Gata Kamsky wins U.S. Championship

GM Ray Robson-GM Alex Yermolinsky, U.S. Championship, St. Louis 2010: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qb6 A neglected line of the Sicilian Defense, introduced by Louis Paulsen in 1881. 5 Nb3 Nf6 6 Nc3 e6 7 Qe2 For rapid castling. More popular are 7 Bd3 and 7 Be3 Qc7 8 a3. Bb4 8 Bd2 0-0 9 a3 Be7 10 0-0-0 d5!? Accepting a vulnerable d-pawn in return for easy development. 11 Be3 Qc7 12 exd5 Nxd5 13 Nxd5 exd5 Welcoming 14 Rxd5 Be6 15 Rd1 Rfd8 16 Kb1 Bf6, with adequate compensation. 14 g3 Bf5 Bolder than 14…Be6 or 14…Ne5. 15 Bg2 Rac8 16 Bf4?? One mistake dooms White. Safest is 16 Rd2 Rfd8 17 Nd4. The greedy 16 Rxd5 Be6 17 Rb5 seems playable too, as White can survive 17…Nb4 18 Nc5! and 17…a6 18 Rb6. Qb6 Thinking of 17…Qxb3. 17 Rxd5 Similarly hopeless is 17 Bxd5 Bxc2. Nor does 17 Rd2 help, as 17…Bf6 prepares the deadly …Nc6-a5. Then 18 Bxd5 Na5 19 Qf3 Rfd8 sets up the crushing 20…Rxd5, while 18 Qe3 d4 19 Qf3 Na5 20 Nxa5 allows the invasion 20…d3! 21 b4 Qd4. Bxc2! 18 Qxc2 Na5 19 Nxa5 No better is 19 Nc5 Bxc5 20 Kb1 Bxa3. Rxc2+ 20 Kxc2 Qxf2+ 21 Rd2 Qc5+ 22 Kb1 Qxa5 23 Rc1 b5 24 Rd7 Bf6 25 Bd6?! Losing quickly, but 25 Bd2 Qb6 26 Bd5 Qf2 would not alter the result. Black refutes 27 Rxf7 by 27…Qf5+ 28 Ka1 Qxd5. Qd2 26 Rc2 Qd1+ 27 Rc1 Qd3+ 28 Rc2 Or 28 Ka1 Qd2 29 Rb1 Rc8. Re8 29 Bc6 Re1+, White Resigns.