Games
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:41:11"]
[BlackClock "0:23:32"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4
(8. Re1 Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bb3 Qxd3 12. Nxe5 Bxd1 13. Nxd3 Bxb3 14.
axb3 Be7 {Giri,A (2797)-Harikrishna,P (2723) Shenzhen 2019}) 8... a6 9. Re1 Bg4
10. Nbd2 Kh8 $2 {N A bad novelty usually means that a player is mixing up his
preparation.} (10... Ba7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 f6 13. b4 Nce7 14. Bd2 Kh8 15. Ng3
Bf7 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Qd7 {Bacrot,E (2678)-Matlakov,M (2683) Bastia 2018})
11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 Ba7 13. Ng3 {This is the problem. Both pawn e5 and Bh5 are
hanging.} Bg6 {So decides that keeping the bishop on the board is more
important than the pawn.} (13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nde7 15. Ne4 {is indeed very
good for White, who will put his queen on h5 and the knight on g5.}) 14. Nxe5
Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Nb6 16. Qf3 c6 17. Bf4 Bb8 18. Ree1 Nxc4 19. dxc4 Qh4 20. Ne2 Ba7
$2 {Another bad move.} 21. Bd6 Rfe8 22. Nf4 Bc2 23. c5 {Now "Ba7 just sucks,"
as Duda put it.} a5 24. Re2 Bb3 25. Ra3 1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:35"]
[BlackClock "0:13:20"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 e5 5. Nxe5 O-O 6. Nf3 (6. Be2 Re8 7. Nf3
Nxe4 8. O-O d6 9. Nxe4 Rxe4 10. d3 Re8 11. d4 Nc6 12. Be3 Bg4 {Cheparinov,I
(2709)-Dubov,D (2703) St Petersburg 2018}) 6... Re8 7. d3 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9.
Bd2 {N} (9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Be2 Qd6 11. O-O c5 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. Be3 b6 14. a3 Bg4
15. Ng5 Be6 16. Nxe6 Qxe6 {Aronian,L (2784)-Grischuk,A (2752) chess.com INT
2016}) 9... Bg4 10. Qb3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Na6 12. Be2 (12. Ng5 $5 Qe7 13. f3 Bd7
14. d4) 12... Nc5 13. Qc2 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qh4 15. d4 Ne6 16. Qc1 c6 17. a4 Qh3
18. Rb1 b6 19. Be3 Rac8 20. Qd2 f5 21. Qd3 Kh8 22. e5 c5 23. d5 f4 24. dxe6
Rcd8 25. Qe4 fxe3 26. fxe3 Rxe6 27. Rd1 Rde8 28. Bf1 Qh6 29. Qf4 g5 30. Qg4
Bxe5 31. Bb5 Rf8 32. Rd7 Bf4 (32... Bxc3+ $5 33. Kf2 Rd6 34. Rxd6 Qxd6 35. Qxg5
Bg7 36. f4) 33. Bd3 Rxe3+ 34. Kf2 Rfe8 35. h4 R3e7 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 (36... Rxe7 {
With Dubov offered a draw as he was worried about} 37. Qc8+ Kg7 38. Bc4 {
but afterward Giri suggested} gxh4 {and after} 39. Qg8+ $6 Kf6 {White is in
big trouble.}) 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:43:47"]
[BlackClock "0:56:41"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. a4 (6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 {
Navara, D (2739)-Ding,L (2812) Shamkir 2019}) 6... Bd6 7. a5 O-O 8. Be2 e5 9.
cxd5 {N} (9. O-O e4 10. Nd2 Nb8 11. f3 Re8 12. fxe4 dxe4 13. b3 Qe7 14. c5 Bc7
15. Nc4 Nd5 16. Qd2 Nd7 {Riazantsev,A (2671)-Potkin,V (2599) Sochi 2015}) 9...
cxd5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. O-O Bc7 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. a6 bxa6 14. Qa4 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11. Qxd4 Bb7 12. Nc3 c5 13. Qd1 b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5
15. exd5 Bd6 16. c4 ({Instead:} 16. f4 Bxe5 17. fxe5 Qh4 18. Be3 Qc4 19. b3
Qxd5 20. Qxd5+ Bxd5 21. Red1 Be6 22. Bxc5 Rfc8 23. Bxb4 Rxc2 {was soon drawn
in Amin,B (2609) -Leko,P (2717) Ningbo 2011}) 16... bxc3 17. bxc3 {
Nepomniachtchi chose a rare line for which Aronian was not as well prepared as
usual. According to the Russian GM his opponent made a move which he did not
remember in his analyzes (not in the top-computer lines, probably a bad one.)}
a5 {N} ({A predecessor saw Black even winning after:} 17... Bxe5 18. Rxe5 Rxf2
19. Be3 ({However, White can improve with:} 19. Bg5 $1) (19. Kxf2 Qf6+ {
is also good for the second player.}) 19... Qf6 20. Bxf2 Qxe5 21. c4 Re8 22.
Bxc5 Qc7 23. Bd4 Qxc4 {Rodriguez Regull,G (2025)-Delisau Gil,O (1976)
Barcelona 2012}) 18. Nf3 Qf6 19. Bg5 {An important maneuver.} Qg6 ({The pawn
capture is too risky. After:} 19... Qxc3 20. Rb1 ({White is also better with:}
20. Rc1 Qa3 21. Be7 Bxe7 22. Rxe7) 20... Ba6 21. Rb6 Bc7 22. Rb3 Qc4 23. d6 {
The black pieces are miserable, say:} Bd8 24. Be7) 20. Be7 {White needs to
deprive his opponent of the bishop pair. Thus he is also securing his king.
Now a series of forced moves follows.} Bxe7 21. Rxe7 Qd6 22. Qe2 Bxd5 {Forced,
under a temporary pin.} ({Not} 22... Qxd5 $2 23. Rd1) 23. Rd1 Rab8 ({Aronian
cannot break free at once since} 23... Bxf3 {is strongly met with:} 24. Qc4+ ({
Rather than:} 24. Rxd6 Bxe2 25. Rdxd7 Rfb8 $1 {when White has nothing more
than a perpetual check.}) 24... Bd5 25. Rxd5 Qxe7 26. Rxd7+ Qf7 27. Rxf7 Rxf7
28. g3 {The rooks are not well coordinated, therefore the queen provides White
with the advantage.}) 24. Ne1 ({Now Black is ready to capture on f3, at the
proper moment:} 24. c4 $2 Bxf3) 24... Qc6 25. Qe5 {The white pieces got
centralized effortlessly and this forces Black to give back the pawn.} Bf7 26.
Rdxd7 Rfe8 $1 {The only move.} ({White's threat was not only 27.Re7xf7, but to
mate on the seventh rank too. Like in this line:} 26... Rbe8 $4 27. Rxf7 Rxe5
28. Rxg7+ Kh8 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. Rdg7#) 27. Qf4 Qf6 $1 {Looking for the correct
exchanges. If Black could only get rid of the queens!} ({White is solidly
better after:} 27... Rxe7 28. Rxe7 Rf8 29. a3) 28. Rxe8+ ({The rook and the
bishop will form a powerful pair after:} 28. Qxf6 gxf6 29. a3 Rb1 30. Rxe8+
Bxe8 31. Re7 Kf8 32. Re3 Ra1 {when it is Black who will have the advantage.})
28... Rxe8 29. Qd2 $1 {Once more avoiding the trade of the queens.
Nepomniachtchi will seek on his turn the trade of the rooks.} Qe6 $6 {Aronian
later called this move a mistake.} ({Indeed:} 29... Bc4 30. Nf3 h6 {was
providing him better chances to defend.}) 30. Rd8 $1 {Now White adds the
better piece pair to his advantages.} h6 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. a3 Qa4 33. Qc1 Bg6
(33... Qb3 34. Nf3 {will be similar.}) 34. Nf3 Qb3 35. Ne5 Bc2 36. Ng4 {
Defends the pawn tactically. In the meanwhile Nepomniachtchi brings his knight
closer to the opponent's king. His plan is to launch a rapid attack with his
Q+N.} a4 (36... Qxc3 $2 {drops the bishop after} 37. Ne3) 37. h3 Bf5 ({Perhaps
} 37... Kh7 38. Ne3 Bd3 {would be more accurate.}) 38. Ne5 Kh7 39. Kh2 {
Comfortably reaching the time-control.} ({Since} 39. Qf4 Bc2 {does not yield
White much.}) 39... Qa2 40. Kg1 Kg8 41. Qf4 {Now White can start the attack.}
Qxa3 $1 {The best practical chance.} ({After} 41... Qb1+ 42. Kh2 Kh7 43. Qxa4 {
Black loses another pawn without getting anything in return.}) ({And after}
41... Bc2 42. Qd2 Qb3 43. Kh2 Kh7 44. Nd7 {White would either get to the enemy
king, or to the black queenside pawns.}) 42. Qxf5 Qxc3 {The distant passer is
extremely dangerous. White has to be careful not to trade the queens at the
wrong moment as he may even lose. And/or he needs to send his knight on the
queenside and forget about the mating ideas.} 43. Nc6 Kh8 44. Qf7 ({Cunning
was:} 44. Ne5 {with the idea to mate after:} a3 $2 ({However, Black has the
cementing:} 44... Qb3 $1 45. Ng6+ Kh7 46. Ne7+ Kh8 47. Qxc5 a3 48. Qc8+ Kh7 {
and this is the type of position he is looking for when sacrificing the knight.
The strong passer will soon force White to give perpetual.}) 45. Ng6+ Kh7 46.
Ne7+ Kh8 47. Qf8+ Kh7 48. Qg8#) 44... Qb3 45. Qe8+ Kh7 ({After} 45... Qg8 {
White can actually take the queens out:} 46. Qxg8+ Kxg8 47. Ne7+ Kf7 48. Nd5 a3
49. Nc3 {and stop the pawns just in time.}) 46. Qe4+ Kh8 47. Na5 Qd1+ 48. Kh2
Qd6+ 49. f4 a3 50. Qa4 c4 $1 {Interference.} 51. Qxc4 (51. Nxc4 {leads to
perpetual after:} Qxf4+ 52. Kg1 Qc1+ 53. Kf2 Qf4+ 54. Ke2 Qe4+ {Since White
does not have:} 55. Kd2 $4 a2 $1 {when suddenly Black wins.}) 51... Qd2 52. Nb3
{A tad too early.} ({Stronger was the preliminary centralization with:} 52.
Qc8+ Kh7 53. Qf5+ Kg8 ({Or} 53... Kh8 54. Qf8+ Kh7 55. Nc4) 54. Nc4 Qb4 55.
Qd5+ Kh8 56. Qd8+ Kh7 57. Qd3+ Kg8 58. Nxa3 Qxf4+ 59. Qg3 {when White should
win.}) 52... Qe3 {The black queen keeps sticking to the f4 pawn, threatening
with the perpetual all the time. Nepomniachtchi could not find anything better
than to enter a pure queen endgame.} 53. Nc1 h5 {Intending h5-h4 when another
perpetual check idea will be in the air.} 54. h4 ({Better was the stop Black's
plan with:} 54. Ne2 $5 h4 55. Ng1 {The knight is perfect here. It is defending
the king from the perpetual, but it is also ready to join the attack after
Ng1-f3-g5 or take care of the h4 pawn. Sometimes it can also cut the enemy
queen off the a3 pawn (in case it lands on g3 for instance.)}) 54... Qe7 55.
Qc8+ Kh7 56. Qf5+ g6 57. Qh3 Qf7 58. f5 {Spectacular, but makes the win more
difficult.} ({More precise was:} 58. Qe3 a2 59. Nxa2 Qxa2 60. Qe7+ Kh8 61. Qf6+
Kh7 62. f5) 58... Qc7+ {Aronian grabs the knight back and waits to see if the
checks will prove deadly..} 59. Qg3 Qxc1 60. Qxg6+ Kh8 61. Qxh5+ Kg7 62. Qg6+
Kf8 63. Qf6+ Ke8 64. Qe6+ Kf8 65. Qd6+ Kf7 66. Qe6+ Kf8 67. Qf6+ Kg8 68. Qe5
Kf7 {Finally Aronian errs.} ({He could have probably still saved himself with
the computer move:} 68... Qh6 $3 {We have seen this idea before. Black is
"sticking" to the enemy pawns, constantly threatening with perpetual and thus
not letting White grab the a3 pawn with checks. Or, what is more important,
create mating threats with his queen and pawn.}) 69. f6 Qc4 70. Qe7+ Kg6 71.
Qg7+ Kf5 72. Qg5+ {The queens are traded and Black is simply two pawns down.
Therefore, Aronian resigned.} (72. Qg5+ Ke4 (72... Ke6 73. Qg8+) 73. Qg4+ Kd5
74. Qxc4+ Kxc4 75. f7 a2 76. f8=Q a1=Q 77. Qf4+) 1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:59"]
[BlackClock "1:33:32"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4
b4 9. Nbd2 (9. Nfd2 c6 10. Nxc4 Qxd4 11. Rd1 Qc5 12. Be3 Qh5 13. Nbd2 Ng4 14.
Nf3 Nxe3 15. Nxe3 a5 {Ding,L (2805)-Nakamura,H (2761) Abidjan 2019}) 9... Bb7
10. Nxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Be4 12. Qd1 (12. Qd1 {The database still has 18 games
with this position, e.g.} Nbd7 13. Nfe5 Nxe5 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Nxe5 Bxc5 16.
Bg5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rd5 {Ragger,M (2614)-Vallejo Pons,F (2707) Aix les Bains 2011
}) 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:02"]
[BlackClock "0:02:24"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 O-O 9. Nge2 Qxc5 10. Qb3 Qa5 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Nb5 {N} (12. Rfd1 Nc5 13.
Qb5 Qxb5 14. Nxb5 Be6 15. Bxe6 Nxe6 16. Be5 Rfc8 17. Ned4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Ne4 {
Matlakov,M (2691)-Li,C (2730) Novi Sad 2016}) 12... Ne4 13. Bc7 b6 14. Bxf7+
Rxf7 15. Qd5 Nec5 16. Qxa8 Qxb5 17. Nd4 Qa6 18. b4 Nd3 19. Rcd1 Nb2 20. Rb1
Bxd4 21. exd4 Nc4 22. Rbc1 b5 23. a4 Qb7 24. Qxb7 Bxb7 25. axb5 Na3 26. f4 Nxb5
27. Be5 Rf8 28. g3 Kf7 29. f5 g5 30. g4 a6 31. Kf2 Nf6 32. Rg1 Rh8 33. Ke2 h6
34. h3 Rd8 35. Rc4 Rg8 36. Re1 Nd5 37. Kf2 Rd8 38. Kg3 Ndc3 39. Kh2 Ne4 40. Re2
Nec3 41. Re3 Nd5 42. Re2 Rd7 43. Kg3 Nf6 44. h4 Rd8 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Bxf6 exf6
47. Rh2 Kg7 48. Rd2 Rd7 49. Rc1 Bd5 50. Kf2 Kf7 51. Rc5 Ke7 52. Re2+ Kd6 53.
Re8 Nxd4 54. Ra5 Bb7 55. Ra3 Kd5 $2 (55... Re7 56. Rd8+ Ke5 {should be winning
for Black.}) 56. Rc3 $1 {Now Black's pieces are kind of stuck.} Bc6 $2 {
While Mamedyarov was holding his hand above the bishop, Wojtaszek was hoping
he would play this move as he had already seen he would be winning after it.} (
56... Kd6 $6 57. Ke3 Nc6 (57... Nb5 $2 58. Re6+ Kd5 59. Rc5#) 58. Re6+ Kc7 59.
Rxf6) ({There was nothing better than allowing a repetition with} 56... Nc6 57.
Rd3+ Nd4 58. Rc3) 57. Ke3 $1 {Now the threat is 58.Rc5+ and 59.Kxd4 and
there's no good defense.} Nb3 58. Re6 $1 {It's this move that seals Black's
fate.} ({Not} 58. Rxb3 $2 Kc4 59. Ra3 (59. Rb1 $2 Rd3+) 59... Rh7 $1 {and
Black wins back the exchange, e.g.} 60. Rc8 Rh3+ 61. Kd2 Rxa3 62. Rxc6+ Kxb4
63. Rxf6 Rg3 {with a draw.}) 58... Bb5 59. Rxb3 Kc4 60. Rb1 Kc3 61. Rxf6 Rd3+
62. Ke4 Rd4+ 63. Ke5 Rxg4 64. Rb6 Bd3 65. Rc6+ Kd2 66. Rb2+ Ke3 67. f6 1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.18"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {In a need-draw situation
Duda chooses the Dragon. Wow! "I wanted to surprise Wesley," said the Polish
GM, who had never played it before.} 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7
10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Bb3 Rc8 12. Kb1 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. g4 b5 15. b3 {Both
sides follow a lenghty theoretical line. Often these lines are practically
"dried" by the engines.} ({It is too risky to grab the pawn at once, as proven
by the following game:} 15. Ncxb5 Qb8 16. Na3 Ra4 17. Nb3 Bxg4 18. fxg4 Rxa3
19. bxa3 Nxe4 {Forcen Esteban, D (2567)-Baldauf,M (2485) chess.com INT 2019})
15... b4 {If you do not sacrifice the exchange in the Dragon, then you did not
play the line at all. In fact, the modern treatment of this ultra-sharp
opening is positional holding of slightly inferior (materially) position
versus better strategical elements (better pawn structure.)} 16. bxc4 bxc3 17.
Qxc3 Qc7 {Next Duda is briging everyone into the attack, whereas So seemingly
only defends.} 18. g5 Nh5 19. Ka1 Rc8 20. Rb1 Be6 21. Rb2 Bxc4 22. Rhb1 d5 23.
exd5 Nf4 24. Rb7 Qe5 25. R1b4 $1 {N Nope, he was not only defending! It seems
as this strong novelty practically closes this Dragon chapter.} ({In a
predecessor White panicked with:} 25. Rb8 Rxb8 26. Rxb8+ Qxb8 27. Qxc4 Qe5 28.
Bf2 Qxg5 {and White was simply lost in Alboredo,J (2158) -Coppola,C (2223) Foz
do Iguacu 2018}) 25... Nxd5 26. Rxc4 {The point! The black back-rank is weak
and he has to enter inferior endgame.} Rf8 ({Her Majesty is ready to rescue
his king:} 26... Nxc3 27. Rxc8+ Bf8 28. Rbb8 {However, at the end of this line
it becomes obvious that Black will have to do the same in order to survive the
mating attack after:} Qxe3 (28... Qg7 {would not help neither as after} 29.
Rxc3 {the rook will return on the eight rank at once with decisive material
gains.}) 29. Rxf8+ Kg7 30. Rg8#) 27. Rc5 $1 {The other point. The pin forces
the endgame.} ({White did not have neither the time, nor the desire to keep
the material with:} 27. Qd3 $2 Nxe3 28. Ra4 Qd5 {when Black takes over the
initiative.}) 27... Nxc3 28. Rxe5 Bxe5 29. Nc6 Bg7 {Duda mentioned that this
move was a blunder.} ({Instead he should have played:} 29... Nd5+ 30. Nxe5 Nxe3
{Although White is also clearly better here after both:} 31. c4 ({Or} 31. Rxa7)
) 30. Bxa7 $1 {So not only captures the more valuable pawn. He makes sure that
the black rook will not have an open file to threaten his king.} ({Perhaps
Duda was hoping for something like:} 30. Nxe7+ Kh8 31. Bc1 (31. Bxa7 $2 Re8)
31... Re8 32. Nc6 Nb5+ 33. Kb1 Nc3+ {with perpetual.}) 30... e5 {There were
many discovered checks, but none of them was gaining anything, therefore the
Polish GM tries to open the e-file. But this So enough time to consolidate.}
31. Kb2 e4 32. fxe4 Nxe4+ 33. Kb3 Re8 {Black is not only down a pawn, his
pawns are worse prepared for the advance. Therefore he tries to activate his
rook.} ({The speed race after:} 33... Nxg5 34. a4 f5 35. a5 f4 36. a6 f3 37.
Bc5 f2 38. Bxf2 Rxf2 39. a7 {is hopeless for Black.}) 34. a4 Re6 ({After} 34...
Nd2+ {White has a safe square for his king} 35. Ka2) 35. Nd4 Ra6 36. Rb8+ Bf8
37. Bb6 Kg7 38. a5 $1 {But at the end of the day the rook got trapped. White's
idea is obvious- Kb3-c4-b5xa6.} Bd6 39. Re8 f5 {The last try.} ({Or else the
rook disappears after:} 39... Nxg5 40. Kc4 f5 41. Kb5 Kf7 42. Rd8) 40. gxf6+ {
Leaving 30 seconds or so on his clock and calculating everything accurately So
chooses the most solid way to return in the match.} ({He could have also won
with:} 40. Kc4 Kf7 41. Rh8 Kg7 42. Rd8 Be7 43. Rd7) 40... Nxf6 41. Rd8 Bxh2 42.
Ne6+ {Another way to pick up the rook.} ({It makes no sense to calculate the
consequences of:} 42. Kc4 g5 43. Kb5 Rxa5+ 44. Bxa5 h5 {although White should
be winning here as well.}) 42... Kf7 43. Nc5 Rxb6+ {At least to get something
for the rooky.} 44. axb6 h5 45. b7 h4 46. Rd2 Bc7 ({In case of:} 46... Bb8 {
the finish might be as follows:} 47. Na6 Be5 48. c4 h3 49. c5 h2 50. Rd1 g5 51.
c6 g4 52. c7) 47. Ne4 $1 {Beautiful and effective.} Ke6 ({Since} 47... Nxe4 48.
Rd7+ Ke6 49. Rxc7 {promotes at once.}) 48. Nxf6 Kxf6 49. Rd7 Bg3 50. Rh7 {
Excellent technique again. The black pawns are stopped whereas the white march
quickly into queens. In these endgame the bishop is often as valuable as the
rook, but here the major piece is placed perfectly.} ({White surely had other
ways to wrap up the game, like:} 50. Rd3 Bc7 51. c4 g5 52. c5 g4 53. Rd7 Bf4
54. Rd6+) 50... g5 51. Kc4 Kf5 52. Kd3 {Again slow, careful and merciless.} Kg4
({Pawns are not moving due to:} 52... g4 53. Rxh4) 53. Ke2 Kh3 54. c4 Kg2 55.
Rh5 {Black resigned due to:} (55. Rh5 h3 56. Rxg5 h2 57. b8=Q h1=Q 58. Qxg3#)
1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.18"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:12:22"]
[BlackClock "0:00:37"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 {"A very interesting line which is
considered to be a bit over-optimistic but I've spent maybe a week preparing
this one and only line." (Dubov)} dxc4 {"Considered to be some kind of
official refutation." (Dubov)} 5. e4 b5 6. a4 c6 7. Nc3 b4 8. Nb1 Ba6 9. e5 (9.
Qc1) 9... h6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. exf6 c5 {N} (11... Qxf6 12. Nbd2 c3 13. bxc3
bxc3 14. Ne4 Qf4 15. Bd3 Bb4 16. O-O Rg8 {Riazantsev,A (2649)-Hovhannisyan,R
(2637) St Petersburg 2018}) ({Dubov mentioned} 11... Qd5 12. Be2 (12. Nbd2 c3
13. bxc3 bxc3) 12... c5 13. O-O (13. Ne5 cxd4) 13... Nc6 14. Nbd2 cxd4 15. Bxc4
Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qxc4 17. Rc1 Qd5 18. Qc2 {which seemed a bit too much.}) 12. Nbd2
(12. Qc2 $5 b3 13. Qc3 {Dubov}) 12... c3 13. bxc3 bxc3 14. Ne4 cxd4 15. Bb5+ $1
{"I just felt it's a good move." (Dubov)} ({Dubov thought} 15. Bxa6 Nxa6 16.
O-O Nc5 17. Re1 {was also OK.}) 15... Bxb5 16. axb5 Qd5 17. Qxd4 (17. Qd3 Nd7
18. O-O Nc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20. Rfe1 Bb6 {and "it's not obvious how White will
break through." (Dubov)}) 17... Qxb5 18. Nxc3 Bb4 19. O-O-O $5 {"Obiously the
most ambitious move." (Dubov)} (19. Nd2 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 {would lead to a draw as
a7 and f6 will drop.}) 19... Qa5 $6 (19... Qb6 $1 {was better as Dubov's
planned} 20. Nb5 {doesn't work since there is now} Qc6+ $1 21. Kb1 Na6 {
which is a much better, and in fact winning version of the game.}) 20. Nb5 $1
Na6 21. Qd7+ Kf8 {"Now the question is who will give the first check, because
it will be close to mate." (Dubov)} 22. Kb1 $1 {"I didn't really calculate. I
was just trying to convince myself that it looks well, and let's pray it works.
" (Dubov)} (22. Ne5 Qa1+ 23. Kc2 Qa2+ {is a draw because of} 24. Kd3 Nc5+)
22... Ba3 (22... Rb8 23. Ne5 Rh7 24. Nc6 Qxb5 25. Qd8+) (22... Kg8 23. Ne5 Rf8
24. Nc6) 23. Rd3 $1 {The only winning move.} (23. Nxa3 Rb8+ 24. Kc1 Qxa3+ 25.
Kd2 Kg8 {and it will be a draw (Dubov).}) 23... Qb4+ (23... Rb8 24. Rb3 ({not}
24. Nfd4 Qc7 $1) 24... Qa4 25. Nd2) 24. Kc2 Qa4+ 25. Kd2 Bb4+ 26. Ke2 Kg8 27.
Ne5 Qc2+ 28. Kf3 Rf8 29. Rhd1 {Dubov wasn't happy that he didn't see Black's
only try...} h5 $1 {Now the threat of 30...Rh6 actually requires a precise
move.} 30. Qd4 $1 {Dubov finds the best reply.} Rh7 31. Qf4 Bc5 32. Nd4 Qa2 33.
R1d2 Qd5+ 34. Ke2 Bb4 35. Ndc6 Qc5 36. Ne7+ Kh8 (36... Kh8 {and resigns
because of} 37. Nxf7+ $1 Rhxf7 (37... Rfxf7 38. Rd8+) 38. Qh6+ Rh7 39. Qxf8#)
1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.18"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitry"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:04:57"]
[BlackClock "0:03:38"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Bg5 (
8. h3 O-O 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. O-O Nh5 12. b4 Bb6 13. a4 Nf4 14. Nb3
Rb8 15. Kh2 Qf6 {Karjakin,S (2752)-Ding,L (2805) Abidjan 2019}) 8... h6 9. Bh4
Bd7 {N} (9... O-O 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. O-O Bb6 12. Re1 Bxb3 13. Nxb3 Nb8 14. d4
Nbd7 15. a4 Re8 16. Qc2 Qe7 {Carlsen,M (2842)-Mamedyarov,S (2801) Biel 2018})
10. O-O Bb6 11. a4 Rb8 12. axb5 axb5 13. Na3 g5 14. Bg3 Ne7 15. d4 exd4 16. e5
dxe5 17. Nxe5 O-O 18. cxd4 Nf5 19. Nc2 Kg7 20. Qf3 ({Wei Yi suggested} 20. Qd3
{which the computer also likes. Black's weakened kingside is going to play a
role.}) 20... Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Rad1 $6 ({However, it looks like White is
still close to winning after} 22. Rfd1 $1 c5 23. Ra7 Ra8 24. Rb7) 22... c5 $1 {
An automatic exchange sac.} 23. Nxd7 Qxd7 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25. Bc2 Qd5 {Black
isn't even worse anymore.} 26. Qg3 Re8 27. b3 $2 {White doesn't have time for
this.} ({The more forcing} 27. b4 {was better, e.g.} cxb4 28. Qd3 Rd8 29. Rd2)
27... Nh5 28. Qg4 Nf4 29. h4 (29. Rd2 h5 30. Qf3 Qxf3 31. gxf3 {is also tough
to play.}) 29... Re2 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Bd3 Rb2 {A terrible position to play in
time trouble.} 32. Bxb5 $6 (32. Bf5 Kf6) 32... Rxb3 33. Ba6 Kg6 $1 {There's no
defense against 34...f5.} 0-1
[Event "Moscow"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.18"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:23:19"]
[BlackClock "0:06:24"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nb3 Qd7 13. Nfd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 15.
Ne2 (15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. f3 Ng5 17. a4 Rad8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Kh1 f4 20. b4 Qxe5
21. Re1 Qf6 {Sevian,S (2666)-Anton Guijarro,D (2667) Havana 2019}) 15... Rad8
16. f3 Ng5 17. Be3 d4 18. cxd4 cxd4 {N} (18... Bc4 19. Bb3 Ne6 20. Bxc4 bxc4
21. dxc5 Qd3 22. Bf2 Bxc5 23. Rc1 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Rfe8 25. h4 f4 26. Qxd3 cxd3
27. Nc3 Nd4 28. Rfd1 Nf5 29. Ne4 Rxe5 30. Rc5 {Weldon,D (2365)-Schwarz,J (2345)
ICCF email 2016}) 19. Nxd4 Bc5 20. Bxg5 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 Rde8 22. Bb3 Bxb3 23.
Qxb3+ Qe6 24. f4 Qxb3 25. axb3 Re6 26. Rfd1 Bxb2 27. Ra2 Bc3 28. Rd6 Rfe8 ({
Perhaps the drawing line that the players were referring to was} 28... Rxd6 29.
exd6 Re8 30. Be7 (30. g3 Re1+ 31. Kg2 Rd1 32. Rxa6 Kf7) 30... Kf7 31. Rxa6 Ke6)
29. Raxa6 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 h6 31. Bd8 $1 {Vitiugov had missed this move.} Kf7 32.
Rd7+ Ke6 33. Rd6+ Kf7 34. g3 Re6 $6 (34... Bb4) 35. Rd5 Ra6 36. Rxb5 Ra1+ 37.
Kg2 Ra2+ 38. Kh3 Bd2 39. Rb7+ Ke8 40. Bb6 {Now it's over.} g5 41. fxg5 hxg5 42.
Bc5 g4+ 43. Kh4 Bc1 44. Kh5 Rxh2+ 45. Kg6 Rc2 46. Bd6 1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.21"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:52:27"]
[BlackClock "0:04:15"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O a5
15. Na3 Na7 (15... Ba6 16. Qb3 Na7 17. Rad1 Qd7 18. Rfe1 Kh8 19. Nc2 Nc6 20.
Nce3 Rfd8 {Sethuraman,S (2640)-Safarli,E (2688) Baku 2016}) 16. Qd3 Kh8 17.
Rfd1 Be6 18. Ne3 {N} (18. Nc2 f5 19. Bf3 g6 20. Qe2 Nc8 {1/2 Morovic Fernandez,
I (2450)-Szmetan,J (2380) Corrientes 1985}) 18... b4 19. Nac4 Nb5 20. cxb4 axb4
21. Nxd6 Nxd6 22. Qxd6 Bxe3 23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $1 ({The pawn on e3 is hardly
helping White, and also after} 23... Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Rfxd8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 {
White can immediately} 26. a4 bxa3 27. bxa3) 24. fxe3 Rdc8 25. Rd2 g6 26. Kf2
Kg7 27. Bd1 Ra8 28. a4 bxa3 29. Rxa3 Rab8 30. Ra5 Rc4 31. Rxe5 Rcb4 32. Ra5
Rxb2 33. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 34. Kg3 h6 35. h4 Bd7 36. Bf3 Rb5 37. Rxb5 Bxb5 38. Kf4 Kf6
39. e5+ Ke6 40. Bg4+ Ke7 41. Bc8 Bc4 42. g4 Kd8 43. Bb7 Ke7 44. g5 hxg5+ (44...
h5 {was probably easier.}) 45. Kxg5 {Grischuk said he had missed this, and was
lucky to have his next two moves.} Ke6 46. Kf4 Ke7 47. Ke4 Be6 48. Bd5 Bc8 49.
Kf4 Kf8 50. Bf3 Be6 51. Bg4 Bb3 52. Kg5 Kg7 ({Even after} 52... Ke7 53. Kh6 Bc4
54. Kg7 Bb3 {White cannot really make progress.} ({But not} 54... Be6 $4 55.
Bxe6 Kxe6 56. Kf8 f6 57. Kg7 g5 58. exf6 {and wins.})) 53. Bd7 Bc4 54. Bc6 Be6
55. Kf4 Kf8 56. Ke4 Ke7 57. Bd5 Bc8 58. Kf4 Kf8 59. Bc4 Bh3 60. Bb3 Bc8 61. Bd5
Kg7 62. Kg5 Bd7 63. Bc4 Bc8 64. Kf4 Kf8 65. Bb3 Bh3 66. e6 f6 67. Kg3 Bf5 68.
Kf4 Bh3 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.21"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:42"]
[BlackClock "0:05:11"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 {This should not have come as a surprise for Svidler.
People find it hard to find not only an advantage, but even interesting play
against his Grunfeld.} e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 Bg7 {Svidler chose the
Benoni set-up and liked his opening choice.} 7. Nge2 O-O 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5 a6
10. a4 h5 ({Another treatment of the position is:} 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 Ne8 12.
O-O Rb8 13. Re1 Nc7 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. Qd2 Re8 16. a5 b5 17. axb6 Rxb6 {as played
very recently in Ding,L (2805)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2773) Abidjan 2019}) 11. Bg5
Qe8 12. Bd3 Nh7 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Nge2 {The position of this knight is the key
question in this Benoni-position. Does it belong to e2? Or d2? Or even f2
(after Ng3-h1-f2). All the squares have their plusses and minuses.} Nd7 15. O-O
Ne5 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. a5 b5 {N} ({The predecessor saw White having a choice
after:} 17... b6 {When he decided not to take, at least for the time being and
played the useful:} 18. Bc1 bxa5 (18... b5 $5) 19. h3 c4 20. Rxa5 Qc7 21. Ra2
a5 22. Be3 Ba6 23. Nd4 {Grover,S (2478)-Nitin,S (2331) Gurgaon 2014}) 18. axb6
Rxb6 19. Bc1 {Preparing f2-f4. White's center is impressive as always in the
Benoni, but Black has plenty of play along the b-file and the long diagonal.
The major problem for the second player is the lack of air for his pieces.
Imagine that two pairs of light pieces are traded (say knights) and you will
see an excellent position for him.} (19. Ra2 {is somewhat less accurate after:}
h4) 19... h4 20. f4 (20. h3 {to prepare f3-f4 was also there, but Wojtaszek
tried to go without this.}) 20... Ng4 {Looking for kingside play. However, the
lack of space will become more obvious now as the knights will be stepping on
their toes.} ({Apparently Black disliked the fact that his knight is moving
away from the actually happening in case of:} 20... Nc4 21. Ra2 ({Less good is:
} 21. b3 Bg4 22. bxc4 Bxc3 23. Ra3 Bd4+ 24. Kh1 f5 {when Black achieves
counterplay.}) 21... Rb4 22. b3 Nb6) 21. h3 Ngf6 22. Ra2 {Staying as solid as
he can.} ({If this was not a game on which a whole match depended White could
have tried something aggressive, like:} 22. e5 dxe5 23. Na4 Rb4 24. d6 Qe8 25.
Bd2 Rb5 26. f5) 22... Bd7 23. Qe1 Nh5 24. Be3 Rfb8 ({Maybe this was the moment
to spice up the game to the max with:} 24... f5 $5 25. Bf2 g5 {mixing chilly
with red hot peppers?!}) 25. b3 Rxb3 $5 {No, Svidler decided to search play
with an exchange sacrifice.} ({He could have also played solidly, for instance:
} 25... f5 26. Bf2 Bf6) 26. Bxb3 Rxb3 27. Bd2 (27. Rxa6 Ng3 28. Nxg3 Bxc3 29.
Qd1 Rb8 30. Ne2 (30. Qc2 Bb5) 30... Qxe4) 27... Bd4+ $2 {Svidler called this
move "horrible" and believed it to be the decisive mistake. He never thought
of playing it at first but then changed his mind and regretted "as the bishop
is always hanging there."} ({Instead Black could have brought the sleepy
knight out with something like:} 27... Bc8 28. Rf3 Nf8 29. Be3 Nd7 {
Objectively White should be better, but his opponent has a pawn and the bishop
pair for the exchange which is not that bad.}) 28. Kh2 N7f6 {This might have
been the decisive mistake. The loss of the a6 pawn is not as horrible for
Black as the attack that Wojtaszek will launch along the back ranks.} ({
Instead:} 28... Ng3 {is not enough for counterplay after:} 29. Rf3 Nxe2 30.
Nxe2 Rxf3 31. gxf3) ({However, Svidler could have tried the tactical line:}
28... Rb6 29. Qa1 Ng3 {When Black needs not to fear:} 30. Nxg3 $6 (30. Rb1 {
might be better, but Black is still having good chances to hold after:} Rxb1 (
30... Bxh3) 31. Qxb1 Nf6 32. Rxa6 Nfxe4) 30... hxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Bb5 32. Rb1 Nf6 {
with powerful counterplay.}) 29. Rf3 $1 {This tactically defends the pawn, and
solidifies the kingside. Nh5-g3 maneuver will never be an issue.} ({White
should obviously avoid:} 29. Nxd4 $2 cxd4 30. Nd1 Qxe4) 29... Rb4 ({One point
behind White's last move is revealed by the line:} 29... Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Rxf3 31.
gxf3) ({It is too late to defend the pawn:} 29... Bc8 {since the important
dark-squared bishop is indeed vulnerable:} 30. Ra4 Bxc3 31. Nxc3 {and once
Black loses it he hardly has any chances of survival.}) 30. Rxa6 Rc4 ({Black
is badly pinned in case of:} 30... Bxc3 31. Nxc3 Nxe4 32. Ra7 ({Or the
preliminary:} 32. Re3 f5 33. Ra7)) 31. Ra7 Qd8 32. Qa1 Nxe4 {Trying to catch
some fish in the time-trouble water.} ({Calm moves like:} 32... Qe7 {Would not
save Black after:} 33. Qa2 ({Or} 33. Be1) 33... Rb4 34. Nxd4 cxd4 35. Ne2 Rb8
36. Nxd4) 33. Ra8 Bc8 34. Qa6 $1 {A decisive double-attack.} Nxd2 ({As} 34...
Bxa6 35. Rxd8+ Kg7 36. Nxe4 {drops the knight too.}) 35. Rxc8 Nxf3+ 36. gxf3 {
Black played some more moves and resigned after:} Qxc8 37. Qxc8+ Kg7 38. Nxd4
Rxd4 39. Qd8 Rd2+ 40. Kg1 Nxf4 41. Qxd6 Nxh3+ 42. Kf1 1-0
[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.05.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, R..."]
[Black "Svidler, P..."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[Annotator "Daniel Fernandez"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
1. d4 {[#]} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 {The first sign of an interesting game. Svidler
is well-known for his expertise in the Grunfeld, and this move more or less
avoids those structures.} e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Nge2 ({It might
seem to make sense to develop the f1-bishop first with} 7. Bd3 {, however more
often than not it is in Black's interest to target this bishop.} exd5 8. cxd5
O-O 9. Nge2 a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. O-O Rb8 $1 12. Ng3 $1 {Here too, this move
makes sense- negating one of the economies of playing Bd3 first. The point is
that Black wanted ...Ne5 and ...b5, so White would much rather retreat the
d3-bishop to e2.} h5 13. Bg5 $13) 7... O-O 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5 a6 (9... Nh5 $5
10. Nxh5 gxh5 11. Qd2 $5 (11. Be3 Nd7 12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Be2 f5 14. O-O Ng6 15. f4
h4 16. Bd3 Qf6 17. e5 dxe5 18. fxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxc5 Re8 20. Nb5 h3 21. Nc7 $16 {
Sanikidze,T-Jones,G St Petersburg 2018}) (11. Bf4 f5 12. Qd2 a6 13. a4 Qf6 $132
{Dearing,E-Jones,G Hinckley Island 2008}) 11... Qh4+ 12. g3 Qf6 13. Be2 Bh3 14.
Qg5 Qg6 15. Qh4 Bc8 16. O-O Bf6 17. Qf4 Be5 18. Qg5 Bh3 19. Rd1 $14 {Here
Black blundered- it was a blitz game- but the moral stands anyway, which is
that Black doesn't easily obtain the dynamic play for which he is hoping by
playing ...Nh5. Gupta, A-Jones,G chess.com INT 2018}) 10. a4 h5 (10... Nh5 {
is possible here too, but I think White is again better. Maybe the best
version is on move 10, with ... Nbd7 instead of ...0-0 for Black. See for
instance Korobov-Erdos in these pages.}) 11. Bg5 (11. Bd3 h4 12. Nge2 Nh5 {
Black has good dark-square control here: a good reason to draw the knight to
h7 instead.}) 11... Qe8 12. Bd3 Nh7 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Nge2 ({Since the knight
has no particular purpose on e2 either, maybe it was reasonable to play} 14.
O-O {directly, followed by a5 et cetera.}) 14... Nd7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Bc2 Rb8
17. a5 b5 $6 {This is a strange move to be making when the standard King's
Indian play was still available.} (17... f5 {White has to be very careful not
to get steamrollered here; probably the best policy from a practical
perspective is} 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Rxf5 20. Qc2 $13) 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Bc1
$14 h4 20. f4 (20. h3 {is also interesting, stalling Black's attack for the
foreseeable future unless he commits to a piece sacrifice.}) 20... Ng4 21. h3
Ngf6 22. Ra2 {Returning the position to the realm of dynamic equality.} (22. e5
dxe5 {deserves consideration from White on grounds of principle, even if the
position after} 23. f5 e4 24. fxg6 fxg6 $13 {is a total tactical slugfest.})
22... Bd7 23. Qe1 Nh5 24. Be3 Rfb8 (24... f5 $5) 25. b3 Rxb3 26. Bxb3 Rxb3 27.
Bd2 {On a practical level, it seems that White still doesn't particularly mind
a draw, or perhaps he is insinuating that just so that Svidler will continue
to throw the kitchen sink.} Bd4+ ({The patient} 27... Bc8 {keeping the a6-pawn
alive was also possible.}) 28. Kh2 N7f6 29. Rf3 Rb4 $2 {The engine doesn't
mind this immediately, but it will transpire that there are just too many
tactics along the a-file and long diagonal for Black to survive long.} 30. Rxa6
$16 Rc4 31. Ra7 Qd8 32. Qa1 $1 {Now the whole queen's flank has opened up for
White's major pieces, and he has one more of them.} Nxe4 $2 ({After} 32... Rb4
33. Nxd4 cxd4 {the position should also be lost, but White still needs to
think about, for instance, rook versus knight endings which are drawn because
of Black's favourable structure.}) 33. Ra8 {White simply takes at least a
piece for free, and the game is over.} Bc8 34. Qa6 Nxd2 35. Rxc8 Nxf3+ 36. gxf3
Qxc8 37. Qxc8+ Kg7 38. Nxd4 Rxd4 39. Qd8 Rd2+ 40. Kg1 Nxf4 41. Qxd6 Nxh3+ 42.
Kf1 1-0
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.23"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:03:18"]
[BlackClock "0:05:28"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 (
8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. Nf1 O-O 11. Ng3 c6 12. Bb3 Re8 13. h3 d5 14. Bg5 Be6
15. d4 exd4 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Nxd4 h6 18. Be3 Bd7 {Giri,A (2797)-Mamedyarov,S
(2790) Shamkir 2019}) 8... O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Qb3 Qe7 12. a5 b5 {N}
(12... Rb8 13. Nf1 Be6 14. Be3 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qd7 16. b4 Qe6 17. Qxe6 Rxe6 18.
Bxa7 Nxa7 19. Ne3 Rd8 {Fedoseev,V (2703)-Negi,P (2670) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017})
13. axb6 cxb6 14. Bd5 Qc7 15. Qc4 Bb7 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 (16... Qxc6 $6 17. Qxc6
Bxc6 18. Nc4 {is a much worse version for Black.o}) 17. Rxa6 Qb7 18. Ra3 b5 19.
Qb3 Rac8 (19... d5 $5) 20. Qa2 Bb6 21. b4 d5 22. Qc2 Re6 23. Nh4 Nh5 24. Nb3
dxe4 25. dxe4 Nf6 26. Nd2 {A sad retreat. White is not able to find good
coordination and so his extra pawn isn't worth much.} Rd8 27. Nhf3 Rc8 28. Bb2
Qe7 29. c4 bxc4 30. Qxc4 Nh5 31. Nf1 Nf4 32. Ng3 Qe8 33. Rc1 Rd8 34. Qc2 Bb5
35. Rd1 Rc8 (35... Rc8 {After} 36. Qb1 g6 37. Qa1 f6 {is about equal.}) 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.27"]
[Round "15.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
{Annotations by GM Dejan Bojkov.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5.
e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be2 Nc6 9. d5 Bxc3+ 10. Bd2 Bxa1 11. Qxa1 {
The exchange sacrifice is already a standard in the Gruenfeld, rather than a
surprise.} Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. O-O ({White can always regain
the exchange:} 14. Bh6 Qa5+ 15. Kf1 f6 16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. g4 Bd7 18. e5 {
However, if Black manages to take the queens off the board, he is as a rule,
safe:} Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 {as in Novik,M (2482)-Drori,S (2359) Jerusalem 2017})
14... Qb6 15. Qc3 Bd7 {Grischuk said Black's last two moves had somehow
escaped his attention during his prep.} 16. Bh6 f6 17. Bxf8 Rc8 {An important
intermediate move.} 18. Qf3 Kxf8 19. e5 Kg7 {N Quite an obvious novelty.} ({
An email predecessor also saw Black helding his own after:} 19... Qd4 20. d6
Qxe5 21. Qxb7 Ke8 22. Ba6 ({However White might have tried instead:} 22. Bf3 $5
) 22... Qxd6 23. Qb3 Be6 24. Qa4+ Bd7 25. Qb3 Be6 26. Qa4+ Bd7 27. Qb3 {
1/2-1/2 (27) Ziegler,P (2093)-Ederer,K (2140) LSS email 2010}) 20. exf6+ {
"After this it could be somewhat suspicious for White because the structure is
not so pleasant and Sasha was in time trouble." - Nepomniachtchi} ({After} 20.
e6 Be8 21. Qa3 Qc5 {White risks losing the central pawns on the long run.})
20... exf6 21. h3 Qd6 22. Qd3 h5 {Nepomniachtchi comfortably equalized. The d5
passer would be an asset as long as White has a chance to combine its motion
with the kingside attack. However, with the trade of so many pieces the game
is heading towards an endgame where it will be the queenside majority that
will become an asset.} ({Also good for Black was:} 22... Rc5 23. Qe3 Rxd5 24.
Qxa7 Rd2 25. Bf3 b6 {with full equality.}) 23. Qd2 b5 24. Qa5 {"The queen on
a5 stops; I thought if the pawns come to b4 and a5 it can become very bad." -
Grischuk} a6 ({If Black wants to split the point he can do it practically
anytime with something like:} 24... Qxd5 25. Qxa7 Ra8 26. Qc7 Qf7 ({But not:}
26... Rxa2 $2 27. Rd1 Rd2 28. Rxd2 Qxd2 29. Bxb5 {when White wins a piece.})
27. Rd1 Be6) 25. Bf3 Be8 {Carefully surrounding the pawn.} 26. h4 Bf7 27. g3 {
"Very precise" - Nepo. Grischuk does not worry too much, the pawn is
sufficiently defended.} Rc4 (27... Rc5 28. Qd2 Bxd5 $2 29. Rd1) 28. Rd1 Rc2 29.
Be4 Rc8 30. Bg2 Rc7 31. Bf3 Rc4 32. Bg2 Kg8 33. Bf3 Kh7 34. Kg2 f5 35. Qd2 b4
36. Qe3 Rc7 37. Rd3 a5 38. a3 bxa3 (38... bxa3 {All the pawns will disappear
and there will be nothing to play for after:} 39. Rxa3 Bxd5 40. Rxa5 Bxf3+ 41.
Qxf3) 1/2-1/2
[Event "FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.28"]
[Round "16.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
{Annotations by GM Dejan Bojkov.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5.
Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re2 {MVL's move.} ({
A couple of weeks ago Nempomniachtchi could not break Karjakin's defense after:
} 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. d5 d6 14. Na3 Bf5 15. Nc4 a5 16. a4
Bd7 17. Be3 g6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2773)-Karjakin,S (2752) Abidjan 2019}) 10...
Nc4 {Introduced by Kramnik recently. “A nice move, I think.†-
Nepomniachtchi.} 11. b3 Nb6 12. a4 {N A very common reaction against the black
knight.} (12. c3 d5 13. Re1 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. a4 Be6 16. Na3 Nc8 17. Bf4
Qd7 {was Fedoseev,V (2724) -Kramnik,V (2777) Wijk aan Zee 2019.}) 12... a5 {
But Grischuk manages to use this slight weakening of White's position.} 13. Nc3
d6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Qe1 Nd5 {Now anytime a white pawn chases the centralized
knight, it will find a nice outpost on the b4 square.} 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. Rxe7 {
White won the bishop pair, however it is not as valuable yet because of the
closed character of the position.} Nd5 18. Re2 Bg4 {To somewhat weaken White's
position.} 19. f3 Bf5 20. Qd2 Re8 {The peace trades start along the only open
file.} 21. Bb2 Rxe2 22. Qxe2 Qe8 23. Re1 {After the trade of the queens Kg8-f8
will be played and the last major pieces will disappear.} 1/2-1/2