[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.01.18"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:39:17"]
[BlackClock "0:37:00"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Challenging Caruana on his own territory, and this is not
for the first time! The American GM basically paved his way for the WWC
holding the black color in Berlin Candidates with the Petroff, whereas the
Polish GM has the defense as a major part of his repertoire.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3
Nxe4 5. Nc3 {The sharpest reply against the Petroff.} Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3
Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nf6 10. Bd3 ({Duda did well in an earlier game last
year after:} 10. h4 c5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. a3 d5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ng5 c4 15. Be2
Qb6 16. Qe3 Qxe3+ 17. fxe3 Bxg5 18. hxg5 f6 19. gxf6 Rxf6 {Karjakin,S (2752)
-Duda,J (2757) Chess.com INT 2020}) 10... c5 {[#]} 11. Rhg1 {N A novelty. And
a venomous one. White is ready to advance the g-pawn.} ({Prior to this game
the theoretical highway was:} 11. Rhe1 Be6 {Last year both players discussed
the consequences of:} 12. a3 ({Whereas before that Caruana successfully
defended the black color in a game from the world championship match after:}
12. Kb1 Qa5 13. c4 Qxd2 14. Bxd2 h6 15. Nh4 Rfe8 16. Ng6 Ng4 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.
Re2 Ne5 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Caruana,F (2832) London 2018}) 12... c4 13. Bf1 Ne4
14. Qe2 d5 15. Bd4 b5 16. Nd2 Nd6 17. g3 Re8 18. Bg2 Nf5 {Caruana,F (2823)
-Duda,J (2743) Chess.com INT 2020}) 11... b5 {After some reflection, Duda
answers in the most aggressive way.} ({In the future more careful measures
like:} 11... Re8 $5 {will be tested.}) 12. g4 {Caruana does not mind the
bollocks.} ({Who would ever need a pawn like this:} 12. Bxb5 $6 Qa5 13. Bc4 d5)
12... Bb7 ({Or a pawn like that:} 12... Nxg4 13. Bh6 f5 14. h3 Nxh6 15. Qxh6
Bf6 {With strong attack for White after both:} 16. Nh4 ({Or:} 16. Bxb5)) ({
Whereas after:} 12... Bxg4 13. Bh6 {Black needs to sacrifice the exchange in
order to stay in the game:} g6 $1 ({As:} 13... Bxf3 {leads to a spectacular
mate after:} 14. Rxg7+ Kh8 15. Qg5 {With the threat of Rg7xh7!} Rg8 16. Qxf6 $1
{and mate.})) 13. Qe2 c4 {This seems dangerous, but the white pieces are far
more resilient than they seem.} 14. Bf5 Re8 (14... g6 {does not create a
threat due to:} 15. Nd4 $1 gxf5 16. g5 Nd5 17. Nxf5 {and the machine claims
winning attack for White.}) 15. Nd4 {Finally some thought by Caruana.} Nd5 {
Provocation? Or more likely a blunder?} (15... g6 {is suggested by the engine,
although this seems very dangerous for Black as well.}) 16. Ne6 $3 {The
brilliant point behind White's play. All the white pieces make perfect sense
now. Black needs to walk his way through on a very thin road now, on the edge
of the abyss. And there is a strong, cold wind blowing...} Qa5 {The only move
which Duda played after more than half an hour on the clock. A clear sign that
he missed the opponent's last move (or something afterwards).} ({Obviously:}
16... fxe6 17. Bxe6+ Kh8 18. Bxd5 {cannot be recommended for the second player.
}) 17. Qf3 $1 {Now everything hangs, and nothing can be taken! Let's try to
understand what's happening.} Bf6 $1 {A sign for the courage. "It is not mate
if I mate you first."} ({To start with:} 17... fxe6 $2 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bxd5 {
still does not make sense for Black.}) ({The other piece capture:} 17... Nxe3
$2 {is best refuted with:} 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Qxf7 Bf6 20. Rg3 $1 {When the
only defense:} Bg2 {fails short after:} 21. g5 $1 ({Or also:} 21. fxe3)) ({
What if Black is more modest (materially) and tries to chase the enemy king
instead with:} 17... Qxa2 $2 {Well, then still the same sacrifice:} 18. Bxh7+
Kxh7 19. Qxf7 Bf6 20. Rg3 {is even worse for Black.}) ({However, a couple of
hours and the help of the engines were not quite enough for me to determine
the consequences of:} 17... Nxc3 $3 {Then White's only chance to play for the
advantage seems to be:} 18. Qxb7 {Now Black needs to choose wisely and:} ({
As the killer sacrifice from above with:} 18. Bxh7+ {does not win this time as
in the line:} Kxh7 19. Qxf7 Bf6 20. Rg3 {Black has the resource:} Ne2+ 21. Kb1
Nxg3 {Even this position is extremely interesting to analyze as there are
myriad of options for both sides, but the impression is that it should be a
raw after:} 22. g5 Bxb2 $1 23. Rd4 $3 ({But not:} 23. Kxb2 Qb4+ 24. Ka1 Qc3+
25. Kb1 Be4 {when Black defends successfully and decides the counterattack.})
23... Bxd4 24. g6+ Kh8 25. Bxd4 Qe1+ 26. Kb2 Qb4+ {= with perpetual.}) 18...
Nxa2+ $1 {is the best choice.} ({For comparison:} 18... Nxd1 {Does not seem
dangerous at a glance, but the line:} 19. Rxd1 fxe6 20. Bxe6+ Kh8 $1 ({
Otherwise:} 20... Kf8 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. g5 Rxe6 23. Qxa8+ Re8 24. Qf3 {Black
loses a piece.}) 21. Bf7 Qxa2 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Qd7 Qa1+ 24. Kd2 Qa5+ 25. c3
Qd8 26. Qxb5 {leads to a large advantage for White.}) 19. Kb1 Nb4 {White has
won a piece and:} 20. Nc7 {Seems to finish the job, but:} Reb8 {Not only saves
the rook, it brings more pieces into the attack. Computer is super-excited
about the move:} 21. Qe4 {Until you ask it what do you do after:} ({Therefore,
White needs to opt for:} 21. Qf3 $1 Qxc7 {Black could not completely solidify
his position; the sacrifice is still possible:} ({Here:} 21... c3 22. bxc3 Na2
{is spectacularly refuted with:} 23. Bxh7+ $3 ({The move order cannot be
changed:} 23. Nd5 b4 24. cxb4 Nxb4 25. Nxe7+ {As now Black can hide the king.}
Kh8 {Mate looks inevitable for White; however, there is a brilliant
interference sacrifice:} ({But not:} 25... Kf8 26. Be6 $1) 26. Bb6 $3 {When
anything is still possible:} Qxb6 (26... axb6 27. Qc3) 27. Kc1 d5 {and either
player can still win.}) 23... Kxh7 24. Nd5 {The main point is that in the line:
} b4 $2 ({Perhaps Black should try here:} 24... Nxc3+ 25. Nxc3 Qb4+ 26. Kc1
Qxc3 27. Qe4+ Kg8 28. Qxe7 {although the extra piece should decide eventually.}
) 25. Qf5+ Kh8 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Nxe7+ {picking up the queen on the opposite
wing!}) 22. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 23. Qxf7 {With strong attack once more for White.
For example:} Qb7 ({Or:} 23... Rf8 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. g5 $1 Rf5 26. Qh3 $1 Qc8
27. g6 {and White's attack should decide.}) 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. Qe6+ Kf8 26. Rg3
$1 Bh4 27. Rh3 Qe7 28. Qg6 {± The attack is more important than the piece.})
21... c3 $3 {It transpires that Black has the winning attack after:} 22. bxc3
Na2 $1 23. Bd4 b4) 18. g5 $3 {I am faster, thinks Caruana. The move in the
game deprives Black of some extra possibilities.} ({For instance:} 18. Bxh7+
Kxh7 19. g5 Bxc3 {transposes to the game.} ({But it also allows an additional
option for Black:} 19... Rxe6 {True, it does not seem to work after:} 20. gxf6
Rxf6 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Rxd5 Bxd5 {As White has the fantastic resource:} 23. Bd4
$3 ({But not the obvious:} 23. Qxd5 Re8 24. Bd4 Qxa2 25. Kd2 Rfe6 {when White
needs to force a draw with:} 26. Rxg7+ Kf8 27. Rxf7+ Kxf7 28. Qf3+ {= and
perpetual.}) 23... Qxa2 24. Kd2 $3 {with mating attack.})) ({And the obvious
capture:} 18. Rxd5 Rxe6 $1 (18... Qxa2 $5) 19. Bxh7+ Kf8 20. Kb1 Rae8 21. g5 {
promises White compensation, but the game remains unclear.}) 18... Bxc3 {
The only move.} ({Everything else loses, like:} 18... Qxa2 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.
Qh5+ Kg8 21. gxf6 Nxf6 22. Rxg7#) ({Or a sweeter mate in the line:} 18... Nxc3
19. gxf6 $1 Bxf3 20. Rxg7+ Kh8 21. Rxh7+ Kg8 22. Rg1+) 19. Bxh7+ $1 {This was
to be expected.} Kxh7 ({The king cannot lure behind the bishop:} 19... Kh8 20.
Qh5 Bxb2+ 21. Kxb2 Qb4+ 22. Kc1 Qa3+ 23. Kd2 Qb4+ 24. Ke2 Nc3+ 25. Kf1 Bf3 26.
Qxf3 Nxd1 27. Qxd1 {as White's attack will continue for free.}) 20. g6+ $1 {
Further exposing the black king.} fxg6 21. Ng5+ Kh8 {It seems that Black's
turn had come, and he will start his own checks on the dark squares. But
Caruana had seen it all.} ({Or else it is even worse:} 21... Kg8 22. Qf7+ Kh8
23. Qxg6) 22. Bd4 $3 {Fantastique! The bishop defends the white king,
threatens with mate on g7, and if it is taken it would be replaced by the
white rook. What more can we say to promote the centralization!} ({Duda
obviously checked the other forcing moves and had no fear of them:} 22. Rxd5 {
should be met with:} Bxd5 $1 ({But beware of the wolf. Sorry, rook:} 22... Qxa2
$2 {would lose to:} 23. Qh3+ Kg8 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Rf5+ $1 {That's why such
rooks should not be left on board! White is winning in all the lines:} Ke7 (
25... gxf5 26. bxc3 $1 Qa1+ 27. Kd2 Qxg1 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxg7+ Kd8 {Now the
neatest win is:} 30. Qxb7 $3 (30. Nf7+ Ke7 {is not as clear.}) 30... Rxe3 31.
Qxa8+ Ke7 32. Qxa7+ Kf6 33. Qf7+ $1 {+- picking up the queen.}) (25... Bf6 26.
Rxf6+ gxf6 27. Qf7#)) 23. Qxd5 Qxa2 {White has a perpetual, but hardly
anything else:} 24. Nf7+ Kg8 25. Ng5+ {=}) ({Another perpetual cannot be
avoided in the line:} 22. Qh3+ Kg8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qxg6 Bxb2+ 25. Kxb2 Qb4+
26. Kc1 Qa3+ 27. Kd2 Qc3+ 28. Kc1 ({Since:} 28. Ke2 $4 Nf4+ {drops the queen.})
) ({The last obvious capture:} 22. bxc3 Qa3+ 23. Kd2 Qxc3+ 24. Kc1 {also leads
to a draw:} ({As once more White cannot deviate with:} 24. Ke2 $2 Qxc2+ 25. Rd2
Nc3+) 24... Qa1+) 22... Bxd4 $1 {The right choice.} ({There is no time to
bother the enemy king:} 22... Qxa2 $2 23. Qh3+ Kg8 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qxg7# {
as the white bishop decisively supports her majesty.}) 23. Rxd4 Nf6 $3 {
Brilliant defense by Duda. In the sharp time-scramble that occurred, the
Polish GM squeezed every little chance he could get.} ({No other option is
promising chances of survival:} 23... Qxa2 24. Rh4+ Kg8 25. Qf7#) ({Neither
does:} 23... Re1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 25. Rd1 {save Black.}) 24. Qxb7 Rab8 25. Qf7
Re1+ {Diverting the white rook from the mating fourth rank.} ({Otherwise, mate
again:} 25... Qxa2 $2 26. Rh4+ Nh5 27. Qxg6) 26. Rd1 $1 ({Not:} 26. Rxe1 $2 {
which allows Black a chance to bring back his queen into the defense:} Qxe1+
27. Rd1 Qxf2 28. Qxg6 Qe3+ 29. Kb1 Qe8 $1 {=}) 26... Rxg1 ({Rejecting:} 26...
Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 {that makes things worse for Black.}) 27. Rxg1 Re8 $1 {Threats
and only threats can leave Black chances.} ({After the obvious:} 27... Qxa2 {
White wins, thanks to the neat:} 28. Rg3 $1 ({Leko's} 28. Qxg6 {should also do.
}) 28... Qa1+ 29. Kd2 Qxb2 30. Rh3+ Nh5 31. Qxg6 Qd4+ 32. Ke1 {and the king
escapes the checks.}) 28. Ne6 $1 {And White needs to create threats, or else
he risks to be mated too.} ({As in the line:} 28. c3 Qxa2 29. Qxg6 Qa1+ 30. Kc2
Re2#) 28... Rxe6 29. Qxe6 Qxa2 {The forced play is almost over. After a
two-time repetition to gain a couple of minutes on the clock:} 30. Qh3+ Kg8 31.
Qe6+ Kh7 32. Qh3+ Kg8 33. Qa3 {Caruana forces the trade of the queens. The
arising endgame seems won for White as the long-ranged rook is especially
superior to the short-legged knight in these endgames.} Qxa3 34. bxa3 {Next
both centralized their kings.} Kf7 35. Kd2 a6 36. Ke3 Nd5+ 37. Kd4 Ne7 38. Re1
{And the time-trouble started to tell!} ({White had excellent winning chances
after:} 38. a4 $1 Ke6 ({Worse is:} 38... Nc6+ 39. Kd5 Nb4+ 40. Kxd6 Nxc2 41.
axb5 axb5 42. Kc5 c3 43. Rc1 $1 {and White should win.}) 39. axb5 axb5 40. Rb1
({Or perhaps even better:} 40. Rg5 Nf5+ 41. Kc3 Kf6 42. Rg1 {in order to try
and overextend the enemy defenders.}) 40... Nc6+ 41. Kc3 d5 42. Rxb5 g5 {
It is not yet clear though, but White has good chances.}) 38... Ke8 $1 39. a4 (
{Here a most difficult maneuver:} 39. Re4 $1 Kd7 40. Rf4 Nf5+ 41. Kc3 Kc6 42.
Kb4 {could have kept White's chances alive.}) 39... Kd7 40. axb5 axb5 41. Rg1 (
{Nothing seems to yield:} 41. Kc3 Nd5+ 42. Kd2 Ne7) 41... Kc6 {Duda managed to
consolidate his pieces in the time trouble, and his knight will soon start
working amazingly well.} 42. h4 ({After:} 42. Rg5 d5 43. c3 Nf5+ 44. Ke5 Kc5
45. Rxg6 {Black has the key idea:} d4 $1 46. cxd4+ Nxd4 {and it might be White
who is risking now.}) 42... Nf5+ 43. Kc3 Nxh4 44. Kb4 Nf3 $1 {The excellent
knight saves the day.} 45. Rxg6 Nd4 46. c3 ({Or:} 46. Kc3 Kc5 47. Rxg7 b4+ 48.
Kb2 Kd5 {and Black should be fine.}) 46... Ne2 47. Rxg7 Nf4 48. Ka5 {Resigning
to the draw.} (48. Ka3 {should not have changed anything, though} Ne2 49. Kb2
d5) 48... Ne2 49. Kb4 Nf4 50. Ka5 Ne2 51. Kb4 1/2-1/2