Games
[Event "World Team Championship (men)"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.05"] [Round "1.17"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C07"] [WhiteElo "2708"] [BlackElo "2609"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:23:18"] [BlackClock "0:09:10"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. dxc5 Qxc5 6. Ngf3 Nf6 7. Bd3 Be7 ( 7... Nbd7 8. O-O Qc7 9. a4 Be7 10. a5 O-O 11. c3 b6 12. axb6 Nxb6 13. Nb3 Bb7 14. Na5 Bd5 {Demchenko,A (2679)-Vitiugov,N (2719) St Petersburg 2018}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Ne4 Nc6 $146 (10... Nbd7 11. Bg5 Nd5 12. Rad1 Bxg5 13. Nexg5 N7f6 14. Qe5 Qxe5 15. Nxe5 b6 16. Rfe1 Bb7 {Van Kampen,R (2651)-Tiviakov,S (2591) Netherlands 2018}) 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. Re1 Rd8 13. Qe4 g6 14. Bg5 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Kg7 16. Qe3 Nb4 17. Be4 f6 18. Qb3 Qe7 19. c3 Na6 20. Nf3 Nc5 21. Qa3 e5 22. Rad1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Be6 24. Bxb7 Rd8 25. Re1 $2 (25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Ba6 { was the way to hold the balance, e.g.} Qb6 {and now White needs to find a few only moves:} (26... Nxa6 27. Qxa6 Qd1+ 28. Qf1 Qc2 29. Qa1 Bxa2 30. h3) 27. Be2 $1 Ne4 28. Qe7+ Bf7 29. Bc4 $1 Qxf2+ 30. Kh1 Nd6 31. Bb3 e4 32. Ng1 Qd2 { and here e.g.} 33. c4 {holds.}) 25... Qd6 $1 {Now the bishop doesn't have a great square to retreat to and White has to go into a bad ending. Where it goes from bad to lost is hard to say.} 26. Be4 Nxe4 27. Rxe4 Qxa3 28. bxa3 Rd3 29. Re3 Rd6 30. h4 Ra6 31. c4 Bxc4 32. g4 Bd5 33. g5 Ra4 34. gxf6+ Kxf6 35. Nxe5 Rxh4 36. f3 Rd4 37. Kf2 h5 38. Kg3 g5 39. Nd7+ Kg6 40. Rd3 h4+ 41. Kf2 Rxd3 42. Ne5+ Kf5 43. Nxd3 Bc4 44. Nb4 Kf4 45. Nc6 Bxa2 46. Nd4 Bc4 47. Nc6 Bd5 48. Nd4 Ke5 49. Nc2 Bb7 50. Ne3 Bc6 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Artemiev, Vladislav"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "2736"] [BlackElo "2657"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 {Not a very common way to transpose into the Fianchetto Pirc, although the likes of Kramnik, Aronian and Ivanchuk exploit it quite often.} Nbd7 ({Artemiev is also not a stranger to this move order. One recent example of his ran:} 6... c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. c3 Nc6 10. Be3 c4 $5 11. Na3 Nd5 12. Nxc4 b5 13. Ncd2 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bh6 {with compensation for a pawn in Artemiev,V (2704)-Ponkratov,P (2601) Sochi 2018}) 7. e4 e5 8. Nc3 b6 ({Another way to develop was:} 8... Re8 9. h3 c6 ({Or} 9... b6 10. a4 a6 11. d5 a5 12. Nd2 Re7 13. Nc4 {as in Aronian, L (2797)-Rapport,R (2700) Gibraltar 2018}) 10. a4 b6 11. Bg5 Bb7 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Rad1 a6 {as in Kramnik,V (2792)-Grischuk,A (2766) Paris 2018}) 9. h3 Bb7 10. d5 Qe7 11. Bg5 $146 {A novelty and a typical provocation. White is fighting the freeing c7-c6 advance as early as possible. He intends Qd1-d2, therefore Black's next move is more or less forced.} ({White go the slightly better chances in the predecessor:} 11. a4 a6 12. Nd2 Kh8 13. a5 b5 14. Na2 Ng8 15. Nb4 {Steinkohl,T (2330)-Slobodjan,R (2520) Dudweiler 1996}) 11... h6 { Firouzja is not afraid of the possible tempo gainer on the c1-h6 diagonal.} 12. Be3 Rac8 {But this looks inaccurate.} ({Black should have fought for the center without any preparation:} 12... c6 {Then he does not need to fear neither the immediate:} 13. Qd2 ({Nor the same move after the preliminary:} 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. Qd2 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxh6 Nf6 {In both cases Black has normal play.}) 13... cxd5) 13. Qd2 Kh7 14. Nh2 $1 {Now White obtains strong control of the d-file.} c6 15. dxc6 Rxc6 {Awkward, but what else?!} ({After:} 15... Bxc6 16. Rad1 Nc5 17. Bxc5 $1 {is unplesant for Black-} dxc5 18. Nd5) 16. Ng4 {From the Pirc Black got into a Najdorf type of position and since his pieces are sowewhat awkwardly placed for the play in the center his position is worse. Therefore Firouzja goes for:} Qe6 $1 {Which practically sacrifices a pawn.} ({Otherwise, after} 16... h5 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Rad1 {White will have everything that he wants: a weak backward pawn along the d-file as well as a huge outpost for the white pieces on the d5 square.} ({Or} 18. Bg5)) 17. Bxh6 { The only good capture.} (17. Nxh6 $2 {will present Black more than enough compensation after:} Rxc3 $1 18. bxc3 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Ng4 f5) 17... Nxg4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. hxg4 Qxg4 20. Nb5 {This is the problem: Black cannot defend adequately on d6. He however pins his hopes on the counterplay along the open h-file and eventually the a6-f1 diagonal.} Nf6 {Another inaccuracy, although not that obvious at all.} ({Black could have saved on this tempo with the direct move:} 20... Rh8 {Apparently, The Iranian GM was afraid of:} 21. Nxd6 Ba6 22. Qd5 {But then:} ({The other lines also look fine for Black:} 22. c4 Qh5 23. Ne8+ (23. b3 Nf6) 23... Kf8 $3 (23... Rxe8 24. Qxd7) 24. Qxd7 Bxc4 25. f3 Bb5 $1) ({Most likely White should play similarly to the game:} 22. b3 Qh5 23. c4 Nf6 24. Rad1 Bc8 {although this is also very unclear.}) 22... Rxd6 $1 { is strong and after:} 23. Qxd6 Qh5 24. f3 Qh2+ 25. Kf2 Rh3 26. Rh1 Qxg3+ 27. Kg1 Rxh1+ 28. Kxh1 Nf6 {with the threats of Ba6-e2, Ba6-c8-h1 and Nf6-h5-f4 Black has enough for the exchange.}) 21. Nxd6 Ba6 ({Not:} 21... Rd8 22. Nf5+) 22. Rad1 Rh8 23. b3 {Getting ready to block the bishop whenever needed.} Rc7 ({ White is repelling the attack after:} 23... Qh5 24. c4 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 b5 ({Or} 25... Bc8 26. Nxc8 Rcxc8 27. Qg5) 26. Nxb5 ({The other choice also looks reasonable:} 26. cxb5 Rxd6 27. Qxd6 Bxb5+ 28. Rd3 Ng4 29. a4 Bxd3+ 30. Qxd3) 26... Bc8 27. Qd3 Bg4 28. Rd2 {in both cases White preserves the extra material.}) 24. c4 {The attack along the h-file did not succeed. Black searches counter-chances related to the pin.} Rd7 25. Qc3 Qe6 ({Not} 25... Rhd8 26. Qxe5) 26. f4 $1 {However, Artemiev is ready for counter-attack. The white pieces look very comfortable in the center.} Ng4 ({The endgame is difficult for Black:} 26... Rxd6 27. fxe5 Rxd1 28. exf6+ Qxf6 29. Qxf6+ Kxf6 30. e5+ $5 Ke6 31. Rxd1 Kxe5 32. Rd7) 27. fxe5 Bb7 $2 {Allows a 'petite combinaison'.} ({ But Black was in trouble anyway and the capture with the knight:} 27... Nxe5 { would not work due to} 28. Nf5+ $1 gxf5 29. Rxd7) ({However:} 27... Qxe5 $1 { was his best chance when after} 28. Qxe5+ Nxe5 29. Rd5 f6 {Black can still put strong resistance thanks to the super-knight on e5.}) 28. Ne8+ $1 {This effectively finishes the game.} Kg8 (28... Rxe8 $2 {drops material after} 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 30. e6+) ({So does} 28... Qxe8 $2 29. Rxd7) 29. Rxd7 (29. Nf6+ Nxf6 30. exf6 {would be also good.}) 29... Qxd7 30. Nf6+ Nxf6 31. exf6 Qc7 32. Rd1 { White is two pawns ahead, the rest is easy.} Rh5 33. Qe3 Qe5 34. Qf4 Qc5+ 35. Kf1 Bc6 36. Rd8+ Kh7 37. Qb8 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.05"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Adhiban, B.."] [Black "Grandelius, Nils"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2683"] [BlackElo "2694"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:21:59"] [BlackClock "0:08:40"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 (8. h3 a5 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 11. Nf1 Qa7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7 14. a4 Ng6 {Karjakin,S (2753)-Svidler,P (2737) St Petersburg 2018}) 8... a5 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bb5 Ne7 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Bb6 13. Ng3 d5 14. e5 Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4 c5 $146 (16... Qd5 17. Bd3 c5 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qd2 Kg7 20. Rh4 Rh8 21. Qf4 Bd8 22. Qf6+ Kg8 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Qxh6 Bf5 {Rodshtein,M (2699)-Dragnev,V (2466) Germany 2018}) 17. Bd3 Bf5 18. Rf4 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 cxd4 20. Rg4 Qd7 21. h3 Qe6 22. Bd2 Rad8 23. Re1 Nf5 24. Bg5 $5 {Wow! What a move.} hxg5 25. Nxg5 Qc8 26. Rf4 g6 27. g4 Ne7 $2 ({Better tries were} 27... Ne3 28. e6 Qc2 {or}) (27... Bc7) 28. Qg3 {Buntly going for checkmate.} Kg7 29. Qh4 Rh8 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31. Rh7 $1 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.05"] [Round "1.11"] [White "Padmini, Rout"] [Black "Batsiashvili, Nino"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "2332"] [BlackElo "2454"] [PlyCount "136"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:04:32"] [BlackClock "0:08:21"] 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 a6 5. a4 b6 6. Bd3 (6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Ne7 8. Bf4 Nd7 9. Qd2 h6 10. Rfe1 g5 11. Bg3 Ng6 12. h3 Nf6 {Gustafsson,J (2630)-Fier, A (2636) Linares 2015}) 6... Nd7 7. O-O Bb7 8. Re1 e5 9. Bg5 Ne7 10. dxe5 $146 (10. Bc4 h6 11. Bh4 O-O 12. Qd2 g5 13. Bg3 Nc6 14. dxe5 Ncxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bb3 Ng6 {Schoorl,R-Van Wissen,M (2160) Haarlem 1998}) 10... dxe5 11. Bc4 h6 12. Be3 Nc8 13. Bd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Ne7 15. Qc4 O-O 16. Rad1 Qc8 17. Rd3 Nb8 18. Nd5 Nbc6 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Red1 Qb7 21. Rd7 Nc6 22. h3 Rac8 23. b3 Nb8 24. R7d5 Rfe8 25. Nh2 Qc6 26. Qd3 Qe6 27. Nf3 Nc6 28. Qc3 a5 29. R5d2 Nb4 30. Rd7 Qc6 31. Qxc6 Nxc6 32. g4 Red8 33. Kf1 Kf8 34. Rxd8+ Nxd8 35. Ke2 Ke7 36. Rd5 Ke6 37. Nd2 Nc6 38. Nc4 f5 39. f3 fxe4 40. fxe4 Nd4+ 41. Kd3 Rf8 42. Nxe5 $2 { This doesn't work out well.} (42. c3 Nf3 (42... Nc6 43. Bxb6 $1 cxb6 44. Rd6+) 43. Ke2 Nh4 44. b4 {was good for White.}) 42... Bxe5 43. Bxd4 Bxd4 44. Rxd4 Rf3+ 45. Kc4 Rxh3 46. Rd8 Rg3 47. Re8+ Kd7 48. Rh8 Rxg4 49. Rxh6 Rxe4+ 50. Kd5 Re6 51. Rh8 Rd6+ 52. Kc4 Ke6 53. c3 c5 54. Rh1 g5 55. Rg1 Kf5 56. Rf1+ Ke4 57. Rg1 Kf4 58. Rf1+ Ke3 59. Rg1 Rg6 60. Kb5 g4 61. b4 cxb4 62. cxb4 axb4 63. Kxb4 g3 64. Kb5 Kf2 65. Ra1 g2 66. Ra2+ Kg3 67. Ra1 Kh2 68. Ra2 Kh1 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.06"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Ni, Hua"] [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2683"] [BlackElo "2637"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxc4 ({For those of you who did not follow closely the Batumi Olympiad, the central match of the event saw two games following this route:} 10. Nbd2 b5 11. axb5 Bb7 12. Nxc4 axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Nce5 Bd6 15. Rd1 {Yu,Y (2765)-So,W (2776) and Li,C (2708)-Shankland,S (2722) Batumi 2018. White tried to squeeze something in both games, but in vain. If I recall correctly Lenderman was there as a coach for the USA team.}) 10... b6 11. Ne5 Ra7 12. Nd3 Be7 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Bxb7 Rxb7 15. Nd2 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. Rfc1 $146 {A novelty. Apparently, the Chinese squad was happy with a slight edge against the Americans, with risk-free play.} ({Furtheron, the only predecessor is a game of Lenderman too! It went:} 18. Nf3 Nd7 19. Rfc1 Qb6 20. Qc6 h6 21. Bd2 Qxc6 22. Rxc6 Rd8 23. Kf1 Bf6 {and Black eventually held, Kuzubov,Y (2655)-Lenderman,A (2626) Saint Louis 2018}) 18... Nd7 19. Nb3 { Heading to a5 and ideally to c6.} Nxf4 20. Nxf4 {It seems as Black should not worry too much. But this feeling is deceptive. The pressure along the open files makes Black's task difficult and he has to proceed with care.} Bd6 $1 { Very accurate.} ({Instead} 20... Bf6 21. Na5 Rb6 22. Rd1 {will lead to troubles along the d-file.}) 21. Qe4 {A good reply in return. The forcing continuations did not promise Ni the edge.} ({Here:} 21. Na5 {is well met with: } Rc7) (21. Qc6 {is also an empty blow after:} Rb6) ({Finally} 21. Rd1 Bxf4 22. Qe4 Qc7 23. Qxf4 Qxf4 24. gxf4 {was apparently an endgame that was not worrying Black.}) 21... Rb6 {Another accurate decision.} (21... Rb8 $2 { would drop a pawn to} 22. Nxe6 $1) ({Whereas} 21... Qb6 $4 22. Rc6 {would lose the game outright.}) 22. Nd3 ({Black was ready to regroup in case of:} 22. Rc6 Nf6 23. Qf3 Rxc6 24. Qxc6 Bxf4 25. gxf4 Nd5 {when he is even taking over the initiative.}) 22... Nf6 23. Qd4 {Keeping the queen in the center.} (23. Qf3 $5 {was also good.}) 23... Nd5 24. Ra7 {A step in the wrong direction.} ({White should have deprived the black knight of the excellent central square. After:} 24. e4 Ne7 25. Qe3 Rc6 {Both knight jumps:} 26. Nbc5 $5 {would keep the slight edge for White and the no-risk policy might have worked at the end.} ({And} 26. Nd4 $5)) 24... Be7 25. Nbc5 Rc6 26. Nd7 {The logical follow up once that the rook seized the seventh rank. But, the wrong direction.} ({Perhaps White considered his advantage insufficient after} 26. Ne5 $5 Rc8 27. Ned7 Re8 28. e4 Nb6 29. b4 {although many people would prefer to have the white pieces here.}) ({And it was not too late for:} 26. e4 Bf6 27. e5 Be7 28. b4 {with some edge as well.}) 26... Rxc1+ {Now Lenderman skilfully regroups.} 27. Nxc1 Qc8 28. Nd3 Rd8 29. N7e5 $2 {The final step into the abyss.} ({Ni needed to force a draw with:} 29. Nb6 Qb8 30. Nd7 Qd6 ({True, Black might actually play on with:} 30... Qc8)) 29... f6 $1 {Suddenly, the center is overcrowded.} 30. Nf3 (30. Ng4 {drops a piece at once after} e5) 30... e5 31. Qh4 ({Believe it or not but the queen is trapped in the line:} 31. Qe4 f5 32. Qxe5 Bf6) 31... g5 $1 {Lenderman has done it again! With accurate defense he got a chance to strike back.} 32. Nxg5 fxg5 33. Qe4 Qe6 34. Qxe5 Qxe5 35. Nxe5 Re8 {The piece should win but good technique is still reuired.} 36. Rd7 ({Or} 36. Rb7 b4 37. Nd3) 36... Nf6 37. Rb7 b4 38. Nd3 Bf8 39. Kf1 Ne4 40. Rb5 (40. Nxb4 {does not win a third pawn due to:} Bc5 {When White needs to part with the f2 pawn. If} 41. f3 Nd6 $1 {wins the white knight.}) 40... h6 41. h4 {Ni is trying to trade all the pawns. } gxh4 42. gxh4 Nd2+ 43. Kg2 Rxe2 44. Nxb4 Re4 45. Nd5 Rxh4 {But the h6 pawn survived and will soon prove decisive.} 46. f4 Rg4+ 47. Kh3 Rg1 48. Rb7 Ne4 49. b4 Bd6 50. b5 Rd1 51. Ne7+ Kf7 52. Nc6+ ({Nothing changes:} 52. Nc8+ Ke6 53. Nxd6 Nxd6 54. Rb8 Kf5) 52... Ke6 53. Nd8+ Kf5 54. Rf7+ Nf6 55. Kg2 Bxf4 56. Nc6 Rb1 57. Kf3 Rb3+ 58. Ke2 Kg6 ({Avoiding the last miniscule chance:} 58... Rxb5 $2 59. Nd4+ Kg6 60. Rxf6+ {with a draw.}) 59. Rb7 h5 60. Nd4 Re3+ 61. Kf1 h4 62. Ne2 Be5 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.06"] [Round "2.10"] [White "McShane, Luke J"] [Black "Mamedov, Rauf"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "2661"] [BlackElo "2701"] [PlyCount "101"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:05:44"] [BlackClock "0:03:36"] 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. c4 b4 12. Nc2 O-O (12... a5 13. g3 { 1/2 (13) Nepomniachtchi,I (2763)-Carlsen,M (2835) St Petersburg 2018}) 13. g3 Bg5 14. h4 Bh6 15. Bh3 a5 16. Bxc8 Rxc8 17. b3 Kh8 $146 (17... Ne7 18. Nce3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 f5 20. exf5 Nxf5 21. Nxf5 Rxf5 22. Qd5+ Kh8 23. Rd1 Qb6 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2573)-Polytech. Lille I (2158) Neuilly 2007}) 18. Qe2 Qe8 19. Rd1 Qe6 20. Kf1 g6 21. h5 Kg7 22. Rd3 f5 23. hxg6 Qxg6 ({After} 23... hxg6 24. g4 { could be tricky as well.}) 24. exf5 Rxf5 25. g4 Rf7 26. Rdh3 Rcf8 27. R1h2 Bg5 28. Rxh7+ Qxh7 29. Rxh7+ Kxh7 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. f3 Nd4 $6 (31... Bh4 $5) 32. Nxd4 exd4 33. Qe4 Rxf3 34. Qxd4+ Kh6 35. Qe4 Rf2+ 36. Kg3 Rxa2 37. Ne7 $1 {As d6 will drop, White will have two passers.} Bxe7 38. Qxe7 Raf2 39. Qxd6+ R8f6 40. Qe5 Kg6 41. c5 R2f3+ 42. Kh4 Kf7 43. Qc7+ Kg6 44. Qxa5 Rxb3 45. Qa2 Rff3 46. Qa6+ Kg7 47. Kg5 Rbe3 48. Qg6+ Kf8 49. Qd6+ Re7 50. c6 Ke8 51. c7 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.07"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Yu, Yangyi"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2761"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackTeam "China"] [WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"] [BlackTeamCountry "CHN"] [WhiteClock "1:36:28"] [BlackClock "0:25:16"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Re1 c6 (11... Qf6 12. Qf3 c6 13. Bf4 Rf7 14. h4 Ba3 15. Rab1 b5 16. g3 a5 17. Re2 Bf8 18. Rbe1 b4 {Zhigalko,S (2604) -Fridman,D (2633) St Petersburg 2018}) 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Re3 g6 14. Qh4 Rae8 15. Rae1 Rxe3 16. Rxe3 Re8 17. c4 $146 (17. Be7 Rxe7 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 19. Qxe7 Qc8 20. Kf1 Be6 21. h4 Qd7 22. Qf6 Qf7 23. Qe5 f4 {Fercec,N (2495)-Doric,N (2303) Pula 2014}) 17... Rxe3 18. Bxe3 Be8 19. c5 Qe7 $6 {This active plan actually helps White.} (19... Be7) 20. Bg5 Qe1+ 21. Bf1 Bf8 22. Be3 Qa5 (22... b6) 23. Bf4 Bf7 24. Qf6 Bg7 25. Qd6 Qe1 (25... Bxd4 26. Qb8+ Kg7 27. Bd6 Bg8 28. Qxb7+ Kh8 29. Qe7 Qc3 30. Qe8) 26. Be3 Bf8 27. Qb8 b6 28. cxb6 axb6 29. Qxb6 Qa1 30. Qa7 c5 31. Qa8 Qe1 32. dxc5 d4 33. Bh6 Be8 34. Qd5+ Bf7 35. Qd8 Qe7 36. Qxe7 Bxe7 37. c6 Bd6 38. g3 Bd5 39. a4 Kf7 40. Bb5 Bc7 41. Bf4 Bxf4 42. gxf4 Ke7 43. c7 Bb7 44. a5 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.07"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "McShane, Luke J"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2642"] [BlackElo "2661"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "United States"] [BlackTeam "England"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] [WhiteClock "1:14:57"] [BlackClock "1:23:55"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Na6 8. Nge2 Nc7 9. f4 (9. a4 b6 10. O-O a6 11. Qd3 Rb8 12. f4 Nfe8 13. Be3 Bd7 14. b3 Rb7 15. Kh1 b5 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. a5 Bd6 {Sunilduth Lyna,N (2541)-Roeder,M (2386) Sitges 2016}) 9... Nd7 10. f5 $146 (10. O-O a6 11. a4 Bf6 12. Be3 b6 13. Qd3 Rb8 14. Rfb1 Re8 15. Ra3 g6 {Berkovich,D (2455)-Tregubov,A (2325) Budapest 1992 }) 10... b5 11. cxb5 a6 12. bxa6 Bxa6 13. h4 Rb8 14. O-O Rb4 15. Rb1 Rd4 16. Qe1 Bd3 17. Ra1 Na6 18. a3 c4 19. Be3 Nac5 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Nxd4 Bf6 22. Nc6 Qb6 23. Rf2 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Qe3 Rb8 26. Bf1 Qd8 27. f6 Bxf6 28. Rd1 Rb3 29. Bxd3 Nxd3 30. Rxd3 cxd3 31. Qxd3 Bxc3 32. bxc3 Qc8 33. Qf3 f6 34. Qf5 Qxf5 35. exf5 Rxc3 36. Kg2 (36. Ra2 Rxg3+ 37. Kf2 Rh3 38. Ra1 Rxh4 39. a4 Rb4 40. a5 Kf8 41. a6 Rb8) 36... Rxa3 37. Rb2 Ra5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.07"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Grandelius, Nils"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2673"] [BlackElo "2694"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Iran"] [BlackTeam "Sweden"] [WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"] [BlackTeamCountry "SWE"] [WhiteClock "0:07:11"] [BlackClock "0:00:35"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nc6 5. c3 e5 6. e4 Nge7 7. d3 O-O 8. a3 a5 9. a4 d5 10. Na3 (10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Na3 h6 12. Nc4 Re8 13. Re1 Qc7 14. Qb3 Be6 15. Bd2 Rad8 16. Rad1 Kh7 {Shankland,S (2662)-Salem,A (2638) Sitges 2017}) 10... d4 11. cxd4 cxd4 12. Nc4 Rb8 13. b3 $146 (13. Bd2 f6 14. Qb3 Be6 15. Rfc1 Nc8 16. Bh3 Bf7 17. Qb5 N8a7 18. Qb6 Bxc4 19. Qxd8 Rfxd8 20. Rxc4 Kf7 { Olafsson,F-Ree,H Wijk aan Zee 1971}) 13... b5 14. axb5 Rxb5 15. Ba3 Nb4 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Nfd2 Be6 18. Ra6 Bc8 19. Ra7 Nc6 20. Ra8 Qc7 21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Be6 23. Rxf8+ Bxf8 24. Qf3 Na5 25. e5 Be7 26. Qg3 f5 27. h4 Qd8 28. h5 Kg7 29. Bf3 g5 $2 {Unnecessary.} (29... Nxc4) 30. fxg5 Bxg5 31. Be4 $3 {An amazing bishop move. Black should have declined the sacrifice.} fxe4 (31... f4 32. Rxf4 Kh8 {was the only way, but White still has the better chances after} 33. Nf3 $1 Bxf4 34. Qxf4) 32. Nxe4 Kh6 ({White's main idea was} 32... h6 33. Ncd6 Rb8 34. Rf6 $1 {with a winning attack. The same as in the game, in fact.}) 33. Ncd6 Rb6 34. Rf6+ $1 Bxf6 35. exf6 Qg8 36. Nf5+ $1 Bxf5 37. Qxg8 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.07"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Mamedov, Rauf"] [Black "Ismagambetov, Anuar"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2701"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "174"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nb3 {A modern line. White often heads for a favorable lines of the Keres attack.} Nc6 7. a4 g6 { The Dragon-like set up is one of Black's most reliable choices.} ({An alternative is:} 7... e6 8. Be3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Be2 Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Re8 {as in Alekseev,E (2618)-Levin,E (2518) St Petersburg 2017}) 8. a5 {Mamedov hurries to clamp the opponent's queenside.} Bg7 $146 {An obvious novelty.} ({A predecessor saw a quick draw after:} 8... Be6 9. Be3 Bxb3 10. cxb3 Bg7 11. Nd5 O-O 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {1/2-1/2 (12) Iordachescu,V (2632) -Brodsky, M (2549) Bad Wiessee 2010}) 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bb6 Qe8 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O {Simply finishing the development.} ({Instead, the generally desired move: } 12. Nd5 {has a flaw, revealed by:} Nxe4 $1 13. Nc7 Qd7 14. Nxa8 Bxb2 { with advantage for Black.}) 12... Rc8 13. Nd4 ({The other plan was:} 13. f4 { Intending Be2-f3 and then again preparation of Nc3-d5. Most likely White did not like the typical blockade then after:} Nd7 14. Be3 Bxb3 15. cxb3 Nc5 16. Bf3 Nb4) 13... Bd7 14. Re1 Nb4 {Ismagambetov patiently prepares to free himself with d6-d5.} 15. Bf3 {Adding extra layer of control to the vital d5 spot.} ({After the more natural} 15. Bf1 {Black would have most likely proceeded as in the game:} e5 ({Although} 15... Ng4 $5 {deserves consideration too.}) 16. Nf3 Qe6) 15... e5 16. Nde2 Qe6 17. Nc1 {You probably noticed that this knight is the main reason for White not to be completely happy. However, with this maneuver Mamedov finally solves it's problem.} Rc4 18. Nd3 Rfc8 19. Qd2 Nxd3 ({Since:} 19... Nc6 20. b3 {traps the rook, and the tactics:} Rxc3 21. Qxc3 Nd4 {With the idea to weaken the white kingside would be met strongly with:} 22. Bxd4 $1 Rxc3 23. Bxc3 {The rooks are superior to the queen, White is better.}) 20. cxd3 R4c6 21. d4 Qe8 ({If} 21... exd4 22. Bxd4 Rc4 23. e5 $1 { profiting from the position of the enemy queen.}) 22. h3 Qf8 23. Bd1 $1 { Bringing the bishop to an even better position. So far Mamedov confidently outplayed his oppponent.} ({Also good was the straightforward} 23. Rad1 $5) 23... Rc4 24. d5 $2 {But this is not in the spirit of the position.} ({Correct was:} 24. dxe5 $1 dxe5 25. Bb3 {For example:} Rb4 26. Bd5 Nxd5 27. Nxd5 Rb3 28. Rac1 {with a comfortable advantage for White. What's important is that White will have good control over the open files.}) 24... Ne8 {Preparing f7-f5.} 25. Bb3 {This bishop is not happy now.} ({If} 25. Be2 Bh6) 25... Rb4 26. Ba4 { True, White can trade it.} Nf6 $1 {But only at a certain price- here it will be the activation of the black knight.} 27. Bxd7 Nxd7 28. Na4 Rbc4 {The black rooks rule and he is ready to roll on the kingside. The tables have turned in his favor.} ({Also good looks:} 28... Rcc4 $5 29. Qd1 Rxe4 {But apparently Ismagambetov did not want to allow any counterplay with:} (29... Bh6 $5) 30. Rxe4 Rxe4 31. Rc1) 29. Qd3 f5 30. Qb3 Bh6 31. Ba7 R4c7 ({There was also the funny maneuver} 31... Bd2 32. Red1 Bb4) 32. Bb6 Rc4 33. Ba7 fxe4 {Rejecting the repetition.} 34. Nc3 (34. Qxb7 $2 {drops material due to} R4c7 35. Qxa6 Ra8 ) 34... Nf6 {In the approaching time trouble both players play very inventively.} (34... Bd2 $5 35. Rxe4 R4c7 {would be safer, but not really play for a win.}) 35. Qxb7 Bd2 36. Qxa6 $5 {An excellent chance!} ({Instead} 36. Re2 Bxc3 37. bxc3 R4c7 38. Qb6 Nxd5 {would ingloriouly lose.}) ({However, a better version of the sacrifice was:} 36. Be3 $1 Bxe1 37. Rxe1 Rb8 38. Qxa6 Rcb4 39. Qf1 Rxb2 40. a6 {when White has good chances to hold.}) 36... Bxc3 $1 {A strong move in reply. Black needs much more the d5 pawn than the exchange.} ({ Although Black would be also better after} 36... Bxe1 37. Rxe1 Rb4 38. Qe2) 37. bxc3 Nxd5 {The pawn avalanche is impressive. Mamedov could not find a way to stop it.} 38. Rad1 ({Perhaps White should have tried to advance the a-passer at once with:} 38. Qb7 Nxc3 39. a6 (39. Be3)) 38... R4c6 39. Bb6 ({Here} 39. Qb7 Nxc3 {is not that good for White.}) 39... Nxc3 40. Rd2 d5 {The time trouble is over and Black is close to winning. His pawns are moving almost by themselves, whereas the white passer is obstructed by its own pieces.} 41. Qb7 Qb4 42. Qd7 d4 43. Kh2 Qf8 {With the threat of Qf8-f4+.} 44. Rxe4 $1 {Once again Mamedov sacrifices the echange and this is his best practical chance.} Nxe4 45. Qd5+ Kg7 46. Qxe4 Qf5 47. Qxf5 gxf5 48. f4 $1 {If the pawns are separated, there is hope.} Rc2 49. Rd1 Rc1 50. Rd2 R8c2 51. Rd3 Rc3 52. Rd2 R1c2 53. Rd1 d3 54. fxe5 Kf7 55. a6 Ra2 56. a7 Ke6 57. Bd4 Rb3 {But a slim one. The black pieces are too active.} 58. Rd2 ({Maybe White should have tried:} 58. Kg3 d2+ 59. Kf2) 58... Ra4 ({Or even:} 58... Rba3 $5 59. Rd1 Kd5 60. Be3 Kxe5) 59. Kg3 Kd5 {This centralization decides.} 60. e6 Kxe6 61. Kf3 Kd5 62. Be3 f4 63. Bf2 ({Or} 63. Bxf4 Rxa7) 63... Kc4 $1 {The active black king will soon win the bishop.} 64. Kxf4 Rb7 65. Be3 Kc3+ 66. Kg5 Raxa7 67. Rd1 Ra5+ 68. Kh6 Ra6+ 69. Kh5 Rb5+ 70. Kh4 Ra2 71. g4 Re2 72. Rc1+ ({Nothing changes:} 72. Bh6 d2) 72... Kb2 73. Bh6 Rb6 74. Bf4 d2 75. Bxd2 Rxd2 76. Rh1 Kc3 77. Kh5 Kd4 78. g5 Re6 79. h4 Kd5 80. Rf1 Rh2 81. Rd1+ Ke5 82. Rd7 Kf4 83. Ra7 Re1 84. Ra3 Re4 85. Ra7 Kf5 86. Rf7+ Ke6 87. Rxh7 Rhxh4+ {After the inspired win yesterday, Ismagambetov helped his brave team draw the rating favorites of Azerbaijan.} 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.07"] [Round "3.11"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E90"] [WhiteElo "2477"] [BlackElo "2374"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:35:39"] [BlackClock "0:16:05"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. g4 Na6 9. Be3 Nd7 (9... Nc5 10. Nd2 c6 11. Be2 a4 12. h4 Qa5 13. f3 a3 14. Qc2 axb2 15. Qxb2 h5 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2757)-Grischuk,A (2766) chess.com INT 2018}) 10. a3 Nac5 11. Rg1 a4 12. Nd2 c6 13. Qc2 Qa5 14. O-O-O Nf6 (14... Rb8 15. Na2 cxd5 16. cxd5 b5 17. Nb4 Bb7 18. Kb1 Rfc8 19. Rc1 Nf6 20. g5 Nh5 {Tomazini,A (2309) -Golubov,S (2446) Pardubice 2015}) 15. Be2 cxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. g5 $1 Bf5 18. Qxf5 $3 {Just fantastic.} Nfe4 (18... gxf5 19. gxf6 Qd8 20. fxg7 Re8 {and now e.g.} 21. Bxc5 dxc5 22. f3 Ra6 23. Bd3 {and in the long run Black won't be able to survive this.}) 19. Qxe4 $1 {One way or another White 'sacs' her queen for three pieces.} Nxe4 20. Ndxe4 Rfd8 21. Nb5 Bf8 22. h4 Rac8 23. Kb1 Be7 24. h5 Kg7 25. Rdf1 Rd7 26. f4 {It's amazing how White can just improve her position and how helpless her opponent is.} Qa6 27. f5 gxf5 28. Rxf5 Bd8 29. h6+ Kh8 30. Rgf1 Kg8 31. Bh5 f6 32. Nxf6+ Bxf6 33. Rxf6 Rdd8 34. Bg4 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.08"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Black "Karavade, Eesha"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2559"] [BlackElo "2357"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:02:51"] [BlackClock "0:10:01"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Rc8 (8... Bd7 9. c4 e6 10. b3 Nf6 11. a4 Be7 12. Nc3 Qa5 13. Qd2 Rd8 14. Ba3 Bc8 15. Rad1 Qc7 {Timofeev,A (2579)-Fedoseev,V (2706) Sochi 2018}) 9. Bg5 Qa5 10. Bf4 $146 (10. Bh4 e6 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. Qd2 O-O 14. Rad1 Rfd8 15. Qe3 Be8 {Rublevsky,S (2649)-Kharlov,A (2613) chessassistantclub.com INT 2004}) 10... e5 11. Nxc6 Rxc6 12. Bd2 Qd8 13. b3 h6 14. c4 Nf6 15. Nc3 Be7 16. a4 O-O 17. Be3 Nh7 18. Ra2 Bg5 19. Rd2 Kh8 20. g3 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Ng5 22. Red3 Qa5 23. h4 Ne6 24. Kg2 Rd8 25. Nd5 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. b4 Qa6 28. cxb5 ({ Missing} 28. Ne7 $1 Rc7 (28... Rb6 29. c5) 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 Qa4 31. Qxa4 bxa4 32. Nc6 a3 33. Nxe5) 28... Qxb5 29. Qh5 Rf8 30. Rf3 Rc1 31. Rfd3 Qc4 32. Qe2 Nd4 33. Qe3 Nc2 34. Rxc2 Rxc2 35. Qf3 Rc1 36. Ne7 Ra8 37. Rxd6 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Rc2 $4 (38... Qg1+ 39. Kh3 Qh1+ 40. Qxh1 Rxh1+ 41. Kg4 g6) (38... Rf8) 39. Rxh6+ 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.08"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Adhiban, B.."] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteElo "2683"] [BlackElo "2812"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:28:06"] [BlackClock "1:02:49"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 Re8 16. h3 Nf6 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Qh2 h6 19. h4 (19. d5 exd5 20. e5 g6 21. Nd4 Ng7 22. Nb5 Nf5 23. g4 a6 24. Qf4 axb5 25. gxf5 Qg5+ 26. Qxg5 hxg5 {Mamedyarov,S (2820)-Ding,L (2804) Batumi 2018}) 19... a5 $146 (19... Nf6 20. d5 exd5 21. e5 Nd7 22. Nd4 Nc5 23. Nf5 Re6 24. Nd6 Rc7 25. Bc2 Bc6 26. Bf5 Ree7 27. Qg3 Nb7 {Gozzoli,Y (2598)-Bogner,S (2588) Le Castella 2018}) 20. g4 Nf6 21. Qf4 b5 22. Ne5 Rc7 23. a4 bxa4 24. Bxa4 Rf8 25. f3 Qd6 26. Ng6 Qxf4 27. Nxf4 Rc4 28. Bb3 Rc3 29. Rd3 Rfc8 30. Rb1 Ba6 31. Rxc3 Rxc3 32. Kf2 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Nxe6 $5 (34. Ne2) 34... Bd3 (34... fxe6 35. Bxe6+ Kf8 36. Ra1 { picks up a third pawn.}) 35. Rb2 a4 36. Bxa4 fxe6 37. Rb6 Kf7 38. Bb3 Bc4 39. Rb7+ Kg6 40. Bxc4 Rxc4 41. Rb6 Kf7 42. Rb7+ Kf8 43. Ke3 Rc3+ 44. Ke2 Rc6 45. Rb5 Nh7 46. d5 exd5 47. Rxd5 Kg7 48. f4 gxf4 49. Kf3 Nf6 50. Rg5+ Kf7 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.08"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Yu, Yangyi"] [Black "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2633"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "132"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O ({White can also chose:} 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 a6 13. O-O b5 14. Qd1 Na5 15. a4 Nc4 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qb3 {as in Georgiev,K (2623)-Harikrishna,P (2744) Riadh 2017}) 11... a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 Ne7 {This version of the Carlsbad pawn structure seems far more interesting than the classical one in the QGD for Black. He managed to trade a pair of light pieces, plus White did not yet start the usual minority attack on the queenside.} 14. Na4 b6 15. b4 ({Yu's countryman chose instead:} 15. a3 { But a bit later his rook ended up in an awkward situation:} g5 16. g3 Qg7 17. Bf1 f5 18. Qe1 Kh8 19. b4 Ng6 20. Rc6 $2 g4 21. Nd2 Qd7 22. Qc1 Ne7 {in Wang,H (2734)-Leko,P (2712) Danzhou 2016}) 15... a5 {Sealing the queenside for the time being.} ({Not} 15... Bxb4 16. Rxc7) 16. b5 g5 {This is the other difference in comparison to the usual Carlsbad. Black can use the pawns for the attack too.} 17. Nb2 Ng6 18. Nd3 Rae8 $146 {A novelty. Ganguly wants to make the best out of his rooks.} ({A predecessor saw an interesting battle after:} 18... Rfe8 19. Rc3 h5 20. Rac1 Rad8 21. Nfe5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. Qd4 Qxd4 25. exd4 Bg4 26. Bxg4 hxg4 27. Rxc7 Re2 {which eventually lead to a drawish endgame, Roiz,M (2668)-Tomashevsky,E (2710) Saratov 2011}) ({The immediate kingside expansion:} 18... h5 {Can be met with:} 19. Nfe5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Bxh5 {Then White is ready to trade queens, say after} Kg7 23. Qd4) 19. Nfe1 {Yu prevents the h6-h5 advance.} ({After something like:} 19. Rc3 Bd7 20. Qb3 {Play may continue with:} g4 21. Nd2 Qg5 {when Black is fine.}) 19... h5 $1 {Or at least it seemed saw! Black is happy to offer a pawn for an open file. A wonderful move which the computer may never understand.} 20. Bxh5 Kg7 21. h3 $6 {That is not the most solid construction!} ({Better was the immediate:} 21. Bg4 Rh8 {Then the other pawn should move.} 22. g3 {The logic is that White needs to restrict the remaining black bishop. After} Bxg4 ({Better seems} 22... Ne7 23. Bxe6 Qxe6 24. Qf3 Rh3 { with compensation for the pawn, although White can still defend with:} 25. Ne5 $5 Bxe5 (25... Reh8 26. Qg4) 26. dxe5 Qxe5 27. Qg4) 23. Qxg4 Re4 24. Qf3 Qe6 25. Qg2 {White can defend successfully.}) 21... Rh8 22. Bg4 Bxg4 23. hxg4 $2 { And that is a blunder!} ({The only move was:} 23. Qxg4 {although in comparison to the line from above Black has a serious initiative running:} Re4 24. Qd1 g4 25. hxg4 Qh4 26. Kf1 Rxg4) 23... Rxe3 $1 {This is what Yu missed. A key pawn drops and with it White's position shutters.} 24. Rc6 ({The rook is immune:} 24. fxe3 Bh2+ 25. Kh1 Qf1#) 24... Bh2+ {The position is obviously very close to won for Black, but there are so many options!} ({Best was the simple retreat:} 24... Re6 $1 {White cannot seal the diagonal in that case:} 25. g3 Ne7 26. Rcc1 {There is the powerful:} Bxg3 27. fxg3 Rh1+ 28. Kxh1 Qf1+ 29. Kh2 Rh6#) ({Also good was:} 24... Re4 $5) 25. Kf1 (25. Kh1 {will be met with:} Rxe1+ $1 ({Not} 25... Qd8 $2 {with the idea Bh2-g3+ followed by Rh8-h1+ and the queen mates. Unfortunately for Black his opponent will escape on time with: } 26. fxe3 Bg3+ 27. Kg1 Rh1+ 28. Kxh1 Qh8+ 29. Kg1 Qh2+ 30. Kf1 Qh1+ 31. Ke2) 26. Qxe1 Qxd4 27. Rd1 Qxg4 {and White is helpless.}) 25... Bg3 26. Kg1 (26. Rxf6 Rh1#) 26... Bh2+ 27. Kf1 Bg3 28. Kg1 Qxd4 $1 {Ganguly missed some good continuations, but nevertheless found a way to keep the attack running.} 29. Nc2 $1 {The only move.} (29. fxg3 Rxe1#) 29... Bh2+ 30. Kh1 ({Not} 30. Kf1 $2 Qxd3+) 30... Bf4+ 31. Kg1 Bh2+ 32. Kh1 Bf4+ ({Better was:} 32... Be5+ 33. Kg1 Qxd3 34. Nxe3 Qxb5 35. Rac1 Ne7 {but Black gets a chance to shift to this line a bit later.}) 33. Kg1 Qxd3 34. Nxe3 Bh2+ 35. Kh1 Be5+ 36. Kg1 Bh2+ 37. Kh1 Qxb5 38. Rac1 Bg3+ ({Or the immediate:} 38... Be5+ 39. Kg1 Ne7 $1 40. R6c2 Bh2+ 41. Kh1 d4 42. Nf1 Bf4+ 43. Kg1 Qd7) 39. Kg1 Bh2+ 40. Kh1 Ne7 $1 {Finding the correct idea. The rooks cannot hide from the discovered checks.} 41. g3 ({If} 41. R6c2 d4 $1 {would win material for Black. But it is even better to continue positionally after:} 42. Nf1 Bf4+ 43. Kg1 c5 $1 {and Black is winning. } (43... Bxc1 44. Qxd4+ f6 45. Rxc1 {somehwat complicates matters.}) ({Or} 43... Qd7 $1 {as in the line from above.})) 41... Nxc6 42. Nf5+ Kf8 ({Black also has to be careful:} 42... Kg6 $2 43. Rxc6+ Qxc6 44. Ne7+) 43. Kg2 Bxg3 $1 44. Nxg3 ({After} 44. fxg3 d4 {there is no adequate defence against Qb5-d5+}) ( {The white king is mated in case of:} 44. Kxg3 Qb4) 44... Rh6 45. Nf5 {Black is three pawns up, but not yet there. The super-knight on f5 demands precise play.} Re6 46. Qf3 ({After} 46. Qh1 {Black will defend with the same move:} Qb2 {But this might have been White's best chance, especially in the line:} 47. Qh2 Qe5 48. Qxe5 Nxe5 49. Rxc7 Nxg4 50. Rc8+ Re8 51. Rc6 Rb8 52. Kg3) 46... Qb2 47. Rh1 Ne7 $1 {Without the knights Black has very few problems left.} 48. Qg3 ({If } 48. Nxe7 Kxe7 49. Qxd5 Qe5 {consolidating.}) 48... Nxf5 49. gxf5 Re2 50. Qf3 ({is refuted with:} 50. Qxg5 Rxf2+ 51. Kg1 Re2 $1 ({But not} 51... Rc2 $4 52. Qd8+ Kg7 53. Qh8#) 52. Kf1 Re4 {and Black wins.}) 50... Qe5 51. f6 Ke8 { The king is finally safe.} 52. Rh8+ Kd7 53. Rf8 Qe6 54. Qh5 Qe4+ {Forcing a won endgame.} 55. Qf3 Qxf3+ 56. Kxf3 Rxa2 57. Rxf7+ Ke6 58. Rxc7 Kxf6 59. Rc6+ Kf5 60. Rxb6 Ra3+ 61. Ke2 a4 62. Rd6 Ke4 63. Re6+ Kd4 64. Rg6 Ra2+ 65. Kf3 a3 66. Rxg5 Rc2 {Yu resigned as the pawn is unstoppable.} (66... Rc2 67. Rg8 a2 68. Ra8 Kc3) 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.08"] [Round "4.17"] [White "Grandelius, Nils"] [Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2694"] [BlackElo "2710"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:11:08"] [BlackClock "0:20:43"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 O-O 7. c3 a6 8. Ba4 Re8 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. Nf1 h6 11. Ng3 b5 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Bxe6 Rxe6 14. a4 b4 15. d4 d5 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2780)-Naiditsch,A (2721) Douglas 2018}) 9... Bf8 10. c4 Bd7 11. Be3 Nb8 12. Nc3 Bxa4 13. Qxa4 Nbd7 14. a3 $146 (14. b4 c6 15. Qb3 a5 16. a3 axb4 17. axb4 Qc7 18. Rad1 h6 19. d4 exd4 20. Bxd4 Re6 { Zhigalko,A (2543)-Yemelin,V (2536) Czech Republic 2018}) 14... Nc5 15. Qc2 c6 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. b4 Ne6 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nd7 20. Nce2 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 b5 22. Ng3 c5 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. Ba1 Nb6 25. cxb5 axb5 26. Nf5 Nc4 27. Rd3 Rxa3 28. Rxa3 Nxa3 29. Qb2 c4 30. Nxg7 Rc8 31. Nf5 c3 32. Qc1 Kh8 33. Qg5 Qe5 34. Re3 b4 35. Rg3 Bc5 36. Nh6 Bxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Qd4+ 38. Kf3 Qd1+ 39. Kf4 Qd2+ 40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kf2 Qd4+ 42. Qe3 Qxe3+ 43. Kxe3 Rf8 44. Kd4 $1 f6 ({Grandelius's idea was} 44... Nc2+ 45. Ke5 Nxa1 (45... f6+ 46. Ke6) 46. Kf6 c2 47. Rg8+ Rxg8 48. Nxf7#) 45. Kd5 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.09"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Black "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2609"] [BlackElo "2753"] [PlyCount "135"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:02:31"] [BlackClock "0:02:17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 10. Bd2 Nd5 11. Nxc4 Nc6 12. Rc1 Be7 (12... b6 13. Nce3 Nce7 14. b4 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 Ba6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. f3 Bb5 18. Kf2 Rfd8 {Rapport,R (2731)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 13. O-O Rd8 14. Nde3 Nxe3 15. Bxe3 Bd7 16. Rfd1 Be8 17. Rxd8 Rxd8 18. a3 h5 $146 (18... Nd4 19. Bxd4 Rxd4 20. e3 Rd8 21. Bxb7 Bb5 22. Ne5 Bd6 23. Nf3 e5 24. Rc8 Rxc8 25. Bxc8 Kf8 {Beliavsky,A (2655)-Karpov,A (2730) Reykjavik 1991}) 19. b4 h4 20. gxh4 Nd4 21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. e3 Rd8 23. Bxb7 Bxh4 24. Ne5 Bf6 25. Rc5 Kf8 26. Be4 a6 27. f4 Bb5 28. Rc7 Bxe5 29. fxe5 g5 30. Kf2 Rd2+ 31. Kg3 Kg7 32. Rc3 Rd1 33. Bf3 Rg1+ 34. Kf2 Rf1+ 35. Kg3 Rg1+ 36. Kf2 Rf1+ 37. Kg2 Ra1 38. Bh5 Ra2+ 39. Kg3 Ra1 40. Kf2 Ra2+ 41. Kg3 Ra1 42. h3 Ra2 43. Kg4 Rg2+ 44. Kf3 Ra2 45. Bg4 Be2+ 46. Ke4 Bf1 47. Kf3 Bg2+ 48. Kg3 Bf1 49. Bf3 Bb5 50. h4 gxh4+ 51. Kxh4 f6 52. Be4 $5 fxe5 53. Kg5 Kf7 54. Rc7+ Ke8 55. Kf6 Rxa3 56. Kxe6 Kd8 57. Kd6 Rxe3 58. Bd5 Re1 59. Rg7 Rd1 60. Kxe5 Rb1 61. Kd6 Rxb4 $4 (61... Rd1) (61... Re1 {and}) (61... Rf1 {were all fine.}) 62. Ra7 {And the engine announces a mate in 18.} Bd7 63. Rxd7+ Ke8 (63... Kc8 64. Rh7 Kb8 (64... Rb6+ 65. Bc6) 65. Rh8+ Ka7 66. Kc7) 64. Re7+ $1 { The only move that wins, in fact.} Kf8 (64... Kd8 65. Rh7 Rb6+ 66. Bc6) 65. Rf7+ Ke8 (65... Kg8 66. Rb7+) 66. Rf3 {Threatening 67.Bc6+} Rd4 67. Rb3 Kf8 68. Rg3 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.09"] [Round "5.6"] [White "Sasikiran, Krishnan"] [Black "McShane, Luke J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2678"] [BlackElo "2661"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:28"] [BlackClock "0:03:09"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. a4 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. b4 O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. h3 Ne7 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. exd5 Nexd5 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Be6 16. Qb3 Bb6 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Bd2 Ba5 19. Nc3 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Re8 21. Bd2 Qc8 22. Re5 Qd7 23. Ne1 Nb6 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Nd3 Rxe5 26. dxe5 Ne4 27. Be3 (27. Ba5 $5) 27... Qd5 28. Qc2 (28. Qxd5 Nxd5 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. Bxc5) 28... Nc4 {It's getting rather unpleasant for White, who will have to lose a pawn now.} 29. b6 c5 $1 30. e6 $6 {And here Sasikiran must have miscalculated.} Qxe6 31. Bxc5 Nxc5 32. Nxc5 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.09"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"] [Black "Swiercz, Dariusz"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2710"] [BlackElo "2655"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 { A topical way to break the Berlin Wall.} Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Rxe8+ ({In a recent game Radjabov held against the former world champion after:} 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bf4 d6 14. Bd3 Be6 15. Nd2 Bg5 {Anand,V (2773)-Radjabov,T (2757) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 11... Nxe8 12. d5 d6 13. Nd2 Bf5 { Black has the more active pieces at the moment but since the first player seized some space in return this may change on the long run.} 14. Nc4 c6 { In order to free himself, Black weakens his pawn structure somewhat.} 15. c3 Be4 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Qa4 c5 $146 ({Both players undoubtly knew the predecessor:} 17... d5 18. Nd2 Bg6 19. Nb3 c5 20. Nxc5 d4 21. cxd4 Qxd4 22. Qc6 Rd8 23. Be3 Qxb2 24. Rd1 Qb6 25. Qa4 {and although eventually Black managed to level the chances he still had problems to solve at this stage of the game, Harikrishna, P (2733)-Balogh,C (2625) Czech Republic 2019}) 18. Bf4 d5 19. Nd2 {Naiditsch went for a concrete line to attack the hanging pawns.} ({However, both} 19. Rd1) ({and} 19. Re1 {might be more critical continuations.}) 19... Bf5 20. Bb5 {The threat is Bb5-c6-b7 to trap the rook.} Qe7 21. Nb3 {This looks very logical, but allows strong counterplay.} ({The direct} 21. Bc6 Rd8 22. Nf3 {would not yield much as Black can breakthrough in the center:} d4) ({ But more precise looks:} 21. Nf3 {For example} Rd8 ({If} 21... c4 {like in the game, then} 22. Re1) (21... Nc7 22. Bc6) 22. Re1 {with a slight edge for White. }) 21... c4 $1 22. Na5 Qe2 {The active queen promises Swiercz enough counter-chances.} 23. Bc6 Rd8 24. Qb5 ({After} 24. Nb7 Qxb2 25. Rf1 Rc8 26. Bd7 $1 ({Bad is:} 26. Bxe8 Qxb7) ({Black is better after} 26. Bxd5 Bxc3) 26... Qxb7 27. Bxf5 Rd8 {White has compensation for a pawn, but hardly more. The game might end in a draw after} 28. Re1 Kf8 29. Qa3+ Kg8 30. Qa4) 24... Nd6 ({ Missing strong play with:} 24... Bh4 $1 {Then} 25. Bg3 ({Bad is} 25. g3 $2 Be4 26. Bxe8 Qf3 {with massive material losses for White.}) 25... Bxg3 26. hxg3 Nf6 {With the simple threat to include the knight into the attack leads to comfortable play for Black. For example:} 27. Nb7 Rf8 28. Bxd5 (28. Nd6 Ng4) 28... Nxd5 29. Qxd5 Qxb2 30. Rd1 Bd3 {an Black is fine.}) 25. Bxd6 $1 {Forced but good. White wins time to snack some pawns.} Rxd6 26. Bxd5 Rb6 ({Swiercz should have switched to the defense with:} 26... a6 27. Qxc4 Qxc4 28. Bxc4 Rd2 29. Bxa6 Rxb2 30. Nc4 Rb8 31. Ne3 Bxc3 32. Rd1 Be6 {Two bishops often help the defender save a position down a pawn.}) 27. Qxc4 (27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Qxf5 Rxb2 {leads to a position from the game with an extra black pawn on c4.}) 27... Rxb2 ({Once more Black's best chance was in the endgame:} 27... Qxb2 28. Re1 ({Or} 28. Bxf7+ Kf8 29. Re1 Qb5) 28... Qb1 $1 29. Qe2 Qxe1+ 30. Qxe1 Rb1 31. Qxb1 Bxb1 {with good chances to survive, despite the missing pawn.}) 28. Bxf7+ Kf8 29. Qc5+ Kxf7 30. Qxf5 Qc2 {Swiercz now tries to reach the endgame, but Naiditsch has something else in mind.} ({Black still had chances to survive with the subtle:} 30... Rd2 $1 {which takes under control the vital d7 square and after something like:} 31. h3 Qe5 {Black eventually reaches the endgame. Even without the bishop pair, a bishop versus knight often proves reasonable compensation for a pawn.}) 31. Qd7+ $1 {No endgame at all!} Kf8 32. Qc8+ Kf7 33. Rf1 Qxc3 ({If} 33... Rxa2 34. Nc4 Qxc3 {White wins the exchange by force:} 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Nf5+ Kf7 37. Qd7+ Kg6 38. Ne7+ Bxe7 39. Qe6+) 34. Nc4 $1 { This is what White had in mind when starting the checks. The queen and knight is a terrific attacking tandem which decides the outcome of the game.} Rc2 35. Qd7+ Kg6 36. Nd6 ({Faster was:} 36. Ne3 Rd2 37. Qe8+ Kg5 ({Or} 37... Kh6 38. Nf5+ Kg5 39. Ng3) 38. f4+ Kh4 39. g3+ Kh3 40. Qe6#) 36... Kh6 37. Nf5+ Kg6 38. Ne3 Rc1 39. Qe8+ Kh6 ({Otherwise mate:} 39... Kg5 40. f4+ Kh4 41. g3+ Kh3 42. Qe6#) 40. g3 {Calmly finishing the game.} ({There was a forcing line too:} 40. Ng4+ Kg5 41. f4+ Kxg4 42. Qe2+ Kf5 43. g4+ Kg6 44. Qe8+ Kh6 45. Qh5#) 40... Rxf1+ 41. Kxf1 g6 ({The last chance was:} 41... Qb4 {to take under control the g4 square.}) 42. Qf8+ {Now it is over.} Kh5 ({Or} 42... Bg7 43. Qf4+ g5 44. Nf5+ Kg6 45. Ne7+ Kh6 46. Qf7 {wehn Black needs to part with the queen in order to avoid mate.}) 43. g4+ Kg5 44. h4+ {Swiercz resigned not wishing to see the mate on the board.} (44. h4+ Kxh4 (44... Kf4 45. Nd5+) 45. Qh6#) 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.09"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Gunina, Valentina"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "2477"] [BlackElo "2515"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:22"] [BlackClock "0:00:48"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. Bg2 O-O 7. e4 (7. Nf3 d6 8. O-O Nc6 9. a3 Qb6 10. axb4 Nxb4 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. e4 Rfd8 13. Qe2 h6 14. Rad1 Rac8 {Kuzubov,Y (2663)-Fedorchuk,S (2637) Brest 2018}) 7... d6 8. Ne2 e5 9. O-O Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Qd3 Qb6 12. Kh1 a5 $146 (12... exd4 13. Nxd4 Nbd7 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Nd2 a5 16. Rfd1 Nc5 17. Qe2 Rad8 {Yang,D (2493)-Amanov,Z (2359) Los Angeles 2012}) 13. Nd2 Na6 14. Rfd1 Rac8 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Nf1 h6 17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Rd2 a4 19. Rcd1 Qa5 20. b3 b5 21. g4 Nc7 22. h4 Qa7 23. Ng3 bxc4 24. Nxc4 Bb5 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 Nh7 27. g6 fxg6 28. Bh3 Rb8 29. dxe5 dxe5 $2 ({ After the intermediate move} 29... Ng5 $1 {it's not so clear.}) 30. Qe3 $1 { A nasty move.} Qa8 31. Nxe5 Nf8 32. Qc5 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 Ne8 $2 ({The only try was } 33... Rd8 {but after} 34. Rf2 $1 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 {White should still be winning. }) 34. Qe7 Rb6 35. Qf7+ Kh7 36. Rh2 Nf6 37. Bf5+ (37. Bf5+ Nh5 38. Rxh5#) 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.11"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2710"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "128"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 {For many years people were afraid to choose the Sicilian against Karjakin. Any Sicilian. But Naiditsch is fearless.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5 Nge7 {This move is the main difference of the Kalashnikov, in comparison to the usual Sveshnikov line. The knight is more flexible on e7 and it cannot be easily swapped for the white dark-squared bishop.} 9. c4 Nxd5 ({The other direction is:} 9... Nd4 10. Bd3 Nxd5 11. exd5 bxc4 12. Nxc4 Be7 13. O-O O-O {Ragger,M (2687)-Miton,K (2588) St Petersburg 2018}) 10. cxd5 Nd4 11. Bd3 g6 12. O-O Bg7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Bxd4 exd4 {Now we are in a position which is more typical for the Accelerated Dragon. Or the KID.} 15. Nc2 Bd7 16. Ne1 $146 {Karjakin tries to improve on an earlier game of Naiditsch. The knight is heading to the f3 square. White hopes that he has enough time to regroup his troops and eventually win the isolated pawn on d4.} ({In that other game Black did well after} 16. Qd2 Rc8 ({It is not that easy to deal with the d4 pawn either after:} 16... a5 17. Rad1 Rc8 18. Be2 Qb6 {As:} 19. Nxd4 {is dubious due to} Qxd4 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Rc2 {with advantage for Black.}) 17. Ne1 Qb6 18. Nf3 a5 19. a3 Rc5 20. h3 Rb8 21. Rfc1 h6 22. Rc2 a4 {and Black eventually won in Korneev,O (2557)-Naiditsch,A (2702) Heraklio 2017}) 16... Qb6 17. Nf3 a5 {However, Naiditsch plays very energetically and does not allow the aforementioned plan.} 18. h3 {This takes under control the g4 square and avoids the possible pin after Bd7-g4. It's possible that Karjakin later regretted this move.} ({After} 18. Qd2 {Black can always through in the Bg4 move to level the chances. For example:} Rfc8 (18... Bg4 $5) 19. Rfd1 Bg4 $5 ({Although Black can play for more, just like in the game with:} 19... Rc5 20. Bf1 Bg4)) 18... a4 $1 {In order to force a concession on the queenside.} 19. Qd2 (19. a3 {will allow Black a chance to open files on the queenside with} b4) 19... a3 {Now Black secures a strong outpost on c3. The d4 pawn is not a weakness at all!} 20. b3 Rac8 21. Rfe1 Rfe8 {Black is very careful not to allow central counterplay.} ({After:} 21... Rc3 22. e5 dxe5 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Nxd7 Qxd7 25. Rad1 {A curious line runs:} Qxd5 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Qxc3 Qxg2+ 28. Kxg2 dxc3 {with compensation for the exchange.}) 22. Rad1 {White is ready to move the bishop away and grab the central pawn.} Rc3 {The rook is not just decorative there. It does tremendous work.} 23. Kh2 { In order to defend the h3 pawn. The strong influence of the rook is felt.} ({ The white bishop cannot move away:} 23. Bf1 Bxh3 $1) 23... Qd8 $1 {A very neat move. Once again Naiditsch prevents the bishop motion.} (23... Qc5 {is not as accurate and White can win the pawn after} 24. Bb1 b4 25. Nxd4) 24. b4 ({Since } 24. Bb1 $2 {loses to} Rxf3 $1 25. gxf3 Qh4) ({Whereas} 24. Bf1 $2 Rxf3 $1 25. gxf3 Qh4 {also leads to a tremendous attack on the dark squares.}) 24... Qf6 25. Ng1 {A sad retreat.} ({The bishop is still frozen} 25. Bb1 $2 Rxf3) 25... g5 $1 {This is it! Thanks to his active play Black managed to build strong pressure on the dark squares.} 26. Ne2 {It seems Karjakin will finally get rid of the annoying rook.} ({This time} 26. Bb1 {does not lose but allows an attack with} g4) 26... Qxf2 $1 {But it did not even tremble.} 27. Qxg5 $1 { The only defence.} ({After} 27. Nxc3 Be5+ 28. Kh1 Qg3 29. Kg1 {Black has a pleasant choice between:} Bxh3 {Then if the knight moves:} ({Or} 29... dxc3 30. Qe3 Qh2+ 31. Kf2 Bf4 32. Qf3 g4 {with more than enough compensation for the exchange.}) 30. Nxb5 $2 {Black mates:} Qh2+ 31. Kf1 Qh1+ 32. Ke2 Qxg2#) 27... h6 28. Qg3 Qxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Rxe4 {Spectacular.} ({Although objectively better was:} 29... Rcc8) 30. Nxc3 {Not the best way to take the exchange.} ({Better was:} 30. Kf2 $1 Re5 ({If} 30... Rxd3 31. Rxd3 Bf5 32. Rxa3) ({Or} 30... Rh4 31. Nxc3 dxc3 32. Re7) 31. Nxc3 dxc3 32. Rxe5 Bxe5 33. Ke2 {which leads to a much better version of the game continuation for White.}) 30... Be5+ 31. Kf2 Rf4+ {This rook survives and will play a key role into the building of Black's initiative later.} 32. Ke2 dxc3 33. Rb1 Rd4 34. Rb3 Rxd5 35. Rd1 ({Or} 35. Rxa3 Kg7) 35... Be6 36. Rxa3 Bf6 {Another nice maneuver. The rook finds the ideal square. For the exchange Naiditsch got a pair of connected passers, a pawn, the bishop pair.} 37. Bc2 ({If} 37. Be4 Re5 38. Kf3 d5 39. Bc2 Rg5 {is similar to the game.}) 37... Rg5 38. Kf2 d5 39. Ra8+ {A typical time-trouble check.} ({ However, much better was the immediate:} 39. Ra5 d4 40. a4 {Then White would have had good chances to survive. For example:} Bc4 41. axb5 Bxb5 42. Bd3 Bxd3 43. Ra8+ Kg7 44. Rxd3 Rb5 45. Rg3+ Kh7 46. Ra7 Bh4 47. Rxf7+ Kh8 48. Rf8+ Kh7 49. Rf7+ {with perpetual.}) 39... Kg7 40. a4 d4 $1 {Advancing the passers is the primary goal for Black. Plus, they advance with tempos here.} 41. g4 ({ There is no time for} 41. axb5 {due to Black's main threat:} Bd5 42. Ra7 Rxg2+) ({The last chance was:} 41. Ra5 $1 bxa4 42. Rxg5+ Bxg5 43. Bxa4 Be3+ {although Black is better here too.}) 41... Bc4 $1 42. axb5 (42. Bd3 $5) 42... Re5 { Naiditsch decides the game with direct attack against the white king.} 43. Rc8 Re2+ 44. Kf3 Re3+ 45. Kf2 Bxb5 46. Bf5 ({Or} 46. Rc5 Bh4+ 47. Kg1 d3 48. Bxd3 Rg3+ 49. Kh2 Ba4 50. Rc1 Rxd3 51. R5xc3 Rd2+ 52. Kh1 Be7) 46... Be2 47. Rb1 Bh4+ {Notice how well co-ordinated the black pieces are. They quickly set a mating net around the enemy king.} 48. Kg2 Bf3+ 49. Kg1 Re2 50. Rf1 ({Or mate after} 50. b5 Rg2+ 51. Kf1 Rh2) 50... Rg2+ 51. Kh1 Bf2 52. Bd3 ({Black wins after} 52. Rxf2 Rxf2+ {thanks to the connected passers.}) 52... Rxg4+ {Time for the final storm.} 53. Kh2 Rg2+ 54. Kh1 Rg5+ 55. Kh2 Bg3+ 56. Kg1 Bf4+ 57. Kf2 Bb7 58. Rc5 Rg2+ 59. Ke1 Bg3+ 60. Kd1 Rd2+ 61. Kc1 Rxd3 62. Rcf5 Be4 63. Rxf7+ Kg6 64. R1f6+ Kh5 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.12"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Artemiev, Vladislav"] [Black "Izoria, Zviad"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D27"] [WhiteElo "2736"] [BlackElo "2603"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. d4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. e4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 ({Another grandmaster game saw a quick draw after: } 10... Nbd7 11. Re1 Nc5 12. Bd5 Rc8 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxb7 Nxb7 15. e5 Nd5 16. Bxe7 {½-½ (16) Berkes,F (2648)-Tarlev,K (2592) Rasht 2017}) 11. Nxc6 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bxc6 13. f3 {This is the main reason why White keeps on playing this endgame. The white pawn chain effectively kills the bishop on c6 and prevents Black's counterplay. Izoria has now a solid, but passive position.} Bc5+ 14. Kf1 Ke7 15. Ne2 $146 {As innocent as it seems, this move contains a lot of poison. Not only is the knight heading to the central d4 square; the c-file is opened as well.} ({In a predecessor Korobov quickly got the upper hand after:} 15. e5 Nd7 16. Bg5+ f6 $2 ({However Black can simply retreat with the king:} 16... Ke8 {and eventually chase the white bishop away with h7-h6 followed by g7-g5 if needed.}) 17. exf6+ gxf6 18. Re1 $1 e5 (18... fxg5 19. Rxe6+ {drops a pawn for Black.}) 19. Bh4 b4 20. Nd5+ Bxd5 21. Bxd5 {Korobov,A (2675)-Lesiege, A (2512) Baku 2016}) 15... Rhd8 $2 {And Black reacts poorly!} (15... h6 $6 { to restrain the bishop is not effective here as there is another good square for this bishop:} 16. Bf4 {Then the endgame arising after} Rhd8 17. Rac1 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Rd8 19. Rxc5 Rxd1+ 20. Kf2 Bb7 (20... Kd7 21. Nc1 {is similar.}) 21. Nc1 {is much better for White despite the opposite-colored bishops.}) ({ However, good was:} 15... Rac8 $1 {and only after} 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bd2 Rhd8 { with approximate equality.}) (15... Rhc8 {should be also playable.}) 16. Bg5 $1 {With a double threat: a skewer along the c-file or simply e4-e5 to win the knight.} Rxd1+ (16... h6 {drops a pawn after} 17. Rdc1 $1 ({Worse is:} 17. Bxf6+ gxf6 18. Rdc1 Kd6 {and Black holds.}) 17... hxg5 18. Rxc5 {with another double threat.}) 17. Rxd1 Bd6 {I suspect Black interrupted his preliminary calculations here, whereas Artemiev saw a bit further...} ({It should be noted that} 17... e5 {would not have saved him either due to:} 18. f4 $1 ({Also good is:} 18. Rc1 Kd6 19. Ng3 $1 ({But not:} 19. Bxf7 Nxe4 $1)) 18... Bd6 19. Ng3 Bd7 (19... g6 20. Bxf6+ {wins a ton of bishops.}) 20. Nh5 {and Black cannot withstand the pressure.}) 18. Rxd6 $3 {This effectively finishes the game.} Kxd6 19. e5+ {The point behind the combination. The king is dragged in front of his pawn chain. Even in the deep endgame, without the major pieces on the board this is still too dangerous.} Kxe5 ({Nothing changes:} 19... Ke7 20. exf6+ gxf6 21. Bd2) 20. Bf4+ Kf5 21. Bc2+ Ne4 ({Or else Black will lose even more:} 21... Be4 22. fxe4+ Nxe4 23. g4+) 22. fxe4+ Kf6 23. Kf2 {The forcing play is over. White's piece pair is much stronger than the rook as it controls too many squares.} e5 24. Bd2 Ke7 25. Bb4+ {It is always useful to worsen the position of the enemy pieces.} Ke8 ({Or} 25... Ke6 26. Bb3+) 26. Ba5 { Petrifying the queenside pawns. Those might become weaknesses in the future.} Bd7 27. Bb3 Rc8 28. Nc3 Rc6 29. Nd5 Rh6 30. Bc3 {Another nasty in-between move. } Kf8 (30... f6 {blocks his own rook.}) 31. h3 ({Izoria was not afraid of:} 31. Bxe5 Re6 32. Bc3 Rxe4 {although White is still close to winning here.}) 31... f5 ({If} 31... Rc6 32. Ne3 {followed by Bb3-d5 regrouping nicely.}) 32. exf5 Bxf5 33. Bxe5 {Artemiev won a pawn and centralized his pieces. The end is nigh. } a5 (33... Be6 34. Bf4 $1) 34. Ke3 Rc6 35. Nc3 b4 36. Bd5 Rc8 37. Nb5 Rc1 { The last chance for Black is to activate this rook.} (37... Rc2 {loses to} 38. Nd4) 38. Nd6 Bb1 39. Nb7 Re1+ 40. Kd4 {Powerful centralization!} Re2 41. a4 $1 {And excellent technique. This pawn is a future queen, so White keeps it.} (41. Nxa5 Rxb2 {gives Black drawing chances.}) 41... Rxb2 42. Nxa5 Bc2 ({The last practical chance was:} 42... Rd2+ 43. Kc5 Rxd5+ 44. Kxd5 Bc2 {although Black should lose here too.}) 43. Nc4 Ra2 44. Bd6+ Ke8 45. Bxb4 {Black resigned as the pawn is untouchable.} (45. Bxb4 Rxa4 (45... Bxa4 46. Nd6+) 46. Bc6+) 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.11"] [Round "6.4"] [White "Speelman, Jon S"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2516"] [BlackElo "2657"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2019.03.05"] [WhiteTeam "England"] [BlackTeam "Iran"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"] [BlackTeamCountry "IRI"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 c5 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. e3 (7. c4 d4 8. b4 Nfd7 9. a3 e5 10. d3 Nc6 11. Nbd2 a5 12. Ne4 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1 14. Qxa1 cxb4 15. e3 dxe3 16. fxe3 Qe7 {Zvjaginsev,V (2642)-Inarkiev,E (2693) Moscow 2018}) 7... Re8 8. d4 $146 (8. c4 dxc4 9. bxc4 Nc6 10. Ne5 Na5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. Qe2 Qb6 {Karas,M (2224)-Pechac,J (2449) Slovakia 2018}) 8... cxd4 9. exd4 Bf5 10. c4 dxc4 11. bxc4 Nc6 12. Qb3 $2 {After this blunder the game is strategically over.} (12. Nbd2) (12. d5 Na5 13. Na3) 12... Na5 13. Qb4 Bd3 14. Rc1 Bxc4 $1 {Perhaps it was this move Speelman missed?} 15. Nbd2 ({After} 15. Rxc4 Nd5 {White cannot avoid losing a piece, e.g.} 16. Qa4 (16. Qc5 b6 17. Qb5 a6) 16... b5 $1 17. Qxb5 Rb8) 15... Bd5 16. Nb3 Nc6 17. Qb5 a6 18. Qe2 Bh6 19. Rd1 Qb6 20. Nc5 e5 21. Qc2 exd4 22. Nxd4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Qc6+ 25. Kg1 Ne4 26. Nxe4 $5 {It was either resigning early or trying this.} Qxc2 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nd7+ Ke7 29. Bc5+ Ke6 30. Rd6+ Kf5 31. Rd5+ Kg4 32. Rad1 { White would need his king on g2 and having the move to win this. (With just the king on g2, 32...Qe4+ is in fact a mate in five.)} Kh3 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.11"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Maghsoodloo, Parham"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2673"] [BlackElo "2708"] [PlyCount "138"] [EventDate "2019.03.05"] [WhiteTeam "Iran"] [BlackTeam "England"] [WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. dxc5 Na6 9. e3 Nxc5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 (11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Rc1 b6 14. Be2 Bg4 15. O-O Rad8 16. Nd4 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Qf6 18. Rfd1 a5 {Riazantsev,A (2649)-Miton,K (2588) St Petersburg 2018}) 11... Nxe7 12. Be2 Bd7 13. b4 $146 ( 13. O-O Rc8 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. Rac1 a6 16. Ne4 b6 17. Nxc5 bxc5 18. Bxa6 Ra8 19. Qxc5 Qxc5 20. Rxc5 Rxa6 {Beltz,M-Wagner Michel,A Suhl 1979}) 13... Na6 14. Qb2 Qb6 15. Rb1 Rfd8 16. O-O Rac8 17. Rfc1 Nc7 18. Ne5 Ncd5 19. Nc4 Qc7 20. Ne4 Qb8 21. b5 Be8 22. a4 b6 23. g3 Nf5 24. Ned2 Nf6 25. Bf1 Nd6 26. Ne5 Nde4 27. Ndc4 Nd5 28. f3 Nc5 29. e4 Nxa4 30. Qa3 Ndc3 31. Rxc3 Nxc3 32. Qxc3 Rc5 33. Nd3 Rxb5 34. Rc1 Rc8 35. Qa3 a5 36. Qa2 Bd7 37. Rd1 Rd8 38. Na3 Rh5 39. g4 Rg5 40. h4 $2 (40. e5 Ba4 41. Rc1 {was unclear.}) 40... Qg3+ {Maghsoodloo must have completely missed this in time trouble.} 41. Bg2 Ba4 42. Nc2 Bxc2 ({Even stronger was} 42... Rb5 {with the idea} 43. Qxa4 Rxd3 $1) 43. Qxc2 Qxh4 44. Rb1 h5 45. gxh5 Qxh5 46. Kf1 b5 47. Rc1 Rxg2 48. Kxg2 Qg5+ 49. Kh3 Rxd3 50. Qxd3 Qxc1 51. Qxb5 Qf4 52. Kg2 Qd2+ 53. Kh3 Qd8 54. Qc6 g6 55. Kg4 Qd2 56. Qb5 Qc3 57. f4 Kg7 58. e5 Qd2 59. Qa4 Qb4 60. Qd1 a4 61. Qd8 Qf8 62. Qa5 Qe8 63. Qa7 Qc6 64. Kh4 Qe4 65. Kg4 Qf5+ 66. Kg3 Qd3+ 67. Kh4 a3 68. Qe7 a2 69. Qa7 Qd2 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.11"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Adly, Ahmed"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B61"] [WhiteElo "2733"] [BlackElo "2611"] [PlyCount "96"] [EventDate "2019.03.05"] [WhiteTeam "China"] [BlackTeam "Egypt"] [WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"] [BlackTeamCountry "EGY"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 Rc8 8. f4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Qa5 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 e6 12. O-O-O Bc6 13. Nb5 Bxb5 14. exf6 Bc6 15. h4 Bc5 (15... g6 16. Bc4 Bc5 17. Qe5 Bb6 18. Qd6 Bc5 19. Qe5 Bb4 20. Qe3 Qc5 21. Qe2 O-O {Grischuk,A (2752)-Dreev,A (2710) Apatity 2011}) 16. Qe5 g6 17. h5 Bb6 18. Qxa5 Bxa5 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Bc4 $146 (20. Bd3 O-O 21. Bc4 Rce8 22. Rd6 Bxg2 23. Rh2 Bd5 24. Rd7 Bxc4 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rhxh7# {1-0 (26) Navara, D (2732)-Kraus,T (2427) Czech Republic 2018}) 20... Kf7 21. Rh6 $6 ({Strong was } 21. Rd6 Rce8 22. Rhd1 {because after e.g.} Rhf8 {White has} 23. Rd7+ $1 Bxd7 24. Rxd7+ Kg8 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rxb7 {and Black cannot defend this in the long run.}) 21... Be8 $1 {The best try.} 22. Bb3 $6 (22. Bd3 {is still very difficult for Black.}) 22... Rc5 $1 {Now the worst is over.} 23. Be3 Re5 24. Bd4 Re4 25. Bxa7 Bc7 26. Rh3 Bc6 27. Bc5 h5 $1 {Black is taking over.} 28. Rhd3 Bf4+ 29. Kb1 h4 30. Be7 Be5 31. a3 g5 32. Bb4 g4 33. Rf1 Bb8 34. Bc3 h3 { The pawn on f6 was strong earlier, but now it only serves as a cover for the black king!} 35. gxh3 gxh3 36. Rg1 Be5 37. Rh1 h2 38. Rd2 Bxc3 39. Rdxh2 Rxh2 40. Rxh2 Re1+ 41. Ka2 Bxf6 42. c3 Ke7 43. Bc4 Rh1 44. Rxh1 Bxh1 45. Kb1 Be4+ 46. Kc1 Bg5+ 47. Kd1 Kd6 48. a4 Bd5 0-1 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.12"] [Round "7.5"] [White "Muzychuk, Mariya"] [Black "Lagno, Kateryna"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2560"] [BlackElo "2559"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:24:50"] [BlackClock "0:16:51"] 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. Re1 Re8 11. Bf4 (11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. d5 b6 14. Bf4 Bb7 15. Qd2 h6 16. c4 c6 17. Nc3 cxd5 18. cxd5 d6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2763)-Kramnik,V (2777) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 11... Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Nc3 Bxd4 14. Nd5 d6 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bh4 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Be5 18. f4 c6 19. fxe5 cxd5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Bd3 Bd7 22. Qg3 $146 (22. h3 b5 23. Bxb5 Qe8 24. Qxe8+ Bxe8 25. Ba6 Bg6 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Bb7 Re8 28. Bxd5+ Bf7 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rb7+ Kg6 31. Rxa7 Rc8 32. Rd7 Rxc2 33. Rxd6 Rxa2 {1/2 Karjakin,S (2781)-Anand,V (2786) Stavanger 2017}) 22... Bc6 23. Bf5 Kh8 24. Qh3 Qe7 $4 {Black was OK, and now lost in just one move.} 25. Bxh7 $1 d4 26. Re1 (26. Bg5 {to just continue playing with the two bishops was an alternative.}) 26... Qxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Nxh7 28. Bf2 Re8 29. Bxd4 Kg8 30. Qg3 Re7 31. h4 Nf8 32. h5 Ne6 33. Qxd6 Kf7 34. Qg3 Nxd4 35. Qf4+ Kg8 36. Qxd4 Re4 37. Qd8+ Kf7 38. Qg5 Re2 39. g4 Re6 40. Qf4+ Kg8 41. g5 a6 42. Qc4 Kf7 43. g6+ Ke7 44. Qc5+ Ke8 45. Qf5 Kd7 46. h6 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Artemiev, Vladislav"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "2736"] [BlackElo "2657"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2014.12.06"] {[%evp 0,73,80,44,20,29,41,23,23,12,19,13,30,7,43,10,14,29,20,9,21,9,17,-1,1,9, 19,14,32,26,55,45,44,58,51,73,-16,-12,-17,7,28,33,33,29,24,22,34,39,76,68,84, 67,83,75,148,55,90,119,154,127,124,130,135,135,225,215,253,183,291,218,304,277, 754,803,803,796]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 { Not a very common way to transpose into the Fianchetto Pirc, although the likes of Kramnik, Aronian and Ivanchuk exploit it quite often.} Nbd7 ({ Artemiev is also not a stranger to this move order. One recent example of his ran:} 6... c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. c3 Nc6 10. Be3 c4 $5 11. Na3 Nd5 12. Nxc4 b5 13. Ncd2 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bh6 {with compensation for a pawn in Artemiev,V (2704)-Ponkratov,P (2601) Sochi 2018}) 7. e4 e5 8. Nc3 b6 ({Another way to develop was:} 8... Re8 9. h3 c6 ({Or} 9... b6 10. a4 a6 11. d5 a5 12. Nd2 Re7 13. Nc4 {as in Aronian,L (2797)-Rapport,R (2700) Caleta 2018}) 10. a4 b6 11. Bg5 Bb7 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Rad1 a6 {as in Kramnik,V (2792)-Grischuk,A (2766) Paris 2018}) 9. h3 Bb7 10. d5 Qe7 11. Bg5 $146 {A novelty and a typical provocation. White is fighting the freeing c7-c6 advance as early as possible. He intends Qd1-d2, therefore Black's next move is more or less forced.} ({ White go the slightly better chances in the predecessor:} 11. a4 a6 12. Nd2 Kh8 13. a5 b5 14. Na2 Ng8 15. Nb4 {Steinkohl,T (2330)-Slobodjan,R (2520) Dudweiler 1996}) 11... h6 {Firouzja is not afraid of the possible tempo gainer on the c1-h6 diagonal.} 12. Be3 Rac8 {But this looks inaccurate.} ({Black should have fought for the center without any preparation:} 12... c6 {Then he does not need to fear neither the immediate:} 13. Qd2 ({Nor the same move after the preliminary:} 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. Qd2 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxh6 Nf6 {In both cases Black has normal play.}) 13... cxd5) 13. Qd2 Kh7 14. Nh2 $1 {Now White obtins strong control of the d-file.} c6 15. dxc6 Rxc6 {Awkward, but what else?!} ({After:} 15... Bxc6 16. Rad1 Nc5 17. Bxc5 $1 {is unplesant for Black-} dxc5 18. Nd5) 16. Ng4 {From the Pirc Black got into Najdorf and since his pieces are sowewhat awkwardly placed for the play in the center his position is worse. Therefore Firouzja goes for:} Qe6 $1 {Which practically sacrifices a pawn.} ({Otherwise White will have everything that he wants after:} 16... h5 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Rad1 {A weak backward pawn along the d-file as well as a huge outpost for the white pieces on the d5 squre.} ({Or} 18. Bg5)) 17. Bxh6 { The only good capture.} (17. Nxh6 $2 {will present Black more than enough compensation after:} Rxc3 $1 18. bxc3 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Ng4 f5) 17... Nxg4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. hxg4 Qxg4 20. Nb5 {This is the problem, Black cannot defend adequately on d6. He however pins his hopes on the counterplay along the open h-file and eventually the a6-f1 diagonal.} Nf6 {Another inaccuracy, although not that obvious at all.} ({Black could have saved on this tempo with the direct move:} 20... Rh8 {Apparently, The Iranian GM was afraid of:} 21. Nxd6 Ba6 22. Qd5 {But then:} ({The other lines also look fine for Black:} 22. c4 Qh5 23. Ne8+ (23. b3 Nf6) 23... Kf8 $3 (23... Rxe8 24. Qxd7) 24. Qxd7 Bxc4 25. f3 Bb5 $1) ({Most likely White should play similarly to the game:} 22. b3 Qh5 23. c4 Nf6 24. Rad1 Bc8 {although this is also very unclear.}) 22... Rxd6 $1 { is strong and after:} 23. Qxd6 Qh5 24. f3 Qh2+ 25. Kf2 Rh3 26. Rh1 Qxg3+ 27. Kg1 Rxh1+ 28. Kxh1 Nf6 {with the threats of Ba6-e2, Ba6-c8-h1 and Nf6-h5-f4 Black has enough for the exchange.}) 21. Nxd6 Ba6 ({Not:} 21... Rd8 22. Nf5+) 22. Rad1 Rh8 23. b3 {Getting ready to block the bishop whenever needed.} Rc7 ({ White is repelling the attack after:} 23... Qh5 24. c4 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 b5 ({Or} 25... Bc8 26. Nxc8 Rcxc8 27. Qg5) 26. Nxb5 ({The other choice also looks reasonable:} 26. cxb5 Rxd6 27. Qxd6 Bxb5+ 28. Rd3 Ng4 29. a4 Bxd3+ 30. Qxd3) 26... Bc8 27. Qd3 Bg4 28. Rd2 {in both cases White preserves the extra material.}) 24. c4 {The attack along the h-file did not succeed. Black searches counter-chances related to the pin.} Rd7 25. Qc3 Qe6 ({Not} 25... Rhd8 26. Qxe5) 26. f4 $1 {However, Artemiev is ready for counter-attack. The white pieces look very comfortable in the center.} Ng4 ({The endgame is difficult for Black:} 26... Rxd6 27. fxe5 Rxd1 28. exf6+ Qxf6 29. Qxf6+ Kxf6 30. e5+ $5 Ke6 31. Rxd1 Kxe5 32. Rd7) 27. fxe5 Bb7 $2 {Allows a petite combination.} ({ But Black was in trouble anyway and the capture with the knight:} 27... Nxe5 { would not work due to} 28. Nf5+ $1 gxf5 29. Rxd7) ({However:} 27... Qxe5 $1 { was his best chance when after} 28. Qxe5+ Nxe5 29. Rd5 f6 {Black can still put strong resistance thanks to the super-knight on e5.}) 28. Ne8+ $1 {Effectively finishes the game.} Kg8 (28... Rxe8 $2 {drops material after} 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 30. e6+) ({So does} 28... Qxe8 $2 29. Rxd7) 29. Rxd7 (29. Nf6+ Nxf6 30. exf6 { would be also good.}) 29... Qxd7 30. Nf6+ Nxf6 31. exf6 Qc7 32. Rd1 {White is two pawns ahead, the rest is easy.} Rh5 33. Qe3 Qe5 34. Qf4 Qc5+ 35. Kf1 Bc6 36. Rd8+ Kh7 37. Qb8 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.13"] [Round "8.10"] [White "Sevian, Samuel"] [Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2642"] [BlackElo "2678"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:16:05"] [BlackClock "0:03:10"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Qe8 (12... Qb8 13. Nb3 Nd8 14. d4 exd4 15. Qxd4 c5 16. Qc4 Nd7 17. Be3 Bf6 18. Ra2 Re8 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2781) -Aronian,L (2765) London 2018}) 13. c3 Rb8 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 $146 (16... Rb5 17. Ba3 Qd7 18. Qc2 Nxa5 19. Rec1 c5 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 Nc6 {Motylev,A (2668)-Tomashevsky, E (2710) Sochi 2017}) 17. Qb3 Nh5 $5 {After 19 minutes, Sasikiran decides to just give up the pawn as both of his knights are eyeballing nice squares.} 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Rb1 Nf4 20. Qc4 Qg6 21. g3 {So far all logical, but here it's not easy to decide how to continue and get an attack off the ground.} d5 ({Also after} 21... Nh3+ 22. Kg2 Nf4+ 23. Kf1 Nfd3 24. Re3 {Black hasn't got much.}) ({Perhaps} 21... Rb5 { was playable, since} 22. Rxb4 {is met by} d5) 22. exd5 Bd6 23. Ba3 Nh3+ 24. Kf1 Qh5 25. Rb3 {White's play is fairly simple, and the bad news for Sasikiran is that these simple moves are deciding the game.} Nxd5 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Bxd6 cxd6 28. Qxa6 Rd8 29. Qc6 Nhf4 30. gxf4 Nxf4 31. Re4 Qf5 32. Re8+ 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.13"] [Round "8.17"] [White "Amin, Bassem"] [Black "Jumabayev, Rinat"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2709"] [BlackElo "2609"] [PlyCount "126"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:03:23"] [BlackClock "0:00:40"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. e4 Nbc6 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3 Nde7 (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. c4 b6 13. Rb5 Bb7 14. Bb2 Re8 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 a6 {Zvjaginsev,V (2642)-Van Foreest,J (2614) St Petersburg 2018}) 9. Rb1 a5 10. b3 O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Bb2 Bf5 $146 (12... Nf5 13. Nb5 a4 14. Nc3 axb3 15. axb3 Ncd4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Ne4 c6 18. c3 Ne6 { Ilzig,G-Jamka Pietron,B (1972) ICCF email 2016}) 13. a3 Nc8 14. Ne4 Nd6 15. Nc5 Qc8 $6 (15... e4 $5) 16. Qd2 b6 $6 17. Nh4 {Of course. Black has to give an exchange.} Bd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Qc3 Nd4 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. Qd2 c5 22. Qd1 Re8 23. c3 Nc6 24. Ng2 Rd8 25. Ne3 Qe6 26. Qc2 h5 27. Nc4 Nxc4 28. bxc4 Rd6 29. Bc1 Ne7 30. d4 cxd4 31. cxd4 Rxd4 32. c5 Rc4 33. Qd3 Rxc5 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Rxb6 Nc6 36. Qd3 e4 37. Qa6 Bd4 38. Be3 Bxe3 39. Rxe3 Qd5 (39... Rc1+ 40. Kg2 Rc2 { was actually OK for Black.}) 40. Rb1 Nd4 41. Qb7 Rc6 42. h4 Kg7 43. a4 Qc4 44. Qb2 Kh7 45. Rd1 Nf5 46. Re2 e3 47. Rd8 Qc1+ 48. Kg2 Qxb2 49. Rxb2 Rc4 50. Ra2 Re4 51. Rd1 Rg4 52. Rd5 Nxh4+ 53. Kf1 Nf5 54. Rxa5 exf2 55. Kxf2 Nxg3 56. Ra7 Ne4+ 57. Ke3 Nc3 58. Ra1 Kg7 59. a5 h4 60. a6 h3 61. Kf3 Rg5 62. Rxf7+ Kxf7 63. a7 Rf5+ 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.13"] [Round "8.19"] [White "Fawzy, Adham"] [Black "Kazhgaleyev, Murtas"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C15"] [WhiteElo "2461"] [BlackElo "2587"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:27"] [BlackClock "0:00:33"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Re8 9. O-O c6 10. f4 (10. f3 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Nf8 12. Rae1 Bd6 13. Bg3 Ng6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nd1 g5 {Aronian,L (2767)-Caruana,F (2822) chess. com INT 2018}) 10... Be7 $146 (10... Bg4 11. h3 Bxe2 12. Nxe2 Nbd7 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. Bf5 Qc7 15. c3 Be7 16. Qd3 Nf8 {Bueno,A (2306)-Cubas,J (2537) Blumenau 2013 }) 11. Re1 b5 12. Ng3 Na6 13. Nh5 Nxh5 14. Qxh5 Nc7 (14... Nb4 $5) 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 16. Re5 Bd7 17. Rae1 Rxe5 18. Qxe5 Ne8 19. a4 a6 20. Qe7 Qc8 21. a5 Nf6 ( 21... Qc7 $5) 22. Qd6 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Qxc6 Rf8 25. Rf1 Re8 26. Qxa6 b4 27. Nb5 Qe4 28. h3 Qe3+ 29. Kh2 Qd2 30. Rf3 Re2 31. Rg3 Qxf4 32. Nd6 Re3 $2 ( 32... Re6 {was equal, e.g.} 33. Qa8+ Kh7 34. Nxf7 Re8 35. Qa6 Re6 36. Qa8 Re8 37. Qc6 Re6) 33. Qc8+ Ne8 (33... Kh7 34. Qf5+ Qxf5 35. Nxf5) 34. Nf5 $1 Re2 ( 34... Rxg3 35. Qxe8+) 35. a6 Kh7 36. a7 Re1 37. a8=Q Qf2 38. Rxg7+ 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.13"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Tan, Zhongyi"] [Black "Abrahamyan, Tatev"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A62"] [WhiteElo "2513"] [BlackElo "2377"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:59:33"] [BlackClock "0:06:16"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nf3 d6 9. O-O a6 10. a4 Re8 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Re1 (13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Rfc1 b6 15. Rab1 Ndf6 16. Nh4 Ng4 17. h3 Ne5 18. b3 f6 19. Be3 f5 {Jumabayev,R (2611)-Zhigalko,S (2671) Doha 2016}) 13... Nd7 14. e4 Rb8 15. g4 Nhf6 16. e5 $146 (16. h3 h6 17. Bf4 g5 18. Bg3 Nh7 19. Qd2 Nhf8 20. h4 f6 21. h5 Nb6 { Pessoa,F (2524)-Robleto,O (2344) ICCF email 2015}) 16... dxe5 17. d6 Qd8 18. Nd5 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Ne7+ Kf8 (20... Rxe7 21. dxe7 Qxe7 22. Bg3 Ne8 23. Rc1 f6 {is not exactly pleasant either but might have been better.}) 21. Bg3 Ng8 22. Nd5 Re6 23. Nc7 Rg6 24. Qd3 Nb6 25. Nxe5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 Bd7 27. Rae1 Nf6 28. Re7 Bxg4 29. Qb3 1-0 [Event "Astana"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2019.03.13"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Lei, Tingjie"] [Black "Foisor, Sabina-Francesca"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C95"] [WhiteElo "2477"] [BlackElo "2276"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:03:13"] [BlackClock "0:32:03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. d5 c6 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Bg5 (17. a4 Nc5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bg5 h6 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21. Bd2 Bc6 22. b4 Ncd7 23. Qc1 Kh7 {Sergeyeva,M (2332)-Pascua,H (2443) Bangkog 2018}) 17... Nc5 18. Qd2 Bb7 $146 (18... Bd7 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. Bh6 Be7 21. Bb3 Nc5 22. Bc2 Be6 23. Bb1 Qc7 24. Ng5 Rad8 {Linczer,J (2194)-Rozsnyai,T (2172) Hungary 2005}) 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. Bh6 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 Qe7 22. a4 Red8 23. Qe3 Nc5 24. a5 Rac8 25. Rd2 Rc7 26. Red1 Rcd7 27. b4 Ne6 28. Bb3 Nf4 29. c4 bxc4 30. Bxc4 {Black is doing OK here, but the following pawn push doesn't work.} d5 $2 31. exd5 N4xd5 32. Qxe5 Qxb4 33. Bxd5 Rxd5 ({The problem with} 33... Nxd5 {is} 34. Ne4 $1 {when Black has to resort to something like} f6 35. Nxf6+ Nxf6 36. Qe6+ Kg7 37. Rxd7+ Rxd7 38. Rxd7+ Nxd7 39. Qxd7+ Kf6) 34. Qxf6 Rxd2 35. Nxd2 Rxd2 36. Re1 Qf8 37. Nf5 gxf5 38. Qg5+ Kh8 39. Qxd2 f6 40. Qd7 Be4 41. Rc1 1-0