[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wachira, William"]
[Black "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "1876"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[GameId "2066105704611967"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. Bb5 $6 ({The problem with this is White will, to avoid loss of time, soon choose to exchange the bishop for a knight on d7.} 10. Nge2 {is still theory.}) 10... Nbd7 11. a4 a6 12. Bxd7 Bxd7 (12... Nxd7 $5 13. Nge2 Ne5 $15) 13. Nge2 b5 14. O-O b4 15. Nd1 a5 16. Nf2 Bc8 17. Kh1 Ba6 18. Rg1 $6 ({This is the beginning of a misguided kingside attack that ultimately weakens the white center. A little better is} 18. Rfe1 $15 {, though Black retains the initiative.}) 18... Rc8 19. g4 $2 Nd7 20. f4 Nb6 21. b3 c4 ({Of course Black doesn't want to exchange the excellent dark-square bishop for a mere rook on a1, but it is possibe to win material with} 21... Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Nxd5 $1 23. exd5 Bd4 {, since any defense of e3, such as Rg3 or Nd1, hangs the a1-rook.}) 22. Nd4 cxb3 23. Nxb3 (23. Nc6 Rxc6 24. dxc6 Bc3 25. Qd1 b2 26. Rb1 Nc4 $19) 23... Nc4 24. Qe1 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Rc3 26. Qa7 Rxb3 27. Qxa6 Bxa1 28. Rxa1 Qf6 0-1

[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Black "Paez, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C15"]
[WhiteElo "2301"]
[BlackElo "1993"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[GameId "2066105704611968"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qd3 $6 ({This is an unusual move, presumably essayed to avoid theory. The queen seems slightly misplaced, however. For those seeking something offbeat on which to do some home cooking, it might be worth looking into} 4. Qg4 $5 Nf6 (4... dxe4 5. Qxg7 Qf6 6. Qg3 $5 Qxd4 $6 7. Nge2 $16) 5. Qxg7 Rg8 6. Qh6 dxe4 (6... Rg6 7. Qe3 c5 $5 $13) 7. Nge2 $14) 4... Ne7 5. Bd2 O-O (5... b6 $5) 6. Nf3 (6. O-O-O b6 {seems reasonable for both sides.}) 6... c5 7. a3 (7. dxc5) 7... Bxc3 (7... c4 $5 8. Qe2 Ba5 $15) 8. Bxc3 b6 9. O-O-O c4 10. Qe2 $6 (10. Qe3 {seems less obstructive.}) 10... a5 11. h4 b5 12. Bd2 Nbc6 (12... b4 $5) 13. Rh3 c3 $1 (13... b4 $1) 14. Bf4 (14. Bxc3 b4 {opens lines against the white king.}) 14... e5 ({It seems simpler to charge ahead with} 14... cxb2+ 15. Kxb2 (15. Kb1 b4 {isn't an improvement for White.}) 15... b4 16. a4 Ba6 17. Qe3 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 dxe4 19. Qxe4 Rc8 $17) 15. dxe5 Bxh3 16. gxh3 cxb2+ 17. Kxb2 d4 $1 18. h5 a4 19. Qd2 (19. Be3 b4 20. Nxd4 bxa3+ 21. Kxa3 Qc7 22. e6 (22. f4 Nxd4 23. Bxd4 Rfd8 $17) 22... Nxd4 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Bxd4 {probably favors Black, but there's a lot going on and an unclear material imbalance.}) 19... b4 (19... Qb6 $1 {first is harder to meet.} 20. Nxd4 b4 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 $17 {with attack.}) 20. Nxd4 $2 (20. axb4 $1 $13 Nxb4 (20... a3+ 21. Ka1 Qb6 22. b5 {when anything can happen.}) 21. Qxb4 Rb8 22. Bb5 Nc6 23. Qxa4 Qb6 24. Kc1 Qxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Nxd4 Nxd4 27. Rxd4 {with three (albeit structurally damaged) pawns for the exchange.}) 20... bxa3+ (20... Qb6 $1) 21. Kxa3 Qxd4 $2 ({The exposed white king is far more vulnerable with queens on the board.} 21... Qb6) 22. Qxd4 Nxd4 23. Rxd4 Rfc8 24. c4 $2 ({On c4, the pawn interferes with both bishop and rook while potentially reducing king safety by uncovering b3. Although the general rule suggests White should not exchange rooks when down the exchange, here it is best:} 24. Rc4 $1 Nc6 25. h6 Na5 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27. Bd3 {and White's bishops nicely protect all of the weak pawns.}) 24... Rcb8 25. Rd6 Rb3+ 26. Ka2 Rab8 27. Rd2 a3 $2 ({Black should bring up the last reserves,} 27... Nc6 {, with at least some advantage. A sample line:} 28. e6 R8b7 29. c5 Nb4+ 30. Ka1 Ra3+ 31. Kb2 Ra2+ 32. Kc3 Rxd2 33. exf7+ Kxf7 34. Bc4+ Ke7 35. Bxd2 a3 $17) 28. e6 Rb2+ 29. Kxa3 Rxd2 $6 (29... R8b3+ 30. Ka4 fxe6 ({Obviously Black can take a draw right away with} 30... Rb4+ 31. Ka3 R4b3+ {, since 31.Ka5 walks into mate in two.}) 31. Rxb2 Rxb2 $13) 30. exf7+ Kxf7 31. Bxd2 Ke6 32. f4 $14 {Now the white pawns become menacing.} Nc6 33. c5 Nd4 34. Ka4 (34. Bc4+ Kd7 35. Bd5) 34... Kd7 35. Bc3 Ne6 ({First swinging the rook behind the pawns gives better chances to hold.} 35... Rb1 $14) 36. Bb5+ Ke7 37. c6 Nc5+ $2 (37... Ra8+ 38. Kb4 Nxf4 39. Be5 Nxh3 40. c7 Ng5 41. Bc6 Rg8 42. Kb5 Ne6 {and there's still something for White to prove.}) 38. Ka5 Nb3+ $6 ({With} 38... Nxe4 39. Be5 Ra8+ 40. Kb6 Nd6 41. Ba6 {the outlook is similarly grim..}) 39. Kb4 Nc1 40. Bxg7 (40. c7 Nd3+ 41. Kc4 Rc8 42. Kxd3 Rxc7 43. f5 $18 {is also possible.}) 40... Nd3+ 41. Kc4 Nxf4 42. Be5 Rf8 43. Bxf4 Rxf4 44. c7 Rf1 45. Kd5 Rd1+ (45... Rc1 46. Bc6) 46. Kc6 1-0

[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kona, Vidip"]
[Black "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2075"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[GameId "2066105704570998"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b4 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 e5 7. d3 Re8 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Rb8 10. Qc2 b6 11. e3 Bb7 12. d4 ({If you compare the position after Black's move 11 with the position after Black's 14th, you'll see the white d-pawn and black c-pawns removed, the black queen developed to e7, and the bishop moved from b7 to c6. Although none of the next three moves is a blunder for White, and the position at the end is not at all calamitous, it feels as though the plan of spending these three moves exchanging center pawn for wing pawn and helping Black develop is likely not ideal. How about} 12. b5 {, intending a4-a5, as a plan more in tune with the position? Black should counter in the center:} e4 {, and after} 13. dxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Nb3 $13 {White has chances to use the c6-square.}) 12... Qe7 13. d5 c6 14. dxc6 Bxc6 {Black's d6-pawn is, indeed, backward on a half-open file, but White's c4-pawn is similarly weakened, thanks to move three. White takes steps to lock down the d-pawn.} 15. e4 Rbc8 16. Qd3 Red8 17. Rfd1 Nf8 {Both sides appear to have adequate defenses for their weaknesses, so it's time to find another way to progress. The d5 and d4 squares beckon knights.} 18. Ne1 Ba4 19. Rdc1 Ne6 20. Nc2 h5 21. Ne3 h4 22. Nd5 Qe8 ({Stockfish suggests some striking clearance ideas to justify taking on d5 here.} 22... Nxd5 23. exd5 ({Just to present one line with the other pawn capture:} 23. cxd5 Nd4 24. Bh3 Bb5 25. Nc4 Bh6 26. Bxc8 Bxc1 27. Rxc1 Rxc8 28. Bxd4 exd4 29. Qxd4 Qc7 30. gxh4 Bxc4 $17 {and the extra piece should be good for something. There are many fancy branches, but all appear to favor Black to some extent.}) 23... e4 $1 24. Qa3 Nd4 $1 {and we're deep in the weeds, with knight forks and the ...e3 break acting as fertilizer.The rest of this analysis kind of demonstrates one of the traps annotators can fall into using computers. It's easy to go on and on, adding move after move, going so far afield that the result literally could not ever have happened in the actual game. Why then did I do this, and present it here? Because I felt like it. I offer no other apology. Likely best for White is} 25. Qxa4 (25. Re1 Nc2 26. Qxa4 Nxe1 27. Rxe1 Bxb2 $15) (25. Kf1 Bc2 26. Re1 Qg5 27. Nxe4 Qf5 28. Qc3 h3 29. Bh1 b5 $1 $17) (25. Kh1 b5 $1 26. Bxe4 Re8 {with more than sufficient dynamic compensation for Black.}) 25... Ne2+ 26. Kf1 e3 $1 (26... Bxb2 27. Kxe2 $13) 27. Bxg7 (27. fxe3 Nxg3+ 28. hxg3 Bxb2 $15 {White's king is exposed and pieces are lacking coordination.}) 27... exd2 (27... Nxc1 28. fxe3 Qxe3 29. Qd1 $1 Qd3+ 30. Kf2 Kxg7 31. Rxc1 Qd4+ 32. Kf1 Re8 $13 {though Black seems better coordinated again.}) 28. Rd1 Kxg7 29. Qc2 $1 {White must be precise to avoid losing the c4-pawn.} (29. Rxd2 Qf6 30. Qd1 Nc3 31. Qf3 Rxc4 $15) 29... Nd4 (29... Qe5 30. Qxd2 Nc3 31. Re1 Qf6 32. Qd3 b5 $13) 30. Qd3 Qf6 31. Rab1 Nf5 (31... b5 $5 $13) 32. Kg1 (32. Rxd2 $2 Rxc4 $17 33. Qxc4 $4 Ne3+) 32... Rd7 {White is finally prepared to take off the thorn on d2, so Black begins to pressure c4, planning to break with ...b5, using the pin along the c-file.} 33. Rxd2 Rdc7 34. Rc1 b5 35. c5 dxc5 36. d6 (36. Qxb5 c4 $1) 36... c4 37. Qf3 Rd7 38. Bh3 $13 {So, yes, we got way off the actual game here, and the variations are at best fantasy lines. Clearly Black has lots of activity, and the knight on d4 is stylistically Degenbaev (see his game against Bindi Cheng for confirmation). White may well survive with highly accurate play, but in this kind of battle, it helps to thrive in the complications.}) 23. Qa3 b5 $1 24. cxb5 Bxb5 25. Qxa7 {White grabs a pawn for clarity, but once again Black has plenty of activity to compensate.} Nxd5 ({Stockfish suggests} 25... Rxc1+ 26. Rxc1 {first, then} Nxd5 27. exd5 Nd4 {, since the rook is well-placed on a1 to support a2-a4 or defend a2 against attack along thte a-file. The difference, however, appears small.}) 26. exd5 (26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. exd5 Nd4) 26... Nd4 27. Bxd4 $6 ({I'm not a fan of this capture. Suddenly Black has a passed d-pawn and the bishop-pair to support it.} 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. a4 $13 {and while Black still has activity, the a-pawn is beginning to look more dangerous.}) 27... exd4 28. Re1 Be2 $1 29. Be4 Qb5 30. a4 ({Now tactics rule, and Black's advantage becomes decisive.} 30. Rab1 Ra8 $17) 30... Qxb4 $1 31. Rxe2 d3 $1 32. Bxd3 Bxa1 33. Nf1 $6 (33. Kg2) 33... Ra8 34. Qe7 Qxa4 (34... hxg3 35. hxg3 Qxa4) 35. Re4 Qd1 36. Rf4 (36. Be2 Qc2 (36... Qxd5 $2 37. Bc4 Qf5 38. Rf4) 37. Bf3 Qc3 38. Rf4 Qg7) 36... Rf8 37. Be4 hxg3 38. hxg3 Be5 39. Rh4 Ra1 40. Bg2 Ra2 41. Qg5 Rb8 42. Rh2 (42. Qe3 Qe2) 42... Rxf2 $1 43. Qh4 (43. Kxf2 Bd4+ 44. Ne3 Rb2#) 43... Rxf1+ 44. Bxf1 Bd4+ 45. Rf2 Rb2 0-1

[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Black "Srivastava, Vikram"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2301"]
[BlackElo "2267"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[GameId "2066105704530030"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 {Once again Aziz chooses an uncommon and slightly passive move, presumably to avoid main-line theory. There are four bishop moves more agressive and more popular than this: the modern Kasparov-style 6.Be3, the old main line 6.Bg5, Fischer's Sozin-like 6.Bc4, and the Karpovian 6.Be2. There are also a handful of pawn moves that are more common, including 6.f4, 6.f3, 6.h3, 6.g3, and 6.a4.} ({My suggestion for an off-beat alternative is the queen move,} 6. Qf3 {, adding support if the d4-knight wants to jump to f5, as well as suggesting kingside pawn expansion with h3/g4.} g6 (6... Bg4 7. Qg3 e5 8. Nf5) (6... e5 7. Nf5 Be6 8. Bg5) (6... e6 7. g4 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. g5) (6... Nbd7 7. h3 Qb6 8. Nb3) (6... Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 dxe5 9. Qxc6+ Bd7 10. Qb7) 7. h3 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O-O) 6... e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ng3 Re8 10. f4 {Committal. White opens the f-file and recaptures on f4 with the bishop gaining time. However, it weakens e4 and gives Black the e5-square for a knight. f4 is sometimes played a move earlier, which might allow a recapture on f4 with the knight aiming to occupy d5.The backward and isolated pawns on d6 and e4 are clearly well-defending at this time, so any weaknesses there are more theoretical and long-term.} exf4 11. Bxf4 Nc6 (11... Qb6+ 12. Kh1 Qxb2 {misplaces the queen for minimal material gain.} 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nd7 15. Nf5 {looks good for White.}) 12. Kh1 Ne5 13. Qd2 Be6 14. Rae1 Qa5 15. h3 Rac8 16. Bg5 Nxd3 17. cxd3 Nh5 $1 18. Nxh5 Qxg5 19. Nf4 ({Bishops should be somewhat advantageous in an ending after} 19. Qxg5 Bxg5 {.}) 19... Bf6 20. Qf2 Be5 21. Nfe2 Qh5 22. d4 Bf6 23. Ng3 Qh4 24. e5 dxe5 25. dxe5 (25. Re4 Qh6 26. d5 (26. dxe5 Bd8 $15) 26... Rxc3 $1 (26... Bd7 27. Rb4 b5 28. Nce4 $14) 27. bxc3 Bxd5 28. Nf5 {when Black should offer a repetition with} Qh5 29. Ng3 Qh6 {, and probably White should, objectively, take it.}) 25... Be7 26. Re4 (26. Nce4 $5) 26... Qg5 27. Nge2 Red8 28. Nf4 Bf5 (28... Bc4 29. Rfe1 b5 $15 {It's just a little bit harder to play with knights against the bishop-pair.}) 29. Ree1 Bb4 30. Re3 Bxc3 (30... Bc5 31. Rg3 Qe7 32. Qe1) 31. bxc3 Rc6 32. Ne2 Be6 33. Nd4 {It seems clear that after the exchange on c3, White is no longer in danger. Now he starts maneuvering for tactics.} Rc7 34. Rg3 Qe7 35. Qf4 Kh8 36. Rgf3 (36. Nxe6 fxe6 $1 (36... Qxe6 $2 37. Rxg7 Kxg7 38. Qg5+ $16)) 36... h6 37. Qg3 Qg5 38. Qe1 Qe7 39. Rg3 Rd5 40. Qe3 Rcc5 $4 ({I don't have clock times for this game, but this looks very much like a classic "last move before time control" error. White's main threat is Rf6, which in turn both pressures the bishop on e6 and threatens checkmate starting with Qxh6+. To avoid problems, Black must meet both threats with something like} 40... Bc8 41. Rf6 Qf8 {, removing the e6-target and covering g7 and h6 along the diagonal. Now further direct attack appears to only draw with best play:} 42. Qf3 Rdc5 43. e6 Rxc3 44. Rxh6+ gxh6 45. Qf6+ Kh7 46. Qf5+ (46. e7 $6 Rc1+ 47. Kh2 Rxe7 48. Nf5 Rc6 $1 49. Qxe7 Qxe7 50. Nxe7 Rc5 51. Nxc8 Rxc8 $15 {and White would need to defend the pawn-down rook ending.}) 46... Kh8 47. Qf6+ {with perpetual check.}) 41. Rf6 $1 Kh7 (41... Qf8 42. Nxe6 Rxe5 43. Qf4 Rxe6 44. Rxe6 $18) 42. Rxg7+ (42. Qe4+ Kh8 43. Qh4 {is even stronger.}) 42... Kxg7 43. Qxh6+ Kg8 44. Qg5+ Kf8 45. Nxe6+ Ke8 ({Black's only remaining hope is to defend the rooks versus queen ending, but the extra white pawns will tell eventually.} 45... Qxe6 46. Rxe6 fxe6 47. Qf6+ Ke8 48. Qxe6+ Kd8 49. Qf7 Rxe5 50. Qxb7) 46. Qg8+ Kd7 47. Nxc5+ Qxc5 48. Rxf7+ Kc6 49. Qc8+ 1-0

[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Cheng, Bindi"]
[Black "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2499"]
[BlackElo "2301"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[GameId "2066105704530028"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 ({Unusual. The most well-worn paths in the King's Indian start} 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 {.}) 5... d6 6. e3 Nc6 7. h3 h6 ({The idea behind this modest pawn push becomes clear in a few moves. The more natural} 7... Nd7 8. Be2 e5 9. Bh2 {and now something like ...f5 sets up an interesting contest.}) 8. Be2 Nh7 9. Bh2 e5 10. O-O ({White should deal with the central tension now, for reasons we will see in the game.} 10. d5 Ne7 11. c5 f5 $13) ({, or} 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nd4 {.}) 10... Re8 11. a3 $6 ({White can still avoid trouble with} 11. dxe5 dxe5 (11... Nxe5 12. c5 $1 $14) 12. Qb3 $14 {when White is first to the d-file and it isn't clear where Black's kingside pieces are heading.}) 11... exd4 $1 12. exd4 (12. Nxd4 $13 {may be an improvement, taking away the hook for the h7-knight to exploit while offering to exchange the c6-knight that plays a critical role for the rest of the game.}) 12... Ng5 $1 {Here we see the point. Black undermines support for d4, and soon sinks a knight into a key central square.} 13. d5 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Nd4 $1 $15 15. Be4 b6 16. Re1 Qg5 17. Kh1 Bf5 18. g4 $6 {White gambles, weakening the structure around his king in hopes of gaining an initiative. It isn't easy to play against the superior dark-square bishop and centralized knight.} Bxe4+ 19. Nxe4 Qh4 20. Kg2 f5 $1 21. Bg3 Qe7 22. Nc3 Qf6 23. gxf5 $2 ({Pitching an exchange, but} 23. Qd3 f4 {certainly favors Black as well.}) 23... Rxe1 24. Qxe1 Nc2 25. Qd1 ({Here the computer suggests White's best chance is to give up a whole rook for a couple of pawns with} 25. Qe6+ Qxe6 26. fxe6 Nxa1 27. Nb5 {, but it's hard to believe it leads to much:} Bf8 {shuts down any hope of promotion for that e-pawn.}) 25... Nxa1 26. fxg6 Rf8 27. Qxa1 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Bd4 {Smooth.} 0-1

[Event "2024 Washington Open, Open section"]
[Site "Redmond, WA"]
[Date "2024.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Black "He, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E84"]
[WhiteElo "2301"]
[BlackElo "2361"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[GameId "2066105704611965"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. f3 {The Samish. David Bronstein would not approve.} O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nc6 8. Nge2 Bd7 9. Rc1 (9. Nc1 e5 10. Nb3 {is also known here.}) 9... Rb8 10. Nd1 b5 11. c5 e6 12. g3 (12. Nf2 b4 13. g3 Ne7 {is still theory. Each player has made half a dozen pawn moves out of the first 13 moves of the game. If you are a beginner, do not learn openings from this example.}) 12... b4 13. Bg2 (13. Nf2 Ne7 {transposes back into the line mentioned above.}) 13... Rb5 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. b3 e5 16. O-O (16. d5) 16... Qe7 ({Black's last chance to mix it up:} 16... d5 {with complications.} 17. dxe5 (17. Rxc6 $5 Bxc6 18. dxe5 {introduces a wild mess as well.}) 17... Nxe5 18. f4 Neg4 19. e5 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Bc5 {appears dangerous for both sides.}) 17. d5 Na5 18. Nb2 Rfb8 {White stands clearly better here with play on the open file. But it's hard to fault the decision to split the point. 5.5/6.0, clear first. Aziz Degenbaev, Washington Open Champion.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "74th Oregon Open"]
[Site "Portland"]
[Date "2024.09.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kona, Vidip"]
[Black "Srivastava, Vikram"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2179"]
[BlackElo "2241"]
[Annotator "Vidip Kumar Kona"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[GameId "2089918887976977"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,77,29,21,20,4,28,15,2,-21,15,13,25,29,18,18,17,17,26,21,52,56,68,31,31,31,24,5,-6,-6,-6,-7,7,5,3,16,29,26,17,5,11,-19,57,58,70,63,63,59,59,65,69,69,69,69,131,104,145,80,141,61,50,50,244,185,190,190,213,208,259,207,220,220,569,577,573,268,733,736,1026,1061] I was at 4.0/5 in the Oregon Open, and it was the last round with high stakes. Winning this round could secure me second place in the Oregon Open, push my rating past 2200, and earn me the title of National Master. I need to use all my skills to win this game; otherwise, I'll have to wait for another tournament to cross the 2200 threshold. My opponent is very strong, and precision will be key to securing a victory.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 e6 5. b3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. e3 {This is the first move that we are out of book.} Nbd7 8. Bb2 a5 9. Nc3 Nc5 10. d4 Nce4 11. Nd2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 b5 13. a4 bxc4 14. bxc4 Ba6 15. Re1 {A small inaccuracy by me. I should have played Qf3 instead of Re1.} Bb4 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Qb3 Rb8 18. Rec1 Qe7 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rc6 Bc8 {A mistake. After 21.a5, White has a clear advantage in the position.} 21. a5 Qa7 22. Bf1 Bd7 23. Rc5 e5 24. Rac1 exd4 25. exd4 Be6 26. a6 $1 {The a-pawn is just too far down the board for Black to stop.} Nd7 27. Rc7 Qxd4 28. Qe3 Qb2 29. a7 d4 30. Qf4 Ra8 31. Rb1 Qa2 32. Qxd4 Qa5 33. Rb7 Rfd8 34. R1xb4 Nf8 35. Qe3 Rxd2 {The game is lost for Black now.} 36. Qxd2 Rxa7 37. Rb8 Ra8 38. Qd6 Rxb8 39. Rxb8 {And Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "2024 Seattle Seafair Open"]
[Site "Seattle"]
[Date "2024.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Degenbaev, Aziz"]
[Black "Vijayakumar, Advaith"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C70"]
[WhiteElo "2350"]
[BlackElo "2208"]
[Annotator "Ralph Dubisch"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[GameId "2089733668839830"]
[EventDate "2024.07.13"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nge7 (4... Nf6 {is a couple orders of magnitude more common.}) 5. O-O Ng6 ({With the g8-knight developed to e7, it's normal to fianchetto with} 5... g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. d4 {.}) 6. c3 d5 ({Or} 6... d6 7. d4 Bd7 {, reaching a slightly more popular line by transposition. White has choices here:} 8. Re1 (8. Be3 Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Re1) (8. d5 Nb8 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 10. c4) 8... Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nf1) 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. Bb3 Qd8 $6 (8... Qd3 9. Bc2 (9. Ng5 $6 Be7 {when incursions into f7 lead to material loss for White.}) 9... Qd6 10. d4 Be6 11. Be3 O-O-O {looks fine for Black.}) ({If} 8... Qd6 {directly} 9. Ng5 {could be a bit awkward to meet:} Nd8 10. d4 Be7 11. Nd2 exd4 12. Nde4 Qd7 13. cxd4 h6 14. Nh3 $14) 9. d4 $14 Be7 10. Nxe5 Ngxe5 11. dxe5 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nxe5 13. Bf4 f6 14. Bxe5 fxe5 15. Re1 Bd6 ({The bishop may prove to be an extra target on d6.} 15... Bf6 {at least avoids that problem.}) 16. Nd2 ({It's too weakening to work the pin to win the e-pawn. After} 16. f4 $2 Rf8 17. fxe5 Bc5+ 18. Kh1 Rf2 {Black has more than enough activity.}) 16... Rf8 17. Nc4 Rf5 18. Rad1 Ke7 19. Ne3 Rh5 20. Nd5+ Kf8 21. Nb6 $1 Rb8 22. Nc4 Ke7 23. f4 $1 {Correct only now that Black's pieces have been misplaced. Black will lose a pawn.} Be6 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Bxe6 Kxe6 {The next sequence is really clever.} 26. g4 $3 Rh4 27. Rxe5+ Kf6 28. h3 $1 ({Elegant, but} 28. Rf5+ Ke6 29. Re1+ Kd6 30. Rg5 {also works, and Stockfish actually prefers this method.}) 28... h5 ({The tactical point is} 28... Rxh3 $4 29. Kg2 Rh4 30. Kg3 {and the rook is trapped.}) 29. Rf5+ Ke6 30. Re1+ Kd6 31. Rxh5 Rxh5 32. gxh5 Rf8 33. Re4 Rf5 34. Kg2 {With the black king cut off from the kingside action along the e-file, the rook endings are completely lost.} Rxh5 35. Kg3 Ra5 36. a3 g5 37. h4 gxh4+ 38. Kxh4 Rf5 39. Kg4 Rf8 40. f5 Kd5 41. Re2 Kc4 42. Kg5 1-0

