[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"] [Site "Baku"] [Date "2023.08.24"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Abasov, Nijat"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [BlackElo "2646"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "1500+10"] {[%evp 16,57,29,12,104,94,126,47,33,24,62,74,77,64,234,234,259,209,210,206,337, 344,333,331,328,330,315,320,461,450,773,761,744,729,721,720,799,797,1440,1372, 1249,769,29980,29981] The Rossolimo 3. Bb5 has been used as a special weapon by some Super GMs, especially Fabiano Caruana. The result of the game is wild, full of tactical threats and unpredictable moves. Let's find out.} 1. e4 { [%emt 0:00:03]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:01] } 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nge7 { [%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 6. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 7. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. d4 { [%emt 0:00:18]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:02: 03] B30: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5, lines without ...g6.} (9... cxd4 $11 10. Nxd4 Bd7) 10. Bg5 $1 $16 {[%emt 0:00:53]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:02] THE ASSIGNMENT: The bishop at g5 needs to be posted at the best square which is f4. Black has no intention to castle, white must pressure the center and find a way to check the king at h5.} 11. Bf4 $146 {[%emt 0:00:18]} (11. d5 $1 $16) ({Predecessor:} 11. h3 fxg5 12. d5 Nb4 13. hxg4 Be7 14. c4 a5 15. a3 Na6 16. Nc3 Nc7 17. Ne4 Ra6 18. Qc2 O-O 19. Rad1 exd5 20. cxd5 Rh6 21. d6 Bxd6 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23. Ne5 Qe7 24. Nxd6 {1-0 Ahmels,V (2219)-Richter,M (2188) Oberliga Nord N 1516 2015 (1.8)} ) 11... cxd4 $14 {[%emt 0:00:24] White is slightly better.} 12. h3 {[%emt 0:00: 30]} Nh6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 13. Bxh6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} gxh6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 14. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:01:52]} b5 $2 {[%emt 0:04:03] Wards off Bc4. This move loses the game for Black.} ({Better is} 14... Be7 $14) 15. a4 $18 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Rb8 { [%emt 0:00:01]} 16. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 17. Nb3 { [%emt 0:03:37]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:02] [#]} (17... Qd5 $142 18. Nbxd4 Kf7 19. Nxc6 Qxc6) 18. Nfxd4 $1 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:38] [#]} 19. Qh5+ $1 { [%emt 0:00:47]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} (19... Ke7 $2 20. Red1 Qe8 21. Qg4 $18 ( 21. Qxh6 Nf5 $17) (21. Qxe8+ Rxe8 22. Nxd4 Bb7 $16)) 20. Red1 {[%emt 0:01:27]} (20. Ra7 Bb7 21. Qxh6+ Kf7 22. Qh5+ Kf8 23. Nxd4 Qxd4 $11) 20... e5 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 21. c3 {[%emt 0:00:06][%CAl Yc2c3,Yc3d4][%mdl 32]} (21. Qxh6+ Kf7 $18) (21. Ra7 Bb7 $18) 21... Bd6 {[%emt 0:02:58]} (21... Rg8 {might work better.} 22. Qxh6+ Rg7 23. cxb4 Qd6 24. Nxd4 (24. Ra7 Bb7 $18) 24... exd4) 22. cxd4 { [%emt 0:00:02]} ({Less strong is} 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 $18) 22... e4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} (22... Qe7 $142 23. dxe5 Bxe5 24. Qxh6+ Kf7) 23. Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:40][%csl Ga7] [%CAl Rh5f7]} ({Weaker is} 23. Bxb5 Qe7 24. Na5 (24. Qxh6+ Qg7 $18) 24... Qf7 25. Qxh6+ Qg7 26. Qxg7+ (26. Qh5 Rxb5 {[%mdl 64] Deflection} 27. Qxb5 Bxh3 $11) 26... Kxg7 $18) 23... Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:01] Inhibits Qf7+.} 24. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00: 08]} Bxb7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 25. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:03] And now Ne6+ would win.} Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:17] Prevents Ne6+.} 26. Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} (26. Qxd5 $2 { too greedy.} Bh2+ 27. Kxh2 Qxd5 $19) 26... Qa8 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 27. Nd7+ { [%emt 0:01:09]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 28. Qxh6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00: 22]} 29. Qg7+ {[%emt 0:00:07] Artfully played by Super GM Caruana. There is no better way to play against an aggressive player like Super GM Abasov but to sense every threat and repel it with counter offense. Lovely game...} 1-0