[Event "Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.27"] [Round "11"] [White "Praggnanandhaa, R..."] [Black "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2684"] [BlackElo "2719"] [Annotator "Rafael"] [PlyCount "104"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nf3 {Only the third most played move in this position. The original idea of the move 6.h3 is to withdraw the knight to e2 and then play g4-Ng3. Many players also turn the knight back to b3 and then try to play in English Attack style, with Be3 and the g4-g5 push. But the 7.Nf3 move is more difficult to understand, despite having been played in many games. Praggnanandhaa will make his intentions clearer with his next move.} Qc7 {A thematic move, aimed at avoiding the development of the white bishop on c4.} (7... Be7 8. Bc4 {This position was played in a recent game of importance to opening theory.} O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 b5 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 Nd7 {with a balanced game Naiditsch-Saric, Hungary 2022.}) 8. Nh2 $5 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type; Interesting;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] A creative move, which has only been attempted once before. I'm always happy when I see new ideas in openings as studied as the Najdorf Defense, as it shows that chess is very much alive. The idea of the knight returning to h2 is perhaps more associated with Ruy Lopez positions. Here the plan is to take the knight to g4 and then to e3, reinforcing control of the d5-square.} (8. g4) (8. Bg5) (8. Bd3) 8... Nbd7 {A novelty.} (8... Be6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. a4 Be7 11. Ng4 {was played in Nestorovic-Lazov, Paracin Summer Open 2017.}) 9. Ng4 b5 {A natural move—the b5-advance is part of Black's strategy in almost all of the Najdorf's positions.} 10. Ne3 Nb6 11. a3 {...Avoiding the b5-b4 move and stabilizing the knight's position on c3.} Be7 12. Bd3 Be6 13. Qf3 g6 14. O-O {Moves by both sides have been pretty logical so far, each player developing their pieces or avoiding the opponent's plan. Now Black commits an inaccuracy.} Nfd7 $6 { [%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (14... O-O {When in doubt, just castle $1 It is not yet time to move this knight.}) 15. Bd2 Nc5 16. Be2 O-O 17. Nf5 $2 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A nice tactical move, but one that only gives White a headache.} (17. b4 $1 { [%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This move was suggested by my colleague GM Quintiliano during the live stream and is the machine's choice.} Ncd7 (17... Nca4 18. Nxa4 Nxa4 19. c4 $1 {[%c_effect c4; square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} bxc4 20. Rfc1 c3 21. Nd1 $1 { [%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] With pressure on the queenside.}) 18. a4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] } bxa4 19. Nxa4 Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Ra3 {White has a better pawn structure and can try to hammer the a6-pawn. It's possible to fight for a small advantage.}) 17... Bxf5 {It's hard to choose between this move and 17...gxf5. Both give Black an advantage.} (17... gxf5 18. exf5 Kh8 $1 {[%c_effect h8; square;h8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] During the broadcast, I believed that Black should play like this.} (18... Bd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} 19. f6 {This is White's idea: the piece is recovered with a decisive attack.}) 19. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]} (19. fxe6 fxe6 {And the black rooks will use the g- and f-files to attack the white king.}) 19... Ncd7 20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Qg4 Rf6 (21... Rf5 {is also possible:} 22. Bd3 Rg8 23. Bxf5 Rxg4 24. Bxg4 Nf8 {Two rooks versus queen positions are often difficult to assess, and this one is no exception.}) 22. Bd3 Rg8 23. Qh5 Nf8 {With an advantage for Black, since the white king is not very comfortable.}) 18. exf5 d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the move that justifies Black's play, and I believe it was not seen by Praggnanandhaa.} 19. Bh6 (19. Nxd5 $2 { [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Rad8 { and the d2-bishop is lost.}) 19... Rfd8 {Black's center pawns are advancing, and White's position becomes difficult to play.} 20. Rad1 $6 {[%c_effect d1; square;d1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (20. Qg3 $1 {[%c_effect g3;square; g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a better try. The idea is to sacrifice a pawn after} d4 {(This move is not forced.)} 21. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4; type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} dxc3 22. bxc5 Qxc5 23. Bd3 {With compensation thanks to the pair of bishops pointing to the black king.}) 20... e4 $1 { [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The pawns keep marching.} 21. Qg4 Nca4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent; true]} 22. Nxa4 Nxa4 {The queenside is under attack, and White tries a desperate counterplay on the opposite flank.} 23. fxg6 {Here or on the next move, 23.Rb1 would be a sad but possible way to defend.} (23. Rb1 Qe5 {With only a small advantage for Black.} (23... Qxc2 $2 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2; type;Mistake;persistent;true] Evidently this is very bad.} 24. Rfc1 Qb3 25. Rc7 )) 23... hxg6 24. f4 $2 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is a move you play hoping for the best, even though you know it won't work. A refutation of the attack is not difficult to find.} (24. Rb1) 24... Qb6+ 25. Kh1 f5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 26. Qg3 Nxb2 {With an extra pawn, a powerful center, and the white bishops neutralized, Black's position is easily winning.} 27. Rb1 Nc4 (27... Na4 { is also possible.}) 28. a4 Kh7 $6 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Inaccuracy; persistent;true] Not the most accurate.} (28... Rd6) (28... b4) 29. Bxc4 $6 { [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (29. Bg5 $1 { [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Gives some practical chances.} Bxg5 30. fxg5 {White can now try a plan with Qh4-h6. Black needs to play with precision.} Rac8 31. axb5 axb5 32. Qh4+ Kg8 33. Qh6 Rd6 34. Rf4 Ne5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The knight is the king's best friend, this is clear.} 35. Rh4 Nf7 36. Qh7+ Kf8 {The attack is repelled.}) 29... Kxh6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent; true] Any White chance of counterplay disappears.} 30. Bb3 Rac8 31. axb5 axb5 32. Rfd1 d4 33. Qf2 Rc3 34. Ra1 Qf6 35. Ra7 Qh4 36. Qf1 d3 37. g3 dxc2 (37... Qxg3 {The computer indicates this move as even more accurate.} 38. Rxe7 d2 39. Qg2 Qxf4 {Followed by 40...Rg3.}) 38. Rxd8 (38. gxh4 Rxd1 39. Qxd1 cxd1=Q+ 40. Bxd1 Bxh4 {With a winning endgame for Black, almost the same as what we will see in the game.}) 38... Bxd8 (38... c1=Q {is even better.} 39. Rd1 (39. Rh8+ Kg7) 39... Rxg3 40. Rxc1 Rxh3+ 41. Qxh3 Qxh3+ 42. Kg1 Qe3+ {And literally all of White's pieces are attacked.}) 39. gxh4 c1=Q 40. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 41. Kg2 Bxh4 { The endgame presents no technical difficulty.} 42. Ra6 Rc3 43. Be6 Rc2+ 44. Kh1 Bf6 (44... Kg7 {also wins easily.} 45. Ra7+ Kf8) 45. Bd7 (45. Bxf5 gxf5 46. Rxf6+ Kg7 47. Rxf5 e3 48. Re5 e2 49. Kg1 b4 50. Kf2 b3 {The pawns decide the game.}) 45... Kg7 46. Bxb5 Rf2 (46... e3 {is also possible:} 47. Re6 Bd4 { followed by the king advance down the h-file.}) 47. Ra7+ Kh6 48. Ra6 Bd4 49. Be8 e3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 50. Rxg6+ Kh7 51. Rg1 e2 52. Bb5 Rh2+ $1 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind; persistent;true] The only winning move.} (52... Rh2+ 53. Kxh2 Bxg1+ 54. Kxg1 e1=Q+) 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2023.01.27"] [Round "11.11"] [White "Keymer, V.."] [Black "Rapport, R.."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "2696"] [BlackElo "2740"] [Annotator "Petrisor Adrian"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nbd2 $5 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Interesting; persistent;true] A solid line for White against King's Indian Defense players. The main idea is to expand his pawns on the queenside as fast as possible.} c5 {A direct approach in the center. This looks logical for Rapport.} 4. dxc5 Qa5 5. a3 Qxc5 6. b4 Qc3 (6... Qc7 {is another way for Black.} 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. c4 d6 9. e3 $14) 7. Rb1 Bg7 8. Bb2 Qc7 9. e3 {Preparing to finish development with Bd3, 0-0, c4. All are normal moves for White.} O-O 10. Bd3 d6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. c4 b6 {Black is also solid, preparing Bb7, Rac8, and then maybe Qb8-Qa8 because the a8-h1 diagonal looks interesting.} 13. Qb3 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rfe8 (14... a5 {Another way for Black.} 15. Nd4 d5 16. Rbc1 axb4 17. axb4 Ne5 18. Be2 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Bd5) 15. Rbc1 Rac8 {Preparing Qb8-Qa8.} 16. h3 Qb8 17. Bf1 $1 { [%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A very good prophylactic move against Qa8. Now the g2-pawn is protected. After Qa8, White can just move the knight, such as to d4, the most active square.} Qa8 18. Nd4 a6 19. Ne2 {Probably intending Nc3 and e4 to control d5, so now is the right moment for Black to react with d5.} d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type; GreatFind;persistent;true]} 20. Nc3 dxc4 21. Nxc4 Qb8 $6 {[%c_effect b8;square; b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (21... Nd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the best here for Black.} 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qb2+ f6) (21... b5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind; persistent;true] also works well:} 22. Na5 Ne4 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Nxe4 Qxe4) 22. a4 Ba8 23. Rcd1 (23. e4 {is also good for Keymer.} Nf8 24. Rcd1 $16 {followed up by Ne3 and Ned5 with a great position.}) 23... Nf8 $2 {[%c_effect f8;square; f8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (23... Red8 $1 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] is the best for Black, but still White's position seems good enough.} 24. e4 e6 25. Re2 $14) 24. a5 N8d7 25. axb6 $5 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (25. Nxb6 {is also very good because if} Nxb6 26. Bxa6 Bb7 27. Bxb7 Qxb7 28. axb6 Qxb6 29. e4 $18 {with a clear advantage for White here and a pawn up.}) 25... Nxb6 26. Na5 $6 { [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (26. e4 $1 { [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is good for Keymer and if} Red8 27. Nxb6 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qxb6 29. Na4 Qc6 30. f3 $16) 26... Nbd5 { Strong reply by Rapport. Otherwise, the a6-pawn would be lost for free.} 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Rxd5 (28. Qa3 {is another good try:} Qa8 29. Rc1 Ne4 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31. Red1 Red8 32. Nc4 $14) 28... Nxd5 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qxd5 Qxb4 31. Ra1 {It's close to equal, but White keeps some small chances.} Qc3 32. Qa2 $1 { [%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Precise $1 The best try for White.} Red8 $1 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent; true] Black is precise too.} 33. Nc4 a5 34. Rb1 Rc5 35. Qa1 Qxa1 36. Rxa1 Ra8 37. Ra4 Rb5 38. g3 e5 39. Kg2 f5 40. e4 fxe4 41. h4 {Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.26"] [Round "11"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D12"] [WhiteElo "2811"] [BlackElo "2681"] [Annotator "3700"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] {[%evp 0,65,19,31,43,-23,35,26,38,21,34,7,-8,12,10,6,22,11,22,4,1,-6,68,50,99, 112,61,85,37,37,37,19,19,25,25,35,28,28,39,10,17,0,15,-32,-24,-27,-19,-39,-31, -31,-29,-44,-10,-25,-5,-5,-7,1,-1,-4,-6,-14,-10,-11,-6,-16,-10,-10]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Qb3 dxc4 $5 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent; true] A daring novelty, hoping that the white queen and knight get into trouble after venturing into the black position.} 11. Qxb7 c5 12. Nb5 Rb8 13. Nc7+ Ke7 {Giving up his right to castle was a part of van Foreest's plan. He still had nearly all of the time he started with at this point.} 14. Qxa7 Qc8 { Now White has to solve the problem of how to save his pieces that have found their way deep into Black's position.} 15. dxc5 Rb7 16. Qa3 Qxc7 17. c6+ Ke8 ( 17... Kd8 18. Qa5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 18. cxd7+ Nxd7 19. Qc3 {Ding is ahead a pawn and his queen is home, but he isn't out of the woods yet. Black has the initiative, and the h2-pawn is hanging.} Bb4 20. Qc2 Qe5 21. Bxb4 Qxe3+ 22. Qe2 Qxe2+ 23. Bxe2 Rxb4 24. O-O-O {Ding has escaped the complications to an even ending.} Ke7 25. Rd2 g5 26. Rc2 Nb6 27. a3 Ra4 {Van Foreest blockades Ding's protected passer.} 28. Kb1 Rh4 29. g3 Rh3 30. Bd1 Ra5 31. Be2 Ra4 32. Bd1 Ra5 33. Be2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.01.26"] [Round "11"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2713"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "6000+30"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 {The Queen's Gambit Accepted.} 3. e4 {The most ambitious response.} e5 {Abdusattorov immediately counterstrikes in the center.} 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 exd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Nc3 Qe7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. f3 { Since his opponent has caught him in surprise preparation, Giri takes a cautious approach.} (10. Bxc4 Nxe4 11. Qe3 Qc5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. Qxe4 Na6 14. f3 Nb4 15. Kb1 Re7 16. Qh4 Bf5+ 17. Nxf5 Qxf5+) 10... c5 11. Nc2 Nc6 12. Bxc4 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qd6 {Giri offers a queen trade, hoping for a safe way to play for the win by utilizing his better pawn structure.} Rad8 15. Qxe7 Nxe7 16. Rxd8 Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Nxd1 Kf7 19. b4 cxb4 20. Nxb4 e5 21. Ne3 Ke6 22. Kc2 Nd7 23. Kc3 Nc5 24. Kc4 Na4 25. Nd3 Nb6+ 26. Kb5 {Giri has the more active king, but Black has no queenside weaknesses for it to go after. The a- and b-pawns prevent White's king from progressing forward.} Nd7 27. Nc5+ Nxc5 28. Kxc5 g5 29. g3 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Donchenko"] [Black "Tabatabaei"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rr2k1/pb1nqpp1/1p2p2p/P4n2/2PP4/5N1P/4BPPB/1QRR2K1 w - - 0 26"] [PlyCount "5"] 26. c5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Attacking the pinned pawn, supported by the upcoming rook trap:} Bxf3 27. Bxf3 bxc5 28. Bb7 $1 {[%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The c8-rook is placed so naturally, this is easy to overlook.} *