Yu Can't Always Get What You Want

After my success in the American Open, I gained enough rating points to go up to 2133, a new high for me (by one point!). On December 1st, the Richard Morris Open tournament started at the Arcadia Chess Club and I was paired against Gabriela Yu, rated 1536. This was the first time Gabriela and I had played so I wasn't sure of her style or opening repertoire. Typically, one would expect the rating difference to be the decisive factor sooner or later and that proved to be the case when it became clear that Gabriela was uncertain how to play the opening.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. f3?

This is already an inaccuracy because now white's light squared bishop doesn't have a good square to go to. If it ever goes to c4, it can be hit by a knight jump to e5. White's 5. Nb3  was also slightly unusual but still playable.

7. ... O-O 8. Be3 d6 9. Qd2 Re8 10. O-O-O a6

10. ... a5  was more incisive, forcing white to make a concession with either 11. a4  or 11. Na4. The former weakens the pawn structure around the white king and, sooner or later, black will get the b5 break in. The latter would put the knight on an awkward square and it would be doing nothing except preventing black from getting in a4.

11. g4 b5 12. h4 Ne5 13. Be2 Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15. Nc5?

Trying to be too clever. The simple 15. Nd4  was correct, not allowing the following tactical sequence.

15. ... Qa5 16. N5a4 Rb8 17. Kb1??

This is a blunder that just loses. 17. Qf2  was forced, allowing the knight on a4 to escape to b6 if necessary. The text move allows black to win two minor pieces for the rook and still with a nasty attack, or to "lose" the exchange but gain two pawns for it (and still with a virtually winning position).

17. ... Bd7 18. Bb6?

White had to try 18. e5! Nxg4 19. Bb6 Rxb6 20. Nxb6 Qxb6 21. fxg4 Bxg4. White can then force the queens off the board with 22. Qd4  and will be up the exchange but black has more than enough compensation. Indeed, the combination of the dangerous bishop pair and two pawn advantage should be winning for black (Fritz has it was more than +2 in black's favor).

18. ... Rxb6 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. h5 Rb8 21. b3 a5 22. a4??

This loses by force to a simple but pretty combination.

22. ... cxb3 23. cxb3 Qxb3+ 24. Ka1 Nxe4 0-1

Here is the game PGN:

(595) Yu,Gabriela (1536) - Hayes,Matthew (2133) [B76]

Richard Morris Open Arcadia (1), 01.12.2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Be3 d6 9.Qd2 Re8 10.0–0–0 a6 11.g4 b5 12.h4 Ne5 13.Be2 Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.Nc5 Qa5 16.N5a4 Rb8 17.Kb1 Bd7 18.Bb6 Rxb6 19.Nxb6 Qxb6 20.h5 Rb8 21.b3 a5 22.a4 cxb3 23.cxb3 Qxb3+ 24.Ka1 Nxe4 0–1