[Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.1"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D27"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2713"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,82,24,24,21,-10,26,25,12,37,43,31,58,52,46,35,49,52,52,47,44,56,51,57,72,61,43,43,37,49,54,36,55,44,29,22,22,20,22,-8,-4,0,0,0,0,0,0,-36,-34,-45,-40,-37,-41,-37,-37,-39,-27,-22,-28,-34,-30,-20,-20,-20,-26,0,0,-36,-20,-30,-33,-28,0,-38,-24,-18,-19,-19,-29,-29,-24,-28,-25,-24,-11]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 {Boldly declaring his intention to be solid at all costs.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 {So is happy to keep things purely positional.} Bxc5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. Nbd2 Bd7 11. b3 Bb5 12. Nc4 Nbd7 13. Nd4 (13. Bb2 {had been almost automatic.}) 13... Rhc8 $146 14. Bb2 Bxc4 $146 {This is a very interesting plan. Instead of typical plans involving ...b5 to get rid of White's knight, he just swaps it off, piles on the the c-file, and opens the file when he's good and ready. This plan is a serious challenge to this whole system for White.} 15. Bxc4 Rc7 16. Rfd1 Rac8 {White has the bishop pair, but there's not much he can do with it.} 17. Kf1 $146 Bb4 18. Rac1 Ne4 19. Nf3 b5 20. Bd3 Nc3 {Forcing White to surrender the bishop pair. If anyone is better now, it's Black.} 21. Bxc3 Rxc3 22. Rxc3 Rxc3 23. Ke2 Nf6 24. Nd2 Nd5 25. Nb1 Rc7 26. Be4 Nf6 27. Bd3 h5 28. h3 e5 29. a3 Bd6 30. Kf3 h4 31. a4 bxa4 32. bxa4 Bb4 33. Bxa6 e4+ 34. Ke2 Rc2+ 35. Kf1 Nd7 36. Be2 f5 37. a5 Bxa5 38. Na3 Ra2 39. Nb5 g6 40. Nd4 Ne5 41. f4 exf3 {Good defense by So, making sure that Black's slight advantage didn't get out of control.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.2"] [White "Van Foreest, Jorden"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2681"] [BlackElo "2764"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "158"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bf4 Ne4 7. Rc1 Nc6 {In general, it's unusual to see Black do this when he isn't forced into it by Qa4+. Here, however, it's far more common than} (7... O-O {. The engine doesn't hate this (though it prefers 7...Nc6), but in practice it has been a complete disaster for Black. This seems to be a function of rating mismatches, though, so if you want to play this way and continue with ...c6 or ...c5, you can do so.}) 8. h4 $5 $146 {So far, the trend of playing h4 hasn't made it to move 1, but it seems to be everywhere else. Engines, starting with AlphaZero, have pushed this trend, although in this particular case Stockfish isn't impressed. (That makes it even more impressive that JVF explored this so deeply.)} Bf5 9. e3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Ba3 {This is the reason Stockfish isn't *that* impressed. If Black didn't have this and played some "normal" move instead, White would have a very healthy advantage.} 11. Rb1 $1 Bxb1 12. Qxb1 {Everything so far has been sort of forced, and now Black has to decide. Does he defend the b-pawn, and how? What is he going to do about about castling, as ...0-0 Ng5 g6 h5 gives White a slew of attackers while Black's king has almost no one there to defend him?} Rb8 (12... Ne7 $1 {Apparently best, jettisoning the b-pawn to play ...Bd6 without dropping the d-pawn. (See the game.)} 13. Bd3 Bd6) 13. Qb3 Bd6 14. Qxd5 Bxf4 15. Qe4+ Qe7 16. Qxf4 Qa3 17. Qe4+ $1 Ne7 18. Qc2 {The position has stabilized for the moment, and now White has a pawn for the exchange to go with his positional compensation. Black has some freedom here to decide on his next mini-plan. He could castle, or play ...b5 in search of queenside counterplay, or choose the move in the game, for example - also in search of queenside play.} Nd5 19. c4 Nc3 (19... Qc3+ $142 {would be my choice, but I am impressed by the self-confidence of Giri's choice. The moves are almost equal in value (and maintain equality according to the engine), but I'm more worried about White's attacking possibilities with the queens on than I am optimistic about my own chances to generate counterplay. There's the further issue that Van Foreest has prepared all of this, so Black is less likely to stumble into some horrible tactical trap prepared with the computer when the queens are off. Finally, I assume that Giri must have been well behind on the clock by this point, which is another reason to get the queens off and simplify the position. That these factors didn't dissuade Giri is testament to both his self-confidence and his ambition, and people who dismiss Giri as some sort of draw-lover are at best not paying attention. As things turned out, Giri was rewarded in the tournament (and overall, in his career) for his self-confidence and ambition. In this particular game, however, I think it was a misjudgment. The position was very difficult to play, and he was soon lost.}) 20. c5 $1 {Clearing c4 for the bishop and cutting Black's queen off from the kingside, meaning that she won't easily be able to help once White's attack gets going.} b6 (20... Nxa2) (20... Qb4) 21. Bc4 bxc5 22. O-O O-O 23. h5 $1 $14 {Black is already in danger of losing, and after his next move White's advantage is decisive.} Qb4 $2 (23... Rb4 $1 {is best, though it only means that Black gets to keep fighting; White's attack is by no means at a standstill.} 24. Qd3 (24. Bb3 c4 25. Ng5 g6 26. Qxc3 cxb3 27. h6 {is another danger for Black. (19...Qc3+, anyone?)} Qa5 $8 28. d5 f6 29. Ne6 b2 30. Rb1 $8 (30. Nxf8 $2 b1=Q 31. Qxf6 Qxf1+ $1 32. Kxf1 Rb1+ 33. Ke2 Qxa2+ 34. Kf3 Qxd5+ 35. Kg3 Qd6+ $19) 30... Qb6 $8 31. Nxf8 Kxf8 32. e4 $11 {/?}) (24. Ng5 g6 25. hxg6 Rxc4 26. g7 {looks frightening, but after} (26. gxf7+ Rxf7 27. Nxf7 Kxf7 $11) 26... Kxg7 27. Qxh7+ Kf6 28. Qh6+ Ke7 {it's White who has the burden of proof.} 29. Nh7 $8 Rh8 $1 30. Qf6+ Kd7 31. Qxh8 cxd4 $11) 24... h6 25. Bb3 Nd5 26. dxc5 Rxb3 $8 27. axb3 Qxc5 28. Qf5 $11 {/?}) 24. Ng5 $18 g6 25. Qd3 Rb6 {Now it's Van Foreest's turn to find a precise move.} 26. dxc5 $2 (26. Rc1 $1 {was best.} Na4 (26... cxd4 27. Qxd4 $18 {Threatening to take the knight, obviously, but also h6 followed by Qg7#. Black can stop the latter, but there's no sensible way to stop the former, so White is clearly winning. White's minor pieces will overwhelm the rook.}) 27. Qe4 $1 {Threatening to take on f7 and check on e8 in case Black recaptures.} cxd4 {Not the only move, but there aren't any better or trickier tries.} (27... Qb2 28. Rf1 Rf6 29. Qe7 Qb6 30. Nxh7 $1 $18 {is a funny fork.}) 28. Nxf7 Rf6 29. Ng5+ Kh8 30. hxg6 Rxg6 31. Qxd4+ Rff6 (31... Rgf6 32. Qd7 $18) (31... Rg7 32. Ne6 $18 (32. Nxh7 $18)) 32. Ne4 $18) 26... Rc6 27. hxg6 $6 (27. Nxf7 $1 {keeps serious winning chances:} Rxf7 28. Qd8+ Kg7 29. h6+ Kxh6 30. Bxf7 Ne2+ $8 31. Kh2 {Good thing White's queen covers h4!} Qxc5 32. g3 Qd6 $8 $16 {/+-}) 27... Rxg6 $14 28. f4 (28. Nf3 $142) 28... Rg7 $2 {One more chance for Van Foreest.} (28... c6 $11) 29. Rc1 $2 $16 {/+-} (29. Nxf7 $1 Rgxf7 30. Kh2 $3 $18 {The main point is to play Rf3 without allowing ...Qb1 to come with check.} (30. a3 $1 {also wins.} Qb2 (30... Qxa3 31. Rf3 {and there's no ...Qb1+ here - see the comment to 30.Kh2 in this note.}) 31. Kh2 $1 {Again, same point.})) 29... Na4 30. Ne4 $2 $11 {Now the win is gone for good. The fight continues, but the annotations to this game will not.} (30. Nxf7 $1 Rgxf7 31. a3 $1 Qb2 32. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 33. Rc4 Qb5 34. Qd8+ Rf8 35. Qd5+ Rf7 36. Qg5+ Kh8 37. Qd8+ Kg7 38. Qd4+ Rf6 39. Rxa4 $18) 30... Nb2 31. Qb3 Qxb3 32. Bxb3 Kh8 33. Rb1 Nd3 34. Bc2 f5 35. Bxd3 fxe4 36. Bxe4 Re7 37. Rb4 Rd8 38. Kf2 Rd2+ 39. Kf3 Rxa2 40. g4 h6 41. f5 Kg7 42. Kf4 Ra3 43. Rd4 Kf6 44. Bd3 Ra2 45. e4 Rf2+ 46. Ke3 Rg2 47. Kf3 Rd2 48. Rd8 Ke5 49. Ke3 Rg2 50. Kf3 Rd2 51. c6 a5 52. Ke3 Rg2 53. Be2 Kf6 54. Bf3 Rc2 55. Kf4 a4 56. Rg8 a3 57. Rf8+ Kg7 58. Ra8 a2 59. e5 Re8 60. Ra7 Kf8 61. e6 Rf2 62. Kg3 Rd2 63. Kf4 Rf2 64. Ke3 Rb2 65. Kd4 Kg7 66. Rxc7+ Kf6 67. Rf7+ Kg5 68. Ra7 Rd8+ 69. Kc3 Rf2 70. Be4 Re2 71. Bc2 Rd6 72. Rxa2 Rxc6+ 73. Kd3 Rh2 74. e7 Rc8 75. Ra6 Rcxc2 76. e8=Q Rhd2+ 77. Ke3 Re2+ 78. Kd3 Red2+ 79. Ke3 Re2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D40"] [WhiteElo "2859"] [BlackElo "2684"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,134,25,23,18,23,9,22,19,21,14,12,12,16,39,21,21,21,34,21,79,19,18,16,66,7,9,43,18,8,18,37,28,19,54,32,37,12,30,30,32,0,36,0,45,38,46,43,43,36,67,4,15,0,44,44,29,26,22,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,26,7,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,153,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-20,0,-14,-29,-44,-15,-22,8,3,0,0,7,-21,-5,-68,-70,0,0,14,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. Bd3 (8. O-O b5 9. Ba2 {is the absolute main line.}) 8... cxd4 (8... b6) (8... b5) 9. exd4 g6 {Played only once before, recently, by Anish Giri.} (9... Be7 {is usual.}) 10. Bg5 Bg7 11. Be4 $146 {With two ideas. The first is to take on c6 and aim to exploit Black's porous dark squares. Black should avoid this, either with the move in the game or with 11...Bd7. The other is to play for d5. Preventing that as well is the argument for the text over the bishop move.} (11. Ne4 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. O-O O-O 15. Be4 Bd7 16. Qd2 Kg7 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Rc5 Be8 19. Bxc6 Bxc6 20. Ne5 Rd5 21. Rxd5 Bxd5 22. Rc1 Bc6 23. h3 Rd8 24. Qe3 Rd6 25. Nxc6 bxc6 26. Rc4 a5 27. g3 {½-½ Nepomniachtchi,I (2766)-Giri,A (2708) Wch Rapid Almaty 2022 (5)}) 11... Ne7 12. h4 {Refreshingly direct.} h6 (12... O-O {is playable, the engine assures us, but I'm sure Carlsen was going to continue with} 13. h5 {, which looks extremely dangerous even when you know that the evaluation is approximate equality. At the board, when you don't know that, and don't have the defensive skills of a computer, and know that your opponent has prepared it in advance? It's terrifying.} Nxh5 14. Qd2 $44) 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qd2 Nd5 $6 (14... h5 $11 {was better. It's not a question of avoiding weaknesses, but of deciding which ones to accept.}) 15. h5 $14 {/?} g5 16. Ne5 Bg7 17. Bxd5 (17. Rd1 $142) (17. Nxd5 $142 exd5 18. Bd3) 17... exd5 18. O-O Be6 19. Rae1 O-O 20. Re3 Bf5 ({After} 20... Rc8 {Black is doing reasonably well, though White retains the initiative and attacking chances with f4, either immediately or in the very near future.}) 21. Qd1 $1 {Intending Qb3.} Re8 $2 {Carlsen thought a while here, as I recall, but either missed or talked himself out of the best move.} 22. Rfe1 $2 $14 (22. Nxf7 $1 {was his big chance.} Qd7 (22... Kxf7 23. Rf3 {regains the piece with a winning advantage. Only} Ke6 24. Re1+ Be4 {tries to keep the piece, but now things get much worse:} 25. Qb3 Kd7 26. Rf7+ Re7 27. Qxb7+ Ke8 28. Rxe7+ $18 {wins gobs and gobs of material.}) 23. Ne5 Rxe5 $1 {Otherwise Black is clearly lost.} 24. Rxe5 (24. dxe5 $2 d4 $11) 24... Bxe5 25. dxe5 d4 26. Ne2 $16 {/+- Black's passed d-pawn doesn't make up for his missing pawn and exposed kingside.}) 22... Be6 (22... Rxe5 $1) 23. Na4 $16 b6 24. Rb3 (24. Qb3 $142) 24... Qc7 $1 25. Nxb6 $6 (25. Rxb6 $142) 25... Rab8 $11 26. Na4 Rxb3 27. Qxb3 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Qa5 29. Qd1 Bg4 $1 30. f3 Bd7 $1 31. Nc3 Qc5+ 32. Kh2 d4 33. Re4 $1 {This really puts Pragg to the test. To his credit, he passes, brilliantly.} dxc3 $1 34. Qxd7 c2 $1 35. Qxe8+ Kg7 36. b4 (36. Re1 Qd4 $1 $11 (36... Qf2 $1 $11) (36... c1=Q $2 37. Rxc1 Qxc1 38. e6 Qf4+ 39. g3 Qd2+ 40. Kh3 $18 {There's no perpetual, so White will win - easily - with his extra pawns.})) (36. e6 Qc7+ $8 37. g3 c1=Q 38. exf7 Qxf7 39. Re7 Qc2+ 40. Kh3 Qcf5+ $11) 36... Qc3 $1 37. f4 $1 {Sure, Black, have a second queen! White's attack is extremely dangerous.} c1=Q $8 38. f5 {Threatening mate in three; meanwhile, Black has no useful checks.} Qc7 $1 (38... Qc4 $1 {was also playable, likewise defending f7 so that there's no mate with 39.f6+ followed by 40.Qxf7+ and 41.Qg7#. Everything else loses.} 39. f6+ Kh7 40. Qf8 (40. Rxc4 Qxc4 41. Qf8 Qh4+ 42. Kg1 Qe1+ 43. Kh2 Qxe5+ $11 (43... Qh4+ $11)) 40... Qf4+ $1 $11) 39. f6+ Kh7 40. Qf8 $8 Qxe5+ $8 41. Rxe5 Qf4+ 42. Kg1 Qc1+ $1 43. Kf2 Qf4+ 44. Ke2 Qxe5+ 45. Kd3 Qxf6 {It's still not over. Black's king is safe and material is equal, but White's queenside majority is more dangerous than Black's on the kingside. The adventures continue.} 46. Qe8 Qf1+ 47. Kd4 Kg7 48. Qe5+ Kg8 49. Qb8+ Kg7 50. Qg3 {Protecting the a-pawn, so White's king can go to the queenside.} Qd1+ 51. Kc5 Qxh5 52. Qe5+ Kg8 53. a4 Qd1 54. a5 Qg1+ 55. Qd4 Qxg2 56. b5 {The quality of the pawns is more important than their quantity. White will happily give up all his other pawns, if it means promoting first and winning with an attack.} g4 $1 57. bxa6 g3 58. a7 Qa8 59. Kd6 g2 60. Ke5 Qf3 61. Qd8+ Kh7 62. a8=Q Qc3+ $1 {Carlsen had a few moments of horror here, when he realized that if White moved his king, Black could queen and White has no check on h8 or g8. Fortunately for him, he's still able to draw.} (62... Qxa8 63. Qxa8 g1=Q $11) 63. Qd4 Qxd4+ 64. Kxd4 g1=Q+ 65. Kd3 Qd1+ 66. Ke3 Qe1+ 67. Kd3 Qd1+ {Black's extra pawn is less significant than the a-pawn's proximity to the queening square, so Black has nothing better than to make a perpetual.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Keymer, Vincent"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2696"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 {There are 178 games in the database from this position...} d5 {...and now, only one. Kudos to Reiner Jung, the correspondence player who first used this, and to Vincent Keymer (or maybe one of his trainers, e.g. Peter Leko?), for paying attention (or discovering it himself).} 12. dxe5 Nxe4 13. Nbd2 Bf5 14. Re1 Nc6 15. Nf1 c4 16. Be3 Bg6 17. Ng3 (17. Nd4 Qc8 18. f4 Bh4 19. Re2 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 f6 21. Kh2 fxe5 22. Bxe5 Qe6 23. g3 Be7 24. Nd2 Rad8 25. Nf3 b4 26. cxb4 Bxb4 27. Qg1 Qc6 28. Qg2 h6 29. Rd1 Bh7 30. Bd4 {½-½ Schmitt,C (2347)-Jung,R (2336) GER-ch51 final email GER email 2021}) 17... b4 {Not bad, though the engine prefers some other moves.} (17... Rc8) (17... Qc7) (17... a5) ({and} 17... Re8 {all receive the coveted 0.00 from Mr. Fish.}) 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Ba4 bxc3 20. bxc3 Nb4 $5 (20... Qc7 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Nd4 Qd5 23. Qa4 Qxe5 24. Nc6 Qe6 25. Nxe7+ Qxe7 26. Rab1 {is a plausible alternative.}) 21. Qxd8 Rfxd8 22. Nd4 $14 {This is not so so pleasant for Black, due to his numerous weak pawns and his useless bishop on g6. The knight can go to d3, sure, but it doesn't prevent White from doing anything he wants to.} Nd3 $6 (22... Bc5 $1 {was best, preventing White from playing Nc6 under the favorable circumstances we'll see in the game.} 23. Nc6 Bxe3 $1 24. Ne7+ (24. Nxd8 Bxf2+ $1 25. Kxf2 Nd3+ 26. Ke2 Nxe1 27. Rxe1 Rxd8 28. Rd1 Rb8 $11) (24. Rxe3 Nd5 25. Rg3 (25. Nxd8 Nxe3 26. fxe3 (26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. fxe3 Ke6 $11) 26... Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rb8 $1 $11) 25... e3 $1 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27. Bc6 e2 28. Re1 Bd3 29. Bxd5 Rxd5 30. Re3 Ra5 31. R1xe2 Bxe2 32. Rxe2 g5 $1 $11 {/?}) 24... Kf8 25. Nxg6+ hxg6 26. Rxe3 (26. cxb4 Bb6 27. Rxe4 Rd2 $44) 26... Nd5 27. Rxe4 Rac8 28. Rc1 {is the best White can do, with only a slight plus after} Ke7 $14) 23. Nc6 $16 Re8 24. Nxe7+ Rxe7 25. Reb1 $2 {Missing his chance.} (25. Bc6 $1 Nxe1 (25... Rc8 $143 26. Reb1 $16 {/+-}) 26. Bxa8 Nc2 27. Rd1 h5 28. Rd8+ Kh7 29. Bf4 Na3 30. Bd5 Nb5 31. Bxc4 Nxc3 $16) 25... Nxe5 {It's not dead equal, but it's close enough. Keymer plays well from here and saves the game.} 26. Rb6 f6 27. Rab1 Be8 28. Bc5 Rc7 29. Bd6 Rcc8 30. Bd1 Nd7 31. Rb7 Rc6 32. Ba3 Nc5 33. Rb8 Rxb8 34. Rxb8 Kf7 35. Be2 Bd7 36. Ra8 (36. Bxc4+ Be6 37. Bxc5 (37. Bxe6+ Nxe6 38. Bb4 Nf4 $11) 37... Bxc4 $11) 36... Nd3 37. Ra7 Ke8 38. Ra8+ Kf7 39. Ra7 Ke8 40. Ra8+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.5"] [White "Gukesh, Dommaraju"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2725"] [BlackElo "2735"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "143"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,143,21,21,24,-2,-8,6,6,15,39,-58,-22,-38,-10,10,9,8,4,23,23,9,3,1,4,-12,10,4,2,11,14,5,14,-6,-6,0,0,-38,-7,-26,-9,-34,-30,-13,-11,-13,-12,-8,-12,-19,46,-25,-8,32,88,88,75,63,65,67,90,90,95,93,92,83,90,75,91,93,135,106,143,115,132,118,119,116,116,116,116,98,132,120,101,93,97,109,104,109,109,113,109,96,109,100,115,109,127,111,96,112,112,107,110,89,96,81,65,57,65,67,65,65,72,87,72,85,82,36,64,64,68,67,59,58,83,83,84,102,212,438,251,218,222,222,222,222,222,222,222,222,222,210,210,210]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 Qe8 {This rare move threatens to win a pawn.} 8. Qb3 (8. Be2 $2 Nxd4 9. Qxe8 (9. Qxb4 $4 Nc2+ $19) (9. exd4 Bxc3 10. Qxe8 Bxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Rxe8 $17 {/-+}) 9... Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Rxe8 $17) (8. Qc2 {has been the usual response when} dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 {brings us to a fork in the road. The most popular move has been 10.d5, but four other moves have been tried, one of which - 10.0-0-0 - is the computer's suggestion, with 10.0-0 coming in at #2. 10.d5 isn't even in its top four.}) 8... a5 $146 9. a3 $146 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 b6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bb5 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. O-O Qe6 15. Rac1 Ne4 16. Rfd1 Ne7 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. Be1 h6 19. Qe2 Ra7 20. Rc2 c5 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Nd2 Nxd2 23. Bxd2 Nf5 24. Bc3 a4 25. h3 Rd7 26. Qg4 d4 $6 {Inviting a forcing sequence that will lead to a rook ending with an extra pawn for White. Aronian's assumption that it would be drawn was correct, but judging by how things go it seems that he overestimated the ease with which Black should hold it. It seems therefore that he should have maintained the tension instead.} (26... Rd6 $142 $11) 27. Bxd4 Rcd8 28. Rxc5 Nxd4 29. exd4 Qxg4 30. hxg4 Rxd4 31. Rxd4 Rxd4 32. Rc8+ Kh7 33. Rb8 $1 Rd1+ (33... Rxg4 $2 34. Rb4 f5 35. f3 $18 {If Black trades rooks White's b4-pawn will promote without assistance, and if the rook instead leaves the protection of the a-pawn the resulting rook ending is an almost elementary win.}) 34. Kh2 g5 35. g3 Rc1 36. Kg2 Rc2 37. Rb6 Kg7 38. Kf3 Rd2 39. Ke3 Rc2 40. Rb4 Kg6 41. f4 Rg2 42. Kf3 Rc2 43. Rb6+ Kg7 44. Ke4 Rd2 45. Rb4 Kf6 46. f5 Rg2 47. Kd5 {Now if Black continues to wait, White's king will collect the a-pawn, so Black must hasten with his counterplay.} Rxg3 48. Rxa4 h5 49. gxh5 Kxf5 50. Ra7 g4 $2 (50... Kf6 $8) 51. Rxf7+ Kg5 52. Kc4 $2 ({The win wasn't easy, but it existed. The key was to bring the rook to the first rank, where it will help support one or more of White's passers while also keeping an eye on Black's g-pawn.} 52. Rf1 $1 Rb3 53. Rh1 $1 Kh6 54. Rb1 g3 55. Kc4 Rf3 56. a4 Rf4+ 57. Kb5 Rf5+ 58. Kc6 Rf6+ 59. Kd5 Rf5+ 60. Kd6 Kxh5 61. b4 Rf4 62. Kc5 Kg4 63. a5 g2 64. Rg1 Rf5+ 65. Kc6 Rf6+ 66. Kd5 Rf5+ (66... Kf3 67. b5 Rf5+ 68. Kc6 Rf6+ 69. Kb7 Rf5 70. Ka6 $18) 67. Ke6 Rb5 68. Rxg2+ Kf3 69. Rg7 Ke4 70. Kd6 Kd4 71. a6 Rb6+ 72. Kc7 Rxa6 73. Rg4+ Kd5 74. b5 $18) 52... Kxh5 53. a4 Rf3 $8 54. Rh7+ Kg6 55. Rh1 Rf4+ $8 56. Kb5 Rf5+ $8 57. Kb4 Rf4+ 58. Ka3 g3 59. Rg1 Rg4 $2 {This looks logical, keeping White's king on his side of the board and supporting the g-pawn's advance, but it's a mistake.} (59... Rf3+ $1 60. Kb4 Kf5 61. a5 (61. b3 Ke6 62. a5 Kd6 63. Ka4 Rf4+ 64. Kb5 Rg4 65. b4 Kc7 $11) 61... Kg4 $8 62. a6 Rf4+ $8 63. Ka5 Rf5+ $8 64. Ka4 Rf6 $11) 60. a5 $2 {Even though this pawn is further advanced than the b-pawn and further from Black's pieces, it was the wrong pawn. Chess is tough.} (60. b4 $8 Kf7 61. b5 $8 Ke7 62. b6 $8 Kd7 63. Rc1 $8 g2 64. b7 $8 Rg3+ 65. Ka2 Rc3 (65... Rg8 66. a5 Rb8 67. a6 $18) 66. Rxc3 g1=Q 67. b8=Q Qg2+ 68. Ka3 Qd5 69. Qb5+ $18) 60... Kf7 61. b4 Ke7 62. a6 Kd7 63. a7 Rg8 64. Ka4 (64. Rxg3 $4 Rxg3+ $19 {is a check.}) 64... Kc6 65. Rxg3 Rh8 {Generally, two extra pawns win easily in rook endings, especially when they are connected. But, really, are White's pawns "connected"? They are on adjacent files, yes, but the a-pawn is just about useless except as bait. Black will ignore the bait and draw easily.} 66. Rg7 Kb6 67. Kb3 Rh3+ 68. Kc4 Rh4+ 69. Kb3 Rh3+ 70. Ka4 Rh8 71. Rh7 Ra8 72. Rf7 (72. Rf7 Rh8 $11 ({Just not} 72... Rxa7+ $4 73. Rxa7 Kxa7 74. Ka5 $1 Kb7 75. Kb5 $18)) 1/2-1/2 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.6"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B53"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2811"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] {[%evp 0,83,25,16,58,64,85,62,53,57,53,46,45,35,32,30,35,17,22,-1,2,-12,1,-16,-16,-37,-35,-29,-28,-31,-27,-57,-14,-2,-22,-35,-10,-2,11,-13,27,11,11,-16,-10,-7,9,-25,-11,-25,-16,-6,40,40,39,34,31,37,25,25,37,20,37,22,24,34,37,35,26,29,2,28,45,45,92,98,241,264,269,269,285,293,297,300,296,316]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {This Anti-Sicilian tends to be very lively. Those interested in pursuing this should look up my post from this past September on a blitz game I played this past summer in Greece. More substantively, have a look at the fantastic win by Evgeny Vasiukov over Loek van Wely in the Aeroflot Open around the turn of the century, and also look up Judit Polgar's generally positive experiences with this system. Not that all is sunshine for White here - have a look at Svidler-Kasparov, from 1999 or thereabouts for an important and impressive Black win.} Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Qd3 (10. Rhe1 {is the principal alternative.}) 10... Qa5 {Not only activating the queen, but preventing White's desired follow-up of Nd4 followed by f4.} 11. h4 {Defending the bishop so White can play Nd4 next.} ({Or first} 11. Kb1 {, waiting for Black to castle (kingside) before playing h4.}) 11... h6 12. Bd2 (12. Bxf6 {is also played, when Black generally (and rightly) offers the d-pawn by recapturing with the bishop. White should decline the offer and play Nd4.}) 12... Qa6 {Purchasing middlegame safety at the cost of a slightly depreciated pawn structure.} 13. Qxa6 bxa6 14. Rde1 {Slightly preferred by the engine over the most common and more natural 14.Rhe1. I don't see any obvious reason for this, but my guess is that since White may continue with Nd4 in some lines, keeping a rook on h1 makes sure that Black doesn't have a double attack on f2 and h4 with ...Ng4 at some moment.} e5 {Taking Nd4 off the table at the cost of slightly weakening d5, f5, and the d-pawn, not to mention restricting the bishop on e7.} (14... Ng4) (14... O-O) (14... Bb7) (14... Rc8) 15. Nh2 {Starting the journey to d5 or f5.} Nd7 $146 (15... O-O-O 16. f3 Rhe8 17. Ng4 Nxg4 18. fxg4 Kd7 19. Be3 Ra8 20. Rd1 Rec8 21. b3 Rab8 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Rc3 24. Rd3 Rxd3 25. cxd3 Rb7 26. g3 d5 27. exd5 Ba3+ 28. Kd1 Kd6 29. Rf1 Kxd5 30. Rf2 Bd6 31. Rc2 e4 32. Ke2 exd3+ 33. Kxd3 a5 34. Rf2 Bxg3 35. Rc2 Bd6 36. Rc4 a6 37. Ra4 Bb4 38. Bf2 Rd7 39. a3 Ke5+ 40. Ke2 Bc3 41. Rc4 Bb2 42. Bg3+ Kd5 43. Ra4 Kc6 44. Rxa5 Kb7 45. Ra4 Re7+ {½-½ Szpar,M (2434)-Vokhidov,S (2536) Wch Rapid Warsaw 2021 (5)}) 16. Nf1 f5 17. f3 (17. exf5 $1 Bxg2 18. Rg1 Bxf1 19. Rexf1 Kf7 20. Rg4 $14 {slightly favors White, despite his ugly kingside structure.}) 17... fxe4 $11 18. fxe4 Nf6 19. Ng3 Rf8 (19... g6 20. h5 Kd7 21. hxg6 Rag8 22. Nf5 Rxg6 23. Nxh6 Rxg2 24. Ng4 $1 Rxh1 25. Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. Rxh1 $11) 20. Nf5 Rf7 21. h5 (21. Rhg1 $11) (21. Rh3 $11) 21... Bf8 22. Ng3 Rc8 (22... Kd7) 23. Nd1 Rfc7 (23... Rd7 $11) 24. Ba5 Rd7 25. Rh4 (25. b3 d5 26. exd5 Bxd5 27. Re2 Ba3+ 28. Kb1 Kf8 $11) 25... d5 $6 {It was better to wait.} (25... Rb7 $11) (25... Kf7 $11) 26. exd5 $14 Bxd5 27. Rxe5+ Kf7 28. Bb4 Bxg2 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Ne3 {White has swapped off weak pawns for healthy ones, and has also eliminated Black's bishop pair. Still, his advantage remains small.} Bb7 31. b3 {Looking to play c4, obviously, both to increase his central control and to mobilize his majority. Passed pawns must be pushed!} Re8 32. Rxe8+ Kxe8 33. c4 Kf7 34. Kc2 g5 (34... g6 $142) 35. Rh2 Ke6 $6 ({Counterintuitively,} 35... Kf8 $1 {seems to be Black's best, keeping the king out of trouble.} 36. Rf2 Rf7 $11 {is one key point, and now the position is equal.}) 36. Re2 Bf3 $6 ({"Apologizing" was best.} 36... Kf7 $16) 37. Re1 Nxh5 $4 (37... Kd6 38. Rf1 g4 39. Nxg4 Bxg4 40. Rxf6+ Ke5 $1 41. Rxh6 Kf4 $1 $16 {/+- keeps some drawing hopes alive.}) 38. Ng4+ $1 {The coming Ne5 wins, regardless of whether or not it comes with check.} Kd6 39. Nf5+ Kc7 40. Ne5 g4 41. Nxd7 Kxd7 42. Kd2 1-0 [Event "85th Tata Steel Masters"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2023.01.28"] [Round "12.7"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2719"] [BlackElo "2722"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h3 {This seemingly slow line, preventing a future ...Bg4, has become fairly popular.} ({A couple of examples of lines with ...Bg4:} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Rb1 (8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Bg4) 8... O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4) 5... O-O 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Be3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa3 13. d5 Ne5 (13... Bxa1 $2 14. Qxa1 Nd8 15. O-O $1 f6 16. Rb1 $18 {gives White heaps of compensation for the rook, to the point that Black is lost.}) 14. O-O Bd7 ({But now grabbing the exchange is playable:} 14... Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxa1 16. Qxa1 f6 17. Rb1 {White has enough for the material, but not (much) more.}) 15. Rb1 Ba4 16. Qe1 Nd3 17. Bxd3 Qxd3 18. Bg5 {We're still following predecessors. White went 2.5/3 here, all in games played last year.} Rfe8 19. Qb4 $146 (19. Rxb7 Bb5 20. Bxe7 Qxf1+ 21. Qxf1 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Rab8 (22... Bf8 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Ng5 h6 25. Nxf7 Rab8 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Ne5 Rb1+ 28. Ke2 Rb2+ 29. Ke3 Rxa2 30. Nxg6+ Kf7 31. Ne5+ Ke7 32. Nc6+ Kd6 33. e5+ Kc5 34. e6 Ra1 35. e7 Kd6 36. Ke2 Kd7 37. d6 Rb1 38. Ne5+ Ke8 39. Ng4 Rb8 40. Nf6+ Kf7 41. e8=Q+ Rxe8+ 42. Nxe8 Kxe8 43. f4 Kd7 44. g4 Kxd6 45. Kd3 Kd5 46. f5 Ke5 47. Kc3 Kf6 48. Kb4 Kg5 49. Ka5 h5 50. Ka6 h4 51. Kxa7 Kf4 52. f6 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2742)-Antipov,M (2592) Titled Tuesday intern op 24th May Early Chess.com INT blitz 2022 (8)}) 23. Rxa7 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Ng5 h6 26. Nxf7 Rxe4 27. g3 Re7 28. Rxe7 Kxe7 29. Nxh6 Rd8 30. Ng4 Rxd5 31. Kg2 Ra5 32. Ne3 g5 33. g4 Rxa2 34. Kg3 Kf6 35. f3 Ra5 36. Ng2 Ra3 37. h4 gxh4+ 38. Nxh4 Kg5 39. Ng2 Rb3 40. Nf4 Ra3 41. Nh3+ Kg6 42. Nf2 Kg5 43. Ne4+ Kg6 44. Kf4 Ra4 45. Kg3 Ra3 46. Kf4 Ra4 47. Kg3 Ra3 {½-½ Sevian,S (2684)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Chess.com Rapid CGC KO Chess.com INT 2022 (2.4)}) 19... b5 $8 20. Rbc1 a5 $1 21. Qc5 Qxe4 22. Rfe1 Qf5 23. g4 Qc8 24. Bxe7 (24. Rxe7 {is also possible, also equal.}) 24... b4 (24... Qxc5 {is safer.} 25. Rxc5 Rxe7 $1 26. Rxe7 Bf8 27. Rec7 (27. d6 Bxe7 28. dxe7 f6 29. Rd5 Re8 $8 30. Nd4 Rxe7 31. Nxb5 $11) 27... Bxc5 28. Rxc5 Kf8 29. Nd2 Ke7 30. Ne4 b4 31. Rc7+ Bd7 $11) 25. Qe3 Qb7 26. d6 Rac8 27. Ng5 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Qd5 29. Qf4 Qxa2 $6 (29... Bh6 30. Rc5 Bxg5 31. Qxg5 Qxa2 $11) 30. Rc4 $1 f5 $2 (30... f6 $1 31. Ne4 $1 g5 $1 32. Qc1 b3 33. Nc3 b2 34. Nxa2 bxc1=Q+ 35. Nxc1 Bd7 36. Rc7 Rc8 37. Rxd7 Rxc1+ 38. Kg2 Kf7 39. Ra7 Rd1 $1 40. Rxa5 Bf8 {allows Black to escape to an easily drawn pawn-down rook ending.}) 31. gxf5 $18 h6 32. f6 $2 (32. Kg2 $3 hxg5 {The point of the sac is to induce this, which opens the h-file for a purpose you'll see momentarily.} 33. Qe4 Bd7 (33... Qb2 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Bxg5 Bd7 36. Rh4+ $18) (33... Qd2 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. f6 $18) 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Rh4+ $18) (32. Ne4 $1 {also wins, but the proof isn't trivial.} g5 33. Qg4 Qb1+ 34. Kg2 Qd3 35. Rc7 Bd1 36. d7 $1 Rd8 (36... Rxe7 37. Nf6+ $1 Bxf6 38. Qc4+ Qxc4 39. d8=Q+ Kg7 40. Rxc4 $18) 37. Nc5 $1 Bxg4 (37... Qd5+ 38. Qe4 $18) 38. Nxd3 $18) 32... hxg5 33. f7+ Kh7 34. fxe8=Q gxf4 35. Qf7 $11 {The position is equal - but unless Black succeeds in walking a tightrope it won't stay that way.} Be8 $2 (35... Qa1+ $8 36. Kh2 Bb3 $8 37. d7 Qf1 $8 38. Qxf4 Be5 $8 39. Bc5 Bxf4+ $8 40. Rxf4 g5 $8 (40... Qd1 $2 41. Rh4+ Kg8 42. Bd4 $18) 41. d8=Q (41. Rf8 $4 Bd5 $19) 41... gxf4 42. Qe7+ Kg6 $8 $11 {Good luck with that, in time pressure.}) 36. Qxf4 $18 b3 37. d7 $1 Bxd7 38. Qf7 {Threatening 39.Rh4#.} Qa1+ 39. Kg2 $1 (39. Kh2 $2 Qe5+ $11) 39... Bxh3+ 40. Kh2 $1 (40. Kxh3 $2 Qh1+ $1 41. Kg3 Qg1+ 42. Kf3 Qh1+ 43. Ke2 b2 44. Bf8 Qh5+ 45. Kd2 Qh6+ 46. Rf4 $8 b1=Q 47. Bxg7 Qxf4+ $1 48. Qxf4 Kxg7 49. Qe5+ Kf7 50. Qxa5 $11) 40... Qe5+ 41. Kxh3 Qf5+ 42. Qxf5 gxf5 43. Rc7 Kg6 44. Ba3 Be5 45. Rc5 Bd4 46. Rxa5 Bxf2 47. Rb5 1-0