Democratic Underground - Krush - Shabalov, Round 5, National Open, Las Vegas

Irina Krush, America's first lady of chess, won in fine effort against newly crowned US national champion Alex Shabalov.

Irina Krush
Photo: ChessBase.com

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Select the Las Vegas International from the events list;
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Select the fifth round (the first of the two June 10 rounds);
Select Board 7 Krush, Irina -Shabalov, Alexander 1-0.

Irina Krush vs. Alex Shabalov
National Open, Round 5
Las Vegas, June 2007

Open Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Hastings Opening (Botvinnik Defense) (Anti-Meran Gambit)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4

8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. a4 Bb4 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Be2 c5 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Nxb5 cxd4 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qg4+ Kh7 17. Qh5 Nc6 is unclear (Geller-Koblents, Sverdlovsk 1947).

8. -- g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3

If 11. exf6 then:

11. -- Qa5 12. Be2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 14. Qc1 c5 15. Rd1 cxd4? 16. Rxd4 Bc5 17. b4! gives White a winning game (Onischuk-Shabalov, US Ch, Stillwater 2007).
14. Bf4 Nxf6 15. Bf3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. Ne2 Qc7 18. h3 e5 White resigns (Zimmerman-Paoli, Venice 1949)
If 11. -- Qb6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. 0-0 0-0-0 then:

14. h4 Bh6 then:

15. a4? Bxg5 16. hxg5 b4 17. Ne4 c5 18. a5 Qc7 gives Black a tactical initiative (Ragozin-Botvinnik, Trng Match, Moscow 1941).
White's game is difficult but playable after 15. Qd2 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Ne5 17. Rfd1 Rh4 18. Qe3 Rdh8 19. f3.

11. -- Qa5 12. exf6 b4 13. Ne4 Ba6 14. Qf3

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Irina Krush
Position after 14. Qd1f3

14. -- Rd8?!

It would seem better to castle long here, as in customary. Then Black develops his King's Bishop and the Rooks are in communication.
If 14. -- 0-0-0 then:

15. Bg2 c3 16. Nxc3 Nb8 17. Ne4 Rxd4 18. Be3 b3+ 19. Nc3 Ra4 Black has a healthy spatial edge and queenside threats (Berkes-D'Amore, Eur Team Ch, 2005).
15. Be3 Nb8 16. Bg2 Bb5 17. h4 Na6 18. Ng5 is equal.

15. Be2 Nb6?

Black breaks away from known lines. In doing so, he protects a pawn that is already protected.
15. -- c5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. 0-0 Bb7 19. Qg4 Black has more space, but his King is not safe and the Rook at h8 is unguarded. (Zontakh-Robak, Op, Bydgoszcz (Poland) 2001).
Another line that could be explored is 15. -- Qd5 16. Rd1 Bb7 17. Qe3 c3 18. bxc3 bxc3 19. f3 c2 20. Rc1 which remains unclear.

16. Nc5

White won a pawn in the opening; she still has it.
If 16. Be3 then:

16. -- Nd5 17. h4 b3+ 18. Bd2 Nb4 19. Bxb4 20. Nc3 B7 21. Bxc4 White has two extra pawns.
After 16. -- Rd5 Qf4 c3 18. bxc3 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 bxc3 20. Qc7 White has an extra pawn and more space, nwither side has a very safe King and both sides have unguarded pieces.

16. -- Rd5 17. Nxa6 Qxa6 18. Be3 b3

Black has more space, but his mobility is hampered by White's threats and pins and neither King is safe.
18. -- Qa5 18,0-0 Kd7 20. Qg2 Rf5 21. Rfc1 Qd5 22. Bf4 Bf3 gives White a tacctical initiative.
After 19. -- Qa4 19. Qf4 b3 20. Bf3 Rd7 21. Qd8+ Rd8 22. Qb7 Nd5 23. 0-0 White has tactical threats to limit Black's mobility.

Black: Alex Shabalov
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White: Irina Krush
Position after 18. -- b4b3

19. 0-0!

One King is going to safe, any way. The position is clearly in White's favor.

19. -- bxa2

After 19. -- Qb7 20. axb3 Rf5 21. Qh1 xxb3 22. Ra6 Nd5 23. Rfa1 Black will be buried in a landslide.

20. b3 Kd7 21. bxc4 Rf5 22. Qe4 Qa4

]22. Rxf6 23. Bf4 Rf5 24. d5 Bc5 25. dxe6+ fxe6 26. Rfd1+ Ke7 27. Bg4 is lights out.

23. Rfc1 Ra5 24. Bd1 Qa3 25. Bf3 1-0

After 25. -- Kd8 26. Qxc6 Bh6 27. c5 Nc8 28. Qb7 Bxe3 29. c6 Black will not escape the mating net.
25. -- Qa4 26. Bf4 Nxc4 27. Rxa2 Qb4 28. Qxc6+ Kd8 29. Qc7+ Ke8 30. Bc6#.
Mr. Shabalov resigns.

Reply #9: Krush - Shabalov, Round 5, National Open, Las Vegas [View All]