[Event "Qatar Masters"] [Site "Lusail, Qatar"] [Date "2023.10.13"] [Round "3"] [Board "1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Muthaiah AL"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2839"] [BlackElo "2470"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Norway"] [BlackTeam "India"] [WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"] [BlackTeamCountry "IND"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The rock-solid Petroff Defense.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3 Nf6 6. d4 g6 7. Bd3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 b6 10. c4 Bb7 11. Nc3 Re8 12. Be3 {Only this move varies from the} (12. Bf4 {Carlsen played as he beat Ivan Saric in the AimChess Rapid Play-In earlier this year.}) 12... Nbd7 13. Re1 h6 14. d5 {Carlsen has won the opening battle, but there's a long road ahead.} Nc5 15. Bc2 c6 16. Qd2 cxd5 17. cxd5 Nfe4 {Black heads for simplifications, which was a probably a good practical choice.} 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. Bxh6 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Bxd5 {Material is level, though the isolated d-pawn and the tricky knight give White reason to hope.} 23. Nd4 $5 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (23. Nh2 {, heading for g4 and potentially f6 or h6, was the computer's choice.}) 23... Qf6 24. Qd2 Rc8 25. a3 a6 26. Re3 Kg7 27. Ne2 Bc4 28. Ng3 d5 29. b3 Bb5 30. a4 Bd7 31. Ne2 Be6 32. Nd4 a5 33. Kh2 Qf4+ 34. g3 Qf6 35. Kg2 Bd7 36. g4 Re8 37. Rxe8 Bxe8 38. Qe3 Bd7 39. Nf3 Bc6 $6 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] The glimmer of a chance Carlsen needed $1} (39... Qd6 $1 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and the game is close to level. Nakamura noted} 40. Qd4+ f6 41. g5 {looks dangerous, but} Qe6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] , targeting h3, holds the balance.}) 40. g5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qd6 41. Qxb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Risky, but it works $1} d4 42. Kf1 {Absolutely the only move, but a good one.} Kg8 43. Qxd4 (43. Nxd4 {Nakamura explained this wasn't an option due to} Bg2+ $1 {[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 44. Kxg2 Qxb6 {and \"we almost certainly would have a rampage and more angry tweets $1\"}) 43... Qe6 $2 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The losing move. After} (43... Qe7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Carlsen would still have work to do.}) 44. Ne5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxh3+ 45. Ke1 Qh1+ 46. Kd2 Bf3 47. Nd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qd1+ 48. Ke3 Qxb3+ 49. Kf4 {Material is level, but the black bishop, and the threat of checkmate, are problems that can't be solved.} Bc6 50. Nf6+ {The countdown to mate has begun.} Kg7 51. Nh5+ Kf8 {To avoid mate-in-1.} 52. Qd6+ Kg8 53. Qd8+ {And Muthaiah resigned. The game might have ended} (53. Qd8+ Kh7 54. Nf6+ Kg7 55. Qg8#) 1-0 [Event "Qatar Masters"] [Site "Lusail, Qatar"] [Date "2023.10.13"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Rasulov, Vugar"] [Black "Erigaisi Arjun"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B85"] [WhiteElo "2560"] [BlackElo "2712"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"] [BlackTeam "India"] [WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"] [BlackTeamCountry "IND"] {[%evp 0,80,19,29,40,54,37,36,25,40,29,32,88,88,88,87,70,73,83,61,62,52,48,44,53,21,67,60,66,11,10,-6,10,10,-4,13,21,6,37,32,46,22,0,-9,26,10,-9,-9,-9,-67,-50,-48,-13,-67,-35,-31,-31,-98,-98,-98,-94,-78,-101,-73,-105,-105,-105,-105,-95,-95,-111,-113,-88,-115,-91,-238,-238,-447,-441,-454,-454,-452,-457]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. f4 d6 {The Scheveningen has not been a common guest at the top level of late. Perhaps it's time for a change $2} 10. Qe1 Bd7 11. Qg3 O-O {Arjun does not hesitate and transposes into the main line.} ({With the move order chosen Black might also have opted for} 11... g6) 12. Rae1 b5 13. a3 Rab8 {Played after some thought.} ({Another way to play it was} 13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bc6) 14. Bd3 {Rasulov continues to improve his positon. The white bishop is often ideally positioned on the b1-d3 diagonal.} ({But the principled continuation was} 14. e5 {with the idea to meet} dxe5 {with} (14... Ne8 $5 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 15. fxe5 Nxe5 {And now not the timid} (15... Ne8 $5 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 16. Kh1 ({but the aggressive} 16. Bh6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Ne8 17. Bf4 f6 18. Ne4 {with an interesting attack and full compensation for the pawn for White.}) 16... Rbc8 (16... Bd6 $1 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. Bxb5 Nh5 19. Qe3 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 Nc4 21. Qh4 axb5 {and Black won later in Bindrich,O (2173) -Vernay,C (2442) Caleta 2010}) 14... b4 15. axb4 {[#]} ({Black did not experience any problems in the recent top-GM game after:} 15. Nce2 bxa3 16. bxa3 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Qh3 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxa3 20. Bxa6 Bb4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 21. Rd1 Bc5 22. Bd3 Rb4 {Caruana,F (2786)-Mamedyarov,S (2734) Chess.com INT 2023}) 15... Rxb4 $146 {A logical and strong move. And a novelty.} ({The predecessor saw White apply pressure after:} 15... Nxb4 16. e5 Nh5 17. Qh3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 g6 19. Rc1 Qd8 20. Ne4 Rxb2 21. exd6 Bf6 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Nd5 25. Bd4 {Gazik,I (2435)-Orsag,M (2415) Czechoslovakia 1992}) 16. Nb3 a5 {This pawn might be a weakness or a strength in the Scheveningen. It all depends on whether it threatens to go forward or stands still, waiting to be captured.} 17. Ra1 Rfb8 ({After} 17... Ra8 {White is in time to parry the threat with} 18. Ra3 a4 19. Rfa1) 18. Qf3 (18. Kh1 $5 {[%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 18... g6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A nice maneuver $1 Erigaisi is ready to fianchetto his dark-squared bishop, but his knight might also enjoy the h5-square.} 19. Kh1 {White has to watch out for the central breaks.} ({As in the line} 19. Ra3 d5 20. e5 Nh5) 19... Bf8 20. Bg1 $1 {[%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An important prophylactic move.} ({The immediate attack of the a5-pawn with} 20. Ra3 {is tempting, but it will once again backfire due to} d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 21. e5 ({Or} 21. exd5 exd5 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Qxd5 Be6 {when Black's initiative is too strong.}) 21... Nh5 {with the threat of d5-d4.} ({Or maybe even better, the immediate} 21... d4 22. exf6 dxe3 23. Qxe3 Qd8 24. Ne4 a4 25. Nbc5 Nd4 {when Black once again has more than enough compensation thanks to his full control of the dark squares.})) 20... Bg7 21. Ra3 Bf8 22. Raa1 {After some thought, Rasulov decided to test his opponent's intentions.} Bg7 23. Ra3 e5 $3 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] And Erigaisi chose to play for the win $1 The move in the game is a typical fight for the center, but here it's connected to an interesting positional exchange sacrifice.} 24. Be3 {A concession.} ({To start with} 24. f5 $6 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] is wrong due to} gxf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 25. exf5 a4 26. Nd2 Ne7 {when the black center is ready to roll.}) ({The principled line was} 24. Na2 $1 {[%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] when after} R4b7 25. Ba6 {the rook is trapped. This apparently did not worry the second player as he has} Rb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] winnng the more important of the white bishops, and after} 26. Bxb6 Qxb6 27. Bd3 exf4 28. Qxf4 Ne5 {Black's compensation for the exchnage would have been obvious. Still, this would have been White's best chance.}) 24... a4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Energetic play $1 It is also a small tactic which helps Black establish firm control of the center.} 25. Nd2 ({Naturally not} 25. Rxa4 $2 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Rxa4 26. Nxa4 Nd4) ({Whereas} 25. Nxa4 {would have promised Black the same old dark-squared domination/compensation after} Nd4 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. Rfa1 Ng4) 25... exf4 26. Bxf4 Nd4 27. Qf2 Ne6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The point behind Erigaisi's play. He is once again pressing for full control over the dark squares.} 28. Bh6 $6 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] And after this, Black succeeds.} ({It made sense to keep the bishop alive with either} 28. Bg3 {when} Bc6 29. h3 Nh5 30. Bh2 {still leads to problems after} Be5 ({Or even better, the in-between} 30... Bd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 31. Qe1 Be5)) ({Black would definitely have been more active in case of} 28. Be3 Bc6 29. Qf3 Nc5) 28... Bxh6 29. Qxf6 Bc6 30. Nc4 Bg7 31. Qf2 Nc5 {In comparison to the exchange sacrifice above, Black has all the dark squares now for free.} 32. Qf4 Rd8 {Erigaisi maneuvers, as he knows that his bishops will only get stronger with the time.} ({And if he wishes, Black can even afford to sacrifice a bit of material with} 32... Qe7 $5 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 33. Nxd6 Be5 34. Qxf7+ Qxf7 35. Nxf7 Bg7 {with a clear edge for Black, despite the two-pawn deficit.}) 33. h3 Qe7 34. Na5 Ba8 35. Bc4 Ne6 36. Qd2 Rxb2 37. Nxa4 {A blunder $1} ({The other capture was needed} 37. Rxa4 {when Black can preserve an edge with either} Rc8 $5 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} ({Or} 37... Qg5 $5 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true]})) 37... d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This strike again $1} 38. Rd3 ({Or} 38. Nxb2 Bxb2 ({Or} 38... Qxa3 39. exd5 Bxb2 {with a win.})) 38... dxc4 39. Rxd8+ Nxd8 40. Nxb2 c3 {0-} 0-1 [Event "Qatar Masters"] [Site "Lusail, Qatar"] [Date "2023.10.13"] [Round "3"] [Board "10"] [White "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Black "Baskin, Robert"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D11"] [WhiteElo "2585"] [BlackElo "2451"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Kazakhstan"] [BlackTeam "Germany"] [WhiteTeamCountry "KAZ"] [BlackTeamCountry "GER"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. b3 cxb3 7. axb3 e6 8. Bd3 a5 9. O-O Na6 10. Qxc6+ Bd7 11. Qc2 Nb4 12. Qe2 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Be7 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Bc6 16. Nc3 Nxd5 17. Ne5 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Be4 19. Bb2 f6 $2 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The hook White needs for a withering attack.} (19... O-O $1 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This looks terrifying, with the queen and bishop targeting g7, but all the knight jumps, including} 20. Nc6 {are well met by} Bf6) 20. Nc6 b4 $2 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This tempting inclusion turns out to be the real losing move - the reason is simple: it gives White the c4-square for a check by the queen.} 21. Qc1 Bxc6 22. Qxc6+ Kf8 (22... Kf7 {would be the move, if not for the queen check.}) 23. Rfe1 Rc8 24. Qe6 Bc5 25. Rad1 {This isn't going to end well for Black.} Qe8 26. Qf5 Qc6 27. Re6 {The f-pawn is attacked three times and is about to come crashing down, along with the black position. That sparked desperation...} Bxf2+ 28. Kf1 {Cold. There are no checks, and f6 will fall next move. Black resigned.} (28. Kxf2 Qc2+ 29. Qxc2 Rxc2+ 30. Re2 Rxe2+ 31. Kxe2 {is in any case a winning endgame for White, but why prolong the game $2}) 1-0