[Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khiva"]
[Date "2022.10.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2514"]
[BlackElo "2563"]
[Annotator "chessvibes"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3
O-O 9. Nge2 Ne8 10. Bg3 Nd6 {[%c_arrow f6e8;keyPressed;alt;from;f6;opacity;0.8;
to;e8;persistent;false,e8d6;keyPressed;alt;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;d6;
persistent;false]} 11. Qc2 (11. O-O Re8 12. Qc2 Bf8 13. Rae1 a5 14. Nf4 Na6 15.
a3 Qf6 16. f3 b5 17. Bf2 Nc4 18. g3 Qd8 {Maghsoodloo,P (2721) -Carlsen,M (2856)
European Club Cup (Mayrhofen) 2022}) 11... a5 12. O-O Na6 13. a3 Re8 14. Rad1
$146 (14. f3 Nc4 15. Bf2 b5 16. e4 Rb8 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Nf4 Nc7 19. Rfe1 Bb7 {
Daghli,A (2432)-Tahbaz,A (2436) Sari 2022}) 14... Bf8 15. h3 Bd7 16. Rfe1 b5
17. Nc1 ({It was time for} 17. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] when} dxe4 (17... b4 18. Bxd6 $1 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bxd6 19. e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bf8 20. Na4 {is also slightly better for White but}
) (17... Nc7 18. e5 Nc4 {is pretty solid.}) 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Rc8 20. Nf4
{followed by 21.Nd3 is good for White.}) 17... b4 18. axb4 Nxb4 19. Qb1 Nxd3
20. Nxd3 Bf5 21. Qa2 Bxd3 {Both players are happy to part with their bishop
pair today. Lagno seems to prefer exchanging a few pieces to secure a solid
position, instead of looking for more.} (21... a4 $5 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;
type;Interesting;persistent;true] looks a bit better for Black, e.g.} 22. Nc5
Qg5 23. Kh2 Qg6) 22. Rxd3 Nf5 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Ne2 Bb4 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Qa4 Qb6
27. Qc2 c5 28. Rdd1 Qe6 29. dxc5 Rxc5 30. Qd3 Rec8 31. Rxc5 Rxc5 32. Bh2 Qe4
33. Qxe4 dxe4 34. Ng3 Nxg3 35. Bxg3 f6 36. Bd6 Rb5 37. Bxb4 Rxb4 38. Rd2 Kf7
39. g4 g5 40. Kg2 1/2-1/2
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.11.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Rafael"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc4 Re8 9. Kh1 $5 {[%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;Interesting;persistent;true]
Not a very popular move, but it was played in two important games in 2022 by
Ukrainian GM Kirill Shevchenko. GMs Viswanathan Anand and Fabiano Caruana,
among others, have also tried this move in older games. The main idea of the
mystery king move is to prepare the f-pawn advance and also vacate the
g1-square for the white knight, which can maneuver via g1-e2-g3, as will
happen in the game. Of course, it's hard to believe that this plan gives White
an objective advantage, but what is sought in this line is a middlegame
position that allows for the creation of imbalance.} b6 {A theoretical novelty.
The move is natural, as the pawn on b6 is useful to reinforce the structure
after the c6-c5 move, something that will inevitably happen sooner or later.
Furthermore, the bishop can be developed on b7 in some cases.} (9... f6 10. Nh4
Nf8 11. Be3 {was Shevchenko - Mekhitarian, Chennai 2022.}) (9... a5 10. a4 b6
11. g3 Qe7 12. Be3 {was Shevchenko - Seo, Mayrhofen 2022.}) (9... Bf8 10. Ng1
$5 {[%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Caruana showed
the way in a Titled Tuesday game. Online blitz games of elite players are also
part of opening theory nowadays.} Nc5 11. Ne2 {Caruana - Petrosyan, Chess.com
2020.}) 10. Ng1 {Kosteniuk sticks to the expected plan.} Nf8 {Continuing the
dance with the knights.} 11. Ne2 (11. f4 {is premature.} exf4 12. Bxf4 Ng6 13.
Bg3 Be6 {With a comfortable position for Black.}) 11... Ng6 12. Ng3 {White
gives up the f4 break.} (12. f4 exf4 13. Nxf4 Nxf4 14. Bxf4 Be6 {The position
is equal.}) 12... Be6 13. Ne3 f6 14. Ngf5 {This move is the beginning of
White's problems, as it won't be easy to execute a promising plan after this.
It seems correct to take the other knight to f5: in that case, White could
transfer the queen to g4 and then play h4-h5. It's always nice when we know
what our next moves will be in an ideal world.} (14. Nef5 {A possible
continuation is:} Bf8 15. Qg4 Kh8 16. h4 Ne7 17. h5 Qd7 18. Be3 c5 19. b3 {
and the position is still roughly equal, but it seems better for White than in
the game. He can try to play f2-f4 and build up some play on the kingside.})
14... Qd7 15. Qf3 Kh8 16. Rg1 {Kosteniuk clearly wants to advance the g-pawn.}
Nf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17. g3 $6 {
[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Now White's position
is worse.} (17. Rd1 $1 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
is better, preparing to play d4. After} Ng6 {White can decide whether to offer
a move repetition or to keep fighting.}) 17... Nh3 18. Rf1 Ng5 19. Qe2 Nf7 {
The knight now defends the king and can still maneuver up to d4. Also, now the
way is clear to play g6 and drive out the white knight. It's worth remembering
that, without the light-squared bishop, White can have serious problems if the
position opens up since his king won't be safe.} 20. b3 Nd6 21. Nh4 (21. g4 {
White is not able to protect the knight since Black can always play g6.} g6)
21... Nb5 {This knight is a real worker $1} 22. Bb2 Bd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;
square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] It's useful to exchange the bishop
so the pawn can move to c5.} 23. Bxd4 Nxd4 (23... exd4 $5 {[%c_effect d4;
square;d4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is also possible, but after} 24.
Nd1 f5 25. a4 Nd6 26. f3 {the white knights will be placed on g2 and f2 with a
solid position, despite Black's advantage.}) 24. Qd1 c5 25. c3 $6 {[%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Removing the knight from d4 is
very costly, as the pawns are weakened.} (25. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is better, creating immediate counterplay.})
25... Nc6 26. Qe2 a5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true] Black has a comfortable advantage, thanks to the better pawn structure.}
27. f4 a4 28. Rab1 axb3 29. axb3 Red8 30. Rfd1 Ra3 31. Qc2 b5 $5 {[%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Preparing Qf7 without White
being able to put the knight on c4. Furthermore, a plan with b5-b4 is also
possible.} (31... Qf7 32. Nc4) 32. Nf3 Qf7 33. Nd2 (33. c4 {Perhaps this move
is better, but it further weakens the position.}) 33... exf4 34. gxf4 f5 $2 {
[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] From now on Black starts
to lose the advantage.} (34... Qh5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] is devastating. Black threatens an invasion with the queen on
e2.} 35. Re1 Qh3 {The white pieces are paralyzed, and the position will soon
collapse. A possible plan is to advance b5-b4 and create more weaknesses.
Black can prepare this plan by moving the rook from a3 to a8 first. White's
pawn structure is horrible.}) 35. exf5 Bxf5 36. Nxf5 Qxf5 37. Ne4 {Now White
is back in the game.} Ne7 (37... Qxf4 38. Qg2 $5 {[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] and Black needs to start watching out for the
attack White can generate after bringing the rooks to the game.}) 38. Qf2 Ng6
39. Qxc5 Qxc5 40. Nxc5 Nxf4 41. Ra1 {The position is simplified and with a
great tendency for a draw. The players decide to call it a day.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "Khiva, Uzbekistan"]
[Site "Khiva, Uzbekistan"]
[Date "2022.11.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/xSpaceX"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. e4 {[%eval 36,0]} e5 {[%eval 12,0]} 2. Nf3 {[%eval 29,0]} Nc6 {[%eval 28,0]}
3. Bb5 {[%eval 2,0]} Nf6 {[%eval 34,0]} 4. d3 {[%eval 25,0]} Bc5 {[%eval 22,0]}
5. Bxc6 {[%eval 18,0]} dxc6 {[%eval 2,0]} 6. Nbd2 {[%eval 0,0]} Nd7 {[%eval 11,
0]} 7. O-O {[%eval 5,0]} O-O {[%eval 13,0]} 8. Nc4 {[%eval 6,0]} Re8 {[%eval
11,0]} 9. Kh1 {[%eval 7,0]} b6 {[%eval 7,0]} 10. Ng1 {[%eval 14,0]} Nf8 {
[%eval 13,0]} 11. Ne2 {[%eval 13,0]} Ng6 {[%eval 4,0]} 12. Ng3 {[%eval 0,0]}
Be6 {[%eval 2,0]} 13. Ne3 {[%eval 6,0]} f6 {[%eval 7,0]} 14. Ngf5 {[%eval 0,0]}
Qd7 {[%eval 0,0]} 15. Qf3 {[%eval 0,0]} Kh8 {[%eval 0,0]} 16. Rg1 {[%eval 0,0]}
Nf4 {[%eval 2,0]} 17. g3 $6 {[%eval 75,0] Inaccuracy. Rd1 was best.} (17. Rd1
Ng6 18. a4 Rad8 19. h3 a5 20. b3 Qf7 21. Kh2 Nf4 22. g3 Qh5 23. Qxh5 Nxh5)
17... Nh3 {[%eval 5,0]} 18. Rf1 {[%eval 69,0]} Ng5 {[%eval 44,0]} 19. Qe2 {
[%eval 39,0]} Nf7 {[%eval 35,0]} 20. b3 {[%eval 58,0]} Nd6 {[%eval 78,0]} 21.
Nh4 {[%eval 84,0]} Nb5 {[%eval 3,0]} 22. Bb2 {[%eval 5,0]} Bd4 {[%eval 34,0]}
23. Bxd4 {[%eval 5,0]} Nxd4 {[%eval 11,0]} 24. Qd1 {[%eval 37,0]} c5 {[%eval 5,
0]} 25. c3 $6 {[%eval 86,0] Inaccuracy. f4 was best.} (25. f4 exf4) 25... Nc6 {
[%eval 5,0]} 26. Qe2 $6 {[%eval -38,0] Inaccuracy. Qc2 was best.} (26. Qc2)
26... a5 {[%eval -56,0]} 27. f4 {[%eval -68,0]} a4 {[%eval -58,0]} 28. Rab1 {
[%eval -66,0]} axb3 {[%eval -96,0]} 29. axb3 {[%eval -95,0]} Red8 {[%eval -73,
0]} 30. Rfd1 {[%eval -71,0]} Ra3 {[%eval -24,0]} 31. Qc2 {[%eval -83,0]} b5 {
[%eval -91,0]} 32. Nf3 $6 {[%eval -183,0] Inaccuracy. f5 was best.} (32. f5 Bf7
) 32... Qf7 {[%eval -22,0]} 33. Nd2 $6 {[%eval -195,0] Inaccuracy. Qc1 was
best.} (33. Qc1 Rxb3) 33... exf4 {[%eval -145,0]} 34. gxf4 {[%eval -137,0]} f5
$2 {[%eval 84,0] Mistake. Qh5 was best.} (34... Qh5 35. Re1 b4 36. f5 Bf7 37.
Ndc4 Qf3+ 38. Kg1 Ra6 39. cxb4 cxb4 40. Rb2 Qh3 41. Qg2) 35. exf5 {[%eval 75,0]
} Bxf5 {[%eval 43,0]} 36. Nxf5 {[%eval 42,0]} Qxf5 {[%eval 48,0]} 37. Ne4 {
[%eval 59,0]} Ne7 {[%eval 45,0]} 38. Qf2 {[%eval 46,0]} Ng6 {[%eval 2,0]} 39.
Qxc5 {[%eval 2,0]} Qxc5 {[%eval 13,0]} 40. Nxc5 {[%eval 14,0]} Nxf4 {[%eval 16,
0]} 41. Ra1 {[%eval 6,0]} 1/2-1/2
[Event "Women's Candidates Tournament, Pool B"]
[Site "Khiva, Uzbekistan"]
[Date "2022.11.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2514"]
[BlackElo "2563"]
[Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/xSpaceX"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. d4 {[%eval 0,0]} d5 {[%eval 27,0]} 2. c4 {[%eval 29,0]} e6 {[%eval 3,0]} 3.
Nc3 {[%eval 39,0]} Nf6 {[%eval 41,0]} 4. cxd5 {[%eval 16,0]} exd5 {[%eval 38,0]
} 5. Bg5 {[%eval 35,0]} c6 {[%eval 37,0]} 6. e3 {[%eval 28,0]} h6 {[%eval 4,0]}
7. Bh4 {[%eval 37,0]} Be7 {[%eval 42,0]} 8. Bd3 {[%eval 36,0]} O-O {[%eval 34,
0]} 9. Nge2 {[%eval 23,0]} Ne8 {[%eval 29,0]} 10. Bg3 {[%eval 25,0]} Nd6 {
[%eval 44,0]} 11. Qc2 {[%eval 24,0]} a5 {[%eval 36,0]} 12. O-O {[%eval 25,0]}
Na6 {[%eval 58,0]} 13. a3 {[%eval 39,0]} Re8 {[%eval 52,0]} 14. Rad1 {[%eval
22,0]} Bf8 {[%eval 48,0]} 15. h3 {[%eval 28,0]} Bd7 {[%eval 22,0]} 16. Rfe1 {
[%eval 22,0]} b5 {[%eval 44,0]} 17. Nc1 {[%eval 1,0]} b4 {[%eval 9,0]} 18. axb4
$6 {[%eval 53,0] Inaccuracy. Bxd6 was best.} (18. Bxd6 Bxd6 19. Na4 Ra7 20.
Bxa6 Rxa6 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Qg5 23. Kh2 bxa3 24. bxa3 Bf5) 18... Nxb4 {
[%eval 68,0]} 19. Qb1 {[%eval 54,0]} Nxd3 {[%eval 7,0]} 20. Nxd3 {[%eval 22,0]}
Bf5 {[%eval 22,0]} 21. Qa2 {[%eval 63,0]} Bxd3 $6 {[%eval 0,0] Inaccuracy. a4
was best.} (21... a4 22. Nc5) 22. Rxd3 {[%eval 0,0]} Nf5 {[%eval 0,0]} 23. Bf4
{[%eval 16,0]} Bd6 {[%eval 7,0]} 24. Ne2 $6 {[%eval 15,0] Inaccuracy. Bxd6 was
best.} (24. Bxd6) 24... Bb4 {[%eval 3,0]} 25. Rc1 {[%eval 9,0]} Rc8 {[%eval 27,
0]} 26. Qa4 {[%eval 12,0]} Qb6 {[%eval 44,0]} 27. Qc2 {[%eval 39,0]} c5 {
[%eval 5,0]} 28. Rdd1 {[%eval 11,0]} Qe6 {[%eval 22,0]} 29. dxc5 {[%eval 17,0]}
Rxc5 {[%eval 15,0]} 30. Qd3 {[%eval 11,0]} Rec8 {[%eval 25,0]} 31. Rxc5 {
[%eval 14,0]} Rxc5 {[%eval 13,0]} 32. Bh2 {[%eval 0,0]} Qe4 {[%eval 0,0]} 33.
Qxe4 {[%eval 0,0]} dxe4 {[%eval 12,0]} 34. Ng3 {[%eval 6,0]} Nxg3 {[%eval 18,0]
} 35. Bxg3 {[%eval 5,0]} f6 {[%eval 16,0]} 36. Bd6 {[%eval 19,0]} Rb5 {[%eval
0,0]} 37. Bxb4 {[%eval 0,0]} Rxb4 {[%eval 0,0]} 38. Rd2 {[%eval 0,0]} Kf7 {
[%eval 0,0]} 39. g4 {[%eval 0,0]} g5 {[%eval 0,0]} 40. Kg2 {[%eval 0,0]}
1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2022"]
[Site "Khiva"]
[Date "2022.10.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Kosteniuk is the first one to change the \"plate.\"
} Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. h3 d6 7. Na4 Bb6 8. a3 {Quite a topical line. We
have recently annotated a topical game from the World Team Championship's
semifinals.} ({White can also grab the bishop in an earlier stage of the game,
as in the following game:} 8. Nxb6 axb6 9. a3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. c3 O-O 12.
O-O Qe8 13. Be3 Ne7 14. g3 Qb5 {Alekseenko,K (2687)-Duda,J (2731) Chess.com
2022}) 8... Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. O-O O-O 11. b4 {This is cutting edge theory
nowadays. White delays the capture of the bishop as long as she can, in order
to force a concession.} ({Here too, White can take on b6:} 11. Nxb6 axb6 12.
Be3 d5 13. Qe2 Qe8 14. Rad1 Qg6 15. Nh4 Qh7 16. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Nepomniachtchi,I
(2792)-So,W (2773) Chess.com 2022}) 11... Qe8 12. c3 Kh8 $5 $146 {[%c_effect
h8;square;h8;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Goryachkina did not come
empty-handed for the game and flashed an interesting novelty in return.} ({
An earlier game went instead} 12... Nh5 13. Kh2 (13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Be3 ({Here}
14. a4 $5 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] was in
the spirit of the game.}) 14... Nf4 15. Kh2 Qh5 16. Ng1 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Ra4 {
and Black was already somewhat better in Tari,A (2654)-Anand,V (2751)
Stavanger 2022}) 13... Qf7 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4 Nf4 16. Ra2 b5 17. Ne1 Qh5 18.
f3 Ra6 19. c4 Rxa4 20. Rxa4 bxa4 21. Qxa4 Nd4 {Abdusattorov $146 (2688)-Oparin,
G (2683) Chess.com 2022}) ({Whereas the above-mentioned game from the World
Teams saw} 12... Ne7 $146 {Nihal took some time on his clock before producing
this novelty.} 13. Re1 Ng6 14. Ra2 $1 {[%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] A nice semi-waiting but useful move. The rook is
overprotecting the f2-pawn and is ready to join the battle along the second
rank. Black is in a mini-zugzwang, suffering for alternative improvement moves.
And only when the rook abandoned the a-file} Rd8 {Did White capture the bishop
at last} ({The line} 14... Nh5 15. d4 Nhf4 16. Nxb6 axb6 17. g3 $1 {[%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] demonstrates that the black
knights are not as scary as they seem without the queen support. White is not
afraid of} Nxh3+ 18. Kg2) 15. Nxb6 {Now that the black rook has abandoned the
a-file the bishop is removed.} axb6 16. a4 Qf7 ({Nothing yields} 16... Nh5 17.
g3) 17. Nh2 {White got the better game thanks to the pawn structure $1 His
pawns were more elastic and he has a pleasant choice on how to modify the
situation in the center and the kingside. The main drawback of the
double-pawns is that they are static, they can only wait for the opponent to
attack them. All in all, Sindarov went on to win an important game after} Kh7 (
{Perhaps Nihal needed to change the central situation himself with} 17... d5
18. Qe2 (18. Qc2 Nh4) 18... Qd7 {looking for a way to create threats on his
own along the d-file and the queenside.}) 18. g3 Qd7 19. c4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;
square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Sindarov managed to tame the
opponent's doubled pawns and eventually won the game, Sindarov,J (2654)-Nihal,
S (2670) Chess.com 2022} ({Also good was} 19. b5 $5 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;
type;Interesting;persistent;true]} d5 20. Rd2)) 13. Ra2 $5 {[%c_effect a2;
square;a2;type;Interesting;persistent;true] The same idea, in honor of one of
the young Uzbeki chess heros.} Qf7 ({After} 13... Nh5 {White would have likely
continued as in the game with} 14. Re1 ({Although there is nothing wrong with}
14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4)) 14. Re1 Rad8 {Just as Nihal did. It looks as that this
move is needed.} ({Otherwise White could have seized the center in case of}
14... Nh5 15. d4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]})
15. Nxb6 {The semi-waiting strategy worked. Kosteniuk got what she wanted.} ({
Whereas now} 15. d4 {can be met with} exd4 16. cxd4 d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;
square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 15... axb6 16. a4 Ne7 {And this is
almost exactly the same position as in the game Sindarov-Nihal, with the only
difference that Black has her knight on e7 still, instead of the g6-square,
and instead made the Kg8-h8 move.} 17. a5 {And White wants to extract the
maximum out of the situation and crush the opponent's queenside.} ({There was
an argument for the preliminary} 17. Be3 {though, connecting the rooks. This
would have been important in the line} Ng6 18. a5 Ra8 19. Qb3 bxa5 20. Rea1 $1
{[%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with an edge for
White.}) ({White is not interested in further prophylaxis:} 17. Nh2 $5 {
[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 17... Ra8 {
Goryachkina needs to fix the queenside situation before even thinking about
anything else.} 18. Qb3 bxa5 19. Rxa5 ({The capture did not seem as appealing
to Kosteniuk:} 19. bxa5 $5 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Interesting;
persistent;true] Presumably because of} Nc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} 20. Qxb7 Qd7 21. Qb1 Rxa5 22. Rxa5 Nxa5 23. Be3 Nc6
{White is not risking to lose. But she is not risking to win much either...})
19... Ng6 20. d4 {Perhaps a tad premature.} ({Somewhat better for White seemed
} 20. Be3 b6 21. Ra2) 20... Nd7 21. Be3 b6 22. Ra2 Rxa2 23. Qxa2 exd4 24. cxd4
({It is about equal after} 24. Nxd4 d5 25. exd5 exd5) 24... Nf6 {Goryachkina
stabilized the queenside and now the center is on the agenda.} 25. Qc2 (25. Nd2
Nh5) 25... Nh5 (25... Ra8 $5 {[%c_effect a8;square;a8;type;Interesting;
persistent;true]}) 26. Rc1 {It is tempting to attack the backward pawn at once,
but here Black has a way to resolve the central tension.} ({Therefor, stronger
seemed} 26. Ra1 Nhf4 27. Ne1 {when} d5 {can be met with} 28. e5 $1 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 26... Nhf4 27. Ne1 d5 $1 {
[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black is trying to fix
some squares for her knights in the center.} 28. Kh2 ({And still, White should
have tried} 28. e5 {with unclear play after} Nh4 29. Kh2 ({or} 29. b5)) 28...
dxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] And now
everything is in order for the second player. With an outpost like the d5 one,
she may never be worse. In fact, White has to be careful not to end up in a
situation with poor bishop versus a good black knight.} 29. Qxe4 Nd5 30. Nd3 ({
Maybe it made sense to fix the draw with something like} 30. Rc6 Nge7 31. Rxe6
Nf6 32. Qe5 Ng6 33. Qf5 Ne7 34. Qe5 Ng6) 30... Qf5 31. Qxf5 exf5 $1 {
[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Having improved the
pawn structure, Black is already somewhat better.} 32. Rc6 Rf6 33. Rxf6 {
And this trade too, makes Black's life easier. It seems as Kosteniuk lost the
thread here.} ({Better was to keep the rook alive with} 33. Rc4 $1 {[%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] intending b4-b5 after which the
white rook may find a job to do along the a-file, which means that the black
Nd5 can be challenged later.}) 33... Nxf6 34. Bd2 Kg8 {Goryachkina's obvious
plan is to bring her king to the d5-square.} 35. f3 Kf7 36. Ne5+ $5 {
[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This trade looks
better. Kosteniuk gets a defended passer instead of an isolani. True, the
problem of the worse minor piece remains.} Nxe5 37. dxe5 Nd5 38. f4 {Or else
Black will put her pawn there.} Ke6 39. Kg3 Ne7 40. Kf3 Kd5 {The time-trouble
is over and Kostenuik has a lot of problems to solve. Black's intention is
clear: bring the king even further to the d3-spot and then push the c-pawn
till the end. This would be ideally done with a nice blockader on e6,
therefore, White's next move is practically forced} 41. g4 {And this is
White's only play. However after} g6 {Kosteniuk failed to find the best
defense and opted for...} 42. Be1 {...which quickly led her to a lost position.
} ({The counter-intuitive} 42. Kg3 $3 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Brilliant;
persistent;true] would have likely saved the game. It looks as a beginner's
move, as White does allow the enemy king to infiltrate even further, but the
white monarch actually needs to demonstrate activity, as in the line} Nc6 $2 {
[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} ({If} 42... Ke4 {
then White has} 43. b5 Nd5 44. e6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} Nf6 45. Bc3 Ne8 46. e7 {and with such an active bishop White
should be perfectly fine, e.g.} Kd5 47. gxf5 gxf5 48. Kh4) ({Also in case of}
42... Kd4 {White seems to gain sufficient counterplay with} 43. gxf5 Nxf5+ 44.
Kg4 Ng7 45. h4 c5 46. bxc5 bxc5 47. h5 gxh5+ 48. Kh4 {with a likely draw.}) 43.
gxf5 gxf5 44. Kh4) 42... Nc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] Now the knight makes it to the e6-square with tempo.} 43. gxf5
gxf5 44. Ke3 ({Alas, there is no time for} 44. Kg3 Nd4 45. Bf2 Ne6) 44... Kc4
45. Ke2 ({Nothing changes} 45. Bd2 Nd4 46. Be1 Ne6) 45... Nd4+ 46. Ke3 Ne6 47.
Bd2 Kb3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Excellent
technique $1 Before advancing the pawn, Goryachkina activates here pieces to
the maximum. The end is near.} 48. Ke2 Kc2 49. Ke1 c5 50. b5 Kd3 51. Ba5 $1 {
[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The last little chance.
} Kc4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Which fails.}
({Certainly not} 51... bxa5 52. b6 Nd8 53. e6 {when the result would have been
the opposite.}) 52. Bxb6 Kxb5 53. Ba7 Nxf4 {White's position collapses. The
rest was easy for Goryachkina.} 54. Kd2 Kc4 55. Bb8 Kd5 56. h4 h5 $1 {
[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 57. Ba7 Kd4 58. Bb8
Ne6 59. Kc2 Ke3 60. Kc3 f4 61. Kc4 f3 62. Kd5 Nf4+ 0-1
[Event "Khiva"]
[Site "Khiva"]
[Date "2022.12.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2514"]
[BlackElo "2563"]
[Annotator "chessvibes"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 ({A deviation from the first game, which went} 3. Nc3
Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Ne8 10. Bg3
Nd6 {Tan,Z (2514)-Lagno,K (2563) Khiva 2022}) 3... Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6.
Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Bxc4 c5 9. O-O cxd4 10. Nb5 (10. e5 Qd8 11. Ne4 O-O 12.
Qe2 Be7 13. Rfd1 Qa5 14. a3 Rd8 15. Ng3 Nd7 16. Bd3 Nf8 17. Nd2 Bd7 18. f4 Rac8
{Santos Latasa,J (2665)-Lu,S (2605) Jerusalem 2022}) 10... Qd8 11. Qa4 Nc6 12.
Nbxd4 Qa5 13. Bb5 Bd7 $146 (13... Qxa4 14. Bxa4 Bd7 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxc6+
bxc6 17. Rac1 Rc8 {Johansson,G (2212)-Ytterberg,F (1864) Gothenburg 2018}) 14.
Rfd1 Qxa4 15. Bxa4 Nb8 16. Bxd7+ Nxd7 17. Rac1 Nf6 18. Nb3 $6 {[%c_effect b3;
square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A strange choice.} ({Better is the
active} 18. Nb5 O-O 19. a3 {e.g.} Be7 20. e5 Nd5 21. Nc7) 18... O-O (18... Nxe4
$2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 19. Rc4) 19. Rd4 Be7
20. a4 Rac8 21. Rdc4 Rxc4 22. Rxc4 Rd8 23. Nfd2 Nd7 24. Rc7 $2 {[%c_effect c7;
square;c7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This natural move has a tactical flaw.}
(24. Kf1) 24... Nc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
An unpleasant surprise. Black is taking over the initiative now.} 25. Nxc5 (25.
Rxe7 $2 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Nxb3 26. Nf1
Rd1 {and 27...Nd2 next wins a piece.}) 25... Rxd2 26. f3 Bxc5+ ({Even stronger
was} 26... Bg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 27.
Nxb7 Be3+ 28. Kf1 Rf2+ 29. Ke1 Rxg2 {with good winning chances. In general,
keeping the bishop and the knight on the board is favorable for Black.}) 27.
Rxc5 Rxb2 28. h4 g6 29. Kh2 Kg7 30. Kg3 Rb4 31. a5 b6 32. axb6 axb6 33. Rc7 e5
34. Rb7 Kf6 35. h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
A good idea, which should be enough for a draw.} gxh5 ({After} 35... g5 {
White can just wait with} 36. Rb8 {and whenever the black king walks to the
queenside, the white one uses the f5-square to enter.}) 36. Kh4 Kg6 37. Rb8 $2
{[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (37. Re7 $1 {
[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} f6 38. Re8 Rb2 39.
Rg8+ Kh7 40. Rb8) 37... Rb1 $2 {[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;Mistake;
persistent;true] Missing her chance.} ({Winning was} 37... f5 $1 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 38. Rg8+ Kf7 {with a sample line
being} 39. Rh8 fxe4 40. fxe4 Rxe4+ 41. Kxh5 Kg7 42. Rb8 Rb4 43. g4 Kf6 44. Rh8
e4 45. Rxh6+ Ke5) 38. Rg8+ Kf6 39. Kxh5 {Now it's a draw.} b5 40. Rb8 Rh1+ 41.
Kg4 h5+ 42. Kg3 Rb1 43. Kh4 Kg6 44. Rg8+ Kh6 45. Rh8+ Kg7 46. Rb8 Kg6 47. Rg8+
Kh6 48. Rh8+ Kg6 1/2-1/2
[Event "Khiva"]
[Site "Khiva"]
[Date "2022.10.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E80"]
[WhiteElo "2584"]
[BlackElo "2521"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 {Kosteniuk is in a must-win situation, thus the
appearance of the KID could have been predicted.} 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. Be3 Ngf6 6. f3
{Switching to the solid Saemisch line.} a6 {One of the rare continuations.
Black's strategy becomes clear: she wants her opponent out of the opening
books as early as possible.} 7. Bd3 Rb8 ({Kamsky tried instead} 7... c6 8. Nge2
b5 9. a3 Rb8 10. b4 bxc4 11. Bxc4 a5 12. b5 Nb6 13. Bd3 cxb5 14. Nxb5 {but
this led only to a solid advantage for White, and what's more important-
almost no winning chances for Black in Ivanchuk,V (2678) -Kamsky,G (2674)
Lichess.org 2020}) 8. Nge2 c6 9. a4 {There is a reason why certain opening
continuations are off the beaten path. They provide the opponent easy play, as
in this case. Goryachkina completed her development comfortably and even got a
chance to block the opponent's queenside ambitions.} O-O 10. a5 $146 {A
logical novelty.} ({White also did well after} 10. O-O Ne8 11. Qc2 Nc7 12. Rfe1
e5 13. d5 c5 14. Rab1 a5 15. Nb5 Nxb5 16. cxb5 {Torosyan,L-Kantor,R (1780)
Kemer 2007}) 10... b5 {Kosteniuk has to weaken her structure, otherwise the
whole setup makes no sense.} 11. axb6 (11. cxb5 cxb5 12. b4 {would have been
interesting for White too.}) 11... Qxb6 12. Na4 Qc7 13. O-O e5 {After this
White stabilizes the center in her favor.} ({In hindsight it seems as the
Benoni approach} 13... c5 $5 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;
persistent;true] might have offered Black more practical chances, for example}
14. d5 Ne5 15. b3 e6 ({Or first} 15... Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Nd7 {intending to
undermine White's center with e7-e6 and f7-f5 in the future.})) 14. d5 Nh5 {
Kosteniuk feels that she needs to hurry with her counterplay.} ({Or else White
can completely stop it before it even starts} 14... c5 {with something cruel
like} 15. g4 $5 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} ({
Or something more cunning like} 15. Ng3 $5 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;
Interesting;persistent;true]} h5 16. Ne2 $5 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] depriving the black knight of the h5-square.}))
15. Qc2 {A solid approach which stops the planned f7-f5.} ({Also good was} 15.
dxc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxc6 16. Nec3
Nf4 17. Nd5 {with White's edge.}) 15... Kh8 ({Objectively, play like} 15...
cxd5 16. cxd5 Qxc2 17. Bxc2 f5 18. Nec3 Nf4 {might have been best, when Black
has good chances to equalize, but barely any to win...}) ({There was also the
typical pawn sacrifice} 15... Nf4 $5 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Interesting;
persistent;true]} 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Bxf4 cxd5 18. cxd5 Qxc2 19. Bxc2 Ne5 20.
Ra2 f5 {when again Black has probably enough for the pawn, but it is an
endgame...}) 16. Rfc1 {Not just overprotecting the queen, but already
threatening c4-c5 $1 That leaves Black no chance and...} f5 {She goes all in $1
} 17. exf5 {After some thought Goryachkina coldly took the pawn.} ({The other
version of the capture might have been even better} 17. dxc6 Qxc6 18. exf5 gxf5
19. Bxf5 Ndf6 20. Bxc8 Rfxc8 21. Qd2) 17... gxf5 18. Bxf5 Ndf6 19. Bxc8 ({Here
} 19. dxc6 {is less precise due to} Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qxc6) 19... Rfxc8 20. Qd2 {
Once again, a most solid continuation.} Rb3 ({Black could have also tried}
20... e4 21. fxe4 {and then the tricky} c5 $5 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] However} ({Rather than} 21... Nxe4 22. Qd3 Re8 23.
Nd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and the knight
makes it to the e6-square.}) 22. e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] deprives the second player of any hopes.}) 21. Nac3 {
Centralizing the pieces is almost always a great strategy, no matter what the
material is like.} ({Although there was also} 21. Rc3 {when Black's
compensation is dubious, say} Rb4 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. b3 {Most importantly,
White is never afraid of any long-diagonal issues} e4 24. f4 Ng4 25. Bd4 $1 {
[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 21... Qb7 22. Rc2
cxd5 23. cxd5 {With a bunch of consolidation moves and g2-g4 threat in the air,
Kosteniuk has no choice but to enter the forcing line} Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxc2 25.
Qxc2 Qxd5 {Goryachkina took her time, and once more chose the most reliable
way.} 26. Rd1 ({There is no need to enter any complications like} 26. Rxa6 Rxe3
27. Qc8+ Qg8 28. Ra8 {True, this also should lead to a draw after some
entertaining play} Qxc8 ({Or} 28... Nf6 29. Nc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxc8 ({Nothing changes} 29... Re1+ 30. Kf2 Rc1
31. Qxg8+ Nxg8 32. Nd5) 30. Rxc8+ Ng8 31. Nd5) 29. Rxc8+ Bf8 30. Rxf8+ Kg7 31.
Rf5 Kg6 ({But Black can still push a bit with} 31... Rxe2 32. Rxh5 Rxb2) 32.
Kf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rxe2+ 33. Kxe2
Kxf5 34. g4+ {and White is in just in time.}) ({If White needed to play for a
win, she would have definitely chosen instead} 26. Nc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;
square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with an edge in all the lines, for
instance} Qb7 (26... Qc4 27. Rd1 $1 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]}) 27. Qd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} (27. Qf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] is equally good.}) 27... Rxb2 28. Qxd6) 26... Rxb2 {Once more,
no choice for Black.} ({Or else she risked to lose, as in the line} 26... Qb7
27. Rxd6 Rxe3 28. Rd8+ Bf8 29. Qc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]}) 27. Rxd5 Rxc2 28. Rxd6 Kg8 ({Correctly avoiding} 28... Rxe2
$2 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 29. Rd8+ Bf8 30. Bh6
$1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 29. Kf1 {Almost
everything disappeared from the board and the draw and the end of the match is
fast approaching.} Ra2 30. g4 Nf6 ({Or} 30... Nf4 31. Nxf4 exf4 32. Bxf4) 31.
Ng3 Kf7 ({In case of} 31... Rxh2 32. Bf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] traps the rook.}) 32. g5 Ne8 33. Rb6 Bf8 (33... Rxh2
34. Bf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 34. Rb7+
{Forcing a perpetual.} ({This was the last moment when Goryachkina could have
played for the full point with} 34. h4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] the pawns are too fast} a5 35. h5 a4 36. g6+ hxg6
37. hxg6+ Kg8 38. Rb8 {and White wins.}) 34... Kg8 35. Rb8 Kf7 {There is no
way to deviate from the perpetual.} (35... Nd6 $4 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;
type;Blunder;persistent;true] loses to} 36. Bc5 Kf7 37. Ne4) 36. Rb7+ Kg8 37.
Rb8 Kf7 1/2-1/2
[Event "http://www.chessbomb.com"]
[Site "http://www.chessbomb.com"]
[Date "2022.12.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Black "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2514"]
[Annotator "chessvibes"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 ({Surprised by her
opponent's choice, Lagno avoids the main lines starting with} 6. Be3) 6... Nc6
7. Bg2 Bd7 8. Nde2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Rc8 11. Nd5 Ne5 12. a4 (12. Rb1 Nxd5
13. exd5 Qa5 14. a3 Rc7 15. b3 Bf5 16. Nd4 Rfc8 17. Nxf5 gxf5 18. c4 b5 {
Wei,Y (2736)-Praggnanandhaa,R (2536) Chess.com 2019}) 12... e6 $146 13. Ndc3 (
13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Qxd6 Rxc2) 13... Qc7 14. b3 Rfd8 15. Be3 Be8 16. f4 Nc6 17.
Nb5 Qb8 18. c4 d5 $6 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]}
({First} 18... a6 19. Nbd4 (19. Nbc3 d5) 19... Nxd4 20. Nxd4 {and now e.g.} b5
{looks nice for Black.}) 19. cxd5 exd5 20. e5 Ne4 21. Rc1 ({It is better not
to allow Black's pawn push with} 21. Nbd4 {with perhaps a small edge for White.
}) 21... d4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A nice
tactic that leads to a lot of trades and equality.} 22. Nbxd4 Nxd4 23. Rxc8
Nxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Qxc8 25. Bxe4 Qxh3 26. Bf2 b6 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Qc8 29. Qc2
Qxc2 30. Bxc2 f6 31. exf6 Bxf6 32. b4 Bc3 33. a5 Bxb4 34. axb6 axb6 35. Bxb6
Bf7 36. Be4 Be6 37. Kg2 Kf7 38. Bd4 h5 39. Be5 Be7 40. Bd4 Bd6 41. Bc3 1/2-1/2
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2022.11.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2518"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Rafael"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 {The
Cambridge-Springs Variation is a more solid choice for Black than the
complications of the Botvinnik System with 6...dxc4. For those interested in
classic games with this system, I suggest studying games 7, 9 and 11 of the
match Capablanca vs. Alekhine.} 7. cxd5 (7. Nd2 {is also a popular choice.})
7... Nxd5 8. Rc1 h6 {It's usually difficult to know if the ...h6 move is
useful; I have doubts about this in several defenses. Many players prefer to
take on c3 right away. Others choose 8...Bb4.} (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba3 10. Rc2
b6 {is similar to the game.}) (8... Bb4 9. a3 Bxc3+ (9... Nxc3 10. axb4 $1 {
[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 10. bxc3 {with a
complicated fight ahead.}) 9. Bh4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Ba3 11. Rc2 b6 $1 {[%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This plan is essential for Black:
playing the bishop to a6 and simplifying the position a bit.} 12. Nd2 $5 {
[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A relatively rare
move, but one that has been tried in some correspondence games.} (12. Be2 Ba6
13. O-O Bxe2 14. Rxe2 O-O 15. c4 {leads to a typical middlegame for this
variation. Black is solid, but White has more space. Ding-Duda, Goldmoney
(rapid) 2021}) 12... Ba6 13. c4 {The most natural move.} (13. Nc4 Qa4) (13. Bc4
O-O 14. O-O c5 {In the only game played in this position, the GM of White
tried an interesting quality sacrifice with} 15. d5 $5 {[%c_effect d5;square;
d5;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} exd5 16. Bxd5 Bxf1 17. Nxf1 {with the
idea of bringing the knight to the kingside and creating an attack since
Black's queen and bishop are out of play. This worked in the game, but the
computer always finds some path to equality. Iturrizaga Bonelli-Ghazarian,
Castelldefels 2021.}) 13... O-O (13... Be7 $5 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;
Interesting;persistent;true]} 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Be2 c5 16. O-O cxd4 17. exd4
Rhd8 {with a roughly equal position in Barkov-Martynov, ICCF email 2017.}) 14.
Bd3 c5 15. O-O cxd4 16. exd4 Rfe8 17. Qe2 Rac8 $6 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;
type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move is inaccurate and leads to problems.
The correct path is shown in one of the correspondence games.} (17... Bb4 $1 {
[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 18. Rd1 Rac8 {with
equality in Haapamaeki-Raivio, ICCF email 2018.}) 18. c5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;
square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] There are two possible doubles for
the d2-knight: one on c4 and one on d6.} Qa4 $6 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;
Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move makes things worse.} (18... Nb8 {is also
not enough:} 19. Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true] A strong computer suggestion.} (19. Bxa6 Qxa6 20. Qxa6 Nxa6 21. Nc4 Bxc5
22. dxc5 Rxc5 {Black has some drawing chances.}) 19... Bxd3 20. Qxd3 {The
point is that Black cannot capture on c5:} bxc5 21. Nf6+ $1 {[%c_effect f6;
square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} gxf6 22. Bxf6 {with a decisive
attack.}) (18... Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Bb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] This move is probably what Goryachkina missed.} (19... b5 $6 {
[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 20. Ne4) (19... bxc5
20. Nc4 Qa6 21. Qxa3 Qxa3 22. Nxa3 cxd4 23. Rfc1 {with good winning chances
for White.}) 20. Nc4 Qa6 21. a3 Ba5 (21... bxc5 $5 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;
type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 22. axb4 cxb4 {is also possible. This a
better version for Black of the piece sacrifice that occurs in many lines.})
22. Qb3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} bxc5 23.
Qa4 Nb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 24. Qxa5
Qxa5 25. Nxa5 cxd4 {Black has two pawns for the piece and drawing chances,
although White is happy with this position.}) 19. Bxa6 Qxc2 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21.
Qa6 $1 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A very
unpleasant move. Black has no good squares for the rook.} Rc7 (21... Rb8 22. c6
$1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxc6 23. Qxa3 {
wins a piece.}) (21... Ra8 22. Qb7 Rf8 23. Qxd7 Qxd2 24. c6 {and the c-pawn
decides the game.}) (21... Re8 22. Qb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxd2 23. Qxd7 {again followed by the advance of
the c-pawn.}) (21... Rf8 22. Qxa3 (22. Nf3 {is probably even better.}) 22...
Qxd2 23. c6 Qxd4 24. cxd7 Qxd7 {This endgame is winning for White.}) 22. Bg3 $6
{[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (22. Bd8 $1 {
[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is a better way
to convert the advantage.} Nb8 (22... Nxc5 23. dxc5 Rxc5 24. Nb3 Rd5 25. Qxa3
Rxd8 26. Qxa7 {with a winning position.}) (22... Rc6 23. Qb7 $1 {[%c_effect b7;
square;b7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black loses material.}) 23. Qxa3 Rc8
24. Qxa7 Rxd8 (24... Qxd2 {doesn't solve the problems.} 25. Bxb6 Qxd4 26. c6 $1
{[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 25. Qxb6 Rf8 26. Nf3
Qxa2 27. Ne5 {with an easily winning endgame a pawn up.}) 22... e5 23. Nf3 $1 {
[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best.} (23. Nc4 $2
{[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Qd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;
square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 23... Bxc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;
square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black has to sacrifice a piece.} (
23... Qxa2 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Bxe5 {and White wins since Black's pieces are
poorly placed and the c-pawn is ready to advance.}) 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. Qa3 f6 {
Let's pause and assess the position. White has a material advantage (bishop
for two pawns), but it is not easy to convert: the bishop on g3 is not good.}
26. Rc1 Qg6 27. Nh4 {I don't like this move. A knight on the rim is dim,
someone said.} (27. h3 {I'd rather play a simple move giving some air for the
king.}) 27... Qf7 (27... Qe4 {is an interesting alternative.}) 28. Rd1 (28. f4
$5 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Maybe this is a
better way to justify White's previous move.}) 28... Rd7 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 30. h3
e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now the
h4-knight is in trouble. Black prepares g5.} 31. Bb8 $1 {[%c_effect b8;square;
b8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A very good, practical decision. White
gives back material to capture Black's queenside. The computer suggestion is
absurd for a human.} (31. Ng6 Kf7 32. Nf4 g5 {Every time I analyze games for
the Game of the Day, I go through the game on my physical board, thinking
about what happened and writing some notes. Only after that I check the game
with the computer. I analyzed this variation and stopped here, since the
knight is lost. But the machine continues.} 33. Ne2 $1 {[%c_effect e2;square;
e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qd1+ 34. Kh2 Qxe2 35. Qxa7+ Kg6 36. Qxb6 {
Somehow the computer is happy with this position for White. Not very human.})
31... g5 (31... a5 32. g4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] And now h4-knight is no longer in danger.}) 32. Qxa7 gxh4 $6 {
[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Now Black is in deep
trouble again.} (32... Qxa7 {leads to an endgame that is probably winning for
White after} 33. Bxa7 gxh4 34. Bxb6 Na6 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. a4 {
with bishop against knight, the passed a-pawn, and the weaknesses on the
kingside, I believe White is going to win.}) (32... Qe6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;
square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This subtle move is the best.} 33.
Ng6 Nd7 {It turns out the knight is lost anyway.} 34. Nf4 (34. h4 {This
attempt to defend the knight doesn't work.} Kg7 35. h5 Qd5 {and Black is ready
to play Qd1 with a draw.}) 34... gxf4 35. Bxf4 {White still has some advantage
in this endgame, but the drawing chances are good.}) 33. Qxb6 Ne6 (33... e3 $1
{[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a desperate
attempt to activate the knight and generate some counterplay.} 34. fxe3 Ne4)
34. a4 {The a-pawn decides the game. White's moves are easy now.} Kf7 35. a5
Nd4 36. Qc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Not
allowing the counterplay after} (36. a6 Ne2+ 37. Kh2 Qd1 {Even though White is
probably still winning after} 38. f3) 36... Ke8 37. Qc4 Qb7 38. Qg8+ {Winning
material and the match.} Kd7 39. Qf7+ Kc6 (39... Kc8 40. Qe8#) 40. Qc4+ 1-0
