[Event "Mexican Open-ch 2021"] [Site "Villahermosa"] [Date "2021.08.08"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Cori, Jorge"] [Black "Cofre Archibold, Nestor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2652"] [BlackElo "2299"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2021.08.05"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventCountry "MEX"] [Tiebreak "Median1 Buchholz+Cut1 Buchholz+Cut2 Buchholz"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 13,67,39,56,31,31,27,31,31,29,27,39,31,25,35,50,57,75,68,104,47,78,49, 50,53,62,48,39,41,57,53,150,136,168,128,257,118,115,117,133,108,106,126,141, 140,141,141,141,114,261,248,427,410,405,258,375,344]} {So,Wesley: 'I look forward to getting invited to Wijk aan Zee again next year. This important tournament has had such a long and prestigious tradition that being in a small and windy town for almost 20 days is totally worth it. Going into the last round on the back of a loss against Anish Giri was tough, but at the same time losses are inevitable. I told myself never to give up and just to play my own game. Loek was also having a relatively unstable tournament, and anything can happen for the last round. '} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:00] RR: 'Le GMI joue plus souvent la Gruenfeld mais Pierre la connait bien'} 3. d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. Nf3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:08] Atalik,S: 'I still think that the Modern Benoni provides the tense situation required for this game, maybe I am wrong. '} 7. Bf4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:03][%csl Rb2,Gb7,Gc2,Rc3,Gd3, Rd4,Rd7,Re3,Ge4,Rf2,Gf3,Gg2][%CAl Ge4d5,Gc6b7,Gc6b5,Gd5c4,Rd5e6,Re6d7,Gc3b5, Gd5c6,Gd4e5,Gf6g7,Gf6g5,Ge5f4,Gf3e5,Gf3g5,Gf4g5][%mdl 4] [#] 7.Bf4 is setting a new trend. 7.Bf4 is the modern continuation. Marin,M: 'A natural development move, causing Black important problems regarding the move order.'} (7. e4) (7. Nd2) {RR Marin,M: 'In the first round game against Gelfand, Gashimov preferred' Postny,E: 'The theoretical pawn sacrifice doesn't yield Black equality:'} 7... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:40] Marin,M: '?!' Marin,M: ', allowing' Marin, M: 'At the present stage of development of theory, this most natural answer does not seem playable.' Marin,M: 'has proved not entirely adequately in another recent game at the top level.'} ({Marin,M: 'Gashimov has played' Marin, M: 'Later on in the tournament, in his games against Vallejo and Aronian, Gashimov switched to the more popular'} 7... a6 {Stohl,I: '!?'} 8. a4 ({RR} 8. e4 {Marin,M: 'put more emphasis on a direct combat right from the opening.'} b5 $132 (8... Bg7 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nh5 13. Bh2 b5 14. a4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 14. g4 Nf6 15. Rae1 Ne8 16. Bf4 Nd7 17. Re2 Ne5 18. Qe3 Rc8 19. Kg2 Nc7 20. Bg5 {1/2-1/2 (52) Medrano,D (2182)-Abasto Chavez,D (1848) Santa Cruz 2014}) 14... b4 15. Nd1 Nd7 16. Bxd6 Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Rb1 a5 19. Ne3 Nf4 20. Nc4 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Bd4 22. e5 Qxd5 23. Nb6 Bxf2+ 24. Rxf2 Qxd3 25. Nxa8 Qxb1+ {0-1 (25) Florescu,C (2293)-Estrada Nieto,J (2280) Chess.com INT 2021}) (8... Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nbd7 11. O-O Be7 12. a4 O-O 13. Be2 Re8 14. Qc2 Bf8 15. Bg3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 15. Be3 Qe7 16. f3 Rab8 {½-½ (16) Zhang,A (1884)-Tart,P (1955) High Wycombe 2014}) 15... c4 16. Bxc4 Rc8 17. Bd3 Nh5 18. Be2 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Nc5 20. Bg4 Rc7 21. Rfe1 Bg7 22. Rad1 h5 23. Bh3 Rce7 24. b4 Bxc3 25. Qxc3 Nxe4 26. Qd4 Ng5 27. Rxe7 Qxe7 28. Rc1 f5 29. Qb6 Rd8 30. Kh2 Rd7 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. f3 Nh7 33. Qd4+ Qe5 34. Qxe5+ dxe5 35. g4 Nf6 36. gxf5 g5 37. g4 h4 38. Bf1 Nxd5 39. Bc4 Ne3 40. Be6 Rd2+ 41. Kh1 Rd1+ 42. Kh2 Nf1+ 43. Kg2 h3+ 44. Kf2 Rd2+ 45. Ke1 h2 46. Rc7+ Kh8 47. Rc8+ Kh7 48. Rc7+ Kh8 49. Rc8+ Kg7 50. Rc7+ Kh8 51. Rc8+ Kg7 52. Rc7+ {1/2-1/2 (52) Kharitonov,A (2543)-Alexakis,D (2450) Aghios Kirykos 2021}) (8... Nh5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bh6 Bf8 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Bh6 Bf8 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 14. a4 Kg7 15. b4 cxb4 16. Qd4+ Qf6 17. Qxb4 Re8 18. Be2 Nf4 19. O-O Nd7 20. Ra2 (20. Rfe1 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Bf1 Nh3+ 23. gxh3 Rg5+ 24. Kh1 Qxf2) 20... Ne5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Bf3 (22. g3 Bh3 ( 22... Nxe2+ 23. Rxe2 Bh3 24. f4 Bxf1 25. fxe5 dxe5 26. Rf2) 23. gxf4 Rg5+ 24. Kh1 Bg2+ 25. Kg1 Bf3+ 26. fxg5 Qxg5#) 22... Rg5 23. e5 (23. Kh1 Nxg2 24. Bxg2 Rxg2 25. e5 (25. Kxg2 Bh3+ 26. Kg3 (26. Kxh3 Qf3+ 27. Kh4 f6 28. Qxb7+ Kh6) 26... Bxf1) 25... Qf3 26. Qe4 Qxc3 27. Kxg2 Bh3+) 23... Rxe5 24. Ne4 Nxd5 25. Qd4 (25. Qxd6 Rxe4 26. Qxd5 Re7 27. Qd8 Be6 28. Qxa8 Bxa2 29. Bxb7 Bc4 30. Rd1 (30. Rb1 Qb2) 30... Qd4) 25... Rxe4 {0-1 (25) Doncea,V (2423)-Ardelean,G (2505) Vaujany 2013}) 9. Bd3 (9. Qe2 Be7 (9... Nh5 {is out of fashion nowadays}) (9... Bg7 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. d6+ $146 ({Predecessor:} 13. O-O-O Rd8 14. Bc7 Bh6+ 15. Kb1 Bf5+ 16. Bd3 Bxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Rc8 18. d6+ Kf8 19. Nd5 {1-0 (42) Pert,N (2451)-Taylor,P (2229) London 2001}) 13... Kd8 14. O-O-O h6 15. Ne5 Be6 16. Be2 Nfd7 17. Bf3 Ra7 18. Nd3 Bd4 19. Ne2 Bf6 20. Be3 Bg5 21. Nef4 Bxa2 22. b4 a5 23. bxc5 Ra6 24. h4 Bf6 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Nc6 27. Kd2 a4 28. Rb1 a3 29. Bxc6 a2 30. Rxb5 Rxc6 31. Nb4 Ne5 32. Nxa2 Nc4+ 33. Ke2 { 1-0 (33) Blagojevic,D (2481)-Tomic,A (2365) Budva 2021}) 10. Qc2 {followed by a well-timed a4 (the idea of Yuri Yakovich)}) 9... Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 c4 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Re1 Bb7 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Nd4 Qb6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Bh6 $14 { Manolache M - Ardelean Ge, 2011 ROM-ch}) ({RR} 8. Nd2 {and} b5 9. a4 Nh5 10. Be3 b4 11. Nce4 f5 12. g4 fxg4 13. h3 g3 14. fxg3 Bg7 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Bg2 O-O 17. O-O a5 18. Nc4 Ba6 19. Ncxd6 Nbd7 20. Qd2 c4 21. Kh2 Qe7 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 $6 (22... Bxf6 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 $16) 23. Nb5 Rae8 24. d6 Qxe2 25. d7 Qxd2 26. dxe8=Q Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Nxe8 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rf1+ Kg8 30. Re1 Bb7+ 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Re2 Bxb5 $2 (32... b3 33. Bd8 Nf6 $16) 33. axb5 $18 Nd6 34. b6 a4 35. Be7 Bd4+ 36. Kf3 Nf5 37. b7 Ba7 38. Bc5 $1 {1-0 (38) Timman,J (2571)-Cmilyte,V (2503) Wijk aan Zee 2012 CBM 147 [Let's Check]}) 8... Bg7 {Marin,M: 'several times over the past few years. Years ago, I gave up the Benoni because I thought it was not flexible enough and faced Black with the risk of being caught in the opening, besides the boring feeling caused by playing the same positions again and again. When I look at Gashimov's games, I see a different picture: he continuously changes his lines, coming up with new ideas now and then.'} (8... b6 9. h3 Ra7 $146 ({Predecessor:} 9... Bg7 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 Re8 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. O-O Bb7 14. Nc4 Bf8 15. Re1 Nbd7 {1-0 (54) Souza,G (2002)-Carneiro,P (1583) Ponta Grossa 2017}) 10. e3 Bg7 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Ne8 13. Nd2 Nd7 14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Qb3 Rb7 17. Rfd1 Rb8 18. Ne4 Bf5 19. Ng3 Bc8 20. Ne4 Bf5 21. Nc3 Bc8 22. Bf1 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Ne4 Qd8 25. Nxc5 Ra8 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. Nc3 Qd6 28. Ne4 Qd8 29. Rac1 h6 30. Qb4 Qh4 31. Rc7 Rab8 32. g3 Qd8 33. d6 f5 34. Nc3 Bf3 35. Rd2 f4 36. Bc4+ Kh8 37. Bd5 fxg3 38. fxg3 Qg5 {1/2-1/2 (38) Potapova,M (2260)-Prydun,A (2197) Chess.com INT 2021}) (8... Nh5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. h4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] An important novelty.} ({Predecessor:} 10. Bd2 Bg4 11. e3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nd7 13. Qd1 O-O 14. Be2 Nhf6 15. g4 Ne8 16. O-O {1-0 (43) Caruana,F (2773)-Papaioannou,I (2606) Istanbul 2012}) 10... h6 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. e4 Bf6 13. Be2 Bg7 14. Be3 O-O 15. Nd2 Nhf6 16. g4 Nh7 17. Nc4 Qe7 18. Qd2 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. a5 Rb8 21. f3 Ne5 22. Nb6 Bd7 23. O-O-O Ng6 24. Rh5 f6 25. Rdh1 Nh4 26. Qe1 Rf7 27. R5xh4 gxh4 28. Qxh4 Nf8 29. Bf4 Be8 30. Qh2 Rd8 31. Kc2 Qc7 32. Bd3 Re7 33. Nc4 Red7 34. g5 fxg5 35. Bxg5 Rb8 36. Rg1 Bg6 37. Bf4 Rbd8 38. Na4 Kf7 39. Nab6 Re7 40. Nxd6+ Kg8 41. Nf5 Be5 42. Nxe7+ {1-0 (42) Shipov,S (2541)-Boskovic,D (2453) Chess.com INT 2021}) (8... Nbd7 9. e4 Nh5 10. Bg5 Ndf6 11. h3 h6 12. Be3 Nh7 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12... Nd7 13. Be2 Bg7 14. Nd2 Nhf6 15. Nc4 Nb6 16. Nd2 Nbd7 17. Bf4 Ne5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Nc4 Qe7 20. d6 Qe6 21. Nb6 Rb8 22. Bc4 {1-0 (22) Dede,E (2265)-Molnar,J (2250) Aggtelek 1993}) 13. Be2 Bg7 14. Nd2 N5f6 15. O-O O-O 16. f4 Qe7 17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Re1 g5 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 Qxe5 21. Bxc5 Qg3 22. Nde4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qf4 24. Bd6 Be5 25. g3 Qf5 26. Bg4 Qg6 27. Bxe5 f5 28. Nd6 fxg4 29. Qd4 gxh3 30. Rf1 g4 31. Rf4 Ng5 32. Raf1 Nf3+ 33. R1xf3 gxf3 34. Kh2 Rxf4 35. Qxf4 Qc2+ {0-1 (35) Soumya,S (2351)-Kubicka,A (2210) Chess.com INT 2021}) 9. e4 (9. h3 {So,Wesley: 'The text restricts Black's options and here Loek started to think.'} O-O 10. e3 $14 {is overused and White does pretty fine there.} Re8 {Edouard,R: '!?' Edouard,R: 'An interesting move, a little more flexible than 10...Qe7 and 10...Ne8 if White doesn't know exactly how to react.'} ({Marin,M: 'The other way of preparing the queen's knight's development is' Marin,M: 'Just few months earlier, Vugar preferred to prepare ...Nbd7 with'} 10... Ne8 {Marin,M: 'Aronian,L (2781)-Gashimov,V (2759)/Linares 2010/CBM 136/[Marin] (1-0, 58)' Edouard,R: 'A playable move, used many times by Gashimov, although 10...Qe7 and 10...Re8 are a bit more popular.'} 11. Be2 (11. Bc4 $5 {was played several times, but after} Nd7 12. O-O Ne5 $1 {I do not see the point of it.}) 11... Nd7 {Marin,M: 'Aronian,L (2781)-Gashimov,V (2759)/Linares 2010/CBM 135/[Marin,M] (1-0, 58)'} 12. O-O {Marin,M: 'In two earlier games, he preferred'} Qe7 { Marin,M: '1-0 (58) Aronian,L (2781)-Gashimov,V (2759) Linares 2010 CBM 135 [Marin,M]' Edouard,R: '!?' A logical regrouping. The d6-pawn is well defended, which gives Black some flexibility in manoeuvring with his knights. Since there is no direct pawn contact, several plans are available for both sides and play can be opened on either side (or on both of them). Marin,M: ', but .. .h6 is a recurring theme anyway, for instance'} (12... Rb8 13. Nd2 (13. Bh2 Qe7 (13... f5 {first is more appropriate.}) 14. Qc2 (14. e4 $1 {looks to me like a slight problem:} Nc7 15. Re1 Ne5 (15... b6 16. Bf1 $14) (15... b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qd2 b4 18. Nd1 $14) 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Qd2 g5 19. Bg4 $1 $14) 14... f5 15. Nd2 Ne5 16. Rae1 (16. Rfe1 {looks a little more natural to me.}) 16... Bd7 (16... Nc7 $5) 17. a5 b5 (17... Nc7 $5) 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. f4 (19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Nc4 Rb4 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Bxa6 Nc7 $44) 19... Nf7 20. e4 fxe4 21. Ndxe4 Bf5 22. Bd3 (22. Bc4 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Nf6 $15) 22... Qb7 23. Re2 Nc7 24. g4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Nb5 26. Rg2 Nxc3 $1 (26... Nd4 27. Qc1 {isn't so simple.}) 27. bxc3 Rb3 28. Bxg6 $2 {Just losing.} (28. Rf3 a5 29. h4 a4 30. f5 a3 {looks working for Black.}) (28. Rg3 {was probably best, although awkard with a bishop on h2:} a5 (28... c4 $5) 29. f5 Rb2 {/\...Ne5/...Be5}) 28... hxg6 29. Qxg6 Qxd5 30. f5 Ne5 31. Bxe5 Qxe5 32. g5 Qe4 $1 33. h4 Rb1 34. Rgf2 Qg4+ 35. Kh1 Qxh4+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 Qg4+ 38. Kh1 Qh3+ 39. Kg1 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Qxf2 { 0-1 (40) Muradli,M (2444)-Edouard,R (2658) Skopje 2019 CBM 189 [Edouard,R]}) ( 13. Re1 Ne5 $5 {Unusual but interesting here.} 14. Nd2 (14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Bh2 Nd6 $13) 14... Nc7 15. a5 Re8 16. Bh2 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 $11 {0-1 (49) Mikhalevski,V (2579)-Rechlis,G (2521) Ma'alot-Tarshiha 2018}) 13... Ne5 (13... b6 $5 14. Re1 Ne5 15. Bh2 f5 16. Kh1 Nc7 17. f4 Nf7 $13 {1-0 (53) Matsenko,S (2534)-Yilmaz,M (2622) TUR 2016}) 14. a5 f5 15. Bg3 Bd7 16. Qb3 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 18. Qc2 Bb5 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Nb3 {Sargissian,G (2690)-Short,N (2646) Douglas PokerStars op 2014 (8) 0-1} (20. Ra7 Nc7 21. Rfa1 {Arsovic inf 122}) 20... g5 $13 {0-1 (39) Sargissian,G (2690)-Short,N (2646) ENG 2014}) (12... h6 13. e4 (13. Nd2 Ne5 {This may be the main cause for Black's problems. Maybe he should have advanced his kingside pawns without exposing his knight to f2-f4.} 14. Qb3 f5 15. Bh2 g5 16. f4 $1 gxf4 17. exf4 Nd7 18. Bd3 (18. Nc4 $5 $16) 18... Qf6 (18... Qb6 $1 $132) 19. Kh1 Nc7 20. Nc4 (20. a5 $16) 20... Rb8 (20... b5 $5 21. axb5 axb5 22. Nxb5 Rb8 $132 23. Ncxd6 Qxd6 24. Nxd6 Rxb3 25. Bc4 Rb4 26. Ra7 $36) 21. a5 $16 {Kazhgaleyev,M (2618)-Pantsulaia,L (2595) Dubai 2011 (1-0, 32)}) 13... Rb8 14. Bg3 Qe7 15. Re1 g5 {1/2 (59) Eljanov,P (2697) -Gashimov,V (2760) Ningbo 2011 CBM 144 [Marin,M]} 16. a5 (16. Bf1 Ne5 (16... Nc7 $2 17. e5 $1 $18) 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Re3 Bd7 20. a5 Nf6 $132 { /\... Kg7, ...h5, ...b5}) 16... b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 18. Qc2 Ne5 {The knights have occupied passive squares so far, but now they start moving forward.} 19. Nd2 Nc7 {[%CAl Gc7b5,Gb5d4]} 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Nc4 Rb4 22. Na2 Rb7 $6 {A rather uninspired move. The rook has little chance to switch to the kingside along the seventh rank. Besides, the a6-pawn is left without the natural defence of the bishop, while the rook itself is exposed.} (22... Rb8 $1 23. Nc1 Bg7 24. Nb3 (24. Nd3 $2 {as recommended in the game, is impossible now because of} Qxe4 $1 25. Nxd6 Qxd5 {and the rook is not hanging.}) {Besides transposing to the game with 24...Rb4 Black can continue his knight march with} 24... Nb5 { , since the a6-pawn is safely defended.}) 23. Nc1 Bg7 24. Nb3 $6 (24. Nd3 $1 { would have offered increased control in the centre, with possibilities of a decisive pawn break.} Nb5 (24... Qxe4 $2 25. Nxd6 $16) 25. Bg4 Nd4 26. Qd1 Bxg4 27. hxg4 Ra8 28. e5 $40) 24... Rb4 (24... Nb5 $6 {is unavailable because of} 25. Rxa6) 25. Nba5 {White's knights have also improved their positions a lot.} Bd7 26. Bg4 Nb5 {An intensely tactical phase is initiated now.} 27. Bxd7 Nd4 $1 (27... Qxd7 28. Red1 Nd4 29. Rxd4 Bxd4 30. Nc6 Rb5 31. Rxa6 $16) 28. Nc6 Qxd7 29. Nxd4 Bxd4 30. Ra3 Ra8 (30... f5 $132) 31. Rf3 {White should not have released the pressure along the f-file.} (31. b3 $5 $14) 31... Qe7 32. b3 a5 $132 {If Black gets time to open the queenside with ...a4, White could lose stability. White needs to open the centre before that.} 33. e5 $1 Bxe5 $6 ( 33... dxe5 34. Nxe5 (34. Qf5 a4 35. Nxe5 $6 Rxb3 $1 $17) 34... Bxe5 35. Qf5 Re8 36. d6 Bh2+ 37. Kxh2 Qxd6+ 38. g3 Re7 $13) 34. Nxe5 $6 (34. Qf5 $1 $40 Bh2+ $2 35. Kxh2 Qxe1 36. Qxf7+ Kh8 37. Rf6 $18) 34... dxe5 35. Qf5 e4 $1 36. h4 Rd8 $6 (36... gxh4 37. Rf4 e3 38. Rxe3 Rxf4 39. Qxf4 Qg5 $11) 37. hxg5 Qd7 38. gxh6 Qxf5 39. Rxf5 {The structure has become completely chaotic, but Black will manage to work out his way towards a drawn rook ending with a pawn down.} Rd6 40. h7+ Kxh7 41. Rxf7+ Kg6 42. Ra7 Rxd5 43. Rxa5 Kf5 44. Rc1 Rxb3 45. Raxc5 Rxc5 46. Rxc5+ Kf6 $11 47. Kf1 e3 48. f4 Rb2 49. g3 Rf2+ 50. Kg1 Ra2 51. Re5 Re2 52. g4 Rf2 53. Re4 Kg6 54. f5+ Kg5 55. Rxe3 Rf4 56. Rg3 Ra4 57. Rg2 Ra6 58. Kh2 Kf4 59. f6 Rxf6 {1/2-1/2 (59) Eljanov,P (2697)-Gashimov,V (2760) Ningbo 2011 CBM 144 [Marin,M]}) (12... b6 $5 {with extra ideas with ...Ne5, ...Ra7 and ...Re7 is also playable.} 13. Re1 (13. Nd2 Ne5 14. Bg3 f5 15. Re1 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 15. Rb1 g5 16. f4 gxf4 17. exf4 Ng6 18. Qc2 Bd7 19. Rbe1 Qf6 20. Nf3 Nc7 21. h4 {1-0 (39) Arcuti,D (2341)-Kurmann,O (2427) Leukerbad 2019}) 15... g5 16. f4 Ng6 17. Nc4 gxf4 18. exf4 Ra7 19. Kh1 Bh6 20. Rf1 Rg7 21. Bh2 Nf6 22. Ra3 Ne4 23. Nxe4 fxe4 24. f5 Rxf5 25. Nxd6 Rxf1+ 26. Qxf1 e3 27. Nxc8 Rf7 28. Qe1 Nf4 29. Rxe3 Qxc8 30. Bg4 Qb7 31. Re8+ Bf8 32. Bxf4 Rxf4 33. Be6+ { 1-0 (33) Postny,E (2578)-Megalios,K (2390) Belgrade 2021}) 13... Rb8 14. Bf1 Ne5 15. Nd2 $146 ({Predecessor:} 15. e4 Nc7 16. Bxe5 dxe5 17. Nd2 b5 18. Nb3 Qd6 19. Qc1 Re8 20. Qe3 Bf8 21. axb5 axb5 {0-1 (38) Secheres,A (2170)-Jianu,V (2588) Calimanesti 2014}) 15... Nc7 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Re8 18. Qf3 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bf1 b4 21. Ne4 Rxe4 22. Qxe4 Bxb2 23. Ra7 b3 24. Qa4 Bc3 25. Rb1 b2 26. Qc6 Ne8 27. e4 Rb6 28. Qa4 Kg7 29. Qc2 Bf6 30. Bd2 Rb8 31. Ba5 {1-0 (31) Koniahli,M (2255)-Idani,P (2614) Tornelo INT 2021}) 13. Re1 {A half waiting move. By placing his rook in opposition with the enemy queen, White intends to inhibit a possible attack based on ...f5, ...g5 and ...f4.} ({My only experience against this line went} 13. Nd2 Rb8 (13... Ne5 $5 14. a5 g5 $6 $146 {A standard idea, but it doesn't work out well in this particular position.} ( 14... Nc7 15. Bg3 f5 16. Qc2 Rb8 17. Rfe1 b5 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. f4 Nf7 $14 { 1-0 Turov,M (2636)-Bogut,Z (2441)/Sibenik 2012/CB39_2012 (41)}) (14... Bd7 15. Qb3 Nc7 16. Nde4 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Be8 18. Bg5 f6 19. Bh4 Nf7 20. Nd2 Rab8 21. Bf1 g5 22. Bg3 f5 23. f4 $16 {1-0 Riazantsev,A (2682)-Cebalo,M (2500)/Biel 2010/ CBM 137 Extra (27)}) 15. Bxe5 $1 {[%mdl 32] Normally White preserves the bishop on g3 or h2. However, it's not clear whether the bishop is useful there. The knight on e5 is also a worthy piece and prevents White's counterpart from occupying the excellent c4-outpost.} Bxe5 16. Bd3 Ng7 $6 {Not the best route for the knight.} (16... Nf6 17. Nc4 Bd7 18. f4 gxf4 19. Qf3 Rae8 20. Rae1 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Bb5 22. exf4 (22. Qxf4 $6 Bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nd7 $13 {[%CAl Gd7e5]}) 22... Qd8 23. Nb6 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 $16) 17. Nc4 $16 {[%csl Gc4]} h5 18. f4 {Black's expansion plays against him, White is the one who has grounds to attack on the kingside.} gxf4 19. exf4 Bd4+ 20. Kh2 Re8 (20... Bg4 21. Qe1 Qxe1 22. Raxe1 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. g4 $16) 21. Ne4 {[%csl Rd6]} Rd8 22. Ng5 {White has many attractive options, I tried to choose the one which gives Black as little counterplay as possible.} Bd7 23. Qf3 Bb5 24. Rae1 {Missing the opportunity to win material.} (24. Nb6 $1 Rab8 25. Bxb5 axb5 26. Qd3 $18 {[%CAl Gd3b5,Gd3h7]}) 24... Qf6 25. b3 Rab8 26. Bh7+ Kf8 27. Bc2 Qh6 28. g3 $6 {Also here I missed a tactical chance. Suddenly I found myself in certain time-trouble, so I decided to play it safe. Strategically my position is still winning.} (28. Ne5 $1 Be8 $8 (28... dxe5 $2 29. fxe5 $18 {[%csl Rf7]}) 29. h4 {dominating.}) 28... Bxc4 $6 {Levan decided to open the b-file, but this also made my play easier.} ( 28... Re8 {would force me to find a clear plan.}) 29. bxc4 b5 30. axb6 Rxb6 31. Rb1 {Black's play on the queenside is not effective, especially when his queen is stuck on the other side of the board.} Rdb8 (31... Rb4 32. Qa3 $18 {[%csl Ra6]}) 32. Rxb6 Rxb6 33. Re1 Kg8 (33... Rb2 34. Re2 h4 35. g4 $18) 34. h4 Qf6 $2 (34... Rb2 35. Re2 Qf6 {was more resistant, but, obviously, several precise moves should bring White a win.}) 35. Qe4 Qg6 (35... Qh6 36. Qe7 $18) 36. Qxg6 fxg6 37. Bxg6 a5 38. Re7 Ra6 39. Rd7 Ra8 40. Bc2 $6 {Having little time on move forty I wanted to play it safe, especially considering the unclear match situation.} (40. Rxd6 $1 a4 41. Bf7+ Kf8 42. Rd7 {with inevitable mate.}) 40... a4 41. Bxa4 Nf5 $1 {The last practical chance.} (41... Rxa4 42. Rd8+ Ne8 43. Rxe8+ Kg7 44. Re6 Rxc4 45. Rxd6 $18) 42. Bd1 Ra2+ 43. Kh3 Ra3 (43... Bg1 44. Bxh5 Rh2+ (44... Ne3 45. Nf3 $18) 45. Kg4 Nh6+ 46. Kf3 Rf2+ 47. Ke4 $18) 44. Bxh5 $1 {White's king easily escapes from checks.} Rxg3+ 45. Kh2 Bg1+ 46. Kh1 Bd4 47. Bf7+ Kg7 (47... Kh8 48. Be6 $18 {[%CAl Gd7h7]}) 48. Be6+ Kg6 49. h5+ { 1-0 (49) Postny,E (2638)-Pantsulaia,L (2575) Istanbul 2012 CBM 151 [Postny,E]} (49. h5+ Kxh5 50. Bxf5 $18)) 14. Bh2 (14. Nc4 f5 15. Bh2 Ne5 16. Qb3 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 b6 18. Rae1 Nc7 {White cannot stop ...b5 already.} 19. Qa3 {1/2 Dao Thien Hai (2560)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2584)/Turin 2006/CBM 113}) {According to my ulterior analysis to Deshmukh,A (2430)-Marin,M (2525)/Calcutta 1999/CBM 069 ext (0-1, 35), Black should have played} 14... Nc7 15. Nc4 (15. Qb3 Ne5 16. Rfe1 f5 {or}) (15. Nde4 Be5 {allow Black maintain his stability.}) 15... Ne5 { White cannot prevent the opening of the queenside for too long.} 16. Nb6 Nd7 ( 16... Na8 $5 {is a worthy alternative if Black does not wish to allow a draw by repetition..}) 17. Nxc8 Rfxc8 {Black is fully mobilised and the opening of the queenside is imminent.}) ({A few rounds before the main game, Gashimov faced another plan:} 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Nd2 {White openly fights against the thematic ...b5, but leaves the kingside slightly unattended.} f5 15. Nc4 g5 16. Bh2 f4 17. exf4 gxf4 18. Rfe1 Ne5 {Black has weakened his position, but has obtained almost absolute stability on e5. The evaluation of the position largely depends on White's possibility of activating his h2-bishop. For the time being, it is rather passive, allowing Black to achieve certain progress on the opposite side of the board. Aronian's text move was probably aimed at avoiding precisely this type of position.} 19. Ne4 $6 {This makes the start of Black's counterplay easier.} b5 20. axb5 Rxb5 21. Qd1 Rb4 {Vallejo Pons,F (2705)-Gashimov,V (2759)/Linares ESP 2010 (0-1, 35). with strong black initiative.}) (13. a5 b5 14. axb6 Nxb6 15. Qb3 Nd7 16. Ra4 Rb8 17. Qa2 $14 { 1-0 Postny,E (2651)-Cvitan,O (2541)/Sarajevo 2012/CB19_2012 (48)}) 13... h6 $146 {Marin,M: 'Aronian,L (2781)-Gashimov,V (2759)/Linares 2010/CBM 135/[Marin, M] (1-0, 58)' Technically speaking, this is a novelty, but such notions have little relevance in a position characterised by long plans rather than forced play. Since White has not defined his plans yet, Black makes a generally useful move, which will help him gain space on the kingside at a later stage. More concrete approaches also seem to work out well:} (13... Rb8 14. Ra3 (14. a5 b5 15. axb6 Rxb6 16. Qc1 Nc7 17. Nd2 Ne5 18. Bg3 f5 19. f4 Nf7 20. Nc4 Rb4 21. Na5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 21. Bf1 g5 22. Qc2 gxf4 23. exf4 Qf6 24. Bf2 Bd7 25. Na2 Rb7 26. Rad1 Rfb8 27. Nc1 {1-0 (56) Postny,E (2601)-Bogut,Z (2386) Mali Losinj 2019}) 21... Bd7 22. Bf3 Rfb8 23. Ra2 Nd8 24. Kh2 Qf8 25. Re2 Qf7 26. e4 fxe4 27. Nxe4 Qf8 28. Ng5 h6 29. Ne6 Ncxe6 30. dxe6 Bxe6 31. Rxe6 Nxe6 32. Bd5 Qf5 33. Nc6 Kh7 34. Nxb4 Rxb4 35. Bf3 Nxf4 36. Bg4 Qd5 37. b3 Nh5 38. Rd2 Rd4 39. Bf3 Qxb3 40. Rb2 Qa3 41. Bxh5 gxh5 42. Qb1+ Qd3 43. Qe1 h4 44. Bxh4 Rxh4 45. Rd2 Qe4 46. Re2 Be5+ 47. Kg1 Qd4+ 48. Kh1 Rf4 49. Qb1+ Kg7 50. Qb7+ Kg6 51. Qb1+ Kf6 52. Re1 c4 53. Qb8 Kg7 54. Qc7+ Rf7 55. Qc8 Qf4 56. Kg1 Qf2+ { 0-1 (56) Potapova,M (2260)-Panarin,M (2562) Novorossiysk 2021}) 14... Nc7 15. Rb3 Re8 16. Bh2 Ne5 17. Nd2 g5 18. a5 f5 19. Nf1 Bd7 20. Ng3 f4 {This was not absolutely necessary.} (20... Ng6 21. Nh5 Be5 {looks acceptable for Black.}) 21. exf4 gxf4 22. Nge4 Ng6 23. Bh5 Be5 24. Bg4 Kg7 25. Rb6 Bxg4 26. hxg4 { White's position is more active than in the aforementioned game Vallejo-Gashimov, but things are not entirely clear, since the h2-bishop remains passive.} Na8 $2 {A blunder.} 27. Nxd6 $1 $18 {[%CAl Ga8b6,Gd6f5] Avrukh,B (2628)-Nabaty,T (2417)/Israel 2008/EXT 2009 (1-0, 31)}) (13... Ne5 14. Nd2 ({The simplifications with} 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 {solve Black's problems regarding his lack of space.} 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. Rab1 Nf6 18. f4 Qe7 19. Bf3 b5 {Raznikov,D (2265)-Kveinys,A (2522)/Cappelle la Grande 2009/CBM 129 Extra (1/2, 39)}) {RR} 14... f5 (14... Rb8 15. Ra3 $5 $146 {[%CAl Ga3b3]} (15. Bh2 f5 16. Kh1 (16. f4) 16... Qd7 17. Qb3 b6 18. f4 Nf7 19. e4 fxe4 20. Bg4 Qb7 21. Be6 Kh8 22. Ndxe4 Nh6 23. g4 Bd7 24. Ng5 b5 25. Bxd7 Qxd7 26. Ne6 Rg8 27. axb5 axb5 28. Ra5 b4 29. Ne4 Qc8 {Kurukin,D (2277)-Slizhevsky,A (2446)/St Petersburg 2010/1-0 (45)}) 15... Bd7 16. Rb3 Nc7 17. a5 $14 f5 18. Bh2 { [%CAl Gf2f4]} g5 19. f4 $1 Ng6 20. Nc4 gxf4 21. Bh5 $1 {[%CAl Ge1e7]} Nb5 22. Bxg6 (22. exf4 Qh4 $13) 22... hxg6 23. Bxf4 Nxc3 24. Rxc3 $1 {[%csl Rd6]} Bxc3 25. bxc3 $44 Rf6 26. Bg5 Re8 27. Nb6 Bc8 (27... Ref8) 28. Qa4 Ref8 29. Qh4 Kg7 30. Bh6+ Kg8 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Qh8+ {1-0 (32) Zakhartsov,V (2608)-Petrisor,A (2385) Aix les Bains 2011}) 15. Bh2 Nf6 16. a5 Bd7 17. f4 Nf7 18. Bd3 Rae8 19. Qb3 Bc8 20. Nc4 {White's position is more flexible, but Black is well regrouped and has no immediate problems. In Sargissian,G (2680)-Fier,A (2601)/ Bursa 2010 (1/2, 39) White did not find a way to crack his opponent's defence.} ) 14. a5 {Finally, an important commitment. For a while, play will focus around the preparation for and against the thematic opening of the b-file with ...b5.} Nc7 15. Rc1 $5 {[%csl Gc3,Gc7][%CAl Gb2b4] Over-protecting the c3-knight and putting some indirect pressure on the c7-knight in view of the possible pawn break b2-b4.} f5 $5 {An instructive dialogue carried out by moves on opposite wings.} (15... Rb8 {(with the idea of 16...b5 17.axb6 Rxb6) would run into White's main idea:} 16. b4 $1 cxb4 17. Na4 Nf6 (17... Nb5 18. Qb3 $16) 18. Nb6 Ne4 19. Bd3 $14) (15... b5 {is premature:} 16. axb6 Nxb6 17. e4 $14 {Once the knight as abandoned the control of the e5-square, White starts becoming ambitious in the centre.}) 16. Qb3 ({The point behind 15...f5 is that} 16. b4 {allows Black get counterplay on the kingside after} g5 17. Bh2 cxb4 18. Na4 Nb5 19. Qb3 g4 $132) 16... g5 17. Bg3 Rb8 18. Na4 b5 $1 {With this temporary pawn sacrifice, Black carries out his queenside plan and practically solves his opening problems.} 19. axb6 Na8 20. Ra1 {This is an acceptance of the fact that something has gone wrong for White. Most of his queenside pieces return to their previous locations.} ({The tactical operation } 20. Qa2 Naxb6 21. Nxc5 {leads to unclear play:} dxc5 22. Bxb8 Nxb8 23. d6+ Qe6) 20... Naxb6 21. Nc3 Na8 $1 {Black uses the tempi lost by White to regroup with his knight.} 22. Qc2 Nc7 23. Bc4 Rb4 24. b3 {White has managed to consolidate his queenside and the position remains complex.} Nf6 $2 {A careless move, which will remained unpunished.} ({The idea to increase the pressure against the d5-pawn is correct, though, but a better form to carry it out would have been} 24... Nb6 {(This only has the disadvantage that the rook remains trapped on b4, but at the same time the diagonal of the g7-bishop is wide open.)} 25. Na2 {White is more or less forced to accept the implicit sacrifice.} (25. Nd2 Bb7) 25... Rb5 26. Bxb5 (26. Rad1 Nxc4 27. bxc4 Rb2 28. Qa4 Na8 $1 $15 {[%csl Ga2,Gc4][%CAl Ga8b6] After this new knight regrouping Black has a strong initiative.}) 26... axb5 27. Nc3 b4 28. Na4 Nbxd5 29. Rad1 Bb7 $44 {Black has very active minor pieces and the absence of the white light-squared bishop increases his stability.}) ({If Black prefers ...Nf6 to this line, he should prepare it with} 24... Kh8) 25. Ra5 $2 {[%CAl Ga5c5] / \Rxc5} ({Missing} 25. Ne5 $1 {[%CAl Ge5c6,Ge5g6] when} Rxc4 {does not solve the problem because of} 26. Nxc4) 25... Nd7 (25... Kh8 26. Rxc5 $16 {remains strong even in the absence of a discovered check.}) 26. Na4 Kh8 27. Nb2 { White has made some progress, but it is early to speak about an objective advantage.} Rb6 {Black prepares the activation of his c7-knight with ...Nb5, but maybe insisting with the pressure against the d5-pawn would have been better.} (27... Nf6 $5 28. Nd3 Rb6 29. b4 cxb4 30. Nd4 Ne4 31. Bh2 Bb7 $13) 28. Rd1 Nb5 {The knight stands nicely here, but by comparison with "normal" Benonis, with the pawn on e4, the d4-square is not available, unfortunately.} 29. Bd3 {[%CAl Gb2c4]} Nc3 {This square is not too stable and the knight will have to move again soon.} 30. Rd2 Ne4 (30... Nxd5 31. Nc4 (31. Bxf5 Nb4 32. Qb1 d5) 31... Nb4 32. Qd1 Rc6 33. Bxd6 Rxd6 34. Nxd6 Qxd6 35. Bxa6 $16) 31. Bxe4 fxe4 32. Ne1 {Black has got a structural defect (Pe4), but the white king's knight will need several tempi to get on to an adequate square. Abstractly speaking, Black gets dynamic compensation for his static problems.} Bxb2 $6 { This is a huge concession, after which White will have a very easy game.} ( 32... Rb5 $5 33. Nc4 Ne5 {This looks very logical, but implies a pawn sacrifice.} 34. Rxb5 axb5 35. Nxe5 Bxe5 36. Qxe4 Bf5 37. Bxe5+ Kg8 $1 {This is the kind of move that is easy to miss during the game.} 38. Qf3 Qxe5 {[%CAl Ge5c3] White's extra pawn does not make itself felt, while Black is perfectly coordinated. The knight is passive and the b3-pawn weak. The vulnerability of the black king is not easy to be taken advantage of, because White does not have sufficient activity.}) 33. Qxb2+ {Not only winning a tempo, but also clearing the c2-square for the knight.} Kg8 34. Nc2 $14 {/+/- Starting with this moment, White will increase the pressure at his own convenience.} Nf6 35. Na3 Ne8 36. Nc4 Rb5 37. Ra4 h5 38. Na5 h4 39. Bh2 Bf5 40. Nc6 Qb7 41. b4 Bd7 42. Qc2 Bf5 43. bxc5 Rxc5 44. Qd1 Rb5 45. Ra1 Bc8 46. Rc1 Bf5 47. Nd8 Qe7 48. Ne6 Bxe6 49. dxe6 Qxe6 50. Bxd6 Nxd6 51. Rxd6 Qf5 52. Qh5 Rb7 53. Rg6+ Rg7 54. Rh6 Rh7 55. Rxh7 Qxh7 56. Qxg5+ Qg7 57. Qxh4 Qg6 58. Rc5 {1-0 (58) Aronian,L (2781)-Gashimov,V (2759) Linares 2010 CBM 135 [Marin,M]}) ({RR} 10... Qe7 { Stohl,I: '!?'} 11. Be2 (11. Nd2 Nh5 12. Bh2 f5 13. Nc4 f4 14. Be2 fxe3 15. Bxh5 Rxf2 16. Bg3 Rxg2 17. Qf3 Rxb2 18. Rc1 Rb4 19. Nxd6 Bd7 20. Bg4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Nd7 22. Nce4 Rf8 23. Qxe3 Re8 {Stohl,I: '|^' Stohl,I: 'Raicevic,V-Wojtkiewicz, A/Athens Akropolis/1992/'}) ({RR} 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. O-O Rb8 13. Bh2 Ne8 14. e4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. a5 Nd6 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. Na4 c4 19. Bb1 Rbe8 20. Nb6 f5 21. Re1 f4 22. f3 g5 {Stohl,I: '->' Stohl,I: 'Arencibia,WR-Hernandez,Gi/Capablanca mem-B/1992/'}) 11... h6 (11... Nbd7 12. O-O b6 $5 {verhindert das oftmals starke weiße a5 für immer.} (12... Rb8 13. a5 Ne8 14. Nd2 Ne5 15. Re1 f5 16. Bh2 Nc7 17. f4 Nf7 18. Nc4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 18. e4 fxe4 19. Ndxe4 b5 20. axb6 Rxb6 21. Qd2 Bf5 22. Bf3 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Qf6 24. Na4 {1/2-1/2 (56) Schreiner,P (2471)-Deglmann,L (2349) Austria 2014}) 18... Bd7 19. Bf3 Bb5 20. Qb3 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 b5 22. Qb3 Qh4 23. e4 Rbe8 24. e5 dxe5 25. d6 exf4 26. Re2 c4 27. Qb4 Bxc3 28. Qxc3 Rxe2 29. Bxe2 Nxd6 30. Qe5 Re8 31. Qxd6 Rxe2 32. Rf1 Qe7 33. Qxf4 Nd5 34. Qb8+ Qe8 35. Qb7 Qe4 {0-1 (35) Duran Vega,S (2340)-Bachmann,A (2599) Tornelo INT 2021}) 13. Nd2 Rb8 14. Nc4 $6 {gefällt mir gar nicht, der weiße Springer muss bald wieder weg von dort und der schwarze Plan beinhaltet das vorerst passiv anmutende Se8 ohnehin.} Ne8 15. Qd2 Ne5 16. Na3 Nc7 17. Bh2 f5 $1 {Verschafft dem Se5 ein Rückzugsfeld auf f7, sodass der Lc8 nach d7 kann.} 18. Rab1 Bd7 19. b4 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nc2 c4 22. Rbd1 $6 Ra8 23. Ra1 Rfc8 24. Rfd1 Qf8 $1 25. Nd4 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Ra8 27. Rc1 Qb8 28. Nc6 Qe8 29. Nxe5 Bxe5 30. Bxe5 Qxe5 31. f4 Qe7 $15 {Schwarz hat seine einzige Schwäche auf b5 gut gedeckt, die offene a-Linie unter Kontrolle und potentielle Ausfälle der Dame auf den schwarzen Feldern.} 32. Bf3 Ne8 33. Re1 Nf6 34. Qb2 Be8 35. Kf2 Qa7 36. Ne2 Qg7 37. Nc3 Qa7 38. Ne2 Qg7 (38... Kf7 39. g4 Qa3 40. Qd4 Qxb4 41. g5 Nd7 42. Qh8 $132) 39. Nc3 Qa7 {1/2-1/2 (39) Socko,B (2587)-Johansson,L (2423) Stockholm 2016 CBM 170 Extra [CB]}) 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. O-O Rb8 14. Nc4 Ne8 15. a5 g5 16. Bh2 Ne5 17. Nb6 Bf5 18. Re1 Bg6 19. Ra3 Nd7 20. Rb3 Nxb6 21. Rxb6 Rd8 22. Nb1 f5 23. Na3 Rf7 24. Nc4 $16 {Riazantsev A - Lovkov R, 2010 European Rapid Championship}) (10... Qb6 11. Ra3 $5 {[%CAl Ga3b3,Gb3b6]} (11. Nd2 Qxb2 12. Qc1 Qxc1+ 13. Rxc1 $44) 11... Nh5 {Quelques semaines plus tard, les Noirs ont essayé d'améliorer la position avec Nbd7} (11... Nbd7 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Nc4 Ne8 14. Rb3 Ne5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5 16. a5 Bg7 17. Be2 Nf6 18. O-O Re8 19. Rb6 Bf8 20. Qa4 Bd7 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Bd3 Red8 23. e4 Nh5 24. e5 Nf4 25. Be4 Re8 26. h4 {Arduman,C (2349)-Pantsulaia,L (2613)/Konya 2011/CBM 143 Extra/0-1 (60)}) 12. Rb3 Qa5 {Les Noirs n'ont pas assez de compensations pour le P"d6" et la Qa5 n'est pas trés active} (12... Qc7 $142 {[%csl Gd6]} 13. Bh2 (13. Bc4 Nxf4) 13... Nd7 14. Be2 {[%CAl Gf3d2,Gd2c4,Ge2h5]} Re8) 13. Bxd6 Rd8 14. Bh2 Nf6 ( 14... Nc6 15. Bc4) 15. Qd2 Nc6 16. Bc4 (16. d6 $5 b5 $1 17. axb5 Qa1+) 16... Nb4 $6 {trop lent} (16... b5 17. axb5 Qa1+ (17... axb5 $2 18. Ra3) 18. Qd1 axb5 (18... Qxd1+ $143 19. Nxd1 axb5 (19... Nb4 20. b6)) 19. Rxb5 Qxd1+ 20. Nxd1 Nxd5 21. O-O (21. Rxc5) 21... Ndb4) 17. O-O Bf5 18. d6 $1 $40 {[%csl Gh2]} Be6 19. Qe2 (19. Bxe6 $142 fxe6 20. Qe2 Rac8 21. Qc4 $18) 19... Re8 (19... Bxc4 $142 20. Qxc4 Nd7) 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. e4 Nd7 22. e5 $18 {[%csl Ra5,Gd6][%CAl Gc3e4,Ge4f6]} Rac8 23. Nd2 Qd8 24. f4 $18 Rb8 25. Nf3 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Kh1 Qa5 28. Qe4 c4 29. Ra3 Qd8 30. Bg1 Rf8 31. Ra7 Bh6 32. g3 Rf7 33. Rfa1 Nd3 34. Ra8 b4 35. Rxb8 Nxb8 36. Qxc4 Nxf4 37. gxf4 bxc3 38. bxc3 Bxf4 39. Qxe6 Kg7 40. Ra8 Bh6 41. Kg2 Rb7 42. Bd4 {1-0 (42) Fridman,D (2661)-Papaioannou,I (2605) Aix les Bains 2011}) (10... Nh5 {The most direct plan, but it simply does not work well. Black's undeveloped pieces on the queenside means that his early offensive will fail.} 11. Bh2 (11. Bg5 $5 $146 f6 (11... Bf6 $5 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Bc4 Re8 14. O-O b6 {/\Ra7-e7<=>}) 12. Bh4 g5 13. Nd2 $8 (13. Bg3 Nxg3 14. fxg3 f5 $17) 13... Qe8 (13... gxh4 14. Qxh5 f5 15. Bd3 $14) 14. Be2 gxh4 (14... Nf4 15. exf4 gxh4 16. O-O f5 17. Nc4 $36) 15. Bxh5 Qe7 16. O-O f5 17. Nc4 Nd7 18. Ne2 $36 {>>} Rb8 (18... Ne5 19. Nb6 Rb8 20. Nf4 {/\Nc8,>}) (9... Bg4 $5 $13) 10. Nd2 $1 { With the e8-square taken by the R, White directly goes for the >,[+],? For the sacrificed P White has attacking prospects, the Kg8 is vulnerable on the dark squares.} Nc7 (17... c4 $2 18. a4 $16) 18. e4 f6 (18... Qe7 19. e5 $1 (19. Bf3 $143 f6 $15) 19... dxe5 (19... Nxd5 20. exd6 $36 {/\} Qxe2 21. Re1 $16) 20. d6 $5 (20. Bxe5 Nxd5 21. Bxb5 Bb7 $132) (20. Rd1 Ne8 $5 21. Bxb5 f6 $13) 20... Qxd6 21. Rd1 Qe7 (21... Qe6 22. Bf3 f6 23. Qc3 $1 $36 {/\} (23. Bxa8 Nxa8 $15) 23... Rb8 24. Qxc5 Qf7 25. Qxa7 Na6 26. Bd5 Be6 27. Qxa6 Bxd5 28. Qd6 $18) 22. Qxe5 $1 Ne6 23. Bxb5 $36) 19. f4 (19. Re1 $142 $44) 19... b4 $6 {Rather careless, as now White can break through in the [+] and make life dangerous for Black's K.} (19... f5 $142 $1 20. e5 (20. Bf3 fxe4 21. Bxe4 Bf5 22. Bf3 b4 $15) 20... Bb7 21. Rd1 $13 { /=/+}) ({Even} 19... Qe7 {was stronger, than the text move.}) 20. Bh4 Ne8 ( 20... Kg7 21. e5 $40 {/\} (21. Bc4 $5 {/\e5->}) 21... g5 22. fxg5 fxe5 23. Rf7+ $1 Kxf7 24. g6+ $18) (20... Qe7 21. Bf3 $5 (21. Qxf6 Qxf6 (21... Qxe4 22. Qxd6 Qe3+ 23. Bf2 Qxe2 24. Re1 Ne8 25. Qxc5 $18) 22. Bxf6 Ba6 (22... Kf7 23. Bd8 $16 ) 23. Bxa6 Nxa6 24. e5 c4 $5 $14) (21. Bd3 Nxd5 $15) 21... g5 22. fxg5 fxg5 23. Bg3 g4 24. Be2 Qxe4 25. Bxd6 $40) 21. e5 $1 Qd7 $5 {[%mdl 256] Cold-blooded defence, opening the position would play into White's hands:} (21... g5 22. fxg5 (22. Bf2 $5) 22... fxe5 23. Qb1 $16 {/\Bd3->}) 22. e6 Qe7 23. Bb5 { The most direct continuation.} (23. Bc4 Bb7 (23... a5 24. f5 $1 g5 25. Bxg5 fxg5 26. f6 Nxf6 27. Rxf6 Qg7 28. Qf1 Ra7 29. Qf5 $40 {/\Rf7+-}) 24. Qb2 $36 { maintains the squeeze, but with no immediate decision in sight.}) (23. f5 Bb7 24. fxg6 Bxd5 25. Bxf6 Qxe6 $15) 23... Bb7 24. Bxe8 Rxe8 {Black prepares a countersacrifice to free his position.} (24... Qxe8 $5 25. f5 $5 (25. Rd1 f5 $5 (25... g5 26. fxg5 Qh5 27. gxf6 Qxh4 28. f7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. f8=Q+ Rxf8 31. Qg7+ $18) 26. Qf6 (26. Bf6 $40) 26... Qf8 27. Qe7 Qxe7 28. Bxe7 c4 29. Bxd6 c3 30. e7 a5 31. Bc5 c2 $8 32. Rc1 Bxd5 33. Rxc2 $14) 25... Bxd5 26. Qxf6 $44 { ->}) 25. Bxf6 Qf8 26. Rd1 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Gf6][%CAl Rf4f5] ->^-,/\f5} (26. f5 $145 $1 Bxd5 27. Bg7 Qe7 (27... Qxg7 28. f6 $18) 28. f6 Qxe6 29. f7+ Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Bxf7 31. Bh8 $18 {(Fritz)}) 26... Bxd5 {This was Anand's intention.} ({ After} 26... Qh6 27. Bh8 $5 {/\ Black can hardly move at all and White will calmly prepare f5.}) 27. Rxd5 Rxe6 28. Bg5 (28. Bh8 Qe7 29. Rd1 Re2 30. Kf1 $14 ) 28... Qe8 (28... h6 29. f5 $1 gxf5 30. Bf4 Qe8 31. Qb2 Re1+ 32. Kf2 Qe4 33. Qd2 $16) 29. Rd1 $2 {[%mdl 8192] The growing tension brings tactical mistakes.} (29. Bh4 $1 Qc6 (29... Re2 30. Rxd6 $18) 30. Qd1 $16) 29... Re2 30. Bh6 Qe3+ 31. Kh1 Qc3 $8 $36 32. Qxc3 $2 (32. Qb1 Qc2 $15) 32... bxc3 33. f5 c2 $2 { [%mdl 8192]} (33... d5 $1 34. Kg1 d4 $36 {/\} 35. Kf1 Rxa2 $17) 34. Rc1 d5 35. Kg1 d4 36. Kf1 d3 37. Re1 $1 $18 {Black has lost a crucial tempo and now after the R exchange his P simply fall.} d2 $2 (37... Rxe1+ 38. Kxe1 Kf7 39. Kd2 c4 40. Kc3 Kf6 41. fxg6 (41. Kxc4 $4 g5 $19) 41... Kxg6 42. Bc1 $18) 38. Kxe2 gxf5 39. Kxd2 Kf7 40. Kxc2 {1-0 (40) Azmaiparashvili,Z (2676)-Anand,V (2757) Dubai 2002 CBM 089 [Stohl,I]}) ({The main line goes} 8. Qa4+ {[%emt 0:00:04] RR: '!?' RR: 'Un coup intermédiaire devenu populaire à haut niveau qui force la réponse Bd7 pour désorganiser la défense Noire' Marin,M: '!' Marin,M: 'The result of the opening was anything but encouraging, which makes his decision to deviate quite understandable.' Marin,M: 'It is precisely this check that causes Black problems.'} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} (8... Kf8 $6 9. e4 a6 10. Be2 $14 {Kalantarian,N (2455)-Emms,J (2535) Paris Apsap 1994 (3) 1-0}) 9. Qb3 {[%emt 0: 00:05] Marin,M: 'Gelfand,B (2761)-Gashimov,V (2759)/Linares 2010/CBM 136/ [Marin] (1/2, 54)' Marin,M: 'The bishop has been forced to take away from the knight its most natural development square, while the b7-and d6-pawns are under attack.' So,Wesley: 'occurred in a game of mine against John Bryant a month earlier. I suppose that this game is what my opponent's prep is based upon.'} {Marin,M: 'I was surprised to find out that the old Benoni monographs by Stoliar/Kondratjev (1981) and Kapengut (1984) analyse only' Marin,M: 'The main alternative is'} Qc7 {RR: '‹' Marin,M: '?!' Marin,M: ', which, by the way, Gashimov used once in Inarkiev,E (2684)-Gashimov,V (2679) Baku 2008 (1/2, 53). Somehow I thought that 9...b5 used to be the main line at some point, but maybe it became so after the books were published.' Marin,M: 'The natural response, which doesn't cross White's plan in any way, though.' Marin,M: 'In the comments to Brynell,S (2496)-Almasi,Z (2640)/Germany 2005/CBM 110/[Marin,M] (1-0, 25), I expressed certain scepticism and thought the text move to be critical for the assesment of the whole variation based on the early check on a4.'} ({Marin,M: 'My personal feeling is that if Black were to find a playable continuation, it would be in the gambit lines starting with'} 9... b5 $6 { [%emt 0:00:01] Marin,M: '. However, in practice he has failed to prove anthing convincing so far. It isinteresting tomention that Brynell had already employed this system previously with White, which makes one wonder why such a high class player like Almasi was caught so badly in the present game, without being able to put up any resistance. In any case, this is a clear signal of warning: the Benoni is not an opening to play just "by inspiration", especially when one has no experience at all. Anyway, Brynell's previous game went' is more profitable than 9...Qc7 at the moment. '!' is currently scoring better than 9...Qc7. Atalik,S: 'Shaba's gambit makes the line still playable. ' Marin,M: 'A very ambitious move.'} 10. Bxd6 {[%emt 0:13:09] RR: 'Après une longue réflexion, les Blancs évitent de rentrer dans les complications de la variante 10.Nb5' Atalik,S: 'The critical line.'} (10. Nxb5 {Marin,M: 'helps Black develop at full speed:'} Bxb5 11. Qxb5+ Nbd7 12. Bxd6 Ne4 {RR: '~~'} 13. Be5 O-O 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Marin,M: '~/=' Marin,M: 'Kalantarian,N (2460)-Horvath,T (2395)/Budapest 1996/CBM 056/[Horvath,Ta] (0-1, 22)'} 15. Qa4 Rb8 16. Qxe4 Qa5+ 17. Nd2 Rxb2 18. Rd1 Rfb8 $44) 10... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:35]} (10... c4 $5 { I was relying on this new approach by Cheliabinsk GM Ponkratov but obviously things are not crystal clear.} {Adla Martin: 'Pablo Glavina señaló en la sala de análisis que es interesante'} 11. Qa3 $5 {Somehow everyone plays this,} (11. Qd1 $5 Bf5 $1 {Una excelente novedad que recupera un debate teórico que se creía cerrado. Hasta ahora se pensaba que las blancas tenían clara ventaja pero, luego de esta partida, todo vuelve a empezar. La idea es tener mucho desarrollo por el peón de menos y buen control del centro.} 12. Be5 ({A partir de aquí Georgiev comenzó a pensar, señal inequívoca de que era consciente de la nueva situación. Su elección ante la novedad de su rival fue muy práctica. Rápido desarrollo y centralización. En caso de} 12. Ba3 Qa5 {con posición poco clara.}) 12... Nbd7 13. Bd4 b4 14. Na4 ({Juego cauto. Glavina contó que había tenido esta posición en su preparación y que contra} 14. e4 bxc3 15. exf5 cxb2 16. Bxb2 Rb8 {pensaba que tenía buena compensación por el peón de menos.}) 14... Qa5 15. e3 Rc8 ({También es interesante} 15... Qxd5 {con buen juego.}) 16. Be2 ({Georgiev no se complica. Los módulos insisten con} 16. a3 {cuya evidente idea es debilitar la cadena de peones negra en el flanco de dama y conseguir la casilla c3 para el mal caballo de "a4".}) 16... O-O 17. O-O ({ Ahora no es tan efectiva} 17. a3 b3+ 18. Nc3 Nb6 19. O-O Nfxd5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rc1 Rfd8 {y las negras tienen buena presión con gran ventaja en desarrollo.}) 17... Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nd4 N7f6 $6 ({Más natural parece} 19... Be4 {manteniendo la presión sin asumir riesgos en forma de debilidad de la estructura de peones. Sin embargo, en ajedrez el estilo de juego a menudo tiene gran influencia en la elección de movimientos, más que la técnica en sí. En este caso, Glavina es un jugador que no teme los cambios ni las variantes complejas. Aunque es sorprendente que, cuando le preguntamos en la sala de análisis porque no había jugado el alfil respondió que... !no la había visto!.} ) 20. Nxf5+ gxf5 21. b3 ({Las blancas aún no pueden generar juego contra los peones negros del flanco de rey porque el peón pasado de "c" es muy peligroso, por ejemplo:} 21. Qc2 c3 22. bxc3 Nxc3 23. Nxc3 Rxc3 (23... bxc3) 24. Qb2 Rfc8) 21... Rfd8 ({Es interesante} 21... c3 {con la idea de jugar contra el Ca4}) 22. Qc2 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Nc3 ({La jugada de la partida parece buena, pero personalmente preferiría mantener fuera de juego al mal "Ca4" con} 23... Ne4) 24. Nxc3 Rxc3 ({A partir de ahora las negras, que hasta aquí han jugado casi irreprochablemente obteniendo una gran ventaja contra su poderoso rival, empiezan a dar respiros a las blancas que estas aprovechan. Sin duda era mucho mejor} 24... bxc3 {y el peón pasado domina a las piezas blancas.}) 25. Qb2 Rdc8 ({Otra vez las negras dan respiro. Era mejor} 25... Qa3 {Glavina dijo que no jugó asi por} 26. Qb1 Ne4 27. f3 $2 Rd2 28. fxe4 Rxe2 29. Rxf5 Rcc2 30. Rg5+ Kh6 {y si bien en sus análisis llegó hasta aquí, no fue consciente de que estaba ganado.}) 26. Bf3 {Las blancas mejoran su posición poco a poco y lo peor para ellas va pasando.} Qa3 27. Qd2 Rd3 28. Qe2 Rcd8 29. Rac1 Rd2 $2 ({ Esta es una muy mala jugada conceptual. La dama blanca en e2 está casi encerrada y es mejor que siga allí para que no ataque al débil rey negro. Una jugada natural como} 29... a5 {mantiene una ligera presión favorable a las negras.}) 30. Qb5 $1 Kg6 31. h4 ({Los módulos dan un ataque ganador con} 31. Qe5 {aunque la jugada de la partida también es muy buena.}) 31... Qd3 32. Qxb4 Rxa2 33. Qf4 h6 34. Rcd1 ({Las blancas dejan escapar un bonito remate señalado rápidamente por los módulos} 34. Rc6 Ra6 35. Be4 $1 {ganando}) 34... Rd2 35. h5+ Kg7 36. Rxd2 Qxd2 37. Qxf5 Qb2 38. Rb1 Qc3 39. g3 Re8 40. Rb7 Kg8 41. Bd5 Rxe3 42. Qg6+ {1-0 (42) Georgiev,K (2666)-Glavina,P (2468) Zaragoza 2011 CBM 146 Extra [Adla Martin] Una gran lucha que disfrutamos con emoción en la sala de análisis. Agradecemos a Pablo Glavina que, tras haber perdido, acudiera a la sala a mostrarnos su preparación y cambiar sus impresiones sobre el desarrollo de la partida.}) 11... Qb6 12. Bc5 $5 {I can not find words to describe this move. I simply thought that he had simply blundered.} (12. e4 $142 a5 13. Qc5 Qxc5 14. Bxc5 b4 15. Nd1 Nxe4 16. Bd4 O-O $44) (12. Qc5 $6 Na6 13. Qxb6 axb6 $44) 12... Qb7 13. Bd4 (13. Ng5 Na6 14. Nce4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Qxd5 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Be3 Qc6 18. Nxb5+ Kg8 19. Nc3 Qb7 $44) 13... b4 14. Ne4 bxa3 $1 (14... O-O 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Qe3 Re8 17. Qf4 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 c3 19. bxc3 bxc3 20. Qxc3 Qxd5 21. e3 $14) 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Nxb7 axb2 17. Bxb2 Nxd5 $1 {Black may need this pawn.} (17... Ne4 $6 18. Bd4 $1 $14) 18. Ne5 (18. O-O-O $6 Nc3 ( 18... Bxb2+ 19. Kxb2 c3+ 20. Kc1 Nf6 21. Ne5 Kg7 $40) 19. Bxc3 Bxc3 $40) 18... c3 $5 {I was in between this} ({and} 18... Bc8 19. Na5 c3 20. Ba3+ Kg8 21. O-O-O Bxe5 22. Rxd5 Bf6 23. e4 Kg7 24. Kc2 Nd7 (24... Be6 25. Bc4) 25. Bb5 Nb6 26. Rd3 Be6 27. Bb4 $13) 19. Ba3+ Kg8 20. O-O-O Nb6 $5 {Again a difficult choice among many alternatives.} (20... Bh6+ $2 21. e3 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Bxe3+ 23. Kc2 Ba4+ 24. Kxc3 Bxd1 25. Bc4 $18) (20... Bxe5 21. Rxd5 Bf6 22. Nc5 Bc6 23. Ne4 Bh4 24. Rd4 Kg7 25. e3 $14) (20... Be6 21. e4 Bxe5 22. exd5 Bf5 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Rxd3 Nd7 25. Kc2 Kg7 26. Nd6 $13) 21. Nxd7 N8xd7 22. e3 Ne5 23. Rd4 $1 (23. Be2 Nec4 $1) 23... h5 24. h3 Nc6 25. Re4 a5 $1 (25... Rb8 26. Ba6 $14) 26. Bc5 Rb8 $5 {All my pieces are lined up for an unobvious sacrifice.} (26... Nd7 27. Bb5 Nxc5 28. Nxc5 Rc8 $5 $13 (28... Nb4 29. a3 Na2+ 30. Kc2 Rb8 31. Rb1 Nb4+ 32. axb4 Rxb5 33. Na4 Kh7 34. Rc4 axb4 35. Rbxb4 $11)) 27. Ba6 Nb4 $5 ( 27... Nd5 28. Bd6 Kh7 $13 {is very messy.}) 28. Rxb4 axb4 29. Bxb6 g5 $1 { The forthcoming Rh6 is the point behind Black's play.} (29... b3 30. axb3 Ra8 31. Bd3 (31. Nc5 Bf8 32. Bd3)) 30. Bd4 Bxd4 31. exd4 Rh6 32. Nc5 Rd8 33. Rd1 Rhd6 $1 34. Be2 (34. Nb7 $6 {During the game I have thought that this loses by force alas it is quite obvious.} Rxa6 35. Nxd8 Rxa2 36. Rd3 Ra1+ 37. Kc2 Ra2+ 38. Kb1 Rxf2 39. Nc6 Rxg2 40. d5 Rg1+ 41. Kc2 Rg2+ 42. Kc1 Rg1+ 43. Rd1 Rxd1+ 44. Kxd1 Kf8 45. Nxb4 Ke7 46. Ke2 f5 47. Kd3 Kd6 48. Kxc3 Kc5 49. Kd3 h4 50. Ke3 g4 51. hxg4 fxg4 52. Kf4 $11) 34... Rxd4 35. Nb3 $6 $138 {A bad move in time trouble.} (35. Bxh5 Rxd1+ 36. Bxd1 Rd2 37. Na6 Rxa2 38. Nxb4 Rxf2 39. Bf3 f5 40. Nd5 Kf7 41. Nxc3 g4 $11) 35... Rxd1+ 36. Bxd1 Ra8 $6 $138 {I could have never learned the rook versus 2 light pieces type of positions. My dogmatism of almost always favouring the minor pieces took its toll around these moments of the game.} (36... h4 $142 37. Kc2 Kg7 38. Be2 f5 39. Bd3 Kf6 40. Nc1 g4 $17 41. Kb3 Rd4 42. f3 gxh3 43. gxh3 Kg5 $15 {should be better for Black.}) 37. Kb1 Re8 $6 {Consistently wrong.} (37... h4 $142 $15) 38. Kc2 Re1 $6 ({Even here I could have gone for} 38... h4 $142) 39. Nc1 Rg1 40. Bf3 g4 41. hxg4 hxg4 42. Bc6 (42. Bd5 Re1 43. Nd3 Re2+ 44. Kb3 Rd2 45. Nxb4 c2 46. Kb2 Kf8 47. Bc6 Rxf2 48. a4 c1=Q+ 49. Kxc1 Rf4 50. Nc2 Ke7 51. a5 Kd6 52. Bb7 Kc7 53. a6 Rf2 $44 { keeps drawing chances.}) 42... Re1 43. Bd7 g3 $6 ({I hold to my b4 pawn.} 43... Re4 $142) 44. fxg3 Re3 45. Bc6 Rxg3 46. Bf3 Rg6 47. Nd3 Rb6 48. g4 Ra6 $2 { Exchanging does not always bring equality.} (48... Kg7 49. Be4 Kf6 50. Kb3 Kg5 51. Bf5 Rb7 52. Nxb4 c2 53. Bxc2 Kxg4 $11) 49. Bd5 Rg6 50. Nxb4 Rxg4 51. Kxc3 Rg3+ 52. Nd3 (52. Kc4 Ra3 53. Kb5 Kf8 54. Nc6 f5 55. Nd4 f4 56. Ne6+ Ke7 57. Nxf4 Kd6 58. Kb4 Rg3 $16 {brings the same ending as happened in the game.}) 52... Kf8 $5 53. a4 Ke7 $1 54. a5 Kd6 55. Bxf7 Kc6 {Black has just caught the pawn and we have reached a theoretical endgame: Chigorin-Mason, Monte Carlo 1901 which is ironically ended by the same blunder as in my game.} 56. Bc4 Rg5 57. Kb4 Rh5 58. Nf4 Rg5 59. Nd5 Rg1 60. Nc3 {In this part of the game I thought that I wouldl not allow him to push his pawn further.} (60. Ne7+ Kb7 61. Kb5 Rb1+ 62. Kc5 Ra1 63. Nc6 Rg1 64. Nb4 Rg5+ 65. Bd5+ Kc7 66. Nc2 Rg1 67. Nd4 Rc1+ 68. Kb5 Rd1 $16) 60... Rg4 61. Na4 Kb7 62. Kb5 Rg5+ 63. Nc5+ Ka7 64. Bd3 Rh5 65. Kc6 Rh1 66. Ne4 Rd1 67. Bc4 Ra1 68. Kb5 Rb1+ 69. Kc5 Ra1 70. Kb4 Rb1+ 71. Bb3 Ka6 72. Nc5+ Ka7 73. Ne6 Ka6 $2 (73... Kb7 74. Nd4 (74. Ka4 Kc6) 74... Ka6 $11 {A mutual zugzwang position with White to move; so it is a draw.} 75. Nc6 Rxb3+ 76. Kxb3 Kb5 $11) 74. Nd4 {A mutual zugzwang position with Black on the move and losing!} Rb2 $2 {This is possibly another mistake.} (74... Rg1 75. Bc4+ Kb7 76. Bd3 $16) 75. Ka4 $1 $18 Rb1 76. Bc4+ Ka7 77. Nc6+ Kb7 78. Nb4 Ra1+ 79. Kb5 Rb1 80. Bd3 Rb2 $4 {Chigorin-Mason,Monte Carlo 1901} (80... Rg1 { Unfortunately the stalemating trick does not fully work!} 81. a6+ Ka7 82. Nc6+ Ka8 83. Kb6 Rb1+ (83... Rg3 84. Bf5 Rb3+ 85. Kc7 Rb6 86. Bc8 $18) 84. Kc7 Rb5 85. Nd4 Rh5 86. Nb5 Rh7+ 87. Kb6 Rh6+ 88. Ka5 Rh4 89. Nd6 Kb8 (89... Rh5+ 90. Kb6 $18) 90. Kb6 Rb4+ 91. Nb5 Kc8 92. a7 Ra4 93. Be4 $18) 81. Bc2 $1 $18 { The rook is lost as in the historic game mentioned above.} Kc7 82. Ka4 { 1-0 (82) Barbosa,O (2580)-Atalik,S (2562) Bangkok 2014 CBM 161 [Atalik,S]}) 11. Be5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} (11. Bg3 O-O 12. e3 c4 13. Qd1 b4 14. Nb1 (14. Ne2 Qa5 { [%csl Gd5]}) 14... Bb5 (14... Nxd5 $1 {[%csl Gb2]}) 15. a4 Ba6 16. Be5 Nbd7 17. Bd4 Qd6 18. Nbd2 Rac8 19. Rc1 c3 20. bxc3 bxc3 21. Rxc3 Nxd5 $44 {Litinskaya,M (2415)-Levitina,I (2355) Tskhaltubo 1988 (1-0, 39). Could this have been the game which opened a new path in the theory, making 9...b5 an important variation?!}) 11... O-O {[%emt 0:00:13]} (11... c4 12. Qd1 a5 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 12... b4 13. Na4 Qa5 14. b3 Bxa4 15. bxa4 Nbd7 16. Bd4 O-O 17. e3 b3+ 18. Qd2 Qxa4 {0-1 (31) Rychagov,A (2526)-Gabrielian,A (2691) Chess.com INT 2018}) 13. Bd4 Qc7 14. e3 O-O 15. a4 b4 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. axb5 Rd8 18. b6 Qc8 19. b7 Qxb7 20. Bxc4 Nbd7 21. O-O Nb6 22. Bb3 Nbxd5 23. Qe2 Rac8 24. Rfd1 Qc7 25. h3 Ra8 26. Be5 Qb7 27. e4 Ne7 28. Ng5 Nxe4 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Ne6+ Kxf7 33. Nxd8+ {1-0 (33) Real de Azua,E (2440)-Tapie Amione, P (2286) Lichess.org INT 2021}) 12. e3 {[%emt 0:00:23] Marin,M: 'I remember that when I was young I got fascinated by this position, considering it to be rather hermetic for mere mortals and admiring those who would play it and live to tell about it. Despite the progress of engines, I still consider this to be valid. When trying to check the traditional point of view, I was very surprised to see that none of my good old Russian Benoni books (Kapengut and Stojiar/Kondratjev) mention it!'} {Marin,M: 'The main line is'} c4 {[%emt 0:00: 06]} (12... b4 {Iotov,V: '!?' Marin,M: 'Gelfand,B (2761)-Gashimov,V (2759) Linares 2010 CBM 135 [Marin,M] (1/2, 54)' Marin,M: 'A relatively rare move. Black wins space with gain of time, but weakens the c4-square. If White had the time to play Nd2-c4, he would get a crushing strategic advantage.'} 13. Nb1 {Marin,M: 'I do not like'} Bf5 {Marin,M: 'either. This simply looks like a loss of a tempo along the same diagonal and leads to similar positions as in the game.'} ({Marin,M: 'I believe that the critical move is'} 13... Bb5 $6 { Marin,M: ', fighting for the c4-square.'} 14. Bxb5 Qxb5 {Marin,M: 'White has developed his bishop with gain of time, but will experience some problems getting castled.'} 15. Na3 (15. Bxf6 {In principle, this exchange is part of White's general plan of consolidating on the light squares, but I find it to be premature, because it transforms the black bishop into a fearsome piece.} Bxf6 16. Nbd2 Nd7 17. a4 {This pawn joins the fight for the c4-square.} (17. Nc4 Nb6 $132 {[%csl Gd5]}) 17... Qa6 18. a5 {[%csl Gb6]} (18. Nc4 Nb6 $1 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Nd2 Rfe8 $15) 18... Rfe8 $5 {Since White does not threaten to get castled yet, Black can make a generally useful move. The e4-square is taken under control, for purposes that will be revealed a bit later.} (18... c4 $6 {sacrifices too much material.} 19. Qxc4 Qxc4 20. Nxc4 Rfc8 21. Nfd2 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Ke2 Rc2 24. Rhc1 Rxb2 25. Rab1 $16 {Kekelidze,M (2477) -Pantsulaia,L (2386)/Tbilisi 2002/EXT 2004 (1/2, 50)}) ({The attempt to put the d5-pawn under immediate pressure with} 18... Rfd8 {is ineffective:} 19. Qc4 Nb8 20. Qxa6 Nxa6 21. O-O-O $1 Rxd5 22. Ne4 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Be7 24. Rd7 Kf8 25. Ne5 $16) (18... Nb6 {is ineffective because of} 19. Ra2 {, defending the rook and forcing the knight to retreat.}) 19. Qc4 (19. Nc4 Nb6 $1 $15) 19... Qd6 20. Rb1 ({The point behind placing the rook on e8 is revealed after} 20. Ne4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4 Bxb2 22. Rd1 Nf6 23. Qc4 Bc3+ 24. Ke2 Re8 $36) 20... Rad8 {A centralising move completing the development.} 21. O-O Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. g3 (23. f4 {fails to maintain the extra pawn:} Bg7 24. e4 Bd4+ 25. Kh1 f5 $11) 23... Qxd5 24. Qxd5 Rxd5 25. Nc4 Bc7 26. Rfd1 Red8 27. Rxd5 Rxd5 28. Kf1 f5 $11 {White has obtained the ending he was dreaming of, with just one exception: his a-pawn has advanced too far, risking being attacked by the king. Besides, the bishop keeps the kingside under some pressure. The most probable result is a draw.}) ({The same goes for} 15. Nc3 Qa6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Ne4 {Khenkin,I (2460)-Jaulin,M (2235)/Paris 1991/TD (1-0, 30)} Qxb2 $1 18. Qxb2 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bg7 20. Nxc5 Rc8 21. Nd3 a5 22. O-O Nd7 23. Rfc1 Nf6) ({Abstractly speaking, the critical position should be the one arising after} 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 {White has a choice between moves such as 18.d6 or 18.Rd1, but it should be mentioned that} 16. Bxf6 $6 {is to be avoided because} Nxf6 {, with pressure on the d5-pawn, is possible already.}) 15... Qd7 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nc4 Qxd5 18. Nb6 $1 (18. O-O $6 Qb7 19. a4 Nd7 20. Nfd2 Rad8 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. Qc2 Rfe8 23. b3 Bc3 24. Nb1 Bg7 $11 {1-0 L'Ami,E (2627)-Werle,J (2533)/Den Bosch NED 2012}) 18... Qxb3 19. axb3 Bxb2 20. Ra2 axb6 21. Rxa8 $18) (13... a5 $146 {I am not very sure about the merits of this novelty. The terrible threat of ...a4 will be parried easily, while the weakness of the b5-square will remain. The course of the game makes me wonder whether it was an over the board inspiration or faulty remembering of old analysis.} 14. a4 Bg4 {The consequences of the exchange on f3 are far from one sided. personally, I am more worried by the weaknesses of the light squares than enthusiastic about giving White doubled pawns.} ({The main alternative is} 14... Bf5 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 16. Bb5 (16. Nc4 Qd8 17. d6 {also looks playable, in the spirit of the line without ...a5 and a4.}) 16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qd6 (17... Ne4 $5) 18. Ndc4 Qxd5 19. Bc6 Qe6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Optically, Black has some compensation for the exchange, because all his pieces are very active, with the bishops targetting the enemy queenside. However, White is also relatively well coordinated and seems to be able to stand the pressure.} 21. O-O Ne4 22. f4 Nd6 23. Nd2 $14 {Black's compensation does not seem to be 100% sufficient, but the game remains complicated.}) 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 16. Bb5 $1 {Occupying the weakened square.} ({One of the points behind having played ...a5 is that} 16. Nc4 {could be met by} Qb7 {without having to be worried about Na5-c6.}) 16... Rfd8 17. Bg3 Bxf3 18. gxf3 ({ Gelfand may have feared that} 18. Nxf3 c4 {would offer Black the initiative, but this may not be entirely true.} 19. Qxc4 (19. Bxc4 $6 Nc5 $132) 19... Rac8 20. Qe2 b3 21. Nd4 $14) 18... Qa7 19. O-O $6 {A careless move, allowing Black escape dry out of deep water.} ({After, say} 19. d6 $16 {White would have a crushing advantage.}) 19... Nxd5 $1 20. Bc6 c4 $1 {Possibly missed by Gelfand.} 21. Nxc4 Nc5 22. Qc2 Rac8 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 24. Nd6 Rc6 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Qa6 27. Nb5 Ne6 $14 {The position has calmed down and White retains the extra pawn. However, the exchange of the c5- for the d5-pawn clearly favours Black. The kingside has lost flexibility, while on the queenside Black has a space advantage. White's winning chances are highly problematic.} 28. Qb3 h5 29. h4 Bf6 30. Rd6 Rxd6 31. Nxd6 Qc6 32. Qc4 $6 {Giving up a pawn for nothing.} (32. Kg2 $14 {/=}) 32... Qxf3 $15 33. Qc8+ Nf8 34. Qc2 Be7 35. Nc4 Qd5 36. b3 Ne6 37. Qd2 Qxd2 38. Nxd2 Nc5 39. Kf1 Bd8 40. Ke2 f5 41. Bd6 Nb7 42. Bg3 Kf7 43. e4 fxe4 44. Nxe4 Ke6 45. Kd3 Kd5 46. f3 Be7 47. Bf2 Nd8 48. Bb6 Nc6 49. Bf2 Ne5+ 50. Ke2 Bd8 51. Nd2 Nc6 52. Kd3 Ne5+ 53. Ke2 Nc6 54. Kd3 {1/2-1/2 (54) Gelfand, B (2761)-Gashimov,V (2759) Linares 2010 CBM 135 [Marin,M]}) 14. Nbd2 Nbd7 $13 { Marin,M: 'The critical line is'} 15. Nc4 {Marin,M: '!' Marin,M: 'Sadly, the queen has no better squares than d8.'} (15. Bg3 $6 {This is too slow.} a5 $1 { This is a much better moment to advance the a-pawn than in our main game.} 16. Nh4 (16. a4 bxa3 $11) (16. Nc4 Qa7 17. a4 Nxd5) 16... Be4 17. d6 a4 18. Qd1 Bc6 19. Be2 a3 20. b3 Nd5 $36 {Grigore,G (2430)-Erdogan,H (2325)/Mangalia 1992/EXT 1997 (1-0, 51)}) 15... Qd8 16. d6 {Marin,M: 'There is no obvious way in which Black can take advantage of his slight advance in development.'} a5 17. Bd3 Nxe5 18. Nfxe5 Be6 $44) 13. Qd1 {Marin,M: 'and was extensively covered in the comments to Riazantsev,A (2527)-Cheparinov,I (2457)/Batumi 2002/CBM 090/[Stohl] (1-0, 55).'} (13. Qb4 $6 $146 {[%emt 0:04:05]} a5 $1 {[%emt 0:10:50]} 14. Qd6 { [%emt 0:01:03]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:12:43][%csl Rd6][%CAl Ga8a6]} (14... Qxd6 15. Bxd6 Re8 $11) 15. Rd1 {[%emt 0:17:19]} (15. a4 $1 b4 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. Bxf6) 15... Ra6 {[%emt 0:04:42]} 16. Qc5 {[%emt 0:05:52]} (16. Qc7 Qa8) 16... b4 {[%emt 0: 05:38]} 17. Nb1 {[%emt 0:06:34]} Rc8 $17 {[%emt 0:15:34][%csl Gb4,Gc4,Re1] Les Noirs ont profité de la position aventureuse de la Q} 18. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:32] Une nulle de salon entre coéquipiers mais une partie intéressante 1/2-1/2 (18) Barbot,P (2440)-Lagarde,M (2566) Sautron 2014 EXT 2015 [RR]}) 13... Na6 ( 13... b4 14. Nb1 (14. Ne2 $5 {Transfering the knight to f4 removes if from harm (compared to d2) and also helps secure the d5-pawn.} Rc8 (14... Bb5 15. Ned4 $146 (15. Nf4 Nbd7 16. Bd4 Qb7 17. Be2 Rfe8 (17... Bh6 {is even better. Maybe he wanted to prevent} 18. Ne5 {but after} Rad8 {Black is quite active}) 18. O-O Bh6 19. g3 Nxd5 $132 {Kaluga,S (2216)-Badmatsyrenov,O (2450)/Barnaul 2011/ (0-1, 46)}) (15. a3 $5 {aiming to spoil Black's structural flexibility deserves some attention.} Nbd7 16. Bd4 Nc5 (16... Qb7 17. axb4 Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Ned4 Nxb4 20. Qd2 Nd3+ 21. Bxd3 cxd3 22. O-O Nf6 23. Ra3 Rfd8 24. Rb3 Rd5 25. Rd1 Rb8 26. Qc3 Qd7 27. Rc1 Re8 28. Rxb5 Rxb5 29. Nxb5 Qxb5 30. Rd1 Rb8 31. Rd2 Qa6 32. h3 Kg8 33. Qd4 Rb6 34. Ne5 Rd6 35. Qf4 Kg7 36. g4 h6 37. h4 Qc8 38. Kg2 Qe6 39. e4 h5 40. g5 Nd7 (40... Ng4 41. Nxf7 {[%csl Rd6]} Rd4 $11 { [%csl Rf7]}) 41. Nxf7 Rd4 42. Nd8 Qxe4+ 43. Qxe4 Rxe4 44. Rxd3 Ne5 45. Ra3 Rxh4 46. f4 Rg4+ 47. Kh3 Nc4 48. Rxa7+ {[%csl Ga7,Rg7]} Kf8 49. Ne6+ Ke8 50. b4 Nd6 51. Rg7 Ne4 52. Rxg6 Nf2+ 53. Kh2 h4 54. Rh6 h3 55. Rxh3 Nxh3 56. Kxh3 Rg1 57. f5 Kf7 58. Kh4 Rb1 59. Nd8+ Kg7 60. Nc6 Rg1 61. Kh5 Rh1+ 62. Kg4 Rc1 63. f6+ Kh7 64. Ne7 Kh8 65. Nf5 Rc4+ 66. Kh5 Rf4 67. Kg6 Kg8 68. Ng7 Re4 69. b5 Kf8 70. b6 {1-0 (70) Sokolov,I (2623)-Flom,G (2451) Montpellier 2015}) 17. Nf4 (17. axb4 $2 Nd3+ 18. Qxd3 cxd3 19. Bxb6 dxe2 $19) 17... bxa3 18. Rxa3 Rfd8 19. Qc1 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Bxc4 Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qxb2 24. O-O Qxa3 25. Qxd5 Rc8 26. Ng5 Qb3 27. Qd4+ Kg8 28. Rc1 $14 {White maintains some pressure, but probably Black could simplify to a queen ending with 3P against 4P, which should end in a draw.}) 15... Nbd7 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Bd4 Qxd5 {Things seem to have evolved perfectly well for Black. He has retrieved the pawn and has an impressive queenside space advantage. Still, White is very stable and has the bishop pair. Soon, it will become clear that Black risks becoming over-extended.} 18. Be2 Nb6 {Playing solidly. However, the knight on b6 causes some problems. The a-pawn cannot advance and Bxb6 is a permanent possibility, winning the c4-pawn in certain cases.} ({Alternatively, he could try to make use of his advance in development with} 18... Rfc8 19. Rc1 c3 20. bxc3 bxc3 21. Rxc3 Rxc3 22. Bxc3 Rc8 $132) 19. O-O Rac8 20. Rc1 (20. a3 b3 $1 $132 {Since White cannot transfer his knight to c3, the black mass of pawns looks dangerous.}) 20... Rfd8 $6 {It is curious that Black's main problems are caused by such a natural developing move!} (20... Nfd7 21. Bxg7 Qxd1 22. Rfxd1 Kxg7 23. Rd4 (23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Rxd7 Nxb2 $132 25. Rb1 $140 a5 $5) 23... b3 $5 $132) 21. Qe1 $3 {Postny,E: '+/-!' Postny,E: '1-0 Aronian,L (2805)-Gashimov,V (2761)/Wijk aan Zee 2012/CB04_2012 (48)' What a shock! Most of White's pieces (with one exception!) are placed on the first three ranks, but he can create a very unpleasant threat moving along the back rank. I wonder whether all this had been Aronian's preparation or pure over-the-board inspiration. In any case, the current position invites us to meditate about the meaning of space and piece activity.} c3 $6 {This loses a pawn without any shadow of compensation.} ({He should have tried} 21... Qb5 {, with chances to complicate the game.} 22. b3 (22. Bxb6 axb6 23. Nd4 Qe5 24. Bxc4 Ng4 25. g3 Qh5 26. h4 g5 {remains messy. }) 22... Ne4 23. bxc4 Nxc4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Nd4 Rxd4 26. exd4 Nc3 $14) 22. bxc3 bxc3 23. Ba6 Rc7 24. Rxc3 Rxc3 25. Qxc3 Ne4 26. Qa3 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 Qc5 28. Qxc5 Nxc5 29. Bb5 Ne6 $6 {Weakening the kingside too much.} 30. Nxe6 fxe6 31. Rc1 Rd2 32. a4 Ra2 33. g3 a6 34. Bxa6 Rxa4 35. Bb5 Ra5 36. Be2 Nd7 37. Rc7 Nf8 38. Bc4 {This starts being similar with the last game from the Seilla 1987 match, with the difference that in that case there were queens on the board instead of the rooks.} Ra4 39. Kg2 Rb4 40. h4 h6 41. f4 h5 42. Kf3 Ra4 { RR: 'Aronian,L (2805)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012 1-0'} 43. Ke4 Kh8 44. Ke5 Kg8 {Aronian,L (2805)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012 1-0} 45. Kf6 Ra5 46. e4 Ra4 47. e5 Ra3 48. Rc8 {1-0 (48) Aronian,L (2805)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012 CBM 147 [Marin,M]}) 15. Nf4 (15. Rc1 Qa5 16. Qd4 Nxd5 17. Bxg7 Nc6 18. Qd2 Kxg7 19. Rxc4 Nb6 20. Rc1 Qxa2 21. Ng3 Na5 22. Rd1 Ba4 23. Qd4+ f6 24. Ne4 Rc6 25. b3 Qxb3 26. Be2 Qe6 27. Nc5 Rxc5 28. Qxc5 Bxd1 29. Bxd1 Nc6 30. O-O Qd5 31. Qc1 Rc8 32. Qb1 Qc5 33. Bb3 Nd5 34. Qe4 Nc3 35. Qe6 Qf8 36. Qd7+ Kh8 37. Be6 Ne7 38. Qxa7 Ra8 39. Qc7 Ng8 40. Nd4 Qb8 41. Qc5 Ne4 42. Qc6 f5 43. Bd5 Ra5 44. Bxe4 {Postny,E (2647)-Esen,B (2571) Jerusalem 2015 1-0 (83)} ) 15... h6 $6 (15... Bg4 $5) (15... c3 {[%emt 0:13:00]} 16. Bd3 {[%emt 0:10:23] } Qa5 {[%emt 0:03:42]} 17. O-O {[%emt 0:07:52]} Ba4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 18. b3 { [%emt 0:08:10]} Be8 $6 $146 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (18... Bb5 19. Bxb5 Qxb5 20. Nd4 Qb7 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nc2 Nd7 23. Nd3 a5 24. e4 Re8 25. Re1 Bg7 26. Qf3 Re7 27. g3 Rae8 28. Kg2 h5 29. Rad1 Kh7 30. h3 Qa8 31. Re3 Kg8 32. g4 Ne5 33. Nxe5 Rxe5 34. Qf4 Qd8 35. Nd4 Qf6 36. Qxf6 Bxf6 37. d6 Rc5 38. Nc2 Bg5 39. d7 Rd8 { 1/2-1/2 (39) Bozyavkin,A (2451)-Dimov,D (2407) ICCF email 2016}) 19. a3 { [%emt 0:01:08]} bxa3 {[%emt 0:08:34]} 20. Qc1 {[%emt 0:05:58]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0: 03:18]} 21. Rxa3 {[%emt 0:07:40]} Qb4 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 22. Bd4 $36 {[%emt 0:01: 59]} Nc5 {[%emt 0:07:43]} 23. Bc4 {[%emt 0:02:58]} Nfe4 {[%emt 0:02:57]} 24. Ne5 {[%emt 0:05:58]} c2 {[%emt 0:08:09]} 25. Ned3 {[%emt 0:06:58]} Qd2 { [%emt 0:29:41]} 26. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:05:29]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 27. exd4 { [%emt 0:01:57] 1-0 (27) Enchev,I (2492)-Gabrielian,A (2502) Rochefort 2018}) 16. Bd4 Qb7 17. Ne5 (17. h4 $1 $16) 17... g5 18. Nxc4 gxf4 19. Nd6 Qxd5 20. Nxc8 Bxc8 $11 {1-0 Oparin,G (2572)-Cordova,E (2610)/Moscow RUS 2016}) (14. Na4 $6 {was played just in an Internet blitz and is not very good.} Qa5 $36 { Vovk,Y (2549)-Perez Ponsa,F (2363)/ICC INT 2008/CBM 127 Extra (1-0, 42)}) 14... Rc8 (14... Bb5 {has lost popularity (14...Rc8).} 15. a4 $5 (15. Nbd2 {is not too dangerous.} c3 16. bxc3 Nxd5 {Predecessor:} 17. Bxg7 (17. c4 $146 Nc3 18. Qc2 Ba4 19. Nb3 Nd7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Be2 Nc5 22. O-O Nxb3 23. axb3 Bxb3 24. Qb2 a5 25. Bd3 a4 26. Nd4 Qf6 27. Rfc1 Rfc8 28. Nxb3 axb3 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Qxb3 Qd6 31. Bf1 Qd2 32. Rc2 Qe1 33. c5 Qxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Ra1+ {0-1 (34) Potapova, M (2260)-Saksham,R (2480) Chess.com INT 2021}) 17... Kxg7 (17... Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qxe3+ 19. Be2 Kxg7 20. c4 Ba4 21. Qxa4 Re8 22. O-O-O Qc3+ 23. Kb1 Rxe2 { 1-0 (36) Komarov,D (2460)-Baquero,L (2360) Massy 1992}) 18. c4 ({One important point is that} 18. cxb4 $2 {allows} Nxe3 $1 19. fxe3 $6 Qxe3+ 20. Be2 Re8 21. Nc4 $8 Bxc4 22. Qd4+ $8 $17) 18... Nc3 19. Qc2 {Campos Lopez,M (2330)-Bellon Lopez,J (2445)/Barcelona 1988/EXT 1997 (0-1, 40)} Bc6 $44) 15... Ba6 {After inserting these moves,} 16. Nbd2 {is more effective.} c3 17. bxc3 Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Predecessor:} 19. cxb4 $1 (19. c4 Nc3 20. Qc2 Re8 21. Nb1 Ne4 22. Nbd2 Nc3 $11 {Welin,T (2400)-Cramling,P (2455)/Stockholm 1987/EXT 97 (1/2, 24)}) ( 19. Bxa6 $146 Qxa6 20. c4 Nc3 21. Qb3 Nc6 22. O-O Rad8 23. Nb1 Rd3 24. Nxc3 Rxc3 25. Qb2 Qxc4 26. Nd2 Qd3 27. Nb1 Rd8 28. Nxc3 bxc3 29. Qb5 Qe4 30. Qc5 c2 31. a5 Ne5 32. f3 Qf5 33. Qc3 Rc8 34. Qd4 Kg8 35. Rac1 Nd3 36. e4 Qb5 37. h4 Nf4 38. Kh2 Qe2 39. Qf2 Qc4 40. Qg3 Nd3 41. h5 Nxc1 42. Rxc1 Qd3 43. h6 Qd2 44. Qh4 Qxc1 45. f4 Qd2 46. Qf6 {1-0 (46) Schmakel,S (2435)-Colijn,S (2286) Chess. com INT 2021}) 19... Bxf1 ({The point is that} 19... Nxe3 $2 {does not work out well anymore:} 20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Be2 Re8 22. b5 $18) (19... Re8 $6 { [%CAl Gd5e3]} 20. b5 Nc3 {[%CAl Ge8e3]} 21. Nc4 $1 {Llanes Hurtado,M (2459) -Del Rio Angelis,S (2512)/Ayamonte 2007/EXT 2008 (1/2, 63)} Nxd1 22. Nxb6 axb6 23. Rxd1 Bb7 24. Rd4 Re4 25. Bd3 Rxd4 26. Nxd4 Rxa4 {1/2-1/2 (63) Llanes Hurtado,M (2459)-Del Rio de Angelis,S (2512) Ayamonte 2007}) 20. Kxf1 Nxb4 21. h4 h5 22. Qb3 N8c6 23. Nc4 Qa6 24. Kg1 Rab8 {Kuzmin,A (2570)-Womacka,M (2447)/ Catalan Bay 2004/CBM 098 ext (1-0, 52). Black should have some compensation, because he is better mobilised and the white queenside is weak. Actually, this is a consequence of a2-a4, which in the short term was quite useful. Still, it is not easy to convert the compensation into anything palpable, such as an attack or regaining the pawn.}) 15. Nbd2 (15. Be2 {Attempting to develop the kingside leaves the d5-pawn unprotected.} Qc5 (15... Bf5 16. O-O Nbd7 17. Bd4 { Predecessor:} Qa5 (17... Qb7 $146 18. Nfd2 Nb6 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Nxc4 Ne8 21. d6 Rd8 22. Bf3 Be4 23. d7 Nf6 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. Qb3 b5 26. Ncd2 Rxd7 27. Nf3 Nc5 28. Qxb4 Nd3 29. Qh4 Bxb2 30. Nbd2 Bxa1 31. Rxa1 Nc5 32. h3 Ne6 33. Ne4 Ra4 34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. e4 g5 36. Nh5+ Kh6 37. Nxg5 Nxg5 38. Ng3+ Kg6 39. Qh5+ Kf6 40. Qh6+ Ke7 41. Qxg5+ Kd6 42. Nf5+ Kc7 43. Qg3+ Kc6 44. e5 Qa7 45. Qf3+ Kb6 46. Nd6 Qc7 47. Rb1 b4 48. a3 Qc2 49. Qe3+ Qc5 50. Qb3 Ra8 51. axb4 Qd4 52. Qc2 Qd5 53. Nc4+ Kb5 54. Nd6+ Kb6 55. Qc3 Rc7 56. Qe3+ Kc6 57. b5+ Kd7 58. b6 Rc2 59. b7 Rb8 60. Qf4 Rc7 61. Qa4+ Qc6 62. Qg4+ Ke7 63. Nf5+ Ke8 64. Qg8+ Kd7 65. Rd1+ Ke6 66. Nd4+ {1-0 (66) Ciolacu,A (2154)-Sreyas,P (2287) Dortmund 2021}) 18. Nfd2 (18. a3 c3 19. Qb3 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21. axb4 cxb2 22. Ra2 Bxb1 23. Rxb2 Bf5 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 {1-0 (48) Postny,E (2600)-Gabrielian,A (2463) Lichess.org INT 2020}) 18... Nb6 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Nxc4 $16) 16. a3 Qxd5 17. axb4 Qxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Nc6 19. Bc3 Nd5 $44) (15. a3 c3 16. bxc3 b3 17. Bd4 $146 (17. c4 Ba4 18. Bd3 Nbd7 19. Bb2 Nxd5 20. Qd2 Bxb2 21. Qxb2 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Qxe3+ 23. Be2 Rxc4 24. Nbd2 Nc5 25. Kf1 Rc2 26. Qf6 Ne4 {0-1 (26) Lindgren,P (2278)-Giri,A (2749) Rhodes 2013}) 17... Qb7 18. c4 Nxd5 $1 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qd4+ Kg8 (20... Nf6) 21. Nbd2 Nc7 22. Ne4 Ne8 23. Bd3 a5 24. O-O Nc6 25. Qb2 a4 $36 {[%csl Gb3]} 26. Rac1 Bg4 27. Be2 Na5 28. Ned2 Qe7 29. h3 Bd7 30. Nd4 (30. Rfd1) 30... Rc5 31. Rc3 $6 (31. Ne4 Rcc8) 31... Rac8 32. Rfc1 Nd6 33. Bd3 R8c7 34. Qb1 Qe8 35. Bf1 Bb5 36. Nxb5 Nxb5 37. Qb2 Nxc3 38. Qxc3 Qe5 39. Qd4 Qxd4 40. exd4 Rd5 41. Nf3 b2 42. Rb1 Nxc4 43. Bxc4 Rxc4 44. Rxb2 Rc1+ 45. Kh2 Rc3 46. Rb8+ Kg7 47. Rb7 Rf5 48. Ra7 Rxa3 49. Kg3 Ra2 50. h4 h5 51. Ra6 Kf8 52. Ra7 a3 53. Ra8+ Ke7 54. Ra6 f6 55. Ra7+ Kd6 56. Ra6+ Kd5 57. Ra5+ Kc4 58. Ra8 Kb4 59. Ne1 Rd2 {0-1 (59) Brunner,N (2480)-Lagarde,M (2609) Vaujany 2017}) 15... Bb5 (15... c3 $5 16. Nc4 $1 (16. bxc3 $2 bxc3 17. Nc4 Qa6 $1 18. Nd6 c2 19. Qd2 Qa3 20. Nxc8 Ne4 21. Qxc2 Bxe5 22. Nxe5 Qa5+ 23. Ke2 Nc3+ 24. Ke1 Ne4+ $11) 16... Qc5 17. bxc3 Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd4+ Kg8 20. cxb4 Qxb4+ 21. Ncd2 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 Nc6 $32) 16. a4 $1 (16. Rc1 c3 17. bxc3 Bxf1 18. Nxf1 Nbd7 19. Bd4 Qa6 20. cxb4 $2 (20. Ng3 $142 bxc3 21. Ne2 $14) 20... Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qb1 Nxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qb2+ N7f6 25. b5 Qa4 26. Nd4 Nb4 27. Qb3 Qa5 28. Ke2 Nxa2 29. Kf3 Rc3 $19 { 0-1 Nezad,H (2405)-Adhiban,B (2627)/Biel SUI 2015}) 16... bxa3 17. Rxa3 (17. Bd4 axb2 $1 18. Bxb6 c3 $3 19. Bd4 c2 20. Bxb2 cxd1=Q+ 21. Rxd1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Nxd5 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Ne4 Nf6 25. Nxf6 Kxf6 $11) 17... Bf8 $1 {In my opinion, an illogical continuation because it leaves the White bishop to freely roam on the a1-h8-diagonal. Yet, it also appears to be the best move in the position!} (17... Nxd5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qa1 Kg8 $1 (19... Qf6 20. Nd4 Nb4 21. Qc1 $16) 20. Be2 Nd7 21. Nd4 $14 {with an undeniable positional advantage for White due to the better pawn structure and more active piece placement.}) (17... Nbd7 18. Bd4 Qb7 19. d6 $16) 18. Bd4 Qb7 19. Ra1 $6 ({Placing the Black bishop to d6 where it could be a potential target due the X-Ray from the queen on d1.} 19. d6 $5 Bxd6 20. Ra1 Nd5 21. Be2 $14) 19... Nxd5 20. Be2 Nc6 $11 21. O-O Nxd4 $6 {It's needless to take the bishop straight away when it simply has nowhere to escape.} (21... Qe7 $1 22. Bc3 (22. Nxc4 $6 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Rd8 $1 $44) 22... Nxc3 23. bxc3 Bg7 24. Qc2 a6 $11) 22. Nxd4 a6 23. Bf3 (23. Ne4 $5) 23... Rd8 24. Ne4 Qb6 25. Nc3 Nxc3 26. bxc3 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5,Rc4,Yd4,Gf3][%CAl Ga1a6]} Rac8 27. Qc2 $6 {I don't find the queen on c2 to be of any particular use for White.} (27. Qe2 $142 {[%csl Rc4,Yf3][%CAl Ge2c4,Gf3b7,Ge2f3,Gg2g3,Gh2h4] Keeps the bishop on f3 under control.} Qf6 28. g3 h5 29. h4 Rc5 30. Bb7 Rb8 31. Qf3 $14) 27... Qf6 28. Rfb1 Rc5 29. Bd1 $5 {[%CAl Gc2e2,Gd1a4] Attempting to exchange the bishop on b5 - the only protector of Black's queenside.} (29. Qa2 h5 30. Bb7 Rd6 31. e4 $6 {[%CAl Gb7d5]} Rxd4 32. cxd4 Qxd4 $44) 29... Bg7 ( 29... h5 $5) 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Rb2 {[%csl Ye2][%CAl Gb2e2]} (31. Ba4 $4 Bxd4 32. cxd4 Rxd4 $19) (31. Qf1 $5) 31... Qe8 (31... h5 32. Ba4 Bxa4 33. Rxa4 a5 $11) 32. Rba2 h5 33. Ba4 (33. Qf1 $5 $14 {[%CAl Gd1a4] Avoiding the complications following the game, while keeping Black at bay with no stable counterplay.}) 33... Bxa4 34. Rxa4 Bxd4 35. cxd4 Rxd4 36. exd4 Qxe2 37. dxc5 c3 38. Rc1 c2 39. Rd4 Qb5 40. Rd2 Qxc5 41. Rdxc2 Qa3 42. h4 a5 $11 {With a fair equality and zero chances for a win from both sides! The rest is a matter of playing solid chess.} 43. g3 a4 {Nakamura,H (2791)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2016 1/2-1/2} 44. Re1 Qb3 {Nakamura,H (2791)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2016 1/2-1/2} 45. Rce2 Qc3 46. Re3 Qb2 47. R1e2 Qb4 48. Kh2 Kg7 49. Rf3 g5 50. hxg5 h4 51. Ree3 hxg3+ 52. Kxg3 Kg6 53. Kh2 Qc4 54. Rg3 Qf1 55. Ref3 Qc4 56. Rf6+ Kg7 57. Rff3 Kg6 58. Rf6+ Kg7 59. Rff3 {1/2-1/2 (59) Nakamura,H (2791)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis 2016 CBM 174 [Iotov,V]}) 14. a4 $5 ({Marin,M: 'The more neutral move is'} 14. Be2 {Marin,M: 'In 1-0 Riazantsev,A (2527)-Cheparinov,I (2457)/ Batumi 2002/CBM 090/[Stohl] (55) White wisely returned his extra-pawn at a certain moment, retaining a positional domination.'} b4 (14... Rfe8)) {Marin,M: 'Previously, only'} 14... b4 {Marin,M: 'had been played, with bad results for Black.'} (14... Nc5 $146 15. axb5 Bxb5 16. Qd4 ({The simple} 16. Be2 {might be stronger}) 16... Nb3 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 {Black obtained certain counterplay, although he never seemed to get complete equality, 1-0 Brynell,S (2467)-Hall,J (2487)/Malmo 2004/EXT 2005 (54)}) 15. Nb5 Rfc8 16. Nd6 Rc5 17. Nxc4 Qd8 18. Ncd2 Nc7 19. d6 Ncd5 20. Nb3 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Rd5 22. Nbd4 Qe8 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. axb5 Rxe5 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 Rd8 27. O-O Qxd6 28. Rxa7 h5 29. Ra6 Qe5 30. Rxf6 Bxf6 31. Nc6 {1-0,Yakovich,Y-Handke,F/Stockholm/2000/}) (9... Bc8 {9...b5 is setting a new trend.} 10. e4 (10. Qb5+ Ke7 11. Qb3 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 11. Nd2 Nh5 12. Bg5+ f6 13. Be3 a6 14. Qb3 b5 15. a4 b4 16. Nce4 f5 17. Bg5+ {1-0 (30) Saric,A (2506)-Srbis,J (2298) Split 2012}) 11... Re8 12. e3 Kf8 13. Bb5 Re7 14. Be2 Kg8 15. h3 Na6 16. O-O Nc7 17. a4 Rb8 18. Nd2 b6 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. Nb5 Nfxd5 21. Bxd6 Bxb5 22. axb5 Rd7 23. Bg3 Ra8 24. Bg4 Re7 25. Rfd1 Qf8 26. Bf3 Rd8 27. Rxa7 h5 28. Bd6 Rxd6 29. Nxd6 Nb4 30. Nc4 Nxb5 31. Rxe7 Qxe7 32. Nxb6 {1-0 (32) Grischuk,A (2776)-Jobava,B (2603) chess24.com INT 2021}) 10... O-O 11. Nd2 a6 12. a4 Ne8 (12... Re8 13. Be2 Qc7 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Nc4 Bf8 16. Bf3 Rb8 17. a5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 17. Rfe1 b6 18. Rad1 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 Qb7 21. Nca3 Ne5 22. Qc2 Nxf3+ 23. gxf3 Qd7 24. Nc3 Nh5 25. Bc1 {0-1 (61) Kaufman,R (2295)-Aldama Degurnay,D (2388) Orange 2015}) 17... b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Nxb6 Rxb6 20. Qc2 Bg4 21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. Ra2 Bg7 23. h3 Ne5 24. Rfa1 Qb7 25. Na4 Rb4 26. Bd2 Rc4 27. Bc3 Nd7 28. f3 f5 29. b3 Rd4 30. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 31. Kh2 fxe4 32. fxe4 Bxa1 33. Rxa1 Qb4 34. Nc3 Nf6 35. Rxa6 Qd4 36. Ra4 Qe5+ 37. Kg1 Nh5 38. Ne2 Rf8 39. Qc3 Qg5 40. Ra7 Nf6 41. Ng3 Qf4 42. Qf3 Qe5 43. Qe3 Qb2 44. Kh2 Qe5 45. Qh6 Rf7 46. Rxf7 Kxf7 47. Qh4 Kg8 48. Qh6 Nxe4 { 0-1 (50) Sanchez Jimenez,J (2223)-Van Kooten,L (2277) Chess.com INT 2021}) 13. Be2 Nd7 14. O-O Qe7 15. Nc4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 15. Rae1 Rb8 16. Nc4 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Na5 Qf6 19. Bg3 b4 20. Na4 Ra8 21. Nc6 {1-0 (36) Christiansen,L (2520)-Shamkovich,L (2480) Berkeley 1983}) 15... Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Rad1 g5 19. a5 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Bg4 Rf8 22. Be6+ Kh8 23. Rde1 Qd4 24. Ne4 h6 25. Bxc8 Rxc8 26. Qxb7 Rc7 27. Qb8 Rcf7 28. Qb3 c4 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. bxc3 Rb7 31. Rb1 Rb5 32. Rxb5 axb5 33. Rb1 Nc7 34. Nxd6 Ra8 35. Nxb5 Nxd5 36. Ra1 Rb8 37. Nd6 Nxc3 38. Nxc4 Rd8 39. a6 Nb5 40. h3 Ra8 41. Nb6 Ra7 42. Nc8 Rc7 43. a7 Nxa7 44. Nxa7 Rc8 45. Nxc8 {1-0 (45) Grigorov,G (2507)-Devaev,A (2325) Lichess.org INT 2021}) (9... O-O {9...b5 is a critical line.} 10. e4 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 10. e3 Qc7 (10... Bc8 11. Be2 Nh5 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Nd2 gxh4 15. Bxh5 f5 16. O-O $146 ({Predecessor:} 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nxd6 Nf6 18. Nxc8 Nxh5 19. d6+ Kh8 20. Qd1 Rxc8 21. Qxh5 Qxd6 22. O-O {½-½ (34) Bogner,S (2526) -Gozzoli,Y (2530) Mulhouse 2011}) 16... Nd7 17. f4 b5 18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Qc2 c4 20. Be2 Qb6 21. Bf1 Nf6 22. Nf3 Re8 23. Qf2 Qc5 24. a3 Ng4 25. Qxh4 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Ne4+ 29. Kh1 Bf6 30. Re1 Qb6 {0-1 (30) Margarido,J (2112)-Peng,L (2474) Vila Nova de Famalicao 2021}) 11. h3 Na6 12. Be2 b5 13. Bxb5 Rab8 14. O-O Nh5 15. a4 Nxf4 16. exf4 Nb4 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 { 0-1 (55) Zhou,J (2608)-Ponkratov,P (2651) Harbin 2019}) 10... Re8 11. Nd2 Na6 12. Bxa6 bxa6 13. O-O Bb5 14. Nxb5 axb5 15. Qxb5 Nxe4 16. Nc4 Bd4 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 Qf6+ 20. Ke2 Qg5 21. Qd3 Rab8 22. Kf3 Rxb2 23. Rab1 Rxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Qxg2+ 25. Kf4 Rb4+ 26. Rxb4 Qxf1+ 27. Kg5 Qf5+ 28. Kh4 cxb4 29. Qxa7 Qf4+ 30. Kh3 Qf3+ 31. Kh4 h6 {0-1 (31) Maiti,M (2068)-Jacobson,B (2491) Philadelphia 2021}) 10. e4 O-O (10... Nh5 {Trying to get me out of my preparation.} 11. Be3 a6 (11... O-O 12. Nd2) 12. e5 $3 $146 {It took me a while to understand that exactly at this point Black is miscoordinated: the knight on h5, the bishop on d7... it is the perfect moment to attack in the centre.} b5 ({On} 12... dxe5 {I was going to sacrifice another pawn} 13. d6 $1 Qxd6 14. Ne4 Qc6 15. Nfg5 O-O 16. Bc4 Nf4 17. O-O-O $16) 13. exd6 (13. a4 $1 { was stronger:} bxa4 (13... b4 14. Ne4 $18) 14. exd6 Qa5 15. Nd2 $1 $16) 13... Qa5 14. Bd2 (14. Bxc5 O-O 15. a3 Rc8 16. Qb4 Qd8) (14. Nd2 O-O 15. Be2 c4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Qb7 Bf5 18. Qxa8 Bd3 {with some compensation for Black.}) 14... b4 15. Nd1 {Now, controling the c4-square, White should be better; the only thing left is development.} O-O 16. a4 $6 (16. a3 $5 $14) 16... Re8+ 17. Ne3 Nf4 (17... Bg4 {!} 18. Be2 Nf4 19. Kd1 Nxe2 20. Nxg4 Nd7 $13) 18. g3 Nh3 19. Be2 (19. Bxh3 Bxh3 20. Ng5 c4 $1 $13) 19... Bb5 20. Kf1 $6 {Waste of time.} ({ My first and right intention was} 20. Rc1 Qxa4 21. Qxa4 Bxa4 22. Rxc5 a5 23. Nc4 $16) 20... Bxe2+ 21. Kxe2 Qd8 22. Kf1 Nd7 23. Kg2 Ng5 24. Nxg5 Qxg5 25. Rad1 Qh5 26. Bc1 $2 {I had to make the last move to finish my development.} ( 26. Rhe1 Ne5 27. Nc4 $16) 26... Bd4 $1 $13 {Now the situation became hot for me and I decided to simplify things.} 27. Nc2 c4 28. Qf3 Qxf3+ 29. Kxf3 Ne5+ 30. Kg2 Bc5 31. Ne3 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. f4 Nd7 34. Rd3 Bb4 35. Kf3 Rac8 36. Nc2 Bxd6 37. Be3 Nc5 38. Bxc5 (38. Rxc3 Nxa4 39. Rc6 Rxc6 40. dxc6 Rc8 41. Nd4 Nc3 42. Rc1 Nd5 43. f5 $14) 38... Rxc5 39. Rb1 Rd8 40. Rb6 Bc7 41. Rxa6 Rdxd5 42. Rxd5 Rxd5 43. Rc6 Ba5 44. Ne3 Rd4 45. Nc4 Bd8 46. Nd6 Be7 47. Rc8+ Bf8 48. Ne4 Rxa4 49. Nxc3 Ra3 {=} 50. g4 Kg7 51. Ke4 Ra1 52. Nd5 Re1+ 53. Kf3 h6 54. h4 Be7 55. h5 $1 $14 gxh5 (55... Ba3 56. hxg6 fxg6 57. Rc7+ Kf8 58. Rc6 Kf7 $14) 56. gxh5 Re6 57. Ne3 {Now with the square f5 I can torture my young opponent forever.} Ba3 58. Nf5+ Kh7 59. Ra8 Bc5 60. Kg4 Rc6 61. Rd8 Re6 62. Rc8 Bd6 63. Rc4 Ba3 64. Nd4 Rb6 65. Rc7 Kg7 66. Nf5+ Kg8 67. Rc3 Bb4 68. Rc8+ Kh7 69. Ne3 Rd6 70. Rc7 Kg8 71. Rc4 Ba3 72. Kf3 Ra6 73. Rc2 Kh7 74. Ra2 Ra7 75. Nd5 Ra5 76. Nf6+ Kg7 77. Ne4 Kf8 78. Ng3 Kg7 79. Kg4 Kh7 80. Nf5 Ra6 81. Nd4 Ra8 82. Nb5 Rg8+ 83. Kf5 Bc1 84. Nd6 Rb8 85. Ra7 $16 Rb4 86. Rxf7+ Kg8 87. Ke5 Ra4 88. Rf5 Ra5+ 89. Ke4 Ra4+ 90. Kf3 Ra3+ 91. Kg4 Ra4 92. Ne8 Bb2 93. Rc5 Bd4 94. Rc8 Kh7 95. Nd6 Be3 96. Rc7+ Kg8 97. Nc4 Bc1 98. Kf5 Kf8 99. Kf6 {Instead I had the forced win with} (99. Ne5 $3 Rxf4+ 100. Ke6 Rf1 101. Nd7+ Kg8 102. Nf6+ Rxf6+ 103. Kxf6 $18) 99... Ra6+ 100. Ke5 Ra4 101. Rc6 Kg7 102. f5 Bg5 103. Rc7+ Kg8 104. Rc6 Kg7 105. Rc7+ Kg8 106. Kd5 (106. f6 Ra6 107. Rc8+ Kf7 108. Nd6+ $18) 106... Ra1 107. Ne5 Re1 108. Rc6 Bf4 109. Nd3 Rd1 110. Ke4 Bg5 111. Rg6+ Kf8 112. Ne5 Rf1 113. Nf3 Bc1 114. Rg2 Rh1 115. Rg1 $4 {Tiredness.} (115. Rc2 Ba3 116. Rc8+ Kf7 117. Rc7+ Ke8 118. Ke5 Kd8 119. Rh7 Rxh5 120. Ke6 $16) 115... Rxg1 116. Nxg1 Kf7 117. Ne2 {Now the position is a dead draw.} Bb2 118. Ng1 Kf6 119. Kf4 Bc1+ 120. Kg4 Ke5 121. Ne2 Bd2 122. Ng1 Bc1 123. Nf3+ Kd5 124. Ne1 Be3 125. Nd3 Ke4 126. Nb4 Bg5 127. Na6 Kd5 128. Nc7+ Ke5 129. Ne6 Be7 130. Nf4 Bd6 131. Ng2 Be7 132. Ne3 Kd4 133. Nf1 Bg5 134. Nh2 Ke4 135. Nf3 Bf6 136. Nd2+ Kd3 137. Nb3 Kc4 138. Na5+ Kb5 139. Nb3 Kc4 140. Nc1 Kd4 141. Ne2+ Ke5 142. Nf4 Ke4 143. Ng6 Bg7 144. Ne7 Ke5 145. Nc6+ Kf6 146. Nb8 Ke7 147. Nc6+ Kd7 148. Nb4 Kd6 149. Kf4 Bc3 150. Nc2 Bd2+ 151. Ke4 Ke7 152. Ne3 Kf6 153. Nd5+ {The last trap.} Kf7 ({It would work after} 153... Kg5 $4 154. f6 Bc1 155. f7 Ba3 156. Ke5 Kxh5 157. Kf6 $18) 154. Ke5 Bc1 155. Nb6 Bb2+ 156. Kf4 Bc1+ 157. Ke4 Ke7 158. Nd5+ Kf7 159. Ne3 Kf6 160. Nc4 Ke7 161. Ke5 Bg5 162. Nd6 Bf6+ 163. Kd5 Bb2 164. Ne4 Kf7 165. Kc4 Be5 166. Kd3 Bb2 {1/2-1/2 (166) Bologan,V (2693)-Rapport,R (2531) Caleta 2011 CBM 141 [Bologan,V]}) (10... a6 11. e5 Nh5 12. exd6 Qc8 13. Be3 Bg4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... O-O 14. Qb6 Re8 15. O-O-O c4 16. h3 Bb5 17. g4 Nd7 18. Qc7 Nhf6 19. a4 Ne4 20. Qxc8 Raxc8 21. axb5 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Nxc3 23. bxa6 Nxd1 24. axb7 {1-0 (33) Tanmay,C (2273)-Bak,C (2095) Lichess.org INT 2020}) 14. Nd2 O-O 15. h3 Bd7 16. Nc4 b5 17. Nb6 Qb7 18. Nxa8 Qxa8 19. Be2 Nf6 20. Bxc5 Ne8 21. O-O Nf6 22. a4 Rc8 23. Bd4 bxa4 24. Nxa4 Bxa4 25. Rxa4 Nbd7 26. Rxa6 { 1-0 (26) Assaubayeva,B (2389)-Lopez Gracia,F (2299) Chess.com INT 2021}) 11. Nd2 $14 {-A70 Here White has chances for an advantage.} (11. Bd3 a6 12. a4 Re8 13. O-O c4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... Bc8 14. Nd2 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Bf8 16. a5 Ng4 17. Be2 Nge5 18. Ne3 Rb8 19. Bg3 Nf6 {1-0 (38) Shafi,D (2078)-Bugar,P (1857) Prague 2016}) 14. Bxc4 Nxe4 15. Rfe1 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rc8 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. Qa3 Bf8 19. a5 Nd7 20. f3 Nc5 21. Kh1 h5 22. Re3 Re8 23. Rae1 Qd7 24. h4 Rxe3 25. Rxe3 Re8 26. Qc1 Rxe3 27. Bxe3 Qe7 28. Qg1 Qxh4+ 29. Qh2 Qd8 30. Qf4 Qxa5 31. g4 hxg4 32. fxg4 Bd7 33. Bd4 Qd8 34. g5 Bf5 35. Qh4 Bg7 36. Bf6 Bxf6 37. gxf6 Nd7 38. Nf3 Qxf6 39. Ng5 Qg7 {0-1 (39) Soumya,S (2351)-Gevorgyan,M (2219) Chess. com INT 2021}) 11... Nh5 12. Be3 {Marin,M: 'There was a time when'} f5 ({ Marin,M: 'In his book "Guide to the Modern Benoni", John Watson advocates'} 12... Na6 {Marin,M: 'which, in fact, is a very logical move: Black develops his last piece. However, Watson's lines are not really convincing, which might be caused by the fact that Black's position is bad anyway, so that even logical play is likely to fail. Watson's mistake consists of the fact that after'} 13. Be2 Rab8 {Marin,M: 'he only considers 14.a4, which unnecessarily weakens the b4-square. In fact, after'} 14. a4 (14. O-O {Black's position is rather passive, since he has no way to make ...b5 work.}) 14... Nb4 15. O-O Nf6 16. Nc4 a6 17. Bf4 Ne8 18. a5 Bb5 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Nb6 Qe7 21. Bxb5 Qxe4 22. Bg3 Nc7 23. Bxd6 $16 {Rodshtein M - Van der Werf M, 2010 26th European Club Cup }) (12... Bd4 $6 {This rare move hardly changes anything in the assesment of the whole variation.} 13. Be2 {To my taste, the most consistent move.} ({ Watson recommends} 13. Bxd4 cxd4 14. Ne2 {However, things might be less clear than that, since White is sligthly underdeveloped, for instance} Na6 15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Qc3 Qb6 $5 {The only favourable way to get out of the pin in order to start setting up pressure against the e4-pawn.} 17. Nc4 Qc7 {This certainly looks strange, but it is not clear whether the two extra-tempi favour White to such an extent. His e4-pawn is hanging now.} 18. f3 f5 {with certain counterplay for Black. White could try the sharp} 19. exf5 Rae8+ 20. Ne6 Rxf5 21. O-O-O Nxe6 22. g4 {but after} Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Nhf4 24. Rd2 d5 25. Ne5 Bc6 { Black has certain compensation for the sacrificed exchange. Whether Black has full equality or not in these lines is completely beside the point. The important thing is that he gets a playable position with adequate counter-play, something a Benoni player is aiming for. In the game, his position will simply be miserable.}) 13... Bxe3 14. fxe3 Ng7 15. O-O {Black is severly underdeveloped. The unfortunate position of the bishop, preventing the knight from his natural development to d7, makes the thematic break e4-e5 very dangerous and, in fact, unstoppable.} Na6 $146 {Once again, this natural move doesn't really save Black from disaster.} ({Previously,} 15... a6 {had been played. Although it seems rather ilogical, because it blocks the own knight, this move makes some sense, because it threatens to win space on the queen side. In the game, Black almost managed to escape dry out of deep water, although only because of a carelessness of his mighty opponent.} 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nce4 b5 18. Rac1 c4 19. Nf6+ Kh8 20. Qb4 Qd8 21. Nde4 {White plays for the attack.} ({The simple} 21. Qd6 $16 {/\Qxe5 would have won the pawn back, with a crushing domination.}) 21... Bf5 $132 22. Qe1 Nd7 23. Qh4 g5 24. Qh6 Bg6 $2 ( 24... Bxe4 25. Nxe4 Qb6) 25. Nxh7 Bxh7 26. Nxg5 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Wahls Matthias/ Simultan, Frankfurt a. Main (Germany) 1986}) ({It is worth mentioning that} 15... f6 {gails to prevent} 16. e5 $1 (16. Rf4 {also looks dangerous, when Black's only chance for survival consists of such a regrouping:} Bc8 17. Nb5 Qe7 18. Nc4 Ne8) 16... fxe5 $8 17. Rxf8+ Kxf8 18. Rf1+ Kg8 19. Nc4 {and Black cannot parry such threats as Nxe5 or, eventually, Nxd6, for instance} b5 ({ In case of} 19... Na6 {, the secondary threat of} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Ne4 { becomes available. The fact is that in order to avoid losing material to the discovered check d6+, the black queen has to leave the d7-bishop undefended, which would allow Nf6+xd7 with a decisive advantage.}) 20. Nxe5 c4 {This intermediate move doesn't save the game. White is too active.} 21. Nxb5 Bxb5 22. Qxb5 dxe5 {and now, by opening two important light diagonals with} 23. d6 { White obtains a decisive advantage.}) 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. Nde4 (17. Nce4) 17... Ne8 {Black's desire to cover the f6-square is understandable, but he can hardly block the d-pawn with ...Nd6.} ({A normal developing move such as} 17... Rad8 {leads to a rather deceptive position after} 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. Nce4 { /\Ng5-(x)h7, ?f8} h6 20. Rac1 $16 {and Black will soon lose his c5-pawn, remaining with a miserable position.}) 18. d6 Qb6 (18... Qc6 19. Bb5 Qc8 20. Nd5 $40) 19. Qd5 Be6 20. Qxe5 Nb4 21. Rad1 $18 {White has a crushing domination. No wonder that the game lasted just a few more moves.} Rd8 22. Na4 Qc6 23. Naxc5 Ng7 24. Nf6+ Kh8 25. Qf4 {1-0 (25) Brynell,S (2496)-Almasi,Z (2640) Germany 2005 CBM 110 [Marin,M]}) 13. exf5 Bxf5 (13... gxf5 {Marin,M: 'was cnsidered to be Black's best choice. However, the complications after'} 14. Be2 {Marin,M: 'The more neutral'} Be8 {Marin,M: 'is simply worse for Black after'} (14... f4 15. Bxc5 {tend to favour White.Here is a recent confirmation of this evaluation:} f3 16. Bxf3 Rxf3 (16... Qxc5 17. Nde4 $16) 17. gxf3 Qxc5 18. Qxb7 Nf4 $146 {Judging from the further course of the game, this is an over-the-board noelty, since it is by no means better than the older continuation.} (18... Bxc3 19. bxc3 Nf4 20. Rg1+ Kf7 21. Ne4 Qxd5 22. Qxd5+ Nxd5 23. Rd1 Bc6 24. c4 Ne7 25. Nxd6+ Ke6 26. Ne4 Bxe4 27. fxe4 $16 {1-0 Kortschnoj,V (2635)-Nunn,J (2600)/London 1984/MCL (41)}) 19. Qxa8 Nd3+ 20. Ke2 Nf4+ 21. Kd1 Qb6 22. Rg1 $18 {and Black had no compensation for his huge material deficit, 1-0 Gavrilov,A (2455)-Kornev,A (2566)/St Petersburg 2002/EXT 2003 (31)}) 15. Nf3 $16 {Piket,J (2630)-Van Wely,L (2655) Monaco m Monte Carlo 1997 (7) 1-0}) 14. Be2 Nf6 15. Nc4 Qd7 16. O-O Na6 17. Rac1 $14 {1-0 Anton Guijarro,D (2630)-Perunovic,M (2624)/Reykjavik ISL 2015}) (8. Nd2 O-O 9. Nc4 Ne8 10. Qd2 b6 11. a4 Ba6 12. e3 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nd7 14. O-O Qe7 (14... Be5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Ba6 Nc7 17. Be2 a6 18. f4 Nd7 19. e4 Rb8 20. Bg4 Nf6 21. Bf3 b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. b4 cxb4 24. Ne2 Ra8 25. Qxb4 Re8 26. Nc3 Na6 27. Qxb5 Nc5 28. Rxa8 Qxa8 29. Qb4 Nfd7 30. Qd4 Nb3 31. Qe3 Qa5 32. Rb1 Nbc5 33. Qd4 Rb8 34. Rxb8+ Nxb8 35. h3 Nbd7 36. Kh2 Qa1 37. e5 dxe5 38. fxe5 Qe1 39. Be2 Nb3 40. Qc4 Nd2 41. Qc7 Nf8 42. e6 fxe6 43. dxe6 Nxe6 44. Qe7 {Akopian,V (2698)-Bacrot,E (2709) Ohrid 2009 1-0}) 15. Rab1 $146 (15. e4 Nc7 16. f3 a6 17. Be3 f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Bf2 f4 20. Rfe1 Be5 21. Re2 Kh8 22. Rae1 Qg7 23. Kh1 Rab8 24. Ba2 b5 25. Qc2 c4 26. Bb1 Rg8 27. Ba7 Rbe8 28. Rd1 h6 29. Bg1 Nf6 30. Bb6 Rb8 31. a5 Rbe8 32. Qd2 b4 33. Ne4 Nfxd5 34. g4 Nxb6 35. axb6 Nb5 36. Qd5 Bxb2 37. Qxc4 Be5 38. Ba2 Rb8 39. Qxb4 Rgf8 40. Rg2 Rxb6 41. g5 Rbb8 42. Qc4 Rbc8 43. Qd5 Nc7 44. Qd3 d5 {Turczynski,M (2275)-Trusewicz,J (2449) ICCF email 2007 1-0 (74)}) 15... Ne5 16. Be2 f5 {[%csl Re6] Un coup affaiblissant mais thématique dans la Bénoni} 17. h3 Nf6 18. b4 $5 Rac8 (18... cxb4 19. Rxb4) 19. Ba6 $1 Rc7 20. Rfc1 Nh5 21. Bh2 g5 22. f4 $5 {[%csl Rh2] Empêche la poussée f5f4 mais au prix d'un affaiblissement et le Bh2 est mal placé} (22. Nb5 Rd7 23. bxc5 bxc5 24. Na3 {[%CAl Ga3c4]}) 22... gxf4 23. exf4 Ng6 24. Nb5 $36 Rd7 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Rf1 (26. Re1) 26... Qe4 27. a5 Qa4 28. g3 {[%csl Rh2]} Nf6 29. Nc3 Ne4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 31. Qg2 Qe3+ 32. Kh1 Re7 33. Bb5 Re4 34. Bd7 $1 {[%CAl Gd7e6] Le mauvais B va se ranimer} (34. Rf3 $5 {[%csl Re3]} Qd4 35. Bc6) 34... Rb4 35. Rbe1 Qa3 36. h4 {[%CAl Gh4h5]} Rb7 37. Be6+ Kh8 38. h5 $36 Ne7 39. g4 Qxa5 40. gxf5 (40. g5 Qc3 41. Bg1 {Il faut essayer d'activer le mauvais B} (41. Bg3 { [%CAl Gg3h4]})) 40... Qc3 $1 {[%CAl Gc3g7]} 41. Rg1 Qf6 42. Re3 {[%CAl Ge3g3, Gg3g7]} Nxf5 {[%csl Gf5]} 43. Rh3 $6 {[%csl Rh3]} a5 44. Bg3 h6 45. Be1 Qd4 46. Bxa5 Ne3 $2 (46... Rb2 $40 {[%csl Rg2]}) 47. Qg6 Rf6 48. Qe8+ Rf8 49. Qg6 Rxf4 50. Bd8 $2 Nd1 (50... Ng4 $1 {Difficile à voir devant l'échiquier} 51. Bxg4 Qxd5+ $40 {[%csl Rh1][%CAl Gb7b2]}) 51. Rhg3 Rf8 52. R1g2 Nf2+ 53. Kh2 Rxd8 54. Bf5 Qh4+ 55. Kg1 Qh1+ 56. Kxf2 Bd4+ 57. Ke2 Rb2+ 58. Bc2 Rxc2+ 59. Qxc2 Qxh5+ 60. Kd3 Qxd5 $2 $138 (60... Rb8 $19 {[%CAl Gb8b2]}) 61. Qc4 Qxc4+ 62. Kxc4 d5+ 63. Kb5 c4 64. Kc6 Bf6 65. Rg6 Bg5 66. Rd6 Rxd6+ 67. Kxd6 c3 68. Kxd5 Bd2 69. Ke4 c2 70. Rg1 c1=Q 71. Rxc1 Bxc1 {1/2-1/2 (71) Rapport,R (2523)-Jianu,V (2528) Baile Herculane 2010}) 8... O-O 9. e3 Na6 (9... Ne8 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Nd2 f5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12... Bd7 13. a4 f5 14. Bh2 Rb8 15. f4 Nf7 16. e4 a6 17. a5 Nc7 18. Qb3 Kh8 {0-1 (36) Gaehwiler,G (2414)-Can,E (2586) Skopje 2019 }) 13. Bg3 Bd7 14. a4 Nc7 15. Qb3 Rb8 16. Ra2 Qe7 17. Nc4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 a6 19. Qb3 b6 20. Qc2 g5 21. Raa1 f4 22. exf4 gxf4 23. Bh2 Be5 24. Kh1 Kh8 25. Bf3 Qh4 26. Qd2 Rf6 27. Rae1 Bxh3 28. gxh3 Qxh3 29. Bg4 Qxg4 30. f3 Qh3 31. Ne4 Rg6 32. Rf2 Rbg8 33. b3 Bd4 {0-1 (33) Donchenko,A (2660)-Indjic,A (2607) Tornelo INT 2021}) (9... Qe7 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4 12. Nd2 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12. Bxd6 Rd8 13. Bxc5 Bxb2 14. Bd4 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd5 17. Rc1 Nd7 18. O-O {1-0 (59) Bagrationi,A (2539)-Melia,S (2392) Jerusalem 2018}) 12... Qxd5 13. Nc4 Be6 14. Qxd5 Bxd5 15. O-O Nc6 16. Bxd6 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 Be6 18. a4 Rac8 19. Bg3 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Bxb2 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rb1 Rd2 23. f4 Rc2 24. Bb3 Rc1+ 25. Rxc1 Bxc1 26. Kf2 Kf8 27. Ke2 b6 28. Bh4 Bb2 29. Kd3 Bg7 30. g4 h6 31. Ke4 Ke8 32. Kd5 Kd7 33. Ke4 Ke8 34. Bc4 Nb4 35. Bb5+ Kf8 36. f5 g5 37. Bg3 Ke7 38. Bb8 a6 39. Bc4 Bb2 40. Bc7 f6 41. Bxb6 Kd6 42. Ba5 Be5 43. Kf3 {1/2-1/2 (43) Laurent Paoli,P (2399)-Budisavljevic,L (2513) Petrovac 2021}) 10. Bxa6 { White is slightly better.} (10. Bc4 Nc7 11. a4 Re8 12. Nd2 a6 13. O-O Rb8 14. a5 b5 15. axb6 Rxb6 16. Ra2 Nb5 17. Na4 Rb7 $132) (10. Nd2 Nc7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Bxd6 bxc4 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 14. Bxc4 Rb8 15. O-O Rxb2 16. Rb1 Rb4 17. Qd3 Nd7 18. d6 Ne8 19. Qd5 Rxc4 20. Qxc4 Nxd6 21. Qd5 Ne8 22. Ne4 Qc7 23. Rfd1 Be5 24. f4 Bf6 25. Rbc1 Be7 26. Ng5 Bxg5 27. fxg5 Ng7 28. Rf1 Nf5 29. e4 Bb7 30. Qc4 Nd6 31. Qc3 Kg8 32. Qg3 c4 33. Rcd1 Qc5+ 34. Kh2 Nxe4 35. Qf4 Ne5 (35... Bd5 $17) 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Re8 Nd6 38. Qf6# {1-0 (38) Koneru,H (2598)-Danielian,E (2490) Sharjah 2014 CBM 162 [CB]}) 10... bxa6 11. Rc1 {[#]} (11. O-O Re8 $146 ({ Predecessor:} 11... Bf5 12. Rc1 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Rc4 Re8 15. b3 h6 16. Ne1 a5 17. g4 g5 {1-0 (37) Kozul,Z (2590)-Smith,B (2428) Zagreb 2019}) 12. Rc1 Qe7 13. Nd2 a5 14. Nb5 Ba6 15. Nxd6 Red8 16. N2c4 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 Nxd5 18. Qf3 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 a4 20. Rfd1 h6 21. Na5 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Bxb2 23. Qxa4 Rc8 24. Nc4 Bg7 25. Rd7 Qe6 26. Nd6 Rf8 27. Qxa7 c4 28. Nb5 Qe5 29. Nd4 Rb8 30. Rb7 Rxb7 31. Qxb7 Qa5 32. Qc8+ Kh7 33. Qxc4 Qe1+ 34. Qf1 Qc3 35. a4 Bxd4 36. exd4 Qxd4 37. a5 Qa4 38. a6 h5 39. Qd3 h4 40. Qd6 Kg7 41. Kh2 g5 42. Qe5+ Kg6 43. Qd6+ f6 44. f3 Qa1 45. Qd3+ Kh6 46. Qb5 Qa3 47. Qb6 Qb2 48. Qxb2 {1-0 (48) Gunina,V (2436) -Glavina,P (2410) Chess.com INT 2021}) 11... Nh5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11... Bb7 12. O-O Qe7 13. Re1 Nd7 14. e4 Rac8 15. Qd2 Rfe8 16. Rc2 Qf8 17. Re3 h6 { 1/2-1/2 (91) Bocharov,D (2574)-Yilmaz,M (2630) Minsk 2017}) 12. Bh2 f5 13. O-O f4 14. exf4 Nxf4 15. Re1 g5 16. Bxf4 (16. Ne4 $16) 16... Rxf4 $14 17. Re4 Rf7 18. b4 Bf5 {[#] aiming for ...Bxc3.} 19. Rc4 cxb4 20. Rxb4 Rc8 21. Ne4 Bxe4 ( 21... Rxc1 $14 22. Qxc1 h6) 22. Rxe4 $16 {Nxg5! is the strong threat.} h6 23. Re6 Rfc7 (23... Rf6 $16 24. Nd4 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Rxe6 26. Nxe6 Qb8) 24. Rxc7 (24. Rc6 $1 $18) 24... Qxc7 25. Qa4 a5 26. Re8+ Rxe8 27. Qxe8+ Kh7 28. Qe4+ Kg8 29. g3 Qd7 30. h4 gxh4 (30... Bf6 $16 {is a better defense.}) 31. Nxh4 $18 Be5 $2 { [#]} (31... Bf8 32. Qg6+ Qg7 33. Qe6+ Kh7) 32. Qg6+ Qg7 {intending ...Qxg6.} 33. Qe6+ Kh7 (33... Qf7 {was called for.} 34. Qg4+ (34. Qxh6 Qxd5 35. a3 Kf7 $16) 34... Qg7 35. Qe6+ Qf7 36. Qc8+ (36. Qxh6 Qxd5 37. Qg5+ Kf7 $16) 36... Qf8 ) 34. Kg2 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.14/Black=0.35} 1-0