[Event "Moscow Aeroflot op-A"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2007.02.14"] [Round "1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2587"] [BlackElo "2673"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2007.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 {The Center Game.} exd4 ({If} 2... Nc6 {This move converts to several transpositions such as Scotch, Nimzowitsch and Ruy Lopez}) 3. Qxd4 ({ Other moves are:} 3. Nf3) (3. c3) 3... Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Qg3 {Best square for the queen.} Rxe4 9. a3 Bd6 10. f4 Re8 { It seems like black is ok in this position but later, white dictates the tempo of the game.} 11. Bd3 Bf8 12. Nf3 d6 {This is different line than the normal 12...d5.} 13. f5 {This pawn move to f5 restricts the movement of the bishop at c8 and also to place the bishop (d2) at g5 square pinning the knight at f6.} d5 {Now, black moves d5 to take the bishop to d6 square.} 14. Rhe1 Rxe1 15. Rxe1 { White's position is preferred due to black being congested, difficult to coordinate pieces.} d4 16. Nb5 {The c7 pawn is the threat, let's see if black can defend it.} a6 ({If} 16... Ne8 17. Rxe8 Qxe8 18. Nxc7 Qd8 19. Nxa8 Bd7 20. Qc7) 17. Nxc7 Bd6 18. Bf4 Bxf4+ ({If} 18... Nh5 19. Qh4 Qxh4 20. Re8+ Bf8 21. Nxh4 Nxf4 22. Nxa8) 19. Qxf4 Ra7 20. g4 h6 21. g5 hxg5 22. Qxg5 {The knight at c7 is free but why?} Qxc7 23. Rg1 Ne8 24. Re1 Nf6 ({If} 24... Qd7 25. Nh4 Nf6 26. Rg1 Ne8) 25. Rg1 {Yes, black is forced to defend the g7 pawn via knight e8, therefore it is a draw.} Ne8 26. Re1 Nf6 {Black can not prevent the repetition of moves that resulted in a draw. Playing the 12...d6 line is much quieter and defensive for black. Still a good lesson to learn where two very strong GMs played it. Thanks GM Ian and GM Pentala for this instructive game...cheers.} 1/2-1/2