Disillusioned

Anna Vitalievna Zatonskih – 于润荷 (Jennifer Yú)
62nd U.S. Women’s Chess Championship; Saint Louis, October 10, 2023
Queen’s Gambit Declined D31

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 Nc6 5. Nf3 a5 6. e3 Nge7 7. Bd2 0-0

8. a3. If 8. Rc1 then 8. ... a4 9. Qc2 a3 10. b3 e5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxb4 Nxb4 14. Qd2 e4 15. Ne5? (15. Qxb4 exf3 16. Qc5⩲) 15. ... Qd6 16. Rc5 Nd5 17. Nc4 Qd8 18. Ra5 Be6∓ 19. Rxa3 b5 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Na5 b4 22. Nc4 Nc3 23. Ne5? Bxb3!−+ Lputian – Giorgadze, Kropotkin 1995.
8. ... Bxc3 9. Bxc3 b6 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. 0-0 a4 12. Qa2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bb7 14. e4 Na5 15. Bd3 Ng6 16. Rfe1 Nf4 17. Bc2 f5 18. Bd2 fxe4 19. Bxe4 Bd5 20. Qb1

20. ... Nb3? Better was 20. ... Nh3+! 21. gxh3 Rxf3 22. Bxf3 Bxf3 23. Qd3 Qf6 24. Rxe6! Qxe6 25. Qxf3 Rf8 with good play for the Pawn.
21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Bxh7+ Kf8 23. Ne5

23. ... Rxd4? A mistake after which Black is doomed to a sad end. 23. ... Rf6! was the only move to defend.
24. Qg6 Qe8 25. Qg3 Ra7 26. Ng6+ Kf7 27. Rad1 c5 28. Rxd4 Nxd4 29. Qf4+ Nf5 30. g4 Qd8 31. gxf5 Qf6 32. fxe6+ Bxe6 33. Nh8+ Ke7 34. Bf5 g5 35. Qe4 1 : 0.

Another day another zero another bitter pill to swallow. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.