[Event "Skilling op Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.11.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{There is a saying that "One pawn is enough to win a game". But several chess
openings at an early stage, offer a free pawn typically Chess Opening Gambits.
One popular line is the "Poisoned Pawn Variation" when the great American
World Champion Robert "Bobby" Fischer played it during his match with GM Boris
Spassky in the 70's.} 1. e4 c5 {The Sicilian Defense} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The Najdorf Variation.} 6. Bg5 ({IF} 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6
8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2) 6... e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 {This is it, "THE
POISONED PAWN VARIATION".} 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 h6 ({IF} 10... dxe5 11. fxe5 Nfd7
12. Be2 Qa5 (12... Nxe5 13. Nxe6)) 11. Bh4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nfd7 13. Ne4 Qxa2 {
Another pawn, the current World Champion is very brave, yet well calculated
move.} 14. Rd1 {White gave up two pawns hoping to pressure black's king at the
center. However, black's pieces are well coordinated, not easy to create a
tactical blow.} Qd5 15. Qe3 Qxe5 {Again, it looks like sacrificing many pawns
is not reasonable in this position.} 16. Be2 Bc5 {Black is ready to place the
king to safety but must still be careful of white's tactical play.} 17. Bg3 Qd5
({IF} 17... Bb4+ 18. c3 Bxc3+ 19. Qxc3 Qxe4 20. Qxc8+) 18. c4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4
Qa5+ 20. Rd2 O-O {I think white will have a hard time finding an advantage in
this type of situation.} 21. Bd6 f5 {The dark bishop is quite annoying,
therefore, World Champ Ding Liren gave up the rook to minimize the pressure at
the center.} ({IF} 21... Re8 22. Ba3 Nc6 23. O-O Nde5 24. Bb2) 22. Bxf8 Nxf8
23. Nd6 Nbd7 24. g4 {White must create something to unbalance the position and
also make way for the rook to penetrate the g file.} fxg4 {A must move.} ({IF}
24... g6 25. Qxh6) 25. Bxg4 Qe5 {NOW, LET'S STOP HERE: KINDLY ANALYZE WHY
BLACK WANTS TO EXCHANGE QUEENS.} 26. Ke2 b5 27. Bf3 Rb8 28. Qxe5 Nxe5 29. cxb5
axb5 30. Nxc8 Rxc8 {Still unclear, but black has more pawns and a pair of
annoying knights.} 31. Rb1 Rc3 32. Bg2 Nfg6 {Here comes the other knight,
fantastic strategy for black where it is not easy for white to defend the
pressuring of these two knights.} 33. Rxb5 Nf4+ 34. Kf1 Ng4 {Whoa...I like
black's position here.} 35. Rd8+ Kf7 36. Rb7+ Kg6 37. Be4+ Kh5 38. Rb1 {Forced}
({IF} 38. Rxg7 Rc1+ {mate}) 38... Nxh2+ 39. Kg1 Ng4 40. Rd2 Kh4 {Here comes
the mighty royalty...} 41. Rf1 Kg3 42. Kh1 g5 {Black is winning...} 43. Rg1+
Kh4 44. Re1 h5 45. Kg1 Kg3 46. Rc2 Nh3+ {White resigned due to if 47. Kf1 then
simply 47...Ne3 ch.; very nice game by the current World Champ Ding Liren.
This game has so much energy and firepower. White generously sacrificed pawns
but were not sufficient to create an advantageous position. In the endgame, it
was already clear that black will be victorious because of pawn superiority
and threats from the pair of knights. Thank you for your support and God Bless
you all. Keep safe always...} 0-1