With the US Championships getting up to full speed I was watching some of the games today. One that I was keeping an eye on was between the up and coming Jennifer Yu and the defending US Women’s Champion Sabina Foiser.
It had been a fairly level game all day, and this position was reached
It’s Black to move. With Black’s king where it is, the ideal plan would be to exchange pawns and then Black should be able to hold quite easily.
But it’s not easy to exchange pawns. And of course it looks like White can put her king on h4 and then how can Black save the pawn? With two connected passed pawns the win becomes trivial for White.
So here Sabina played 53…h4+?? and was lost after 54.Kh3.
However, in the original position Black can play 53…Rb1, and now if White tries to win the h pawn with 54.Kh4 Black simply plays 54…Rh1+ 55.Kg3 Rf1 and that should be enough to hold.
Chess is brutal sometimes. Caissa giveth, and Caissa taketh away.
Here’s hoping that Sabina rebounds tomorrow.
Til Next Time,
Chris Wainscott
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