Yellow Star

Irina Borisivna Krush – Nazí Nodarovna Paikidze
57th U.S. Women’s Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 4, 2017
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

“Krush vs. Paikidze might prove to be the decisive game of the tournament. Irina was placing early pressure on the reigning champion, however, Nazí defused her opponent’s attempt at an advantage and managed to secure the equality around move 20”, writes Grandmaster Cristian Chirila in his report for the U.S. Chess Champs web site. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Ba6 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. Bg2 0-0 9. 0-0 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Nc3 d6 12. Rfd1. Or 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. Rd2 Rd8 14. Rfd1 Nc6 15. b3 h6 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 a5 18. Qf4 e5 19. Qh4 Qc7 20. Qg4 a4 21. Nh4 Bc8 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 axb3 24. Bxc6 Qxc6 25. axb3 ½ : ½ Markus – Pavlović, 6th European Individual Chess Championship, Warsaw 2005. 12. ... Qe7 13. Qd3 Rd8 14. Ne5 Na6 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Nb4 18. Rd2 Kf8 19. Rad1 Ke7 20. e3 h6 21. Kf1 Nc6 22. Ke2 Rab8 23. b3 Rb7 24. h3 Rbd7 25. Ne1 g5 26. f4 Rg8 27. Kf2 h5 28. Nf3 g4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. Ng5 Rgd8 31. Rh1 d5 32. cxd5 Nxd5 33. Nce4 Nf6 34. Rxd7+ Nxd7 35. Ke2 Nb4

36. Nc3. 36. Nd6!? Rf8 doesn’t seem leading nowhere particularly useful. 36. ... Nf6. “Despite that, Irina slowly started to outplay her opponent and if she would have found 37. e4! then the story of the game would have been a completely different”, says Chirila. 37. Nge4?? “Unfortunately for her, that was exactly the moment of the blunder! Her 37. Nge4 allowed Nazí to win a Pawn and the rest was history. With sublime confidence and technique, Nazí increased her advantage and forced Irina to capitulate. This is the third time in a row Nazí out powered Irina, and her bid for a second consecutive title is contouring nicely!”, Chirila said. 37. ... Nxa2 38. Ra1 Nxc3+ 39. Nxc3 Rd7 40. Ra5 Rb7 41. Rxc5 Rxb3 42. Rc7+ Kf8 43. Kd1 Ra3 44. Kc2 Ra1 45. Kd3 Rg1 46. Rxa7 Rxg3 47. Ne4 Nxe4 48. Kxe4 Rf3 49. Ra5 f5+ 50. Ke5 Kf7 51. e4 Re3 52. Ra7+ Kg6 53. Ra4 Rxe4+ 0 : 1.

Nazí Nodarovna Paikidze. Photo © Lennart Ootes.