[Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A15"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2701"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,99,26,25,25,4,17,3,-4,-3,23,19,19,20,26,5,14,6,3,8,15,2,7,12,-4,12,15,-4,-4,-6,-7,-28,23,20,28,14,14,13,29,34,37,31,48,54,63,34,69,69,57,45,71,70,62,75,75,71,73,85,60,53,53,46,40,40,59,55,43,55,110,82,99,75,140,171,163,180,192,145,272,262,272,276,333,328,328,342,348,348,457,472,489,453,506,524,673,731,29981,29982,29983,29982,29985,29986]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. b3 Nc6 4. Bb2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 {You might think that this is the sort of fairly obscure idea that only Magnus Carlsen among super-GMs would try. It is rare - only 77 games with this in the database - but among Carlsen's predecessors in this line you'll find Kramnik, So, Grischuk, Artemiev, Xiong, Maghsoodloo, Nyzhnyk, and Nihal - some real monsters. It may be obscure, but not to the creme de la creme.} e5 7. Qb1 $146 (7. e3 {has been the main choice, both in general and among the players mentioned in the last note.}) (7. Nxd5 {was tried by So and Nihal.}) 7... Be7 8. e3 Be6 9. Bb5 f6 10. O-O Nxc3 11. dxc3 Qc7 12. Rd1 O-O (12... a6 13. Bd3 O-O-O $11) 13. Bd3 f5 (13... g6 {gives White no more than a draw by taking on g6.}) 14. e4 $1 {Fixing the pawn on e5 as a target.} f4 15. Bb5 Bf6 (15... c4 $5 {prevents White from playing c4.}) 16. Bxc6 (16. Qd3) 16... Qxc6 17. c4 Qc7 18. Bc3 Rae8 19. Qb2 Bf7 (19... Bd7 {seems to be better, intending ...Bc6. It looks like it overloads Black's queen, but none of the Nxe5/Rxd7 tricks bears any fruit.}) 20. Rd3 $14 Re7 21. Rad1 Bg6 22. Qe2 Qc6 (22... Be8 $142 {The bishop belongs on c6.}) 23. Rd5 Rfe8 24. h3 $1 {Clearance.} a6 25. Nh2 h5 {Preventing Ng4 at the cost of weakening the g5 square.} 26. Nf3 $16 Re6 27. h4 b5 28. Ng5 Bxg5 29. hxg5 Bf7 30. Qf3 $6 (30. Qd3 $142) (30. f3 $142) 30... bxc4 31. bxc4 g6 $2 (31... Rg6 $1 32. Rxe5 ({If} 32. Qxh5 {Black will not grab the rook, which would be terrible (I'm reminded of Anand's one win in the 1995 match with Kasparov), but would instead go after White's queenside weaknesses starting with} Qa4 $44) 32... Rxe5 33. Bxe5 Rxg5 34. Bxf4 Rg4 $16 {/?}) 32. Ba1 $2 (32. Rd7 $18 {followed by Qd3, invading, gives White a clearly winning advantage.}) 32... R6e7 33. Rd6 Qa4 $2 ({This time Black needed to go with the modest approach.} 33... Qc8 $16) 34. Qb3 Qxb3 35. axb3 $18 {Now White has nothing to worry about, while Black has weaknesses on a6, c5, and e5 - and a bad king to boot. The rest is easy.} Re6 36. Rxe6 Bxe6 37. Rd6 Kf7 38. Bxe5 Bg4 39. Rf6+ Kg7 40. Bc3 Kh7 41. Rf7+ Kg8 42. Rg7+ Kf8 43. f3 Rb8 44. fxg4 Rxb3 45. gxh5 $1 {A nice touch, but by no means the only way to win.} Rxc3 46. h6 Rg3 47. Rxg6 f3 48. h7 Rxg2+ 49. Kf1 Rh2 50. Rh6 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Black "Carlsen, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D22"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2852"] [PlyCount "96"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 b5 5. a4 Bb7 6. b3 e6 7. bxc4 bxc4 8. Bxc4 Nf6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Bxa6 Bxa6 14. Qxa6 Rxb1 15. Nxb1 Qa8 16. Qc4 c5 17. Qa2 Rc8 18. Bd2 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Ne4 20. Rc1 Rxc1+ 21. Bxc1 Ndc5 22. f3 Nf6 23. Nc3 Qa6 24. Qe2 Qa5 25. Qc4 Nd5 26. Bd2 Qa8 27. a5 Qxa5 28. Nxd5 exd5 29. Qc1 Qa4 30. Nf5 Bf8 31. Bc3 Qc4 32. Qd2 Ne6 33. h3 h5 34. Bb2 g6 35. Nd4 Nxd4 36. Bxd4 Bg7 37. Bxg7 Kxg7 38. Kf2 h4 39. Qb2+ Kg8 40. Qb8+ Kg7 41. Qe5+ Kg8 42. f4 Qc2+ 43. Kg1 Qd1+ 44. Kh2 Qe1 45. Qe8+ Kg7 46. Qe5+ Kg8 47. Qe8+ Kg7 48. Qe5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2701"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 {This doesn't seem to be Carlsen's variation, as just over a month earlier he lost from this position with Black.} 7. Nge2 (7. f3 h5 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Na6 10. Nge2 Nc7 11. e4 dxe4 12. fxe4 Ne6 13. O-O Be7 14. h3 O-O 15. Rad1 Qb6 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Qxb2 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Rb1 Qxa2 22. Rxb7 Qa3 23. Qxa3 Bxa3 24. Ra1 {1-0 Sarana,A (2708)-Carlsen,M (2830) Wch Blitz Almaty 2022 (19)}) 7... Nh5 8. Ng3 (8. Be5 Nd7 9. h3) 8... Nxf4 9. Nxf5 Ne6 10. g3 Nd7 11. Bd3 g6 12. Nh4 Bg7 13. Nf3 O-O 14. O-O $11 b5 $5 15. Rc1 (15. h4) 15... Rc8 16. h4 a5 ({The more direct} 16... b4 {followed by ...c5 is preferable.}) 17. Kg2 Qe7 (17... b4 $142) 18. Ne2 (18. h5) (18. Rh1) 18... b4 19. Nf4 Nxf4+ $6 (19... Qd6) 20. exf4 $16 c5 21. f5 $2 (21. Re1 Qd6 22. h5) 21... cxd4 $2 (21... c4 22. Bb1 Nf6 23. Ne5 Rc7 24. Re1 Qd6 $11) 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. h5 $1 $16 Qf6 25. hxg6 fxg6 26. Qe2 $6 (26. Nh4 $1 $16) 26... Nc5 27. Rc1 Bf8 28. Bb1 (28. Re1 $1 $14) 28... Rc7 29. Nh4 (29. Rd1) (29. Rh1) 29... g5 $11 30. Qg4 d3 31. Nf3 Rg7 (31... Qg6 $142) 32. b3 (32. Rd1 $14) 32... Qg6 $11 33. Re1 Re7 34. Rd1 $2 (34. Nh4 Qf6 35. Rxe7 Bxe7 36. Nf5 $44) (34. Rh1 Re4 35. Qh3 Kf7 36. Qh8 Re2 37. Rh7+ Ke8 38. Ra7 Ne6 $11 {Wild and scary, but equal.}) 34... Qe4 $1 $19 35. Qxg5+ Rg7 36. Qh5 $2 (36. Qe3 $142 Qxe3 37. fxe3 Ne4 38. Kh2) 36... Ne6 $1 {The threat of ...Nf4(+) wins - or at least it should.} 37. Kg1 Rh7 $2 ({It's hard to understand why Erigaisi didn't play} 37... Nf4 {anyway.} 38. Qh1 (38. Bxd3 Nxd3 39. Ng5 Qf5 $19) 38... Rxg3+ $1 {Mating quickly.} ({Maybe Erigaisi saw} 38... Rh7 39. Qxh7+ $1 Qxh7 40. gxf4 {and thought the win would be difficult or even impossible. While 38...Rxg3+ is far better than this, this is still winning after} Bc5 41. Rxd3 Qg7+ 42. Kf1 Qb2 $19 {, and a better choice than what he did in the game.}) 39. fxg3 Bc5+ 40. Kf1 (40. Kh2 Qe2+ 41. Qg2 Qxg2#) 40... Qe2#) 38. Qe8 $6 (38. Qe5 $1 Rf7 $1 39. Qxe4 dxe4 40. Nd2 Nc5 41. Re1 Bg7 $1 42. Nxe4 Bd4 {is still winning - probably - but the line isn't so easy to find and the win doesn't feel like a guarantee either, especially in time trouble.}) 38... Qxf3 $2 (38... Rh6 $1 $19) 39. Qxe6+ $11 Kh8 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. Qe6+ Rf7 42. Qg6+ Bg7 43. Rd2 $2 (43. Qxd3 $1 {It looks scary to allow the check on f2, but it's fine - White can defend before Black gets a good h-file check with his rook.} Qxf2+ 44. Kh1 Bd4 (44... Rf6 45. Qxd5+ Kh8 46. Qh5+ $1 Rh6 47. Rd8+ Qf8 $8 48. Qxh6+ Bxh6 49. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $11) 45. Qxd4 Qxd4 46. Rxd4 Rf1+ 47. Kg2 Rxb1 48. Rd2 $11 (48. Rxd5 $11)) (43. Rf1 d2 44. Bc2 $11 {also holds.}) 43... Qe4 $1 $19 44. Qxe4 (44. Qg5 Rf5 45. Qe3 Rh5 $19 {forces White to capture on e4 after all.}) 44... dxe4 45. Kg2 (45. Bxd3 Bc3 46. Rd1 exd3 47. Rxd3 Ra7 48. Kg2 a4 49. Rd1 axb3 50. axb3 Ra2 $19 {wins for Black, even though he's down to his last pawn.}) 45... Bc3 46. Rd1 Bd4 47. f3 Rxf3 48. Re1 Rf2+ 49. Kh3 d2 0-1 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Black "Carlsen, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E47"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2852"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. cxd5 cxd4 8. exd4 Nxd5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Qd3 g6 12. Rd1 Bf8 13. Qf3 Bd7 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Be3 Bg7 16. Bb3 Be6 17. Nf4 Qf6 18. Qg3 Rad8 19. Rac1 Ne7 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. Ba4 Nf5 22. Qc7 Rc8 23. Qxb7 Rb8 24. Qc7 Rec8 25. Qd7 Qxd7 26. Bxd7 Nxe3 27. fxe3 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxb2 29. Rc8+ Bf8 30. Bc6 Rc2 31. Bb7 Rxc8 32. Bxc8 f5 33. Be6+ Kg7 34. Bxd5 Kf6 35. Kf2 h5 36. g3 Bd6 37. h3 Bc7 38. Kf3 Bd6 39. g4 hxg4+ 40. hxg4 Kg5 41. gxf5 gxf5 42. a4 a5 43. Ke2 Kf6 44. Kd3 Bh2 45. Kc4 Bg1 46. e4 fxe4 47. Bxe4 Bf2 48. Kb5 Bxd4 49. Kxa5 Bc3+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.5"] [White "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2852"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,103,22,33,5,38,38,17,0,0,36,9,19,6,6,-13,2,-8,3,7,9,-7,-3,1,8,12,13,5,5,-17,-17,-36,-26,-28,-15,-34,-40,-33,-11,-4,7,-70,-31,-48,-48,-60,-58,-68,-64,-133,-76,-111,-79,-83,-105,-214,-293,-293,-302,-304,-87,-90,-99,-87,-90,-90,-97,-103,-101,-110,-67,-144,-151,-175,-91,-80,-75,-72,-59,-52,-81,-86,-73,-69,-69,-69,-23,-23,-2,-18,-19,-20,-20,-21,-2,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4,-4] Armageddon time: White must win, otherwise Carlsen wins the match.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 d6 7. h3 a5 8. Re1 Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. c3 Qd7 11. Na3 Rad8 12. Nc4 b6 13. Rb1 (13. Bd2 $142 $1 $14 {/? White is preparing b4.}) 13... Qe8 14. Be3 (14. b4 $6 d5 $1 {is at least equal for Black.}) (14. Bd2 $142) 14... Nd7 $11 15. Na3 Qg6 16. Nb5 Rc8 17. b4 h6 18. Kh1 (18. Bd2 $142 d5 19. Re3 $11) 18... d5 19. Bd2 Kh8 (19... Nd8 $142) 20. bxa5 $6 (20. Qe2 $11) 20... Nxa5 $15 21. c4 c6 22. Nc3 dxc4 23. dxc4 Nxc4 24. Bxh6 $2 (24. Bc1) 24... Qxh6 25. Qxd7 Bc5 $2 (25... Rxf3 $1 {wins, though working out all the details in a 15-minute game is unlikely at best.} 26. Qxc8+ Kh7 27. Qd7 Bc5 28. Nd1 Nd2 29. Kg1 Qf4 30. Qxe6 Rxf2 31. Nxf2 Bxf2+ 32. Kh1 Nf3 33. Qf5+ Qxf5 34. exf5 Nxe1 $19) (25... Bd6 {isn't as good as 25...Rxf3, but it's better than the text and keeps a winning advantage.}) 26. Qd3 $17 Rcd8 27. Qe2 $2 (27. Qxc4 $1 Rxf3 $1 28. Nd1 $1 $17) 27... Nd2 $1 $19 28. Nxe5 Nxb1 29. Rxb1 Rxf2 $2 (29... Rd2 $1 $19) (29... Bxf2 $19) 30. Qxf2 Bxf2 31. Nf7+ Kh7 32. Nxh6 Kxh6 $17 {/-+ It's still bad for White, especially since only a win will do.} 33. g4 Bc5 34. Ne2 Kg5 35. a5 $2 (35. Rf1) 35... bxa5 $19 36. Rc1 Ba7 (36... Bb4 $142) 37. Rxc6 Rd2 $2 (37... Kh4 38. Rc7 Be3 39. Rc3 Bb6 40. Rc6 Rd2 41. Rxb6 Rxe2 $19 {wins due to the terrible position of White's king.}) 38. Ra6 $1 Rxe2 39. Rxa7 $11 {White will survive this ending, but not the match.} Kh4 40. Kg1 Kxh3 41. Rxg7 Kg3 42. Kf1 Rxe4 43. g5 Kg4 44. g6 Kf5 45. Ra7 Kxg6 46. Rxa5 e5 47. Kf2 Kf5 48. Ra3 Rf4+ 49. Ke2 Re4+ 50. Kf2 Rf4+ 51. Ke2 Re4+ 52. Kf2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.1"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "126"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 a6 8. a4 Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Rb1 b5 14. Ra1 Rb8 15. Nf1 Bb6 16. Ng3 Qd7 17. Qc2 bxa4 18. Qxa4 a5 19. b5 Na7 20. c4 c6 21. bxc6 Nxc6 22. Bd2 Qc7 23. Reb1 Nd7 24. Nf5 Ree8 25. Qd1 Re6 26. Rb5 Nb4 27. Ne1 Kh7 28. Qg4 Rg6 29. Qe2 Nf8 30. Rb1 Nc6 31. Nc2 Ne6 32. Kh2 Bc5 33. Rxb8 Nxb8 34. h4 Nc6 35. g3 Rf6 36. Kg2 Ned4 37. Ncxd4 Nxd4 38. Nxd4 Bxd4 39. Be3 Bxe3 40. Qxe3 a4 41. Ra1 Qd7 42. Qe2 Qa7 43. Qe3 Qd7 44. Qe2 Qa7 45. Ra3 g6 46. Qc2 Kg7 47. Kf1 h5 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. Ra2 a3 50. Qc3 Kg7 51. Qb3 Kg8 52. Qc2 Kg7 53. Qc1 Qc5 54. f3 Re6 55. Qxa3 Qd4 56. Qb3 Re8 57. Ra3 Qe3 58. Qb2 Rb8 59. Qxb8 Qe2+ 60. Kg1 Qe1+ 61. Kg2 Qe2+ 62. Kg1 Qe1+ 63. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "So, W."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A14"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Nf4 13. gxf4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2 Bxb2 15. Rad1 Rb8 16. Nc4 Bf6 17. Nd6 b6 18. Be4 Rd8 19. Nxc8 Rbxc8 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Rd1 Bf6 22. Rd7 a5 23. e3 g6 24. Rb7 Bd8 25. Bd3 Kf8 26. Bc4 a4 27. Kg2 axb3 28. axb3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.3"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 O-O 8. a4 Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Rb1 b5 15. Ra1 Rae8 16. Nb3 Bb6 17. Bd2 d5 18. a5 Ba7 19. Be3 dxe4 20. dxe4 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Rd6 22. Nc5 Qc8 23. Rd1 Nd7 24. Nb3 Nf6 25. Nc5 Nd7 26. Nb3 Nf6 27. Nc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "So, W."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "28"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 Nbd4 8. Nxd4 d5 9. exd6 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd6 11. Qe4+ Qe6 12. Qd4 Qd6 13. Qe4+ Qe6 14. Qd4 Qd6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "2.5"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qd6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. b3 a5 9. a4 Nd7 10. Ng5 f6 11. Nxe6 Qxe6 12. Qh5+ Qf7 13. Qg4 Nf8 14. Nc4 Ne6 15. Kh1 h5 16. Qd1 g5 17. Be3 b6 18. c3 Rd8 19. Qc2 h4 20. Rad1 O-O 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. d4 exd4 23. cxd4 Ne6 24. Qc3 c5 25. dxc5 Nxc5 26. f3 h3 27. g3 Qe6 28. Kg1 f5 29. exf5 Qe2 30. Ne3 Rde8 31. Qc4+ Qxc4 32. Nxc4 Rxf5 33. g4 Rf7 34. Rd5 Rg7 35. Nxa5 Re2 36. Nc6 Nxb3 37. a5 bxa5 38. Rf2 Re1+ 39. Rf1 Re2 40. Rf2 Re1+ 41. Rf1 Re2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Carlsen, M."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D77"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "146"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c5 8. Nxc4 Be6 9. Nfe5 Bd5 10. dxc5 Bxg2 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Kxg2 Ne4 13. Be3 Na6 14. b4 Nxb4 15. Rab1 a5 16. a3 Nc6 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Rb6 Bd4 19. Rxc6 Bxe3 20. Nxe3 Rac8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rc1 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Nxc5 24. Nc4 a4 25. Kf3 f6 26. Ke3 e5 27. Nd6 f5 28. Nc4 Nd7 29. Kd2 Kf7 30. Kc3 Ke6 31. Kb4 Kd5 32. Ne3+ Kd4 33. Nc2+ Kd5 34. Kb5 Nc5 35. Nb4+ Kd6 36. f3 h5 37. Kc4 g5 38. Nd5 Nb3 39. Nc3 Nd2+ 40. Kd3 Nf1 41. Nxa4 Nxh2 42. Ke3 g4 43. Kf2 gxf3 44. exf3 e4 45. fxe4 fxe4 46. Nc3 Ng4+ 47. Ke2 Ke5 48. a4 Nh6 49. a5 Kd6 50. Nxe4+ Kc6 51. Nd2 Kb5 52. Nb3 Nf5 53. Kf3 Ne7 54. Kf4 Nc6 55. Kg5 Kb4 56. Nd2 Kxa5 57. Kxh5 Ne5 58. Kg5 Kb5 59. Kf5 Nf7 60. Nf3 Kc5 61. Ne5 Nd6+ 62. Ke6 Ne4 63. g4 Kd4 64. Nf7 Ke3 65. Kf5 Ng3+ 66. Ke5 Ne4 67. Kf5 Ng3+ 68. Ke6 Ne4 69. Ke5 Nd2 70. Ng5 Nc4+ 71. Kf5 Kd3 72. Kf4 Ne3 73. Ne4 Nxg4 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Carlsen, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2852"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. d4 Bb7 4. c4 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 e6 8. Bf4 d6 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. Nb3 Re8 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. e3 a5 14. Nfd2 e5 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Nc3 e4 18. Nd5 Qe5 19. Re2 Nb4 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. Rd2 c5 22. Bh3 Bf6 23. a3 bxa3 24. bxa3 Red8 25. Bd7 Kg7 26. a4 h5 27. h4 Rh8 28. a5 Rhd8 29. Rb1 Qe7 30. Bh3 Rxd2 31. Qxd2 bxa5 32. Nxa5 Rd8 33. Qc2 Ba8 34. Qa4 Qc7 35. Qb5 Be5 36. Bg2 Rb8 37. Qxb8 Qxb8 38. Rxb8 Bxb8 39. Bh3 Bc7 40. Nb3 Bd6 41. Bd7 Bb7 42. Na5 Ba6 43. Bc6 f5 44. Bb7 Bc7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Carlsen, M."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E11"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2768"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. a3 bxa3 7. Rxa3 O-O 8. e3 b6 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Nb4 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. Ne5 a5 13. Na2 d6 14. Nxb4 axb4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Nf3 Qa2 17. Qb1 Ra8 18. Nd2 Ne4 19. Qc2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Qb3 21. Bd1 Qxc4 22. Be2 Qb3 23. Bd1 Qc4 24. Be2 Qb3 25. Bd1 Qc4 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Carlsen, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C89"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2852"] [PlyCount "42"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 Nf6 16. Rh4 Qf5 17. d4 Re8 18. Bc2 Qd5 19. Bb3 Qf5 20. Bc2 Qd5 21. Bb3 Qf5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2852"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,120,22,27,13,-5,4,17,21,-8,-5,-2,2,-30,-4,-5,-3,-12,-11,-4,-6,6,6,-6,-14,-14,-5,-8,17,-19,-22,-18,-25,-21,-21,-43,-51,-66,-60,-69,-50,-51,-47,-58,-59,-52,-45,-65,-45,-35,-37,-31,-14,-19,4,6,6,0,9,-164,0,-75,-81,-55,-62,-72,-80,-80,-83,-65,-70,-71,-73,-80,-94,-70,-38,-50,-43,-43,-4,-12,-37,-36,-94,-52,-97,-97,-104,-99,-118,-81,-124,-162,-56,-104,-47,-197,0,-311,-314,-313,-89,-96,-84,-86,-71,-68,-81,-77,-40,-47,-42,-35,-2,-2,-1,0,0,0,0,0,0] After four draws (two of which were hard-fought before the players seemed to implicitly agree to head for Armageddon) it's the final game. Nakamura with White must win to win the match; otherwise Carlsen wins and Nakamura must win in the loser's bracket for another shot at Carlsen.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O d5 5. d3 e5 6. e4 d4 7. a4 Be7 8. Na3 Be6 9. Ng5 Bg4 10. f3 Bh5 11. Nc4 (11. h4 Nd7 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Qe1 Re8 14. Nh3 f6 15. f4 b6 16. f5 a6 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Rxf3 b5 19. b3 c4 20. bxc4 Bxa3 21. Rxa3 bxc4 22. dxc4 Rb8 23. Nf2 Qe7 24. Ra1 Qf7 25. g4 Rb2 26. Qc1 Reb8 27. Nd3 R2b7 28. c5 Qc4 29. g5 Nxc5 30. Qe1 Qxc2 31. Nxc5 Rb1 32. Nd3 Rxe1+ 33. Bxe1 Rb1 34. Rxb1 Qxb1 35. Kf1 a5 36. Rg3 Kh8 37. gxf6 gxf6 38. Nc5 Qc2 39. Nd7 Qc4+ 40. Kg1 Qf7 41. Nb6 d3 42. Rxd3 Qh5 43. Nd5 Kg7 44. Rc3 Qd1 45. Kf2 Nd4 46. Rc7+ Kf8 47. Nc3 Qf3+ 48. Kg1 Qg4+ 49. Kf1 Qh3+ 50. Kf2 Qf3+ 51. Kg1 Qg4+ 52. Kf1 Qh3+ 53. Kf2 Qf3+ 54. Kg1 Qg4+ 55. Kf1 Qh3+ {½-½ Grischuk,A (2775)-So,W (2754) Norway Chess Armageddon 7th Stavanger blitz 2019 (2)}) 11... Nd7 12. Nh3 f6 13. Nf2 $146 O-O 14. h4 Bf7 $11 15. Bh3 Nb6 16. b3 Nxc4 17. bxc4 Bd6 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Qc7 $2 (19... Kh8 $11) (19... Nb4 $11) 20. Nh1 $6 ({The old sweeper-sealer, as Kmoch used to call the following idea, best known from the Benoni, would have given White a very pleasant position.} 20. e5 $1 fxe5 21. f5 $16 {White's knight is headed for the beautiful e4 square, when his pieces will be gorgeous and active while Black's are huddled in little boxes.}) 20... Kh8 21. Ng3 $14 {White remains a little better, but it's not the same thing. In the position after 21.f5 in the previous note White's play is very easy, while Black has nothing to do. Here it's all work for White.} g6 22. Qf3 Rae8 23. Kh1 Be6 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Bd2 (25. f5 $143 {may be tempting and would avoid Black's next, but giving up the e5 square isn't a great idea.}) 25... f5 $1 26. e5 ({It was better to maintain the tension with} 26. Rae1) ({or} 26. h5 {.}) 26... Be7 27. h5 gxh5 28. Rg1 Rg6 29. Qxh5 $4 (29. Nxh5 $11) 29... Nb4 $2 {A mistake, though given that White's options are to allow a match-losing draw or accept a bad position, it's not much of an error. The point of this move isn't so much the threat to c2 as it is ...Qc6+ followed by ...Rh6, winning.} (29... Nxe5 $1 30. fxe5 Qc6+ 31. Kh2 f4 $1 $19 {Given that the idea of 29...Nb4 also had the ...Qc6+, ...Rh6 idea in mind, I guess the players either missed this move, or 32...Rxf5, in their calculations on move 29.} 32. Nf5 (32. Ne2 Rh6 $19) 32... Rxf5 $1 33. Qxf5 Rh6+ 34. Qh5 Rxh5#) 30. Qf3 {Objectively, this is an error. Unfortunately for Nakamura, the good moves allow Carlsen to force a repetition, and since a draw is no better than a loss he's forced to try something else.} (30. Nxf5 Qc6+ 31. Kh2 Rxf5 32. Qxf5 Rh6+ 33. Kg3 Rg6+ {It turns out that White has no good way to avoid the perpetual.} 34. Kh2 $8 (34. Kf2 $2 Bh4+ 35. Ke2 Rg2+ 36. Rxg2 Qxg2+ 37. Kd1 Qf1+ 38. Be1 Qxe1#) (34. Kh3 $2 Qf3+ $19) 34... Rh6+ 35. Kg3 Rg6+ $11) 30... Nxc2 (30... Rh6+ $142 31. Kg2 Rg8 $19) 31. Rab1 Nb4 $17 {/-+} 32. Rg2 Qc6 $2 (32... Qd7 $142 33. Rbg1 Rfg8 $19) 33. Qxc6 bxc6 $11 {/? The position is nearly equal. That's better for White than one that's simply lost; even so, finding winning chances here will be next to impossible. (At least against Carlsen. Against most if not all of the rest of us, I think Nakamura would find something.)} 34. Ne2 Nxd3 35. Rb7 Re8 36. Nc1 Nxc1 37. Bxc1 a6 38. Rb6 a5 39. Bd2 d3 $6 {Maybe against Carlsen, too? The champ hasn't played very well since the last note, and now White will enjoy the advantage after the right move.} 40. Rxg6 (40. Rb7 $142 $14) 40... hxg6 $11 41. Kg2 Kg7 42. Rxc6 $2 {Surprisingly, this is very bad.} (42. Bxa5 Rd8 43. Bd2 Rd4 44. a5 Rxc4 45. Kf3 $1 Rc2 46. Be3 $1 $11 c4 $4 47. Rb7 $1 Kf8 48. a6 $18) 42... Rd8 $17 43. Kf3 Rd4 44. Ra6 Rxc4 45. Rxa5 Rc2 46. Be3 (46. Ke3 $2 c4 $19) 46... c4 47. Ra7 Kf8 $19 48. a5 {This position and the moves leading up to it resemble what we see in the 42.Bxa5 line. Here, White has an extra pawn, but the tempi spent on the capture weren't worth it. In that line White's pawn is on a6 and the rook on b7, making White's a-pawn a monster. Here, it's a touch too slow.} Ra2 $2 $11 {Throwing away the win. Fortunately for Carlsen, a draw is enough, and he's still got it.} (48... c3 49. a6 Ra2 50. Rd7 d2 51. a7 (51. Ke2 Rxa6 $19) 51... Rxa7 52. Bxa7 c2 $19) 49. a6 $2 (49. e6 $1 {It's not the a-pawn that will save the game, but a counterattack on the opponent's king.} d2 50. Ra8+ Kg7 51. Bd4+ Bf6 52. Ke2 c3 53. Ra7+ Kh6 $8 54. Bxf6 Ra1 55. Rd7 c2 56. Bxa1 c1=Q 57. Rxd2 Qxa1 58. e7 Qa4 59. Ke1 $11 {Believe it or not, this is drawn.}) 49... c3 $19 (49... d2 $19) 50. Rd7 Rxa6 $2 {Again giving away the win, but guaranteeing himself an easy draw.} (50... d2 $1 51. a7 (51. Ke2 Rxa6 $19) 51... Rxa7 52. Bxa7 c2 $19) 51. Rxd3 Rc6 52. Bc1 Kf7 53. Rd7 c2 54. Rb7 Ke6 55. Ke2 g5 56. fxg5 Bxg5 57. Bxg5 c1=Q 58. Re7+ Kd5 59. Bxc1 Rxc1 60. Kf3 Rc4 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.10"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,100,27,-18,0,1,4,-5,3,6,47,47,73,46,52,52,59,39,44,52,39,35,29,29,27,6,30,22,37,24,26,4,46,48,64,11,48,16,63,68,69,75,92,103,88,72,65,52,70,62,56,68,79,82,91,98,85,85,76,116,141,129,121,139,137,143,164,164,173,110,110,149,136,139,142,72,95,110,116,117,123,120,115,123,143,151,145,156,147,149,141,119,282,177,401,389,526,255,592,587,1857,2258,29804] Unlike their earlier match, which saw five draws (including the Armageddon), this time Carlsen strikes immediately.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 ({Nakamura usually plays} 4... Be7 {. In this he's not alone, as it's the most popular move, period, though it's only one of several main lines.}) 5. e4 b5 {Preferred by wannabe fashionistas.} 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 Nb6 {I've seen this line so many times it's hard to believe it only goes back to 2012, and in GM play to 2015.} 8. a3 {Rare, but Carlsen has played it once before...against Nakamura.} Nc6 9. Be3 Qd7 (9... Na5 10. Qc2 a6 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Be2 Qd7 14. h4 Bc6 15. Rh3 Rb8 16. Rg3 Ba4 17. Nxa4 Qxa4 18. Rc1 Nb3 19. Rxg7 Nxc1 20. Qxc1 c3 21. Qxc3 Nd5 22. Qc1 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Kf8 24. Rg4 Qb3 25. Qxc7 Qxb2 26. Kf2 Qb7 27. Qa5 Rg8 28. Rf4 Qc6 29. Qd2 h6 30. Qd3 Rg7 31. Qxa6 Qxa6 32. Bxa6 Rb2+ 33. Be2 Bxa3 34. g4 Be7 35. Re4 Rg8 36. Rf4 Kg7 37. g5 hxg5 38. Nxg5 Bxg5 39. hxg5 Rh8 40. Kf3 Rh3+ 41. Kg4 Rxe3 42. Bf3 Rd2 43. Kh4 Red3 44. d5 exd5 45. Rf6 Re3 46. Rf5 Rd4+ 47. Kh5 Rb4 48. e6 fxe6 49. Rf6 Re5 50. Rg6+ Kf7 51. Rf6+ Ke7 52. Kh6 Rb8 53. Rf4 Rf8 54. Rxf8 Kxf8 55. g6 Kg8 56. g7 Re1 {0-1 Carlsen,M (2863)-Nakamura,H (2736) Carlsen Tour Final chess24.com INT rapid 2020 (2.12)}) 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Qc2 Na5 $146 {A novelty, but it transposes to another game.} (11... Ne7 12. Nd2 Nf5 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. Qa4+ c6 17. O-O Be7 18. Rfe1 O-O 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. Rd7 Rfe8 21. Bd3 Rad8 22. Bxh7+ Kf8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Qf4 Rd4 25. Qc1 g6 26. Bxg6 fxg6 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Ne2 Qa5 29. Rf1 Rd2 30. b4 Qd5 31. Nf4 Qe4 32. Nxg6 c5 33. Nf4 Rd4 34. Qh8+ Kd7 35. Qb8 cxb4 36. axb4 Qc6 37. b5 Qxb5 38. Ng6 Qxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Ba6+ {0-1 Kuzubov,Y (2627)-Pichot,A (2641) ESP-chT CECLUB Honor Linares 2022 (1.3)}) 12. Rd1 Rb8 13. Be2 Be7 {Here Carlsen diverges from the game he transposed to, but only in time to meet up with 13 other games.} 14. h4 $14 (14. O-O O-O 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Kh8 17. Qc1 f6 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Bh4 Qg7 20. Bg3 Rbd8 21. Qf4 Nc6 22. Bf3 Rxd4 23. Qxc7 e5 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. Nb5 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28. Bxb7 Nxb7 29. f4 e4 30. Bf2 Nd5 31. Bxa7 Nxf4 32. Bd4 Kf7 33. Kf2 f5 34. g4 Ke6 35. gxf5+ Kxf5 36. a4 Nd5 37. Nc3 Nb4 38. Ke3 Nc2+ 39. Kd2 Nxd4 40. Nd1 Kf4 41. Kc3 Nf5 42. Kxc4 Ne3+ 43. Nxe3 Kxe3 44. b4 Kf2 45. a5 e3 46. a6 Nd6+ 47. Kc5 Nc8 {0-1 Zubov,A (2598)-Maghsoodloo,P (2698) Titled Tuesday intern op 06th July Chess.com INT blitz 2021 (11)}) 14... Bc6 (14... h6) 15. h5 Ba4 16. Nxa4 Qxa4 17. Rc1 Nb3 18. Rb1 Qa5+ $2 $146 {They're finally on their own, or at least not following in anyone else's footsteps.} (18... O-O $1 $146 {? would also be new, but it's a good move. To some degree Black is castling into it, but staying in the center isn't a good option, and for tactical reasons it's useful to keep the queen on a4 (there *might* be ...Nxd4 tricks if and when White castles, though not as long as White has Nxd4 in reply). Additionally, the queen may have better retreat squares than c5.}) 19. Kf1 $16 {/+-} c5 20. h6 g6 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Bxc5 (22. Bxc4 $142 $18) 22... Qxc5 23. Rh4 O-O $2 (23... Rc8) 24. Bxc4 $18 {White has an extra pawn and the better position to boot.} Rfc8 25. Bxb3 Qb5+ 26. Qe2 Qxb3 27. Rb4 Qa2 {Black's queen is like a little bit of popcorn stuck in White's teeth - irritating, but not dangerous.} 28. Rd1 a5 29. Rb5 a4 30. Qe4 Qc4+ {With White looking to play Qf4-f6-g7#, Black hastens to swap queens. Popcorn extracted.} 31. Qxc4 Nxc4 32. Rxb8 Rxb8 33. Rd4 Rc8 (33... Nxb2 34. Ng5 $18 {followed by Rd7 is still totally winning for White, despite the restored material equality.}) 34. Rd7 Nxb2 35. Ng5 Rf8 36. Rd4 Rc8 37. Rf4 Rc1+ 38. Ke2 Rc2+ 39. Ke3 Rc3+ 40. Kd2 Rc7 41. Rb4 Nc4+ 42. Ke2 Rc8 (42... Nxa3 43. Rb8+ Rc8 44. Rxc8#) 43. Rxa4 Nxe5 44. Ra7 Ng4 45. Nxf7 Rb8 (45... Rf8 46. f3 $1 $18) 46. f3 Rb2+ 47. Kd3 Nf2+ 48. Kd4 Rd2+ 49. Ke3 Ra2 50. Ng5 Nd1+ {I don't know if Nakamura lost on time here, or just gave up without waiting for Carlsen's reply. Regardless, Black's position is hopeless, as he will be speedily mated.} (50... Nd1+ 51. Kf4 Kf8 52. Nxh7+ Ke8 53. Nf6+ {followed by h7 and h8Q#.}) 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.10"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Carlsen, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2852"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc4 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 e4 9. Ne1 f5 10. Na3 a6 11. Rb1 Be6 12. f3 Nf6 13. b3 Kf7 14. Bb2 Rad8 15. Nac2 exf3 16. Nxf3 h6 17. Ncd4 Nxd4 18. Ne5+ Ke8 19. Bxd4 Ng4 20. Nc6 Bxd4+ 21. Nxd4 Bc8 22. h3 Ne3 23. Rd3 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 c5 25. Nf3 Rxd3 26. exd3 Ke7 27. Kf2 Rd8 28. Ke2 f4 29. gxf4 Rxd3 30. b4 Ra3 31. bxc5 Rxa2+ 32. Ke3 Ra3+ 33. Kf2 Ra2+ 34. Ke3 Ra3+ 35. Kf2 Kf6 36. Nd4 Rxh3 37. Rb6+ Kf7 38. c6 bxc6 39. Rxc6 Bg4 40. Rxa6 Rc3 41. Ra7+ Kf6 42. Ra6+ Kg7 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. Ra6+ Kg7 45. Ra7+ Kf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.10"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "263"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. h3 a6 7. Bf1 g5 8. d4 g4 9. d5 gxf3 10. dxc6 Bxc6 11. Qxf3 Rg8 12. Nc3 Rg6 13. Nd5 e5 14. b4 cxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. c4 Qc8 17. Kh2 Bh6 18. Rb1 Kf8 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Bxh6+ Rxh6 21. exd5 b5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Bxb5 Bxb5 24. Rxb5 Rxa2 25. Reb1 Kg7 26. Rb8 Qc2 27. R1b7 Qg6 28. Rb4 Qh5 29. Qxh5 Rxh5 30. Rg4+ Kf6 31. Rb6 Rxf2 32. Rxd6+ Ke7 33. Ra6 Rd2 34. Ra7+ Kf6 35. Ra6+ Kf5 36. Rg7 f6 37. d6 Rg5 38. Rxg5+ Kxg5 {After some early trouble, Nakamura finds himself in an ending that's "equal" according to the engine, but not for humans. Indeed, Carlsen soon errs and finds himself in a lost position.} 39. Kg3 h5 40. Kf3 $6 {Given how many times I've seen Carlsen make space-gaining moves in the endgame, I'm surprised that from the defensive side he allowed Nakamura to enjoy that privilege.} (40. h4+ $1 Kf5 41. Kf3 $11) 40... h4 $1 41. Ke3 Rd4 42. Ra8 $2 ({There was no good reason for Carlsen to surrender the pawn; instead, temporizing, e.g. with} 42. Rb6 {, still forces Nakamura to prove that there's a "there" there.} f5 43. Ra6 Kf6 44. d7+ Ke7 45. Ra5 Re4+ 46. Kf3 Kxd7 47. Ra7+ Kd6 48. Ra6+ Kd5 49. Rf6 Rf4+ 50. Ke3 $11 {This unforced by plausible line also results in Black gaining the d-pawn, but under much better conditions. Black will have a hard time making progress if he's stuck defending the f5-pawn (and perhaps the h4-pawn as well).}) 42... Rxd6 $19 43. Rg8+ Kf5 44. Rg4 Rd4 $1 {Perhaps Nakamura missed this idea? Now he's winning, but as we'll see, turning his advantage into a full point isn't so easy.} 45. Rg8 (45. Rxd4 exd4+ 46. Kxd4 Kf4 47. Kd5 Kg3 48. Ke6 Kxg2 49. Kxf6 Kxh3 $19 {leaves White several tempi short of a draw.}) 45... Ra4 46. Rh8 Kg6 47. Rg8+ Kf7 48. Rh8 Ke7 49. Rh7+ Ke6 50. Rh6 Rb4 51. Kf3 Rc4 52. Ke3 Rf4 53. Rh8 Rc4 54. Rh6 Rb4 55. Kf3 Kf5 56. Rh5+ Kg6 57. Rh8 f5 {Finally taking action.} 58. Ke3 Kg5 59. Rg8+ Kf6 60. Rf8+ Ke6 61. Re8+ Kd6 62. Rd8+ Ke7 63. Rh8 Re4+ $2 (63... Rb2 {is the way to make progress. Swapping h4 for g2 helps Black, and otherwise White starts to get tied down.}) 64. Kf3 $11 {Now it's a draw again, objectively speaking.} Rc4 65. Rh6 $1 {The only move.} Kf7 66. Ke3 Kg7 67. Re6 Rc3+ 68. Kd2 Rc5 69. Ke3 Ra5 70. Kf3 Ra3+ 71. Kf2 e4 72. Rb6 Ra2+ 73. Kf1 e3 74. Re6 Rf2+ 75. Kg1 f4 76. Ra6 $2 {Nakamura gets a second chance. Chess isn't easy!} (76. Re4 $11 {(Or anywhere else on the e-file, excepting obviously e3.)} Kf6 77. Re8 Rd2 78. Kf1 $8 Rd1+ 79. Ke2 Rg1 80. Kf3 Rf1+ 81. Kg4 Rf2 82. Re4 $8 $11) 76... Kf7 $19 77. Rb6 Ra2 78. Rb1 Kf6 79. Kf1 Rf2+ 80. Kg1 Rc2 81. Kf1 Ke5 82. Rb8 Rf2+ 83. Kg1 f3 84. gxf3 Rxf3 85. Kg2 Rf2+ 86. Kg1 Rf7 87. Rb2 Ke4 (87... Rf3 88. Kg2 Rg3+ {was the way to finish things. If the king goes to the f-file, Black takes the h-pawn and wins gradually; if it goes to the h-file, Black's king goes to f3 and he wins quickly.} 89. Kf1 Rxh3 90. Rb8 Rh1+ 91. Kg2 Ra1 92. Re8+ Kf4 93. Kh3 Ra4 94. Rf8+ Ke4 95. Kg2 h3+ 96. Kxh3 e2 97. Re8+ Kf3 98. Rf8+ Ke3 99. Re8+ Re4 $19) 88. Kg2 Kd3 89. Rb3+ Kd2 90. Rb2+ Kc3 $2 91. Ra2 $11 {It's drawn again, and stays that way.} Rg7+ 92. Kf1 Rg3 93. Ra4 Kd3 (93... Rxh3 94. Ke2 Kc2 95. Rc4+ Kb3 96. Re4 $11 {The e-pawn drops, and White's king is close enough to h1 to neutralize Black's remaining pawn.}) 94. Ra3+ Ke4 95. Ra8 Rxh3 {Black's pawns are too far advanced (the e-pawn in particular - Black's king can't hide in front of it to escape checks "from above"), and his rook is very badly placed. White can hold this.} 96. Re8+ Kf4 97. Rf8+ Kg5 98. Rg8+ Kf5 99. Rf8+ Ke5 100. Re8+ Kd4 101. Rd8+ Kc4 102. Ke2 Rg3 103. Rh8 h3 104. Rh4+ Kd5 105. Rh8 Ke5 106. Rh7 Kf5 107. Rh8 Kf6 108. Rh6+ Ke5 109. Rh8 Kd6 110. Rh6+ Ke7 111. Rh8 Kf7 112. Rh7+ Kg8 113. Rh6 Kg7 114. Rh4 Kf7 115. Rh7+ Ke6 116. Rh8 Kf5 117. Rf8+ Ke4 118. Re8+ Kd4 119. Rd8+ Kc3 120. Rc8+ Kb4 121. Rh8 Kb5 122. Rh4 Kc6 123. Rh8 Kc5 124. Rc8+ Kd5 125. Rd8+ Kc6 126. Rc8+ Kd7 127. Rh8 Ke7 128. Rh7+ Ke8 129. Rh8+ Ke7 130. Rh7+ Ke8 131. Rh8+ Kf7 132. Rh7+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 W"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.10"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2852"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2023.02.06"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,77,27,13,13,-4,17,17,15,12,9,-1,23,-11,41,-6,38,26,29,28,39,47,39,57,56,39,59,10,31,8,13,14,26,24,5,4,0,21,-5,-2,-6,-49,-35,-61,12,-38,1,1,-3,-17,-27,-87,-27,-21,-29,-29,-33,-47,-44,-46,-44,-61,-59,-72,-49,-79,-94,-106,-88,-108,-129,-144,-149,-180,-176,-148,-145,-223,-239,-248]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 a6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 h5 13. Bg5 Nd4 14. Kg2 c6 15. Rac1 Nd7 16. Be3 Bh6 17. Bxh6 Rxh6 18. Nb1 Ke7 19. c3 Nxf3 20. Kxf3 h4 21. g4 Nc5 22. Nd2 Ne6 23. Nc4 f6 24. Na5 Rb8 25. Rd2 Rhh8 26. Rcd1 Rhd8 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28. g5 fxg5 29. Nc4 Nf7 30. b4 Rc8 31. Ke2 b5 32. Ne3 a5 33. bxa5 Ra8 34. Nc2 Rxa5 35. Nb4 Ke6 36. Nxc6 Rxa2+ 37. Kf3 g4+ 38. hxg4 Rc2 39. Rd3 {Black is completely winning here, but a draw ends the match in his favor anyway. So, draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Sarana, A."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteElo "2668"] [BlackElo "2785"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Rd1 Be6 9. Qa4+ Nc6 10. e4 O-O 11. Be2 d4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qa5 14. Bd2 Bc5 15. Na4 Bxd4 16. Bxa5 Be5 17. Bc3 Bc7 18. f3 Bxa2 19. Nc5 b6 20. Ra1 bxc5 21. Rxa2 Bb6 22. Bc4 Rfd8 23. Ke2 Ne8 24. Raa1 Nd6 25. Ba6 Kf8 26. Rhd1 Ne8 27. Bc4 Nc7 28. Rxd8+ Rxd8 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Kxd1 a6 31. Kc2 Nb5 32. Be5 f6 33. Bg3 Ke7 34. Kb3 Kd7 35. Ka4 Kc6 36. Bd5+ Kd7 37. Bb7 Bc7 38. Bf2 Bxh2 39. Bxc5 Nc7 40. Ka5 Ne6 41. Be3 Nf4 42. g4 Nd3 43. Bxa6 Nxb2 44. Be2 g6 45. Bd4 Be5 46. Bxe5 fxe5 47. g5 Kc6 48. Kb4 Kb6 49. Kb3 Kc5 50. f4 exf4 51. Kxb2 Kd4 52. Bf3 Ke3 53. e5 Kxf3 54. e6 Kg2 55. e7 f3 56. e8=Q f2 57. Qe4+ Kg3 58. Qh1 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Sarana, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2668"] [PlyCount "116"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 g6 7. f3 Qb6 8. a3 e5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Bc4 Nd7 14. Nec3 Rc8 15. Ba2 O-O 16. Qd3 Bg5 17. O-O h5 18. Kh1 h4 19. Rad1 Kg7 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. Qf2 Rc6 22. Nb4 Rc8 23. Bd5 Rc7 24. Nba2 Qe7 25. a4 Nd7 26. Nb4 Nc5 27. a5 Qd8 28. Ra1 Nd7 29. Rfd1 Nf6 30. Qb6 Rd7 31. Qxd8 Rfxd8 32. Na4 Be3 33. Rd3 Ba7 34. Rad1 Kf8 35. c3 Nh5 36. R3d2 Be3 37. Re2 Ba7 38. Nb6 Bxb6 39. axb6 Nf4 40. Red2 Bxd5 41. exd5 Rc8 42. g3 Nh5 43. Kg2 Rc4 44. Nc2 hxg3 45. hxg3 Rc5 46. Ne3 Rb5 47. Nc4 Rc5 48. b3 Nf6 49. g4 Ke7 50. Kf2 Rd8 51. g5 Nh5 52. Ra1 Nf4 53. Na5 Rxc3 54. Nxb7 Rb8 55. Rxa6 Rxb7 56. Ra7 Rxa7 57. bxa7 Rc8 58. b4 Ra8 0-1 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Mamedov, Rauf"] [Black "Gukesh, Dommaraju"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2646"] [BlackElo "2718"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,64,27,20,44,45,56,-5,1,3,3,-22,-12,-6,18,-7,2,20,1,3,2,-23,-25,-50,-4,-19,-11,-26,-26,-31,-23,-56,-39,-56,-32,-26,-38,-48,-32,-54,-47,-54,-65,-97,-79,-98,-105,-105,-118,-118,-132,-132,-118,-118,-59,-127,-128,-134,84,-161,-159,-156,-104,-264,-269,-358,-358]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be3 e6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Rd8 10. h3 b6 11. Rd1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. Nc3 Qh5 14. a3 Na5 15. b4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 Rac8 18. Rac1 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Ne4 Rcc8 21. Nc3 Kf8 22. Kf1 a5 23. d5 axb4 24. axb4 Bxb4 25. Bxb6 Rd7 26. Bd4 Rdc7 27. d6 Bxd6 28. Bxf6 Bf4 29. Bd4 Bxc1 30. Rxc1 f6 31. Rd1 $4 (31. f4 $11) 31... e5 32. Nd5 $2 {The point, but it only makes things worse after Black's next move.} Rc1 $1 0-1 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Gukesh, Dommaraju"] [Black "Mamedov, Rauf"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "2718"] [BlackElo "2646"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "122"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,122,18,13,20,27,64,65,65,62,52,45,45,45,36,31,48,43,51,54,59,60,67,67,76,70,64,73,73,73,90,55,64,9,16,28,36,36,39,39,39,21,30,48,46,46,36,36,42,0,0,-13,-12,-12,0,-52,-52,-40,-27,-43,-18,-59,-44,-93,-77,-73,-66,-42,-21,-4,7,-35,80,87,188,189,188,229,237,197,126,206,221,142,180,93,90,78,87,46,108,68,117,137,162,181,200,126,126,128,115,0,0,0,0,0,0,-643,-88,0,0,0,0,0,0,-872,0,0,0,0,0,-833,-504,-833,-833]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8. a4 a5 9. h3 h6 10. Be3 Re8 11. Qd2 Bf8 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. Nh4 exd4 14. Bxd4 Ne5 15. Bf1 g5 16. f4 gxh4 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Be3 Nh5 19. Bxh6 Bc5+ 20. Be3 Qe7 21. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22. Kh2 Nf4 23. Ne2 Ng6 24. Ng1 Be6 25. Nf3 Kg7 26. Bd3 f6 27. Rg1 Rh8 28. Rgf1 Rag8 29. Qe1 Rh7 30. Rd2 Kh8 31. Rff2 Nf4 32. Bf1 Qe7 33. Rd1 Rhg7 34. Nxh4 Rh7 35. Rf3 Qg7 36. Rg3 Qf8 37. Rxg8+ Qxg8 38. g3 Nh5 39. Qf2 Rg7 40. g4 Nf4 41. Nf5 Rh7 42. Qg3 Bxf5 43. exf5 Qf8 44. Qe3 Nd5 45. Qf2 e4 46. c4 Nb4 47. Qf4 Re7 48. Re1 $2 (48. g5 $18 {should lead to a speedy win.}) 48... Nd3 49. Bxd3 exd3 50. Rxe7 Qxe7 $11 {Still, all Gukesh needs is a draw to win the match, and it's still possible to hold this.} 51. Kg3 Qe1+ 52. Kg2 d2 53. Qh6+ Kg8 54. Qg6+ Kf8 55. Qxf6+ Ke8 56. Qg6+ Kd7 57. Qf7+ $2 (57. Qg7+ $8 $11) 57... Kc8 $4 (57... Qe7 {wins on the spot.}) 58. Qf8+ Kc7 59. Qg7+ $1 Kb6 60. c5+ $2 ({Gukesh undoubtedly saw that after} 60. Qd4+ $8 Ka6 {he's out of checks. Remarkably, it's a draw all the same after} 61. b4 $1 {, threatening to force mate with b5+.} axb4 (61... d1=Q $4 62. b5+ cxb5 63. axb5#) (61... b6 62. b5+ cxb5 63. axb5+ Ka7 64. Qd7+ $11) (61... b5 62. axb5+ cxb5 (62... Kb7 63. Qd7+ $11) 63. Qd6+ $11) 62. a5 $1 c5 $8 (62... Kxa5 $4 63. Qa7#) (62... d1=Q $4 63. Qb6#) 63. Qxc5 Qe4+ $8 64. Kg3 Qc6 $8 65. Qd4 $8 b3 66. Qxd2 Qf6 67. c5 b2 68. Qb4 $11) 60... Ka6 (60... Ka7 {is simpler, as} 61. Qc7 d1=Q $19 {avoids perpetual - the d8 square is covered.}) 61. Qf8 $1 Ka7 $1 (61... d1=Q $4 62. Qa8#) 0-1 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.07"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Mamedov, Rau"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D12"] [WhiteElo "2718"] [BlackElo "2646"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,67,13,13,20,5,32,46,21,39,44,8,14,-5,11,-7,6,-23,1,-14,8,-29,6,-10,-9,-15,21,1,3,-11,49,34,42,26,26,32,61,20,12,49,49,28,41,33,85,102,96,104,131,120,101,146,134,109,150,175,198,199,204,210,219,210,210,211,217,216,490,458,666,887]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. g3 Nbd7 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Qxb6 Nxb6 12. Bb5+ Nfd7 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Ke2 Nc4 15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. a4 f5 17. a5 a6 18. h4 Kf7 19. Rhb1 Rhc8 20. Na4 Rab8 21. b4 b5 22. axb6 Nxb6 23. Nc5 Nd5 24. Rc1 Nxb4 25. Rxc4 Nd5 26. Rxa6 Rb2 27. Nd3 Rxc4 28. Ne5+ Kf6 29. Nxc4 Rb3 30. Ne5 Rb2 31. Nc4 Rb3 32. Ra7 Bd8 33. e4 fxe4 34. Ne5 {A very smooth win by Gukesh, who was playing a fine game and outplaying Mamedov before the latter's blunder.} 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "2.1"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Sarana, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2668"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. h4 h5 11. Nge2 Bd6 12. Nf4 Nd7 13. g3 Nb6 14. Rc1 a5 15. f3 Ke7 16. Kf2 Rad8 17. a3 Rhe8 18. Be2 Kf8 19. Rhe1 Kg7 20. Bf1 Kh6 21. g4 Re7 22. Nxh5 Bxh5 23. gxh5 Kxh5 24. f4 Rde8 25. Ne2 Rxe3 26. Ng3+ Rxg3 27. Rxe8 Bxf4 28. Rh8+ Kg6 29. Rg8+ Kh6 30. Rxg3 Bxc1 31. Rb3 Na4 32. Rxb7 Bxb2 33. Ke3 Bc1+ 34. Kf3 Kg7 35. Ra7 Bd2 36. h5 c5 37. Bb5 Nc3 38. Be8 cxd4 39. Rxf7+ Kg8 40. Rxf6 Bc1 41. Bg6 Kg7 42. Rf7+ Kg8 43. Ra7 a4 44. Bf5 Kh8 45. Ra6 Kg7 46. Rg6+ Kh7 47. Rg1+ Kh6 48. Rxc1 Kxh5 49. Rg1 Kh6 50. Bd3 Kh5 51. Kf4 Kh6 52. Ke5 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Sarana, A."] [Black "So, W."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E41"] [WhiteElo "2668"] [BlackElo "2766"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nge2 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. c5 O-O 9. O-O e5 10. a3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 h6 12. h3 Re8 13. Rb1 e4 14. Bb5 Bd7 15. Bf4 b6 16. Ng3 Na5 17. Ba6 Re6 18. Qe2 Bc8 19. Bb5 Bd7 20. Nf5 Bxb5 21. Rxb5 Nc4 22. Ne3 a6 23. Rb4 Nxa3 24. Nf5 Nc4 25. Ra1 a5 26. Rbb1 Rc6 27. Bd6 Kh7 28. Ne7 Rxd6 29. cxd6 Nxd6 30. Nc6 Qc7 31. Ne5 b5 32. Ra3 Nd7 33. f4 f6 34. Ng4 Nc4 35. Ra2 Rb8 36. g3 b4 37. cxb4 Rxb4 38. Rc1 Qb6 39. Qd1 Nb2 40. Qc2 Rc4 41. Qd2 Rxd4 42. Qf2 Nd3 43. Rc6 Qb1+ 0-1 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Black "Gukesh, D."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2718"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 Nd7 7. Be2 Ngf6 8. Nbd2 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Bh5 12. a3 Bxd2 13. Bxd2 Re8 14. e5 Nd5 15. Bd3 h6 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. Bf5 Nf8 18. g4 Bg6 19. Kh1 Ne7 20. Bb4 Qd5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. h4 Ne6 24. Kh2 Nf4 25. Kg3 Ne6 26. h5 Bxf5 27. gxf5 Nf8 28. Rde1 Nh7 29. Re4 Rg8 30. Rg4 Ree8 31. Kh2 f6 32. Qg2 Ng5 33. e6 Rd8 34. Nh4 Rge8 35. Rc1 Qxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Kg8 37. Kf2 Rd5 38. Ke3 Rb5 39. b4 a5 40. Rc5 Rxc5 41. dxc5 axb4 42. Rxb4 Rb8 43. Ng6 Nh7 44. Rd4 Ra8 45. a4 Nf8 46. e7 Re8 47. Rd8 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.08"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D40"] [WhiteElo "2718"] [BlackElo "2701"] [PlyCount "143"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. a3 cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. h4 b5 11. Kf1 Bb7 12. h5 h6 13. Rh3 Rc8 14. Be3 Ng4 15. Qe2 O-O 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Ne5 f5 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. d5 Rb6 21. Be3 Ne5 22. Bxb6 Qxb6 23. Re1 Bc8 24. Rxe5 Bxe6 25. Rxe6 b4 26. axb4 Qxb4 27. Rf3 Qxb2 28. Be2 Bb4 29. Nd1 Qd2 30. g3 Qxd5 31. Rxa6 f4 32. g4 Qe5 33. Ra4 Re8 34. Ne3 Bd6 35. Raxf4 Qa1+ 36. Kg2 Bxf4 37. Rxf4 Qe5 38. Rc4 Qe6 39. Bf3 Rf8 40. Re4 Qf6 41. Nf5 g6 42. hxg6 Qxg6 43. Re5 Qf6 44. Rd5 Rg8 45. Ng3 Rf8 46. Rf5 Qg7 47. Rh5 Rf6 48. Rd5 Qf8 49. Rd3 Rd6 50. Ra3 Rd8 51. Re3 Qf6 52. Nh5 Qf7 53. Kg3 Rf8 54. Kg2 Re8 55. Be4 Qe6 56. f3 Qb6 57. Rd3 Qb2+ 58. Kg3 Qb8+ 59. Nf4 Rf8 60. Bf5 h5 61. Rd4 hxg4 62. Kxg4 Rg8+ 63. Ng6+ Kg7 64. Kg5 Rd8 65. Re4 Qg3+ 66. Rg4 Qxf3 67. Nf4 Qxg4+ 68. Bxg4 Re8 69. Bf5 Re5 70. Nh5+ Kf8 71. Kf4 Rxf5+ 72. Kxf5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.09"] [Round "3.1"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2701"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "201"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,201,20,5,24,22,29,25,27,7,0,0,20,-14,-14,-3,-2,-10,1,-8,-12,-3,0,-22,-5,-12,-13,-14,28,7,12,22,22,38,28,0,13,-2,14,14,25,-4,29,-30,-5,15,19,69,34,54,46,34,35,21,34,21,15,9,36,4,17,16,29,16,13,23,34,39,45,5,15,6,8,1,80,80,191,257,202,165,102,109,109,109,109,109,111,111,257,112,105,100,259,56,82,68,91,83,113,115,121,115,121,111,126,138,138,140,146,120,163,147,165,149,156,156,167,170,170,191,210,226,226,226,226,166,166,171,167,154,165,154,155,155,427,153,155,155,155,157,157,157,429,442,443,243,247,218,217,222,295,290,325,332,333,333,326,326,321,321,323,323,323,323,323,323,323,323,328,328,328,438,1252,373,372,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,328,556,745,745,745,745,1016,1022,1022,1250,1894,2172,29940,28069,29973,29980,29985,29980]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. a5 d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Qe8 13. Nb3 Rb8 14. d4 Nd7 15. Qe2 Nxd4 16. Nbxd4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 18. Qc4 Bf6 19. Be3 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Rb5 21. b3 e5 22. Qc4+ Qf7 23. Red1 Ra8 24. f3 Nb7 25. Rd5 c5 26. Qd3 Re8 27. h3 h6 28. Qd2 Qf6 29. Kh2 Kh7 30. Qd3 Qg6 31. Qd2 Re6 32. Qd3 Nxa5 33. Ra4 Qf6 34. Bc1 Kg8 35. Be3 Qe7 36. f4 exf4 37. Bxf4 Rxe4 38. Bxd6 Qe6 39. Bg3 Rd4 40. Rd8+ Kf7 41. Rxd4 cxd4 42. Qxd4 Nc6 43. Qf4+ Qf6 44. Qc4+ Qe6 45. Qf4+ Qf6 46. Qxf6+ gxf6 47. Rxa6 Rc5 48. Ra2 f5 49. Bf2 Rc3 50. Be1 Re3 51. Bd2 Re2 52. Bxh6 Nd4 53. Kg3 Kg6 54. Bf4 Rxc2 55. Rxc2 Nxc2 56. Be5 Ne3 57. Kf3 Nd5 58. Bd4 Ne7 59. Kf4 Nd5+ 60. Ke5 Nc3 61. Bc5 Ne2 62. Bxb4 $2 {White has been winning for a while, but now it's a draw with best play.} (62. h4 Nc1 63. h5+ $18) 62... Nc1 63. Kd4 Nxb3+ 64. Ke3 Kg5 65. g3 Kh5 66. Kd3 Kg5 67. Kc3 Nc1 68. Kd2 Nb3+ 69. Ke3 Kh5 70. Kd3 Kg5 $2 (70... Kg6 {instead was a draw, obviously. (/sarc)}) 71. Kc4 f4 72. Be7+ Kg6 73. gxf4 Nc1 74. Kd4 Ne2+ 75. Ke5 Ng3 76. Bh4 Nf5 77. Bf2 Ng7 78. h4 Nh5 79. f5+ Kf7 80. Be1 Ke7 81. Bd2 Kf7 82. Bc1 Ke7 83. Be3 Kf7 84. Bg5 Ng7 85. Kf4 Kg8 86. Kg4 Ne8 87. Bf4 Nf6+ 88. Kg5 Kf7 89. Be5 Nh7+ 90. Kh6 Nf8 91. h5 Nd7 92. Bd4 Nf8 93. Kg5 Nh7+ 94. Kf4 Kg8 95. Bc3 Kf8 96. h6 Kf7 97. Bg7 Kg8 98. Kg4 Kf7 99. Kh5 Kg8 100. Kg6 Nf6 101. Bxf6 1-0 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.09"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Black "So, W."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C53"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,76,20,26,24,14,21,1,26,21,35,-4,18,-22,-9,-27,-22,1,4,-42,-27,-32,-9,-7,46,-24,92,-3,65,69,103,79,79,79,59,62,62,52,28,28,70,45,45,45,50,44,53,12,4,-13,37,29,53,36,36,9,0,-174,-174,-174,-174,-174,-174,-174,-349,-293,-89,-112,-37,-37,-37,-155,-91,-91,-120,-134,-134,-134,-113]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 a5 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Nh7 12. d4 h5 13. h3 Qf6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bb5 g4 16. hxg4 hxg4 17. Nh2 Qg5 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. Qa4 Nf6 21. Qxc6 Be6 22. Ne3 Nh5 23. Nhf1 Bb6 24. Rad1 Nxg3 25. Nxg3 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Rxd1 27. Qxa8+ Kg7 28. Nh5+ Qxh5 29. Rxd1 g3 30. Rd8 Qh2+ 31. Kf1 Qh1+ 32. Ke2 Qxg2+ 33. Kd3 Qf1+ 34. Kc2 Qe2+ 35. Kc1 Qe1+ 36. Kc2 Qe2+ 37. Kc1 Qe1+ 38. Kc2 Qe2+ {Black is winning, but the draw won the match.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.09"] [Round "4.1"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. b4 Ng4 10. Ra2 Kh8 11. h3 Nf6 12. Nbd2 h6 13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. Qb3 Qe8 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Be6 18. d4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Be3 Qe8 22. Qb4 Nd7 23. Nd2 Nh4 24. Nc4 exd4 25. cxd4 f5 26. exf5 Qf7 27. Nxb6 Nxb6 28. d5 Nxf5 29. Bxb6 cxb6 30. Nxf5 Qxf5 31. Qd4 Kh7 32. Re7 Rf7 33. Rxf7 $2 (33. Re6 $1 Rf6 34. Rxf6 gxf6 35. Kh2 $18) 33... Qxf7 34. Qe4+ Kh8 35. g4 g5 $2 36. Kg2 $2 (36. Qe6 $18) 36... Kg7 37. Qd4+ Kg6 38. Qe4+ Kg7 39. Kg3 Qf6 40. Qe3 Qf7 41. Qc3+ Kg6 42. Qf3 Qe8 $2 (42... Qe7) 43. Qd3+ Kf6 44. Qf3+ Kg6 45. Qf5+ Kg7 46. Qe6 $2 (46. h4 $1 gxh4+ 47. Kxh4 Qxb5 48. Qe6 Qb4 49. Qe3 $1 $18 {Keeping Black's queen away from White's king (and from the f4 square in particular), and thus preparing both Kh5 and f4.}) 46... Qf8 (46... Qxb5 $1) 47. Qd7+ Kg6 48. Qe6+ Kg7 49. Kg2 (49. Qe3) 49... Qf4 $1 50. Qe7+ Kg6 51. Qe6+ Kg7 52. Qe2 Kf7 $4 {One more chance!} 53. Qe6+ $4 (53. Qf3 $18) 53... Kg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.09"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2766"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "28"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,28,24,29,29,29,29,27,31,13,34,33,43,9,11,-1,31,26,27,40,29,33,43,31,28,14,28,28,15,32,28]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 Nxb5 7. a4 Nbd4 8. Nxd4 d5 9. exd6 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd6 11. Qe4+ Qe6 12. Qd4 Qd6 13. Qe4+ Qe6 14. Qd4 Qd6 {Obviously Nakamura wouldn't have played like this if he had lost the previous game, but he still would have been an underdog to save the match. Now, it's on to Armageddon.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Airthings Masters Div 1 L"] [Site "chess.com INT"] [Date "2023.02.09"] [Round "4.3"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2768"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "140"] [EventDate "2023.02.07"] [EventType "k.o. (rapid)"] [EventRounds "4"] [SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1475"] [Source "Mark Crowther"] [SourceDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.02.13"] [SourceQuality "2"] {[%evp 0,140,29,29,29,31,13,21,4,4,20,1,-3,5,15,4,-21,-26,34,-14,47,65,60,46,50,50,73,32,45,44,77,57,84,14,31,14,39,15,69,64,88,80,132,63,71,92,113,114,96,96,109,97,95,85,88,68,82,76,72,78,78,78,80,79,80,80,72,78,72,69,80,96,95,84,103,96,96,96,109,96,148,106,97,100,124,96,120,99,108,99,105,97,96,88,141,74,96,83,113,78,121,99,105,98,130,-3,-27,-27,-26,-33,-10,-7,24,0,0,-49,4,-61,-66,-44,-43,-43,-55,-92,-111,-104,-108,-144,-108,-134,-102,-137,-93,-89,-94,-94,-85,-82,-92,-101,-121,-170,-124]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Bd3 d6 8. exd6 cxd6 9. Be4 Ba6 10. Bxd5 cxd5 11. Qxd5 $16 {White's up a pawn for essentially nothing. So has a second opportunity to win a game, and this time it would guarantee him a trip to the final against Carlsen.} Rc8 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Be3 Bc4 14. Qd2 Qa5 15. a3 d5 16. Nd1 Qc7 17. Bd4 O-O 18. Ne3 Bg5 19. O-O-O Rfe8 20. Kb1 a5 21. h4 Bxe3 22. Bxe3 h5 23. Rhe1 a4 24. Bd4 f6 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Re1 Qd7 27. Re3 Rxe3 28. Bxe3 Qg4 29. g3 Qh3 30. Qd1 Qf5 31. Kc1 Qe5 32. Bd4 Qe4 33. Be3 Qe5 34. Qd4 Qf5 $2 35. Kd2 $2 (35. Qa7 $1 $18 {wins the a-pawn, as} Bb5 $4 {blunders the bishop to} 36. Qb8+ $18) 35... Qd7 36. Kc3 Kh7 37. b3 Bb5 38. Qc5 Kh8 39. Kb4 Be2 40. Kc3 Bb5 41. Kb2 Kh7 42. Bd4 Kh8 43. Bc3 Bc6 44. Qd4 Kg8 45. Qf4 Kf7 46. Bd4 Qe7 47. Qe3 Qd7 48. Bc5 Kg8 49. Qe7 Qc8 50. Qd6 Kh7 51. Bd4 Qe8 52. f3 $2 {So may need to play this, but first he should have played b4, so that his king's position wouldn't be weakened after ...axb3.} (52. b4 $18) 52... axb3 $11 53. Kxb3 (53. cxb3 Qe2+ $11) 53... Ba4+ 54. Kb2 Qe2 (54... Bxc2 $1 {is nice, but unnecessary.} 55. Kxc2 Qe2+ {and 56...Qc4+ (or 56...Qd3+ in case of 56.Kb1) regains the bishop.}) 55. Qc7 Qb5+ 56. Kc3 Kg6 57. Kd2 Qf1 58. Qc3 Qg2+ 59. Kc1 Qxg3 {White is falling apart. He can still draw - barely - but that's not what he needs.} 60. Qd3+ Kf7 61. Qf5 $2 (61. Bf2 $1 {was better, but only as a way to achieve a match-losing perpetual.}) 61... Qxh4 $17 62. Qxd5+ Kg6 63. Kb2 $2 Qf4 $19 {Black's h-pawn is far more dangerous than White's queenside passers.} 64. Qc4 Qb8+ 65. Kc3 Qb5 $2 {Bad only in the sense that White should draw after this.} 66. Qxb5 Bxb5 67. Kb4 $2 (67. Kd2 $8 $11) 67... Be2 $19 68. a4 Bxf3 69. c4 Kf5 70. Kc5 Ke6 0-1