[Event "Tata Steel Chess Masters 2023"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gukesh, D..."]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R..."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Rafael"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]
1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. a3 {This is the second
most popular move in this well-known variant of the English Opening. 6.g3 is
the most played, but White has several other tries.} Be7 7. e4 O-O 8. Nf3 Qa5
$5 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A modern move,
played several times by elite players. The idea is quite concrete: Black's
queen heads to an exotic location on h5, from where it will support the d7-d5
advance.} 9. Bd2 Qh5 10. Rg1 $5 {[%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Interesting;
persistent;true] An interesting idea that was created in the laboratory of GM
Giri, a player with phenomenal opening preparation. It has been played only
once before, but both players were clearly well prepared.} (10. Be2 d5 $1 {
[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] And Black achieves
equality, as has been proven in several games.}) 10... d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;
square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The critical test.} (10... a6 11. h3
Ne5 $6 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 12. g4 Nxf3+
13. Qxf3 Qc5 14. g5 {White is clearly better: Giri-Nepomniachtchi, Legends of
Chess 2020.}) 11. g4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true]} Nxg4 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nxd5 {Both players got into this position
quickly, evidently relying on their respective computers' analysis.} Bc5 14.
Qe2 $1 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An important
move, defending the f2-pawn by tactical means, as well as setting up long
castling.} f5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The
best move, opening the game and securing a square for the queen on f7.} (14...
Bxf2+ $2 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] loses material
after} 15. Qxf2 Nxf2 16. Nf6+) 15. Nf4 {Gukesh thought for a long time before
playing this move. His preparation was either over or forgotten.} Qf7 16. Rg2
$2 {[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] After this move it
was Praggnanandhaa's time to think for a long time. He clearly didn't expect
this move and there is a reason for this, as the computer shows a decisive
advantage for Black. Both 16.Ng5 and 16.0-0-0 are better moves and lead to
very complex positions that will certainly be deeply analyzed by opening
experts.} (16. Ng5 Qb3 (16... Qe7 17. O-O-O $1 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] with chances for both sides.}) 17. Qc4+ Qxc4 18.
Bxc4+ Kh8 {with a chaotic position, despite the exchange of queens.}) (16.
O-O-O Nd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Qc4 Bxf2 19. Qc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] Threatening 20.Bc4, with complicated play. The
position should be equal with good play by both sides.}) 16... Qe7 $2 {
[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Black misses the winning
continuation.} (16... fxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} 17. Ng5 Qf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] with a decisive advantage in all the lines, for instance:} 18.
Rxg4 (18. Nxe4 Nd4 19. Qc4+ Kh8 20. Nxc5 Qe5+ 21. Kd1 Rxf4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;
square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 22. Nd3 (22. Bxf4 Qxf4 {with a
deadly attack.}) 22... Qh5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] and Black wins.}) 18... Qxg4 19. Qc4+ Kh8 20. Qxc5 Rf5 $1 {
[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 21. Nd5 Bd7 $1 {
[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White's pieces are
misplaced and his king is insecure.}) 17. e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] A deep move, sacrificing a pawn and not allowing
Black's pieces to activate. Furthermore, White will attack with the bishops on
the a2-g8 and a1-h8 diagonal, with the support of the rook on the g-file.} (17.
exf5 Bxf5 {leads only to equality.}) 17... Ncxe5 (17... Ngxe5 18. O-O-O $1 {
[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Nxf3 19. Qxf3 {
White is ready to start the winning attack with Bc4 and Bc3.}) 18. O-O-O $1 {
[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bd6 (18... Nxf3 19.
Qxf3 {is also hopeless. The bishops will come into play and the development
advantage will make the difference.}) 19. Bc3 Nxf3 20. Qxf3 Be6 21. h3 $2 {
[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] That move almost throws
away a sure win.} (21. Nxe6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} Qxe6 22. h3 Nf6 23. Qxb7 Bf4+ 24. Kc2 Qe4+ 25. Qxe4 fxe4 26.
Bc4+ Kh8 27. Rd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
Nxd7 28. Bxg7#) 21... Be5 $2 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;
true] He probably thought the position was just losing, but there is a miracle
escape.} (21... Bxf4+ $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true]} 22. Qxf4 Nf6 23. Re1 {This looks pretty ugly for Black, but amazingly
it's still possible to fight if you find all the forced moves.} Rf7 $1 {
[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 24. Bc4 Ne4 $1 {
[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 25. Bxg7 $1 {
[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best chance to
fight for an advantage.} (25. Bxe6 Qxe6 26. f3 Nc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the point of Black's defense. There is
a double attack on d3.}) 25... Rxg7 26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Rg1+ Kh8 28. Qe5+ Qf6
29. Qxf6+ Nxf6 30. Bxe6 f4 {After all this confusion we arrive at an endgame
with advantage for White thanks to the bishop against knight and the king
closer to the center, but there are drawing chances.}) 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. hxg4 {
White wins a piece, but the game still has some adventures.} Bxc3 24. bxc3 Rad8
(24... Qb3 25. Qd5+ {Exchanging queens and forcing resignation.}) 25. gxf5 {
A brave move, which shows how Gukesh confident is in his analysis. There is a
much safer way to win.} (25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Qe2 {This leads to a simple win.})
25... Rxd1+ {Now White wins easily. The critical moves are 25...Qb3 or 25...
Qa2. In both cases only one move wins. Gukesh, evidently, had seen it.} (25...
Qb3 26. Rxg7+ $1 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A
nice idea that wins by force.} Kxg7 (26... Kh8 27. Rxh7+ Kxh7 28. Qh5+ Kg7 29.
Qg6+ Kh8 30. Qh6+ Kg8 31. Bc4+ Qxc4 32. Qg6+ Kh8 33. Rh1+ {and mate.}) 27. Qg3+
Kf6 (27... Kf7 28. Qc7+ Kf6 29. Rxd8 Qxa3+ 30. Kd2 {The checks will soon be
over.}) (27... Kh8 28. Qe5+ Kg8 29. Bc4+ $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxc4 30. Rg1+ Kf7 31. Rg7#) 28. Qh4+ Kg7 (28... Kf7
29. Bc4+) (28... Kxf5 29. Bh3+ {with a mating attack.}) 29. Qe7+ Kh6 30. Rd3 $1
{[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rxd3 31. Qxf8+ {
With an easy win.}) (25... Qa2 26. Rxg7+ $1 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] The same idea.} Kxg7 (26... Kh8 27. Rxh7+) 27. Qg3+
Kh6 28. Qh4+ Kg7 29. Qe7+ (29. Qg5+ {is also winning.} Kf7 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31.
Qxd8 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Qxf1 33. Qd5+ {with a winning queen endgame.}) 29... Kh6 30.
Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Qxd8 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Qxf1 33. Qh4+ Kg7 34. f6+ Kg6 35. f7 Kxf7 36.
Qxh7+ {And White wins because he will be able to pick another pawn, for
example:} Kf6 37. Qh4+ Kf7 38. Qf4+ Kg6 39. Qe4+ Kf6 40. Qd4+ {and the a7-pawn
falls.}) 26. Qxd1 Qa2 {Now White is just a piece up and there are several
winning methods. Gukesh has no problem converting the advantage.} 27. Bd3 Re8
28. Rg4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxa3+ 29.
Kd2 Qb2+ 30. Qc2 Qb6 31. Qa2+ Kh8 32. Rd4 {Nice centralization $1} Qh6+ 33. Kc2
Qh2 34. Qf7 {The winning attack begins.} Qxf2+ 35. Kb3 Rg8 36. Bc4 Rb8 37. Qe7
h5 38. Qg5 Qf3 39. Rh4 Qd1+ 40. Kb2 1-0
