[Event "Speed Chess Championship Main Event 2022"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.11.23"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Andreikin, Dmitry"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2729"] [BlackElo "2735"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2007.01.20"] [TimeControl "300+1"] {[%evp 0,60,17,-36,4,-33,4,4,6,20,27,-28,-22,-35,2,7,22,-24,33,18,18,-16,21,33,41,30,30,30,26,21,64,8,8,-43,-40,-107,-67,-98,-82,-80,-148,-148,50,-85,238,205,151,-86,-70,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 {The Ragozin System gets the game off to a good start for those of us hoping for sharp play.} 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 Re8 8. Qc2 (8. a3 {is the primary alternative, and after} Bf8 {White has several good options to choose from including 9.h3 (played by Nihal against Aronian earlier this year, eventually drawn) and 9.Be2 chosen by Praggnanandhaa against Aronian, even earlier in the year, and won by Pragg).}) 8... a6 ({Even here} 8... Bf8 {is fairly common, not waiting for the a-pawn's kick. On the other hand, if White would like to play Bd3, he'll need to play a3 anyway - generally right now - to prevent ...Nb4.}) 9. Rd1 Bd6 10. h3 ({Again,} 10. a3 {is typical and common.}) 10... e5 $146 {Very direct--understandably so.} (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 b5 {followed by ...Bb7 seems to be the engine's preference, claiming a (very) slight edge for Black, who is still looking for ...e5.}) 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. cxd5 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 {White has a pawn, which offers just about enough compensation for his unfortunate king.} Bd7 $44 14. Rg1 (14. Bd3 {followed by Ne4 may be best.}) 14... c6 ({First} 14... Rc8 {may improve, but the text is fine.}) 15. Bd3 $6 {Hoping to blockade on d4. It's a decent idea if there's time for it.} (15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. fxe4 Qe7 17. Bc3 g6 $11) 15... cxd5 16. Ne2 Rc8 17. Qb1 $6 (17. Bc3 $142 $15) 17... Qb6 $6 (17... Bxh3 $1 $17) 18. h4 $6 (18. Bc3 Be5 19. Rh1 (19. h4 $15) 19... Bxc3+ 20. bxc3 $11 {/?}) 18... Bb4 $17 (18... d4 $1 19. e4 Nh5 20. f4 g6 $17 {/-+}) 19. Bc3 $2 (19. a3 $142) (19. b3 $142) 19... d4 $1 20. Nxd4 Nd5 $2 (20... Rxc3 $1 21. bxc3 Bxc3+ 22. Kf1 Bh3+ 23. Rg2 Bxd4 $1 24. exd4 Qxb1 25. Rxb1 Nd5 $1 $19 {From here Black will win a whole rook, which will leave him a piece ahead with an easily won ending.}) 21. Ne2 (21. Bxh7+ Kf8 22. Bxb4+ Qxb4+ 23. Rd2 g6 24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. a3 $1 Qb6 26. Rxg6 Rc1+ $1 27. Qxc1 Qxg6 $14) 21... Nxe3 $2 (21... g6 $11) 22. Rxg7+ Kf8 {White is winning in this very confusing position (and remember, it's a blitz game), but only one move does the trick.} (22... Kh8 $2 23. Rxh7+ Kg8 24. Rh8#) 23. Rxf7+ $2 {Good enough for an attractive draw, and thus safety, but missing a chance for the full point.} Kxf7 24. Bc4+ $1 Kf8 $8 (24... Rxc4 $4 25. Qxh7+ Ke6 (25... Kf8 26. Qg7#) 26. Qxd7#) 25. Qxh7 $8 Bxc3+ $8 26. bxc3 $8 Qf6 {Forcing White to force a draw.} (26... Ng2+ 27. Kf1 (27. Kd2 $4 Qb2+ 28. Qc2 Qxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Ba4+ 30. Bb3 Rxe2+ $19) 27... Ne3+ $1 28. Kg1 (28. Ke1 Ng2+ $11) (28. fxe3 Bh3+ $1 29. Kg1 (29. Ke1 Rxc4 $8 30. Qh8+ $8 Kf7 $8 31. Qh7+ $8 Kf8 $8 $11) (29. Kf2 $2 Qxe3+ 30. Kg3 Rxc4 $19) 29... Qxe3+ 30. Kh2 Rxc4 31. Qh8+ Kf7 32. Qh7+ Kf8 $11) 28... Qf6 $8 29. Rd6 $1 Be6 $1 30. Rxe6 Rxe6 31. Bxe6 Qxe6 32. Nf4 $8 Qf6 $8 33. Ng6+ Ke8 34. fxe3 Rxc3 $11) 27. Qg8+ $8 Ke7 28. Qh7+ $8 Kf8 $8 29. Qg8+ $8 Ke7 30. Qh7+ $8 Kf8 $8 1/2-1/2