[Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.17"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A33"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "146"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 13,146,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 19,0,0,-16,-3,-16,-30,-21,-41,-53,-64,-55,0,-53,-60,-129,-129,-129,-129,-131, -127,-127,-129,-127,-125,-125,-95,-157,-220,-187,-174,-422,-422,-686,-679,-678, -672,-1483,-1339,-999,-1064,-864,-757,-12833,-12834,-12835,-12835,-12836, -12835,-12837,-12836,-12837,-12838,-12839,-12838,-12839,-12839,-12840,-12837, -12837,-12838,-12838,-12838,-12839,-12839,-12840,-12840,-12841,-12839,-12839, -12837,-12837,-12835,-12837,-12837,-12837,-238,-12843,-12839,-12840,-12840, -12841,-12841,-12842,-12843,-12843,-12843,-12850,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851, -12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-29949,-12851,-12851]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 {[%CAl Bb8c6,Bc6e5,Be5c4][%mdl 32]} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8. Bf4 {A33: Symmetrical English: 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nc3 Nc6.} Nfg4 9. e3 a6 10. h3 {The position is equal.} axb5 11. hxg4 Nxc4 12. Rc1 {[#]} d5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12... Qa5 13. b3 Ba3 14. bxc4 Bxc1 15. Qxc1 bxc4 16. e4 b5 17. Rh5 d5 18. exd5 g6 {1-0 (33) Sedlacek,P (2478)-Suarez Sedeno,M (2426) ICCF email 2004}) 13. b3 Bb4 14. bxc4 Ra3 $1 {[%CAl Ra3c3]} 15. Be5 f6 16. Bd4 Qa5 {Hoping for ...e5.} 17. Be2 $1 ({ Don't blunder} 17. cxd5 $2 e5 $19) 17... Bxc3+ 18. Rxc3 Rxc3 19. Kf1 $1 b4 20. g5 $1 e5 ({But not} 20... fxg5 $2 21. Bxg7 Qxa2 22. Bxh8 $18) 21. Bxc3 bxc3 22. gxf6 gxf6 23. Qb1 Qc7 24. Qd3 {[#]} b5 $1 {[%CAl Rb5c4][%mdl 512]} 25. Qxc3 ( 25. cxb5 c2) 25... bxc4 {[#]} 26. e4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} dxe4 27. Rh4 Be6 28. Rxe4 {[%CAl Re2c4]} O-O ({Black should try} 28... Kf7 $15) 29. Bxc4 (29. Rh4 $11) 29... Kg7 $36 {[%mdl 2048] And now ...Rc8 would win. Black fights for an advantage.} 30. Qb3 {White is now going downhill.} ({White should play} 30. Qb4 $1 $15 Rb8 31. Bxe6 Rxb4 32. Rxb4) 30... Rb8 $17 31. Bxe6 Rxb3 32. Rg4+ Kf8 { ( -> ...Rb1+)} 33. Bxb3 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame Rg8+ is the strong threat. KQ-KRB} Qc1+ 34. Kg2 Qc6+ 35. Kg1 h5 36. Rg8+ (36. Rh4 $17 {was necessary.}) 36... Ke7 $19 37. Rg7+ Kd6 38. Rh7 $2 (38. Rg6 {was called for.} Qf3 39. Rg8) 38... Qf3 39. Rh8 (39. Ba4 $142 Qe4 40. Rd7+ Ke6 41. Ra7) 39... e4 40. Rd8+ Ke7 41. Bd1 Qc3 42. Rd5 {[#]} h4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} 43. gxh4 {[#]} f5 $1 {[%mdl 512]} 44. Rxf5 Qe1+ {[%mdl 64] Double Attack} 45. Kg2 Qxd1 {KQ-KR} 46. Rg5 Qa1 47. Rg4 Qb1 48. Rg3 Qxa2 49. Rh3 Qd5 50. Kf1 Qd1+ 51. Kg2 Qg4+ 52. Rg3 Qh5 53. Ra3 Qd5 54. Kg1 Kf6 55. Rg3 Qd1+ 56. Kg2 Kf5 57. Rg5+ Kf4 58. Rg3 Qd5 59. Kf1 {[#]} Qd2 $1 { [%CAl Rd2d8]} 60. Kg2 Qd1 $2 (60... Ke5 {Threatens to win with ...Kf5.} 61. Rg5+ Kf6) 61. Re3 $2 (61. Rh3 Qg4+ 62. Kh2) 61... Kf5 62. Rg3 Kf6 63. Rh3 Kg6 64. Rg3+ Kh5 65. Rh3 Qb1 66. Re3 Kxh4 67. Rg3 Kh5 68. Rh3+ Kg4 69. Rg3+ Kf4 70. Re3 Qd1 71. Ra3 Ke5 72. Rg3 Kd4 73. Re3 {[#]} Qd3 $1 {[%mdl 576] Promotion. Accuracy: White = 71%, Black = 92%.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.18"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2777"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 18,80,34,12,28,20,17,9,12,10,19,0,0,0,0,0,0,-14,0,-23,-14,-33,-10,-6, -12,-22,-16,-28,-16,-37,0,-64,-62,-72,-70,-56,-68,-75,-66,-97,-8,-15,-15,-15, -15,-15,-15,-15,-21,-18,-2,-8,-10,-25,0,0,21,21,21,21,21,21,21,21,21]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 h5 {C67: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence: 4 0-0 Nxe4.} 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. Rfe1 Bb4 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 h4 {[#]} 17. Kh2 $146 ({Predecessor:} 17. Ne4 Rg6 18. g4 hxg3 19. fxg3 Kf8 20. Kh2 Ne7 21. g4 Re8 22. Rd3 Kg8 23. Ng3 {1/2-1/2 (49) Vachier Lagrave,M (2778)-Karjakin,S (2750) Saint Louis 2019}) 17... Kf8 18. Rb1 b6 19. Rb4 Re8 20. Ra4 a5 21. Bd2 c5 22. Rf4 Rh5 23. Rf3 Kg8 24. Bc1 (24. g4 $11 hxg3+ 25. fxg3) 24... Ne7 $15 25. g4 hxg3+ $1 26. fxg3 Nc6 27. Bf4 Bc8 {And now ...f6 would win.} 28. Rfe3 { [#]} Nd8 (28... Ne7 $1 $17) 29. Kg2 Ne6 30. Nxe6 Bxe6 31. g4 Rh8 32. Bg5 Kh7 33. Kg3 Rb8 34. Rd3 Rhe8 35. Red1 $1 b5 36. Rd8 {The position is equal.} b4 37. Rxe8 Rxe8 38. cxb4 cxb4 39. axb4 axb4 40. Rd8 Rxd8 {Accuracy: White = 92%, Black = 85%.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.19"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Alekseenko, Kirill"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C19"] [WhiteElo "2698"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 15,79,-20,0,-14,-7,-18,-12,-24,-12,-12,-13,-22,-17,-32,-5,-6,-9,-47,0,0, 0,0,0,0,0,-16,-17,-21,-17,-27,0,0,0,0,0,-1,52,-46,-46,-46,-46,-46,-46,-47,-42, -35,-35,-35,-35,-35,-44,-27,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qc7 8. Nf3 b6 9. Bb5+ {C19: French: 3 Nc3 Bb4: Main line: 7 Nf3 and 7 a4.} Bd7 10. Be2 Ba4 {[#]} 11. O-O $146 ({Predecessor:} 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qc3+ 13. Bd2 Qxd3 14. cxd3 Bxd1 15. Rxd1 Nbc6 16. h5 h6 17. g4 {0-1 (24) Borgmeyer,M (2044)-Doering,A (1895) Chemnitz 2009}) 11... Nd7 12. Be3 h6 13. Ra2 {[%CAl Ba1a2,Ba2b2,Bb2b4][%mdl 32] } Nf5 14. Bf4 Qc6 15. Rb2 a6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Rb4 b5 18. Bd3 {White wants to play Bxf5.} Ne7 19. Bd2 Nc6 {[%mdl 64] Double Attack} 20. Qe2 Nxb4 21. axb4 Qc7 22. Re1 Nb8 23. Nd4 Nc6 {Threatens to win with ...Nxd4.} 24. Qg4 Nxd4 $1 25. cxd4 g6 ({Avoid the trap} 25... Bxc2 $2 26. Qxg7 O-O-O 27. Rc1 $18) (25... g5 $11) 26. h5 ({White should try} 26. Bxg6 $1 $14 fxg6 27. Qxe6+ Qe7 28. Qxg6+ { [%mdl 64] Double Attack} Kd7 29. Qb6) 26... gxh5 $15 27. Qxh5 O-O-O 28. f4 Kb8 29. c3 Bb3 30. f5 Bc4 31. Bc2 Rdg8 32. Kf2 a5 33. bxa5 Qxa5 34. Qxf7 {The position is equal.} Qa2 35. Qxe6 {Strongly threatening Rc1.} Qxc2 36. Qb6+ {[#] } Kc8 $1 37. Qc6+ {[#]} Kb8 $1 38. Qb6+ {[#]} Kc8 $1 39. Qc6+ {[#]} Kb8 $1 40. Qb6+ {Accuracy: White = 89%, Black = 86%.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.21"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D87"] [WhiteElo "2842"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 19,110,12,43,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,12,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,16,0,0,0,0,0,7,0,0,0,0, 0,0,6,14,0,53,0,25,27,34,40,35,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,-4,0,0,0,-8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 b6 {Nowadays more popular than 10...Qc7.} 11. Qd2 {D87: Exchange Grünfeld: Classical Line: Variations without ...cxd4.} Bb7 12. Rfd1 cxd4 13. cxd4 Rc8 14. Rac1 Na5 15. Bd3 Qd7 16. h4 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Rc8 18. h5 Rxc1+ 19. Qxc1 {[#]} Qc8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 19... e6 20. h6 Bf8 21. Bg5 Qa4 22. Qb1 Nc6 23. Bc2 Qc4 24. Bd3 Qa4 25. Bb5 Qa5 26. Be3 {1/2-1/2 (26) Hort,V (2595)-Chiburdanidze,M (2555) Biel 1988}) 20. h6 Bf8 21. d5 e6 22. Nc3 Nc4 23. Bxc4 Qxc4 24. Qd2 exd5 25. Nxd5 Bxd5 26. exd5 {[#] d6 is the strong threat.} Qb4 27. Qd3 Qa3 ({ Black should play} 27... Bd6 $11 28. g3 Kf8) 28. Qc2 (28. Qd1 $14) 28... Qa5 29. Qd1 {And now d6 would win.} Bd6 $1 30. g3 Kf8 $1 31. Qf3 {[#] Threatening mate with Qf6!} Qe1+ {The position is equal.} 32. Kg2 {White threatens Qf6! and mate.} f5 33. g4 Qb1 34. Bd4 Kf7 35. Qe3 {Intending Qe6+ and mate.} Qe4+ 36. Qxe4 fxe4 $11 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KB-KB} 37. f3 exf3+ 38. Kxf3 Ke7 39. Ke4 Kd7 40. a4 Bc7 41. Be3 a6 42. Bd2 b5 43. axb5 axb5 44. Kd4 Bb6+ 45. Kd3 Bc5 46. Bc3 Ba3 (46... Kd6 $5 47. Ke4 $8 Ke7 $11) 47. Bg7 Bc5 48. Bc3 Bf8 (48... Kd6 $5 49. Ke4 $8 Ke7 $11) 49. Bg7 Be7 50. Kd4 Bd6 51. Bf6 Kc7 52. Bg5 Kb6 53. Bd8+ Ka6 54. Kd3 $1 Bf8 55. Kd4 Bd6 {Accuracy: White = 92%, Black = 98%.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.22"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Wang, Hao"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2762"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 15,85,35,50,15,15,17,20,10,15,22,25,19,27,0,14,18,25,17,24,24,23,14,20, 18,20,27,20,14,17,27,42,29,35,0,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,614,606,597, 593,798,767,718,0,0,0,593,441,1503,1520,302,1521,1508,1507,1489,1489,1488,1399] } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 $1 {[%CAl Rd2e4][%mdl 4] is recently more successful than 9.c4. C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves.} Nd6 $1 10. Nf1 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 {The position is equal.} c6 12. Bf4 Na6 {[#]} 13. h4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A top novelty.} ({Predecessor:} 13. Ne3 Nc7 14. Re2 Ne6 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. g3 Qd7 17. Rae1 Rae8 18. b3 {1/2-1/2 (31) Anand,V (2767)-Yu,Y (2738) Stavanger 2019}) 13... Nc7 14. Ng5 Bxg5 (14... g6 {with more complications.} 15. Ng3 Re8 16. b3 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Qd7) 15. Bxg5 f6 16. Bf4 Qd7 17. Ng3 {Bxd6 is the strong threat.} Rae8 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Qh3 Kh8 21. h5 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. g4 a6 25. b3 (25. Kf1 {is interesting.} Qe6 26. Qh2 Qd7 27. c3 Kg8 28. Qb8) 25... Qe6 26. Ne3 (26. Kg2 {looks sharper.} Kg8 27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. Nxe3 Kf7 29. c4) 26... Nd6 27. h6 g6 28. c4 dxc4 29. bxc4 Kg8 ({Don't go for} 29... Nxc4 $2 30. Nxc4 Qxc4 31. Qh2 $18) 30. Qh2 Kf7 31. c5 Nb5 32. Qb8 $36 {[%mdl 2048] Threatens to win with d5. White is more active.} Qd7 $2 { [%mdl 8192]} (32... Nxd4 $11 33. Qxb7+ Qe7 34. Qxa6 Qxc5) 33. Qh8 $18 Ke6 34. f4 $1 {[%CAl Rf4f5]} Nxd4 {White must now prevent ...Ne2+.} 35. Qg8+ Qf7 36. Qc8+ Qd7 37. Qg8+ Qf7 {[#]} 38. Qd8 $1 {[%csl Gc5][%CAl Rd8d6]} Qd7 {[#]} ( 38... Nb5 $142 39. Kf2 g5) 39. f5+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} gxf5 40. gxf5+ Nxf5 { White is clearly winning.} 41. Qxd7+ {[%mdl 64] Overworked Piece} Kxd7 42. Nxf5 Ke6 43. Ne3 {Accuracy: White = 85%, Black = 82%.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.23"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2774"] [BlackElo "2805"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 16,79,13,0,10,16,19,6,17,10,10,14,17,22,4,18,9,16,18,17,9,14,17,25,11,4, 40,33,32,28,23,33,28,31,29,24,25,25,26,26,75,47,77,61,65,58,102,72,298,130,130, 22,251,87,244,239,261,261,261,261,261,261,261,254,254,256]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 $1 {[%mdl 4] is currently scoring better than 8.a4. Played by Alireza Firouzja in February 2020.} O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 {C77: Ruy Lopez: 3...a6 4 Ba4 Nf6, unusual lines.} 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 Bxa2 {The position is equal.} 12. Rxa2 Nc6 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 a5 {[#]} 16. Rb2 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A top novelty.} ({Predecessor: } 16. c4 Ne7 17. Qb3 bxc4 18. Nxe7+ Bxe7 19. dxc4 axb4 20. axb4 Qc6 21. Re1 Rxa2 22. Qxa2 {1/2-1/2 (90) Vachier Lagrave,M (2780)-Ding,L (2801) London 2019} ) 16... axb4 17. axb4 Bd8 18. c4 Nd4 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qc2 Re8 (20... c6 $5 21. Nf4 $8 Qb7 $11) 21. g3 bxc4 22. Qxc4 c6 23. Nf4 Bg5 24. Ne2 d5 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Qb3 h5 27. b5 {[%CAl Bb4b5,Bb5b6][%mdl 32]} h4 28. b6 (28. Nxd4 $2 Bf6 $17) 28... h3 29. Kh1 (29. Nxd4 Bf6 $15) 29... Reb8 30. Rfb1 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White fights for an advantage.} (30. Nxd4 $2 Bf6 $19) 30... Bd8 31. Qb5 (31. Nxd4 Rxb6 32. Qxb6 Bxb6 $19) 31... Qg4 $2 {[#]} (31... Qf5 $16 32. Nxd4 Qf6) 32. Qxd5 (32. Qe8+ $18 {and the rest is easy.} Kh7 33. Qxf7) 32... Ra5 $16 33. Qc6 ({Better is} 33. f3 $16 {And now Qxd8+! would win.} Rxd5 34. fxg4) 33... Rc5 $2 (33... Rxb6 $1 $11 {and Black has nothing to worry.} 34. Rxb6 (34. Qe8+ $2 Kh7 $19) 34... Qxe2) 34. Qe8+ $18 Kh7 {[#] ( -> ...Qf3+!)} 35. Ng1 $1 Rxb6 36. Qxd8 {White has a decisive advantage.} Rxb2 37. Rxb2 Rc1 {[%CAl Rg4f3]} 38. Qh4+ Qxh4 39. gxh4 Rd1 40. f3 {Accuracy: White = 83%, Black = 75%.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.25"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 13,83,-11,-7,-17,-7,-17,-2,-18,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,6,12,39,29, 33,33,89,95,92,81,87,86,84,54,65,53,57,62,127,145,154,151,142,132,144,133,137, 121,118,139,167,183,236,242,210,217,304,293,544,557,547,537,483,486,637,633, 29976,29977,29966,29967]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 {6...Qa5 is the modern continuation.} 7. h4 Qc7 8. h5 {C18: French: 3 Nc3 Bb4: Main line: 7 h4 and 7 Qg4.} h6 9. Rb1 b6 10. Qg4 {The position is equal.} Rg8 11. Bb5+ {[#]} Kf8 $146 {White must now prevent ...c4.} ({ Predecessor:} 11... Bd7 12. Bd3 Nf5 13. Qf4 Nc6 14. Bxf5 exf5 15. e6 Qxf4 16. exd7+ Kxd7 17. Bxf4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 {1-0 (36) Bartel,M (2629)-Jaroch,K (2254) Zgierz 2017}) 12. Bd3 Ba6 13. dxc5 Bxd3 14. cxd3 Nd7 15. d4 bxc5 16. Qd1 Qa5 17. Bd2 Rb8 18. Ne2 c4 19. O-O Rb6 20. Qc2 Rh8 (20... Ra6 $14) 21. a4 $16 Ke8 22. Rb4 Nc6 23. f4 Ne7 ({But not} 23... Nxb4 $6 24. cxb4 Qa6 25. b5 $14) 24. Rfb1 f5 25. Rb5 Qa6 26. Bc1 Kf7 {White stays focused until the end.} (26... Rf8 $14) 27. Ba3 Rhb8 {[%CAl Rb6b5]} 28. Bxe7 $1 Kxe7 {[#]} 29. g4 $1 Rxb5 30. axb5 Rxb5 31. gxf5 {Threatens to win with Rxb5.} Rxb1+ 32. Qxb1 exf5 33. Ng3 Qb6 (33... Qa3 $142) 34. Nxf5+ $18 Kf8 35. Qa1 Qe6 {[#]} (35... Kg8 $142 36. Ne7+ Kh8) 36. Ng3 $1 Qg4 $2 (36... Qb6 {was necessary.} 37. Qa3+ Kf7) 37. Kg2 Qxf4 38. Qxa7 Ke7 39. Qa3+ Kd8 40. Qd6 g5 {intending ...g4.} 41. hxg6 h5 42. g7 {Accuracy: White = 97%, Black = 62%.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2020.03.17"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A33"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2774"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "146"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 13,146,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-6,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 19,0,0,-16,-3,-16,-30,-21,-41,-53,-64,-55,0,-53,-60,-129,-129,-129,-129,-131, -127,-127,-129,-127,-125,-125,-95,-157,-220,-187,-174,-422,-422,-686,-679,-678, -672,-1483,-1339,-999,-1064,-864,-757,-12833,-12834,-12835,-12835,-12836, -12835,-12837,-12836,-12837,-12838,-12839,-12838,-12839,-12839,-12840,-12837, -12837,-12838,-12838,-12838,-12839,-12839,-12840,-12840,-12841,-12839,-12839, -12837,-12837,-12835,-12837,-12837,-12837,-238,-12843,-12839,-12840,-12840, -12841,-12841,-12842,-12843,-12843,-12843,-12850,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851, -12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-12851,-29949,-12851,-12851]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 {[%CAl Bb8c6,Bc6e5,Be5c4][%mdl 32]} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8. Bf4 {A33: Symmetrical English: 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nc3 Nc6.} Nfg4 9. e3 a6 10. h3 {The position is equal.} axb5 11. hxg4 Nxc4 12. Rc1 {[#]} d5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12... Qa5 13. b3 Ba3 14. bxc4 Bxc1 15. Qxc1 bxc4 16. e4 b5 17. Rh5 d5 18. exd5 g6 {1-0 (33) Sedlacek,P (2478)-Suarez Sedeno,M (2426) ICCF email 2004}) 13. b3 Bb4 14. bxc4 Ra3 $1 {[%CAl Ra3c3]} 15. Be5 f6 16. Bd4 Qa5 {Hoping for ...e5.} 17. Be2 $1 ({ Don't blunder} 17. cxd5 $2 e5 $19) 17... Bxc3+ 18. Rxc3 Rxc3 19. Kf1 $1 b4 20. g5 $1 e5 ({But not} 20... fxg5 $2 21. Bxg7 Qxa2 22. Bxh8 $18) 21. Bxc3 bxc3 22. gxf6 gxf6 23. Qb1 Qc7 24. Qd3 {[#]} b5 $1 {[%CAl Rb5c4][%mdl 512]} 25. Qxc3 ( 25. cxb5 c2) 25... bxc4 {[#]} 26. e4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} dxe4 27. Rh4 Be6 28. Rxe4 {[%CAl Re2c4]} O-O ({Black should try} 28... Kf7 $15) 29. Bxc4 (29. Rh4 $11) 29... Kg7 $36 {[%mdl 2048] And now ...Rc8 would win. Black fights for an advantage.} 30. Qb3 {White is now going downhill.} ({White should play} 30. Qb4 $1 $15 Rb8 31. Bxe6 Rxb4 32. Rxb4) 30... Rb8 $17 31. Bxe6 Rxb3 32. Rg4+ Kf8 { ( -> ...Rb1+)} 33. Bxb3 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame Rg8+ is the strong threat. KQ-KRB} Qc1+ 34. Kg2 Qc6+ 35. Kg1 h5 36. Rg8+ (36. Rh4 $17 {was necessary.}) 36... Ke7 $19 37. Rg7+ Kd6 38. Rh7 $2 (38. Rg6 {was called for.} Qf3 39. Rg8) 38... Qf3 39. Rh8 (39. Ba4 $142 Qe4 40. Rd7+ Ke6 41. Ra7) 39... e4 40. Rd8+ Ke7 41. Bd1 Qc3 42. Rd5 {[#]} h4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} 43. gxh4 {[#]} f5 $1 {[%mdl 512]} 44. Rxf5 Qe1+ {[%mdl 64] Double Attack} 45. Kg2 Qxd1 {KQ-KR} 46. Rg5 Qa1 47. Rg4 Qb1 48. Rg3 Qxa2 49. Rh3 Qd5 50. Kf1 Qd1+ 51. Kg2 Qg4+ 52. Rg3 Qh5 53. Ra3 Qd5 54. Kg1 Kf6 55. Rg3 Qd1+ 56. Kg2 Kf5 57. Rg5+ Kf4 58. Rg3 Qd5 59. Kf1 {[#]} Qd2 $1 { [%CAl Rd2d8]} 60. Kg2 Qd1 $2 (60... Ke5 {Threatens to win with ...Kf5.} 61. Rg5+ Kf6) 61. Re3 $2 (61. Rh3 Qg4+ 62. Kh2) 61... Kf5 62. Rg3 Kf6 63. Rh3 Kg6 64. Rg3+ Kh5 65. Rh3 Qb1 66. Re3 Kxh4 67. Rg3 Kh5 68. Rh3+ Kg4 69. Rg3+ Kf4 70. Re3 Qd1 71. Ra3 Ke5 72. Rg3 Kd4 73. Re3 {[#]} Qd3 $1 {[%mdl 576] Promotion. Accuracy: White = 71%, Black = 92%.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2777"] [BlackElo "2789"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 15,81,-10,-12,-35,-17,-67,-57,-57,-45,-50,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,11,15,17,33,8, 8,4,29,7,33,0,0,0,0,-13,4,0,0,0,0,-74,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,16,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 O-O $1 9. h3 {D85: Exchange Grünfeld: Unusual White 7th moves and lines with 7 Nf3.} (9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. d5 Bxc3 12. h4 Nd7 13. Bf4 Bg7 14. Bc4 Qc8 15. e5 Ba6 16. Qe2 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Qb7 18. h5 Rae8 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Ng5 {1-0 (38) Grischuk,A (2766)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2757) chess. com INT 2018}) 9... Nc6 {[%CAl Rc5d4]} 10. d5 Bxc3+ 11. Bd2 {Black is slightly better.} Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Nd4 (12... Na5 {seems wilder.} 13. Bb5 b6 14. O-O Bd7 15. a4 f6) 13. Nxd4 cxd4 {[#]} 14. Bc4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 14. Qxd4 Qa5+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ {1/2-1/2 (15) Kock,H (2172)-Lein,M (2007) Arvier 2004}) 14... e5 15. O-O Qd6 16. f4 Rb8 17. fxe5 Qxe5 18. Qf4 Qxf4 19. Rxf4 Re8 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Rbf1 {[%mdl 1024] White has compensation.} Bd7 22. Bc4 Rbc8 23. Bb3 Bb5 24. R1f2 a5 {[#] White must now prevent ...Rc1+.} 25. d6 Bc4 26. Rxf7 (26. Bxc4 $1 $11 Rxc4 27. Rxf7 Rc1+ 28. Kh2 Rxd6 29. e5) 26... Bxb3 ({But not} 26... Rxd6 27. Bxc4 Rxc4 28. Re7 $11) ({Better is} 26... Bxf7 $17 27. Rxf7 a4) 27. axb3 $11 { Threatens to win with d7.The position is equal.} Rxd6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame aiming for ...d3. KRR-KRR} (27... d3 {feels hotter.} 28. Re7 Rc1+ 29. Kh2 Rxd6 30. Rff7 d2) 28. e5 Rb6 29. Rd7 Rf8 {[#] And now ...Rxf2 would win.} 30. Ra2 Rxb3 31. Rxa5 Re3 32. Rb5 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Rf7 34. Rbxb7 Rxd7 35. Rxd7 Rxe5 36. Rxd4 {KR-KR} Re7 37. Kg1 Kg7 38. Kh2 Rf7 39. Kg1 Re7 40. Kh2 Rf7 41. Re4 { Weighted Error Value: White=0.10/Black=0.09} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2021.04.21"] [Round "10.4"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Alekseenko, Kirill"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2696"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 14,61,33,36,44,47,37,50,63,66,96,72,93,89,83,97,120,127,115,135,130,120, 130,116,182,182,191,184,300,295,333,339,387,295,294,294,284,272,279,198,199, 186,186,179,186,179,252,244,244,237]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2 c5 8. Nc3 Be7 {A13: English Opening: 1...e6.} 9. O-O O-O 10. d4 cxd4 {White is slightly better.} 11. Nxd4 Qc7 {Black is on the road to losing.} 12. Rd1 {[#]} Rd8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12... Nc5 13. Na4 Bd7 14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. b4 Ba4 16. Qxa4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qc3 18. Bb2 Qxb2 {1-0 (26) Korobkov,P (2508)-Provotorov,I (2398) Voronezh 2008}) 13. Be3 Nb6 14. Rac1 e5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. Qxf5 {[#] Threatens to win with Nd5!} Nc4 17. Bg5 {And now Bxf6 would win.} Rxd1+ 18. Nxd1 Rd8 (18... Qd8 $16 {was called for.} 19. Nc3 ( 19. Bxb7 Nd6 $17) 19... h6) 19. Bxf6 $18 Bxf6 20. Be4 Qa5 (20... Qd7 {was necessary.}) 21. Nc3 (21. Qxh7+ Kf8 $18) 21... Kf8 {[#]} 22. Nd5 $1 {[%mdl 512] } b5 {intending ...Qd2.} (22... Rxd5 23. Bxd5) 23. Qxh7 {[%CAl Rh7h8]} (23. Nxf6 gxf6 24. Qxf6 Qd2 $18) 23... Rxd5 24. Bxd5 Qd2 25. Rxc4 (25. Qh8+ Ke7 $11) 25... bxc4 26. e4 {aiming for Qh8+.} Qxb2 27. Qh8+ (27. Bxc4 $6 Qc1+ 28. Bf1 g6 $16) 27... Ke7 28. Qc8 {Intending Qc7+ and mate.} Qb6 29. Qxc4 Qb5 (29... Kf8 $142 30. Kg2 (30. Bxf7 Qb5 $16) 30... Be7) 30. Qc7+ ({But not} 30. Bxf7 $6 Qxc4 31. Bxc4 a5 $16) 30... Qd7 31. Qc5+ {Weighted Error Value: White=0.11/Black=0. 25} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2021.04.23"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C47"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2820"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 14,81,0,-3,0,-8,10,8,8,8,15,8,10,0,0,0,0,0,0,-8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-6,0,0,0, 0,0,0,19,19,19,19,19,19,34,41,41,41,41,34,34,27,32,19,19,19,19,19,19,19,19,19, 19,19,23,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 O-O {C47: Scotch Four Knights and Four Knights with 4 g3.} 9. O-O Bg4 10. f3 Bh5 11. Bg5 Qd6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. dxc6 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qxc3 15. Be4 {[#]} Bg6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 15... Qc5+ 16. Kh1 Rad8 17. Qe2 Bg6 18. Rad1 Rde8 19. Rd7 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Qxc6 21. Qd3 g6 {1/2-1/2 (39) Mihok,O (2552)-Malinovsky,K (2456) Ceske Budejovice 2020}) 16. Qd7 Rad8 17. Qxc7 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Bxe4 19. fxe4 {[#] Black must now prevent Rxf7!} Rc8 20. Qd7 {Strongly threatening Rxf7!} Qxc6 21. Qxa7 Qxe4 22. Rfe1 (22. c3 {is more complex.} Rxc3 23. a4 Rc2 24. Rf2 Qe5 25. Raf1) 22... Qxc2 23. a4 Qc5 (23... Ra8 {is interesting.} 24. Qd4 Rfd8 25. Qb4 Rdb8 26. Qf4 h6) 24. Qxc5 Rxc5 $11 { [%mdl 4096] Endgame KRR-KRR} 25. a5 {[#] And now a6 would win.} Ra8 26. a6 { aiming for a7.} h5 27. Reb1 {a7 is the strong threat.} Kh7 28. Rb6 Ra7 29. Kg1 Rc2 30. h3 f6 31. Ra3 Kg6 32. Kh2 h4 33. Ra1 Rc4 34. Kg1 Rc2 35. Ra4 Rd2 36. Rg4+ Kf7 37. Rxh4 Ra2 {The position is equal.} 38. Rb7+ Rxb7 39. axb7 Rb2 40. Ra4 Rxb7 41. Kh2 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.03/Black=0.02} 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2020"] [Site "Yekaterinburg"] [Date "2021.04.24"] [Round "12.4"] [White "Wang, Hao"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2789"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "118"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] {[%evp 17,118,24,25,17,16,17,16,13,21,25,15,17,26,9,10,18,31,30,28,28,31,29,22, 0,0,0,2,0,0,0,2,4,6,0,0,-14,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-8,-4,-4,-5,-8,-9,-21,-22,-24, -10,-15,-10,-12,-16,-14,-22,-100,-100,-102,-84,-84,-84,-85,-87,-121,-86,-99, -67,-70,-38,-21,-16,-95,-95,-106,-106,-102,-67,-73,-79,-74,-89,-82,-81,-116, -57,-141,-141,-135,-140,-139,-130,-141,-135,-134,-137,-157,-150]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3 Nf6 6. d4 d5 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. Qe2+ Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Kxe7 10. O-O {C01: French: Exchange Variation.} Nc6 {[#]} 11. c3 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. c3 h6 13. Ne5 Ne7 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. Bf1 Rd8 16. g3 c6 17. a4 Ne8 {1-0 (44) Vachier Lagrave,M (2784)-Duda,J (2743) chess24.com INT 2020}) 11... h6 12. Nh4 {The position is equal.} Re8 13. Nf5+ Bxf5 14. Bxf5 Kf8 15. g3 Ne7 {[%CAl Bc6e7,Be7c8,Bc8b6,Bb6d7,Bd7f8,Bf8e6][%mdl 32]} 16. Bh3 Nc8 17. Nd2 a5 18. a4 c6 19. Rd1 h5 20. Nf1 g6 21. f3 Nb6 22. b3 Kg7 23. Kf2 Nbd7 24. Bg5 Nf8 25. Re1 Ne6 26. Be3 Rac8 27. Bd2 c5 28. dxc5 Bxc5+ 29. Kg2 Bb6 30. Rab1 Rc6 31. b4 Nc7 32. Rxe8 Ncxe8 33. bxa5 Bxa5 34. Rxb7 Nd6 35. Ra7 Bxc3 36. Bd7 Nxd7 37. Bxc3+ Rxc3 38. Rxd7 $11 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRN-KRN} Rc6 39. Re7 (39. Nd2 $11) 39... Rc2+ $17 40. Kg1 d4 41. Rd7 Nf5 42. a5 Ra2 43. Ra7 Kf6 44. a6 h4 {...h3 is the strong threat.} 45. Ra8 h3 {White must now prevent ...Rg2+. } 46. a7 Ke7 47. g4 (47. Nd2 $1 $11 {keeps the balance.}) 47... Nd6 48. Rb8 Rxa7 49. Rb4 d3 50. Rb3 Ra2 51. Rxd3 Nc4 52. Ng3 Rg2+ 53. Kh1 Kf8 (53... g5 $1 $17 54. Rd1 Nd2 55. Re1+ Kd7) 54. Rc3 ({White should try} 54. g5 $15) 54... Nb2 $1 {[%CAl Rb2d1] ( -> ...Nd1)} 55. Rc8+ {[#]} Kg7 $1 56. Rd8 {[#]} Rf2 $1 57. Kg1 Rxf3 {Black is clearly better.} 58. Ne4 Re3 59. Ng3 Ra3 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.10/Black=0.05} 0-1