[Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.17"] [Round "4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E15"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2859"] [Annotator "Rafael Leitao"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {In my analysis of the Gukesh-Ding game, played in the first round, I mentioned that the Queen's Indian was no longer as popular among the elite simply because of \"opening fashion.\" Is this a good time to humbly acknowledge that I was wrong $2 Or is it still too early to condemn this once popular defense $2} 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 {Historically one of the most dangerous lines for Black. To fight for equality, he has to face a variation in which White sacrifices a pawn but gets good compensation.} Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 {This is the natural move and the only way to fight for equality. More than that, it's a matter of logic: if you're not going to play like this, it's better not to play the move 4...Ba6. To be honest, when I was a kid, I had great difficulty understanding the logic of putting the bishop on such a strange square: why not put it directly on the most natural diagonal with 4... Bb7 $2 One of the ideas is precisely this: moving the white queen to c2, so that in this position, the 6...c5 move is stronger since now the pawn is without queen protection after 7.d5. But white players discovered that it was possible to sacrifice this pawn, and a new chapter in opening theory began.} 7. d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (7. O-O $6 { [%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 {This position does not offer any advantage to White, as the exchange of bishops helps Black, who can now complete his development.}) (7. dxc5 {is better than 7.O-O and worse than 7.d5.}) 7... exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8... Bxd5 $6 { [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] is considered inaccurate and stopped being played in high-level games.} 9. Nc3) 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 {I have defended this position with Black three times, once in a correspondence game, a variant in which I became a grandmaster, to my complete surprise, before abandoning it completely.} (10... Qc8 {is also playable.}) 11. Qf5 (11. a3 Nc7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Bf4 Ne6 14. e3 Nxf4 15. exf4 d6 16. Rd2 h6 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. Nb5 Rd8 19. Nxd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Rxd6 {½-½ Martin Clemente,J (2645)-Leitao,R (2572) W-ch26 email ICCF email 2010 and the players agreed on a draw.}) (11. Qa4 Nf6 12. Nh4 Qc8 (12... O-O 13. Nf5 d5 14. Nc3 Nd4 $1 { [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is considered the best path to equality according to theory.}) 13. Nf5 Nd4 14. Nxg7+ $6 { [%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (14. Nxd4 {is the best. After} cxd4 15. Qxd4 O-O 16. Nc3 Re8 {White fights for a small advantage. }) 14... Kd8 {0-1 Valenzuela Gomez,F (2226)-Leitao,R (2636) Antofagasta Zicosur op 1st 2015 (1) With a complicated position, but one that is already more pleasant for Black.}) 11... Nf6 12. e4 d6 {Not a popular move. This reminded me of a game by the legendary Judit Polgar in which she had lost after this move. Carlsen himself played this position as White in a 2008 game—it seems like a century ago, but he already had a rating of 2775 back then. The theory here has not developed since 2010.} (12... g6 {is the critical move.} 13. Qf4 O-O 14. e5 Nh5 15. Qc4 Na5 {½-½ Mareco,S (2526) -Leitao,R (2620) Vanderley Cason Melo Memorial Campinas 2010 (11) My opponent and I were guilty of agreeing to a draw and ending the fight before it even started. But luckily, we have examples of braver players.} (15... d5 16. exd6 Bxd6 17. Nc3 Qb8 (17... Na5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]}) 18. Bh6 Re8 {1-0 Kantor,G (2575)-Karjakin,S (2743) Wch Rapid Warsaw 2021 (4) This was played in Kantor-Karjakin, Warsaw (rapid) 2021. Now} 19. Nd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] gives excellent compensation for White.}) 16. Qd3 f6 $2 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6; type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (16... Qc7 {is better.}) 17. Bh6 Rf7 18. Nc3 { 1-0 Donchenko,A (2639)-Vavulin,M (2550) CRO-chT1A 30th Porec 2022 (2.4) With an advantage for White in Donchenko-Vavulin, Porec 2022.}) 13. e5 Qd7 $1 { [%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only justification for Black's previous move. Now White has the option of exchanging queens and recovering the pawn or avoiding this exchange and continuing to fight for compensation in a sharp position.} 14. Qxd7+ (14. Qf4 Nh5 15. Qc4 O-O 16. Nc3 { 1-0 Topalov,V (2803)-Bacrot,E (2716) Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd 2010 (7) With a complicated game: Topalov-Bacrot, Nanjing 2010.}) (14. Qc2 {Is an interesting try.} Nb4 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. Qe1 Nc2 17. Qd2 Nxa1 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Re1+ Be7 20. Nc3 O-O-O 21. Qd5 Bb7 22. Qd3 {½-½ Joppich,U (2429)-Kharlamov,V (2487) W-ch35 sf02 email ICCF email 2011 This was played in the correspondence game Joppich-Kharlamov, ICCF email 2011. The position is very complicated, and anything can happen.}) 14... Nxd7 15. exd6 Bf6 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. Nc3 Nb4 18. Ne5 (18. Bg5 {was Carlsen's choice when he had this position.} Nc2 $1 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (18... Bxf3 $6 {[%c_effect f3; square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 19. Bxf3 Rd8 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Re7 Nc2 22. Rd1 Nd4 23. Kg2 {1-0 Bareev,E (2643)-Polgar,J (2727) Candidates sf Elista 2007 (1.2) was better for White in Bareev-Polgar, Elista 2007.}) 19. Re7 $5 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Re7 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Re8 22. Rxe8+ Kxe8 23. Rd1 Nd4 24. Bg2 Kd7 25. Bh3+ Kxd6 26. Nb5+ {with a likely draw.}) 19... Bxf3 (19... Bxe7 $1 {[%c_effect e7; square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is better. White has good compensation, but probably not more than that after} 20. Bxe7+ Kg8 21. Rc1 Nb4) 20. Bxf3 Bxg5 21. Rxd7 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Rd1 Nd4 24. Bg2 h5 {1-0 Carlsen, M (2775)-Pelletier,Y (2569) Biel GM 41st 2008 (1) With the idea of 25...Rh6. Black is close to a draw, but Carlsen's technique was already known in 2008, and he won the game.}) (18. Rd1 {1-0 Dias,P (2406)-Lee,S (2109) Olympiad-38 Dresden 2008 (3) is also possible and was played in Dias-Lee, Dresden (Ol) 2008.}) 18... Nxe5 19. Bxb7 Rd8 20. Rd1 Nc4 21. d7 {All this is still a theory, but I'm not sure if the players knew about it. The next move is a novelty.} Nc2 (21... Ke7 {was played in a correspondence game, always a good indication of the correct path.} 22. Bc8 Nc2 23. Rb1 Nd6 24. Nd5+ Ke6 25. Nxf6 gxf6 26. Ba6 Rxd7 27. Bf4 Ke7 28. Rbc1 Nd4 29. b4 Rhd8 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Bd3 Ne6 {½-½ Verhaeren,G (2310)-Jørgensen,P (2300) WS $146/144 email ICCF email 2016 and the game later ended in a draw. Verhaeren-Jorgensen, ICCF email 2016.}) 22. Rb1 Nd4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is a mistake since it allows White to open the game.} (22... Ne5 $1 {[%c_effect e5; square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Nb5 Rxd7 24. Rxd7 Nxd7 25. Nxa7 {and White has only a tiny advantage.}) 23. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An exceptional move. Now Black's position is unstable and difficult to defend.} Rxd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type; Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake never comes alone, a poet once wrote. Now Black is lost.} (23... Ne5 {is better, although the position is quite dangerous.}) 24. Bd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent; true]} Nd6 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Ba3 {Black's position collapses.} Ke7 27. Bxc5 Ne6 28. Bb4 {A solid and human move. The computer finds other ways to win as well.} (28. Ne4 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 Rdd8 (29... Rc7 30. Re1+ Kd8 31. Na6 $1 {[%c_effect a6; square;a6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rc8 32. Bxf7 $1 {[%c_effect f7; square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] winning an important pawn. Black is mated after} Nxf7 $2 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 33. Rbd1+) 30. Rd3 {The machine is quite happy with White's position, although this doesn't seem like a clear choice for a flesh and blood player.}) (28. Bc6 $5 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Here we have some brutal calculation.} Bxc3 (28... Nxc5 29. Nd5+ Ke6 (29... Kd8 30. Rb8+ Nc8 31. Bxd7 Nxd7 32. Nxf6 gxf6 33. Rb7 Ncb6 34. a4 Kc8 35. Rxa7 {with a winning position.}) 30. Rbc1 $1 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent; true]} Nce4 31. Bxd7+ Kxd7 32. Rc7+ Ke6 33. f3 Ng5 34. Nf4+ {White wins material.}) 29. Bxd6+ Rxd6 30. Rb7+ Nc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type; GreatFind;persistent;true]} 31. Rxc7+ Kd8 32. Rd7+ $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7; type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rxd7 33. Rxd7+ Kc8 34. Rxa7 Rd8 35. Rxf7 { This nice variation ends in a technically winning endgame for White.}) 28... a5 (28... Bxc3 {is the best chance, even though Black's position hurts the eyes.} 29. Bxc3 {With this magnificent pair of bishops, Giri would have no trouble winning.}) 29. Bxa5 Rc8 30. Na4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]} Nc4 31. Rbc1 Be5 32. Bb4+ Kf6 33. Nc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5; square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nxc5 34. Rxc4 Rdc7 35. Ba5 {Another exceptional example of great opening preparation and a beautiful win by Giri.} (35. Ba5 Rd7 36. Bb6 Bd6 37. Bf3 {Further material losses are inevitable.}) 1-0 [Event "Wijk aan Zee"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "2023.01.17"] [Round "4.6"] [White "Keymer, Vincent"] [Black "Erigaisi Arjun"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "2696"] [BlackElo "2722"] [Annotator "Petrisor Adrian"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2023.01.10"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "NED"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 {The Colle System is not an opening often seen at the highest levels but very solid for White.} c5 4. Be2 Nc6 5. c3 e6 6. O-O h6 7. a3 {Planning b4 in the next moves, most likely after dxc5.} c4 (7... b6 { was another try for Black with the idea to recapture on c5 with a pawn.}) 8. a4 {The idea is to play b3 and Ba3 to exchange off the bad dark-squared bishop.} Bd6 9. b3 cxb3 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qxb3 Na5 12. Qa2 b6 13. Ba3 {And here we are. With the exchange of the bad bishop, White has no bad pieces anymore.} Bxa3 14. Qxa3 Bb7 15. Rfc1 {It looks like White's only plan is to play c4 and try to get something on c-file, but Black also can put his rooks there, so most likely it will be a massive exchange down that file at some point.} Rc8 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. Nef3 $5 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} ( 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Qb4 Rc7 19. Nb3 Nxb3 20. Qxb3) 17... Rc7 {Trying to get a setup with Qa8 and Rfc8, preparing every piece against White's c4-break.} 18. Qb4 Nb8 19. Rc2 Nbc6 20. Qb2 Ne7 21. Rac1 Qa8 22. h3 Rfc8 23. Qa3 Nf5 24. Qb4 Rd8 25. c4 {Just simplifying the position for equality.} dxc4 26. Nxc4 Nxc4 27. Rxc4 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Ba6 29. Rc2 Bxe2 30. Rxe2 Qc6 31. a5 Nd6 32. Ne5 Qc7 33. axb6 axb6 34. Rb2 b5 35. Ra2 f6 36. Nd3 Qc4 37. Qa5 Rc8 38. Nb4 Qb3 {Preparing Qd1+ and Rc1, so White has to be careful about the first rank.} 39. Ra1 Kh7 40. Qa3 Qxa3 41. Rxa3 Rc1+ 42. Kh2 Ne4 43. Nd3 b4 44. Nxb4 Nxf2 45. Nd3 Nxd3 { Draw agreed. A very solid game for both sides without risks.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.17"] [Round "4"] [White "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Black "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2713"] [BlackElo "2719"] [PlyCount "127"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. Bc2 Re8 10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 g6 12. h3 Bg7 13. Ng3 d5 14. d4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 exd4 16. Bg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] It's always fascinating to see the top players infuse new ideas in age-old openings like the Ruy Lopez.} Be6 17. Bb3 (17. cxd4 $16) 17... h6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Qe2 $5 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type; Interesting;persistent;true] Abdusattorov ignores his opponent's threat on his g5-bishop to go after the weaknesses in Maghsoodloo's position.} hxg5 22. Qxe6+ Kh7 23. Qxc6 dxc3 24. bxc3 b4 25. Re1 {Again the rising 18-year-old ignores his opponent's pressure on his position to in favor of activity. The rook is headed to the 6th rank to create threats around the black king.} bxc3 26. Re6 Kg7 27. Ne5 Qd1+ 28. Kh2 Bxe5+ 29. Rxe5 Qd6 30. Qxc3 Re8 31. f4 Kf8 32. Rxg5 Qxf4+ 33. Rg3 Re6 34. Kg1 {The smoke has cleared to leave the players with a fairly level position. However, White has the long-term advantage of less pawn islands and more pawn cover for his king.} Kg8 35. Rd3 c5 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Rd7+ Ke8 38. Rd5 Qh4 (38... Qe3+ {is safer:} 39. Qxe3 Rxe3 40. Rxc5 Ra3 41. Rc2 Kf7) 39. Rd1 c4 $6 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Black overlooks a key idea by White.} (39... Kf7) 40. Rf1 $1 {[%c_effect f1;square; f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The white rook shuts the black king out from the kingside and the bit of pawn cover that it offers.} Kd7 41. Qb4 Qd4+ 42. Kh1 Qd5 43. Qf8 Re7 44. Qf6 Rh7 45. Rf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] Abdusattorov is not even worried about his opponent removing a pawn from his king's cover with check $1} Kc7 ({Surprisingly,} 45... Rxh3+ $2 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] is a mistake:} 46. Kg1 Rd3 47. Qg7+ Kc6 48. Qxg6+ Kc5 49. Rf5) 46. Rd4 Rf7 47. Qh8 Qb5 48. a4 {Kicking the black queen off the strong b5-square where it is both active and covering key squares around the king.} Qc5 49. Rd1 Rd7 50. Rb1 Rd8 51. Qg7+ Rd7 52. Qb2 Kc6 53. Qb8 {Abdusattorov has woven his queen into the back of Black's position, chasing the king further into the center where there are tactical landmines lying.} Rd3 54. Qb7+ Kd6 55. Qxa6+ Ke7 56. Qxg6 {The extra pawns give White insurance for resulting endgames in case more pieces are traded.} Kd7 57. a5 {Guarding the b6-square for some possible attacking variations and getting the pawn closer to promotion. These kinds of moves that gradually yet steadily improve your already better position are especially difficult to play against.} Qd5 (57... Qxa5 $4 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Blunder;persistent; true] The black queen has to guard the c6-square or else:} 58. Rb7+ Kc8 59. Qc6+ Kd8 60. Rb8+ Ke7 61. Re8+ Kf7 62. Qe6+ Kg7 63. Rg8+ Kh7 64. Qg6#) 58. Qg4+ Kd6 59. a6 {The pawns slow yet significant steps down the board give Black one more worry in this challenging position.} c3 60. Rb6+ Ke5 61. Qg5+ Ke4 62. Qe7+ Qe5 63. Qh4+ ({If} 63. Re6 $4 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;persistent; true]} Rd1# {A reminder to always look out for your opponent's ideas, even when you are hunting their king around the center of the board.}) 63... Kf5 64. Qg4# {The wayward black king finally meets its end.} 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.17"] [Round "4"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2811"] [BlackElo "2684"] [PlyCount "147"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] {0-} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4 O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 a5 13. Nbd2 Qd7 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rad1 Kh8 16. Qb5 Nd8 17. Qxd7 Nxd7 18. d4 Nf7 19. Kf2 Ng5 20. Ke2 Nxf3 21. Nxf3 Nf6 22. Nd2 Kg8 23. Rf1 Rfe8 24. Rf3 Rad8 25. g4 d5 {Despite the equal endgame, Praggnanandhaa strikes in the center, enlivening the position.} 26. Rff1 exd4 27. cxd4 dxe4 28. g5 Nd5 29. Nxe4 e5 {Black continues to rip open the center with his rooks aiming down the e- and d-files towards the white king in the center.} 30. Rf5 Nb4 31. dxe5 Rxd1 32. Kxd1 Nd3 33. Kc2 Nxe5 34. Nd2 Re6 35. Rf4 Rc6+ 36. Kb1 Nd3 37. Rd4 Rc1+ 38. Ka2 Nb4+ 39. Kb3 Kf7 { Black has gained tremendous activity for his rook and knight. Now his king joins the party.} 40. Nc4 Kg6 41. h4 Kh5 42. Ne5 Re1 {The black pieces eye the weakened white pawns on e3 and h4.} 43. Re4 Rh1 44. Nd7 Rxh4 45. Re7 Kxg5 46. Rxg7+ Kh6 47. Re7 Kg5 48. Nf8 h5 {Praggnanandhaa has emerged with an extra black passed pawn.} 49. Rg7+ Kf5 50. Rf7+ Ke4 51. Rxc7 Kxe3 52. Ng6 Rd4 53. Rh7 Rd3+ 54. Kc4 Rd5 55. Re7+ Kf2 56. Rb7 Rd6 57. Nf4 h4 {The black pawn hints at its advance down the board, tying down White's pieces to hindering its movement.} 58. Rg7 Kf3 59. Nh3 Nc6 60. Ng5+ Kf4 61. Nh3+ Kf3 62. Ng5+ Ke3 63. Nh3 Nd4 64. Rg4 Rc6+ 65. Kd5 Rc5+ 66. Kd6 Nf5+ 67. Kd7 Kf3 68. Rg6 Rd5+ 69. Ke6 Ne3 70. Ng1+ Ke4 71. Nh3 Rd4 72. b3 Rb4 {Praggnanandhaa continues to give his opponent new problems. Now the weak b3-pawn will soon fall.} 73. Rf6 Kd3 74. Ke5 $4 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] In time trouble, Ding blunders, but his position is already much worse.} (74. Ke5 Ng4+) 0-1
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