[Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "2549"] [BlackElo "2682"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,74,14,25,72,83,84,56,76,76,33,50,53,46,36,18,46,67,44,16,18,-24,0,-19,15,3,5,-18,-35,-26,-33,-33,-29,-19,-21,-34,-31,-28,2,8,-18,-29,-25,-34,-4,-4,-1,6,23,7,15,-6,-30,-29,-25,-58,-58,-31,-32,-49,-70,-82,-82,-89,0,-43,0,-81,12,-8,35,-27,0,-15,0,-29993,-29994]} 1. d4 g6 {Not a good opening, but a good choice for a must-win game if one is afraid that the opponent is eager to make a draw.} 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 Nc6 6. h3 (6. e5 dxe5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. e6 {looks better than it is.} Bxe6 $1 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Ng5 Nd4 $1 11. Qxg4 Nxc2+ 12. Ke2 Qd7 $1 $11 {the position is complicated but triple-zero equal.}) 6... O-O 7. O-O Nh5 (7... e5 {is usual.}) 8. Rd1 $146 e5 {Obligatory here.} 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Bxe5 $11 {The position is equal, but not boring enough for White to be semi-guaranteed of making a draw.} 11. Nc3 c6 ({The "subtle"} 11... Qh4 {also looks good.}) 12. Bh6 Re8 (12... b5 $1 13. Bb3 a5 $1 14. Bxf8 (14. a3 Re8 $11 {/?}) 14... Qxf8 15. a3 Qe7 16. Qf3 Nf4 $15 {Black has all the fun here; White's pieces have nothing to do.}) 13. Qf3 Qf6 14. Qxf6 Nxf6 15. Bd3 b5 16. Rab1 Nd7 17. f4 (17. Be3 $142) 17... Bd4+ (17... Bh8 $142) 18. Kh2 Bb6 19. b4 a5 20. a3 (20. a4 $1 $11) 20... Bc7 21. Kh1 Nf6 22. Bg5 Nd7 23. e5 d5 $6 24. Nxd5 $6 {White is right to sac a piece, but she chose the wrong one.} (24. Bxb5 $1 cxb5 25. Nxd5 Ra7 $1 (25... Bd8 26. Bxd8 Rxd8 27. Nc7 Rb8 28. bxa5 Rb7 29. Nxb5 Rb8 $14) 26. Ne7+ Rxe7 27. Bxe7 axb4 28. axb4 $14) 24... cxd5 25. Bxb5 axb4 26. axb4 Re6 27. Rxd5 (27. c4 $1) 27... Nf8 $17 28. c4 Rb6 $1 29. Rbd1 Bb7 $6 (29... Bf5 $17) 30. R5d2 Ne6 31. Bh6 $2 (31. Be7 $15) 31... g5 $1 32. f5 Nd4 $2 {A big mistake that goes unpunished.} (32... Nf4 33. Bxg5 Bxe5 $17 {/-+}) 33. f6 $2 (33. e6 $1 Nxf5 34. exf7+ Kxf7 35. Rd7+ Kg6 36. Rxc7 Kxh6 37. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 38. Bc6 Rab8 39. Bxb7 Rxb7 40. b5 $11) (33. Rxd4 Rxh6 34. f6 $1 Rxh3+ 35. Kg1 Rg3 36. Rd7 $1 Rxg2+ 37. Kf1 {is equal, surprisingly, thanks to Black's problems on the 7th and 8th ranks.}) 33... Bxe5 $19 34. Bxg5 Re6 35. Rxd4 Bxd4 36. Rxd4 Re2 37. c5 $4 {It was lost in any case, but now it's mate.} Ra1+ (37... Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Rxg2#) 0-1 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Donchenko, Alexander"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E60"] [WhiteElo "2643"] [BlackElo "2749"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] 1. d4 d6 {A bit like Van Foreest in the last round, Giri invites *his* lower-rated opponent to go for a Pirc or Modern. White declines the invitation.} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 Bf5 $5 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Nd8 (8... Nb8 {also makes sense, aiming to reroute the knight to c5.}) 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Bd2 (12. Qe3 {has been the most popular move in this rare position, but all the games are fairly old.} f5 $11) 12... b6 $146 13. Bc3 e5 14. dxe6 Nxe6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qc3+ Kg8 17. Nd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 (18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Kxg2 $11) 18... Ng5 $5 {Not better than taking on d4, but more ambitious.} 19. h4 (19. f3 Qh3+ 20. Kh1 Rae8 21. Qd2 $11 {followed by Nb5-c3 should at least keep White safe.}) 19... Qh3+ 20. Kg1 Ne4 21. Qf3 Rae8 22. Rad1 a6 23. Nc2 (23. Qg2) 23... Qe6 24. Ne3 c6 {Weakening the d-pawn, of course, but allowing Nd5 is unattractive.} 25. Qf4 f5 26. Kg2 (26. Ng2 {looks funny, but has a couple of good ideas. One is to prepare f3 without worrying about ...Nxg3 (Qxg3 Qxe3+), another is to (possibly) swing the knight to f4.}) 26... Rf7 27. f3 Nf6 (27... Nxg3 $2 28. Kxg3 $1 Qxe3 29. Qxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxd6 $16) 28. Nf1 (28. Rd3 $142 $11) 28... d5 29. b3 Rd7 (29... Rfe7 $142) 30. Rd3 (30. cxd5 $142 $11) 30... Qf7 (30... dxc4 $142 31. Rxd7 Nxd7 32. bxc4 Nc5 $15) 31. Qd2 (31. Re3 $1 $11) 31... Rde7 32. cxd5 Nxd5 $15 33. Rd4 Re5 (33... Qf6 $142) 34. e4 $1 $11 a5 {The position may be equal, but it's easier for things to go wrong for White than for Black. White's e-pawn is pinned and under pressure, and Black's pieces aren't so far from White's king. It would not be surprising if White went astray, especially close to the time control, and he does.} 35. Qd3 $2 (35. a4 $142 $11) 35... c5 $17 36. f4 $2 (36. Rc4 $142 Nb4 37. Qd2 a4 $17) (36. Rxd5 $4 Rxd5 37. exd5 Rxe1 $19) 36... cxd4 $1 37. fxe5 Nb4 $19 {The d-pawn is immune from capture, White's e-pawns are weak and his king is a bit exposed. All together, it's probably enough for Black to have a winning advantage.} 38. Qb5 (38. Qxd4 $4 Nc2 $19) 38... Rc8 $2 (38... Rf8 $1 {was better, making a beeline for White's king. Giri will correct his error just after the time control.}) 39. Kg1 $6 (39. exf5 Qxf5 40. Rd1 $17 {is still tenable, though it looks scary.}) 39... f4 40. gxf4 $2 (40. Qxb6 $1 Nd3 $1 41. Rd1 Nxe5 42. gxf4 Rf8 $1 (42... Qxf4 $4 43. Qe6+ $18) 43. f5 Nf3+ $1 44. Kf2 gxf5 $1 45. e5 Qd5 $1 $19) 40... Qxf4 $19 {White's position is hopeless, and the game lasts only one more move.} 41. Qd7 $2 (41. Re2 {was best, to bring the rook to f2 or g2 as circumstances warrant.}) 41... Rf8 (41... Rf8 42. Qxd4 Nd3 $1 43. Qxd3 (43. Rb1 Qg4+ 44. Kh2 Nf2 $19 {Threatening ...Qxh4+ followed by ...Qh1+ and ...Qh3# (or vice-versa for the last two moves). White has no good answer.}) 43... Qf2+ 44. Kh1 Qxe1 $19) 0-1 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2742"] [BlackElo "2769"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,110,14,12,31,18,18,34,26,34,26,2,-21,22,44,55,66,59,42,27,60,-6,25,25,19,24,34,26,49,38,9,21,21,21,7,20,25,2,-4,-4,-1,-22,-28,-22,0,-15,-21,-31,-15,-21,-30,-30,-19,-17,-19,-37,-28,-38,-43,-48,-56,-63,-71,-69,-41,-51,-31,-54,-44,-65,-41,-61,-52,-54,-51,-50,-50,-35,-32,-32,-22,-23,-27,-23,-37,-26,-19,-46,-48,-21,-30,-29,-24,-24,-13,-15,-13,-11,-25,-30,-30,-30,-24,-24,-22,-42,-26,-42,0,-42,-7,-37,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qc2 Na6 11. a3 Bg6 12. Be3 ({In August, the same players contested the same line, with the same result:} 12. c5 Bb8 13. Nc3 f5 14. Ne2 Nc7 15. Nf4 Be8 16. Ne5 g5 17. Ne2 Ne6 18. f3 Qf6 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Ng4 Qg6 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Qxe4 dxe4 23. Nc3 Nxd4 24. Nxe4 Nc2 25. Bd2 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 h5 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Nxg5 Kg6 29. Re7 Bf4 30. Re6+ Kxg5 31. g3 Bg6 32. Bxf4+ Rxf4 33. gxf4+ Kxh6 34. f5 Rg8 35. Kf2 Kg5 36. fxg6 Rxg6 37. Re7 Rf6+ 38. Kg2 Rf5 39. b4 b6 40. cxb6 axb6 41. Re6 Rd5 42. Rxc6 Rd2+ 43. Kg1 Rd1+ 44. Kf2 Rd2+ 45. Kf1 Ra2 46. Rxb6 Rxa3 47. Re6 Rb3 48. Re4 h4 49. Kg2 Rb2+ 50. Kh3 Rb3+ 51. Kg2 Rb2+ 52. Kh3 {½-½ Vidit,S (2719)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2779) FIDE World Cup Baku 2023 (5.3)}) 12... Rc8 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 $146 (14. bxc3 dxc4 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qa4 Nc7 17. Qxc4 Nd5 18. Qb3 b5 19. a4 a5 20. c4 bxc4 21. Qxc4 Nxe3 22. Rxe3 c5 23. d5 Rb8 24. g3 Rb4 25. Qc2 Qc7 26. Re4 Qd7 27. Ne5 Qf5 28. Nc4 Be5 29. g4 Qf3 30. Ra3 Rxc4 31. Rxf3 Bxh2+ 32. Kxh2 {½-½ Kosic,B (2425)-Malchev,E (2437) GER M/07-B email ICCF email 2018}) 14... Bxd3 15. Qxd3 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Nc7 $11 {The opening has been a complete success for Black (well, not a *complete* success in an unqualified sense - he isn't winning - but within the context of what one hopes for in the typical Petroff, it is). He is in no danger, has the better structure and the better bishop. His winning chances are minimal, but his losing chances are nonexistent (barring a blunder). As against Ju Wenjun in round 2, Nepo gives it the old college try, but Vidit defends well, avoids any serious trouble, and makes a draw.} 17. Qb3 b6 18. Rac1 Nd5 19. Bd2 Re8 20. Qa4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 a5 22. h3 f6 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. h4 g6 25. Qc2 Kg7 26. Re1 Re8 27. Rxe8 Qxe8 28. Kf1 Bc7 29. a4 Qe6 30. Qd3 h5 31. Qc2 Kf7 32. b3 Bd8 33. Qc4 Be7 34. Qd3 Bd6 35. g3 Ne7 36. Qc4 Qd5 37. Ne1 Ke8 38. Qxd5 Nxd5 $15 {In a club game, Black would have excellent winning chances and should play this position for another 100 moves. In a professional game, facing good defense, 17 moves proved long enough for Nepo to be satisfied that there were no real winning chances.} 39. Ke2 Kf7 40. Ng2 Ke6 41. Kf3 Bc7 42. Ke4 Bd8 43. Ne1 Be7 44. Nd3 Bd6 45. Nb2 Ba3 46. Nc4 Be7 47. Kf3 Kf5 48. Ne3+ Ke6 49. Nc4 Bd8 50. Ke4 f5+ 51. Kf3 Bf6 52. Be3 Kd7 53. Ke2 Ke6 54. Kf3 Kd7 55. Ke2 Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Warmerdam, Max"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E15"] [WhiteElo "2625"] [BlackElo "2759"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,60,14,30,30,-4,1,-2,36,14,12,-15,14,3,23,7,19,14,38,21,13,10,69,51,48,46,23,40,73,25,26,22,22,22,38,23,53,53,60,56,56,18,98,89,93,67,83,90,90,90,77,60,112,66,106,96,71,56,60,29,28,26,28]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Bd2 {Rare here, but very common in the similar positions arising after 4...Bb7 (everything is the same except that White's queen is back on d1).} f5 10. Ne5 Qc8 $6 (10... Nxc3 $142 11. Bxc3 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 d6 13. Nf3 Qd7 14. Qxd7 Nxd7 $11) 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Bc3 $6 (13. c5 $1 $14 bxc5 (13... Qa6 $142) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Rac1 d6 16. Qxe4 $1 Nd7 17. Nc6 $14 {/? gives White a pleasant edge.}) 13... c5 (13... d6 $142 14. Nc6 Bf6 15. Nxb8 Rxb8 $11) 14. dxc5 (14. Qc2 $14) 14... bxc5 15. Rad1 (15. f3 $14) 15... d6 $11 16. Ng4 Nd7 (16... Qc6 $11) (16... Nc6 $11) 17. f3 (17. f4 $1 $14) 17... Nb6 18. Qc2 d5 $11 19. fxe4 (19. b3 {leads to interesting play. Here's a sample, unforced variation:} d4 20. Ba1 exf3 21. e3 $1 dxe3 22. Nxe3 Qc6 23. Ng4 Nd7 24. Qc3 e5 25. Rd3 a5 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Qxe5 Bf6 28. Qd5+ Qxd5 29. cxd5 Bxa1 30. Rxa1 a4 $11) 19... Nxc4 20. e3 Nxe3 $5 (20... Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Nd6 $11) 21. Nxe3 d4 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. Bd2 $6 (23. Nc4 dxc3 24. Qxc3 $14 {looks more promising, provided that Black's bishop can't reach d4. (And it shouldn't: ...g6 and ...Bg7 will be met by e5.)}) 23... dxe3 24. Bxe3 Qc6 25. b3 a5 26. Rd4 Qb5 27. Rc4 Rc8 28. Kg2 Be7 29. a3 Rf8 30. Bf2 (30. Bxc5 $4 Bxc5 $19 31. Rxc5 $2 Qf1#) 30... h6 {White can't make progress on Black's c-pawn because of the ...Qf1+ issue (a fatal problem even if White plays h4), and there's nothing else of significance to do.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2725"] [BlackElo "2780"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 {Someday, this line will find its way to the dustbin of history. Not yet, alas.} d6 6. a4 {Only the sixth most common choice, which still means it has been played more than a thousand times.} a5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 (8... g5 {is the most popular move.}) 9. Na3 Qe7 $146 10. Nb5 Bb6 11. Qb3 g5 12. Bg3 O-O 13. O-O-O $11 {An uncharacteristically exciting c3/d3 Giuoco! More of these, please.} Nh5 14. d4 (14. Rdf1 {is a good alternative, protecting the f-pawn (in case of ...Nxg3 hxg3) keeping the central structure undetermined for now.}) 14... exd4 (14... Kg7 $11) 15. Nbxd4 (15. Nfxd4 $142) 15... g4 16. Nh4 (16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Qc2 Rab8 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Qg5+ 21. Kb1 $11) 16... Bxd4 $1 17. cxd4 Qxe4 {Bold! White has full compensation for the pawn, but not (yet) more.} 18. Rhe1 Qh7 19. Rd2 $2 {This is just too slow. Black now manages to finish his development and then take over the initiative.} (19. Bd3 $1 Qg7 20. Ng6 $1 Nxg3 (20... Rd8 21. Bh4 Bd7 $8 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 $44) 21. Nxf8 $8 Kxf8 22. fxg3 Qg5+ 23. Kb1 Nxd4 24. Qc3 c5 25. Bc4 $11 {is equal, though full of imbalances.}) 19... Bd7 $1 $17 20. Bd3 (20. Qxb7 $2 Rfe8 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Qb3 Re1+ 23. Rd1 Nxd4 24. Bxf7+ Kf8 $19) 20... Qg7 21. Bf5 Bxf5 22. Nxf5 Qg5 23. Qb5 Rfe8 24. Re3 $2 (24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Ne3 $17) 24... Ng7 $19 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. d5 Rxe3 27. fxe3 Nb4 28. Qxb7 Re8 29. Bf4 Qf5 30. Qb5 {To prevent ...Nd3+.} Na2+ 31. Kd1 Qb1+ 32. Ke2 Qg1 $3 {Black had other good 30th moves, but here this is the only move to keep a winning advantage.} 33. Kd3 (33. Qxe8 Nc1# {is the lovely point.}) 33... Nb4+ 34. Kd4 Qe1 35. Rd3 Qe2 $1 36. Rc3 Qd2+ 37. Kc4 Re4+ {The uncaptured rook strikes the final blow. White will be mated in several moves.} (37... Re4+ 38. Kb3 Qd1+ 39. Ka3 Qa1+ 40. Kb3 Qa2#) 0-1 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.6"] [White "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Black "Wei, Yi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B95"] [WhiteElo "2743"] [BlackElo "2740"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,87,14,12,53,53,69,70,49,40,29,32,57,77,90,21,35,-8,7,-18,-15,-62,-67,-67,-47,-53,-37,-51,-52,-28,17,17,13,8,17,2,8,8,29,9,26,-11,42,33,33,33,33,27,45,27,27,27,37,0,0,0,0,-22,-18,-35,-35,-46,-48,-58,-59,-60,15,15,9,-13,-13,-6,-14,-52,-35,-29,-29,-50,-50,-50,-30,-37,-33,-33,-20,-20,-4,-6,-4,-4]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qe2 $5 Be7 8. h4 h6 9. Bd2 e5 ({Perhaps it's better to first play} 9... b5 {, and only after} 10. a3 {continue} e5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Nc6 {, the point being that} 13. O-O-O $6 {is questionable due to} b4 $15 {/?.}) 10. Nf5 Bxf5 11. exf5 Nc6 12. O-O-O $146 Qc8 (12... d5 $142) 13. g3 (13. Be3 $14 {/? is better, to prevent ...Nd4.}) 13... Nd4 14. Qd3 Qxf5 15. Qxf5 Nxf5 16. Bg2 (16. Bh3 g6 17. h5 $1 $11 {/? is good for a minute edge.}) 16... Rb8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Nd4 (18... h5 $1 $11) 19. Be3 $14 Nc6 20. g4 (20. f4 $142) (20. h5 $142) 20... Rf8 21. g5 hxg5 22. hxg5 Kd7 23. Rh7 {White regains the sacrificed pawn, but Black's nice knight maneuver neutralizes White's initiative.} Nd8 $1 24. Rxg7 Ne6 25. Rh7 (25. Bxe6+ Kxe6 26. Rh1 Rh8 $11) 25... Nxg5 26. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 27. Kb1 {White's better bishop gives him enough for the pawn, but not more. The game is headed for a draw.} Ke7 28. Rd3 Kf6 29. Rg3 b5 30. c3 Rbc8 31. Rxf7+ Rxf7 32. Bxf7 e4 33. Bd5 Re8 34. b4 Re7 35. Kc2 Kf5 36. Kd1 Bh4 37. Rg8 Bxf2 38. Rf8+ Ke5 39. Bxe4 Bd4 40. cxd4+ Kxe4 41. Ra8 Kxd4 42. Rxa6 d5 43. a4 bxa4 44. Rxa4 1/2-1/2 [Event "86th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2024.01.15"] [Round "3.7"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A22"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2727"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2024.01.13"] {[%evp 0,68,14,-19,-19,-21,-28,-16,8,8,34,-11,12,-3,-2,-2,24,24,48,32,66,42,72,67,51,55,44,-14,-14,-31,4,-115,40,-31,-30,-23,-28,182,234,0,0,0,18,-55,-47,-55,-55,-83,-49,-150,-150,-150,-132,-132,-156,-184,-172,-172,-169,-276,-245,-329,-325,-365,-355,-435,-415,-415,-415,-539,-539]} 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 $5 (3... Nc6 {is the old standard.}) 4. Ng5 c6 5. Qa4 {An interesting secondary move, pinning Black's c6-pawn in case of ...d5 cxd5.} (5. Ngxe4 {is usual, when Black's results have been excellent after} Nxe4 6. Nxe4 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Ng3 h5 9. e3 h4 10. Ne2 Nc6 11. d4 Qf6 {, even if Stockfish claims that White's extra pawn slightly outweighs Black's compensation.}) 5... Qe7 (5... b5 {is the alternative, unpinning the c6-pawn.} 6. cxb5 d5 7. bxc6 Qb6 8. c7+ Nc6 9. e3 Qxc7 10. b4 $1 $146 (10. Qxc6+ Qxc6 11. Bb5 Qxb5 12. Nxb5 Rb8 $11 {½-½ Aloma Vidal,R (2443)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2510) Pobla de Lillet op 32nd La Pobla de Lillet 2023 (6) /?}) 10... Bxb4 11. Bb5 Bxc3 12. Bxc6+ Bd7 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Rb1 O-O $1 15. dxc3 Nc5 16. Qc2 Nd3+ 17. Kf1 h6 18. Nh3 Qc4 19. Kg1 Rab8 $14 {Black has tons of compensation for the piece, but it is a full piece. The engine claims White is a little better, but it would be unwise to play either side of this without analyzing this more deeply.}) 6. f3 {Almost a novelty.} (6. Qc2 {is usual, when play may continue} b5 7. cxb5 d5 8. e3 $1 Qe5 $1 9. f4 Qc7 10. b3 $1 $14) 6... exf3 7. Nxf3 g6 $146 (7... d6 8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 g6 10. d3 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. Bd2 Nc5 14. Qc2 Bg4 15. Rae1 Rae8 16. b4 Ne6 17. e3 Ng5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. b5 Bd7 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Bb4 c5 22. Bd2 b6 23. Nc3 f5 24. Nd5 Qd8 25. e4 Nf6 26. Bg5 fxe4 27. dxe4 h6 28. Nxf6+ Bxf6 29. Bxh6 Bd4+ 30. Kh1 Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 Qe7 32. e5 Kh7 33. exd6 Qxd6 34. Bf4 Qe7 35. Bc6 Bf5 36. Qg2 Rc8 37. h4 Rxc6 38. bxc6 Be4 39. c7 Bxg2+ 40. Kxg2 Qe2+ {0-1 Isajevsky,A (2404)-Harshavardhan,G (2413) Speed Chess Q2 Sw Chess.com INT blitz 2023 (6)}) 8. d4 Bg7 9. c5 $6 {ends up reaching the same position as in the 9.Bf4 line, but gives Black a chance to improve.} (9. Bf4 $142 O-O 10. c5 $14) 9... O-O $6 (9... b6 $1 10. cxb6 (10. Bf4 $1 bxc5 11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4+ Kf8 14. Rc1 d5 $1 15. Rxc5 dxe4 16. Ne5 Na6 $1 17. Rc1 (17. Rxc6 $6 g5 $1 18. Bg3 e3 $1 $17) 17... g5 18. Bg3 e3 19. h4 g4 20. Nc4 $1 Kg8 21. Nxe3 Bxb2 22. Rxc6 h5 $11 {/?}) 10... d5 $1 $15) 10. Bf4 $14 Na6 11. Bd6 Qe3 $2 (11... Qe6 $1 12. Bxf8 Bxf8 13. Qb3 $1 Qe7 14. e4 b6 $1 15. cxb6 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 17. Kd1 axb6 18. Qxf7+ Kxf7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 20. Nxe4 Nc7 $11 {/? Weirdly, Black has just about full compensation for the exchange, even without having a pawn thrown into the bargain. His structure is healthy, he has the bishop pair, and d4 is weak. Together, it's enough.}) 12. Nd1 $16 Qe6 13. Nf2 $2 (13. e3 $1 $16 {was best, stabilizing the center and preparing to finish developing.}) 13... Re8 $11 {Now White has neither an extra exchange nor the chance to easily develop his kingside. Now Black will start developing his initiative.} 14. h4 $1 b6 15. Ng5 (15. h5 $1) 15... Qf5 $4 {Helping White finish his development.} (15... Qd5 $1 $17) 16. g4 $1 $18 Qd5 (16... Nxg4 17. Nxg4 Qxg4 18. Qb3 Qf5 19. O-O-O $18 {followed by e4, and attack.}) 17. O-O-O $1 bxc5 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Qc2 $2 {White underestimates Black's attack after 19...Qxa2.} (19. Qa3 Qc4+ 20. Kb1 $18) 19... Qxa2 $1 $19 {The knight, yes, but Black is going to kill White on b2 and thereabouts.} 20. Bxc5 Rb8 $6 (20... Nd5 $1 21. Rh3 Rb8 22. b4 (22. b3 Qa5 $1 23. Bd6 Ne3 $1 24. Rxe3 Rxe3 25. Rd3 (25. Bxb8 $2 Rc3 $19) 25... Rxd3 26. Nxd3 Rb6 27. Qc4 {Otherwise Black resumes the attack.} Qd5 28. Qxd5 cxd5 29. Bc5 Rxb3 $19) 22... Nxb4 23. Bxb4 Qa1+ $1 24. Kd2 Qd4+ 25. Ke1 Qxb4+ 26. Qd2 Qa4 $19) 21. b4 $1 Qa3+ 22. Kd2 Nd5 23. Rh3 Re3 $1 {A beautiful move, threatening the crushing ...Bc3+.} 24. Nfe4 $1 Rxh3 25. Bxh3 h6 26. Nf3 $2 (26. Nxf7 $1 {was White's last chance to stay alive.} Qxh3 $1 27. Nfd6 Ba6 28. Qa2 $1 Bxe2 $1 29. Kxe2 Qxg4+ 30. Ke1 Qxh4+ 31. Qf2 Qe7 32. Kd2 Rf8 $17 {White's life isn't easy, but his powerful cluster of minor pieces in the center makes it tough for Black to break through.}) 26... Nxb4 $19 27. Qc1 Qa5 $1 28. Ke3 d5 (28... Nd5+ {also wins.}) 29. Ned2 h5 (29... Bb2 $1) 30. Kf2 hxg4 31. Nb3 Qc7 32. Qd2 gxf3 33. Bxc8 fxe2 34. Kxe2 Qxc8 (34... Qxc8 35. Bxb4 Qg4+ {regains the piece, leaving Black with four extra pawns along with his other overwhelming advantages.}) 0-1