[Event "2nd Goa GM Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.??.??"] [Round "3"] [White "Mchedlishvili"] [Black "Rathnakaran"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A27"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {Within only a few days of the appearance on the website of David Jenkins' queen sacrifice in the openng as Black against Phil James, this theme appeared in two grandmaster games. Surely this can't be mere coincidence? Clearly there are players at the higher levels who come here in search of fresh ideas! Wonderfully bold and imaginative play by black in this game against a much higher rated opponent.} 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nc3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:34]} f5 {10 This is an active line against the English and very much in Ratnakaran's style.} 4. g3 { [%emt 0:00:58]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 5. d4 {119} e4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Nh4 { [%emt 0:00:40]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (6... d6 {is the more popular move.}) (6... g6 {is also played.}) 7. Bg5 {334} Bb4 {537} 8. cxd5 {114 Interestingly this position has been reached 8 times. The highest rated black players has been 2313. All have captured on d5 with the queen, but Ratnakaran had different ideas!} Nxd5 $3 {689 The double exclamations are not for the objective value of the move, but for the creativity and the risk taking ability. Truth be told, even objectively this move could be pretty decent.} (8... Qxd5 {is the normal way to play.} 9. Bxf6 gxf6 {Ratnakaran didn't like that the f4 square was weakened and that his pawns were doubled.}) 9. Bxd8 {669} Nxc3 {68} 10. Qb3 { 52 The only move.} Nxe2+ $1 {618} (10... Nb5+ {was another way to play.} 11. Kd1 Nbxd4 {when we reach the same position as in the game, but white has an e2 pawn. Ratnakaran was confused between this and taking the e2 pawn (like he did in the game). Here White has the option of kicking the knight away at any point with e3, while in the other case, the bishop on f1 is activated without any effort. Not an easy choice, but Ratnakaran went for the material and stability of the d4 square.}) 11. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} (11. Kxe2 Nxd4+ $19) 11... Nexd4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:37]} (12. Qa4 {was another possibility.} Kxd8 {leads to an interesting position. The queen here on a4 is not as well placed as it was on e3 and hence this move is possible.}) 12... Be6 $1 {531 What a brilliant move. You have just sacrificed a queen for a piece, you are getting another piece. Although two pieces are insufficient, still taking the piece is the first move that comes to your mind. Instead, Ratnakaran just goes for aggressive development.} (12... Kxd8 13. Qg5+ { and somehow Black doesn't have the same coordination that he had.}) 13. Bg5 {84 } (13. Bxc7 Rc8 14. Bf4 O-O {This is what Ratnakaran had planned. Next the rook comes to d8 and it is all over!}) 13... h6 {529} 14. Bf6 $5 {It was now Mchedlishvili's turn to be creative. He was clearly unhappy with the developments and he didn't want his opponent to just play 0-0-0 without any effort and hence he decided to sacrifice his bishop in a very unique way!} (14. Ng6 hxg5 15. Nxh8 O-O-O {is not what you want as White.}) 14... gxf6 {84} 15. Kc1 {1334} O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:43]} 16. Bh3 {87} Bc5 $6 {907 Maybe not the best continuation.} (16... Ne5 {And the knight is coming to d3. Black pieces are all over White.}) 17. Bxf5 {121} Nxf5 {307} (17... Rhe8 $5 $17) 18. Qxc5 { [%emt 0:00:16]} Nxh4 {71} 19. gxh4 {12 The position is no longer better for Black. As it turns out it is much easier to play as Black.} Rd4 $1 {5 Threatening Rc4 and winning the queen.} 20. b3 {1081} Rhd8 {155} 21. Rb1 {74} ( 21. Kb2 {was a move that was being considered.} Rd2+ 22. Ka3 R8d5 23. Qf8+ Kd7 {The king will soon run away from the checks and Ra5+ will end the game.}) 21... Bg4 {495 Ratnakaran's comment after the game was that he wanted to prevent the White queen from coming to h5 and hence played this move.} 22. Kb2 {469} Nb4 {337} 23. Ka1 {66} (23. Qxa7 Rd2+ 24. Ka1 (24. Ka3 Rxa2+) 24... Rxa2+ 25. Qxa2 Nxa2 26. Kxa2 f5 {Black is not worse here.}) 23... b6 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 24. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} c5 {17 This is what I call being comfortable with what you have! Ratnakaran has two pieces and a pawn for the queen and nice squares for his pieces and he is comfortable with it. Hence he is able to play a move like c5 which creates no real threat, but simply throws the ball back in White's court.} 25. a3 {187} (25. Qg3 Bf3 26. Rhc1 Rd2 27. Rb2 Rd1 28. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29. Rb1 Rd2 30. Rb2 Rd1+ {would have ended peacefully.}) 25... Nd5 {148} 26. Qc1 {123} h5 {65} 27. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} Rd3 {92} 28. Qc4 {119} Rd4 { [%emt 0:00:24]} 29. Qc1 {327} Rd3 {5 Here Ratnakaran was fine with a draw, but Mchedlishvili wanted to punish his opponent.} 30. b4 $2 {104 Over ambitious and at the same time weakening his king's position. We can say that it was this move that led to Mikheil's loss in the game.} (30. h3 $5 Rxh3 (30... Bxh3 31. Rg7 {is good news for White. He has got his rook activated.}) 31. Qc4 f5 32. Rbd1 $1 {sacrificing back some material.} Bxd1 33. Rxd1 $18 {White is well coordinated and is better.}) 30... Nc3 {142} 31. Qb2 {164} Nxb1 {181} (31... Be6 {was also possible.} 32. Rbc1 Na4 33. Qxf6 Rxa3+ 34. Kb1 Ba2+ 35. Kc2 cxb4 $1 $19 {Black is winning here.}) 32. Rxb1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 33. bxc5 {219} Rdd3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 34. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxa3+ {[%emt 0: 00:14]} 35. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bd7 $1 {11 Ratnakaran overall doesn't like too many checks to his king and hence find this move.} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 37. Qg8+ {159} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 38. Rd1 {94} Rxf2+ {78 } 39. Kb3 {77} (39. Kc3 $1 Rf3+ 40. Kc2 $13) 39... Rf3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb4+ {[%emt 0:00:25]} 41. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rc3+ {115} 42. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rxc5 {4 Now Black is just winning as he has a rook and a bishop and three pawns for a queen.} 43. Ke1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ba4 {76} 44. Qf7+ {[%emt 0:00:42]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 45. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bc6 { [%emt 0:00:04]} 46. Qxh5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rg7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 47. Rd6 {143} Rb2 {74 Let's forget objectivity for a while and let's try to truly enjoy the brilliancy that is created by Ratnakaran!} 0-1