[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Blitz)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.18"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Black "Levon Aronian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d3 h6 8. Bd2
a5 9. Rc1 Re8 10. a3 Bc5 11. Na4 Ba7 12. c5 e4 13. dxe4 Nxe4 14. Be3 Nxc5 15.
Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Qxd8 Nxd8 18. Rxc5 Rxe2 19. Rxc7 Ne6 20. Rc4 Bd7
21. Nd4 Rxb2 22. Rfc1 Rd8 23. Nf5 Bb5 24. R4c3 Bd3 25. Ne7+ Kf8 26. Nd5 Bb5 27.
Rc8 Bc6 28. Rxd8+ Nxd8 29. Ne3 Rb3 30. Nc4 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 b5 32. Nxa5 Rxa3 33.
Nc6 Nxc6 34. Rxc6 Ke7 35. Rb6 Rb3 36. g4 b4 37. h4 Rb2 38. Kg3 b3 39. g5 hxg5
40. hxg5 Rb1 41. Kf4 Kd7 42. Rb7+ Kc6 43. Rb8 Kc5 44. Kf5 Kc4 45. Rc8+ Kd3 46.
Rb8 Rb2 47. f4 Rb1 48. Rb7 b2 {[#]} 49. Rxf7 (49. Rb8 Kc3 50. Rc8+ Kd4 51. Rb8)
(49. Rb6) (49. Rd7+ Kc3 50. Rc7+) 49... Rc1 50. Rb7 b1=Q 51. Rxb1 Rxb1 52. Kg6
Ke4 53. Kxg7 Kf5 0-1

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Blitz)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leinier Dominguez Perez"]
[Black "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andty"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. a4 b6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Qc7 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Qd3 Nd7 14. O-O Nc5 15.
Qc4 Rfc8 16. Be3 Bf8 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Bh3 Rcb8 {[#]} 19. Nd5 (19. Bxc5) (19. a5
) (19. f3) 19... Qb7 20. Bxc5 (20. a5) (20. b3) (20. c3) 20... dxc5 21. Qe2 (
21. Qc3) (21. b3) 21... b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Qh5 Re8 25. Bf5 h6
26. Qg4 Kh8 27. h4 Rd8 28. h5 c4 29. Ne3 Qc7 30. Nd5 Qa7 31. Ne3 Rxd1+ 32. Qxd1
Qd4 33. c3 Qxd1+ 34. Nxd1 Be7 35. Kf1 Bg5 36. Ne3 Bxe3 37. fxe3 Kg8 38. Kf2 Kf8
39. Kf3 Ke7 {[#]} 40. Bh3 Kf6 41. g4 Kg5 42. Kg3 Bxe4 43. Bf1 f5 44. gxf5 Kxh5
45. Bh3 Bc6 46. e4 Bxe4 47. f6 gxf6 48. Bd7 f5 49. Bxb5 f4+ 50. Kf2 Bd5 51. Bd7
Kg5 0-1

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Blitz)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Garry Kasparov"]
[Black "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C33"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nc3 Qh4+ 4. Ke2 Qd8 5. d4 Nf6 6. Bxf4 Bb4 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8.
bxc3 d6 9. Nf3 O-O 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Kf2 c5 12. h3 Re8 13. Qd3 b6 14. Re1 Bb7
15. g3 Nc6 16. Bg2 Rac8 17. a3 Nb8 18. Re3 Nd7 19. Rf1 Qe7 20. Kg1 Bxe4 21. Qe2
d5 22. Nh4 g6 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Qg4 Nf6 25. Qg5 Nh5 26. Qg4 Nf6 27. Qg5 Nh5 28.
Qg4 Ng7 29. Qe2 cxd4 30. cxd4 f5 31. Ng2 Qd6 32. c3 Qxa3 33. Qd2 Ne6 34. g4 Ng5
35. gxf5 Nf3+ 36. Rexf3 exf3 37. Rxf3 Rf8 38. Nh4 Qe7 39. Qf2 Qg5+ 40. Rg3 Qc1+
41. Kg2 Rxc3 {[#]} 42. Nxg6 Rxg3+ 43. Qxg3 Qd2+ (43... hxg6 44. Qxg6+) (43...
Qc6+) 44. Kh1 Qd1+ 45. Kg2 Qe2+ 46. Kg1 Qd1+ 47. Kg2 Qc2+ 48. Kg1 Qb1+ 49. Kh2
Qb2+ 50. Kh1 Qb1+ 51. Kh2 Qa2+ 52. Kg1 Qa1+ 53. Kh2 Qb2+ 54. Kh1 Qc1+ 55. Kh2
Qd2+ 56. Kh1 Qd1+ 57. Kh2 Qe2+ 58. Kg1 Qd1+ 59. Kh2 Qd2+ 60. Kh1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E53"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 c5 10. f4 Nc6 11. Ne2 c4 12. Bc2 Ne7 13. Ng3 Nc8 14. Nh5 Be7 15. b3
cxb3 16. axb3 Nd6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Ba3 Bc8 19. Qf3 Bb7 20. Bd3 a5 21. Rac1 a4
{[#]} 22. Qh3 g6 (22... h6 23. Nd7 (23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Qf5 g6 25. Nxg6)) 23. Nd7
Be7 24. Nxf8 Bxf8 25. f5 axb3 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Qe6+ Kh7 29. Bxd6
Qxd6 30. Rf7+ Kh6 31. Qh3+ Kg5 32. g3 1-0

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Le Quang Liem"]
[Black "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Solts, Andy"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bg4 8. f3
Bh5 9. Nbc3 e6 10. Be4 Bg6 11. O-O Be7 12. Be3 Bxe4 13. fxe4 O-O 14. Nf4 Bg5
15. Kh1 Qe7 16. Qh5 h6 17. Rad1 Nc4 18. Bc1 Rad8 19. b3 Nb6 20. Nce2 Rd7 21.
Rd3 Rfd8 22. Rg3 Nxd4 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Bxg5 Qe8 26. Qxe8+ Rxe8
27. Bxh6 Re7 28. Rg4 Nd7 29. Be3 Rd3 30. Bf4 Rd4 31. Re1 c5 32. h3 b5 33. Rg3
Rf7 34. Bc1 c4 35. Kh2 a5 36. bxc4 Rxc4 37. Bb2 Rc2 38. Bd4 Rxa2 39. Rd1 b4 40.
Rg6 Nf8 41. Rg3 Rd7 42. Rf3 Ng6 43. Rg3 Kh7 44. Rg5 b3 45. Rh5+ Kg8 46. Rg5 b2
47. Rxg6 Rxd4 48. Rxd4 b1=Q 49. Rd7 Kf8 50. Rdxg7 Ke8 {[#]} 51. Ra7 (51. Rg8+)
51... Kf8 52. Ra8+ Kf7 53. Rag8 1-0

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E53"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 c5 10. f4 Nc6 11. Ne2 c4 12. Bc2 Ne7 13. Ng3 Nc8 14. Nh5 Be7 15. b3
cxb3 16. axb3 Nd6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Ba3 Bc8 19. Qf3 Bb7 20. Bd3 a5 21. Rac1 a4
22. Qh3 g6 23. Nd7 Be7 24. Nxf8 Bxf8 25. f5 axb3 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Bxg6 fxg6
28. Qe6+ Kh7 29. Bxd6 Qxd6 {[#]} 30. Rf7+ Kh6 (30... Kg8 31. Rxf8+) (30... Kh8
31. Qh3+) 31. Qh3+ Kg5 32. g3 1-0

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St. Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Levon Aronian"]
[Black "David Navara"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bg2
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Re8 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Qc2 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Rad1 Qc8
15. e4 Bf8 16. f4 d4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 f6 19. Rde1 fxe5 20. fxe5 Nd7 21. e6
Nf6 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Qf5 Qd8 24. Re4 Re7 25. Rg4+ Kh8 26. Be4 Rc8 27. Rh4 Kg8
28. Rxh7 Bxd5 {[#]} 29. Qg6+ Rg7 (29... Bg7 30. Rh8+ Kxh8 31. Qh7#) 30. Qh5
Bxe4 (30... Rgc7 31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. Qh6#) 31. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.15"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Garry Kasparov"]
[Black "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2017.08.14"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bg5 dxc4 7. e4 Be6 8. e5
Nd5 9. h5 Nd7 10. h6 Bf8 11. Ne4 f6 12. Bd2 b5 13. a4 Bf5 14. Ng3 e6 15. Nxf5
exf5 16. axb5 cxb5 17. Be2 Be7 18. O-O a5 19. b3 c3 20. Bxb5 cxd2 21. e6 O-O
22. exd7 Nc3 23. Bc4+ Kh8 24. Qxd2 Ne4 25. Qe3 Qxd7 26. Nd2 Nxd2 27. Qxd2 Bb4
28. Qd3 Qd6 29. Ra2 Rae8 30. Re2 Qf4 31. g3 Qxh6 32. Kg2 f4 33. Rh1 Qg5 34.
Rxe8 Rxe8 35. Bf7 {[#]} Re3 36. fxe3 (36. Qd1 f3+) 36... Qxg3+ 37. Kf1 f3 0-1

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Blitz)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leinier Dominguez Perez"]
[Black "David Navara"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. f4 e6 6. Be3 d4 7. Bf2 Bxc5 8. Nd2
Nge7 9. a3 Nd5 10. Ne4 Qa5+ 11. b4 Ncxb4 12. axb4 Qxb4+ 13. Qd2 Qb2 14. Qc1
Qb4+ 15. Kd1 Nc3+ 16. Nxc3 dxc3 17. Rb1 Qa5 18. Bb5+ Bd7 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20.
Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Ke2 Qc4+ 22. Kf2 b5 23. Nf3 a5 24. Rd1+ Ke7 25. Qe3 b4 26. Qb6
Rhb8 27. Qd6+ Ke8 28. Rd4 Qa2 29. Kg3 Qxb1 30. Qd7+ Kf8 31. Ng5 Qe1+ 32. Kh3
Kg8 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 {[#]} 34. Rd7 Rg8 35. Qh5 h6 36. Qg6 Qe3+ (36... hxg5 37.
Qh5#) 37. g3 1-0

[Event "St. Louis Rapid & Blitz (Blitz)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.18"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B28"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Soltis, Andy"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. Nge2 b5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bb7 6. Bg5 Qc7 7. Qd2 e6 8.
Bd3 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 10. O-O Ne7 11. Rfe1 Ng6 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 h6 14. Bf4 Nxf4
15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qg4 Be5 17. Rab1 Qd6 18. Ne3 Bxh2+ 19. Kf1 Be5 20. Nc4 Qc7 21.
Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Re3 h5 23. Qe2 g5 24. b3 Ke7 25. Rd1 h4 26. Kg1 h3 27. g3 h2+ 28.
Kg2 f5 29. Qd2 a5 30. Be2 h1=Q+ 31. Rxh1 Bxe4+ 32. Bf3 Rxh1 33. Kxh1 {[#]}
Bxf3+ 34. Rxf3 Rh8+ 35. Kg2 (35. Kg1 Qa1+) 35... Qa1 36. Qxg5+ Ke8 37. Qg6+ Kd8
38. Qg5+ Kc8 0-1

[Event "NVA League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.06.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Howland, Greg"]
[Black "Kolnik, Alan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "1713"]
[BlackElo "1715"]
[Annotator "Alburt, Lev"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {Diagram [#]} 6. Nxc6 bxc6
7. Bc4 {Diagram [#]} Bb4 (7... Nxe4 8. Nxe4 d5 9. Bb3 dxe4 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11.
Qxd8 Bb4+ 12. Qd2 Bxd2+ 13. Bxd2) (7... g6) 8. Bg5 Qa5 (8... h6 {[#]}) 9. Qd3
Nxe4 {[#]} 10. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 11. Ke2 d5 12. Qh4 {Diagram [#]} (12. Qd3 Bxb2) 12...
Ba6 13. bxc3 Bxc4+ 14. Kd2 d4 15. Qg3 {Diagram [#]} f6 16. Rhe1 dxc3+ (16...
Qxc3+ 17. Qxc3 dxc3+ 18. Kxc3 {[#]}) 17. Ke3 fxg5 18. Qxg5 Qc5+ 19. Kf3 {
Diagram [#]} O-O+ 20. Kg3 Qxf2+ 21. Kh3 Be6+ 22. g4 Rf3# 0-1

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi GEO"]
[Date "2017.09.07"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Aleksandr Lenderman"]
[Black "Aryan Tari"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2565"]
[BlackElo "2588"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]

{At every World Cup, there is an underdog sensation that catches fire and
upsets a top seed. In 2017, Aleksander Lenderman swept 25th seed Pavel Eljanov
before knocking off Norwegian talent Aryan Tari in the second round. By
Lenderman's own admission he was fortunate to overcome Eljanov, who had
established a dominant position in their first game before going awry at a
critical moment. However, in the second round he could hardly be so modest:
the following game was won by the American in convincing fashion.} 1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 ({Popular in many of Levon
Aronian's games in the summer of 2017,} 6. bxc3 {keeps the queens on the board
and allows White to establish a strong center. Aronian's opponents invited his
kingside pawn launch, with mixed results:} g6 7. h4 Bg7 8. h5 {with a very
complex game.}) 6... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 {[#] If the position looks familiar, it is
because Magnus Carlsen opted for this very line in his game against Maxime
Vachier-Lagrave at the 2017 Sinquefield Cup [analyzed in this very issue of
Chess Life]. Lenderman was no doubt inspired by the World Champion's opening
choice, which eschews opening theory in favor of strategizing on the fly. But
Carlsen isn't the only one who deserves credit for revitalizing this variation,
as Teimour Radjabov won an extremely nice game over Peter Svidler at July's
Geneva Grand Prix.} Nc6 (7... Bf5 {was chosen by MVL, and he obtained a fine
position before Carlsen started pressing.} 8. Nd2 Nc6 9. e4 Bg6 10. Bb5 Rc8 11.
h4 h5) 8. e4 b6 {I am not a fan of this setup. White already intends to expand
on the queenside with a2-a4-a5, so why help him accomplish this feat? Now
instead of merely gaining space, White has the opportunity to trade on b6 or
pressurize the softened light squares.} 9. Kc2 Bb7 10. Be3 $146 ({A viable
alternative is} 10. Bf4 {which encourages} f6 {Here White invites e7-e5 with a
tempo, believing the vulnerability of the a2-g8 diagonal, and the permanent
hole on d5, are beneficial. Yet Ian Nepomniachtchi found a path to equality
after} 11. Rd1 e5 12. Bc1 (12. Be3 {should be more precise, since the bishop
does nothing on c1. Yet even here if any advantage exists it is very small.})
12... Na5 13. Bb5+ Kf7 14. Rhe1 a6 15. Bc4+ Nxc4 16. Rd7+ Be7 17. Rxb7 Rhb8 18.
Rxb8 Rxb8 {Eventually a draw was reached in ½-½ (37) Vidit,S (2669)
-Nepomniachtchi,I (2740) Baku 2016}) 10... e6 11. Nd2 {Many players would be
tempted to seize the open file as quickly as possible with 11. Rd1. However,
this would be a mistake given the dynamics of the position. Lenderman
understands that his best opportunity to put pressure on his opponent is with
both pairs of rooks on the board. The d-file is the lone unblocked one, but
there are no infiltration points. Even once connected, the black rooks don't
have a bright future.} (11. Rd1) 11... Bd6 12. a4 Ke7 {It is hard to call this
move a mistake, because chess principles suggest that a king in the center of
the board is useful in the endgames. Yet unlike the white king, which
comfortably sits on c2, the king on e7 is at risk. This sounds like a ludacris
concept, but bear with me.} (12... O-O 13. Nc4 Bc7 14. f3 {still leaves White
with a slight edge. Black is best suited to passively maneuver, for active
resistance causes more issues than it resolves. For example,} f5 $5 ({Both} 
14... h6 {and 14...Rad8 are neutral moves that keep the status quo and welcome
15. a5.} 15. a5) (14... Rad8 15. a5) 15. exf5 exf5 16. Rd1 Rad8 (16... Bc8 {
might actually be the way to go, but Black's setup still feels a bit rickety.})
17. Bd3 {is clearly easier to play for White. Black's pawns are more advanced,
which in this position means they are more vulnerable. Pushing pawns leaves
behind weak squares; here Black is stuck defending. To further illustrate this
point, in order for Black to prevent the pestersome Bg5, he must play h6,
which only loosens up the surrounding light squares and makes a future g7-g6
difficult.}) 13. f3 Ne5 ({The reason Tari played innacurately is because he
was too attached to the game's guidelines. Between two options with no clear
distinction, why would one choose to move to the rim of the board? The answer
is that after} 13... Na5 {the knight blockades the queenside. As soon as the
white knight jumps to c4 it will be swapped. Expanding with b2-b4 is
implausible with the king on c2. With this simple move, all of White's trumps
are diminished.}) 14. a5 {Of course. Now Black is forced to calculate axb6 and
a6 on every turn.} h6 15. h4 Bc6 16. h5 {Smart play by Lenderman, who grabs
more space without making any concessions. [#]} Nd7 $2 {The question mark is
certainly harsh, but this move lost Tari the game. Objectively, Black is not
even that much worse here, but his position quickly becomes difficult to
defend. When in symmetrical structures where one player controls the pawn
breaks, the reactionary side should always take extra caution to search for
ways his opponent can further restrict his activity.} (16... Rhb8 {does not
change anything, White continues with the natural} 17. Be2) (16... b5 {was
Tari's hope for active counterplay. Yet as is the case any time a pawn is
pushed, the previously defended square - in this case c5 - loses its
protection. Thus,} 17. Nb3 {is problematic. Another step forward invites the
knight to d4 and forces Black to part with the bishop pair.} c4 18. Nd4 a6 ({
Keeping the bishop with} 18... Bd7 {makes matters worse, because the b5 pawn
is now weak. White can choose from a number of strong options like 19. Be2, 19.
Rh4, or 19. a6.} 19. Be2 (19. Rh4) (19. a6)) 19. Nxc6+ Nxc6 {White has a
potential liability on a5, but in this middlegame White's two bishops and
array of plans keep him with the better position.}) 17. Nc4 Bc7 ({Black might
have been interested in playing the more active} 17... Bg3 {but the downside
of the king sitting on e7 becomes immediately clear:} 18. axb6 axb6 19. Rxa8
Rxa8 20. Nxb6 {and c5 falls with check.}) 18. Na3 $1 {Tari must have missed or
underestimated this backwards move. Understandable, because the knight looked
impeccably placed on c4. However, now a piece will come to b5, which at the
very least is incredibly annoying.} bxa5 19. Bb5 ({Also good was} 19. Nb5 Bb6
20. Bf4 {though the game continuation is superior. Exchanging the bishops
secures White permanent dominance over the light squares, whereas leaving them
on only gives Black additional options.}) 19... Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Bb6 21. Bf4 e5
22. Bd2 {[#]} ({Stronger was} 22. Bg3 {because it eliminates Tari's only
resource.} c4 (22... f6 23. Na3) 23. Rhd1 {and the c4 pawn is weak and Black
must spend important time and resources to defend the pawn on e5.}) 22... Nb8 (
{When up or level in material but with a cramped position, a sacrifice for
activity must always be considered. Here jettisoning a pawn was a good way to
get Tari back into the game:} 22... c4 $1 23. Ra4 Rac8 24. Na3 Rhd8 25. Rxc4
Bc5 26. Ra4 Bb6 {Black's final two moves in this variation are an excellent
demonstration of restraint. Just because the pieces suddenly have more room to
roam does not mean they must do anything for the time being.}) 23. Na3 Nc6 24.
Nc4 Ke6 25. Be3 Rac8 {[#]} 26. Kb3 $1 {White's knight and bishop completely
dominate their counterparts. Black's rooks have nowhere to go. Now Lenderman
aims to invade with his king.} Rhd8 27. Rhd1 Rb8 ({Unfortunately for Black, he
is unable to trade all rooks. The resulting king and minors endgame is
terrible for Black.} 27... Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Nxd8 30. Ka4) 28. Ka4 a6
{This is the final straw, now Black's position completely collapses. The last
chance was} (28... f6 29. Rxd8 (29. Kb5 Bc7+ {forces the king back to a4. Not}
30. Kxc6 $4 Rdc8 {with forced mate.}) 29... Nxd8 30. Rd1 Nf7 {Here the endgame
is still very tough for Black, but importantly there are new opportunities.
The knight on f7 defends both d6 and e5. Now Black can consider kingside
breaks such as Rg8 followed by g6 or even f5.}) 29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Bxc5 {
[#] With material equality restored, the rest is easy.} Bc7 31. Rd1 g6 ({
Trading the rooks loses because the kingside pawns are also vulnerable.} 31...
Rd8 32. Rxd8 Bxd8 33. Bf8 Kf6 34. Ne3) 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Rd2 Rb5 34. Bd6 Bd8
35. Bf8 Be7 36. Bxe7 Kxe7 37. Rd5 Na7 38. Rxe5+ Kf6 39. Rd5 {Aleksandr
Lenderman had a summer to remember in 2017, winning the U.S. Open and far
exceeding expectations in the World Cup. Such a performance is the result of
extremely hard work and superb decision-making. In this match-clinching
victory over the teenager Tari, Lenderman forced his opponent to defend in a
queenless position without much space or a clear strategy. The American
grandmaster obtained a large positional advantage and never took his foot off
the gas.} 1-0

[Event "edited"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Modern Attack - ML"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C56"]
[Annotator "Hartmann, John"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Bc5 {"This is the main line of what is called the 'Modern
Attack.' It is the subject of this first chapter. I start immediately with the
main variation because I want to give you, the reader, a good sense right away
of both sides' plans and give you a feeling for the typical strategies in this
opening.  We already have several imbalances. White has a pawn majority on the
kingside with chances of a quick attack with f4-f5 (and I assume you like to
attack if you play 1.e4!). Black's pawn majority is on the queenside. He has
doubled pawns there but can try to form a passed pawn in the center. Black
also enjoys the two bishops. Blak's main potential weakness is the c5-square,
which he cannot defend by a pawn. White will try to occupy this squar with a
bishop or knight. To cover up c5, Black may need to lock in his dark-square
bishop, making it look like a big pawn." (10)} 10. f3 {"This and the next
several moves all follow the theme we already know: fight for the center.
White wants to protect his e5-pawn, remove the black knight from e4, and begin
his kingside expansion. Black wants to push his central pawns with ...c5 and ..
.d4."} Ng5 11. Be3 (11. f4 $143 Ne4 12. Be3 Qb8) 11... Bb6 ({If Black wants to
play} 11... O-O {he should meet} 12. f4 {with} Ne6 $142 $5 ({and not} 12... Ne4
13. Nd2 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 {when White is doing well.})) 12. f4 Ne4 13. Nd2 Nxd2 14.
Qxd2 c5 15. Nf3 $1 (15. Nb3 $2) (15. Ne2 $2) 15... d4 (15... Bf5 $5 {is
another key move}) 16. Bf2 {Diagram [#]} Bc6 {"A sharper move... retaining the
option to castle queenside. This can lead to confrontation very quickly..." 
(12)} (16... O-O {Less common. "The most solid and in my opinion the best move.
Black completes his development. He has several ideas: (1) continue pushing
the central pawns c5 and d4 down the middle; (2) operate on the long diagonal
with the light-square bishop and the queen; and (3) undermine White's pawn on
e5. If White can render all of these plans harmless, his better pawn structure
promises an advantage." (11-12)} 17. b3 $5 (17. Qd3 Qc8 $11) (17. c3 Bc6 18.
cxd4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 cxd4 $15) (17. c4) 17... Qc8 (17... f6 18. a4 a5 19. Rae1
Bg4 20. Bh4 $40) (17... Bg4 18. a4 a5 19. h3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qd5 21. Qd3) 18. a4
{"critical position"} a5 19. Nh4 Re8 20. Rae1) 17. f5 {Fishbein's pref} (17.
Bh4 {imprecise move order} Qd7 $1 {[%csl Yf5] fighting for f5}) (17. a4 a5 18.
f5 Qd5 19. Qg5 $6 (19. Bh4 $142) 19... h6 $1 20. Qxg7 O-O-O $1 {0-1 (38) Jones,
G (2661)-L'Ami,E (2618) Wolvega 2014}) 17... Bxf3 (17... Qd7 $2 18. e6 $1) (
17... Qd5 18. Bh4 $1 {transposes to Pap-Abramovic} Kd7 19. b3 Rae8 20. c4 dxc3
21. Qxc3 Kc8 22. Bf2 Rd8 23. Rac1 Rhe8 24. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 25. Qxc5 Bxc5+ 26. Rxc5
$16 {1-0 (39) Pap,M (2484)-Abramovic,B (2471) Kragujevac 2009}) 18. gxf3 Qd5
19. Qg5 (19. Bh4 Kd7 20. Bg3 {"sharp game where I would rather have White" -
investigate}) 19... Kd7 (19... h6 20. Qg4 {and Black still has trouble castling
}) (19... c4 {best?}) 20. Bg3 Rhg8 21. a4 a5 22. Rae1 Kc6 23. e6 fxe6 $6 (23...
f6 $145 {not in Fishbein}) 24. Re5 $1 {1/2-1/2 (47) Stopa,J (2410)-Schneider,D
(2502) Richardson 2007} *

[Event "edited"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Von der Lasa"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C44"]
[Annotator "Hartmann, John"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.25"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O $5 (5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 (6. cxd4
Bb4+ {--> Giuoco Piano}) 6... d5 7. Be2 {Jobava Variation}) 5... d6 $1 (5...
Nf6 {transposes to the Max Lange Attack}) 6. c3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Bxf3 (7... Qd7 $5)
8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. gxf3 {Diagram [#] The key position for this variation.} (9.
Bxg8 $2 {is a bad move order after} Rxg8 10. gxf3 g5 $1) 9... Nf6 (9... d3 $5
10. Be3 (10. Nd2 Ne5 11. Bxg8 Qg5+ 12. Kh1 Rxg8 13. Qxb7 Re8 14. Qxc7 Qf4 15.
Rg1 Nxf3 16. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 17. Rg2 Qd1+ 18. Rg1 Qf3+ 19. Rg2 $11) (10. Bd5 $6 Ne5
11. Qd1 Qh4 12. b4 Bb6 13. Bxb7 Re8 $17) 10... Ne5 (10... Bxe3 11. fxe3 Qg5+
12. Kh1 Qxe3 13. Qxb7 Rb8 14. Qxc6 Ne7 15. Qa4 Kxf7 16. Qc4+ Ke8 17. Na3 {
and White has completed development}) 11. Bxg8 Rxg8 12. Nd2 Qh4 (12... g5 13.
Kh1 Bb6 14. Rg1 Rg6 15. Rg3) 13. Kh1 Qh3 14. Rg1 Nxf3 15. Rg2 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Ke7
$8 17. Nxf3 Qxf3 18. Qxb7 Rac8 19. Qxa7 Qxe4 20. Qd4 Qxd4 21. exd4 $11) (9...
dxc3 10. Bxg8 (10. Nxc3 $2 Nd4) 10... Rxg8 11. Nxc3 Nd4 (11... Qd7 $143 12. Ne2
Re8 13. Be3 Bb6 14. Kh1 $6 (14. Bxb6 {avoids queen trade}) 14... Qf7 15. Qxf7+
Kxf7 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Rac1 Ra8 {1-0 (55) Spielmann,R-Teichmann,R Leipzig 1914}
(17... g5 $5)) 12. Qd1 Qf6 13. f4 (13. Nd5 Qf7 14. b4 $1 Nxf3+ (14... Qxf3 15.
Qxf3+ Nxf3+ 16. Kg2 Bd4 17. Rb1 c6 18. Ne3 Nh4+ 19. Kg3 $11) 15. Kg2 Bd4 16.
Rb1 Nh4+ 17. Kh1 Qg6 18. Nf4 Qxe4+ 19. f3 Qxb1 20. Ne6+ Kf7 21. Qxd4 Kxe6 22.
Qc4+ Kd7 23. Qf7+ Kc6 24. Qc4+ Kd7 $11) 13... g5 $1 14. f5 g4 15. Bf4 Nf3+ 16.
Kh1 Qh4 (16... c6 $1 17. Qd3 Rd8 $11) 17. Qc2 $2 (17. Bg3 Qe7 (17... Qh3 $2 18.
Nd5 $1) 18. Qc2 {"with good chances for White"}) 17... Qh3 $1 {threatens ..Bd4
and ..Be5, forcing} (17... Re8 $2 {1-0 (36) Von Heydebrand und der Lasa,
T-Mayet,C Berlin 1839}) 18. Rg1 {giving up the exchange}) (9... g5 $2 10. Bh5
$1 Ne5 11. cxd4 Bxd4 12. Kh1 $40) (9... Qh4 $2 10. Bxg8 Rxg8 11. Qxb7 Ne5 12.
Qxa8+ Ke7 13. Qxg8 Nxf3+ 14. Kg2 Qg4+ 15. Kh1 $18 Nh4 $141 16. Bg5+ $1 Qxg5 17.
Rg1) ({***chk this:} 9... Bb6 $5 {"sensible"} 10. Bc4 (10. Bd5 $145) 10... Qh4
11. Qd1 $1 Nf6 12. Kh1 Ne5 13. Be2 d3 14. Bxd3 Bxf2 (14... g5 $145 $1 $19 {
[%cal Yh8g8,Yg5g4]}) 15. Kg2 Bc5 16. b4 Bb6 17. a4 a5 18. Na3 {"with chances
for both sides"}) ({***chk this:} 9... Na5 10. Qa4 Kxf7 11. Qxa5 c6 12. Qa4 Qf6
13. cxd4 Bxd4 14. Rd1 Bb6 15. Qb3+ Qe6 16. Rxd6 Qxb3 17. axb3 {"with an extra
pawn, although Black has some compensation"}) (9... Ne5 $6 10. cxd4 Bxd4 11.
Bxg8 (11. Bc4 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 c5 13. Na3 $14) 11... Rxg8 12. f4 Ng4 13. h3 Nxf2
14. Rxf2 (14. Be3 Nxh3+ 15. Kg2 Qh4 16. Bxd4 Nxf4+ 17. Rxf4+ Qxf4 18. Nc3 Qg4+
19. Kf2 $16) 14... Qh4 15. Qf3 Bxf2+ 16. Qxf2 Qxh3 17. Nc3 Qg4+ 18. Qg2 Qxg2+
19. Kxg2 $14 {1-0 (29) Schut,H-Elliott,T IECC email 1996}) 10. Bc4 (10. Kh1 $5
Na5 (10... dxc3 11. Bc4 $1 cxb2 12. Bxb2 Na5 13. Qc3 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Qe7 {
White has suff comp}) 11. Qa4 Kxf7 12. Qxa5 Re8 13. cxd4 Bxd4 $11) (10. Rd1 {
"interesting, but not quite correct"} dxc3 (10... d3 $1 {wti ..Ne5} 11. Bf4 Rb8
$15 12. Rxd3 $140 Qe7 13. Be6 Nh5 14. Bg3 Qf6 15. Nd2 Nf4 16. Rd5 Ne5 $17) 11.
Nxc3 Nd4 12. Rxd4 Bxd4 13. Ne2 $44 Qe7 14. Bc4 Bb6 15. Nf4 d5 16. exd5 (16.
Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qe6 18. Be3 $11) 16... Qe1+ 17. Kg2 Qxf2+ 18. Kh3 Ke7 {
1-0 (68) Atuan,J (2102)-Pecotic,K (2041) IECG email 2005}) 10... Qd7 (10... Qe8
11. Bb5 $1 {thematic} (11. Bf4 $2 g5 $1 12. Bg3 h5 $1 13. h3 g4 14. Qxb7 $2 h4
15. Bf4 gxf3 $19 {0-1 (32) Pap,M (2504)-Brkic,A (2569) Jahorina 2012}) 11...
Qh5 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qd1 dxc3 14. Nxc3 $13) (10... a6 $6 11. cxd4 $6 (11. Kh1
$142 Na5 12. Qc2 Nxc4 13. cxd4 Bxd4 14. Qxc4 c5 15. Nc3 {fine for White}) 11...
Nxd4 12. Qd1 Nd7 13. f4 Qh4 14. Be3 Nf6 15. f3 (15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Qg4+ 17.
Kh1 Qf3+ 18. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 15... Nc6 {White faces struggle to equality: 0-1 
(33) Daurelle,H (2218)-Kosten,A (2446) Clermont Ferrand 2014}) 11. Kg2 (11. Be6
$6 Qe8 12. Bh3 g5 $1 {Bologan, Black Weapons} 13. Kh1 Rg8 14. Bf5 (14. Rg1 Qh5
15. Rg3 Re8 16. Bf5 Rg7 17. Rh3 Qf7) 14... Qh5 15. Qe6 (15. Qxb7 $2 Ne5 $1 16.
Qxa8+ Kg7 17. Qb7 Nxf3 18. h3 g4 $19) 15... Qf7 16. f4 gxf4 17. Bxf4 Ne7 {=/=/+
}) (11. Nd2 Qh3 (11... Re8 12. Kh1 Na5 13. Qb5 Qxb5 (13... Nxc4 14. Qxc4 b5 $11
) 14. Bxb5 c6 15. Bd3 $11) 12. Qxb7 Ne5 13. Qxa8+ Ke7 14. Qxh8 Nxf3+ 15. Nxf3
Qg4+ $11) (11. Bb5 $6 Qh3 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qd1 dxc3 14. Nxc3 Nd7 $1 $36) 11...
Na5 (11... Re8 {wti ..Re8-e5-h5} 12. Qd1 (12. Bf4 $2 g5) 12... Re5 13. Kh1 (13.
h4 $5) 13... Rh5 14. Rg1 $13 {"...an unclear position in which Black can
easily get overextended." (jh - Perhaps optimistic here?)}) 12. Qb5 Nxc4 (12...
Qxb5 13. Bxb5 {nice for White - bishops (again!) and misplaced Na5}) 13. Qxc4
Re8 ({jh:} 13... Nxe4 14. cxd4 (14. fxe4 {is perpetual} Qg4+ 15. Kh1 Qf3+ 16.
Kg1 Qg4+ $11) (14. b4 Bb6 15. fxe4 Qg4+ $11) 14... Bb6 15. Qd3 (15. fxe4 Qg4+ {
etc}) (15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 (16. Qxc3 Kf7 {and the rook gets out, but is this
so bad?}) 16... Re8) 15... Nf6 16. Nc3 Re8 17. Bg5 Qf7 $13) 14. Re1 (14. Nd2 b5
15. Qd3 dxc3 16. Qxc3 $11) (14. cxd4 Rxe4 15. fxe4 Qg4+ $11 {perp}) 14... Qf7
15. Qd3 (15. Qxf7+ $11 {but less interesting}) 15... Qg6+ 16. Kf1 d5 17. cxd4
Bd6 18. Nc3 Bxh2 19. Qe3 {"In this double-edged position, White's central
pawns cover the king and also offer good prospects in the ending... Neither
king is completely safe (always the case in this variation)."} *

[Event "5th Sinquefield Cup 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.08.02"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r5/1p1nnkp1/pP2bp1p/2p1p3/2P1P3/1P1NB2P/2BK1PP1/R7 b - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]

{[#]} 32... f5 $2 {[#]} ({Keeping the position closed with} 32... g5 {was the
better choice. Black's position remains very unpleasant, but White now has no
obvious breakthrough. A nuisance for White is that the pawn on c5 is actually
difficult to pile pressure on, since} 33. Ra5 {runs directly into} Nc6 {
where Black takes control.}) 33. f4 $1 {Taking advantage of Black's previous
move by opening diagonals for the bishops.} (33. f3 {was a consideration but
So would have been more comfortable closing the position with} f4 34. Bf2 g5 {
after which the path to progress is murky.}) 33... exf4 34. Nxf4 g5 35. Nxe6
Kxe6 36. exf5+ Nxf5 37. Bg1 Nd4 38. Re1+ Kf6 39. Rf1+ Ke7 40. Re1+ Kd8 ({
So makes a fatal mistake right before completing the time control. He still
had hope to hold had he found} 40... Kf6 41. Be4 Nxb3+ 42. Kc3 Nd4 43. Bxb7 Rb8
44. Bd5 Nxb6 45. Bxd4+ cxd4+ 46. Kxd4) 41. Be4 Nxb3+ 42. Kc3 Nd4 ({Defending
the pawn on b7 loses even more material.} 42... Na5 43. Bf5 {and Black has no
means of defending the knight on d7, resulting in substantial material losses.}
) 43. Bh2 {[#] It may seem early to resign, but at the very least Black must
part with an exchange and enter a hopeless ending. A smooth game by MVL.} 1-0

[Event "5th Sinquefield Cup 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2017.08.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, L."]
[Black "Caruana, F."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r4/5pk1/1p4pp/2b1N3/8/1P4P1/5PP1/4RK2 w - - 0 33"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "2017.07.31"]

{[#]} 33. Ke2 $4 Bb4 {This simple tactic nets Caruana a piece. The knight on
e5 falls victim to a deadly pin.} 34. Rc1 Re8 35. f4 f6 36. Rc7+ Kh8 37. Rc6
fxe5 38. Rxb6 exf4+ {Black is up a full piece, but the win is not trivial. The
color of the bishop does not match the rook pawn's queening square. Thus,
Caruana was concerned about rook trades.} 39. Kf3 Re3+ 40. Kxf4 Bd2 ({Caruana
was afraid his king wouldn't get out of the corner, which is understandable
given that it was move 40 and he did not have time to calculate in much depth.
The resulting ending is actually quite a simple win:} 40... g5+ 41. Kxe3 Bc5+
42. Ke4 Bxb6 43. Kf5 Kg7 44. b4 Kf7 45. b5 Bc7 46. g4 Bb6 47. Ke5 Ba5 48. Kf5
Bc7 {and the black king marches forward.}) 41. Rxg6 {[#]} Kh7 {[#]} (41... Re6+
{Caruana misses a straightforward win that requires pure calculation. With
just the h-pawn remaining, Black needs to leave White's pawns on the board or
else accept a theoretical draw. The point is that because of his two g-pawns,
White has no stalemate tricks to rely on. The following variation became the
topic of conversation:} 42. Kf5 Rxg6 43. Kxg6 Kg8 {The black king first hunts
down the b-pawn, which can't be defended because of zugzwang. After the b-pawn
is scooped up, Black returns his king to the kingside and forces the king to
the corner.} 44. b4 Kf8 45. b5 Ke8 46. b6 Kd7 47. b7 Kc7 48. b8=Q+ Kxb8 49. Kh5
Kc7 50. Kg4 Kd6 51. Kh4 Ke5 52. Kh5 Ke4 53. Kh4 Ke3 54. Kh3 Kf2 55. Kh2 Kf1 56.
Kh1 {The white king dare not venture UP the h-file, lest the black king come
behind him and White lose contact with the defensive corner.} (56. Kh3 {
makes Black's life easier, since now the king can't return to the corner.} Kg1
{and both pawns are lost without the typical drawing mechanism of parking the
king on h1.}) 56... Be3 57. Kh2 Bd4 58. Kh1 Bg1 {[#] The bishop will keep
returning to g1 to force the g-pawns forward. If the white king ventures
forward, the pawns are captured and the h-pawn queens.} 59. g4 Be3 60. Kh2 Bd4
61. Kh1 Bg1 62. g3 Bd4 63. Kh2 Bf2 64. Kh1 Bg1 65. g5 hxg5 {and because White
has that second g-pawn, Black wins.}) 42. Kf5 Rxb3 {and Caruana went on to win
in 110 moves.} 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "St. Louis MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "Sergey Karjakin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/3q1pb1/3p2pB/Np5p/nP1pP1bP/3P2P1/3Q1PBK/2R5 b - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]

{[#]} 25... Bh8 (25... Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Nc3 {keeps the rook boxed in but does not
solve Black's problems. As in the game, White can just go for the
straightforward f2-f3-f4-f5, though Black's setup is more resilient.}) 26. Rc6
Nc3 ({Karjakin overlooked} 26... Ra8 $1 {which threatens to undermine the
rook's protection on c6. Carlsen would not be in time to launch his kingside
assault. In fact, if White isn't careful it is he who will find himself in
trouble. In the following variation, even winning Black's queen is not enough
to claim an edge.} 27. Qc1 Nc3 28. e5 d5 29. f4 Rxa5 30. Rd6 Ra2 31. Rxd7 Bxd7
{is level.}) 27. f3 Be6 28. Bf4 Be5 29. Bxe5 dxe5 30. f4 Qe7 ({After} 30... Rc8
31. Rxc8+ Qxc8 32. f5 {the breakthrough is still powerful, but Black has some
resources:} Bd7 33. Qh6 Qf8 34. Qg5 Nd1 $1 35. fxg6 Nf2 {and despite how
winning the position looks like it should be for White, Black is still kicking.
}) 31. Rc5 Rc8 (31... exf4 32. Qxf4 Nd1 {is not the easiest idea to spot,
considering it is rare to have a knight reach the eighth rank with so many
pieces on the board. In such a messy position, quality of pieces is more
important than the quantity. Even if Black loses a pawn, having the knight
make its way to the kingside provides legitimate counterplay.}) 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8
33. Nc6 {The major difference - and problem - of playing Rc8 a move later.} Qd6
34. Nxe5 Qxb4 {Material equality is restored, but...} ({A human does not have
the cool patience to play} 34... Be6 {but Black has better practical chances
here. Mainly, it gives White more opportunity to err.}) 35. f5 $1 {[#] is
devastating. White's attack is easy to execute.} Qd6 36. Nf3 gxf5 ({Despite
the passed pawn, White's attack crashes through first.} 36... b4 37. Qg5 b3 38.
e5) 37. Qg5+ Kh7 (37... Qg6 38. Qd8+) 38. e5 (38. exf5 {was more decisive, but
less aesthetically pleasing.}) 38... Qg6 39. Qd8 Be6 40. Ng5+ Kg7 41. Qxd4 Na4
42. Nh3 {The resignation may seem premature (material is even!), but Black has
no hope. Black's pieces are stuck and White's way forward is very obvious.} 1-0

[Event "5th Sinquefield Cup 2017"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "Maxime Vachier-Lagrave"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 ({Carlsen avoids
the more well-trodden path} 6. bxc3 g6 7. h4 Bg7 8. h5 Nc6 9. Ba3 $146 Qa5 10.
Rh4 $1 {was the brilliancy Aronian uncorked against Nepo.}) 6... Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1
{Carlsen clearly wanted to avoid any and all theory, but has he left himself
with a good position? White would very much prefer to have his pawn on e4
rather than e3. Moreover, White has to waste some time because his king is
stuck in the center. It's not all bad: the pawn structure is solid and the
king being close to the queenside will have its benefits in an ending.} Bf5 {
In my opinion, the best continuation.} 8. Nd2 (8. Ne5 Nd7 9. Bb5 {trades off
the minors, with total equality.}) 8... Nc6 9. e4 Bg6 ({The source of
inspiration for Carlsen likely was Radjabov-Svidler from the Geneva Grand Prix:
} 9... Be6 10. Kc2 g6 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Nb3 b6 13. a4 Ne5 14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxd7+
Nxd7 16. Be3 e6 17. Rhd1 O-O-O 18. Nd2 Be7 19. Nc4 Kb7 20. a5 Rhf8 21. axb6
Nxb6 22. Na5+ Kc7 23. Bf4+ Bd6 24. Bh6 Rfe8 25. Nb3 Ra8 26. Be3 Nd7 27. Ra5 Kc6
28. Rda1 Kb6 29. R5a4 Rec8 30. Na5 Be7 31. Rb4+ {1-0}) 10. Bb5 Rc8 {Black has
no interest in allowing his pawn structure to be ruined.} 11. h4 h5 12. Re1 (
12. f3 {is a tame move that requires Black to respond with} a6 13. Bxc6+ Rxc6
14. Nc4 f6 15. Kc2 {with a fight. I prefer White since the d-file is for the
taking, but Black has little reason to be overly concerned.}) 12... e6 13. a4
Be7 14. g3 O-O 15. a5 Rfd8 16. a6 b6 {[#] The pawn structure on the queenside
is now fixed, with White weakening the enemy light squares. Black has superior
development, but no clear strategy. It's important to envision the perfect
squares for your pieces. White's control over many vital squares makes that
image murky.} 17. Kc2 ({An odd move considering the preceding moves is} 17. Ke2
{However, from e2 the king covers the kingside and is perfectly sheltered. It
may just be a matter of taste.}) 17... Ne5 18. f4 Ng4 19. Kb3 f6 ({Vacating
the c5 square for the bishop had to be considered. With such vulnerable pawns
and underdevelopment, White is very fortunate to not be signifcantly worse
here. Black's pieces enjoy superior placement and can target enemy pawns.} 
19... c4+ $1 20. Nxc4 (20. Bxc4 Bc5) 20... Bc5) 20. Nc4 Nf2 21. e5 ({The push} 
21. f5 $5 {is possible, but very risky considering the placement of Carlsen's
king.}) 21... Ne4 22. Be3 Bf5 ({Of course not} 22... Nxg3 $2 23. Rg1) 23. Rg1
Rd5 24. Rae1 Kf7 25. Bc1 Bh7 26. Re3 Rcd8 $1 {[#] An exclamation mark given
for understanding that giving up the exchange is hardly a sacrifice. Rather,
Black obtains tremendous activity and the White king will not find safety.} 27.
Bc6 Nf2 28. Re2 ({Accepting the sacrifice is too dangerous. Carlsen was wise
to avoid it, lest Black become the side pushing for a win. Important to note
is that the pawn on a6 is often immune to capture, for Nxa7 in many lines is
met by Ra8. Among the many interesting variations,} 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Na3 Nd3
30. Nb5 (30. Re2 b5 $1) (30. e6+ Kf8 31. Nb5 Bf5 32. Ka4 (32. Rd1 Nf2 33. Rf1
Nd3 {might just be a draw by repetition.}) 32... d4 {is starting to get scary
for White. Black's activity has steadily grown.}) 30... c4+ 31. Ka2 Bc5 32. Bd2
) 28... Nd3 29. exf6 gxf6 30. Bb5 $6 {It's amusing that Carlsen picks up the
bishop and does not capture the rook. Doing so had considerable consequences,
as mentioned in the analysis on move 28. However, there was no reason to move
this bishop at all - it was time to develop the other.} (30. Be3 Bf5 (30... Rb8
31. Bb5) 31. Rd2 Rc8 32. Bb5 {with a tense game.}) 30... Rg8 31. Bd2 Rgd8 ({
Vachier-Lagrave offers a repetition, but he would have been better off
retreating his rook. As White's motives on the queenside will not play out for
many moves, Black can attempt to apply additional pressure on the kingside.} 
31... Rdd8) 32. Be3 Be4 33. Rd2 Rg8 34. Ka4 ({Once again} 34. Bc6 {is an empty
threat. Capturing on d5 helps Black more than White. If White tries too hard
to win, it can backfire. For instance:} Rb8 35. Bb7 (35. Bb5 {is just equal.})
35... b5 36. Nb6 (36. Na5) 36... axb6 37. a7 c4+ 38. Ka2 Rxb7 39. a8=Q b4 {
is completely winning for Black.}) 34... Rgd8 35. Kb3 Rg8 36. Ka2 f5 {This
pawn push is good here, but now Black has to be very cautious. The bishop's
stronghold over the center is solidified, though now the e5 square is somewhat
vulnerable.} 37. Rh2 Rc8 38. Rd2 Rg8 39. Re2 {[#]} Bf3 ({Although strong} 39...
Bxh4 {is not a move to make right before the time control. Carlsen was happy
to offer a pawn if it insured his rook would gain access into the enemy camp.
This is where the pawn on a6 is especially important: White can afford to
sacrifice a bunch of material if it means he can go after the a7 pawn.} 40. Rh2
Bxg3 41. Rxh5 Rg7 42. Rh8 Bxf4 43. Ra8 {might hold up to engine analysis, but
it's too close for comfort.} Rd7 {does hold, but this is not an easy line to
calculate under the duress of making it to move 40.}) 40. Rh2 Bf6 ({A move
that allows White to secure the bishop pair is actually an interesting defense.
} 40... Rc8 41. Nd2 Be4 (41... Bg4 42. Rf1 {keeps the bishop off the long
diagonal. This is essential to White's new advantage, which is due to more
harmonious minor pieces}) 42. Nxe4 fxe4 {according to all chess principles,
White should be better here. Two bishops, an uncompromised pawn structure, and
a well-placed king and yet Black's activity keeps the balance. It is even
White who needs to be cautious here. A move like} 43. Bc4 {runs into} b5 {
Black is still happy to give up the exchange, in this case for an impressive
pawn mass.}) 41. Nd2 Bg4 (41... Be4 42. Nxe4 fxe4 43. Bc6 {is the difference
from the previous comment. Without the rook on c8 the bishop has free entry to
c6. Black is by no means lost but it starting to get uncomfortable. White not
only threatens the rook on d5 but is really aiming to play c3-c4 (once the
king moves to avoid a Nb4+ fiasco) and pick off the pawn on e4. Priorities!}
Rg4 44. Kb1) 42. Rf1 {A huge success for Carlsen. Black's pieces are no longer
optimally placed and the bishop on g4 looks like a big pawn.} Rgd8 43. Nc4 e5 {
With Bc6 threatened, MVL gets desperate.} 44. fxe5 ({A tough central mass to
crack occurs if White goes up material. The aftermath looks like the makings
of a fortress for Black.} 44. Bc6 e4) 44... Bxe5 ({No better is} 44... Nxe5 45.
Bf4) 45. Bg5 Bxg3 46. Rg2 $2 {Throwing away the hard-earned win.} ({The game
was easily winning if Carlsen played} 46. Rd2 {Not only is White attacking the
rook on d8, he can also move his king away from knight checks to threaten Ne3.
It's shocking that Carlsen blundered at this juncture.} Kg6 47. Kb1) 46... Bh3
47. Rxg3 Bxf1 {[#]} 48. Rf3 $4 {And this gives away another half point.} ({
Equal was} 48. Bxd8 Rxd8 49. Rf3 Be2 50. Rxf5+ Kg6 51. Rg5+ Kf6) 48... Be2 49.
Bxd8 ({Magnus definitely missed that after} 49. Re3 f4 {the bishop can't be
captured because the knight will deliver a fork from c1.} 50. Rxe2 (50. Re7+
Kg6 51. Rxa7 {is too slow.} Rxg5 $1 52. hxg5 f3 {and Black's two kingside
passers are impossible to stop.}) 50... Nc1+) 49... Bxf3 50. Bxb6 axb6 51. Bc6
Be4 52. a7 Rd8 53. Nd6+ Rxd6 ({When you have a winning position in hand,
there's no reason to make things difficult.} 53... Ke6 $2 54. Nxe4 fxe4 55.
Bxe4 {allows White to enter the bishop versus knight ending without the second
Black kingside pawn.}) 54. Bxe4 ({It is hard to pass up a promotion, but} 54.
a8=Q Rxc6 {is an easy win for Black. A queen is no match for a rook and two
minors.}) 54... Rd8 55. a8=Q Rxa8+ 56. Bxa8 Ne5 57. Kb3 f4 58. Kc2 Kg7 (58...
Ng6 {would have been careless because of} 59. Bf3) 59. Kd2 Ng6 60. Kd3 Nxh4 61.
Ke4 f3 62. Ke3 Kf6 63. b4 {[#]} c4 $1 {Very precise play by Vachier-Lagrave.
Other moves do not win.} (63... Kg5 64. bxc5 bxc5 65. Bd5 Kg4 66. Kf2 Kf4 67.
Bf7 Ke4 68. c4 Kd4 69. Bg8 {and Black can't make progress because he is unable
to move his knight from the edge of the board without losing a pawn.}) 64. Bd5
Kf5 65. Bxc4 Kg4 66. Kf2 Ng6 67. Be6+ Kf4 68. Bf7 Ne5 69. Bxh5 Nd3+ 70. Kf1 Kg3
71. Bf7 Nf2 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis blitz"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.18"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2806"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4R3/5p1k/5Pp1/1p1n2r1/pP5p/r2N1RbP/2P5/5B1K w - - 0 53"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "Mega2017 Update 44"]
[Source "Chessbase"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.26"]

{[#]} 53. Rf8 {Both players were scrambling with seconds on the clock. With
accurate play, Black is winning.} Ra1 ({The only move that keeps the winning
advantage is} 53... Rf5 {Black will pick off the f6 pawn, and the a-pawn on
its way to promotion.}) 54. Rxf7+ Kg8 ({Kasparov had to move forward with} 
54... Kh6 {just to avoid being worse!}) 55. Rg7+ Kf8 {The king had to run to
the corner. In the waning seconds Caruana overlooks an easy win.} 56. Ra7 $2 ({
After} 56. Nc5 {resignation is the only way to not go down a full rook.} Nxf6
57. Ne6+ Ke8 58. Nxg5) 56... Rf5 {Second time is the charm for Kasparov. He
finds the winning rook trade. The bishop on f1 is lost.} 57. Rxf5 gxf5 58. Kg2
Ne3+ 59. Kf3 Nxf1 60. Nc5 Re1 {Simultaneously preventing Ne6+ and threatening
a mating net of his own.} 61. Kg2 Ne3+ 62. Kf3 Nc4 63. Ra6 Nd2+ 64. Kg2 Re2+
65. Kh1 Rh2+ {Caruana resigned, not allowing Kasparov the pleasure of
delivering a mate in two.} 0-1

[Event "5th Sinquefield Cup 2017"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Hess, Robert"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 O-O 10. Nd2 {[#]} Nc5 ({As in practically every Sicilian,} 10... d5
{deserves serious attention. If Black can safely get rid of the backward
d-pawn, he is doing well. I see no immediate issue with the move, leading me
to believe it is quite strong.} 11. exd5 Nxd5) 11. Bxf6 {This thematic
bishop-for-knight swap gives White a stronghold over the d5 square.} Bxf6 12.
Nc4 Be7 13. a5 $146 {White secures control of the b6 square.} ({Carlsen
defeated Nepomniachtchi in this line in Leuven, just a few months before the
Sinquefield Cup. Naturally Vachier-Lagrave would have studied that game.} 13.
O-O Be6 14. a5 Rc8 15. Nb6 Rc6 16. b4) 13... Rb8 14. Nb6 Nd7 ({In such a
position, White wants to liquidate so that the only minor pieces remaining are
his knight against an enemy dark-squared bishop.} 14... Be6 15. Bg4 {The most
favorable way this occurs is if White does not capture on e6, as a pawn there
covers the vital d5 square.}) 15. Ncd5 Nxb6 16. Nxb6 Be6 17. Bc4 Qc7 18. Qd3 ({
Initiating the exchange would demonstrate a misunderstanding of the position.} 
18. Bxe6 {Doubled pawns are not always bad, especially here where after} fxe6 {
Nd5 will never happen.}) 18... Bd8 19. c3 Qc6 {[#]} ({If Nepomniachtchi is
going to be forced to enter an opposite-colored bishop middlegame, the least
he can do is get some counterplay.} 19... Qe7 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 {Black can
now either sit and shuffle and hope that he will survive, or try to strike
back with} b6 $5 22. axb6 Bxb6 {White needs to look out for bishop sacrifices
on f2, but otherwise has an excellent position.}) 20. Bd5 $1 Qe8 21. Bxe6 {
And now, because his queen has been kicked, Nepomniachtchi's pawn on d6 is en
prise. This prevents him from recapturing with the pawn and keeping the knight
from d5.} Qxe6 ({It's really hard to pick between two options that both leave
you significantly worse, but the presence of bishops of opposite colors is
more promising than an amazing knight versus horrible bishop. It's really hard
to pick between two options that both leave you significantly worse, but the
presence of bishops of opposite colors is more promising for the defensive
side than an amazing knight versus horrible bishop.} 21... Bxb6 22. Bd5) 22.
Nd5 f5 23. O-O Rc8 24. Rfd1 fxe4 25. Qxe4 {While Nepomniachtchi opens a file
for his rook, he now has another structural weakness: Black has three pawn
islands to White's two.The base of Black's pawn chains are easier to attack.}
Qf5 {Swapping the queens leads to a much better ending, but keeping them on
the board is the correct choice. The white queen supports the c4 square, but
more importantly keeps alive the opportunity to swiftly play on both sides of
the board. Sure, the queen on f5 is Black's only active piece, but it has
nothing to attack or prod.} 26. Qe2 Kh8 27. c4 Bh4 28. g3 Bg5 29. Ra3 Rce8 30.
h4 Bd8 ({The bishop only had this square, for} 30... Bh6 31. g4 {wins the
bishop.}) 31. b4 Qg6 32. h5 {A pawn move like this can be pushing too far, but
here it is untouchable. There is no way for Black to attack it with a second
piece. The huge benefit of this move is that it helps White transfer the
knight to f5 (Black struggles to play g6) and apply additional pressure on the
pawn on d6.} Qf5 33. Ne3 Qe6 34. Rad3 Be7 35. Nd5 Bd8 36. Rf3 {Black is out of
useful moves. Vachier-Lagrave removes Nepo's only active piece, and thus makes
his life even easier.} Rxf3 37. Qxf3 Kg8 38. Kg2 e4 39. Qe2 Qe5 40. Ne3 {[#]}
Bg5 $2 {The fatal error on move 40.} (40... Qe6 {prolonged the battle. Black's
position is horrible, but not lost on the spot.}) 41. Rd5 Qf6 42. Nf5 Re6 43.
c5 $1 {Initiating the breakthrough needed to finish the game. In addition to
having awkward pawns, Black's king is now under duress.} dxc5 44. Qc4 ({
The point of c5 was to vacate the c4 square, not to trade pawns. The careless} 
44. Rxc5 g6 {allows Black back into the game. An uphill battle remains, but
all of a sudden he's pushing his opponent back, and the fewer pawns that
remain the better the chance of holding in a queenless ending.}) 44... Qf7 45.
Rxc5 h6 46. Rc8+ Kh7 47. g4 Re7 48. Qd4 ({Not falling for the horrible blunder
} 48. Nxe7 $4 {which allows a draw} Qf3+ 49. Kf1 Qd1+ 50. Kg2 Qxg4+) 48... Re6
49. Qd5 g6 ({An immediate checkmate or loss of a full rook ensues after} 49...
Re7 50. Qd8) 50. hxg6+ Kxg6 51. Rf8 Qxf8 52. Qxe6+ 1-0

[Event "U.S. Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bennett, Lee"]
[Black "Hoffman, Guy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "Lawrence, Al"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. c4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. O-O Be7 7. e3 dxe3 8.
Bxe3 O-O 9. Nc3 d6 10. Qc2 Be6 11. b3 Nb4 12. Qb1 Ng4 13. Bf4 Bf6 14. Bd2 Qd7
15. a3 Nc6 16. Ra2 Bf5 17. Qc1 h6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Bc3 Nce5 20. Re1 Nd3 21. Qa1
Nxe1 22. Nxe1 f6 23. h3 Ne5 24. g4 Bg6 25. f4 Nc6 26. Nf3 Be7 27. Nh4 Bh7 28.
f5 Ne5 29. Nf4 Rfe8 30. Bd5+ Kh8 31. Bxe5 fxe5 32. Nfg6+ Bxg6 33. Nxg6+ Kh7 34.
Qb1 Bf6 35. Re2 {The Commander misses an important idea. He needs to play 35.
Re4 immediately to stop the defensive pawn sac ... e4!.} (35. Qe4) 35... Rab8 (
35... e4 $1 36. Rxe4 Rxe4 37. Qxe4 Qe8 {Black is out of a jam and may even be
better.} (37... Re8 38. Be6 Qd8 39. Qxb7 $2 Qa5 40. Qf3) 38. Be6 (38. Qxe8 Rxe8
39. Bf7 {And if Black leaves the back rank it's a simple perp.} Re3 40. Nf8+
Kh8 41. Ng6+) 38... Qc6) 36. h4 Qd8 {Diagram [#]} 37. Qe4 $1 Qc7 38. g5 hxg5
39. hxg5 Bxg5 40. Rh2+ Bh6 41. f6 $1 gxf6 42. Nf8+ Kg7 43. Qh7+ (43. Qg6+ Kxf8
44. Qxf6+ Qf7 45. Qxf7#) 43... Kxf8 44. Qxc7 1-0

[Event "US Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Erenburg, S."]
[Black "Zherebukh, Y."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. g4 h6 10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Qc7 12. h4 d5 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bh2 dxe4 15.
g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Rxh2 17. Rxh2 exd4 18. Rh4 Ng4 {This funny looking move is
still a well-known theory.} (18... Nd5 19. Rxe4+ Be7 20. Qxd4 Bb7 21. Qxg7
O-O-O 22. Bh3 $14 {[%emt 0:00:08] -Stockfish}) 19. Rxg4 Nc5 20. Rh4 d3 21. Nd4
Bb7 22. Rh8 {Diagram [#]} O-O-O {I prepared the whole variation for the 2017
US Championship and my analysis confirmed that the line is completely playable
for black... But you have to remember loads of variations typically until move
37!} 23. fxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxf8 {Rather a surprise. Sergey was spending lots of
time while I only spent a few minutes.} (24. Qf2) 24... Rxf8 25. Qxb4 Rh8 $1
26. Qc3 dxc2 27. Nxc2 Kb8 28. Ne3 Qf4 29. b3 Qxg5 30. Kb2 {Hard to believe,
but the position is still about equal. In many lines, white is able to
generate enough counterplay against my weak king or a pawn on a6.} Bb7 31. Nc4
Ne4 32. Qd4 $2 {A significant inaccuracy, which, however, was left unpunished
by me.} (32. Qb4 {was enough to keep the position balanced.}) 32... Rh2+ 33.
Ka3 Rc2 $4 {This move definitely belongs to a category of inexplicable
mistakes.} ({Any titled player under no pressure would have played the most
obvious move} 33... a5 {creating a checkmate box for the white's king.} 34. b4
axb4+ 35. Kb3 $3 Rh1 $1 {and the game is still far from being decided in
black's favor but black is clearly the one putting a lot of pressure on his
opponent.}) 34. Ne5 a5 35. Nd7+ Kc7 $4 {Sometimes being ambitious backfires
really badly. I was still hoping to win and fight for the coveted spot in the
2018 US Championship.} ({Under any other circumstances, I would have preferred
to opt for a perpetual check and a draw after} 35... Ka8 36. Nb6+ Kb8 37. Nd7+
$11) 36. Qb6+ Kc8 37. Bh3 $1 f5 38. Nf6 $1 {Sometimes just two fine moves and
no blunders is all what it takes to win a game. I was amazed by the Sergey's
ability to find all the good moves in a truly nerve-wracking time scramble. A
well-deserved win by him.} Nd2 39. Qe6+ Kc7 40. Qe7+ Kb6 41. Nd7+ 1-0

[Event "US Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Lenderman, Alex"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[Annotator "Lenderman, Alex"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. c4 (1. d4) 1... g6 {I was hoping to be the first one to surprise Shabalov
with 1)c4, since I play 1)d4 more frequently, but in fact Shabalov surprised
me first with 1)...g6.} 2. g3 $5 {Normally I would play 2)d4 here
automatically, but every time I played Shabalov in the past, he's had some
nasty surprise in store for me, with good practical value, at least for one
game, so this time I wanted to have none of that, and just play a chess game
where we both are sort of on our own.} (2. d4) 2... Bg7 3. Bg2 e6 {[#] A very
interesting hibrid, which strong GM Vladimir Malakhov uses quite frequently in
his games, especially against lower-rated players. Black's idea is to play Ne7,
d5 and develop harmony that way. This setup is pretty logical here, since I
haven't played d4 yet, and can't have a huge advantage in the center. A stem
game to study, of what can happen if white gets control of the center, can be
a recent one between Russian Espinenko and our player, Ruifeng Li, in the
recently passed match of the Millenium.} 4. Nf3 d5 5. O-O Ne7 6. d4 O-O 7. Qc2
b6 8. Rd1 {I didn't want to take on d5 yet, since I didn't want to give black
an additional option with Bf5.} (8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Bf5) 8... Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5
{Black has to go for this structure because otherwise I get a stong center
with e4.} 10. b3 {Here I wasn't sure what the best setup for me is.} a5 11. Nc3
Na6 12. Bb2 Nb4 13. Qd2 Nf5 14. a3 {Actually I didn't particularly want to
play this move, since I thought in the long run that weakens my pawn structure.
However, I felt like that knight on b4 had to go.} (14. Rac1 {I wanted to play
this first, but I didn't play this because of a concrete reason.} Ba6 {And now
I was worried that it's hard to meet the Bh6 threat. However, it turned out I
was afraid of ghosts.} 15. Ne5 (15. g4 $5) 15... Bh6 (15... c5 16. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5
17. dxc5 $18) 16. f4 {And I'm just much better. Black is now poorly
coordinated. It's hard for him to defend d5.} (16. e3 f6 $2 17. Nc6 {Also
works.}) 16... Bb7 17. a3 Na6 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. e4 Bxb3 20. exf5 $16) 14... Na6
15. Qc2 Re8 16. e3 Qe7 17. Rac1 Rad8 18. Ne2 {Perhaps this isn't the most
accurate move.} (18. Ne5 {I didn't like this because of c5 with counterplay.
However, I could've improved on this idea.} c5) (18. Bh3 $1 Nd6 19. Ne5 {
And only now Ne5, and now it's slightly awkward for him, and it's not so easy
for him to get c5 in comfortably.} c5 (19... f6 20. Nd3 $14) 20. dxc5) 18... c5
19. Nf4 {Diagram [#] Here I had lots of choices, but here I used psychology to
play this move, and it worked! : )} c4 $2 (19... cxd4 {Of course I expected
this move. But Shabalov is an aggressive player, and really dislikes playing
symmetrical positions without much going on, especially if there is a little
bit of suffering. Plus, I knew he really needed the win to keep his US Open
hopes alive, since his tiebreaks were bad thanks to earlier draws, so 7.5 for
him would never be sufficient.} 20. exd4 {I was thinking to play this,
thinking I was slightly better. I misevaluated this, though, since I don't get
in ne5, and he has a strong move, Bh6, after which only black can be better.} (
20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 {I didn't think this was good enough for anything in
the meanwhile.} (21. exd4 Bh6) 21... Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Qxa3 {I didn't think I can
be better here. Problem is, Rc8 is a huge threat.} 23. Qd1 Rc8 $11) 20... Bh6
$1) 20. Ne5 (20. bxc4 dxc4 21. d5 {Even this would be enough for a huge
advantage.} c3 22. Bxc3 Rc8 23. Qb2) 20... b5 (20... f6 21. Nexg6 hxg6 22. Nxg6
Qd7 23. bxc4 $36 {[#] I saw this line and I thought I have a huge initiative
here, and indeed that's true.}) 21. bxc4 bxc4 (21... dxc4 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. Bxc6
{Is hopeless for black.}) 22. Bc3 {Probably more precise than Qa4 because...} (
22. Qa4 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Nc5 {I thought gives black more practical chances.})
22... Qxa3 23. Nxc4 {I thought a while here, but still ended up making the
wrong dynamic choice.} (23. Ra1 {This was better.} Qe7 (23... Qd6 24. Rxa5 Nc7
25. Rb1 $16 {This is bad for black. My pieces are too active and his pieces
are in awkward spots.}) 24. Rxa5 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nc7 26. Ra7 $18 {And I'm just
winning.}) 23... dxc4 24. Bxb7 Nb4 25. Bxb4 {I couldn't help being
materialistic. I thought this was simplest, but maybe not objectively best.} (
25. Qd2 {Originally I thought this was best, but I missed the sneaky move,
Na2! which gives some practical chances still.} Na2 26. Ra1 Qxc3 27. Rxa2 $16 {
Is better for me, but I thought the other way was cleaner.}) 25... axb4 26.
Qxc4 (26. Ra1 {Would be a mistake because of a nice shot, which thankfully I
saw.} Nxe3 $1 27. fxe3 Qxe3+ 28. Kg2 Rxd4 $11 {With a roughly equal game
suddenly.}) 26... Nd6 27. Qa6 Nxb7 28. Qxb7 Rb8 29. Qd5 (29. Qc6 b3) 29... Red8
30. Qe4 b3 31. Ra1 Qd6 (31... Qb2 {I expected this or Qb4, trying to keep the
queen in closer contact with the passed pawn. White is better, but it's still
not so easy to convert.}) 32. Rab1 Rb5 33. Rb2 {Now my plan is simply to try
to win the pawn on b3.} Bf8 34. Rdb1 Qb6 35. Qd3 Rb8 36. Ra1 {Stopping Ba3.}
Qb7 37. Ne2 h5 38. h4 {[#] Stopping any counterplay.} Bd6 $6 {This is time
pressure inaccuracy. It only helps me.} (38... g5 39. Nc3 {Doesn't work for
black.}) (38... Rb6) (38... Qf3 $16) 39. Nc3 Rb6 40. Ne4 Qe7 41. Rab1 Bc7 (
41... Ba3 42. Rxb3 Rxb3 43. Rxb3 Rxb3 44. Qxb3 Qxe4 45. Qxa3 $18 {Is a
hopeless endgame for black. I consolidate no matter what black tries.} Qb1+ (
45... g5 46. Qc5 $18) 46. Kh2 Qc2 47. Qa8+ Kg7 48. Qf3 {[#]}) 42. Ng5 {I
thought it's simplest to not allow any g5 counterplay.} Qb4 {Diagram [#]} (
42... Qa3 43. Qc4 {Is the point. This fork on c7 and f7 is deadly for black.})
43. Rxb3 {And black resigned since after Qxb3 Rxb3 Rxb3, Qc4 forks c7 and f7.
A very important win for me, and especially nice since I thought it was a
decent game for me against a great fighter like Shabalov, who has given me a
very hard time in the last few decisive games we've played :)} Qxb3 44. Rxb3
Rxb3 45. Qc4 {Diagram [#]} 1-0

[Event "US Masters playoff"]
[Site "Greensboro"]
[Date "2017.08.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.08.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CB35_2017"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.30"]

{I was notified about the necessity to play an armagedon game against Sam
rather unexpectedly, while being in a process of celebration of a great finish
of the tournament :) Well, Walter High spiced the things up by generously
throwing a sweet extra $500 bonus for the winner, so I managed to pull myself
together for such occasion.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3
Nc6 6. Bb5 e6 7. O-O Bd7 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. d4 c4 $2 {Overly ambitious. Taking a
pawn on d4 and defending a slightly worse position with an isolated pawn on d5
was definitely more prudent.} 10. b3 $1 a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Ne5 cxb3 13. Nxc6
bxc6 14. axb3 Bd6 15. Qd3 Qb6 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Rxa3 O-O 18. Rfa1 a5 19. Qc3 g6
20. Rxa5 {Sam was playing a nearly perfect game up to this point, and won a
pawn. Objectively, such position is lost for Black.} Rxa5 21. Rxa5 Rb8 22. Ra3
Qb5 23. g3 h5 24. h4 Kg7 25. Kg2 Rb7 26. Ra8 Re7 27. Rc8 Re6 28. Qc5 Qxc5 29.
dxc5 f6 30. Kf3 g5 31. Ke2 d4 32. Rd8 dxe3 33. fxe3 Re7 34. b4 Rb7 35. Rd4 Kg6
36. Kd3 Kf5 37. Kc4 Re7 38. e4+ Ke5 39. Rd6 Rc7 40. b5 cxb5+ 41. Kxb5 gxh4 42.
gxh4 Rf7 43. Rd5+ Kxe4 44. Rxh5 f5 45. c6 f4 46. Rc5 f3 47. c7 f2 48. c8=Q
f1=Q+ 49. Rc4+ Kf3 50. Qg4+ Kf2 51. Qe4 Qe2 52. Qd4+ Kg3 53. Qd6+ Kh3 54. Qd5
Rf4 {Miraculous escape!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "US Masters op"]
[Site "Greensboro"]
[Date "2017.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Belous, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2554"]
[BlackElo "2561"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2017.08.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CB35_2017"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.30"]

{The following victory secured Belous a clear first place and a nice payout.
It could serve as a representation of modern chess at its finest: low degree
of a risk taking, precise calculation, decent moves throughout the game with
no apparent inaccuracies, and, finally, a severe punishment of every single
opponent’s mistake.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6.
O-O c5 7. Bb3 b6 {A rare and somewhat strange move. It was only played in 44
games out of 3295, according to my databases. Normally, Black develops the
knight on c6 or even goes b7-b5 immediately.} 8. Qe2 Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Rd1 {
Belous prepares a typical punch in the center, d4-d5. For the most recent
examples about the effectiveness of this idea, see the game Aronian-Ivanchuk
from the World Cup 2017 in Tbilisi.} Qb8 11. d5 exd5 $4 {Inexplicable mistake
for the Grand Master of Shabalov's caliber. He shoud have taken the pawn on d5
with the knight, traded bishops, and simply played with his bishop to e7,
preparing to castle. Admittedly, White maintains the intiative and stands
slightly better even in that scenario, but the whole fight would have been
ahead.} 12. e4 $1 d4 13. Qc4 Kd8 14. Qxf7 Ra7 15. Bg5 Qd6 16. Nd5 Kc8 {The
last chance for Black was to take the knight on d5 with his bishop, followed
by h7-h6.} 17. Rac1 $2 ({White missed a simple way to finish the game right
away.} 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. e5 {and Black has to resign.}) 17... Bxd5 18. exd5 Rc7
19. Re1 Kb7 20. Qe6 h6 21. Bh4 Nh5 22. Qg4 Ndf6 23. Qf5 Qf4 24. Qd3 Bd6 25. Bg3
Nxg3 26. hxg3 {Ironically, the Black’s king didn’t get mated but it was
its best protector, the queen, who got trapped in the end. Last time I checked,
most Grand Masters knew how to convert an extra queen (not everybody knows how
to checkmate with bishop and knight though), so Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "US Masters op"]
[Site "Greensboro"]
[Date "2017.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Patel, Advait"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E83"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2017.08.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CB35_2017"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.30"]

1. c4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nc6 8. Nge2
Na5 {The main move is rook to b8. Perhaps, Patel was trying to avoid
Shankland's preparation. Sam is a reknown theoretician and was helping the
World Champion Magnus Calsen in his match against Grand Master Karjakin last
year in New York.} 9. Nf4 b5 10. h4 Nd7 11. h5 e5 12. Nfd5 exd4 13. Bxd4 Ne5
14. hxg6 $2 {Sam misses a beautiful chance.} (14. f4 Nexc4 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16.
Bxg7 $3 Nxd2 17. Bf6 $1 {and White has a big advantage.}) 14... fxg6 15. cxb5
axb5 16. Rd1 Nac6 17. Be3 b4 $2 (17... Rxf3 $1 {and Black is much better now.})
18. Nb5 Rxa2 19. Bh6 Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Rf7 21. Qc1 Be6 $2 ({Advait could have had
a tournament of his life had he noticed} 21... Ra5 $1 {following by bishop to
a6, and the knight on b5 is trapped!}) 22. f4 Bxd5 23. exd5 Qe7 24. Be2 Ng4 25.
dxc6 Ne3 26. Rd4 g5 $4 (26... Nxg2+ 27. Kf2 Ra1 $3 28. Qxa1 Qe3+ 29. Kxg2 Qxe2+
30. Kg1 Qe3+ 31. Kf1 Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Qg3+ {with a perpetual check and a draw}) 27.
Kf2 $1 {White is winning now, supposedly pretty easily. But let's see what
happens next...} Nf5 28. Rxb4 g4 29. Bxg4 $4 {Epic blunder! Pretty much, any
logical move was winning, except this one.} Ra1 $1 {And the battle is going on!
} 30. Qc3 Rxh1 31. Bxf5 Rxf5 32. Nxc7 Qh4+ $2 {This time a final decisive
mistake.} (32... Rc5) (32... Kf7) 33. Qg3+ Qxg3+ 34. Kxg3 Rc5 35. Ne6 Rc2 36.
Nd4 Rc5 37. Rb7 Rhc1 38. b4 R5c4 39. Nf5 Rxc6 40. Ne7+ Kf8 41. Nxc6 Rxc6 42. b5
Rc5 43. b6 Rb5 44. Kf3 h5 45. Ke4 Ke8 46. f5 h4 47. f6 Kf8 48. Rb8+ 1-0

[Event "US Masters op"]
[Site "Greensboro"]
[Date "2017.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[Black "Huschenbeth, Niclas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2627"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Zherebukh, Yaroslav"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.08.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CB35_2017"]
[SourceDate "2017.08.30"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 {What is the most viable strategy for a must-win game? I think
avoiding the main theoretical lines and targeting a long-term strategic play
is a good solution.} c5 3. e3 a6 4. c4 d4 5. exd4 cxd4 6. g3 {Funny as it is,
I was already really happy about my position. I play Benoni as Black, so
having it with an extra tempo as White seems like a nice deal.} Nc6 7. Bg2 Nf6
8. O-O e6 9. d3 Bd6 10. Na3 O-O 11. Nc2 e5 12. b4 Nxb4 {We had a regular
reversed Benoni so far, and playing something like rook to e8 would have lead
to a normal complicated game. I, honestly, didn't even consider the
possibility of trading a pawn on b4 for the pawn on e5; so counter-intuitive
it looked to me to trade a side pawn for a central one.} 13. Nxb4 Bxb4 14. Nxe5
Bc3 15. Rb1 Qa5 {The point of his earlier idea. Black wins a pawn on a2. I
have spent about 25 minutes here and came up with a nice refutation.} 16. f4
Qxa2 17. Qb3 $3 {A pawn down and trying to trade queens? Well, it makes sense
here since the queen on a2 is his only active piece. My pieces start
dominating from now on, and I realized here I must be winning.} Qa5 (17... Qxb3
18. Rxb3 Nd7 19. Ba3 Re8 20. Bd5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 {wasn't good either.}) 18. Ba3
Re8 19. Bd6 $1 {Bringing the bishop to the most active position.} Ra7 20. c5 {
The game is over. I was happy to somewhat redeem myself after a horrible start
with 3.5 out of 6. On the other hand, I felt really bad for Niclas who started
with 5/5 but didn't finish well at all.} Be6 21. Qb6 Raa8 22. Qxa5 Bxa5 23.
Bxb7 Rad8 24. Nc6 Rxd6 25. cxd6 Bd2 26. Ne5 g6 27. Bxa6 Bd5 28. h3 Rd8 29. Bc4
Rxd6 30. Bxd5 Nxd5 31. Rb8+ Kg7 32. Rb7 Rf6 33. Ra1 g5 34. Raa7 gxf4 35. Rxf7+
Rxf7 36. Rxf7+ Kh6 37. g4 Be1 38. Nf3 Bg3 39. Rd7 Ne3 40. Rxd4 1-0

[Event "Ostend"]
[Site "Ostend BEL"]
[Date "1905.06.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Frank James Marshall"]
[Black "Amos Burn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1905.06.12"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {[#]} 4. c3 (4. Nc3) (4. d3) (4. O-O) 4... Nf6
5. d4 (5. d3) (5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4) 5... exd4 (5... Bb6 6. dxe5 Nxe4 7. Qd5) 6.
cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1 (7. Bd2) (7. Nc3) 7... Nxe4 (7... d5) 8. d5 Ne7 (8... Na5) (
8... Nb8) 9. Qd4 (9. Bb3) 9... Nf6 10. Bg5 Ng6 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Re1+ Kf8 (12...
Be7 13. Bxf6) (12... Ne7 13. Bxf6) 13. Bd3 Be7 14. Bxg6 hxg5 15. Ne5 fxg6 (
15... Rh4 16. Qd3) 16. Nxg6+ Kf7 17. Rxe7+ Kxg6 18. Qd3+ Kh6 (18... Kh5 19.
Rxg7 (19. h4)) 19. h4 g4 20. h5 (20. d6) 20... Nxh5 21. Qf5 g6 22. Qf4+ (22.
Rxh5+) 22... g5 23. Qf6# 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM I"]
[Black "Mating Net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/1k6/6Q1/2q5/NP6/K7/3r4/R2R4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{[#]} 1... Qc3# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM II"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/8/5k2/5q2/1Q4PN/6PK/r7/1R6 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Rxh4+ 2. Kxh4 (2. gxh4 Qf3#) 2... Rh2# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM III"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/5pk1/8/8/4np2/5P2/5RP1/4B1K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]

{[#]} 1... Ng3 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM IV"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/5k2/8/8/5pQ1/5Pn1/5KP1/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Re2+ 2. Kg1 Re1+ 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM V"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q3r3/6k1/8/8/8/8/3PQP2/3RKR2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Rxe2+ 2. Kxe2 Qe4# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "PROBLEM VI"]
[Black "Mating net"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini, Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/k7/8/1p6/8/K7/2q5 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]

{[#]} 1... Kb5 2. Kb3 Qb1# 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "142"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Bf5
8. Nd2 Nc6 9. e4 Bg6 10. Bb5 Rc8 11. h4 h5 12. Re1 e6 13. a4 Be7 14. g3 O-O 15.
a5 Rfd8 16. a6 b6 17. Kc2 Ne5 18. f4 Ng4 19. Kb3 f6 20. Nc4 Nf2 21. e5 Ne4 22.
Be3 Bf5 23. Rg1 Rd5 24. Rae1 Kf7 25. Bc1 Bh7 26. Re3 Rcd8 27. Bc6 Nf2 28. Re2
Nd3 29. exf6 gxf6 30. Bb5 Rg8 31. Bd2 Rgd8 32. Be3 Be4 33. Rd2 Rg8 34. Ka4 Rgd8
35. Kb3 Rg8 36. Ka2 f5 37. Rh2 Rc8 38. Rd2 Rg8 39. Re2 Bf3 40. Rh2 Bf6 41. Nd2
Bg4 42. Rf1 Rgd8 43. Nc4 e5 44. fxe5 Bxe5 45. Bg5 Bxg3 46. Rg2 Bh3 47. Rxg3
Bxf1 48. Rf3 Be2 {[#]} 49. Bxd8 Bxf3 50. Bxb6 {[#]} axb6 51. Bc6 {[#]} Be4 52.
a7 Rd8 53. Nd6+ Rxd6 54. Bxe4 Rd8 55. a8=Q Rxa8+ 56. Bxa8 {[#]} Ne5 57. Kb3 f4
58. Kc2 Kg7 59. Kd2 Ng6 60. Kd3 Nxh4 61. Ke4 f3 62. Ke3 Kf6 63. b4 c4 64. Bd5
Kf5 65. Bxc4 Kg4 66. Kf2 Ng6 67. Be6+ Kf4 68. Bf7 Ne5 69. Bxh5 Nd3+ 70. Kf1 Kg3
71. Bf7 Nf2 0-1

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.09.09"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Xiangzhi, Bu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2828"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Be6 8. Re1
Qd7 9. Nbd2 Rab8 10. Bc2 d5 11. h3 h6 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Bd6
15. Re1 Bxh3 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Nf1 Rbe8 18. d4 f5 19. Bb3 c6 20. f4 Kh7 21.
Bxd5 cxd5 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. Bxe3 g5 24. Kf2 gxf4 25. Qf3 fxe3+ 26. Nxe3 Qh2+ 27.
Kf1 Rg8 28. Qxf5+ Rg6 29. Ke1 h5 30. Kd1 Kh6 31. Nc2 h4 32. Ne1 h3 33. Nf3 Qg2
34. Ne1 Qg4+ 35. Qxg4 Rxg4 36. Nf3 {[#]} Rg1+ 0-1

[Event "Cultural Village Tournament"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.11.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sethuraman, SP."]
[Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2543"]
[BlackElo "2472"]
[Annotator "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.03"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Bd7 8. Bf4
a6 9. Qd2 Re8 10. Rfd1 Qc8 11. Bg5 Bf5 12. Rac1 Qd7 13. d5 Nd8 14. c5 dxc5 15.
Ne5 Qc8 16. Bh6 Bh8 17. Na4 b6 18. b4 Nd7 19. Nc6 Nxc6 20. dxc6 Ne5 21. bxc5 b5
22. Nb6 cxb6 23. cxb6 Nc4 24. Rxc4 bxc4 25. b7 Qc7 26. bxa8=Q Rxa8 27. Qf4 Qxf4
28. Bxf4 Bb2 29. c7 Rf8 30. Rd8 Bc8 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Bb7 Rf8 33. c8=Q Rxc8 34.
Bxc8 c3 35. Be5 {[#]} Ba1 36. Bf4 Bb2 37. Bxa6 c2 38. Kf1 Kf8 39. a4 c1=Q+ 40.
Bxc1 Bxc1 41. Ke1 e6 42. Kd1 Ba3 43. Kc2 Ke7 44. Kb3 Bc5 45. e3 Kd6 46. Kc4 Ba7
47. a5 Bb8 48. Bb7 Kc7 49. Bg2 Ba7 50. Kb5 f5 51. Kc4 Kd6 52. Kd3 g5 53. f4
gxf4 54. exf4 e5 55. Ke2 exf4 56. gxf4 Kc5 57. Bb7 Kb5 58. a6 Kb6 59. Bc8 Bb8
60. Kf3 h6 61. h3 Ka7 62. h4 Kb6 63. h5 Ka7 64. Bxf5 Kxa6 65. Ke4 Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.03.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Johnson, Timothy"]
[Black "Wyckoff, Eddie"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[BlackElo "1948"]
[Annotator "Wyckoff, Eddie"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1rb1r1k1/p4ppp/2p2b2/3p4/2P3P1/qPN2Q1P/P1P1NP2/1K1R3R b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

{In this position, there are already three Black pieces trained on the White
king, so we know there's bound to be trouble.} 1... Rxe2 $5 ({The computer's
choice is} 1... dxc4 {, but this is less interesting than the game.}) 2. g5 {
Instead of going with either capture, White tries to mix it up by attacking
another piece. Immediately after he played 2.g5, I saw My Best Move, but took
a minute to make sure it was correct:} ({If} 2. Nxe2 Qb2#) ({and if} 2. Qxe2
Bxg4 $1 ({It is also possible, though less accurate, to play} 2... Bxc3 3. Qe8+
Qf8) 3. Qe3 Bf5 $1 {and c2 is crushing with best play, e.g.} 4. Rd2 dxc4 5. Qf4
Qb4 6. Nd1 Qb5 7. Kc1 cxb3 8. axb3 Bxc2 $1) 2... Bf5 $3 {Many other moves win,
but this is best. Now three Black pieces are hanging, but all are poisoned.} 3.
gxf6 {Since 3.Qxf5(e2) meets with 3.Bxc3 and an unstoppable mate threat on b2,
this appears to be the most reasonable capture. Creative is the "Stockfish
best" continuation:} (3. Rd3 $1 {anything else gets mated fast.} dxc4 4. Qf4 ({
consider} 4. Qxf5 cxb3 $1) 4... Rbe8 5. gxf6 Rxc2 $1 6. Kxc2 Bxd3+ 7. Kd1 Qb2
8. Qd2 Bc2+ 9. Qxc2 Rd8+ 10. Ke2 Qxc2+ {. Sometimes, a quality game has
nothing at stake.}) 3... Rxb3+ 4. Ka1 Qb2# {, White checkmated.} 0-1

