Summer to Fall

于润荷 (Jennifer Yú) – Tatev Abrahamyan
62nd U.S. Women’s Chess Championship; Saint Louis, October 5, 2023
KIng’s Indian Defence E71

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 0-0 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Bd3 Nc5 9. Bc2 a5 10. Nge2 Nh5 11. g4 Nf4 12. Nxf4 exf4 13. Bxf4. Less consistent is 13. Bd4 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Ne2 Qf6 16. Qd4 Ne5 with the initiative for Black, M. Rakić – Daulytė, 17th European Youth Chess Championship Girls U-18, Šibenik 2007.
13. ... Re8 14. Qd2

14. ... Bxc3. Black recovers the Pawn at once, but to the detriment of the fianchettoed Bishop.
15. Qxc3 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rxe4+ 17. Be3 c6 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. 0-0-0 Ba6 20. b3 Qf8

21. h4. Straight to the jugular.
21. ... a4. Not 21. ... Rxg4? because of 22. h5! and White’s attack goes through. However, 21. ... d5 22. h5 Qb4 was at least worth considering.
22. h5 axb3 23. axb3 g5 24. Qf6 Qg7 25. Bxg5 d5

26. f3? Not a good idea, as from f3 the Black Rook attacks b3. Much stronger was 26. h6 Qxf6 27. Bxf6 Rf4 (27. ... Rxg4 28. Rhg1! Rg6 29. Rde1! with too many strong threats) 28. g5 Rxf2 29. Rhe1 dxc4 30. Re7± (30. ... cxb3? 31. Ra7!+−).
26. ... Qxf6 27. Bxf6 Rf4 28. g5 Rxf3 29. cxd5 cxd5 30. Rhe1 Rxb3 31. Rxd5 Rc8+ 32. Kd2 Rb5 33. Rd6 Ra5 34. Rb1 Ra2+ 35. Rb2 Rxb2+ 36. Bxb2 Bc4 37. Ke3 Re8+ 38. Kf4 Be2 39. h6 Bh5 40. Be5 Bg6 41. Rd5 Bh5 42. Rd7 Bg6 43. Bf6 Kf8 44. Bg7+ Kg8 45. Be5 Kf8 46. Bd6+ Kg8 47. Be7 Bh5 48. Ra7 Bg6 49. Ke5 Bh5 50. Kd6 Bg4 51. Ra4 Bf5 52. Rf4 Bc8 53. Rf2 Bg4 54. Rb2 Bf5 55. Rb7 Bg4 56. Ke5 Bh5 57. Kf6 Bg6 58. Rd7 Bh5 59. Rb7 Bg6 60. Rd7 Bh5 61. Rb7 Bg6 ½ : ½.

于润荷 (Jennifer Yú) will have to do her best to get the chance to defend her own title. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.