[Event "Mr Dodgy Invotational 2"] [Site "Online"] [Date "2021.05.15"] [Round "4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Jobava, Baadur"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2780"] [BlackElo "2603"] [Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2021.05.12"] [EventType "k.o."] [EventCountry "NET"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 21,121,19,14,10,25,49,75,37,60,36,30,24,30,13,27,31,31,16,18,19,46,6,0, 0,5,2,11,16,43,0,80,68,125,103,123,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,130,130,222,215,209,122,134, 113,125,121,118,111,113,104,118,118,130,130,130,130,130,130,131,131,131,131, 158,149,547,546,520,352,331,317,277,108,108,108,108,108,259,256,253,254,254, 106,106,106,106,106,106,106,1635,1574,5493,1441,5489,5489,1722,1566]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The mighty Petroff or Russian Defence! Fabiano Caruana has been using it exclusively against 1.e4 and had amazing results in the last tournaments - he basically won all the tournaments he played in at the beginning of 2018 (and the London Classic at the end of 2017).} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 {This is the 7th time Caruana as played this position since 2017!} 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bf5 { [%csl Gb2,Rb7,Gc3,Rc6,Gd4,Rd5,Ge3,Re6,Gf2,Rf7][%CAl Gd4e5,Gf6g7,Gf6g5,Ge5f4, Gf3g5,Gc1g5] This is the idea he has been trying lately. 11...Bg4 is more common.} (11... Bg4 {was played for the first time back in 1909, against the great World Champion Capablanca.} 12. Qd3 (12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Ne5 Nd7 15. f4 {enters a very tense position as well:} b5 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Bb3 Nb6 ( 17... c5 $1 $132) 18. Qf3 Qd7 $6 19. f5 $1 Nd5 20. fxg6 fxg6 21. Bxd5+ cxd5 22. Qxd5+ Kh7 23. Bf4 $16 {1-0 (45) So,W (2710)-Ipatov,A (2584) Tromsoe 2013}) 12... Nd7 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. h3 Bh5 15. f4 h6 16. g4 hxg5 17. fxg5 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 $2 {Black went wrong here, but it is amazing to see that the game was played at a very high level until this move. Of course, Capablanca had White, but that was a time where no one had any computers or advanced chess theory.} ( 18... Qd7 $1 19. gxh5 Qg4+ 20. Kf2 b5 $13 {with a very complicated position, the computer evaluates it as equal.}) (18... b5 $5) 19. Qe4 Qd7 20. g6 $18 { 1-0 (41) Capablanca,J-Northrup,G New York,NY 1909}) 12. Bg5 {C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves.} (12. Re1 Nd7 13. Bg5 Qa5 { Black has been scoring well in this position.} 14. Nh4 Nb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. Bd2 Rae8 17. Rxe8 Rxe8 18. Rb1 Qa6 {[%CAl Ga6d3]} 19. Qh5 Nc4 20. Nf3 h6 { Positionally, Black is doing fine with the better pawn structure, he just has to keep watching the initiative around his king.} 21. h3 (21. Bxh6 $6 gxh6 22. Qxh6 Bf8 23. Qf4 c5 $1 $17 {[%csl Rb1][%CAl Ra6g6,Rf8h6]}) 21... Be6 (21... b5 $1 {[%CAl Ga6c8,Gd7f5]} 22. Bxh6 $2 gxh6 23. Qxh6 Bf8) 22. Re1 Qb5 (22... b5 23. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 24. Qxh6 Bf8 25. Qh5 Bg7 26. Ng5 $40 {[%csl Re1] now White has an important rook helping in the attack}) 23. Qh4 Nxd2 24. Nxd2 Qd3 25. Ne4 $11 {0-1 (40) Liang,A (2552)-Lenderman,A (2599) Saint Louis 2018}) (12. Ng5 h6 13. Qf3 Bg6 14. Nh3 Nd7 15. Nf4 Bh7 16. Nh5 Qh4 17. Bf4 Bxf4 18. Nxf4 Rae8 19. Rae1 Nf6 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Nxd3 Ne4 22. g3 Qf6 23. Qxf6 Nxf6 24. Ne5 Re6 25. f4 Rc8 26. Nc4 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Kf8 28. Nd6 Rb8 29. Kf2 b6 30. Kf3 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 (30) Wang,H (2733)-Nisipeanu,L (2674) Bucharest 2013 CBM 157 [Rogozenco,D]}) 12... Qc7 {[#]} (12... Qa5 13. Nh4 $5 Be6 14. Bxe6 Qxg5 (14... fxe6 $2 {is just bad.} 15. Qg4 $16) 15. Nf3 Qd8 (15... Qa5 $1 {has been the latest trend, after this game. I think the main advantage for Black is that the rooks are connected, and he will be able to play ...Rae8 faster now.} 16. Bb3 Nd7 (16... Qxc3 $2 17. Ng5 $1 $18 {with a deadly attack}) 17. Qd3 {Tregubov played two games here and did not have any problems:} Nf6 (17... Rae8 18. g3 g6 19. Nd2 Qd8 20. Rfe1 Kg7 21. Kg2 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8 {½-½ (23) Bellahcene,B (2488)-Tregubov,P (2578) Brest 2018}) 18. g3 g6 19. Rae1 Rae8 20. Kg2 Kg7 21. h4 h6 22. c4 Qd8 23. Bc2 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {½-½ (27) Cornette,M (2600)-Tregubov,P (2578) Brest 2018} 25. Rb1 Qc8 26. Qc3 b6 27. Re1 {1/2-1/2 (27) Cornette,M (2600) -Tregubov,P (2578) Brest 2018}) 16. Bb3 Nd7 17. Re1 g6 18. g3 Kg7 19. Qd3 Nf6 20. Rad1 (20. c4 c5 $1 (20... Re8 $6 21. Rxe8 Qxe8 22. c5 Bc7 23. Ng5 $36) 21. d5 {was probably what Giri wanted to avoid.} Re8 {should be fine for Black.}) 20... Rc8 21. h4 (21. Ne5 {was another way to use the initiative, but Black is also fine after} Qc7 22. f4 c5 $1 23. Qf3 b5 $1 $132) 21... Rc7 $1 22. Kg2 Re7 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 24. Re1 Qd7 {Giri keeps a slightly more preferrable position, but there is nothing serious going on, Black should be able to hold with precise play.} 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 Re8 27. Qe2 h5 {Black does not need to to anything here, so Caruana patiently waits to see what are White's intentions.} 28. f3 Kf8 29. Rxe8+ Nxe8 30. Qe5 Nd6 31. Kf2 Kg8 $6 (31... b6 $1 32. g4 { now doesn't work as well as in the game:} hxg4 33. fxg4 Nb5 $1 $132 {[%csl Rc3, Rd4]}) 32. g4 $1 {Probably underestimated by Caruana, now the position becomes more difficult to defend.} hxg4 33. fxg4 Qd8 (33... Nb5 34. Qf6 $1 {[%CAl Gf6g6]} Kf8 35. h5 gxh5 36. gxh5 {with a strong attack. ...Nxc3 loses the knight:} Nd6 (36... Nxc3 $2 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qe5+ $18 {followed by either Qa5+ or Qc5+ picking up the knight.}) 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qe5+ Kf8 39. Kg3 $16) 34. Kf3 Kh7 $2 (34... Qd7 $1 {was the last chance to stop White from playing h5. After the game continuation, the defensive task is even more difficult.} 35. Qf6 Kh7 36. Kf4 b5 37. h5 gxh5 38. gxh5 Qh3 $1 $132 {[%CAl Rf6d6,Rh3h2] The knight can not be taken because of ...Qh2+.}) 35. h5 $16 f6 36. Qe6 Kg7 37. Kf4 { Provoking ...g5+, a move that would be very bad for Black.} a5 $1 38. a3 (38. Bc2 $1 gxh5 (38... Nf7 39. Bxg6 Qc7+ 40. Ke3 Ng5 41. Qe8 Qg3+ 42. Kd2 Nf3+ 43. Kc1 $1 $18 {and White is able to escape (Kb2-Bc2 will be played if Black keeps giving checks).}) 39. gxh5 Nf7 $5 $132 {trying some counterplay against the white king.}) 38... gxh5 (38... a4 $1 {It would be nice to add this move before playing the game variation.} 39. Ba2 {[%csl Ra3]} (39. Bxa4 $6 Nf7 $1 $132 {[%CAl Rf7g5,Rd8c7] suddenly starting some counterplay}) 39... gxh5 40. gxh5 Kh6 41. Bb1 Nb5 $1 $132 {A very counterintuitive move.}) 39. gxh5 Kh6 40. Bc2 Qf8 $2 (40... c5 $1 41. Kf3 {threatening Qg4 (because ...Qe8 will fail for Qf4+ then).} (41. dxc5 Nf7 $1 $132) (41. Qg4 $2 Qe8 $1 $11) 41... cxd4 42. cxd4 (42. Qg4 $6 Qe8 43. Qf4+ Kxh5 $11 44. Qxd6 $2 (44. Qh2+ Kg5 45. Qf4+ Kh5 $11) 44... Qe3+ $19) 42... Kg7 $16 {and the struggle continues!}) (40... Kxh5 $4 41. Qh3#) 41. Kf3 $1 {Now the threat is Qg4 again, Black is already losing.} Ne8 { Now White starts to play some mysterious king moves, that I understand only partly, to be honest.} (41... Kxh5 $4 42. Qg4+ Kh6 43. Qg6#) 42. Kg2 (42. Qg4 $2 Qf7 $1 $132) 42... Nd6 43. Kf2 $1 {Achieving the ideal position for the king, but the bishop still has to be manoeuvred to d3.} (43. Qg4 $2 Qg7 $1 { [%CAl Rg7g2]}) 43... b6 (43... Ne8 44. Bd3 $1 {finally forcing a black pawn to move.} Nd6 45. Qg4 $1 {works now} Qg7 46. Qf4+ Qg5 47. Qxd6 Qd2+ 48. Be2 $18) 44. Kf3 {White threatens to play Qg4 once again and Black has to give a pawn away in order to stop that.} (44. Qg4 {doesn't quite work here:} Qg7 45. Qf4+ $2 Qg5 $1 46. Qxd6 Qd2+ {and Black escapes with a draw:} 47. Kf3 (47. Kf1 Qc1+ $1) 47... Qxc3+ 48. Kg4 Qxc2 49. Qxf6+ Kh7 $11) 44... Ne8 45. Qxc6 Nd6 46. Qxb6 $18 Qe7 (46... Qa8+ {wouldn't change much:} 47. Kf2 $1 Qd5 48. Qb8 $18) 47. Qb8 Nf7 48. Qg8 $1 Ng5+ 49. Kf4 Nh3+ 50. Kf5 Qd7+ 51. Kxf6 {1-0 (51) Giri,A (2776) -Caruana,F (2822) Baden-Baden 2018 CBM 185 [Mekhitarian,K] A nice technical win from Anish Giri, who is always a force to be reckoned with amongst the top players.}) 13. Nh4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A top novelty.} ({Predecessor:} 13. Re1 h6 14. Bh4 (14. Nh4 Bh7 15. Bxh6 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bf4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qd6 21. g3 Bh6 22. Kg2 b5 23. Bb3 Qg6 24. Qxg6 fxg6 25. Re7 g5 26. Re6 Kg7 27. Rh1 Rh8 28. Re7+ Kg6 29. Bc2+ {1-0 (29) Nepomniachtchi,I (2749)-Li,C (2720) Sharjah 2017 CBM 177 [Silver,A]}) 14... Nd7 15. Be7 Bxe7 16. Rxe7 Qd6 17. Qe2 b5 18. Bb3 a5 19. Nh4 Bh7 {0-1 (40) Tari,A (2620)-Shirov,A (2643) St Petersburg 2018}) 13... Bc8 14. h3 {White is better.} Bh2+ 15. Kh1 Bf4 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Re1 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Nf6 19. Qd3 h6 20. Nf3 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White is pushing.} Nd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Re3 Be6 23. Rae1 Rac8 24. Ne5 Rfe8 25. Qd2 (25. f4 $5 {[%CAl Rf4f5]}) 25... f6 (25... Bf5 $11 {remains equal.}) 26. Ng6 $16 Kf7 (26... Qd7 $14) 27. Qc2 {Threatens to win with Nh4.} Qd7 {...Bf5 is the strong threat.} 28. Nh4 ({Only move:} 28. g4 $1 $16 {Strongly threatening Nf4.} Kg8 29. f4) 28... Kg8 $11 29. Qd3 Bf7 30. Nf5 Rxe3 31. Rxe3 { aiming for Re7.} Re8 {[#]} (31... Bg6 $11 32. Ne7+ Qxe7 $1 33. Qxg6 Qd7) 32. Rg3 $1 $16 {[%CAl Rg3g7]} g5 (32... g6 $16 {might work better.}) 33. Nxh6+ $18 Kg7 34. Nf5+ (34. Nxf7 $18 Qxf7 35. f4) 34... Kf8 $16 35. Ne3 Kg7 36. Kg1 Bg6 37. Qd1 Re4 38. Qb3 Bf7 39. Rg4 Rxg4 40. hxg4 Be6 41. f3 Kf7 42. Kf2 Qc6 43. Qc2 Kg7 44. Nf1 b5 45. Ng3 Bf7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (45... Bd7 $16 {is more resistant.} 46. Nh5+ Kh6) 46. Nf5+ $18 Kf8 47. Qb2 {White wants to mate with Qb4+.} Qd7 48. Qa3+ Kg8 49. Qe7 (49. Qa6 $18 Be6 50. Nd6) 49... Qxe7 $16 50. Nxe7+ {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KB-KN} Kf8 51. Nc6 a6 $2 (51... Be8 $16) 52. Nb4 $18 a5 53. Nc6 a4 54. a3 (54. Ke1 $18 {has better winning chances.}) 54... Be8 $16 55. Nb4 Bf7 56. f4 Ke7 57. Kf3 gxf4 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (57... Ke6 $16) 58. Kxf4 $18 {White is clearly winning.} Kd6 59. g5 (59. Kf5 $142 Be6+ 60. Kxf6 Bxg4 61. Nd3) 59... fxg5+ 60. Kxg5 Be6 61. g4 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.21/Black=0. 34} 1-0