The 2005 U.S. Chess Championship was held in San Diego, California. The tournament started just before Thanksgiving and ran for almost two weeks. A total of $289,000 in prizes was distributed. The overall Champion was Hikaru Nakamura and the women’s Champion was Rusa Goletiani. The Championship was organized by America’s Foundation for Chess and sponsored by Chessmaster. All the details can be seen at the tournament website: www.uschesschampionship.com.

Michigan’s own Ben Finegold competed in the championship. He matched his 2003 result with three wins, two losses, and four draws. Ben was gracious enough to give us annotations for his round one and six games. The remaining notes come from e-mails that Ben sent out during the event.

Matthew Hoekstra (2409)
Ben Finegold (2621)
Round 1
King's Indian: Schwarz (Averbakh), E74

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.Bg5

I was not prepared at all for this variation. I have been trying to add the King's Indian to my repertoire for the last 2 years, but there is a lot to learn! I decided to play a main line, and try to play as normally as possible.

6...c5 7.dxc5

Now I was really on my own! I thought only 7.d5 was played, but my database actually has hundreds of games with this move!

7...Qa5!?

7...dxc5 is actually preferred. At least my opponent was on his own now as well.

8.Qd2 Qxc5 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.b3

This has transposed to some kind of Maroczy Bind. Luckily I was familiar with these types of positions, as I occasionally play the Accelerated Dragon with Black.

11...Qa5 12.0–0 Nc5 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rfc8 15.Rfd1 Kf8 16.Qe2 Ne6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5?!

During the game, I thought 18.e5! was not possible, due to 18...Bxe5 19.Bxb7 Bxc3 20.Bxa8 Rxa8 ...however....White then has 21.Qf3 with a double attack. Black can try to hang on instead with 18...Bg5 19.Bxb7 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Qxe5.

18...Nd4 19.Qe3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Bg7 21.Qg3?

A totally unnecessary sacrifice.

21...Qxa2 22.Qh4 e6 23.Qe7+?! Kg8 24.Nc7?! Bf8 25.Qd7 Rab8 26.e5

Both sides had less than 5 minutes to get to move 40 at this point.

26...Rd8 27.Qb5 dxe5 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Qxb7 Bc5 30.Rf1 Qe2 31.Qf3 Qxf3 32.gxf3 Rd3?!

32...Rd6

33.Na6 Be7 34.Rc1 Rd6 35.Ra1 Rc6

35...Rb6 36.c5 Rxb3 37.Rc1„

36.Ra5? Rb6 37.Rxe5??

The last blunder with only a few seconds left.

37...Rxa6 0–1

Ben Finegold (2621)
Renier Gonzalez (2536)
Round 2
Scandinavian: Classical B01

After hanging a pawn on move 8 or so....(at least I had some comp) I drew a tough endgame, after terrible time trouble (got down to 2 seconds at one point). My game was bad throughout, but I kept it tricky and was lucky to draw.

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.g3 c6 6.Bg2 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.0–0 e6 9.Qe1 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Qf5 11.Bg2 Qxc2 12.d4 Be7 13.f4 Qd3 14.f5 Qxd4+ 15.Kh1 e5 16.Be3 Qd8 17.g4 h6 18.b4 a6 19.Rd1 Nbd7 20.a3 a5 21.b5 Rc8 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Bc1 Qc7 24.Qg3 Rb8 25.Rfe1 Rd8 26.Qf3 0–0 27.Qxc6 Qb8 28.Nd5 Nxd5 29.Rxd5 Bh4 30.Red1 Nf6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.Qa8 Nd7 34.Bb2 Nb6 35.Qxd8+ Bxd8 36.Bf1 Bc7 37.Bc3 Nd5 38.Bd2 e4 39.Bc4 Nf4 40.Bxf4 Bxf4 41.a4 Kf8 42.Kg2 Bd2 43.Bd5 e3 44.Kf3 Ke7 45.Bc4 f6 46.Bd3 Kd6 47.Be2 Ke5 ½–½

Walter Browne (2508)
Ben Finegold (2621)
Round 3
Spanish: Berlin (Benelux), C65

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Bc5 5.c3 0–0 6.d4 Bb6 7.dxe5 Nxe4 8.Qd5 Nc5 9.Bf4 Ne6 10.Bg3 f5 11.exf6 Qxf6 12.Bd3 Qh6 13.Nbd2 Ne7 14.Qe4 d5 ½–½

Ben Finegold (2621)
Dmitry Schneider (2503)
Round 4
Old Semi-Slav: Noteboom, D31

This is the first rated game I lost with White in 2004. The game was pretty interesting, but I did not understand the position as well as Dmitry, and after 17 moves of theory....he played a new move (accidentally) 17...h6, which was reasonable. My idea of Qd3 and d5 is quite bad. I should play Nd2 and then either Nc4 and Nd6 or e5, Ne4...whichever is available.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4 b4 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.0–0 0–0 15.Re1 Re8 16.c5 Bc6 17.e4 h6 18.Bc2 Qc7 19.Qd3 Reb8 20.d5 exd5 21.exd5 Bb5 22.Qf5 Qxc5 23.Nd4 a4 24.Rac1 Qd6 25.Qh3 b3 26.Bf5 a3 27.Nxb5 Rxb5 28.Bxa3 Rxa3 29.Bxd7 Nxd7 30.Rc6 b2 31.Qf5 Qxc6 0–1

Lev Milman (2455)
Ben Finegold (2621)
Round 5
Sicilian: Rauzer (Modern), B67

I did not realize we were well in theory still, when I made a known error, with 14...Nb4? I did not know the opening very well. In my database, Milman plays the Morra Gambit, 2.c3, and the Rossolimo, so I was slightly surprised at the normal open stuff. I figured he prepared for my usual stuff, so I played a line I played once before against Dennis Seawald, in which he played 9.f3, and I won a nice game. I have never had the position with 9.f4, and I thought his 10.Bh4 was wrong, although it is the main line! lol...My first idea was to play 14...0–0–0...but I changed my mind and thought 14...Nb4 was better...d'oh.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0–0–0 Bd7 9.f4 h6 10.Bh4 Nxe4 11.Qe1 Nf6 12.Nf5 Qa5 13.Nxd6+ Bxd6 14.Rxd6 Nb4 15.a3 Nc6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qh4 f5 18.Be2 Ne7 19.Rhd1 Bc6 20.Rxe6 Qc7 21.Bh5 Kf8 22.Bxf7 Rh7 23.Bh5 Ng8 24.Re5 Re7 25.Rxf5+ Kg7 26.Bf3 Rd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Bxc6 bxc6 29.Re5 Qd7 30.Rxe7+ Nxe7 31.Qg3+ Kf7 32.Qd3 Qg4 33.g3 Qh5 34.Qe2 Qc5 35.Kb1 a5 36.Ne4 Qd5 37.Qc4 Ke6 38.Nc5+ Kf5 39.Qe2 Kf6 40.Qe5+ Qxe5 41.Nd7+ Kf5 42.Nxe5 Ke4 43.Kc1 h5 44.Kd2 c5 45.Ke2 Nf5 46.Nc6 a4 47.b3 Kd5 48.Na5 Kd4 49.Nb7 c4 50.bxa4 Kc3 51.a5 Nd4+ 52.Kd1 Nxc2 53.a6 Kb2 54.a7 c3 55.a8Q Nd4 56.Qc8 c2+ 57.Kd2 Nf3+ 58.Kd3 c1Q 59.Qxc1+ Kxc1 60.a4 1–0

Ben Finegold (2621)
Tsagaan Battsetseg (2238)
Round 6
King's Indian: Classical, E91

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.Nf3

Another King's Indian. I knew my opponent would play this opening, as she always does. Here she plays an unusual move that I was not prepared for at all.

6...c5 7.0–0 Nc6

Instead, 7...cxd4 would be another Maroczy Bind type position I had in round 1. The text move keeps the position more of a King's Indian.

8.d5 Na5 9.h3 e5 10.a3 b6 11.b4 Nb7 12.Ne1 Ne8

Although I knew very little theory, it turns out this position is a main line. Now I played a new move, which I believe is quite good, and keeps White's advantage.

13.Bd2 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Nc2 Kh8 16.Ne3

Black's pieces seem like they are all in odd places. White's game seems more harmonious. But, it is a King's Indian after all, so Black always has counterplay somewhere!

16...Qh4 17.Nxf5 gxf5 18.f4 Bh6 19.Qe1 Qxe1 20.Raxe1

I thought I was close to winning here, as Black does not have the usual kingside attack she is looking for... but... again... things can quickly become treacherous!

20...cxb4 21.axb4 a5

I did not see this counterplay coming, as Black decides to play on the queen's wing. Now things are difficult for both sides. Still, one must not underestimate the power of White's two bishops.

22.bxa5 Nxa5 23.Nb5 Nb3 24.Bc3

Now I am attacking a few of Black's weak pawns.

24...Bg7 25.fxe5 dxe5

Now I thought for a VERY long time, and calculated almost all the way to the final position.

26.Bh5 e4 27.Bb4 Nc5 28.Bxc5! bxc5 29.Bxe8! Raxe8 30.Nd6

Black is helpless to save her hanging pawns.

30...Bd4+ 31.Kh1 Re5 32.g4! e3 33.Rxf5 Rfxf5 34.Nxf5 e2 35.d6 Re4 36.Ng3 Re6 37.Rxe2 Rxd6? 38.Re8+ Kg7 39.Nf5+ 1–0

A tough game. My opponent, although rated only 2270 USCF or so, had the tournament of her life, winning and drawing against several IMs on her way to an excellent score.

Joshua Friedel (2464)
Ben Finegold (2621)
Round 7
Sicilian: Scheveningen (Leonhardt), B88

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bb3 a6 9.f4 0–0 10.0–0 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6 Qg5 17.Qe2 a5 18.a4 b4 19.Bc4 Rac8 20.Bb5 Bc6 21.c3 e5 22.Be3 Qg6 23.Rad1 bxc3 24.bxc3 Qe4 25.Bd3 Qxa4 26.Bg5 e4 27.Bc2 Qb5 28.Qxb5 Bxb5 29.Rf5 Bd3 30.Bxd3 exd3 31.Be7 Rfe8 32.Rxa5 Ra8 33.Rd5 f6 34.R1xd3 Kf7 35.Rb5 Reb8 36.c4 Ra1+ 37.Kf2 Ra2+ 38.Ke3 Rxb5 39.cxb5 Rb2 40.Rc3 Rxb5 41.Rc2 Ke6 42.h3 h5 43.Kf2 h4 44.Re2+ Ne5 45.Bf8 Kf7 46.Rd2 Rb7 47.Rc2 Rb8 48.Be7 Ke6 49.Re2 Rb3 50.Rd2 Rb7 51.Re2 Rb1 52.Rd2 Rb8 53.Re2 Rh8 54.g3 hxg3+ 55.Kxg3 Ra8 56.Kg2 Kd7 57.Rc2 Nc6 58.Re2 Re8 59.Kg3 Nxe7 60.dxe7 Rxe7 61.Ra2 Ke8 62.h4 Re4 63.Ra5 Kf7 64.Rb5 Kg6 65.Ra5 Rb4 66.Rc5 Kh6 67.Rc6 Rb3+ 68.Kg4 Kg6 69.Rc5 Rb1 70.Ra5 Rg1+ 71.Kh3 Re1 72.Kg4 f5+ 73.Kg3 Re3+ 74.Kf4 Re4+ 75.Kg3 Kf6 76.Ra6+ Kf7 77.Ra5 Kg6 78.Rb5 Ra4 79.Rc5 Ra3+ 80.Kg2 Re3 81.Ra5 Kf6 82.Ra6+ Re6 83.Ra5 g6 84.Kf3 Rb6 85.Kg3 Rb3+ 86.Kg2 Re3 87.Rb5 Re5 88.Rb7 Re7 89.Rb5 Rh7 90.Kg3 Kg7 91.Rb8 Kh6 92.Ra8 Re7 93.Rh8+ Kg7 94.Ra8 Re3+ 95.Kg2 Rb3 96.Rc8 Ra3 97.Rb8 Re3 98.Ra8 Kf7 99.Ra6 Re8 100.Ra5 Rh8 101.Ra7+ Kf6 102.Kg3 Rd8 103.Ra5 Re8 104.Rb5 Re3+ 105.Kg2 Re5 106.Rb7 Re7 107.Rb5 Rf7 108.Kg3 Kg7 109.Rb8 Rd7 110.Ra8 Rd3+ 111.Kg2 Rd5 112.Kg3 Kf7 113.Ra6 Rd3+ 114.Kg2 Rd8 115.Ra5 Kf6 116.Kg3 Re8 117.Rb5 Re3+ 118.Kg2 Re5 119.Rb8 Rd5 120.Rb6+ Kg7 121.Rb8 Kf7 122.Kg3 Rd3+ 123.Kg2 Ke6 124.Rb6+ Rd6 125.Rb5 Kf6 126.Ra5 Rd8 127.Kg3 Rf8 128.Ra7 Rf7 129.Ra8 Kg7 130.Kf4 Rb7 131.Kg5 Rf7 132.Ra6 f4 133.Rxg6+ Kh7 134.Rh6+ Kg8 135.Rg6+ Kf8 136.Ra6 f3 137.Ra1 Rg7+ 138.Kf4 f2 139.Rf1 Rf7+ ½–½

Ben Finegold (2621)
Irina Krush (2472)
Round 8
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical, D27

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.0–0 a6 7.Bd3 cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 9.Ne5 0–0 10.Be3 b5 11.Qf3 Nd5 12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Be4 b4 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Rfc1 Ra7 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.Qxd5 exd5 18.Rc2 f6 19.Nd3 Kf7 20.Rac1 g5 21.Rc7 Rxc7 22.Rxc7 Ke6 23.f4 Re8 24.Kf2 Kd6 25.Ra7 Kc6 26.Nc5 Kb6 27.Rb7+ Kc6 28.Rxb4 gxf4 29.Bd2 Nd7 30.Nxa6 Ra8 31.Ra4 Kb7 32.Bb4 Bd8 33.Nc5+ Nxc5 34.Rxa8 Ne4+ 35.Kf3 Kxa8 36.Kxf4 Kb7 37.Kf5 Kc6 38.h4 Bb6 39.Bc3 Kb5 40.a4+ Kc4 41.a5 Ba7 42.g4 Nxc3 43.bxc3 Kxc3 44.Kxf6 Kxd4 45.g5 Ke4 46.Kg7 d4 47.Kxh7 d3 48.g6 Bd4 49.a6 d2 50.a7 Bxa7 51.g7 d1Q 52.g8Q Qh5+ 53.Kg7 Bd4+ 54.Kf8 Bc5+ 55.Kg7 Qg4+ 56.Kf7 Qd7+ 57.Kg6 Qf5+ 58.Kg7 Bd4+ 59.Kh6 Be3+ 60.Kg7 Qe5+ 61.Kg6 Qd6+ 62.Kf7 Qd5+ 63.Kg7 Bd4+ 64.Kf8 Qd8+ 65.Kf7 Qd7+ 66.Kg6 Qf5+ 67.Kh6 Be3+ 68.Kg7 Qg4+ 69.Kf7 Qf5+ 70.Kg7 Bd4+ 71.Kh6 Be3+ ½–½

Stephen Muhammad (2455)
Ben Finegold (2621)
Round 9
King's Indian: Sämisch (Panno-Ruban), E84

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.d5 Ne5 10.Ng3 c5 11.f4 Neg4 12.Bg1 h5 13.h3 Nh6 14.a4 h4 15.Nge2 e6 16.dxe6 Bxe6 17.0–0–0 Bxc4 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Nh5 20.Bf2 Bxe2 21.Bxe2 Nxf4 22.Bc4 b5 23.axb5 Bxc3 24.bxc3 axb5 25.Be3 bxc4 26.Bxf4 Kh7 27.Kc2 Rfe8 28.e5 Nf5 29.Rd7 Rb6 30.Rxf7+ Kg8 31.Ra7 g5 32.Bxg5 Rg6 33.Bf4 Rxg2+ 34.Kc1 Ng3 35.Bxg3 hxg3 36.Re1 Rf2 37.Re4 g2 38.Rg4+ Kf8 39.Rag7 Rxe5 40.Kd1 Rf1+ 41.Kd2 Rf2+ 42.Kd1 Rd5+ 43.Ke1 Rdd2 44.Rg8+ Kf7 45.R4g7+ Kf6 46.Rg6+ Kf5 47.Rg5+ Ke4 48.Re8+ Kd3 49.Rd8+ Kxc3 50.Rxd2 Rxd2 51.h4 Kc2 52.h5 c3 53.h6 Rd1+ 54.Kf2 Rh1 55.Kxg2 Rxh6 56.Rxc5 Rb6 57.Kf3 Kb2 0–1