[Event "Riga"] [Site "Riga"] [Date "2021.11.07"] [Round "11"] [White "Paehtz, Elisabeth"] [Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D76"] [WhiteElo "2485"] [BlackElo "2400"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 Re8 10. h3 a5 11. d5 Nb4 12. e4 c6 13. a3 Na6 14. dxc6 (14. Be3 Nc4 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 e6 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. e5 Bb7 19. Rac1 Rb8 20. Ne4 Ba8 21. Nd6 Re7 {Oparin,G (2654)-Burke,J (2554) Online 2021}) 14... Qxd1 15. Rxd1 bxc6 16. Bf1 Nc5 $146 (16... Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na4 18. Ne5 N6c5 19. Bc4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 21. Nxc6 Ra6 22. Nd4 Nxc3 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 {Santos Ruiz,M (2567) -Jumabayev,R (2633) Biel 2019}) 17. Be3 Nba4 18. Nxa4 Nxa4 19. Rac1 Ba6 $2 ( 19... Rb8 {Better was} 20. Nd4 Nxb2 21. Rd2 Bd7) 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. e5 $1 { Temporarily shutting off the fianchetto bishop works very well here,} Rc8 ({ The tactical point was} 21... Nxb2 22. Rd2 Na4 23. Rc4 Nb6 24. Rxc6) 22. b3 Nb6 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 Na4 25. b5 {Suddenly the position plays by itself.} Raa8 26. bxc6 f6 27. Rd7 Kf7 28. exf6 Bxf6 29. Ng5+ Ke8 30. Nxh7 Rxc6 31. Rxe7+ Bxe7 32. Rxc6 Kf7 33. Ng5+ 1-0 [Event "Riga"] [Site "Riga"] [Date "2021.11.07"] [Round "11"] [White "Sjugirov, Sanan"] [Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C90"] [WhiteElo "2663"] [BlackElo "2734"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3 {A modest move which, however, prevents the Marshall Attack.} d6 9. c3 Na5 { Yesterday's loss was certainly a painful blow for Vitiugov, who missed a shot to play for a place in the Candidates. Nevertheless, the Russian champion managed to put himself together and went fully mobilized in this final encounter.} 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. h3 Bf8 13. Nf1 h6 14. d4 {White opens the center, despite the delay of a tempo.} exd4 15. cxd4 cxd4 {The slightly compromised pawn structure will be compensated by the active black pieces.} 16. Ng3 Bb7 17. Nxd4 Nc4 ({At the freshly finished U.S. championship the following fascinating game was played:} 17... Qc7 18. Bf4 Nc4 19. Ndf5 Nxb2 20. Qc1 Nc4 21. Bxh6 gxh6 {Here Robson sacrificed a piece:} 22. Nxh6+ Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Re6 24. Nf5 Ne8 25. Qg5+ Kf8 26. Qh4 Rg6 {but his younger opponent managed to defend, Robson,R (2669)-Burke,J (2554) Saint Louis 2021}) 18. b3 Ne5 19. Bb2 Rc8 20. Qd2 Qb6 $146 {Active play, and a novelty.} ({In an earlier game, Black did just fine after} 20... Ng6 21. Rad1 d5 22. Ndf5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Qe3 Qc7 25. Bb1 Bc5 {Pfeffer,R (2155)-Kiesekamp,M (2316) Berlin 2008}) 21. Ndf5 { Sjugirov wants to maneuver his knight to a better square, but this costs him quite a lot of time.} ({Perhaps} 21. Kh1 $5 {to pay respect to the queen was a better choice.}) 21... g6 22. Ne3 h5 $1 {An important move in the battle for the e4-square.} 23. Bd4 Qd8 24. f3 {This modest move is more or less forced. Sjugirov needs to overprotect his most important pawn.} ({Otherwise White risks badly to see his position crumbling, as in the line} 24. f4 $2 h4 25. Ngf1 Bxe4 $1 {and White loses at least a pawn, as the line} 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Bc3 Qxd2 28. Bxd2 Bxc2 {is not appealing at all.}) 24... h4 {10 minutes on the clock indicate that Vitiugov might have been choosing between this aggression.. .} ({...and the immediate attempt to get rid of the weak pawn with} 24... d5 $5 {which is not bad at all after} 25. exd5 Nxd5 (25... Bxd5 $5) 26. Nxd5 Bg7 $1 { and White needs to give the piece back.}) 25. Ngf1 {The other retreats are worse.} (25. Ne2 {blocks the white rook and} d5 $1 {gains strenghth.}) ({ The knight is also too passive in case of} 25. Nh1 d5 $1) 25... Bh6 $1 { Bringing the bishop first to control the dark squares.} ({Also good seems} 25... Nh5 $5 26. Rad1 Qg5 {and Black is putting pressure, but the move in the game is more powerful.}) 26. Rad1 Bf4 27. Qf2 Nh5 28. Ng4 Qg5 {Black is in full control. The breaks d6-d5 and f7-f5 are in the air, and there is more to add to White's woes.} 29. b4 {However, now comes a very strong idea:} ({ Sjugirov probably did not even consider the computer suggestion} 29. Be3 { Indeed, Black is significantly better thanks to} Rc3) 29... Nxg4 $1 30. hxg4 Bg3 $1 {That forces the next capture.} 31. Nxg3 ({As a move like} 31. Qe3 { would lose material for White in the forced line} Qxe3+ 32. Rxe3 Rxc2 33. gxh5 Bf2+ (33... gxh5 $5 {looks appealing for Black too.}) 34. Kh2 Bxe3) 31... hxg3 {The wedge on g3 acts as a piece in Black's attack and the impression is that White would be mated at any moment.} 32. Qd2 Nf4 {Many people would simply resign to the frustration if they were in White's shoes. But not Sjugirov: he finds strength and squeezes resources to continue.} 33. Bb3 $1 ({Avoiding the obvious move} 33. Be3 {which walks directly into the trap} Qh4 34. Bxf4 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Rxc2 $3 36. Qxc2 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qxg2+ 38. Kd3 Qxf3+ 39. Re3 Bxe4+ 40. Kd4 Qxe3+ {and Black wins a bunch of pawns.}) 33... Qh6 {The human way $1 Good enough $1} ({And there was the compvine (computer divine) way} 33... d5 $3 { That is not a major surprise, Black would not mind to open the e-file and bring on the last reserves. But observe now how's compy doing the job:} 34. exd5 Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1 Qh6 $1 36. Qd2 Rc3 $3 {with the unstoppable threat of Rc3-d3 $3}) 34. g5 $3 {The only way to fight on is to create problems $1 An amazing resource $1 Petrosian's thought about the one-pawn-square difference comes to mind when one follows this unbelievably complex, marvelous game $1} ({ Once more} 34. Be3 {falls short, for Black can use the trick from the line above} Rc3 $3 {And it is all over} 35. Qxc3 (35. Bxf4 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qxg2#) 35... Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Bg1 Qxg2#) ({But what was Black actually threatening $2 Well, besides the constant mates along the h-file, there is the decisive file opening with d4-d5, and on top of everything, this idea:} 34. a3 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Bg1 Nh3 $3 {Then when the bishop is defended} 37. Qd4 ( 37. gxh3 Qxf3+) 37... Rc3 $3 {Yep, this guy again... And the players were obviously aware of this resource $1}) 34... Qh4 ({Guess what, now the line} 34... Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Bg1 Nh3 37. Qd4 Rc3 {only leads to a draw due to} 38. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 39. Qf6+ {with a perpetual $1}) ({And the other forcing continuation} 34... Qxg5 35. Be3 Qh6 36. Bxf4 Qh2+ 37. Kf1 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qxg2+ 39. Kd3 Qxf3+ 40. Qe3 Bxe4+ 41. Kd2 {would have seen the white king surviving $1}) 35. Kf1 Rc3 $3 {Wow, this happened $1 And the rook is invincible, yes $1 And the Rc3-d3 threat is deadly, right $1 And guess what, this is not the best $3 $1} ({The machines whats to insert the rook into the action as well, but does not forget about the last piece which we have not involved yet into the attack: the bishop $1 Therefore} 35... a5 $3 {when} 36. a3 {softens the position of the bishop and Black will now go for} ({Otherwise the bishop comes out on the a6-f1 diagonal with decisive effect} 36. bxa5 b4 $1) 36... Rc3 $3 { and wins.} ({Or even} 36... a4 37. Ba2 Qxg5 38. Be3 Qh6 39. Bxf4 Qh1+ 40. Ke2 Qxg2+ 41. Kd3 Qxf3+ 42. Qe3 Bxe4+ 43. Kd4 Qh5 $1 {mating the king at the end.}) ) 36. Qxf4 $1 {Once that Sjugirov eliminates the impossible, he decided that this must be the truth $1 (Sherlock Bojkov)} Qxf4 37. Bxc3 Qxg5 {And this obvious move actually lets White off the hook $1} ({Strong was the attempt to bring the bishop out with} 37... a5 $3 {The main idea is} 38. bxa5 $2 (38. Bf6 {is better, but then Black would have taken the other pawn} axb4 {when} 39. Ke2 {is no longer good due to} Bxe4 $1 40. fxe4 Qxe4+ 41. Kd2 Qf4+ 42. Kd3 Qf5+ $1 {Now we see why the b4-pawn is needed $1} 43. Kd2 Qf2+ {and wins.}) 38... b4 39. Bxb4 Ba6+ 40. Kg1 Qh4) 38. Ke2 $3 {Suddenly, the white king is out of danger and it is time for White's attack for a change.} ({The move in the game is better than} 38. Rxd6 Qh6 39. Bd4 Bc8 $1 {followed by Bc8-e6 $1}) 38... d5 { Give me more open files $1} 39. Rh1 {No, you give me more diagonals $1} f6 40. Rh3 Bc6 {The last move in the time control completely turns the tables.} ({ It would have been still unclear after} 40... Rc8 41. Bb2 Rc4 $3 {at least getting rid of one of the monstrous bishops.}) 41. Rdh1 Kf7 42. Rh7+ Ke6 43. Rd1 {Now it is Sjugirov's moment to miss things.} ({He should have surprisingly centralized the black queen instead with} 43. Bd2 $3 Qe5 44. Rc1 Ba8 45. Ra7 {and White's close to the win $1}) 43... f5 $3 {Wow $1 That's the only thing to say. WOW $1} 44. Bd2 ({Or else the king finds a safe haven:} 44. exd5+ Kd6+ 45. Kf1 Bd7 {with a messy position.} ({But not the over-ambitious} 45... Qe3 $4 46. dxc6+ Kxc6 47. Bd5+ Kd6 48. Bb7+ Ke6 49. Re1 {when White wins. })) ({White also needs not to be overly ambitious} 44. exf5+ $4 {loses to} Kd6+ 45. Kf1 Qe3 $1) 44... Qd8 {Who's going to blink first $2} (44... f4 45. Rc1 { does not seem appealing at all, albeit being objectively better.}) 45. Be3 ({ Time for White's compvine} 45. Rc1 $3 Ba8 46. Kd3 $3 {$3 $1 I do not have enough exclams, sorry.} Kf6 47. e5+ $3 Rxe5 (47... Ke6 48. Rcc7) 48. Rcc7 { would have led to decisive White attack.}) 45... Kf6 {Now the king is relatively safe...} 46. Rc1 Qd6 47. Ra7 $5 {Sjugirov rejects the draw and chases the full point $1} (47. Bc5 Qe5 48. Be3 Qd6 $11) 47... fxe4 48. Bd4+ Kg5 ({Correctly avoiding} 48... Kf5 $4 49. Rf7+) 49. f4+ $1 Kg4 $1 {Vitiugov tries to hide his king behind the pawn.} ({After} 49... Kxf4 50. Rf1+ Kg4 {There is the fabulous ambush} 51. Bd1 $3 {and that is good enough to interrupt any further calculations. However, how to play after} e3 $3 {It seems as that with best play the players will reach approximately equal endgame ( $4 Seriously $4) with} 52. Raf7 Bd7 53. R1f6 Qxb4 54. Rf4+ Kg5 55. Bf6+ Kxf4 56. Bc3+ Bf5 57. Bxb4 d4 58. Bc2 {Yep, believe it or not $1}) 50. Rf7 $2 {Now White is losing again $1} ({Stronger was to try and tie the enemy pieces with pins} 50. Rxa6 $1 Rc8 51. Rc5 $1 Qd7 52. Ke3 {Although Black is still on top thanks to} g5 $1) 50... e3 $1 {A very important resource $1} 51. Bd1 $1 {The ambush again $1} Kh5 $2 {Did I say Black was losing again $2 No, I meant Black is losing again...} ( {But that is because he missed the winning} 51... Qe6 $3 52. Ke1+ e2) 52. Rh7+ $2 ({To the mate led} 52. Kf3 $3 e2 (52... Kh6 53. Bc2 $1) (52... g5 53. Bc2 $1 ) 53. Rh7#) 52... Kg4 {Now the evaluation switch turns on and off a few times again.} 53. Rf7 Kh5 $2 54. Rh7+ $2 Kg4 55. Bxe3 d4 {Missing the last chance to win.} (55... Kf5 $3 56. Bc2+ Kf6 $1 {would have brought his Majesty into safety.}) 56. Kf1+ Kf5 {And after a bunch of forcing moves} 57. Rxc6 $3 Qxc6 58. Rf7+ Ke6 59. Bb3+ {Sjugirov first regained the queen.} Qc4+ 60. Bxc4+ bxc4 {And then forced a draw rook endgame with} 61. Rc7 dxe3 62. Rxc4 Kd5 63. Rc5+ Kd4 64. Ke2 Rf8 65. Kf3 Re8 66. Ke2 Rf8 67. Kf3 Re8 {If one ever asks you why do you play chess, just show them this game $1} 1/2-1/2