Kostya's Game of the Day: August 12th

Despite his half-point lead over the field, GM Illia Nyzhnyk did not play it safe Sunday and chose an incredibly sharp line as Black against GM Timur Gareev, sacrificing an exchange in the opening for long-term compensation. This likely suited Gareev, who with a US Championship spot on the line needed to play for a win at all costs, but he quickly went wrong and could not handle Black's initiative. Nyzhnyk then capitalized on his dynamic pressure and swiftly finished the game, clinching the event outright. What an effort!

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[Event "2019 US Open"]
[Site "Orlando, Florida"]
[Date "2019.08.11"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Gareyev, Timur"]
[Black "Nyzhnyk, Illia"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2682"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Kostya"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 {Tranposing to the Ragozin
Defense.} dxc4 6. e3 (6. e4 {would lead to the highly theoretical Vienna
variation.}) 6... b5 7. a4 c6 8. Nd2 {A thematic idea, threatening the b5-pawn.
} a6 $5 {Committing to an exchange sacrifice. Based on this game, I'd say the
line is quite decent for Black.} (8... Bb7 9. axb5 Bxc3 10. bxc3 cxb5 $13 {
is another option, where White has decent compensation for the pawn.}) 9. axb5
cxb5 10. Nxb5 {Accepting the challenge, as otherwise White would not have
enough compensation for the pawn. This is in fact a thematic exchange
sacrifice that can also arise in lines out of the Slav and Queen's Gambit
Accepted.} axb5 11. Rxa8 Bb7 {For the exchange, Black will have fantastic
piece play, while White will have a difficult time finding safety for their
king.} 12. Bxf6 $2 {A clear mistake. White forces Black to double his f-pawns
but it doesn't slow down Black's play at all.} ({The main move is} 12. Ra1 {
where Black is quite solid after} e5 $5 (12... Nbd7 13. Be2 Bxg2 14. Rg1 Bd5
15. Bf3 $1 $16 {took place in a high-level blitz game: 1-0 Korobov,A (2680)
-Aronian,L (2815) Dubai 2014}) 13. dxe5 Qxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Ne4+ 16.
Kc2 Nxg5 $11 {with a drawish endgame.}) 12... gxf6 13. Ra1 e5 14. Qh5 {A
decent try to create counterplay, but Nyzhnyk is able to find a precise
response.} (14. dxe5 fxe5 $19 {and White's position is very passive,
especially with the annoying pin against the knight on d2.}) 14... O-O $1 $146
{A novelty, though Illia confessed he was well out of book by this point.} 15.
Be2 exd4 16. Qxb5 $2 {This was the point of Gareev's play, but there's a
fantastic tactical flaw that Black pounces on.} (16. Rd1 {was the best try for
White.} dxe3 (16... d3 $2 17. Bg4 {would be quite unclear.}) 17. fxe3 Qe7 $17 {
and Black retains excellent compensation for the exchange.}) 16... Bxd2+ 17.
Kxd2 dxe3+ 18. Ke1 Bxg2 $1 {Previously this pawn was poisoned due to Rg1, but
at the moment Black threatens Qd2 mate!} 19. Rd1 (19. Rg1 $4 Qd2#) 19... Qc7 $1
{The only move, which must have been seen in advance.} 20. Rg1 Qxh2 {The rook
is trapped and White is forced to return the exchange.} 21. Rxg2+ Qxg2 22. fxe3
Nc6 23. Qxc4 Rb8 {The dust has settled and Black is only a pawn up, but the
main issue of course is White's king, which is caught in the middle and a
constant liability. Objectively Black is winning and Illia converts it with
ease:} 24. Qc3 (24. Qg4+ Qxg4 25. Bxg4 Rxb2 $19 {would leave White with very
little hope.}) 24... Ne5 25. b4 h5 $1 {Black's passed pawn is simply much
stronger.} 26. Qd4 (26. Bxh5 Qh1+ $19) 26... Rc8 {Now going after the king,
threatening Rc2.} 27. Qd5 Qg1+ 28. Kd2 Qf2 {White resigned here, as Nc4+ is a
devastating threat and the only reasonable move Rf1 loses to Rc2+. Kudos to
Illia on an excellent game and incredible tournament!} 0-1

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