[Event "Tata Steel Chess 2024"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "13"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2742"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [TimeControl "40/6000+30:3000+30"] {[%evp 0,75,32,18,18,17,17,11,23,-16,-15,-5,1,16,12,12,7,3,19,34,34,34,38,31,46,52,88,78,109,109,109,109,112,117,110,110,147,142,142,133,133,126,126,126,126,143,135,141,113,113,113,113,151,143,167,103,201,188,205,190,283,270,276,271,271,266,569,568,564,607,757,761,887,934,1725,1789,29981,29982]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 {A curious opening choice for such an aggressive player, but he will find a way to attack even after a seemingly harmless scheme, as we will soon see.} e6 {On the board, there's a Semi-Slav Defense with inverted colors. As I have already written several times, it's very difficult to analyze opening variations with inverted colors, as the goal is not the same when playing Black or White, so the dynamics change, and what can be considered a success with one color can be a failure when with the other.} 5. Bd3 Nbd7 {This is a preventive move against the capture on c5. Black's light-squared bishop is not in trouble since it will be developed on b7.} (5... Nc6 {is also possible, of course.}) 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Qc7 $6 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move is inaccurate, as the black queen is not well placed on c7 if the c-file opens. This opinion is not shared by most chess players, as this is the most popular move.} (8... e5 {is natural, when White should open the center and fight for the advantage with} 9. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) (8... b6 {is possible:} 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Be7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with good chances of equalizing.}) (8... c4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] closes the game and apparently is a positional mistake, as it gives a free pass for White to advance e3-e4. Modern chess, however, is chess without prejudice. The computer shows that this move may even be the best of all.} 9. Bc2 b5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Rb8 {The bishop is ready to go b7, and the position is equal.}) 9. e4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This push is necessary to free White's pieces.} cxd4 (9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 (10... Be7 11. dxc5 {leads to a slightly better position for White with his better development.}) 11. Rxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The same idea we will see later in the game.}) 10. cxd4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 {I see many chess players afraid of playing positions with an isolated queen's pawn, but it's necessary to understand that in chess there are static elements (which are long-term, like an isolated pawn) and dynamic (which are short-term, like free development of pieces and attacking chances). The two elements must constantly be weighed. Here the advantage belongs to White, especially due to the terrible placement of the black queen on c7.} b6 (11... Nxe4 12. Rxe4 $1 {[%CAl Be4h4] [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is an important idea to understand the position. White wants to capture with the rook to take it to the attack.}) 12. Bg5 {White's moves flow naturally, and his position is very active. A didactic illustration of the advantages of having an isolated pawn on d4.} Nxe4 $6 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This move makes things worse.} (12... Be7 {is the machine's recommendation, but White has a strong initiative after} 13. Ne5 (13. Rc1 {is also tempting, although Black is not yet lost after} Qd8) 13... Nxe5 14. Rc1 $1 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (14. dxe5 {is less precise due to an incredible defense:} Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Bb7 16. Rc1 Qd8 $1 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and White is unable to win material.} 17. Qxd8 (17. Bxb7 Bxg5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 17... Bxd8 18. Bxd8 (18. Bxb7 Bxg5) 18... Bxe4 {with an equal endgame.}) 14... Qxc1 $5 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A queen sac in order to build a fortress.} (14... Qd8 {leaves White with the advantage after} 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. dxe5 Qe7 18. Qc2 {threatening the pawn on h7 and a queen invasion on c7.}) 15. Bxc1 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Bb7 {and is not clear to me if White is able to win, but it's always more pleasant to be a queen up.}) 13. Rxe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A move that comes naturally to a player with an attacking style. The rook is going to h4.} Bb7 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. Rh4 f5 {Forced.} (15... h6 {is asking for it:} 16. Bxh6 $1 {[%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} gxh6 17. Qd2 {with a decisive attack.}) (15... g6 16. Qa4 {There's no good way to defend the knight on d7.} (16. Bb5 {is also good and was played in Przepiorka,D-Prokes, Budapest 1929.})) 16. Bc4 $1 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Attacking the weakness that was created on e6.} Qe8 (16... Bd5 {is also bad:} 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Rc6 $1 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black is full of weaknesses, and White's rooks play a fundamental role in his overwhelming advantage. When we are learning the basics of chess, we are usually taught that the rooks must be connected, or else \"in love\" for those of a more romantic bent. This is not always true, as the rooks in this position are very far away but still enjoying life.}) 17. Qb3 $1 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Increasing the pressure on e6.} Kh8 (17... Bxf3 {gives more chances to defend, but the position is still miserable after} 18. Qxf3 Qg6 19. Bf4 Bxf4 20. Rxf4 Rac8 21. Qb3 Kh8 22. Re1 {when the e6-pawn is about to fall.}) 18. Re1 {The e6-pawn is lost. White's position is already winning.} Be4 19. Bxe6 {There are other good moves as well:} (19. Rhxe4 {is not yet necessary, although White is much better after} fxe4 20. Rxe4) (19. Nd2 {also leads to a winning advantage:} Qg6 20. Nxe4 fxe4 21. Qh3 $1 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 19... Qg6 20. Bd2 $1 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best move.} (20. Bxd7 {is also winning, but White has to work on the endgame after} Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxg5 22. Rh5 Qg4 (22... Qf4 23. Qh3 h6 24. g3 Qd2 25. Re6 $1 {[%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with a winning attack.}) 23. Qxg4 fxg4 24. Bxg4) 20... Nf6 21. Ng5 {The knight joins the attack.} f4 22. Rxh7+ $1 {[%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The exchange sacrifice is very good now.} Nxh7 23. Nxe4 f3 24. g3 Be7 25. d5 {White has two pawns for the exchange plus a deadly bishop on e6 and attacking chances. The final result is not in doubt.} Rad8 26. Qa4 {White has other options, but this move is good enough.} a5 (26... Rfe8 {frees the f8-square for the knight and forces White to play a precise move to maintain the decisive advantage.} 27. Bd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (27. Qxa7 $2 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] is bad due to} Nf8) 27... Rf8 (27... Qh5 28. h4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (28. Bxe8 $4 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Blunder;persistent;true]} Qh3 {followed by mate; there's always a way to lose a winning position.})) 28. Qc6 {Preparing the advance of the d-pawn.}) 27. Qc6 {The queenside cannot be protected anymore.} Bb4 (27... Nf6 28. d6 {wins easily.}) 28. Bxb4 axb4 29. h4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Avoiding the activity of the black knight with Ng5 and opening up space for the king.} (29. Qxb6 $4 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] is bad:} Rxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 29... Ra8 30. Nd6 Ra7 (30... Rxa2 {loses to} 31. Nf7+ $1 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rxf7 32. Qe8+ Nf8 33. Bxf7) 31. Qxb6 Rxa2 32. Qc7 {Preparing Nf7.} Nf6 (32... Rxb2 33. Nf7+ {wins.}) 33. Nf7+ Kh7 34. Ne5 Qh6 35. Qc2+ g6 36. Nxg6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The final blow.} Rfa8 (36... Qxg6 {loses the queen after} 37. Bf5) 37. Ne5+ Kg7 38. Qc7+ {A perfect game from the fantastic Chinese GM. Wei initially appeared as a child prodigy, and I was there when he played in the World Cup in 2013, stunning everyone with his level of play. Let's not forget that he is still very young and could still fight for the world title in the coming years.} 1-0 [Event "https://www.chess.com"] [Site "https://www.chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "13.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Warmerdam, Max"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2625"] [Annotator "chessvibes"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "NED"] [BlackTeam "NED"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 e6 4. Bb2 Bd6 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 (6... Re8 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. a3 Bf8 9. d4 b6 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. O-O-O Na5 {Mamedyarov,S (2723)-Vidit,S (2737) Baku 2023}) 7. g4 Nc6 8. g5 Ne4 9. h4 Re8 $146 (9... Nxc3 10. dxc3 Ne5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qc2 f5 13. O-O-O Qa5 14. cxd5 Qxa2 15. d6 Rd8 {Keymer,V (2738)-Iljiushenok,I (2547) Samarkand 2023}) 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. dxc3 $1 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (11. Bxc3 $2 {[%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} d4 {is good for Black.}) 11... g6 12. h5 (12. O-O-O) 12... Ne5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. O-O-O Bg7 15. f4 e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best try.} 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Bd3 $2 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (17. cxd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 17... exf4 18. exf4 Qc7 $2 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (18... Bg4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] was apparently better for Black.}) 19. Rh4 dxc4 20. Bxg6 fxg6 21. Qxg6 Kf8 (21... Qc6 $5 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 22. f5 Qf7 23. Qd6+ Kg8 (23... Qe7 $1 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 24. f6 Qg6 $6 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (24... Bf5) 25. Qf4 Qf5 (25... Bf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 26. Qxc4+ Re6 27. fxg7 Rae8 {might still have been good enough to hold.}) 26. Qg3 Be6 (26... Re5 $5 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Interesting;persistent;true]}) 27. fxg7 Bf7 28. Rf4 Qe6 29. Qh2 $1 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now White is winning.} Kxg7 30. Rxf7+ Qxf7 31. g6 Qe6 32. Rd7+ 1-0 [Event "https://www.chess.com"] [Site "https://www.chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "13.2"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Gukesh D"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2725"] [Annotator "chessvibes"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "IRI"] [BlackTeam "IND"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 b6 (7... Re8 8. Bd2 a6 9. a3 Bd6 10. Rd1 h6 11. h3 Bd7 {Le,Q (2731)-So,W (2752) Saint Louis 2023}) 8. Bd2 Re8 9. a3 Bf8 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Ne5 a6 13. g4 g6 $146 (13... h6 14. O-O-O c5 15. Rhg1 c4 16. Be2 b5 17. h4 Rb8 18. Bf3 Be6 {Mirra,T (2292)-Burmeister,F (2315) ICCF email 2022}) 14. f3 c5 15. O-O-O Nd7 16. Nxf7 $5 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;Interesting;persistent;true] As Vidit noted earlier, Maghsoodloo is always good for interesting games no matter the tournament situation. The engine is not a fan of the text move, but between humans it's a different story.} (16. h4) 16... Kxf7 17. h4 b5 18. h5 c4 19. Bf1 Bg7 20. e4 Nf8 21. hxg6+ hxg6 22. Be3 Rb8 23. Qh2 Rb7 24. Be2 b4 25. axb4 Rxb4 26. Bh6 Bxh6+ 27. Qxh6 Qa5 28. Kc2 Qb6 29. Qf4+ Ke6 30. Rb1 ({In this incredibly wild game, this was a key moment as White could have played} 30. b3 $5 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} cxb3+ (30... Rxb3 31. Na4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 31. Kb2 {and it's highly unclear.}) 30... Kd7 31. exd5 Bb7 32. Qf7 Rb8 33. d6 Qxd6 34. d5 Ba8 35. Rh8 Bxd5 36. Nxd5 Qxd5 37. Rxf8 Qe5 38. Kd1 Rxf8 39. Qxf8 c3 40. Ke1 Rxb2 41. Rd1+ Ke6 0-1 [Event "https://www.chess.com"] [Site "https://www.chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "13.4"] [White "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Black "Donchenko, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2643"] [Annotator "chessvibes"] [PlyCount "131"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "UZB"] [BlackTeam "GER"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Qd3 Nbd7 7. Be2 g6 8. Bg5 Bg7 9. f4 Nc5 $146 (9... b5 10. Nc6 Qc7 11. Nxe7 Bb7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Ned5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Qxd5 Bxb2 16. Qxa8+ Ke7 17. Qxa6 Bxa1 {Firouzja,A (2763) -Vachier Lagrave,M (2731) Toronto 2023}) 10. Qe3 Ne6 11. Nxe6 Bxe6 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rad1 Qa5 14. Kh1 Qc5 15. Qf3 Bg4 16. Qd3 h6 17. Bh4 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qh5 19. Qe1 Ng4 20. Rd5 g5 21. Bg3 e6 22. Rxd6 gxf4 23. Rxf4 Be5 24. Rxg4 Bxd6 25. h3 Be5 26. Qf2 Rf8 27. Bf4 Bxc3 28. bxc3 Qc5 29. Be3 Qxc3 30. Bxh6 Qxc2 31. Qf6 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 Qd8 33. Qb2 Qc7+ 34. Bf4 Qe7 35. Rg3 f6 36. Bh6 Rc5 37. Qd4 e5 38. Qa4+ Kd8 39. Qb3 $2 {[%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A blunder, said Abdusattorov, who had missed the next move.} Rf7 $1 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 40. Bd2 $1 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Rg7 $2 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} ({Best was} 40... a5 {but, despite what Abdusattorov thought, White still has the better chances.}) 41. Qb6+ Rc7 42. Bb4 {Winning a crucial tempo, after which White can liquidate into a winning queen ending.} Qf7 43. Rxg7 Qxg7 44. Bd6 Kc8 45. Bxc7 Qxc7 46. Qxf6 a5 47. Qf8+ Kd7 48. Qf7+ Kc6 49. Qxc7+ Kxc7 50. h4 Kd6 51. h5 Ke7 52. a4 Kf6 53. g4 b5 54. axb5 a4 55. b6 a3 56. b7 a2 57. b8=Q a1=Q 58. Qd8+ Kg7 59. Qe7+ Kh6 60. Qf6+ Kh7 61. g5 Qb2+ 62. Kg3 Qb4 63. g6+ Kh6 64. Qh8+ Kg5 65. Qxe5+ Kh6 66. Kg4 1-0 [Event "https://www.chess.com"] [Site "https://www.chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A17"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2727"] [Annotator "chessvibes"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "CHN"] [BlackTeam "UZB"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 b6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bb2 Nbd7 7. g3 Be7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 a6 12. Re1 Bf8 13. Ne2 Rc8 14. Nf4 c5 15. d3 b5 16. Re2 Bd6 17. Rec2 Qe7 18. Qd2 Rc7 19. h4 Rec8 20. Bh3 Re8 21. a4 b4 22. h5 c4 23. Bd4 c3 24. Qd1 Nc5 25. Ra2 Ne6 26. Bb6 Nxf4 27. exf4 Rc6 28. a5 Bc8 29. Qf1 Bxh3 30. Qxh3 Bc5 31. Ne5 Rcc8 32. d4 Bd6 33. f3 Qe6 34. g4 Nd7 35. Qf1 Bxe5 36. fxe5 Nxb6 37. axb6 Qxb6 38. Qf2 a5 39. Rca1 f6 40. Rxa5 fxe5 41. Rxd5 exd4 42. Rxd4 Red8 43. Rxd8+ Qxd8 44. Kg2 c2 45. Rc1 Qd3 46. Qb6 Qxb3 47. Qd6 Qc4 48. h6 b3 49. Qd7 gxh6 50. Re1 c1=Q 51. Rxc1 Qxc1 $4 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Blunder;persistent;true]} ({First} 51... Qe2+ $1 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] would have won the game as there's no perpetual.}) 52. Qe6+ Kg7 53. Qe7+ Kg6 54. Qe6+ Kg7 55. Qe7+ Kg8 56. Qe6+ Kf8 57. Qf6+ Ke8 58. Qe6+ Kd8 59. Qd6+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "https://www.chess.com"] [Site "https://www.chess.com"] [Date "2024.01.28"] [Round "13.5"] [White "Mendonca, Leon Luke"] [Black "Divya Deshmukh"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B45"] [WhiteElo "2608"] [BlackElo "2420"] [Annotator "chessvibes"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "IND"] [BlackTeam "IND"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 10. c4 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Be3 Qd8 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Bb7 16. Kd1 (16. Rd1 Rc8 17. Rg1 c5 18. g4 Rf8 19. g5 Ne4 20. Qe5 Qe7 {Kollars,D (2607)-Le,Q (2728) Chess.com INT 2023}) 16... c5 17. Qxc5 Be4 18. Be2 d6 19. Qd4 O-O {It was all theory up till here.} 20. b4 $146 (20. Kc1 Qc7 21. b3 e5 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Qc5 Qb7 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2749) -Praggnanandhaa,R (2608) Krasnaya Polyana 2021}) 20... Qe8 21. a4 e5 22. Qd2 exf4 23. Bxf4 Bxg2 24. Rg1 Ne4 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Kc2 Nf2 27. Rxg2 Qxe2+ $2 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Taking the wrong bishop.} (27... Rxf4 {gives Black a winning advantage.}) 28. Bd2 {Now Black has nothing.} Rac8 29. Re1 Rxc4+ 30. Kb3 1-0