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[Javier]

Gata Kamsky is turning the screws on Nakamura - whom at the time of writing (after 99 moves!) was desperately trying to get something out of an equal position in his game against Lenderman- with a spectacular victory over Seirawan. Kamsky took advantage of his preparation for his participation in the Candidates Tournament in Kazan in 2011. A good indication of how well prepared Kamsky was is the fact that after 23 moves, Kamsky still had 1 hour and 35 minutes left on his clock, whereas Seirawan only had 9...
If Nakamura fails to win, Kamsky would be the leader of the tournament with just 2 rounds remaining (and they still have to play each other!).


[Event "ch-USA 2012"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2012.05.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[Annotator "I.M. Javier Gil"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 (12... Qc7 {There is no reason to avoid the classical line with this move and then 0-0-0. Yes, 12... Be7 is more popular nowadays, but that is probably just a trend.}) 13. Ne4 {This Knight no longer has a future on g3.} Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qd3 {This cunning move, instead of the usual 15.Qe2, is a good antidote against black s common idea of ...Qd5 and ...Qe4.} O-O (15... Qd5 16. c4 Qe4 17. Qb3 {This is the key move which is not available when white plays 15.Qe2. A good example of how difficult the position is for black is the following.} O-O-O 18. Rhe1 Qh7 19. Qa4 Kb8 20. Ne5 Rhf8 21. Bf4 Bd6 22. Re3 Ka8 (22... Nxh5 23. Nxc6+ bxc6 24. Rb3+ {Winning.}) 23. Nxc6 {With a winning attack for white.} a6 24. Nxd8 Bxf4 25. Nxb7 Qe4 26. Nc5 Bxe3+ 27.fxe3 Qxe3+ 28. Kb1 {And black resigned in Jovanovic,Z (2525)-Braun,A (2564). Rogaska Slatina 2009.}) 16. Kb1 c5 17. g4 {A common idea in these positions. With the Kings castled on opposite wings, white wastes no time preparing g4} Nxg4 18. Qe2 {A cold blooded move. White defends f2 and will use the g file next.} Kh8 19. Rhg1 Nf6 20. dxc5 { White has threats along the d file also.} Qc7 21. Ne5 Bxc5 {Seirawan s intuition is not at its best and he makes a mistake in a difficult position.} (21... Rad8 {This move was necessary. }) 22. Bxh6 gxh6 23. Rd7 { Impressive.} Qxd7 {There isnt much else...} (23... Nxd7 24. Qd2 Kh7 25. Ng4) (23... Qb6 24. Qf3 Nxd7 25. Qg4) 24. Nxd7 Nxd7 25. Qd2 Kh7 26. b4 (26. Qxd7 {This looks simple enough.} Bxf2 27. Qd3+ Kh8 28. Qc3+ f6 29. Rg6) 26... Rad8 27. bxc5 Nf6 28. Qf4 Ne8 (28... Nd5 29. Qe4+ f5 (29... Kh8 30. Qd4+ f6 31. Qd2) 30. Qxe6 {Winning.}) 29. Qe4+ Kh8 30. Qxb7 Ng7 31. Qxa7 Rc8 32. Rd1 Nf5 33. Rd7 Kg7 34. a4 Kf6 35. a5 1-