[Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.24"] [Round "8"] [White "Esipenko, Andrey"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E04"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2736"] [Annotator "3700"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,72,19,31,14,-14,3,-15,0,-17,-24,-20,-15,-19,-2,-21,-13,-44,11,1,19,0, 25,0,42,31,31,31,45,23,88,-2,58,0,42,44,49,65,117,117,100,85,139,130,36,76,204, 162,186,140,140,136,184,179,199,192,146,162,117,163,180,110,163,162,180,172, 187,173,176,120,102,85,85,120,123]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Nxc4 cxd4 9. Bf4 Nd5 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Bxd6 Nde7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Qb3 Bc8 14. Nc4 e5 15. Rac1 Re8 16. Ba3 Nf5 17. e4 $146 ( 17. Be4 Qc7 18. Qf3 g6 19. g4 Ng7 20. Nd6 Re6 $2 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} (20... Rd8 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Rxc6 Qd7 {would have been relatively better.}) 21. Bxc6 bxc6 {White would have already been winning with Rxc6 in Gelfand,B (2668)-Anand,V (2756) Leon 2022.}) 17... dxe3 18. fxe3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White opens the f-file and controls the d4-square.} (18. Nxe3 $2 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} Nfd4 {would be awful for White.}) 18... h5 19. Rxf5 { This was surely preparation. White sacrifices the exchange, but temporarily.} Bxf5 20. Nd6 Be6 {Best.} 21. Qxb7 Qg5 {Only move.} 22. Rc3 Nd4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Aronian misremembered something here. He thought this was a move in his preparation but quickly realized he had the position wrong.} (22... Ne7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind; persistent;true] Only move.} 23. Nxe8 Rxe8 24. h4 {White wins the piece, but} Qxg3 25. Bxe7 Qe1+ 26. Kh2 f6 {after this move, Black achieves a perpetual check starting with Qxh4.}) 23. exd4 exd4 24. Rd3 {This isn't even the only move, but it wins.} (24. h4 {can be included first too.}) 24... Red8 25. h4 Qg6 26. Qe4 Qxe4 27. Bxe4 Rab8 {Queens are off the board and White has a decisive material advantage.} 28. b3 Rb6 29. Nb7 Re8 30. Nd6 Rd8 31. Nb7 Re8 32. Nc5 Bh3 33. Rxd4 Rf6 34. Rd1 {The engine doesn't like this, but it shouldn't spoil the win.} (34. Bb4 Rf1+ 35. Kh2 Bg4 36. Kg2 Rc1 37. Na4 {Black has no real threats on the white king. Nc3 and possibly Nd5 is on its way.}) (34. Rd2 Rf1+ 35. Kh2 Bg4 36. Kg2 Re1 37. Bd3 {also works. The white king is safe.}) 34... Bf5 35. Bxf5 $2 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This gives Black plenty of activity although White should still be better.} (35. Bb2 $1 { [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the most forcing line.} Bxe4 36. Bxf6 gxf6 37. Rd7 a5 38. Ra7 {White should win with the connected passers on the queenside.}) 35... Rxf5 36. Rd2 Re3 {Surprisingly for spectators, a draw was agreed. Aronian felt it was a rational decision after the game, as White was going to face some counterplay.} (36... Re3 37. Kh2 Rfe5 (37... Rff3 $2 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 38. Bc1 {already wins.} Kh7 39. Rg2 Re5 40. Rc2 Ref5 41. Bf4) 38. Rf2 f6 39. Kg2 Rd5 40. Bb4 g5 {Black does have counterplay here although the engine claims a plus for White.}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.24"] [Round "8"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2690"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. a4 O-O 8. h3 d6 9. Re1 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 $5 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Interesting;persistent; true] This is an old idea that is making a comeback. In the beginning, players weren't afraid of getting their pawns doubled on the e-file. But later, playing Re8 (here or in similar positions) became the most reliable plan, with the idea to capture with the rook on e6. But the old idea is back in vogue and is being played in the most important tournaments.} (10... Re8) 11. Bxe6 fxe6 { To be honest, I think this position will appear to be comfortable for Black for most amateur players, as it's simply easier to play with the black pieces. Black dominates the f-file, can play Nh5-f4, and so on. Unfortunately, life is not easy for those at the top, so White can still pose some problems in elite games.} 12. b4 Ne7 $5 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;persistent; true] An interesting idea, bringing the knight to the kingside.} (12... Qe8 { This position was played in the Candidates Tournament last year.} 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Ra2 Nf4 15. Kh2 Qf7 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 Kh8 {with an equal position in Firouzja-Radjabov, Candidates Tournament Madrid 2022.}) (12... Nh5 {is also very natural.} 13. Ra2 Qf6 14. Nc4 b5 15. Ne3 Bb6 16. Ng4 {White was better in Anand-Carlsen, Stavanger 2017.}) 13. Nf1 Ng6 14. Ra2 {This is a classic prophylactic move in these positions, defending the f2-pawn and preparing to bring the rook into play. In his postgame interview, Keymer didn't seem convinced that this move was the most accurate.} d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square; d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fighting for central control.} 15. Ng3 (15. exd5 Nxd5 {leads to a sharp game, where Black's activity compensates for the doubled pawns. Keymer, evidently, had all this prepared.}) 15... c6 16. a5 { The first new move.} (16. d4 {led to an equal position after} exd4 17. cxd4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 Rf6 20. Rae2 Qd5 21. Qc2 Raf8 {Vodicka-Csiba, ICCF email 2020.}) (16. exd5 cxd5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Qc7 19. d4 Qxc3 20. Rxe6 Qxd4 21. Qxd4 Bxd4 {with an equal endgame.}) 16... Rc8 $1 {[%c_effect c8; square;c8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The start of a nice plan to activate the rook.} 17. c4 (17. d4 {leads to an equal position, similar to the one analyzed a move before.}) 17... Rc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]} 18. exd5 $6 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy; persistent;true] This is a very difficult move to understand, as it improves Black's pawn structure. Of course, So knows this. He must have thought of some tactical reason that didn't work out in the game. The computer isn't as critical of this move, but what the machine can't see is what I call the \"human factor\": This move makes the position much harder for a human to play with White, even if the objective assessment points to equality.} (18. c5 Rcf7 19. Nh2 {with an equal game.}) 18... exd5 19. c5 $6 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5; type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (19. b5 $5 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type; Interesting;persistent;true] this is a computer move that probably didn't cross the mind of both players. The point is} axb5 20. cxb5 cxb5 21. Nxe5 { Now this move is possible.} Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Bd4 23. Ree2 {with a balanced position.}) (19. Rae2 {is also possible:} Rcf7 20. d4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square; d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} e4 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Nd7 23. cxd5 Nxe5 24. Nxe4 cxd5 25. Nc5 {with equality.}) 19... Re7 20. Nf5 (20. h4 $5 { [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] With the idea of playing h4-h5, is a way to complicate the game, although Black is better after} e4 21. dxe4 dxe4 22. Nd4 Bb8) 20... Re6 21. N3d4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4; type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (21. N3h4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] This was the last chance to fight for equality.} Nxh4 22. Nxh4 Rfe8 (22... Bb8 23. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type; GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 23. Rae2 Bb8 24. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An important move. The position is complicated, but I still prefer Black after} e4) (21. Nd6 $6 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type; Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} Ne8 (21... Qe7 {was mentioned by Keymer in the postgame interview and is also good.}) 22. Nxb7 Qd7 23. Nd6 Nxd6 24. cxd6 Ref6 {Black is ready for a decisive exchange sacrifice on f3.}) 21... Ree8 22. Nb3 Qd7 23. Nd6 Re6 24. Rae2 Ne8 $1 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;GreatFind; persistent;true] It's necessary to remove the intruding knight.} (24... Bb8 $6 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 25. f4 $1 { [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 25. Nxe8 Qxe8 26. g3 Bb8 {Black has an overwhelming advantage. On the board, we have a textbook example of everything that could go wrong for White: A bad pawn structure with no breaks in the queenside. A knight out of play. A bad bishop. An unsafe king. Given the circumstances, it's almost a miracle that the game lasted as long as it did. Keymer could have been more direct in developing the attack, but he didn't lose control of the game.} 27. Re3 Qf7 28. Rf1 Rf6 29. Re2 Nh4 (29... e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is overwhelming:} 30. dxe4 Bxg3 $1 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with a decisive attack.}) 30. Nd2 Qg6 (30... Nf3+ 31. Nxf3 Rxf3 {Despite the exchange of knights, the position is still a massacre for Black.}) 31. Re3 Nf5 (31... e4 $5 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 32. dxe4 Bf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 33. Ra3 dxe4 {With many threats, especially that of a fatal break with e4-e3.}) 32. Rf3 Re6 (32... Nd4 33. Re3 (33. Rxf6 Rxf6 {The d3-pawn is doomed.}) 33... h5 $5 { [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Reinforcing the attack with h5-h4.}) 33. Re1 Rfe8 34. Nf1 e4 35. dxe4 dxe4 36. Ra3 Nh4 37. Nh2 e3 $1 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 38. Raxe3 Bxg3 {This is the point of the previous move.} 39. Ng4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only move to keep fighting.} (39. fxg3 $2 { [%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Rxe3 40. Rxe3 Rxe3 41. Bxe3 Qxg3+ $19) 39... Rxe3 40. Rxe3 (40. Bxe3 Qe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4; type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 40... Rxe3 41. Nxe3 Bf4+ 42. Qg4 (42. Kf1 { is a better try.}) 42... Nf3+ (42... Qe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] is more precise. The knight is coming to f3, and if White captures it, then:} 43. Qxh4 Bh2+ {wins the queen.}) 43. Kg2 Qxg4+ 44. hxg4 Ne1+ 45. Kf1 Nd3 {White managed to avoid mate, but the weakness of the pawns on the queenside is felt.} 46. Bd2 Ne5 47. Ke2 (47. Nc4 Bxd2 48. Nxd2 Nxg4 {The knight endgame is easily winning.}) 47... Bxe3 48. Kxe3 Nxg4+ 49. Kf4 (49. Kf3 h5 $19) 49... Nxf2 50. Ke5 h5 0-1 [Event "WR Chess Masters 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.24"] [Round "8"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2780"] [BlackElo "2734"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Be7 11. f4 Bc6 12. f5 Qa5 13. Bc4 exf5 14. Rhf1 fxe4 15. Nxe4 $146 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Rxf6 gxf6 17. Qxf6 $6 {[%c_effect f6; square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (17. Nd5 {had to be played.}) 17... Qe5 18. Qxf7+ Kd8 19. Nd5 Rc8 20. Nf4 Bd7 21. Be6 Rc7 22. Rxd6 Qxd6 23. Qf6+ Qe7 24. Qxh8+ Qe8 25. Qe5 Rc6 (25... e3 $3 {[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type; Brilliant;persistent;true] was the only move for an advantage.} 26. Qxe3 $2 { [%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Now the queen cannot give a check on b8 as in the game.} (26. Nd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type; GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rc6 27. Qg5+ (27. Qb8+ $4 {[%c_effect b8;square;b8; type;Blunder;persistent;true] doesn't work.} Rc8 28. Qe5 {The bishop hangs.} Qxe6) 27... Kc8 28. Ne7+ Qxe7 29. Qxe7 Rxe6 30. Qxh7 e2 31. Qh8+ Re8 32. Qc3+ Bc6 33. Qe1 Bxg2 {and although it's not clear if this is an objective win, Black is certainly the one in charge.}) 26... Bxe6 27. Qxe6 Rd7) 26. Qb8+ Rc8 27. Qe5 Rc6 28. Qb8+ Rc8 29. Qe5 {½-½ (29) Lagarde,M (2631)-Muradli,M (2523) Biel 2022}) 15... Bxe4 $2 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent; true] A natural enough choice, but Black had just one move to stay in the game. } (15... Nxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the correct move, but it is very difficult to play without being familiar with the responses to White's various threats.} 16. Qxg7 (16. Bxf7+ Kd7 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Bg6 Qe5 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rfe1 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 Kd7) 16... O-O-O 17. Bxe7 Nd2+ 18. Rxd2 Qxd2 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 {Deep engine analysis (depth 50) says this is equal.}) 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxe4+ Qe5 18. Qxb7 O-O 19. Bxf7+ $6 {[%c_effect f7; square;f7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] As the game continuation shows, this gives Black counterplay.} (19. Rfe1 $1 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] is the top engine recommendation. It's not clear if this is \"scientifically\" winning in all variations, but White has very high chances.} Qh5 20. Bb3 a5 21. a4 (21. Rxd6 $2 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} a4 22. Qd5 Qxh2 23. Bc4 Rab8 {with serious counterplay.}) 21... Rab8 22. Qc6 Qxh2 23. Rxd6 Qf4 24. Re4 Qf2 25. Qc4 g6 26. Ka2 {White has an extremely safe position for his king, but one must ask: even if Black is passive, is this really losing $2} Rb4 {This is not the engine's favorite move, but it's natural enough.} 27. Qd5 Rxe4 {The natural trade.} ( 27... Rbb8 28. g4 Rbd8 29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Qc4 Qa7 31. Re5 Bb6 {and, similar to the main line, White will put pressure on f7 and g5.}) 28. Qxe4 Bd8 {These moves aren't forced. I am waiting around to see how White wins.} 29. g4 Bf6 30. Qd5 Be7 31. Rd7 {[%c_highlight f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7; persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false] Black is unable to defend f7 and a5. He runs into trouble with the bishop if he tries to defend a5.} Bb4 32. g5 Bc5 33. Rb7 Bb4 34. Qe5 Bd2 35. Rd7 Bb4 36. c3 Bc5 37. Rb7 {And the bishop runs out of squares.} Bb6 38. Bxf7+ $1 { [%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The winning tactic.} Rxf7 39. Qe8+ Kg7 40. Rb8 Rf8 41. Qe5+ Kg8 42. Qe6+ Kg7 43. Rxb6) (19. Rde1 { White doesn't want to use the d-rook. He wants to win the d6-pawn with it.} Qh5 ) 19... Kh8 {[%c_arrow f1e1;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;e1; persistent;false,d1e1;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent; false][%c_highlight e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false]} 20. Rfe1 $2 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The wrong rook.} (20. Rde1 $1 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;GreatFind;keyPressed; undefined;persistent;true] Now the move played in the game doesn't work.} Qd4 { was the move Giri didn't like.} (20... Ra7 $2 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} 21. Qb3 Qxb2+ $2 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type; Mistake;persistent;true]} 22. Qxb2 Bxb2 23. Kxb2 Raxf7 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Re8+ { This is why the rook stays on the e-file.}) 21. Re4 Qd2 {Giri didn't think this was so clear.} 22. Bb3 Qxg2 23. Rfe1 {The engine says this is better for White, but it's hard to judge this from far away. The opposite-colored bishops give Black plenty of chances.}) 20... Ra7 $1 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type; GreatFind;persistent;true] Only move. Maybe Giri missed this.} ({Giri saw} 20... Rfb8 21. Qxb8+ Rxb8 22. Rxe5 Bxe5 23. Bb3 Bxh2 {\"He restores material balance but he has a horrible, horrible endgame.\" (Giri)}) 21. Qb3 Qxb2+ $1 { [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 22. Qxb2 Bxb2 23. Kxb2 Raxf7 {White is a pawn up in the rook endgame, which is what Giri was counting on from far away, but it's not enough to win the game.} 24. Rxd6 Rf2 25. Rxa6 Rxg2 26. h3 Rb8+ 27. Kc1 h5 28. Rae6 Kh7 29. R6e2 Rxe2 30. Rxe2 g5 31. c4 Rc8 32. Rc2 Kg6 33. Kd2 Kf5 34. Ke3 g4 35. hxg4+ hxg4 36. Kd4 g3 37. c5 Rg8 38. Rg2 Ke6 39. Kc4 Kd7 40. Kb5 Kc7 41. a4 Rb8+ 42. Kc4 Rg8 43. Kd5 Rg5+ 44. Ke4 1/2-1/2