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Yaroslav Zherebukh vs Wesley So
US Championship (2018), St Louis, MO USA, rd 1, Apr-18
Sicilian Defense: Canal Attack (B51)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 8 v270317 (minimum 6s/ply)better is 4...g6 5.O-O Bg7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Qe2 a6 8.d4 b5 9.Bc2 = -0.13 (25 ply)= +0.42 (25 ply)better is 14...e6 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.Rb3 Rfb8 17.Rfb1 Bc6 18.Bxc6 = 0.00 (27 ply)better is 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.Bb3 Nfd7 17.Bc2 b5 18.d4 Ne6 19.Nd5 Bxd5 ⩲ +0.60 (23 ply)= 0.00 (26 ply)better is 16...Nh5 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.g4 Nhf6 19.Rb3 Ng8 20.g5 h5 = 0.00 (24 ply)= +0.50 (23 ply) after 17.Qe1 Kg8 18.Bc2 Bc6 19.bxc5 dxc5 20.Bf4 Qa7 21.a4 g5 21.Ne2 e5 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Nc3 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.Bxb5 = +0.12 (23 ply) ⩱ -0.89 (25 ply) 24.Rb2 c4 25.Ra2 e5 26.Bc2 Qb7 27.Bb1 Qc7 28.Qf2 Bb7 ⩱ -0.55 (21 ply) 24...Nf5 25.Nxf5 gxf5 26.Bb3 Qb7 27.exf5 c4 28.Bc2 Nd5 ∓ -1.80 (26 ply)= -0.48 (27 ply)better is 25...Ne2+ 26.Kf2 Qxe3+ 27.Kxe3 Nxg3 28.Bb3 Rc3 29.Qxc3 ⩱ -0.77 (26 ply) 26.Ra2 Qc5 27.Qb1 Rb8 28.Qb2 f5 29.h4 fxe4 30.dxe4 Qc4 = -0.23 (26 ply) ∓ -1.89 (28 ply) 27.Bxc2 Qxe3 28.Rf3 Qb6 29.Ra2 d5 30.Nhf1 dxe4 31.dxe4 ∓ -1.71 (25 ply) ∓ -2.49 (27 ply)better is 38...Rd7 39.Rxd7 Bxd7 40.Rb1 Bb5 41.Nf1 Ba6 42.Rd1 Ra2 -+ -2.99 (26 ply) ∓ -1.97 (26 ply)54.Ba6 g5 55.Bc8 Kf6 56.Nh2 Bf4 57.Bd7 e5 58.Bc6 Ke6 -+ -2.54 (31 ply)0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35436 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Apr-19-18  Marmot PFL: After this game Maurice Ashley pointed out 24...Nf5 to So, who said he didn't even think of it and that's why he was only number seven (in ratings). 25 ef5 Nd5 26 fg6+ fg6 and black threatens Bxa1 as well as Nxe3 Qxe3 Bd4. That's complicated though and what black plays is simple and effective enough, he makes the ending look very easy. White I think should not have allowed 26...Nc2.
Apr-19-18  Ulhumbrus: 21 Rf1?! displaces a defender of the c4 pawn. The result is that on 21...b5! White has to play 22 cxb5 and so in effect make the concession of exchanging the more valuable c4 pawn for the less valuable a6 pawn.

25..Nd7 offers a pawn on d6 which White cannot accept as on 26 Qxd6 Nc5 traps the queen and this suggests that So is in good form. The suggestion is wrong if that is how strongly So plays normally.

The sequence begun by 26...Nc2! ends up winning a pawn on a3.

32...h5 prepares to displace a defender of the e4 pawn and Black's pressure on the e4 pawn induces White to concede the bishop pair by 34 Bxc5 and then toe displace his e pawn by e5.

Apr-19-18  Zibbit: Interesting game! I like the early trap by Zerebukh....some interesting lines possible there! https://youtu.be/hMsF5LRTSnw
Apr-19-18  Marmot PFL: <Zibbit> Good video
Apr-19-18  ChessHigherCat: <Zibbit> I agree, very good video. Just the right speed.
Apr-20-18  thegoodanarchist: <Marmot PFL: After this game Maurice Ashley pointed out 24...Nf5 to So, who said he didn't even think of it and that's why he was only number seven (in ratings). 25 ef5 Nd5 26 fg6+ fg6 and black threatens Bxa1 as well as Nxe3 Qxe3 Bd4. That's complicated though and what black plays is simple and effective enough, he makes the ending look very easy.>

I am sure, though, Wesley is disappointed he didn't find 24...Nf5! However, from experience I know that he would feel 100 times worse if he didn't get a win, after not finding that line.

In my life I have studied at a minimum 17,000-18,000 tactical puzzles, and I didn't think of it either.

In chess, tactics are what separate the champs from the chumps.

Apr-21-18  thegoodanarchist: Pun Submitted:

Zherebukh Stops Here

Apr-29-18  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini 4: d 22 done

1. = (0.00): 21.Bd1 Qe7 22.Ne2 e5 23.bxc5 Nxe2+ 24.Qxe2 exf4 25.Bxf4 bxc5 26.Rb6 Rc6 27.Rcb1 Nd7 28.Rxc6 Bxc6 29.Nf3 Qf8 30.Qd2 Rc8 31.Kh2 g5 32.Bg3 Rb8 33.Rxb8 Qxb8 34.Qa5

2. = (-0.08): 21.Bf2 Nd7 22.Bd1 Nb8 23.Nf3 Nbc6 24.Nxd4 Nxd4 25.Ne2 Nxe2+ 26.Bxe2 Bc6 27.Re1 Rb8 28.Kh2 Qd7 29.Bf3 h5 30.d4 cxd4 31.Bxd4 e5 32.Bb2 Rbc8 33.Kg1 exf4 34.Qxf4

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