[Event "US Championship (Finals)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.09.07"]
1. d4
The opening move in the Finals match for the 1997 U.S. Championship. Joel Benjamin won his Semi-finals match against Gregori Kaidanov by the score of 2 1/2 - 1/2, earning himself a rest day yesterday the day before. Meanwhile, Larry Christiansen fought an incredible battle to claim his spot in the Finals. The Christiansen-Seirawn Semi-finals match was tied 2-2, and a 2-game G/30 playoff ensued. That did not break the tie, and neither did a 2/game G/15 playoff or the first two G/5 playoffs! In the 3rd 2-game G/5 playoff, Christiansen finally prevailed!
d5 2. c4 c6
Christiansen plays the Slav Defence. After yesterday's harrowing and exhausting playoffs against Seirawan, Christiansen must be looking just to get his match off against Benjamin on solid ground.
3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3
This is a tricky move order, which Benjamin played against me, for example, in the last round of the National Open some years ago. White avoids the Czech Variation 4 Nc3 dxc4, instead encouraging Black to play the Semi-Slav 4 ... e6 or the Schlecter 4 ... g6.
Bf5
This move is the theoretical reason why 4 e3 is not more popular; Black is able to develop his light-squared bishop without experiencing too many problems on the queenside.
5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Qc8
6 … Qb6 is the most enterprising, figuring that Black would be ok due to the passivity of White’s dark-squared bishop, in lines such as 7 Qxb6 axb6 8 Nc3 Nc6 9 Nb5 Kd7, or 7 Bb5+ Bd7!
7. Bd2
White plays this rather than 7 Nc3 to keep the c-file open for a potential quick Rc1
Nc6 8. Bb5 e6 9. O-O Bd6
On 9 ... Be7 instead, 10 Ne5, with 11 Rc1 coming, would be annoying. After the text, 10 Ne5 Bxe5 11 dxe5 Nd7should be fine for Black. But perhaps Black should have played 9 … Nd7, avoiding White’s next.
10. Bb4
A positionally strong move by Benjamin. If 10 ... Bxb4 11 Qxb4, White has exchanged off Black's "good" bishop and interfered with his castling. Black's dark-squared bishop is "good" as his central pawns are on light squares.
Qc7 11. Qa3
Benjamin insists on fighting for control of the a3-f8 diagonal. An interesting line here is 11 ... Bxb4 12 Qxb4 Bd3 13 Bxc6+ bxc6 (not 13 ... Qxc6 14 Ne5) 14 Rc1 and White seems to be better. Also possible is 11 … Ne4.
Bxb4 12. Qxb4 Qe7
Another way to deal with the nagging pressure is 12 ... Rd8 followed by 13 ... Qd6. Christiansen has faced a surprising volume of problems in this opening, and now bails out into an inferior ending. White should exchange queens; 13 Qa4 is not very effective because Black will simply castle, deserting the pawn.
13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. Qxe7+ Kxe7 15. Ne5
Not 15 Rc1 Rab8 and Black defends easily after 16 b3 Rb6.
Rhc8 16. Rc1 Nd7??
A blunder. 16 ... Ng4 was indicated. Then 17 Rxc6? Nxe5 wins for Black after 18 Rxc8 Rxc8, and 17 Nxc6+? Kd6 also wins for Black. Instead 17 Nxg4 Bxg4 18 Nd2 is good for White.
17. Nxc6+ Kd6 18. Na3
The shot that Christiansen missed, which enabled White to capture on c6 on his 17th. 18 … Rxc6? 19 Nb5+ wins the Exchange, and meanwhile White menaces 19 Nb5 mate.
a6 19. Na5 Rab8 20. Nb3
White experiences only minor inconveniences with his knights after completing the mission to win a pawn.
Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 a5? 22. Nxa5
This wins, as the intended reply 22 … Rxb2 fails to a knight check on c4.
g5 23. Rc3 g4 24. Rb3 Ra8 25. Nb5+ Ke7 26. Ra3 Kf6 27. Nc6 Rc8 28. Rc3 Ra8 29. a3 h5 30. b3 h4 31. a4 h3 32. Nd6 Bg6 33. g3 Ra6 34. a5 Nb6 35. Ne8+ Kg5 36. Nc7 Nc4 37. Nxa6 Nd2 38. Ne5 f6 39. Nxg6 1-0
[Event "US Championship (Final)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.09.07"]
1. d4
Christiansen opens with 1 d4. In the Semis against Seirawan, Christiansen stuck with 1 e4. Exhausted from the playoffs against Seirawan, Christiansen suffered a bad loss in the opener to Benjamin, and now he has to make up some ground.
d5 2. c4 dxc4
Benjamin uses the Queen's Gambit Accepted, as he did in the Semi-Finals against Kaidanov.
3. e4
This is regarded as one of the sharpest lines of the QGA. Although 3 e4 is the most obvious move, 3 Nf3 and 3 e3 are often played instead, as 3 e4 allows Black counterplay against the White center with 3 ... e5, 3 ... Nf6 or 3 ... Nc6.
Nc6 4. Be3
The best way to defend d4, as 4 Nf3 would run into 4 ... Bg4. 4 d5 is also played, but after 4 ... Ne5, Black will find it easier to poke at White's center with a later ... e7-e6.
Nf6 5. f3
Defending the e-pawn and shielding the important bishop on e3 from being hassled with ... Nf6-g4.
e5 6. d5 Ne7
The idea of this variation is that, while White is conceded a space advantage, Black gets comfortable stations for his minor pieces, with some possibility of play on the dark squares on the kingside. The knight will recycle to g6.
7. Bxc4 a6
Previously played was the immediate 7 ... Ng6; in Lalic - Miles, Hastings 1995, White then played 8 Bb5+ (exchanging off his "bad bishop" as his pawns are on light squares) and was able to retain the advantage. Although 7 … a6 may be an improvement for Black it can be considered no more than a slight refinement, as White’s light-squared bishop, while blocked for now, retains latent power, due to his space advantage.
8. Ne2 Ng6
The two Black knights make a very compact impression. White is unlikely to advance his pawns against them, as there are too many squares for the knights to hop to.
9. O-O Bd6
The bishop is valuable here, inhibiting f3-f4, and defending the potential target on c7.
10. Qd2 Qe7 11. Bb3
A little surprising, but White will want to start operations on the c-file at some point. Now 11 ... Bc5 merely invites 12 Rc1.
Bd7 12. Nbc3 O-O
Finally, Benjamin commits to castling kingside. Castling on the other side was really out of the question. But another possibility was 12 … Bc5! Using the moment to eliminate White’s potentially troublesome dark-squared bishop.
13. Ng3
An interesting move posing problems for the opponent. Christiansen eyes the maneuver Ng3-f5, although he allows the Black knight to occupy f4. However, this favors White: Black will be forced to trade on f5 if a knight arrives there, whereas White will be able to drive a Black knight off f4 with g2-g3.
Rfd8 14. Kh1 Bc5
DIAGRAM
15. Rfe1
Critical was 15 Bg5! with the point 15 … h6 16 Nf5! Bxf5 17 exf5 hxg5 18 fxg6 and Black is in trouble. Another try after 15 Bg5 is 15 … Qd6 16 Nf5 Bxf5 17 exf5 Nf4 but the idea Nc3-e4 looms heavily over Black. Christiansen’s choice is a dramatic departure from the Be3-g5 variations. 15 Rfe1 is a normal move, but after this, White's advantage will consist for the most part of pressure against the c7 pawn.
Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Ne8 17. Nf5
A real crisis is provoked by this move. If Black plays 17 ... Qf8 then he will be passively situated. If 17 ... Qf6 then White has some tactical tries, although they do not appear that convincing - if 18 d6 then 18 ... c6! Or if 18 g4 then 18 ... Nf4.
Qf8
Benjamin chooses the more passive, but safer (and probably better) move. On 17 ... Qf6 18 d6! c6 (to stop Nc3-d5) then 19 Rad1 gives White great compensation after 19 ... Bxf5 20 exf5 Qxf5 21 Ne4.
18. Rac1 Nd6 19. Nxd6
Christiansen must give up the vestige of kingside pressure and play for advantage based on the c-file. The only decent alternative to 19 Nxd6 was 19 Bc2 - then 19 ... Nc4?! could be met by 20 Qe2.
Qxd6
Not 19 ... cxd6 20 Qb6 and the White queen is unbearable.
20. Red1 Rdc8 21. Rd2
The c-file pressure will be hard to dissolve as Black is too far behind in development to challenge with ... c7-c6. Benjamin is one of the most resourceful defenders. After what turned out to be a dubious opening, it has taken all of his talent to reach this position, where White still has a significant advantage. Since the knight on g6 is not doing anything, 21 ... Ne7 or 21 ... Nf8 (planning ... Bd7-e8 and ... Nf8-d7) become candidate moves.
b5
This seems like a risky positional concession, but no player likes to remain passive for a prolonged period of time.
22. Nd1
An impressive reaction. The knight makes immediate strides to occupy the c5 square, via f2 and d3.
a5 23. Nf2 h5 24. Nd3 Rab8 25. a3 h4
Gaining activity as White will not likely allow Black's knight easy access to f4.
26. g3 hxg3 27. hxg3 Kf8 28. Kg2 Ke7
Benjamin would like to get a rook to the h-file, but it appears that if 29 Rdc2, 29 ... Rh8 would definitely not be worth the loss of the c-pawn. A more realistic goal of 28 ... Ke7 is just to have the Black king near; maybe Black is planning to play 29 ... Qb6!?
29. Nc5 Bh3+
An amazing move. The idea is if 30 Kxh3?? Nf4+!! and then 31 gxf4 Qg6!! or if 31 Kh2 Qh6+ 32 Kg1 Nh3+ wins.
30. Kf2 Qf6 31. Nd3!
This move dissuades Black from trying anything based on … Ng6-f4, and also prepares crushing play on the c-file.
Qb6
This move fails to provide a real defence to the c-pawn. Perhaps best was 31 … Bd7 32 Rdc2 Qd6, although White is clearly in charge.
32. Rdc2 Bd7
Black also had to contend with the idea of g3-g4.
33. Rxc7 Qxe3+ 34. Kxe3 Kd6 35. Rxc8 Rxc8 36. Rh1 Rh8 37. Rxh8 Nxh8 38. f4 f6 39.
Bd1 Ng6 40. b4 axb4 41. axb4 Nf8 42. Be2 Be8 43. Nf2 Ke7 44. fxe5 fxe5 45. Nd1
1-0
[Event "US Championship (Final)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1997.09.07"]
1. e4
Despite his great success in Game 1 of the match with 1 d4, Benjamin plays 1 e4, a move he has preferred in recent years. Often after a player loses (as Benjamin did in Game 2), a more aggressive style is adopted in the next game.
e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
In their game from the preliminary section of this tournament, Benjamin developed his queen’s knight, allowing the Rubinstein 3 … dxe4, and Christiansen obtained an easy draw through theoretical knowledge. The Advance Variation 3 e5 promises a protracted battle.
c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7
The main line is still 5 … Qb6, after which Benjamin is known to favor the 6 Be2 treatment.
6. Be2 Nh6
Christiansen’s 5 … Bd7 is generally associated with a very early … Ra8-c8. The move … Ng8-h6 is used to reinforce pressure against d4, usually in conjunction with … Qd8-b6. Christiansen does not fear Bc1xh6, as then Black will have a comfortable plan of development with … Bf8-g7, O-O and … f7-f6.
7. a3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Nc3
One of the ideas of this move is that now 9 ... Qb6 would be pointless because of 10 Na4.
Rc8 10. O-O Be7 11. Bd3
An excellent move by Benjamin! The alternative boot of the f5 knight, 11 g4, would be unclear after 11 … Nh4 12 Nxh4 Bxh4. As White is currently threatening 12 Bxf5 gxf5 13 Nxd5, Black’s reply seems relatively forced. If 11 … Nxd4 does not work for Black, then White has successfully taken advantage of Black’s slightly unusual move order in the opening.
Ncxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qg4 Nb3
This is the resource that Black is counting on - while he will lose his g- and h-pawns, he can eliminate the White dark-squared bishop, so his own bishop will become strong. Still, White should have the better chances, as Black will never connect his rooks.
14. Qxg7 Rf8 15. Rb1 Nxc1 16. Rfxc1
Benjamin wants to keep his b-pawn protected, and therefore recaptures with his f-rook. However, this will make it more tempting for Black to post his bishop on g5, as f2-f4 will not be available to White.
Qb6
A move very much in Christiansen's active style. The ideas include ... Be7-c5 and ... Qb6-d4. White can take the h-pawn, but it will only be in an ending where White's extra pawn will be felt.
17. Qg4 Kd8
Another creative move by Christiansen in a position which is difficult to play. Black may try to "castle-by-hand" with ... Bd7-c6 followed by swinging the king over to b8. Then the Black rooks would be connected, and Black can fight for control of the g-file. Christiansen decides that reorganizing his position is more important than worrying about the h-pawn.
18. Rc2 f6
A very interesting approach to the position. Even though Black's king is still in the center, crossing over the c-line can be dangerous, so instead Christiansen opens up tactical play immediately. Black is focussing on the sensitive f2 square.
19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Re1
A move which greatly enhances White's potential tactics: often Nc3xd5 can become part of the picture, combined with hits down the e-file on the bishop at e7.
h6
After a series of centralizing moves by both camps, Christiansen stops to protect his h-pawn! Larry must be planning to meet the harassing 21 Qg7 with 21 ... Qd6. Christiansen plays with a lot of confidence in this type of wild position, but Benjamin also has tactical possibilities because Black’s rooks are disconnected.
21. h3 a6
Aside from asking White what he intends to do about this position, this move is useful defensively in case Black wants to play ... Rc8-c6 and then cross over to the queenside with his king.
22. Rce2
Doubling up on the e-file. White does not have any threats yet, as the rook on e2 is still responsible for covering the f2 square. Also, with the queen on g4, Nc3xd5 would be answered by ... exd5 hitting the queen.
Rc5
A mistake would have been 22 ... Kc7 23 Qg7, and Nc3xd5 comes into the picture. Christiansen's move lends extra support to d5, and if 23 Qd4, then 23 ... Qd6 looks fine.
23. Qg7
An aggressive move by Benjamin, which cost him a lot of time on the clock. Benjamin now has less than 15 minutes for the next 17 moves.
Qd6 24. Re5
One feature of this move is that now 24 ... Kc7 is met by 25 Nd5+! Rxd5 26 Rxd5.
Rxc3
Christiansen plays a stunning positional Exchange sacrifice! Black eliminates some of White's threats and gets a passed a-pawn. However, Black's jumbled pieces in the center are still fairly immobile, so there is risk for Black in this as well.
25. bxc3 Qxa3 26. Bg6
Skillfully pointing up Black’s own weakness on e6 with the idea of Bg6-f7.
Qxc3
Also unclear was the more direct 26 … Qc5 27 R5e2 a5 28 Bf7.
27. R5e3 Qd2 28. R1e2
28 R3d2? Is not available because of 28 … Qg5.
Qd4
This is too ambitious. Better was the offer to repeat with 28 … Qd1+ 29 Re1 Qd2.
29. Bf7 Qd1+ 30. Re1 Qc2 31. R3e2 Qf5 32. Qg8+ Kc7 33. Bxe6
White has the edge now.
Bxe6 34. Rxe6 Qxf2+ 35. Kh1 Rxe6 36. Qxe6
Benjamin captured on e6 with his queen to preserve the possibility of Rc1+. If Black now plays 36 … Bc5, White has the very strong 37 Rc1.
Bg5 37. Qe5+ Kc6 38. Qc3+
White has a very dangerous attack. There was no reason to take the tacit draw offer with 38 Qe6+ Kc7.
Qc5
Black is looking to trade queens at all costs.
39. Re6+ Kb5 40. Qb3+ Ka5 41. Qa2+ Kb4 42. Qb2+ Ka5 43. Qa2+ Kb4
Trying to entice 44 Re1 Kb5 and the king scampers away.
44. Qb2+ Ka5 45. Re1
Now 45 Qa2+?? would have been a three -time repetition!
b5 46. Qa1+
Now the two lines are 46 ... Kb6 47 Re1+ Kc7 48 Qg7+, in which case Black can still offer resistance with 48 ... Kc8, and the bizarre 46 ... Kb4 47 Rb1+ Kc4, which looks ridiculous but is not completely clear either.
Kb6 47. Re6+ Kb7!
A critical finesse. 47 … Kc7 48 Qg7+ allows a far stronger attack to develop. The text gives up the a-pawn with check, but disallows 48 Qg7+ as 48 … Qc7 would be completely sufficient.
48. Qxa6+ Kc7 49. Re1
There are no checks for White, and … Qc5-c1+ had to be stopped.
d4 50. Qe6 Qc4 51. Qe5+ Kb7 52. Qe4+ Kb6 53. Qg6+ Kc5 54. Qf5+ Kb6 55. Qg6+ Kc5 56. Qf5+ Kb6 57. Qg6+ 1/2-1/2
[Event "US Championship (Final)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1997.09.10"]
1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qd2 Bg4 7. O-O-O c6 8.
Bh6 Qa5 9. Kb1 Nbd7 10. Be2 e5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 b5 14. g4 Nb6
15. h4 Nc4 16. Qc1 Rab8 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. h5 Ng8 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Be2 Rfd8 21.
Bxc4 bxc4 22. Rxd8 Qxd8 23. f4 Qd4 24. Ka1 exf4 25. Qxf4 Re8 26. a3 Qe5 27. Qe3
Re7 28. g5 a5 29. Ka2 Re6 30. Rh4 Re8 31. Rh1 Ne7 32. Rf1 Nf5 33. Qf2 Nd6 34.
Qf6+ Qxf6 35. Rxf6 Nxe4 36. Nxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxc6 Re5 38. Rxc4 Rxg5 39. b4 axb4
40. axb4 f5 41. b5 f4 42. Rc7+ Kf6 43. b6 Ra5+ 44. Kb3 Rb5+ 45. Kc4 Rxb6 46.
Kd4 Kf5 47. Kd3 Re6 48. Rf7+ Kg4 49. c4 f3 50. c5 Kg3 0-1
[Event "US Championship (Final)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1997.09.07"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8.
a4 Qc7 9. h3 b6 10. d5 Bb7 11. dxc6 Bxc6 12. Bg5 Bxe4 13. Rxe4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4
Qxc4 15. Bxe7 Qxe4 16. Qxd6 Nc5 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Qd2 f6 19. a5 b5 20. Rd1 a6
21. Qc3 Qc4 1/2-1/2
[Event "US Championship (Final)"]
[Site "Chandler"]
[Date "1997.09.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Christiansen, Larry"]
[Black "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.09.07"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 c6 8.
Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. Nd3 c5 11. Ba2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Bd2
Rac8 15. Rad1 Qb8 16. f4 Ba6 17. Be1 Rfd8 18. Qf3 cxd4 19. exd4 Nf8 20. Bf2 Bxa3
21. f5 Bxd3 22. Rxd3 Bxb2 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Qd6 25. Bh4 Re8 26. Bg3 Qd7 27.
f6 gxf6 28. Bh4 f5 29. Qe3 Ng6 30. Bf6 f4 31. Qh3 Qd6 32. Qh6 Qf8 33. Qh5 Rc3
34. Bb1 Rxd3 35. Bxd3 Qd6 36. Bxg6 1/2-1/2