[Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.17"] [Round "2"] [White "Gukesh, D..."] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, R..."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2718"] [BlackElo "2690"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {The Italian is a mandatory guest at all elite tournaments. This time we won't have a slow maneuvering game, as usually happens. Complications will set in quickly.} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 {The queenside pawn advance is a classic plan, but it hasn't been played much lately.} a5 8. b5 Ne7 9. O-O Ng6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bb3 c6 12. Nc4 Bc7 13. Bg5 $5 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare move, played in some correspondence games. Gukesh clearly had this move ready as he played it all so quickly.} (13. Re1 {is the most played.}) 13... d5 $5 { [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A very interesting novelty. One of the goals of Bg5 is precisely to make this advance less attractive, but Black is not afraid to go for complications.} (13... h6 { The big question is what Gukesh's idea is against this natural move. Capturing at f6 doesn't seem to offer any advantage. I imagine he would play in his dynamic style with 14.b6.} 14. b6 $5 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Interesting; persistent;true]} Bxb6 (14... Bb8 {is also possible, despite appearances.} 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne3 {with a complicated game.}) (14... hxg5 15. bxc7 Qxc7 16. Nxg5 {A knight on g5 is a constant source of trouble for Black, although nothing serious is happening at the moment.}) 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. d4 {White has compensation for the pawn because of the damaged pawn structure on the kingside. He went on to win in Goreczny-Luers, email 2015.}) 14. Bxf6 {Played after lengthy reflection. Gukesh probably hadn't analyzed Black's bold previous move.} (14. exd5 {The option was to take immediately, avoiding the idea that will be used in the game.} cxd5 15. Ne3 Be6 {Black is fine as he doesn't have to worry too much with the double pawns after 16.Bxf6.} 16. Bxf6 gxf6) 14... Qxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Ne3 Be6 {This is an improved version for White, as the f5-square is controlled with the pawn on e4. Even so, the position is fully playable for Black.}) 15. exd5 Bg4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square; g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent pawn sacrifice.} (15... cxd5 16. Ne3 {This is good for White, as the knight heads to d5.}) 16. Ne3 Bh5 $5 { [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Another bold move, keeping the pin and further complicating the game.} (16... Bxf3 {is enough for more or less equal play after} 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 cxb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5; square;b5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 19. axb5 Nf4) 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. bxc6 (18. g4 {This is a move no sane human would ever play, although the computer keeps evaluating this as equal. If I didn't know that, I'd say with confidence that Black is winning after} e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]}) 18... e4 {Black has many attacking options in the next few moves. The position is very rich. I will try to summarize some of the most interesting alternatives.} (18... Nh4 19. Bd5 {The d5-square is vital for White, whether for a bishop or a knight.} e4 $5 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type; Interesting;persistent;true]} (19... Qf4 {is also very interesting.}) 20. Bxe4 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Qf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the idea.} 22. Re1 (22. g3 Qxf3 (22... Nxf3+ $2 {[%c_effect f3;square; f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 23. Kh1 Qf6 24. Nd5) 23. d4 {leads to a complex and unbalanced endgame.} (23. gxh4 $2 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} Qh3 {with a winning attack.})) 22... Qxh2+ 23. Kf1 { With an unclear position. Black has compensation for the two sacrificed pawns.} ) 19. dxe4 Nh4 (19... Rad8 {is natural and good. A possible line ends in perpetual check after:} 20. Nd5 Rxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type; GreatFind;persistent;true]} 21. Bxd5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only way to defend.} Bxd1 23. Nd7 Bxh2+ $1 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (23... Qd6 24. Rfxd1 Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 {is better for White.}) 24. Kxh2 Qh6+ 25. Kg1 Bf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 26. gxf3 Qg5+ 27. Kh1 Qh5+) 20. Nd5 Qh6 (20... Nxf3+ $2 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] loses after} 21. Qxf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent; true]}) 21. Re1 (21. Nxc7 Bxf3 {is very dangerous for White.}) 21... Bxh2+ $1 { [%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] What a phenomenal game of attack, defense, counterattack, with both chess players showing the best of their abilities. They keep playing the best moves.} (21... Bxf3 $6 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 22. gxf3 Qg6+ {is tempting, but the king escapes more or less without scars.} 23. Kf1 Qg2+ 24. Ke2 Qxf3+ 25. Kd2) 22. Kf1 Ra7 $6 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] From now on, the balance begins to tip in White's favor.} (22... Kh8 $1 { [%c_effect h8;square;h8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a subtle move, defending against a possible knight check on e7.} 23. Qd3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rac8 { I somewhat prefer White, but both players have chances.}) 23. Qd3 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Qxc6 25. f4 {Now the black pieces are displaced on the h-file, and the white pawns are threatening.} Qh6 26. f5 Rb7 27. Rab1 Rfb8 28. Bc2 Qg5 $6 { [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (28... Rxb1 {is better.} 29. Rxb1 (29. Bxb1 $6 {[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;Inaccuracy; persistent;true]} Qg5 {with counterplay.}) 29... Rxb1+ 30. Bxb1 Qc1+ 31. Ke2 h5 {Black is still fighting well.}) 29. Rxb7 Rxb7 30. e5 Rb2 $2 {[%c_effect b2; square;b2;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (30... Qg2+ 31. Ke2 g6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the only chance of survival.}) 31. Ne7+ $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent; true] A nice final combination for such a wonderful game.} Qxe7 32. f6 { The double attack is fatal.} (32. f6 gxf6 33. Qxh7+ Kf8 34. Qh8#) 1-0
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