[Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid ESP"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C77"] [Annotator "Crowther,Mark"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,32,24,16,25,10,22,15,10,3,4,4,13,15,6,-3,-7,-48,-13,-36,-17,-17,1,-10, 21,-10,9,3,29,28,23,-6,10,13,13]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 {8...Be7 is a critical line.} 9. c3 Ba7 ({ Relevant:} 9... Bb6 10. a4 Rb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Na3 g5 13. Bg3 Na5 14. Bc2 b4 15. cxb4 Nc6 16. Ba4 Bd7 17. Nc4 Nxb4 18. Bxd7+ Nxd7 19. O-O O-O 20. Nxb6 Rxb6 21. d4 Nc6 22. Rc1 Nxd4 23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Qxd4 Nc5 25. Rcd1 Ne6 26. Qc3 f6 27. f4 Qe7 28. b4 Rbb8 29. f5 Nd8 30. Rd4 Nf7 31. Rc4 Rb7 32. Rc1 Rfb8 33. h4 gxh4 34. Bxh4 Ne5 35. Rxc7 Rxc7 36. Qxc7 Qxc7 37. Rxc7 Rxb4 38. Re7 d5 39. Kf1 { Praggnanandhaa,R (2642)-Carlsen,M (2864) chess24.com INT 2022 1-0}) 10. O-O Na5 11. Bc2 {[#]} c5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11... g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. a4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Nc6 15. axb5 axb5 16. Na3 Ba6 17. Bb3 Ne7 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 b4 20. Nc4 Bxc4 21. Bxc4 O-O 22. cxb4 d5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nb5 Qxb4 25. b3 Qc5 26. Qf3 Kg7 27. Ra6 f6 28. Rfa1 Nc8 29. Kh2 {1-0 (29) Caruana,F (2800)-Burke,J (2554) Saint Louis 2021}) 12. Nbd2 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. a3 Rb8 15. Kh1 Rb7 16. b4 Nc6 17. Bb3 Rc7 18. Bd5 (18. bxc5 Bxc5) 18... g4 19. Bh4 (19. Ng1) 19... Ne7 20. Ng1 cxb4 21. axb4 Rxc3 22. Ne2 Rc7 23. f4 f6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Ng3 Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 Rf8 { The game is a double edged mess.} 27. Rxf6 $6 (27. Rc1 {was a better move.}) 27... Rxf6 28. Bxf6 Qd6 29. Qf1 Bd4 (29... Ng6) 30. Bf7+ Kd7 (30... Kd8) 31. Rd1 Rc2 32. Bb3 Rc7 33. Nc4 $5 (33. Ba2) 33... bxc4 34. dxc4 Rc6 35. Ba4 Kc7 ( 35... Qe6) 36. Bxc6 {White has won the exchange for two minor pieces.} Nxc6 37. b5 Nb4 38. c5 Qe6 39. Bh4 Bxc5 40. Rc1 Qd6 {After all that equality at move 40. } 41. Qc4 Nd3 42. Rc3 $2 (42. Be7 Qxe7 43. Qxd3 Kb6) 42... axb5 43. Qxd3 Qxd3 44. Rxd3 Bd4 {The exchange is worth less than the piece and pawn here, a lot less.} 45. Bf6 Kb6 46. Rxd4 {Trying to get salvation in a bishops of opposite colours endgame, it doesn't work.} exd4 47. Bxd4+ Ka5 48. Kg1 b4 49. Kf2 Ka4 50. Ke3 Kb3 51. Kf4 Kc2 52. Ke5 b3 53. Kd6 Kd3 54. Ba1 Kxe4 55. Kc5 Kd3 { Black will win the bishop and keep the one pawn he needs to win the game.} 0-1 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid ESP"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.2"] [White "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C53"] [Annotator "Crowther,Mark"] [PlyCount "113"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,113,28,11,11,9,15,15,15,70,-15,-13,36,25,40,25,32,-13,-3,-23,-6,-5,-5, -8,11,-4,49,-3,19,3,13,-6,2,13,0,0,72,21,16,13,28,21,-1,8,4,-30,34,22,23,16,25, 4,103,99,157,132,277,101,112,64,76,69,156,44,51,-11,44,28,19,-11,25,25,0,0,0, 33,20,28,23,75,239,244,236,236,236,233,233,254,275,283,282,261,323,205,206,237, 230,225,237,137,162,207,253,261,259,256,284,293,289,286,286,306,331,321,321, 343]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 O-O {8...0-0 is better than 8...h6.} 9. h3 Be6 ({Relevant:} 9... h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Rb1 b5 14. Ra1 d5 15. Qc2 Bb6 16. Nb3 Qe8 17. a5 Ba7 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 dxe4 20. dxe4 Rd6 21. Ree1 Nd7 22. Rad1 Qe6 23. Nfd2 Rd8 24. Nf1 Nf6 25. Nc5 Qc8 26. Ne3 g6 27. Qb3 Kg7 28. Nd5 Nd7 29. Nd3 Nf6 30. Nxf6 Rxf6 31. Nc5 Ne7 32. c4 bxc4 33. Qxc4 Rfd6 34. Rb1 Nc6 35. Qxa6 Qxa6 36. Nxa6 Nxa5 37. Nxc7 Nc4 38. b5 Nb6 39. Rec1 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2773) -Giri,A (2773) Chess.com INT 2022 1-0}) 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Nh5 {[#]} 12. Nbd2 $146 {This obviously super-sharp with chances for both sides.} ({Predecessor:} 12. Ra2 Qe8 13. Be3 Nf4 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Kh2 b5 16. g3 Nh5 17. Kg2 Qg6 18. Re3 bxa4 19. Nh4 Qe8 20. Qxa4 a5 21. b5 Nb8 22. d4 Nd7 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Qd4 Ra8 25. Na3 Qf7 26. Qd1 Nf6 27. Qe2 Nfd7 28. f4 Ng6 29. Nf3 Nc5 30. Nc4 a4 31. Ng5 Qe8 32. f5 Ne7 33. Nd2 Nc8 34. Ndf3 e5 35. Qc4+ Kh8 36. Rf2 Nb6 37. Qa2 h6 38. Nh4 hxg5 39. Ng6+ Kh7 40. Qe2 Nbd7 41. Nxf8+ Qxf8 {Jones,G (2672)-Van Foreest, J (2714) chess24.com INT 2022 0-1}) 12... Nf4 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. Qb3 Rf6 (15... Qf7) (15... Qh6) 16. b5 Na5 {This knight ends up being a huge problem for black.} 17. Qa2 g5 $2 {The position was obviously quite uncomfortable for black, but this is just losing.} 18. N1h2 Rg6 19. d4 h5 20. g3 Qf6 21. Rad1 Rg7 22. Kh1 {Black doesn't have a kingside attack and it will now be his king that gets attacked.} Rf8 23. dxe5 (23. h4 $1) 23... dxe5 24. h4 gxh4 25. gxh4 Bc5 26. Rg1 Bd6 27. Ng5 Kh8 28. Qe2 Qg6 29. Rd3 axb5 30. Rdg3 Qe8 31. axb5 {Nothing particularly wrong with this but it's surely combo time.} ( 31. Nxe6 Rxg3 32. Rxg3 Rg8 33. Qf3 Rxg3 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. fxg3) 31... Rf6 32. Qf1 $6 {This gives Caruana some new hope.} (32. c4) 32... b6 $6 (32... Nb3 { was needed. The problem knight needs to return to the game.}) 33. Qg2 Qf8 ( 33... Qg8) 34. Qh3 Qg8 35. R1g2 Nb7 (35... Be7) 36. Nh7 Rfg6 37. Rxg6 Rxg6 38. Ng5 Rf6 39. f4 Nc5 40. fxe5 Bxe5 41. Ngf3 Qa8 {Caruana fights to the last giving up a piece for play.} 42. Nxe5 Nxe4 43. Nhf3 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Qc1 45. Nd3 Qxc3 46. Ra2 Nf2 47. Rxf2 Qxd3 48. Qg3 Qd6 49. Qxd6 cxd6 50. Kg3 Rf5 51. Rd2 Rxb5 52. Rxd6 Kg7 53. Rxe6 {Sadly for Caruana there are no saving chances.} Rb4 54. Re5 Kh6 55. Rd5 Rb1 56. Nd4 Rg1+ 57. Kf4 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid ESP"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E06"] [Annotator "Crowther,Mark"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,65,24,24,24,-10,-4,6,9,-24,5,2,-3,4,-6,-9,14,9,42,55,39,45,27,18,34, 47,34,25,61,30,64,61,52,31,61,4,31,31,31,53,69,44,53,52,81,75,45,34,54,11,32, 16,11,11,22,20,21,11,14,12,11,6,6,6,5,2,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. Nc3 ({ Relevant:} 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 12. Qc3 c5 13. Be3 Ne4 14. Qe1 Nb4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc2 18. Qd2 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 cxd4 20. cxd4 Bf6 21. Qf4 Qb8 22. Qg4 g6 23. e3 h5 24. Qf4 Qxf4 25. gxf4 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Rd8 27. Rb1 Rd7 28. Kg2 Kg7 29. Be4 Ra7 30. Rb2 Rd7 31. Rc2 Bd8 32. Kf3 Rc7 33. Rb2 Be7 34. Rb5 Rd7 35. Bc6 Rc7 36. d5 exd5 37. Bxd5 Bc5 38. Be4 Be7 39. Kg2 Bc5 { Andreikin,D (2729)-Nakamura,H (2760) Chess.com INT 2022 1/2-1/2 (129)}) 10... axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bd5 13. Bf4 c5 14. dxc5 Qa5 15. Nc3 Qxc5 {[#]} 16. Be3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 16. e4 Bc6 17. Be3 Qa5 18. Nd4 Rc8 19. h3 Be8 20. f4 Na6 21. e5 Nb4 22. Qd2 Nd7 23. Kh2 Qa6 24. Qe2 Nd3 25. f5 N7xe5 26. fxe6 fxe6 27. Nxe6 Bc6 28. Nd4 Bxg2 29. Qxg2 Rb8 30. Nf5 Bf6 31. Qd5+ Kh8 32. Ne4 Rxb2+ 33. Kh1 Rb5 34. Bc5 Qb7 35. Nxf6 Qxd5+ 36. Nxd5 Rxc5 37. Nd4 h6 38. Ne7 Rc7 39. Rf8+ Kh7 40. Re8 Ng6 {0-1 (40) Dubov,D (2702)-Nakamura,H (2766) Chess.com INT 2022}) 16... Qa5 17. Bd2 Ba8 {Nepomniachtchi has very few losing chances which at this stage I'm sure suits him.} 18. Nd1 Qc5 19. Ne3 Rc8 20. Rc1 Bd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne5 Nb6 23. Qe4 Bf6 24. Bc3 N8d7 25. Bd4 Qd6 26. Nxd7 {Now comes the liquidation.} Bxd4 27. Nxb6 Qxb6 28. e3 Bxb2 29. Rxc4 Qa6 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qb7 Qxb7 32. Bxb7 {Even I could draw with either colour against anyone.} g6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Ba8 Ba1 35. Bb7 Bb2 36. Ba8 Ba1 37. Bb7 Bb2 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid ESP"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [Annotator "Crowther,Mark"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,31,24,10,52,37,99,61,58,39,32,28,48,43,45,35,35,37,22,34,19,-27,6,27, 13,26,44,21,29,29,42,21,18,21]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Nc6 ({Relevant:} 7... Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qe2 Na5 11. Bd5 Be6 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Bg5 Bxd5 14. Rxd5 Nc4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Rd3 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Rb3 b5 19. a4 Nb6 20. Nxb6 Qxb6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. g3 Rb8 24. Ne1 Qc6 25. c4 b4 26. Nc2 Qc5 27. Ne3 Bd8 28. Nd5 Ba5 29. h4 Kf8 30. Qh5 h6 31. Rf3 Rb7 32. Qg6 Kg8 33. Nf6+ Kf8 34. Nh5 Qxc4 35. Qxg7+ Ke7 36. Nf6 Kd8 {1-0 (36) Naiditsch,A (2653)-Moussard,J (2668) Chartres 2022}) 8. Bc4 Be6 9. Nd5 Rc8 10. Nxf6+ {[#]} gxf6 $146 {This looks pretty risky and in a few moves white is definitely better.} ({Predecessor:} 10... Qxf6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Qg6 13. Nd2 Be7 14. c4 O-O 15. Rc1 Rc7 16. f3 Bg5 17. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. Rc3 a5 19. Rf2 Rfc8 20. g3 Nd4 21. Kg2 Qd8 22. f4 exf4 23. Rxf4 Nc6 24. a4 Ne5 25. Qe2 Qe8 26. b3 g5 27. Rf2 g4 28. Qe3 Qh5 29. Rc1 Ng6 30. Rcf1 Qe5 31. Qh6 Rg7 32. h3 gxh3+ 33. Qxh3 Rf8 34. Rxf8+ Nxf8 35. Qh4 Ng6 36. Qh3 Nf8 37. Qh4 Rf7 38. Rxf7 Kxf7 39. Nf3 Qb2+ {1/2-1/2 (39) Adams,M (2723)-Bologan,V (2732) Konya 2012}) 11. Bb3 Ne7 12. O-O Bxb3 13. axb3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Qe2 Nf5 16. Rfd1 Qc6 17. c4 Bg7 18. Rd5 O-O 19. Rad1 {Control of the open d-file means white is much better here.} Rfe8 20. h3 b5 21. c5 $6 (21. Bc5) 21... Bf8 $2 (21... a5 {was the move.} 22. Qc2 Qe6 23. Qe4 Ne7 24. Rd7 f5) 22. b4 { Of course.} Nd4 $2 {Although in real terms all the damage has been done.} ( 22... Qe6) 23. Nxd4 Qxd5 24. Nf5 Qe4 25. Qh5 Red8 26. Ra1 Rc6 $2 (26... Ra8) 27. Bh6 Kh8 28. Ra3 Qxb4 29. Bxf8 Rxf8 30. Qh6 {It's forced checkmate.} Rg8 31. Rg3 Rxg3 32. fxg3 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2793"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ESP"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,63,36,30,66,35,99,65,56,37,33,29,68,49,31,52,26,38,43,24,65,-6,9,-9, 19,11,33,19,20,20,20,23,16,12,31,12,47,33,62,56,56,31,86,-11,47,28,47,44,32, -35,-27,-42,0,0,0,0,61,-34,188,75,29985,29986,29987,29988,29989,29990]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 $5 (7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. a5 { 1/2-1/2 (21) Aronian,L (2772)-Dubov,D (2720) Berlin GER 2022}) 7... Nc6 $5 ( 7... Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Bb3 Na5 11. Bg5 Nxb3 12. axb3 Be6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nd5 Rc8 15. c4 Bg5 16. Nxg5 Qxg5 {1/2-1/2 (31) Yu Yangyi (2726) -Carlsen,M (2872) Wijk aan Zee NED 2020}) 8. Bc4 Be6 9. Nd5 Rc8 (9... Bxd5 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Qa5+ 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Nd2 Rc8 14. O-O-O Be7 15. b3 b5 16. Kb2 Rc6 17. Nb1 Kd7 18. Nc3 Rhc8 19. Rd3 h6 20. Rc1 {1/2-1/2 (36) Karjakin,S (2775)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2707) Moscow 2012}) 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 $5 (10... Qxf6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 (11... Qxe6 12. O-O Be7 13. Nd2 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Qg4 O-O 16. Bh6 Bf6 17. Ne4 Qe6 18. Qxe6 fxe6 19. Be3 Nb4 20. c3 Nd5 21. Rfe1 {1/2-1/2 (41) Vachier Lagrave,M (2703)-Morozevich,A (2751) Biel 2009}) 12. O-O Qg6 13. Nd2 Be7 14. c4 O-O 15. Rc1 Rc7 16. f3 {1/2-1/2 (39) Adams,M (2723)-Bologan,V (2732) Konya 2012}) 11. Bb3 Ne7 $5 12. O-O Bxb3 13. axb3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Qe2 $5 ( 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. c3) 15... Nf5 16. Rfd1 Qc6 17. c4 $5 (17. c3) 17... Bg7 $5 18. Rd5 O-O 19. Rad1 Rfe8 20. h3 b5 $6 21. c5 $6 (21. Bc5 $1) 21... Bf8 $6 ( 21... a5 $1) 22. b4 $1 Nd4 $5 23. Nxd4 Qxd5 24. Nf5 (24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Nf5) 24... Qe4 25. Qh5 Red8 26. Ra1 Rc6 27. Bh6 Kh8 28. Ra3 Qxb4 29. Bxf8 Rxf8 30. Qh6 Rg8 31. Rg3 Rxg3 32. fxg3 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2806"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ESP"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,18,28,32,30,42,56,11,15,8,-2,-12,5,5,4,-13,-14,-50,-3,-37,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. c3 Ba7 10. O-O Na5 11. Bc2 c5 (11... g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. a4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Nc6 15. axb5 axb5 16. Na3 Ba6 17. Bb3 Ne7 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 b4 20. Nc4 Bxc4 21. Bxc4 O-O 22. cxb4 d5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nb5 Qxb4 25. b3 Qc5 26. Qf3 Kg7 27. Ra6 f6 28. Rfa1 Nc8 29. Kh2 {1-0 (29) Caruana,F (2800)-Burke,J (2554) Saint Louis USA 2021 }) 12. Nbd2 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. a3 Rb8 15. Kh1 Rb7 16. b4 Nc6 17. Bb3 Rc7 18. Bd5 $6 g4 $5 19. Bh4 Ne7 20. Ng1 cxb4 21. axb4 Rxc3 22. Ne2 Rc7 23. f4 f6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Ng3 Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 Rf8 27. Rxf6 $6 Rxf6 28. Bxf6 Qd6 29. Qf1 Bd4 30. Bf7+ Kd7 31. Rd1 Rc2 32. Bb3 Rc7 33. Nc4 $5 bxc4 34. dxc4 Rc6 35. Ba4 Kc7 36. Bxc6 Nxc6 37. b5 Nb4 38. c5 Qe6 39. Bh4 Bxc5 40. Rc1 Qd6 41. Qc4 Nd3 $1 42. Rc3 $6 axb5 43. Qxd3 Qxd3 44. Rxd3 Bd4 45. Bf6 Kb6 46. Rxd4 exd4 47. Bxd4+ Ka5 48. Kg1 b4 49. Kf2 Ka4 50. Ke3 Kb3 51. Kf4 Kc2 52. Ke5 b3 53. Kd6 Kd3 54. Ba1 Kxe4 55. Kc5 Kd3 0-1 [Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2753"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ESP"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,34,30,24,36,6,6,6,12,3,6,5,5,4,8,6,21,43,35,35,35,21,47,35,30,27,47, 47,42,54,41,45,45,30,73,0,35]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. Nc3 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bd5 13. Bf4 c5 14. dxc5 Qa5 15. Nc3 Qxc5 16. Be3 $5 (16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bd2 Nd7 18. Rc1 Rc8 19. e3 Bf6 20. Bf1 N7b6 {½-½ (63) Vidit,S (2723)-Nakamura,H (2766) INT 2022}) (16. Ra1 Nbd7 17. Be3 Qc8 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Nd4 Bc5 20. Rd1 Rd8 21. Bg5 {1/2-1/2 (35) Banusz,T (2607)-Krassowizkij,J (2458) Austria AUT 2021}) 16... Qa5 17. Bd2 Ba8 18. Nd1 Qc5 19. Ne3 Rc8 20. Rc1 Bd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne5 Nb6 23. Qe4 Bf6 24. Bc3 N8d7 25. Bd4 Qd6 26. Nxd7 Bxd4 27. Nxb6 Qxb6 28. e3 Bxb2 29. Rxc4 Qa6 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qb7 Qxb7 32. Bxb7 g6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Ba8 Ba1 35. Bb7 Bb2 36. Ba8 Ba1 37. Bb7 Bb2 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10.2"] [White "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2750"] [BlackElo "2783"] [PlyCount "113"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ESP"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,22,16,28,38,44,44,13,24,-9,-5,5,2,-10,37,-22,10,-36,-13,-9,10,-33,7, 10,-7]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Nh5 12. Nbd2 Nf4 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. Qb3 Rf6 16. b5 Na5 17. Qa2 g5 18. N1h2 Rg6 19. d4 h5 20. g3 Qf6 21. Rad1 Rg7 22. Kh1 Rf8 $6 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. h4 $1 gxh4 25. gxh4 Bc5 $6 26. Rg1 Bd6 27. Ng5 Kh8 28. Qe2 Qg6 29. Rd3 axb5 30. Rdg3 Qe8 31. axb5 Rf6 32. Qf1 $6 ( 32. Qd3 $1 $18) 32... b6 33. Qg2 Qf8 34. Qh3 Qg8 35. R1g2 Nb7 36. Nh7 Rfg6 37. Rxg6 Rxg6 38. Ng5 Rf6 39. f4 $3 Nc5 (39... exf4 40. e5 Bxe5 41. Qf3) 40. fxe5 Bxe5 41. Ngf3 Qa8 42. Nxe5 (42. Ng4 $3 hxg4 43. Qxg4 Qf8 44. Nxe5) 42... Nxe4 43. Nhf3 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Qc1 45. Nd3 Qxc3 46. Ra2 Nf2 47. Rxf2 Qxd3 48. Qg3 Qd6 49. Qxd6 cxd6 50. Kg3 Rf5 51. Rd2 Rxb5 52. Rxd6 Kg7 53. Rxe6 Rb4 54. Re5 Kh6 55. Rd5 Rb1 56. Nd4 Rg1+ 57. Kf4 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2806"] [Annotator "samsh"] [PlyCount "122"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 {I always thought this was an inaccurate move order for White if he wants a d3 Spanish. Now, Black can put his bishop on a better square than e7— either c5 or g7 is quite reasonable. I guess it does have the added benefit of avoiding the Open Spanish.} (5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {This would be the normal way, forcing Black's bishop to commit to e7.}) 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {The Archangel should be an excellent opening for Black if White is unable to play c3 and d4. It just looks like a good Italian for the second player.} 7. Bg5 $5 {This is very bold. It is not a bad move, but strategically it's a very risky one. In general, I never really liked these positions where White's dark squared bishop ends up on g3. I often find that if it ever gets taken, Black's unopposed dark-squared bishop on a7 often wins him the game.} h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. c3 Ba7 10. O-O {All of this is relatively normal so far. Ding kept matching the computer, suggesting he was still in his preparation.} Na5 11. Bc2 c5 $1 {I like this move, being a little patient before chasing the bishop.} (11... g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 {This is probably playable too, but I dislike allowing} 13. b4 $1 {When Black is unable to retreat the knight back to the ideal c6-square without getting his pawn to c5 first.}) 12. Nbd2 g5 $1 {Now and only now.} 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. a3 Rb8 $1 {This move convinced me that Ding may well be the best player in the world on the black side of Italian structures. It absolutely blows my mind that the computer says this is best, but it is. I would not have even considered it $1 Black plans to leave the king in the center and develop his rook along the seventh rank. Furthermore, after the inevitable b2-b4 coming, a2-a4 will be much less dangerous when the rook is off of the a-file. [After the game, Ding stated that this move was part of old preparation that was not for this game. - ed.]} (14... Qf6 {A move like this looks pretty automatic to me. It's not bad, but Ding's choice is stronger.}) 15. Kh1 Rb7 $1 {Black is nothing if not consistent.} 16. b4 Nc6 17. Bb3 Rc7 18. Bd5 {Up to here, the game has been dynamic and tense, but mainly strategic with some understanding of where the pieces are supposed to go, and not with too many concrete lines to consider. Now it starts heating up fast.} g4 $5 {The chaos begins $1} (18... O-O { This was also possible. Black can plan for …Kg7 and …f5.}) 19. Bh4 (19. Nh4 {This feels more natural to me, but White still has some problems to solve.} Ne7 $1 {My computer claims White is okay here... but only if he lets Black take on d5 $1 That is bizarre to me.} 20. Bb3 $2 (20. bxc5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Bxc5 { Apparently White is fine. That would most definitely not be my instinct $1}) 20... cxb4 $1 21. cxb4 O-O $15 {...Kh7 and …f5 are coming.}) 19... Ne7 20. Ng1 cxb4 21. axb4 Rxc3 $5 {This strikes me as a bit greedy. I don't think the c3-pawn was the most important factor.} (21... Qd7 $1 {Time is of the essence. Now, Black is threatening to take on d5 and go …f5, which looks like an absolute nightmare for White. …Ng6 is also a huge threat, so one would expect White to take on e7.} 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 {But this is exactly what I am talking about with the unopposed g7-bishop. White cannot play f3 because of …Qh4, and he does not have another great way to get counterplay. c3 is weak, d4 won't come, at some point …Nf4 and the h-pawn starts shoving. Despite my computer's insistence on equality, I would definitely take Black here.}) 22. Ne2 $1 Rc7 23. f4 $1 {White is a pawn down, so setting the board on fire makes perfect sense. Black's king can end up in real trouble.} f6 $1 {The most human move.} (23... O-O {The machine wants this one, but this is a very hard move for a human.} 24. f5 $1 {The space is a huge problem and …Ng3 is on the way. Miraculously, Black just barely holds together with the only move} Be3 $1 25. Ng3 Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 h5 {When his bishop can regroup to h6 and keep the king safe. Even here I would surely take White and I can understand why Ding didn't like it.}) 24. fxe5 (24. Qe1 {The computer likes maintaining the tension here. No human plays such a move.}) 24... dxe5 25. Ng3 $1 {Removing the guard of f6. Black's position looks very dangerous.} Nxg3+ $1 26. hxg3 Rf8 $1 {Cold blooded. } 27. Rxf6 (27. Bxf6 $2 Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Nxd5 $1 {Black wins.}) (27. Rc1 $5 { Maintaining the tension was an interesting option, though it is hard to imagine a human not taking on f6.}) 27... Rxf6 $1 28. Bxf6 Qd6 $1 {Ding has the position more or less under control, though it still looks very scary.} 29. Qf1 Bd4 (29... Ng6 {Computers are so silly. Who brings the knight from e7 to g6 where it is blunted by the g3-pawn $2 Apparently this was best, so Black can go …Be6 and …Rf7 next.}) 30. Bf7+ $1 Kd7 (30... Kxf7 {Of course the bishop cannot be taken.} 31. Bxe5+) 31. Rd1 Rc2 {I didn't really get this move. Apparently, moving the rook back and forth could lead to a repetition... But I don't see why Black needs to worry so much just yet.} (31... Qxb4 $5 {I think Black could have grabbed this pawn.} 32. Nb3) 32. Bb3 Rc7 {My suspicion is that if Rapport played Bf7 here, Ding may have taken b4 and continued the game. But, we will never find out, since Richard has never been shy about pushing the chaos button.} 33. Nc4 $5 {Very enterprising $1 But this is the kind of thing that does not work as well against 2800s.} bxc4 34. dxc4 {c5 is coming next and Black's position looks very scary, but Ding finds the right coordination.} Rc6 $1 {White's biggest threat was c4-c5, kicking the queen off of the d-file and getting ready for Bxe5 next. Black hits the f6 bishop with a gain of tempo and clears the c7-square for his king to escape. Losing the exchange is hardly the most relevant factor.} (34... Qxb4 $2 {Of course this tempting move has to be considered, but it's no good.} 35. Bxe5 $1 {White wins. }) (34... Ke8 {This might look tempting to escape the pin, but...} 35. c5 $1 Qc6 36. Bxe5 $1 {... It turns out Black cannot take back on e5 anyway on pain of mate on f7. White wins.}) 35. Ba4 Kc7 $1 {Black escapes the dangerous d-file. White should be careful to maintain the balance.} 36. Bxc6 Nxc6 37. b5 Nb4 $1 {Black wants to keep the c-file closed...} (37... axb5 38. cxb5 Na5 { This was also possible, but I prefer the game continuation.}) 38. c5 $1 { But White insists.} Qe6 39. Bh4 (39. b6+ $2 {It might be tempting to get connected passers, but Black has them nicely blockaded.} Kb7 $19 {Black sticks his knight on c6, and White's pawns are going nowhere. Conversely, the a-pawn will win the game.}) 39... Bxc5 $1 {Brave, but well calculated. Black had other good moves, but I like this one the most by far. Ding grabs the pawn, and this set him on the path to victory.} 40. Rc1 $1 Qd6 $1 (40... Kb6 $2 { Not to be recommended $1} 41. Bd8+ $1 $18) 41. Qc4 {It is incredibly easy to get this far in your calculations and just call it quits. Black's position looks like it is about to collapse on the c-file, but Ding had seen it further. } Nd3 $1 (41... Kb6 $2 42. Bd8+ {This would have led to a very different result $1}) 42. Rc3 $2 {A very natural human move, but it loses the game.} (42. Be7 $1 {White had to play this move. It's not that hard a move to find once you realize that Rc3 loses... but noticing that Rc3 is losing is hard to do $1} Qxe7 43. Qxd3 Kb6 44. bxa6 Bxa6 45. Qd5 $11 {Black's king is a bit too open here. Despite my computer insisting on dead equality, I do think Black can push a bit, but in a higher chess sense, this should be drawn.}) 42... axb5 $1 43. Qxd3 (43. Qxb5 Nf2+ {Black keeps his piece, consolidates his position, and wins.} 44. Kh2 Nxe4 $19) 43... Qxd3 $1 44. Rxd3 Bd4 $1 {Now, White is an exchange up... but dead lost. His king is forever shut out of play on h1 and unable to come to g1. So, Black basically just pushes the b-pawn down the board. There is no way White's bishop can come around in time to challenge the a7-g1 diagonal. We are a long way from the opening, but that same ideal held true- Bg5-h4 allowed Black to dominate the most important diagonal.} 45. Bf6 { It's understandable to aim for the opposite-bishop ending, but Black wins by one tempo.} (45. Bg5 {Even if Black's pawn had been back on h7 and this move did not hang a piece, Black would still win. It takes too long to get the king into play.} Kc6 46. Be3 Bxe3 47. Rxe3 b4 {The b-pawn is coming and White's king may as well be on another planet.}) (45. Rd1 {This offers a bit more resistance, but Black should definitely still be winning.} Bb7 $19) 45... Kb6 $1 46. Rxd4 exd4 47. Bxd4+ Ka5 48. Kg1 b4 49. Kf2 Ka4 $1 {Just in time.} 50. Ke3 Kb3 {Again, just in time.} (50... Bd7 {Burning one move allows White to set up a fortress.} 51. Kd2 Kb3 52. Bc5 $1 $11 {Black needs Kc3 here, and White's king got the tempo it needed to get in position.}) 51. Kf4 (51. Kd2 { Passive defense does not hold.} Ka2 52. Kc1 b3 53. e5 Be6 {Black will play …Bd5, …Bxg2, bring the bishop back to stop the e-pawn, and then …h5 and …g3 wins as White's bishop is unable to stop both the g-pawn and the b-pawn.} ) (51. Bc5 Kc3 $1 {Nice that White's king did not make it to d2 $1}) 51... Kc2 52. Ke5 b3 53. Kd6 Kd3 $1 {Nice and clinical. Black does have the time to grab the e4-pawn.} (53... b2 {This wins, but there is no need to calculate variations.}) 54. Ba1 Kxe4 55. Kc5 Kd3 {Rapport resigned. Had he continued, this is what the end would have looked like.} 56. Kb4 Kc2 57. Ka3 Bb7 58. Bb2 Bxg2 59. Ba1 h5 60. Bb2 h4 61. gxh4 g3 {White's bishop cannot stop both pawns.} 0-1 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2793"] [Annotator "Rafael"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 (3. Nc3 {In the post-game interview, Nakamura mentioned a game he played against Firouzja in the World Blitz Championship in 2019. It was very similar to today's game, but with a different move order.} Nf6 4. h3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 h6 {and Black eventually won in Nakamura-Firouzja, Moscow 2019.}) 3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 {This is a more positional move than 7.Nb3 with the traditional English Attack.} Nc6 {A rare move. The game soon enters unknown territory.} 8. Bc4 Be6 9. Nd5 $5 {Nakamura tries to exploit Black's rare move order.} (9. Bb3 {might transpose to lines known to opening theory.}) (9. Bxe6 {This capture usually is not enough for an advantage, as Black's pawn structure is quite good. For a Najdorf player, it's a relief to stop worrying about the d5-square.} fxe6 $11) 9... Rc8 $1 {The best.} (9... Bxd5 {led to a better ending for White after} 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Qa5+ 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 { in Karjakin-Nepomniachtchi, Moscow 2012.}) 10. Nxf6+ {Nakamura thought for a long time in this position and decided to play this solid move.} (10. Ng5 { Nakamura mentioned he calculated this move but couldn't make it work. I was impressed by his accurate calculation and also by his evaluations, nearly the same as the computer. I will mention them in this line.} Bxd5 11. Bxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5 (12. exd5 Qa5+ 13. c3 Ne7 14. Ne4 Nxd5 {and White doesn't have enough compensation—Black has a big advantage. The computer agrees.}) 12... Qa5+ { According to Nakamura, the position is equal and might even be a little better for Black. The computer agrees once again.}) (10. Bb6 Qd7 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 {and Black is ok.}) (10. Bg5 {This is a natural move, although it has never been tried before.} Nb4 $1 {The best way to equalize.} (10... Qa5+ 11. Bd2 (11. c3 {is also interesting. Black has to find a strong queen sacrifice.} Nxe4 $1 12. b4 Qa3 13. Bc1 {It looks like the queen is trapped and the game is over. Not yet.} Bxd5 $3 14. Bxa3 Bxc4 {and Black has excellent compensation for the queen.}) 11... Qd8 12. Ng5 {An attempt to avoid move repetition. This leads to wild complications.} Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nb4 $5 15. O-O (15. Bxb4 Qxg5 $11) 15... Nxc2 16. Rc1 Nd4 17. f4 {This looks pretty good for White, but the computer evaluates as 0.00 as usual.}) (10... Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 {with a position similar to the Sveshnikov variation. White is slightly better.}) 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bb3 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qa5+ 14. c3 Bxd5 15. Qxd5 (15. exd5 Qb5 $11) 15... Qxd5 16. exd5 f5 17. Nh4 f4 {And the position is equal.}) 10... gxf6 $2 {A horrible decision that will result in Firouzja's defeat. Of course, it's always easy to criticize after the game is over, but this just seems too optimistic. Black's pawn structure is badly damaged for no good reason.} (10... Qxf6 11. Bxe6 Qxe6 (11... fxe6 12. O-O {is slightly better for White: Adams-Bologan, Konya 2012.}) 12. O-O Be7 $11 {with an equal position in Vachier Lagrave-Morozevich, Biel 2009.}) 11. Bb3 {The normal human reaction. Why take on e6 and improve Black's structure $2} (11. Bxe6 {The computer claims an advantage for White here, anyway.} fxe6 12. O-O f5 {and White has a few options to gain an advantage. But I would never take this e6-bishop. [Nakamura reacted with mild surprise as well when told Bxe6 was the engine’s choice. - ed].}) 11... Ne7 $6 {Firouzja tries to improve his pawn structure, but his position will be even worse.} (11... Rg8 12. O-O Qd7 { is better.}) 12. O-O Bxb3 13. axb3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15. Qe2 {Black has a weakened pawn structure and bad development.} Nf5 (15... Bg7 16. Rfd1 Qc6 17. Rd2 O-O 18. Rad1 {With a clear advantage.}) 16. Rfd1 Qc6 17. c4 $1 {A very strong move controlling the d5-square.} Bg7 18. Rd5 O-O 19. Rad1 Rfe8 20. h3 ( 20. g4 {This is even better. The point is:} Ne7 (20... Nxe3 21. Qxe3 {with a textbook example of \"good knight vs. bad bishop\".}) 21. Rd6 Qe4 22. Ng5 $3 { The point of White's play.} Qg6 (22... fxg5 23. f3 $18 {and the queen is trapped.}) 23. Qf3 {followed by Ne4 winning.}) 20... b5 21. c5 $6 (21. Bc5 $1 { is better.}) 21... Bf8 $6 (21... a5 {It was necessary to prevent b3-b4.}) 22. b4 {Now Black is without counterplay and totally lost. Firouzja tries to complicate the game and it ends in a mating attack.} Nd4 23. Nxd4 $1 Qxd5 24. Nf5 Qe4 25. Qh5 Red8 26. Ra1 $1 Rc6 27. Bh6 Kh8 28. Ra3 $1 {Nakamura plays with computer precision.} Qxb4 29. Bxf8 Rxf8 30. Qh6 Rg8 31. Rg3 Rxg3 32. fxg3 {Mate is unavoidable.} 1-0 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2753"] [Annotator "Rafael Leitao"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {Every half point brings Nepomniachtchi closer to tournament victory. His solid strategy is working even better than expected, as in every round his closest rival collapses. By now he is almost certain to win the tournament, but as we usually say in soccer games: It ain't over 'til it's over.”} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O {The Catalan is not a usual choice for Nepomniachtchi. He only played this position with White once—in a blitz against Giri in 2021. Of course, he plays it more often with Black and let's not forget the amount of analysis he had to do in his match against Magnus Carlsen.} dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 {This was Nepomniachtchi's choice in the second game of his match against Carlsen, a game he was close to winning with Black.} 8. a4 (8. Ne5 {was Carlsen's choice in the aforementioned game.}) 8... Bb7 $5 {This creative move is the recent fashion, replacing 8...b4. Black sacrifices a pawn in order to get compensation that should be enough for a draw. Nepomniachtchi certainly was happy with a risk-free position.} 9. axb5 a6 {That's not the first time a pawn is sacrificed on b5 and the counterplay follows with …a6. But this is probably the best version of this sacrifice— with due respect to the Benko Gambit fans all over the world.} 10. Nc3 (10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 12. Qc3 c5 13. Bf4 {was played in a Carlsen vs. Radjabov game last month.} (13. Be3 {is also possible.}) 13... Ne4 14. Qc1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 {and here Radjabov certainly would improve on his previous play. Black has compensation with several moves.} Nec5 $2 (15... Nb4) (15... Nac5) ( 15... Nxf2 $5 16. Rxf2 Bxg2 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Kxg2 Nb4 {with enough compensation.}) 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Be3 $16 {and White converted his advantage in Carlsen-Radjabov, Stavanger 2022.}) 10... axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bd5 13. Bf4 c5 14. dxc5 Qa5 15. Nc3 Qxc5 16. Be3 {A novelty. 16.e4 and 16.Rc1 are the main moves.} Qa5 (16... Qc7 {is considered the best move by the engine, but I don't think the move in the game is a mistake. [In the post-game interview, Radjabov mentioned he could not remember the difference between …Qc7 and …Qa5 - ed.]}) 17. Bd2 Ba8 (17... Qc5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rc1 Rc8 { is a curious transposition to a position will see later in the game.}) 18. Nd1 $5 {Maneuvering the knight to e3 in order to attach the c4-pawn.} Qc5 (18... Qa6 {is also possible.}) 19. Ne3 Rc8 20. Rc1 Bd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 $1 (21... exd5 $6 {This is a positional mistake. After} 22. b3 {White has a big advantage, with the bishop pair and the better pawn structure.}) 22. Ne5 Nb6 23. Qe4 (23. Bb7 {is a computer move that I find unlikely to cross a human head.} Qxe5 ( 23... Rc7 $2 24. Be4 $1 Qxe5 25. Bf4 Qc5 26. b4 $1 cxb3 27. Qb1 Qxc1+ 28. Bxc1 {with a big advantage for White.}) 24. Bxc8 Nxc8 25. Qxc4 Nb6 {I don't think White has realistic winning chances in this position.}) 23... Bf6 24. Bc3 (24. Bf4 $1 {is the last chance to fight for the advantage.}) 24... N8d7 {now Black equalizes.} 25. Bd4 Qd6 26. Nxd7 Bxd4 27. Nxb6 Qxb6 28. e3 Bxb2 29. Rxc4 Qa6 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qb7 Qxb7 32. Bxb7 g6 33. Kg2 Kg7 34. Ba8 Ba1 35. Bb7 Bb2 36. Ba8 Ba1 37. Bb7 Bb2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Chess.com"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2022.06.29"] [Round "10"] [White "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2750"] [BlackElo "2783"] [Annotator "Rafael Leitao"] [PlyCount "113"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 Be6 $5 {Nowadays most grandmasters play …Re8 at some point before playing …Be6. I analyzed the Italian recently with GM Gilberto Milos and he suggested playing this move without Re8. I liked Black's position in this game and I think this move will become popular.} (9... h6 {is the main move.}) 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 (11. Be3 {is a critical try. Too bad we don't have Caruana's files to learn how to play against it.}) 11... Nh5 {Caruana is no stranger to this position. He played it with White in a rapid game against Grischuk in 2019.} 12. Nbd2 {This natural move is a novelty.} (12. Ra2 {was Caruana's choice.} Qe8 {and Black eventually won in Caruana-Grischuk, Paris 2019.}) 12... Nf4 {It was better to postpone this knight jump.} (12... Qe8 {Black can start bringing the queen into the game, the same idea Grischuk played.} 13. Nf1 Qg6 14. Ra2 Nf4 15. Bxf4 Rxf4 16. b5 Raf8 17. N1h2 Nb8 {with a complicated fight ahead.}) 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. Qb3 (15. b5 {is critical and all the knight's retreats are possible now.} Nb8 {This is my favorite. I think White is slightly better.}) 15... Rf6 $2 (15... Qh6 $1 {Threatens …Rxf3 and gives Black time to stabilize the pawn structure on the queenside.} 16. N1h2 a5 $1 { An important move.} 17. b5 Nb8 18. d4 Nd7 {with chances for both sides.}) 16. b5 {Now the knight is a problem as it has no pleasant squares.} Na5 (16... Nd8 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Ra2 {with a clear advantage for White.}) (16... Ne7 $2 17. bxa6 bxa6 18. Qb7 {loses the c-pawn.}) 17. Qa2 {The knight is out of play and will remain a problem for Caruana during the game.} g5 $6 {A dubious plan, but it's hard to be too critical. Caruana wanted some active play, but this makes his position worse.} 18. N1h2 Rg6 19. d4 {White has better pieces, a better pawn strucutre, and a safer king.} h5 20. g3 Qf6 21. Rad1 Rg7 22. Kh1 $1 Rf8 23. dxe5 dxe5 24. h4 $1 gxh4 (24... g4 25. Ng5 {wins.}) 25. gxh4 $1 {The right recapture. White will be the one attacking on the g-file.} Bc5 26. Rg1 Bd6 27. Ng5 Kh8 {White is winning with many moves in most positions from now on. I will try to show only the most forcing or prettiest ways to win.} 28. Qe2 (28. Nxe6 Rxg1+ 29. Rxg1 Qxf2 30. Qd5 $1 Rf6 31. b6 $1 {wins material.}) 28... Qg6 29. Rd3 $1 {Bringing the rook to the party.} axb5 30. Rdg3 Qe8 31. axb5 (31. Nxe6 {is a nice win.} Rxg3 32. Rxg3 Rf6 (32... Rg8 33. Qf3 $1 Rxg3 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. fxg3 Qf7 36. Qd8+ Bf8 37. Ng5 Qe7 38. Qd5+ Kh8 39. axb5) 33. Ng7 $1 Qf7 34. Nf5 {with a decisive attack, for example:} bxa4 35. Rg5 a3 36. Rxh5+ Kg8 37. Ng4) 31... Rf6 32. Qf1 (32. Qd3 {threatens Nxe6 and is decisive.}) (32. c4 b6 33. c5 $1 {is a pretty win.} bxc5 (33... Bxc5 34. Nf7+ $1 {This works because the e5-pawn is unprotected.} Rfxf7 35. Qxh5+ Rh7 36. Qxe5+) 34. Ra1 Nb7 35. Ra7 Nd8 36. Ra8 {and Black is completely paralyzed.}) 32... b6 (32... Nb3 $5) 33. Qg2 Qf8 (33... Qg8 $1 {was better.}) 34. Qh3 (34. Ngf3 Rxg3 35. Qxg3 Nc4 36. Rg2 {followed by Ng5 and the attack is too strong.}) 34... Qg8 35. R1g2 $5 { Preparing …Nh7.} Nb7 36. Nh7 $1 Rfg6 (36... Rxg3 37. Nxf6 {wins.}) 37. Rxg6 Rxg6 38. Ng5 Rf6 {Played to prevent Qf3.} 39. f4 $1 {This move finally breaks Black's position.} Nc5 (39... exf4 40. e5 $1 {wins material.} Bxe5 41. Qf3 (41. Ngf3)) 40. fxe5 Bxe5 41. Ngf3 {Winning a piece. Caruana fights like a lion, but the result is never in doubt.} Qa8 42. Nxe5 Nxe4 43. Nhf3 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Qc1 45. Nd3 Qxc3 46. Ra2 $5 (46. Nfe5 {is pretty good.}) 46... Nf2 (46... Qxd3 47. Ra8+ Kg7 (47... Kh7 48. Ng5+ {wins the queen.}) 48. Qg2+ Rg6 49. Qxg6+ $1 Kxg6 50. Ne5+ {winning.}) 47. Rxf2 Qxd3 48. Qg3 Qd6 49. Qxd6 cxd6 50. Kg3 Rf5 51. Rd2 Rxb5 52. Rxd6 Kg7 53. Rxe6 Rb4 54. Re5 Kh6 55. Rd5 Rb1 56. Nd4 Rg1+ 57. Kf4 {Duda's first victory in the tournament and a heartbreaking defeat for Caruana. He now has to readjust and fight for second place. Who knows, maybe this will be enough for a world championship match anyway $2} 1-0