Finegold - Kaidanov - 2010 U.S. Chess Championship

[Morgain Le Fey]

[Event "2010 U.S. Chess Championship"]
[Site "Saint Louis/USA"]
[Date "2010.05.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Finegold, Benjamin"]
[Black "Kaidanov, Gregory"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2010.??.??"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 d5 4. b3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. Bb2 b6 9. Re1 Bb7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 cxd4 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. Nxd4 Rfd8 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Bxh7 Rd7 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Rxd7 Qxd7 20. Bg6 f5 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. h4 Rd8 23. Qg5 Qe7 24. Qg3 Qd6 25. Qg5 Qe7 26. Qg3 Qd6 27. Qg5 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Rudel]

What a great game! 9.Re1 and 10.e4 is pretty uncommon in this particular line. Does anyone else think White could have converted a win with the consolidating 20.Bd3, aiming for a three-pawns-for-a-piece endgame?

[Schroeder]

After having checked the position with Rybka, I agree that White obtains good winning chances with the long, but virtually forced sequence
20. Bd3 f5 21. Qh4+ Kg7 22. Qg5+ Kf8 23. Qf6+ Qf7 24. Rxe6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6+ Kg7 26. Rd6! (26. Rxf5? allows Nb4=) 26... Re8 27. f3 f4 28. Be4 Rd8 29. Rg6+ Kf7 30. Rg4 +/-
when he even gets a fourth pawn against the piece.

[Rookpawn]

(05-18-2010 01:44 PM)Schroeder Wrote:  After having checked the position with Rybka, I agree that White obtains good winning chances with the long, but virtually forced sequence
20. Bd3 f5 21. Qh4+ Kg7 22. Qg5+ Kf8 23. Qf6+ Qf7 24. Rxe6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6+ Kg7 26. Rd6! (26. Rxf5? allows Nb4=) 26... Re8 27. f3 f4 28. Be4 Rd8 29. Rg6+ Kf7 30. Rg4 +/-
when he even gets a fourth pawn against the piece.

I'm not sure I agree here. 21... Qh7 may the the better try.? It just seems that black should be able to hold this.

[Zukertort_Player]

Rookpawn:
..21 Qh7 doesn't suffice for black as white improves his position: 22. Qxh7+ Kxh7 23. Rxe6 Rd8 24. Bxf5 (Rybka 2.2)