Games
[Event "46th GM 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 {A Chinese
specialty. This line has been played by aces like Wei Yi, Li Chao and Ni Hua.
The reigning women's world champion Ju Wenjun has also used the line.} 7. O-O
Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nc3 {Not the main line, but Nepomniachtchi had already
played it before.} ({The main continuation is} 9. c4 {and after} Nc6 10. cxd5
Qxd5 11. Nc3 {here a couple of examples of the modern practice:} Nxc3 12. bxc3
Rae8 13. Bf4 Bxd3 ({or} 13... Bd8 14. c4 Qd7 15. Bxf5 Qxf5 16. Qd2 Na5 17. Rec1
$5 {as in Anand,V (2776)-Li,C (2728) Sochi 2017}) 14. Qxd3 Bd6 {with slight
advantage for White in Anand,V (2767)-Wei,Y (2743) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) ({
The second main option is} 9. Nbd2 {which avoids the doubling of the pawns.
However, this move allows the retreat} Nd6 {when Black is happy to trade his
less active bishop for the strong counterpart on d3. After} 10. Nf1 Bxd3 11.
Qxd3 c6 {the position is approximately equal, Salem,A (2642)-Yu,Y (2760) chess.
com INT 2018}) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nc6 ({The aforementioned game
of Nepomniachtchi saw} 11... Nd7 12. Rb1 ({but White can try} 12. c4 $5) ({or}
12. a4 $5) 12... Nb6 13. Qf5 Re8 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Bxd6
cxd6 18. Qf4 {1/2-1/2 (18) Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Jobava,B (2687) Tbilisi 2017
}) 12. Re2 a6 13. Bf4 (13. c4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 Qd6) 13... Qd7 ({It looks logical
to proceed with} 13... b5 {to block the doubled pawn comletely after Nc6-a5-c4,
but Black is not prepared for this and} 14. a4 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ra6 {
will give White the initiative.}) 14. Rae1 Rfe8 15. h4 $146 {A novelty. White
wants to use the control of the open file to create kingside threats.} ({
This improves on} 15. g3 h6 16. h4 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Rxe2 18. Rxe2 Qxd6 {with
equality, Malinovsky,K (2396)-Brecka,I (2323) Czechia 2013}) 15... h6 {This
stops Nf3-g5 for good.} ({The obvious} 15... Bd6 {to swap off the rooks would
be met with} 16. Ng5 g6 17. Bxd6 Rxe2 ({Or} 17... cxd6 18. h5) 18. Qxe2 Qxd6
19. h5 {with initiative on the kingside.}) 16. Qe3 {As a result, White took
control of the open e-file. The question is if he will manage to convert it
into something tangible.} b5 ({The rooks are definitely better than the queen
after} 16... Ba3 17. Qxe8+ Rxe8 18. Rxe8+ Kh7) 17. h5 {Intending Nf3-h2,
followed by Qe3-g3 with a double attack against both the h6 and c7 pawns.} Rac8
$1 {Giri anticipates White's plans.} 18. Nh2 b4 ({White still has all the play
after} 18... Bf8 19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. Rxe8 Nd8 21. Bg3 $1 ({This is even better
than the immediate gain of a pawn after} 21. R1e7 Qxe7 22. Rxe7 Bxe7 23. Bxc7
Ne6)) 19. Qg3 {First round, very solid opponent, risk-free position...
Nepomnichtchi plays safe.} ({More enterprising would have been} 19. Bxh6 $5
gxh6 20. Qxh6 Bf8 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Ng4 {with full compensation for the piece.
Apparently both players believed that} Rxe2 23. Rxe2 f6 $1 24. Nxf6 Qg7 25. Qf5
Ne7 26. Qe5 Ng8 {should be good enough for Black to hold.}) 19... Bd6 20. Ng4
$1 {Setting up a trap.} (20. Rxe8+ {is innocuous after} Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.
Bxd6 cxd6 23. Qxd6 Qe1+ 24. Nf1 Qxc3) 20... Kh8 {Rejected!} ({Instead} 20...
Bxf4 $4 {would have lost to} 21. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 22. Qxf4 gxf6 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24.
Re3 $1 Rxe3 25. Rxe3) 21. Rxe8+ {Perhaps White cashed out his advantage a tad
too soon.} ({There was an argument for} 21. Bxd6 {with the main idea} cxd6 ({
Better is} 21... Rxe2 22. Rxe2 cxd6 23. Qf4 {although Black still needs to be
careful. For instance} bxc3 $2 {allows once again} ({Stronger would be} 23...
Kh7 $1 {although White retains the initiative after} 24. Ne3) 24. Nxh6 $1) 22.
Ne3 $1) 21... Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Qxd6 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Qe6 $1 {
A key defensive idea which Giri obviously planned in advance.} ({This time}
25... Qxc3 $2 {would have put Black in an awkward situation after} 26. Qf8+ Kh7
27. Qxf7 Qxd4 28. f4 {as the black king is too loose.}) 26. Qf8+ (26. Qxe6 fxe6
27. cxb4 Nxb4 {is equal.}) 26... Kh7 27. Ne3 bxc3 28. Qc5 {The end of the
forcing line leaves some advantage for White, but reduced the material, which
brings Black closer to the draw.} Qf6 29. Qxc3 ({The other way of playing it
was} 29. Qxd5 Nxd4 30. Kg1 Ne2+ 31. Kf1 Nf4 32. Qe4+ Kg8 33. g4) 29... Qxf2 30.
Qxc6 Qf4+ $1 {Another important intermediate check.} ({Giri is correctly
avoiding} 30... Qxe3 31. Qxd5 Qf2 32. Qe4+ f5 (32... Kg8 33. d5) 33. Qe5 {
with good winning chances for White.}) 31. g3 {The only way to keep the play
going.} ({As} 31. Kh1 Qxe3 32. Qxd5 Qe1+ {is perpetual check.}) 31... Qxe3 32.
Qxd5 Qf2+ 33. Kh3 ({Or} 33. Qg2 Qxd4) 33... Qxc2 {Good enough for the point to
be split, but some practical problems remain.} ({Even better was} 33... f5 {
to limit the white king. There is no way to avoid the draw, for example:} 34.
c4 Qf1+ 35. Kh4 Qf2 36. Kh3 Qf1+ 37. Qg2 Qd1 $1) 34. Qxf7 Qc8+ 35. Kg2 Qc2+ 36.
Qf2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 {White retained an extra pawn, but the centralized black
queen saves him.} a5 {Intending to push that pawn all the way to a3.} 38. a4
Kg8 39. Qa2+ Kf8 40. Qc4 Qg4 {The time control move made Black's task more
difficult.} ({Better was} 40... Qe3+ 41. Kg2 Qe4+ 42. Kf2 Qf5+ 43. Ke3 Qxh5 {
when the draw is close.}) 41. Qc5+ Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kh7 43. Kf2 Qd1 44. Qe4+ Kg8
45. Qe6+ ({It is too early for} 45. d5 Qxh5 46. Ke3 Qg5+ 47. Kd4 Qxg3 48. Kc5
Qc7+ {and Black survives.}) 45... Kh7 46. d5 Qxa4 $2 {The tough grinding
brings fruits.} ({A couple of more intermediate checks were required to save
the game:} 46... Qd2+ $1 47. Kf3 Qd1+ 48. Ke4 Qxa4+ 49. Ke5 Qa1+ 50. Kd6 {
The white king is there to help the passer, but Black now has one on his own-}
a4 {and it should be a draw.}) 47. d6 Qc2+ 48. Kf3 $2 {Inexplicable!
Nepomniachtchi gives away the fruits that he patiently planted.} ({White would
have won with} 48. Ke3 $1 Qc3+ ({There is no time to advance the pawn} 48... a4
49. Qg6+ $1 Qxg6 50. hxg6+ Kxg6 51. d7) 49. Ke4 Qe1+ ({Or} 49... Qc6+ 50. Qd5
Qa4+ 51. Ke5 {and White should win.}) ({If} 49... Qc2+ 50. Kd4 $1 {would be
good.} ({But not} 50. Kd5 Qb3+ $1 {when the white king is sticking to his
queen and can't let it go.}) 50... Qd2+ 51. Kc5) 50. Kd5 Qd2+ 51. Kc6 Qc2+ 52.
Kd7 {The white king is save and his pawn is faster. For a move, but one move
means the world in chess-} a4 53. Qg6+ Qxg6 54. hxg6+ Kxg6 55. Ke6 a3 56. d7 a2
57. d8=Q a1=Q 58. Qd3+ Kh5 59. Qf3+ Kg6 60. Qf5#) 48... Qd3+ {The white king
can no longer help the passer and it all ends peacefully.} 49. Kg2 ({Since} 49.
Kf4 Qf1+ (49... Qd2+ {would also do.}) 50. Ke5 Qe2+ 51. Kd5 Qa2+ {forces
perpetual.}) 49... Qc2+ 50. Kh3 Qc6 51. Qf5+ Kg8 52. d7 Qd6 53. Kh2 a4 54. Qg4
Kf7 55. Qxa4 Ke7 {Well calculated till the draw endgame.} ({The computer does
not want to give up the pawn and suggests instead:} 55... Qd2+ 56. Kh3 Qd5) 56.
Qe4+ Kxd7 57. Qg4+ Ke8 58. Qxg7 Qd2+ 59. Kh3 Qd7+ 60. Qg4 ({The pawn endgame
after} 60. Qxd7+ Kxd7 61. Kg4 Ke6 62. Kf4 Kf6 63. g4 Ke6 64. Ke4 Kf6 {is a
textbook draw.}) 60... Kd8 1/2-1/2
[Event "46th GM 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter"]
[Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ {According to my Megabase, this is the first time
that Nisipeanu uses the Moscow line.} Bd7 {The most solid choice.} ({Perhaps
Nisipeanu spent the major part of his preparation on} 3... Nd7 {which is what
the Polish GM used in his latest games.}) 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 ({
Duda faced previously} 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. c3 e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11.
Be3 Be7 12. Ne1 f6 13. f3 Ng5 14. Nd3 Nf7 15. f4 O-O 16. Nd2 Rac8 {Zawadzka,J
(2391)-Duda,J (2539) Lublin 2013}) 6... Nc6 7. c3 e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 {
Getting into a French type of position but without the potentially bad bishop
on c8. White, on his turn,is enjoying extra space.} 10. e5 Ng8 ({The knight
can be posted more actively as well:} 10... Ne4 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Be7 13.
Rc1 O-O 14. Rc3 Rfc8 15. h4 Bd8 {as in the recent game Nakamura,H (2769)
-Grischuk,A (2766) Paris 2018}) 11. a3 Nge7 12. Nc3 h5 {An important move
which secures control on some valuable outposts.} (12... Nf5 13. g4 $5) 13. Bg5
Nf5 14. Rc1 {Occupying the open file and thus producing a novelty.} Be7 {
Equalizing in full.} 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qd3 {With the threat Nc3xd5.} ({The
other idea was} 16. Ne2 O-O-O 17. b4 Kb8 18. Qd2 Qd7 19. b5 Nce7 {when Black
is also OK.}) 16... O-O-O {The king is relatively safe on the queenside. At
the same time Black is ready to push his g-pawn asap.} (16... O-O {allows the
trick} 17. Nxd5) ({Whereas} 16... g6 17. b4 {is playable but does not offer
too many prospects to Black.} O-O 18. Ne2 Rac8 {with approximate equality in
Lagerman,R (2354) -Gunnarsson,J (2437) Reykjavik 2008}) 17. Na4 Kb8 18. Nc5 ({
It was not too late for} 18. b4 $1 {with the idea to meet} g5 {with} (18... Rc8
{is equal. and now either} 19. b5 ({or} 19. Nc5 g5 20. b5 Na5 21. Nd2) 19...
Na5 {In both cases White chases away one of the black knights from the center
and the game will remain balanced.}) 19. b5 Na5 20. b6 a6 21. Rc7 Rd7 22. Rec1
Nc4 23. Nc5 $1 {with advantage for White. For example:} Rxc7 24. bxc7+ Kxc7 (
24... Qxc7 25. Rb1) 25. Nd2 Nxd2 (25... b5 26. Nxa6+) 26. Qxd2 Kb8 27. Rb1)
18... g5 19. Rc3 {Nisipeanu must have miscalculated somewhere.} ({This was the
last moment to go for} 19. b4 g4 20. b5 Na5 ({There is no} 20... gxf3 $2 21.
bxc6 b6 (21... bxc6 22. Rb1+ Ka8 23. Rb7) 22. c7+ $1) 21. Nd2 {Black is good,
but White has not much to complain of neither.}) 19... g4 {Snatching the most
important central pawn.} 20. Nd2 Ncxd4 21. Rec1 Rc8 (21... h4 22. Ndb3 Nxb3 23.
Nxb3 Rc8 {was also possible.}) 22. Nf1 Rc6 ({On} 22... h4 23. Ne3) 23. Ng3 Ka8
$1 ({Avoiding any discovered attack tricks like} 23... Rhc8 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25.
Na6+) 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25. b4 ({More stubborn was} 25. Nb3 Rxc3 26. Qxc3 {at
least holding the open c-file in control.}) 25... Rhc8 26. a4 b6 27. Nb3 Rxc3 {
Simple play. Duda will either win the open file or trade all the major pieces,
which is equally good for him.} 28. Rxc3 Rxc3 29. Qxc3 Kb7 30. a5 ({The most
resilient} 30. b5 Qc7 31. Qxc7+ Kxc7 32. Kf1 Kd7 {should also lose slowly for
White.}) 30... Qd7 $1 ({Avoiding even the slightest glimpse of hope after}
30... Qc7 31. a6+ Kb8 32. Qxc7+ Kxc7 33. b5 {when the black queenside pawns
are vulnerable.}) 31. Nd4 Nxd4 32. Qxd4 {Either the queens will be traded after
} Qc7 33. g3 Qc1+ 34. Kg2 Qc4 {or the Black pawns will come into motion in
case of} 35. Qb2 d4 0-1
[Event "46. Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "KGBesenthal"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 {Despite a miniscule advantage here with a slightly
better structure, Kramnik was still willing to work.} 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7
12. Ne2 f5 13. g3 Bxh4 14. gxh4 {but there's not much to work with.} Nf6 15. f3
Ke7 16. Rg1 Nh5 17. Kf2 Rae8 18. b4 f4 {With a pawn sacrifice Black opens his
light-squared bishop.} 19. Nxf4 Nxf4 20. exf4 Kf6 {This looks good - Black
finds a strong square for his king. The black king is not vulnerable and
covers the possible invasion squares of e7 and g7 perfectly. With the king
close to the centre, White must also watch out for possibilities for it to
advance further if he's not careful.} 21. a4 Bf5 22. Ra2 Re7 23. Re2 Rxe2+ 24.
Bxe2 a6 25. Ke3 h6 {Taking the g5 square away from the white rook.} 26. Kd2 Ra8
27. a5 Re8 28. h5 Rc8 29. Ke3 Re8+ 30. Kf2 Rc8 31. Ke1 Re8 32. Kd2 Rc8 33. Bd3
Bxd3 34. Kxd3 Re8 35. h4 Rc8 36. Ke3 Re8+ 37. Kf2 Rc8 38. Re1 Ra8 39. Re5 Rb8 {
Black threatens to break with b7-b6. The white rook must return to stand guard
and be ready to counterattack the weakened black pawns in that case.} 40. Re3
Ra8 (40... b6 $2 41. Rc3) 41. f5 Rc8 (41... Kxf5 $2 42. Re7) 42. Re1 Rd8 43.
Kg3 Rc8 44. Kf2 Rd8 45. Kg3 Rc8 46. Kf2 Rd8 {Unfortunately, nothing works.
Every way is blocked.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "46. Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "KGBesenthal"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 O-O 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nc6 {[#]} 12. Re2 (12. c4 dxc4 13.
Qxc4 $11 {was obvious but 'Nepo' goes a different way.}) 12... a6 13. Bf4 Qd7
14. Rae1 Rfe8 15. h4 h6 16. Qe3 b5 17. h5 Rac8 18. Nh2 b4 {[#]} 19. Qg3 ({
Here an option was} 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Qxh6 {and White gains great compensation
for the sacrificed material. Black could fight back (e.g. with Bh4) but
White's h-pawn and ideas of Ng4 lead to a strong attack.}) 19... Bd6 20. Ng4
Kh8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Qxd6 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Qe6 {
Nepomniachtchi has an extra pawn and does his utmost ot use it.} 26. Qf8+ Kh7
27. Ne3 bxc3 28. Qc5 Qf6 29. Qxc3 Qxf2 30. Qxc6 Qf4+ 31. g3 Qxe3 32. Qxd5 Qf2+
33. Kh3 Qxc2 34. Qxf7 Qc8+ 35. Kg2 Qc2+ 36. Qf2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 a5 38. a4 Kg8 39.
Qa2+ Kf8 40. Qc4 Qg4 41. Qc5+ Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kh7 43. Kf2 Qd1 44. Qe4+ Kg8 45.
Qe6+ Kh7 46. d5 Qxa4 {After this move, the advantage tilts in White's favour.}
47. d6 Qc2+ 48. Kf3 (48. Ke3 $1 Qc3+ 49. Ke4 Qc6+ 50. Qd5 {The positioning of
the queen on d5 seems to be quite important. Black can no longer attack the
white king from h1, and must avoid a queen exchange.} Qa4+ 51. Ke5 Qa1+ 52. Kf5
Qf6+ 53. Kg4 $18) 48... Qd3+ 49. Kg2 Qc2+ 50. Kh3 Qc6 {Now white can no longer
make progress. Giri has worked out a path to a draw.} 51. Qf5+ Kg8 52. d7 Qd6
53. Kh2 a4 54. Qg4 Kf7 55. Qxa4 Ke7 56. Qe4+ Kxd7 57. Qg4+ Ke8 58. Qxg7 Qd2+
59. Kh3 Qd7+ 60. Qg4 Kd8 1/2-1/2
[Event "46. Sparkassen Chess-Meeting 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Bb7 3. d4 e6 4. e4 Bb4 5. f3 Ne7 6. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:01]
LiveBook: 26 Games. A40: Unusual replies to d4} (6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. Bd3
Nbc6 9. Nh3 Qd7 10. O-O Na5 11. d5 c5 12. f4 O-O-O 13. Ng5 Ng6 {1-0 (26)
Saduakassova,D (2484)-Ramirez Alvarez, A (2572) Saint Louis 2018}) 6... e5 7.
Nge2 exd4 $1 8. Nxd4 Nbc6 9. Nde2 Ne5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Nxc3 O-O $146 ({
Predecessor:} 11... Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 d6 13. b4 a5 14. b5 O-O {1/2-1/2 (50)
Wimmer,R (2105)-Hassim,U (2270) ICCF email 2016}) 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bh4 N7g6 14.
Bg3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 d6 16. Nd5 Qd7 {The position is equal.} 17. O-O-O Bxd5 18.
Qxd5+ Qf7 19. Kc2 Ne7 20. Qxf7+ Kxf7 21. Kc3 a5 22. b3 Rfe8 23. Rd2 h5 24. h4
g6 25. Rhd1 Nc6 26. Rd5 Re6 27. Bf4 Ne7 28. R5d2 Nc6 29. Rd5 Ne7 30. R5d2 Nc6
31. Rd5 {Precision: White = 49%, Black = 83%.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "46th GM 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B29"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 ({The other main line is} 4... Nxc3 5.
dxc3) 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 7. c3 {A simple way of gaining small advantage.} (
{Giri avoids the gambit after} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 d6 9. exd6 Qb6 10. Qe4+ Be6
11. Qh4 f6 (11... Bf5 $6 12. Bc4 O-O 13. O-O Bxc2 14. Bf4 Qxb2 $2 15. Rac1 $1
Ba3 16. Rfe1 Bg6 17. Rcd1 Bc5 18. Bb3 Bb6 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Qa3 21. d7 {
and White won in Doggers,P (2189)-Afek,Y (2387) Tilburg 2003}) 12. Bc4 $6 Bxf2+
$1 13. Qxf2 Bxc4 14. b3 Qxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Bf7 16. c4 Kd7 17. Ba3 a5 18. Nd2 Rhe8 {
and Black held the draw in the blitz game Anand,V (2759) -Mamedyarov,S (2808)
Paris 2018}) 7... cxd4 ({Or} 7... d6 8. Bb5 Be7 (8... c4 $6 {also led to
advantage for White after} 9. O-O Be7 10. b3 cxb3 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. axb3 Qc7
13. Re1 Be6 14. Bg5 Bd6 15. c4 {in Polgar,J (2708)-Sikula,V (2550) /Hungary
2008/EXT 2009}) 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Qe2+ Be6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Qxe3 {
with favorable version of the isolated central pawn for White, Salgado Lopez,I
(2615)-Kantans, T (2514) Reykjavik 2015}) 8. Nxd4 d6 ({The acceptance of the
pawn sacrifice after} 8... Nxe5 9. Bf4 d6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Qxd5 Qf6
13. g3 Rc8 14. O-O-O {led to advantage for White in Korneev,O (2649)-Recuero
Guerra,D (2315)/ Dos Hermanas 2006/CBM 111 ext}) 9. Bb5 Bd7 (9... Qc7 10. exd6
Bxd6 11. Qe2+ {is unpleasant for Black.}) 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nb3 {
A novelty. Technically speaking the game shifted into the French Tarrasch line.
White has the standard minimal advantage thanks to the black isolated pawn.} (
12. f4 {is dubious:} Re8 13. Kh1 Bf8 ({Instead Black would be more than fine
after} 13... Nxd4 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. Qxd4 Qb5) 14. Nf3 Bg4 15. h3 Bf5 16. Ne5 {
and Black was good in Repa, J-Lukic,L Winnipeg 1997}) 12... a6 13. Be2 Qc7 14.
h3 (14. g3 Rfe8) 14... Rfe8 15. Re1 Re5 {Not only doubling the rooks on the
open file but setting a small trap in the process.} 16. Be3 ({The obvious} 16.
Bf4 $2 {would lose material after} Rxe2 $1) ({On} 16. Bf3 {Black would most
likely react as in the game with} Rae8) 16... Rae8 17. Bd3 {Patiently stopping
Black's initiative.} ({The bishop would be more aggressive on the long
diagonal. However} 17. Bf3 {is more susceptible to attacks, for example} Ne7
18. Qd2 Nf5 {and if} 19. Bxd5 $2 Rxe3 $1 20. fxe3 Bh2+ 21. Kf2 (21. Kh1 Ng3+
22. Kxh2 Nf1+) 21... Qg3+ 22. Kf1 Qh4 {leads to decisive attack for Black.})
17... g6 18. Qd2 Qd8 19. Nd4 ({If} 19. Bh6 {both} Qe7 ({Or} 19... Qf6 {are
good for Black.})) 19... Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 {With
careful play Giri prevented any activity along the open file and traded some
pieces. For complete happiness he needs to swap off the queens and the
dark-squared bishops.} Qe8 23. Qd2 ({Apparently the Dutch GM did not believe
that he will have realistic winning chances after the immediate trade} 23.
Qxe8+ Bxe8 {but this line was allowing his to grind as long as he likes
without any risk of a loss.}) 23... Be5 24. Be3 ({After} 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. Qe2
{Black will certainly reject the second trade and activate the queen instead}
Qf4) 24... Qe6 25. f4 {Sooner or later this move will be needed. In the
foreseeable future the f2 square can be used by the white queen. In the
distant future, by the white king. Once the queens are gone, and there it goes
all the way to d4 (or b6!)} Bf6 26. a3 {Moving the pawn away from the possible
d5-d4 threat.} ({A concrete line in which this is important arises after} 26.
Bc2 d4 27. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 28. Qxd4 Bc6 {The a2 pawn is hanging and} 29. Bb3 Qe1+
30. Kh2 Qe2 31. Bd5 Qxb2 {leaves White no winning chances.}) 26... h5 $1 {
The pawn is heading to h4 from where it will allow chances for perpetual check,
or may simply separate all the white pawns.} 27. Bc2 Bc6 28. Bf2 {White
continues with preparation.} (28. Qf2 {bumps into} Bh4 $1) 28... Qe7 29. Bd1 {
Seemingly heading to f3.} (29. Bb3 {will be met with} Qe4) 29... Qe6 30. Bc2 ({
Giri spotted the tactical refutation of} 30. Bf3 $2 d4 $1 31. Bxc6 dxc3 {
and Black is already better.}) 30... Qe7 31. Bb6 Qe6 32. Qf2 Qe8 33. Qd2 ({
Once more White cannot trade the dark-squared bishops without allowing any
counterplay:} 33. Bd4 Bxd4 34. Qxd4 (34. cxd4 Qe7 {is equal as well.}) 34...
Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Qe2 {Black does not risk with the active queen. is good for Black,
especially after} 36. Qd3 $6 Qf2 $1) 33... Qe6 34. Bc5 Qe8 35. Qd1 $2 {A
blunder!} ({It was not too late to trade the queens with} 35. Qe3 $1 Qxe3+ 36.
Bxe3 {A separate question is how realistic White's winning chances are after}
h4 {But for sure he can never lose.}) 35... d4 $1 {Kovalev seizes his chance!
Suddenly, tables are turned. It will be White who has the isolated pawns.} 36.
Qd2 ({Both captures are bad. If} 36. Bxd4 $2 Bxd4+ 37. cxd4 ({Or} 37. Qxd4 Qe1+
38. Kh2 Qe2) 37... Qe3+ 38. Kh2 (38. Kh1 $2 Qxh3+ 39. Kg1 Qxg2#) 38... Qxf4+ {
with large advanatage for Black.}) ({And on} 36. cxd4 $2 Qe3+ 37. Kh2 {Black
has a pleasant choice of swithing to the same line with} Qxf4+ ({And the
domination after} 37... Bd5 $1 {when the white bishops are effectively
excluded from the kingside.})) 36... dxc3 37. bxc3 Qe6 {The problem is not
only in the crippled white queenside structure. His king is weak as well.} 38.
Bd4 Bxd4+ 39. cxd4 (39. Qxd4 $2 {loses on the spot due to the usual} Qe1+ 40.
Kh2 Qe2) 39... Qa2 40. Qc3 Qd5 41. Qd2 Qa2 42. Qc3 h4 {Time control is over
and Black can play for two weaknesses. First is white's king, second-the
outside passer that he can create in the coming moves.} 43. Kh1 ({Similar is}
43. Kh2 Qd5 44. Qd2 a5) 43... a5 44. a4 $1 {The best practical chance.} (44.
Qb3 {drops a pawn after} Qa1+) ({Passive defense would have lost slowly after}
44. Kh2 Qd5 45. Qd2 b5) 44... Qd5 {Good decision!} ({Pure queen endgame offers
lots of drawish opportunities after} 44... Bxa4 45. Bxa4 Qxa4 46. f5 $1 gxf5
47. Qc8+ Kg7 48. Qxf5 Qxd4 49. Qxa5 {as the black king is too weak.}) 45. Qd2
b6 {But this is inaccurate due to a small detail.} ({Correct was} 45... Kg7 $1
46. f5 gxf5 47. Qg5+ Kf8 48. Bxf5 Qxd4 49. Qh6+ Ke7 {with serious winning
chances for Black.}) 46. f5 $1 {Giri also grabs his chance.} Kg7 {The only way
to fight for the win.} ({This time} 46... gxf5 $6 {doe snot work as well, as
the black bishop is no longer defended in the line} 47. Qg5+ Kf8 48. Bxf5 Qxd4
49. Qh6+ Ke7 50. Qxc6 {True, Black is not losing even here neither and can
force a draw with} Qa1+ 51. Kh2 Qe5+) 47. fxg6 fxg6 48. Bd1 {The black king is
weak now too and White can hope for a perpetual.} Qf5 49. Kg1 Bd5 50. Bc2 Qf6
51. Qe3 g5 52. Bd3 Kh6 53. Bc2 {White is ready to build a battery along the
b1-h7 diagonal, but this turns out not to be best.} (53. Be2 $1 {was better
with the idea to trade the dominant black bishop. Then} Qf4 (53... Kg7 54. Bf3
Bxf3 55. gxf3 {should end with perpetual sooner or later.}) 54. Qe7 $1 Qxd4+
55. Kh2 Qf4+ (55... Qf2 56. Qd6+) 56. Kh1 Qe4 57. Qf6+ {does not let the black
king out.}) 53... Kg7 54. Bd3 Kh6 55. Bc2 Qf4 $1 {Excellent play. The coming
checks are harmless.} 56. Qd3 (56. Qxf4 gxf4 {is hopeless for White, as his
opponent will soon create an outside passer.}) 56... Kg7 57. Qg6+ Kf8 58. Qd3 {
Sad but true. The queen is needed back home.} (58. Qxb6 $4 {leads to mate after
} Qe3+ 59. Kf1 (59. Kh1 Qxh3+ 60. Kg1 Qxg2#) (59. Kh2 Qg3+ 60. Kg1 Qxg2#) 59...
Bc4+) 58... Kg7 59. Qg6+ Kf8 60. Qd3 Ke7 61. Bd1 Qe4 62. Qd2 Kd6 63. Bc2 (63.
Qxg5 $2 Qxd4+) 63... Qf4 64. Qd3 Kc7 {The king escaped from the danger zone
and Kovalev can start mounting pressure on the kingside.} 65. Qh7+ Kb8 66. Qd3
{This loses.} ({Somewhat counterintuitive, the solution was to lose some
tempos and force Black into his optimal defensive queenside position with} 66.
Qh8+ Ka7 67. Qh7+ Bb7 68. Qd3 {However, without the bishop on d5 White will
always have the d4-d5 resource to cut it away from the kingside. Say} g4 69.
hxg4 Qxg4 70. d5 $1) 66... g4 67. hxg4 Qxg4 68. Qg6 ({Or} 68. Qd2 h3 69. Bd1
Qxg2+ 70. Qxg2 Bxg2) 68... Qxd4+ {Simple play.} (68... Qxg6 {should be also
winning, but Kovalev already wants more. For example-} 69. Bxg6 b5 70. axb5 a4
71. Kh2 a3 72. Bb1 Kb7 73. Kh3 Kb6 74. Kxh4 Kxb5 {marching all the way to b2
looks convincing.}) 69. Kh1 Bb7 {Final preparation before the "coup the grace."
} ({Of course not} 69... Qf2 $4 70. Qd6+) 70. Qe8+ Ka7 71. Bf5 Qd1+ 72. Kh2
Qd6+ 73. Kh1 (73. Kg1 Qc5+) 73... Qg3 (73... Qg3 {White resigned due to:} 74.
Qe2 h3) 0-1
[Event "Dortmund GER"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 e4 9. Nd4 exd3 10. exd3 Nxd4 ({Another of the Dortmund participants got
the better position after} 10... Ne5 11. f4 Ng6 12. Rb1 c5 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. f5 {
in Nepomniachtchi,I (2718)-Savchenko,B (2580) Sochi 2012}) 11. cxd4 d5 12. Bg5
c6 {This logical move is a novelty.} ({A predecessor saw Black suffering after:
} 12... h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. cxd5 Qxd4 15. Rc1 Bf5 16. Rxc7 b5 17. Qf3 Bxd3 18.
Rd1 Qe5 19. d6 Be2 20. Qd5 Qf6 21. Re1 {and the white central passer proved to
be very strong, Socko,B (2631)-Grigoriants,S (2589) Khanty-Mansiysk 2012}) 13.
cxd5 cxd5 14. Qb3 {Sooner or later White will win the d5 pawn. The question is
whether he can make use of the doubled pawns in the future.} b6 15. Rae1 $1 {
Kramnik keeps the pressure.} ({The immediate pawn gain} 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Bxd5
{does not yield much to White after} Bh3 17. Bxa8 Bxf1) ({It seems more
logical to place the other rook on the open file and leave the queenside rook
prepare the advance of the a-pawn. However after} 15. Rfe1 Be6 16. Re5 Rc8 17.
f4 Qd7 $1 {White can not advance the f-pawn and Black is good. Say} 18. Bxf6
gxf6 19. Re2 Rc7) 15... h6 {Duda gets rid of the annoying bishop.} ({Here}
15... Be6 {will be met with} 16. Re5 Rc8 17. f4 {and White keeps the bind.})
16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Re5 {Once again skillfully keeping the tension.} (17. Qxd5 {
is not as convincing due to} Be6 (17... Rb8 $5 {can be answered with} 18. Qe5
$1 Qxe5 19. dxe5 Rd8 20. Re3) 18. Qxa8 Rxa8 19. Bxa8 Qxd4) ({If} 17. Bxd5 Bh3
18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qxd4 {with most likely draw.}) 17... Be6 $1 {Provoking
the next move and thus weakening the second rank.} ({The other option was}
17... Bb7 $5 {when I suspect that Kramnik would have proceeded with the
grinding with something like} 18. Rfe1 ({Or he might have just grabbed the
pawn at last:} 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rad8 20. Qe4) 18... Rac8 19. Qa3 a5 20.
Qe7 Qxe7 21. Rxe7 Ba6 22. Bxd5 Bxd3) 18. f4 Rac8 19. Rfe1 ({After} 19. f5 Bd7
20. Bxd5 Rfd8 21. Rfe1 {Black would be happy to trade the bishops with} Bc6) ({
Again, the transition into a pure major piece endgame brings relief to Black,
say} 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Rcd8 21. Qe4 Qd6 22. d5 f6 23. Re7 Qxd5 24. Qxd5+
Rxd5 25. Rxa7 Rxd3 {with a draw.}) 19... Rc7 {The rook is excellent on the
open file, covering both the seventh rank and getting redy to counterattack
along the second. Kramnik needs to make a decision.} 20. Bxd5 {Finally
snatching the pawn.} Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rc2 {This is what the f2-f4 move was
provoked for. But White now tries to make use of the weakened back rank.} 22.
Re8 {With the threat to trade the rooks and checkmate on the back rank.} ({
Black is fine after} 22. Qb3 Rfc8 23. Re8+ Kh7) 22... Rc8 $2 {It worked. There
was no need to retreat.} ({Better were both g-pawn advances. For example} 22...
g6 $1 23. Qd7 ({Or} 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. a4 Rd2 {with counterplay}) 23... Rxa2 {
and Black should be OK.}) ({Or even} 22... g5 $1 {and if} 23. f5 Rd2 {in both
cases Duda has good chances of splitting the point.} ({White also needs to be
accurate and cannot afford too active play:} 23... Rc3 24. Qa8 $2 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1
Rxe8 26. Rxe8+ Kg7)) 23. Qd7 Rd8 ({Perhaps Black should have tried} 23... Rcxe8
24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Qxe8+ Kh7 26. Qe5 Qg6 27. Qe4 Kg8 $1 {although White has all
the play after} 28. d5) 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 {Duda seeks drawing chances in the rook
endgame, but it does not seem enough.} (24... Rxd8 25. Re8+ {would have
transposed to the line from above.}) 25. Re7 Qc8 (25... Qa8 $5 26. d5 $1) 26.
Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Kf2 $1 {An active king is required in the endgame.} ({One should
not let the king to be cut after} 27. Rxa7 Rc2) 27... Kf8 ({White should also
win after} 27... a5 28. Ke3 b5 29. Ra7 a4 30. d5 Kf8 ({Or} 30... Rc2 31. Ra8+
Kh7 32. d6 {and the pawn promotes.}) 31. Kd4 Rc2 32. d6) 28. Rxa7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3
Rxh2 30. d5 {A solid extra pawn and active pieces is enough for the 14th world
champion to convert his advantage.} g5 31. f5 {Calm and patient.} (31. d6 {
should suffice as well} gxf4+ 32. gxf4 Ke8 33. Re7+ Kf8 34. a4) 31... f6 32. d6
Ke8 33. Kd4 h5 34. Kd5 b5 ({If} 34... h4 35. g4 h3 36. Rh7 {and the passed
h-pawn is not dangerous enough to worry White.}) 35. Ke6 Re2+ 36. Kxf6 h4 37.
Re7+ (37. Re7+ {Black resigned as he is getting mated:} Rxe7 38. dxe7 hxg3 39.
Ke6 g2 40. f6 g1=Q 41. f7#) 1-0
[Event "46th GM 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {Quite a rare choice for the former world
champion. Ever since his match against Garry Kasparov people are more or less
accustomed to his Berlin.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {Already a fresh position for
Nepomniachtchi, who does not have much of experience in the Ruy Lopez. Kramnik
had used the Møller only once before, last year in an important game against
Vishy Anand in Stavanger.} 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {Forcing a concession.} b4
({Black can also chose to give up the open file:} 8... Rb8 9. d4 Bb6 10. a5 Ba7
11. Be3 exd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. Qc1 {as in Yu,Y (2760)-Shankland,S (2671)
Liaocheng 2018}) 9. d4 Ba7 10. Bg5 {A novelty. Nepomniachtchi does not want to
test his opponent's preparation.} ({A predecessor saw White grabbing the pawn
with:} 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Nxd8 12. cxb4 {Zhao,Z (2567)-Paciencia, E (2440)
Dresden 2008}) 10... Rb8 {Moving the rook away from the dangerous diagonal.} (
10... h6 {only helps White. After} 11. Bd5 Bb7 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. a5 O-O 14. Qa4
Nd8 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 17. cxb4 {White emerges a pawn ahead.}) 11. Bd5
{Anyway. But Kramnik has something here too.} Ne7 $1 12. dxe5 Nfxd5 ({But not}
12... dxe5 13. Nxe5 Nexd5 14. Nc6 {and White wins.}) 13. exd5 O-O 14. exd6 Qxd6
15. c4 Nf5 {This is the position that Black was heading for. For the pawn he
has the bishop pair and active pieces. Once he opens the position with c7-c6
he will be able to control both central files, as well as the important
diagonals.} 16. Nbd2 ({Probably better was} 16. Qc1 {in order to support the
bishop and keep it active after} Bb7 17. Bf4 Qd7) 16... f6 17. Bh4 Qf4 {
The most forcing continuation after which Kramnik will regain the pawn. But
apparently, he missed an important detail.} ({There were a lot of other
tempting possibilities, like the immediate} 17... c6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. b3 Bb7 {
with strong pressure along the diagonals.}) ({Also possible was} 17... Re8) ({
and even} 17... Nxh4 18. Nxh4 Bd7 {followed by c7-c6. In all cases Black would
have had excellent compensation for a pawn.}) 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Qxg3 {
It seems as White is in trouble and the threat Bc8-h3 will finish him off, but
Nepomniachtchi saw the excellent...} 20. c5 $1 {Which locks the dark-squared
bishop for a long time.} Qg6 (20... Bxc5 $2 21. Ne4 {drops a piece.}) 21. Rc1 {
Now White's task is to permanently lock the bishop into its prison cell and
throw the key into the deepest river. Or sea.} Qf7 ({The active} 21... Bh3 {
plays into White hands as he is generally happy to trade pieces:} 22. Nh4 Qg4
23. Rc4 Qxd1 24. Rxd1 Bd7 {Now there are tempting possibilities: to keep the
dark-squared bishop locked with} 25. b3 ({or to restrain the light-squared
bishop with} 25. c6 Bc8 26. Ne4 f5 27. Nc5)) 22. Ne4 {Supporting the d-pawn.} (
{This is much better than} 22. Nb3 Rd8 23. d6 cxd6 24. Na5 {which may lead to
peculiar draw after} Bg4 $1 25. Nc6 Bxc5 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27. Rxc5 Bxf3 28. gxf3
Qg6+ {with perpetual.}) 22... Re8 ({Here} 22... Rd8 23. d6 cxd6 24. Nxd6 {
keeps the blockade.}) 23. Re1 Bf5 24. Ng3 $1 {Another brilliant decision.
Nepomniachtchi is ready to part with the excellent central pawn while
maintaining control of the position.} ({The obvious centralization} 24. Qd4 {
gives Black time to regroup with} Rbd8 25. d6 {and later free himself with
timely exchanges in the center. For example:} a5 (25... Bxe4 {might be also
possible-} 26. Rxe4 cxd6 27. Rxe8+ Qxe8 28. Qd5+ Qf7 29. Qd2) 26. Nfd2 Bxe4 ({
Or} 26... Re5 27. Qc4 Qxc4 28. Nxc4) 27. Nxe4 h6 28. Qd3 f5 29. Qa6 fxe4 30.
Qxa7 cxd6 31. Qxa5 dxc5 32. Qxc5 Rd2 {with a likely draw.}) 24... Rxe1+ 25.
Qxe1 Bg4 {Strangely enough, this makes Black's position more difficult.} ({
The pawn was in fact poisonous:} 25... Qxd5 26. Nxf5 Qxf5 27. Qe7 {as the
white pieces do whatever they want. Say} Rc8 ({Or} 27... Qc8 28. Nd4 Qd8 29.
Qe6+ Kh8 30. Nc6 {and wins.}) 28. Nd4 Qe5 (28... Qg6 29. Qe6+) 29. Nc6 {
and White wins material.}) ({However} 25... Bg6 $1 {was more stubborn, keeping
control of the important e4 square.}) 26. Qe4 $1 {Powerful centralization.} h5
(26... Bxf3 27. Qxf3 {is exactly what White wants. He is practically a piece
ahead.}) 27. Nf5 Re8 28. Qd3 Bb8 ({Notice that Black cannot free himself} 28...
Qg6 $4 29. Ne7+) ({Just like before} 28... Bxf5 29. Qxf5 {plays into White's
hands.}) 29. N3h4 {Surrounding the bishop.} Be2 30. Qd2 Bg4 31. Ne3 {A neat
move.} ({In case of the immediate capture Black can get some play with} 31.
Qxb4 a5 32. Qxa5 Qxd5) 31... Bd7 ({Nothing changes} 31... Bc8 32. Qxb4) 32.
Qxb4 a5 33. Qxa5 c6 34. d6 {Poor bishop. Kramnik has won a miryad of
positional masterpieces, but today it is Nepomniachtchi who paints his
masterpiece.} Qb3 35. Qc3 Qxa4 36. Nhf5 Qe4 37. Ne7+ Kh8 38. Qb3 Rf8 39. Qc2 $1
Qxc2 40. Nxc2 Kh7 41. Nd4 1-0
[Event "46th GM 2018"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. Nf3 {It must have been hard for both players when chosing the opening.
After all Giri was Kramnik's second in Berlin earlier this year.} d5 2. e3 Nf6
3. d4 c5 4. Nbd2 e6 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4 Bb4 ({Kramnik faced another move
recently:} 6... Nc6 7. Bb2 g6 8. Bb5 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Qb6 11. a4 Bd7 12.
c4 a6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. c5 Qc7 15. b4 Ne4 16. Ne5 {with an unclear position,
Kramnik, V (2811) -Nakamura,H (2793) Zuerich 2017}) 7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Bd3 Nc6 9.
O-O Bc3 10. Bxc3 Nxc3 11. Qe1 {Nothing new so far. Here Giri uncorkes a
novelty.} Nb4 {This knight is actually heading to the kingside.} ({A
predecessor saw White getting an edge after:} 11... Qb6 12. Qe3 h6 13. a4 Bd7
14. Nb1 $1 {Eidelmann,V (2049) -Gelzenleichter,S (2188) Wingst 2005}) 12. Nb1
Nxd3 13. Qxc3 Nf4 14. Qe3 Ng6 {End of the maneuver.} 15. c4 {In order to get
some space White needs to allow hanging pawns.} dxc4 16. bxc4 O-O {However,
since two pairs of light pieces have been traded White's central superiority
is not that great. Black can happy with the opening outcome.} 17. Nc3 Bd7 {
Black wants to put pressure on the c-pawn as quickly as possible. Notice that
his knight on c6 is no longer obstructing the rook.} ({Also good was the
fianchettoe-} 17... b6 {when} 18. d5 {can be met with either} exd5 ({or even}
18... Ba6 $5 19. dxe6 Bxc4) 19. cxd5 Bb7 {with approximate equality in either
case.}) 18. Rfd1 {Kramnik on his turn wants to place his rooks behind the
pawns and push one of them further. The central one, preferrably.} Rc8 19. Nd2
{A forced concession.} Nh4 {A good maneuver. The second central pawn will be
put under pressure as well.} 20. Qd3 Nf5 21. Rac1 Qc7 22. d5 {The central
breakthrough: check.} Rfd8 {Prepared for the central breakthrough: check.} 23.
h3 b6 24. Nf3 {Forcing matters.} ({After} 24. Nce4 {Black can simply take the
rook pair for the queen} exd5 (24... Bc6 $5) 25. cxd5 Qxc1 26. Rxc1 Rxc1+)
24... Qxc4 {There is no need to avoid this.} ({Worse was} 24... Qf4 25. dxe6
fxe6 26. Ne2) 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. dxe6 fxe6 27. Rd3 ({Nothing yields} 27. Ne5 Rd4
28. Ne2 Rd5) 27... e5 $1 {This subtle move was foreseen in advance.} ({Black
experiences problems after} 27... Rdc8 28. Rxd7 Rxc3 29. Rxc3 Rxc3 30. Ng5 $1)
({He also has to be extremely careful, as whenever a pin is concerned there is
always tactical trouble lurking:} 27... Kf8 $6 28. Rcd1 Ke7 $2 29. Rxd7+ Rxd7
30. Rxd7+ Kxd7 31. Ne5+) 28. Nxe5 ({Here} 28. Rcd1 {is not as impressive as
after} Re8 ({Even better seems the tactical line} 28... Nd4 29. Nxe5 Bf5 30.
Nxc4 Bxd3 31. Rxd3 Ne2+ 32. Nxe2 Rxd3 33. Ne3 Ra3 {when the rook is definitely
not worse than the knights. In fact Black can force a draw if he likes with}
34. Nc1 Rc3 35. Ne2 Ra3) 29. Rxd7 Rxc3 30. Rxa7 e4 31. Ng5 h6 {The white
knight is not comfortable.}) 28... Rd4 29. Rf3 Nh4 30. Re3 Nf5 {The hanging
pawns disappeared and the game is heading towards the logical outcome.} 31.
Ree1 {But Kramnik is looking for trouble.} Be8 32. Ne4 Ra4 33. Rc7 {The same
policy, as agressive as possible.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 33. Rc2) ({
or} 33. Re2 {with equality in both cases.}) 33... Rxa2 34. Kh2 {I assume
Kramnik wanted to prepare g2-g4, followed by Kh2-g3 once that the knight jumps
on h4.} ({It was not too late to split the point with} 34. Ng4 {with the idea
to force perpetual check after} b5 (34... h6 35. Nef6+ {leads to the same.}) ({
The only way to play for the win is} 34... Bf7 35. Ne5 Bb3 36. Nc6 Ra8 37. g4
Nh4 38. Re3 {although this seems more risky for Black than for White.}) 35.
Nef6+ gxf6 36. Nxf6+ Kf8 37. Nxh7+) (34. g4 Nd4 {only helps Black.}) 34... h6
35. Ng4 Kf8 {Now the draw is rejected for good and White finds it hard to
prove compensation.} (35... Bf7 $5 {also seemed fine.}) 36. Rec1 ({More to the
point was} 36. Ne5 $5 {when} b5 {is met with} 37. Nc5) 36... Re2 37. f3 Nh4 ({
Here both} 37... a5 $5) ({or} 37... Nd4 {seem more precise.}) 38. Ngf2 Bg6 39.
Rc8 ({The computer suggests instead the paradoxical} 39. Kg1 Bxe4 ({Black can
still play for a win with} 39... a5 40. Ra7 Rb2) 40. fxe4 Kg8 41. Rxa7 Rf8 42.
Rf1 {with good chances for a draw.}) 39... Re8 40. Kg3 {The last move before
the time-control.} ({Better was the immediate} 40. Rxe8+ Kxe8 41. Rc8+ Kd7 42.
Rg8 Bxe4 43. Rxg7+ Kc6 44. Nxe4 {when Black can play for a win with either} a5
{when his pawns should be faster.} ({Or with} 44... Nxf3+ 45. Kg3 Ne1 46. Kf4
Nxg2+ 47. Ke5 {counting on material.})) 40... Nf5+ 41. Kh2 Nd4 $1 {This is
where the knight belongs.} 42. R1c3 ({Now} 42. Kg3 {does not help at all as
after} a5 43. Rxe8+ Kxe8 44. Rc8+ Kd7 45. Rg8 {Black has} Bf7 46. Rxg7 Nf5+)
42... a5 43. R8c4 Rd8 44. Rc7 Ne6 {Very accurate.} ({The reckless machine
suggests instead} 44... b5 45. Rb7 Bf7 46. Rcc7 Bd5 47. Ra7 b4 48. Rxg7 Nb5 49.
Rae7 b3 {but this is not for any human's liking.}) 45. R7c6 Nf4 46. Rc8 ({
White should have tried his last chance:} 46. Kg3 $1 Nh5+ 47. Kg4 Nf6+ 48. Nxf6
({Or} 48. Kg3 Bxe4 49. Nxe4 Nxe4+ (49... Rxe4 $5 50. Rxf6+ gxf6 51. fxe4 Ke7)
50. fxe4 Rxe4 51. Rxb6) 48... Rxf2 {It is hard to say if he would have saved
himself, but it was a chance.}) 46... Re8 47. Rxe8+ Kxe8 48. Rc8+ Kd7 49. Rg8
Ne6 {Now it a technical win.} 50. Kg3 Kc7 51. h4 Rc2 $1 {Another neat maneuver.
Giri defends everything in an optimal way and his pawns can walk on their own.}
(51... a4 52. Ra8) 52. Ra8 Kb7 53. Rh8 Rc6 54. h5 Bxe4 55. Nxe4 a4 56. Re8 a3
57. Re7+ Ka6 58. Re8 Ka7 59. Nd2 a2 60. Nb3 Rc3 61. Na1 Rc1 62. Rxe6 Rxa1 63.
Re2 b5 64. Kf4 Kb6 0-1
[Event "Dortmund GER"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 {No surprises. Meier remains true to his beloved
Rubinstein French.} 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5 Bd6 ({In
recent blitz games the German GM also tried} 7... Nd7 8. Bf4 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 f6 {
but this led to a risk-free advantage for the first player after} 10. Bg3 (10.
Bf4 c5 11. dxc5 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Bxc5 13. Bc4 e5 14. Bd2 Ke7 {Karjakin,S (2783)
-Meier,G (2630) chess.com INT 2017}) 10... c5 11. Bc4 cxd4 12. O-O Bd6 {
Dominguez Perez, L (2739)-Meier,G (2628) chess.com INT 2018} 13. Re1 Bxg3 14.
hxg3 O-O 15. Re4 Kh8 16. Rxd4 {Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628) chess.
com INT 2018}) 8. Bg5 (8. Qf3 c5 9. Bb5+ Ke7 10. O-O cxd4 11. Bf4 g5 12. Bg3 h5
13. h3 g4 14. hxg4 hxg4 15. Qf4 Rh5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2739) -Meier,G (2628)
chess.com INT 2018}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. Qe2 {A novelty. White
improves on a game which actually saw a blunder.} ({After:} 11. Nc4 g5 {
White was already losing material:} 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 13. dxc5 $2 ({Better was} 13.
Bg3 Qxd4) 13... Qe5+ 14. Qe2 Qxe2+ 15. Kxe2 gxh4 {and Black went on to win in
Fuss,J (1688)-Pieczka,R (1922) Germany 2012}) 11... Qa5+ {The most forcing
move.} ({Perhaps Black will test} 11... cxd4 12. O-O-O {in the future.}) 12. c3
cxd4 13. Nc4 ({White could have also started with} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nc4 {
Then if} Qd5 (14... Qc5 15. Qg4+ {transposes into the game.}) 15. Be4 Qc5 16.
Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Qh4 Kg7 {White can continue the attack with either}
19. O-O-O ({Or} 19. Rd1)) 13... Qc5 (13... Qd5 {might transpose to the line
from above.}) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qg4+ {transposes into the game.} Kh8 16. cxd4 {
All of this is pretty forced and I suspect that both players had it on their
home computers.} ({Also interesting looks} 16. Qh4 Kg7 17. cxd4 Qb4+ 18. Ke2)
16... Qb4+ 17. Kf1 $1 {An important move. The king stays away from the black
queen.} (17. Ke2 {looks more logical. However, the concrete lines after:} Bc7
18. Qe4 f5 19. Qh4 Kh7 20. g4 b5 21. g5 bxc4 (21... Bf4 $5 {mgith actually be
even better.}) 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. g6 Qxb2+ $1 {Lead only to perpetual. For
example:} 24. Bc2 ({Or} 24. Kf1 Qxa1+ 25. Kg2 Qxh1+ 26. Kxh1 Bb7+ 27. Kg1 fxg6
28. Qxg6+ {and White has to do the perpetual.}) 24... Qxc2+ 25. Kf1 Qd3+ 26.
Kg1 (26. Ke1 $4 Ba5+) (26. Kg2 Qe4+ 27. f3 (27. Kh3 $4 Qg4#) 27... Qe2+ 28. Kg1
fxg6 {leads to the same.}) 26... fxg6 27. Qxg6+ {and again White needs to
accept the draw as he cannot use the g-file for his rook.}) 17... Bc7 18. Qe4
$1 {Another important move which drags the pawn on a vulnerable position.} (18.
Qh4 Kg7) 18... f5 19. Qh4 Kg7 {After this move the computers immediately go
bananas, claiming win for White.} ({However, even after the most precise} 19...
Kh7 20. g4 b5 ({If} 20... Rg8 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Qf6 {looks good for White.})
21. g5 {with the cunning idea} Rh8 $1 ({Not} 21... bxc4 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. g6
fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Rg1 $1 {with unavoidable mate.}) 22. Rg1 $3 {White
keeps a strong attack. Say} ({Not} 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. Qf6 Qf8 {and Black
defends with good position.}) 22... h5 23. g6+ $1 fxg6 24. Be2 bxc4 ({Better is
} 24... Bd8 {although White keeps strong attack after} 25. Qg3 g5 ({If} 25...
Rg8 26. Ne5 Qxd4 27. Nxg6 Qg7 28. Qf3 Bb7 29. Nf8+ Qxf8 30. Qxh5+ Qh6 31. Qxh6+
Kxh6 32. Rxg8 {with solid extra exchange for White.}) 26. Ne5 Bb7 27. Nf7 Qe7 (
{Or} 27... Rg8 28. Nxd8 Raxd8 29. Qc7+ Kh6 30. Qxb7) 28. Bxh5 {the weak black
king is the key factor of the position.}) 25. Bxh5 $1 {and mate comes soon.})
20. g4 {Opens the files for the major pieces. The attack is unstoppable.} f4 (
20... fxg4 {leads to forced mate after} 21. Qxg4+ Kf6 22. Qh4+ Kg7 23. Rg1+) ({
The preliminary} 20... Bd8 {does not change much} 21. Qh5 Qe7 22. h4 Qf6 23.
Ne5 fxg4 24. Qxg4+ Kh8 25. Rg1 {with winning attack.}) 21. Rg1 Bd7 ({Here}
21... Rh8 {is not as convincing as before due to} 22. Qh5 $1 ({But not} 22. g5
h5 $1) 22... b6 23. g5 Ba6 24. Rc1 {The attack will soon decide.}) 22. Qh5 $1 {
The final touch, which secures the opening of the g-file.} (22. g5 $2 h5 $1 {
would have been awkward for White.}) 22... Rh8 (22... f6 23. Qg6+ Kh8 24. Qh7#)
23. g5 hxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 25. Qf6 Rxh2 ({Or} 25... Rh3 26. Rg7 Qe7 27. Rg8+ {
picking up the queen.}) 26. Rg7 Be8 27. Bh7 (27. Bh7 {Meier resigned due to}
Rh1+ 28. Kg2 Bc6+ 29. f3 {The end of the fast and furious attack. Excellent
preparation by Nepomniachtchi!}) 1-0
[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Efstratios Grivas"]
[PlyCount "208"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxf7 Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7
8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 d5 10. O-O dxe4 11. c3 Re8 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nc3 b6 14. Qc4+
Be6 15. Qa4 c5 16. Nxe4 Bd5 17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4+ Kg7 19. Qc4 Kh8 20. b4 Rxe4
21. Bb2 Qg8 22. Rf7 Rf8 23. Rxf8 Qxf8 24. bxc5 bxc5 25. Rf1 Qe7 26. Qd5 Kg7 27.
h3 g5 28. Bc3 a6 29. Kh1 Kh6 30. Rb1 Nb5 {(D) [#] Looks like Black is doing
fine, except that White has a nice tactical continuation at his disposal.} 31.
Bf6 $1 Qxf6 32. Qxe4 Nc3 {(D) [#] Black was depending on this fork...} 33. Qf3
$1 Qxf3 34. Rb6+ $1 {The point of the combination that started with 31.Bf6! -
White wins the exchange.} Kh5 35. gxf3 Nxa2 36. Rc6 $1 Nb4 37. Rxc5 Nd3 38. Ra5
Kh4 39. Kh2 Nf4 40. Rxa6 {(D) [#] So White got a winning ending. Well, it is
not such an easy one as someone might think. White has to exchange his h-pawn
and then invade with his king. Black has a drawing set-up with his king on e6/
f6/g6 and his knight on h4- or on e5-squares, controlling important invasion
squares and putting pressure on the white f3-pawn.} Kh5 (40... h5 41. Ra4 $18 {
, loses on the spot.}) 41. Rd6 (41. Ra4 Kh4 42. Ra7 h6 43. Ra2 Kh5 44. Kg3 Nd5
45. Ra8 Nf4 46. h4 $1 Ne2+ 47. Kf2 Nf4 48. hxg5 hxg5 49. Ke3 $18 {, was
another way to prevail.}) 41... Ne2 42. Rd2 Nf4 43. Kg3 Ng6 44. Rd7 h6 45. Rf7
Ne5 46. Rf5 Ng6 47. Ra5 Nf4 {(D) [#]} (47... Nh4 {, loses to} 48. f4 Ng6 49. f5
Nh4 50. Rb5 $18 {.}) 48. h4 $1 Ne2+ 49. Kf2 Nf4 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ke3 $1 {
White must invade with his king before Black would set-up his defensive method.
} Ng2+ 52. Kf2 ({Not drawing yet, but of course the natural} 52. Ke4 Kg6 53.
Ra6+ Kh5 54. Ra2 Nh4 55. Rh2 $18 {, was curtains.}) 52... Nf4 {(D) [#]} 53. Ra8
$2 ({But this is a serious mistake, throwing the win away. Good was} 53. Ke3
Kg6 54. Ke4 Ng2 55. Ra6+ Kh5 56. Ra2 Nh4 (56... Nf4 57. Kf5 $18) 57. Rh2 Kh6
58. f4 Kg6 59. Rh1 $1 Nf5 (59... Kf6 60. f5 $18) 60. Rg1 Nd6+ 61. Ke5 Nf7+ 62.
Ke6 Nd8+ 63. Kd6 Nf7+ 64. Ke7 $18 {.}) 53... Kg6 $1 {V. Kramnik is quite
experianced and his knowledge is huge, so he couldn't missed his chance - the
position is now drawn.} 54. Ke3 Ng2+ $1 {Again the only move - the knight has
to be placed on h4.} 55. Ke4 Nh4 56. Ra6+ Kf7 (56... Kg7 {was the other
drawing move.}) 57. Ra2 Kf6 58. Ra1 Ke6 59. Rh1 Ng6 60. Rh6 Kf6 61. Rh7 Nh4 62.
Ke3 Ng6 63. Ra7 Nh4 64. Ra6+ Kf5 65. Kf2 Ng6 66. Kg3 {(D) [#]} Ne5 $1 ({
The only drawing move here. Bad was} 66... Nh4 $2 67. f4 $18 {.}) 67. Ra8 Ng6
68. Rg8 Ne5 69. Rf8+ {(D) [#]} Ke6 $1 ({Accurate, as} 69... Kg6 $2 {was losing
to} 70. Kf2 $1 Nf7 71. Ke3 {, as Black cannot place his knight on h4.}) 70. Kf2
Ng6 71. Rb8 Kf5 72. Rb5+ Kf6 73. Ra5 {(D) [#]} Ne5 $1 (73... Nh4 $2 {was
losing to} 74. Kg3 $18 {. As a guide, when the white king goes to the g-file,
the black knight should be around the e5-square, while when the white king
goes to the e-file, the knight should go around the h4-square.}) 74. Ke2 Ng6
75. Ra6+ Kf5 76. Ke3 Nh4 $1 (76... Ne5 $2 77. Ra5 Kf6 78. Ke4 $18 {.}) 77. Ra5+
Kf6 78. Ke4 Kg6 $1 (78... Ng2 $2 79. Ra6+ Kf7 80. Kf5 Nh4+ 81. Kg4 $18 {.}) 79.
Ra1 Kf6 80. Rg1 Nf5 81. Rg2 Nh4 82. Rh2 Ng6 83. Rh5 Nf4 $1 (83... Nh4 $2 84. f4
$18 {.}) 84. Rh8 (84. Rh6+ Ng6 $1 {, was good as well.}) 84... Ng6 $1 85. Rb8 {
(D) [#]} Nh4 $1 86. Rg8 Ng6 87. Kd4 Kf5 88. Ke3 Kf6 89. Ke4 Kf7 (89... Nh4 {
, was good as well.}) 90. Rb8 Nh4 $1 91. Rc8 Kf6 92. Rc1 Ke6 93. Ke3 Kf5 94.
Rc5+ Kf6 95. Rb5 Ng6 96. Ke4 Nh4 $1 97. Rd5 {(D) [#]} Kg6 $1 (97... Ng2 $2 98.
Rd6+ Kf7 99. Kf5 $18 {.}) 98. f4 {A last try...} gxf4 99. Kxf4 Kf7 100. Kg5
Nf3+ 101. Kf4 Nh4 102. Kg5 Nf3+ 103. Kg4 {(D) [#]} Ke6 $1 ({The last accurate
move, so the knight can be placed in a central square next to its king. Losing
was} 103... Ne1 $2 104. Rd2 $18 {.}) 104. Kxf3 (104. Ra5 Ne5+ $11 {.}) 104...
Kxd5 1/2-1/2
[Event "Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Lawrence"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
{Of course the question on everyone's lips before the round was whether Nepo
was going to win today and clinch sole first. Let's see if he was up to the
task after surviving a busted position yesterday.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
dxe4 {Georg stays faithful to his beloved Rubenstein French.} 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5.
Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5 $5 {reassonably rare although it seems Leinier
Dominguez got the better of Georg in this line earlier this year (albeit in
blitz).} (7. Bd3) (7. c3) (7. Bg5) (7. Be3) (7. g3) (7. Bc4 {have all been
played many times.}) 7... Bd6 {Georg repeats the line he played in his 2nd
game against Dominguez} (7... Nd7 8. Bf4 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 f6 10. Bg3 c5 11. Bc4
cxd4 12. O-O Bd6 13. Re1 Bxg3 14. hxg3 O-O 15. Re4 Kh8 16. Rxd4 Qc7 17. Bb3 e5
18. Rd2 Bf5 19. Qf3 Bg6 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Kh2 Rxd2 22. Rxd2 b6 23. Qd5 h5 24.
Qd7 Rc8 25. c3 Kh7 26. Be6 Qxd7 27. Rxd7 Re8 28. Bd5 a5 29. Rb7 Rd8 30. c4 Rd6
31. Kg1 Kh6 32. f3 Bb1 33. a3 g5 34. Kf2 h4 35. g4 Kg6 36. b4 axb4 37. axb4 f5
38. Ke3 fxg4 39. fxg4 Kf6 40. b5 Bg6 41. Rc7 Be8 42. Be4 Bf7 43. c5 bxc5 44.
Rxc5 Be6 45. Bf3 Rd4 46. b6 Rb4 47. b7 Rb3+ 48. Kd2 Bxg4 49. Bd5 Rb6 50. Rc6+ {
1-0 (50) Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628) chess.com INT 2018}) (7... c5
$5 {has to be critical e.g.} 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qa5+ $5 {is cute} 10. c3 Qxb5
11. Nxf8 O-O-O $3 {with what looks like a fantastic game for Black}) (7... Be7
{looks playable}) 8. Bg5 $5 {also very natural} (8. Qf3 c5 9. Bb5+ Ke7 10. O-O
cxd4 11. Bf4 $44 {looked dangerous for Black but I am sure Georg had an
improvement up his sleeve around here} g5 12. Bg3 h5 13. h3 g4 14. hxg4 hxg4
15. Qf4 Rh5 16. Rfe1 Qh8 17. Nc6+ Ke8 18. Ne5+ Kf8 19. Kf1 Rf5 20. Qxd4 Be7 21.
Bd3 Rh5 22. Rad1 Rh1+ 23. Ke2 Rh5 24. Kd2 Nd5 25. Kc1 Bf6 26. Kb1 Ne7 27. Bc4
Nc6 28. Qd6+ Be7 29. Qc7 {1-0 (29) Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628)
chess.com INT 2018}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 O-O (9... Bxe5 $2 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1
Nd5 12. Bb5+ c6 13. Bd3 $14 {is very unpleasant for Black to play.}) 10. Bd3 c5
11. Qe2 $5 {I guess this is what Nepo had looked at beforehand.} Qa5+ $5 (11...
cxd4 {is the first move you have to look at} 12. O-O {I think castling short
here is ideal as White avoids any potential attack against the king compared
to long castles in such positions. Now the question is how does Black complete
development?} Be7 $5 13. Rad1 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 {and I don't see how White
achieves a serious advantage}) 12. c3 cxd4 13. Nc4 $1 {This is the problem
with inserting Qa5+ here, White has this important move} Qc5 (13... Qd5 $5) 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 {also the point, White manages to wreck the Black kingside. Things
are far from clear though.} 15. Qg4+ Kh8 {White needs to act fast here else
Black will consolidate and have a significant advantage.} 16. cxd4 (16. Qh4 $5
Kg7 17. cxd4 {the reason why 13...Qd5!? might be more precise - Black's queen
isn't hit with tempo} Qb4+ 18. Ke2 $1 {and I'd take White all day}) 16... Qb4+
17. Kf1 $6 (17. Ke2 {as per the previous line seems to be more precise, even
if it looks a bit scary}) 17... Bc7 {is fine, but also} (17... Rg8 $5 18. Qh5
Bf8 19. Qxf7 Qe7 20. Qxe7 Bxe7 {and I find it difficult to believe Black can't
hold this}) 18. Qe4 f5 19. Qh4 Kg7 $4 {unfortunately Georg makes the most
natural move which happens to be the losing move} (19... Kh7 $1 {was correct
after which} 20. g4 b5 $1 21. g5 (21. gxf5 bxc4 22. f6+ cxd3 23. Qe4+ Kh8 24.
Qe3 Kh7 25. Qe4+ Kh8 26. Qe3 {is a cute repetition}) 21... Bf4 $1 (21... Rh8 $5
22. Rg1 h5 23. g6+ $1 fxg6 24. Be2 {is apparently very dangerous for Black})
22. Qxf4 bxc4 23. Qh4 Qd2 $1 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 {and apparently this position is
around level} 25. Be2 Rb8 26. Rd1 Qf4 $11) 20. g4 $1 {the difference now is
that Black's king walks into some nasty threats on the g-file} f4 (20... b5 21.
gxf5 bxc4 22. f6+ Kh8 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Qh7#) (20... Bd8 21. Qh5 Qe7 22. h4 $1
{and White will crash through} fxg4 23. Qxg4+ Kh8 24. Qh5 Qf6 25. Ne5 $18) 21.
Rg1 $1 Bd7 22. Qh5 $3 {Nepo was very switched on. Now Black cannot stop White
opening the king up with g5 and crashing through.} (22. g5 $4 {was Georg's
last trick} h5 $1 23. g6 f6 24. Qxh5 Rh8 {and suddenly it's Black who is close
to winning!}) 22... Rh8 23. g5 hxg5 (23... Kf8 24. gxh6 {doesn't change the
evaluation}) 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 25. Qf6 $1 {and Black is busted} Rxh2 26. Rg7 Be8
27. Bh7 {And with this victory Ian wins the tournament and jumps up to world
number 12. No doubt he'll be looking to consolidate his place in the top 10 in
the very near future.} 1-0