In the House of Giants

Samuel L. Shankland – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
61th U.S. Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 6, 2017
Réti Opening A06

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 b6 5. Bb2 Bb7 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 a6 8. cxd5. If White wanted to play d2-d4, I think it were better for him to play it now. 8. ... exd5 9. d4 Bd6 10. g3 Ne4 11. Bg2 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Nf6 13. 0-0 a5 14. a4 0-0 15. Ba3 c5 16. Rfd1 Rc8 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qd3 Qb6 19. Nd2 Rfd8 20. Rac1 Ba6 21. Qb1 Bf8 22. Bb2

22. ... d4! Jeffery finally shows his muscles. 23. exd4 cxd4 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Ne4 d3. Threatening ... Nf6xe4 followed by ... Rc8-c2. 26. Bxf6. I think 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxd3 Bxd3 28. Qxd3 Bc5 29. Bd5 Bxf2+ 30. Kg2 Bg1 31. Qf5 was a better version of White’s exchange sacrifice, which, even at the cost of the f2-Pawn, would have allowed Shankland to maintain two Bishops. 26. ... gxf6 27. Rxd3 Bxd3 28. Qxd3 f5. Now Black stands much better, both materially and dynamically. The conversion into a win is all but easy, but Jeffery will manage somehow to win his first game in the U.S. Championship: 29. Nd2 Qf6 30. Nc4 Rd8 31. Bd5 Bc5 32. Kg2 f4 33. Qf3 Qg5 34. Be4 fxg3 35. hxg3 h5 36. Bf5 Kg7 37. Kh3 Qf6 38. Kg2 Qg5 39. Kh3 Rd4 40. Kg2 h4 41. Kh3 hxg3 42. fxg3 Qc1 43. Be4 Qh6+ 44. Kg2 Qe6 45. Bc6 Qg6 46. Bb5 Rd3 47. Qf4 Rxb3 48. Qe5+ Kg8 49. Nxa5 Rb1. “Xióng displayed better understanding throughout the entire game”, Canadian Grandmaster Eric Hansen said. 50. Nc4 Qc2+ 51. Kh3 Rh1+ 52. Kg4 Qd1+ 0 : 1. Bravo!

熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
Photo: Lennart Ootes (@CCSCSL)