[Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "2780"] [BlackElo "2682"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,50,28,0,-23,-22,-21,-27,-22,-23,-24,-18,-11,-1,-2,10,7,4,59,54,54,55,69,61,98,89,92,98,98,101,85,78,69,71,84,80,85,81,87,88,88,79,67,46,67,46,70,46,65,51,85,51,63]} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 Bxc3 6. bxc3 (6. Qxc3 {is the "traditional" move, but Ding's choice has been more popular lately.}) 6... e4 (6... O-O) (6... d6) 7. Ng5 Qe7 8. f3 d6 {This is the hot-off-the-press move, played twice late last year - this is the third game.} ({The obvious} 8... exf3 {shows up 111 times in the database.}) 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qxe4 11. fxe4 {White has an extra pawn and the bishop pair, but the "V" of pawns isn't the "V" of victory. It's a clumsy clump.} f6 ({This was the second game in the line:} 11... b6 12. d3 h5 13. Be2 h4 14. h3 f6 15. Bd2 Be6 16. Rf1 Ke7 17. Kd1 Rag8 18. Kc2 g5 19. d4 Bd7 20. Rf2 g4 21. hxg4 Bxg4 22. Bd3 Rh6 23. Raf1 Rg7 24. Be1 Bc8 25. Rh1 Ba6 26. Bf1 Na5 27. c5 Bxf1 28. cxd6+ cxd6 29. Rhxf1 Rhg6 30. Kd3 Rh7 31. c4 Nc6 32. Rh1 Nb8 33. a4 Nd7 34. a5 Ke6 35. axb6 axb6 36. Ra2 Rg4 37. g3 h3 38. Rah2 Rh8 39. Rxh3 Ra8 40. Rh7 Nf8 41. d5+ {1-0 Caruana,F (2795)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2771) Saint Louis Blitz 2023 (14)}) 12. Be2 h5 $146 ({Here's the original 7...Qe7 game:} 12... Be6 13. d3 h5 14. Rf1 b6 15. Rb1 Ne5 16. Bd2 Ke7 17. Kd1 h4 18. Be1 Rh6 19. Kd2 Rah8 20. Rg1 Rg6 21. Bf2 Bg4 22. h3 Bxe2 23. Kxe2 Rh5 24. Rbd1 Rhg5 25. Kf1 Rh6 26. Ke2 Rhg6 27. Kf1 Rh6 28. Ke2 Rhg6 29. Kf1 Rh6 {½-½ Indjic,A (2619)-Bacrot,E (2662) FIDE World Cup Baku 2023 (2.2)}) 13. h3 b6 14. O-O Be6 15. Rf2 h4 16. d3 Ke7 17. a4 Na5 18. Bd1 Rh6 19. Bd2 Rg8 20. Be1 {White's bishops aren't exactly tearing up the board. Now Black may be a little better, but it's hard to see him winning this either. (Maybe we'll see how it's done if Ding repeats this line against Carlsen someday.)} g5 21. Kh2 c5 (21... Nc6 {followed by ...Ne5 was better.}) 22. Be2 Rhg6 23. Bh5 Rh6 24. Be2 Rhg6 25. Bh5 Rh6 {A good result for Van Foreest, and Ding is probably happy to get one step closer to putting an awful event behind him.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.2"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Warmerdam, Max"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C24"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2625"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,53,28,18,16,11,17,2,17,13,13,-22,-32,-56,-56,-195,12,-119,-130,-166,-174,-254,-182,-172,-116,-123,-59,-59,-169,-117,-117,-117,-92,-92,-92,-49,90,63,84,177,230,219,229,229,300,300,303,310,296,252,296,294,400,416,425,430]} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 (3... Nc6) (3... c6) 4. Nc3 c6 {Looking for combat. He'll get it.} 5. f4 $5 d5 (5... exf4 {allows} 6. e5 {, but the traditional counter-thrust} (6. Bxf4 d5 $11 {is fine for Black.}) 6... d5 {should be equal though complex after} 7. exf6 Qxf6 $1 (7... dxc4 {is playable, but White may be slightly better after} 8. Qh5 $1 $146 Qd4 9. Nf3 Qf2+ 10. Kd1 g6 11. Qe5+ Be6 12. Ne4 $1 Nd7 $8 13. Qxe6+ fxe6 14. Nxf2 Bxf2 15. Bxf4 Nxf6 16. Ke2 $14 {This really isn't the sort of line you want to work out at the board.}) 8. Qe2+ {This is important, to cover the f2 square, but it also lines up White's queen and king, enabling Black to recover the piece.} (8. Bb3 $4 Qh4+ $19) 8... Kd8 9. Bxd5 cxd5 10. Qf3 $1 Qe6+ $1 $11 {Looks like fun.} 11. Kf1 g5 (11... Nc6 12. Bxf4 Ne7 13. Re1 Qc6 14. Bg3 (14. Nge2 b5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 b4 17. Nd1 Re8 18. Nd4 Qb6 19. c3 bxc3 20. bxc3 Qf6+ 21. Qf2 Nf5 22. Qf3 Be6 23. Nxe6+ fxe6 24. Kg1 Rb8 25. h4 Rb1 26. Rh3 Re7 27. h5 Rf7 28. Qf2 Qg5 29. Qe2 Rb6 30. a4 a5 31. Qf2 Rc6 32. Qb2 Kc7 33. c4 Qf6 34. Qf2 Qd4 35. Qxd4 Nxd4 36. Ne3 Rd7 37. Rh4 dxc4 38. Nxc4 {½-½ Pinchon,F (2249)-Schoch,T (2313) W-ch40 prel03 email ICCF email 2016}) 14... Be6 15. Bf2 Rc8 16. Nge2 Kd7 17. a3 h5 18. Nd4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Nf5 20. Qf4 Rh6 21. Re5 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Qc5 23. Qxc5 Rxc5 24. Ke1 f6 25. Re2 d4 26. Ne4 Re5 27. c3 dxc3 28. Nxc3 Rxe2+ 29. Kxe2 h4 30. Rf1 Rg6 31. Rf2 Kd6 32. Kd2 f5 33. Ne2 Bd7 34. Nd4 Rg4 35. Kc3 Ke5 36. Nc2 f4 37. Nd4 g5 38. Nf3+ Kf5 39. Kd2 Bc6 40. Ke2 Bxf3+ 41. Kxf3 h3 42. gxh3 Rg1 43. Rc2 b6 44. Rc7 Rf1+ 45. Kg2 Rb1 46. Rf7+ Ke5 47. h4 g4 48. h5 Rxb2+ 49. Kg1 Rb1+ 50. Kg2 Rb2+ 51. Kg1 Rd2 {½-½ Pinchon,F (2249)-Steinkellner,P (2356) W-ch40 prel03 email ICCF email 2016}) 12. h4 Nc6 13. hxg5 Nd4 14. Qd1 f6 15. g6 Qg8 16. Bxf4 Qxg6 17. Qd2 Rg8 18. Nxd5 Qf5 19. c4 Be6 20. Re1 Bxd5 21. cxd5 Rc8 22. Re4 Bb6 23. Ne2 Nxe2 24. Rxe2 Rg4 25. Re4 Qxd5 {½-½ Jensen,C (2398)-Ovdienko,M (2347) Champion's League 17/Chall 3 email ICCF email 2015 [2]}) 6. exd5 Ng4 $5 (6... cxd5 7. Bb5+ Nfd7 $11) (6... Nxd5) (6... Bxg1) 7. Nf3 O-O 8. fxe5 (8. Nxe5 {is also possible.}) 8... Nf2 (8... cxd5 9. d4 dxc4 10. dxc5 Qxd1+ 11. Nxd1 f6 $1 $146 {= might be better and is certainly safer, though far less entertaining.}) 9. Qe2 Nxh1 10. Bg5 Qa5 11. d6 ({The unobvious} 11. Bd2 $146 {is a surprising suggestion from the engine. Those of you who like crazy opening variations may wish to dig deeper, building on the following:} Bg4 $1 12. O-O-O Nf2 13. Rf1 Qd8 14. Rxf2 (14. e6) 14... Bxf2 15. Qxf2 b5 $1 16. Bb3 (16. Bg5 Qb6 (16... Qd7 $11) 17. Be3 $8 Qd8 $8) 16... a5 $11) 11... Bg4 (11... b5 $6 {I don't think this move will hold up to scrutiny by today's engines.} 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Be7 Nd7 14. O-O-O Nf2 15. Re1 Qb4 16. Bxf8 Rxf8 17. h3 Qf4+ 18. Kb1 Re8 19. Qf1 Bxh3 20. gxh3 Qxf3 21. e6 fxe6 22. Bxe6+ Rxe6 23. Rxe6 Nf8 24. Re8 Qf7 25. Re2 Qf6 26. a3 Ne4 27. Qxf6 Nxf6 28. Re7 h5 29. Rc7 g5 30. Rxc6 N8d7 31. Ne2 Bf2 32. d4 h4 33. b3 Kf7 34. Rc3 Ke6 35. Rf3 Ne4 36. Kb2 Bg3 37. c4 Bxd6 38. c5 Bg3 39. a4 b4 40. Kc2 Bb8 41. Rf1 Ndf6 42. Kd3 Bh2 43. a5 a6 44. Rf3 Bc7 45. Ng1 Bg3 46. Ne2 Kd7 47. Rf5 Bf2 48. Kc4 Kc6 49. d5+ Kc7 50. Nd4 g4 51. hxg4 h3 52. d6+ Kd7 53. Nf3 Bxc5 54. Kd3 Bxd6 55. g5 h2 56. Nxh2 Ke6 57. Rf1 Nxg5 58. Nf3 Nxf3 59. Rxf3 Nd7 60. Kd4 Bc5+ 61. Ke4 Bg1 62. Rf4 Nc5+ 63. Kf3 Nd3 64. Rh4 Kd5 65. Ke2 Nc1+ 66. Kd1 Nxb3 67. Rxb4 Nc5 68. Kc2 {½-½ Jensen,C (2398)-Feco,J (2471) Champion's League 17/Chall 3 email ICCF email 2015 [2]}) (11... Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. d4 Rxf3 14. Qxf3 Bxd4 15. O-O-O Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 Nd7 18. Rxh1 Rf8 19. Bh4 Rf5 20. Bg3 h5 21. Kd1 g5 22. h4 Kf7 23. c4 c5 24. hxg5 Rxg5 25. Bf4 Rf5 26. Rh4 b6 27. Kd2 Nxe5 28. Bxe5 Rxe5 29. g4 Re4 30. Rxh5 Rxg4 31. Rh7+ {½-½ Andersen,J (2276)-Chmielewski,M (2357) EU-ch 2020 sf01 email ICCF email}) 12. Be7 Nd7 $146 (12... Ba3 13. Bxf8 Bxb2 14. e6 Bxc3+ 15. Kf1 Bxe6 16. Bxe6 Bxa1 17. Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. Qe7+ Kg8 19. Bxg7 Bxg7 20. Qe6+ Kf8 21. Qe7+ {½-½ Jensen,C (2398)-Panitevsky,I (2361) Champion's League 17/Chall 3 email ICCF email 2015 [2]}) 13. e6 $1 Ba3 $1 14. exf7+ Kh8 15. O-O-O Qxc3 16. bxa3 {Black has only one move to maintain equality, and it's not obvious. Everything else is losing except for 16...Qxa3+, and that's pretty close to losing.} Bxf3 $2 (16... a5 $1 {Preparing ...b5. Well then, why not ...b5 straight away and then ...a5?} 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 $11 18. Re1 $6 Qxa3+ {This is the problem.} 19. Kd1 Qxd6 $15 {/?}) (16... b5 $2 17. Bb3 a5 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Re1 $1 $18 {White is in time to play Be6, if needed, so he will keep his extra material.}) 17. gxf3 $18 Ne5 $2 (17... Qxa3+ $142) 18. Kb1 Qd4 19. Rxh1 Nxc4 20. dxc4 {White's pawn structure isn't beautiful, but the passers on f7 and especially d6 are.} Qb6+ 21. Kc1 Rxf7 22. Rd1 Rff8 23. d7 ({There was nothing wrong with taking the rook.} 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Qe7 Qd8 25. Re1 $18 {followed by d7, threatening to take on f8 and play Re8.}) 23... Rg8 24. Qe5 Rad8 25. f4 c5 26. Bxd8 Qxd8 27. Qxc5 1-0 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.3"] [White "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Black "Ju, Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2549"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,67,28,35,17,13,18,18,12,12,20,20,19,-11,17,-3,1,0,9,-18,59,35,28,44,41,37,37,26,45,30,48,30,40,43,76,73,56,71,63,52,87,87,66,82,82,40,11,17,96,37,11,-11,30,87,115,-39,-41,-26,228,313,305,305,305,366,360,372,372,375,1198,1250]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 a5 {Rare.} 7. c4 $146 {And this is brand new, though one can find Ruy positions where White plays similarly.} d6 8. Be3 Nd7 (8... Ng4) ({or} 8... Kh8 {followed by a knight move and ...f5 look like plausible alternatives.}) 9. Ba4 $5 (9. d4) 9... Nb4 (9... Nb6) (9... f5 10. exf5 Nb6) 10. a3 Na6 11. Nc3 c6 (11... c5 $1 {looks ugly, but taking away some of White's pawn breaks is sufficient justification - especially since Black will get in ...f5 before White achieves f4 or b4.}) 12. Bc2 (12. d4 $142 $14) 12... Nac5 $6 13. b4 $6 (13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 $16) 13... Ne6 14. Qd2 Nf6 (14... f5) (14... Bf6) 15. Na4 axb4 (15... Nd7 $142 $1) 16. axb4 $14 b5 (16... Nd7 $142) 17. cxb5 (17. Nb6 $142 $16) 17... cxb5 18. Nb6 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Bb7 $6 (19... d5 $142 $1 20. Ra8 {is presumably what Black feared, but after} Qc7 $1 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Nd4 $1 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Bxd4 Bxb4 $1 25. Qxb4 Qxc2 26. h4 Qxd3 $14 {Black should hold.}) 20. Bb3 $16 d5 21. Ra7 $1 dxe4 22. Nxe5 Qc7 23. Nxf7 $3 {Otherwise Black is fine.} Kxf7 24. Qa2 $2 (24. dxe4 $1 Rd8 25. Nd5 $1 Qc6 $1 26. Qe2 $1 Ke8 $1 27. Nxf6+ Bxf6 28. Bxe6 Qxe6 29. Rxb7 Qxe4 30. Rc7 $1 Kf8 31. f3 $16 {Not an easy line, especially for White.}) 24... Qc6 $2 (24... Rd8 $3 25. Bxe6+ Kf8 26. Bd5 Nxd5 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxc7 exd3 (29... Bxb4 30. d4 $1 $11) 30. Bd2 $8 $11) 25. Rxb7 $1 $18 Qxb7 26. Bxe6+ Ke8 27. dxe4 Qxe4 28. Nd5 $1 {Maybe Black's plight wouldn't be so grave if he could move the rook to d8. As it is, his king is too vulnerable without the rook's shield.} Bd8 29. h3 $1 Rf7 30. Qa6 (30. Bxf7+ Kxf7 31. Nxf6+ Kxf6 32. Qa6+ Kf7 33. Qxb5 $18 {is fine.}) 30... Nxd5 31. Qc6+ Kf8 32. Qd6+ Ke8 33. Bxd5 Qe7 $2 34. Qc6+ $1 {This wins major material.} (34. Qc6+ $1 Kf8 (34... Qd7 35. Bxf7+ Ke7 36. Bc5+ Kxf7 37. Qxd7+ $18) 35. Bc5 $18) 1-0 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.4"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2725"] [BlackElo "2759"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be3 Bg4 9. Rc1 O-O 10. Be2 Qa5 11. Qd2 e6 12. h3 (12. d5) 12... Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nc6 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Ne5 16. Be2 c4 $1 17. f4 Nd7 18. O-O Nb6 $1 $146 {Now White has many options in addition to the move chosen. It's far from clear which is best, or if any of them offer any prospects for an advantage. I suspect that the best White can do is to find a tricky option where the best response isn't obvious.} (18... Rac8 19. f5 $1 Rfd8 $2 20. Bg4 $1 $16 h5 $2 {White has played a great game so far, but now he misses his chance for a big upset.} 21. f6 $4 (21. fxg6 $1 hxg4 22. gxf7+ Kf8 (22... Kh8 23. Rf5 $18) 23. Qc2 $1 {Heading for h7.} Qxc3 $1 24. Qxc3 Bxc3 25. Rxc3 Ne5 26. Bh6+ Ke7 27. f8=Q+ Rxf8 28. Bxf8+ Rxf8 29. d6+ Ke8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Re3 Nd7 32. Re7 Nc5 33. hxg4 $18) 21... Bf8 (21... Bh8 $142 $11) 22. Bxh5 $2 (22. Bf5 $1 Rc7 $1 {The only move.} 23. Bd4 $1 Qxd5 $1 24. Rce1 $1 Rc5 $1 $14) 22... Ne5 23. Bf3 $2 (23. Rcd1 gxh5 24. Rf5 Ng6 25. Rg5 Rd6 26. Rf1 Qd8 27. Qd4 $17) 23... Nxf3+ 24. Rxf3 Rxd5 $19 25. Bd4 $4 Rxd4 $1 {0-1 Van Kooten,H-Davies,N (2515) Vlissingen HZ op 02nd 1998 (3)}) 19. Rfd1 $5 (19. d6 Rad8 20. Bf3 Rfe8 21. Bxb7 Re6 22. f5 Rexd6 23. Qf2 R8d7 24. Bf4 Be5 $11) (19. Bf3 Rfd8 20. d6 Bf8 21. Bxb7 Rxd6 22. Qf2 Re8 23. Bd4 Bg7 $11) (19. Bxb6 $5 $11) (19. f5 Qxd5 20. Bf3 $44) 19... Rfd8 (19... Rad8 {may be more precise - in a position where the rooks aren't doubled, the e-file seems more useful for the second rook than the c-file. Also, a possible ...Nc8-d6 won't (temporarily) lock in a rook.}) 20. Bf3 Rd7 (20... Nc8 $142 21. f5 Nd6) 21. f5 Rad8 (21... Re8) (21... Na4 {is partially about greed, but there's also the possibility of ...Nc5-d3.}) 22. Bg5 f6 23. Bh4 Nxd5 24. Qe1 Kf8 $1 25. Qe6 Nf4 $2 (25... Rd6 $1 26. Rxd5 $1 Rxd5 27. Bxf6 Qb6+ 28. Qxb6 axb6 29. Bxd8 Rxd8 30. fxg6 hxg6 31. Bxb7 Rd2 $11) 26. Qxd7 $2 (26. Rxd7 $1 Nxe6 27. fxe6 Re8 28. Re1 Re7 29. Bxb7 $18 {Black is so tied up that White should win. An obvious move in the direction of progress is Bg3 (or Bf2), heading for the a3-f8 diagonal.}) 26... Rxd7 27. Rxd7 $14 Qxf5 $2 (27... Nd3 $8 28. Rb1 Ne5 29. Rdxb7 Bh6 $1 $14 {keeps Black alive, though it doesn't look comfortable.}) 28. Rxb7 $18 Nxh3+ 29. Kh1 $1 Nf4 30. Bg3 $2 (30. Re1 $1 $18 {was the only way to win, intending Ree7 as well as Bg3.}) 30... Qg5 $2 (30... Kg8 $1 31. Re1 Ne6 $14) 31. Bh2 $2 (31. Bxf4 Qxf4 32. Rd1 Qh4+ 33. Kg1 f5 {may have been found by both players, who may have concluded that Black is winning here. That's true against every move - except one.} 34. Kf1 $1 $18 {Now White can play Rdd7 next, and he wins.} (34. Rdd7 $4 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Be5+ 36. g3 Qxg3+ 37. Kh1 Qh2#)) 31... f5 $6 (31... Nd3 32. Rcb1 Kg8 33. Bd6 Qh4+ (33... h5 {can be played, but sooner or later Black will have to go for the repetition/perpetual.}) 34. Kg1 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qh4+ $11) 32. Re1 $6 $11 (32. Rcb1 $1 Qh6 33. Rxa7 Kg8 34. Rb8+ Bf8 35. Re8 $1 {Stopping ...Ne6.} g5 $1 36. Raa8 Ng6 37. Kg1 f4 38. Ra7 $1 g4 $1 {The only move/idea.} 39. Bxg4 f3 $1 40. gxf3 Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Qd2+ 42. Kh1 Qc1+ 43. Bg1 Qh6+ 44. Kg2 Qd2+ 45. Bf2 Nf4+ 46. Kg3 Ne2+ 47. Kh4 Qh6+ 48. Bh5 Nf4 49. Rxf8+ Qxf8 (49... Kxf8 $4 50. Bc5+ Kg8 51. Ra8+ Kg7 52. Bf8+ $18) 50. Bf7+ Kg7 51. Kg4 $1 h5+ $3 52. Bxh5+ $1 (52. Kxf4 Qd6+ $11 {allows Black to force perpetual check.}) 52... Kh6 $1 53. Bf7 $1 Ng2 $1 $14 {Black is surviving, but teetering on the cliff's edge throughout this line (and here too).}) 32... Qh4 (32... Bxc3) 33. Ree7 Bxc3 $2 (33... Nh5 $1 $11) 34. Rxh7 $2 (34. Bc6 $1 Qxe7 $8 35. Rxe7 Kxe7 36. Bxf4 $16 {/+- This does not look like an obvious draw to me. Black will suffer, and probably won't survive.}) 34... Qe1+ 35. Bg1 Be5 $1 36. Rxa7 Kg8 {Now it's White who must force a perpetual check, given Black's threat of ...Bd4.} 37. Rhe7 Qh4+ 38. Bh2 Qe1+ {A lucky escape for Firouzja, and if Gukesh finishes half a point out of first he'll be kicking himself for not winning this game.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2769"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,61,27,27,24,-10,-11,1,6,6,44,43,25,44,32,-3,41,4,-3,19,0,0,26,18,35,23,11,26,20,13,32,2,2,26,6,4,32,27,30,34,32,34,38,38,55,47,57,44,72,65,86,90,114,91,99,99,104,104,104,49,63,55,24,-8]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 {Old Faithful.} 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Qa4 Bb4 (10... Be6) (10... h6) (10... Qb6) 11. Bb5 (11. Bd3 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Qa5 14. Qxa5 Bxa5 15. O-O Bg4 (15... Be6 16. Nb5 Ne4 17. Nd6 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Rab8 19. Nf5 g4 20. N3d4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bb6 22. Bc2 Kg7 23. Bb3 Rfd8 24. Rd3 Rd7 25. Rfd1 Rbd8 26. f4 Bxd4 27. Rxd4 f5 28. Rc1 Kf6 29. Kf2 h5 30. Ke2 b6 31. Ba4 Rb7 32. Rc6 Ke7 33. Bb3 Rd6 34. Rc1 Rd8 35. Rd2 Rbd7 36. Ba4 Rb7 37. Kd3 d4 38. exd4 Bxa2 39. Re2+ Kf6 40. b3 b5 41. Rc6+ Kg7 42. Rxa2 bxa4 43. Rxa4 Rxb3+ 44. Kc4 Rxg3 45. Rxa7+ Kg8 46. Rg6+ Kh8 47. Rh6+ Kg8 48. Rxh5 Rxg2 49. Rg5+ Kf8 50. Rxf5+ Kg8 51. Rg5+ Kf8 52. Rag7 Rc8+ 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Ke4 Re2+ 55. Kd3 Rde8 56. Rg8+ Kf7 57. Rxe8 Rxe8 58. Rxg4 Kf6 59. Rg5 Re1 60. Re5 Rf1 61. Ke4 Re1+ 62. Kd5 Rf1 63. Re6+ Kf7 64. Re4 Kf6 65. Kd6 Ra1 66. d5 Ra6+ 67. Kc7 Ra7+ 68. Kb6 {1-0 Sargissian,G (2681)-Wagner,D (2584) EU-ch 22nd Terme Catez 2022 (4)}) 16. Rc1 Bxc3 17. Rxc3 Ne4 18. Rcc1 Rad8 19. Ne5 Nxg3 20. Nxc6 Nxf1 21. Nxd8 Rxd8 22. Kxf1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Ke2 Kf8 25. Kd2 Ke7 26. Kc3 Kd6 27. Kd4 b6 28. Bh7 f6 29. Bg8 Bb7 30. b4 Bc6 31. a3 a5 32. bxa5 bxa5 33. f4 Bb7 34. Bf7 Bc6 35. g3 Bb7 36. Be8 Ba8 37. Ba4 Bb7 38. Bc2 Bc6 39. h4 gxh4 40. gxh4 Bb7 41. Bd1 {½-½ Keymer,V (2699)-Grischuk,A (2745) Astana Satty Zhuldyz Rapid 2023 (1)}) 11... h6 12. Bxf6 $146 (12. Bh4 g5 13. Bxc6 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 bxc6 15. Bg3 Ne4 16. Qxc6 Be6 17. O-O Rc8 18. Qa6 Nxc3 19. Rd2 Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Rb2 b5 22. Nd4 Rc4 23. Nxb5 Nxb5 24. Rxb5 Ra8 25. Be5 Rxa2 26. Rb8+ Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Bxc8 28. h3 Be6 29. Rb1 Ra8 30. Rb7 Kh7 31. Bd4 Kg6 32. f3 h5 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4 Rc8 35. Kf2 Ra8 36. Kg3 Rc8 37. f4 gxf4+ 38. exf4 Rc4 39. f5+ Bxf5 40. gxf5+ Kxf5 41. Rxf7+ Ke4 42. Bf6 d4 43. Rd7 Ke3 44. Re7+ Kd2 45. Kf2 d3 46. Bg5+ Kc2 47. Rd7 Rc5 48. Bf4 Rc4 49. Be3 Re4 50. Rc7+ Kb3 51. Kf3 Re8 52. Bd2 Re6 53. Rc3+ Kb2 54. Rxd3 Kc2 55. Rd5 Re8 56. Bf4 Re6 57. Be5 Rh6 58. Ke4 Rh3 59. Rb5 Rb3 60. Ra5 Kb1 61. Kd4 Kc2 62. Kc4 Rf3 63. Bd4 Kd2 64. Ra2+ Ke1 65. Kd5 Kf1 66. Ke4 Rh3 67. Rf2+ Ke1 68. Rg2 Kf1 69. Rf2+ Ke1 70. Be3 Rh8 71. Ra2 Rh3 72. Kd3 Kf1 73. Rf2+ Ke1 74. Rg2 Rh1 75. Re2+ Kf1 76. Rf2+ Ke1 77. Rf8 Rh3 78. Rf5 {1-0 Khismatullin,D (2594)-Deac,B (2700) Titled Tuesday intern op 14th Mar Late Chess.com INT blitz 2023 (7)}) 12... Qxf6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Ne7 (14... Rd8 15. Rd2 Ne5 $11) 15. c4 Be6 (15... dxc4 16. Bxc4 a6 $11 (16... b6 $11)) 16. c5 Rfc8 17. Rc1 a6 18. Be2 Rc7 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Qb4 Nf5 (20... Nc6 21. Nxc6 Rxc6 22. Qxb7 Qd8 23. Rc3 Rxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxc5 25. Bxa6 (25. Qxa6 Ra5 $11) 25... Ra5 $11) 21. Rfd1 Qe7 $6 (21... Bd7 $142 $11) 22. Bd3 (22. Nxf5 $142 Bxf5 23. Rxd5 Be4 24. Rd4 Bf5 25. Rdc4 $14 {Black's position is stable, but White's extra pawn matters.}) 22... Nxd4 (22... Qf6 $142) 23. exd4 $16 {This looks great for White.} Qf6 24. Re1 $1 Bd7 25. Re5 Re8 26. Rxd5 $2 ({It was better to keep squeezing with} 26. Rce1 $16 {. It's odd that Giri didn't do this - it's not as if the idea of maintaining pressure rather than rushing to cash in is something super-GMs are unaware of.}) 26... Bc6 27. Re1 Rcc8 $1 28. Rde5 (28. Rd6 Qg5 29. Bf1 Rxe1 30. Qxe1 Re8 31. Qc3 h5 $1 $11) 28... Rxe5 29. dxe5 Qe6 $11 30. a3 Bd5 31. h3 (31. h3 Qe7 {regains the pawn.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.6"] [White "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Black "Donchenko, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D16"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2643"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,120,24,24,24,1,44,46,46,53,11,4,56,48,57,57,57,38,51,30,18,-7,-13,-22,-10,-8,-6,7,19,41,41,38,38,38,60,49,33,34,71,10,45,18,32,33,34,38,45,51,52,10,16,25,6,0,-2,-7,44,59,52,66,74,74,60,70,67,34,34,34,47,50,38,38,38,15,15,15,0,0,0,14,27,27,0,11,28,-18,-5,32,0,0,0,12,9,0,70,69,88,88,100,126,134,136,115,109,109,136,145,117,275,275,265,275,318,336,342,342,337,341,337,337,337,337,351]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Qe2 (9. O-O {is usual.}) 9... Be7 {Black doesn't bite.} (9... Nxd4 $2 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. O-O a6 {(To stop Nb5.)} 12. Rd1 $18 {It would take some time to prove that White is winning in every line, so I'll leave that to you, if you're interested. But trust me: taking the pawn is a very bad idea.}) 10. Be3 $146 (10. O-O {would return to mainstream 9.0-0 theory, of which there is plenty.}) 10... O-O 11. Rd1 Nb4 (11... Bd7 12. O-O Rc8 (12... Nb4)) 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. O-O Bc6 {Back to a few predecessors.} 14. f4 Bd5 15. f5 $146 ({In all four previous games, White played 15.Nxd5. Here are the two highest-level examples:} 15. Nxd5 $14 exd5 16. Bb3 Rc8 17. Bd2 (17. Rf3 Rc7 18. Rh3 Qc8 19. Bd2 Re8 20. Rf1 Nc6 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Qh5 Bf6 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qe4 Bxe5 25. fxe5 Qe6 26. Bg5 f6 27. Qg6 Ke7 28. Rh8 Kd8 29. exf6 gxf6 30. Bxf6+ Nxf6 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Qxf6+ Kc8 33. d5 Qe3+ 34. Kh1 Nd8 35. Qf5+ Kb8 36. Qf6 Kc8 37. Qf5+ Kb8 38. Qf6 Rd7 39. Qf4+ Qxf4 40. Rxf4 Rxd5 41. h4 Kc7 42. Kh2 Kd6 43. Kh3 Ke7 44. b4 Ne6 45. Rc4 Kf6 46. Kg4 a6 47. g3 Rd4+ 48. Rxd4 Nxd4 49. Kf4 Nc6 50. b5 axb5 51. axb5 Na7 52. g4 Nxb5 53. h5 Nd6 54. g5+ Ke6 55. g6 Kf6 56. Ke3 Ke5 57. g7 Nf5+ 58. Kd3 Nh6 59. Kc4 Kd6 60. Kb5 Kc7 61. Kc5 b6+ 62. Kd5 Kd7 63. Ke5 Ke7 64. Kd5 Kd7 65. Ke5 Ke7 66. Kd5 {½-½ Debashis,D (2504)-Balogh,C (2656) Dubai op 16th 2014 (3)}) 17... Re8 18. Bc3 Qb6 19. Kh1 Nc6 20. Qc2 Na5 21. Ba2 Nc4 22. Rf3 Bd6 23. Rh3 h6 24. Rf1 Bxe5 25. fxe5 Ne4 26. Qe2 Qc6 27. Be1 Nb6 28. a5 Nc4 29. Rhf3 Rc7 30. Bb1 b6 31. axb6 axb6 32. Bb4 Qe6 33. Bxe4 dxe4 34. Qxe4 Rd8 35. b3 Na5 36. Bxa5 bxa5 37. Rd3 Rcd7 38. h3 Qd5 39. Qg4 Rb7 40. Rff3 Rb4 41. Rg3 g6 42. Qh4 Kh7 43. e6 g5 44. Qh5 Qxe6 45. Rdf3 Rd7 46. Rxg5 Rbxd4 47. Re5 Qg6 48. Qxg6+ fxg6 49. Rxa5 h5 50. Ra6 Rd3 51. Rxd3 Rxd3 52. b4 Rb3 53. Rb6 Rb2 54. h4 Kg7 55. Kh2 Rb3 56. b5 Rb4 57. Kg3 Rg4+ 58. Kh3 Rb4 59. Rb8 Rb3+ 60. Kh2 Rb4 61. g3 Rb2+ 62. Kg1 Kf6 63. b6 Kf5 64. b7 Kg4 65. Rg8 Rxb7 66. Rxg6+ Kh3 67. Kf2 Rb3 68. Rg5 Ra3 69. Rxh5 Rxg3 70. Rg5 Ra3 71. h5 Kh4 72. Rb5 Ra6 73. Kf3 Rf6+ 74. Ke4 Kg4 {½-½ Aronian,L (2786)-Ponomariov,R (2739) Wch Blitz 4th Moscow 2009 (32)}) 15... Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Rc8 (16... Qc8 $142 $11) (16... Qd7 $142 17. Ne5 Qc8 $11) 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Bg5 $14 Rc6 (18... Qd7 $142) 19. Kh1 $6 (19. Ne5 $16) 19... Nbd5 $11 20. Bd2 a6 (20... Qe8) 21. Rf3 Nd7 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. Rf1 Be7 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Ne3 Nf6 26. Nf5 Bf8 27. Bf4 Qe8 (27... Qc8 $142 28. Be5 Rc1 $11) 28. Be5 Qh5 $6 29. Qf2 (29. Qd3 $14) 29... h6 (29... Qe8) (29... Re6) 30. h3 Kh7 (30... Nd7 $142) 31. Ne3 $6 (31. Qe3 $142 $14 {/?}) 31... Be7 $11 32. Qf4 Qg6 33. Nf5 Rc2 34. Qf3 Bd8 35. Bxf6 Bxf6 36. b3 Qe8 37. Qxd5 Qc6 38. Qxc6 bxc6 {Despite White's extra pawn, Black is in no real danger. His minor piece is the better one, and White's b- and d-pawns are easily targeted.} 39. Rf3 Kg6 40. Kh2 h5 41. h4 Kf7 42. Kh3 Ke6 43. Ng3 g6 44. Re3+ Kf7 45. Ne2 Rd2 46. g3 Bxd4 (46... a5 {might make Black's life even easier, but he's not in any trouble after the text, either.}) 47. Nxd4 Rxd4 48. Rc3 Rb4 49. Rxc6 Rxb3 50. Rxa6 Ra3 {This is a dead draw. If White's king heads to the queenside Black will happily snap off White's g-pawn. White can prevent this, of course, by first bringing his rook to a8 and the pawn to a7, but that's an elementary draw as well.} 51. Kg2 Kg7 52. a5 Kf7 53. Ra8 Kg7 54. a6 Kh7 55. Kf2 Kg7 56. a7 {Why Pragg is continuing to play is a mystery, as a 1000-rated player could draw this playing blindfold. (And I might be insulting 900s by offering a four-digit cutoff.)} Kh7 (56... Kf7 $4 57. Rh8 Rxa7 58. Rh7+ {is a trick most of us learn within a few months of playing the game.}) (56... Kf6 $4 57. Rf8+ $18) 57. Ke2 Kg7 58. Kd2 Ra1 59. Kc3 Kh7 60. Kd4 Kg7 (60... Kg7 {The only thing Black needs to know, in addition to the need to keep his king on g7 or h7 and his rook on the a-file (unless he's giving a check that allows him to safely return to the a-file afterwards), is that when White's king protects the pawn with Kb6 or Kb7, Black must check White's king until it leaves the protection of the pawn, and then Black must return the rook to the a-file. Note that Black keeps the rook on the bottom of the board, so that White's king won't get out of check while threatening the rook.} 61. Kc5 Ra2 62. Kb6 Rb2+ $1 63. Ka6 Ra2+ $1 64. Kb7 Rb2+ $1 65. Kc6 Ra2 {etc. Just for fun, let's see why there's no danger for Black if White's king comes to the kingside.} 66. Kd5 Ra1 67. Ke4 Ra2 68. Kf4 Ra4+ {and now a suitable end to the game, against players who continue for no reason except the hope that their opponents will die of boredom, or of a heart attack, or will be crushed by a very precise meteor, is} 69. Kg5 $4 Rg4#) 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.26"] [Round "11.7"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2742"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,74,22,22,22,21,14,6,11,11,15,0,2,23,28,25,47,42,18,21,44,35,45,48,124,94,94,108,60,40,40,21,43,55,43,23,10,15,15,37,37,15,15,15,75,-63,-63,-67,-52,-55,-55,-71,-49,-103,-217,-149,-201,-178,-210,-160,-189,-253,-358,-554,-240,-256,-253,-253,-253,-432,-455,-546,-546,-723,-795,-805,-810]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Rd1 h6 {Quite rare.} (10... Be7 {has been played more than a thousand times.}) (10... Re8 {is another important move, (unsuccessfully) introduced by Karpov in his 1978 match with Korchnoi and revitalized in recent years.}) 11. Nd2 d4 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Na4 $146 (13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. b4 Qe7 15. exd4 a5 16. c5 axb4 17. axb4 $14 Nxb4 (17... Nd5 $1 18. Bd6 Qf6 19. Qd2 $1 $11 {/?}) 18. Qb2 Nfd5 19. Bd6 Qh4 20. g3 Qf6 21. Bg2 Rd8 22. O-O Nxc3 23. Qxc3 Nd5 24. Qb2 b5 25. Rfe1 Bd7 26. Be5 Qg6 27. Be4 Qh5 28. f3 Bc6 29. g4 Qh4 30. Bg3 Qe7 31. h4 Qb7 32. g5 hxg5 33. hxg5 Ne7 34. Bd6 Bd5 35. Bxd5 Nxd5 36. Qh2 Nc3 37. Rd3 Ra2 38. Qe5 b4 39. g6 Rda8 40. c6 Qc8 41. d5 fxg6 42. Qxe6+ Qxe6 43. dxe6 Rc2 44. e7 Kf7 45. c7 Re8 46. Bxb4 Ne2+ 47. Rxe2 Rxe2 48. Rd8 Rc2 49. Bd6 g5 50. Kf1 g6 51. Ke1 Rc6 52. Ke2 Rxd6 53. Rxe8 Re6+ 54. Kf2 Kxe8 55. c8=Q+ Kxe7 56. Qg8 Kf6 57. Qf8+ Ke5 58. Kg3 Rf6 59. Qe7+ Re6 60. Qxg5+ Kd6 61. Qd8+ Ke5 62. Kg4 {1-0 Sargsyan,S (2654)-Divya,D (2400) Astana Zhuldyzdary op-A 2023 (7)}) 13... Bb4+ $1 14. Ke2 Qa6 $1 {Vidit has done his homework.} 15. Nxd4 Nxd4+ 16. exd4 Bd6 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 e5 $1 19. Rd6 (19. Be3 Be6 $11) (19. Bxh6 $5 Be6 $1 (19... gxh6 20. Rd6 Qa5 $8 21. Rxf6 Kg7 22. Rd6 Bg4+ 23. f3 Be6 24. Qd2 Qxc5 25. Ke1 a5 $11) 20. Be3 Bxc4+ 21. Ke1 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Qa5+ $1 $11) 19... Qa5 $5 (19... b6 $1 20. Be3 (20. Bxh6 $2 Ne8 21. Bg5 Nxd6 22. cxd6 Be6 $19) 20... Be6 $11) 20. Bxh6 $2 (20. Be3 $1 Ng4 21. Qd3 $11 {/?}) 20... Qxc5 $17 {/-+} 21. Rxf6 Qe7 $1 {Maghsoodloo probably missed this one. White will have two pawns for the exchange, but his poorly placed king will leave him in permanent difficulties.} 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rf5 (23. Rf3 Bg4) 23... Rd8 $5 {White's rook has no escape.} 24. h4 $2 (24. g3 $1) 24... Bxf5 25. Qxf5 Rd4 $19 {Now it's over, as long as Vidit remains alert.} 26. Ke1 Rad8 27. Be2 Qd6 {Threatening mate in two starting with 28...Rd1+.} 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qc1 Qg6 30. g3 Rd2 {Now threatening both ...Qe4 and ...Rxe2+ followed by ...Qe4+.} 31. Rh2 Rc2 (31... Rxe2+ 32. Kxe2 Qd3+ 33. Ke1 Rd4 34. f3 Qxf3 $19) 32. Qe3 Rxb2 33. Kf1 Rdd2 34. Qc5+ (34. Qxe5 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Rxe2 $19 {and there's no perpetual.}) (34. Bf3 Qb1+ 35. Kg2 Rxf2+ 36. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 37. Kxf2 e4 38. Be2 Qb6+ 39. Kf1 Qd6 $19 {wins a pawn, after which whatever minuscule hopes of a fortress draw White may have entertained would be gone forever.}) 34... Kg8 35. Qc8+ Kg7 36. h5 Qb1+ 37. Kg2 Rxe2 0-1