[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Erigaisi, Arjun"]
[Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Rafael"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]
{0-} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 d5 (4... Bc5 {This aggressive move
is also possible and leads to very confusing positions in which White's
advantage has yet to be proven.} 5. Bc4 Nxf2 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Kg6 8. Qxc5
Nxh1 9. Nc3 h6 {A recent game ended in perpetual check after} 10. Qc4 Nc6 11.
Nd5 d6 12. Nf4+ Kh7 13. Qe4+ Kg8 14. Qd5+ Kh7 15. Qe4+ Kg8 16. Qd5+ Kh7 17.
Qe4+ {Anton Guijarro-Vidit, Prague 2022.}) 5. Nbd2 Nxd2 (5... Qd7 {This move
is much less common but was played by Nepomniachtchi against Duda in the
Candidates Tournament.}) 6. Bxd2 Be7 7. Bd3 c5 8. c3 Nc6 9. O-O {The position
is still known by theory. Black has good central control and free piece
development, but the advanced pawn on e5 gives White some chances on the
kingside.} Bg4 {Usually Black plays 9...0-0 or 9...Bg4. This will be the first
time a combination of these two moves is played.} (9... O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. Qc2
h6 12. Rad1 Qd7 {With roughly in Guseinov-Markus, Olympiad 2022.}) 10. Re1 O-O
{This is probably inaccurate due to Erigaisi's following play.} (10... Qd7 11.
h3 Bh5 12. Bf4 {was tried in Firouzja-Najer, Riga 2021.}) 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bf5 $1
{[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A very unpleasant
move to face. The bishop on f5 prevents the normal development of the queen on
d7 and supports an e5-e6 advance. If Black plays with Bg6, then it's possible
to capture the bishop, with two possible consequences: 1- Black captures with
the f-pawn, leaving White with a superior pawn structure; 2- Black captures
with the h-pawn, after which White advances e5-e6 and tries to exploit Black's
kingside weaknesses.} Kh8 {A difficult prophylactic move. The idea is probably
to anticipate a possible e5-e6 advance.} (12... Bg6 13. Bxg6 fxg6 {It's clear
that White is better with a superior pawn structure.} (13... hxg6 14. e6 $1 {
[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]})) 13. Qe2 Qb6 14. Bf4
Rae8 15. Rad1 d4 {Play by both sides is quite logical and the tension grows.}
16. g4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bg6 17. Qc2
$6 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move doesn't
seem to flow naturally with what's expected from White's position and it's the
beginning of Erigaisi's problems.} (17. h4 {is logical, but a bit rushed.
Black manages to equalize after} h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Ne7) (17. Bg3 $5 {[%c_effect g3;square;
g3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is a good prophylactic move, taking the
bishop off the f-file, which makes the Bxg6 move stronger.}) 17... Rd8 18. h4
Qa6 $1 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] With his last
two moves Abdusattorov sets up the …d4-d3 advance.} 19. cxd4 cxd4 20. Qb3 $6
{[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (20. Qe4 {is better
and White manages to keep the game balanced, for example:} Qxa2 21. Nxd4 Nxd4
22. Rxd4 Qxb2 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rb1) 20... d3 {Passed pawns must be pushed $1
But if chess were that simple, it probably wouldn't have so many fans.} 21. h5
$6 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (21. Re4 $1 {
[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is a better try,
avoiding Black's following knight move.}) 21... Bxf5 22. gxf5 Nd4 $1 {
[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Bg3
d2 {With this monstrous pawn on d2 and White's weaknesses on the kingside,
Black is already firmly in control of the game.} 25. Re3 Qh6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;
square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Attacking the h5-pawn. Abdusattorov
plays the rest of the game with great precision.} 26. Qxb7 $2 {[%c_effect b7;
square;b7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] White is much worse after this move.} (
26. Rd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is
necessary, as eliminating the d2-pawn is a priority.} Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Rd8 28. Qe3
Qxh5 (28... Bg5 29. f4) 29. Rxd2 Rxd2 30. Qxd2 Qxf5 31. Qd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;
square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with excellent drawing chances for
White.}) 26... Bg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
The bishop now gives extra support to the passed pawn.} 27. Rc3 Qxh5 28. Qf3
Qh3 {Continuing the attack is a human and natural reaction, but the computer
indicates a decisive advantage for Black in the endgame after} (28... Qxf3 29.
Rxf3 Re4 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Rc3 Rxc3 32. bxc3 h5 {The white rook is paralyzed and
the bishop isn't much help either.}) 29. Bh2 Rg4+ 30. Bg3 (30. Kh1 Qxf3+ 31.
Rxf3 Re4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and there
is no defense against rook invasion on e1.} 32. Rg3 Re1+ 33. Rg1 Rxd1 34. Rxd1
Rc8 {followed by 35...Rc1.}) 30... h6 {The computer suggests other moves, but
I like this one. It's useful to give the king some air.} 31. Qg2 $2 {
[%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Now it's over.} (31. Qh1
$1 {[%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the only chance,
although it's very hard to defend after} Rxg3+ $5 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;
type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (31... Qxh1+ 32. Kxh1 {is also much better
for Black.}) 32. fxg3 Qxf5 33. Qd5 Re8 34. Rf3 Qh3 {The d2-pawn is well
defended and the white king is very exposed. The compensation for the exchange
should be enough for victory.}) 31... Qh5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true]} 32. f3 (32. Qf3 Re8 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Ke2 Rd4 {
White's position is close to collapsing.}) 32... Rd4 33. Qh2 Bh4 $1 {
[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 34. Kf1 Rfd8 35. Bf2
Re4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A beautiful
move. Abdusattorov is implacable in conducting the initiative.} 36. f6 (36. Qh3
Rd5 {The e5-pawn falls.}) 36... gxf6 37. Qh3 Rf4 38. Bxa7 Qxe5 39. Be3 Qb5+ 40.
Kg1 Qe2 41. Qf1 Rg8+ 42. Kh1 Qxf1+ 43. Rxf1 Rxf3 {Another masterpiece by
Abdusattorov.} (43... Be1 {is also a nice way to win:} 44. Bxf4 d1=Q) 0-1
