[Event "GCT Superbet Romania 2022"] [Site "Bucharest"] [Date "2022.05.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E48"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2770"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "104"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [TimeControl "60"] {[%evp 11,104,12,0,-8,-8,0,0,0,0,0,14,6,16,-4,31,27,39,49,36,35,40,0,0,0,0,0,0,10,42,18,25,24,25,25,38,26,21,21,50,34,70,70,70,70,68,60,75,70,70,63,53,53,56,70,70,65,63,60,60,63,58,62,77,78,78,78,114,0,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,78,67,70,63,63,57,56,56,132,130,144,142,190,198,29993] We will study the theory behind 12. Nf4 move based on Super GM Wesley So's opening preparation.} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:12] The Nimzo-Indian defense.} 4. e3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:12]} 5. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:24]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 7. a3 {[%emt 0:00:06] E48: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein: 5 Bd3 d5 including 6 Ne2, but excluding 6 a3.} Bd6 {[%emt 0:03:00]} 8. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 9. Nge2 {[%emt 0:00:13] The position is equal.} Re8 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:00:21]} b6 {[%emt 0:01:00][%CAl Yb7b6,Yb6c5,Yc5c4][%mdl 32]} 11. b4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 12. Nf4 {[%emt 0:04:01] [#] The Assignment Position} Bxf4 $146 {[%emt 0:09:51] Now, black took the knight at f4, created an isolated pawn at d4 and a double pawn at white's kingside. Since, black exchanged the dark bishop, the bishop at c1 will have a chance to post via e3 to d4, once exchanges of pawns will occur. The diagonal a1 to h8 will be a force to reckon for white. That is the answer why white is offering the knight in exchange to control the dark diagonals. Since it is still in the middle game setting, white's broken pawn structure is nothing to worry about.} ({IF} 12... Bb7 13. Rb1 Nf8 14. f3 Ng6 15. Nfe2 Qe7 16. Ng3 Qd7 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Kh1 Ne7) ({Predecessor:} 12... Bb7 13. Rb1 Nf8 14. f3 Ng6 15. Nfe2 Qe7 16. Ng3 Qd7 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Kh1 Ne7 {1-0 (40) Rapport,R (2763)-Vidit,S (2727) Belgrade 2022}) 13. exf4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:02] Yes, this is white wants to exchange pawns so that the dark bishop at c1 will post at d4 via e3 to d4.} 14. dxc5 {[%emt 0:12:53]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 15. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:10:55]} ({IF} 15... d4 16. Ne4 a5 17. bxc5 Ba6 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Bb2 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 Qe7 21. h3 Qxc5 22. Qd2 Qf5 23. Bxd4) 16. Na4 {[%emt 0:10:27]} c4 {[%emt 0:10:44]} 17. Bf5 {[%emt 0:10:00] Notice the d4 square is a perfect fit for the bishop at c1, that is the theory of 12. Nf4 move.} a5 {[%emt 0:11:06]} 18. Be3 {[%emt 0:08:47]} axb4 {[%emt 0:03:38]} 19. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:02:12]} 20. Rab1 {[%emt 0:04:01]} g6 {[%emt 0:02:52]} 21. Bxd7 {[%emt 0:10:54]} Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:48]} (21... Qxd7 22. Nb6 Qe6 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Qb2) (21... Qxd7 $2 22. Nb6 Qe6 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Bd4 $18) 22. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:27][%CAl Ya4c3,Yc3b5,Yb5d4][%mdl 32] Suddenly white is enjoying a very obvious advantage on dark diagonal.} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:01][%CAl Yd7f6,Yf6h5,Yh5g7,Yg7f5][%mdl 32]} 23. Bd4 {[%emt 0:11:28] Success!!!} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 24. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:58]} f6 {[%emt 0:09:14]} ({IF} 24... Qh4 25. g3 Qg4 26. Rf1 Qf3) ({IF} 24... Qh4 {with more complications.} 25. g3 Qg4 26. Rf1 Qf3) 25. h3 {[%emt 0:02:50]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:02:54]} 26. Bc5 {[%emt 0:01:31]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 27. Nb5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:24] Against Ra3} ({IF} 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Ra1 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 Bb7) ({Don't go for} 27. Nxd5 $2 Bxd5 28. Ra1 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 Qb7 $19) 27... Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 28. Nd4 {[%emt 0:01:05]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 29. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 30. Rxe8 {[%emt 0:05:47]} Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 31. Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:04:00]} 32. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:42]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 33. Rxe8 {[%emt 0:00:43]} Qxe8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Nxf5 {[%emt 0:00:05] Fantastic white position has arisen, the dark diagonal will be white's trojan horse towards black's kingdom.} gxf5 $14 {[%emt 0:00:02][%mdl 4096] Endgame KQB-KQB} 35. Bd4 {[%emt 0:03:30]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:08:19]} 36. f3 {[%emt 0:02:53] To control the e4 square and block the power of the bishop at c6 as well.} h5 {[%emt 0:01:23]} 37. Qf2 {[%emt 0:01:54] Plans to go to h4 to pressure the f6 and h5 pawns.} Qf8 {[%emt 0:04:27]} 38. Qb2 {[%emt 0:05:00]} Qb8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 39. Qd2 {[%emt 0:01:10]} ({IF} 39. Bxf6 Qxf4 40. Bh8) ({IF} 39. Bxf6 $16 {aiming for Bh8.} Qxf4 40. Bh8) 39... Kg6 {[%emt 0:01:40]} ({IF} 39... Qe8) (39... Qe8 $1 $11) 40. Qe3 $16 {[%emt 0:00:00] [#] Hoping for Qe6.} Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:00] Against Qe6+} 41. Bc3 {[%emt 0:01:35]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:06:44]} 42. Kh2 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 43. Kg3 {[%emt 0:03:33] Now, the King must help to pressure the h5 pawn.} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 44. Kh4 {[%emt 0:00:59] Nicely posted King.} Bb5 {[%emt 0:05:07]} 45. Qd4 {[%emt 0:04:35]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 46. Qd2 {[%emt 0:03:52]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 47. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:16] At first glance, it looks like nothing is improving.} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 48. g3 {[%emt 0:04:09] Yes, now white Queen has plans to penetrate the e file.} Be8 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 49. Qb2 {[%emt 0:01:38]} Qc6 {[%emt 0:01:25]} (49... Bb5) ({Black should try} 49... Bb5 $14) 50. Qa3 {[%emt 0:00:20][%CAl Yb4b5] Strongly threatening b5! White is more active.} Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 51. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:28] White wants to mate with Qe6.} Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:15] [#] Prevents Qe6.} (51... Kf7 $16 {is a better defense.}) 52. b5 $1 $18 {[%emt 0:01:26] b6 is the strong threat. Very timely move...} Qxb5 $2 {[%emt 0:18:43] Black resigned due to move 53. Qe6 if 53... Qc6 then 54. Qg8 ch. 54...Kh6 then 55. g4 fg4 56. hg4 56...hg4 57. fg4 and wins. Awesome game by Super GM Wesley So. Lovely strategy to undermine the a1 to h8 diagonal. The theory behind 12. Nf4 is revealed. I hope you learned something and enjoyed it. Thank you for your support, and God Bless You all...} (52... Kf7 53. b6 (53. Kxh5 Kf8+) 53... Qd8) (52... Qf7 $18) 1-0