Between Two Worlds

Alexander Vasilyevich Onischuk – Aleksandr Lenderman
60th U.S. Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 16, 2016
Slav Defence D10

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Nh4 Be4 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. d5!? An interesting Pawn sacrifice that gives White a temporary initiative. 11. ... exd5 12. Nf5 g6 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. Bb5 Bf6 15. Bc3 Kf8 16. 0-0 Kg7 17. f3 Nxd4 18. exd4 Qd6 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Rae1 Rc8? A grave mistake that suddenly gives enormous power to White’s attack. 21. Rxe4 Rc7 22. Bb4 Bxd4+. From bad to worst. Anyway, after 22. ... Qb6 23. Kh1 Nh6 24. Bc5 Black should have given up the Exchange for no compensation. 23. Kh1 Qb6

24. Rxd4. Here Onischuk misses his “immortal” move: 24. Re6!! Qxb5 (neither 24. ... fxe6 25. Bf8 mate nor 24. ... Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Bf8 mate can be regarded as improvements) 25. Bf8+ Kxf8 26. Qxb5 with an easy win. Luckily for him, his second choice is still good enough to win. 24. ... Qxd4 25. Bc3 Rxc3 26. bxc3 Qd6 27. Qxf7+ Kh6 28. Qf8+ Qxf8 29. Rxf8 Kg7 30. Rb8 b6 31. Rb7+ Kh6 32. Rf7! Alex’s development on the Kingside is paralyzed and Black is doomed to fall into Zugzwang. 32. ... g5 33. Bd3 g4 34. Kg1 Kg5 35. Rf8 Kh6 36. Ra8 a5 37. Rb8 Kg7 38. Rb7+ Kf8 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Rb7+ Kf8 41. Rxb6 Ne7 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Rxh8 Kxh8 44. Be4 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf6 46. Ke3 Ke5 47. Bxh7 Nd5+ 48. Kd2 Kf4 49. Kd3 g3 50. hxg3+ Kxg3 51. Be4 1 : 0.

Alexander Vasilyevich Onischuk
Photo by Spectrum Studios