[Event "FIDE Candidates 2024"] [White "Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi"] [Black "Praggnanandhaa,Rameshbabu"] [Site "Toronto CAN"] [Round "3.4"] [Annotator "Papp,Petra"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.04.06"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2747"] [PlyCount "90"] {[%evp 0,90,27,27,25,20,22,13,8,-2,17,-16,-12,12,8,30,88,88,64,60,120,101,265,51,151,165,162,79,34,-4,-1,-12,1,-18,80,69,8,5,5,5,128,19,44,1,-6,-44,-17,-67,-17,-69,-78,-51,-11,-79,-55,-35,7,-41,-104,-97,-93,-124,-124,-87,-78,-116,-116,-128,-128,-383,-270,-273,-273,-319,-254,-260,-210,-180,-178,-185,-190,-177,-200,-213,-203,-212,-181,-181,-190,-207,-192,-199,-199]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 f5 $5 {An extremely brave decision for such a big tournament. Its surprise factor stood as the main point for Pragg.} 5. d4 $1 {Of course! This is the most principled continuation.} (5. exf5 $6 e4 $1 $36 {Is just perfect for black.} )exd4 $1 {The correct capture!} (5... fxe4 $6 { The other line, but it's pretty worse.} 6. Nxe5 $1 Nf6 7. O-O Bd6 8. f4 $16 { White has a clear edge.} )6. e5 $1 {The critical move! The e5 pawn makes problem for Black so he needs to find some accurate way to develop.} ({Here again taking on f5 does not work out well for White.} 6. exf5 $6 b5 7. Bb3 Qe7+ $1 {This really creates problems for White.} 8. Kf1 (8. Qe2 Bb7 $1 9. Bg5 Nf6 10. Bxf6 (10. Nbd2 O-O-O 11. Qxe7 Nxe7 12. Ne5 Nxf5 $17 13. Nf7 Re8+ 14. Kd1 Rg8 $19 {Rabatin-Biolek, Czech Republic 2010} )gxf6 11. Bd5 O-O-O 12. Qxe7 Nxe7 13. Bxb7+ Kxb7 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nf3 Nxf5 $15 {Tahay-Vaibhav, Barcelona 2022} )Bb7 $1 9. a4 (9. c3 {(Manik-Vojtek, Tatranske Zruby 2016) } Ne5 $1 10. Nxd4 (10. Bg5 {Starting point of a funny line.} Bxf3 $1 11. Bxe7 Bxd1 12. Bxf8 Bxb3 13. Bxg7 Bc4+ 14. Kg1 Nf7 $1 $36 )c5 11. Ne2 Nf6 $15 )b4 10. Nxd4 $6 {(Burke-Theodorou, Chess.com 2021)} Qd6 $5 11. c3 Nge7 $36 )(6. Nxd4 {A natural recapture, however black has an easy way to equalise.} Nxd4 $1 7. Qxd4 c5 $1 {A very strong move. Black intents to trap the bishop with b7-b5, c5-c4, so the queen trade is force here.} 8. Qe5+ Qe7 $1 9. Qxe7+ Bxe7 10. c4 (10. Bb3 d6 $11 )fxe4 11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Bf4 (12. O-O b6 $5 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Bc2 O-O-O $1 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 Bf6 $36 {Hawkes-Nunn, London 1984} )O-O 13. O-O-O b5 $5 {A nice pawn sacrifice.} 14. cxb5 d5 $36 )b5 $1 (6... Bc5 $6 {The most popular move which seems logical, however, thanks to the strong engines this line is just refuted.} 7. O-O Nge7 8. c3 $1 {A usual pawn sacrifice.} dxc3 9. Nxc3 $1 O-O (9... d5 10. Bg5 $1 $16 )10. Nd5 $1 $16 {White has wonderful pressure!} )7. Bb3 Na5 $1 {Immediately atatcking the bishop is the strongest. It prevents the unpleasant a2-a4 line.} (7... Bb7 {It was considering as the main move, but again engine gives a great idea with a big advantage for white.} 8. a4 $1 {A powerful move. The sense is clear, attacking the b5 pawn also gives a place for the bishop on a2.} Na5 9. Ba2 $1 c5 10. O-O Qb6 {Black has 3 loses in this position.} (10... Ne7 { (Sokolovsky-Kozak, Teplice 2022)} 11. e6 $1 $16 )11. c3 $1 (11. Na3 $5 $36 )Ne7 {(David-Raahul, Vandoeuvre les Nancy 2024)} (11... Qc6 12. cxd4 c4 13. Bd2 $1 Qb6 14. b4 $1 Nc6 15. d5 $18 {Huff-Cuccumini, ICCF email 2023} )12. b4 $1 cxb4 13. cxb4 Nc4 14. Na3 $5 $16 )8. Nxd4 {The most natural move which was played after 20 minutes thoughts.} (8. Qxd4 $5 {This never happened, but of course it's a rather logical move, also suggested by GM Cheparinov in his course on the Ruy Lopez. I give the main line of the engine which he gives some small advantage for White, but there are plenty of new ideas which you can try out in your games. :)} Bb7 9. Bd5 $1 (9. Bxg8 Rxg8 10. Nc3 Bxf3 $1 { This is the point, why including Bd5 c6 is more favorable for white.} 11. gxf3 Nc6 $1 12. Qd5 Ne7 13. Qd3 d6 $1 $132 )c6 10. Bxg8 Rxg8 11. Nc3 c5 12. Qd3 {Cheparinov finishes his analysis here, but I think if Black knows some more accurate lines, he is still fighting and the position is pretty double edged.} Qb6 $1 13. Be3 h6 14. Nd5 Qc6 15. O-O-O Qxd5 16. Qxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Rc8 18. Rhd1 g5 $5 19. g3 Rc7 20. Nd2 Be7 21. f4 $14 )(8. O-O Bb7 $5 {This will just transpose to the game.} (8... Nxb3 9. axb3 Bb7 10. Qxd4 Qe7 $5 11. Rd1 Qe6 $1 12. Nc3 Ne7 $1 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxe7 Bxe7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 Qxd5 17. Rxd5 c6 18. Rd3 a5 $1 19. c3 $14 )9. Nxd4 {- 8.Nxd4} (9. Bxg8 $6 Rxg8 10. Nxd4 Qe7 $5 11. Nxf5 Qe6 12. Nd4 Qg6 13. Nf3 O-O-O $36 {Rodin-Theodorou, Tornelo INT 2020} ))Bb7 9. Nxf5 $6 {Of course the most logical move which was played in the game almost immediately, but Black has a great resource which was still a prep of Pragg.} (9. O-O c5 $1 10. Nxf5 c4 {A really exciting position. Without a deep preparation I don't recommend to anyway to come here. There are plenty of interesting and important tactical lines which both players should be aware of it.} 11. a4 $3 {Pretty unbelivable move, which is still a novelty!} (11. Nc3 Qb6 $1 {A typical saving move.} 12. Re1 (12. Be3 $6 Qg6 13. Ng3 Ne7 14. Qd2 Nf5 $17 {Suyarov-Nigmatov,Tashkent 2024} )Qg6 $1 $132 )(11. Qg4 Qb6 $3 { Only but good enough! It's prepares 0-0-0 also Qg6 or Qe6 in some moment.} 12. Nxg7+ (12. Re1 $2 {It's just slow.} O-O-O $1 13. Bg5 Re8 14. Nd2 Nh6 15. Nxh6 gxh6 16. Bf6 Bc5 $1 17. Bxh8 Bxf2+ 18. Kh1 Bxe1 19. Rxe1 Rxh8 $19 { Kamalidenova-Puranik, Sharjah 2022} )(12. e6 $2 {(Ayush-Nigmatov, Baku 2023)} Qxe6 $1 $19 {[%cal Gg8f6,Ge8c8]} )(12. Bg5 $6 Qe6 $1 13. Bd2 Nc6 $1 14. Nxg7+ Bxg7 15. Qxg7 {(Konguvel-Ganguly, Pune 2023)} O-O-O $1 16. Qxh8 Nxe5 $1 {[%cal Re6g6,Rg8f6] } 17. Qxh7 Nf6 18. Qh4 Nf3+ $1 19. gxf3 Qd5 $19 {[%cal Gd8g8,Gd5f3]} )Bxg7 13. Qxg7 Qg6 $1 {A strong counterattack!} 14. Qxg6+ (14. Qxh8 $4 Qxg2# )hxg6 15. Bd2 Nc6 $1 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Na3 { (Gretarsson-Domalchuk Jonasson, Mosfellsbaer 2024)} Nd4 $1 18. Nxc4 Bc6 $5 $132 )(11. Re1 $5 {A logical one, preparing Nd6+.} Qb6 $1 12. Nd6+ (12. Be3 $6 Qg6 $1 13. Nh4 {(Mohammad Fahad-Kuybokarov, Chess.com 2020)} Qe6 $17 )Bxd6 13. Qh5+ (13. exd6+ Kf8 $1 14. Nc3 {(Padmini-Koustav, Novi Sad 2022)} Qc5 $1 $132 {[%cal Yc5f5,Yg8f6]} )Kd8 $1 14. exd6 Nf6 15. Qg5 $1 (15. Bg5 $6 Kc8 16. Qh3 Ne4 17. Be3 Qxd6 {And black is totally safe!} 18. f3 Nf6 $17 {Albornoz Cabrera-Ganguly, Havana 2022} )Kc8 $1 16. Nc3 Rg8 $5 $13 )cxb3 12. axb5 Qb6 13. Nc3 Qe6 $1 14. Qd3 Nc4 $1 {In time the knight is coming back to the game.} 15. bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rxa6 Bxa6 17. Nd4 Qb6 $13 )(9. Nc3 $5 {A great novelty which we can expect to play in any day. :)} Nxb3 (9... c5 $2 {A big mistake. It's allows a nice way for white to gain big advantage.} 10. Nxf5 c4 11. Qg4 $3 {Wow! The threat is Nxg7 also Bg5.} g6 (11... cxb3 12. Nxg7+ Kf7 13. Nf5 $18 )12. Bg5 $1 Qc7 (12... gxf5 13. Qh5# $1 )13. Nd6+ $1 Bxd6 14. exd6 Qc5 15. O-O-O $18 )10. cxb3 $1 {From this point I just give the top engine recommendation. In the end white has some advantage, but till that moment is hard to reach also there are plenty of branches.} Qe7 {[%cal Ye7e5] Interesting manouvre. The queen is going to g6!} 11. O-O Qf7 {[%cal Yg8e7,Yf8c5]} 12. Re1 $1 Qg6 {[%csl Rg2]} 13. Nf3 Bb4 14. a4 $1 Ne7 15. Bg5 $1 O-O 16. Bxe7 Bxe7 17. Nd5 Bd8 $1 18. Rc1 Qf7 19. Rc5 h6 $1 $13 )Nxb3 10. axb3 d6 $1 {This is exactly such a line where Black cannot afford a single mistake.} (10... g6 $2 11. O-O $18 {Rakotomaharo-Christiansen, Paleochora 2021} )11. Qe2 {An ambitious plan which took again 20 minutes of Vidit.} (11. O-O dxe5 12. Nc3 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 h6 $5 $11 {the endgame is equal.} )(11. exd6 Qd7 $1 {What a nice point! Attacks the knight and prepares 0-0-0.} 12. Ne3 $6 (12. Qd3 g6 $1 13. Ng3 O-O-O $132 )Bxd6 13. Nd2 O-O-O $17 {Ernst-Muntean, Karlstad 2023} )Qd7 $1 12. e6 {Committal decision, the e6 pawn can easily became a weakness if not getting enough back up, though after} (12. exd6+ Kf7 $1 13. Ne3 Bxd6 14. O-O Nf6 15. c4 Rhe8 $132 {Black has absolutely no problem.} )Qc6 $1 13. Bg5 ({The engine supports} 13. f3 $5 Ne7 14. Ng3 g6 15. O-O Bg7 16. c4 $132 {with mutual chances.} )g6 14. Ne3 h6 15. Bf4 {From this moment the strategical battle revolves primarily around the d5 square, with both sides trying to take control over it.} (15. Bh4 $1 Qe4 $1 16. Bg3 O-O-O $132 )Ne7 $1 {Controls the important d5 square.} 16. c4 b4 $1 {Limiting the b1 knight's movement.} 17. Qg4 Qc5 $1 $15 {If Black was planning to castle long, now is a good time for it. Funnily and rarely enough, both sides have the options of castling short and long depending on the lines!} (17... O-O-O $5 18. Nd2 Bg7 {and now White could also try} 19. O-O-O $5 Qc5 20. Nc2 Qxf2 21. Nf3 Rhf8 22. Rhf1 Qc5 $15 )18. O-O Bg7 19. Nd2 O-O-O $2 {But here this gives a nice tactical option to White, and it was neccesary to castle short.} (19... O-O $1 20. Nf3 Rae8 21. Rad1 Qh5 $1 {We may observe this thematic idea in many variations.} 22. Qxh5 gxh5 23. Bg3 Bxb2 $15 )20. h4 $2 {A fine precautious move, but White has the perfect opportunity to change the character of the game and grab the initiative with} (20. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 21. e7+ Rd7 22. Ne4 $3 { A nice intermezzo!} Nf6 $1 23. Nxf6 Bxf6 24. Rfe1 $1 Bxe7 (24... Re8 25. Qxg6 $18 )25. Rxe7 Qf5 26. Qxf5 gxf5 27. Re3 $16 {and in this endgame it's already Black fighting for the draw.} )Rde8 21. Rad1 Bxb2 22. Nd5 {This jump is far less powerful than it would have been two moves ago.} ({A better practical option would be} 22. Rfe1 $5 {after which Black has to find really unnatural maneuvers to keep the advantage.} Bd4 $1 23. Ndf1 Bc3 24. Re2 g5 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Qxg5 Rh5 $1 27. Qxc5 Rxc5 $15 )Nxd5 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. e7+ $2 { This check is wrong, the white pawn gets more vulnerable on e7!} ({After} 24. Rfe1 Bc3 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 {Black would keep some initiative just after the precise} Qh5 $1 27. Qxh5 gxh5 $15 )Kb8 25. Be3 (25. Rfe1 Rh7 $1 $19 { Further attacking the e7.} )Qb5 26. Nc4 Bc3 27. Bd4 {After such a complicated first part of the game it is no wonder that mutual time trouble has emerged and had dramatic influence on the subsequent play.} Rhg8 {Quite a solid option, but more active and better would have been} (27... Rh7 $1 $17 )28. Bxc3 bxc3 29. Qd4 {A natural centralizating move, but better would have been the tricky maneuvre with} (29. Na3 $1 Qb7 30. Rd4 $1 c5 31. Rd3 $132 { and White gets enough counterplay.} )Bb7 ({More precise would be} 29... Ba8 $5 $17 {and the bishop will not be under attack.} )30. Qxc3 Rxe7 ({The engine shows a small improvement with} 30... g5 $5 31. h5 Rxe7 32. Na5 Re4 $15 {keeping some advantage.} )31. Na5 Re5 32. b4 $2 {Decisive mistake! White is losing time and doesn't substantially improve his position with that advance. Instead after} (32. Nxb7 Qxb7 33. Rd4 {the b4 square could be used for counterplay, White still has very good chances to save the game.} )g5 ({ The "monster" bishop could also be kept on the bord via} 32... Ba8 $5 )33. h5 ({More stubborn would have been} 33. Nxb7 Qxb7 34. Qc4 )g4 {Now it is Black who is hunting the opponent's king!} 34. Rfe1 g3 35. Nxb7 gxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Qxb7 37. Qf3 Reg5 38. Qxb7+ Kxb7 $19 {The endgame is lost as Black has both material and positional advantage.} 39. g4 Rxg4 40. Re6 Rh4 41. Rxh6 Rg5 42. Rh7 Rhxh5 43. Rd7 Kc8 44. Re7 Re5 45. Rg7 Rhf5+ 0-1