf7 Rxf7 37. e6 Rf1+ 38. Kg2 Rf5 39. Rh4 Re8 40. Qd6 Ref8 41. h3 Rc8
42. Re4 Rc2+ 43. Kg3 Rd2 44. e7 Rg5+ 45. Rg4 Nxe7 $5 46. Rxg5 hxg5 47. Qxe7
Rxd4 48. Qxa7 Rf4 {Fischer has achieved a fortress.} 49. Qe7 Rf5 50. Qe8 $1 {
It is zugzwang.} Rc5 51. Kf3 {The king moves to the queenside.} Rc2 52. Qe6 Rc1
53. Qb3 Rc5 54. Ke4 Rf5 55. Kd4 Kh8 56. Kc3 $3 Kh7 ({The pointe is} 56... Rf3+
57. Kb4 Rxb3+ 58. Kxb3 {(Reshevsky).}) 57. Kb4 Re5 58. a3 Kh6 $5 {
Otherwise the queen is going to capture on b5.} 59. Qg8 $1 g4 60. h4 $1 {
He continues the mate threat.} g5 61. h5 $1 {
Fischer was shocked, because he had lost two games in one tournament.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Rossolimo, Nicolas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C12"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4
g6 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 c5 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. Qf4 Qc7 $5 ({Theory is} 12... Qa5)
13. h4 $5 ({Preferable is} 13. Qf6 $1 Rg8 14. Rab1) 13... f5 $1 14. g4 cxd4 15.
cxd4 Ne7 $6 (15... Bd7 $1 {(Rossolimo)} 16. Rab1 O-O-O {equalises.}) 16. gxf5
exf5 17. Bb5+ Kf8 $6 ({Better is} 17... Bd7 18. Bxd7+ Qxd7) 18. Bd3 $1 Be6 19.
Ng1 $5 {The knight starts a remarkable manoeuvre.} Kf7 20. Nh3 Rac8 21. Rhg1 b6
$2 {He loses valuable time.} (21... Qc3+ 22. Ke3 Rc4 23. Rab1 Rb4 {
levels (Hübner).}) 22. h5 $1 {Bobby strikes.} Qc3+ 23. Ke2 Nc6 (23... g5 24.
Nxg5+ $1 hxg5 25. Qxg5 Ke8 26. Qf6 {wins for White.}) 24. hxg6+ Kg7 25. Rad1 $1
Nxd4+ $5 26. Kf1 Rhe8 27. Rg3 Nc6 28. Qh4 Nxe5 29. Nf4 {
The knight has reached his aim.} Ng4 30. Nxe6+ $1 Rxe6 31. Bxf5 Qc4+ 32. Kg1 $1
{Fischer won his last game as well.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 17"]
[Date "1965.12.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1965.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2
Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nfd7 12. Bc4 Bb4 13. Rb3 Qa5 14. O-O O-O
15. Bf6 $5 (15. Nxe6 $2 fxe6 16. Bxe6+ Kh8 17. Rxf8+ Bxf8 18. Qf4 Nc6 19. Qf7
Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Nf6 $1 {won for Black in Tringov - Fischer, Havana 1965.}) 15...
gxf6 $2 (15... Nxf6 $1 16. exf6 Rd8 17. Rxb4 Qxb4 18. Qg5 g6 19. Rf4 Rxd4 {
was played in R.Byrne - Zuckerman, New York 1966.}) 16. Qh6 Qxe5 17. Nf5 $3
exf5 18. Ne4 $1 {Byrne has prepared something special: White sacrifices three
pieces and two pawns for a mate attack.} Bd2 19. Nxd2 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rg3+
Ng4 22. h3 Qe5 23. Rf4 $1 Qe1+ 24. Nf1 $1 {Black has no proper defence.} Qxg3
25. Rxg4+ $1 Qxg4 26. hxg4 Nd7 27. Ng3 Kh8 28. Bd3 Rg8 29. Bxf5 Rg6 30. Bxg6
fxg6 31. Ne4 b5 32. g5 Bb7 33. Nxf6 Nf8 34. Qh2 Bc8 35. Qe5 Ne6 36. Nd7+ {
The final standings became: Fischer 81/2/11, R.Byrne and Reshevsky 71/2,
Addison and Zuckerman 61/2, Rossolimo 6, Benko, Evans and Saidy 5, Bisguier
and Burger 3, Suttles 21/2. Bobby won despite the two losses. The top three
had qualified for the interzonal Sousse 1967. Fischer withdrew from the event,
although he was leading.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The eighteenth US championship was played in New York from 11 xii 1966 until
1 i 1967. Bobby complained about the format of the tournament, but he was
lured to the event by an extra $500.} 1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5.
Ne2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. c4 e5 8. Nbc3 c6 9. d5 cxd5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Nc5
12. Rd1 $5 ({Theory is} 12. b3) 12... Bg4 $1 13. f3 Be6 14. Qxd6 Bxc4 15. Nc3
Qa5 16. Bg5 Ne6 $1 17. Be7 Rfe8 {The chances are equal.} 18. Nd5 Be2 19. Rdc1
Nd4 20. Qb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nxf3+ $6 ({Better is} 21... Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 23.
Kg2 Nd4 24. Rc7 a5 {and Black has an edge (Müller).}) 22. Kf2 Nd4 23. Nc7 Bh6
$6 24. Re1 $2 (24. Nxe8 Rxe8 25. Rc7 {gains an advantage.}) 24... Rec8 $6 25.
Nxa8 Rc2 26. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 27. Kf1 Rxb2 28. Bc3 $6 (28. Ba3 Rc2 29. Bd6 Rd2 30.
Bb4 {leads to a repetition.}) 28... Rc2 29. Bxd4 exd4 30. e5 Be3 31. Bxb7 $2 (
31. Re1 Rf2+ 32. Kg1 Rxa2+ 33. Kh1 d3 34. Rd1 {tries to survive.}) 31... Rf2+
32. Ke1 d3 33. Ba6 Re2+ 34. Kd1 (34. Kf1 Rf2+ $1 35. Ke1 Rxh2 $1 36. Bxd3 Bd2+
37. Kf1 Rh1+ 38. Ke2 Rxa1 39. Kxd2 Rxa2+ {wins for Black.}) 34... Rxh2 35. Bxd3
Rd2+ 36. Ke1 Rxd3 37. Ke2 Ra3 38. Nc7 Bd4 39. Nb5 Bxa1 40. Nxa3 Bxe5 41. g4 Kg7
42. Nc4 Kf6 {Fischer came back from a bad position.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Zuckerman, Bernard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. h4 Rfc8 13. h5 $1 {
The attack starts by a new move.} Nxh5 $2 {Black falls into the trap.} (13...
Qa5 $5 14. hxg6 hxg6 {will become the main answer.}) 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. g4 Nf6
16. Qh6+ $1 Kg8 17. e5 $1 dxe5 18. g5 $1 Nh5 19. Bd3 {White threatens 20.Rxh5!}
e4 20. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 21. Nxe4 Qf4 22. Nf6+ exf6 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. Bf5+ Kg8 25.
Qh7+ Kf8 26. Qh8+ {Evans has sacrificed a rook.} (26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. gxf6# {
ends the game.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Addison, William"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E82"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. d5 Ne5 10. Ng3 e6 11. Be2 exd5 12. exd5 $5 ({Usual is} 12. cxd5) 12...
Ne8 13. O-O f5 14. Kh1 Bd7 15. f4 Nf7 16. a3 Nc7 17. b4 Qf6 18. Rac1 Rfe8 19.
Bf3 Re7 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Bxc5 $2 {Addison shows too much optimism.} (21. Bf2
Rae8 22. Nge2 {keeps a plus.}) 21... dxc5 22. d6 Qxd6 23. Qxd6 Nxd6 24. Nd5 $1
Kf8 25. Nxc7 (25. Nxe7 Kxe7 26. Bxa8 Nxa8 {also favours Black.}) 25... Rc8 26.
Nd5 Ree8 $1 {Evans defends well.} 27. Be2 h5 28. h4 Bc6 29. Rfd1 Ne4 30. Nxe4
Rxe4 31. Bf3 $6 Bxd5 $1 32. Rxd5 Rxf4 33. Kh2 Rxh4+ {
Black has gained two pawns.} 34. Kg3 Rd4 35. Rxd4 cxd4 36. c5 d3 37. c6 Be5+
38. Kf2 d2 39. Rb1 Rd8 40. Ke3 Ke7 $6 (40... h4 41. Rb7 g5 42. c7 Bf4+ 43. Kf2
Rc8 {wins more quickly.}) 41. Rb7+ Kf6 42. Rd7 Rxd7 43. cxd7 Ke7 44. Kxd2 Kxd7
45. Bd5 Ke7 46. Ke3 Kf6 47. Kf2 g5 48. a4 Bc7 49. Bb7 g4 50. Bc8 Kg5 51. Bd7
Bb6+ 52. Kf1 f4 53. Ke2 Kh4 54. Be8 f3+ $1 55. Kf1 ({Or} 55. gxf3 g3 $1 56. Kf1
Kh3) 55... fxg2+ {
Black wins the ending, despite the bishops of a different colour.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Rossolimo, Nicolas"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 $5 ({
The main alternative is} 7... Be6) 8. h3 Be6 9. Ng3 g6 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O
12. Qf3 $1 Kh8 13. Rad1 b5 14. Qe2 $5 Qa5 15. a3 Rab8 16. Rfe1 Qc7 17. Nf1 $5
Nb6 18. Bxb6 $6 Rxb6 19. Ne3 b4 20. Na4 $2 {The knight moves offside.} ({
Preferable is} 20. Ncd5 Bxd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 bxa3 23. bxa3) 20... Rbb8
21. axb4 Rxb4 22. Ra1 Qc6 $1 23. Nc3 Rxb2 24. Ned1 Rb6 25. Rxa6 Bd8 $6 26. Rxb6
$6 Bxb6 {Fischer has achieved a positional advantage.} 27. Nb5 Nh5 28. Qd2 Nf4
29. Bf1 Bc5 30. c4 f5 31. g3 Nh5 32. exf5 gxf5 33. Qh6 Ng7 34. Qd2 $6 ({
Better is} 34. Ne3 $1 f4 35. gxf4 Rxf4 36. Bg2) 34... f4 $1 35. Kh2 Nf5 36. Bg2
Qd7 37. g4 Bxc4 $6 (37... Nh4 38. Bd5 Bxg4 39. hxg4 Qxg4 40. Rg1 Qh5 {
wins quickly.}) 38. Rxe5 $1 Nd4 39. Re4 Bxb5 40. Rxd4 Qg7 41. Rd5 Bc4 42. Rh5
f3 $1 43. Bh1 $5 Bd4 44. Ne3 Be2 45. h4 $2 ({Better is} 45. Rf5 Rxf5 46. Nxf5
Be5+ 47. Kg1 Qa7 48. Qe1 {and White seems to hold the position (Müller).})
45... Qa7 $6 46. Bg2 $1 Be5+ 47. Rxe5 dxe5 48. Qd6 Qb8 49. Qxb8 Rxb8 50. Bh3 h6
51. Kg3 Kg7 52. Nf5+ Kg6 53. Ne7+ Kf7 54. Nf5 Rb6 55. h5 Ra6 56. Kh4 $5 (56.
Ne3 Kf6 57. Kh4 Ra4 {wins for Black.}) 56... Bd3 57. Ne3 Ra2 58. Kg3 Be4 59.
Bf1 Re2 60. Nc4 Kf6 61. Nd6 Bc6 62. Bh3 Bd5 63. Nf5 Kg5 64. Ne3 Bc6 65. Bf1 Re1
66. Bh3 e4 67. Nf5 Bd7 68. Nxh6 Kxh6 69. g5+ $5 Kxg5 70. h6 {
Bobby has taken the fort. Fischer and Evans shared the lead by 3/3.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Byrne, Donald"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 f5 $5 {Bobby plays a risky line.}
({Usual is} 5... Nc6) 6. exf5 gxf5 7. Qh5+ Kf8 8. d3 Nf6 9. Qe2 (9. Qd1 $5 Kf7
10. Bd5+ Ke7 {will draw in Stein - Minic, Skopje 1969.}) 9... Kf7 10. Bg5 c6
11. Nf3 Rf8 $5 12. Qd2 Kg8 {He has 'castled'.} 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Qe8+ 15.
Nde2 Nbd7 16. O-O Ne5 17. Qxd6 Nxc4 18. Qf4 Ne5 19. Bh6 Nd3 20. Qd2 Bxh6 21.
Qxh6 $1 {Donald does not capture a knight but sacrifices a pawn.} Nxb2 22. Nf4
Qf7 23. Rfe1 Nc4 24. Rad1 Bd7 25. Bh3 $2 ({Better is} 25. Bf1 Nb6 26. a4 {
(Müller)} Rae8 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. a5 Nbd5 29. Bc4 {and a lively game.}) 25...
Rae8 $1 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Nce2 Ne5 $1 28. Nd4 Nfg4 29. Qg5+ Qg7 30. Qxg7+ $6 (
30. Qh5 $5 Qf6 31. Bg2 {fights for the last chance.}) 30... Kxg7 31. f3 Ne3 32.
Re1 c5 $1 33. Rxe3 $5 cxd4 34. Rb3 b6 35. Kf2 Rc8 $1 36. Rb2 d3 37. Rb1 d2 38.
Rd1 Nc4 39. Ke2 Ba4 40. Rxd2 Re8+ 41. Kd3 Nxd2 42. Kxd2 Re5 43. Ne2 Bd7 44. Nc3
{Evans kept chasing Fischer.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Zuckerman, Bernard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B75"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 d6 8. f3
Bd7 9. Qd2 Rc8 10. Bb3 Ne5 11. O-O-O Nc4 12. Bxc4 Rxc4 13. Nb3 $5 ({
More aggressive is} 13. g4) 13... Qc7 $5 14. Bd4 Be6 15. e5 $1 dxe5 16. Bxe5 $1
Qc8 ({The pointe is} 16... Qxe5 $4 17. Qd8#) 17. Na5 Rc7 $2 {
Zuckerman gives an exchange.} ({Better is} 17... Rh4 $5 18. Kb1 O-O 19. Rhe1
Rh5) 18. Bxc7 Qxc7 19. Nb5 Qb6 20. Nd4 Bd7 $6 ({Müller analyses} 20... O-O $5
21. Nxe6 $5 Ne4 $1 22. Nc4 Bxb2+ 23. Nxb2 Nxd2 24. Nxf8 Nxf3 25. gxf3 Kxf8 {
and Black has counter-play.}) 21. Rhe1 O-O $5 22. Rxe7 Qd6 23. Ree1 Qxh2 24.
Kb1 Qc7 25. Nab3 Rc8 26. g4 b6 27. Re7 Qd6 28. Re2 Nd5 29. c3 a5 30. Nc2 a4 $2
{The endgame is lost.} 31. Qxd5 Qxd5 32. Rxd5 Be6 33. Rb5 axb3 34. axb3 Rc6 35.
Rd2 Bf6 36. Nb4 {
Fischer could take the lead, because Evans lost to Donald Byrne.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Sherwin, James"]
[Black "Byrne, Donald"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2
O-O 9. Bc4 a5 10. Bb3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 $5 12. a4 $5 Rb8 $5 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14.
O-O-O Nh5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. e5 $1 {Sherwin attacks in the centre.} dxe5 $2 {
The triple pawn becomes vulnerable.} ({Right is} 16... d5) 17. Qe3 Qc7 18. Rhe1
Kf7 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. Rxe5 {White has the better endgame.} b6 21. Rb5 Nf6 22.
Rd4 h6 23. h4 Rfc8 24. g4 Rc6 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 Ne8 $5 27. Rh4 Rbc8 28. Re5
Rc5 $2 (28... Ng7 $1 {overprotects pawn e6.}) 29. Rf4+ $1 Kg8 30. Rxe6 Rxg5 31.
Rg4 $1 {The road to g1 is stopped.} Rxg4 32. fxg4 Kf7 33. Rxb6 Rc4 34. Rb5 Rxg4
35. Rxa5 {He has gained a pawn.} Nd6 36. Rd5 Ke6 37. Rd1 $5 (37. a5 $1 {
advances at once.}) 37... Kd7 38. b3 Kc6 39. Re1 Nf5 40. Kb2 Nd4 $5 41. Rxe7 $5
Rg2 42. Nb5 Nxb5 43. axb5+ Kxb5 {
Black has regained a pawn, but the rook ending is lost.} 44. Re5+ Kc6 45. b4
Kd6 46. Rc5 g5 47. Kb3 g4 48. c4 g3 49. Ka4 Rc2 50. Kb5 g2 51. Rg5 Rb2 52. c5+
Kd7 53. Rg6 Kc7 54. Rg7+ Kd8 55. Ka5 Re2 56. Kb6 Ke8 57. c6 Kf8 58. Rg3 {
The white pawns move forwards slowly.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 a6 6. Be3 c6 7. a4 O-O 8. Bd3 Nbd7
$5 9. Nge2 c5 10. O-O b6 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Ne5 14. b3 Nc6 15.
Be3 Nb4 16. Rac1 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 Nd7 18. Bd4 Nc5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nd5 e5 21. Rb1
f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. b4 $5 Nxa4 24. f4 Rc8 25. Rb3 Kh8 26. Re3 b5 $6 27. fxe5
Bxd5 28. Qxd5 Nb6 29. Qd4 dxe5 30. Qxe5+ Qf6 31. c5 Nc4 32. Qxf6+ Rxf6 33. Re7
$1 {White has the initiative.} f4 34. Rc3 Ne3 35. Nxf4 Rxf4 36. Rcxe3 Rxb4 {
It has become an ending of two rooks.} 37. Rh3 Rxc5 38. Rhxh7+ Kg8 39. Reg7+
Kf8 40. h3 Rc6 $2 (40... Rh4 $1 41. Rf7+ Kg8 42. Rhg7+ Kh8 {almost equalises.})
41. Ra7 $1 {He threatens mate.} Kg8 42. Rhg7+ Kf8 43. Raf7+ Ke8 44. Ra7 Kf8 45.
Rgf7+ Kg8 46. Rfb7 Rf4 47. Kh2 Rf2 48. h4 $1 Rff6 49. Kh3 Rc3+ 50. g3 {
Benko goes forwards slowly.} Rcc6 51. h5 $1 Rf1 52. g4 Rf4 (52... Rc3+ 53. Kg2
$1 Rff3 54. Ra8+ $1 Rf8 55. Rxa6 {wins for White.}) 53. Ra8+ Rf8 54. Rxf8+ Kxf8
55. g5 $1 a5 56. h6 $1 Kg8 57. Kg4 Rc8 58. Kh5 {
Hereafter, the white pawns marsh forwards until mate is delivered.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Sherwin, James"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E69"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "198"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d4 d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
c6 9. a3 $5 ({Usual is} 9. h3) 9... Qb6 10. Re1 Re8 11. d5 c5 $6 {
Bobby gets a passive position.} 12. h3 a6 13. Rb1 Qc7 14. Be3 b6 15. Bf1 Nf8
16. b4 Bd7 17. Kh2 Reb8 18. Qc2 Ne8 19. Rb2 f5 20. Reb1 Qc8 21. bxc5 bxc5 22.
Rb6 Rxb6 23. Rxb6 Bf6 24. Rb2 Ng7 25. Bd2 Bd8 26. Qb3 Bc7 27. Qb7 Ba5 28. Qxc8
Bxc8 29. Bd3 Nd7 30. Na4 Bc7 31. Nh4 fxe4 32. Bxe4 Nf6 33. f3 $6 {
White gives up the two bishops.} (33. Bc2 {keeps an edge.}) 33... Nxe4 34. fxe4
Ne8 35. Nc3 Ba5 36. g4 $2 (36. Nb1 Bd8 37. Nf3 Nf6 38. Nc3 Ba5 39. Nb1 {
leads to a repetition of positions.}) 36... Nf6 37. Nb1 Bd8 $1 38. Nc3 Nxg4+
39. hxg4 Bxh4 {Fischer has gained a pawn.} 40. g5 Bg4 41. Be3 $6 Rf8 42. Nb1
Rf3 43. Rb3 Bg3+ 44. Kg2 Bf4 45. Rb8+ Kf7 46. Bxf4 exf4 47. Rb7+ Ke8 48. Rb8+
Kd7 49. Rb7+ Kd8 50. Rf7 Ke8 $1 51. Rf6 Ke7 $6 (51... Rb3 $1 52. Rxf4 Rb2+ 53.
Kg3 Bd1 {wins the knight (Müller).}) 52. Re6+ Kd7 53. Rf6 Bh5 54. Nd2 Rg3+ 55.
Kf2 Rd3 56. Nf1 Rf3+ 57. Kg2 Rxa3 58. Rxf4 Be2 59. Ng3 Bxc4 60. Rf7+ Ke8 61.
Rxh7 Bd3 $5 62. Rh8+ Ke7 63. Rh7+ Kf8 64. Rh8+ Kg7 65. Rc8 Kf7 66. Rc7+ Ke8 67.
e5 $2 (67. Rc8+ $1 Kd7 68. Rg8 c4 $1 69. Rg7+ Ke8 70. Rxg6 c3 71. Re6+ Kd7 72.
Nf5 Kc7 {(Müller)} 73. Ne3 Ra2+ 74. Kf3 c2 75. Nxc2 Rxc2 76. g6 {
fights for a draw.}) 67... dxe5 68. Rxc5 Kd7 69. Rc6 Ra5 70. Rf6 Rxd5 71. Rf8
Rd6 72. Rf7+ Ke6 73. Ra7 Kd5 74. Kf3 Ke6 75. Ra8 Bb5 76. Rf8 Ke7 77. Rg8 Kf7
78. Rb8 Rd3+ 79. Kf2 Bc6 80. Rb6 Rf3+ 81. Kg2 Rc3+ 82. Kf2 a5 83. Ra6 a4 84.
Ne2 Rc4 85. Ng3 Ke6 86. Kf1 Rc3 87. Rb6 Rxg3 88. Rxc6+ Kf5 89. Ra6 Ra3 90. Ra5
Ra2 91. Kg1 a3 92. Kf1 Kf4 93. Kg1 e4 94. Kf1 Kf3 95. Kg1 e3 96. Re5 Rg2+ 97.
Kh1 a2 98. Ra5 Rb2 99. Re5 a1=Q# {Fischer won the game by a great effort.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1966.12.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 d5 $2 {
Reshevsky counters prematurely.} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Qe2+
Qe7 $5 ({Known is} 10... Be7 11. Nf5 Kf8) 11. Be3 g6 $6 (11... Nc6 $5 12. O-O-O
g6 {will be tried later.}) 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. Nb5 $1 Ne5 14. O-O-O Bg7 15. Rxd5
O-O 16. Rhd1 a6 17. Nd6 Qh4 18. f3 b5 19. Bd4 Nc4 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Nxc4 bxc4
22. Qxc4 Qxh2 23. Rd7 Rac8 24. Rxf7+ $5 Rxf7 25. Qxc8 Qf4+ 26. Kb1 Qxf3 27. Rc1
g5 $5 28. b3 Qe2 29. Qc3+ Kg6 30. Qh3 h6 $2 (30... Kg7 31. Rh1 Kg8 {
offers more resistance (Müller).}) 31. Rh1 $1 Rh7 32. a3 Rh8 33. a4 Rh7 34. Rh2
Qe1+ 35. Ka2 Qe4 36. Qh5+ Kg7 37. Rd2 Qe7 38. Qh3 Kg8 39. Qf3 Rf7 40. Qa8+ Kg7
41. Qxa6 Qe4 42. Qe2 Qf4 43. Rd5 {Reshevsky played a poor tournament.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 18"]
[Date "1967.01.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1966.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Bc2 Bg4 6. d3 g6 7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. h3
Bd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nh2 b5 $5 (10... e5 {
was played in Hartoch - Buljovic, Hamburg 1965.}) 11. f4 $5 ({Preferable is} 
11. Ndf3 b4 12. d4) 11... b4 12. Nc4 d5 $1 13. Ne5 $1 bxc3 14. bxc3 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Ne8 17. Nf3 Nc7 18. Rf2 Bb5 19. Bg5 Qxd1+ 20. Rxd1 {
The chances are equal, although White has a doubled pawn.} Rfe8 21. Bb3 c4 22.
Bc2 Ne6 23. Be3 Reb8 24. Rb1 a6 25. Rff1 Be8 26. Kf2 Nd8 27. Rxb8 $6 Rxb8 28.
Rb1 Rb5 29. Rxb5 axb5 {Black has gained an edge by the exchange of rooks.} 30.
Ke2 h6 31. Kd2 g5 32. h4 g4 33. Nd4 e6 34. Bf4 h5 35. Bg5 $5 Nb7 36. Bf6 Bh6+
37. Bg5 $2 ({Better is} 37. Ke2 Bf4 38. Kd1 {and White waits.}) 37... Bxg5+ 38.
hxg5 Kg7 39. Ke3 Kg6 40. Kf4 Nc5 41. g3 $2 {
Square g3 becomes unavailable for the king.} Bd7 $1 42. a3 Be8 $1 {
Fischer achieves zugzwang.} 43. Bb1 Na4 44. Ne2 Nb2 45. Nd4 Nd1 46. Ne2 Nf2 $1
{White cannot play 47.Kg3 anymore.} 47. Ke3 Nh3 48. Nf4+ Kxg5 {
Bobby has gained a pawn.} 49. Ng2 f6 $1 50. exf6 Kxf6 51. Nh4 e5 52. Bc2 Bd7
53. Bb1 Ng5 54. Bc2 Nf7 55. Bb1 Nh8 56. Bc2 Ng6 57. Nxg6 ({Or} 57. Ke2 Kg5 58.
Ng2 h4 {(Müller).}) 57... Kxg6 58. Kf2 Kg5 59. Kg2 h4 $1 60. Kh2 h3 61. Kg1 Kf6
$1 {The king is going to manoeuvre in the bishop ending.} 62. Kh2 Ke7 63. Kg1
Kd6 64. Kf2 Kc5 65. Kg1 Kb6 66. Kh1 Ka5 67. Kg1 Bc6 $1 68. Kh1 Bb7 69. Kg1 Bxe4
$3 70. Bxe4 Ka4 71. Bf5 Kb3 $1 72. Bxg4 e4 73. Bxh3 Kxc3 74. g4 Kd2 $1 {
Black will queen soon. The final standings became: Fischer 91/2/11, Evans 71/2,
Benko and Sherwin 6, Bisguier 51/2, Addison and Saidy 5, R.Byrne, Reshevsky
and Rossolimo 41/2, D.Byrne and Zuckerman 4. Bobby had participated in a US
championship for the last time.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C75"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The nineteenth US championship was played in New York from 14 until 31 vii
1968. Fischer refused to participate, because he found the event too short.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 Qe7 7. O-O g6 8. Nbd2 $5
Bg7 9. Re1 exd4 $5 ({Preferable is} 9... b5 10. Bb3 Nf6) 10. cxd4 O-O-O $2 (
10... Nxd4 $5 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Nf3 Be5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. Qb3
O-O-O {gains a pawn for the positional disadvantage.}) 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. d5 Bd7
{Seidman has a crammed game.} 13. Nc4 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 f5 $5 16. Qb3 $1
{Chessmen move towards the hostile king.} Bd4 $6 ({Slightly better is} 16...
Qf7 17. Na5 b6 18. Nc6 Re8) 17. Be3 $1 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 f4 19. Rc3 b5 (19... Qxe4
20. Rac1 $1 {directs all white pieces on a defenceless king.}) 20. Qa3 Qxe4 21.
Nxd6+ $1 {Robert Byrne started well.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A79"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The sixty-years-old Horowitz participated for the last time.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8
10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7 {Tal made this line popular.} 12. a4 b6 13. Nc4 Ba6 14.
Bg5 h6 $5 15. Bh4 Qd7 16. g4 $2 Rab8 $2 (16... Nxg4 $1 17. fxg4 Bxc3 18. bxc3
Rxe4 {wins material.}) 17. Bg3 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 a6 19. Re1 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21.
Bf1 b4 22. Ne2 h5 23. h3 hxg4 24. hxg4 Nb5 {
Black has the initiative on the queenside.} 25. Kg2 Ra8 26. Qd3 Nh7 27. Qd2 Qe7
28. Qd3 Nd4 $5 {Evans avoids a repetition of moves.} 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Nxd4 $5
({Preferable is} 30. e5 $1 Nxe2 31. Qxe2 dxe5 32. Bxe5) 30... Bxd4 31. Re2 $2 (
31. b3 $1 {repairs the position.}) 31... g5 $1 32. Qb5 $5 Be5 $1 33. Qc6 Ra1 ({
Even better is} 33... Ra2 $1) 34. Qc8+ Nf8 35. Bxe5 Qxe5 36. Qf5 Ng6 $1 {
He will utilise the strong square e5.} 37. Qxe5 Nxe5 38. Rf2 c4 $1 39. Kg3 Ra2
40. Re2 b3 $1 {White has no defence against the threat ..c3. Evans became the
main competitor in the absence of Fischer.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Rossolimo, Nicolas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. h3 e6 8. Nge2
exd5 9. cxd5 Na6 10. O-O Nb4 $5 ({Usual is} 10... Nc7) 11. Bb1 Rb8 12. a3 Na6
13. a4 $5 Ne8 14. Be3 Nb4 15. Qd2 b6 16. Bg5 f6 17. Bh4 Ba6 18. f4 Bh6 19. Nd1
Bc8 $5 {Rossolimo has no plan.} 20. Ra3 $5 Rb7 21. Raf3 Rbf7 $5 {
Black copies the adversary's idea.} 22. Nec3 a6 23. Ne3 Qc7 24. f5 gxf5 25.
exf5 Bb7 26. Qd1 Re7 27. Re1 Bxe3+ $2 {Black gives up the e-file.} (27... Kh8
$5 {makes a fine waiting move.}) 28. Rfxe3 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 c4 $2 (29... Ng7 $1
30. Qe2 Rf7 31. Bxf6 $5 Rxf6 32. Re7 Qc8 33. Ne4 $1 Nxd5 34. Nxf6+ Nxf6 35.
Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37. Qxf6 Qf8 38. Ba2+ d5 39. Qxb6 Qe7 {
defends stubbornly.}) 30. Qe2 $1 {White controls an open file.} Ng7 31. Re7 $1
Qc8 32. Qg4 Rf7 33. Bxf6 Rxe7 34. Bxe7 Nxd5 35. Nxd5 Bxd5 36. Bxd6 {
White has an extra pawn and a decisive attack.} Kf7 37. Be5 Qg8 38. Qd4 $1 {
Sammy delivered a positional attack.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb2 a5 8. a3 c5
$5 {Black has lost a tempo, but it does not affect his position.} 9. cxd5 exd5
10. d4 $1 Na6 11. Nc3 Bf5 12. Ne5 cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc5 14. Nxd5 $1 {
He attacks in the centre.} Nxb3 15. Qf4 Nxd5 $2 (15... Be6 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.
Rab1 Rfd8 {defends well.}) 16. Qxf5 $1 Nxa1 17. Nxf7 $3 ({Not} 17. Rd1 $2 Ne3
$3 18. Rxd8 Nxf5 {(Soltis).}) 17... Qc8 ({Or} 17... Rxf7 18. Bxd5 Bf6 19. Bxf7+
Kxf7 20. Bxa1) 18. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 (18... gxh6 19. Bxd5+ {brings mate in two.}) 19.
Qxd5 Nc2 20. Qg8+ {Smothered mate will be delivered on the next move. Benko
celebrated his recent marriage.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Seidman, Herbert"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 e5 7. Nde2 g6 $5 ({
Usual is} 7... Be7) 8. f3 Bg7 9. g4 $5 Be6 10. g5 $5 {
The pawn advance is premature.} Nh5 11. Be3 Nc6 12. Qd2 f5 13. gxf6 Qxf6 14.
Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. O-O-O $5 {White sacrifices a pawn.}
Qxf3 $1 ({More solid is} 17... O-O) 18. Qb4 Qxd5 19. Nxd4 $2 O-O-O $2 {
Evans does not dare to gain a piece.} (19... Bxd4 20. Bxg6+ $5 hxg6 21. Rhe1+
Kf7 22. Rxd4 Qb5 23. Qxd6 Rhe8 {looks risky but favours Black.}) 20. Nb3 $6 ({
Better is} 20. Bc4 $1 Qc5 21. Qxc5+ dxc5 22. Ne6) 20... Qe5 21. Nd2 d5 22. Rhe1
Qd6 23. Qxd6 Rxd6 {Evans has an extra pawn in the endgame.} 24. Be2 Nf4 25.
Bg4+ Kb8 26. Re7 Bf6 27. Rf7 Rb6 28. b3 $6 (28. Nb3 $1 {activates two pieces.})
28... h5 29. Rf1 Bg5 30. Bd1 Ne6 $1 31. Rg1 Rg8 32. Bf3 Be3 33. Rf1 Nd4 34. Kd1
$6 (34. Re1 Re8 35. Kd1 {offers more resistance.}) 34... Rc8 $1 35. Bxd5 Rxc2
36. R1f2 ({The pointe is} 36. Nc4 Rc1#) 36... Bxf2 37. Rxf2 Rd6 38. Be4 Rxa2
39. Rf8+ Ka7 40. Rf7 Nc6 41. Ke1 {
Evans took the lead, half-a-point before Reshevsky and R.Byrne.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c3 e5 7. d3 Nge7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. a4 h6 10. Nc4 Be6 11. Qe2 Qc7 $5 12. Bd2 a6 13. b4 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15.
Na3 Rab8 16. Rfc1 cxb4 17. cxb4 Qd7 18. Bc3 Bg4 19. Qb2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nd4 21.
Bxd4 exd4 22. Nc2 Rfc8 23. Ne1 Rc3 24. Ra6 Rbc8 25. Rca1 R8c7 26. Kg2 Nc6 27.
Be2 Qe6 $6 (27... d5 $1 {equalises.}) 28. Rb6 $1 Rb3 29. Qc2 Rc3 30. Qb2 Na7 $6
(30... d5 31. exd5 Qxd5+ 32. Bf3 Qe5 {defends properly.}) 31. Qa2 Qxa2 32. Rxa2
Bf8 33. Nf3 Rb3 34. Nxd4 Rxb4 35. Rxa7 $1 Rxa7 36. Nc6 Rba4 37. Nxa7 Rxa7 38.
Rxb5 {White has gained a pawn in the endgame of rooks and bishops of a
different colour.} Kg7 39. Kf3 Be7 40. h4 h5 41. Ke3 Kh6 42. Bd1 Bf6 43. Bb3
Kg7 44. f4 Be7 45. Bc4 Kf8 46. Rb8+ Kg7 47. Kd4 Rc7 48. Ra8 Bf8 49. Ke3 Be7 50.
Ra4 Rb7 51. d4 Bf8 52. Bd5 Rd7 53. Bc6 Rc7 54. Ra6 Be7 55. Kd3 Kf8 56. Kc4 $5 {
He hesitates.} Rc8 57. Kd5 Rb8 58. Ra3 Rb1 59. Rf3 Ra1 60. Rb3 Ra2 61. Bb5 Kg7
62. Kc6 Kf8 63. Rc3 Ra7 64. Rd3 Kg7 65. Bc4 Kf8 66. Bd5 Kg7 67. Rb3 Bf6 68. Rb4
Kf8 69. Rb8+ Kg7 70. e5 $1 {Evans advances at last.} dxe5 71. fxe5 $1 {
He creates a passed pawn.} Be7 72. Bb3 g5 $6 (72... Ba3 {
hinders the white pawns.}) 73. hxg5 Bxg5 74. d5 $1 Re7 75. Kd6 Ra7 76. Kc5 h4
$6 77. gxh4 Bxh4 78. d6 $1 Bg3 79. Re8 Ra5+ 80. Kc6 $1 Ra3 ({The pointe is} 
80... Rxe5 81. d7 $1) 81. d7 $1 Bh4 82. Bd5 Ra6+ 83. Kc7 Ra7+ 84. Kd6 Ra6+ 85.
Bc6 Kg6 86. Rh8 $1 {Evans led by one point on Byrne and Reshevsky.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 19"]
[Date "1968.07.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Rossolimo, Nicolas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C93"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "1968.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Evans produced a short draw against Bisguier. He had won the championship.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6
9. h3 h6 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 Bb7 13. Bc2 Qd7 14. b3 $5 ({
The alternative is} 14. b4) 14... Rad8 15. Bb2 Ne7 16. Nf1 Qc8 17. Ng3 Ng6 18.
a4 Nf4 $5 19. axb5 axb5 20. c4 Ba6 21. Qb1 $1 Nd7 $5 22. Qa2 $1 Nb8 $2 {
Black is going to lose a pawn.} ({Preferable is} 22... Bb7 $1 23. cxb5 exd4 24.
Bxd4 Ne5) 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. Bxe5 Nd3 $1 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. Bf4 Na6
28. Red1 Qd7 29. Rxd3 Qxd3 30. Qb2 Rd8 $6 (30... Nc5 $1 31. Bxc7 Nxe4 32. Nxe4
Rxe4 {brings sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 31. Rc1 Qd7 32. Be3 Nb4
33. Qa1 Nd3 34. Rd1 c5 35. Ne5 Qe8 36. Nc4 Nb4 37. Qb1 g6 38. f3 Nc6 39. Ne2
Rxd1+ 40. Qxd1 Bxc4 $5 41. bxc4 Na5 42. Qd5 $1 Qc8 43. Nf4 Qc6 44. Nd3 h5 $6 (
44... Qxd5 45. cxd5 c4 {counters.}) 45. Ne5 Qb7 46. Nd7 Be7 47. Bxc5 Bxc5+ 48.
Nxc5 Qb4 49. Nd3 $6 (49. Kh2 Nxc4 50. Qd8+ Kh7 51. Qf8 {attacks.}) 49... Qxc4
50. Qxc4 Nxc4 {White has an extra pawn in the knight ending.} 51. Kf2 Kg7 52.
f4 Kf6 53. Nc5 Ke7 54. Ke2 Kd6 55. Nb3 Ke7 56. Kd3 Nd6 57. Kd4 Nb5+ 58. Ke5 Nd6
59. Kd5 Ne8 60. e5 Nc7+ 61. Ke4 f6 62. Nd4 Kf7 $6 (62... f5+ 63. Kf3 h4 {
hinders the white pawns.}) 63. g3 $1 Ke7 64. f5 $1 fxe5 65. Kxe5 Kf7 66. Ne6
Ne8 67. Nf4 $1 gxf5 68. Nxh5 $1 Kg6 69. Nf4+ Kg5 70. Ne6+ Kg6 71. h4 $1 Kh5 72.
Kxf5 {White has gained a second pawn.} Nd6+ 73. Kf4 Nf7 74. Ng7+ Kg6 75. Nf5
Nd8 76. g4 Ne6+ 77. Ke5 Nc5 78. Ne7+ Kh6 79. Kf5 Nb3 80. Kf6 Nc5 81. Nf5+ Kh7
82. g5 Nd7+ 83. Ke6 Nf8+ 84. Kf7 Ng6 85. h5 Ne5+ 86. Ke6 Ng6 87. Kf6 $1 Nf4 88.
g6+ Kh8 89. h6 Nxg6 90. Kxg6 Kg8 91. Nd6 {The final standings became: Evans 81/
2/11, R.Byrne 8, Reshevsky 7, Benko 61/2, Bisguier and Lombardy 6, Rossolimo,
Saidy and Zuckerman 51/2, Horowitz 4, Weinberger 2, Seidman 11/2.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Burger, Karl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E56"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twentieth US championship was a zonal event. Fischer wanted it to last 22
instead of 11 rounds. Otherwise chance would be too big. This proposal was too
expensive for the USCF. The potential world champion refused to participate.
Twelve other men played in New York from 30 xi until 17 xii 1969.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 dxc4 9. Bxc4
Ba5 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bb6 $6 {
The bishop hinders the development of the queenside.} (12... Bc7 {
drew in Gligoric - Puc, Novi Sad 1965.}) 13. dxc5 $1 Qxc5 (13... Bxc5 $5 14. b4
Bd6 {will be played in Furman - Wade, Tallinn 1971.}) 14. b4 Qc4 $6 ({
More natural is} 14... Qe7) 15. Nd2 $5 Qc3 16. Ra2 Rd8 17. Rc2 Qe5 18. Bb2 Qg5
19. Qe2 Ne7 $2 ({Preferable is} 19... e5 $1 20. Rfc1 Bf5) 20. f4 $1 Qh6 21. Nc4
$1 f5 22. Nxb6 axb6 23. Rc7 fxe4 ({Or} 23... Rd7 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. Bxb7) 24.
Rxe7 Rd7 25. Re8+ Kf7 26. Rh8 $1 {Reshevsky made a good start.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Black "Addison, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B14"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Rc1
O-O 9. c5 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bb5 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. O-O $5 ({
Known in the Panov is} 13. dxe5 d4 14. Rc1 {
(Paoli - O'Kelly de Galway, Trencianske Teplice 1949).}) 13... Bg4 14. Bxc6
bxc6 15. Qa4 $2 (15. dxe5 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Qxe5 17. Qd2 {keeps the equality.})
15... Bxf3 16. Rxf3 e4 {Black has a superior pawn structure.} 17. Rb3 Qc7 18.
g3 $5 f5 $1 19. f4 Rfb8 20. Rf2 a5 21. h3 Kh8 $5 22. Kg2 Rxb3 23. Qxb3 Rb8 24.
Qe3 h6 25. Rd2 Rb4 26. h4 {White defends a bastion.} a4 27. Kf2 Qb8 $1 28. Qe2
Kh7 $5 29. Ke3 Qc8 $5 (29... Rc4 $1 30. Rc2 Rxc2 31. Qxc2 Qb5 {makes progress.}
) 30. Qh5 Qd7 31. Qe2 Qe6 32. h5 Qf6 33. Qa6 $6 (33. Qd1 g6 34. hxg6+ Qxg6 35.
Rg2 {tries to hold the fort.}) 33... Rc4 $1 34. Qc8 ({Or} 34. a3 Rc1 $1 35.
Qxa4 Rf1 $1) 34... a3 $1 {He wants to open square c3.} 35. Qe8 axb2 36. Qg6+
Qxg6 37. hxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rxb2 Rc3+ 39. Kf2 Rd3 $5 40. a4 $5 Rxd4 41. Ra2 Rb4 {
Addison had the best start.} (41... Rb4 42. a5 Kh5 43. a6 Rb8 44. a7 Ra8 45.
Ra1 Kg4 46. Rh1 g5 $1 {wins for Black.}) 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Burger, Karl"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. e3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O
Nc6 9. h3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b6 11. a3 e6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Ba2 Ne7 15. Be5
Nf5 16. Nh2 Rc8 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. Qd3 $5 (18. Qd2 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 {
drew in Benko - Evans (previous round).}) 18... Rfd8 19. Rfd1 $6 (19. Ne2 Be4
20. Qd2 {offers more resistance.}) 19... Nh5 $1 {Black has an edge.} 20. Qe2 $5
Bxe5 $2 ({Better is} 20... Qc6 $1 21. Nf3 Nxd4 $1 22. Bxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 {
Black has won a pawn and attacks.}) 21. dxe5 $2 ({White misses the opportunity
} 21. Qxe5 $1 Nxd4 22. Ng4 $1 Kh7 $6 23. Qe3) 21... Qc6 22. Rxd8+ ({Or} 22. Qg4
Nf4 $1) 22... Rxd8 23. Qf1 Nf4 $1 24. Nf3 Nd4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27.
Nxd1 Ba6 $1 {Benko wins material or delivers mate.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Addison, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. b4 Bb6 8. a4 a5
9. b5 Ne7 10. Na3 {Mednis plays an ancient line.} Ng6 11. Kh1 $5 (11. Be3 {
occurred in Bird - Hruby, Wien 1882.}) 11... h6 12. Nc2 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14.
Ne3 Bxe3 15. Bxe3 b6 16. c4 Rf7 17. Rc1 Qe7 18. Nd2 Raf8 19. Nb1 Kh7 20. Nc3
Nd7 21. d4 $5 {He should not do anything.} exd4 22. Qxd4 $6 ({Preferable is} 
22. Bxd4) 22... Qh4 23. f3 Nc5 24. Qd1 Ne5 25. Bxc5 $6 {
He exchanges the strong bishop.} dxc5 26. Qe2 g5 $1 27. Nb1 g4 $1 28. Nd2 g3 $1
29. h3 Rd8 30. Rcd1 $2 ({Correct is} 30. Rc2 Nd3 31. Kg1) 30... Nd3 $1 31. e5
$5 ({The pointe is} 31. Rb1 Nf4 32. Qe3 Nxh3 $1 33. gxh3 Qxh3+ 34. Kg1 Qh2#)
31... Nf2+ {Black gains an exchange.} 32. Rxf2 gxf2 33. Rf1 Qd4 34. Ne4 Qxe5
35. Qxf2 Rd4 36. Qe2 Rfd7 37. Re1 Rd3 38. Qc2 Kg7 39. Qc1 Qf5 40. Qb2+ R7d4 41.
Qe2 Qe5 42. Qf1 Qf5 43. Qe2 e5 $2 44. Kg1 $2 (44. Ng3 $1 Qe6 45. Nh5+ Kf7 46.
Nf4 $1 Rd2 47. Qxd2 Rxd2 48. Nxe6 Kxe6 49. f4 {brings a new chance.}) 44... Rb3
$2 45. Qc2 $2 (45. Ng3 $1 Qe6 46. Qc2 Rdd3 47. Nh5+ Kf7 48. Nf4 {
utilises the last opportunity.}) 45... Rb4 $1 46. Qf2 Rbxc4 47. Ng3 Qg5 48. Ne4
Qf4 $1 49. Ng3 Kf7 50. Ne2 Qh4 51. Nxd4 Qxf2+ 52. Kxf2 exd4 {
The rook ending is won easily.} 53. f4 Rc2+ 54. Kf3 d3 55. g4 d2 56. Rd1 c4 57.
Ke2 c3 58. Rg1 Rc1 59. Rd1 Ke6 {Addison led by a score of 5/6.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Ba7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. Be2 dxc4 $5 (11... Rd8 12. O-O d4 {
drew in Spassky - Gligoric, Skopje 1969.}) 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. O-O Rac8
15. Qe2 Ng4 16. h3 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Qxe5
f5 {The chances are about equal.} 21. Rad1 $2 ({Right is} 21. Qg3 $1 Bb8 22. f4
) 21... Bb8 $1 22. Qd4 Bf3 $6 (22... Bxg2 $1 23. Kxg2 Qg5+ 24. Kh1 Qh5 25. Kg2
Rc4 {wins brilliantly.}) 23. gxf3 Rc4 {Lombardy gains a queen.} 24. Qxc4 ({
The pointe is} 24. Qd7 Qg5+ 25. Kh1 Rh4) 24... bxc4 25. Ne2 Rd8 26. f4 Kf7 27.
Rxd8 Qxd8 28. Nd4 Qd5 29. Rc1 g5 30. fxg5 e5 31. Nc2 Qd2 32. Ne1 Qxb2 33. Rxc4
Qa1 34. Kf1 e4 35. Rc5 Be5 36. Ke2 Bc3 37. Nc2 Qb2 38. Rxf5+ {
Benko overstepped the time limit in a lost position.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Saidy, Anthony"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A72"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 e6 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 exd5 10. cxd5 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Nd2 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Nd7 14. g4 Ne5 15. f3
a6 16. a4 $5 (16. Qc2 {was played in Bertok - Stupica, Kragyjevac 1959.}) 16...
Bd7 $1 17. a5 b5 18. axb6 Qxb6 {Sammy has an edge.} 19. Ra2 c4 $1 {
A semi-sacrifice increases the advantage.} 20. Nxc4 Nxc4 21. Bxc4 Rfc8 22. Bd3
Bxc3+ 23. bxc3 Rxc3 24. Qd2 Rac8 $1 {He dominates the queenside.} 25. Ra1 $2 (
25. Rb2 Bb5 26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Ke2 {avoids a disaster.}) 25... Bb5 $1 26. Bxb5
Rc2 $1 27. Qd3 Qf2+ 28. Kd1 R8c3 $1 29. Qe2 Qd4+ {
Reshevsky led by half-a-point on Addison.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 20"]
[Date "1969.12.17"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1969.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Reshevsky led the field, when the last round began. He offered a draw during
the opening, but Evans refused.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3
d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 Ne4 $5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Nxe4 dxe4
12. Nd2 Rc8 13. Be2 Nd7 14. O-O c5 15. dxc5 $6 ({More solid is} 15. Nb3 cxd4
16. Nxd4) 15... Nxc5 16. Nb3 Rd8 $1 17. Qc2 $6 (17. Nd4 $1 {
prevents the next move.}) 17... Nd3 $1 {Sammy has a positional advantage.} 18.
Rcd1 Rac8 19. Qb1 Rd6 20. Nd4 Rxd4 $5 21. exd4 Nf4 {Black has a strong attack.}
22. Rfe1 $2 ({Correct is} 22. Rde1 $1 Qg5 23. g3 e3 24. f3 {
because f3 gets protection.}) 22... Qg5 23. g3 e3 24. f3 Nxe2+ 25. Rxe2 Bxf3
26. Rc1 $6 (26. Ree1 Bxd1 27. Qxd1 {offers more resistance.}) 26... Re8 27.
Ree1 Bb7 $6 (27... Ba8 $1 {wins at once.}) 28. Rc7 $1 Qd5 29. Rxb7 Qxb7 30. Qd3
Qe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. Kg2 f5 33. Kf3 Kf7 34. Rxe3 Rxe3+ $1 35. Kxe3 {
Black has the distant passed pawn.} g5 36. h4 h6 37. d5 Ke7 38. Kd4 Kd6 39.
hxg5 hxg5 40. a4 a5 41. b3 g4 $1 {He avoids the last trap in the pawn ending.}
(41... f4 $4 42. gxf4 gxf4 43. Ke4 f3 44. Kxf3 Kxd5 45. Ke3 {draws.}) 42. Ke3
Kxd5 43. Kd3 Kc5 44. Ke3 Kb4 45. Kf4 Kxb3 46. Kxf5 Kxa4 47. Kxg4 Kb4 {
The final standings became: Reshevsky 8/11, Addison 71/2, Benko 7, Lombardy 6,
D.Byrne, Evans, Mednis and Zuckerman 51/2, Bisguier, R.Byrne and Saidy 41/2,
Burger 2. Reshevsky was 57 years of age, when he became US champion for the
last time.   The top three qualified for the interzonal tournament. Benko gave
his place to Fischer for a fee. Bobby could begin his battle for the world
championship.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.04.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Popovych, Orest"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{There was no US championship in 1971. The twenty-first event was played in
New York from 13 iv until 15 v 1972. It was a zonal tournament. Competition
for the title increased in the absence of Fischer. A main competitor was
Kavalek who had left Czechoslovakia.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6
5. Nc3 d6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. f4 Ngf6 8. O-O b5 9. Nf3 $5 Bb7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Kh1 $5
Nc5 12. b4 Nxd3 13. cxd3 d5 14. e5 $5 Bxb4 15. Nxb5 $6 (15. Bd2 $1 Bxc3 16.
Bxc3 d4 17. Bxd4 Nd5 {brings equality.}) 15... axb5 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Rb1 Bc3
18. Rxb5 Qe7 $6 (18... Ba6 $1 19. Rxd5 O-O {gains an advantage.}) 19. Be3 d4 $5
20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 O-O 22. f5 Qd7 23. Qg4 $5 e5 $5 24. Rxb7 $2 {
White has no decisive attack.} ({Better is} 24. Rxe5 Rxa2 25. Nf3 Qxd3 26. Kg1)
24... Qxb7 25. f6 g6 26. Qg5 Rxa2 $1 {Black counters.} 27. Nf3 Qc6 $6 (27...
Qb2 $1 28. Rg1 Ra6 29. Nxe5 Rc8 {wins easily.}) 28. Nh4 $2 (28. Nd2 $1 Kh8 29.
Qh6 Rg8 30. Ne4 {offers more resistance.}) 28... Rfa8 29. Qxe5 Rf2 $1 30. Kg1
Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Re8 32. Qb2 Qd6 33. Qc3 Qxh2 34. Nf3 Qd6 35. Nd2 Qf4+ 36. Nf3
Qd6 37. Nd2 Qf4+ 38. Nf3 h6 39. Qc6 Re6 40. Qc8+ Kh7 {Kavalek had a good start.
} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.04.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 c5 8. d4
cxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qf4 Qb8 11. Nc3 Qxf4 12. gxf4 Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Rab8 $5 ({
Theory is} 13... Na5) 14. Ne5 a6 15. Rd2 Na7 $5 16. Rad1 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rb7 18.
Kf3 Kf8 19. e4 b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nd3 d5 $1 {Black escapes from the pressure.
} 22. e5 Nd7 23. Ne2 b4 24. f5 exf5 25. Nd4 g6 26. Rc2 Nb5 $6 (26... Ke8 27. e6
fxe6 28. Nxe6 Rc8 {improves the black position.}) 27. Nc6 $1 Rc8 28. Ndxb4 Bxb4
29. Nxb4 Rxc2 30. Nxc2 {White has two passed pawns on the queenside.} Nc7 31.
Ne3 Ra7 32. a4 Rb7 33. b4 Nc5 $1 34. a5 $2 (34. bxc5 $1 Rxb2 35. Nxd5 Ne6 36.
c6 Rc2 37. a5 Rxc6 38. Ra1 {plays for a win.}) 34... f4 $4 {
Lombardy misses a trick.} ({Correct is} 34... Rxb4 35. Ba3 Rb5) 35. Nxd5 $1
Nxd5 36. Rxd5 Rxb4 37. Bc3 $1 Rc4 38. Rxc5 $1 {He gains a piece.} Ra4 39. Rc7
g5 40. Kg4 h6 {Reshevsky and Kavalek competed for the first place.} 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Feuerstein, Arthur"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
e5 9. c3 $5 Re8 10. a3 b5 11. a4 b4 12. Nc4 Rb8 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Ne3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 17. Nd2 Bg5 18. h4 $6 ({Preferable is} 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19.
exd5) 18... Bxe3 $1 19. fxe3 Rb2 $1 {Black attacks on the queenside.} 20. Qc1
Qb6 $1 21. Re2 Rb8 22. Qf1 $5 h5 $5 23. Bh3 $2 ({More useful is} 23. Rf2 $1 Qa6
24. c4) 23... Bxh3 24. Qxh3 Qa6 $1 25. c4 Qa5 26. Rd1 Qc3 {
Pawn d3 cannot be defended.} 27. Rf2 Qxd3 28. Rxf7 $5 Kxf7 29. Qd7+ Kg8 30. Rf1
Qxe3+ 31. Kh1 Qxd2 32. Qe6+ Kh8 $1 {
The black king moves to h6 and Black mates. Reshevsky led by 51/2/6!} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E63"]
[WhiteElo "2230"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. d4 a6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. b3
Rb8 9. Nd5 $5 Nh5 10. e4 Bg4 11. Bb2 e5 12. dxe5 $5 (12. h3 $1 Bxf3 13. Bxf3
Nf6 {will be played in the future.}) 12... Nxe5 13. Rb1 f5 14. Ne3 $2 ({
Correct is} 14. exf5 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxf5 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. Rc1) 14... Nxf3+ 15.
Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 f4 $1 {Byrne begins a charge on the kingside.}
18. gxf4 Nxf4 19. Qg4 $6 ({Preferable is} 19. Qg3 $1 Qf6 20. Rd2) 19... Qf6 20.
Rc2 $5 Qd4 21. Nd5 Qxe4 {Black has gained a pawn and continues the attack.} 22.
Rd2 $5 Rbe8 23. Ne3 Re5 24. h4 Kh8 25. Rfd1 h5 $1 {
Robert Byrne could have played this move earlier.} 26. Qg3 g5 $1 27. Kh2 ({
The pointe is} 27. hxg5 Rxg5 $1) 27... Ne6 28. Rd5 gxh4 29. Qg2 Qf4+ 30. Kh1
Rg8 31. Rxe5 dxe5 32. Qd5 h3 33. Rg1 Ng5 $1 {
Horowitz overstepped the time in a lost position.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.05.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nf3 O-O 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. d5 Na5 10. e4 c6 11. Nd4 cxd5 12. exd5 e5 13. Nb3 Nac4 14. a4 Nd6 $1
{Kavalek blockades the passed pawn.} ({Known is} 14... Bf5) 15. Qe2 Bf5 16. Rd1
Qc7 17. Be3 $6 ({Preferable is} 17. Nd2 Rac8 18. Nde4) 17... Qc4 $1 18. Bc5
Rfd8 19. Bxd6 Rxd6 20. Na5 Qxe2 21. Nxe2 Rd7 22. Nc3 Nc8 $6 (22... Re8 {
keeps a plus.}) 23. d6 $2 {Sammy wants to exchange pawns.} (23. Nc4 Nd6 24. Ne3
{equalises.}) 23... Nxd6 24. Rd2 ({Reshevsky had calculated} 24. Nxb7 $5 Nxb7
25. Rxd7 Bxd7 26. Bxb7 {but} Rb8 $1 {costs a pawn.}) 24... Rad8 25. h3 $6 (25.
Rxd6 $1 Rxd6 26. Nxb7 {regains the sacrifice.}) 25... e4 26. Rad1 b6 27. Nc6
Nc4 28. Rxd7 (28. Rd5 $1 Rxd5 29. Nxd5 Rd7 30. b3 {offers more resistance.})
28... Rxd7 29. Rxd7 Bxd7 30. Bxe4 Nxb2 31. Nb5 a5 $1 32. g4 Nxa4 33. Kf1 Nc3
34. Nxc3 Bxc3 35. Ke2 Be6 36. Kd3 Bf6 37. Kc2 h5 38. Bf3 Kg7 39. Na7 Kh6 40.
Nb5 Kg5 41. Nc7 Bc4 42. Bd5 Bxd5 {Reshevsky and Kavalek shared the lead.} 0-1

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.05.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Nxe5 d6 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Re1 Nd6 9. Bf4 O-O 10. c3 Be6 $5 ({Usual is} 10... Bg4) 11. Nbd2 Qd7 12. Nf1 f5
13. Qe2 Ne4 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Rxf6 17. f3 $1 {
White has pressure in the centre.} Nd6 18. Qc2 Re8 19. Re5 g6 20. Rae1 Bf7 $6 (
{More active is} 20... Nf7 $1 21. R5e2 f4 $1) 21. Ne3 c6 22. Qf2 $1 Kg7 23. g4
$1 Ne4 $2 (23... Rfe6 $1 24. gxf5 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Rxe5 {defends properly.}) 24.
Qg2 $1 (24. fxe4 fxe4 25. Qh4 exd3 26. g5 Rf3 27. Ng4 {brings less advantage.})
24... f4 25. Nf5+ $6 (25. Rxe8 $1 Bxe8 (25... Qxe8 26. Nd1) 26. Nf5+ $1 gxf5
27. gxf5+ {wins for White.}) 25... gxf5 26. gxf5+ Kh8 27. Rxe8+ Qxe8 $1 28.
fxe4 Rxf5 $1 29. Qg4 Bg6 30. Kf2 $1 Rf7 $5 ({Byrne analyses} 30... dxe4 31.
Bxe4 Rf8 32. Bxg6 Qxg6 33. Qxg6 hxg6 34. Re7 {
and White reaches a won rook ending.}) 31. exd5 Re7 32. Bxg6 {Robert Byrne got
the beauty prize for this game. Kavalek led by half-a-point on Byrne and
Reshevsky.} (32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Qh4+ {gains a rook.}) 1-0

[Event "New York"]
[Site "USA 21"]
[Date "1972.05.13"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Lombardy, William"]
[Black "Horowitz, Israel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2230"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1972.04.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. a3 O-O 8. d3
$5 a5 9. Bd2 Be6 10. Rc1 f5 11. Be2 Qe8 12. O-O Qg6 13. Kh1 Rad8 14. Nb5 Rd7
15. g3 Kh8 16. d4 $1 {Action starts at last.} exd4 $6 ({Preferable is} 16... e4
$1 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 b6) 17. Nbxd4 Nxd4 18. exd4 {
Black has to lose material.} Bf6 19. Bxa5 {Lombardy has gained a pawn.} Ne7 $5
20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qh6 $5 22. Rcd1 $6 (22. f4 $1 Bd5+ 23. Bf3 {
brings an edge.}) 22... Bd5+ 23. Kg1 f4 $6 24. Bg4 fxg3 25. f3 $4 (25. fxg3 $1
Qe3+ 26. Rf2 Bb3 27. Re1 $1 Qa7 28. Qe2 Rdd8 29. Bxc7 Bd1 30. Qe3 Qxe3 31. Rxe3
Bxg4 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 33. e6 {favours White.}) 25... Bb3 $1 {'The Patzer strikes'.
} 26. Rxd7 ({The pointe is} 26. Qxb3 Qxh2#) 26... Bxc2 27. hxg3 Qe3+ 28. Kg2
Bf5 29. Re1 Qb3 30. Rxe7 Bxg4 31. fxg4 Qd5+ 32. Kh3 Qxa5 33. Rd1 Qc5 34. Rdd7
Qg1 35. g5 ({Or} 35. Rxg7 Qh1#) 35... Qf1+ 36. Kh4 Qh1+ 37. Kg4 Qf3+ 38. Kh4
Qe4+ 39. Kh3 Qg6 40. Rxc7 Qxg5 {Horowitz had won his last US championship game.
Al would die before the next event.   R.Byrne, Kavalek and Reshevsky shared
the lead, when the last round began. They drew their games. The final
standings became: R.Byrne, Kavalek and Reshevsky 9/13, Evans 81/2, Benko 8,
DeForis and Lombardy 71/2, Mednis 7, Bisguier and Martz 61/2, Kaufman 5,
Feuerstein 3, Horowitz 21/2, Popovych 2. The top three had to fight in a
playoff for two places in the interzonal events.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 21 Playoff"]
[Date "1973.02.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1973.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The championship had been played in the spring and the playoff was postponed
for a long time. Fischer became world champion during the summer of 1972. The
playoff by Byrne, Kavalek and Reshevsky occurred in Chicago from 3 until 11 ii
1973. Games 1 and 2 were drawn.} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. Be2
O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bc1 f5 $5 10. Bg5 Qe8 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12.
Nxe5 Qxe5 13. exf5 Qxf5 14. Be3 Nc6 15. Qd2 Be6 16. O-O Rae8 17. b3 Bc8 18.
Rad1 Qf7 19. Nd5 b6 20. f4 $1 {White has the initiative.} Nd8 21. Bf3 Ne6 22.
Bg4 $1 Nc5 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. f5 $1 gxf5 25. Rxf5 $1 Qd7 26. Rdf1 Rxf5 27. Rxf5
{Reshevsky plays elegantly.} c6 $2 (27... Ne6 $1 28. Qf2 Rf8 29. Rxf8+ Nxf8 {
makes a useful exchange.}) 28. Bxc5 Kh8 $5 (28... bxc5 29. Nf6+ Bxf6 30. Rxf6 {
leads to a white plus (Trifunovic).}) 29. Ne7 $1 Qxe7 30. Qxd6 {
Sammy has won a pawn.} Qe2 31. Rf2 Qh5 32. Be3 Re8 33. Rf3 c5 34. h3 Qh4 35.
Bf2 Qe4 36. Re3 $1 Qb1+ 37. Kh2 Rg8 38. Bg3 Qxa2 $6 39. Be5 $4 {
The tables turn during time pressure.} (39. Re7 $1 {
threatens 40.Rxg7 and wins for White.}) 39... Qxg2+ $3 40. Kxg2 Bxe5+ {
Byrne gains a bishop and the game.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 21 Playoff"]
[Date "1973.02.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B37"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1973.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nc2 d6 7. e4 Nh6 8. Be2
f5 9. h4 fxe4 10. h5 Bf5 $5 (10... Qa5 {drew in Pirc - Krepinsek, Maribor 1967.
}) 11. hxg6 $5 hxg6 12. Ne3 Nf7 $5 13. Rxh8+ Bxh8 14. g4 Be6 15. Qc2 $6 ({
Preferable is} 15. Nxe4 Qa5+ 16. Kf1 $1) 15... Ng5 $1 16. Nxe4 Nd4 $1 {
Kavalek attacks in the centre.} 17. Qd3 Ndf3+ $6 (17... Ngf3+ $1 18. Kf1 Qc8 {
gains an advantage.}) 18. Kf1 $1 Qa5 19. Bxf3 $5 Nxf3 20. Bd2 Nxd2+ 21. Nxd2
Bxb2 $6 (21... O-O-O $1 {keeps a plus.}) 22. Rb1 Be5 23. Rxb7 Kf7 $2 (23...
Qxa2 24. Nf3 Bf7 {defends well.}) 24. Nf3 $5 Rh8 (24... Bf6 25. Qxd6 {
opens the defence line (Trifunovic).}) 25. Ng5+ Kf6 26. Nxe6 Rh1+ $5 ({Or} 
26... Kxe6 27. Qxg6+ Bf6 28. Nd5 $1 {and White threatens Rxe7#.}) 27. Kg2 Rh2+
28. Kf3 $1 Rh3+ 29. Ke4 $1 Kxe6 30. Qd5+ Qxd5+ 31. Nxd5 $1 Kf7 32. Rxe7+ Kf8
33. c5 Ra3 34. c6 $1 Ra4+ 35. Kf3 Rc4 36. c7 Bf6 37. Rd7 {
Reshevsky organised a fine counterattack.} 1-0

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 21 Playoff"]
[Date "1973.02.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1973.02.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Bg5 Qe8
$5 9. g4 $5 Nd7 10. Rg1 {Kavalek wants to attack on the kingside.} Kh8 11. Qd2
Ndc5 12. O-O-O Bd7 13. h4 {He carries out his plan.} f5 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. Bh6
$6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Qe7 $1 {Black counters quietly.} 17. Ng5 $5 Rf6 $1 18. Qh5
Raf8 19. Bh3 Be8 $1 {The charge has been refuted.} 20. Qe2 fxe4 21. Ncxe4 Rf4
$1 22. f3 Rxh4 23. Rg3 Bg6 24. Rdg1 Rff4 $6 ({Even better is} 24... c6 $1 25.
Kb1 cxd5 26. cxd5 Nc7) 25. Qg2 Nxe4 $6 (25... Qf8 26. Ne6 Nxe6 27. dxe6 Nb4 {
keeps an edge.}) 26. fxe4 Qf8 27. Nf3 $2 (27. Ne6 $1 Qh6 28. Nxf4 Qxf4+ {
(Trifunovic)} 29. Kd1 $1 Nc5 {leads to chances for both sides.}) 27... Rxe4 28.
Rxg6 ({The pointe is} 28. Nxh4 Qf4+ 29. Qd2 Rxc4+ 30. Rc3 Qxh4 31. Rxc4 Qxc4+
32. Kd1 Qxa2) 28... hxg6 29. Nxh4 Rxc4+ 30. Kb1 Rxh4 {
Black has gained three pawns.} 31. Be6 Qf4 $5 32. Ka1 ({Or} 32. Qxg6 Qe4+ 33.
Qxe4 Rxe4) 32... g5 $2 {White gets a last chance.} 33. Qc2 $2 (33. Rf1 $1 Rh2
34. Qg1 Qh4 35. Qxa7 $1 Kg7 36. Qa8 Qh8 37. Qxb7 Qb8 $1 38. Qxb8 Nxb8 39. b4 $1
{fights for a draw.}) 33... Kg7 34. a3 Nc5 35. Qd1 Rh2 36. Rf1 Rf2 37. Rxf2
Qxf2 38. Qh5 Qf1+ 39. Ka2 Nxe6 40. dxe6 Qc4+ {The last game was drawn. So the
final standings became: R.Byrne 3, Reshevsky 2, Kavalek 1. Robert Byrne was
the champion. Byrne and Reshevsky participated in the interzonal tournaments.}
0-1

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twenty-second US championship was played in El Paso from 9 until 27 ix
1973. Many championships had been dominated by Jews from New York. A new
generation of players participated this time. Lombardy withdrew, just before
the first round began. He would write the tournament book.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. h3 e5 8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5
10. Bc4 $5 {Usually, the queens are exchanged immediately.} c6 11. a4 Nh5 12.
Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Be3 Nf4 14. Rfd1 Re8 $6 {Mednis accepts a crammed position.} ({
More active is} 14... Be6 $1 15. Rxd8+ Rxd8 16. Bxe6 Nxe6 17. Bxa7 Rd2 {
and equality (Maric).}) 15. a5 Ne6 16. Na4 Bf8 $5 17. c3 Be7 18. b4 Kg7 19. Ra2
Rd8 $5 20. Rxd8 Bxd8 21. Rd2 Be7 $2 ({Right is} 21... Bc7 $1 22. Nc5 Nf8 $1)
22. Nc5 $2 (22. Bxa7 $1 Rxa7 23. Nb6 $1 {wins elegantly.}) 22... Nxc5 $2 (22...
Nf8 $1 {defends passively.}) 23. Bxc5 Kf6 24. Rd3 $1 Bxc5 25. Rf3+ $1 Kg5 $1
26. bxc5 f5 $1 27. Rd3 $1 fxe4 28. Rd8 {
White has achieved a decisive advantage.} Kf6 29. Re8 $1 h5 30. Be6 $1 Bxe6 31.
Rxa8 Bc4 32. Rxa7 Ba6 33. Ra8 g5 34. g3 Bc4 35. Rh8 Kg6 36. Rf8 Ba6 37. g4 hxg4
38. hxg4 Be2 39. Rf5 Bxg4 40. Rxe5 Be2 41. Rxe4 Bd3 42. Re7 Ba6 43. Kg2 Kf6 44.
Re4 Bd3 45. Rb4 Ba6 46. Kg3 Kf5 47. f3 Kg6 48. Kg4 {
Walter Browne would score many successes in the US championship.} 1-0

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gilden, Lawrence"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. O-O
Be7 9. Ndb5 Qb8 10. Bg5 a6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qa7 14. Qxa7 $5
(14. Qd3 {was played in Plachetka - Antoshin, Luhacovice 1971.}) 14... Rxa7 {
The chances are equal.} 15. a4 Bd8 $1 16. a5 Ke7 17. Nd1 $2 ({More active is} 
17. Rfd1 $1 b6 18. axb6 Bxb6 19. Na4) 17... b6 18. axb6 Bxb6 19. Re1 Rc8 {
Black develops smoothly.} 20. Re2 a5 21. Rd2 a4 22. c3 Bc6 23. Kf1 $5 Rb8 24.
f3 Bc5 25. Ke1 Rb3 26. Bf1 d5 $5 27. exd5 Bxd5 28. f4 a3 29. bxa3 Rbxa3 30.
Rxa3 Rxa3 {The two bishops have become an advantage.} 31. Bg2 Bb3 32. Be4 f5
33. Bc2 Ba2 34. Ke2 Bb6 35. Bd3 Ba5 {Pawn c3 is going to fall.} 36. Rc2 Bb3 $1
37. Rb2 ({Not} 37. Rc1 $2 Ra2+ 38. Ke1 Rxh2) 37... Bxd1+ 38. Kxd1 Bxc3 {
Kavalek has gained a pawn, but the win remains difficult due to the bishops of
a different colour.} 39. Rb7+ Kf6 40. Bc2 Bd4 41. Rb3 Ra2 42. Kd2 Bg1 43. h3 h5
44. h4 Bc5 45. Rb5 Bf2 46. Rb3 Kg6 47. Rf3 Bb6 48. Kc1 Bc5 49. Rb3 $2 ({
Correct is} 49. Kd1 $1 Ra1+ 50. Ke2 Rg1 51. Ba4 {and White defends a fortress.}
) 49... Ra1+ $1 50. Bb1 (50. Rb1 $2 Rxb1+ 51. Bxb1 Bf2 {costs pawns.}) 50...
Kf6 $1 51. Rd3 Bg1 52. Rb3 Bh2 $1 {Black threatens ..Ra8-g8.} 53. Kd2 $5 Bxg3
$1 {The kingside falls.} 54. Rxg3 Rxb1 55. Rg5 Rh1 56. Rxh5 Kg6 57. Rh8 Kg7 58.
Ra8 ({The pointe is} 58. Rh5 f6 $1 {and Black imprisons a rook (Lombardy).})
58... Rxh4 59. Ke3 Rh3+ 60. Kf2 Rb3 61. Kg2 Re3 62. Kf2 Re4 63. Kg3 f6 64. Kf3
e5 65. fxe5 fxe5 66. Ra6 Kf7 67. Ra7+ Kf6 68. Ra6+ Kg5 69. Re6 Rf4+ $1 {
Kavalek won his second game.} 0-1

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grefe, John"]
[Black "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "177"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The 25-years-old Grefe was the revelation of the tournament.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4
d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 c4
10. Be2 Ba4 11. Bf4 $5 (11. Nh4 {was played in Lombardy - Geller, Netanya 1969.
}) 11... Ne7 12. Qd2 Nbc6 13. h4 O-O-O 14. h5 h6 15. g4 Rdf8 16. Rc1 Qd7 17.
Qe3 Kb7 18. Kd2 $1 Nc8 19. Nh4 Rhg8 20. Bg3 Qe7 21. Ra1 Re8 22. f4 $1 {
Action starts at last. White is ready for the advance f5.} f6 23. Bf1 Qd7 24.
Bh3 Rgf8 25. Rae1 fxe5 26. fxe5 Na5 $2 (26... N8e7 $1 {prevents the next move.}
) 27. Ng6 $1 Rf7 28. Bh4 Bxc2 $1 {Mednis forces a counter.} 29. Kxc2 Qa4+ 30.
Kd2 Nb3+ 31. Ke2 Qxa3 32. Rd1 $1 Qb2+ {
Black can attack on the queenside by the sacrifice.} 33. Ke1 a5 $6 {
He advances too slowly.} ({Lombardy advices} 33... b5 $1) 34. Bg3 a4 35. Rh2
Qa3 36. Rf2 Rxf2 37. Qxf2 Rd8 $5 38. Bf4 $5 b5 $2 ({Correct is} 38... Ne7 $1
39. Nxe7 Qxe7) 39. g5 b4 40. gxh6 gxh6 41. Bxh6 bxc3 42. Bxe6 Nb6 43. Bf5 Qb2
44. Rb1 $6 (44. Qxb2 cxb2 45. Bf8 {wins for White.}) 44... Qxf2+ 45. Kxf2 Nxd4
46. Rxb6+ $1 Kxb6 47. Be3 Kc5 48. Nf4 $1 Rf8 $5 ({Or} 48... Kc6 49. Bxd4 Rf8
50. Bxc3 Rxf5 51. Kf3 Rf7 52. e6) 49. Ne6+ Kb4 $1 50. Nxd4 $1 ({
Grefe avoids the trap} 50. Nxf8 $4 Nxf5 51. e6 Nxe3 52. Kxe3 d4+ $1 {
and Black wins.}) 50... a3 51. e6 a2 52. e7 Rxf5+ 53. Nxf5 a1=Q 54. e8=Q Qh1
55. Qb8+ Ka3 56. Bc5+ Ka2 57. Qa7+ Kb1 58. Qb7+ Ka2 59. Qa7+ Kb1 60. Qb7+ Ka2
61. Qa6+ Kb1 62. Qb5+ {The queen goes down the stairs.} Kc2 63. Bd6 Qxh5 64.
Ne3+ Kc1 65. Ba3+ Kd2 66. Nxc4+ $1 Kd3 67. Ne3+ Ke4 68. Qb4+ Kd3 69. Qb1+ Kd4
70. Qb4+ Kd3 71. Qb1+ Kd4 72. Bd6 Qh4+ 73. Bg3 Qh5 74. Qb4+ Kd3 75. Qb5+ Ke4
76. Qa4+ $1 Kd3 ({The pointe is} 76... d4 77. Qc2+ d3 78. Qa4#) 77. Qc2+ Kd4
78. Qa4+ Kd3 79. Qc2+ Kd4 80. Nf5+ Kc4 81. Qa4+ Kd3 82. Qd4+ Kc2 83. Ne3+ Kb3
84. Qb6+ Ka4 85. Qa6+ Kb3 86. Qb5+ Ka2 87. Qa4+ Kb2 88. Qc2+ {
White uses a ladder again.} Ka3 89. Bd6# {
Grefe had scored four wins and one draw.} 1-0

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Martz, William"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 e6 4. e3 b6 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. Bd3 Ba6 7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Qc8 10. e4 d5 $5 ({An alternative is} 10... cxd4 11. Nxd4 d6)
11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Ne4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 e5 14. c4 $2 ({Correct is} 14. Nf3 f6 15.
Rd1) 14... exd4 $1 15. cxd5 Rd8 16. Ng3 Bf8 17. Rd1 Rxd5 {
Black has an extra pawn.} 18. Be3 Qd7 $1 {Grefe plays well.} 19. Qf3 ({
The pointe is} 19. Qxa6 dxe3 20. Rxd5 exf2+ 21. Kxf2 Qxd5 {
wins for Black (Lombardy).}) 19... Rd8 20. Bd2 Nc5 21. Re1 Qb5 22. b3 Qd3 23.
Qxd3 Nxd3 24. Red1 Rc8 25. Ne2 Rc2 26. Bf4 Nxf2 $2 ({Better is} 26... Nxf4 27.
Nxf4 Rd8) 27. Kxf2 $2 ({White misses the opportunity} 27. Rxd4 $1 Nh3+ 28. gxh3
Bc5 29. Be3 Bxd4 30. Nxd4 {and equality.}) 27... d3 28. Rd2 Bc5+ 29. Kf3 Rxd2
30. Bxd2 dxe2 31. Kxe2 Rf5 32. Be1 Re5+ 33. Kf3 Re3+ 34. Kf4 Re2 35. Kf3 Rb2
36. Rd1 Kf8 37. Rd8+ Ke7 38. Rh8 $5 {He makes a desperate try.} h6 39. Bc3 Rf2+
40. Kg3 f6 {The game is adjourned.} 41. b4 Be3 42. Rc8 Rxa2 43. Rc7+ Kf8 44.
Kf3 Bg1 45. h4 Rf2+ 46. Kg3 Rc2 47. b5 Ke8 48. Rc6 Bc5 49. Bd4 Rc4 50. Bg1 h5
51. Kf3 Kd7 52. Bh2 Rxh4 53. Bg3 Rg4 54. Rc7+ Ke6 55. Rxa7 g6 {
Grefe kept on scoring.} 0-1

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Grefe, John"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Two young competitors met.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Be2 Rb8 $2 ({
Preferable is} 11... b5 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. e5 Bb7 {and an interesting battle.})
12. Qg3 Rg8 $5 {This became a novelty in 1973. White has an advantage.} 13.
Rhf1 $1 g5 $5 (13... b5 14. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 15. Qg6+ Kd8 16. e5 {
occurred in Lombardy - Quinteros, Manila 1973.}) 14. fxg5 Ne5 $5 15. Nf3 $1 {
White attacks the centre.} b5 $5 (15... hxg5 16. Bxg5 Nxf3 17. Bxf3 {
costs a pawn}) (15... Nfd7 {(Grefe)} 16. Qh3 $1 Bxg5+ 17. Bxg5 hxg5 18. Bb5 $1
{wins for White.}) 16. Nxe5 b4 $5 (16... dxe5 17. gxf6 $1 Rxg3 18. fxe7 Rg5 {
(Lombardy)} 19. Rf6 $1 Qxe7 20. Rxh6 Kf8 21. Rh8+ Kg7 22. Rdd8 {
decides the game elegantly.}) 17. Nxf7 $1 bxc3 (17... Kxf7 18. gxf6 $1 Rxg3 19.
fxe7+ Kg7 20. e8=N+ {gains a queen (Lombardy).}) 18. gxf6 $1 {
A queen sacrifice crowns the encounter.} Rxg3 19. fxe7 Rg5 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21.
Nxd6+ {Browne was out of the race for the first place.} (21. Nxd6+ Kxe7 22.
Rf7+ Kd8 23. Nxc8+ Kxc8 24. Bxa6+ {wins quickly (Soltis).}) 1-0

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Grefe had scored 8/9. Kavalek was trailing.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4.
e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O Nf6 10. Bg5 O-O 11.
a3 h6 $5 12. Bh4 Kh8 $6 (12... b6 {proceeds the development.}) 13. Bc2 g5 $5
14. Bg3 g4 $2 15. Be5 $2 (15. Qc1 $1 Kg7 16. Ne5 $1 Qxd4 17. Re1 $1 Rd8 18.
Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bf4 $1 {leads to a decisive attack/.}) 15... Rg8 $1 ({Not} 15...
gxf3 $2 16. Bxf6+ Bxf6 17. Qd3 {and White delivers mate (Lombardy).}) 16. Nd2
Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Re1 Bd7 $5 20. Bb3 $5 Qb5 21. Re4 $2 Rad8
$6 (21... Bc6 $1 22. Ba4 Qxb2 23. Bxc6 Rad8 $1 {brings a black advantage.}) 22.
a4 Qd3 23. Bc4 $6 Bxa4 $1 {Black has gained a pawn.} 24. Qxa4 ({The pointe is} 
24. Rxa4 $2 Qxe4 $1 25. Nxe4 Rxd1+) 24... Qxd2 25. Qxa7 Qxb2 26. Rf1 Rg5 27.
Qe3 b6 $5 28. h4 gxh3 29. Qxh3 Rg6 $6 (29... Kg7 $1 30. f4 Rg6 {
keeps an advantage.}) 30. Qf3 $6 Kg8 $6 31. Rf4 Rf8 $6 32. Bd3 Rg7 33. Qe4 Bg5
$5 34. Rg4 {The chances are equal during time pressure.} f5 $2 35. exf6 {
The attack on the king revives.} Bxf6 $2 (35... Qxf6 $1 36. f4 Bh4 {
avoids a disaster.}) 36. Rxg7+ $1 Bxg7 37. Qxe6+ Kh8 38. Qg6 Kg8 39. Qh7+ Kf7
40. Re1 $1 Qd4 {Grefe overstepped the time limit. Kavalek caught up with Grefe
during the next round.} (40... Qd4 41. Bg6+ Kf6 42. Bh5 $1 {
wins quickly (Maric).}) 1-0

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Tarjan, James"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. g5 hxg5 8. Bxg5
Nc6 9. Qd2 a6 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. h4 Bd7 12. Bh3 Be7 13. f4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 O-O-O
$5 ({Known is} 14... Rc8) 15. Kb1 Kb8 16. f5 $1 e5 17. Qf2 Bc6 18. Bg2 Rc8 19.
Bf3 b5 20. a3 Bb7 21. Rd2 Rhd8 22. Rhd1 Rd7 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5
Qa7 26. Qxa7+ Kxa7 27. h5 $5 (27. Rxd6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Kb7 29. Rd7+ Rc7 {
brings no win.}) 27... Rc6 28. c3 Kb7 29. Rg1 Kc7 30. Rd2 Rd8 31. Bd1 Kd7 32.
Bb3 Ke7 33. Bd1 Rc4 34. Bf3 {The chances are equal in the endgame.} a5 $6 (
34... d5 $1 35. exd5 $6 Rf4 36. Rd3 Kd6 {favours Black.}) 35. Ka2 Rb8 $6 {
Evans misses the liberating move again.} 36. Kb3 Rc6 37. Be2 Rcb6 38. Rd5 Kd7
39. Rgd1 Kc7 40. Rg1 Kd7 41. Rgd1 Kc7 42. Kc2 Bg5 43. Rg1 Bf6 44. b4 $1 axb4
45. cxb4 R8b7 46. Kb2 Kb8 47. Rg3 Kc7 48. Bd1 Kd7 49. Rc3 Rc7 50. Rxc7+ Kxc7 {
A rook exchange lessens the pressure.} 51. Bb3 Bg5 52. Rd3 f6 53. Bd5 Bh6 54.
Rc3+ Kb8 55. Rc6 $1 Rxc6 $2 (55... Kb7 $1 56. Rxd6+ Kc7 57. Re6 Rd6 58. Re8 Be3
{tries to survive.}) 56. Bxc6 Kc7 57. Bxb5 Kb6 58. Bc4 Kc6 59. Kb3 Bd2 60. Bd5+
Kb6 61. a4 Be1 62. a5+ Kc7 63. Ka4 Bf2 64. b5 {
Another experienced player bit the sand against a young player.} 1-0

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.26"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Grefe and Kavalek led by one point on Browne, when the last round began.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. exd6
Qxd6 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne4 $5 Qd8 12. a3 b6 13. Bb1 $5 Ba6 $1 14. Re1
Rc8 15. Neg5 g6 16. h4 Na5 17. Nxh7 $2 {Bisguier overestimates his chances.} (
17. h5 $1 {continues the charge on the kingside.}) 17... Kxh7 18. h5 Kg7 19.
hxg6 f6 $6 ({Better is} 19... Rxc1 $1 20. Qxc1 Nb3 21. Qd1 Nxa1 22. gxf7 Nf4 {
and Black has an overwhelming material advantage.}) 20. Rxe6 Rh8 $1 21. Bd3 $6
(21. Bf5 $1 {tries to attack.}) 21... Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc6 $6 (22... Qd7 23. Re4
Qf5 {wins for Black.}) 23. Re4 Qc8 24. Bd2 Qf5 $6 25. Rae1 $6 Re6 $1 26. Bxa5
bxa5 27. g3 Qxg6 28. Qb1 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 f5 30. Re5 Qh5 31. Nh4 Bxh4 $1 32. Qxf5
Qxf5 33. Rxf5 Ne7 34. Rxa5 Bf6 35. Rxa7 Rd8 36. b4 Rxd4 37. b5 Rd1+ 38. Kg2 Rb1
39. a4 Kg6 40. Rb7 Ra1 41. Ra7 Rb1 42. Rb7 Nf5 43. b6 Nd6 44. Rb8 Bc3 45. Kf3
Ba5 46. Kg4 Rxb6 47. Ra8 Be1 48. a5 Rc6 49. f4 Rc3 50. f5+ Kf6 51. a6 Rxg3+ 52.
Kf4 Ra3 53. a7 Bd2+ 54. Kg4 Nf7 55. Rd8 Nxd8 {
Browne joined the lead temporarily.} 0-1

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.26"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. d3 e5 7. Nbd2 Nh5 $5 ({
Benko had encountered} 7... Qe7 {in a previous game.}) 8. Qc2 f5 9. Be2 Qe8 10.
Nb3 Nc6 11. a3 Bd7 12. Bc3 h6 13. Nfd2 Nd8 14. Qb2 Qe7 15. Nf3 Nf6 16. Nfd2 Nf7
17. O-O g5 18. Rae1 Kh7 19. f4 Rae8 20. Qa1 Bh8 21. Kh1 Rg8 {
They manoeuvre slowly.} 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. d4 e4 24. d5 g4 25. Nc5 Bc8 26. Ndb3
Nh5 27. Bxh8 Nxh8 28. Ne6 Bxe6 29. dxe6 Rg5 30. Nd4 Rf8 31. Rd1 Ng7 32. c5 Ng6
33. Kg1 Nh4 34. g3 $2 Nf3+ $1 35. Bxf3 gxf3 36. Qa2 c6 37. Kf2 Re8 38. Rd2 Nxe6
39. Nxe6 Qxe6 40. Qxe6 Rxe6 41. Rfd1 Rg7 42. Rd8 b6 43. Rc1 Rb7 44. h3 bxc5 45.
Rxc5 Rb5 46. Rc1 Rd5 47. Rxc6 $2 {
Benko exchanges towards the wrong rook ending.} ({Better is} 47. Rxd5 cxd5 48.
b5 $1 Re7 49. a4 Rd7 50. Rd1 {and White utilises his last chance.}) 47... Rxc6
48. Rxd5 Rc2+ 49. Kf1 Kg6 50. Ra5 Re2 $1 51. g4 fxg4 52. hxg4 Rxe3 53. Re5 Kf6
54. Ra5 Ke6 55. a4 Rb3 56. Kf2 Rb2+ 57. Ke3 Re2+ 58. Kd4 f2 {
Grefe took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "El Paso"]
[Site "USA 22"]
[Date "1973.09.26"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Karklins, Andrew"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B83"]
[WhiteElo "2200"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1973.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b6 $5 ({Known is} 10... Bd7 11. e5 $1 Ne8) 11. Qe1
Bb7 12. Qg3 g6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Nd7 16. Rad1 Qe7 17. Bf3 Bxf3
18. Qxf3 Rad8 19. Bc7 Rc8 20. Be5 f5 $5 {
Kavalek wants to win, so he does not repeat the moves.} 21. Rfe1 Rfd8 22. Bd4
Nf6 23. Bxc5 bxc5 $5 24. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Qxd5 Kf7 $5 (26... exd5
27. Rxe7 Rb8 28. b3 Rb4 29. Rxa7 Rxf4 {draws.}) 27. Qc4 Rb8 28. Qc3 Qd6 29. b3
Rd8 30. Qe3 Qc6 31. c3 Rd5 32. h3 a5 33. Qe2 Qd6 34. Qc4 $5 h6 35. a4 Kf6 36.
Kg1 g5 $1 37. fxg5+ hxg5 38. Qe2 $2 (38. Qb5 $1 Qg3 39. Kf1 Rd2 40. Rxe6+ $1
Kxe6 41. Qe8+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 38... Re5 $1 39. Qf2 {
A double exchange on e5 loses.} Rxe1+ 40. Qxe1 Qd3 {
Black has a better queen ending.} 41. h4 $1 {
The sealed move creates an opening on the kingside.} g4 $1 42. g3 $6 e5 $1 43.
c4 $5 f4 $6 {Capture on b3 wins more easily, Kavalek comments.} 44. gxf4 exf4
45. Qxa5 Qd1+ 46. Kh2 g3+ $5 47. Kh3 Qd7+ $2 {Black misses a forced decision.}
(47... Qf1+ $1 48. Kg4 Ke5 $1 49. Qxc5+ Ke4 50. Qd5+ Ke3 51. Qe5+ Kd2 52. Qd4+
Kc2 53. Qe4+ Kc1 54. Qe5 g2 {ends the game.}) 48. Kg2 Qc6+ 49. Kg1 Kf5 50. Qd8
$1 Kg4 51. Qg5+ Kf3 52. Kf1 Qe4 53. Qh5+ Ke3 54. Qe2+ Kd4 55. Qxe4+ $4 {
Grefe does not become the sole champion.} (55. Qd2+ $1 Qd3+ 56. Qxd3+ Kxd3 57.
a5 f3 58. a6 g2+ 59. Kf2 g1=Q+ 60. Kxg1 Ke2 61. a7 f2+ {(Soltis)} 62. Kh2 f1=Q
63. a8=Q {brings an edge for White.}) 55... Kxe4 56. h5 Kf3 $1 {He wins the
pawn ending easily. The final standings became: Grefe and Kavalek 91/2/12,
Browne 81/2, Tarjan 71/2, Evans and Benko 61/2, Karklins 6, Mednis 51/2,
Bisguier 5, Gilden 4, Martz 31/2, D.Byrne and Kane 3. A new generation made a
fine debut. There would be no playoff. Grefe and Kavalek shared the title.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grefe, John"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twenty-third championship was played at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago from
13 vii until 1 viii 1974. The former champion meets a great rival.} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O
Nbd7 ({They played} 9... h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 11. Be2 {in 1973.}) 10. Bd3 h6 11. Qh3
Nb6 12. f5 e5 13. Nf3 Bd7 14. Bxf6 $5 (14. Rhe1 O-O-O 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 $6
Nxd5 17. exd5 Kb8 {happened in Anderson - Grefe, Las Vegas 1974.}) 14... Bxf6
15. g4 O-O-O 16. Qg3 Bg5+ 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. h4 $1 gxh4 19. Rxh4 Rxh4 20. Qxh4
Bc6 {The chances are equal.} 21. Qh7 $5 f6 22. g5 d5 $1 23. gxf6 gxf6 24. Qxc7+
Kxc7 25. Rh1 d4 $1 26. Ne2 Nd7 27. Rh6 $6 ({Preferable is} 27. b4 Rg8 28. Rh4)
27... Rg8 28. Rg6 Rh8 $1 29. b4 Rh4 30. Ng3 b5 31. a4 $2 ({Correct is} 31. Kd2)
31... bxa4 32. Bxa6 Bxe4 $6 33. Nxe4 Rxe4 34. Bb5 $2 (34. Rg7 $1 a3 35. Kb1 Kc6
36. Re7 $1 d3 37. Re6+ Kc7 38. cxd3 Rxb4+ 39. Ka2 {almost equalises.}) 34... a3
$1 35. Kb1 d3 $1 36. Bxd3 Rxb4+ 37. Ka2 Kc6 $5 38. Kxa3 Rf4 39. Rg8 e4 40. Rc8+
Kd6 41. Bb5 {The favourite had a good start.} (41. Bb5 Rxf5 {
wins for Black (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Commons, Kim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2420"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Rd1
b6 9. b3 Ba6 10. Nbd2 b5 $5 ({Theory is} 10... Rc8) 11. c5 b4 12. e3 $5 Qc7 $5
13. a3 bxa3 14. Bxa3 Bb5 15. Bb4 Rfe8 16. h3 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19.
Bc3 Qc7 20. b4 {White has a plus.} Nd7 21. Qb2 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Nb3 a6 24.
Nd4 Qe5 25. Ra2 Bc4 26. Ra3 h5 $6 ({Preferable is} 26... Ne4 $1 27. Qc2 Qf6)
27. Qc2 Bb5 28. Rda1 Rac8 29. Nf5 $6 (29. Rxa6 $1 Bxa6 30. Rxa6 {
opens the queenside.}) 29... Red8 30. h4 Rc7 31. Nd4 g6 32. Bf1 Ne4 $6 (32...
Ng4 $1 33. Bxb5 axb5 34. Ra8 Rxa8 35. Rxa8+ Kh7 {defends properly.}) 33. Bxb5
$1 axb5 34. Ra8 Qe8 35. Rxd8 Qxd8 36. Ra6 Qc8 37. Qa2 Kh7 $6 (37... Qe8 $1 38.
Ra8 Rc8 39. Ra7 Nf6 40. Qa6 Ng4 {fights back.}) 38. Ra8 $1 Qh3 39. Nf3 $6 Qg4
$6 40. Kg2 Nf6 $2 (40... Qf5 41. Qa5 Rc8 42. Rxc8 Qxc8 43. Qa7 Kg7 {
tries to survive.}) 41. Qb2 Kg7 42. Qe5 {The pin will become fatal.} Qd7 43.
Nd4 Rc8 44. Rxc8 Qxc8 45. Kg1 Qa8 46. g4 $1 hxg4 47. h5 $1 Qd8 $5 ({
The pointe is} 47... gxh5 48. Qg5+) 48. hxg6 Kxg6 49. Nxc6 Qh8 50. Ne7+ Kh7 51.
Qf5+ Kg7 52. Qg5+ Kf8 53. Nf5 g3 54. fxg3 Ke8 55. Ng7+ Kd7 56. Qxf6 Qh3 57.
Qxf7+ Kc6 58. Qe6+ Qxe6 59. Nxe6 Kd7 60. Nd4 {Benko beat a youngster this year.
} 1-0

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qd2 Be6 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. f3 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. Na4 Qxd2+
15. Kxd2 Rc6 16. Be3 Nd7 {Browne offers a draw during the opening. Reshevsky
refuses because he wants to hunt for weaknesses.} 17. Nc3 Rac8 $5 ({Known is} 
17... Kf8) 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. cxd5 Bc3+ 20. Kd3 R6c7 21. f4 Bb2 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23.
Rb1 Bg7 24. Rc1 Rxc1 25. Bxc1 {
The two bishops bring little advantage in this ending.} Nc5+ 26. Ke3 a5 $5 27.
Bd1 $5 b5 28. a3 a4 29. bxa4 bxa4 30. Bd2 Bb2 31. Bb4 Bc1+ 32. Kf3 Kf8 33. h4
h5 34. e5 f5 35. exf6 exf6 36. g4 {Sammy wants to attack on the kingside.}
hxg4+ 37. Kxg4 f5+ $1 {Browne prevents 38.f5.} 38. Kg5 $4 {
White should retreat and draw.} Kg7 $1 {He threatens 39...Ne4 mate.} 39. Bc3+ (
39. Bxc5 Bb2 $1 {leads to mate on f6.}) 39... Kh7 40. Bc2 Ne4+ 41. Bxe4 fxe4
42. Bb4 e3 $1 {Browne led by 4/5.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rogoff, Kenneth"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kenneth Rogoff would become a famous economist.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. f4 a6 7. Be2 Nc6 8. Be3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 Qc7 11.
Kh1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bd7 $5 ({Usual is} 12... e5) 13. e5 Ne8 $1 14. Bf3 Bc6 15.
Ne4 dxe5 16. fxe5 Rd8 17. Qc3 Rc8 $1 18. Bf4 Bxe4 19. Qxc7 Nxc7 20. Bxe4 Nd5
21. Bg3 Rc4 22. Bd3 Rc7 23. c3 Rd8 24. Rf3 $1 Nb6 25. Bf2 Bc5 26. Bh4 Be7 27.
Bf2 Bc5 28. Bh4 Rd5 $1 {Evans takes the initiative.} 29. Be4 Rd2 $1 30. b4 $6 (
30. b3 Nd5 31. Be1 Re2 32. Bd3 Re3 33. Rxe3 Nxe3 {keeps the equality.}) 30...
Bf8 31. Be1 Rdd7 32. Rf2 Nc4 33. Re2 g6 34. Bf3 $6 ({Preferable is} 34. g4 $1
Bg7 35. Bg3) 34... Bg7 35. Bg3 Kf8 $5 36. Kg1 $5 Rd3 37. Rc1 $5 Bh6 $1 38. Rcc2
Be3+ 39. Kf1 $2 (39. Kh1 Nxe5 $1 40. Be4 Rd1+ 41. Re1 Rxe1+ 42. Bxe1 {
only costs a pawn.}) 39... Nd2+ 40. Ke1 Rcd7 $1 {
He threatens ..Nxf3+ and ..Rd1#.} 41. Rxe3 Rxe3+ 42. Kf2 Red3 43. Ke2 Nb1 44.
Be1 Na3 45. Ra2 Nc4 46. a5 {Evans trailed Browne by half-a-point.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Bisguier, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4
Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 c6 $6 {
Both players produced the theoretical moves quickly.} ({
An improvement will become} 13... Be6 14. Qxc7 Bd6 {
(Hübner - Smyslov, Velden 1983).}) 14. Bh6 $3 {
He sacrifices a piece after forty minutes of contemplation.} (14. Bd2 {
was played in Yates - Kashdan, Hastings 1931.}) 14... Rg8 $2 {
Bisguier gives a shy responce after an hour.} ({The pointe is} 14... gxh6 15.
Re5 Qd7 16. Rae1 Be6 17. d5 O-O-O $1 (17... cxd5 $2 18. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 19. Qxh8+
Bf8 20. Qf6 Be7 21. Rxe6 {
and Black will surrender in Kovacevic - Csonka, Hungary 2005.}) 18. dxe6 fxe6
19. Rxe6 {and White achieves an advantage in Baert - Dutreeuw, Belgium 2000})
15. Re5 Qd7 16. Rae1 Be6 17. Ng5 $1 O-O-O (17... gxh6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Rxe6
Rg7 20. d5 $1 Kf8 21. Qxg7+ $1 {and}) (17... Bxg5 18. Bxg5 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20.
Bg3 O-O-O 21. d5 $1 Bxd5 22. Re7 Qg4 23. Qe5 {
wins for White (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 18. Nxf7 $1 Bxf7 19. Rxe7 Qxd4 20. Rxf7
Qxc3 21. bxc3 gxh6 22. Rb1 $1 Rg5 23. h4 $5 Rb5 24. Rxb5 cxb5 25. Rxh7 Rd1+ 26.
Kh2 Rd2 27. Rxh6 Rxa2 ({Or} 27... Rxf2 28. h5 $1 Rxa2 29. Rg6 Ra4 30. Rg3 Rh4+
31. Rh3) 28. h5 Rxf2 29. Rh8+ $5 Kc7 30. h6 Kb6 31. Kh3 a5 32. g4 b4 (32...
Rf3+ 33. Kh4 Rxc3 34. Re8 $1 Rc7 35. g5 {also wins for White.}) 33. cxb4 axb4
34. Re8 Rf1 35. Kg2 $1 Rf7 36. g5 Rf5 37. h7 Rxg5+ 38. Kf3 Rh5 39. h8=Q Rxh8
40. Rxh8 {
Browne was a bundle of nerves and could be rude, but his play was impressive.}
1-0

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Evans, Larry"]
[Black "Soltis, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 8. d5 a6
9. a4 Qa5 $5 10. Nh3 Ne5 11. Nf2 b5 $2 {
Black gets little compensation for his pawn.} (11... Bd7 $5 12. Be2 Qb4 {
will become an improvement.}) 12. cxb5 Qb4 13. Ncd1 Qxd2+ 14. Bxd2 axb5 15.
Bxb5 Ba6 $6 (15... e6 $1 16. f4 Ned7 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Nc3 Ba6 19. O-O Nb6 {
counters in the centre.}) 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. Bc3 Nfd7 18. Ke2 Rfa8 $5 (18... Nc4
$1 19. b3 Na5 20. Ra3 Rb8 21. Bxa5 Rxa5 {fights back.}) 19. b3 g5 20. Ne3 Rb8
21. Rhb1 Rab6 22. Ra3 R6b7 23. g3 Nc4 24. Nxc4 Bxc3 25. Nd1 Bb4 26. Ra2 Kf8 27.
Kd3 Ke8 28. Nde3 Nf8 29. f4 gxf4 30. gxf4 Ng6 31. Rf2 f6 32. Kc2 Kd7 33. Rg1
Rh8 34. f5 Ne5 35. Nxe5+ fxe5 36. Nc4 Rbb8 37. Rfg2 Rbf8 38. Rg3 Rf6 39. Rh3
Ke8 40. Kd3 Kf7 41. Rh5 Kf8 42. a5 Ke8 43. a6 {
Evans trailed Browne by one point.} 1-0

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.07.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Rogoff, Kenneth"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Qd6 6. c3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Qxf3 O-O-O 9. Qxf7 Nf6 10. Qc4 b5 $5 (10... Qd3 11. Qxd3 Rxd3 {
drew in Commons - Bisguier (round 1).}) 11. Qe2 Qd3 $1 {
Black has sacrifice a pawn for the restriction.} 12. Re1 Bc5 13. b4 $5 Bb6 14.
Qxd3 Rxd3 15. Na3 Rf8 16. Nc2 Nh5 {Black threatens ..Ng3.} 17. Ne3 Nf4 18. a4
Kb7 19. c4 $2 ({More useful is} 19. f3 Rfd8 20. Kh1) 19... bxc4 $6 (19... Bd4
$1 20. Ra2 Rb3 {gains more advantage.}) 20. Ra2 $6 ({Not} 20. Nxc4 $2 Nxg2 $1
21. Kxg2 Rxf2+ 22. Kg1 Rg3+ 23. Kh1 Rxh3+ 24. Kg1 Rg3+ 25. Kh1 Rf4 {
and Black mates (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) ({Preferable is} 20. Rf1 $1 Ne2+ 21.
Kh2 Bxe3 22. dxe3) 20... Rd4 $6 ({Even better is} 20... Rb3 $1) 21. Ba3 Rfd8
22. Nf1 Rd3 23. Bb2 $2 {Rogoff should have played a waiting move.} Rxd2 $1 24.
Nxd2 Rxd2 25. Rea1 c3 26. Ba3 ({Or} 26. Bxc3 Ne2+ 27. Kf1 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 Nxc3)
26... c2 $1 27. Kh2 Nd3 $1 28. f3 Rd1 {Black threatens 29...Bd4. Reshevsky won
in the last three rounds and ended at +1.} 0-1

[Event "Chicago"]
[Site "USA 23"]
[Date "1974.08.01"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1974.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Browne led by one point, when the last round began. A quick draw ensured his
championship.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. g3 d5 4. b3 Bg4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. Bb2 e6 7.
O-O Bd6 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Qe7 10. Qc2 e5 $5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Rae1 Ba3 13. Nh4
Bxb2 14. Qxb2 Rfe8 15. b4 e4 $5 16. dxe4 Nxe4 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19.
Nf5 {Benko has gained an edge by the vulnerability of pawn e4.} Qf6 20. Qxf6
Nxf6 {Benko has gained an edge.} 21. Ne3 Rad8 22. g4 Bg6 23. Rd1 h6 24. Kh2 Kf8
25. Kg3 Bh7 26. a3 b6 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rc1 Ke7 29. Rc7+ Rd7 30. Rc8 Ke6 31. f4
$5 exf3 {Evans solves his weakness.} 32. Bxf3 Be4 33. h4 Bxf3 34. Kxf3 g6 35.
Rc6+ Rd6 36. Rc7 Rd7 37. Rc6+ Rd6 38. Rc7 Rd7 39. Rc4 $5 {He tries to win.} h5
40. g5 Nd5 41. Re4+ Kd6 42. Nc4+ Kc7 43. Re8 Re7 44. Ra8 Kc6 $2 (44... Kb7 45.
Rd8 Nc3 {defends properly.}) 45. e4 $1 Nc3 $6 46. Rc8+ Kd7 47. Nxb6+ $1 axb6
48. Rxc3 {White has an extra pawn in the rook ending.} Kd6 49. a4 Ke5 50. Ke3
$1 Rd7 $5 (50... Ra7 $1 51. a5 $1 bxa5 52. Rc5+ Kd6 53. Rd5+ Kc6 54. bxa5 {
also wins for White.}) 51. Rd3 Rc7 52. Rd5+ Ke6 53. Rb5 Rc6 54. Kd4 $5 Rd6+ $5
({Or} 54... Kd7 55. a5 bxa5 56. bxa5 Ra6 57. e5) 55. Rd5 $1 Rc6 56. e5 $1 Rc1
57. Rd6+ Ke7 58. Rxb6 Rh1 59. a5 Rxh4+ 60. Kd5 Rh1 61. Rb7+ Kf8 62. a6 Ra1 63.
a7 Kg7 64. e6 $1 {The final standings became: Browne 91/2/13, Evans and Benko
8, Saidy 71/2, Reshevsky, Grefe, Bisguier and Rogoff 7, Weinstein 6, Zuckerman
and Soltis 51/2, Commons 5, Karklins 41/2, Gilden 31/2. Browne had won by a
margin like Fischer.} 1-0

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tarjan, James"]
[Black "Vukcevich, Milan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twenty-fourth championship was played in Oberlin, Ohio from 7 until 26 vi
1975. It was a zonal event. Two places were at stake. R.Byrne and Kavalek were
qualified already.   Milan Vukcevich was a problemist and scientist.} 1. c4 e5
2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e4 Bb4 5. d3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d6 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 h6 9.
O-O Be6 $5 10. Nh4 Rb8 11. a4 Na5 12. Be3 b6 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Re8 15. h4
e4 $1 {Black takes the initiative.} 16. g4 $5 Nh7 $5 17. g5 $5 {
Tarjan tries to attack.} hxg5 18. hxg5 Nxg5 19. Qh5 Nh7 20. Kh2 $6 {
White loses time.} Nf6 $1 21. Qh3 exd3 22. Bg5 Qe7 23. Rad1 d2 $5 24. Rxd2 Qe5+
25. f4 $5 Qe3 $1 26. Rd3 Qxh3+ 27. Rxh3 Re3 28. Bf3 Rbe8 $2 (28... Ne4 29. Bxe4
Rxe4 30. Bf6 Re2+ 31. Kh1 Rbe8 32. Rg1 Re1 {keeps an advantage.}) 29. Kg2 $2 (
29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Rg1+ Kf8 31. Rh7 $1 Ke7 32. Bh5 Rf8 33. Rgg7 {
counters to an equal game.}) 29... Nxc4 30. Rfh1 Kf8 31. Rh8+ Ke7 32. Rxe8+
Kxe8 33. Bc6+ Ke7 34. Rh8 d5 35. Bxd5 Rxc3 36. Bxc4 Rxc4 37. Rg8 Rc5 38. Rxg7
Rxf5 39. Kf3 Kf8 40. Bh6 Rh5 41. Rh7+ Ke7 42. Rh8 Ke6 43. a5 Rxa5 44. Bg5 Ra3+
45. Ke2 Nd5 46. Re8+ Kd7 47. Rd8+ Kc6 48. f5 f6 49. Bh4 Re3+ 50. Kd2 Re5 {
Vukcevich played excellent over-the-board chess.} 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. Be3 e6 8. a4
b6 9. f4 Bb7 10. Bf3 $5 (10. Bd3 {drew in Mecking - Saidy, San Antonio 1972.})
10... Rc8 11. O-O Rxc3 $5 {Browne delivers a thematic sacrifice.} (11... Be7
12. e5 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 $5 dxe5 14. Nc6 Qc7 15. Nxe7 Kxe7 {
will happen in Tal - Browne, Milan 1975.}) 12. bxc3 Nxe4 13. Ne2 $5 ({
An alternative is} 13. c4 $1 {(Ostojic - Barczay, Sandefjord 1976).}) 13... Qc7
14. Qe1 d5 15. Bd4 Bc5 16. Ng3 f5 $1 {Browne goes forwards!} 17. Qe3 O-O 18.
Bxc5 bxc5 19. a5 e5 $5 20. Ne2 $6 (20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Be2 $1 {gains an edge.})
20... g5 {He attacks in the complete central area.} 21. fxe5 $2 (21. Bxe4 $1
gxf4 22. Bxd5+ Bxd5 23. Qd3 Bb7 24. Rad1 Rf7 25. Qd6 {
keeps the equality (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 21... f4 $1 22. Qc1 Nxe5 23. Rb1 Nc4
$1 {Black has a great positional advantage.} 24. Qe1 $5 Ned2 $1 25. Rf2 Nxb1
26. Qxb1 Nd2 27. Bxd5+ $5 Bxd5 28. Qd1 Rd8 $1 29. Qxd2 Bxg2 30. Qe1 Ba8 31. h4
Qc6 32. Kh2 Qh6 33. Ng1 $5 g4 $5 ({Or} 33... Qxh4+ 34. Nh3 Qg3#) 34. Qe7 Rf8
35. Rd2 g3+ 36. Kh3 Qg6 37. Rd6 $5 Qf5# {
Probably, the final was carried out under time pressure.} 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Rogoff, Kenneth"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. a3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Qd3 b6 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Ba2 Rac8
15. Bb2 $5 ({Usual in the Nimzo-Indian Defence is} 15. Bd2) 15... Bd5 $1 16.
Nd2 $6 ({Preferable is} 16. Bb1 Rfd8 17. Ne5) 16... Bxa2 17. Rxa2 Rfd8 18. Qe2
e5 $1 19. Nf3 ({The pointe is} 19. dxe5 $2 Nxe5 $1) 19... exd4 20. Nxd4 $2 ({
Correct is} 20. cxd4 Qc2 21. Raa1 Qxe2 22. Rxe2 {
and Black has little advantage.}) 20... Re8 21. Qd1 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Re8 23. Qd1
Ne5 24. h3 $2 (24. Ba1 $1 Qd6 25. f3 Nc4 26. a4 {offers more resistance.})
24... Nd3 $1 25. Nf3 Qc4 $1 26. Qb1 Ne4 27. Ba1 Nc1 $1 {
Rogoff played a great positional game.} (27... Nc1 28. Rc2 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 Qc7+
30. g3 Nxf2 {wins for Black (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D59"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Qb3 Be6 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Bd3 c5 14. Qa3 Kf8
$5 ({The alternative is} 14... Nd7) 15. b3 a5 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. Nxd7+ Bxd7 18.
O-O cxd4 19. Qxe7+ Kxe7 20. exd4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 22. Rxc8 Bxc8 {
The bishop ending is equal.} 23. Kf1 Bd7 24. a3 Kf6 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. Ke3 b5 $6 {
A pawn is weakened.} 27. b4 $1 axb4 28. axb4 {Black has two weaknesses.} g5 29.
f4 f6 30. Bg6 Bg4 31. h3 Bd7 32. Kf3 Kf8 33. Kg3 Kg7 34. Bh5 Bc6 35. h4 Bd7 36.
Bf3 Be6 37. Be2 Bd7 38. Bh5 Kf8 $2 {
The king moves one square too far from the g-pawn.} 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. fxg5 fxg5
41. Bf3 Be6 42. Be2 Bd7 43. Bf3 Be6 44. Be2 Bd7 45. Bg4 $1 Bc6 {
Exchange costs a pawn.} 46. Bc8 Kg7 47. Kg4 Kg6 48. g3 $1 {Zugzwang arises.}
Kf6 (48... Be8 $6 49. Bb7 Bd7+ 50. Kf3 Be6 51. Bc6 {costs pawn b5.}) 49. Kh5 $1
Be8+ 50. Kh6 Bc6 51. Kh7 Be8 52. Bg4 Bg6+ 53. Kg8 $1 {
The king moves around his opponent.} Bf5 54. Be2 Bd7 55. Kf8 $1 g4 56. Bf1 Bc6
57. Bg2 Bb7 58. Ke8 $1 Ke6 59. Kd8 Kd6 60. Bf1 Bc6 61. Bd3 {
Browne played a fine ending.} ({The pointe is} 61. Bd3 Bd7 62. Be2 $1 {
and zugzwang.}) 1-0

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 c6 12. dxc6 Qc7 13. Nbd2 Qxc6 14. Nf1 Rfe8 $5
({Theory is} 14... Nc4) 15. h3 Be6 16. Ng5 (16. Ng3 $5 {
will be played in future games.}) 16... Bd7 17. Ng3 g6 18. Nf3 Bf8 19. Nh2 Bg7
20. Qf3 h5 21. Qe2 Be6 22. Nf3 Nh7 23. Ng5 Nxg5 24. Bxg5 Nc4 25. Bd3 Nb6 26.
Qf3 f6 27. Be3 Na4 28. Qe2 Bf7 29. a3 $5 {
White weakens his pawn structure slightly.} Rad8 30. Rad1 Nc5 31. Bxc5 dxc5 32.
Nf1 $6 (32. c4 $1 Qe6 33. b3 {defends well.}) 32... c4 $1 33. Bc2 Bh6 $1 34.
Ne3 Qc5 35. Qf3 Kg7 36. Qg3 Bf4 37. Qf3 a5 $5 {Black postpones the exchanges.}
38. Nd5 Bg5 39. Ne3 b4 40. axb4 ({An alternative is} 40. Ba4 Rxd1 41. Rxd1 Ra8
42. Nc2) 40... axb4 41. Qe2 $2 ({Better is} 41. cxb4 $1 Rxd1 42. Rxd1 Qxb4 43.
Rb1 Rd8 44. Nd5 Qd2 45. Qc3 $1 Bxd5 46. Qxd2 Bxd2 47. exd5 Rxd5 48. Rd1 {
and White has excellent drawing chances.}) 41... b3 $1 42. Bb1 {
The bishop is imprisoned.} Bxe3 $1 43. fxe3 h4 44. Rf1 Rxd1 45. Rxd1 Be6 46.
Kf2 Qc7 47. Ke1 Rd8 48. Rd2 Rxd2 49. Kxd2 Kf7 50. Kc1 Qd8 51. Qf1 Qh8 52. Kd2
Qh5 53. Ke1 Qg5 54. Kf2 ({Or} 54. Qf2 Qg3 55. Qxg3 hxg3 56. Ke2 g5 57. Kf3 g4+
$1 {and Black wins (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 54... Qg3+ 55. Ke2 g5 56. Kd2 Kg6
57. Ke2 Qh2 58. Kd1 g4 59. hxg4 Bxg4+ 60. Kc1 Kg5 {
White experiences a fatal zugzwang.} 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. g4
h6 9. f4 $5 ({Known is} 9. Qd2) 9... b5 $6 10. g5 hxg5 11. fxg5 Rh3 $1 {
Browne counters.} 12. Bf4 $2 ({Better is} 12. Bf2 $1 Rxc3 $1 13. gxf6 Rh3 $1
14. Nxe6 $1 Qa5+ 15. c3 fxe6 16. fxg7 Bxg7 17. Qxd6 {
and White has an advantage (Cheshkovsky - Browne, Manila 1976).}) 12... b4 $1
13. Nd5 $1 exd5 14. gxf6 Nxf6 $6 (14... dxe4 $1 15. Nf5 Qxf6 16. Qd5 Ra7 {
keeps an advantage.}) 15. Nc6 Qb6 16. exd5 Ne4 17. Qd4 $2 ({Right is} 17. Rf1
$1) 17... Qxd4 18. Nxd4 g5 $1 19. Bc1 Bg7 20. Nc6 Ng3 $1 21. Rg1 Nxe2 22. Rxg5
$2 (22. Kxe2 Rxh2+ {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} 23. Kf3 g4+ 24. Kg3 Rh3+ 25. Kg2 {
offers more resistance.}) 22... Nd4 $1 23. Rxg7 Nxc2+ 24. Kd1 Nxa1 25. Rg8+ Kd7
26. Rf8 Rd3+ 27. Bd2 Rxd5 28. Nxb4 Rf5 29. Bc3 a5 30. Nd3 a4 {
Browne has gained a rook by an impressive counterattack.} 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Rogoff, Kenneth"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2445"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+ Nxb5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 13. Qxb5 Qd7 14.
Nxd5+ Qxd5 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. Be3 Ke6 17. O-O-O $5 {
Kavalek springs a novelty in a theoretical line.} Rc8+ 18. Kb1 Bc5 19. Rhe1 Kd6
20. Rd3 Rhd8 21. a3 h6 22. h4 h5 23. Rg1 g6 24. Bg5 Re8 25. Rgd1 Bxf2 26. Rxd5+
Kc6 27. R5d2 Re1 28. Rxe1 Bxe1 {The endgame is equal after the exchanges.} 29.
Re2 Ba5 30. f4 Bb6 31. f5 $2 (31. Kc2 {would be okay.}) 31... gxf5 $1 32. Re5
f6 $1 33. Re6+ ({The pointe is} 33. Bxf6 $2 Rf8 34. Rxf5 Bd8 {(Marjanovic).})
33... Kd5 34. Rxf6 Ke4 {Black has a dangerous passed pawn.} 35. Rf7 Rc7 36. Rf8
{Exchange of rooks loses quickly.} Bc5 37. Rf6 Bd4 38. Rf8 Bg7 39. Re8+ Kf3 40.
Re1 Bd4 41. b4 {The counter comes too late.} Kg4 42. Rd1 $6 (42. Re8 $5 f4 43.
Rg8 Rc4 44. Bh6+ Kf3 {will win for Black eventually.}) 42... Bf2 $1 43. Rd5 Rf7
$1 44. Kc2 f4 45. Kd1 f3 46. a4 Bg3 $1 47. Rd4+ Kh3 48. Be3 f2 49. Bxf2 Bxf2
50. Re4 Bxh4 51. a5 Bf2 52. b5 h4 53. Ke2 Kg2 54. b6 axb6 55. axb6 h3 $1 56.
Rg4+ Bg3 {Browne, Rogoff and Vukcevich shared the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 a6 11. b3 Rb8 12. Bb2 b5 13. Rab1 Bd7 14. e3 Qc7 15. Ne2
Rb6 $6 (15... Nb7 16. Nf4 Nd8 17. h4 Nf7 {
drew in Averbakh - Spassky, Riga 1958.}) 16. Bc3 $1 Nb7 17. Nf4 Rb8 18. Rfe1
Ng4 $2 (18... b4 $1 19. Bb2 Nd8 $1 20. e4 Nf7 {defends the kingside timely.})
19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. e4 Nd8 $1 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Ne5 24. Ng5 Qc8
$5 25. Nfe6+ Nxe6 $5 26. Nxe6+ Kf7 27. Qc3 $1 {White threatens 28.f4.} Qh8 28.
cxb5 axb5 29. f4 $1 Ng4 30. Ng5+ Kg8 31. Qf3 $5 (31. Qxh8+ Kxh8 32. Rxe7 {
wins easily.}) 31... Qd4+ 32. Kg2 Nf6 $6 (32... Ne5 $5 33. fxe5 Qd2+ 34. Re2
Qxg5 35. Rf1 Qf5 36. Qxf5 gxf5 37. Rxf5 {costs a pawn.}) 33. Rbd1 Qb2+ 34. Re2
Qa3 35. Qe3 $5 Qa8 $6 36. Qe6+ Kh8 37. Qxe7 Rf8 38. Ne6 $1 {
Reshevsky produced a positive score.} 1-0

[Event "Oberlin"]
[Site "USA 24"]
[Date "1975.06.22"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Benko, Pal"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1975.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Many draws were played in the championship. One of the last real fights was
the next game.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. c4 d6 6. d4 Nbd7
7. d5 e5 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. Nc3 Nc5 $5 (9... Nb6 {
drew in Gusev - Lilienthal, Moscow 1952.}) 10. Be3 $1 Nce4 $5 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12.
Qc2 Nf6 $6 ({Preferable is} 12... d5 $5 13. Rad1 c6) 13. c5 $1 Bd7 (13... Qe7
$6 14. Rad1 d5 15. c6 {
will win for White in Romanishin - Zaitsev, Cappelle 1995.}) 14. Qb3 (14. Rad1
$1 Bc6 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Qd3 $1 {brings an advantage.}) 14... Nd5 15. Ng5 $1
Rf5 $1 16. Bd2 $2 (16. cxd6 $1 cxd6 17. Rfd1 Rxg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Bxd5 exd5
20. Rxd5 Qe7 21. Rxd6+ Kf8 22. Qxb7 Qxd6 23. Qxa8+ {gains a plus.}) 16... Rxg5
$1 17. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. Qxb7 $5 ({Or} 18. e4 Ne7 $1 19. Qxb7 Bc6 20. Qxc7 dxc5 21.
Rad1 Bd4) 18... Qd8 $1 19. cxd6 cxd6 20. Bxd5 Rb8 $1 21. Bxe6+ Bxe6 22. Qe4 $2
(22. Qxa7 Bxb2 23. Rab1 {offers more resistance.}) 22... Qd7 23. Rad1 Rxb2 24.
Qa8+ Bf8 25. Rb1 Qb5 26. Rxb2 Qxb2 27. Qxa7 Qxe2 $1 {Black threatens ..Bh3!}
28. Qe3 Qxa2 29. h4 Qd5 30. Kh2 Qf5 31. Rd1 d5 32. Re1 Qh3+ 33. Kg1 Bf5 34. Qd4
Be4 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Qd5+ Kg7 {Benko overstepped the time limit in a lost
position. Browne secured the title for the second time. The final standings
became: Browne 81/2/13, Rogoff 8, Vukcevich 71/2, R.Byrne and Reshevsky 7,
Lombardy, Bisguier, Tarjan and Commons, Kavalek, Peters, Mednis and Grefe 51/2,
Benko 5. Browne and Rogoff qualified for the interzonal tournaments.} 0-1

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{A championship could not be organised in 1976, because the Fischer effect was
over. The twenty-fifth event happened in Mentor, Ohio from 25 ix until 14
x1977. Grandmasters got no appearance fee of $700, so several players were
absent. However the prize money was a record of $15,000 with $3500 for the
first and $2500 for the second prize.} 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6
exf6 5. e3 Be6 6. Bd3 g6 7. Qf3 c6 8. Nge2 Nd7 $5 ({Known is} 8... Bb4) 9. h3
Qb6 $1 10. g4 $1 Qxb2 $2 {Byrne allows a strong attack.} ({Correct is} 10...
fxg4 11. hxg4 Bf7 {(Browne).}) 11. Rb1 Qa3 12. gxf5 Bf7 13. Rxb7 Bb4 14. O-O
O-O-O $2 (14... Bxc3 15. Rb3 Qxa2 {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} 16. Nxc3 Qa5 {
offers more rersistance.}) 15. Rxb4 $1 {Tactics decide the game.} Qxb4 16. Ba6+
$1 Kc7 17. Rb1 Qd6 18. Rb7+ Kc8 19. Rb3+ Kc7 20. Rb7+ Kc8 21. e4 $1 Nb8 22. Nb5
$1 cxb5 23. Qc3+ Nc6 24. e5 $1 Qc7 25. e6 {This game occurred in a seperate
room, due to Browne's problems with the lighting. The champ had a great start.}
1-0

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{John Grefe expected to go apples picking. Instead, he played chess after a
surprising invitation and made more money.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3
Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nh5 8. e3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. g4
Qe7 12. a3 O-O-O 13. Qc2 $5 ({Usual is} 13. Qa4) 13... h5 $1 14. gxh5 g4 15.
Nd2 f5 $1 16. Ne2 $6 ({Preferable is} 16. O-O-O Qg5 17. Kb1) 16... Qg5 $1 17.
O-O-O Rxh5 18. d5 $5 Ne5 $1 19. Nf4 $6 ({Better is} 19. Rxh5 Qxh5 20. Nf4 Nxd3+
21. Qxd3) 19... Nxd3+ 20. Qxd3 Qf6 $5 21. Qc2 $5 Rxh1 22. Rxh1 Bh6 $1 23. dxe6
$2 (23. Rh5 $1 Bxf4 24. exf4 {defends well.}) 23... dxe6 24. Rh2 ({Or} 24. Rg1
$6 Bxf4 25. exf4 Qd4 {(R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 24... Bxf4 25. exf4 g3 $1 26.
fxg3 Qd4 $1 27. Rh1 $5 Bxg2 28. Re1 Qf2 29. Qd1 (29. Rxe6 Be4 30. Nxe4 Qe1+ {
leads to mate.}) 29... Bf3 30. Rf1 Rxd2 $1 {
Grefe scored an excellent result in his last championship.} 0-1

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Grefe, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E19"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nxc3 9. Qxc3 c5 10. Rd1 d6 11. b3 Bf6 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. e4 g6 15. d5
Nb4 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qd2 exd5 18. exd5 Bc8 19. a3 Na6 20. Ng5 $1 {
White gains an edge.} ({The alternative is} 20. Re1) 20... Bf5 21. Qf4 Kg7 22.
g4 h6 $1 23. h4 $1 Bxg4 24. Qxg4 hxg5 25. hxg5 Qf5 26. Qg3 Rh8 $5 27. Re1 $5
Rae8 28. Qc3+ $5 {White could have captured on d6.} Re5 29. Re4 Kh7 $2 (29...
f6 $1 30. Rae1 Rhe8 31. gxf6+ Qxf6 32. Rxe5 Rxe5 33. Rxe5 Qxe5 34. Qxe5+ dxe5
35. d6 Kf6 36. Bh3 Nb8 {tries to survive in a difficult ending.}) 30. Rxe5 $1
dxe5 31. Re1 Re8 32. Qg3 $1 Kg8 ({Or} 32... Nc7 33. Qh4+ Kg8 34. Re4 {
and White has prepared 35.Qh6, 36.Rh4 and 37.Qh8#.}) 33. f4 $1 {
Browne scored his second win.} 1-0

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 g6 6. c4 Bg7 7. Nc2 d6 8. O-O
Nd7 9. Nc3 Ngf6 10. Be2 $5 ({Known is} 10. Bf4) 10... Qc7 11. Be3 Ne5 12. b3 $6
(12. c5 $1 dxc5 13. f4 Ned7 14. e5 Ng8 15. Ne4 {gains an advantage.}) 12... b5
$1 13. f4 Ned7 14. Qd2 bxc4 15. Bxc4 Nc5 16. Bxc5 $6 (16. Bb5+ $1 Kf8 $1 17. e5
Nce4 18. Qd4 {keeps the initiative.}) 16... Qxc5+ 17. Kh1 Bb7 $1 18. Rae1 O-O
19. f5 $2 (19. Bd3 $1 Rac8 20. Nb1 d5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Qe2 {defends the centre.})
19... exf5 20. exf5 d5 $1 21. Bd3 Rfe8 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Na4 Qc7 24. Ne3 $6 Re5
$5 25. Rc1 Qe7 26. Nc2 Rh5 $1 {An attack starts on the kingside.} 27. Rce1 Ne4
$1 28. Bxe4 dxe4 29. Ne3 Be5 30. h3 Rd8 31. Qf2 f5 $1 32. Qc2 f4 33. Ng4 Rc8
34. Qb1 Qg5 35. Nxe5 Qxe5 36. Re2 Qf5 37. Kg1 f3 38. Rb2 Rg5 39. h4 Rg3 40. Qe1
Qh3 $1 41. Rff2 e3 {Reshevsky still competed at the top level.} 0-1

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Black "Peters, Jack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{It had become possible for Russian Jews to  emigrate from the Soviet Union to
Israel. Shamkovich made use of the opening in the Iron Curtain and went to the
USA later.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Be3 $5 {The bishop makes place for a pawn.}
b5 11. g4 O-O $5 {The king becomes a target.} ({A novelty will be} 11... Nxd4
$5 12. Bxd4 b4 13. Ne2 e5 14. Be3 Qa5 15. g5 $1 {
(Jobava - Arutinian, Batumi 2003).}) 12. g5 $1 Ne8 13. h4 Nc7 14. Rg1 $5 b4 15.
Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Ne2 d5 $1 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. e5 {White has the initiative.} g6 $2 {
He weakens the kingside.} (18... Qd7 $1 19. h5 Nb5 20. Bxb5 axb5 {
defends properly.}) 19. h5 $1 Re8 $5 20. Rh1 $1 Bf8 21. Qh2 $1 {
White rules on the h-file.} Bg7 $2 (21... Re7 $1 {protects pawn h7 indirectly.}
) 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Nb3 $1 a5 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Bc5+ Re7 26. f4 (26. Qh8+ $1
Bxh8 27. Rxh8+ Kg7 28. Rxd8 {wins nicely.}) 26... a4 27. Nd4 b3 28. a3 {
Shamkovich attacked elegantly.} 1-0

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.09.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Soltis, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B03"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 c5 4. c4 Nb4 5. dxc5 $1 ({Known is} 5. d5 d6 6. Nf3 {
and White has no advantage.}) 5... a5 $2 {The experiment fails.} ({
My preference has} 5... d6 $1 6. a3 N4c6 7. exd6 exd6 8. cxd6 Bxd6 {
and Black has compensation for the pawn.}) 6. Nc3 $1 N8c6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Bf4 Bg7
9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O {White dominates \the centre.} b6 11. cxb6 Qxb6 {
Black has opened his position by a pawn sacrifice.} 12. Re1 Na6 13. Qd2 Re8 14.
Nd5 Qb7 15. Bf1 Nc5 16. b3 Ne6 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. Rac1 Qb8 19. Qe3 {
The restriction continues.} Ra7 20. Nf4 Ng7 $5 21. Bd3 a4 22. Ng5 $1 axb3 23.
axb3 e6 ({The pointe is} 23... Qxb3 $2 24. Bxg6 $1 Qxe3 25. Bxf7+) 24. g4 Nxe5
25. Qxe5 Qxe5 ({Or} 25... Qxb3 $2 26. Nxg6 $1 fxg6 27. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 28. Qf6 d6
29. Qxg6) 26. Rxe5 f6 27. Re3 $5 {White is going to decide the game slowly.} (
27. Nxh7 $1 Kxh7 28. Bxg6+ Kxh6 29. h4 $1 fxe5 $2 30. g5# {wins brilliantly.})
27... fxg5 28. Bxg5 d6 29. b4 Rf8 30. Be4 Raf7 31. Nd3 Ne8 32. Bh6 Bg7 33. Bxg7
Kxg7 34. h3 Nf6 35. Bc6 e5 36. b5 Nd7 37. f3 Nb8 38. Bd5 Ra7 39. c5 dxc5 40.
Nxc5 Ra5 41. Be6 Rxb5 42. Bxc8 Rxc8 43. Ne6+ Kf6 44. Rxc8 Kxe6 45. Rd3 Rb7 46.
Kf2 Nd7 47. Rc6+ Kf7 48. Rdc3 Rb2+ 49. Rc2 Rb3 50. Rc7 Ke6 51. R2c6+ Kd5 52.
Rc3 Rb2+ 53. Rc2 Rxc2+ 54. Rxc2 Nc5 55. Rd2+ Ke6 56. Rd8 h5 57. gxh5 gxh5 58.
h4 Nd7 59. Rg8 Nf6 60. Rg5 Kd6 61. Ke3 Ke6 62. f4 exf4+ 63. Kxf4 Nd5+ 64. Ke4
Nf6+ 65. Kd4 Kd6 66. Ra5 Ke6 67. Ke3 Kf7 68. Kf4 Kg7 69. Kg5 Nh7+ 70. Kxh5 Nf6+
71. Kg5 Nh7+ 72. Kf5 Kh6 73. Ra6+ Kh5 74. Ra7 Kh6 75. Rf7 {
Soltis loses everything.} 1-0

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.10.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tarjan, James"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Browne had started by 41/2/5. Tarjan is not impressed.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10.
Re1 Bb7 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. Bc2 Be7 13. a3 Rc8 14. Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1 Bf8
17. Bg5 Be7 18. Ba4 $5 {Tarjan avoids a repetition.} (18. Bh6 Bf8 {
ended as drawn in Olafsson - Karpov, Amsterdam 1976.}) 18... a6 19. Bxf6 $5
Bxf6 20. d5 $1 {White fights for the initiative.} exd5 $6 {
Browne could have accepted the rook sacrifice.} (20... Bxc3 $1 21. dxc6 Qxd3
22. Rxd3 Bxe1 23. cxb7 Rc1 24. Rd1 Rxd1 25. Bxd1 {(R.Byrne and Mednis), and now
} Bxf2+ $1 26. Kxf2 Rb8 27. Be2 b5 {brings about equality.}) 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.
Nxd5 Bd8 23. h4 Qf8 $5 24. Ng5 $5 b5 25. Bb3 Na5 26. Ba2 Nc4 27. Ne3 $2 ({
Better is} 27. Bxc4 bxc4 28. Qd4) 27... h6 $2 {
This time he should have taken the gift.} (27... Bxg5 $1 28. hxg5 Nxb2 29. Qd7
Nxd1 30. Ng4 {(R.Byrne and Mednis), and now} h5 $1 31. Bxf7+ Kh8 $1 32. Ne5 Be4
33. Qd4 Qc5 34. Nxg6+ Kh7 35. Nf8+ Qxf8 36. Qxe4+ Kh8 37. Qf3 Qd6 {
and Black has an advantage.}) 28. Ne6 $1 fxe6 ({Or} 28... Nxb2 29. Qb1 $1 fxe6
30. Qxg6+ Kh8 31. Rd7) 29. Qxg6+ Qg7 30. Qxe6+ Kf8 (30... Qf7 31. Qxf7+ Kxf7
32. Bxc4+ bxc4 33. Rd7+ {gains two pawns.}) 31. Bxc4 bxc4 32. Rd7 Qf6 33. Qxf6+
Bxf6 34. Rxb7 Bxh4 35. Rb6 Bg5 36. Rxa6 $6 (36. f4 $1 {wins immediately.})
36... Bxe3 37. fxe3 {White has two extra pawns in the rook ending.} Kg7 38. a4
Rb8 39. Rc6 Rxb2 40. Rxc4 Ra2 41. Kh2 Ra3 42. Re4 $1 Kg6 43. Kg3 Ra1 44. Rb4
Kf5 45. Kf2 Kg5 46. Kf3 Rf1+ 47. Kg3 h5 48. Rb5+ Kh6 49. Rb8 Rf5 50. Rb6+ $1 {
The rook goes to the fifth rank on the next move. Browne was shocked by the
defeat.} 1-0

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.10.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Lein, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. e3 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 c6 9. Qb3 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. c4 Be6 12. c5 Rc8 $5 (12... Qc7 {
was played in Denker - Pinkus, New York 1942.}) 13. Be2 Rc7 $1 14. a4 Nd7 {
He completed his development.} 15. a5 a6 16. O-O Bg4 17. Rfe1 Kh8 18. Ra4 Re8
19. Rb4 Nf8 20. Rb1 {The white attack has no real strength.} Bc8 21. Nd2 f5 22.
Bf1 g5 23. Re1 Qf6 24. Qd1 Rce7 25. Bd3 g4 $1 {Lein goes forwards slowly.} 26.
Rb2 $2 Qxd4 $1 27. exd4 $6 Rxe1+ 28. Qxe1 Rxe1+ {He gained a pawn.} 29. Nf1 Kg7
30. Rb1 Rxb1 31. Bxb1 Kf6 32. Nd2 f4 $1 33. f3 h5 34. Kf2 Ne6 35. Nb3 Ng5 36.
Nc1 Bf5 37. Bxf5 Kxf5 38. Ne2 h4 $1 39. Ng1 Ne6 40. Ne2 h3 $1 41. fxg4+ Kxg4
42. gxh3+ Kxh3 43. Kf3 Kxh2 44. Nxf4 Nxf4 45. Kxf4 Kg2 {
Black has a won pawn ending.} 46. Ke5 Kf3 47. Kd6 Ke4 48. Kc7 Kxd4 49. Kxb7
Kxc5 50. Kxa6 d4 $1 51. Kb7 d3 {
Lein had emigrated from Moscow. He was a friend of Shamkovich.} (51... d3 52.
a6 d2 53. a7 d1=Q 54. a8=Q Qb3+ 55. Kc7 Qf7+ {wins easily.}) 0-1

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.10.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. a4 Nc6 10. f4 Nb4 11. Be3 Bd7 12. a5 Bc6 13. Bf3 $5 ({Known is} 13. Bb6
Qc8 14. Bd3) 13... exf4 14. Bxf4 d5 $1 {Black equalises.} 15. e5 Ne4 16. Na4 $5
Bb5 17. Re1 Qc7 $5 18. Nd4 Rad8 19. c3 Nc6 20. Bxe4 $6 ({Preferable is} 20. Nb6
Bc5 $1 {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} 21. Be3 $1 Bxb6 22. axb6 Qxe5 23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24.
Bd4) 20... dxe4 21. Rxe4 Qxa5 22. b4 Bxa4 $1 23. Rxa4 $2 ({Better is} 23. Qg4
$1 h5 24. bxa5 hxg4 25. Rxa4) 23... Qd5 $1 {He achieves a positional advantage.
} 24. Qe2 $2 (24. Qe1 $1 Nxd4 25. Rxd4 Qb5 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Ra1 Qc4 28. Bd2 {
saves material.}) 24... Nxd4 25. cxd4 ({Or} 25. Rxd4 Qb3 26. Ra2 Qxc3) 25... f5
$1 26. exf6 Bxf6 27. Kh1 ({The pointe is} 27. Be5 $2 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Qxe4 $1 {
(R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 27... Bxd4 {Black has gained a pawn.} 28. h3 Qb3 29.
Qa2 Qxa2 30. Rxa2 Rfe8 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Rc2 Kf7 33. Rc4 Bf6 34. Kg1 Ke6 35.
Kf2 Kd5 36. Rc7 Re7 37. Rc8 Bd4+ 38. Kf3 Re6 39. Rb8 b5 40. Ra8 $6 (40. Rd8+
Kc4 41. Bd2 {offers more resistance.}) 40... Bc3 $1 {
He will win another pawn. Byrne catches up with Browne.} 0-1

[Event "Mentor"]
[Site "USA 25"]
[Date "1977.10.13"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1977.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Robert Byrne made a quick draw. Walter Browne also wished to draw, but his
opponent wanted to play.} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. d5 Ba6 $5 (3... Bb7 4. e4 exd5
5. exd5 Nf6 {happened in Stoltz - Flohr, Gothenburg 1931.}) 4. e4 exd5 5. exd5
Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qe2+ Be7 $5 {He avoids the exchange of queens.} 8. Qc2 c6 9.
Bd3 b5 $6 (9... Bb7 $1 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Nh3 cxd5 12. cxd5 Re8 13. O-O {
keeps the equality.}) 10. cxb5 cxb5 $5 11. Nge2 b4 12. Ne4 $6 ({Preferable is} 
12. Nb5 $1 Nxd5 13. Ned4) 12... Nxd5 13. O-O O-O 14. Rd1 Qa5 15. N2g3 {
White has sufficient compensation for the pawn.} g6 $2 {
The kingside should remain closed.} 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Qd2 Nf6 $2 {
White is going to storm the hostile king.} ({Better is} 17... Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc7
) 18. Qf4 $1 Qb6 19. Bxa6 $5 ({The alternative is} 19. Re1 $1 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bb7
21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qf6 $1) 19... Nxa6 20. Rd6 $3 {
He interferes on the sixth rank.} Bxd6 21. Nxf6+ Kh8 22. Bg7+ $1 ({Or} 22. Nf5
$1 Bf8 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Qh4 h5 25. Qg5) 22... Kxg7 23. Ngh5+ $1 gxh5 24. Qg5+
Kh8 ({A pointe is} 24... Kf8 25. Nxh7#) 25. Qh6 Bxh2+ 26. Kh1 $1 {The last phas
e stays entertaining for the audience, because Browne has little time on the
clock.} ({Not} 26. Kxh2 Qc7+ $1 27. f4 Qc2) 26... Qxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+
Kh8 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Kxh2 Re6 32. Rd1 Rg8 33. Qf4 Reg6 34. g3 f6
35. Rxd7 Nc5 36. Rd6 h4 37. Qxh4 a5 38. Qd4 {Walter was champion for the third
time in a row. The final standings became: Browne 9/13, R.Byrne 81/2,
Reshevsky and Grefe 71/2, Lein and Zuckerman 7, Tarjan 61/2, Christiansen and
Matera 6, Ghizdavu, Peters and Shamkovich 51/2, Soltis 5, Fedorowicz 41/2.} 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Byrne, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B93"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twenty-sixth championship was played at the campus of the Worldwide
Church of God in Pasadena from 4 until 26 vi 1978. Although Fischer lived
nearby, he did not pay a visit. Browne had a misunderstanding with the
director Kashdan about the lighting. When Browne withdrew from the event, it
reminded of Bobby.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4
g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. e5 Nh5 $5 ({Known is} 8... Ng4) 9. Bc4 O-O 10. Ng5 e6 $2 (
10... Qc7 $1 11. Bxf7+ Rxf7 12. Nxf7 Kxf7 13. g4 dxe5 14. gxh5 exf4 15. hxg6+
hxg6 16. Bxf4 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Qxc3+ 18. Kf2 {
happened in Belotti - Schandorff, Istanbul 2000.}) 11. g4 $1 Nxf4 12. Bxf4 dxe5
13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Be3 {White has won a piece for two pawns.} h6 15. Nge4 b5 16.
Bb3 f5 17. gxf5 gxf5 18. Bb6 $1 Rf8 19. Nd6 Bd7 20. O-O-O Kh7 21. Rhg1 e4 22.
Ne2 Be5 23. h4 a5 24. a3 Ra6 25. Bc7 Ra7 26. Bb6 Ra6 27. Bc5 Rf6 28. Ba2 Rg6
29. Nf7 Rxg1 30. Rxg1 Bf6 31. Bd4 Bxd4 32. Nxd4 b4 33. Ne5 Bc8 34. Nxf5 $1 {
Kavalek had a great start.} ({The pointe is} 34. Nxf5 exf5 35. Bg8+ Kh8 36.
Nf7#) 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Black "Commons, Kim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. c5
O-O 9. Bb5 Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Rc1 Bd7 12. Bd3 f5 13. O-O Ng6 14. b4 a6 $5 (
14... Be8 {was played in Botvinnik - Kmoch, Leningrad 1934.}) 15. Re1 Nf4 16.
Bf1 Be8 17. g3 Nh5 $6 ({The alternative is} 17... Ng6) 18. Ne5 $1 Rf6 $6 19.
Bg2 Rh6 $6 {There will be no attack.} 20. f3 Ng5 $6 ({Preferable is} 20... Nxc3
21. Rxc3 a5) 21. Qd2 $1 Nf7 $2 {The black pieces hinder each other.} (21... f4
22. g4 Nf6 {saves a knight.}) 22. g4 $1 Qh4 23. Nxf7 Bxf7 24. gxh5 Rxh5 25. h3
Rg5 26. Ne2 h6 27. Qf4 {White has an extra piece.} 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kavalek scored well until he met Tarjan.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3
d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. e4 Ndb4 10. a3 cxd4 11. axb4
dxc3 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Be3 b6 14. Qe2 Bb7 $5 (14... e5 {
drew in Kortschnoj - Portisch, Wijk aan Zee 1978.}) 15. Rab1 Rfd8 16. Rfc1 Rac8
17. h4 Bf6 18. c4 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. c5 bxc5 21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. Rxc5 Qb6 23.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Qc2 Bb7 25. Qc5 h5 26. Qxb6 $6 ({Better is} 26. Qxh5 $1 Rxb4 27.
Rxb4 Qxb4 28. Qe5 a5 29. Qb8+ Kh7 30. Qc7 f6 31. Qf7 {and equality.}) 26...
axb6 27. f3 f5 28. exf5 exf5 29. f4 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 Kf7 {
Black has the active rook.} 31. Kf2 Ke6 32. Ke3 $2 (32. Rc1 $1 {(Tarjan)} Rxb4
33. Rc7 g6 34. Rc6+ {draws.}) 32... Kd5 33. Rc1 $2 {
White sacrifices a pawn at the wrong time.} ({Better is} 33. Rb2 $1 Re4+ 34.
Kd3 g6 $1 35. Rb3 Rd4+ 36. Kc3 Rd1 37. Kc2 Rg1 38. Re3 {
but Black has a great advantage.}) 33... Rxb4 {He gained a pawn.} 34. Rc7 g6
35. Rd7+ Kc6 $1 36. Rg7 Re4+ 37. Kd3 Re6 $1 {Black has a won rook ending.} 38.
Kd4 b5 $1 39. Rg8 Rd6+ 40. Kc3 Kd5 41. Kd3 Kc5+ 42. Kc2 Kc4 43. Rc8+ Kd4 44.
Re8 Rc6+ 45. Kd2 b4 46. Rb8 Kc4 47. Kc2 Ra6 $1 48. Rc8+ Kd4 49. Rb8 Ra2+ 50.
Kd1 Rg2 51. Rxb4+ Ke3 52. Rb3+ Kf2 $1 53. Kd2 Rxg3 54. Rb6 Rg4 55. Re6 Rxf4 $5
56. Rxg6 Rd4+ 57. Kc3 Rxh4 58. Rg5 f4 59. Kd3 f3 60. Rf5 Rg4 61. Rxh5 Kg2 62.
Rf5 f2 {Tarjan competed at the top.} 0-1

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mednis, Edmar"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "179"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8.
Bg5 a6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Na3 Be6 11. Nc4 Rc8 12. Ne3 Ne7 13. Bd3 Qb6 14. O-O
Qxb2 15. Ncd5 Bxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Qd4 18. Qf3 Ke7 19. a4 $5 (19. Rab1
Rc7 20. Rb3 Bh6 {occurred in Bely - Brinck Claussen, Hastings1963.}) 19... Rc7
20. Rfd1 Qc3 21. Rab1 Qa5 22. Qe4 {White has the initiative.} Bh6 23. Rb3 Bd2
24. Rdb1 Rb8 25. Rb6 Bc3 26. Rxa6 $1 bxa6 $2 (26... Qc5 $1 27. Rab6 Bd4 28. Qf3
Qxb6 $1 29. Rxb6 Bxb6 {keeps the equality.}) 27. Rxb8 {
White has regained the pawn.} Bd4 28. g3 h6 29. Kg2 Ba7 $2 (29... Qd2 $1 {
counters timely.}) 30. Rh8 $1 Rb7 31. Qf3 $1 Qd2 32. Bxa6 $2 {
White misses the decisive blow.} (32. Rh7 $1 Qg5 33. h4 Qg8 34. Qf5 {
wins quickly.}) 32... Rb8 33. Rxb8 Bxb8 34. Qb3 Bc7 35. Bd3 Qa5 36. Qb7 Qb6 37.
Qxb6 Bxb6 {
White has an extra pawn in the ending of bishops of a different colour.} 38. f3
Kd8 39. Kh3 Ke7 40. Kg4 Kf8 41. Kf5 Ke7 42. Bb5 Bg1 43. h3 Bf2 44. g4 Be1 45.
Bc6 Bf2 46. Bb7 Be1 47. Ke4 Bf2 48. Bc8 Kd8 49. Bf5 Be1 50. Bh7 Kd7 51. Kd3 Kd8
52. Kc4 Kc7 53. Kb5 Bg3 54. a5 Be1 55. Bd3 Bh4 56. Be4 Be1 57. Ka6 Bh4 58. Bh7
Bg5 59. Bg8 $1 {He has lured away the black king and can capture a second pawn.
} Bd2 60. Bxf7 Bc3 61. Bg6 Be1 62. Bf5 Bc3 63. Kb5 Be1 64. a6 Bf2 65. Kc4 Kb6
66. Bc8 Kc7 67. Bb7 Kd8 68. Kd3 Ke7 69. Ke4 Bb6 70. Bc8 Bc5 71. Be6 Kf8 72. Kf5
Kg7 73. c3 Bf2 74. Bg8 $1 {He opens the road for the king.} Bc5 75. Ke6 $1 Kxg8
76. Kxf6 Kh7 77. Kf7 Bf2 78. h4 Bc5 79. g5 hxg5 80. hxg5 Bb6 81. g6+ Kh6 82. g7
Kg5 83. g8=Q+ Kf4 84. Qg4+ Ke3 85. Qg1+ Kxf3 86. Qxb6 e4 87. a7 e3 88. a8=Q e2
89. Qe8 e1=Q 90. Qxe1 {Black overstepped the time limit.} 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lein, Anatoly"]
[Black "Regan, Kenneth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 Bb7 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. b3
Nbd7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bb2 a6 11. a3 $5 (11. Nh4 g6 12. g3 {
was played in Gunsberg - Chigorin, Havana 1890.}) 11... c5 12. Ne2 c4 $2 {
Regan takes the initiative, but the attack goes to Lein, eventually. Black
should have made a quiet positional move.} 13. bxc4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxf3 15. gxf3
Bxh2+ $1 16. Kg2 $1 {He clears the h-file for his rooks.} (16. Kxh2 Qc7+ 17.
Ng3 Qxc4 18. e4 {advances in the centre.}) 16... Bb8 (16... b5 $5 17. Bd3 $1
Bc7 18. a4 {also favours White.}) 17. Rh1 $1 b5 18. Bb3 Re8 19. Rh3 $1 Nf8 20.
Qd3 Ne6 21. Rah1 {Three heavy pieces are aimed on h7.} h6 $5 22. Qf5 Ng5 $2 ({
Correct is} 22... g6 $1 23. Qc2 h5 24. d5 Nf8 25. Nd4 $1 Qc7 {
and Black tries to survive.}) 23. Rxh6 ({The alternative is} 23. Qxg5 $1 hxg5
24. Rh8#) 23... gxh6 24. Rxh6 Nfh7 25. Rxh7 Nxh7 26. Bxf7+ Kf8 ({Or} 26... Kg7
27. d5+ Be5 28. Bxe8 Bxb2 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30. Nf4 $1) 27. Bxe8+ Kxe8 28. Qe4+ {
Lein regains the rook and has three extra pawns. He took the lead but fell
back later.} 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Regan, Kenneth"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. a4 Nc6 5. d3 g6 6. Nbd2 Bg7 7. Nc4 Nf6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 Ne8 $5 10. Bd2 e5 $5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. b4 $5 cxb4 13. Bxb4 Be6 14.
Qd2 h6 15. Rab1 c5 16. Ba3 Bd7 17. a5 Bc8 $5 18. Nfxe5 $5 dxe5 19. Bxc5 Qc7 20.
Bxf8 Bxf8 {
Black has two bishops for a rook and two pawns. The chances are about equal.}
21. Ne3 Nf6 22. Nd5 $6 ({Preferable is} 22. c4 Bc5 23. Rec1 Ba6) 22... Nxd5 23.
exd5 Bf5 $1 24. Rb3 h5 25. Reb1 $2 {The rook should protect square e4.} e4 $1
26. Rb7 Qe5 27. dxe4 Bxe4 28. Rd1 Bd6 $1 29. g3 Qf5 {
Black has a decisive attack.} 30. Qc3 Rc8 31. Qe3 Rxc2 32. Rd4 Bc5 33. Rb8+ Kh7
$1 {White will be mated soon.} 0-1

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Black "Benko, Pal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 a6 7. g5 Nfd7 8. Be3
b5 9. a3 Nb6 10. Rg1 N8d7 11. f4 Bb7 12. f5 e5 13. Ne6 $6 {
Shamkovich springs a special novelty.} ({Theory is} 13. Nb3 {
(Balashov - Malich, Leipzig 1973).}) 13... fxe6 14. Qh5+ g6 $4 {
The tables turn.} ({Correct is} 14... Ke7 $1 15. fxe6 Kxe6 16. Bh3+ Ke7 17. Rf1
Qe8 $1 18. g6 Kd8 $1 19. Rf7 Be7 {
and Black has an advantage (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 15. fxg6 Ke7 16. gxh7 Bg7
17. O-O-O Qe8 18. g6 $1 Nf6 19. Qxe5 $1 Qc6 ({The pointe is} 19... dxe5 20.
Bc5#) 20. Rxd6 Qxd6 21. Bc5 Rad8 22. Bh3 Bc8 23. Bxd6+ Rxd6 24. Qg5 e5 25.
Qxe5+ Be6 26. Bxe6 Rxe6 27. Qc5+ Ke8 28. Qf5 Re7 29. Rd1 Nfd7 30. Nd5 Nxd5 31.
Qxd5 Be5 32. Qc6 Kd8 33. Rd5 Rf8 34. Qa8+ {White wins even more material.} 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Commons, Kim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nc6 7. Qd2 e6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 b5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. h3 O-O 14. g4 Rfc8 $6
({Usual is} 14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 b4) 15. Rhg1 $6 {
The g-pawn should advance immediately.} Nxd4 16. Bxd4 b4 $1 17. Ne2 e5 18. g5
$1 hxg5 $2 ({Better is} 18... exd4 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. f5 Kh8 21. Nf4 a5) 19.
fxe5 $1 Nh7 $2 (19... Ne8 20. exd6 Qxd6 21. Be3 f6 {defends the kingside.}) 20.
exd6 Qxd6 21. h4 $1 g4 22. e5 Qc6 23. Nf4 Nf8 24. Qe2 {
White is going to charge the king.} Qh6 25. Be3 Bc5 26. Nd5 $1 Bxe3 27. Nxe3 a5
$6 ({Or} 27... Qh5 28. Nxg4 Kh8 29. Qe4 a5 30. Rdf1) 28. Bf5 $1 Be6 (28... Bxf5
29. Nxf5 Qe6 30. Qxg4 g6 31. h5 {wins for White (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 29.
Nxg4 Qf4 30. Nf6+ $1 {Kavalek played like a young man and led.} (30. Nf6+ Kh8
31. Qh5+ Qh6 32. Qxh6+ gxh6 33. Rg8# {ends the game.}) 1-0

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Lombardy, William"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c6 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a4 $5 ({
Usual is} 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne5) 7... a5 8. O-O Na6 9. h3 O-O {
Black has an edge, as a result of the opening.} 10. Ne5 Be6 11. e4 Qc8 $5 12.
Kh2 Rd8 13. Qe2 $1 Rxd4 14. Be3 c5 $1 (14... Rd8 $5 15. Nxc4 {allows a counter.
}) 15. Bxd4 (15. f4 $5 Nb4 $1 16. f5 gxf5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Rxf5
{starts activity on the kingside.}) 15... cxd4 {He controls the centre.} 16.
Nd5 d3 17. Qf3 $2 (17. Qe3 $1 {(protects e5 indirectly)} Bxd5 18. exd5 Nb4 19.
Qf4 {keeps on fighting.}) 17... Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxe5 19. dxe6 Qxe6 {
Tarjan gains a material plus.} 20. Rae1 Rd8 21. Qxb7 d2 $1 22. Rd1 $6 Nc5 23.
Qb5 Nb3 $1 24. Rb1 Bxb2 25. Rxb2 d1=Q 26. Rxd1 Rxd1 {He has an extra pawn.} 27.
Rc2 Nd4 28. Qe8+ Kg7 29. Rb2 Nb3 30. h4 h5 31. Qb8 Kh7 32. Qf4 Rd4 33. Qf3 Rd2
34. Rxd2 Nxd2 35. Qc3 Qe2 36. Qxa5 Qxf2 37. Qc3 Nf1+ 38. Kh1 Nxg3+ 39. Kh2 Nf1+
40. Kh1 Ne3 $1 41. Bb7 Qf1+ {Tarjan would achieve the second place.} ({
He will play} 41... Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ 43. Kg3 Qf2+ 44. Kh3 Qh2#) 0-1

[Event "Pasadena"]
[Site "USA 26"]
[Date "1978.06.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Black "Lombardy, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1978.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shamkovich occupied the third place, half-a-point before Mednis. When Mednis
played a quick draw, Shamkovich needed a draw too.} 1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3
Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. b3 Re8 9. e3 c6 10. a4 Nf8 $5
11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 {Shamkovich wants to exchange.} 13. Bb2 e4 14. Nd4
a5 15. Ba3 Re8 16. Rad1 N8d7 17. h3 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 {The chances are equal.}
19. g4 h6 20. Nde2 $2 ({More solid is} 20. Rd2 Nc5 21. Nce2 Ra6 22. Rb1) 20...
Nc5 $1 21. Ng3 $6 Ra6 $1 22. Rd6 Ke7 $1 23. Rdd1 $5 (23. Rfd1 Rb6 24. Ncxe4
Nfxe4 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxb3 {also favours Black.}) 23... Rb6 {
Pawn b3 has become a weak target.} 24. Rb1 Rxb3 25. Rxb3 Nxb3 26. Ngxe4 Nxe4
27. Nxe4 Rd8 $5 28. c5 Be6 29. Rb1 Rd7 30. h4 f5 $1 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Bh3 $1
fxe4 33. Bxe6 Nd2 $1 {Exchange leads to white opportunities in the rook ending.
} 34. Bxd7 Nxb1 35. Bc8 Nc3 36. Bxb7 Kd7 37. Ba6 Nxa4 38. Kf1 Nxc5 {
Black has gained a pawn in the knight versus bishop ending.} 39. Bc4 Kd6 40.
Ke2 Nd7 41. Kd2 Ne5 42. Be2 c5 43. Kc3 c4 $1 44. Bf1 {
Capture on c4 brings a lost pawn ending.} Kc5 45. Bg2 Nf3 46. h5 a4 47. Bh3 a3
48. Be6 Nd2 $1 49. Kc2 Kb4 50. Bd5 Nb3 51. Kb1 c3 {The final standings became:
Kavalek 10/14, Tarjan 9, Shamkovich and Mednis 8, R.Byrne, Lein and Weinstein
71/2, Rogoff 7, Lombardy and Benko 61/2, Soltis and Zuckerman 6, Christiansen
51/2, Commons and Regan 5. A prize-fund of $25,000 was available.   Shamkovich
and Mednis had to carry out a playoff, but Mednis did not accept the financial
conditions. So Kavalek, Tarjan and Shamkovich qualified for the interzonal
tournaments.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Biyiasas, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{One year was skipped again. The twenty-seventh US championship was played in
Greenville from 11 until 29 vi 1980. The first prize was $5000. Evans took the
place of Kavalek. The number of participants dropped to thirteen, when Marc
Diesen fell of the stairs.} 1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 d5 3. Nf3 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O
6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b5 9. b3 Ba6 10. Bb2 bxc4 11. bxc4 Rb8 12. Rab1
Bb4 $5 ({Known is} 12... Qa5) 13. Rfc1 Nb6 14. c5 $1 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 Nc4 16. Nxc4
Bxc4 17. Bc3 Nd7 $5 18. e4 $1 Qc7 19. Bd2 Rxb1 20. Rxb1 Rb8 21. Re1 Rb5 $5 22.
h3 $5 Nb8 $5 23. a4 Rb7 24. Bf4 Qc8 25. Qc3 Qd8 26. Bd6 Rb3 27. Qd2 Na6 {
White has the initiative.} 28. exd5 cxd5 29. Re3 Rb1+ 30. Re1 Rb3 31. Re3 Rb1+
32. Re1 Rb4 (32... Rb3 33. f4 $1 Qf6 34. f5 Nb4 {leads to a black defence.})
33. Qf4 (33. f4 $1 Rxa4 34. f5 Ra2 35. Qf4 {brings a white attack.}) 33... Qc8
34. Be5 Nb8 35. Qg5 Qf8 36. Bd6 h6 $4 (36... Qe8 37. f4 h6 38. Qg4 Nd7 39. f5
Nf6 {offers a strong resistance.}) 37. Qd2 $1 {Christiansen gains material.}
1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Bradford, Joseph"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2305"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O c5 8. a3
Ba5 $5 9. Qc2 cxd4 10. exd4 Bc7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Re1 b6 13. Nf1 h6 14. Bd2 Bb7
15. Bb4 Re8 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Re1 Ndf6 $6 (17... Nd6 $1 {
prevents the next move.}) 18. Be7 Qd7 $6 (18... Qc8 19. Bf5 Qb8 {
avoids the following weakening.}) 19. Bf5 Qc6 20. Qxc6 Bxc6 21. Bxf6 gxf6 $5 ({
The pointe is} 21... Nxf6 $4 22. Rc1) 22. Ne3 Bf4 23. Bd3 Nd6 24. Rc1 Ba4 25.
g3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Re8 27. Kf2 Re7 28. Nh4 Kf8 29. Nf5 Nxf5 30. Rc8+ Re8 31. Bxf5
Rxc8 32. Bxc8 {Black has weaknesses in the bishop ending.} Ke7 33. Kf3 Bd1+ 34.
Kf4 Be2 35. Bg4 Bd3 36. Bf5 Be2 37. Bc2 Ke6 38. h3 Bf1 39. h4 Be2 40. Bf5+ Ke7
41. Bc2 Ke6 42. Bf5+ Ke7 43. Bg4 Bb5 44. Bf3 Bc6 45. Kg4 Kf8 $1 46. Kf5 Ke7 47.
Kf4 Ke8 48. b4 Ke7 49. Bg2 a5 50. bxa5 bxa5 51. Bf3 Bb7 52. Bh1 Bc6 53. Bg2 Bb7
54. Bh1 Bc6 55. Bf3 Bb7 56. Kg4 Kf8 57. Kf5 Ke7 58. e4 $1 {
White tries to take the fortress.} dxe4 59. Bxe4 Bc8+ 60. Kf4 Kd6 61. Ke3 Be6
62. Kd3 Bb3 63. Kc3 Ba2 64. Bd3 Be6 65. Be4 Bc8 66. Kd2 Be6 67. Ke3 Bc4 68. Kf4
Be6 69. Bf3 Bd7 70. d5 $5 {He wants to make progress.} Bc8 71. Ke4 Bd7 $2 (
71... f5+ $1 72. Kf4 f6 {creates an impregnable fort.}) 72. Bh5 $1 f5+ 73. Kf4
Kxd5 $6 (73... Ke7 $5 74. Ke5 f6+ 75. Kf4 Kd6 76. Bf7 Bc8 77. h5 $1 Ke7 78. Be6
$1 Bxe6 79. dxe6 Kxe6 80. a4 $1 Ke7 81. Kxf5 Kf7 82. g4 $1 {
wins for White in the pawn ending.}) 74. Bxf7+ Kd4 75. Bg6 Kc3 {
Browne triumphed in the endgame by patient manoeuvring.} (75... Kc3 76. Bxf5
Be8 77. g4 Kb3 78. h5 Kxa3 79. Bg6 Bb5 80. g5 $1 {wins for White.}) 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. O-O cxd4 8.
exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. Qd3 b6 $5 ({The alternative is} 10... a6) 11. a3 Be7
12. Be3 Bb7 13. Rac1 Ng4 $6 ({More solid is} 13... a6 14. a4 Re8 {
(R.Byne and Mednis).}) 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bg3 $1 h5 $2 (15... exd4 16. Qxd4 Ndf6
17. h3 Nh6 {almost equalises.}) 16. Qf5 $1 exd4 17. Nxd4 Ndf6 18. Rfd1 $1 {
White controls the central area.} Qc8 19. Ncb5 Bc5 20. b4 $1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 $6
Nh6 $6 {Both players miss the main threat for one move.} 22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23.
Rc7+ Kg8 24. Qg6 Qxc7 25. Bxc7 Be4 26. Qg5 Nf7 27. Qg3 Rfe8 28. f3 Bh7 29. Nc6
g5 30. h4 g4 31. Qf4 Re6 32. Nd8 Nxd8 33. Bxd8 {
Browne overstepped the time limit in a lost position. Christiansen scored well.
} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Zaltsman, Vitaly"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E99"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Vitaly Zaltsman came from the Soviet Union.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4.
e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2
Nf6 12. f3 f4 13. c5 g5 14. Rc1 Ng6 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nf2 h5 17. h3 Rf7 18. a4
Bf8 19. Nb5 Rg7 20. Rc3 Nh4 21. Be1 a6 22. Na3 Bd7 23. a5 Rc8 24. Nc4 Bb5 25.
Nb6 Rxc3 26. Bxc3 {They know the theory of the King's Indian Defence very well.
} Qe8 $5 (26... Be8 {was played in Litinskaya - Chiburdanidze, Tbilisi 1976.})
27. Nc4 ({The alternative is} 27. Qc2 $5 g4 28. fxg4 Bxe2 29. Qxe2 Qg6 30. Be1)
27... Qg6 28. Qd3 Be7 29. Bb4 g4 $1 30. fxg4 hxg4 31. hxg4 $5 ({More active is
} 31. Bxg4 $1 Bd7 32. Qe2) 31... Bd7 $1 32. Qd1 $2 ({Right is} 32. Qh3 $1 Nxe4
33. Nxe5 $1 Nxf2 34. Rxf2 dxe5 35. Bxe7 Nxg2 $1 36. Rxg2 Rxe7 37. Rh2 $1 {
and White counters.}) 32... Nxe4 33. Nxe4 Qxe4 34. Rf2 Qg6 35. Nb6 Bxg4 36.
Bxg4 Qxg4 37. Qxg4 Rxg4 38. Nc8 Bg5 $1 39. Bxd6 e4 $1 {Evans attacked strongly.
} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Evans, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B74"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Nb3 Be6 11. f4 Na5 12. f5 Bc4 13. Bd3 $5 ({
The alternative is} 13. e5 Bxe2 14. Qxe2) 13... Rc8 14. Nd2 $6 (14. Kh1 $5 Nxb3
15. cxb3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 {will be played in future games.}) 14... Bxd3 15. cxd3
d5 $1 16. Nf3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Nc4 18. Bd4 Ng4 $1 {Evans takes the initiative.}
19. Nd5 Bxd4+ $1 20. Qxd4 e6 21. h3 $6 ({Preferable is} 21. fxe6 fxe6 22. h3
exd5 23. hxg4 dxe4 24. Qxe4) 21... exd5 22. hxg4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Qb6+ 24. Kh1
Rfe8 $6 (24... Ne3 $1 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. Rfc1 Rce8 {
gains more advantage (R.Byrne and Mednis).}) 25. Qf4 Qe3 26. Qh2 Ne5 27. Qh4 $5
Nxf3 28. Rxf3 Rc1+ 29. Rf1 Rxa1 30. Rxa1 Qf4 31. Re1 $5 Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Qxg4 33.
fxg6 hxg6 {Black has achieved a pawn.} 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Qe5+ Kh7 36. Qc7 Qd1+
37. Kh2 Qd5 38. a5 g5 39. Qe7 Kg6 40. b4 Kf5 41. Kg1 Kf4 42. Kh2 Kf5 43. Kg1 f6
44. Kf2 Qd4+ 45. Kf1 Qf4+ 46. Kg1 Qe4 47. Qh7+ Kf4 48. Qh2+ $2 (48. Qc7+ Kg4
49. Qc3 {stops the king's transfer to the queenside.}) 48... Ke3 $1 49. Qd6 f5
$5 (49... Qd4 $1 {wins more quickly.}) 50. Qd1 g4 51. Qb3+ Kd4 52. Qb2+ Kc4 53.
Kh2 Kb5 54. Qd2 f4 55. Qd7+ Kxb4 56. Qxg4 Kxa5 {Evans competed at the top.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Seirawan was a new talent from Seattle.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2
Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2
O-O 12. Qe3 Qc7 13. Nd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Ne5 15. f3 $5 Qb7 16. Rd2 Rfc8 17. h3 Rc7
18. a4 Nfd7 19. Nb1 Bf6 20. Na3 h5 21. Rb1 h4 22. Ndc2 Be7 23. gxh4 Ng6 24. h5
Nh4+ 25. Kh1 Nf5 26. Qg1 Nf6 27. Nd4 Nh6 28. Nxe6 $2 {
Seirawan overestimates his chances.} ({Better is} 28. e4 $1 e5 29. Ne2) 28...
fxe6 29. Qg6 Kh8 $1 30. Rg1 Rg8 31. Rxd6 $2 (31. e4 Qc8 32. Nc2 e5 33. Kh2 Qe8
34. Rdg2 {offers more resistance.}) 31... Bxd6 32. Bxf6 Bf4 $1 33. Bc3 e5 34.
Nc2 Qc8 35. Kg2 Nf5 36. Kf2 Rc6 37. Qg4 Rc5 38. e3 Bh6 39. e4 Ne7 40. Nb4 Qd8
41. Qe6 a5 42. Nd5 Nxd5 43. exd5 Qh4+ 44. Kg2 Be3 45. Rf1 Bf4 46. Qg4 Qf6 47.
Kf2 Rd8 48. Rd1 Rc7 49. Ke2 Rf7 50. Kd3 Qd6 51. Re1 Rdf8 52. Kc2 Rf5 {
Browne played many decided games.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. c4 Ngf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 a6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. b3 Qa5 $5 13. f3 e6 14. Nde2 Qb4
$2 ({An improvement will become} 14... Rfd8 $1 15. Qd2 b5) 15. a3 $1 {
Shamkovich starts promising tactics.} Qa5 (15... Qxa3 $4 16. Ra1 Qb4 17. Ra4 {
costs a queen.}) 16. Qxd6 Rfd8 17. Qb4 $1 Qc7 18. Na4 Bf8 19. c5 b5 20. cxb6
Qxc1 $1 21. Qxf8+ $1 Kxf8 22. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23. Nxc1 {
White has a bishop and two pawns for a rook. He attacks on the queenside.} Nb8
24. Kf2 Nfd7 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. b4 Rc8 27. Bc5+ $1 Nxc5 28. bxc5 Rd8 29. Nd3 Nc6
30. Ke3 Kd7 31. Nab2 f6 32. Nc4 Ra8 33. f4 a5 34. g4 h6 35. g5 $5 hxg5 36. fxg5
e5 $2 ({Not} 36... fxg5 $2 37. Nde5+ Nxe5 38. Nxe5+ Kc8 39. c6 {
(R.Byrne and Mednis)}) (36... Ke7 $1 37. h4 e5 {defends properly.}) 37. gxf6
Ke6 38. f7 $1 Rh8 39. h4 Kf6 40. b7 Ke6 41. Ndxe5 $1 {
Shamkovich got a prize for this endgame.} ({The pointe is} 41. Ndxe5 Nxe5 42.
Nxe5 Kxe5 43. Kd3 $1 Ke6 44. Kc4 Kxf7 45. c6) 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lein, Anatoly"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 a6 4. g3 $5 b5 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. Nge2 Nd7 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Nd5 {White gains no advantage in the special  opening.} c6 9. Ne3 Ngf6 10. h3
O-O 11. c3 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Bd2 Ned7 15. Rfe1 c5 16. f3 $6 {
He plays passively.} d5 $1 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Nf4 Ne5 20. Re3 $6 {
White should exchange.} Bc6 $1 21. Nd3 Qd6 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. g4 $6 Rd5 24. Re2
Rd8 25. Be3 Rd3 26. Rae1 c4 27. a3 Qg3 28. Bf2 Qb8 29. Bh4 f6 30. Rf1 g5 31.
Be1 Qf4 32. Re6 Rc8 33. Qf2 Bf8 34. Qg3 Kf7 35. Qxf4 gxf4 36. Re2 Rcd8 37. Bf2
$5 Bxf3 38. Bxf3 Rxf3 39. Kg2 Rdd3 40. Kh1 $2 (40. h4 Bd6 41. Re4 Be5 42. Rfe1
{defends properly.}) 40... Bd6 41. Rc2 Ke6 {Seirawan joined the leaders.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. Nd5 $5 ({Theory is} 10. g4 Nb6 11. g5 Nfd7) 10... Bxd5 11.
exd5 Nb6 12. Bxb6 Qxb6 13. Na5 $5 ({An improvement will become} 13. a4 $1)
13... Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Qxa5+ 15. c3 Rc8 $1 16. a4 Be7 17. Ra2 Qb6 $1 18. axb5 {
White has regained the pawn.} a5 $1 {Peters has problems with his development.}
19. Ra4 $6 O-O 20. Kd1 Rc5 21. Qd2 d5 $1 22. Bd3 f5 $1 {
Black has the initiative.} 23. Re1 e4 $1 24. Bf1 Bf6 25. fxe4 dxe4 $5 26. Kc2
Rd8 27. Qe3 h6 $1 28. Rc4 $6 ({Preferable is} 28. Bc4+ $1 Kh7 29. Qe2 Bg5 30.
Rd1) 28... Rxb5 29. Qxb6 Rxb6 {He has gained a pawn.} 30. Rc5 Bg5 31. Bc4+ Kh7
32. Bd5 $2 {Peters choses a fragile defence.} ({Browne suggests} 32. Re2 $1
Rbd6 33. Rxf5 Rd2+ 34. Kb3) 32... a4 $1 33. Ra5 e3 $1 34. Re2 Rdb8 35. Rxa4 $5
Rxb2+ 36. Kd3 Rxe2 37. Kxe2 Rb2+ {Browne, Christiansen, Evans and Seirawan
shared the lead at the end of the penultimate round.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 27"]
[Date "1980.06.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Zaltsman, Vitaly"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1980.06.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The leaders Browne, Christiansen and Evans drew their games in the last round.
So the final result depended on Seirawan.} 1. d4 d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nf3
e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Nc3 c6 8. Be3 $5 Na6 9. O-O-O+ Kc7 10. Ng5 Nh6
11. f4 f6 12. Nge4 Nf5 $6 (12... f5 $1 13. Nd6 Ng4 14. Bg1 exf4 15. gxf4 Be6 {
equalises.}) 13. Bd2 h6 14. h4 Be6 15. g4 $1 Ne7 16. fxe5 fxe5 17. g5 h5 18.
Nf6 $1 {White has a positional edge.} Rhf8 19. Nce4 Nd5 20. c4 $1 Nxf6 21. gxf6
Bxf6 22. Nxf6 Rxf6 23. Bc3 Rf7 24. Bxe5+ Kb6 25. Bd4+ c5 $2 ({Correct is} 25...
Kc7 $1 {(Soltis)} 26. b3 Re8 27. e4 c5) 26. Be5 $1 {
Seirawan suffers from restriction.} Rd7 27. Rxd7 Bxd7 28. Rd1 Bc6 29. Bxc6 $1
bxc6 30. Rg1 Re8 31. Rg5 Nc7 32. Kd2 Re6 33. e4 Ne8 34. Ke3 Kb7 $5 35. Kf4 Kc8
36. Rg3 Nd6 37. Bxd6 Rxd6 38. Ke5 {
White is going to win a pawn in the rook ending.} Rd2 39. Rxg6 Rxb2 $6 ({Or} 
39... Kc7 $5 40. a4 a5 41. Rg7+ Kb6 42. b3 Rd3 43. Ke6 {
and the e-pawn will decide the game.}) 40. Rxc6+ Kd7 41. Ra6 Rh2 42. Kd5 Rxh4
43. Rxa7+ Ke8 44. a4 Rh1 45. Kxc5 Kf8 46. Rd7 Re1 47. a5 Ra1 48. Kb6 Rb1+ 49.
Kc6 Ra1 50. Rd5 h4 51. Rh5 Ke7 52. Rxh4 Rxa5 53. c5 Ra4 54. Kc7 Ra7+ 55. Kb6
Ra1 56. c6 Rb1+ 57. Kc7 Rb2 58. Kc8 Rb4 59. c7 Rb5 60. Rh7+ Ke8 61. Rd7 Rb1 62.
Rd5 Ke7 63. Re5+ Kd6 64. Re8 Rc1 65. e5+ Kc6 66. Re6+ Kd5 67. Rb6 {Zaltsman wil
l play 68.Kb7 and 69.c8Q.   The final standings became: Browne, Christiansen
and Evans 71/2/12, Seirawan and Shamkovich 7, Lein and Zaltsman 6, Benko,
Biyiasas, Bradford, R.Byrne and Peters 5, Bisguier 41/2. There was no playoff.
So the championship was shared.} 1-0

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The twenty-eighth US championship was played in South Bend, Indiana from 9
until 30 vii 1981. It was a zonal tournament. The new Soviet immigrants were
Alburt, Kogan and Kudrin. Evans withdrew after two losses. It was his sad
farewell to the event.} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6.
Bb3 a5 7. a4 Bg7 8. Ng5 e6 9. f4 dxe5 10. fxe5 c5 11. c3 $5 (11. O-O O-O 12. c3
{happened in Kasparov - Palatnik, Daugavpils 1978.}) 11... cxd4 12. O-O O-O 13.
cxd4 Nc6 14. Nf3 f6 15. exf6 ({The alternative will become} 15. Nc3 $5) 15...
Qxf6 16. Be3 Nd5 17. Bf2 Nf4 $5 18. Nbd2 Qf5 19. Kh1 $1 Qg4 (19... Nd3 $2 20.
Be3 Nxb2 {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} 21. Qe1 $1 Nd3 22. Qg3 {favours White.}) 20.
Bg3 Nh5 $2 {Albert makes way for a centre attack.} ({Better is} 20... Bd7 $1
21. Nc4 Nd5 {and White only has a plus.}) 21. Bd6 $1 Re8 22. Nc4 $1 Ra6 23. d5
$1 exd5 $6 (23... Nd4 24. Nxd4 Qxd4 25. Bc7 Qxd5 26. Nd6 Qxd1 27. Raxd1 Rxd6
28. Rxd6 Bxb2 {offers more resistance.}) 24. Qxd5+ Be6 25. Qb5 Raa8 ({Or} 25...
Ra7 $6 26. Nce5 $1) 26. Rae1 Kh8 27. Nce5 $1 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Qh4 29. Nxg6+ $5
hxg6 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. Bxe6 Qd4 32. Qxb7 {White has gained two pawns.} Rd8 33.
Bc7 Re8 34. Qc6 Re7 35. Bd6 $1 Qd3 36. Bc4 Qe4 37. Qxe4 Rxe4 38. b3 Nf6 39. h3
Re3 40. Bc5 Re8 41. Kg1 Ne4 42. Bb6 Rb8 43. Be3 Ng3 44. Re1 Nf5 45. Ba7 Rb7 46.
Bf2 Kh7 47. g4 Ne7 48. Re6 Bc3 49. Kg2 Bb4 50. Rf6 Rd7 51. Rf7+ Kh8 52. Bh4
Rd2+ 53. Kf3 Ng8 54. Be1 Rd8 55. Bxb4 axb4 56. a5 Nh6 57. Rb7 Rf8+ 58. Ke4 Re8+
59. Kd4 g5 60. Bb5 Ra8 61. a6 {Kavalek made a great start.} 1-0

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 {Kudrin avoids the sharp lines.} Be7 5.
O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bc2 c5 9. Re1 b5 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. Nf1 Nb6 $5 12.
Ng3 Re8 13. h3 Nc6 14. d4 cxd4 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 g6 18. Nh5
$5 {Suddenly Kudrin strikes in a risky way.} (18. Bd3 Bf6 19. Qb4 {
keeps an edge.}) 18... gxh5 19. e5 $5 Bf6 $2 ({Right is} 19... Bh4 $1 20. Bf4 (
20. Qe4 $2 f5 $1) 20... dxe5 21. Rxe5 $1 Qxd4 22. Rxe8+ Kg7 23. Be5+ Bf6 24.
Bxd4 Bxd4 {and Black has an advantage.}) 20. Qe4 $1 Rxe5 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Bh6+
$2 (22. Rxe5 $1 Bxe5 23. Bh6+ Ke8 24. Qg8+ Kd7 25. Bf5+ Kc7 26. Rc1+ {
wins for White.}) 22... Ke7 $1 23. f4 Re6 24. Bf5 Qh8 $1 25. Bxe6 $1 {
Kudrin has a strong attack.} Bxe6 26. Rxe6+ $1 Kxe6 27. Re1+ $2 {
White misses a peaceful finish.} (27. f5+ $1 Kd7 28. Qxf7+ Kc6 29. Rc1+ Nc4 30.
Rxc4+ $1 bxc4 31. Qxc4+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 27... Be5 $1 28. Qc2 Qxh6
29. fxe5 Rc8 {Sammy has gained a knight.} 30. exd6+ Kxd6 $1 {
The king survives in the open field.} 31. Qd3+ Nd5 32. Rd1 Qg5 33. h4 $5 Qe5 $1
34. Qxb5 Qe3+ 35. Kh1 Qe4 $1 36. Qa6+ Rc6 37. Qa3+ Ke6 38. Qxa7 Rc2 $1 39. Qa6+
Ke5 40. Qf1 Re2 41. Rxd5+ $5 Kxd5 42. Qxf7+ Kd4 43. Qg7+ Qe5 44. Qd7+ Ke3 45.
Qd1 Qxb2 46. Qg1+ Ke4 {
The old Reshevsky fought like a young lion and competed among the leaders.} 0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bf4 Be7 8. e3
O-O 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 cxd4 12. exd4 Ne4 13. Re1 $5 ({Known is} 13.
Qb1 Ndf6 14. Rc1) 13... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bd6 {
Browne takes the initiative.} 16. Qh5 g6 $1 17. Qh6 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Qe7 19. Re3
Rad8 20. Bf5 $5 {He increases the pressure.} Bc8 $1 21. e6 $2 {
Walter overestimates his chances.} (21. Rh3 f6 22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. Re1 {
keeps the equality.}) 21... fxe6 22. Bxg6 $6 {Browne gives a bishop.} hxg6 23.
Qxg6+ Qg7 24. Qh5 Rf5 25. Qh4 Qf6 $1 {Black defends accurately.} 26. Rg3+ Kf8
$1 27. Qh7 Qf7 28. Qh6+ Ke8 29. Rg7 Rh5 30. Rxf7 Rxh6 31. Rxa7 {
White has two pawns for a piece in the endgame.} Bd7 32. f4 Rc8 33. Rb1 b5 34.
a4 bxa4 35. Rbb7 Rh7 36. Rxa4 Bxa4 37. Rxh7 Rxc3 38. h4 Bc2 39. Ra7 Be4 40. Kh2
Rc2 41. Rg7 d4 42. h5 d3 43. h6 d2 {This time, Kudrin won in a wild game.} 0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb4 6. Qb3 c5 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8.
Bxd2 Nc6 $5 (8... O-O 9. Rd1 Nc6 {drew in Torre - Alburt, Hastings 1980.}) 9.
d5 $6 ({The natural move is} 9. Bg2 $5) 9... Na5 10. Bxa5 bxa5 11. dxe6 fxe6 {
The black pawn centre has improved.} 12. Qc2 Rb8 13. Bh3 Qb6 14. O-O $5 Qxb2 {
Seirawan has won an insignificant pawn.} 15. Qd3 Qb3 16. Qd6 Qb6 17. Qf4 O-O
18. Rfd1 Bc8 $5 19. Nd2 Bb7 20. Rab1 Qc6 21. f3 a4 22. Rb5 Rbe8 23. Qe3 d6 24.
Qc3 e5 25. Bf5 e4 $1 26. Nxe4 Nxe4 27. Bxe4 Rxe4 28. fxe4 Qxe4 29. Rxb7 $1 Qxb7
30. Qd3 Rf6 $5 31. Rb1 Qa8 32. Qe3 Kf7 33. Qd3 h6 34. Rb5 Qc8 $5 35. Qd5+ Kg6
36. Qd3+ Qf5 37. Kg2 Re6 38. Qxf5+ $2 (38. Ra5 $1 Qxd3 39. exd3 Re3 40. Rxa4
Rxd3 41. Rxa7 Rd4 42. a4 $1 Rxc4 43. Rd7 $1 Rxa4 44. Rxd6+ {
leads to a defendable rook ending.}) 38... Kxf5 {
Yasser has a great advantage in the rook ending.} 39. Kf3 Re4 $1 40. Rb7 Rxc4
41. Rxg7 Rc3+ 42. e3 d5 43. Ke2 Rxa3 44. g4+ Ke5 45. Re7+ Kd6 46. Rxa7 Ra2+ 47.
Kf3 $5 (47. Kd3 c4+ $1 48. Kc3 Re2 49. Kd4 Rd2+ 50. Kc3 Rd3+ {wins for Black.})
47... c4 48. Ra6+ Kc5 49. Rxh6 c3 50. Rh8 a3 51. g5 Ra1 52. Ra8 a2 53. Kg2 Rb1
$1 {Seirawan played solid chess.} 0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Shamkovich, Leonid"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D22"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "213"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 a6 8. g4
Bg6 9. Ne5 Bd6 $5 ({Theory is} 9... Nbd7) 10. Qf3 $1 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Nfd7 $2 ({
Right is} 11... Nd5 $1 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Qxd5 Nc6 $1 {
and Black has counter-play for the pawn.}) 12. Qxb7 Nxe5 $5 {
Shamkovich tries to counter.} (12... Nb6 13. Be2 N8d7 {just loses a pawn.}) 13.
Qxa8 Nxc4 14. O-O O-O 15. Qg2 $1 f5 16. Rd1 Nd7 17. gxf5 $6 ({Better is} 17. b3
$5 Qf6 18. Rd4) 17... Bh5 $1 18. fxe6 $5 Bxd1 19. Qd5 $1 Bf3 $1 20. e7+ Bxd5
21. exd8=Q Rxd8 22. Nxd5 {White has kept an extra pawn after the exchanges.}
Ndb6 23. Nxb6 Rd1+ 24. Kg2 cxb6 25. b3 Nd6 26. Kf3 Rh1 27. Kg2 Rd1 28. Bb2 $1 {
Browne plays for a win, despite the restraint of his position.} Rd2 29. Bc3 Rc2
30. Be1 $6 Ne4 31. b4 $1 Nd6 32. Rd1 Nc4 33. Kf3 b5 $5 {
Capture of pawn a2 almost equalises.} 34. Rd8+ Kf7 35. Rd7+ Kg6 $2 {
Black misses an escape for the first time.} (35... Ke6 $1 36. Rxg7 $6 Ne5+ {
(Browne)} 37. Kg3 Rc1 38. Rxh7 Rxe1 {draws.}) 36. Ra7 $1 Rxa2 37. Bc3 $1 Ra3
38. Bd4 h5 39. Rxg7+ Kf5 40. Rf7+ Kg6 41. Rc7 Ra4 42. Kf4 Rxb4 43. Rc6+ Kf7 44.
Rxa6 Ra4 $1 45. Rh6 b4 46. Rxh5 b3 47. Rb5 b2 48. Rb8 $6 (48. h4 $1 Ra1 49.
Bxb2 Ra2 50. Bd4 Rxf2+ 51. Kg3 {wins for White.}) 48... Ke6 49. Kg3 $5 Ra8 $1
50. Rb4 Ra4 51. Rb8 Ra8 52. Rb4 Ra4 53. Rb7 $2 (53. Rb3 Ra3 54. Rb7 Ra1 55.
Bxb2 Rb1 56. Rb4 Nxb2 57. h4 {probably wins.}) 53... Nd6 $1 54. Rb6 b1=Q $1 55.
Rxb1 Nf5+ 56. Kg4 Nxd4 57. exd4 Rxd4+ {Shamkovich has achieved a theoretical
draw, but the ending of rook and two pawns against rook remains difficult.} 58.
f4 Rd2 $1 59. Rb6+ Kf7 $1 60. h4 Rd5 61. Rb7+ Kf6 62. h5 Rd1 63. Rb6+ Kg7 $1
64. Rb7+ Kh6 65. Rb6+ Kg7 66. Rg6+ Kf7 67. Ra6 Kg7 68. Kg5 Rg1+ $1 69. Kf5 Rb1
70. Rg6+ Kf7 71. Kg5 Rg1+ 72. Kh6 Rf1 73. Rg4 Kf6 74. Kh7 Kf7 75. h6 Rf2 $2 {
He misses the draw again.} ({Correct is} 75... Ra1 76. Rg7+ Kf6) 76. Rg7+ $1
Kf8 77. Kg6 $5 {The king goes into the wrong direction.} Rg2+ 78. Kf6 Rh2 79.
Rg6 $2 ({White can win by} 79. Kg6 Rg2+ 80. Kh7 Rf2 81. Ra7 $1 Rxf4 82. Kg6
Rg4+ 83. Kf6 $1 Rf4+ 84. Kg5 Rf1 85. Ra8+ $1 Kf7 86. h7) 79... Rh1 80. Ke6 Re1+
81. Kf5 Rh1 82. Kg5 Rg1+ 83. Kf6 Rh1 84. f5 Rh2 $1 85. Kg5 Rg2+ 86. Kf4 Rh2 $1
87. Kg5 Rg2+ 88. Kf4 Rh2 89. Ra6 Kg8 $2 {
The escape is missed for the third and last time.} (89... Kf7 90. h7 $5 Rxh7
91. Ra7+ Kf6 $1 92. Rxh7 {leads to stalemate.}) 90. Kg5 $1 Rg2+ 91. Kf6 Kh7 92.
Kf7 Rb2 93. Re6 $1 Rb5 94. f6 Rb8 95. Re8 Rb1 96. Ke7 Rb7+ 97. Ke6 Rb6+ 98. Kf5
Rb5+ 99. Re5 $1 Rb1 100. f7 Rf1+ 101. Ke6 Kg6 102. Rg5+ $1 Kxg5 103. h7 Re1+
104. Kd6 Rf1 ({Or} 104... Rd1+ 105. Ke7 Re1+ 106. Kf8 Rh1 107. Kg7) 105. h8=Q
Rxf7 106. Qg8+ Kf6 107. Qg4 $1 {
Browne came back after a poor start in the championship by an immense effort.}
1-0

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E41"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. d5 Ne7 7. d6 Nf5 $1 (7...
Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc6 {drew in Gligoric - Seirawan, Lone Pine 1981.}) 8. Qd3 b5 $1
{Browne makes a temporary sacrifice.} 9. cxb5 Bb7 10. Be2 Rc8 11. O-O c4 $1 {
He will regain the pawn.} 12. Qc2 Nxd6 13. Rd1 O-O 14. a3 $5 ({
My preference has} 14. Qa4 $1 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nfe4 16. Qb4) 14... Bxc3 15. bxc3
Nxb5 16. a4 Qa5 $1 17. Bb2 Be4 18. Qd2 Nc7 19. Ba3 $6 {
An intermediate move leads to problems.} (19. Bxc4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 {equalises.})
19... Rfe8 20. Bb4 Qd5 21. Qa2 Qa8 $5 22. Bd6 Ncd5 23. Rac1 Bd3 $5 24. Bxd3
cxd3 25. c4 $1 Ne4 $1 26. Be5 $2 (26. cxd5 {(Browne)} Nxd6 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28.
dxe6 dxe6 29. Qb3 Ne4 30. Qxd3 {regains the pawn.}) 26... f6 $1 27. cxd5 Rxc1
28. Rxc1 fxe5 29. dxe6 dxe6 30. Nxe5 d2 $1 {Black threatens ..Nc3.} 31. Rf1 Qd5
$1 32. Qxd5 exd5 33. Nf3 Rc8 34. g3 Rc2 35. Kg2 Nxf2 $1 36. Nxd2 Ne4 37. Rb1
Rxd2+ 38. Kf3 Rf2+ 39. Kg4 Nf6+ 40. Kg5 Ne4+ 41. Kg4 Rxh2 42. Rb8+ Kf7 {
Browne defeated an important rival.} 0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D01"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nf3 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Ne5
cxd4 9. exd4 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Be2 d4 12. Nb5 Nxe5 13. Nxd4 Qb6 14. c3 $5 (
{The alternative is} 14. Bxe7 Re8 15. Bh4 Qxb2) 14... Qxb2 15. Bxe7 Re8 16. Bb4
a5 $1 17. Qb3 $6 ({Preferable is} 17. Bd6 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Qxe2 19. Qxe2 Rxe2 20.
Nd4) 17... Qxb3 18. axb3 Bg4 $1 19. Bc5 ({The pointe is} 19. Rxa5 $2 Rxa5 20.
Bxa5 Bxe2 21. Nxe2 Nc6 $1 {and Black gains a piece (Browne).}) 19... Bxe2 20.
Nxe2 Nf3+ 21. gxf3 Rxe2 22. Rfc1 Rb2 23. Ra3 {
White has to defend his weaknesses.} Rc8 $1 24. Rxa5 Rxb3 25. c4 Bb2 $1 26. Rb1
b6 27. Rb5 $1 Rxb5 28. cxb5 Rxc5 29. Rxb2 Kf8 {Black has a better rook ending.}
30. Ra2 $6 {White should have activated his king first.} Rxb5 31. Ra8+ Ke7 32.
Ra7+ Ke6 $1 33. Rb7 Rb1+ 34. Kg2 h5 35. f4 f6 $5 36. h4 Kf5 37. Kg3 b5 38. Rb6
b4 39. f3 $1 b3 40. Rb5+ Ke6 41. f5+ $1 gxf5 42. Kf4 Rb2 43. Rb8 Kd5 44. Kxf5
Kc4 45. Kxf6 Rd2 46. Rc8+ $5 Kb4 47. Rb8+ Kc3 48. Rc8+ Kd4 49. Rb8 $5 b2 50. f4
Kc3 51. f5 $4 {Peters loses a decisive tempo.} (51. Rc8+ Kd3 52. Rb8 Kc2 53.
Rc8+ Kd1 54. Rb8 {draws (Browne).}) 51... Rd1 $1 52. Rxb2 Kxb2 53. Kg6 Kc3 54.
Kxh5 Kd4 55. Kg6 Ke5 $1 56. h5 Rg1+ 57. Kf7 Kxf5 58. h6 Ra1 59. h7 Ra7+ 60. Kg8
Kg6 $1 {Browne scored the third win in a row.} 0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A19"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5 4. e5 Ng8 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qe4 d6 8. Nf3
dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Bg5 Nf6 12. Qe3 $5 (12. Qh4 {
was played in Seirawan - Stean, Malmo 1979.}) 12... h6 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Bf4 Qa5
15. Be2 e5 $2 {Black weakens his pawn structure.} ({Better is} 15... Bb4 $1 16.
O-O Bxc3 17. bxc3 e5) 16. Bf3 $1 Rc8 17. O-O $1 Bb4 ({Or} 17... Be7 18. Bxc6+
Rxc6 19. Bxe5 $1) 18. Nd5 $1 Bc5 19. Qe2 Kf8 ({The pointe is} 19... O-O 20.
Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bxh6) 20. Bd2 $5 (20. Bxe5 $1 Re8 21. Bc3 Rxe2 22. Bxa5 Rxb2 23.
Nxf6 gxf6 24. Bc3 {gains material.}) 20... Qxa2 $6 21. Nxf6 gxf6 22. b4 $1 Nd4
$5 23. Bxh6+ $1 Rxh6 24. Qxa2 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Ke7 26. Rd7+ $5 (26. bxc5 $1 Rg8+
27. Kh1 Rgh8 {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} 28. f4 $1 {also wins for White.}) 26...
Kxd7 27. Qd2+ {Seirawan reached a top position quietly.} 1-0

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Reshevsky and Christiansen battled for the third place.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5
3. d5 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O Re8 9. Nd2 Na6 10. Re1
Nc7 11. Bf1 b6 $5 (11... Rb8 12. a4 b6 {
was played in Geller - Suetin, Kislovodsk 1972.}) 12. Nf3 $5 exd5 13. cxd5 Bg4
14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nd7 16. Bf4 Ne5 17. Qg3 Bf6 18. a4 a6 19. Qe3 Rb8 20. Rab1
b5 21. b4 c4 22. Qd2 bxa4 23. Nxa4 Nb5 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. Bxc4 {
White has gained a pawn.} Qf6 26. Qd3 h5 27. g3 $6 h4 $1 28. f4 $2 ({Correct is
} 28. Kg2 $1 {and White defends his kingside.}) 28... hxg3 $1 29. Rf1 ({
The pointe is} 29. fxe5 Qf2+ 30. Kh1 Qh2#) 29... Bxf4 30. Bxb5 axb5 31. Nc3 Qg5
32. Kg2 Be5 33. Rbe1 Kg7 34. Nxb5 Rh8 $1 35. Rh1 Rh4 ({Even better is} 35...
Rb6 $1 36. Re2 Rhb8) 36. Nd4 Rxb4 37. Nf3 Qf6 38. Rhf1 Rf4 39. Re2 g5 40. Qc2
Rb8 $1 41. Qd3 Rh8 42. Ree1 g4 $1 43. Nxe5 gxh3+ 44. Kg1 h2+ 45. Kh1 g2+ $1 46.
Kxg2 h1=Q+ 47. Rxh1 Rf2+ {Christiansen and Kavalek occupied the third place.}
0-1

[Event "South Bend"]
[Site "USA 28"]
[Date "1981.07.29"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kogan, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1981.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Christiansen and Kavalek drew their mutual game in the last round. So
Reshevsky had to win his game.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5.
Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Bb4 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. O-O Nxc3 11. Qxd8+ Nxd8
12. bxc3 Bxc3 13. Rb1 a5 14. Rd1 $5 (14. Nc5 Bb4 15. Na4 {
drew in Tukmakov - Tal, Yerevan 1980.}) 14... f6 $5 15. a3 Rf8 $6 ({Better is} 
15... O-O 16. Nc5 Be5) 16. Nc5 {
White counters on the queenside, as a compensation for the pawn.} Rf7 17. Bf4
g5 $2 (17... e5 $1 18. Be3 {(R.Byrne and Mednis)} Bd4 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rxd4
Rc7 {returns the pawn for a proper defence.}) 18. Bd6 $1 e5 19. Bd5 $5 Bd4 $1
20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. e3 Bxc5 22. Bxc5 {Sammy has gained an exchange.} Bg4 23.
Rdc1 Bf3 24. Bb6 Ne6 25. Rb5 a4 26. h3 h5 27. Ra5 Rxa5 28. Bxa5 Bc6 29. Rc4 Ng7
$5 30. Bb6 Nf5 31. Bc5 Ke6 32. Rb4 Nh6 33. f4 g4 34. h4 Kf5 35. Bd6 Nf7 36. Bc7
Nh6 $5 37. Kf2 Ng8 38. e4+ $1 Bxe4 39. fxe5 Bc6 ({The pointe is} 39... fxe5 40.
Rb5 $1) 40. Rc4 Ke6 41. exf6 Nxf6 42. Bf4 Nd7 $6 (42... Kd5 43. Rb4 Kc5 {
delays the advance of the white king to the centre.}) 43. Ke3 $1 Kf5 44. Kd4 $1
Kf6 45. Bg5+ Kf7 46. Rc1 Nf8 47. Ke5 $1 Kg6 48. Be7 Nd7+ 49. Ke6 Nb6 50. Rc5 {
He hunts the black king.} Bd7+ 51. Kd6 Bc6 52. Bd8 Nc8+ 53. Ke6 Kh6 54. Bc7 {
Reshevsky has caught up. The final standings became: Browne and Seirawan 9/14,
Christiansen, Kavalek and Reshevsky 81/2, Shamkovich 71/2, R.Byrne and Peters
7, Lein 61/2, Alburt, Kogan and Tarjan 6, Benjamin 51/2, Fedorowicz and Kudrin
5. Browne and Seirawan shared the title and qualified for the interzonal
events. Three men had to carry out a playoff.} 1-0

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 28 Playoff"]
[Date "1981.10.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "179"]
[EventDate "1981.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The playoff between Kavalek, Reshevsky and Christiansen occurred in
Jacksonville, Florida, x 1981. The games in the first cycle were draws without
a fight.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 c5 5. d5 Ba6 6. Qc2 exd5 7. cxd5
Bb7 8. e4 Qe7 9. Bd3 Nxd5 10. O-O Nc7 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 $5 Ne6 $5
14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Bg3 Be7 16. Bc4 Qc8 17. Rad1 Ba6 18. Rd2 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Bd8 20.
Rfd1 O-O 21. Ne3 Ncd4 $6 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. Rxd4 $1 Qxc4 24. Rxc4 {
Reshevsky has regained the pawn with a positional plus.} Rf7 25. Nf5 b5 26. Rc2
a6 27. Rdc1 Rf8 28. Rd1 g6 29. Ne3 Bb6 30. Nd5 Bd4 31. h4 Rf7 32. Bd6 Be5 33.
Bb4 $6 (33. Nb6 $1 Ra7 34. Rcd2 {makes a effort to win.}) 33... Nd4 34. Rcd2 a5
35. Bc3 Nb3 36. Rd3 Nc5 37. Re3 Bxc3 38. Nxc3 b4 39. Nd5 bxa3 40. bxa3 Rb8 41.
e5 fxe5 42. Rxe5 {The chances are almost even in the endgame.} Ne6 43. Ne3 Nf4
$2 ({Correct is} 43... a4) 44. Ng4 $1 Kf8 45. Rxa5 {Sammy grabs a pawn.} Ne2+
46. Kh2 Rf4 47. Kh3 Rb3+ 48. f3 Rd4 49. Rxd4 Nxd4 50. Rd5 Nc6 51. Nf6 Rxa3 52.
Nxh7+ Ke7 53. Ng5 Ra5 54. Rd2 Nd8 55. Kg4 Ne6 56. f4 $6 Ng7 $6 {
He should exchange.} 57. Nf3 d6 58. Nd4 Rc5 59. Rd3 Kf7 60. Kf3 Ne8 $5 61. g4
$1 Ng7 62. Ra3 Rc1 63. Ra7+ Kf8 64. h5 $2 (64. Rd7 $1 Rf1+ 65. Kg3 Rg1+ 66. Kh3
Rh1+ 67. Kg2 Rxh4 68. Kg3 Rh1 69. Rxd6 g5 $1 70. fxg5 $1 {
seems to be won for White.}) 64... gxh5 65. g5 Rf1+ 66. Ke4 Re1+ 67. Kd5 Rf1
68. Ke4 Re1+ 69. Kf3 Rf1+ 70. Kg3 Rd1 71. Nf3 Rd3 72. Kf2 Rc3 $5 73. g6 $1 Rc4
74. Rf7+ Kg8 75. Ng5 h4 76. Kf3 Rc3+ 77. Kg4 Rg3+ 78. Kxh4 Rg1 $1 79. Rf6 Ne8
80. Rf7 Ng7 81. Rd7 Nf5+ 82. Kh5 Ng7+ 83. Kh4 Nf5+ 84. Kh3 Rg3+ 85. Kh2 Rg4 86.
Rf7 Rxf4 87. Nh3 Rg4 88. Rxf5 Rxg6 89. Ng5 Kg7 90. Kg3 {Kavalek had escaped.
Reshevsky drew against Christiansen in the fifth round. Therefore he did not
qualify for the interzonal event. Sammy had played his last game in the US
championship. The next month he would become seventy.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 28 Playoff"]
[Date "1981.10.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1981.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kavalek has to win in the last round.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4
Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 {Christiansen plays for a draw.} 6. Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bb3 h6
9. N5f3 a5 10. a3 a4 11. Ba2 c5 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Ne5 cxd4 $5 (13... Bd6 {
won for White in Kavalek - Bukic, Szombathely 1966.}) 14. Bxd4 Bc5 15. O-O-O
O-O 16. Ngf3 Nbd5 17. g4 $5 b6 $1 18. Bxc5 Ba6 $5 19. Qe1 $6 Rac8 $5 20. Rg1 $5
(20. g5 $5 hxg5 21. Nxg5 {counters.}) 20... Qxc5 21. Rd2 Nc3 $1 22. bxc3 Qxa3+
{Black forces a draw.} 23. Kb1 Rxc3 $6 (23... Rc5 $1 24. c4 Qb4+ 25. Kc1 Qa3+
26. Kb1 Qb4+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 24. Nd4 $6 (24. g5 $1 Qb4+ 25. Ka1
Rxf3 26. gxf6 Qc3+ 27. Kb1 Qb4+ 28. Bb3 Rxf6 29. Rg4 {brings white chances.})
24... Qb4+ 25. Ka1 Ra3 26. Ndc6 $2 (26. Rd3 $1 Qxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Bxd3 28. cxd3 Rd8
29. Ndc6 {fights for an advantage.}) 26... Rxa2+ $1 27. Kxa2 Bc4+ 28. Nxc4
Qxc4+ 29. Ka1 Qc3+ 30. Ka2 Qc4+ 31. Kb1 Qxc6 32. Qe5 Nd5 33. Rg3 Qb5+ 34. Qb2
Qf1+ 35. Qc1 {Black agreed on a draw in a better position. The playoff
resulted in six draws. Christiansen qualified for the interzonal event,
because he had defeated Reshevsky in the tournament.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A77"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{No championship happened in 1982. The twenty-ninth event was played at Thiel
College in Greenville, Pennsylvania from 14 vii until 1 viii 1983. Seirawan
did not accept the poor conditions. Two recent Soviet immigrants agreed.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Nd2 O-O 9.
Be2 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 11. a4 Ne5 12. Re1 a6 13. Qc2 $5 Rb8 14. a5 Nh5 $5 15.
Bxh5 gxh5 {The doubled pawns are okay.} 16. Nd1 Bd7 17. Ne3 Qf6 18. Ra3 Re7 $5
19. h3 Rbe8 20. Qd1 h4 21. Rf1 Ng6 $1 {
Black has taken the initiative on the kingside.} 22. Nec4 Nf4 23. Qf3 Bb5 $5
24. Re3 Bh6 $6 ({Preferable is} 24... Qh6 $1 25. b3 Bd4 26. Ree1 Nxd5 27. Qg4+
Qg6 28. Nxd6 {and a great fight.}) 25. b3 $1 Qg6 26. Rfe1 Bd7 $5 27. Kh1 Nh5
28. Nxd6 $1 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Qxd6 30. Qxh5 Qf4 $2 ({Right is} 30... Qf6 $1 {
(Benjamin)} 31. Rf3 Qa1 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Nc4 $1 Rxe4 35. Kh2 {
and White has little advantage.}) 31. Rf3 Re5 ({Or} 31... Qe5 $5 32. Qxh4 Qa1
33. Rg3+ Kh8 34. Kh2) 32. Qxh7+ $1 Kxh7 33. Rxf4 f5 34. f3 $1 Kg6 35. Rxh4 Bb5
36. Bb2 R5e7 37. Rf4 Rf7 38. Kh2 Bd3 39. Kg3 Rfe7 $2 40. Rxf5 {De Firmian
tepped the time limit. Young Benjamin would start the tournament by three wins.
} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Kogan, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. Nf3 b6 6. Bd3 Ba6 $5 7. O-O Bxc3 8.
bxc3 Bxd3 9. cxd3 Nd7 10. Re1 h6 11. Nh4 $1 g6 $5 12. Ba3 c5 13. Qg4 Qc8 $1 14.
dxc5 Qa6 $1 15. c6 Nxc6 16. Bd6 Qxd3 {Black has gained an insignificant pawn.}
17. Nf3 Nc5 18. Qh4 $6 ({Better is} 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Qa4 Kd7 20. Re3 Qc4 21.
Qxc4 dxc4 {and the chances are equal.}) 18... Ne4 $1 19. Rad1 Qc4 20. Rxe4 $6 (
{Preferable is} 20. Nd2 Nxd2 21. Qf6 Nf3+ 22. Qxf3) 20... Qxe4 21. Qf6 Rh7 22.
Nd4 Kd7 23. Nxc6 Kxc6 24. Qe7 {White chases the king.} Rc8 $2 (24... Qc2 25.
Ra1 Qb2 26. Qc7+ Kb5 27. Qd7+ Ka5 28. Bb4+ Ka6 29. Qa4+ Kb7 30. Qd7+ {
ends by perpetual check.}) 25. Qxa7 g5 26. c4 $4 {He should activate his rook.}
(26. Rc1 $1 f6 $1 27. Qa6 fxe5 28. Qxc8+ Kxd6 29. c4 {
starts a devastating attack.}) 26... Qc2 $1 27. cxd5+ exd5 28. Rf1 f6 $1 29.
Qa3 Kb7 $1 30. Qf3 fxe5 31. Qxd5+ Qc6 32. Qxe5 Rd7 33. Bb4 Qd5 34. Qe3 $5 Qxa2
35. h3 Qd5 $6 (35... Qc4 $1 36. Qf3+ Rc6 {wins for Black.}) 36. Ra1 $1 Rc6 $4 (
36... Rdd8 $1 37. Qa3 Ra8 {defends on the open file (Bulletin).}) 37. Qa3 Rcc7
38. Qa8# {De Firmian performed a great "Schwindle".} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirazi, Kamran"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Dmitry Gurevich had emigrated to the United States recently. He was a Soviet
top player.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. dxc5 Na6 4. g3 Nxc5 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7.
c4 O-O 8. Nc3 b6 9. Be3 Bb7 10. Rc1 Nce4 $5 ({The alternative is} 10... Rc8)
11. Bd4 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Rc8 13. Qa4 Rc7 14. c5 $6 Rxc5 $1 15. Qxa7 Qc7 16. Nd4
Bxg2 17. Qxc7 Rxc7 18. Kxg2 Ra8 {Black has the initiative on the queenside.}
19. Nb3 $1 Bh6 ({The pointe is} 19... Rxa2 $4 20. Bxf6 Rxc1 21. Nxc1) 20. Bd2
Rxc1 21. Bxc1 Bg7 $1 22. a3 d6 23. Bd2 $2 ({Better is} 23. Rd1 $1 Rc8 24. Be3
$1 Rc2 25. Rc1 $1 Rxc1 26. Bxc1) 23... Ne4 24. Bc1 Rc8 25. f3 Nc5 26. Nxc5 Rxc5
27. Be3 {He wants to liberate his position.} Rc2 28. Bxb6 Rxb2 {
A white pawn is going to fall.} 29. Bd8 Kf8 $1 30. Re1 Ra2 $1 31. Kf1 Rxa3 32.
Rb1 Bf6 33. Bb6 h5 34. Kf2 Kg7 35. Rb4 g5 $1 36. Bd4 d5 37. Bb2 Bxb2 38. Rxb2
Ra4 {He has an extra pawn in the rook ending.} 39. Rb5 e6 40. Rb8 g4 $1 41. Rb3
(41. f4 h4 $1 {(Gurevich)} 42. Rb1 h3 $1 {leads to the weakening of pawn h2.})
41... gxf3 42. Kxf3 f6 43. h4 e5 44. Rb8 Ra3+ 45. Kf2 d4 46. Rd8 Kg6 47. Rh8
Rb3 48. Kg2 Re3 49. Kf2 Rc3 50. Kg2 Rc2 51. Kf1 Rb2 52. Ke1 Kf5 $1 {
Black goes after pawn e2.} 53. Rxh5+ Ke4 54. Rh6 Ke3 55. Kf1 Rxe2 56. Rxf6 d3
57. Ra6 e4 {Gurevich won his third game in a row.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Shirazi, Kamran"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2
Rb8 9. h4 b5 $5 ({More solid is} 9... h5) 10. h5 bxc4 $5 11. hxg6 fxg6 $1 12.
Nf4 e6 13. O-O-O Qe8 14. g4 $6 (14. Bxc4 Rb4 15. b3 {keeps an edge.}) 14...
Nxd4 $1 15. Qxd4 Nxg4 $6 (15... Nd5 $1 16. Qxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Rb5 $1 {
overtakes the initiative.}) 16. Qd2 Ne5 17. Be2 Qf7 18. Rh2 h5 19. Rdh1 c6 $6
20. Nxh5 $6 {White should capture pawn d6.} gxh5 21. Rxh5 Nxf3 22. Bxf3 $2 (22.
Qxd6 Be5 23. Qa3 {gains a pawn.}) 22... Qxf3 23. Bh6 Rxb2 $2 (23... Qf2 $1 24.
Qxf2 Rxf2 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rg1+ {(Bulletin)} Kf7 27. e5 d5 28. Rh8 {
brings chances for both sides.}) 24. Qxb2 Bxc3 25. Rg1+ Kf7 26. Qb8 $1 Bd2+ ({
Or} 26... Qxh5 27. Qc7+ Kf6 28. Qg7#) 27. Bxd2 Qxh5 28. Qc7+ Ke8 29. Qxc8+ {
Christiansen attacked aggressively.} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When 'Dzindzi' had emigrated from the Soviet Union, he played chess and poker
in Europe. Later he went to America. He hustled chess in Washington Square
Park for some time. Participation in the US championship was more seriously.} 
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 e6 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. b3 d6 10. Ba3 Na6 11. Rad1 d5 $6 {It is risky to open the position.} ({
Theory is} 11... Nc5) 12. Bb2 $1 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Qc8 14. Qf4 $1 Nb4 $6 (14... Qb8
15. Qh4 Rd8 {defends well.}) 15. Rc1 Qb8 $5 16. Qxb8 Raxb8 17. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 18.
Kxg2 Rbc8 $5 19. a3 $1 Nc6 $2 (19... Rc5 $1 20. Na4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Nbd5 22. Nc6
Ra8 {offers a desperate resistance.}) 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 {
The exchanges have brought no relief.} 21. Nd5 $1 {Dzindzi wins material.} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Nc6 9. Bc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Qa5 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. O-O
Bxd2 15. Nxd2 O-O 16. d6 $5 {Browne attacks.} (16. Nb3 Qd8 17. Bxb5 Bb7 {
drew in Polugaevsky - Mecking, Petropolis 1973.}) 16... Nf5 17. Bf3 Rb8 18. Ne4
Qb6 19. Qd3 (19. d7 $1 Bb7 20. Qd3 {prepares a future promotion.}) 19... Be6
20. Rfd1 Rbd8 21. a4 $1 a6 $6 ({Preferable is} 21... b4 $1 22. a5 Qb8 23. Rab1
b3) 22. a5 Qb8 23. Rac1 Nh4 24. Rc6 Qa8 25. Rc5 Bc4 26. Qd4 $6 (26. Qc3 $1
Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3 {keeps a plus.}) 26... Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 Kh8 28. Re1 Qb8 29. Rh5 $5
f6 30. f4 $5 Qc8 31. f3 Qd7 32. f5 Rde8 33. Kf2 $2 (33. Kg2 $1 Re5 34. Nc5 Qe8
35. Qh4 Re2+ 36. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 37. Qf2 $1 {combines attack and defence.}) 33...
Re5 $1 34. Nc5 Qe8 $1 35. Rxe5 (35. Qh4 Re2+ 36. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 37. Kg3 Qe1+ 38.
Kg2 Qf1+ 39. Kg3 Qg1+ 40. Kf4 Bg8 $1 {wins for Black.}) 35... Qxh5 36. Re3 Qxf5
37. d7 $2 {Probably, the time pressure was high.} (37. Re4 $1 Bd5 38. Re3 Bc4
39. Re4 {leads to a repetition.}) 37... Bd5 $4 {The tables turn again.} ({
Correct is} 37... Qc2+ $1 38. Kg3 Bf1 $1 39. Re8 Qg2+ 40. Kf4 Qg5+ 41. Ke4 Qg6+
42. Ke3 Rxe8+ {and wins (Bulletin).}) 38. Qd3 $5 Qh5 39. Re8 Qxh2+ 40. Ke1 Qg1+
41. Ke2 Qg2+ 42. Ke1 Qg1+ 43. Kd2 Qh2+ 44. Qe2 Qf4+ 45. Kc2 {
The tournament became difficult for Gurevich.} 1-0

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. g3 dxe4 7. Qe2 $6 {
Kudrin loses a tempo.} (7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8. Qxe4 Qd5 9. Bg2 Qxe4+ 10. Bxe4 {
drew in several games.}) 7... Nbd7 8. Bg2 g6 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Bg7 11. O-O
O-O 12. Re1 e5 $5 13. d3 a5 14. Be3 a4 15. Rad1 Re8 16. Qb4 Qc7 17. d4 $2 exd4
18. Bxd4 c5 $1 19. Qxb7 ({The alternative is} 19. Rxe8+ $2 Rxe8 20. Qc3 Qd6 $1
21. Bxg7 Qxd1+ 22. Kh2 Qe1 $1 {and Black wins (Christiansen).}) 19... Qxb7 20.
Bxb7 cxd4 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Black has gained a material edge.} 22. Re7 Nc5 23. Rc7
Ne6 24. Rc4 Bf8 25. c3 dxc3 26. Rxc3 Bg7 27. Rc2 h5 28. Kg2 Bf6 29. h4 Rb8 30.
Rc4 $2 ({Preferable is} 30. Rdd2 Rb4 31. Kf1) 30... Rxb2 31. Rxa4 Be7 32. Ra8+
Kg7 33. a4 Bc5 $1 34. Rf1 Ra2 {Black applies restraint.} 35. a5 Kf6 36. Kh3 Ke7
37. f3 Kf6 38. a6 g5 39. Rh8 $1 gxh4 40. Rxh5 Kg6 41. Rd5 hxg3 42. Kxg3 Rxa6 {
White awaits a difficult defence.} 43. Rfd1 Be3 44. Re1 Ra3 45. Re2 Rc3 46. Rd1
Nd4 47. Ra2 Kg5 48. Kg2 f5 49. Rb1 Kf4 50. Rf1 Rc8 $1 51. Ra4 Rc2+ 52. Kh3 Rd2
53. Rc4 Kg5 $1 54. Rc8 Ne6 $1 {Black threatens mate.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.07.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shirazi, Kamran"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Qg3 b5 11. Bxb5 {Shirazi makes a risky sacrifice.} axb5
12. Ndxb5 Qb8 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nxe5 15. Rhe1 Ng6 $1 ({Browne improves on} 
15... Nc4 $6 16. Qc7 $1) 16. Nc7+ Kf8 17. Nxa8 Qxa8 18. Qc7 $1 h6 $1 19. Be3
Ne8 $1 20. Qb6 Qxg2 $1 21. Kb1 $6 (21. Bc5 $5 Qg5+ 22. Be3 Qe5 23. Nb5 {
offers more resistance.}) 21... Qb7 22. a4 Ne5 $1 23. Qb5 Qxb5 24. Nxb5 Nc6 25.
c3 f6 26. b4 Kf7 27. Kb2 e5 28. a5 Ba6 $1 29. Na3 Ke6 30. Kb3 Nd6 {
Black stops the queenside pawns.} 31. Bb6 Rc8 32. Ka4 (32. c4 Nxb4 $1 33. c5
Nb7 34. Kxb4 Nxc5 35. Bxc5 Rxc5 {also wins for Black.}) 32... Nb8 $1 33. Bc5
Nd7 34. Bxd6 Bxd6 35. Rc1 Rb8 36. Rb1 Bd3 37. Rb3 $2 e4 $5 ({Best is} 37...
Nb6+ $1 38. axb6 Ra8# {(Browne).}) 38. c4 Bxb4 $1 39. Nb5 ({Or} 39. Rxb4 Nc5#)
39... Bxe1 40. a6 Nc5+ 41. Ka3 Nxb3 42. a7 Rc8 43. Nc7+ Kd7 {
Browne, Christiansen and Dzindzi battled for the first place.} 0-1

[Event "Greenville"]
[Site "USA 29"]
[Date "1983.08.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1983.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Dzindzi trailed Browne and Christiansen by half-a-point, when the last round
began.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8.
Nf3 Nh5 9. Nh2 Qe8 10. Be2 Nf4 11. Bf3 f5 12. O-O Qe7 $5 ({Known is} 12... Nc5)
13. Re1 Qf6 14. exf5 gxf5 $6 ({Preferable is} 14... Bxf5) 15. Bxf4 $1 exf4 16.
Qd2 {White attacks the weakness.} Bh6 17. Nb5 $1 Bd7 18. b4 Rae8 19. Nd4 $6
Nxb4 $1 20. Ne6 $1 Bxe6 21. dxe6 Nc6 22. Rab1 $1 Nd8 ({Not} 22... Rb8 23. Bxc6
bxc6 24. e7 $1 {(Bulletin).}) 23. Bxb7 Kh8 24. Qa5 Rg8 $6 ({Better is} 24...
Re7 $1 25. Qxa7 Nxe6) 25. Bd5 c6 26. e7 $1 cxd5 27. exd8=Q Rxd8 28. Qxd5 {
White has a positional advantage.} Qg7 $2 (28... Rd7 29. Re6 Qg7 {
fights for the last chance.}) 29. Rb7 Qc3 30. Nf3 Rg7 31. Ree7 Rf8 32. Qxd6 Qf6
33. Qxf6 Rxf6 34. Rxg7 Bxg7 35. Rxa7 Bf8 36. Ne5 Re6 37. Nd3 f3 38. Rf7 Kg8 39.
Rxf5 fxg2 40. a4 Re4 41. Rf4 Re2 42. Kxg2 Ra2 43. c5 Rc2 44. Rf5 Ra2 45. c6 Rc2
(45... Rxa4 46. c7 Rc4 47. Nc5 $1 {intervenes on the c-file.}) 46. Ne5 Bd6 47.
a5 Bc7 48. a6 Bb8 49. Rg5+ {Browne and Christiansen drew their games after
hard battles. The final standings became: Browne, Christiansen and
Dzindzhichashvili 9/13, De Firmian 8, Benjamin and Gurevich 7, Soltis 61/2,
Alburt and Lein 6, Whitehead 51/2, Kudrin and Shirazi 5, Kogan and Tarjan 4.
Three players shared the title. Each man got $3500.} 1-0

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirtieth US championship was played at the Student Union building in
Berkeley from 9 until 30 vii 1983.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 c5 5.
c4 dxc4 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Na3 Nb6 8. Ne5 $5 {
Alburt approaches the central area in a new way.} ({Theory is} 8. Nxc4 Nxc4 9.
Qa4+ Bd7 10. Qxc4) 8... cxd4 9. Naxc4 Be7 (9... Nxc4 $5 10. Nxc4 Be7 {
will become a novelty.}) 10. b3 Nxc4 11. Nxc4 O-O 12. Bb2 d3 $6 ({Preferable is
} 12... Bc5 $1 13. Qd3 Qc7 $1 14. Bxd4 Rd8 {and equality.}) 13. e3 $1 a5 $5 14.
Bd4 Rb8 $6 15. Bb6 $1 Qd7 16. Bxa5 {
White has regained the pawn. Now he will go after d3.} Bc5 17. Rc1 {
He threatens Ne5.} Nd5 18. Qxd3 b6 19. Bd2 Ba6 20. e4 Rbd8 $6 21. Rfd1 Nf6 22.
Qxd7 Rxd7 23. Ne5 $1 Rd6 24. Bf4 $2 (24. b4 $1 Bd4 25. b5 $1 Bxe5 26. bxa6 Ra8
27. Be3 {wins for White.}) 24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rc8 26. Bf3 $6 Bb7 $1 27. Rc1
$6 Ra8 $1 28. b4 $6 Bxb4 29. Rc7 Bxe4 $6 (29... Ba6 $1 30. Nxf7 Ne8 31. Rd7 Bb5
32. Rd8 Rxa2 {leads to an even fight.}) 30. Bxe4 Nxe4 31. Rc4 Nxf2 $1 32. Rxb4
Nh3+ 33. Kg2 Nxf4+ 34. gxf4 Rxa2+ {
Black has three pawns for a knight in the endgame.} 35. Kg3 f6 36. Nf3 Ra6 37.
Rc4 $1 b5 38. Rc8+ Kf7 39. Rb8 Ra7 $5 (39... Ra5 40. Rb7+ Kg6 41. Nh4+ Kh6 42.
Rb6 {also brings the loss of a pawn.}) 40. Rxb5 h6 41. h4 g6 42. Rb6 Rd7 43.
Kf2 Rd5 $6 (43... g5 $1 {forces a draw.}) 44. Rb7+ Kf8 45. Ke3 g5 $1 46. Rh7
gxf4+ $6 (46... Rf5 47. Nd4 Kg8 $1 48. Rxh6 Rxf4 {draws.}) 47. Kxf4 h5 48. Ke4
Ra5 49. Nd4 Ra4 50. Ke3 e5 51. Nf5 Rf4 52. Rxh5 Kf7 53. Ng3 Kg7 54. Ke2 $1 Kg6
$2 {He liberates the rook.} (54... Kg8 $1 {defends properly (Alburt).}) 55. Rh8
f5 $6 56. h5+ $1 Kg7 57. Ra8 e4 58. Ra5 Kh6 59. Ra6+ $1 Kg7 60. h6+ Kf7 61. Nh5
Rh4 62. Rf6+ Kg8 63. Ng3 Rh2+ 64. Ke3 Rh3 65. Kf4 e3 66. Nxf5 e2 67. Re6 Rh2
68. Kg3 $1 Rh5 69. Kg4 Rh2 70. Nh4 $1 Rf2 71. Kg5 {
Alburt started the event well. He had defected to the USA in 1979.} 1-0

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A72"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. e4 d6 8. Nd2
O-O 9. Be2 Ne8 10. O-O f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Nde4 Na6 13. Bg5 $5 ({Known is} 13.
Ng5 Nac7 14. Bc4) 13... Nf6 14. Ng3 Bd7 15. Qd2 Qb6 16. h3 Rae8 17. Rfe1 Nc7
18. Bf3 Nb5 $1 19. Nxb5 Qxb5 20. b3 Qb6 21. Rxe8 Nxe8 $5 {
Capture by the rook equalises.} 22. Re1 Be5 23. Rxe5 $1 {
White carries out a brilliant sacrifice.} dxe5 24. Be7 Rf7 $2 {
Kudrin misses a great defence.} (24... Rxf3 $1 25. gxf3 {(Fedorowicz)} Qb4 $1
26. Qh6 Qf4 $1 27. Qxf4 exf4 {draws.}) 25. d6 $1 Qb4 26. Qd5 $1 c4 $6 (26...
Qe1+ 27. Kh2 Qxf2 {(Fedorowicz)} 28. Qxb7 Rxf3 29. Qxf3 Qxf3 30. gxf3 Bb5 {
offers more resistance.}) 27. Ne4 $1 h6 28. Nc5 $2 {
He allows surprising tactics.} ({Correct is} 28. bxc4 Qb2 29. Kh2) 28... Bc6 $2
{Black misses the opportunity.} (28... c3 $3 29. Nxd7 c2 30. Nxe5 c1=Q+ 31. Kh2
Nxd6 {gains an advantage!}) 29. d7 $1 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Bxd5 31. dxe8=Q+ Kg7 32.
Bxd5 Rxf2 33. Qg8# {Fedorowicz played a strong attack.} 1-0

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Byrne, Robert"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B03"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 {They play Alburt's favourite Alekhine.} 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6
5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Nc3 e6 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. Be2 Bxf3 11. gxf3
Qh4+ 12. Bf2 Qf4 13. c5 Nd7 14. Qc1 Qxc1+ $5 ({Known is} 14... Qf5) 15. Rxc1
O-O-O 16. Ne4 (16. f4 $5 {will become a novelty.}) 16... Ndb8 $5 17. Ng5 Rd7
18. Bb5 h6 19. Ne4 g6 20. O-O Bg7 21. f4 h5 22. Rc4 Bh6 23. Be3 a6 24. Ba4 Rdd8
25. b4 Na7 $5 26. Bb3 Nbc6 $1 27. a4 Kb8 28. Kg2 Ne7 29. Kf3 Nd5 30. Bd2 b5 $2
{He should have made another waiting move.} 31. cxb6 Nxb6 32. Rc2 Rxd4 33. Nc5
{White will regain the pawn.} Ka8 34. Ke3 Rhd8 35. a5 $2 (35. Bc3 $1 Nc4+ 36.
Ke2 Nc6 37. b5 {wins material.}) 35... Nb5 $1 36. axb6 cxb6 37. Nxe6 $2 ({
Better is} 37. Bxe6 $1 bxc5 38. Bxf7) 37... fxe6 38. Bxe6 g5 $1 39. Be1 gxf4+
40. Kf3 Rd3+ 41. Kg2 f3+ 42. Kg3 $2 (42. Kh1 $1 Nd4 43. Rc8+ Rxc8 44. Bxc8 {
offers more resistance.}) 42... Bg7 43. Kh4 Bxe5 44. Kxh5 Ka7 45. Bc4 R3d7 $1
46. Bxb5 Rg7 $1 47. Bd2 Rh8+ 48. Bh6 Bf4 $1 49. Rc6 Rg5+ 50. Kh4 {
Robert Byrne played his last US championship.} (50. Kh4 Rxb5 51. Rxf3 Rxh6+ 52.
Rxh6 Bxh6 {costs a bishop.}) 0-1

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{So far, Alburt had made 7/8, twice as much as De Firmian.} 1. e4 g6 {
He had better results with the Alekhine.} 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Nf3
b5 6. Bb3 a5 7. a4 b4 8. Ne2 Nf6 9. e5 Nd5 $5 10. Nf4 Nxf4 11. Bxf4 d5 12. O-O
Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 O-O 15. c3 bxc3 16. bxc3 e6 17. Rab1 Nd7 18. Bc1 Qe7
19. c4 Rfb8 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Bd2 {White has the initiative.} Bf8 22. Rfc1 Nb6
23. Qd3 Qd7 24. Ra1 Ra7 25. h4 Nc8 26. h5 $1 Ne7 27. Bd1 Nc6 28. Be2 Rc8 29.
Qe3 Nb4 30. Bb5 $1 Qd8 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Rc1 Rc7 33. Rd1 $5 Nc2 34. Qf4 Bb4 35.
g3 Qd8 36. hxg6 fxg6 $1 37. Qg4 Kf7 38. Bg5 Be7 39. Bh6 Nb4 $5 40. Kg2 $1 Qc8
41. Qh3 $5 Kg8 42. Be2 Bd8 $2 {The bishop blocks his own pieces.} ({Correct is
} 42... Nc2 43. Bg4 Rc6) 43. Bg4 $1 Rc6 44. Rc1 $1 Nd3 {
De Firmian began to score well after this win.} ({The alternative is} 44... Kf7
45. Rh1 $1 Be7 46. Bg5 $1 h5 47. Qh4 Qf8 48. Bxh5 Bxg5 49. Bxg6+ Kxg6 50. Qh7#)
(44... Nd3 45. Rc3 $1 {triumphs elegantly.}) 1-0

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Tarjan, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 b5 8. a4
Bb7 9. Bg2 Be7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Nxb5 Bxe4 14. Nxd6+
$5 ({Known is} 14. Bxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Qa5+ 16. Nec3 Nxc3 17. Nxc3 Kxe7) 14...
Bxd6 15. Bxe4 Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Qb6 17. Bg2 Qxb2 18. O-O O-O {The chances are equal.
} 19. h3 Rc8 20. Bc1 $6 Qb6 $6 (20... Qxc2 21. Qxd6 Qxe2 {gains an edge.}) 21.
g4 Nf8 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Nf5 Bc5 24. g5 Rd8 25. Qf3 $5 Nd5 $1 26. Qe4 Bd4 27.
Nxd4 exd4 28. Qe5 Nc3 29. f4 Qb1 30. f5 $1 Nf8 31. g6 $1 hxg6 $4 {
Tarjan misses a surprising move.} ({Correct is} 31... Qb8 $1 32. Qe7 hxg6 33.
fxg6 fxg6) 32. fxg6 $4 {Peters does not see the chance.} (32. Bh6 $1 Qxf1+ 33.
Kxf1 gxh6 34. fxg6 Nxg6 35. Qf6 {wins for White.}) 32... Nxg6 33. Qc7 Rf8 34.
Kh1 Qxc2 35. Ba3 $1 Nh4 $1 36. Bd5 $1 Qd3 $1 37. Bxf7+ $2 (37. Rxf7 $1 Nxd5 38.
Rxf8+ Kh7 39. Rh8+ Kxh8 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Qxh4+ Kg6 42. Qg4+ {
fights for survival.}) 37... Kh8 38. Rf2 Ne2 {White overstepped the time limit.
} (38... Ne2 39. Kh2 Qd1 $1 {ends the game.}) 0-1

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Alburt led by one point on Dlugy and one-and-a-half point on Seirawan, when
round 13 began.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 a6 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 h6 $5 ({Known is
} 5... exd5 6. cxd5 h6) 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Nc3 Qd8 $6 (7... d6 $5 {
will become an improvement.}) 8. g3 d6 9. dxe6 $5 Bxe6 10. Bg2 Nc6 ({Or} 10...
Bxc4 $5 11. Nd2 Be6 12. Bxb7 Ra7 13. Bd5) 11. Nd2 Be7 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd5 Re8
14. Ne4 Bf8 15. Nec3 Rb8 16. a4 Qd7 17. b3 Bh3 18. e3 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qf5 20. Ra2
Red8 21. Qf3 Qxf3+ 22. Kxf3 f5 23. Rd2 g6 24. Nb6 Kf7 25. Ncd5 Re8 26. Kg2 Rbd8
27. Rfd1 Bg7 28. Nf4 Be5 29. Ne2 $5 Re6 30. h3 h5 31. Nf4 Bxf4 $1 32. gxf4 Nb4
33. Kg3 Ke7 34. Kh4 Kf6 35. Nd5+ Nxd5 36. Rxd5 {
White exerts pressure in the double rook ending.} b6 37. a5 $1 Ke7 (37... bxa5
$6 38. Rxc5 $1 dxc5 39. Rxd8 Rb6 40. Rc8 {favours White.}) 38. axb6 Rb8 39. Kg5
Rxb6 40. R5d3 Rf6 41. Ra1 Rf8 42. h4 $1 (42. Kxg6 d5+ 43. Kg5 h4 44. cxd5 Rbf6
{leads to perpetual check.}) 42... Ra8 43. f3 $1 Rf8 {Alburt has to wait.} 44.
e4 $1 fxe4 45. fxe4 Rf6 46. Rg3 Ke6 47. Ra2 Rf8 48. Rf2 Rb7 49. f5+ $6 (49.
Rgf3 $1 a5 50. f5+ gxf5 51. exf5+ Kf7 52. Rd2 {plays for a win.}) 49... gxf5
50. exf5+ Rxf5+ $1 51. Rxf5 Rg7+ 52. Kxh5 Rxg3 {
Black has achieved an equal rook ending by tactical wit.} 53. Rg5 $1 Rxb3 54.
Kg6 Rb4 55. Rg4 $5 ({Alburt analyses} 55. h5 $1 Rxc4 56. h6 Rh4 57. h7 Rxh7 58.
Kxh7 c4 {drawn.}) 55... d5 $1 56. cxd5+ $2 ({Right is} 56. h5 $1 Rxc4 57. Rxc4
dxc4 58. h6 c3 59. h7 c2 60. h8=Q c1=Q 61. Qc8+ {
and White has reached a theoretical draw.}) 56... Kd6 $1 57. Kg5 Rxg4+ 58. Kxg4
Kxd5 $1 59. Kf5 c4 60. h5 c3 61. h6 c2 62. h7 c1=Q 63. h8=Q Qc2+ 64. Kg5 Qg2+
65. Kf4 Qe4+ 66. Kg3 Qe5+ 67. Qxe5+ Kxe5 68. Kf3 Kd4 {
Seirawan was out of the race for the championship.} (68... Kd4 69. Ke2 Kc3 70.
Kd1 Kb2 {brings a win by the last pawn.}) 0-1

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 axb5 8. Bxb5
Qb6 9. Qb3 e6 10. e4 $6 Nxe4 $1 {The tactics favour Black.} 11. Nxe4 Bxd5 12.
Qd3 f5 13. Ng5 $2 ({Theory will become} 13. Ng3 $5 Bxg2 14. N1e2 Bxh1 15. Nxh1
Be7 16. Nhg3 {and Black has a plus.}) 13... Bxg2 14. Qe2 Bxh1 15. f3 Ra6 $5 16.
a4 ({Or} 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Qxa6 Nxa6) 16... Be7 17. N1h3 $5 h6 18. a5 Qb7 19.
Nxe6 Rxe6 20. Qxe6 Qxb5 21. Qe2 Qxb2 22. Rd1 Nc6 23. Kf2 Qd4+ 24. Be3 Qh4+ 25.
Kg1 Qxh3 26. Kxh1 Nxa5 27. Bxc5 Nc6 28. Bxe7 Nxe7 29. Rg1 Kf7 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 {
The king will escape from the checks. Alburt was on his way to the first prize
of $5200.} 0-1

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Peters, Jack"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B16"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Ne2 Nd7 8.
Ng3 Bg6 9. h4 h5 10. Be2 Qa5 11. b4 Qc7 12. Nxh5 e5 13. Ng3 O-O-O 14. h5 Bh7
15. Qb3 $5 (15. O-O Bd6 16. Bg4 {
was played in Tarjan - Benjamin, South Bend 1981.}) 15... Nb6 16. b5 $5 c5 $1
17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. a4 $6 ({Preferable is} 18. Ba3 $1 Bxa3 19. Qxa3) 18... Rhg8
$1 19. a5 Nd5 20. b6 axb6 21. a6 $2 {
The white attack has insufficient strength.} (21. axb6 Qxb6 22. Qxb6 Bxb6 23.
Rh4 {almost equalises.}) 21... bxa6 22. Bxa6+ Kb8 23. Bc4 Nf4 24. Kf1 ({Or} 24.
Bxf4 exf4 25. Bd5 Qe5+ {(Parma).}) 24... Qb7 {Seirawan counters.} 25. Rh2 b5 $1
26. Be2 ({The pointe is} 26. Bxb5 Bd3+ 27. Ke1 Rxg3 $1) 26... Nxe2 27. Nxe2 Be4
28. f3 Bd3 29. Ke1 Bc4 30. Qc2 Rd3 31. h6 Qd5 32. h7 Rd8 $1 {
Black threatens ..Rd1+} 33. Bg5 Bb3 $1 34. Qxd3 Qxd3 35. h8=R Rxh8 36. Rxh8+
Kb7 37. Bd2 Bc4 38. Ng3 e4 $1 39. Rh5 Bd6 {
Seirawan shared the Albert brilliancy prize.} 0-1

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "17"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{A record of 1500 visitors watched the last round.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3
b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 e6 7. a3 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bb5+ Bc6 10. Bd3
Nd7 11. O-O Be7 12. Re1 O-O $5 13. Ne4 N7f6 14. Ne5 Bb7 15. Ng5 Qc7 $5 16. Bd2
$1 Rad8 $2 ({Better is} 16... Rac8 17. Rc1 Qb8) 17. Rc1 $2 (17. Qb1 $1 g6 18.
Nexf7 $1 Rxf7 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Nxe6 Qd7 21. Qxg6+ {wins quickly.}) 17... Qb8
$1 18. Qe2 Bd6 $2 ({Right is} 18... Rd6) 19. Bb1 $6 (19. Nexf7 $5 Rxf7 20. Qxe6
{strikes in the centre.}) 19... Ne7 20. Ng4 Ned5 21. Qd3 g6 ({Or} 21... h6 22.
Rxe6 $1 hxg5 23. Rxf6 Nxf6 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Qh7#) 22. Qh3 $1 Bf4 (22... h5
23. Nh6+ Kg7 24. Nhxf7 $1 Rxf7 25. Nxe6+ Kg8 26. Bxg6 {
breaks the resistance (De Firmian).}) 23. Bxf4 Qxf4 24. Nh6+ Kg7 25. Nhxf7 $1
Rxf7 26. Nxe6+ Kg8 27. Nxd8 $1 {Capture of the queen allows counter-play.} Ng4
28. Re8+ {De Firmian got the second part of the brilliancy prize.} 1-0

[Event "Berkeley"]
[Site "USA 30"]
[Date "1984.07.??"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Shirazi, Kamran"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B24"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1984.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shirazi only scored one draw in the event.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4.
Bg2 Bg7 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Nge7 8. f5 $6 {
He starts an unprepared attack.} ({Usual is} 8. d3) 8... gxf5 9. Ng5 $5 h6 $6 (
9... O-O $1 10. Qh5 $5 h6 {gains an advantage.}) 10. Nxf7 $1 {
He delivers a strong knight sacrifice.} Kxf7 11. Qh5+ Kf8 12. exf5 {
White has a strong assault.} Bf6 13. d4 $1 Ng8 $5 {Pawn h6 needs protection.}
14. dxc5 Qe8 $6 15. Qd1 $6 {Exchange leads to an edge.} dxc5 16. Be3 Qd7 $5 17.
Bxc5+ Be7 18. Bxe7+ Qxe7 19. Nd5 $5 Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Rh7 21. b4 $5 Qd6 22. Qe1 $5
Bd7 $2 ({Better is} 22... Nf6 $1 23. Nxf6 Qxf6) 23. Rd1 Re8 24. f6 Be6 25. Nf4
Qc7 26. Ng6+ Kf7 27. Qe4 Nxf6 28. Nxe5+ $4 {Shirazi collapses as usual.} ({
The game is ended by} 28. Qh4 $1 Kxg6 $6 29. Qxf6+ Kh5 30. Bf3+ Bg4 31. Qf5#)
28... Kg8 $1 29. Rxf6 Nxe5 30. Re1 Bxa2 {Black has a material advantage.} 31.
Qf4 Rf7 32. Qxh6 Rxf6 33. Qxf6 Bf7 34. h3 b6 35. Re4 Ng6 36. Rxe8+ Bxe8 37.
Bd5+ Kh7 38. Be4 Qf7 39. Qe5 Kh6 40. Qa1 $6 Qe6 $1 41. Bg2 Bc6 42. Qc1+ Kh7 43.
Bxc6 Qxc6+ 44. Kh2 Ne5 45. g4 Qd6 46. Kg2 {Black captures pawn b4.   The final
standings became: Alburt 121/2/17, De Firmian 11, Dlugy, Fedorowicz, Seirawan
and Tarjan 101/2, Christiansen and Kavalek 91/2, Benjamin, Dzindzi, Henley and
Kogan 9, R.Byrne 81/2, Browne 71/2, Gurevich 61/2, Peters 6, Kudrin 31/2,
Shirazi 1/2.} 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Shirazi, Kamran"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-first US championship was played in Estes Park, Colorado, from 20
x until 7 xi 1985.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nd2 Bf5 6. e3 g6
$5 ({Theory is} 6... c6) 7. Be2 h5 8. f3 exf3 9. Bxf3 Nc6 10. O-O Bg7 11. e4 $1
{White has the initiative.} Bd7 12. Nb3 Ng4 $5 (12... O-O $6 13. Bg5 {
favours White (Christiansen).}) 13. Nd5 a5 14. a4 Nb4 15. Bf4 Nxd5 16. cxd5 g5
17. Bd2 b5 $6 ({The alternative is} 17... Nxh2 $1 18. Kxh2 g4 19. Kg1 gxf3 20.
Qxf3 O-O) 18. e5 $1 bxa4 19. e6 $1 Bb5 $5 ({Or} 19... axb3 20. exd7+ Qxd7 21.
Bxg5) 20. Bxg4 $1 Bxf1 21. Qxf1 O-O $1 22. Qe2 $6 (22. exf7+ $1 Kh8 23. Bxh5
axb3 24. Qd3 {gains an edge.}) 22... Qe7 $1 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Be6 axb3 25.
Qxh5 Bxd4+ 26. Kh1 Raf8 {Black threatens ..Qxe6!} 27. g3 $5 (27. Rg1 $1 Qf6 28.
Bxg5 Qf2 29. Rd1 {is okay.}) 27... Bxb2 $2 {Shirazi collapses.} (27... Qf6 $1
28. Bxg5 Qf2 29. Bf4 Bxb2 30. Qg4+ Bg7 31. Bxf7+ Rxf7 32. Qc8+ {
leads to perpetual check.}) 28. Bxg5 $1 Bf6 29. Ra4 Bxg5 30. Rg4 Qxe6 31. Qxg5+
Kh8 32. dxe6 {Christiansen battled at the top.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 a6 4. Nc3 c5 5. d5 b5 {
Alburt plays the Blumenfeld or Dzindzi Gambit.} 6. e4 $5 (6. Bg5 {
happened in Christiansen - Alburt, Berkeley 1984.}) 6... b4 7. e5 $1 bxc3 8.
exf6 Qa5 (8... gxf6 $5 9. Bd3 {brings a white plus.}) 9. bxc3 gxf6 ({
The alternative will become} 9... Qxc3+ $5 10. Bd2 Qxf6) 10. Bd2 f5 $5 11. Bd3
$5 Bg7 12. O-O d6 $2 {Black should castle.} 13. Re1 $2 (13. dxe6 $1 fxe6 14.
Bxf5 $1 exf5 15. Bf4 {wins quickly.}) 13... O-O 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Ng5 e5 16.
Qf3 Ra7 17. Rab1 Qc7 18. Qd5+ Kh8 19. Ne6 Bxe6 20. Qxe6 e4 21. Bf4 $5 Qd7 $6 (
21... Qc8 $1 22. Qxc8 Rxc8 {equalises.}) 22. Qxd7 $2 (22. Qxd6 $1 exd3 23. Qxb8
$1 {gains an edge.}) 22... Nxd7 23. Bf1 Bxc3 24. Red1 Bd4 25. Bxd6 Re8 26. Bf4
Ne5 27. Bxe5+ Rxe5 {The endgame is about equal.} 28. g3 $6 ({
Christiansen suggests} 28. Be2 $5) 28... Rf7 $5 29. Rb8+ Kg7 30. Rdb1 f4 $1 31.
gxf4 $2 (31. R8b7 $1 fxg3 32. Rxf7+ Kxf7 33. hxg3 Rf5 34. Bh3 $1 Rxf2 35. Rf1
$1 {offers more resistance.}) 31... Ref5 $1 32. R1b3 Rxf4 33. Rg3+ Kf6 $1 34.
Rg2 Ke5 $1 35. Re8+ Kd6 36. Be2 Kd7 $1 37. Rgg8 Rxf2 38. Bg4+ Kc7 39. Kh1 Rxa2
40. Rgf8 Rxf8 41. Rxf8 e3 42. Re8 Kb6 43. h4 Ka5 44. h5 h6 45. Re6 Kb4 46. Rxh6
e2 47. Rb6+ Kc3 48. Rb1 Kd2 {Some people doubted Alburt's strength, but he
showed his ability. He got the brilliancy prize for this game.} 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qb3
b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Rfc1 a6 13. Na4 b5 14. Bc7 Qe8 15.
Nb6 Nxb6 16. Bxb6 Rc8 17. Ba5 $5 (17. Ne5 {
occurred in Romanishin - Dolmatov, Moscow 1985.}) 17... Bd6 18. Ne5 Qe7 19. a4
$1 bxa4 20. Qxa4 h6 $5 21. e3 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 {
The black position is somewhat crammed.} 24. Qc2 Qb7 25. Bf1 Bd7 26. Nxd7 Nxd7
27. Qa4 Kf8 $2 ({Correct is} 27... Nb8 {(Alburt)} 28. Bc3 Kf8) 28. Bxa6 $1 Qxa6
29. Qxd7 Qxa5 30. Qxd6+ {Alburt has gained a pawn.} Kg8 31. b4 $5 Qa1+ 32. Kg2
Qb1 $1 33. Qc5 Qe4+ 34. Kf1 Qh1+ $2 (34... g5 $1 35. Qc3 Qb1+ 36. Ke2 g4 {
will be hard to win for White.}) 35. Ke2 Qxh2 36. b5 $1 Qh5+ 37. Kd2 $1 Qf3 38.
Qc8+ $1 Kh7 39. Qc2+ f5 40. Kc3 $1 Qh1 41. Kb4 $5 Qe1+ 42. Qc3 Qb1+ 43. Kc5 g5
44. b6 h5 45. Qb4 Qc2+ {Alburt continued to win.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bf4 a6 8. e4 b5
9. Qe2 Be7 10. O-O-O $5 (10. e5 {is more aggressive.}) 10... Nh5 (10... O-O $5
{will be played in future games.}) 11. Bh6 Bg4 $5 12. e5 $1 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bg5+
14. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 15. Kb1 Qxe5 $2 ({Correct is} 15... O-O $1 16. exd6 Nd7) 16.
Bxb5+ $1 Kf8 (16... axb5 17. Rhe1 {costs a queen.}) 17. Bc6 Ra7 18. Rhe1 Qf5+
19. Ne4 $1 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Ng7 21. Nxd6 Nxc6 22. dxc6 Ne6 23. Nb7 Nd4 24. Nxc5
Nxc6 25. Rd6 $1 Na5 26. Rxa6 Rxa6 27. Nxa6 {White has gained two pawns.} Kg7
28. Nc5 Nc4 29. Kc2 Rd8 30. a4 Rd5 31. b4 Rf5 32. Re4 Nb6 33. f4 Rh5 34. a5 Nd5
35. Nd3 Nxb4+ 36. Nxb4 Rxa5 37. h3 Kf6 38. Kd2 Ra1 39. Nd3 Rh1 40. Re3 Kf5 41.
Ke2 f6 42. Nc5 Rc1 43. Ne4 {Benjamin won the second prize.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A63"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Re1 Re8 11. e4 a6 12. a4 c4 13. Bf1 Nc5 14. Nd2 Qc7 $5 (
14... Nd3 15. Bxd3 cxd3 16. Nc4 Bh3 17. Qxd3 {also costs a pawn.}) 15. Bxc4 $6
(15. Nxc4 Ncxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. f3 {gains a positional edge.}) 15... Bh3 $1
16. Bf1 Bxf1 17. Kxf1 Rac8 18. Re3 $5 Qd7 19. Kg2 Ng4 {
Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.} 20. Re2 Bxc3 $6 21. bxc3 Nd3
$5 22. f3 (22. c4 $2 Ngxf2 $1 23. Rxf2 Qh3+ {leads to a strong attack (Soltis).
}) 22... Rxc3 $6 {He gives a piece for the assault.} 23. fxg4 Qxg4 24. Ba3 $6 (
{Preferable is} 24. Nb1 $1 Rxc1 25. Qxd3) 24... Nf4+ $1 25. Kf2 Nh3+ $6 {
De Firmian misses an opportunity.} (25... Qh5 $1 26. Kf1 Rf3+ 27. Rf2 Rxf2+ 28.
Kxf2 Qxh2+ {favours Black.}) 26. Kf1 $1 {The charge has failed.} ({
De Firmian saw} 26. Ke1 $4 Rxg3 $1) 26... Rf3+ 27. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 28. Ke1 Qc3+ $5
29. Rd2 Rxe4+ $2 (29... Qe3+ 30. Qe2 Qg1+ 31. Qf1 Rxe4+ 32. Re2 Rxe2+ 33. Kxe2
Qxh2+ {keeps the game going (Soltis).}) 30. Kf1 Re3 31. Bb2 Qc4+ 32. Re2 f6 33.
Qc2 Rxg3 34. hxg3 {Alburt had scored 8/9! He led by two points on Benjamin.}
1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 a5 6. e3 Bb7 7. Be2 Ne4 8. O-O
Bxc3 9. bxc3 d6 10. Ne1 Nd7 $5 ({Known is} 10... a4) 11. f3 $1 Nef6 12. e4 Qe7
13. Be3 O-O 14. Nc2 Ba6 15. Rae1 Rfc8 16. Bd3 c5 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bh4 g5 19. Bf2
a4 $1 20. Qa3 $1 ({The pointe is} 20. Qxa4 $2 cxd4 21. cxd4 Bxc4) 20... Nh5 21.
g3 cxd4 22. cxd4 Bxc4 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Ne3 $1 Rcc8 ({Not} 24... Rxd4 $2 25.
Nf5 $1 exf5 26. Bxd4) 25. Rc1 {
Joel has a comfortable game, despite the loss of a pawn.} b5 26. Qb4 Qd8 $2 (
26... Rxc1 $5 27. Rxc1 Rb8 28. e5 $1 Qf8 $1 29. exd6 Nhf6 {defends well.}) 27.
Qxd6 Nhf6 28. Kg2 Qf8 29. Qxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rxc8+ Rxc8 31. Rb1 Rb8 32. Be1 {
White has the better pawn structure.} h5 33. Bb4+ Ke8 34. Rc1 Kd8 35. a3 Ra8 {
He cannot oppose the rooks on the open file.} 36. Rc6 Ng8 37. d5 Ne7 38. Rc1
exd5 39. exd5 Ra6 40. Kf2 Ne5 41. Ke2 Kd7 42. Rc5 Rb6 43. Nc2 Nc4 44. Nd4 Nd6
$1 45. Nc6 Ng6 46. Kd3 f5 $2 ({Better is} 46... f6 $1 47. Rc1 Nc4 48. Kd4 Nge5
$1) 47. Rc1 $1 Nc4 48. Kd4 f4 49. gxf4 Nxf4 50. Re1 $1 Rb7 51. Ne5+ $6 (51.
Re7+ $1 Kc8 52. Na7+ Kb8 53. Rxb7+ Kxb7 54. Nxb5 {wins quickly.}) 51... Nxe5
52. Rxe5 g4 $6 (52... Rc7 53. Rxg5 Rc4+ 54. Ke3 h4 {offers more resistance.})
53. Re4 Ng6 54. fxg4 hxg4 55. Rxg4 Rb6 56. d6 Nf8 57. Kd5 {
Benjamin restricted the opponent.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "McCambridge, Vincent"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 g6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bg7 8. Qc2 d6
9. Rd1 $5 Qe7 10. e3 a6 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O {The players develop quietly.} g5
13. Bg3 Nh5 14. d5 Nxg3 15. hxg3 O-O-O 16. b4 g4 17. Nh4 Bf6 18. dxe6 fxe6 19.
Ng6 Qh7 $1 20. Ne4 $1 Kb8 21. Nxf6 Nxf6 22. Bd3 Rhg8 23. c5 $1 {
White has the initiative.} Qd7 24. b5 bxc5 $4 {He blunders.} ({Correct is} 
24... axb5 25. cxb6 cxb6 26. Qb2 {and White has a plus.}) 25. bxa6 $1 Ba8 26.
Qb2+ $1 Ka7 27. Qxf6 Qc6 {Lev has lost a piece.} 28. Nh4 e5 29. e4 Qa4 30. Qf7
Rc8 31. Qc4 Qxa3 32. Nf5 Rb8 33. Nxd6 $1 cxd6 34. Qf7+ Kb6 35. Rb1+ Kc6 36.
Bb5+ Rxb5 37. Qxg8 Qxa6 38. Qe8+ Kb6 39. Rxb5+ Qxb5 40. Qd8+ Kb7 41. Ra1 {
McCambridge became last, despite this win. Alburt ended the tournament with
three quick draws and could enjoy the luxurious Stanley Hotel near the Rocky
Mountains.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 31"]
[Date "1985.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Black "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2305"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1985.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nc3 Bg4 8.
h3 Bh5 9. Qe2 Qc8 10. Qe3 $5 (10. d3 {drew in Tal - Keres, Bled 1961.}) 10...
Nd7 11. g4 $5 Bg6 12. d4 f6 13. Ne2 h5 $1 {Black takes the intiative.} 14. Nh4
Nf8 15. Nf5 hxg4 16. hxg4 exd4 17. Nexd4 Bc5 18. Qc3 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Ne6 20. Qc4
Bf7 21. Qd3 g6 22. Nh6 Nc5 23. Qf3 Qe6 24. Rd1 Nd7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Qb3 Ne5 $1
27. Bf4 Qxb3 28. axb3 Ke6 29. g5 $5 ({Preferable is} 29. Kg2 $1 Nxg4 30. Bxc7)
29... Rh4 $1 30. Bg3 Rxe4 31. Kg2 f5 32. Re1 $2 ({Better is} 32. Rd2 $1 f4 33.
f3 Rb4 34. c3 Rxb3 35. Bxf4) 32... Rd8 $1 33. Rad1 $2 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 f4 $1 35.
Bh2 Kf5 36. Rd8 Kg4 37. Re8 Re1 $1 {He threatens mate in one.} 38. f3+ Nxf3 {
The final standings became: Alburt 91/2/13, Benjamin 9, Christiansen and
Kavalek 8, Fedorowicz, Kogan, Browne and Dlugy 7, De Firmian, Kudrin and
Shirazi 51/2, Gurevich and Wolff 41/2, McCambridge 4.} 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rohde, Michael"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-second US championship was played in Estes Park from 19 x until 5
xi 1986. The event costed $60,000. It was a zonal tournament. The first prize
was $5556,80 or one dime per USCF member.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4.
Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 Be6 10. Nc3 O-O 11.
Be3 f5 12. a3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nc6 14. Qa4 f4 15. Bd2 Kh8 16. Rab1 Rb8 17. Rfe1
dxc4 18. Bxc4 Bg4 19. Be2 a6 $5 {Seirawan has found an improvement.} (19... Bd6
$6 {was played in Karpov - Seirawan, Brussels 1986.}) 20. h3 Bh5 21. Ng5 $6 {
White tries to attack.} ({Better is} 21. Qb3) 21... Bxe2 $1 22. Ne6 Qd5 23.
Rxe2 f3 24. Ree1 $2 (24. Re3 $1 Rf6 25. Rbe1 fxg2 26. Qc2 {
protects pawn h3 and knight e6.}) 24... fxg2 $1 {
Yasser delivers a fine sacrifice.} 25. Nxf8 $2 (25. Bf4 $1 Qf5 26. Kxg2 {
offers more resistance.}) 25... Rxf8 26. Qd1 Qf5 $1 {He attacks two pawns.} 27.
Kxg2 Qxf2+ 28. Kh1 Rf3 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. Bxe3 Qxe3 31. Qg4 g6 32. Rf1 Kg7 33.
Rf3 Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Bxa3 35. Qf4 Qe7 36. Re3 Qf7 37. Qe4 Bd6 38. Re2 Ne7 39. Qxb7
Nd5 40. Rf2 Ne3+ $1 {Seirawan started well.} ({Blumenfeld analyses} 40... Ne3+
41. Kg1 Bh2+ $1 42. Rxh2 Qf1#) 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Rohde, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4 5. exd4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
O-O Bg4 9. Qb3 Bxf3 10. Qxb4 Nc6 11. Qa4 a6 $5 {
Rohde wants to attack and sacrifices a pawn.} ({Theory is} 11... Bd5) 12. gxf3
b5 13. Bxb5 {Alburt accepts the challenge.} ({The alternative is} 13. Qa3 bxc4
14. Rd1) 13... axb5 14. Qxb5 Nxd4 15. Qd3 Nh5 $6 (15... c5 $1 {
supports the centre.}) 16. Kh1 Qh4 17. Ne4 Ne6 {
He moves his pieces to the kingside.} 18. Rg1 f5 $2 ({Preferable is} 18... Rad8
19. Qc3 Rd5 20. a4 Rfd8) 19. Qb3 $1 fxe4 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. Qg4 $1 Qxf2 $4 (
21... Qxg4 22. fxg4 Nf4 23. Be3 Nd3 {offers more resistance.}) 22. Qxh5 exf3
23. Bh6 $1 {Alburt wins easily.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. bxa6 Nxa6 8. Bd2
Qb6 9. e4 e6 10. Nf3 $5 {Benjamin returns the pawn in the Volga Gambit.} ({
Known is} 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. e5 Nd5) 10... exd5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Be2 Be7 13.
Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Bc3 Be6 15. Ne5 $1 O-O $2 {Alburt makes an incorrect sacrifice.}
({Better is} 15... d5 $1 16. Qa4+ Kf8) 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Qxd7 Ra7 $5 18. Qg4 $5
Bf6 19. O-O Nb4 20. Bc4 Rfa8 21. Qe4 Qc6 22. Qxc6 Nxc6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Bd5
Rc8 25. Bxc6 $6 {White exchanges too much.} Rxc6 26. Rfc1 Rd6 27. g3 Ra5 28.
Rc3 Rd2 29. b3 f5 30. Kg2 Kg7 $6 (30... Raxa2 31. Rxa2 Rxa2 32. Rxc5 Rb2 33.
Rc3 {(McCambridge)} Rb1 {will be hard to win for White.}) 31. a4 $1 f4 32. gxf4
Kf6 33. Rac1 Rd5 34. Rh3 h5 35. Rg3 h4 36. Rgc3 Ke6 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Ke3 Ra8 39.
Rd3 Rb8 40. Rcd1 Rxd3+ 41. Rxd3+ Ke6 42. Kd2 Kf5 43. Kc3 Rb4 44. Rd2 Kxf4 45.
a5 Rb8 46. a6 f5 47. a7 Ra8 48. Ra2 Kg4 49. Kc4 f4 50. Kxc5 Kh3 51. Kd4 f3 52.
Ke4 Kg2 53. h3 Re8+ 54. Kf4 {Benjamin competed at the top.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Wilder, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E87"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Nh3 e5 8. d5
Nh5 9. g4 Nf4 10. Nxf4 exf4 11. Bxf4 Ne5 12. Be2 f5 13. gxf5 $5 ({Known is} 13.
exf5 gxf5 14. g5) 13... gxf5 14. Qd2 Qh4+ $5 15. Bg3 Qh5 16. f4 $5 Nf3+ 17.
Bxf3 Qxf3 18. Rf1 Bxc3 19. Rxf3 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 fxe4 {
Black has regained the pawn.} 21. Rb3 b6 22. Rg1 Kf7 23. Bf2 (23. Be1 $5 {
will draw in Christiansen - Nunn, Dubai 1986.}) 23... Bd7 24. Rbg3 Rg8 25. Ke3
Rxg3+ 26. Rxg3 Re8 27. Be1 Re7 $2 {Wilder misses a fine solution.} ({Better is
} 27... Bf5 $1 28. Rg5 h6 $1 29. Rg3 Rg8 {drawn.}) 28. Bc3 Kf8 29. Bf6 Rf7 30.
Bg5 Bf5 31. Bh6+ Ke8 32. Rg8+ Kd7 33. Bg5 c5 34. Ra8 $1 a5 35. Ra6 $1 Kc8 36.
Rxb6 Rb7 37. Rxb7 $6 (37. Rxd6 Rxb2 38. Rf6 Bg4 39. Rc6+ {wins quickly.}) 37...
Kxb7 38. b3 Kc7 39. Bf6 Bg6 40. Bc3 Kb6 {
The black king has been lured to the queenside.} 41. Bd2 $1 {
White prepares the penetration by his king.} Bf5 42. Kf2 $1 Bd7 43. Kg3 a4 44.
Kh4 axb3 45. axb3 Kc7 46. Kg5 Bh3 47. f5 Kd7 48. f6 Ke8 49. Bf4 Bf1 {
Seirawan scored well.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 c5 5. d5 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 $5 {
Benjamin delivers an interesting pawn sacrifice.} ({Theory is} 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. e4
) 7... Nxe4 {De Firmian accepts the challenge.} ({Usual will become} 7... d6 $5
) 8. Bd3 Nf6 $2 {He should return the pawn.} ({Correct is} 8... f5 $1 9. Bxe4
fxe4 10. O-O $1 Bg7 $1 11. Re1 O-O 12. Rxe4 d6 {and White has no avantage.}) 9.
O-O $1 Bg7 10. Re1+ Kf8 11. d6 $1 {
White has an excellent compensation for the pawn.} Bb7 12. Nc3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3
Nc6 14. Nb5 h6 15. Bd2 Kg8 16. Bc3 Nh7 17. Nc7 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Kg7 $5 (18... Rc8
$6 19. Re8+ Qxe8 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Bb5 {wins for White (Chess Informant).}) 19.
Nxa8 Qxa8 20. Bb5 Rc8 21. Rad1 Nf6 22. Bxc6 $6 {
The exchanges favour the defender.} (22. a4 $5 a6 23. Bd3 {
tries to win in the middlegame.}) 22... Qxc6 23. Qxc6 Rxc6 24. c4 Kf8 25. Re7
h5 ({The alternative is} 25... Rxd6 $5 26. Rxf7+ Kxf7 27. Rxd6 Ke7 28. Rd3 Ke6
29. Re3+ Kf7 30. Kf1 d5 {and Black has survival chances.}) 26. f3 Rc8 27. Kf2
Rd8 28. Re3 Rc8 29. Re7 Rd8 30. a4 Ne8 31. Re3 Rc8 32. g4 hxg4 33. fxg4 Rc6 34.
Red3 g5 35. Kg3 Ng7 36. Rd5 Ne6 37. Ra1 f6 38. h4 $5 gxh4+ 39. Kxh4 Kf7 40. Rf1
Ng7 $2 (40... Nd4 $1 41. Kg3 Ne2+ 42. Kf3 Nd4+ 43. Kf4 Rc8 {
continues the active defence in a fortress.}) 41. g5 $1 {
The bastion can be opened at last.} Ne8 ({Or} 41... f5 42. Re1 $1) 42. Kh5 $1
Kg7 43. Re1 Nxd6 44. Re7+ Kf8 45. Rxd7 Nxc4 46. Rxa7 Nd6 47. g6 $1 Ne8 48. Rd8
Re6 49. Raa8 Re1 50. Rxe8+ $1 {Benjamin carried out a great novelty.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5 Nd7
8. Bf4 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Qd5 10. Be2 Qxg2 $5 (10... f6 11. Bg3 Qxg2 12. Bf3 Qh3 {
was played in Jansa - Radulov, Vrnjacka Banja 1983.}) 11. Bf3 Qg5 (11... Qg6 $5
12. Qe2 Qe6 {will be played in future games.}) 12. Qe2 {
The players worried about their qualification and drew.} ({Seirawan suggested} 
12. Qe2 f6 13. Bg3 Bh3 14. d5 O-O-O 15. dxc6 e5 16. cxb7+ Kb8 {
and White is tied up in a sharp position.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 b4 5. a3 a5 6. Nbd2 g6 7. e4 d6 8. axb4 cxb4
9. c5 {This wonderful sacrifice was conceived by Agdestein.} dxc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7
11. Bc4 e6 12. O-O $5 {Seirawan maintains the pressure in the centre.} (12.
dxe6 Bxe6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. e5 Nd5 {drew in Agdestein - Tisdall, Gausdal 1986.}
) 12... exd5 $2 {He should not open a central file.} (12... Bg7 $1 13. dxe6
Bxe6 14. e5 Nfd7 {defends properly.}) 13. exd5 Bh6 $6 ({Preferable is} 13...
Bd6 14. Re1+ Kf8) 14. Re1+ Kf8 15. Ne5 $1 Kg7 $2 {Black loses a tempo.} (15...
Be8 16. d6 $1 Ra7 {offers more resistance.} (16... Qxd6 $2 17. Ne4 $1 {
(Kavalek)})) 16. Nxf7 $1 {An elegant sacrifice decides the game.} Kxf7 17. d6+
Kf8 18. Re7 $1 Be8 19. Ne4 $1 Bxc1 ({Or} 19... Nxe4 20. Bxh6#) 20. Nxf6 Bxb2
21. Nxh7+ Rxh7 22. Qf3+ Bf7 23. Rxf7+ {
Seirawan got the Craig Crenshaw brilliancy prize of $100 for this game.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Lein, Anatoly"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E13"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bb7 8.
Nd2 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. e4 g5 $5 ({Usual is} 10... e5) 11. Bf2 Nh5 12. g3 f5 13.
Bd3 Qf6 14. Qe2 O-O $6 {The black king becomes a target.} 15. h4 Ng7 $5 16. Rh2
c5 17. hxg5 Qxg5 18. Rh3 cxd4 19. cxd4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Qa5+ 21. Kf1 h5 22. Kg1 d5
23. cxd5 Qxd5 24. Rf1 Nf6 25. Rh4 Rac8 26. Rf4 Nxe4 27. fxe4 Qd6 28. Be3 Rxf4
29. Rxf4 Rc3 30. Bc4 $2 b5 $2 (30... Bxe4 $1 31. Rxe4 $2 Qxg3+ 32. Kf1 Rxc4 {
wins for Black.}) 31. Bb3 a5 32. Qd2 Qb4 33. d5 $5 a4 34. d6 axb3 35. d7 b2 36.
d8=Q+ Kh7 37. Rf7 $1 b1=Q+ 38. Kf2 {It looks like White has a decisive attack.}
Q1xe4 $2 ({However} 38... Rc2 $1 39. Rxg7+ Kxg7 40. Q8d7+ {
leads to perpetual check.} ({McCambridge's pointe} 40. Bh6+ $4 {fails due to}
Kf7 $1 41. Q8d7+ Qe7)) 39. Rxg7+ Kxg7 40. Q2d7+ {
Lein played his last US championship.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 32"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kavalek, Lubomir"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1986.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nd2 d5 5. Ngf3 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. b4 Bb7 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. O-O Ne4 $6 ({Preferable is} 9... h6 10. Bf4 g5 {
(Skrobek - Hort, Halle 1978).}) 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Nd2 $1 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3
f5 14. f3 f4 $6 {Browne takes too much risk.} ({Preferable is} 14... Nf6) 15.
Bf2 exf3 16. Bxf3 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 fxe3 18. Bxe3 e5 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Qe6 $1 Qc8 $2
({The right answer is} 20... Qe8 $1 21. Qh3 $1 Kg8 22. Rae1 e4 23. Nd2 Nf6 {
and White has little advantage (Kavalek).}) 21. Rae1 Re8 22. Qg6 e4 (22... Re7
23. Bxg5 $1 Qe8 {costs a pawn.}) 23. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 24. Rf7 {Kavalek mates. He
won his last US championship game.  The final standings became: Seirawan 101/2/
15, Alburt and Benjamin 91/2, Christiansen and Kavalek 81/2, Shirazi 8, Kudrin,
Fedorowicz and Wilder 71/2, Gurevich 7, Dlugy, Kogan and Lein 61/2, Browne 6,
Rohde 51/2, De Firmian 5. The top five participated in the three interzonal
tournaments. Only Seirawan qualified. Then Speelman defeated him in the next
match.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wilder, Michael"]
[Black "Kogan, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-third US championship was played in Estes Park from 2 until 18 xi
1987.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 d5 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. e3
O-O 8. Qc2 a5 9. b3 Bd7 10. Bb2 Na7 11. Bd3 h6 12. Rg1 $5 (12. O-O {
drew in Petrosian - Gipslis, Moscow 1967.}) 12... c5 $2 ({Preferable is} 12...
dxc4 13. bxc4 c5) 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. g4 $1 dxc4 15. Bxc4 $1 Rc8 {
Black has no defence against the folowing attack.} 16. g5 hxg5 17. Nxg5 Re8 18.
Nxf7 $1 Qe7 (18... Kxf7 19. Qg6+ {wins quickly.}) 19. Ne4 Kxf7 20. Nxf6 {
Wilder made a swift start.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Rohde, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. f4 a6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Nbd7 10. Qf3 Qb6 $5 11. Nde2 Qc7 12. b4 $5 b6 13. Bd2 Bb7 14. Qh3 d5
$5 15. e5 $1 Ne4 $1 {Black counters in the centre.} 16. Ng3 $1 Nxg3+ $6 (16...
f5 $5 17. exf6 Nxg3+ 18. hxg3 Nxf6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 {is safer.}) 17. hxg3 $1 g6
18. a3 b5 19. f5 $2 {De Firmian shows too much optimism.} (19. g4 {
prepares the advance.}) 19... exf5 20. Rxf5 d4 $2 (20... Nxe5 $1 {
refutes the charge, because the exchange of bishop d3 threatens.}) 21. Qh6 Bg5
$2 {Rohde collapses.} (21... Rfc8 $1 22. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7 23. Qxh7+ Ke8 {(Dlugy)}
24. Bxg6+ Kd8 25. Qh8+ Nf8 26. Bg5 $1 Qxc3 27. Qxf8+ Kc7 {keeps the equality.})
22. Rxg5 dxc3 23. Rh5 $3 {De Firmian decides the game brilliantly.} Rfe8 24.
Qxh7+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Qg5+ Ke6 27. Qg4+ Ke7 28. Qg5+ Ke6 29. Bxg6 $1 Nxe5
30. Bf5+ Kd6 31. Rd1 Bd5 32. Rh6+ Re6 33. Bxe6 fxe6 34. Bc1 Kc6 35. Bf4 Nf7 36.
Qxd5+ Kb6 {Rohde tries to play 36...exd5 and the flag of White falls. The
arbiter takes back the move and gives White a second on the clock.} 37. Be3+ {
The white flag falls again. White is given more time and Rohde protests
strongly. The appeal is withdrawn on the next day.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bg7 12. Nc4 O-O 13. e3 Qe7 14. Be2 Bd7 15.
a4 $5 ({The alternative is} 15. Qb3) 15... Na6 16. Qd2 Nc7 17. e4 b5 $1 18.
axb5 Nxb5 19. O-O Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qxe4 $1 21. Nxd6 Qe5 22. Nb7 c4 $6 (22... Qxc3
23. Qxc3 Bxc3 24. Rac1 Bd4 25. Nxc5 {keeps the equality.}) 23. Bxc4 $6 (23.
Rfc1 $1 {gains an edge.}) 23... Rfc8 24. Qa2 Rab8 25. Ba6 Rxc3 26. Rae1 Qf6 27.
d6 Bf8 28. Qa5 $6 ({Preferable is} 28. Qa1 $1 Kg7 29. Rc1) 28... Qd4 $6 (28...
Rc6 $1 {hinders the white pieces.}) 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. Nc5 $1 Qe5 $2 ({Correct is
} 30... Bc6 $1 31. Qc7 Rb6 32. Qxa7 Rb2 33. Nd3 Rbc2 34. d7 Bxd7 35. Qxd7 Qxa6
{drawn.}) 31. Qc7 Bg4 ({Or} 31... Qxc5 32. Qxb8) 32. Qxb8 Rxg3 33. fxg3 Qxc5+
34. Kh2 {Benjamin scored a useful win.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kogan, Boris"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The Gulko couple was refused to leave the Soviet Union for many years. They
were allowed to go in 1986. Boris could take part in the US championship
during the next year.} 1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 c5 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 $5 (5.
Nbd2 Qxc5 6. Bg2 {drew in Pirc - Robatsch, Graz 1961.}) 5... Bg7 6. Nd2 Qxc5 7.
Bg2 d6 8. Nb3 Qc7 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. e4 h6 11. Bf4 Nb6 12. O-O $6 ({Preferable is
} 12. Qe2 $1 O-O 13. O-O-O) 12... Nc4 $1 13. Qe2 a6 (13... Nxb2 $2 14. Nb5 $1 {
favours White.}) 14. Nd1 Bg4 15. f3 Bd7 16. c3 Rc8 17. Re1 O-O 18. Bc1 e5 19.
Ne3 Nb6 20. Bd2 Be6 21. Rad1 d5 22. exd5 Nbxd5 23. Nxd5 Nxd5 {
Black controls more territory.} 24. Qf2 Rfd8 25. Bc1 b5 26. Bf1 Kh7 27. Kh1 Rd6
28. Nd2 f5 29. a3 $6 {He weakens the pawn structure.} ({Better is} 29. Nb3)
29... Rcd8 30. Be2 Bf8 31. Nf1 R6d7 32. Qg2 Nb6 33. Rxd7+ Rxd7 34. Rd1 Bb3 35.
Rxd7+ Qxd7 36. Qf2 Nc4 37. Qe1 Nb6 38. Nd2 Bd5 39. Qd1 Qc6 40. Nf1 Bc5 41. Ne3
Be6 42. Kg2 Nd5 43. Nxd5 Bxd5 44. h4 $6 (44. b3 e4 45. c4 {
offers more resistance.}) 44... e4 45. Bf4 Qe6 46. Kh2 Kg7 47. Kg2 exf3+ 48.
Bxf3 Bxf3+ 49. Qxf3 Qe4 $1 50. g4 {The exchange of queens loses.} h5 $1 51.
gxh5 gxh5 52. Kg3 Qxf3+ 53. Kxf3 {Black has the better bishop ending.} Kf6 54.
Ke2 $5 Ke6 $1 55. Kd3 $5 {White prevents the entrance by the hostile king.} Be7
$1 56. Bg3 Kd5 57. Be1 a5 58. b3 a4 $1 59. b4 f4 $1 60. Bf2 Bd8 $1 {
Gulko has achieved zugzwang in a great positional game.} (60... Bd8 61. Be1 Bb6
62. Bd2 f3 {wins quickly.}) 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nge7 8.
Be2 O-O 9. g4 Be6 $5 ({Usual is} 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4) 10. Rg1 $6 (
{Preferable is} 10. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 11. h4) 10... Nxd4 $1 11. Bxd4 Nc6 12. Bxg7
Kxg7 13. Qd2 Qh4 14. Rg3 $2 ({Better is} 14. Qe3) 14... Qxh2 15. b3 $6 (15.
O-O-O $5 {(R.Byne and Mednis)} Qxf2 16. Rh3 h5 17. Rxh5 $1 Rh8 $1 {battles.})
15... Ne5 16. Qd4 Qh1+ 17. Bf1 f6 18. O-O-O Bxg4 19. Bg2 Qh6+ 20. Rd2 c6 21. f3
$5 Bxf3 22. Rxf3 ({Not} 22. Bxf3 $2 Nxf3 23. Rxf3 Qh1+) 22... Nxf3 23. Bxf3 Qf4
24. Qd3 Qe5 25. Bg4 Rfe8 26. Kc2 Rad8 27. Qf3 a6 28. a4 Re7 29. Qh3 Rc7 30. Rh2
Kh8 31. Kb2 $6 (31. Qh6 {fights for the last chance.}) 31... b5 $1 {
He attacks the king.} 32. Kc2 bxc4 33. bxc4 Rb8 34. Qh6 $5 Rcb7 35. Rh3 Qd4 36.
Kc1 Qxc4 37. Be2 Rb1+ 38. Kd2 Qd4+ {Seirawan was fighting for the championship.
} 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 Na6 11. Rad1 Nc5 12. Qc2 Qc8 13. Nb5 Nce4 14. Nfd4 a6
15. Nc7 Ra7 16. f3 Ng5 $5 (16... g5 $1 17. Bc1 Nxg3 18. Ncxe6 dxe6 19. hxg3 {
was played in Dlugy - Browne, USA 1984.}) 17. Bxg5 Qxc7 18. Qd3 {
The chances are equal.} b5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. a3 $1 Ba6 $6 (20... b4 $1 21. Nb5
Ba6 22. Nxc7 Bxd3 23. Nxe6 Bxe2 24. Nxf8 Bc5+ 25. Kh1 bxa3 26. bxa3 Bxd1 27.
Rxd1 Kxf8 {exchanges a lot.}) 21. b4 $1 Qb8 {
A queen and bishop have moved to passive positions.} 22. Rc1 h6 23. Bf4 $1 e5
24. Nf5 {White has an advantage.} exf4 $2 ({Preferable is} 24... d5 $1 25. Be3
d4 26. Bd2 Rd8) 25. Nxe7+ Kh8 26. Nf5 Bb7 27. Rc5 $1 Bc6 $6 (27... fxg3 28.
hxg3 Bc6 {avoids the loss of a pawn.}) 28. gxf4 Qxf4 29. e3 Qb8 $5 30. Nxh6 $1
Bd5 $5 ({The pointe is} 30... gxh6 31. Qd4 Qd8 $2 32. Rf5 Kg7 33. Qxa7) 31.
Rxb5 $5 (31. Ng4 $1 Nxg4 32. fxg4 Bxg2 33. Rh5+ Kg8 34. Qh7# {wins quickly.})
31... Qa8 32. Qd4 Rxa3 33. Nf5 Rb8 34. Qh4+ Nh7 35. Qg3 Rg8 36. Ne7 Bc4 37. Rh5
g6 38. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7 39. Qh4+ Kg7 40. Qxc4 Re8 41. Qd4+ f6 42. Nd5 Qc6 43. b5
Qd6 44. Rd1 Rc8 45. Rd2 Rc1+ 46. Kf2 Rb3 47. b6 Rbb1 48. f4 Kf7 49. Rb2 Rd1 50.
Rxb1 $1 Rxd4 51. exd4 Qa3 52. Nb4 Qc3 53. b7 $1 {
Browne had little success in his later championships.} 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When the eleventh round began, Seirawan and Gulko were leading.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. Nc3 Bxc3 $5 6. Bxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. Qxc3 O-O
9. Bg2 d6 10. Nf3 Re8 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. O-O e5 13. Rfe1 e4 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. Nf1 d5
16. Ne3 Be6 17. f4 Rad8 18. f5 Bc8 19. c5 h5 20. Rf1 b6 21. Rc1 Ba6 22. Qd2 Rb8
23. b3 {White controls more territory, but the chances are about equal.} c6 24.
Rc2 bxc5 25. Rxc5 Qd6 26. Rfc1 Rb6 27. Qe1 Nd7 28. R5c2 Qh6 29. Qf2 Bb7 30. Rc3
a5 31. Nf1 a4 $1 {Black takes the initiative.} 32. e3 Ra8 33. Nd2 Qd6 34. Bf1
Nf6 35. h3 Bc8 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. Nb3 Ra3 38. Nc5 $2 ({Correct is} 38. R1c2 {
and prophylaxis (Soltis).}) 38... Rxc3 39. Rxc3 Bxf5 $1 40. Qxf5 $4 {
He should accept the loss of a pawn.} Qxg3+ 41. Kh1 ({Or} 41. Bg2 Rb1+) 41...
Rb2 $1 {Seirawan had lost the lead. Gulko was on top, but he was defeated in
his last two games.} ({Yasser notices} 41... Rb2 42. Qf4 Rh2# $1) 0-1

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bd7 $5 ({Theory is} 10... Qc7) 11. Be2 Qc7 12. f4
Bc6 13. Bf3 b5 14. g4 O-O-O $6 ({More solid is} 14... Qb7 $1 15. g5 hxg5 16.
fxg5 Nd7 17. h4 Nc5) 15. a3 Be7 16. h4 Rhg8 17. g5 Nd7 18. Bg4 hxg5 19. hxg5
Kb8 20. Rh7 e5 $5 21. Qd2 exf4 22. Bxf4 Nf8 23. Rh3 Ng6 24. Be3 Ne5 25. Be2 Rh8
26. Rdh1 Rxh3 27. Rxh3 Qc8 28. Rh7 $1 {White has the initiative.} Rh8 $2 {
The game comes to a sudden end.} ({Correct is} 28... Bf8) 29. Qd4 $1 {
Black is mated or loses a rook.} ({Notice} 29. Qd4 Bb7 30. Qa7+ Kc7 31. Nd5+ {
(Fedorowicz).}) 1-0

[Event "Estes Park"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1987.11.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Whitehead, Jay"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2415"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1987.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bf4 a6 8. a4
Qe7 9. h3 Bg7 10. Nd2 Nbd7 $5 11. Nc4 Ne5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. d6 $5 ({
More solid is} 13. e4 O-O 14. a5) 13... Qd8 $5 {
De Firmian choses a daring line.} ({The alternative is} 13... Qe6 $6 14. e3 Bf8
15. a5 {and White has a plus.}) 14. Nxe5 $5 (14. a5 $1 O-O 15. e4 {
gains an edge.}) 14... O-O 15. e3 Ne8 16. Nc4 Be6 17. Nd5 $2 {
White should not defend the extra pawn.} (17. Be2 $1 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxd6 19. Bd5
{equalises.}) 17... b5 $1 18. axb5 (18. Ne7+ $5 Kh8 19. Nc6 Qh4 20. Nb6 Bxb2 {
favours Black.}) 18... axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Ne7+ $2 ({Better is} 20. Ncb6
Qa5+ 21. Ke2 {but Black has a great advantage.}) 20... Kh8 21. d7 Nf6 $1 22.
Nd6 Bxd7 23. Be2 Qxg2 24. Bf3 Qg5 25. Nc6 c4 26. h4 Qc5 27. Nd8 Kg8 $1 28. N8b7
Qb6 29. h5 Bc6 30. hxg6 hxg6 31. Rh4 Rb8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33. Qd4 Ra8 34. Ke2 Nd5
35. Qe4 c3 36. Qf3 f5 37. Qg3 {De Firmian and Benjamin joined the lead at the
end of the penultimate round. This did not change during the last round. The
final standings became: Benjamin and De Firmian 8/13, Fedorowicz, Wilder,
Seirawan and Dlugy 71/2, Gulko 7, Christiansen and Rohde 61/2, Browne 6,
Kudrin 51/2, Whitehead 5, Kogan 41/2, Gurevich 4.   A room was 'renovated' in
a drunken rage during the last night. Therefore, the US championship was no
longer welcome in the Stanley Hotel.} 0-1

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Wilder, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2525"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-fourth US championship was played in Cambridge Springs from 1
until 17 x 1988. It was the place where Marshall scored his greatest success
in 1904.   Wilder replaced Wolff. This change would have great consequences.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Bg5
exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Qc2 h6 {Wilder follows an idea of Smyslov.} 11. Bf4 Ne5
12. Rd1 Ng6 13. Bd2 $5 (13. Bc1 {
won for Black in Wilder - Smyslov, New York 1987.}) 13... Re8 14. Nc3 Qe7 15.
a3 $6 ({Dlugy advices} 15. Nd5 $5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 Bc5 17. Bc3) 15... Bc5 16. Nb3
$6 Bb6 17. Na4 $2 {White forgets to defence his king.} Ba7 $2 {
Black will win after the next blunder.} (17... Bxf2+ $1 18. Kxf2 Qxe2+ 19. Kg1
Nh4 20. gxh4 Bh3 21. Bxh3 Ng4 22. Bxg4 Qxg4+ 23. Kh1 Qf3+ 24. Kg1 Re2 {
leads to mate.}) 18. c5 $2 ({Better is} 18. e3) 18... Bd7 $1 19. Nxa5 $6 Qxe2
20. Nc3 Qh5 $1 21. Nxb7 Ng4 $6 (21... Ne5 $1 22. h4 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Bc6 {
wins for Black.}) 22. h3 $6 Nxf2 $1 23. Kxf2 Bxc5+ 24. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 25. Kf1 Bb5+
26. Nxb5 Qxc2 27. Bxa8 Qd3+ {Wilder had a good start.} 0-1

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Miles, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Tony Miles was allowed to take part, because he had a postal box in New York!
} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
fxe5 $5 Nfd7 9. Bf4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd5 $5 {
De Firmian sacrifices a piece for a strong centre.} Bc5+ $6 {
Miles avoids the problem and offers a draw.} ({The critical line is} 11... cxd5
12. exd5 Be7 13. h3 Bh5 {(Huzman - Taborov, Belgorod 1989).}) 12. Kh1 {
White continues.} Bd4 $2 {He should accept the gift.} ({Correct is} 12... cxd5
13. exd5 Qa4) 13. e6 $5 ({Even better is} 13. Qe1 $1 {(Mortensen)} Qxe1 14.
Raxe1 Bxf3 15. Nc7 $1) 13... fxe6 $2 (13... cxd5 14. exd7 Nxd7 {
offers more resistance.}) 14. Bc7 $1 Qa4 15. Ne7+ Kh8 16. Ng5 $1 h5 ({
The pointe is} 16... Bxd1 17. Rxf8+ Nxf8 18. Nf7# {(De Firmian).}) 17. Rxf8+
Nxf8 18. Qf1 Nbd7 19. Qf7 Nf6 20. e5 {Black will be mated soon.} 1-0

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wilder, Michael"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. Bd3 e5 $5 ({Known is} 10... Bb7) 11. d5 Na5 12. Rb1 (12.
c4 $5 {will become a novelty.}) 12... c6 13. Ba3 $5 c5 14. Bc1 $5 ({
Preferable is} 14. Ng3 $1) 14... f5 $1 15. f4 $5 (15. f3 $1 {
keeps the game closed.}) 15... fxe4 16. Bxe4 Qd6 $1 17. h3 $2 ({The pointe is} 
17. fxe5 $6 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 Bxe5 {and Black has a superior position (Dlugy)}) ({
Better is} 17. Qd3 $1 Bg4 18. Bd2) 17... Bd7 18. Qd3 Rae8 19. c4 exf4 20. Bxf4
Qe7 $1 21. Ng3 Qh4 $1 22. Bd6 Bd4+ 23. Kh2 Rf2 $1 {Black threatens ..Qxh3+!}
24. Rxf2 Bxf2 25. Nh1 Qxe4 26. Qxe4 Rxe4 27. Nxf2 Re2 $1 {
He overwhelms the opponent.} 28. Kg3 Nxc4 29. Bf4 Kf7 30. Rc1 Ne5 31. Rc3 Kf6
32. a3 g5 33. Be3 Kf5 34. Ng4 Nxg4 35. hxg4+ Ke4 36. Bxg5 Kxd5 37. Rd3+ Kc6 38.
Bf4 Be8 39. a4 c4 40. Rd8 Kc5 41. Bd6+ Kc6 42. Bf4 Bd7 43. Rh8 Re7 44. Bd2 c3
$1 45. Bf4 Rf7 {Gulko won a subtle game.} 0-1

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. Bg5 O-O 5. Nbd2 d5 6. e3 b6 7. Be2 Bb7 8. b4
Nbd7 9. O-O Qe8 10. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 11. b5 a6 12. a4 e5 13. dxe5 $5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. Qb3 axb5 16. axb5 d4 $5 17. cxd4 Bxd4 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Bf3 Bxf3 20.
Nxf3 Bf6 21. Rc1 {Seirawan exerts a bit of pressure.} Qe7 22. g3 Be5 23. Qd5
Bd6 24. Ra1 Re8 25. Ra8 Rxa8 26. Qxa8+ Kg7 27. Qd5 h6 28. Kg2 Qf6 29. Nd4 Qe5
30. Qf3 $5 {Exchange brings no winning chances.} Qc5 31. Qe4 Be5 32. Nc6 Bf6 $5
33. Qd3 h5 34. h3 Bc3 35. e4 Be1 36. Qe2 {
The contemplation time is becoming scarce.} Qc1 $2 ({Correct is} 36... Bc3) 37.
e5 $1 Qd2 38. Qf3 Qg5 ({Or} 38... Qa2 39. Nd4 $1) 39. Qe4 $5 (39. h4 $1 Qf5 40.
Qxf5 gxf5 41. Ne7 {wins for White.}) 39... Bc3 $5 (39... Qd2 $1 40. Qf3 $1 Qa2
41. Nd4 Kh7 42. e6 fxe6 43. Qf7+ Kh6 44. Qf6 Kh7 45. Nxe6 Qd5+ 46. f3 Bc3 47.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 48. Nf4+ {ends the game.}) 40. f4 $1 Qh6 41. Qc4 {
Seirawan is going to play Nd8. He competes for the title.} 1-0

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wilder, Michael"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2545"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. Rc1
Bxa2 15. Qa4 Be6 16. d5 Bd7 17. Qb4 e6 18. Nc3 exd5 19. Nxd5 Be6 20. Rfd1 Bxd5
21. exd5 Qxd5 {Black plays a risky move in the Grünfeld.} ({Usual will become} 
21... Re8) 22. Be4 Qb3 23. Bd2 b6 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 {The opening favours White.}
25. Qe7 $5 (25. Qd6 {won in Cooper - Whiteley, Ayr 1978.}) 25... Nc4 (25... Bf8
$5 26. Qd7 {(Dlugy)} Qe6 27. Qxe6 fxe6 28. Bxa5 bxa5 29. Rc4 {wins for White.})
26. Bf4 h5 $2 (26... Rf8 27. Rd8 h6 {offers more resistance.}) 27. Qe4 $1 Rc8
28. Rd7 $1 Qb5 29. Rxa7 (29. Rxf7 $1 Qc5+ 30. Be3 Qxe3+ 31. Qxe3 Nxe3 32. Rxg7+
Kxg7 33. Rxc8 {decides the game elegantly.}) 29... Qc6 30. Qe7 Qc5+ 31. Be3
Qxe7 32. Rxe7 Rc6 $5 ({Or} 32... Bb2 33. Rc2 Bf6 34. Rb7 $1) 33. Bxb6 $1 Bh6
34. Re8+ Kh7 35. Bd4 $1 f6 $2 36. Bxf6 $1 {Wilder competed at the top.} 1-0

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rohde, Michael"]
[Black "Miles, Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. d4 e6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 Nd7 8. Qc2
c5 9. e4 N5f6 10. d5 $5 {Rohde charges.} exd5 11. e5 $5 (11. exd5 $5 Bd6 12.
O-O-O {will be tried in future games.}) 11... Qe7 (11... Ne4 $5 {
becomes a novelty in Matamoros - Komarov, Cordoba 1994.}) 12. O-O-O Ne4 13.
Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5 O-O-O 15. f4 $5 exf3 $1 16. Bc4 $5 Nxe5 {Black has a plus.}
17. Qf5+ Qd7 $6 (17... Kb8 $1 18. Bf4 f6 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Rd1 Bd6 21. Bxe5
fxe5 22. Nf7 Rf8 23. Nxd8 Rxf5 {favours Black.}) 18. Qxe5 Bd6 19. Qc3 fxg2 20.
Rhe1 Bxh2 $6 (20... Rhf8 $5 21. Nxf7 $5 Rxf7 22. Be6 Qxe6 23. Rxe6 Rf1 {
leads to great complications.}) 21. Nxf7 Rde8 22. Nxh8 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 g1=Q 24.
Rxg1 Bxg1 25. Qg3 $2 {White misses an opportunity.} (25. Bf4 $1 Bd5 26. Ba6+
Bb7 27. Qf3 $1 {attacks strongly.}) 25... Bd4 26. Nf7 Bxb2+ 27. Kd1 Qa4+ $6 ({
Better is} 27... a6) 28. Bb3 $1 Qc6 29. Nd6+ Kd7 30. Nxb7 Qxb7 31. Qd3+ Bd4 $2
(31... Ke7 $1 32. Qxh7 {continues the game.}) 32. Qf5+ $1 Kd8 33. Qf8+ Kc7 34.
Qf7+ Kb8 35. Bf4+ {Rohde plays for mate. He won the Albert brilliancy prize
for the third time in a row.} 1-0

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Bg5 c5 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. O-O Nc6 $5 8.
Nc3 Nxd4 $6 ({A remarkable alternative brings} 8... cxd4 $5 9. Nxb5 Rb8 $1 10.
Nc7+ $5 Kd8 11. Nb5 e5) 9. Nxd4 Bxg2 $2 (9... cxd4 10. Bxb7 Rb8 11. Nxb5 Rxb7
12. Qd3 Bc5 {keeps the equality.}) 10. Ndxb5 $1 Bxf1 11. Nc7+ Kd8 12. Nxa8 Bh3
13. Qd3 Qe5 14. Rd1 d5 15. Qb5 $1 {White threatens to attack in the centre.}
Ke7 16. Qxc5+ Kf6 17. Qxa7 {
Seirawan has gained two pawns. He seems to be on his way to the title.} Kg6 18.
Nb6 $6 Qf5 $6 ({Preferable is} 18... Bc5 $1 19. Nd7 Qxc3 20. Qxc5 Qxb2) 19. Nd7
Be7 20. Qd4 f6 $1 21. Qd3 Kf7 22. a4 Rd8 23. Nb6 d4 24. Qxf5 Bxf5 25. Nb5 e5
26. c4 $2 (26. c3 $1 Bc5 27. Nc4 Be6 28. b3 {stays on top.}) 26... Bc5 $1 27.
Nd5 Bc2 28. Rc1 $5 Bxa4 29. b4 Bf8 30. Nbc7 e4 $1 31. Kf1 $2 ({Correct is} 31.
Rb1) 31... d3 $1 {A passed pawn will queen.} 32. exd3 exd3 33. Ke1 $2 Bxb4+ $1
34. Kf1 d2 35. Ra1 d1=Q+ $6 (35... Ba5 $1 36. Ne3 d1=Q+ 37. Nxd1 Rxd1+ 38. Rxd1
Bxd1 {wins quickly.}) 36. Rxd1 Bxd1 37. Nxb4 Bb3 38. c5 Rc8 39. Nca6 Bc4+ 40.
Ke1 Bxa6 41. Nxa6 Rc6 42. Nb4 Rxc5 {
De Firmian has an extra exchange in the endgame.} 43. Nd3 Rc8 44. h4 h6 45. h5
Rc6 46. Nf4 Rd6 47. Ke2 Ra6 48. g4 Ra3 49. f3 Ke7 50. Ng6+ Ke6 51. Nh4 Ke5 52.
Ng6+ ({Or} 52. Nf5 Kf4 $1 53. Nxg7 Ra2+) 52... Kd4 53. Kf2 f5 $1 54. gxf5 Ra5
55. Ne7 Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Ke5 57. f4+ Kf6 58. Nd5+ Kxf5 59. Ne3+ Ke4 60. Nc4 Ra6 61.
Kg4 Rc6 62. Nd2+ Kd5 63. Nf1 Rc1 64. Ng3 Ke6 65. Ne2 Ra1 66. Ng3 Ra3 67. Nf5
Kf6 68. Nd6 Ra4 69. Ne8+ Kf7 70. Nd6+ Ke6 71. Nf5 Kf6 72. Nh4 (72. Nd6 g5 73.
hxg6 Kxg6 74. Nb5 h5+ {wins for Black.}) 72... Rb4 73. Ng6 Rb1 74. Nh4 Rg1+ 75.
Kf3 Ke6 76. Ng2 Rh1 77. Kg4 Kd5 78. Nh4 Ke4 79. Nf3 Rd1 80. f5 Rd3 81. Nh4 Rd5
{Seirawan lost the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Wilder, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Many games were drawn in the championship.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f4
Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. fxe5 Nfd7 9. Bf4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11.
Nd5 {The game De Firmian - Miles was used as a running gag in the quick draws
Benjamin - Wilder and De Firmian - Fedorowicz.} cxd5 12. exd5 f5 $5 {
It ended fast again. Wilder kept the sole lead.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "USA 33"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1988.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Wilder led by half-a-point on De Firmian, Gulko and Seirawan, when the last
round began. Only De Firmian did not draw.} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4 d5 8. a5 Nc4 9. Nbd2 b5 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. O-O
O-O 12. Re1 {White has a plus.} e6 $5 (12... Ba6 {
happened in Short - Alburt, Foxboro 1985 (5).}) 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ne3 Kh7 15. Ng4
Rh8 $5 16. Be3 Nc6 17. Qd2 Qf8 18. Ra3 $5 Ne7 $5 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. exf6 Nf5 21.
Bf4 Nd6 22. Qc1 Nd7 23. Be5 (23. Ba4 $1 Nxf6 24. Bc6 Rb8 25. Rxa7 {
penetrates the hostile position.}) 23... Ne4 24. Bxc7 Nexf6 25. Ba4 a6 26. Bxd7
Nxd7 27. Ne5 f6 $6 28. Rf3 $6 (28. Ng4 $1 f5 29. Bd6 $1 Qg7 30. Rxe6 {
wins for White.}) 28... Qe7 29. Ng4 g5 30. Ne3 $6 (30. c4 $1 {charges.}) 30...
Qg7 31. c4 dxc4 32. Qxc4 Bb7 33. d5 $6 (33. Rh3 {continues the attack.}) 33...
Rac8 34. Rh3 Ne5 35. Qc2+ Qg6 36. Qxg6+ Kxg6 $5 37. Bxe5 fxe5 38. dxe6 h5 39.
g4 $6 h4 $1 40. Nf5 Rc4 41. f3 {Rook h3 has been imprisoned.} Kf6 42. Nd6 Rb4
43. Nf7 Re8 44. Rxe5 Rxb2 45. Rf5+ Ke7 46. Rc5 Kf6 47. Rf5+ Ke7 48. Rc5 a5 $5 {
Alburt sees winning chances in the endgame.} 49. Rxa5 Rc8 50. Ra1 Rcc2 $1 51.
Nxg5 Rg2+ 52. Kh1 $6 (52. Kf1 $1 Bc6 53. Ra7+ Kf6 54. Ne4+ Kxe6 55. Ra6 {
draws (Dlugy).}) 52... Rxg4 53. Rg1 Rf4 54. Re1 Rb5 55. Ne4 Re5 56. Kg2 Rxe6
57. Re2 $2 Kf8 $2 (57... Bc8 $1 58. Kh1 Re5 {gains an exchange.}) 58. Nc3 $2
Rg6+ $2 (58... Rxe2+ 59. Nxe2 Rc4 $1 {will be followed by ..Bc8.}) 59. Kf2 Rgf6
60. Ke3 Rc4 61. Kd3 Rb4 62. Ne4 $6 Ba6+ $1 63. Ke3 $6 Bxe2 64. Kxe2 ({Or} 64.
Nxf6 Bf1) 64... Rf4 65. Nf2 Rb3 66. Nd3 Ra4 67. f4 Ra2+ 68. Kd1 Rb1+ 69. Nc1
Rf2 70. Rc3 Rxh2 {De Firmian did not win the title.   The final standings
became: Wilder 61/2/11, Seirawan and Gulko 6, Benjamin, Rohde, De Firmian,
Frias, Fedorowicz, Dlugy and Kudrin 51/2, Alburt 5, Miles 4. Wilder was
champion by a score of plus two!} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.11.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-fifth US championship was played in Long Beach, California, from 9
xi until 3 xii 1989. Alexander and Igor Ivanov were new players from the
Soviet Union. It was a zonal event.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e4 Nc6 5.
d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 e5 9. O-O Bc5 10. Qe2 $5 d6 11. Be3 Bg4
12. f3 Bxe3+ 13. Qxe3 Be6 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15. c5 $1 {White takes the initiative.}
Qxc5 $6 (15... Qxb2 16. Be2 O-O 17. Rab1 Qa3 18. Rxd6 Nd7 19. Nd5 Qxe3+ 20.
Nxe3 Nxc5 {equalises.}) 16. Qxc5 dxc5 17. Na4 c4 18. Bf1 Rb8 19. Rac1 Rb4 $6 (
19... Nd7 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 21. Rxc4 Nb6 22. Nxb6 Rxb6) 20. Nc5 $1 Ke7 21. Nxe6
fxe6 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Bxc4 {White has a better pawn structure in the endgame.}
Rb8 24. b3 g5 25. Kf2 g4 26. Be2 Rb4 27. Rc1 gxf3 28. Bxf3 Kd6 29. Ke3 h5 30.
Rd1+ Ke7 31. Rc1 Kd6 32. Rd1+ Ke7 33. Rd3 a5 34. a3 Rb8 35. Kd2 h4 36. Kc2 Nh7
37. Rc3 Kd6 38. Rd3+ Kc7 39. Rc3 Ng5 40. Kd2 Rf8 41. Ke2 Kb6 42. h3 Rd8 43. Ke3
Rd4 44. Rc4 Nxf3 $2 {Black exchanges the wrong piece.} ({Better is} 44... Rxc4
45. bxc4 Kc5 46. Kd3 Nxf3 47. gxf3 {drawn.}) 45. Kxf3 $1 Rd3+ 46. Kg4 $1 Rxb3
47. Kxh4 Rxa3 48. Rc1 $1 {White has the connected passed pawns.} Kc7 49. g4 Kd6
50. g5 $1 a4 (50... Re3 51. g6 Ke7 52. Rf1 $1 Rxe4+ 53. Kg5 Rf4 54. Rb1 $1 Rb4
55. Ra1 $1 {wins for White.}) 51. g6 $1 Ke7 52. Rf1 $1 Ra2 53. Rf7+ Kd6 54. Ra7
a3 55. Kh5 Kc5 56. Ra8 Rg2 57. Rxa3 Kd4 58. Kh6 c5 59. g7 c4 60. Kh7 c3 61.
g8=Q Rxg8 62. Kxg8 c2 63. Ra1 Kxe4 64. h4 Kf4 65. Kf7 {
Dzindzi won a hard rook ending.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.11.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rachels, Stuart"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "199"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 e5 7. h3 Nbd7 8. O-O
Re8 9. Be3 exd4 10. Bxd4 a6 $6 ({Preferable is} 10... Ne5 11. f4 Nc6) 11. f4 c5
12. Bf2 Qc7 13. g4 Nb6 14. Qd3 $1 Bd7 $2 (14... Be6 15. Rfd1 Rad8 {
defends the weakling d6.}) 15. Rad1 Bc6 $5 (15... Nc8 $5 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17.
fxe5 Qxe5 18. Bg3 {also leads to misery.}) 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Nc4 18. Rxc6
$1 bxc6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxb2 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 {
White has gained a pawn.} 23. Rb1 Nc4 24. Bxc5 Rc8 25. Be7 h6 26. Nd4 g5 27.
fxg5 hxg5 28. Nf5 $5 Nxe5 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Rf1 Ng6 31. Bxg5 Rxc2 32. Bf6+ Kg8
33. Rf2 Rc4 34. Kg2 Ra4 35. Bg5 Ra3 36. Bf6 Ra4 37. Bg5 Ra3 38. Re2 $2 ({
Correct is} 38. Bd8 Ra4 39. Bc7) 38... f6 $1 39. Be3 f5 $1 40. gxf5 Nh4+ 41.
Kh2 Nxf5 42. Bc1 Rc3 43. Bb2 Rc4 44. Rf2 Kh7 $1 45. Rxf5 Rc2+ 46. Kg3 Rxb2 {
Black has excellent drawing chances.} 47. Ra5 Rb6 48. h4 Kg6 49. h5+ Kf7 50.
Kf4 Rc6 51. Ke5 Ke7 52. Kd5 Rh6 53. Kc4 Rh8 54. Re5+ Kf6 55. Rc5 Ke7 56. Kb4
Rh6 57. Ka5 Kd6 58. Rg5 Kc7 59. a4 Kd7 60. Rg7+ Kc8 61. Rg5 {
White has sealed his move.} Kd7 62. Rc5 Kd8 63. Rd5+ Ke7 64. Kb4 Ke6 65. Kc5
Ke7 66. Rg5 Kf7 67. Kd5 Kf8 68. Re5 Kf7 69. Ke4 Rc6 70. Kf5 Rc4 71. Ra5 Rc6 72.
Kg5 Kg7 73. Rd5 Rc4 $6 {Black has to sacrifice his a-pawn at some time.} (73...
a5 $5 74. Rxa5 {leads to a theoretical draw.}) 74. a5 $1 Rc6 $2 (74... Rc7 $1
75. Re5 Rf7 76. Re6 Rc7 77. Rxa6 $6 Rc5+ {draws.}) 75. Rd7+ Kg8 76. Ra7 $2 (76.
Re7 $1 Rc5+ 77. Kg6 Rc6+ 78. Kf5 Rc5+ 79. Re5 Rc1 80. Ke6 $1 {wins for White.})
76... Rd6 $2 (76... Rc5+ 77. Kf6 $1 Rc6+ 78. Ke7 Rh6 {seems to draw (Miles).})
77. Kf5 $1 Rd5+ 78. Kf6 $1 Rd6+ 79. Ke5 Rc6 80. Rd7 $1 Rh6 81. Kf5 $1 Rc6 82.
Re7 Rc5+ 83. Re5 $1 Rc1 ({Or} 83... Rc6 84. Re6 Rc5+ 85. Kg6) 84. Ke6 $1 Kg7
85. Kd6 Kh7 86. Rc5 Rb1 87. Kc6 Kh6 88. Rd5 Rb2 89. Rd7 Rb5 90. Rd6+ $1 Kh7 91.
Rd5 Rb1 92. Rd7+ Kh6 93. Rb7 $1 Ra1 94. Kb6 Kxh5 95. Kxa6 Kg6 96. Rb5 Kf7 97.
Kb7 Re1 98. a6 Re7+ 99. Kb6 Re6+ 100. Ka5 {
Rachels has won the rook ending after a great effort.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.11.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8.
O-O Ng4 9. e3 Nge5 10. b3 d6 11. h3 Qa5 $5 12. Bd2 $1 Nxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. Nb5
Qd8 15. d5 $1 Nb8 $6 ({Not} 15... Bxa1 $2 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Bxc6 {(Ribli).}) ({
Preferable is} 15... Nd4 $1 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Bh6 Bxa1 18. Qxa1 f6 19. Bxf8
Qxf8) 16. Bc3 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Nd7 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Qd4 Bd7 20. Re3 a6 21. Rae1 {
White pressures on e7.} Re8 22. a4 Rb8 23. g4 h6 24. Bf3 b5 $5 {
Black gives a pawn.} ({More solid is} 24... b6) 25. axb5 axb5 26. cxb5 Qb6 27.
Qxb6 Rxb6 28. Be2 $1 ({The alternative is} 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Rxe7 Kf8 30. Re1
Bxb5 31. b4) 28... Kf8 29. Bc4 Rb7 30. Kg2 e6 $6 (30... g5 $5 {waits.}) 31.
dxe6 fxe6 32. Bxe6 Bxb5 33. Nxb5 Rxb5 34. Bc4 Rxe3 35. Rxe3 Re5 36. Rxe5 dxe5 {
White has an extra pawn in the bishop versus knight ending.} 37. Kf3 g5 {
The white king cannot enter on the kingside or in the centre due to the strong
knight.} 38. Bd3 Ke7 39. Be4 Kd6 40. b4 Kc7 41. b5 Ne8 42. Ke3 Nd6 43. Bc6 Kb6
44. Kd3 Kc5 45. Kc3 Nc4 46. Be4 Nd6 47. Bd3 Nb7 $2 {Black leaves a tiny hole.}
(47... Nc8 $1 48. Kb3 Nb6 49. Bf1 Nd5 50. Ka4 Kb6 {stops white's king.}) 48.
Kb3 $1 Nd6 49. Ka4 $1 {White makes an encircling manoeuvre.} Nc8 (49... Kb6 50.
Kb4 {brings an entry through the central area (Miles).}) 50. Ka5 Nb6 51. Be2
Nd5 52. Bf1 Nb6 53. Ka6 Nd5 54. Kb7 Nb6 55. Kc7 e4 56. Kd8 $1 Nd5 57. Ke8 e3
58. fxe3 Nxe3 59. Be2 Ng2 60. Kf7 Nf4 61. Bf1 $1 {
The white king moved around the board.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.11.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d6 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 Nbd7 9. e3 b6 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. f3 c5 12. Ne2 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. b4 $5 e5
$6 ({Preferable is} 14... Ba6 $5 15. Qb3 d5 16. c5 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 {(Gulko)} e5
18. O-O Re8) 15. O-O b5 $6 16. c5 $1 {White delivers a fine pawn sacrifice.}
exd4 17. Nxd4 dxc5 18. Nf5 $1 c4 19. Bc2 Bd5 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Rd6 $1 Re8 22.
Rfd1 $1 Rc7 23. f4 ({Even better is} 23. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 24. f4 Qe7 {(Gulko)} 25.
Qg3+ $1 Kf8 26. f5) 23... Bxf5 24. Bxf5 Qb8 $1 25. Bxd7 $6 (25. Qh3 $1 c3 26.
Bxd7 Nxd7 27. Rxd7 c2 28. Rc1 {wins for White.}) 25... Nxd7 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27.
Rxd7 Qxf4 28. Qf3 Qc1+ {Exchange of queens brings a lost endgame.} 29. Qf1 Qe3+
30. Bf2 Qxa3 31. Bd4 $1 {White played a great attack.} ({The pointe is} 31. Bd4
f6 (31... Rf8 32. Bc5) 32. Rxg7+ $1 {(Gulko).}) 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.11.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Rachels, Stuart"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3 g6 7. Nde2 Bd7 8.
Bg2 Qc8 9. Nd5 Bg7 10. O-O Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne5 12. a4 $5 {
White has a passive position.} ({Known is} 12. Rb1) 12... Bh3 13. Ra2 $6 {
He makes a passive move.} h5 $1 {Black has the initiative.} 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15.
f3 g5 $6 16. Kh1 $6 (16. Bxg5 $5 h4 {(Miles)} 17. Rf2 hxg3 18. Nxg3 {
defends properly.}) 16... Bf6 17. b3 Qf5 18. Nd4 Qg6 19. c4 g4 20. Rg2 {
Kudrin organises the resistance.} h4 21. gxh4 Rxh4 22. f4 Nd7 23. Nb5 $6 (23.
Nf3 Rh3 24. Ng1 {protects the king.}) 23... O-O-O $1 24. Nxa7+ Kb8 25. Be3 Rdh8
26. Qe1 $2 (26. Bg1 $1 Nc5 27. b4 Na6 {stops the attack.}) 26... g3 $1 27. Qa5
$2 (27. Bg1 $1 Bd4 $1 28. Nb5 Bxg1 29. Kxg1 Rxh2 30. Rxh2 gxh2+ 31. Kh1 {
avoids a disaster.}) 27... Rxh2+ 28. Rxh2 Qe4+ 29. Kg1 Qxe3+ {The championship
was interrupted after eleven rounds. Dlugy, Dzindzi and Rachels led by 7/11.
Some of the participant played at the American Open in the nearby city of Los
Angeles. Kamsky, Browne, Chistiansen, De Firmian and Dlugy shared the win of
the Open.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.12.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D88"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.
Kxf1 cxd4 15. cxd4 Qc8 $5 {Black has compensation for the pawn.} (15... Qb6 16.
Kg1 Qe6 {is known from Karpov - Kasparov, Sevilla 1987 (90.}) 16. g5 Qc4 $6 {
Black misses a favourable exchange.} (16... e5 $1 17. dxe5 Qc4 18. Qd5+ Qxd5
19. exd5 Bxe5 {defends well.}) 17. Kg1 Rd8 18. Qe1 Nc6 19. e5 e6 20. Qf2 Nb4 $6
({Preferable is} 20... Ne7 $1 21. Nf4 Nf5 22. Rc1 Qa6) 21. Nf4 $1 Rc8 22. Rf1
Nd3 23. Nxd3 Qxd3 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Bf2 Qa6 26. a4 $5 (26. d5 $1 exd5 27. Qxd5 {
creates a protected passed pawn.}) 26... Qc6 27. a5 Rc7 28. Qf3 Qb5 $5 29. Qa3
Kg8 30. Qa2 Qc4 31. Qxc4 Rxc4 32. Rb1 Bf8 33. Kf1 Bb4 34. Ke2 Bxa5 35. Rxb7
Rc2+ 36. Kf3 Rc7 37. Rb8+ $1 Kf7 38. Be3 Bb6 39. h4 Re7 40. Rh8 Kg7 41. Rc8 Kf7
42. Ke4 Re8 43. Rc2 Rd8 44. g4 Ke7 45. h5 a5 $6 {
The a-pawn will make little progress.} (45... Rd7 $5 {defends passively.}) 46.
Rc6 $1 Rb8 47. Bc1 Kf7 48. Rd6 Rb7 49. Ba3 a4 50. d5 $1 exd5+ 51. Kxd5 Rb8 52.
Rf6+ Kg8 53. e6 Rd8+ 54. Bd6 Bc7 55. e7 Rxd6+ 56. Rxd6 Kf7 57. hxg6+ hxg6 58.
Rxg6 $1 Kxe7 59. Rg7+ Kd8 60. g6 a3 61. Rf7 {
Dzindzi and Rachels led half-a-point before Seirawan and Gulko.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 35"]
[Date "1989.12.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1989.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Rb1
O-O 9. b4 Nd4 $5 ({Usual is} 9... d6) 10. bxc5 Bxf3 11. exf3 bxc5 12. Qa4 Qc7
$2 (12... Rb8 $1 13. Rxb8 (13. Qxa7 $2 Rxb1 14. Nxb1 Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Qb8 16. Qxb8
Rxb8 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. dxc3 Rb3 {favours Black}) 13... Qxb8 {keeps the equality.
}) 13. d3 Rab8 14. Be3 Rb6 15. Nb5 $1 Nxb5 16. Rxb5 Rxb5 17. Qxb5 d6 18. Rb1 {
White rules on the open file.} Nd7 19. Qb7 Rc8 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Bd2 Nb6 $2 ({
More useful is} 21... e6 22. a4 Bd4) 22. a4 $1 {
Seirawan mates if the pawn is captured.} e6 $6 ({Preferable is} 22... f5 23. a5
Na4) 23. a5 Nd7 24. f4 {White threatens 25.a6.} a6 25. Bb7 Nb8 26. Rb6 $1 Bf8
27. Bxa6 Nxa6 28. Rxa6 Rb7 29. Rb6 Ra7 30. a6 Ra8 31. Kf1 d5 32. Ke2 Bg7 33.
Be3 d4 34. Bc1 Bf8 35. Kd1 Kg7 36. g4 Kf6 37. f3 Ke7 38. Rb7+ Kd6 39. a7 Be7
40. Ba3 {Seirawan caught up with the leaders. The final standings became:
Dzindzichashvili, Rachels and Seirawan 91/2/15, Gulko 9, Benjamin, De Firmian
and Miles 81/2, Dlugy and Fedorowicz 8, Rohde 71/2, Kudrin 7, A.Ivanov 61/2,
Browne 6, I.Ivanov 5, Alburt and Gurevich 41/2. Dzindzi, Rachels, Seirawan and
De Firmian went to the interzonal Manila 1990. Noone qualified.} 1-0

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.04"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-sixth US championship was played in Jacksonville, Florida, from 4
until 17 viii 1990. Sixteen men started in a knockout event of four rounds.
Round one consisted of two games in a classical tempo.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3.
c3 d5 4. Bf4 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Qa4 $5 Bxf4 8. exf4 Qb6 9. Nbd2 O-O
10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. O-O Bd7 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qd4 Qe7 14. b4 $2 ({Preferable is} 
14. Nb3 Ne4 15. Ne5 c5 16. Qe3) 14... c5 15. bxc5 Rfc8 16. Nb3 a5 17. Rfc1 a4
18. Nbd2 Qxc5 19. c4 {White wants to exchange his weakling.} Rab8 20. Qxc5 Rxc5
21. Ne5 Rcc8 22. Rab1 Kf8 23. a3 Ke7 24. g3 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Rc7 26. Kf1 $6 {
Great difficulties begin.} (26. Nxd7 $1 Nxd7 27. Rb4 {almost equalises.}) 26...
Be8 $1 27. Ke1 h5 28. f3 Nd7 29. Nxd7 Bxd7 30. Rb4 Kd6 31. Kf2 Kc5 32. Ke3 Bc6
$1 33. h4 Rd7 34. g4 Rd8 35. g5 Rd7 36. Ke2 $6 ({More active is} 36. cxd5 exd5
37. f5 Re7+ 38. Kf4) 36... Rb7 $1 37. Rxb7 Bxb7 38. cxd5 exd5 {
Black has a won ending.} 39. Ke3 Bc8 40. Kd3 Bf5+ $1 41. Ke3 ({Or} 41. Kc3 g6
42. Nf1 d4+) 41... g6 42. Nf1 Kc4 43. Ng3 d4+ 44. Kd2 Kb3 45. Ne2 Kxa3 46. Nxd4
Kb2 47. Nb5 a3 48. Nxa3 Kxa3 49. Kc3 Ka2 {Seirawan also lost as Black. So
Alburt went to the second round. Seirawan could take part in the American Open
and won.} 0-1

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.09"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Eight men started in the quarter finals. Gulko and Dzindzi played two draws.
A two-game playoff happened on day three. Each man had 30 minutes per game.
Both players won one encounter. A sudden death game began. Each man had 15
minutes.} 1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nge2 Nf6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. h3 b6
8. O-O Bb7 9. Re1 $5 Re8 10. d5 c6 11. Bg5 Na6 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd2 Qc7 14.
Red1 Rad8 15. Qe3 Nc5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Ne6 19. c3 Bg5 20.
Qd3 Qc6 21. h4 Bh6 22. Rd1 Bf8 23. Qc2 Nc7 24. R5d3 b5 25. Qb3 a5 26. Qc2 Rb8
27. Kh2 Ne6 28. Rd5 Nc7 29. R5d2 Ne6 30. Rd5 Qb6 $5 {
Dzindzi continues in an equal position.} 31. Kg1 Nc7 32. R5d2 Red8 33. a4 $2 ({
Solid is} 33. c4 b4 34. b3) 33... Bh6 $1 34. Rd3 bxa4 35. Qxa4 Qxb2 36. Qxa5 $2
Ne6 $2 (36... Rb7 $1 37. Kf1 Ra8 {wins a queen.}) 37. Kf1 $2 ({Better is} 37.
Bf3 Nc5 38. Rxd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Nb7 40. Qxe5 Nxd6 41. Qxd6) 37... Nc5 38. Rd5 ({
The pointe shows} 38. Rxd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Qb1+ $1) 38... Qc2 $1 39. Bf3 Nxe4 {
The white game collapses.} 40. Kg2 Nf6 41. Rxd6 Rxd6 42. Rxd6 e4 $1 43. Rxf6
exf3+ 44. Rxf3 Qxe2 45. Qd5 Qe6 46. Qd3 Bg7 47. c4 Rc8 48. Rf4 h5 49. Re4 Qc6
50. Kh2 Bf6 51. Qf3 Kg7 52. Qd3 Rd8 53. Qe3 Rb8 54. Rf4 Rb1 55. Re4 Rb2 56. Kg1
Rc2 57. Qd3 Rc1+ 58. Kh2 Rf1 $1 59. Kg2 Re1 $1 60. f3 Rxe4 61. fxe4 Qc5 62. Kf3
Qg1 63. Qe2 Be5 64. Qd3 Qxg3+ {Dzindzi had won his quarter final.} 0-1

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.09"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Two games were drawn in the match Dlugy - Alburt. Hereafter each man won a
rapid game. Two sudden death events were drawn. Then game seven began.} 1. d4
g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 e5 5. d5 f5 6. exf5 gxf5 7. Nf3 $5 (7. Qh5+ $1 Kf8
8. Nf3 {was played in Najdorf - Robatsch, Varna 1962.}) 7... Nf6 8. Be2 O-O 9.
O-O a5 10. Nh4 $5 f4 $1 11. g3 Bh3 12. Re1 Nbd7 13. Bf1 Bg4 $5 14. f3 Bh5 15.
g4 $6 ({Correct is} 15. Bh3 $1 Nc5 16. Qc2) 15... Nxg4 $1 {
He starts to attack violently.} 16. fxg4 Qxh4 17. gxh5 f3 $6 ({Preferable is} 
17... Nf6 $1 18. Re2 f3 19. Rc2 Ng4) 18. Re4 $2 (18. Re3 $1 {(Dlugy)} Qxh5 19.
Kh1 {defends properly.}) 18... Qxh5 19. Be3 Nf6 20. Kh1 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bh6 22.
Qd2 Bf4 $2 (22... Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Kh8 {charges on the kingside.}) 23. Bd3 $2 {
This can happen, when the time is short.} (23. Bxf4 $1 exf4 (23... Rxf4 24.
Qxf4 $1 exf4 25. Nf6+) 24. Bh3 $1 {wins for White.}) 23... Kh8 24. Rf1 Bxe3 25.
Qxe3 Rf4 26. c5 $2 ({Better is} 26. Ng3 $1 Qg4 27. c5) 26... Rg8 $1 27. Nd2 Rg2
28. Nxf3 Rxf3 $1 {Alburt had won his quarter final.} 0-1

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.10"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The first semi final was Alburt - De Firmian.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4.
Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Nxb5 Nxe4 11.
Bxe4 Re8 12. Ng5 $5 f5 $2 (12... Qa5+ $5 13. Nc3 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qxc3+ 15. Bd2
Qc4 {will become an improvement.}) 13. O-O $1 fxe4 14. Re1 Qb6 (14... Bf5 15.
g4 Bf6 16. Nxh7 $1 Kxh7 17. gxf5 {favours White in a future game.}) 15. Nc3 Nd7
16. Ncxe4 Bb7 $5 17. Bf4 $1 Ne5 $6 (17... Nf6 $1 18. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Bxd5 {
exchanges.}) 18. Ne6 Bh8 19. N4xc5 dxc5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Qd6 22. Rg5 Bxd5
23. Qxd5 $2 {White should avoid the swap of queens.} Qxd5 24. Rxd5 Rxe6 25.
Rxc5 Re2 26. Rac1 Rf8 27. R1c2 $6 Rfxf2 28. Rc8+ Kg7 29. R8c7+ Kh6 30. Rxe2
Rxe2 31. Rb7 a6 32. a4 Kg5 33. b4 h5 $6 34. Rb6 Rb2 $6 ({Preferable is} 34...
Re4 35. a5 h4) 35. b5 $1 a5 36. Ra6 Kf4 37. Rxg6 $5 Rb4 $1 38. Rf6+ Kg3 39. Rf1
Rxa4 40. Rb1 (40. Rf3+ $1 Kh4 41. Kh2 {wins for White.}) 40... Rb4 ({Or} 40...
Rd4 41. b6 Rd8 42. b7 Rb8 43. Rb5 {(Alburt).}) 41. Rxb4 axb4 42. b6 {Alburt dre
w with difficulty in the second game. So he won his semi final by 11/2-1/2.}
1-0

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.11"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The second semi final was Christiansen - Dzindzi. Game one was drawn.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6 8. Be2 Bg7
9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qe3 Be6 11. O-O Qb6 12. Rab1 Qxe3 13. Bxe3 Rfc8 14. b3 a6 15.
Na4 $5 ({The alternative is} 15. Nd5) 15... Nd7 16. f4 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 $5 18.
Rbc1 Rab8 19. Nc3 Kf8 $5 20. g4 $1 {White has the initiative.} Be6 21. Ne4 Nf6
22. f5 $1 gxf5 23. gxf5 Bd7 24. Ng5 h6 25. Ne6+ Kf7 26. Nxg7 Kxg7 27. c5 $1 {
He attacks on the other flank.} Bb5 $6 (27... d5 $5 {keeps the position closed.
}) 28. Bxb5 axb5 29. cxd6 exd6 30. Bf4 Ne4 31. Kg2 Ra8 32. Kf3 Ng5+ 33. Kg4 Nf7
34. Rce1 Rxa2 35. Re6 Rg2+ 36. Kh5 Rc5 $1 37. Bg3 Rb2 38. Rf3 Ne5 $2 ({
Correct is} 38... b4 $1 39. Re7 Kf6 40. Bh4+ Ng5 {
and Black survives (Christiansen).}) 39. f6+ $1 Kg8 (39... Kf8 40. Rf5 Rc3 41.
Kxh6 Rc5 42. Kh5 Rc7 43. Rexe5 $1 dxe5 44. Bxe5 {wins for White.}) 40. Rf5 $1
Nf7 41. Rxc5 dxc5 42. Re8+ Kh7 43. Re7 Kg8 44. Kg6 Nh8+ 45. Kxh6 Nf7+ 46. Kg6
Nh8+ 47. Kf5 Rxb3 $6 ({Or} 47... Nf7 $5 48. Kg6 Nh8+ 49. Kh5 $1 Rd2 50. Rg7+
Kf8 51. Rxb7 Rd5+ 52. Kg4) 48. Rg7+ Kf8 49. Bd6+ Ke8 50. Re7+ Kd8 51. Rh7 Rf3+
52. Kg5 {Christiansen won his semi final by 11/2-1/2.} 1-0

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.13"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The winner of the final between Christiansen and Alburt had to score the best
of four games. They played for the prizes of $10,000 and $5000.} 1. e4 Nf6 2.
e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4 dxe5 8. a5 N6d7 {
Black plays a doubtful move according to the theory.} 9. Bxf7+ $5 Kxf7 10. Ng5+
Kg8 11. Ne6 Qe8 12. Nxc7 Qd8 $1 {Alburt makes an improvement.} (12... Qf7 $2
13. Nxa8 exd4 14. O-O {favours White.}) 13. Nxa8 {Christiansen wants to win.} (
13. Ne6 $5 Qe8 14. Nc7 Qd8 {draws.}) 13... exd4 14. c3 Nc5 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16.
O-O e5 17. Be3 Nba6 18. Nc3 Bf5 {Black aims to gain a knight.} 19. Rc1 $2 {
White loses a tempo.} (19. Ne2 $1 Bd3 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Re1 {
keeps an edge for White.}) 19... Kg7 $1 {
He develops the rook, before he captures the knight.} 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 $1 21. b4
$5 (21. Qxd4 exd4 22. Nb5 {(Christiansen)} d3 $1 {
also brings a black advantage.}) 21... Nd3 22. Ne2 Qd7 $1 23. Rc3 Rxa8 {
The planned capture is made at last.} 24. g4 Nb2 $1 25. Qc1 Bd3 26. Qxb2 Qxg4+
27. Ng3 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 Qd4 29. Qc1 Rf8 30. Qe3 Qxe3 31. Rxe3 Nxb4 32. Rb3 Rf4
33. Rc3 Na6 34. Re3 Nc5 35. Rc3 b6 36. axb6 axb6 37. Ke1 h5 38. h3 Rb4 39. Ke2
Kf6 40. Rc2 Kg5 41. Rd2 Ne6 42. Ke3 Nf4 43. Ne4+ Kf5 44. Nd6+ Ke6 45. Nc8 Rb3+
46. Ke4 Nd5 $1 {Alburt had won the first game.} 0-1

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.14"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Qc2 Nc6 7. Bg2 b5 $5 8.
a4 Bb7 9. e3 $6 {Alburt makes a superficial move.} ({Better is} 9. axb5 $5 Nxd4
10. Qxc4 {(Bialas - Mueller, Bundesliga 1991).}) 9... a6 $1 10. O-O Be7 $6 (
10... Na5 $5 {favours Black (Dlugy).}) 11. b3 $1 Nb4 12. Qb2 c5 13. bxc4 cxd4
14. Qxd4 Qc7 15. Qe5 Bd6 16. Qg5 O-O 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bb2 h6 19. Qh4 e5 20. c5
$5 {White plays another risky move.} Qxc5 21. Rac1 Qd5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Qxb4
Bd6 24. Qb1 Qh5 25. e4 Ng4 26. h3 Ne5 27. Nd4 Rfd8 28. Nf5 Qe2 29. Nb3 Bb8 $6 (
29... Nf3+ 30. Bxf3 Qxf3 31. Rfe1 {avoids the following problems.}) 30. Nc5 $1
Bc8 31. Rc2 Nf3+ $2 {Christiansen misses the complicated escape.} ({Right is} 
31... Qh5 $1 32. f4 Bxf5 33. exf5 Nc4 34. Bxa8 Na3 35. Qb2 Nxc2 36. Qxc2 Qxh3
37. Qg2 Qxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Ba7 $1 {and Black regains the piece.}) 32. Kh1 Rd2 33.
Rc3 $1 Ng5 34. Ne7+ Kh8 35. Nxc8 {White has won a piece.} Be5 36. Re3 Qh5 37.
g4 Qh4 38. Ne7 Nxh3 39. Rxh3 Qxe7 40. Qxb5 Rb2 41. Qc6 Rd8 42. Nd3 Rd2 43. Qc4
f6 44. Qb4 Qxb4 45. Nxb4 Rc8 46. Rd3 Rb2 47. Nd5 Kh7 48. Kg1 Bb8 49. Ne3 Ba7
50. Bf3 Kg6 51. Nf5 Rc7 52. Nd4 Rd7 53. Rfd1 Rd6 54. Kf1 Ra6 55. R1d2 Ra1+ 56.
Kg2 Rbb1 57. Bd1 Rb8 58. Kf3 h5 59. gxh5+ Kxh5 60. Ne6 g5 61. Kg2+ g4 62. Rd7
Kh6 63. Bxg4 Rg8 64. Kf3 Rf1 65. Bf5 {Alburt had scored 2-0.} 1-0

[Event "Jacksonville"]
[Site "USA 36"]
[Date "1990.08.15"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1990.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Alburt needed a draw in the third game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3
dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3 Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11.
Qc2 g6 12. b3 Nb6 13. Bb2 Nbd5 $5 14. Rfd1 h5 $1 {
Alburt takes the initiative on the kingside.} 15. Bf1 h4 16. Nxd5 cxd5 $1 17.
Rac1 Bd6 $1 {White has nothing on the queenside.} 18. Qe2 a6 19. Bc3 Ng4 20. h3
Nf6 21. Be1 Re8 22. b4 Ne4 23. a5 f4 $1 24. Qg4 fxe3 25. fxe3 Ng3 26. Bd3 Kg7
27. Bxg3 Bxg3 28. Rf1 Re6 $5 ({Not} 28... Rxe3 $6 29. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 30. Qxg6+
Ke7 31. Qg5+ Kd6 32. Qxe3 Qe7 {and White has equalised.}) 29. Bb1 $2 {
Christiansen succumbs by passivity.} ({Correct is} 29. Rc5 $1 Qd6 30. Qg5 Qe7
31. Qxe7 Rxe7 32. Rxd5 Rxe3 33. Bc4 {
and Black has little advantage in the endgame.}) 29... Qe7 30. e4 $5 dxe4 31.
Ba2 Rf6 32. Rxf6 Qxf6 33. Qxe4 Qf2+ 34. Kh1 Qxa2 {Alburt had won the final by
3-0. The standings became: Alburt ($10000), Christiansen ($5000), De Firmian
and Dzindzi ($2000), Dlugy, Rachels, Gulko and Benjamin ($1000), Seirawan, A.
Ivanov, Sherzer, Brooks, Kudrin, D.Gurevich, I.Ivanov and Browne ($500).} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.07.28"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-seventh US championship was played at the LAX Mariott Hotel in Los
Angeles from 28 vii until 9 viii 1991. Four knockout rounds occurred. Nine of
the sixteen participants were Soviet immigrants.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5
4. c3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Bg4 8. Be3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nge7
11. Nc3 $5 (11. Bg4 {drew in Wedberg - Ciric, Copenhagen 1991.}) 11... Nf5 12.
Bg4 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Bb4 14. Rf4 O-O 15. Qf3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qe7 $5 17. Rf1 Rac8 18.
e4 $1 {White has the initiative.} dxe4 19. Qxe4 Na5 20. R4f3 Nc4 21. Rh3 h6 ({
Not} 21... g6 $2 22. Qf4 $1 Kh8 23. Qh6 {(Benjamin).}) 22. Qd3 b5 23. Rg3 Rfd8
24. Qe2 Rd7 25. Bh5 $1 Qh4 $5 26. Rg4 Qd8 $1 27. Qf2 Qf8 28. Qg3 $5 b4 $6 ({
Better is} 28... Nb6 {and ..Nd5.}) 29. cxb4 Nd2 30. Rd1 f5 $2 {
Dzindzi blunders under time pressure. The knight should retreat.} 31. exf6 Qxf6
32. Rf4 ({Avoids} 32. Rxd2 $4 Rc1+ {and mate.}) 32... Qg5 33. Bg4 Kh8 34. Bxe6
Qh5 35. Qg4 {Benjamin defeated Dzindzi by 11/2-1/2.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.07.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Gurevich, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Gata Kamsky and his father had defected from the Soviet Union to the USA two
years before. Gata played in the first round against Ilya Gurevich and drew
game one with difficulty.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Nb3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Qg3 b5 12. Bxf6
Nxf6 $5 (12... Bxf6 13. Bxb5 axb5 14. Nxb5 Qb8 15. Nxd6+ Kf8 {
occurred in Kapengut - Faibisovich, Rostov on Don 1967.}) 13. e5 (13. Qxg7 $6
Rg8 14. Qh6 b4 {favours White.}) 13... dxe5 14. fxe5 Nd7 15. Bxb5 $5 {
White makes the thematic move.} axb5 $1 16. Nxb5 Qb6 $5 17. Qxg7 Rf8 18. Nd6+
Bxd6 19. exd6 Qe3+ $6 (19... Rxa2 $5 20. Kb1 Ra7 21. Rhe1 {
will draw in Shabalov - De Firmian, Parsippany 1996.}) 20. Kb1 Qe5 21. Qg4 $5
h5 $6 ({Preferable is} 21... Bb7) 22. Qh4 $1 Qf6 23. Qxh5 Rh8 24. Qg4 $6 (24.
Qe2 {gains a plus.}) 24... Bb7 25. Rhe1 Qh4 26. Qg7 Qf6 27. Qg3 Qh4 28. Qe3
Qxh2 $2 29. Nd4 $2 ({White misses the opportunity} 29. Nc5 $1 Nxc5 30. Qxc5)
29... Bd5 30. b3 Qh6 $2 31. Qe2 $2 (31. Qxh6 Rxh6 32. Nf5 $1 {(Kamsky)} Rh7 33.
Rxd5 Kd8 34. Rb5 exf5 35. Rxf5 {wins a pawn.}) 31... Kf8 32. Nb5 Bc6 33. Nd4
Bd5 34. Rf1 Qg6 35. g4 Re8 $2 (35... Rh3 $1 {counters.}) 36. Nb5 $1 Rd8 37. Nc7
Be4 38. Rf4 Nf6 $2 (38... Nc5 {protects a weak point.}) 39. Nxe6+ $1 fxe6 40.
Rdf1 $1 Rh1 41. Rxh1 Kg7 42. Rhf1 Nd5 43. Rf7+ Kg8 44. Qd2 Qxg4 45. d7 Qh4 46.
Qa5 Bxc2+ 47. Kb2 Bf5 48. R7xf5 Rxd7 49. Qa8+ Rd8 50. Rg1+ Kh7 51. Qb7+ {
Kamsky had won the mini match.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.07.31"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Eight men played in the quarter finals. We follow the young star.} 1. e4 c5 2.
Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O Be7 9. Qf3
Qb6 10. Be3 Qb7 11. Qg3 O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Rad1 Kh8 14. Be3 $5 {
White withdraws.} ({The alternative is} 14. Bg5 Bxg5 15. Qxg5) 14... Nd7 15. f3
Nc5 16. a3 Nxb3 17. Nxb3 a5 18. e5 dxe5 19. Qxe5 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Ne4 f6
22. Qd4 Nc7 23. Qd2 e5 24. Bc5 Bxc5+ 25. Nexc5 $6 {
White should move the other knight.} Qb6 26. Qd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Bf5 28. Nd3 Rfb8
29. Rd1 h5 30. Rc6 Ne6 31. Rc4 Ra2 32. Nbc1 $6 ({More solid is} 32. Rd2) 32...
Ra1 33. Re1 $5 Nd4 34. Kf2 $6 (34. f4 $5 Bxd3 35. Nxd3 Rxe1+ 36. Nxe1 Ne2+ 37.
Kf2 Nxf4 {also costs a pawn.}) 34... b3 $1 35. cxb3 Nxb3 36. Nxb3 Rxe1 37. Nxe1
Rxb3 38. h4 Rxb2+ {Black has gained a pawn in the endgame.} 39. Kg1 Kh7 {
Kamsky drew the second game and won the match.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.02"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C14"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Benjamin and Seirawan played two draws in the classical games. Each man won a
game in rapid chess. Sudden death followed. Both players got 15 minutes.} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 c5 7. Bxe7 Kxe7 8. Qg4 Nc6
9. dxc5 $5 Ndxe5 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 {They chose a sharp opening.} Bd7 12.
O-O-O Qa5 13. Qh6 Rg6 $2 (13... d4 $1 14. Ne4 Qxa2 {
gains sufficient counter-play.}) 14. Qe3 $1 Ng4 ({The pointe is} 14... d4 $5
15. Rxd4 $1 Nxd4 16. Qxe5) 15. Qe1 Kf8 16. f3 Nf6 17. Nh3 $2 ({Better is} 17.
h5 $1 Rg8 18. Qh4) 17... Qxc5 $2 {The problem of mini matches becomes apparent.
Grave errors are made, when the time is short.} (17... d4 $1 18. Nf4 $5 dxc3
19. Nxg6+ fxg6 20. Qxc3 Qxc3 21. bxc3 Rc8 {counters well.}) 18. Kb1 d4 19. Ne4
Nxe4 20. Qxe4 f5 21. Qe1 e5 22. Ng5 Nb4 $2 23. c3 $1 Ba4 $5 24. Rc1 $1 Nd5 25.
cxd4 Qxd4 26. Rc4 Qd1+ 27. Qxd1 Bxd1 28. Bd3 Ne3 29. Rc1 Ba4 30. g4 Rd6 31.
Bxf5 Bc6 32. Rhe1 Nxf5 33. gxf5 Rf6 {and Benjamin won.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky and Fedorowicz played the first semi final.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5
Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. c3 d6 6. e4 Nc6 7. Be2 h6 8. Bh4 e5 9. O-O Qe8 10. dxe5 dxe5
11. b4 Nh5 12. Re1 Kh8 $6 ({Theory is} 12... Nf4) 13. Qc2 f6 14. Nc4 Nd8 15.
Nfd2 Nf4 16. Bf1 Nde6 17. f3 Bd7 18. a4 Rd8 19. Bf2 a6 20. Na5 Bc8 21. b5 axb5
22. axb5 Ng5 23. Kh1 f5 $5 24. b6 fxe4 $6 ({Better is} 24... c6 25. h4 Nf7 26.
Nac4 Be6) 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 cxb6 27. Nc4 $1 Qc6 $2 (27... Bf5 $1 28. Qxb7
Rb8 {defends properly.}) 28. Qxc6 bxc6 29. Bxb6 Rd5 30. Bc7 {
White conquers a centre pawn.} Nd3 $5 31. Bxd3 Rxd3 32. Nxe5 Bxe5 33. Bxe5+ Kg8
34. Bd4 $1 Rd8 35. Ra7 $1 Rd7 36. Ra8 Rd8 37. h4 c5 $5 38. Bf6 $5 (38. Bxc5 $1
Rxc3 39. Bb6 Rf8 40. Ra7 {wins for White.}) 38... Rf8 39. Re7 $1 Rd7 40. Kh2 $1
Rxe7 41. Bxe7 Re8 42. Bxc5 {He has gained a second pawn.} Kf7 43. Ra7+ Ke6 44.
Bd4 Re7 45. Ra8 {It is wise to postpone the exchange.} Rc7 46. Kg3 Kd5 47. Rb8
Kc4 48. Rb6 Bf5 49. h5 gxh5 50. Rxh6 Rh7 51. Rxh7 {
The swap is okay now, despite the bishops of a different colour.} Bxh7 52. Kh4
$1 {Gata's father Rustam misbehaved during the game by accusing Fedorowicz of
discussing the encounter. Kamsky won the second game and the match.} (52. Kh4
Bg6 53. Kg5 Bf7 54. f4 Kd5 55. Kf6 {
brings a white win due to the distant passed pawns.}) 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Benjamin and Gulko played the second semi final. Game one was drawn.} 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9.
Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Qe7 15. e5 Nd7
16. Kb1 Bb6 17. f4 f6 18. exf6 gxf6 $6 (18... Qxf6 {
drew in Noskov - Lagunov, Tashkent 1990.}) 19. Be2 O-O-O 20. Bf3 Qf7 21. Be3
Rhe8 22. Qe2 Qh7 23. Rhe1 Kb8 24. Bg4 Bc7 25. Qf2 Re7 $4 ({Correct is} 25...
Qf7) 26. Bxe6 $1 Rxe6 27. Ba7+ Ka8 28. Rxe6 {White has gained an exchange.} Qf5
29. Rde1 Qxf4 30. Re8 $1 Rxe8 31. Rxe8+ Nb8 32. Rh8 Qxh2 33. Bd4 Be5 34. Bxe5
fxe5 35. Qf8 e4 36. Ne2 h5 $6 37. g3 $1 {Benjamin qualified for the final.} 1-0

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The final was played between Kamsky and Benjamin.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5
Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. g3 Qd7 14. d3 Qh3 15. Re4 Qd7 16. Nd2 f5 $5 {
Kamsky delivers a novelty in the Marshall.} 17. Re1 Kh8 18. Qh5 Nf6 $1 19. Qh4
$5 c5 $1 {The chances are equal.} 20. Nf3 Bb7 21. Ng5 h6 22. Bd2 $2 ({
Correct is} 22. Be6 Qc6 23. f3) 22... Qc6 23. f3 c4 $2 {
Gata misses the decision.} (23... Nh7 $1 24. Nf7+ Rxf7 25. Bxf7 Qxf3 26. Qh3 f4
$1 {wins for Black.}) 24. Bd1 $1 ({Not} 24. dxc4 $2 Nh7 $1 {(Kamsky).}) 24...
cxd3 25. Ne6 Rf7 26. Kg2 Bc5 27. Ng5 Rff8 28. Ne6 Ng4 $1 {
Kamsky plays for a win.} 29. Nxf8 Rxf8 30. b4 Bd6 31. Qh5 $5 Qb6 32. Rf1 Ne3+
33. Bxe3 Qxe3 34. Bb3 Qd2+ 35. Rf2 $2 (35. Kh3 $1 Qxc3 36. Rae1 $1 Bxb4 37. Re6
{counters.}) 35... Qxc3 36. Rd1 Bxb4 37. Qg6 d2 38. Rdxd2 $5 Bxf3+ $1 39. Rxf3
Qxd2+ {Black has two extra pawns.} 40. Rf2 Qe3 41. Bf7 Qe4+ 42. Kh3 Qg4+ 43.
Kg2 $5 Qxg6 44. Bxg6 Rf6 45. Bxf5 {White has regained a pawn in the endgame.}
Bc5 46. Rf1 g5 $1 47. Bd3 Rd6 $1 {
Black tries to win, despite the bishops of a different colour.} 48. Rd1 Kg7 49.
Be2 Bd4 50. Bf3 b4 51. Rc1 Bc3 52. Rd1 Rb6 53. Rd7+ Kf6 54. Bd5 Ke5 55. Bb3 Rf6
56. h4 g4 $5 57. Rg7 h5 58. Re7+ $6 (58. Rg5+ $5 Ke4 $1 {(Kamsky)} 59. Rxh5 Rd6
60. Rg5 Rd2+ 61. Kh1 Kf3 62. Be6 {fights for survival.}) 58... Kd4 59. Rd7+ Ke4
60. Rf7 Rd6 61. Rf2 a5 62. Bf7 Rh6 63. Bb3 Ke3 64. Kf1 Ra6 65. Ba4 Rd6 66. Be8
Rd1+ 67. Kg2 Be1 $1 68. Rc2 Rd5 69. Rb2 Re5 70. Bd7 Kd3 71. Kf1 Bd2 72. Rb3+ $6
({Or} 72. Ba4 Rf5+ 73. Kg1 Rf3 74. Kg2 Ke3 75. Bc6 Rf6 $1) 72... Bc3 73. Rb1
Kc2 74. Rb3 Re1+ 75. Kf2 Kd2 76. Bb5 Ra1 77. Bc4 a4 $1 {
Kamsky captures a rook and takes the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.07"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. h3 c5 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 O-O 8. Be2
Be6 9. O-O Qb6 10. Qc1 Nc6 11. Na3 $5 Rac8 12. Re1 Bd5 13. Nc2 Be4 14. Bd1 $5
Rfe8 15. Ng5 Bd5 16. Bf3 $5 e5 $1 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Bxd5 $6 ({
Preferable is} 19. Be2 Ne7 20. Nb4) 19... Nxd5 20. Rd1 Rcd8 21. Nf3 e4 22. Nfe1
$5 Ne5 {Black occupies the centre.} 23. Bh6 $2 ({Correct is} 23. Bg5 f6 24. Bh4
) 23... Nxc3 $1 24. Rxd8 ({The pointe is} 24. bxc3 Rxd1 25. Qxd1 Bxh6 {
(Benjamin).}) 24... Ne2+ $1 25. Kh1 ({Or} 25. Kf1 Rxd8 26. Kxe2 Qc4+ {
(Benjamin).}) 25... Rxd8 26. Qe3 Bxh6 27. Qxh6 Qb6 28. Ne3 $5 Qxb2 {
Black has gained two pawns.} 29. N1c2 Nd3 30. Qh4 Rd6 31. Rf1 Qf6 32. Qxf6 Rxf6
33. Ng4 Rc6 34. Nge3 f5 35. g3 g5 $1 36. Na3 f4 37. gxf4 gxf4 38. Nd5 Kf7 39.
Nb5 a6 40. Na7 Rh6 41. Kh2 Rh5 42. Nb6 f3 43. Nc4 Ndf4 {
Benjamin had equalised the match.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.08"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 {
Benjamin choses another line in the Ruy Lopez.} dxc6 5. O-O Qd6 6. d3 Ne7 7.
Be3 Ng6 8. Nbd2 c5 9. Nc4 $5 Qe6 10. Ng5 Qf6 $5 11. Qh5 Bd6 $2 ({Better is} 
11... h6 $1 12. Nh3 b5 $1 {and the knights have to retreat.}) 12. f4 $1 exf4
13. e5 $1 Nxe5 ({The alternative is} 13... Bxe5 14. Rae1 $1 Be6 15. Nxe5 Qxe5
16. Bxf4 {and White wins.}) 14. Bxf4 ({Less impressive is} 14. Nxe5 $6 g6 $3 {
(Benjamin)} 15. Qh4 Qxe5) 14... Nxc4 15. Bxd6 $1 {
White sacrifices a piece for a winning attack.} Qd4+ 16. Kh1 Nxd6 {A grave inci
dent occurred. Rustam Kamsky made a loud protest for the second time in the
tournament. It was hard to calm him down.} 17. Rxf7 $4 {
Maybe Benjamin had lost his nerves.} ({Later he analyses the brilliancy} 17.
Rae1+ $1 Kd8 18. Nxf7+ Nxf7 19. Qxf7 Qd6 20. Qxg7 Re8 21. Rxe8+ Kxe8 22. Rf7 {
and White mates in two.}) 17... Qg4 $6 ({Even stronger is} 17... Nxf7 $1 18.
Re1+ Kd7 19. Nxf7 Re8 $1 {and Black wins.}) 18. Re1+ Kd8 19. Qxg4 Bxg4 20. Rxg7
h6 21. Nh7 Bd7 22. Nf6 Bc6 23. Kg1 Kc8 24. Ree7 Kb8 25. Rxc7 Ne8 $1 26. Nxe8
Rxe8 27. Kf2 Re6 28. Rce7 Rf6+ 29. Kg3 Ka7 30. Ref7 Rxf7 {
Gata had controled his nerves and scored 2-1.} 0-1

[Event "Los Angeles"]
[Site "USA 37"]
[Date "1991.08.09"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1991.07.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Gata Kamsky needs a draw in the fourth game. His father has been banned from
the tournament hall.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2
Na6 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Be3 $5 ({Theory is} 10. Bg5) 10...
Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bc1 c6 13. h3 Nh6 14. a3 Nc5 15. Be3 Ne6 16. Rfd1 Re8 17. c5
Nf7 18. b4 f5 19. Bc4 Bf6 20. Ra2 Kg7 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Re2 a5 23. b5 e4 24.
Nd4 Nxc5 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Nxc6 Nd3 27. Nd5 Bb7 $2 {Kamsky had won the match
by 21/2-11/2. The final standings became: 1 Kamsky ($10000), 2 Benjamin ($5000)
, 3-4 Fedorowicz and Gulko ($2000), 5-8 A.Ivanov, Wolff, Seirawan and Dlugy
($1000), 9-16 Gurevich, Kudrin, Yermolinsky, Rohde, I.Ivanov, Dzindzi, Browne
and Alburt ($500).} (27... Bb7 $2 28. Nxf6 Kxf6 29. Bd4+ Kg6 30. Rxd3 $1 exd3
31. Ne7+ Kg5 32. Re6 {wins for White}) ({Better is} 27... Bd7) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Sherzer, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{US championship thirty-eight was played at the Red Lion Inn in Durango,
Colorado. The dates were changed from September in 2 until 20 xii 1992, in
order to facilitate the entry by Kamsky. He did not partake anyway. The
tournament was a zonal event.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4
Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+ Ke8 10. Nc3 Be6 11. h3 Bb4
12. Bd2 a5 13. a3 $5 (13. Ne2 Bc5 14. Nf4 {
was played in Short - Gelfand, Brussels 1991 (8).}) 13... Bxc3 14. Bxc3 c5 15.
g4 $5 Ne7 {Sherzer has a solid position in the Berlin Defence.} 16. Kg2 h5 17.
Kg3 Ra6 18. Bd2 $5 Bc8 19. Nh4 Re6 20. Re1 Nc6 21. Be3 b6 22. f4 hxg4 23. hxg4
Reh6 24. Rh1 R6h7 25. Rh2 Ne7 26. Rd1 f5 27. exf6 gxf6 28. Nf3 $2 (28. Re1 {
keeps the equality.}) 28... Bxg4 $1 {Black applies devious tactics.} 29. Rxh7 (
{Or} 29. Kxg4 Rg7+ 30. Ng5 Rxh2) 29... Nf5+ $1 30. Kxg4 Nxe3+ 31. Kg3 Rxh7 32.
Re1 Re7 33. Rc1 Nc4 34. Nh4 Nxb2 {He has gained two pawns.} 35. Nf5 Re2 36. Kf3
Rd2 37. Ne3 Rd4 38. Rh1 Ra4 39. Rh8+ {
White overstepped the time limit. Sherzer competed for the title.} 0-1

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. Na3 cxd4 8. cxd4
Nf5 9. Nc2 Qb6 10. O-O a5 11. g4 Nfe7 12. Nh4 Ng6 13. Ng2 Be7 14. f4 O-O 15.
Be3 f5 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. Bd3 $5 (17. h4 Bd6 18. h5 Nge7 19. Bd3 {
was played in Sveshnikov - Gulko, Riga 1985.}) 17... Bd6 18. h4 Raf8 19. g5
R6f7 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. h5 gxh5 22. Qxh5 {White threatens 23.g6.} g6 $1 {
They battle for the initiative on the kingside.} 23. Qxg6+ Rg7 24. Qd3 Ne7 25.
Qb3 Qxb3 26. axb3 b6 {Black has an edge after the sacrifice of a pawn.} 27. Bd2
Nf5 {The central area is blockaded.} 28. Rf3 Rh7 29. Raf1 $6 (29. b4 a4 30.
Raa3 {counters on the queenside.}) 29... Bb5 30. Re1 Kf7 31. Kf2 $6 ({Better is
} 31. Bc3 {(Gulko).}) 31... Rh2 $1 32. Bc3 $2 (32. Rc3 Rfh8 33. Na3 Ba6 34. Nc2
{avoids a material loss.}) 32... Nh4 $1 33. Rg3 Bxf4 34. Rg4 Ke7 $1 35. Rxh4
Bxg5+ 36. Kg3 Rxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Bxh4 {Now, Black has an extra pawn.} 38. Rh1 Rf4
39. Ne1 Be2 40. Bd2 Rg4+ 41. Kh3 Rxd4 42. Be3 Re4 43. Ng2 Bf6 44. Bxb6 Bg4+ 45.
Kh2 Re2 46. Kg3 Bf5 {Gulko played a fine positional game.} 0-1

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Gurevich, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "187"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The two former Soviet players were no family.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Nxc3 7. Qd4 f6 8. Qxc3 Bg7 9. e3 e5 10. b4 $5 (
10. d4 e4 11. Nd2 {drew in Z.Polgar - Stohl, Dortmund 1990.}) 10... e4 11. Nd4
f5 12. Rb1 $1 Qc8 $6 13. Qb3 $1 a5 $6 14. bxa5 Nc6 $6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. a6 $2 {
Both sides miss chances.} (16. Bb2 $1 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Rf8 18. Qe5+ {
wins for White.}) 16... bxa6 17. Bc4 Qd7 18. O-O Ba4 19. Qb4 $6 Bc2 $6 20. Qb7
$1 Rd8 21. Qxa6 $1 {White has gained a pawn.} Bd3 $6 22. Ba3 $6 (22. Bxd3 exd3
23. Ba3 {ends the game.}) 22... Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qf7 24. Qc2 Be5 25. Rfc1 Qe6 26.
Rb5 Bd6 27. Qc6+ Kf7 28. Bxd6 Rxd6 29. Qxc7+ Rd7 30. Qa5 Rhd8 31. Rb2 Qf6 32.
Rbc2 f4 33. Qb4 Qe5 34. Rc5 Qe6 35. Rc6 Qxa2 36. Qxe4 fxe3 37. fxe3 $2 (37.
Qf3+ $1 Kg8 38. dxe3 {wins a second pawn (D.Gurevich).}) 37... Rxd2 38. Rf1+
Kg8 39. h3 Qd5 $2 40. Qxd5+ $2 (40. Rxg6+ $1 hxg6 41. Qxg6+ Kh8 42. Rf4 $1 {
triumphs.}) 40... R8xd5 41. Rc7 Rd7 42. Rxd7 Rxd7 {
Black has to defend a lengthy rook ending.} 43. Rf3 Rd2 44. Kf1 Kg7 45. Rf2 Rd3
46. Ke2 Ra3 47. Rf4 h5 48. Kf3 Ra2 49. Rb4 Kf6 50. h4 Ke6 51. Rb6+ Kf7 52. e4
Ra3+ 53. Kf4 Ra5 54. g3 Kg7 55. Rd6 Kf7 56. Rd5 Ra3 57. Rd4 Kf6 58. Rd1 Ke6 59.
Rf1 Kf6 60. Rf3 Ra4 61. Rc3 Ra5 62. Rc6+ Kf7 63. Rd6 Rb5 64. Ra6 Rc5 65. e5 Rc3
66. Ra4 Rb3 67. g4 hxg4 68. Kxg4 Re3 69. Kf4 Re1 70. Re4 Rf1+ 71. Kg4 Ke6 $5
72. Kg5 Rg1+ 73. Rg4 $1 Ra1 74. Kxg6 Kxe5 {The endgame is a theoretical draw.}
75. h5 Ra6+ 76. Kg5 Ra8 $2 ({Right is} 76... Ke6 $1 77. Kg6 Ke5+ $1) 77. h6 Ke6
({The pointe is} 77... Rg8+ 78. Kh5 Rxg4 79. h7) 78. h7 Kf7 79. Ra4 $1 Rxa4 80.
h8=Q Ra5+ 81. Kf4 Rd5 82. Ke4 Rg5 83. Qh7+ Kf6 84. Qh6+ Rg6 85. Qf8+ Kg5 86.
Qf4+ Kh5 87. Qh2+ Kg4 88. Qg2+ Kh5 89. Qh3+ Kg5 90. Ke5 $1 Ra6 91. Qe3+ Kh4 92.
Qe1+ Kg5 93. Qd2+ Kh4 94. Kf5 {Dmitry made a great effort.} 1-0

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. e3 {White threatens mate in one.} Nf6 5. Bg3 d6
6. h4 g4 7. h5 Be6 $5 ({Usual is} 7... Bg7) 8. Ne2 Bf7 9. Nf4 Nc6 10. Bb5 a6
11. Ba4 Bg7 12. Bb3 d5 $5 13. Nc3 {He has an edge.} e6 14. Qd2 Qd7 15. f3 Rg8
16. O-O-O Bh8 17. Bh4 Qd6 18. Nd3 gxf3 19. gxf3 O-O-O 20. f4 Rdf8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6
22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. fxe5 Qe7 24. Ne2 Rg2 25. Qe1 Qg5 $2 {A waiting move is wiser.}
26. Nf4 $1 Rg3 27. c4 dxc4 28. Bxc4 Re8 29. Kb1 Kb8 30. Qc3 Nd8 31. Rc1 Re7 32.
a3 Rd7 33. Bb3 Qg4 34. Ba4 c6 35. Bd1 Qg5 36. Be2 Be8 37. Ka2 Rg7 38. Qb3 Ka7
39. Bc4 Bd7 40. Rc3 Qe7 41. Ng6 $1 {Rook g3 is isolated.} Qe8 42. Qb4 Nf7 43.
Rb3 b5 44. Be2 Ng5 45. Qe1 Ne4 46. Bd3 Rg4 47. Bxe4 Rxe4 48. Qb4 Qd8 49. Rc1 {
The white pieces are mobilised.} Kb7 50. Rbc3 Rf7 51. Nf4 Kb8 $6 ({
Preferable is} 51... a5 $1 52. Qd6 Qc7) 52. Qd6+ Qc7 53. Qxc7+ Kxc7 54. Rg1 $1
{White is going to win material in the endgame.} Re7 55. Rg6 Be8 56. Rxh6 Kd7
57. b4 Rg7 58. Kb2 Bf7 59. Rf6 Rxf4 $5 60. exf4 Bxh5 61. Rh3 Be2 62. Rfh6 {
Seirawan has gained an exchange.} 1-0

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Sherzer, Alex"]
[Black "Ivanov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2460"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 g6 4. h3 Bg7 5. Nf3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Bf5 7. Ng3 Nf6 8.
Nxf5 gxf5 9. Bd3 e6 10. Qe2 c5 11. Bxf5 $5 (11. dxc5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qxc5 13. Bc3
{drew in Sahovic - Botvinnik, Belgrade 1969.}) 11... cxd4 12. O-O Nc6 13. Re1
O-O 14. Bd3 Nb4 15. Bg5 Rc8 16. Rad1 Qd5 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. c3 Qd5
$2 ({Better is} 19... Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Qd5) 20. cxb4 Qxg5 21. Qe4 Rfe8 22. Qxh7+ {
White gains a pawn.} Kf8 23. Qe4 Rc7 24. h4 Qf6 25. Rc1 Rec8 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27.
g3 Qe7 28. a3 Qd6 29. Kg2 Qc6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. f4 f5 32. b5 Rd6 33. Rc1 Ke7
34. Kf3 Rd7 35. a4 Kd6 36. Rc8 Bf6 37. b3 Rc7 $1 38. Rxc7 Kxc7 {
Black has exchanged the heavy pieces.} 39. h5 Kd6 40. h6 Ke7 $6 (40... b6 $5 {
prevents the next move.}) 41. b6 axb6 42. g4 fxg4+ 43. Kxg4 Kf7 44. f5 exf5+ $2
(44... e5 $1 45. Bc4+ Kf8 46. Kf3 Bg5 47. Ke4 Bxh6 48. Kxe5 Be3 {
tries to survive in the ending of bishops of a different colour.}) 45. Kxf5 Bh8
46. Bc4+ Kf8 47. Kg6 Be5 48. h7 Bh8 49. b4 Ke7 50. Bd3 $1 Ke6 51. Be4 $1 Ke5
52. Bxb7 d3 53. Kf7 Kd4 54. Bf3 Kc4 55. b5 {Sherzer led in the championship.}
1-0

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Bb3 Qc7 12. Re1 Bd6 13. Nf5 Bxh2+ 14. Kh1
O-O 15. Nxg7 Rd8 16. Qf3 Kxg7 17. g3 b5 18. Kxh2 $5 {
White regains the piece immediately.} (18. Bf4 $2 Bb7 19. Bxc7 Bxf3+ 20. Kxh2
Ng4+ 21. Kg1 Rd2 {won for Black in Ye Jiangchuan - Dolmatov, Moscow 1992.})
18... Bb7 19. Qf4 Qc6 $1 20. Rg1 Rd1 $1 {Black threatens ..Qh1+ and mate.} 21.
Be3 $1 Rxa1 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qc5+ $1 Ke8 25. Qxc6+ Bxc6 26. Rxa1
Ng4+ 27. Kh3 Nxe3 28. fxe3 Rd8 29. a4 $1 {Wolff counters in the endgame.} b4 $1
{Gulko has a plus.} (29... Rd2 $5 {
will be played in Kotronias - Chernin, München 1993.}) 30. Bc4 a5 31. Bb5 Rc8
32. Bd3 Ke7 33. g4 $5 Rg8 34. Kh4 h6 35. Rf1 Rg5 36. b3 Re5 37. Re1 f6 38. Kg3
h5 39. gxh5 Rxh5 40. e4 Kd6 41. Kf4 {White carries out a passive defence.} Kc5
42. e5 $6 (42. Rd1 $5 e5+ 43. Kg3 f5 44. exf5 e4 {also favours Black.}) 42...
f5 $1 43. Bc4 Rh4+ 44. Kg5 Rxc4 $1 45. bxc4 Kxc4 $6 (45... Bxa4 $1 46. Ra1 Bxc2
47. Rxa5+ Kxc4 48. Ra6 b3 49. Rxe6 Kc5 {wins for Black.}) 46. Rd1 ({
Gulko analyses} 46. Kf6 Bd5 47. Rf1 Kc3 48. Rf2 f4 $1 49. Ke7 f3 50. Kd6 Kd4)
46... Bxa4 47. Rd6 Bxc2 48. Rxe6 Ba4 $1 49. Ra6 Kb5 50. Ra8 ({
The alternative is} 50. Rh6 Bb3 51. Kxf5 a4 $1 52. e6 Bxe6+ 53. Kxe6 b3 $1 54.
Kd5 a3 $1 {and wins.}) 50... b3 51. e6 Kb4 $1 52. Rb8+ Ka3 53. Kxf5 b2 {
Gulko won the Albert Brilliancy Prize,} 0-1

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B93"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 Nc6 7. Be2 g6 8. Be3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Rb8 11. Qd2 $5 Bg4 12. Kh1 Bxe2 13. Ndxe2 b5 14. axb5
axb5 15. Ng3 Nd7 16. f5 $5 b4 $1 17. Nd5 Bxb2 18. Ra6 Rc8 19. Bh6 Re8 $1 (19...
Bg7 $2 20. Nh5 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 gxh5 22. f6 Nxf6 23. Rxf6 {favours White.}) 20.
Nh5 Nf6 $6 ({Better is} 20... Be5) 21. Nhxf6+ $5 exf6 22. Nb6 Bc3 $5 23. Qd1
Rb8 24. Nc4 $6 (24. Nd5 $1 {keeps an edge.}) 24... Qc8 $1 25. Ra2 Qc7 26. Bf4
Ne5 27. Ne3 Nc4 28. Nd5 Qc5 29. Qd3 Qd4 30. h3 $2 ({Correct is} 30. fxg6 hxg6
31. e5 Qxd3 32. Nxf6+ Kg7 33. cxd3 Nxe5 34. Nxe8+ Rxe8) 30... Qxe4 31. Nxc3
bxc3 32. Qxc3 Ne5 33. Bg3 $6 Rbc8 34. Qd2 Nc4 35. Qf2 Ne3 36. Re1 Qc4 37. fxg6
hxg6 38. Raa1 Nf5 39. Rxe8+ Rxe8 40. Bh2 Re2 41. Qf3 Rxc2 42. Rd1 Rc1 43. Rxc1
Qxc1+ 44. Bg1 Qc4 45. Bf2 d5 46. g4 Nd6 47. Qxf6 Ne4 48. Qd8+ Kg7 49. Bb6 Qf1+
50. Kh2 Qf4+ 51. Kg2 Qg3+ 52. Kf1 Qd3+ {Wolff started a final spurt.} 0-1

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be7 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc3
$5 ({Theory is} 8. Be3) 8... a5 9. Be3 a4 10. Nd2 Qa5 11. a3 Bd7 12. Be2 Na6
13. O-O Nc5 14. Kh1 Rfc8 15. f4 Bc6 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 18. exd5 Ne8
19. b4 axb3 20. Nxb3 Qc7 21. Qb1 b6 22. Nc1 Nd6 $1 {He blockades.} 23. Bg1 $2
Na4 $2 (23... Nce4 $1 24. Qxb6 Qxb6 25. Bxb6 Nxc4 {favours Black.}) 24. Na2 Qd7
25. Nb4 Nc3 26. Qc2 Nxe2 27. Qxe2 Nxc4 28. Nc6 b5 29. a4 Bf6 30. axb5 Rxa1 31.
Rxa1 Qxd5 32. Rd1 $6 Qe6 33. Qa2 e4 $6 34. Rc1 $1 Nd6 35. Qxe6 fxe6 36. b6 {
The chances are about equal. White threatens 37.Ne7+.} Ra8 $2 ({Correct is} 
36... Kh8 $1 37. Be3 Nb7) 37. Rd1 $1 Nb7 38. Rd7 $1 {He wins a knight.} Ra1 39.
Rxb7 e3 40. Ra7 $1 Rb1 41. Ra2 Rxb6 42. Na5 Ra6 43. Bxe3 Bc3 44. Ra3 Bb4 ({
The pointe is} 44... Bxa5 45. g3) 45. Ra4 Bc3 46. Rc4 Bxa5 47. Ra4 Kf7 48. g3 {
White gains an exchange.} Bb6 49. Rxa6 Bxe3 50. Kg2 Bd4 51. Kf3 g6 52. Ke4 Bf6
53. Ra7+ Kg8 54. g4 Bc3 55. Re7 Bf6 56. Rxe6 Kf7 57. Ra6 Bc3 58. Ra7+ Kg8 59.
Rd7 Bf6 60. Kf4 Bb2 61. Rc7 Bf6 62. g5 Bd4 63. h4 Bb2 64. Kg4 Be5 65. Rc6 Bb2
66. Ra6 Bc3 67. Ra4 Be5 68. h5 $1 Bc3 (68... gxh5+ 69. Kxh5 Kg7 70. Ra7+ Kh8
71. g6 $1 {brings a mate attack.}) 69. h6 Kf7 70. Rc4 Be5 71. Kf3 Bd6 72. Rc8
Ke6 73. Rh8 Kf5 74. Rxh7 Kxg5 75. Rd7 $1 {
Sherzer led by half-a-point on Wolff and Gulko.} 1-0

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Sherzer, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E88"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2460"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Sherzer led by half-a-point on Wolff and Gulko, when the last round began.
Gulko played a simple draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O
6. Be3 e5 7. d5 c6 8. Bd3 cxd5 9. cxd5 Nh5 10. Nge2 f5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. O-O
Nd7 13. Qd2 Ndf6 14. Kh1 Bd7 $5 ({Usual is} 14... Kh8) 15. a4 a6 16. a5 Qe7 (
16... Qe8 $5 {will become a novelty.}) 17. Bc2 Rae8 18. Rae1 e4 $5 {
Sherzer plays for a win.} 19. Nf4 Qf7 20. Nxh5 Nxh5 21. f4 $6 ({Preferable is} 
21. fxe4 $1 f4 $1 {(Wolff)} 22. Bf2 Bg4 23. Ba4) 21... Nf6 22. h3 Nh5 23. Kh2
Qg6 24. Rg1 Qg3+ {Black has a strong attack.} 25. Kh1 Bh6 26. Rgf1 Qh4 27. Qf2
Ng3+ 28. Kg1 Kf7 29. Rc1 Rg8 30. Ba4 Bxa4 31. Nxa4 Rg4 $1 32. Rc7+ Kg8 33. Rfc1
Bxf4 34. Rc8 Rxc8 35. Rxc8+ Kf7 36. Rc7+ Kg6 $1 37. Bd4 $2 {
Blunders are made under time pressure.} ({Better is} 37. Nb6 Bxe3 38. Qxe3)
37... Bh6 $2 38. Rd7 $2 Rf4 $2 {
Black misses the decisive move for the second time.} (38... e3 $1 39. Rxd6+ Kf7
40. Qc2 {(Wolff)} Rxd4 $1 41. Qc7+ Qe7 42. Rd7 Rd1+ 43. Kh2 Nf1+ 44. Kg1 Nd2+
45. Kh2 Bf4+ {wins for Black.}) 39. Rxd6+ Kf7 $2 (39... Kh5 $1 40. Rxh6+ Kxh6
41. Be3 {(Wolff)} Kg7 $1 42. Bxf4 Qxf4 $1 43. Qxf4 Ne2+ 44. Kf2 Nxf4 45. d6
Nd3+ 46. Ke3 Kf6 {escapes in a knight ending.}) 40. Rxh6 $1 Qg5 41. Rxh7+ Kf8
42. Rg7 $1 Rxf2 43. Rxg5 Rf1+ 44. Kh2 f4 45. Rxg3 fxg3+ 46. Kxg3 Ra1 47. Nc5
Rxa5 48. d6 $1 {Sherzer had lost his chance on an undivided title.} 1-0

[Event "Durango"]
[Site "USA 38"]
[Date "1992.12.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Men, Boris"]
[Black "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Wolff has to win this game.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6
6. d4 cxd4 7. cxd4 d6 8. Qe2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nxc3 12. bxc3
b6 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. Qe4 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Qf4 Rad8 18. Be4 Rxd1
19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. Bxb7 Nxb7 22. Qa4 Qd8 23. Nd4 $5 (23. h4 {
was played in Jackson - Radzikowska, Naleczow 1979.}) 23... Na5 24. h3 Qc8 25.
Kh1 a6 26. Kg1 Kh8 27. Kh1 Kg8 28. Kg1 Bf8 {Wolff makes an effort to prevail.}
29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Nf3 $5 Nc4 $5 31. Qd1 $6 ({Better is} 31. Qb4+ Ke8 32. Ng5 {
(Wolff)} Nxe5 33. Qxb6 Qxc3 34. Nxh7) 31... Qc7 32. Qd4 b5 33. Qf4 Kg8 34. h4
$2 (34. Qh6 Nxe5 35. Ng5 f5 36. Qf8+ $1 Kxf8 37. Nxe6+ Ke7 38. Nxc7 {
defends well.}) 34... Nb6 $1 35. h5 Nd5 36. Qh4 Qxc3 37. Kh2 Qb4 38. Qd8+ Qf8
39. Qg5 ({Or} 39. Qd6 Qxd6 40. exd6 Kf8 {and Black wins.}) 39... h6 $1 {
Wolff becomes the sole champion!} 40. Qg4 Qb4 41. Nd4 g5 42. Qe4 Qc4 43. a3 a5
44. g3 b4 45. axb4 axb4 46. f4 g4 {The final standings became: Wolff 101/2/15,
Gulko and Sherzer 10, Seirawan and D.Gurevich 9, Fedorowicz 81/2, Yermolinsky,
Benjamin and I.Gurevich 8, Dzindzi 71/2, Browne and A.Ivanov 7, Rachels 61/2,
A.Ivanov and Men 5, Shirazi 1. The top five qualified for the interzonal
tournament Biel 1993.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The thirty-ninth US championship was played in Long Beach, California, from 2
until 14 xii 1993. Kamsky was the favourite. Eight out of the twelve
participants were former Soviets.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5.
Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7
12. g3 Qb6 13. Bg2 O-O-O 14. O-O Ne5 15. dxe5 Rxd1 16. Raxd1 {
White has given a queen.} b4 17. Ne4 Qa5 18. Bf4 c3 $6 ({Known is} 18... Rh5)
19. bxc3 Ba6 (19... bxc3 $6 20. Rc1 Ba6 21. Rfd1 {favours White.}) 20. cxb4 $1
Bxb4 21. a3 $1 Bxa3 ({Not} 21... Qxa3 $2 22. Ra1 Qd3 23. Rfb1) 22. Rfe1 Bd3 23.
Nd6+ Bxd6 24. exd6 Kd7 25. Re5 $6 (25. Ra1 Qb6 {(Shabalov and Yermolinsky)} 26.
Ra3 Bb5 27. Be3 c5 28. Rc1 {keeps an advantage.}) 25... Bb5 26. Rc1 Qa4 27.
Rec5 a6 28. Be5 Rh5 29. f4 Qa3 30. R5c3 Qb4 31. h4 Rxe5 $1 32. fxe5 Qd4+ 33.
Kh2 Qxe5 34. Bxc6+ Bxc6 35. Rxc6 Qxf6 $5 36. R6c2 $5 Kxd6 37. Ra2 Ke7 38. Rc6
Qf1 39. Rcxa6 {Two rooks battle a queen.} Kf8 $6 ({More solid is} 39... f5) 40.
Rb6 Kg7 41. Rbb2 Kg6 42. Rf2 Qe1 43. Rae2 Qd1 $5 44. Re5 $1 Kg7 $2 ({Correct is
} 44... Qd7 $1 45. Rg5+ Kh7 $1 {and Black keeps his pawns.}) 45. Rg5+ $1 Kf8
46. Rg6 $1 {Pawn f7 is going to fall.} e5 47. Rgf6 e4 48. Rxf7+ Kg8 49. Re7 Qd3
50. Rf4 e3 51. Rfe4 Qc2+ 52. Kh3 Qc8+ 53. g4 Qc1 54. Rxe3 Qh1+ 55. Kg3 Qg1+ 56.
Kf4 Qf2+ 57. Kg5 Qd2 58. Kg6 {Yermolinsky made a great start.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 Be7 11. h3 b5 12. Bd3 O-O 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 b4
15. Ne2 e5 16. Be3 Qa5 17. Kb1 exf4 18. Bxf4 Be6 19. Nc1 Nd7 $5 ({Usual is} 
19... d5) 20. Nb3 Qb6 21. g5 h5 $5 ({More solid is} 21... Bxg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5
23. Qxg5 f6) 22. Be2 {White attacks d6 and h5.} Nc5 23. Nxc5 dxc5 24. Bxh5 c4 {
Black counters.} 25. Bg4 c3 $1 26. Qd4 Bc5 27. Qe5 Bxa2+ $1 28. Kxa2 b3+ 29.
cxb3 c2 30. Qc7 cxd1=Q 31. Rxd1 Rab8 32. Qxb6 Rxb6 {
The chances are equal, despite the uneven material.} 33. Rd5 Bb4 34. Bd7 Be7
35. Rd3 Bc5 36. Be5 Be7 37. h4 f6 38. gxf6 gxf6 39. Bc7 Rb7 40. Be6+ Kh8 41.
Bf4 Rd8 42. Bd5 $1 Rbd7 43. Bd2 Rg8 44. Bc3 Rg4 45. Rf3 Rd6 46. Rh3 Bf8 47. Rf3
Bg7 48. h5 Rh4 49. Rf5 Kh7 50. Bb4 Rb6 51. Be7 Rb5 52. b4 Kh6 53. Bxf6 Bxf6 54.
Rxf6+ Kxh5 55. Ka3 a5 56. Rf5+ Kg4 57. bxa5 Rxa5+ 58. Kb4 {
Kamsky has gained territory.} Ra1 59. Kc5 Rc1+ 60. Kd6 Rh2 61. b3 Rd2 62. Rf7
Rc8 63. Rb7 Kf4 64. b4 Rc4 65. Ke6 Rcd4 $2 ({Correct is} 65... Rc8 $1 66. Kd6
Rc4 67. Ke7 Rc8 68. b5 Rh2 $1 {and Black has sufficient counter-play.}) 66. b5
$1 Rb4 $2 (66... Ke3 $1 67. Ke7 $1 Rg2 68. Kd6 Rg6+ 69. Kc5 Rd1 70. Bc6 Rg5+
71. Kb6 Rb1 {brings no clear result.}) 67. Bc6 Ke3 68. e5 Rh4 69. Rf7 Rh6+ 70.
Rf6 Rh8 71. Ke7 $1 Rh7+ 72. Rf7 Rh6 73. e6 Kd4 74. Rf5 Re2 75. Rf6 Rh3 76. Kd6
Rd3 77. b6 $1 Kc4+ 78. Kc7 {Kamsky had to make a great effort for the win.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Bd6 9. b4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nbd7 11. Bb2 a5 12. b5 Qe7 13. Be2 $5 Rad8 14. Qc2 e5
15. a4 Rfe8 16. Rad1 e4 $1 17. Nd2 Nd5 18. Nxd5 ({Not} 18. Ndxe4 $2 Nb4 $1)
18... Bxd5 19. Nc4 Nf8 20. Rde1 Ng6 21. f4 exf3 22. Bxf3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 $1 Bb4
24. Rd1 ({Avoids} 24. Re2 $2 Nf4 $1) 24... Rd5 25. Kh1 Rh5 26. e4 Qd7 27. Rg1
Rh3 28. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 29. dxe5 Qe6 30. Qg2 g6 31. f4 Bc5 32. Rgf1 Qb3 33. f5 {
White threatens e6.} Rd3 34. Rde1 $6 (34. Rxd3 Qxd3 35. e6 $1 fxe6 36. fxg6 h6
{slightly favours White (Cu.Hansen).}) 34... Bb4 35. e6 $2 fxe6 $4 {
The tables turn.} (35... Bxe1 $1 36. exf7+ Qxf7 37. fxg6 Qxg6 $1 {
wins for Black.}) 36. fxg6 e5 37. gxh7+ Kxh7 38. Rf5 Bd2 39. Rh5+ Bh6 40. Bc1
Rd6 41. Bxh6 Rxh6 42. Rxh6+ Kxh6 43. Rg1 {
Kamsky, Shabalov and Yermolinsky battled at the top.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. O-O e5 12. Nc2 Nc6 13. Ne3 Be6 14. c4
Rc8 15. Rb1 $5 ({Theory is} 15. Nd5) 15... b6 16. Nd5 Bc5 17. e3 Bf5 18. Rb3
Qd7 19. Bc3 Bh3 20. Rb2 Qe6 21. Bxh3 Qxh3 22. Qf3 Qe6 23. Rd2 f5 24. Rfd1 Rf7
25. Kh1 Rcf8 26. Qe2 Nd8 27. f3 Nb7 28. Kg2 Rc8 29. e4 $5 Rcf8 $5 30. exf5 Qxf5
31. Bxe5 Qxf3+ 32. Qxf3 Rxf3 33. Nf4 Re3 34. Rd5 $6 (34. Rd7 Rxe5 35. Rxb7 Rf7
{draws (Yermolinsky).}) 34... Re8 35. Ba1 R8e7 36. h4 Ra3 37. Nh5 Nd6 $5 38.
Kh3 $2 ({Right is} 38. Bxg7 $1) 38... Ne4 $1 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Rf1+ Kg6 41. Rd5
$2 (41. Nf4+ Kh6 42. Nd3 {offers more resistance.}) 41... h6 42. Nf4+ Kh7 43.
Nd3 Rxa2 44. Be5 a5 45. Nxc5 bxc5 46. h5 Rd2 47. Bf4 Rxd5 $2 ({Better is} 47...
Rc2 48. Rc1 Rxc1 49. Bxc1 Rb7) 48. cxd5 a4 49. d6 Ra7 50. Kg4 a3 51. Ra1 Ra6
52. Kf5 $2 (52. Kf3 $1 Nxd6 53. Bxd6 Rxd6 54. Rxa3 {(Yermolinsky)} Kg8 $1 55.
Ra8+ $1 Kf7 56. Ra7+ Kf6 57. Rc7 {fights for a draw.}) 52... Nxd6+ 53. Bxd6
Rxd6 54. Rxa3 Rd5+ 55. Kg4 Rg5+ 56. Kf4 (56. Kh4 $5 c4 $1 57. Rc3 Rc5 58. Kg4
Kg8 59. Kf4 Kf7 60. Ke4 Kf6 {also wins for Black.}) 56... Rxh5 57. Ra5 Rd5 58.
Ra6 h5 59. Rc6 g6 60. Rc8 Rf5+ 61. Ke4 Kh6 62. Rc7 Rg5 63. Kf3 Rd5 {
Yermolinsky has two extra pawns in the rook ending.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c6 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. e3
Be6 $5 9. Nd2 Na6 10. a3 Qd8 11. b4 Qc8 12. Rb1 Bh3 13. b5 Nc7 14. a4 Bxg2 15.
Kxg2 e5 $5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qe2 Rd8 18. Ba3 Qf5 19. e4 Qd7 20. Nb3 Ne6 21.
Rfd1 Qc7 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rd1 $6 {The following exchanges favour Black.} ({
Preferable is} 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Nc5) 23... Nd4 24. Qd3 Bf8 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26.
f3 Ke7 $1 27. Ne2 $2 (27. Nc1 $1 Ne6 28. Qe2 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Qd6 30. Nd3 {
keeps the defence closed.}) 27... Ne6 $1 28. Qc2 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Qd6 $1 30. Qxd6+
Kxd6 31. Nec1 Nd7 32. Nd3 Ndc5 $1 33. Nbxc5 Nxc5 34. Nb2 Kc7 $1 {
Kamsky finds a tiny hole in the knight ending.} 35. Kf2 Kb6 36. Ke3 Ka5 37. f4
({Or} 37. Kd2 Kb4 38. Kc2 f6 $1) 37... Kb4 38. fxe5 Kc3 39. Nd1+ Kxc4 40. bxc6
bxc6 41. a5 Nd3 42. a6 c5 43. Kd2 Nxe5 {Kamsky defeated a main competitor.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A53"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 Nbd7 4. Bg2 e5 5. c4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. c5
$5 ({Theory is} 8. Nc3) 8... d5 9. dxe5 Ne4 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nxc5 12. Nd4
Re8 13. h4 Bf8 14. Bf4 Qa5 15. Rac1 Be6 16. Rb1 Rad8 17. e4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Nxe4
19. Nxe6 Rxe6 20. Qxe4 b6 21. Rfd1 $5 {White sacrifices a pawn.} ({
More solid is} 21. Qc2) 21... Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Qxc3 23. Rd8 {He pins the bishop.}
Qa1+ 24. Kg2 Qxa2 {Black has captured a second pawn.} 25. Bd2 $1 a5 26. Qd4 $1
f6 $6 (26... Qc2 $1 27. Qxb6 Qe4+ 28. Kh2 Qxe5 {keeps an advantage.}) 27. Qxb6
fxe5 $2 ({Better is} 27... Rxe5 28. Qxc6 Qe6 29. Qa8 Qe7) 28. Qc5 $1 Rf6 29.
Bg5 Rf7 30. Be7 $1 Qe2 31. Bxf8 $4 {The tables turn.} (31. Rxf8+ Rxf8 32. Bxf8
{wins for White.}) 31... Qf3+ $1 {This blow hurts.} 32. Kg1 Rxf8 33. Rxf8+ Qxf8
34. Qxc6 Kh8 35. Qa6 Qd8 36. g4 $2 (36. Qc6 $1 h6 37. Kg2 {defends well.})
36... h6 37. Kg2 Qd5+ 38. Kg3 e4 39. Kf4 $2 g5+ $1 40. Kg3 ({Or} 40. hxg5 hxg5+
41. Ke3 Qd3+ 42. Qxd3 exd3 43. Kxd3 Kg7 {(Bulletin).}) 40... Qd3+ {
The competition at the top was open, because Kaidanov defeated Kamsky.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 e6 7. a3 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bb5+ Bc6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 $5 ({Usual is} 10... Nd7) 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. O-O
Be7 $6 ({Preferable is} 12... Bd6) 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bf4 Re8 15. Re3 g6 16. Qe2
Bb7 17. Re1 $5 {He sacrifices a pawn.} (17. Rxe6 $2 Bxf3 $1 {does not work.})
17... Bxa3 18. Ng5 Nf8 $2 (18... Nf6 $1 19. Rh3 Bf8 20. Be5 Bg7 {
defends properly.}) 19. h4 $2 {Christiansen misses the opportunity.} (19. Bb5
$1 Re7 20. Ne4 f5 21. Ra1 Bxe4 22. Rxa3 {favours White.}) 19... Bd6 20. Bxd6
Qxd6 21. h5 Qf4 22. Re5 Rac8 23. g3 Qf6 24. Be4 Bxe4 25. Nxe4 Qe7 26. hxg6 hxg6
27. d5 $5 f6 28. Rxe6 Nxe6 29. d6 Qf8 $1 {Black returns a rook.} (29... Qd8 $2
30. d7 $1 Qe7 31. Rd1 $1 {favours White.}) 30. d7 Rcd8 31. dxe8=Q Rxe8 32. Qa2
Kh8 33. Rd1 ({Not} 33. Qxa7 $2 Ng5 $1) 33... Re7 34. c4 Kg7 35. Qb2 Nc5 36. Nc3
$6 (36. Nxc5 bxc5 37. Qb5 Rc7 38. Qa5 {offers more resistance.}) 36... Qe8 37.
Rd6 $4 Re1+ $1 38. Kg2 Qh8 $1 {
Shabalov made another comeback. He took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
O-O 9. Nc3 d5 10. Qe2 h6 $5 11. Be3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nc6 13. Rad1 Nb4 14. Ne5 Rc8
15. Bc1 Qc7 $5 16. a3 Nbd5 17. Nb5 $1 Qb8 18. Rd3 a6 19. Rg3 $1 {
White starts a dangerous attack.} Rxc4 $1 ({The pointe is} 19... axb5 $2 20.
Bxh6 bxc4 21. Bxg7 $1 {(Yermolinsky).}) 20. Bxh6 $1 Nf4 $2 {
Black commits a fatal blunder.} ({Right is} 20... Ne8 $1 21. Qxc4 axb5 22. Qxb5
{(Yermolinsky)} Qa8 $1 23. Re1 Bd6 {with chances for both sides.}) 21. Rxg7+
Kh8 22. Qxc4 axb5 23. Qxb5 N6h5 24. Rg4 Rg8 25. Bxf4 Rxg4 26. Nxg4 $6 {
Time pressure begins.} (26. Bg3 $1 {decides the game.}) 26... Nxf4 27. f3 Qd6
28. Qe5+ Qxe5 29. dxe5 Bc5+ 30. Kh1 Bd4 31. Rd1 Ne2 32. Rd2 Ba6 33. a4 Bc5 34.
Rd8+ Kg7 35. Nf6 Nf4 36. Rg8+ Kh6 37. Ng4+ Kh7 38. Nf6+ Kh6 39. Rh8+ Kg7 40.
Rb8 Bf1 {The time control has been reached.} 41. Rg8+ Kh6 42. h4 Bf2 43. g4
Bxh4 44. Rh8+ Kg5 45. Ne4+ Kg6 46. Rxh4 Be2 47. Kh2 Nd3 48. Kg3 Nxe5 49. f4 Nc4
50. b3 Na5 51. Rh8 f5 52. gxf5+ Kxf5 53. Nd6+ Kf6 54. b4 Nc6 55. b5 Nb4 56.
Rh6+ {Yermolinsky and Shabalov shared the first place, half-a-point before
Kamsky, at the end of the penultimate round.} 1-0

[Event "Long Beach"]
[Site "USA 39"]
[Date "1993.12.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "196"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky had to win this game in the last round.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+
4. Nc3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 e5 10. Nb3 d4
11. Qa5 Qe8 12. Bg5 Nc6 13. Qc7 Qd7 $5 (13... Qe6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 {
happened in Wells - Suba, Hastings 1991.}) 14. Qxd7 Nxd7 $1 ({Not} 14... Bxd7
$6 15. Nc5 $1 Bc8) 15. Rc1 a5 $1 16. O-O a4 17. Na1 $1 ({Avoids} 17. Nd2 $2 f6
$1 {and Black gains a piece.}) 17... h6 18. Bd2 Nf6 19. Nc2 Bg4 20. Rfe1 e4 21.
f3 Bf5 22. fxe4 Bxe4 23. Bh3 Rfe8 24. Nb4 Ne5 25. Bf4 a3 26. b3 $1 Rad8 27.
Rcd1 Nfg4 28. Bxg4 Nxg4 29. Bc7 $6 {The following tactics favour Black.} (29.
Bc1 Re5 30. h3 Rh5 {equalises.}) 29... Rd7 30. Bb6 Re6 $1 31. Rxd4 Rxb6 32.
Rxd7 Rxb4 33. Re7 Bg6 $6 ({More aggressive is} 33... f5 $5 34. Rd1 Rb6 35. c5
Rg6) 34. Rd1 Kh7 35. Rdd7 $2 {Kamsky spoils his chances. Furthermore, Shabalov
and Yermolinsky are winning their games.} ({Better is} 35. Rd5 $1 Rb6 36. h3
Nf6 37. Ra5 Rd6 {and the opportunities are about equal.}) 35... Rxb3 $1 36.
Rxb7 ({The pointe is} 36. axb3 $2 a2 37. Rd1 Bb1 {and Black wins (Kopec).})
36... Rb2 $1 37. Ra7 Rxa2 38. h3 Nf6 39. Re3 Rc2 40. Rexa3 Rxc4 41. g4 h5 42.
gxh5 Bxh5 43. Re7 Rf4 44. Re5 g6 $5 45. Ra7 Kg7 46. Rae7 Ng8 47. Re8 Rd4 48.
Kf2 Rd7 49. Ra8 Ne7 50. Ra3 Nf5 51. Re4 Rd1 52. Raa4 Rh1 53. Kg2 Rc1 54. Ra3
Rc2 55. Kf2 Nd6 56. Re7 Kf6 57. Raa7 g5 58. Rad7 Rc4 59. Rc7 Ne4+ 60. Ke1 Rc3
61. Rxc3 Nxc3 62. Ra7 {Gata continued lost games endlessly. His father, a
former boxer, used to beat him up afterwards, according to gossip.} Nxe2 63.
Ra6+ Kf5 64. Ra5+ Kg6 65. Kf2 Nf4 66. Kg3 Bd1 67. Rc5 Bb3 $5 68. h4 Nh5+ 69.
Kg2 f5 70. hxg5 Kxg5 71. Kf3 Bd1+ 72. Ke3 Kg4 73. Rd5 f4+ 74. Kf2 Bc2 75. Rc5
Be4 76. Rc7 Nf6 77. Rf7 Kf5 78. Ke2 Bd5 79. Rf8 Ke5 80. Rb8 Ng4 81. Re8+ Kd4
82. Rf8 Ke4 83. Re8+ Ne5 84. Kf2 Kd4 85. Rf8 Bf7 86. Rb8 Ke4 87. Rb4+ Bc4 88.
Rb8 Nd3+ 89. Kg2 Bd5 90. Re8+ Kd4+ 91. Kf1 f3 92. Rd8 Ke4 93. Rd7 Ke5 94. Rd8
Be4 95. Rh8 Kf4 96. Rh2 Ke3 97. Ra2 Nf4 98. Ke1 f2+ $1 {Christiansen got the
Albert Brilliancy Prize for this game.   The final standings became:
Yermolinsky and Shabalov 8/11, Kamsky 61/2, Fedorowicz and D.Gurevich 6,
Kaidanov 51/2, Christiansen 5, A.Ivanov, Wolff and Benjamin 41/2, Dzindzi 4,
Gulko 31/2.} 0-1

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fortieth US championship was played at the Holiday Inn Beachside in Key
West, Florida, from 11 until 26 x 1994. Many experienced players participated.
The average age was thirty-five. A prize money of $30,000 was at stake.} 1. e4
c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. O-O Ne7 7. c4 Nbc6 8. Nc3 $5 a6 $5
({An alternative is} 8... dxc4 $1 9. dxc5 Nd5 {(Shirov - Karpov, Wien 1996).})
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be7 12. Be3 $5 O-O $1 13. dxc5 {
White has gained a pawn, but Black has the better pawn structure.} Qc7 14. Bd4
Na5 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Rfd8 $1 {He keeps the control over square g5.} 17.
Rfd1 $5 h6 18. Qe3 Rd5 19. Nd2 $6 ({Preferable is} 19. Rac1 $1 Rc8 20. c4 Rdd8
21. h4) 19... Rad8 20. Qg3 (20. Ne4 Qxe5 $1 21. f4 Qf5 {also favours Black.})
20... Nc6 21. Nb3 Qxe5 $5 22. Qxe5 ({Or} 22. f4 Nxd4 23. cxd4 Qe2) 22... Nxe5
23. Kf1 $2 ({Preferable is} 23. f4 $5 Nc4 24. Rf1) 23... Nc4 $1 24. Ke2 e5 25.
Be3 f5 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. f3 $5 Nxe3 28. Kxe3 Bxc5+ {Black has won a pawn.} 29.
Ke2 Be7 30. c4 Rd7 31. Rd1 Rxd1 32. Kxd1 Kf7 {The endgame of bishop versus
knight will be hard to win, despite the extra pawn.} 33. Ke2 Ke6 34. Kd3 h5 35.
a4 Bb4 36. Nc1 Kd6 37. Nb3 Bc5 38. h3 h4 39. Na5 b6 40. Nb3 Bf2 41. Ke2 Bg1 42.
Kd3 a5 $1 {Zugzwang.} 43. Ke2 e4 $1 {He goes forwards slowly.} 44. fxe4 fxe4
45. Kd2 Ke5 46. Nc1 Bc5 47. Ne2 Be7 48. Kc3 ({Or} 48. Ke3 Bg5+ 49. Kf2 Bd2 {
(Gulko).}) 48... Bb4+ 49. Kc2 g5 50. Kd1 e3 $1 51. Kc1 Bd2+ 52. Kc2 Ke4 {
White has to give up the control over d3 or d4. Gulko made a good start.} 0-1

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 f5 5. g4 fxg4 6. Qxg4 Nf6 7. Qg2 c5 8. Nf3 $5
{A special opening leads to an equal game.} Nc6 9. Bd2 a6 $5 10. O-O-O Qc7 11.
dxc5 $1 Bxc5 12. Rg1 O-O 13. Ng5 $5 (13. cxd5 $1 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bc4 {
gains an advantage.}) 13... Kh8 14. Kb1 Ne5 $2 {The end comes near.} ({
Better is} 14... Qe7) 15. Na4 $1 Ba7 (15... b6 16. f4 Nc6 17. Bd3 Ra7 18. Bc3 {
brings a strong attack for White.}) 16. Bb4 $1 Rg8 ({Or} 16... Re8 17. Bd6 $1
Qxd6 18. Nf7+ {and mate (Ftacnik).}) 17. Qg3 $1 {
White threatens 18.Qxe5 Qxe5 17.Nf7#.} 1-0

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 b6 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. Qe2 g6 8. g3
Bg7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Rd1 Nd7 $5 ({Known is} 12... Qc7
13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bb7) 13. Nd5 Re8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Rac1 Bb7 17.
Qd2 Kh7 18. Bd4 Nf6 $6 {It would be wiser to exchange bishops.} 19. Nxf6+ exf6
20. f3 h5 21. b3 Bh6 22. Be3 Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 f5 $1 24. Qf4 $1 Re5 $1 ({Not} 
24... fxe4 $4 25. Qxf7+) 25. exf5 Rxf5 26. Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Bxf3 28. Bxf3
Rxf3 29. Rd7 {White has the initiative in the endgame.} a6 $6 ({Preferable is} 
29... a5 $5 30. Rd6 b5 $1) 30. Rd6 $1 Rb8 31. Rf1 $1 Rxf1+ 32. Kxf1 Kg7 {
Black has to defend passively in the rook ending.} 33. Ke2 Kf8 34. Rd7 Kg7 $5
35. b4 h4 $5 36. gxh4 Rh8 37. Rd4 g5 $6 ({Better is} 37... a5 38. a3 Kf6) 38.
Kd3 $6 (38. hxg5 Rxh2+ 39. Kd3 Rxa2 40. c5 $1 {seems to win for White.}) 38...
gxh4 39. Rd6 Rb8 40. a4 h3 41. b5 axb5 42. axb5 Ra8 $5 43. Rxb6 Ra2 44. c5 $6 (
44. Ra6 $5 Rxh2 45. Ra1 Kf6 $1 {will be hard to win for White (Gulko).}) 44...
Rxh2 45. c6 Rc2 $2 {Gurevich misses the elegant escape.} (45... Rg2 $1 46. c7
h2 47. Rh6 Kxh6 48. c8=Q Rg3+ $1 49. Kd2 Kg7 $1 50. Qc6 Rg1 {draws (Gulko).})
46. Kxc2 h2 47. c7 h1=Q 48. c8=Q Qe4+ 49. Kc3 Qe3+ 50. Kb4 Qxb6 51. Qc5 $1 {
White has a won queen ending, because his pawn is more advanced.} Qe6 52. b6
Qe4+ 53. Qc4 Qb1+ 54. Kc5 Qf5+ 55. Qd5 Qc8+ 56. Kb5 Qe8+ 57. Ka6 Qa4+ 58. Kb7
f6 59. Kb8 Qf4+ 60. Kc8 Qc1+ 61. Kd8 Qf4 62. b7 Qb8+ 63. Kd7 Kg6 64. Qe4+ Kg5
65. Qe3+ Kg4 66. Qd4+ Kg5 67. Qc5+ {Gulko played a fine endgame.} 1-0

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be6 9. Nc2 Rc8 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. Nd5 Nd7 12. Nce3 $5 Nc5 13. O-O Bg5 14. Bb1 a5
15. g3 Bxe3 $5 16. Bxe3 O-O 17. f4 exf4 $1 18. gxf4 Nb4 19. Bd4 Qh4 20. Ne3 Bh3
21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 {The chances are about equal.} Rfe8 23. Kh1 f6 24. a3 Nc6
25. Bf2 Qh3 26. a4 Qb3 $1 27. Qd5+ $2 (27. Qxd6 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Qg4+ 29. Kh1 Qf3+
{leads to perpetual check.}) 27... Kh8 28. Ra3 ({The pointe is} 28. Qxd6 Qf3+
29. Kg1 Nb3 $1) 28... Qxb2 $1 29. Rg3 Re7 30. Qxd6 Qe2 31. Re1 $5 Qxf2 32. Rxe7
Nxe7 33. Qxe7 Rg8 {The white pawn structure has become a ruin.} 34. Qc7 b6 35.
Rg2 Qf1+ 36. Rg1 Qf3+ 37. Rg2 Nxa4 38. Bc2 Nc5 39. h4 ({Or} 39. Qxb6 Qf1+ 40.
Rg1 Qxc4 {(Ftacnik).}) 39... Qh3+ 40. Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh2 a4 42. Qxb6 Qxf4+ 43.
Kh3 Qxc4 44. Qa7 Nd3 45. Rd2 Nf4+ 46. Kh2 Qc3 47. Qf2 a3 $1 48. Bb1 Qh3+ 49.
Kg1 Qg4+ 50. Kh2 Re8 51. Be4 h6 {Christiansen has two extra pawns.} 0-1

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Nc2 Be7 10. Bf4 $6 (10. Qxd8 $5 Rxd8 11. Ne3 {
will be played in Stocek - Stefansson, Antalya 2004.}) 10... Nc6 11. Ne3 e5 $1
12. Bg5 Be6 {Black defends c4 temporarily.} 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ned5 Rc8 15. Qa4
g6 16. Rfd1 Bg7 17. Qb5 $5 {Capture of pawn c4 equalises.} b6 18. e3 Nd4 $5 19.
Qa6 (19. exd4 $5 exd4 20. Nb4 {(Christiansen)} Bd7 21. Bc6 a6 22. Qa4 Be8 23.
Bxe8 Qxe8 24. Qxe8 Rfxe8 {brings chances for both sides.}) 19... Rc5 $5 20. Qb7
$5 Re8 21. h3 Bd7 $2 (21... Bxd5 22. Nxd5 e4 23. Nc3 Re7 24. Qa6 Qc7 25. exd4
Ra5 26. Qxa5 bxa5 27. Nd5 {leads to an unclear position.}) 22. Qxa7 Bc6 23.
Qxb6 Qxb6 24. Nxb6 Nf3+ 25. Kh1 e4 26. a4 {The a-pawn will decide.} Rb8 27. a5
$1 Be5 28. Bf1 Bxc3 29. bxc3 Ne5 30. Rdb1 Nd3 31. a6 Rf5 32. a7 Rd8 33. Kg1
Nxf2 {Black overstepped the time limit. Christiansen and Gulko led by 51/2/7,
half-a-point before Gulko.} 1-0

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Orlov, Georgi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E33"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 {
The opening has become the Nimzo-Indian Defence.} 5. Qc2 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bd2
O-O 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Qe7 10. g3 a5 11. Bg2 e5 12. d5 Nb8 13. O-O $5 Nbd7 14.
e4 Nc5 15. Nd2 a4 16. f4 b6 17. Rae1 Ba6 18. h3 Nfd7 19. Kh2 b5 20. fxe5 Nxe5
21. Bxe5 dxe5 $6 ({Preferable is} 21... Qxe5 $1) 22. cxb5 Bxb5 23. Rf3 Rfb8 24.
Rc1 Na6 25. Bf1 Bd7 26. Bc4 Qd6 27. Ba2 Bb5 28. Rf2 Qb6 29. Kg2 Qe3 $6 30. Nc4
$1 Bxc4 31. Qxc4 Rb6 {The black pieces occupy awkward positions.} 32. Rc3 Qd4
33. d6 $1 cxd6 $5 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Rc4 $5 Qe3 $5 36. Qe7 $6 Kh7 37. Rc3 $6
Qxe4+ 38. Kh2 Rab8 39. Rcc2 Qb7 $6 40. Qh4 $6 Nc5 $1 41. Bb1 Kh8 42. Qc4 Qe7
43. Qf1 R6b7 44. Rce2 $2 ({Better is} 44. Ba2 Nb3 45. Qc4) 44... e4 $1 45. Ba2
Nb3 $1 46. Qd1 Qe5 47. Qf1 d5 48. Rf5 Qxf5 $6 (48... Qe6 {wins easily.}) 49.
Qxf5 Nd4 50. Qf1 Nxe2 51. Bxd5 $1 Rxb2 52. Bxe4 Nc3+ 53. Bg2 Nd5 54. Qf3 $6 (
54. Qe1 Nf6 55. Qc1 Re2 56. Kh1 Rbb2 57. Bf1 {offers more resistance.}) 54...
Nf6 55. Kg1 Ra2 56. Bf1 Ra1 57. Kf2 Rb2+ 58. Be2 Raa2 59. Qa8+ Kh7 60. Qxa4
Rxe2+ 61. Kf3 Rf2+ 62. Ke3 Rg2 63. Kf3 Rae2 64. Qd4 Ne4 65. Qd3 Rxg3+ 66. Kxe2
Rxd3 67. Kxd3 Nc5+ 68. Kc4 Na4 $1 {
Black sacrifices the knight on a4, if White wants it.} 69. Kd5 g5 {
Christiansen and Seirawan ran behind Gulko by losses.} 0-1

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. O-O
O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 Bg4 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Rc1 Bd6 13. h3 Bh5 14. Be2 Bb8 $5
15. Nh4 Qd6 16. g3 Bg6 $5 17. Nb5 Qe6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Bg4 $5 (
20. Qxd5 $1 Qb2 21. Bc4 a6 22. Nd4 Rcd8 23. Rc2 Qa3 24. Qe4 Nxd4 25. exd4 {
achieves a plus.}) 20... Rcd8 21. Nd4 Be5 $6 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Qd3 $1 Rd6 24.
Kg2 Qe7 25. Rc5 $1 {White has the initiative.} Qb7 26. Rfc1 Bb2 $1 27. R1c2 Ba3
28. Ra5 Bb4 29. Ra4 Rf6 30. e4 Re8 $6 (30... dxe4 $5 31. Qxe4 a5 32. a3 Bd6 33.
Rxa5 Qxb3 34. Rxc6 Bxa3 {almost equalises.}) 31. exd5 cxd5 32. Bf3 Rd8 33. a3
$1 Be7 34. Ra5 {The pawns d5 and a7 have become weaknesses.} Rf5 35. b4 Qb6 36.
Ra6 Qb8 37. Qd4 $1 Bf6 ({The pointe is} 37... Rd7 $2 38. Bg4 {(Cu.Hansen).})
38. Qxa7 {He has gained a pawn.} Qe5 39. Qe3 Qa1 $6 40. Qc1 Qe5 {
Black threatens ..Rxf3!} 41. Re2 Qb8 42. Qc2 Rxf3 $5 43. Kxf3 d4 44. Qc6 d3 45.
Rd2 Bg5 46. Rd1 Kh7 47. Kg2 d2 48. Qf3 $1 Rd7 49. Ra5 Qd8 50. Ra8 Qc7 51. Re8
Qc2 52. b5 Rd3 53. Qxf7 $1 Bf6 54. Qg8+ Kh6 55. Qh8+ {
Seirawan crowns his attack, because he can deliver mate in two.} 1-0

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 O-O 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Nh4 Nh5 $6 (12... Nb6 13. Nf5 Re8
$6 14. Nb5 $1 Qd7 15. Nbd6 Bxd6 16. Nxd6 {
won in Kramnik - Ribli, Groningen 1993.}) 13. Nf5 $1 (13. Nxd5 $5 Bxh4 $6 14.
Bc7 $1 Qc8 15. gxh4 {also favours White.}) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 Nb6 15. Nxd5 $1
Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 $1 {White gains a pawn.} Bf6 18. Rad1 Qa5 19. Nd6
Rad8 $2 (19... Rab8 20. e4 Bxb2 21. e5 Qc7 {defends properly.}) 20. e4 Bxb2 21.
e5 Bd4 ({The pointe is} 21... Qc7 22. e6 fxe6 $2 23. Qxe6+ Kh8 24. Nf7+ Qxf7
25. Rxd8) 22. e6 $1 Qc7 23. exf7+ Qxf7 24. Qxf7+ Rxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 {
Gulko has won an exchange.} 26. Kg2 Rd6 27. Re2 Ra6 28. Rb1 Kg6 29. Rb7 Ra3 30.
Rb3 Ra4 31. Kg3 c4 32. Rb5 Bf6 33. Rc5 c3 34. Re6 Ra3 35. f3 h5 $5 36. f5+ Kh7
$2 (36... Kf7 37. Re2 a6 {offers more resistance.}) 37. Re8 Ra4 38. f4 Rxa2 39.
Rcc8 g6 40. Re6 h4+ 41. Kh3 {The final standings became: Gulko 91/2/13,
Seirawan and Christiansen 8, Benjamin, Yermolinsky and Shabalov 71/2, Orlov 7,
Browne 61/2, Kaidanov 6, De Firmian and D.Gurevich 51/2, Finegold 41/2, A.
Ivanov and Kreiman 4. Gulko had been champion of the Soviet Union. He achieved
the title of the USA at the age of 47. He became last in 1993. The top three
qualified for the interzonal tournament. Three men had to carry out a playoff
for the remaining two places.} 1-0

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40 Playoff"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Benjamin, Christiansen and Shabalov battled for two places in the Interzonal.
They carried out two cycles of rapid games (15 minutes per player).} 1. d4 Nf6
2. Bg5 d5 3. Nf3 Nbd7 4. e3 g6 5. c4 c6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O Nb6 9.
cxd5 cxd5 10. h3 $5 Be6 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Qb3 Ne4 13. Rfc1 (13. Rac1 $1 Nc5 $2
14. dxc5 d4 15. Qd1 $1 dxc3 16. cxb6 {wins material.}) 13... Nc5 $1 14. dxc5 d4
15. Qb5 ({The pointe is} 15. Qd1 $2 dxc3 16. Rxc3 Bxc3 17. cxb6 Bxb2 18. Rb1)
15... dxc3 16. bxc3 Nd5 17. Be5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qc7 19. Nf3 Qxc5 20. Qxb7 Nxe3 $1
21. Nd4 $2 ({Correct is} 21. Qb4) 21... Bd5 22. Qb5 Nxg2 23. Qxc5 Rxc5 {
Black has gained a pawn.} 24. Nb3 Rc7 25. c4 Bf3 26. Nd4 Nf4 27. Bf1 Be4 28.
Rc3 Rfc8 29. Rac1 Rd7 30. Nb3 Bd3 31. c5 $1 Rd5 32. c6 Rg5+ 33. Kh2 Bxf1 34.
Rxf1 Rc7 35. Rc4 Ne6 $6 ({Better is} 35... e5 $1) 36. Rd1 Re5 37. Rd2 Kf8 38.
Kg2 f5 39. a4 Ke8 40. Rdc2 g5 41. Nd2 Rd5 42. Nf1 Rd4 43. Ne3 Rxc4 44. Rxc4
Nf4+ 45. Kf3 $2 (45. Kg3 e6 46. Nc2 Ke7 47. Nd4 {proceeds the struggle.}) 45...
e6 46. h4 Ng6 $1 47. Rc5 Nxh4+ 48. Ke2 Ng6 49. Nc4 Ke7 50. Na3 a6 51. Rc1 h5
52. Rc4 h4 53. Kf1 Ne5 54. Rc5 Kd6 55. Rc3 Rxc6 56. Rb3 g4 57. Rb8 Nf3 58. Rb1
Rc3 59. Ra1 Ke5 60. Kg2 Kf4 61. Ra2 Rc1 {Shabalov had a poor start.} 0-1

[Event "Key West"]
[Site "USA 40 Playoff"]
[Date "1994.10.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1994.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 e6 4. Nf3 b6 5. e4 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bb7 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. O-O a6 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Nd5 {White takes the initiative.} exd5 12. exd5+
Ne5 $5 ({Theory is} 12... Kd8 13. Nc6+ Bxc6 14. dxc6 Nc5) 13. f4 O-O-O 14. fxe5
dxe5 15. Nf5 Bc5+ $6 ({Better is} 15... Qxc4 $5 16. Be3 Kb8 17. Rc1 Qb4 {
and the chances are about equal.}) 16. Be3 g6 $6 ({Preferable is} 16... Kb8 17.
Qf3 Bxe3+ 18. Nxe3 h5) 17. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 18. Ne3 h5 19. Qd2 h4 20. b4 $1 Qd4 $6
21. Rad1 hxg3 22. hxg3 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 {White has a superior endgame.} Nh5 24. c5
$1 Kb8 ({Or} 24... Nxg3 25. c6 Bxc6 26. Rc1 {(Ribli).}) 25. Nc4 b5 26. Nxe5
Rhe8 27. Nd7+ Kc7 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Nb6 {Standings after five rounds: Benjamin
31/2/4, Yermolinsky 11/2/3, Shabalov 0/3. Benjamin and Yermolinsky had
qualified. They had to wait for three years until they could participate in
Las Vegas 1997.} 1-0

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-first US championship was played in the Red Lion Inn at Modesto,
California, from 19 xi until 5 xii 1995. Again Interplay Productions sponsored
the event. The prize money was $30,000. The players got 2 hours for 40 moves,
followed by 1 hour for 20 moves and 1 hour for the rest of the game. So a game
could last 8 hours.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. d3 e6
7. O-O Nge7 8. Qe1 O-O 9. f5 d5 10. Bb3 c4 11. dxc4 dxe4 12. f6 Bxf6 13. Nxe4
Bg7 14. Bg5 f6 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Be3 b6 17. Nd6 Na5 18. Nb5 $5 ({Known is} 18.
Nxc8 Qxc8 19. Nd4) 18... Qb8 19. Bd2 Nxb3 20. axb3 a6 21. Bb4 $1 axb5 $1 22.
Bxe7 Re8 23. Qh4 $5 {Wolff sacrifices a piece.} f5 ({The crucial line is} 23...
Rxe7 $5 24. Ng5 $1 Bf8 25. Ne4 f5 26. Nf6+ Kg7 {(Bangiev)} 27. Rd8 $1 h5 28.
Nxh5+ gxh5 29. Qg5+ Kf7 30. Qxh5+ {and White delivers perpetual check.}) 24.
Bd6 $1 Qb7 25. Ne5 $5 {He controls the centre.} bxc4 26. bxc4 Ra2 27. Rf3 $1
Rxb2 28. Rh3 Bxe5 29. Bxe5 Rxc2 30. Rg3 {White goes all out in the attack.} Qf7
31. Rd4 $2 (31. Rd8 $1 Rxd8 32. Rxg6+ $1 Qxg6 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Qc7+ {
forces a draw.}) 31... Re2 32. Qf4 Bb7 33. Kf1 Re4 34. Rxe4 fxe4 $6 (34... Bxe4
$5 {plays for a win.}) 35. Qxf7+ Kxf7 {Black has a better endgame.} 36. Ra3 Re7
37. Ke2 g5 38. Ke3 Rd7 39. Rb3 Ba6 $5 40. Rxb6 Bxc4 41. Rc6 Bf1 42. Rc2 Kg6 43.
Rf2 Rd5 44. Bb2 Bd3 45. g4 Rb5 46. Ba1 Ra5 47. Bb2 Rb5 48. Ba1 e5 49. Rf5 h5
50. Rxe5 Rb1 $5 {Exchange draws.} 51. gxh5+ Kxh5 52. Bc3 Rh1 53. Re8 $1 Kg4 54.
Rh8 Bb1 55. h3+ $1 Kf5 $4 {Browne misses a mating threat.} (55... Rxh3+ 56.
Rxh3 Kxh3 {draws (Hecht).}) 56. Rh6 $1 g4 57. hxg4+ {Wolff wins a rook.} 1-0

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Waitzkin, Joshua"]
[Black "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2530"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The film 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' was based on Waitzkin's early life.} 1.
e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. g3 d5 5. exd5 cxd5 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. Nf3 Bg4 $5 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne2 b5 12. Nf4 Rc8 13. Re1 e6 14. a3 a5 15. c3
b4 16. axb4 axb4 17. Nd3 $1 Nd7 18. h4 bxc3 19. bxc3 Ne7 20. Bd2 h5 21. Qb3 Nf5
22. Ra7 Rc7 23. Ra3 $5 Bh6 24. Bxh6 Nxh6 25. Kg2 Qf6 26. Rea1 Nf5 27. Qd1 Rfc8
28. Qd2 Nd6 29. Rb3 Qf5 30. Re1 Nc4 $1 31. Qc2 Nf6 32. Rc1 Ng4 33. Qe2 Nf6 34.
Nc5 Nd6 35. Re1 Ra7 36. Reb1 Kg7 37. Rb6 Nc4 38. Rb7 Rc7 39. Rxc7 Rxc7 40. Ra1
Nd6 41. Qb2 Nc4 42. Qb8 Re7 43. Ra2 Re8 44. Qc7 Ng4 45. Qb7 g5 46. hxg5 Qxg5
47. Re2 $2 ({Correct is} 47. Qd7 Nf6 48. Qc7) 47... h4 $1 48. Nxe6+ ({Or} 48.
Qb1 Nxf2 $1 49. Rxf2 Ne3+ 50. Kg1 Qxg3+ 51. Bg2 h3) 48... Rxe6 49. Rxe6 {
White has gained material, but Black is going to strike.} h3+ $1 50. Kf1 Nh2+ {
Ivanov will mate soon.} ({Notice} 50... Nh2+ 51. Kg1 Nxf3+ 52. Kh1 Qc1+) 0-1

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O
Bc5 9. Bf4 {White gives a piece temporarily.} e5 10. Nb3 exf4 11. Nxc5 fxg3 12.
hxg3 d6 13. Nd3 $5 (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 {
happened in Pinkas - Kruszynski, Gdynia 1973.}) 13... h5 $5 14. Nd5 Qd8 $5 {
Black has sharpened the game.} 15. Qe1 Kf8 16. Qc3 Nxd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. Rae1
Bf5 19. Nf4 $5 Rc8 20. Qf3 g5 $1 {
Black takes the initiative by a surprising move.} 21. Ne2 (21. Nxh5 $2 g4 {
costs a piece.}) 21... Bg4 22. Qf6 Ng6 23. Qxd8+ Rxd8 {
The chances are about equal in the endgame.} 24. Nd4 Kg7 25. Re3 h4 $1 26. Be4
Ne5 27. Bf5 Bxf5 28. Nxf5+ Kg6 29. f4 $1 ({Not} 29. Nxd6 $2 Ng4 $1 30. Re4 Nf6)
29... Ng4 30. Ne7+ Kh5 $1 31. Re4 hxg3 32. Nf5 Nf6 $1 33. Re7 $6 (33. Ree1 $1
Nxd5 34. fxg5 Kxg5 35. Nxg3 {keeps the equality.}) 33... Nxd5 34. Rxb7 gxf4 $5
35. c4 $1 Rb8 $6 (35... Kg5 36. cxd5 Kxf5 37. Rxf7+ Ke5 38. R1xf4 Kxd5 {
gains a plus.}) 36. Rxf7 $2 (36. Rxb8 $1 Rxb8 37. cxd5 Rxb2 38. Rxf4 Kg5 $1 39.
Rf3 Kg4 40. Rf1 {draws (Ribli).}) 36... Kg6 37. Nxd6 {De Firmian fought hard
for the initiative. Ivanov collapsed at last, but he did not overstep the time
limit.} (37. Nxd6 Ne3 $1 38. R1xf4 Rxb2 39. R7f6+ Kh5 $1 {wins for Black.}) 0-1

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 Qb6 5. c3 e6 6. Nd2 h5 7. Nb3 $5 Nd7 8. Be2
g6 9. Nf3 Bg4 $5 10. Bf4 Bh6 11. Ng5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Ne7 13. O-O Nf5 14. g3 c5
15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nd4 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Ne4 18. Nxf5 gxf5 19. Bf4 O-O-O 20. Kh2 Kb8
21. f3 Nc5 22. Rfd1 Na4 23. Rd2 Rc8 24. Be3 Qa6 25. Qf2 b6 26. Rad1 Rhg8 27.
Rd4 Nc5 28. b3 Nb7 29. Qd2 Na5 30. Bf4 Rc7 31. Rd3 Rgc8 32. Rc1 Nc6 33. Kh3 Ne7
34. Bg5 Nc6 35. Re1 Qa5 36. Bf6 d4 37. c4 Qa3 38. Re2 Rd7 39. Qf4 Qc5 40. g4 $6
{The opening of the position favours Black.} Nb4 41. Rdd2 d3 42. Rg2 Rd4 43.
Qe3 Rg8 $2 (43... Nc2 $1 44. Qf2 hxg4+ 45. fxg4 f4 {gains an edge.}) 44. Be7 $1
hxg4+ 45. fxg4 fxg4+ 46. Kg3 $1 Qxe7 47. Qxd4 Rd8 48. Qxg4 Nc6 {
Black has compensation for the exchange.} 49. Qg5 Qc7 50. Kh3 Nxe5 51. Rg3 $5 (
{Preferable is} 51. Qf4 $1 Qc5 52. Rg5 f5 53. h5) 51... Ng6 $1 52. Rf2 d2 $5
53. Rxd2 Nf4+ 54. Qxf4 Qxf4 55. Rxd8+ Kc7 {Wolff has two rooks for the queen.}
56. Rdg8 Qf1+ 57. Kh2 f5 58. Rh3 $5 f4 $1 59. h5 $2 ({Right is} 59. Rg1 Qe2+
60. Rg2 Qh5 61. Rg5 {continues the equality.}) 59... f3 $1 60. Rg1 Qe2+ {
The f-pawn will queen.} 0-1

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Dzindzichashvili, Roman"]
[Black "Wolff, Patrick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bd3
cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nc3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bxf6 $5 (13. Rfd1
Qg4 14. Nxb5 $2 Qxg5 15. Nc7+ Kf8 16. Nxa8 Bb7 17. Qf1 Bxa8 {
won for Black in Zsinka - Skomorokhin, Gyor 1990.}) 13... Qxf6 14. Rfd1 $2 (14.
Be4 $1 Ra7 15. Nxb5 $1 axb5 $6 16. Qxb5+ Rd7 17. Rac1 O-O 18. Rxc8 {
favours White.}) 14... Rb8 15. Qc2 Qe5 $1 16. Be4 g6 17. Bc6+ Kf8 18. Rd2 Kg7
19. Rad1 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. g3 Rc8 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Nxe4 Rc6 24. h4 h6 25.
Nd6 Rb8 26. Ne4 Rc7 27. Kg2 Rb6 28. Kf3 Rbc6 29. Nd6 Kf8 30. Ne4 Ke8 31. Nd6+
Kf8 32. Ne4 Rc2 33. Rxc2 Rxc2 34. Rd2 Rxd2 35. Nxd2 Bf6 {
Black has an extra pawn in the bishop versus knight ending.} 36. b3 Bd4 37. Ke2
Ke7 38. f3 h5 39. Kd3 Bf2 40. Ne4 Bb6 41. a4 $5 bxa4 42. bxa4 f5 $1 43. Nd2 Bf2
44. Nf1 f4 $1 45. gxf4 Bxh4 46. Nd2 Kd7 47. Ne4 Be7 48. Nf2 Kc6 49. Kc4 Bd6 50.
Nh3 h4 {Wolff fought for the championship.} 0-1

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. N2f3 Be7
8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bf6 10. c4 Nb4 11. Be4 Qe7 12. a3 $5 (12. Qe2 N8c6 13. Be3 {
drew in Torre - Kortschnoj, Nice 1974.}) 12... N4c6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qc2 g6
15. Be3 Rd8 16. Rad1 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 a5 $5 18. c5 a4 19. Rd6 Bd7 20. h4 $5 {
White has the initiative.} Na5 21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 Bc6 $6 ({Preferable is} 
22... Rc8 23. Ne5 Be8 {and Black has developed his pieces.}) 23. Bxc6 Nxc6 24.
Qd2 e5 $2 ({Not} 24... Rd8 $2 25. Ne5 $1 Rxd6 26. cxd6 Qd8 27. Nxc6 bxc6 28. d7
{(Ivanov)}) ({Better is} 24... Rf8 $5 25. Nh2 f5 $1) 25. Nh2 $1 {
The knight moves towards f6.} Nd4 26. Ng4 Rd8 27. Nf6+ Kg7 28. Qe3 $1 Nf5 ({
The pointe is} 28... Rxd6 29. cxd6 Qxd6 $4 30. Ne8+) 29. Rxd8 Qxd8 ({Avoids} 
29... Nxe3 30. Rg8#) 30. Qxe5 {White has a decisive attack.} Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qd4
32. Nh5+ $1 Kf8 33. Qb8+ Ke7 34. Qxb7+ Kd8 ({Or} 34... Ke6 35. Qc6+ Ke7 36.
Qc7+) 35. Qb8+ Ke7 36. Nf6 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 Qxg5 38. Qe5+ Kd8 ({The alternative is
} 38... Kf8 39. Nd7+ Kg8 40. Qe8+ Kg7 41. Qf8#) 39. Qe8+ Kc7 40. Nd5+ Kb7 41.
Qd7+ {
Black will me mated soon. Alexander Ivanov got the Albert Briliancy Prize.} 1-0

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Khmelnitsky, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. d3 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 e4 9. Nd4 h6 10. dxe4 Nxe4 11. Qc2 Nc5 $5 ({Theory is} 11... d5 12. cxd5
Qxd5 {(Karpov - Kasparov, Sevilla 1987).}) 12. Ba3 $1 Ne6 13. Rad1 Ne5 14. Nxe6
Rxe6 (14... fxe6 $6 15. c5 $1 Rb8 16. c4 {favours White.}) 15. c5 $1 {
White restraints his opponent.} Rb8 16. Bd5 Ra6 $5 17. Bb4 b5 18. Qe4 Nc4 $1
19. Rd3 (19. Bxc4 $6 bxc4 20. Qxc4 Qe8 $1 21. Qf4 Rxa2 22. Qxc7 Rb7 {
leads to counter-play.}) 19... Rf6 20. a4 a5 $2 (20... a6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ra1
{only controls the a-file (Gulko).}) 21. axb5 Nb2 22. Bxa5 $1 Nxd3 (22... Rxb5
23. Bxc7 $1 Qxc7 24. Qe8+ Kh7 25. Be4+ g6 26. Rd6 {wins for White (Gulko).})
23. Qxd3 d6 24. c4 $1 Bf5 ({Not} 24... dxc5 $4 25. Bxf7+ $1) 25. Qd4 Qe7 26.
cxd6 cxd6 27. Re1 Rg6 28. Bc3 h5 29. e4 Bh3 30. Ra1 $1 Qg5 31. b6 Be6 32. Bc6
Qc5 33. Qxc5 dxc5 34. b7 Bxc4 35. Ra8 Rxc6 36. Rxb8+ Kh7 37. Rc8 Rd6 38. b8=Q
Rd1+ 39. Kg2 Bf1+ 40. Kf3 {Gulko competed with the best.} 1-0

[Event "Modesto"]
[Site "USA 41"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Orlov, Georgi"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{De Firmian, A.Ivanov and Wolff shared the lead, when the penultimate round
began.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bg2 Qb6 7. Nc2
d5 8. Nba3 $2 {The knight goes to a poor place.} ({Theory is} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9.
O-O {(Kaidanov - De Firmian, Lexington 1995).}) 8... Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. cxd5
exd5 11. Ne3 Be6 $1 12. Qd3 (12. Nxd5 $6 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Rad8 14. e4 Nxe4 {
brings a black attack (Ribli).}) 12... Rfd8 13. h3 $6 (13. Nac2 Rac8 14. Nd1 {
tries to regroup the knights.}) 13... Rac8 14. Kh2 a6 15. f4 $2 (15. Rd1 Nb4
16. Qb1 {wants to consolidate.}) 15... Nb4 16. Qb3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 d4 18. Qf2 Nc2
$5 19. Nxc2 Rxc2 20. Rd1 $5 Bc4 21. Bf3 Re8 22. Re1 Bxe2 $1 23. b3 ({Or} 23.
Bxe2 Ne4 24. Qf3 d3) 23... Qb5 24. Bb2 Ne4 25. Qxd4 Bxf3+ {De Firmian got the
Albert Brilliancy Prize. All three leaders won. De Firmian and Wolff played
quick draws in the last round. Yermolinsky achieved a won position against
Ivanov, but the game ended in a draw after a blunder. The final standings
became: De Firmian, A.Ivanov and Wolff 81/2/13, Yermolinsky 8, Gulko 71/2,
Browne 61/2, Benjamin, Dzindzi and D.Gurevich 6, Orlov and Kaidanov 51/2,
Khmelnitsky and Waitzkin 5, Kudrin 41/2. Three men shared the title. A ring
had become an extra prize in the nineties. A playoff decided about the ring.
Wolff won the series a rapid games.} 0-1

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Alburt, Lev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{US championship forty-two was played in Parsippany, New Jersey, from 15 vii
until 2 viii 1996. The event happened in the summer in order to celebrate the
sixtieth anniversary of the USCF. Ten of out the fourteen participants were
born in the Soviet Union.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6
6. O-O a6 7. d3 h6 8. a3 O-O 9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb2 Bg4 11. h3 Be6 12. Rc1 Qd7 13.
Kh2 Rfe8 $5 14. Nd2 Rad8 15. Qa4 $1 Qc8 16. Nd5 Nh7 $5 17. b5 Nb8 $6 ({
Preferable is} 17... Ne7 $5 18. bxa6 bxa6 19. Nb4 c5 $1 20. Qxa6 Qb8 $1 {
(Gulko).}) 18. Nb3 Bxd5 $1 19. Bxd5 Nf6 20. Bg2 {White has strong bishops.}
Nfd7 $6 (20... Bb6 $1 21. Qb4 axb5 22. cxb5 Nbd7 {develops the queen's knight.}
) 21. e3 Bb6 22. Qb4 $1 Nc5 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. Qb3 axb5 $6 ({Slightly better is
} 24... Bb6 25. bxa6 bxa6) 25. cxb5 Nd7 26. Qd5 c6 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Qxc6 Qb8
29. Rb1 Qb3 ({Or} 29... Qa7 30. Qb7 Rb8 31. Qxa7 Bxa7 32. Bc6) 30. d4 exd4 31.
exd4 Bxa3 32. Bd5 $1 Qxb2 33. Rxb2 Bxb2 34. Rd1 {White has gained material.}
Nf6 35. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 36. Qb7+ Rd7 37. Qxb2 d5 38. Rc1 Re4 39. Qb6 Re2 40. Kg1
Ree7 41. Kf1 Rb7 42. Qd8 Kg6 43. Rc6 Kf7 44. Qc8 Rb1+ 45. Kg2 Rd1 46. Rc7 $1
Rde1 47. g4 Rxc7 48. Qxc7+ Re7 49. Qc2 Re4 50. Qd2 Ng8 51. f3 Re6 52. Qf4+ Rf6
53. Qc7+ Ne7 54. h4 h5 55. Kg3 {He advances quietly.} hxg4 56. fxg4 g6 57. Qd8
Re6 58. Qh8 $1 Rf6 59. Qh7+ Kf8 60. Kg2 Ng8 61. g5 Rc6 62. h5 gxh5 63. g6 Rf6
64. Kg3 $1 Rf1 65. Qxh5 Nf6 66. Qh8+ Ng8 67. Qh7 Rf6 68. Kg2 Rf4 69. g7+ {
Gulko played an accurate positional game.} (69. g7+ Kf7 70. Qh5+ $1 {
wins for White.}) 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Qb3 Nd7 13. Rfd1 Rb8 14. f3 Kh8 $5
15. Rd2 g5 $6 16. Qd1 Rg8 {He takes the initiative on the kingside.} 17. Nc2
Nce5 18. Bd4 {White has a pleasant position.} Qc7 19. Ne3 Nf6 20. Rc1 Bf8 21.
b4 $1 Bg7 22. h3 Nh5 23. Na4 Ba8 24. a3 Nf4 25. Bf1 Rgf8 26. Ng4 $1 Nxg4 27.
hxg4 Bxd4+ 28. Rxd4 Rfd8 29. g3 Ng6 30. Kg2 Rbc8 $6 (30... Ne5 $5 31. Qd2 f6 {
strengthens the centre.}) 31. Qd2 $1 e5 32. Rd3 b5 33. Nb2 h6 34. Rdc3 $1 {
White restraints his opponent.} Qe7 $6 {
The queen can be attacked on this square.} ({Preferable is} 34... Qb8 $5 35.
Nd1 Ne7) 35. Nd1 $1 Qe8 $6 36. Ne3 $6 (36. cxb5 $1 Rxc3 37. Nxc3 axb5 38. Bxb5
{wins easily (Yermolinsky).}) 36... Ne7 37. cxb5 Rxc3 38. Rxc3 axb5 39. Rd3 $6
(39. Rc7 $1 {ends the game.}) 39... Qc6 $6 (39... Qd7 {offers more resistance.}
) 40. Nd5 Nxd5 41. Rxd5 Qa6 42. Rxe5 Qxa3 43. Rxb5 Qa1 44. Ra5 Qg7 45. Qa2 Bb7
46. Ra7 f6 47. Ba6 Rd7 48. Qe6 Bc6 49. Rxd7 Bxd7 50. Qxd6 Qf7 51. Qd5 Be6 52.
Qd4 Bxg4 53. Be2 Bd7 54. b5 Qe6 55. Kf2 Kg7 56. g4 Qe7 57. Bc4 Be6 58. Bd5 Qd6
59. Kg2 h5 60. gxh5 Bd7 61. b6 Qf4 62. b7 g4 63. Qf2 $1 Kh6 64. e5 $1 g3 ({
The pointe is} 64... Qxe5 65. b8=Q Qxb8 66. Qe3+ Kxh5 67. Bf7+ {(Ribli).}) 65.
Qxg3 Qd2+ 66. Kh1 {Yermolinsky started with an important win.} 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 b6 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. f3 e6 8. Be2
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 a6 11. Qd2 Nbd7 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. b4 Qb8
15. Nb3 Bd8 16. Kh1 $5 Bc7 17. Bf4 Ne8 $6 ({Preferable is} 17... Ne5 $1 18. b5
a5) 18. a4 Ndf6 19. a5 $1 bxa5 20. Nxa5 Ba8 21. Na4 Nh5 22. Be3 Nef6 23. Bg1 (
23. g4 $5 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Nf6 {(Kopec)} 25. Bf3 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 27. Kg1 {
leads to chances for both sides.}) 23... Rcd8 24. Rb1 d5 $1 25. exd5 Bf4 26.
Qc2 exd5 27. c5 $2 (27. Nb6 $1 Qe5 28. g4 {fights back at the right time.})
27... d4 $1 28. c6 Qe5 29. g4 Nxg4 $1 30. fxg4 Qd5+ 31. Bf3 Qxf3+ 32. Qg2 Qxg2+
33. Kxg2 {Black has gained a pawn.} Bc7 $1 34. Nb7 Nf4+ 35. Kf3 Rb8 $6 ({
Better is} 35... Rde8 36. Nac5 f5) 36. Nac5 Ne6 37. Bxd4 Nxc5 38. Bxc5 Rfc8 39.
h3 $6 Bxb7 40. cxb7 Rxb7 41. Ra1 a5 42. bxa5 Rb5 43. Rdc1 Bxa5 44. Bb6 Rxc1 45.
Rxc1 h5 $1 46. Bxa5 Rxa5 {
The extra pawn does not suffice for a win in the rook ending.} 47. Rc3 Kh7 48.
Kg3 f6 49. Rc7 Kg6 50. Rb7 Kh6 51. Rc7 g6 52. Rc6 $6 (52. Rc3 Kg5 53. Rb3 {
draws easily.}) 52... Ra3+ 53. Kg2 hxg4 54. hxg4 Kg5 55. Rb6 $2 {
A world class player like Gulko can blunder in a basic endgame too.} (55. Rc4
Kh4 56. Rf4 Ra2+ 57. Kf3 Ra6 58. Kg2 g5 59. Rc4 Ra3 60. Rc6 Kxg4 61. Rxf6 Ra2+
{(Kopec)} 62. Kg1 $1 Kg3 63. Rf1 $1 g4 64. Rb1 {leads to a theoretical draw.})
55... Ra4 $1 56. Kh3 Rxg4 57. Rxf6 Rh4+ $1 58. Kg3 Kxf6 59. Kxh4 Kf5 $1 {
Dmitry Gurevich got the Albert Brilliancy Prize for this game.} 0-1

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 g6 8.
e5 dxe5 9. Qxe5 Bg7 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Bf5 12. Qe2 $5 ({Known is} 12. Qb5 Bxc2
13. Qxb7) 12... e6 $6 ({Preferable is} 12... Qc7 $1 13. Bf4 Qb6) 13. Bxb7 $1
Rb8 14. Bf3 h5 15. Rb1 Ng4 $2 (15... Nd5 $1 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bf4 {
(Yermolinsky)} Rc8 $1 18. Qb5 Rxc2 19. Qxd5 Bxb2 {equalises.}) 16. Ne4 Ne5 17.
Bg2 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Rd1 Qa5 20. a3 Rfc8 21. Bf4 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qc5+ $6 (22...
Rc4 $1 23. Qe2 Qc5+ 24. Be3 Rxc2 {fights back (Yermolinsky).}) 23. Kh1 Rd8 24.
Re1 Rd5 25. Qe2 $6 (25. c4 Rd4 26. Qe2 Rxf4 27. gxf4 {wins quickly.}) 25...
Rbd8 26. Be3 Qc4 27. b3 Qxe2 28. Rxe2 a5 29. f4 Rd1+ 30. Re1 Rxe1+ 31. Rxe1 Ng4
32. Bb6 Rd2 33. h3 $1 Nh6 34. Be4 Nf5 35. Bxf5 gxf5 36. c4 Rb2 37. Re3 a4 38.
b4 $1 Rb3 39. b5 Kf8 40. Kg2 Ke8 41. Kf3 Bf8 42. Ke2 Rxa3 $6 (42... Bxa3 $5 43.
Bd4 $1 Rxe3+ 44. Kxe3 h4 45. c5 hxg3 46. Kf3 Kd8 47. h4 {also wins for White.})
43. Rxa3 Bxa3 44. Bd4 Kd7 45. c5 $1 f6 ({The alternative is} 45... Bb4 46. Kd3
Be1 47. Be5 Bf2 {(Yermolinsky)} 48. c6+ $1 Kd8 49. Kc3 $1 a3 50. Bd6 a2 51. Kb2
) 46. c6+ Kc7 47. Bxf6 {Kaidonov competed for the title.} 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. f4 h6 6. Bh4 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Bd3
Qxc5 9. Qd2 Nc6 $5 10. Nge2 O-O 11. O-O-O $5 {Yermolinsky plays for a win.} Nb4
$1 12. Kb1 Be6 13. Rhf1 Qa5 14. a3 Nxd3 15. cxd3 Rfc8 16. h3 Rc7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6
18. Nd5 $1 Qxd2 19. Nxf6+ $1 exf6 20. Rxd2 f5 $1 {
Black  equalises in the endgame.} 21. g4 $1 Re8 $6 ({Better is} 21... fxg4 $1
22. f5 gxf5 23. exf5 Bd5 24. hxg4 Re8 {(Yermolinsky).}) 22. Nc3 a6 $5 23. gxf5
gxf5 24. exf5 Bxf5 $2 {Black blunders an exchange.} ({Right is} 24... Bb3 $1
25. Ne4 Kf8 26. f6 $5 {(Yermolinsky)} d5 $1 27. Nd6 Re6 28. Nf5 Rxf6 29. Nd4
Ba4 {and Black escapes from a defeat.}) 25. Nd5 $1 Rc5 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27. Nxe8
Kxe8 28. Rf3 Kd7 29. b4 Rc8 30. Rg2 $1 Rc3 31. Kb2 $1 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Bxd3 {
White has sacrificed a pawn for a favourable swap of rooks.} 33. Rg8 Bf1 34. h4
Be2 35. Kc3 h5 36. Rf8 Ke7 37. Rb8 Bf3 38. Kd4 Kf6 39. Ke3 Bc6 40. Rg8 Ba4 41.
Rg5 $1 {He will regain the pawn.} Bd1 42. Rd5 $1 {
Yermolinsky came back in the title race by defeating a main competitor.} 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Ivanov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. Nc2
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bd2 a6 11. Rb1 $5 b5 $1 12. cxb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 d5 $6 {
Black should regain the pawn at once.} (13... Rxa2 $5 14. Nc3 ({or} 14. Nca3
Qb8 $1) 14... Ra8 15. b4 {(Gulko) about equalises.}) 14. Bg5 Bf5 15. Nc3 e6 $5
16. e4 dxe4 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 19. Nxe4 Bg7 20. a3 Rab8 $6 (20...
Ra4 $1 21. Rfe1 Rc4 22. Re2 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Rdxd4 24. Rbe1 Rd3 {
gains sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 21. b4 Ne5 22. Rfd1 Rdc8 $2 (
22... Nc4 $1 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. a4 Rc8 25. Ne3 Bxe4 26. Bxe4 Nd2 27. Bb7 Rb8
28. Rd1 Bc3 29. Bc6 Bxb4 {levels the game.}) 23. Ne3 $1 Nc4 24. Nxf5 $1 gxf5
25. Nd6 Nxd6 26. Rxd6 Rc3 27. b5 $5 Rxa3 28. b6 Ra1 $5 29. Rxa1 Bxa1 30. b7 {
Gulko has a superior passed pawn.} Kf8 31. Rc6 Ke7 32. Rc7+ Kf6 33. f4 Bd4+ 34.
Kf1 Ba7 35. Rc8 Ke7 36. Ke2 Kd7 37. Bc6+ Kd6 38. Kd3 Kc5 39. Bf3+ Kb6 $1 {
The black king blocks the way to a6 for his opponent.} 40. h3 h6 $6 ({
More problems poses} 40... h5 $5 41. h4 f6 42. Kc4 $1 Ka6 $1 43. Rc7 Bf2 $1 44.
Rf7 Bxg3 45. Rxf6 Bxf4 46. Rxe6+ Ka7 47. Kb5 $1 Rxb7+ 48. Bxb7 Kxb7 49. Re7+
Kc8 50. Rh7 {but White wins the rook versus bishop ending (Gulko).}) 41. g4 $1
fxg4 42. hxg4 f6 43. Ke2 $1 {The king wants to marsh towards h5.} Ka6 44. Kf1
Rxb7 45. Bxb7+ Kxb7 46. Re8 Be3 47. Rxe6 Bxf4 48. Rxf6 Bg5 49. Rd6 Kc7 50. Rd3
Bf4 51. Kg2 Bd6 52. Kh3 $1 Be7 53. Kg3 $1 {Gulko started to win again.} 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.07.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shaked, Tal"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2440"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 e5 6. Nc3 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Rb1 Nc6 9. d3 Nge7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Nd4 13. b4 $5 (13. Nxd4
cxd4 14. Qb3 {drew in Shaked - Van Buskirk, Reno 1994.}) 13... f5 14. bxc5 dxc5
15. Nxd4 exd4 $5 {Kaidanov makes an offensive move.} 16. Qb3 b6 17. f4 fxe4 18.
dxe4 Rac8 19. Qc4 Kh8 20. a4 g5 21. e5 $5 (21. Rbe1 $1 gxf4 22. Bxf4 {
gains a plus.}) 21... gxf4 22. e6 $6 ({Preferable is} 22. Rbe1 $1) 22... Qd6 $1
23. Rbe1 Rce8 24. a5 b5 25. Qxb5 Qxd5 26. e7 Rg8 27. a6 $2 {
White misses his last chance.} (27. Bxf4 d3 28. Rf2 Bc3 29. Kf1 $1 Bxe1 30.
Qb2+ Rg7 31. Bh6 Qd4 32. Bxg7+ Kxg7 33. Qxd4+ cxd4 34. Kxe1 Rxe7+ 35. Kd2 {
draws.}) 27... Be5 28. Qb7 Rxg2+ {He strikes.} 29. Kh1 Rg1+ $1 {Black mates in
two. Kaidanov trailed Yermolinsky by half-a-point. He equalised in the
penultimate round.} 0-1

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.08.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Alburt, Lev"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When the last round began, Kaidanov and Yermolinsky led by half-a-point on D.
Gurevich and one point on Gulko.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e6 4. Bxc4 c5 5.
O-O Nf6 6. Qe2 a6 7. a3 b5 $5 (7... Be7 8. Rd1 O-O {
happened in Alburt - Zaltsman, Philadelphia 1990.}) 8. Ba2 Bb7 9. a4 Nbd7 10.
Na3 bxa4 11. Nc4 Be7 12. d3 Nd5 13. Bb1 Bc6 14. Bc2 O-O 15. Bd2 N5b6 16. e4
Nxc4 17. dxc4 Bf6 18. Bc1 Qa5 $6 {The queen moves offside.} 19. e5 $1 Be7 20.
Bd2 Qc7 21. Bc3 Rfe8 22. Rfe1 Nf8 23. h4 Qb7 24. h5 $1 h6 25. Nd2 $1 Rad8 ({
The pointe is} 25... Bxg2 $2 26. Ne4 Bxe4 27. Bxe4) 26. Ne4 Nh7 27. f4 f5 28.
Nd2 $5 Bh4 29. Rf1 Nf8 30. Kh2 Qf7 31. g4 Rd7 32. Rg1 $6 {
Probably, the time pressure had started.} Red8 33. Nf1 $2 ({Correct is} 33.
Bxa4 Bxa4 34. Rxa4) 33... Kh8 $2 (33... Rd4 $1 34. Bxd4 Rxd4 35. Qe3 Rxc4 {
leads to a decisive attack and the title.}) 34. Kh3 $6 fxg4+ $4 {
Black blunders a bishop.} (34... g5 $1 35. gxf5 Bf2 $1 36. Rg3 Rd4 $1 37. Bxd4
Rxd4 38. Qxf2 Qxh5# {gains the title by beautiful tactics.}) 35. Kxh4 g5+ $5
36. hxg6 Nxg6+ 37. Bxg6 Qxg6 38. Rxg4 Qf7 39. f5 $1 Kh7 ({Or} 39... Qxf5 40.
Ng3 Bf3 41. Nxf5 Bxe2 42. Rg2) 40. f6 Rg8 41. Rd1 Rxd1 42. Qxd1 Be8 43. Qd3+
Kh8 44. Rxg8+ Qxg8 45. Qg3 Bg6 46. Qe3 Kh7 47. Bd2 Qf8 48. Ng3 {
Kaidanov was out of the race for the first place.} 1-0

[Event "Parsippany"]
[Site "USA 42"]
[Date "1996.08.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1996.07.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Gurevich needed a win for the title. The decisive game began.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 b6 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Na6 8. Qa4 Bxc3+ 9. Nxc3 O-O
10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Ne4 $5 ({Known is} 11... d6) 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. Ra1 Nc7 14.
dxc5 Bc6 $1 15. Qd1 $5 Qg5 $1 16. e4 Qxc5 17. Be3 Qe5 18. f3 f5 19. Bd4 Qf4 20.
e5 $1 b5 $1 21. Bc5 $5 Rfc8 22. Qd6 $6 {
Hereafter, Black equalises. So Gurevich loses his title chances.} (22. Qd4
Qxd4+ 23. Bxd4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 {gains an edge.}) 22... bxc4 23. g3 Qg5 24. Bxc4
$6 (24. f4 Qd8 25. Bxc4 Bb5 {(Yermolinsky)} 26. Bxb5 $1 Nxb5 27. Qe7 {
is alright.}) 24... f4 $1 25. Qd2 Qxe5 26. Bd6 $1 Qe3+ 27. Qxe3 fxe3 28. Rae1
Bb5 29. Bxb5 Nxb5 30. Be5 Rc5 31. Rxe3 $6 ({Better is} 31. Bf4 $1 Rc2 32. Rxe3
Rxb2 $6 33. Rd3 $1 {and White threatens 34.a4!}) 31... d6 $1 32. a4 dxe5 33.
axb5 Rxb5 34. Re2 Rab8 35. Ra1 a5 36. Ra2 Kf7 37. Kf2 g5 $1 38. h3 h5 39. Ra4
Kf6 40. h4 $2 (40. b3 $1 Rc5 41. Rb2 Kf5 42. g4+ {counters in the right way.})
40... gxh4 41. Rxh4 Rxb2 42. Rxh5 (42. Ra4 Rxe2+ 43. Kxe2 Ra8 44. Ke3 Kf5 45.
g4+ hxg4 46. fxg4+ Kg5 47. Ke4 Ra7 48. Kxe5 Ra6 {wins for Black.}) 42... Rxe2+
43. Kxe2 Ra8 {Yermolinsky wins the rook ending and the title.} 44. Rh6+ Ke7 45.
Kd3 a4 46. Rh2 ({Or} 46. Kc2 a3 47. Kb1 Rf8 $1) 46... a3 47. Ra2 Kf6 48. Kc2
Kf5 49. Kb1 e4 50. fxe4+ Kg4 $1 51. Rg2 a2+ 52. Ka1 e5 $1 53. Rg1 Ra4 $1 {
Black has achieved zugzwang.} 54. Rf1 Kxg3 55. Rf5 Rxe4 56. Kxa2 Kg4 57. Rf8
Rb4 {The final standings became: Yermolinsky 9/13, Kaidanov and Gulko 8, D.
Gurevich 71/2, A.Ivanov 7, Alburt, Benjamin, Christiansen, De Firmian, Dzindzi
and Shabalov 6, Shaked 51/2, I.Ivanov and Khmelnistsky 5.} 0-1

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 group 1"]
[Date "1997.08.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1997.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-third US championship happened in Chandler, Arizona, from 23 viii
until 12 ix 1997. A new system was applied. The participants had to play in
two groups of eight persons at first.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. Be2
e6 12. f4 Nc6 13. g4 b5 14. g5 $5 ({Known is} 14. Bd3) 14... Nd7 15. Bf3 Bb7
16. Qe2 b4 17. Na4 a5 18. c4 Be7 19. O-O O-O 20. Rac1 $6 Rfd8 $6 (20... e5 $5 {
(Gulko)} 21. Bg4 Nc5 22. Naxc5 dxc5 23. f5 Nd4 {gains an edge.}) 21. Qf2 Nc5 $6
({Preferable is} 21... Rab8 22. Rfd1 Ba6) 22. Naxc5 dxc5 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5
Qxf4 25. Be3 $1 Qe5 $1 26. Bg2 Rd7 27. Rcd1 Qc7 (27... Rad8 $4 28. Bf4 Rxd1 29.
Bxe5 {wins material (Christiansen).}) 28. Bb6 Qc8 29. Qf4 e5 $6 (29... Qe8 $1
30. e5 Nd8 {defends solidly.}) 30. Qf5 $1 Nd4 $5 (30... Re7 31. Bc5 Rc7 32. Bd6
Qxf5 33. exf5 {achieves a great advantage.}) 31. Qxe5 Ne6 32. b3 a4 33. Be3
axb3 34. axb3 Qd8 35. Rd5 $5 Qe7 $5 ({The pointe is} 35... Bxd5 36. cxd5 Nc7
37. Bc5) 36. c5 Nc7 $6 (36... Qe8 37. Rd6 Re7 38. Qf5 Ra3 {
offers more resistance.}) 37. Qxe7 Rxe7 38. Rd4 $1 Rae8 39. Bf4 Ne6 40. Rxb4
Nxf4 41. Rxf4 Rc8 42. Rb5 Bc6 43. Rb6 Re5 44. Rf5 Ree8 45. Rf2 Re5 46. Bh3 Rc7
47. Rb8+ Be8 48. c6 $1 (48. c6 Rxc6 49. Bd7 Rc1+ 50. Rf1 {
wins elementary (Christiansen).}) 1-0

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 group 1"]
[Date "1997.08.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Rb1 g5 9. b4 $5 {White sacrifices a pawn.} g4 $1 10. Ne1 Nxb4 11. Nc2 Nc6 12.
Bxc6+ bxc6 13. d4 f6 {Black controls the centre.} 14. dxe5 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 fxe5
16. Nb4 Bf5 $1 17. e4 $1 Bxb4 18. Rxb4 Be6 19. Bg5 Rf8 ({The natural move is} 
19... O-O $1) 20. Rb2 Rf3 21. Nb1 Rc8 22. Rc1 Nc4 23. Rb7 $6 ({More solid is} 
23. Rbc2) 23... Nd6 24. Rxa7 Nxe4 25. Be3 Bd5 {Black has the initiative.} 26.
Nd2 $4 {This blunder costs material.} ({Correct is} 26. Nc3 Nxc3 27. Rxc3 Rb8
28. Rc1 {(Christiansen).}) 26... Rxe3 $1 27. fxe3 Nxd2 28. a4 Kd7 29. Rb7 Ra8
30. Rb4 Ne4 31. Rd1 Ke6 32. Rb7 Rxa4 33. Rxc7 Ng5 {The final standings in
Group 1 became: Christiansen and Benjamin 5/7, Fedorowicz 41/2, Gulko,
Yermolinsky 31/2, Browne 3, Sammour Hasbin 21/2, A. Ivanov 2. Christiansen and
Benjamin qualified for the semifinals.} 0-1

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 group 2"]
[Date "1997.08.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1997.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. e4 Qc7 $5 ({The alternative is} 5...
Qa5) 6. b4 Nxe4 $2 ({Preferable is} 6... d6) 7. Nxe4 Qe5 8. Be3 $1 Qxe4 9. Nf3
b6 10. Bd3 {White has an advantage in development.} Qb7 11. Ng5 $6 (11. O-O $1
bxc5 12. bxc5 Nc6 13. Ng5 {prepares the attack.}) 11... bxc5 12. bxc5 f5 $6 (
12... Qb4+ $1 13. Kf1 $5 Be7 14. Qf3 Bxg5 15. Qxa8 Bxe3 16. fxe3 O-O {
defends actively.}) 13. O-O $1 Qc6 14. Bd4 Bb7 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qh3 Rg8 $5 17.
Be4 $1 {White decides the game tactically.} fxe4 18. Qxh7 Rg7 ({Or} 18... e3
19. Qf7+ Kd8 20. f3) 19. Bxg7 Qxc5 20. Bf6 {
Kaidanov had crushed the resistance. He got the Albert Brilliancy Prize.} 1-0

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 group 2"]
[Date "1997.08.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1997.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Nc3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 c4 8. Ne5
b5 9. O-O Bb7 10. e4 Nxe4 $5 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. a4 Nd7 13. axb5 ({
The alternative is} 13. b3 $5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bc5 $1 16. axb5 axb5
17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. bxc4 b4 {and Black has reached the game.}) 13... axb5 14.
Rxa8 Bxa8 15. b3 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bc5 $1 {
Seirawan has gained a plus.} 18. bxc4 b4 $1 19. Bg5 O-O 20. Bd8 $2 {
The bishop is misplaced.} ({Better is} 20. Bg4 $1 Bc6 21. e6 Rb8 22. e7 Re8 23.
Kf1 {and White fights for survival.}) 20... b3 $1 21. Bc7 $6 (21. Ba5 $1 e3 22.
fxe3 Bxe3+ 23. Kf1 b2 24. Bc3 Bc1 25. Bd3 {
battles for the last chance (Tsesarsky).}) 21... b2 $1 22. Bg4 $5 Bc6 23. e6 f5
24. Be2 Bd4 25. h4 Ba4 26. Rxd4 b1=Q+ 27. Kh2 {The final standings in group 2
became: Kaidanov and Seirawan 41/2/7, De Firmian 4, Schwarzman, Dzindzi and
Shabalov 31/2, Kudrin 21/2, D.Gurevich 2. Kaidanov and Seirawan had qualified.}
0-1

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 1.semifinal"]
[Date "1997.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E03"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kaidanov and Benjamin played the first semifinal. The aim was to score the
best of four. Benjamin had won the first and drawn the second game.} 1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bg2 a6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qc6 Ra7 9.
Be3 Nd5 $5 (9... Bb7 10. Qc1 Ra8 11. O-O Rc8 12. Rd1 Bd6 {
drew in Van der Vliet - Hess, Rotterdam 1982.}) 10. Qc1 c5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 $2 ({
Preferable is} 11... Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Be7) 12. Qxc3 Nb6 $5 13. dxc5 Nd5 14. Qd2
Nxe3 15. Qxe3 Qa5+ 16. Nd2 Qb4 $5 17. Rc1 Rc7 18. O-O $1 Qxb2 ({Not} 18... Rxc5
$2 19. a3 $1) 19. Rfd1 Be7 20. c6 O-O 21. Rb1 $2 (21. Qb6 $1 Bd8 22. Nc4 $1 Qf6
23. Nd6 {wins for White (Ribli).}) 21... Qa3 $5 22. Nb3 Bd8 23. Rd3 Re7 24.
Rbd1 Bc7 25. Nc5 $5 Qxa2 26. Nd7 $1 Rfe8 27. Qg5 h6 $2 ({Correct is} 27... Qb2
28. R3d2 f6 $1 29. Qg4 Qc3) 28. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 $5 29. Qh4 $5 gxf6 ({Or} 29... Rf8
30. Nd5 $1) 30. Qxh6+ Kg8 31. Rd4 $1 f5 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Qg5+ Kf8
35. Qf6 $1 Be5 36. Qxe5 f6 37. Qxf6+ Rf7 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Qg6+ Kf8 40. Qh6+ Kg8
41. Rd8 Rfe7 42. Qg6+ Kf8 43. Qf6+ {Benjamin had won the match by 21/2-1/2.}
1-0

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 2.semifinal"]
[Date "1997.09.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Be3
O-O 9. a3 exd4 10. Bxd4 Bc5 11. b3 $5 ({Known is} 11. Nc3) 11... Re8 12. Nc3
Qe7 13. e3 Rb8 14. Qd2 Nb6 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. a4 Bg4 17. h3 Rbd8 18. Qc2 Bh5 19.
Nh4 c6 20. g4 Bg6 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rad1 Na8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rd1 Nc7 25.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. g5 Nfe8 27. Ne4 Ne6 28. f4 Nd6 29. Qd3 Nf5 30. Qxd8+ Nxd8 {
White has a small advantage.} 31. Kf2 Ne6 32. Bf3 Kf8 33. Bg4 Ke7 $2 ({
Correct is} 33... b6 $1 34. Ng3 Nxg3 35. Kxg3 Nd8) 34. h4 $1 Nd6 ({
The pointe is} 34... Nxh4 $2 35. Bxe6 fxe6 36. Nxc5 b6 37. Nd3 Nf5 38. Ne5) 35.
Kf3 $2 {He should have exchanged the pieces.} (35. Nxd6 Kxd6 36. Bxe6 Kxe6 37.
e4 {will be discussed later.}) 35... Nxe4 36. Kxe4 {
Seirawan possesses a pawn majority on the kingside.} Nc7 37. Kd3 Ne6 $2 (37...
Na6 38. Bc8 Nb4+ 39. Kc3 Kd8 {defends properly.}) 38. Bh3 $2 (38. Bxe6 $1 Kxe6
39. e4 Ke7 40. Ke3 Ke6 41. Kf3 Ke7 42. Kg4 Ke6 43. h5 gxh5+ 44. Kxh5 {
leads to a won pawn ending (Hecht).}) 38... Nc7 39. Bc8 b5 40. Kc3 bxa4 41.
bxa4 Ne8 42. Bg4 Nc7 43. e4 Na8 44. e5 Nb6 45. Kb3 Na8 $1 46. Kc3 Nb6 47. Bd1
Nd7 $2 (47... Ke6 $1 48. Bg4+ Ke7 49. Kb3 Na8 {repeats a position.}) 48. Bf3 $1
Nb8 {The knight has become immobile.} 49. Kd2 Ke6 50. Be4 Ke7 51. Ke2 Ke6 52.
Kf3 Ke7 53. Kg4 Kf8 54. h5 gxh5+ 55. Kxh5 Ke7 56. Bf3 Kf8 $2 {
Black misses the last chance in the bishop versus knight ending.} ({Better is} 
56... Nd7 $1 57. Bxc6 Nb6 {(he has activated the knight)} 58. Bb5 Ke6 59. Kg4
g6 60. Kf3 Ke7 61. Ke4 Ke6 62. Bc6 Ke7 {and White cannot make progress.}) 57.
g6 $1 Ke7 58. gxf7 Kxf7 59. Kg5 Nd7 60. Bxc6 Nf8 61. Bd5+ Ke7 62. Kf5 Kd7 63.
Bg8 Ke7 64. e6 {The knight is restrained.} Kd6 65. Kg5 {If Black exchanges his
knight, White wins the pawn ending. Seirawan took the lead in the second
semifinal.} 1-0

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 2.semifinal"]
[Date "1997.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The second game was drawn.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O
6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 c5 8. d5 e6 9. Nge2 exd5 10. cxd5 b5 11. a3 Nbd7 12. b4 $5 Qe7
13. O-O Bb7 14. Qd2 Rac8 15. Rab1 Rfe8 16. Bf2 Ne5 17. a4 cxb4 18. Rxb4 Bh6 $1
19. Qxh6 Nxd3 20. Rd4 Nxf2 21. Rxf2 Rc5 22. Qd2 Rec8 23. Rf1 bxa4 $6 ({
Preferable is the quiet} 23... Qc7) 24. Nxa4 Rc2 25. Qd3 Nxd5 $2 {
Christiansen strikes tactically.} ({Better is} 25... Nh5) 26. Rb1 $2 {
Seirawan misses the briliant refutation.} ({Right is} 26. Re1 $3 Nf6 (26... Qh4
27. g3 Nf4 28. gxh4) 27. Nec3 $1 Qe5 28. Rd1 $1 Bxe4 $6 29. Nxe4 $1 {
and White wins material (Christiansen).}) 26... Qe5 27. exd5 (27. Rd1 a5 $1 {
threatens ..Nb4.}) 27... Rxe2 28. Re4 Rxe4 29. fxe4 Rc7 30. Rd1 Bc8 31. Nb6 Rc3
32. Qd4 $2 ({Or} 32. Qd2 Bg4 33. Re1 a5 34. h3 Bxh3 $1 {(Kopec).}) 32... Rc1
33. Qd2 Rxd1+ 34. Qxd1 Bb7 35. Qa4 Qc3 $1 {
Christiansen got the Albert Brilliancy Prize. Game four was drawn.} 0-1

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 2.semifinal"]
[Date "1997.09.06"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The match was prolonged by two set of two rapid games and two sets of two
blitz games. Each player won one game in each set. Christiansen won game
thirteen. Each man got five minutes for game fourteen.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5 Be7 9. c4 b4 10. Nc2
a5 11. Be3 Rb8 12. Be2 Nf6 13. Nxf6+ $5 Bxf6 14. O-O O-O 15. b3 Be6 16. Qd2 Qc7
17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. h3 g6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 Kg7 21. Rd2 a4 22. Rad1 Ra8 23.
Bg4 f6 24. Qe3 Bxg4 25. hxg4 Qe7 $2 ({Better is} 25... axb3 26. axb3 Ra2) 26.
Qb6 $1 axb3 27. axb3 Rac8 28. Nxb4 {White gains a pawn.} Nd4 $5 29. Rxd4 $1 {
He applies winning tactics.} exd4 30. Nc6 Rxc6 31. Qxc6 d5 32. Rxd4 $5 dxe4 $5
33. Rxd8 Qxd8 34. Qxe4 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qxb3 36. Qe7+ Kh6 $2 (36... Kg8 37. Qe8+
Kg7 38. c5 Qb4 {offers more resistance.}) 37. Qe3+ $1 {
Christiansen had qualified for the final.} 1-0

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 final"]
[Date "1997.09.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The winner of the final had to score the best of six games. So far, they
produced one win, one draw and one loss.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3
Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qd2 Bg4 7. O-O-O c6 8. Bh6 Qa5 9. Kb1 $5 Nbd7 10. Be2 e5 11.
Bxg7 Kxg7 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 b5 14. g4 Nb6 15. h4 Nc4 {Both sides attack.}
16. Qc1 Rab8 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. h5 Ng8 $5 (18... b4 $1 19. hxg6 Na3+ 20. Ka1
Nxc2+ 21. Qxc2 bxc3 22. b3 hxg6 {brings about equal chances.}) 19. hxg6 hxg6
20. Be2 $1 Rfd8 $6 (20... Na3+ $1 21. bxa3 b4 $1 22. Bc4 bxc3+ 23. Bb3 Rfd8 {
fights for the initiative.}) 21. Bxc4 bxc4 22. Rxd8 Qxd8 23. f4 $1 Qd4 24. Ka1
$1 exf4 25. Qxf4 Re8 26. a3 {White has a superior pawn structure.} Qe5 27. Qe3
Re7 28. g5 a5 29. Ka2 Re6 30. Rh4 Re8 31. Rh1 $6 (31. Na4 Ne7 32. Qh3 Nc8 33.
c3 {goes forwards.}) 31... Ne7 32. Rf1 Nf5 $1 33. Qf2 Nd6 34. Qf6+ Qxf6 35.
Rxf6 Nxe4 36. Nxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxc6 Re5 38. Rxc4 Rxg5 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 {
The rook ending is drawn.} f5 41. b5 f4 42. Rc7+ $5 {
The exchange of pawns equalises completely.} Kf6 43. b6 $4 {
Christiansen blunders a pawn.} ({Correct is} 43. Rc6+ Ke7 44. b6 Ra5+ 45. Kb3
Rb5+ 46. Kc4 f3 47. Rc7+) 43... Ra5+ 44. Kb3 Rb5+ 45. Kc4 Rxb6 46. Kd4 Kf5 47.
Kd3 Re6 48. Rf7+ Kg4 49. c4 f3 50. c5 Kg3 {Benjamin took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Chandler"]
[Site "USA 43 final"]
[Date "1997.09.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Game five was drawn. So Christiansen had to win number six.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7
10. Nd3 c5 11. Ba2 $5 ({Theory is} 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. O-O {
(Petrovs - Najdorf, Lodz 1938).}) 11... b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rac8
15. Rad1 Qb8 16. f4 Ba6 $1 17. Be1 Rfd8 {Black has a solid defence.} 18. Qf3
cxd4 19. exd4 Nf8 20. Bf2 ({Or} 20. d5 $1 Bb7 $1 {(Psakhis).}) 20... Bxa3 $1
21. f5 Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Bxb2 23. Ne4 $2 (23. Nb5 $1 Rc1 24. Rxc1 Bxc1 25. Bg3 Qa8
26. Qxa8 Rxa8 27. Nc7 {keeps the equality.}) 23... Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Qd6 25. Bh4
Re8 26. Bg3 Qd7 27. f6 gxf6 $1 28. Bh4 ({Or} 28. Rxf6 Rc3) 28... f5 $1 29. Qe3
Ng6 30. Bf6 f4 $1 31. Qh3 Qd6 32. Qh6 Qf8 33. Qh5 Rc3 34. Bb1 $2 Rxd3 35. Bxd3
Qd6 $1 36. Bxg6 {A draw suffices for Benjamin. He won the final by 31/2-21/2.}
(36. Bxg6 Bxd4+ 37. Kh1 fxg6 {wins for Black.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 1"]
[Date "1998.11.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-fourth US championship was played in Denver, Colorado, from 31 x
until 18 xi 1998. The event started with two groups of eight participants
again.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3
a6 8. f4 Be7 9. Qf3 O-O 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5
14. Qg3 Bd6 15. Be3 Be6 16. Bh6 Ne8 17. Nd5 $5 ({The alternative is} 17. Rhf1)
17... Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc6 $2 ({A novelty will become} 18... Kh8 $5 19. Bg5 f6)
19. Bg5 a5 20. a4 Ra6 $6 (20... Nc7 $5 21. Bf6 $1 Ne8 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 {
costs a pawn.}) 21. Rhd1 Kh8 22. Kb1 Rb6 23. Qd3 Qc7 24. Bc4 f5 $5 {
Black makes a desperate counter.} 25. exf5 e4 26. Qxe4 h6 $5 27. Qh4 Rb4 28.
R5d4 Nf6 ({Or} 28... Rxf5 29. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 30. Qxh6+ Qh7 31. Qxh7+ Kxh7 32. Bd3
$1 {(Ftacnik).}) 29. Bxf6 Rxf6 30. Be6 Be7 31. Rxb4 axb4 32. Rd7 Qc5 33. Qc4
Qg1+ 34. Ka2 Bf8 35. Rd8 Qb6 36. Qc8 b3+ 37. cxb3 Qb4 38. Qc4 Qb6 39. Qd4 Qc7
40. Qxf6 $1 {De Firmian crowns the attack.} ({The pointe is} 40. Qxf6 $1 gxf6
41. Rxf8+ Kg7 42. Rf7+) 1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 1"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Ivanov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Be7 7. Bd3 b6 8. O-O
Bb7 9. b3 Rc8 10. Bb2 c5 11. Qe2 cxd4 12. exd4 O-O 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Rfe1 $5 ({
Theory is} 14. Ne5 dxc4 15. bxc4) 14... Bb4 15. a3 dxc4 16. bxc4 Bxc3 17. Bxc3
Qf4 18. Nd2 Qg5 19. f3 Rfe8 20. Qf2 Nh5 21. Kh1 Nf4 22. Be4 Ba6 23. g3 Nd5 $2 (
{Preferable is} 23... Nh3 24. Qg2 Qh5) 24. cxd5 $1 Rxc3 $2 (24... exd5 25. Bc2
Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Rxc3 27. Ne4 dxe4 28. Qxc3 Be2 {fights for a last chance.}) 25.
Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 26. Ne4 Qxd5 27. Nxc3 {White has gained an exchange.} Qb3 28. Ne4
Bb7 29. Qe3 Qd5 30. Kg2 Nf6 31. Nxf6+ gxf6 32. Qe4+ Kg7 33. Qxd5 Bxd5 34. Rc1
a5 35. Rb1 Rb8 36. Rec1 b5 37. Rc5 b4 38. Rxa5 b3 39. Rb2 f5 40. Kf2 f4 41.
gxf4 Kf6 42. Ke3 Rc8 43. Rc5 Ra8 44. Rxd5 $5 {
White choses a difficult road to victory.} ({Better is} 44. f5 $1 Rxa3 45. fxe6
fxe6 46. Rc1) 44... exd5 45. Rxb3 Kf5 46. h4 Re8+ 47. Kf2 Ra8 $5 48. h5 $5 f6
$5 49. Ke3 Re8+ 50. Kd2 Rh8 51. Kc3 Kxf4 52. Kb2 Rxh5 53. a4 {
The extra pawn brings the decision in the rook ending.} Rh8 54. Ka3 Ra8 55. Rd3
Kf5 56. Kb4 Ke6 57. a5 Kd6 58. Rc3 f5 59. f4 Re8 60. a6 Rb8+ 61. Ka5 Rb1 62.
Rc5 {The final standings in group 1 became: De Firmian 5/7, D.Gurevich 41/2,
Dzindzi, Kudrin and Seirawan 4, Christiansen 21/2, I.Ivanov and Shabalov 2. De
Firmian and Gurevich qualified.} 1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 2"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Shaked, Tal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 Ng6 6. c3 d5 7. Qa4 Qd6 8.
exd5 Qxd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Be7 11. Nc3 Qd6 12. h4 $5 (12. Ne5 Bd7 13. Nc4 {
happened in Emodi - Varga,  Miskolc 1998.}) 12... Bd7 $2 ({Right is} 12... h5
13. Ne4 Qc7 14. Bg5 O-O) 13. h5 Nf8 14. d5 $1 Nb4 $5 ({The pointe is} 14...
exd5 15. Bf4 Qc5 16. Rad1 {and White wins.}) 15. Ne5 a6 ({Or} 15... Nxd5 16.
Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Rd1 {(Smirin).}) 16. Bxd7+ Nxd7 17. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
18. dxe6+ Kf8 19. exd7 Rd8 20. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 21. Re8+ Kf7 22. Qb3+ Nd5 23. Rxh8
Rxh8 24. Nxd5 Qxd7 25. Nc7+ Kf6 26. Qf3+ {Benjamin performed a fine attack.}
1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 2"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Browne, Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 Nc6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. O-O
O-O 9. h3 cxd4 10. exd4 h6 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Ne5 $5 Rc8 13. Bf4 Nb4 14. Rc1 Ne4
15. Qf3 Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Nxa2 $2 {Browne falls in a trap.} ({Correct is} 16... Nc2
$1 17. Rd1 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Be4 19. Qg4 Qf6) 17. Nxf7 $1 Qa5 $5 (17... Rxf7 18.
Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Re8+) ({and} 17... Nxc3 18. Nxd8 {win for White (Gulko).}) 18.
Nxd6 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Be4 20. Qg4 Qxc3 {Gulko overwhelmed Browne.} 1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 2"]
[Date "1998.11.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. f4 c6 8. Nf3
Nc7 9. Bh4 b5 10. e5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Ne6 $5 ({Usual is} 11... bxc4 12. Bxc4) 12. g3
{White has a broad centre.} bxc4 13. d5 (13. Bxc4 {would be alright.}) 13...
cxd5 14. Nxd5 f6 15. exf6 (15. g4 $5 Nhxf4 $1 16. Nxf4 Nxf4 17. Qxf4 g5 18. Qd2
gxh4 19. Qd5+ {(Hazai)} Kh8 20. Qxa8 Qa5+ 21. Nd2 Be6 22. Qg2 fxe5 {
leads to chances for both sides.}) 15... Nxf6 16. Bxc4 {
The pawn centre has disappeared.} Kh8 17. O-O Nc7 18. Nxf6 $6 {
It would be safer to exchange with the bishop.} exf6 $1 19. Rad1 d5 20. Qg2 $2
({More solid is} 20. Bb3 Qd6 21. Qa5 Bh3 22. Rf2) 20... Bg4 21. Bd3 Qd7 $1 22.
Rc1 Ne8 $1 23. Qc2 Nd6 24. Rce1 Rae8 25. Nd2 Nf5 $1 {
Black has outplayed the opponent.} 26. Qc5 Nxh4 27. Bb5 Qc8 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29.
gxh4 {The kingside lies in ruins.} Rc2 30. Nb3 Rxb2 31. Rf2 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 {
Black has gained a pawn.} Rc8 33. Re8+ Rxe8 34. Bxe8 f5 35. Ke3 Bf6 36. Bc6
Bxh4 37. Bxd5 Bd8 38. Nd4 Bb6 39. Kd3 Bh3 40. a4 Bf1+ 41. Kc3 Kg7 42. Ne6+ Kh6
43. Nd4 Ba5+ 44. Kc2 Be1 45. Nc6 Bf2 46. Kb3 $5 Be3 47. h4 a6 48. Nb4 Bxf4 49.
Bc4 Bxc4+ 50. Kxc4 Bd6 {The bishop dominates the knight.} 0-1

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 group 2"]
[Date "1998.11.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shaked, Tal"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1998.10.31"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 c6 6. d4 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ne5
e6 9. O-O Nfd7 10. f4 f6 11. Nd3 Nc6 12. Be3 f5 13. Ne5 Ndxe5 14. dxe5 $5 ({
The alternative is} 14. fxe5) 14... d4 $6 ({A novelty will become} 14... Bd7 $5
) 15. Bxc6 dxe3 {Black has a weakling on e3.} 16. Bg2 Qb6 17. Qb3 $1 Bd7 $2 ({
Better is} 17... Qxb3 18. axb3 Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Kf8 21. Nb5 Ke7) 18.
Qxb6 axb6 19. Rfd1 Rf7 20. Rd6 $1 b5 $5 21. Bxb7 Rb8 22. Bc6 $1 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 {
White has won a pawn.} b4 24. Nd1 Rd7 25. Nxe3 {A second pawn has fallen.} Rd2
26. Rc2 Rxc2 27. Nxc2 Bf8 28. Kf1 Rd8 29. Ke1 Bc5 30. e3 Ra8 31. Ke2 Kf7 32.
Kd3 g5 33. Nd4 gxf4 34. gxf4 h5 35. Nf3 Rd8+ 36. Ke2 Be7 37. h4 Rc8 38. Kd3
Rd8+ 39. Ke2 Rc8 40. Kd3 Rd8+ 41. Kc4 Rc8+ 42. Kb3 $1 Rd8 43. Re1 Kg6 44. Rg1+
Kh6 45. Kc4 $5 Rc8+ 46. Kd3 Rd8+ 47. Kc2 Rc8+ 48. Kb1 Rd8 49. Nd4 $1 Bxh4 50.
Nxe6 Re8 51. Nd4 Rf8 52. e6 Be7 53. Kc2 h4 54. Kd3 Kh7 55. e4 Rd8 56. Kc4 Rc8+
57. Kb3 $6 (57. Kd3 Rd8 58. Rc1 {wins easily.}) 57... fxe4 58. Nf5 Bf6 59. Nd6
$6 Rg8 $2 (59... Rc6 $1 60. Nxe4 Rxe6 61. Nxf6+ Rxf6 62. Kxb4 Rxf4+ {
will be hard to win for White.}) 60. Rxg8 $1 Kxg8 61. Nxe4 Be7 62. a4 bxa3 63.
bxa3 h3 64. Nf2 h2 65. a4 Kg7 66. Kc4 $1 Kf6 67. Kd5 {Shaked made a great
effort.   The final standings of group 2 became: Benjamin, Fedorowicz, Gulko
and Shaked 4/7, Kaidanov 31/2, Sokolin and Yermolinsky 3, Browne 21/2. Four
men carried out a playoff for two spots. Benjamin won and Fedorowicz lost.
Shaked and Gulko had to fight for the last place. They did not reach a
decision in two sets of two blitz games. Finally, Gulko overstepped the time
during the sudden-death encounter. So Benjamin and Shaked qualified for the
semifinals.} 1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 semifinal 1"]
[Date "1998.11.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.11.10"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Benjamin and D.Gurevich played the first semifinal. Game one was drawn.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Bc2 Bg4 6. d3 g6 7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. h3 Bxf3 9.
Nxf3 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. a3 $5 a5 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nd7 14. Be3 a4 15. Bd3
Rb8 16. Qe2 {White has a positional plus.} Qb6 17. e5 $1 {
He charges in the centre.} Qa6 18. Bf4 dxe5 19. dxe5 Nc5 20. Rac1 Ne6 21. Bg3
Qb6 22. Bb1 Bh6 23. Rcd1 Rbd8 24. Ba2 Ncd4 25. Nxd4 Nxd4 26. Qe4 Qc5 27. Kh2
Nf5 $5 ({Preferable is} 27... Nb3 $1 28. Bxb3 axb3) 28. e6 $1 f6 29. Rd7 $1
Nxg3 $5 30. fxg3 Bg5 $6 (30... Rc8 31. Rf3 Bg5 {keeps the equality.}) 31. h4 f5
$4 (31... Be3 $1 32. Rxf6 $1 Rxf6 33. Rxd8+ Kg7 $1 {defends well.}) 32. Qd3 $1
{White gains material.} Bxh4 33. gxh4 Qe5+ 34. Kg1 Rc8 35. Qd4 Qxd4+ 36. Rxd4
Rc2 37. Rf2 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Rb4 Rc5 40. Rd2 f4 41. Rd7 {
Benjamin also won the third game and ended the mini match by 21/2-1/2.} 1-0

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 semifinal 2"]
[Date "1998.11.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shaked, Tal"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1998.11.10"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shaked and De Firmian played the second semifinal. The games 1 and 2 were
drawn.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Ne4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. d5 f5
8. g3 Bf6 9. Rc1 c6 10. dxe6 dxe6 11. Bg2 $5 (11. Nxe4 $6 fxe4 12. Ng1 Bxb2 13.
Rb1 e3 {favours Black.}) 11... c5 12. O-O Nxd2 13. Nxd2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 O-O 15.
b4 $5 cxb4 $1 16. axb4 Nc6 17. b5 Na5 $5 18. Ncb1 $6 Rc8 19. Qa4 Qc7 20. Qa2
Kh8 21. Kg1 $5 f4 $6 {Black spoils his superior position.} 22. Ne4 $1 Bd4 23.
Nbd2 Qe5 24. Qb1 Qh5 25. Nf3 Bc5 26. Rfd1 fxg3 27. hxg3 Nxc4 $5 28. Kg2 $5 Be7
$5 29. Rd7 Na3 $2 30. Qb2 ({Or} 30. Qa1 Qe8 31. Ne5) 30... Qe8 31. Rcd1 $2 {
Shaked misses an opportunity.} (31. Ne5 $1 Nc4 32. Rxc4 Rxc4 33. Rxe7 Qxe7 34.
Nxc4 {gains material.}) 31... Rc2 $6 32. Qb3 Rxe2 33. Qd3 Ra2 $6 {
The black rook is misplaced.} 34. Rxa7 h6 35. Ne5 $2 {
Shaked misses the second chance.} (35. Qb3 Re2 36. Rdd7 {wins for White.})
35... Qh5 $1 36. Rxe7 Qxe5 37. Qe3 $4 {The tables turn.} Raxf2+ $1 {
De Firmian took the lead.} 0-1

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 semifinal 2"]
[Date "1998.11.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Shaked, Tal"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C19"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1998.11.10"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shaked has to win.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3
Ne7 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Bd3 Ba4 9. O-O Qc7 10. Re1 h6 11. dxc5 Nd7 12. Nd4 Qxc5 $6 ({
Known is} 12... Nxc5 13. Bb5+ Kf8) 13. Rb1 Nb6 14. Qg4 g6 15. Qf4 {
White has the initiative.} Nf5 $1 {Black prevents 16.Qf6.} 16. Nxf5 gxf5 17.
Be3 $1 Qxc3 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Bb4 {He attacks at the cost of a pawn.} Nc4 20. Bd6
Qd7 $1 (20... Qc6 $6 21. Qh4 $1 {(Psakhis)} Qd7 22. Qf6 Rg8 {costs a tempo.})
21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. Qxc4 Rg8 23. Rxb7 $6 {
There is no need to make another sacrifice.} (23. Qf4 $1 {keeps an edge.})
23... Qxb7 24. Qxa4+ Qd7 25. Qa6 Rg4 $5 26. Rb1 Ra4 $5 27. Qd3 Qc6 28. h3 $1 {
He prepares 29.Qg3.} f6 29. Qe2 Rh4 30. Rb4 Rxb4 31. Qh5+ Kd8 32. axb4 fxe5 33.
Qxh6 Kd7 $6 (33... Qxd6 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qxa8 Qd1+ 36. Kh2 Qd4 {equalises.})
34. Bxe5 Re8 {De Firmian had an edge, but he accepted the draw, because he won
the semifinal by 21/2-11/2.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 final"]
[Date "1998.11.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1998.11.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. c3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nc4 Be6 $5 11. h3 Kh7 12. Ne3 $5 d5 $1 13. Ng4 $5 Nxg4 14.
hxg4 Qd7 15. g5 h5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Be3 b6 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 {
The chances are equal.} 19. Qa4 Rfd8 20. Rad1 Rac8 21. Bc1 Kg8 22. Rd2 Qe6 23.
Qc4 Rd5 24. Rde2 Rcd8 25. Re3 Qd7 {Black pressures on pawn d3.} 26. Qe4 Ne7 27.
R3e2 Nf5 28. c4 $5 {White loses the control over d4.} Rxd3 29. Nxe5 Bxe5 30.
Qxe5 Nd4 31. Re3 $2 (31. Rd2 Rxd2 32. Bxd2 Nf3+ 33. gxf3 Qxd2 {
slightly favours Black.}) 31... Nc2 $2 (31... Rxe3 32. Bxe3 Nc2 33. Rf1 Re8 {
achieves a great advantage.}) 32. Rxd3 Qxd3 33. Rf1 $4 {
Benjamin blunders an exchange.} ({Correct is} 33. b3 $1 Nxe1 34. Bb2 $1 Rd4 {
(Hecht)} 35. Qe8+ $1 Kg7 36. Qxe1 Kf8 37. Bxd4 Qxd4 {and Black has a plus.})
33... Qxf1+ $1 34. Kxf1 Rd1+ 35. Ke2 Re1+ 36. Kd2 Rxe5 37. Kxc2 Re2+ {
De Firmian got the Albert Brilliancy Prize for this game.} 0-1

[Event "Denver"]
[Site "USA 44 final"]
[Date "1998.11.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1998.11.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nc6 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 7. h3 O-O 8. Qd2
Ne7 9. Bd3 b6 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Rhe1 c5 12. Bf2 Rc8 $5 (12... c4 13. Bf1 $6 b5
14. e5 Nh5 $6 15. Nxb5 $1 {happened in Bryson - Krasenkow, Hastings 1993.}) 13.
Kb1 c4 14. Bf1 d5 15. e5 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Ng5 c3 $1 18. bxc3 b5 19. Ka1
Bd5 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Nd5 22. c4 $1 {White has to return one pawn.} bxc4
23. c3 Qa5 24. Be1 Qa4 25. Rc1 Rb8 26. Qc2 Qc6 27. Bd2 Rb6 $2 {
White is allowed to exchange rooks.} ({Preferable is} 27... Nc7 $1 28. Ree1
Rfc8 29. Rb1 Nb5) 28. Ree1 Rfb8 29. Rb1 Nc7 $6 30. Rxb6 Rxb6 31. Rb1 Nb5 32.
Bc1 Bf8 33. g4 Ra6 34. f5 $1 Ra5 35. fxe6 fxe6 36. h4 Ba3 $6 (36... Ra3 37. Bg2
Qb6 38. Rxb5 Qxb5 39. Bxa3 Bxa3 {offers more resistance.}) 37. h5 Bxc1 38. Qxc1
$2 (38. Rxc1 Na3 39. Qf2 {wins for White.}) 38... Rxa2+ $1 {
Benjamin finds a great escape.} 39. Kxa2 Qa6+ 40. Kb2 Qa3+ 41. Kc2 Qxc3+ 42.
Kd1 Qf3+ 43. Be2 ({Or} 43. Ke1 Qg3+ 44. Ke2 Nc3+ 45. Kd2 Ne4+ 46. Kd1 Qf3+ {
draws as well (Benjamin).}) 43... Nc3+ 44. Kd2 (44. Kc2 $5 Nxe2 45. Rb8+ Kf7 {
(Benjamin)} 46. Qd2 gxh5 {brings equality.}) 44... Ne4+ 45. Kd1 {De Firmian
t the lead. Game three and four were simple draws. So, De Firmian won the
final by 21/2-11/2.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 Group 1"]
[Date "1999.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2618"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1999.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-fifth US championship was played in Salt Lake City from 23 viii
until 9 ix 1999. They had to qualify in two groups for the third time.} 1. c4
e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 e4 5. d4 Bf8 6. Nd2 c6 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 cxd5
9. Nb3 Nc6 10. Bf4 Nf6 $5 ({Known is} 10... Be6) 11. e3 Bg4 12. Be2 Bxe2 13.
Qxe2 a6 $6 ({Preferable is} 13... Bb4 14. O-O O-O) 14. O-O Be7 15. f3 O-O $1
16. Bg5 Re8 $2 ({Correct is} 16... Ne8 17. Bxe7 exf3 $1 18. Rxf3 Nxe7) 17. Bxf6
Bxf6 18. fxe4 dxe4 19. Qg4 Bg5 20. Rae1 g6 $5 21. Nxe4 {
White has gained a central pawn.} f5 22. Qxg5 Rxe4 23. Rxf5 $1 Qxg5 24. Rxg5
Rae8 25. d5 $1 Nb4 26. d6 $2 {
He overestimates the strength of the advanced pawn.} (26. Nc5 $1 Rxe3 27. Rxe3
Rxe3 28. Kf2 Re8 29. a3 Nc2 30. d6 {wins for White (Gulko).}) 26... b6 $1 27.
Nd2 R4e6 $1 28. Nc4 b5 $6 ({Better is} 28... Rd8 $1 29. a4 h6 30. Rg3 Nd3) 29.
d7 $1 Rd8 30. Re5 Kf7 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Rxe6+ Kxe6 33. Nb6 $1 {
White protects a passed pawn.} Nxa2 34. Rf4 Kd6 $5 35. Rf6+ $5 Kc5 $1 36. e4
Nb4 37. e5 Nc6 38. e6 Ne7 $1 39. Rf7 $1 Kd6 $1 40. Rxh7 Kxe6 41. h4 a5 $6 (
41... Kd6 42. Nc8+ Nxc8 43. dxc8=N+ Rxc8 44. Rg7 Rh8 45. Rxg6+ Kc5 46. g3 a5 {
fights for a draw.}) 42. Kf2 a4 43. Ke2 $6 (43. h5 gxh5 44. Rh6+ Kf7 45. Rxh5 {
wins.}) 43... Kd6 44. Rg7 Nc6 $1 45. Rxg6+ Kc5 46. Nc8 Rxd7 47. h5 Ne5 48. Rg5
Kd4 49. h6 Rc7 $6 (49... b4 $1 50. Rg7 Rd8 51. h7 Rh8 {comes close to a draw.})
50. Nd6 $1 Rc2+ 51. Kd1 Rxb2 52. h7 Rb1+ 53. Kc2 Rh1 54. Nxb5+ Kd5 55. Nc7+ Ke4
56. Ne8 Kf4 57. Rg7 $1 Kf5 58. Kc3 Ke6 59. g3 Nf7 60. Rg6+ Ke5 61. Rg7 $5 Ke6
62. g4 Ke7 $2 (62... Rh3+ $1 63. Kb2 (63. Kb4 a3) 63... Rb3+ 64. Ka2 Rh3 {
survives (Gulko).}) 63. g5 $1 Kxe8 64. g6 Nd6 65. Ra7 Rh3+ 66. Kc2 Nf5 67. g7
$1 {Gulko won the endgame by a tactical trick.} 1-0

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 Group 1"]
[Date "1999.08.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2588"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 Be7 8.
Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. h3 Be6 12. Rfe1 Rc8 $5 13. a3 Ng6 14. b4 a5
$5 15. Na4 $1 {He restricts the queenside.} Ne4 $6 ({Preferable is} 15... axb4
$5 16. axb4 Bxb4 17. Reb1 Qe7 {(Yermolinsky).}) 16. Bxe7 Rxe7 17. Nc5 f5 18.
bxa5 $1 Qxa5 19. Reb1 {White puts pressure on the open file.} Qa7 $5 20. a4 Rf8
$6 (20... b6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 {stops the advance on the queenside.}) 21. a5 $1 Bc8
{Black has a passive position.} 22. Rb6 $1 h6 23. Qb3 Kh7 24. a6 $1 Nxc5 25.
dxc5 Rf6 26. Nd4 Ne5 27. Bxf5+ $1 Bxf5 28. Nxf5 Rxf5 29. Qb1 $1 {Yermolinsky
won a model game.   The final standings in group 1 became: Gulko 51/2/7,
Yermolinsky 4, Christiansen and D.Gurevich 31/2, Fedorowicz, Shliperman and
Kudrin 3, Shabalov 21/2.} 1-0

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 Group 2"]
[Date "1999.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B43"]
[WhiteElo "2579"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1999.08.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. g3 b5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 b4 7. Na4 Bb7 8. Bg2
Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. O-O Qa5 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nb3 Qxa4 13. Nc5 Qc6 14. Nxb7 Be5
15. Nd6+ Qxd6 16. Qxd6 Bxd6 17. e5 Bxe5 18. Bxa8 Bxb2 19. Rab1 Bc3 20. a3 a5
21. axb4 axb4 22. Be4 {Black has an advantage in a theoretical position.} Ke7
$5 ({The alternative is} 22... d5 23. Bd3 Ke7 {(Bistric - Sax, Sarajevo 1982).}
) 23. Rfd1 d5 24. Bd3 Nc6 25. Bb5 $5 (25. f4 f6 26. Kf2 e5 {
does not stop the centre pawns either.}) 25... Ne5 26. Ba4 $2 (26. Kg2 Ra8 27.
Rbc1 Nc4 28. Bxc4 dxc4 29. Kf3 {offers more resistance.}) 26... Nf3+ 27. Kg2
Nd2 28. Rxd2 $5 {White returns the exchange.} ({Or} 28. Rbc1 Bb2 29. Rxd2 Bxc1
{(Ribli).}) 28... Bxd2 29. Rd1 Bc3 30. Bb3 Kd6 31. f3 Kc5 32. Kf2 Bd4+ 33. Ke2
e5 34. Rf1 f5 35. g4 f4 36. h4 Re8 37. Rh1 e4 $1 38. Rd1 Ra8 39. Rf1 Rf8 40.
Rd1 h6 41. h5 Rf6 42. Rf1 Kd6 43. Rb1 Ke5 44. Ba4 Bc3 45. Rd1 Ra6 46. Be8 b3 $1
{Serper had a good start. The final standings in group 2 became: Serper 41/2/7,
Seirawan, Benjamin and A.Ivanov 4, De Firmian 31/2, Dzindzi and Kaidanov 3,
Finegold 2. A playoff had to decide about the second place.} 0-1

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 Group 2 playoff"]
[Date "1999.08.31"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.08.31"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Two cycles of rapid games (15') were played.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4.
Qd3 c6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e4 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nbd2 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11.
Qe3 O-O 12. Nb3 b4 13. Bxa6 $5 (13. axb4 Qxb4+ 14. Qd2 Bxf1 15. Rxf1 Qxd2+ 16.
Kxd2 {was played in Seirawan - A.Ivanov, Salt Lake City 1999 (4).}) 13... Rxa6
14. axb4 Qxb4+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 a4 17. Nc1 c5 {
Black liberates his position.} 18. Nd3 Rc8 19. Ra2 c4 20. Nb4 c3+ $5 ({
Preferable is} 20... Ra7 $1 21. Rha1 Nb6 {(Alterman).}) 21. bxc3 Ra5 22. Nd3
Nb6 23. Nc5 Nc4+ $6 (23... N8d7 24. Nxd7 Nxd7 {almost equalises.}) 24. Kd3 a3
$5 25. Rb1 Nc6 26. Nb7 Ra7 27. Nd6 $1 Nxd6 28. exd6 f6 29. Nd2 e5 $6 ({
More solid is} 29... Rd8) 30. Rb5 $1 Kf7 31. Nb3 $5 (31. Rxd5 exd4 32. Nc4 dxc3
33. Rb5 $1 {brings an alternative.}) 31... Ke6 32. d7 Kxd7 33. Rxd5+ Ke7 34.
Rb5 Ra4 $2 (34... Rd8 $1 35. f4 Kf7 {defends the central area.}) 35. Rb7+ $1
Kd6 36. Nc5 $1 Ra7 37. Rxa7 Nxa7 38. Rxa3 {White has two extra pawns.} Nc6 39.
Rb3 exd4 40. cxd4 Ra8 41. Rb7 Ra3+ 42. c3 Ne5+ 43. dxe5+ Kxc5 44. exf6 gxf6 45.
Rxh7 Ra2 46. Rh5+ Kd6 47. Rf5 {
The result of the playoff became: Seirawan 31/2/6, Benjamin 3, A.Ivanov 21/2.}
1-0

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 semifinal 1 g/25"]
[Date "1999.09.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2588"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.09.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Four games were drawn in the semifinal of Serper and Yermolinsky. Therafter,
Serper won the first rapid game (25').} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4
5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1
Bb2 12. Rxc7 Na6 13. Rc2 Bxd4 14. h4 $2 {The attack is premature.} ({Theory is
} 14. e3 Bg7 15. Bxa6 bxa6 16. O-O) 14... Bf5 $1 15. Nb3 ({
An alternative brings} 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nb3) 15... Bxc2 16. Qxd4 Rg8 17. hxg5
hxg5 18. Nd2 $6 (18. Rh6 Bxb3 19. axb3 Qa5+ 20. Kd1 O-O-O {also favours Black.}
) 18... Qb6 $1 19. Qe5+ Kf8 20. e3 d4 $5 21. Bb5 $5 f6 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. exd4
Rd8 24. Bc4 Rg7 25. d5 Re7+ 26. Kf1 Rh7 27. Rxh7 Bxh7 28. d6 Nc5 29. Nb3 Nxb3 {
Serper had decided the semifinal by 4-2.} 0-1

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 semifnal 2"]
[Date "1999.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1999.09.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The score was even at the start of the fourth rapid game (15').} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 Nbd7 9. cxd5
exd5 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Qc2 $5 Ndf6 15.
Rfd1 Rac8 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 Rfd8 18. Nc4 Ba6 $1 19. b3 Bxc4 20. bxc4 g6 21.
h3 Qe5 22. Ne2 Rb8 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Nf4 $5 Rb8 25. Rb1 Rxb1+ 26. Qxb1 Kg7 27.
Ne2 $5 h5 $1 28. a4 Qd6 29. Nc3 Qe6 30. Qb3 a6 31. a5 h4 32. Na4 Qd6 $1 {
Black takes the initiative.} 33. Qc2 g5 $1 34. Nb6 Qe5 35. Qc1 g4 36. Na4 Qg5
37. hxg4 Qxg4 38. Nxc5 h3 39. Qf1 $1 h2+ 40. Kh1 ({Not} 40. Kxh2 $4 Qh5+) 40...
Qf5 $1 41. Nb3 (41. Nxa6 Qxa5 42. c5 Ng4 43. f3 Ne5 44. c6 Nxc6 45. Kxh2 {
equalises.}) 41... Ng4 42. Nd2 Nxf2+ 43. Kxh2 Ng4+ 44. Kg1 $6 ({Preferable is} 
44. Kg3 $1 Qg6 45. Qf4 Nxe3+ 46. Kf2 Ng4+ 47. Ke2) 44... Qxa5 {
He has the distant passed pawn in the endgame.} 45. Qf4 $1 f5 $1 46. Nf1 $6 (
46. Qg5+ $1 Kf7 47. Qh5+ Ke7 48. Qh7+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 46... Qc5
47. Qg5+ Kf7 48. Qh5+ Ke7 49. Qh7+ Kd8 50. Qg8+ Kc7 51. Qf7+ Kb6 52. Qe6+ Ka5
$1 53. Kh1 Qe5 $6 (53... Nxe3 $1 54. Nxe3 Qxe3 55. Qxf5+ Kb4 56. c5 a5 {
keeps the plus (Atlas).}) 54. Qc6 Qf6 55. Qd5+ Kb4 56. c5 $4 {
Seirawan oversees a simple finish.} (56. Kg1 $1 Qe5 57. Qb7+ Kxc4 58. Qxa6+ {
reduces the black advantage to a minimum.}) 56... Qh4+ {
Black delivers mate in two. Gulko had won the semifinal by 41/2-31/2.} 0-1

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 final"]
[Date "1999.09.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Serper, Grigory"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D60"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1999.09.07"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Serper and Gulko played the final of four games.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O h6
11. Bh4 c5 12. dxc5 $5 Nxc5 13. Qe2 $1 a6 14. Rfd1 Qe8 15. Ne5 Ncd7 $6 ({
More useful is} 15... Rd8) 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Bg3 $1 Nc5 18. Qg4 f5 $5 ({
Preferable is} 18... Rc8 19. Be5 g6) 19. Qe2 $1 Qc6 20. f3 Rfc8 $6 (20... Rfd8
$5 21. b4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 {(Gulko)} b5 $1 23. Ba2 Na4 24. Nxa4 bxa4 {
defends properly.}) 21. b4 $6 (21. Ba2 $1 Kh8 22. b4 Na4 23. Nxa4 Qxa4 24. Bxe6
Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qxa3 26. Rc7 {gains a great advantage.}) 21... Ne4 $1 22. Nxe4
fxe4 23. fxe4 Kh8 $1 24. Bd5 $2 {White allows a counter.} (24. Rc2 $1 a5 25.
Bb3 Qe8 26. Rxc8 Bxc8 27. Be5 {keeps an edge.}) 24... Qxc1 $1 25. Bxb7 Qxa3 26.
Bxa8 Rxa8 27. Qc4 Bxb4 28. Qxe6 Qxe3+ 29. Bf2 Qe2 30. Qd5 $2 ({Better is} 30.
Rf1 $1 Bc5 31. Bxc5 bxc5 32. h3 {and White has a fighting chance (Gulko).})
30... Rf8 31. Bxb6 Be1 32. h3 Rf1+ $5 33. Kh2 Qxd1 $1 {Gulko took the lead.}
0-1

[Event "Salt Lake City"]
[Site "USA 45 final"]
[Date "1999.09.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2618"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.09.07"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Ne4 8.
Rc1 O-O 9. Bg2 d6 10. d5 Nd8 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. O-O Bd7 13. Re1 Bc6 $5 ({
Known is} 13... f5) 14. Nd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 f5 16. f3 Nc5 $6 ({Preferable is} 
16... Ng5 $5) 17. b4 $1 {The knight is chased at once.} Ne6 $2 ({More active is
} 17... Ba4 $1 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. b5 f4 20. e3 fxg3 21. hxg3 a6) {
The bishop has to withdraw too.} 18. b5 $1 Bd7 19. f4 c6 20. e4 $1 {
Gulko goes forwards.} Nxd4 21. Qxd4 fxe4 22. Rxe4 Qf6 23. Rd1 {
White has a superior game.} cxb5 24. cxb5 a6 $5 25. b6 $1 Bc6 26. Qxf6 Rxf6 27.
Re7 Bxg2 $6 (27... Kf8 $1 28. Rc7 d5 29. Bxd5 Rd8 30. Bf3 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 Bd5 {
fights for survival.}) 28. Kxg2 Rf7 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. Rc1 $1 (30. Rxd6 $6 Ke7
31. Rd5 Rc8 {brings more chances for Black.}) 30... Re8 31. Rc7+ Kf6 ({
The crucial line is} 31... Re7 32. Kf3 d5 33. g4 Ke6 34. Rxe7+ Kxe7 35. Ke3 Kd6
36. Kd4 {and White has a winning pawn ending.}) 32. Kf3 Re1 33. Rxb7 Ra1 34.
Rb8 Kf7 35. Ra8 Rb1 36. Rxa6 d5 37. a4 Rb3+ 38. Ke2 {Game three became a quick
draw and Gulko won the final by 21/2-1/2. The champion was 52-year-old and won
$12,000. Serper got $7500.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.09.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-sixth US championship was played in the Town Hall of Seattle from
25 ix until 7 x 2000. It was organized by the Seattle Chess Foundation. Twelve
participants met in eleven rounds.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5.
Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O c5 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3 cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h4 Na5
12. Bc2 b5 13. Qd3 Bb7 14. h5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxd4 16. Bf4 b4 17. Rad1 Qc5 $5 (
17... Qc4 {was played in Kramnik - Hübner, Dortmund 2000.}) 18. Re5 Qb6 ({
The alternative is} 18... Qc6 $5 19. Qg3 $1 Rfd8 $1 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8) 19. Qg3 $5
bxc3 $2 (19... Rfd8 $1 20. Bh6 Ne8 21. Bxg7 Nxg7 22. h6 Bf6 23. Ne4 Bxe5 24.
Qxe5 Ne8 25. Nf6+ Nxf6 26. Qxf6 Kf8 27. Qg7+ Ke7 28. Qg5+ {
leads to perpetual check (Yermolinsky).}) 20. Bh6 $1 g6 $5 (20... Ne8 $1 21.
Bxg7 Nxg7 22. h6 Bf6 23. hxg7 Bxe5 24. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 25. Qxe5 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8
27. Qxc3 {brings a white edge (Yermolinsky).}) 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. Bxg6 $1 Kh8
23. Bxh7 $1 Rf7 24. Bg6 Rg8 25. Be3 $1 c2 26. Rf1 Qxb2 27. Rxa5 $5 (27. Qh2+ $1
Rh7 28. Bxh7 Nxh7 29. Rxa5 {wins for White.}) 27... Nh7 28. Qg4 $2 (28. Rh5 $1
{continues the attack.}) 28... Rfg7 $2 (28... Qg7 {defends well.}) 29. Qd4 $2 (
29. Rh5 $1 {wins again.}) 29... Qxd4 30. Bxd4 Bf6 31. Bxf6 Nxf6 32. Rxa6 $2 ({
Right is} 32. Bxc2 $1 Rxg2+ 33. Kh1 R2g4 34. Ra4 $1 {drawn (Yermolinsky).})
32... Rxg6 33. g3 Rc8 34. Rc1 Nd5 35. Ra4 Rg7 36. Kf1 Rb7 37. Ke1 Rb1 38. Kd2
Nb4 {Kaidanov came back from a lost postion.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.09.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2577"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 {They play the Nimzowitsch Defence.} 3. d5 Nce7 4. Nf3 Ng6
5. h4 h5 6. Bg5 Nf6 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. a3 $5 ({Known is} 8. Nd2) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3
c6 10. c4 d6 11. Nd2 Qa5 12. Bd3 $6 ({Preferable is} 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Be2)
12... Ng4 $1 {Black takes the initiative.} 13. Qe2 f6 14. Be3 Nf4 $5 15. Bxf4
exf4 16. O-O c5 17. Nf3 Ne5 18. Rfb1 Qc3 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. a4 $5 g5 $1 21. hxg5
fxg5 22. Ra3 g4 23. Qd2 Rh7 $5 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 Re7 26. g3 f3 27. a5 Kf7
28. Kf1 Rb8 $1 {Finally, he develops the queenside.} 29. Ke1 $6 (29. Rcb3 $1
Kf6 30. Rb5 {hinders the opponent.}) 29... Bf5 $1 30. Kd2 Bxe4 31. Bxe4 Rxe4
32. Re3 Rxe3 33. Kxe3 Kf6 34. Kf4 Kg6 35. a6 b6 36. c3 Rf8+ {
Benjamin wins the rook ending easily.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Qd7 9. O-O b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. f3 Nc6 12. Rb1 Rad8 $5 13. Qc1 Na5 14. Bd3 c5
15. Qa3 Qc8 16. Rfd1 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Qxa6 18. Nf4 cxd4 19. cxd4 Rd7 20. d5 Rc8 21.
Rbc1 Bf8 $2 {He allows an advance in the centre.} ({Better is} 21... h5 22. Nd3
Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qb5) 22. e5 $1 Qb7 $5 23. Qd3 $5 Rdc7 ({Yermolinsky prefers} 
23... Rxc1 24. Bxc1 e6 25. d6 Bg7) 24. e6 $1 Rxc1 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Bxc1 Bg7
27. Ne6 Bf6 28. f4 $1 Qd7 29. f5 $1 Qa4 30. Rf1 gxf5 31. Qxf5 Qc2 32. Qh5+ Qg6
33. Qh3 Rg8 $5 34. Bg5 $5 (34. Ng5+ $1 Kg7 35. Rxf6 $1 exf6 36. Qd7+ Kh8 37.
Nf7+ Kg7 38. Ne5+ {wins quickly.}) 34... Nc4 35. Qc3 b5 36. g3 Rc8 37. Bxf6
exf6 38. Qd4 Nb6 39. Nc5 Qg5 40. Ne4 Qxd5 41. Qxd5+ {Seirawan gains a rook.}
1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B60"]
[WhiteElo "2601"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Be2 a6 9. O-O b5 10. a3 Be7 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. Rad1 Ne5 $5 13. f4 Nc4 14. Bxc4
bxc4 15. Nd4 h6 $1 16. Bh4 $5 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxh4 18. f5 $1 {
White attacks at the cost of a pawn.} d5 $1 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Nf5 $6 exf5 $6 (
20... Qb6+ $5 21. Kh1 exf5 22. Qxd5 O-O-O 23. Nd6+ Kb8 {gains an advantage.})
21. Qxd5 Qa7+ 22. Kh1 Be7 23. Nd6+ Bxd6 24. Qxd6 O-O-O {Black has a plus.} 25.
Rd5 Kb7 $6 26. Rfd1 $2 ({Correct is} 26. Qxd7+ $1 Rxd7 27. Rxd7+ Kb6 28. Rxa7
Kxa7 29. Rxf5 Rb8 {drawn (Cifuentes).}) 26... Qe3 $1 27. Re5 Qb6 $1 28. Qe7 Qc7
29. Qb4+ Bb5 30. Rde1 Qd6 31. Rxb5+ axb5 32. Qxb5+ Kc8 33. h3 $5 Rd7 34. Qxc4+
Rc7 35. Qa4 Qc6 36. Qa5 g6 37. Re3 Rd8 {Gurevich defended properly.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2601"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Bg2 $5 Qc8 7. h3 h5 $5 8.
gxh5 Bf5 9. Be3 e6 10. Nge2 Nh6 11. Ng3 Bh7 {Black does not charge pawn h5.}
12. Nce2 Nd7 13. O-O Nb6 14. b3 Qd7 15. a4 Nc8 16. c4 Ne7 17. a5 Nef5 $1 18. a6
Be7 19. Nf4 $5 O-O 20. b4 $5 b5 $5 21. cxb5 $5 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rab8 $5 23. bxc6
Qxc6 {White's extra pawns have no importance.} 24. e4 $6 ({Preferable is} 24.
Qf3 Rxb4 25. Rfc1) 24... dxe4 $1 25. d5 Qc3 $1 26. d6 Bg5 27. Nfe2 Qxe5 28. Ra5
Be3+ 29. Kh1 Qb2 30. d7 $6 f5 $6 (30... Rfd8 $1 31. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 32. Nxe4 Qxb4
33. Re5 Nf5 {wins for Black.}) 31. Qd6 Qxb4 32. Qxe6+ Kh8 33. Qe5 Rbd8 34. Rd5
Qa4 $2 (34... Bg8 $1 {keeps an edge.}) 35. Qc3 $6 ({Preferable is} 35. Nxe4 $1
Bb6 36. Nc5 Bxc5 37. Rxc5) 35... f4 $2 {He blunders a queen.} (35... Qa2 $1 36.
Bxe4 f4 $1 {(Lukacs)} 37. Rd6 $1 Bxe4+ 38. Nxe4 Qxe2 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Qb3+ Rf7
41. Nf6+ gxf6 42. Rg6+ Kf8 43. Qa3+ Re7 44. Rxf6+ Kg8 45. Rg6+ Kf8 {
leads to perpetual check.}) 36. Ra1 $1 Qxa1+ 37. Qxa1 f3 38. Qc3 fxg2+ 39. Kxg2
Rf2+ 40. Kh1 Bb6 41. Nd4 $1 e3 42. Ne6 Rf6 43. Re5 Rg8 44. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 45.
Re7+ Nf7 46. Qe5 Bg6 47. h6+ Kxh6 48. Qxf6 Ng5 49. Rg7 Rxg7 50. Nf5+ Kh5 51.
Nxg7+ Kh4 52. Qxg6 e2 53. Nf5+ Kxh3 54. Qh5# {
Seirawan played many decided games.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2647"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Seirawan led by half-a-point on the field, when the round began.} 1. e4 e6 2.
d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bg5 c5 8. Bb5+ Bd7
9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qe2 O-O-O $5 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4 a6 $2 {
Black allows a decisive sacrifice.} (13... Bc5 $1 14. Nb5 Qb6 {
brings a white plus (Kopec).}) 14. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 15. Qxe6+ Rd7 ({The pointe is} 
15... Kb8 16. Bf4 $1) 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Rd4 $1 Bc5 18. Rc4 Kb8 ({Or} 18... a5
19. c3 b6 20. b4) 19. Rxc5 $1 Qxc5 20. Qxd7 Qxc2 21. Qd6+ Ka8 22. Qxf6 {
White has gained two pawns.} Rc8 23. h3 Rc6 24. Qd4 Rc4 25. Qh8+ Rc8 26. Qe5
Rc5 27. Qe3 Rc8 28. Qb3 Qe2 29. a4 h5 30. Qb4 Rc4 31. Qf8+ Ka7 32. b3 Rc3 33.
Qb4 Qd3 34. Re1 Qd2 35. Rf1 Qd3 36. h4 Rxb3 37. Qc5+ Ka8 38. Qc8+ Ka7 39. Qc5+
Ka8 40. Qxh5 Qe4 41. Rd1 Rb1 42. g3 b5 43. axb5 axb5 44. Kh2 Rxd1 45. Qxd1 Kb7
46. h5 Kc6 47. h6 b4 48. Qh5 Qh7 49. Kg2 Kb6 50. Qg4 Ka5 51. Qg7 Qe4+ 52. Kh2
Qf3 53. Qa7+ Kb5 54. h7 Qh5+ 55. Kg2 Qd5+ 56. Kg1 Qd1+ 57. Kh2 Qh5+ 58. Kg1
Qd1+ 59. Kg2 Qd5+ 60. f3 $1 Qd2+ 61. Qf2 Qh6 62. Qe2+ Kb6 63. Qd3 Kc5 64. g4
Qg7 65. Qf5+ Kd6 66. g5 b3 67. Qf6+ Qxf6 68. gxf6 b2 69. f7 b1=Q 70. f8=Q+ Kc6
71. Qf6+ Kd5 72. Qg5+ Ke6 73. h8=Q {Benjamin got the Albert Brilliancy Prize.}
1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2601"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Rc8 10. Kb1 Be7 11. h4 h5 12. Nxc6 Rxc6 13. Bd3 b5 14. Rhe1 $5
({Known is} 14. f4) 14... b4 15. Ne2 Qb6 16. Nf4 $1 a5 $2 ({The pointe is} 
16... O-O $2 17. Nxh5 $1) (16... Bc8 $5 17. e5 dxe5 18. Rxe5 Rd6 {defends well.
}) 17. e5 $1 {He opens the e-file.} dxe5 ({The alternative is} 17... Ng8 $5 18.
g4 $1 hxg4 19. fxg4 Bxg5 20. hxg5 {(Kopec) and White has a decisive attack.})
18. Ng6 $1 fxg6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Bxg6+ Kf8 21. Qxd7 Kg7 22. Qxe7+ Kxg6 23. Rd7
{The black king cannot be saved.} Qc5 24. Qg7+ Kf5 25. g4+ Kf4 26. Qxf6+ Kg3
27. Rd2 {Shabalov achieved the Albert Brilliancy Prize. He and Benjamin led at
the end of the penultimate round.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46"]
[Date "2000.10.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Gulko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2000.09.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Seirawan needs a win in the last round.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 d6 6. Bf4 $5 {White forces e5.} e5 7. Bg3 Nh6 $5 (7... Nf6 8.
Bh4 a6 9. N5c3 Be7 {will draw in Bu Xiangzhi - Alekseev, Novgorod 2007.}) 8.
Nd2 Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 f5 11. f3 f4 12. exf4 exf4 13. Bf2 {
The chances are about equal.} Bh4 $5 14. O-O Bxf2+ 15. Rxf2 a6 16. Nc3 Nf5 17.
Nde4 Be6 18. Qd2 Qh4 $5 19. Nd5 $5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5+ Kh8 21. Bf1 Rad8 22. Rd2 Qe7
23. Rc1 Ne3 24. Qg5 Qc7 25. Qh4 h6 26. Nc3 Qa5 27. Qf2 Rfe8 28. b3 Nb4 29. g3
$1 Qf5 30. a3 fxg3 31. hxg3 Nxf1 32. Rxf1 Nd3 33. g4 $5 {
Both sides have chances.} Qg6 34. Qg3 Ne5 35. Nd5 Rf8 36. Rg2 b5 37. f4 Qf7 $6
{Black errs under time pressure.} (37... bxc4 $1 38. Rd1 Qxg4 39. Qxg4 Nxg4 40.
Rxg4 cxb3 {keeps the equality.}) 38. Rff2 $6 (38. g5 $1 bxc4 39. gxh6 gxh6 40.
Qh3 Kh7 41. bxc4 {gains an advantage.}) 38... bxc4 39. bxc4 Nxc4 40. Qd3 Rc8
41. g5 $1 {White takes the initiative.} Rc5 42. gxh6 gxh6 43. Qh3 h5 $1 44. Nc3
Re8 45. f5 $1 Ne3 $2 ({Better is} 45... Rce5 46. Kh2 Rg8 47. Rxg8+ Kxg8) 46.
Rg5 Rg8 47. Qxe3 $2 (47. Rfg2 $1 Rxg5 48. Rxg5 Rxf5 49. Qxe3 {
wins for White (Kopec).}) 47... Rxg5+ 48. Qxg5 Rxc3 49. Rg2 Kh7 50. f6 Rc4 $2 (
50... Rf3 $1 51. Qa5 $1 Qa7+ 52. Kh2 Rxf6 53. Qd5 Qf7 54. Qd3+ Rg6 55. Rxg6
Qxg6 56. Qxa6 {draws.}) 51. Qf5+ Kh6 52. Qg5+ Kh7 53. Rh2 $1 Rc5 ({Or} 53... h4
54. Rg2 $1) 54. Rxh5+ $1 {Seirawan got the Albert Brilliancy Prize.   The
final standings became: Benjamin, Shabalov and Seirawan 61/2/11 ($8500), D.
Gurevich and Kaidanov 6 (5400), De Firmian, Christiansen and A.Ivanov 51/2
($4000), Gulko, Serper, Fedorowicz and Yermolinsky 41/2 ($2900).} ({
The pointe is} 54. Rxh5+ Qxh5 55. Qg7#) 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 46 playoff"]
[Date "2000.10.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2601"]
[BlackElo "2577"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2000.10.??"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Benjamin, Shabalov and Seirawan shared the title. They carried out a playoff
for the championship ring.} 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Bf4 Ng6 5. Bg3
Nf6 6. Bd3 d5 7. e5 Ne4 $5 ({Known is} 7... Ng4 8. Nf3 Bc5) 8. Bxe4 dxe4 9.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. O-O-O+ Kc8 12. Nge2 {White has an edge.} h5 13. h4
Bc5 14. Nd4 Bg4 15. Rd2 Re8 $5 16. e6 $5 Bxe6 $2 ({Müller prefers} 16... e3 $5
17. fxe3 fxe6) 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18. Rhd1 b6 $5 19. Nb5 $1 Re7 20. Nxc7 $1 Rxc7 21.
Rd8+ Kb7 22. Bxc7 $2 (22. Rxa8 Kxa8 23. Bxc7 {wins material.}) 22... Rxd8 23.
Bxd8 Bxf2 24. Rd7+ Kc8 25. Rxf7 e3 $5 26. Bg5 $4 (26. Be7 $1 e2 27. Bb4 {
leads to chances for both sides (Müller).}) 26... e2 27. Bd2 Be3 $3 {Suddenly B
enjamin wins by a brilliant move. The final standings became: Benjamin 3/3,
Shabalov 1/4, Seirawan 1/3. Joel got the ring.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Akhmilovskaya, Elena"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2571"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{US championship forty-seven was played at the Seattle Centre in Seattle from
5 until 13 i 2002. The Seattle Chess Foundation organised a Swiss event: 51
participants carried out 9 rounds. Men and women performed in the same group.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. a4 c6 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. O-O Qb6 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. e4 a6 12. e5 $5 {The opening favours Black.}
Nd5 13. Ne4 O-O $1 14. Qc1 $6 (14. b3 cxb3 15. Qxb3 c5 {
does not help White much.}) 14... Kh8 $6 15. h4 f6 16. exf6 N7xf6 17. Ng3 $6 {
White goes backwards.} Bd6 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Qg5 c5 $1 20. Rad1 Rac8 21. axb5
axb5 22. dxc5 Rxc5 23. Qe3 Qc7 24. Nd4 Re5 25. Qd2 Bc5 26. Qf4 ({The pointe is
} 26. Nxb5 Qc6 $1) 26... Nd5 27. Qg4 Nf4 28. h5 Bxg2 {
Christiansen defeated the highest rated woman.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ambartsoumian, Armen"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2388"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. O-O c5 7. b3 cxd4 8. exd4
Be7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Re1 Bb4 $5 {
Shabalov tries to confuse the opponent.} 13. a3 Bxc3 $6 14. Bxc3 Ne7 15. Ne5
Ng6 16. f3 Qc7 17. Bb4 Rfd8 18. c5 $5 a5 $5 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Bd2 Ba6 21. c6
Ne8 22. a4 Nd6 23. Bf4 g5 $1 24. Bg3 Nf5 25. Bf2 Qd6 $6 26. g4 $1 Ne7 27. Bg3
$1 Qb4 28. c7 $1 Re8 29. Kg2 f5 30. Nc6 Nxc6 31. Rxc6 f4 32. Bf2 Kf7 33. Qc2 $6
(33. Re5 Bb7 34. Be1 Qe7 35. Rxb6 Qxc7 36. Bxa5 {gains a pawn.}) 33... Bb7 34.
Rc3 Qe7 35. Re5 Qf6 36. Qc1 $5 Re7 $6 (36... Kg8 $1 37. Re2 e5 {defends well.})
37. h4 $1 gxh4 38. g5 $1 Qg6 39. Qxf4+ Kg8 40. Qg4 Rf8 41. Bxh4 Bc8 42. Bg3
Ref7 43. f4 Re7 44. Qd1 Rff7 45. Qc1 Qh5 46. Rc6 Qg4 47. g6 $2 {
White blunders a pawn.} Qxg6 48. Rd6 Rf8 49. f5 $6 Qf7 50. fxe6 $4 {
The position opens up for a devastating counter.} ({Correct is} 50. Rc6 $1 exf5
51. Qg5 Rxc7 52. Rxc7 Qxc7 53. Re7 Qc2+ 54. Bf2 Rf7 55. Re8+ Rf8 56. Re7 {
and a repetition of moves.}) 50... Qf3+ $1 51. Kh2 g6 $1 52. Qh6 Rh7 53. Qxh7+
Kxh7 54. Rd8 g5 55. e7 Qh5+ 56. Kg1 Re8 57. Rxe8 Qxe8 58. Kf2 Kg6 59. Ke3 Kf7
60. Kd2 Be6 61. Rxg5 Qxe7 62. Re5 Qb4+ {
Shabalov came back from a lost position.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Lapshun, Yury"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2384"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 b5 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. h3 Bb7 10. g4 d5 11. exd5 b4 12. Na4 Nb6 13. Nxb6 Qxb6 14. c4 bxc3 15.
Nxc3 Bb4 16. Qa4+ Qb5 17. Qxb5+ axb5 18. Bd2 {White has a plus.} O-O-O $5 (
18... Bxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 Nxd5 {
was played in Bhat - Szeberenji, Budapest 2001.}) 19. O-O-O Bc5 20. Nxb5 Nxd5
21. Ba5 Bxf2 $2 (21... Rd7 22. Rhe1 f6 {(Ftacnik) tries to survive.}) 22. Bxd8
Rxd8 23. Rd3 $1 Kb8 24. Rhd1 Rc8+ 25. Kb1 Nc3+ 26. Nxc3 Bxg2 27. R3d2 Rxc3 $5
28. bxc3 Be4+ 29. Kb2 Bg3 30. Rd7 {He has a great advantage.} Bg6 31. Re7 Kc8
32. a4 $1 e4 33. a5 Bh4 34. Re8+ Kb7 35. Rd6 f5 36. a6+ Ka7 37. Rc8 e3 38. Rc7+
Ka8 39. Rdd7 {Shabalov led by three wins.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Perelshteyn, Eugene"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2536"]
[BlackElo "2451"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 d6 9. h3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b5 11. Qd3 Bb7 $2 {Black should protect the pawn.}
12. Qxb5 e5 13. Bxe5 $1 Rb8 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qd3 Bxc3+ 16. Qxc3 Qg5 17. Qg3
Qxg3 18. fxg3 Bxe4 {White has an extra pawn.} 19. O-O-O Rb6 20. Bd5 Bxd5 21.
Rxd5 Re8 22. Rhd1 Re6 23. g4 h6 24. b3 Kf8 25. R1d3 Rc6 26. Kd2 a6 27. c4 Ke7
28. Re3 Kd7 29. Kd3 Rc8 30. Ra5 Rc6 31. Kd4 Rb6 32. h4 Ke7 33. h5 g5 34. Rf5
Rb8 35. g3 Rb7 36. Re4 Rb4 37. Kd5 Rxe4 38. Kxe4 Ke6 39. Kd4 Rb6 40. Kc3 Rb7
41. Ra5 {De Firmian wins the rook ending easily.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2571"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shabalov leads by four wins.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5
6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Bd6 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bf4 $5 Bxf4 11. gxf4 c5 12.
e3 Rc8 13. Rc1 Ne4 14. Ne2 $5 Qe7 15. Ng3 Rfd8 16. Bh3 Rc7 17. Qe2 Nf8 18. Rfd1
Bc8 $1 19. Bg2 Bg4 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Qc2 Rd6 22. Re1 Ng6 23. b4 $5 h6 $5 24.
Nd4 $6 ({Preferable is} 24. bxc5 Rxc5 25. Qd3) 24... Nh4 $1 {
Black takes the initiative on the kingside.} 25. bxc5 Rxc5 26. Qd3 $5 Nxg2 27.
Kxg2 Qh4 28. Kg1 $2 ({Christiansen suggests} 28. Rxc5 Nxc5 29. Qb5) 28... Nxf2
$1 {He strikes.} 29. Qf1 ({The pointe is} 29. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 30. Kf1 Bh3#) 29...
Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ne4 31. Nxe4 dxe4 32. Qf2 Qh5 33. f5 Kh7 34. Qf4 Rf6 35. Rf1 $6
Bh3 36. Rc1 Bxf5 37. Nxf5 Rxf5 {Christiansen became the new leader.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B88"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. f4 Bd7 10. O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. Qd3 b5 13. a3 a5 14. Rae1 b4
15. axb4 axb4 16. Nd1 $5 Nd7 17. f5 e5 $1 18. Bf2 Nc5 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Bd5 Qb6
21. Qf3 Bxd5 22. exd5 Bf6 23. Kh1 Rad8 24. b3 Qd6 25. c4 bxc3 26. Nxc3 e4 27.
Nxe4 Qxd5 28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Qg3+ Kh8 30. Qh4 Rd6 31. Rf3 Rg8 32. Rg3 Rxg3 33.
Qxg3 Rd8 34. Qf2 Rb8 35. h3 $2 (35. Qg3 Qxb3 36. Qc7 $1 {
keeps the equality (Ftacnik).}) 35... Rxb3 36. Qf4 $2 {
Christiansen blunders under time pressure.} ({Correct is} 36. Kg1 Qd4 37. Qxd4
cxd4 38. Rd1) 36... Rxh3+ 37. Kg1 Rh5 38. Rf1 Rg5 39. Rf3 Kg7 40. Kh2 Qe5 41.
g3 Qxf4 42. Rxf4 h5 {
The leadership of the tournament became open by this result.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Ivanov, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. h3 Ne8 8. Nf3 g6
9. g4 Ng7 10. Qe2 $5 Kh8 $6 {Black makes a useless move.} ({Preferable is} 
10... Bd7 11. Bh6 Na6) 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. O-O-O Nf6 13. Rdg1 {
White prepares an attack.} a6 14. Ng5 $5 Nxd5 $1 15. Nxf7+ $1 Rxf7 16. exd5 Bg5
$6 (16... Bh4 $1 {stops the advance.}) 17. Be3 Bxe3+ $6 18. fxe3 {
Black has exchanged a strong piece.} Bd7 19. Rf1 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Qe7 21. Qf3 Ne8
22. Qf7 $1 Qxf7 23. Rxf7 Rd8 24. Ne4 Kg8 25. Re7 $1 {Ivanov is restricted.} b5
(25... b6 {(Seirawan)} 26. Kd2 $1 h6 27. Ng3 Kf8 28. Rh7 Nf6 29. Rxh6 {
wins for White.}) 26. cxb5 axb5 27. Rxd7 $1 Rxd7 28. Bxb5 {
Seirawan got the Albert Brilliancy Prize. He won two games and drew the rest.}
({The pointe is} 28. Bxb5 Rd8 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. Nf6+ Kf7 31. Nxe8 Kxe8 32. Kd2
{and White wins the pawn ending.}) 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ambartsoumian, Armen"]
[Black "Shahade, Jennifer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2388"]
[BlackElo "2302"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd2 c5 7. dxc5 Na6 8. cxd5
Nxc5 9. Bc4 Bf5 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qe2 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. Bb4 $5 (13. Rad1 {
happened in Taimanov - Spiridonov, Brno 1975.}) 13... Na4 14. Ba3 $5 Nxb2 15.
Bxb2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Rxc4 17. Ne5 Rc5 $5 18. Qd4 $2 (18. Qb4 $1 Qxd5 19. Nd7 Qxd7
20. Qxc5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qg4+ {draws (Christiansen).}) 18... Qxd5 19. Nd7 Qxd4
20. exd4 Rg5 $1 21. Rfe1 $2 (21. f3 Rd8 22. fxe4 Rxd7 23. d5 {
offers more resistance.}) 21... Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rxh2 23. f3 Rd8 {
Jennifer Shahade scored 5/9 and became female champion.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47"]
[Date "2002.01.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Black "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2536"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2002.01.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Yermolinsky and Christiansen led, when the last round began. De Firmian and
others followed at half-a-point. Christiansen played a quick draw.} 1. e4 c6 2.
d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3
Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Qf3 $5 O-O 14. c4 Qb6 $5 15.
Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Nh5 $1 Kh8 $6 ({Better is} 16... Nf6 17. Bg5 $1 Qd8 $1) 17. Kb1
c5 18. Be3 $5 e5 19. Qg4 $1 Qg6+ 20. Qxg6 fxg6 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Ng3 {
White has achieved a plus.} Rad8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Bxc5 $1 Bxc5 25. Ne4 $1 {
The knight blockades the centre. De Firmian can battle for a win.} Be7 26. f3
Kg8 27. Kc2 Kf7 28. a3 Ke6 29. b4 b6 30. Kc3 a5 $5 31. g3 axb4+ 32. axb4 Rf8
33. Rf1 Kd7 $6 ({Preferable is} 33... g5 $1 34. hxg5 Bxg5 35. c5 bxc5 36. Nxc5+
Ke7) 34. Rd1+ Kc7 35. Rd3 $1 g5 $5 36. hxg5 Bxg5 37. c5 $1 {
Exchange of the minor pieces draws.} Be7 38. Kc4 $1 bxc5 39. bxc5 Ra8 40. Rb3
Rd8 41. Ra3 Kb7 42. Rb3+ Kc7 43. Rb6 Rd4+ 44. Kb5 Rd3 45. Ra6 $1 Rxf3 $5 {
He bites the bait.} 46. Ra7+ Kd8 47. Kc6 $1 {White threatens mate in one.} Ke8
48. Kd5 Kd8 49. c6 Bf8 50. g4 Kc8 51. Kxe5 Kb8 52. Rd7 Kc8 53. Rb7 Rf1 54. Nc3
Rc1 55. Kd4 Bc5+ $2 (55... Rg1 {draws.}) 56. Kd3 Bd6 57. Rf7 Be5 58. Nb5 $2 (
58. Nd5 $1 Rd1+ 59. Kc4 Rc1+ 60. Kb5 Rb1+ 61. Ka4 {(Christiansen)} Kb8 62. Rf8+
Ka7 63. Re8 {wins for White.}) 58... Rc5 $4 ({Correct is} 58... Kd8 59. Ke4 Ke8
60. Rb7 Rc5) 59. Rf8# {The final standings became: De Firmian and Christiansen
61/2/9, Kreiman, Yermolinsky, Benjamin, Shabalov, A.Ivanov and Stripunsky, 6,
etc. De Firmian had qualified for a playoff against Christiansen.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 47 playoff"]
[Date "2002.01.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "De Firmian, Nick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2536"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2002.01.13"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The playoff happened on the same day as the last round. Four blitz games
ended in 2-2. A sudden death game started. Christiansen had to win.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. e4 a6 8. h3 b5 9. Bd3 Bg7
10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Re8 12. a3 Qb6 13. Qd2 Nbd7 14. Rfe1 Bb7 15. Rad1 Rac8 $5
16. Bh6 Bh8 17. Qf4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Qf3 Ree8 20. Bg5 Nd7 21. Qg3 Ne5 22.
Bf1 Bg7 23. Qh4 c4 24. Bf6 a5 25. Re3 $5 b4 $1 {
Black takes the initiative on the queenside.} 26. axb4 axb4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28.
Ne2 f6 $6 29. Nd4 $1 Nd3 $2 ({Better is} 29... h5 30. Ne6+ Rxe6 31. dxe6 Re8)
30. Rexd3 $2 {Christiansen misses the decision.} (30. Nf5+ $1 gxf5 31. Rg3+ Kf7
32. Qxh7+ Kf8 33. Rg8#) 30... cxd3 31. Ne6+ Rxe6 $1 32. dxe6 Re8 33. Bxd3 Rxe6
34. Rc1 Re7 35. b3 Rc7 36. Rxc7+ Qxc7 37. Bc4 Qe7 38. f3 Qe5 39. Qe1 Qc5+ 40.
Kh1 d5 $2 {Black blunders a pawn in an equal position.} 41. exd5 Bxd5 42. Bxd5
Qxd5 43. Qe7+ $1 Kh6 44. Qxb4 f5 45. Qf4+ Kg7 46. b4 h5 47. h4 Kf7 48. Kh2 Ke6
49. Qb8 Kf7 50. b5 Qc4 51. Kg3 Qb4 52. Qc7+ Kf6 53. Qd8+ Kf7 54. b6 Qe1+ 55.
Kh2 f4 56. Qc7+ {Christiansen had won the playoff by 3-2 and gained $15,000.}
1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Goldin, Alexander"]
[Black "Paschall, William"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2621"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-eighth US championship was played in Seattle from 9 until 19 i 2003.
It was a mixed Swiss event again. 58 players participated.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 a5 5. Nc3 b6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Qc2 Bb7 10.
e3 d6 11. Bd3 f5 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nd7 14. d5 Ndc5 15. Nd4 Qf6 16. Bxe4
fxe4 17. f4 $5 (17. f3 O-O-O 18. fxe4 {
happened in Dias - Fernando, Santo Antonio 2002.}) 17... O-O-O $5 18. dxe6 Nxe6
$2 (18... h5 $1 19. f5 h4 20. Be1 Rdf8 {
sacrifices a pawn for a positional plus.}) 19. fxg5 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Qxg5 21. Rf4
Rdf8 $5 22. Rc1 Kb8 23. c5 $1 {He opens the game.} Rxf4 $6 (23... Ka7 $1 24. c6
Bc8 $1 25. Qxe4 Rxf4 26. exf4 Qf5 {defends properly.}) 24. Bxf4 Qe7 $6 25. Qb2
Rc8 $6 26. cxd6 cxd6 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Qxb6 {The black position falls apart.}
a4 $6 (28... Qc7 29. Qb5 Qc1+ 30. Kf2 Qc2+ 31. Kg3 Qxa2 {
offers more resistance.}) 29. Bxd6 Qf7 30. Bf4 {Goldin started well.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Donaldson, John"]
[Black "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2399"]
[BlackElo "2554"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 h6 8. Ne5
$5 e6 9. e3 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Bd7 11. Bd3 Be7 12. O-O Rc8 $6 ({More solid is} 12...
O-O) 13. Qb3 $1 {White takes the initiative on the queenside.} b5 14. a4 b4 15.
Bxa6 $1 bxc3 16. Bxc8 Bxc8 17. Qxc3 O-O 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. b4 $1 {
The passed pawns start to move.} Qe8 $6 (19... Be7 $5 20. b5 Bd6 21. a5 Bd7 22.
b6 Bb5 23. Rfe1 Ba6 {stops the pawns.}) 20. b5 $1 e5 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. Qc6 Qe7
$5 23. a5 $1 Bf5 $6 (23... Bb7 $1 24. Qc5 Bd6 25. Qd4 Be5 26. Qg4 Qd8 {
offers more resistance.}) 24. Qxd5 Be4 25. Qc4 Re8 26. f4 $2 (26. b6 $1 Qg5 27.
g3 Qg4 28. f3 $1 {wins for White.}) 26... Bb2 27. Rcd1 Qa3 28. Kh1 $6 Qxa5 29.
Rd7 Kh7 $1 30. Rxf7 $2 ({Preferable is} 30. f5 Qa8 31. Rd2) 30... Qd2 $1 {
He attacks two pawns.} 31. Rg1 Qxe3 32. Rd7 Qxf4 33. Qf1 Qh4 {
Stripunsky came back from a lost position.} 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Burnett, Ronald"]
[Black "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2436"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d6 4. f3 Nf6 5. e4 Nbd7 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Be7 8. c4
Nh5 9. Nc3 Bg5 10. Bf2 g6 11. g3 Bh6 12. Bh3 $5 ({Known is} 12. h4 a5 13. Bh3)
12... O-O 13. Qc2 c6 14. Nge2 Nb6 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. b3 cxd5 17. Bxb6 axb6 18.
Nxd5 b5 19. O-O bxc4 20. b4 $6 ({Better is} 20. bxc4 b5 21. Rab1 bxc4 22. Rb4
$1) 20... Ng7 21. a4 Ne6 22. Nec3 $6 Nd4 $1 23. Qa2 f5 24. Kg2 Kh8 25. a5 Qg5
26. Rad1 Qh5 27. Nb6 $5 Rc7 28. exf5 Qxf5 29. Ncd5 $2 ({Preferable is} 29. f4
$1 Qe6 30. Nbd5) 29... Rcf7 30. Nxc4 $2 Nxf3 31. Nxd6 $2 Nh4+ $1 {
Black delivers mate.} ({The pointe is} 31... Nh4+ $1 32. gxh4 Qg4+ 33. Kh1
Rxf1+ 34. Rxf1 Rxf1# {(Mikhalevski).}) 0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lapshun, Yury"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B03"]
[WhiteElo "2419"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 c5 $5 7. d5 e6 8. Nc3
exd5 9. cxd5 c4 10. Nf3 Bb4 11. Bxc4 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxc4 13. Qa4+ Nd7 14. Qxc4
Nb6 15. Qb5+ Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Bxd7 17. e6 $6 ({Theory is} 17. d6 Rc8 18. Be3 {
(Minasian - Shabalov, Minsk 1990),}) 17... fxe6 18. dxe6 Bxe6 {
Black has little advantage.} 19. O-O O-O 20. Be3 Nd5 21. Bd4 Nf4 22. Rfe1 Bc4
23. Bc5 $2 (23. Re7 Ne2+ 24. Kf2 Nxd4 25. cxd4 Rf7 26. Rxf7 Bxf7 27. a4 {
almost equalises.}) 23... Rf6 24. Re3 b6 25. Ba3 $5 h6 26. Be7 Rg6 $1 27. Nh4
Re6 28. Rxe6 Bxe6 29. Re1 $5 (29. a3 Ne2+ {also costs a pawn.}) 29... Bxa2 {
Black has won a pawn.} 30. Bd6 Ne6 31. Nf5 a5 32. Ba3 Rd8 33. Nd6 a4 34. Rd1
Bb3 35. Rd2 Rd7 36. h3 Nc5 37. Rd4 Re7 38. Kf2 Re5 39. Bb4 Bc2 $1 40. Nc4 Re6
41. Rd8+ Kh7 42. Bxc5 ({The pointe is} 42. Nxb6 $2 Ne4+ 43. Ke3 Rxb6 {(Finkel).
}) 42... bxc5 43. Ra8 Bd1 44. Rd8 $6 (44. Ne3 Bb3 45. Ra5 {
offers more resistance.}) 44... Bb3 45. Na3 h5 46. h4 Kg6 47. Rc8 Re5 48. Rc7
Kf6 49. Nb5 Rd5 50. Ke3 Bc2 51. Kf4 Rf5+ 52. Ke3 Re5+ 53. Kf3 Be4+ 54. Kg3 Bd3
55. Na3 Re3+ 56. Kf4 Re4+ 57. Kf3 $5 Rxh4 58. Rxc5 Be4+ 59. Kf2 Rh2 60. Kf1
Rxg2 61. Rxh5 Ra2 62. Nb5 a3 63. Nd4 Rb2 64. Ra5 a2 65. Ra6+ Kg5 66. Ra5+ Kg4
67. Nb3 Rxb3 68. Rxa2 Rxc3 69. Ra5 g5 {Shabalov and Kaidanov led by 31/2/4.}
0-1

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Black "Enhbat, Tegshsuren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2505"]
[BlackElo "2408"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bd3 Bf6 11. O-O Nxc3 12. bxc3 h6 $5 13. Qe2 $5 {
White has an edge.} Qd5 $6 ({Preferable is} 13... Qc7 $5 14. Re1 Bd7) 14. Rb1
a6 15. c4 Qh5 $6 (15... Qd6 16. d5 Ne7 17. dxe6 Qxe6 {activates the queen.})
16. Qe4 $1 Kf8 $6 17. Re1 $1 Ne7 18. Bd2 Qf5 19. Qe3 $1 Qh5 20. Qf4 Ng6 21. Qc7
$1 Kg8 22. Be4 Kh7 $6 (22... Nh4 $5 23. Rb3 Nf5 24. h3 {also wins for White.})
23. Qxf7 Rd8 24. Be3 Rd7 25. Qe8 Re7 26. Qa4 Bd7 27. Qd1 Be8 28. Ng5+ {
Fedorowicz gains a queen.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Fishbein, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2489"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d5 Na6
9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 12. Ne1 Nh6 13. f3 Bd7 $5 ({
The main alternative is} 13... Nf7) 14. Nd3 g5 15. Bf2 f5 16. Rb1 g4 17. fxg4
Nxg4 $5 (17... fxg4 18. Nb5 {also favours White.}) 18. exf5 $1 Nxf2 19. Nxf2 $1
Bxf5 20. Bd3 {White controls e4.} Nc7 $6 ({Preferable is} 20... Qd7 21. Qh5 Nc7
) 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22. Qb3 Rb8 23. Nfe4 {He blockades the centre.} Rxf1+ 24. Rxf1
b5 $6 {Black makes a desperate attempt.} (24... Qd7 25. Ng3 b5 26. Nce4 Rf8 {
offers more resistance.}) 25. cxb5 a6 26. b6 Nb5 $2 27. Nxb5 axb5 ({Or} 27...
Rxb6 28. Qh3 $1 axb5 29. Ng5 {(Tsesarsky).}) 28. Qh3 h6 29. Qe6+ Kh7 30. Rf7
Qh4 31. Qf5+ Kg8 32. g3 Qxe4 33. Rxg7+ Kxg7 34. Qxe4 Rxb6 {
Shabalov took the lead.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2587"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The leader has to defend against a runnerup.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4.
Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4
Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Rd8 14. d5 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rdc8 16. Re2 Nb7 17. Ng3 Nc5
18. Be3 b4 $5 (18... Na4 {drew in Petschar - Siklosi, Austria 1999}) 19. Rc1
Bb5 20. Re1 g6 21. Bb1 Nfd7 22. Nh2 Qd8 23. Ng4 Bg5 24. Qd2 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Qg5
$1 {Shabalov gives a pawn for a counter on the kingside.} (25... a5 $2 26. Rf3
$1 f6 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Ngf5+ gxf5 29. Rg3+ {wins for White.}) 26. Qxb4 h5 27.
Nh2 h4 28. Ngf1 Nf6 29. Rce1 Nh5 30. Nf3 Qe7 31. N1h2 Nf4 32. Qd2 a5 33. Kh1 a4
34. Ng1 $5 Rab8 35. g3 $5 Nh5 $1 36. Rc3 Ba6 37. Ree3 $5 Rb4 $1 38. b3 Qb7 39.
Bc2 f5 $1 {Black advances on a broad front.} 40. exf5 Rd4 $1 41. Qe1 Qxd5+ 42.
Nhf3 gxf5 {Black has regained the pawn.} 43. Kh2 f4 $6 ({Preferable is} 43...
hxg3+ 44. fxg3 Rf8) 44. Nxd4 $1 Qxd4 $2 {Shabalov captures the wrong piece.} (
44... fxe3 $1 45. Nf5 $1 exf2 46. Qxf2 Rc7 47. Nxh4 {(Wedberg)} Bb7 {
leads to chances for both sides.}) 45. Ne2 Bxe2 46. Rxe2 hxg3+ 47. fxg3 Rf8 ({
Or} 47... Nxg3 48. Rxg3+ $1 fxg3+ 49. Qxg3+ {(Kopec)}) 48. Be4 d5 $2 49. Bxd5+
$1 Kh8 50. Rxe5 fxg3+ 51. Rxg3 Nxg3 52. Qxg3 Qf2+ 53. Bg2 Qxg3+ 54. Kxg3 Rc8
55. b4 Nd3 56. Rh5+ Kg7 57. b5 Kg6 58. Rd5 Nb4 59. Rd6+ Kf5 60. b6 Ke5 61. Rd2
{Benjamin got the Albert Brilliancy Prize for this game.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2584"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Nakamura was a new talent. He competed at the top immediately.} 1. c4 Nf6 2.
Nc3 c6 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Qa5 5. d3 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nxe5 Bd6 $5 (7... Bb4 {
drew in Ivanchuk - Dominguez, Yerevan 2000.}) 8. Bf4 {White has a plus.} O-O 9.
Nc4 $1 dxc4 10. Bxd6 Re8 11. f3 $1 cxd3 12. Bxd3 Qb6 13. Bb5 Rd8 14. e5 a6 15.
Be2 Ne8 $1 ({Not} 15... Qxb2 $2 16. Na4) 16. Nd5 Qa5+ $4 ({Correct is} 16...
Qxb2 17. Qc1 $1 Qxc1+ 18. Rxc1 Nxd6 {(Ribli)} 19. Nb6 $1 Ra7 20. exd6 Be6 21.
Rc7 Bxa2 22. Kf2 {and Black suffers from restriction.}) 17. b4 $1 {
Gulko gains a piece.} Qa3 18. Bxb8 Kh8 ({The pointe is} 18... Rxb8 19. Nf6+
gxf6 20. Qxd8) 19. Bd6 Nxd6 20. exd6 Rxd6 21. Qd2 Be6 22. Qe3 Qa4 23. Nc3 Qa3
24. O-O Rc8 25. Nd5 Qxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Rd2 27. Rfe1 Bxa2 28. Bc4 Bxc4 29. Nxc4 Rd4
30. Nb6 Rcd8 31. Rab1 R4d6 32. Nc4 Rd4 33. Na5 R4d7 34. Re2 Kg8 35. Kf2 f6 36.
b5 Kf7 37. bxa6 bxa6 38. Rb6 Ra8 39. Ra2 Rd5 40. Nc4 Rd7 41. Rbxa6 Rxa6 42.
Rxa6 Ke7 43. g4 Kf7 44. Rb6 Ke7 45. h4 {
Eight men shared the first place at the end of the penultimate round.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48"]
[Date "2003.01.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2003.01.09"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Six leaders drew quickly. This game became a real fight for victory.} 1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2
Be7 10. h4 h5 11. Bd3 g6 12. Bxf5 gxf5 13. Nc3 Rg8 14. g3 $5 ({Grischuk played
} 14. O-O {in this position.}) 14... Bd7 15. Bc1 $5 Rc8 16. Ne2 {
White moves his pieces to the kingside.} a5 17. b5 $5 {Shabalov battles.} Qxb5
18. Bg5 a4 19. Rb1 $5 {He gives a second pawn.} Qa5+ 20. Kf1 Bxa3 21. Ra1 Qb4 {
Black accepts the restriction.} 22. Nf4 Rh8 23. Kg2 b5 24. Bf6 Rh6 25. Re1 Qf8
$1 26. Qe2 Be7 $6 (26... Na5 $1 27. Ng5 Nb3 28. Rad1 Bc1 29. Nxh5 {(Shabalov)}
Rg6 $1 {favours Black.}) 27. Bg5 Rh8 28. Rec1 Rb8 29. Rab1 Bxg5 $5 30. hxg5 Qa3
$2 {Akobian allows a tactical strike.} (30... Na5 $1 31. Rc7 {(De Firmian)} Qe7
{keeps an edge.}) 31. g6 $5 ({A fine alternative is} 31. Nxd5 $1 exd5 32. e6
fxe6 33. Rxc6 $1) 31... fxg6 32. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 33. Rxc6 Qe7 34. Rxb5 {
White has regained a pawn and achieved a great positional advantage.} Kf7 35.
Ng5+ $6 (35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. Qa6 $1 {wins at once.}) 35... Qxg5 36. Rc7+ Qe7 37.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 38. Rc5 Rhc8 39. Qa6 Rxc5 40. Qa7+ Ke8 41. dxc5 Rc8 42. Qxa4+ Bd7
43. Qd4 Be6 44. f4 $1 {The white king can enter the black position.} Ke7 45.
Qb4 Rc6 46. Kh3 Bd7 47. Kh4 Kf7 48. Kg5 Ke7 49. Qb3 Re6 50. Qxd5 Bc6 51. Qa2
Bd7 52. Kh6 $1 Be8 53. Kg7 Bd7 54. Qh2 Rc6 55. Qh4+ Ke8 56. Qf6 $1 Rxf6 57.
exf6 Be6 58. c6 g5 59. fxg5 f4 60. g6 fxg3 61. f7+ {The sponsor Erik Anderson
gave Shabalov and Akobian an extra $5000 for their fighting spirit. The final
standings became: Shabalov 61/2/9 ($15,000), Kaidanov, Gulko, Stripunsky,
Benjamin, A.Ivanov, Goldin and Fedorowicz 6, etc.} 1-0

[Event "Seattle"]
[Site "USA 48 playoff women"]
[Date "2003.01.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hahn, Anna"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2218"]
[BlackElo "2433"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2003.01.19"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Jennifer Shahade led the female championship, when the last round began.
Irina Krush and Anna Hahn caught up at the end. They carried out a playoff
during the next day.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3
dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Qc7 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Bc2
Bd6 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. f4 O-O-O 16. Qe2 h6 17. Nf3 Bxf4 18. e5 Bxc1 $5 ({
Theory is the wild} 18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Bxe5 20. Qa8+) 19. Raxc1 Nd5 20. Ne4
Kb8 21. a4 c4 $6 ({Preferable is} 21... Nd7 22. axb5 Nf4 23. Qe3 Nd5 24. Qe1
axb5) 22. Nd6 $1 {White has the initiative.} Nd7 23. axb5 Qb6+ 24. Qf2 Rhf8 $6
25. bxa6 Bxa6 26. Ra1 $5 Bb7 $5 27. Nxc4 Qxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Nb4 29. Bg6 Bd5 30. b3
Rf4 31. Ra4 $6 Nc6 32. Rfa2 Rg4 $1 33. Bh5 $5 Bxf3 $1 34. Bxg4 Bxg4 {
Black equalises.} 35. Nd6 Ndxe5 36. Ra8+ Kc7 37. Ne8+ Kb7 38. Rxd8 Nxd8 39.
Nxg7 Nec6 40. Rd2 e5 $5 41. h3 Bc8 42. Ne8 $5 Kb6 43. Nd6 Be6 44. g4 Kc5 45.
Ne4+ Kb5 46. Rd6 Bxb3 47. Rxh6 {Hahn attacks on the kingside.} Ne6 48. g5 Ncd4
49. g6 Bc2 50. Ng3 Kc5 51. h4 e4 $5 (51... Nf3+ 52. Kg2 Nxh4+ $1 53. Rxh4 Bxg6
{draws.}) 52. h5 $5 e3 53. Rh8 Nf3+ 54. Kg2 Nfg5 $4 {Krush blunders a piece.} (
{Correct is} 54... Nfd4 $1 55. Rf8 $1 Kd6 56. Rf7 Ke5 57. g7 Bh7 {
and Black stops the passed pawns.}) 55. Rc8+ Kd4 56. Rxc2 Nf4+ 57. Kf1 Kd3 58.
Ra2 Nf3 59. Ra3+ Kd2 60. Ra2+ Kd3 61. g7 Nd2+ 62. Ke1 Nf3+ 63. Kd1 Nd5 64. Ra3+
{The final standings became: Hahn 2/2, Krush 1, Shahade 0. Anna Hahn won the
title and gained $12,500.} 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.11.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kriventsov, Stanislav"]
[Black "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2414"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The forty-ninth US championship was played in San Diego from 24 xi until 5
xii 2004. 64 participants carried out nine Swiss rounds. Formally it was
called the championship of 2005.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5.
Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Be3 d6 9. N1d2 Nge7 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 11. f4 Nb4
$5 12. c3 Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 O-O 14. O-O b5 15. a4 Rb7 16. a5 $5 Qc7 17. f5 e5 18.
Rf3 $5 Rd8 19. Qe3 $6 (19. f6 $1 {takes the initiative.}) 19... f6 $1 20. g4 $5
Qb8 21. Kh1 Qa7 22. Qe1 $2 (22. Rd1 Qxe3 23. Rxe3 {defends properly.}) 22... d5
$1 {Black counters in the centre.} 23. exd5 Rbd7 24. Ne4 Rxd5 25. Qe2 Bb7 26.
Raf1 Nc8 $1 27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. Rxe3 Rd3 $1 29. Rxd3 $2 (29. Rfe1 Rxe3 30. Rxe3
Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Nd6 $1 32. Nbc5 Bxe4+ 33. Nxe4 Nxe4 34. Rxe4 Rd2+ 35. Kf3 Rxb2 {
costs a pawn.}) 29... Bxe4+ 30. Rdf3 Rd1 $1 {Black will gain a piece.} 31. Kg2
({Or} 31. Rxd1 Bxf3+ 32. Kg1 Bxd1 {(Atlas).}) 31... Rxf1 32. Kxf1 Bxf3 33. Nc5
Bxg4 34. Nxa6 Bxf5 35. Nc7 Na7 36. Ke2 Kf7 37. b4 Be6 38. Kd3 f5 39. a6 Bc4+
40. Ke3 Ke7 {Stripunsky competed at the top.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.11.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lakdawala, Cyrus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2422"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. d5 Qb6 5. Qc1 Bg7 6. g3 d6 7. Bg2 f5 8. c3
Nd7 9. Nd2 Nf6 10. Nh3 h5 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. a4 $6 {
He spoils the pawn structure on the queenside.} h4 13. Nf4 hxg3 14. hxg3 Rxh1+
15. Bxh1 O-O-O {Black has a plus by a better development.} 16. Nc4 Qa6 17. Qd3
Rh8 18. Bg2 Kc7 19. Ra3 Ng4 20. b4 $6 ({More solid is} 20. Nd2 Qxd3 21. Nxd3)
20... cxb4 21. cxb4 Bxa4 $1 {Black strikes.} 22. Nxd6 $2 (22. f3 $1 Nf6 23. Qd2
Ne4 $1 24. fxe4 Qxc4 25. exf5 {offers more resistance.}) 22... Qb6 $1 23. Qc4+
(23. Rxa4 $2 Qxf2+ $1 24. Kd2 Kxd6 {threatens ..Rc8!}) 23... Kxd6 24. Qc5+ Qxc5
25. bxc5+ Kxc5 26. Rxa4 Bc3+ 27. Kd1 a5 28. Nd3+ Kd6 29. Rc4 Bg7 30. Bf3 Ne5
31. Nxe5 Bxe5 32. Kc2 Rh2 33. Kb3 Rxf2 34. Ka4 Bxg3 35. Kxa5 Rf1 36. Rc8 Rb1
37. Ka4 Ke5 38. Rf8 Kd4 39. Ka3 Kc3 {The king becomes the hero.} 40. Rc8+ Kd2
41. Rf8 Be5 42. Rc8 b5 {Nakamura scored his second win.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.11.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Lapshun, Yury"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2461"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky had been studying. He made a  comeback in the US championship of 2004.
} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Qc8 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nbd2 c6 14. dxc6 Qxc6 15.
Nf1 Be6 16. Ng3 Rfd8 $5 ({Usual is} 16... Rfe8) 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. Nh4 g6 19. Bg5
Nc4 $1 20. Bd3 Kg7 21. b3 Nb6 22. Rac1 Nbd7 23. c4 b4 $2 ({Preferable is} 23...
bxc4 $1 24. Bxc4 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 Qb5) 24. Nhf5+ $1 Bxf5 ({Even worse is} 24...
gxf5 $6 25. exf5) 25. exf5 Re8 26. Rcd1 a5 27. h4 Kh8 28. Bb1 $5 {
Kamsky utilises his advantage slowly.} Rcd8 $6 29. Rd2 $6 (29. Qd2 $1 a4 30.
fxg6 fxg6 31. h5 $1 {attacks.}) 29... Nc5 30. Qd1 Rd7 31. Re3 Bd8 32. Qe2 e4 $6
({Better is} 32... a4 $5) 33. fxg6 fxg6 34. Bxf6+ Bxf6 35. Nxe4 Nxe4 36. Bxe4 {
White has gained a pawn.} Qb6 37. Qf3 Kg7 $6 38. Qg4 Rde7 39. h5 $1 Kh8 ({Or} 
39... Bd4 40. Bxg6 $1 Bxe3 41. Bxe8+) 40. hxg6 Bd4 41. Rh3 $1 {
Kamsky scored two wins and seven draws.} (41. Rh3 Rxe4 42. Rxh7+ Kg8 43. Qf5
R8e7 44. Rxe7 Rxe7 45. Qd5+ Kg7 46. Rxd4 {conquers three pawns.}) 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.11.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Black "Fishbein, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2533"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Be3 Be7 10. c3 Nc5 11. Bc2 Nd7 12. Re1 Ndxe5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bd4 Ng6
15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Bxg6 Rxg7 17. Rxe6 hxg6 18. Re2 Kf8 19. Qd3 c6 $5 ({
The alternative is} 19... Rh7) 20. Nd2 Rg8 21. Nf3 Kg7 22. Nd4 Rc8 23. Qg3 Bc5
24. Nf5+ $1 {White has the initiative.} Kf8 25. Nh6 Rh8 26. Ng4 Bd6 27. Qd3 Rh5
28. Rae1 c5 $5 29. Re3 Kg7 30. h3 Rf5 31. b4 $1 Kh7 $2 ({Correct is} 31... cxb4
$1 32. Qd4+ Kh7 33. cxb4 Rc4 34. Qa1 d4 {(Stripunsky).}) 32. bxc5 Bxc5 33. Re5
Rxe5 34. Rxe5 Kg7 $5 35. Qd2 $1 Be7 36. Rxd5 Qb6 $2 (36... Qe8 37. Qd4+ Kg8 {
defends properly.}) 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Rh5 $1 {White gains material.} gxh5 39.
Qxb6 hxg4 40. Qb7 Re8 41. hxg4 Bc5 42. Qxa6 Re1+ 43. Kh2 Bxf2 44. Qxb5 Re6 45.
g3 Re3 46. Kg2 Rxc3 47. Qb8+ Kh7 48. Qb1+ {
Stripunsky found an elegant 'petite combinaison'.} 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.12.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. dxc5 Na5 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. Rb6 $5 (
{Theory is} 14. Nd4 Rfd8 15. Qe2) 14... Rfd8 15. Qb1 e6 16. Bg5 Re8 $5 ({
Best is} 16... f6 $1 17. Be3 Bf8) 17. Qb4 $6 (17. c6 $1 Bxc6 18. Qb4 {
(Nakamura)} Bb5 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. Rxb5 Bf8 21. Qb1 Bd6 22. Ng3 {
gains a pawn but Black has compensation.}) 17... Nc6 $1 18. Qa3 (18. Rxb7 $6
Nxb4 19. Rxc7 Nxd3 20. Rxd7 Nxc5 21. Rc7 Nxe4 {favours Black (Nakamura).})
18... Ne5 $1 19. Bf4 Bf8 20. Rbb1 $5 Bxc5 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Kh1 Red8 23. Nd4 Bd6
24. Be2 Rdc8 25. Rbd1 {The chances are about equal.} Nc4 26. Bc1 $6 Bf8 27. f4
Nb6 28. Rd3 Na4 29. Ba3 Bxa3 30. Qxa3 Qc5 31. Qb3 Qa5 32. Qb4 $6 (32. Qa3 $5
Rxc3 33. Rxc3 Qxc3 34. Qd6 Rd8 35. Qe7 Qc7 36. f5 {
leads to a white counter (Nakamura).}) 32... Qxb4 33. cxb4 Nc3 $1 34. a3 Nxe4 {
Black has gained a pawn.} 35. Bf3 Nf6 36. g4 Ba4 37. g5 Ne8 38. Bd1 Bxd1 39.
Rfxd1 Rc4 40. Ne2 Re4 41. R1d2 Nc7 42. Nc3 $2 Rxf4 43. Rd7 Nb5 44. Ne2 $5 {
Exchange of the knights loses as well.} Rf1+ 45. Kg2 Rf5 46. h4 Nxa3 47. Ng3
Rd5 $5 48. R2xd5 exd5 49. Rxd5 Nc2 50. Rd7 Nxb4 {A third pawn has fallen.} 51.
Ne4 a5 52. Nd6 a4 53. Nxf7 a3 54. Nh6+ Kf8 $1 55. Rxh7 Nc6 56. h5 a2 57. Rf7+
Ke8 58. Rf1 Ra8 59. Ra1 Nd4 60. Re1+ Kf8 61. Rf1+ Nf5 62. hxg6 a1=Q 63. Rxa1
Nh4+ 64. Kg3 Rxa1 65. Kxh4 Rf1 66. Kg4 b5 67. Nf5 b4 68. Ne3 Rc1 $1 {
Nakamura and Stripunsky shared the lead.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.12.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Goldin, Alexander"]
[Black "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Stripunsky and Nakamura shared the lead, when the last round began.} 1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Be3 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Nbd7 9.
Qe2 $5 ({Known is} 9. Ng5 e6 10. Qe2) 9... e6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. a4 b4 12. Ne4 Qd5
$5 {Black avoids exchange.} 13. c4 $1 bxc3 14. Nxc3 Qa5 15. Rad1 Rd8 16. Bh4 c5
17. Bb1 $1 cxd4 18. Nxd4 $6 (18. Rxd4 $1 O-O 19. Rfd1 {keeps a plus.}) 18...
Qb4 $1 19. Bg3 O-O 20. Ba2 Bc5 $5 21. Nb3 Ba7 $5 {Black sacrifices an exchange.
} 22. Bd6 Qh4 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Qd3 $2 ({Better is} 24. Bb1) 24... Ne5 $2 (
24... Nh5 $1 25. Qxd7 Bxg2 $1 26. Qxa7 $2 Bf3 $1 {leads to mate.}) 25. Qg3 Qh5
26. Nd4 Ng6 27. h3 Bb8 28. f4 e5 29. fxe5 Bxe5 30. Qe3 Ng4 31. Qe2 $2 ({
Correct is} 31. hxg4 Qh2+ 32. Kf2 Qxg2+ 33. Ke1 Bg3+ 34. Rf2 {(Goldin).}) 31...
Bh2+ 32. Kh1 Qxh3 $1 33. Bd5 Qh4 34. Nf5 Qh5 35. g3 Bxg3+ 36. Kg1 Bh2+ 37. Kg2
Bc8 $2 ({Black misses the win by} 37... Bb8 $1 38. Bxb7 Qh2+ 39. Kf3 Qh3+ 40.
Ke4 Re8+ {(Goldin).}) 38. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 39. Bxg6 hxg6 $2 (39... Qxg6 $1 {
keeps an advantage.}) 40. Nd6 $4 {The tables turn.} (40. Nxg7 $1 Bb7+ 41. Ne4
Qh4 42. Rxf8+ Kxg7 43. Rd7+ Kxf8 44. Qf3+ {wins for White.}) 40... Bxd6 41.
Rxf8+ Bxf8 42. Rd8 Qh2+ 43. Kf3 Ne5+ 44. Ke3 Qg3+ {
Stripunsky had won a spectacular game.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49"]
[Date "2004.12.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2004.11.24"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Nakamura has to win this game.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3
Nge7 6. Na3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nf5 8. Nc2 Qb6 9. Be2 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 Be7 11. g3 Bd7 12.
Bd2 $5 O-O 13. h4 f6 14. g4 $1 Nfxd4 $1 15. Ncxd4 fxe5 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bc3 $5
Bd6 $5 (17... e4 $1 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 c5 20. Nb3 d4 21. Nxd4 cxd4 22. Bxd4
{equalises.}) 18. Rh3 Rab8 19. Bd3 Qc7 20. Ng5 h6 $1 21. Bh7+ Kh8 22. Qc2 $1
Rf4 ({The pointe is} 22... hxg5 $2 23. hxg5 {and White wins.}) 23. Qg6 $5 ({
Preferable is} 23. Bd2 $1 Rf6 24. Bg6) 23... Rf6 24. Nf7+ $2 {
The queen should retreat.} Rxf7 25. Qxf7 Kxh7 26. g5 Be8 $5 ({Even stronger is
} 26... Rf8 $1) 27. g6+ Kh8 28. Qxc7 Bxc7 {Black controls the centre.} 29. h5
d4 30. Rf3 Kg8 31. Be1 c5 32. Rc1 Bd6 33. Rb3 $5 Rxb3 34. axb3 Bb5+ 35. Kg2 Kf8
$2 (35... e4 $5 {brings an advantage.}) 36. f3 $1 Bd3 37. Bg3 Ke7 38. b4 $1 {
Nakamura comes back in the game by putting pressure on his opponent.} cxb4 39.
Rc8 e4 $1 40. Rg8 $1 Bxg3 41. Rxg7+ Kf8 42. Rf7+ Kg8 43. Kxg3 e3 44. Rd7 $6 e5
45. f4 $2 ({Correct is} 45. Rd5 $1 Bc2 46. Kg2) 45... exf4+ 46. Kxf4 e2 47. Re7
Kf8 48. Re5 a5 $4 {The tables turn.} (48... Bb5 $1 49. Kf5 d3 50. Kf6 Ba4 $3
51. Re7 e1=Q $1 52. Rxe1 d2 {wins for Black (Nakamura).}) 49. Kf3 a4 50. Kf2 a3
51. bxa3 b3 $1 52. g7+ $1 Kxg7 53. Re7+ Kf6 54. Rb7 Bc4 55. Rb4 Bf7 56. a4 d3
57. a5 Bxh5 58. Ke1 $1 Ke5 59. a6 $1 Bf3 60. a7 h5 61. Rxb3 Kd4 62. Rb8 h4 63.
Rd8+ Kc3 64. Rc8+ Kd4 65. Kd2 $1 h3 66. a8=Q {Nakamura joined the lead after a
hard fight. The final standings became: Stripunsky and Nakamura 7/9, Kaidanov,
Kudrin, Shulman, Benjamin, Serper and Onischuk 6, etc. The top two had to
carry out a playoff.} 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49 Playoff"]
[Date "2004.12.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2533"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2004.12.05"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Stripunsky and Nakamura played two rapid games for the title. They got 25"
per game and 10' per move.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6.
Nh3 Nh6 7. O-O O-O 8. Kh1 $5 Kh8 9. Ng1 f5 10. Bg5 Nf7 11. Be3 Bd7 12. Qd2 Rb8
13. Rae1 b5 14. a3 a5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Nh3 b4 17. Nd1 e6 18. Nf4 Re8 19. Nh5
Bf8 20. c3 bxa3 21. bxa3 Nce5 22. f4 Ng4 23. Bg1 Nf6 24. Nxf6 Qxf6 25. d4 Bb5
26. Rf2 $6 {White loses a tempo.} cxd4 27. cxd4 d5 $1 28. Rf3 a4 29. Nf2 Nd6
30. g4 $5 Bg7 31. gxf5 exf5 32. Re5 $6 Nc4 33. Qe1 $6 Nxe5 $1 34. fxe5 Qe7 35.
Nh3 Bc4 36. Qa5 Qd7 37. Ng5 Rb3 $5 38. e6 $1 Qe7 39. Rxf5 $5 Rb1 $2 (39... Rf8
$1 40. Nf7+ Kg8 {wins for Black.}) 40. Qd2 Qxa3 41. Nf7+ Kg8 42. Nh6+ $6 Kh8 $6
43. Nf7+ Kg8 44. Nh6+ $6 (44. Qg5 $1 {forces perpetual check.}) 44... Bxh6 $1
45. Qxh6 Rxg1+ 46. Kxg1 Qa1+ 47. Bf1 $6 Qxd4+ 48. Rf2 Kh8 $1 49. Bxc4 $2 (49.
Qf6+ Qxf6 50. Rxf6 Kg8 51. Bxc4 dxc4 52. Rf4 {
exchanges towards a poor rook ending.}) 49... Rg8+ $1 {
Nakamura delivers mate soon.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 49 Playoff"]
[Date "2004.12.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.12.05"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nc3 d6 9. Qe2 Nge7 10. Be3 b5 11. Bxa7 Rxa7 12. Qe3 O-O 13. a4 $5 b4 14. Ne2
Rd7 (14... e5 $5 {will draw in Nakamura - Yudasin, Minneapolis 2005.}) 15. a5
Bb7 16. Rfc1 Qa8 17. Ra4 e5 18. Nd2 f5 $5 (18... Qd8 $1 19. Ng3 d5 $1 {
liberates the black position.}) 19. Nc4 Qe8 20. Nb6 Rd8 21. f3 Kh8 22. Bc4 Qg6
23. Nd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 fxe4 25. Qxe4 Qe8 $5 26. c4 Nd4 $2 ({Better is} 26...
bxc3 27. bxc3 Ba8) 27. Rxb4 {Thank you!} Bxd5 28. cxd5 Rc8 29. Rc3 $1 Rb8 30.
Rxb8 Qxb8 31. Nxd4 exd4 32. Qxd4 Qxb2 33. Rd3 Qb5 34. Qc3 h6 35. Rd4 Qb1+ 36.
Kf2 Re8 37. Re4 Rb8 $2 (37... Rxe4 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. fxe4 Qa2+ {
offers more resistance.}) 38. Kg3 $1 Qb7 39. Qc6 Qxc6 40. dxc6 Rc8 41. Rb4 $5
Kg8 $6 (41... Rxc6 42. Rb6 Rc5 43. Rxa6 d5 {brings the last chance.}) 42. Rb6
Kf7 43. Rxa6 Ke6 44. Rb6 Kd5 45. a6 Kc5 46. Rb1 Rc7 47. Kf4 d5 $5 48. Ra1 $1 {
Nakamura had won both rapid games, the title and $25,000. He was only 16 year
old. The female champion for 2005 became Goletiani. She gained $12,500.} 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 1"]
[Date "2006.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fiftieth US championship was played at the Naval Training Center
Promenade in San Diego from 2 until 12 iii 2006. The 64 participants were
divided in two groups. Nine Swiss rounds were carried out.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6
3. e3 e6 4. Qc2 Bd6 5. Nc3 f5 6. h3 $5 ({Known is} 6. b3) 6... Nf6 7. g4 $5 O-O
$1 ({Not} 7... fxg4 $6 8. hxg4 Nxg4 $2 9. Rxh7) 8. gxf5 exf5 9. b3 Qe7 10. Bb2
Na6 11. Rg1 Bd7 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Qb1 cxd5 $6 (13... Nbxd5 $1 14. Bc4 Kh8 {
keeps the equality.}) 14. a3 $1 {White starts favourable tactics.} Nc6 15. Nxd5
$1 Nxd5 16. Bc4 Be6 $5 17. Rxg7+ Qxg7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qb2+ Rf6 $6 {
The pin helps White.} 20. O-O-O h6 21. d3 Kf7 22. e4 fxe4 23. dxe4 Rxf3 24.
exd5 Bf4+ 25. Kb1 Bf5+ 26. Ka2 Ne5 {Black defends well.} 27. d6+ Kg6 28. Be2 $6
(28. Rg1+ $1 Kh7 29. Qd4 {continues the attack.}) 28... Rxh3 29. Qd4 Rf8 30.
Bb5 Be6 $2 31. Qe4+ $2 (31. d7 $1 Bxb3+ 32. Kb2 Bxd1 33. Qd6+ Rf6 34. Qxf6+
Kxf6 35. d8=Q+ {wins for White (Christiansen).}) 31... Kh5 $6 32. Be2+ Kh4 $2 (
{Better is} 32... Kg5 33. Rg1+ Kh4) 33. d7 $1 Bxd7 34. Rxd7 Nxd7 35. Qe7+ $4 (
35. Qe6 $1 Nf6 36. Qe7 {gains material (Christiansen).}) 35... Bg5 $1 {
The tables turn.} 36. Qxd7 Rf4 37. f3 Rh2 38. Qd3 Kg3 39. b4 Rf2 40. Kb1 Kg2
41. Bd1 Bh4 42. Qg6+ Bg3 $1 {The counter becomes decisive.} 43. Bc2 h5 44. Qxh5
Rc4 $1 45. Be4 Rd4 $1 46. f4+ Rxe4 47. Qd5 Rfe2 48. Qxb7 Kg1 {The ruling
on suffered a spectacular loss. Camila Baginskaite defeated him in round three.
} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 1"]
[Date "2006.03.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Serper, Grigory"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E49"]
[WhiteElo "2517"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nge2 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. a3
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. f3 Re8 12. Ng3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. Ra2 Qd7
15. Re2 Re6 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. Rd1 g6 18. Ree1 h5 19. e4 dxe4 20. fxe4 {
Pawn e4 becomes vulnerable.} Qe7 21. Qf1 $5 (21. Qf3 {
was played in Borg - Kunte, Istanbul 2002.}) 21... Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Nxe4
Qxe4 24. Re1 Qf5 25. Qxf5 gxf5 26. dxc5 bxc5 27. c4 $6 ({Better is} 27. Rf1 Rd2
28. Bc1 Rc2 29. Bg5 Rxc3 30. Rxf5) 27... Kh7 28. Bf6 Rd7 $6 (28... Rd3 $1 {
gains an edge.}) 29. Re8 Kg6 30. Rc8 Rd6 31. Bc3 f4 32. Kf2 f6 $1 33. h3 $6 ({
Onischuk prefers} 33. Ke2 Kf5 34. Rh8) 33... Kf5 34. Ke2 $5 Ke4 35. Rh8 $2 (35.
h4 $1 Re6 36. Rc7 Nd4+ 37. Bxd4 Kxd4+ 38. Kf2 {tries to survive.}) 35... Ne5 $1
36. Rxh5 Rd3 $1 37. Bd2 Rg3 38. Kf2 Rxa3 39. Rh4 Ra2 40. Ke1 Kd3 $5 41. Bxf4
Rxg2 42. Rh6 Ke4 43. Bxe5 fxe5 44. Ra6 Rh2 45. Rxa7 Rxh3 46. Rd7 Rc3 47. Kd2
Rxc4 48. Rc7 Kf3 49. Re7 Rd4+ {Onischuk showed an excellent technique.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 1"]
[Date "2006.03.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bc2
c5 9. Re1 Re8 10. d4 $5 (10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 {
makes the classical Ruy Lopez manoeuvre.}) 10... exd4 11. cxd4 Bg4 $5 12. d5 $5
Nd7 $1 13. Nbd2 Bf6 14. Rb1 b5 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Nxf3 Nc4 17. Bd3 Rb8 {
Black has the initiative.} 18. a4 a6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe2 Qa5 $1 21. Bxc4 bxc4
22. Bf4 $1 (22. Qxc4 $6 Ne5 $1 23. Qf1 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Be5 {favours Black.})
22... Be5 23. Bxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Qxc4 f5 $5 (25... Rxb2 26. Ra1 Qd8 {
equalises.}) 26. Qc3 Qxc3 27. bxc3 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 Rxe4 {
The chances are equal in the rook ending.} 29. Kf1 $5 (29. Rb6 $1 Rc4 30. Rxd6
Rxc3 {draws (Lukacs).}) 29... Kf7 $1 30. Rb7+ Kf6 31. Rd7 Ke5 $1 32. Rxg7 Kxd5
33. Rxh7 Rc4 $1 34. Rh5 $5 (34. h4 Rxc3 35. Ke2 {is alright.}) 34... Rxc3 35.
Rxf5+ Ke4 36. Rf6 d5 37. h4 $5 ({White could play} 37. Re6+ {immediately.})
37... d4 $1 38. h5 $2 {Kudrin lacks accuracy.} (38. Re6+ $1 Kd5 ({or} 38... Kd3
39. g4 $1) 39. Re8 $1 {escapes from a difficult position.}) 38... d3 $1 39. Ke1
Rc1+ 40. Kd2 Rc2+ 41. Kd1 c4 42. h6 c3 43. Re6+ Kd5 $1 44. Re5+ (44. Re3 Kc4
45. h7 Ra2 {also wins for Black.}) 44... Kc4 45. Re4+ Kb3 46. Re3 Rd2+ {
Onischuk scored well.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 1"]
[Date "2006.03.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Onischuk led and Nakamura trailed by one point, when the last round began. So
Nakamura had to play for a win.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5.
cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. O-O Re8 12. Re1
Qc7 13. Bf4 b6 14. Qd2 Bb7 15. Bc4 Nh5 16. Bh2 h6 $5 17. g4 $5 {
Onischuk responds actively.} (17. Rad1 $5 {
will be played in Jakovenko - Gashimov, Sochi 2008.}) 17... Nhf6 18. Rad1 h5
19. g5 Nh7 20. Bg3 Re7 21. Re2 Rae8 22. Rde1 Bc8 $6 23. Kh2 $6 (23. Qd3 $1 b5
24. axb5 Nb6 $5 {(Christiansen)} 25. bxa6 Nxc4 26. Qxc4 {favours White.}) 23...
b5 $1 {Nakamura counters.} 24. e5 $2 ({Preferable is} 24. axb5 Nb6 25. Bd3)
24... h4 $5 25. Bf4 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Qd7 $1 27. Bxg7 Qxh3+ 28. Kg1 Qg4+ 29. Kh2
Qh3+ 30. Kg1 Bg4 $5 (30... Qg4+ $5 31. Kh2 Qxf3 32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Bf6 $3 Rxe1
34. Qxe1 {(Christiansen)} Nxf6 $1 35. gxf6 Qxf6 $1 36. axb5 Qf4+ 37. Kg1 Qg4+
38. Kh2 Qxc4 39. Qe8+ Kg7 40. Qxc8 axb5 {also plays for a win.}) 31. Nh2 Bxe2
32. Bxe2 Kxg7 33. axb5 Re5 $2 ({Better is} 33... axb5 34. Nxb5 Re5 35. Nxd6
R8e7 {and Black threatens to play for mate.}) 34. f4 Re3 35. Kh1 axb5 36. Nxb5
Rg3 $5 37. Bf1 Rxe1 38. Qxe1 Qf5 39. Qd2 Qe4+ 40. Bg2 Qb1+ {
The chances have become equal.} 41. Bf1 Qe4+ 42. Bg2 Qe7 43. Nc3 Re3 44. Ng4
Re1+ 45. Kh2 f6 46. gxf6+ Nxf6 47. Nxf6 Kxf6 48. b4 cxb4 49. Qd4+ Kf7 50. Ne4
$1 b3 51. Qb4 Re3 52. Ng5+ Kg8 53. Ne6 Rg3 54. Qb8+ Kh7 55. Ng5+ Kg7 56. Ne6+
Kh7 57. Ng5+ Rxg5 $5 58. fxg5 Qe5+ 59. Kh1 Qe1+ 60. Kh2 Qe5+ 61. Kh1 b2 62.
Qb7+ Kg8 63. Qb8+ Kf7 64. Qb7+ Ke8 65. Qb8+ Ke7 {White delivers perpetual
check. The final standings in group 1 became: Onischuk 7/9, Ibragimov and
Stripunsky 61/2, Nakamura 6, etc. Onischuk had qualified for the final after a
hard fight.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 2"]
[Date "2006.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Browne, Walter"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky had the highest rating in the second group.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 d6 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. O-O
Bxe3 11. Qxe3 e5 12. Nd5 $5 ({Theory is} 12. Rad1) 12... Be6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.
Qb6 Qe7 15. Rad1 O-O 16. c3 Rac8 17. Rd2 Qc7 18. Qxc7 Rxc7 19. Be2 Rd8 20. Rfd1
Rcd7 21. g3 g6 22. f4 f6 23. Kf2 Kf8 24. Ke3 Ke7 25. h4 Rg8 26. Rh1 h6 27. Rf1
Rc7 28. Rfd1 Rd8 29. Kf2 b5 30. Ke3 Rb7 31. Rc2 a5 32. Nc1 Rb6 33. b3 $5 Rc8
34. Rdd2 Nb8 35. b4 $2 (35. Bf3 $1 Rbc6 36. Ne2 {protects the central area.})
35... Rbc6 $1 36. Bxb5 Rxc3+ 37. Rxc3 Rxc3+ 38. Nd3 axb4 39. Rb2 Nd7 40. Rxb4
Bxa2 {He has gained a pawn.} 41. Ra4 Be6 42. Ra7 h5 43. Kd2 Rb3 44. Ba4 Rb8 45.
Kc3 Rd8 46. Nb4 $6 (46. Kd2 {would be an excellent waiting move.}) 46... Kf8
47. Rc7 Nc5 48. Bc6 Rb8 49. Rh7 $2 Bf7 $1 {He imprisons a rook.} 50. Bd5 Bxd5
$5 51. Nxd5 $5 Nxe4+ 52. Kd3 Rb5 {
Kamsky has an advantage of two pawns in the endgame.} ({The pointe is} 52...
Rb5 53. Kxe4 f5+ 54. Ke3 Rxd5 55. fxe5 dxe5 {and Black wins the rook ending.})
0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 2"]
[Date "2006.03.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2554"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Many players in group 2 were in their forties or fifties.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10.
O-O-O Be7 11. e5 Bb7 12. Qg3 Nxe5 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. f4 $5 {
Christiansen has prepared a novelty in a sharp line.} (14. Nxe6 Qc8 15. Nxg7+
Kf7 {lost for White in Lahno - Novikov, Montreal 2004.}) 14... Ng6 $6 {
Black defends poorly.} (14... Nc4 $5 15. Nxe6 Qa5 16. Rde1 {
(Takhaev - Rukavina, Herzeg Novi 2006)} Kf7 {brings chances for both players.})
15. Nxe6 Qd7 $2 ({Better is} 15... Qc6 16. Nxg7+ Kf7 17. Nf5 Qc5) 16. Rhe1 $1
Kf7 (16... b4 17. f5 $1 bxc3 18. fxg6 cxb2+ 19. Kb1 Bd5 20. Nxg7+ {
wins for White (Christiansen).}) 17. f5 Nf8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Rxd6 Qc8 20. Ng5+
$1 Kg8 ({The pointe is} 20... Bxg5+ 21. Qxg5 Qc7 22. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 23. f6 $1 Kg8
24. Qxd5+ Qf7 25. Re7 Qxd5 26. Rxg7#) 21. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 22. Nge4+ Ng6 ({Or} 
22... Kf7 23. Nd6#) 23. fxg6 {The old man attacked like a youngster.} 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 2"]
[Date "2006.03.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanov, Alexander"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6 4. Bd3 c5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Ngf3 Bxc5 8.
Qe2 Nbd7 9. c4 $5 Qh5 $1 10. a3 a5 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Nf6 13. Bc2 Bd7 14.
Bf4 Qg4 15. Bg3 Bc6 16. h3 Qh5 17. O-O-O $6 ({Preferable is} 17. O-O O-O 18.
Rad1) 17... O-O 18. Bf4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Rfd8 20. Rdg1 $5 Bd4 21. h4 $6 Qc5 22.
Rg5 $2 ({Better is} 22. Bh6 Ne8 23. Kb1) 22... Bxb2+ $1 23. Kxb2 Qd4+ 24. Kb1
Qxf4 {Black has gained a pawn.} 25. Rhg1 g6 26. h5 Ra6 27. hxg6 Rb6+ $1 28. Rb5
Rxb5+ 29. cxb5 hxg6 30. Qe3 Qc4 31. Qe5 Kg7 32. Rg4 Qf1+ 33. Ka2 Qxf2 34. Rc4
Rd5 35. Qc3 Rxb5 36. f4 b6 37. a4 Rb4 38. Ka3 Rxc4 39. Qxc4 Nd5 40. Be4 Qc5+ {
Shulman has three extra pawns in the endgame.} 0-1

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Group 2"]
[Date "2006.03.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2581"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2006.03.02"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O c5 15.
d5 b4 16. Rb1 Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Bxe7 20. fxe7 Rdg8 21. Ne4
Qc6 22. Nd6+ Kb8 23. Bf4 Ka8 24. e8=Q+ $5 {
The theory goes far in the Botvinnik System.} ({Known is} 24. f3) 24... Rxe8
25. Nxe8 Rxe8 $6 (25... Qh1+ $1 26. Ke2 Rxe8+ 27. Be3 Qc6 {
equalises (Kaidanov).}) 26. Kg1 Nf6 27. Rc1 Re4 28. Qd8+ Kb7 29. Qf8 Nd5 $1 30.
Qxf7+ Re7 31. Qf8 Re8 32. Qf7+ Ka6 $6 ({Better is} 32... Re7) 33. Bd2 Re2 34.
Rd1 c3 $2 (34... Nb6 $1 35. Bc1 Qe4 {counters in the right way.}) 35. bxc3 bxc3
36. Bg5 $1 c2 37. Rf1 Re4 38. Qf3 Qa4 39. h4 Qc4 40. h5 $1 Rg4 41. Qf5 $5 Nc3
$5 42. h6 $1 Ne2+ 43. Kg2 Rxg5 44. Qxg5 c1=Q 45. Rxc1 Nxc1 46. Qg6+ Ka5 47. h7
Qd5+ 48. Kh2 Qd4 49. Qf7 Qe5 50. Qxa7+ Kb4 51. Qb7+ Kc3 52. Qc8 {Shulman had
scored 6/7! The final standings in group 2 became: Shulman, Kamsky and
Christiansen 61/2/9, Fishbein 6, Novikov 51/2, etc. Shulman lost his last game,
but he qualified on tie-break.} ({The pointe is} 52. Qc8 Qh5+ 53. Qh3 $1) 1-0

[Event "San Diego"]
[Site "USA 50 Final"]
[Date "2006.03.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2581"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.03.12"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Onischuk and Shulman played two rapid games for the title. Shulman survived
in game one.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7.
e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Rd8 12. Ne4 Qf4 13. Qe2 Nc6
14. g3 Qc7 $5 {Onischuk defends quietly.} (14... Qg4 {
was played in Gelfand - Benjamin, Horgen 1994.}) 15. Rfd1 Bd7 16. a3 Bf8 17. b4
a6 18. Ba2 Be8 19. Bb1 Qe7 20. h4 g6 21. h5 $5 gxh5 $5 22. Nc5 Bg7 23. Qe4 Rd6
24. Qh7+ $5 {Shulman wants to fight.} ({Better is} 24. d5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 exd5
26. Qxd5 {but it only equalises.}) 24... Kf8 25. d5 $1 Rad8 (25... Rxd5 $5 26.
Rxd5 exd5 27. Re1 Qf6 28. Nh4 Nd4 {would be stronger but risky in a rapid game.
}) 26. Ba2 $1 exd5 27. Nh4 Nd4 28. Rxd4 $2 ({Right is} 28. Re1 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 Qg5
30. Rxe2 Qxc1 31. Nxb7) 28... Bxd4 29. Nf5 Qg5 $2 (29... Qe5 $1 30. Nd3 Qf6 {
wins for Black.}) 30. Re1 $1 Qd2 31. Re3 $1 Rg6 32. Nxd4 $2 (32. Bb1 Rdd6 33.
Nxd4 Qxd4 34. Nxb7 {almost levels the game.}) 32... Qxd4 33. Bb1 Rdd6 $2 (33...
Rb6 {consolidates the material advantage.}) 34. Bxg6 $2 ({Right is} 34. Nxb7
Rde6 35. Bxg6 Rxg6) 34... Rxg6 35. Nd3 Qg7 36. Qxg7+ Rxg7 37. Nc5 $5 Bc6 $1 38.
a4 Rg4 39. b5 axb5 40. axb5 Bxb5 41. Nxb7 d4 42. Re5 Rg5 43. Rxg5 hxg5 44. Nd6
Bd3 $1 45. Nb7 Ke7 46. Nc5 Bc2 47. f3 Kd6 {Onischuk had the happiest day of
his life, because he won the title, $25,000 and a handmade chess set. Anna
Zatonskih became the female champion.} 0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gurevich, Dmitry"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2518"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-first US championship was played in Stillwater, Oklahoma, from 15
until 23 v 2007. 36 participants performed in nine Swiss rounds. The event had
been saved by the $50,000 from Frank Berry. They played in his hometown. The
prizes had to be decreased.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Qe7 11. Rad1 Rad8 12. e4 Nxe4
13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 f5 15. Qc2 c5 16. Rfe1 Be4 $5 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. Bxd4 e5
19. Bc3 Nc5 20. Qb2 $6 (20. Qg5 $1 Qc7 21. Qh4 {defends the kingside.}) 20...
Bxf3 $1 {Black takes the initiative.} 21. Bxf3 e4 22. g3 Qg5 23. h4 $2 ({
More solid is} 23. Bg2) 23... Qg6 24. h5 Qg5 25. Bg2 f4 $6 ({Even better is} 
25... Rfe8 $1) 26. Rd5 $6 (26. gxf4 $5 Qxf4 27. Re3 Qh4 28. Kf1 {
offers more resistance.}) 26... Qg4 $1 27. Bxe4 Nxe4 28. Rxe4 Bc5 $1 29. Qd2
Qxg3+ $1 30. Kf1 Qh4 31. Rxf4 ({Or} 31. Kg1 Qg4+ 32. Kh2 $5 Bxf2 $1 33. Qxf2
Rxd5 34. cxd5 Qxh5+ 35. Kg2 Rf5 {and Black wins.}) 31... Qh1+ 32. Ke2 Rfe8+ {
Shabalov scored his second win.} 0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2464"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The women had their seperate championship again. Irina Krush would win it in
Stillwater two months later. She also participated in the general group.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 Bb7 8. e6 fxe6 9.
Ng5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qd6 11. Qg4 Nd7 $5 (11... Nc6 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8+ Bxa8
14. Nxe6 Nd8 {drew in Castaneda - Novikov, Tula 2006.}) 12. Be2 Nf6 $6 ({
Preferable is} 12... e5 $1 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8+ Bxa8 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. O-O
Bd5 {and equality.}) 13. Qh3 $1 g6 $6 ({Better is} 13... Qd7 $1 14. Bf3 Bxf3
15. Qxf3 Rc8) 14. O-O h6 $6 {Black loses time.} 15. Re1 $1 Bg7 $6 (15... Bd5 $5
16. Bf3 hxg5 17. Qxh8 Bxf3 18. gxf3 {also wins for White.}) 16. Nxe6 Kf7 17.
Nxg7 Kxg7 18. Ba3 Qf4 19. Bf3 $1 Nd5 ({The pointe is} 19... Bxf3 20. Rxe7+ $1
Kf8 21. Rxc7+) 20. Qd7 Qf7 ({Or} 20... Rad8 21. Rxe7+ $1 Nxe7 22. Qxe7+) 21.
Bxd5 Qxd5 22. Rxe7+ Kf6 23. Qg4 Qf5 24. Qe2 Bd5 25. h4 g5 26. g4 Qf4 27. Qe5+
Qxe5 28. dxe5+ Kg6 29. h5# {Irina Krush would score 4/9.} 1-0

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B03"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Be3 g6 7. d5 Bg7 8. Bd4
Bxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. h4 $5 {Nakamura charges at once.} ({Theory is} 10. Nc3)
10... e5 $1 11. Qd2 f5 $5 12. Nf3 Qf6 $5 13. Nc3 Na6 14. Qh6 Qg7 15. Qd2 $5 h6
$5 {Shabalov keeps the game going.} 16. Nb5 Rf6 17. Qa5 $1 Nd7 18. Qa3 Qe7 19.
Be2 e4 20. Nd2 Ne5 21. O-O-O Nc5 22. Kb1 Ncd3 23. Bxd3 Nxd3 {
Black has the initiative.} 24. Rhf1 Bd7 25. Nd4 Qe5 26. Qc3 b5 $1 27. cxb5 Rf7
$1 28. f3 Rc8 29. Nc4 ({The alternative is} 29. Nc6 $6 Qxc3 30. bxc3 e3 31. Nc4
e2 32. Nxd6 {and great complications.}) 29... Qxd5 30. fxe4 $2 ({Correct is} 
30. b3 $1 {(Fuentes).}) 30... Qxc4 31. Qxd3 Qxd3+ 32. Rxd3 fxe4 33. Rxf7 $6 (
33. Rdd1 Rxf1 34. Rxf1 Rc4 35. Nc2 Bxb5 36. Na3 Rc5 37. Nxb5 Rxb5 38. Rf6 {
leads to a poor rook ending.}) 33... exd3 $1 34. Rf1 $5 Rc4 $1 35. Nc6 $2 (35.
Nf3 $5 Bf5 36. b3 Rg4 {will be hard to defend.}) 35... d2 $1 36. Ne7+ Kg7 37.
Rd1 Kf7 $1 38. b3 Rc1+ $1 {Shabalov had won his fourth game in a row.} 0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shabalov had scored 5/5, when he met the ruling champion.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10.
Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Qa5 12. Be2 Bb7 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Qc1 c5 15. Rd1 $5 ({
Known is} 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Qf4) 15... cxd4 16. Rxd4 Bc5 $2 {
A natural move meets a great refutation.} (16... a6 {
leads to almost equal chances.}) 17. b4 $3 Qxb4 ({Alternatives are} 17... Qc7
$5 18. Bf4 $1 Qc6 19. Bf3) ({and} 17... Bxb4 18. Nxb5 $1 Qxb5 19. Rxc4+ Kb8 20.
Rb1 {(Onischuk).}) 18. Rb1 Qxb1 ({Or} 18... Qa3 19. Qxa3 Bxa3 20. Nxb5) 19.
Qxb1 Bxd4 20. Nxb5 $1 Ne5 21. Bf4 $1 Nc6 22. Nd6+ Rxd6 23. Bxd6 c3 24. Bf3 Bb6
25. Bb4 Bd4 26. Bxc3 $1 {Onischuk neared the leader.} (26. Bxc3 Bxc3 27. Bxc6
Bxc6 28. Qc2 Rd8 29. h4 {wins easily.}) 1-0

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C56"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 {
A lively game results from the Two Knights.} 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O c5 10. Ne2 Bc6 11. f3 Ng5 12. f4 Ne4 13. Nbc3 f5 $5 14. Nxe4
fxe4 15. f5 Qe7 16. Bf4 O-O-O 17. Qd2 d4 18. Qa5 c4 $1 19. Qa6+ (19. f6 $5 Qc5
$1 20. fxg7 d3+ 21. Kh1 Qxa5 22. gxh8=Q dxe2 {
leads to great complications (Onischuk).}) 19... Bb7 20. Qxc4 Qc5 21. Qxc5 Bxc5
{Black has fine compensation for the pawn.} 22. Kh1 Rhe8 23. Rad1 e3 24. Ng3
Ba6 25. Rfe1 Bb4 26. Rg1 e2 $1 27. Rc1 Rd5 28. a3 g5 $1 29. fxg6 (29. Bxg5 $5
e1=Q 30. Rcxe1 Bxe1 31. Rxe1 Rdxe5 {also favours Black.}) 29... e1=Q 30. Rgxe1
Bxe1 31. Rxe1 hxg6 32. h4 $6 ({Preferable is} 32. Kg1 $1 Rc5 33. Ne2 Rxc2 34.
Nxd4 Rxb2 35. e6 {and White has counter-play.}) 32... Rc5 33. Re4 Rxc2 34. Rxd4
Bb7 $5 ({The alternative is} 34... Rxb2 35. Ne4 Rd8) 35. Rd2 Rxd2 36. Bxd2 Rxe5
37. Bc3 Rc5 38. Kg1 Rc4 39. h5 gxh5 40. Nxh5 Rg4 41. Kf2 Rxg2+ 42. Ke3 Kd7 43.
Nf6+ Ke7 44. Ne4 Bxe4 45. Kxe4 Kd6 46. Kd4 Rg4+ 47. Kd3 Kd5 48. Kc2 Kc4 $1 ({
Benjamin mentions} 48... c5 $2 49. Kb1 Kc4 50. Ka2 {and White has a fortress.})
49. b3+ Kd5 50. Bf6 Rg6 51. Bh8 c5 52. Kc3 Rg3+ 53. Kb2 Rg2+ 54. Kc3 Rg3+ 55.
Kb2 c4 $1 56. bxc4+ Kxc4 {Black has a technically won ending.} 57. Be5 Rb3+ 58.
Ka2 Re3 59. Bd6 Re2+ 60. Kb1 Kb3 61. Kc1 a5 62. Kd1 Re8 63. Bc5 Rc8 64. Be7 Rc7
65. Bf8 Kb2 $1 66. Kd2 Rd7+ 67. Ke3 Kc3 68. Ke4 Rd8 69. Bc5 Kc4 $1 70. Bb6 Re8+
71. Kf3 a4 72. Kf2 Kb3 73. Bc5 Kb2 74. Kf1 Rc8 75. Bd6 Rd8 $1 {
Onischuk caught up with Shabalov.} ({The pointe is} 75... Rd8 76. Bb4 Rd3 77.
Ke2 Rxa3 {and the last pawn decides the game.}) 0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yermolinsky, Alex"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2511"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+
8. Be2 Na6 9. Ba5 f6 10. Qd8+ Kf7 11. O-O-O e5 12. Bd3 Qf4+ {
Capture on g2 gives winning chances.} 13. Kb1 Nc5 14. Ne2 Qg4 15. h3 Qe6 16.
Ng3 $2 (16. Bb4 $1 {won for White in Kovacs - Thompson, Oberwart 2005.}) 16...
Qe7 $1 17. Be4 $5 Qxd8 18. Rxd8 Ne6 19. Rd2 Ne7 20. Rhd1 Rb8 21. Ne2 b6 22. Bc3
Ba6 23. b3 Rbd8 24. f4 {White has insufficient compensation for the pawn.} exf4
$6 ({Even better is} 24... Rxd2 $1 25. Bxd2 f5 26. Bc2 e4 {(Kaidanov).}) 25.
Nxf4 $1 Rxd2 26. Bxd2 Nc5 27. Bc2 Bc8 28. Be3 Nb7 29. Kb2 $5 Rd8 30. Rxd8 Nxd8
31. Be4 g5 $1 {He starts an attack with his extra pawn.} 32. Ne2 f5 33. Bf3 g4
$1 34. hxg4 fxg4 35. Be4 Bf5 36. Ng3 Bxe4 37. Nxe4 Ne6 38. b4 $2 (38. Kc3 Nf5
39. Bf2 {offers more resistance.}) 38... Nf5 $1 39. Bf2 Nf4 $1 40. Kc3 $6 (40.
g3 $5 Nd3+ 41. Kc3 Nxf2 42. Nxf2 h5 $1 43. Ne4 Ke6 44. c5 bxc5 45. bxc5 Ke5 46.
Kd3 h4 {wins for Black.}) 40... Nxg2 41. a4 Nf4 {Kaidanov competed at the top.}
0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Becerra Rivero, Julio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 f5 {Black gives a rare answer to the Ponziani.} 4. d4
fxe4 5. Nxe5 Nf6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. Nc4 Be7 8. Ba4 $6 ({Known is} 8. d5 a6 9. Ba4
Na7) 8... d5 $1 9. Ne5 O-O $5 ({More solid is} 9... Bd7) 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nxc6
Qe8 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. O-O Ng4 $5 14. h3 e3 $1 15. Bxe3 $6 ({Better is} 15.
fxe3 $1 Ba6 16. Rxf8+ Rxf8 17. hxg4 Qh4 18. Nd2 Qf2+ {
and a repetition of moves (Becerra Rivero).}) 15... Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bxh3 $6 (
16... Qxe3+ 17. Kh2 Rxf1 18. Qxf1 Rb8 19. b3 Bxh3 {gains an advantage.}) 17.
Rf3 $1 Bg4 18. Rxf8+ Rxf8 19. Qe1 $5 Rf6 $1 (19... Re8 $5 20. Na3 Qxe3+ 21.
Qxe3 Rxe3 22. Rf1 {leads to a defendable endgame.}) 20. Nd2 Rg6 21. Qg3 Qe6 22.
Qf4 Bh3 $1 23. g3 h5 24. e4 $6 (24. Re1 $1 Rg4 25. Qxc7 h4 26. Kh1 Kh7 27. Rg1
Qxe3 28. Qe5 Qxd2 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Qe8+ {draws.}) 24... Rg4 $1 25. Qxc7 $6 (25.
Qe5 Qxe5 26. dxe5 Rxg3+ 27. Kh2 Rd3 28. exd5 {tries to survive.}) 25... h4 $1
26. Kh2 $5 (26. Kh1 hxg3 27. Rg1 Qh6 {wins for Black.}) 26... hxg3+ $1 27. Kxh3
Rxe4+ 28. Kg2 Re2+ 29. Kxg3 Qe3+ 30. Kh4 Qh6+ 31. Kg3 Qg5+ 32. Kh3 Rxd2 33.
Qc8+ Kh7 {Nakamura had lost his third game and ended at 5/9. Becerra Rivero
won the $1165 First Brilliancy Prize from the Daily Dirt.} 0-1

[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "USA 51"]
[Date "2007.05.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2556"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2007.05.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shabalov and Onischuk led, when the last round began. Onischuk played a quick
draw against Gulko.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1
Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 g6 9. c3 Bg7 10. Na3 Nf6 11. Nc2 Nd7 12. Rb1 Qb6 $5 ({
Known is} 12... O-O) 13. b3 O-O 14. Bb2 Rac8 15. Qd1 Rfe8 16. d4 cxd4 17. cxd4
Nf8 $5 18. Qd2 Na7 $6 {Black makes two passive moves.} 19. Ne3 Nb5 20. Rbd1 Ne6
21. Nc4 Qa7 22. d5 Nf8 $2 ({Preferable is} 22... Bxb2 23. Qxb2 Nc5) 23. Bxg7
Kxg7 24. a4 Nc7 25. a5 f6 26. Kh1 $5 ({Even better is} 26. Be2 $1 Nd7 27. Bg4
Rcd8 28. Bxd7 Rxd7 29. Nb6 Rdd8 30. Rc1) 26... Na8 $2 (26... Nd7 {
offers more resistance.}) 27. f4 $1 {
White got abundant time for his centre attack.} Qb8 28. e5 $1 Nd7 29. exd6 exd6
30. Re6 Nc5 31. Nxd6 Nxe6 32. Nxe8+ Rxe8 33. dxe6 Re7 $5 34. Qb4 Qe8 35. Bc4
Nc7 36. Re1 Nb5 ({The pointe is} 36... Nxe6 37. Qd6 Kf7 38. g4 f5 39. gxf5 gxf5
40. Qe5 {(Benjamin).}) 37. Qc5 h5 38. f5 gxf5 39. Bxb5 axb5 40. Qxf5 Qg6 41.
Qxb5 Qg3 42. Qe2 Qxb3 43. Qxh5 Qg3 44. Re4 {The final standings became:
Shabalov 7/9 ($12,000), Onischuk 61/2, Kaidanov, Shulman and Becerra Rivero 6,
etc.} 1-0

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Galant, Sergey"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-second US championship was played in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from 13 until
21 v 2008. 24 participants carried out nine Swiss rounds. The championship for
women occurred separately at the same time and place. Frank Berry sponsored
again.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 5. Na3 Bg7 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. Bc4
Qe4+ 8. Be3 Nh6 ({The pointe is} 8... dxe3 $4 9. Bxf7+ $1) 9. Nb5 Na6 10. cxd4
O-O 11. O-O $5 (11. Nc3 Qc6 12. Bb5 Qd6 13. O-O {
was played in Hamdouchi - Kudrin, Tripoli 2004.}) 11... Nf5 12. Ng5 $6 (12. Re1
{keeps an edge.}) 12... Nxe3 $1 13. Nxe4 Nxd1 14. Raxd1 Bd7 15. Nbc3 Rfd8 16.
Nd5 $5 Kf8 17. Rfe1 $2 ({Preferable is} 17. Ne3) 17... Be6 $1 18. Nec3 Rac8 19.
Bb3 Nc7 20. Nxe7 $1 Kxe7 21. d5 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Bxd5 Rxc3
25. Bxb7 Kd6 26. f3 Ra3 27. Kf2 ({Or} 27. Rd1+ Ke5 28. Re1+ Kf6) 27... Rxa2+ {
Black has gained a pawn.} 28. Kg3 a5 29. Rc1 a4 30. Rc6+ Ke7 31. Bc8 Bd5 32.
Rc7+ Kd6 33. Rd7+ Kc5 34. Rc7+ Kb6 35. Rd7 Bc4 36. Bb7 a3 37. Be4 Ra1 38. Bd5
Bxd5 39. Rxd5 Rc1 40. Rd2 Kb5 41. Kf4 f6 42. g4 Kb4 43. Rd7 a2 44. Rb7+ Kc3 {
Kudrin won easily.} 0-1

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ippolito, Dean"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Be7 Rfe8 14. Bh4
Nd5 15. Bf2 Rac8 16. Bb5 $5 ({Known is} 16. e4 Ne7 17. Rc1) 16... c6 17. Ba4 $6
({Preferable is} 17. Be2) 17... e5 $1 18. O-O-O exd4 19. e4 $5 (19. exd4 Nf4
20. g3 Ne6 21. Kb1 {also favours Black.}) 19... Nc5 20. Rxd4 Nf4 21. Bc2 Ba6
22. Rd2 Ncd3+ 23. Kb1 Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Rcd8 25. Nh3 $5 (25. g3 Nd3 26. Re2 Ne5 {
leads to positional difficulties for White.}) 25... Nxh3 26. gxh3 Re5 27. f4
Rh5 28. Rg1 $2 ({He should try} 28. Rf3 c5 29. Rg1) 28... Rxh3 29. Rfg2 g6 30.
e5 Bc4 31. Be4 $6 Rh4 $5 32. Rc1 Rd4 33. Bxc6 Rhxf4 34. Rg3 Kg7 35. Bf3 Rd2 36.
h3 Rd3 37. Rg4 Rdxf3 38. Rxc4 Rxc4 39. Rxc4 Rxh3 40. Rc7 Re3 {
Onischuk won a solid game.} 0-1

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gulko, Boris"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 c5 7. Na3 cxd4 8.
Naxc4 Bc5 9. Bd2 Nd5 10. Rc1 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 $5 Qe7 14. Qb3
Rb8 {Black has a crammed game for the pawn.} 15. Nce5 (15. Qa3 $5 Qxa3 16. bxa3
{will be played in Anand - Topalov, Sofia 2010.}) 15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qf6 17.
Nd3 (17. Rxc8 $5 Rfxc8 18. Nd7 Qe7 19. Nxb8 Rxb8 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Qxd5 Qxe2
22. Re1 Qb5 23. Qxb5 axb5 {almost equalises.}) 17... b6 18. Bb4 Rd8 $2 ({
More solid is} 18... Nxb4 19. Nxb4 b5) 19. Bxd5 $1 (19. Qa3 $5 e5 20. Bxd5 Rxd5
21. Rc7 Ra8 22. Re7 {invades the hostile position.}) 19... Rxd5 20. Rc7 Bb7 21.
Be7 $2 (21. Nf4 $1 Re5 22. Bd6 Rb5 23. Qc4 Qd8 24. Qxd4 {gains a big advantage.
}) 21... Qf5 22. Qc2 $2 (22. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 23. Qc4 Rc5 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. b4 {
keeps a plus.}) 22... e5 $1 23. Rc1 h6 24. Nb4 $6 d3 $1 25. exd3 $2 (25. Nxd3
Rd7 26. Ne1 Qe6 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Bb4 {offers more resistance.}) 25... Rd7 $1
26. Rxb7 (26. Rxd7 Qxd7 {leads to misery.}) 26... Rbxb7 27. Qc8+ Kh7 28. Nxa6
Qxd3 29. Nb4 Qd2 30. Bf8 Rb8 {Shulman countered effectively.} 0-1

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qa5 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Ng5 $5 ({
The natural move is} 13. Bd2) 13... Be7 (13... Qxc3 $5 14. Bb2 Qa5 15. d5 exd5
16. Qd3 g6 17. Bxd5 {brings a white attack.}) 14. Ne4 Bd7 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Qh5
$5 Na5 17. Bf1 Bc6 18. Bd3 f5 19. Ng3 $2 ({Correct is} 19. Ng5 $1 Bxg5 20. Bxg5
) 19... Ba4 $1 20. Rf1 Qxc3 21. Qe2 $1 Qxa1 22. Qxe6+ Rf7 $1 23. Nxf5 Bf8 24.
Bd2 Qb2 25. Bxa5 {White almost equalises.} Re8 26. Qc4 Bd7 27. Ne3 g6 28. Rb1
$4 Qa3 $4 ({They miss} 28... Qxf2+ 29. Kh1 Rxe3) 29. Bc7 b5 30. Qb3 Qxb3 31.
axb3 Rc8 32. Be5 Bg7 33. Nd5 Be6 34. Ne3 Bxe5 35. dxe5 Rfc7 36. Rb2 Rc1+ 37.
Nf1 R8c3 {Shulman defeated another grandmaster.} 0-1

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Kudrin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shulman and Kudrin shared the lead by 4/5.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4.
cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11.
Qd3 e6 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Qe3 Nd7 14. Rfd1 $5 ({Theory is} 14. e5) 14... Nf6 15.
Nd2 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rac8 17. h3 $5 Qc2 18. Bd3 Qa4 (18... Qxa2 $2 19. Ra1 Qb2 20.
Rdb1 Qc3 21. Rxa7 {favours White.}) 19. Bb5 Qc2 20. Re1 $6 Qc3 $6 ({
Black misses the opportunity} 20... Rc3 $1 21. Qe2 h6 {
and he has the initiative.}) 21. Bd3 $1 e5 $6 22. d5 $1 {
Shulman applies a restraint.} Nd7 23. Bb5 Qxe3 24. Rxe3 Bf6 $5 25. h4 $5 Bxg5
26. hxg5 Nc5 27. Nc4 $1 {White closes the c-file.} h6 $6 28. Nxe5 $6 hxg5 29.
f3 Kg7 30. Ra3 Ra8 31. Bc6 Rfb8 32. Rc3 f6 $5 33. Bxb7 $5 Rxb7 34. Rxc5 $1 fxe5
35. Rc6 Re8 36. Kf2 g4 37. Rbc1 gxf3 38. gxf3 Rf7 39. Rc7 Ref8 40. Ke3 Kh6 41.
Rxf7 Rxf7 42. Rc6 b5 43. Re6 $1 a5 44. Rxe5 {
White has an extra pawn in the rook ending.} b4 45. Re6 Rb7 46. Ra6 b3 47. axb3
Rxb3+ 48. Kf4 Ra3 49. d6 Kg7 50. Ke5 $5 Rxf3 51. d7 {
Shulman took the sole lead.} 1-0

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Becerra Rivero, Julio"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8.
Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qc7 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7 12. Qd3 dxc3 13. Nxc3 a6 14. Rb1
Na5 15. h4 Nf5 16. Rh3 O-O-O 17. h5 Nc4 18. Rb4 Bc6 19. Ne2 Bb5 20. a4 Qc5 21.
Ba3 Bc6 22. Qc3 Rg4 $1 {Black increases the pressure.} (22... Qa7 {
drew in Hort - Nogueiras, Biel 1988.}) 23. h6 Rh8 24. h7 Rg7 $1 25. Rb3 Qa7 $1
{Shulman has gained an edge.} 26. Bc1 Bxa4 27. Qb4 $2 ({Correct is} 27. Ng3 $1
Qd4 28. Nxf5 Qxc3+ 29. Rbxc3 exf5 30. Bxc4 dxc4 31. Rxc4+ Bc6 32. e6 $1 fxe6
33. Bb2 e5 $1 34. Bxe5 Re7 {and equality.}) 27... b5 $1 {
Black conquers on the flanks.} 28. Rh5 ({Or} 28. Rbc3 Kb7) 28... a5 $5 29. Qc3
Rgxh7 30. Rxf5 $5 exf5 31. Qd3 Qc5 32. Nc3 Rh5 33. Nxa4 bxa4 34. Rc3 Kb8 35.
Ba3 Qb5 36. Kf2 Rh1 37. Bd6+ Kb7 38. Be2 Qb6+ 39. Kg3 R1h3+ $1 {
Shulman mates in two. He leads by 6/7!} 0-1

[Event "Tulsa"]
[Site "USA 52"]
[Date "2008.05.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Fedorowicz, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2459"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.05.13"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Shulman led by one point on Onischuk and Kudrin, when the last round began.
Shulman drew quickly with Friedel. Shulman became the champion and Friedel
grandmaster.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7.
Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 f5 12. exf5 Nxf5 13. Nd2 Nd4 14.
Nde4 Bf5 15. h4 $5 ({Known is} 15. O-O Nd7 16. Bg4) 15... Nxe2 $6 ({
Aggression shows} 15... g4 $5 16. Bxg4 $5 Bxg4 17. Qxg4 Nc2+ 18. Kd2 Nxa1 19.
Qe6+ Kh8 20. Rxa1 Qd7) 16. Qxe2 g4 17. h5 h6 18. c5 $6 Na6 19. c6 $5 Qc8 $1 20.
O-O b6 $6 ({Preferable is} 20... bxc6 21. dxc6 Rf7) 21. f3 Rf7 $5 22. Qc4 Nc5
23. b4 Qa6 24. Qxa6 $6 (24. Nb5 $1 {keeps an edge.}) 24... Nxa6 25. a3 Raf8 26.
Rae1 gxf3 27. Rxf3 Bg4 28. Rxf7 Rxf7 29. Nb5 $1 Bxh5 $2 30. Nxa7 $2 (30. Nexd6
$1 cxd6 31. Nxd6 Rf8 32. Nb5 {wins for White.}) 30... Rf8 31. Nb5 Bg6 32. Nbc3
h5 $6 33. Rf1 Bh6 $2 (33... Ra8 34. Bf2 Bf8 {defends the queenside.}) 34. Rxf8+
Kxf8 35. Kf2 $2 Bc1 $2 (35... b5 $1 {brings the last chance.}) 36. b5 $1 Nc5
37. Nxc5 bxc5 38. b6 $1 {Onischuk gained the second place. The final standings
became: Shulman 7, Onischuk 61/2, Kudrin 6, etc.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-third US championship was played the in Saint Louis Chess Club and
Scholastic Center from 8 until 17 v 2009. 25 participants carried out nine
Swiss rounds. The new sponsor was Rex Sinquefield.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. a4 O-O 9. f4 Qc7 10. Be3 b6
11. Bf3 Bb7 12. f5 e5 13. Nb3 Nbd7 14. g4 h6 15. h4 d5 16. exd5 e4 17. Bg2 Qg3
18. Qe1 $1 ({Known is} 18. Bf2 Qxg4 $6 19. Nxe4 $1 {
(R.Byrne - Winslow, New York 1986).}) 18... Qxe1 19. Rfxe1 $5 Nxg4 20. Bxb6 $1
Nxb6 21. Rxe4 Nxd5 $5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxe7 {White has an extra pawn.} Rfd8
24. Bf1 Kf8 25. Ree1 $5 Rdb8 26. Ra3 $5 Nf6 27. Rd1 Ra7 28. Rd2 Be4 29. Rf2 Ng4
$2 ({Better is} 29... h5 $5 30. c3 Ng4 31. Rf4 Ba8) 30. Rf4 $1 Nf6 {
Black has lost two tempi.} 31. Nc5 Bxc2 32. Rf2 Bd1 $6 ({Not} 32... Rxb2 $2 33.
Rc3 {(Ftacnik).}) (32... Bb1 $5 33. Nxa6 Rb6 34. b4 Raxa6 35. Bxa6 Rxa6 36. a5
Be4 37. b5 Rd6 38. a6 Ng4 {counters on the kingside.}) 33. Nxa6 $1 {
Nakamura conquers the queenside.} Rb6 34. b4 Rbxa6 35. Bxa6 Rxa6 36. a5 $1 {
Shabalov cannot stop the passed pawns.} Ne4 37. b5 $1 Rd6 38. a6 $1 Nxf2 39. a7
$1 Nh3+ 40. Rxh3 {Nakamura had a great start.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Be3 Nd5 9. Ne5 Bd6 10. Qh5 Qc7 $5 ({Known is} 10... Bxe5 11. dxe5 Bd7) 11.
Bb5+ Kf8 12. O-O-O {Kamsky has great plans.} a6 13. Bc4 Nf6 $2 ({Better is} 
13... b6 $1 14. Rhe1 Bb7) 14. Qf3 Rb8 15. Bf4 b5 16. Rhe1 cxd4 ({The pointe is
} 16... bxc4 $4 17. dxc5) 17. Rxd4 Rb6 $1 18. Bb3 $1 Bb7 $6 (18... Kg8 19. Qa8
Rb8 20. Qc6 Qxc6 21. Nxc6 Bxf4+ 22. Rxf4 Ra8 {offers more resistance.}) 19. Qh3
$1 a5 $2 {Black allows a quick decision.} 20. Rxd6 $1 Rxd6 21. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 22.
Qxe6+ $5 Rxe6 23. Bxe6+ Kg6 24. Bxc7 {White has gained two pawns.} Re8 25. Bxa5
Bxg2 26. f4 h5 27. Re5 Kh6 28. Bd2 Bc6 29. Rc5 Bd7 30. Bxd7 Nxd7 31. Rxb5 Re2
32. h4 Nf6 33. f5+ Kh7 34. Kd1 Rh2 35. Be1 Ng4 36. Rb3 Rh1 37. a4 Rf1 38. a5
Rxf5 39. a6 Rf7 40. Ra3 Rd7+ 41. Kc1 {Kamsky had won for the second time.
Hereafter, he only triumphed in one more game.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Black "Becerra Rivero, Julio"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. Bg5 exd4 14. Rxd4 b4
15. Rad1 $5 ({Theory is} 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Na4 Rfe8 17. Rad1 {
(Dydysho - Miroshnichenko, Swidnica 2000).}) 15... Bc5 16. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 17. Na4
Bb6 18. Be7 Ne5 $5 19. Bd6 $1 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 Qc8 21. Bxf8 Qxf8 {
Black has made useful exchanges.} 22. e5 $1 {White takes the initiative.} Rd8
$2 ({Preferable is} 22... Qe7 $1 23. Qf5 Rd8 24. Nxb6 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 axb6) 23.
Nxb6 axb6 24. g3 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qe7 26. Qd4 $1 b5 ({The liberating move} 26...
c5 $2 {fails due to} 27. Qd6 $1 Qxd6 28. exd6 Bc8 29. Bc6 {(Ftacnik).}) 27. Qa7
$1 Qc7 28. Qc5 $1 {Becerra suffers from restriction.} g6 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. h4 h5
31. b3 Ba8 32. e6 $1 {White ruins the kingside before he captures on b4.} fxe6
33. Qxb4 Qa7 34. Qc3+ Kh7 35. b4 Qxa2 36. Qf6 Qa7 37. Be4 $1 Qg7 38. Qxe6 {
He restraints his opponent on both flanks.} Bb7 39. g4 $1 Kh6 40. gxh5 Kxh5 41.
f3 Kh6 42. h5 $1 Qb2+ ({The pointe is} 42... Kxh5 43. Qg4+ Kh6 44. Qh4#) 43.
Kg3 Qg7 44. hxg6 Qc7+ 45. f4 Bc8 46. Qf6 {
Akobian played a great positional game.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2446"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Qe6 10. Qe4 Ba6 11. b3 O-O-O 12. Bd2 $5 ({Usual is} 12. Bb2)
12... Re8 13. c5 $6 ({Correct is} 13. f4 Bc5 14. Be3 Bb4 15. Bd2 Bc5 {drawn.})
13... Bxf1 $1 14. cxb6 Ba6 $6 (14... d5 $1 15. bxa7 Kb7 {gains an advantage.})
15. bxa7 Kb7 16. O-O-O Bc5 17. Be3 $6 ({Preferable is} 17. Na4 $5 Bxf2 18. Be3
Bxe3+ 19. Qxe3 d6 20. Rhe1) 17... d5 $1 18. Qf4 g5 $5 19. Qa4 $6 (19. a8=Q+
Rxa8 20. Qf6 {defends well.}) 19... Qxe5 20. Rd4 $2 Bxa7 21. Kb2 Bb6 22. Qb4 $4
c5 {Black collapsed quickly.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C72"]
[WhiteElo "2516"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Robert Hess was a 17-year-old. He competed at the top.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Nxd4 exd4 9. Qxd4 Ne7
10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Qd3 Be7 12. Nd5 O-O 13. Bd2 Rae8 14. Bc3 Bd8 15. Rfe1 Ne5 16.
Qg3 Ng6 17. Rad1 f6 $5 (17... f5 18. Qh3 Qf7 19. exf5 Rxe1+ 20. Bxe1 Qxf5 {
drew in Kholmov - Bakulin, Kiev 1964.}) 18. h4 $6 {Friedel wants to attack.} f5
$1 {But Hess counters.} 19. exf5 $6 ({Preferable is} 19. h5 $5 f4 20. Qh2 Nh4
21. h6 $1) 19... Qxf5 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Ne3 Qf7 22. Rd4 h5 $1 23. a4 Re6 24. a5
Bf6 25. Ra4 $6 ({More active is} 25. Rb4 $5 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Re5 27. Rxb7 Rxa5)
25... Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rf6 27. f3 Nf4 28. Kf2 Ne6 29. Rb4 Nc5 30. Qh3 $5 Qa2 $5 {
White hesitates.} 31. Kg3 $2 ({Better is the immediate} 31. Qc8+ Rf8 32. Qxc7
Nd3+ 33. Ke2 Nxb4 34. cxb4) 31... Qa1 $1 32. Qc8+ Rf8 33. Qxc7 Qxc3 $1 34. Rxb7
Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Nxb7 {Hess charged effectively.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
Qe8 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. d5 Nb4 11. Be2 a5 12. Be3 Nh5 13. Qd2 $5 Na6 $5 14. Nb5 Nf4
15. Bd1 $5 Bd7 16. a4 b6 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Qxf4 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Be5 20. Nxe5 dxe5
21. Qf6 Bxb5 22. cxb5 Nc5 {Black has the strong knight.} 23. Re3 Rd8 24. Rh3
Rd7 $1 25. Bc2 ({The pointe is} 25. Qh4 f5 $1) 25... Qe7 26. Qxe7 Rxe7 27. Rc3
Nb7 28. Rc1 Rd8 29. Bd1 Nd6 $5 30. Rxc7 $6 ({More solid is} 30. f3 Rdd7 31. Kf2
) 30... Rxc7 31. Rxc7 Nxe4 32. f4 $5 Rxd5 $5 {Black has gained a pawn.} 33. Bf3
Rd4 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. fxe5 Rxe5 {He wants to win the rook ending.} 36. Rb7 Re6
37. Kf2 g5 $5 38. Kf3 h5 39. h3 Kg7 40. g3 Kg6 41. g4 f5 $1 42. gxf5+ Kxf5 43.
Rh7 Kg6 44. Rd7 $2 ({Preferable is} 44. Rc7 $5 Rf6+ 45. Ke4 h4 46. Rc6) 44...
Rf6+ 45. Kg3 h4+ 46. Kg2 Kf5 47. Rd8 Ke4 48. Rg8 Kf4 49. Rd8 Ke3 50. Re8+ $6 (
50. Rg8 Rf2+ 51. Kg1 Rf4 52. Rxg5 Rxa4 53. Rg6 Rb4 54. Rxb6 {
fights for the last chance.}) 50... Kd3 51. Rg8 Rf4 $1 52. Rxg5 Rxa4 53. Rg6
Rb4 54. Rxb6 Kc4 55. Kf3 a4 56. Rb8 a3 $1 57. b6 a2 58. Ra8 Kb3 {
Nakamura, Kamsky,Onischuk and Hess shared the lead by 5/7.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Brooks, Michael"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2463"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 9. c4 Ng6 10. Bd3 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxg6 $5 ({Theory is} 12. Be3)
12... hxg6 13. Be3 f5 14. f3 b6 {Black has a fine pawn structure.} 15. f4 a6
16. Nc3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Bf6 18. Be3 Bd7 19. Bd4 {White plays for a draw.} Rc8 20.
Qd3 Qc7 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. b3 $2 ({Correct is} 22. Qd4 $1 Qc5 23. Qxc5 Rxc5 24.
Rf4 g5 25. Rd4 {and White keeps the equality.}) 22... Qc5+ 23. Kh1 b5 $1 24.
Rae1 $6 (24. Qg3 $1 Re8 25. Qh4 {tries to survive.}) 24... bxc4 25. Qg3 $5 cxb3
$1 26. Ne4 $5 fxe4 27. Rxf6 Bf5 ({The pointe is} 27... gxf6 $4 28. Qxg6+ Kf8
29. Qxf6+ Kg8 {and perpetual check.}) 28. Rxd6 $5 (28. Rxg6 Bxg6 29. Qxg6 Qxd5
30. axb3 Qe5 {also wins for Black.}) 28... b2 $1 29. Rc6 Rxc6 30. dxc6 Qc1 $1
31. Qb3+ Kh7 32. Qd1 Qxd1 33. Rxd1 e3 34. c7 e2 $1 {
Nakamura and Hess led by 6/8. The number of leaders had been halved.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 53"]
[Date "2009.05.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C58"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2516"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2009.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Bd3 {They play an enterprising opening.} Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Rb8 $5 ({
Known is} 10... h6 11. Nf3 Bd6) 11. h3 c5 $6 ({Preferable is} 11... h6 12. Nf3
Bd6) 12. b3 Rb4 $6 {The rook becomes vulnerable.} 13. Re1 Bb7 $5 14. Ba3 Rf4
15. g3 $5 {He could take on e5 as well.} Rd4 16. Nf3 Rxd3 $5 {
Black has no serious defence.} 17. cxd3 Qxd3 $2 (17... Qd7 $1 18. Kh2 $1 Bc8
19. Ng1 Nc6 {offers more resistance.}) 18. Nxe5 Qf5 19. g4 Qf4 20. d4 $1 Rd8
21. Qe2 Rxd4 22. Bc1 $1 {Hess drew. The final standings became: Nakamura 7/9,
Hess and Onischuk 61/2, Kamsky and Akobian 6, etc.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-forth US championship was played in Saint Louis from 14 until 25 v
2010. 24 participants carried out Swiss rounds. Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk and
Shulman were the top four after seven rounds with a score of 5/7. They
executed a quad final.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 a6 5. c5 g6 6. h3
Bg7 7. Bf4 Bf5 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Qb3 Qc8 10. Be2 Ne4 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 $5 h6 13.
Bh2 Re8 14. Na4 e5 $1 15. Rac1 exd4 16. Nxd4 Bf8 17. Nxf5 gxf5 18. Nb6 $6 Nxb6
$6 (18... Nexc5 $1 19. Nxc8 Nxb3 20. axb3 Raxc8 21. Bd3 {equalises.}) 19. Qxb6
Bg7 20. Bd3 a5 21. Bf4 Be5 $1 {
White has a plus. Black counters at the cost of a pawn.} 22. Bxh6 Qb8 23. Rc2 (
23. Bf4 Bxf4 24. exf4 Qxf4 25. Bxe4 fxe4 26. Qxb7 Qf6 27. Qc7 {keeps an edge.})
23... Re6 24. Bf4 Bxf4 25. exf4 Qxf4 26. Qxb7 Rb8 27. Qa7 Rg6 28. Bf1 Ng5 29.
Rd3 Re8 30. Rg3 Re1 {The black charge looks dangerous.} 31. Re2 (31. Qxa5 Qe4
32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. Rxg5 Rxg5 34. Qxg5 Qxc2 35. Qh5+ {leads to perpetual check.})
31... Ne4 32. Rxg6+ fxg6 33. Qe7 {Black has no decision.} (33. Qe7 Rxf1+ 34.
Kxf1 Ng3+ 35. Kg1 Nxe2+ 36. Qxe2 Qc1+ 37. Kh2 Qxc5 {
brings an equal queen ending.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nd7 5. Bg2 a6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qc6 Rb8 8.
O-O Bb7 9. Qc2 c5 10. d3 Bd6 11. a4 Ngf6 12. Nc3 Bc6 13. Bg5 $5 ({Known is} 13.
Ng5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2) 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2
O-O 18. Nce4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qb6 20. Ra2 Ra8 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Rc1 Rc8 23. Nxd6
Qxd6 24. b3 Qe5 25. Qa2 Qd5+ 26. f3 Ra8 27. Qb2 Rc8 28. Qc3 Ra8 29. Qb2 Rc8 30.
Rc2 Ra8 31. Kf2 Qh5 32. Kg2 Qd5 {Little happened in this game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C69"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8.
Ne2 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bd7 10. Nbc3 O-O-O 11. Be3 b6 12. a4 Re8 13. a5 $5 b5 14. f3
f5 15. Ng3 Nf6 16. Bg5 fxe4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Ncxe4 Be7 19. Rd5 Be6 20. Rh5 Bf7
21. Rf5 Bg6 22. Rf4 {Kamsky avoids a repetition.} c4 23. c3 Rhf8 24. Nf5 Bd8
25. g4 Re5 26. Kf2 Bxf5 27. gxf5 {The chances are equal.} Rg8 28. Rh4 Rxf5 29.
Rd1 $5 (29. Rxh7 Rd5 30. Re1 f5 31. Ng3 Bg5 {equalises easily.}) 29... Rg7 30.
Ng3 Rc5 31. Rhd4 Be7 32. f4 Bd6 $5 33. Kf3 Kb7 34. R1d2 f5 35. Rd5 Rf7 36. Rxc5
Bxc5 37. Rd5 Kc6 38. Re5 $5 {He could have captured pawn e5 at once.} Rd7 39.
Rxf5 Rd3+ 40. Kg4 Bd6 ({Not} 40... Rd2 $4 41. Rxc5+ $1) 41. Ne4 Re3 42. Nxd6
cxd6 43. Rf7 Re2 44. Ra7 Rxb2 45. Rxa6+ Kd5 $5 46. Rb6 b4 $6 {
Kamsky gets winning chances in the rook ending.} ({Better is} 46... Rg2+ 47.
Kf5 Kc5) 47. cxb4 c3 48. b5 $1 {Onischuk had missed this strong answer.} Kc5 $2
({Correct is} 48... c2 $1 49. Rc6 Rxb5 50. Rxc2 Rxa5 51. Re2 Ra4 52. Kf5 {
(Yermolinsky)} Kc6 $5 53. Re7 d5 $1 54. Rxh7 d4 55. Rh8 Kd6 56. h4 Ke7 {
and Black will draw.}) 49. Rc6+ Kxb5 50. Rxc3 Rxh2 51. f5 h5+ 52. Kg3 Rh1 53.
f6 Rg1+ 54. Kf4 Rg8 55. Ra3 h4 56. a6 Ra8 57. a7 h3 58. Kg3 Kc6 59. f7 Kb7 {
Onischuk was eliminated for the title.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2613"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Nf3
Nc6 9. h4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nge7 11. h5 Nxd4 12. Bd3 h6 13. Kf1 Nxf3 14. Qxf3 b6
15. Qg3 Ba6 16. Qxg7 Bxd3+ 17. cxd3 Rg8 18. Qxh6 $5 {
White snatches an extra pawn.} ({Known is} 18. Qh7) 18... Qd4 19. Re1 Qxd3+ {
Black regains the pawn.} 20. Kg1 Rc8 21. Bg5 $6 ({Correct is} 21. Qe3 $1 Qh7
22. h6 Nf5 23. Qb3 {and equality.}) 21... Qf5 22. f4 $5 Rc2 23. Rh2 $2 (23. Qf6
$1 Qxf6 24. exf6 Nf5 25. Rh3 {fights for equality (Yermolinsky).}) 23... Qd3 $1
24. Qf6 Rxg5 $1 25. Qxg5 ({Or} 25. fxg5 Nf5) 25... Qd4+ 26. Kh1 Qe3 $1 {
Nakamura was out of the race.} (26... Qe3 27. Qh4 Rc1 $1 {gains a rook.}) 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Nxe4 Bxe4 8.
O-O O-O 9. Ne5 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 d6 11. Nf3 Nd7 12. e4 c5 13. b3 $5 cxd4 14. Nxd4
Qc7 15. Bb2 Qb7 16. Qf3 Rab8 17. Rad1 a6 18. a4 Ne5 19. Qe2 Rfe8 20. Rfe1 Nc6
21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qf3 Rb7 23. e5 Qxf3+ 24. Kxf3 dxe5 25. Bxe5 f6 26. Bd6 Kf7
27. Bxe7 Kxe7 28. Rd3 Rd7 29. Rde3 Rd6 30. a5 Rb8 {There was no real fight.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 Quad final"]
[Date "2010.05.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2010.05.22"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5 Bxc3+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Na5 13. h4 Bg4 14. Ng5
Bxe2 15. Kxe2 h6 16. Nf3 Kh7 17. e5 $5 {
White has sacrificed a pawn for an attack in the centre.} ({Usual is} 17. Qc3)
17... Nc4 $1 18. Qd3 Nb6 19. h5 $1 Qxd5 20. hxg6+ fxg6 (20... Kg7 $5 21. Qe3 $1
{brings a dangerous situation for Black.}) 21. Ng5+ $1 Kg7 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23.
Ne6+ Kf7 24. Nxf8 Nc3+ 25. Ke3 Nxb1 26. Rxb1 Rxf8 27. Rxb7 {
The rook ending is a dead draw.} Ke6 28. Rxa7 g5 29. Rc7 Ra8 30. Rxc5 {
The final standings became: Shulman and Kamsky 2/3, Onischuk and Nakamura 1. A
playoff was needed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 54 playoff"]
[Date "2010.05.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2010.05.25"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The players carried out an Armageddon rapid game. They had to make a bid for
their contemplation time. Kamsky wrote down twenty-five minutes, the lowest
bid. He got the right to chose the colour and selected Black. His opponent got
sixty minutes and had to win as White.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6
5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Qb6 8. b3 Bg4 9. Ba3 Re8 10. Rc1 $5 e6 11. h3 Bxf3
12. Bxf3 Nbd7 13. Bd6 Bf8 14. Bg3 a5 15. Qc2 Qa7 16. Rfd1 Nb6 17. Be2 Nc8 $5
18. c5 $1 {White has the two bishops and a better pawn structure.} b6 19. Na4
$5 Ne4 20. Be5 b5 21. Nb6 Nxb6 22. cxb6 Qxb6 23. f3 Nd6 24. Qxc6 Reb8 25. Qxb6
Rxb6 {Shulman has a plus in the endgame.} 26. Kf2 Ne8 27. Rc2 Ba3 28. e4 Kf8
29. g4 h6 30. h4 Rd8 31. Bf4 Kg7 32. Be3 Nd6 $2 (32... Rb7 {
makes a fine waiting move.}) 33. exd5 $1 exd5 34. Rc5 $1 Ne8 35. Rxb5 Rxb5 36.
Bxb5 {White has gained a pawn.} Nc7 37. Bd3 Ne6 38. f4 Be7 39. Rh1 $2 (39. Kg3
$1 Bf6 40. Be2 {keeps the advantage.}) 39... Bf6 $1 40. h5 gxh5 41. Rxh5 Bxd4
42. Bxd4+ Nxd4 {Black has regained the pawn.} 43. Ke3 Nc6 44. Bb5 Nb4 45. Kd4
Rb8 46. a4 Rc8 47. Re5 Kf6 48. Rf5+ Kg6 49. Re5 Kf6 50. g5+ hxg5 51. fxg5+ Kg6
52. Re7 Ra8 53. Be8 Kxg5 54. Kc5 $6 f5 55. Rg7+ Kf6 56. Rg6+ Ke7 57. Bb5 f4 58.
Rg4 f3 59. Kb6 f2 $1 60. Rf4 Rf8 61. Rxf8 Kxf8 62. Kxa5 Nc6+ $1 63. Kb6 Nd4 $6
(63... Ne5 $1 64. Bf1 d4 {plays for a win.}) 64. Bf1 Nxb3 65. Kb5 Ke7 66. Kb4 {
Kamsky won the title and $35,000. Shulman became second and gained $20,000.
Onischuk and Nakamura drew their playoff game. They shared the third and
fourth prize and got $12,500.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Group 1"]
[Date "2011.04.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2622"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.04.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-fifth US championship was played in Saint Louis from 15 until 27 iv
2011. They used another system again. The sixteen participants were divided in
two groups.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 c5 7.
cxd5 exd5 8. Be2 Qa5 9. O-O c4 10. Nd2 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc3 12. e4 O-O $5 ({
Theory is} 12... Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Rc1 Qa5 15. Bd2 Qf5 16. Rxc4) 13. exd5
Qxd4 14. Nxc4 Qxd5 {Black has equalised.} 15. Qc1 Nb6 $6 (15... Ne4 $1 16. Bf4
Ndf6 17. Bf3 Bf5 {develops quietly.}) 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nxb6 axb6 {
White has ruined his opponent's pawn structure.} 18. Bf3 Qg5 19. Qb2 b5 20.
Rfe1 $1 Rd8 21. Re3 $1 {He starts an attack on the kingside.} Kh8 22. a3 Ra4 $6
({Preferable is} 22... Rb8 23. Rae1 Be6) 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ 24. Bxd1 Rc4 25. Be2 Rc6
26. Qd2 Re6 27. h4 $1 Qg8 28. Rg3 Qf8 29. Bxb5 {
Shulman has regained the pawn at last.} Rd6 30. Qf4 b6 $6 31. Bd3 $6 (31. Bc4
$1 {wins quickly.}) 31... Bd7 32. h5 Re6 $2 (32... f5 33. Bxf5 Bxf5 34. Qxf5
Qe7 {offers more resistance at the cost of a pawn.}) 33. Bc4 $1 Rd6 34. Kh2 $1
{He threatens 35.Bxf7!} f5 $6 (34... Be8 $5 35. Bb3 $1 {
leads to zugzwang (Shulman).}) 35. Bxf7 $5 Rf6 36. Rg8+ Qxg8 37. Bxg8 Kxg8 38.
Qd4 Rf7 39. Qxb6 f4 40. h6 {Shulman carried out a fine attack.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Group 1"]
[Date "2011.04.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2438"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2011.04.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nd2 e6 5. Nb3 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 h6 8. c3 Bh7
9. h4 $5 a6 10. Bf4 Rc8 11. h5 c5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Rxc5 14. Nd4 Rc8 15.
Qa4+ Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Kd2 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Be3 Be7 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21.
Kxd3 Rhc8 22. Rh3 Ke8 23. Bd4 b5 24. a3 a5 25. Rg3 Kf8 26. f4 Bc5 27. Bxc5+
Rxc5 {The chances are about equal in the double rook ending.} 28. Rf1 $5 b4 $1
{The minority attack becomes effective.} 29. axb4 axb4 30. Kd2 d4 $5 31. Rc1 $2
({Better is} 31. cxb4 $1 Rc2+ 32. Kd3 Rxb2 33. Ke4 Rxb4 34. Rd3) 31... Rc4 $1
32. Rf3 dxc3+ 33. bxc3 Rd8+ $6 34. Ke2 $6 (34. Kc2 $1 Rdc8 35. Kb3 {
defends properly.}) 34... Re4+ 35. Kf1 Rc8 36. g3 Rec4 37. Ke2 bxc3 {
Kamsky has gained an extra pawn by solid play.} 38. Rc2 f6 39. Re3 Kf7 40. Kf3
R8c5 41. exf6 $5 gxf6 42. Rd3 Ke7 43. Re3 e5 $1 44. fxe5 fxe5 45. g4 Kf6 46.
Kg3 Kg5 47. Kh3 $5 Kf4 $1 48. Re1 e4 49. Rf2+ Ke5 50. Rf5+ Kd4 51. Rf4 Kd3 52.
Rd1+ Kc2 53. Rff1 e3 54. Rc1+ Kd3 55. Rfd1+ Ke4 56. Kg3 c2 57. Rd8 Rd4 {
The final standings of group 1 became: Kamsky 5/7, Shulman 41/2, Robson 4, A.
Ivanov 31/2, Akobian and Ehlvest 3, Naroditsky and Stripunsky 21/2. Kamsky and
Shulman qualified for the semi finals.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Group 2"]
[Date "2011.04.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2011.04.15"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Ne4 8.
Qc2 Qb4+ 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qxc4 11. O-O O-O $5 12. Rab1 d5 13. Rfc1 Ne7 14.
e3 {White has compensation for the pawn.} Qa6 15. Ng5 $5 Ng6 16. c4 c6 17. h4
h6 18. Nf3 Qxc4 19. Qxc4 dxc4 20. Rxc4 Rd8 21. h5 Ne7 22. Ne1 Rd6 23. Nd3 b6 $5
{He weakens c6.} 24. Ne5 Ba6 25. Rc3 Be2 26. Ra3 $6 {Christiansen spoils time.}
(26. Rbc1 $1 Bxh5 27. g4 Bg6 28. Nxg6 Nxg6 29. Rxc6 Rxc6 30. Rxc6 {
keeps the equality.}) 26... Nd5 27. e4 $6 {Pawn d4 is weakened.} Nc7 28. Rc3
Bb5 29. Nf3 Rad8 30. Rbc1 Na6 $6 31. Ra3 $6 (31. Bf1 $1 Bxf1 32. Kxf1 Nb8 33.
g4 {improves the white position.}) 31... Be2 32. Ne5 Rxd4 33. Rxc6 Bb5 {
White has nothing for the pawn.} 34. Rcc3 Ra4 35. Rab3 Be8 36. a3 Nc5 37. Rb4
Rd4 38. Nc4 f6 $1 39. e5 fxe5 40. Rxa4 Nxa4 41. Rc1 Bxh5 42. Nxe5 Nc5 43. Nc6
Ra4 44. Rc3 Bd1 45. Bh3 g5 46. Ne5 Kg7 47. Re3 Bb3 48. Nd7 Nxd7 49. Rxb3 g4 50.
Bf1 Ne5 51. Be2 Kf6 52. Rc3 a6 53. Kg2 b5 54. Bd1 Rc4 55. Re3 Rc1 56. Be2 Re1
57. Re4 h5 58. Kh2 a5 59. Kg2 b4 $1 60. axb4 axb4 61. Rf4+ Ke7 62. Bf1 Rb1 63.
Be2 Kd6 64. Rf8 b3 65. Rb8 Kc5 66. Rb5+ Kd4 67. Bf1 Nf3 68. Rxh5 e5 69. Rh8
Rxf1 $1 70. Rd8+ Ke4 71. Kxf1 b2 72. Rd1 b1=Q 73. Kg2 $5 Nh4+ $1 {The final sta
ndings in Group 2 became: Hess 51/2/7, Shankland and Onischuk 4, Seirawan 31/2,
Shabalov and Kaidanov 3, Finegold and Christiansen 21/2. Hess qualified for
the semi finals. Shankland and Onischuk had to carry out a playoff.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Group 2 playoff"]
[Date "2011.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2512"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2011.04.22"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The first game of the playoff had ended in an easy draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Nf6
10. Be3 O-O 11. Qb3 Nfd7 12. a4 Qc7 13. Qa3 b6 14. a5 Bb7 15. Ne2 $5 (15. a6
Bc8 16. Bb5 Nxc5 17. Bxc5 bxc5 {drew in Shirov - Kramnik, Bilbao 2010.}) 15...
Nxc5 16. Nd4 Nbd7 17. Be2 Ba6 18. Bxa6 Nxa6 19. O-O Qc8 $5 20. Nb5 $1 Nac5 21.
Qb4 Nd3 $5 22. Qd4 N7c5 23. Rfb1 $6 (23. e5 $5 Qc6 24. Nd6 {gains an advantage.
}) 23... Rd8 24. Qc4 $6 ({Preferable is} 24. Nd6 Qd7 25. e5) 24... a6 25. axb6
$1 {White has to sacrifice a piece.} axb5 26. Qxb5 Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Nb7 28. Bd4 e5
29. Qxd3 exd4 30. cxd4 {He has three pawns for a knight.} Rd6 31. Rb1 Rc6 32.
Qe3 Rc3 33. Qf4 h6 34. h4 Rc2 35. d5 Qc5+ 36. Kh2 Qf2 37. Qb8+ Kh7 38. Qg3 Qd4
39. Qf4 Kg8 40. Qb8+ Kh7 41. Qf4 f6 $6 {Black fails to play for a perpetual.}
42. h5 Qe5 $2 43. Qxe5 fxe5 44. Kh3 {The endgame favours White.} g6 45. Ra1 Rb2
46. Rc1 $1 Rxb6 47. Rc7+ Kg8 48. hxg6 Na5 $5 49. Rc5 $5 Nb3 $2 50. Rc6 Rb7 51.
Re6 $2 (51. d6 $1 Rd7 52. Rc8+ Kg7 53. Rc7 {wins for White (Shankland).}) 51...
Nd4 52. Rxe5 Kg7 53. Re8 Kxg6 54. f4 Rb3+ 55. Kh4 Rd3 $6 56. d6 $1 Ne2 57. f5+
Kf7 58. Re7+ Kf6 59. Re6+ Kf7 60. Rxh6 Rd4 61. Re6 $5 Nf4 $5 62. Re7+ Kf8 63.
Kg5 Nd3 ({Or} 63... Rxd6 64. e5 Ra6 65. Rh7 Nxg2 66. e6 Ne3 67. e7+ Ke8 68. f6
{(Shankland).}) 64. e5 $1 Nf4 65. g4 Nd5 66. Ra7 Ne3 67. Kf6 Nxg4+ 68. Ke6 Re4
69. d7 Rxe5+ 70. Kd6 {
Shankland qualified for the semi finals after a hard fight.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Semi final 1"]
[Date "2011.04.24"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.04.23"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky sacrificed a piece for an attack in the first game. The endgame became
a draw.} 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 $1 {White develops some pressure.} ({Known is} 15. Raxd1
) 15... Rd8 16. Bd6 f6 17. Rab1 Bc8 {Black has to resist passively.} 18. Rd3
Kf7 19. Bc7 Rxd3 $5 20. cxd3 Re8 $5 (20... h5 $1 21. f4 exf4 22. Bxf4 Nd8 23.
Bd5+ Kg6 {defends well.}) 21. Bb6 Be6 $6 (21... f5 $1 22. gxf5 Bxf5 {
lessens the restraint.}) 22. Bc5 $1 b5 $6 ({Correct is} 22... Nd8) 23. a4 $1 (
23. Bxc6 $2 Rc8 24. Bxb5 Rxc5 25. Bxa6 Rxc3 {equalises.}) 23... 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 $2 (33... Ne5 $1 34. dxe5 Rxc5 35. f4 Rc7 {
prolongs the game.}) 34. Bxb5 Bd5 35. Ra6 Kg6 36. Rb6 Kg5 37. Kg3 f4+ 38. Kf2
h5 39. Kg2 Rc7 40. h4+ $1 Kxh4 $5 41. Bxc6 Rg7+ 42. Kf2 {
Kamsky qualified for the final.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 Semi final 2"]
[Date "2011.04.25"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2622"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2011.04.23"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Two games at normal speed were drawn in the second semi final. The first
rapid game was undecided too.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3
O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 Na6 11. O-O c5 12. Ne1 h5
13. h3 Nh6 14. Nd3 Nf7 15. f4 $5 (15. a3 {
was played in Van Wely - Piket, Groningen 1997.}) 15... exf4 16. Nxf4 Ne5 17.
Bg3 Qe7 18. Nb5 Rd8 $5 19. Be1 $1 f5 $2 ({Better is} 19... Bd7 20. Ba5 b6 21.
Bc3) 20. Bc3 $5 (20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Nxh5 $1 {gains a pawn.}) 20... fxe4 21. Bxe5
Qxe5 22. Nxg6 Qg5 23. Bxh5 Bxh3 24. Qe2 {White has a positional advantage.} Bd7
$2 (24... Nb4 $1 25. Nc3 Re8 26. Nxe4 Bd4+ {offers more resistance.}) 25. Nxd6
Bd4+ 26. Kh1 Re8 27. g4 $1 Nb4 28. Nf7 Qe3 29. Qxe3 Bxe3 30. Rae1 Bd2 31. Re2
e3 32. g5 Kh7 33. Nh6 Rg8 34. Nxg8 Kxg8 35. Ne7+ Kh8 36. Rh2 $1 {
Shulman qualified for the final. Hess was deeply disappointed.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 final"]
[Date "2011.04.26"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Shulman, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2011.04.23"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

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 $5 (17... Rfc8 {
was played in Yermolinsky - Gelfand, Sverdlovsk 1987.}) 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 {The chances are equal.} f5 $5 {Black allows some play.} 33. Rd1 Bc5 34. h3
h5 35. g4 hxg4 $6 (35... Rb7 $5 {keeps the defence closed.}) 36. hxg4 fxg4 37.
fxg4 {The exchanges have opened the kingside.} Rd8 38. Rb1 Kd7 $2 ({Better is} 
38... Rd6 $5 39. Be5 Rd7) 39. Rb7+ Kd6 40. Rg7 Rh8 41. Rxg6 {
Kamsky has won a pawn.} Rh2 42. Kd2 Rh3 43. Rg8 Rg3 44. Kc2 Be3 $2 {
Shulman allows a fatal pin.} (44... Bg1 $5 45. g5 Kc5 46. Ra8 Kxc4 47. Rxa4+
Kd5 48. e4+ Kc5 {defends properly.}) 45. Rd8+ $1 Ke7 46. Rd3 $1 Bf4 47. Bb4+
Kf6 48. Rxg3 Bxg3 49. Kb2 $1 {White triumphs in the bishop ending.} 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 {Kamsky scored an easy draw on the next day. So he gained the title
and a prize of $42,000.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 55 playoff 3rd-4th place"]
[Date "2011.04.27"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2512"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.04.26"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The young men Shankland and Hess carried out a playoff for the third and
fourth place. Both games were drawn. When the second game was finished, they
started a third encounter.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 Nh5 6.
Nh3 d6 7. g4 Nf6 8. Nf2 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 e5 10. Bg5 $5 ({Known is} 10. e3 Qe7 11.
Bd3) 10... h6 11. Bh4 Qe7 12. e3 Nbd7 13. Bd3 g5 $6 {Black counters.} ({
More solid is} 13... b6 $1 14. Qc2 Bb7) 14. Bg3 h5 15. h4 $1 {White takes over.
} gxh4 $6 ({Preferable is} 15... hxg4 16. fxg4 Ng8) 16. Bxh4 hxg4 17. fxg4 e4
18. Be2 Qe5 $6 (18... Ne5 19. Kd2 Kd8 {defends well.}) 19. Qc2 $5 Nf8 $5 20.
Kd2 $1 Ng6 $6 (20... Rxh4 $5 21. Rxh4 N8h7 {prolongs the game.}) 21. Bxf6 $1
Qxf6 22. Nxe4 Qe7 23. Rxh8+ Nxh8 24. Rh1 Ng6 25. g5 Kd8 26. Nf6 Kc7 27. Rh7 Ne5
28. Qe4 $6 (28. Rh8 $1 Bf5 $1 29. Rxa8 $1 Bxc2 30. Re8 {ends the game.}) 28...
b6 $6 (28... Bd7 $5 29. Bg4 $1 Ba4 30. Bh5 Rf8 31. Qf4 Kd8 32. Ng4 {
wins for White.}) 29. Bh5 $1 {Shankland had taken the third place.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Hess, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C51"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The fifty-sixth US championship was played in the luxurious chess club of
Saint Louis from 8 until 19 v 2012. 12 participants competed for the title in
a closed tournament. The strongest men were Nakamura and Kamsky.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bd6 {
They apply an old line of the Evans Gambit.} 6. d4 Qe7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nbd2 {
The old masters placed a knight or bishop on g5.} O-O 9. Re1 Ba3 10. Nxe5 Nxe5
$5 ({Known is} 10... Bxc1 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Rxc1) 11. dxe5 Ne8 12. f4 $5 Bxc1
13. Rxc1 d6 14. exd6 cxd6 $5 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. h3 Rc8 17. Bb3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Rc5 {
The chances are almost equal.} 19. Re3 Nc7 20. e5 dxe5 $2 ({Preferable is} 
20... b5 21. exd6 Qxd6) 21. Qxb7 $1 a5 22. Qe4 Ne6 23. fxe5 Re8 24. Rd1 Qc7 25.
Rdd3 h6 26. Bd5 Qb6 27. c4 $1 Qb1+ 28. Kh2 Qxa2 $2 {
Black grabs the poisoned pawn.} ({Correct is} 28... Rc7 29. Bxe6 fxe6) 29. Bxe6
fxe6 30. Rd7 $1 Kh8 31. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 32. Rg3+ Kf8 33. Qh7 {
Nakamura delivered a mate attack in the Evans.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Robson, Ray"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B75"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. g4 Be6 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. Be2 Qc8 13. h4 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc4
15. Bxc4 Qxc4 16. e5 Nb6 $2 ({A better alternative is} 16... Rad8) 17. h5 $1
dxe5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Qh2 $1 Rxf4 $1 ({The pointe is} 19... exf4 $2 20. Rd4 $5
) 20. Bxf4 Qxf4+ $1 21. Kb1 Qxh2 22. Rxh2 Rf8 {
Black has compensation for the exchange.} 23. Ne4 Rf4 24. Ng5 $5 Rxg4 25. Nxe6
Bf6 26. b3 Nc8 27. c4 Nd6 28. c5 Nb5 29. Rd7 Kf7 $6 (29... e4 $1 30. Rxb7 Rg1+
31. Kc2 Ra1 32. Rxb5 Rxa2+ 33. Kc1 Rxh2 34. c6 e3 $1 35. c7 Rh1+ 36. Kc2 e2 37.
c8=Q+ Kh7 38. Re5 Bxe5 39. Qf8 {(Robson)} Rg1 {leads to a lively endgame.}) 30.
Rxb7 Rg1+ 31. Kc2 Na3+ 32. Kb2 Nb1 33. Nd8+ Ke8 34. Nc6 e4+ 35. Kc2 Na3+ 36.
Kd2 Nb1+ 37. Ke3 Re1+ $2 (37... Nc3 $1 38. Rc2 Rg3+ {
fights for the last chance.}) 38. Kf2 $1 Rc1 39. Rh7 Rc2+ 40. Kg3 $6 Rc3+ $6
41. Kg4 e3 42. Nxe7 e2 43. Nd5 $1 Rg3+ 44. Kf4 $1 Bg5+ 45. Ke5 $1 e1=Q+ 46. Kd6
Bf4+ 47. Nxf4 Rd3+ 48. Nxd3 Qg3+ 49. Ne5 {
Nakamura won for the second time in an adventurous game.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+ Ke8 10. Nc3 h6 11. b3 Ne7 12. h3 Ng6 13. Ne2 a5 14. a4
Be6 15. Bb2 Bc5 16. Nd2 $5 ({Known is} 16. Ne1) 16... Rd8 17. Ne4 Rxd1+ 18.
Rxd1 Be7 19. f3 h5 20. Kf2 Bd5 21. N4g3 Bc5+ 22. Bd4 Bf8 $5 23. c4 Be6 24. Ne4
b6 25. Bc3 c5 26. Bb2 Be7 27. N2c3 c6 28. Nd6+ Kf8 {
Black suffers in the Berlin Defence.} (28... Bxd6 29. Rxd6 $1 Ne7 {
also remains passively.}) 29. Nce4 h4 30. Nb7 Ke8 31. Nf6+ $5 gxf6 32. exf6 Rg8
({Not} 32... Bf8 $4 33. Rd8#) 33. Ke3 Nf8 $6 (33... Bc8 $5 34. fxe7 Kxe7 35.
Nd6 Rd8 36. Nxc8+ Rxc8 37. f4 Ke6 38. Kf3 f5 {defends well.}) 34. Rd2 Nd7 35.
fxe7 Kxe7 36. Nd6 f6 37. Kf4 Nf8 38. Bc3 Ng6+ 39. Ke4 Nf8 40. Ke3 Rg6 41. Kf2
Rg8 42. Ne4 Nh7 43. Kf1 Rg6 $2 (43... f5 44. Nf2 Nf8 {continues the resistance.
}) 44. Re2 $1 Nf8 $5 45. f4 Nd7 46. Be1 Rh6 47. f5 $1 Bf7 48. Bd2 Rh8 49. Nxf6+
$1 Kd8 ({Or} 49... Kxf6 50. Bc3+ Kxf5 51. Bxh8) 50. Bg5 {
Kamsky was chasing Nakamura.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bd3 Ndf6 6. Ng5 h6 7. N5f3 Bf5 8.
Bxf5 Qa5+ 9. c3 $5 (9. Bd2 Qxf5 10. Ne2 {
was played in Frolov - Tukmakov, Pula 1994.}) 9... Qxf5 10. Qb3 Qc8 $5 11. Ne5
e6 12. Ngf3 Bd6 13. Bf4 Bxe5 $5 ({Preferable is} 13... Bc7 $1 14. Bg3 Ne7) 14.
Bxe5 Ne7 15. h3 Qd7 16. O-O O-O 17. a4 Ng6 18. Bh2 a5 19. Rad1 b5 20. Qc2 Rfd8
21. Rfe1 Nd5 22. b3 Rac8 23. Ra1 Ra8 24. Nd2 Nde7 $5 ({Even better is} 24... b4
$1 25. c4 Nc3) 25. Ne4 Qd5 26. Rad1 Nf5 27. Rd2 Nfh4 28. f3 Rac8 29. Nc5 Qg5
30. Kh1 Rd5 31. Ne4 Qd8 32. Red1 Nf5 33. Bg1 Nf4 34. Bf2 Qe7 35. c4 bxc4 36.
bxc4 Rdd8 37. Qc3 Ra8 38. Rb1 Nd6 39. Bg3 Nxe4 40. fxe4 e5 41. d5 Rac8 $5 42.
Rbd1 $5 (42. Qxa5 Qg5 43. Bxf4 Qxf4 44. Re2 {gains a pawn.}) 42... cxd5 43.
exd5 Qc5 44. Bxf4 exf4 45. Rd4 Rd6 46. Qd3 g5 47. Re4 Kg7 48. Rb1 Qf2 49. Rf1
Qc5 50. h4 Rb8 51. Qc3+ Kg6 52. Qe5 Rbd8 $2 ({Correct is} 52... Rdb6 53. h5+
Kh7) 53. h5+ $6 (53. Rexf4 $1 gxf4 54. Rxf4 {wins for White.}) 53... Kh7 54.
Rb1 Qc8 55. Kg1 Qg4 56. Rd4 Qxh5 $6 ({Right is} 56... Qd7) 57. c5 $1 Qg6 58.
Rc1 Rf6 59. c6 Rf5 $6 (59... Rfd6 60. c7 Rc8 61. Rdd1 $1 {
leads to zugzwang, see} Kg8 62. Rc6 $1) 60. Qe4 g4 61. c7 Rc8 62. d6 f3 63. d7
Qh5 64. dxc8=Q {Kamsky and Nakamura shared the lead.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Stripunsky, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2562"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3 a5 7. a4 Be7 8. Bb5
Na7 9. Bd3 b6 10. Bd2 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nxc5 bxc5 13. b3 O-O 14. Qe2 Nc6 15.
Bb5 $5 ({Known is} 15. h4 h6 16. g4) 15... Qb6 16. O-O Ba6 17. c4 Bb7 18. Rad1
Nb4 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nh3 d4 21. Nf4 Kh7 22. Rfe1 Rg8 23. Nd3 Raf8 24. Nxb4 axb4
25. Qd3+ g6 26. Bf4 Kg7 27. Qh3 {White has the initiative.} g5 28. Bg3 Kh7 29.
Qg4 Rg6 30. h3 Kg7 31. Qh5 Rg8 32. Rd3 Qa7 33. f3 Bd8 34. Kf2 Kf8 35. Ke2 Bc7
36. Kd1 $5 Qa8 37. Kc1 f5 $1 38. Bh2 Ke7 39. Rd2 f4 40. Bg1 Qf8 41. Bxd4 $5 {
Stripunsky starts a dangerous attack.} cxd4 42. Rxd4 Bc8 43. c5 Qg7 44. Rd6 $1
Bxd6 45. cxd6+ Kd8 46. Bd3 $1 Bb7 47. Qxg6 Qxg6 48. Bxg6 Rxg6 {
Nakamura has a bishop for two pawns.} 49. Rd1 Bd5 50. Rd4 Kd7 $6 (50... Bxb3
51. Rxb4 Bd5 {gains an advantage.}) 51. Rxb4 Rg8 52. Kd2 Rf8 53. a5 h5 54. Rb6
$6 Ra8 $6 55. b4 g4 56. hxg4 hxg4 57. fxg4 Bxg2 58. a6 $2 {
The a-pawn becomes vulnerable.} Bd5 $1 59. Rb5 f3 60. Ke3 Rf8 $2 {
He should capture.} 61. Kf2 Rh8 62. Rxd5 $4 (62. Rc5 Rh2+ 63. Ke1 Rh1+ 64. Kf2
Rh2+ {leads to perpetual check.}) 62... exd5 63. b5 Rb8 $1 64. g5 (64. a7 Ra8
65. b6 Kc6 {stops the pawns.}) 64... Rxb5 65. g6 Rb8 $1 66. a7 Ra8 67. g7 Ke6
68. Kxf3 Kxe5 69. d7 Kd6 70. Kf4 Kxd7 71. Ke5 Kc6 {
Nakamura will win with his last pawn.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Nf6 15. Qd3 O-O 16. Kb1 c5 17. g4 Nxg4 18. Qe2 Kh8 $5 (18... Qd5 {
happened in Ginsberg - Fridman, Zürich 2003.}) 19. Rhg1 Nf6 20. dxc5 Qc7 21.
Ne5 Bxc5 $2 ({Right is} 21... Rad8 22. b4 a5) 22. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 23. Rd7 $1 Qxd7
(23... Nxd7 24. Qd2 $1 Kh7 25. Ng4 $1 {
leads to a quick mate. Kamsky had prepared everything on the computer.}) 24.
Nxd7 Nxd7 25. Qd2 Kh7 26. b4 Rad8 27. bxc5 Nf6 28. Qf4 Ne8 29. Qe4+ Kh8 30.
Qxb7 Ng7 31. Qxa7 Rc8 32. Rd1 Nf5 33. Rd7 Kg7 34. a4 Kf6 35. a5 {
Kamsky led by half-a-point on Nakamura.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 56"]
[Date "2012.05.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky and Nakamura played the decisive game in the penultimate round.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9.
O-O Be6 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. Bg5 Na5 $5 (11... Rc8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd5 {
happened in Zapata - Diaz, Cienfuegos 1983.}) 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Bd5 $5 Rc8 14.
Nd2 $5 Qc7 15. Re1 Bg5 16. Nf1 Qb6 17. Rb1 Nc4 18. Qe2 Bh6 19. h4 Qb4 20. g3 $5
Rc7 21. Kg2 Nb6 22. Bb3 Bxb3 23. cxb3 Qxb3 24. a5 Na4 $5 25. Nh2 $6 ({
Preferable is} 25. Nd5 $1) 25... g6 $5 26. Ng4 Bg7 27. Nd5 Rc2 28. Qe3 Nc5 29.
h5 Qxe3 30. Ngxe3 Rd2 31. Nc4 Rd4 32. Nxd6 Rd8 33. b4 Nd3 34. Nxb7 $1 Nxe1+ 35.
Rxe1 Ra8 {Black has an edge.} 36. f3 $2 ({Better is} 36. Nc5) 36... Bf8 37. Rc1
$5 Bxb4 38. Rc7 gxh5 39. Kh3 Kg7 40. Kh4 $2 (40. Nxb4 Rxb4 41. Nd6 {
offers more resistance (Nakamura).}) 40... Ra7 41. Kxh5 Rxd5 $5 42. exd5 Bxa5
43. Re7 Bb6 44. d6 a5 45. Kg5 a4 $1 46. Kf5 a3 47. Nd8 a2 48. Ne6+ Kh6 49. Ng5
a1=Q 50. Nxf7+ Kg7 {Nakamura defeated Seirawan in the last round. The final
standings became: Nakamura 81/2/11, Kamsky 71/2, Onischuk 61/2, Shulman,
Lenderman and Akobian 6, Robson 51/2, Hess 5, Kaidanov and Ramirez 4,
Stripunsky and Seirawan 31/2.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57"]
[Date "2013.05.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C05"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2544"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2013.05.03"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The 57th US championship was played in Saint Louis from 3 until 13 v 2013. 24
men participated in the open group and carried out nine Swiss rounds. The
highest rating had Gata Kamsky.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4
c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3 Be7 8. dxc5 $5 {White breaks up his pawn chain.} a5 $1 9.
Nb3 a4 10. Nbd4 Nxc5 11. Be3 O-O {Black has achieved a pleasant position.} 12.
a3 Na5 13. Qc2 Nc4 14. Bf2 Ra6 15. Be2 f5 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. g3 Rb6 18. Rb1 Bd7
$5 19. O-O Be8 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. Ne5 $1 {Kamsky blockades in the centre.} Qd5
22. Ndf3 Rd6 23. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 24. Kg2 Rf5 25. h4 Bf6 $6 (25... Bc6 $1 26. Rbe1 b5
$1 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. Rxe6 Rxe6 29. Qxf5 Re3 30. Qg4 Bc5 {keeps equal chances.})
26. Rbd1 Bxe5 27. Nxe5 Bc6+ 28. Kh2 b5 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. Qe2 Rf8 31. Rd1 Bd5
32. Rd4 Qc7 33. h5 Qd8 34. Kh3 Qc7 35. Qe3 Qa7 36. g4 {
White advances on the kingside.} Re8 37. Kg3 Ba8 $2 {
Black opens his defence line.} (37... Qc7 {is a perfect waiting move.}) 38. g5
$1 Qb7 ({The pointe is} 38... Bd5 $5 39. h6 $1 gxh6 40. Ng4 $1) 39. Rd2 Qh1 40.
h6 $1 Be4 41. Rh2 $1 Qb1 42. Re2 $1 Bb7 43. hxg7 Rd8 44. Qb6 $1 {
Gata had an excellent start.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57"]
[Date "2013.05.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Holt, Conrad"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2513"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.05.03"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e6
9. b3 Re8 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 $5 b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 13. e4 $5 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 f5 $1 16. Bd3 c5 $1 17. Be2 Qe7 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Bxg7 Qxg7 20. Qd2
Re7 $5 21. b4 e5 $1 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. Qa5 Rc8 24. Rab1 Ree8 {
He prevents the exchanges after 25.Rd8+.} 25. Nd2 e4 26. Nb3 Ne6 27. c5 e3 $1
28. fxe3 Qe5 29. Qd2 Rcd8 30. Qe1 Bd5 {
Black avoids exchanges again and offers a second pawn temporarily.} 31. Bxa6
Ra8 32. Bb5 Rxa2 {White has to protect pawn g2.} 33. Rxd5 $2 ({Timman advices} 
33. Bf1 $1) 33... Qxd5 34. e4 {White has to prevent the capture of g2 again.}
fxe4 $1 35. Bxe8 e3 $1 36. Bf7+ $5 ({Or} 36. Qg3 Nf4 $3) 36... Kxf7 37. Qg3 Kg7
38. Nc1 Nf4 $1 {Kamsky had won four games in a row. Hereafter, he lacked
inspiration and drew the remaining five games.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57"]
[Date "2013.05.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.05.03"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Ramirez was the great surprise of the championship.} 1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. c4
g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bb2 Bg4 7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Nxd4 $5 ({
Known is} 9... Nf6) 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. exd4 d5 $5 12. c5 $1 {
White has a majority on the queenside.} Nh6 13. Nd2 Nf5 14. O-O O-O 15. Nf3 b6
$5 16. b4 bxc5 17. dxc5 $5 Re8 18. Rad1 e5 19. Rfe1 f6 20. Qa6 d4 $1 21. Nd2 {
White stops the advance.} Kg7 22. Ne4 Rf8 23. c6 Nh4 $2 ({Preferable is} 23...
Rf7 24. a4 Rc8 25. Qc4 Nd6 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 {
and the advance on the queenside is halted.}) 24. Rc1 $1 Qd5 25. c7 $1 d3 (
25... Rac8 26. f3 d3 27. Red1 Qd4+ 28. Nf2 {also wins for White.}) 26. Qc6 $5
Qd4 $5 27. Rc4 d2 28. Rd1 Qd3 29. Rxd2 Qb1+ 30. Rc1 Qxb4 31. Rd7+ Kh6 32. Nxf6
Rxf6 33. Qxf6 Qg4 34. Qg7+ {Ramirez defeated a strong opponent.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57"]
[Date "2013.05.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2579"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2013.05.03"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Kamsky led by half-a-point on three competitors, when the last round began.} 
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 Nge7 7. Rb1 O-O 8. O-O
a5 9. Ne1 d6 10. Nc2 a4 11. Ne3 Nd4 12. d3 h6 13. Re1 $5 ({Known is} 13. Ned5
Nxd5 14. Nxd5) 13... Qa5 14. Ned5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Kh7 16. Be3 Nb3 17. Ne4 Qb6 18.
Nd2 f5 19. Nxb3 axb3 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. e3 Rae8 22. Bc3 Re7 23. a4 $1 Bxa4 24. Ra1
Ra8 ({Not} 24... Bc6 $4 25. Ba5) 25. e4 $1 f4 26. gxf4 exf4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28.
Qf3 Re5 $5 29. Qxf4 {
White has regained the pawn and achieved a positional plus.} Rf8 30. Qe3 Bc6
31. f4 Rh5 $5 32. Qg3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Rhf5 34. Re6 R8f6 $5 35. Ra8 Rxe6 36. dxe6
Qc7 37. Re8 d5 $4 ({Correct is} 37... g5 $1 38. Qe1 gxf4 39. Qe4 Qc6 40. Rg8+
Kxg8 41. Qxf5 {and White has an edge.}) 38. e7 $1 Kf7 39. Rh8 Kxe7 40. Qxg6 $1
{Ramirez caught up with the leader. The final standings became: Kamsky and
Ramirez 61/2/9, Onischuk and Gareev 6, Holt 51/2, Christiansen, Shabalov,
Robson, Troff, Benjamin and Akobian 5, etc. The top two had to carry out a
play-off.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57 playoff"]
[Date "2013.05.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2013.05.13"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The playoff started with two rapid games. Game one ended in a drawn rook
ending.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3
O-O 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. h3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Na5 $5 12. Ba2 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 c6 15. Ba2 c5 16. c3 Bc6 17. Bd5 bxc3 18. bxc3 Bxd5 19. exd5 Rab8 20. c4
Nb3 21. Rb1 Nxc1 22. Qxc1 Qxa4 23. Ra1 Qb3 24. Ra3 Qb7 25. Qa1 f5 $5 26. Rxa6
Ra8 27. Ra2 Rxa2 28. Qxa2 Ra8 29. Rb1 Rxa2 30. Rxb7 Bf6 31. Rb8+ $6 ({Better is
} 31. g4 $1 e4 32. dxe4 fxe4 33. g5 exf3 34. gxf6 gxf6 35. Rb6 {
and White keeps the equality.}) 31... Kf7 32. Rb7+ Ke8 33. Rb1 Kd7 34. Rd1 h5
35. g4 $5 hxg4 36. hxg4 e4 37. dxe4 fxg4 38. e5 $5 gxf3 39. exf6 gxf6 {
It became a rook ending again. Black has the initiative.} 40. Rc1 f5 41. Rc3
Ke7 42. Re3+ Kf6 43. Re6+ Kg5 44. Rxd6 Rc2 45. Rc6 Kf4 46. Rh6 $5 Kg5 47. Rh8
Rxc4 48. d6 Rd4 49. Rc8 Rxd6 50. Rxc5 Kg4 51. Rc4+ Kh3 52. Rc1 Rg6+ 53. Kh1 $1
Rg2 54. Rc2 Rg7 55. Rc3 Kg4 56. Rc4+ f4 57. Rc8 Kf5 58. Rc3 Ke4 59. Rc4+ Kd3
60. Rxf4 Ke2 61. Ra4 Kxf2 62. Ra2+ Kg3 63. Kg1 $1 Rb7 64. Rg2+ $1 {
Kamsky smiled about the stalemate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 57 playoff"]
[Date "2013.05.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2013.05.13"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{An Armageddon rapid game brought the decision. Kamsky got White and 45';
Ramirez got Black and 19' 45" after a bidding. A draw sufficed for Ramirez.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 Qc7 8. Na3
d6 $5 9. Ndb5 Qd8 10. Bg5 Nc6 11. Qd2 a6 $6 ({No time is lost by} 11... Bf5 $5
12. Nc3 Rc8) 12. Nc3 $1 Bf5 $5 13. e4 $1 Be6 14. Nd5 Nd7 15. Rac1 Rc8 16. b3
Re8 17. h3 Nde5 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. Nc2 Qd7 20. Nb6 Qd8 21. Be3 Nd7 22. Nd5 Nc5 23.
f4 $1 {The advance begins.} b5 24. cxb5 axb5 25. f5 Bxd5 26. exd5 Ne5 27. Nb4
Qa5 28. Bxc5 dxc5 29. Rxc5 {White has gained a pawn.} Rbc8 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 31.
fxg6 hxg6 32. Qf4 Qc7 33. a4 bxa4 34. bxa4 f5 $5 35. Nc6 Nxc6 36. Qxc7 Rxc7 37.
dxc6 e5 $2 ({Better is} 37... Kf7 $1 38. Rb1 Bc3 39. Rb3 Bd2 40. Rb7 Ba5 {
and Black stops the passed pawns.}) 38. Bd5+ $1 Kf8 39. g4 $1 Ke7 40. gxf5 gxf5
41. Rxf5 {A second pawn has been won.} Kd6 42. Bf3 Ra7 43. Rg5 e4 $5 44. Bxe4
Be5 45. Rg6+ Kc5 46. Bf3 Kb6 47. Rg5 Ra5 48. h4 Kc7 49. h5 Kd6 50. h6 Rxa4 51.
Rxe5 Kxe5 52. c7 $1 {
A pawn will queen. Kamsky has achieved the title and $30,000.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 58"]
[Date "2014.05.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2582"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The 58th US championship was played in Saint Louis from 7 until 21 v 2014.
Gata Kamsky was the defending champion.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5
Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6
11. Re1 Qc7 12. Qe2 Bc5 13. c3 h6 14. Nf5 Kf8 15. Ng3 h5 $5 ({Known is} 15...
Bd7) 16. Ne4 Ng4 $1 17. g3 Ba7 18. Bf4 $5 e5 $1 19. Bg5 $2 ({Correct is} 19.
Be3 Nxe3 20. fxe3) 19... Bf5 $1 20. Rf1 f6 21. Bd2 $2 (21. h3 Qc6 $1 22. Rae1
Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Nxf2 {favours Black.}) 21... Rd8 22. Rad1 Qc6 $1
23. Be3 Rxd1 24. Qxd1 Nxe3 $1 25. Qd8+ Qe8 26. Qxe8+ Kxe8 27. Nd6+ Kd7 28. fxe3
Bh3 {White has to lose material.} 29. Nf5 Bxf1 30. Kxf1 h4 {
Black has gained an exchange.} 31. Kg2 hxg3 32. hxg3 g6 33. Nh4 Rh6 34. e4 Ke7
35. Bd5 b6 36. Bb7 a5 37. a4 Bb8 38. b4 Bd6 39. bxa5 bxa5 40. Bd5 Bc5 41. Kf3
Kf8 42. Bc6 Kf7 43. Bd5+ Kg7 44. Ke2 Rh8 45. Bc6 Bb6 46. Bb5 Rc8 47. c4 Rd8 48.
Nf3 Bc5 49. g4 g5 50. Bc6 Rh8 51. Bd5 Rh3 52. Ne1 Rh2+ 53. Kd1 Kf8 54. Nd3 Be3
55. Ke1 Ke7 56. c5 Rd2 57. Bc4 Rc2 58. Ba6 Bxc5 59. Kd1 Rc3 60. Nb2 Bb4 61. Nc4
Rg3 62. Bc8 Rd3+ {Lenderman had a wonderful start in the championship.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 58"]
[Date "2014.05.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Robson, Ray"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bc1 Nhf6 11. Nbd2 b6 12. b3 Bb7 13. Bb2 Rc8 14. Rad1 c5 15.
Qb1 dxc4 $1 {Akobian brings a fine novelty.} 16. Nxc4 Be4 17. Qa1 cxd4 18. Bxd4
Qc7 19. Bh3 Rfd8 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. Ng5 $5 Bc6 22. Qb1 Nf8 23. Rfd1 $2 (23. Qb2 $1
h6 24. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 25. Ne5+ Kg8 26. Rxc6 Rxc6 27. Bg2 Nd5 28. Nxc6 Qxc6 29.
Bxg7 {gives a lot of fun for a minor piece.}) 23... h6 $1 24. Nf3 Bxf3 25. exf3
Qxf3 {Black has gained a pawn.} 26. Ne5 Qh5 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Bg2 Ng4 29. Nxg4
Qxg4 30. Be3 Bg5 31. h3 Qh5 32. Bd4 Rd8 33. g4 Qh4 34. Be5 Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Be7
36. Qe2 Bc5 37. Bb8 a5 38. Qf3 Qd8 39. Bf4 Ng6 40. Bg3 Qd2 41. a4 Bd6 42. Bxd6
Qxd6 43. Qc3 $6 ({Preferable is} 43. Qa8+ Nf8 44. Qf3) 43... Nf4 $1 44. Bf1 Qd1
45. Qc8+ Kh7 46. Qc4 g5 47. Qe4+ Kg8 48. Qe3 Kf8 49. b4 Qxa4 50. b5 Nd5 51. Qe5
Qf4 52. Qh8+ Ke7 53. Qxh6 Nc3 54. Bg2 Nd1 55. f3 Qe3+ 56. Kh1 Nc3 57. Qg7 Ne2
58. Qa1 a4 59. h4 gxh4 60. g5 Qc1+ {The lead became a competition between
Lenderman and Akobian during the second half of the event.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 58"]
[Date "2014.05.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Friedel, Joshua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2014.05.08"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{When the last round began, Lenderman and Akobian shared the lead. They met
and Lenderman achieved an advantage in the opening, but Akobian managed to
draw. This gave Kamsky the chance to join the leaders.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3.
Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. h3 Bb7 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 d6 10. a4
a6 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Bh2 Re8 13. a5 $5 ({Theory is} 13. c3) 13... d5 14. c3 Bc6
15. axb6 Qxb6 16. Ra2 Bb5 17. Bc2 Rec8 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. Bf4 a5 21.
Re3 Nf8 22. Qg4 Bd7 23. Be5 Ng6 24. Qh5 Rf8 25. Nf3 Be8 26. Bh2 f5 27. Nd2 Rf6
28. Re1 f4 $6 {A pawn becomes vulnerable.} 29. Qg4 Bd6 30. Nf3 Qc7 31. Kh1 Bf7
32. Ng5 Nf8 33. Nxf7 Kxf7 34. Qf3 Rb8 35. Bg1 Kg8 36. Bd1 Qc4 37. Ra4 Qc7 38.
Ra2 Qc4 39. b3 Qc7 40. Qd3 Rc8 41. Rc2 Qb7 42. c4 Qb4 43. Rf1 dxc4 44. bxc4 Rd8
45. Qe4 a4 $5 46. Bg4 $5 a3 47. c5 a2 $2 48. f3 $1 ({Not} 48. Rxa2 Bxc5 $1)
48... Bb8 49. Rxa2 {White has a winning advantage.} Qc4 50. Raa1 Rf7 51. Rfe1
Re7 52. Bf2 Ree8 53. h4 Re7 54. h5 Ree8 55. Rab1 Rd7 56. Kg1 Qa2 57. c6 Rde7
58. Ra1 Qd2 59. Rec1 Ra7 60. d5 Rxa1 61. Rxa1 Bd6 62. dxe6 Qc3 63. Rd1 Bc5 64.
Qxf4 $1 {Kamsky had caught up. The final standings became: Kamsky, Akopian and
Lenderman 7/11, Shankland and Naroditsky 6, etc. The three leaders had to
carry out a play-off on the next day.} 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 58 playoff 1"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2582"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.05.20"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{The numbers two and three, according to the tie-break, had to play an
Armageddon game. Lenderman had White. So he needed a win.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6
3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 a6 7. Nge2 d6 8. O-O h6 9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb2
Rb8 11. d4 $5 exd4 12. exd4 Bf5 13. c5 Qd7 14. Nf4 Rfe8 15. Rc1 Ne7 16. Re1 c6
17. Qb3 Ng6 18. Nxg6 Bxg6 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {The chances are equal at this moment.
} 20. d5 $2 dxc5 $1 21. dxc6 bxc6 22. Na4 c4 $5 23. Qxc4 Bxf2+ $1 {
Black starts a decisive attack.} 24. Kxf2 $5 (24. Kh1 {prolongs the game.})
24... Qd2+ 25. Kg1 Re2 $1 26. Bxc6 Ne4 27. Bd4 Rg2+ 28. Kf1 Rxh2 29. Qc2 Rh1+
30. Bg1 Nxg3# {Akobian qualified for the final playoff.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis"]
[Site "USA 58 playoff 2"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.05.20"]
[EventType "rapid"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]

{Akobian and Kamsky met in the second playoff. They carried out two rapid
games. The contemplation time was 15 minutes per game plus 5 seconds per move.
Kamsky had the initiative in game one, but a draw was the result. Game two
would decide the championship.} 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2
Bd6 6. Bg3 Nf6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. c4 Ne4 $5 9. Qb3 Bxg3 10. hxg3 Nd7 ({
More solid is} 10... Qc7) 11. Nxe4 (11. Qxb7 $5 Rb8 12. Qxa7 Rxb2 13. Qa3 {
takes a risk.}) 11... Bxe4 12. O-O Rb8 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. Qa3 a6 15. Rac1 Re8 16.
b4 Qe7 17. Qb2 dxc4 18. Nxc4 e5 $5 19. Rfd1 exd4 20. Rxd4 Nf6 21. Rcd1 c5 $2 ({
Better is} 21... Red8) 22. bxc5 Qxc5 23. Nd6 $1 Rf8 24. Nxb7 {
Pawn b7 is captured on a more favourable moment.} Qa7 25. Rb4 Be4 26. Nd6 Rxb4
27. Qxb4 Bd5 28. Nf5 $1 Re8 ({The pointe is} 28... Bxa2 29. Ne7+ $1 Kh8 30.
Ng6+ $1) 29. Qf4 Be6 $2 30. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 31. Qg5+ Kf8 32. Qxf6 Kg8 33. Qg5+ Kf8
34. Bd3 a5 35. Bxh7 Rc8 36. Bf5 Bxf5 37. Qxf5 Qc5 38. Rd8+ $1 {Kamsky had won
the playoff and the championship. Irina Krush became the female champion again.
} 1-0

