[Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Szabo,Kr"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "USA"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nh3 {A rare, but a smart move. White prepares for ...e6, because the knight will be very useful from f4.} (7. Nf3 {is the main continuation.}) 7... a6 (7... Na6 {is more common,} 8. Nf4 Nc7 9. a4 Rb8 10. O-O b6 11. Rb1 Nd7 12. Nd3 a6 13. Bd2 b5 14. b3 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Qc2 Bf5 17. e4 Bd7 $13 {Burmakin-Aroshidze, Balaguer 2009, with a balanced middlegame.}) 8. a4 $146 {A novelty by Ding Liren.} (8. Nf4 {was played, for example} b5 (8... Ng4 $5) 9. cxb5 axb5 10. Nxb5 g5 11. Nh3 Qa5+ 12. Nc3 Bxh3 13. Bxh3 Ne4 (13... Nxd5 $2 {does not work because of} 14. Qxd5 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Kd1 Qxa1 17. Qxa8 $16 {and White is better}) 14. O-O Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qxc3 16. Rb1 $36 {Burmakin-Vaulin, St Petersburg 1998, with the initiative.}) 8... e6 9. Nf4 exd5 10. Nfxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Nc6 12. O-O Re8 13. Ra2 $5 {A smart move, White avoids the pin by the g7-bishop and he prepares for b3.} Rb8 14. b3 b5 {An ambitious move, but risky too, moreover this is a pawn sacrifice.} ({In the event of} 14... Be6 15. Rd2 $14 {White looks more comfortable, because he can put pressure on d6.}) 15. axb5 axb5 16. cxb5 {Probably more accurate, than 16.Nf6+.} (16. Nf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxc6 Re6 18. cxb5 Bb7 {and Black has some compensation for the pawn.}) 16... Nd4 17. b6 { Of course White tries to save his pawn.} Be6 18. e3 Nb5 {Otherwise Nc7.} 19. Bd2 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxb6 {Black has recovered the pawn, but White has a really strong bishop on d5, so his position is more tempting.} 21. Qf3 Re7 $2 { A mistake, which loses material.} (21... Qc7 {was important, however} 22. Ba5 Qe7 23. Rc1 Qf6 24. Kg2 $14 {and still it will be torture for Black.}) 22. Ba5 Qa7 23. Bd8 $1 {This is the point!} Rxd8 {Still the best practical chance.} ({ In the event of} 23... Qxa2 $2 24. Bxe7 $18 {Black can't protect the f7-pawn.}) 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Bc4 Nc3 26. Qc6 d5 27. Bd3 $1 {The most accurate reply! White wants to save his b3-pawn.} (27. Qxc5 Rb7 {and Black wins the b3-pawn.}) 27... Ra3 28. Qb6 Rc8 29. Kg2 Bf8 30. Rc1 Na2 31. Ra1 Bg7 32. Rb1 Nb4 33. Bb5 Bf8 34. e4 $1 {A very ambitious move, White sacrifices a pawn, because he wants to open files and diagonals for his pieces.} Raa8 {Threatening ...Rcb8.} (34... dxe4 {could have been met by} 35. Rd1 $1 $18 {followed by Rd7 with a decisive attack.}) 35. Bf1 Rab8 36. Qa7 Ra8 37. Qb7 Rab8 38. Qa7 Ra8 39. Qd7 c4 $6 {Black sacrifices a pawn, because he wants to prevent Bc4.} ({If} 39... dxe4 40. Bc4 $18 {and White is winning.}) ({Probably} 39... Rd8 $1 {was the most accurate,} 40. Qg4 h5 41. Qh4 Bg7 {and it is still not easy to break Black's fortress.}) 40. bxc4 dxe4 (40... dxc4 41. e5 $1 {is also dangerous for Black.}) 41. Qb7 Nc6 42. Re1 Rab8 43. Qd7 Ne5 44. Qd5 Rc5 45. Qxe4 $18 {Finally White wins the e4-pawn too; now his position is completely winning. The remaining moves do not require complicated technique from Ding Liren.} Rbc8 46. Rc1 R8c7 47. Be2 Rc8 48. f4 Nd7 49. Ra1 Nf6 50. Qf3 Re8 51. Ra8 Re6 52. Qd3 Kg7 53. Bf3 Rd6 54. Qc3 {He improves all his pieces.} h5 55. h3 Kg8 56. Qb4 Nd7 57. Bd5 Rb6 58. Qd2 Rc7 59. f5 1-0 [Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.11"] [Round "6"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2807"] [Annotator "Iotov,V"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "USA"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Qa4+ ({Another interesting option is:} 8. h3 $5 O-O 9. e3 a6 10. a4 Re8 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Be2 (12. Nc4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Bd3 Rxc4 $1 15. Bxc4 Bxb2 16. Rb1 Bc3+ 17. Ke2 $6 (17. Kf1 $142) 17... b5 $1 18. axb5 Nb6 $1 (18... axb5 $6 19. Bxb5 Ra2+ 20. Kf1 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Bc4 Ra3 23. g4 f5 24. Kg2 $16 {1-0 Sokolov, I (2650)-Fier,A (2580)/Dubai UAE 2014}) 19. Qb3 Bf6 $15) 12... Ne5 13. O-O Nfd7 14. Bg3 f5 15. Qc2 b6 16. Kh1 Nf6 17. Qb3 Rb8 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Rfe1 Bb7 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Nc4 Ne4 22. Kg1 Re7 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Bf3 Re7 25. Qxb6 Qxb6 26. Nxb6 Bxb2 27. Rd3 Be5 28. Rb3 Bc8 29. Reb1 a5 30. Nc4 $16 {1-0 Cheparinov,I (2675)-Dimov,D (2340)/Pleven BUL 2015}) 8... Bd7 9. Qb3 b5 $1 {Seems to be the most logical way for Black to create counterplay that is also in the style of the position!} (9... Qc7 10. e4 O-O 11. Nd2 Nh5 12. Be3 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Be2 Nf6 15. Nc4 Qd7 16. O-O Na6 17. Rac1 $14 {1-0 Anton Guijarro,D (2630) -Perunovic,M (2624)/Reykjavik ISL 2015}) 10. Bxd6 Qb6 11. Be5 O-O 12. e3 c4 ( 12... b4 $5 13. Nb1 Bf5 (13... Bb5 $6 14. Bxb5 Qxb5 15. Na3 Qd7 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nc4 Qxd5 18. Nb6 $1 (18. O-O $6 Qb7 19. a4 Nd7 20. Nfd2 Rad8 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. Qc2 Rfe8 23. b3 Bc3 24. Nb1 Bg7 $11 {1-0 L'Ami,E (2627)-Werle,J (2533)/Den Bosch NED 2012}) 18... Qxb3 19. axb3 Bxb2 20. Ra2 axb6 21. Rxa8 $18) 14. Nbd2 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Qd8 16. d6 a5 17. Bd3 Nxe5 18. Nfxe5 Be6 $44) 13. Qd1 b4 14. Nb1 ( 14. Ne2 $5 {Transfering the knight to f4 removes if from harm (compared to d2) and also helps secure the d5-pawn.} Rc8 15. Nf4 h6 $6 (15... Bg4 $5) 16. Bd4 Qb7 17. Ne5 (17. h4 $1 $16) 17... g5 18. Nxc4 gxf4 19. Nd6 Qxd5 20. Nxc8 Bxc8 $11 {1-0 Oparin,G (2572)-Cordova,E (2610)/Moscow RUS 2016}) 14... Rc8 15. Nbd2 (15. Be2 {Attempting to develop the kingside leaves the d5-pawn unprotected.} Qc5 (15... Bf5 16. O-O Nbd7 17. Bd4 Qa5 18. Nfd2 Nb6 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Nxc4 $16 ) 16. a3 Qxd5 17. axb4 Qxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Nc6 19. Bc3 Nd5 $44) 15... Bb5 (15... c3 $5 16. Nc4 $1 (16. bxc3 $2 bxc3 17. Nc4 Qa6 $1 18. Nd6 c2 19. Qd2 Qa3 20. Nxc8 Ne4 21. Qxc2 Bxe5 22. Nxe5 Qa5+ 23. Ke2 Nc3+ 24. Ke1 Ne4+ $11) 16... Qc5 17. bxc3 Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd4+ Kg8 20. cxb4 Qxb4+ 21. Ncd2 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 Nc6 $32) 16. a4 $1 (16. Rc1 c3 17. bxc3 Bxf1 18. Nxf1 Nbd7 19. Bd4 Qa6 20. cxb4 $2 (20. Ng3 $142 bxc3 21. Ne2 $14) 20... Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qb1 Nxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qb2+ N7f6 25. b5 Qa4 26. Nd4 Nb4 27. Qb3 Qa5 28. Ke2 Nxa2 29. Kf3 Rc3 $19 {0-1 Nezad,H (2405)-Adhiban,B (2627)/Biel SUI 2015}) 16... bxa3 17. Rxa3 ( 17. Bd4 axb2 $1 18. Bxb6 c3 $3 19. Bd4 c2 20. Bxb2 cxd1=Q+ 21. Rxd1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Nxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Ne4 Nf6 25. Nxf6 Kxf6 $11) 17... Bf8 $1 {In my opinion, an illogical continuation because it leaves the White bishop to freely roam on the a1-h8-diagonal. Yet, it also appears to be the best move in the position!} (17... Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qa1 Kg8 $1 (19... Qf6 20. Nd4 Nb4 21. Qc1 $16) 20. Be2 Nd7 21. Nd4 $14 {with an undeniable positional advantage for White due to the better pawn structure and more active piece placement.}) ( 17... Nbd7 18. Bd4 Qb7 19. d6 $16) 18. Bd4 Qb7 19. Ra1 $6 ({Placing the Black bishop to d6 where it could be a potential target due the X-Ray from the queen on d1.} 19. d6 $5 Bxd6 20. Ra1 Nd5 21. Be2 $14) 19... Nxd5 20. Be2 Nc6 $11 21. O-O Nxd4 $6 {It's needless to take the bishop straight away when it simply has nowhere to escape.} (21... Qe7 $1 22. Bc3 (22. Nxc4 $6 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Rd8 $1 $44 ) 22... Nxc3 23. bxc3 Bg7 24. Qc2 a6 $11) 22. Nxd4 a6 23. Bf3 (23. Ne4 $5) 23... Rd8 24. Ne4 Qb6 25. Nc3 Nxc3 26. bxc3 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5,Rc4,Yd4,Gf3] [%cal Ga1a6]} Rac8 27. Qc2 $6 {I don't find the queen on c2 to be of any particular use for White.} (27. Qe2 $142 {[%csl Rc4,Yf3][%cal Ge2c4,Gf3b7, Ge2f3,Gg2g3,Gh2h4] Keeps the bishop on f3 under control.} Qf6 28. g3 h5 29. h4 Rc5 30. Bb7 Rb8 31. Qf3 $14) 27... Qf6 28. Rfb1 Rc5 29. Bd1 $5 {[%cal Gc2e2, Gd1a4] Attempting to exchange the bishop on b5 - the only protector of Black's queenside.} (29. Qa2 h5 30. Bb7 Rd6 31. e4 $6 {[%cal Gb7d5]} Rxd4 32. cxd4 Qxd4 $44) 29... Bg7 (29... h5 $5) 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Rb2 {[%csl Ye2][%cal Gb2e2]} (31. Ba4 $4 Bxd4 32. cxd4 Rxd4 $19) (31. Qf1 $5) 31... Qe8 (31... h5 32. Ba4 Bxa4 33. Rxa4 a5 $11) 32. Rba2 h5 33. Ba4 (33. Qf1 $5 $14 {[%cal Gd1a4] Avoiding the complications following the game, while keeping Black at bay with no stable counterplay.}) 33... Bxa4 34. Rxa4 Bxd4 35. cxd4 Rxd4 36. exd4 Qxe2 37. dxc5 c3 38. Rc1 c2 39. Rd4 Qb5 40. Rd2 Qxc5 41. Rdxc2 Qa3 42. h4 a5 $11 { With a fair equality and zero chances for a win from both sides! The rest is a matter of playing solid chess.} 43. g3 a4 44. Re1 Qb3 45. Rce2 Qc3 46. Re3 Qb2 47. R1e2 Qb4 48. Kh2 Kg7 49. Rf3 g5 50. hxg5 h4 51. Ree3 hxg3+ 52. Kxg3 Kg6 53. Kh2 Qc4 54. Rg3 Qf1 55. Ref3 Qc4 56. Rf6+ Kg7 57. Rff3 Kg6 58. Rf6+ Kg7 59. Rff3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Sinquefield Cup 4th"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2016.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2791"] [BlackElo "2755"] [Annotator "Szabo,Kr"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.08.05"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "USA"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Nxd7 (12. Bxg4 {is the other main continuation.}) 12... Qxd7 13. Be5 Qe7 14. b3 cxb3 15. axb3 a6 {Usually Black plays this defensive move, because after d5 the b5-pawn won't be takeable immediately.} (15... Bg7 {is more popular, for example:} 16. O-O O-O 17. Bxg4 c5 18. Nxb5 Rfd8 19. Bf3 cxd4 $13 {Werle-Van Wely, London 2008, with a complicated middlegame.}) 16. Qc1 $146 {This is the novelty of the game.} (16. O-O {has been tried before} h5 17. Re1 Bg7 18. d5 O-O 19. d6 Qd8 20. b4 (20. Bd3 $5) 20... Bh6 21. Bg3 $44 {Tregubov-Motylev, Krasnoyarsk 2007, with nice compensation for the pawn.}) 16... Rg8 17. O-O Nh5 ({In the event of} 17... Nd7 {White can simply play} 18. Bg3 {.}) 18. d5 $1 {The best reply, Black's king is in the middle, so White wants to open the files.} Qxh4 $2 {The decisive mistake! Black wants to push ...g3, but the queen is out of play, White gets a strong attack!} ({In the event of} 18... exd5 19. exd5 Qxe5 20. Re1 $1 Be7 21. Bxb5 $40 {White has a strong attack}) ({, but} 18... f6 $1 19. Bh2 cxd5 20. exd5 (20. Nxb5 Rc8) 20... Kf7 21. Re1 Rc8 22. dxe6+ Kg7 23. Bxg4 Kh8 $1 $132 { and suddenly Black's king is safe, the position becomes very complicated.}) ( 18... g3) 19. g3 $1 {A very important move. White avoids ...g3 with tempo.} ( 19. dxc6 $4 {is losing immediately, because of} g3 $1 $19) ({and} 19. dxe6 $2 { is also bad, as} Qg5 $1 {and Black is safe.}) 19... Qg5 20. dxc6 $1 Qxe5 (20... Qxc1 $2 {loses because of} 21. cxb7 $18) ({and} 20... Bxc6 {could have been met by} 21. Nxb5 $1 Qxc1 22. Nc7+ Kd7 23. Raxc1 $18 {and Black has to resign.}) 21. cxb7 Rb8 22. Nd5 $1 {What a wonderful tactical blow! He opens the c-file for the queen, so White is threatening Qc8.} ({The similar looking} 22. Nxb5 $4 {is a big blunder, because of} Bc5 $1 $19 {and suddenly Black is the one who wins!}) 22... exd5 $6 {Loses immediately, but Black's position was already bad. } (22... f6 {was tougher, but} 23. Rxa6 Kf7 24. Qc7+ Qxc7 25. Nxc7 Rxb7 26. Nxe6 $18 {is also winning for White.}) 23. Qc8+ Ke7 24. Rxa6 Nxg3 $1 {Still the best practical chance.} ({If} 24... Bg7 25. Qc5+ $18 {and mate soon.}) 25. Bxb5 $1 {Again the stronger move!} Ne2+ 26. Bxe2 f6 27. Re6+ Qxe6 28. Qxb8 { What a brilliant game by Nakamura!} 1-0 [Event "Dortmund 44th"] [Site "Dortmund"] [Date "2016.07.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2810"] [BlackElo "2798"] [Annotator "Stohl,I"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "GER"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 {Another installment of the ongoing theoretical fight between Caruana and MVL in the Najdorf.} ({ Another battling ground was the} 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 {line:} {Caruana failed to make any inroads after the standard} 8. g3 (8. Ng1 {is an original idea, which has been tested mostly with shorter time controls. White has been scoring heavily here, but the knight manoeuvre looks too artificial:} b5 9. Nf3 Bb7 10. Ng5 Be7 (10... b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 $1 Nf6 (12... Nf4 13. Nxf7 Qc7 14. Bb3 $44) 13. Bxf7+ (13. Nxf7 Qc7 14. Bb3 Rg8 $13) 13... Ke7 14. O-O Nc6 15. a3 a5 16. Be3 g6 17. Bxg6 Rg8 18. Bf5 Bc8 19. axb4 Bxf5 20. exf5 axb4 { Nepomniachtchi,I (2714)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2758) Beijing blitz 2014} 21. Qd3 $5 $36 {[%cal Yf2f4]}) 11. Qf3 (11. a3 $142 $13 {Bosch}) 11... Nbd7 (11... Nc6 $5 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Bxd4 exd4 14. Nb1 {Narayanan,S (2464)-Marek,M (2326) Pardubice 2015} O-O 15. Bd3 Nd7 $17) 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 O-O 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Bd3 Nc5 16. O-O d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Qg3 Nxd3 19. cxd3 Nd7 20. Qh4 f6 21. Ne4 Qf7 22. f3 Bxe4 23. dxe4 Nc5 $15 {Svidler,P (2727)-Sasikiran,K (2639) Berlin rpd 2015}) 8... Be6 9. Bg2 b5 (9... Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. O-O Rc8 12. Be3 Nb6 13. b3 d5 $5 14. Bxb6 Qxb6 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. c4 Qd6 18. a5 f5 19. Qd3 h4 $44 { Caruana,F (2820)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2015 This positional sacrifice brought Black a resounding victory - see the notes by MVL himself in CBM 165.} 20. Rab1 e4 21. Qd4 Bf6 22. Qe3 hxg3 23. fxg3 Qc5 24. Qxc5 Rxc5 25. Rbc1 Rxa5 26. c5 {Niegsch,N (2096)-Kramer,J (2254) Willingen 2015} Bb5 $36) 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 (11. a4 $5 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bf5 14. Bd2 Rb8 15. Qe1 Be7 16. Bxb4 Qb6 17. c3 Nc5 18. a5 Qb5 19. Bxc5 {Saric,I (2680)-Duda,J (2599) Doha 2014} Qxc5 20. b4 Qa7 $44 {For more details see the notes to this game in CBM 164 by Havasi.}) 11... Be7 12. Nd5 (12. f4 Rc8 13. b3 Nc5 14. f5 Bd7 15. Bg5 Qb6 16. Kh1 Bc6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. h4 Qb7 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Bd8 21. Qe1 Kf8 22. Rc1 Nd7 23. Qb4 Qb6 24. a4 bxa4 25. Qxa4 Nf6 26. c4 a5 $15 {Nigmatov,O (2330)-Lu,S (2614) Tashkent 2016}) 12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Bf5 14. f4 Qc8 15. Rc1 O-O 16. b3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Qc5+ 18. Nd4 Bf6 19. Be3 Rfe8 $5 20. Nxf5 Rxe3 21. Kh1 Re5 22. c4 b4 23. Qxh5 g6 24. Qg4 Rxf5 25. Rxf5 Ne5 26. Rxe5 Bxe5 27. Rf1 Qd4 $11 {[%csl Ge5,Rg2] ^-, Caruana,F (2805)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2723) Stavanger 2015}) ({Fabiano goes for the English attack, but wants to avoid} 6. Be3 Ng4 { Maxime plays this with success, one recent example went} 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h4 (10. h3 {is far more popular and principled}) 10... Nc6 11. Nxc6 (11. Nb3 gxh4 12. Rxh4 h5 $13) 11... bxc6 12. Bc4 Qa5 13. Qf3 Ne5 $5 $146 ( 13... Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qxg4 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qxc3+ 17. Ke2 Qc4+ 18. Kd2 Qd4+ {½, Ivanchuk,V (2731)-Dominguez Perez,L (2754) Beijing blitz 2013}) 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxf7+ Kd8 16. hxg5 Rb8 17. Bb3 (17. Nd1 Qxg5 18. Qh5 Qxg2 19. Qa5+ Kd7 20. Be6+ Ke8 21. Qh5+ Kd8 $11) 17... Rf8 18. Qe3 Qxg5 19. Qxg5 hxg5 $44 20. f3 $6 (20. Nd1 Be5 21. c3 Rf4 $44) 20... g4 21. Ke2 a5 22. Na4 Ba6+ 23. c4 $2 (23. Ke3 c5 $36) 23... Rb4 24. Rac1 gxf3+ 25. gxf3 Bd4 26. Rc2 c5 27. Rh2 Rg8 28. Rc1 Bc8 29. Nc3 Be6 $17 {Vallejo Pons,F (2684)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2765) EU-chT Reykjavik 2015}) 6... e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 {At this branching point Vachier Lagrave always preferred the text-move.} ({Contrary to e.g. Topalov, Gelfand, Dominguez, Wojtaszek etc., who have often essayed} 8... h5 {This line still remains popular:} 9. Qd2 (9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. c4 ({Less committal is} 11. Qd2 $142 g6 {, transposing to the main line.}) 11... a5 $1 12. Be2 a4 13. Nd2 g6 14. Nb1 Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Nc3 Qb6 17. Qd2 Rh8 18. O-O-O Kf8 19. g4 hxg4 20. fxg4 a3 21. b3 Rh3 22. g5 Rxc3+ 23. Qxc3 Ne4 $15 { Shirov,A (2684)-Giri,A (2798) Zuerich blitz 2016}) 9... Nbd7 10. Nd5 (10. a4 Be7 11. Be2 Nb6 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rfd1 O-O 14. a5 Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Nc1 Qc8 17. N1e2 Rd8 18. Bg5 Qc7 19. Kh1 b5 20. axb6 Qxb6 21. b3 Rc6 22. Qd3 Rdc8 $132 {Salgado Lopez,I (2618)-Ponomariov,R (2715) Gjakova 2016}) 10... Bxd5 11. exd5 g6 {Recently Black has had more problems after} 12. O-O-O {, but the reputation of the line remains OK:} (12. Be2 Bg7 13. O-O b6 14. c4 (14. a4 O-O 15. c3 Nh7 16. a5 b5 17. Nc1 Bf6 18. Nd3 Bg5 19. Nb4 f5 20. Nc6 Qf6 21. b4 Bxe3+ 22. Qxe3 h4 23. c4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 h3 25. g3 f4 26. Qe2 Ng5 27. Kh1 Rae8 $132 {[%cal Re5e4] Caruana,F (2804)-Giri,A (2782) Paris blitz 2016}) 14... O-O 15. Rae1 (15. Rac1 Re8 16. Rc2 h4 17. Bg5 h3 18. g3 a5 19. Be3 Nc5 20. Qd1 Nxb3 21. axb3 Nd7 22. Re1 Nc5 $11 {Inarkiev,E (2660)-Areshchenko,A (2661) Germany 2016}) 15... Re8 (15... Rc8 16. Kh1 a5 17. Bg5 Qc7 18. Na1 e4 19. Nc2 exf3 20. gxf3 Ne5 21. b3 Qd7 22. Nd4 Rfe8 23. Nb5 Nh7 24. Be3 Rb8 25. Bd1 Nf6 26. Bc2 $36 {Ponomariov,R (2712)-Wojtaszek,R (2727) Huaian rpd 2016}) 16. h3 a5 17. Na1 b5 18. c5 (18. cxb5 Nb6 19. Bg5 $5 Nbxd5 $13) 18... Qb8 $1 19. cxd6 Rd8 (19... e4 $5 $132) 20. Rc1 Nb6 21. Bxb5 (21. Bc5 $142 Nbxd5 22. a4 bxa4 23. Bc4 Rxd6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6 $44) 21... Nbxd5 22. Bc6 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Ra6 24. d7 Nxd7 25. Bxd7 Rxd7 26. Nb3 Rad6 $15 {Bacrot,E (2695)-Areshchenko,A (2654) Ajaccio 2016}) 12... Nb6 13. Qa5 (13. c4 $146 Rc8 14. Na5 Nbxd5 15. Bg5 b6 16. Nb7 Qc7 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 (17... Bh6 $5 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Qxg5 Qxb7 20. Kb1 Qe7 21. Qxe7+ Nxe7 22. Rxd6 Rc6 $11) 18. Nxd6+ Bxd6 19. Qxd6 Nd7 20. Be2 a5 21. b3 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Ke7 23. Rhd1 Rc7 24. Kb2 Rb8 25. R6d5 Ke6 26. Rd6+ Ke7 27. R6d5 Ke6 28. a3 Nf6 29. Rd6+ Ke7 30. R6d2 {Dominguez Perez,L (2713)-Ponomariov,R (2706) Dortmund 2016} Rd7 $11) 13... Bh6 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. g3 Kf8 16. Kb1 Kg7 17. Be2 Rh8 18. c4 Rc8 19. Rc1 Nfd7 ({Contrary to previous examples White didn't play Qb4 and left his queen on a5. A possible improvement might be} 19... Nbd7 $5 $11) 20. Rhd1 Rc7 (20... Nc5 21. Nd2 $5) 21. Qa3 Nc8 22. Nd2 Nf6 (22... Qe7 $142 $5) 23. h3 Re7 24. g4 $1 hxg4 25. fxg4 e4 26. g5 Nd7 27. Bg4 e3 28. Qc3+ {Topalov,V (2813)-Wojtaszek,R (2734) Skopje 2015} Kh7 $1 29. Nf3 Rhe8 30. h4 $14) 9. Qd2 O-O (9... Nbd7 10. O-O-O b5 11. g4 {leads to another crossroads:} {After} b4 ( 11... O-O {tranposes back into the game.}) (11... Nb6 {is a specialty of Ian Nepomniachtchi, as mentioned least year in the notes to Carlsen-So:} 12. g5 ( 12. Qf2 Nfd7 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Nc4 15. Kb1 a5 16. Nd2 Qc7 17. h4 a4 18. a3 O-O 19. Bd3 Nf6 20. Be4 b4 21. axb4 Rfb8 22. Nxc4 Qxc4 23. Bd2 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Qxe4 25. Rhf1 Qxd5 $17 {Sevian,S (2573)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2705) Ashdod rpd 2015 }) 12... Nh5 13. Na5 (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bd7 15. Na5 Qc7 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Rg1 g6 18. c4 f6 19. Rc1 Bf5+ 20. Ka1 Bd8 21. Nc6 fxg5 22. cxb5 $146 (22. Nxd8 Qxd8 23. Bxg5 Qd7 24. h4 Rac8 25. Be2 Nf4 26. Bxf4 exf4 27. h5 Rfe8 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Bd3 bxc4 30. Bxc4 Re3 $132 {Horvat,M (2423)-Granski,M (2507) email 2012}) 22... axb5 23. Bxb5 Nf4 24. Nxd8 Qxd8 25. Rc6 Qe7 26. Bc4 Kh8 27. Qb4 Rfd8 28. Bb6 Rd7 29. a4 Qf7 30. Qb5 Rb7 31. a5 Bd7 32. Rc1 Rbb8 33. Ba2 Qf5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2732)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2703) Sochi 2016} 34. Qc4 $13) 13... Qc7 14. Kb1 O-O 15. Rg1 b4 ({Ian possibly forgot the game} 15... d5 $1 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qf2 Nf4 19. Nb3 Qc6 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Bd3 g6 $11 {/=/+, Nepomniachtchi,I (2624)-Sjugirov,S (2588) Dagomys 2009}) 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Qxa5 18. dxe6 fxe6 19. Bh3 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Rxf4 21. Bxe6+ Kh8 22. Qe2 Raf8 23. Bd5 g6 24. Qe1 Qc5 25. Be4 $14 {Ponomariov,R (2706)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2719) Almaty blitz 2016}) 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. f4 (14. Na5 Nbxd5 15. Nc4 $5 $44 { Carlsen,M (2853)-So,W (2779) Saint Louis 2015 We have already mentioned this game above, for detailed notes see CBM 168.}) 14... Nfxd5 15. Bxb6 Nxb6 16. Qxb4 {Black also has} d5 $5 ({Last year we analysed only} 16... Qc7 {and}) ( 16... O-O 17. fxe5 a5 $5 $44) 17. Qc3 (17. Qa5 e4 18. c4 O-O 19. c5 Nd7 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Rxd5 Nxc5 22. Rxd8+ (22. Rxc5 Bxc5 23. Nxc5 Rac8 24. b4 a5 25. a3 axb4 26. axb4 Rb8 27. Na6 Rbc8+ $11) 22... Rxd8 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. Bxa6 Be3+ 25. Kc2 Rd2+ 26. Kc3 Rf2 27. f5 h5 $11 {Hall,R (2640)-Van der Hoeven,D (2629) email 2012}) 17... Rc8 18. Qxe5 O-O 19. Qe3 Qc7 20. c3 a5 21. Kb1 (21. Nd4 Bd6 $11) 21... a4 22. Nd4 a3 (22... Bc5 $5 $44) 23. b3 Qxc3 24. Qxc3 Rxc3 25. Bg2 Re8 26. Rhe1 Kf8 27. g5 Bb4 28. Rxe8+ Kxe8 29. Nb5 Re3 $132 {½, Petukhov,V (2150)-Kaan,J (2142) email 2014}) 10. O-O-O Nbd7 (10... a5 11. a4 Na6 12. g4 Nb4 13. Kb1 Qc7 14. g5 Nh5 15. Bb5 Rac8 16. Rhg1 f5 17. gxf6 Nxf6 18. Qg2 Nh5 19. Nc1 Bf6 20. Nd3 Nxd3 21. Rxd3 Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Be5 25. c3 Rf6 26. Qf2 b6 27. Ba6 Rb8 28. Bd3 $14 {Topalov,V (2772)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2768) Saint Louis 2014 See the notes to this game in CBM 162 by Havasi. Afterwards MVL abandoned the line with 10...a5.}) 11. g4 b5 12. h4 { Caruana tries a new approach.} ({Earlier in blitz he went for} 12. a3 Nb6 13. Na5 Rc8 14. g5 (14. Kb1 Qc7 (14... d5 $1 15. Nb7 Qd7 16. Bxb6 d4 $40) 15. g5 Nh5 16. h4 Ng3 17. Rh2 (17. Rg1 Nxf1 18. Rgxf1 f6 19. gxf6 Rxf6 20. Bg5 Rg6 21. f4 exf4 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Rxf4 $14 {Demchenko,A (2589)-Najer,E (2681) Gjakova 2016}) 17... Nxf1 18. Rxf1 Rfd8 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Nd5 Qa7 21. h5 $36 Bf8 22. h6 g6 23. f4 Bxd5 24. exd5 Re8 25. Nc6 Qd7 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Rhf2 e4 28. Rxf7 e3 29. Qe2 Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 {Caruana,F (2795)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2788) chess. com INT blitz 2016} 31. Qf3+ Kg8 32. d6 e2 33. Qb3+ Kh8 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Ne7+ Rxe7 36. dxe7 Rxc3 37. e8=Q $18) 14... Nh5 15. Kb1 $142 (15. h4 Ng3 16. Rh2 Nxf1 (16... d5 $5) (16... Na4 $1 {/\} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Nc3 $17) 17. Rxf1 b4 18. axb4 d5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 {Caruana,F (2795)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2788) chess.com INT blitz 2016} Qxd5 21. Qxd5 Bxd5 22. Rd2 Ba8 $11) 15... g6 ( 15... Qc7 16. h4 {- 14.Kb1}) 16. h4 Ng3 17. Rh2 Nxf1 18. Rxf1 Na4 19. Nxa4 bxa4 20. Rd1 Qc7 21. h5 d5 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. hxg6 Be6 24. Rdh1 Bf5 25. gxh7+ Kh8 26. Qd5 (26. Qe1 Rfd8 27. Bb6 Bxc2+ 28. Ka1 Qxb6 29. Qxe5+ Bf6 30. gxf6 Qd4 $132 { ½, Efremov,A (2541)-Riccio,E (2606) email 2011}) 26... Be6 27. Qb7 Qxb7 28. Nxb7 Rc7 {½, Wuerschner,M (2438)-Jensen,E (2501) email 2013} 29. Na5 Rb8 $44) ({Black holds the balance in the more forcing line} 12. g5 b4 {and now:} { There are no important new developments after} 13. Ne2 (13. Na4 Nh5 14. Qxb4 d5 15. Qa5 Qxa5 $5 (15... Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 17. Kb1 dxe4 18. Nd4 Qf6 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. fxe4 Ndf6 21. b3 (21. Nc3 $5) 21... Nxe4 22. Bc4 Qf5 23. Rhf1 Nf4 24. Bd3 Qg6 25. Rg1 Qf5 26. Rgf1 Qg6 27. Rg1 Qf5 28. Rgf1 {½, Dominguez Perez,L (2734)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2754) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 For more details see the notes to this game in CBM 167 by Ftacnik.}) 16. Nxa5 d4 17. Bd2 Bxa2 18. Nc6 ( 18. Bh3 Be6 19. Bg4 g6 20. Bxh5 gxh5 21. Nc6 Bd6 22. Bb4 Bxb4 23. Nxb4 Rfc8 24. Nd3 {Manole,G-Secrieru,I email 2005} Bc4 $132) 18... Bd6 19. Nc3 Be6 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Nb6 22. f4 e4 23. Ba5 Nxd5 24. Rxd4 Rfc8 25. Ne5 Nhxf4 26. Nc4 Be7 27. Bd2 Re8 28. Rxe4 Bxg5 $11 {Inarkiev,E (2686)-Wojtaszek,R (2722) Gjakova 2016}) 13... Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5 a4 16. fxe6 axb3 17. cxb3 (17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. cxb3 Rxa2 19. Ng3 Rxf1 20. Rhxf1 Ra1+ 21. Kc2 Qc8+ 22. Kd3 Qa6+ 23. Kc2 Qc6+ $11 {Lu Shanglei (2619)-Wen,Y (2614) Xinghua 2016}) 17... fxe6 18. Ng3 $6 ({The main line} 18. Bh3 $142 Rxa2 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Ng3 Nc7 {is still considered tenable - see Radjabov-Vachier Lagrave, Tashkent 2014.}) 18... Rf3 19. Kb1 Qa5 20. Bc4 Bxg5 (20... d5 $1 21. exd5 Nb6 $40) 21. a4 Nc5 22. Nf5 { ½, Hracek,Z (2613)-Ragger,M (2695) Germany 2015} {Now the position is not so clear anymore after} Nxa4 (22... Bxe3 23. Nxe3 Kh8 $5 $15) 23. Bxg5 Nc3+ 24. Kc2 Nxe4 25. Ra1 Nxd2 26. Rxa5 Rxa5 27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Bxd2 $13) ({Similar to 12.a3 is} 12. Rg1 Nb6 13. Na5 Rc8 14. g5 Nh5 15. Kb1 g6 (15... Qc7 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxa5 19. Bd3 g6 20. c4 (20. Rg4 $5 $44) 20... Nf4 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Qxb5 Qa7 24. Be4 Rc7 25. Bd5 Qf2 26. Qb3 Qxh2 27. a4 Qf2 28. Rc1 Ra7 $132 {Caruana,F (2844)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Tashkent 2014 For details see the notes to this game in CBM 163 by Ftacnik.}) 16. a3 Qc7 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Bd7 19. h4 (19. Bd3 Bd8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6 d5 22. c3 Qxc6 23. Bc2 d4 24. cxd4 {Dominguez Perez,L (2726)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2758) Beijing rpd 2014} Bb6 $1 25. Be4 Qd6 $11) 19... Bd8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6 Qxc6 22. Bh3 Rc7 23. Qxd6 Qxc2+ 24. Ka1 Nf4 25. Bg4 b4 26. Rc1 Qb3 27. Bxf4 exf4 28. Rxc7 bxa3 29. Rg2 Bxc7 30. Qxc7 Rb8 {Saric,I (2666)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2015} 31. Qc1 axb2+ 32. Rxb2 Qa4+ 33. Ra2 Qd4+ 34. Rb2 $11) 12... Nb6 13. Qf2 (13. Bxb6 $6 Qxb6 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 a5 16. Kb1 a4 17. Nc1 b4 18. h5 h6 19. Bc4 Nd7 20. Nd3 Rab8 21. Rhe1 Bg5 22. Qf2 Qa5 23. Nc1 Nb6 24. Re4 Rfc8 $40 {Nosov,M (2169)-Borovikov,V (2584) Alushta 2009}) (13. g5 Nh5 14. Na5 $5 (14. Qf2 Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Nc5 Qc7 17. N5a4 Rab8 18. Nb6 Nf4 19. Bxf4 Rxb6 20. Be3 Rb7 21. Kb1 Rfb8 22. Bc1 Qa5 23. Qd2 Rb4 24. Ka1 Qb6 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. c3 Ra4 27. exd5 Qb3 {0-1 (27) Rizouk,A (2493)-Iotov,V (2417) Padron 2004}) 14... Rc8 (14... b4 $6 15. Nc6 bxc3 16. Qxc3) 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. Rg1 g6 18. Kb1 Qc7 19. c4 Bd8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. dxc6 Qxc6 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Bh3 Rc7 24. Bg4 Be7 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Rc1 Qb7 28. Qc2 Qd5 29. Rd1 {½, Chacon,P (2537)-Dothan,Y (2589) email 2007}) ({Too slow is} 13. h5 $6 b4 14. Nb1 a5 15. g5 Nfd7 16. g6 h6 17. gxf7+ Rxf7 18. Rg1 Kh8 $36 {/\} 19. Bxh6 Bxb3 $17) 13... Rb8 (13... Nc4 14. Bxc4 bxc4 15. Nc5 Qc7 16. N5a4 Rab8 17. h5 Qc6 18. Nb6 Bd8 19. g5 Ne8 20. Nbd5 f5 $14 {/<=>, Szalanczy,E (2420)-Vaulin,A (2520) Kecskemet 1992}) ({A more usual reaction is the immediate} 13... Nfd7 14. Kb1 (14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Nc4 16. Bd3 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Qb6 18. Qe2 (18. Qxb6 Nxb6 19. Na5 Rac8 20. Be4 g6 21. Nc6 Bd8 22. g5 Nd7 23. c3 Kg7 24. Rhg1 f5 25. gxf6+ Nxf6 $15 {Shabalov,A (2595)-Naiditsch,A (2657) Moscow 2006}) 18... a5 19. Nd2 Nc5 20. Ne4 a4 21. Kb1 a3 22. b3 Rfc8 23. Bxb5 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Rc3 25. Bc6 Rb8 26. Rd3 Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Bxh4 28. Rf1 Bg5 29. c3 g6 30. Kc2 Kg7 $11 { Perelshteyn,E (2601)-Sevillano,E (2548) Reno 2006}) 14... Qc7 (14... Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. N1e2 Rfb8 18. Ka1 a5 19. Ng3 a4 20. a3 Qb7 21. Rb1 d5 22. Nf5 Bf8 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Rhd1 $14 {Santana Penate,G (2590)-Ajoy,M (2328) email 2007}) 15. Nd5 (15. g5 b4 $1 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bf5 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. cxd3 a5 20. Rc1 Qb7 21. Rc6 a4 22. Nd2 Qb5 23. Qe2 b3 24. a3 Qxd5 $17 {Svidler, P (2713)-Kasparov,G (2812) Wijk aan Zee blitz 1999}) 15... Bxd5 16. exd5 Nc4 17. Bd3 a5 18. Bg5 Ndb6 19. Qe1 Rfb8 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Nd4 Qf6 22. Nc6 e4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Rd4 e3 25. g5 Qxf3 26. Nxb8 Rxb8 $44 {Manso Gil,A (2301) -Benlloch Guirau,A (2382) email 2007}) 14. g5 (14. Kb1 Qc7 15. g5 Nh5 16. Bh3 b4 17. Ne2 Bxh3 18. Rxh3 {Aroshidze,L (2230)-Gashimov,V (2370) Baku 1999} Rfc8 19. Rc1 Nc4 20. Nd2 d5 21. exd5 Nxd2+ 22. Bxd2 Qc4 $15) (14. Nc5 b4 15. N3a4 Nxa4 16. Nxa4 Qc7 17. Kb1 Bd7 18. Nb6 Bxg4 19. Bxa6 Be6 20. b3 {Cherkasov, N-Pisulinski,J (2345) Polanica Zdroj 1992} Qc6 21. Bd3 d5 $132) 14... Nfd7 $146 {Here this move is new.} (14... Nh5 $5 {also deserves attention:} 15. Nc5 (15. Be2 {Waardenburg,L (1580)-Chang,H (1757) Borne 2013} Qc7 $5 $15 {[%cal Yb6c4] / \Nc4}) 15... b4 16. Nb1 $5 (16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Ne2 Nc4 18. Bh3 Qd7 19. Bg4 g6 $13 {looks dangerous, but Black isn't without counterplay.}) 16... Bxa2 (16... d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Bh3 Qd6 20. Bg4 (20. Bc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Bxd5 Be3+ 24. Nd2 Rfd8 $36) 20... Nhf4 21. Bxf4 Rxf4 22. Rhe1 Rc8 $14 {/<=>}) 17. Nxa6 (17. b3 a5 18. Kb2 $44) 17... Nc4 $5 (17... Rb7 18. Nxb4 $16) 18. Nxb8 Qxb8 19. b3 Nxe3 20. Qxe3 Nf4 21. Bc4 Qc7 $44 {[%cal Yd6d5, Ye7c5]}) 15. f4 (15. Na5 Rc8 {is now useless -} 16. Nd5 $2 {runs into} Nxd5 17. exd5 Qxa5 18. dxe6 fxe6 19. Kb1 d5 20. Bh3 Rc6 $17) (15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bf5 $13) 15... exf4 {Black naturally doesn't want to allow f5.} (15... f5 16. Bh3 $1 $36 (16. gxf6 Nxf6 $15)) (15... Na4 16. Nd5 (16. f5 $5 Nxc3 17. bxc3 $40) 16... Bxd5 17. exd5 $36) 16. Bxf4 Rc8 {[%cal Yc8c3]} 17. Nd5 (17. Bxd6 Bxd6 18. Rxd6 Qc7 (18... Rxc3 19. bxc3 Qc7 20. Qd4 $16) 19. Rd4 f6 $132) ( {Caruana changes the character of the positon, but the restrained} 17. Qg3 $5 Re8 18. Kb1 $14 {was perhaps more promising.}) 17... Nxd5 (17... Bxd5 $6 18. exd5 {[%csl Gf1] is a positional concession, the Bf1 is potentially very strong and also the tactics don't work:} f6 19. Qh2 {/\} (19. g6 $5 hxg6 20. Qg2 $36) 19... fxg5 20. hxg5 Rxf4 $2 21. Qxh7+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ g6 (22... Kf8 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. g6+ Kxg6 25. Qh5+ Kf6 26. Rg1 $18) 23. Qh7+ Ke8 24. Qxg6+ Rf7 25. Rh8+ Nf8 26. Kb1 $5 $18 {[%cal Rf1e2,Re2h5]}) 18. exd5 Bg4 19. Be2 (19. Re1 f6 $132) 19... Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Re8 21. Qf3 Qc7 22. Nd4 Nb6 23. Rhe1 (23. Nc6 $6 Nxd5 $15) ({White can try to play on the f-file with} 23. Kb1 Qc4 24. Bc1 {[%cal Gf1f7] , but Black gets counterplay after} Qxd5 (24... Bf8 $5) 25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. Nxb5 axb5 27. Rxd5 Rc5 28. Rhd1 f6 $132) 23... Bf8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 {Black's pieces seem passive, but he has play on the open files and against the Pd5.} 25. Nf5 (25. Nc6 $6 Rc8 {[%cal Rb6d5]}) (25. Rf1 Qc4 26. Bxd6 Qxd5 27. Bxf8 Qxf3 28. Rxf3 Kxf8 $11) 25... Qc4 {Possibly not ideal.} (25... g6 $5 26. Nh6+ Bxh6 27. gxh6 Nd7 28. h5 Nf6 29. hxg6 (29. Bxd6 Qxd6 30. Rf1 gxh5 31. Qxf6 Qxf6 32. Rxf6 Re5 33. Rxa6 Kf8 $132) 29... fxg6 $13 {[%cal Yf6e4] might be tenable for Black, but one can understand MVL is reluctant to weaken his >>.}) (25... Nc4 26. h5 Ne5 $132) 26. b3 (26. Kb1 $143 Nxd5 27. Bxd6 Nb4 $11 (27... g6 $5 28. Bxf8 gxf5 29. Bh6 f4 30. c3 Ne3 31. Rd4 Qe6 $11 {[%cal Re6g6]})) 26... Qb4 27. c3 Rc8 28. Rd3 {An interesting pawn-sacrifice.} ({White can also fight for an advantage with} 28. Kc2 Qc5 29. Ng3 $5 (29. Kb2 a5 30. Ng3 a4 31. Ne4 Qc7 $13) 29... Qa3 (29... b4 30. Ne4 Qa5 31. a4 bxc3 (31... bxa3 32. Nxd6 Bxd6 33. Bxd6 Re8 34. Rf1 $14) 32. Bxd6 Nc4 33. Bxf8 Kxf8 34. Rd3 $36 Rb8 (34... Ne5 $2 35. Qf5) (34... Na3+ 35. Kc1 c2 36. Rc3 $16) 35. Rxc3 Ne5 36. Qd1 $16) 30. Kb1 $5 Na4 31. bxa4 Rxc3 32. Qf2 g6 $5 (32... Qb4+ 33. Qb2 Qxa4 34. Qxc3 Qxd1+ 35. Kb2 Qxd5 36. Qe3 $14) 33. Bc1 Rxc1+ 34. Rxc1 Qd3+ 35. Qc2 (35. Rc2 Qd1+ 36. Kb2 Bg7+ 37. Ka3 Qg4 38. axb5 axb5 39. Ne4 Qxe4 40. Rc8+ Bf8 $132) 35... Qxg3 36. axb5 axb5 37. Qe4 h6 $14) 28... Nxd5 29. Bd2 (29. Bxd6 $2 Rxc3+ 30. Rxc3 Qxc3+ 31. Qxc3 Nxc3 $15) 29... Nb6 $8 (29... Qa3+ $2 30. Kb1 {[%csl Ra3]} Nb6 31. Be3 (31. Nh6+ $5 gxh6 32. gxh6 $40) 31... Nc4 (31... Nd7 32. Qb7) 32. Bc1 $18) 30. Kb1 Qc5 31. Be3 Qc7 (31... Qc6 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. Nd4 Rc7 34. Nxb5 axb5 35. Bxb6 $14) 32. Qf4 {Now Black consolidates his defensive ranks. White had more testing continuations, but Fabiano was running short of time.} (32. Bf4 $5 Rd8 (32... Qc6 $5) 33. h5 $44) (32. Nh6+ $5 gxh6 33. gxh6 {[%cal Re3b6,Rf3g4]} Nd7 34. Qf5 (34. Qg4+ Kh8 35. Qg5 f6 36. Bd4 Qd8 37. Rg3 Bxh6 38. Qxh6 Qe7 $11 { [%cal Yd7e5]}) 34... Ne5 (34... f6 35. Bd2 Kh8 36. Rg3 $18 {[%cal Rf5d5,Rf5e6]} ) 35. Bd4 Bxh6 $1 (35... Ng6 36. h5 $1 $18 {[%cal Rh5g6,Rf5f6]}) 36. Bxe5 dxe5 37. Rd7 Qxd7 38. Qxd7 Rxc3 39. Qe8+ (39. Qd6 Bf8 40. Qxa6 b4 $132) 39... Bf8 40. Qxe5 Rc6 $11) 32... Re8 $1 33. h5 (33. Nxd6 $142 $1 Rxe3 (33... Bxd6 $2 34. Qxd6 Qxd6 35. Rxd6 $16) 34. Qxe3 (34. Rxe3 $2 Nd5 $19) 34... Bxd6 35. Qe8+ Bf8 36. Rd8 Qc5 37. b4 Qf5+ 38. Kc1 Qf1+ 39. Kc2 Qf5+ $11) 33... Re6 (33... Re5 34. Bd4 Re1+ 35. Kc2 (35. Kb2 $2 Nc4+ 36. bxc4 bxc4 $19) 35... Nd5 36. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 37. Qg3 Nb4+ (37... Bg7 38. gxh6 f6 39. Rd2 Qe7 $11) 38. Kd2 Be7 39. gxh6+ Kf8 40. Kxe1 Nxd3+ 41. Qxd3 Qc6 $132) 34. Kc2 Qc6 (34... Nd7 $5 $15) 35. Bxb6 $2 $138 {Now the advantage unequivocally passes to Black.} (35. Nd4 Qg2+ 36. Qf2 $5 (36. Rd2 Qe4+ $15) 36... Qxf2+ 37. Bxf2 Re5 38. Nc6 Re2+ 39. Rd2 Rxd2+ 40. Kxd2 $44 Nd5 41. a4 $1 bxa4 42. bxa4 Be7 43. Bh4 {[%cal Rc3c4]} Bf8 $11) (35. Qg4 {[%cal Rf5d4,Rf5h6]} Re4 (35... Nd5 36. Nd4 (36. Nh6+ gxh6 37. gxh6+ Kh8 38. Bd4+ Re5 39. Kb2 f6 40. Qf3 Re6 41. Qf5 Re2+ 42. Ka1 Bxh6 (42... Re1+ $11) 43. Qxd5 Qxd5 44. Bxf6+ $11) 36... Qc5 37. Nxe6 Nxe3+ 38. Rxe3 Qxe3 39. Nxf8 Kxf8 40. Qc8+ Ke7 41. Qc7+ Ke6 42. Qc8+ $11) 36. Qg2 Qe8 37. Qh3 $44) 35... Qxb6 36. Rf3 (36. Nd4 Re7 37. Rf3 d5 $15) 36... Qb7 $17 37. Ne3 $6 (37. Rf2 $142) 37... Re4 38. Qg3 Re5 39. Qf4 (39. g6 fxg6 40. hxg6 Qe4+) (39. Rf4 Be7 40. Nf5 Qh1 $40) 39... Rxg5 $1 $19 40. h6 gxh6 41. Rf2 Qd7 42. Nf5 Qe6 { White has no compensation at all and after the time-control it makes little sense to plod on 3 pawns down.} 0-1 [Event "Dortmund 44th"] [Site "Dortmund"] [Date "2016.07.12"] [Round "3"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Buhmann, Rainer"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2653"] [Annotator "Prasanna,V"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "GER"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 {Kramnik has started playing 1.e4 a bit these days. Although typically at the elite level he has faced mostly 1...e5.} e6 {You don't see the French at the top level too often, but as always Kramnik is well prepared.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 {The most critical continuation for the fight for the advantage in my opinion.} Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 (8. h4 { has also been played, but Kramnik shows his aggressive intentions after the king has castled.}) 8... O-O ({Life is also not easy for Black even if he decides to delay castling:} 8... Nc6 9. Bb5 $5 (9. Be2 {is also possible}) 9... Bb7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. f5 b5 (12... h6 13. g4 $16) 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Ne2 (14. Ng5 {is more precise here} Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qc7 16. Qf4 $16 {White's attack is quickly developing and is much faster than Black's.}) 14... c4 (14... Nb6 {is a better try for Black:} 15. Bg5 c4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qg5 h6) 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Rhf1 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Qd7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Qh3 Rh7 20. Qf3 Rh8 21. Qh3 Rh7 22. Qf3 Rh8 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qh3 {1-0 (24) Bok,B (2614)-Kjartansson,G (2457) Gjakova KOS 2016}) 9. h4 $5 {A very aggressive idea.} (9. Nd1 {is another idea for White and after 10...a5 Black has been doing okay theoretically.}) 9... Nc6 (9... Ba6 {The exchange of Black's bad light-squared bishop does not solve all his problems.} 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. h5 $14) 10. Bb5 Qc7 (10... cxd4 $6 {is not a good idea for Black.} 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 (11... Bxh4+ 12. g3 $1) 12. Bxd4 Bxh4+ 13. g3 $1 {is of course White's idea} Bxg3+ $2 14. Ke2 {White has a winning attack} Bh4 15. Qd3 f5 16. Qh3 $18) 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 (12. Bxc6 {is an alternative for White, but the move in the game is very strong and I suspect prepared by Kramnik} Qxc6 13. f5 exf5 (13... Bb7 14. Bg5 $1) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nxd5 (15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Qb7 17. Nf6+ Kh8) 15... Re8 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 $13) 12... f5 ( 12... c4 {is of course answered by} 13. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qe2 g6 16. Qg4 f5 17. Nxe6 fxg4 18. Nxc7 Rb8 19. h5 {White is winning because of the extremely bad position of the black pieces.}) 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 {Again Kramnik chooses the strongest move in the position. White has other options which are slightly less precise, but might also lead to an advantage.} (14. Ng5 cxd3 15. Nxe6 Qb7 16. Nxf8 Nxf8 17. Qxd3 $13) (14. Bf1 fxg4 15. Ng5 Ndb8 16. Qg2 $16) 14... cxd3 15. fxe6 Ndb8 (15... Ndxe5 {A defensive idea is to returning the material and consolidating the position.} 16. Nxe5 (16. dxe5 dxc2 (16... d4 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qxd3 dxe3 20. Ng5 $40) 17. Kxc2 (17. Rdg1 Bxe6) 17... Bxe6 18. Kb1 Rad8 19. Rhg1 d4) 16... Bxe6 17. cxd3 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Bb4 19. Kc2 Ba5) 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 {Kramnik has been impeccably accurate so far. } 23. e6+ $2 {White's first mistake of the game and also after which he loses all his advantage.} (23. Qh5+ $1 {is both the simplest and most precise way to continue:} Bg6 24. Qe2 Nxd5 25. Qf3 Ke7 (25... Ke6 26. c4 $18) 26. Rxd5 { White has more than sufficient compensation for the piece} Qc8 27. Qd1 Be4 28. Rd6 Bxh1 29. Qxh1 Ra7 30. Bxb6 Rd7 31. Qd5 $18) (23. g6+ $5 Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rd2 Nxd5 26. Qh6 Rg8 27. g7 Qxg7 28. Rxd5 Qg6 29. Qxg6+ Bxg6 30. Rg1 Bh7 31. Rxg8+ Bxg8 32. Rd6 $14) 23... Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rh2 (25. Rd2 {kept the balance in the position} Nxd5 26. Qd4 Bxe6 27. Qe4 Qc6 28. Bxb6 $13 {The position is equal but I believe beyond the scope of human calculation.}) 25... Nxd5 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxd5 Bh7 $2 (27... Bg6 {is winning for Black} 28. b3 Qc3 29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 $19) 28. b3 {A very hard move to make when you are a queen down but the move is also the computers top choice.} Ke8 (28... Qc3 29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 {does not work anymore because of} 31. Rd8+ $18) 29. g6 {The positon is actually equal after this because White regains most of the material back after this move.} Bxg6 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Qc3 ( 32... Kxe6 {also does not change the evaluation of the position} 33. Rff8 Qc3 34. Kb1 Nc6 35. Rxa8 Qxe3 36. Rhe8+ Ne7 37. Ra7 Qg1+ 38. Kb2 Qd4+ {Black has nothing better than to repeat for a draw.} 39. Kb1 Qg1+) 33. Bg5+ Kxe6 34. Rf6+ Qxf6 (34... Ke5 35. Re8+ Kd5 36. Kb1 {according to the computer actually gives some chances for White} (36. Rd8+ Ke5 37. Re8+ {with perpetual})) 35. Bxf6 Kxf6 36. Rh6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 Kd5 38. Kb2 Nc6 39. a3 Kc5 40. Rb7 {The endgame is drawn as Black does not have enough material to convert his position and the pawn will inevitably be exchanged.} Rg8 41. Rh7 Rg2 42. Rh5+ Kd6 43. Kc3 Rg3+ 44. Kb2 Rg2 45. Kc3 Rg3+ 46. Kb2 Rg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dortmund 44th"] [Site "Dortmund"] [Date "2016.07.12"] [Round "3"] [White "Najer, Evgeniy"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2687"] [BlackElo "2810"] [Annotator "Sumets,A"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "GER"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O h6 {Nowadays this risky plan is getting more and more popular.} 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. Nb3 g5 9. Bd2 ({ Another popular line is} 9. Ne1 Qc7 10. Nd3 Ng6 11. Bg4 Bxg4 12. Qxg4 c5 13. Nbxc5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 16. Be3 $6 Qc7 $6 (16... Qxc2 $5 17. Qb4 Qc4 18. Qa3 Qa6 {seems to be in Black's favour}) 17. Rac1 O-O-O 18. Qd4 b6 19. c4 dxc4 20. Qe4 Kb8 21. f4 gxf4 (21... Rd3 $5 22. Qxd3 cxd3 23. Rxc7 Kxc7 24. fxg5 hxg5 25. Bxg5 Nxe5 26. Bf4 Kd6 27. Rd1 Kd5 28. Bxe5 Kxe5 29. Rxd3 $11) 22. Rxc4 Qb7 23. Bxf4 Qxe4 24. Rxe4 Rh7 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2788)-Rodshtein,M (2689) Drancy FRA 2016 1-0 (59)}) 9... Qc7 ({Black can start with} 9... a5 10. a4 (10. c4 $6 Bg7 $6 (10... a4 $1 11. Nc1 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 {Black has got better chances. For instance} 13. Bd3 g4 ({or} 13... Bxd3 14. Nxd3 g4 15. Nfe1 h5 $15) 14. Nh4 a3 15. Bc3 Bxd3 16. Nxd3 h5 $15) 11. Bc3 O-O 12. Re1 a4 13. Nbd2 Ng6 14. h3 Nf4 15. Bf1 Re8 16. Re3 f6 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Nh2 c5 $132 { Popilski,G (2483)-Kreisl,R (2410) Warsaw 2013 1-0 (41)}) 10... Bg7 (10... Qc7 { leads to the game Najer,E - Caruana,F}) 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Rc1 Ng6 13. h3 O-O 14. Be3 f6 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Nh2 $2 (16. Bd3 Qf7 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. Ne5 $14) 16... Rae8 17. Nc5 e5 18. c4 e4 19. Qb3 b6 $15 {Gomez Garrido,C (2541)-Peralta,F (2588) Barcelona ESP 2016 0-1 (66)}) 10. a4 a5 11. c4 (11. Rc1 Bg7 12. c4 O-O 13. Qe1 Qb6 14. Nxa5 Ng6 $5 (14... Qxb2 15. c5 g4 16. Bc3 gxf3 17. Bxb2 fxe2 18. Qxe2 Rxa5 19. Ra1 Rfa8 $13) (14... Bg6 $6 15. c5 Qc7 16. h3 $6 (16. b4 f6 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Ne5 Ne4 19. Bc3 $16) 16... f6 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. b4 g4 19. hxg4 Nxg4 $44 20. g3 Rae8 (20... Be4 $1 21. Bc3 (21. Rc3 Nf5 22. Nb3 e5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Bf4 Nxf3+ 25. Bxf3 Qf7 $17) 21... Rxf3 22. Bxf3 Bxf3 23. Qxe6+ Kh7 24. Qd6 $13) 21. Bc3 Be4 22. Qd1 $4 Ne3 {0-1 Esserman,M (2419)-Iturrizaga, E (2624) Caleta ENG 2016}) 15. c5 Qc7 16. h3 f6 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. b4 Ne4 19. Be3 Nf4 $44 {Zaibi,A (2330)-Caruana,F (2808) Baku 2015 0-1 (35)}) (11. Ne1 Bg7 12. f4 gxf4 (12... c5 {seems to be a stronger continuation than ...gxf4} 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Nf3 c4 15. Nc1 f6 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Ne2 Ne4 18. Ne5 $6 O-O 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Ng3 Qb6 (20... c5 $1 21. c3 Rab8 $17) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Bc3 Rxf4 23. Rxf4 gxf4 $17 {Predke,A (2464)-Bocharov,D (2600) Izhevsk 2012 1/2 (49)}) 13. Bxf4 (13. Nd3 $5 Rg8 14. Kh1 Be4 15. Nxf4 Nf5 16. Bh5 Bh8 17. Nxe6 $2 (17. Qe2 $1 Ke7 18. Rae1 Rg5 19. Bf3 $16) 17... Bxg2+ 18. Kg1 Be4+ 19. Kf2 $13 { Bodnaruk,A (2402)-Danielian,E (2458) Chakvi 2015 1-0 (31)}) 13... Ng6 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15. Nxd3 b6 16. Qf3 O-O 17. Qh3 Kh7 18. Nd2 (18. Be3 $5 c5 19. Nf4 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Ndxe5 21. Nh5 $40) 18... c5 19. Nf3 c4 $4 (19... Rae8 $6 20. c3 $1 c4 21. Bxh6 $1 Bxh6 22. Ng5+ Kg7 23. Nxf7 Rxf7 24. Rxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxh6 Ndf8 26. Nf4 $18) (19... Nxf4 20. Nxf4 cxd4 21. Nh5 Nxe5 22. Nxg7 Nxf3+ 23. Rxf3 Kxg7 24. Qh5 Rh8 25. Raf1 f5 $11) 20. Bxh6 $1 Bxh6 21. Ng5+ Kg7 22. Rxf7+ $1 Rxf7 23. Nxe6+ Kh7 24. Nxc7 $18 {Swiercz,D (2665)-Kanarek,M (2532) Poznan POL 2016 1-0 (34)}) 11... dxc4 (11... Bg7 12. cxd5 (12. c5 $5 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Bc3 O-O 15. Bd3 $14) 12... Nxd5 13. Ne1 f6 14. Bh5+ Kd8 15. exf6 N7xf6 16. Be2 Ne4 17. Bd3 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Kc8 (18... Qf4 $5) 19. Rc1 Re8 20. Bxf5 exf5 $11 { Rublevsky,S (2692)-Girya,O (2456) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2015 1-0 (44)}) 12. Bxc4 Nd5 $146 {In comparison with the game Kurnosov, I - Gritsenko,A, Fabiano wants to put his bishop on e7, then his king can go to g7.} (12... Bg7 13. Rc1 b6 ( 13... O-O $5 {this is a risky decision, but I'm afraid that Black has no choice.} 14. Re1 Rfd8 15. h3 Bg6 16. Qe2 $13 {Here I would prefer to have the white pieces.}) 14. Qe2 O-O {Andrey Gritsenko admitted that the only asylem for his king is the kingside.} 15. Bd3 $1 {White's main idea is to swap the light-squares bishops.} Bg4 (15... Bxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. Bxg5 $1 hxg5 18. Nxg5 Nf5 (18... Rfe8 $2 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. f4 $18 {Black's position is hopeless}) 19. g4 Bh6 20. gxf5 Bxg5 21. f4 Bh6 22. Rf3 $1 exf5 23. Rh3 Qc6 24. d5 Qg6+ 25. Rg3 $18) 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bb1 Rac8 18. h4 gxh4 19. Qe4 f5 $2 (19... Bg6 20. Qxh4 Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Nf5 22. Qg4 Rfd8 23. Rbc1 $14) 20. Qxh4 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nd5 22. Kh1 $18 {Kurnosov,I (2660)-Gritsenko,A (2422) Vladivostok 2012 1-0 (28)}) 13. Ne1 Be7 14. Bd3 Nf8 15. Qc2 (15. Bxf5 $6 exf5 16. Nd3 Ne6 17. Rc1 Qb6 $11) 15... Bg6 $5 ({White has the better chances after} 15... Bxd3 16. Nxd3 Ng6 17. Rac1 Kf8 18. g3 Rg8 19. Nbc5 $14) 16. Rc1 ({White could have tried to fight for an advantage after} 16. Nc5 $5 Bxd3 (16... Qb6 17. Bxg6 Nxg6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Qxg6+ Kd7 20. Qd3 $16) (16... Rg8 $5 17. g3 Bxc5 18. Qxc5 Nd7 19. Qc4 Qb6 20. Rb1 $13) 17. Nexd3 Ng6 18. g3 b6 19. Ne4 Qd7 20. Rae1 Kf8 21. f4 gxf4 22. Nxf4 Ngxf4 23. Bxf4 Rd8 24. Bd2 $40) 16... Qb6 17. Bxg6 Nxg6 18. Nd3 Nh4 $1 { Black's knight is heading to f5.} 19. Rfe1 Nf5 $11 20. Re4 {Evgeniy wants to protect his d4-pawn and then he can launch an attack by means of f4.} (20. Ndc5 g4 $5 21. Qd3 h5 22. Ne4 Nb4 23. Qc4 O-O-O 24. Ng5 Bxg5 25. Bxg5 Rd5 26. Re4 $11) 20... Rg8 {Now f4 is a double-edged plan.} 21. Ndc5 Qc7 22. Qd1 b6 23. Nd3 Qd7 24. h3 (24. Be1 Kf8 25. Nd2 Rd8 26. Nc4 Qb7 27. Qf3 {with a roughly equal position.}) 24... Kf8 25. Kh2 Rd8 26. Rc4 Rc8 27. g3 $6 {It wasn't necessary to weaken the main diagonal.} (27. Re1 Kg7 28. Qh5 Rgd8 29. Rec1 (29. g3 $6 Nc7 30. h4 Qd5 31. Rc3 c5 $1 32. dxc5 b5 $17) 29... Qe8 30. Qf3 $11) (27. Qf3 Kg7 28. Re1 Rgd8 (28... b5 $5 29. Rcc1 (29. axb5 cxb5 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 31. Bxa5 Rc4 $44) 29... bxa4 30. Nbc5 Qa7 31. Qe4 Rb8 32. Rc4 $13) 29. Rec1 Qe8 $11) 27... Nc7 $1 {Fabiano is aiming to play ..b5. In order to prepare it, he transfers his knight from the central square, where it hindered other pieces from attack in the d4-pawn, to a6.} 28. Qc2 Na6 29. Ne1 Kg7 30. Nf3 b5 $15 31. Rc3 $1 (31. axb5 $6 cxb5 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Qd3 a4 34. Nc1 Bb4 $17) 31... bxa4 ({I believe that Fabiano should have tried} 31... Bb4 $5 32. Rd3 Qd5 33. Rg4 bxa4 34. Nc5 Bxc5 35. dxc5 Qxc5 36. Qxc5 Nxc5 37. Rc3 Nb3 38. Rxa4 $15 {White has good chances to make a draw.}) 32. Nc5 $6 {After this move White's position is very difficult. I think Evgeniy should have prefered Nxa5:} (32. Nxa5 $5 Nb4 33. Qb1 Qd5 34. Nc4 Na2 $1 35. Nb6 Nxc3 36. Bxc3 Qb5 37. Nxc8 Rxc8 $15) 32... Bxc5 33. dxc5 Nb4 34. Qb1 Rcd8 $6 {After this move White is more or less OK.} ({It was much stronger to play} 34... Qd5 $1 {Now White needs a good advice.} 35. Be1 ( 35. h4 Rgd8 $1 36. hxg5 h5 $1 37. Kg2 (37. Rcc4 Nd3 38. Bxa5 Nxf2 39. Bxd8 Rxd8 40. Rf4 Nd3 41. Rfe4 (41. Nh4 Nxf4 42. Nxf5+ exf5 43. Rxf4 Qxe5 44. Qxf5 Rd2+ 45. Kh3 Qxf5+ 46. Rxf5 Rxb2 47. Rf6 Rb5 $1 48. Rxc6 Ra5 $19) 41... Rb8 $19) 37... Rb8 38. Re2 Nd3 $19) (35. Re2 Rgd8 36. Be1 Nd3 37. Kg2 a3 $1 38. Rxa3 Nh4+ $1 39. gxh4 Nf4+ 40. Kf1 Nxe2 41. Kxe2 Qc4+ 42. Ke3 Qxc5+ 43. Ke2 Rb8 44. Rc3 Qb5+ 45. Ke3 Qb6+ 46. Ke2 Qa6+ 47. Ke3 Rb4 $17) 35... Rgd8 36. Kg2 Rb8 37. Re2 Qd1 38. Qe4 Nd3 $17) 35. Kg2 Qd5 36. Rcc4 Qd3 37. Qa1 $6 {In any case, after 37...Rd5 White can't take on a4 due to ...Rxc5.} (37. Qc1 $1 Rb8 (37... Na2 38. Qc2 Qxc2 39. Rxc2 Nb4 40. Bxb4 axb4 41. Rxb4 Ra8 42. h4 $11) (37... Rd5 38. Bxb4 axb4 39. Rxb4 Rb8 40. Rxa4 Qb3 41. g4 Ne7 42. Nd4 Qxb2 43. Qxb2 Rxb2 44. Ra7 Kf8 45. Ra8+ Kg7 46. Ra7 $11) 38. Bxb4 axb4 39. Rxb4 Rxb4 40. Rxb4 Rd8 41. Rxa4 (41. Nxg5 $2 hxg5 42. Qxg5+ Kh7 43. Qh5+ Nh6 44. Rh4 Qg6 $17) 41... Qe2 42. Ng1 Qxe5 43. Nf3 Qe2 44. Qc3+ Kh7 45. Qe5 $11) 37... Rd5 $1 38. Rg4 $2 {An useless move. White doesn't have enough time to play h4.} (38. Bxb4 axb4 39. Rxb4 Rxc5 40. Qa3 Qxa3 41. bxa3 Rd8 42. Rec4 $15) 38... Kh8 $2 {Fabiano could have got a winning position after 38...Rgd8.} (38... Rgd8 $1 39. Qxa4 ( 39. Qa3 Qxa3 40. bxa3 Rxd2 41. Nxd2 Rxd2 42. axb4 Ne3+ 43. Kf3 Nxc4 44. Rxc4 axb4 45. Rxb4 a3 {Black should win the endgame.}) (39. Qe1 Nd4 40. Nxd4 Rxd4 41. Rgxd4 Rxd4 42. Rxd4 Qxd4 $19) (39. Nxg5 hxg5 40. Bxg5 Kf8 41. Qxa4 Rb8 42. Qxa5 Nc2 $19) 39... Qxf3+ $3 40. Kxf3 Rxd2 41. Rge4 R8d3+ 42. Kg2 Rxb2 $1 ( 42... Rxg3+ 43. Kf1 Rxh3 44. Kg2 Rhd3 $17) 43. Rc1 Rxg3+ 44. Kf1 Rf3 45. Kg1 Rfxf2 $19) 39. Qc1 Na2 $1 40. Qe1 $2 {After this mistake Black has a winning position. Probably Evgeniy didn't have enough time for calculation.} (40. Qa1 Rb8 $1 (40... Nb4 41. Qc1 $11) 41. Qxa2 Rb3 42. Rc3 (42. Bc3 $2 Ne3+ 43. fxe3 Qe2+ 44. Kg1 Rd1+ $19) 42... Rxc3 43. bxc3 $8 (43. Bxc3 $2 Qe2 $1 $19) 43... Qe2 44. Qc4 $1 (44. Qa1 $2 Rd3 45. Nd4 Nxd4 46. Rxd4 Rxd2 47. Rxd2 Qxd2 48. Qxa4 Qd5+ 49. Kg1 Qxc5 {The endgame should be winning for Black}) 44... Rxd2 45. Qxe2 Rxe2 46. Rxa4 Rc2 47. Rxa5 Rxc3 {White should make a draw.}) 40... Rb8 $1 41. Bxg5 {White has no choice. At first we can think that White has a strong attack, however Black's knight on f5 is the perfect defender.} (41. Rxa4 Rxb2 $19) 41... hxg5 42. Nxg5 Rd7 {White has nothing for the sacrificed bishop. } 43. Rxa4 Nb4 $19 44. Qc1 Nc2 45. Kh2 Nce3 46. Ne4 Qe2 0-1 [Event "Dortmund 44th"] [Site "Dortmund"] [Date "2016.07.12"] [Round "3"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Buhmann, Rainer"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2653"] [Annotator "Prasanna,V"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.07.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "7"] [EventCountry "GER"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 {Kramnik has started playing 1.e4 a bit these days. Although typically at the elite level he has faced mostly 1...e5.} e6 {You don't see the French at the top level too often, but as always Kramnik is well prepared.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 {The most critical continuation for the fight for the advantage in my opinion.} Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 (8. h4 { has also been played, but Kramnik shows his aggressive intentions after the king has castled.}) 8... O-O ({Life is also not easy for Black even if he decides to delay castling:} 8... Nc6 9. Bb5 $5 (9. Be2 {is also possible}) 9... Bb7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. f5 b5 (12... h6 13. g4 $16) 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Ne2 (14. Ng5 {is more precise here} Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qc7 16. Qf4 $16 {White's attack is quickly developing and is much faster than Black's.}) 14... c4 (14... Nb6 {is a better try for Black:} 15. Bg5 c4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qg5 h6) 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Rhf1 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Qd7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Qh3 Rh7 20. Qf3 Rh8 21. Qh3 Rh7 22. Qf3 Rh8 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qh3 {1-0 (24) Bok,B (2614)-Kjartansson,G (2457) Gjakova KOS 2016}) 9. h4 $5 {A very aggressive idea.} (9. Nd1 {is another idea for White and after 10...a5 Black has been doing okay theoretically.}) 9... Nc6 (9... Ba6 {The exchange of Black's bad light-squared bishop does not solve all his problems.} 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. h5 $14) 10. Bb5 Qc7 (10... cxd4 $6 {is not a good idea for Black.} 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 (11... Bxh4+ 12. g3 $1) 12. Bxd4 Bxh4+ 13. g3 $1 {is of course White's idea} Bxg3+ $2 14. Ke2 {White has a winning attack} Bh4 15. Qd3 f5 16. Qh3 $18) 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 (12. Bxc6 {is an alternative for White, but the move in the game is very strong and I suspect prepared by Kramnik} Qxc6 13. f5 exf5 (13... Bb7 14. Bg5 $1) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nxd5 (15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Qb7 17. Nf6+ Kh8) 15... Re8 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 $13) 12... f5 ( 12... c4 {is of course answered by} 13. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qe2 g6 16. Qg4 f5 17. Nxe6 fxg4 18. Nxc7 Rb8 19. h5 {White is winning because of the extremely bad position of the black pieces.}) 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 {Again Kramnik chooses the strongest move in the position. White has other options which are slightly less precise, but might also lead to an advantage.} (14. Ng5 cxd3 15. Nxe6 Qb7 16. Nxf8 Nxf8 17. Qxd3 $13) (14. Bf1 fxg4 15. Ng5 Ndb8 16. Qg2 $16) 14... cxd3 15. fxe6 Ndb8 (15... Ndxe5 {A defensive idea is to returning the material and consolidating the position.} 16. Nxe5 (16. dxe5 dxc2 (16... d4 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qxd3 dxe3 20. Ng5 $40) 17. Kxc2 (17. Rdg1 Bxe6) 17... Bxe6 18. Kb1 Rad8 19. Rhg1 d4) 16... Bxe6 17. cxd3 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Bb4 19. Kc2 Ba5) 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 {Kramnik has been impeccably accurate so far. } 23. e6+ $2 {White's first mistake of the game and also after which he loses all his advantage.} (23. Qh5+ $1 {is both the simplest and most precise way to continue:} Bg6 24. Qe2 Nxd5 25. Qf3 Ke7 (25... Ke6 26. c4 $18) 26. Rxd5 { White has more than sufficient compensation for the piece} Qc8 27. Qd1 Be4 28. Rd6 Bxh1 29. Qxh1 Ra7 30. Bxb6 Rd7 31. Qd5 $18) (23. g6+ $5 Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rd2 Nxd5 26. Qh6 Rg8 27. g7 Qxg7 28. Rxd5 Qg6 29. Qxg6+ Bxg6 30. Rg1 Bh7 31. Rxg8+ Bxg8 32. Rd6 $14) 23... Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rh2 (25. Rd2 {kept the balance in the position} Nxd5 26. Qd4 Bxe6 27. Qe4 Qc6 28. Bxb6 $13 {The position is equal but I believe beyond the scope of human calculation.}) 25... Nxd5 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxd5 Bh7 $2 (27... Bg6 {is winning for Black} 28. b3 Qc3 29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 $19) 28. b3 {A very hard move to make when you are a queen down but the move is also the computers top choice.} Ke8 (28... Qc3 29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 {does not work anymore because of} 31. Rd8+ $18) 29. g6 {The positon is actually equal after this because White regains most of the material back after this move.} Bxg6 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Qc3 ( 32... Kxe6 {also does not change the evaluation of the position} 33. Rff8 Qc3 34. Kb1 Nc6 35. Rxa8 Qxe3 36. Rhe8+ Ne7 37. Ra7 Qg1+ 38. Kb2 Qd4+ {Black has nothing better than to repeat for a draw.} 39. Kb1 Qg1+) 33. Bg5+ Kxe6 34. Rf6+ Qxf6 (34... Ke5 35. Re8+ Kd5 36. Kb1 {according to the computer actually gives some chances for White} (36. Rd8+ Ke5 37. Re8+ {with perpetual})) 35. Bxf6 Kxf6 36. Rh6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 Kd5 38. Kb2 Nc6 39. a3 Kc5 40. Rb7 {The endgame is drawn as Black does not have enough material to convert his position and the pawn will inevitably be exchanged.} Rg8 41. Rh7 Rg2 42. Rh5+ Kd6 43. Kc3 Rg3+ 44. Kb2 Rg2 45. Kc3 Rg3+ 46. Kb2 Rg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Biel Masters m 49th"] [Site "Biel"] [Date "2016.07.28"] [Round "3"] [White "Svidler, Peter"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B81"] [WhiteElo "2759"] [BlackElo "2798"] [Annotator "Vachier Lagrave,M"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2016.07.25"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "4"] [EventCountry "SUI"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. h4 {An interesting attempt to immediately get things sharp on the kingside. Of course, the downside is that White loses a few tempi in the process and Black's king reaches safety in the meantime.} ({Peter went for the main line} 9. Be3 Nc6 10. f4 Nd7 11. O-O {in the rapid section of the match, and after} O-O 12. Nce2 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 e5 14. Nf5 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 16. Qd2 Bxf5 17. exf5 Rc8 18. b3 b5 {an interesting battle ensued.}) 9... Nc6 (9... Nfd7 10. g5 hxg5 11. hxg5 Rxh1+ 12. Bxh1 Bxg5 $2 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qh5+ {wouldn't have worked out, so 9...Nc6 leaves Black with more options.}) 10. g5 hxg5 11. hxg5 Rxh1+ 12. Bxh1 Nh7 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. g6 fxg6 15. Qd3 {This was Peter's idea to force ...e5 as White playing e5 is now a dangerous threat.} e5 16. Qc4 Bd7 ({ I briefly considered} 16... Nf6 17. Qxc6+ Bd7 18. Qc4 Qb6 19. Qb3 {, but I didn't feel like giving the pawn back so early without any certainty that my position is sound in the long term, as if White's light-squared bishop comes back in the game my position would immediately collapse.}) 17. Bd2 $1 (17. Be3 Bg5 18. O-O-O Bxe3+ 19. fxe3 Ke7 $15 {would be completely fine for Black.}) ( 17. Qg8+ $6 Nf8 18. Qxg7 Bg5 $15) 17... Bg5 $6 {Not the right decision as my pawn on d6 will be weak for a while, but I was scared of going} (17... Nf6 18. O-O-O Qb6 19. f4 {as I missed I could now go} Rb8 20. b3 Qd4 $1 {with an edge.} ) 18. O-O-O Qf6 (18... Bxd2+ 19. Rxd2 Qg5 20. Qb4 $14) 19. Na4 (19. Bxg5 Nxg5 20. Qg8+ Qf8 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Rxd6 Be8 23. Na4 Ke7 24. Rd3 Bf7 25. Nc5 Rh8 26. Bg2 Ne6 {would be fine for Black.}) 19... Rb8 (19... Qxf2 $3 20. Qg8+ (20. Bxg5 Nxg5 21. Qg8+ Qf8 22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. Rxd6 Be8 $11) 20... Nf8 21. Bxg5 Bg4 {would actually have worked as after} 22. Qc4 Bxd1 23. Qxc6+ Kf7 24. Qd5+ Ne6 $1 25. Qb7+ Kg8 26. Qxa8+ Kh7 27. Kxd1 Nxg5 {the bishop would be lost, and with that I would actually have the upper hand.}) 20. Bxg5 Qxg5+ (20... Nxg5 21. Qg8+ Qf8 22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. Rxd6 Ke7 (23... Be8 24. Nc5 Ke7 25. Rd3 { and White won a crucial tempo.}) 24. Rxg6 Ne6 25. Bg2 Rf8 26. Bh3 $16) 21. Kb1 Nf6 22. a3 $5 {A very annoying reply which I missed as my rook is not going tojoin the play via b4 now.} (22. Qxa6 Rb4 23. Nb6 Rd4 24. Rc1 {would also be better for White but at the same time would give me more counterplay.}) 22... Qh4 23. Qd3 d5 {I finally manage to get rid of my weakness on d6, but in the process White gets a crucial square for his knight.} 24. Nc5 (24. exd5 $2 Qxa4 25. dxc6 Bf5 26. c7 Rc8 $19 {would be premature.}) 24... d4 25. Qxa6 Qxf2 26. Rf1 $1 Qg3 (26... Qe3 27. Qa7 Rd8 28. Qc7 {would win a tempo by attacking the e5-pawn.}) (26... Qd2 27. Qa7 Rb5 28. Rxf6 $18) 27. Bf3 {A very sensible move to restrict my queen, but direct action was possible:} (27. Qa7 $1 Rd8 28. Nb7 Bh3 29. Rc1 $1 Rd7 30. Qb8+ Ke7 (30... Kf7 31. Nd8+ Kg8 32. Nxc6+ Kh7 33. Qxe5) 31. Na5 $1 {and White is going to get his pawn back with interest.}) 27... Qh3 $1 {After a long think I realised that not only could I allow Rh1, but also that it was the only decent option at my disposal.} 28. Rh1 $6 (28. Qd3 Ke7 { would still have been better for White, but it's not easy to refrain from a direct attack.}) 28... Qxf3 29. Rh8+ Ke7 30. Rxb8 Nxe4 $1 (30... Qd1+ 31. Ka2 Qxc2 32. Qa7 Kd6 {would have been ok for Black as well, but the text move works just as well.}) 31. Nxd7 $4 {Falling for my trap. The main problem for White is that his knight is hindering his other pieces so that he doesn't have a check; meanwhile his king is defenceless against the Q and N combo.} (31. Nxe4 Qh1+ 32. Ka2 Qxe4 {would have been completely fine for Black, for instance after} 33. Qd3 $2 (33. Kb1 Qh1+ $11) 33... Qxd3 34. cxd3 g5 {and Black could actually win as the g-pawn runs fast.} 35. Kb1 g4 36. Rh8 Kf6 37. Kc2 g3 38. Rh1 Kg5 {being already completely won.}) (31. Qa5 Qd1+ 32. Ka2 Qxc2 33. Qd8+ Kd6 34. Qxd7+ Kxc5 35. Qa7+ Kc4 36. Qf7+ Kd3 37. Qf3+ $11) 31... Nd2+ $1 (31... Qd1+ 32. Ka2 Nd2 33. a4 $1 {was Peter's idea as his king gets out. Now I can't play} Qb1+ 34. Ka3 Qa1+ 35. Kb4 Qxb2+ 36. Kc5 Qc3+ 37. Kb6 { as White would just be getting out of checks and easily win against Black's lone king.}) 32. Ka2 (32. Kc1 Qe3 33. Kd1 (33. c3 d3 34. b4 Qe1+ 35. Kb2 Qb1#) 33... Nf3 34. Qa5 Qg1+ 35. Ke2 Qg2+ 36. Kd3 Qf1+ 37. Ke4 Qe2#) 32... Qd5+ $1 33. b3 (33. c4 dxc3+ 34. b3 Qe4 $19) (33. Rb3 Kxd7 34. Qa7+ Ke6 35. Qxg7 Kf5 { was Peter's last chance, but Black is very likely to win this.}) 33... Qh1 34. a4 Qb1+ 35. Ka3 Qa1+ 36. Kb4 Qc3+ {The point of my intermediate check on move 32.} 37. Ka3 Nb1+ {A fairly lucky win after having been under pressure for most of this game, but anyway a very intense fight right from the start with a lot of intricacies. This game also granted me victory in the overall match.} ( 37... Nb1+ 38. Ka2 Qxc2+ 39. Ka1 Nc3 {and mate is unavoidable.}) 0-1 [Event "Danzhou 7th"] [Site "Danzhou"] [Date "2016.07.15"] [Round "7"] [White "Harikrishna, Penteala"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2755"] [BlackElo "2725"] [Annotator "Szabo,Kr"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2016.07.08"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Nd5 ({The straightforward} 10. Bg2 {is also possible, but I think the text move is more accurate.}) 10... Nxd5 (10... Nxe4 {looks too dangerous, because} 11. Bg2 Nec5 12. Nec3 Bb7 {and now the engine suggests the strange} 13. h4 $5 $44 {Black has a pawn up, but White is very active, so he has a strong compensation.}) 11. Qxd5 Rb8 12. Nc3 {Still White doesn't continue the development, as the knight goes toward d5.} Bb7 13. Qd2 $146 { A new move.} ({Five month ago Harikrishna played} 13. Qa2 Be7 14. Be3 Nf6 15. Bg2 O-O 16. O-O {with a balanced position, Harikrishna-Dominguez Perez, Huai'an blitz 2016.}) (13. Qd1 {is more common.}) 13... Nf6 (13... h4 $5 { is also possible.}) 14. Bg2 Be7 15. O-O O-O 16. Qe2 h4 17. gxh4 b5 $5 {Black is very ambitious, however it is risky too.} 18. axb5 axb5 19. h5 $1 {White befenits from the looks weak h-pawn. The pawn is protected on h5 and he is ready to push to h6.} ({The greedy} 19. Nxb5 $6 {could have been met by} Nxe4 $1 $132) 19... b4 20. Nd1 (20. Nd5 $5 {was the alternative move.}) 20... Ra8 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 22. Re1 {Otherwise ...Ba6.} Re8 $6 {Black would like to break in the centre with ...d5, but this is an inaccuracy.} (22... Rc8 {looks more natural.}) 23. c4 {White completely avoids ...d5.} ({The intermediate} 23. h6 $5 {was also an interesting option.}) 23... Bf8 24. Bd2 (24. h6) ({and} 24. Bg5 {are also possible.}) 24... Rc8 25. Bg5 ({In case of} 25. Bxb4 Qa4 {and Black's pieces become very active.}) 25... Nh7 {The knight wants to stay on the kingside.} ({If} 25... Nd7 26. h6 g6 27. h4 $40 {followed by h5 and White has a strong attack.}) 26. h4 {A logical move, because he protects the bishop by a pawn and he frees the h3-square for the g2-bishop. Nevertheless White can't continue with Ne3, as ...f6 and the g5-bishop is trapped.} ({I think} 26. Bh4 $1 {was more accurate:} Qa2 27. Ne3 $1 $16 {and White looks nicely placed.} ) 26... Qa2 $1 {The right reply, Black immediately create some counterplay on the queenside.} 27. Bf1 ({The tempting} 27. Ne3 $2 {could have been met by} f6 $1 {and the bishop is trapped.}) 27... Rc7 28. Qd3 $1 {White starts to improve his pieces.} Ba6 $2 (28... Qa8 $1 {was more accurate to avoid the unpleasant Ne3.}) 29. b3 Bc8 {This manoeuvre only helped for White.} 30. Ne3 $1 {Finally the knight can come into play.} Be6 ({Now} 30... f6 {is nothing, because of} 31. Nd5 $18 {and White is winning.}) 31. Nd5 $18 {Strategically Black's position is hopeless.} Rb7 32. Bh3 Qa8 33. Bf5 $1 {Another strong reaction.} Ra7 34. Nxb4 Ra1 35. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 36. Kg2 Bxf5 37. exf5 e4 38. Qxe4 Qc3 39. Nd5 Qxb3 40. h6 gxh6 41. Bf6 Nxf6 42. Nxf6+ Kg7 43. Nd7 {Very nice technique by Harikrishna!} 1-0 [Event "Danzhou 7th"] [Site "Danzhou"] [Date "2016.07.10"] [Round "3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Wang, Yue"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2725"] [BlackElo "2730"] [Annotator "Pavlovic,M"] [PlyCount "169"] [EventDate "2016.07.08"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 {The Scotch is an amazingly popular opening, there are lots of ideas that had been developed including many that consider 0-0-0 for White. That makes this opening rather interesting lately.} Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 dxc6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. a3 {This little move had been played already last year, the idea is to go Be3, which if played at once Black allows ...Bb4, which was played many times in the past.} (8. Be3 Bb4 9. Bd2 O-O-O 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O Nf6 12. a3 Bd6 13. h3 Nd7 14. Qe2 g5 {It looks like sharp play where Black can easily get the initiative.}) 8... O-O-O 9. Be3 Qe5 $5 {We can say that this is a possible improvement.} (9... Bxe3 10. Qxe3 Kb8 11. f4 Qe7 12. Bd3 g5 $1 13. fxg5 h6 14. gxh6 Nxh6 15. O-O-O Ng4 16. Qg3 $5 (16. Qf4 Qd6 $1 {1/2-1/2 (24) Nepomniachtchi,I (2705)-Carlsen,M (2850) Berlin (rapid) 2015}) 16... Qg5+ 17. Kb1 Qe3 18. Qxe3 Nxe3 19. Rd2 Rdg8 $11) 10. Bd3 Nf6 {An alternative was also possible:} (10... g5 11. h4 g4 12. Qf4 Qxf4 13. Bxf4 Bd4 14. Rb1 Ne7 15. h5 {with a complicated endgame ahead of us.}) 11. h3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Qf6 13. Qg3 Bd4 14. O-O Be5 {Probably best.} (14... Ne5 15. Ne2 Nxd3 16. cxd3 Qg6 17. Qf3 Bxb2 18. Rab1 Bd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Qe3 Ra4 21. Qc5 {White has an attack, having reached an opposite coloured bishops position helps here on that matter.}) 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Rad1 g5 17. Qe3 {A small finesse, first driving the black king a bit further from the centre...} Kb8 18. f4 gxf4 19. Qxf4 {And now entering an endgame, obviously the only possible idea for White here.} Qg7 20. Qf6 Rhg8 21. Qxg7 Rxg7 22. Kh2 {The position is equal, but the game is still playable for both sides. So from here who plays better the endgame will win.} c5 $6 {I can't really say it is a mistake, but why to let the knight come to the f6-square?} (22... Rdg8 23. Rf2 Rg5 24. Bf1 a5 {In my opinion neither side can improve from here, therefore we can say that the position is drawish.}) 23. Nd5 $1 c6 24. Nf4 {Now it is a bit easier for White. } Kc7 25. Be2 Rd4 26. Nh5 Rg8 27. Nf6 Rh8 28. c3 Rd6 29. Kg3 $1 h6 30. Kf4 Ng6+ 31. Ke3 a5 32. Nh5 Ne5 33. Nf4 Bb3 $6 {Another imprecise move, collection of such moves bassically had driven Black to defeat in this game.} (33... Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Bc4 $1 35. Rf1 Rd8 36. Rf2 a4 37. Nh5 Bxe2 38. Kxe2 b5 {Black has a weakness on f7 so does White on b2, this is balanced play.}) 34. Rxd6 Kxd6 35. Nd3 Nxd3 36. Bxd3 Be6 37. Rf4 Ke5 38. Rh4 Kf6 39. Be2 b6 40. Rf4+ Ke5 41. Bf3 c4 42. Rh4 Kf6 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} 43. e5+ $1 Kxe5 44. Bxc6 $14 {Finally we can say that one side, in this case White, got small pressure in the game.} f5 45. Bb5 Rg8 46. Bc6 Rg6 47. Bf3 b5 48. Rd4 Rg8 49. Rh4 Rg6 50. Rh5 Bd7 ({ Stepping back looks a bit ugly, but there is no clear way for White to improve, after all the position is reduced a lot.} 50... Kd6 51. Kd4 Rf6 $14) 51. g4 $1 a4 52. gxf5 Rf6 53. Be4 {Now it is a pawn up.} Be8 54. Rh4 Bd7 55. Bc2 Bc6 56. Rd4 Rf8 57. Be4 Rc8 58. Bxc6 Rxc6 59. Rd8 {The rook endgame is much better for White due to his bigger rook activity.} Rb6 60. Rc8 Kxf5 61. Rc5+ Ke6 62. h4 Kd7 63. Kf4 Rf6+ 64. Kg4 Rg6+ 65. Kh5 Rb6 66. Rf5 Ke7 67. Kg4 Rg6+ 68. Kf4 Rb6 69. Re5+ Kd7 $2 (69... Kf7 $1 {The only way to defend, controling the white king is essential here. The white advantage would have been kept on a minimum.} ) 70. Kf5 $1 $16 {Practically a zugzvang.} Rb8 71. Kg6 Kc6 72. Re2 Rg8+ 73. Kxh6 {Winning position.} Kd6 74. h5 Rg3 75. Kh7 Rg5 76. h6 Kd7 77. Kh8 Rg6 78. Kh7 Rg5 79. Re3 Rg2 80. Re5 b4 81. axb4 Rxb2 82. Kg6 Rg2+ 83. Rg5 Rh2 84. h7 a3 85. Ra5 1-0 [Event "Danzhou 7th"] [Site "Danzhou"] [Date "2016.07.11"] [Round "4"] [White "Leko, Peter"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2712"] [BlackElo "2725"] [Annotator "Prasanna,V"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.07.08"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [EventCategory "20"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 (8... h5 {is statistically the more popular route for Black but I believe White does have some chances of an advantage there although the whole variation is quite complex.}) 9. Qd2 h5 {A rare sibling of the traditional ... h5.} (9... O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 {is one of the main lines and is considered playable for both sides at the moment.}) 10. Be2 (10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Nbd7 {transposes to the game position after} 12. Be2) (10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Qc7 $1 (12... Nb6 $6 13. Qa5) 13. Kb1 Nb6 14. Qa5 Rc8 15. c3 Bd8 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qa4+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2 (50) Wei,Y (2641)-Zhou,J (2580) Zhongshan 2014. The chances are balanced in the final position and Black has emerged with equality from the opening.}) 10... Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 O-O 13. O-O Qb8 {A very common plan nowadays in the Najdorf and sometimes even in the Ruy Lopez especially in the d6-e5 structure.} 14. Kh1 Bd8 {Nepomniatchi had already employed the same plan with Black back in 2014 albeit unsuccessfully.} 15. f4 (15. c4 Bb6 (15... b5 $5 {might have been Nepomniatchi's planned improvement here.} 16. c5 (16. cxb5 axb5 17. a3 Re8) ( 16. Bg5 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bb6 $132) 16... dxc5 17. Nxc5 Bb6 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 {looks about equal for Black}) 16. Bxb6 Nxb6 17. f4 (17. g4 $5) 17... e4 $13 {1-0 (57) Saric,I (2666)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2735) Poikovsky 2014}) 15... Re8 16. c4 (16. fxe5 {was White's best chance to fight for an advantage:} Nxe5 17. Nd4 g6 (17... Neg4 18. Bg1) 18. c4 Qc7 {with a complicated game but one which Black has not fully equalised yet.}) 16... b5 $1 (16... Bb6 17. Bxb6 Nxb6 18. fxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 20. Nd4 $16 {White has more than sufficient compensation for the exchange.}) 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Nd4 (19. Bg1 { was White's last opportunity to keep the game complicated and the struggle going.} Qb7 20. Nd4 Bb6 21. Nxb5 $14 (21. Rxf6 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 gxf6 23. Bxh5 Kg7 24. Rf1 Rh8 $132) (21. Bxb5)) 19... Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Bg1 Qb7 22. Qc2 Ne4 23. Rae1 Qxd5 {Black is better because the central pawns are more dangerous than White's queenside pawns in the middlegame.} 24. Rf5 Qb7 25. Rb5 (25. Qxc4 {loses to} Ng3+ $19) 25... Qe7 26. Rf1 g6 27. Nf3 Qe6 28. a4 h4 29. Nd4 Qd7 30. Qxc4 h3 31. Rf4 Nc5 (31... hxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Nc5 {was the better move order.}) 32. b3 (32. gxh3 Rxa4 33. b4 {gives White some chances of defending.}) 32... hxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Rc8 34. Qf1 Bg5 35. Rf3 Ne4 36. Rd3 Qg4+ 37. Kh1 Rc1 38. Qg2 Qh4 39. Rf3 Be3 {Nepomniatchi is very accurate in converting his advantage} 40. Ne2 Nf2+ 41. Rxf2 Bxf2 42. Nxc1 Bxg1 43. Qg3 Qd4 44. Qxg1 Qd2 {White has no defense against Black's strong attack. His pieces are completely uncoordinated. } 45. Nd3 Qxd3 46. Rg5 Re2 {Serious material losses are inevitable for White and so he resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Poikovsky Karpov 17th"] [Site "Poikovsky"] [Date "2016.07.29"] [Round "6"] [White "Korobov, Anton"] [Black "Sutovsky, Emil"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D75"] [WhiteElo "2656"] [BlackElo "2622"] [Annotator "Stohl,I"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2016.07.23"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [EventCategory "18"] [SourceTitle "CBM 174"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.09.13"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 ({Last year against the same opponent, Anton went for the Anti-Grünfeld} 3. f3 {The game got a King's Indian character after} Nc6 $5 4. d5 Ne5 5. e4 d6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. f4 (7. Be2 O-O 8. f4 Ned7 9. Be3 e6 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. Nh3 Qe7 (11... b6 $142 $1) 12. O-O b6 13. Bf3 Rb8 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. Rae1 Kh8 16. Ng5 Bh6 17. Nb5 Bxg5 18. fxg5 Ne8 19. Nxa7 Ne5 20. Be2 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Ra8 22. Nb5 Rxa2 23. Na3 $16 {Nakamura,H (2787)-Xiong,J (2618) Saint Louis 2016 For more details see the notes to this game by Ftacnik in CBM 172}) 7... Ned7 8. Nh3 Nc5 9. Nf2 O-O 10. Be2 e5 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Be3 b6 13. Qc2 e5 $6 ( 13... Bb7 $142 14. O-O-O Nfd7 15. Bf3 Bh6 (15... Bxc3 $5 16. Qxc3 e5 $132) 16. g3 e5 17. Ng4 Bg7 18. h4 Ne6 (18... h5 $142 19. Nf2 Ne6 $13) 19. Ne2 Qe7 20. h5 $1 exf4 21. gxf4 Ng5 22. Bg2 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 $2 (23... Qxe4 $1 24. hxg6 hxg6 $132) 24. hxg6 $40 {Wojtaszek,R (2734)-Baron,T (2541) Skopje 2015}) 14. f5 Bb7 15. h4 gxf5 16. exf5 e4 17. O-O-O Nfd7 18. g4 Nd3+ 19. Nxd3 exd3 20. Bxd3 Bxh1 21. Rxh1 Qe8 22. Bd2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qe3+ 24. Bd2 Qg3 25. Be4 $16 {Korobov,A (2700)-Sutovsky,E (2635) Poikovsky 2015 For more details see the notes to Carlsen-Li Chao in CBM 170.}) 3... d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O (6... Nb6 {is considered more accurate, so that after} 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 $6 (8. e3 O-O 9. O-O {leads to the standard main line - see below.}) {Black has} 8... Bxc3+ $1 {with check -} 9. bxc3 Qxd5 {is a rather dubious pawn sacrifice. However, we will soon see Sutovsky has something completely different in mind...}) ({ The immediate} 6... c5 $6 {allows} 7. e4 Nf6 8. d5 $1 Qa5+ (8... Nxe4 $4 9. Qa4+) 9. Nfd2 $1 (9. Bd2 $143 Qa6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Qc2 e6 12. Bf1 c4 13. d6 Nc6 $15 {Abel,K-Szigetvari,J Gyongyos 1998}) 9... Qa6 (9... O-O 10. O-O e6 11. Nc3 $36) 10. Bf1 Qa5 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Nc4 Qa6 13. e5 Nfd7 14. f4 Nb6 15. Ne3 Qa5 16. Bd2 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5] Avrukh}) 7. O-O c5 {Emil goes for a minor sideline, which has a slightly dubious reputation already since Botvinnik's days. He was possibly counting on the surprise value of his choice, as usually he plays the main line, mainly with the aforementioned 6...Nb6 move-order. Here after} (7... Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 {White has 2 options:} 9. e3 (9. d5 Na5 10. e4 c6 11. Bf4 { A slightly more accurate move is} Nac4 $142 (11... cxd5 {allows the interesting } 12. Nxd5 $5 Nxd5 (12... Nac4 13. Nc7 Rb8 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Nd5 e5 16. Bg5 $14 ) (12... Bg4 $5 13. h3 (13. Bc7 Qd7 14. Bxb6 axb6 15. Nxb6 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Ra6 17. Nd5 {Maze,S (2547)-Cheparinov,I (2678) Helsingor 2013} Bxb2 18. Rab1 Nc4 $11) 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nxd5 {Narkun,M (2197)-Kireev,S (2295) email 2009} 15. exd5 Nc4 16. Rac1 Nd6 17. b3 $11 {/+/=}) 13. exd5 Nc4 (13... Bg4 14. Rc1 e5 15. dxe6 Bxe6 {Tkachiev,V (2650)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2703) Nimes 2009} 16. Qa4 $1 $36 {[%csl Ra5]}) (13... Bd7 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. b3 b6 16. Ne5 Rxc1 17. Qxc1 Bf5 18. b4 Nb7 19. Nc6 Qd7 20. Re1 $16 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2762)-Kovalev,V (2554) Dubai blitz 2014}) 14. Qb3 (14. b3 Nb6 15. d6 exd6 16. Nd4 (16. Rc1 Re8 17. Nd4 a6 18. Qd2 Nd7 19. Bxd6 Nf8 20. Nc2 Bf5 21. Ne3 Be4 22. Rfd1 Rc8 23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. Nd5 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qe6 26. Bc5 {½, Graf,H (2235)-Tazelaar,H (2399) email 2013}) 16... d5 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Qd2 Qf6 19. Be3 Qd6 20. a4 Rac8 21. Ne2 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Nxc8 24. Bxd5 b6 25. Bf4 {Hammer,J (2665)-Grandelius,N (2623) Oslo 2015} Qf6 $11) 14... Nd6 15. Rfe1 Bf6 16. Be5 Qa5 17. Bc3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Re8 19. c4 $6 (19. Ne5 $36 {Vachier Lagrave}) 19... Bf5 20. Ne5 f6 21. g4 Bc8 22. Nd3 b6 23. g5 $132 Bd7 24. Qb2 fxg5 $6 25. Ne5 Rad8 26. Nxd7 Rxd7 27. Bh3 Nf5 28. Bxf5 gxf5 29. Re5 $40 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2723)-Rodshtein,M (2609) Biel 2010 For details see the notes to this game in CBM 138 by Krasenkow.}) 12. Qe2 {is solid, but not too dangerous:} ({Vachier mentions the unclear and almost untested} 12. b3 $5 Bxc3 13. bxc4 $44 cxd5 14. cxd5 Bxa1 15. Qxa1 f6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. e5 $5 Bg4 (17... Qxd5 18. exf6 exf6 19. Qxf6 Qf7 20. Qxf7+ Kxf7 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. a4 $36) (17... Nxd5 $5 18. Nd4 $44) 18. d6 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 exd6 20. exf6 Kf7 21. Bg7 Rc8 22. a4 $36 {1-0 (53) Titan,M (2146)-Perus,D (2255) Sentjur 2013}) (12. Qb3 e5 (12... cxd5 13. exd5 Bf5 $132) 13. Bg5 f6 14. Nd2 Na5 15. Qb4 fxg5 16. Qxa5 Bd7 (16... g4 $5) 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Nb3 Rf6 19. Nc5 Bg4 20. Rd3 $6 (20. Rc1 $142 $13 {/+/=}) 20... Bf8 21. b4 Nc4 22. Qa4 Nb2 23. Qb3 Nxd3 24. dxc6+ Qf7 25. cxb7 Qxb3 26. bxa8=Q Qxc3 27. Qd5+ Kg7 28. Nxd3 Be6 $15 {Sundararajan,K (2449)-Kuzubov,Y (2624) New Delhi 2011}) 12... cxd5 13. exd5 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd6 16. Rfe1 Re8 17. Rac1 a6 (17... Rc8 $5 18. Nb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qd7 20. Nxd6 exd6 21. Qd2 Be5 22. h4 Bxf4 23. Qxf4 Re5 $11 { Lipka,J (2412)-Tuncer,U (2322) Austria 2014}) 18. b3 Rc8 19. Qd2 Nd7 20. Na4 ( 20. Ne4 $5 {Matveeva,S (2454)-Huang,Q (2380) Ergun 2006} Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Be5 22. Bg5 Qb8 23. Nxd6 Bxd6 {[%cal Ye8c8] and Black should gradually equalise}) 20... Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Bd4 22. Qd2 Bg7 23. h4 h5 24. Nb2 Nb5 25. Re3 Nd4 26. Bg2 e5 27. dxe6 Nxe6 28. Nc4 Nxf4 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Qxf4 b5 31. Ne3 Qe5 $11 {Carlsen,M (2855)-Wei,Y (2696) Bilbao 2016}) 9... Re8 {was the starting position of my opening survey in CBM 155. The older moves are now 10.Ne1, 10.d5 and more recently 10.Re1, but in the past 3 years the attention has shifted to other moves, mentioned in the article only fleetingly, or not at all:} 10. a3 (10. Nh4 $5 {was not even a topic in early 2013:} e5 (10... Bd7 11. f4 a5 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Nf2 e6 14. e4 Nb6 15. Nf3 a4 16. e5 Ne7 17. Ne4 Bc6 18. Re1 Ned5 19. Qe2 Nd7 20. a3 f5 21. exf6 N5xf6 22. Nc3 Nd5 23. Bh3 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bd5 25. Ng5 $14 {Aronian,L (2801)-Ragger,M (2672) Warsaw 2013}) 11. d5 Nb4 $5 (11... Na5 12. Rb1 $5 (12. Qc2 Nac4 (12... c6 $5 13. b4 Nac4 14. dxc6 e4 $44 {[%csl Rc3, Rh4]}) 13. e4 Bd7 14. a4 a5 15. b3 Nd6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Qd2 c5 18. dxc6 Rxc6 19. Rfd1 Be6 20. Nd5 Nd7 21. Rac1 $14 {Sargissian,G (2676)-Kreisl,R (2410) Warsaw 2013}) 12... e4 $142 (12... h6 13. Qc2 Nac4 (13... Bg4 $2 14. b3 Rc8 {Mareco,S (2582)-Navara,D (2702) Caleta 2014} 15. Qe4 $1 Bd7 16. Qb4 g5 17. Nf3 $18) 14. b3 Nd6 15. e4 g5 16. Nf5 (16. Nf3 $5 f5 17. a4 $14) 16... Bxf5 17. exf5 e4 18. Bb2 Nxf5 19. Nxe4 Nd6 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Kharitonov,A (2571)-Duzhakov,I (2397) Voronezh 2016} 21. Qc3+ Kg6 22. Nxd6 cxd6 23. Rbe1 $36) 13. Nxe4 Nxd5 (13... g5 $2 14. Nxg5 Qxg5 15. b3 $1 {[%csl Ra5]} Nd7 16. e4 Qe7 17. Nf5 Qf8 18. Qc2 b6 19. b4 Nb7 20. Qxc7 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 $16 {Li,C (2711)-Tomczak,J (2560) Germany 2014}) 14. Qa4 b6 15. Rd1 (15. b4 Nc4 16. b5 (16. Qc6 {Kunte,A (2480) -Karthikeyan,P (2400) Kottayam 2014} Be6 17. Qxc4 Nxe3 18. Qxe6 Rxe6 19. Bxe3 c6 $13) 16... Be6 17. Qxc4 (17. Rd1 Na5 18. Bb2 Bxb2 19. Rxb2 Qe7 20. Rbd2 Rad8 ) 17... Nc3 $2 (17... Nxe3 $132) 18. Qxc3 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 g5 20. Nf3 Qf6 21. Bb2 $18 {Maletin,P (2583)-Sazonova,E (2161) Izhevsk 2014}) 15... Bd7 16. Qc2 Nb4 17. Qe2 Bb5 (17... Qe7 $1 18. Bd2 Bc6 $11) 18. Rxd8 Bxe2 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 { Pert,N (2562)-Navarro Cia,M (2281) England 2015} 20. Nc3 $1 Rd8 21. Nxe2 Rd1+ 22. Bf1 Nxa2 23. b4 $14) 12. a3 (12. e4 c6 13. a3 Na6 14. Re1 cxd5 15. exd5 Nc4 16. Bf1 Nd6 17. Be3 b6 18. Qa4 Nc7 19. Rad1 Bb7 $132 {Raznikov,D (2506)-Troff, K (2528) Dallas 2016}) 12... Na6 13. Qc2 Qe7 14. e4 c6 15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Nf3 Nc5 17. Bg5 Qe6 18. Be3 Nb3 19. Rad1 Ba6 20. Rfe1 Bc4 21. Ng5 Qc8 22. Na4 Qa6 23. Nxb6 axb6 $11 {Wang,H (2737)-Li,C (2693) China 2013}) (10. h3 a5 (10... e5 11. d5 Na5 12. Qc2 (12. e4 c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 14. b3 Nd4 15. Bb2 Bd7 16. Qd3 Bc6 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. Qe2 Qb4 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Bf8 23. Nd5 Qd6 $11 {Neiksans,A (2594)-Turov,M (2609) Norway 2015}) 12... c6 13. b4 Nac4 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Nd2 Bf5 17. Nce4 Red8 18. Nxc4 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Nxc4 20. a3 Be6 21. Qc2 f5 22. Bf1 Nb6 23. Nc5 e4 24. Bb2 Bd5 25. Rd1 $14 {Pashikian,A (2609)-Ragger,M (2680) Martuni 2013}) 11. d5 (11. Qc2 e5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. e4 Qe7 15. Be3 (15. Kh2 Bd7 16. Bh6 Qc5 17. Rac1 Bc6 18. Nd5 Qxc2 19. Rxc2 Bxd5 20. exd5 Bd6 21. Rfc1 Rad8 22. Bg5 Rc8 23. Bf4 Bxf4 24. gxf4 Rcd8 25. Rxc7 Nxd5 26. Rxb7 Nxf4 $11 {1/2-1/2 (36) Giri,A (2727) -Topalov,V (2771) Zug 2013}) 15... Qb4 16. Rad1 Be6 17. f4 Nc4 18. Bf2 Qxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxb2 20. fxe5 Nxd1 21. Rxd1 $14 {Yuffa,D (2373)-Kokarev,D (2630) Izhevsk 2013}) 11... Ne5 (11... Nb4 12. e4 c6 13. a3 Na6 14. dxc6 (14. Be3 Nc4 15. Bd4 e5 16. dxe6 Bxe6 $132) 14... bxc6 15. Qc2 Qc7 16. Rd1 e5 17. b3 Nc5 18. Be3 Nbd7 19. Bf1 Rb8 20. Bc4 Ne6 21. Rac1 Qb7 22. Na4 $36 {Mchedlishvili,M (2645) -Babujian,L (2488) Mumbai 2013}) 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. e4 e6 $5 ({This has replaced } 13... c6 {Grischuk,A (2764)-Cheparinov,I (2702) Loo 2013} 14. Qe2 $5 $14) 14. Bh6 exd5 15. exd5 Nc4 (15... Bd7 16. Re1 a4 17. Rc1 Ra5 18. Qd3 Bf5 19. Qd2 Nc4 20. Qe2 Nd6 21. Qd2 {Bacrot,E (2720)-Cheparinov,I (2682) Dubai blitz 2014} Nc4 $11) 16. Re1 Nd6 $1 (16... Bd7 $2 17. Rxe5 Nxe5 18. f4 $16 {Sargissian,G (2671) -Navara,D (2715) Linares 2013}) 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Qd2 Nc4 19. Qc2 Nd6 20. b3 Qf6 21. Qd2 Bd4 22. Be3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Rxe3 24. Qxe3 b6 25. Ne4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Rc8 $11 {Dziuba,M (2586)-Grandelius,N (2547) Reykjavik 2013}) {The most usual reaction is still} 10... e5 (10... a5 11. Ne1 (11. d5 Bxc3 (11... Ne5 12. Nxe5 $142 $5 (12. Nd4 a4 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Rd1 Qc8 15. e4 c5 $5 (15... Nec4 16. f4 Bg4 17. Rd3 c5 18. dxc6 e5 19. cxb7 Qxb7 20. Nde2 Qa7 21. h3 Be6 22. Kh2 Rac8 $44 { Prizant,J (2540)-Kovalenko,I (2643) Dombai 2013}) 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Bf4 Nec4 18. Nf3 h6 19. Nd2 Be6 20. h4 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 Bb3 $15 {Matlakov,M (2682)-David,A (2574) St Petersburg 2013}) 12... Bxe5 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Rd1 Qc8 15. e4 (15. f4 Bg7 16. e4 e6 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. Be3 a4 19. Qf2 Bb3 20. Re1 Nc4 21. Bd4 c6 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Bf1 $14 {Shimanov,A (2664)-Zakhartsov,V (2324) Pardubice rpd 2013 }) 15... e6 (15... c6 16. Qb3 $36) 16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. a4 Rd8 18. Bh6 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Qe8 20. f4 Bg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nb5 $36 {Edouard,R (2659)-Hunt,A (2437) Hastings 2015}) 12. dxc6 (12. bxc3 Qxd5 13. Nd4 Qc4 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. e4 Be6 16. Bf4 Rad8 $15 {Jakovenko,D (2713)-Cheparinov,I (2678) Khanty-Mansiysk blitz 2013}) 12... Bg7 13. Nd4 Rb8 $5 (13... bxc6 14. Nxc6 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Kf8 16. Nd4 Rb8 17. Nc6 Ra8 18. Rd2 Be6 19. Nd4 Bd5 20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. Nc6 Ra6 22. Rc2 Nc3 23. Nxa5 Rxa5 24. Bd2 Rb8 25. Bxc3 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Rxb2 27. Rxc7 Rf5 $11 { Roiz,M (2623)-Popilski,G (2523) Acre 2013}) 14. Bd2 e5 15. Nb3 Nc4 16. Bxa5 Nxa5 17. Nxa5 b6 18. Nc4 {Kashlinskaya,A (2448)-Balaian,A (2269) Skopje 2015} e4 $1 $44 {[%cal Yc8a6,Yc8e6]} 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Bxe4) 11... Be6 12. Nd3 Bc4 13. Nc5 Bxf1 14. Qxf1 Qb8 15. Qb5 e5 16. Nxb7 exd4 17. Ne2 Na7 18. Qd3 dxe3 19. Bxe3 Bxb2 20. Rb1 Bg7 21. Nf4 Qc8 22. Bxb6 cxb6 23. Nd6 Qc3 $11 {Topalov,V (2800)-Wei,Y (2675) Caleta 2015}) (10... Bd7 11. Nd2 Qc8 12. Nde4 Bh3 13. Bxh3 Qxh3 14. Nc5 Qc8 15. b4 Nd7 16. Nb3 e6 17. Bd2 Ne7 18. Rc1 c6 19. e4 Qc7 20. Bg5 Rad8 21. Qe2 Qb8 22. Rfd1 h6 23. Be3 e5 24. d5 cxd5 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Nf6 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. f3 $14 {Xiong,J (2633)-Nasuta,G (2442) Bhubaneswar 2016}) (10... Rb8 $5 11. h3 e5 12. d5 e4 13. dxc6 exf3 14. Qxf3 bxc6 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Qe2 c5 17. Qc2 Be6 18. e4 Na4 19. Qxa4 Bxc3 20. Qxa7 Bd4 $32 {|^, Shimanov,A (2594)-Cheparinov,I (2681) Jerusalem 2015}) 11. d5 Na5 12. Qc2 e4 (12... c6 13. b4 Nac4 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Nd2 (15. Ne4 Be6 16. Rb1 Bd5 17. Nc3 e4 18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. exd4 f5 20. a4 a5 21. Rd1 Qe7 22. b5 Rac8 23. bxc6 Rxc6 24. Rb5 Bf7 25. d5 Rd6 26. Qb3 Rc8 27. Bf4 Be8 28. Bf1 {Mamedyarov,S (2747)-Sarkar,J (2426) Reykjavik 2016} e3 $5 $132) 15... Bf5 (15... e4 $5 16. Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Rd1 Qf6 18. Rd4 Be6 19. Bxe4 Rad8 $44) 16. Nce4 Be6 17. Rd1 Bg4 18. Re1 Be6 19. Nc5 e4 20. Rb1 Nxd2 21. Bxd2 f5 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Qxc3 Qd3 25. Qxd3 exd3 26. b5 $16 {Navara,D (2745)-Puranik,A (2475) Pardubice rpd 2016}) 13. Nd4 Bxd4 14. exd4 Bf5 $5 15. b4 (15. Bh6 $5 {still gives White some chances for an edge: } Nac4 16. Nxe4 Nxd5 17. Rae1 Nd6 18. f3 $14) 15... Nac4 16. Qb3 $6 (16. Nxe4 $142 $1 $11) 16... e3 $1 $36 17. Qd1 Qd7 18. Qe2 Bg4 19. Qd3 exf2+ 20. Rxf2 Re1+ 21. Rf1 Rae8 22. Ne4 R8xe4 23. Bxe4 Be2 24. Rxe1 Bxd3 25. Bxd3 Kg7 26. Ra2 Nd6 27. Rf2 Nxd5 $15 {/-/+, Shimanov,A (2594)-Navara,D (2735) Jerusalem 2015}) (7... Nc6 8. Nc3 {MVL has lately advocated} Bf5 $5 ({is only a transposition after} 8... Nb6) ({However, Black has other options:} 8... e5 9. Bg5 (9. Nxd5 e4 10. Ne5 Qxd5 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Be3 Rd8 13. Qc1 Qxc1 14. Raxc1 c6 15. Bxe4 Bxd4 16. Rfd1 Bf6 17. Rxd8+ {½, Leitao,R (2636)-Mekhitarian,K (2558) Praia da Pipa 2014}) 9... f6 10. Bc1 $5 (10. Bd2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 e4 12. Nd2 f5 13. Qb3+ Kh8 14. e3 Ne7 15. Bb4 Re8 16. Nc4 Be6 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. Na5 c6 20. a3 Rac8 21. b4 Qf7 22. Rfc1 Nb6 $15 {Michalik,P (2586)-Mekhitarian,K (2568) Tromso olm 2014}) (10. Nxd5 fxg5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Qb3 Rf7 14. Rad1 c6 15. f4 gxf4 16. Nxf4 Qe7 17. Rd3 {Grapsa,G (2032)-Dounis,A (2246) Heraklion 2014} g5 $17 {[%cal Yc8e6]}) 10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 e4 12. Nd2 f5 13. Rb1 Ne7 14. Ba3 Rf7 15. e3 b6 16. c4 Bb7 17. Qa4 c5 $6 (17... Qe8 18. Qb3 Nc6 $132) 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Rxb7 cxd4 20. exd4 Bxd4 21. Nb3 Nc8 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. c5 $36 {Borovikov,V (2556)-Dounis,A (2254) Malevizi 2016}) 9. Nd2 (9. Re1 Qd7 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Ba3 Rfe8 13. Rb1 e5 14. d5 Na5 15. Qd3 b6 16. Nd2 c6 17. c4 c5 18. Bb2 Nb7 19. f3 Bh3 20. Bxh3 Qxh3 21. Bc3 Qd7 22. Qc2 Nd6 23. a4 Rab8 24. Rb2 Bh6 $132 {Wojtaszek,R (2744)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2758) Beijing blitz 2014}) 9... Ndb4 10. e4 (10. d5 Bc2 11. Qe1 Ne5 12. a3 Na6 13. Nf3 (13. Nde4 c6 14. Bf4 Bb3 15. dxc6 Nxc6 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Qd2 f5 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Nd2 Bf7 20. Rfd1 Nc5 21. Kf1 Nd4 $15 {½, Grischuk,A (2752)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2710) Beijing rpd 2011}) 13... Nc4 (13... Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Nc5 $132) 14. Bf4 c6 15. Qc1 Bb3 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Nd2 Nxd2 {Giri,A (2773)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2723) Stavanger blitz 2015} 18. Bxd2 Nc5 19. Bh6 $14 {/=}) 10... Bc8 11. d5 Ne5 ( 11... Nd4 12. Nb3 e5 13. Ne2 c5 {Rodshtein,M (2638)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2718) Legnica 2013} 14. Nxc5 Bg4 15. f3 Qb6 16. Nxd4 Qxc5 17. fxg4 exd4 18. Bf4 $14) 12. f4 Ned3 (12... Bg4 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bxf3 15. Rxf3 c6 $11) 13. Nf3 Nxc1 14. Rxc1 e6 15. a3 Na6 16. e5 (16. dxe6 Bxe6 17. e5 $14) 16... exd5 17. Qxd5 c6 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Rfd1 Bf5 {Popilski,G (2493)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Douglas 2014} 20. Nh4 Bg4 21. Bf3 $11) 8. e4 (8. dxc5 Na6 9. Ng5 e6 10. Ne4 { is another try to fight for an advantage.} {However, Black is fine after} Bd7 $142 $1 (10... Qc7 11. Nbc3 Nxc3 12. Nxc3 Nxc5 13. Be3 (13. Bf4 e5 14. Be3 Ne6 15. Nd5 $14 {½, Stohl,I (2530)-Shirov,A (2710) Germany 1995}) 13... Rd8 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Rac1 Bc6 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rac8 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxc6 Rxc6 20. Rxc6 bxc6 21. b3 Bd4 22. Rd1 c5 23. b4 $36 {Tomashevsky,E (2688)-Mamedyarov,S (2721) Novi Sad 2009}) 11. Nbc3 (11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 Bc6 13. Nbc3 f5 {- 11.Nbc3} ) 11... Bc6 12. Bg5 (12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Nd6 Nxc5 14. Bxd5 Ba4 15. Qd2 (15. b3 Bxa1 16. Ba3 Bc6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qxa1 Qxd6 19. Rc1 Rfd8 20. Bxc5 {Rychagov,A (2552)-Kurnosov,I (2669) St Petersburg 2009} Qe6 $15) 15... Qe7 16. Rb1 Rad8 ( 16... Ne6 $5 17. b3 Bc6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nc4 Nd4 $11) 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Qf4+ Ke8 20. Be3 Bc6 $11 {Blackman,L (1751)-Dihrberg,E (1776) email 2008}) 12... f6 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 Nxc5 16. Bf3 Rac8 17. Be7 Rfe8 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Rd7 Bxc3 20. Rb1 Rb8 21. Bxb7 Ba5 22. Rb3 Rc7 $11 {Andersson,U (2582)-Lopez Martinez,J (2589) Barcelona 2009}) 13. Bd2 f5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Nc3 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nxc5 17. Be3 (17. Rc1 Rc8 {½, Khalifman,A (2614)-Safarli,E (2644) Nakhchivan 2013}) 17... Qe7 18. Rc1 Rac8 19. Rc2 b6 20. Qc1 Qb7+ 21. f3 Nd7 22. Rd1 Nf6 23. Bd4 Rfd8 $11 {Papin,V (2529)-Kurnosov,I (2669) Ulan Ude 2009}) 8... Nf6 (8... Nb6 9. d5 e6 (9... Bg4 10. h3 (10. Nc3 Qd7 11. Bf4 Na6 12. e5 Qf5 13. Nh4 Qxf4 14. gxf4 Bxd1 15. Raxd1 Rad8 16. Nb5 Bh6 17. f5 Bf4 $132 {Swiercz,D (2636)-Naiditsch,A (2724) Germany 2013}) 10... Bxf3 11. Qxf3 N8d7 12. Qe2 c4 13. Nc3 (13. Na3 Rc8 14. Rb1 $14 {Avrukh}) 13... Nc5 14. Be3 Nd3 15. Rab1 Nd7 (15... e6 $5) 16. f4 Rc8 17. e5 N7c5 18. b4 cxb3 19. axb3 Qa5 20. Ne4 $16 {Smyslov,V-Simagin,V Moscow 1961}) 10. Nc3 Na6 (10... exd5 11. exd5 Bf5 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. Re1 f6 14. Be3 Na6 15. Nd2 Rac8 {Bocharov,D (2605)-Makarov,M (2518) Krasnoyarsk 2007} 16. a4 $1 Nb4 17. Nde4 $16 {Avrukh}) 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bf4 (12. Bc1 $5 $14) 12... e5 13. Bc1 Nc4 14. Nd2 Nd6 15. f4 Nb4 16. Nf3 Qb6 17. Kh1 Bd7 18. a3 Na6 19. f5 $5 gxf5 20. Nh4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 f5 22. Ng5 Rf6 23. Ne6 $44 {Gajewski,G (2622)-Tomczak,J (2549) Warsaw 2012}) 9. e5 Nd5 (9... Nfd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. Ng5 {practically forces Black to sacrifice an exchange:} Nb6 $5 (11... Qb6 12. Qe2 cxd4 (12... Nc6 13. Qxe6+ Kh8 14. Nf7+ Rxf7 15. Qxf7 cxd4 16. Re1 Nf6 {Borovikov,V (2595)-Gutman,L (2465) Senden 2005} 17. Na3 Bf5 18. Nc4 $16 {Avrukh}) 13. Qxe6+ Qxe6 14. Nxe6 Nc6 15. Nxf8 Kxf8 16. Nd2 Nde5 (16... Nf6 17. Nb3 e5 18. Bg5 Bf5 19. Nc5 Nb4 {Kantsler,B (2440) -Zaslavsky,M (2424) Haifa 2010} 20. Rac1 $16) 17. h3 Be6 18. Rd1 Rc8 19. Ne4 Bc4 20. Rd2 Bb5 21. Ng5 Bh6 22. h4 Bxg5 23. hxg5 Nd3 24. b3 Ncb4 25. Bb2 b6 26. Rad1 $16 {Yloenen,O (1949)-Curado,M (1956) email 2011}) 12. Qe1 cxd4 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. Qxe6+ Rf7 15. Nd2 (15. Bxb7 N8d7 16. Bxa8 Qxa8 17. Nd2 Nc5 $14 {/~~}) 15... Nc6 16. Ne4 $14) 10. dxc5 Nc6 (10... Nb4 $143 11. Nc3 N8c6 12. a3 (12. Qe2 Qd3 13. Rd1 Qxe2 14. Nxe2 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bh6 Re8 17. Rd2 Nc6 18. Nf4 Bf5 19. Re1 Bg7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. a3 g5 22. Nd5 Red8 23. Red1 Bg4 24. f3 Be6 25. b4 $14 {Smyslov,V-Szabo,L Hastings 1954}) 12... Nd3 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Qb3 $1 $146 (14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ndxe5 16. Qe4 Qd3 17. Qa4 Qc4 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Bd5 Qxa4 20. Nxa4 e6 21. Ba2 (21. Bg2 $14) 21... Nf3+ 22. Kg2 Nfd4 23. g4 h6 24. Rd2 Kh7 25. f4 f5 26. Nc3 e5 27. fxe5 Bxe5 $132 {Botvinnik,M-Bronstein,D Moscow WCh 1951}) 14... Ndxe5 (14... Qd7 15. Rfd1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rd3][%cal Gd1d7]}) 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxb7 Rb8 17. Qxa7 Rxb2 18. Nd5 Re8 19. Bg5 $1 $36 { Avrukh}) ({Reviving this line in the modern era could be also connected with the main move} 10... Na6 {However, Black has to reckon with the interesting engine recommendation} 11. Qe2 (11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Qa5 (12... Qc7 13. c6 Qxc6 14. Ba3 {Komljenovic,D (2450)-Sanikidze,T (2596) Benasque 2012} Qc7 $11) ( 12... Nxc5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Ba3 Ne4 15. Bxe7 Re8 $132) 13. Be3 Nxc5 (13... Rd8 $5 $11) 14. Qd5 b6 15. Qxa8 Be6 $6 (15... Bb7 16. Qxf8+ Bxf8 $132) 16. Qc6 Rc8 17. Qxc8+ Bxc8 18. Rad1 Ne6 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Ba6 21. Rfe1 Bc4 22. Rc1 e6 23. Bf1 b5 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Re2 $16 {Stefansson,H (2585)-Sutovsky,E (2624) Reykjavik 2006}) (11. a3 Nxc5 12. b4 Ne6 13. Qb3 Nb6 (13... Nec7 14. Rd1 Bg4 15. Nc3 e6 16. Bb2 Qb8 17. Ne4 Rd8 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. exf6 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 $16 { Mamedyarov,S (2646)-Nakamura,H (2660) Lausanne 2005}) 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Nc3 Qc4 $1 (15... Bd7 16. Be3 Bc6 17. a4 $1 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. a5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nc8 21. Rd5 Qg7 22. Rad1 Nd6 23. Nb5 $36 {Avrukh; and White wins the pawn back, retaining an advantage.}) 16. Qb2 (16. Qxc4 Nxc4 17. Nd5 Re8 18. Bf4 Rb8 19. Rac1 Nxf4 20. gxf4 Nb6 21. Nxb6 axb6 22. Rc7 Ra8 23. Rdc1 Bf5 24. Nd4 Bh6 $11 { Wojtyra,S (2366)-Pietrzak,J (2355) email 2013}) 16... Bd7 17. Be3 Bc6 {White has no obvious way to profit from the exposed Qc4 and Black can finish his development and consolidate his position.} 18. Nd2 Qg4 19. h3 Qf5 20. f4 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rfd8 (21... Rad8 22. Nf3 Nc4 {Mchedlishvili,M (2632)-Vakhidov,T (2446) Dubai 2014} 23. Qe2 Qc2 24. Bf2 $11) (21... f6 $5 $132) 22. Bxb6 axb6 23. Nf3 Rac8 24. Nh4 Qh5 25. Nf3 Qf5 26. Nh4 Qh5 27. Nf3 Qf5 {1/2, Cyborowski,L (2560) -Tomczak,J (2549) Warsaw 2012}) 11... Nxc5 12. Nd4 $5 $146 {, here White can fight for an edge:} (12. Rd1 b6 $1 $132 {[%cal Yc8a6]}) 12... Nb4 13. Be3 $1 ( 13. Rd1 Ncd3 $1 14. Be3 Nxe5 $44) 13... Nd5 14. Rd1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 $32) 11. Qa4 $5 $146 {A novelty, but possibly not prepared beforehand.} ({Let's check Avrukh once again; his recommendation is} 11. Na3 Ndb4 12. Qa4 $146 {Other moves don't promise much; this hasn't been tested in practice yet:} (12. Bd2 Nd3 13. Bc3 Nxc5 14. Nc4 Bf5 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8 16. Na5 Nxa5 17. Bxa5 b6 18. Bc3 Rac8 19. Rad1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Na4 21. Bd4 Rd8 $36 {Matthiesen,A (2356)-Djuric,S (2463) Esbjerg 2005}) (12. Qe2 Qd3 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Bd2 Qxe2 15. Rxe2 Nd3 16. Be3 {Khurtsidze,N (2448)-Tsikhelashvili,G (2116) Tbilisi 2010} {and now the simple} Ndxe5 $5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Nc4 Bf6 {is fine for Black.}) {Possibly Emil's idea was} 12... Bg4 (12... Nd3 13. Rd1 Nxc5 14. Qc2 Nd7 15. e6 $1 fxe6 16. Ng5 Nd4 17. Qd3 {/\} Nb6 18. Nb5 $1 e5 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qb3+ e6 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gf4,Gg2]}) (12... Qa5 13. Qxa5 Nxa5 14. Bf4 Nac6 15. Rfd1 a6 (15... Be6 16. Nb5 $36) 16. Nc4 Be6 17. Bf1 $14 Bg4 18. Be2) 13. Rd1 Qc8 (13... Qe8 14. Nb5 $1 Rd8 15. Rxd8 Qxd8 16. Be3 $14) 14. Nc4 ( 14. Bf4 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bxe5 $11) {and now} 14... b5 $5 (14... Qe6 15. Qb3 Rad8 16. Be3 Qf5 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. Nfd2 $14 {and Black has nothing concrete.}) { Here Black's compensation seems at least sufficient after} 15. cxb6 (15. Qxb5 Nc2 16. Be3 Rb8 17. Qa4 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 Rb4 19. Qc2 Be6 $15) 15... axb6 16. Qb3 Qa6 $5 $32 (16... Be6 17. Bd2 b5 $44)) (11. Qe2 Bg4 (11... Qa5 12. Nbd2 Qxc5 13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Rd1 e6 15. h4 Qc7 16. Re1 b6 17. Bd2 a5 18. Rac1 Qd7 19. a3 Ba6 20. Qe4 Rac8 21. h5 Rfe8 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Bg5 Nce7 24. Nbd4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 27. Qh4 Nc6 $2 (27... Qc7 $1 $132 {/\} 28. Bf6 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Qh6) 28. Nxc6 Qxc6 29. Bh6 $16 {[%csl Rg8] Botvinnik,M-Ragozin,V Moscow 1951}) 12. Qe4 (12. Rd1 Nxe5 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 e6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qf6 $11) 12... Bf5 13. Qa4 Qc7 14. Na3 Rfd8 15. Nb5 Qd7 16. Nbd4 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qc7 18. Bd2 a5 19. a3 Nb4 20. Qh4 Nd3 21. e6 f6 22. Be3 Bxe6 23. Nd4 Bf7 { 1/2, Dedina,M (2308)-Canibal,J (2324) email 2010} 24. c6 Bd5 $1 25. Bxd5+ Rxd5 26. Qe4 bxc6 27. Qxd3 e5 28. Qc4 exd4 29. Bxd4 $11 {/+/=}) (11. a3 Bg4 12. Qb3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 e6 14. Rd1 Nxe5 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Rxd5 Qf6 17. Bf4 Nf3+ $1 18. Kg2 Nd4 (18... Ne1+ $1 19. Kg1 Nf3+ $11) 19. Qc4 Qc6 20. Nc3 Rad8 21. Rd1 b5 22. Qa2 a5 {Euwe,M-Toran Albero,R Beverwijk 1953} 23. Bh6 $1 Bxh6 24. R1xd4 Bg7 25. Rd3 $16) 11... Qc7 {The best. Black doesn't commit his Bc8, unpins the Nd5 and attacks the Pe5.} (11... Nxe5 $4 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Qe4 $18) (11... Bd7 12. Rd1 (12. Qb3 Ndb4 $132 {[%cal Yd7e6,Ye6f5]}) (12. Qh4 $5 e6 13. Qe4) 12... Nxe5 13. Qb3 e6 14. Nc3 $5 (14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Nd2 Bc6 17. Nc4 Qf6 $5 $13 ) 14... Nxc3 15. Qxc3 $14) 12. Rd1 Be6 $5 (12... Rd8 13. Na3 $5 $14) 13. Nc3 { White radically solves the development of his queenside.} (13. Na3 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Nc4 Qh5 $11 {/=/+ leads nowhere.}) (13. Ng5 {leads to great complications:} Rad8 $142 $1 {, a plausible sample line is} (13... Qxe5 $6 14. f4 $1 (14. Qh4 h6 (14... h5 $5) 15. Nxe6 Qe2 $1 16. Rf1 (16. Rxd5 $2 fxe6 17. Rd2 Qe1+ 18. Bf1 Nd4 $1 $19) 16... Qxe6 (16... fxe6 $5 17. Nc3 $13) 17. Nc3 g5 $11) 14... Qe2 15. Bf3 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Qa6 $8 (16... Qf2 17. Nd2 $18 {[%cal Rd2e4] }) 17. Qxa6 bxa6 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Nc3 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Bxc3 21. Rb1 $16) 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. f4 Nxe5 $5 (15... g5 {and}) (15... Ncb4 {aren't so clear either}) 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Na3 Nb4 18. c6 Qc5+ 19. Kh1 Nd3 20. Rxd3 Rxd3 21. cxb7 Rf1+ $1 22. Bxf1 Qd5+ 23. Kg1 Bd4+ 24. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 25. Kg2 Qd5+ $11) 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rfd8 $2 {Leaving the Pe5 on the board one move too long.} ({After} 14... Bxe5 $5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Rb1 Rad8 17. Bh6 Rfe8 $11 {Black has good counterplay}) ({ Better than the text move was even} 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Rb1 $5 Qxc5 17. Rb5 Qxc3 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Rxb7 Qc4 20. Rb4 Qxa2 21. Qxa2 Bxa2 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 $11 {Even if Black should lose a pawn, the resulting endgame is tenable.}) 15. Bf4 $16 {White has finished his development and for the time being he is still a pawn up.} (15. Nd4 $2 Bd7 $11) 15... Na5 (15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Bxb7 $16 {[%csl Gc5]}) (15... h6 16. Nd4 $16) 16. Ng5 Qxc5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Rd7 $5 (18. Bh3 Kf7 19. Be3 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Qxe5 21. Re1 $36 {[%cal Ye3d2]}) 18... Rxd7 19. Qxd7 Kf7 20. Rd1 Bxe5 $6 {Gives White a chance to shine tactically.} (20... Nc4 21. Qxb7 $18) ({A more resilient try was} 20... Re8 $142 {, although White has a distinct advantage after} 21. h4 {[%cal Yd1d3, Yd3f3,Yh4h5]} Nc4 (21... Qxc3 22. Bd5 $1 exd5 23. Rc1 $18 {/\} Qb4 24. e6+ Kf8 25. Qxe8+ Kxe8 26. Rc8#) 22. Bh3 (22. Rd3 Qc8 23. Qd4 $16) 22... Qc6 23. Qxc6 bxc6 24. Rd4 Nxe5 25. Re4 $16) 21. Rd5 $1 exd5 22. Bxd5+ Kf8 23. Qe6 $1 { A crucial intermediate move.} ({After} 23. Bxe5 $2 Qc8 {White has only a perpetual with} 24. Bg7+ Kxg7 25. Qxe7+ Kh6 26. Qh4+ $11) 23... Ke8 24. Bxe5 Kd8 (24... Rd8 25. Qg8+ Kd7 26. Be6+ Kc6 27. Qxd8 Qxe5 28. Bd7+ Kd6 29. Bb5+ Ke6 30. Qxa5 $18) 25. c4 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5,Ge6][%cal Re6g8] Wonderful domination, Black has no reasonable defence against Qg8.} (25. Qg8+ $6 Kd7 26. Be6+ Kc6 27. Qxa8 Qxe5 $14) 25... Qb4 (25... Qc8 26. Qg8+ Kd7 27. Be6+) (25... Rc8 26. Qg8+ Kd7 27. Be6+) (25... Nxc4 26. Bxc4 $18) 26. Qg8+ ({Korobov cashes in, but} 26. Bf4 $1 $18 {was even stronger.}) 26... Kd7 27. Qxa8 e6 (27... Qe1+ 28. Kg2 Qxe5 29. Qxa7 Qc7 30. Qd4 e5 31. Qh4 $18 {[%csl Rd7,Rh7]}) 28. Bf6 exd5 29. Qd8+ Ke6 (29... Kc6 30. cxd5+ Kb5 31. Qe8+ Ka6 32. Qe6+ $18 {[%cal Yd5d8]}) 30. cxd5+ Kf7 31. h4 (31. Bh4 $5 Qe1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. Kh3 b6 34. Qc7+ Kf8 35. Qb8+ $18) 31... Nc4 (31... Qe1+ $142 32. Kg2 Qe8 33. Qxa5 Kxf6 34. Qb4 $16 {/+- }) 32. Bd4 Qd6 33. Qh8 h5 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Qxb7 Qd7 36. Qa8+ Ke7 37. Bc5+ ({ White rightly prefers continuing his attack to} 37. Qxa7 $18) 37... Kf6 (37... Nd6 38. Qh8 $18) 38. Qf8+ (38. Qf8+ Ke5 39. Qf4+ Kxd5 40. Qd4+ $18) 1-0 [Event "Baku ol (Men) 42nd"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2016.09.05"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Korobov, Anton"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D95"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2740"] [Annotator "Sumets,A"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2016.09.02"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "CBM 175"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.11.10"] [WhiteTeam "Ukraine"] [BlackTeam "Russia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"] [BlackTeamCountry "RUS"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd2 {White tries to prevent ...c5. He puts his bishop on d2 instead of the usual f4-square.} c6 { Jan prefers to play a good version of the Schlechter variation.} ({At the moment, Black doesn't have many problems after} 6... c5 7. dxc5 Nc6 {looks a little bit artificial. I think Black should try to attack the c5-pawn.} (7... Na6 8. cxd5 Nxc5 9. Bc4 {Black has many ways to get an equal position.} Bf5 ( 9... a6 10. a4 b6 (10... Bf5 11. O-O Rc8 12. Qe2 Nfe4 $11) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Be1 (12. b4 $5 Nce4 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Qb3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Qb2 $13) 12... Rc8 (12... b5 $5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Nxb5 Nxd5 16. b4 Na4 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nc7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qa7 $44 {Lenderman,A (2626)-Cumming,R (2140) London ENG 2015 1/2 (41)}) 13. Rc1 Qd6 14. Rc2 $6 Rfd8 15. h3 e6 16. Qe2 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 $15 {Kovalenko,I (2650)-Ruck,R (2568) Bastia 2014 0-1 (55)}) 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qe2 Nfe4 12. Nd4 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Qb4 Bxd4 16. exd4 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxe7 Qxd4 ({In the following correspondence game Black managed to get a better position after} 18... Rfe8 $1 19. Qa3 a6 20. Qd3 Re4 21. Rad1 Rc4 22. b3 Rcxd4 23. Qf3 h5 24. h3 b5 25. a3 Qd6 26. b4 Qd5 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 $15 {Bradney,R (1979)-Ristea,T (2338) ICCF 2013 0-1 (55); and Black has won this correspondence game. Now White could trade queens, exchange his 2 queenside pawns for the a6-pawn and find Dvoretsky's article, in which he explains how to make a draw.}) 19. Qxb7 Rb8 20. Qa6 Rxb2 21. Rad1 $11 {Zhang,Z (2600)-Le,Q (2709) Ho Chi Minh City 2014 1/2 (31)}) 8. Rc1 Bg4 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ndb4 12. Qe4 Qd7 13. Be2 $6 {Now Black could regain the pawn.} (13. Rd1 $1 Rfd8 14. Be2 Rac8 15. Qb1 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Rxd3 18. Ke2 Rcd8 19. Na4 $16) 13... Bxc3 $1 14. Bxc3 Nxa2 $11 15. Rc2 Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Rfd8 17. O-O Qd2 18. Rc2 Qb4 19. Bf3 {1/2 (19) Ponomariov,R (2743)-Volokitin,A (2687) Kiev 2013}) 7. Qb3 e6 8. Bd3 {If Black takes on c4 then there is no difference between 8.Bd3 and 8.Be2; but Bd3 prevents the manoeuvre Ne4, Nd2.} (8. Be2 Ne4 (8... Nbd7 9. O-O Ne4 10. Rfd1 Nxd2 11. Rxd2 Qe7 12. Qc2 b6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5 a6 15. Qc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 Nf6 ( 16... Qd8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Qa4 a5 19. Rc2 $14) 17. Rc2 (17. Ne5) 17... Bd7 18. Qc7 Rfd8 19. Ne5 $2 (19. Rc6 Bf8 20. Rxb6 Ba4 21. Qxe7 Bxe7 22. Nb7 Rdc8 23. Ne5 $11) 19... Bf8 $1 20. Nexf7 Ne8 21. Qc3 (21. Nxe8 Qxf7 22. Nd6 Qe7 $19) 21... Nxd6 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 $17 {Burmakin,V (2590)-Cori,J (2608) Barcelona 2014 1/ 2 (33)}) 9. Rd1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxd2 11. Rxd2 c5 $6 (11... Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. e4 Bb7 {with a roughly equal position}) 12. d5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Qb6 14. Qxb6 $6 { This is a concession, Black's rook becomes an active piece and the c5-pawn is protected.} (14. Ng5 $1 Qxb3 15. Bxb3 Nc6 16. Nce4 $14) 14... axb6 15. Ne4 Nc6 16. Nd6 Be6 (16... Ne7 $1 17. Bc4 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. a3 Rfd8 $11) 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Ng5 Rd7 20. Nge4 $14 {Sivuk,V (2512)-Gupta,A (2633) Olongapo City PHI 2015 1-0 (41)}) 8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. O-O c5 11. Rfd1 Qe7 $146 (11... cxd4 12. exd4 Nb6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. Ne5 Bc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bf4 Nfd5 17. Bg3 Nc8 18. Qb7 Nce7 19. Nxd5 (19. Ne4 $6 Nf5) 19... cxd5 20. Bc7 Qc8 21. Ba6 Qxb7 22. Bxb7 Rab8 $8 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 $44 {Aleksandrov,A (2595)-Sturua,Z (2600) Elista 1998 1-0 (54)}) 12. Rac1 b6 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 $5 Rb8 (14... Nxd5 $6 15. Nxd5 Qd8 16. e4 h6 17. Bc3 $16) 15. e4 Ne5 16. Bf4 Nh5 (16... Nxf3+ $5 17. gxf3 Nd7 18. Bxb8 Nxb8 $44 {Black can create dangerous threats by means of ...Qh4, ...Be5 and if White plays Ne2 then ...Ba6.}) 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. g3 {If White wants to get some advantage he needs to grab space. However Anton took risks because his king became less protected.} Bg4 20. Rd2 $14 Qe7 21. f4 $6 ({White should have preferred} 21. Re1 Rbd8 22. Kg2 Nf6 23. f3 Be6 24. Red1 $14 {with some pressure.}) 21... Rbd8 22. e5 $6 {Another careless move.} (22. Qc2 Nf6 23. e5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Qe6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 $11) 22... Nf6 {With the help of tactical tricks Ian has got an equal position. I think he could have got more after 22...g5:} (22... g5 $1 23. Ne4 gxf4 24. Nd6 Rd7 25. Qc3 Qg5 $40 26. Ne4 Qg6 $15) 23. Rcc2 (23. exf6 $4 Qe3+ $19) (23. Qc2 $11) 23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Qe6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Nxg4 {White has no advantage and even more, Black can create some threats because White's king is exposed.} (26. Qxe6 Bxe6 27. b3 $11 a5 ({or} 27... Rxd2 28. Rxd2 Rc8 29. Kf2 c4 30. bxc4 Rxc4 31. Ke3 Ra4 32. Rd8 h5 33. Rg8+ $11) 28. Kf2 a4 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. bxa4 Ra8 31. Rb2 Rxa4 32. Rxb6 Rxa2+ 33. Ke3 Rxh2 34. Rb8 h5 35. Rg8+ Kh6 36. Rh8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ $11) (26. Qc3 Bf5 (26... Qxa2 $4 27. e6 $18) 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Qxa2 30. Qd8 Qb1+ 31. Kf2 Qxb2+ 32. Kf3 Qc3+ 33. Kg2 Qc2+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Qc2+ 36. Kg1 $11) 26... Qxg4 27. Kg2 Qf5 $1 {Ian puts some problems to Anton. For example if he plays 28.Qe3 then ...Rd4 and White needs to make a choice between 29.Rxd4 cxd, which is really unpleasant or Black will grab the d-file after ...Rfd8.} 28. Kf3 {Probably Wilhelm Steinitz would have approved of this move.} (28. Qe3 $6 Rd4 29. Rxd4 $6 (29. Qe2 Rfd8 30. b3 g5 $1 31. fxg5 Qxg5 $15) 29... cxd4 30. Qd2 d3 $17) (28. h4 h6 {and at the right moment Black will play ...g5.}) ({White should get an equal position after} 28. Qc4 $1 h5 29. Rd6 h4 30. Rcd2 Rxd6 31. exd6 hxg3 32. hxg3 Rh8 33. Qc3+ f6 34. Qf3 $1 $11) 28... h5 $1 29. Qe3 $6 ({Once again Anton should have played} 29. Qc4 $1 Qg4+ 30. Kg2 $1 (30. Ke3 h4 31. Qe2 Qe6 32. b3 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 hxg3 34. hxg3 Rh8 $36) 30... h4 31. Qe2 Qf5 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rd2 {and White has almost levelled the game.}) 29... Qh3 $1 30. Qe2 h4 31. Rxd8 hxg3 32. hxg3 $8 (32. Rxf8 $4 gxh2+ 33. Kf2 h1=Q $19) 32... Rxd8 {Objectively White's position is not worse, but it is not easy to play it, especially in time trouble.} 33. Rd2 Rh8 34. Rd1 $2 (34. e6 Qh5+ $1 35. Kf2 Qxe2+ 36. Kxe2 fxe6 (36... Rh2+ $4 37. Kf3 Rxd2 38. e7 $18) 37. Kf3 Kf6 $17) (34. Qg2 Qe6 35. b3 Rh3 36. Kf2 g5 $40) (34. b3 $1 { intending e6.} Qh5+ (34... g5 35. fxg5 Qf5+ 36. Kg2 Re8 37. Rd5 Qxg5 38. Qe4 $11) 35. Ke3 $1 (35. Kf2 Qh1 $1 $17) 35... Qf5 36. Kf3 g5 37. Qe4 Qh3 38. fxg5 Qf1+ 39. Kg4 Rh1 40. Qf3 Qh3+ 41. Kf4 $11) 34... Qh5+ 35. g4 Qh4 $2 {Ian could have won the game after} (35... Qh3+ $1 36. Ke4 Re8 37. Rd7 Qh1+ 38. Kd3 Qc6 39. Rd6 (39. Rxa7 $2 Rh8 $19) 39... Qa4 40. Ke3 g5 41. Qf2 Rh8 $1 $19) 36. Ke4 $2 (36. Qg2 $1 Qe7 37. Rd5 Qb7 38. Kg3 $11) 36... Qe7 37. Kd3 $2 {The decisive mistake.} Qd7+ $1 38. Ke3 $2 (38. Kc2 {was more stubborn.} Qa4+ 39. Kb1 Rh2 $1 40. Qd3 Qb4 $1 (40... Qxf4 41. e6 fxe6 42. Qd7+ Kh6 43. Qxe6 Qf2 $19 {and Black should win the endgame.}) 41. Qc3 Qe4+ 42. Ka1 Rc2 43. Qg3 c4 44. Re1 c3 $1 45. bxc3 Qc4 $19) 38... Rh3+ 39. Ke4 Qc6+ {If 40.Rd5 then 40...Qa4+ -+} 0-1 [Event "Baku ol (Men) 42nd"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2016.09.08"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Eljanov, Pavel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B31"] [WhiteElo "2808"] [BlackElo "2739"] [Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2016.09.02"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "CBM 175"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.11.10"] [WhiteTeam "United States of America"] [BlackTeam "Ukraine"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "UKR"] {In one of the crucial matches in round six, or probably the entire tournament, the US team narrowly edged the strong Ukrainian team 2.5-1.5 to clinch clear second on the table. The US team had had a pleasant performance so far. They had never been in danger in any of their matches (well a bit against the Czechs, maybe) and their "big three" have constantly scored for them. This time Caruana won with very fine technique on board 1 against Eljanov.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {This is not an odd choice by Fabiano. He has employed the "Rossolimo" in the past in a handful of games.} g6 {By far, the most common continuation.} 4. Bxc6 bxc6 {This came as a surprise to me. 4...dxc6 is considered the solid continuation here. Eljanov's immediate reply implies that he had this line thoroughly investigated or maybe he was just afraid of Caruana's strength in handling the "main line" like this game which took place in the very same country few months earlier.} (4... dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 (5... Bg4 6. Nbd2 {is an unconventional handling of Rossolimo by Mr. "Fire on board", legendary Alexei Shirov. However, his adventure against future world championship contender, Anish Giri, did not end well.} Bg7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Nxf3 Nf6 9. e5 Nd5 10. O-O Nc7 11. Be3 Ne6 12. Re1 Qc7 13. Bd2 Rd8 14. Re4 Nd4 15. Bc3 Nb5 16. Qd2 O-O 17. Rae1 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Rd5 19. b3 b5 20. Qd2 Qb6 21. Qe3 Qa5 22. c4 bxc4 23. dxc4 Rdd8 24. Qe2 e6 25. h4 Rd7 26. h5 Rfd8 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. g3 Qc3 29. Kg2 a5 30. Re3 Rd3 31. Rd1 {1-0 (31) Giri,A (2778)-Shirov, A (2689) Reykjavik 2015}) 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bf4 b6 (8... Nd7 9. Qd2 e5 10. Bh6 Qe7 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. O-O-O (12. O-O {is less aggressive and a lesser number of players have opted for it.}) 12... a5 13. a4 (13. Kb1 a4 14. Ne2 b5 15. Rdg1 c4 16. h4 f6 17. Ng3 Nb6 18. d4 h5 19. a3 c5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Qe3 Ra6 22. Qg5 Qxg5 23. hxg5 c3 24. Nxe5 Nc4 25. Nxc4 bxc4 26. f3 Rb6 27. Ne2 cxb2 28. Rd1 Be6 29. Nc3 Rfb8 30. Rd2 Kf7 31. Rhd1 Ke7 32. Nd5+ Bxd5 33. Rxd5 Rc6 34. Rd7+ Kf8 35. R7d5 Kf7 36. Rd7+ Kf8 37. Re1 Ke8 38. Rd5 Ke7 39. f4 Rd6 40. Red1 Re6 41. Rd7+ Kf8 42. e5 Rc6 43. g4 hxg4 44. Rh1 Kg8 45. Rdh7 Rf8 46. Kxb2 g3 47. Kc3 g2 48. Rh8+ Kf7 49. Rxf8+ Kxf8 50. Rg1 Rb6 51. Rxg2 Rb1 52. Kxc4 Ra1 53. Rg3 Rf1 54. Kxc5 Rxf4 55. Kd5 Ke7 56. Rh3 Rg4 57. Rh7+ Kf8 58. c4 Rg3 59. c5 Rd3+ 60. Kc4 {1-0 (60) Motylev,A (2677)-Jones,G (2578) Aix les Bains 2011}) 13... Rd8 14. h4 f6 15. Qe3 Nf8 16. Rdg1 Bg4 17. Nh2 Be6 18. g4 c4 19. dxc4 Bxc4 20. g5 h5 21. gxh6+ Kh7 22. f4 exf4 23. Qxf4 Nd7 24. Rxg6 Kxg6 25. Rg1+ Kh7 26. Rg7+ Qxg7 27. hxg7 Be6 28. Ng4 Bxg4 29. Qxg4 Ne5 30. Qe6 Rd7 31. Qxf6 Re8 32. Qf8 {1-0 (32) Brkic,A (2585)-Stany,G (2476) Biel 2016}) 9. Qd2 Re8 10. O-O-O a5 11. Ne5 b5 12. Qe3 Qb6 13. Bh6 Bh8 14. f4 a4 15. Rhf1 e6 16. g4 a3 17. b4 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Bxd7 19. e5 f5 20. Ne2 Bg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. h4 fxg4 23. h5 gxh5 24. Ng3 Kh8 25. Nxh5 Re7 26. Nf6 Be8 27. f5 exf5 28. Rxf5 Qc7 29. Rg5 Rg7 30. Rh1 Bg6 31. Rxg4 Qf7 32. Kb1 cxb4 33. Qd4 Bf5 34. e6 Rxg4 35. exf7 Rxd4 36. Ne8 {1-0 (36) Caruana,F (2804)-Radjabov,T (2726) Shamkir 2016}) 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 {} Nh6 {Well, recent results in this line have been very promising for Black. Results in games among top GMs in 2016 show that Black is actually doing very well in this line. So, probably we are witnessing a shift in fashion of how to handle the Rossolimo with Black.} (6... Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 { was played against Caruana recently by none other than the legendary Garry Kasparov.} 8. c4 Nc7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Ne6 (10... O-O 11. Qh4 f6 12. Nc3 Ne6 13. Ne4 fxe5 14. Nfg5 Nxg5 15. Bxg5 Qb6 16. c5 Qxb2 17. Rad1 Qxa2 18. Bxe7 Rf4 19. Qg3 a5 20. Bg5 Rxe4 21. Rxe4 Ba6 22. h4 Bc4 23. Rde1 Bf7 24. h5 a4 25. h6 Bh8 26. Qh4 Bd5 27. Rb4 Qc2 28. Bf6 g5 29. Bxg5 a3 30. Rg4 Kf7 31. Bd8 Qxc5 32. Qh5+ {1-0 (32) Jakovenko,D (2738)-Cornette,M (2590) Montpellier 2015}) 11. Qh4 d6 12. Nc3 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qd6 14. Nf3 h6 15. Be3 g5 16. Qe4 O-O 17. Qc2 f5 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. Nd4 $6 (19. Na4 $1 f4 20. Bd2 g4 21. Nh4 {White's knights are placed in awkward positions but their future is going to be bright!} Nd4 22. Qe4 f3 23. g3 Ne2+ 24. Kh1 Rb8 25. b3 Rf6 26. Nc5 {and White will start to dominate.}) 19... Nxd4 20. Bxd4 e5 21. Bc5 Re8 22. Bd6 Qf7 23. c5 e4 24. Ne2 Ba6 25. Nd4 Bd3 26. Qa4 f4 27. Nxc6 f3 28. Nb4 Be2 29. Rc1 e3 30. Qb3 exf2+ 31. Kxf2 Bd4+ 32. Kg3 Qxb3 33. axb3 f2 34. Rh1 Re3+ 35. Kxf2 Rae8 36. Nc6 Rf3+ 37. Ke1 Bb5+ 38. Ne7+ Rxe7+ 39. Bxe7 Re3+ 40. Kd2 Re2+ 41. Kd1 Rxe7 42. Re1 Rc7 43. b4 Bxb2 44. Rb1 Bc3 45. Re6 Rd7+ 46. Kc2 Bd3+ 47. Kxc3 Bxb1 48. Rxh6 Be4 49. b5 Kg7 50. Ra6 Bxg2 51. c6 Re7 52. Kd4 Kf7 53. Ra2 Bf3 54. Kc5 Re5+ 55. Kb4 Be2 56. Rxa7+ Ke6 57. Rb7 Kd6 58. h3 Bxb5 59. Rxb5 Re4+ 60. Kc3 {1/2-1/2 (60) Caruana,F (2795)-Kasparov,G (2812) Saint Louis 2016}) 7. c3 O-O {The players are following the main line according the most recent games.} 8. h3 {Less common than 8.d4.} f5 (8... f6 {used to be the way people often handled this position. Black prevents e5 and plans to retreat his badly placed knight on h6 to f7. Black hopes to create a pawn mass in the centre, White's queenside is somewhat weakened and his pieces are a bit cramped. That is what I knew from from my past experience with this position. Eljanov, however, has a more radical approach to solve his opening "issues".}) (8... d5 {is another way which Gelfand employed against Inarkiev in their recent match.} 9. d3 c4 $5 10. dxc4 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. dxc4 dxc4 12. Na3 Qc7 13. Bxh6 Bxh6 14. Qe2 Rb8 15. Qxe7 Qxe7 16. Rxe7 Rxb2 17. Rxa7 {is dynamically balanced.}) (10. d4 dxe4 11. Rxe4 Nf5 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. Rxe6 $1 {A thematic sacrifice by Adams.} (13. Re1 Nd6 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. b4 cxb3 16. axb3 c5 $1 {and Black has nothing to worry about}) 13... fxe6 14. Qe2 e5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Qxe5 Qd5 17. Qe2 Nd6 18. b3 ({Maybe} 18. Nf3 {[%cal Gc1h6,Gf3e5] was a better option}) 18... cxb3 19. axb3 e5 20. Ba3 Rfe8 21. Bxd6 exd4 22. Qc4 dxc3 23. Nf3 Qxc4 24. bxc4 Re4 25. Rc1 Rxc4 26. Ne5 Rd4 27. Bc7 a5 28. Rxc3 a4 29. Nc4 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 Rb1 31. Bd6 Rb3 32. Rc2 a3 33. Nxa3 Rbxa3 34. Bxa3 Rxa3 35. Rxc6 Ra7 36. g4 Kg7 37. h4 h6 38. Rc5 Kf6 39. Kg3 g5 40. Rc6+ Kg7 41. h5 Ra3+ 42. Kg2 Ra4 43. Kf3 Rf4+ 44. Kg3 Ra4 45. Rc7+ Kg8 46. Rc2 Kg7 47. f3 Ra3 48. Kf2 Kg8 49. Ke2 Kg7 50. Rd2 Kg8 51. Rd7 Rb3 52. Rd3 Rxd3 53. Kxd3 Kf7 54. Kd4 Kf6 55. Kd5 Kf7 56. Ke5 Ke7 57. Kf5 Kf7 58. Ke5 { 1/2-1/2 (58) Adams,M (2738)-Harikrishna,P (2752) Baku 2016}) 10... dxe4 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Rxe4 e5 13. Re1 f6 14. Nbd2 Nf7 15. Nb3 a5 16. Be3 a4 17. Bb6 Re8 18. Nc5 Bf5 19. Nh4 Bc8 20. Rad1 f5 21. Nf3 e4 22. Nd4 Ne5 23. b3 axb3 24. axb3 Bf8 25. Ra1 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Bh6 27. Bc7 Nd7 28. Nxd7 Bxd7 29. b4 e3 30. f4 Bg7 31. Kf1 e2+ 32. Kf2 Be6 33. Nxe6 Bxc3 34. Be5 Bxa1 35. Nc7 Re7 36. b5 Bxe5 37. fxe5 Rxc7 38. b6 Re7 {0-1 (38) Inarkiev,E (2730)-Gelfand,B (2734) Magas 2016}) 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 {} Rb8 {A very rare move.} (10... Ba6 11. c4 e6 12. Nc3 g5 13. Be3 h5 14. h4 g4 15. Ng5 Nxe5 16. Bxc5 Ng6 $5 17. g3 Re8 18. Qa4 Bb7 19. Qb4 Ba6 20. Qa3 Bb7 21. Qb4 Ba6 22. Qa3 Bb7 23. Qb4 {1/2-1/2 (23) Inarkiev,E (2730)-Gelfand,B (2734) Magas 2016}) 11. Na3 $146 (11. Nbd2 d6 12. e6 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Nf3 Bg7 15. Qa4 h6 16. Qh4 f4 (16... g5 17. Nxg5 $1 (17. Bxg5 hxg5 18. Nxg5 Rf6 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Qh5 Kg8 $11) 17... Rf6 {[%cal Yh6g5]} 18. Nf7 Qf8 19. Qc4 Qe8 20. b3 Rb6 21. Bd2 (21. Bf4 Bxe6 22. Rxe6 d5) 21... Bxe6 22. Rxe6 d5 23. Qh4 Rxe6 24. Nxh6+ $13) 17. Bxf4 Rf5 18. Qg4 Qf8 19. Bg3 Qf6 20. Nh4 Rg5 21. Qe2 a5 22. Rab1 a4 23. a3 c4 24. dxc4 c5 25. Kh2 Bb7 26. b4 Bc6 27. Nf3 Rf5 28. bxc5 Rxb1 29. Rxb1 dxc5 30. Nh4 {1-0 (30) Bok,B (2611) -Kotronias, V (2541) Moscow 2016}) 11... Ba6 12. Nc4 {After somewhat deep thought, Caruana decides to keep things simple.} Bxc4 13. dxc4 {Judgement time: The opening phase is over and we the game is entering the middlegame phase. White has more space and both parties' pawn structures are a bit funky. Black's main plan will be putting pressure on e5 otherwise White's excessive space would become a decisive factor in this game.} d6 14. e6 Ne5 {The fewer the pieces on the board the happier Black would be.} 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 {} 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rb1 {Caruana plans to advance his pawns on the queenside. } Qa5 {Eljanov carefully prevents any active plans of White for the moment.} 19. a4 Rf6 {} 20. Re3 Qa6 21. b3 Qc8 {Eljanov combines attack and defence. He brings back his queen to c8 to keep his pieces coherent while having an eye on White's "strong" weakness on e6.} 22. Qe1 a5 $6 {The first inaccuracy, Eljanov voluntarily gives White a passed pawn. In my opinion, "patience" was the best policy.} (22... Rf8 23. b4 Qa6 24. bxc5 Rxb1 25. Qxb1 dxc5 26. Qd3 Qxa4 27. Re1 (27. Qd7 Kf6 $1) 27... Qa5) ({Or} 22... f4 23. Re4 f3 24. g3 Qa6 {and it is not easy to see how White can improve.}) 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 cxb4 25. Rxb4 Ra8 $6 (25... Rxb4 26. Qxb4 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Qxe6 28. Qc3+ (28. a5 Qe5 {[%cal Ge5a1, Ye5a5,Ge5h2]}) 28... Kf7 29. a5 Qc8 30. Qb3 Ke8 31. c5 dxc5 32. Qg8+ Kd7 33. Qxh7 Qc7 34. Qxg6 Qe5 35. a6 c4 36. a7 Qa1+ 37. Kh2 Qxa7 38. Qxf5+ Kd6 39. Qf4+ Kd5 {should lead to a draw. I know that it is easy to sit and check these lines with engines while at the first glance it looks ugly for Black but I am sure Eljanov could have estimated the safety of this position intuitively.}) 26. Qa1 ({I love this strategic pseudo pawn sacrifice.} 26. c5 $1 dxc5 27. Rc4 {[%cal Ge1c1,Ge3e5]}) 26... f4 27. Re4 f3 28. g4 Kg8 29. Qd1 {Fabiano plays fast and maintains his grip.} Rxe6 30. Qxf3 Rxe4 $2 (30... d5 {would have given Black a lot of activity which probably would have secured equality for Black.}) 31. Qxe4 {Judgement time 2: We are entering the endgame phase in this game. The last exchange gave White a lot of play as his queen is very nicely placed in the centre and it will soon target the black king while keeping an eye on his distant passed pawn on the a-file. White also controls the b-file which makes his rook more active than Black's rook. The main advantage of White is that his major pieces are capable of combining both attack and defence while the black pieces are only in a defensive position. Evaluation? White is better!} Qc7 32. c5 $1 {Of course!} dxc5 33. Qc4+ Kg7 34. Qc3+ Kg8 {} 35. Qc4+ {} Kg7 36. Qxc5 Qd6 $6 (36... Ra5 37. Qe3 Qd6 38. Rd4 Rd5 39. Rxd5 cxd5 40. a5 d4 41. Qd3 e5 42. a6 e4 43. Qxe4 d3 44. a7 d2 45. a8=Q d1=Q+ 46. Kg2 Q1d4 47. Qab7+ Kh6 48. Qxd4 Qxd4 49. Qe7 {looks over for Black, but Black has a trick up his sleeve:} Qf6 50. Qe3+ (50. Qxf6 {leads to stalemate!}) 50... Kg7 {Practically, it is very dispiriting to have to defend this position but I think with correct defence Black should have good drawing chances.}) 37. Qc3+ Qf6 38. Qe3 Rf8 39. Re4 {} Rf7 {Black is just too passive.} 40. Re5 $1 { I love the harmony among White's pieces! All for one (promoting the a-pawn), one for all!} Qd6 41. a5 {White is winning.} Qd1+ 42. Kg2 Qa1 {Finally Eljanov gets to activate his queen. Unfortunately for him, it is too late!} 43. Qe2 e6 44. a6 {The rest is just trivial considering that Caruana is in charge!} Qd4 ( 44... Ra7 45. Rxe6 Qxa6 46. Qe5+ {and mate follows.}) 45. Rxe6 c5 46. Re7 Qd5+ {} 47. f3 {} c4 {} 48. Rxf7+ Qxf7 {} 49. Qe5+ Kh6 50. Qe3+ {} Kg7 {} 51. Qd4+ Kh6 {} 52. a7 Qb7 53. h4 {Black stopped White's pawn but now mate is unavoidable. A neat demonstration of simple chess by Fabiano Caruana. In the 1920s the US had the famous grandmaster Isaac Kashdan who was considered by many, including 4th world champion Alexander Alekhine, as one of the main contenders for the world champion title. Kashdan's nickname was 'der Kleine Capablanca' (German for "The little Capablanca") for his talent of grinding wins out of even positions. Since Fabiano's performance was better and beyond, I would like to call him 'Der große Capablanca' !!!!} 1-0 [Event "Baku ol (Men) 42nd"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2016.09.10"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2782"] [Annotator "So,Wesley"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2016.09.02"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "CBM 175"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2016.11.10"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "United States of America"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] {I think this year's Olympiad was significantly harder than those of other years. First of all, it seemed like everyone was intense, strong, focused and competitive. Secondly, it was the first time that a team had to win 10 out of 11 matches in order to gain first place (normally 9.5/11 suffices). So even though everyone was saying we had a strong team, nothing was ever easy or guaranteed. Every single step was dangerous. Then finally, when we should have been able to relax knowing we'd nailed it, there was a strangely complex tiebreak that kept everyone holding their breath. This game was played in the 8th round. Our team was leading 6.5/7 and Russia was only half a point behind (they lost their match against Ukraine). I don't need to tell you how crucial this match was in the fight for an Olympic gold medal.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Ian is purely a 1.e4 player with an aggressive and imaginative style. Before this game he was very much on fire with 7 out of 7 and it wasn't a surprise that the Russians gave him the white pieces for this match. Usually he goes 3.d4 for a Scotch Game.} 3. Bc4 {The Giuoco Piano is an evergreen opening and it is one of the oldest in chess, having roots all the way back to the 17th century. It has become popular once again as a way to get a game.} Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O ({I think he must have been inspired by a game played by GM Karjakin in the previous round:} 5... d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 d5 14. Nb3 b5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Rd6 17. Nc5 $16 Qc8 18. Ree1 Nh5 $2 19. exd5 Rxd5 20. Qa2 $18 {Karjakin, S-Navara,D Baku 2016, and White won super quickly.}) 6. a4 {A relatively new move, reintroduced this year by GM Grischuk. White makes sure that d3 is firmly defended in case of a breakthrough in the center with ...d5.} ({A month earlier Vishy Anand played} 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 (8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5) 8... Nb6 {but had to agree to a draw later on.}) (6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Bb3 { is the old main line. But unable to get much with it, White players found this plan of a2-a4. The idea is to be able to develop the knight on a3 in some cases, and to gain space on the queenside.}) 6... d6 (6... d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nbd2 Bb6 9. Re1 $14 {White gets good control over the center and has nice outposts for his pieces.}) 7. c3 a6 (7... a5 {is possible too.}) 8. h3 { I think in general White does not want to commit his kingside pawns right away, but he cannot play Re1 without fear of Ng4.} (8. Re1 {might allow} Ng4 (8... Ba7) 9. Re2 {when my analysis runs} (9. d4 $2 exd4 10. cxd4 Nxd4 $1 11. Nxd4 Qh4 $19) 9... Kh8 10. d4 Ba7 11. h3 Nf6 12. Re1 exd4 (12... h6 13. Bb3) 13. cxd4 d5 (13... Nxe4 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Rh4 dxc4 16. Qc2 f5 17. Bg5 Qe8 18. Nc3 Qg6 19. Ne2 $14 {gives White too strong an initiative for the pawn.}) 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Nc3 Qd8 (16... Qd6 17. d5 Nb4 18. Re4 Bf5 19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Re2 $14) 17. d5 Nb4 18. Bf4 {with a position that should be close to equality.}) ( 8. Nbd2 Ba7) 8... Ba7 9. Re1 Ne7 {The most typical plan in this kind of pawn structure. Black puts his knight on g6 and prepares the c6-d5 break in the center.} ({I was also considering} 9... Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 {but I wasn't very sure.... The point is that White really doesn't mind the exchange of light-squared bishops and with the appearance of a knight on c4 it is not clear if the time spent by Black is worth it.}) (9... Be6 {Even here the exchange of the light-squared bishops on e6 will lead to the opening of the f-file (so in my next round against Aryan Tari, I went for} 10. Nbd2 {).} Bxc4 11. Nxc4 b5 12. Ne3 $14 {in this position White remains with a slight advantage.}) 10. d4 ({Later even Vladimir Kramnik tried his hand at the Giuoco Piano outplaying Radjabov in a nice way:} 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 h6 (11... c6 12. Bf1 (12. Bb3 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Nh5) 12... exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5 Nh5 $13 {might be better.}) 12. Bf1 (12. Bb3 Re8 13. Bc2 $14 {looks like a slight edge for White.}) 12... Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 $6 (14... d5) 15. d5 Bd7 16. c4 Nf4 17. c5 g5 $6 {Now the position looks like a Bayonet King's Indian (an opening you would expect from a Kramnik-Radjabov game) with a bishop on a7!} 18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Be3 $16 {Kramnik,V-Radjabov,T Baku 2016, and White won relatively quickly from here.} (19. Ra3 $5 {as in the spirit of the King's Indian-rook lift on the third rank!})) (10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Nxg6+ fxg6 {is excellent for Black.}) 10... Ng6 {I just continue manoeuvring my pieces.} ( {I was also looking at} 10... exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. exd5 h6 (12... Nexd5 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 {gives an annoying pin on the diagonal-} g5 15. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 16. Bxg5 $18) 13. Nc3 Nexd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Qb3 c6 16. Bd2 $14 {but apparently Black does not completely equalize here. White has a lead in development and pressure in the open files to compensate for his isolated d-pawn.}) 11. Bd3 ( 11. Nbd2 {transposes to the Kramnik game-see 10.Nbd2.}) 11... c6 (11... Nh5 { right away is possible too.}) ({However if Black does not like all these Nh5-f4 knight moves then} 11... Re8 12. Qc2 Be6 {is a good option. Black is simply preparing the ...d5 break, and if this operation is successful he equalizes completely.} (12... h6 13. Be3 d5 14. Nbd2 exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4 Nf4 $11)) 12. Be3 Nh5 13. Nbd2 (13. Bf1 {might be a possible improvement.} ) 13... Nhf4 14. Bf1 exd4 15. Bxd4 (15. Nxd4 d5) 15... Bxd4 (15... d5 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. a5 $16 {this is clearly better for White. Black's dark squares on the queenside are far too weak to defend comfortably.}) 16. cxd4 ( 16. Nxd4 Ne5 17. Re3 Qf6 {leads to a balanced position, as my knights have good outposts in the center.}) 16... d5 17. e5 f6 (17... a5 {right away makes a lot of sense too.}) 18. Ra3 (18. a5 fxe5 19. dxe5 Qe7) 18... fxe5 19. dxe5 { GM Ian Nepomniatchi is always interesting and keeps surprising me by making unexpected and quick decisions. For example here, I was almost sure that he would recapture with the knight and then try to make use of the open e-file.} ( 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxe5 Ng6 21. Re1 Qf6 22. Nf3 Bf5 $11) 19... a5 {I wanted to clarify the pawn structure on the queenside and not have to worry about a possible dark square bind.} 20. Qc1 Qe7 (20... Ne6) 21. Rb3 Bf5 {I have plenty of options here and perhaps what I chose is not the most accurate. But playing Black in a team event means that you have to guarantee your safety first and I chose to finish my development.} ({Both} 21... Rf7) ({and} 21... Ne6 22. g3 Qf7 {give Black good play. The undeveloped bishop on c8 gives me a moment of concern though.}) 22. Nd4 Ne6 (22... Nh4 $5 {Stockfish's suggestion.}) 23. Nxf5 $2 {This is where the battle starts to turn in my favour.} ({White maintains equality by} 23. Nxe6 Bxe6 24. g3 Rf7 25. f4 Raf8 $11 {when White has a strong pawn chain although he always has to be wary of a piece sacrifice on f4.}) 23... Rxf5 24. Bd3 Rf4 {There is no point in taking the pawn on e5 yet.} 25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qd1 ({A more stubborn line is} 26. Rg3 Raf8 27. Nf3 Rxa4 28. Rxg6 $15) 26... Raf8 27. Rf3 Qb4 $17 {Black has a dream position. Blockading knight on e6, full control of the f-file, and on top of that I am threatening to pick up his queenside pawns.} 28. Rxf4 Rxf4 29. Nf3 (29. Qc2 Qc5 30. Qxc5 Nxc5 31. b3 Kf7 $17 {and Black starts picking up loose pawns.}) 29... Qxa4 (29... Qxb2 { might be even stronger, but I prefer to take his a-pawn as it is well-known that a knight has the most trouble when defending against a passed rook pawn. And besides I keep the b-file closed.}) 30. Qd3 Rf5 (30... Re4 $142 31. Rxe4 Qxe4 32. Qa3 Qb4 33. Qd3 Kf7 $19 {would make the conversion much easier but I couldn't decide whether to keep the rooks or trade them.}) 31. Qb1 Qf4 (31... Qb4 32. Nh2 a4 33. Ng4 c5 $19) 32. Qc2 {Preventing Ng5 by protecting the f2 pawn.} Kh7 $1 33. Re3 Qc4 {I don't mind the exchange of queens at all.} (33... Qb4) 34. Qd1 (34. Qxc4 dxc4 35. Ra3 b6 36. Kf1 (36. Ra4 Rf4) 36... Kg8 $17) 34... Rf4 {I was getting low on time and therefore my main objective was to reach move 40 while maintaining my substantial advantage.} (34... Qb4) 35. Rc3 Qb4 36. Qc1 (36. Rb3 Qa4 37. Qd3 b5 $19) 36... a4 {Pushing my a-pawn one step closer to promotion.} 37. h4 Kg8 (37... Nd4 $19) 38. Qb1 Qe4 (38... Nd4) 39. Qd1 Nd4 40. Re3 (40. Nxd4 Qxd4) 40... Nxf3+ 41. gxf3 Qf5 {Suddenly Ray Robson on board 4, lost his game and quickly resigned against GM Grischuk. Fabiano and Hikaru had both drawn their games against Sergey Karjakin and big Vlad respectively. Yikes. Now I really had to win this game to tie the match. Initially I was distracted by disappointment that we wouldn't win this match (which would ensure almost certain gold) but at the end of the day you have to move on, refocus and wait for another chance.} 42. e6 Rxh4 (42... Qh3 {is enough for a win too.}) 43. Re4 $5 {Probably the most shocking move played against me for a long time. So Ian! I was taking my time, making sure I wasn't missing any tricks and then suddenly he comes up with this move. Fortunately I am too many pawns up.} (43. e7 Qh3 44. e8=Q+ Kh7) (43. f4 Qxf4 (43... Kf8) 44. e7 Qg5+ 45. Kf1 Rh1+ 46. Ke2 Qh5+ 47. Rf3 Rxd1 48. e8=Q+ Kh7 $19) 43... Rxe4 44. fxe4 Qxe4 45. Qd2 Qxe6 46. Qa5 Qg4+ 47. Kf1 b5 48. Qc7 g5 49. Qb8+ Kh7 50. Qd6 b4 {This is the way it went in this exciting Olympiad. Every fight was a tough one to the absolute end. There were no sliders!} 0-1 [Event "London Classic 8th"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Marin,M"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 176"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.01.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Rc1 O-O 9. Qd2 {A super-refined move order, delaying the knight's development in order to avoid ...Bg4 and overprotect c3 as soon as possible.} e5 {The logical reaction in the absence of a knight on f3.} ({The typical} 9... Qa5 { is entirely playable, of course.} 10. d5 ({In fact,} 10. Nf3 {transposing to the main lines, may be more consistent.}) 10... e6 11. c4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 { White has managed to maintain the integrity of his centre, but with the king in the centre and incomplete development he will soon be subject to counterattacking moves such as ...b7-b5 and ...f7-f5. Here is just one recent example.} b6 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. Nf3 Bb7 15. Kc2 Rae8 16. Rhe1 b5 17. Rb1 (17. cxb5 exd5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Kb1 Rc8 $5 $36) 17... b4 {1/2-1/2 Ladva,O (2453) -Naroditsky,D (2646) Riga 2016}) 10. d5 {The most principled answer.} ({ The ultra-cautious} 10. Nf3 {does not yield much.} cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Bc4 Nc6 14. Nf3 Bg4 {1/2-1/2 (69) Giri,A (2793)-Caruana,F (2808) Saint Louis 2015}) (10. dxe5 {leaves White with a weak queenside while the kingside majority is not easy to promote.} Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 (11. Bxd2 Bxe5 12. Nf3 Bg7 13. Bc4 Nd7 14. O-O Nb6 15. Bb3 Be6 {Black could also prepare the exchange of bishops with ...Re8.} 16. Be3 Rac8 17. Nd2 Rfd8 18. Bxe6 fxe6 $15 {Giri,A (2734)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2745) Beijing 2013 (0-1, 39), White's weaknesses proved more relevant than Black's.}) 11... Rd8+ ({If} 11... b6 12. Bc4 Bb7 { as in Babula,V (2569)-Anand,V (2788) Hungary 2009 (0-1, 39) White could have posed some problems with} 13. e6 $5) 12. Kc2 Bd7 $1 ({More active than} 12... b6 13. Bc4 Bb7 14. f3 Bxe5 15. Nh3 Nc6 16. Ng5 Rf8 17. Rcd1 Na5 18. Bd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Bf6 20. Rhd1 Rae8 21. Bf4 Nc4 22. Rd7 {Dokhoian,Y (2540)-Svidler,P (2480) Copenhagen 1991 (1-0 ,43), with some slight pressure.}) 13. f4 ({ If White plays in similar fashion to the aforementioned game} 13. Bc4 Bc6 14. f3 {Black has} b5 15. Be2 Bxe5 $15 16. Bxc5 $6 b4 $3 17. Bxb4 Ba4+ 18. Kb2 Nc6 $36) ({Immediate pawn grabbing is also dangerous:} 13. Bxc5 Bc6 14. f3 $6 Ba4+ 15. Kb2 Bh6 16. Re1 Rd2+ 17. Ka3 b5 $40) 13... Bc6 14. Nf3 (14. Bd3 $2 Ba4+ 15. Kd2 c4) 14... Bxe4+ 15. Kb2 Nd7 16. Bc4 Nb6 17. Bb3 Nd5 18. Rhe1 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nxe3 20. Rxe3 b5 $15 {Svidler,P (2759)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2798) Biel 2016 (0-1, 46)}) (10. dxc5 {has never beenj tested but it does not look appealing.} Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Be6 12. Nf3 h6 {[%cal Gb8d7,Gf8c8]} 13. Rb1 f5 14. Kc2 f4 15. Bc1 Nd7 16. Ba3 Rfc8 17. Rxb7 Nxc5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 $36 {[%cal Ga8c8]}) 10... Nd7 { If White manages to consolidate and complete his development he will be better. Therefore Black should act quickly.} (10... Qd6 {looks solid but offers White a valuable tempo.} 11. Nf3 ({Actually the best way to proceed seems to be} 11. Bd3 f5 12. f3 Nd7 {Ulko,J (2422)-Yeletsky,I (2200) Kazan 2014 (1/2-1/2, 40)} 13. Ne2 $14) 11... f5 12. Qc2 Nd7 13. Nd2 $6 Nb6 ({Missing his chance with} 13... f4 $1 14. Nc4 Qf6 15. Bd2 b5 16. Na5 c4 $15 {Black has achieved major progress on both wings and White has not enough development to question his queenside stability, for instance:} 17. Rb1 a6 18. a4 Nc5 19. axb5 Nxe4 $1) 14. f3 Bd7 15. Be2 f4 16. Bf2 g5 17. h4 h6 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. g4 Rac8 20. Rb1 $16 { Wang,H (2710)-Radjabov,T (2734) Beijing 2014 (½-½, 45), White is better on practically all sectors of the board.}) 11. c4 f5 12. Bg5 {The only way to try to maintain the stability.} (12. f3 $2 fxe4 13. fxe4 Qh4+) 12... Nf6 13. Ne2 $2 {A curious blunder at such an early stage.} ({The better} 13. Bd3 {would transpose to a previous game where the strategic plot was still very much alive.} fxe4 14. Bc2 {Black has won a pawn but needs to play accurately in order to avoid Ne2-g3/c3 y Nxe4 with a strategic advantage.} e3 $5 $146 { Probably the best.} (14... b5 {doesn't seem to shatter White's stability:} 15. Ne2 bxc4 16. Nc3 $14) (14... Bf5 {is also a bit slow} 15. Ne2 h6 16. Be3 Ng4 { Stupak,K (2562)-Laylo,D (2451) Subic Bay 2016 (1-0, 56)} 17. Nc3 $14 {[%cal Gc3e4]}) 15. Bxe3 (15. fxe3 {removes any strategic risk for Black} b6 $5 { [%cal Gc8a6] Preventing Ne2-c3 in view of the threat ...Ba6.} 16. e4 h6 17. Bxh6 $2 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Qh4+ $19) 15... Ng4 ({The more restrained} 15... b6 { is also possible.} 16. Ne2 Ba6 17. Bb1 Ne8 18. Ng3 Nd6 19. Qd3 Bc8 $5 {[%cal Gc8f5,Ge5e4]}) 16. Bg5 (16. Bxc5 $2 Bh6) (16. Ne2 Qh4 17. g3 Qh5 $36) (16. Be4 Rxf2 $5 17. Bxf2 Bh6 18. Qc3 Bxc1 $13 19. Qxc1 $2 Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Qh4+ {[%csl Ge4]} 21. Ke3 $6 Qf4+ 22. Kd3 Qxc1) 16... Bf6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 {After the exchange of bishops Black has no strategic problems at all. He also maintains something of a lead in development.} 18. f3 (18. Nh3 e4 $5 19. Bxe4 Qe5 20. f3 Bf5 21. Qc3 Qxc3+ 22. Rxc3 Bxe4 23. fxe4 Rae8 $11 {Black will retrieve the pawn with a probable draw.}) 18... Qh4+ 19. g3 Qh6 $13 20. fxg4 $2 Rf1+ $1 21. Ke2 Rf2+) (13. exf5 {is not really a solution to the central tension.} h6 $5 ({ There is nothing wrong with the neutral} 13... Bxf5 {, of course.}) 14. Bxf6 { A forced concession.} (14. Bh4 $2 g5 15. Bg3 Ne4 16. Qe3 Qa5+ 17. Kd1 Bxf5 $19) (14. Be3 Ne4 15. Qc2 Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Qxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Nxd2 18. Kxd2 Bxf5 19. Ne2 e4 $17 {[%cal Gg7d4]}) 14... Bxf6 {[%cal Gf6g5]} 15. h4 Bxf5 $15 16. Qxh6 Rf7 $1 { Black retrieves with great play the h4-pawn since} 17. g3 $2 {leads to trouble: } g5 {[%cal Gd8a5]} 18. hxg5 Rh7 {[%csl Gh1]}) (13. f3 $2 fxe4 14. fxe4 (14. Bxf6 Qxf6 $19 {[%csl Gf1]}) 14... Nxe4 15. Bxd8 Nxd2 {is even worse than in the game as the f1-bishop is hanging.}) 13... Nxe4 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 15. Be7 Rf7 16. Bxc5 Nxf1 17. Rxf1 {The knight has been jumping around a lot to be exchanged for a undeveloped bishop. But this did not improve White's development, as his rook is doing little on f1 and the king is stuck in the centre.} b6 18. Bb4 $17 {/-+ As a result of the forced operation which he allowed, Black has two bishops, better development, the more flexible structure and a clear target on c4. The knight is on a very bad path, not being able to create threats or defend c4 in any way.} Ba6 19. f4 Rc8 20. fxe5 Bxe5 21. Rf3 Bxc4 (21... Rxc4 {looks slightly more natural, avoiding the pin, but the game move is also all right.}) 22. Re3 Bg7 23. Nf4 {White has finally managed to get "perfectly coordinated" but has lost a vital pawn on the way and his d5-pawn is also doomed.} Rd7 24. a4 {Trying to ensure some breathing space for the bishop on order to prepare d5-d6.} ({If} 24. d6 Bd4 25. Re2 (25. Rh3 $2 {leaves the e-file undefended.} a5 26. Ba3 Re8+ 27. Kd1 b5 $19) 25... a5 26. Ba3 b5 27. Nd5 Kf7 28. Re7+ Rxe7+ 29. Nxe7 Re8 30. Rc2 Bb6 {[%cal Gf7e6, Ge6d7,Gb5b4] would leave White in a precarious position.}) 24... Bh6 {The simplest way to win the pawn and avoid any complications based on Ne6.} 25. g3 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rxd5 {With two extra pawns, Black would even win many of the endings resulting after general rook exchanges but for the time being White's king is also a bit insecure.} 27. Re7 Rd4 28. Bd2 Kf8 29. Bb4 {This speeds up the defeat.} ({The rook cannot quit the e-file:} 29. Rxa7 Re8+ 30. Kf2 (30. Kd1 Bb3+) 30... Re2+) ({Even after the relatively better} 29. Re5 {Black should win without problems:} Re8 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 31. Be3 Re4 32. Kd2 Kd7 {The maximum White can do to get some hope would be exchanging rooks. But Black would not remove the rook from e4 and the ending after Rxe4, ...fxe4 would offer him two passed pawns with an easy win.}) 29... Re8 (29... Re8 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {wins the f4-pawn for if} 31. Bd2 $2 Re4+ {wins even more material:} 32. Kf2 (32. Kd1 Bb3+) 32... Re2+) 0-1 [Event "London Classic 8th"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Roiz,M"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 176"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.01.17"] 1. e4 {Levon Aronian rarely starts the game with this move, but I guess, Michael wasn't shocked and went for his usual opening.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bg5 {Quite a rare contiunation. In most cases, pinning the f6-knight is more effective after short castling.} h6 7. Bh4 a6 8. Nbd2 (8. a4 Ba7 9. O-O {can lead to a fashinable position which was recently tested on the top level.}) 8... Ba7 9. Bb3 {White hardly can pose Black any problems without seizing space on the queenside.} (9. a4 {, switching to the above-mentioned theoretical position seems more challenging.}) 9... Qe7 $1 { Michael is leaving the king in the centre for a while, keeping in mind the opportunity of queenside castling.} ({But} 9... Be6 $6 {seems dubious:} 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Qb3 $14 {Hristodoulou,H-Markidis,K (2275) Kavala 1999}) 10. Nc4 $146 ({The previously played} 10. Qe2 {can be well met by} Bd7 (10... Nd8 $6 11. d4 g5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bg3 $36 {Al Modiahki,M (2571)-Nezad,H (2400) Abu Dhabi 2013}) 11. Nc4 O-O-O 12. Ne3 g5 13. Bg3 Be6 {with comfortable play. It would take a long time to activate the poor Bg3.}) 10... Be6 11. Ne3 g5 12. Bg3 O-O-O {Since White didn't push the q-side pawns, Black's monarch feels safe now.} 13. Ba4 Nb8 $1 {One more excellent manoeuvre à la Breyer by GM Michael Adams. Black's setup seems more harmonious now.} 14. Qc2 (14. b4 Nbd7 15. O-O Nh5 $15) 14... Bxe3 ({Another possibility was} 14... Nbd7 15. Bb3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nh5 17. Bf2 f5 18. Bxe6 Qxe6 19. exf5 Qxf5 $15) 15. fxe3 Nh5 16. Bf2 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Qe2 Bxd3 $6 {An untypical positional mistake by GM Michael Adams. Perhaps, he was far from his best at the start of event.} (18... Rdf8 19. Nd2 Nf6 20. h3 Be6 $15 {Black would benefit from having the knights in the closed position.}) 19. Qxd3 e4 20. Qd4 c5 {This is forced.} (20... exf3 $2 {runs into} 21. Qg4+ Nd7 22. Qxh5 fxg2 23. Rg1 $18) 21. Qd1 exf3 22. Qxf3 Nf6 23. Bc2 { Obviously, now White's bishops are much stronger than a few moves ago.} Nbd7 { Still, the control over e5-spot makes Black's position quite solid.} (23... Nc6 24. O-O-O Rhf8 25. Bg3 Kb8 26. Rhe1 Ne5 27. Qe2 d5 $132) 24. O-O-O (24. Bg3 $5 Rhf8 (24... Ne5 25. Qe2 Rhf8 26. O-O $14) 25. O-O-O Ne5 26. Qe2 Qe6 27. Rhf1 $14) 24... Ne5 25. Qe2 Qe6 {Possibly, Michael had underestimated White's dynamic resourses.} ({Otherwise, he would have fixed the favourable pawn structure:} 25... d5 26. Bg3 Ne4 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 $11) 26. Bg3 $1 { I guess, this strong move was underestimated by GM Adams. White gives up a pawn in order to maintain the tension.} ({Instead, the natural} 26. Kb1 { could have led to a drawish endgame:} Qg4 $1 27. Qxg4+ Nexg4 28. Bg3 Nxe3 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. Bxd6 Nxc2 31. Kxc2 Ne4 $11) 26... Qxa2 27. Rhf1 (27. Bxe5 $5 dxe5 28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Bb1 Qa4 30. Rd2 {would offer White full compensation for a pawn, at the very least.}) 27... Nd5 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Bb1 Qb3 30. Bc2 Qa2 31. Qg4+ {Levon sensibly doesn't repeat the moves.} Kb8 {The position is still equal, but Black had to find some precise moves while under time pressure.} 32. Qe4 Nb6 (32... Ka7 33. Rf7 Qa1+ 34. Bb1 Rhf8 $1 35. Rxd5 (35. Rxf8 Nxc3 $1 36. bxc3 Qxc3+ 37. Bc2 Qa1+ 38. Bb1 Qc3+ $11) 35... Rxf7 36. Rxd8 Rf1+ 37. Rd1 Rf2 38. Rd2 Rf1+ $11) 33. Qxe5+ Ka8 $4 {As a result, Michael commits a blunder and loses on the spot.} ({Instead,} 33... Ka7 34. Qxc5 Qa1+ 35. Bb1 Rxd1+ 36. Rxd1 Rc8 {would leave White nothing better than accepting a draw:} 37. Qd4 Rc4 38. Qd6 Rc6 $11) 34. Rxd8+ Rxd8 35. Qf6 {That's it! The rest is just an agony.} ( 35. Qc7 $18) 35... Nc4 36. Qxd8+ Ka7 37. Qd3 Nxb2 (37... Qxb2+ 38. Kd1 Ne5 39. Qd5 Qxc3 40. Rf5 $18) 38. Qf5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Nc4+ 40. Ke2 Qxc3 41. Qxc5+ 1-0 [Event "London Classic 8th"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Krasenkow,M"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 176"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.01.17"] {While the tournament leader, Wesley So, was scoring another victory against out-of-form Veselin Topalov, two of his chasers, said to be the most probable challengers for the world title in 2018, clashed in a principled battle.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Nakamura played the Najdorf System against Caruana in their last decisive classic game (US Championship, Saint Louis, April 2016)... and lost! Since then Fabiano and Hikaru only met in rapid (or semi-rapid, as in the "Champions Showdown" last month) and blitz events, and Nakamura always replied 1...e5 to 1.e4. Does he think that the Najdorf is a "more serious" opening than 1...e5 :-)?} 6. Bg5 {This "main" move is a rare guest in Caruana's practice. He plays various systems against the Najdorf but lately his main weapon has been the English Attack, starting with 6.f3 (that's what he played against Nakamura in Saint Louis). However, it looks like Hikaru was not surprised.} e6 7. f4 h6 {Apparently, Nakamura had never played this line before the present game. However, Caruana didn't miss it out when preparing to play 6.Bg5.} 8. Bh4 Qb6 {This aggressive continuation is probably more popular on move 7 but it is by no means new in this position, too.} 9. a3 {One of the main theoretical moves. White indirectly protects his b2-pawn and prepares to oust Black's queen by means of Bh4-f2.} (9. Qd2 { , sacrificing the b2-pawn, is the main alternative.}) 9... Be7 ({Of course,} 9... Qxb2 $4 {loses the queen due to} 10. Na4) (9... Nbd7) (9... Nc6 {and even} ) (9... Bd7 {are the other moves frequently seen in practice.}) 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 {Both sides have made typical attacking knight pawn moves; however, their impet is slowed down by the rook pawns, which have already moved to a3 and h6...} g5 {...and besides, Black has a possibility to strike a sudden counterblow, with an obvious idea to gain the e5-square for his knight.} 14. h4 $5 gxf4 15. Be2 {This apparently strange sequence of moves was seen for the first time in a correspondence game and later, at the super-GM level, in Giri - Vachier-Lagrave (Stavanger 2016). White creates the g4-g5 threat and protects the g4-pawn in case of ...Nd7-e5 Qf3xf4.} b4 $5 { Played instantly, which means that this move was prepared at home. In his annotations for ChessBase Magazine, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave examines a lot of moves but not this one! However, it was obviously no secret for yesterday's opponents.} ({The French grandmaster played} 15... Rg8 {in the above-mentioned game, to which, according to his analysis, White could have sacrificed a pawn:} 16. g5 $1 {with a powerful attack} ({instead of} 16. Rdg1 {, played by Anish Giri})) ({To understand the idea of 15...b4, we must take a look at the following line:} 15... Ne5 16. Qxf4 Nexg4 $1 17. Bxg4 e5 {(looks very strong but White has an adequate riposte)} 18. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 19. Qf3 {- White avoids serious material losses and keeps up a strong attack on Black's uncastled king, e.g.} Bxg4 20. Qxg4 Nf6 21. Qf3 exd4 22. Bxd4 {regaining the piece since} Qd8 $2 {is clearly bad due to} 23. e5 {(Indicated by Vachier-Lagrave).}) 16. axb4 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nexg4 18. Bxg4 e5 {Now we see the difference.} ({In the event of} 18... e5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Qf3 {Black can simply play} Nxb4 {. White's d4 knight can't retreat, the only way for him to avoid losing a piece is} 21. Be1 a5 22. Bxb4 axb4 {, opening the a-file for Black, after which the latter obtains excellent counterplay. However, White has another option...}) 19. Qxf6 $1 {This queen sacrifice is not difficult, in fact, but what followed next was really amazing.} Bxf6 {.} 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nf5 $3 {After this move Hikaru fell into deep thought for the first time in this game!} ({In his analysis he obviously expected} 21. Nc6 Bxg4 22. Nxd8 Bxd8 {This endgame is unclear, both sides have their advantages and drawbacks. Black has more weaknesses but his bishop pair should not be underestimated. Instead, Fabiano renounces restoring the material balance! I must say that such "real" queen sacrifices are an Achilles' heel of analysis engines. They almost always evaluate positions with, say, two minor pieces for a queen in favour of the strongest piece, while in reality, in human play, there may be a more than sufficient compensation for the material. Therefore such positions should be analysed and evaluated "manually", and kudos to Caruana and his team for doing that! P.S. Readers of the Chessbase website rightly indicated that engines start appreciating 21.Nf5 at some depth so my above comment is probably not quite relevant in this case; however, it remains valid in many similar situations!}) 21... Rb8 $6 {Black prevents 22.Bb6 but allows 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Nxd6+ (or 23.Rxd6), which proves to be fatal for him.} ({He could have parried both threats by just trading White's dangerous knight:} 21... Bxf5 22. Bxf5 Rb8 {but then the weakness of light squares around his king could have become decisive. Computer engines show equality here, which means that Black's position is almost hopeless :-). White could have played} 23. Rd3 {with idea Ra3 or Rc3} ({or simply} 23. c4)) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd6 $6 {Alas, White fails to find the strongest but very difficult continuation, which means that either Caruana did not analyse 21... Rb8 at all or forgot his analysis. I bet for the former suggestion since the variations are really amazing and must stick out in one's memory:} (23. Nxd6+ $1 Ke7 ({to} 23... Kf8 {White has an amazing move} 24. Bf5 $3 {followed by Bf2-c5, and Black's king, "pressed against the ropes", is completely helpless}) (23... Qxd6 {is hopeless due to} 24. Rxd6 Bxg4 25. Rxa6 {with a decisive material advantage for White}) 24. Bc5 $3 Qf4+ {(forced)} (24... Bxg4 25. Nb5+ {followed by mate on c7}) 25. Kb1 Qxg4 (25... Bxg4 {again leads to a mate after } 26. Nf5+) 26. Nxc8+ Ke8 (26... Kf6 27. Rhf1+ Kg7 28. Rg1 $18 {with decisive material gains for White}) 27. Nd6+ Kd7 {(again the only move)} (27... Ke7 28. Nf5+ Ke8 29. Rhg1 $18 {- Black's queen can't retreat in view of Nf5-g7#}) 28. Nxf7+ Kc7 {(other retreats are worse)} ({e.g.} 28... Ke6 29. Nxh8 Rxh8 30. Rhf1 {with an inevitable deadly check on d6}) 29. Bd6+ Kb7 {(once again, there are no better king moves)} 30. Bxb8 Rxb8 31. Nxe5 {, and White keeps a rook, knight and three pawns for the queen, which is quite enough to win, since} Qxe4 $6 32. Nd7 {loses an exchange, after which two rooks easily deal with Black's lone queen.}) 23... Be6 {Black is ready to castle. However, his position is still poor.} 24. Rhd1 ({Another way to meet Black's castling was} 24. Be3 Rxb4 $1 ({if} 24... O-O {then} 25. Nxh6+ Kh8 (25... Kg7 26. Rg1) 26. Nxf7+ $1 Qxf7 27. Rxe6 {, and Black's king is helpless.}) ({an attempt to free Black's queen: } 24... Qg6 {fails to} 25. Rxe6+ $3 fxe6 26. Bh5 $1 Qxh5 27. Ng7+) 25. Rxa6 O-O ({In the event of} 25... Bxf5 26. Rxf6 Bxg4 27. Bxh6 Rxe4 {White keeps an extra pawn and good winning chances}) 26. Nxh6+ Kh8 27. Bf5 $1 (27. Nxf7+ Qxf7 28. Rxe6 {is now premature due to} Rxe4 {; White must prepare that blow}) 27... Qd8 28. Nxf7+ $1 Rxf7 29. Rxe6 Rxf5 $1 {(Black must get rid of White's terrifying bishop)} 30. Rh6+ (30. exf5 Rg4 $1 {is less clear}) 30... Kg8 31. Rg1+ Kf7 32. Rh7+ Ke6 33. exf5+ Kxf5 $16 {Despite an approximate material parity, White has a clear advantage: a passed h4-pawn, and Black's "centralised" king is in danger; still, the outcome of the game is not quite certain.}) 24... O-O 25. h5 $1 {(threatening 26.Bh4)} Qg5+ ({Black couldn't bring himself to put his queen into the corner by} 25... Rfe8 26. Bh4 Qh8 { but that was the most stubborn defence. White should probably continue positionally:} 27. Ne3 $1 (27. Ne7+ {is not enough due to} Rxe7 28. Bxe7 Bxg4 29. Rd8+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Kh7 31. Rxh8+ Kxh8 {, and Black should not lose this endgame with opposite-coloured bishops}) 27... Qg7 28. Rg1 Kf8 29. Rdd1 $16 { Black's position is very difficult to defend, of course.}) 26. Be3 Qf6 ({ Of course, not} 26... Qxg4 27. Nxh6+) 27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Bf5 {Caruana spent some time calculating the blow on f7 but finally prefered a strong positional continuation, making Nxf7+ a more powerful threat.} (28. Nxf7+ {was possible but Black had the following defence:} Rxf7 29. Rxe6 Qh4 $1 30. Bf5 { (threatening 31.Rh6+ since Black will be unable to reply 31...Rh7)} Rxf5 $1 { (here, too, Black must eliminate this bishop)} 31. exf5 (31. Rh6+ {was a good alternative:} Kg8 32. Rg1+ Kf7 33. Rh7+ Ke6 34. exf5+ Kxf5 35. Rf1+ Ke6 36. Rh6+ Kd5 37. Bd2 $16 {with a favourable position, similar to the one examined in the 24.Be3 line}) 31... Qxb4 {, and the forced line} 32. Rh6+ Kg8 33. Rg1+ Kf7 34. Rh7+ Kf6 35. Rg6+ Kxf5 36. Rf7+ Ke4 37. Rg4+ Kxe3 38. Rxb4 Rxb4 { leads to a rook endgame with an extra pawn for White, which, I believe, should be winning for him despite Black's passed e-pawn. But, of course, calculating this line and evaluating the final position is a very difficult task over the board.}) 28... Qe7 $2 {Nakamura succumbs to the pressure. His move doesn't parry the Nxf7+ threat.} (28... Rxb4 $2 29. Nxf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxe6 {was obviously hopeless}) (28... Rbd8 {doesn't work due to the simple} 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Bxe6 {, and White gets a third piece for the queen;} Qh4 {doesn't help here due to} 32. Nxf7+ Kg7 ({or} 32... Kh7 33. Kb1) 33. Bh6+ $1 Kh7 34. b3 {: Black can't take the e4-pawn in view of the knight fork; well, he can take the h5-pawn but White keeps a decisive material advantage anyway}) ({to} 28... Qh4 {White can reply} 29. Rg1 $1 {threatening 30.Bg5} (29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxe6 Rxf5 {leads to a position arising after 28.Nxf7+}) 29... Qxh5 {(what else?)} 30. Nxf7+ $1 Rxf7 (30... Bxf7 {is also hopeless due to} 31. Rh6+ Qxh6 32. Bxh6 Rg8 33. Rh1) 31. Rxe6 Rg7 32. Rd1 {- Black will never survive with such a poor king!}) (28... Rfe8 {was the most stubborn defence. White can continue} 29. Rg1 ({or} 29. c3) ({but not} 29. Rxa6 $2 Ra8 {, and Black obtains counterplay}) 29... Rxb4 30. Rxa6 {with a huge advantage.}) 29. b5 $6 {The idea of this move is either to close the b-file or to deflect Black's rook from the 8th rank. However, such "niceties" were excessive!} ({Black prepared to meet} 29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxe6 {with} Qxb4 {followed by} 31. Rh6+ Kg8 32. Rg1+ Rg7 ({but not} 32... Kf8 33. Rh8+ Ke7 34. Rxb8 Qxb8 35. Bc5+ $18) 33. Be6+ Kf8 {. Here both players missed the excellent move} 34. Bc5+ $3 ({instead of the obvious} 34. Rh8+ Ke7 35. Rxg7+ Kd6 $1 36. Rd7+ Kxe6 37. Rxb8 Qxb8 $16 {, which both definitely calculated and concluded that Black could successfully continue resistance}) 34... Qxc5 35. Rh8+ Ke7 36. Rxg7+ Kd6 37. Rxb8 Qe3+ (37... Kxe6 38. Rb6+ $1 Qxb6 39. Rg6+ {- a simple skewer combination}) 38. Kb1 Qe1+ 39. Ka2 Qa5+ 40. Kb3 Kxe6 {(the bishop can be taken now but White simply queens his h-pawn)} 41. h6 $18) 29... Qe8 $2 {Here are the lines demonstrating White's idea:} (29... axb5 30. Nxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxe6 {, and in the event of} Qb4 32. Rh6+ Kg8 {White can simply play} 33. c3 {parrying all future threats}) (29... Rxb5 30. Nxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxe6 Qb4 32. Rd8+ {(the point! The invasion of this rook breaks Black's defences)} Rf8 33. Rh6+ Kg7 ({or} 33... Kg8 34. Be6+ Kg7 35. Rd7+) 34. Rd7+ Rf7 35. Rg6+ Kh8 (35... Kf8 36. Rd8+ Ke7 37. Bg5+) 36. Rd8+ Rf8 (36... Kh7 37. Rc6+ Rxf5 38. Rc7+ {and mate}) 37. Rxf8+ Qxf8 38. Bg5 {with an inevitable deadly check on f6.}) ({Black could have parried the Nxf7+ threat by means of} 29... Rbe8 {but with the passed a-pawn after} 30. bxa6 {, White should win.}) 30. Nxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxe6 Qxb5 {The same defence as after the immediate 29.Nxf7+ but here Black's queen is placed worse than on b4.} 32. Rh6+ {BLACK RESIGNED foreseeing the following line. Nakamura's opening surprise (15. ..b4) was met with an excellent counter-surprise (21.Nf5!!). Black's queen was absolutely powerless against White's minor pieces. Of course, the unsafe position of Black's king made the greatest contribution to his defeat. Unfortunately, Caruana didn't find the simplest paths to a win on several occasions but he never let his advantage slip and finally brought it home.} ({ After} 32. Rh6+ Kg8 33. Rg1+ Rg7 34. Be6+ Kf8 35. Rh8+ ({of course, the beautiful} 35. Bc5+ {wins here, too, but it is unnecessary now}) 35... Ke7 36. Rxg7+ Kd6 {Black is not threatening mate on e1, and ...Qxb2+ will be completely harmless; therefore, White can simply continue} 37. Rh6 $18 { with decisive threats.}) 1-0 [Event "London Classic 8th"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.16"] [Round "7"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Meier,G"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 176"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.01.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 {Everyone is happy to see this! The players go into the deep jungle, but to come out unscathed a formidable map is indispensable. One round earlier Hikaru ran right into quicksand as Black, so he decided to ask Maxime about the right path.} e6 7. f4 h6 ({To my mind} 7... Qb6 8. Qd2 (8. a3 Nc6) 8... Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 h6 11. Bh4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nfd7 13. Ne4 Qxa2 14. Rd1 Qd5 15. Qe3 Qxe5 16. Be2 Bc5 17. Bg3 Qd5 18. c4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Qa5+ 20. Rd2 O-O 21. Bd6 f5 22. Bxf8 Nxf8 23. Nd6 Nbd7 {is the latest development. Both Giri and Vachier-Lagrave have shown that Black is fine.}) 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 (9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 {could transpose back to 7...Qb6.}) 9... Be7 10. Bf2 {That's the difference from the move order starting with 7...h6. I like this redeployment of the bishop, as Black has to relieve pressure on b2, while White gets ready for a pawn storm on the kingside against the juicy target created by h6.} Qc7 {Now White can develop quite harmoniously.} 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 {Things start to heat up! White also seems to have created a target with a2-a3, but it is much harder to exploit, since Black cannot open up lines on the queenside.} Bb7 ({ The round before we probably witnessed the end of} 13... g5 $6 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 b4 $146 {Hikaru's novelty, which led him straight into a lost position.} ({ Maxime had been successful with} 15... Rg8 16. Rdg1 $2 ({but} 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Ne5 18. Qxf4 Nfd7 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rh7 {would have been big trouble} Bxg5 $2 21. Bh5+ Kd8 22. Bh4) 16... d5 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Qh3 exd5 {0-1 (28) Giri, A-Vachier Lagrave,M Stavanger 2016}) 16. axb4 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nexg4 18. Bxg4 e5 19. Qxf6 $3 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nf5 $1 Rb8 (21... Bxf5 22. Bxf5 $18 { Picturesque! White is completely dominating. A queen needs targets, and there is not a single one in White's position. Black cannot get his king to any safety and being unable to open up new lines, he has to await execution making aimless moves with the major pieces.}) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd6 {1-0 (32) Caruana,F-Nakamura,H London 2016}) 14. Bg2 Rc8 15. Kb1 g5 {Again, Black is fighting for the dark squares on the kingside. But of course this sharp attempt needed to be well-prepared at home...} 16. Qh3 Nc5 $2 {Maxime had already sunk into deep thought and it turns out that he already lost his way.} ({There are a number of correspondence games with} 16... Nh7 17. e5 (17. f5 $2 e5 18. Nb3 Nhf6 {would allow Black to stabilise}) 17... Bxg2 18. Qxg2 gxf4 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. Rhe1 Be5 {And here I begun analysing quite a bit out of genuine curiosity. The move the computer wants to play probably wouldn't enter any player's head in London: Na2} 21. h3 $5 {This is very abstract too, but I like this move claiming there is some sort of zugzwang!} (21. Nf5 exf5 22. gxf5 Ng5 23. h4 Qc6 24. Rd5 f6 25. hxg5 hxg5 {and Black holds}) (21. Na2 O-O 22. Nb4 a5 (22... Bxd4 23. Bxd4 a5 24. Nd3 f3 25. Qf2 b4 26. axb4 axb4 27. Nxb4 Qb7 { was seen in the correspondence games, but without a computer's help Black should have very little chances to survive.}) 23. Na6 Qc4 24. b3 Qc3 25. Rd3 Bxd4 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. Rh1 a4 $13) (21. h4 {Looks logical, to get ready for Black castling, but then he doesn't; he plays} Rg8 {and finds a target on g4}) 21... O-O $6 (21... Rg8 $142 22. Rd3 Kf8 {appears playable for Black though}) 22. g5 $1 hxg5 23. Ne4 $36) 17. Rhe1 {All White's pieces have joined the game; next is blowing up the centre.} h5 (17... gxf4 {leads to a long forced sequence:} 18. g5 Nfd7 19. g6 fxg6 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Qxe6 Ne5 22. Bd4 Qc4 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qxc2+ 25. Ka1 Qf5 26. Qxf5 gxf5 27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. d6 Kf7 29. Rxe5 $16 {The d-pawn will tie Black down.}) 18. Nf5 $1 {...and that's how you do it in the Najdorf!} Ncxe4 {Keeping control requires precision from White, but his superior coordination should inspire full confidence that there is always going to be a solution.} (18... exf5 19. exf5 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 {Now Black has to try and stop a breakthrough on the kingside, so:} Rg8 21. fxg5 Rxg5 { does not look bad at first sight, but} 22. h3 $1 {followed by Bh4 breaks the blockade with devastating effect. Black's pieces are in a way shattered, living separate lives on each side and unable to work together.}) 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 $1 {Not exposing c2 and assuming control over the black kingside.} Rg8 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. gxh5 {White has transformed his initiative into one major asset: the h-pawn supported by queen and bishop. Of course the black king's location in the centre makes it impossible to put together a succesful defence against its advance.} gxf4 23. Qh4+ Kf8 (23... f6 {would also expose the 7th rank, adding more problems.}) 24. Ka1 {Elegant and good enough, since Black cannot repair his position.} (24. h6 $1 e5 25. h7 Rh8 26. Ka1 $1 {is the computer's beautiful solution to win the game. Stepping away from c2 takes away any last trick Black may have.}) 24... b4 {Desperation obviously.} 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qxc2 27. Ree1 bxa3 28. Qxf4 axb2+ 29. Bxb2 Rg5 {For the first time all the black pieces seem to be working together; he is aiming for an irritating rook swing, but Hikaru has it all under control.} 30. Qxd6+ Kg8 31. Rg1 $1 {The last precise move, Black is about to get mated.} Qa4+ 32. Ba3 Rxg1 33. Rxg1+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Kh6 35. Rg6+ Kxh5 36. Rg1 f5 37. Qf3+ {So what can we say? Clearly, there are some real problems in the line Maxime chose, which may require Black to go back to the well trodden paths of 7...Qb6. Otherwise Black has to dig deep in the analysis of 16...Nh7 but it would not appeal to my chess senses at all. Nowadays you can solve opening problems in a lot of ways with the help of the computer, but it's necessary to play positions one has a good feel for as well. Since you cannot repeat all analysis constantly, eventually you'll get a complicated line you haven't looked at in a while and you will easily misstep if it does not suit you.} 1-0 [Event "London Classic 8th"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.18"] [Round "9"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A37"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "9"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventCategory "22"] [SourceTitle "CBM 176"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.01.17"] {The London Chess Classic was the last tournament of the Grand Chess Tour and before the last round in London we already had a winner of the circuit - the amazing Wesley So, who had a great 2016. But in the game between Levon Aronian and Veselin Topalov, which I am discussing here, there also was a lot at stake: Aronian had the chance to finish third in the GCT, whereas Topalov before this game had 1.0/8 - a disastrous result after playing fighting chess throughout the tournament. However, he did not plan to change his style to cut losses. He repeatedly said in London that he was playing interesting chess and was trying to have fun in all his games. After all, his creative play led to amazing positions though Topalov failed to capitalize them.} 1. c4 $5 {The English suits Levon's creative and original style. It often leads to unexplored positions and he doesn't mind going into uncharted territory. It is here that he discovers many of his brilliant ideas.} g6 2. Nc3 c5 {The Symmetrical English, a very solid way to play with Black.} 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 { Now Black has a wide range of choices.} d6 ({An alternative is} 5... Nf6 { which after} 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 {leads to a classical position of the Open English. But the fashionable move nowadays is} Qa5 $5 {which tries to disturb White's development.}) (5... e5 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nge7 {The 'Botvinnik Triangle' is one of the safest ways to fight against the English Opening.} 8. a3 O-O 9. Rb1 a5 {and as soon as White plays Ne1 (preparing Nc2 and Ne3 to control d5), Black quickly goes for ...Be6 and ...d5!}) (5... e6 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3 O-O {followed by ...d5 or first ...b6-...Bb7.}) (5... Nh6 $5 {The knight wants to go to f5 where it controls d4. But White can be original as well:} 6. h4 $5 {followed by h5.}) 6. O-O e6 7. e3 {White takes the chance to play d4.} Nge7 8. d4 O-O (8... cxd4 9. exd4 d5 {trying to fix the weakness on d4 and to establish a piece on d5 is a typical reaction but Black is too far behind in development for such measures. But White has to be keep this idea in mind.} 10. cxd5 $1 exd5 {gives White a slight advantage.} (10... Nxd5 $2 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Ne5 $16) 11. Bg5 $14) 9. Re1 $5 {I like this move. It is very useful in case Black tries to play ...cxd4 and ...d5.} (9. d5 $6 {is not good:} Na5 $1 { hitting the c4-pawn, and entering a good Benoni after:} 10. Nd2 exd5 11. cxd5 Rb8 {with excellent play for Black.} 12. Nde4 a6 13. Rb1 b5 $36 {0-1 (40) Hillarp Persson,T (2564)-Rodshtein, M (2671) Helsingor 2014}) 9... a6 (9... cxd4 10. exd4 d5 {and 9.Re1 proves to be very useful! White has the initiative: } 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bg5 $1 $36 Qb6 {and now both Na4 and Qd2 give White a very good and active position.} (12... f6 13. Bd2 $14) 13. Na4 $14 (13. Qd2 $5 $14)) 10. Bd2 $5 Rb8 (10... cxd4 $6 {helps White.} 11. exd4 Nxd4 (11... d5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bg5 $1 {is similar to the lines arising after 9...cxd4.}) 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bh6 $1 Bg7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Qd2 $16) 11. Rc1 b6 {Both players improve their positions. White can still not play d5 (because with a bishop on d2 the white queen does not defend d5) and Black is not yet ready to play ... cxd4 followed by ...d5.} 12. Ne2 e5 $5 (12... Bb7 13. Bc3 cxd4 14. Nexd4 (14. exd4 {looks awkward and after} d5 $1 {Black should be fine.}) 14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 $14 {and White keeps a spatial advantage.}) 13. Bc3 (13. d5 Nb4 {forces White to part with his bishop.} 14. Bxb4 cxb4 $13 {with a complex positional struggle - but Black looks fine.}) 13... h6 {A provocative move I do not fully understand.} (13... b5 $5 {which starts play on the queenside was more advisable.}) 14. d5 Nb4 15. Ra1 $1 {Threatening a3. One might think that a5 is forced now, but we all know how Topalov works:} b5 $5 {An interesting piece sacrifice that changes the direction of the game completely.} (15... a5 { is too passive.} 16. a3 Na6 17. Nd2 {and White can slowly expand on the queenside and has every reason to be happy.} b5 $2 {is probably always bad because White now obtains an amazing outpost on c4 whereas the black knights are horribly placed.} 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Nc4 $16 {with a tremendous position}) ( 15... e4 {is no good either} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nd2 Nd3 18. Rf1 b5 (18... Nxb2 $2 19. Qc2 Nd3 20. Nxe4 $16) 19. b3 $14 {and White is in the driver's seat.}) 16. a3 bxc4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Bd2 Nxd5 {Black has three pawns for the piece and prospects on the queenside.} 19. Qc1 $1 {There is no easy way to defend c4. } c3 (19... Be6 $5 20. Rxa6 c3 21. bxc3 b3 {Black has only one pawn for the piece but it is not easy to control the b3-pawn.} 22. Qb1 (22. Qb2 $2 Nb6 $1 $17) 22... b2 $36) ({The natural} 19... Qc7 $2 {fails:} 20. Nxe5 $18 {now the knight is hanging on d5.}) 20. bxc3 b3 21. Qb1 {White desperately needs to activate his bishop on d2 and his knight on e2.} (21. Qb2 $5 {right away was also possible.}) 21... Nf6 $1 {White was threatening to play c4.} 22. Qb2 (22. c4 $2 b2 $19 {followed by ...Bf5.}) 22... Qc7 23. c4 $1 {White sacrifices another pawn but gains space for his pieces.} Qxc4 24. Nc3 {Here I thought White should be able to consolidate, get at least one pawn back and start playing for a win. But things aren't so simple:} (24. Bc3 $5 {bringing the knight over to d2, was another defensive setup:}) 24... Be6 25. Rec1 Nd7 $5 ( 25... Rfc8 $5) 26. e4 (26. Ra4 $5) (26. Bf1 Qc6 $1 27. e4 Nc5 {forces the black queen on to a more passive post but White still has problems to prove an advantage.} 28. Be3 Nxe4 29. Rxa6 Qb7 $13) 26... Nc5 27. Bf1 Qb4 28. Be3 (28. Bxa6 $2 Ra8 $1 29. Bf1 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 $17) 28... Rfc8 {Black is bringing pieces to the queenside to consolidate and prepare the advance of the a-pawn.} 29. Nd2 (29. Bxa6 {was possible now:} Nxa6 30. Rxa6 Ra8 $1 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Nd2 f5 $5 $44) 29... a5 $1 30. Bxc5 {The natural reaction - White eliminates the strong knight and stops the a-pawn.} Rxc5 31. Ra4 Qb7 32. Bc4 Qc6 $1 33. Bd5 (33. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 {threatening ...Rxc3} 34. Raa1 Rc8 35. Ndb1 d5 $1 36. exd5 exd5 37. Qxb3 e4 $132) 33... Bxd5 34. exd5 Qd7 35. Ra3 a4 $1 36. Nxa4 Rxd5 37. Nxb3 e4 38. Qa2 Qf5 $44 {A curious position - Black gave up his strong passed pawns, but won White's pawn on d5. Black's d-pawn can become strong and White has problems to coordinate his knights. Black has at least sufficient compensation.} 39. Re1 Rdb5 40. Rc1 d5 41. Nac5 {I think Levon was playing for a win here and rejects a number of solid options in the next moves.} (41. Nc3 $5 {bringing the knight over to the centre was another way to go.}) 41... d4 42. Ra7 (42. Ra8 $5 {was another way to control the risks - but in turn White would have less winning chances.}) 42... d3 43. Rc7 $6 h5 $1 {With his pieces in ideal positions Topalov now attacks on the kingside - the threat is h4-h3.} 44. Qa4 h4 45. Qxe4 $1 {White has no choice - he has to go on the defensive.} Qxe4 46. Nxe4 Rxb3 47. gxh4 $2 {The decisive mistake.} (47. Rd7 $1 {was necessary. After} h3 48. Rd1 $11 {White cannot take on d3 immediately but after Kf1 a draw seems to be unavoidable.}) 47... Bh6 $1 {White is in trouble now.} 48. Rf1 R3b4 49. f3 Rb2 50. Nf6+ (50. Rd7 Be3+ 51. Kh1 Rb1 52. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 53. Kg2 d2 $1 54. Nxd2 Rb2 $19 (54... Rd1 $4 55. Ne4 $1 $11)) 50... Kg7 51. Ng4 d2 52. Rd7 (52. Nxh6 Kxh6 53. Rd7 Re8 $1 $19) 52... Re8 53. Nf2 Re1 {and White resigned because he cannot stop ...Rb1. This was Topalov's first win in London. He finished with it and played a 2577 performance (which shows how strong the tournament was - and anyone who criticises him should bear in mind that 2600 is a grandmaster performance!). I guess it is always important to finish the tournament with a win, and Topalov definitely was looking for one in London. Aronian, on the other hand, had the better prospects in a very complex position, and tried to push by keeping the tension in the end this did not work out for him. I think we should thank the players for such a delightful tournament (all rounds had at least one decisive result) and congratulate Wesley So on a fantastic result: he won the London Chess Classic 2016 with 6.0/9 and a 2900+ performance! - let's see how he does in 2017!} 0-1 [Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "2017.01.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Adhiban, Baskaran"] [Black "Van Wely, Loek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2653"] [BlackElo "2695"] [Annotator "Adhiban,B"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2017.01.14"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "13"] [EventCountry "NED"] [EventCategory "21"] [SourceTitle "CBM 177"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2017.03.16"] {My first super tournament! I had a mix of emotions running through and as Kasparov famously said before his first super tournament, "The point between rage and serenity" Ah, I am wrong :), this is from the movie X-men First Class. The real quote of Kasparov, "I had to strike a balance between awe and respect!"} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 {This felt like the right way to kickstart the tournament :), Since one of my earlier coaches Mr. T.S.Ravi showed me his cool games in this system when I was in Chennai some days before the start of the event.} d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Na3 Qd8 {Loek had already reached this position twice.} 7. Nc4 Be7 {His first deviation from his previous games.} (7... Nc6 {was his preference mostly.}) 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 $1 {[%csl Yd6] 8...Nbd7 had weakened the d6-square so I decided to target it.} b6 11. Nd6 Nh5 12. Be5 $1 (12. Nxc8 Nxf4 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {was another option but it felt like Black's active pieces totally compensate for the bishop deficit.} 14. Bc2 {was going to be my backup option in case, the text move wouldn't suit me.}) 12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bxd6 14. exd6 Bb7 15. Re1 $1 {[%cal Gd3e4]} (15. Ne5 {would be premature due to} Nf4 $15) 15... Nf6 (15... g6 $5 {is another possibility, though White's position is preferable after} 16. Be4 $1 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 {with a stronghold on d6.}) 16. Ne5 g6 17. Bb5 ({A better move was} 17. Bc2 $16 {keeping Black's forces in check.}) 17... Qc8 $6 (17... Ne4 $1 {Black could have pounced on this chance to activate this pieces.} 18. Nd7 $5 (18. Nc6 Qxd6 19. Rxe4 {looks lost for Black but he has} Qc7 $1 { with an extra pawn.}) 18... a6 (18... Re8 19. Ba4 a6 20. Ne5 Rf8 21. f3 Nxd6 22. Nd7 $16) 19. Ba4 Qg5 $1 (19... b5 20. Nxf8 bxa4 21. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 22. Qg4 $16 {and White gets the upper hand due to the loosely placed black pieces and his hopelessly weak pawns :).}) 20. Qf3 Rfd8 21. Nxb6 Rab8 22. Qe3 $1 Qxe3 23. Rxe3 Nxd6 24. Nd7 Rbc8 {with an equal endgame.}) 18. Qa4 $5 ({After the game my friend Vishnu suggested this as a better option and he was right! (as always :))} 18. c4 $1 a6 19. Ba4 {with complete control over the blockading square!}) 18... a6 19. Bf1 $5 {You should keep more pieces when you have aggressive intentions :).} (19. Bc6 $5 {was a decent option and also my original intention.} Bxc6 20. Qxc6 Qxc6 21. Nxc6 Nd7 {I felt Black had reasonable saving chances here.}) 19... b5 20. Qh4 Qd8 21. Rad1 Kg7 (21... Nd5 22. Qh6 Qxd6 23. Rd3 $5 ({Also very interesting was} 23. Re3 Qc7 (23... Rfe8 { is met by} 24. Nxf7 $1) 24. Rh3 f5 {Black is holding the fort as} 25. Nxg6 { is always met by} Rf6) 23... Qc7 24. Rh3 f5 {It looks like Black has stopped the attack but White has the nasty} 25. c4 $1 (25. Nxg6 Rf6 $1 {is the main issue for White.}) 25... bxc4 26. Bxc4 {with an ongoing attack.}) 22. a4 $6 ( 22. c4 $1 {was stronger} bxc4 23. Qxc4 {, but I felt Black would have a solid outpost on d5, but in reality it doesn't matter that much.}) 22... c4 23. axb5 (23. Qd4 Bd5) 23... axb5 24. b3 $1 cxb3 25. Bxb5 (25. Qb4 Qa5 26. Qxb3 Bd5 27. Qxb5 Qxc3 {looked like nothing for me.}) 25... Nd5 (25... Qa5 $1 26. c4 Qc3 { I was concerned about this and rightly so :), suddenly White has to be careful not to get worse.}) 26. Qd4 Qf6 27. c4 (27. Bf1 $5 {I did feel this was good, but somehow rejected it.}) ({Another strong move was} 27. Rb1 $5 Ra3 28. g3 $16 {White is just clearly better.}) 27... Nf4 28. Bc6 Bxc6 29. Nxc6 Qxd4 30. Nxd4 b2 31. g3 e5 32. Nb5 Ne6 33. Rb1 (33. Rxe5 Ra1 34. Ree1 Rfa8 $132) 33... Rfc8 { I breathed a sigh of relief when Loek went for this.} ({he had the stronger} 33... Nc5 {Black looked totally fine here.} 34. Kg2 (34. Red1 Na4 $15) (34. Rxe5 Ra1 35. Ree1 Rfa8 36. Kg2 Nd3 37. Red1 Rxb1 38. Rxb1 Kf6 $15) 34... Nd3 35. Re3 Ra1 36. Nc3 Rxb1 37. Nxb1 e4 $1 38. Rxe4 Kf6 {with a probable draw as White will have to give up both his c & d-pawns to get rid of Black's strong b-pawn.}) 34. Rxb2 Rxc4 35. Rxe5 Ra1+ 36. Kg2 Rd1 37. h4 {Creating a safe house for the king.} h5 38. Ree2 Rc5 39. Rec2 Re5 {Missing my nasty idea.} ( 39... Rxc2 40. Rxc2 Nd4 $1 41. Nxd4 Rxd4 42. Rc6 Kf6 $11) 40. Nc7 $1 Ree1 ( 40... Rxd6 41. Ne8+ $18) 41. Rd2 {I have managed to retain the extra pawn with good winning chances.} Nd8 42. Nd5 {Changing the configuration of the pieces.} Nc6 43. Ne3 ({There is also the very similar} 43. Nc3 $5) 43... Rg1+ 44. Kf3 Rxd2 45. Rxd2 Kf6 46. Nd5+ (46. Nc4 Rb1 $1 (46... Ke6 47. d7 Nd8 $5 (47... Ke7 48. Kf4 $1 Nd8 49. Kg5 Ne6+ 50. Kh6 $16 {and White should win soon.}) 48. Kf4 $16 {[%cal Gf4g5,Gg5h6] preparing to penetrate via the kingside.}) 47. d7 Ke7 { Black can fight on...}) (46. d7 Nd8 47. Nc4 Rc1 48. Nd6 Ke6 49. Nc8 Rc5 { It is difficult to proceed.}) 46... Ke6 47. Nf4+ Kd7 48. Nd3 $1 {I was proud of this knight manoeuvre.} Nd8 (48... Kxd6 49. Nb4+ Kc5 50. Rc2+ $1 Kxb4 51. Rxc6 $18) 49. Nc5+ Kc6 50. Ne4 Kd7 51. Ra2 (51. Nf6+ Ke6 52. Nh7 $5 {was a funny idea.}) 51... Nc6 52. Rb2 f5 53. Rb7+ Ke6 54. Ng5+ Kxd6 55. Kf4 Rf1 56. Nf7+ (56. Rb2 $1 {was the best chance when Black still has some practical problems.}) 56... Ke6 57. Ng5+ Kd6 58. Nf7+ Ke6 59. Ng5+ Kd6 {I was planning to continue with Rb2, but I didn't realise that I had already repeated the position three times and Luke wasn't planning to suffer any more :).} 1/2-1/2 [Event "U.S. Championships Men 2017"] [Site "Saint Louis"] [Date "2017.04.07"] [Round "9"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D36"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [BlackElo "2667"] [Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"] [PlyCount "150"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O-O Nb6 11. h3 g6 12. Nf3 Be6 13. Kb1 O-O-O 14. Nd2 Ng7 15. g4 Kb8 16. Nb3 h5 17. f3 Bc8 18. Qf2 hxg4 19. hxg4 Ne6 20. f4 Nc7 21. f5 Qg5 22. Rhg1 $5 Rh3 23. e4 Rdh8 {[#] +1=7 is not a scoreline Nakamura is used to having in U.S. Championships. He had clearly had enough of draws when he sat down to play the ever-solid Onischuk today - a dangerous mindset.} 24. e5 $5 {Points for the spirit, but, objectively speaking, White is playing with fire.} (24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Nc5 Rh2 26. Qg3 {should be enough to hold.}) 24... Rh2 25. Qe1 Nc4 $1 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Nd2 Qf4 ({Here Alexander had a strong idea in the exchange sacrifice,} 27... gxf5 28. Nf3 Qg6 29. Nxh2 fxg4+ 30. Ka1 Rxh2) 28. e6 $1 {HIkaru seizes the opportunity.} gxf5 29. exf7 Be6 30. Rf1 Qxg4 31. Nf3 Rg2 32. d5 $5 {HIkaru burned a lot of time on this one. Clearly, he wanted it all.} ({Obviously, he could see} 32. Qe5 Qg7 33. Rg1 Rxg1 34. Rxg1 Qxe5 35. Nxe5 {as advantageous for White.}) 32... cxd5 33. Nxd5 $4 {A step too far.} (33. Qe5 Qg7 34. Rg1 Qxe5 35. Nxe5 Rxg1 36. Rxg1 Rf8 {[#] and only now} 37. Nxd5 $1 {a fantastic shot, based on forks and deflections. White will end up up the exchange with some practical winning chances.}) 33... Qg7 {A cold shower. The threat of mate forces White to part with his best pawn.} ({ Nakamura's idea had been that if} 33... Bxd5 $2 34. Rxd5 $1 {is winning since} Nxd5 35. Qe5+ Kc8 36. Qxh8+ {is game over. However, he overlooked that Black needn't touch his knight at the beginning of this line at all.}) 34. Nc3 Qxf7 35. Qe5 Re8 36. Qd6 Qf8 37. Nb5 Qxd6 38. Nxd6 Rh8 39. Rh1 Rxh1 40. Rxh1 Rg8 { The last move before the time control may not have been the most optimal, but Alexander wanted to make sure he didn't blunder anything.} 41. Nd4 f4 42. Rh6 Bc8 43. Nxc4 Nd5 44. Kc2 Rd8 45. Rd6 $6 {This goes to show that Hikaru was still reeling form his blunder on move 33.} ({The activity offered by} 45. Kd3 Nb4+ 46. Ke4 Nxa2 47. Nf3 (47. Nd6 Nb4) 47... Rf8 48. Nd6 Nb4 49. Ne5 {would be more in his style, particularly against the opponent who was looking for technical solutions.}) 45... Rxd6 46. Nxd6 Bh3 47. a3 Kc7 48. Ne4 a5 $6 (48... Bg2 49. Kd3 Bf1+ 50. Kd2 Kb6) 49. Nd2 b6 50. Kd3 Bg2 51. Nc2 $2 (51. N4f3) 51... Ne7 52. b4 a4 53. Nd4 Kd7 54. Ke2 Bd5 {Onischuk at his best. His pieces guard the approaches to the f4-pawn, while the black king is slowly making his way forward.} 55. Nb5 $2 {This only helps Black.} Kc6 56. Nc3 b5 57. Kd3 Nf5 58. Nd1 Kd6 59. Nc3 Bc6 60. Nce4+ Ke7 61. Ng5 Kf6 62. Nge4+ Ke7 63. Ng5 Bg2 64. Nge4 Ke6 65. Nf2 Kd5 {Finally, the king has arrived and that signals the end of the game.} 66. Nd1 Nd6 67. Nf2 Nc4 68. Nxc4 Bf1+ 69. Kc3 Bxc4 70. Nh3 Ke4 71. Kd2 Be6 72. Ng5+ Kd5 73. Nf3 Bg4 74. Nh4 Ke4 75. Ke1 Ke3 0-1 [Event "U.S. Championship"] [Site "Saint Louis, U.S.A."] [Date "2017.04.07"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Xiong, Jeffery"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2674"] [BlackElo "2822"] [Annotator "Elshan Moradiabadi"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] [WhiteClock "0:02:16"] [BlackClock "0:18:43"] {The current world junior champion has not had a good tournament so far, especially with the white pieces! He had lost two games with White against Kamsky and Shabalov and today he went down again with White against one of the leaders to have -3 from his three Whites!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 { Catalan against Wesley, who is a master of this opening with both colors! A very interesting choice by Jeffery.} 4. Bg2 Be7 (4... Bb4+ {is another popular choice.}) 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {Wesley opts for what is considered as "open Catalan."} (6... c6 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. e4 {and now} Nbd7 ({Or} 9... Na6 { Are equally playable positions in a closed form of Catalan.})) 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 {Wesley So goes for a solid continuation.} 9. Rd1 $5 {And Jeffery Xiong goes for what is considered a benign game for black. It is interesting that Jeffery chose this because Wesley has had several good results in this line including a very "clean" victory against strong Canadian GM Anton Kovalyov.} Bc6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 {The tripled pawns are fine.} 13. Bg5 {less common but equally acceptable.} (13. a5 Nd5 14. Na2 Nf6 15. Nc3 Nd5 16. Na4 Qb8 17. Bd2 Qb5 18. Rdc1 c5 19. dxc5 c3 20. Nxc3 Qxc5 21. Na4 Qb5 22. Qc4 Rfb8 23. Qxb5 Rxb5 24. e4 Nf6 25. f3 Bd6 26. Rc2 Nd7 27. Kg2 Rd8 28. Bc3 Ne5 29. Kf2 Nc6 30. f4 Nxa5 31. e5 Bf8 32. Bxa5 Rxa5 33. Ke3 Rb8 34. Ra2 g5 35. Nc3 gxf4+ 36. gxf4 Bc5+ 37. Kf3 Rxa2 38. Nxa2 Rb3+ 39. Kg4 Bd4 40. Rxc7 Rxb2 41. Nc1 Rxh2 42. Nb3 Be3 43. Rc3 Bf2 44. f5 h5+ 45. Kg5 exf5 46. Kxf5 Kg7 47. Rd3 h4 48. Nd2 a5 49. Ne4 Rg2 50. Rd7 h3 51. e6 Bh4 52. Rxf7+ Kg8 53. Nf6+ Bxf6 54. Kxf6 Rf2+ 55. Ke7 h2 56. Rxf2 h1=Q 57. Rf5 a4 58. Rg5+ Kh7 59. Kf6 Qh6+ { 0-1 (59) Kovalyov,A (2636)-So,W (2744) Edmonton 2014}) 13... Rb8 14. e3 c5 $1 { Wesley shows his vast knowledge of this opening and surprises Jeffery with this move, which has only been played once before, although the game is between two strong Russian GMs.} 15. dxc5 Qe8 16. Rd4 Nd7 $1 {Wesley's novelty. Black is totally fine, according to the engines!} (16... Rb4 17. Na2 Qxa4 18. Nxb4 Qxa1+ 19. Kg2 Qa5 20. Nc6 Qxc5 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Rxc4 c5 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Rxc5 g6 25. b4 Qe7 26. Qd1 {1/2-1/2 (26) Sjugirov,S (2624)-Smirnov,P (2610) Novosibirsk 2012}) 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. c6 $2 {A really bad move. I am not sure but this may lose by force!} (18. f4 {is what the engines cry for. At first glance, it seems that White is weakening his king but in fact this is a prophylactic move which parries the threats after Ne5 against White's king.}) 18... Ne5 {Now, this knight is addressing serious weaknesses on d3 and f3. White should be accurate now despite machines evaluation which is the famous "0.00"!!} 19. Qe4 Qc5 20. Nd5 {The best and only move but things are far from easy for white.} Nd3 21. Nxc7 {Stockfish changes its evaluation several times but it asseses this position equal on depth 51!!} (21. Nf4 Nxb2 {is just a pawn down.}) 21... Nxf2 $1 {I still cannot clarify for 100% whether we are observing a first-class mate attack or a strong attack which worked for practical purposes.} 22. Kxf2 (22. Nxa6 Qg5 23. Kxf2 Rxb2+ {is another serious consideration.}) 22... Rxb2+ 23. Kf1 Qh5 {Initially it may seem that White should be able to hold here but it is all over according to the engines. I am not surprised at all! White's king is exposed and Black's rook and queen are in complete control of the second rank which poses several mate threat against White's king.} 24. Qg4 Qxh2 25. Qf3 c3 26. Rc1 e5 $1 {So plays it like a machine!} 27. Rh4 (27. Rc4 {would have led to a beautiful finish for this game! } Rfb8 $3 {It is not clear, at first sight what the purpose of this move is!} 28. Nd5 (28. Nb5 axb5 29. axb5 (29. c7 bxc4) 29... Qh3+ 30. Ke1 Re8 $3 { Stunning! Why this move?!} (30... g5 {is also winning!} 31. c7 Rc8) 31. c7 (31. Rh4 Qe6 {and White's pawns are falling!}) 31... e4 {Here comes the reason!} 32. c8=Q Rxc8 33. Rxc8+ Qxc8 34. Qxe4 Qb8 35. Qg4 Qb7 {and Black is winning!}) (28. g4 Qd2 29. R4xc3 e4 30. Qg3 Rd8 31. Nd5 Rxd5 {and mate on d1 cannot be parried! }) 28... Rf2+ $3 {Here comes the purpose!} 29. Qxf2 Qh1+ 30. Qg1 (30. Ke2 Rb2+) 30... Qxd5 31. R4xc3 Rb2 {A free move for White doesn't even help!} 32. e4 Qd2 33. R1c2 Qd1+ 34. Kg2 Rxc2+ 35. Rxc2 Qxc2+ 36. Kf3 Qxc6 {with a winning queen endgame! This is the most beautiful combination I have seen in 2017 so far!}) 27... Qd2 {The game is over! A well-deserved victory for Wesley !} 28. Rd1 Rd8 $3 {A cute finish!} 29. Nd5 (29. Rxd2 Rdxd2 {And White will be checkmated despite his huge material advantage!}) 29... Rxd5 30. Rd4 Rxd4 31. exd4 Qxd1+ ( 31... Qxd1+ 32. Qxd1 c2 $19) 0-1 [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"] [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 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 "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 "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 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 "4th GRENKE Chess Classic 2017"] [Site "Karlsruhe"] [Date "2017.04.17"] [Round "3"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Meier, Georg"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "2817"] [BlackElo "2621"] [Annotator "Elshan Moradiabadi"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:02] George Meier is the world's leading expert in this line.} 4. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Ngf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. Nxf6+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:11] My knowledge of this opening is a bit rusty but my recollection tells me that this is the sharpest line in this variation with players castling on opposite sides most of the time.} Bd6 { [%emt 0:00:25] Meier goes for the most principled continuation.} (7... Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qe2 b6 (9... a6 10. Ne5 Qd5 11. c4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. O-O-O Bxd2+ 14. Rxd2 b5 15. c5 {is just bad for Black.} Qxa2 16. Bb1 Qd5 17. f3 Nd7 18. Be4 Qa2 19. Rhd1 Rb8 20. Nc6 b4 21. Bb1 Qa4 22. Nxb8 Nxb8 23. Qc4 g6 24. Qa2 Qb5 25. Bd3 Qb7 26. Bc4 Bd7 27. d5 exd5 28. Rxd5 Qc8 29. R5d2 Bb5 30. Bxf7+ Kg7 31. Bc4 Qe8 32. Re2 Qc6 33. Bxb5 Qxb5 34. Re7+ Kh6 35. Qd5 Rf5 36. Qd2+ g5 37. Re6+ Kg7 38. Qd4+ Kf7 39. Re5 {1-0 (39) Van Kampen,R (2636)-Reinderman,D (2604) Amsterdam 2014}) 10. O-O-O Bb7 11. Kb1 Qc8 (11... Nd5 12. Bd2 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. c4 Nf6 15. Bc3 {leads to White's advantage}) 12. c4 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Ne5 Rd8 15. f3 Nd7 16. Bf4 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bc6 18. Qf2 Rd7 19. Qg3 Qf8 20. Bc2 Rad8 21. a3 h6 22. Bc3 Bd6 23. Qf2 Bc7 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Re1 Qe7 26. f4 Rd8 27. Qg3 Qf8 28. Qg4 f5 29. Qe2 Bd7 30. Qe3 Bc8 31. h3 Qd6 32. Rd1 Qc6 33. Rg1 Rf8 34. g4 e5 35. fxe5 fxg4 36. hxg4 Rf3 37. Qe1 Rf4 38. Qe2 Be6 39. Qd3 Kf8 40. Qh7 Bg8 41. Qh8 Qe6 42. Bf5 Qxc4 43. e6 Rf1+ 44. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 45. Ka2 Qc4+ 46. Ka1 {1-0 (46) Demchenko,A (2632)-Stupak,K (2562) Subic Bay 2016}) 8. Bd3 { [%emt 0:00:23]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:32]} 9. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:31]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:06] } 10. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 11. Kb1 {[%emt 0:02:02]} c5 { [%emt 0:00:11]} 12. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 13. Bh4 {[%emt 0: 00:00] Caruana deviates from Meier's game earlier this year where he lost to Estonian GM Kaido Kulaots. He does not want to test Meier's improvement over his game and he is already sure h4 is not going to work in this game.} (13. h4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Be7 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. Qf5 g6 19. Qxg6 Qc7 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Qg6+ Kh8 22. Bf5 Bc8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Rd7 {1-0 (24) Kulaots,K (2564)-Meier,G (2648) Sweden 2017}) 13... Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 14. c3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} Be7 {[%emt 0:06:00] Meier spends some time while Caruana is still blitzing his moves. It seems that c3 may not have been part of Meier's preparation.} 15. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:25:12]} 16. Nxd4 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} Rc5 $1 {[%emt 0:02:15] Played quickly and accurately! Meier is not only the opening expert but has a deep understanding of the position. The queen will move and the other rook will occupy d-file.} 17. Rhe1 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Qc8 {[%emt 0:01:59]} 18. Be5 {[%emt 0:07:22] Fabiano's moves are all good according to the engines!} Nd7 {[%emt 0:32:55] The position is hard and it is not easy to find a move for Black. Meier's play is good but he has to spend a lot of time to check on many things. He is caught in a balanced yet unclear position. A feat for Fabiano and not exactly what Meier had in mind.} 19. Bf4 { [%emt 0:01:47]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 20. h4 {[%emt 0:39:50] Now g4-g5 is a threat.} Rd8 {[%emt 0:11:54]} 21. Be5 {[%emt 0:07:45]} (21. g4 $2 Nd5 22. Bg3 Rxc3 {with a great position for Black.}) 21... h5 $1 {[%emt 0:15:02] Another excellent stopping move.} 22. f3 {[%emt 0:05:01]} Bd6 $2 {[%emt 0:04:17] with time pressure reaching, Meier makes a bad mistake by letting his king be exposed.} (22... Nd7 {was again a choice.} 23. Bg3 Nf6 {Meier might have missed } 24. Nf5 $6 exf5 25. Qxe7 Nd5 26. Qg5 f4 $17 {with devastating horizontal effect!}) 23. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:03:23]} gxf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 24. Qe3 {[%emt 0:13: 07]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:06:43]} 25. f4 $1 {[%emt 0:02:39] Great play now Rg8 is forced.} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 26. Bc2 {[%emt 0:02:34]} Bb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} ( 26... Bf8 {is ugly but at least covers Black's king.}) 27. Bb3 $5 {[%emt 0:08: 39] Fabiano targets e6} f5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 28. Nxe6+ $1 {[%emt 0:00:00] And he sees that his attack is crushing! Now Black's king is exposed and White's pieces are all going to swarm Black's.} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 29. Qd4+ { [%emt 0:00:02]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 30. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:02:14]} Be4+ {[%emt 0: 00:43]} 31. Ka1 {[%emt 0:02:48]} Rg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. Qf6 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33. Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Qa6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Ree8 { [%emt 0:01:23] Fabiano misses a mate but his move is winning enough!} (34. Rh8+ Kxh8 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Bg8+ Rxg8 (36... Kh8 37. Bf7+ Kh7 38. Bg6+ Rxg6 39. Rh8#) 37. Re7+ Rg7 38. Qxg7#) 34... Qf1+ {[%emt 0:01:33]} 35. Bd1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1-0 [Event "Sharjah Grand Prix"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.24"] [Round "6"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [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 "GRENKE Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.04.22"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2817"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:17:36"] [BlackClock "0:51:17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 {The modern theory of the Giuoco Pianissimo is full of Aronian's games. Check this one for instance:} (6. h3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Be6 9. c3 Bb6 10. Bb3 f6 11. d4 Bf7 { played not long time ago, Karjakin,S (2785)-Aronian,L (2780) Wijk aan Zee 2017} ) 6... a5 7. Bg5 $146 {Nevertheless, it is Caruana who makes a novelty first.} ({One of the eight predecessors saw:} 7. c3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd6 {quite a recent game too, Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Aronian,L (2785) Doha 2016}) 7... h6 8. Bh4 Be7 $1 {This is the reason why Bc1-g5 is not as effective as White wishes it to be. The pin is broken and the bishop has very little to do on the h4-d8 diagonal.} 9. Bg3 d6 10. h3 Nd7 11. Nc3 Nb6 12. Bb3 Kh8 13. d4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Qxd4 Bf6 {An equalizer.} ({Both players spent some time analyzing the consequences of the logical advance:} 15... f5 { Aronian disliked that in the line} 16. e5 ({While Caruana thought that he is OK after} 16. Qe3 fxe4 17. Qxe4 c6 18. Rfe1) 16... c5 (16... d5 17. Nxd5 f4 18. Bh2 ({Black actually missed in preliminary calculations the tricky} 18. Nxe7 Qxd4 19. Ng6+ Kh7 20. Nxf8+ {with big advantage for White.})) 17. Qd2 dxe5 ( 17... c4 18. exd6) 18. Qxd8 Bxd8 19. Bxe5 c4 20. Ba2 {White has just one bad piece which he can easily free with b2-b3.}) 16. e5 ({After} 16. Qd3 {both} Be6 {(Aronian)} ({and} 16... Nd7 {(Caruana) are playable.})) 16... dxe5 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Rfe1 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Ne4 {Now Caruana rejected the obvious:} ( 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Rd2 {since it will be a draw and decided that he can keep on pressing.}) 20... Kg8 {Aronian was unimpressed and thought he is simply up a pawn.} 21. Nc5 Rd5 22. Nxe6 {"This came as a pleasant surprise" (Aronian). "Just horrible." (Caruana)} ({As usual the objective truth is somewhere in the middle. After} 22. Nd3 Nd7 23. f3 Rd8 24. Bf2 {the posiiton is balanced. White has compensation for a pawn thanks to the pressure on the half-open e-file and the more active pieces. Do not tell this to Levon, he is still frustrated though...}) 22... Rc8 23. b3 c5 {The knight is trapped on e6. "Next time I should try not to blunder my pieces that early." (Caruana)} 24. c4 Rd6 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 {Black is simply up a piece. But the sixth part of "Die Hard" was on the German cinemas today. Fabiano Caruana had to replace Bruce Willis for it.} 26. Bxe5 Rd3 (26... Re6 {"You have to play professionally instead of like an excited puppy!" (Aronian). The trade of the rook pair would have made things simplier for Black.} 27. Bxf6+ Kxf6 28. Rxe6+ Kxe6) 27. Bxf6+ Kxf6 28. Re4 Rc7 {Aronian should have been aware. After all he was the one who praised Caruana's resourcefulness yesterday!} (28... Rcd8 {"simply wins as you trade rooks." (Caruana)}) ({So does} 28... Rxb3 29. Rae1 Rc6) 29. Rae1 { Now Caruana finds some clever tricks to stay in he game.} Rxb3 30. Rf4+ Kg7 31. Re6 Nxa4 32. Rg4+ Kf8 {Avoids the possible skewers along the seventh rank, or the ideas of perpetual after:} (32... Kh7 33. Rh4 Kg7 34. Rhxh6 {although Black can win here as well after say} Nc3 35. Rhg6+ Kf8 36. Rgf6+ Rf7) 33. Rxh6 Rf7 34. Rh8+ Ke7 35. h4 {"And I thought this was like a desperate try." (Aronian) "Yeah, it was." (Caruana)} Nc3 36. h5 a4 37. h6 a3 38. h7 a2 { Now comes:} (38... Rxh7 39. Rxh7+ Kf6 {"I was in time trouble and could not see any defense," said the American GM. Actually, White has} 40. Rh6+ Kf5 ( 40... Kf7 41. Rf4+ Kg7 42. Rff6 {with perpetual on g6 and h6.}) 41. Rg8 a2 42. Ra8 Rb1+ 43. Kh2 a1=Q 44. Rxa1 Rxa1 45. Rh5+ {and it is not a win yet!}) 39. Re8+ $3 Kxe8 40. h8=Q+ Kd7 41. Kh2 a1=Q 42. Rg8 {Black won also a rook. But his practical problems rose and after 50 minutes of thought Aronian could not find the win.} Qa5 (42... Qe1 $1 {was winning. There was a mutual case of blindness as they both thought that} 43. Rd8+ {would be a draw but the queen on e1 is in fact playing an important defensive role in the line} ({The most stubborn defense objectively is} 43. Qh3+ Qe6 44. Rd8+ Kxd8 45. Qxe6 Rh7+ 46. Kg3 Nd5+ 47. f3 Rg7+ 48. Kh4 Ne7 {but in comparison to the game the difference is huge as the white king is in danger. Black should wn after some technical hard work.}) 43... Kc7 44. Rc8+ Kd6 45. Qd8+ (45. Rd8+ Rd7) 45... Rd7 46. Qf6+ Qe6 $1) ({They both saw as well that} 42... Ne2 {is perpetual. Say} 43. Rd8+ Kc7 44. Rc8+ Kd7 (44... Kb6 45. Qd8+ Rc7 $8 (45... Ka6 46. Ra8#) 46. Qxc7+ Ka7 47. Qb8+ $11) 45. Qe8+ (45. Rd8+ $11) 45... Kd6 46. Rd8+ Kc7 47. Rc8+ Kb6 48. Qd8+ Rc7 49. Qxc7+ Ka7 50. Qb8+ Kb6 51. Qc7+ $11) 43. Qh3+ Kc7 44. Qg3+ { Missed by Aronian. He loses his queen by force. Good that he had won the tournament already, otherwise I cannot even imagine what his frustration would have been. "I got actually lucky that I am not checkmated..." (Aronian)} (44. Rc8+ {"Even"} Kb6 45. Qe6+ Ka7 46. Qxf7 Na4 47. Qf8 {"is not a win for Back" (Aronian)}) 44... Kd7 45. Qd3+ Ke7 46. Qe3+ Kd6 ({Surely not} 46... Kd7 $4 47. Qe8+ Kd6 48. Qxf7 {when Black is getting checkmated.}) 47. Rg6+ Kc7 48. Qe5+ Kc8 (48... Kd8 $4 49. Qd6+ Kc8 50. Rg8+ {is mate as well.}) 49. Rg8+ Qd8 50. Qxc5+ Rc7 51. Rxd8+ Kxd8 52. Qf8+ Kd7 53. g4 Rb2 54. Qf3 ({The both agreed that White could have even tried to play for a win after} 54. Kh3 Nd1 55. f4 { although this seems like an exaggeration.} Nf2+ 56. Kh4 Re2 57. Qf7+ Kd8 58. Qd5+ Rd7 {Black is well co-ordinated and should not lose.}) 54... Ke8 55. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 56. Kg3 Rff7 {And it will ended peacefully.} 57. g5 Rg7 58. Kg4 Kf8 59. Qf6+ Kg8 60. g6 Rxg6+ 61. Qxg6+ {They agreed to a draw due to the line:} (61. Qxg6+ Rg7 62. Qxg7+ Kxg7 63. Kf5 Kf7 64. Ke5 Ke7 65. Kd5 Kd7 66. Kc5 Kc7) 1/2-1/2 [Event "GRENKE Chess Classic"] [Site "Karlsruhe"] [Date "2017.04.21"] [Round "6"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2649"] [Annotator "Krikor Mekhitarian"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 {One of the many possible moves in this position. It has a solid reputation and was used repeatedly last year by Vishy Anand.} 5. Qc2 {White may play almost any move here, like Bf4, Bg5, cxd5, e3, g3. Levon chooses a flexible Qc2, keeping all the possible developments available.} ({For example} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 (6. Bf4 $5 {also possible}) 6... c6 7. e3 Be7 {transposes to a standard QGD} 8. Qc2 Nh5 {this idea, forcing the exchange of the bishops, and preparing a further O-O-O for Black (after Nb6), has acquired a good reputation. It's playable in many similar positions} (8... O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. h3 Nf8 11. g4 $5 a5 12. O-O-O $40 {1-0 (41) Yu,Y (2738) -Wang,Y (2718) China 2016}) 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O-O Nb6 11. Kb1 g6 12. Bd3 Be6 { is the classical setup} (12... Bg4 $5 {Ivanchuk proves in every game why he's known as one of the most creative players in the world} 13. Rc1 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qh4 15. Ka1 f5 16. Rhg1 Nf6 17. f4 Kf7 18. Rg2 Rae8 $13 {0-1 (40) Buhmann,R (2633)-Ivanchuk,V (2722) Germany 2016}) 13. h3 O-O-O 14. Na4 Ng7 15. Rc1 Kb8 $13 {with a balanced position: 1/2-1/2 (78) Tomashevsky,E (2722)-Inarkiev,E (2686) Sochi 2016}) 5... dxc4 $5 (5... c6 {was more solid, inviting White once again to take on d5 and enter typical QGD positions}) 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 a6 $146 (7... cxd4 {until now they were following a recent Giri - Anand game from Tal Memorial, in last October. White managed to keep a very small advantage in that game, but it wasn't enough for much:} 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. O-O (10. Bf4 $5 O-O 11. Rd1 {was another way to try something}) 10... O-O 11. Be2 Qc7 12. Bg5 Ne5 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Rac1 Rd8 15. Na4 Qxc2 16. Rxc2 Bd7 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Rd1 Kf8 19. a3 {=/+/=, ½-½ (52) Giri,A (2755) -Anand,V (2776) Moscow 2016 }) 8. d5 $1 Nb6 9. Be2 exd5 10. e5 $1 {a very energetic way to try to punish Black's 7...a6} Ne4 (10... Ng8 $5 {mentioned in the post-mortem, was the critical move. It is very counterintuitive, but Black tries to keep his pawn up, hold his center and doesn't concede an advantage to White right away (as in the game, after 10...Ne4)} 11. a4 $1 Be6 (11... a5 $2 12. Nb5 $1 $16 { and Black has trouble developing his knight to e7 (because of Nd6+)}) 12. Ng5 ( 12. a5 Nd7 13. O-O Ne7 $13) 12... Ne7 13. O-O Nc6 $13 {White's position is attractive, but the outcome remains unclear, Nd4 is coming}) 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 $14 Qd5 (12... Be7 {standard development for Black is not enough anymore, White has real pressure on the king-side} 13. O-O O-O $2 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 $16 {it will be hard to defend against Bd3 (forcing g6, to weaken the dark squares)}) 13. Qf4 Be7 14. O-O O-O 15. Rd1 Qe6 16. Ng5 Qf5 17. Bf3 $5 {the bishop stands well in this diagonal when Black has already moved the pawn to c5} (17. Ne4 $5 {was another option} Qxf4 18. Bxf4 Be6 19. Be3 $16 {followed by Rac1}) 17... Qxf4 18. Bxf4 Nc4 $1 {Hou finds a good way to defend actively - she will give away the bishop pair to win a pawn} 19. b3 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Nxe5 21. Be4 $44 Re8 22. f3 h6 23. Bh4 c4 24. bxc4 $6 (24. Bg3 $1 { threatening Bxe5 and Rd8 with mate} Nd3 25. bxc4 Nc5 26. Bd5 Be6 {White keeps the advantage, but Black develops all his pieces at least} 27. Rab1 $14) 24... Nxc4 25. Rac1 Be6 $6 (25... Ne3 $1 {as mentioned by Aronian in the post-mortem, was a great chance for Black} 26. Rd2 (26. Re1 Nf5 27. Rxc8 {is not something Black should be scared of:} (27. Bf2 Nd6 $1 $15 {Black solves the b7 problem and could even claim an advantage after Be6 or Bf5}) 27... Raxc8 28. Bxf5 Rxe1+ 29. Bxe1 Rc1 30. Kf1 Ra1 31. Be4 {threatening Bd5 to hold the a2 pawn} Rxa2 32. Bxb7 a5 $11 {which should be a draw}) 26... f5 $1 {followed by Be6}) 26. Bxb7 Ra7 27. Be4 $16 {with the bishop pair in this open position, White guarantees a big advantage. Black also has a problem on where to place his knight} a5 28. Rd4 Ne5 29. Bg3 f6 30. a3 {threatening moves like Rc5} Rd7 $2 {makes it easier for White, but the position was very unpleasant already} (30... Bf7 31. Rc5 $16 {and most likely the a5-pawn will fall}) 31. Bxe5 $1 {This is one of the advantages of having the bishop pair - normally you can choose the right time to give the pair away in exchange for some other strategical advantage (in this case, the creation of a serious weakness on e5)} fxe5 32. Rxd7 Bxd7 33. Rc7 Bb5 34. Rc5 Rb8 35. Rxe5 $18 {this should be hopeless, because Black's a-pawn is also problematic} a4 36. h4 Kf7 37. Rc5 Be8 38. Bc2 Rb2 {in time trouble, Hou loses a4, but it doesn't make much of a difference} (38... Ra8 { is needed to defend the pawn, but it is too passive, and after slowly improving his king, White should easily win the endgame.}) 39. Rc4 Ra2 40. Bxa4 Ra1+ 41. Kh2 Bxa4 42. Rxa4 {another great win by Levon Aronian, that guarantees the title of the Grenke Chess Classic 2017, since he goes into the last round 1.5 points ahead of the 2nd place! He has scored two draws followed by an amazing sequence of four wins to reach 1st!} 1-0