Games
[Event "Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.18"] [Round "1.9"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A20"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2628"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:42:46"] [BlackClock "0:01:30"] 1. c4 e5 2. d3 {The English opening is essentially a reversed Sicilian and both players quickly reach a position from the Moscow line with an extra tempo for White.} Bb4+ 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Bd6 ({Giri tried instead} 4... Nc6 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 d5 {against Topalov and achieved an OK position after} 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8. e4 Qd6 {Topalov,V (2761)-Giri,A (2769) Saint Louis 2016}) 5. a3 O-O 6. e3 ({Grischuk rejected} 6. Ne4 Nxe4 7. dxe4 {"It might be good when playing it as Black, but not here". White's plan involves further maneuvering of the knight via d2-b1-c3 all the way to d5 but Black's resources are sufficient to keep the balance.}) 6... Re8 7. Qc2 {Grischuk made another comparison to the Sicilian. In the line:} (7. b4 c5 8. g4 Nxg4 9. Ne4 Bf8 10. bxc5 {White has an extra tempo in comparison to the Reversed Sicilian. However, the extra e2-e3 move that he made is depriving him of the Bc1-g5 move after the black knight returns to f6. Black is indeed doing fine after say} d5) 7... Bf8 8. b4 d6 { Hammer explained that he decided at first not to force b4-b5, but then he changed his mind on the next move. But if he wanted to do it, the right time was now:} (8... a5 9. b5 d6 10. Bb2 b6 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 {"Black's play is very easy." Grischuk.}) 9. Bb2 a5 10. Be2 {Now White simply keeps the pressure on the queenside.} Na6 11. Qb3 Bf5 12. O-O h6 13. Bc3 c6 14. Qb2 { Black has to reckon with the c4-c5 threat.} Nd7 15. Nb3 a4 16. Nbd2 {Grischuk spent a lot of time on the risky:} (16. Na5 Qc7 17. d4 {After} e4 ({However, the Russian's sense of danger did not let him down as} 17... exd4 {is indeed better. Then after} 18. exd4 (18. Nxd4 Be4 {followed by Na6-b8 and b7-b6 leaves the knight dangerously exposed.}) 18... b6 {works for Black since} 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. b5 Qe4 {comes with a tempo.}) 18. Nd2 {He liked his position as Black cannot win the knight with} b6 {due to} 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. b5) 16... Nc7 17. Rfe1 Bh7 18. Rad1 b6 {All normal by now. Both sides are getting ready for the coming pawn clashes and transformations. The only problem was that both players had left a few seconds on their clocks (plus increment) for the most interesting part of the game. And mind you, nothing is traded yet!} 19. Ne4 f5 {Hammer revealed himself as an Aerosmith fan with: "This is either going to be brilliant or horrendous, but we are living on the edge."} ({Grischuk liked the light-squared initiative that he would get in case of} 19... d5 20. Ng3 f6 21. Nh4) ({Some move like} 19... Rc8 {would be calmer.}) 20. Ng3 c5 {More risky time-trouble play.} 21. Nd2 (21. b5 $5 {is another way to play the position when after} Ne6 22. Nd2 {the light-squared white bishop will be shown on the f3 square.}) 21... Rb8 22. Bh5 (22. Bf3 {at once was OK too. White should be slightly better here.}) 22... Re7 23. Bf3 b5 {And the melee started.} 24. Qc2 ( 24. Bc6 $5) 24... Kh8 25. Bc6 {Not sure how to change the pawn structure Grischuk goes for the most clear-cut continuation and wins a pawn.} (25. Rb1 $5 {to keep the pressure was another option (unbearable with that little time on the clock though).}) 25... Rb6 (25... bxc4 26. Nxc4 {would only make things worse for Black.}) 26. cxb5 Nxb5 27. Bxb5 Rxb5 28. Qxa4 Rb8 29. Qc6 {Once again White rejects the kamikaze feeling to throw the knight in the opponent's camp with} (29. e4 f4 30. Nf5 {as both} Re8 ({Or} 30... Nb6 31. Qa5 Rc7 { will leave the horsie precariously placed.})) 29... Re8 30. Nc4 {Grischuk believed he is close to winning until Hammer uncorked} ({Later the Russian suggested} 30. Qf3 Qf6 31. Nc4 {but this should be very good for Black after} e4 $5 32. Bxf6 exf3 33. Ba1 cxb4 34. axb4 d5) 30... Qc8 31. Qf3 (31. Qxc8 Rexc8 {"gives Black good drawing chances" Grischuk.}) 31... d5 $3 {"Fantastic!" Grischuk.} 32. Qxd5 ({Everyone would be scared by the look of the black pawns after} 32. Na5 Nf6) 32... Nf6 33. Qf3 (33. Qf7 {would drop the queen after both } Rb7 (33... Re7)) 33... e4 {The point behind the sacrifices. The knight on c4 is deprived of any support.} 34. dxe4 {Instead both:} (34. Qf4 Nd5 {lose material for White.}) ({Ditto for} 34. Qe2 exd3 35. Qxd3 f4) 34... cxb4 35. Bxf6 Qxc4 36. Ba1 ({Both player tackled the piece sacrifice in the post-mortem but came to the conclusion taht it is not worthy for White:} 36. Nxf5 gxf6 37. Nd6 Bxd6 38. Qxf6+ Kg8 39. Qxd6 b3 40. Qg3+ Kh8 41. Rd7 {Due to the constant resource} Qc3 $1) 36... fxe4 37. Qf4 {In case of} (37. Qg4 b3 $1 {is strong. Rather than:} (37... bxa3 38. Rd7 $1) 38. Bb2 Qc2 39. Rb1 {Chances are approximately equal.}) 37... bxa3 {Hammer wants to take out all the queenside pawns. Once again} (37... b3 38. Rc1 Qe6 39. Bb2 {is double-edged.}) 38. Qxh6 Kg8 39. Qf4 Rb7 40. Rc1 Qe6 41. Ne2 {They decided this was enough action for round one and called it a day. After} (41. Ne2 a2 42. Bd4 Reb8 43. Nc3 { the only one to play for the win would be Black.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.18"] [Round "1"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Salem, A R Saleh"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2656"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. e3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 8. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd4 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 10. exd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 11. Bd3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 13. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16. Bg2 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 17. a4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 18. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bd8 { [%emt 0:00:00] [#] Not exactly the most pleasant position. Compare Black's pieces all shoved back to the first rank, while White's dominate the center directly and indirectly.} 20. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rg8 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bd6 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25. Nxg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 26. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb6 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. Be4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rh6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. h4 {[%emt 0:00:00] Super piece centralization might seem a bit hyperbole, but how else to describe the contrast? Look at White's pieces: not only are the bishops positioned on the squares that will give the most range, but the queen and rook are also like battleships preparing to bombard Black with heavy artillery. Almost every single black piece is with its back against the wall.} b6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Re6 $2 {[%emt 0:00:00] The engines condemn this as a blunder, but the truth be told, they also only see one move that doesn't lead to swift euthanasia.} (32... Be2 {was the way to go, even if it too does not solve Black's problems.} 33. Bd3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qg6 35. Qd4) 33. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34. Bxf6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxf6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rge8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37. Re3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxb2 { [%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Rxe4 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Qxh5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bf6 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 41. Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 42. Qc6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 43. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 44. Kh3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 45. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a4 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 46. Qa8+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 47. Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 48. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 49. b6 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 50. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 51. b7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 52. Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 53. Qxf8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 54. Qc5 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 55. Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 56. Qa2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 57. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 58. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 59. Kd2 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 60. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.18"] [Round "1.7"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Salem, A.R. Saleh"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2656"] [Annotator "Sagar,Shah"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 e6 6. Bc4 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. d4 $5 {A risky decision by Mickey as he decides to give up a pawn.} cxd4 10. exd4 Nb6 11. Bd3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 {So what is White's compensation? Well mainly he has excellent development and Black's c8 bishop is not so easy to develop. The Englishman could simply feel that he had compensation over here.} 13. Rd1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be4 $1 {Keeping the c8 bishop bottled in because of the pressure on b7.} e5 16. Bg2 Qf5 17. a4 $1 {A powerful move. a4-a5-a6 is very dangerous.} a5 18. Be3 Nd7 19. Nd5 $16 {And just like that, in a matter of five moves, White has gained a huge edge!} Bd8 20. Rac1 Kh8 21. Qb5 (21. Nc7 Bxc7 22. Rxc7 $16) 21... Nf6 22. Bc5 Rg8 23. Ne3 Qh5 24. Bd6 Ng4 25. Nxg4 Bxg4 26. Re1 Ra6 (26... f6 27. Qxb7 $18) 27. Bxe5 Rb6 28. Qd5 Qg6 29. Be4 Qh5 30. Rc5 (30. Rc8 Be7 31. Rxg8+ Kxg8 32. Qxa5 $18) 30... Rh6 31. h4 b6 32. Rb5 Re6 33. Qd4 {The queen on h5 is trapped.} f6 (33... Qh6 34. Bd5 Rg6 35. Bxf7 $18) 34. Bxf6 Bxf6 35. Rxh5 Bxh5 (35... Bxd4 36. Rxh7#) 36. Qc4 $18 { The rest is easy for Mickey.} Rge8 37. Re3 Bxb2 38. Qb5 Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxe4 40. Qxh5 Bf6 41. Qd5 Rd4 42. Qc6 h6 43. Kg2 Rb4 44. Kh3 b5 45. axb5 a4 46. Qa8+ Kh7 47. Qa5 Be7 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. b6 Bf8 50. Qd5+ Kh7 51. b7 a3 52. Qd8 Rxb7 53. Qxf8 Ra7 54. Qc5 Ra8 55. Qd5 Ra7 56. Qa2 h5 57. Kf3 Ra5 58. Ke3 Kh8 59. Kd2 Ra7 60. Kc1 1-0 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.18"] [Round "1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2692"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {One of the most intriguing match-ups of the opening round. Both players are young, ambitious, and in dire need of breaking out of their respective funks. While Ding largely stayed inactive lately - he only played in the Sinquefield Cup and Olympiad of the high profile tournaments in the second half of 2016 - Rapport seemed to travel almost non-stop, including his month and a half long stay in China, only to see his rating drop 60 points off his personal best.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ ({the classical approach is} 5... Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 {but there Richard had a couple of losses in the Tata Steel last month, against Wesley So (totally undeserved) and Levon Aronian (fully earned this time). I'm sure his Queen's Indian is going to be further tested in this event.}) 6. Bd2 a5 $5 {This should have hardly come as surprise, because Rapport played it before. This move came about in the 1970's, and we can count Larsen, Korchnoi and Karpov among its supporters. The point was, and still is, to spice up otherwise routine play in the well-known structure.} ({Of course, both} 6... Bxd2+ {played by Korchnoi, and later Andreikin}) ({and} 6... Be7 {(Ljubojevic and Polugaevsky) are more reliable.}) 7. O-O (7. a3 {is what Black is hoping to see. After} Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Na6 {he invites} 10. d5 Nc5 11. Nd4 {to freeze White's Q-side with} a4) ({ Naturally,} 7. Bxb4 $6 axb4 {deprives the white knight of his birthright square c3, and after} 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 c5 10. Re1 d6 11. e4 Nc6 {Black already stands well.} 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 (13. exd5 Ne7 {and there comes b6-b5!}) 13... Ne7 14. Nc4 Ng6 15. a4 bxa3 16. Rxa3 b5 {with lovely Benoni counterplay was seen in Socko-Hou Yifan, Baku Olympiad, 2016.}) 7... O-O 8. Bf4 ({Many games see} 8. Bg5 Be7 {and Black once again relies of exchanging pieces after} 9. Nc3 Ne4 {White wins his share of games, but not nearly enough to put this line out of business.}) 8... Be7 $1 {The bishop is no longer safe on b4.} ({Lose your focus,} 8... d5 $6 {and then you fall for a typical trick:} 9. c5 $1 a4 {What else?} 10. a3 Ba5 11. Qxa4 {and there goes your brave a-pawn for next to nothing.}) 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Qd3 {This isn't a novelty, just a very rare move.} Nxc3 11. bxc3 $5 {Voluntarily accepting a structural weakness in order to facilitate his play elsewhere on the board - a worthy concept from Ding Liren.} ({It was not too late for Ding to get back to quieter waters with} 11. Qxc3 d6 12. Qc2 {Black's best then is} f5 {setting up a Dutch pawn structure, which, quite fittingly, is exactly what Rapport did in Wijk aan Zee last month against Anish Giri. Playing the Dutch against a Dutchman in Holland may seem an outrageous idea, but in practice it worked out for a draw! The game went} 13. Rad1 ({Years ago I chose} 13. Ne1 {against the great Ratmir Kholmov,and also drifted to a draw after} Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Qd7 15. Rad1 Nc6 16. Be3 Rae8 17. Qa4 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxd7 Nxd7) 13... Be4 14. Qc1 Qe8 15. Qe3 Bf6 16. c5 bxc5 17. dxc5 e5 18. Qb3+ Qf7 19. Bg5 Qxb3 20. axb3 h6 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 {etc.}) 11... Qc8 {A standard prophylactic move in many Queens Indian variations.} ({ On the other hand,} 11... d6 {allows another typical shot} 12. Ng5 $1 {White would love to to see his LSB unopposed, as the case here:} Bxg5 13. Bxb7 Ra7 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Bg2 $14) 12. e4 d6 13. Rfe1 Nd7 ({Black's problem is that his own pawn takes away the a5-square from the knight.} 13... Nc6 $2 14. d5 Nb8 15. e5) 14. Rad1 a4 $5 {This is the essential Rapport chess. While Black is unable to play either c7-c5 or e6-e5, he nevertheless finds a way to play actively.} 15. h4 Ra5 {If nothing else, that rook stopped the white pawn from continuing to h5-h6.} 16. Bc1 $6 {I find this retreat somewhat dissatisfying.} ({I want White to play} 16. e5 {to set up Nf3-g5 with an attack.}) ({Perhaps the best was} 16. Bh3 $5 {with the idea of meeting} Qa8 {with} 17. Ng5 { White needs to provoke some weakening moves off Black's K-side pawn shield. Garry Kasparov was the master of that strategy.}) 16... Re8 17. Nh2 Qa8 18. Nf1 Nf6 19. d5 {I guess Ding didn't feel like playing a long maneuvering game that day.} Bf8 20. Ne3 a3 21. f4 Ra4 $5 {Rapport shows a lot of nerve in the face of White's offensive.} ({A lot of us old hands would feel obliged to slow White down with} 21... e5) 22. e5 Nd7 23. h5 Nc5 24. Qf1 h6 $1 25. Rd4 Qa5 26. Bd2 exd5 {Black is forced to take some action.} ({The wait and see policy of} 26... Qa8 {would be due to rude awakening after} 27. f5 $1 dxe5 28. Rg4) 27. Nxd5 ({Maybe the right move order was} 27. exd6 Bxd6 28. Nxd5 {to try to force Black to trade his defensive rook.}) 27... c6 28. Nb4 Qa8 (28... dxe5 29. fxe5 Ne6 30. Rg4) 29. exd6 Rd8 $1 30. f5 {Ding was still dreaming of the attack. He wanted to get his rook to g4.} Nd7 $5 (30... Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Bxd6 32. f6 { is a sharp fight, which Black's scattered pieces are ill prepared for.}) 31. Rd3 $2 {You miss a beat you lose the rhythm...} ({The only way to continue was to uphold the old revolutionary "We Chinese Never Go Back" spirit:} 31. Re7 $3 {anticipating} c5 32. Bxb7 Qxb7 33. Rg4 cxb4 34. Bxh6 {Should it have worked out we'd be talking a brilliant game from Ding Liren, and, in turn, the failure of Rapport's ultra-provocative strategy.}) 31... Nf6 32. Bf4 Ra5 { Lots of pawns are hanging, and the time must have been running out on Ding.} 33. Qf3 ({Better was} 33. Qf2 {seeking new targets.}) 33... Rxf5 34. Nxc6 $2 { This only helps the black bench players, Bb7 and Qa8, enter the arena.} ({ Instead,} 34. Re5 {most likely maintains the balance}) 34... Rxd6 $1 35. Rxd6 Bxd6 36. Ne7+ Bxe7 37. Qxb7 Bc5+ 38. Kf1 Qxb7 39. Bxb7 Nxh5 40. Re8+ Bf8 { Smoke has cleared, and facing a loss of his last K-side pawn Ding resigned. Well, this game certainly did not disappoint us spectators.} 0-1 [Event "Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2692"] [BlackElo "2796"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:41:36"] [BlackClock "1:04:06"] 1. b3 {Rapport's addiction to this move was not a suprise for Vachier-Lagrave.} d5 2. Bb2 Bg4 3. h3 Bh5 4. d3 Nd7 ({Another plan is} 4... Nc6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Bg2 e5 {with a sort of reversed Modern Defense as in Laznicka,V (2666)-Navara,D (2726) Prague 2016}) 5. g4 Bg6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 h5 {An important move. White should be deprived of his kingside fun.} 8. g5 ({White cannot keep the pawns in line} 8. Bg2 hxg4 9. hxg4 Rxh1+ 10. Bxh1 Nh6 {and g4-g5 will be forced under less favorable circumstances.}) 8... Ne7 {A logical move. There is an excellent outpost for the knight, why not to take it?} ({Black did less good in the only predecessor} 8... h4 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. e3 f6 11. Rg1 {Blatny,P (2483) -Kurmann,O (2296) Kusadasi 2006}) 9. Nh4 Nf5 10. Nxf5 Bxf5 {Vachier-Lagrave mentione in his brief talk with Peter Doggers that he already has good play. Indeed, he is well developed and in the future may try to exploit the weaknesses on Rapport's kingside.} 11. Bg2 e5 {No need to prepare this thematic advance.} 12. Qd2 {Greediness is a sin when you are underdeveloped.} ( 12. fxe5 {would be punished with:} Qxg5 13. Bxd5 c6 14. Bf3 Bb4+ 15. c3 (15. Nd2 Qg3+ {followed by Bf5xh3 is no good neither.}) 15... Bc5 16. d4 Nxe5 $1 17. dxc5 Qg3+ 18. Kf1 Nxf3 19. exf3 O-O {White has no moves. Ra8-d8 and Rf8-e8 will soon mate him.} ({Or the more straightforward} 19... Bxh3+ 20. Rxh3 Qxh3+ 21. Kg1 Rh6 {with a decisive attack.})) 12... exf4 13. Qxf4 Be6 14. Nd2 ({ In case of} 14. h4 Bd6 15. Qf2 {Black can try to exploit the weakness of the g4 square after} Ne5 {Still, I believe that this was much better than what happened in the game.}) 14... Bd6 15. Qh4 {The weaknesses on the kingside starts to itch. Not too badly, but still.} (15. Qe3 O-O) 15... Ne5 16. Nf3 ({ Perhaps} 16. O-O-O {is slightly trickier. The point being that in the line} Ng6 (16... c6) 17. Qa4+ Bd7 ({The other point is that} 17... c6 18. Bxg7) 18. Qd4 $5 {the bishop on b2 is immune to the threat Bd6-e5. Another point is that} c5 $2 19. Qxg7 (19. Qe3+ $5) 19... d4 20. Bd5 $1 {is not impressive at all.}) 16... Ng6 17. Qa4+ ({If} 17. Qf2 O-O {and Black is doing great.}) 17... Bd7 18. Qd4 c5 19. Qe3+ ({In case of} 19. Qxg7 d4 {the white queen is trapped. It is not very obvious how Black can take it, but he can at least always repeat moves with Bd6-f8-e7.}) 19... Kf8 $1 {Vachier- Lagrave had obviously planned this move before playing c7-c5. The fact that the rook on h8 is staying out of the play for a while is a minor concession in comparison to the problems of the white king. It cannot stay in the center for ever, the e-file will spell trouble for it. It cannot castle long:} 20. O-O {Thus this is the only option. But you rememeber that the kingside pawns were advanced too far, too early.} ( 20. O-O-O Bf4) 20... Qc7 {Black is clearly better. He has a strong center and a safer king.} 21. Qd2 Re8 {The threat is to transfer the bishop on e3.} 22. e3 Kg8 {The king is moving to the safe square on h7. This is not only cautious, but needed:} (22... Qc8 23. Qf2 $1 {will emphasize the weakness of the black king.}) 23. d4 Qc8 $1 {Now this is good. The itch became pain. Rapport cannot hold the kingside.} 24. h4 ({The computer's suggestion} 24. dxc5 Bxc5 25. Rae1 Bxh3 26. Qc3 Bf8 27. Qxc8 Bxc8 28. Nd4 {can hardly be found by a human being. And it is hardly any stronger.}) 24... Bh3 25. Ne5 {Qc8-g4 is a deadly threat, so Rapport parts with a pawn.} ({After} 25. Bxh3 Qxh3 26. Qg2 {Black has a choice of snatching a pawn with} Qxg2+ ({Or playing for an attack after} 26... Qd7) 27. Kxg2 Rxe3) 25... Bxe5 26. dxe5 Bxg2 {A slight inaccuracy. Vachier-Lagrave could have taken two instead of one with:} (26... Qg4 $1 27. Kh2 Bxg2 28. Qxg2 Qxh4+ 29. Kg1 Nxe5) 27. Qxg2 Qg4 {The other way to play it was with the queens on:} (27... Nxh4 28. Qf2 Qg4+ 29. Kh2 Kh7 {As} 30. Qxf7 $4 Qg2#) 28. Rad1 Nxh4 {Now a lenghty forced line follows:} 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. Rxd5 Nf3+ 31. Kg2 Rh2+ 32. Kg3 Rxc2 33. Rf2 Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Nxg5 35. Kg3 (35. Rxc5 $4 Ne4+) 35... Ne6 {As a result the French GM is a solid pawn ahead in the endgame.} 36. Rd7 (36. Kxg4 Rd8) 36... Rd8 {Black decided to activate his rook at once.} (36... Rb8 37. Kxg4 Kf8 {was also possible though.}) 37. Rxb7 Rd2 38. Ba3 Rxa2 39. Rxa7 {Black cannot use the pin as Ba3xc5 is a threat now.} Re2 40. Bc1 ({Or} 40. Kxg4 Rxe3 41. Rb7 c4 $1) 40... Rc2 ({Another plan is} 40... Re1 41. Bd2 Rg1+ 42. Kh2 Rd1 43. Ra2 Kh7) 41. Ra1 Rc3 42. Kxg4 ({White cannot save the b3 pawn:} 42. Rb1 Nd4) 42... Rxb3 43. Kf5 Rd3 {The rest is technical for Vachier-Lagrave.} 44. Ra8+ Kh7 45. Ra7 Rd1 46. Rxf7 (46. Bb2 Rf1+ 47. Kg4 Kg6) 46... Nd8 47. Rc7 Rf1+ {An important zwisngschenzug to make things easier. Although} (47... Rxc1 48. e6 Rf1+ 49. Ke5 Kg6 50. e7 Nf7+ 51. Ke6 Rf6+ { is good enough.}) 48. Ke4 Rxc1 {Black could have also kept the piece like this: } (48... Ne6 49. Rc6 Ng5+ 50. Kd3 Rxc1 51. e6 Rd1+ 52. Ke2 Rd8 {and wins.}) 49. Rc8 Nf7 50. Rc6 Nh6 51. e6 Ng8 52. Rc7 Nf6+ 53. Ke5 Kg6 54. e7 Re1 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Salem, A R Saleh"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2760"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(0)} e5 {(14)} 2. Nf3 {(0)} Nc6 {(00:03)} 3. Bc4 {(0)} Nf6 {(14)} 4. d3 {( 00)} Bc5 {(31)} 5. c3 {(3)} d6 {(40)} 6. Bg5 {(00:41)} h6 {(2:43)} 7. Bh4 { (21)} g5 {(5:33)} 8. Bg3 {(23)} O-O {(10)} 9. Nbd2 {(44)} a6 {(00:51)} 10. a4 { (1:47)} Ba7 {(2:08)} 11. O-O {( 00:33)} Nh7 {(2:49)} 12. h3 {(35)} Kh8 {(13:52) } 13. d4 {(1:30)} g4 {(5:30)} 14. hxg4 {(19:55)} Bxg4 {(00:06)} 15. Be2 {(13)} Rg8 {(5:57)} 16. Kh1 {( 06:41)} Qf6 {(4:30)} 17. d5 $6 {(4:48) This looks very suspicious. Black's intentions are already crystal clear. The last thing White should be doing is locking down the center.} (17. dxe5 {would have given White a target to focus on and for Black to have to keep an eye on.} dxe5 18. Nh4 { Not only threatening to exchange off the bishops and ease the pressure, but also bring the knight to f5 where it would be extremely strong.} Be6 19. b4 { threatening b5 followed by Nc4 (eyeing the e5 pawn) and White is fine.}) 17... Ne7 {(8:46)} 18. Bh4 {(18:31)} Ng5 {(8)} 19. Nh2 $1 {(1:41) Better late than never, White tries to exchange off some of the pieces threatening his king's health.} Bc8 $1 {(04:10) And just as correctly, Ding Liren is not about to make it easy.} 20. Bg4 {(18:08) "I insist!", says White.} Qg6 {(9)} 21. Bh5 $2 {(07:27) The movee doesn't lose outright, but it is completely illogical. After alll that effort to (correctly) swap off the bishops, White decides to attack the queen... for what? Black's queen is hardly worse off on g7, and White's bishop makes no sense on h5.} Qg7 {(3:49)} 22. g3 $2 {(9:37) This on the other hand loses material.} Bh3 {(4:27) If the rook moves, then Bxf2 will no doubt spell White's doom. A new piece directly in the fray and a valuable defensive pawn out the window.} 23. Bxg5 {(11:23)} hxg5 {(7:36)} 24. Bg4 {(48)} Bxf1 {(00:11)} 25. Qxf1 {(4)} Qg6 {(6:20)} 26. Kg2 {(00:26)} Kg7 {(4)} 27. Nhf3 {(2:00)} Rh8 {(2:52)} 28. a5 {(3)} Ng8 {(12:44)} ({Black misses a cute trick with} 28... Nxd5 $1 29. exd5 (29. Bf5 Qf6 30. Qc4 Ne7 31. Bg4 Ng8 $1 {planning to bring it to h6.}) 29... f5 30. Bh3 g4) 29. Qc4 {(2:02)} Nf6 {(29)} 30. Bf5 { (5)} Qh6 {(24)} 31. Qd3 {(02:36)} Qh5 {(1:39)} 32. Rf1 {(2:21)} Rh6 {(2:09)} 33. Re1 {(28)} Ng4 {(1:52)} 34. Bxg4 {(2)} Qxg4 {(6)} 0-1 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Li, Chao b"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [BlackElo "2651"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/3R2k1/6p1/3K1pP1/3P1r2/8/8/8 b - - 0 74"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] {[#]} 74... Kf8 75. Rd6 $4 (75. Ke6 $1 Re4+ 76. Kf6 f4 77. d5 f3 78. Rf7+ Kg8 79. Kxg6 $18) 75... Kf7 76. Kc6 Rg4 77. Rf6+ Ke7 78. d5 Rc4+ 79. Kb5 Rc1 80. Rxg6 f4 81. Re6+ Kd7 82. Rf6 Rg1 83. Kc5 Rxg5 84. Rf7+ Ke8 85. Rxf4 Rg6 86. Ra4 Kd7 87. Ra7+ Kd8 88. Rb7 Rh6 89. Rg7 Rf6 90. Kd4 Rh6 91. Rf7 Ke8 92. Ra7 Kd8 93. Kc5 Rg6 94. Rf7 Rh6 95. Rg7 Rf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2711"] [Annotator "Tiger Hillarp"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {Tomashevsky usually prefers the Queens Indian over the, increasingly popular, Universe involving 3...d5.} 4. a3 {Mamedyarov is the main champion of this line in the world elite, so I presume Tomashevsky must have been well prepared to meet it.} (4. g3 {is by far the most popular move. Both sides have tons of opportunities to diverge here, but it is interesting to compare one of the main lines to the actual game:} Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 d5 {This is Karjakin's favourite.} 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Ne5 Bb7 {Here White can play in a similar manner to how Mamedyarov goes about it, but it is somewhat more diffiult for White to find good squares for the pieces on the c-file; Ba3 and Nb8-a6(-b4) are thorns in White's side. This is one of the many reasons why Black is happy to lose a tempo with Bc8-a6-b7.}) 4... Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qc2 $5 {This is quite far down on the list of usual suspects.} ({On of the main points are seen after} 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Be7 8. e4 (8. Bd2 {is an older move that allows Black to equalize easily with} O-O 9. e4 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd7 11. Rd1 Qc8 {, followed by c5. Perhaps "easily" is a bit too optimistic.}) 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 $1 {,when Black can develop the knight to c6. With the move order in the game, White is hoping that Black will play Nb-d7.}) 6... Nbd7 {Since I have little knowledge about the theory in these lines, I am not so much surprised by this move as I am by its consequences.} 7. cxd5 $1 exd5 {...and we arrive at the consequences that I mentioned on the last move. According to my understanding of chess, this kind of structure is somewhat better for White if there is still the possibility to fianchetto the bishop on g2. Either Tomashevsky made a mistake with his 6th move, or my understanding might need an upgrade. Statistically speaking, the latter is more probable.} (7... Nxd5 {The engine indicates that} 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Bg5 $1 Qc8 (9... f6) 10. e3 {is somewhat better for White and there are plenty of games to back up this case.}) 8. Bf4 { A good moment for this move, as Black is rather forced to react the the threat of Nb5.} a6 9. g3 $1 {This move, which seems like the principled reaction, is almost a novelty. I could not be more surprised. One might say that Black's problem here is dual; if he changes the pawn structure, then White's pieces are perfectly placed to attack the weaknesses that will result and if Black sits tight, then the pressure on d5 will eventually force Black to play c7-c6, when e2-e4 will become a problem for Black.} ({Another game played in the United Arab Emirate went} 9. e3 Ne4 $6 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Ng5 $1 Nf6 12. Bc4 Bd5 13. Bxd5 Qxd5 14. Qxc7 h6 15. Nxf7 $2 Qa5+ 16. Kf1 Qb5+ 17. Kg1 Nd5 18. Qb7 Rg8 19. Ne5 {1-0, Salem,A (2586)-Petrosyan,M (2407) Al-Ain UAE 2014}) 9... Be7 10. Bg2 {The bishop is better here than on e2, or d3, where it has a greater tendency to become a tactical target for Black (soon to materialize) hanging pawns.} O-O (10... Nf8 11. Ne5 Ne6 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. Rd1 $1 Nxf4 14. gxf4 g6 15. Qb3 Kg7 16. Bf3 $1 Rf8 17. h4 {and the game was soon decided in White's favour, in Lautier, J (2630)-Short,N (2665) Amsterdam 1996.}) 11. O-O Re8 12. Rac1 c5 ( {Black can also consider a move like} 12... Nf8 {, but after} 13. Rfd1 Ne6 14. Be5 {Black is struggling to find a good continuation. The risk is that White will set up a terrible bind.}) 13. dxc5 $1 bxc5 14. Ne5 {The engines have nothing bad to say about Black's position here and perhaps they are right, but were I handling the Black side of this position, I would find White's pieces a bit too well coordinated for my liking.} Bf8 ({One altenative is} 14... Nb6 { , intending} 15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. Nd3 $1 c4 17. Ne1 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Qc7 19. e3 Rad8 { , followed by a well timed Nb6-d7-c5-d3. The downside of such a plan is that it is a one way road. If White gets to set up a good blockade and then play b2-b3, then Black has some epic suffering to look forward to.}) 15. Qb3 $5 ({ Another promising option is} 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Na4 {although} Qb5 $1 {seems to hold everything together. I say "seems", since} 17. Bf3 {, planning Bf4-g5, is still rather awkward for Black.}) 15... Qb6 $6 {This is the first time in the game that I dare to distribute a "?!" for a move. This seems like one of those moments when one should jump on the opportunity to "change the course of the game". In this situation it means not to stumble into a position with hanging pawns, just assuming one might keep it together.} ({Black ought to try} 15... Nxe5 {, if only on a "since-the-alternative-seems-bad" basis. Then} 16. Qxb7 Rb8 17. Qxa6 Ra8 18. Qb5 Rb8 19. Qa4 {is rather forced. Now} d4 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Rxb2 {gives Black some activity. Perhaps Tomashevsky didn't like the prospect of defending the position that arise after} 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Bd3 { Indeed this is no fun for Black, who is completely passive. Perhaps Black just have to settle for a fun-less position.}) 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Rfd1 {In the world of hanging-pawn-positions, White surely has one of the better ones. Since the side playing against the hanging pawns has less space, it is generally seen as a small victory to get the queens off, since (in this case) White's queen would have trouble finding a safe place where it is not in the way of the remaining pieces.} Ra7 {Black is preparing to play d5-d4.} 18. e3 h6 ({Not} 18... g5 $2 19. Bxg5 Rxe5 20. Bxf6) 19. h4 Ba8 20. Nd3 {White provokes Black's hanging pawn into taking a step forward. If White can then set up a blockade, Black will be bound to the defense of the pawn and White will be virtually a pawn up on the queenside.} (20. Rc2 $5) 20... Rd7 21. Bh3 $5 (21. b4 $1 { is a standard operation that works well here.}) 21... Rb7 $6 (21... Ra7 { is best, in order to meet} 22. b4 c4 23. Nc5 {with} Nh5 $1 {Protecting the a-pawn is quite important here.}) 22. b4 $1 cxb4 {Black is seeking salvation in simpifications.} (22... c4 $6 23. Nc5 $16) 23. axb4 d4 24. exd4 Nbd5 25. Be5 $6 ({The simple} 25. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 26. Bd2 $16 {would give Black less chances of survival. Nc5 next will wreak havoc among the Black's ranks.}) 25... Nxc3 ( 25... Bxb4 $1 {is an even better option here. White can keep som advantage with } 26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27. Bg2 Rb5 28. Nxb4 Rxb4 29. Rc5 Rb5 30. Rdc1 {, but it is quite hard to break down Black's blockade on d5.}) 26. Rxc3 Nd5 27. Rc4 Nxb4 ({ I would have gone for} 27... f6 28. Bf4 (28. Bg2 Rb5 29. Bf4) 28... Nxf4 29. gxf4 {, only to realize that it's total luck that I have} Rb6 30. Bg2 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Reb8 $1 {equalizing completely.}) 28. Nc5 $1 Bxc5 $6 ({Black panics, but it was not easy for a human to see that} 28... Rb6 29. Nd7 Bf3 $1 {keeps better chances. The point is that Black has better defensive chances against an advanced d-pawn, than is the case with an advanced c-pawn.}) 29. dxc5 Nc6 { This makes things even worse. The blockade is good, but everything else is out the window.} (29... a5 $1 $14) 30. Bc3 Rbe7 31. Rd6 Rc7 (31... Re1+ $2 32. Bxe1 Rxe1+ 33. Bf1 {leads nowhere for Black.}) 32. Rg4 $1 {It's not only the c-pawn that is problematic for Black. The bishop on c3 also falls into the "problematic" category.} f5 33. Rgg6 $5 {It's too easy to criticize this move, when the only option that holds on longer is} (33. Ra4 {or}) (33. Rc4 {leaves the rook in a more flexible spot.}) 33... Ne5 $2 (33... Na7 $1 {The engine gives} 34. f4 (34. Rd1 Bf3 35. Rc1 Nb5 36. Bb2 Rce7 37. Bf1 $16) 34... Nb5 35. Ba5 Rf7 36. Rxa6 Bf3 37. Rab6 {, with a "big advantage for White", but from a human perspective it still looks like "playing for three results". 34. Rd1 is a better human move, which keeps up the pressure.}) 34. Bxe5 Rxe5 35. c6 Kh7 36. h5 Rc5 37. Bg2 {Black has no defence against. A nice game from Mamedyarov, although I find it hard to understand Tomashevsky's game-plan.} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "2692"] [BlackElo "2796"] [Annotator "Sagar,Shah"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. b3 {This is one of Rapport's main opening moves!} d5 2. Bb2 Bg4 3. h3 Bh5 4. d3 Nd7 5. g4 Bg6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 h5 8. g5 {This weakens the f5 square, but when you play so aggresively in the opening, you are not thinking about little weaknesses!} Ne7 9. Nh4 Nf5 10. Nxf5 (10. Nxg6 fxg6 11. e4 dxe4 12. dxe4 Ne3 ( 12... Ng3 13. Rg1 Nxe4 14. Qf3 $44) 13. Qd3 Bc5 $15) 10... Bxf5 11. Bg2 e5 12. Qd2 (12. Bxd5 c6 13. Bf3 exf4 $15) 12... exf4 13. Qxf4 Be6 14. Nd2 Bd6 $11 { Black has a fine position out of the opening.} 15. Qh4 Ne5 16. Nf3 Ng6 17. Qa4+ Bd7 18. Qd4 c5 19. Qe3+ (19. Qxg7 d4 {And the queen on g7 looks precariously posted.}) 19... Kf8 20. O-O $6 {Castling short seems like an error because the kingside is quite weak and gives Black to take advantage of it.} (20. O-O-O Bf4 $19) 20... Qc7 21. Qd2 Re8 22. e3 Kg8 23. d4 Qc8 24. h4 Bh3 {Suddenly there is no good way to control the light squared infiltration. The h4 pawn is also weak to some extent.} 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Bxg2 (26... Qg4 $1 27. Qxd5 Nxh4 28. Qxf7+ {This looks really scary but Black survives.} Kh7 29. g6+ Kh6 30. Qf4+ Qxf4 31. exf4 Bxg2 $19) 27. Qxg2 Qg4 28. Rad1 Nxh4 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. Rxd5 Nf3+ 31. Kg2 Rh2+ 32. Kg3 Rxc2 {Black has won a pawn and is now on his way to the full point.} 33. Rf2 (33. Kxg4 Nh2+ $19) 33... Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Nxg5 35. Kg3 ( 35. Rd7 Ne4+ 36. Kg2 b6 37. Rxa7 Rd8 $19) 35... Ne6 36. Rd7 Rd8 37. Rxb7 Rd2 38. Ba3 Rxa2 39. Rxa7 Re2 40. Bc1 Rc2 41. Ra1 Rc3 42. Kxg4 Rxb3 43. Kf5 Rd3 44. Ra8+ Kh7 45. Ra7 Rd1 46. Rxf7 Nd8 47. Rc7 Rf1+ (47... Rxc1 48. e6 $13) 48. Ke4 Rxc1 49. Rc8 Nf7 50. Rc6 (50. e6 Nd6+ $19) 50... Nh6 51. e6 Ng8 52. Rc7 Nf6+ 53. Ke5 Kg6 54. e7 Re1 {MVL played logical chess to beat Rapport's unconventional opening play.} 0-1 [Event "Sharjah UAE"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E12"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2711"] [Annotator "Sagar,Shah"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qc2 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bf4 a6 9. g3 Be7 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Rac1 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Ne5 Bf8 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 {The queens are exchanged and the position looks even. But look how Mamedyarov, slowly but steadily increases the pressure.} 17. Rfd1 {The threat is to play a4-a5 or Nd3-Be5.} Ra7 {protecting the bishop so that d4 is possible.} 18. e3 $1 h6 {The bishop would be trapped with g5, but White has it covered.} 19. h4 $1 Ba8 20. Nd3 {Now b4 can be the threat.} Rd7 21. Bh3 Rb7 22. b4 $1 cxb4 23. axb4 {White is clearly better as now both d5 and a6 are weak.} d4 $5 {An interesting pawn sacrifice, but is not sufficient.} (23... Nc4 24. Bg2 Rb6 25. Nc5 $16 {This position is some sort of a torture.}) 24. exd4 Nbd5 25. Be5 (25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Bd2 Nxb4 27. Nc5 Bxc5 28. dxc5 $16) 25... Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Nd5 27. Rc4 Nxb4 28. Nc5 Bxc5 29. dxc5 Nc6 (29... a5 $14) 30. Bc3 Rbe7 31. Rd6 {With the two bishops and the passed c-pawn, this is just cruise mode.} Rc7 32. Rg4 f5 33. Rgg6 Ne5 34. Bxe5 Rxe5 35. c6 Kh7 36. h5 Rc5 37. Bg2 {Tomashevsky resigned as Rd7 is a big threat and Black has no real way to fight against it.} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah UAE"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.19"] [Round "2.9"] [White "Salem, A.R. Saleh"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Sagar,Shah"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 O-O $5 {This is very surprising for many players. How does Black park his king on the side of the board where he has weakened himself? Well the theoretical status currently says that White is unable to launch a successful attack and Black has nothing to worry.} 9. Nbd2 (9. h4 g4 10. Nh2 Kh7 $15) 9... a6 10. a4 Ba7 11. O-O Nh7 (11... Nh5 12. Nxe5 $16) 12. h3 (12. d4 g4 $132) 12... Kh8 13. d4 g4 14. hxg4 Bxg4 15. Be2 Rg8 16. Kh1 {White has played well and is holding his own.} Qf6 17. d5 $6 {Somehow I dislike this move. It seems that if you want to activate the g3 bishop then you must take on e5. The move d5 just doesn't feel right.} (17. dxe5 dxe5 18. b4 $14) 17... Ne7 18. Bh4 Ng5 19. Nh2 ( 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Bxg4 gxh4 $15) 19... Bc8 $1 {A great retreat with a deep point!} (19... Bd7 20. Bg4 {And Black has to spend a tempo trying to think what to do about his d7 bishop.}) (19... Bxe2 20. Qxe2 {Also is perfectly fine for Black.}) 20. Bg4 Qg6 21. Bh5 Qg7 22. g3 (22. Qe2 $15) 22... Bh3 {The rook cannot move as f2 hangs. And just like that White has lost an exchange!} 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. Bg4 Bxf1 25. Qxf1 Qg6 26. Kg2 Kg7 27. Nhf3 Rh8 28. a5 Ng8 $1 { Another retreat to the original square to finish off the game! The knight coming to f6 would be very strong.} 29. Qc4 Nf6 30. Bf5 Qh6 31. Qd3 Qh5 32. Rf1 Rh6 33. Re1 Ng4 34. Bxg4 Qxg4 {A great game by Ding Liren.} 0-1 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Black "Mamedyarov, S."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2796"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "101"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 { Here we are, in Karjakin's preparation for the World Championship match. Carlsen was never in trouble, but it served a practical purpose of extending the match to the tie-breaks.} O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 {Following the main line.} ({White can also change the pawn structure with} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Nc6 13. Bd2 d5 14. Re1) (11. d4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Re8 13. Ra1 Nc4 14. Re1 { was seen in Game 2 of the New York match.}) 11... Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Nc6 13. Bg5 Nd7 (13... Ng4 {was played twice against Bacrot, first by Inarkiev , then by Fressinet. Neither one exprienced any particular problem equalizing. I guess, the absense of bishops makes Black's task easier.}) 14. Be3 Nf6 15. Bg5 Nd7 16. Be3 Nf6 17. Qb1 d5 18. exd5 {After teasing the audience with a prospect of short draw by repetition, MVL shows his intention to fight by introducing a new move. Objectively speaking it is not so good.} Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Qxd5 20. c4 $5 {This is the idea behind the center-surrendering trade on d5. MVL puts his hopes on active play on the Q-side.} bxc4 21. dxc4 Qe6 {Mamedyarov correctly decides to keep the Q-side action to minimum, planning his counterplay in the center and, possibly, K-side.} (21... Qxc4 {is not so good, because White easily gets his pawn back with interest:} 22. Rc2 Qe6 23. Qc1 Na7 24. Rxc7 Nb5 25. Rc6) 22. Qe4 ({The right way to hold the balance (yes, Virginia, it is time for White to do so) was to be found in} 22. Rd2 $1 Rad8 23. Qc2 f5 24. Rd5 $1 Rxd5 (24... e4 25. Nd4 Nxd4 26. Bxd4 Rxd5 27. cxd5 Qxd5 28. Qxc7 Qxd4 29. Qxe7 $11) 25. cxd5 Qxd5 26. Rc1 Rd8 {and now both} 27. Qxf5 ({and} 27. h3 { are good enough.})) 22... Rad8 $1 ({White could only dream of} 22... f5 23. Qd5 ) 23. g4 {This is not an attacking move, but rather a last-ditch attempt to stop Black's e- and f- pawns from advancing on White's minor pieces.} (23. Rd2 f5 24. Qc2 Rxd2 25. Nxd2 (25. Bxd2 e4) 25... f4) 23... h5 {Mamedyarov had other interesting choices.} (23... g6 24. g5 a5 25. b5 Nd4 {was one of them, but here after} 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. Qxe6 fxe6 28. Ne5 Bxg5 29. Rd1 {White would easily hold a light-square blockade.}) ({I'm surprised he didn't go for} 23... f5 $5 24. gxf5 Rxf5 25. Kh1 Rdf8 26. Nd2 Bg5 {Such aggressive play would be right up Shakh's alley.}) 24. g5 Qg4+ 25. Qxg4 hxg4 26. Nh4 $1 {The knight looks ugly there, but the fight is on for the f5-square, and White needs all hands on deck.} (26. Nd2 Rd3 27. Kg2 f5 28. gxf6 gxf6 {followed by f6-f5 is a free ride for Black.}) 26... g6 ({In case of} 26... Nd4 27. Kg2 Ne6 {White would have} 28. Re1 {at least temporarily maintaining the balance.}) 27. Kh1 e4 ({I looked at} 27... Nd4 28. Rg1 Nf5 29. Rxg4 Nxe3 30. fxe3 Rd3 {but there White survives:} 31. Re4 Bxg5 32. Nf3 Bxe3 33. Nxe5 f5 34. Nxd3 fxe4 35. Ne5) 28. Rg1 Ne5 29. Bf4 Nxc4 30. Rxg4 {It's understandable Maxime wanted to resolve the situation on the K-side.} ({Probably} 30. Bxc7 {was stronger, but Black would have kept the pressure on after} Rd3 31. Rxg4 Rc8 32. Bg3 Nd2) 30... c5 $1 {Timely strike to break up White's stronghold on the Q-side while his pieces are all tangled up elsewhere.} 31. bxc5 Bxc5 32. Rc2 Rd4 33. Rg3 Re8 34. Kg2 {A sad admission that Nh4 won't be returning to play any time soon.} Bf8 35. Rgc3 {A good practical choice.} ({It's very hard for White to avoid losing the a-pawn anyway:} 35. a4 Ne5) 35... Nxa3 36. Ra2 Rd3 37. Rc6 a5 { For all intents and purposes White is busted. Knowing that full well, Maxime plays his last chance out.} 38. Nxg6 $5 fxg6 39. Rxg6+ {Such twists in the plot are designed to leave the opponent confused and disoriented.} Kh7 $6 { The very first move is somewhat inaccurate. Why invite the future g5-g6 with check when White's rook is not well placed on g6 anyway?} ({The sample line,} 39... Kh8 40. h4 Rf3 41. Bc7 Bb4 42. h5 Nc4 43. Re2 Rf5 44. Rh6+ Kg7 45. Rg6+ Kf7 {proves the point.}) 40. Rc6 Bb4 41. h4 Nb5 42. h5 Nc3 $2 {Shakh swings wildly and totally misses the mark.} ({The knight was badly needed on the K-side to help dealing with White's advancing pawns.} 42... Nd4 43. Rc7+ (43. Ra6 Ne6 44. g6+ Kg8) 43... Kg8 44. h6 Nf5 {would be "job well done".}) 43. Rc2 Nd5 44. g6+ Kg8 45. Bg5 Rf3 46. h6 {Now the situation looks very threatening, and Shakh has no choice but to allow a draw.} Nf4+ 47. Bxf4 Rxf4 48. Rc8 Rxc8 49. Rxc8+ Rf8 50. Rc7 Rf6 51. Rc8+ {A somewhat lucky escape from MVL, who at the end of the day was able to protect his leading position.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2692"] [Annotator "A. Silver"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 5. gxf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. e3 { [%emt 0:00:06]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 7. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:05] } 8. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 9. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qd7 { [%emt 0:00:06]} 10. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:37]} ({The last example of master play with this position, though none had the courage to play 10...0-0-0} 10... b6 11. Bg2 Nge7 12. f4 exf4 13. e4 O-O 14. Qf3 Rae8 15. Bxf4 Ng6 16. O-O Nxf4 17. Qxf4 Ne7 18. Rfe1 f5 19. e5 Ng6 20. Qg5 f4 21. Be4 Qh3 22. f3 Nh4 23. Qg4 Qxg4+ 24. fxg4 g5 25. Kf2 Kg7 26. a4 h5 27. h3 hxg4 28. hxg4 Ng6 29. Bxg6 Kxg6 30. Kf3 Rh8 31. Rh1 c6 32. Rbe1 a6 33. Ke4 b5 34. a5 Ref8 35. Rc1 Rb8 36. Kf3 Rbd8 37. Rcd1 Rc8 38. Ke4 Rcf8 {1-0 (59) Volodin,A (2433)-Sklyarov, D (2402) Finland 2010}) 11. Bg2 {2391} Nge7 {132} 12. Qb3 {251} b6 {[%emt 0:00: 40]} 13. Qxf7 {160 More than a pawn, Black will have a lot harder time of assailing White's center without it.} Rhf8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 14. Qc4 {343} Kb8 { 392} 15. O-O {914 [#]} g5 {725 This is one of those moves that is very hard to comment on. Black has a number of ways to try to build a kingside initiative. One thing is certain, he will want to be careful about unleashing the white g2 bishop and let it weild its full power, especially with b6 having opened up the light squares around Black's monarch.} 16. Rb5 {129} Rf6 {1437} 17. e4 { 634 This is one of those major number-crunching moves that requires a significant amount of brute calculation due to the number of serious candidates and notably for Black.} h6 {418} ({One obvious alternative is} 17... g4 $5 {aiming to not only remove the g5 pawn from immediate danger but soften up the white kingside.} 18. f4 exd4 (18... exf4 19. e5 Rff8 20. Re1 {and if} f3 21. Bf1 {The bishop has a life on this new diagonal, while the black push is stymied for a while. Add the huge white center and the question is not who is better but how much.}) 19. f5 dxc3 20. Bxc3 Nd4 {and the engines unflinchingly suggest} 21. a4 {with a healthy white advantage.}) ({Also to be considered is} 17... exd4 18. Bxg5 Rg6 19. Bh4 dxc3 20. Qxc3 Nd4 {threatening the rook on b5 as well as Ne2+} 21. Rb2 Nec6) 18. dxe5 {351} Na5 {689} 19. Qe2 {516} Rc6 {61} 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Ng6 {123} 21. Rd5 {234} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 22. Rfd1 {131} Rf8 {94} 23. Qb5 {137} Qe6 {1019} 24. Rd8+ {209} Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} Kb7 {2 White misses a chance to bring in the bishop and really stick it at Black.} 26. Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} (26. Bf1 $1 {The threat is obviously Qa6 mate, but the point is a little more insidious, and resides in the massive pawn majority waiting to be unleashed. Don't forget it is 5 to 2 on the kingside if they get rolling.} Nc4 {seems to effectively shut down White, but not so....} 27. Bxc4 Rxc4 28. Re8 Qc6 29. Qxc6+ Rxc6 30. e6 Nf4 31. e7 Re6 32. h4 Kc6 33. Rh8 Kd7 34. e8=Q+ Rxe8 35. Rh7+ Re7 36. Rxh6 Nd3 ( 36... Rg7 37. hxg5 Rxg5+ 38. Kf1 {and the knight is lost.}) 37. hxg5 {and the kingside pawns will decide it.}) 26... Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 27. Qxe6 {108} ({ The zwischenzug} 27. Rg8 {was more efficient.} Ngxe5 28. Qxe6 Rxe6 29. f4 gxf4 30. Bxf4 Kc6 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. f4 $18) 27... Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 28. Bh3 { [%emt 0:00:41]} Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 29. Bc8+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kc6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 30. Bd7+ {4 The players were both extremely short of time and wil now make the most of the oppportunities to repeat moves. Nakamura has no intention of drawing. his purpose here is simply to make the time control without blundering away his advantage,} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 31. Bc8+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Bd7+ {[%emt 0:00:56]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 33. Bd4 { [%emt 0:00:29]} Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 34. Bc8+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 35. Bd7+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Bc8+ {62} Kc6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 37. Be6 {61} Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 38. Bd7+ {127} ({Komodo points out the elegant shot} 38. a4+ Rxa4 39. Rd5+ c5 {Forced. All other moves crash and burn in the blink of an eye.} (39... Kc6 $2 40. Bd7+ Kb7 41. Bxa4) (39... Ka6 $2 40. Bc8#) 40. Bd7+ Ka5 41. Bxa4 Kxa4 42. Bg7 a5 43. Bxh6 $18) 38... c6 { [%emt 0:00:08]} 39. Be8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 40. h4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Nd2 {165} 41. Kh2 {252} gxh4 {537} 42. Be3 {153} Nxf3+ {384} 43. Kh1 { [%emt 0:00:12]} Nh3 {747} 44. Bh5 {860} (44. Rd5+ $1 {is suggested by the engines quite enthusiastically, but a deeper look shows it is not so clear.} Kc4 45. Rxa5 bxa5 46. Bxc6 Nhg5 47. Bd5+ Kxc3 48. e5 Nxe5 49. f4 Nd3 50. fxg5 hxg5 $11 {as the a-pawn will fall soon.}) 44... Nxf2+ {288} 45. Bxf2 {[%emt 0: 00:14]} Rxa2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 46. Bxf3 {205} Rxf2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 47. Rd3 {410 } Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 48. Re3 {126} Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 49. e5 {25 One pawn to rule them all...} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 50. e6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Re7 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 51. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 52. Re4+ {127} Kxc3 { [%emt 0:00:32]} 53. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} a4 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 54. Bxa4 {[%emt 0: 00:10]} Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 55. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.21"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:10:56"] [BlackClock "0:47:36"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nge2 ({In Wijk an Zee, less than a month ago Adams defended successfully the position after:} 9. Qc2 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O-O Nb6 12. h3 Be6 {Tomashevsky,E (2728) -Adams,M (2744) Wijk aan Zee 2016}) 9... Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qd2 {A very rare move which Mamedyarov obviously prepared for this game. Adams said later that he did not like the position that he got out of the opening.} Nb6 12. f3 {The point. White wants to prepare e3-e4 as quick as possible. Botvinnik liked to play this way some time ago.} ({In the only predecessor the prominent Swedish GM postponed this for a move:} 12. O-O O-O 13. f3 Be6 14. b3 Rac8 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Nd4 {and also got the better play, Hillarp Persson,T (2521)-Merriman,J (2253) London 2015}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O O-O 14. g4 {Also part of the plan. The knight will go to g3, Ra1-e1 and then all the white pieces will be optimally placed for the central advance. } ({The immediate} 14. e4 {was less accurate due to} dxe4 15. fxe4 c5 $1) 14... Nf6 15. Ng3 Ne8 {With the idea to jump all the way to c4 and torture the white pieces. The road of the f-pawn has been freed as well.} ({However, taking into an account how strong White's initiative was after the programmed e3-e4 advance, perhaps Black shoud have tried to attack the center at once:} 15... c5 $5 16. Rae1 cxd4 17. exd4 Qb4 18. Kh1 {White looks better here as well but at least the center has been fixed. Adams may try to swap off all the rooks along the e-file and hold.}) 16. Rae1 Nd6 17. e4 {"Very principled move or else f7-f5 is coming." (Mamedyarov)} ({Say} 17. b3 f5 18. gxf5 Nxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 { with equality.}) 17... dxe4 18. fxe4 Ndc4 {The immediate capture is less precise:} (18... Bxg4 19. e5 Ndc4 20. Qg2 $1 {with plenty of threats. For example:} Rad8 $2 21. Qe4 f5 22. Nxf5 {and White regained the pawn and kept the attack.}) 19. Qc1 {Instead:} (19. Bxc4 Nxc4 20. Qe2 Qb4 {is comfortable for Black.}) 19... Bxg4 20. b3 {For the sacrificed pawn White has a serious initiative. Mamedyarov mentioned another idea at the press conference:} (20. Rf4 $5 {In order to deprive Black of he Ra8-d8 idea. Then after} Bd7 21. b3 Nd6 22. Kh1 {White can mount pressure along the half-open f- and g-files.}) 20... Rad8 $1 {Adams is ready to scarifice a piece! The knight retreats look worse:} (20... Nd6 21. e5 $1) ({Or} 20... Na3 21. Rf4 Be6 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. exf5 Qg5+ 24. Kh1 {in both cases with serious attack for White.}) 21. Nf5 {Once again:} ( 21. Rf4 {is an interesting alternative. Then in case of:} Rxd4 $2 ({The Azeri GM was afraid of the line:} 21... Ne5 22. dxe5 Rxd3 23. Rxg4 Qc5+ 24. Kh1 Qxc3 {but in the post-mortem he realized that} 25. Rxg7+ $1 {still works and leads to mate after} Kxg7 26. Nf5+) ({However, there is the strong idea:} 21... Be6 $1 22. bxc4 Rxd4 {Black will soon net third pawn for the piece, plus he managed to stabilize the situation on the kingside.}) 22. Rxg4 {White wins thanks to the tactical idea:} Rxd3 23. Rxg7+ $1 {(Mamedyarov)}) 21... Bxf5 { Sacking the piece with:} (21... Qg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5 23. Bxc4 {looks less appealing.}) 22. exf5 Qf6 {Adams decided to keep the queens. I believe this is correct as there are a lot of perpetual checks on the cards thanks to her Majesty. The computers suggests instead the endgame after:} (22... Qa3 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxc1 25. Rxc1 Rxd4 26. c5) 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1 Rfe8 {The smoke has cleared. Almost. For the piece Adams netted two pawns, weakened the white king and all the white pawns.} 26. f6 $1 {The only chance to play for something. The black king needs to be endangered too.} Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxc4 28. fxg7 Rd6 $1 {"I missed this strong move. It should be a draw after this." - Mamedyarov} 29. Rg1 Rg6 30. Qe5 ({Perhaps} 30. Rf1 $5 Kxg7 31. Qe5+ Kh7 32. Rf3 {to keep some attacking potential was better.}) 30... Qe6 { Mamedyarov gave the following tricky line:} (30... Rg5 $5 {with the idea to force perpetual after} 31. Rxg5 ({The Azeri GM believed that Black would lose after} 31. Ne4 Rxe5 $4 ({However, there is a flaw in this line-} 31... Rxg1+ $1 32. Kxg1 Qxa2 33. Nf6+ Kxg7 {essentially draws. Believe it or not, there is no checkmate!}) 32. Nf6#) 31... Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qf3+) ({Mamedyarov also believed that White is better in the endgame after} 30... Rxg1+ 31. Kxg1 Qg4+ 32. Kf2 Qxg7 33. Qxg7+ Kxg7 34. Kf3 {although it is highly questionable if this is winning.}) 31. Qb8+ Kxg7 32. Qxa7 Qc4 33. Qe3 b5 {Adams is ready to trade the last white queenside pawn.} 34. a3 c5 35. Ne4 $1 {A good practical chance in the opponent's time-trouble.} f5 $2 {Adams succumbed to the pressure. The best chance was to proceed with his plan:} (35... b4 $1 {when} 36. a4 {is risky and most likely not winning after} (36. axb4 cxb4 37. Rxg6+ fxg6 38. Qa7+ Qf7 39. Qd4+ Kh7 {should be a draw as well (Mamedyarov)}) 36... Qd5 37. a5 ({Best is} 37. Rxg6+ fxg6 38. Kg1 {with some winning chances for White still.}) 37... f5 { with possible perpetual check somewhere along the lines after:} (37... b3) 38. a6 fxe4 39. a7 b3 40. Rxg6+ Kxg6 41. Qg3+ Kf5 42. Qh3+ Kg6 43. Qg3+) 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Nxc5 {Now White just wins.} Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3 Qd1 41. Qe8+ Kf6 ({Or} 41... Kg7 42. Ne6+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ {trading the queens.}) 42. Nd7+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ {Adams resigned due to the lines:} (43. Qg8+ Kf4 (43... Kh5 44. Nf6#) 44. Qg3+ Ke4 45. Nf6+ Kd4 46. Qd6+) 1-0 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Tiger Hillarp"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 {With two wins to chose between today, I arrived at the conundrum of seeming to either favour the a3-Queens Indian, or being a great fan of Mamedyarov. In the end I decided that the latter makes more sense, especially if he continues to play like this.} e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 (4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 {is the other variation that gives White some chances for an advantage.} ) (4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 h6 $1 6. Bh4 (6. Bxf6 Bxf6 {leads to well researched positions where Black should be able to equalize.}) 6... O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 {has a terribly solid reputation.}) 4... exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 {This move, which is rather uncommon, comes with a clear plan: to force the bishop to h4 and then exchange it with Be7/Nh5. After the exchange Black hopes to have won a tempo if White plays Qc2/Bd3, since there is no need to defende the h-pawn.} (6... Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 {is another tabiya. White continues to score well from this position, but it's still unclear whether Black is actually worse.}) (6... Be7 {Playing "normally" with} 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2 {and now something else than exchanging the bishops, like} Nf8 { has been tried by Mamedyarov from the Black side. However, these line have worse reputation that the early exchange of the dark squared bishops. After something like} 9. O-O Ne6 10. Bh4 O-O {the game revolves around moves like e3-e4, b2-b4 and c6-c5 and White seems to have greater freedom to lead the game in one or another directions.}) 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 (8. Qc2 {, over Bd3. A recent game went} Nbd7 9. Bd3 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O-O Nb6 12. h3 Be6 13. Nf3 Nf6 14. Kb1 O-O-O 15. Nd2 Kb8 16. Nb3 Rhe8 17. f3 Nfd7 18. Rhe1 Rc8 19. Rc1 {when Black was on a steady route to equality, in Tomashevsky,E (2725) -Adams, M (2740) 78th Tata Steel GpA 2016.}) 8... Nbd7 9. Nge2 Nh5 (9... Ne4 $5 { So, the question is how the position after} 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 (10... Qxe7 $6 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Ng3 Nf6 13. Qc2 $16) 11. Bxd8 Nxd1 12. Rxd1 Kxd8 13. f3 {is to be evaluated. White has a clear plan in e3-e4 (and possibly g4/h4), whereas Black is somewhat passive. White ought to have a small advantage.}) (9... O-O $6 10. f3 Nh5 11. Bf2 {gives White the extra option of 0-0-0 followed by a pawn storm on the kingside.}) 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qd2 $1 {This set-up, which aims to play f3 quickly, has been on my radar for quite some time and I even had the chance to play it before anyone else did. (See move 12)} Nb6 (11... O-O {my intention was to play} 12. f3 (12. O-O-O $6 b5 13. Kb1 Nhf6 {and Black is faster to create threats since it is hard to get g4 and h4 in:} 14. f3 Re8 $1 15. e4 b4 $15) (12. O-O Re8 13. Rae1 Nf8 {and I fail to see a great continuation for White.} 14. Nc1 Ne6 15. f3 b6 16. N1e2 {seems to slow.}) 12... Re8 13. Kf2 $5 {, but I don't know what Mamedyarov was planning.}) 12. f3 { Had White's queen been on c2, this move would not have been possible.} (12. O-O O-O 13. f3 Be6 14. b3 Rac8 15. Rac1 c5 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Nd4 {left me with a typical advantage, in Hillarp Persson,T (2520)-Merriman,J (2250) London Classic Open 2015.}) 12... Bd7 13. O-O $1 {This move gives Black little choice but to evacuate the king to g8.} (13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Rhe1 {can also be considered, but the e3-e4 idea seem stronger with Black's king on the kingside. }) 13... O-O (13... O-O-O $6 {Not} 14. a4 $1 {and Black's king is in trouble.}) 14. g4 $5 {[#] This move would make less sense if there was not a pawn on h6. Here it is quite principled and challenging. I am a bit puzzled and disappointed not to find it in my own preparations.} (14. Rae1 {My preparation, from a few years back, goes} f5 15. Nf4 $1 (15. b3 {is stronger.}) 15... Nxf4 16. exf4 Qf6 17. Re5 {"with an initiative for White".}) 14... Nf6 15. Ng3 (15. Nf4 {, with similar ideas as in the game. One possibility is} Ne8 16. Rae1 Nd6 17. e4 Qg5 18. Re2 dxe4 19. fxe4 $1 {and with Rg2/Qf2/h4 coming, Black is already in trouble.}) 15... Ne8 16. Rae1 Nd6 17. e4 $1 {A surprising and strong idea. White is even prepared to give up the g4-pawn in order to get a mobile center and some files. I'm happy I was not the one who had to face this, unprepared, over the board.} dxe4 18. fxe4 Ndc4 $1 (18... Bxg4 {Adams' move is possibly the strongest. After} 19. e5 $1 Ndc4 20. Qg2 {White has a big attack with moves like Qe4 and Bf5.}) (18... Rad8 {The engine is a fan of} 19. e5 Nb5 {and indeed, that is a clear case of not passing the Turing Test. I would not take every chance to steer clear of something like} 20. Qg2 Qg5 (20... Qb4 21. Nxb5 cxb5 22. Qe4 g6 23. Rf6 $40) 21. Nxb5 cxb5 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Qe7 24. Re4 {The engine assures that Black is only somewhat worse, but my gut is not convinced.}) 19. Qc1 $1 Bxg4 20. b3 Rad8 $5 {Adams decides to change the course of the game and it is a respectable decision.} (20... Na5 $6 {The alternatives look shaky:} 21. Rf4 Qd7 22. Kh1 {and with Rg1 coming down the aisle, Black should do his best to cancel this wedding.}) (20... Na3 {And after } 21. e5 {White has a huge initiative.}) 21. Nf5 (21. bxc4 {White has plenty of ways to keep some advantage, but the ruined pawn structure will cut down White's winning chances. Perhaps the best way to continue is} Rxd4 22. Be2 Bh3 23. Rf2 {, followed by Bf1 and Nf5. In this way Black doesn't get to exchange a pair of rooks under favourable circumstances.}) 21... Bxf5 22. exf5 Qf6 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1 Rfe8 26. f6 $1 Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxc4 28. fxg7 ( 28. Rg1 $6 g5 {and White is unable to activate the knight without inviting simplifications (which will favour Black).}) 28... Rd6 {White has a clear advantage, but where the technical obstacles are quite big. White's king is vulnerable to checks and Black has a pawn majority on the queenside that can be put in motion. White can probably not avoid the exchange of rooks, but it is important to do it at a good moment.} 29. Rg1 $6 (29. Qe8+ Kxg7 30. Qe5+ ( 30. Rf3 Rf6 31. Qe5 Qe6 32. Rg3+ Kh7 33. Qb8 Rg6 34. Rxg6 Kxg6 35. Qxa7 { is a more forcing way to get something similar to what happens in the game.}) 30... Kh7 31. Qf5+ Rg6 32. Qxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7+ Rg7 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7 35. Kg2 Kf6 36. Kf3 Ke5 37. Ke3 {and I'm not sure whether White's advantage is enough for a win. It should be.}) 29... Rg6 30. Qe5 (30. Rxg6 fxg6 31. Kg2 Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Qf7 33. Qe3 $14) 30... Qe6 (30... Qd3 $1 {, with the idea that} 31. Rxg6 Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qf3+ {is a direct draw. Chess is a very difficult game, especially when you are short on time and even more so when you believe you are worse.}) 31. Qb8+ $1 Kxg7 32. Qxa7 $1 {This little pawn makes all the difference in the endgame to come. Now Black's queenside pawns are much more prone to become weak.} Qc4 33. Qe3 b5 34. a3 {White doesn't have to keep the a-pawn since the h-pawn is all that is needed to win a knight vs no-knight endgame.} c5 35. Ne4 $5 (35. Qe5+ Kh7 36. Re1 Qd3 37. Qe3 Qxe3 38. Rxe3 Rb6 39. Kg2 {and winning becomes a matter of (advanced) technique. Mamedyarov's way is a better human route.}) 35... f5 $2 {A miscalculation in time trouble.} (35... b4 $1 {, when} 36. axb4 (36. a4 $5) 36... cxb4 {gives us a position that is very, very hard to win for White.} 37. Rc1 Qd5 $1 38. Qf3 b3 39. Rb1 Rb6 40. Rd1 Qc6 41. Rg1+ Kf8 42. Qd3 Rb8 43. Qd4 Re8 {and Black hangs on.}) 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Nxc5 Qd5+ (37... Qf1+ {Perhaps Adams missed that} 38. Qg1+ {is check.}) 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3 {The rest is easy.} Qd1 41. Qe8+ Kf6 (41... Kg5 42. Ne6+ $1 Kf6 43. Qd8+ Qxd8 44. Nxd8 Ke5 45. Kg3 Ke4 46. Nf7 Ke3 47. Nxh6 f4+ 48. Kg2 $18 ) 42. Nd7+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ {and facing Qg3+/Nf6+, followed by Qd6+ and Qxd1, it was time to resign.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Li, Chao b"] [Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [BlackElo "2711"] [Annotator "A. Silver"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {(00)} Nf6 {(07)} 2. c4 {(00)} e6 {( 00:07)} 3. Nf3 {(00)} b6 {(09)} 4. a3 {(12)} Bb7 {(46)} 5. Nc3 {(17)} d5 {(08)} 6. cxd5 {( 00:12)} Nxd5 {(07)} 7. e3 {(11)} g6 {(02:22)} 8. h4 {(25)} Bg7 {(05:51) Clearly 8... h4 caught Tomashevsky by surprise, and he spend 6 minutes here and then 34 a couple of moves later. This still follows several notable games, with names such as Wang Hao, Wang Yue, Morozevich and more. h4 is very much a fighting move, so he knew without question that the quick draws on some of the boards around him were not going be his tale of the day.} 9. h5 {(32)} Nd7 {(01:32)} 10. Bd3 { (48)} Nxc3 {(34:10) 34 minutes spent on this move, though still following two significant games in the databases.} 11. bxc3 {(35)} e5 {(07)} 12. e4 {(53)} Qe7 {(34)} 13. h6 {(00:21) This is the novelty, and also the top enigne choice. Since White played quikcly up til now and continues to do so, it is probably safe to say this is all well into Li Chao's preparation. The novelty is quite interesting, and not nly attacks the dark squares, but really disrupts Black's piece coordination. Placing his bishop on f6 was probably the last thing he had planned here.} (13. O-O O-O 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. a4 a6 16. Bc4 c6 17. h6 Bf6 18. Ba3 c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qb3 Re7 22. Rab1 Bc6 23. Red1 Rb8 24. Bd5 Be8 25. c4 Rc7 26. Ra1 Kf8 27. Qb2 a5 28. Rd3 Kg8 29. Rb3 Ra7 30. Ne1 Qd4 31. Qa2 Be7 32. Nf3 Qc5 33. Nxe5 Bg5 34. Ng4 Qd4 35. c5 Kf8 36. c6 f5 37. Rf3 Bf7 38. Ne3 fxe4 39. Rd1 Qc5 40. Bxe4 Bxh6 41. Rd7 Rxd7 42. cxd7 Qc1+ 43. Kh2 {1-0 (43) Andreikin,D (2706)-Karjakin,S (2762) Nizhnij Novgorod 2013}) 13... Bf6 {(34)} 14. O-O {(11)} O-O {(01:27)} 15. Re1 {(14)} Rfd8 {(06:43)} 16. Be3 {(13:16)} Rac8 {(06:23)} 17. Qe2 {(15:04)} Re8 {(10:58)} 18. Qa2 {(15:55)} c6 {(15:35)} 19. a4 {(04:51)} Rc7 {(09]} 20. Rad1 {(01:07)} Bc8 {(06)} 21. Bc4 {(05:25)} Rf8 {(03:17)} 22. Bc1 {(06:58)} (22. d5 {was possible already and very strong.} Qd8 (22... cxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nd2) 23. d6 Rb7 24. Rb1 { Keeping Black's pieces in check by preventing the ...b5 break. Black's postion is best described as awful with the pieces and pawns in disarray.}) 22... Bh8 { (06:37)} 23. Bb3 {(11:38)} a6 {(04:00)} 24. Bc4 {(01:42)} Bf6 {(02:16)} 25. d5 {(07:59)} cxd5 {(02:40)} 26. Ba3 {(25)} Nc5 {(00:49)} 27. exd5 {(06)} Qd6 { (04:00)} 28. Nd2 $1 {(00:21)} Bf5 {(23) Black is more or less forced to abandon the a6 pawn.} (28... Qd8 {After a move such as} 29. d6 Rb7 (29... Rd7 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. Ne4 Bg5 32. Bd5 Bxh6 33. Bc6 Bg7 34. Qd5 $18) 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. Ne4 Bf5 32. Qd2 Bxe4 33. Rxe4 a5 34. Qd5) 29. Bxa6 {(45)} Ra8 {(01:33)} 30. Bb5 {(58)} Qd8 {(04)} 31. Bc6 {(06:42)} (31. d6 $1 Qxd6 32. Nc4 Qe6 33. Rd6 Qe7 ) 31... Nxa4 {(01:26)} 32. Bxa8 {(22)} (32. Qb3 {Stronger was} Ra6 33. Nc4 Nc5 34. Bxc5 bxc5 35. Nxe5 Qf8 36. Nxg6 $1 Qxh6 (36... hxg6 37. Re8) 37. d6) 32... Nxc3 {(12)} 33. Qb3 {(00:04)} Qxa8 {(01:09)} 34. d6 {(05:35)} Rc6 {( 01)} 35. Ra1 {(02:51)} Qc8 {(19)} 36. Bb4 {(52)} Be6 {(57)} 37. Qa3 {(01:04)} e4 {(41)} 38. Qa8 {( 01:13)} Ne2+ {(36)} 39. Kf1 {(01:20)} (39. Rxe2 $4 {would be a blunder after} Bxa1 40. Qxc8+ (40. Qxa1 $2 Rc1+) 40... Rxc8 41. Nxe4 Rc4 42. Re1 Bb2 $11) 39... e3 {(26)} 40. Ne4 {(00)} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix I"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Grischuk, A."] [Black "Eljanov, P."] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2759"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {Black combines the ideas of the Queen's Gambit Declined and the Nimzo Indian into a complex setup, called the Ragozin Defense.} 5. cxd5 ({Actually, most games played by Viacheslav Ragozin went} 5. Qa4+ Nc6 {so the black c7-pawn didn't get into action early as the modern treatment of this opening demands.}) 5... exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O ( 7... g5 {used to be the main move here.} 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 ({There's something to be said in favor of} 9... Nxg3 10. hxg3 c6 {Black gets his bishop pair at the cost of weakening his K-side.}) 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 {here Black holds the balance after the crafty move} Bb2 $1 {first found by Tal and lately used by Aronian.}) ({Lately, the most attention was focused on} 7... c5 { which, incidentally, was introduced by R.J. Fischer in the early 1960's.} 8. e3 {and then Black without further ado plays the bold} ({White can try to interfere with Black's plans by} 8. dxc5 {but then} Nbd7 9. e3 Qa5 {was upheld by both Anand and Carlsen in 2014, and later this line gained a new supporter in Yu Yangyi. I guess Black isn't doing so badly there.}) 8... c4 $1 {What to make of this structure? White has to try for e3-e4, but it's easier said than done. One modern example is a rapid game Duda-Wojtaszek, 2015:} 9. Nd2 g5 $1 10. Bg3 Nc6 11. Be2 Bf5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 O-O 14. O-O b5 15. f3 Re8 16. Bf2 Bg6 17. Qc1 a5 18. Re1 b4 19. e4 {with extreme complications.}) 8. e3 Bf5 { Now as g7-g5 became less attractive (king safety issues) Black still has to try for more than just a meek transition to a Queens Gambit Exchange Variation. } (8... Be7 $2 9. Qc2 {gives White an extra tempo in a familiar pawn structure. }) ({The solution once again can be seeked in active counterplay:} 8... c5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bc2 {White's LSB is much handier on the b1-h7 diagonal.} Nbd7 11. O-O Qa5 12. Ne2 Re8 13. b3 Ba3 $1 14. bxc4 dxc4 {as once played by GM Kacheishvili.}) 9. Qb3 {White is trying to hit both d5 and b7 to underline the problem with Black's previous move.} ({A rather innocuous looking} 9. Bd3 { nonetheless brought White success in Ragger-Inarkiev, ECC 2016:} Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. Ne5 Qe8 12. O-O c6 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. a3 Bd6 15. e4 {Black's pieces are awkwadly placed here.}) 9... Bxc3+ ({I'm curious about} 9... Nc6 $5 { Black is going full Ragozin.} 10. Be2 (10. Bb5 Rb8) 10... g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qd7 14. Rac1 (14. Qxb7 Rab8 15. Qxc7 Qe6 {is very uncomfortable for the white queen.}) 14... Na5 15. Qb4 b6 {That light square blockade has a chance here, isn't it?}) 10. bxc3 Nbd7 11. Be2 c5 {All standard issue, and here Grischuk played a new move.} 12. dxc5 {Up to this point the players were following Ding Leren-Leko, 2016} ({which saw} 12. O-O c4 {We already know the strength of this pawn push working together with the black bishop controlling the b1-h7 diagonal.} 13. Qb2 Qb6 $11) 12... Nxc5 13. Qb4 Nce4 ({Pavel took over 20 minutes contemplating} 13... Nd3+ 14. Bxd3 Bxd3 15. Qd4 Ba6 {and decided against it. Indeed, he had to look ahead to} 16. Bxf6 { and decide how to recapture. Both options are testing.} gxf6 {seems the more principled choice.} (16... Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Kd2 {makes the white king very comfortable, therefore defeating the very purpose of Black's Ba6.}) 17. Qg4+ Kh7 18. Qf5+ Kg7 19. Nd4 Qc7 20. Rc1 Rae8 21. h4 Re5 22. Qf4 Qc4 23. Rh3 { with unclear consequences.}) 14. Nd4 Bh7 15. O-O {White has emerged with a castled king and safe pawn structure. Most 1.d4 players would be content with that. Next order of business is to try for some advantage by preparing c3-c4.} g5 16. Bg3 Qb6 {Eljanov is looking for counterplay against White's split pawns. For that he's willing to double his own pawn, but get the a-file open for the rook. Such strategy is typical for Pavel's active positional style. In this game, however, he met an opponent to match his wits.} 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rfc1 Rfc8 19. c4 Nxg3 20. hxg3 Rc5 21. Nb3 $1 Rc7 22. cxd5 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 Nxd5 24. Nd4 $1 {White has a small plus based on the fact that his centralized knight is protected by a pawn, while its black counterpart is not.} Bg6 ({ Illustration:} 24... Rxa2 $2 {loses to} 25. Bc4 Ra5 26. Nb3) 25. Bb5 Nb4 26. a4 Na6 27. f3 Nc5 28. e4 Rd8 29. Rc4 {Grischuk conducts the game in a classic Capablanca style. His pieces are well enough placed to keep Black from finding counterplay. Now he will bring the king up to complete Stage One.} h5 30. Kf2 f6 31. Ke3 Bf7 32. Rb4 Ra8 33. Ne2 Rc8 $2 {Big misstep from Black.} ({ Containing the white rook's activity was a must:} 33... Kf8 $1 {Maybe Pavel worried about} 34. Nc3 (34. Rd4 Ke7) 34... Ke7 35. Be2 {but then Black has a tactical defense,} Rc8 36. Rxb6 $4 Nd7) 34. Rd4 {Alexander seizes his chance.} Be8 35. Rd6 Bxb5 36. axb5 Kf7 37. Nc3 Re8 38. Rxb6 f5 39. Rd6 (39. Kd4 Ne6+ 40. Kd5 {looked more decisive.}) 39... fxe4 40. Nxe4 $2 {This isn't the first time a big advantage slips away in a rook ending.} ({White keeps all the aces with the knights on the board.} 40. fxe4) 40... Nxe4 41. fxe4 Ra8 42. Rd7+ Kf6 $2 { I cannot explain this. Clearly White's main trump is the b-pawn, so Black had to get his king over to help.} ({So, play} 42... Ke6 $1 43. Rxb7 {and then start your typical rook checks:} Ra3+ 44. Kf2 ({It is not difficult to evaluate } 44. Kd4 Rxg3 45. Rh7 (45. b6 Rxg2 46. Rb8 Rb2 47. b7 Kd7 {safe and sound}) 45... h4 46. b6 Rxg2 47. b7 Rb2 48. Kc5 Ke5 49. Kc6 Kxe4 {reaching a draw with moves to spare.}) 44... Ra2+ 45. Kg1 Rb2 46. b6 Rb1+ 47. Kh2 g4 $3 {The key move to keep the white king out of play forever.} (47... Kd6 48. g4 $3 h4 49. Rg7) 48. Rb8 (48. Rh7 Ke5 49. Rxh5+ Kxe4 50. Rh6 Kf5) 48... Kd7 49. e5 Kc6 50. e6 Re1 {eliminating White's passers.}) 43. Rxb7 Ra3+ 44. Kd4 Rxg3 45. b6 { Totally different picture now - the black king is late coming over to the b-pawn.} Rxg2 46. Rb8 Rb2 47. b7 $1 {This guarantees a win without the need to get the king involved, as the e-pawn just marches on.} Kg7 48. e5 g4 49. Kc3 1-0 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix I"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.22"] [Round "5"] [White "Riazantsev, A."] [Black "Jakovenko, D."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B13"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2709"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "38"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. exd4 d5 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+ Nxb5 12. Qc6+ ({Note the old move order} 12. Qxb5+ Qd7 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qb3 $2 {and here Black can still castle. } (14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. Be3 Bb4+ 16. Ke2 Rhc8 {was played a million times before, and most games ended in draws.})) 12... Ke7 13. Qc5+ $1 {The authorship of this idea belongs to Grischuk, who used it against Vidit in World Rapid, Doha 2016.} ({The main line} 13. Qxb5 Qd7 14. Nxd5+ Qxd5 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. Be3 { leaves the black king awkwardly placed on e7, but he still recovers with} Ke6 { successfully defending most of the time.}) 13... Ke8 ({How valid it is remains to be seen until somebody tries to punish White by keeping the extra piece:} 13... Nd6 14. Nxd5+ exd5 15. Qxd5 {White has compensation, and the rest is going to be computer analysis, while I have nothing else to say about this position.}) 14. Qxb5+ Qd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qb3 {Now we go back to the note after White's 12th, and, hey, you can't castle now!} ({The above mentioned stem game went} 16. Qd3 {Certainly, a better square for the queen.} Bb4+ 17. Kf1 f6 18. Kg2 Kf7 19. Bf4 Ba5 20. Rhd1 Rad8 21. Rac1 $14 {Grischuk won in 39 moves.}) 16... Bd6 17. O-O Rb8 {Black gains a free tempo} 18. Qe3+ Kf8 19. Rd1 $4 ({It is anyone's game after} 19. Re1 h5 {but I prefer Black by a small margin.}) 19... Qh3 {This is how it ends. Tragic blunder, you say. Maybe, karma?} (19... Qh3 20. f4 Qg4+ {picks off that unfortunate rook.}) 0-1 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Efstratios Grivas"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] [EventCountry "UAE"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 {(D) [#] The 'Carlsbad Pawn Structure' in the 'Queen's Gambit Declined' is a quite old one weapon, rich n strategical and tactical ideas.} 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 ({Certain GMs accepts to play with a ruined pawn structure after} 6... Bf5 {, for example} 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 {, as in Carlsen,M-Kramnik,V Stavanger 2016, based on the bishop pair and easy development. But this is not the cup of tea of M. Adams. Of course Black has some other continuations as well at his disposal here.}) 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 Nbd7 {(D) [#] Here we are on crossroads.} 9. Nge2 ({ Most common seems to be} 9. Qc2 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O-O (11. Nge2 Nb6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rae1 Be6 14. Nc1 Rad8 15. Nb3 Rfe8 16. Nc5 Bc8 17. b4 $13 {Navara, D-Adams,M Biel 2015}) 11... Nb6 12. h3 Be6 13. Nf3 Nf6 14. Kb1 O-O-O 15. Nd2 Kb8 16. Nb3 Rhe8 17. f3 Nfd7 18. Rhe1 $13 {Tomashevsky,E-Adams,M Wijk aan Zee 2016.}) ({Also playable is} 9. f3 O-O 10. Qc2 b5 11. Nge2 Nb6 12. a3 a5 13. O-O Bd7 14. Nc1 Nc4 15. Re1 Be6 $13 {So,W-Adams,M Shamkir 2015. As we can understand, M.Adams has a vast experience in this line...}) 9... Nh5 {The usual manoeuvre in similar positions, adopted firstly in top-level by J.R. Capablanca. Black easies his position by a well timed exchange of the darksquared bishops.} 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qd2 (11. O-O O-O 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Rae1 Nb6 14. Nc1 Qg5 15. f3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. e4 Nc4 18. Qe2 Qg5 $13 {Giri, A-Fressinet,L Montpellier 2015, is not offering much to White, so he tries a similar concept but with a different move order which might be tricky.}) 11... Nb6 12. f3 {(D) [#] The main White's idea in this pawn structure. By f3 and a well-timed e4, White wants to dominate the centre.} Bd7 ({Technically a novelty.} 12... Be6 13. O-O O-O 14. b3 Rac8 15. Rac1 {was played in Hillarp Persson,T-Merriman,J London 2015.}) 13. O-O O-O 14. g4 $5 ({Another common idea in the 'Queen's Gambit Declined' and in the 'Nimzoindian Defence'. White is in no hurry for e4, preparing it with Ng3 and Rae1. Possible is} 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 c5 $1 16. d5 Rae8 $13 {.}) 14... Nf6 15. Ng3 Ne8 ({An interesting, but not innovating plan! Black wants to place his knight on d6, but I think that good is} 15... c5 {and then moving the rooks to the central squares d8 and e8.}) 16. Rae1 Nd6 {(D) [#]} 17. e4 $5 ({It is now or never! Although White is sacrificing a pawn, he gets a nice initiative. The main alternative was} 17. b3 f5 $1 18. h3 Rae8 $13 {.}) 17... dxe4 18. fxe4 $1 {(D) [#]} (18. Ncxe4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Be6 {is no problem for Black.}) 18... Ndc4 ({If Black grabbed the pawn directly with} 18... Bxg4 {, White seems to get fine compensation by} 19. e5 $1 Nb5 (19... Ndc4 $5 20. Qg2 $44) 20. Nxb5 cxb5 21. Bf5 $1 Bxf5 22. Nxf5 Qg5+ 23. Qxg5 hxg5 24. Rc1 $1 $14 {.}) 19. Qc1 Bxg4 { Black had no option; otherwise White would have succeeded playing e4 for free!} 20. b3 {(D) [#]} Rad8 $6 ({Black decided to sacrifice a piece for some pawns, as he didn't like his position after} 20... Na3 21. e5 Be6 (21... Qb4 $2 22. Qf4 Be6 23. Re3 $1 $16) 22. Nce4 $44 {.}) 21. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qf6 {(D) [#] } ({Black preferred to preserve queens on the board, pondering on the weak white king. He could also opt for} 22... Qa3 23. Bxc4 Qxc1 24. Rxc1 Nxc4 25. bxc4 Rxd4 26. c5 $14 {, where his healthy pawn structure can be helpful to hold this endgame.}) 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1 {(D) [#] White got a piece for three pawns (the c4 will fall) and he still holds the initiative; his position is preferable.} Rfe8 $5 ({Accurate, as the 'greedy'} 25... Qxc4 $6 {would allow White a nice initiative after} 26. Rg1 $1 Kh7 (26... Qd4 $2 27. Re4 Qd2 28. Qa1 $1 $18) 27. f6 g6 28. Re7 $16 {.}) 26. f6 $1 {(D) [#] A good lesson to learn from. As the extra piece might not prove enough, White creates weaknesses on the opponent king, hoping to benefit from his extra piece in a potential attack.} Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxc4 (27... g6 {allows} 28. Qe7 {, planning Ne4 and/or c5, Nd6.}) 28. fxg7 {Black's king is weakened but on the other hand a couple of pawns are exchanged as well, which generally favours Black in his way to the draw.} Rd6 $1 {(D) [#]} 29. Rg1 $2 ({Quite similar with the game but forceful was} 29. Qe8+ $1 Kxg7 30. Rf3 Rf6 31. Qe5 Qe6 32. Rg3+ Kh7 33. Qb8 Rg6 34. Rxg6 Kxg6 35. Qxa7 {.}) 29... Rg6 30. Qe5 {(D) [#]} Qe6 $2 ({Black didn't get his chances here. With} 30... Qd3 $1 {he would draw; in most of the variations with perpetual check on the squares f3 and f1.}) 31. Qb8+ Kxg7 32. Qxa7 Qc4 33. Qe3 {White won a pawn and the duo queen + knight will damage the black king. I do not think that Black can survive from here on.} b5 34. a3 c5 { (D) [#] Black must try to create counterplay with a passed queenside pawn, but he never even comes close.} 35. Ne4 $6 {(D) [#]} ({It looks like better was} 35. Qe5+ $1 Kh7 36. Re1 Qd3 37. Qe3 $16 {.}) 35... f5 $2 ({An awful move! Black had to opt for} 35... b4 $1 36. axb4 cxb4 37. Rxg6+ fxg6 (37... Kxg6 $2 38. Qg3+ $18) 38. Nd2 Qd5+ 39. Kg1 Qd6 {, where it will not be easy at all for White to prevail, although of course he has the upper hand.}) 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Nxc5 {A valuable pawn felled and the rest is quite easy.} Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3 Qd1 {(D) [#]} 41. Qe8+ Kf6 ({Black tries to avoid a queen exchange:} 41... Kg5 42. Ne6+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ $18 {or}) (41... Kg7 42. Ne6+ Kf6 43. Qd8+ $18 {.}) 42. Nd7+ Kg5 ({Or} 42... Kg7 43. Qf8+ Kh7 44. Qxf5+ Kg7 45. Qf8+ Kh7 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. Ne5 $18 {.}) 43. Qg8+ (43. Qg8+ {Black resigned, as after} Kf4 (43... Kh5 44. Nf6#) 44. Qg3+ Ke4 45. Nf6+ Kd4 46. Qd6+ {he loses his queen.}) 1-0 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.21"] [Round "4"] [White "Li, Chao b"] [Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E12"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [BlackElo "2711"] [Annotator "A. Silver"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. d4 {(00)} Nf6 {(07)} 2. c4 {(00)} e6 {( 00:07)} 3. Nf3 {(00)} b6 {(09)} 4. a3 {(12)} Bb7 {(46)} 5. Nc3 {(17)} d5 {(08)} 6. cxd5 {( 00:12)} Nxd5 {(07)} 7. e3 {(11)} g6 {(02:22)} 8. h4 {(25)} Bg7 {(05:51) Clearly 8... h4 caught Tomashevsky by surprise, and he spend 6 minutes here and then 34 a couple of moves later. This still follows several notable games, with names such as Wang Hao, Wang Yue, Morozevich and more. h4 is very much a fighting move, so he knew without question that the quick draws on some of the boards around him were not going be his tale of the day.} 9. h5 {(32)} Nd7 {(01:32)} 10. Bd3 { (48)} Nxc3 {(34:10) 34 minutes spent on this move, though still following two significant games in the databases.} 11. bxc3 {(35)} e5 {(07)} 12. e4 {(53)} Qe7 {(34)} 13. h6 {(00:21) This is the novelty, and also the top enigne choice. Since White played quikcly up til now and continues to do so, it is probably safe to say this is all well into Li Chao's preparation. The novelty is quite interesting, and not nly attacks the dark squares, but really disrupts Black's piece coordination. Placing his bishop on f6 was probably the last thing he had planned here.} (13. O-O O-O 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. a4 a6 16. Bc4 c6 17. h6 Bf6 18. Ba3 c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qb3 Re7 22. Rab1 Bc6 23. Red1 Rb8 24. Bd5 Be8 25. c4 Rc7 26. Ra1 Kf8 27. Qb2 a5 28. Rd3 Kg8 29. Rb3 Ra7 30. Ne1 Qd4 31. Qa2 Be7 32. Nf3 Qc5 33. Nxe5 Bg5 34. Ng4 Qd4 35. c5 Kf8 36. c6 f5 37. Rf3 Bf7 38. Ne3 fxe4 39. Rd1 Qc5 40. Bxe4 Bxh6 41. Rd7 Rxd7 42. cxd7 Qc1+ 43. Kh2 {1-0 (43) Andreikin,D (2706)-Karjakin,S (2762) Nizhnij Novgorod 2013}) 13... Bf6 {(34)} 14. O-O {(11)} O-O {(01:27)} 15. Re1 {(14)} Rfd8 {(06:43)} 16. Be3 {(13:16)} Rac8 {(06:23)} 17. Qe2 {(15:04)} Re8 {(10:58)} 18. Qa2 {(15:55)} c6 {(15:35)} 19. a4 {(04:51)} Rc7 {(09]} 20. Rad1 {(01:07)} Bc8 {(06)} 21. Bc4 {(05:25)} Rf8 {(03:17)} 22. Bc1 {(06:58)} (22. d5 {was possible already and very strong.} Qd8 (22... cxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nd2) 23. d6 Rb7 24. Rb1 { Keeping Black's pieces in check by preventing the ...b5 break. Black's postion is best described as awful with the pieces and pawns in disarray.}) 22... Bh8 { (06:37)} 23. Bb3 {(11:38)} a6 {(04:00)} 24. Bc4 {(01:42)} Bf6 {(02:16)} 25. d5 {(07:59)} cxd5 {(02:40)} 26. Ba3 {(25)} Nc5 {(00:49)} 27. exd5 {(06)} Qd6 { (04:00)} 28. Nd2 $1 {(00:21)} Bf5 {(23) Black is more or less forced to abandon the a6 pawn.} (28... Qd8 {After a move such as} 29. d6 Rb7 (29... Rd7 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. Ne4 Bg5 32. Bd5 Bxh6 33. Bc6 Bg7 34. Qd5 $18) 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. Ne4 Bf5 32. Qd2 Bxe4 33. Rxe4 a5 34. Qd5) 29. Bxa6 {(45)} Ra8 {(01:33)} 30. Bb5 {(58)} Qd8 {(04)} 31. Bc6 {(06:42)} (31. d6 $1 Qxd6 32. Nc4 Qe6 33. Rd6 Qe7 ) 31... Nxa4 {(01:26)} 32. Bxa8 {(22)} (32. Qb3 {Stronger was} Ra6 33. Nc4 Nc5 34. Bxc5 bxc5 35. Nxe5 Qf8 36. Nxg6 $1 Qxh6 (36... hxg6 37. Re8) 37. d6) 32... Nxc3 {(12)} 33. Qb3 {(00:04)} Qxa8 {(01:09)} 34. d6 {(05:35)} Rc6 {( 01)} 35. Ra1 {(02:51)} Qc8 {(19)} 36. Bb4 {(52)} Be6 {(57)} 37. Qa3 {(01:04)} e4 {(41)} 38. Qa8 {( 01:13)} Ne2+ {(36)} 39. Kf1 {(01:20)} (39. Rxe2 $4 {would be a blunder after} Bxa1 40. Qxc8+ (40. Qxa1 $2 Rc1+) 40... Rxc8 41. Nxe4 Rc4 42. Re1 Bb2 $11) 39... e3 {(26)} 40. Ne4 {(00)} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.20"] [Round "3"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2692"] [Annotator "Efstratios Grivas"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] [EventCountry "UAE"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 {(D) [#] Richard Rapport is already a great player with an excellent tactical ability. But his 'refusal' to follow 'decent' theoretical lines will obviously help him when facing less strong players but it will damage him when facing the elite world. This game is no exception. In this game he chose the 'Chigorin Defence', which he has previously played this system 16 times, scoring +5 / =3 / -8, which is not exactly encouraging...} 3. Nf3 ({A good win by R.Rapport went by} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. dxe5 Bb4 7. Bd2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Ba5 9. e3 O-O 10. Qa4 Bb6 11. Qf4 Qe7 12. h4 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Qc4+ Kh8 15. Bd3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Ng5 Ne5 18. Qe4 Qd7 19. O-O Re8 20. Qc2 h6 21. Ne4 Rh5 22. Ng3 Rxh4 23. Rad1 Rf8 24. Bc1 Qg4 25. Rd5 Qg5 26. Qe2 c6 27. Rd4 Rh1+ 28. Kxh1 Bxd4 29. f3 Bb6 30. Ne4 Qh5+ 31. Kg1 Bc7 32. Kf2 Qh2 33. Ke1 Rd8 34. Bd2 Nd3+ 35. Kd1 Qe5 36. g4 Qb5 37. Qg2 Nb2+ 38. Kc2 Nc4 39. Bc1 Rd5 40. g5 Na5 41. Bd2 Qd3+ {0-1 Aronian,L-Rapport,R Novi Sad 2016. But obviously now his opponent is 'more' prepared.}) ({When I was still playing professionally, I used to go with} 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 {, winning nearly all my official games and numerous blitz games (I lost many too!) vs the Serbian GM Igor Miladinovic, a great fan of this system! Well, all these were already happened in the previous century - time is passing so quickly that I have started to forget most of them! But enough with memories!}) 3... Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 5. gxf3 ({The more positional system here is with} 5. dxc6 Bxc6 6. Nc3 e6 7. e4 Bb4 8. f3 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qh5 10. Be2 O-O-O 11. Be3 $14 {Granda Zuniga,J-Morozevich,A Amsterdam 1995. But H. Nakamura is not minding the 'wild' positions as well!}) 5... Qxd5 6. e3 e5 ({ The principal continuation.} 6... e6 {is passive:} 7. Nc3 Qh5 8. f4 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 O-O-O 10. Bd2 Nce7 11. Rc1 c6 12. b4 Nf6 13. b5 h6 14. Bg2 Kb8 15. bxc6 Nxc6 16. Rb1 Kc8 17. Ke2 g5 18. f5 Bd6 19. Rhc1 Bb8 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Na4 { 1-0 Miladinovic,I-Rapport,J Belgrade 2006.}) 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 { (D) [#] Let's take stock of what has happened so far. Black has given-up his bishop pair and has enforced White's centre to nearly the maximum. Based on the 'old' concepts, White should have a winning position already. But things are not so simple; Black is arguing that his development, king safety and active play (White's centre is strong but vulnerable) are quite satisfactory compensating factors. Playing White or Black here is a matter of taste and must be based on how deep you understand the complicated positions...} Qd7 ({ R.Rapport had already played the more common} 9... Qd6 {:} 10. Rb1 O-O-O 11. Qb3 b6 12. Qxf7 Kb8 13. Qc4 Qf6 14. Bg2 Nge7 15. f4 $14 {Hammer,J-Rapport,R Reykjavik 2015. Note that Black is obliged to move his queen, otherwise White will play c4 and d5 with a very pleasant position.}) 10. Rb1 ({Probably best. Alternatives are} 10. Qb3 Nge7 11. Qxb7 O-O 12. Qb1 Rfe8 13. Qd3 exd4 14. cxd4 Nf5 $44 {Carron,J-Miralles,G Switzerland 2010 and}) (10. f4 $5 exf4 11. e4 Nf6 12. Qf3 O-O 13. Bh3 Qe7 14. e5 Rad8 15. O-O Nd5 16. Rab1 $44 {Boehmer, C-Traudes,W Germany 2008.}) 10... O-O-O ({The text is considered to be 'dangerous'. More common continuations are} 10... b6 11. Bg2 Nge7 12. f4 exf4 13. e4 O-O 14. Qf3 Rae8 15. Bxf4 Ng6 16. O-O Nxf4 17. Qxf4 Ne7 18. Rfe1 $14 { Volodin,A-Sklyarov,D Finland 2010}) ({and} 10... Rb8 11. f4 exf4 12. e4 Nf6 13. Qf3 $14 {Kovar,V-Novotny,M Czechia 2010.}) 11. Bg2 {(D) [#]} Nge7 ({A novelty which sacrifices (blunders?) a pawn. Previously} 11... f5 12. Qa4 Nge7 13. O-O Kb8 14. f4 exf4 15. exf4 $14 {Evstigneev,S-Kravetsky,B ICCF Email 2013, had been played.}) 12. Qb3 $1 {White picks up the challenge!} b6 13. Qxf7 Rhf8 14. Qc4 Kb8 {(D) [#] Black has compensation for the sacrificed pawn, based on the weakness of the white king but the problem is that he is depending only on piece-play; no pawn break is available, so this fact limits his options.} 15. O-O g5 (15... Ng6 {leads to an endgame where only White has chances:} 16. f4 Na5 17. Qb5 exf4 $1 18. Qxd7 (18. Qxa5 $2 Rf5 $1 $17) 18... Rxd7 19. Rb5 Nc4 20. Bc1 Re7 21. Rh5 h6 22. Bd5 $14 {. Obviously this is not what Black wished for when he choose this opening...}) 16. Rb5 {(D) [#]} ({White goes for extreme complications.} 16. Kh1 {is an interesting prophylactic move. A possible continuation could be} Ng6 17. f4 $1 {(the typical move in this position as the reader has already noticed)} Na5 18. Qa6 exf4 19. exf4 Nxf4 20. Rb5 $1 Nc6 (20... Nxg2 $2 21. Rxa5 $16) 21. Bxf4 gxf4 (21... Rxf4 22. Rd5 Qe8 23. Rxg5 $16) 22. Rd5 Qf7 23. Rxd8+ Nxd8 24. Bf3 {and White surely has the most preferable position.}) 16... Rf6 $6 {(D) [#]} ({Black had to find a difficult series of move, starting with} 16... Nf5 $1 17. f4 $1 (17. dxe5 Nh4 $1 18. e6 Qd6 19. Bc1 Ne5 20. Rxe5 Qxe5 21. Ba3 c5 22. Bxc5 $1 Rfe8 23. e7 Rc8 24. Bd4 Qxe7 25. Qd3 $13) 17... e4 $1 18. Bxe4 (18. Rxf5 $5 Rxf5 19. Bxe4 Rf6 20. Kh1 $44) 18... Nd6 19. Qxc6 Nxe4 20. Qxd7 (20. Qxe4 $2 Qxb5 $17) 20... Rxd7 21. Be1 gxf4 22. exf4 Rg7+ 23. Kh1 Rxf4 $44 {.}) 17. e4 $1 h6 (17... exd4 18. Bxg5 Rg6 19. Bh4 d3 20. Rd1 {is simply bad for Black. White will place his bishop on g3 and then push his central pawns, achieving full domination.}) 18. dxe5 $1 Na5 $6 ({The only way for Black to fight was with} 18... Rff8 {, although after} 19. Be3 Ng6 20. e6 Qe8 21. a4 {, his position is not attractive.}) 19. Qe2 ({Clearer is} 19. Qd4 $1 Rg6 20. Rxa5 (20. Qxd7 Rxd7 21. Bc1 Nc4 22. f4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Nd2 24. Rc1 Nxe4 25. Bg3 $16) 20... bxa5 21. Be3 Qxd4 22. cxd4 Rb6 23. d5 Rb2 24. f4 $16 {.}) 19... Rc6 20. Be3 Ng6 ({What to do? If} 20... Nc4 {, then} 21. Rd5 Qe8 22. Rd4 $1 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 $16 {.}) 21. Rd5 Qe7 22. Rfd1 $1 {(D) [#] White's pieces are now harmoniously placed and his won material will tell.} Rf8 23. Qb5 Qe6 (23... Nf4 24. Bxf4 gxf4 25. Qb4 Re8 26. e6 $1 Rxe6 27. Qxe7 R6xe7 28. Rf5 $18 {.}) 24. Rd8+ ({Even better was} 24. Qa6 $1 Nb7 25. R1d4 Ne7 26. Ra4 Nc8 27. c4 {and Black is busted.}) 24... Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Kb7 26. Qd5 ({Good enough but} 26. Bf1 $1 {was curtains:} Nc4 27. Bxc4 Rxc4 28. Re8 Qc6 29. Qxc6+ Rxc6 30. e6 $18 {.}) 26... Nc4 {(D) [#]} 27. Qxe6 $2 ({For the last few moves White is not accurate, allowing Black to survive. Again clear was} 27. Rg8 $1 Ngxe5 28. f4 Qxd5 29. exd5 Rg6 30. Re8 gxf4 31. Bxf4 Nd3 32. Bg3 $18 {.}) 27... Rxe6 28. Bh3 Rxe5 29. Bc8+ Kc6 30. Bd7+ Kb7 31. Bc8+ Kc6 32. Bd7+ Kb7 33. Bd4 Ra5 {(D) [#] Now Black has counterplay and White has to re-win the game...} 34. Bc8+ Kc6 35. Bd7+ Kb7 36. Bc8+ Kc6 37. Be6 $1 {White repeated moves to gain time on the clock and now he is back to the right track!} Kb5 $2 ({Black simply blunders. He had to opt for } 37... Nce5 38. Bd5+ Kb5 39. Be3 c5 40. Bb3 c4 41. a4+ Kc6 42. Bd1 {, when White stands better but the win is far from clear.}) 38. Bd7+ $2 (38. a4+ $1 { was a good tactical shot, overlooked by both opponents:} Rxa4 39. Rd5+ c5 40. Bd7+ Ka5 41. Bxa4 Kxa4 42. Bg7 $16 {.}) ({White could also play more simply with} 38. Rd5+ c5 39. Bd7+ Ka6 40. a4 {, retaining a nice plus.}) 38... c6 { Now Black is full back in the game.} 39. Be8 Nf4 {(D) [#]} 40. h4 ({Here the computers indicate a very interesting and far from human line:} 40. Rd5+ $5 Nxd5 41. exd5 Ka6 42. dxc6 Ne5 43. Kg2 Rd5 44. Kg3 Rd8 45. Bxe5 Rxe8 46. f4 b5 47. Kf3 h5 48. Ke4 gxf4 49. c7 Kb7 50. Kxf4 {(D) [#] I can't really say what's going on, as this position can be analysed for hours without a concrete conclusion, but I can say that White can play for two results (win - draw) while Black only for one (draw).}) 40... Nd2 $1 41. Kh2 {(D) [#]} gxh4 ({ I do not feel like giving a question mark to the text but I think that it was time for Black to get a draw with the obvious} 41... Nf1+ 42. Kg1 Nd2 43. Kh2 { . I am sure that R.Rapport noticed it, but he believed that he could go for more...}) 42. Be3 $1 {(D) [#]} Nxf3+ $6 ({Black tries to complicate matters, but objectively} 42... Nf1+ $1 {was obligatory:} 43. Kh1 Nxe3 44. fxe3 Ne2 45. Rd5+ Kc4 46. Rxa5 bxa5 47. Bxc6 Nxc3 48. Kg2 Kc5 49. Bd5 Nd1 $1 (49... Nxd5 $2 50. exd5 Kxd5 51. a4 $18) 50. Kh3 Nxe3 51. Bb3 Kd4 52. Kxh4 Ke5 53. Kh5 Ng2 54. Kxh6 Kf4 {, where the win (if any at all) is far from obvious...}) 43. Kh1 { (D) [#]} Nh3 ({The other option was} 43... Ne6 44. Rd5+ Nc5 (44... Ka6 $6 45. Rxa5+ Kxa5 46. Bxc6 $18) 45. Rd6 Rxa2 46. Bxc6+ Ka5 47. Kg2 $16 {.}) 44. Bh5 ({ A human reaction again.} 44. Rd5+ $5 {is recommended by computers:} Kc4 45. Rxa5 bxa5 46. Bxc6 Ne5 $1 (46... Kxc3 47. e5 $1 Nxe5 48. Bg2 Ng5 49. f4 Nd3 50. fxg5 hxg5 51. Bxg5 Kb2 52. Bf1 Nf2+ (52... Nb4 53. a4) 53. Kg2 Ne4 54. Bd8 Kxa2 55. Bxa5 {and White will win the two black pawns, winning the notorious ending of two bishops vs knight!}) 47. Bd5+ Kd3 (47... Kxc3 $2 48. Kg2 Ng5 49. f4 $18) 48. Bd4 Ng6 49. a4 Nhf4 50. Bc6 {and White's bishops should slowly prevail.}) 44... Nxf2+ $6 ({The only way to continue the fight was with} 44... Nhg5 { , where White would have to find some accurate moves:} 45. Kg2 Ne1+ 46. Kf1 h3 $1 47. Be2+ Ka4 48. Rd6 h5 49. Bxh5 Ka3 $1 (49... h2 50. Bd1+ Ka3 51. Rh6 Nef3 52. Bxf3 Nxf3 53. Ke2 Ng1+ 54. Kd3 Nf3 55. Bf4 Kxa2 56. Ke3 Ne5 57. Bxe5 Rxe5 58. Rxh2 Kb3 59. f4 $18) 50. Rh6 Ng2 51. Bc1+ Kxa2 52. Bg4 Kb3 53. Bxh3 Ra1 ( 53... Nxh3 $2 54. Rxh3 Ra1 55. Kxg2 Rxc1 56. e5 $18) 54. Kxg2 Rxc1 55. Bf5 $16 {.}) 45. Bxf2 Rxa2 46. Bxf3 Rxf2 {(D) [#]} 47. Rd3 $1 {And now White wins.} Kc4 48. Re3 Rd2 49. e5 Rd7 50. e6 Re7 51. Bxc6 a5 (51... Kc5 52. Bd7 a5 53. Kg2 $18 {.}) 52. Re4+ Kxc3 53. Bb5 $1 {White has succeeded to block all black pawns and now his king will take over, collecting them.} a4 54. Bxa4 Kd3 55. Re1 { A very difficult game to analyse. There were many mistakes but netherless it was an interesting, fighting and blunderful game (!) between two great players. And above all, a great headache for the commentators; hope they will be not many alike!} 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.24"] [Round "6.7"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2692"] [BlackElo "2671"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "155"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:04:01"] [BlackClock "0:00:21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 Nc6 {"I do not know that line too well." (Rapport)} 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nf3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b6 ({The other way to play it is to go for the weak c4 pawn at once with:} 7... Na5 8. Qa4 b6 9. Ne5 Rb8 10. O-O d6 11. Nc6 Qe8 {as in Moiseenko,A (2648)-Filippov,A (2582) Almaty 2016}) 8. Ne5 { White needs to create threats as quick as possible.} Bb7 9. Bg5 Na5 10. Bxb7 Nxb7 11. Qa4 {A novelty. Previously, White tried to make use of the pin with:} (11. Ng4 d5 ({However, Rapport did not like the consequences of the line:} 11... Nd6 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Bh6 Re8 14. e4 Kh8 15. Qd3 e5 $1 16. f3 f5 $5) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 f5 14. Ne3 {with some advantage for White, Ribic,K (2315) -Brkic,M (2083) Tuzla 2010}) 11... Nd6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd3 {White also managed to spoil the pawn structure of his opponent. But Riazantsev can be satisfied as he managed to trade some pieces and now will be the first to probe the enemy weaknesses.} c5 $5 14. dxc5 bxc5 ({Rapport suggested instead:} 14... Ne4 {with the idea to meet:} 15. c6 {with} Nxc3 ({He believed that} 15... dxc6 16. f3 {should be a bit better for White.}) 16. Qa3 Ne4 17. f3 Nc5 { with approximate equality.}) 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfd1 Ne4 17. Qa3 {Not only defending, but relocating the queen to a better position.} Rfc8 18. Qc1 Kg7 $1 {The best way to meet the opponent's attack. "Now anytime White gives a check with his knight on h5 there will be the strong Kg7-g6 defense." (Rapport) A line which demostrates this, runs} (18... Qa5 19. Qh6 Nxc3 20. Nf4 {and White mates. (Rapport)}) 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Rb3 ({Rapport disliked the endgame after:} 20. Rxb8 Rxb8 21. f3 Nd6 22. Nf4 Nxc4 ({While Riazantsev intended to play:} 22... Ne8 23. Nh5+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Ke7 {when his king is safe and he can look for queenside counterplay.}) 23. Nh5+ Kg6 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. Nxf4+ Kg7 26. Rxd7 { although White seems a bit better here thanks to his more active rook.}) 20... a5 21. Ra3 ({Maybe White could have tried:} 21. f3 Nd6 22. Nf2 {intending Nf2-g4.}) 21... h6 $1 {Once more taking care of his weak kingside squares. Black prepares f6-f5 to cover almost everything there.} 22. f3 Ng5 23. Nf4 f5 24. Qd2 {If the kingside does not work Rapport wants to try through the center. } Rb7 (24... Rd8 25. Qd6 {is definitely weaker for Black.}) 25. Rb3 Rcb8 { Riazantsev sacrifices a pawn. Both players came to the conclusion that Black's chances for a draw are significant after:} (25... Rxb3 26. axb3 Rd8 27. Qd6 Qxd6 28. Rxd6 Kf8 {Now they annalyzed:} 29. Ra6 ({And} 29. Rb6 Ke7 30. Rb5 Ra8 31. Rxc5 a4 {in both cases Black should hold.}) ({However, there is a third option:} 29. Nd3 $5 Ke7 30. Ra6 d6 31. Rxa5 {which looks like a solid advantage for White.}) 29... Rb8 30. Rxa5 Rxb3 31. Rxc5 {and Black should survive.}) 26. Qxd7 $1 ({At first White wanted to go for} 26. h4 $2 {but then he saw the tactics:} Nh3+ $1) 26... Qxd7 27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Rxb8 Rd2 {White's extra pawn is doubled and not seemingly much. It is his activity and the possible play against the black king which makes Riazantsev's defense very tough.} 29. Kf2 ({Better than:} 29. h4 e5 $1 30. Nh5+ Kg6 31. g4 fxg4 32. fxg4 Ne4 {(Rapport)}) 29... Rxa2 30. h4 Nh7 {Now:} (30... e5 31. Nh5+ Kg6 32. g4 fxg4 33. fxg4 Ne4+ 34. Ke3 {is just winning for White. (Rapport)}) 31. Nd3 Ra3 32. Rb7 {Perhaps:} (32. Rb5 Rxc3 33. Rxa5 Rxc4 34. Ne5 {was more precise (Rapport)}) 32... Kg8 33. Rb5 Rxc3 34. Rxc5 a4 35. Ke3 a3 (35... Nf6 $5) 36. Kd4 Rc2 37. Nf4 Nf6 {Riazantsev is correct by pointing the better defense:} ( 37... Nf8 $1 38. Ra5 {But now he suggested:} Ng6 ({Instead Black should find:} 38... Nd7 $1 39. Rxa3 Nb6 $1 {fighting the main enemy-the queenside passer which should lead to a draw.}) 39. Nxg6 fxg6 40. Rxa3 Rxe2 41. Ra7 {which is highly doubtful if it will be draw.}) 38. Ra5 Ra2 39. Kc3 ({Rapport disliked} 39. Ke5 Ne8 (39... Nd7+ {was Black's intention.})) 39... Ra1 40. Kb3 Rg1 41. Rxa3 e5 42. Nd3 {Seemingly better than:} (42. Nd5 Nxd5 43. Ra8+ Kg7 44. cxd5 Re1 {with chances for a draw.}) 42... e4 {Riazantsev is trying to trade as many pawns as possible.} 43. Ne5 Rxg3 44. Ra8+ Kg7 45. Ra7 exf3 ({After} 45... Kg8 46. c5 exf3 47. Nxf3 $1 {is strong and wins (Rapport)} ({Rather than} 47. exf3 Ng4 48. c6 Nxe5 49. c7 Rxf3+)) 46. exf3 Ng4 {The last chance to catch the c5 passer, but now the game enters highly favourable rook endgame for White.Or, to be more precise-won endgame.} 47. Rxf7+ Kg8 48. Rxf5 Nxe5 49. Rxe5 Rxf3+ 50. Kb4 Rf4 51. h5 ({None of the players mentioned the simple:} 51. Kb5 Rxh4 52. c5 {which wins fast for White. Everything that he had to fight for would be achieved in this line- in particular, the black pawn is fixed on the h6 square. }) 51... Kf7 52. Kb5 (52. Ra5 Rh4 $1 {should be holdable for Black. (Rapport)}) 52... Kf6 53. Rd5 Ke6 54. Kc5 Ke7 55. Rd4 {Otherwise there is no progress.} Rf5+ 56. Kb6 Rxh5 57. c5 Rh1 58. c6 {It is obvious that Black will have to sacrifice his rook for this pawn sooner or later. The question is if he can survive the arising rook versus pawn endgame. If he wants to have chances he needs to support the pawn on at least the fifth rank. Otherwise the king is cut along the fifth and the pawn cannot move.} Ke6 ({After} 58... Rb1+ 59. Ka7 (59. Kc7 h5 60. Rd5 h4 61. Rh5 Rb4 62. Kc8) 59... Rc1 60. Kb7 Kf6 61. Rd5 { wins for White.}) 59. Rc4 $1 {The rook is ideally placed to support the pawn. The rest is relatively easy.} ({Thet both thought it will be a draw after:} 59. c7 Rb1+ 60. Ka7 Rc1 61. Kb7 Kf5 {But here is the strong:} 62. Kb6 $1 {with the threat Rd4-d5+c5 and the bridge idea allows White a win.}) 59... Rb1+ 60. Ka7 Ra1+ 61. Kb8 Rb1+ 62. Kc8 h5 ({Or} 62... Kf5 63. c7 Rg1 64. Rc5+ Kg4 65. Kb7 { and the pawn promotes.}) 63. c7 Ke7 64. Rh4 Rb5 65. Rh1 Ke6 66. Re1+ Kf6 67. Rc1 Ke7 68. Rc4 {Rapport repeated the position once and then found the winning idea.} Rb1 (68... Ke8 69. Re4+ Kf7 70. Kd7 {wins as well.}) 69. Rc5 h4 70. Rh5 Rb4 (70... Rh1 71. Rb5 {followed by Kc8-b7 and wins.}) 71. Rh6 {The pawn is tamed, while the white pawn is still very costly for Black.} Ke8 72. Rh7 Rc4 73. Kb7 Rb4+ 74. Kc6 Rc4+ 75. Kd6 Kf8 76. Kd5 Rc1 77. c8=Q+ Rxc8 78. Rh8+ 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.24"] [Round "6"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Li, Chao b"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2720"] [Annotator "A. Silver"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {(0)} e5 {(13)} 2. Nf3 {(0)} Nf6 {(00)} 3. Nxe5 {(0)} d6 {(11)} 4. Nf3 { ( 00)} Nxe4 {(6)} 5. d4 {(4)} d5 {(9)} 6. Bd3 {(7)} Bd6 {(42)} 7. O-O {(9)} O-O {( 06)} 8. c4 {(5)} c6 {(8)} 9. Nc3 {(6)} Nxc3 {(01:07)} 10. bxc3 {(6)} dxc4 { (10)} 11. Bxc4 {(07)} Bf5 {(32)} 12. Bg5 {(8) The novelty, at least at master level or greater. An odd one at first sight as it forces the queen away to a better square it would normally do anyhow, and invites an attack to be evicted. However, it will be clear the Russian has this well in mind and plays very quickly.} Qc7 {(2:33)} 13. Re1 {(8)} h6 {(4:34)} 14. Nh4 {(12)} Bh7 {[#] (5:36) } 15. Bxh6 $1 {(17) Not only strong, but still well part of Nepomniachtchi's preparation as the respective time per move shows.} Bxh2+ {(26:17) Unpleasant as the move came, Li Chao spends 26 minutes no doubt trying to see what trouble he had landed in, and comes up with a good reply.} ({The obvious question is what prevents him from just taking with} 15... gxh6 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Bxh2+ (18... f6 19. Re6 {This is the main computer line, and considering how quickly White was playing, one can be sure he knew it well and had it prepared.} Nd7 20. Rae1 Nb6 21. Bd3 {and now the attack is overwhelming. The immediate threat is Re7!} Qd7 22. Qh5 {and Black must lose material to save the king from an immediate demise.}) (18... Nd7 $2 19. Bd3 Nf6 20. Qxf6+ {etc.}) 19. Kh1 Qf4 20. Qh3 {and the Bh2 is trapped. However, as will be clear, this was still the best path for Black.}) 16. Kh1 {(26)} Bf4 { (11) The fatal imprecision.} ({Best was} 16... gxh6 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 Qf4 20. Qh3 {and it transposes to the note above.}) 17. Bxg7 $1 { (16:10)} Kxg7 {( 24)} 18. Qg4+ {(2:52)} Kh8 {(14:07)} 19. Nf5 {(37)} Bxf5 { (2:23)} 20. Qxf5 {(1:48)} Qd6 {(3:03)} 21. g3 {(17:18)} Bh6 {(2:05)} 22. Kg2 { (23) With the pbvious idea of Rh1 attacking on the h-file.} b5 {(28:42)} 23. Bb3 {(18)} Qg6 {(52)} 24. Qxg6 {(59)} fxg6 {(58)} 25. Re7 {(6)} g5 {(25)} 26. Re6 {(04:53)} Kg7 {(2:39)} 27. Rh1 {(1:12)} Rh8 {( 28)} 28. Re7+ {(12)} Kg6 { (1:09)} 29. Bc2+ {(6)} ({It is mate in six after} 29. Bc2+ Kf6 30. Rhe1 g4 31. R1e6+ Kg5 32. Rg6+ Kh5 33. Re5+ Bg5 34. Rexg5#) 1-0 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.24"] [Round "6"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Tiger Hillarp-Persson"] [PlyCount "123"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 {Who is tricking who?} d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 { Both players have the Najdorf on their repertoire so a more advanced theoretical fight than what we are to witness is hard to imagine. For the poor guy who is to comment on it it's a complete nightmare. What are the odds that I will get even half of it right? For those of you who find no interest in theory I recommend you to skip to move... 31!} 6. Be3 {Nakamura hasn't played this for some time, so if Grischuk expected the Najorf, it is still unlikely that he managed to guess the line.} Ng4 {Both players tend to favour this with the Black pieces.} (6... e6 7. f3 (7. Be2 {leads to the Scheveningen system.}) 7... b5 8. Qd2 {leads to freakishly complicated lines where memory is a key factor.}) (6... e5 {is the classical Najdorf treatment, when White can either go for the solid} 7. Nf3 ({or play} 7. Nb3 {, when there is a great likelyhood for opposite side castling and wild attacks.})) 7. Bg5 {White doesn't have much of a choice when it comes to moving the bishop.} (7. Bc1 Nf6 {is back to square one}) ({and} 7. Bd2 {is a non-move that leaves Black with the better chances after} Qb6 $1) 7... h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 {This has been considered the most critical move for a long time, but lately White has had some success with other moves:} (10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Nb3 {scores well, but this is one of these (majority) cases where one must see past the statistics. After} b5 {Black has been doing well. The latest game went} 12. h4 b4 13. Nd5 Bxb2 14. Rb1 gxh4 15. Bxh4 Bg7 16. Rc1 {A novelty compared to earlier games.} Nge5 $6 ( 16... Be6) 17. f3 $6 (17. c3 $1) 17... Be6 {with mutual chances, in Shevchenko, K (2450)-Khismatullin,D (2635) 13th Moscow Open A 2017}) (10. Be2 {seems quite challenging too:} h5 (10... Ne5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Nbc6 13. Nd5 {is similar to our game, but Be2 should be a better move to have played than h3.}) 11. Bxg4 hxg4 12. O-O $5 {has scored two wins lately by Bartosz Socko, but the last one seems to have had little to do with the opening:} Nc6 13. Nf5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5 15. Qxg4 f6 16. f4 Bxf5 17. exf5 gxf4 18. Qxf4 Qxc3 19. Rae1 Kd7 (19... Kf7) 20. Qe4 Rag8 $6 (20... Qd4+ $15) 21. Re3 Qd4 22. Qe6+ {and the tables were turning, in Socko,B (2595)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2755) World Rapid 2015.}) 10... Ne5 ({Black can also play} 10... Nf6 {, but Black has struggled to find a good reply to} 11. Qf3 {The latest game saw} Qb6 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Be2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Ne5 16. Qa3 Rb8 17. h4 g4 18. f4 $36 {, Schmaltz,R (2485)-Meissner, F (2255) 26th Erfurt Master Open 2016}) 11. Nf5 {It's interesting to see that Nakamura keeps to the main line here.} ({The other option is} 11. Be2 Nbc6 12. Nb3 b5 13. a4 b4 14. Nd5 {, when} e6 15. Ne3 Bb7 16. Qd2 Qc7 17. O-O-O O-O-O 18. Kb1 Kb8 19. f3 {turned out to be too good for White, in Ivanchuk,V (2715) -Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2015. The ball seem to be in Black's court here, but considering Nakamura's choice he seems to have found a way to throw it back into White's.}) 11... Bxf5 12. exf5 Nbc6 (12... Qa5 13. Qd5 $1 $14 {Spasov,V-Kempinski,R/Leon 2001}) (12... Nbd7 {The latest word here was:} 13. Be2 Rc8 14. O-O Nb6 15. Rb1 O-O 16. f4 Nec4 17. fxg5 Ne3 18. Qd3 Nxf1 19. gxh6 {which left White with a strong initative for the exchange, in Najer,E (2680)-Artemiev,V (2665) TCh-RUS Men 2016.}) 13. Nd5 {White is planning to play c3 and thus dissolve the pressure along the h8-a1 diagonal.} e6 (13... O-O {has almost only been played by engines, so I am suspicious about its logic. After} 14. Be2 e6 15. Ne3 d5 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. O-O {Black's acitivity doesn't quite make up for the weak central pawns.}) 14. fxe6 {White can postpone this move, but sooner or later it has to be done.} fxe6 15. Ne3 Qa5+ {This move has already been played no less than 200 times.} (15... O-O 16. Be2 Qe7 17. O-O Rad8 18. Bh5 $1 {and with the bishop out of the way and Black's kingside pawns robbed of the dynamism, White was better, in Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)-Anand,V (2788) San Luis 2005.}) 16. c3 Nf3+ $5 {According to my database, this move was first played by the relatively unknown player Rodriquez Ibran in 2003. Some years later it caught on and became the main line.} (16... d5 17. Be2 O-O {is basically a worse version of 15...0-0, since the queen is badly placed on a5, whereas c3 helps White.}) 17. Qxf3 Bxc3+ {This is the whole idea behind Black's 16:th move.} 18. Kd1 ({Not} 18. bxc3 Qxc3+ 19. Kd1 Qxa1+ 20. Kd2 Qxa2+ 21. Nc2 Qxc2+ $1 {when Black gets a clear advantage.}) 18... Qa4+ (18... Bxb2 $6 19. Qe4 $1 Bxa1 20. Qxe6+ Kd8 (20... Ne7 21. Bxd6) 21. Qxd6+ Ke8 22. Qe6+ Ne7 (22... Kd8 23. Bd3 $16) 23. Bd6 Qa4+ 24. Nc2 Qd7 25. Qxe7+ Qxe7 26. Bxe7 Kxe7 27. Nxa1 $16) 19. Nc2 Bxb2 {The engine now states: "0.00", which ought to mean that the position is absolutely equal. It could also be the engine-equivalent of "I have no idea". At a dinner with my chess club in Malmö, Georg Meier said something that caught my imagination: "Eventually the engines will be so strong that it makes no sense to use them". He meant that if chess is indeed a draw with best play and the engines come to see that clearly, then most positions in the 0.01-0.5 spectra (and perhaps higher) will be evaluated as precisely "0.00".} 20. Rc1 $1 {This has proved to be the most challenging move.} ({An early encounter went} 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21. axb3 Bxa1 22. Nxa1 Ke7 {with an unclear game, in Svidler,P (2738)-Topalov,V (2788) San Luis 2005.}) 20... Rc8 {Grischuk took 22 minutes to play this move, which he has played before himself. Nakamura continued to blitz out his moves.} (20... Bxc1 21. Qf6 Kd7 22. Kxc1 Qxa2 23. Bd3 {gave White the advantage, in Svidler,P (2735)-Grischuk,A (2726) Mexico City 2007. A game that have been expertly commented upon in Chessbase Magazine, by Mihail Marin.}) 21. Bd3 Rf8 {Now we are "down to" only about a hundred games in the databases.} ({If} 21... Bxc1 { then} 22. Qf6 {is annoying. For instance} Kd7 23. Kxc1 Nb4 24. Qg7+ Kc6 25. Nxb4+ Qxb4 26. Kd1 $14 {Almeida,D (2341)-Piccoli,F (2335) ICCF 2012}) 22. Qh5+ ({The lines after} 22. Qg4 {become long and forced. I honestly doesn't understand them:} Nd4 23. Re1 Qxa2 24. Re4 Bxc1 25. Rxd4 Bf4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Rxf4 gxf4 28. Qg8+ Kd7 29. Qf7+ Kd8 30. Qf8+ Kd7 31. Qxf4 Qd5 32. Qf7+ Kd8 33. Ke2 Rxc2+ 34. Bxc2 Qe5+ {and after another 11 checks the game Karjakin,S (2760) -Grischuk,A (2771) Moscow 2010, ended in a draw.}) 22... Ke7 (22... Kd7 { has also been played a number of times and if I was to chose a move by instinct here, this would be it. A possible downside is that} 23. Qxh6 Bxc1 ( 23... Qxa2 24. Ke2) 24. Kxc1 Qxa2 25. Rd1 $1 {leaves the king wishing it had gone to d7. Not conclusive though.}) 23. Qxh6 Bxc1 24. Re1 Ne5 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Kxc1 Qa3+ 27. Kd2 Rxc2+ 28. Bxc2 Qb4+ 29. Ke2 Qb5+ 30. Ke1 Qb4+ {This has been played before too, with draw as a result. But instead of taking the draw Nakamura continues:} 31. Kf1 $1 {A novelty and a strong move, that I guess was part of Nakamura's preparation. Black gets to take the bishop on c2, but the ruined pawn structure and the vulnerable position of Black's king gives White plenty of compensation for the slight material deficit.} Qc4+ 32. Kg1 $1 Qxc2 33. Qxg5+ Kf7 34. Qxe5 {Other moves are also possible, but centralizing the queen, while keeping f2 properly protected seems like a good idea.} Qd1+ $6 ({ I believe Black should just grab the pawn on a2, thus getting a passed pawn of his own.} 34... Qxa2 {After} 35. Qc7+ Kg6 36. Qxb7 a5 {it is hard to evaluate the position with precision, but one thing is sure. White is trying to win, while Black is trying to draw. If White is able to find a way to push the h-pawn two steps forward while putting the bishop on e5, then Black will be in trouble. If the engine is to be believed we are - again - at a 0.00 situation, but it doesn't mean a thing for a human. Grischuk's reaction, to bring the queen closer to the defense, is a very natural one.}) 35. Kh2 Qd5 36. Qc7+ Kg8 37. Be5 Rf7 38. Qc3 (38. Qc8+ $5 Rf8 39. Qc3 {looks even stronger. Black's rook is a better defender on the seventh rank.}) 38... Kf8 39. f4 {The last five moves have been a success for White. With the bishop safely installed on e5 it becomes possible to move the kingside pawns forward.} Ke7 40. Qc8 Qc6 41. Qg8 Qe8 42. Qg3 Kd8 43. h4 Rh7 44. Qg5+ Kd7 45. g4 Qc8 46. Qg6 $2 {According to the notes I have, Nakamura thought for more than 20 minutes before playing this move and still he misses the win. I do not think that he missed it because he doesn't calculate well enough, but rather because he is used to calculating almost too well. The result is that he looks for a very forced win with very small margins, when a small mistake in the calculation will upset everything.} ({The rather natural} 46. h5 {seems to set White up for a win. Qg6, followed by h6 and g5, is hanging in the air, so Black must act, now:} Qc2+ 47. Kg3 Qe4 (47... Kc6 48. Qg6) 48. Qg6 Qxg6 49. hxg6 Rh6 50. f5 {and the two passed pawns will win the game for White. Perhaps Nakamura was afraid that Black would get the chance to sacrifice the rook for two pawns and then hold the endgame since the a-pawn is of the wrong colour?! Perhaps there was another reason.} exf5 51. gxf5 Rh1 52. Bd4 {stopping the rook from coming to g1 is the key.} Rc1 53. Kf4 Ke7 54. f6+ Ke6 55. f7 Rf1+ 56. Ke4 Rxf7 57. gxf7 Kxf7 58. Kd5 Ke7 59. Kc5 b5 60. Kb6 Kd7 61. Kxa6 Kc7 62. Be5+ {and Black doesn't reach the corner with the king. Not exactly a conclusive variation, but an indication. It must feel terrible to miss such great chance to win the game.}) 46... Rxh4+ 47. Kg3 Rh1 48. f5 Rg1+ 49. Kh2 Qc2+ {This is another move that could be missed. Now Black holds the draw without much effort.} 50. Kxg1 Qc5+ 51. Kg2 Qxe5 52. Qf7+ Kd6 53. Qf8+ Kd5 54. f6 Qe4+ 55. Kh2 Qxg4 56. Qg7 Qf4+ 57. Kh3 Qf5+ 58. Kh4 Kd6 59. Qg3+ (59. f7 Qf4+ 60. Kh5 Qf5+ 61. Kh6 Qh3+ 62. Kg6 Qf5+ {is also a draw.}) 59... Kd7 60. Qg7+ Kd6 61. Qg3+ Kd7 62. Qg7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2017.02.25"] [Round "7.9"] [White "Salem, A.R. Saleh"] [Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2671"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:21:29"] [BlackClock "0:01:59"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O Bg6 7. c3 h6 8. Na3 { A new useful, semi-waiting move. Its, point according to Salem, is to transfer the knight to the kingside via the route c2-e1(e3)-g2 to help the future attack. In some lines the knight prevents Black's idea of c6-c5 followed by Nb8-c6.} ({Previously} 8. Nbd2 {was tried against Riazantsev in a game which quickly ended peacefully-} Nd7 9. Nb3 Nf5 10. a4 a6 11. a5 Be7 12. g4 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. f4 O-O 15. f5 Bh7 16. Be3 Qe7 17. f6 {1/2-1/2 (17) Leko,P (2693) -Riazantsev,A (2671) Tallinn 2016}) 8... Nf5 9. b3 ({White postpones} 9. Nc2 { because of the aforementioned idea} c5 {followed by Nb8-c6.}) 9... Be7 { Salem was not very sure about the quality of this move. The thing is that he can carry out his typical plan at once with:} 10. g4 Nh4 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. f4 { Now clouds start to gather on the black kingside.} O-O ({White is doing great after:} 12... Be4 13. Bd3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 {(Salem)}) ({Or even better after} 12... f5 13. Bd3 O-O 14. Nc2 {(Salem) followed by Nc2-e3.}) 13. f5 {White managed to perform his main idea as early as on move thirteen. The kingside attack, together with the vulnerable black bishops, spell trouble for Riazantsev.} Bh7 14. Bd3 {The most principled continuation, but two other moves deserved serious consideration:} (14. f6 {to which Black should probably defend by sacrificing the exchange with} gxf6 ({Since} 14... Nd7 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 {might lead to a similar situation as in the lines below.}) 15. Bxh6 fxe5) ({And the patient} 14. Nc2 {bringing the knight into the attack first.}) 14... Nd7 {One mistake is enough to turn the dangerous-looking position into a very difficult one. Salem felt that the critical move is:} (14... f6 $1 { when he duly calculated some beautiful lines:} 15. fxe6 ({Black is OK after} 15. Nc2 fxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. Nd4 exf5 $1 18. Ne6 Qe7 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. Bxf5 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Qxe5 {with a pawn for the exchange and better pawn structure.}) 15... Bxd3 (15... fxe5 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. dxe5 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 Qe7 {looks very promising for White (Salem)}) 16. Qxd3 fxe5 17. Bxh6 $5 ({Here} 17. dxe5 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 Qe7 {is good for Black only.}) 17... e4 18. Qe3 {Now} Qe7 {may lose quickly after} (18... Na6 {is more resilient when after} 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rxf8 Qxf8 21. Rf1 Qe8 $2 ({In this line however Salem missed} 21... Qxf1+ $1 22. Kxf1 Rf8+ 23. Kg1 Nc7 24. e7 Rf3 {when thanks to the blockade Black might not be worse at all.}) 22. Rf7+ Kg6 23. Nc4 $3 ({Not} 23. Qf4 Qxe6 {with the opposite result.}) 23... Qxe6 24. Ne5+ Qxe5 25. dxe5 Kxf7 26. Qh6 {When White is indeed winning thanks to the line that he gave:} Be1 27. Qh7+ Ke6 28. Qf5+ Ke7 29. Qf6+ Kd7 30. Qf7+ {(Salem)}) ({Another excellent defensive idea which the local GM missed was:} 18... gxh6 19. Qxh6 Rf6 $1 20. Qh5 ({Of course not} 20. Qxh4 $4 Rxf1+) 20... Na6 {when the game is more or less dynamically balanced. Say:} 21. Rxf6 Qxf6 22. Rf1 Qg5 23. Qf7+ Kh8 24. Rf5 Qxg4+ 25. Kh1 Qd1+ 26. Rf1 Qg4) 19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 20. Rf1 Qxa3 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rf7+ Kg6 23. Qf4 {and mate (Salem)}) 15. f6 gxf6 $1 {The only idea as after} (15... Bxd3 16. Qxd3 g5 {White has two promising plans: 1) Bring his bishop to f2, trade the one on h4 and play h2-h4 with decisive attack. 2) Bring the knight on g2 and win the pawn on h4. (Salem)}) 16. Bxh6 Bg5 (16... fxe5 {loses to} 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. g5 Bxg5 19. Bxf8 Qxf8 20. Qh5+ {(Salem)}) ({And if} 16... Bxd3 17. Qxd3 fxe5 18. g5 Bxg5 19. Qg3 f6 20. h4 {wins the bishop (Salem)}) 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Bxf8 Qxf8 19. Nc2 fxe5 {For the exchange Black took a pawn and safeguarded his king. White is still better, but the win is far from trivial.} 20. Ne1 ({At first White wanted to go for} 20. h4 Bxh4 21. g5 {but then saw} Kg6 $1 22. Qg4 Bxg5 {it is Black who is better now.}) ({Salem also disliked} 20. dxe5 Nxe5 {followed by Ne5-g6.}) 20... e4 21. Ng2 Qe7 {Missed by White who was hoping for a quick h2-h4.} 22. Qe1 ({Now} 22. h4 {is a mistake due to} Bxh4 23. Nxh4 Qxh4 24. Rxf7+ Kg6 {and Black wins.}) 22... Bh6 {A good defensive move.} 23. Qf2 (23. h4 {can be answered} f6) 23... Rf8 24. Kh1 f5 {A step into the abyss. Riazantsev should have waited with something like} (24... c5 $5) 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Qg3 {Now the black pawns became targets. It should be also noted that by this time Riazantsev was in serious time-trouble.} Qf7 (26... e3 27. Rae1 {would not help neither.}) 27. Rf2 e3 {The last mistake. More stubborn was:} (27... Qh5 {When White intended:} 28. Raf1 (28. Nf4 {is actually easier.} ) 28... Rf7 29. Qd6 Bf8 $2 (29... Nf8 {keeps Black in the gme instead.}) 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 31. Qxd7+ Kg6 32. Qe6+ {(Salem)}) 28. Nxe3 f4 29. Qh3 Nb6 { Riazantsev took the knight and intended to put it on f6 but saw in the last moment:} (29... Nf6 30. Rxf4 $1 {(Salem)}) 30. Rg1 Qe7 31. Ng4 ({Or the nice-looking mating idea:} 31. Rf3 fxe3 (31... Rf6 {prevents mate though.}) 32. Qxh6+ Kxh6 33. Rh3+ {(Salem)}) 31... Qe4+ 32. Rf3 1-0 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix I"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Nakamura, HIkaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2785"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 {Old Karpov line.} ({Nakamura used to uphold Black's colors in the closed formation of the} 6... Nbd7 7. c5 {line.}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Rd1 {The most popular these days.} ({Last word hasn't been spoken yet in Kasparov's favorite } 10. O-O-O) 10... Re8 ({Hikaru had a hard time defending a worse endgame after } 10... Be7 11. Be2 Ne4 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 exd5 15. Rxd5 Bxa3 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. exd4 {against Carlsen in Sinquefield Cup, 2015.}) 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 $1 {This was first played in Game 21 of the Korchnoi-Karpov World Championship Match in 1978.} 13. Qb1 $1 ({The knight cannot be taken:} 13. exd4 exd4+ 14. Ne2 Ng4 {and Black wins.}) ({The panicky} 13. Qa4 {lead to a quick draw in Karjakin-Nakamura, Bilbao 2016:} Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Nc2+ 15. Ke2 Nd4+ 16. Ke1 (16. exd4 exd4+ 17. Kd3 Bf5+) 16... Nc2+ {etc.}) 13... Bf5 14. Bd3 Bxd3 {This improvement came up a couple of years ago to rehabilitate the entire line.} ({The stem Korchnoi-Karpov game went} 14... e4 15. Bc2 ({ Possibly, even} 15. Bf1 $5 {can be tried. Facing a total collapse of his position due to the threats to Nd4, Bc5 and the d5-pawn, Black has no choice but push forward. Howeverm after} Ng4 16. cxd5 Ne5 {White has a defense} 17. exd4 $1 Nf3+ 18. gxf3 exf3+ 19. Nde4 Bxe4 (19... Rxe4+ 20. Qxe4 Bxe4 21. dxc5 Re8 22. Bb5) 20. Qc1 Bxd5+ 21. Be3 {and the extra piece should prevail.}) 15... Nxc2+ 16. Qxc2 Qa6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Nb3 Bd6 19. Rxd5 {White emerged with a solid extra pawn, which Korchnoi successfully converted into a win.}) 15. Qxd3 Ne4 16. Ncxe4 ({American star of the 1980's GM James Tarjan picked up this line after suffering a quick defeat as White (game mentioned later), but his opponent, GM Lalith (Isle of Man, 2016) surprised him with a new move,} 16. cxd5 Nxc3 ({Point is, Black loses a piece after} 16... Nxg5 17. b4 Bxb4 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. h4 $1) 17. bxc3 Nb5 18. Ne4 Nd6 19. Nxd6 Bxd6 20. e4 {and White retained some edge.}) ({Insufficient is} 16. Ndxe4 dxe4 17. Qxe4 Bxa3 $1 18. O-O Bxb2 19. Nd5 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Nc3 21. Nxc3 Qxc3 22. Rd7 {although Babula-Sebenik, 2016 went 1-0.}) 16... dxe4 17. Qxe4 Qb6 (17... Nb3 {leads nowhere after} 18. Qc2) 18. Rb1 (18. Qb1 {was seen in Tarjan-Zumsande, 2015:} Ne6 19. Bh4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Kf1 Qf4+ 22. Bf2 Rad8 {Black has massive compensation, and it took only one error from Tarjan to lose the game:} 23. g3 Qh6 24. Ne4 Qh3+ 25. Kg1 $4 Nf4 $1) 18... h6 ({The same player, unfortunately unknown to me, had another game worthy of mentioning:} 18... f6 $1 19. O-O (19. b4 Bf8 20. Bh4 Rad8 {may improve on Nakamura's idea of trapping the white bishop, e.g.} 21. Rb2 g5 22. Qg4 h5 23. Qxh5 gxh4 24. exd4 exd4+ 25. Kd1 Qe6 $13) 19... Ne2+ 20. Kh1 fxg5 21. Qd3 Nf4 22. exf4 Rad8 23. Qc2 exf4 { evaluation in Ruecker-Zumsande, Rilton Cup 2016-17}) 19. Bh4 g5 20. b4 Bf8 21. Bg3 Rad8 $1 {Now the threat of f5-f4 forces White's hand.} 22. exd4 exd4 23. Be5 Bg7 24. O-O ({Same result would seem inevitable after} 24. Nf3 Bxe5 25. Nxe5 Qc7 {e.g.} 26. f4 gxf4 27. O-O Qxe5 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Rxf4 d3 30. Rd1 Re2 31. Rf3 d2 32. Rf2 Re1+ 33. Rf1 Re2 34. Rf2 $11) 24... Rxe5 25. Qd3 Qg6 $1 26. Rb3 g4 27. c5 b6 28. cxb6 (28. Nc4 Re6 29. Qxg6 fxg6 30. Nb2 {is hardly worth bothering with.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix I"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Li, Chao"] [Black "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [BlackElo "2759"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {Full Version} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 {It is nice to see a new generation player upholding the tradition of Pertosian and Kasparov.} Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 {This is what Garry started with} ({but later he switched to} 7. Qc2) 7... Be7 ({Earlier in the tournament Li Chao faced} 7... g6 {against Tomashevsky and won the game in impressive fashion.} 8. h4 $5 Bg7 9. h5 {was how he started it up.}) 8. Bb5+ c6 9. Bd3 c5 $5 ({in reply to the more common} 9... O-O {White intends to provoke a small kingside weakening with } 10. Qc2 h6 {before settling on a standard plan with} 11. e4 {etc.}) 10. O-O ( {Meanwhile, nothing stops White from following the tried and true} 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 {although in this move order the black K-side pawns will remains intact.}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4 {Seemingly Black should be alright here because he already managed to fianchetto his LSB without walking into d4-d5 along the way.} Nd7 (11... Nc6 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bc2 Nf6 14. Qd3 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1 { is a classic Isolated Queen Pawn tabiya.}) 12. Qe2 O-O ({There's absolutely nothing wrong with} 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7) 13. Ne4 N5f6 14. Nc3 {Perhaps Eljanov read his opponent's intentions incorrectly. I don't think Li Chao meant to finish the game with a repetition. Not after suffering a crushing loss to Nepo the day before.} Qc7 {This shows Pavel's fighting spirit. He knew this game was his last chance to get back in the hunt for top places.} ({ Theoretically speaking, Black can ask White the same question,} 14... Nd5 { I'd expect} 15. Rd1 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qc7 {etc.}) ({Also interesting is} 14... a6 { trying to expand on the Q-side in the spirit of Queens Gambit Accepted}) 15. Bg5 $1 {White is fortunate to have this reply, which only looks like a blunder. } h6 16. Bh4 {That bishop manages to circle around to cover h2.} Qf4 $6 { The beginning of an unfortunate plan.} ({Pavel could have handled White pressure on the Q-side better by keeping his queen closer to home, as in} 16... Rfc8 17. Bg3 Qd8 18. Ba6 Bxa6 19. Qxa6 Nb8) ({Another option was the provocative} 16... Bd6 $5 17. Nb5 ({of course,White can be reasonably happy just to play} 17. Bg3) 17... Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Qf4 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Qh3 {looks like the black pieces are stuck, but there comes} Ng4 $1 22. f3 Nf2+ 23. Rxf2 Qe3 24. Kxh2 Qxf2 {and Black will have his chances. In order to play this way one has to have a supreme confidence in his ability to calculate variations, which is currently not the case with Pavel after his bad finish at the Tata Steel.}) 17. Bg3 Qg4 18. Ba6 $1 {Not by the book, but, nevertheless, very strong. True, in most IQP structures White aims for a K-side attack and therefore never looks to trade his LSB. Here, however, the black queen is out there somewhere taking an early vacation, while White's Bg3 dominates its diagonal. Very good insight from Li Chao.} Bxa6 19. Qxa6 Qf5 20. Rac1 {One last preparatory move is needed.} (20. Qb7 Qc2 {gives Black some much-needed counterplay.}) 20... Qa5 $2 {Pavel's game is really off now.} ({On a better day we can expect him to come up with a pawn sac:} 20... Nd5 21. Nxd5 Qxd5 22. Rc7 Bd8 $1 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 b5 {with good chances to hold. At least his pieces would be fully employed.}) 21. Qb7 $1 {It is impossible for Black to chase that queen away or trade it.} Rfe8 22. Nd2 Bf8 (22... Nf8 23. Be5 $1 { suddenly traps the Black queen.}) 23. h3 Qf5 24. Nc4 a6 {This only exposes the black Q-side pawns as targets, but Pavel's decision is understandable. One has to play something, follow some kind of plan. It just happens that there's no good plan here.} 25. Rfd1 b5 26. Ne3 Qh5 27. Bc7 {White completely dominates the black rooks.} Qg6 {The eternal wanderer... What wouldn't Black give to be able to return her to c8?} 28. b4 Nh5 29. Ne2 Ndf6 30. Rc6 Qg5 31. Be5 { In Eljanov's time trouble Li's play becomes tentative. Clearly he couldn't decide between many good options in his disposal.} ({The best was the cold-blooded} 31. Nc3 $1 {tempting Black into the last bid for activity} Nf4 { which gets turned back by} 32. h4 Qxh4 33. g3 Nh3+ 34. Kg2 Qh5 35. Rh1) ({ Pavel was inviting} 31. Rxa6 Rxa6 32. Qxa6 Nd5 33. Nxd5 Qxd5 {In reality he wouldn't be getting much in case of} 34. Nc3 Ra8 35. Qxb5 Qb3 36. Qxh5 Qxc3 37. Bb6 Qxa3 38. Bc5 {but still, Black fights on.}) 31... a5 $1 {Finally.} 32. Qxb5 (32. Ra6 Rxa6 33. Qxa6 axb4 34. axb4 Nd7 35. Qxb5 Nhf6 {would have also been somewhat troublesome as far as converting White's extra pawn goes.}) 32... axb4 33. axb4 Ra2 $1 ({Black might think he's almost off the hook:} 33... Reb8 34. Qd3 Rxb4 {but then} 35. g4 $1 {was Li's hidden idea, and Nh5 will be gone in a couple of moves.}) 34. Rc2 Rea8 35. Rxa2 $2 {He should have niver let the black rook on the 2nd rank.} (35. Qc6) 35... Rxa2 36. Qc4 Rb2 37. b5 Nd5 $2 { A big error just when Black's suddenly was back in the game.} ({The salvation was possible:} 37... Nd7 {attacking the bishop that cannot leave because of the b-pawn.}) 38. Nxd5 exd5 39. Qd3 {White is back in the driver's seat.} Qg6 40. Qxg6 fxg6 41. Nc3 Rb3 42. Rc1 (42. Rb1 {was more decisive.}) 42... Ba3 { Now Li gets another chance to find the right idea.} 43. Rb1 $1 {Here it is!} Rxc3 44. b6 Nf6 45. b7 Nd7 46. Rb5 $1 {White will get the knight and keep his b-pawn while he's at it.} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah GP Board 7"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.26"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Salem, A.R. Saleh"] [Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C17"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2709"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:24:17"] [BlackClock "1:31:41"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 (6... cxb4 7. Nb5 bxa3+ 8. c3 Bc7 9. Bxa3) 7. Qg4 (7. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Bd7 9. Nxd4 Nc6 10. Ngf3 Nge7 11. c3 O-O 12. Bd3 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. O-O h6 {Bruzon Batista,L (2659) -Ivanchuk,V (2726) Berlin GER 2015}) 7... Kf8 8. bxa5 (8. Nb5) 8... dxc3 9. Nf3 (9. a4 f5 10. Qg3 Nc6 11. Nf3 (11. Ba3+ Nge7 12. Bb5 Kg8 13. h4 a6 14. Bd3 Bd7 15. h5 h6 16. Nf3 Nxa5 17. Qh4 Kf7 18. g4 Nc4 19. gxf5 Nxf5 20. Qg4 Nd2 21. Rg1 Ne4 22. Qg6+ Kg8 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Nd4 Rh7 25. Nxe6 Qe8 26. Nf8 Rh8 27. Nxd7 Qxd7 28. Rd1 Qf7 29. e6 Qxg6 30. hxg6 Nh4 31. Rg4 Nf3+ 32. Ke2 Nd2 33. e7 Re8 34. Rf4 {1-0 (34) Polgar,J (2540)-Romero Holmes,A (2475) Pamplona 1990}) 11... Nge7 12. h4 Bd7 13. h5 Rc8 14. h6 g6 15. a6 Nb4 16. Qh4 Nec6 17. Ba3 d4 18. axb7 Rb8 19. Bb5 Qxh4 20. Rxh4 Ke8 21. Bxc6 Nxc2+ 22. Kd1 Nxa1 23. Bd6 Bxc6 24. Bxb8 Bxa4+ 25. Ke1 Bc6 26. Nxd4 Bxb7 27. Bd6 Kd7 28. f3 Rc8 29. Ne2 Nb3 30. Ba3 Bd5 31. Ra4 a5 32. Nc1 Nxc1 33. Bxc1 Rc5 34. Ra3 Kc6 35. Be3 c2 36. Ra1 Rb5 37. Rc1 Bb3 {0-1 (37) Fischer,R-Platz,J Hartford 1964}) 9... Nc6 (9... Ne7 10. Bd3 Nd7 11. Qb4 Qc7 12. O-O Nc5 13. Qxc3 Bd7 14. a4 Rc8 15. Ba3 Nxd3 16. Qxc7 Rxc7 17. cxd3 f6 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Kf7 20. Rc7 Rd8 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxb7 Rc8 23. Kf1 a6 24. Ra7 Rc2 25. Rxa6 Ra2 26. Ra7 Rxa4 27. Ke2 d4 28. Nd2 Ra2 29. Kd1 Kd8 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Ne4 Bc6 32. Nc5 Bd5 33. a6 Ra1+ 34. Kc2 Ra3 35. Kb2 Ra2+ 36. Kb1 Ra5 37. Nb7+ Bxb7 38. axb7 Rb5+ 39. Kc2 Kc7 40. b8=Q+ Kxb8 41. Rxh7 Kc8 42. Re7 Re5 43. Kd2 Kd8 44. Rf7 Rf5 45. Ke2 Ke8 46. Ra7 Re5+ 47. Kf1 Rb5 48. h4 f5 49. g3 Kf8 50. Rd7 e5 51. Kg2 Kg8 52. h5 Ra5 53. h6 Rb5 54. Rg7+ Kh8 55. Re7 Ra5 56. Kf3 Rd5 57. g4 e4+ 58. dxe4 fxg4+ 59. Ke2 d3+ 60. Ke3 Rd4 61. Re8+ Kh7 62. Re6 Ra4 63. Kxd3 Ra3+ 64. Ke2 Rf3 65. e5 Rf5 66. Ke1 Rf4 67. Rf6 Re4+ 68. Kf1 Rxe5 69. Kg2 Ra5 70. Kg3 Rg5 71. Kh4 Rg8 72. Kh5 g3 {1/2-1/2 (72) Unzicker, W-Botvinnik,M Amsterdam 1954}) 10. h4 ({Relevant:} 10. Bd3 Nge7 11. h4 Qxa5 12. h5 h6 13. Rh3 Nf5 14. Qf4 Bd7 15. g4 Nfe7 16. g5 Nf5 17. gxh6 Nxh6 18. Rg3 Qd8 19. a4 a5 20. Ba3+ Nb4 21. Bxb4+ axb4 22. Qxb4+ Qe7 23. Qxb7 Rxa4 24. Rxa4 Bxa4 25. Qb8+ Be8 26. Nd4 Ng8 27. Be2 g5 28. Rxc3 Nh6 29. Nc6 Qd7 30. Bb5 Kg7 31. Rg3 g4 32. Qb6 Qc8 33. Rc3 Bxc6 34. Bxc6 Qd8 35. Qd4 Qg5 36. Rg3 Rc8 37. Ba4 Rc4 38. Qa1 Re4+ 39. Kf1 Nf5 {Salem,A (2656)-Dubov,D (2660) Doha 2016 0-1}) 10... Nge7 11. h5 (11. Rh3 $5 Qxa5 12. Bd3 h5 13. Qf4 {Salem}) 11... h6 12. a6 $5 {Risky but interesting.} bxa6 (12... b6 13. Bd3 Bd7 14. Rh3 Qc7 15. Rg3 Rg8 16. Qf4 Na5 17. Rb1 Rc8 {Markgraf,A (2464)-Rudolf,H (2353) Germany 2010}) ( 12... Qa5 $5 13. Rh3 b6 $1 {was interesting - Salem.}) 13. Bd3 Rb8 (13... d4 14. Rb1) (13... Qc7) 14. Be3 (14. Rh3 Qc7 15. Rg3 Rg8 16. Bh7 Nf5 17. Bxf5 (17. Bxg8 Kxg8 $1) 17... exf5 18. Qf4 a5) 14... Nf5 (14... Kg8 $5 15. Bc5 Qa5 16. Bd6 Rb2 {Vallejo}) 15. Bc5+ Kg8 16. Qa4 (16. Qf4 Qa5) 16... Qd7 (16... Bd7 17. Qxa6) (16... Qc7 17. Bxf5 Nxe5 {would be interesting if there wasn't} 18. Qe8#) 17. Qf4 f6 18. exf6 gxf6 19. g4 ({Stronger was} 19. Nh4 $1 {and Black still has some problems to solve.}) 19... e5 $1 {A fantastic idea.} 20. Qxf5 Qxf5 ( 20... Qg7 $2 21. Qg6 e4 22. Qe8+ Kh7 23. Bxe4+ dxe4 24. Qxe4+ f5 25. Qxc6 { doesn't work for Black.}) 21. Bxf5 Bxf5 22. gxf5 Rb5 23. Bb4 (23. Be3 d4 24. Bc1 e4 25. Nh4 d3 {already looks good or Black but}) (23. Bd6 $1 {might have been the best square when after} Kf7 24. a4 Rb2 25. Kd1 {the engines prefer White.}) 23... d4 24. Rd1 Kf7 25. Rg1 a5 (25... a5 26. Bxc3 dxc3 27. Rd7+ Ne7 28. Rg6 e4 29. Nh4 Rb1+ 30. Ke2 Rb2 {is equal.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE World Chess Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.26"] [Round "8"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Tiger Hillarp"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 ({The more popular line} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {is frequently seen at the top and leads to positions where White has to keep up the pressure or accept an early draw. Grischuk's choice is more of a let's-play-a-long-game-and-see-who's-best kind of move.}) 5... Nc6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 ({The alternative is to play} 6... exd5 {, when} 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 Bg4 11. Bb2 {leads to positions where White keeps some positional pressure without taking much of a risk.}) 7. Bd3 (7. Bc4 {is another standard move that has become less popular. The reason might be that after} cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bf6 {White has run out of practical move that doesn't involve moving either Bc4 or Nc3 and after} 11. Ne4 b6 {is it suddenly quite unclear why the bishop was any better off on c4. It should have been in order to undermine d5, but d5 stays solid:} 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bg5 Bb7 14. d5 Na5 $1) 7... cxd4 8. exd4 Bb4 (8... Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bf6 11. Be4 Nce7 12. Qd3) 9. O-O $1 {Although this isn't exactly a novelty, it is the first time someone tries it at such a high level. It makes a lot of sense to play this move if it isn't good for Black to take the pawn. So, is it?} ({A famous option is} 9. Qc2 Ba5 10. a3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. O-O $13 {which has been played in more than a hundred tournament games.}) (9. Bd2 {is another recurring move.}) 9... O-O {It seems that Mamedyarov didn't fancy entering a position where Grischuk might have something sharp prepared. Still, this move surprised me, as it give White virtually an extra tempo on the lines where White protects c3.} ({The game Nikolenko,O (2534)-Kharitonov,A (2548) Moscow 2010, saw} 9... h6 {; a move that aims to once again force White into protecting c3. However, White continued in logical fashion with} 10. Bc2 $1 { and Black soon found himself in a bad situation:} Be7 {(now Black has lost 2 (!!) tempi on a normal line)} (10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxc3 12. Qd3 Nd5 {looks logical and might even set a question mark on whether it was such a great idea to play Bc2.}) 11. a3 Nf6 12. Qd3 b6 13. Ba4 Bd7 14. d5 exd5 15. Nxd5 Ne5 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxd7+ Nxd7 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. Qe4+ {and Black resigned.}) 10. Bc2 { The World Blitz 2016 saw 2 games with this position, though through a different move order where Black played 0-0 before Nc6. This make the sacrifice of a pawn at c3 less strange, as there is a Bxh7+/Qc2 tactic that works for White.} Bd7 (10... Be7 11. Qd3 g6 12. a3 Nxc3 (12... Qb6 $5) 13. bxc3 b6 14. Re1 Bb7 15. h4 $6 {Typical idea, although more common before Black plays g6.} Bxh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Re3 Ne7 $2 18. Rg3 $1 {Black's queen is in trouble.} Nf5 19. Bg5 Qh5 20. Bd1 Nxg3 21. Qxg3 {1-0 (21) So,W (2770)-Nakamura, H (2785) Ultimate Blitz Challenge 2016}) (10... Nf6 11. Re1 h6 12. Qd3 Bd6 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 f5 15. Qe2 Nb4 16. Bb3 Nd5 17. Bd2 Bd7 18. Ne5 Rf6 19. Qf3 Bc6 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Rac1 Rc8 22. Rc2 Qb6 $2 23. Rxe6 $1 {1-0 (23) Ivanchuk,V (2745)-Anand,V (2775) World Blitz 2016}) 11. a3 Bxc3 ({It is a question of taste whether one prefers} 11... Be7 {or the move in the game. However, after retreating the bishop Black is a temp down (a3) on a line where Be7 is played immediately on move 8. Does that mean that it is bad? No, not really, but Bd7 looks pretty passive.}) 12. Qd3 f5 $5 {A principled defence. Mamdeyarov is giving up some dark square in order to be able to control the light squares.} 13. bxc3 b5 $1 14. a4 $1 a6 ({The engine comes up with} 14... Rc8 $5 15. axb5 Na5 {, when Black's grip on the light squares makes it hard for White to claim anything but a modest advantage. After} 16. Bd2 Nc4 17. Bb3 Bxb5 18. Rfc1 a6 { there's a lot to be played for still.}) 15. Re1 Qc7 16. Ng5 $5 {In a senes this is a difficult position for White, since there are so many good moves to chose from. You know that you are better and want to find a move that proves it. And, while you find one after another move that is just that; better, you fail to find one that is better than the rest. The clock ticks...} ({Instead, the natural} 16. Bb3 {, leads to a forced variation:} Na5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Ba3 Rfe8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bb4 Nc4 {, where it is not clear that White's advantage will win the game.}) 16... Qd6 ({There is something to be said for the seemlingly passive} 16... Nd8 {, as it gains a tempo on the c3-pawn and thus a tempo for the defence. After} 17. Bd2 Rc8 {Black is set to take on a4 and swap off as much as possible of the queenside. With the queenside gone, Black's chances of survival increases rapidly, as there is only one weakness in his position (e5).}) 17. Qd2 $5 {A very strange move that I would sure have put a "?!" to, if it wasn't that my respect for this guy is just too big for that. I guess he had a chat with his pieces and the queen said: "I don't belong here".. . "but I still need to keep an eye on c3". Perhaps what happened was quite another story.} ({The simple} 17. Bb3 {looks like a good alternative. To my understanding, after f5 is played, the bishop c2 is more misplaced than the queen.}) 17... h6 18. Nf3 {Back to square... f3.} Rfc8 {Black has managed to get some coordination and is closing in on equality. White must act energetically.} 19. Ba3 $1 Qf4 ({After} 19... b4 20. cxb4 Ncxb4 21. Bb3 a5 22. Ne5 {Black has not been able to swap the a-pawns, which makes the vulnerable e5-square mush more of a problem. Later on it is quite likely that a5 will become a "second weakness".}) 20. Qxf4 $5 {A human and strong move. The resulting middle-endgame is no fun at all for Black.} ({It was also possible to play} 20. Qd3 {, but then White would face more of the same dilemmas that occurred on move 16.}) 20... Nxf4 21. Bc5 {Ahhhh, the bishop said. Earlier this was White's most passive piece, but now it has found a nice outpost.} Na5 22. Ne5 Be8 23. g3 Nd5 24. Ra3 $1 {I played billiard the other day with a friend who used to be in the top of her sport. She said that you could easily recognize a good billiard player from a distance; in how they held the cue and in how they leaned down when taking a shot. In chess I believe it is a clear sign of a strong player, that they do not exchange pawns unless it is called for. Many amateurs would have exchange on b5 a long time ago, but a strong player realizes that Black has only two options with the b-pawn; either to take on a4, thus leaving White with a strong c-pawn (and Black with a weak a-pawn); or to play b4, when the exchange of the b- and c-pawns will leave the a-pawns still on the board. With the a-pawns still on the board, White's advantage is bigger.} bxa4 $1 {So, Black went for the first of the options and now the c-pawn becomes a real menace.} 25. c4 Nf6 26. Bxa4 Bxa4 27. Rxa4 Nc6 28. Nd3 $6 {This lets Black back into the game.} ({The simple} 28. Nxc6 Rxc6 29. Ba3 {leaves White with some advantage, although it should be managable for Black. Mamedyarov has defended very well up until now.}) 28... Ne4 29. Bb6 Rcb8 $6 {Another small mistake and White takes a hold on the initaitive again.} ({ Here} 29... a5 $1 30. f3 (30. c5 $6 Nc3 $1 {, followed by Nb5 and Nbxd4, is good for Black.}) 30... Rab8 31. fxe4 Rxb6 {is about equal. For instance} 32. d5 Nb4 33. Nxb4 axb4 34. dxe6 Rxe6 35. Rxb4 fxe4 {with equality.}) 30. c5 Kf7 $1 ({Now} 30... Nc3 {doesn't work anymore since the knight is unstable on c6 after} 31. Rc4 Nb5 32. Rxe6) 31. Rea1 Nc3 32. Rxa6 Rxa6 33. Rxa6 Ne2+ 34. Kg2 Nexd4 {Black has kept White's advantage to a minimum and should be able to draw.} 35. Bc7 $1 Rc8 36. Bd6 g5 $1 37. f4 {A surprising move. I would have played f3, in order to keep an eye on the light squares still. Grischuk seems mostly intent on getting his king out of the box.} gxf4 $2 {Now this move I do not like. Why give the White king more scope?} ({After} 37... g4 38. Kf2 Nf3 39. h3 h5 40. Ke3 Ke8 {the engine doesn't spot a way forward for White and me neither.}) 38. gxf4 Ke8 39. Rb6 {!!? A very tricky move at a very tricky moment.} ({White is better after} 39. Kg3 Kd7 40. Kh4 Nf3+ 41. Kh5 Nxh2 42. Rb6 (42. Kxh6 Ng4+ 43. Kg7 e5 $1) 42... Ng4 43. Rb7+ Ke8 44. Rg7 {, but it is not a good moment to enter a long forced line on move 39, unless one knows exactly what will happen there.}) 39... Ra8 40. Ne5 $1 {Suddenly Black's trouble become very real.} Ra2+ $1 (40... Rc8 41. Nxc6 Nxc6 (41... Rxc6 42. Be5 $1 { is quite beautiful.}) 42. Rb7 {and Black is miserably passive.}) 41. Kg3 Ra3+ 42. Kg2 Ra2+ 43. Kg3 Ra3+ 44. Kh4 $1 Nxe5 45. Bxe5 ({Not} 45. fxe5 $2 Rc3 { , when Black's f-pawn is as strong, if not more so, than White's c-pawn.}) 45... Nf3+ 46. Kh5 Nxe5 47. fxe5 Kd7 48. Kg6 f4 49. Rd6+ Ke7 $4 {The losing move.} (49... Kc7 $1 50. Rxe6 Re3 $1 51. Kf5 (51. Rf6 Rxe5 52. c6 Rc5 53. Rxf4 (53. Kxh6 $4 Rxc6 {and suddenly Black is winning.}) 53... Rxc6+ {etc.}) 51... f3 52. Rf6 f2 53. Ke6 Re2 54. Kd5 Rd2+ 55. Kc4 Kd7 56. c6+ (56. Kc3 Re2 57. Kd4 h5) 56... Kc7 57. Kc5 Rc2+ 58. Kd4 Re2 59. h4 Kb6 60. Kd5 Rd2+) 50. c6 f3 ( 50... Ra7 51. Kxh6 f3 52. Rd3 $18) 51. Rd7+ Ke8 52. Rf7 Rc3 53. c7 h5 54. Rxf3 Rxc7 55. Rh3 $1 {The last key to the win. The king cannot be kept out of f6 for ever.} Kd7 (55... Rf7 56. Rxh5 Rf1 57. h4 Rf2 58. Rh7 Rf5 59. Rh8+ Ke7 60. Rh5 Rf1 61. Rh7+ Kf8 62. h5 Rf2 63. Ra7 {and Black can only buy more time by giving up the e-pawn.}) 56. Rxh5 Rc4 57. Rh7+ Kc6 58. Kf6 Kd5 59. Rd7+ Ke4 60. Rd1 Rc2 1-0 [Event "Sharjah GP Board 2"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.26"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D42"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2766"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2P1k3/3Rp1Kp/4P3/8/r4p2/7P/8 b - - 0 51"] [PlyCount "10"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 51... Rc3 52. Rd3 f2 $1 53. Rxc3 f1=Q 54. c8=Q Qf7+ 55. Kxh6 Qg6+ $1 56. Kxg6 { stalemate.} 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.26"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B14"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:04:39"] [BlackClock "1:07:19"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4 Bb4 (8... Be7 {is better with a normal position (Mamedyarov).}) 9. O-O O-O 10. Bc2 {"Shakhriyar mixed something in the opening and after this move I think it is very unpleasant for Black." (Grischuk)} Bd7 ({A novelty. The former world champion suffered a painful defeat after} 10... Nf6 11. Re1 h6 12. Qd3 Bd6 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 f5 15. Qe2 Nb4 16. Bb3 Nd5 17. Bd2 Bd7 18. Ne5 Rf6 19. Qf3 Bc6 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Rac1 Rc8 22. Rc2 Qb6 23. Rxe6 $1 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2747)-Anand,V (2779) Doha 2016}) 11. a3 Bxc3 ({Or} 11... Be7 12. Qd3 g6 13. Bh6 {with a nice initiative for White.}) 12. Qd3 {Perhaps} (12. bxc3 {was more precise with the idea:} b5 (12... Nxc3 $4 13. Qd3 {loses on the spot. }) 13. a4 b4 14. Qd3 f5 15. c4 {with a clear advantage for White.}) 12... f5 13. bxc3 b5 {The only way. Mamedyarov hopes to keep the position blocked.} 14. a4 a6 15. Re1 (15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Bd2 {is slightly better for White.}) 15... Qc7 16. Ng5 {"I started to play very badly, just like in a bullet game. Attack, but then after the opponent defend, I had no idea what to do..." (Grischuk)} ({White would have kept a nice advantage instead after} 16. Bb3 Na5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Ba3 Rfe8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bc5) 16... Qd6 17. Qd2 { Grischuk intended to go for:} (17. Ba3 {at first with pressure after} b4 18. cxb4 Ncxb4 ({But he disliked the complications after} 18... Nf4 {Although, there is nothing to worry about after} 19. Qd2 Qxd4 20. Rad1 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 { The two bishops and the outside passer determines White's serious edge.}) 19. Qd2) 17... h6 {Another way to play for equality was:} (17... b4 18. c4 Nc3 19. Nf3) 18. Nf3 Rfc8 19. Ba3 Qf4 20. Qxf4 {This lets the advantage slip away. Better was:} (20. Qd3 $1 {when White is still on top after both:} Na5 ({Or} 20... Nxc3 21. axb5 Nxb5 22. Bc5 {followed by Bc2-b3 with strong pressure.}) 21. Bc5 Nb7 22. Ne5 Nxc5 23. dxc5 Be8 24. c6 $1) 20... Nxf4 21. Bc5 Na5 (21... g5 $5) (21... Nd5 $5) 22. Ne5 Be8 {Mamedyarov managed to get into an endgame where the isolated pair of white pawns on c3 and d4 is less dangerous. There is still work to do in order to equalize in full, but he is getting closer.} 23. g3 Nd5 24. Ra3 bxa4 25. c4 (25. Bxa4 Bxa4 26. Rxa4 Nc6) 25... Nf6 26. Bxa4 Bxa4 27. Rxa4 Nc6 28. Nd3 Ne4 {Black plays for a win. He thought he does not risk anything in time trouble.} ({Mamedyarov thought that} 28... Rd8 {is an instant draw. For example:} 29. Nf4 ({Or} 29. Rxe6 Nxd4 30. Bxd4 Rxd4 31. Nf4 Ne4) 29... Nxd4 30. Bxd4 Rxd4 31. Nxe6 Rd2 {The queenside pawns will soon disappear and this should indeed be a draw.}) 29. Bb6 Rcb8 (29... a5 $5) 30. c5 Kf7 {The line:} (30... Nc3 31. Rc4 Nb5 32. Rxe6 Ncxd4 (32... Nbxd4 33. Rd6) 33. Re7 {is unpleasant for Black (Grischuk)} (33. Re3 $5 {is even more precise.})) 31. Rea1 {Missed by Mamedyarov. He thought that White should play:} (31. Ne5+ Nxe5 32. dxe5 Nc3 {followed by Nc3-d5 when Black is doing fine and indeed plays without any risk.}) 31... Nc3 32. Rxa6 Rxa6 33. Rxa6 Ne2+ 34. Kg2 Nexd4 35. Bc7 Rc8 {Forced, as:} (35... Rb1 36. Ne5+ Nxe5 37. Bxe5 {deprived Black of the blockading Nc6 resource (Grischuk)}) 36. Bd6 g5 {The endgame is unpleasant for Black. White has more active pieces and a distant passed pawn. Still, since most of the pawns are facing each other Black has reasonable drawing chances.} 37. f4 gxf4 ({Grischuk believed that Black can defend better with} 37... g4 38. Kf2 Ke8 39. Ke3) ({While Mamedyrov thought that} 37... Ke8 { at once was more precise. In both cases White does not have a chance to penetrate with his king on the kingside.}) 38. gxf4 Ke8 39. Rb6 (39. Kf2 { leads White nowhere after} Kd7 40. Ke3 Nc2+ 41. Kd2 N2d4 {(Grischuk)}) 39... Ra8 ({The computer suggests the weird regroupment} 39... Na5 40. Ne5 Ndc6) 40. Ne5 {The blockade should be broken at any rate.} Ra2+ 41. Kg3 Ra3+ 42. Kg2 { The only chance as:} (42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kd2 Nxe5 45. Bxe5 Nb3+ { is just equal (Grischuk). This line should be prolonged a bit} 46. Kc3 Nxc5+ 47. Kb4 Nd7 48. Rxe6+ Kf7 {and indeed it is a draw.}) 42... Ra2+ 43. Kg3 { Now the game enters rook endgame by force.} Ra3+ 44. Kh4 Nxe5 45. Bxe5 Nf3+ 46. Kh5 Nxe5 47. fxe5 ({Not:} 47. Rxe6+ $4 Kf7 48. Rxe5 Rh3# {(Grischuk)}) 47... Kd7 {Both white pieces are more active and this makes the endgame extremely difficult for Mamedyarov to survive.} 48. Kg6 f4 ({Mamedyarov mentioned} 48... Rd3 49. Kf7 f4 50. Rxe6 Rd5 {as a possibler defense, but it seems unlikely that Black can survive after} 51. Re7+ Kc6 52. Ke6) ({However, it seems as} 48... Re3 $1 {would have saved Black. For example:} 49. Kf6 (49. Rd6+ Ke7) 49... f4 50. Rxe6 f3 51. Rd6+ Kc7 52. Rd1 f2 53. Rf1 Rf3+ 54. Kg7 Kc6 55. e6 Kxc5 56. e7 Re3 57. Rxf2 Rxe7+ {and it should be a draw.}) 49. Rd6+ {The passer should be traded to kill any counterplay!} ({Grischuk spotted the above-mentioned idea and avoided it:} 49. Kf7 f3 50. Rxe6 Re3) 49... Ke7 50. c6 f3 51. Rd7+ $1 {Mamedyarov was hoping for the study draw after:} (51. c7 Rc3 52. Rd3 $1 f2 53. Rxc3 f1=Q 54. c8=Q Qf7+ 55. Kxh6 Qg6+ $3 56. Kxg6 {Stalemate! }) 51... Ke8 52. Rf7 Rc3 53. c7 h5 ({Or} 53... f2 54. Rxf2 Rxc7 55. h4) 54. Rxf3 Rxc7 55. Rh3 {The lack of space prevents Mamedyarov from saving his pawns. } Kd7 56. Rxh5 Rc4 (56... Kc6 57. h4 Kd5 58. Rg5) 57. Rh7+ Kc6 58. Kf6 Kd5 59. Rd7+ Ke4 60. Rd1 Rc2 (60... Rc2 {Black resigned due to} 61. Kxe6 Rxh2 62. Kd6) 1-0 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.26"] [Round "8"] [White "Salem, A R Saleh"] [Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2709"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Nf3 Nc6 {LiveBook: 7 Games} 10. h4 Nge7 11. h5 {Threatening h6.} h6 { Black is slightly better.} 12. a6 bxa6 13. Bd3 Rb8 14. Be3 Nf5 15. Bc5+ Kg8 16. Qa4 Qd7 {Threatens to win with ...Nxe5!} 17. Qf4 $1 f6 (17... Qd8 $11) 18. exf6 $14 gxf6 {[#] White must now prevent ...e5.} 19. g4 (19. Bxf5 $14 exf5 20. Rh3) 19... e5 $1 $11 20. Qxf5 Qxf5 21. Bxf5 Bxf5 22. gxf5 Rb5 $1 23. Bb4 {[%emt 1: 22:29] The position is equal.} d4 {[%emt 1:34:09]} ({Not} 23... Nxb4 $2 24. Rg1+ (24. axb4 Rh7 25. Ra4 d4 26. Rg1+ Rg7 $18) 24... Kh7 25. axb4 Rxb4 26. Rxa6 $18) 24. Rd1 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:03:33]} ({Much weaker is} 24... Nxb4 25. axb4 Rxb4 26. Rg1+ Kf7 27. Rg6 $16 (27. Ke2 $16)) 25. Rg1 {[%emt 0:06: 16]} a5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sharjah GP Board 4"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.27"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2651"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:28:48"] [BlackClock "1:08:38"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. e4 b5 7. e5 Ne8 (7... exd5 8. exf6 d4 9. a3 Ba5 10. b4 dxc3 11. bxa5 Re8+ 12. Kf2 Qxf6 13. Qd5 c2 14. Ra2 Bb7 {Fier,A (2624)-Navara,D (2735) Drancy FRA 2016}) 8. f4 d6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nc7 11. a4 $5 (11. Bd3 {was played many games, e.g. Shirov,A (2673) -Grandelius,N (2641) Baku AZE 2016}) 11... Bb7 12. Bd3 h6 (12... g6 13. Bxb5 dxe5 14. O-O Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. fxe5 a6 17. Be2 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Re8 19. Bc4 Nc6 {Habermehl,T (2493)-Dibley,E (2463) corr. 2010}) 13. O-O Bxc3 (13... dxe5 14. axb5 Nxd5 15. Be4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 f5 17. Bxd5+ Qxd5 18. Qxd5+ Bxd5 19. Nxe5 a6 {Mamedyarov}) 14. bxc3 dxe5 15. axb5 e4 (15... Qxd5 16. c4 Qd7 17. fxe5 Rd8 (17... Bxf3 18. Rxf3) 18. Ra3 Be4 19. Ne1 Qd4+ 20. Kh1 Qxc4 {Mamedyarov}) 16. Bxe4 Bxd5 17. Bb1 Nd7 (17... Bc4 18. Qc2 {Mamedyarov}) 18. c4 Bb7 19. Ra3 (19. f5 Nf6 20. Bf4 Qxd1 21. Rxd1 Rfc8 {Mamedyarov}) 19... Ne6 20. Qc2 Nf6 (20... f5 {(Hou Yifan) was probably Black's last chance.}) 21. Bb2 Ne4 (21... Be4 22. Bxf6 Bxc2 23. Bxd8 Bxb1 24. Be7 Rfe8 25. Bxc5 {Mamedyarov}) 22. Rd3 Qc7 23. f5 Nd4 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Bxd4 a6 26. b6 Qc6 27. f6 Rfd8 28. fxg7 Rd6 29. c5 Rg6 30. Ba2 Ng5 31. Rg3 Nh3+ 32. Kh1 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.27"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2785"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:42:03"] [BlackClock "1:00:03"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 {A topical line of the Catalan arose.} Bd6 11. Qc1 { Ding revealed that he played this line twice in China. One game he won, and one he lost.} a5 {A change of heart.} ({A month earlier Aronian was successful with} 11... Bxf4 12. Qxf4 Qd6 13. Qc1 Bd5 14. Nc3 Nc6 15. e3 Nb4 {Eljanov,P (2755)-Aronian,L (2780) Wijk aan Zee 2017}) 12. Nc3 ({Giri played} 12. Bd2 { against Kramnik in Stvanger 2014 in order to prevent the maneuver Nb8-a6-b4, as Ding mentioned afterward. His 13th move was probably inspired by it.}) 12... Na6 13. Bd2 {The actual novelty. White was usually chosing the seemingly more active:} (13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 c6 {as in Cuenca Jimenez,J (2529) -Kuzubov,Y (2629) Monzon 2016}) 13... Nb4 14. Qb1 {The point behind White's preparation. He wants to play e3-e4.} Bxf3 {More or less forced, according to Ding.} ({On} 14... Re8 {White intended to play} 15. e4 e5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 {with slightly better position for White.}) 15. Bxf3 c6 16. Rd1 { The preparation of the Chinese GM ended here. He believed his position is more comfortable, albeit close to equal. The two bishops may reveal their energy in the future, especially if the position gets opened.} Qe7 (16... Qb6 $5) 17. Ne4 {Ding wanted to get rid of the "bad" knight.} ({Since} 17. e4 {is always met with} e5) 17... Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Rfd8 {The Chinese GM explained that in case that Black manages to swap off his bishop he would be fine. However, in the line:} ( 18... Nd5 19. Qc2 Bb4 {White has} 20. Bc3 {when the trade will improve White's pawn structure and will open the b-file for his heavy pieces.}) 19. Bc3 Rd7 20. Rd2 {Now both sides prepare themselves for the opening of the game. White has two plans: to carry out the central break with d4-d5 or/and attack on the kingside thanks to his extra space. Black, on his turn, is waiting for a good moment to ease the center with breaks like c6-c5 and/or e6-e5 followed by the trade of all the rooks along the d-file.} Qd8 21. Rad1 Be7 {"Somewhere around here I started to play carelessly," explained the Armenian GM. He offered instead:} (21... g6 {followed by Bd6-g7 and h7-h5 to prepare for the kingside assault.}) 22. h4 Rb8 23. e3 Nd5 24. Qc2 Qc7 25. Kg2 g6 {Without the possibility h7-h5 this looks a bit weakening. The passive defense} (25... Rbd8 {seems perfectly playable.}) 26. h5 Bf8 27. e4 (27. Rh1 $5 {to switch to a kingside attack deserved attention too.}) 27... Nb4 {Aronian suggested instead: } (27... Nxc3 28. bxc3 b5 (28... e5 29. Bg4 {is awkward for the second player.} ) 29. e5 b4 30. cxb4 {When White is "a little better." The problem with Black's position is that he is always worse, no matter what happens and the price of his mistake is higher.}) 28. Qb3 c5 $2 {Wrong timing. Beter was to prepare this:} (28... Rbd8 {Both players analyzed this briefly post mortem and came to the familiar conclusion: White is slightly better.} 29. e5 Bg7 30. Be4 c5 31. f4 c4 32. Qa3 Nd5) 29. dxc5 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 Qxc5 31. Rd7 {Aronian underestimated the unpleasantness of this move.} b5 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Qd1 { With the obvious threat of Qd1-d4 and mate on the long diagonal.} Nc6 ({ A slightly weird defensive idea was} 33... Na2 $5 34. Bf6 Nb4 {in order to disturb the order in which the White pieces are arranged on the long diagonal.} ) 34. Be2 ({Black has better defensive chances after} 34. Bg4 Rb7) ({However Aronian suggest the cunning idea:} 34. Rc7 Rd8 35. Qh1 $1 {A nice shift to the kingside!} Bg7 36. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Here instead of his suggestion:} 37. Qh4 ({ White can win with either:} 37. Qc1 $1) ({Or} 37. h6+)) 34... Qb6 {Both players saw the cute:} (34... Qc5 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Rc7 Bd6 37. Bf6 $3 Bxc7 38. Qh1) 35. Bc4 Rb7 36. b3 {Another dangerous resource is:} (36. Qd2 Rxd7 37. Qxd7 {When} gxh5 {will light a fire after} (37... Nb4 $5 {might be more stubborn.}) 38. Qxe6 $3 Qxf2+ $3 (38... fxe6 39. Bxe6#) 39. Kxf2 Bc5+ 40. Kf3 fxe6 41. Bxe6+ {I suspect that White is very close to winning here.}) 36... Qa7 37. Rd6 $1 {A nice way to keep the active rook. Or at least to replace it for a nice defender.} Bxd6 {"Of course I should not have played this stupid move." (Aronian)} (37... Rc7 {is much better for White, but not yet winning.}) 38. Qxd6 Qb6 39. Qf4 {The bishops are more useful in the attack than the rook and the knight in the defense.} Kf8 ({On} 39... Nd4 {the fastest win is} 40. Qf6 ( 40. Qe5 Rd7) 40... Rd7 41. Bd5 $1 {(Aronian)}) 40. Bxe6 Nb4 41. Qf6 Nd3 ({Since } 41... Qxe6 {drops the queen to} 42. Qd8+ Qe8 43. Bg7+) 42. Bd4 $1 {White is completely dominating.} Qd6 43. Be3 {"A very nice idea!" (Aronian)} Ne1+ 44. Kf1 ({But not} 44. Kh1 Qd3 {(Aronian, Ding) Although White is still winning here after} 45. Kh2 {with the idea} Qf1 46. Qd8+ Kg7 47. h6#) (44. Kf1 { Aronian resigned as White has more than one way of winning after:} Qd1 45. Qh8+ Ke7 46. Bc5+ ({Or even faster} 46. Bg5+ Kxe6 47. Qf6+ Kd7 48. Qd8+ {(Aronian, Ding)}) 46... Kxe6 47. Qe8+ Kf6 48. Bd4+ Qxd4 (48... Kg5 49. Qe5+ Kh6 50. Be3+) 49. Qh8+ {(Aronian)}) 1-0 [Event "Sharjah"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.27"] [Round "9"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakh"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2651"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 (3... c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6 6. e4 Bc7 7. Nf3 d6 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 Ba5 {The original Snake Benoni}) 4. f3 {Mamedyarov's favorite reply to the Nimzo. He took up where Shirov blazed the trail some twenty years ago, and ever since the Azeri star has been the main driving force behind the development of this line.} c5 {Transposing to a Snake Benoni is one of many options available for Black. The advantage is in getting there quicker, but the question still remains how good Black's position really is.} ( {Karpov used to play} 4... d5) ({and there's} 4... O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nh5 {Karjakin-Carlsen, 2014.}) 5. d5 O-O (5... b5 6. e4 O-O {transposes.}) 6. e4 b5 ({Some player prefer to hide their intentions a bit and first go} 6... d6 { Just five days ago it was seen in a blitz game between Mamedyarov and So. There followed} 7. Bd3 b5 (7... Nbd7 8. Nge2 Ne5 {gets the bishop, but White may be OK with that as} 9. Bg5 {creates problems with the pin.}) 8. Nge2 bxc4 9. Bxc4 exd5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 {this appears to be the problem with putting the pawn on d6 - Black doesn't have Nc6 to save the rook. Wesley, as we might always expect, had something prepared.} Qb6 12. Bf4 Be6 13. Qxa8 Nc6 14. Qxf8+ Kxf8 15. Bxd6+ Kg8 16. O-O-O Na5 {with extra-sharp play. In the end of that crazy game Shakh was able to inflict a rare defeat on the hard-to-beat Wesley}) 7. e5 {No looking back.} ({The positional approach} 7. Nh3 d6 8. Nf4 e5 9. Nfe2 {spends too much time, and Black gets to start his own play with} Nh5 10. g4 Qh4+ 11. Kd2 Nf4 12. Nxf4 exf4 13. Kc2 {occured in Eljanov-Harikrishna, Stavanger 2016.}) 7... Ne8 8. f4 d6 9. Nf3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nc7 ({The game that started it all was a classic battle Shirov-Kramnik, Shanghai 2010:} 10... c4 11. a4 Bg4 (11... Nd7 12. Be2 Qb6 13. axb5 Nc7 { in the later game Mamedyarov-Karjakin.}) 12. axb5 Nd7 13. e6 fxe6 14. dxe6 Nb6 15. Be2 Nc7 16. Ng5 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 d5 ({Possibly better was} 17... Qf6 18. O-O h6 19. Nce4 Qf5) 18. O-O Qf6 19. f5 $1 {leading to a victory for the Latvian.}) 11. a4 {There comes a novelty.} (11. Bd3 c4 12. Be4 f5 $1 {worked out well for Black number of times, including Shirov-Grandelius, 2016.}) 11... Bb7 12. Bd3 h6 $2 {Hou chooses the wrong way to secure the king.} ({Granted, it was hard to ignore the threat, but} 12... Nxd5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 (14... Kg6 15. f5+ {crashes}) 15. Qh5 Qxg5 16. fxg5 Nxc3 {might just be playable for Black, e.g.} 17. O-O g6 18. Qg4 Nc6 19. bxc3 Bxc3 20. Ra3 Bd4+ 21. Be3 b4) ({ Best was} 12... g6 13. O-O c4 14. Be4 Nd7 15. exd6 Ne8) 13. O-O Bxc3 ({Now in case of} 13... c4 {White has a powerful idea in} 14. Bb1 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nxd5 16. Qc2) 14. bxc3 dxe5 15. axb5 e4 (15... Nxd5 16. fxe5 {with his bishop pair and strong pawn on b5 White should be very optimistic here:} Nxc3 17. Qd2 Nd5 18. Be4 Qd7 19. Ba3 $16) 16. Bxe4 Bxd5 17. Bb1 $1 Nd7 18. c4 $1 Bb7 ({Naturally, not} 18... Bxc4 $2 19. Qc2) ({but} 18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Ne6 {was a must, although I doubt Black can survive this.}) 19. Ra3 $1 {Shakh is incredibly strong in such positions.} Ne6 20. Qc2 ({A mere extra pawn after} 20. Rd3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Nd4 22. Qf2 Qc7 23. Bb2 Nf6 24. Bxd4 {etc. was not good enough for Shakh.}) 20... Nf6 21. Bb2 Ne4 ({Black should have tried her luck in the endgame:} 21... Be4 22. Bxf6 Bxc2 23. Bxd8 Bxb1 24. Be7 Rfe8 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. Rxb1 Re4 {although White then has the powerful} 27. b6) 22. Rd3 Qc7 23. f5 { Black's pieces are totally overwhelmed.} Nd4 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Bxd4 a6 26. b6 Qc6 27. f6 Rfd8 28. fxg7 Rd6 29. c5 Rg6 30. Ba2 Ng5 31. Rg3 Nh3+ {one last try, but} 32. Kh1 {forced resignation. It seemed Hou was a bit out of her league challenging Shakh in his home turf, but overall, she showed solid play in Sharjah. Shakh, in his stead, must be content with making up for his loss to Grischuk in the previous round and gaining a share of first place.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Grand Prix I"] [Site "Sharjah"] [Date "2017.02.27"] [Round "9"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2785"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky - Short version"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Qc1 a5 12. Nc3 Na6 13. Bd2 Nb4 14. Qb1 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 c6 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Rfd8 19. Bc3 Rd7 20. Rd2 Qd8 21. Rad1 Be7 22. h4 Rb8 23. e3 Nd5 24. Qc2 Qc7 25. Kg2 g6 26. h5 Bf8 27. e4 Nb4 28. Qb3 {A pretty routine play up this point kept a small advantage for White, but here Aronian, who was for sure frustrated with the way this tournament had gone for him, lashed out with the uncharacteristic} c5 $2 {opening up the d-file and the light squares for the opponent.} 29. dxc5 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 Qxc5 31. Rd7 b5 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Qd1 {The threat of Qd4 appears for the first time, and it won't be the last.} Nc6 34. Be2 Qb6 35. Bc4 Rb7 36. b3 Qa7 37. Rd6 $3 { How about that} ({instead of the standard} 37. Rd3 Qc5 38. Qf3 Qe7 39. Rd1) 37... Bxd6 ({The idea is visible in} 37... Qc5 38. Rxc6 Qxc6 39. Qd4) ({ so, Black's best was} 37... Rc7) 38. Qxd6 Qb6 ({The bishops rule the roost in case of} 38... Rc7 39. Bf6 Qb8 40. hxg6 hxg6 41. Bb5 $1 Qc8 {and it will be over once the white queen finds her way to the h-file:} 42. Qc5 Ne7 43. Qg5 Qf8 44. Qh4) 39. Qf4 Kf8 ({No salvation was to be found in} 39... gxh5 40. Qf6 Kf8 (40... e5 41. Bd5 Rc7 42. Bxe5) 41. Bxe6 Nd8 42. Qg7+ Ke7 43. Bd5) 40. Bxe6 Nb4 41. Qf6 Nd3 (41... Qxe6 42. Qd8+ Qe8 43. Bg7+) 42. Bd4 Qd6 43. Be3 Ne1+ 44. Kf1 {A nice note for Ding to finish the tournament he started with the disheartening loss with White to Rapport. We all know the Chinese star is going to be a contender for the top places in the entire Grand Prix series, while Levon's army of fans once again are left scratching their heads.} 1-0