[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2023.01.17"]
[Round "5.5"]
[White "Aronian, L.."]
[Black "Keymer, V.."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[Annotator "Petrisor Adrian"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2023.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {The Ruy Lopez: White finishes the development of
the kingside pieces and gets ready to castle short. The critical idea behind 3.
Bb5, however, is to attack Black's c6-knight. Also called the Spanish Opening
or Spanish Game, this opening is named after 16th-century Spanish priest Ruy
Lopez de Segura. It is one of the most popular openings with many variations.}
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 {Of course, absolutely the
main line until here. White wants to transfer the knight from b1 to g3 via d2
and f1 later and also to play d4 in the center.} O-O 9. Bc2 $5 {[%c_effect c2;
square;c2;type;Interesting;persistent;true] The idea is to play d4, and e4 now
is protected. Also now Na5 doesn't make any sense because the bishop is no
longer on b3.} Re8 {For Black, the most solid setup is to play Bf8 and
possibly after that g6 and Bg7. At the same time, the e5-pawn will be
protected, so d5 can also be possible.} 10. Re1 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf8 (11... d5 {
can be another alternative by Black to be the first in the center.} 12. exd5
Qxd5 13. Ne4 Bf5 {without problems for Black.}) 12. d4 {Now White is the first
in the center, but still Black is so solid and shouldn`t have a big problem.}
Bb7 13. d5 Nb8 {After Nb8, Black usually wants to break the center with c6,
and the knight will be placed via d7 on c5, most probably to attack the
e4-pawn, but also from the e6-square it could come to the kingside, like f4 in
the future.} 14. b3 Nbd7 15. c4 {Consolidate the d5-pawn because Black will
play c6 soon.} c6 16. Nf1 a5 {Put the knight on c5 and don`t allow b4 by White.
Also, play a4 later to put pressure on the white pawns.} 17. Be3 a4 18. h3 {
Stop Ng4 from happening and keep the bishop on e3.} axb3 19. axb3 Rxa1 20. Qxa1
Qc7 {Threatening cxd5 and preparing Ra8 to control the only open file.} 21. Rc1
Ra8 22. Qb2 Qa5 {Stopping Ra1 and Black's position looks pretty good.} 23. Ng3
b4 24. Ne1 Nc5 $5 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (
24... c5 {probably is just a drawish position without any risk for Black, but
Keymer wants more.}) 25. Rd1 Nfd7 $6 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true]} (25... h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] another idea for Black, play g6 and then h4 followed by Nh5.}
26. Bg5 Nh7 27. Be3 Nf6) 26. Nf5 cxd5 27. exd5 $14 Bc8 28. Bd2 Nf6 29. Ng3 Be7
$6 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (29... g6 {
is best for Black with the idea to push h5-h4, but also to put the bishop on
g7 which looks good for Black.}) 30. Nd3 Nxd3 31. Bxd3 Bd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;
square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (31... Nd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;
d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black should relocate the knight to c5.} 32.
Be3 Qa2 33. Qxa2 Rxa2 34. Bd2 Nc5 35. Bxb4 Nxd3 36. Rxd3 Ra1+ 37. Kh2 f5 $13 {
/=}) 32. Bf5 Be8 $6 $16 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;
true]} (32... g6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
33. Bxd7 Nxd7 34. Bxh6 Qa2 35. Qxa2 Rxa2 36. Bd2 Rb2 37. Bxb4 Rxb3 $13 {
/= with enough compensation for the pawn.}) 33. Bb1 Bd7 34. f4 $2 {[%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] White decided to open up the
position.} Re8 $6 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (
34... Qa3 $1 {[%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 35. Qc2
Ba4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This beautiful
move saves Black's position.} 36. bxa4 Qxg3) 35. Rf1 Bd8 $2 {[%c_effect d8;
square;d8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (35... e4 $5 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;
type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 36. Qd4 Bd8 37. Be3 $16) 36. fxe5 $16 Qc5+
37. Kh2 Rxe5 $2 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (37...
dxe5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is much
better, but still the position is worse.} 38. Bf5 e4 39. Bxd7 Nxd7 40. Nf5 Bf6
41. Qc1 $16) 38. Bf4 $18 {Now White has a decisive advantage.} Re8 39. Qd2 $6 {
[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (39. Qc2 $1 $18 {
[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bb6 40. Qd1 {with the
idea of Qf3 and Black's position looks so dangerous.}) 39... h5 40. Bg5 $1 {
[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Absolutely logical
after h5, now the g5-square is just nice for the bishop.} h4 {The only try for
Keymer with the idea to exchange queens after Bxh4 with Qe3, but the endgame
should be lost anyway.} 41. Bxh4 Qe3 42. Qxe3 Rxe3 43. Rf3 Rxf3 44. gxf3 {
This endgame should be just lost for Black because there is no compensation
anymore for the pawn.} Be7 45. Bf5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} Be8 46. Bxf6 $4 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;
persistent;true] White just missed a clear way to win here.} (46. Ne4 $1 {
[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the winning
move for White.} Nxd5 (46... Nxe4 47. Bxe7 Nd2 48. Bxd6 Nxf3+ 49. Kg3 Nd4 50.
Bd3 {followed up by Bxb4 with a clear winning position.}) 47. Bxe7 Nxe7 48.
Nxd6 $18) 46... Bxf6 47. f4 g6 48. Ne4 Be7 49. Bc8 f5 $1 {[%c_effect f5;square;
f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Great defense.} 50. Nf2 {In the next moves,
White tries to improve his position, but the objective should be a draw. Of
course, we are humans, not computers, and also time trouble was a problem for
Keymer in the next moves.} Bd8 51. Nd3 Ba5 52. Kg3 Kg7 53. Kf3 Kf6 54. Be6 Ke7
55. Ke2 Kf6 56. Bc8 Ke7 57. Ba6 Bf7 58. Bb5 Kf6 59. h4 Ke7 60. Kf3 Kf6 61. Nf2
Bb6 62. Nh3 Bd4 63. Ng5 Ke7 64. Ba6 Bb6 65. Bc8 Be8 $2 $18 {[%c_effect e8;
square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The decisive mistake in this endgame.}
(65... Kf6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Just
protect f5, and now h5 is no longer possible.}) 66. h5 $1 {[%c_effect h5;
square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} gxh5 67. Bxf5 Bd4 68. Ne4 Bf7 69.
Bh7 Be8 70. Kg3 Bf7 71. Kh3 Be8 72. f5 Bb2 73. Bg6 Bd7 74. Kh4 Bd4 75. Kxh5 {
with two pawns up, the game is over.} Bc8 76. Kg5 Be3+ 77. Kg4 Bd4 78. Bh7 Bf6
79. Bg8 {Keymer resigns. Good technique by Aronian $1} 1-0
[Event "Chess.com"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2859"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Rafael"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]
{0-} 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e5 {One of the most critical moves,
but Black has other popular options.} (4... e6) (4... g6) (4... d5) 5. Be2 (5.
d4 {is the most popular move, and Magnus had played it before.} e4 (5... cxd4
6. exd4 e4 7. Ne5 Bb4 {was played in the recent high-profile game
Erigaisi-Maghsoodloo, Tata Steel India (blitz) 2022.}) 6. d5 $5 {[%c_effect d5;
square;d5;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} exf3 7. dxc6 fxg2 8. cxd7+ Bxd7 9.
Bxg2 g6 {and the game was later drawn in Carlsen-Vachier-Lagrave, Baden-Baden
2018.}) 5... d5 6. cxd5 (6. d4 {After this move, we get a transposition to a
position that can occur from a different move order.} exd4 7. exd4 {I remember
studying this position a long time ago before a game against GM Rublevsky. But
my study came from a different move order: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nf6
5.Be2 d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4. This is a well-known position, played in hundreds
of games.}) 6... Nxd5 7. O-O {The game begins to drift away from the paths
already trodden. But Magnus still had experiences here.} Be7 (7... Nc7 {
was played by Grischuk against Carlsen in an online blitz game in 2017.}) 8.
Bb5 {Threatening to win the e5-pawn, which can even be sacrificed after 8...
0-0, but Abdusattorov prefers to play solidly.} Nxc3 (8... O-O $5 {[%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nxe5 Bd6 {
with compensation for the pawn.}) 9. bxc3 (9. dxc3 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 f6 11. e4 Be6
{was equal in Carlsen-Vachier-Lagrave, Riyadh (blitz) 2017.}) 9... Qc7 10. d4
cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 {A new move.} (12... O-O {was played in the
only previous game in this position.} 13. Qc2 (13. Bb2 {is the best way to
fight for a small advantage.}) 13... Bd6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. h3 Bd7 {with an
equal position in Vakhidov-Sjugirov, Abu Dhabi 2015.}) 13. Nf3 {This somewhat
strange move is intended to avoid exchanging knights and keep some life in the
position. After the most natural} (13. Bb2 {the game is close to a draw:} Nxd4
14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. Bxd4 O-O) 13... Bf6 (13... O-O {is also possible. White has
nothing special after} 14. Bb2 Rfd8) 14. Ba3 $5 {[%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] A very brave move, changing the character of the
game. White sacrifices the exchange to force Black into castling queenside.
Objectively he creates more problems than solutions for White, who now has to
play very precisely and doesn't have much hope of an advantage. But I
understand that Carlsen wanted to complicate the game and that the most normal
move doesn't give chances to win.} (14. Rb1 O-O 15. Bb2 Bxb2 {The most solid.}
(15... Bf5 {is also possible, but here White has compensation for the exchange
after} 16. Bxf6 Bxb1 17. Bxg7 $1 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} Kxg7 18. Qxb1) 16. Rxb2 Ne5 {with simplifications and a
likely draw.}) 14... Bxa1 {Accepting the gift.} (14... Qa5 $5 {[%c_effect a5;
square;a5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is also possible.}) 15. Qxa1 O-O-O
{Black has no choice; the king must go to the queenside. Now White can try to
exploit the c-file to create attacking chances, but it's not enough for an
advantage.} 16. Rc1 (16. Qxg7 $2 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;
persistent;true] is too optimistic.} Rhg8 17. Qxh7 (17. Qxf7 $2 {[%c_effect f7;
square;f7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Rxg2+ $1 {[%c_effect g2;square;g2;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 18. Kxg2 Bh3+ {winning the queen.}) 17... Qa5
$1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] and now White is
forced to capture on c6, and this gives Black a winning position.}) 16... Kb8 (
16... f6 {This is a natural move, avoiding the capture of the g7-pawn. After}
17. Nd4 Kb8 {White has compensation for the exchange but not more.}) 17. Qxg7
Rhg8 18. Qb2 $6 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]
After this move, Black grabs the initiative.} (18. Qxh7 $1 {[%c_effect h7;
square;h7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is correct, although White must be
ready to part with the h2-pawn.} Bg4 19. Be2 Rh8 20. Qc2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Qxh2+
22. Kf1 Rc8 23. Qb2 {White has a pawn and the pair of bishops for the exchange.
His king is relatively safe. The computer, as usual, evaluates the position as
even.}) 18... Bg4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
19. Ne1 (19. Nd2 {During the live broadcast, I suggested this move, although
it's clear that something has gone wrong.}) (19. Be2 {This move defends the
knight but removes the attack on c6.}) 19... Rd1 $1 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;
type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent move. If you are an exchange up,
trading your opponent's remaining rook is usually a good strategy.} 20. Rxd1
Bxd1 21. Bf1 Ne5 22. h3 Bf3 $6 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true] Not the most accurate.} (22... Nc4 {is a very natural try.
After} 23. Qd4 Nxa3 24. Qxd1 Nc4 {Black has the advantage, but White has
drawing chances.}) (22... Bh5 $5 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Interesting;
persistent;true] Taking the bishop off its odd square and moving it to g6 is a
good alternative.}) 23. Qd4 (23. Qb1 $1 {[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;
GreatFind;persistent;true] is a good try. After} Bd5 (23... Rg6 24. Qb4 $1 {
[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 24. Qxh7 Rd8 25. Bb2
{The position is totally unclear. White will try to push the h-pawn, and
anything can happen.}) 23... Rd8 24. Qh4 Bd5 25. Qxh7 Bc4 {A solid move,
exchanging bishops and creating space for a queen invasion.} (25... Bxa2 26.
Bb2 {again leads to an unclear position. Objectively Black should be better,
but the h-pawn, supported by the b2-bishop, will be a constant headache.}) 26.
Bb2 Bxf1 27. Kxf1 Qc4+ 28. Kg1 Nc6 (28... f6 $5 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;
Interesting;persistent;true] is an interesting move that creates big practical
problems for White.} 29. Bd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true]} (29. Qe7 $6 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true]} Rd1 $1 {[%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;
true]} 30. Bxe5+ fxe5 31. Qxe5+ Qc7 32. Qh8+ Qc8 33. Qxc8+ Kxc8 34. Kf1 Ra1 {
The endgame is winning for Black.}) 29... Qe2 30. Qb1 {with some advantage for
Black.}) 29. Nf3 Qxa2 30. Bf6 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 a5 {The position becomes very sharp.
A possible race begins between the a-pawn and the h-pawn.} 32. Nd4 (32. h4 $1 {
[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the critical move.}
Qxf2 33. Qe4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
Centralizing the queen and preparing the pawn to advance.} (33. Qxf7 Qxe3 34.
Bg5 {is also possible.}) 33... Qf1 {Avoiding 34.h5 because of the check on h1.
The position remains unclear.}) 32... Qd5 {A good move, bringing the queen to
both defense and attack.} 33. Qc2 $6 {[%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Inaccuracy;
persistent;true]} (33. Qg7 $1 {[%c_effect g7;square;g7;type;GreatFind;
persistent;true] This difficult move, protecting d4 and clearing the path of
the h-pawn, is the best. The computer evaluates the position as equal.}) 33...
Qd6+ 34. f4 (34. g3 $2 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]}
Qxf6 35. Qxd1 (35. Nxc6+ bxc6 36. Qxd1 Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qxg3) 35... Nxd4 36. exd4
Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qxg3 {with a winning endgame for Black.}) 34... Rxd4 $1 {
[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 35. Bxd4 Nxd4 36. exd4
Qxf4+ 37. g3 Qxd4 {Now just two outcomes are possible: either a draw or a
Black win. The former seemed far more likely at this point, judging by the
world champion's renowned endgame technique.} 38. h4 a4 39. Qa2 $1 {[%c_effect
a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A precise move.} (39. h5 Qe5 $1 {
[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] gives Black good
winning chances.}) 39... f5 (39... Qb4 {is not enough for a win.} 40. Qxf7 a3
41. Qd5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qb2+ 42.
Kh3 a2 43. Qd8+ Ka7 44. Qa5+ {with perpetual check.}) 40. h5 Qh8 41. Qxa4 (41.
Qf7 $5 {[%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is a draw,
according to the computer.} a3 42. Qxf5 (42. Kh3 {is also enough.} a2 43. Qxa2
Qxh5+ 44. Kg2 {White is able to reach a draw in this endgame.}) 42... Qb2+ 43.
Kh3 a2 44. Qf8+ Ka7 45. Qc5+ {The computer indicates a draw after all the most
accurate checks. Of course, this looks scary for White during an actual game.})
41... Qxh5+ {With seven pieces on the board, I can finally use the tablebase,
the tool that saves all commentators from being embarrassed by their analysis.
To be honest, nowhere is this tool as useful as it is in a queen endgame, the
hardest type of endgame in chess. These endings are so difficult that the
variations are often almost unintelligible: you simply need to check in the
right square, something only the computer can do. For that reason, I apologize
in advance to the reader for not trying to explain the unexplainable in some
lines.} 42. Kg1 Qf3 43. Kh2 $2 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;Mistake;
persistent;true] This is a losing move.} (43. Qe8+ {Only this move is a draw,
according to the tablebase.} Kc7 44. Qe5+ Kb6 45. Qd6+) 43... Qe2+ 44. Kg1 Qe5
$1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent move,
centralizing the queen and avoiding White's checks. Abdusattorov shows great
endgame technique to convert his advantage.} 45. Kf2 b5 46. Qb4 Kb7 47. g4 fxg4
48. Qxg4 Kb6 {One of the peculiarities of queen and pawn vs. queen endings is
the positioning of the king of the defending side. Contrary to conventional
logic, it's often best to have the king far away. For example, if you put this
position in the tablebase with White's king on h7, you see that the endgame is
a draw. This exercise, by the way, can be repeated in other positions: try
putting the white king on different squares and see if that changes the
evaluation. What's the logic of that, why a king on a farther square might be
better $2 In queen endgames, checks are often enough to draw even with the
opponent's pawn very advanced. For this to work, it's important that the check
is not answered with another check; for this, it's important that the king is
far away.} 49. Qg8 b4 50. Kf3 Kb5 {If it were on h7, White would have an
\"easy\" draw.} 51. Kg2 Qe2+ 52. Kg3 Qe3+ 53. Kg2 b3 54. Qb8+ Kc4 55. Qg8+ Kc3
56. Qc8+ Kd2 {The win is easy now.} 57. Qh8 Kc2 58. Qc8+ Kd1 59. Qh8 Qd2+ 60.
Kg3 b2 {A fantastic victory for the young Abdusattorov, proving once again
that his name will be a constant presence in the chess elite for many years to
come.} (60... b2 61. Qh7 (61. Qh1+ Qe1+) 61... Qc3+ 62. Kh4 (62. Kf2 Qc2+)
62... Qb4+ {and Black queens.}) 0-1
