[Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.05"] [Round "1"] [White "Deac, Bogdan-Daniel"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2627"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {The most dangerous continuation against the Moscow variation, as Anand once said.} dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 {This line is again in the spotlights.} Bb7 10. Qc2 ({Deac deviates from a top game:} 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Nd2 Qb6 12. a4 a6 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nde4 c5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Nc3 cxd4 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bh5 Nc5 19. Qxd4 {which both players obviously had analyzed heavily and was seen last year in Carlsen, M (2863)-Ding,L (2791) Online 2020}) 10... Nh5 11. Rd1 {Not only overprotecting the d4-pawn, but looking for a good moment to bring his center into motion.} Nxg3 ({Giri noted that} 11... Nd7 12. d5 {is a "forced draw."}) 12. hxg3 Na6 13. a3 Bg7 $146 {An obvious move and a novelty.} (13... Qe7 14. d5 Bg7 15. d6 Qd8 16. Nd4 Nc5 17. f4 Qb6 18. e5 O-O-O {was Mokeev,V (1235) -Huerga,A (1787) LSS email 2012}) 14. e5 {White's plan is clear. He immediately rushes with his knight toward the weakened d6-outpost.} Qe7 { Giri played this after some thought. What happens next looks like the neatest way to deal with the knight.} ({The most direct way to oppose Deac's plan is} 14... c5 {to which White's best move is the cool} 15. O-O $1 {Intending to meet } ({Weaker is} 15. dxc5 Qa5) ({Or} 15. Nxb5 Qa5+ 16. Nc3 cxd4 {when it is getting messy.}) 15... Qb6 {with} 16. d5 {with a strong initiative.}) ({ The other approach is to allow the knight on d6 but destroy the enemy center with} 14... Qb6 15. Ne4 c5 16. Nd6+ Ke7 {However, in this case} 17. d5 $5 { looks extremely dangerous for Black with the forcing line} Bxd5 18. Rxd5 $1 exd5 19. Qf5 Raf8 20. Nxg5 $1 {which seems to lead to winning attack for White. It truly is after the natural} hxg5 {As White will continue a la Anderssen} ({ And still, the defensive resources are so big, in any given position, and here too} 20... Qa5+ $1 {saves Black and likely leads to a repetition after} 21. Kd1 ({But not} 21. Kf1 $2 Qd2) 21... Qa4+ 22. Ke1 ({White can still try for more with} 22. Kc1 $5 b4 23. Bd1 ({Or} 23. Ngxf7)) 22... Qa5+) 21. Bg4 $3 Rxh1+ 22. Ke2 $3 Qc6 23. Qxg5+ {with mate.}) 15. Ne4 O-O-O 16. Nd6+ Rxd6 $1 {That was the point.} ({Such a knight cannot be tolerated for long:} 16... Kb8 17. b3 { promises White a nice initiative.}) 17. exd6 Qxd6 {That's one of the main reasons why people accept the gambited pawns early in the opening. In a later stage, a chunk of the sacrificed material can be given back!} 18. O-O g4 { Giri tries to intimidate his young opponent.} ({Bringing back the knight into the game} 18... Nc7 $5) ({Or something prophylactic like} 18... Kb8 $5 { might have been more appropriate though.}) 19. Ne5 $1 {Played without any hesisation.} ({The retreat is a synonym of resignation here:} 19. Nh4 $2 h5 20. Qd2 Bf6 {is just horrible for White.}) 19... Bxe5 20. dxe5 Qxe5 21. Bxg4 h5 22. Rfe1 $1 ({Since otherwise} 22. Bh3 Nc7 {cements the position.}) 22... Qf6 23. Bf3 h4 {Giri continues his risky strategy, going all-in for the attack.} ({Now } 23... Nc7 24. b3 $1 {was not too good for Black.}) ({Giri wanted to include . ..h4, g4 before going} 23... Nc5 {which here would also have allowed} 24. b4 $5 Nd3 25. Rxd3 cxd3 26. Qxd3 {with ample compensation for the pawn. This might have been Black's best choice, though.}) 24. b3 $1 {Giri hadn't taken into account the possibilty of allowing ...hxg3, but Deac also has his eyes on the enemy king. Who is faster?} cxb3 ({Nothing yields} 24... hxg3 25. bxc4 $1 gxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Qh6 27. Qg3) 25. Qxb3 hxg3 26. fxg3 Qg7 ({After} 26... Qg5 {White may choose} 27. Qb2 ({Or} 27. g4 $5) 27... Qc5+ 28. Kf1 {when his king is surprisingly safe in the center after} (28. Qf2 $4 Rh1+) 28... Rh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxe1+ 30. Kxe1) 27. Qd3 Nc7 {At least Giri remembers that he still has a knight on the board and tries to bring it back into the battle. This might be a tad late, though.} ({The other knight maneuver} 27... Nc5 28. Qd6 Qf8 29. Qf4 Nd7 30. Rd6 {does not solve Black's problems at all.}) 28. Qd6 c5 {This active attempt could have lost on the spot.} ({Objectively best is} 28... Qf8 $1 29. Qe5 Rg8 30. Rd6 Qg7 31. Bxc6 Qxe5 32. Bxb7+ Kxb7 33. Rxe5 {when Black will have to suffer his draw still.}) 29. Qd7+ {Deac is tempted by the black pawn on e6, and this is the most natural thing indeed.} ({Alas, in the process he misses the bigger aim} 29. Re5 $3 {Transferring the rook for an attack against the black king would have won instead in the forcing line} Qxg3 ({Or else the pin kills Black} 29... Bxf3 30. Rxc5 f5 31. gxf3) 30. Rh5 $1 {A nice geometric motif! Giri had seen Re5, but not Rh5.} Qxd6 31. Rxh8+ Kd7 32. Rxd6+ Kxd6 33. Bxb7 {and wins.}) 29... Kb8 30. Bxb7 Kxb7 31. Rxe6 Qxg3 {Black not only regains his pawn but manages to cover his king while attacking the opponent's one.} 32. Qc6+ ({After} 32. Re7 Qh2+ 33. Kf2 Rh6 34. Rxf7 Qh4+ {the white king is too naked for him to play for the win.}) 32... Kb8 33. Qd6 {Trying his last chance: the endgame.} Qxd6 34. Rexd6 Kb7 {Giri takes under control the c6-square and intends to advance the pawns, but this does not seem optimal.} ({ The priority should have been given to the rook activation. Both} 34... c4) ({ Or the other way to do this concept} 34... Rh5 35. Rf6 c4 {followed by Rh5-c5 would have been better with likely draw.}) 35. Rf6 {Missing his last chance.} ( {The rooks would have dominated after} 35. Rf1 $1 Rh7 36. Rf5 c4 37. Rdf6 a6 38. Kf2 {Notice that in this line the black rook can no longer support his queenside pawns.}) 35... Rh7 36. Rd7 b4 {The pawns are becoming dangerous.} 37. axb4 cxb4 38. Kf2 ({Black's passers save him in a forcing lines like this:} 38. Rfxf7 Rxf7 39. Rxf7 a5 40. Kf2 a4 41. Ke3 a3 42. Kd2 a2 43. Rf1 Nd5 44. Ra1 b3 45. Kc1 Nb4 46. Kb2 Nc2 47. Rc1 a1=Q+ 48. Rxa1 Nxa1 49. Kxa1 Kc6) 38... a5 39. Ke2 Rg7 {Forcing the draw.} (39... Rh2 {would lead to the same.}) 40. Rfxf7 Rxg2+ 41. Kd1 Rg1+ 42. Kc2 Rg2+ {The king keeps checking until the c-file is cleared for the defense of the knight.} 43. Kb1 Rg1+ 44. Kb2 Rg2+ 45. Kb1 (45. Kb3 Rg3+ 46. Ka4 Ra3# {is not the smartest way to play for the win.}) 45... Rg1+ 46. Kb2 Rg2+ 47. Kb1 Rg1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "\]"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Deac, Bogdan-Daniel"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C83"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2627"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,88,31,30,18,18,18,24,25,3,-11,-1,17,-14,-14,17,7,2,2,-40,31,11,18,24, 26,15,17,7,22,22,21,-39,-38,-44,-4,-12,10,-29,-43,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-122, 41,90,58,75,75,75,32,55,54,-66,-82,-110,-104,-108,-102,-102,-101,-122,-129, -114,-107,-114,-133,-157,-153,-161,-153,-153,-170,-202,-189,-230,-231,-260, -255,-277,-229,-251,-253]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {Deac joined the tournament as a last-minute replacement, which did not prevent him from demonstrating a new opening line. According to Megabase, this is the first time that the talented Romanian GM chooses the Open Ruy Lopez. Impressive!} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc2 f5 ( {The Guru of the line once chose here} 11... Bf5 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 f6 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Qb3+ Kh8 17. Be3 c6 18. Qe6 {but it did not work well for Black in Ivanchuk,V (2695)-Kortschnoj,V (2615) New York 1994}) 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. a4 {According to the same Megabase, 13.Re1 is becoming the main line.} ({As in the following fascinating game} 13. Re1 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nf1 Bc5 16. Ng3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qd6 18. Kg2 Rae8 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Bg5 Ne5 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. f4 Ng6 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. f5 {White took over the initiative and eventually won in Giri,A (2776)-Anton Guijarro,D (2673) Online 2021}) 13... b4 14. Re1 Bg4 15. Nf1 $146 {This is a novelty. Black's position looks active and aggressive but as it often happens in the Ruy Lopez, White's hidden attacking potential should not be underestimated.} ({Black achieved a comfortable position after} 15. h3 Bh5 16. Bf5 Bd6 17. Qc2 Re8 18. g4 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 Qe8 20. Ndf3 Bg6 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Be3 bxc3 23. bxc3 Na5 {followed by Na5-c4 and Black was doing fine in Firouzja,A (2749)-Fedoseev,V (2676) Chess. com 2020}) 15... Bc5 {The same active policy.} 16. Be3 {Here Deac spent an enormous amount of time on his clock trying to figure out if he should force matters or not. At the end, after more than half-an hour, he went for it.} ({Nothing yields} 16. Ne3 Bh5 {when the white pieces obstruct each other.}) 16... d4 ({ Objectively though} 16... Qd6 {might have been a more decent defense, when after} 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 {Black indeed needs to avoid} Ne4 $6 ({And defend instead with} 19... Rae8 $5) 20. Qe3 $1 {with an edge for White.}) 17. cxd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxd4 20. Rad1 $1 {Vachier-Lagrave is prepared for the central break and sacrifices a pawn in return. This lures the queen to a dangerous spot.} Qxb2 {Once again Deac decided to risk.} ({Instead} 20... Qg4 21. Qc6 Qh5 22. Ne3 ({The beasty comp suggests instead the machine-blooded} 22. h3 {which makes me sweat purely by the look of moves like} Ng4 {but the cool guys says: "No worries, I've got this covered."} 23. Qe6+ ( 23. hxg4 $4 Bxf2#) 23... Kh8 24. Qxg4) 22... Bd6 23. g3 {looks better for White thanks to his more active pieces.}) 21. Re2 $1 {This ambush is the main point behind the sacrifices.} ({If th French GM wanted to regain the material he would have chosen instead} 21. Bxh7+ {which is unclear after} Kxh7 ({Or} 21... Nxh7 22. Qd5+ {[%cal Rd5c5]}) 22. Qf5+ Kh8 23. Qxc5 $13 {as the black queenside passers are quite dangerous and compensate for their weakened king.}) 21... Qc3 $1 {Now after a repetition Vachier-Lagrave uncorks his true idea.} ({ The ambush works even without a check} 21... Kh8 $2 22. Bxh7 Nxh7 23. Qxf8+ Rxf8 24. Rxb2 {and White wins.}) 22. Rd3 Qa1 23. Rd1 Qc3 24. Rd3 Qa1 25. g4 $3 {The French GM identified the knight as a key defender and wants to remove it at any cost. Black is on the verge of losing.} b3 $3 {A colossally strong move! The bishop has to be removed from the b1-h7 diagonal at any cost. Deac might have found the idea using the exclusion method, as everything else was bad for him.} ({To start with, the g4-g5 advance cannot be stopped:} 25... h6 { loses on the spot to} 26. g5 $1 hxg5 27. Bb3+ {This diagonal is also vulnerable!} Kh8 {Now the neatest win is} 28. Qf5 $1 {with a double-attack against the black king and bishop.} ({The ambush after} 28. Qh3+ Nh7 29. Bc2 { should also do.})) ({In case of the immediate} 25... Kh8 26. g5 Ng8 {White has to be careful. The obvious} 27. Qh5 {Only leads to a draw after one more unbelievable black resource.} ({However, the accurate} 27. Qh3 $1 {would like win after} g6 ({Or} 27... h6 28. Qh5 {intending Qh5-g6 is a decisive attack.}) 28. Rd7 h6 {And now the simple} 29. Bxg6 $1 ({Or the cute} 29. Qh5 $3 {with a win in both cases.})) 27... g6 $1 28. Rd7 {And now} Nf6 $3 {to up open room for the king with tempo, when White has nothing more than a perpetual} 29. gxf6 gxh5 30. Rxh7+ Kg8 31. Rg7+) 26. Bxb3+ ({Not} 26. Rxb3 Qd4 $1 27. g5 Ng4 { when Black consolidates and starts to attack himself.}) 26... Kh8 27. g5 Ng8 { Now he can. The attack will be delayed by a tempo and this tempo is decisive.} 28. Qd5 {Vachier-Lagrave decided to centralize his queen.} (28. Qh5 {only helps Black after} g6) ({And in case of} 28. Qh3 {Black can use the extra tempo to lock the d-file with} Bd6 $1 {True, White keeps somewhat better position with} 29. Bc2 g6 30. Rd1 Qg7 31. Ng3) 28... Bd6 29. Rh3 {The clouds are gathering around the black king again, but since it is him to move, he can do} g6 ({But not the slow} 29... Rae8 $2 30. Qd3 h6 31. Bc2 {when the attack along the light squares decides.}) 30. Qd3 {However, this is a mistake. White corrctly attacks the g6 pawn, but from the wrong side.} ({Deac was looking at} 30. Bc2 Qg7 31. Re6 Ne7 {and Black is OK.}) ({Stronger was} 30. Qe6 $1 { when Black still needs to suffer for equality. Perhaps the best chance for him would be then} Qg7 ({The tricky} 30... Rf4 {with the idea to mate White after} 31. Qxg6 $4 ({Will see Black suffering instead with} 31. Re4 $1 Rxe4 (31... Raf8 {does not help due to} 32. Qxg6) ({Relatively best is} 31... Qg7 32. Rxf4 Bxf4 33. Qe4 Rf8 34. Rf3 Bd6 35. Rxf8 Qxf8 36. Qd4+ Qg7 37. Qa7 {although this still loses a pawn for Black.}) 32. Qxe4 Rb8 33. Qxg6 {and White wins an important pawn.}) 31... Rg4+) 31. Ng3 Rab8 32. Ne4 Rf5 33. Nxd6 Rxg5+ ({ Or the immediate} 33... cxd6) 34. Rg3 Rxg3+ 35. hxg3 cxd6 {and White still pressurizes although the draw seems likely the most likely outcome.}) ({ The third way to attack the g6 pawn is} 30. Re6 {but it allows an additional resource} Qb2 31. Qd2 Qxd2 32. Nxd2 Rae8 33. Rxg6 Re1+ 34. Kg2 Bc5 {with compensation for the pawn.}) 30... Rf5 $1 {That simple. Deac defends and counter-attacks at the same time.} 31. Qc3+ {Giving back the pawn at once.} ( 31. Qe3 Raf8 {also does not seems great for White at all.}) 31... Qxc3 32. Rxc3 Rxg5+ 33. Ng3 Nf6 {Perhaps Vachier-Lagrave could have defended this endgame under more normal circumstances. Here, though, he quickly goes down in flames, frustrated by the missed opportunities.} 34. Kf1 ({It definitely made sense to swap the active black rook instead with} 34. h4 $1 Rg4 35. Rc4) 34... Rb8 35. h3 ({And here} 35. Re6 $5 {was more stubborn, hoping for some tricks in case of the obvious} Kg7 ({It is true though that Black can keep his advantage with } 35... Ng4 $1) 36. Rxf6 Kxf6 37. Ne4+ Kf5 {Now a double ambush after} 38. Bc2 $1 Kf4 39. Rc4 Rb4 {would be OK for White after both} 40. Rxb4 ({Or perhaps even better} 40. Nxd6+ Rxc4 41. Nxc4) 40... Bxb4 41. Nxg5 Kxg5 {with a likely draw.}) 35... Re5 36. Bc4 ({White is correctly avoiding} 36. Rxe5 Bxe5 37. Rf3 Rb4 ({Or} 37... a5 {when the white pieces are too passive.})) ({However} 36. Bc2 $1 {was called for when Black still needed to prove the win.}) 36... Rc5 37. Rcc2 {The last mistake.} (37. Rb3 $1 {would have kept White in the game} Rxb3 38. Bxb3 Rc3 39. Be6) ({And even} 37. Rec2 Rb1+ 38. Kg2 a5 {might have put more resistance than the move in the game.}) 37... Ra5 $1 {That's it. White drops another pawn.} 38. Ne4 Nxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxa4 40. h4 Kg7 41. h5 gxh5 42. Re1 Rbb4 43. Be2 Rh4 44. Bf3 a5 {Will Deac repeat the Dennmark case from the European football championship 1992?} 0-1 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C13"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "Romania"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "ROU"] {[%evp 0,55,19,31,41,46,51,29,60,-5,28,35,34,37,40,39,26,33,28,40,50,24,48,44, 42,41,91,3,44,25,17,34,34,34,34,16,72,81,76,54,71,62,52,44,31,45,37,37,37,35, 112,108,160,186,230,215,216,226]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 c5 10. Qe2 Qa5+ 11. c3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Be7 13. O-O-O $1 O-O $146 (13... Qxa2 14. Qb5+ Bd7 15. Qxb7 Rc8 16. g3 $1 {Avoiding any ...Bg5 checks which can now be answered with f2-f4.} Qa1+ 17. Kc2 Qa4+ 18. Kb1 Rd8 (18... O-O 19. Bc2) 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 (19... Bxe6 20. Bc6+ Bd7 21. Bxa4 Bxa4 22. Rxd8+ $18) 20. Rd4 Qa5 21. Bg6+ Kf8 22. Rxd7 { 1-0 Beerdsen,T (2495)-Pijpers,A (2480) Wijk aan Zee 2020}) 14. Kb1 {It was clear that Lupulescu had prepared this line as he only started thinking here.} Rd8 {Caruana was also out of book after this.} 15. Bc2 $1 {White's plan of setting up a battery is both crude and simple.} Bd7 16. Qe4 g6 17. h4 Ba4 $6 { This move surprised Caruana.} ({Lupulescu was probably worried about} 17... e5 18. h5 exd4 19. hxg6 {but Caruana had seen Black's only move} Qg5 $1 {that saves the day, e.g.} 20. f4 Qxg6 21. Qxe7 Bf5 22. Bxf5 Qxf5+ 23. Ka1 Rd7 24. Qh4 dxc3) ({After} 17... e5 18. Nb3 {might be best but Black is probably fine after} Qc7) 18. Bxa4 Qxa4 19. h5 g5 20. Qxb7 Bc5 $2 ({Here Caruana suggested the improvement} 20... Bf6 {but White he had seen} 21. Qc6 $1 Qa5 22. Qb5 Qc7 23. Qc6 Qa5 24. Qf3 $1 {and White remains a pawn up:} Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. Qxa8+ Rd8 27. Qf3 Rd2 28. Rd1) 21. Qc6 $1 Qxc6 (21... Qc4 22. Nb3 Rdc8 23. Qf3 {threatens 24.Rd7.}) 22. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 {This is just a technical win.} Bxf2 24. Rd7 f6 25. Nd8 $1 Bb6 26. Nf7 Rf8 27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Kc2 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2780"] [BlackElo "2765"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Netherlands"] [BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"] [WhiteTeamCountry "NED"] [BlackTeamCountry "AZE"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Nc3 Nbd7 ({Radjabov avoided the direct} 11... Bxf4 12. gxf4 a5 {because "Anish has usually prepared until move 50 or something."} 13. e3 Na6 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 c6 16. h3 Qb6 17. Qe2 c5 18. Rfd1 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Rad8 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 21. Rd1 Qa8 {Giri,A (2763)-Wang,H (2762) Yekaterinburg 2021}) 12. Rfd1 Bxf4 ({After} 12... Qe7 {(to prepare ...e5) Radjabov wasn't sure about} 13. Ne5) 13. gxf4 Nb6 $146 (13... Nd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Qc2 Nf6 16. Ra3 Qd6 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nd5 19. Rf3 f6 20. Nd3 Rac8 { Slipak,S (2440)-Hernandez Carmenates,H (2564) Montevideo 2011}) 14. Qd3 a5 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nbd5 17. Qf3 c6 18. e3 Qe7 19. h3 Nd7 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Kh2 b6 {Afterward Radjabov regretted creating this weakness.} (22... f6 $5 {(Radjabov)} 23. Rg1 Rad8 24. Rg2 Kh8 25. Rag1 Rf7 26. Qh5 {looks slightly unpleasant for Black to the human eye.}) 23. Rac1 Rac8 24. Rc4 Rc7 25. Rdc1 Rfc8 26. b3 Qa3 27. Qd1 Qe7 28. Qf3 Qa3 29. Qd1 ({Radjabov pointed out that after} 29. f5 exf5 30. Qxf5 {he should go} Qf8) ({and not} 29. f5 exf5 30. Qxf5 Qe7 $2 31. Rxc6 $1 Rxc6 32. Qxc8+ $1 {and wins.}) 29... Qe7 30. Qf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "Armenia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "ARM"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bd6 9. Qc2 e5 (9... a6 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. f4 Bd6 14. Rae1 b5 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Rxf3 Qd7 {Le,Q (2709)-Aronian,L (2781) Online 2021}) 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. O-O-O Qe7 13. Kb1 Be6 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. f3 Rad8 16. e4 Rd7 $146 (16... Rd6 17. Be3 Ra6 18. Qb3 Bxc3 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. bxc3 Rc6 {Wang,Y (2718)-Xu,Y (2386) China 2016}) 17. Bc1 Rfd8 18. Rxd7 Qxd7 19. Ne2 c6 20. Be3 ({Aronian thought} 20. g4 {could be a bit unpleasant because} Qd3 {is met by} 21. Qxd3 Rxd3 22. Rf1 {when} Bxh2 {fails to} 23. g5 Nd7 24. Kc2 Rd6 25. f4 {winning the bishop.}) 20... Bc7 21. Rc1 Bb6 22. Bg5 Qe6 23. Qb3 ({Aronian thought So's original intention was} 23. Qc3 {but then he has } Nd5 $1 {"and I'm in total control."} 24. exd5 (24. Qc4 f6 25. exd5 $6 cxd5 $1 ) 24... Qf5+ 25. Rc2 Qxg5 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. Nc1 Rd6 {Aronian}) 23... h6 24. Qxe6 fxe6 25. Bf4 Nh5 26. Be5 Rd2 27. Rc2 Rd1+ 28. Rc1 Rd2 29. Rc2 Rd1+ 30. Rc1 Rd2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B44"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2776"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "Russia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "RUS"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. e4 Bb4 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 e5 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Bxc3 (10... d6 11. h3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 c5 13. Qc2 Nd7 14. a4 Rb8 15. a5 Ba6 16. Rfd1 Qc7 17. Be2 Rfd8 18. Rd2 Nf8 {Lenic,L (2644) -Ivanisevic,I (2618) Slovenia 2019}) 11. bxc3 d6 12. c5 {Otherwise, Black might play it (Mamedyarov).} d5 (12... Ng4 13. Bc1) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Re1 $146 (14. Bd2 f5 15. c4 Nf6 16. Bc3 Qe7 17. Qa4 Bd7 18. Rad1 e4 19. Bc2 e3 20. Bxf6 exf2+ 21. Rxf2 Rxf6 22. Qb4 Raf8 {Gower,S (1915)-Wadsworth,M (2160) Coventry 2015}) 14... Nxe3 15. Rxe3 Qd5 16. Bc2 (16. Qh5 {immediately runs into} e4 $1) 16... Qxc5 (16... Qxd1+ 17. Rxd1 f6 18. Rd6 {is good for White.}) 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qxe5 Qxe5 19. Rxe5 a5 20. Rc5 Be6 21. a4 Rfc8 22. Be4 Bd5 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Rxd5 Rxc3 25. g3 Rc4 26. Kg2 Kg7 27. Kg1 Kg8 28. Kg2 Kg7 29. Kg1 Kg8 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Kg1 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Superbet Romania 2021"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.06"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C13"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 { C13: French: Classical System: 4 Bg5 Be7, Alekhine-Chatard Attack.} 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 c5 {The position is equal.} 10. Qe2 Qa5+ 11. c3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Be7 13. O-O-O {[#]} O-O $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... Qxa2 14. Qb5+ Bd7 15. Qxb7 Rc8 16. g3 Qa1+ 17. Kc2 Qa4+ 18. Kb1 Rd8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rd4 Qa5 21. Bg6+ Kf8 22. Rxd7 {1-0 (22) Beerdsen,T (2495)-Pijpers,A (2480) Wijk aan Zee 2020}) 14. Kb1 Rd8 15. Bc2 Bd7 16. Qe4 {[#] White wants to mate with Qh7+.} g6 $1 17. h4 { h5 is the strong threat.} Ba4 (17... e5 18. Nb3 Qc7) 18. Bxa4 Qxa4 19. h5 g5 20. Qxb7 Bc5 ({Better is} 20... Bf6 $14) 21. Qc6 $36 {White is really pushing.} Qxc6 (21... Qc4 $2 22. Nb3 Rdc8 23. Qf3) 22. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Bxf2 {KRB-KRN} 24. Rd7 f6 (24... a6 $16) 25. Nd8 Bb6 (25... g4 {is a better defense.} 26. c4 ( 26. Nxe6 Re8 $16) 26... Bb6 27. Nxe6 Re8) 26. Nf7 $18 ({Less strong is} 26. Nxe6 Re8 $16) 26... Rf8 (26... f5 {was worth a try.} 27. Nxh6+ Kh8) 27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Kc2 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.02/ Black=0.20} 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.07"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 {The reversed Rossolimo.} 5. Qc2 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 Qe7 7. d4 {This is the major trend nowadays.} ({The other way to play it is} 7. a3 {to which} d5 {is natural and} 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 c5 11. Qh4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 {trades too many pieces.} O-O 13. O-O Rd8 14. b4 Be6 15. bxc5 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rac8 17. Bb2 Qxc5 18. Qxc5 Rxc5 19. Bd4 Ra5 {and Black held comfortably in Howell,D (2658)-Donchenko,A (2659) Online 2021}) 7... Ne4 8. Qd3 exd4 9. Nxd4 Nc5 10. Qd1 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 {"This was all pretty normal," said Lupulescu who was still in his prep.} O-O 12. Be2 {White is in a hurry to develop his kingside.} ({An aggressive approach like} 12. b4 Ne6 13. Qc3 { would allow Black a hook for counterplay on the queenside:} a5) ({However, the alternative plan of fast queenside development} 12. b3 Ne6 13. Qd2 b6 14. Bb2 { looked more ambitious. True, in that case White would had to choose to play a double-edged position by castling long:} Bb7 15. O-O-O {and this does not seem to be what the Romanian GM was looking for.}) 12... b6 13. O-O ({"If I want to play it safe I can go for..."} 13. Bf3 Bb7 14. Bxb7 Nxb7 {"but then my winning chances are very slim to none." (Lupulescu)}) 13... Bb7 {The opening is almost over. White has the bishop pair, however he has serious difficulties in deploying it.} 14. f3 $146 {Blunting both black minor pieces at once. The drawback of the move is that the e3-pawn is also weakened.} ({An earlier game went} 14. Bd2 Ne6 15. Qc3 Nf4 16. exf4 Qxe2 17. Rae1 Qg4 18. f3 Qf5 {and the opposite-colored bishops determined the peaceful outcome later, Jakovenko,D (2704)-Motylev,A (2668) Izhevsk 2019}) ({As before} 14. b4 Ne6 15. Qd2 a5 { allows Black queenside play.}) 14... a5 {Giri establishes a blockade. From here on the impression is that Black has all the play.} 15. Bd2 ({Of course not } 15. e4 f5 $1) ({In case of} 15. b3 {Black would have likely followed the same game plan:} f5) 15... f5 {Black not only fixes the e-pawn, he is ready to lift his rooks for a kingside attack.} 16. Rad1 ({In hindsight White regretted for not choosing} 16. Rae1 $5 {with the idea to transfer his bishop to c2.}) 16... d6 17. b3 Rae8 18. Rf2 $1 {Correctly covering the second rank.} ({After} 18. Rfe1 {both} Rf6 ({And} 18... Qg5 $5 {will promise Black the initiative.})) 18... Rf6 19. Bd3 {A silent draw offer. Lupulescu sensed the danger.} ({After} 19. Bf1 {Black simply keeps improving further} Rg6 ({Or} 19... Qf7 {followed by Qf7-h5.})) 19... Qf7 {Giri rejects the offer.} ({Anytime Black trades the knight for the bishop, the opposite-colored bishops will more or less predetermine the split of the point.} 19... Nxd3 20. Qxd3) 20. Re2 {This move, however, is an inaccuracy.} ({White needed to prepare for the assault with} 20. h3 $1) 20... Qh5 21. Be1 ({Now it is too late for} 21. h3 Rg6 {And surprisingly, White lacks a good defense, for example} 22. Kh2 ({Or even worse: } 22. Kh1 $2 Bxf3 $1 23. gxf3 Qxh3+ 24. Rh2 Qxf3+) 22... Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Bxf3 $1 24. gxf3 Rh6 {with a winning attack.}) 21... Be4 $1 {"I somehow totally missed this idea." (Lupulescu) This sudden tactical blow puts a lot of pressure on White.} ({However, the preliminary} 21... Rg6 22. Bg3 {And then the other sacrifice} Ne4 $1 {would have been even stronger. Once more, White cannot pick up the piece for free:} 23. fxe4 ({True, in this case White has an interesting counter-attacking resource:} 23. c5 $5 {In order to free a square for the bishop with tempo and then pick up the knight. Black has nothing better than} Nxg3 24. hxg3 {when the various pawn captures do not yield advantage to Black:} Rxg3 ({Bad is} 24... dxc5 $2 25. Bc4+ Kh8 26. Qd7) ({Whereas in case of the other capture} 24... bxc5 {White can create play in various ways:} 25. Qf4 ({Or } 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26. g4 $1) ({Or even} 25. g4 $5)) ({That is why instead of taking, Black needs to give first with} 24... Bxf3 $1 25. gxf3 Rxg3+ 26. Rg2 Qxf3 {when White is not out of the woods yet.}) 25. cxd6 cxd6 (25... Qxf3 26. Rdd2 {might transpose.}) 26. Qxd6 Qxf3 27. Rdd2 {and White is solid enough.}) 23... fxe4 24. Rf1 exd3 25. Qxd3 {If anything, White can hope to survive once more thanks to the remaining opposite-colored bishops.}) ({Apparently, White was hoping to defend with} 21... Ne6 22. Qh4) 22. Bb1 ({Certainly not} 22. fxe4 $2 fxe4) ({However, the other retreat was slightly more precise:} 22. Bc2 Rg6 ( {Lupulescu feared} 22... Ne6 23. Qd2 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Ng5 {which does not seem to work due to} 25. Qd5+ Kf8 26. Kh1) 23. Bg3 Rge6 24. Rde1 {It is similar to the game, with the important difference that the white rook does not hang after} Bxc2 25. Rxc2 {Then Black may choose something like} g5 {fighting further for his kingside initiative.}) 22... Rg6 23. Bg3 Bxb1 {Giri spotted that the rook on e2 is once again vulnerable.} ({It was not too late for} 23... Rge6 24. Rde1 Bxb1 25. Rxb1 g5) 24. Rxb1 Ne4 $1 {And he did it again. Unfortunately for the Dutch GM, White has a surprising defense.} 25. Rbe1 Nxg3 26. Qd5+ $1 {The only move, but a sufficient one.} ({It is important to give the check first as} 26. hxg3 Rxg3 27. Qd5+ Qf7 {simply drops a pawn for no compensation.}) 26... Kh8 27. hxg3 Rxg3 28. e4 $1 {A very important move in White's counterplay which highlights the weakness of the back rank.} Qxf3 ({After} 28... Qg6 {White would have moved the king} 29. Kf1 $1 ({Avoiding the tricks:} 29. exf5 $2 Rxg2+ $1) ({And} 29. Qxf5 $2 Rxg2+ $1)) 29. Qf7 $1 {"I think he missed this. I had to see this in advance as otherwise it was quite bad." (Lupulescu)} ({The Romanian GM was fully aware of the tactics} 29. exf5 $2 Rxg2+ $1) 29... Rg8 30. exf5 Qc6 {Not a very practical choice according to White. Giri was down to three minutes on his clock and could not adjust to the changing situation.} ({ White expected} 30... h6 31. Kh1 Rh3+ 32. Kg1 Rg3 {with a draw instead.}) 31. Rf2 {"Now I am playing for a win, I thought." (Lupulescu)} Qc5 {The losing move, although White's initiative is extremely dangerous to repel in time-trouble. The thing is that the queen was optimal on c6, as it was both attacking and defending the back rank!} ({White was hoping for} 31... h6 32. f6 Qc5 33. Qxg8+ $1 {with a spectacular win.}) (31... d5 {does not work neither due to} 32. Re6) ({However, the computer believes that Black could have still survived with} 31... a4 $1 32. Re7 ({Black is super-solid in case of} 32. f6 gxf6 33. Qxf6+ R3g7) 32... axb3 33. axb3 Qa8 34. f6 Rg5 ({Or} 34... Rg6)) 32. Re7 $1 ({Once more, Lupulescu is very careful and spots his opponent's devilish trick. The seemingly killing} 32. Re8 {leads only to a draw after} Rxg2+ $1 33. Kh1 Rh2+ 34. Kg1 $1 {The rook is immune due to the double-attack on c6.}) 32... Qd4 33. Re8 $1 {Now he can.} ({It should be noted that the Romanian GM saw the last trick by Giri:} 33. f6 Rxg2+ $1 {would have led to a perpetual after} 34. Kxg2 gxf6+ 35. Kf1 ({Or} 35. Kf3 Qd3+ 36. Kf4 Qd4+) 35... Qd1+ 36. Re1 Qd3+) 33... Rxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Qg4+ 35. Kh2 Qh4+ 36. Kg2 Qg4+ 37. Kf1 {Now there is no repetition and Lupulescu wins big.} Qh3+ 38. Ke1 Qc3+ 39. Rd2 1-0 [Event "GCT Superbet Romania 2021"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.07"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D26"] [WhiteElo "2781"] [BlackElo "2820"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 {D26: Queen's Gambit Accepted: 4 e3 e6 5 Bxc5 c5 sidelines.} a6 8. Ne5 {8.d5 is a critical line.} Qc7 9. Nxc6 {White is slightly better.} Qxc6 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 b5 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Bd5 {[#]} Rb8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... Ra7 14. e4 Be7 15. Be3 O-O 16. b4 Rc7 17. bxc5 Bxc5 18. Rc1 Bb6 19. Qd2 h6 20. Bxb6 Qxb6 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 {1/2-1/2 (35) Euwe,M-Landau,S Amsterdam 1934}) 14. e4 Be7 $1 15. a4 O-O 16. axb5 Rxb5 (16... axb5 17. Ra7) 17. Ra3 Rb6 18. Rf3 Qe5 19. Bd2 Rg6 20. Bc3 Qc7 21. Rg3 (21. h3) 21... Bb7 22. Rxg6 hxg6 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 24. Qg4 c4 25. e5 Bb4 26. Bxb4 (26. Qxc4 {feels hotter.} Bxc3 27. Qxc3 Rc8 28. Qd4 Rb8 29. Rc1) 26... Qxb4 $14 {Endgame KQR-KQR. The position is equal.} 27. e6 Qxb2 28. Qxc4 Qf6 29. Qxa6 Qxe6 30. Qxe6 fxe6 $11 {KR-KR} 31. Kh1 Kh8 32. Kg1 Kg8 33. Kh1 Kh8 34. Kg1 Kg8 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.07/Black=0.05} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Bucharest"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.07"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Nf6 { [%emt 0:00:29]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. e3 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} Bb4 {121} 5. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 6. Qxc3 {[%emt 0: 00:21]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 7. d4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Ne4 {243} 8. Qd3 {139} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 9. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 10. Qd1 {265} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 11. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {146} 12. Be2 {213} b6 { [%emt 0:00:40]} 13. O-O {336} Bb7 {114} 14. f3 {92} a5 {550} 15. Bd2 {415} f5 { 396} 16. Rad1 {566} d6 {403} 17. b3 {176} Rae8 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 18. Rf2 {191} Rf6 {597} 19. Bd3 {633} Qf7 {987} 20. Re2 {1064} (20. h3 Nxd3 21. Qxd3) (20. Bc2 Rf8 21. h3) 20... Qh5 {1361} 21. Be1 {164} Be4 $6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} (21... Rh6 22. Bg3 Ne4 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. Rf1 exd3 25. Qxd3) 22. Bb1 {568} Rg6 {176} 23. Bg3 {241} Bxb1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 24. Rxb1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00: 29]} 25. Rbe1 {633} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 26. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} Kh8 {245} 27. hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxg3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 28. e4 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qxf3 { [%emt 0:00:42]} 29. Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Rg8 {74} 30. exf5 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Qc6 {378} (30... Rg5 $4 31. Qxc7 (31. Re8 Qxg2#) 31... Qf4 32. Rd1 (32. Qxb6 Rh5 33. Qxa5 Qh2+ 34. Kf1 Qf4+ 35. Kg1 (35. Rf2 $4 Rh1+ 36. Ke2 Qe4+ $19)) 32... Rh5) 31. Rf2 {100} Qc5 $4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (31... a4 32. Re7 axb3 33. axb3 Rg5 (33... Rxb3 $4 34. f6 Rg3 35. Qh5) 34. f6) 32. Re7 {154} Qd4 {71} 33. Re8 {114} Rxg2+ {[%emt 0:00:56]} 34. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 35. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qh4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 36. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:55]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 37. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qh3+ {[%emt 0:00:36]} 38. Ke1 {157} Qc3+ { [%emt 0:00:15]} 39. Rd2 {66} 1-0 [Event "Bucharest"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.09"] [Round "5"] [White "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Romania"] [BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ROU"] [BlackTeamCountry "AZE"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 e6 3. c4 Be7 {"Today I wanted to play some interesting game, I took some risk and I played some absolutely different line." (Mamedyarov) Kasparov remembered that Romanishin used a similar idea in the past.} ({ Usually the knight stands there of course} 3... Nf6 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nc3 Bg4 {Carlsen,M (2862)-Giri,A (2764) Online 2021}) 4. b3 Bf6 5. Nc3 Ne7 6. Bb2 ({White could have also tried to obstruct the opponent's normal development with} 6. Ba3 $5 {However here Lupulescu might not have liked the change of the pawn structure with} dxc4 7. bxc4 ({Still} 7. Bxc4 {looks advantageous for White.}) 7... Bxc3 8. dxc3 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Nbc6) 6... c5 7. Qc2 Nbc6 8. Na4 $146 {Mamedyarov did not like this novelty and considered it a mistake.} ({Black was doing fine after} 8. a3 b6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rac1 Rc8 13. Bd3 h6 14. Ne2 Qd6 15. Nf4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Rfd8 {Jorgensen,A (1803)-Bengtsson,J (1985) Helsingor 2018}) ({ He suggested instead the preliminary trade} 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Na4 {and intended to play the irregular position after} b6 ({There was also} 9... Qd6 {which he missed.}) 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. d4 {(Mamedyarov)} cxd4 12. exd4 Bg4 $1) 8... b6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. cxd5 Qxd5 {That is the point. Black transfers his queen to the kingside and starts pressurizing from there.} 11. Nc3 Qh5 12. Ne4 {Active play by Lupulescu.} ({The other active try was} 12. Qb2 $5 Qg6 13. a3 {intending b3-b4, which Black can easily stop} a5) 12... Qg6 13. Nh4 ({Mamedyarov liked the possible endgames} 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. Qxg6 hxg6 {"I think it is not easy to play it as White." (Mamedyarov)}) 13... Qh6 14. Nd6+ {Sooner or later White needs to trade the enemy bishop.} (14. g3 O-O {would have been another way to play it.}) 14... Kf8 15. Nxc8 ({How dangerous the black bishop may become demonstrates the following line} 15. g3 Kg7 16. Bg2 Nb4 17. Qc3 Ba6 $1 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 {and the white king is permanently weak.}) 15... Rxc8 16. g3 Rd8 17. Be2 Kg7 {Black consolidates and from here on will constantly create various threats and tricks to pressurize his opponent.} 18. a3 Rd6 19. f4 Rhd8 20. Rd1 f5 21. Nf3 ({In hindsight, an easier defense would have been} 21. Qb2+ { in order to try and force the queen swap} Qf6 22. Qxf6+ Kxf6 23. Nf3 {The endgame should be a draw.}) 21... Nd5 {First, there is the pressure along the d-file.} 22. O-O Kg8 23. Rb1 a5 24. Bb5 Nce7 25. Rfd1 ({Here is a typical trick:} 25. Ne5 Nxe3 26. dxe3 Rd2 {(Mamedyarov)}) ({However, from a defensive stand-point the maneuver} 25. Rf2 Nf6 26. Rg2 {made sense. The rook is fianchettoed, but White's kingside is safe. Black can still annoy the opponent with} Ng4 {though.}) 25... Nf6 26. Bf1 Ng4 27. h3 ({There are more problems along the d-file if White is not careful:} 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4 cxb4 29. Rxb4 Nxe3) ({Probably Lupulescu needed to defend with} 27. Rbc1 $5 {in order to free himself at a good moment.} Kh8 ({Although Black can pressurize further with} 27... Ng6) 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 cxb4 30. Qb2+) 27... Nf6 28. d3 Nc6 29. Re1 ({It was not too late to "fianchettoe" the rook} 29. Rd2 Qg7 30. Rg2) 29... Qg7 30. Qf2 Kh8 31. Kh2 Rg8 32. Be2 {Lupulescu was getting low on time and this affected his defense.} ({Here} 32. Ne5 $5 Nd5 33. Nc4 Rdd8 34. Rbc1 { might have been a better choice.}) 32... Nd5 {More and more tricks.} 33. Bf1 { And this turns out to be a mistake. The bishop blocks the rook for a moment and that is all Mamedyarov needs.} (33. Rbc1 $2 {would allow Black's main idea} Nxe3 34. Qxe3 Qxg3+ 35. Kh1 Qxh3+ 36. Nh2 Qxe3 {and wins. (Mamedyarov)}) ({ However} 33. Rg1 $1 {was called for, with defendable position.}) 33... e5 $1 { Opens the sixth rank for the rook at once.} 34. fxe5 {Lupulescu goes for a forcing line, but it has a flaw.} ({After the only defense} 34. Nh4 {Black intended to mount pressure with} Nce7 ({Another way to gain some edge would be } 34... exf4 35. exf4 Qd4 36. Qd2)) 34... Rg6 $1 35. Nh4 Rxg3 36. d4 { Capitulation.} ({It was probably here when Lupulescu found out with horror that the planned} 36. Nxf5 {loses spectacularly to} Rf3 $3 37. Nxg7 (37. Qxf3 Qg1#) 37... Rxf2+ 38. Kg1 Rf3 39. Kg2 Nxe5) 36... Qg5 37. Ng2 cxd4 38. exd4 Nxd4 {White's position collapses and he gives up.} (38... Nxd4 39. Qxd4 Rxg2+) 0-1 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.09"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "Netherlands"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "NED"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qe2 Nd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. h3 Be6 11. Rd1 Qc4 12. Rd3 (12. Qxc4 Bxc4 13. Nc3 Be7 14. Be3 Be6 15. Ne4 b6 16. Rd2 {½-½ Korze,D (2549)-Lecroq,M (2592) ICCF email 2017}) 12... Rd8 $146 (12... Be7 13. b3 Qh4 14. Bb2 g5 15. Rd4 g4 16. Ba3 Rd8 {Illijin,N (2290)-Sifrer,D (2440) Slovenia 1993}) 13. b3 Qh4 14. Rxd8+ Qxd8 15. Be3 Be7 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Rd1 Qc8 18. f4 {"I have a tiny bit of an advantage. " (Caruana)} Rd8 19. Rf1 f5 ({Caruana expected} 19... Qd7 {and only after} 20. g4 f5) 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Bc5 Bxc5+ 23. Nxc5 Bf5 24. g4 ({The alternative was} 24. Re1 b6 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Qxe4 Qd7 {but Caruana didn't feel his winning chances were great here.}) 24... b6 25. Na4 {This doesn't look nice but Caruana wanted to keep some pieces on the board to keep some complexity.} Qe6 $1 {A nice move.} 26. Rf2 (26. Qf2 {is also answered by} Qg6) ({Caruana thought perhaps he sould have tried} 26. Qxe6+ Bxe6 27. Nc3) 26... Qg6 27. Nc3 h5 28. Rg2 hxg4 29. hxg4 Qf6 $1 {Another precise move.} 30. gxf5 ( 30. Qc4+ Be6 31. Qxc6 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Bf7 {with long-term compensation.}) 30... Qxc3 31. Qe5 Qxe5 32. fxe5 {This would be unpleasant for Black if White could get his king to f4, but Black doesn't need to just sit and wait.} Kf7 33. Kh2 ( 33. Kf2 Rd5) 33... Rd4 $1 34. Kg3 Re4 35. e6+ Kf6 36. Kf3 Re5 37. Rg6+ Kxf5 38. Rxg7 Kxe6 39. Rxc7 Ra5 40. Rxc6+ Kd7 41. Rc3 Rxa2 42. Ke4 Kd6 43. Rc8 Kd7 44. Rc3 Kd6 45. Rc8 Kd7 46. Rc3 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Superbet Romania 2021"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.11"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,79,23,32,29,4,6,6,10,10,27,-23,-15,-22,-8,-13,29,37,21,-3,0,17,7,7,7, -15,13,9,76,53,52,42,42,42,36,42,42,37,58,58,21,51,73,77,80,101,150,154,154, 154,154,162,168,118,123,137,138,138,150,150,163,167,196,199,219,217,299,322, 393,245,244,245,278,243,278,299,299,305,318,281,273,279]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 (6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 dxc4 10. O-O Bd7 11. Bxc4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Rfd8 13. Be2 Be8 14. Qa3 Qe7 15. Qb2 b6 16. c4 Na5 17. e4 f6 18. e5 Rac8 19. Rad1 c5 20. d5 Bh5 21. exf6 Qxf6 22. Ne5 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 exd5 24. cxd5 {0-1 (45) Mamedyarov,S (2764) -Aronian,L (2765) Saint Louis 2019}) 6... O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 {D38: Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4 Nf3 Bb4).} 8. Bxc4 Bd6 9. Qc2 {9.Qc2 scores better than 9.Nb5.} e5 { The position is equal.} 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. f4 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Ng4 14. Bd4 c5 $5 15. Bxc5 {Rd1 is the strong threat.} Re8 $1 16. O-O $1 {With the idea Rfd1.} Nxe3 17. Bxe3 Rxe3 {[#]} 18. Rfe1 $5 $146 {New and interesting.} ( 18. Qf2 {seems wilder.} Qb6 19. f5 Re5 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Rae1) ({Predecessor:} 18. Qf2 Re8 19. Rad1 Qf6 20. f5 b6 21. Qg3 Rd8 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Qc7+ Rd7 24. Rxd7+ Bxd7 25. Qxd7+ {0-1 (40) Andreikin,D (2726)-Vidit,S (2726) Chess.com INT 2020}) 18... Rxe1+ (18... Qb6 {with more complications.} 19. Qf2 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Qxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Kf8) 19. Rxe1 Bd7 {[#]} (19... Qd4+ 20. Qf2 (20. Kh1 Be6 21. Re4 (21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. Qb3 (22. Rxe6 Qxf4) 22... Qd5) 21... Qd7) 20... Qxf2+ 21. Kxf2 Kf8) (19... b5 20. Bb3 (20. Bd3 g6) 20... Bb7) 20. Qb3 $1 $16 Qf6 21. Qxb7 $40 {Double Attack. Black is in trouble.} Qd4+ 22. Kh1 Re8 $2 (22... Rd8 $16) 23. Rxe8+ $18 Bxe8 {[#]} 24. Bxf7+ $1 {Double Attack} Kf8 25. Bb3 Qc5 {( -> ... Qc1+!)} 26. Qd5 Qc1+ 27. Bd1 Qxf4 {[#]} (27... h6 $142 28. Qd4 Bh5) 28. Qc5+ $1 Kg8 29. Qxa7 h5 30. h3 Bc6 $2 (30... Kh7 {was necessary.} 31. Bc2+ Kh6) 31. Bb3+ Kh7 32. Qf7 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 {Black must now prevent Qf5+.} Qc5 34. Qg8+ Kh6 { intending ...Qe5+.} 35. Qe6+ g6 (35... Kh7 {is a better defense.} 36. a4 Bb7 37. Qg8+ Kh6 38. Qh8+ Kg6) 36. Qf6 {White is clearly winning.} Bd7 37. h4 Qc7+ 38. g3 Qc8 39. Qf4+ Kh7 40. Qf7+ {Weighted Error Value: White=0.10/Black=0.35} 1-0 [Event "Bucharest"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.11"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteElo "2776"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O e6 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 $1 {13.f5 is better than 13.Qe1.} b4 {B67: Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer: 7...a6 8 0-0-0 Bd7, lines without 9 f4 Be7.} 14. Ne2 {fxe6 is the strong threat.} e5 15. Ng3 Qc5 { White is slightly better.} 16. b3 h5 {Strongly threatening ...h4.} 17. h4 $1 Bb5 {[#]} (17... Ke7 $14) 18. Qe1 $146 ({Predecessor:} 18. Be2 Ke7 19. c3 bxc3 20. Qc2 Rg8 21. Rd5 Qc7 22. Bxb5 Rxg3 23. Rd3 Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Bh6 25. Qe2 Rc8 26. Bc4 Qb6 27. Kc2 Rxc4 {0-1 (27) Stefansson,H (2586)-Filipenko,A (2410) Pardubice 2001}) 18... Rc8 19. Bxb5+ axb5 20. Qe2 Ra8 {[#]} (20... Ke7 $16) 21. Rd5 $1 $18 ({And not} 21. Nxh5 {[#]} Rxh5 $1 22. Qxh5 Qa7 $11) 21... Qa7 22. Qxb5+ Kd8 23. a4 bxa3 24. Rhd1 Be7 25. Qe2 Rc8 (25... a2+ 26. Ka1 Qc7) 26. c4 ( 26. Nxh5 $18 {is more deadly. And now g4 would win.} Qc7 (26... a2+ 27. Ka1) 27. c4) 26... Rg8 (26... a2+ $16 27. Ka1 (27. Qxa2 Qxa2+ 28. Kxa2 Rg8 $16) 27... Rb8) 27. Nxh5 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.13/Black=0.40} 1-0 [Event "Bucharest"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.11"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteElo "2776"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "Romania"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "ROU"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O e6 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 b4 (13... h5 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Bd3 b4 16. Ne2 Bh6 17. Qe1 Qc5 18. Rf1 Ke7 19. b3 Bb5 { Karjakin,S (2752)-Vidit,S (2726) Chess.com 2020}) 14. Ne2 e5 15. Ng3 Qc5 16. b3 $5 {A rare move, as Grischuk pointed out.} ({More common are} 16. Nh5) ({and} 16. Bd3) 16... h5 17. h4 {Already quite a critical position according to Grischuk.} Bb5 $6 {Grischuk knew this had to be wrong and he found the strongest reply at the board.} (17... Ke7 {is possible and}) (17... Ra7 { is "the best move according to the computer." (Grischuk)}) 18. Qe1 $1 $146 { Threatening 19.Rd5.} (18. Be2 Ke7 19. c3 bxc3 20. Qc2 Rg8 21. Rd5 Qc7 22. Bxb5 Rxg3 23. Rd3 Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Bh6 25. Qe2 Rc8 26. Bc4 Qb6 27. Kc2 Rxc4 {0-1 Stefansson,H (2586)-Filipenko,A (2410) Pardubice 2001}) 18... Rc8 19. Bxb5+ $1 {A trade that White normally avoids due to the opening of the a-file but with an extra tempo (Black needs to move his rook back to a8) it's good.} axb5 ( 19... Qxb5 20. Rd5) 20. Qe2 Ra8 21. Rd5 Qa7 22. Qxb5+ Kd8 23. a4 bxa3 24. Rhd1 Be7 25. Qe2 ({Afterward, Grischuk preferred the natural} 25. Ka2) 25... Rc8 26. c4 Rg8 27. Nxh5 a2+ 28. Ka1 Rb8 29. R5d3 Qa3 30. Qc2 {Visually, White has made little progress since move 25, according to Grischuk, who was not happy with his play in this phase. Engines still see it as close to winning for White.} Rg4 $2 {Allowing White's next is not a good idea.} 31. c5 {Now it's easy again. } Rc8 32. Rc3 d5 33. Rxd5+ Ke8 34. g3 Qb4 35. Rc4 Qe1+ 36. Rd1 Qe3 37. Qd3 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.11"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "Armenia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "ARM"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bd6 9. Qc2 e5 (9... a6 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. f4 Bd6 14. Rae1 b5 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. Rxf3 Qd7 {Le,Q (2709)-Aronian,L (2781) Online 2021}) 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. f4 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Ng4 14. Bd4 c5 15. Bxc5 Re8 16. O-O Nxe3 17. Bxe3 Rxe3 18. Rfe1 $146 ({The main move is} 18. Qf2 {which both players surely analyzed if only because Carlsen once lost against it in a blitz game:} Re8 19. Rad1 Qc7 (19... Qf6 20. f5 b6 21. Qg3 Rd8 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Qc7+ Rd7 24. Rxd7+ Bxd7 25. Qxd7+ Kf8 26. h3 a5 27. Rd1 Re8 {Andreikin,D (2726) -Vidit,S (2726) Chess.com 2020}) 20. Rc1 Qd6 21. f5 Qf6 22. Bb3 Bd7 23. Rc7 Re7 24. Rxb7 a5 25. Rb6 Qg5 26. f6 gxf6 27. Rxf6 Be8 28. Bxf7+ Bxf7 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Qf6+ Qxf6 32. Rxf6 Rd8 33. g3 Kg7 34. Rf2 a4 35. Kg2 a3 36. bxa3 Rd3 37. Kf1 Rxa3 38. Ke1 h5 39. Kd1 h4 40. gxh4 Kg6 41. Kc1 Ra8 42. Kb2 Rb8+ 43. Kc3 Rc8+ 44. Kd4 Ra8 45. Kc4 Rc8+ 46. Kb3 Rb8+ 47. Kc3 Ra8 48. Kb2 Rb8+ 49. Ka1 Ra8 50. Rf4 Ra3 51. Kb2 Rh3 52. a4 Rxh2+ 53. Kb3 Rh3+ 54. Kb4 {1-0 Andreikin,D (2724)-Carlsen,M (2872) World Blitz (Moscow) 2019}) 18... Rxe1+ ({According to Mamedyarov and the engine,} 18... Qd4 {was the most accurate reply.}) 19. Rxe1 Bd7 $6 {Based on a miscalculation.} (19... Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Be6 $1 {was still close to equal.}) 20. Qb3 Qf6 21. Qxb7 Qd4+ ({Aronian probably missed} 21... Bc6 22. Qxa8+ {when playing his 19th move, according to Mamedyarov.}) 22. Kh1 Re8 $2 {Another tactical miss.} ({White still has a technical task ahead after} 22... Rf8) 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Bxf7+ $1 Kf8 (24... Bxf7 {allows mate in three.}) 25. Bb3 {Two pawns is too much.} Qc5 (25... Qxf4 26. Qxa7) 26. Qd5 Qc1+ 27. Bd1 Qxf4 28. Qc5+ Kg8 29. Qxa7 h5 30. h3 Bc6 31. Bb3+ Kh7 32. Qf7 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qc5 34. Qg8+ Kh6 35. Qe6+ g6 36. Qf6 Bd7 37. h4 Qc7+ 38. g3 Qc8 39. Qf4+ Kh7 40. Qf7+ 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2820"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "France"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 { Quite a sharp line which according to Caruana was considered dubious until recently, but the strong engines changed the assessment to playable for Black.} 8. a4 ({Vachier-Lagrave had a whole mini-match a few weeks ago in this line:} 8. d4 dxe4 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxc5 Nd3 ({And another game from the same match went} 10... Qe7 11. Nd2 Bb7 12. Qe2 Ng6 13. Nb3 O-O 14. a4 Rab8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nd4 Bd5 17. Nxb5 Qxc5 18. Na3 Qc6 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2760)-Aronian,L (2781) Online 2021}) 11. Bxd3 exd3 12. Re1+ Be6 13. Re3 Qd5 14. Rxd3 Qxc5 { and eventually this game ended a draw, just like the other two, Vachier Lagrave,M (2784)-Aronian,L (2781) Online 2021}) 8... dxe4 9. axb5 Bg4 10. bxc6 exf3 11. gxf3 Bh3 {This is the new trend. The position is super-sharp and Black tries to prove that the opponent's weakened king is worth the invested material.} 12. Re1 O-O 13. Ra5 Qd6 14. b4 Bxf2+ {This move made the big change. } 15. Kxf2 e4 16. Kg1 Rae8 17. Re3 Nh5 {"It's a very dangerous line for Black. Black is basically making only moves not to lose." (Caruana)} 18. f4 $146 { However, White also needs to be very careful not to lose too! This move is a novelty, but Caruana suspected that his opponent simply reverted the move order (see below).} ({The predecessor was a game of the American GM which they both apparently heavily analyzed:} 18. Rg5 Qh6 19. Rg3 ({This is where Caruana thought that Vachier-Lagrave wanted to land, the position after} 19. f4 Nxf4 20. Reg3 {Then the American GM was curious what his opponent had prepared in the critical line} f5 21. Rxg7+ Qxg7 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 {A very unusual situation occurs in which the white king often needs to go all the way to the d5-or c5-squares according to Caruana.}) 19... Nxg3 20. hxg3 exf3 21. Qxf3 Re6 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qd4 Rd6 24. Qe5 Re6 25. Qd4 Rd6 26. Qe4 Rf6 {Dominguez Perez,L (2758)-Caruana, F (2835) Online 2020}) 18... Nxf4 19. Rg5 f5 $1 {"This was easy to play and it was clear that White is in great danger, maybe borderline losing." (Caruana) The white rook is trapped and without it his Majesty suffers.} ({Now Black could have transposed into the "very critical line" with } 19... Qh6 {but decided that it not worth it.}) 20. d4 {However, this obvious move might have in fact been the real mistake.} ({There was another way to bring the white pieces out:} 20. Na3 $5 {might have won an important tempo for White in some of the critical lines, for example} Bg4 21. Qf1 {Here this is possible, with the point that} h6 {can be met with} 22. Bb3+ Kh7 23. Nc4 $1 { The point! The queen needs to abandon the knight:} Qf6 24. Qxf4 hxg5 25. Qg3 { with unclear play. If Black overpresses with} f4 $2 {he may get in trouble due to} 26. Qxg4 fxe3 27. Qh5+ $1 {and White should prevail without the queens.}) 20... Bg4 {Effectively trapping the rook.} ({"White's trick is"} 20... exd3 21. Bxd3 Rxe3 22. Bc4+ {"otherwise he just resigns." (Caruana)}) 21. Rxg4 ({ Apparently} 21. Qf1 $2 h6 {works well for Black.}) 21... fxg4 22. Qxg4 { The critical moment of the game.} Nd3 {And Fabiano blunders an important defensive resource.} ({Caruana also considered} 22... h5 23. Qg5 {"and there is no clear follow-up."}) ({However:} 22... Qf6 $1 {would have almost forced a win. Black's main attacking idea is demonstrated in the line} 23. Bxe4 ({ Vachier-Lagrave intended to defend with} 23. Nd2 {to which} Nd3 {is not as clear after} ({They both missed though the other strong knight move:} 23... Nd5 $1 {when Black should win in the line} 24. Rxe4 ({There is also the brilliant} 24. Rg3 e3 $1 {when the black pawn is unstoppable:} 25. Nf3 e2 26. Bd2 e1=Q+ 27. Bxe1 Rxe1+ 28. Nxe1 Qf1#) 24... Qf2+ 25. Kh1 Nf6) 24. Qg2 Nxc1 25. Nxe4) 23... h5 24. Qg3 Ne2+ 25. Rxe2 Qf1#) 23. Bxd3 $1 {The only move, but a sufficient one.} ({In case of} 23. Nd2 {Caruana intended the same old} Qf6 ( 23... Nxc1 24. Nxe4 {"is a bit of a mess." (Caruana)}) 24. Qg2 Nxc1 25. Bxe4 Qf4 {with a clear edge for Black.}) ({The other logical moves also favor Black: } 23. Bd2 Qf6) ({And} 23. Rxe4 Nf2 24. Qg2 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 {are both bad for White.}) 23... exd3 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Bf4 $1 {A strong intermediate move missed by Caruana.} Qxc6 26. Be5 Qh6 {"I am honestly kind of lucky that I have this." (Caruana)} 27. Bf4 {Forcing the draw.} (27. Qg3 {"was just a draw." (Caruana)}) 27... Qc6 28. Be5 Qh6 29. Bf4 Qc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Superbet Romania 2021"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.12"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C48"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Shahid"] [PlyCount "96"] [EventDate "2021.06.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ROU"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 Nd4 6. Ba4 c6 {C48: Four Knights: 4 Bb5, replies other than 4...Bb4.} 7. O-O (7. Nxe5 d5) 7... d6 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 {The position is equal.} 9. h3 {[#]} g5 $146 (9... Be6 $11) ({ Predecessor:} 9... O-O 10. Ne2 Bb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. c3 d5 13. Qf3 Nd7 14. Re1 Re8 15. Nf5 Nf8 {1-0 (30) Gallagher,J (2565)-Raetsky,A (2405) Graechen 1999}) 10. Ne2 (10. Nd5 $1 $14 Rg8 11. c3) (10. Bxg5 Rg8 11. Bh4 Bxh3) 10... Bb6 $1 $11 11. c3 Rg8 {And now ... g4 would win.} 12. d4 Nxe4 13. Bc2 d5 14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. dxe5 {[#]} Qxd1 $1 16. Rxd1 g4 17. h4 (17. hxg4 Bxg4 18. Re1 Bf3 19. Nf4) 17... g3 $1 18. Nd4 Bd8 19. fxg3 Rxg3 20. Re1 $6 {[#]} (20. Rf1 Rg4 21. Rf4) 20... Rg4 $1 $36 {Black is really pushing.} (20... Bxh4 21. Rxe4 Rg4 22. Rxg4 $15) 21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 Ke7 23. Rad1 Bd7 24. e6 fxe6 25. g6 hxg6 26. Nb3 e5 27. Na5 Be6 28. Rd2 Rb8 ({Of course not} 28... Bxa2 $6 29. b3 $14) 29. b4 Kf6 30. a4 (30. Re3 $17) 30... Rg3 31. Rxe4 $2 {White does not recover from this.} (31. Rf2+ $17 Bf5 32. Rxe4) 31... Bd5 $19 (31... Rxc3 32. Rf2+ Kg5 33. Rxe5+ Bf5 34. b5 $17) 32. Rh4 Rxc3 33. Rh7 b6 34. Nxc6 Bxc6 ({Weaker is} 34... Rxc6 35. Rxd5 Ke6 36. Rdd7 $17) 35. Rc7 Rc1+ 36. Kf2 Rf8 37. b5 Ke6+ 38. Kg3 Rc3+ 39. Kh2 Rh8+ 40. Kg1 {[#]} Rh1+ $3 {Decoy} 41. Kxh1 {[#]} (41. Kf2 {was the only chance.}) 41... Bxg2+ $1 {Discovered Attack} 42. Rxg2 Rxc7 43. Rxg6+ $2 { Endgame KR-KR} (43. a5 e4 44. axb6 Rc1+ 45. Kh2 axb6 46. Rxg6+ Kf5 47. Rg7) 43... Kd5 44. a5 $2 (44. Kg2) 44... Kc5 {Black is clearly winning.} 45. axb6 axb6 46. Re6 Kxb5 47. Rxe5+ Rc5 (47... Kc4 $142 48. Re4+ Kd3) 48. Re1 Rg5 { Weighted Error Value: White=0.70/Black=0.18} 0-1 [Event "Bucharest"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.12"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C48"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "96"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "AZE"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 Nd4 6. Ba4 c6 (6... O-O 7. Nxd4 Bxd4 8. O-O c6 9. Ne2 Bc5 10. Bg5 d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Qd6 13. Qf3 Bd4 { Sunilduth Lyna,N (2989)-Sethuraman,S (2825) Chess.com 2020}) 7. O-O d6 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. h3 g5 $146 (9... O-O 10. Ne2 Bb6 11. Ng3 Be6 12. c3 d5 13. Qf3 Nd7 14. Re1 Re8 15. Nf5 Nf8 {Gallagher,J (2565)-Raetsky,A (2405) Graechen 1999}) 10. Ne2 {Played after just 3.5 minutes.} ({The correct reply is} 10. Nd5 $1 { as after} Bd7 $6 {White has} 11. Bxg5 $1 cxd5 12. Qf3 {which Mamedyarov had missed.}) 10... Bb6 11. c3 ({Mamedyarov suspected that Caruana had missed} 11. Ng3 Rg8 12. c3 g4 13. h4 Nh5 $3 {and White is in trouble:} 14. Nxh5 Qxh4 15. Ng3 Qxg3 16. d4 Qh4 {with a strong attack.}) 11... Rg8 12. d4 Nxe4 ({ Mamedyarov didn't like that after something like} 12... g4 13. h4 Nxe4 14. Ng3 Nxg3 15. fxg3 exd4 16. cxd4 {White can put his bishop on f4 at some point.}) 13. Bc2 d5 14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. dxe5 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 g4 17. h4 g3 18. Nd4 Bd8 $1 { Mamedyarov thought Caruana missed this one.} 19. fxg3 Rxg3 20. Re1 Rg4 21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 Ke7 23. Rad1 Bd7 24. e6 fxe6 25. g6 hxg6 {"I started to think if Fabi will draw this game, it will be a brilliant defense! 24.e6 and 25.g6 is absolutely a different level." (Mamedyarov)} (25... c5 $5 26. Nb3 Bc6 27. Nxc5 Rxg6 {Mamedyarov}) 26. Nb3 e5 $1 {Mamedyarov finds a good setup and is winning now.} 27. Na5 (27. Nc5 Bf5 $1 {and b7 is not really hanging.} 28. Nxb7 Rb8) 27... Be6 28. Rd2 Rb8 29. b4 Kf6 30. a4 Rg3 31. Rxe4 ({Mamedyarov suggested} 31. Rf2+ Bf5 32. Rxe4 Ke6 33. Rc4 {as an improvement but then Black wins with} b6 $1 34. Nxc6 Kd5 35. Nxb8 Kxc4 {and the e-pawn runs.}) 31... Bd5 32. Rh4 Rxc3 33. Rh7 b6 34. Nxc6 Bxc6 35. Rc7 Rc1+ 36. Kf2 Rf8 37. b5 Ke6+ 38. Kg3 Rc3+ 39. Kh2 Rh8+ 40. Kg1 Rh1+ $1 {A nice liquidation.} 41. Kxh1 (41. Kf2 Rf1+ $1) 41... Bxg2+ 42. Rxg2 Rxc7 43. Rxg6+ Kd5 44. a5 Kc5 45. axb6 axb6 46. Re6 Kxb5 47. Rxe5+ Rc5 48. Re1 Rg5 0-1 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.12"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D40"] [WhiteElo "2781"] [BlackElo "2776"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 {Aronian thought his opponent would not expect this.} dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 ({Black can always switch to positions with an isolated central pawn with} 7... cxd4 8. exd4 Bd6 9. O-O { However, one should not forget that this pawn is eager to go forward, as this short game demonstrates:} a6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Ne4 Qf4 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. d5 e5 {1-0 Rozentalis,E (2595)-Bernadet,P North Bay 1994}) 8. O-O b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. d5 {"Not particularly great move," said Aronian. "It is important to take advantage of Sasha's desire to think." He had prepared this a couple of days ago, but as he said, he was "not proud of it."} (10. Qe2 { "is the main theoretical move." (Aronian)}) 10... exd5 11. Nxd5 Be7 (11... Bd6 $1 {"is the way to equalize "} 12. e4 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qc7 {"and Black has a very solid position." (Aronian)} ({Or} 13... O-O)) 12. e4 O-O 13. Bf4 c4 14. Re1 { Aronian thought that his position is very pleasant and obviously enjoyed his centralized forces.} Re8 $146 {This looks very smart, but it has a tactical flaw.} ({An earlier game saw} 14... Rc8 15. Nxe7+ Nxe7 16. Qc2 Ng6 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Bg5 Rfe8 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Bb1 Rcd8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Qc3 Nf4 23. Qxf6 gxf6 24. Kf1 Nd3 {and Black was doing OK in Shimanov,A (2587) -Abdusattorov,N (2644) Moscow 2020}) 15. Qd2 {Missing a clever counter-blow.} ({Both players apparently missed the clever bishop retreat in the line} 15. Nc7 $1 Nh5 16. Bg3 $3 ({They obviously only considered} 16. Nxe8 $6 Nxf4 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Nc7 Nd3 19. Re2 Bf6 {when Black's super knight leads his initiative.}) (16. Nxa8 $2 { is of course losing to} Nxf4 17. Qxd8 Bxd8) 16... Nxg3 17. Nxe8 {"and this looks like a big advantage for White." (Aronian) Indeed, in the line} Qxd1 18. Raxd1 Rxe8 19. hxg3 {the strong black knight on d3 is missing in comparison to the line from above and White is a solid exchange ahead.}) 15... Bc5 16. Bg5 { Provoking a weakening on the kingside.} ({The immediate} 16. Bc7 Qc8 17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Qf4 Re7 19. Bd6 Bxd6 20. Qxd6 Qe6 21. Qg3+ Kh8 {is unclear.}) 16... Be7 17. h4 {Logically trying to turn his central superiority into a strong kingside attack.} h6 {This is not bad, but there was a simpler way to equalize in full.} ({Grischuk could have reduced the attacking potential of his opponent with some trades:} 17... Nxd5 $1 18. exd5 Bxg5 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Nxg5 {"I thought this is kind of interesting." (Aronian) One idea was to meet} Ne5 { with} ({But White missed that in the line} 20... Ne7 $1 21. Re1 {Black can get away from the pin with} Qd7 22. Bb1 Qxd5 $1) 21. Re1 {when White is indeed on top.}) 18. Bf4 Bc5 19. Bc7 {White decided to spoil the opponent's pawn structure.} Qc8 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qf4 {"I thought I am slightly better. I am slightly surprised that the computer thinks there is nothing for me." (Aronian) } Nd4 {A serious mistake. As usual, Grischuk was running very low on time and this affected his play (this time).} ({Correct was} 21... Re7 $1 22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Qxd6 Qg4 24. Qxf6 Re6 25. Qf5 Qg7 $1 {with serious compensation for the pawn. The black pieces are very active. "The time factor worked in my favor." (Aronian)} 26. Rad1 Rg6) 22. Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Rad1 $1 {This extra tempo is the difference. And it is crucial. White manages to bring every single piece into the attack at once.} Bc5 {Hurry, the knight needs support!} ({Pawns like this} 23... Bxb2 {do not count in such positions. The kingside castle is burning on the other side:} 24. Re3 Kh7 25. Bb1) ({Perhaps the mos§t resilient was} 23... Be5 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25. Qxh6 Qg4 26. Rd6 Qf4 27. Qh5 {but White is winning here as well.}) 24. Bb1 Bf8 25. Re3 Bg7 {The bishop came back to the rescue, but White included both his rook and light-squared bishop into the assault. The battle is uneven.} 26. Rg3 Kh8 27. e5 $1 Qe6 ({Or mate on the light squares after} 27... fxe5 28. Qxf7) 28. Bf5 Qe7 ({Since} 28... fxe5 29. Qg4 Qf6 30. Rd6 {overburdens the black queen.}) 29. Rd7 ({Grischuk resigned due to} 29. Rd7 fxe5 30. Qg4 Qf8 (30... Qf6 31. Rd6) 31. Bd6) 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.12"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2780"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Netherlands"] [BlackTeam "France"] [WhiteTeamCountry "NED"] [BlackTeamCountry "FRA"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Qa5 $146 (10... Nc6 11. Rb1 b6 12. d5 Na5 13. c4 e6 14. e4 exd5 15. cxd5 Re8 16. Re1 c4 17. Bc2 Qc7 18. d6 Qc5 19. Be3 Qh5 { Jakovenko,D (2681)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2774) Khanty Mansiysk 2019}) 11. Qb3 Qc7 12. Rb1 b6 13. Ba3 Nc6 14. dxc5 Be6 {"I realized here that I have nothing and then I realized that well, it appears I mixed something up." (Giri)} 15. cxb6 axb6 16. Qxb6 Qxb6 17. Rxb6 Rxa3 18. Rxc6 Bd5 ({Giri thought} 18... Bxc3 19. Rxe6 fxe6 20. Bc4 {is "nasty" for Black.} Kg7 21. Bxe6 Bb2) 19. Rc5 Bxf3 (19... e6 20. Nd4) 20. gxf3 Bxc3 ({Giri mentioned} 20... Rxa2 21. c4 Rd8 22. Be4 { and now Black's idea of hitting f2 is too slow:} Bf6 23. Rb5 Rdd2 24. c5 Bh4 25. c6) 21. Bc4 {Now White can press a bit but it should be still a draw.} Bb4 22. Rb5 Bd6 23. Rc1 Rfa8 24. f4 Kg7 25. Bb3 R8a5 26. Rd5 Rxd5 27. Bxd5 h6 28. h3 g5 29. fxg5 hxg5 30. Bb3 Ra5 31. a4 Rc5 32. Rb1 Kf6 ({Giri thought} 32... f5 33. Kg2 Kf6 {was more to the point, more active.}) 33. Kg2 Bc7 34. Bd1 Rd5 35. Rc1 Bd6 36. Be2 Rc5 37. Ra1 Rc3 $6 {In hindsight it's easy to judge that allowing the pawn to a5 is a bad idea. "For him it makes some sense because he either suffers for, like, two more hours and then who knows, or maybe, if it's a draw, it's just a draw. So it makes some sense what he did for sure." (Giri)} 38. a5 Ra3 39. Rxa3 Bxa3 40. Kf3 $1 {Giri thought MVL might have missed this.} ({Giri noted that the natural-looking} 40. a6 {has a difference:} Bc5 41. Kf3 e6 42. Bd3 Ke7 43. Kg4 f6 {and here White does not have} 44. f4) 40... e6 41. Bd3 Ke7 42. Kg4 Kf6 $2 ({As it turns out, only this is the decisive mistake. Giri thought} 42... f6 43. f4 {was winning in this case but} Bc1 $1 {which the famous Russian trainer Mark Dvoretsky called "pawns in the crosshairs" still saves the day for Black:} 44. fxg5 (44. Kf3 Kd6 45. a6 Kc7 {and White cannot create a second passed pawn.}) 44... fxg5 45. Kxg5 Bxe3+ {and now Giri pointed out that White needs to avoid that the black king reaches h8 with} 46. Kg6 Kf8 47. Kh7 {but as it turns out, White cannot make progress in this setup.}) 43. a6 Bc5 44. Bb5 Ba7 45. Be8 $1 Ke7 46. Bxf7 $1 Kxf7 47. Kxg5 Kg7 48. h4 e5 49. Kf5 Bb8 50. Ke4 1-0 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.12"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D39"] [WhiteElo "2765"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Bxc4 c5 9. e5 Qd8 10. O-O cxd4 11. Ne4 O-O 12. Qe2 (12. Qc1 Qc7 13. Nf6+ Kh8 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Rxd4 Be7 16. Qf4 Bc5 17. Qe4 Nxf6 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Rdd1 f5 20. Qe2 Be7 {Caruana,F (2823)-Anton Guijarro,D (2679) Wijk aan Zee 2021}) 12... Be7 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Ng3 ({A big game in this line went} 14. Bd3 Nd7 15. Rc1 Qa5 16. g4 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f4 Qa5 19. g5 Qd8 20. h4 Bd7 21. gxh6 g6 22. h5 Kh8 23. Kh2 Bc6 24. Rf3 Bd6 25. Qf2 Bc7 26. Kh3 Qe7 27. Ng5 e5 28. Rxc6 bxc6 29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. hxg6 Rf6 31. g7+ Kg8 32. Bc4+ Kh7 33. Qh4 e4 34. Rg3 Bxf4 35. g8=Q+ Rxg8 36. Bxg8+ Kh8 37. Rg7 Qf8 {0-1 Aronian,L (2794)-Caruana,F (2784) Berlin Candidates 2018}) 14... Bd7 15. Nh5 $146 (15. Rxd4 Bc6 16. Rg4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nc6 18. Re1 Rad8 19. Qe3 Bg5 20. f4 Nxe5 21. Qxe5 Qxc4 22. Nh5 Qd4 { Nihal,S (2572)-So,W (2776) Isle of Man 2018}) ({So had also looked at} 15. Rfe1 Bb4 16. Nh5 Bc6 17. Rxd4 {when Black needs to reply with} Bxf3 $1 (17... Bxe1 $2 {loses:} 18. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 19. Rg4+ Kh7 20. exf6 Rg8 21. Bd3+ Kh8 22. Rh4) 18. Qxf3 Bxe1 19. Rg4 Kh8 20. Rxg7 Qxc4 21. Rg8+ Rxg8 22. Qf6+ Kh7 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 {with a draw.}) 15... g6 16. Bd3 (16. Nf6+ Kg7 17. Nxd4 Bxf6 18. exf6+ Kxf6 {So}) 16... Bc6 17. Nxd4 Nd7 {"Black is just in time to defend the kingside." (So)} 18. Rfe1 Nxe5 {The safest choice.} ({Black should avoid} 18... Bb4 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 20. Qg4 {and wins.}) ({However, Black could play on with} 18... Rad8 $5) 19. Qxe5 Qxe5 20. Rxe5 gxh5 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Rxh5 Kg7 23. Kf1 Rfd8 24. Ke2 Rd5 25. Rh3 Rad8 26. Rg3+ Kf8 27. Bc2 Re5+ 28. Re3 Rxe3+ 29. fxe3 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 Bf6 31. Be4 Bxb2 32. Bxc6 a5 33. a4 Be5 34. g3 Ke7 35. Ke2 Kf8 36. Kd1 Ke7 37. Ke2 Kf8 38. Kd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.13"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Deac, Bogdan-Daniel"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2627"] [BlackElo "2781"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 {A somewhat unusual opening choice from the Armenian-American GM that clearly indicates his intentions.} 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Be2 ({Aronian defended the position after} 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. c4 e6 8. Nc3 Bc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nf6 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Nd4 Qa5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bd2 Qh5 {against the world champion himself in Carlsen,M (2847)-Aronian,L (2781) Online 2021}) 6... Ngf6 7. O-O e6 8. Rd1 Be7 9. Nc3 Qc7 10. a4 {This is quite a strange version of the Scheveningen, favorable for White. Black did not manage to bring his pieces out, and the weakness of the b6-square will soon start to tell.} O-O $146 {"I was just trying to play, not necessarily playing for a win but just to get a game, but my opponent knew the opening very well and I think I got a slightly worse position." (Aronian)} ({Perhaps Black should have chosen instead} 10... b6 {like in an earlier game:} 11. h3 O-O 12. Be3 Bb7 13. Nd2 Rac8 14. Nc4 d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. Bf4 Qc6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bc5 19. Qf4 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 {Hinrichs, L (2242) -Barrett,S (2214) Skopje 2015}) 11. a5 {The b6-square is fixed.} Rd8 12. Be3 Ng4 {Black is trying to relieve the pressure a bit.} ({Black's normal development is obstructed, for example} 12... Ne5 13. Qb6 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Qxb6 15. Bxb6 Rf8 16. g3 {leaves Black cramped.}) ({Similar problems arise after} 12... Nf8 13. Qb6) 13. Bg5 Ngf6 ({The trade} 13... Bxg5 14. Nxg5 Nde5 {does not solve Black's problems. Both} 15. Bxg4 ({and} 15. Na4 $5 {with the idea to meet} Qxc2 {with} 16. Nc3 $1 {when the queen is in trouble.}) 15... Nxg4 16. Na4 {and Black's problems remain.}) 14. Qc4 {Deac chooses to play a somewhat better endgame.} ({ He had other good options too, like} 14. Bh4 $5) ({Or} 14. Qb4 $5) 14... Qxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 {At last freeing himself a bit on the queenside.} (15... Nf8 16. Be3 {keeps the b6-point under control.}) 16. axb6 Nxb6 17. Be2 Bb7 18. Nd2 Rd7 {"I thought I need to start confusing myself and my opponent." (Aronian) Black is trying to prepare the freeing d6-d5 break.} 19. Bd3 {Deac misses a good chance.} ({The idea was} 19. Be3 $1 Bd8 {"Of course, it doesn't make any sense, but at least it's confusing!" (Aronian) Indeed, after} 20. Bd4 $1 {Black is in a sort of a zugzwang; he hardly has any useful move.}) 19... Rc7 20. f3 d5 { That is it, Black is just fine now.} 21. Be3 ({Or} 21. exd5 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Nfxd5 {and all looks good for Black.}) 21... dxe4 22. Ndxe4 Nfd5 23. Bd4 f6 24. b3 Kf7 {Aronian simply improves his position. The weakness of the a6-pawn is well compensated by the centralized black pieces and the play along the half-open files. As usual in the Sicilian endgames, Black starts to slowly take over the initiative.} (24... e5 {does not yield Black anything after} 25. Bf2 Nxc3 26. Nxc3 Rxc3 27. Bxb6) 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Bc4 a5 27. c3 g5 {That is the other reason why Black's prospects are better in the endgame. He can expand on the kingside too.} 28. Ra4 ({After} 28. Kf1 {White has to reckon with} a4 $5 ({ But Black can also expand further with} 28... h5)) 28... f5 29. Ng3 Bc5 $1 { An important trade that softens White's position.} 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Bxd5 Bxd5 32. c4 Bc6 33. Ra3 a4 {The bishop is clearly more superior than the knight, and with this move Aronian frees himself from the weakness while creating a weakness in the enemy camp. Deac has to concentrate all his energy into the survival.} 34. Rda1 ({Here} 34. Nf1 $1 {looks more accurate as after} axb3 35. Rxa8 Bxa8 36. Nd2 {the black b-pawn is not going anywhere.}) 34... Rg8 $1 { Opening a second front.} 35. bxa4 g4 36. f4 ({White's problems are not solved either in case of} 36. fxg4 Rxg4 37. R1a2 Rgxc4 38. a5 Rc1+ 39. Kf2 R1c2+) 36... Rxc4 37. Ne2 Rb8 38. R3a2 (38. a5 Rb2 39. R1a2 Rcc2 40. Rxb2 Rxb2 41. Re3 {would have been similar as in the game.}) 38... Bd5 39. a5 Rcb4 {Since White needs to defend his second rank, he slowly loses the a-pawn.} 40. Rd2 Rb2 41. Rad1 Rxd2 42. Rxd2 Ra8 {There it is, the pawn is lost. However, not everything is decided yet as all the remaining pawns are on the same flank.} 43. Nc3 Rxa5 44. Kf2 ({The other way to defend is} 44. Nxd5 exd5 45. Kf2 Ke6 46. Re2+ Kd6 47. Re5 Ra2+ 48. Kg3 d4 {Aronian thought that this is too risky, but the concrete line} 49. Rxf5 d3 50. Rf8 Ke7 51. Rf5 {saves White.}) 44... Bc6 45. Nd1 Ra4 {Provoking another weakening.} 46. g3 Ra1 {The impression is that Black will sooner or later force the opponent into zugzwang and win the h2-pawn.} 47. Nb2 $1 {Deac, however, found a brilliant defensive idea.} Rh1 48. Nd3 $3 {That was the whole idea! Deac sacrifices a second pawn but builds a fortress.} ({In the after-game interview Aronian admitted that he underestimated his opponent. He expected} 48. Ke3 Bb5 {after which the advance of the h-pawn would likely put White on his knees.}) 48... Rxh2+ 49. Ke3 Rxd2 50. Kxd2 {One of the black extra pawns is fully blocked by the white knight, whereas White's only vulnerable point, the pawn on g3, is nicely defended by the white king.} Ke7 51. Ne5 Kd6 52. Ke3 Kd5 53. Kd3 Be8 54. Ke3 h5 55. Nd3 Kc4 {And still, Black finds a way to bother the opponent one last time.} ({"The problem is that"} 55... h4 56. Kf2 $1 {"is a dead draw." (Aronian)} h3 57. Kg1 Ke4 58. Ne5 {followed by Kg1-h2 is a rock-solid fortress indeed.}) 56. Ne5+ Kc3 57. Nd3 h4 $1 {That's the last chance.} ({There is no progress after} 57... Kc2 58. Nc5 Kd1 59. Kf2 Bf7 60. Nd3) 58. gxh4 g3 59. Ne5 {Alas, the Romanian GM stumbles, just a step away from the draw.} (59. Nc1 $1 {instead would have saved the game, for example} g2 60. Ne2+ Kc4 {"Unfortunately this is nonsense. " (Aronian)} 61. Kf2 Kd3 62. Ng1 Ke4 63. Nh3 g1=Q+ 64. Kxg1 Kf3 65. Ng5+ { and everything is traded.}) 59... Bh5 $1 {This move Deac obviously saw. He also knew that his knight and king are limited by the bishop. Apparently, he believed that} 60. Nd7 {would save him and likely missed} e5 $3 {Aronian wins a couple of tempi, and that's all he needs.} ({After} 60... Kc2 61. Nf6 Bd1 62. h5 {it would be Black who needs to force the draw with} e5 $1 63. h6 (63. fxe5 $4 {loses a decisive tempo instead} f4+ 64. Kxf4 g2 {and wins.}) 63... exf4+ 64. Kxf4 g2 65. h7 g1=Q 66. h8=Q) 61. Nxe5 Kc2 62. Nd3 Kd1 {Zugzwang! The king makes it to the g2-pawn.} 0-1 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.13"] [Round "8.3"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "France"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "FRA"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Ne6 9. h4 {So was hoping to surprise his opponent with this move, but MVL had done his homework here as well.} ({The old and also very intersting} 9. b4 {has the modern reply} g6 $1 (9... cxb4 10. Nd5 Nc7 11. Nxb4 e6 12. Nc2 b5 13. Bb3 a5 14. Ncd4 Bb7 15. Bc2 Be7 16. Bb2 O-O 17. h4 Nd7 18. Rh3 Nf6 {Javakhadze, Z (2736)-Salem,A (2996) Chess.com 2020}) 10. bxc5 Bg7 {and Black is OK according to So.}) 9... Nd4 10. Nb5 Ndc6 $146 ({Yet another move with the same knight, but better than} 10... Be6 11. d3 Nbc6 12. Nbxd4 Bxc4 13. dxc4 cxd4 14. Bf4 e6 15. Rh3 Bc5 16. a3 a5 17. e5 O-O {Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2779) Saint Louis 2018}) 11. d4 a6 12. d5 axb5 13. Bxb5 e6 14. Qe2 Be7 15. dxc6 Nxc6 16. Rh3 O-O 17. Rg3 Bxh4 {Even this was played quite quickly by MVL.} 18. Nxh4 ({The pawn grab works for Black because of} 18. Rg4 Bf6 19. e5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Qxe5 Qd1+ 22. Qe1 Qxg4) 18... Qxh4 19. Rh3 Qf6 20. Qh5 h6 21. Rg3 Kh7 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Kg1 ({So said he mixed up the move order and had actually prepared} 23. Bd2 {which we might see in future games.}) 23... Ra4 $1 ({So was hoping for} 23... e5 24. a4) 24. e5 ({Here So noticed that his intended} 24. Qxc5 Rd8 25. Qc2 Qd4 26. e5+ {can be met by} Qe4) 24... Qh4 25. Qxh4 Rxh4 26. Rc3 Re4 27. Rxc5 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Rd8 29. Bg5 Rxa1 30. Bxd8 Rxa2 31. Rxc6 Bb7 32. Rc7 Bd5 33. Rxf7 Rxb2 34. Bf6 Rb7 35. Rxb7 Bxb7 36. Bd8 Bd5 37. Bc7 Bb7 38. Bd8 Bd5 39. Bc7 Bb7 40. Bd8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.13"] [Round "8.5"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Lupulescu, Constantin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteElo "2765"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "Romania"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "ROU"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O e6 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nce2 $5 ({Earlier in the tournament, Grischuk played} 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 b4 14. Ne2 e5 15. Ng3 Qc5 16. b3 $5 {against Lupulescu and after} h5 17. h4 {he was surely not going to repeat} Bb5 {when} 18. Qe1 $1 {was very good for White.}) 12... b4 13. f5 { Inaccurate, according to Lupulescu.} (13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. f5 {would transpose to Grischuk-Lupulescu.}) 13... Nxd4 14. Nxd4 e5 15. Nf3 ({Now} 15. Ne2 h5 16. h4 Ke7 {followed by ...Bh6, and Black is "more than fine" (Lupulescu).}) 15... h5 ({Lupulescu didn't want to allow} 15... Bc6 16. Bc4 Bxe4 17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Rc8 19. Nd2 Qc6 20. Ne4 {because even if} Qxc2+ 21. Ka1 Be7 22. Nxd6+ Bxd6 23. Qxd6 Qc6 24. Qxb4 Rg8 {is playable, Black's king is always in danger.}) 16. Bc4 Rc8 17. Qd5 Rh7 18. Nd2 Bc6 (18... a5 19. Be2 $1 {followed by 20.Nc4.}) 19. Qd3 a5 20. Bd5 Bb5 21. Bc4 Bc6 22. Bd5 Bb5 23. Bc4 {A silent draw offer from Radjabov that Lupulescu did not accept at the time.} Bd7 24. Rhe1 a4 ({ Lupulescu didn't like the looks of} 24... Ke7 25. Bb3 a4 26. Nc4 Qa6 27. Nxd6 Qxd3 28. Nxc8+ Bxc8 29. Rxd3 axb3 30. Red1) 25. Nf1 Bh6 26. b3 Ke7 27. Qe2 h4 28. Rd3 axb3 29. cxb3 Bb5 30. Bxb5 Qxb5 31. Nd2 Bxd2 32. Qxd2 Qb6 33. Rd1 Rc6 34. g4 $1 {Played with just seconds on the clock.} hxg3 35. hxg3 Rg7 36. Qe2 Rg8 37. g4 Qc5 38. Rd5 Qc3 39. R5d3 Qc5 40. Rd5 Qc3 41. R5d3 Qc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.13"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2776"] [BlackElo "2820"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "132"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 (9... Bb7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h3 Re8 12. Ng5 Re7 13. d5 Nb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Na3 c6 {Fedoseev,V (2687)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2758) Online 2021}) 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. h3 Bh5 (12... Bxf3 13. Qxf3 exd4 14. e5 $1 dxe5 15. Bg5 {is too dangerous for Black.}) 13. Re1 h6 $146 (13... O-O 14. Bg5 Na5 15. Bc2 Nd7 16. g4 Bg6 17. Nh4 exd4 18. cxd4 Qa7 19. Nf3 Nc6 20. Be3 Nb4 21. Nh4 Nxc2 22. Qxc2 Bxd4 {Bulmaga,I (2440)-Heimann,A (2633) Paleochora 2020}) 14. g4 Bg6 15. Be3 exd4 16. cxd4 O-O 17. d5 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Na5 19. Bc2 $6 (19. Nbd2) 19... Nc4 20. Re1 $6 Nxb2 21. Qd4 Nc4 $6 ({Both players must have underestimated} 21... Na4 $1 {e.g.} 22. Na3 b4 $5 23. Qxb4 Nc5 { and White's position is on the verge of collapsing, with so much pressure on his center.}) 22. Bd3 Qa4 ({Perhaps more promising was} 22... Qa5 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Qxc4 Rb8) 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Nc3 Qc2 25. Qd2 Qb3 26. Nd4 Qa3 27. Ndb5 Qa5 28. Nd4 Re8 29. f3 {White has managed to consolidate. He is still slightly worse, but much more solid than before.} Nd7 30. Kg2 Ne5 31. Rb1 Ra8 32. Kg3 Nd3 33. Nde2 Qc5 34. Nf4 Ne5 35. Qf2 Qa5 36. Qd4 Kh7 37. Nfe2 f6 38. f4 c5 39. dxc6 Nxc6 40. Qxd6 Rc8 $6 {After this White takes over the initiative.} ({ Black could have forced a draw with} 40... Rd8 41. Qxc6 Rd3+ 42. Kf2 (42. Kh4 $2 Qg5+ $1 43. fxg5 hxg5#) 42... Rxc3 43. f5 Bf7 44. Nxc3 Qxc3) 41. Rb7 Qd8 42. Rd7 Qf8 43. Qxf8 Rxf8 44. Rc7 Be8 45. Rc8 Kg8 46. Nd5 Bd7 47. Rc7 Rd8 48. Kf2 Be8 49. Ng3 Nd4 50. Rxc4 Nb5 51. Nf5 Kf8 52. h4 Bd7 53. Nfe3 Nd6 54. Rd4 Bc6 55. Rb4 h5 56. Nc3 hxg4 57. Nxg4 Bxe4 58. Nxe4 Nxe4+ 59. Rxe4 f5 60. Re5 fxg4 61. Kg3 Kf7 62. Kxg4 Rd1 63. Rf5+ Kg8 64. Re5 Kf7 65. Rf5+ Kg8 66. Re5 Kf7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Superbet Chess Classic"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2021.06.14"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Deac, Bogdan-Daniel"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2627"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "147"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 Nc6 {Not a very common idea against the King's Indian Attack.} ({One of the main lines has been discussed recently in the following game:} 5... O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 11. h4 b4 12. Bf4 a4 13. a3 bxa3 14. bxa3 Rb8 15. Ne3 Bb7 16. c4 Nb6 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Qxa4 Nc3 19. Qc4 Qa5 20. Rac1 Nb5 {with compensation for the pawn in Nepomniachtchi,I (2792) -So,W (2770) Online 2021}) 6. Nbd2 e5 { Deac enters the Pirc, down two tempi. Even this approach seems playable.} 7. e4 d4 {As long as Black does not open the center!} 8. Nc4 Nd7 9. a4 {A solid approach by Caruana.} ({He could have attacked the center at once with} 9. c3 $5) 9... O-O 10. b3 $146 ({In an earlier game, White hurried to play on his flank:} 10. Ne1 Nb6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. f4 f5 13. exf5 exf4 14. g4 Bd6 15. Be4 Qg5 16. h3 (16. Ng2 $1) 16... Qh4 17. Qf3 Ne5 18. Qg2 g5 {Mass,E (1926) -Dreiling,A (1774) Germany 2013}) 10... Re8 ({Deac could have played} 10... Bb4 $5 {at once.}) 11. h4 {The plans for both sides are clear. Caruana will try to mate the opponent on the kingside whereas Deac would try to keep him busy on the opposite flank. Both players have problematic bishops, locked behind their pawn chains, and need to solve their problems too.} Bb4 12. Bg5 {Slightly weakening the kingside.} f6 13. Bd2 Rb8 $5 {In preparation of b7-b5.} ({ Black could have also developed a dark-squared strategy with} 13... a5 $5 14. Bxb4 Nxb4 15. h5 Nc5) 14. h5 a6 15. a5 {Once again, Caruana tries to force a small concession by his opponent.} ({The other way to play it was the direct} 15. Nh4 b5 16. Bxb4 Nxb4 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nd2 {when Black would have continued with either} c5 ({Or} 18... Nf8 $5)) 15... Nf8 16. Nh4 b5 17. axb6 cxb6 18. Bxb4 Nxb4 19. Qd2 $1 {The best development of the attack.} ({Black's task is easier after} 19. f4 b5 20. Nd2 ({Or} 20. Na5 h6) 20... h6) 19... Nc6 { Deac retreats, but overprotects his center in the process.} ({After} 19... a5 { White could have developed the attack with} 20. h6 g6 ({Or} 20... g5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 {when the white bishop enters the battle.}) 21. f4) ({Similar would be} 19... Qe7 20. h6 g5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 b5) 20. Nf5 {At the end of the day, White decided not to push the h-pawn further.} (20. h6 {was possible though, when Black would have likely defended as in the game with} g6 21. f4 b5 22. Na5 Nxa5 23. Rxa5 Rb6) 20... g6 {This knight cannot be tolerated.} 21. Nh4 b5 22. Na5 Nxa5 23. Rxa5 Rb6 {Protecting the sixth rank.} 24. Raa1 Qe7 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. f4 {Everything is accordance with the grand strategy: open up the kingside and mate the black king. Deac however prepared well for the second wave of the attack.} Qh7 27. fxe5 {Opening another file for the white major pieces.} ({Nothing yields} 27. f5 g5) 27... fxe5 28. Rf2 Qg7 ({Here it made sense to hit White's weakness on c2 with} 28... Rc6 $5 29. Raf1 Qc7 {keeping White's major pieces busy.}) 29. c3 {Not letting Black a second chance to attack this pawn. The c-file could be quite useful for White as well.} ({ Caruana had a chance now to solve the problem of his problematic bishop with} 29. Raf1 $5 Rc6 30. Kh2 {followed by Bg2-h3.}) 29... dxc3 30. Qxc3 Ne6 $6 { Deac does not intend to defend passively and transfers his knight instead to the beautiful central outpost. This move, however, has a concrete flaw.} ({ Black could have defended passively as well:} 30... Rf6 31. Raf1 Rxf2 32. Rxf2 Qe7 33. Qc6 Kg7) 31. Nf3 {Caruana prevents the maneuver and hits the e5-pawn at the same time. He practically wins that pawn now. How could this be wrong?} ({There was a better idea though! If White could get rid of his light-squared bishop, then he would have all his pieces working nicely. Therefore} 31. Bh3 $1 {was a good try. Then they likely saw the line} Nd4 (31... Bd7 32. Bxe6+ Rbxe6 33. Raf1 {is very good for White.}) 32. Bxc8 ({However, here White has a strong zwischenzug:} 32. Qc5 $1 {and then after} Rc6 33. Qd5+ Be6 (33... Kh8 34. Bxc8 Rexc8 35. Rf7 {is lost for Black.}) 34. Bxe6+ Rcxe6 35. Raf1 {a position arises where Black is defenseless.}) 32... Rc6 {which is indeed OK for Black.}) 31... Rd6 32. Rc1 {Not only seizing the file, but defending the queen.} ({Why this is important is demonstrated in the line} 32. Nxe5 $4 Nd4 { when White loses his knight as he cannot step back due to the discovered attack.}) (32. Qxe5 {does not promise White anything after} Rxd3) 32... Bd7 33. Nxe5 ({Stronger was the other way of winning the pawn:} 33. Qxe5 $1 Rxd3 34. Bf1 Qxe5 35. Nxe5 Rd4 36. Rf6 Nf8 37. Nxd7 Rxd7 38. Rxa6 {with winning chances for White.}) 33... Nd4 {This was the whole point behind Deac's active defense. The super-knight compensates for the missing pawn as it blocks two white pawns and a bishop!} ({Black is correctly avoiding} 33... Rc8 34. Qxc8+ $1 Bxc8 35. Rxc8+ Nd8 36. Nf7 {Although Comp Almighty claims that Black can defend here as well} Rxd3 37. Nxd8 Rd1+ 38. Bf1 Qd7 39. Rfc2 ({Or} 39. Nc6+ $5 Kg7 $1 (39... Qxc8 40. Ne7+) 40. Rd8 (40. Rff8 Qd6 41. e5 Qd3) 40... Rxf1+ 41. Rxf1 Qxc6) 39... Qd3 {Well, that's not for the human brains.}) 34. Nxd7 Qxd7 35. b4 ({ Here Caruana missed a chance to properly arrange his major pieces with} 35. Rcf1 Qg4 36. Qd2 $1 {A very unusual coordination of the white pieces has been achieved. The point is that none of the pawn captures works for Black due to the same threat} Qxg3 $2 37. Qh6 {with mate to follow.}) 35... Qg4 {Now the black queen also blocks actively.} 36. Re1 ({Not} 36. Kh2 Ne2) 36... Rd7 $1 { A neat defense! Black correctly covers the seventh rank, thus preventing any activity.} (36... Qxg3 37. Qc7 {seems scary for Black. Indeed} Red8 ({Also bad for Black is} 37... Rf8 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Rf1+ Ke8 40. Qf7+ Kd8 41. Qf8+ Kc7 42. Rf7+ {and White will pick up the knight with checks.}) ({However, here too, Black can defend himself with the nice move} 37... Nf5 $1) 38. Qf7+ Kh8 39. e5 {is bad for the second player.}) 37. Re3 Qg5 38. Qc1 {Now surprisingly, Deac gets a chance to play for something.} Kg7 ({Strong was} 38... Rf7 $3 {which would have forced Caruana into passive defense:} 39. Rxf7 $4 {obviously loses to} ({Also bad for White is} 39. Qe1 Rc7 $1 {when despite the pawn deficit Black dominates.}) ({Therefore the passive} 39. Re1 {should have been played, but then} Qxg3 40. Rxf7 Kxf7 41. Qe3 Qxe3+ 42. Rxe3 Kf6 {regains the pawn for Black while keeping the blockade, and this promises him good winning chances.}) 39... Ne2+) 39. Bh3 {The bishop is out just in time.} Rde7 40. Kg2 {And the g3-pawn is safe. Nevertheless, White hardly has any realistic chances for a full point.} Rh8 41. Re1 Qh5 42. Rh1 Qe5 43. Qb2 Nc6 ({Also a good plan was to swap the rooks:} 43... Rc7 $5 44. Rc1 Rxc1 45. Qxc1 Rf8 {aiming for a position with a queen and a knight versus a queen and a bishop.}) 44. Rc1 {Allowing the trade.} ({Or else Black would start an attack against the enemy pawns:} 44. Qb3 Qd4) 44... Qxb2 45. Rxb2 Ne5 46. Rd1 Rd8 {Deac is forcing the pawns forward, after which he can attack them sideways.} 47. d4 Nc6 48. d5 Rd6 49. Rf1 Ne5 { A funny coincidence. Yesterday, Deac also built a rock-solid blockade with a knight versus a bishop. In today's game though he still has the rooks on board and defends actively. And he is down only one pawn.} 50. Be6 {This allows the activation of the black rooks, but Caruana hardly had any other choice.} ({Or} 50. Rbb1 Nf7 51. Be6 Ng5 52. e5 Rd8 53. Rf6 Nxe6 54. dxe6 Rde8 {with an obvious draw.}) 50... Rc7 51. Ra1 Rc4 52. Rba2 Rxe4 53. Rxa6 Rxa6 54. Rxa6 Rxb4 55. Kf2 {Almost everything disappeared and the game slowly peters out into a draw.} Ra4 {Once again active defense.} 56. Rb6 Ra2+ 57. Kf1 Nc4 58. Rxb5 Kf6 59. Ke1 Nd6 60. Rb3 Ke5 61. Kd1 Rg2 62. g4 Ne4 63. Ke1 Rh2 64. Ra3 Rb2 65. Bf7 g5 66. Be6 Nf6 {It is time to trade everything.} 67. Ra5 Rb4 68. Ke2 Nxg4 69. Bxg4 Rxg4 70. Kf3 Rd4 71. Kg3 Rxd5 72. Rxd5+ Kxd5 73. Kg4 Ke4 74. Kxg5 { A nice way to finish a nice tournament!} 1/2-1/2