[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