Games
[Event "50th Biel Festival 2017"] [Site "Biel"] [Date "2017.07.24"] [Round "1"] [White "Morozevich, Alexander"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2666"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 (8... b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 11. h4 b4 12. Bf4 Ba6 13. Ng5 Qe8 14. Qg4 a4 15. Nxe6 {1-0 (15) Bronstein,D (2590)-Uhlmann,W (2570) Moscow 1971}) 9. c3 b6 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 a5 12. Nf1 a4 ({Häufiger geschah bisher} 12... Ba6 {z.B.:} 13. h4 b5 14. N1h2 b4 15. h5 a4 16. Ng4 a3 17. h6 g6 18. Bf4 c4 19. dxc4 Bxc4 20. Qd2 axb2 21. Qxb2 bxc3 22. Qc2 Ra3 23. Qd1 Nb4 24. Ne3 Bxa2 25. Nd4 Qa5 26. Nec2 Nxc2 27. Nc6 Qc5 28. Nxe7+ Qxe7 29. Qxc2 Bc4 30. Bg5 Qc5 31. Be3 Qa5 32. Rxa3 Qxa3 33. Bd4 Rc8 34. Qxc3 Qxc3 35. Bxc3 Bd3 36. Bd4 Rc4 37. Bb2 Rb4 38. Ba3 Ra4 39. Bd6 Nb6 40. Rd1 Bc2 41. Rc1 Ra2 42. Bf1 f6 43. exf6 Kf7 44. Be5 Nd7 45. f4 Nxf6 46. Bd3 Bxd3 47. Rc7+ Ke8 48. Bxf6 g5 {1/2-1/2 (48) Klein,G (1957) -Schettler,J (2049) Germany 2010}) 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. h4 Rfc8 {The first new move. } (14... d4 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 Nb4 17. a3 Nd5 18. Bg5 Ra5 19. Rac1 Qd8 20. N1d2 Rxb5 21. Nc4 Bc6 22. Rc2 h6 23. Bxe7 Nxe7 24. Nfd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qa8+ 26. Kh2 Qd5 27. Nd6 Rbb8 28. N2c4 Nc8 29. Ne4 Ncb6 30. f4 Nxc4 31. Rxc4 Rb5 32. Rec1 Rfb8 33. R1c2 Ra5 34. Qd2 Rba8 35. Qc1 Rb8 36. Qd2 Rba8 37. Qe2 {1/2-1/2 (37) Bruzon Batista,L (2679)-Yilmaz,M (2594) Dubai 2016}) 15. Ne3 Qd8 16. h5 b5 { A known motif in this position. White attacks the kingside, Black on the queenside.} 17. Nxd5 $5 {The computer approves of this sacrifice, although it was played after a 13 minute think, so is unlikely to have been home prep.} exd5 18. e6 Nf8 ({Not} 18... fxe6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. h6 {with advantage to White.}) 19. exf7+ Kxf7 $11 20. h6 ({Better} 20. d4) 20... Bf6 21. Nh2 Ne7 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Ng4 Neg6 24. Bd2 d4 {Black has successfully consolidated her kingside. With the last move she opens the long diagonal to the white king and gains counterplay.} 25. hxg7 Kxg7 26. Qf3 Rb6 (26... Bg5 $5 27. Bxg5 Qxg5 $19 { and Black is already better, threatening a3 or h5}) 27. Qf5 Qd5 28. Bh6+ Kf7 29. Qxd5+ Bxd5 30. Nxf6 Rxf6 {After the exchange of queens, White's attack has finally fizzled.} 31. cxd4 Nh4 32. gxh4 (32. Bg5 Nf3+ $19) 32... Rxh6 33. Re5 Rd8 34. Rf5+ Rf6 35. dxc5 Ng6 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rc1 Rdd6 0-1 [Event "50th Biel GM 2017"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.24"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Morozevich, Alexander"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A08"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2666"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. c3 b6 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qe2 a5 12. Nf1 a4 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. h4 Rfc8 $146 ( 14... d4 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 Nb4 17. a3 Nd5 18. Bg5 Ra5 19. Rac1 Qd8 {Bruzon Batista,L (2679)-Yilmaz,M (2594) Dubai 2016}) 15. Ne3 Qd8 16. h5 b5 17. Nxd5 $5 exd5 18. e6 Nf8 (18... fxe6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 {might be possible too but it looks dangerous after e.g.} 20. Bh3 ({or} 20. h6)) 19. exf7+ Kxf7 20. h6 {It's not everyone's cup of tea to defend such a position against Morozevich, but Hou Yifan does a splendid job.} Bf6 21. Nh2 $6 ({Better was} 21. d4 {when the position is highly unclear.}) 21... Ne7 22. Bh3 Rc6 23. Ng4 Neg6 24. Bd2 d4 25. hxg7 Kxg7 26. Qf3 Rb6 27. Qf5 Qd5 28. Bh6+ Kf7 29. Qxd5+ Bxd5 30. Nxf6 Rxf6 31. cxd4 Nh4 32. gxh4 Rxh6 33. Re5 Rd8 34. Rf5+ Rf6 35. dxc5 Ng6 36. c6 Bxc6 37. Rc1 Rdd6 0-1 [Event "50th Biel GM 2017"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.24"] [Round "1.5"] [White "Studer, Noel"] [Black "Leko, Peter"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A62"] [WhiteElo "2493"] [BlackElo "2678"] [PlyCount "132"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rxf4 {A well known exchange sacrifice. Black gets one pawn, and excellent play over the dark squars.} 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7 15. e4 Nd7 16. Qf3 Bh6 (16... b5 17. Rfe1 c4 18. e5 dxe5 19. Rxb5 Ba6 20. Rbb1 exf4 21. d6 Rc8 {Matlakov,M (2684)-Bologan,V (2654) Poikovsky 2016}) 17. Nc4 Nb6 18. Ne3 Qh4 19. f5 Nd7 20. Qg4 $146 (20. Ng4 Bg7 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Qg3 Qxg3 23. hxg3 Rb8 24. f4 Bd4+ 25. Kh1 Kg7 {Perez Garcia, A (2398)-Vocaturo,D (2606) Caleta 2017}) 20... Qxg4 21. Nxg4 Bf4 22. fxg6 hxg6 23. Rb3 b5 24. Rxb5 $5 (24. Rf3 $5 g5 25. h4) 24... Ba6 25. Ra5 Be2 $1 { A great move. Black doesn't want the rook and activate White's pieces.} 26. Bh3 Bd2 27. Ra3 c4 28. Nh6+ $5 {An interesting idea.} Kg7 29. Bxd7 c3 $1 (29... Kxh6 30. Rh3+ Kg7 31. Rb1) 30. Ba4 ({After} 30. Ng4 {Black finally takes...} Bxf1 {...because 31...c2 is threatened. After} 31. Rxc3 Bxc3 32. Kxf1 Bd4 { Black is winning.}) 30... Rh8 (30... Kxh6 31. Bc2 Bxf1 32. Kxf1 a5) 31. Ng4 Bxg4 32. f3 Bh3 33. Rd1 (33. Rb1) 33... Rb8 34. Rxd2 cxd2 35. Kf2 Rb2 36. Bd1 g5 37. Ke3 f5 38. Rxa7+ Kf6 39. Kd3 g4 40. Rh7 $2 {Giving away the game at the last move before the time control.} ({Perhaps Studer didn't like} 40. fxg4 Bxg4 (40... fxe4+ 41. Kc3) 41. Bxg4 fxg4 42. Ke2 d1=Q+ 43. Kxd1 Rxh2 {but e.g.} 44. Ke1 Ke5 45. Re7+ Kf4 46. e5 {is an easy draw.}) 40... Bg2 $1 {A devastating blow. White has to give up the exchange now.} 41. Rh5 Bxf3 42. Rxf5+ Kg6 43. Rxf3 gxf3 44. Bxf3 Rxa2 45. Bd1 Kg5 46. Bc2 Kf4 47. Kxd2 Ra8 48. Kd3 Ke5 49. Bb1 Rh8 50. Kc4 Rxh2 {The tablebase tells us that this is checkmate in 30 moves for Black.} 51. Bd3 Rh8 52. Bc2 Rb8 53. Kd3 Ra8 54. Kc4 Ra3 55. Kb4 Rh3 56. Kc4 Rh2 57. Bd3 Kf4 58. Bb1 Rb2 59. Bd3 Rd2 60. Kc3 Ke3 61. Bb1 Rd1 62. Bc2 Rd4 63. Bb1 Ra4 64. Bc2 Ra8 65. Bb1 Rc8+ 66. Kb3 Rb8+ (66... Rb8+ {White resigned, but not because after} 67. Ka2 {Black would play} Rxb1 $4 {since that is a draw after} 68. Kxb1 Kxe4 69. Kc2 Kxd5 70. Kd3) (66... Rb8+ {Instead, Black will play for Zugzwang:} 67. Ka2 Kd2 $1 68. Ka1 Kc3 69. Ba2 Rf8 70. Bb1 Ra8+ 71. Ba2 Kc2 $1 72. e5 dxe5 73. d6 e4 74. d7 e3 {and wins.}) 0-1 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.25"] [Round "2"] [White "Navara, D."] [Black "Morozevich, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A62"] [WhiteElo "2737"] [BlackElo "2675"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.07.23"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nc3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Na6 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Nh4 (12. Nd2 Nh5 13. e4 Nxf4 14. gxf4 Bd7 15. Nc4 Qf6 16. Qf3 b5 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Bf5 {Jumabayev,R (2620) -Markowski,T (2557) Warsaw 2017}) 12... Bd7 13. e4 c4 $146 (13... Ng4 14. Nf3 c4 15. Qd2 Nc5 16. h3 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Bf1 b5 20. b4 Nb7 21. a4 a6 22. axb5 {½-½ Gonzalez Acosta,B (2478)-Ortiz Suarez,I (2611) Praia da Pipa 2014}) 14. Qd2 Nc5 $1 {An excellent solution.} 15. Bxd6 Nd3 16. Nf3 (16. Rf1 b5 {is very nice for Black but}) (16. Bf1 {was a good try.}) 16... Ng4 17. Re2 Qb6 18. Bf4 Qxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxb2 20. Rc1 (20. e5 Nd3) 20... Nd3 21. Rcc2 Nb4 22. Rc1 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Nxd5 24. Rc1 Nxf4 25. gxf4 b5 {White's position is extremely unpleasant to play now.} 26. Rd2 Bc6 27. h3 Nf6 28. Rd6 Re6 29. Rxe6 fxe6 30. Nd4 Rc8 31. e5 Bxg2 32. Kxg2 Nd5 33. Kf3 c3 34. Nxb5 Rc4 35. Nxa7 Nb4 36. Nb5 c2 37. Nd6 Rc5 38. Ne4 Nxa2 39. Nxc5 Nxc1 40. Ke3 Na2 41. Kd4 0-1 [Event "Biel"] [Site "Biel"] [Date "2017.07.26"] [Round "3"] [White "Morozevich, Alexander"] [Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E37"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2737"] [Annotator "Johannes Fischer"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8. dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e3 Qf6 11. f3 {Provoking the following complications. This position has actually been seen a few times including Carlsen 1-0 Polgar, Corus Chess, 2008} Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3 13. Qf2 Nf5 14. Qxh4 Nxh4 15. b4 {Material is even, but White is not yet developed. If he manages to do so the queenside majority could become strong.} a5 16. b5 Ne5 17. Kf2 O-O 18. Bb2 f6 19. Rd1 Be6 20. Ne2 $5 {White gives up the f3-pawn to gain time to bring his kingside pieces into the game.} Nexf3 21. Nf4 Bf7 {Black gives the pawn right back.} ({ After} 21... Kf7 22. Nxe6 ({But not} 22. Nxd5 $2 Rfd8 23. e4 Rac8 {with a clear advantage to Black}) 22... Kxe6 23. Bh3+ f5 24. e4 $5 dxe4 25. Rd6+ Ke7 26. Rhd1 {White is down two pawns but has sufficient compensation.}) 22. Nxd5 Rfd8 23. e4 Ng5 24. Bd3 f5 $6 {This move the engines don't care for.} ({Instead } 24... Bh5 {and the position is approximately balanced, but one example variation shows how complicated things remain:} 25. Bxf6 $5 Rf8 26. Kg3 Bxd1 27. Rxd1 gxf6 28. Kxh4 Nf3+ 29. Kg4 Ne5+ 30. Kf5 Rae8 31. Nc7 Re7 32. Nd5 Ree8 {with a move repetition draw.}) 25. Nb6 ({and here} 25. Bc1 {and White comes out in front, e.g.} Nxe4+ 26. Bxe4 fxe4 27. Ne7+ Kf8 28. Rxd8+ Rxd8 29. Bg5 Rd3 30. Bxh4 e3+ 31. Kf3 Rxa3 {with a clear White advantage.}) 25... fxe4 26. Be2 Rf8 27. Nxa8 $6 ({Here White misses an opportunity} 27. Kg3 {with good chances, e.g.} Nf5+ 28. Kg4 h6 29. Nxa8 Ne3+ 30. Kg3 Nxd1 31. Rxd1 Rxa8 32. c6 {and White is on top}) 27... Bc4+ 28. Ke3 Ng2+ 29. Kd2 e3+ 30. Kc1 Bxe2 31. Rd7 Ne6 32. Nc7 Bxb5 $1 {with this tactical resource, Black maintains the balance.} 33. Nxb5 e2 34. Kd2 Rf1 35. Kxe2 Rxh1 36. Rxb7 Ngf4+ 37. Kf3 Rf1+ 38. Ke3 Re1+ 39. Kf3 Rf1+ 40. Ke3 Re1+ 41. Kf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "50th Biel GM 2017"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.27"] [Round "4"] [White "Bacrot, E."] [Black "Morozevich, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B52"] [WhiteElo "2715"] [BlackElo "2675"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.07.23"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6 10. f3 O-O 11. O-O {Against a Maroczy structure, Black needs to get in either ...b5 or ...d5, despite the fact that White seems to be heavily aiming at both.} a6 12. Qd3 (12. a4 {weakens b4, so White aims at b5 in a different way}) (12. Qe2 {may seem more natural, but runs into the usual "Dragon" tactics} Nxe4 13. Nxc6 (13. Nxe4 Nxd4) 13... Nxc3 {and White shouldn't even go pawn grabbing since} 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. bxc3 Rfe8 16. Rae1 Bxc3) 12... Ne5 13. Qe2 {White will get the tempo back, anyway, after an eventual f4.} e6 {Black tries for the "other" break.} (13... Rac8 14. b3 b5 $1 {a common idea} 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 {and White has his usual small plus. Black may need to still go for ...e6 before things start landing on c6.}) 14. Rac1 Rfc8 15. b3 d5 {He gets it in, but now a series of forcing moves leads to large spatial plus for White.} 16. f4 Neg4 17. e5 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Ng4 19. Qe2 dxc4 20. Rfd1 h5 (20... cxb3 21. Qxg4) 21. h3 Nh6 22. bxc4 Qc7 {The center has been broken up but White enjoys much more freedom for his pieces.} 23. Ne4 Rd8 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 {GM Hikaru Nakamura said in a recent interview on the Perpetual Chess Podcast that a position becomes untenable with best play when it reaches about +0.9 for one side. And this position is just about right on that number.} Rd7 26. c5 Rd5 27. g5 Nf5 28. Nxf5 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 gxf5 30. Nf6+ Bxf6 31. gxf6 {It's definitely not defensible now. White holds all the trumps, punctuated by his next move.} Qd8 32. Qd6 $1 {The exclam is for strength, not obscurity. Good luck removing her! At first the computer thinks Qf3 was better, but then it "sees" after a longer think that Black is helpless.} Rc8 33. Rc2 Kh7 {Hard to criticize the king walk. There's absolutely nothing to do in the position. Activating the Black queen means freeing the White queen and certain self-immolation.} (33... Qxd6 34. Rg2+ Kf8 35. cxd6 {isn't hard for White to convert. One idea is for example:} b5 36. d7 $1 Rd8 37. Rc2 {and Black can resign.}) 34. Rh2+ Kg6 35. Rg2+ Kh6 36. Kh2 {Black can never trade queens since f7 is far too weak.} Kh5 37. Rg7 Kh4 38. Kg2 a5 39. Kf3 Qh8 40. Qd2 { An almost unrecognizable game for Morozevich, who never got any chance to show creativity.} 1-0 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.28"] [Round "5"] [White "Studer, N."] [Black "Bacrot, E."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E06"] [WhiteElo "2493"] [BlackElo "2715"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2017.07.23"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b6 8. Bg5 Nd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Qxc4 Ba6 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nc3 c5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Rfe1 Bb7 15. Qa4 Rfe8 16. Rac1 a6 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qa5 (18. b4 {Bacrot said this way has less risk -- Black doesn't get a passer, for starters.}) 18... Rac8 19. Nd2 Nf8 {This position boils down to whether you like playing with the hanging pawns or you like attacking them.} 20. e4 {First, White "fixes" them on the dark squares. Of course, Black has the correct color bishop for that. "Maybe I am slightly worse," Bacrot said.} d4 21. Nb3 Ne6 22. Rc4 $5 {The rook becomes a bystander as a mere blockader.} (22. Qd2 $1 {was a more active way to prevent ...c4 since} c4 23. Nxd4 $1 {and none of the pins work:} Red8 (23... Rcd8 24. Rxc4) (23... Qd7 24. Nf3) 24. Nf5) 22... Red8 23. Rd1 f5 $1 {"Here it is much better for Black already," said Bacrot.} 24. Re1 (24. Qe1 {Returns the queen to more useful places.}) (24. exf5 Bxg2 25. fxe6 Qxe6 26. Rxc5 Bf3 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Nxd4 Qd7 $1 {"I was happy to find this" -- Bacrot. White can't save the rook, the knight, and the mates on the back rank.}) 24... fxe4 25. Bxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qf7 {White's rooks just aren't talking to each other and now ideas like ...Ng5 are in the air.} 27. Qd2 Qf5 28. Qd3 Rf8 29. f4 g5 $1 ( 29... Nxf4 $2 {Bacrot said he spent five minutes analyzing this move, thinking that} 30. gxf4 Qg6+ 31. Kh1 Rxf4 32. Nd2 (32. Rxc5 $1) 32... Rf2 33. Qh3 Rcf8 { would win, but then saw that 32nd move for White, which saves the day.}) (29... Rce8 30. Qc2) 30. Qf3 (30. fxg5 Nxg5 {is gross for White}) 30... gxf4 31. h4 Kh8 32. Nd2 Rg8 {The bid for counterplay has not worked for White.} 33. Nf1 Rcf8 $2 (33... Rxg3+ $1 {was the cruncher} 34. Nxg3 Rg8 {and White can't defend. You know it is bad that the computer's best offering here is} 35. Qh1) 34. Re1 Qf6 (34... Qh3) 35. Ra4 Nc7 (35... Qxh4 {is more efficient, but Black is still in control nonetheless}) 36. Ra5 Qd6 37. Qh5 f3 $2 {The first inaccuracy that really could have cost Black. Bacrot was in time pressure at this moment.} (37... fxg3) 38. Kf2 $2 {White misses the chance to have his rooks talking again!} (38. Qe5+ Qxe5 39. Rxe5 {And now White's knight holds everything while the rooks harass the pawns.}) 38... Nd5 39. Qe5+ {It's not as useful as before, as we will see.} Qxe5 {Good enough, but you know MVL will be the first to rib his friend about missing the brilliant} (39... Nf6 $3 { when after} 40. Qxd6 Ng4+ {is mate in eight!} 41. Kg1 f2+ 42. Kg2 fxe1=Q { and White can't defend. To add some joie de vivre, even} (42... fxe1=N+ 43. Kg1 Rf2 {is winning!})) 40. Rxe5 Nb4 {The difference is clear as compared to the earlier chance for White to trade queens. The Black knight has gone from c7 to b4; from zero to hero.} 41. Re6 Rg6 42. Rxg6 Nd3+ 43. Kg1 hxg6 44. Rxa6 f2+ 45. Kg2 Nxb2 46. Ra3 c4 0-1 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.30"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Harikrishna, Pentala"] [Black "Hou, Yifan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B36"] [WhiteElo "2737"] [BlackElo "2666"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 a5 11. O-O a4 12. Rad1 Qa5 13. Bd4 Be6 14. Qe3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Rfe8 16. h4 Bxd5 17. cxd5 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Qb6 19. Qd2 Rec8 20. Bg4 Rc7 21. Rb4 Qa5 22. Bxd7 Rxd7 23. Rc1 Rc7 24. Rxc7 Qxc7 25. a3 Qd7 26. Qd1 b5 27. Qe2 Ra5 28. g3 h5 29. Kg2 Kh7 30. Qf3 Kg8 31. Qc3 Ra7 32. Qd3 Ra5 33. Qf1 Kg7 34. Qd1 Qc7 35. Qd3 Qc5 36. Qe2 Kf8 $2 {Doing nothing isn't always easy.} 37. g4 hxg4 38. Qxg4 Ra8 39. h5 Kg7 $1 40. hxg6 fxg6 $2 {Hou Yifan accepts white square weaknesses that prove indefensible.} (40... Rg8 $1 {good tactics enable Black to escape difficulties here.} 41. Qf3 Kxg6 $1 42. e5 {Black's position looks very risky, but everything is fine if Black's king tiptoes back to safety.} Kg7 $1 {The position is just equal.}) 41. Qd7 {Harikrishna attacks b5 and e7.} Rf8 42. Qxe7+ Rf7 43. Qh4 g5 44. Qg3 Kg6 45. Qe3 Qc8 ({According to some long analysis by IM Jeremy Silman} 45... Qxe3 {would have drawn.} 46. fxe3 Re7 47. Rxb5 {A move suggested by IM Anthony Saidy still leads to a draw} (47. Kf3 Rf7+ 48. Ke2 Rf8 49. Rxb5 g4 50. Rb6 g3 51. Rxd6+ Kg5 52. Rc6 (52. Rd7 Kg6) 52... Rf2+ 53. Ke1 Rxb2 54. Rc8 g2 55. Rg8+ Kf6 56. d6 Ke6 57. e5 Ra2 58. Rg4 Rxa3) 47... Rxe4 48. Kf3 Kf5 49. Rb8 g4+ 50. Ke2 Rc4 51. Kd3 Rc1 52. e4+ Kg5 53. Rg8+ Kf4 54. Rf8+ Kg5 55. Kd2 Rh1 56. Rd8 (56. e5 dxe5 57. d6 Rh7 (57... Rh6 {even makes White fight for the draw})) (56. Rf5+ Kg6 57. Rf4 Kg5 58. Rf5+ Kg6 59. Ke3 g3 60. Kf3 Rf1+ 61. Kxg3 Rxf5 62. exf5+ Kxf5 63. Kf3 Ke5 64. Ke3 Kxd5 65. Kd3 Kc5 66. Kc3 d5 67. b4+ axb3 68. Kxb3) 56... g3 57. e5 dxe5 58. Ke3 Kg4) 46. e5 $1 {The gates are now open for White's rook.} dxe5 47. Qxe5 Qc2 48. Qe3 Rf6 49. Rd4 Kf7 50. Re4 Qc8 51. Qxg5 Qc5 52. Qh5+ {Hou Yifan resigns as ... Rg6+ is met by the pinning and winning Rg4!} 1-0 [Event "Biel"] [Site "Biel"] [Date "2017.08.02"] [Round "9"] [White "Harikrishna, P."] [Black "Bacrot, Etienne"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2737"] [BlackElo "2715"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 6. O-O { [%emt 0:00:04]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:01:04]} 8. Re1 {[%emt 0:01:46]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:17]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:01:00]} Ne7 { [%emt 0:00:31]} 10. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:03:47]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:40] C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3} 11. Nf1 {[%emt 0:02:59]} c6 { [%emt 0:01:20]} 12. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:54]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:40] The position is equal.} 13. Ng3 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Be6 {[%emt 0:10:05]} ({But not} 13... Qb6 $6 14. Be3 $16) 14. exd5 {[%emt 0:22:03] [#]} Nxd5 $146 {[%emt 0:05:10]} ({ Predecessor:} 14... Bxd5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qb6 17. Ra3 Qc7 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Rfe8 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Ra1 Bxb3 22. Qxb3 Nf4 23. Nf3 g6 {½-½ (23) Howell,D (2644)-Svidler,P (2745) Germany 2016}) 15. d4 {[%emt 0:01:06]} exd4 { [%emt 0:01:21]} 16. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:01:10]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 17. Bxd5 { [%emt 0:08:01]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 18. Ndf5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Rad8 {[%emt 0: 10:16] White should prevent ...Bxg2!} 19. Qg4 {[%emt 0:06:19]} Be6 {[%emt 0:02: 33]} 20. Be3 {[%emt 0:04:02]} Bb8 {[%emt 0:08:43]} 21. Bc5 $2 {[%emt 0:07:42] [#]} (21. Rad1 $11 {and White is okay.}) 21... Bxf5 $1 $19 {[%emt 0:09:29]} 22. Nxf5 $2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (22. Qb4 Be6 23. Bb6) 22... Qh2+ {[%emt 0:08:12]} 23. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:04] [#]} Rd2 $1 {[%emt 0:03:30]} 24. f4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} h5 { [%emt 0:02:11]} 25. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Qh1+ $40 {[%emt 0:01:06] Black wants a kill.} 26. Bg1 {[%emt 0:00:06] Strongly threatening Ng3.} Ba7 {[%emt 0:00:37] Black is clearly winning.} 27. Re3 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Bxe3 {[%emt 0:05:09]} 28. Nxe3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Re8 {[%emt 0:01:17]} 29. Nc4 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Rc2 { [%emt 0:03:25] Precision: White = 63%, Black = 93%.} 0-1 [Event "50th Biel GM 2017"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.31"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Morozevich, Alexander"] [Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2699"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Nbd7 7. e3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. O-O-O dxc4 10. g4 $6 {The engine disapproves of this move, but it leads to the sort of chaos for which GM Morozevich has always been known.} b5 (10... Nxg4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Rg1 Ngf6 13. Ne5 {might not be enough play, but it is certainly some play for the pawn.}) 11. Rg1 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. g5 h5 14. g6 f5 $6 (14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 f6 {is the engine advocation. ...f6 rather than ... f5 seems safer as the key g5 and e5-squares remain under control.}) 15. Ne5 ( 15. Ng5 $5) 15... Nxc3 (15... Nxe5 $1 16. dxe5 f4 $1 {gives Black good play.}) 16. Qxc3 Nf6 17. e4 $5 Ng4 $2 (17... Bb7 18. Qh3 c3 19. exf5 c5 20. Bxb5 { is but the beginning of the chaotic recommendations from the engine. Unclear is the best evaluation we can offer :)}) (17... Nxe4 18. Qh3 Nf6 19. Rg5 $1 { followed by Rxh5! just wins.}) (17... fxe4 18. Qh3 c3 19. Rg5 h4 $1 20. Qxh4 Qb4 $1 21. bxc3 Qxc3+ {gives Black a perpetual.}) 18. Qh3 Qg5+ 19. Kb1 Qh6 20. Qh4 Nf6 $2 (20... c5 {Komodo indicates no clear win for White here, but Black is under serious pressure. White has many options such as f3, Be2, and Bh3 to put pressure on the knight on g4.}) 21. Rg5 Bd7 22. Nxd7 Nxd7 23. e5 $1 { Black cannot prevent a buildup of the White pieces now. In time h5 decisively falls.} c5 24. Be2 cxd4 25. Rxh5 Qxg6 26. Rh8+ Kf7 27. Bh5 Rxh8 28. Bxg6+ Kxg6 29. Qe7 $1 {At a minimum, Black will lose the knight on d7 as it's defense will lose the game in response to Rg1+!} 1-0 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.08.01"] [Round "8"] [White "Morozevich, A."] [Black "Studer, N."] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2675"] [BlackElo "2493"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. Ne2 Bf5 ({More often seen is} 6... Nb6 7. Bb3 Bf5 8. Nbc3 e6) 7. O-O e6 8. a3 Qd7 9. Nbc3 Nce7 (9... Nb6 10. Ba2 Be7 11. Be3 Rd8 12. f4 h6 13. Qe1 Bd3 14. Rd1 Bc4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 { 1/2-1/2 (15) Ilincic,Z (2405)-Fominyh,A (2441) Kecskemet 2016}) 10. Bd2 Nb6 11. Ba2 Ned5 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. h4 {The first wing pawn marches...} O-O-O 14. a4 { And here comes the second wing pawn...} Nxc3 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. a5 a6 17. h5 { Next comes the kitchen sink!} Bd3 18. Re1 {Now the bishop on d3 is offsides and Bg5 is a threat.} Qb5 {Black barely keeps the c4 square under control, but. ..} 19. Bb3 {threatens Ba4, or even Ra4 with the idea of advancing the c-pawn.} Bc4 (19... h6 20. Ba4 Qb2 {was perhaps the best try.}) 20. Ba4 Qb2 (20... Qxa5 $2 21. Bd7+ {drops the queen.}) 21. Ne4 Bd3 22. Ng5 {With the queen away, White's knight will play.} Nxc3 23. Bxc3 Qxc3 24. Nxf7 Qxd4 25. Nxh8 {It's a full rook.} Bc5 26. Re3 Qb2 27. Nf7 Bxe3 28. fxe3 ({Nicht} 28. Nxd8 $4 Qxf2+ 29. Kh2 Qh4#) 28... Rd5 29. Qc1 Qe2 30. Bb3 Rb5 (30... Rd7 31. Bxe6 $18) 31. Nd6+ {Ouch.} 1-0 [Event "50th Biel GM 2017"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.30"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2699"] [BlackElo "2737"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O b5 11. g4 Nbd7 12. g5 b4 13. gxf6 bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxf6 15. Na5 Rc8 16. Nc6 Qd7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qa5 Rc6 19. Rg1 Rfc8 20. Kb1 Nh5 ( 20... Rxc2 21. Bxa6 {The exchange of the c2-pawn for the a6-pawn gives White a huge endgame advantage should he successfully defend.}) 21. Rg2 Qf6 22. Rf2 h6 23. b3 Kh7 24. c4 Nf4 25. Qb4 Nh3 26. Bxh3 Bxh3 27. Kb2 Qd8 28. Qd2 Rb8 29. f4 Qc7 $2 {This move proves to be a decisive loss of tempo.} (29... Rxc4 $1 30. fxe5 Bg4 {remains complicated.}) 30. Rg1 Rxc4 31. Rg3 d5 32. f5 d4 33. Bxh6 $1 {This pseudo-sacrifice is decisive.} Rc3 (33... gxh6 34. Rxh3 {wins immediately on f6.}) 34. Bxg7 Re3 35. Rxe3 dxe3 36. Qxe3 Kxg7 {Now Black is mated in eight, but there was no real improvement.} 37. f6+ Kf8 38. Qxh3 Ke8 39. Rd2 1-0 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.07.30"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2699"] [BlackElo "2737"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.07.24"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O b5 11. g4 Nbd7 12. g5 b4 13. gxf6 bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxf6 15. Na5 Rc8 16. Nc6 Qd7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qa5 Rc6 19. Rg1 Rfc8 20. Kb1 Nh5 ( 20... Rxc2 21. Bxa6 {The exchange of the c2-pawn for the a6-pawn gives White a huge endgame advantage should he successfully defend.}) 21. Rg2 Qf6 22. Rf2 h6 23. b3 Kh7 24. c4 Nf4 25. Qb4 Nh3 26. Bxh3 Bxh3 27. Kb2 Qd8 28. Qd2 Rb8 29. f4 Qc7 $2 {This move proves to be a decisive loss of tempo.} (29... Rxc4 $1 30. fxe5 Bg4 {remains complicated.}) 30. Rg1 Rxc4 31. Rg3 d5 32. f5 d4 33. Bxh6 $1 {This pseudo-sacrifice is decisive.} Rc3 (33... gxh6 34. Rxh3 {wins immediately on f6.}) 34. Bxg7 Re3 35. Rxe3 dxe3 36. Qxe3 Kxg7 {Now Black is mated in eight, but there was no real improvement.} 37. f6+ Kf8 38. Qxh3 Ke8 39. Rd2 1-0 [Event "Biel SUI"] [Site "Biel SUI"] [Date "2017.08.01"] [Round "8"] [White "Vaganian, R."] [Black "Hou Yifan"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2562"] [BlackElo "2666"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O {Hou had hitherto some difficulties, against Kramnik in Medias, 2016} d5 (5... c5 6. c4 g6 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5 Bg7 9. e4 d6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 Ba6 12. Bf4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 a6 14. Rad1 Ne8 15. e5 Ra7 16. Rfe1 b5 17. Ne4 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. Bf4 Ng7 21. Bd6 Re8 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Nxc5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Nf5 25. Ne4 Rc7 26. d6 Rc4 27. d7 Kg7 28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Qxd6 Rc7 30. Rd1 Rb7 31. Qe5+ Kh6 32. Qe8 Rb8 33. Qxf7 {1-0 (33) Kramnik,V (2810)-Hou,Y (2635) Medias 2016}) 6. b3 (6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Qe2 c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e4 Nc6 10. c3 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bg3 O-O 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. Nd6 Bxd6 16. Bxd6 Rd8 17. Bg3 h6 18. Bb1 Nf6 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Rd1 Qe8 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Rd8 23. Qd1 Rd5 24. c4 Rxd4 25. Qxd4 Nd7 26. Qd6 Qc8 27. Qc7 Qxc7 28. Bxc7 Kf8 29. b4 Ke7 30. f3 Ba6 31. Bd3 Kf6 32. Kf2 e5 33. a4 Ke6 34. Ke3 f5 35. a5 Bb7 36. Bc2 bxa5 37. Bxa5 a6 38. Bc7 Bc6 39. g4 g6 40. gxf5+ gxf5 41. f4 e4 42. h3 Nf6 43. Bd8 Ne8 44. Kd4 Ng7 45. Bb3 Nh5 46. Bc7 Nf6 47. Be5 Bb7 48. Ba4 Nd7 49. Bg7 h5 50. Bh6 Nf6 51. Bg5 Nh7 52. Bd8 Nf6 53. Bd1 h4 54. Be2 e3 55. Kxe3 Bg2 56. Bxf6 Kxf6 57. c5 Bxh3 58. Bxa6 Ke7 59. Bd3 Ke6 60. b5 Kd5 61. b6 Kc6 62. Be2 Kb7 63. Bf3+ Kc8 64. Kf2 Kd7 65. c6+ { 1-0 (65) Kramnik,V (2810)-Hou,Y (2635) Medias 2016}) 6... Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Ne5 c5 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. a3 Rc8 11. Nd2 Ne7 {The knight can sometimes head for e4 via f6 or d6} 12. Rad1 (12. f4 Ne4 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. dxc5 Rxc5 15. c4 f6 16. Ng4 Rc7 17. Rfd1 Nf5 18. Nf1 Qe7 19. Ng3 a5 20. Nf2 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Rd7 22. Bd4 Bc7 23. Qh5 Bc6 24. Bc3 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Bd6 26. b4 Ra8 27. Bd4 Bc7 28. b5 Bb7 29. Qh5 e5 30. fxe5 fxe5 31. Bb2 Qf7 32. Qg4 Rf8 33. Qe2 Qg6 34. Rd1 Bc8 35. a4 Bd6 36. Qd2 Bc5 37. Bxe5 Be6 38. Qc3 h6 39. Bd6 Bxd6 40. Rxd6 Qxg3 41. Nxe4 Qg6 42. Qe5 Re8 43. Rxb6 Qg4 44. Rb8 Rxb8 45. Qxb8+ Kh7 46. Qe5 Bxc4 47. b6 Ba6 48. Nc5 Qd1+ 49. Kh2 Bc8 50. b7 Bxb7 51. Nxb7 Qxa4 52. e4 {1/2-1/2 (52) Rajlich,I (2417)-Hou,Y (2557) Budapest 2008}) 12... Qc7 13. c4 (13. f4 Ne4 $11) 13... Ne4 14. cxd5 Nxd2 15. Rxd2 Bxd5 16. Qh5 f5 ({After} 16... g6 $5 17. Qh6 { threatening Ng4 and Nf6. With} Bxe5 18. dxe5 Bxb3 {Black could diffuse the attack and White has very little compensation for a pawn.}) 17. Nc4 {Bxe5 was actually threatened.} cxd4 18. Bxd4 Ng6 {With a hidden intention, which is soon revealed.} 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. b4 {The "normal move", but...} Bxg2 $1 { This is the point.} 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 22. Qxg6 (22. exd4 Nf4+ $17 {picking up a pawn, but Black is still far from the win.}) 22... Qd5+ 23. e4 fxe4 24. Qxe4 $2 {Losing the eschange.} ({A better try was} 24. Ba6 hxg6 ({in case of} 24... Qxd2 $2 {White wins with} 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Bxc8 $18) 25. Rxd5 exd5 26. Bxc8 Rxc8 {and there is still counter-play in the rook ending:} 27. Rd1 Rd8 28. f3 e3 29. Rd4 $19) 24... Qg5+ 25. Kh1 Qxd2 26. Qxh7+ Kf7 27. Qg6+ Ke7 28. Qxg7+ Rf7 29. Qd4 Qf4 {That's it.} 30. Qxf4 Rxf4 31. f3 Rd4 32. Be4 Rd2 33. Rg1 Rc3 ( 33... Rc3 34. Rg7+ Kf6 35. Rxa7 $2 Rc1#) 0-1