[Event "WR Chess Masters 2023"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {The Berlin.} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. a4 {
\"It's kind of a move... . I think everything equalizes.\" (Aronian)} Be7 7.
Nc3 a6 8. Bf1 e4 {The most ambitious.} (8... f6 {is the highest-scoring move.})
9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 d5 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Be2 {This bishop seems
unable to decide where it wants to go. Here, it breaks the pin, and apparently
the three moves it took to get here don't hurt White.} O-O 14. d4 Re8 15. Ne5
$146 ({Just one game was played over the board here.} 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6
17. c3 h6 18. Nh4 Bxe2 19. Rxe2 Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Qe7 {Black was completely fine
in Blohberger,F (2490)-Predojevic,B (2592) Austria 2022.}) 15... Bxe2 16. Rxe2
Nxe5 {A completely fine move, although both players preferred 16...Qd6 when
they analyzed after.} (16... Qd6 {After the game, the players thought this
would have been more precise:} 17. Bf4 {The bishop would be misplaced after}
Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qe6) 17. dxe5 Qd7 18. Qd3 {Aronian felt he had a chance by this
point. \"Every time Black tries to play for ...c5, I have this a5.\"} Rad8 ({If
} 18... c5 19. a5 {Aronian felt this slowed Black's pawns.}) 19. b3 Qe6 20. Bd2
(20. Bb2 c5 {\"d4 at some point will come, and I will have to reroute my
bishop again.\" (Aronian) The engine gives} 21. f4 d4 22. a5 Qd7 23. Bc1 Qb5
24. Bd2 {with a relatively equal position. The position has to reroute to d2
after all.}) (20. f4 {Just leaving the bishop on c1 may have been even
stronger. It can decide on a square later.} c5 21. f5 Qc8 22. f6 $1 {
[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A pawn sacrifice.} gxf6
23. Bh6 Kh8 24. Rf1 c4 {with a very complicated position.}) 20... Qg6 21. f4 (
21. g4 $5 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} c5 22. f4
Qc6 23. f5 {\"With this king on g1, there might be some tactical ideas.\"
(Aronian)}) 21... f5 $2 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]
One point is that, with queens on, the plan of ...Kf7-e6 is no longer viable
to defend against White's center.} (21... Qxd3 22. cxd3 f5 23. b4 {Aronian
felt this was slightly better for White. The engine disagrees, claiming
equality.} Kf7 24. g4 Ke6 25. Rg2 g6 {In practical terms, White is the one
pressing.}) 22. b4 (22. g4 Rf8 23. e6 {Aronian correctly felt this was headed
in the wrong direction.} fxg4 24. Qxg6 hxg6 25. hxg4 Rde8 26. Kg2 Bd6 {Black
has enough play against the white pawns to be equal.}) 22... Qe6 (22... Bxb4
23. Bxb4 Qb6+ 24. Kh2 Qxb4 25. Qxf5 Rf8 26. Qe6+ Kh8 27. g3 {\"I really didn't
think I have anything here.\" (Aronian)}) 23. c3 c5 {\"I thought c5 is
strategically wrong somehow.\" (Aronian)} ({Aronian showed} 23... a5 24. bxa5
Ra8 25. Rb1 Rxa5 26. Rxb7 Rxa4 27. Qb5 {with an advantage for White.}) 24. bxc5
Bxc5+ 25. Be3 Bxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rc8 27. Rb1 Qc6 28. Qd4 b5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Kh2
Red8 31. Re3 Qc4 32. Rg3 Qxd4 {\"It's kind of a miracle that Black survives
here.\" (Aronian)} 33. cxd4 Rc4 34. Rxb5 Rxd4 35. Rb7 g6 36. Ra3 Rxf4 37. Raa7
Re4 $2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is the
losing move of the game.} (37... Rh4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] Only move.} 38. Kg3 g5 $3 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;
type;Brilliant;persistent;true] holds, but this is extremely hard for a human
to find and play.} 39. Rg7+ Kh8 40. Rxg5 Rb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] The farthest square from the white king.} (40... Rc4
41. Rxf5 Rg8+ 42. Kf3 Rc3+ 43. Kf4 Rc4+ 44. Ke3 {The king gets closer to the
black rook.}) 41. Rgg7 (41. Rxf5 Rg8+ 42. Kf3 Rb3+ 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Ke3 d4+ 45.
Kf3 Rb3+ {draws.}) 41... Rg8 $1 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] with a draw.}) 38. Rg7+ Kf8 {\"A terrible blunder. I got
lucky here, of course.\" (Aronian) It turns out the position was already lost
either way.} ({Aronian calculated all of the following:} 38... Kh8 39. Rxh7+
Kg8 40. Rag7+ Kf8 41. Rf7+ Kg8 42. Rhg7+ Kh8 43. Rh7+ $1 {[%c_effect h7;square;
h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] He missed this winning line.} ({And here
Aronian saw Black draws with} 43. Rxg6 Rxe5 44. Rg5 d4 45. Rfxf5 Rxf5 46. Rxf5
d3 47. Rf1 d2 48. Rd1 Rd3 49. Kg1 Kg7 50. Kf2 Kh6 51. Ke2 Rg3 52. Rg1 Kg5 53.
Kxd2 Kh4 54. Ke2 Rg8 {\"He's just in time.\" (Aronian)} 55. g4 Kxh3 56. Kf3 Kh4
57. g5 Kh5 {He showed this entire line in the interview.} (57... Rxg5 $4 {
[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Blunder;persistent;true]} 58. Rh1#)) 43... Kg8 44.
Rfg7+ Kf8 45. Ra7 Kg8 46. Rhe7 d4 47. e6 Rh4 48. Rad7 Ra8 49. Rg7+ Kh8 (49...
Kf8 50. Rdf7+ Ke8 51. Rg8#) 50. Rxg6 {White wins with the extra material plus
permanent mating threats.}) 39. Raf7+ Ke8 40. Rxh7 Rh4 41. Re7+ (41. Rxh4 Kxf7)
41... Kf8 42. Rhf7+ Kg8 43. Rg7+ Kh8 44. Rxg6 {White wins material and is in
time to stop the d-pawn.} d4 45. Rd6 Rc8 (45... Rxd6 46. exd6 {[%c_arrow d6d8;
keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false]}) 46. Rf7 Rf4 47.
e6 Kg8 48. Rdd7 (48. Rdd7 {and just to show the winning method for White:} Kh8
49. Rh7+ Kg8 50. Rdg7+ Kf8 51. e7+) 1-0
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Keymer, Vincent"]
[Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "rafael"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 Re8 8.
O-O Nbd7 $5 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare
move, involving a pawn sacrifice, that took Keymer by surprise. It's difficult
to say whether this move was prepared in the laboratory or not.} (8... Bd6) (
8... Bf8) (8... b6) 9. Qb3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] The critical move, which practically forces Black to
sacrifice the d5-pawn.} Bd6 $1 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} (9... Bxc3 $6 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true] is a big positional concession, as White has the bishop pair,
a good center, and the knight is strange on d7.} 10. bxc3 (10. Nxc3 {is also
good.})) 10. Nxd5 {Taking up the gauntlet $1} Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Nc5 $1 {[%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best way to fight for the
initiative.} (11... Nf6 {is inaccurate.} 12. Qf3 {This was Keymer's intention.
Black has no adequate compensation. 12.Qb3 is also good.} (12. Qg5 $6 {
[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is not very good,
as Black can regain the pawn.} Bxh2+ $1 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} 13. Kh1 (13. Kxh2 $4 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;
Blunder;persistent;true]} Ng4+) 13... Bd6) (12. Qb3 Bxh2+ $2 {[%c_effect h2;
square;h2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The Greek Gift sacrifice doesn't work
this time.} (12... Be6 {is better.}) 13. Kxh2 Ng4+ 14. Kg3 Qg5 15. f4 Qh5 16.
Bd2 Qh2+ 17. Kf3 Qh4 18. g3 {White was winning in Watanabe-Gonzalez Garcia,
Merida 2001.})) 12. Bxh7+ {A natural move and a novelty.} (12. Qc4 {was played
previously and was mentioned by Keymer in the post-game analysis.} Nxd3 (12...
Be6 $2 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 13. Bxh7+ $1 {
[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Kh8 (13... Kxh7 14.
Qc2+) 14. Qc2 Qh4 15. Nf4 {with a big advantage for White in Kambrath-Ramirez
Alvarez, Merida 2019. It looks like the Mexican city of Merida (which I
visited a long time ago, in 1993) is the place where this 8...Nbd7 variation
was subjected to the most critical tests $1}) 13. Qxd3 Qh4 {With some
compensation for the pawn.}) 12... Kxh7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 14. dxc5 Re5 {Black gets
one of the pawns back.} 15. Qf3 Rxc5 {White is a pawn up and has a good pawn
structure, while Black has the bishop pair and a crazy attacking rook.} 16. Ng3
$1 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A precise move.} (
16. e4 $2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] loses after}
Bxh2+ $1 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 17. Kxh2
Qh4+ 18. Kg1 Rh5) (16. h3 Rf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} 17. Qe4 Re5 18. Qf3 Rf5 {with a move repetition.}) 16... Bd7
17. e4 Qh4 {Bringing the queen to the game and avoiding 18.Bf4.} 18. Bd2 Rb5 (
18... Bg4 $6 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 19. Qe3
Rh5 $2 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This aggressive
attempt doesn't work.} 20. h3 Bxh3 21. Nxh5 Bxg2 22. Ng3 {The attack is over.})
19. Bc3 (19. b3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
This move is probably the best attempt for an advantage, as now the rook
cannot go to g5, as will happen in the game.}) 19... Re8 20. Rae1 {The eternal
question: which rook to play $2 Capablanca once advised wisely: think which
rook is the most natural for you to move, and then play the other one.} (20.
Rfe1 Rg5 {Black has enough compensation for the pawn.}) 20... Rg5 21. e5 Bc6
22. Qd3 (22. Qe3 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 Rgxe5 24. Qc3 (24. Qxe5 $6 {[%c_effect e5;
square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} Rxe5 25. Rxe5 Qd4 {Positions with
queen against two rooks can be hard to evaluate. Here, however, the b2-pawn
will fall and this gives Black a clear advantage.} 26. Re2 $2 {[%c_effect e2;
square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Bb5) 24... Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 26.
Qxe1 Qd4 {Black can play for a win because the bishop is stronger than the
knight.}) 22... Bc5 (22... Bxe5 $2 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;
persistent;true]} 23. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true] This is the main reason why Keymer left the rook on f1.} Bxf4 24. Rxe8+
Bxe8 25. Qe4 {White wins material.}) 23. b4 $5 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] A nice practical decision to simplify the game
and remove one of the attacking bishops from the board.} (23. Ne4 $2 {
[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Rg6 {With a very strong
attack.}) (23. Re2 {This is the computer move, indicating equality. But a
human player is certainly not comfortable after} Re6) 23... Bb6 $2 {[%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Abudasattorov makes a bad decision,
embarking on a risky line in which White has the draw at hand if he wants to.
With 23...Bxb4, it would be Black who would fight for the win.} (23... Bxb4 $1
{[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] After the natural
sequence:} 24. Bxb4 Qxb4 25. f4 Bb5 $1 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27. Nxe4 Bxf1 28. Nxg5 Bc4 {An imbalanced
ending appears on the board, in which Black's chances are slightly better.})
24. b5 {This seems to lose a piece, but of course, Abdusattorov had seen this.}
Re6 {The only justification.} 25. Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] This move refutes Black's play.} (25. Qd8+ {is
enough for an immediate draw, if Keymer wanted.} Re8 (25... Be8 $2 {[%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 26. Re4 Qh6 27. Bd2 {wins material.
}) 26. Qd3) (25. bxc6 $6 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;
true]} Rh6 {This line justifies the sacrifice.} 26. h3 $6 {[%c_effect h3;
square;h3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (26. Qd8+ Kh7 27. Qd3+ Kg8 28. Qd8+
{with perpetual check.}) 26... Rxg3 27. Qxg3 $2 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;
Mistake;persistent;true]} (27. Qf5) 27... Qxg3 28. cxb7 Rxh3 29. b8=Q+ Kh7 {
White is mated.}) 25... Rxg2+ $6 {[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true] This move loses, but the alternatives are not pretty for
Black, who would have to defend with a pawn down.} (25... Qg4 $2 {[%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 26. Qd8+) (25... Rh5 26. h3 {
everything is defended.}) (25... Bxe4 26. Rxe4 {White is a healthy pawn up.})
26. Kxg2 Rg6+ 27. Kh1 Rh6 28. h3 Bxb5 29. Qf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] The only move, but enough.} Bd7 30. e6 {A good
practical decision, opening the diagonal of the c3-bishop.} (30. Qg3 $2 {
[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Bxh3 31. Qxh4 Rxh4 32.
Kg1 Rg4+ $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now Black
wins.} 33. Kh2 Bxf1 34. Rxf1 Rxe4) (30. Rg1 {This is a nice refutation.} Bxh3
31. Rxg7+ $1 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Kh8 {
Keymer showed this line in the post-game analysis, but he missed a nice
computer move here.} (31... Kxg7 32. e6+ f6 33. Bxf6+ Rxf6 34. Qxf6+ Qxf6 35.
Nxf6 Kxf6 36. e7 Bd7 37. e8=Q Bxe8 38. Rxe8 {The endgame should be winning for
White. The point is that the f2-pawn cannot be captured.} Bxf2 $2 {[%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 39. Rf8+ {winning the bishop.}) 32.
Rh7+ $3 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] White wins
easily now.} Rxh7 (32... Kxh7 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. e6+) 33. e6+ Rg7 (33... Kg8 34.
Nf6+ Qxf6 35. Qxf6 $18) 34. Bxg7+ Kxg7 35. Qxf7+) 30... Bxe6 31. Rg1 Qxh3+ 32.
Qxh3 Rxh3+ 33. Kg2 {Black's three pawns are no match for the rook. White is
winning.} Rh5 34. Kf3 Rf5+ 35. Ke2 g6 {A sad necessity, opening the diagonal.}
36. Rh1 Kf8 37. Bf6 Ke8 38. Rh8+ Kd7 39. Rd8+ Kc6 40. Bd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;
square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Exchanging the strong b6-bishop.}
Bxd4 41. Rxd4 b6 42. a3 Kb7 43. Rc1 Rh5 44. Ke3 a5 45. f3 Rb5 46. Rc3 Rh5 47.
Rd1 a4 48. Rd4 Ra5 49. Rb4 Re5 50. Kf2 c6 51. Nc5+ Kc7 52. Nxe6+ 1-0
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Gukesh, D.."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O Be7 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. a4 Bb7 10. Nbd2 (10. e4 {is perhaps more to the point, although
perhaps Nepomniachtchi wanted to avoid more forcing lines.} bxa4 $2 {
[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (10... c5 {is better.})
11. Nc3 c5 12. d5 e5 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nc4 {1-0 (40) Jankovic,A (2548)-Loncar,R
(2367) Porec 2022}) 10... O-O $146 ({There was one correspondence game that
went} 10... b4 11. e4 O-O 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nb3 a5 14. Qe4 g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rfc1
{White had a massive advantage in Giese,R-Haeussler,G GER corr 1995.}) 11. b3
c5 12. Bb2 cxd4 13. Bxd4 bxa4 14. bxa4 a5 {Black equalizes.} 15. Bb5 Bb4 16.
Nc4 Qe7 17. Ne1 Nc5 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Qb2 Rfc8 $1 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] Leaving the g7-pawn en prise.} 20. Bxc5 (20. Bxg7 f6
21. Bh6 Nxa4 22. Bxa4 Rxc4 {with Rg4 coming, Black has massive activity and is
better.}) 20... Rxc5 21. Nd3 Rc7 22. Rc1 $2 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;
Mistake;persistent;true] Perhaps Nepomniachtchi missed the strong response.} (
22. Nxb4 {This move had to be played.} Qxb4 (22... axb4) 23. Qxb4 axb4 (23...
Nxb4 $2 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 24. Nxa5 {
works due to the back rank.}) 24. Rd4 {with equal chances.}) 22... Qf6 $1 {
[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Nxb4 axb4 {
White has some coordination issues now.} 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. Rb1 Ba6 $1 {
[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight b5;
keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;
opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] White is on the back foot, his pieces
awkwardly unable to defend each other.} 26. Nd2 (26. Bxa6 $2 {[%c_effect a6;
square;a6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] for example, is met with} Rxa6 27. e4 {
Moving the knight is just capitulation, but this isn't better.} Rxc4 28. exd5
exd5 29. Rfd1 Ra5 {Black is a pawn up with the better position.}) 26... Bxb5
27. axb5 Ra4 {Black threatens ...Nc3-xb5.} 28. Nb3 Nc3 29. b6 Rc6 30. b7 Rb6
31. Rb2 Ra7 (31... Rxb7 $2 {[%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;Mistake;persistent;
true]} 32. Nc5 {[%c_highlight b7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b7;
persistent;false,a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false] is
White's point.}) 32. Nc5 Ra5 33. Nd3 Rab5 {The problem is that the b-pawn is
too weak on b4.} (33... b3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] Passed pawns must be pushed.} 34. Rc1 Na4 35. Rbb1 Rxb7 {
with a winning position. For example,} 36. Nb2 {to prevent ...b2.} Kg7 37. Kf1
Nxb2 38. Rxb2 Ra2 39. Rcb1 Rc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] And an invasion on the second rank is coming.}) 34. Rc1 $1 {
[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rxb7 (34... Na4 $2 {
[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This move no longer
works.} 35. Rxb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
Rxb4 36. Nxb4 Rxb4 {The point is} (36... Rxb7 {equal.}) 37. Rc8+ Kg7 38. b8=Q)
35. Kf1 {The b-pawn cannot be pushed while the knight is on c3.} Nd5 (35... Na4
36. Rb3) 36. e4 Nc3 37. f3 {Despite being a pawn up, Black cannot untangle.
The b-pawn is lost.} Rd7 38. Nxb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true][%c_arrow b5b2;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;b2;
persistent;false] White walks into a self-pin.} Na4 39. Rb3 Rdb7 40. Rc8+ Kg7
41. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b3g3;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false] Sacrificing
the knight on b4 for a forced repetition.} Rxb4 42. Rg3+ Kh6 43. Rh3+ Kg7 44.
Rg3+ Kh6 45. Rh3+ Kg7 1/2-1/2
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa, R.."]
[Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Ne5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. cxd3 Nd7 ({The most recent game continued
} 11... Nc6 12. Qb3 Na5 13. Qa4 b6 14. Re1 Qe8 15. Qd1 f6 16. Ng4 Qd7 17. Qf3
Rae8 18. Bd2 c6 19. h4 Nb7 20. Re2 (20. h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] with h6 in mind may have been an improvement.})
20... Bd8 21. Rae1 Rxe2 22. Rxe2 Re8 {Black was fine in Ganguly,S (2630)
-Mastrovasilis,D (2615) Sharjah 2021.}) 12. Qb3 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qd7 14. d4 b6 15.
f4 f5 $146 (15... f6 16. Ba3 (16. a4 {as in the game is less effective here as
Black has play against the white center.} fxe5 17. dxe5 Bc5+ (17... g5 $5 {
[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] immediately works as
well.}) 18. Kh1 Rf7 19. Bd2 Raf8 20. Rae1 Qe6 21. Qd1 g5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;
square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with all three results possible.})
16... Bxa3 17. Qxa3 fxe5 18. fxe5 a5 19. h3 Qe6 20. Qb2 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Rf8 22.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. Qf2+ Ke8 24. Qg3 {The engine will say Black can hold, but White
went on to win in Saric,I (2681)-Rakhmanov,A (2615) Konya 2019.}) 16. a4 $1 {
[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White can afford to
include this move before Ba3 since the center is closed.} Qe6 17. Ba3 Bxa3 18.
Rxa3 c6 19. Ra2 Rfd8 20. h3 {Making luft and potentially preparing g4 in the
future.} Rd7 21. Rb1 {White wants to bring the rook to the left side of the
queen before playing Qd1.} Rad8 22. Qd1 Kf8 23. Kh2 {Black is solid but
passive. White prepares the c4-pawn break.} Ke8 24. Rc2 Rc8 25. Rbc1 g6 26. Qf3
{One more preparatory move and then...} Kd8 $2 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;
Mistake;persistent;true] The king likely does not belong on this side of the
board.} (26... Kf8 {Keeping the king farther from the action may have been
more prudent.} 27. c4 dxc4 28. Rxc4 Rd5 {Black's weakness on c6 is
counteracted by the weakness on d4. Black's king is less safe, however.} 29.
R1c2 Qd7 30. Qc3 Rc7 31. Qb4+ {White has some play against the black king, but
it's not clear this is enough to win.}) 27. c4 dxc4 28. Rxc4 Rd5 29. g4 $2 {
[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Missing an incredible
opportunity to win the game. The game now peters out.} (29. a5 $3 {[%c_effect
a5;square;a5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] This move, which looks like it's
defended against twice, is possible. Once one realizes the pawn cannot be
captured either way, the move makes sense as it weakens the black pawn
structure. A critical line goes} b5 (29... Rxa5 30. Rxc6) (29... bxa5 30. Qa3
Qe7 31. Qa4 {c6 is indefensible.} Qb7 (31... c5 32. Qxa5+) 32. Rxc6 Rxc6 33.
Rxc6 Qb2 34. Rc4 Rb5 35. Qd1 $1 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] with the idea of Qf3, White has a decisive attack.}) (29...
Ke8 {is the engine's favorite move, but from the human perspective} 30. axb6
axb6 31. Ra4 {leaves White with clear play against the black king.}) 30. Rc5 a6
31. Rxd5+ Qxd5 32. Qf2 Rc7 33. Rc5 Qe6 34. Qf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Kc8 {And it looks like there's hardly a
breakthrough, but White does have a way.} (34... Qd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;square;
d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 35. d5) 35. Qc3 Qd7 36. d5 $3 {[%c_effect d5;
square;d5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] This is a deep pawn sacrifice and
depends on White's 39th move working.} cxd5 37. Qd4 {If Black doesn't trade
rooks, d5 falls and White wins. And if} Rxc5 38. Qxc5+ Qc7 39. Qb6 $3 {
[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] An elegant sliding
move. It's the only winning move as well.} b4 (39... Qxb6 40. axb6 d4 41. e6 {
White wins using the concept of the floating square.}) 40. Qxa6+ Kb8 {In many
variations White can win with the two passed pawns without even capturing
Black's.} (40... Kd8 41. Qf6+ Kc8 42. Qf8+ Kd7 43. a6 {White will win with the
separated passed pawns.}) (40... Kd7 41. Qb5+ Kd8 42. a6) 41. Qb5+ Ka8 42. Qxb4
{[%c_arrow e5e8;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false]
White will win with the two passed pawns.}) 29... Rc7 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. Qc3 {
[%c_highlight c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,f4;
keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false] White hits c6, Black
hits f4, and the plans cancel each other out.} Qh6 32. Qf3 (32. Rxc6 Qxf4+ 33.
Kh1 Qe4+ 34. Kh2 Qf4+) 32... Qe6 33. Qc3 Qh6 34. Qf3 1/2-1/2
