[Event "Norway Chess 7th"] [Site "Stavanger"] [Date "2019.06.06"] [Round "3"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Yu, Yangyi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2754"] [BlackElo "2738"] [Annotator "So,Wesley"] [PlyCount "131"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {I have never played the Petroff Defense, I think this system suits players who play solid and structured. Let us see the details when two Super GMs played in 2019 Norway Chess Stavanger.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff Defense} 3. Nxe5 ({IF} 3. d4 exd4 ({IF} 3... Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Bd6 6. Nd2 Nxd2 7. Bxd2 O-O 8. O-O) 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. exd6 Nxd6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Qf4) 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 {I chose this line because the theme is strategic and tactical.} Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O {This move is what I like when black has to decide where to castle since white is all set to strike, black needs to be careful.} Qd7 {Black now can castle either side.} 10. Kb1 {Yes, to place the king safer and to protect the a2 pawn as well.} Bf6 11. h4 {This move prevents black from castling kingside, therefore queenside is safer.} O-O-O 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be5 14. Qe3 Qa4 ({IF} 14... Bxd4 15. Qxd4 { Both a7 pawn and g7 pawn is under attack}) 15. b3 Qa5 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Be2 g6 18. c4 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Bd3 {Lots of exchanges, now white is eyeing the h6 square and the a7 pawn as well.} Qb6 21. Qxb6 {I think Super GM Yangyi Yu, miscalculated the exchange of queens, since the e5 pawn is unprotected.} ({IF} 21. Qh6 e4) 21... axb6 22. Re1 {Now, clearly the e5 pawn will fall.} f6 23. f4 {Of course.} Re8 24. fxe5 Bg8 25. h5 gxh5 26. Bf5+ Kb8 27. e6 {This is where Super GM Wesley So is so good, now that the endgame structure can easily be disected.} c5 28. Re3 Kc7 29. Rg3 {Good move, black must take the e6 pawn.} Bxe6 ({IF} 29... Kd6 30. Rg7 Ke5 31. Bd3 Bxe6 32. Rxb7 Rh8 33. Rxb6 h4 34. Rb5 Kd4 35. Rb7 h5 36. Kb2) 30. Rg7+ Kb8 31. Be4 {Nice...} Bc8 32. Bd5 Re2 33. Bf3 Rd2 34. Bxh5 Bf5 35. Bf3 Rd7 ({IF} 35... Rxc2 36. Rxb7+ Kc8 37. Ka1) 36. Rg8+ { Yes, do not exchange rooks.} Ka7 37. Kc1 {NOW, IMAGINE THERE ARE NO MORE BISHOPS AND ROOKS. ANALYZE AND VISUALISE.} Re7 38. Rf8 {Although, there is no clear win yet for white, black must find ways to minimise or simplify position. } Be4 39. Rxf6 Bxf3 40. gxf3 Re2 41. Rh6 Rf2 42. Rh3 h5 43. Kb2 Ka6 44. a4 { This is very interesting endgame.} h4 45. Kc3 Ka5 46. Kb2 Ka6 {Yes...} 47. Kc1 Ka7 48. Kb1 Ka6 49. Kb2 {Again...} Ka7 50. Kc3 Kb8 51. Kd3 Kc7 52. Ke4 { Now, white decided to give up the c pawn then must push the f pawn is advantageous.} Re2+ 53. Kd3 Rf2 54. Ke4 Re2+ 55. Kf5 {If you want to win you must take the risks.} Rxc2 56. f4 Rf2 57. Rxh4 {White is teasing black to take the pawn at b3.} Rf3 58. Kg5 Rxb3 59. f5 Rg3+ 60. Rg4 Ra3 61. f6 Rxa4 62. f7 Ra8 63. Kf6 b5 ({IF} 63... Rf8 64. Rg8 Rxf7+ 65. Kxf7 b5 66. cxb5 Kd6 67. Rc8 Kd5 68. b6) 64. Rg8 Ra1 65. f8=Q Rf1+ 66. Ke5 {White played carefully in this game, he made sure that there was no drawing chances in the rook ending. Moreover, the game went spectacularly in the sense where the start of black's misery when the e5 pawn was left hanging. Fantastic game by the American/ Filipino Super GM Wesley So.} 1-0