[Event "Riga"] [Site "Riga"] [Date "2021.10.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Bjerre, Jonas Buhl"] [Black "Adhiban, B..."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteElo "2569"] [BlackElo "2672"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 a6 7. Qd2 e6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Kb1 Qb6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. f5 h5 ({More common is} 13... b4 14. Ne2 e5) 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Qf4 Be7 16. g3 Qc5 17. Bh3 Bd7 18. Ne2 Kf7 19. Qd2 h4 $146 (19... Rac8 20. Rhf1 Rc7 21. Nd4 Rg8 22. Rf3 Qg5 23. Qd3 Qe5 24. Rf2 Rc4 {Sankalp,G (2359)-Dai,C (2480) Xingtai 2019}) 20. Nf4 Rag8 21. Rdf1 Bc8 22. Qe1 hxg3 23. hxg3 Qg5 24. Rh2 Rh6 25. Rfh1 Rgh8 26. Qc3 $5 {Not the only way but a pretty one.} e5 27. Qxc8 $1 {The point.} Rxc8 28. Be6+ Kg7 29. Rxh6 Qxh6 (29... exf4 {leads to mate:} 30. Rh7+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. R1h7+ Kg6 33. Bf7#) 30. Rxh6 Kxh6 31. Bxc8 exf4 32. gxf4 a5 33. c3 { Bjerre correctly evaluated this position as winning.} d5 (33... Kg6 34. Be6 $1) 34. exd5 Bd6 35. Bd7 b4 36. Kc2 Bxf4 37. Kb3 bxc3 38. bxc3 Kg7 39. c4 Be3 40. Ka4 Kf7 41. Kb5 Ke7 42. Kc6 Ba7 43. d6+ Kd8 44. Bf5 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2021.10.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Najer, Evgeniy"] [Black "Saric, Ivan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "2654"] [BlackElo "2644"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {Ke6 Rg8 Rxa2+ Kd3 Rf2 Ke3 Rf1 Rxg6 Grand battle $1} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 Be6 9. Nd5 Nbd7 10. Qd3 {There was a burst of popularity in this line four years back. Even the world champion gave it a try in a couple of games.} Bxd5 {The most natural choice and the main line.} ({Vachier-Lagrave chose instead:} 10... O-O {Against the world champion. Then:} 11. O-O Bxd5 12. exd5 Ne8 13. a4 Bg5 14. a5 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Nef6 16. c4 {and eventually held in Carlsen,M (2838)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2803) Karlsruhe/ Baden-Baden 2017}) 11. exd5 Rc8 12. O-O-O {Sacrificing a pawn.} ({Another recent game saw:} 12. c4 O-O 13. O-O Ne8 14. Qd2 b6 15. Rac1 a5 16. Na1 f5 17. f3 f4 18. Bf2 Bh4 {and with the swap of the dark-squared bishop, Black hardly had anything to complain about, Georgiadis,N (2526) -Mamedyarov,S (2801) Biel 2018}) 12... Nb6 13. Kb1 O-O {Which Saric decided to reject.} ({After:} 13... Nbxd5 {White can develop his initiative with:} 14. Bd2 Qc7 15. g4) (13... Nfxd5 {Looks somewhat better with White developing his initiative in a similar fashion:} 14. Bd2 {It is important to keep this bishop alive.} Qc7 15. g4 ({Or:} 15. Rhe1)) 14. Bf3 Nc4 15. Bc1 {[#] (} e4 {c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4} 16. Nd4 {Nf6 Nc3 a6 Be2 e5 Nb3 Be7 Be3 Be6} Nxd5 $146 {Nbd7 Qd3 There was a burst of popularity in this line four years back. Even the world champion gave it a try in a couple of games. Bxd5 The most natural choice and the main line.} ({Vachier-Lagrave chose instead: O-O Against the world champion. Then: O-O Bxd5 exd5} 16... Ne8 17. a4 Bg5 18. a5 Be3 19. Qxe3 Nf6 { c4 and eventually held in Carlsen,M (2838)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2803) Karlsruhe/ Baden-Baden 2017}) ({exd5 Rc8 O-O-O Sacrificing a pawn. Another recent game saw: c4 O-O O-O} 16... Ne8 17. Qd2 b6 {Rac1 a5 Na1 f5 f3 f4 Bf2 Bh4 and with the swap of the dark-squared bishop, Black hardly had anything to complain about, Georgiadis,$146 (2526)-Mamedyarov,S (2801) Biel 2018}) ({Nb6 Kb1 O-O Which Saric decided to reject. After: Nbxd5 White can develop his initiative with: Bd2} 16... Qc7 17. g4) (16... Nxd5 {Looks somewhat better with White developing his initiative in a similar fashion:} 17. Bd2 {It is important to keep this bishop alive.} Qc7 18. g4 ({Or:} 18. Rhe1)) ({Bf3 Nc4 Bc1 Qd7 The predecessors were a couple of games of Lobanov, which Najer apparently studied and liked:} 16... Nd7 17. Bxe4 ({And:} 17. h4 f5 18. Be2 a5 19. g4 a4 {Nd2 e4} 20. Qh3 Nd2+ 21. Bxd2 Bf6 22. gxf5 Qb6 23. Qa3 {Qxf2 Bb5} Ne5 {with irrational position where White seems better, Lobanov,S (2435)-Tran,T (2538) Tarvisio 2017 }) 17... g6 18. g4 Bh4 19. Rdg1 Nf6 20. f3 b5 21. Rg2 a5 {Nd2} 22. Bg5 { h4 Bxd2 Bxd2} Nd2+ 23. Rxd2 Rc4 {Lobanov,S (2435)-Sarana,A (2543) Tarvisio 2017 }) 17. h3 $1 {Preparing not only g2-g4, but often threatening with Bf3-g4 $1 Qa4 This stops the latter and creates a threat in return.} ({After: Bd8 White can opt for:} 17. Bg4 $5 {Or the direct: g4 Nxg4 hxg4} f5 18. Qh3 {with kingside initiative.}) ({Rhe1 Najer is aware of the danger. The simple-hearted: } 17. g4 $1 {would have turned into a disaster due to: e4 Bxe4 Nxe4 Qxe4} Na3+) ({Bd8 Rfe8} 17. g4 {would likely transpose into the game.}) {g4 Next White's attack developed much more convincingly. After all, his pieces are not standing on the road of his pawns.} 17... Re8 18. Bxe4 $1 g6 $5 ({Or: Nxe4 Rxe4 Qb5 h4 When:} 18... Bh4 {g5 Bxf2 Rf1 risks too much for Black.}) 19. f3 $3 {Nd7 h4 A purely positional pawn sacrifice. For the material Najer will build an attacking blockade.} ({The alternative was quite tempting too: g5 Looks good for White as well as he is not parting with material. Any opening of the kingside seems extremely risky for Black, e.g.: f5 gxf6 Nxf6} 19. Bxg6 $1 { h4 also looks good.} hxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 $3 {Re4 The rook is immune, but somehow Black can still defend with: Rc7 Rh4+ Nh7 Although White's attack runs strong with: Rg4}) 19... Bh4 $1 {Rg1 Another neat move. Bf6 Rh1 There is no rush, just pure smothering power.} ({Otherwise, the bishop might be reactivated with: Rh1 Bg3 Rather than:} 19... g5 {Bg7 Rg4 which loses control of the position after: f5 gxf6 Nxf6}) ({Bg7 Rh3 Nf8 Rdh1 Only the queen is left to join the kingside attack and is ready to follow with Qd3-e2-h2. Thus, Saric tries to prevent this with: Qb5 Now comes another fabulous decision by the former European champion: Both:} 19... Rc7) ({Are preferred by the machine, although these two moves should not change the assessment of the position as highly favorable for White.} 19... Qd7) ({Nd2 That is a much better version of the: Qf1 Nb6 trade. Nb6 Black does not have much of a choice. The line:} 19... Nd2+ 20. Qxd2 Qd7 {Qh2 Illustrates the dangers that await Black on the kingside: b5 Rxh7 Nxh7 Qxh7+ Kf8 Bh6 Bxh6} 21. Qh6 {Ke7 Qg5+ and wins.}) ({ Qxb5 axb5 Nf1 White simply follows his plan. However, it seems as: c3 might have been more accurate when:} 19... Rc5 {Can be met with: Whereas: Nfd7 (see below) does not inspire due to: Rxh7 Nf6 R7h2 Nfxd5 Bxd5 Nxd5 Ne4 Rc6 Rd1 with White's edge.} 20. Nb3) ({Red8 Here the hidden resource: Nfd7 Rxh7} 19... Nf6 { R7h2 Nbxd5 Could have solved many of the Black problems. True, White is still gaining more than enough for the pawn with: Ng3}) 20. Bg5 $3 {Rd7 b3 Najer wants to control everything, and this is a great thought, but the reality is slightly different.} ({Instead:} 20. a3 $5 {Rdc7 Followed by: c3 would have fixed White's edge. The pawn on b5 is doomed in the long run. Or: Ng3}) { Rdc7 Bd2 Nbd7 An important resource. The knight is back in the game. Bd3 Or: Ne3 Nc5 e4 Time to unblock $1 The black knights are starting to enjoy life again. fxe4 The better choice. Black is just fine after: Bxe4 Nf6 Nc5 Next a forced sequence: The machine prefers: Ne5 But does not say what to do after: Ne3 Nxd3 cxd3 Nd7 g5 Rxh7 Ne5 Ba5} 20... Re7 $1 {Nd2 Nxd3 cxd3 Nd7 Bb4 Nc5 Rxh7 Leads to a pawn gain for White.} ({But swapping the defender would have been even more awesome, especially with a fabulous maneuver like: Ba3} 20... Ra8 $1 {Bb2 with a clear edge for White.}) ({Nxd3 Bxd6 Rd7 Bg3 b6 Rc3 at once also makes sense. g5 Rc3 It seems as Black is out of the woods, but there comes: Nf3 That creates a concrete threat, and it is Saric's moment to be aware of the danger. Rd8 He is $1 White would have won instead after say: b4} 20... Ne5 $3 {Nxe5 Bxe5 is even easier: Bxe5 Nxe5 Rh8+ Kg7 R1h7# Rxg7+ Kxg7 Bxe5+ and wins.}) {Ne5 Nevertheless the knight inches in closer to the enemy king. Re8 The most natural move is a step in the wrong direction. Both players likely came to the conclusion that the retreat: Nc5 Is bad for Black after: Nxf7 Kxf7 However, the stone-cold computer discovery: Rd7 Would have saved Black instead: Rxg7+ Kxg7 Be5+ Kxf7 Bxc3 Nxe4 Be5 and this is indeed truth.} 21. Nc6 Rxe4 {Bd6 Nf2 This could have ended badly.} ({As dangerous as it is:} 21... f5 $1 {is Siaric's best choice. The machine holds somehow after: gxf6} 22. Bf6 {Ra7} g5) 22. Ne7+ Rxe7 23. Bxe7 {Nxh1 Rxh1} Rc7 {A sad retreat... d6 Rd7} {The pawn is unstoppable after: Rd3 d6 Be5 Kc2 Rd5 Rd1} 24. Rc1 {Be5} Rc8 {Kg7 White is winning. But the key idea is far from trivial. f7-f5 (f6) is a positional threat that might free Black. Therefore:} 25. Bf8 ({Black was not actually threatening to push the pawn as this line proves: Kc2} 25. b4 Rc6 {f5} 26. Bf6 $3 Bxf6 $3 {Rc7 and wins.}) {Kh7} 25... Be7 $1 {Kg7 Kc2 Najer is back to the right track. f5 gxf6+ No $1 Fatigue had the final word.} ({The Russian GM missed a well-deserved win with the study-like:} 25... Bf6 $3 {Bxf6 Rc7 Bxg5 Rxd7+ Kf6 Rb7}) ({Kf7 Rc6 This misses the last chance to wrap up the game. It is related to yet another unbelievable study-like concept: Rf8+ Ke6 Rg8 Bxd6 Bxd6 Rxd6 Rxg6} 25... Rc6 $3 {Kb2 Kf7 Rg4 Kxf6 Ka3 and White picks up both opponent's pawns.}) ({Ra7 The rook is out; Black is safe $1 Rc8 Or: Kb1} 25... Bf6 {Bxf6 Kxf6 d7+ Ke7 Rxg6 Rxd7 Rxb6 Rd5}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Riga"] [Site "Riga"] [Date "2021.10.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Demchenko, Anton"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C60"] [WhiteElo "2763"] [BlackElo "2651"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bc2 d6 (8... d5 9. Bg5 Nge7 10. Nc3 h6 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. e5 O-O 13. O-O Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 c5 16. dxc5 Qc7 {Grandelius,$146 (2666)-Nihal,S (2652) Malmo 2021 }) 9. h3 Nf6 10. O-O Bb7 11. a3 O-O 12. Re1 Re8 $146 (12... Na5 13. Nc3 Re8 14. d5 Nc4 15. Rb1 c5 {Valantiejus,V (2048)-Klabis,R (2333) Lithuania 2019}) 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Ne7 15. Nc3 Nh5 16. e5 Qd7 17. d5 Nf4 18. e6 fxe6 19. dxe6 Qc6 $6 ({Black's best chance was} 19... Nxe6 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 c5 {but it does look dangerous.}) 20. Re4 $1 Ned5 ({The main point was} 20... g5 21. Rxf4 $1 gxf4 22. Qd3 {with a winning attack.}) 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Rg4 Rxe6 23. Bb3 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Bxa3 25. Nd4 Qe8 26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. Qd2 h5 28. Re1 (28. Re1 Qf7 29. Bxd5 Bxd5 30. Rxg6+ $1) 1-0 [Event "Riga"] [Site "Riga"] [Date "2021.10.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Black "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A18"] [WhiteElo "2691"] [BlackElo "2617"] [Annotator "Peter,Doggers"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 b6 8. c5 $146 {An early novelty prepared by the Dutchman. He succeeded in his main goal: Ganguly used a lot of time in the opening.} (8. g3 Bb7 9. Bg2 Qd8 10. O-O Be7 11. d4 Nd7 12. a4 a5 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bf4 Re8 15. Rb1 Ra7 {Xiong,J (2710) -Shankland,S (2709) Saint Louis 2021}) 8... Bxc5 9. d4 Bd6 10. Bd3 h6 11. Be4 c6 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Rd8 14. c4 Bb7 15. Rb1 Nd7 16. Rb3 Rac8 ({Van Foreest preferred} 16... Qe7 17. Bb1 Nf8) 17. Bb2 Re8 18. c5 Bf8 19. h4 {Let's coin this a \"prophylactic attacking move.\" White can now always throw in h4-h5 after Black goes ...g7-g6.} Qd8 20. Bb1 Rc7 21. Qc2 f5 22. Rbe3 Bc8 23. Qb3 Nf6 24. Bxf5 Nd5 {The pawn is back, but how to continue $2} 25. Bb1 $1 {Simply going for the battery along the diagonal, while sacrificing the exchange.} Nxe3 26. Rxe3 Be7 27. Qc2 Bf6 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Ne5 {The attack is easy to play.} Bxe5 30. dxe5 Qxh4 31. Bg6 Bd7 32. Rd3 {With killing threats.} 1-0