[Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Maurizzi, Marc`Andria"] [Black "Zhu, Jiner"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2502"] [BlackElo "2478"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 (9. h4 b6 10. h5 h6 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Be2 Bb7 14. Rh3 Rc8 15. Rg3 Kh8 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2792)-So,W (2770) Online 2021}) 9... a6 10. a4 Qc7 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. O-O Nb4 14. Ba3 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Bxa3 16. Qxa3 Bd7 17. Ne5 Rfc8 18. Rfc1 Qd8 19. Rxb7 $146 (19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Qb2 Qxa4 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Qxb7 Qc4 {Akobian,V (2625)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2019}) 19... Bxa4 20. Nxf7 Qxd4 21. h3 Qxe4 22. Nd6 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Qd4 24. Qa3 Rf8 25. Qg3 Bc6 26. Re7 Bd5 27. Kh2 $2 (27. Ne8 g6 28. Nc7 Qf6 29. Nxd5 exd5 30. Ra7 {was good for a draw.}) 27... Rxf2 28. Re8+ Rf8 29. Re7 h6 30. Ne8 Rf7 31. Rxf7 Kxf7 32. Nc7 a5 33. Nb5 Qd2 34. h4 Kg8 35. Nc7 a4 36. Nxd5 Qxd5 37. Qb8+ Kh7 38. Qb1+ Qf5 39. Qb4 Qc2 40. h5 e5 41. Qa3 Qc4 42. Qh3 Qf4+ 43. Kh1 e4 44. Qe6 a3 45. Qg6+ Kg8 46. Qe8+ Qf8 47. Qxe4 a2 48. Qd5+ Qf7 49. Qa8+ Kh7 50. Qe4+ Kh8 51. Qa8+ Qg8 52. Qa5 Qc4 53. Kh2 Qh4+ 54. Kg1 Qd4+ 55. Kh2 a1=Q 0-1 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Vogel, Roven"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E94"] [WhiteElo "2452"] [BlackElo "2632"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Bg4 8. d5 a5 9. Ne1 (9. Be3 Na6 10. a3 Nh5 11. h3 Bd7 12. Re1 Qe8 13. Nb5 Qd8 14. b4 Nf4 15. Bf1 h6 16. c5 Qe8 17. a4 Qe7 {Yakubboev,N (2621)-Mamedov,R (2673) Riga 2021}) 9... Bd7 10. Nd3 Na6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 b6 13. Qd2 $146 (13. a3 Nc5 14. f3 Ne8 15. b4 axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Nb3 18. Qb2 Nd4 19. c5 f5 {Antonova,N (2011) -Faqeeh,A (1599) Al Ain 2015}) 13... Kh7 14. f4 exf4 15. Rxf4 Qe7 16. Raf1 g5 17. R4f2 Rae8 18. Bf3 $6 ({Missing a big chance:} 18. e5 $1 dxe5 19. d6 $1 { when Black has to play} Qe6 {and now the engine simply improves the position with} (19... cxd6 20. Rxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd5) (19... Qxd6 20. Rxf6 Bxf6 21. Ne4) 20. Ne1 {and White is doing well.}) 18... Ng4 19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. h3 Bh5 21. e5 $5 Bg6 22. Rf5 {Incorrect.} ({White should have tried} 22. h4 $1 {when anything can happen.}) 22... Nb4 $5 (22... Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Nb4 {was also possible.}) 23. Nxb4 axb4 24. Ne4 Bxf5 25. Rxf5 Bxe5 {White has nothing.} 26. Qc2 Kg8 27. Nf2 Bg7 28. Ng4 Qe4 29. Qf2 h5 30. Rxg5 hxg4 (30... hxg4 31. Bd4 f6) 0-1 [Event "Wijk aan Zee"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Black "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2714"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 Bb6 9. a4 a5 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Bb3 c6 12. Nf1 Ng6 13. Ng3 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Re8 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bxd5 cxd5 19. Be3 $146 (19. b3 Bd7 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Qd2 Bc7 22. Rd1 Be5 23. Nde2 Nh4 24. Kh2 Nf5 25. Bf4 {½-½ Willmann,B (2345)-Susla,V (2307) LSS email 2020}) 19... Bc7 20. Qd2 Bd7 21. b3 Bxg3 22. fxg3 Qe5 23. Qf2 Rc8 24. Rf1 f6 25. Re1 Qd6 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27. Qxf5 Ne7 28. Qg4 Rxc3 29. Bf4 Qc5+ 30. Kh2 Kh7 31. h4 d4 32. Qe6 ({Understandably, Esipenko didn't like the looks of} 32. Qe6 Ng6 33. Bd6 Qc6 34. h5 Nh8 { although White has an only move there with} 35. Re2 {when a possible line is} d3 36. Qf5+ Kg8 37. Re7 $1 Qxd6 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Rxh8 {with enough counterplay. }) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Wijk aan Zee"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [BlackElo "2760"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 (7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 h6 10. Bh4 Nc6 11. Qd1 Be6 12. O-O Rc8 13. a3 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nd4 Bd5 {Mamedyarov,S (2767)-Vidit,S (2727) Warsaw 2021} ) 7... dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ng5 Be6 10. Nxe6+ fxe6 11. Bg5 h6 12. O-O-O+ Ke7 13. Bxf6+ gxf6 14. Nxe4 f5 15. Ng3 $146 (15. Nc5 Kf6 16. Rd8 Bg7 17. Rxh8 Bxh8 18. Bc4 Nc6 19. Nxe6 Ne5 20. Bd5 Nd3+ 21. Kd2 Nb4 {Radjabov,T (2765)-Carlsen,M (2847) Online 2021}) 15... h5 16. Bc4 Nd7 17. Kb1 Ne5 18. Bb3 Kf6 19. Rhe1 Re8 20. Ba4 Re7 21. h4 Ng6 22. Rd4 Rc7 23. Bb3 e5 24. Rd8 Nxh4 25. Re8 $2 ({ Better was} 25. Rh1 Kg5 26. Bc2) 25... Ng6 26. Re6+ Kg5 27. Bc2 h4 $1 {Perhaps Mamedyarov had missed this earlier in his calculations.} 28. Re3 $5 {A good try.} (28. Nxf5 Rxc2) (28. Bxf5 hxg3 29. Bxg6 gxf2) 28... e4 $6 ({Of course not } 28... hxg3 29. Rxg3+) ({but winning was} 28... Bg7 $1 {threatening both 29... Rfc8 and 29...Nf4.}) 29. Nxf5 Kxf5 30. R3xe4 Rxc2 31. Kxc2 Bc5 $6 (31... Bg7 { was also quite good for Black here.}) 32. g4+ $1 {A very nice shot.} Kg5 (32... hxg3 33. fxg3 $11) 33. f4+ $1 Nxf4 34. R6e5+ Kxg4 35. Rxc5 Kf3 $6 {A step in the wrong direction.} ({It was time to go for a draw with} 35... h3 36. Rcc4 Rf8 {(a better version than in the game, where b7 hangs)} 37. Re7 b5 38. Rg7+ Kh4 39. Rd4 Rf5) 36. Rb4 h3 $2 ({The only move was} 36... Ng2 $1 {and it was still enough to draw:} 37. Rc3+ (37. Kd2 Rd8+) 37... Ne3+ 38. Kd2 Rd8+ 39. Rd3 Rxd3+ 40. Kxd3 h3 41. Rxb7 h2 42. Rh7 Ng4 $11) 37. Rc3+ Kg4 38. Rcc4 Rf8 39. Rxb7 {Winning a pawn but also activating it to the perfect square h7.} h2 40. Rh7 Kg3 41. Kb3 {Besides being an exchange down, Black is now completely stuck as well.} 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Praggnanandhaa, R.."] [Black "Grandelius, Nils"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2612"] [BlackElo "2672"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "127"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Qa3 c5 10. Be2 b6 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Nf6 12. Qe3 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Bd3 Rc8 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. a4 Rfd8 {Aronian,L (2782)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2763) Online 2021}) 11. h4 e5 $146 (11... Bb7 12. e5 b5 13. O-O a6 14. Bf4 e6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h5 gxh5 17. c4 bxc4 18. Rac1 cxd4 19. Rxd4 c3 20. Rxc3 Rxc3 21. Qxc3 Bd5 {Burmeister,F (2123)-Cousins,R (2288) ICCF email 2020}) 12. d5 Nf6 13. Bg5 $1 {White doesn't want to allow the knight to reach d6.} Qe8 (13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. h5 g5 16. Nd2 {is also nice for White.}) 14. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 15. h5 Bg4 16. Nd2 {White wouldn't mind ending up with a knight vs. Black's bad dark-squared bishop.} Bd7 17. c4 Qe7 18. Qc3 Bg7 19. Qe3 f5 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. a4 $1 {Grabbing space, knowing that Black doesn't really threaten anything with his f-pawn. It has become an unpleasant King's Indian type of position for Black.} Bf6 22. a5 $1 Bg5 23. Qh3 Qg7 ({The trade} 23... Bxd2+ 24. Kxd2 { makes sense positionally, but after} Qg7 25. Rh2 $1 {White will be in control of the h-file and pushing for an attack.}) 24. Qc3 Qf6 25. Bd3 Qe7 26. Nf3 Bf6 27. Qc2 Rac8 (27... f4 $5 28. Nd2 g5) 28. axb6 axb6 29. O-O f4 30. Ra7 Qd6 ( 30... Qh7 31. Rb1 g5 32. Rxb6 g4 33. Nh2 g3 34. Nf1 {is nothing.}) 31. Be2 Bd8 32. Nh2 Bc7 33. Rfa1 Kg7 34. Bg4 {The desired trade is there, and Black is positionally busted.} Bxg4 35. Nxg4 Rf7 36. f3 Rh8 37. Qb2 Rh5 38. Rb7 Qd8 39. Raa7 Kg8 40. Kf2 Rh1 41. Ra1 Rh4 42. Rxc7 Rxc7 43. Qxe5 Rf7 44. Qe6 Rxg4 45. Qxg4 Kg7 46. Qe6 Qh4+ 47. Ke2 Qg5 48. Kf1 Qh4 49. Kg1 Qf6 50. Qxf6+ Kxf6 51. Kf2 Ke5 52. Ke2 Kd4 53. Rd1+ Ke5 54. Ra1 Kd4 55. Rd1+ Ke5 56. Kd3 Ra7 57. Kc3 g5 58. Kb3 g4 59. d6 gxf3 60. gxf3 Ke6 61. d7 Rxd7 62. Rxd7 Kxd7 63. Ka4 Kc6 64. e5 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.01.18"] [Round "4"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D78"] [WhiteElo "2865"] [BlackElo "2702"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. b3 {Carlsen used a version of this solid line to defeat Nepomniachtchi in their final test before their world championship match.} Bf5 {The main line.} 8. Bb2 Nbd7 9. e3 {This is the new trend, according to Megabase, that outshines the older 9.Nbd2. } Ne4 {The most typical maneuver for the line. Black opens up his dark-squared bishop and prepares to swap a pair of light pieces.} ({White definitely had a pull in another top game:} 9... b5 10. cxb5 cxb5 11. Nc3 b4 12. Na4 Rc8 13. Qd2 a5 14. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 15. Rxc1 Qa8 16. Ne5 Rc8 17. Nxd7 Rxc1+ 18. Qxc1 Nxd7 19. Qc7 {and Black's position is unpleasant due to the difference in activity of the queens, Artemiev,V (2704)-Aronian,L (2782) chess24.com INT 2021}) 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Be4 {This is possible thanks to the previous maneuver.} 12. Qe2 e6 13. Rfd1 {In the meanwhile, the world champion clears the f1-square to avoid the trade of the light-squared bishops. Without them, there is no hope of an edge.} a5 {Black uses the given time to prepare counterplay on his own.} 14. Bf1 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nc5 {This maneuver is also possible thanks to the ...Nf6-e4-xc3 one. So many possibilities, just because a pair of light pieces have been traded!} 16. Be1 Ne4 17. Bd3 $146 {This is a novelty.} ({In the predecessor:} 17. a4 f5 18. Qe2 Rf7 19. Bg2 Bf8 20. f3 Nf6 21. Bc3 Bb4 22. Bb2 Qe7 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Qxe4 {White seemed to have a slight pull, but Bu quickly executed e6-e5 and the game petered out into a draw, Ganguly,S (2644) -Bu,X (2711) Liaocheng 2017}) 17... f5 {Van Foreest is shifting into a Stonewall where Black has kept a valuable pair of light pieces alive.} 18. Rac1 {Still, Carlsen has a serious plan in stock: the preparation of the e3-e4 break. Black's next maneuver is designed to stop this for good.} g5 19. Qe2 { And after some thought, Van Foresst went for} g4 $3 {Thus sacrificing a pawn!} 20. Bxe4 fxe4 {The point.} ({The move in the game is needed as} 20... dxe4 { would lead to a quick collapse in the center due to} 21. d5 $1 exd5 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Rc5 d4 24. exd4 {and the game opens in White's favor. In fact, the machine evaluates this as a winning edge for the first player.}) 21. Qxg4 { I browsed through the games at that point and a quick glance at the position, count of the pawns, and a peek at the computer bar made me think that Van Foreest had badly messed up.} Qe8 {None of the above is true! Black has solid compensation thanks to the half-open files on the kingside, and the holes on the light-squares only facilitate his play.} 22. cxd5 {In order to open a file for his rooks.} ({It also made sense to bring the bishop out as soon as possible.} 22. b4 $5 h5 ({Black cannot lock the flank with} 22... a4 23. cxd5 exd5 {due to} 24. b5 $1) 23. Qh3 axb4 24. Bxb4 Rf6 25. Rd2 {There are two files on which the white rooks can work now, but what's more, he can eventually maneuver his bishop toward the e5 square.}) 22... exd5 23. Rc5 { The logical follow-up.} ({Though} 23. b4 $5 axb4 24. Bxb4 h5 25. Qh3 Rf6 26. Rc2 {was still possible.}) 23... h5 ({There was also} 23... b6 $5 24. Rc2 h5 25. Qh3 Rf6 {when Black can later shift his second rook toward the kingside via the a7-square.}) 24. Qh3 Qf7 {Van Foreest keeps the queenside stable.} ({ Here} 24... b5 $5 {looked attractive and after} 25. Rdc1 Rf6 {the black rooks can attack along the sixth rank while defending the c6 weakness.}) 25. Qg2 { Now the a5-pawn is in danger.} (25. Rc2 $5) 25... a4 26. b4 ({It is only Black who can benefit from the opening on the queenside at the moment.} 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. Rc2 Rfa8) 26... Qd7 27. b5 (27. Rdc1 Rf6 28. b5 {would have likely transposed.}) 27... h4 $1 {Black is consistent with his plan.} ({He should certainly avoid} 27... cxb5 28. Qf1 $1) 28. Rdc1 ({Or another transposition after} 28. bxc6 bxc6 29. Rdc1 Rf6 30. g4) 28... Rf6 29. bxc6 bxc6 30. g4 $1 { A tough decision! Carlsen tries to seal the kingside, but his opponent is alert.} ({After} 30. Bb4 hxg3 31. hxg3 Raf8 32. R1c2 Rh6 {Black will soon prepare infiltration along the h-file.}) 30... h3 $3 {A second pawn is offered for even more files.} 31. Qxh3 Raf8 $1 ({Correctly not craving the g4-pawn, as after} 31... Rg6 32. Qh5 $1 Rxg4+ 33. Kf1 {the white king escapes and Black's attack fizzles.}) 32. Qg2 ({Here} 32. Qh5 $2 Rh6 33. Qg5 Rff6 {makes no sense for White.}) ({And if the king leaves} 32. Kf1 Rh6 33. Qg2 Rh4 {the white pawns will be in trouble.}) 32... Rg6 {The most obvious attempt gives Carlsen some addiitonal chances.} ({The other file might have been more important! After} 32... Rh6 $5 33. h3 Rf3 {attacks the h3-pawn at once. True, White still has} 34. g5 {and may even win a third pawn at once after} Rh4 35. Rxc6 { at least for a moment. Nevertheless, after} Rfxh3 36. Rc8+ Bf8 37. R1c7 Qf5 { Black has enough threats to secure a draw, as in this pretty line} 38. Bb4 Rh1+ $1 39. Qxh1 Qg4+ 40. Qg2 Qd1+ 41. Qf1 Qg4+) 33. g5 $1 {Best! The pawns are further separated, but this bold move slows down Black's initiative.} ({ After the solid} 33. h3 {Black's attack may develop as in this line.} Rf3 34. Ra5 Rh6 35. Rxa4 $2 {And now} Rfxh3 36. Ra8+ Kh7 37. Rb1 R6h4 38. Kf1 c5 $3 { opens the a6-f1 diagonal, thus keeping the white king in mortal danger all the time. The threats may turn into a full point after, say,} 39. dxc5 Qc7 $1 40. Ra5 Rh2 41. Qg3 Qxg3 42. fxg3 Rh1+ 43. Ke2 R4h2+) 33... Rf5 {Once again, the most obvious move.} ({However, there was a strong argument for} 33... Rf3 { The difference here, in comparison with the line from above, is that White can defend with} 34. h4 Rh3 35. Rxc6 Rxc6 36. Rxc6 Rxh4 {And with the rook on this exact square} 37. f3 $1 {becomes possible. Still, after} Qxc6 38. Bxh4 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Qxe3 {Black has very little to worry about in the arising endgame.}) 34. h4 Bf8 35. R5c2 Be7 $1 {With the inevitable capture on g5, one way or the other!} 36. Rb2 $1 {Not just activating the rook, but avoiding the additional chances that the black queen might take. Also inviting Black to a self-pin.} ({As in the case of} 36. Kf1 Bxg5 (36... Qc8 $5) 37. hxg5 Rfxg5 38. Qh2 Qb7 $1) 36... Bxg5 {Van Foreest errs!} ({Strong was a rook capture} 36... Rfxg5 $1 {This, or the other one, it leads to the same after} 37. hxg5 Rxg5 38. Qxg5+ Bxg5 { With approximate equality, e.g} 39. Rb8+ Kf7 40. Rb6 Bxe3 ({Or} 40... Bd8 41. Ra6) 41. fxe3 Qg4+ 42. Kf1 Qf3+ 43. Bf2 Qh3+ 44. Ke2 Qf3+ 45. Ke1 Qh1+ 46. Kd2 Qg2 $11) 37. Kf1 Qa7 ({The computer claims that} 37... Qd6 {is the best defense, but then White escapes the threats with} 38. hxg5 Rgxg5 39. Qh3 Rh5 40. Qg4+ Rhg5 41. Qd1 $1 {and White keeps the extra material.}) 38. Qg4 { Alas, Carlsen transposes the moves, and misses the win!} ({In the line} 38. Ke2 $1 Qa6+ 39. Kd1 Qd3+ 40. Rd2 Qb5 {White does not have} 41. hxg5 $2 ({However, the strong} 41. Qg4 $1 {spoils the rooks' coordination, and apparently it wins. }) 41... Rfxg5 42. Qh3 Rg1 {and the threat of Rxe1+ and mate on the back rank forces White to give a perpetual.} 43. Qc8+) 38... Qa6+ $1 {Locks the king in!} 39. Kg1 {The world champion spots the deadly trap, just in time.} ({The trap is revealed in the line} 39. Qe2 Qc8 $1 40. Rcb1 Bd8 $1 {Making sure the queen is not pinned} 41. Rb8 {And now the fabulous} Rfg5 $3 {sacrificing almost every piece of his leads to a mate!}) 39... Rg7 40. Rb8+ {Now the forcing line} Bd8 41. Rxd8+ Rf8 42. Rxf8+ Kxf8 43. Bb4+ Kg8 44. Qxg7+ Kxg7 45. a3 {leads to a likely fortress.} Kg6 46. Kg2 Kh5 47. Rh1 {White threatens to transfer his rook to the third rank, therefore with} c5 {Van Foreest forces a perpetual} 48. Bxc5 Qg6+ 49. Kf1 Qa6+ 50. Kg2 Qg6+ 51. Kf1 Qa6+ 52. Kg2 1/2-1/2