[Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "1"] [White "Wesley So"] [Black "Hikaru Nakamura"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2791"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] {At the 2015 Sinquefield Cup, Nakamura crushed Wesley in a King's Indian. A lot has changed in a year, including Hikaru's opening choice against his compatriot.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 (7. Qa4 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 {is a main line that has been played countless times.}) 7... Nc6 8. Nxc6 (8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 {is a well-known line. The engine slightly prefers White, but the opposite-colored bishops and airy kingside allows Black great equalizing opportunities.}) 8... bxc6 9. Na3 Bxa3 10. bxa3 {A hilarious pawn structure arises: Black has triple, isolated c-pawns and an isolated a-pawn. White is down a little one and has double, isolated a-pawns. A truly hideous position.} Ba6 11. Qd2 Rb8 12. Qa5 Qc8 13. a4 Rd8 14. Ba3 {Sacrificing a second pawn to increase the iniative. The d4 pawn is quite irrelevant. Sure, it would be a nice pawn to keep, but White needs to remain active to justify the sacrificed material.} (14. Rd1 c3 (14... e5 15. Qxe5 Nd5 {is double-edged. White has the two bishops and more central pawns, but is also underdeveloped. Black is very active, which is necessary given that the structure in the long term certainly favors White.}) 15. Qxc3 Bxe2 16. Re1 Qa6 17. Bg5 Qc4 {is equal. } (17... Rd6 {trying to keep the pawn might not be worth the trouble. Why give White control of the b-file?} 18. Rab1)) 14... Rxd4 15. Rfb1 {The first new move, and a smart one. In the event of an exchange sacrifice, White's second rook is better placed on a1 rather than f1. This seems to oppose typical chess logic, but the reason is that White will try to play a5 and then a4.} (15. Rab1 Rb6 16. Bc5 Rd5 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Qb4 Nd7 (19... d4 {is also tempting, opening the long diagonal and freeing d5 for the knight.}) 20. a5 b5 21. Qe7 c5 22. f4 d4 23. f5 e5 24. f6 gxf6 25. g4 h6 26. Rf5 {1/2-1/2 (26) Efimenko,Z (2689)-Sakaev,K (2607) Vrnjacka Banja 2010}) 15... Rb6 16. Bc5 Rd7 ( 16... Rd5 {was the move I was hoping to see. It's rare to see the material imbalance of two minors and two pawns for two rooks.} 17. Bxd5 cxd5 (17... Rxb1+ 18. Rxb1 cxd5 19. Qxa6 {is the main problem for Black: the back rank is left unguarded.}) 18. Bxb6 cxb6 19. Qc3 {is just too good for White, though. The queenside will be chiseled at, and when all is said and done the rooks will be stronger than the minors.}) 17. Rd1 h6 {A patient move, but perhaps reinforcements were necessary:} (17... Nd5 18. e4 Nf6 {is level, but Black has benefited from the pawn thrust. Now his knight has the d3 square to reroute to. }) 18. Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Bxb6 cxb6 20. Qd2 c5 (20... Nc5 21. Qd6 {Will be somewhat similar to the game continuation, where White stands better.} Nxa4 22. Qxc6 Qxc6 23. Bxc6 Nc5) 21. Rd1 Nf6 22. Kf1 Kh7 23. Qc2+ Kg8 ({In retrospect, Hikaru likely regrets not playing} 23... g6 {to keep the queens on the board.} 24. Qc3 Kg7 {and it is unclear how White makes progress. Any attempt forward will include a concession.} 25. h4 Qc7 26. Kg1 e5 {and the fight continues, though White of course stands better.}) 24. Qd2 Kh7 25. Qd8 {Wesley is playing for two results now that the queens are coming off the board. The a7 pawn is a glaring weakness, and despite the approximately equal material, White is much better. A rook often dominates minor pieces in the endgame.} Qxd8 (25... e5 26. Qxc8 Bxc8 27. Rd8 Be6 28. Ra8 c3 29. Ke1 {is an even worse version of the game for Black, since the push e6-e5 has loosened control of the light squares.}) 26. Rxd8 c3 27. Ke1 Bc4 (27... c2 28. Kd2 Bxe2 29. Kxc2 Kg6 30. Rb8 {is too quick. Black has no time to go pawn hunting.} Ng4 31. Rb7 Nxf2 32. Rxa7 { and b6 falls next.}) 28. Kd1 Bxa2 29. Kc2 Bc4 30. e3 b5 31. Kxc3 a6 32. Ra8 ( 32. a5 {probably was more precise.} Bd5 33. Bxd5 Nxd5+ {and the only move that wins is} 34. Kb3 (34. Kd2 c4 35. Rd6 Nb4 {the knight miraculously can't be kicked from its defense of the a6 pawn. If the king comes to c3, the knight checks from a2. If the king comes to a3, the knight checks from c2. An amazing fortress.})) 32... Nd5+ 33. Bxd5 exd5 (33... Bxd5 34. Rxa6 bxa4 35. Rxa4 f5 36. Ra5 c4 37. Kd4 {is winning for White. Black's king does not enter the action in time, as the White king gallivants around the dark squares.}) 34. a5 (34. Rc8 bxa4 35. Rxc5 {is also winning, but more difficult. Here White will have to be precise, whereas in the game continuation the a-pawn ended things quickly.}) (34. axb5 axb5 35. Rc8 {would be met by} d4+ 36. exd4 cxd4+ 37. Kxd4 {with very good drawing chances.}) 34... b4+ 35. Kd2 Bf1 (35... Bb5 36. Rc8 c4 {looks like everything is covered, except} 37. Rb8 {threatens to play Rxb5. This means the bishop must move, which results in the loss of the b-pawn, and ultimately the game.}) 36. Rc8 c4 37. Rb8 b3 38. Kc3 {Nakamura throws in the towel, understanding that his bishop can't fend off the a-pawn.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "1"] [White "Topalov, V."] [Black "Svidler, P."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 d5 13. c3 {The beginning of Svidler's issues. The position is perfectly palatable, but he spent too much time responding. "I gave about an hour handicap there," Svidler said.} Bd6 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Bb4 18. Bd2 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 20. Bxb4 Qxe4 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Rc1 h6 23. Qd2 Rb8 24. Qe3 Qd5 25. h3 Rb4 $2 { Just losing. As is often the case, Black needed to look N+1 moves ahead.} 26. Qc3 {Svidler realized here his problem.} Nxd4 27. Qxb4 Ne2+ 28. Kh1 {Precise. Black resigned due to} Nxc1 29. Qb8+ Kf7 (29... Kh7 30. Qb1+ Nd3 31. Ne1 { With the white king on h2, Black would have ...Qe5+. With the white king on f1, Black could have blocked on d3 with the queen with check.}) 30. Qxc7+ 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "1"] [White "Giri, A."] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2819"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3 e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 Be7 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O Nbd7 13. g4 b5 14. g5 b4 15. gxf6 bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nxf6 17. Na5 Rc8 18. Nc6 Qe8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qa5 Rc6 21. Kb1 Rfc8 22. Rd2 Nh5 23. Rg1 Qh4 24. Be2 Nf4 25. Bd1 f5 26. exf5 Bxf5 27. Ka1 $3 {The idea is to activate the light-squared bishop the only way White can, by playing c3. But doesn't this hang a pawn? No!} d5 (27... Bxc2 28. Bxc2 Rxc2 29. Rxc2 Rxc2 30. Qa4 {threatening the rook and mate} Rc8 31. Qd7 {once again threatening the same, only this time there's no defense}) 28. c3 Rg6 29. Rxg6 hxg6 {by taking this way Black king can avoid back-rank problems} 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. Qxd5+ Kh7 32. Bb3 a5 (32... Be6 33. Qd6 (33. Qxe6 Qxd2 34. Qh3+ Qh6) 33... Rc6 34. Qxc6 Qxd2 35. Qe4 Bxb3 36. axb3 Qxh2 {was also possible, but White retains better chances}) 33. a4 Re8 34. Ka2 $2 {stepping onto a bad diagonal. Instead the regrouping} (34. Qb5 Re7 35. Qe2 {secures and pawns and the advantage}) 34... Be6 35. Qc6 {essentially forced, otherwise ...Qxa4 is in the offing} (35. Qb5 {also only draws after} Rb8 $1 36. Qxb8 Qxa4+ 37. Kb1 Bxb3 38. Rd8 Qa2+ 39. Kc1 Qa1+ 40. Kd2 Qd1+ {simplest, to not let the king have any options} 41. Ke3 Qe1+ 42. Kd3 Qd1+) 35... Bxb3+ 36. Kxb3 Rb8+ 37. Kc2 Rxb2+ 38. Kxb2 Qxd2+ 39. Kb3 Qxh2 40. Qd5 Qe2 41. Qxa5 Qd1+ 42. Kb2 Qd2+ 43. Kb3 Qd1+ 44. Kb2 Qd2+ 45. Ka3 Qc1+ 46. Kb4 Qb1+ 47. Ka3 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2819"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. e4 {Anish Giri must have been very well prepared for this game since MVL plays the Najdorf almost exclusively.} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {There we are!} 6. Be3 Ng4 {MVL has a number of games here too, most notably against Ivanchuk in Tata Steel 2015. This move gained respect and found its way into theory books thanks to Kasparov's games in 1990s.} 7. Bc1 { Draw? Or Giri is trying to force English attack?} Nf6 8. f3 {No one likes a short draw of course! Anish forces the game into the English attack.} e5 9. Nb3 Be6 {Both parties are developing their pieces according to very well-known theory of this opening.} 10. Be3 Be7 (10... Nbd7 {followed by h5 is a less theoretic, yet riskier choice.}) 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O Nbd7 {(#) The players follow the most popular and most direct continuation. The following moves are more or less forced.} 13. g4 b5 14. g5 b4 15. gxf6 (15. Ne2 {used to be the main line when I was a 'young GM'. However, recent theoretical improvements have shown that this is just a draw!} Ne8 16. f4 a5 17. f5 a4 18. fxe6 axb3 19. exf7+ Rxf7 20. cxb3 Rxa2 21. Ng3 Rxf1 22. Rhxf1 Ra1+ 23. Kc2 Qc8+ 24. Kd3 Qa6+ 25. Kc2 Qc6+ 26. Kd3 Qa6+ 27. Kc2 Qc6+ 28. Kd3 Qa6+ {1/2-1/2 (26) Lu,S (2619) -Wen,Y (2614) Xinghua 2016}) 15... bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nxf6 17. Na5 Rc8 18. Nc6 Qe8 ( 18... Qd7) (18... Qc7) 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qa5 {We are still following the most popular continuation. There is nothing new to talk about, yet!} Rc6 21. Kb1 Rfc8 22. Rd2 {Ok, now we only have 46 games, according to ChessBase Online database!} Nh5 23. Rg1 Qh4 $146 {According to my database this move is novelty. The idea seems very simple. Black wants to mate white in the back rank! However, jokes aside, black plans to activate his pieces in a move active manner compared to when the queen is on f6.} (23... Qf6) (23... g6) (23... h6 { have been played}) 24. Be2 $1 {The h2 pawn is of coure a taboo. Giri's reaction is deep. He transfers his bishop to d1 in order to cover both f3 and c2, as well as his back-rank.} Nf4 (24... Qxh2 $4 25. Bxa6) 25. Bd1 $1 f5 $6 { Computers do not like this move but black has to do something here and this move is a typical reaction in this sort of positions.} (25... h6 {is one of many suggestions of engines.}) 26. exf5 Bxf5 27. Ka1 d5 {This is also a forced move. Otherwise white would play c3 and Bb3 with an unplesant attack for white, on both sides! MVL correctly tries to diminish the material on the board.} ( 27... Bxc2 28. Rxc2 Rxc2 29. Bxc2 Rxc2 30. Qa4 $1 Rc8 31. Qd7) 28. c3 Rg6 $1 { This does not change the evaluation of the position but it is a good practical decision.} 29. Rxg6 hxg6 30. Bxf4 Qxf4 31. Qxd5+ {Ok, white is a pawn up but he is far from winning. All of black's pieces are active and white still needs to do something about his weak back rank.} Kh7 32. Bb3 a5 33. a4 $1 {Giri is very accurate!} Re8 {Now Giri is closest to win than ever, however, his next move throws the win away on spot.} 34. Ka2 $4 (34. Qb5 Re7 (34... Qxd2 35. Qxe8 Qc1+ 36. Ka2 Qb1+ 37. Ka3 Qa1+ 38. Ba2 Qe1 39. f4 $18 {black has to give up queen or let white to mate him on g8 and then h8.}) 35. Rd6 Qxf3 36. Ka2 Qe4 ( 36... e4 37. Qb8 e3 38. h4 {and mate follows}) 37. Ka3 {Now white's king is safe and black's back rank is so weak. White's attack will be decisive.}) 34... Be6 $1 35. Qc6 {This is forced.} Bxb3+ 36. Kxb3 Rb8+ 37. Kc2 Rxb2+ {There we are, white's advantage is all gone. I wonder if Anish had missed this move or he just forgot about Be6.} 38. Kxb2 Qxd2+ 39. Kb3 Qxh2 40. Qd5 Qe2 41. Qxa5 Qd1+ 42. Kb2 Qd2+ 43. Kb3 Qd1+ 44. Kb2 Qd2+ 45. Ka3 Qc1+ 46. Kb4 Qb1+ 47. Ka3 { A good day for MVL, when his opening adventure went astray. Anish Giri had only one bad move in this game, unfortunately, it was enough for MVL to make a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(4s)} e5 {(9s)} 2. Nf3 {(4s)} Nc6 {(6s)} 3. Bb5 {(8s)} a6 {(4s)} 4. Ba4 {(4s)} Nf6 {(6s)} 5. O-O {(14s)} Be7 {(5s)} 6. Re1 {(6s)} b5 {(5s)} 7. Bb3 { (3s)} O-O {(7s)} 8. a4 {(7s)} b4 {(6s)} 9. d3 {(6s)} d6 {(45s)} 10. a5 {(18s)} Be6 {(442s)} 11. Bxe6 {(9s)} fxe6 {(4s)} 12. Nbd2 {(8s)} d5 {(946s)} 13. c3 { ( 106s)} Bd6 {(2085s)} 14. d4 {(275s)} bxc3 {(277s)} 15. bxc3 {(49s)} exd4 { (187s)} 16. cxd4 {(671s)} dxe4 {(95s)} 17. Nxe4 {(11s)} Bb4 {(5s)} 18. Bd2 { (715s)} Nxe4 {(24s)} 19. Rxe4 {(22s)} Qd5 {(7s)} 20. Bxb4 {(284s)} Qxe4 {(38s)} 21. Bxf8 {(10s)} Rxf8 {(4s)} 22. Rc1 {(232s)} h6 {(917s)} 23. Qd2 {(752s)} Rb8 {(612s)} 24. Qe3 {(202s)} Qd5 {(27s)} 25. h3 {(#) (502s)} Rb4 {(147s) A massive blindness that loses material and the game.} 26. Qc3 {(229s)} Nxd4 { (179s)} 27. Qxb4 {(12s)} Ne2+ {(188s)} 28. Kh1 {(28s)} ({Svidler resigned after } 28. Kh1 {understanding Topalov had seen the win too.} Nxc1 {and White wins the knight by force.} 29. Qb8+ Kh7 (29... Kf7 30. Qxc7+ {and the knight falls as well.}) 30. Qb1+ Nd3 31. Ne1 {and that is that.}) 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.05"] [Round "?"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2791"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {A catalan is today's topic for theoretical debate between two top American super-GMs} Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 { A rare line. Kramnik likes this line very much. Early in my career this line used to be considered as 'benign'. Nevertheless, this opening had given good results to top GMs in recent years. What does Wesley have up his sleeves?} Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Na3 {The most fashionable} Bxa3 10. bxa3 Ba6 (10... a5 11. Bxc6 Rb8 12. Qc2 Ba6 13. Rd1 Nd5 14. e4 Ne7 15. Ba4 f5 16. d5 $36 {1-0 (117) Kramnik,V (2777)-Bruzon Batista,L (2659) Baku 2015}) 11. Qd2 Rb8 12. Qa5 Qc8 { There are few games in this position but most of the are of high quality and the average rating of players in each game is more than 2600!} 13. a4 (13. e4 { Li Chao is a pioneer in this line. He had two nice victories in this opening against two fellow super-GMs} Rd8 14. Rd1 Rb5 15. Qc3 c5 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Qf5 18. Bf4 Ne8 19. Qxc4 Nd6 20. Qa4 Rb6 21. Re1 g5 22. Be3 Re8 23. Rac1 Rb2 24. g4 Qf6 25. Bxc5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Bc4 27. Qxc4 Nxc4 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Bf8+ { 1-0 (29) Li,C (2751)-Wang,H (2717) Huaian 2016}) 13... Rd8 14. Ba3 (14. Rd1 Nd5 15. Ba3 f5 16. Bc5 Rb6 17. e4 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Rb2 19. Ba3 Rb6 20. Re1 c3 21. Qc5 Qd7 22. Bg2 Rdb8 23. Bh3 Re8 24. Qa5 $4 (24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 (24... Qxe6 25. Rxe6 $18) 25. Qf8#) 24... Bd3 25. Qxa7 Ra6 26. Qb7 Rb6 27. Qa7 Ra6 28. Qc5 Rxa4 29. Bxe6+ Qxe6 30. Rxe6 Rea8 31. Qxc6 Nf6 32. Be7 R4a6 33. Qf3 Be4 34. Rxe4 Nxe4 35. Qxe4 Re8 36. Qd5+ Kh8 37. Qf7 Raa8 38. Rc1 {1-0 (38) Li,C (2751) -Harikrishna,P (2753) Huaian 2016}) 14... Rxd4 (14... Rb6 {was another unsuccessful experience for black in this line.} 15. Bc5 Rb2 16. e3 Nd7 17. Be7 Re8 18. Ba3 Rb6 19. Bc5 Rb2 20. Qc3 Qb7 21. Ba3 Rb6 22. Rad1 Nf6 23. e4 Qc8 24. Bc5 Rb7 25. Rfe1 Nd7 26. e5 Nb8 27. Be4 Rd8 28. g4 Nd7 29. Qh3 h6 30. Ba3 Nf8 31. g5 hxg5 32. Bxf8 Kxf8 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Qxg7 Rg8 35. Qf6+ Kf8 36. Bxc6 Rb8 37. d5 Rg6 38. Qh8+ Rg8 39. Qh6+ Rg7 40. Qh8+ Rg8 41. Qh6+ Rg7 42. Re3 c3 43. Rf3 Kg8 44. Rh3 Kf8 45. Qf6 exd5 46. Rh8+ Rg8 47. Qh6+ Ke7 48. Qf6+ Kf8 49. Rxg8+ Kxg8 50. Qxg5+ Kf8 51. Bxd5 Rb6 52. Be4 Ke8 53. Bf5 c2 54. Bxc2 Qb8 55. Bf5 Bc4 56. Qg8+ {1-0 (56) Melkumyan,H (2632)-Fridman,D (2627) Reykjavik 2015}) 15. Rfb1 $146 {This is So's novelty for this game. The other line with Rab1 finished in a draw without much trouble for black.} (15. Rab1 Rb6 16. Bc5 Rd5 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Qb4 Nd7 20. a5 b5 21. Qe7 c5 22. f4 d4 23. f5 e5 24. f6 gxf6 25. g4 h6 26. Rf5 {1/2-1/2 (26) Efimenko,Z (2689)-Sakaev,K (2607) Vrnjacka Banja 2010}) 15... Rb6 16. Bc5 Rd7 17. Rd1 {Of course White is not going to take on b6 as long as he can. Black's extra two pawns are meaningless unless they become mobalized and Black's c-pawn do not have much power at this moment.} h6 $2 {Well, I believe this move had cost Nakamura the game!} (17... Nd5 {seems like a nice provocative move. I wonder if this move h6 had cost Nakamura the game or he had something good later too.} 18. e4 Nf6) 18. Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Bxb6 {Wesley thinks that this is the right moemnt.} cxb6 20. Qd2 c5 21. Rd1 Nf6 22. Kf1 Kh7 23. Qc2+ Kg8 24. Qd2 Kh7 25. Qd8 Qxd8 26. Rxd8 { this endgame was more or less forced. Black has two pawns for an exhcange. His pawns are advanced but his knight cannot contribute and his king is very inactive. Objectively, this should be lost even for Nakamura.} c3 27. Ke1 Bc4 28. Kd1 Bxa2 29. Kc2 Bc4 30. e3 b5 31. Kxc3 a6 32. Ra8 Nd5+ 33. Bxd5 exd5 ( 33... Bxd5 34. Rxa6 bxa4 35. Rxa4 f5 36. Ra5 c4 (36... h5 37. Rxc5) 37. Kd4 Kg6 (37... h5 38. Ke5 Kg6 39. h4 Be4 40. Rc5 Bd5 41. Rc7 {And it is only a matter of time for white to win.}) 38. g4 $1 fxg4 39. e4 $18) 34. a5 $1 {This seals Black's fate.} b4+ 35. Kd2 Bf1 36. Rc8 c4 37. Rb8 b3 38. Kc3 {A technical masterpiece by So. His choice of opening deserves praise. Nakamura fought well but it seems that he was not familiar with Rfb1.} 1-0 [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "1:03:33-0:57:33"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "2"] [White "Maxime Vachier-Lagrave"] [Black "Viswanathan Anand"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B11"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 c6 {Surprise! Anand was caught off by Caruana's French, so he returns the favor and shocks an unsuspecting Frenchman. The Caro-Kann is not often seen at the highest level, but Anand perhaps was using throw-away preparation.} 2. Nf3 {MVL looked to avoid whatever Vishy had up his sleeve. Thus, an offbeat variation.} d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Ne4 5. Ne2 Qb6 6. d4 e6 7. Nfg1 f6 (7... h6 { is the same idea, but it fails. The point is that f6 is a multi-purpose move, providing the knight a path to safety while simultaneously trying to chisel away at the white center.} 8. h4 $1 {keeps the knight boxed in.}) 8. f3 Ng5 9. exf6 gxf6 10. f4 {An obvious concession is the e4 square, but White opens the diagonal for the queen.} Ne4 ({This line was recently played at the highest level by Alexander Grischuk and Ding Liren. That game was a complicated draw following Black retreating rather than infiltrating.} 10... Nf7 11. Nf3 Be7 12. c4 dxc4 13. Nc3 Nd6 14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 O-O 16. Bd3 Rf7 17. O-O Nb5 18. Ne2 c5 19. f5 e5 20. Bxb5 Qxb5 21. dxe5 Bxf5 22. Bb2 Nc6 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. Nh4 Rd8 26. Qe1 Rdf8 27. Nxf5 Rxf5 28. Qg3+ Kh8 29. Qc3+ Kg8 30. Qg3+ Kh8 31. Qc3+ Kg8 {1/2-1/2 (31) Grischuk,A (2747)-Ding,L (2778) Wenzhou 2016}) 11. Ng3 Bd7 12. Nxe4 {A natural response by Maxime, yet a new move. Previously played had been} (12. Qh5+ Kd8 13. Nf3 c5 14. c3 Kc7 15. f5 Nxg3 16. hxg3 cxd4 17. fxe6 Qxe6+ 18. Kf2 dxc3 19. Nd4 Bc5 20. Bf4+ Kc8 21. bxc3 Nc6 22. Re1 Qg8 23. Be2 Nxd4 24. cxd4 Bxd4+ 25. Kf1 Qe6 26. Qf3 h6 27. Bd3 Be5 28. Rh5 Qg4 29. Bxe5 Qxf3+ 30. gxf3 fxe5 31. Rexe5 Bc6 32. Re7 Kd8 33. Rf7 Rc8 34. g4 d4 35. Kf2 Ke8 36. Bg6 Rg8 37. Re5+ Kd8 38. Re6 Rc7 39. Rd6+ Kc8 40. Bf5+ Kb8 41. Rff6 Re7 {Lukasova,A (2213)-Balta,M (2202) ICCF email 2013 1-0 (63)}) 12... dxe4 13. c3 Na6 (13... c5 {seemed like a better try to me. Black should aim to put pressure on the center, since White is woefully underdeveloped.} 14. d5 (14. Qh5+ Kd8 15. Ne2 {is double-edged, but Black might find his king to be safer than White's. It is certainly harder for White to develop his pieces.}) 14... Na6 15. Qh5+ Kd8 16. dxe6 Qxe6 17. Ne2 Bd6 {and Black is unraveling.}) 14. Qh5+ Kd8 15. Bc4 Kc7 (15... f5 16. a4 $1 {is trouble for Black, just like the game. The main issue is that Vishy would be unable to continue with the natural} Nc7 {because} 17. a5 {traps the queen.}) (15... Nb4 {was the move MVL discussed in the confessional. White gains a pawn - but the position is not simple at all - after} 16. Qe2 Nd3+ 17. Bxd3 exd3 18. Qxd3 {The weak light squares and underdevelopment of the white pieces give Black true compensation.}) 16. a4 $1 c5 17. Ne2 (17. f5 cxd4 (17... exf5 $2 18. a5 Qd6 19. Ne2 Kc8 20. Bf4 Qe7 21. O-O {leaves the black position in shambles.}) 18. fxe6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Ne2 {is a great pawn sacrifice for White. Note that Black's king will never find safety. For example, the attack rages on after:} dxc3 21. Bf4+ Kc8 (21... Bd6 22. Nd4 {wins material with Nb5+ coming.}) 22. Nxc3) 17... Rd8 18. Be3 (18. f5 {is again strong. Black's king is quite vulnerable, so White should push forward.} cxd4 19. fxe6 dxc3 20. Nxc3 Bxe6 21. Bf4+ Kc8 22. Bxe6+ Qxe6 23. O-O {might be acceptable to an emotionless silicon machine, but practically speaking Black will be lucky to survive.}) 18... f5 19. O-O Kb8 20. Qf7 Nc7 ( 20... Bd6 21. a5 (21. Bxe6 $2 Rhf8 {picks up the bishop on e6.}) 21... Qc7 22. Bxa6 bxa6 23. dxc5 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 25. Nd4 {is gorgeous for White. I don't care what your engine might tell you, Black loses this the majority of the time. White has control of most of the board.}) 21. a5 Qc6 22. Qf6 Bd6 23. dxc5 Bxc5 24. Nd4 Qd6 25. b4 Qe7 26. Qh6 (26. Qe5 Bd6 27. Nxf5 {was mentioned as a thought by Anand, but it fails badly to} exf5 (27... Bxe5 28. Nxe7 Bf6 { also picks up material for Black.}) 28. Qd4 a6 {and White does not have a real attack.}) 26... Bd6 (26... Bb5 27. Bxb5 Bxd4 28. Bxd4 Rxd4 29. cxd4 Nxb5 { was mentioned by Anand in the post mortem. A fine exchange sacrifice, though White should still be doing great after} 30. a6 {The black king is in real danger, and the extra exchange will give him fits.}) 27. Rad1 (27. a6 {always has to be considered, loosening the squares around the black king.} b6 28. Rad1 Rdf8 29. Qh5 {gives White all the chances.}) 27... Rhf8 28. Bf2 Rf6 {The tide is turning. Anand has pushed MVL's forces backward, and now MVL's position is on the verge of completely falling apart.} 29. Qh4 Nd5 30. Nxe6 $4 {losing on the spot.} (30. Bxd5 exd5 31. Nc2 Rg8 {spells trouble for White. The queen is stuck and Black is the one gaining a quick initiative.} 32. Rxd5 Bc6 33. Rxd6 Qxd6 34. Bd4 Rfg6 {is just in time.} 35. Be5 {looks like it wins the queen, except} Qxe5 36. fxe5 Rxg2+ 37. Kh1 e3 {results in a quick win. The king is mated!} 38. Nd4 Rg1# {is a painful way to go down.}) 30... Bxe6 31. Bxd5 e3 { of course! MVL must have confused the move order, which leads him to a swift defeat.} (31... Bxd5 32. Rxd5 e3 33. Bg3 {leads to a true dogfight. White is up a pawn, but his pieces are discombobulated. Black has the iniative and a passed e-pawn, giving him dynamic equality.}) 32. Bxe3 (32. Bg3 {now runs right into} e2 {and Black picks up a full rook.}) 32... Bxd5 33. Bxa7+ Kxa7 34. Qf2+ (34. Rxd5 Bxf4 $1 {is an important inclusion. Black picks up an important pawn, leaving White with no chances.} 35. Rxd8 (35. Rxf5 Be3+ 36. Kh1 Rxf5 { also is won, since the back rank mate is in play.}) 35... Be3+ 36. Kh1 Qxd8 { and the pawn on f5 is immune, because of back rank checkmate ideas.}) 34... Bc5 $1 35. Qxc5+ (35. bxc5 Bc6 {is easily winning. White has three pawns for the piece, but they are weak pawns and Black begins a quick assault on the white king.}) 35... Qxc5+ 36. bxc5 Rd7 37. Rfe1 h6 38. Kf2 Kb8 39. c4 Bc6 40. Rxd7 Bxd7 41. Rb1 Ra6 42. Rb6 Rxa5 (42... Bc6 43. Rxa6 bxa6 {provides White unnecessary drawing chances. Note that the a-pawn's queening square is a dark square, meaning White merely needs to trade off the kingside pawns to draw. Not an easy feat, but why allow such chances?} 44. g3 Kc7 45. Ke3 Bg2 { preventing h3 makes the win trivial.}) 43. Rxh6 Rxc5 44. h4 Rxc4 45. g3 Kc7 46. h5 b5 0-1 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "2"] [White "Aronian, L."] [Black "Svidler, P."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D15"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 d5 {Already, a surprise. As does every other player who faces Svidler, Aronian was expecting a Grunfeld.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Qd2 {A pet line of Aronian's. Out of the 1000+ games in this position, he's the only one who's played it, and that was in a blindfold game! He said he wanted to take the chance that Svidler's Slav knowledge wouldn't know this game.} Nbd7 {Karjakin took the knight in Melody Amber, 2009 (1/2-1/2, 52).} 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qxd5 e6 12. Qd4 h5 {Svilder liked this "pawn sac" (although the e5 pawn is still fairly weak, as any attempt to play f4 will several weaken the light squares on the kingside).} 13. Bd2 (13. Bb2 Bc5) 13... Qb8 14. Ne4 (14. f4 Bc5 15. Qe4 Bf5 16. Qc6 Qc8 17. Qxc8+ Rxc8 { and after ...Bb4 either a knight or bishop will take up permanent residence on e4, with compensation.}) 14... Qxe5 15. a4 Bf5 16. Ng3 Bc2 17. axb5 h4 18. Ne2 Qxb5 19. Qc3 Bh7 20. Nd4 Qb7 21. h3 Be7 22. Be2 O-O 23. Bf3 Be4 24. Bxe4 Qxe4 25. Qc6 Nc5 26. Qxe4 Nxe4 27. Nc6 Bc5 28. Ra4 Nxd2 29. Kxd2 Rfc8 30. Na5 { Due to having to solve some "small problems" Svidler's time was getting critical. The seemingly even position still had more issues to work out.} Be7 31. Rc1 Rxc1 32. Kxc1 Rc8+ 33. Rc4 Rxc4+ 34. Nxc4 g5 35. Kd2 f5 36. Ne5 Bd6 37. Nf3 Be7 38. Ne5 Bd6 39. Nf3 Be7 40. Kd3 Kg7 41. Ne5 Bb4 $2 {Not the only person on the day to err right after the time control.} (41... Bd6 {is a subtle but important difference since after} 42. Nd7 Bb4 43. Kd4 Be1 {there is no Nd3 retreat. Now Black seems to have just enough counterplay to allow his a-pawn to drop but still hold. One computer line is} 44. f3 Kf7 45. e4 Bf2+ 46. Kc4 fxe4 47. fxe4 Ke7 48. Nc5 a5 49. Kb5 Be3 50. Nb7 Kf6 51. Kxa5 Ke5 52. Nd8 Kxe4 53. Nxe6 Kd5 54. Nd8 Bf4 55. Nf7 Ke4 {and g2 is looking mighty weak}) 42. Kc4 a5 43. Kb5 Kf6 44. Nc4 Be1 45. f3 g4 46. Nxa5 gxh3 47. gxh3 Ke5 48. Nc4+ Kd5 49. Nb6+ Kd6 50. Kc4 Kc6 51. Na4 Bf2 52. e4 fxe4 53. fxe4 Kd6 54. Nb2 { Black resigned and Svidler described the winning idea in general terms: White will get his knight to d3 and eventually threaten to advance his b-pawn. With the Black king duly distracted, the knight will be able to hop to attack the e-pawn, and once it advances from e6 to e5, White's king can walk in and trade it for the b-pawn, bringing victory.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "2"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Giri, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D44"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2769"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. a4 Bb4 7. e4 Qa5 8. Bd2 c5 9. Bxc4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. Nc2 Nc6 12. Nxb4 Qxb4 13. b3 Qe7 14. O-O Rd8 15. Re1 Ne5 16. Bf1 Bd7 17. Qe2 Bc6 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bh4 Ng6 20. Bg3 Rd7 21. f3 Rad8 22. Qe3 a6 23. Rab1 Qb4 24. Rec1 e5 25. Be1 Qe7 26. Na2 {This ties Black's horse to his fate. He's now compelled to sac on e4, although Nakamura didn't think Black's position was that desperate.} Rd4 27. Ba5 R8d7 28. Bc3 Bxe4 {You don't get to choose your form of currency often in chess, but in hindsight, paying with the knight might have been the better tender.} (28... Nxe4 29. fxe4 Rxe4 30. Qg3 h5 {And the pressure coming on g2, either by ...Rg4 or ...h4, ...h3 will have to be reckoned with.}) 29. fxe4 Rxe4 30. Qa7 b5 { Now Black is really "all-in." Slower aggression with ...Nf4 might have been preferred.} 31. Qxa6 Ng4 32. h3 Qc5+ 33. Kh1 Nf2+ 34. Kh2 Qe3 35. Re1 Qf4+ 36. g3 Qf5 37. Bg2 Rh4 {Forced, otherwise Black should resign (Nakamura). But he could have induced resignation even after it by accepting the offer.} 38. Qa8+ Kh7 39. Qf3 (39. gxh4 Rd3 40. Rb2 Nxh4 41. Rf1 Nxg2 42. Qxg2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 { and the bark is worse than the bite since} Nxh3+ (43... Rg3 44. Rbxf2 Rxg2+ 45. Kxg2 {and White has a traded the queen for a kingdom.}) 44. Kh1) 39... Rxh3+ 40. Kg1 Qxf3 41. Bxf3 Nd3 $2 (41... Ng4 {Giri didn't consider the move, but he may not even be worse if he had found it!} 42. Bxg4 Rxg3+ 43. Kf1 Rxg4 44. axb5 {But those are four(4!) pawns to deal with.}) 42. Re3 Rxg3+ 43. Kh2 Rxf3 44. Rxf3 bxa4 {Giri regretted the decision, as the b-file is now open for White's extra rook.} 45. bxa4 e4 46. Rf5 Nh4 47. Rfb5 Nf4 48. R5b4 Rd3 49. Rxe4 g5 50. Rxf4 gxf4 51. Rf1 Nf3+ 52. Kh1 Kg6 53. a5 Kf5 54. a6 Ng5 55. a7 Rh3+ 56. Kg1 Rg3+ 57. Kf2 Ne4+ 58. Ke1 Rg8 59. Bd4 Kg4 60. Be5 {Black resigned due to duel threats of Bb8 and Rxf4+.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "2"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Topalov, V."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2761"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bd7 9. c3 Na5 10. Ba2 c5 11. Bg5 O-O 12. axb5 axb5 13. Na3 Qb8 14. Nc2 h6 15. Bh4 c4 16. Nb4 Be6 17. Re1 Qb7 18. d4 Bg4 19. Bb1 Nb3 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ba2 Nxe4 $1 {Whoops -- simply missed by Caruana. "I just really didn't calculate it at all," he told Chess.com.} 22. Bxe7 Ned2 23. Bxb3 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Bxf3 25. Bxd6 Bxd1 {Caruana said he's rather play this way -- giving up his queen -- than just being down a pawn. "I never saw a clear win, but it turns out he can give up his rook...He had to at least find a few good moves."} 26. Bxd1 exd4 27. cxd4 Qd7 28. Bg3 Qxd4 {surprisingly, the win might be gone} (28... Re8 { was the finishing move as after} 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Kf1 Qe4 31. Nc2 Qd3+ 32. Ke1 c3 33. bxc3 Qxc3+ {the b-pawn will charge.}) 29. Bf3 Qd2 30. Rd1 Qxd1+ ( 30... Qxb2 31. Bxa8 Qxb4 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Be4+ g6 {and while White can't win right away with} 34. Be5 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Qxe4+ {, he will create enough counterplay to force Black to play for the draw. Still, Caruana thought Topalov would "risk losing" and play for this variation.}) 31. Bxd1 Ra1 32. Kg2 Rxd1 33. Be5 f6 34. Bc3 Kf7 35. Nc2 g5 36. h3 Kg6 37. Na3 Rd5 38. Kf3 f5 39. Kg3 f4+ 40. Kg2 Kf5 41. f3 h5 {The fortress is secure, as after 42. Nc2 g4 43. hxg4+ hxg4 44. Nd4+ Kg5 45. Ne6+ is a repetition. There's also no king march to the queenside that nets any breakthrough.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s)} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(4s)} Nc6 {(4s)} 3. Bb5 {(4s)} a6 {(5s)} 4. Ba4 {(8s)} Nf6 {(7s)} 5. O-O {(9s)} Be7 {(10s)} 6. d3 {(102s)} b5 {(26s)} 7. Bb3 { (4s)} d6 {(21s)} 8. a4 {(15s)} Bd7 {(44s)} 9. c3 {( 14s)} Na5 {(20s)} 10. Ba2 { (6s)} c5 {(63s)} 11. Bg5 {(90s)} O-O {(16s)} 12. axb5 {(332s)} axb5 {(5s)} 13. Na3 {(4s)} Qb8 {(708s)} 14. Nc2 {(145s)} h6 {(94s)} 15. Bh4 {(402s)} c4 {(203s) } 16. Nb4 {( 1387s)} Be6 {(198s)} 17. Re1 {(18s)} Qb7 {(464s)} 18. d4 {(522s)} Bg4 {(408s)} 19. Bb1 {(1794s)} Nb3 {(167s)} 20. Rxa8 {(6s)} Rxa8 {(13s)} 21. Ba2 $4 {(845s) A terrible blunder that should have cost the American the game.} Nxe4 {(1134s)} 22. Bxe7 {(675s)} Ned2 $3 {(284s) This deadly move is winning. The king is now in dire straits.} 23. Bxb3 {(61s)} Nxf3+ $3 {(17s) Black will not be distracted.} 24. gxf3 {(5s)} Bxf3 {(8s)} 25. Bxd6 {(68s)} ({Any attempt to save the queen leads to mate.} 25. Qd2 $2 Qd7 {and mate cannot be stopped.}) 25... Bxd1 {(475s)} 26. Bxd1 {(4s)} exd4 {(13s)} 27. cxd4 {(6s)} Qd7 {(144s)} 28. Bg3 {(79s)} Qxd4 $2 {(291s) The first in a series of mistakes now that will eventually allow Giri to build a fortress.} (28... Re8 $1 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Kf1 Qe4 31. Nc2 c3 32. bxc3 Qd3+ 33. Ke1 Qxc3+ {and the b-pawn is free to march forward.}) 29. Bf3 {( 18s)} Qd2 {(318s)} 30. Rd1 {(294s)} Qxd1+ $2 { (159s)} (30... Qxb2 31. Bxa8 Qxb4 32. Be4 Qe7 33. Re1 Qd7 {and the queen and two passed pawns should end it.}) 31. Bxd1 {(4s)} Ra1 {(6s)} 32. Kg2 {(3s)} Rxd1 {( 9s) Now things are really not easy and White manages to hold it with fortress themes in the end.} 33. Be5 {(4s)} f6 {(49s)} 34. Bc3 {(11s)} Kf7 { (26s)} 35. Nc2 {(51s)} g5 {(126s)} 36. h3 {(21s)} Kg6 {(134s)} 37. Na3 {(12s)} Rd5 {(11s)} 38. Kf3 {(51s)} f5 {(71s)} 39. Kg3 {(29s)} f4+ {(174s)} 40. Kg2 { (0s)} Kf5 {(0s)} 41. f3 {(383s)} h5 {(328s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2819"] [BlackElo "2770"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(4s)} c6 {(7s) Anand plays the Caro-Kann which might have come as a surprise to MVL. Anand had previously opted for the Berlin for a long time. It seems that Vishy in an 'experimental' mood in Sinquefield.} 2. Nf3 {(125s) MVL goes for something less forced and theoretical.} d5 {(10s)} 3. Nc3 {(3s) An interesting choice against Anand's Caro-Kann.} Nf6 {(15s)} 4. e5 {(13s)} Ne4 { (8s) This is the idea behind Anand's previous move.} (4... Nfd7 5. e6 $5 fxe6 6. d4 {Looks very promising for White}) 5. Ne2 $5 {(383s) again after a somewhat long thought, Maxim goes for the most principled continuation. White tries to quarantine Black's active knight in the middle of board.} Qb6 { (33s) Almost forced.} 6. d4 {(7s)} e6 {(10s)} 7. Nfg1 {(70s) Nimzowitsch would have been delighted if he could see this game! White is planning to capture the knight with f3.} f6 {(13s)} (7... h6 8. h4 {does not solve anything.}) 8. f3 {(8s)} Ng5 {(13s)} 9. exf6 {(8s)} gxf6 {(7s)} 10. f4 {(8s)} Ne4 {(15s) Anand deviates from a recent game between Grischuk and Ding Liren.} (10... Nf7 11. Nf3 Be7 12. c4 dxc4 13. Nc3 Nd6 14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 O-O 16. Bd3 Rf7 17. O-O $44 {1/2-1/2 (31) Grischuk,A (2747)-Ding,L (2778) Wenzhou 2016}) 11. Ng3 { (24s)} Bd7 {(250s) This seemingly awkward move is approved of by engines. Vishy builds a shelter for his king in order to bring it to the queen side via d8 and c7.} 12. Nxe4 {(625s)} dxe4 {(23s)} 13. c3 {(6s)} Na6 $6 {(548s) This move seems a bit passive and it posed some troubles for Anand in this game. c5 Looks like a natural reaction in this position.} (13... c5 14. d5 exd5 15. Qh5+ Kd8 16. Qxd5 Qc6 17. Qf7 Qe6 {and Black seems fine to me.} 18. Qh5 Kc7 19. b3 Nc6 20. Bc4 Qe8 {with very good play for Black.}) 14. Qh5+ {(360s)} Kd8 {(50s)} 15. Bc4 {(28s)} Kc7 {(1116s)} (15... Nc7 {runs into} 16. Qf7 Be7 17. f5 $3 { (#) This is a brilliant positional sacrifice. White controls every important square on the board after this move.} (17. Qg7 Re8 18. f5 Qa5 19. Ne2 Qxf5 20. Ng3 Qg6 $11) 17... exf5 18. Ne2 Ne8 19. Nf4 Nd6 20. Qg7 Re8 21. Be2 {with a very inconvenient position for Black.}) 16. a4 {(462s)} c5 {(90s)} 17. Ne2 { (27s)} Rd8 {(306s) Anand prepares an artificial castle.} 18. Be3 {(536s)} f5 { (393s) While the computer does not like this move, I must side with the human here as I think it a very good decision as it cuts White's queen off from the queenside.} 19. O-O {(209 s)} Kb8 {(346s) The engines believe that White is much better after either Qh4 or Rfd1. However, I find this assessment somewhat irrelevant when a game with such a degree of complication is under way. From a practical point of view, White has the upper hand but Black is not that tied down.} 20. Qf7 $6 {(495s) according to the engines.} Nc7 {(452s)} 21. a5 { (312s)} Qc6 {(10s)} 22. Qf6 {(11s)} Bd6 {(7s) These moves are more or less forced.} 23. dxc5 {(18s)} Bxc5 {(247s)} 24. Nd4 {(42s)} Qd6 {(81s)} 25. b4 { (213s)} Qe7 {(246s)} 26. Qh6 {( 1161s) Vishy spent a lot of time here assessing Qf8, nevertheless he correctly overruled this because after Qh4 White will transfer his queen to f2 which would have put a lot of pressure on Anand's king.} Bd6 {(1414s)} 27. Rad1 {(68s)} Rhf8 {(49s)} 28. Bf2 {(73s)} Rf6 {(35s)} 29. Qh4 {(123s)} Nd5 {(282s)} (29... Ba4 {is what the AI suggests.} 30. Rd2 Rg8 {with equal chances.}) 30. Nxe6 $4 {(409s) MVL blunders in a day of blunders! he could have exhchange the knight and d5 and tried to black on dark squares.} (30. Bxd5 exd5 31. Qh3 $1 Qg7 (31... Bxf4 32. Bh4) 32. Qe3 (32. Bh4 Rh6) 32... Rg6 33. g3 a6 (33... h5 34. Nxf5) 34. Nc2 {with very unpleasant play for Black.}) 30... Bxe6 {(70s)} 31. Bxd5 {(11s)} e3 $1 {(63s) Anand finds the trick quite fast. Bishop on e3 will be en prise. As a result, Anand wins a piece and the game.} 32. Bxe3 {(16s)} Bxd5 {(9s)} 33. Bxa7+ {(5s)} Kxa7 {(124s) } 34. Qf2+ {(726s)} Bc5 $1 {(32s) Final finesse! From here on, Anand converts his advantage comfortably. I highly recommend carefully examining the rest of the game since you can learn a lot from Anand's technique!} 35. Qxc5+ {(5s)} Qxc5+ {(12s)} 36. bxc5 {(1s)} Rd7 {(35s)} 37. Rfe1 {(69s)} h6 {(87s)} 38. Kf2 { (147s)} Kb8 {(144s)} 39. c4 {(166s)} Bc6 {(21s)} 40. Rxd7 {(0s)} Bxd7 {(0s)} 41. Rb1 {(31s)} Ra6 {(485s)} 42. Rb6 {(32s)} Rxa5 {(177s)} 43. Rxh6 {(22s)} Rxc5 {(6s)} 44. h4 {(39s)} Rxc4 {(7s)} 45. g3 {(7s)} Kc7 {(83s)} 46. h5 {(19s)} b5 {(85s) Today MVL handled the opening very well but he fell for a trap in what was a very promising position. Anand's opening choice was very risky but it also represents good news for Vishy's fans since he seems willing to play out of his comfort zone.} 0-1 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2769"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. Nf3 {(4s) After an off day, Nakamura is all up for a return in Sinquefield cup.} d5 {(3s)} 2. d4 {(12s)} Nf6 {(4s)} 3. c4 {(5s)} e6 {(3s)} 4. Nc3 {(6s)} c6 {(8s)} 5. Bg5 {(36s) Nakamura is up for the challenge.} dxc4 {(15s) Are we going to see a theoretical battle in Botvinnik?} 6. a4 {(30s) Nakamura has other things in mind. He opts for a side line. I find it very smart to go for this rare line. What does Giri have up his sleeves in this line?} Bb4 {(194s)} 7. e4 {(19s)} Qa5 {(131s)} (7... Bxc3+ {Is another common reaction by black.} 8. bxc3 Qa5 9. e5 Ne4 10. Rc1 Qd5 11. Be3 O-O (11... c5 12. Be2 Bd7 13. O-O Bc6 14. Qc2 cxd4 15. cxd4 c3 16. Rfd1 Nd7 17. Ne1 Nb6 18. Ra1 O-O 19. a5 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. f3 Bb5 22. Rd3 Nd2 23. Qxc3 Qxc3 24. Rxc3 Nc4 25. Bg5 Rfc8 26. Be7 h6 27. Rac1 Rc6 28. Bb4 Rac8 29. Kf2 b6 30. axb6 axb6 31. Nd3 Na5 32. Bxa5 Rxc3 33. Rxc3 Rxc3 34. Bxc3 Bxd3 35. Bb4 h5 36. Be7 b5 37. Ke3 Bf1 38. Ke4 { 1/2-1/2 (38) Inarkiev,E (2674)-Grischuk,A (2715) Moscow 2007}) 12. Be2 f5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. Qc2 Kh8 17. Ra1 Qf5 18. Qb2 e5 19. a5 Nbd5 20. Nxc4 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nf4 22. Bf3 Qg5 23. Ne3 Ng6 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. Be4 Qe5 26. Ra4 Rb8 27. Rd1 Qe7 28. Bxg6 Rxg6 29. Qa3 Qe8 30. Re4 Be6 31. Qd6 Qg8 32. Qc7 Rf6 33. h4 Rff8 34. Qd6 Rbe8 35. Rdd4 Bc8 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. Qc7 Qf8 38. Rf4 Qc5 39. Nc4 Be6 40. Nd6 Rg8 41. c4 Qa3 42. Re4 h5 43. Qe7 Qc1+ 44. Kh2 Bc8 45. Nf7+ Kh7 46. Ng5+ {1-0 (46) Vidit,S (2658)-Gao,R (2556) Tashkent 2016}) 8. Bd2 {(345s)} c5 {(143s)} 9. Bxc4 {(111s)} cxd4 {(233s)} 10. Nxd4 {(13s)} O-O { (8s)} 11. Nc2 {(433s) Another rare choice after quite some thought.} (11. Qe2 Nc6 12. Nc2 Ne5 13. Ba2 Rd8 14. O-O b6 15. Nxb4 Qxb4 16. Rfd1 Bb7 17. Be1 Nxe4 18. Nb5 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Qxa4 20. b3 Qa6 21. Bb1 f5 22. f3 Bc6 23. fxe4 Bxb5 24. Qb2 Nd3 25. Bxd3 Bxd3 26. exf5 Bxf5 27. Rd7 e5 28. Qxe5 Bxd7 29. Bc3 {1-0 (29) Le,Q (2717)-Dominguez Perez,L (2710) Lubbock 2011}) 11... Nc6 {(297s)} (11... Qc7 $6 12. Qe2 Be7 13. e5 Nfd7 14. f4 Nc6 15. O-O $14 b6 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Ncd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bc5 19. Be3 Re8 20. Rad1 a6 21. b4 Bf8 22. f5 Nxe5 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Nc6 Nxc6 25. Bxd6 Qa7 26. f6 gxf6 27. Rxf6 Ne7 28. Rxf7 {1-0 (28) Potkin,V (2682)-Shirov,A (2714) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011}) 12. Nxb4 {(315s)} Qxb4 {(25s)} 13. b3 {(3s)} Qe7 {(91s)} 14. O-O {(391s)} Rd8 {(50s)} 15. Re1 {(414s)} Ne5 { (251s)} 16. Bf1 {(497s) Nakamura got almost zero out of the opening.} Bd7 { (842s)} (16... b6 17. Qc2 Bb7 18. f3 Rac8 19. Rac1 h5 $5 {looks like a feasible continuation for Giri. Although white has pair of bishop, I believe that black's activity should suffice for a balanced game.}) 17. Qe2 {(1120s)} Bc6 {(603s)} 18. Bg5 {(643s)} (18. f4 $2 Nd3 $19 19. Red1 e5 20. f5 Nc5) (18. f3 {Looks more solid.}) 18... h6 {(137s)} 19. Bh4 {(31s)} Ng6 {(1252s)} 20. Bg3 {(46s)} Rd7 $6 {(61s) too fast and too passive.} (20... Qb4 21. Qc4 (21. Qb2 Nxe4 $17) 21... Qxc4 22. Bxc4 Nh5 $11) 21. f3 {(113s)} Rad8 {(557s)} 22. Qe3 { (19s) Now white is dominant on dark squares. Black's c6 bishop is out of game and black's knight do not promise much activity. The bad news for Giri is that occupying d-file is rather artificial and does not offer him much.} a6 {(208s)} 23. Rab1 {(143s)} Qb4 {(50s)} 24. Rec1 {(40s)} e5 {(81s)} 25. Be1 {(133s)} Qe7 {(456s)} 26. Na2 {(36s)} (26. b4 {seems more direct and threatening.}) 26... Rd4 {(431s)} 27. Ba5 {(292s)} R8d7 {(27s)} 28. Bc3 {(203s) Nakamaura is going to win some material. It is time for Giri to make the waters muddy.} Bxe4 {(7s) } (28... Nxe4 29. fxe4 Rxe4 30. Qg3 h5 {would have promised Giri more chances since the c6 bishop is back to the game and black can create real threats here. }) 29. fxe4 {(10s)} Rxe4 {(2s)} 30. Qa7 {(89s)} b5 $4 {(64s) Why?!} 31. Qxa6 { (322s)} Ng4 {(5s)} 32. h3 {(264s)} Qc5+ {(168s)} 33. Kh1 {(12s)} Nf2+ {(381s)} 34. Kh2 $18 {(#) (6s) Nakamura is winning now. However, he had some dramatic scenario in mind to finish the game!} Qe3 {(206s)} 35. Re1 {(150s)} Qf4+ {(62s) } 36. g3 {(5s)} Qf5 {(27s)} 37. Bg2 {(246s) Nakamura is extremely accurate. The game should end soon. But....} Rh4 $4 {(11s) Giri is in a 'giving' mood. He has, almost, no threat.} 38. Qa8+ {(491s)} Kh7 {(6s)} 39. Qf3 $4 {(3s) Those notorious final moves before time control. Nakamura returns 'all the favors' in one move.} (39. gxh4 Rd3 40. Rb2 Rxh3+ 41. Kg1 {and White is up a lot of material!}) 39... Rxh3+ {(62s)} 40. Kg1 {(0s)} Qxf3 {(0s)} 41. Bxf3 { (0s)} Nd3 $2 {(47s) Giri returns the favor again. He does not believe that he actually could save this game.} (41... Ng4 $1 42. Bxg4 Rxg3+ 43. Kf2 Rxg4 44. axb5 Rf4+ 45. Ke2 Re4+ 46. Kf3 Rf4+ 47. Kg2 Rg4+ (47... Rd5 $5)) 42. Re3 $1 { (26s) Naka does not let it go this time.} Rxg3+ {(278s)} 43. Kh2 {(35s)} Rxf3 { (40s)} 44. Rxf3 {(0s)} bxa4 {(97s)} 45. bxa4 {(0s)} e4 {(7s)} 46. Rf5 {(76s)} Nh4 {(385s)} 47. Rfb5 {(54s)} Nf4 {(10s)} 48. R5b4 {(907s)} Rd3 {(932s)} 49. Rxe4 {(8s) Nakamura does not see 'ghosts' anymore.} g5 {(15s)} 50. Rxf4 $1 { (753s) a good simplifying continuation.} gxf4 {(4s)} 51. Rf1 {(4s)} Nf3+ {(82s) } 52. Kh1 {(43s)} Kg6 {(814s)} 53. a5 {(11s)} Kf5 {(357s)} 54. a6 {(61s)} Ng5 { (13s)} 55. a7 {(222s)} Rh3+ {(4s)} 56. Kg1 {(7s)} Rg3+ {(3s)} 57. Kf2 {(5s)} Ne4+ {(7s)} 58. Ke1 {(10s)} Rg8 {(189s)} 59. Bd4 {(5s)} Kg4 {(394s)} 60. Be5 { (67s) A very interesting opening discussion. A good middle game by Nakamura who blundered right at the time control, but Giri threw away his chance to make at least a draw. An off day at the office for Giri and a good come back for Nakamura.} 1-0 [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "3"] [White "Veselin Topalov"] [Black "Maxime Vachier-Lagrave"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2819"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 Nf6 8. f3 e5 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Be3 Be7 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O Nbd7 13. g4 b5 14. g5 b4 15. gxf6 bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nxf6 17. Na5 Rc8 18. Nc6 Qe8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qa5 Rc6 21. Rg1 Rfc8 22. Rg2 Bh3 23. Rgd2 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qe6 25. Rff2 h6 26. Kb1 Qh3 27. Rd3 $4 {A horrible blunder. Apparently, Topalov prepared this line and knew to avoid this move. Yet somehow, the position appeared on the board and he forgot. } Rxc2 (27... d5 $1 {it's hard to believe that winning a free pawn is a blunder, but Black had a chance to win even more. The point is that} 28. exd5 Rxc2 29. Rxc2 Qf1+ 30. Bc1 Qxd3 31. Qd2 Qf5 $1 {keeping the queens on the board favors Black, since the pawns are very weak and it will take some time for White to get out of the pin.} 32. d6 Rc5 33. b3 Rd5 34. Qe2 Rxd6 {allows Black to go a pawn up.}) 28. Rxc2 Qf1+ 29. Bc1 Qxd3 30. Qd2 Qxc2+ (30... Qxd2 $4 31. Rxc8+ Kh7 32. Bxd2 {proves that trying to keep the rooks on the board would have been a tragic blunder.}) 31. Qxc2 Rxc2 32. Kxc2 {This was all forced. White is down a pawn, but the queenside pawns will serve as a necessary distraction.} Kf8 33. Kb3 Ke7 34. Kc4 (34. Ka4 d5 35. exd5 Nxd5 36. Ka5 f5 37. Kxa6 g5 (37... f4 38. Kb5 (38. Bd2 g5 39. Kb5 g4 40. fxg4 f3 41. Be1 Ne3 42. Kc5 Nxg4 43. Kd5 f2 44. Bxf2 Nxf2 45. Kxe5 {somehow is a draw!}) 38... g5 39. Kc4 g4 40. fxg4 f3 41. Kd3 e4+ 42. Kd2 Nf4 43. Ke3 Nd3 44. Bd2 {is better for Black, but looks to be drawn in the same way.} Ne5 45. Be1 Nxg4+ 46. Kxe4 f2 47. Bxf2 Nxf2+ 48. Kf5) 38. Kb5 g4 39. fxg4 f4 {again is the same thing.}) 34... Ke6 35. b4 d5+ 36. exd5+ Nxd5 37. Bd2 f5 38. b5 axb5+ 39. Kxb5 Kd6 (39... g5 40. Kc4 f4 41. Kd3 Nf6 42. a4 {won't pan out for Black, because the king will get distracted to the a-pawn. Thus, still a draw!}) 40. a4 g5 41. a5 f4 42. Kc4 Nc7 (42... g4 43. fxg4 f3 44. Be1 (44. Kd3 $4 e4+ $1 {and Black queens.} 45. Kxe4 f2) 44... e4 45. Bg3+ Kc6 46. h4 {and progress can't be made. } e3 47. Kd3 f2 48. Ke2 Nc3+ 49. Kf1 Ne4 50. Bxf2 exf2 51. g5 hxg5 52. hxg5 Nxg5 53. Kxf2 {is of course a draw.}) 43. Bb4+ Ke6 44. h3 h5 45. Bc5 e4 46. fxe4 g4 47. hxg4 hxg4 48. Kd3 Na6 49. Bd4 {No progress can be made, the draw is clear.} Nb4+ 50. Ke2 Na6 51. Kf2 Kd6 52. Kg2 Ke6 53. Kf2 Kd6 54. Kg2 Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "3"] [White "Anand, V."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2791"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. Nd5 Nxd5 9. Qxd5 Nc6 10. Qd1 Be6 11. Nc3 Ne7 12. Bd3 d5 13. exd5 {Anand said he released the tension in the center, even though it frees Black's pieces, for a very subtle reason. Due to the Black pawn on h5, Black will have trouble castling short, and the trade nullifies Black's ability to push ...d4 and castle queenside. Deep stuff!} Nxd5 14. O-O Nb4 15. Qe2 Qc7 16. f4 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Bd4 19. f5 Bd7 20. f6 g6 21. Nd5 Qd6 22. Ne7 {That's an annoying piece, but luckily for Nakamura, one knight can't win the game alone.} Rd8 23. a4 (23. Bd2 Bc6 24. Ba5 b6 25. Bb4 $1 {was given by Anand, but he admitted Black could play 24...Rd7 instead.}) 23... Bc6 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. Nxc6 {bailing out since you can't play} (25. Qxe3 Qxd3 26. Qxe5 Qxh3+) 25... bxc6 26. Qxe3 Qd4 {Nakamura has to gets the queens traded since his king is so much weaker.} (26... O-O 27. Qh6) 27. Rae1 Qxe3 28. Rxe3 O-O 29. Rxe5 Rxd3 30. Rc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "3"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Aronian, L."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2792"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O h6 7. d4 Bb6 8. dxe5 Nxe4 9. Bd5 Nxf2 (9... Nc5 {is more standard according to GM Maurice Ashley.}) 10. Rxf2 d6 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Bb3 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Qf6 {White's pieces would love to flood the center, but he has to invest valuable time dealing with the numerous pieces Black could bring to pile on the pinned f3-knight.} 14. Qd2 { The idea is Qf4, when White's problems would be solved.} g5 $1 (14... Ne5 { with the idea of} 15. Qf4 (15. Qd4 Re8 16. Bf4 Qxf4 $1 17. Qxf4 Nd3+ 18. Kg3 Nxf4 19. Kxf4 Re2 {was another way to play for Black}) 15... Nd3+ {was more sane}) 15. Kg1 Bg4 16. Qf2 Rfe8 17. Be3 Bxf3 18. Nd2 Rxe3 19. Qxe3 Bh5 20. Qh3 Be2 21. Re1 Re8 22. Bc4 Qd8 23. Qxh6 Bxc4 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 26. Qc5+ Kg8 27. Qg5+ Kf8 28. Qh6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "3"] [White "Anish Giri"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2755"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] {Anish Giri entered this round reeling from a loss to Nakamura. Ding Liren blew a promising position against Wesley So in the second round. Both players were looking to bounce back with a win.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 {Giving the light-squared bishop some breathing room, this move aims to fight for the vital d5 square.} (8. a4 { is quite standard as well.}) 8... Na5 9. Ba2 c5 {This is a thematic idea, but it forever leaves the d5 square vulnerable. Giri pounces with:} 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Nh4 O-O (11... Bxa2 12. Nxa2 (12. Rxa2 Nxe4 13. dxe4 Bxh4 14. Qg4 Bf6 15. Nd5 { gives White good compensation, but why blunder a pawn?}) 12... Nxe4 13. Nf5 Nf6 14. Nxg7+ {is really ugly for Black. White regains the pawn and has a winning initiative.} Kd7 15. f4 {leaves the black king in the middle of the crossfire.} ) 12. Nf5 Rc8 13. Bg5 Bxf5 (13... h6 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Bxd5 Nc6 {is simply better for White. The light-squared bishop is hard to deal with, and at some point Giri could consider opening the rook with f4.}) 14. exf5 Ne8 $6 15. Be3 (15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. f4 Nf6 18. Qd2 {is also nice for White. Again, the bishop outclasses the wayward knight on a5.}) 15... Bg5 16. Bd5 {A good-looking move, though perhaps unnecessary. d5 is a transit square, but the knight would rather sit pretty there.} (16. Qd2 Bxe3 17. fxe3 { might have been prudent. White would like to play bishop against knight.}) 16... Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nf6 18. Qf3 Re8 19. b3 h6 {A good waiting move. Black is slightly worse, but there are no exploitable weaknesses.} 20. Be4 c4 $1 { Giri clearly thought this was impossible, but Ding had devious plans.} 21. dxc4 Nxc4 $1 (21... bxc4 22. b4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Nc6 24. f6 {would have been absolutely crushing. White breaks through, and all of Black's pawns are weak.}) 22. bxc4 Rxc4 23. Bc6 Rxc3 24. Bxe8 Qxe8 {Ding was thrilled to enter this position. There is a material imbalance (a knight and pawn for the rook), but now Black is extremely active and Giri has to be extremely careful.} 25. Qb7 Ng4 (25... Qc6 26. Qxc6 Rxc6 27. Rfb1 Rxc2 28. a4 Nd5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Rb3 { results in equality. Black can't keep all of his pawns, and White's rooks are quickly becoming extremely active.}) (25... d5 26. h3 Qf8 27. Qxa6 Qc5 28. Rae1 Rxa3 29. Qb7 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 31. Kh2 {looks a bit scary for Black. Yet the engines say all zeroes.}) 26. f6 Nxf6 27. Qxa6 Qd7 28. Rab1 Rc5 29. a4 (29. c4 $1 bxc4 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Rxf6 gxf6 32. Qa8 Qc6 33. Rh8+ Kg6 34. Qg8+ Kf5 35. Qxf7 {is an improved variation of the game continuation. The engines may find ways to draw, but the black king is in incredible danger. The fundamental point is that the c-pawn blocks the black rook from becoming active. However, it is entirely counterintuitive to hand your opponent a passer in an ending.} Ke4 36. Qxf6 Qb6 37. Qf3+ Kd3 38. Qd1+ Kxe3 39. Rf8 Ke4 40. Qf3+ Kd4 41. Qd1+ Ke4 42. Qf3+ {is a totally bonkers variation to calculate. Who can see this?!}) 29... bxa4 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Rxf6 $6 {Giri parts with the exchange, to some extent justifying his decision to play f6. The infilitration actually does not pan out, and Ding should have punished his opponent.} (31. Rb7 Qc8 32. Qxd6 Rxc2 33. Rxf7 Rxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Qg4+ 35. Kh1 (35. Kf2 $4 Ne4+ 36. Ke1 Nxd6) 35... Qe4+ 36. Kg1 Qg4+ {results in a perpetual.}) 31... gxf6 32. Qa8 Qc6 {The only sensible move!} 33. Rh8+ Kg6 34. Qg8+ Kf5 35. Qxf7 (35. h3 Ke4 36. Qg4+ Kxe3 37. Qg3+ Kd2 38. Qd3+ Kc1 39. Qf1+ Kxc2 40. Rb8 {somehow is a draw. Switch on your engines, and everything results in a repetition.}) 35... Rxc2 {During the commentary, I was highly critical of Ding's move. I understand the rationale behind making this move, which forces a draw on the spot, but what I can't wrap my head around is that Ding had 25 minutes and he played it after just two munutes. Finding a win with your king in the center of the board is anything but easy, yet all players should learn a lesson from this decision. If you see a forced draw, store the variation in your pocket and spend your remaining time searching the depths of the position for something more. Something more might not exist, but you have to do your due diligence. For the record, you can not fault any person for missing this absurd continuation. But I do think you must sit and calculate for a larger percentage of your remaining time.} (35... Ke4 36. Qg6+ f5 37. Rf8 Rxc2 38. Rxf5 Kd3 $3 {is the ridiculous move that needs to be played. Of course, I don't fault any player for not seeing this. But you have to at least try!} 39. Rxe5+ Kc3 40. Re6 a3 41. Rxd6 Rxg2+ $1 42. Qxg2 Qxd6 {and Black's pawn is far too quick. White will pray for a draw, but nobody will be listening.}) 36. Qh7+ Ke6 37. Qg8+ Kf5 38. Qh7+ Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2819"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2r3k1/5pp1/p1rp1n1p/Q3p3/4P3/4BP1q/PPPR1R1P/1K6 w - - 0 27"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 27. Rd3 {(#) 342} Rxc2 {556} 28. Rxc2 {179} Qf1+ {[%emt 0:00:25]} 29. Bc1 { [%emt 0:00:05]} Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 30. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxc2+ {[%emt 0: 00:06]} 31. Qxc2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rxc2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 32. Kxc2 {2 Black is up a pawn, but White's king and queenside pawns make winning this very challenging, if indeed it can be won.} Kf8 {1473} 33. Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:52]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 34. Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:54]} Ke6 {458} 35. b4 {264} d5+ {163} 36. exd5+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 37. Bd2 {486} f5 {711} 38. b5 {563 } axb5+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 39. Kxb5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Kd6 {631} 40. a4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. a5 {479} f4 {195} 42. Kc4 {842} Nc7 {[%emt 0: 00:12]} 43. Bb4+ {111} Ke6 {261} 44. h3 {264} h5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 45. Bc5 {316} e4 {400} 46. fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} g4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 47. hxg4 {121} hxg4 { [%emt 0:00:13]} 48. Kd3 {173} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 49. Bd4 {142} Nb4+ {99} 50. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 51. Kf2 {67} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 52. Kg2 {139} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 53. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 54. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2791"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s)} c5 {(18s) Thanks to their victories in the second round, both players seem to be in a fighting mood. A Najdorf is a perfect choice for the audience and chess fans.} 2. Nf3 {(9s)} d6 {(3s)} 3. d4 {(7s) even better news! no sidelines with Bb5+.} cxd4 {(8s)} 4. Nxd4 {(6s)} Nf6 {(4s)} 5. Nc3 { (7s)} a6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. h3 {9 This move has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Some of sicilian defence theoretician would convincingly argue that this move may be even more dangerous than English attack ( similiar to the game between Giri and MVL in the first round).} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Nde2 $5 {9 The most common move. The idea of this move is to play g4 and transfer the knight to g3, which will be an improvement of knight's position compared to English attack when the d4 knight ends up on unfavorable square of b3.} h5 { 8 Again, the most common move. Nakamura prevents g4.} 8. Nd5 $5 {7 An odd choice but not for Anand. He has successfully employed this move against Topalov and MVL earlier this year. Nakamura is surely prepared against this move.} (8. Bg5 {is the most common move.} Be6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 g6 12. O-O-O Nd7 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Nec3 Rc5 15. Be2 b5 16. a3 $14 {1-0 (74) Anand,V (2803)-Topalov,V (2803) London 2015}) 8... Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 9. Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nc6 $5 {5 Nakamura does not follow MVL's and Topalov's path. His confident reaction (he only spends a bit of time) shows that he is prepared to face 'Anand's rich opening arsenal'.} (9... Nd7 10. Nc3 Nf6 { here Anand employed two different moves against Topalov and MVL and in both cases the two top super-GMs failed to solve all of their opening problems. Although, one has to consider that these games were played in rapid and blitz time control.} 11. Qd3 (11. Qd1 Be6 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Be2 g6 15. O-O Rc8 16. Nd5 Bg5 17. c3 O-O 18. a4 Kg7 19. a5 h4 20. Ra4 Rc5 21. b4 Rc6 22. c4 Bf4 23. Ra3 Qg5 24. Nb6 f5 25. b5 axb5 26. cxb5 Rc1 27. Qxd6 Rxf1+ 28. Bxf1 Bf7 29. a6 bxa6 30. bxa6 Rd8 31. Nd7 fxe4 32. a7 e3 33. a8=Q exf2+ 34. Kh1 { 1-0 (34) Anand,V (2770)-Topalov,V (2761) Leuven 2016}) 11... Be7 12. Bg5 Be6 13. O-O-O Qa5 14. a3 Rc8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qc5 17. Qe2 h4 18. Kb1 Bg5 19. g3 hxg3 20. fxg3 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Qe3 22. Qxe3 Bxe3 23. Rxd6 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Bc4 Ke7 26. h4 Rh6 27. g4 Rf6 28. g5 Rf2 29. Rh3 Bd2 30. a4 Rf4 31. Bd5 b5 32. axb5 axb5 33. Ka2 f6 34. gxf6+ Kxf6 35. h5 Rf2 36. Rg3 Bg5 37. Rc3 Bf4 38. Kb3 Kg5 39. Rc7 Kh6 40. Bf7 Bc1 41. Rc6+ Rf6 42. Rxf6+ gxf6 43. c3 Kg5 44. Bg6 f5 45. exf5 e4 46. f6 Kxf6 47. Bxe4 b4 48. cxb4 Ke5 49. Bf3 Kd4 50. b5 Kc5 51. Bc6 {1-0 (51) Anand,V (2770)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) Leuven 2016}) 10. Qd1 { [%emt 0:00:38]} (10. Nc3 $2 {is impossible due to} Nd4 $17) 10... Be6 {[%emt 0: 00:10]} 11. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Ne7 $1 {5 This is Nakmaura's idea. He solves the 'd5' problem of although it will cost him few tempi before he finishes his development.} 12. Bd3 {191} d5 {615} 13. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 14. O-O {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nb4 {882} ({My computer suggests:} 14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 f5 {but this is too artifical for a human!}) 15. Qe2 {1254 Now Vishy addresses the problem of e5 square which is due to lack of enough development on black's side.} Qc7 {975} 16. f4 {662 A classic reaction by Anand. Fortunately for Nakamura, he has enough resources to maintain dynamic balance.} (16. Re1 Nxd3 17. cxd3 Rd8 18. Be3 Be7 19. Rad1 (19. Rac1 Qd6) 19... h4 20. d4 exd4 21. Bxd4 O-O {and black is out of any danger.}) 16... Bc5+ {528} 17. Kh1 { 113} Nxd3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 18. cxd3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 19. f5 {496} Bd7 {419} 20. f6 {158} g6 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 21. Nd5 {155} Qd6 {[%emt 0: 00:12]} 22. Ne7 {29 Black cannot castle but there is no open file in the game which might let White cause any trouble for Black's king. The bishop on d4 is nicely placed and it is only matter of time for White's grip to peter out.} Rd8 {60} 23. a4 {963} Bc6 {584} 24. Be3 {443 equivalent of a draw offer.} Bxe3 {451 } 25. Nxc6 {67} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 26. Qxe3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qd4 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 27. Rae1 {257} Qxe3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 28. Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} O-O { [%emt 0:00:06]} 29. Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 30. Rc5 { 13 A nice opening debate and a flawless draw!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.08"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Hikaru Nakamura"] [Black "Veselin Topalov"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2761"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] {Nakamura entered this game trailing the leaders by a half point. Topalov had played some uneven chess in the first three rounds, but sat atop the leaderboard. Hikaru undoubtedly wanted to win this one, but he found himself in trouble early.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 (4... dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O {is an insanely complex line that needs to be analyzed deeply.}) 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. dxc5 Na6 8. Rd1 Nxc5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 {This novelty involves a queen sacrifice, but as Viswanathan Anand told me "it is known."} (9... exd5 10. g3 Qa5 11. Bg2 Nce4 12. O-O Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bd7 14. Nd4 Rac8 15. Nf5 Rfe8 16. Nxe7+ Rxe7 17. Bg5 Qxc3 18. Qxc3 Rxc3 19. Bxd5 Rxe2 20. Bxb7 Rc7 21. Bf3 Rxa2 22. Rfe1 Kf8 23. h4 h6 24. Bf4 Rc8 25. Rd4 Be6 26. g4 Rc3 27. Kg2 Rcc2 28. Bg3 g5 29. Re5 {1/2-1/2 (29) Stocek,J (2600)-Berkes,F (2705) Porto Carras 2011}) 10. e4 Nxf4 (10... Nb4 11. Qb1 Qa5 12. a3 Nc6 13. Bb5 { variations like these look highly unpleasant for Black.}) 11. Rxd8 Rxd8 12. Ne5 (12. g3 Nfd3+ 13. Bxd3 Nxd3+ 14. Kf1 b6 15. Kg2 Bb7 {Black is objectively worse here, but if White is not quick, the bishops will be unleashed. In many ways it is easier for Black to play, so Topalov would not be too upset to get this position.}) 12... Bf6 (12... f6 13. g3 fxe5 14. gxf4 exf4 {gains Black a pawn, but Nakamura's position has improved. There are some targets in the black camp, and the white king is in no danger.}) 13. Nb5 b6 14. b4 Bxe5 15. bxc5 a6 (15... Bd7 16. g3 Ng2+ $1 17. Bxg2 Bxb5 18. Bf1 Bc6 {leaves White woefully underdeveloped, with a very fragile position.}) 16. Nd6 bxc5 (16... Bd4 $1 {was by far the best try for Topalov, and Veselin was really disappointed to miss this move.} 17. Nxc8 (17. e5 bxc5 18. g3 Ng6 {is still big trouble. Pushing f4 is bad because it exposes the king, and if the e-pawn falls as well White is in big trouble. The rook will infiltrate along the b-file.}) 17... Raxc8 18. c6 Bc5 19. Qb1 Rxc6 {is lights out. White is forced to part with material, because his king is so weak.} 20. Bxa6 Bb4+ 21. Kf1 Rd2 22. g3 Rcc2 23. Qxc2 (23. gxf4 Rxf2+ 24. Kg1 Rg2+ 25. Kf1 Rcf2#) 23... Rxc2 24. gxf4 Rxa2 25. Be2 Bc5 {and White's pieces are totally stuck. Black's b-pawn will decide matters.}) 17. Nc4 Bd4 18. g3 Ng6 19. Be2 Bd7 20. O-O Bb5 21. Na5 Ne5 22. Rd1 {This move is necessary, because it prevents a future Rb2, since the bishop is pinned to the rook on d8.} Rab8 (22... Rac8 23. Kg2 Nc6 {was also an idea. Black would love for White to capture on b5.}) 23. Kg2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 Rb5 25. Nb3 h6 26. Rd2 (26. Nxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 cxd4 28. Qd2 d3 29. f4 Rc5 30. Qd1 Rc2+ 31. Kh3 Ng6 32. Qxd3 Rxa2 {is better for White, but Black should have little difficulty holding a half point. The symmetrical pawn structure makes Black's life easier.}) 26... Nc6 27. Qc4 e5 (27... Na5 28. Nxa5 Rxa5 29. a4 Rb8 $2 30. Rxd4 cxd4 31. Qc7 {picks up a rook.}) 28. a4 Rb4 29. Qxa6 Rxb3 30. Qxc6 Ra3 31. Qa6 (31. f4 exf4 32. gxf4 {was a significantly better try. Nakamura would have done well to transform the pawn structure on the kingside, because now he has the opportunity to create a passed pawn. An attack is not outside the realm of possibility.}) 31... Rb8 32. a5 c4 33. Qxc4 Rxa5 {Now the game is easily drawn. As soon as a pair of rooks is traded, the half point is secured.} 34. Kh3 Rc5 35. Qe2 Rcb5 36. f4 Rb4 37. Qd1 Rb1 (37... g6 {is the only way to possibly get in trouble, and there's no reason to play it.} 38. f5 {feels uncomfortable. Now there are more weak ranks for White to poke at.}) 38. Qh5 R1b5 39. Qe2 Rb4 40. Qd1 Rb1 41. Qh5 R1b5 42. Qd1 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {6 After a great comeback in round two and a 'convenient' draw in round three, Nakamura faces one of the other joint leaders, who survived miraculously yesterday.} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e6 { [%emt 0:00:07]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00: 10]} Be7 {17 Topalov opts for a solid QGD. Well, it is not sure how solid!} 5. Bf4 {9 Nakamura goes for the most aggressive continuation in the QGD.} O-O { [%emt 0:00:18]} 6. Qc2 $5 {5 An interesting choice. Nakamura tries to avoid the solid Nbd7 line.} c5 {164 Played after some thought. Was Topa surprised? As a general rule of thumb, c5 is strong when White's queen leaves d1 in this line.} 7. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 8. Rd1 {17 A rare choice.} (8. e3 Nxc5 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 a6 11. a4 Bd7 {gives Black a solid play with good perspective.} 12. O-O Bc6 13. Rfd1 Qa5 14. Nd4 Rfc8 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. h3 Rac8 17. Bb5 Rb6 18. Be2 Nce4 {0-1 (67) Le,Q (2705)-Short,N (2690) Caleta 2013 With an approximately balanced position.}) 8... Nxc5 {147} 9. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00: 12]} Nxd5 $6 {180 After Topa's blunder yesterday, I wonder if he deliberately 'blunders' to show that he can even draw when he is down material. Or was this simply home preparation? Now we get a two-results position in which Black will suffer for a long time.} (9... exd5 10. e3 Be6 {leads to a very normal IQP (isolated queen's pawn) position} 11. Be2 Rc8 12. O-O Nce4 13. Be5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Bd4 Qc7 16. Bd3 g6 17. h3 Nc5 18. Ne5 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Bd6 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 b6 22. Qe2 Bh2+ 23. Kh1 Be5 24. Qf3 Rfd8 25. g3 Qe7 26. Kg2 Bxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxc3 28. Rfd1 Rc4 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Qe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. g5 Ra4 33. Rd2 Kg7 34. f4 h6 35. gxh6+ Kxh6 36. Kf3 Ra3 37. g4 {1/2-1/2 (37) Chirila, I (2542)-Kiewra,K (2394) Chicago 2015}) 10. e4 {2244} Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} ( 10... Nb4 11. Qb1 Qa5 12. a3 Nc6 13. Bb5 $1 {with a lot of annoying troubles for Black.}) 11. Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 12. Ne5 {673 beginning a series of inaccurate moves which diminish White's advantage.} (12. g3 Ncd3+ 13. Bxd3 Nxd3+ 14. Kf1 Nb4 15. Qb3 b6 16. Kg2 Bb7 17. Rd1 {seems more promising than what Nakamura did in the game.}) 12... Bf6 {329} 13. Nb5 {146} b6 {444} 14. b4 {62 Forced.} Bxe5 {858} 15. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {223} 16. Nd6 {72} bxc5 $2 {167} ({After} 16... Bd4 {Only Black can play for a win.} 17. e5 (17. g3 Bxc5 18. gxf4 Bxd6 $17) 17... bxc5 18. g3 Ng6 19. Bg2 Rb8 20. O-O Nxe5 21. Nxc8 Rdxc8 {with clear advantage for Black}) 17. Nc4 {94 Again, Nakamura has the upper hand.} Bd4 {166} 18. g3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Ng6 {67} 19. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bd7 {691} 20. O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bb5 {242} 21. Na5 $1 { 281 An important decision. If Black could exchange this knight, White wouldn't have a chance to make any progress.} Ne5 {150} 22. Rd1 {159} Rab8 {891} 23. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Bxe2 $2 {175 A strange decision. Topa voluntarily gives White attacking chances.} (23... Rdc8 {waiting would have been a better policy.} 24. f4 Nd7 25. Nb3 Nf6 26. Bf3 (26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Qd3 (28. Qb2 Nxe4 29. Rxd4 Nc3 $1 {with good drawing chances for black.}) 28... Rc4) 26... Ba4 27. Qc4 Bb5 28. Qc2 Ba4 29. Qd3 Bxb3 30. axb3 Rb6 {With a draw being the most probable result.}) 24. Qxe2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 25. Nb3 { 47 Now things are quite difficult for Topa.} h6 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 26. Rd2 {427} (26. Qc2 {with the idea of taking on d4 and penetrating through the c-file could have posed more serious problems.}) 26... Nc6 {194} 27. Qc4 {301} e5 {103 } 28. a4 {199} Rb4 {87} 29. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Rxb3 {232} 30. Qxc6 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} Ra3 {60} 31. Qa6 {181} ({Engines claim that after} 31. f4 exf4 32. gxf4 {White has great winning chances.} h5 33. e5 h4 34. e6 fxe6 35. Qxe6+ Kh7 36. Qe4+ Kg8 37. a5 h3+ 38. Kf1 Rxa5 39. Qe6+ Kf8 40. Qxh3 {however the position is far from clear.} Rda8 {After this strong move Black is going to force the exchange of a pair of rooks, after which White's advantage is only symbolic.}) 31... Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 32. a5 {200} c4 {111} 33. Qxc4 {390} Rxa5 {5 Engines claim a serious advantage for White in this position, however, we all know that this position is close to a fortress and the split point is a very likely result.} 34. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 35. Qe2 {[%emt 0: 00:20]} Rcb5 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 36. f4 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Rb4 {77} 37. Qd1 {92} Rb1 {107} 38. Qh5 {125} R1b5 {196} 39. Qe2 {196} Rb4 40. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb1 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Qh5 {297} R1b5 {61} 42. Qd1 {14 Nakamura gives up trying. It is hard to improve the position for White. So, is Topa's queen sacrifice a revolutionary idea or simply a blunder?} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2771"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(4s)} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(9s)} Nc6 {(6s)} 3. Bc4 {(10s)} Bc5 {(8s)} 4. O-O {(29s)} Nf6 {(5s)} 5. d3 {(6s)} O-O {(5s)} 6. c3 {(8s)} d5 {(4s)} 7. exd5 { (11s)} Nxd5 {(6s)} 8. a4 {(14s)} Nb6 {(12s)} 9. Bb5 {(#) (78s)} Ne7 $1 { (6s) This was first played by Norwegian GM Jon Hammer in May this year in the French Top 12 League.} 10. a5 {(86s)} c6 {(5s)} 11. axb6 {(78s)} cxb5 {(4s)} 12. Rxa7 {(10s)} Rxa7 {( 6s)} 13. bxa7 {(7s)} Bxa7 {(3s)} 14. Nxe5 Bf5 {(10s)} 15. Re1 {(965s)} (15. Be3 Bb8 16. d4 Ng6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Nd2 Qd6 19. g3 Qd5 20. Re1 Re8 21. Bf4 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Bxf4 23. gxf4 b4 {1/2-1/2 (77) Milliet,S (2346)-Hammer,J (2689) Drancy 2016}) 15... Bb8 $1 {(17s) Anand said that this was more precise than what he himself had prepared in this line, and praised the idea of 15...Bb8! followed by ...b4 and ...Qd5.} 16. Na3 {(169s)} b4 { (417s)} 17. cxb4 {(31s)} Qd5 {(7s)} 18. Nec4 {(804s)} Bxd3 {(1016s)} 19. Rxe7 { (383s)} Bxc4 {( 6s)} 20. Qxd5 {(54s)} Bxd5 {(5s)} 21. Rd7 {(178s)} Bc6 {(63s)} 22. Rd1 {(10s)} Ba4 {(300s)} 23. Rd3 {(38s)} Bc7 {(104s)} 24. b3 {(97s)} Bc6 { (5s)} 25. f3 {(84s)} Rd8 {(27s)} 26. Rxd8+ {(16s)} Bxd8 {(4s)} 27. b5 {(14s)} Bd7 {(40s)} 28. Kf2 {(57s)} Be7 {(14s)} 29. Ke2 {(17s)} Bxa3 {(4s)} 30. Bxa3 { (6s)} Bxb5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2819"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s)} c5 {(4s)} 2. Nf3 {(4s)} d6 {(3s)} 3. d4 {(5s)} cxd4 {(4s)} 4. Nxd4 {(5s)} Nf6 {(5s)} 5. f3 {(6s)} Nc6 {(142s)} 6. Nc3 {(45s)} e5 {(16s)} 7. Nb3 { (5s)} Be7 {(28s)} 8. Be3 {(11s)} Be6 {(138s)} 9. Nd5 {(161s)} Bxd5 {(144s)} 10. exd5 {(5s)} Nb4 {(6s)} 11. c4 {(134s)} a5 {(134s)} 12. Be2 {(686s)} Na6 {(720s) } 13. Nd2 {(1066s)} O-O {(293s)} 14. Nb1 {(183s)} Nd7 {(240s)} 15. Qd2 {(159s)} f5 {( 204s)} 16. Nc3 {(62s)} Bh4+ {(1021s)} 17. g3 {(16s)} f4 {(5s)} 18. Bf2 { (52s)} Bg5 {(6s)} 19. Qc2 {( 354s)} Nac5 {(1002s)} 20. Kf1 {(1407s)} Qe8 { (320s)} 21. Re1 {(782s)} e4 {(206s)} 22. Bxc5 {(173s)} Nxc5 {(205s)} 23. Nxe4 { (46s)} Nxe4 {(11s)} 24. Bd3 {(28s)} fxg3 {(324s)} 25. Bxe4 {(#) (17s)} Qh5 $2 { ( 630s)} ({Black need to play} 25... g2+ {first} 26. Kxg2 {before playing} Qh5 {after which he would be relatively fine.}) 26. Kg2 $1 {(260s)} gxh2 {(4s)} 27. Rxh2 {(15s)} Bh4 {(4s)} 28. Bxh7+ {(95s)} Kh8 {(5s)} 29. Be4 {(294s)} Rf4 { (59s)} 30. Kh1 {(320s) and now Black is in seriousn trouble.} Qe5 {(158s)} 31. Rg1 {(56s)} (31. c5 {was strongest here. The Bh4 is pinned and this would free the way for White's central pawns.} dxc5 32. Qxc5 Rd8 33. Qb6 Rxd5 34. Qf2 $1 { The point is that after Rxd5 has been played, Black suddenly finds himself with the bishop on h4 attacked, and if the queen comes to its rescue, the rook is hanging on d5.} Rd6 35. Bg6 {and} Qxe1+ 36. Qxe1 {is forced due to the back rank threats.}) 31... g5 {(45s)} 32. Qc3 $2 {(366s)} ({Again} 32. c5 {would do the job.}) 32... Qxc3 {(12s)} 33. bxc3 {(3s)} Kg7 {(5s)} 34. Rb1 {(101s)} Rf7 { (176s)} 35. Rb6 {(77s)} Ra6 {(221s)} 36. Rhb2 $2 {(81s)} ({White really needed to keep the rooks on the board to avoid the increase in drawishness due to the opposite-colored bishops.} 36. Rb5) 36... Rxb6 {(7s)} 37. Rxb6 {(3s)} Bf2 { (102s)} 38. Rxd6 {(77s)} Rf6 $1 {(4s) White cannot avoid the exchange of the rooks and thus the dreaded opposite-colored bishop ending is inevitable.} 39. Rd8 {(17 s)} Rf8 {(4s)} 40. Rd6 {(0s)} Rf6 {(0s)} 41. Rd8 {(84s)} Rf8 {(0s)} 42. Rxf8 {(3s)} Kxf8 {(0s)} 43. d6 {(16s)} Bc5 {(136s)} 44. d7 {(14s)} Ke7 { (4s)} 45. Bf5 {(16s)} Be3 {(50s)} 46. Kg2 {(7s)} Bd2 {(114s)} 47. Kf2 {(37s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "131"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(2s) After two difficult games, in which Topalov needed to work hard to survive, he wins this game against the ultra-solid Ding Liren in a dramatic game in order to become sole leader in Sinquefield Cup.} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(5s) } Nc6 {(4s)} 3. Bb5 {(7s)} a6 {(4s) Ding Liren is not up for a Berlin today.} 4. Ba4 {(4s)} Nf6 {(5s)} 5. O-O {(5s)} Be7 {(5s)} 6. Re1 {(23s)} b5 {(7s)} 7. Bb3 {(5s)} d6 {(4s)} 8. c3 {(7s)} O-O {(6s)} 9. h3 {(10s)} Re8 {(4s) Ding Liren chooses the fighting "Zaitsev Variation" in order to avoid the 'Spanish torture'. This line earned respect and popularity thanks to legendary Anatoly Karpov. The 12th world champion employed this fighting continuation against Kasparov in their last clash in 1990.} 10. d4 {(16s)} (10. Ng5 {sometimes people repeat here to earn some time.} Rf8 11. Nf3) 10... Bb7 {(4s)} 11. Nbd2 { (15s)} Bf8 {(5s)} 12. a3 {(85s)} ({Kasparov had a different taste in this position} 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2 Nc5 15. Bc2 c6 16. b4 Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Ng4 {1/2-1/2 (54) Kasparov,G (2825)-Ivanchuk,V (2740) Linares 1998}) ( {Another common move here is} 12. a4 exd4 13. cxd4 Qd7 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Ng5 Nd8 17. e5 Nd5 18. Ndf3 h6 19. Ne4 Nb4 20. Qd2 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Qf5 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Bd5 24. g4 Qf6 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. Qxd5 Nc6 27. Nf3 Rd8 28. Qe4 {1-0 (28) So,W (2762)-Saric,I (2666) Wijk aan Zee 2015}) 12... h6 {(7s) Ding Liren had already played this against Giri in 2015. This move prevents the ever annoying Ng5.} 13. Bc2 {( 174s) Came after some thought. Topalov decides to maintain pressure in the center.} (13. d5 Nb8 14. Nh2 Nbd7 15. Qf3 c6 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Ng4 Nc5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bc2 Red8 21. Nf1 d5 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ng3 Bb3 24. Bxb3 Nxb3 25. Rb1 Kh7 26. Be3 Kg6 27. f4 exf4 28. Bxf4 Nd2 29. Rbc1 Nc4 30. Rc2 Rd3 31. Ne2 Re8 32. Bc1 Bd6 33. Rf1 Rd2 34. Rxd2 Nxd2 35. Rd1 Rxe2 36. Rxd2 Re1+ 37. Kf2 Rxc1 38. Rxd6 Rc2+ 39. Kg1 Rxb2 40. Rxa6 Rb3 41. a4 bxa4 42. Rxa4 Rxc3 {1/2-1/2 (42) Giri,A (2798)-Ding,L (2782) Bilbao 2015}) 13... Nb8 {(9s) A well-known 'Breyer style' regrouping.} 14. b3 {(105s)} Nbd7 {(20s)} 15. Bb2 {(6s)} Rc8 {(739s)} (15... g6 {is another plausible choice.}) 16. a4 {(128s) necessary and logical since Black's rook had already departed the a-file.} b4 $2 $146 {(140s) A novelty according to my database.} ({I see nothing wrong with} 16... c6) 17. cxb4 {(169s)} exd4 {(20s)} 18. Bxd4 {(234s)} c5 {(186s)} 19. bxc5 {(496s)} Nxc5 {(7s)} 20. Qb1 {(55s)} a5 {(672s)} 21. b4 {(507s)} axb4 {(648s)} 22. Qxb4 {(135s)} Ba8 {(623s)} 23. a5 $16 {(338s) I wonder if Ding Liren had already forgot something from his preparation or whetehr he just thought that he can save this position. Whatever the case White is up a pawn and Black's small compensation as a result of his pressure over the pawn on e4 will soon fizzle out.} d5 {(185s)} 24. Bxf6 {(66s)} Qxf6 {(6s)} 25. e5 {(41s)} Qa6 {(728s)} 26. Qg4 {(18s)} Ne6 { (68s)} 27. Bf5 {(231s)} Rc5 {(357s)} 28. Bxe6 {(252s)} Rxe6 {(35s)} 29. Nb3 { (183s)} (29. Nd4 Rg6 30. Qd7 {with the threat of e6 seems more compelling to me.} Qc8 31. Qxc8 Rxc8 32. Rec1 Rc5 33. Rcb1 $1 Rc8 34. a6 {and White will soon win material.}) 29... Rc4 {(58s)} 30. Nfd4 {( 153s)} Bb7 {(172s)} 31. Qf5 {(588s)} Re7 {(100s)} 32. e6 {(191s)} Bc8 {(166s)} 33. exf7+ {(76s)} Rxf7 {(3s) } 34. Qxd5 {(13s)} Bb7 {(128s)} 35. Qe6 {(86s)} Rb4 {(21s)} 36. Re3 $6 { (346s) There is nothing wrong with this move, but White misses a favorable moment to trade queens. Since Black has pair of bishops, losing the a-pawn could lead to a drawish endgame. As a result, it is very important to make an accurate assessment at this point of the game.} (36. Qxa6 Bxa6 37. Re8 Rf6 ( 37... Kh7 38. Re6 Bc4 39. Rb6 Rxb6 40. axb6 Rf6 41. Nd2 Bd5 42. Ra5 {This is probably why White did not play this line. It requires too much accuracy for a human to risk playing it.}) 38. Rc1 Kf7 39. Rd8 {would have decided the game on the spot.}) 36... Qa8 {(115s)} 37. Rc1 {(281s)} Bd5 {(137s)} 38. Rc8 {(27s)} Bxe6 {(61s)} 39. Rxa8 {(6s)} Bc4 {(12s)} 40. Rc8 {(0 s)} Kh7 {(0s)} 41. Rc3 { (940s)} Ba6 {(1175s)} 42. Rd8 {(9s)} Ra4 {(268s)} 43. Ne6 {(686s)} Bb4 {(191 s) } 44. Rc6 {(281s)} Bb5 {(88s)} 45. Rc1 {(213s)} Ra2 {(370s)} 46. f3 {(339s)} Ba4 {(123s)} 47. Nbd4 {(592s)} Bxa5 {(61s)} 48. Ra8 {(226s)} Bb6 {(308s)} 49. Kh1 {(76s)} Bb3 {(271s)} 50. Rb8 {(50 s)} Bxe6 {(26s)} 51. Rxb6 {(#) (357s) White lost his precious a-pawn for one of Black's bishops. Black should be able to make a draw nevertheless, there is a lot left to be played.} Bf5 { (841s)} 52. Rd6 {(65s)} Bg6 {(165s)} 53. Rd8 {(82s)} Bf5 {( 102s)} 54. Rd6 { (132s)} Bg6 {(4s)} 55. Rc8 {(14s)} Rb7 {(91s)} 56. Rdd8 {(260s) Topa goes for it: now or never!} Bd3 {(157s)} 57. Ne6 {(326s)} Bf1 $2 {(271s) Finally, it is Ding Liren who blunders after a long game.} (57... Bf5 58. Rh8+ (58. Nf8+ Kg8 { and White has no important dicovered check.}) 58... Kg6 59. Nf4+ Kg5 60. Rc4 Rc2 $1 61. Rxc2 Bxc2 {with higher drawing chances for Black.}) 58. Nf8+ $2 { Topa returns the favor!} Kg8 {(4s)} 59. Ng6+ {(16s)} Kh7 $6 {(232s)} (59... Kf7 {would have forced the draw.} 60. Nh8+ Ke6 61. Re8+ Kd6 62. Rcd8+ Kc6) 60. Nf8+ {( 581s)} Kg8 {(1s)} 61. Ne6+ {(172s)} Kh7 $4 {(111s) Ding Liren loses his last chance.} (61... Kf7 62. Nf4 Bxg2+ $1 63. Nxg2 Rb1+ 64. Kh2 Rbb2 {And it would have been Topa who had to make the draw.}) 62. Rh8+ $1 {(22s) Topalov does not miss it this time.} Kg6 {(7s)} 63. Nf4+ {(5s)} Kg5 {( 81s)} 64. Rhf8 $1 {(32s) White discovers the mating net.} Rbb2 {(435s)} (64... Bxg2+ {(#)} 65. Kh2 $3 (65. Nxg2 Rb1+ 66. Kh2 Rbb2 {is equal!}) 65... Bxf3+ 66. Kg3 {And mate is inevitable unless Black gives up a lot of material.}) 65. Rc7 {(49s)} g6 { (45s)} 66. g3 {(33s) And mate or large material loss are unavoidable.} 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "5"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E63"] [Annotator "Tatev"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2016.08.09"] [SourceDate "2016.08.09"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. d4 a6 8. Re1 Rb8 9. Rb1 b5 10. cxb5 axb5 11. b4 e6 (11... e5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Be3 {is the more common way of playing}) 12. e4 Ne7 {this position hasn't been played since 2012. The strongest player to play it was Ding Liren} 13. Bf4 h6 14. h3 Bb7 15. g4 g5 16. Bg3 Ng6 17. Nd2 Nd7 18. Nb3 {Svidler thought that at some point Nakamura will give up the b5 pawn and try to checkmate him.} (18. Nxb5 { critical move, grabbing the pawn. The players shared their thoughts in the postgame interview} Ba8 (18... Bc6 19. Na7 Ba8 20. Nc4 Nf4 21. Bxf4 gxf4 22. b5 {was one of Hikaru's calculations}) (18... Ba6 19. Na7 Rb6 20. b5 Qa8 21. bxa6 Qxa7 {Hikaru thought it's all very tricky and doubleedged}) 19. a4 (19. Qe2) 19... Rxb5 20. axb5 Bxd4 {Svilder felt that Black has a lot of compensation here and that the engines don't understand the position}) 18... Ba6 {Nakamura didn't want to put his bishop here} (18... Nf4 {Hikaru spent 20 minutes trying to make this move work but couldn't} 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Qd2 Qg5 21. Ne2 e5 22. Rbc1 {he wasn't sure how to defend the c7 pawn} Rbc8 23. Na5 Ba8 24. d5 { looks quite ugly for black, as both bishops are locked in}) (18... Nb6 19. Nxb5 Qd7 20. Nc3 f5 {giving up the pawn but keeping the position sharp}) 19. Na5 Rb6 20. a4 Nb8 21. axb5 Bxb5 22. Nxb5 Rxb5 23. Bf1 Rb6 24. b5 (24. Nc4 Rb7 25. b5 { and now there is no c6} Nd7 (25... c6 26. Nxd6 {and the rook hangs}) 26. Na5) 24... c6 $1 {according to Svidler, this is a very strong move. He didn't realize how strong it is initially} 25. Nc4 Rxb5 26. Rxb5 (26. Bxd6 Rxb1 27. Qxb1 Bxd4 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 {black will play c5, bring the knight to the game and should be fine}) 26... cxb5 27. Nxd6 {at this point, Svidler was worried and started looking for a draw, as the passed pawn is quite strong and the d pawn is problematic} b4 28. e5 Nc6 29. Bc4 Qb6 30. d5 (30. Re4 {defends the pawn and is less committal}) 30... Bxe5 {the following sequence is all forced} 31. Bxe5 Ncxe5 32. dxe6 fxe6 33. Bxe6+ Kh8 34. Bf5 {black's king is very open but the b pawn will offer enough counter play} b3 35. Qd5 b2 36. Rb1 Qc7 37. Bxg6 Qc1+ {forces the matters} 38. Kg2 Nxg6 39. Qd4+ Kg8 40. Qd5+ Kh8 41. Qd4+ Kg8 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "*"] [ECO "B56"] [Annotator "Tatev"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2016.08.09"] [SourceDate "2016.08.09"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 {tricky move order, avoiding the main lines of MVL's favorite Najdorf} Nc6 (5... a6 6. c4 {and now black can't play the Najdorf}) 6. Nc3 {transposing into a classical sicilian} e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 Be6 9. Nd5 (9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a5 {now black is up a tempo in the Najdorf English attack}) 9... Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. c4 a5 12. Be2 Na6 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nb1 Nd7 15. Qd2 f5 16. Nc3 {nice maneuver by white, moving the knight to a better square} Bh4+ 17. g3 f4 18. Bf2 Bg5 19. Qc2 Nac5 20. Kf1 { Caruana felt that this move was natural than 0-0, putting his king on g2 and playing h4} Qe8 21. Re1 e4 {sharpening up the position. It's a very double-edged move, as it is logical for black to try to open the position but attack the white king but at the same time that means that white's light square bishop will activate} 22. Bxc5 ({winning the pawn isn't easy} 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Qxe4 24. fxe4 fxg3 25. hxg3 Be3 26. Bf3 Bxf2 27. Kxf2 Ne5 28. Re3 Ng4+) (22. fxe4 $2 fxg3 23. hxg3 Be3 {and the whie king is in trouble}) 22... Nxc5 23. Nxe4 {now there is no bishop on f2 to pin} Nxe4 24. Bd3 fxg3 25. Bxe4 {in the endgame, having opposite color bishops means the game is drawn, but they are quite dangerous in the middle game and are excellent during attacks} Qh5 $2 (25... g2+ 26. Kxg2 Qh5 {same idea, but now white doesn't have the h file to attack the black king. It's better to give up the pawn and keep the king safe}) 26. Kg2 gxh2 27. Rxh2 Bh4 28. Bxh7+ Kh8 (28... Qxh7 29. Qxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rxh4+ Kg8 31. Re7 {black's position is terrible}) 29. Be4 Rf4 30. Kh1 Qe5 31. Rg1 (31. c5 {striking on the other side of the board as black is tied up on the king side} dxc5 32. Qxc5 g5 {defending the bishop so the rook can move} 33. Qb6 {white has a passed pawn and can exploit the weakened black king}) 31... g5 32. Qc3 (32. c5 {is still good} dxc5 33. Qxc5 Rxe4 34. fxe4 Qxe4+ { Caruana thought this was risky to play in time trouble} 35. Rgg2 (35. Rhg2 Bg3 $1) 35... Re8 36. Rh3 {white untangles}) 32... Qxc3 33. bxc3 {white is hoping to win the b7 bishop and try to win the endgame, as the black bishop on h4 is out of the game} Kg7 34. Rb1 Rf7 35. Rb6 Ra6 $1 36. Rhb2 (36. Rxa6 bxa6 { the pawn structure is quite ugly but the exchanges help black}) 36... Rxb6 37. Rxb6 Bf2 {giving up a pawn but bringing the bishop into the game} 38. Rxd6 Rf6 39. Rd8 Rf8 40. Rd6 Rf6 41. Rd8 Rf8 42. Rxf8 Kxf8 {without the rooks, the position is completely drawn} 43. d6 Bc5 44. d7 Ke7 45. Bf5 Be3 46. Kg2 Bd2 47. Kf2 * [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "5"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [Annotator "Tatev"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2016.08.09"] [SourceDate "2016.08.09"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d5 (6... d6 {the more standard move, keeping the position closed}) 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 {not the most popular move, but it has been fashionable in the top levels} Nb6 (8... a5 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. Ne4 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Re1 Ne7 14. d4 exd4 15. g4 Bg6 {Anand - So played this in the Leuven leg of the Grand Chess Tour earlier this year}) 9. Bb5 Ne7 {interesting idea giving up the e5 pawn} 10. a5 (10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. Nf3 Nxc4 13. dxc4 {black gets the bishop pair and gives white doubled pawns. Black has good compensation for the pawn}) 10... c6 11. axb6 cxb5 12. Rxa7 Rxa7 13. bxa7 Bxa7 14. Nxe5 Bf5 15. Re1 (15. Be3 Bb8 16. d4 Ng6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Nd2 Qd6 19. g3 Qd5 {Milliet - Hammer 2016 that ended in a draw as well}) 15... Bb8 16. Na3 b4 17. cxb4 (17. Nc2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Ng6 ( 18... Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Qxd3 20. Qxd3 Bxd3 21. Rxe7 Bxc2 22. Rxb7 {the opposite color bishop ending should be drawn but white can play it out for a while}) 19. Nxg6 Bxg6 {the two bishops offer enough compensation}) 17... Qd5 18. Nec4 Bxd3 {even though black is down a pawn, the over simplifications help him} 19. Rxe7 Bxc4 20. Qxd5 Bxd5 {once again we see a position where the bishop pair is very strong and offers enough compensation for the pawn} 21. Rd7 Bc6 22. Rd1 Ba4 23. Rd3 Bc7 24. b3 Bc6 25. f3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ {So felt that exchanging the rooks was the most precise way of playing} Bxd8 27. b5 Bd7 28. Kf2 Be7 29. Ke2 Bxa3 30. Bxa3 Bxb5+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "*"] [ECO "A29"] [Annotator "Tatev"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2016.08.09"] [SourceDate "2016.08.09"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. Rb1 a5 9. d3 {the pawn structure looks like a reverse dragon} O-O 10. Be3 Be6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 c6 14. f4 f5 (14... Bf6 15. Bc5 Be7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qd4 Nd5 18. f5 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bxa2 20. f6 gxf6 21. Ra1 Bd5 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Rxf6 Qe4 24. Qd2 Rae8 25. Rxa5 Qe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rxe3 27. Rxd5 Rxe2 28. Rg5+ Kh8 29. Rf2 {1/2-1/2 (31) Nakamura,H (2787)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) Paris 2016}) 15. e4 Rf7 {Giri really liked this move for black, as the rook protects the g7 square and is ready to join the game after Bf8-Rd7} 16. Bh3 Bb4 17. Bxf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 Nc4 19. Qd3 c5 (19... b5 {Aronian didn't believe in this move. He didn't like the idea of letting his opponent's queen get to e6} 20. Rfd1 Rd7 21. Qe4 Nxb2 {Anish initially missed this move and thought the position was good for him} 22. Qe6+ Rf7 (22... Kh8 $2 23. Bxg7+ $1 {nice shot!} ) 23. Rd2 Nc4) 20. Qxc4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 cxd4 22. Ne4 {the position looks very drawn now. Aronian saw this line and went for it} Re8 23. a3 Rxe4 24. axb4 axb4 25. Rbe1 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Rxf5 27. Rd1 Rc5 28. Rxd4 Rc1+ 29. Kg2 Rc2+ 30. Kh3 { white will win the b7 pawn and the 3 vs 3 endgame is a draw} * [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "0:05:33-0:03:33"] [Date "2016.08.09"] [Round "5"] [White "Veselin Topalov"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C93"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2755"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "131"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] {Veselin Topalov entered round 5 sitting atop the standings with 2.5/4. Ding Liren had been the most solid player of the event, making four draws but failing to convert two extremely promising positions. The following game includes his first bad position of the tournament.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Re8 {Ding goes for the Zaitsev, generally considered a solid response to the Spanish.} 10. d4 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 h6 13. Bc2 Nb8 14. b3 Nbd7 15. Bb2 Rc8 (15... c6 { is a more common move here, is a principled move. The idea is to keep all points protected before pushing forward.} 16. Bd3 g6 17. Rb1 Rc8 18. a4 Bg7 19. Bf1 Qc7 20. axb5 axb5 21. b4 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. c4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 exd4 25. Bxd5 cxd5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Qb6 29. N2f3 Nf6 30. Qc1 Kg7 31. Qb2 Kg8 32. Rc1 Ne4 33. b5 Ng5 34. Nxg5 hxg5 35. Nf3 g4 36. hxg4 Re4 37. Rd1 Rxg4 38. Nd4 Rh4 39. Nf3 Rg4 40. Nd4 Rh4 41. Qc3 Qf6 42. Qe3 Re4 43. Qd2 Rh4 44. f3 Qe5 45. Kf2 {Sasikiran,K (2637)-Inarkiev,E (2677) Moscow 2016 1/2-1/ 2 (71)}) 16. a4 b4 {This may be novel, but it is not good. Black sacrifices a pawn and does not get nearly enough activity for it. A poor decision by Ding, who must have underestimated Topalov's resources following this move.} (16... c6 {is clearly a better move. But it calls into question why Black transferred the rook to c8 a move ago.} 17. Bd3 Nh5 18. g3 g6 19. Bf1 Qc7 20. Qc2 Bg7 21. Rad1 d5 22. Nxe5 c5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Nxd7 cxd4 25. e5 Qxd7 26. Qd3 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Bxe5 28. cxd4 Bd6 {1/2-1/2 (28) Balabanov,V (2436)-Novak,J (2525) ICCF email 2014}) 17. cxb4 exd4 18. Bxd4 (18. Nxd4 c5 19. bxc5 Nxc5 {is an improvement over the game for Black. Topalov was wise to avoid this, because it seems to give Ding more counterplay than the game continuation did.}) 18... c5 19. bxc5 Nxc5 20. Qb1 (20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe5 {keeps White a pawn ahead, but the activity of the black pieces gives him a better much version of the game.}) 20... a5 21. b4 {Preventing Black from rerouting the knight to this very square. It's hard to come up with another move for White.} axb4 22. Qxb4 Ba8 ( 22... Nfxe4 {wins back the pawn, but quality of pawns is far more important than quantity of pawns here.} 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. a5 {and the little one runs free.}) 23. a5 d5 (23... Nfxe4 24. Nxe4 Nxe4 25. Bb6 Qf6 26. Ba4 Ng5 27. Nxg5 Qxg5 28. Qg4 {is even only by material. It is quite clear which side has the superior passed pawn.}) 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. e5 Qa6 26. Qg4 Ne6 27. Bf5 Rc5 28. Bxe6 $1 {A great decision by Topalov, who understood the the needs of the position. It is not often that two knights outclass two bishops like they do here. The bishops here are merely defensive pieces, while the knights are active and keep the black forces subdued.} Rxe6 29. Nb3 (29. Nd4 { looks so natural, though White has to be comfortable losing the a-pawn.} Rg6 ( 29... Re7 30. e6 Rxa5 31. N2b3 {spells trouble for Black. His pieces are totally discombobulated.} Rxa1 32. Rxa1 Qb7 33. Nf5 Rxe6 34. Nc5 $1 {wins material.}) 30. Qd7 Rxa5 31. Rab1 Rb6 32. e6 {crashes through for White.}) 29... Rc4 30. Nfd4 Bb7 31. Qf5 Re7 32. e6 Bc8 (32... fxe6 33. Rxe6 Rxe6 34. Nxe6 Rc8 35. Nbd4 {is not recommended. Black's kingside is torn open and he has no defensive resources. Don't forget about the passed a-pawn as well!}) 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Qxd5 Bb7 35. Qe6 Rb4 36. Re3 Qa8 37. Rc1 Bd5 38. Rc8 Bxe6 39. Rxa8 {Topalov is two pawns to the good, but the worst is over for Black. Ding's two bishops give him ample counterplay in the ending, as it is hard for White to stabilize his forces long enough to push his passed pawn. If the a-pawn goes, Black's chances of drawing greatly increase.} Bc4 40. Rc8 Kh7 41. Rc3 Ba6 42. Rd8 Ra4 43. Ne6 (43. Rc1 {can be considered, the idea being to trade the annoying a4 rook. White is far from winning, but removing that defender could help in the short term. In the long term, though, a rook trade could benefit Black if he is able to take the a-pawn, for his king becomes much safer.} Bc4 44. Rc8 (44. Ra1 Rxa1+ 45. Nxa1 Bc5 46. Nab3 Bxb3 47. Nxb3 Bxf2+ 48. Kh2 {is not a great winning attempt for White, since the bishop outclasses the knight in this ending.}) 44... Bxb3 45. Nxb3 Ra3 46. Rb8 Bd6 47. Rb5 Ra2 48. Rf1 Bc7 {and White has no obvious means of making progress. If a5 is captured, the resulting position should be drawn.}) 43... Bb4 44. Rc6 Bb5 45. Rc1 Ra2 46. f3 Ba4 47. Nbd4 Bxa5 48. Ra8 Bb6 (48... Bb4 49. Rcc8 {is already very dangerous. The bishop on a4 is pinned, and the black king could find itself in a mating net in the near future.}) 49. Kh1 Bb3 {Tactically unpinning the bishop, but now Topalov has his choice of bishop to trade off.} 50. Rb8 Bxe6 51. Rxb6 Bf5 {Objectively, Black should have very good drawing chances. Practically speaking, though, this is a tough position to defend. The light-squared bishop is blunted on all diagonals and there are many checkmate ideas involving h4-h5 for White. With every move Black has to be on the lookout for his king's safety, whereas White's moves are made by hand not by brain.} 52. Rd6 Bg6 53. Rd8 Bf5 54. Rd6 Bg6 55. Rc8 Rb7 56. Rdd8 Bd3 57. Ne6 Bf1 (57... Bf5 58. Rh8+ (58. Nf8+ {is scary, but there is no good discovery after} Kg8) 58... Kg6 59. Nf4+ Kg5 60. Rc4 Rc2 61. Ra4 Bd7 62. Rd4 Rc8 { and exchanging a pair of rooks drastically increases the drawing chances.}) 58. Nf8+ (58. Rh8+ Kg6 59. Nf4+ Kf6 60. Rhf8+ Ke7 (60... Rf7 $2 {not only loses the rook, but can result in a quick mate:} 61. Rc6+ Ke7 62. Ng6+ Kd7 63. Ne5+ Ke7 64. Rxf7+ Kd8 65. Rd7+ Ke8 66. Rc8#) 61. Rce8+ Kd7 62. Re1 {Pushing Black's king away from the kingside, White has better chances to attack the pawns there. Not yet clearly won, but certainly the advantage grows.}) 58... Kg8 59. Ng6+ Kh7 (59... Kf7 {is a draw on the spot.} 60. Nh8+ (60. Nf4 Bxg2+ $1 61. Nxg2 Rb1+ 62. Kh2 Rbb2 63. Rf8+ Kg6 64. Kg3 Rxg2+ {is actually quite scary for White. The tables turn if Topalov kept gunning to win.}) 60... Ke6 61. Re8+ Kd6 62. Rcd8+ Kc6 63. Rc8+) 60. Nf8+ Kg8 61. Ne6+ Kh7 {Missing his chance to draw again. Now Ding is in huge trouble.} 62. Rh8+ Kg6 63. Nf4+ Kg5 (63... Kf7 {Was indeed safer, yet still tough for Black.}) 64. Rhf8 Rbb2 65. Rc7 g6 (65... Bxg2+ {is impossible due to} 66. Nxg2 Rxg2 67. Rxg7+ Kh4 68. Rxg2) 66. g3 $1 { This extremely calm moves ends the game on the spot. Black would love to remove the bishop from the board, as checkmate would ensue. Here there's no way to stop checkmate without sacrificing all your pieces, so Ding put up the white flag.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2770"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. c4 {(2s)} c5 {(11s)} 2. Nf3 {(71s)} Nf6 {(13s)} 3. Nc3 {(137s)} Nc6 {(15s)} 4. g3 {(3s)} d5 {(15s)} 5. cxd5 {(16s)} Nxd5 {(8s)} 6. Bg2 {(2s)} e6 {(16s)} 7. O-O {(7s)} Be7 {(5s)} 8. d4 {(3s)} O-O {(10s)} 9. e4 {(2s)} Ndb4 {(71s)} 10. dxc5 {(8s)} Bxc5 {(30s)} 11. e5 {(3s)} Bb6 {(99s)} 12. a3 {(13s)} Nd5 {(133s)} 13. Qe2 {(164s)} Bd7 {(834s)} 14. Rd1 {(661s)} Nxc3 {(593s)} 15. bxc3 {(12s)} Qc7 {(56s)} 16. a4 {(1450s)} Ne7 {(707s)} 17. Ng5 {(898s)} Bc6 {(909s)} 18. Ba3 {(257s)} Bxg2 {(185s)} 19. Kxg2 {(76s)} Bc5 {(104s)} 20. Qe4 {(727s)} Ng6 { (189s)} 21. Bxc5 {(49s)} Qxc5 {(19s)} 22. Nf3 {(12 s)} b6 {(189s)} 23. Rd7 { (179s)} Qxc3 {(382s)} 24. Rad1 {(36s)} Rac8 {(190s)} 25. Rxa7 {(#) (156s)} Rc4 $2 {(524s)} 26. Qb7 {(98s)} Rcc8 {(493s)} ({Upon playing ...Rc4, Anand had planned on} 26... Nxe5 27. Nxe5 (27. Ra8 $1 {was the move Anand missed in his earlier analysis, but thankfully for his sanity, he caught his mistake in time, and avoided an immediate defeat.} g5 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Qb8+ {with a double attack on the king and the knight.} Kg7 30. Nxe5 {and it would be game over.}) 27... Qxe5 28. Rd7 {and he would actually be fine.}) 27. Re1 {(836s)} Rb8 { (309s)} 28. Qe4 {(54s)} Qc5 {(163s)} 29. Rb1 {(58s)} b5 {(499s)} 30. Ra5 {(31s) } Qc4 {(5s)} 31. Qxc4 {(209s)} bxc4 {(5s)} 32. Rxb8 {(27 s)} Rxb8 {(6s)} 33. Rc5 {(5s)} Rb4 {(5s)} 34. a5 {(20s)} Ra4 {(28s)} 35. Nd2 {(405s)} c3 {(23s)} 36. Rc8+ {(14s)} Nf8 {(10s)} 37. Nb3 {(26s)} g5 {(123s)} 38. Rxc3 {(423s)} Ra3 {(50s)} 39. Kf3 {(46s)} Ng6 {(#) (10s) That White stands better here, is unquestionable. This doesn't mean it the win is just a matter of technique, but that the burden of holding is very much on Black's shoulders.} 40. Rc8+ $2 {(0s) After this though, there is nothing for White anymore.} Kg7 {(0s)} 41. Rc3 {(163s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {(4s) After an off-day at the office, Ding Liren comes back to 50% at the expense of poor Svidler who joined the field as Kramnik's subsitute.} Nf6 { (7s)} 2. c4 {(8s)} g6 {(3s) Everybody knows that Svidler is a Grunfeld expert.} 3. g3 {(17s) Ding Liren employs this move quite often, in fact as his main line.} c5 {(389s)} 4. d5 {(113s)} Bg7 {(117s)} 5. Bg2 {(18s)} O-O {(15s)} 6. Nc3 {(4s)} d6 {(48s)} 7. Nh3 $5 {(14s) Is Ding anticipating a Benko with this move?} a6 {(224s)} (7... b5 8. Nxb5 {and I do not see any Benko!}) (7... Nbd7 8. O-O Nb6 9. Qd3 e6 {looks promising for Black} 10. Nf4 $6 {would be met with} e5) 8. a4 {(292s)} e6 {(197s) Svidler goes for the Benoni instead!} 9. Nf4 { (23s)} exd5 {(55s)} (9... e5 10. Nd3 a5 {seems interesting.}) 10. Nfxd5 {(6s)} Nxd5 {(6s)} 11. Nxd5 {(6s)} Nc6 {(84s)} 12. O-O {(8s)} Re8 {(190s)} 13. Ra2 { (895s) White has a beautifully placed knight on d5 but Black has a lot of active play.} Rb8 {(732s)} (13... Be6 14. b3 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nb4 16. Rd2 Bc3 17. Bxb7 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 $1 $36) 14. b3 {(1150s)} b5 $6 {(1046s) too optimisitc!} 15. axb5 {(157s)} axb5 {( 6s)} 16. cxb5 {(33s)} Nd4 {(433s)} 17. b6 {(51s)} Be6 { (40s)} 18. e3 {(457s)} Nb5 {(295s)} 19. Bd2 {(6s)} Bxd5 {(122s)} 20. Bxd5 { (115s)} Qxb6 {(36s) The b6 pawn's problem is solved but now White has a monster on d5 instead of a knight!} 21. Qf3 {(6s)} Re7 $2 {(316s) This drops material almost immediately.} 22. Ba5 $1 {(422s)} Qa7 {(8s)} 23. Bd8 {(6s)} Rxd8 {(5s)} (23... Qxa2 24. Bxe7) 24. Rxa7 {(5s)} Rxa7 {(5s)} 25. Bc4 {(211s)} Nc3 {(149s)} 26. Qc6 {(183s)} d5 {(156s)} 27. Bd3 {(20s)} Ra3 {(274s)} 28. Qb6 {(431s)} Rc8 {(115s)} 29. Kg2 {(114s)} Bf8 {(341s)} 30. Rc1 {(468s)} Na2 {(62s) } 31. Ra1 {(164s)} Bg7 {(457s)} 32. Rb1 {(132s)} Nb4 {(83s)} 33. Bb5 {(8s)} Bf8 {(308s)} 34. e4 $1 {(485s) The bishop on a2-g8 diagonal is more important than a pawn.} Raa8 {(113s)} 35. Bf1 {(164s)} Rab8 {(199s)} 36. Qa7 {(140 s)} Ra8 { (102s)} 37. Qb7 {(179s)} Rab8 {(18s)} 38. Qa7 {(71s)} Ra8 {(8s)} 39. Qd7 { (235s)} c4 {(136s)} 40. bxc4 {(0s)} dxe4 {(0s)} 41. Qb7 {(1450s)} Nc6 {(588s)} 42. Re1 {(86s)} Rab8 {(95s)} 43. Qd7 {( 37s)} Ne5 {(54s)} 44. Qd5 {(6s)} Rc5 { (42s)} 45. Qxe4 {(7s)} Rbc8 {(12s)} 46. Rc1 {(32s)} R8c7 {(113 s)} 47. Be2 { (248s)} Rc8 {(92s)} 48. f4 {(220s)} Nd7 {(49s)} 49. Ra1 {(252s)} Nf6 {(910s)} 50. Qf3 {(135s)} Re8 {(156s)} 51. Ra8 {(187s) The end is close.} Re6 {(15s)} 52. Qd3 {(105s)} Kg7 {(44s)} 53. Bf3 {(30s)} Rd6 {(177s)} 54. Qc3 {(40s)} h5 { (62s)} 55. h3 {(179s)} Kg8 {(386s)} 56. Qb4 {(393s)} Nd7 {(44s)} 57. Bd5 {(35s) } Rb6 {(60s)} 58. Qd2 {(108s)} Rc7 {(65s)} 59. f5 {(63s) Another bitter loss for Svidler. It is hard, even for Svidler, to join an elite event at the last minute.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "?"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] {After last year's bitter experience, Wesley So comes back to the Sinquefield Cup with more experience and caution. In this game, he gradually takes down the current leader Veslin Topalov.} 1. c4 {(4s) It is not a surprise from So. He sometimes goes 'English'.} e5 {(28s)} 2. g3 {(6s)} Nf6 {(56s) After some thought, Topalov decides to play it solid.} 3. Bg2 {(7s)} d5 {(8s)} 4. cxd5 { (4s)} Nxd5 {(4s)} 5. Nc3 {(6s)} Nb6 {(7s)} 6. Nf3 {(5s)} Nc6 {(8s)} 7. O-O { (6s)} Be7 {(10s) This continuation is known to be very solid and safe. Nevertheless, we all know that Wesley managed to outplay Navara in the very same opening, in a Karpovian manner, while suffering a loss against Carlsen in the same fashion!} 8. d3 {(6s)} O-O {(52s)} 9. a3 {(4s)} Be6 {(82s) The most common.} ({Carlsen chose a somewhat committal} 9... Re8 10. b4 Bf8 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. Nd2 Qc8 $5 13. Re1 a5 14. b5 Nd4 15. Nb3 a4 16. Nxd4 exd4 17. Ne4 Qd7 $11 { 0-1 (28) So,W (2770)-Carlsen,M (2855) Paris 2016}) 10. Be3 {(29s)} Nd5 { (58s) Topa follows Navara's footsteps.} 11. Nxd5 {(7s)} Bxd5 {(7s)} 12. Qa4 { (5s) So deviates first before checking what Topalov had in mind to improve on Navara's play. Although to be fair, there wasn't a whole lot to improve on!} ( 12. Rc1 Bd6 $6 (12... a6 $5) (12... Re8 {The most common.}) 13. Qa4 Qe8 14. Rfe1 Ne7 15. Qxe8 Rfxe8 16. Bc5 Nc6 17. b4 a6 18. Nd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Re7 20. Ne4 Rd7 21. g4 Nd8 22. Bxd6 cxd6 23. Nc3 d5 24. Na4 Rb8 25. e3 f6 26. f4 g6 27. Rc2 Ne6 28. f5 gxf5 29. gxf5 Ng7 30. Rf1 d4 31. e4 Nh5 32. Nb6 Rg7+ 33. Kf3 Nf4 34. Rfc1 Rf8 35. Rc8 Rgf7 36. Rg1+ Kh8 37. Rc2 Rd8 38. Nd5 Nxd5 39. exd5 Rfd7 40. Rgc1 Rxd5 41. Rc8 Kg7 42. Rxd8 Rxd8 43. Rc7+ Kh6 44. Rxb7 Rc8 45. h4 Rc1 46. Ke4 Re1+ 47. Kd5 e4 48. Re7 Ra1 49. Rxe4 Rxa3 50. Rxd4 Kh5 51. Ke6 a5 52. bxa5 Rxa5 53. Kxf6 h6 54. Rd7 Ra4 55. Ke7 Rd4 56. f6 {1-0 (56) So,W (2778)-Navara,D (2751) Prague 2015}) 12... Re8 {(147s)} 13. Rac1 {(39s)} a6 {(55s)} 14. Nd2 { (24s) So again deviates but this time from Topalov's game. He got a somewhat easy draw against the current world championship contender Sergey Karjakin in 2014.} (14. Rc3 Bf6 15. Rc5 Ne7 16. Rfc1 c6 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nf5 20. Qg4 Nd6 21. e3 Qf6 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Rad8 24. R1c3 Re6 25. b4 g6 26. a4 Rd4 27. exd4 exd4 28. Qxe6 Qxe6 29. R3c4 Qd6 30. a5 h5 31. h4 Kg7 32. Kg1 Kf8 33. Rc1 Qe6 34. R5c4 Qe5 35. Kf1 Qd5 36. Re1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qd5 38. Kf1 Qh1+ 39. Ke2 Qd5 40. Kf1 {1/2-1/2 (40) Karjakin,S (2766)-Topalov,V (2785) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014}) 14... Bxg2 {(122s)} 15. Kxg2 {(5s)} Nd4 {(32s) Engines cry 0.00000...0, but that is just for them. The game has just started!} 16. Bxd4 {(6 s)} exd4 {(11s)} 17. Qb3 {(4s)} Rb8 {(204s)} 18. e4 $1 {(6s) Played rather quickly, after just six seconds and it is either the result of So's great intuition or home preparation. In either case, White starts to pose some problems for Black.} dxe3 {(288s)} ({Computers prefer this move over dxe3 but I woujld not have even considered it! I think this is the point where AI passes us in deep thinking or ... maybe the engines are still be stupid! Unfortunately I suspect it is the former.} 18... c5) 19. fxe3 {(5s)} Rf8 { (422s)} 20. Ne4 {(232s) White is active but Black has no weaknesses and he surely can cover the f7 square. Things seem far from dangerous for Black.} Qd7 {(385s)} 21. Rf3 {(87s)} Rbd8 $1 {(393s) This is the right way to equalize the game.} 22. d4 {(350s) Every move is key here as can be seen by the amount of time each player is spending. After the move played the knight on e4 no longer has an outpost.} c6 {(54s)} 23. Rcf1 {( 196s)} Qd5 {(124s)} 24. Qc2 {(584s)} g6 {(249s)} 25. g4 {(176s) Forced, Otherwise Black would play f5 and White will start feeling uncomfortable.} Rde8 {(363s)} 26. h3 {(275s)} Bd8 {(110s)} 27. Nc3 {(74s)} Qe6 $6 {(265s) The dubious mark is for the incorrect change of mentality in Black's play. Topalov starts to play it safe and from here things start to go wrong.} (27... Qc4 {followed by Bc7 is more active and in fact Black is perfectly capable of fighting for the advantage at this point.}) 28. Na4 {(193s)} b6 {(416s)} 29. Rc1 {(32s)} c5 $6 {(434s)} (29... Qe7 $1 {Could White grab the pawn on c6?} 30. Qxc6 Qg5 31. Re1 Re6 32. Qc2 f5 33. Qc4 Rfe8 { And surprisingly it is White who has to be cautious here. Nevertheless, it is not easy to judge this position from that far!}) 30. dxc5 {(5s)} b5 {(15s)} 31. Nc3 {(3s)} Qc6 {(28s)} 32. Qd2 {(635s)} Re5 $2 {(365s) Played after a considerable think, but what was wrong with just grabbing the pawn?} (32... Qxc5 33. Nd5 Qa7 {Did Topalov forget about this move?} 34. Rc6 Qb7 35. Qc3 Bg5 {followed by Rc8}) 33. b4 {(147s)} Bg5 {(299s)} (33... h5 {would have posed more practical problems for White.}) 34. Rd1 $1 {(233s) Clever play by So.} Bxe3 $2 {(239s) Topalov falls for Wesley's trap. The game is practically over.} 35. Qd7 {(786s)} (35. Qd6 {was even more forcing} Qe8 36. Qxa6 {and White has nothing to worry about.}) 35... Qa8 {(106s)} 36. Nd5 {(225s)} Bg5 {(222s)} 37. c6 {(12s) The end is close.} Bh4 {(498s)} 38. Rd2 {(523s)} Re1 {(313s)} 39. Rc2 {(559s)} Kg7 {(175s)} 40. Nb6 {( 0s)} Qb8 {(0s)} 41. Qd4+ {(184s) After saving two games back-to-back by posing several practical problems to his opponents, this time Topalov falls victim of his own very talent: In an equal game, So started to ask Topalov difficult questions after every move and after a while the Bulgarian either grew tired, or lost concentration as they approached the time control and failed to maintain the balance. A great game to learn about practical decisions in chess.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Svidler, P."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 $5 {Svidler was inspired to venture the second Benoni of the round in light of the slower g3 move.} 4. d5 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nh3 a6 8. a4 {This has been played once before. Of course, it is quite natural.} e6 ({The other game in this line (an older one, but it checks out!) went...} 8... Nbd7 9. O-O Ne5 10. b3 Ne8 11. Bd2 b6 12. Qc1 Bd7 13. f4 Ng4 14. Ng5 Nc7 15. h3 Nh6 16. e4 f5 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Bxe5 19. Nf3 Bxc3 { and for some reason a draw was agreed in Byrne, Robert Eugene -- Benko, Pal C 1/2-1/2 USA-ch, 1961. The game should continue as White is almost winning after either capture on c3. Black's dark squares are a disaster.}) 9. Nf4 exd5 10. Nfxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Nc6 12. O-O Re8 13. Ra2 Rb8 14. b3 b5 $2 {Svidler lashes out, but this is misguided.} (14... Be6 {Svidler seems to have a playable position here. White remains better though. I ike 15.Rd2 best.}) 15. axb5 axb5 16. cxb5 Nd4 (16... Rxb5 17. Bg5 $1 {A nice shot!} (17. Nf6+ { This was Ding's line.} Bxf6 18. Bxc6 Rb6 19. Bxe8 Qxe8 20. Qd2 {On seeing Qd2 (the engine's top move), Ding decided this was good enough. White is better, but the bishop pair will create difficulties.}) 17... Qxg5 18. Nc7 {Black loses a whole rook and goes down the exchange.}) 17. b6 Be6 18. e3 Nb5 19. Bd2 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxb6 21. Qf3 Re7 22. Ba5 $1 {White wins material as Black cannot avoid a discovery from this bishop.} Qa7 23. Bd8 Rxd8 {Black chooses to surrender the queen. It way be the best call, but it is still losing.} (23... Qxa2 24. Bxe7 {Material is equal only very, very temporarily in light of 25. Qxf7+.}) 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Bc4 Nc3 26. Qc6 $1 d5 27. Bd3 Ra3 28. Qb6 Rc8 29. Kg2 Bf8 30. Rc1 Na2 31. Ra1 Bg7 32. Rb1 Nb4 33. Bb5 Bf8 34. e4 Raa8 35. Bf1 Rab8 36. Qa7 Ra8 37. Qb7 Rab8 38. Qa7 Ra8 39. Qd7 c4 $2 40. bxc4 dxe4 41. Qb7 Nc6 42. Re1 Rab8 43. Qd7 Ne5 44. Qd5 Rc5 45. Qxe4 Rbc8 46. Rc1 R8c7 47. Be2 Rc8 48. f4 Nd7 49. Ra1 Nf6 50. Qf3 Re8 51. Ra8 Re6 52. Qd3 Kg7 53. Bf3 Rd6 54. Qc3 h5 55. h3 $1 {White arranges g4 which will overwhelm Black.} Kg8 56. Qb4 Nd7 57. Bd5 Rb6 58. Qd2 Rc7 59. f5 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Aronian, L."] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A37"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2819"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. a3 O-O 8. b4 d5 (8... cxb4 {I mean... it is a pawn. Right?} 9. axb4 Nxb4 10. Ba3 {True, it is a pawn, but it's not a tasty one. Black's dark squares are ghastly. Nd5 or Bd6 next move will really tighten White's grip on the various holes in Black's camp.}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ng5 {Based on this outing, this high-level novelty may not get a retry. The play is interesting, but it doesn't favor White.} ({ The game Gelfand, Boris vs Karjakin, Sergey 1-0 Wch Blitz 5th, 2009, continued. ..} 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Rb1 $2 cxb4 12. axb4 e4 13. Ne1 Qa2 14. Qc2 {and Black should have played 14...Be6 with a big plus.}) 10... Nc7 (10... Qxg5 $5 11. Bxd5 {offers very interesting play for both sides. Komodo slightly prefers Black after, for example, 11...Bh3.}) (10... Nxc3 $2 11. dxc3 {leaves White with much more active pieces.}) 11. Nge4 c4 (11... cxb4 $1 {Black can take this pawn and get great activity with a coming ...f5.} 12. axb4 f5 13. Nc5 e4 14. f3 {The position is fun for both, but Black should be a little better.}) 12. d3 $5 cxd3 13. Bg5 $2 (13. exd3 {Accepting the isolated pawn doesn't seem to be in Aronian's plans, butthe position is certainly preferable to the game line.}) 13... f6 14. Be3 f5 $1 (14... dxe2 {It is possible to take the pawn. It's just not as good as the game.} 15. Qxe2 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 17. Rad1 f5 { Black's incredible bishop guarantees some advantage.}) 15. Bg5 (15. Nc5 f4 16. Bd2 dxe2 17. Qxe2 f3 18. Bxf3 Rxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxd2 {is a good example of the tatics awaiting Black.}) 15... Qd4 16. Be3 Qd8 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Nc5 dxe2 19. Nxe2 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 f4 (20... e4 {was cleaner.}) 21. gxf4 h6 22. b5 Nxb5 23. Rab1 Nxa3 24. Rb3 hxg5 25. Rxa3 exf4 26. Bd5+ Kh7 27. Ne4 Kh6 28. Nd6 Bf6 ( 28... Bg4 {This move seems to be well over the winning threshold. After this, it's not clear where the win is with best defense by Black.}) 29. Bxc6 bxc6 30. Nxc8 Raxc8 31. Rd7 g4 32. Nxf4 Rcd8 33. Raxa7 Rxd7 34. Rxd7 c5 35. Ne6 (35. Rd6 $1 {This drawing resource was pointed out by GM Alejandro Ramirez.} Be5 { Did White miss this fork?} 36. Rxg6+ Kh7 37. Rg5 {No! White will consume the pawns.} Bxf4 38. Rxc5 Kg6 39. Rc4 Kg5 40. Rc5+ Kh4 41. Kg2 {and White will arrange f3 or h3 with a draw.}) 35... Rc8 36. Rc7 $2 {White's task is easier now.} Rxc7 37. Nxc7 c4 38. Kf1 Kg5 39. Nd5 Be5 40. Ke2 Bxh2 41. Ke3 Be5 42. Nb4 Bd6 43. Nd5 Bc5+ 44. Ke2 Kf5 45. Nc3 Ke5 46. Nb5 Bb4 47. Ke3 g5 48. Nc7 Bc5+ 49. Ke2 c3 0-1 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2807"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qb3 b5 10. Bxd6 Qb6 11. Be5 O-O 12. e3 c4 13. Qd1 b4 14. Nb1 Rc8 15. Nbd2 Bb5 16. a4 {Nakamura plays the first new move.} (16. Rc1 {This has been tried a few times, but Black has done ok. For example...} c3 17. bxc3 Bxf1 18. Nxf1 Nbd7 19. Bd4 Qa6 20. cxb4 Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qb1 Nxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qb2+ N7f6 25. b5 Qa4 26. Nd4 Nb4 27. Qb3 Qa5 28. Ke2 Nxa2 29. Kf3 Rc3 30. Qb2 Qd8 31. Ke2 Nc1+ 32. Kd1 Ne4 33. Ng3 Nd3 34. Qa1 Ndxf2+ 35. Ke2 Qg5 36. Rd1 Nxg3+ 37. hxg3 Qxe3+ 38. Kf1 Nxd1 {was a good example of Black's play against the king in Nezad, Husein Aziz -vs Adhiban, Baskaran 0-1 Biel MTO op 48th, 2015 }) 16... bxa3 17. Rxa3 Bf8 18. Bd4 Qb7 $1 {Despite Nakamura innovating first, Caruana is the better prepared with this incredible piece sacrifice.} 19. Ra1 { Cowardice or the better part of valor?} (19. Bxf6 Bxa3 20. bxa3 c3 21. Ne4 c2 22. Qc1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Qxd5 24. Nfd2 Nd7 25. f3 Ne5 26. Bxe5 Qxe5 {This line is by no means forced, but it's hard to find better. White's king continually runs into issues, and Black's rooks dominate.}) 19... Nxd5 20. Be2 Nc6 21. O-O Nxd4 22. Nxd4 a6 23. Bf3 Rd8 24. Ne4 Qb6 25. Nc3 Nxc3 26. bxc3 Rac8 27. Qc2 Qf6 28. Rfb1 Rc5 29. Bd1 Bg7 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Rb2 Qe8 32. Rba2 h5 33. Ba4 {This initiates the following sequence which wins the queen. Perhaps that makes a small error as the resulting favorable position does not seem enough to win.} Bxa4 34. Rxa4 Bxd4 35. cxd4 Rxd4 36. exd4 Qxe2 37. dxc5 {Nakamura has won the queen, but Caruana's evaluation seems accurate. Black holds.} c3 38. Rc1 c2 39. Rd4 (39. Ra2 $4 {Of course no one would do this, right?!} Qd1+ 40. Rxd1 cxd1=R# ) 39... Qb5 40. Rd2 Qxc5 41. Rdxc2 Qa3 42. h4 a5 43. g3 a4 44. Re1 Qb3 45. Rce2 Qc3 46. Re3 Qb2 47. R1e2 Qb4 48. Kh2 Kg7 49. Rf3 g5 $1 {This is the key idea. Caruana comfortable acquires enough counterplay to draw. Nakamura could not both stop this counterplay and win the a-pawn.} 50. hxg5 h4 51. Ree3 hxg3+ 52. Kxg3 Kg6 53. Kh2 Qc4 54. Rg3 Qf1 55. Ref3 Qc4 56. Rf6+ Kg7 57. Rff3 Kg6 58. Rf6+ Kg7 59. Rff3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "1:25:33-1:05:33"] [Date "2016.08.10"] [Round "6"] [White "Wesley So"] [Black "Veselin Topalov"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2761"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] {After five rounds, Veselin Topalov was the surprising leader with 3.5/5. Wesley So had four peaceful results after a smooth win over Nakamura in the first round. Despite blitzing out an opening that did not get him any real advantage, a well-rested So struck gold when Topalov fed him a passed pawn.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. a3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 (10... Qd7 {was Karjakin's choice in the Candidates' Tournament. In his game with Aronian, he found himself with a decent position out of the opening, but lacked space.} 11. b4 f6 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Bd2 a5 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. bxc5 a4 16. Rb1 Rfb8 17. Qc2 Nde7 18. Rb2 Bb3 19. Qb1 Kh8 20. Rc1 Na7 21. Bb4 Nb5 22. Nd2 Bf7 23. e3 Bg6 24. Ne4 Nd5 25. Be1 Nxa3 26. c6 Qe7 27. Qa2 bxc6 28. Rxc6 Bf7 29. Rc5 Nxe3 30. Qxa3 Rxb2 31. Qxb2 Nxg2 32. Kxg2 a3 33. Qb7 Qd8 34. Qxc7 Qxc7 35. Rxc7 Bd5 36. Rc5 a2 37. Bc3 Bg8 38. Ba1 Rb8 39. Ra5 Rb1 40. Bc3 {Aronian,L (2786)-Karjakin,S (2760) Moscow 2016 1/2-1/2 (101)}) 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Nd2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4 { Note the structural change here. White's knight certainly is superior to the dark-squared bishop, which is a passive piece in the position. It can be quite frustrating to play with Black, but objectively there is only a slight pull for White. Wesley must have felt comfortable here, since he blitzed out the opening.} 17. Qb3 Rb8 (17... Bg5 {might have allowed Topalov to liquidate into an easily drawn endgame:} 18. f4 Rxe2+ 19. Rf2 Rxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Be7 21. Qxb7 Rb8 22. Qxc7 Rxb2 23. Qxd8+ Bxd8 24. Rc8 Kf8 ({Not} 24... Rxd2+ $4 25. Ke1 { and White easily wins.}) 25. Rxd8+ Ke7 26. Rxd4 Rxd2+ {with a relatively simple draw. The issue for White is that in order to remain up a pawn, his king must sit on g1, where it is cut off from the action.} 27. Kg1 (27. Ke3 Rxh2 28. Ra4 Rg2 29. Kf3 Rd2 30. Ke3 Rg2) 27... Ke6 28. Ra4 h5 29. Rxa6+ Kf5 { and despite the two pawn advantage, Black's king activity secures a half point. And in some lines, it is even White who must be careful not to lose!}) 18. e4 dxe3 (18... c5 {had previously been played, but understandably Topalov did not want to allow So to maintain such a promising pawn structure.} 19. Nc4 Bf8 20. Nb6 Re6 21. Nd5 b5 22. Qa2 c4 23. Rfe1 Rh6 24. dxc4 Qd7 25. h4 Rxh4 {1/2-1/2 (25) Hinz,J-Betker,J GER email 2010}) 19. fxe3 Rf8 {So has obtained a slight edge, but nothing concrete. Topalov does not have exploitable weaknesses, merely some temporarily passive pieces.} 20. Ne4 Qd7 21. Rf3 Rbd8 22. d4 (22. Qxb7 Rb8 23. Qxc7 (23. Qxa6 Rxb2+ 24. Rf2 Rb6 25. Qc4 Bxa3 26. Rc3 Bd6 { equalizes.}) 23... Rxb2+ 24. Rf2 Rxf2+ 25. Nxf2 Qxc7 26. Rxc7 Bxa3 27. Kf3 Ra8 {should not be an exceptionally challenging draw for Black. White's pawns might be more convenient to protect, but the a-pawn can also be quite annnoying to deal with. And who doesn't love a good old rook behind a passed pawn?}) 22... c6 23. Rcf1 Qd5 24. Qc2 (24. Qxd5 Rxd5 {and the scoresheets would be signed in a few moves, since White has nothing.}) 24... g6 25. g4 { preventing f5, but making the kingside feel a little airy. Perhaps Wesley felt that he was still better, but this is a bit much. In fact, Black is starting to look like the better side.} Rde8 26. h3 Bd8 {Topalov has defended perfectly, and he is no longer worse.} (26... Bh4 27. Nc3 Qc4 {is more active than the game continuation.}) 27. Nc3 Qe6 ({It's unclear to me why Topalov did not move forward here. The position is equal, but perhaps he still believed he was worse.} 27... Qc4) 28. Na4 b6 29. Rc1 c5 $5 (29... Qe7 $1 {was possible here.} 30. Qxc6 Qg5 31. Re1 Re6 32. Qc2 f5 33. Qc4 Rfe8 {is double-edged, but White must be careful. Neither king feels particularly at home, though White is a pawn to the good. All to say that the position is dynamically equal.}) 30. dxc5 b5 31. Nc3 Qc6 32. Qd2 ({Protecting the pawn with} 32. b4 $2 {fails to} Rxe3) 32... Re5 $4 (32... Qxc5 33. Nd5 Qa7 34. Rc6 Qb7 35. Qc3 Bh4 {must have looked scary to Topalov, but the dark-squared bishop always covers the vital squares. In fact, Black is not worse here. In the game he had to deal with the impossible task of stopping a passed c-pawn on the loose.}) 33. b4 Bg5 34. Rd1 $1 {The pin on the rook would be scary to many, but Wesley calmly takes control of the open d-file.} Bxe3 (34... Rxe3 35. Qd5 Qe8 36. Rxe3 (36. Qxg5 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Qe2+ 38. Kg3 Qxd1 39. Qe3 {is still good for White, but the king does feel a little unsafe on g3.}) 36... Qxe3 37. Qf3 {is problematic for Black, since he can't afford to trade queens lest he end up in a lost ending. The c5 pawn is simply too strong. The game continuation looked far worse than this, though.}) 35. Qd7 Qa8 36. Nd5 {Now it's all over. Queens are the worst blockaders, and the queen on a8 is running out of moves.} Bg5 37. c6 Bh4 38. Rd2 {Protecting his king from any potential trouble, Wesley understands he is completely won and he need not rush.} Re1 39. Rc2 (39. c7 Rc1 {gives Black some hope.}) (39. Nb6 $2 {is not prepared yet, since} Qb8 40. c7 Qxb6 { actually loses for White, since mate on g1 is hanging.}) 39... Kg7 40. Nb6 Qb8 41. Qd4+ {Veselin resigned, acknowledging that he can't stop the pawn from queening. This game was decided by Topalov's strange decision to allow Wesley to keep the c-pawn. If he had taken back on c5, it is hard to imagine him losing the game.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Giri, A."] [Black "Anand, V."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. e4 Ndb4 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. e5 Bb6 {This is the novelty, but it seems unlikely that the players were in book here.} ({The old game Korchnoi vs Huebner saw almost the same ending, but this time White won it!} 11... Be7 12. a3 Nd3 13. Qe2 Nxc1 14. Raxc1 Qa5 15. Rfd1 Rd8 16. Nb5 Qa6 17. Bf1 Bd7 18. Qe3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Nd6 Rab8 21. b4 Be8 22. Nxe8 Rxe8 23. Rc3 Red8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bb5 g5 26. h3 Rd1+ 27. Kg2 Ra1 28. Bxc6 bxc6 29. Rxc6 Rxa3 30. Rxb6 Rb3 31. Rb7 Kf8 32. Rb8+ Kg7 33. Re8 Bxb4 34. Nxg5 Bc3 35. Re7 Bxe5 36. Rxf7+ Kg6 37. Rf3 Rxf3 38. Nxf3 Bc3 39. Kf1 Bb4 40. Ke2 Bc5 41. Nd2 Kf5 42. Kf3 h6 43. Nc4 Kf6 44. Nb2 Kf5 45. Nd3 Bb6 46. h4 Bd8 47. g4+ Kg6 48. h5+ Kf6 49. Ke4 Bb6 50. f3 Bg1 51. Ne5 Kg7 52. f4 Bc5 53. Nf3 Bd6 54. g5 Be7 55. g6 Kf6 56. Ne5 Kg7 57. Kd4 Bb4 58. Kc4 Bd2 59. Nd3 Be3 60. Kb5 Kf6 61. Kc6 Ke7 62. g7 Kf7 63. Kd7 Kxg7 64. Kxe6 Bd2 65. f5 Bc3 66. Nf2 Bb2 67. Ng4 Bc1 68. f6+ Kg8 69. Ke7 Ba3+ 70. Ke8 Kh7 71. Ne3 {Kortschnoj, Viktor -- Huebner, Robert 1-0 Johannesburg, 1981}) 12. a3 Nd5 13. Qe2 Bd7 14. Rd1 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qc7 16. a4 Ne7 17. Ng5 Bc6 18. Ba3 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Bc5 20. Qe4 Ng6 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Nf3 b6 23. Rd7 Qxc3 24. Rad1 Rac8 25. Rxa7 Rc4 26. Qb7 Rcc8 (26... Nxe5 $4 {This is a fun trap.} 27. Ra8 $1 {Black is collapsing on the back rank.} Qxf3+ 28. Qxf3 Nxf3 29. Rdd8 $1 {Black cannot save the rook on f8.}) 27. Re1 (27. Rd7 { Who wouldn't play this move?!} Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 { White is for choice, but can White win?! That's unclear.}) 27... Rb8 28. Qe4 Qc5 29. Rb1 b5 $5 30. Ra5 Qc4 31. Qxc4 bxc4 32. Rxb8 Rxb8 33. Rc5 Rb4 34. a5 Ra4 35. Nd2 c3 36. Rc8+ Nf8 37. Nb3 g5 38. Rxc3 Ra3 39. Kf3 Ng6 40. Rc8+ $4 { This is a quite shocking case of "patzer sees check, patzer gives check" from a super-GM. Of course, things are not that simple, but the mistake is still surprising. Giri had only 4 seconds left when he made the move.} (40. Ke3 $1 { The active king seems likely to carry the day.} Nxe5 41. Kd4 Ng6 {The king will help escort the pawn.}) 40... Kg7 41. Rc3 (41. Rb8 $2 {This intended move gets into trouble.} Nxe5+ 42. Ke4 $2 Nc6 43. Rb5 f5+ $1 44. Ke3 Nxa5 $1 { and Black is the one likely to win.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2769"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. c4 e5 2. d3 $5 {At least the positions will be fresh.} Bb4+ (2... Nc6 { This move was tried in the only other super-game to attempt 2.d3!?} 3. Nf3 f5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8. Nc3 d6 9. O-O Bd7 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. Qb4 Nxd5 13. Qxb7 c6 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Qa6 d5 16. Rac1 f4 17. Nf3 Qf6 18. Qa5 Kh8 19. b3 Bg4 20. Qc3 e4 21. Qxf6 Rxf6 22. Nd4 f3 23. exf3 exf3 24. Bh1 Rc8 25. Rfe1 h6 26. b4 Na4 27. Re3 Rcf8 28. h3 Bxh3 29. Rxf3 Bd7 30. Bg2 g5 31. Rxf6 Rxf6 32. Nf3 Kg7 33. Ne5 Be8 34. Bh3 h5 35. d4 Nb6 36. Rc3 Nc4 37. Nxc4 dxc4 38. Rxc4 Rd6 39. a3 Bf7 40. Rc5 Rxd4 41. Rxg5+ Kf6 42. Rf5+ Kg6 43. Rc5 Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Bd5 45. Bg2 Rd2 46. Bxd5 cxd5 47. Kg2 Kf5 48. Ra5 Ke4 49. Rxa7 d4 50. b5 Rb2 51. a4 Kd3 52. Rb7 Ra2 53. b6 Rxa4 54. Rb8 {Grischuk, Alexander -- Anand, Viswanathan 1-0 London Classic 7th, 2015}) 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 d5 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8. e4 Qd6 9. h3 a5 10. Be2 Nd7 { "I should have prevented his knight maneuver in the beginning." -- Topalov} 11. Qc2 Nc5 12. Be3 Ne6 {With such a clamp from the calvary on d4, how can White attempt anything?} 13. O-O O-O 14. b3 Rd8 15. Rfc1 Bd7 16. Qb2 Be8 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 b5 20. Qa3 Qxb4 21. Qxb4 Nxb4 22. Nxe5 f6 23. Bg4 Nd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Nf3 Nxd3 26. Rxc7 Rd6 27. Rb7 h5 28. Bf5 g6 29. e5 $1 { If Topalov did not have this move, he would be in real trouble.} (29. Bc8 $2 Nc5 30. Re7 Kf8 $1 31. Rc7 Nxe4 {and Black's pawn should be enough to win.}) 29... Nxe5 30. Nxe5 gxf5 (30... fxe5 31. Be4 {How can Black even attempt to win from here? White's excellent pieces keep everything under control.}) 31. Rb8 Kf8 32. Ng6+ Kf7 33. Nf4 {Black has an extra pawn, but against the more active rook, and the superior minor piece (good knight vs bad bishop), winning is mostly a fantasy.} h4 34. g3 Bc6 35. gxh4 Rd4 36. Rb6 Rc4 (36... Rxf4 37. Rxc6 Rxh4 38. Kg2 {All rook endgames are drawn. Or at least this one is.}) 37. h5 Kg7 38. Kh2 b4 39. Nd3 Rc3 40. Nxb4 Be4 41. Rd6 Rf3 42. Nd5 Rxf2+ 43. Kg3 Rf3+ 44. Kh4 Bxd5 (44... Rd3 45. Nxf6 $1 Rxd6 46. Ne8+ Kh7 47. Nxd6 {=}) 45. Rxd5 Kh6 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. O-O Nb6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Bb2 Nb3 13. Rb1 f6 14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Nc4 16. Qc1 Nxb2 17. Qxb2 Rb8 18. e3 $6 {One doubts this novelty was prepared.} (18. Rfc1 {This has been the most common move. It seems rather more natural than weakening d3.} Rf7 19. Ne4 b6 20. Rc6 Bd5 $6 21. Nd6 $1 {and White had the fun in Miroshnichenko, Evgenij -- Gasanov, Eldar 1/2-1/2 Zuerich Jubilee op, 2009}) 18... f5 {So selects the most active choice. He is treating e3 as a hook for the f-pawn's advance.} (18... Qxd3 $6 19. Rfd1 Qc4 20. Nd5 { Black is in a pickle. c7, e7, and the queen are all tactically vulnerable.}) 19. Na4 Bd6 (19... Qxd3 20. Qxe5 Qd6 {was possible.}) 20. b6 c6 21. d4 $1 Qe7 22. Nc5 exd4 (22... Bxc5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Rfc1 Qd6 25. Rd1 Bd5 26. Bxd5+ cxd5 27. Qa2 Rbd8 28. Rb5 {Black loses the pawn back, and White emerges with the far more active heavy pieces.}) 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. exd4 {The opposite-color bishops make a draw likely now.} f4 25. d5 cxd5 26. Qb3 Kh8 {"box" AKA, a forced move.} 27. Bxd5 Qf6 28. Qb5 Bxa3 29. Qxa5 Bb2 30. Bf3 Ra8 31. Qd5 { Black should take on g3, and after 32.fxg3, take on b6 with check. b7 wil fall as well though so the game is as equal as equal can be.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2792"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 a6 7. a4 d6 8. O-O Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Bb3 (11. Nf1 {This was tried between Caruana and So in the Ultimate Blitz Challenge. A back and forth battle eventually petered out to a draw.} c6 12. Bb3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Be6 16. Bc2 Qf6 17. Ng3 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Ngf4 19. Ra3 Qd8 20. Ne4 Bf5 21. Rf3 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Ng6 23. g3 Qd7 24. h4 Rfe8 25. h5 Nf8 26. h6 g6 27. a5 Re6 28. Bc2 Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Re8 30. Qd1 Qg4 31. Kg2 Ne6 32. Be3 Rd8 33. Qd2 Nxe3+ 34. Qxe3 Ng5 35. Rf6 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Qxh6 37. f4 Ne6 (37... Nf3+ $3 38. Qxf3 Qg7) 38. Rxe6 fxe6 39. Qxe6+ Kf8 40. Qf6+ Ke8 41. Qe6+ Kf8 42. Qf6+ Ke8 {Caruana, Fabiano -- So, Wesley 1/2-1/2 Saint Louis Ultimate Blitz Challenge, 2016}) 11... Re8 12. d4 h6 13. Bc2 c6 14. Nf1 d5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Ng3 (19. Be3 {GM Yasser Seirawan was advocating for this move. He seems correct. It's not easy for Black to manage White's various greedy plans to win e4 without surrendering e5 in return.}) 19... Bb8 20. Be3 Bxe5 21. Nxe4 Bc7 22. a5 Bf5 23. Nc5 Rab8 24. g4 Bc2 25. Rac1 Bg6 26. b4 Bd6 27. Na4 (27. Rcd1 Bxc5 28. Bxc5 {b7 will be a very weak point, but, even if White wins it, can he win the game?}) 27... f6 (27... f5 {Komod recommends this thrust. It's very classical to break and open lines for the bishops.}) 28. Ba7 Ra8 29. Bc5 Be5 30. Nb6 Rab8 31. Nc4 Bf4 32. Be3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 b5 34. axb6 Bf7 {Anand's major premise was that 35.Re4 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 Rxb6 was a comfortable draw. Perhaps, but one suspects that Carlsen would have played on.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2819"] [BlackElo "2791"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. Rfe1 Bb4 15. g4 hxg4 16. hxg4 Ne7 17. f3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nd5 (18... Bxa2 { Carlsen tried this against Vachier-Lagrave at Norway Chess earlier this year. Vachier-Lagrave seemed on his way to a Carlsen-esque victory when a resourceful liquidation allowed Carlsen to slip away.} 19. Ne4 Rh8 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Bxc7 Nd5 22. Be5 Kf8 23. Nc5 b5 24. c4 bxc4 25. Rd4 Re8 26. Rxc4 Rh6 27. Ra4 Kg8 28. Rxa7 Bc8 29. Bg3 Rxe1+ 30. Bxe1 Rd6 31. Ba5 Bxg4 $3 32. fxg4 Rg6 33. Kf2 Rxg4 34. Bd2 Rc4 35. Ra8+ Kh7 36. Nd7 Rxc2 37. Ke2 f6 38. Kd3 Rb2 39. Nf8+ Kg8 40. Ne6+ Kh7 41. Ra7 Rb3+ 42. Kd4 Rg3 43. Kc5 Rg2 44. Ba5 Ne3 45. Kxc6 Nf5 46. Bb4 Re2 47. Kd7 Re4 48. Bc5 Kg6 49. Ra1 Re5 50. Bd6 Nxd6 51. Kxd6 Rb5 52. Rg1+ Kh6 53. Nf4 Kh7 54. Nd5 g5 55. Ke6 Kg7 56. Rf1 Ra5 57. Nxf6 Kg6 58. Nd5 Ra6+ 59. Ke5 Ra8 60. Ne7+ Kh5 61. Rh1+ Kg4 62. Rg1+ Kh5 63. Rh1+ Kg4 64. Rg1+ Kh5 65. Rh1+ {Vachier Lagrave, Maxime -- Carlsen, Magnus 1/2-1/2 Norway Chess 4th, 2016}) 19. Bd2 Nb6 20. Nxe6 Rxe6 21. Kf2 Rd8 22. Bg5 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nd7 24. f4 f6 25. exf6 gxf6 26. Bh4 c5 27. Kf3 Ra6 28. Ke4 Nf8 29. Kf5 (29. Rb1 {This was the most interesting line to be considered. Objectively, the piece sacrifice may not be good, but perhaps there are practical chances.} Ng6 30. Bxf6 Rxf6 31. f5 Ne7 32. Rxb7 Ra6 33. g5) 29... Kf7 30. c4 Re6 31. g5 Ng6 32. Rd7+ Re7 33. Rxe7+ Nxe7+ 34. Ke4 f5+ 35. Ke3 Ng6 {Fortress, fortress in the night, What immortal hand or eye Could break thy fearful symmetry? Alright, it's not that symmetrical, but anywho... draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2792"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(5s) A victory would have allowed Anand to join in a shared lead.} e5 { (4s)} 2. Nf3 {(6s)} Nc6 {(7s)} 3. Bc4 {(9s)} Bc5 {(7s)} 4. c3 {(10s)} Nf6 {(5s) } 5. d3 {(6s)} O-O {(6s)} 6. Nbd2 {(25s)} a6 {(93s)} 7. a4 {(187s) This idea of playing an early a4 was successfuly re-introduced to the Italian opening after Anand himself successfuly employed it against... Aronian. That said, Anand had employed it without the inclusion of Nbd2.} d6 {(28s)} 8. O-O {(32s)} Ba7 {(195s)} 9. h3 {(83s)} Ne7 {(155s)} (9... Re8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 d5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Nf1 d4 15. b5 Ne7 16. cxd4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. Be3 Qd7 19. Ng3 Rd8 20. Red1 axb5 21. axb5 Ne8 22. Rab1 b6 23. d4 exd4 24. Rxd4 Qc8 25. Ne2 Rxd4 26. Nxd4 Re5 27. f4 Rc5 28. Nc6 Rxc6 29. bxc6 Qe6 30. Rc1 Nf6 31. e5 Nfd5 32. Bd2 h5 33. Kh2 g6 34. Qc4 Qf5 35. Qd4 Qe6 36. Qc4 Qf5 37. Rd1 b5 38. Qxb5 Qc2 39. Qb1 Qxc6 40. Qe4 Qe6 41. Bb4 Kh7 42. Bxe7 Nxe7 43. Rc1 c6 44. Qc4 Nd5 45. g3 Qe7 46. Qxc6 Qa3 47. Rg1 Ne3 48. e6 Qb2+ 49. Kh1 fxe6 50. g4 hxg4 51. Qd7+ Kh8 52. Qe8+ Kg7 53. Qe7+ Kh8 54. Qf8+ Kh7 55. Qf7+ Kh8 56. Qe8+ Kg7 57. Qe7+ Kh8 58. Qxe6 Qf2 59. Qe8+ Kg7 60. Qe7+ Kh6 61. Qf8+ Kh7 62. Qe7+ Kh6 63. Qg5+ Kh7 64. Qe7+ Kh6 {1/2-1/2 (64) Giri,A (2782)-Caruana,F (2804) Leuven 2016}) 10. Re1 {(138s)} Ng6 {(35s)} 11. Bb3 {(123s)} Re8 {(476s) It seems that things have not gone as Anand wished. Now, we have a very normal Italian middlegame where the move a2-a4 has become a waste of time.} 12. d4 {(666s)} h6 {(400s)} 13. Bc2 {(177s)} c6 {(156s)} 14. Nf1 {(83s)} d5 {(508s) Aronian equalizes right on time.} 15. Nxe5 {(620s)} Nxe5 {(4s)} 16. dxe5 {(10s)} Nxe4 { (3s)} 17. Bxe4 {(345s)} dxe4 {(16s)} 18. Qxd8 {(7s)} Rxd8 {(5s)} 19. Ng3 { ( 18s)} Bb8 $1 {(945s) Accurate play.} 20. Be3 {(1149s) Anand realizes that capturing with the rook is too risky. This move is the equivalent of a draw offer.} (20. Rxe4 Rd1+ 21. Kh2 Bc7 {with an unpleasant play for White.}) 20... Bxe5 {(5s)} 21. Nxe4 {(123s)} Bc7 {(30s)} 22. a5 {(43s)} Bf5 {( 553s)} 23. Nc5 {(126s)} Rab8 {(20s)} 24. g4 {(354s)} Bc2 {(89s)} 25. Rac1 {(39s)} Bg6 {(337s)} 26. b4 {(270s)} Bd6 {(385s)} 27. Na4 {(111s)} f6 {(265s)} 28. Ba7 {(368s)} Ra8 {(48s)} 29. Bc5 {(34s)} Be5 {(141s)} 30. Nb6 {(218s)} Rab8 {(8s)} 31. Nc4 { (119s)} Bf4 {(208s)} 32. Be3 {(25s)} Bxe3 {(184 s)} 33. Rxe3 {(14s)} b5 { (377s) Just as Ding Liren, Aronian solves his problems with active play.} 34. axb6 {(481s)} Bf7 {(10s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "189"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s) Caruana did his best to add some blood to the day but Ding Liren was solid and Fabiano is still in "Giri" gear.} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(3s)} Nc6 { (4s)} 3. Bb5 {(5s)} a6 {(4s)} 4. Ba4 {(4s)} Nf6 {(4s)} 5. O-O {(6s)} Be7 {(3s)} 6. Re1 {(5s)} b5 {(4s)} 7. Bb3 {(3s)} d6 {(5s)} 8. c3 {(5s)} O-O {(5s)} 9. h3 { (3s)} Re8 {(5s) Ding does not deviate from his opening preparation , despite his loss to Topalov.} 10. d4 {(14s)} Bb7 {(5s)} 11. Nbd2 {(8s)} Bf8 {(4s)} 12. Bc2 {(22s)} h6 {(100s)} 13. d5 {(9s)} Nb8 {(173s)} 14. b3 {(18s)} c6 {(125s)} 15. c4 {(7s)} Nbd7 {(2s)} 16. Nf1 {(413s)} Qc7 {(508s)} 17. Be3 {(174s)} a5 $146 {(654s) Interesting novelty.} 18. Rc1 {(732s)} Ba6 {(495s)} 19. cxb5 { (539s)} Bxb5 {(3s) I am somewhat doubtful about Ding's preparation here, since White seems to already be in the driver's seat.} 20. Bd3 {(10s)} Qb7 {(5s)} 21. Bxb5 {(21s)} cxb5 22. Ng3 {(275s)} Rec8 {(57s)} 23. Qd3 {(135s)} h5 {(125s)} 24. Rc3 {(790s)} b4 {(156s)} 25. Rxc8 $6 {(172s) Caruana lets go off his advantage.} (25. Rcc1 $1 g6 26. Nd2 Rc7 27. Ne2 Rac8 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Nc4 Qa6 30. Nc1 $14) 25... Rxc8 {(17s)} 26. Rc1 {(61s)} Rxc1+ {(204s)} 27. Bxc1 {( 11s) } Nc5 {(11s)} 28. Qc4 {(400s)} g6 {(18s)} 29. Bg5 {(50s)} Nfd7 {(968s)} 30. Nd2 {(207s)} a4 {( 762s)} 31. Kh2 {(1495s)} Qb6 {(336s)} 32. Ne2 {(559s)} axb3 { (356s)} 33. axb3 {(6s)} Qa5 {(2s)} 34. Ng1 {(98s)} Nb6 {(167s)} 35. Qe2 {(49s)} Nc8 {(356s)} 36. Ngf3 {(134s)} Be7 {(156s)} 37. Be3 {(265 s)} Nb6 {(42s)} 38. Ne1 {(120s)} Nbd7 {(482s)} 39. Nc2 {(99s)} Qa6 {(4s)} 40. Qxa6 {(0s)} Nxa6 { (0s)} 41. Kg1 {(395s)} Kf8 {(1228s)} 42. Kf1 {(104s)} Bd8 {(5s)} 43. Ke2 { (785s)} Bb6 {(8s)} 44. Bh6+ {( 35s)} Ke7 {(174s)} 45. f3 {(6s) The position is equal, however Caruana pushes for a long time.} Ndc5 {(524s)} 46. Be3 {(109s)} f5 {(316s)} 47. g4 {(243s)} hxg4 {( 193s)} 48. hxg4 {(7s)} fxg4 {(99s)} 49. fxg4 {(5s)} Nd7 {(76s)} 50. Bg5+ {(215s)} Ke8 {(185s)} 51. Nc4 {(235s)} Bc7 { (226s)} 52. Be3 {(348s)} Ndc5 {(38s)} 53. Nd2 {(296s)} Ba5 {(5s)} 54. Ne1 { (290s)} Bb6 {(34s)} 55. Bxc5 {(266s)} Bxc5 {(673s)} 56. Nef3 {(192s)} Nc7 { (95s)} 57. Ng5 {(40s)} Ke7 {( 269s)} 58. Kd3 {(6s)} Kf6 {(3s)} 59. Ndf3 {(38s)} Bf2 {(251s)} 60. Nh3 {(349s)} Bg3 {(33s)} 61. Nhg1 {(179s)} Na6 {(63s)} 62. g5+ {(52s) Although this pawn blocks Black's king, it will also become a target of Black's counter play.} Ke7 {(25s)} 63. Nd2 {(5s)} Kd7 {(297s)} 64. Kc4 {(5s)} Kc7 {(3s)} 65. Kb5 {(7s)} Nc5 {(5s) This knight goes to grab the pawn on g5.} 66. Ngf3 {(14s)} Nd3 {(80s)} 67. Kc4 {(30s)} Nf2 {(6s)} 68. Kxb4 {( 21s)} Bf4 { (4s)} 69. Kb5 {(366s)} Nh3 {(23s)} 70. b4 {(14s)} Nxg5 {(94s)} 71. Ka6 {(76s)} Nxf3 {(117 s)} 72. Nxf3 {(3s)} g5 {(2s)} 73. b5 {(5s)} g4 {(4s) Ding Liren has worked out the defensive finesses acccurately.} 74. b6+ {(9s)} Kb8 {(21s)} 75. Nh4 {(14s)} g3 {( 40s)} 76. Nf5 {(131s)} g2 {(20s)} 77. Ne7 {(3s)} g1=Q {(3s)} 78. Nc6+ {(4s)} Kc8 {(2s)} 79. b7+ {(4s)} Kd7 {(1s)} 80. b8=Q {(9s) White has mating threat but Black has enough checks to force the queen's exchange.} Qf1+ {(137s)} 81. Kb7 {(37s)} Qb5+ {(39s)} 82. Ka8 {(5s)} Qa4+ {(10s)} 83. Qa7+ { (163s)} Qxa7+ {(3s)} 84. Nxa7 {(3s)} Kc7 $1 {(175s) The final nuance: Black gives up a pawn for active defence.} 85. Nb5+ {(6s)} Kb6 {(4s)} (85... Kd7 { This may or may not be a draw too but there is no need to risk it when active play ensures a draw.}) 86. Nxd6 {( 4s)} Kc5 {(2s) Ding Liren wants to force the draw.} 87. Nf5 {(109s)} (87. Nf7 Bg3 88. Kb8 (88. Ng5 Bh4 89. Ne6+ Kc4 90. Kb7 Kd3 91. d6 Kxe4 {also draws}) 88... Kd4 {draws}) 87... Bg5 {(6s)} 88. Kb7 { (28s)} Kc4 {(6s)} 89. d6 {(36s)} Kd3 {(5s)} 90. Ng3 {(15s)} Ke3 {(19s)} 91. d7 {(46s)} Kf3 {(25s)} 92. Nh5 {(24s)} Kxe4 {(10s)} 93. Kc6 {(14s)} Kf3 {(34s)} 94. Ng7 {(18s)} e4 {(6s)} 95. Nf5 {(16s) Caruana missed his chance to secure an edge and his further endeavors was faced by a wall named Ding Liren.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "8"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D79"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2819"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Ne5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O (12. Qxc6 {This pawn sacrifice has been accepted once.} Qa5 {Nakhbayeva's choice.} (12... Be6 { This move is Komodo's slight preference to the played line. Vachier-Lagrave must have extensive research on this line, but here are a few moves indicating the kind of play for which Black can hope.} 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Qa6 Bf5 15. Qxa7 e5 {Black has no shortage of activity, but White probably still has some advantage with the extra pawn.}) 13. Bd2 Be6 14. a4 Bh6 15. e3 Rfc8 16. Qb5 Qc7 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. Qa2 Bf5 19. O-O Bd3 20. Rfe1 Bc4 21. Qc2 Bb3 22. Qc1 e6 23. Bf1 Bc4 24. Bxc4 Qxc4 25. Qc2 Rb3 26. Reb1 Rcb8 27. Rxb3 Rxb3 28. a5 a6 29. Kg2 Bg7 30. Rb1 Rxb1 31. Qxb1 Qe2 32. Qb8+ Bf8 33. Bc1 Kg7 34. Qe5+ Kg8 35. Qb8 Kg7 36. Qb3 Qd3 37. h4 h5 38. Ba3 Bxa3 39. Qxa3 Qe4+ 40. Kg1 Qb1+ 41. Kg2 Qe4+ 42. Kg1 {Nakhbayeva, Guliskhan -- Lei, Tingjie 1/2-1/2 Moscow op-B (Women), 2015}) 12... Qb6 13. Ba3 Qa6 14. Qxa6 Bxa6 15. Rfb1 Bxe2 16. Bxe7 Rfb8 17. Bd6 Rd8 18. Bc5 Bf8 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Rb2 Bd3 21. Rd1 Bf5 22. Rb7 Rdb8 23. Rc7 Rc8 24. Rb7 Rcb8 25. Rc7 Rc8 26. Rb7 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "8"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2807"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Be7 13. c4 Nc7 14. d4 d5 15. cxd5 Bb4 16. Bd2 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Re5 Qd6 20. Bc4 Bd7 21. Qc3 ({Earlier this year, Svidler and Topalov chose} 21. Rae1 {in one of the Candidates' Tournament draws in which Giri did not participate.} b5 (21... Rae8 22. Qf4 b5 $4 23. Bxf7+ $1 {This and Qxf7 are the two tricks in the position.} (23. Qxf7+ {A prettier (but arguably less accurate) alternative.} Rxf7 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Rxe8+ Qf8 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 {+-}) 23... Rxf7 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Qxd6 {+-}) 22. Bb3 a5 23. a4 bxa4 24. Bxa4 Be6 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5 Qxd4 27. Bxc6 Qxb2 28. Bd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Qf6 30. g3 g6 {Svidler, P. -- Topalov, V. 1/2-1/2 FIDE Candidates 2016, 2016}) 21... Rae8 22. Rae1 Rxe5 23. dxe5 Qe7 24. Rd1 Be6 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. Qa5 b5 27. Qxa7 Qxe5 28. Qd4 Qe6 29. a4 bxa4 30. Qxa4 h6 31. h3 Rb8 32. Rc1 Rxb2 33. Qxc6 Qxc6 34. Rxc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "8"] [White "Anand, V."] [Black "Topalov, V."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2761"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 b6 10. Nc3 Ke8 11. Rd1 Bb4 12. Ne2 Bb7 13. Ned4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bc5 (14... Rg8 {This was played in the only other game to go this far.} 15. Bf4 Rd8 16. Bg3 Bc5 17. Nb3 Be7 18. Nd4 Bc5 19. Nb3 Be7 20. Nd4 Bc5 21. Nb3 {Klein, David -- L'Ami, Erwin 1/2-1/2 Tata Steel-B 77th, 2015}) 15. Nf5 Rg8 16. g4 h5 17. Be3 $5 {This move commits to Nh6 next move.} g6 18. Nh6 Rh8 19. Bxc5 (19. Bg5 $2 {Unfortunately this brilliant idea by Anand doesn't quite work.} Bf8 $2 {This natural move seems to trap the knight, but actually it is Black's rook that ends up trapped!} (19... Be7 $1 {This is the cold shower.} 20. Bf6 $2 {White is one tempo slower in this version. It matters.} (20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. g5 {This is like the game except that Black's pawn structure is healthy.}) 20... Rxh6 21. g5 Rh7 22. Rd2 Rd8 $1 {Black exchanges a pair of rooks and escapes a complete bind. Per Anand, Black can slowly excavate the rook by Kf8, Rg7, and Rg8.}) 20. Bf6 Rxh6 21. g5 Rh7 22. Rd2 {It's incredibly hard to be certain in this position, but Black seems to be in trouble. How does the rook get into the game?! Anand was quite optimistic about this position. Here is a sample line.} Be7 23. Rad1 Ba6 24. Rd7 Bd6 25. R1xd6 cxd6 26. Re7+ Kf8 27. exd6 Bc4 28. Rc7 Be6 29. d7 Bxd7 (29... Bxh3 $2 30. Rxa7 {Snags an extra pawn in light of the mate...} Rxa7 31. d8=R#) 30. Rxd7 {The Bf6 offsets the rook and the remaining rook is more active than its counterpart.}) 19... bxc5 20. g5 Bc8 21. h4 Ke7 22. f4 Be6 23. Rf1 Rad8 24. c3 Bh3 25. Rf2 Ke6 26. Re1 Rd3 27. Re4 Rhd8 28. Ra4 Rd1+ 29. Kh2 R8d3 30. f5+ (30. Rxa7 {This is another draw pointed out by the engine.} Bf1 31. Rxc7 Rh3+ 32. Kg1 Rg3+ 33. Kh1 Rh3+ 34. Kg1 Rg3+ { White has used the time Black needed to weave this net with the bishop and rooks to pick off important pawns. Black should give the perpetual now since White is too far ahead on material, and Black has no tangible gains available.} ) (30. Ng8 $4 {White can easily go wrong with a move like this.} Bf1 31. Nf6 Rh3+ 32. Kg1 Bb5+ {wins the rook on a4.}) 30... gxf5 31. Raf4 Bg4 32. Kg2 Bh3+ 33. Kh2 Bg4 34. Nxg4 hxg4 35. Kg2 g3 36. Re2 Rb1 37. h5 (37. Rc4 {Perhaps this was Anand's best chance to win. The h-pawn will still advance soon, but White is trying to get a better situation on the queenside first.}) 37... Rdd1 38. Kxg3 (38. h6 {It's not clear who is trying to win in this line, but in the end, the play remains balanced.} Rg1+ 39. Kh3 Rh1+ 40. Kxg3 Rh5 41. Rh2 Rxg5+ 42. Kf3 Rf1+ 43. Ke2 Rxf4 44. h7 Rg2+ $1 45. Rxg2 Rh4 46. Rg7) 38... Rh1 39. Rc4 Kd5 40. Rf4 Rbg1+ 41. Rg2 Rxg2+ (41... Kxe5 42. Rff2 $1 {This vital resource was given by Anand in the post-mortem.} Rxg2+ 43. Rxg2 Rxh5 44. Re2+ $1 { Without this check, White might well be losing.} Kd5 45. Kf4 {White wins the f-pawn.}) 42. Kxg2 Rxh5 43. Rxf5 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "8"] [White "Giri, A."] [Black "Svidler, P."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D78"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "168"] [EventDate "2016.08.04"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Qb3 O-O 7. O-O dxc4 8. Qxc4 Bf5 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Nh4 Nb6 11. Qb3 Bg4 12. Nc3 Nfd5 13. Nf3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qd5 15. Ba3 Rfe8 16. Ne5 $5 {The engine considers this the most challenging move. It's a very innovative pawn sacrifice, but it soon felt like Black was challenging White to show compensation for the pawn.} Qxb3 17. axb3 Bxe2 18. Rd2 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Bg4 20. c4 a5 21. Bc5 Nd7 22. Bd4 Ra6 23. Rda2 Rea8 24. f4 Be6 25. Bf1 b6 26. Be3 Kf8 27. Ra4 c5 28. Bg2 Re8 29. Bc6 Ra7 30. Bb5 Rc8 31. Rd1 Rac7 32. Ra2 Kg7 33. Rad2 Nb8 34. Rd8 Nc6 35. Rxc8 Rxc8 36. Rd2 h5 37. Kg2 Bf5 38. h3 f6 39. exf6+ Kxf6 40. Ba4 Nd8 41. Bd7 Bxd7 42. Rxd7 Ke6 43. Rd1 Nf7 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Ra8 46. Bf2 Nd6 47. Re1+ Kf7 48. Rh1 $6 (48. Ra1 {a4 needed to be stopped. Once it happens, Black is winning comfortably.}) 48... a4 $2 49. bxa4 (49. Ra1 $2 {This particular oops has occurred in numerous amateur games.} axb3 50. Rxa8 b2 {A new queen arrives with pomp and circumstance.}) 49... Rxa4 50. Rh7+ Kf8 51. Rh8+ Kg7 52. Rb8 Nxc4 53. Kf3 Kf7 54. Bh4 e5 55. f5 gxf5 56. gxf5 Nd6 57. Rxb6 Rf4+ 58. Ke2 Nxf5 59. Bg5 Ng3+ 60. Ke3 Rg4 61. Bd8 Nf5+ 62. Kf3 Rf4+ 63. Ke2 Nd4+ 64. Ke3 Ne6 65. Rb7+ Kg6 66. Ba5 Ra4 67. Bc3 Kf6 68. Kd3 Nf4+ 69. Kc2 Nd5 70. Bb2 c4 71. Rd7 Ke6 72. Rh7 c3 73. Rh6+ Kf5 74. Rh5+ Kf6 75. Bxc3 Rc4 76. Kd3 Rxc3+ 77. Ke4 Rc4+ (77... Ne3 $4 {Svidler gave this line as a pitfall he almost fell into.} 78. Rh6+ $1 (78. Rxe5 $4 Rc4+ { Is a nice way to win the rook.}) (78. Rh3 $2 Rc4+ 79. Kd3 (79. Kxe3 $4 Rc3+ { Skewer! Note though that if Black's king were on e6, this would not win. Then 80.Ke4! Rxh3 would be stalemate.}) 79... e4+ {White can safely take nothing. Black wins easily.}) 78... Kg5 79. Rh3 {draws. White will eliminate the e5-pawn.}) 78. Kxd5 Rd4+ 79. Kc5 Rd1 80. Kc4 e4 81. Kc3 e3 82. Rh2 Kf5 83. Kc2 Rd8 84. Rh7 Kf4 0-1 [Event "2016 Sinquefield Cup"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2792"] [Annotator "Hess, R"] [PlyCount "173"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2016.08.14"] {Aronian has a huge plus score against Nakamura, but in this tournament, both players had just fifty percent. In this game, Nakamura simply was unable to equalize with the black pieces as Aronian exploited his opponent's weak squares.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 (6... Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 {is a common variation.}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Bd3 Nc6 ({Nc6 seems natural, because it does not block the light-squared bishop. However, the bishop really wants to go to b7. With the knight on c6, this is quite difficult.} 10... Nbd7 11. O-O b5 12. a4 b4 13. Ne4 Bb7 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6 15. Qe2 Qe7 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Nd2 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nc4 Qc6 20. f3 Qc5 21. a5 Rab8 22. Kh1 Nd5 23. Qe1 Bc6 24. Rdc1 Qe7 25. Ne5 Be8 26. e4 Nc7 27. Qg3 Qd6 28. Bf1 f6 29. Nc4 Qxg3 30. hxg3 Nb5 31. Nb6 {1/2-1/2 (31) Galanov,S (2578) -Klauner,T (2491) ICCF email 2011}) 11. O-O Nb4 (11... b5 {would be acceptable, if not for} 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qc2 {wins a pawn for White, since h7 and c6 are both en prise.}) 12. Bb1 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nbd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Be4 {A nice move, offering the two bishops in exchange for more space and dynamic pieces. Taking on f4 is not highly recommended, though given the circumstances, perhaps it was the best choice.} Nf6 (15... Nxf4 16. exf4 Ra7 17. Rac1 b6 18. Ne5 Rc7 19. b4 Bd6 20. Rxc7 Bxc7 21. g3 {is uncomfortable for Black. The two bishops are not advantageous at all; the white pieces control the board.}) 16. Nd2 {Amusingly, Aronian is dying to give up the bishops. Nakamura still could not take, lest his position fall apart.} Re8 (16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Ba7 (17... Be7 18. Bd6 Bxd6 19. Nxd6 {leaves Black with no space, as the white rooks control the open files. The knight also outclasses the bishop.}) 18. Rac1 { is extremely pleasant for White.}) 17. Bf3 e5 18. Bg3 Ra7 {A sad necessity as the bishop can't develop.} (18... Bg4 19. Bxb7 Rab8 20. Bf3 Rxb2 21. Nc4 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rc2 23. Nxe5 {picks up a pawn. Black will grovel for a draw.}) 19. Rac1 b6 20. a3 Bd7 21. Nc4 e4 22. Be2 a5 (22... Bb5 {pins the knight for just one move.} 23. Kf1 {now White can place a piece on d6 and maintain the initiative.}) 23. Nd6 Re7 24. Nb5 Bxb5 25. Bxb5 Ra8 26. Kf1 (26. Rc4 {with the idea of b4 is quite forceful.} Re6 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4 Bf8 29. Bc6 Ra2 30. b5 {cementing the pawn on b6 is one of many options for White. Aronian need not rush; his position will be better for the rest of the contest, and Nakamura has no active counterplay.}) 26... Re6 27. Ke2 g5 28. Bc4 Ree8 29. h4 h6 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Bd6 Kg7 (31... Rec8 32. Be5 {is problematic. Mate is looming on the h8 square.} Ng4 33. Bc3 Bxe3 34. Rh1 Kf8 35. fxe3 {and c4 is immune, since Rh8+ would pick up the a8 rook.}) (31... Rac8 32. Ba6 Ra8 33. Bb5 {wins a pawn for White. For instance} Bxd6 34. Rxd6 Re6 35. Rxe6 fxe6 36. Rc6) 32. Bb5 Bxd6 33. Rxd6 (33. Bxe8 $2 Nxe8 {and Black suddenly is up material.}) 33... Re5 ( 33... Rec8 34. Rcc6 Rxc6 35. Rxc6 Rb8 {must be losing for Black. The knight is completely dominated by the bishop, and White has no weaknesses.}) 34. Rxb6 Rh8 35. Rb7 Rf5 36. Rf1 Rh2 37. Bc4 Ne8 38. Rb5 (38. g4 {could have ended matters on the spot.} Rc5 39. Bb3 (39. Bxf7 $2 Nd6 {and Black scoops up material.}) 39... Nd6 40. Rb6 Nc8 41. Rb8 Rh4 42. Rd1 {leaves Black helpless.}) 38... Rxb5 39. Bxb5 Nd6 40. Bd7 Kf6 41. Rc1 Rh8 (41... Rxg2 {allows a funny trap.} 42. Rh1 Nf5 43. Kf1 (43. Bxf5 Kxf5 44. Kf1 Rg4 45. Rh8 Rh4 (45... Ke6 46. Ra8 {is a second pawn. Two passers on the queenside are hard to stop.}) 46. Rxh4 gxh4 47. b3 $1 {is the winning move.} (47. b4 axb4 48. axb4 Ke5 49. Kg2 Kd5 50. Kh3 Kc4 51. Kxh4 Kxb4 52. Kg5 Kc4 53. Kf6 Kd3 54. Ke5 Ke2 55. Kxe4 Kxf2 56. Kf4 f5 { is a draw.})) 43... Rg4 (43... Nxe3+ 44. fxe3 Rxb2 {should not provide enough compensation, since White can keep one of his pawns. Yet this was Nakamura's best hope.}) 44. Rh7 {and Black can't move!}) 42. b3 Ke7 43. Rc7 Rh1 44. Ra7 Ra1 45. g4 (45. Bg4+ {wins the second pawn, but Nakamura would retain some chances to pester Aronian} Kf6 46. Ra6 Ke7 47. Rxa5 Rb1 48. Rxg5 (48. b4 Rb2+ 49. Ke1 Rb1+ 50. Bd1 Nc4 {with real compensation.}) 48... Rxb3 49. Ra5 Rb2+ 50. Ke1 Rb1+ 51. Bd1 Nc4 52. Rd5 Nb2 53. Rd4 Nd3+ 54. Kd2 Nxf2 55. Bc2 Rb2 56. Kc3 Ra2 57. Kb3 Ra1 58. Bxe4 {looks like a win for White. Whew, that took some serious effort.}) 45... Rxa3 46. Ba4+ Kf8 47. Rxa5 Ra2+ {I'm not sure why Hikaru decided to release the tension here. The rook on a3 is annoying to deal with, since the bishop has to protect the b-pawn.} (47... f6 48. Ra8+ Ke7 49. Ra7+ Kf8 50. Kf1 Nf7 51. Ra8+ Kg7 52. Bc6 Rxb3 53. Ra7 Rb1+ 54. Kg2 Kf8 55. Bxe4 {and White has great chances to win, but it is not trivial.}) 48. Kf1 f6 49. Ra8+ Ke7 50. Bc6 Rb2 (50... Rxa8 51. Bxa8 {has to be a won ending. The b-pawn should be used as a decoy, and the white king can just run to the center. The pawn on e4 needs constant protection, so Black is a bit tied down.} ) 51. Ra7+ Ke6 52. Bd7+ Ke7 (52... Kd5 {loses a piece:} 53. Ra5+ Nb5 54. Rxb5+) 53. Bf5+ Ke8 54. Be6 Rb1+ 55. Kg2 Rb2 56. Bd5 Rb1 (56... Rc2 {was probably necessary to stop Bc6, but the b-pawn can now roam free! Still, Naka had to go for this.} 57. b4 Rb2 58. b5 Kd8 (58... Nxb5 59. Rb7 {wins the knight.})) 57. Bc6+ Kf8 58. Rd7 Nf7 59. Bxe4 {White wins a second pawn, and the rest is easy.} Rb2 (59... Rxb3 60. Rxf7+ Kxf7 61. Bd5+ {leaves Black down a piece and a pawn.} ) 60. Rb7 Nd6 61. Rb8+ Kg7 62. Bd5 Rd2 63. e4 f5 64. gxf5 Nxf5 65. Rb7+ Kh6 66. Rb6+ Kh7 67. Rb7+ Kh6 68. exf5 {Leaving Black no chance. Precise play by Aronian, who understood the resulting ending is easily won.} Rxd5 69. f6 Rd4 70. Kg3 Kg6 71. f7 Kg7 72. b4 Kf8 73. b5 Rb4 74. b6 Kg7 75. f3 Kf8 76. Kf2 Rb3 77. Ke2 Kg7 78. Kd2 Kf8 (78... Rxf3 79. Rc7 Rb3 80. b7 g4 81. f8=Q+ Kxf8 82. Rc8+ Kg7 83. b8=Q {and wins.}) 79. Kc2 Rb5 80. Kc3 Kg7 81. Kc4 Rb1 82. Kc5 Rc1+ 83. Kd6 Rb1 84. Ke7 Re1+ 85. Kd8 Re6 86. Kc7 Re3 87. Ra7 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s)} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(6s)} Nc6 {(5s)} 3. Bb5 {(9s)} Nf6 {(7s)} 4. O-O {(12s)} Nxe4 {(5s)} 5. d4 {(6s)} Nd6 {(6s)} 6. Bxc6 {(8s)} dxc6 {(4s)} 7. dxe5 {(7s)} Nf5 {(7s)} 8. Qxd8+ {(7s)} Kxd8 {(5s)} 9. h3 {(10s)} b6 {(129s)} 10. Nc3 {(234s)} Ke8 {(60s)} 11. Rd1 {(333s)} Bb4 {(8s)} 12. Ne2 {(57s)} Bb7 {(881s)} 13. Ned4 {(738s)} Nxd4 {(6s)} 14. Nxd4 {(8s)} Bc5 {(4s)} 15. Nf5 {(662s)} Rg8 { (104s)} 16. g4 {(26s)} h5 {(132s)} 17. Be3 {(587s)} g6 {(579s)} 18. Nh6 {(37s)} Rh8 {(25s)} 19. Bxc5 {(22s)} bxc5 {(35s)} 20. g5 {(16s)} Bc8 {(342s)} 21. h4 { (263s)} Ke7 {(460s)} 22. f4 {(341s)} Be6 {(431s)} 23. Rf1 {(265s)} Rad8 {(206s) } 24. c3 {(170s)} Bh3 {(522s)} 25. Rf2 {(382s)} Ke6 {(166s)} 26. Re1 {(42s)} Rd3 {(126s)} 27. Re4 {(171s)} Rhd8 {(71s)} 28. Ra4 {(#) (345s)} Rd1+ {(408s)} ( {Had Topalov played} 28... Re3 $1 {the course of the game might have gone differently.} 29. Rxa7 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 Bf1 31. Rxc7 Rh3+ 32. Kg1 Bc4+ 33. Kg2 Rdh1 {and White's position looks quite suspicious. Bd5+ is threatening to clean up the house so} 34. f5+ {is forced.} gxf5 35. Rxc6+ Kd5 (35... Kxe5 36. Rxf5+ Ke4 37. Rcxc5 $11) 36. Rf6 Bd3 37. Rd6+ Ke4 (37... Kc4 {allows} 38. b3+ Kxc3 39. Rf3 {and Black has nothing better than the repetition with his rooks.}) 38. Nxf5 (38. Rxd3 Kxd3 39. Nxf5 R1h2+ 40. Kg1 Rxf2 41. Kxf2 Ke4 {and Black has the exchange and good winning chances.}) 38... R1h2+ 39. Kg1 Rxf2 40. Kxf2 Kxf5 ) 29. Kh2 {(14s)} R8d3 {(7s)} 30. f5+ {(620s)} gxf5 {(233s)} 31. Raf4 {(44s)} Bg4 {(188s)} 32. Kg2 {(157s)} Bh3+ {(6 s)} 33. Kh2 {(6s)} Bg4 {(5s)} 34. Nxg4 { (132s)} hxg4 {(258s)} 35. Kg2 {(18s)} g3 {(365s)} 36. Re2 {( 43s)} Rb1 {(72s)} 37. h5 {(201s)} Rdd1 {(168s)} 38. Kxg3 {(112s)} Rh1 {(11s)} 39. Rc4 {(520s)} Kd5 {(331s)} 40. Rf4 {(0s)} Rbg1+ {(0s)} 41. Rg2 {(181s)} Rxg2+ {(560s)} 42. Kxg2 {(8s)} Rxh5 {(12s)} 43. Rxf5 {(5s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2791"] [PlyCount "173"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {With both players sitting on 50%, only a victory could create a chance for winning the tournament. In a classical affair, Aronian punished Naka's unconventional approach to QGD.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 {Nakamura is in a solid mood today. He also has good memories: he beat Aronian in Zurich last February in the very same QGD.} 5. Bf4 {Aronian has played this line almost exclusively in recent tournaments.} O-O 6. e3 c5 {Nakamura deviates first} (6... Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. O-O Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qc8 14. Rfc1 Qb7 15. Rab1 axb4 16. axb4 Rfc8 17. Nd2 Bd8 18. Nb3 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. Ra1 Qb7 21. b5 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 bxc5 23. Na5 Qa8 24. Nb3 Qb7 25. Na5 Qa8 26. Nb3 Qb8 27. dxc5 cxb5 28. Qd4 b4 29. Na4 Qb5 30. Qb2 Ne4 31. f3 Nexc5 32. Naxc5 Nxc5 33. Rc1 Rc7 34. Qe5 Qb6 35. f4 Na6 36. Ra1 Rc3 37. Nd4 Nc7 38. Rb1 f6 39. Qh5 Rxe3 {0-1 (39) Aronian,L (2792)-Nakamura,H (2787) Zuerich 2016}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bd3 $5 {A rare choice, Aronian offers a quiet queenless middlegame. Black is solid, so... any problem trading queens?!} dxc4 9. Bxc4 { White has more space and better development, and although he has a small edge I am sure that Aronian had deeply analyzed this position before. A clever choice that might have caught Nakamura off-guard.} a6 10. Bd3 Nc6 (10... Nbd7 { is more in the spirit of the position (Not because it is the first choice of Komodo, believe me).} 11. O-O b5 12. Ne4 Bb7 $5 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Be2 Rc8 15. Be5 Nfe4 16. Bd4 f6 {and I do not see a way for White to maintain his bishop pair.}) 11. O-O Nb4 12. Bb1 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nbd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Be4 $1 { (#) This is a positional brilliancy! White lets Black capture one of his bishops and double his pawns but the 'b7 problem' outweighs all of these minuses. Nakamura might have missed this move.} Nf6 {Nakamura switches his attention from one bishop to another, but...} (15... Nxf4 16. exf4 Ra7 { is probably better than what Nakamura played in the game.}) 16. Nd2 $1 { Be my guest! Nakamura constantly attacks White's bishops and Aronian offers them in exchange for Black's knight everytime.} Re8 (16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Be7 18. Bd6 $1 {And White dominates the dark squares. If you want to learn how to play these positions with White, I have two names in mind, whoes games might help you: Alexander Alekhine and Ulf Andersson!}) 17. Bf3 {The cat and mouse game between Black's knight and White's bishop is over and neither of these pieces is off the board!} e5 {Nakamura blocks one of the two bishops.} 18. Bg3 Ra7 {sad necessacity} (18... Bg4 19. Bxb7 Rab8 20. Bf3 Rxb2 21. Nc4 Rc2 22. Rdc1 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 e4 24. Bxg4 Nxg4 25. h3 Nf6 26. Bd6 {would be equally bad and practically even worse than the game's continuation.}) 19. Rac1 b6 20. a3 Bd7 21. Nc4 e4 22. Be2 a5 {The position is terrible and it looks like White is going to win some material soon. However, we all know that Nakamura is not an easy nut to crack.} 23. Nd6 Re7 24. Nb5 Bxb5 25. Bxb5 $16 {Surprisingly, it is White who has a pair of bishops now! When I was 15, my coach, GM sarhan Guliev from Azerbaijan, and I would analyze similar positions in order to develop the technique to win a winning game!} Ra8 26. Kf1 Re6 27. Ke2 g5 28. Bc4 Ree8 29. h4 h6 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Bd6 Kg7 32. Bb5 Bxd6 33. Rxd6 Re5 {Naka got rid of one of White's bishop at the cost of a pawn.} 34. Rxb6 Rh8 35. Rb7 Rf5 36. Rf1 $1 { A very strong prophylactic move!} Rh2 37. Bc4 Ne8 (37... Ng4 {would have been met with} 38. Be6) 38. Rb5 Rxb5 39. Bxb5 Nd6 40. Bd7 $1 {Aronian is accurate like a machine!} Kf6 (40... Rxg2 41. Rh1) 41. Rc1 Rh8 42. b3 Ke7 43. Rc7 Rh1 44. Ra7 Ra1 45. g4 $6 (45. Bg4+ Kf6 46. Ra6 Ke7 47. Rxa5) 45... Rxa3 46. Ba4+ Kf8 47. Rxa5 Ra2+ 48. Kf1 f6 49. Ra8+ Ke7 50. Bc6 Rb2 51. Ra7+ Ke6 52. Bd7+ Ke7 53. Bf5+ Ke8 54. Be6 Rb1+ 55. Kg2 Rb2 56. Bd5 Rb1 $2 {After brilliant resistance, Nakamura finally cracks under the pressure} (56... Rc2 {covering c6 was essential after which White would have had a long road to the win.}) 57. Bc6+ Kf8 58. Rd7 Nf7 59. Bxe4 Rb2 60. Rb7 Nd6 61. Rb8+ Kg7 62. Bd5 Rd2 63. e4 f5 64. gxf5 Nxf5 65. Rb7+ Kh6 66. Rb6+ Kh7 67. Rb7+ Kh6 68. exf5 {Good enough.} Rxd5 69. f6 Rd4 70. Kg3 Kg6 71. f7 Kg7 72. b4 Kf8 73. b5 Rb4 74. b6 Kg7 75. f3 Kf8 76. Kf2 Rb3 77. Ke2 Kg7 78. Kd2 Kf8 79. Kc2 Rb5 80. Kc3 Kg7 81. Kc4 Rb1 82. Kc5 Rc1+ 83. Kd6 Rb1 84. Ke7 Re1+ 85. Kd8 Re6 86. Kc7 Re3 87. Ra7 {Aronian surprised Nakamura and played a very good game. He also brought a new trend in the QGD. How about playing a queenless middlegame when there is no chance for Black to win?} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2819"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Rad1 Be7 13. b3 a5 (13... h4 {This has been tried by Kramnik, Karjakin, and Jakovenko with all games being drawn. So's 13...a5 has only been tried twice in the author's database. Neither effort was a top-level game.}) 14. Rd3 Rd8 15. Rxd8+ Bxd8 (15... Kxd8 { Komodo prefers this move slightly, but what does Komodo know of the Berlin?}) 16. Rd1 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 Ke7 18. Ne2 Nh4 19. g3 Ng6 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. f4 Rf8 22. Rd4 c5 23. Re4 Rd8 24. Kf2 Rd1 25. g4 hxg4 26. hxg4 b5 27. f5 {After So's accurate play, this sharp move liquidates.} (27. a4 $5 Rd2 (27... c6 28. Ke3 { White has mastered centralization, but what now?}) 28. axb5 Rxc2 29. Ke3 { Perhaps this was a good try? White is certainly not winning, but the position is imbalanced, slightly favorable to White, and White seems to have control.}) 27... Nh4 28. Ng3 Ra1 29. a4 Ra2 30. axb5 Rxc2+ 31. Re2 Rxe2+ (31... Rc3 $5 32. Re3 Rc2+ 33. Re2 {Kasparov pointed out this variation in commentary and wondered why So didn't go for it. Good question!}) 32. Kxe2 c4 $1 {Without this move, So would be in trouble. The a-pawn now distracts White and allows Black to eliminate the kingside pawns. The resulting trades leave too little material on the board.} 33. bxc4 a4 34. Kd3 Nf3 35. f6+ Kf7 $5 (35... gxf6 { There doesn't seem anything wrong with this natural capture either.} 36. exf6+ Kxf6 37. Ne4+ Ke5 38. Nc3 a3 39. c5 {So may have felt this was an unnecesary risk, but...} Kf4 40. b6 cxb6 41. cxb6 Ne5+ 42. Kd4 Nd7 43. b7 Kxg4 {is quite drawn.}) 36. fxg7 Nxe5+ 37. Kc3 a3 38. c5 Nd3 $1 39. Kb3 Nxc5+ 40. Kxa3 Kxg7 41. Kb4 Nd3+ 42. Kc4 Ne5+ 43. Kc5 Kh6 44. Ne2 c6 45. bxc6 Nxc6 46. Kxc6 Kg5 47. Kd6 Kxg4 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2755"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Qe7 14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 16. Qc1 (16. O-O {The only other grandmaster game to reach this point went...} h5 17. Re1 Bg7 18. d5 O-O 19. d6 Qd8 20. b4 Bh6 21. Bg3 Nd7 22. e5 c5 23. Bd3 cxb4 24. Ne4 Rc8 25. Qb1 Bxe4 26. Bxe4 a5 27. Qa2 a4 28. Qe2 Qb6 29. Bb1 Nc5 $4 {Qd4, Kg7, f5... anything but this!} 30. Qc2 {and Black resigned in Tregubov, Pavel V vs Motylev, Alexander 1-0 RUS-ch Higher League 60th, 2007}) 16... Rg8 17. O-O Nh5 18. d5 $1 Qxh4 (18... exd5 $2 {Of course, such greed is suspect with the king in the center. Black is getting crushed here.} 19. exd5 Qxe5 20. Re1 Be7 21. Bxb5 Qd6 22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Ne4 {+-}) (18... f6 $5) (18... Rc8 {This seems the most human move to me. I would be really tempted to play this lazily, without calculation. Of course, the game remains incredibly complex.}) 19. g3 Qg5 20. dxc6 Qxe5 (20... Qxc1 $2 21. cxb7 $1 {Wins a rook.}) (20... Bxc6 $2 21. Nxb5 $1 {A nice denouement.}) 21. cxb7 Rb8 22. Nd5 $3 { This is almost instantly decisive.} (22. Rxa6 {Black is not out of the woods here either.} Bc5 23. Kg2 $1 b4 24. Na4 Qxe4+ 25. Kg1 Bd4 {Black's king is still the less safe monarch.}) 22... exd5 (22... f6 {This is the most resilient, but Black is still losing. Here's a sample line.} 23. Rxa6 exd5 24. exd5 Kf7 25. Re6 Qxd5 26. Qc7+ Kxe6 27. Qxb8 Kf7 28. Rd1 {The b-pawn is more valuable than Black's sidelined kingside pieces. +-}) 23. Qc8+ $1 Ke7 (23... Rxc8 24. bxc8=Q+ {Technically material on the board is equal for one move, but. ..} Ke7 25. Rxa6 {is mate in 13 according to Komodo.}) 24. Rxa6 Nxg3 25. Bxb5 Ne2+ 26. Bxe2 f6 27. Re6+ $1 Qxe6 28. Qxb8 {White will welcome a new queen momentarily.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C81"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2769"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Nc5 10. Rd1 Nxb3 11. cxb3 $5 {This has been played four times in my database. The idea is more extensive than that though. It appears in other lines in the Open Ruy Lopez. The idea is actually quite old. It's been seen mostly in the 60's and 70's. It's certainly fun, but it seems a more timely ... f6 sholud give Black a good position.} Be7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Be3 Qd7 14. h3 Rad8 (14... f6 $1 {Was this the right time?} 15. exf6 Rxf6 {Black's activity is becoming impressive. Black may make White defend on the queenside before White gets real pressure in the center.}) 15. Rd2 f6 16. Rad1 $1 {An excellent positional idea!} (16. exf6 {This was expected by Giri.} Bxf6 17. Rad1 Qf7 { Black has no problems.}) 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 Rxd5 21. Qc2 $1 {For the second time in St. Louis, Caruana evaluates the queen versus two rook imbalance better than his opponent. Against Nakamura, he drew comfortably when many felt a loss likely. Here he sees that Black is struggling to defend the weak pawns, and the rooks ar unable to coordinate while the white queen gets great play from e4, pressuring the light squares.} c5 22. g3 Kh8 (22... g6 {Kasparov suggested this approach; Caruana also approved. Perhaps Black holds here, but the question remains. What does Black do while White attempts progress?}) 23. h4 Rfd8 24. Qe4 h6 25. Kg2 Bf6 26. Kh3 h5 {This loses the h-pawn, but White's intended g4, g5 was a big problem.} 27. a4 Rd3 28. axb5 axb5 29. Qg6 e4 30. Qxh5+ Kg8 31. Qf5 Bxb2 32. Qxe4 c4 33. bxc4 bxc4 34. Qxc4+ R3d5 35. g4 Kh8 36. g5 Bd4 37. Bxd4 Rxd4 38. Qf7 R8d7 39. Qe8+ Kh7 40. Qh5+ Kg8 41. g6 Re4 42. Qh7+ Kf8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxg7+ Ke6 45. Qh8 Rd3+ 46. Kh2 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 {This anti-Berlin system has been tried by the best of the best including Carlsen, Anand, Caruana, and many others. Two tremendous Chinese victories (in the notes) were played in this line.} dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 (6... O-O 7. Nc4 Nd7 8. Qe2 Re8 9. Bd2 Bd6 10. h4 c5 11. h5 h6 12. O-O-O Nb8 13. Rdg1 Nc6 14. g4 f6 15. g5 fxg5 16. Nxg5 Nd4 17. Qd1 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Be7 19. Be3 Bf6 20. h6 Re7 21. hxg7 Rxg7 22. Qh5 Be6 23. Bh6 Bf7 24. Bxg7 Bxh5 25. Bxf6+ Kf8 26. Bxd8 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 Nxg1 28. Bxc7 {Wei,Y (2706) - Navara,D (2730) 1-0 2016 Tata Steel-A 7 (Wijk aan Zee)}) 7. O-O Bd6 (7... Nd7 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3 Nf8 12. Nd2 Ne6 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qd1 Bc5 15. Nc4 b5 16. Na5 Qd7 17. Be3 Bb6 18. b4 O-O 19. Qd2 f5 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Qc3 f4 22. Bxb6 cxb6 23. Nxc6 Qd6 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Nxa7 f3 26. Qc6 Qe7 27. Nxb5 Kh8 28. g3 Qf7 29. Ra1 Ng5 30. Ra8 Qe7 31. h4 Nh3+ 32. Kf1 e4 33. Qxe4 { Yu, Yangyi -- Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 Qatar Masters op, 2014}) 8. b3 Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O 10. h3 Qe7 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. d4 f5 $5 {F for forward! Anand refuses to let Svidler build up at his leisure.} 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Ng5 f4 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Ba3 Rfd8 17. Qe2 Nf6 18. Rfd1 g5 $1 {Svidler considered this a defensive move. Without counterplay, Anand will be clearly worse as Svidler controls the open d-file. The advance of the g-pawn gets the needed counterplay just in time. Komodo likes White here, but the position is probably just equal.} 19. f3 Kf7 20. Rd3 Rxd3 21. Qxd3 h5 22. Rd1 g4 23. hxg4 hxg4 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Rg8 26. Kf1 Rh8 27. Kg1 Rg8 28. Kf1 Rh8 29. Kg1 Rg8 30. Kf1 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2792"] [PlyCount "162"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s)} e5 {(5s)} 2. Nf3 {(5s)} Nc6 {(5s)} 3. Bb5 {(4s)} Nf6 {(12s)} 4. d3 {(5s)} Bc5 {(6s)} 5. c3 {(10s)} d5 {(6s)} 6. exd5 {(293s)} Qxd5 {(10s)} 7. Bc4 {(31s)} Qd6 {(8s)} 8. Qe2 {(184s)} O-O {(246s)} 9. Nbd2 {(39s)} a5 {(248s)} 10. Ng5 {(275s)} Bf5 {(657s)} 11. Nde4 {(172s)} Nxe4 {(246s)} 12. Nxe4 {(600s)} Bxe4 {(9s)} 13. dxe4 {(33s)} Nd8 {(292s)} 14. Bd2 {(524s)} c6 {(46s)} 15. a4 { (71s)} Ne6 {(198s)} 16. Rd1 {(230s)} Qe7 {(227s)} 17. g3 {(16s)} Rad8 {(53s)} 18. O-O {(21s)} Rd7 {(207s)} 19. Bc1 {(81s)} Rfd8 {(225s)} 20. Rxd7 {(68s)} Rxd7 {(20s)} 21. Kg2 {(17s)} g6 {(15s)} 22. Bh6 {( 250s)} Qf6 {(369s)} 23. Qg4 {(578s)} Rd8 {(180s)} 24. Bxe6 {(311s)} Qxe6 {(25s)} 25. Qxe6 {(8s)} fxe6 {(4s) } 26. Kf3 {(95s)} Kf7 {(34s)} 27. Ke2 {(24s)} Rd7 {(22s)} 28. h4 {(608s)} Bf8 { (484s)} 29. Be3 {(167s)} Be7 {(7s)} 30. Rb1 {(604s)} c5 {(57s)} 31. g4 {(154s)} h5 {(13s)} 32. gxh5 {(95s)} gxh5 {(4s)} 33. Rh1 {(184s)} Rd8 {(302s)} 34. Rh3 { (20s)} Rg8 {(1212s)} 35. Rf3+ {(6s)} Ke8 {(241s)} 36. Rg3 {(12s)} Kf7 {(7s)} 37. Kd3 {(8s)} b6 {(64s)} 38. Kc4 {(378s)} Bxh4 {(218s)} 39. Rh3 {(40s)} Bg5 { (4s)} 40. Bxg5 {(0s)} Rxg5 {(0s)} 41. Kb5 {(495s)} Rg2 {(239s)} 42. Rf3+ { (262s)} Ke7 {(29s)} 43. Kxb6 {(36s)} Rg8 {(353s)} 44. Rh3 {(391s)} c4 {(1581s)} 45. Rxh5 {(99s)} Rb8+ {(365s)} 46. Kc6 {( 94s)} Rxb2 {(125s)} 47. Rxe5 {(7s)} Rc2 {(#) (111s)} 48. Rxa5 {(288s)} ({Although the move played does not throw out the win,} 48. f4 {instead would have ended resistance quickly and painlessly.} Kf6 {Forced since Rxc3 meets f5 and the e-pawn falls with a fast-moving pawn roller.} 49. Kd6 Rd2+ 50. Kc5 Ra2 51. Kb5 {and Black is in zugzwang and something must fall.} Rf2 (51... Rb2+ 52. Kxc4) (51... Kf7 52. Kxa5 {etc.}) 52. Rc5 Rxf4 53. Rxc4 e5 54. Kxa5 {and White's win is not in doubt.}) 48... Rxc3 {(40s)} 49. Rc5 $4 {(103s) The first blunder that lets Black equalize, but White will get further chances.} (49. Kc5 $1 {was best.} Rc2 50. e5 c3 51. Kc4 Rxf2 52. Kxc3 Kd7 53. Rc5 {and with the black king cut off and the white king ready to support the pawn advance, the win is straightforward for White.}) 49... Rc2 $4 {(163s) An easy move to underestimate, but a fatal blunder nonetheless that puts Topalov back in the winning seat.} (49... Rc1 $1 {was necessary. The reason is that attacking the f-pawn doesn't really help Black's cause. It won't free the e-pawn to advance, and what Black really needs to do is push his c-pawn as fast as possible, protected, for counterplay.} 50. Kb5 {as in the game will now lack the same sting.} c3 51. Kb4 c2 52. Kb3 Rb1+ 53. Kxc2 Rb4 $1 54. a5 Kd6 55. Rc8 Ra4 { and the dangerous a-pawn will fall.}) 50. Kb5 {(6s)} c3 {(45s)} 51. Kb4 { (30s) Now Black has no choice but to trade his powerful c3 pawn for the much less important f2 pawn.} Rxf2 {(227s)} 52. Rxc3 {(33s)} Kd6 {(9s)} 53. Rc4 $2 { (197s) It isn't that this move changes the evaluation, but what is it for? Why not a5?} (53. a5 {certainly screamed to be played, no?}) 53... Rf8 {(909s)} 54. a5 {(11s)} Rb8+ {(17s)} 55. Ka3 $2 {(474s) The problem is that this fails to make progress, and while it does not draw, the only way will be to backtrack and recognize that Kc3 was the way to go.} (55. Kc3 {was less work overall.} Ke5 56. Ra4 {andn with the rook behind the pawn, the pressure will be total.} Rc8+ 57. Kd3 Rd8+ 58. Ke3 Ra8 59. a6 Ra7 60. Ra5+ Kd6 61. Kd4 Kc6 62. Ke5 Kd7 63. Kf6 Kd6 64. Ra1 $1 {Setting up the zugzwang.} Kd7 65. e5 $1 {Zugzwang!}) 55... Ra8 {(80s)} 56. Ka4 {(30s)} Ra7 {(14s)} 57. Rd4+ $4 {(883s) Topalov misses his last chance. With this move, he lets Aronian's king out of his cage and free to join the fray. Now the position is equal, even if requiring some technique, and the Armenian never lets go now.} (57. Kb4 Rb7+ 58. Kc3 {and the game proceeds as in the line above with 55.Kc3.}) (57. Kb5 $2 Rb7+ 58. Ka6 Rb2 {and with the white king cut off, Black can equalize himself.}) 57... Kc5 { (159s)} 58. Rd8 {(39s)} Rb7 {(168s)} 59. Rc8+ {(98s)} Kd4 {(11s)} 60. a6 {(9s)} Re7 {(531s)} 61. Kb5 {(45s)} Kxe4 {(32s)} 62. Rc4+ {(217s)} Kd3 {(87s)} 63. Ra4 {(6s)} e5 {(4s)} 64. Ra3+ {(248s)} Kd4 {(112s)} 65. a7 {(7s)} Rb7+ {(8s)} 66. Kc6 {(5s)} Rxa7 {(4s)} 67. Rxa7 {(5s)} e4 {(3s)} 68. Ra4+ {(171s)} Kd3 {(5s)} 69. Kd5 {(21s)} e3 {(4s)} 70. Ra3+ {(16s)} Kd2 {(5 s)} 71. Kd4 {(10s)} e2 {(3s) } 72. Ra2+ {(11s)} Kd1 {(4s)} 73. Kd3 {(37s)} e1=N+ {(7s)} 74. Kc3 {(11s)} Nf3 {(4s)} 75. Rf2 {(32s)} Ne1 {(4s)} 76. Rd2+ {(59s)} Kc1 {(4s)} 77. Rh2 {(22s)} Kd1 {(5s)} 78. Rf2 {(12s)} Kc1 {(4s)} 79. Rd2 {(103s)} Nf3 {(5s)} 80. Rd5 { (78s)} Ne1 {(10s)} 81. Rd8 {(13s)} Nf3 {(17s)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2807"] [BlackElo "2769"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(3s) Caruana has been in "Giri" gear so far in this tournament. In the last round of the Sinquefield cup, he meets the very same Mr. Giri, who has not been in good shape these days.} e5 {(3s)} 2. Nf3 {(4s)} Nc6 {(3s)} 3. Bb5 { (5s)} a6 {(3s)} 4. Ba4 {(3s)} Nf6 {(3s)} 5. O-O {(6s)} Nxe4 {(3s) The Open Spanish, It probably came as a surprise to Caruana.} 6. d4 {(5s)} b5 {(2s)} 7. Bb3 {(5s)} d5 {(2s)} 8. dxe5 {(6s)} Be6 {(2s)} 9. Qe2 {(12s)} Nc5 {(4s)} (9... Be7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Bc5 13. Be3 {is the most common way to play the Open Spanish.}) 10. Rd1 {(103s)} Nxb3 {(12s)} 11. cxb3 {(285s) A rare choice after some thoughts. Caruana is more interested in opening the c-file than a-file.} Be7 {(12s)} 12. Nc3 {(260s)} O-O {(126s)} 13. Be3 {(190s)} Qd7 { (177s)} 14. h3 $146 {(290s) This is a novelty according to my database.} Rad8 { (130s)} 15. Rd2 $5 {(494s) Caruana has some interesting things in mind: he goes directly for the d5 pawn and shows no interest in occupying the c-file.} f6 $2 {(547s) Giri is too optimistic here, he does not think that Caruana's idea is dangerous.} (15... Qc8 {is preferable to what he did in the game.} 16. Rad1 h6 17. Nxd5 Rxd5 18. Rxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Nb4) 16. Rad1 $1 {(1439s) A deep concept!} Nxe5 {(673s)} (16... fxe5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Rxd5 20. Qc2 Rd6 21. Nd2 {is also worse for Black.}) 17. Nxe5 {(18s)} fxe5 {(8s)} 18. Nxd5 {(3s) Caruana believes that his queen and bishop are stronger than Black's two rooks and bishop in this position.} Bxd5 {(133s)} 19. Rxd5 { (6s) Having seen the game, I would have gone for slightly worse but defendable: } Qxd5 {(86s)} (19... Qe6 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8) 20. Rxd5 {(5s)} Rxd5 { (2s)} 21. Qc2 {(915s)} c5 {(631s)} 22. g3 {(44s)} Kh8 {(840s)} 23. h4 {(150s) After some forced moves we see Caruana's deep idea: White can improve his position in here while Black has to suffer bitterly and wait.} Rfd8 {(623s)} 24. Qe4 {(433s)} h6 {(175s)} 25. Kg2 {(170s) White's king is safe and going to be very active. The black king is weak and White's idea is to simply push g4-g5.} Bf6 {(41s)} 26. Kh3 {( 275s)} h5 {(645s)} 27. a4 {(78s) Unnecessary but harmless.} Rd3 {(304s)} 28. axb5 {(382s)} axb5 {(8s)} 29. Qg6 {(26s)} e4 { ( 297s) Giri gets to activate his pieces but his king is weak.} 30. Qxh5+ { (118s)} Kg8 {(7s)} 31. Qf5 {(749s)} Bxb2 {(195s)} 32. Qxe4 {(27s)} c4 {(90s)} ( 32... Rxb3 33. Qe6+ $18) 33. bxc4 {(16s)} bxc4 {(3s)} 34. Qxc4+ {(7s)} R3d5 { (103s)} 35. g4 {(381s)} Kh8 {(234s)} 36. g5 {(14s)} Bd4 {(173s)} 37. Bxd4 { (16s)} Rxd4 {(3s)} 38. Qf7 {(17s)} R8d7 {(471s)} 39. Qe8+ Kh7 {(2s)} 40. Qh5+ { (0s)} Kg8 {(0s)} 41. g6 {(167s)} Re4 {(42s)} 42. Qh7+ {(22s)} Kf8 {(1s)} 43. Qh8+ {(5s)} Ke7 {( 2s)} 44. Qxg7+ {(5s)} Ke6 {(3s)} 45. Qh8 {(271s)} Rd3+ { (222s)} 46. Kh2 {(5s) A fine victory for Caruana and I am sure that Giri is happy the tournament is over.} 1-0 [Event "4th Sinquefield Cup 2016"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2792"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "162"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 $5 {This is intriguing and uncommon, having been played in about 10 master games. The gambit that is offered does not seem to be very appetizing, but White seems to get some edge by declining the gambit.} (5... O-O {This is by far the most common move. It's been played in hundreds of master games.}) 6. exd5 (6. Nbd2 {Here is the highest level game on record.} dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8. Qe2 a5 9. O-O Qe7 10. Nh4 Bg4 11. Ndf3 Nh5 12. Qc4 Na7 13. Bg5 Qd6 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 h6 16. Rad1 Qb6 17. Rd5 c6 18. Qxc5 Qxb5 19. Qxf8+ Rxf8 20. Rxb5 cxb5 21. Be3 Nc6 22. Rd1 Nf6 23. h3 Rc8 24. g4 Kf8 25. Bc5+ Kg8 26. Be3 Kf8 27. Kf1 Ke8 28. Ke2 Rc7 29. Bc5 Ne4 30. Rd5 Nf6 31. Rd1 Ne4 32. Rd5 Nf6 {Vachier Lagrave, Maxime -- Giri, Anish 1/2-1/2 Tashkent FIDE GP, 2014}) (6. Nxe5 {Accepting the gambit is extremely complicated, but here is one key line. In all lines, Black seems to be doing well and may even be better.} O-O 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bxc6 Bxf2+ $1 { Oof! This nice shot by Black will regain the piece in all lines with a strong position.} 9. Kxf2 Ng4+ 10. Kg1 Qf6 {Mate on f2 and the bishop on c6 are under threat.}) 6... Qxd5 7. Bc4 Qd6 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Nbd2 a5 10. Ng5 Bf5 (10... Bg4 $5 11. f3 Bf5 {Black has the game position except that f3 has been provoked. Does that favor Black?} 12. g4 $5 {Maybe... Honestly, this position is quiet unclear.}) 11. Nde4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. dxe4 {The position is symmetrical, but White has the bishop pair. Topalov is not know for his positional play, but he demonstrates incredible finesse from here.} Nd8 14. Bd2 c6 15. a4 Ne6 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. g3 Rad8 18. O-O Rd7 19. Bc1 Rfd8 20. Rxd7 Rxd7 21. Kg2 g6 22. Bh6 Qf6 23. Qg4 Rd8 24. Bxe6 $1 {Very commital. White is clearly better after this move, but many commentators were reluctant to relinquish the bishop pair. I would argue the game's course supports Topalov choice. Aronian will have to suffer for a long, long time. In the resulting position, White has the better pawn structure, better bishop (Black's pawns are on the bishop's color), and the ability to press on both wings.} (24. h4 $5 {Massaging White's advantage of the bishop pair is also quite promising.}) 24... Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Kf3 $1 {Topalov's king centralizes and keeps Black rook off of the d-file.} Kf7 27. Ke2 Rd7 28. h4 Bf8 29. Be3 Be7 30. Rb1 c5 {Black avoids b4 and Bb6 ideas, but another pawn is placed on a dark square.} 31. g4 h5 32. gxh5 gxh5 33. Rh1 Rd8 ( 33... c4 $5 {Komodo likes this move. It's a very principled move from the engine. Black gets a pawn off of a dark square.} 34. Bb6 {an important try.} Rd6 35. Bc7 Rc6 36. Bxe5 Rb6 {Black regains the pawn.}) 34. Rh3 Rg8 35. Rf3+ Ke8 36. Rg3 $1 Kf7 (36... Rxg3 $2 {This trade loses very instructively. White's bishop creates enormous pressure on Black's dark square pawns, White's king can attempt to infiltrate on both sides, and White can always make a passed pawn with g4! Here is one example of play.} 37. fxg3 b6 38. b3 Bd8 39. Kd3 Kd7 40. Kc4 Kc6 41. g4 $1 hxg4 42. h5 Bf6 43. h6 Bh8 44. h7 Bf6 45. Kd3 Kd7 46. Ke2 Ke8 47. Kf2 Kf7 48. Bg5 $1 {Black has run all the way back with the king, but now White chooses to strike and show that the queenside has been left unmanned.} Bg7 49. Bd8 {The queenside pawns fall.}) 37. Kd3 b6 38. Kc4 Bxh4 39. Rh3 Bg5 40. Bxg5 $1 {Topalov gives a master class in transformation of the advantage. Now White should win the rook endgame by virtue of the more active king.} (40. Rxh5 $2 Bxe3 41. fxe3 Rg2 {In this case, Black's active rook should be enough to hold.}) 40... Rxg5 41. Kb5 Rg2 42. Rf3+ Ke7 43. Kxb6 Rg8 44. Rh3 (44. Kxa5 $1 {Greed is good.} c4 45. Kb4 Rb8+ 46. Kxc4 Rxb2 47. a5 {As in the game, the tricks are not over, but this should win.}) 44... c4 45. Rxh5 Rb8+ 46. Kc6 Rxb2 47. Rxe5 Rc2 48. Rxa5 $2 (48. f4 $1 {This was probably Topalov's easiest win in the game..} Rxc3 49. f5 {White gets connected passers vs a single passer. Topalov should have zero trouble.}) 48... Rxc3 49. Rc5 $2 { This should make things easy for Aronian.} (49. Kc5 $1 Rc2 50. Kb4 Rxf2 51. Kxc4 {a tablebase win, but not an easy one.}) 49... Rc2 $2 {Aronian hits the f2 pawn, but the rook had to go a step further.} (49... Rc1 $1 50. Kb5 c3 51. Kb4 c2 52. Kb3 Rb1+ 53. Kxc2 Rb4 $1 54. a5 Kd6 $1 55. Rc8 Ra4 {Aronian is drawing, and it really shouldn't be that hard. The black piecse are so active, and White is quickly losing a pawn back.}) 50. Kb5 c3 51. Kb4 Rxf2 52. Rxc3 { We've reached the tablebases. Mate in 43.} Kd6 53. Rc4 Rf8 54. a5 Rb8+ 55. Ka3 (55. Kc3 $1 {This is the only winning way!}) 55... Ra8 56. Ka4 Ra7 57. Rd4+ $2 {After this move, Topalov is no longer winning! Aronian will get the e-pawn and is always in sufficient time to draw.} (57. Kb5 {White can return here to the idea of 55.Kc3! Here is the beginning of the tablebase line. The key is that White places the rook behind the a-pawn and heads after the e-pawn with the king. Black is stretched just a little too far and can't save the game.} Rb7+ 58. Ka4 Ra7 59. Kb4 Rb7+ 60. Kc3 Ra7 61. Ra4 $1 Kc5 62. Ra1 Ra6 63. Ra2 Kb5 64. Kd4 Kc6 65. Ke5 Kd7 66. Kf6 Kd8 67. e5 Ke8 68. Ra1 Kd8 69. Rd1+ Kc8 70. Rd6 Rxa5 71. Kxe6 {White wins via the Lucena Position.}) 57... Kc5 58. Rd8 Rb7 59. Rc8+ Kd4 60. a6 Re7 61. Kb5 Kxe4 62. Rc4+ Kd3 63. Ra4 e5 64. Ra3+ Kd4 65. a7 Rb7+ $1 (65... Rxa7 $4 {The tempo matters. This move would lose. e.g...} 66. Rxa7 e4 67. Kb4 Kd3 68. Rd7+ $1 {This instructive "hesitation" check costs Black a key tempo.} Kc2 69. Re7 Kd3 {This extra move was needed to defend the d-pawn thanks to White's check.} 70. Kb3 e3 71. Rd7+ Ke2 72. Kc2 Ke1 73. Kd3 e2 74. Re7 {We bid adieu to Eddy the e-pawn.}) 66. Kc6 Rxa7 67. Rxa7 e4 68. Ra4+ Kd3 69. Kd5 e3 70. Ra3+ Kd2 71. Kd4 e2 72. Ra2+ Kd1 73. Kd3 e1=N+ $1 (73... e1=Q 74. Ra1#) 74. Kc3 Nf3 75. Rf2 Ne1 $1 {The knight stays close to the king. Draw.} 76. Rd2+ Kc1 77. Rh2 Kd1 78. Rf2 Kc1 79. Rd2 Nf3 80. Rd5 Ne1 81. Rd8 Nf3 1/2-1/2