Hikaru Nakamura vs Alexander Shabalov (2005)

Hikaru Nakamura vs Alexander Shabalov
7th Foxwoods Open 2005 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange. Positional Variation (D35) · 1-0

Given 3 times; par: 53 [what's this?]

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Jun-14-05		ashalpha: 20. f4 is a deep move visualizing the eventual Queen trap while threatening mate along the g file. 21..gxh4? 22. e5 gives the piece back with initiative.

Jun-14-05		patzer2: Bravo Nakamura! With an impressive 1. c4! repertoire under development, he shows a level of maturity and skill in the handling of the opening that compliments his already well developed tactical skills and abilities. If he can continue to get such big advantages out of the opening against strong GMs, Nakamura! may soon earn a place among the 2700+ rated GM elite. With 21. f4! Nakamura puts decisive pressure on the pinned pawn. After the practically forced reply 21...Ng6, his 22. Be1! creates a decisive double attack, threatening to win the Queen as in the game or to win the exchange after 22... Rxd4 23. Bxf7! Nxf4 24. Ne2! Qe5 25. Nxf4! Qxf4 26. Bxg8 Kxg8 . In addition to 22. Be1!, Fritz 8, at 12 depth, indicates White can also win with 22. fxg5! Nxh4 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxg8+ Rxg8 25. Rxg8+ Kxg8 26. e5 Qb4 27. Qe2 Bg7 28. a3 Qe7 29. Qg4 b5 30. Bb3 Qg5 31. Qc8+ Kh7 32. Qe8 b4 33. axb4 Qg1+ 34. Ka2 h5 35. Bc2+ Kh6 36. Qg8 Ng6 37. Ne4 Qxd4 38. Nd6 Qd5+ 39. b3 Kg5 40. Nxf7+ Kh4 41. Qxg7 . As a followup to 22. Be1!, White's discovered attack 23. Nd5! snares the trapped Queen after 23...Qxe1+ 24. Rxe1 . If Black tries to complicate with 24... Nxg2, then 25. Nxf6! Nxe1 26. Qf2 Rg6 27. Nh5 f6 28. Qxe1 Rxd4 29. Qf2!! Rxc4 30. Qf5! Rg8 31. Nxf6! Bxf6 32. Qxf6+ Kh7 33. Qf7+ Rg7 34. Qxc4 is decisive.

Jun-14-05		beenthere240: Actually I think if Black tries to complicate with 24. ...Nxg2 then Bxa5 is good enough. Black is busted.

Jun-16-05		Grunfeld: How come the scorecard shows Nakamura's rating as 2752? Is that his USCF rating? His Fide rating can't be that high (yet).

Sep-24-05		tiburon92: That is his USCF rating

Feb-10-06		Shamtesticle: Who is this kid, man? These games are unbelievable! Actually, after 21...gxh4?, I was looking at 22 Rxg8+ Nxg8 23 Qg2 Ng6 24 Bxf7! when Black really gets raped. His knights can't connect! I guess there's often more than one way to win.

Apr-10-09		computer chess guy: Rybka prefers 21. xf7 g7 22. f4 xf7 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. xg5: Black must move the Queen then White will play e5 .

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