[Event "NIC Classic KO"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2021.05.02"]
[Round "3.23"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2847"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2021.04.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8.
Bd3 Bg4 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nge2 Bxe2 12. Nxe2 O-O 13. Rc1 Nd8 14. Qa3
Qd7 15. O-O g6 16. Nf4 Re8 17. Bc2 c6 18. Nd3 Ne6 19. f4 Ng7 20. f5 g5 21. Ne5
Qc7 22. h4 g4 23. Qc3 Ngh5 24. Qe1 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qxe5 26. Qc3 Qg3 27. Qe1 Qd6
28. Qf2 Re8 29. Rcd1 Qe5 30. Rd4 c5 31. Rd2 Ng3 32. Rfd1 {[#]} Kf8 (32... Nge4
33. Bxe4 Nxe4 34. Rxd5 Nxf2 35. Rxe5) 33. Rd3 Nfe4 34. Qe1 Qf6 35. Rxd5 Qxh4
36. Bxe4 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Nxe4+ 38. Ke2 Qxg2+ 39. Kd3 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-B 75th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2013.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2572"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2013.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
Qc7 9. f4 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd7 13. Bf4 O-O {[#]} 14. Ne4
Nxe5 15. Qd4 f6 16. Bxe5 fxe5 17. Rxf8+ Bxf8 18. Qc4 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 Qxb2 20. Rf1
Qb4 21. Qd3 {[#]} Qe7 (21... Ra7) 22. h4 h6 23. Ng5 e4 24. Qxe4 hxg5 25. Qg6
1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 6th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.08.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 c5 12. dxc5 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qc7 {[#]}
14. O-O-O (14. O-O Nd5 (14... Bb7 15. f3 Nd5 16. Bd4 Rfd8) 15. Nxd5 exd5 {
[%csl Gc8,Ge3]}) (14. f3 Nd5) 14... Ng4 (14... Bd7 15. Qa3 Bc6 16. f3 Nd5 17.
Bc5) 15. Rd2 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Rb8 17. Rhd1 a5 18. Kb1 h6 19. Ka1 Rb4 20. Qc2 Rb8
21. Qe4 Bb7 22. Qd4 Ba8 23. e4 Rfc8 24. Qf2 Bc6 25. Qc5 Be8 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27.
Rd6 Kf8 28. Ra6 Rc5 29. Ra7 Rbc8 30. Kb1 Rh5 31. h4 Re5 32. Kc2 g5 33. Rf1 Kg7
34. Rb7 Kg6 35. Kd2 f5 36. hxg5 fxe4 37. Ke3 Bc6 38. Re7 Rxg5 39. Rxe6+ Kg7 40.
Re7+ Kg6 41. Rd1 Kf6 42. Ra7 Ke6 43. Rh1 h5 44. g4 Be8 45. gxh5 Bxh5 46. Nxe4
Rf5 47. Ra6+ Ke7 48. Nd6 Re5+ 49. Kd4 1-0

[Event "World Youth Stars 4th"]
[Site "Kirishi"]
[Date "2006.05.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Volodin, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2506"]
[BlackElo "2352"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1rk2/6b1/1q2ppP1/pp1PpQB1/8/PPP2BP1/6K1/7R w - - 0 37"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2006.05.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "4"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 37. Qxf6+ (37. Qxf6+ Bxf6 38. Bxf6 {[%cal Gh1h8]}) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Piterenka blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.12.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B11"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r4/pp1r1pkp/2pnp1p1/q7/2PP4/1P1R2NP/P3QPP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2012.12.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 32. Qe5+ (32. Qe5+ Qxe5 33. dxe5) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 1st League 59th"]
[Site "Tomsk"]
[Date "2006.09.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Chebotarev, Oleg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1nrk1/5pp1/2q1p3/p3B3/3p1P2/1Q6/PPP5/2K1R1R1 w - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2006.09.03"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 27. Bxg7 Nxg7 28. Rxg7+ (28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qg3+ Kf6 (29... Kh8 30. Qh4+)
30. Qg5#) 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.07"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1b1k/6pp/p2p1Pb1/2r5/4q3/1B4Q1/PB6/K2R1R2 w - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow Our Heritage"]
[BlackTeam "Samara Lada"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{[#]} 35. Qxd6 (35. Qxd6 Bxd6 (35... Rxd6 36. fxg7+ Bxg7 37. Rf8#) (35... Rcc8
36. Qxf8+) 36. fxg7#) 1-0

[Event "World Youth Stars 5th"]
[Site "Kirishi"]
[Date "2007.05.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Bindrich, Falko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2602"]
[BlackElo "2469"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/b1p2pn1/p2pn3/1p2p3/4P2N/1BPP1N1q/PPQ2P2/R3K1R1 w Q - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2007.05.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "11"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 24. O-O-O (24. O-O-O) 1-0

[Event "Capablanca Memorial Elite 45th"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "2010.06.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B74"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q3r1k1/5pBp/2bp2p1/8/r4P2/1NPB4/P2R2RP/Q6K b - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2010.06.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 26... Rxa2 27. Rxa2 Qxa2 (27... Qxa2 28. Qxa2) 28. Bf1 Bxg2+ (28... Bxg2+
29. Bxg2 Qxa1+ 30. Nxa1 Re1+) 0-1

[Event "Chessable Masters KO"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2021.08.07"]
[Round "3.11"]
[White "So, W."]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2021.08.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 9. c3 O-O 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Re1 h6 12. Nbd2 Bf8 13. Nf1 b4 14. Ng3 bxc3 15.
bxc3 d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Bd2 Rb8 18. a5 Nf6 19. Ba4 Bd6 20. h3 Na7 21. Bc2 Nb5
22. Qc1 Bc6 23. Nh4 Bf8 24. Nhf5 Qd5 25. Ne3 Qc5 26. Ra4 Nd6 27. d4 Qa7 28. Ra1
Qa8 29. f3 exd4 30. cxd4 Nb5 31. Nef5 Bd7 32. Re5 Qa7 33. Be3 c5 34. Nxh6+ gxh6
35. Bxh6 Rxe5 36. dxe5 c4+ 37. Kh2 Nh7 38. Bxf8 Nxf8 39. Qg5+ Ng6 40. Nh5 Qd4
41. Bxg6 Qxa1 42. Bxf7+ Kxf7 43. Qf6+ 1-0

[Event "Chessable Masters KO"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2021.08.07"]
[Round "3.13"]
[White "So, W."]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2021.08.03"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a4 exd4 15.
cxd4 h6 16. Bc2 Nb4 17. Bb1 c5 18. d5 Nd7 19. Ra3 c4 20. Nd4 Qf6 21. N2f3 Nc5
22. b3 Nbd3 23. Bxd3 Nxd3 24. Re3 b4 25. Ra1 Ne5 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Nf5 c3 28.
Rf3 Qd8 29. Nxh6+ gxh6 30. Rg3+ Kh7 31. Qg4 1-0

[Event "TCEC 21 Superfinal 2021"]
[Site "tcec-chess.com INT"]
[Date "2021.07.28"]
[Round "46.1"]
[White "Stockfish 14_202107131735"]
[Black "LCZero 0.28-dev+_69626"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "3639"]
[BlackElo "3623"]
[PlyCount "299"]
[EventDate "2021.07.20"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "100"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,165,19,29,53,13,20,-1,25,20,34,34,27,33,48,17,29,28,33,45,36,38,47,43,
46,21,35,40,43,47,89,22,32,30,34,33,54,35,64,35,27,22,53,-11,29,24,50,62,84,22,
43,-6,-20,40,42,44,44,39,44,27,37,46,69,66,76,65,65,62,65,62,62,58,60,58,58,62,
100,2,43,43,43,43,49,27,43,35,52,47,50,43,43,6,32,17,50,16,49,16,58,37,59,42,
53,74,68,40,49,26,52,46,64,34,82,74,74,65,90,56,68,51,70,46,46,51,61,51,52,42,
64,53,76,82,77,65,85,85,95,86,99,108,115,109,145,108,113,70,106,79,93,87,87,87,
91,87,131,91,91,60,91,80,83,81,79,77,97,85,95,83]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 b6
4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nc3 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7
11. Be3 Rc8 12. f4 Qb8 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Rad1 h6 15. f5 e5 16. Nb3 Bc6 17. Nd2
Nc5 18. b3 a6 19. a4 Qb7 20. Bf2 g6 21. h3 Kg7 22. Be3 Rb8 23. Rf1 a5 24. Nb5
Rfd8 25. Kh2 g5 26. Nc3 Rh8 27. Bf3 Qa6 28. Qg2 Qa7 29. Rb1 Qb7 30. Nd5 Qa7 31.
Be2 Rbc8 32. Rbe1 Qb7 33. Rc1 Rb8 34. Rce1 Rbc8 35. Rc1 Ra8 36. Bd1 Nd3 37. Rb1
Rac8 38. Nc3 Nb4 39. Rb2 Nd3 40. Rb1 Nc5 41. Bc2 Na6 42. Rbd1 Nb4 43. Bb1 Na6
44. Qe2 Nc5 45. Bf2 Ra8 46. Bc2 Rab8 47. Rde1 Ra8 48. Ndb1 Qa6 49. Na3 Rad8 50.
Qe3 Rc8 51. Nd5 Qb7 52. Re2 Be8 53. Rb1 Bc6 54. Ree1 Bd8 55. Nc3 Ncd7 56. Nab5
Be7 57. Rbd1 Rcd8 58. Ra1 Rb8 59. Na3 Rbc8 60. Rec1 Nc5 61. Nd5 Bd8 62. Re1 Be7
63. Rad1 Bd8 64. Rf1 Ncd7 65. Qe2 Qb8 66. Nxf6 Nxf6 67. Nb1 Qc7 68. Nc3 Be7 69.
Be3 Qb7 70. Qf2 Bd8 71. Qe2 Be7 72. Bc1 Qa7 73. Ba3 Rcd8 74. Rd2 Qb7 75. Rfd1
Qc7 76. Qe3 Qb7 77. Qe2 Qc7 78. Rf1 Qa7 79. Qd3 Qb7 80. Rdf2 Rde8 81. Qd2 Rd8
82. Bc1 Rc8 83. Ba3 Rcd8 84. Bd3 Rc8 85. Qe2 Qa7 86. Bc1 Bd8 87. Kg2 Be7 88.
Bd2 Rcg8 89. Nd5 Rf8 90. Be3 Qb7 91. Rb1 Rb8 92. Rff1 Bd8 93. Qf3 Qc8 94. Rh1
Nd7 {[#]} 95. h4 gxh4 96. Rbc1 Bb7 97. Rh3 Bc6 98. f6+ Nxf6 99. Nxf6 Bxf6 100.
gxh4 Be7 101. c5 bxc5 102. Rg3+ Kf8 103. Rf1 Ke8 104. Qxf7+ Kd7 105. Rg7 Qe8
106. Qf5+ Kd8 107. Bd2 Ra8 108. Bc4 Bd7 109. Qf3 Ra7 110. Kh2 Kc8 111. Qd3 Bf8
112. Rff7 Bxg7 113. Qxd6 Bf8 114. Ba6+ Rxa6 115. Qxa6+ Kb8 116. Rf6 Qc8 117.
Rb6+ Kc7 118. Qa7+ Kd8 119. Rb8 Bd6 120. Rxc8+ Bxc8 121. Qf7 Be7 122. Qd5+ Ke8
123. h5 Rf8 124. Qc6+ Bd7 125. Qg6+ Rf7 126. Bxh6 Bf6 127. Qg8+ Ke7 128. Be3
Be6 129. Bxc5+ Kd7 130. Qb8 Be7 131. Qb5+ Kc7 132. Bb6+ Kd6 133. Bc5+ Kc7 134.
Qxa5+ Kd7 135. Qb5+ Kc7 136. Bb6+ Kd6 137. Ba7 Bd8 138. Bc5+ Kc7 139. Qb6+ Kd7
140. Qd6+ Kc8 141. Qxe6+ Rd7 142. h6 Bf6 143. h7 Bg7 144. Bb6 Kb7 145. Qxd7+
Kxb6 146. Qxg7 Kc5 147. Qxe5+ Kb6 148. h8=Q Kb7 149. Qb5+ Kc7 150. Qhb8# 1-0

[Event "54th Biel GM 2021"]
[Site "Biel SUI"]
[Date "2021.08.02"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Pichot, Alan"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2021.07.27"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 Qb6 5. g4 Bd7 6. h5 c5 7. dxc5 Qxc5 8. c3 Nh6
9. Be2 Nc6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. f4 f6 12. b4 Qc7 13. b5 Nd8 14. Qxd5 Nxg4 15. Bd4
Nh6 16. Qc4 Qa5 17. Nd2 Rc8 18. Qd5 e6 19. Qb3 Nf5 20. h6 g6 21. exf6 Nxd4 22.
cxd4 Bb4 23. Rd1 O-O 24. Ngf3 Rc3 25. Qb1 Bxb5 26. Qe4 Bc6 27. Qe5 Rxf3 0-1

[Event "Chessable Masters Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.08.02"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Mishra, Abhimanyu"]
[Black "Artemiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2704"]
[Annotator "Mishra"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,181,30,30,30,-10,30,36,42,18,18,7,16,14,41,44,56,-13,54,41,47,39,39,
45,46,28,48,17,15,11,-4,-24,-16,-25,-18,-18,0,-23,-23,-23,-23,-37,-11,-11,-26,
-32,-15,-15,-23,-32,-27,-27,-19,-36,-27,-35,-35,-25,-35,-38,-39,-59,-43,-41,
-40,-41,-32,-38,-30,-26,-26,-26,-25,-27,-25,-23,-13,-16,-16,-33,-27,-24,-24,
-24,-23,-41,-23,-23,-23,-16,-12,-14,-14,-14,-14,-14,-14,-16,-14,-14,-13,-16,
-13,-13,-13,-14,-14,-14,-16,-14,-14,-14,-13,-13,-15,-15,-15,-17,-17,-20,-20,
-17,0,-6,-22,-33,0,0,0,0,0,-6,0,0,0,-9,-9,-1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-9,-9,-9,-9,-9,-9,
-9,-9,-9,-9,-9,0,-9,-6,-9,0,-6,0,0,0,-9,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 e6 $5 ({One of the main lines against 4.
Qb3.} 4... dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 {or} (5... Bg4 {are also heavily discussed
theoretical positions.})) 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Nc3 Qa5 $5 {A very interesting move,
pinning the c3-knight and preparing ...Nf6-e4.} ({The main line here is} 6...
Be7 {.}) 7. Bd2 Qb6 8. Qc2 $5 {I felt that since Black wasted a tempo with ...
Qa5-Qb6, misplacing it, I should preserve the queens.} ({The alternative} 8. e3
Qxb3 9. axb3 b6 {[%cal Gc8b7] Seems fine for black} 10. cxd5 exd5) 8... Be7 9.
e3 O-O 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 12. O-O Qc7 $5 {This move keeps the tension
between the c5- and d4-pawns, giving me an additional option that I did not
use.} 13. Bb3 $6 {After this slightly imprecise move, it seems as black is
fighting for an advantage already} ({Perhaps} 13. d5 {was a try for an
advantage but after} exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Nf6 {[%cal Gc8d7,Gd7c6] Black
seems to be fine with ...Bd7-c6 next.}) 13... a6 $1 {Preparing ...c5-c4 and ...
b7-b5.} ({The immediate} 13... c4 $2 {fails to} 14. Nb5 $1) 14. dxc5 Qxc5 15.
Ne4 $5 {Relieving the tension on the c-file.} ({I thought} 15. Rac1 b5 16. Rfd1
Bb7 {[%cal Gb7h1,Gc5h5,Ge7d6] was better for Black.}) 15... Qxc2 16. Bxc2 b6
17. Nxf6+ ({I did not like} 17. Bc3 {due to} Nd5 18. Bd4 Bb7 {with ideas like .
..Nd5-b4. The white pieces are oddly placed.}) 17... Bxf6 18. Nd4 Bb7 19. Bc3
Rac8 20. Rad1 $6 {Probably a bit inaccurate as now the rook on f1 does not
have a good square. Better was} (20. Rfd1 $1 {[%cal Ga1c1]}) 20... Ne5 {[#]}
21. Bb3 $1 {[%cal Gd4e6] Planning to take on c4 whenever ...Ne5-c4 occurs as
b2-b3 would be impossible due to the hanging c3-bishop.} Rfe8 ({The second
point of 21.Bb3 was seen after} 21... Rfd8 $2 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Bxe6+ Kf8 24.
Bxc8 Rxc8 25. Bd4 {with an edge for White.}) 22. Rd2 {[%cal Gf1d1]} Nc4 23.
Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Ne2 {Opening the d-file and trying to exchange bishops} ({Here} 
24. f3 {, intending e3-e4, was equally possible. Black might have a tiny edge.}
) 24... Be7 $1 {Keeping the bishops on the board} 25. Rfd1 Rcc8 $1 {Preparing
to contest the d-file.} 26. Nf4 ({The alternative} 26. Rd7 Red8 {would not
change anything.}) 26... Red8 ({Probably best was} 26... a5 $5 {with the idea
to change diagonal with ...Bb7-a6-c4. Here Black stands slightly better.}) 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. f3 $1 {Played with the idea of e3-e4 next to
block the b7-bishop.} Bc7 30. Nd3 f6 31. e4 Kf7 32. h3 e5 $6 {[%csl Rc7][%cal
Rc7h2] An inaccuracy?} (32... f5 $1 {Is still around equal, but is better than
what he played. Black wants to open as many diagonals as possible since he has
the two bishops.}) 33. Kf2 Ke6 34. Ke3 a5 35. a3 Bd6 (35... a4 {White has no
problems after} 36. g4 {as Black does not have a way in.}) 36. b4 $1 {Trying
to exchange as many pawns as possible} axb4 ({Here} 36... a4 37. g4 {leaves
the position too locked for black to make serious progress}) 37. Bxb4 Ba6 ({
Artemiev might have played} 37... Bc7 {but the future of the c7-bishop is not
clear. In the game he decided to let it get exchanged off.}) 38. Bxd6 Kxd6 39.
Nb4 ({Setting up the blockade directly with} 39. Nb2 $1 {was easier.}) 39...
Bf1 40. Kf2 Bc4 41. Ke3 Kc5 {[#]} 42. Nd3+ $1 {Black's plan here is to
penetrate with his king via the a4- or c4-squares. Therefore I felt bringing
the knight to b2 was the easiest solution.} Kb5 ({Exchanging the minor pieces
with} 42... Bxd3 43. Kxd3 Kb5 44. Kc3 Ka4 45. Kb2 {leads to a draw.}) 43. Nb2
$1 g5 {Gaining more space and preventing the direct h3-h4.} 44. g3 Bb3 45. h4 {
From here, I think it is an easy draw. He kept on trying to trick me, but
never suceeded!} gxh4 46. gxh4 Ba2 47. Kd3 Bf7 48. Ke3 Bb3 49. Kd3 Kc5 50. Ke3
Bc2 51. Kd2 Bb3 52. Ke3 Bf7 53. Kd3 Bh5 54. Na4+ $1 (54. Ke3 b5 55. a4 b4 56.
Nd3+ Kc4 57. a5 $1 {holds, even though it is very uneccessary.}) 54... Kc6 ({
No better is} 54... Kb5 55. Nc3+ Kc6 56. Nd5 $1 {with equality.}) 55. Ke3 b5
56. Nc3 Bf7 ({If} 56... Kc5 $6 57. Nd5 f5 58. Nf6 f4+ 59. Ke2 {all of a sudden
White is pressing for a win as} Bg6 $2 {loses to} 60. h5 Bf7 61. h6 Bg6 62.
Nd7+ $1 Kd6 63. Nf8 $1 {.}) 57. f4 $5 {Trading off the weak f3-pawn.} Kc5 58.
fxe5 fxe5 59. Kd3 Bc4+ 60. Ke3 Bf1 61. Nb1 $1 {Preventing Kc4} Bh3 62. Kd3 Kd6
63. Nd2 Bg2 64. Ke3 {[#] Artemiev tried a bit more, but White's position
cannot be broken.} Bh3 65. Kd3 h6 66. Ke3 Bg4 67. Kd3 Kc6 68. Kc3 Bh3 69. Nf3
Kd6 70. Kb4 Bg2 71. Nd2 Kc6 72. Kc3 Kc5 73. Kd3 Kb6 74. Kc3 Ka5 75. Nb3+ Kb6 ({
It's also equal after} 75... Ka4 76. Kb2 b4 77. Nc5+ $1 Kb5 78. axb4 Kxb4 79.
Nd7 Bxe4 80. Nxe5 {.}) 76. Nd2 Bh1 77. Kb4 Kc6 78. Kc3 Kc5 79. Nb3+ Kd6 80. Nd2
Bg2 81. Kb4 Kc6 82. Kc3 Kb7 83. Kb4 Kb6 84. a4 $1 {The final simplification.}
bxa4 85. Nc4+ Kc7 86. Nxe5 Bxe4 87. Ng4 h5 88. Nf6 Bf3 89. Kxa4 Kd6 90. Nxh5
Bxh5 91. Ka3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chessable Masters Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.08.02"]
[Round "14.1"]
[White "Mishra, Abhimanyu"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Mishra"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,139,31,16,57,55,56,37,37,48,78,11,4,4,11,11,11,10,42,42,67,44,40,45,
92,104,81,63,90,79,81,81,95,82,75,75,105,89,89,57,83,96,96,60,53,53,116,92,88,
105,148,102,102,102,102,106,188,176,251,241,239,186,193,193,190,168,190,190,
158,157,174,195,201,95,95,99,91,80,67,-39,0,0,0,0,0,-19,-13,-54,-54,-54,-43,
-75,-16,-16,111,103,97,97,215,221,507,507,507,529,529,537,529,316,520,95,102,
82,82,75,507,539,539,539,539,546,543,543,543,507,507,507,507,507,794,794,804,
804,812,804,814,814,814,804,814,814,1765,29984]} 1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6
4. Nc3 Bf5 5. d5 $1 Bg7 6. Nd4 Bd7 7. e4 O-O 8. Be2 c5 $5 {An interesting move,
gaining some space and kicking the d4-knight away.} ({Also possible was} 8...
e6 {, trying to break open the white center.}) 9. Nf3 ({But} 9. Nc2 $1 {
was stronger, with the point being that after} e6 10. dxe6 $1 Bxe6 11. O-O Nc6
12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 {Black doesn't have the ...g6-g5 and ...Nf6-h5 ideas, so he
stands worse.}) ({Now} 9. dxc6 $2 bxc6 {is quite comfortable for Black.}) 9...
e6 10. O-O ({I also considered} 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. O-O Nc6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4
Qb6 14. Rb1 g5 15. Bg3 {.}) 10... exd5 11. exd5 {This structure is better for
White if Black cannot trade off two minor pieces, as the black position is
cramped.} a6 $6 {Black should have traded the d7 bishop as quick as possible} (
{Even though Black is still worse after} 11... Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 {
, at least he was able to trade one piece!}) 12. Bf4 $6 ({Now} 12. h3 $1 {
would have been very strong. The black pieces struggle to develop comfortably.}
) 12... Bg4 $1 13. Qd2 {White has more space and is better.} Re8 14. h3 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 Qc7 16. Rae1 ({Even stronger was} 16. g4 $1 {directly as} Nbd7 {
is met by} 17. g5 {and now the f6-knight lacks good squares.}) 16... Nbd7 17.
g4 Nf8 18. b3 $5 {Simply defending the c4-pawn against any ...Nd7-e5 tricks.}
N6d7 19. g5 $2 ({White is still much better but} 19. Ne4 $1 {is close to
winning as} Be5 $2 {loses to} 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Bg2 {. White prepares the
f4-f5 push and Black does not have a defense.}) 19... f5 20. gxf6 $1 {This
compromises the kingside pawn structure a bit, but I felt that it was more
important to get the g4- and e4- squares for my pieces.} Nxf6 21. Bg4 {[#]} ({
Something like} 21. Kg2 $1 {is a bit better than the game continuation as
Black does not have a plan.}) 21... Nxg4 ({In this position we both missed} 
21... Qf7 $1 {. The idea is that after} 22. Bxd6 {Black has} Nxg4 23. hxg4 Qf6
$1 24. Bxf8 ({slightly inferior is} 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Qxd6) 24... Rxe1 $1
25. Rxe1 Qxc3 26. Qxc3 Bxc3 27. Rc1 Bb2 28. Rc2 Rxf8 29. Rxb2 Rf4 {with a
holdable rook ending.}) 22. hxg4 {Now the d6-pawn is in grave danger as Nc3-e4
comes next.} Qd7 23. f3 h5 24. gxh5 $1 {I felt that only White could attack on
the kingside, so I was justified in opening it up.} Bd4+ 25. Kg2 ({Best was} 
25. Kh2 $1 {Already here I was getting low on time.}) 25... gxh5 26. Ne4 $1 Ng6
27. Bg3 ({Stronger was} 27. Kh2 $1 {, preparing Rf1-g1! next!}) 27... Qg7 28.
Qg5 Rf8 29. Kh1 Ne5 30. Qxg7+ $2 (30. Qxh5 {was simply winning.}) 30... Kxg7
31. Nxd6 Nxf3 32. Re7+ Kg6 33. Re6+ Kg7 34. Kg2 h4 35. Re7+ $6 (35. Nxb7 $1 {
was the best as} hxg3 {can be met by} 36. Rxf3 {.}) ({Not} 35. Rxf3 $2 h3+ $1 {
and Black is back in the game.}) 35... Kg6 36. Be1 $2 ({Again} 36. Nxb7 $1 {
wins.}) 36... Nxe1+ 37. Rexe1 b5 $2 ({Better was} 37... Rxf1 $1 38. Rxf1 b5 {
with a holdable ending.}) 38. Re6+ Kh5 39. Nf5 $2 {[#] When I played this I
completely missed Black's next move.} ({The correct knight move was} 39. Nf7 $1
{when play continues} Rg8+ 40. Kh2 Rg6 41. Ree1 {[%cal Gf1f5]} Rg3 42. d6 {
with a winning position for White.}) 39... Kg5 $1 40. Ne3 ({The point is that} 
40. Nxd4 $2 {fails to} h3+ $1 {.}) 40... bxc4 41. bxc4 Rxf1 42. Nxf1 Rf8 43.
Nh2 Rf2+ 44. Kh3 Kf5 45. Re8 Rxa2 $6 ({Black should have gone for} 45... Bf6 $1
{preventing Nh2-g4, and with a better ending.}) 46. Ng4 $1 Rc2 $6 {Imprecise.}
(46... Ra1 {would have made a draw with the point being} 47. d6 $2 {fails to}
Rh1+ $1 48. Nh2 (48. Kg2 Rg1+) 48... Be5 {.}) 47. d6 $1 {All of a sudden White
has all the chances again.} Rc3+ 48. Kxh4 {[#]} Rxc4 ({Editor's note: Black
could have held with the miracle shot} 48... Bf2+ $3 49. Nxf2 ({forced; if} 49.
Kh5 $4 Rh3#) 49... Rxc4+ 50. Kh3 Rd4 {and after the d-pawn falls, the two
remaining pawns are equal to the knight.}) 49. Kh5 $1 ({Not} 49. d7 $4 Bf6+ {.}
) 49... Rc1 50. Nh6+ Kf4 51. Rf8+ Ke4 52. d7 Rh1+ 53. Kg4 ({The best route to
the win was} 53. Kg6 $1 Rg1+ 54. Ng4 $3 ({not} 54. Kf7 $2 Rf1+ 55. Ke8 Rxf8+
56. Kxf8 Bf6 $11) 54... Rxg4+ 55. Kh5 {.}) 53... Rg1+ 54. Kh3 $2 {A mistake --
the king is too far from the rest of the action.} Bf6 $1 55. Rxf6 Rd1 56. Rf7
c4 $2 ({The saving line was} 56... Ke5 $1 57. Ng8 Ke6 58. Re7+ Kf5 {as White
cannot coordinate his pieces to queen the d-pawn.}) 57. Re7+ $1 Kf3 58. Ng4 c3
59. Rf7+ Ke2 60. Re7+ {Repeating once to gain time on the clock} Kf3 61. Ne5+
Kf4 62. Re8 $1 c2 63. d8=Q Rh1+ $5 {The last attempt to save the game.} ({
White wins after} 63... Rxd8 64. Rxd8 c1=Q (64... Kxe5 65. Rc8 $18) 65. Nd3+ {.
}) 64. Kg2 Rg1+ 65. Kf2 Rf1+ 66. Ke2 Re1+ 67. Kxe1 c1=Q+ 68. Qd1 Qe3+ 69. Qe2
Qc1+ 70. Kf2 {Overall, this was a very interesting and exciting game, with
both sides missing chances under severe time pressure. We all know how
tremendously strong Harikrishna is. He just got unlucky towards the end with
few seconds on his clock.} 1-0

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "King, Alexander B"]
[Black "Deshpande, Aaryan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E62"]
[WhiteElo "2381"]
[BlackElo "2119"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. d4 Nc6 7. Nc3 Bf5 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. e4 Bd7 {Unsure about the right theoretical continuation here,
I burn 45 minutes over the next four moves and later end up in premature time
trouble. (The time control for the tournament was 40 moves in 80 minutes
followed by sudden death in 30 minutes, with a 30-second increment.)} 11. Qe2 (
{White's normal setup is} 11. Qc2 a6 12. b3 b5 13. Bb2 {when Black's queenside
counterplay is mostly absorbed.}) 11... a6 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. a3 Ne8 14. f4 Bd4+
15. Kh1 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 $1 ({Black could win a pawn with} 16... Bxc3 17. bxc3
Bxb5 18. c4 Bxc4 19. Rxb8 Qxb8 20. Nxc4 Qb5 {but would immediately lose it
back after} 21. Rf3 Nxc4 22. Bf1) 17. Nf3 b4 18. axb4 Bxc3 $2 ({Again Black
should decline to win material, and instead be content with a positional
advantage after} 18... Rxb4) 19. bxc3 Bb5 20. Qc2 Bxf1 21. Bxf1 Nb7 {DIAGRAM 
[#]White's bishop pair and strong b-pawn are more than enough compensation for
his small material disadvantage. Simple and strong was 22.b5!, but instead I
proceed too cautiously and allow Black to coordinate his pieces.} 22. Be3 Nf6
23. Bd3 Qc8 24. Qe2 Ra8 25. Qb2 Ra7 26. Nd2 Qa8 27. Bc4 Rc8 28. Bb3 Ra6 29. Bc4
Ra3 30. Bb3 {In this unclear position I have less than a minute left to reach
the time control on move 40 - a situation ripe for catastrophe.} cxb4 31. cxb4
Qa6 32. Bd4 $2 {Necessary was 32.e5, although White's position remains
somewhat precarious.} Qd3 $1 33. Bxf6 Rxb3 $1 {Now everything collapses.} 34.
Qxb3 Qxd2 35. Rd1 Qe2 36. Bc3 Qf3+ {An energetic win by my young opponent, who
also knocked off another 2300 player in the following round.} 0-1

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bryant, Todd"]
[Black "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2236"]
[BlackElo "2223"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 b5 {
Somewhat unusual; the main line is 7...Nf6.} 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. O-O-O e5 10. f4
Nf6 11. h3 Bb4 12. Qf2 O-O 13. Bd3 exf4 14. Bxf4 Qa5 15. Bd2 Be6 $1 {Inviting
the following sacrifice.} 16. a3 Bxa3 $1 17. Nd5 b4 $1 18. Nxf6+ Kh8 $1 {
Black threatens mate with 19...Bxb2+ 20.Kxb2 Qa3+.} 19. Qd4 Rfd8 20. Nd5 cxd5
21. e5 Rdc8 ({Better was the immediate} 21... Bxb2+ $1 22. Qxb2 {in order to
defend the b-pawn with} Rab8 $1) 22. Kb1 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 {DIAGRAM [#] Black is
down a piece for two pawns, but it is not yet clear how much his attack is
worth.} d4 24. Rde1 (24. Bxb4 $1 {was safe:} Qa4 25. Bd6 $1 {covering the
b8-square.}) 24... Qa4 ({Black should throw more fuel on the fire with} 24...
Rc3 $1) 25. Re4 Rd8 26. Rh4 Rab8 27. Bxh7 b3 28. c3 $2 {Forgetting that
White's bishop will end up hanging on d2 after what follows.} ({White can
simply ignore Black's threat with} 28. Bg5 $1 {since} bxc2+ {is met with the
counter-check} 29. Bxc2+ $1) 28... dxc3 $1 29. Rxa4 cxb2 30. Bg5 Kxh7 31. Bxd8
Rxd8 {White is still up an exchange, but Black has plenty of pawns and
activity for it, and in fact White has to proceed carefully.} 32. g4 Rd2 33.
Re1 g6 34. Rae4 Kh6 35. R4e2 Rxe2 36. Rxe2 Kg5 37. Kxb2 Kf4 38. Re1 Bd5 39. Ra1
Kg3 40. Rxa6 Kxh3 41. Ra4 Kh4 42. Kc3 Be6 43. Rb4 g5 44. Kd2 Kh3 45. Ke1 Kg3
46. Kf1 $6 {Playing chicken with Black's king activity, but fortunately
White's king can return just in time.} Kf3 47. Ke1 Ke3 48. Kd1 Kd3 49. Kc1 Kc3
50. Rb7 Bd5 51. Rb8 Kd4 52. Kd2 Be6 53. Rb4+ Kxe5 {Black's pawns remain
restrained, and he has no real winning chances.} 54. Kd3 b2 55. Kc2 b1=R 56.
Kxb1 Bd5 57. Kc1 Be4 58. Kd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "King, Alexander B"]
[Black "Yan, Ruiyang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2279"]
[BlackElo "2111"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 $5 {A change from my normal 3.Nc3, which I had played
against Ruiyang in an online team match last year.} d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6.
O-O Nc6 {I myself play this setup against the Catalan as Black, but had never
before faced as White.} 7. e3 Rb8 8. Nfd2 {I booked up on this line before the
game - the first round that I had time to prepare for, thanks to the (in my
view oppressively) long time control. It worked like a charm - Ruiyang
followed my preparation all the way to move 17!} e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4
11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 Bb4 13. Qc2 h5 14. b3 h4 15. Nf3 hxg3 16. fxg3 Qd7 17. h4
{White is up a pawn, but Black has the bishop pair, and both sides have
several pawn weaknesses and potentially unsafe kings.} Bc5 18. Kg2 Rd8 ({
Black cannot recoup the pawn with} 18... Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Bxe3 {due to} 20. e6 $1
Qxe6 21. Re1 {winning a piece.}) 19. Ng5 Qd5+ $2 {This leads to an endgame
where Black is down a pawn for nothing; a better try was 19...Be7!?.} 20. e4
Qd3 21. Qxd3 Rxd3 22. Nxe6 fxe6 {DIAGRAM [#] Now all of Black's pawns are
isolated, and if White can complete development and secure his king then he
will have excellent winning chances.} 23. Bf4 Rf8 24. Rfd1 Nf2 25. Rxd3 Nxd3
26. Kf3 Nb4 27. Ke2 Bd4 28. Rd1 c5 29. a3 Nc6 30. Rc1 {I had started off the
game managing my time better than in Round 1, but by now was in similar time
pressure, with only 4 minutes left to reach the time control.} Rf7 31. h5 $1 {
Activating my potential passed pawn on the kingside.} Rf8 32. Rh1 Rh8 33. g4
Rf8 34. Rf1 Bc3 35. Be3 Rxf1 36. Kxf1 Nd4 $2 {Tempting me with a big decision
right before the time control, but I judge correctly.} 37. Bxd4 $1 cxd4 {
With almost no control of the light squares, Black will be stuck waiting
passively while White slowly improves his position.} 38. Ke2 a5 39. Kd3 Kf8 40.
Ke2 Kg8 41. g5 Kh7 42. Kd3 g6 43. h6 $1 {Again the right judgment - White is
not worried about ending up losing these pawns, since Black's bishop is tied
down to the defense of the queenside.} Kh8 44. Nd2 {Here I had an attack of
indecision, and ended up once again draining my clock down to the dregs,
forcing me to subsist for the rest of the game solely on the 30-second
increment.} Bb2 45. Nc4 Bc3 46. Nd6 $1 {Finally going for it. 46...cxd6? is
out of the question for Black, since after 47.exd6 the pawn would be
unstoppable.} Bb2 47. Nf7+ Kg8 48. Nd8 Bxa3 49. Nxe6 Be7 50. Kxd4 {White has
won a second pawn, and Black now has to hold back multiple passed pawns.} c6
51. Ke3 $1 Kh7 (51... Kf7 {again allows a runaway pawn after} 52. h7 $1) 52.
Kf4 Bb4 53. Nd4 c5 54. Nc2 c4 $5 {A last-ditch bid for counterplay, but now
White's pawns stampede up the board.} 55. bxc4 Be7 56. e6 a4 57. Ke5 $1 Bxg5
58. c5 Bd8 59. c6 {A tense but triumphant game, making me feel like I could
still hang with these "young lions" after all.} 1-0

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Wagner, Richard"]
[Black "Bryant, Todd"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B78"]
[WhiteElo "2089"]
[BlackElo "2236"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 {The "Topalov Variation",
an alternative to the historical main line 11...Ne5.} 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. exd5 a5 16. a3 Kg8 17. h4 b4 18. axb4 axb4 19. h5 Bf5 20. hxg6 Bxg6
21. Qxb4 Rb8 $5 {A novelty examined by GM Parimarjan Negi in his 2015 1.e4
repertoire book series.} 22. Qc3 ({The only other game to reach this position,
Banzea,A (2313)-Ileana,G (2318) Sovata 2018, continued} 22. Qd4 $2 {after which
} e5 $1 {would have been strong, the idea being} 23. dxe6 $2 Rxb3 $1 24. cxb3
Qg5+ 25. Rd2 Ra8 $1 {with a winning attack.}) 22... Qb6 23. Rh4 Rfc8 {DIAGRAM 
[#]} 24. Bc4 $2 {Leaving c2 vulnerable.} ({Instead Negi's book gives} 24. Rc4
Rxc4 25. Bxc4 Ra8 26. Re1 $5 {with an unclear position.}) 24... Ra8 $2 {
The wrong move order.} ({It was better to include} 24... Qf2 $1 25. Rg4 Ra8 26.
Kb1 {and now} h5 $1 {with the idea of} 27. Rgd4 Bxc2+ $1 28. Qxc2 Ra1+ $1 {
winning material.}) 25. b3 $2 {Further weakening White's king.} (25. Rhd4 $1 {
would prevent ...Qf2.}) 25... Ra2 26. Rg4 Qf2 $1 27. Kb1 Rca8 $6 {Again the
wrong move order.} ({Stronger was} 27... Qa7 $1 {keeping White's bishop pinned
in place, followed by ...Qa3 and only then ...Ra8.}) 28. Bd3 Qa7 29. Kc1 $2 {
Collapsing in a difficult position.} (29. Ra4 $1 {would avoid immediate
disaster, although after} Rxa4 30. bxa4 Qxa4 {White's king is still
dangerously exposed.}) 29... Ra1+ 30. Kd2 Qf2+ 31. Be2 Rxd1+ 32. Kxd1 Ra1+ 33.
Kd2 Qe1+ {White loses his queen.} 0-1

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Burke, John M"]
[Black "Bartell, Thomas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2488"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a5 9. Nf1 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ng3 c6 12. d4 Ba7 $6 ({Black could deconstruct
White's center with} 12... exd4 13. cxd4 Bb4 14. Bd2 Bxd2 15. Qxd2 {and now
the typical "fork trick"} Nxe4 $1 16. Nxe4 d5 {with an equal position.}) 13.
Bd3 Re8 14. Be3 Be6 15. Qd2 Kh7 16. b3 b5 17. Nh2 Kh8 18. f4 $6 {Too hasty.} ({
White should sit on his comfortable space advantage with} 18. Rad1) 18... exf4
19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Qxf4 b4 $1 {Loosening up White's dark squares.} 21. Nf3 bxc3
22. Kh1 a4 23. b4 a3 24. Qc1 Nh7 $6 ({Black should continue to pry open the
dark squares with} 24... Qc8 25. Kh2 c5 $1) 25. Qxc3 Ng5 26. Ng1 Qf6 27. N1e2 {
DIAGRAM [#]} Qf2 $2 {Now it is Black's turn to overpress.} ({Instead he could
force an immediate draw with} 27... Nf3 $1 28. gxf3 ({But not} 28. Rf1 $2 Bxd4
$1) 28... Qxf3+ 29. Kh2 Qf2+ 30. Kh1 Qf3+ {since} 31. Kg1 $4 {would run into}
Bxh3 {winning.}) 28. Rf1 Qe3 29. h4 ({Stronger was} 29. Rf4 $1 {when Black has
no good answer to 30.Nf1 trapping Black's queen.}) 29... Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Bg4 31.
Rae1 Rxe4 32. Qxc6 Ree8 33. Ng1 $1 {A hidden tactical resource.} Qxd3 34. Rxe8+
Rxe8 35. Qxe8+ Kh7 36. Qxf7 Bxd4 37. h5 $1 {Another important resource,
forcing simplification into an ending where White's extra exchange will be
decisive.} Bxh5 38. Qf5+ Qxf5 39. Rxf5 Be8 40. Rd5 Be5 41. Nf3 Bf7 42. Ra5 Bc3
43. Ra7 Be8 44. Rb7 Kg6 45. b5 Bf7 46. Ra7 Bb4 47. b6 Bc5 48. Ra6 Bd5 49. Ne5+
$1 Kf5 ({After} 49... dxe5 50. b7+ {comes with check.}) 50. Nd3 Be3 51. Ra5 Ke4
52. Rxd5 $1 Kxd5 53. Nb4+ $1 Ke6 54. b7 Ba7 55. Nc6 Kd7 56. Nxa7 Kc7 57. Nb5+
1-0

[Event "World Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.07.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Black "Niemann, Hans"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "King"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nh5 12. Bd2 Nhf6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nc6 Bxc6
15. Qxc6 a6 16. Qc2 Qc8 17. Qd3 b5 18. Rc1 Qb7 19. Nc3 b4 20. Na4 Qb5 $6 {
A risky move that should turn out in White's favor.} 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5 $6 (
{Better was the immediate} 22. Qxb5 $1 axb5 23. dxc5 b3 24. a3 Rfc8 25. Bb4 {
when Black's queenside pawns are vulnerable.}) 22... Rfb8 23. c6 Rc8 24. Rc2
Ng4 $2 25. Qxb5 $2 ({Both players missed or underestimated} 25. Qd4 $1 {
avoiding a queen trade and winning two tempi after} Nf6 26. Rac1) 25... axb5
26. e4 ({More solid was} 26. b3 {intending to consolidate slowly.}) 26... b3 $1
27. Rcc1 dxe4 28. axb3 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 f5 {Both sides have pawn weaknesses, but
it soon becomes clear that White will have a harder time defending his.} 30.
Rc1 Ne5 31. c7 Bd6 32. Ba5 Kf7 33. Bf1 Nf3+ 34. Kg2 Nd4 35. Bb6 e5 36. f4 exf3+
37. Kf2 Ne6 38. Kxf3 Bxc7 {Black has won a pawn but it is difficult to convert
it into a win, due to his awkwardly-placed pieces and White's bishop pair.} 39.
b4 g5 40. Kg2 h5 41. Rc6 g4 42. Bc5 Rb8 43. Bd3 e4 44. Bc2 Be5 45. Bb3 Re8 46.
Rb6 Kf6 47. Be3 h4 {DIAGRAM [#]} 48. Rxb5 $2 {The decisive mistake, unpinning
Black's knight.} ({Instead White could simply wait with} 48. Rc6 $5 h3+ 49. Kf1
Bxb2 50. Rb6 {when Black, despite his two extra pawns, cannot untangle his
king, rook, and knight in order to make further progress.}) 48... h3+ 49. Kf2
f4 $1 {Activating the knight and creating a passed pawn.} 50. gxf4 Nxf4 51. Rb7
Ne6 52. Kg1 Bd4 53. Kf2 g3+ $1 54. hxg3 Rh8 55. Bc2 Bxe3+ 56. Kxe3 Ng5 57. Rb6+
Ke7 0-1

[Event "Prague Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.06.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Shankland, Sam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[Annotator "Shankland"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{While I ended up winning the tournament with 5.5/7, winning four games, I
actually think the most critical one towards my victory was my draw with
Wojtaszek in round 4. Radek showed very good form and very good preparation
with the white pieces throughout the event, and he was the only player in the
tournament I had ever lost to before. I was in clear first with 2.5/3 and he
was just a half point back, so I knew he would be out for blood.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 {This is a pretty depressing line for
Black to play in the Catalan because he doesn't get many counterchances, and
White has a lot of options to choose from. But I liked its somewhat forcing
nature, and I thought I had worked out all the mainlines to defensible
positions. I generally don't enjoy this kind of chess, but I thought holding
with Black to protect my lead in what I believed would be my toughest game of
the tournament was a worthwhile enough goal to justify this opening choice.} 6.
Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8. Qc2 $5 {The first surprise. This move is extremely
unusual but not bad at all, and Radek played it pretty fast. I did check it
briefly before the game, but clearly not in enough detail.} (8. Bxb4 {This is
the main move by far.}) 8... b5 9. a4 $1 {Black will struggle to keep his
queenside under control. I still know what I was supposed to play here but I
was worried that I would soon be out of preparation.} Bxd2+ 10. Nbxd2 Ncb4 $1 {
Clearing off of the c6 square allows Black to play c7-c6 next to bolster his
pawn chain.} 11. Qc1 c6 12. b3 $1 c3 {[#]} (12... cxb3 13. Nxb3 {Black is a
pawn up but his position looks totally miserable thanks to the bad bishop, the
weakness of the c5 and e5-squares, and the backwards c-pawn. I wanted no part
of this.}) 13. Ne4 bxa4 {Here, I knew that the machine recommended taking with
the pawn on a4. But this looks like such a stupid and anti-positional move.
Why not take with the rook and make use of the open file, while challenging
the b4-knight in the process? This is a clear example of the shortcomings of
pressing buttons on the computer. If you aren't thinking critically yourself,
you will likely miss natural, human looking moves in your preparation.} 14.
Rxa4 {Radek played this pretty fast as well, so I suspect he was still in
preparation. Here, I understood that the position is very sharp. If White is
able to take on c3 and castle safely, Black is close to lost strategically, so
he must look for a more direct fight. This much I understood, but I did not
find the best way.} c2 $6 {This was not best. My plan was that White will have
to castle and someday play Nf3-e1 to scoop up the c2-pawn, and once this comes,
I will be able to break in the center with e6-e5. It takes some accuracy from
White's end, but he should be able to deal with this idea.} (14... a5 $1 {
This should have been preferred. The point is that after} 15. Nxc3 Ba6 $1 {
White will struggle to castle. I had seen this far but disliked} (15... O-O $2
{This would be a big mistake, as after} 16. O-O Ba6 17. Re1 $16 {White got
everything he wanted.}) 16. Ne4 $1 {When I could not see how to deal with
Qc1-d2 and 0-0 next, and I thought my position would be miserable. I had
missed a very nice tactical resource in} Bb5 $1 17. Ra3 Bd3 $1 {When Black
wins an exchange. White has a lot of compensation and the position remains
very complex, but Black has some extra material for his suffering.}) 15. Qd2 $1
{An accurate move. White was not ready to castle just yet.} (15. O-O $6 f5 $1 {
Nd5-c3 comes next and White will lose an exchange.}) 15... O-O 16. O-O a5 {
[#] This was the first really critical moment of the game for White. Part of
his plan is obvious. He wants to play Ne1 and take my c2-pawn. But he has to
always take care not to run into e6-e5 in response. So, should he play Ne1
right away? I think not. Black is not really threatening to play e6-e5 until
it happens, and White can bring his rook on f1 out of the way first, and even
look for e2-e3 at some point. But where should the rook go?} 17. Rc1 {This is
probably the best move, but during the game I was more concerned about the
rook going to a1.} (17. Ne1 $6 {This is too hasty. After} e5 $1 18. dxe5 $2 (
18. Nxc2 Nxc2 19. Qxc2 Nb4 $1 {Black will take on d4 next, and he should be
fine.}) 18... Nb6 $1 {The c2 pawn is a huge problem all of a sudden and White
is losing material.}) (17. Rfa1 $5 {During the game, this was the move that
concerned me the most. My plan was} Ba6 $1 18. Ne1 (18. Rxa5 $2 {This tempting
move fails to the beautiful resource} Bd3 $1 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 {
White White cannot prevent a new queen from showing up.}) 18... Bb5 19. R4a3 e5
(19... Nc7 $1 {The computer found this one, and claims Black is okay. White's
d4 pawn will hang if he takes on c2, and after} 20. e3 e5 $1 {Black gets a
better version of e5 on the previous move.}) 20. dxe5 Qe7 21. Nxc2 Nxc2 22.
Qxc2 Qxe5 {I thought Black was only slightly worse here, but my computer
disagrees.}) 17... Ba6 $6 {This move was based on a miscalculation in a long
line. White would now be much better if he found the way.} 18. Raa1 $2 {
To be honest, I had barely even considered this move. It felt super slow to me,
and I thought White should be trying to take the pawn on c2 more directly.} (
18. Ne1 $1 {This was working. My plan in the game was to play} e5 19. dxe5 (19.
Nxc2 Nxc2 20. Rxc2 Nb4 $11 {Black is certainly fine here.}) 19... Nb6 {[#] A
position like this one highlights why it was so important to get the rook to
c1 before playing Ne1.} 20. Rxa5 $1 {A fearless, but powerful move.} (20. Raa1
$2 {A more calm move would not do. Black is fine after} Qxd2 21. Nxd2 Bxe2 22.
Nxc2 Nd3 $1 $11) 20... Qxd2 21. Nxd2 Bxe2 (21... Rfd8 $2 22. Nxc2 $1 {White
wins. This much I saw.}) 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Nxc2 Nd3 {I had seen this far, and
thought that I was fine with moves like Ra2 and Nxe5 in the air. But I somehow
missed that after} 24. Ra1 $1 Rxa1+ 25. Nxa1 Nxe5 {I have equalized material,
but only for a short moment.} 26. f4 $1 {White wins c6, and probably the game.}
) 18... Qb6 $1 {Now Black's development is much faster, and he is ready for a
rook coming to d8 sooner rather than later. It is not easy at all for White to
scoop up c2 anymore.} 19. Nc5 (19. Ne1 Rfd8 $1 {White cannot take on c2 just
yet.} 20. e3 (20. Nxc2 Nxc2 21. Rxc2 Nb4 $15 {Black will take d4 next. If} 22.
Rc5 f5 $1 {Black wins a piece, as moving the knight would allow Qb6xc5.}) 20...
e5 $1 {The pawn is immune, and Black is getting a lot of counterplay. Since he
had the time to get the rook to the d-file, the e6-e5 break is still the right
idea and it comes with significantly more force than it did a couple moves ago.
} 21. Nxc2 $11 {Black is fine.} (21. dxe5 $2 Nf4 {Black wins.})) 19... Rfd8 20.
e3 {Now theoretically, if White were able to play Ne1 next, I might still have
some problems to solve. But he let me activate my pieces fast enough to cause
him real trouble in the meantime.} Nf6 $1 {Now Nf3-e1 would hang the knight on
c5. In fact, Black can even consider taking it next move anyway, remaining an
exchange down in the endgame but in a situation where the c2-pawn is firmly
secured and there to stay. Already here I felt my position was totally fine.}
21. Qc3 {Now again, Ne1 is a serious threat. On another day and under other
tournament scenarios, I might consider Ba6-e2-d1, securing the c2-pawn at all
costs, but it looked too bizarre to me and I did not see a plan afterwards. I
was happy to take the repetition instead.} Nfd5 {White's queen has no square
other than d2. Anything else would allow Nb4-d3.} 22. Qd2 (22. Qb2 $2 Nd3 $1
23. Nxd3 Bxd3 24. Ne1 Nb4 $1 {Black's c2-pawn will live, and White is in big
trouble.}) 22... Nf6 23. Qc3 Nfd5 24. Qd2 Nf6 {This was certainly my most
stressful game in Prague, and the only one where I ever was really worried
about my position. It could have turned south and I was certainly objectively
in trouble at some point, but I was happy that I managed to make the game
complicated enough that even a very strong white player was unable to find his
way.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Guo, Arthur"]
[Black "Gareyev, Timur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2473"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Re1
O-O 9. Nbd2 Rb8 10. Nf1 b5 11. Bc2 h6 12. Ng3 Re8 13. h3 d5 14. d4 exd4 15. e5
d3 16. Qxd3 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Bf5 {DIAGRAM} 18. Qf1 $1 {With this maneuvering, Guo
sets a deep trap that ends in black's queen being the one who is endlessly
pinned} Nxe5 $2 (18... dxe4 {was essential, preventing the pin white set up by
moving the queen off the d-file} 19. Bxe4 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 22.
Be3 $10 {without obvious improvements for either side}) 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 (19...
Rxe5 20. Bf4 Re8 21. Rad1 {and white is much better}) 20. Rd1 $1 Bg7 21. f3 b4
22. c4 c6 23. cxd5 cxd5 24. Bb3 Qb6+ 25. Nf2 Rbd8 26. Kh1 Bd7 27. Ng4 $1 {
A nice finesse, ignoring the pawn to both target kingside weaknesses and
simplify the position to one where white's pieces reign supreme} Bb5 28. Qg1
Qxg1+ 29. Kxg1 h5 30. Nf2 Re2 31. Bg5 Rde8 32. Bxd5 Rxb2 33. Ne4 Kf8 34. Rac1
Ba4 35. Re1 Bd4+ 36. Kh1 Bc2 37. Nf6 Rxe1+ 38. Rxe1 Kg7 39. Re7 Rb1+ 40. Kh2
Bg1+ 41. Kg3 h4+ 42. Kxh4 Bf2+ 43. g3 {1-0 Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Niemann, Hans"]
[Black "Guo, Arthur"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2473"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. Nd2
b6 {Inaccuracy. b5 was best.} (8... b5) 9. e4 dxc4 10. Nxc4 Ba6 11. b3 b5 12.
Ne3 b4 13. Ne2 e5 $5 (13... c5 {Guo chooses to eschew complications coming from
} 14. e5 Ne8 15. Bxa8 (15. Re1 {Perhaps because Niemann could decline the
sacrifice and play for a space advantage}) 15... Qxa8 16. Nc4 Nb6 $132) 14. Bb2
exd4 15. Bxd4 $5 (15. Nxd4 {Now white had chances to create a material
imbalances, but again it is easier to be tempted by such glamour in analysis
than over the board} Bxf1 (15... Ne5 {and again, declining the gift might have
been prudent, but here the f5 square is a significant gain for white}) 16. Qxf1
{it is unclear how black should progress, with no targets or coordination.})
15... Nc5 16. Nf5 Ne6 17. Bb2 Bc5 18. e5 $2 (18. Qe1 Qb6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. h4
$13 {as black's damaged kingside makes up for white's less active pieces})
18... Qxd1 $2 (18... Ng4 19. Nd6 (19. Nfd4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bxf1) 19... Qb6 $19 {
and it is hard to see how white can resist the attack}) 19. Rfxd1 Ng4 20. Ned4
{White's pieces come to life just in time} Nxe5 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 22. Bxc6 Rac8 23.
Bd5 Bxf2+ {DIAGRAM (MAYBE?)} 24. Kh1 $2 (24. Kxf2 Rc2+ 25. Kg1 Rxb2 26. Ne7+
Kh8 27. Rdb1 Re2 28. Re1 Nd4 (28... Rd2 29. Rad1) 29. Rxe2 Nxe2+ 30. Kf2 {
and the attack has dissapaited}) 24... Rc2 {and now black's pressure is too
much to handle} 25. Be5 Bc5 26. Rac1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Rd8 28. Bg2 f6 29. Bf4 Bd3
30. Ne3 g5 {0-1 White resigns.} 0-1

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Matviishen, Viktor"]
[Black "Posthuma, Joshua"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2416"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 e6 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Nd7 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qe2 cxd4 12. cxd4 Be7 13. Bf4 O-O 14. Rfd1
Nf6 15. d5 exd5 16. e5 Nh5 17. Be3 g6 18. Nd4 Ng7 19. Qg4 f5 20. Qf3 f4 21. Bc1
Bc5 22. Ne2 Ne6 23. Qg4 Qe7 24. Rb1 Rf7 25. Rb3 Rcf8 26. Bb1 Bc8 27. Qf3 Ng5
28. Qc3 f3 29. Ng3 fxg2 30. Bxg5 Qxg5 31. Rxd5 Rxf2 32. Rxc5 Rf1+ {0-1 White
resigns.} 0-1

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Niemann, Hans"]
[Black "Shetty, Atulya Arya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. Be5 Nhf6 11. Be2 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Nd7 13. Nd3 Bg7 14. Bg4 O-O
15. Bf5 Qf6 {[#]} 16. g4 $1 {a classy move, temporarily outposting the bishop,
but with the intention to trade it off and switch from a squeeze to an
explosion after} Nb6 17. Bxc8 Nxc8 18. h4 $1 {a great practical choice} Nd6 (
18... gxh4 {Perhaps Shetty's best option was to prevent Niemann from opening
the h-file, grabbing the pawn and saying 'show me,' after which it is not
clear what Niemann planned.} 19. Ne5 Re8 20. Qc2 Nd6 {Black's king is weak,
but there is no imminent breakthrough, and} 21. f4 {looks risky due to} Nc4 $15
) 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Qe2 Rfe8 21. O-O-O Ne4 22. Qc2 Rac8 23. Kb1 b6 24. Nxe4
Rxe4 25. Ne5 {The exchange is lost, but all is not clear yet} Qe6 26. Qd3 c5
27. f3 c4 $2 {[#]} (27... Rxe5 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Rd2 $16 {The extra material
and pressure on d5 should give white an advantage, but black still has nagging
pressure on the dark squares.}) 28. Nxc4 $1 Rxd4 29. exd4 dxc4 30. Qh7+ Kf8 {
Compared to 27...Rxe5, black is in dire straits, and Niemann shows excellent
technique converting.} 31. Rhe1 Qd7 32. Qf5 Qxf5+ 33. gxf5 Rd8 34. d5 Rd6 35.
a4 a6 36. Re4 b5 37. Kc2 Bf6 38. axb5 axb5 39. b3 cxb3+ 40. Kxb3 Be7 41. Rde1
Rd7 42. d6 Bxd6 43. f6 $1 Rd8 44. Rh1 Kg8 45. Rh5 Bf4 46. Re1 Rd3+ 47. Kc2 Rd2+
48. Kb1 Rh2 49. Re8# {1-0 White wins by checkmate.} 1-0

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Rozman, Levy"]
[Black "Yoo, Christopher"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2436"]
[BlackElo "2564"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "5400+30"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Bd6 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c6 7. d4 b6 8. Qc2 Bb7
9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Rad1 Rfd8 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6
15. Qh4 Ba3 16. Ba1 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bd3 h6 19. Rfe1 Qd6 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21.
Be5 Qe7 22. Qg3 Qf8 {DIAGRAM} 23. Ng5 $4 hxg5 24. Qxg5 Ne7 25. Qh5 f5 $4 (25...
Ng6 $1 26. Re3 {but the attack just does not materialize after} Qe8 27. Bxg7
Rxd3 $3 28. Rdxd3 Qc6) 26. Bc4+ Bd5 27. Rxd5 Nxd5 28. Rd1 Qe8 29. Qxf5 Qc6 30.
Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Qg5 Kf7 32. Bxg7 Ke6 33. Qe5+ Kd7 34. Bxd5 Qg6 35. Be4 Qe8 36.
Qd5+ Ke7 37. Qxa8 {1-0 Black resigns.} 1-0

[Event "National Open U2300"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2021.06.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lang, Jonathan J"]
[Black "Vidyarthi, Omya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2109"]
[BlackElo "2025"]
[Annotator "Lang"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k4r2/2R5/PKb3Bp/2N4P/2P5/1P6/5p2/5r2 w - - 0 55"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Perhaps inspired by Rozman's courage, I had turned a simple advantage into a
mess, hanging on to hopes of building a mating net before the f-pawn decided
matters. Here, I found:} 55. Nd7 $1 Rb8+ 56. Nxb8 Rb1 57. Nxc6 Rxb3+ 58. Kc5
f1=Q 59. Ra7# 1-0

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shabalov, Alexander"]
[Black "Wang, Jason"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2429"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{My long time friend and trafeling partner GM Alex Shabalov had a decent
tournament, scoring 6/9. The two byes he committed to before the tournament
prevented Alex from competing for higher position. Here's his best effort.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Nc2 $5 {This
move doesn't have a good reputation, but wait a bit....} Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Qa5 {[#]
} 9. Qd4 $1 {A great idea Alex worked out in his home lab.} ({The standard
continuation is} 9. Qd3 Qe5 {where Black holds his own thanks to} 10. f3 d5)
9... Nc6 10. Qe3 {White sacrificed a tempo to get his queen to a better
position.} Qe5 $6 {Now the same treatment does not work here.} ({Best is} 10...
O-O 11. Ba3 d6 $5 (11... Rd8 12. Bd6) {but Shabalov planned} 12. Bxd6 Rd8 13.
e5 Ng4 14. Qg3 Ncxe5 15. c5) 11. Bd3 Qxc3+ ({One last chance to make a game
out of this required a very precise calculation. After} 11... d6 12. f4 Qxc3+
13. Bd2 Qb2 14. O-O {it seems that Black will lose his queen, but there's} e5
$1 15. f5 (15. Rab1 exf4 16. Qf2 Qe5 17. Bxf4 Qe7 18. Ne3 Ne5 {may just be
playable fopr Black, who is under huge pressure.}) 15... Nd4 $1 {to the rescue.
}) 12. Bd2 Qe5 13. f4 Qc7 14. e5 Ng8 {Not a sign of good things to come.} 15.
Qg3 Kf8 $5 {Jason Wang is fighting hard.} (15... g6 {would leave Black's dark
squares horribly weak.}) 16. O-O f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Rae1 b5 19. Bc3 $1 {
Of course Shabalov isn't interested in pawns. He's an old, reliable hand in
such positions, his pieces will take ideal attacking posts, and only then
there will be time for decisive action.} bxc4 20. Bxc4 Ne7 21. Ne3 d5 22. Be5
Qb6 23. Bd3 Nf5 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Kh1 Qe6 26. Nxd5 $1 {A pretty way to finish
the game.} Qxd5 27. Bxf6 gxf6 28. Qa3+ Kg8 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Re7+ Kg6 31. Qg3+
Kh5 32. Rg7 Kh6 33. Rg5 $1 {The icing on the cake!} 1-0

[Event "National Open"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "2021.06.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nyzhnyk, Illia"]
[Black "Sorokin, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Sorokin, Yermolinsky"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{One of few pleasant memries I can take from the Las Vegas trip was seeing my
good friend Alexander Onischuk. Alexander didn't play, but he brought two of
his students from Texas Tech, one of whom, Aleksey Sorokin, achieved a GM norm.
Here's Aleksey's notes to a critical Round 8 encounter with the top seed of
the tournament. I only added a few general comments under <AY>.} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
c4 g6 3. f3 {I was going to play the Grunfeld Defense and I didn't expect this
move. That's why I had to improvise a little bit and decided to play Nc6.} Nc6
4. d5 {AY. Theoretically speaking, this move represents White's best option.} (
{AY. In case of} 4. e4 {Black has} e5 {practically forcing White to agree to a
pawn trade in the middle} 5. Ne2 (5. d5 Nd4 6. Ne2 c5) 5... exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 {
and here} 7. Be3 $2 {is met by} Nxe4 $1) 4... Ne5 5. e4 d6 6. Be3 {At this
point, the position started to look like the King's Indian. AY. Albeit,
normally in the Saemisch White refrains from pushing his pawn to d5 until
Black plays e7-e5 or c7-c5.} Bg7 (6... c6 {would be stronger, since it
prevents Ne2-Nd4} 7. Ne2 $2 Nxc4) 7. Ne2 c6 8. Nd4 c5 {AY. I'm not a big fan
of this decision. In the Saemisch Benoni White has a problem developing his
knight from g1, and here it is out already.} ({AY. More attractive is} 8... O-O
9. Nc3 e6 $1 10. dxe6 fxe6 {which leads to a complex position, where Black can
answer} 11. Be2 {with} d5) 9. Nc2 O-O 10. Nc3 Nh5 $6 {At this point I asked
myself: How would Kasparov play in this position? Sometimes I do this in
important games, but unfortunately it rarely helps.} (10... e6 11. Be2 exd5 12.
cxd5 {would lead to a typical Benoni type of position. AY. I want to reiterate
that with his knight out, even if c2 doesn't seem like the greatest square,
White has to have a better game here.}) 11. g4 f5 {AY. Absolutely fascinating.}
12. exf5 ({AY. Nyzhnyk had to stay away from} 12. gxh5 $2 fxe4 13. fxe4 Bg4)
12... Nf6 13. Be2 (13. g5 Nh5 14. f4 Nxf4 15. Bxf4 Rxf5 16. Bxe5 Rxe5+ {
Black has excellent compensation here due to the weakness of the white king
and the activity of the bishops.}) 13... b5 {[#] AY. This is fire on board,
Alexey Shirov's syle.} ({AY. Just like his famous namesake, Aleksey Sorokin
would not accept a passive position after} 13... gxf5 14. g5 Ne8 15. f4 Ng6 16.
Qd2) 14. cxb5 {AY. Illia Nyzhnyk is an experienced player who always takes
rational decisions. Here he resisted the temptation to take Black up to his
sacrificial offers, instead preferring a quieter game, if such terms can be
applied to this crazy situation.} (14. fxg6 {I briefly considered this line
during the game, and my plan was to follow up with} b4 15. gxh7+ Kh8 $1 {
We need to keep the white's pawn on h7 to protect our king.} 16. Na4 e6 $13 {
Opening up the files and diagonals for our pieces.}) ({AY. I suppose the idea
was to answer} 14. Nxb5 gxf5 15. g5 {with an amazing shot} Ne4 $3 16. fxe4 f4 {
I wouldn't feel comfortable here.}) 14... gxf5 15. g5 Ne8 16. f4 Nd7 17. Na3
Bb7 18. Nc4 Nc7 {AY. Now the d5-pawn will fall, albeit at the cost of the
valuable Bg7.} 19. Na5 Bxc3+ 20. bxc3 Bxd5 21. O-O Nb6 22. c4 Be4 23. a4 Qd7 {
I needed to create some counter-play on the kingside, since white has a pawn
majority on the queenside.} 24. Nb3 ({AY. Interesting was} 24. Nc6 {although
Black doesn't have to take that knight.}) 24... Qe6 25. Qc1 h6 26. a5 Nd7 27.
h4 hxg5 28. hxg5 Rf7 {AY. A better way for a rook transfer to the h-file. The
following notes explain the underlying tactics.} (28... Kg7 29. Nd2 {Trading
the powerful bishop to ensure white's king safety.}) 29. Rf2 (29. Nd2 $4 Bd3 $1
) 29... Rh7 30. Rh2 Rxh2 31. Kxh2 Rf8 32. Qc3 Ba8 33. Nd2 d5 34. Nf3 $1 {
[#] Practically the best decision as we are getting to time trouble. I was
really annoyed by this move as it stops my initiative. AY. I fully agree,
Nyzhnyk's piece sacrifice was great.} d4 35. Nxd4 cxd4 36. Qxd4 Rd8 37. Kg3 Ne8
38. c5 Nb6 (38... Ndf6 {would have been much stronger, but I didn't see Bd5 in
the following line.} 39. Bc4 $2 (39. Qe5 $13) 39... Bd5 40. gxf6 Bxc4 41. Qxd8
Qxe3+ $19) 39. Qe5 Qxe5 40. fxe5 Nd5 41. Rd1 e6 42. a6 Rb8 43. Bd4 Nec7 44. b6
$1 {White manages to breakthrough} axb6 45. cxb6 Nxb6 46. a7 Rb7 47. Bxb6 Rxb6
48. Rd8+ Kg7 49. Rd7+ Kg6 50. Rxc7 {[#] It looks like pawn on a7 should
promote and decide the game. But surprisingly black can hold the game.} Rb3+ (
50... Kxg5 {Another way to draw} 51. Rg7+ Kh6 52. Rg8 Rb3+ 53. Kf2 Be4 54. a8=Q
Bxa8 55. Rxa8 Kg5 56. Ra6 Kf4 57. Rxe6 Re3 $10) 51. Kh4 Rb4+ 52. Rc4 Rb7 53.
Ra4 (53. Bh5+ {would have created more problems for Black:} Kg7 54. Ra4 Rb3 55.
g6 Kh6 56. g7 Kxg7 57. Ra6 f4 58. Kg5 ({AY. or} 58. Rxe6 f3 59. Kg3 Rb2 60.
Rg6+ Kh7 61. Rf6 Ra2 62. Rf7+ Kh6 63. Bxf3 Ra3 64. Kg4 Bxf3+ 65. Rxf3 Rxa7 $11)
58... f3 59. Rxe6 Rb7 60. Rg6+ Kf8 61. Rf6+ Kg7 62. Rxf3 Rxa7 $10) 53... Rh7+
54. Kg3 Kxg5 55. Bf3 f4+ 56. Kg2 Rh8 57. Bxa8 Rxa8 58. Kf3 Kf5 59. Ra5 Kg5 60.
Ke4 Kg4 61. Ra1 f3 {1/2-1/2 The game is a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "121st US Open 2021"]
[Site "Cherry Hill USA"]
[Date "2021.08.08"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Gledura, B."]
[Black "Lenderman, A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2607"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2021.07.31"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 Re8 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Bh4 Nc6 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Ne5
Bd7 15. Qf3 Be6 16. c3 c6 17. Ng6 Bd6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Nh4 f5
21. Re2 f6 22. Rae1 Kf7 23. Nb3 b6 24. Nc1 c5 25. dxc5 bxc5 26. Nd3 f4 27. g3
fxg3 28. hxg3 a5 29. a3 a4 30. Ng2 Bf5 31. Rxe8 Rxe8 32. Rxe8 Kxe8 33. Ngf4 Kd7
34. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Christmas Congress 1934/35-15 Premier"]
[Site "Hastings White Rock Pavilion"]
[Date "1934.12.31"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Thomas, George Alan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D69"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1934.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 {[#]} 7. Rc1 c6
8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5
14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. f4 Qe7 16. f5 b5 17. Bb3 b4 18. f6 gxf6 19. Rxc6 Qxe3+ 20.
Kh1 Bb7 21. Rcxf6 Qe4 22. Qd2 Kh8 23. Bxf7 Rac8 24. R6f2 Rcd8 25. Qg5 Rd6 26.
Bd5 {[#]} (26. Bd5 Rxf2 (26... Qxg2+ 27. Qxg2 Bxd5 28. Rxf8+) 27. Qg8#) 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 1"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/5R2/8/5Rq1/3b4/8/1Q5P/7K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Qg1# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/5rqp/8/8/3B4/8/7R/3Q3K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Rf1+ 2. Qxf1 Rxf1+ 3. Bg1 Qxg1# (3... Rxg1#) 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 3"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/8/8/7b/3R2q1/8/5Q1P/6BK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Qf3+ 2. Qxf3 Bxf3# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 4"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/6b1/1q2p3/8/4Q3/8/7P/1B3N1K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Qg1+ 2. Kxg1 Bd4+ 3. Kh1 Rg1# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 5"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2k2/Rb3p2/8/8/4q3/7R/6PP/5Q1K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Qxg2+ 2. Qxg2 Rc1# 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 6"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k3r1r1/8/2R5/p7/3P2q1/5N2/7P/5Q1K b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1... Qxf3+ 2. Qxf3 Re1+ 3. Qf1 Rxf1# 0-1

[Event "Guilan Stars Cup 1st"]
[Site "Guilan"]
[Date "2016.07.20"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Lorparizangeneh, Shahin"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2468"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2016.07.11"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "IRI"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Iran Stars"]
[BlackTeam "World Stars"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IRI"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. e3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nh6 6. e4 exd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8. h4
Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. h5 g5 11. f4 gxf4 12. Bxf4 Rb8 13. Qd2 Ng4 14. O-O-O Be6
15. h6 Bf6 16. Rh5 c5 17. Qc2 Bd4 18. Qd2 a6 19. Be2 f6 20. b3 Kh8 21. Nd5 Nf2
22. Rf1 Nxe4 23. Qc2 f5 24. g4 c6 25. Ne3 Qa5 26. Nd1 Rg8 27. gxf5 Bf7 28. Rh3
Rbe8 29. Bh5 Bxh5 30. Rxh5 Ng3 31. Bxg3 Rxg3 32. f6 Qa3+ 33. Kb1 Rb8 34. Rhf5
Rgxb3+ 35. Qxb3 Rxb3+ 36. axb3 Qxb3+ 37. Kc1 Qxc4+ 38. Kd2 Kg8 39. f7+ Kf8 40.
R1f3 Qa2+ 41. Kd3 Qb3+ 42. Ke2 Qe6+ 43. Kd3 d5 44. Nf2 Bxf2 45. Rxf2 c4+ 46.
Kd2 d4 47. R5f3 Qxh6+ 48. Kc2 Qg6+ 49. Kc1 Qe4 50. Rf1 Qe2 51. R3f2 Qe3+ 52.
Kd1 Qd3+ 53. Ke1 Qb1+ 54. Ke2 Qd3+ 55. Ke1 Qc3+ 56. Kd1 d3 57. Re1 Qa1+ 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1987.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hulak, Krunoslav"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1987.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. e4 e5 7. d5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3
Na6 9. Nd2 Nh5 10. Nb3 f5 11. Bd3 f4 12. g3 Qe8 13. Rg1 Qg6 14. Ba3 b6 15.
O-O-O Bg4 16. Rde1 fxg3 17. fxg3 Rf3 18. Rg2 Raf8 19. Rd2 Nb8 20. Kb1 a5 21.
Nc1 Nf6 22. c5 bxc5 23. Qa4 Nbd7 24. Qc6 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Nxe4 26. Ka1 Nb6 27.
Qxc7 Nc4 28. Bb2 Nf2 29. Rde3 Nd1 30. Rxd1 Nxe3 31. Rd2 Nc2+ 32. Rxc2 Qxc2 33.
Qxd6 0-1

[Event "Pamplona"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1999.12.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1999.12.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O Qe7 12. Qb3 Rd8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Bf1 Na6
15. Rd2 Nc7 16. a4 Ne6 17. a5 b5 18. Qa2 a6 19. Rc1 c5 20. dxc5 d4 21. Nxd4
Bxd4 22. exd4 Nxd4 23. Kh1 Nf3 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. c6 Bxc6 26. Ne2 Qh4 27. gxf3
Qxf2 28. Nf4 Bxf3+ 29. Bg2 Rd2 30. Rg1 Be4 31. Qa1 Qxf4 32. Qe1 Rxg2 33. Rxg2
Qf3 34. Qg1 g5 0-1

[Event "TCh-FRA Top 12 2021"]
[Site "Chalons en Champagne FRA"]
[Date "2021.06.30"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "9.1 Naiditsch, A."]
[Black "Sochacki, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2021.06.24"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bischwiller"]
[BlackTeam "US Villejuif Echecs"]

{[%evp 0,45,25,22,22,-4,36,39,37,34,29,29,41,41,51,64,93,59,81,110,103,105,79,
90,90,96,96,92,110,49,52,59,65,74,94,66,59,59,59,64,64,-45,-7,-7,-7,0,29993,
29994]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 c5 6. e4 d5 7. exd5 exd5
8. Nh4 Qd7 9. Qf3 Nc6 10. Re1+ Be7 11. Nf5 O-O 12. Nxe7+ Nxe7 13. Bg5 Ng6 14.
Nc3 Ng4 15. Nxd5 N4e5 16. Qe4 f5 17. Ne7+ Qxe7 18. Qxb7 Qxg5 19. f4 Nxf4 20.
gxf4 Qxf4 21. Qd5+ Nf7 22. Re7 Rae8 {[#]} 23. Qxf7+ $1 ({Black resigned as he
would get mated after} 23. Qxf7+ Rxf7 24. Rxe8+ Rf8 25. Bd5+ Kh8 26. Rxf8#) 1-0

[Event "II Fenamac GpB 2021"]
[Site "Mexico City MEX"]
[Date "2021.07.02"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "9.2 Hevia, A."]
[Black "Fernandez Hernandez, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2467"]
[BlackElo "2340"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2021.06.30"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "2"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,42,22,19,22,-13,-13,-12,-9,-1,4,-1,-1,-4,-7,-6,15,24,23,31,16,16,32,
37,20,29,53,39,30,-25,4,5,4,-35,-162,-195,-195,-197,-197,-186,-215,-763,-759,
-29997,-29998]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 e6 3. Bb2 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 c5 6. cxd5 exd5
7. d4 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Re8 11. Nc3 a6 12. Rc1 Ba7 13. Na4
Ne4 14. Nd4 Qg5 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Kh1 {[#]} Nxf2+ $1 {Ripping White's
otherwise solid position apart.} 17. Rxf2 Qxe3 {The point behind Black's
previous move, the rook cannot stay on f2 and therefore is forced to give up
defending the bishop on e2.} 18. Rf1 Qxe2 19. Rxc6 $2 {White tries to recover
some material, but now it quickly goes downhill.} Bg4 $1 20. Qc1 ({Or} 20. Qxe2
Bxe2 21. Rb1 Bd3 22. Rbc1 Bb5 23. Rc7 d4 {and, supported by the bishops, the
d-pawn becomes an unstoppable force.}) 20... Bh3 $1 {Ouch!} 21. gxh3 Qe4+ {
and with mate in the next move, White saw no reason to continue.} 0-1

[Event "Goldmoney Asian Rapid KO"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2021.06.30"]
[Round "1.24"]
[White "9.3 Duda, J."]
[Black "Ding Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C59"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2021.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,46,20,22,22,26,33,13,13,-18,0,0,1,6,6,-6,-9,-31,-24,-37,-19,-20,-7,1,
2,-17,2,-32,-35,-50,-25,-45,-39,-63,-38,-16,-40,-35,-39,-39,-39,-50,-57,-60,0,
0,1,-552,-553]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6
7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nh3 Bd6 10. d3 O-O 11. O-O c5 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Kh1 Bc7
14. Ng1 Qd6 15. g3 Nc6 16. Na3 Nd4 17. Nc4 Qa6 18. Bg2 e4 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qc1
Bb7 21. b3 Qe6 22. dxe4 Nxe4 23. Re1 {[#]} Qd5 $1 ({White resigned! Before we
look closer at this move, it should be said that Black would also be winning
after} 23... Qf5 {, for instance,} 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxe4 Bxe4 26. Qe1 Bxg2+
27. Kxg2 Qxc2 {with a decisive advantage for Black although there obviously
still is some work to be done.}) ({After} 23... Qd5 {, Black threatens both ...
Nxf2+ and ...Nxg3+ followed by ...Qxg2#. If White plays} 24. f3 {, then Black
wins with} Nxg3+ 25. hxg3 Qh5+ 26. Nh3 Bxf3 27. Qd2 Qxh3+ 28. Kg1 Qxg3 {
and it is game over for White.}) 0-1

[Event "Serbia Chess Open 2021"]
[Site "Belgrade SRB"]
[Date "2021.07.03"]
[Round "3.10"]
[White "9.4 Kilgus, G."]
[Black "Asadli, Vugar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2452"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2021.07.02"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,50,22,17,19,19,19,24,24,11,19,26,31,15,26,23,18,16,8,9,35,36,42,36,42,
75,51,74,64,37,45,52,54,60,40,10,0,-7,12,14,14,14,6,0,63,62,54,54,34,-170,-174,
-181,-186]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. O-O d6 6. a4 g5 7. Nc3
Bg7 8. a5 a6 9. d4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 d5 11. Nxe5 dxc4 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. c3 O-O 14.
f4 Bf5 15. Nc5 g4 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ra4 Rfe8 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Rxc4 Re2 20. Rf2
Re1+ 21. Rf1 Rae8 22. Bd2 R1e2 23. Rf2 Bf8 24. Ra4 {[#]} (24. b3 Bd6 25. g3 f6
26. Ra4 Bxc5 27. dxc5 Bd3 28. Rd4 Rxf2 29. Kxf2 Re2+ 30. Kf1 (30. Kg1) 30...
Rxd2+ 31. Ke1 Re2+ 32. Kd1 Bb5 33. c4 Bxc4 34. bxc4 Rxh2 35. Rd7) 24... Bxc5 $1
25. dxc5 Bd3 $1 {White resigned as he loses material.} ({For instance,} 25...
Bd3 26. Rxe2 ({loses a piece after} 26. g3 Rxf2 27. Kxf2 Re2+ {or}) (26. Bc1 {
allows} Re1+ {with mate}) 26... Rxe2 {and the bishop is out of good squares
and will be lost.}) 0-1

[Event "TCh-FRA Top 12 2021"]
[Site "Chalons en Champagne FRA"]
[Date "2021.07.03"]
[Round "10.3"]
[White "9.5 Apicella, M."]
[Black "Bluebaum, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2506"]
[BlackElo "2669"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2021.06.24"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Grasse Echecs"]
[BlackTeam "Philidor Mulhouse"]

{[%evp 0,46,25,17,71,63,63,39,40,37,27,35,31,35,38,11,20,-2,9,20,32,-1,24,10,
17,3,2,-64,-39,-24,-37,-44,-9,-5,67,51,59,-65,-91,-161,-140,-107,-110,-126,
-131,-29991,-29992,-29993,-29994]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5.
Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Be2 Re8 9. O-O Nd7 10. Re1 Nf8 11. h3 Be6
12. Be3 Ng6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Bf1 Rad8 15. Rad1 Bb8 16. c4 Qc7 17. Bd3 Qc8 18.
Bc1 {[#]} Bxh3 $1 19. gxh3 $6 ({It would have been relatively best for White
to pull the emergency brake with} 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Re1 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 Bg4 {
, accepting the loss of a pawn, hoping to be able to put up a stodgy defense.})
19... Qxh3 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Rxe8+ (21. Rd3 {runs into} g5 $1 ({after} 21...
Bh2+ 22. Kh1 {, Black will have to retreat with the bishop to make progress,
likely transposing into the line after 21...g5!}) 22. Rde3 Rxe3 23. Rxe3 Bf4
24. Ne1 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 g6 {when Black's kingside pawn
mass combined with the active queen and rook gives Black a decisive advantage.}
) 21... Rxe8 22. Re1 $2 ({An odd blunder by the French grandmaster. A better
defense was} 22. Qd3 {although Black has a relatively simple path to a winning
position with} g5 23. d5 g4 24. Ne5 Bxe5 25. Qxh3 gxh3 26. f4 Bc7 27. Kh2 cxd5
28. cxd5 Re2+ 29. Kxh3 Kf8 {and Black has a won endgame.}) 22... Bh2+ $1 {
Somehow, White must have overlooked this move.} 23. Kh1 (23. Nxh2 Rxe1+ {
ends the game promptly.}) 23... Qxf3+ {White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "74th ch-RUS HL 2021"]
[Site "Cheboksary RUS"]
[Date "2021.07.02"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "9.6 Paravyan, D."]
[Black "Ponkratov, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2627"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2021.06.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,68,25,24,28,6,11,32,31,35,25,28,65,17,24,24,57,45,77,48,43,45,56,56,
63,4,54,36,29,35,22,16,11,-15,-20,-202,-192,-385,-370,-453,-246,-245,-147,-176,
-187,-189,-180,-194,-175,-194,-223,-187,-127,-139,-131,-149,-137,-241,-272,
-276,-299,-297,-296,-435,-288,-1046,-815,-812,-856,-1362,-1677]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 Nc6 5. Nf3 e4 6. Nfd2 Qg5 7. g3 f5 8. Nc3 Bd6 9. a3 Nf6
10. b4 h5 11. h4 Qg6 12. Ne2 a6 13. Ba2 b5 14. Bb2 Ne7 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Nc3 Ng4
17. Rf1 {[#]} Bxg3 $1 ({This is much more effective than the alternatives, for
instance,} 17... Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qxg3+ 19. Kd1 Qxe3 20. a4 Qh3 21. d5 e3 22. Qd3
{gives White excellent chances to survive.}) 18. fxg3 Nxe3 {Forking the rook
and queen while still keeping ...Qxg3+ in reserve.} 19. Qb3 Qxg3+ 20. Rf2 Ng4
21. Ncxe4 $1 {The relatively best try to muddy the waters, White gives some
material to get Black's queen off the board and safety for the king.} Qxb3 22.
Bxb3 fxe4 23. Rf7 e3 ({Black could also play} 23... Nd5 24. Rxg7 O-O-O {
when White is busted, the e3-pawn is a beast and White has holes everywhere
while the white bishop pair is irrelevant.}) 24. Nf1 Nd5 25. Rxg7 O-O-O {
Black has a decisive advantage and soon won the game.} 26. Rc1 Rd7 27. Rxd7
Kxd7 28. Rc5 Nf4 29. Bc2 Bf3 30. Bf5+ Kd8 31. Ng3 Re8 32. Bc3 Ng2+ 33. Kf1 e2+
34. Nxe2 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "34th Leon GM 2021"]
[Site "chess.com INT"]
[Date "2021.07.03"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "9.7 Santos Latasa, J."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2608"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2021.06.30"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,60,26,24,65,22,17,15,11,28,26,22,9,10,33,33,52,55,28,28,28,23,10,9,11,
11,3,-56,24,-36,-17,-26,13,-1,9,-11,18,13,8,23,18,-21,-74,-80,-81,-110,-98,
-131,-115,-125,-148,-381,-148,-274,-281,-307,-307,-1071,-1188,-1921,-2149,
-29993,-29994]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 dxc4 7.
Bxc4 a6 8. O-O b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Ne5 13. Be2 Qb8
14. Nd2 O-O 15. f4 Ned7 16. Bf3 Rd8 17. Qe2 Nb6 18. Rad1 Be7 19. g4 Nfd5 20.
Nce4 Na4 21. Be5 Qa7 22. Rfe1 Bh4 23. g5 Bxe1 24. Rxe1 Rac8 25. Qg2 Rc2 26.
Nf6+ Nxf6 27. gxf6 g6 28. Qg5 {[#]} {White is threatening Qh6 and Qg7 mate. To
stop this, Black has to take drastic measures.} Rdxd2 $1 ({Black could try} 
28... Kh8 29. Qh6 Rg8 30. Bd6 Rcc8 31. Be5 Rcd8 32. Ne4 Bxe4 33. Bxe4 {when
Black should win but there is still work to do. What Gelfand has in mind ends
Black's resistance much faster.}) 29. Bd4 ({If} 29. Qh6 {then} Qxe3+ {forces
mate:} 30. Rxe3 Rc1+ {and it is curtains for White.}) 29... Bxf3 $1 30. Bxa7
Rxh2 {White resigned as there is mate in a few moves.} 0-1

[Event "74th ch-RUS HL 2021"]
[Site "Cheboksary RUS"]
[Date "2021.07.05"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "9.8 Demchenko, A."]
[Black "Chigaev, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2021.06.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,80,26,26,75,46,83,65,41,44,39,34,32,27,25,21,16,17,17,18,9,24,9,29,9,
-7,5,-1,12,58,62,64,74,59,59,35,54,38,71,78,68,69,112,91,103,104,116,134,95,89,
48,128,128,120,61,112,100,100,153,35,117,99,175,-236,-230,-230,-89,-280,-278,
-130,-161,-161,-161,-378,-397,-408,-379,-379,-396,-448,-476,-1083,-1138]} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Qe2 e6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
a6 9. c4 Rc8 10. b3 g6 11. Rd1 Bg7 12. Ba3 Qc7 13. Nc3 O-O 14. e5 dxe5 15. Bxf8
Rxf8 16. Nf3 e4 17. Nd4 Qe5 18. Rac1 h5 19. g3 Bh6 20. Rc2 h4 21. b4 hxg3 22.
hxg3 Kg7 23. c5 Rh8 24. Kg2 Bf4 25. gxf4 Qxf4 26. Qe3 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Ne5 28. Qg3
Qh5 29. Nde2 Nfg4 30. Kg2 g5 31. Ng1 {[#]} f5 $1 ({Despite being an entire
rook down, Black has time to strengthen his attack. Note that} 31... Qh1+ 32.
Kf1 f5 33. Nxe4 Nh2+ 34. Ke2 Qxe4+ {and Black is winning.}) 32. Nxe4 fxe4 ({Or
} 32... Qh1+ 33. Kf1 Nh2+ 34. Ke2 Qxe4+ {with transposition to the
above-mentioned note.}) 33. Rcd2 e3 ({Note that} 33... Qh1+ 34. Kf1 e3 {
will lead to the same position as the the game continuation.}) 34. fxe3 Qh1+
35. Kf1 Rf8+ 36. Ke2 ({If} 36. Ke1 {then} Nf3+ $1 37. Ke2 Nxd2 38. Qxg4 Qh2+
39. Kd3 Rd8+ 40. Kc3 Nb1+ 41. Kb3 Qe5 {and Black is winning.}) 36... Rf2+ 37.
Qxf2 Nxf2 38. Kxf2 Ng4+ 39. Kg3 Nxe3 40. Rh2 Nf5+ ({White resigned. A possible
continuation was} 40... Nf5+ 41. Kh3 g4+ 42. Kxg4 Qxh2 {and Black win easily.})
0-1

[Event "74th ch-RUS HL 2021"]
[Site "Cheboksary RUS"]
[Date "2021.07.02"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "9.9 Sarana, A."]
[Black "Kobalia, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2021.06.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,26,24,26,27,25,6,40,14,45,45,43,48,25,25,25,10,62,43,54,30,28,-17,
-27,-30,-14,-14,-12,-5,-6,0,-6,2,-18,-27,15,4,5,7,25,24,18,11,29,-2,22,24,73,
93,115,133,113,227,410,401,1337,1482,1555,1585]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6
4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bb7
11. e4 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. h3 Re8 15. Be3 Bd4 16. Rae1 h6 17.
Kh2 a6 18. f4 c5 19. e5 c4 20. Bf5 Bxe3 21. Rxe3 Nd5 22. Rg3 Nxc3 23. Qxc3 Qe7
24. Rd1 Rad8 {[#]} 25. Rd6 $1 {Threatening Rxh6.} Kf8 ({Black cannot capture
on d6, for instance,} 25... Rxd6 26. exd6 Qf8 27. d7 Rd8 28. Qf6 g6 29. h4 {
threatening h4-h5 and if} Kh7 {then} 30. Rxg6 {decides.}) 26. Rxh6 $1 {Anyway!}
gxh6 27. e6 $1 {The point. Now White threatens Qh8#.} Qc7 ({Or} 27... f6 28.
Rg6 $1 {and White is winning.}) 28. Qg7+ Ke7 29. exf7 {Black resigned.} ({
A possible continuation was} 29. exf7 Rf8 30. Re3+ Be4 31. Qxh6 {(preventing
the black king from running away and, according to the engine, forcing mate)}
Rd4 32. Qe6+ Kd8 33. Qf6+ Qe7 34. Qb6+ Qc7 35. Qxd4+ {with mate in a few moves.
}) 1-0

[Event "CCCSA IM 2016"]
[Site "Charlotte USA"]
[Date "2016.03.25"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Canty, James H"]
[Black "Martin Del Campo C., Roberto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2353"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[Annotator "Canty"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL September 2021"]
[SourceDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. Nc3 dxe4 6. Bc4 {This is a very
dangerous pawn sacrifice, played in place of the usual 6.Nxe4. My idea is to
play 7.Qb3 against almost anything Black plays, and the game becomes
incredibly tactical - something which suits me just fine!} Nf6 {Already Del
Campo burned 45 minutes on this move, after which I bashed out...} 7. Qb3 $1 {
[%csl Gf6,Gc4,Ge6][%cal Ge7e6] With the queen and bishop battery, the
f7-square is very weak, and it's easy for the unprepared to see their position
go south very quickly.} e6 8. d5 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Ge6][%cal Gf6d5] This pawn
break is the key idea in this variation, breaking open the center and relying
on quick development.} exd5 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Qf6 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Gb3b5]
We're at a bit of a crossroads. The f7-square is defended, so now I have to
come up with something new.} 11. Qb5+ $5 {Initially the computer doesn't like
this move, but soon, it comes around. :) It's crazy how a little check like
this can disrupt Black's whole army!} Bd7 ({If Del Campo had played} 11... Nc6
{[%csl Gc6] I intended} 12. Bg5 {[%csl Gg5] with a nice trap in mind:} Qd6 $2 {
[%csl Gd6]} ({certainly not} 12... Qxg5 $4 13. Bxc6+ {[%csl Gg5][%cal Gc6e8]}
bxc6 14. Qxg5) ({while now the computer says that Black could have survived
with an intermediary move:} 12... Bb4+ $1 13. Kf1 {and only now} Qd6 14. Rd1 {
when I still have lots of tricks up my sleeve, but objectively the position is
unclear.}) 13. O-O-O $1 {and if} Qc5+ {[%cal Gb5c5]} 14. Qxc5 Bxc5 15. Bxc6+ $1
{and he can't take back due to the mate threat with Rd1-d8!}) 12. Qxb7 {
[%csl Ga8][%cal Gb7a8]} Bc5 {[%csl Gf2,Ga8]} 13. Be3 {[%csl Ge3]} Bxe3 14. fxe3
O-O {[%csl Ga8] Here I was terrified to take the rook, as the position got
really complex. Instead I played...} 15. Rc1 Bf5 16. Qxa8 {[%csl Gd7][%cal
Gb8d7]} Qxb2 17. Ne2 Bg4 {[%csl Gc1,Ge1,Gd1,Ge3][%cal Gg4e2,Gc4e2,Gb2c1,Ge2d1,
Gd1e3] A nice move, making things as difficult as possible for me.} 18. O-O {
[%csl Ga8,Ge2]} Bxe2 19. Rb1 {[%csl Gb8][%cal Gb1b8]} Qd2 {[%csl Ge3][%cal
Gd2e3]} 20. Rxb8 {[%csl Gf8,Ge3][%cal Gd2e3]} Kg7 {[%csl Gg7][%cal Gg8g7,Gf8b8,
Ga8b8]} 21. Rxf8 {[%csl Gf7,Gf1][%cal Gf8f7,Gf7f1]} Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 {[%csl Gf1]}
f5 23. Rg8+ Kh6 24. Qf8+ Kh5 {[#] Here it looked like I had two options:
sacrifice my rook for checkmate, or sacrifice my queen for checkmate. I knew
that because we were playing on DGT boards, people around the world might see
this game, so I checked my lines dozens of times to make sure I didn't
embarass myself with a bad sacrifice. When I was sure, I went for it. This is
MY BEST MOVE.} 25. Qxf5+ (25. Rxf5+ {also works, and you can try to figure out
how as a bonus exercise!}) 25... gxf5 26. Rxf5+ Kh6 ({He can't run down the
board. It's mate after} 26... Kh4 27. g3+ {[%csl Gh3][%cal Gh4h3]} Kh3 28. Rh5+
Bxh5 29. Be6+ Bg4 30. Bxg4# {[%csl Gg4,Gg8]}) 27. Rf6+ Kh5 28. Bf7+ Kh4 {
[%csl Gh6][%cal Gf6h6]} 29. g3+ {[%csl Gg3][%cal Gh4h5,Gh5g5,Gh4g4,Gh4h3]} Kh3
30. Be6+ {[%cal Ge6h3]} Bg4 31. Bxg4# {[%cal Gh3h4]} 1-0

