2020 US Chess Championship

 Wesley So won convincingly his second US Champion title.

This was played as a rapid chess ( 25 minutes + 5 seconds) online but still gives him the 2020 US Chess Champion title. While Nakamura participated, Fabiano Caruana wasn't part of the tournament as he was supposed to be in the World Chess Candidates tournament -postponed to 2010-

Lets replay a critical game : So-Xiong 

Wesley So won that game and Jeffery Xiong finished 2nd in the tournament. This also showcases Wesley's style, very solid, few mistakes and converting small edges.

my lichess game against GM Akobian

Here's the game played on lichess.org server

GM Var Akobian was streaming and he picked up my challenge.

Yes I lost the game, but not without a fight!

on move 30, he blundered and 31 Rxc4! would have turned tables around. later on rook ending could have been saved. He played the opening very quickly and first 16 moves were following his game against J. Ehlvest in 2009. I was out of book earlier and had to figure out a way to play the position

opening is French Defense Nd2  : 1e4 e6 2d4 d5 3Nd2 Nf6. This is GM Akobian main opening

opening is French Defense Nd2  : 1e4 e6 2d4 d5 3Nd2 Nf6. This is GM Akobian main opening

https://lichess.org/

Game of the Month : Karjakin-Kramnik Nov 2010 . Attack!

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Design by pgn4web - Paolo Casaschi
http://pgn4web.casaschi.net/home.html

Comments on variations to the game itself featuring a piece sac 15.Be2!

12..Nc4 13 Ne6 !? instead of 13 Qd3 played in Gashimov-Gelfand 2010. Kramnik goes for the novelty 12..Bf5

15..hg5 16 hg5 Qd7 17 g4 Bg6 18 Rdg1 followed by 18 f4 is strong for White therefore Black declined the sacrifice

17..Nc4 would has been followed by 18 Bc4 dc4 19 Qf2!? Qa5 20 f5! with attack on column h

21 Qc4!? Qd5! 22 Bd3 Qc4 23 Bc4 Be7 24 g5!?

22 ..Bh4! 23 Bd3 Bf6! is much better than the game. 22..b5!? 23 Qc6 Re2 was better than the game

23..Qd5 24 Qc3 Qb5 25 gh6 with advantage. 23..b5!?

complexity

White to play

Battle between two strong grandmasters reached a crucial point. Can you find the best continuation for White ?

Games of the month ( part III)

Chess puzzle 3, Aug 07

August 2007, position 3

White to play and win

Morphy-Harrwitz