[Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.1"] [Board "1"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Gukesh, D."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D33"] [WhiteElo "2723"] [BlackElo "2764"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "68"] [GameId "2091608208957007"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "Iran"] [BlackTeam "India"] [WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"] [BlackTeamCountry "IND"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,68,18,31,32,5,-10,-2,33,33,28,28,34,0,7,20,25,15,34,36,21,47,22,12,32,31,47,18,18,47,81,-24,-17,-12,-9,6,-11,-74,-17,-61,-18,-18,-7,-111,-104,-113,-113,-116,-14,-71,-67,-46,-50,-80,-33,-29,0,0,-8,-326,-324,-324,-346,-577,-593,-612,-685,-738,-733,-734,-758]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. O-O d4 11. Na4 O-O 12. Re1 ({White usually plays the more direct} 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 {and now decides whether to collect straightaway by taking on b6, c6, and d4 (in that order) or to engage in a little finesse with 14.Rc1 followed by 15.Nac5.}) 12... h6 13. Bf4 {Only one predecessor here, but it's a good one.} Be6 14. Nbc5 Bd5 15. Nxb6 $146 {This looks like an unimprovement.} (15. Nxb7 $142 Qe7 ({Here} 15... Qd7 $2 {makes no sense as the knight retreats with gain of time.} 16. Nbc5 $16) 16. Nxb6 axb6 17. e4 dxe3 18. Rxe3 Qxb7 19. Bxd5 Rfd8 20. Rd3 Qa6 21. Bd6 Rxd6 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Rxd6 Ne5 24. Qb3+ Kg6 25. f4 Qc4 26. Qxc4 Nxc4 27. Rc6 Nxb2 28. Rxb6 Na4 29. Rc6 Kf5 30. Rb1 Nd5 31. Rb5 Ke4 32. Rc4+ Kd3 33. Rxa4 Rxa4 34. Rxd5+ Ke3 35. Kg2 Rxa2+ 36. Kh3 Kf2 37. Rd7 g5 38. fxg5 hxg5 39. Kg4 Kg2 40. Kxg5 Kxh2 41. g4 Ra8 42. Kh6 Kg3 43. g5 Kf4 44. g6 Kf5 45. Kh7 Kf6 46. Rf7+ Ke6 47. Rf1 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2753)-Sychev,K (2540) Julius Baer Play In Chess.com INT rapid 2023 (9.24)}) 15... axb6 16. Nxb7 Qd7 $11 {Why not?} (16... Qe7 {transposes to Kramnik-Sychev.}) 17. e4 $8 ({Extracting the knight requires some accuracy. For instance, the attempt at an immediate retreat loses:} 17. Nd6 $4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 g5 $19) 17... dxe3 18. Rxe3 $2 (18. fxe3 {had to be played.} Nb4 19. Bxd5 Nbxd5 20. e4 $1 Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Qxb7 $11) 18... Nb4 $17 19. Nd6 $1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rad8 21. Rb3 Nbd5 22. Be5 Qe6 23. Qd4 {So far, Gukesh has done everything right. Here he thought for a very long time - he started with 34 minutes and made his move with just 10 minutes to go - and found a very tricky idea. It's inferior to the best move, but perhaps Gukesh thought that the obvious 23...Rxd6 would offer the sort of advantage Maghsoodloo would be able to neutralize with best play, and preferred to play for tricks.} Ng4 $5 {/? Creating complications, but there was no need to do so.} (23... Rxd6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6 $17 {/-+ Two knights are generally the least dangerous pair of pieces against a rook (and pawn), but even so Black has a significant advantage. There are too many pieces on the board and not enough open lines for White's rooks to come into their own; additionally, White's kingside could become slightly weak - imagine Black plays ...g5-g4, when putting Black's queen on the a8-h1 diagonal and a Black knight on g5 could lead to horrors for White's king. It's not that this is just going to happen because Black wants it to, but it shows that (a) the position is not harmless for White, and (b) that he doesn't have a free hand to do what he wants on the queenside.}) 24. Rd1 (24. Bxg7 Nde3+ $1 (24... Rxd6 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26. h3 Ngf6 $11 {is a calmer equality. If Black wanted something like this, he'd have played 23...Rxd6, which is a much better version.}) 25. Rxe3 $8 (25. fxe3 $2 Rxd6 26. Qc3 Qe4+ 27. Kg1 Qf5 {and White is soon mated, e.g.} 28. Rf1 Rd1 $1 29. Rxd1 Qf2+ 30. Kh1 Qxh2#) 25... Nxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Qd5+ 27. Kg1 Kxg7 28. Qc3+ $1 Kh7 29. Nc4 Rfe8 (29... Rc8 30. Nxb6 $1 Rxc3 31. Nxd5 $11 {is still equal, but one would prefer White in practice.}) 30. Ne3 Qf3 $11) 24... Ne7 25. Bxg7 Nf5 26. Qf4 Nxg7 27. Rxb6 f5 ({or} 27... h5 {.}) 28. h3 (28. a4 $142 $11) 28... Ne5 $11 (28... Nf6 $142 $15) 29. Nc4 $4 {A blunder. Maghsoodloo may have overlooked (or underestimated) Black's 31st move.} (29. a4 $11) 29... Qxc4 $19 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Qxe5 Rd1 $1 {White is fine after other moves.} 32. Rb3 Qf1+ 33. Kf3 Qh1+ 34. Kf4 Rd5 {White must worry about both ...Qe4# and ...Nh5#, and there's no adequate solution to the double threat.} (34... Rd5 35. Qe2 Nh5+ $1 36. Qxh5 Qe4#) 0-1 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.1"] [Board "3"] [White "Daneshvar, Bardiya"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A09"] [WhiteElo "2598"] [BlackElo "2778"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "71"] [GameId "2091608208957009"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "Iran"] [BlackTeam "India"] [WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"] [BlackTeamCountry "IND"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,71,28,23,16,-23,-15,0,21,1,31,27,18,10,17,-38,36,33,33,-9,33,33,38,25,13,-17,14,15,17,11,14,5,7,-24,13,-22,-7,-1,-1,-8,-15,-44,-58,-31,-42,-115,-129,-157,-157,-134,-137,-166,-168,-167,-167,-205,-162,-185,-142,-138,-156,-158,-158,-232,-143,-106,-106,-470,-516,-516,-484,-1381,-1389,-29995]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O e6 5. c4 d4 6. d3 Nc6 7. e3 Nd7 $5 (7... Bd6 $142 {is usual. If White takes on d4, then Black can consider a later ...Nd7, if necessary, to support ...e5.}) 8. Na3 (8. b4 $5) (8. Ne1 $5) 8... e5 9. Nh4 dxe3 10. fxe3 (10. Bxe3 $142 Nf6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qf3) 10... Nf6 11. Nb5 Bg4 12. Qb3 (12. Bf3 $142) 12... Qd7 $15 13. Nc3 Rd8 14. Nd5 Be7 $1 15. Bd2 O-O 16. Rae1 Be6 17. e4 $1 {Best, notwithstanding the gaping hole on d4.} Nd4 18. Qc3 Nxd5 $1 19. cxd5 Bg4 20. Be3 $2 (20. Nf5 $142) 20... Bxh4 21. gxh4 f5 $19 {White is in plenty of trouble - the h-pawns are weak, Black has a kingside initiative, and White must choose between a lousy light-squared bishop or a dreadful central pawn "structure" in case of exf5.} 22. Bxd4 $2 (22. exf5 Ne2+ 23. Rxe2 Bxe2 24. Rf2 Bg4 25. Qxe5 Rxf5 26. Qg3 Rxf2 27. Bxf2 b6 $19 {is about the best White can do, and it's not very good.}) 22... cxd4 23. Qc5 f4 24. Rf2 b6 25. Qb4 f3 26. Bf1 {Not only is the bishop buried alive, it's also cutting off the e1-rook from any defensive role it might play.} Bh5 27. Kh1 Rf6 28. h3 Rc8 29. Qd2 Rg6 30. Rc1 Rf8 31. Qb4 h6 32. Rfc2 f2 33. Rc7 Rg1+ 34. Kh2 {Time to show off a little.} Rxf1 $1 35. Rxd7 Rxc1 36. Rd6 {White either lost on time or resigned rather than see which way Black would force mate.} (36. Rd6 f1=Q {Threatening ...Qg1#.} 37. Rg6 Qh1+ 38. Kg3 Rg1#) 0-1 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.2"] [Board "4"] [White "Hovhannisyan, Robert"] [Black "Gledura, Benjamin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B53"] [WhiteElo "2619"] [BlackElo "2628"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "90"] [GameId "2091608208965206"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "Armenia"] [BlackTeam "Hungary"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"] [BlackTeamCountry "HUN"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,90,28,37,50,51,81,85,66,57,56,56,44,41,32,28,30,4,42,-4,-3,-3,61,34,32,10,18,-4,-1,-1,6,28,1,-2,-2,-25,3,-52,-51,-54,-54,-95,-73,-73,-58,-83,-32,-51,-11,-21,-10,14,37,-10,-1,-1,-31,-44,-49,-49,-32,-61,-71,-86,-94,-122,-126,-138,-147,-152,-157,-213,-213,-213,-180,-251,-216,-256,-213,-343,-323,-350,-345,-360,-362,-362,-359,-370,-369,-394,-401,-498,-685]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 a6 {In the old days (not all that long ago) this would have wasted a tempo, as White would have met 5...Bd7 (which, all else being equal, is far more useful than 5...a6) with 6.Bxc6. But now the trend is to meet 5...Bd7 with 6.Qd3, so if Black wants to force the trade now's the time to do it.} 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O (7. c4 {is also popular, but after} e5 {the queen can't go to a4, as in the game.}) 7... e5 8. Qa4 Qc7 9. c4 Bd7 (9... Nf6 10. c5 $5) 10. Nc3 (10. c5 {doesn't make as much sense here, as Black can play} d5 {.}) 10... Ne7 {Rare.} (10... Nf6) 11. Be3 $146 (11. Qc2) (11. c5) 11... f6 $6 (11... d5 $11) 12. Qc2 $14 (12. Rac1 $1 $16) 12... Be6 $1 {This is why it was better to play 12.Rac1.} 13. Rfd1 (13. Qa4) 13... Bxc4 14. Rac1 Be6 15. Nd5 (15. b4 $142) 15... Qb7 16. Nb6 $44 Rd8 17. Nc4 Qb4 18. b3 d5 $15 19. Bd2 Qb5 20. a4 Qb8 21. Na5 dxe4 $15 (21... c5 $1 $17 22. Qxc5 $6 dxe4 $17 {/-+}) 22. Qxe4 Bd5 (22... Bxb3 23. Rb1 Bd5 $15) 23. Qe2 $11 Qc8 24. Nc4 Qe6 25. Ba5 Rd7 26. Nb6 Ra7 27. Nxd5 cxd5 28. Nd4 (28. b4 $142 $11) 28... Qd6 $15 29. Nc2 Kf7 30. Ne3 $2 (30. Bb4 Qe6 31. f4) 30... Qe6 $17 31. Bb4 d4 $19 (31... Rd7 $19) 32. Nc4 Nd5 33. Bxf8 Rxf8 {White's attempts to undermine Black's center have failed. Black is a pawn up, and for dessert has a magnificent center, an almost irresistible outpost on c3, and if that's not enough White's b-pawn can come under fire as well.} 34. g3 {Keeping Black's knight out of f4, but c3 beckons.} Nc3 35. Qh5+ Kg8 36. Re1 e4 37. a5 f5 38. Qg5 f4 {White's position is hopeless, but he has to give it a try for the team.} 39. gxf4 Raf7 40. Kh1 Rxf4 41. Rg1 Qf6 42. Qxf6 R4xf6 43. Rg4 Rxf2 44. Rcg1 g6 45. Nd6 e3 (45... e3 46. Rxd4 Ne2 {is winning enough for two games.}) 0-1 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.3"] [Board "1"] [White "Predke, Alexandr"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2671"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "140"] [GameId "2091608208965207"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "Serbia"] [BlackTeam "Uzbekistan"] [WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"] [BlackTeamCountry "UZB"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,140,28,37,75,63,65,67,61,37,49,58,79,75,71,73,54,58,62,25,64,8,12,0,6,6,-3,30,6,37,38,-102,-97,-90,-90,-90,-75,-74,-92,-107,-64,-79,-53,-74,-66,-66,-26,-81,-72,-97,-64,-108,-70,-115,-90,-75,-73,-104,-52,-87,-109,-70,-66,-66,-30,-78,-23,-30,-34,-45,-42,-52,-30,-29,-35,-28,-25,-83,-80,-80,-83,-86,-83,-83,-88,-104,-105,-105,-118,-111,-90,-125,-77,-120,-99,-87,-103,-95,-85,-85,-72,-68,-72,-65,-69,-69,-71,-74,-69,-53,-41,-60,-68,-68,-91,-40,-66,-51,-29,-74,-79,-84,-77,-96,-104,-118,-118,-118,-118,-150,-156,-197,-425,-187,-570,-710,-710,-738,-812,-1002,-1249,-1461,-324]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 Qb6 5. a4 a5 6. g4 Bd7 7. Rh3 $146 {? It looks ridiculous (as does the rest of the opening - don't show this to beginners!), but the rook is really well-placed here. In fact, there's another game where White played} (7. Ra3 {instead, and that's pretty good, too!}) 7... h5 8. Rb3 Qc7 9. g5 (9. gxh5 $1 $16 {What can you say about this position? It's absurd, but here White stands with a clear advantage after nine moves.}) 9... g6 10. Re3 $6 Bg4 (10... e6 $15) 11. Ne2 e6 12. f3 Bf5 13. b3 Ne7 14. Ng3 c5 $11 15. Rc3 $2 Nec6 $19 {Now Black is winning, as White's center is collapsing.} 16. Nxf5 gxf5 (16... exf5 $142) 17. f4 cxd4 18. Rh3 $17 {/-+ Will the rook return to h1?} Nd7 19. Na3 Qb6 20. Bd3 Nc5 21. Nb5 Rc8 22. Bb2 Ne4 23. Ke2 {Perfectly in keeping with the avant-garde character of the play so far. Why not?} Bc5 24. Qg1 Kf8 25. Rd1 Kg7 26. Rh2 {Not quite h1, but hope springs eternal.} Kg6 {Preventing a possible g5-g6 sac, to clear g5 for the White queen (which will hope to use it someday, after a preliminary Bxe4).} 27. Kf1 Rhd8 (27... Na7 {isn't bad, getting rid of White's only active piece.} 28. Nxd4 $2 {isn't a problem (for Black) because of} Nc6 $19) 28. Re2 Kg7 {Clearing g6 for a knight, but the action and the breakthrough must ultimately come on the queenside.} (28... Na7 $1 $19) 29. Kg2 Ne7 30. Kh3 Ng6 31. Rf1 Rc6 32. Rf3 Bb4 33. Bxd4 Bc5 34. Qa1 Rdc8 35. Qg1 {Dusting the board?} (35. Bb2 $142 $17) 35... Nc3 $1 36. Bxc5 Qxc5 37. Qxc5 Rxc5 38. Rd2 $2 (38. Nxc3 Rxc3 {followed by a whole lot of temporizing is the best White can do.}) 38... Nxb5 39. axb5 Rc3 (39... a4 $1 40. bxa4 Ra8 $19) 40. Kg3 Nf8 $1 {Returning the knight to the action.} 41. Kf2 Nd7 42. Ke2 Nc5 43. Kd1 a4 $1 44. bxa4 Ra8 $2 (44... Nxa4 $19) (44... Ra3 $1 $19 {With the rook heading for the fourth rank, White's rook on f3 has less fredom.}) 45. Rg2 (45. g6 $1 fxg6 46. Rg2 Kh6 47. Rfg3 Rg8 48. Bf1 Nxa4 $1 $17 {/-+ still favors Black, but White is doing much better than he deserves.}) 45... Rxa4 $2 {A big mistake.} (45... Nxd3 $1 46. cxd3 Ra3 $1 $19) 46. g6 $1 Nxd3 (46... Ra1+ 47. Kd2 Rxd3+ $1 48. Rxd3 $1 (48. cxd3 $4 Ra2+ $19) 48... Nxd3 49. gxf7+ Kxf7 50. Kxd3 Rh1 $8 51. c4 $1 dxc4+ $8 52. Kxc4 b6 $1 53. Kd4 Rxh4 54. Ke3 $15) 47. gxf7+ Kxf7 48. cxd3 Ra1+ 49. Kd2 d4 $1 $17 50. Rfg3 Ra2+ 51. Kd1 Rxg2 52. Rxg2 Rxd3+ 53. Rd2 $1 Rh3 (53... Rb3 $15) 54. Rxd4 $11 {Somehow, White has come all the way back from death's door. Abdusattorov didn't get to where he is by not grinding away and taking every possible chance though, and Predke will still have to solve another problem or two before the game is over.} Rxh4 55. b6 Ke8 56. Rc4 Rg4 57. Ke2 h4 58. Kf3 Rg1 59. Kf2 (59. Rc8+ Kf7 60. Rc7+ Kg6 61. Re7 h3 62. Rxe6+ {is one way to make a draw. If Black's king approaches the rook, then Rh6 (or Rh-whatever, depending on when Black does it) is easier for White. If the king stays on the g-file, the checks keep coming. If the king goes the h7 or h8, then the checks keep coming unless Black blocks with the rook, which obviously loses - White trades rooks and collects the h-pawn. Finally, if} Kh5 {, then} 63. Re8 $11 {can only be dangerous for Black - though not that dangerous.}) 59... Rb1 60. Rc8+ Kf7 61. Rc7+ Kg6 62. Rxb7 Kh5 63. Rg7 h3 64. Rg5+ $2 {Losing. The idea is to nudge Black's king into a mating net if he goes forward, but there's a problem.} (64. b7 $11) 64... Kh4 $1 $19 65. b7 Rxb7 66. Rg6 Rb2+ $1 67. Kf3 Rb3+ $1 (67... h2 $4 68. Rh6#) 68. Kf2 h2 {And wins, as dealing with with the h-pawn will cost White the f- and e-pawns.} 69. Rh6+ Kg4 70. Kg2 (70. Rxh2 Rb2+ 71. Kg1 Rxh2 72. Kxh2 Kxf4 $19) 70... Rb6 {This pedestrian move wins, of course, but I was surprised that Abdusattorov didn't finish with a nice tactical touch.} (70... h1=Q+ $1 71. Rxh1 (71. Kxh1 Rh3+ $19) 71... Rb2+ 72. Kf1 (72. Kg1 Kg3 $1) 72... Rb1+ 73. Kg2 Rxh1 74. Kxh1 Kxf4 $19) 0-1 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.4"] [Board "1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B52"] [WhiteElo "2798"] [BlackElo "2731"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "90"] [GameId "2091608208969307"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "United States of America"] [BlackTeam "France"] [BlackTeamCountry "FRA"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,90,28,37,51,41,79,47,45,31,49,46,46,37,31,3,18,18,35,30,19,18,22,22,22,23,20,16,20,17,29,0,-1,-7,-13,-37,-16,-28,-8,-16,-11,-38,-37,-36,-38,-30,3,-6,1,3,3,3,10,10,9,-27,-23,-25,-31,-34,-25,-35,36,32,56,40,38,12,-10,-11,-18,-11,-11,-27,-18,-50,-46,-75,-86,-53,-37,-22,-21,-2,-9,-2,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ {As riveting as the Giuoco Piano with a quick d2-d3, and probably played for the same reason.} Bd7 (3... Nd7 {is more combative, which doesn't mean "better". Black will win more games in this line, *and* lose more.}) 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Re1 Nf6 7. c3 e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. a3 (11. Nbd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Be7 {has given Black easy play for decades.}) 11... Be7 12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 O-O $11 {White has nothing. Both sides do their best to be combative the rest of the way, and there are moments when each has a slight edge. All the same, I'll skip to the end - see you there.} 14. Rc1 Rfc8 15. h4 Bd8 16. h5 h6 17. Rc3 Ne7 18. Rd3 Qc6 19. g4 Qc2 20. Qxc2 Rxc2 21. Bc3 Nc6 22. Red1 Bg5 23. Ne1 Rc1 24. Rxc1 Bxc1 25. Rd1 Bg5 26. Nd3 Bd8 27. Nc5 b6 28. Nd3 b5 29. Nb4 Na5 30. Na6 Nb3 31. Nc5 Nxc5 32. dxc5 Kf8 33. b4 Ke8 34. a4 bxa4 35. Ra1 Kd7 36. Rxa4 Kc6 37. Ra6+ Kb5 38. Rd6 a5 39. bxa5 Bxa5 40. Bxa5 Rxa5 41. Rd7 Kxc5 42. Rxf7 d4 43. Rxg7 d3 44. Rd7 Kc4 45. f4 Rd5 (45... Rd5 46. Rxd5 exd5 47. Kf2 $8 Kc3 48. e6 d2 49. e7 d1=Q 50. e8=Q Qxg4 $11) 1/2-1/2 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.4"] [Board "2"] [White "Bacrot, Etienne"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2665"] [BlackElo "2752"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "130"] [GameId "2091608208973404"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "France"] [BlackTeam "United States of America"] [WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,130,28,37,25,17,24,13,22,10,37,4,26,40,-3,4,13,11,8,-13,-13,2,5,4,0,25,17,14,23,35,32,34,23,33,29,31,33,32,39,30,30,29,44,32,23,14,28,-1,5,-5,8,10,10,-3,14,7,21,0,1,0,0,-15,-17,-14,-13,-12,-17,-17,-15,-23,-21,-22,-22,-22,-22,-21,-26,-43,-46,-57,-27,-27,-29,-19,-29,-44,-62,-62,-84,-86,-81,-73,-73,-67,-82,-64,-64,-86,-70,-131,-127,-107,-102,-106,-98,-108,-86,-114,-96,-82,-80,-78,-84,-84,-84,-29,-16,-15,-15,-15,-14,-8,-8,-5,-5,-5,-8,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 {This Petroff/Exchange French-style approach remains popular (or at least common), trying to squeeze something out of White's tiny advantage in time.} Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf4 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. c3 d5 {This has happened in hundreds and hundreds of games.} 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qd2 (18. Qe2 {is the usual move, leading inevitably to a well-known, dead drawn, king and pawn ending.} c6 19. Re1 Ng7 20. Be5 Ne6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. Ng4 Qd8 24. Qe5 Ng7 25. Qxe8+ (25. Nf6+ $4 {Don't do this!} Qxf6 26. Qxf6 Rxe1#) 25... Nxe8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxe8 Kxe8 $11 {As played in dozens of games, probably hundreds or even thousands if one adds in blitz and amateur games.}) 18... c6 19. Re1 Ng7 20. Be5 Bxe5 {A new move by virtue of being a move: an earlier game was agreed drawn after 20.Be5.} 21. Nxe5 f6 22. Nd3 Qc7 23. Qf4 Qxf4 24. Nxf4 g5 {It's hard to believe that the players wring a full game out of this, but they do - and So eventually forces Bacrot to play accurately to save the draw.} 25. Nd3 Kf7 26. f3 Ne6 27. Kf2 a5 28. h4 Nf4 29. Nxf4 gxf4 30. g3 fxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Rg8+ 32. Kf2 (32. Kf4 {can be played (which is not to say that it should be):} Rg2 33. Kf5 Rxb2 34. Re6 $11) 32... a4 33. Re2 b6 34. b3 axb3 35. axb3 Ra8 36. Kg3 Ra3 37. Rb2 Ra1 38. Re2 (38. b4 b5 39. Rc2) 38... Rc1 39. Re3 h5 40. b4 b5 41. Kf4 Kg6 42. Rd3 Rh1 43. Re3 $1 (43. Kg3 $2 Kf5 {isn't just better for Black; it's winning.} 44. Kg2 Ra1 45. Kg3 Rc1 46. Re3 Rc2 47. Rd3 Re2 {is a first zugzwang.} 48. Rd1 Re3 49. Rc1 Rd3 50. Rc2 Rd1 {This seems to give White a chance to get back to where he was, but it is in fact a second zugzwang.} 51. Re2 Rg1+ $1 52. Kf2 Rc1 53. Re3 Kf4 $19) 43... Rxh4+ 44. Kg3 Rh1 45. Re6 $1 Kg5 46. Rxc6 h4+ 47. Kg2 Rc1 48. Rc5 f5 49. Rxd5 Rc2+ 50. Kh3 Rxc3 51. Rxb5 Rxf3+ 52. Kg2 Kg4 53. Rb8 h3+ 54. Kg1 Rg3+ 55. Kh1 Rd3 56. b5 Rxd4 57. b6 Rd1+ 58. Kh2 Rd2+ 59. Kh1 Rb2 60. b7 {Threatening to win with 61.Rg8+ followed by promoting. Black must hide his king from checks.} Kf4 61. Kg1 Rg2+ 62. Kf1 Rb2 63. Rh8 Rxb7 64. Rxh3 {All set up for Philidor's defensive method.} Rb1+ 65. Kf2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.4"] [Board "3"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "Maurizzi, Marc`andria"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C24"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2595"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2091608208977501"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "United States of America"] [BlackTeam "France"] [BlackTeamCountry "FRA"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,103,28,24,24,24,22,7,9,6,30,33,24,24,24,29,38,25,28,19,49,19,33,42,15,27,28,26,32,30,42,11,30,41,47,41,41,54,36,23,23,16,66,64,63,31,31,10,28,-27,-7,23,24,-56,6,15,12,7,35,30,25,35,43,29,15,19,27,17,32,32,41,20,24,34,35,29,52,50,50,50,37,37,29,34,96,59,64,65,65,63,69,58,56,53,57,44,41,49,43,25,22,22,18,18,11,11]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 {Refreshingly direct, if it works. Why untie the Gordian knot when you can cut it?} 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 f6 8. c3 (8. d4 {is the main alternative, and it's also testing.}) 8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 {The pawn on f6 has its obvious dangers, but the engine evaluates the position as equal.} 10. a4 a6 $1 $146 {In general, I would suggest playing this only after White plays a5, but for concrete reasons it's best play it immediately.} (10... O-O 11. a5 a6 $2 {It's too late now.} 12. Qb3 $16 {/+-}) 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Ne4 Bf7 13. b4 Kh8 14. Bd2 Qd7 $11 {Black has won the theoretical battle, at least in one sense, but in another sense White has won. In Black's favor: objectively equality. In White's favor, it's a board full of pieces, and there's no way for Black to dry up the game and make a draw. That means a game where the players are going to play rather than showing their engine 's homework, and as Dominguez is the considerably higher-rated player that's to his advantage.} 15. a5 Nd8 16. Qb3 b5 17. axb6 cxb6 18. Qa4 Nc6 19. b5 axb5 20. Qxb5 Rab8 (20... Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Rb8) 21. Qa4 Nc7 22. Bxf7 Rxf7 23. Rad1 b5 24. Qc2 b4 25. cxb4 Bxb4 26. d4 $1 exd4 $1 27. Bxb4 Nxb4 28. Qc4 Qd5 29. Rxd4 Qxc4 30. Rxc4 Nbd5 31. Rd1 Re7 32. Nc5 Rbe8 33. Nd3 Re4 34. Rc5 R4e7 35. Rb1 Kg8 36. Nd4 Rd7 37. Rb7 Ree7 38. Nf5 Rf7 {First Black's knights were semi-stuck, and now the rooks. Nevertheless, it's still equal.} 39. Rb8+ Rf8 40. Rb7 Rff7 41. Kh2 Ne7 $1 {A nice way of resolving the tension.} 42. Rcxc7 (42. Nxg7 Rxd3 43. Rcxc7 Kxg7 44. Rxe7 Rxe7 45. Rxe7+ Kg6 {is a routine draw, despite White's extra pawn.}) 42... Rxc7 43. Nh6+ gxh6 44. Rxc7 Ng6 {This too remains a simple draw. White's achievement is insufficient to win or even enjoy mild winning chances, and the players call it a day after a few more moves.} 45. Rc6 Kg7 46. Nc5 Re7 47. Ne6+ Kf7 48. Nd4 Rd7 49. Rc4 Ne5 50. Ra4 Nd3 51. f3 Nb2 52. Rb4 1/2-1/2 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.4"] [Board "4"] [White "Lagarde, Maxime"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C13"] [WhiteElo "2598"] [BlackElo "2729"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "78"] [GameId "2091608208981598"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "France"] [BlackTeam "United States of America"] [WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,78,28,22,45,32,32,32,57,27,46,30,46,26,5,2,-1,-37,-6,2,8,18,-10,-11,17,12,31,-9,8,-5,-11,-11,-6,-19,15,-35,5,5,5,-79,-91,-158,-158,-155,-169,-178,-114,-114,-56,-120,-129,-154,-154,-131,-131,-174,-112,-272,-295,-348,-488,-488,-606,-593,-593,-605,-605,-629,-601,-641,-673,-673,-695,-709,-610,-606,-606,-939,-755,-755,-800] Aronian is the hero of this round for the U.S., keeping them in medal contention.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 (4. e5 {has been considered the most testing move for a long time now, though 4.Bg5 is an important and respectable secondary main line.}) 4... dxe4 {The most reliable option, and far more interesting than the 3...dxe4 lines.} 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 $1 7. Nc3 {7.Nf3 is *far* more common, but the text has an excellent score in the database.} Nc6 $5 8. Nge2 (8. Nf3 a6 (8... Nb4 $5)) 8... a6 9. g3 {This is what motivated 8.Nge2, but there's a flip side to this: on e2 the knight doesn't fight for the e5 square.} e5 $1 10. d5 Na7 $5 {Heading (hopefully) for b5.} (10... Na5 $11) 11. Qd3 $1 Qd6 $146 12. O-O-O f5 13. h4 (13. f4 $142 e4 14. Qe3 Nb5 15. Nxb5 axb5 16. Nc3 b4 17. Nb5 Qd8 18. Bc4 h5 $1 $11 {This is a nice and weird position - good prep or inspiration by Aronian!}) 13... Bd7 (13... b5 $1 $15) 14. Bh3 $11 e4 $1 15. Qe3 Nb5 16. f3 Nxc3 17. Nxc3 Rg8 18. fxe4 Rxg3 19. Qd4 $2 {A huge error.} (19. Qf2 f4 20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Rde1 f6 22. Ne2 Rg4 23. Rhf1 Qb6 $1 $11) 19... Bf6 $17 20. e5 $6 ({If White makes about 10 perfect, often unobvious moves in a row, he can reach...a lost ending, albeit one with some small chances to draw.} 20. Qf2 $1 Rxc3 21. Bxf5 $1 Bxf5 22. Qxf5 Re3 $1 23. Rhf1 Ke7 24. Kd2 $1 Rg3 25. e5 $1 Qxd5+ 26. Kc1 Qxe5 27. Rde1 Re3 28. Qxf6+ $1 Qxf6 29. Rxe3+ Qe6 $17 {/-+}) 20... Bxe5 21. Rde1 f6 22. Qf2 Rxc3 $6 {In the 20.Qf2 line this was best; here, it's unnecessary.} (22... O-O-O 23. Qa7 c5 $19 {leaves White with extra material and a huge positional advantage.}) 23. bxc3 O-O-O 24. Bxf5 $2 {After this final error, Aronian delivers the goods in brutal fashion.} (24. Qa7) 24... Qa3+ 25. Kd1 Qxa2 $19 26. Rh3 Bxf5 27. Qxf5+ Kb8 28. Rd3 Bxc3 $1 29. Rf1 (29. Rxc3 Rxd5+ 30. Qxd5 Qxd5+ $19 {Black has too many extra pawns for the rooks to have a chance.}) 29... Qb1+ 30. Ke2 Qxc2+ 31. Kf3 Rg8 $1 32. Rf2 Qb1 $1 33. Qxh7 Qh1+ 34. Kf4 Be5+ 35. Kf5 Qg1 {Threatening the rook, but especially mate on g4.} 36. Ke6 Qg4+ 37. Rf5 Bd6 38. Rdf3 Re8+ 39. Kxf6 Rf8+ (39... Rf8+ 40. Ke6 Qe4+ 41. Kd7 Qe8#) 0-1 [Event "45th Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest HUN"] [Date "2024.09.19"] [Round "8.6"] [Board "1"] [White "Le, Quang Liem"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D63"] [WhiteElo "2741"] [BlackElo "2832"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "90"] [GameId "2091608208985699"] [EventDate "2024.09.11"] [WhiteTeam "Vietnam"] [BlackTeam "Norway"] [WhiteTeamCountry "VIE"] [BlackTeamCountry "NOR"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] {[%evp 0,90,28,28,27,1,0,6,6,14,43,12,15,3,25,14,56,44,44,6,38,15,30,28,59,52,54,57,57,47,44,55,55,55,56,1,-26,0,4,0,0,-50,0,-37,-29,-33,-50,-37,-42,-40,-42,-126,-126,-126,-91,-74,-46,-95,-95,-88,-88,-101,-101,-101,-101,-101,-101,-101,-101,-101,-96,-135,-127,-163,-123,-138,-88,-145,-145,-141,-255,-361,-304,-358,-358,-359,-359,-387,-387,-398,-398,-472,-522]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Rc1 O-O 9. a3 a6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qc2 {This is a very normal *kind* of QGD position, but this *specific* position is apparently brand new.} Ne8 12. Bg3 Bd6 13. Bd3 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Ndf6 15. Ne5 Nd6 16. f3 Re8 17. Ne2 $6 (17. Kf2) 17... Nd7 $15 18. Rh5 f6 19. Nxd7 Bxd7 20. Kf2 (20. Qd2 f5 $15 {/? followed by ...Qf6, ...Re7, and ...Rae8 maintains a significant Black advantage.}) 20... f5 $1 $15 (20... Rxe3 21. Kxe3 Qe8+ 22. Kf2 Qxh5 {is safe, but White gets more than enough activity for the pawn after} 23. Nf4 Qg5 24. Qc5) 21. Re1 Rxe3 {Now it's good.} 22. Kxe3 Qe8+ 23. Kf2 Qxh5 24. Qc5 Qg6 25. Qb6 $6 (25. Nf4 $1 Qf6 26. Nh5 Qf8 27. Nf4 Ne4+ $1 28. Bxe4 Qxc5 29. dxc5 fxe4 30. fxe4 Rf8 31. exd5 $1 g5 32. Re7 Rf7 33. Rxf7 Kxf7 34. Nd3 cxd5 35. Ke3 $11) 25... Qf6 $15 26. Qc7 (26. Nf4 $142) 26... Be8 $17 27. Nf4 Rc8 28. Qxc8 $2 {White gets a rook, bishop and knight for the queen - that part's good. What's less good is that he'll lose a bunch of pawns and have to deal with Black's 4-1 or 4-0 queenside majority.} (28. Qe7 $142 {This was better, but I assume Le played 26.Qc7 for the sake of the queen "sacrifice".}) 28... Nxc8 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Rxc8 Qxd4+ 31. Kf1 g5 $19 32. Rf8+ Ke7 33. Ng6+ Kd6 34. Bxf5 Qxb2 35. f4 Qxa3 {Black's king is fine, as he can hide on whatever side of his queenside pawn wave he needs to. White's kingside play is more or less non-existent, so it's going to be an easy win for Black's pawn tsunami.} 36. Kf2 a5 37. Ne5 a4 38. Rf7 Qb2+ 39. Kf1 Qb5+ 40. Bd3 Qb3 41. Bf5 a3 42. Nd3 Qxd3+ 43. Bxd3 a2 44. Rxb7 a1=Q+ 45. Ke2 Qg1 0-1