[Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B50"] [WhiteElo "2721"] [BlackElo "2767"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "108"] [GameId "2078744746134420"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,108,21,31,41,44,64,65,70,44,49,33,36,32,34,30,27,15,33,23,29,23,28,15,21,-3,8,-12,28,-8,-6,0,-11,-41,-31,-31,-37,-40,-26,-33,-24,-16,0,1,8,23,13,16,-23,0,0,14,17,23,21,21,29,14,42,-6,22,-53,-53,-59,-54,-56,-45,-41,-46,-57,-57,-68,-33,-66,0,0,0,0,0,-70,-70,-89,-84,-104,-87,-141,-148,-152,-152,-109,-86,-158,-75,-186,-172,-337,-316,-326,-316,-405,-230,-368,-368,-400,-375,-364,-364,-364,-364,-389,-432]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. h3 {This definitely wasn't on my bingo card. As it often turns out these days, however, even offbeat-squared ideas aren't novelties or even close to it. Somehow, I've missed or forgotten that Carlsen played this (once) a few months ago, and that Firouzja and especially Nakamura played it a bunch of times from the period over 2019 to 2022. More amazing yet, there are over 1200 games with this in the database. It's hard to keep track of everything! Anyway, the idea isn't to avoid an Open Sicilian, but to wait and see how Black responds before playing d4.} a6 5. a4 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 {We're down to nine games in the database, two of which are Nakamura-Nepo games.} 8. Be3 (8. Nb3 g6 9. a5 Bg7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Be2 Be6 12. Bb6 Qc8 13. O-O Nd7 14. Na4 Bxb3 (14... Rb8 15. c4 Nxb6 16. Nxb6 Qd8 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. f4 Nd7 19. f5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Nxb6 21. c5 Nc8 22. Rad1 Qe8 23. Qf4 Be5 24. Qe4 Qc6 25. Qe3 Bxb2 26. Bc4 dxc5 27. fxg6 hxg6 28. Qh6 Nd6 29. Nd4 Qe4 30. Rf4 Qxf4 31. Qxf4 Bxd4+ 32. Rxd4 cxd4 33. Bd3 Rbc8 34. Qxd4 Rfd8 35. Qe5 e6 36. h4 Nf5 37. Bxf5 exf5 38. h5 Re8 39. Qd5 gxh5 40. Qxb7 Rc1+ 41. Kh2 h4 42. Qd5 Re6 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Qd7 Rf6 45. Qe7 Rcc6 46. Kh3 Kg7 47. Kxh4 Rce6 48. Qc5 Re2 49. Kg3 Rg6+ 50. Kf3 Rexg2 51. Qe5+ Kh7 52. Qxf5 R2g3+ 53. Kf2 Kg8 54. Qd5 R3g5 55. Qd8+ Kg7 56. Qc7 Re6 57. Qc3+ Kh7 58. Qd3+ Kh6 59. Qc3 Rf5+ {0-1 Nakamura,H (2736)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2784) Saint Louis Rapid Lichess.org INT 2020 (6)}) 15. cxb3 Qe8 16. Qd2 Nxb6 17. Nxb6 Rd8 18. b4 Nd4 19. Bc4 e6 20. Rfe1 Qe7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 22. Re3 Qg5 23. Rd3 Qxd2 24. R3xd2 Nc6 25. Rxd6 Bxb2 26. Rxd8 {½-½ Nakamura,H (2736)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2784) Saint Louis Blitz Lichess.org INT 2020 (15)}) 8... e6 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 $146 Rc8 12. Nxc6 $146 Bxc6 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. a5 Bf6 15. Qd2 Nc5 16. f3 Nxd3 17. cxd3 d5 $11 {/?} 18. Bb6 Qd6 19. d4 dxe4 20. fxe4 Qd7 (20... Qg3) 21. Rf1 $11 Bd8 22. Bc5 Be7 23. b4 {White's bishop is holding everything together.} Rfd8 24. Rfd1 h6 25. Qf2 Bf6 (25... Bxc5 $142 26. bxc5 Qc7 $11) 26. Rd3 (26. Kh1 $142 $14) 26... Bb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb5 28. Rad1 Rd7 (28... Qc4) 29. Rf3 Qa4 30. Rdd3 $6 Rxc5 $1 31. dxc5 (31. bxc5 $2 Bxd4 $19 {Black will win one pawn after another while White's rooks have nothing special to do.}) 31... Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Qxb4 33. Rd7 $6 (33. e5 $1 Bxe5 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Kh1 $1 Qxa5 36. Rd7 {will hold.}) 33... Qxe4 (33... Qb5 $1 34. Rd2 (34. Qd2 Qxc5+ $15) 34... Qxa5 $15) 34. g3 Qc6 35. Rd6 Qc7 36. Rb6 Bc3 37. c6 $1 $11 bxc6 38. Rxa6 Bxa5 39. Ra8+ Kh7 40. Ra7 $6 (40. Kh2 Bb6 41. Qc2+ f5 42. Ra6 $11 {Black is stuck.}) 40... Qd8 41. Rb7 $2 (41. Ra6 $1 c5 42. Qxf7 $11) 41... f5 $17 42. Qb2 (42. Kh2 $142) 42... Bc7 43. Qc3 Qd6 44. Kf2 c5 45. h4 c4 $2 (45... h5 $142) 46. h5 $2 {A good idea, but concretely an error.} (46. Ke2 $3 Qxg3 47. Qxg3 Bxg3 48. h5 $11 {is drawn.}) 46... Qc5+ (46... Qa6 $1 {is even better, but the text is good enough.}) 47. Ke2 Be5 {White's queen will never get to g6; Black's c-pawn or his attack will come first.} 48. Qe3 Qd5 49. Qf3 Qd6 50. g4 c3 51. Qd3 (51. gxf5 Qd2+ 52. Kf1 c2 $19) 51... Qc6 (51... c2 $1 52. Qxd6 (52. Qxc2 Qa6+ $19) 52... Bxd6 53. Kd2 fxg4 54. Ra7 g3 55. Ra1 c1=Q+ $1 {is a mischievous way to finish things off.} 56. Kxc1 (56. Rxc1 Bf4+ $19) 56... g2 57. Kd2 Bc5 $19) 52. gxf5 Qg2+ 53. Ke3 (53. Kd1 c2+ $1 54. Qxc2 Qh1+ $1 55. Kd2 Bf4+ 56. Kc3 Qc6+ $19 {and White either loses the queen, loses the rook with check, or blocks the b1-h7 diagonal so there won't be any counterplay.}) 53... Qh3+ 54. Ke2 Qxh5+ {No h-pawn, no possibilities for a perpetual.} (54... Qxh5+ 55. Ke3 Qh3+ 56. Ke2 Qg2+ 57. Ke1 Qxb7 58. fxe6+ g6 $19) 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Black "Aronian, L."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2762"] [BlackElo "2729"] [PlyCount "129"] [GameId "2078744746134421"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Nh5 6. Be5 e6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. g4 Nf6 11. g5 Nh5 12. Qe2 Rc8 13. Rg1 Bd6 14. O-O-O Ba4 15. b3 Bc6 16. Bb2 O-O 17. Nd4 g6 18. f4 a5 19. N2f3 a4 20. Kb1 Qa5 21. Ne5 axb3 22. cxb3 Ra8 23. Ba1 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Ra6 25. Qd2 Rfa8 26. Qxa5 Rxa5 27. Rd2 Ng7 28. h4 Nf5 29. Bc3 R5a6 30. Nxf5 exf5 31. Bb4 d4 32. exd4 Be4+ 33. Ka1 Bd5 34. a3 Rc6 35. Rf1 Rac8 36. Kb2 Kg7 37. Rff2 h6 38. Rd3 hxg5 39. hxg5 Rh8 40. Be7 Rh1 41. a4 Rc7 42. Bd6 Rc8 43. a5 Rch8 44. Rc3 R8h3 45. Rfc2 f4 46. e6 Bxe6 47. Be5+ Kf8 48. Bxf4 Rxc3 49. Rxc3 Rh3 50. Bg3 Ke8 51. b4 Rh5 52. Rc5 Rh3 53. d5 Bf5 54. Be5 Re3 55. d6 Re2+ 56. Ka3 Re3+ 57. Kb2 Re2+ 58. Ka3 Re3+ 59. Ka4 Bd7+ 60. b5 Re1 61. Ka3 Rb1 62. Bb2 Rd1 63. a6 bxa6 64. b6 Rd3+ 65. Bc3 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Dominguez Perez, L."] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B66"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2749"] [PlyCount "157"] [GameId "2078744746134422"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. Kb1 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 h6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f3 b5 13. Qd2 Bb7 14. h4 h5 15. Bg5 Rc8 16. Bd3 O-O 17. Ne2 e5 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Rfd8 20. Nf5 d5 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Bg5 Bc4 24. g4 Qe6 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. gxh5 Bxd3 27. cxd3 gxh5 28. Rhg1+ Kf8 29. Qb4+ Qd6 30. Qe4 Rc5 31. Qh7 Qf6 32. Rg8+ Ke7 33. Rxd8 Kxd8 34. Qxh5 Ke7 35. Qg4 Rd5 36. h5 Rd4 37. Qc8 Qxf3 38. Qc5+ Kf6 39. Qc2 Qxh5 40. Qc6+ Kg7 41. Rg1+ Rg4 42. Rf1 Qg6 43. Qd5 Rg5 44. a3 Rf5 45. Re1 Qg3 46. Qe4 Rh5 47. Ka2 Qg6 48. Qe3 Rg5 49. Rh1 Qf5 50. Ka1 Rg6 51. Re1 Rd6 52. Rh1 Qf4 53. Qh3 Rh6 54. Rg1+ Rg6 55. Rh1 Qh6 56. Qf3 Qg5 57. Qf2 Qg3 58. Qf5 Qg5 59. Qc8 Rh6 60. Rf1 Rf6 61. Rh1 Rh6 62. Rf1 Qg6 63. Qc5 Rh5 64. Qe3 Rg5 65. Rh1 Qf5 66. Qe2 Qf4 67. Rf1 Qg3 68. Rh1 Qg2 69. Qe1 Qg3 70. Qe4 Rg6 71. Ka2 Rh6 72. Rf1 Qg5 73. Rf5 Qg3 74. Rxe5 Rd6 75. Rh5 Re6 76. Qd4+ Rf6 77. Qd8 Qe3 78. Qh8+ Kg6 79. Qh7# 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "So, W."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "104"] [GameId "2078744746134423"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O e6 6. e3 Be7 7. dxc5 O-O 8. Qe2 e5 9. c4 d4 10. Rd1 Bxc5 11. exd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. h3 Be6 14. Be3 Qb6 15. b3 Rad8 16. Nc3 a6 17. Rac1 h6 18. Qf3 Rd7 19. Ne2 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Qxe3 21. fxe3 Rfd8 22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Nc3 Kf8 24. c5 Ke7 25. Kf1 Nd5 26. Nxd5+ Bxd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. c6 bxc6 29. Rxc6 a5 30. Ke2 e4 31. Rc4 f5 32. h4 h5 33. Rc6 Kf7 34. Rc1 Ke7 35. Rc3 Ke6 36. a3 Kd6 37. b4 axb4 38. axb4 Rb5 39. Rc4 Rb7 40. Kd2 Ra7 41. Kc2 Ra2+ 42. Kb3 Rg2 43. b5 Rxg3 44. b6 Rxe3+ 45. Ka2 Re2+ 46. Ka3 Re1 47. Ka2 Re2+ 48. Kb1 Re1+ 49. Kb2 Re2+ 50. Kb1 Re1+ 51. Kb2 Re2+ 52. Kb1 Re1+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "131"] [GameId "2078744746134424"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. a4 Be7 7. Nc3 a6 8. Bf1 e4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 d5 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Be2 O-O 14. d4 Bd6 15. Ne5 Bxe2 16. Rxe2 Re8 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Be3 Qe4 20. Qd2 Re8 21. Re1 Re6 22. Qc3 c5 23. Kf1 c4 24. Bd2 Qf5 25. b3 cxb3 26. Qxb3 h5 27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. Be3 Kf7 29. Qc3 e5 30. Qc6 exd4 31. Bxd4 Qe4 32. Be3 g6 33. Bd2 Qd4 34. Be1 Qc4+ 35. Qxc4 dxc4 36. Ke2 Ke6 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Kd5 39. Bd2 Bc5 40. Be3 Bd6 41. Bg5 Bc5 42. Bf4 c6 43. Bd2 Ke4 44. f3+ Kd5 45. Bc3 Bb6 46. f4 Ke4 47. f5 gxf5 48. g5 Kd5 49. g6 Ke6 50. Kf3 Bc7 51. Ke3 Bd6 52. Bg7 f4+ 53. Ke4 f3 54. Bd4 f2 55. Bxf2 Kf6 56. Kd4 Kxg6 57. Kxc4 Kf6 58. Bc5 Bc7 59. Bd4+ Ke6 60. Kc5 Kd7 61. Bc3 Bd8 62. Be5 Ba5 63. Bf4 Bd8 64. Be5 Ba5 65. Bf4 Bd8 66. Be5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "Dominguez Perez, L."] [Black "Nakamura, Hi"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2802"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "74"] [GameId "2078744746138521"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,74,22,22,41,25,30,31,31,39,36,-14,-2,0,0,0,32,35,0,-8,56,43,40,13,13,27,24,84,69,70,70,78,81,48,81,69,60,10,41,41,41,-257,-288,66,0,0,0,0,0,34,33,20,17,8,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 a6 13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3 Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 16. O-O Qd8 17. f5 exf5 18. Kh1 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Nxd5 Be6 21. Re7+ Kf8 22. Qb4 Bxd5 23. Qxc5 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Qxe7 25. Qc8+ Qe8 26. Qc7 g6 27. Qd6+ Kg8 28. Rb1 {As Erigaisi's earlier draw with Dominguez was also sufficient for equality, I guess Dominguez's repeating this line was a kind of bluff, hoping that Nakamura would be scared of an improvement somewhere. It didn't work.} Qa8+ $146 {This improves in that it's more forcing; White doesn't have as many choices here as he does after Erigaisi's move.} (28... Qa4 29. Rb8+ {Not forced. White has other moves that aren't worse for him and that don't result in an immediate draw, but no moves that give him the advantage.} Kg7 30. Rxh8 Qxc2+ 31. Kg3 Qc3+ 32. Kf2 Qc2+ 33. Ke3 Qc3+ 34. Ke2 Qc2+ 35. Ke3 Qc3+ 36. Ke2 {½-½ Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Erigaisi,A (2702) Global Chess League Dubai rapid 2023 (7.3)}) 29. Kg3 Qe4 30. Rb8+ Kg7 31. Qf6+ Kh6 32. Rxh8 Qe3+ 33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Qe2+ 36. Kg1 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "Aronian, L."] [Black "Caruana, F."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "2729"] [BlackElo "2793"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2078744746138522"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,89,22,22,22,-6,-6,6,20,28,18,16,18,18,20,7,-7,-5,1,5,-6,-9,-1,-18,-7,-29,-14,-3,12,24,7,3,3,7,17,0,0,13,12,-6,2,2,14,-6,20,-23,18,3,12,32,63,62,60,57,74,76,77,68,72,58,66,60,59,52,68,44,31,43,45,44,46,8,41,34,34,47,144,151,151,151,151,146,240,231,520,541,624,155,157,198,904,1005]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bd2 Bb7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 d6 8. Be2 Nbd7 9. O-O a5 10. Ne1 e5 11. Nc2 Re8 12. b3 exd4 13. exd4 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Ne4 15. Be1 d5 16. f3 Nd6 17. Bf2 dxc4 18. bxc4 Qg5 19. Re1 Ba6 20. Na3 h6 21. Bf1 Nf6 22. Qa4 Qd2 23. Red1 Qb4 24. Qb3 $1 Nf5 25. Qxb4 $1 axb4 26. Nc2 $18 Bc8 {Up to this point Aronian has done everything well and has a winning advantage. Things go less smoothly from here on out, for both players.} 27. Nxb4 $6 (27. g4 $18) 27... Ne3 28. Bxe3 (28. Rd2 $142) 28... Rxe3 29. c5 $6 (29. Bd3 $142 $16) 29... Ra4 $14 30. Nc6 (30. Rb1 $142) 30... bxc5 31. Rxc5 Be6 (31... Ba6 $142) 32. Ne7+ (32. d5 $1 Bxd5 33. Rcxd5 Nxd5 34. Rxd5 Rxa2 35. Rd8+ Kh7 36. Rd1 $1 $14) 32... Kf8 $11 33. d5 Bd7 34. Nc6 Rxa2 35. Nb8 Ra7 36. Rdc1 Re5 37. f4 Re4 {Not bad, objectively, but the line on move 40 isn't the easiest way ever to make a draw.} (37... Rf5 $142) (37... Re7 $142) 38. Nxd7+ Nxd7 39. Rxc7 Rxc7 40. Rxc7 Nb6 $2 (40... Nf6 $8 41. d6 Re6 $1 42. Bc4 Rxd6 43. Rxf7+ Ke8 44. Rxg7 Rd1+ $1 45. Kf2 (45. Bf1 Ne4 {followed by ...Nd2 wins the bishop.}) 45... Rd4 $1 {gets one of the pawns back, and that is enough to make a draw (with good play).}) 41. d6 Rd4 $2 (41... g6) 42. Rc6 Rb4 {Here White missed a simple tactic that anyone who has solved tactics involving pawn promotion will see instantly. (I'm nobody compared to Aronian, and I saw it without any prompting immediately, and I know that the me of many hundreds of rating points ago would have solved it as well.) Almost anyone, that is. Aronian stared at the board for 30 seconds or so, and just had a blind spot.} 43. g3 $2 {Luckily for Aronian's sanity, this is still winning.} (43. Rc8+ $1 Nxc8 44. d7 $18 {is the end.}) 43... Ke8 44. Bh3 $2 {But this may not be winning, at least not clearly.} (44. Rc7 $1) 44... g6 $2 {Missing White's threat.} (44... Rb1+ 45. Kf2 Rb2+ 46. Kf1 Rb1+ 47. Ke2 Rb2+ 48. Kd3 Kd8 $1 49. Rc7 Rxh2 50. Bf5 Rh1 $1 51. Rxf7 Rd1+ 52. Ke4 Rxd6 53. Rxg7 {Is White winning this? I'm pretty sure he is, but there's still work to be done. The danger is that Black will manage to give up his knight and h-pawn for White's pawns, when the resulting endgame is a theoretical draw.}) 45. Rc8+ $1 {It's funny that this is what Aronian had in mind when playing 43.g3, when the immediate Rc8+ won on the spot. All's well that ends well.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Black "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [BlackElo "2762"] [PlyCount "131"] [GameId "2078744746138523"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Nf3 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. c4 a6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Ba3 Re8 15. Nd4 dxc4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qc1 Ne4 18. f3 Ng5 19. e4 Qa5 20. Bd6 Rad8 21. Qa3 Qxa3 22. Bxa3 Rd3 23. Bb4 Rb8 24. a3 Ne6 25. Rfc1 c5 26. Be1 Rb2 27. Rxc4 Re3 28. Kf1 h5 29. Bg3 Ree2 30. Rb1 Ra2 31. Ra1 Rf2+ 32. Bxf2 Rxa1+ 33. Ke2 Nf4+ 34. Kd2 Rxa3 35. g3 Nd3 36. Ke2 Nxf2 37. Kxf2 Ra5 38. e5 Kf8 39. f4 Ke7 40. f5 g6 41. g4 Rb5 42. fxg6 fxg6 43. gxh5 gxh5 44. Rh4 a5 45. Rxh5 Ke6 46. Ke3 a4 47. Kd3 Ra5 48. Kc2 a3 49. Kb1 a2+ 50. Ka1 Ra4 51. Rg5 c4 52. Rg3 Kxe5 53. h4 Kd4 54. h5 Ra8 55. h6 c3 56. h7 c2 57. Rg1 Ke3 58. Rh1 Rh8 59. Rh3+ Kd4 60. Rh4+ Kd5 61. Rh5+ Ke4 62. Rh4+ Kf5 63. Rc4 Rxh7 64. Rxc2 Ra7 65. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 66. Kxa2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2751"] [PlyCount "130"] [GameId "2078744746138524"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e4 dxe4 6. d5 Ne5 7. Qa4+ Bd7 8. Qxe4 Ng6 9. Nf3 Nf6 10. Qd4 e6 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Bg5 Qxd4 13. Nxd4 Bb4 14. Bb5+ Ke7 15. O-O h6 16. Nxe6 hxg5 17. Nxg7 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nd5 19. c4 Nc3 20. Rfe1+ Kf8 21. Nf5 a6 22. Bd7 Rd8 23. Rac1 Nxa2 24. Rcd1 Nh4 25. Ne3 Nc3 26. Rc1 Rxd7 27. Rxc3 Ng6 28. Rb3 Kg7 29. Reb1 Rb8 30. Rb6 Rc7 31. Rxa6 bxa6 32. Rxb8 Ne5 33. Rb4 a5 34. Ra4 Rc5 35. Kf1 Kg6 36. g4 Kf6 37. Ke2 Ke6 38. h3 Ng6 39. Kd3 Nf4+ 40. Kd4 Kd6 41. Nf5+ Kc6 42. Ra3 Ne2+ 43. Ke4 Nf4 44. Kd4 Ne2+ 45. Ke3 Nf4 46. Nd4+ Kb6 47. Ra4 Re5+ 48. Kf3 Nxh3 49. Nb3 Nf4 50. c5+ Kb5 51. Rxa5+ Kb4 52. c6 Re8 53. Rxg5 Ne6 54. Rf5 Kxb3 55. Kg3 Re7 56. g5 Rc7 57. f4 Kc4 58. Kg4 Nd4 59. Rf6 Nxc6 60. f5 Ne5+ 61. Kh4 Kd5 62. g6 fxg6 63. fxg6 Nxg6+ 64. Rxg6 Rc6 65. Rxc6 Kxc6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "8"] [White "So, W."] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D79"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2721"] [PlyCount "83"] [GameId "2078744746138525"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. O-O Bf5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 c5 14. Qd2 e5 15. Bxh6 cxd4 16. Nxd5 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 e4 18. Nf4 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Qb8 20. Qxb8 Raxb8 21. Rfd1 Rfd8 22. b3 Rbc8 23. Rd2 e3 24. Rb2 Rc3 25. h3 d3 26. exd3 Rdxd3 27. fxe3 Rxe3 28. g4 Be4 29. Bxe4 Rxe4 30. Rh2 a5 31. Rf1 a4 32. bxa4 Rxa4 33. Kh1 Raa3 34. h4 Rc4 35. h5 Rxg4 36. hxg6 Rxg6 37. Rg1 Rxg1+ 38. Kxg1 f5 39. Rf2 f4 40. Rxf4 Rxa2 41. Rf2 Rxf2 42. Kxf2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Abdusattorov, Nodirbek"] [Black "So, W."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2762"] [BlackElo "2751"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "66"] [GameId "2078744746138526"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,66,24,24,24,14,29,22,33,26,62,4,35,46,49,34,58,58,47,39,50,55,33,13,13,11,7,0,-4,-42,-49,-71,-69,-92,-100,-106,-105,-124,-122,-200,-174,-174,-209,-313,-316,-283,-316,-316,-259,-259,-290,-290,-290,-273,-288,-279,-227,-295,-307,-380,-396,-472,-549,-549,-379,-406,-542,-967,-1058]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 Nh5 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bh4 g6 9. Be2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 (10. cxd4) 10... Ng7 11. O-O (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. e4 Be7 13. f4 Qb6 14. Qb3 O-O 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. O-O Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. e5 Bc5+ 19. Bf2 Be7 20. Bh4 Bc5+ 21. Bf2 Be7 22. Bh4 {½-½ Vachier Lagrave,M (2741)-So,W (2760) Bucharest Superbet Classic 3rd 2023 (2)}) 11... Nxd4 $146 (11... Be7 12. c4 Nxd4 13. exd4 Nf5 14. Bg3 Nxd4 15. cxd5 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Qxd5 17. Rad1 O-O 18. Ne4 Qxa2 19. Bd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 b6 21. Qf3 Kg7 22. Nxf6 Rb8 23. Qc3 Rxf6 24. Qc7+ Rf7 25. Qxb8 Ba6 26. Rfd1 Qxb2 27. R6d2 Qf6 28. h3 Bc4 29. Re1 b5 30. Red1 a5 31. Qg3 a4 32. Rd7 Bd5 33. Rxf7+ Qxf7 34. Rc1 Bc4 35. Rd1 h5 36. Qe5+ Kh6 37. Rd8 g5 38. Qh8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kf5 40. Rf8 Kg6 41. Rxf7 Kxf7 42. Qc3 Kg6 43. Qb4 Kf5 44. g4+ hxg4 45. hxg4+ Kxg4 46. Kg2 Kf4 47. f3 e5 48. Kf2 g4 49. Qf8+ Kg5 50. Qg7+ Kf5 51. Qf7+ Bxf7 52. fxg4+ Kxg4 53. Ke3 a3 {0-1 Aronian,L (2781)-Erigaisi,A (2567) Chess.com SIG Bullet Wild Chess.com INT blitz 2021 (1.4)}) 12. cxd4 Nf5 13. Bg3 Bd7 14. e4 $2 ({After} 14. Bf4 {or}) (14. Rc1 {the game is equal, if a tiny bit more comfortable for White thanks to his lead in development and better light-squared bishop. Black's position is nothing if not solid, however, and So values solidity more than every or almost every super-GM out there. Abdusattorov decides to go for it, and it turns out not to be the greatest idea ever.}) 14... dxe4 15. Nxe4 Bc6 {Simply winning the d-pawn. White gets some compensation, but it's not enough.} 16. Nc3 (16. Nxf6+ $4 Qxf6 17. Be5 {doesn't work because of} Qg5 $19 {, the point being} 18. Bxh8 Qxg2# {So conjectured that Abdusattorov might have initially missed this point. Coincidentally, it turned out that So himself missed a ...Qxg2# idea a while later.}) 16... Nxd4 17. Bc4 e5 $1 $17 18. f4 $2 {Natural, but it has a tactical flaw.} b5 $6 {Not a bad move in its own right, but a missed opportunity.} (18... Qb6 $1 19. Kh1 O-O-O 20. fxe5 {and it was in his calculations that So missed} Qxb2 $19 {, which hits the knight *and* threatens ...Qxg2#. Mutual blindness.}) 19. Bd3 (19. Bb3) 19... b4 20. Ne4 (20. fxe5 bxc3 21. exf6 Bc5 $19) 20... f5 $1 {Not only a good move, but a forced one. White is winning against everything else.} 21. fxe5 $2 (21. Nd2 $142 e4 22. Bc4 Qb6 23. Kh1 O-O-O $19 {Black is winning, but it's not an overwhelming edge. White retains some swindling chances for the moment.}) 21... fxe4 22. Bc4 Nf5 $1 {The rest is easy for Black.} 23. Qb3 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 O-O-O 25. Be6+ Kb7 26. Bxf5 gxf5 27. Qf7+ Qc7 28. Qxf5 e3 29. Rac1 Rd2 30. Qf6 Bxg2+ 31. Kg1 Bc5 (31... Bc6 {is also crushing.}) 32. Rfe1 Bd5 33. Kf1 Qd7 $1 {White cannot stop ...Qh3+ without allowing something else that's just as bad. Black also threatens ...Rf8 and oh by the way, he's a piece up.} 0-1 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Nakamura, Hi"] [Black "Praggnanandhaa, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A30"] [WhiteElo "2802"] [BlackElo "2749"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "115"] [GameId "2078744746138527"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,115,24,20,22,-9,21,-34,-32,-34,6,8,8,6,24,-3,6,4,6,-13,-13,-32,-15,-11,16,-12,29,29,23,19,13,19,27,9,26,-1,17,1,18,29,56,30,35,26,23,0,11,1,-10,9,10,1,8,0,67,87,51,32,37,22,36,9,12,12,19,-1,20,21,14,-5,-1,0,13,4,5,0,0,0,7,0,20,-32,0,-5,26,9,16,5,4,-12,-24,-30,0,-30,-35,-51,166,165,167,156,189,184,266,265,292,291,292,294,328,328,328,345,365,367,381,354,488,488]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 b6 5. c4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. e3 O-O 8. O-O d5 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. Ne5 Qc7 11. f4 Rad8 12. d3 a6 13. Nd2 dxc4 14. bxc4 Nd7 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxg7 Bxg2 17. Qxg2 Kxg7 18. Nf3 Nb8 19. Rfd1 Rd6 20. Rab1 Kg8 21. Rb3 Nc6 22. a3 Rb8 23. Qc2 Rbd8 24. Qc3 Na5 25. Rb2 Qc6 26. Ne5 Qa8 27. Ng4 f6 28. Nf2 Qf3 29. Qc1 Qc6 30. Qc2 Qf3 31. Re1 Kg7 32. Qe2 Qxe2 33. Rexe2 e5 34. Rec2 exf4 35. gxf4 Re6 36. Re2 Rde8 37. Kg2 Kf7 38. Kf3 Nc6 39. Ne4 Ne7 40. Ng3 Nc6 41. Ne4 Ne7 42. a4 a5 43. Rb3 h6 44. Reb2 f5 45. Nc3 Nc6 46. Nd5 Nb4 47. Re2 g5 $4 {An incredible error, but that's the sort of event Pragg has had. Almost everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong.} (47... Rd8 $1 {puts a little pressure on White, though he should be okay after} 48. Reb2 $1 Nxd5 49. cxd5 Rxd5 50. Rxb6 Rxd3 51. Rxe6 Kxe6 52. Rb5 $11) 48. Nc7 $18 g4+ 49. Kf2 Rd6 50. Nxe8 Rxd3 51. Rxd3 Nxd3+ 52. Kg3 Kxe8 53. e4 fxe4 54. Kxg4 Kf7 55. Kf5 e3 56. Rxe3 Nb2 57. Rc3 Nxa4 58. Rb3 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Black "Aronian, L."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "2751"] [BlackElo "2729"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "82"] [GameId "2078744746142624"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,82,24,22,50,41,41,25,33,31,5,23,60,40,74,-10,-41,-91,-147,-134,-129,-128,-77,-208,-172,-252,-222,-185,-113,-150,-93,-79,-56,-86,-94,-87,10,-132,-67,-65,-65,-73,-44,-44,-58,-94,22,25,-14,-175,-203,-203,-203,-253,-175,-203,-74,-74,-84,-84,-134,-134,-23,-63,-63,-34,3,-51,0,0,10,0,26,9,52,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. Qg4 (6. b4 cxb4 (6... cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nb5 Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2 $16) 7. Nb5 b3+ 8. c3 Nc6 9. Qxb3 $16 {shows why the queen should be on d1 when playing b4.}) 6... Ne7 7. b4 $2 {Probably mixing up lines.} (7. dxc5) (7. Qxg7) 7... cxb4 8. Nb5 $2 (8. axb4 Bxb4 9. Bd2 $15) 8... b3+ $19 {Black is winning and remains winning for a while.} 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Kxd2 Nf5 (10... O-O $142) 11. Bd3 h5 12. Qf4 g5 13. Qf3 Bd7 $17 (13... a6 $142) 14. Ne2 bxc2 15. Nbc3 Nh4 16. Qg3 Nc6 17. f4 Rg8 18. Nb5 $2 Na5 $2 (18... Qa5+ $1 19. Nbc3 (19. Nec3 Rc8 $19 {The threat is ...Nxd4.}) (19. Kxc2 Nf5 $1 $19) 19... Rc8 20. Bxc2 Ne7 $1 $19 {followed by ...Nhf5, when Black's pieces coordinate beautifully.}) 19. Nd6+ Kf8 20. Raf1 $2 (20. fxg5 $15) 20... Nf5 $19 21. Bxf5 exf5 22. Qc3 (22. Rc1 $142) 22... Rg6 $1 {Looking to sac the exchange to put something - generally the knight, but occasionally a rook - on c4.} 23. Qb4 Kg8 ({Oddly, the engine has a slight preference for} 23... Kg7 {, which seems to leave the king a little more exposed without any obvious reward.}) 24. Nxb7 (24. Rc1 $142) 24... Nxb7 25. Qxb7 Rc6 (25... Rb6 $1 26. Qxd5 Rc8 $19 {Black will generally continue with ...Qc7 and ...Be6, and then with every piece in the attack White's king will soon perish.}) 26. Rc1 Rb8 27. Qxa7 Rc4 (27... Rbc8 $1 {first and then ...Be8. At that point everything is tied down, and at that point Black can look for a way through.}) 28. Rxc2 Ra8 $1 29. Qb7 Rb8 (29... Rxc2+ 30. Kxc2 Ba4+ 31. Kd2 Rb8 32. Qa7 Rb2+ {is good too.}) 30. Qa7 Bc6 $2 {Aronian only has one way through, and he doesn't manage to spot it.} (30... Rxc2+ 31. Kxc2 Ra8 32. Qb7 Ba4+ 33. Kd2 Rb8 {transposes to the last note.}) (30... Ra8 31. Qb7 Rxc2+ 32. Kxc2 Ba4+ {followed by ...Rb8 is another version of the same thing.}) 31. Rxc4 dxc4 32. Rc1 $11 {Now White is fine.} Rb2+ 33. Rc2 Rxc2+ 34. Kxc2 Qd5 35. Qe7 Qe4+ 36. Kd2 g4 37. Qg5+ Kf8 38. Qd8+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kf8 40. Qd8+ Kg7 41. Qg5+ Kf8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, M."] [Black "Dominguez Perez, L."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2721"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "93"] [GameId "2078744746142625"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,93,24,22,22,22,23,28,23,7,38,-13,66,66,75,70,60,77,67,67,71,60,71,11,11,11,24,24,-2,8,2,1,19,24,24,-2,15,5,5,5,18,19,15,28,53,60,65,57,61,56,49,42,38,58,62,62,63,68,68,65,70,70,68,69,64,70,63,61,63,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,58,46,52,52,189,206,206,206,206,206,334,372,426,426,426,433]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. Bf4 Be7 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. h3 h5 (13... Be7 14. Rfd1 Be6 15. f3 Rd8 16. Kg2 Rd7 17. Ne2 c5 18. Ng3 g6 19. Ne4 h6 20. Nf6+ Bxf6 21. exf6 Kd8 22. a3 Kc8 23. Kg3 h5 24. Rxd7 Kxd7 25. Re1 a5 26. Re5 b6 27. h4 a4 28. Re2 Re8 29. Be5 Bd5 30. Kf4 Kc6 31. Re3 b5 32. Bc3 Rxe3 33. Kxe3 Kd6 34. Kf4 Ke6 35. Ba5 Kxf6 36. Bxc7 {½-½ Dominguez Perez,L (2708)-Alekseev,E (2708) Biel GM 41st 2008 (3)}) 14. f3 Be6 15. Kg2 Be7 (15... a5) 16. Rfd1 $146 {Nominally a novelty, but it immediately transposes to seven earlier games, most featuring GMs. This type of position is also very well-known.} Rd8 {Now we're up to 17 games in the database, 16 of which ended in a draw and one in a Black win.} (16... a5 17. a4 Rd8 18. b3 Rd7 19. Ne4 b6 20. Ng5 Bc5 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rxd7 Kxd7 23. Rd1+ Kc8 24. Bg5 b5 25. gxh5 Rxh5 26. Rd8+ Kb7 27. f4 Rh7 28. h4 g6 29. Kf3 Rg7 30. Kg4 Be7 31. Rd7 Bf6 32. Rxg7 Bxg7 33. h5 gxh5+ 34. Kxh5 Kc8 35. Kg6 {1-0 Dominguez Perez,L (2758)-Tari,A (2639) NIC Classic Prelim chess24.com INT rapid 2021 (15)}) (16... b5 17. a3 a5 18. Ne4 Bd5 19. Rd4 hxg4 20. hxg4 Rd8 21. Rad1 Bxe4 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. fxe4 Be7 24. e6 fxe6 25. Bxc7 a4 26. Be5 Kf7 27. Rd7 Rd8 28. Rc7 Rd2+ 29. Kf3 c5 30. Bf4 Rxc2 31. Bd6 Rxb2 32. Rxe7+ Kf6 33. e5+ Kg6 34. Rxe6+ Kh7 35. Bxc5 {1-0 Andreikin,D (2726)-Maatman,N (2394) Titled Tuesday intern op 7th Januar Chess.com INT blitz 2020 (1)}) 17. Ne2 (17. b3 a5 18. Ne2 a4 19. Nd4 Ra8 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Bg3 g6 22. Be1 c5 23. c4 b6 24. Bc3 Kf7 25. Rd2 axb3 26. axb3 Rxa1 27. Bxa1 Ra8 28. Bb2 Bg5 29. f4 Bxf4 30. Rf2 g5 31. Bc1 hxg4 32. hxg4 Kg6 33. Bxf4 gxf4 34. Rxf4 Kg5 35. Rf6 Kxg4 36. Rxe6 Kf5 37. Re7 Ra3 38. e6 Rxb3 39. Kf2 Rb4 40. Rxc7 Kxe6 41. Rh7 Rxc4 42. Rh6+ Kd5 43. Rxb6 Re4 44. Rb1 c4 45. Re1 c3 46. Rxe4 Kxe4 47. Ke1 {0-1 Karjakin,S (2732)-Wang,Y (2689) Baku FIDE GP 2008 (5)}) 17... Rd5 $146 (17... c5 {was played in all five previous games (all drawn).} 18. b3 (18. Ng3 hxg4 19. hxg4 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 c6 21. Nh5 Rh7 22. Be3 b6 23. b3 c4 24. Nf4 cxb3 25. axb3 c5 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. b4 cxb4 28. Ra1 a5 29. Bxb6 Bg5 30. Rxa5 Bf4 31. Bg1 Kf7 32. Rb5 Rh8 33. Rxb4 Bxe5 34. f4 Rb8 35. Ra4 Bd6 36. Ra7+ Ke8 37. Rxg7 Rb2 38. Rg8+ Kd7 39. Kf3 Rxc2 40. Be3 Rc3 41. Rg5 Ra3 42. Rh5 Kc6 43. Rh8 Kd7 44. Rh7+ Kc6 45. Rh2 Bc5 46. Re2 Kd7 47. Kf2 Be7 48. Rc2 Bd6 49. Rc4 Rb3 50. Kf3 Ke7 51. Rc6 Bb8 52. Rc2 Kf7 53. Rd2 Rb7 54. Rd3 Kg6 55. Rd8 Ba7 56. Rd6 Kf7 57. Bxa7 Rxa7 58. g5 Ra3+ 59. Kg4 Ra1 60. Rd7+ Kg6 61. Re7 Rg1+ 62. Kf3 Re1 63. Kf2 Re4 64. Kg3 Kf5 65. Rf7+ Kg6 66. Rf6+ Kg7 67. Kf3 Re1 68. Rh6 Kf7 69. Kf2 Re4 70. Kg3 Re1 71. Rf6+ Kg7 72. Kf3 Kg8 73. Kg4 Kg7 74. Kf3 Kg8 75. Rh6 Kg7 76. Rh2 Kg6 77. Rc2 Rf1+ 78. Ke3 Re1+ 79. Kf2 Re4 80. Kf3 Re1 81. Rc5 Rf1+ 82. Ke3 Re1+ 83. Kf2 Re4 84. Kf3 Re1 85. Rc3 Kf5 86. Rc5+ Kg6 87. Rc7 Rf1+ 88. Ke3 Re1+ 89. Kf2 Re4 90. Kf3 Re1 91. Rc8 Kf7 92. Rc4 Rf1+ 93. Ke2 Ra1 94. Rc7+ Kf8 95. Kf3 Rg1 96. Ke4 Re1+ 97. Kd4 Kg8 98. Rb7 Kf8 99. g6 Rg1 100. Rf7+ Ke8 101. Rg7 Kf8 {½-½ Leko,P (2722)-Adams,M (2720) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 (5)}) 18... hxg4 19. hxg4 c4 20. Nd4 cxb3 21. axb3 a6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 {½-½ Kryvoruchko,Y (2714)-Bacrot,E (2696) FRA-chT Top 12 Chartres 2017 (9.1)}) 18. Nd4 hxg4 19. hxg4 Bc5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. c4 Rxd1 $2 (21... Rd4 $1 22. Rxd4 Bxd4 23. Rd1 c5 {should hold.}) 22. Rxd1 Be7 (22... a6) 23. Be3 $16 b6 24. f4 (24. c5 $1 Bxc5 (24... b5 25. b4 $18) 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Rc1 Ke7 27. Rxc5 Rb8 28. b3 Rb5 {may have been the motivation for the preliminary 24.f4. If so, it was mistaken, as White can take and win - take on b5, that is, not c6.} (28... Rb6 29. Ra5 a6 30. f4 $18) 29. Rxb5 $1 cxb5 30. b4 Kd7 31. f4 Kc6 32. f5 {and White wins by a tempo.} exf5 (32... Kd5 33. f6 gxf6 34. exf6 Kd6 35. g5 e5 36. g6 Ke6 37. g7 Kf7 38. Kf3 $18 {and White's king wins everything.}) 33. gxf5 Kd5 34. e6 Kd6 35. Kf3 g6 36. Kf4 ({Another way:} 36. fxg6 Kxe6 37. Ke4 Kf6 (37... c6 38. Kd4 Kf6 39. Kc5 $18) 38. Kd5 $18) 36... gxf5 37. Kxf5 Ke7 38. Ke5 c6 39. Kf5 a6 40. Ke5 Ke8 41. Kd6 $18) 24... g6 25. a4 $2 (25. c5 $1 {was suggested by Svidler in commentary, and of course MVL saw it as well. What he missed was that after} b5 26. b4 $1 a6 27. Rd3 Rh4 {Black's counterplay comes to an abrupt end after} 28. Bf2 $1 {, as} Rxg4+ 29. Kf3 $18 {catches the rook.}) 25... a6 $14 {Now Black should survive, though his suffering continues.} 26. Rh1 Rxh1 27. Kxh1 b5 28. b3 Bb4 29. Kg2 Bc3 30. Kf3 g5 {This isn't necessary, but it's not bad.} 31. f5 exf5 32. gxf5 Bxe5 33. Bxg5 bxc4 34. bxc4 Kf7 $11 35. Ke4 Bd6 36. Bd8 Bg3 37. Bg5 Bd6 38. Be3 Kf6 39. Bd4+ Kf7 40. c5 Bg3 41. Kd3 Be1 42. Bc3 Bf2 $8 43. Kc4 Be3 $2 (43... Ke7 $1 44. Kb4 Kd7 45. Ka5 Bxc5 46. f6 Kc8 47. Kxa6 Kb8 $1 48. Ka5 Kb7 49. Bd2 Bd4 50. f7 Bc5 51. Bh6 Bd6 52. Bd2 (52. f8=Q Bxf8 53. Bxf8 {is a dead draw even if/when Black loses his c-pawns.}) 52... Be7 53. Bb4 c5 $8 54. Ba3 c6 $8 {White's king cannot escape to help the f-pawn; in fact, he's threatened by mate in one and needs a trick just to draw.} 55. f8=Q Bxf8 56. Bxc5 Bxc5 $11) 44. Kb4 $18 Bf2 45. Ka5 Bxc5 46. Kxa6 Be3 47. a5 {Black's king cannot approach the f-pawn, and White's bishop is able to safeguard the f-pawn while blocking the c-pawns. That frees White to play Kb7 and a6-a7, first winning the bishop, then the c-pawns, and then promoting the f-pawn. Winning this is even easier than explaining how to win it, so Dominguez resigns.} 1-0 [Event "Saint Louis Rapid 2024"] [Site "Saint Louis USA"] [Date "2024.08.14"] [Round "9"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, I."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A11"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [BlackElo "2767"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "145"] [GameId "2078744746142626"] [EventDate "2024.08.12"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,145,24,20,15,-12,9,-5,1,-34,5,5,14,-17,-17,-16,-21,-27,-24,-9,-17,-16,-17,-15,13,-24,6,-31,-42,-27,-27,-51,-39,-31,-9,-2,-9,-80,-80,-68,-47,-66,14,0,22,0,39,46,25,55,44,40,65,63,63,61,80,75,112,104,105,106,99,59,70,93,102,105,111,81,97,113,114,107,116,122,129,127,112,94,96,96,96,101,97,96,101,69,78,77,84,85,101,85,109,93,111,105,118,112,137,147,139,98,103,106,103,103,124,64,72,75,64,64,64,64,64,41,44,26,131,129,182,139,188,188,259,262,250,303,310,324,328,328,328,328,364,360,360,356,356,358,356,352,356,356,359,359] Nepo had been leading, and had he won he would have equaled the best rapid score in the history of the tournament with a +4 result. Caruana had been suffering and was next to last at this point, if I recall correctly. Naturally, Caruana ends up winning.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 c6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. d3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8. Be3 Bc5 9. Bxc5 Nxc5 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Nbd2 a5 12. b3 Rfe8 13. a3 e5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Qb2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 Qxb3 18. Rb1 Qxb2 19. Rxb2 g6 20. Rb5 a4 21. Bh3 Ne6 22. Rxb7 Rc7 23. Rxc7 Nxc7 24. Rb1 e4 25. Nd4 exd3 26. exd3 Kg7 27. Kf1 Na6 28. Rb5 Rb8 29. Ra5 Rb6 30. Ke2 h5 31. Bc8 Nc7 32. Rxa4 Nb5 33. Nxb5 Rxb5 34. Ke3 Rb8 35. Bh3 Rb2 36. Rb4 Ra2 37. a4 Kf8 38. Bc8 Ne8 39. h4 Nd6 40. Bh3 Ke7 41. Rd4 Ra3 42. Rb4 Ra2 43. Rf4 Ra3 44. Kd2 Nb7 45. Rd4 Ra2+ 46. Kc3 Nd6 47. Bg2 Rxf2 48. Bxd5 Rf1 49. Rf4 Rg1 50. a5 f5 51. Rf2 Rxg3 52. a6 Rg4 53. Bc4 Nc8 54. Rb2 Rxh4 55. Rb7+ Kd6 56. a7 Nxa7 57. Rxa7 Rg4 58. Bf7 Ke5 59. Ra6 g5 60. Bxh5 Rg1 61. Bg6 Rc1+ 62. Kd2 Rf1 63. Ke2 Rf4 64. Ke3 Kd5 65. Bf7+ Kc5 66. Rf6 Rf1 67. Ke2 Rf4 68. Bg6 Kd4 69. Rxf5 Rg4 70. Kf3 Rg1 71. Kf2 Rg4 72. Ra5 Kc3 73. Be4 1-0