2018 US Open strongest so far
While the Russian Championship is invariably the strongest national championship anywhere, the next strongest is probably that of the USA. With et s 12 of its top GMs present, the ongoing US National Championship in St. Louis (Missouri), was the strongest in recent years.
World title challenger Fabiano Caruana, candidates seventh placer and defending champion Wesley So, and veteran Varuzhan Akobian, shared the lead after three rounds of the biggest tournament in American chess. They had 2.5 points apiece.
Caruana, who became the second American to win the candidates tournament, is the tourney’s top favorite.
Other GMs in the table were Samuel Shankland, 2.0, Hikaru Nakamura, Yaroslav Zherebukh and Ray Robson, at 1.5 each, Awonder Liang, Alexander Lenderman and Jeffrey Xiong, 1.0 each, Alexander Onischuk and Zviad Izoria, 0.5.
The single round-robin event at the chess club and scholastic center offered a total cash prize of $194,000.
Below is a fine attacking game demonstrated by the world challenger. US Championship 2018 W) F. Caruana B) A. Lenderman French Defense 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4
The Winawer Variation, a well-known razor-sharp line, named after pioneer and leader Szymon Winawer (1838-1919), a Polish master, who won the German Championship in 1883. 4. e5 c5
There are other moves, but the text has more supporters. 5. a3 Bxc3ch 6. bxc3 Qa5
Black employs an old line, sharp and risky, but not necessarily bad. More usual today are 6...Qc7 and 6...Ne7. 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qg4 Kf8
So far, the opening has run into well-known paths. The next move takes it into less explored territory. 9. h4!? ...
White throws the book away. The move is probably played for surprise value. 9. Ra2, 9. Nf3 and 9. Qd1 are fair alternatives.
9 .... Nc6
Hardly commendable. The computer suggests 9...Ne7, with these possibilities: 10. Qf4 h6 11. Ra2 b6 12. Nf3 Ba6, and Black seems all right. 10. h5 h6
Black accomplishes nothing with this move. After 10...Nxe5 11. Qf4 Nc6 12. h6 Nxh6 13. Rxh6 gxh6 14.Qxh6ch Kg8, the position is unclear. 1 1 . Qd1 cxd4?!
The start of Black’s trouble, as opening up the center puts the Black Queen in danger. 11...b6, intending 12...Ba6, is preferable, according to the engine. 12. Nf3 dxc3 13. Bxc3 ...
Now Black has to create a flight square for his beleaguered Queen, as White threatens the unpleasant 14. Rh4. 13... g5?!
13...Nb8 probably holds out longer, though White clearly has the upper hand. 14. hxg6 Qe4ch 15. Be2 Qxg6 16. Qd2 Nge7 17. Bd3 Qxg2? ...
This ends the story, as after White’s next move, there’s no adequate reply against the threat of 19. Rag1. 18.Ke2! Qg4 19. Rh4 Qg7 20. Rg1 Ng6 21. Rf4 Nce7 22. Bb4 a5 23. Rxg6 1-0 Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to move and win. white=Kg1, Qc6, Bf1, Bf2, Pb6, Pf3, Pg3, Ph2
black=Kb8, Qa3, Rh8, Bd8, Pc7, Pf7, Pg7 1. Ba6! Qxa6 Forced to prevent 2. Qb7 mate. 2. bxc7ch Bxc7 3. Qxa6 1-0