[Event "Mindsports Masters GM"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2022.09.13"]
[Round "8.5"]
[White "Rowson, J."]
[Black "Willow, Jonah B"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2561"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[Annotator "Hartmann,John"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2022.09.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,101,25,26,18,-17,3,2,30,28,19,22,2,-21,-29,-13,-7,7,30,-149,-116,-133,
-129,-129,-130,-130,-139,-138,-120,-74,-64,-200,-173,-206,-218,-227,-133,-121,
-35,-62,-25,-26,-26,-32,-32,-128,-152,-141,-150,-107,-130,-138,-136,-150,-94,
-88,-74,-74,-70,-78,-76,-107,11,25,22,0,0,-31,0,-124,218,193,298,293,161,187,
173,183,166,187,172,95,105,108,238,108,108,100,108,108,131,139,143,96,71,87,87,
87,84,87,87,87,87,87]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 c5 5. d5 O-O 6. f3
d6 7. e4 exd5 8. cxd5 Nh5 9. g4 $5 {A remarkable concept. White gives up the
Exchange for hamstringing the black queen.} Qh4+ 10. Ke2 Ng3+ (10... Nf6 $6 11.
Qe1 $1 Qxe1+ 12. Rxe1 {with a decent advantage}) 11. hxg3 Qxh1 12. Kf2 {
[#] This position is well worth analyzing without an engine, as there are
options at every turn.} c4 (12... Nd7 {was seen in Aronian - Efimenko, Warsaw,
2005.}) 13. Be3 ({Now if} 13. Bxc4 Bc5+ 14. Ke2 Nd7 {and Black is winning.}) (
13. Na4 Bxd2 (13... Na6 $1) 14. Qxd2 {is another idea.}) 13... h5 $6 {Trying
to break down the White pawn mass, but this also limits where the Black queen
can go.} ({Development with something like} 13... Nd7 {seems to be order.}) 14.
Bg2 Qh2 15. Nb5 ({After} 15. gxh5 $5 Qxh5 16. Nge2 {White doesn't have full
compensation for the Exchange, but there's something.}) (15. Nge2 hxg4 16. f4 {
is also worth considering.}) 15... Nd7 16. Ne2 hxg4 17. f4 $1 Nc5 18. Kf1 {
Stepping out of the check.} Nd3 19. Qc2 Bc5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nxd6 b6 22. b4 ({
Here} 22. Nxc8 Raxc8 23. Qxc4 {, trading off the meddlesome bishop, looks
stronger.}) 22... cxb3 23. axb3 Ba6 24. Rxa6 $5 {Another Exchange, but now the
white central pawns get moving in the center.} Nxa6 25. e5 Rad8 26. Nf5 Rfe8
27. d6 Qh5 28. Ned4 Nc5 29. b4 Ne6 30. Nc6 g6 31. Nfe7+ Kg7 32. Nd5 Qh2 33. Qf2
Rh8 ({Perhaps} 33... a5 {trying to get counterplay, or force White to
otherwise clarify the position.}) 34. b5 Rh3 {[#]} 35. f5 $1 gxf5 36. Nxd8 Nxd8
37. Qxf5 Rh6 38. Nf4 Qxg3 39. Qg5+ Rg6 {[#]} 40. Nxg6 ({Perhaps Rowson was in
time trouble, but here he missed the winning} 40. Nh5+ $1 Kh7 41. Qxg6+ Kxg6
42. Nxg3 Kg5 $1 {, when it looks like the active black king might survive. The
win is still in hand after} 43. Kf2 Kf4 44. Be4 $1 Kxe5 45. d7 {and a slow
march of the king up the board to usher in the new queen.}) 40... Qd3+ 41. Kg1
Qd4+ 42. Kh1 fxg6 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qe7+ Kh6 45. Qh4+ Kg7 46. Qf6+ Kh7 47. Kh2
Qe3 48. Qe7+ Kh6 49. Qh4+ Kg7 50. Qf6+ Kh7 51. Qe7+ {What a thrilling game!}
1/2-1/2

[Event "London League Div 1"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2022.11.24"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Black "Jones, Gawain"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2623"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 a6 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. Nh3
c6 9. Rc1 b5 10. b3 e5 11. d5 cxd5 12. cxd5 h6 13. Be3 Nh7 14. Nf2 f5 15. Bxh6
b4 16. Ncd1 a5 17. Bb5 Rb8 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Be2 f4 20. Nb2 Ng5 21. Rc6 Nf7 22.
Ba6 Bb7 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. Ke2 Rh8 25. Nfd3 Nb8 26. Rc2 Qb6 27. Nc4 Qa7 28. Qe1
Nd7 29. Qf2 Qa6 30. Ncb2 Nc5 31. Rxc5 dxc5 32. Nc4 Rc7 33. Nxc5 Rxc5 34. Qxc5
a4 35. Qc6 Qa7 36. Qxa4 Qb7 37. Qc6 Qa7 38. Qa4 Qb7 39. a3 bxa3 40. Qxa3 Ra8
41. Qb2 Qc7 42. Rd1 Qe7 43. d6 Qg5 44. Kf1 Kh7 45. Rd5 Qh4 46. h3 Qg3 47. Ra5
Rd8 48. Ra7 Kg8 49. Qd2 Qh2 50. Qd5 Qh1+ 51. Kf2 Rf8 52. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "vs Computer"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.04"]
[Round "?"]
[White "GMBenjaminBok"]
[Black "MittensBot"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A89"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "1"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5
Na5 9. b3 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxa1 11. Neg5 c5 12. h4 Bg7 13. h5 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 g5 16. e4 fxe4 17. Nh2 b5 18. Bxe4 bxc4 19. Ng4 Rc8 20. Bb1 Rf6 21. Qc2
Kf8 22. Qh7 Rxe6 23. f4 Bd4+ 24. Kh1 Qc7 25. fxg5+ Ke8 26. Qf7+ Kd7 27. Bf5
cxb3 28. Qxe6+ Kc6 29. Bd2 Kb6 30. Qxc8 Qxc8 31. Bxa5+ Kxa5 32. Bxc8 bxa2 33.
Be6 a1=Q 34. Rxa1+ Bxa1 35. Nxh6 d5 36. Bxd5 Kb5 37. Nf5 c4 38. h6 Kc5 39. Bxc4
Kxc4 40. g6 Kd5 41. g7 Bxg7 42. hxg7 Ke5 43. g8=Q Kxf5 44. Qf7+ Ke4 45. Qxe7+
Kf5 46. Qxa7 Kg6 47. Qc5 Kf7 48. Kg2 Ke6 49. Kf3 Kf6 50. Kf4 Ke6 51. Qc6+ Ke7
52. Kf5 Kd8 53. Qb7 Ke8 54. Ke6 Kf8 55. Qf7# {GMBenjaminBok won by checkmate}
1-0

[Event "URS-ch27 Final"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1960.02.20"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Black "Bronstein, David Ionovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C36"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1960.01.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Bd6 5. Nc3 Ne7 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3 Nd7 8.
O-O h6 9. Ne4 Nxd5 10. c4 Ne3 11. Bxe3 fxe3 12. c5 Be7 13. Bc2 Re8 14. Qd3 e2 {
[#]} 15. Nd6 Nf8 16. Nxf7 exf1=Q+ 17. Rxf1 Bf5 18. Qxf5 Qd7 19. Qf4 Bf6 20.
N3e5 Qe7 21. Bb3 Bxe5 22. Nxe5+ Kh7 23. Qe4+ 1-0

[Event "Munich Chess Club"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1905.02.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steinbacher"]
[Black "Spielmann, Rudolf"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C69"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 Bg4 7. dxe5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 fxe5 9. Rd3 Bd6 10. Nbd2 Nf6 11. b3 O-O-O 12. Bb2 Rhe8 {[#]} 13. Re1 Nh5
14. Nc4 Nf4 15. Nxd6+ cxd6 16. Rde3 Rf8 17. Nd2 Rf6 18. h3 Be6 19. Kh2 Rdf8 20.
Nf3 Nxh3 {and Black eventually won.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-03"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "1930.07.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Marshall, Frank James"]
[Black "Petrovs, Vladimirs"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1930.07.13"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Latvia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LAT"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Nc3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 b6 10. Rc1 Bb7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qb3 c5 {[#]} 13. dxc5 Nxc5
14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qb4 Kh8 16. Rxc5 bxc5 17. Qh4 1-0

[Event "URS-chT Republics 03 Final"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1953.09.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Black "Borisenko, Georgy Konstantinov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B94"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1qk2r/4pp1p/pB1pb3/2nN3R/7Q/8/PbP2PP1/1K1R1B2 w k - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1953.09.22"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Leningrad"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{[%evp 0,39,20,10,56,51,69,58,56,43,28,26,55,44,58,30,24,41,58,33,27,31,36,3,
10,63,63,63,61,69,73,76,129,137,366,366,552,429,1044,378,861,954] [#]} 20. Bb5+
(20. Bxd8 Bf6+) 1-0

[Event "Budapest2"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1965.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Black "Kovacs, Laszlo M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2k4/p3qQ2/2Pb3p/6r1/p3b3/4P2B/PP4P1/3R1R1K w - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1965.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,65,27,23,15,-23,0,-14,0,-7,0,2,0,12,7,-2,-2,2,2,17,35,-13,-10,3,9,9,
12,8,13,3,44,25,-4,2,1,10,131,-19,-20,18,13,0,0,0,0,3,5,-11,0,0,1,21,19,0,215,
150,150,177,150,144,227,213,2034,2734,29997,29998,29999,-30000] [#]} 31. Rxd6+
Qxd6 32. c7+ Qxc7 33. Qf8# 1-0

[Event "RSFSR-ch15"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Black "Shamkovich, Leonid Alexandrovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p6/8/2K2k2/8/1P6/8/8 w - - 0 53"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1955.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,81,23,10,37,35,39,33,37,43,45,45,23,5,13,37,38,26,20,32,40,33,24,24,
24,-3,40,40,36,36,33,62,55,70,70,23,23,19,54,26,26,26,42,43,55,61,65,10,55,9,0,
6,6,20,10,16,9,8,16,0,21,0,5,5,2,0,4,7,3,3,3,-4,0,-11,-19,-19,11,26,16,14,23,
21,26,0] [#]} 53. Kd5 (53. Kb6 Ke4 54. Kxb7 Kd4 $11) 53... Kf6 54. Kd6 Kf5 55.
b4 (55. b4 Ke4 56. b5 Kd4 57. b6 {[%cal Gd6c7,Gc7b7]}) 1-0

[Event "URS-ch24 Semifinal"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "1956.12.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparian, Genrikh Moiseevich"]
[Black "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C46"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r3k/1pp4p/p1b3p1/8/4N2q/2P1Q3/PP4P1/4R1K1 b - - 0 30"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1956.11.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,64,29,23,23,27,26,23,77,66,60,78,45,56,38,24,30,28,20,25,47,32,44,41,
42,53,90,109,109,32,52,18,-37,-41,-59,-56,-43,-67,-52,-81,-51,-116,-86,-86,
-101,-98,-98,-139,-105,-52,-79,-82,-62,-134,-134,-130,-128,-141,-137,-163,-153,
-152,-160,-421,-433,-432,-434] [#]} 30... Qe7 {[%cal Ge7e5]} 31. Qf2 (31. Kf2
Rf8+ 32. Kg1 Re8) (31. Nf2 Qxe3 32. Rxe3 Rd2) 31... Re8 32. Qd4+ Qg7 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch"]
[Site "Yaroslavl"]
[Date "1951.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Black "Shamkovich, Leonid Alexandrovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1bk1/3b1R1p/P2N2p1/2pP4/4QB2/7P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 29"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "1951.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,59,23,11,24,0,0,0,23,34,34,80,70,18,46,41,57,54,52,47,64,71,104,74,
105,83,109,35,54,43,38,44,44,39,39,40,39,99,99,77,99,70,127,113,90,97,113,94,
168,119,457,564,624,693,724,268,275,195,447,404,1362,770] [#]} 29. Bg5 Qc7 (
29... Qxg5 30. Rxd7 {[%cal Ge4e6]}) 30. Ne8 1-0

[Event "URS-chT Republics 09th Group2"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1963.08.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Krogius, Nikolai V"]
[Black "Chukaev, Egor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rb1rk1/3R1ppp/p1n5/2pBpP2/4P3/7Q/2q2BPP/5RK1 w - - 0 29"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1963.08.07"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Lithunia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LTU"]

{[%evp 0,57,24,23,67,64,44,7,25,35,31,32,86,67,82,80,78,75,84,95,112,111,130,
105,111,109,97,90,90,111,78,80,79,82,79,66,74,73,59,59,57,53,45,61,54,61,63,-7,
66,-5,47,47,55,46,121,119,228,242,304,304] [#]} 29. f6 (29. f6 Bxf6 30. Rxf7
Kh8 31. Be1 {[%cal Gf1f6]}) 1-0

[Event "LA Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.04"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wang, Leo"]
[Black "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B43"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2022.11.04"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Be3 {The main issue with this move
is that it leaves the e4-pawn difficult to defend.} Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. Qd3 {
A rare move.} Nc6 (7... b5 {is more natural.} 8. O-O-O ({or} 8. a3 Bb7 9. Be2
Be7 10. f4 d6 11. Bf3 Nbd7 {, and White suffers from a lack of harmony.}) 8...
Bb7 9. f3 b4 10. Nce2 d5 $1 {A typical counterstrike in the center.} 11. e5 $1
Nfd7 (11... Qxe5 $2 12. Bf4 Qh5 13. Ng3 Qg6 14. Qe3 Nfd7 15. Bd3 Qf6 16. Nh5
$36) 12. f4 Be7 $15 {Black's queenside play is faster, in view of the exposed
position of White's queen.}) 8. O-O-O Ng4 {Highlighting another disadvantage
of 5. Be3 -- the bishop becomes a target. The tempo loss is not significant.}
9. Nxc6 (9. Be2 $2 {is not an option in view of} Nxe3 10. Qxe3 Bc5) (9. Kb1 Be7
10. Be2 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 O-O $15 {White lacks a dark-squared bishop and therefore
also lacks an attack.} (11... Bf6 $2 {is too ambitious. Now Black falls
seriously behind in development and is punished for it:} 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. f4
d6 14. e5 $1 dxe5 15. Ne4 exf4 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Qc3 e5 18. g3 $1 $36)) 9...
bxc6 10. f4 (10. Be2 {Keeps the dark squares more solid.} Nxe3 11. Qxe3 d6 ({or
} 11... Be7 12. e5 O-O 13. f4 f6 14. Rhf1 $11) 12. Qg3 g6 $1 13. Kb1 Be7 14. h4
h5 $11) 10... d5 11. Be2 ({White is strategically worse and should have played
more energetically:} 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Bd4 $1 Qxf4+ 13. Kb1 Ne5 $1 (13... Nf2
$2 14. Bxf2 Qxf2 15. Nxd5 $1 {loses immediately.}) (13... Bb7 14. g3 Qc7 15.
Bg2 $36 {Black has difficulty developing.}) 14. Qe2 Bd6 {Black must play
accurately to retain an advantage. For example,} 15. g3 Qg5 16. h4 Qg4 $1 {
is a key resource.}) 11... Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Be7 13. exd5 exd5 $1 (13... cxd5 $6 {
is worse:} 14. f5 O-O 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Rhf1 $1 Bf6 (16... Qxh2 $2 17. Nxd5 $1)
17. Bg4 {with some counterplay, e.g.,} d4 $6 (17... Qe7 {is better.}) 18. Rxd4
Bxd4 19. Rxf8+ Kxf8 20. Qxd4 $13) 14. h4 {Seeing that his position is
strategically dangerous, White goes for a desperate attack.} O-O 15. h5 Bf6 $6
{An inaccuracy, as Black does not really threaten ...d4.} (15... h6 $1 {
was the most effective, followed by an assault on the f4-pawn:} 16. g4 Rb8 17.
g5 Bd6 18. Rhf1 Rb4 $19) 16. Qf3 $2 {Too slow.} (16. g4 $1 Bd7 $1 (16... d4 17.
Rxd4 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 {is precisely what White wants.}) 17. Qd2 (17. g5 $6 Rfe8
18. Qf3 Bxc3 $1) 17... Rfe8 18. Rde1 {And White is ready for g4-g5.}) 16... Rb8
17. g4 {The key moment of the game.} Rxb2 $1 18. g5 {The best try.} (18. Kxb2
Bxg4 {loses trivially:} 19. Qe3 (19. Qxg4 Qb6+ {is no better.}) 19... Bxe2 20.
Qxe2 Qb6+ 21. Kc1 Bxc3 $19) 18... Bg4 $1 19. Qg3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Rfb8 $1 {
There is no defense.} 21. Kd2 Qxf4+ 22. Ke1 Re8 23. Qd2 Rxe2+ 24. Qxe2 Bxe2 25.
Kxe2 Rxc2+ 26. Ke1 Qf2# 0-1

[Event "LA Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"]
[Black "Ward, Noah"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/4qppp/pRp5/4p3/2Q3P1/2P4P/P1P2P2/3R2K1 b - - 0 23"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2022.11.04"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 23... Qh4 {Black will lose one of the queenside pawns, but has serious
counterplay against White's king. This move is fine, though there were several
alternatives.} (23... Kh8 $5 24. Rxa6 (24. Rxc6 f5 $132) 24... Rxa6 25. Qxa6 f5
26. Qxc6 fxg4 27. hxg4 Qf7 28. Qg2 Qxa2 29. Qe4 $14) (23... h5 $5 24. Rxc6 Rab8
25. Kg2 hxg4 26. hxg4 e4 $132) 24. Kg2 (24. Rd3 $1 {was more accurate. The
rook turns out to be perfectly placed here, but I didn't understand this
during the game.}) 24... Rac8 (24... Kh8 $1 25. Rxc6 f5 26. gxf5 e4 $1 $132 {
provides Black with sufficient counterplay.}) 25. Rd7 $2 {Not grasping the
essence of the position. White needed to defend against ...e4 ideas.} (25. Rd3
$1 {was best once more, securing the kingside. For example,} h5 26. Rxa6 hxg4
27. hxg4 {and Black lacks ...e4 tricks as in the game:} e4 $2 28. Qxe4 Rce8 29.
Qf4 Re1 30. Rh3 $1) 25... h5 (25... Rce8 $5 26. Rxc6 e4 {also provides good
counterplay.}) 26. Rxa6 hxg4 27. hxg4 ({White cannot hope for an advantage
after} 27. Qxg4 Qf6 {, as his king is permanently weakened.}) 27... Qf6 $2 ({
Black had a big chance to change the course of the game with} 27... e4 $1 28.
Qe2 (28. Qxe4 $2 Rce8 29. Qf5 g6 $1 (29... Re1 $2 30. Ra8 $1) 30. Qf3 Re1 {
wins for Black.}) 28... e3 29. fxe3 Rce8 {with excellent counterplay.}) 28. Rb6
$6 {Again allowing counterplay.} (28. a4 Qg6 29. Re7 Qf6 30. Raa7 $16) 28...
Qg6 29. Re7 $1 {The only move to continue pressing.} Qxc2 $2 (29... Qd6 $1 {
forces a trade of queens into a drawn ending.} 30. Rbb7 Qd5+ 31. Qxd5 cxd5 32.
Rxe5 Rxc3 33. Rxd5 Rxc2 $14) 30. Rxe5 $2 {A blunder. I saw 30. Rbb7, but did
not think including it made a difference.} (30. Rbb7 $1 Qg6 31. Rxe5 $16) 30...
Ra8 $1 31. Rf5 $5 {Setting a trap in my opponent's time pressure.} (31. Re2 Ra4
$1 {is what I initially missed.}) 31... Rxa2 $2 (31... Ra4 $1 {was necessary.}
32. Rb4 Rxb4 33. Qxb4 Qxa2 34. Qe4 $14 {White maintains some practical
pressure, perhaps, but obviously the position is drawn.}) 32. Rb8 $1 (32. Rxf7
$2 {is the wrong execution:} Rxf7 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. Qxf7 Qe4+ 35. Kg3 Qe5+ 36.
Kh3 {and now, for instance, Black can draw with} Rxf2 $11) 32... Ra7 33. Rxf8+
Kxf8 34. Qc5+ Kg8 (34... Re7 35. Re5 $1 {is the key point.}) 35. Qxa7 Qe4+ 36.
Kg3 Qd3+ 37. Qe3 Qd6+ 38. Kg2 1-0

[Event "LA Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cooke, Eric"]
[Black "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2022.11.04"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,62,28,28,13,-21,-17,-14,42,47,37,46,43,33,46,16,15,13,61,31,9,16,8,10,
44,28,62,36,43,27,43,16,18,-4,21,-8,-16,9,10,-3,101,81,101,96,95,-42,0,0,-114,
-120,-133,-124,-145,-155,-133,-145,-150,-146,-135,-311,-326,-338,-345,-340,
-352]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Bd3 Bd6 {One of many options here.} 9. g4 $6 {This move doesn't work very
well here, because White's center isn't as secure as in other lines with an
early g2-g4 (for example, the Shabalov-Shirov Variation). Nevertheless, it's
an interesting try to spice up the position.} b4 {The most natural reaction,
though other moves were possible.} 10. g5 bxc3 11. gxf6 Qxf6 12. bxc3 e5 13.
Nd2 $1 {The correct way to develop the initiative.} (13. e4 h6 14. Be3 O-O {
leaves Black's position without obvious targets. Meanwhile, Black has simple
play against White's center; a possible plan is ...Rd8 followed by ...a5 and ..
.Ba6. In time, the weaknesses created by g2-g4 will tell.}) 13... O-O 14. Ne4
Qh6 (14... Qe7 {was probably better. Black prepares ...Nf6, neutralizing the
attack -- a resource unavailable to him in the game.} 15. Qh5) 15. h4 Be7 (
15... f5 {was playable, but I think allowing the trade of the dark-squared
bishop is risky when combined with a move like ...f7-f5.}) 16. Ng3 {Here I
decided to sacrifice a pawn.} Nb6 $5 {The computer has other ideas, but I
think that this approach is most consistent with Black's previous strategy.} (
16... Re8 {is the far less natural computer continuation, allowing White's
pieces to invade.} 17. Nf5 Qf6 18. e4 Bf8 19. Bg5 Qe6 {Next, Black will
complete the regrouping with ...g6 and ...Bg7, achieving the desired
counterplay. But I would be wary of entering this position as Black.}) 17. dxe5
Qe6 18. f4 Rd8 19. Qe2 {A minor reversal has occured: now Black is the one who
must find resources to continue the attack. In a frivolous mood, I decided to
sacrifice an Exchange, but this was hardly necessary and hardly good.} Rxd3 $6
(19... f6 {is the most logical.} 20. Bc2 (20. exf6 $6 {is the wrong approach;
opening the center helps Black.} Bxf6 21. Kf2 c5 $1 $36) (20. e4 fxe5 21. f5
Qd6 {is fine for Black, who will use the c3-pawn as the basis for his
counterplay.}) (20. Ne4 fxe5 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 e4 23. Bc2 Qf5 {also grants
equality, thanks to Black's control over the light squares.}) 20... Kh8 21. Bb3
(21. Nf5 fxe5 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Qh5 e4 $1 {ends White's attack.}) 21... Nd5 $1
22. e4 (22. Qf3 Qg4 {gives Black enough counterplay.}) 22... Nxc3 23. Bxe6 (23.
Qe3 $2 Qg4 24. Qxc3 {loses to} Bb4 $1) 23... Nxe2 24. Kxe2 Bxe6 25. Nf5 Bxf5
26. exf5 Rd5 27. Bb2 Rad8 {with an equal endgame.}) (19... Na4 $5 {also
appears to be satisfactory.} 20. Kf2 (20. Bf5 Qd5 21. O-O Bxf5 22. Nxf5 Bf8 {
gives White nothing concrete.}) 20... Nxc3 21. Qc2 Qd5 $1 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23.
Qxc3 Kxh7 {with an unbalanced but objectively equal position.}) 20. Qxd3 Qg4
21. Kf2 Bxh4 22. Rg1 $2 (22. e4 $1 {was the way to go, preparing to force a
trade of queens with Qf3. Black has only one way to survive:} h5 $1 23. Qf3
Qxf3+ 24. Kxf3 Bg4+ 25. Kg2 Bxg3 26. Kxg3 Rd8 {and the exchange-down endgame
is not very clear, but certainly not what Black hoped for.}) 22... Be6 23. Qe2
$2 {Black is able to avoid the trade of queens.} (23. Ba3 $2 Nc4 24. Bd6 f6 $1
{doesn't help matters.}) (23. e4 $1 {is better late than never, though after
the nearly-forced sequence} Rd8 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kxf3 Rd3+ 26. Be3 Nc4 27.
Rae1 Rxc3 {White has trouble escaping the zugzwang-like vise.}) 23... Qh3 24.
Qf3 Rd8 {The final piece enters the game, and now it's over.} 25. e4 (25. Qg2
Qf5 26. e4 Qh5 {doesn't help White.}) 25... Nc4 26. Qg2 Qg4 27. Qf3 Qxf3+ {
With White's army still undeveloped, Black can simplify.} 28. Kxf3 Rd3+ 29. Kf2
Bg4 30. Rb1 Rf3+ 31. Ke1 h5 {The last careful move; now White loses the
g3-knight.} (31... Bxg3+ $2 32. Rxg3 $1 {would be a rather undesirable finish.}
) 0-1

[Event "LA Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"]
[Black "Casella, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E71"]
[Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3q1k1/1pp3bp/6b1/p1pPp1Bn/2P5/2N2r1P/PP1QB3/2KR2R1 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2022.11.04"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 20... Rxc3+ $2 {White was much worse in a King's Indian gone wrong, but
this move is just too ambitious.} (20... Rxh3 $1 {There's nothing wrong with
grabbing more material.} 21. Bg4 ({Casella said he was afraid of} 21. Nb5 $2 {
but this loses to} Nf4 22. Nxc7 Qa4 $1 {with a decisive attack.}) 21... Rd3 22.
Qh2 Nf4 {and Black is clearly better.}) 21. bxc3 Ra6 22. Bxh5 $1 {Simplifying
the position.} Bxh5 23. Bh6 Bg6 (23... Rg6 $2 24. Rdf1 $1 {is bad.}) 24. Kb2 (
24. Bxg7 {is even stronger, since} Rb6 {is met by the calm} 25. Qg5 $1 Kxg7 26.
Kd2) 24... Bxh6 25. Qxh6 Qa4 26. Ka1 $6 (26. Qe3 {keeps the c4-pawn; the key
point is} Rb6+ 27. Ka1 Qc2 28. Qc1 $1) 26... Qxc4 27. Qe3 Rf6 28. Rg4 e4 29. h4
Kh8 $2 {A final mistake in time pressure.} (29... h5 $1 30. Rg3 Kf7 {makes
things difficult for White.}) 30. h5 $1 {Now the lines open towards Black's
king.} Rf1 {The only try.} 31. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 32. Kb2 Bxh5 33. Rxe4 Bg6 34. Re7 Qf5
35. Qe5+ {Sufficient.} Qxe5 36. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "LA Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shlyakhtenko, Robert"]
[Black "Katz, Alex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A42"]
[Annotator "Shlyakhtenko,Robert"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/ppp2qbp/2np2p1/5p2/2PP1B2/5N2/PP1QBPPP/4RRK1 b - - 0 15"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2022.11.04"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,18,70,60,98,110,104,99,46,47,22,13,18,180,184,184,96,110,206,190,239]
} {[#]} 15... Qf6 {In this position, I repeated moves with} 16. Bg5 {, not
seeing any other reasonable continuation.} ({However, it turns out that White
is just winning after the correct} 16. c5 $1 {, and Black's position collapses
immediately. For example:} dxc5 (16... Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19.
Bc4+ Kh8 20. Re7 dxc5 21. Rfe1 {leaves Black without reasonable moves.}) 17.
Bc4+ Kh8 18. Bg5 Qd6 19. d5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 $1 Qxe5 22. Re1 Qd4 23.
Qxd4+ cxd4 24. Re7 $18 {A picturesque position: White plans Bg5-f4-e5, and
there is nothing Black can do!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "U.S. Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Liang, Awonder"]
[Black "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[Annotator "A Ramirez"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,74,25,16,41,38,35,36,45,49,60,49,41,34,41,47,49,27,31,35,33,35,45,26,
42,35,25,28,29,-21,-50,-21,-27,-18,-19,-19,-50,-38,-52,-94,-140,-137,-190,-189,
-183,-176,-190,-190,-198,-190,-188,-177,-189,-182,-193,-207,-195,-197,-209,
-217,-260,-269,-270,-419,-348,-298,-226,-243,-282,-293,-300,-298,-309,-309,
-314,-625,-649] Tournaments spearheaded by Walter High, Grant Oen, and Peter
Giannatos in Charlotte are always excellent. The rounds start on time, the
playing hall is fully adequate, and it's important to be to be in familiar
territory when scavenging for food during double rounds - doubly so during
Thanksgiving. Players don't flock to Charlotte for the glamour. They flock for
the clean, efficient organization that promises fighting chess left and right.
} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 {Awonder came into the round fresh off of a
win against a strong IM, and his demeanor over the board gave the impression
that he saw me as food. Playing White against Ramirez is certainly not a bad
pairing for someone who annihilated GM Levon Aronian not two months ago! I
have had the opportunity to see Awonder's improvement in recent times; it is
quite something to see him flourish this year. Not only did he have a stellar
U.S. Championship, but he closed the year with a stunning performance at the
SPICE Cup. He feels close to 2700 FIDE strength.} 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 {
The Fort Knox variation of the French Defense has a terrible reputation for a
reason: Black is cramped and lacks space. It was a bit of a gamble, but I
wanted to see how well the young star could punish these positions. Sometimes
it takes a couple of tries to get all of the ideas right.} 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O
Ngf6 8. Ng3 {This is the most popular line and classically regarded as the
best. Nowadays a quick run with the engine makes me wonder why this is better
than any other knight retreat.} ({Even the lousy} 8. Nc3 {keeps an advantage
of 0.7 according to Stockfish.}) 8... g6 $5 {Both GMs Jeffery Xiong and Baadur
Jobava had used this online a few times. That's good enough for one game.} ({
White is a little better after} 8... Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. c3 $1 {.}) 9. Re1 ({
I had briefly analyzed} 9. h4 $1 {during 40 minutes of prep before the game,
and technically, this is the refutation. The more I looked at it, the more I
realized that Black's position is trash. But chess is hard - White just
castled, so who thinks of h2-h4?} Bg7 10. Re1 $1 ({the inferior} 10. h5 Nxh5
11. Nxh5 gxh5 {is nothing and I was quite ready to play this position}) 10...
O-O 11. h5 {and this position is just ugly. Relinquishing the g5-square is too
much for Black's already tight position.}) 9... Bg7 10. c3 O-O 11. h4 $1 {
Played one tempo late, but this is still thet best plan for White.} Bd5 12. b4
{Stopping ...c7-c5 the hard way. This leads to some forcing play, which I
evaluated as fine for Black.} ({If} 12. h5 c5 {with some counterplay. The
engine keeps a big edge with silly looking moves.}) 12... a5 13. b5 c5 {
I had foreseen the move Ne5 here as key. The engine laughs at my understanding,
saying that} 14. Ne5 $2 {The humans clearly had reached the same conclusion,
but here I am not so sure what went through Awonder's mind. Now Black has two
options: one is tempting but not good, and the other one is not obvious
initially, but is clearly strategically strong. White's play is forcing me to
make good moves.} (14. bxc6 $1 Bxc6 15. h5 Ng4 $5 {and in a position that I
thought was close to equality, the fish evaluates as +1.}) (14. h5 {was a
perfectly good move too.}) 14... c4 $1 {Awonder took nearly half an hour on 14.
Ne5, allowing me to reply with ...c5-c4 in less than a minute. Chess is a
sport too, after all. The flow was in my direction, and as I walked around the
hall, I stopped wondering if I had fully equalized, and began to focus on how
much better I was.} ({After} 14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Bg5 {is the winning
detail, one that is important to throw in before trapping the d5-bishop. Now if
} (16. c4 $2 Nxe5 17. cxd5 Nxd3 {works out for Black. None of this is very
difficult.}) 16... Qb6 17. c4 Nxe5 18. cxd5 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Bxa1 20. Rxa1 {
it's obvious, even from afar, that Black is busted.}) ({Clearly terrible is} 
14... b6 15. Nc6 {.}) 15. Bc2 ({Black is for choice after} 15. Bxc4 Nxe5 $1 (
15... Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Rc8 17. Nd6 Rxc3 18. h5 {is unclear}) 16. dxe5 (16. Bxd5
Nxd5 17. dxe5 Qxh4 {with a solid edge for Black}) 16... Bxc4 17. exf6 Qxd1 18.
Rxd1 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bxh4 {and Black is slightly better.}) ({After} 15. Nxc4 Qc7
16. Ne5 $2 (16. Qe2 Bxc4 (16... Rac8 $5) 17. Bxc4 Nb6 18. Bd3 Qxc3 {and Black
is a bit better}) 16... Qxc3 {suddenly all of Black's position makes sense.})
15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 ({Here} 16. Rxe5 Nd7 17. Rg5 {is not serious.}) 16... Nd7
17. Qd4 ({The alternative} 17. Bg5 Qc7 {simply blunders the e5-pawn.}) 17... f6
({My original intention had been} 17... Qc7 18. Bf4 Qc5 {, but the text is
more ambitious.}) 18. h5 $8 {"Box," in Yasser-speak.} Nxe5 {[#]} 19. Nf1 $2 {
The losing mistake. Frustrated without a clear way forward, Awonder lets my
army into the game with tempo.} (19. h6 Bh8 20. Ba3 Re8 21. f4 Nd3 22. f5 $3 {
is some engine magic.}) ({I expected} 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Rxe5 fxe5 21. Qg4 {
. Black's structure is in shambles, but I have so much extra material, I
figured I could return it somehow for equality if things went wrong. Play
continues} Qf6 22. Be3 e4 23. Nxe4 ({other ideas:} 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Qf5 {
and Black wins}) ({the engine says} 23. Rd1 $3 {is equal and I will not argue
with it}) 23... Qf5 {and Black is winning.}) 19... Nd3 20. Bxd3 f5 21. Qe3 f4
$1 ({Going for the Exchange with} 21... Bxc3 {is poor technique.}) 22. Qh3 cxd3
23. hxg6 ({Here} 23. Bd2 Qg5 {is simply hopeless, as Black has every plus in
the position.}) ({And Black wins after} 23. Qxd3 Qg5 24. f3 Rac8 $1 {.}) 23...
hxg6 24. Rxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Rf7 26. Qxg6 Qd7 27. Bd2 Qxb5 28. Re1 Qf5 29. Qd6
Ra6 30. Qb8+ Kh7 31. Nh2 Rh6 32. Qd8 Bf8 33. Qd4 Bc5 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35. Rxe5
Bxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rxh2 37. Kg1 f3 0-1

[Event "U.S. Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Clasby, Derek"]
[Black "Cordova, Emilio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2354"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[Annotator "E Cordova"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Usually, most players tend to pick the "game" that helped them to gain an
important prize or a brilliancy. Switching things up a bit here, I decided to
pick a game that helped me to gain confidence through the rest of the event.} 
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 b6 6. b3 Bb7 7. Bb2 a6 8. Bf1
d5 9. exd5 {In an earlier Charlotte tournament, I faced this same position,
and my lacking of knowledge led me to a dubious decision. This time, however,
I knew what to do.} Nxd5 ({My} 9... Qxd5 $2 {gave me the worse position in
Preotu-Cordova, Charlotte 2022.}) 10. d4 Nf6 {Here I felt confident enough, as
I knew that at least I was not worse.} 11. a3 {not a bad decision although yet
a bit suspicious.} ({Objectively speaking,} 11. c4 {was the best move, with
play continuing} cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 {.}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4
13. Bxd4 $6 {After this capture, White loses the initiative.} (13. Qxd4 {
was necessary.}) 13... Bd6 14. h3 Qc7 {Black has seized the initiative by
pointing all of his forces towards the enemy king.} 15. Qc1 {[#]} O-O-O 16. Qb2
({White had to find the counter-intuitive} 16. Qe3 $1 {, and only the machine
can find such a move! Black is clearly better after} Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Bf4 18. Bxb6
Bxe3 19. Bxc7 Bxf2 20. Bxd8 Bxe1 {, but White still breathes.}) 16... h5 $1 {
This is the first critical moment, and a good time to remind you that when you
attack, be sure to include all your pieces.} 17. Qc3 $2 ({The only move is} 17.
Bd3 $3 {, but it's hard for human logic to understand, as the kingside is
completely bereft of defenders. Once again Black is much better, but still has
to win the game, after} e5 18. Rxe5 Qc6 19. f3 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Qc5+ 21. Kf1 Rhe8
22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qc3 {.}) 17... Bh2+ 18. Kh1 {[#]} Rxd4 $3 {I wasn't so sure
if this was good; I just knew that it was necessary, and if nothing else, I
would have fun! At the end of the day, chess is a "game," so let the play
begin!} 19. Qxd4 Ng4 $3 {As soon as I finished my game, I ran to my room to
check my moves. Luckily Mr. Engine confirmed that I wasn't just a coffeehouse
player.} 20. f4 ({Here} 20. Re2 {fails to} Bg1 21. Qc4 Bc6 {,}) ({while} 20.
hxg4 hxg4 {[%cal Gh2g1] would have lead to mate}) 20... Bxf4 21. hxg4 ({
Black wins after} 21. Qc3 Bc6 22. hxg4 hxg4+ 23. Kg1 Rh5 {.}) 21... hxg4+ 22.
Kg1 Bh2+ 23. Kf2 {Here I knew that I had many good options, but I wasn't so
sure how good each of those options would be.} Qg3+ {The most direct, concrete
line. I made the decision of playing the most direct and concrete line.} ({
Black also wins after} 23... Bg3+ 24. Ke2 Bf3+ 25. gxf3 Rh2+ 26. Bg2 Rxg2+ 27.
Kf1 gxf3 28. Nd2 Bf2 {.}) 24. Ke2 Bf3+ 25. Kd2 Rd8 26. Bxa6+ Kc7 27. Qxd8+ Kxd8
28. gxf3 {[#] White's pieces are not fully developed, so I must take advantage
of the situation.} Qf2+ 29. Re2 Qd4+ 30. Bd3 Bf4+ 31. Kd1 Qxa1 {Black has too
much material. The result is almost decided.} 32. c3 gxf3 33. Rf2 g5 34. Rxf3
Qb2 35. Rxf4 gxf4 {I really enjoyed this game, and it gave me confidence
enough to play a decent tournament. This was my first U.S. Masters. I was
really happy to play, and I can't wait to come back!} 0-1

[Event "U.S. Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Cruz, Cristhian"]
[Black "Korley, Kassa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2572"]
[BlackElo "2519"]
[Annotator "C Cruz"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,63,28,-9,-3,-9,-7,-4,-6,-9,11,6,5,13,6,15,31,21,34,15,27,21,42,40,42,
61,57,72,72,50,50,46,102,75,104,96,93,103,101,34,48,63,83,83,83,83,67,69,220,
223,215,220,168,168,258,367,384,384,394,349,348,333,391,407,407,407] I was
undefeated through this point, so I wanted to end the tournament in the best
possible way. I had played a long game in the last round, so I didn't have
much time to prepare for this game. I had played Korley once before; that game
was a draw, but here he needed to win to earn a GM norm.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3.
e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 {My opponent often uses Queen's Gambit Declined structures.}
5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 {Avoiding deciding on the place of the d-pawn until necessary.
} b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4 Bb7 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. O-O {[%csl Re4,Ge5] Now the fight
focuses around two squares: e4 and e5.} Ne4 ({Another option was} 10... a6 11.
Ne5 Bd6 12. f4 {.}) 11. Rc1 Ndf6 ({After} 11... Nxc3 12. Rxc3 Bd6 13. Qc1 {
[%cal Gb2a3] (a move with two ideas)} Qe7 (13... Nf6 14. Ba3 $13) {White has
great compensation after} 14. Rxc7 $1 Bxc7 15. Qxc7 {.}) 12. Ne2 $5 {Bringing
the knight to the kingside, and freeing the a1-h8 diagonal.} Bd6 13. Ne5 {
[#] Both sides have shown their main ideas. Now the fight will take place in
the center and on the kingside.} c5 $6 {The problem with this move is that it
gives White the chance to open up the diagonal for the dark-squared bishop.} ({
Better was} 13... Qe7 $5 14. Nf4 c5 15. Bb1 {[%cal Gf2f3] with f2-f3 coming,
and an unclear position.}) 14. f3 Ng5 ({I'd prefer} 14... cxd4 $5 {to close
the diagonal. Play continues} 15. exd4 (15. Bxd4 Qe8 $1 {is equal}) 15... Ng5
16. Ng3 {[%cal Gg3f5]} g6 17. Qe2 {[%cal Gf3f4,Gf4f5] with the initiative. At
some point the f-pawn advances.}) 15. Ng3 ({With} 15. dxc5 $5 {White prevents
Black from being able to close the diagonal.}) 15... Rc8 $2 ({Black could
still hang on with} 15... cxd4 16. exd4 (16. Bxd4 Ne6 17. Bb2 Bc5 {with
practical counterplay}) 16... g6 17. Qe2 $14 {although White is still better.})
16. Nf5 {The white pieces move towards the black king.} Bb8 17. dxc5 $1 ({
Also viable here, and in the next few moves, is} 17. Qe1 $5 {, shifting the
queen to the kingside.}) 17... bxc5 18. f4 Ne6 ({Worse is} 18... Nge4 19. Bxe4
$1 Nxe4 (19... dxe4 20. Qe1 {[%cal Ge1g3,Gg3h4] with the idea Qe1-h4}) 20. Qg4
Qf6 21. Nd7 Qxb2 22. Rc2 $1 {and White wins.}) 19. Ng4 $5 ({Once again} 19. Qe1
$1 {was also possible, i.e.,} d4 20. Qh4 dxe3 21. Rfd1 e2 22. Bxe2 Qe8 23. Nxg7
Kxg7 (23... Nxg7 24. Qxf6 {wins}) 24. Ng4 {and the game is just about won.})
19... d4 $1 {The best defense.} ({After} 19... Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 {White has}
21. Nf6+ $1 ({or} 21. Ngh6+ $1 Kh8 (21... gxh6 $4 22. Nxh6#) 22. Qh5 Qc7 23.
Nxg7 $1 Nxg7 24. Bxg7+ Kxg7 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Qf6#) 21... Kh8 (21... gxf6 22.
Qg4+ Kh8 23. Rcd1 {and wins}) 22. Qg4 {with a crushing position.}) 20. exd4 ({
Cleanest is} 20. Nxf6+ $1 Qxf6 21. Qh5 {[%csl Gh7][%cal Gd3h7,Gh5h7] with the
h7-square in the crosshairs, i.e.,} g6 (21... h6 22. Qg4 {and Black's position
is difficult}) 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Qh3 {and White is cruising.}) 20... cxd4 ({If} 
20... Nxd4 21. Rxc5 $1 Rxc5 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Bxd4 {.}) 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 22. Ba3
$1 {Relocating the bishop to another diagonal. We both were in time trouble.}
Re8 ({Here} 22... Nd5 $5 {is interesting, offering the Exchange to reactivate
Black's pieces:} 23. g3 (23. Bxf8 $6 Kxf8 {shows Black's idea}) 23... Re8 24.
Ngh6+ gxh6 25. Nxh6+ Kg7 26. Qg4+ Kxh6 27. Qh3+ Kg7 28. Qxh7+ Kf6 29. Qh6#) 23.
Bb5 Nxf4 {[#]} 24. Be7 $1 {An incisive move, played to destroy the kingside
pawn structure.} Rxe7 25. Nxf6+ Kh8 ({Or} 25... Kf8 26. Nxh7+ Kg8 27. Nf6+ Kf8
28. Nxe7 Qxe7 29. Re1 Be5 30. Qc1 {.}) 26. Nxe7 Bb7 ({If} 26... gxf6 27. Nxc8 {
,}) ({while we see the point of White's 24th move with} 26... Qxe7 27. Qc2 $1 {
[%cal Gc2c8,Gc2h7] and the double attack on the c8-bishop and the h7-square.})
27. Nh5 Nh3+ 28. gxh3 Qxe7 29. Re1 Be5 30. Bd3 g6 31. Qe2 Qg5+ 32. Qg4 {
An interesting game, and one that gave me shared first place.} 1-0

[Event "U.S. Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.11.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Jacobson, Brandon"]
[Black "Yoo, Christopher Woojin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "C Yoo"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,98,28,23,14,12,11,-3,39,39,53,42,45,23,25,18,18,13,17,20,17,9,13,4,7,
-3,-14,-13,-1,0,-2,5,12,21,33,2,45,0,5,47,45,42,35,-34,1,18,6,5,4,-5,8,-31,-42,
-42,-35,-35,-50,-75,-27,-117,-93,-81,-48,-109,-113,-92,-103,-103,-103,-103,
-103,-104,-84,-102,-102,-100,-106,-102,-102,-128,-129,-135,-133,-199,-115,-130,
-130,-135,-135,-135,-138,-134,-141,-149,-157,-152,-164,-166,-176,-326,-340]
The U.S. Masters is the most important Swiss event I’ve ever won, and the
first time I’ve ever been in an armageddon playoff for an over-the-board
tournament. I always like playing in Charlotte, and I tend to do well here.
This time was no exception.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. d4 e6
6. Be2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. b3 Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qc2 {[#] It seems that Jacobson
wasn't concerned with maximizing his position, but instead just trying to get
a solid game.} Qe7 11. Rfe1 Rfd8 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Ba3 $6 {
A bit unneccessary, as I can make this move any time, and often under slightly
better circumstances.} ({Instead, with} 14... Nf6 15. Qh4 h6 {, and only now
perhaps with ...Bd6-a3 coming, Black can equalize.}) 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 16. Qf4 {
It's hard for me to get coordinated with ...Nd7-f6 in light of White's Nf3-e5
and Be2-f3.} Rac8 {Preventing Qf4-c7 ideas.} 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Rd2 $6 {I think
this is a bit slow, as there were better attacking plans than simply doubling
the rooks.} ({One idea is} 18. h4 $1 c5 $2 ({or} 18... Nf6 19. Ne5 c5 20. dxc5
bxc5 21. Bf3 {with a solid edge for White}) 19. d5 exd5 20. cxd5 Qf6 21. Qg3 {
and White is significantly better. The rook is well placed on d1 here, and the
h2-h4 inclusion is useful as it gains space and supports Nf3-g5 ideas. I think
White is even positionally winning.}) 18... c5 19. d5 exd5 20. cxd5 Qf6 21. Qg3
a6 22. a4 $6 {Here ...b7-b5 isn't a big threat, and weakening the b3-square is
not necessary.} ({White is a bit better after} 22. Ng5 Re8 23. f3 $1 {, due to
the strong pawn on d5, and looking for Ng5-e4.}) 22... Re8 23. Rdd1 Qc3 {
Now, with the pressure on the b3-pawn and ...Nd7-f6 coming, I have enough
counterplay to equalize.} 24. Nd2 Qc2 25. Qg4 Nf6 26. Qc4 Qf5 27. d6 Rcd8 {[#]}
28. Nf3 $2 {The knight is simply not well placed here, and the d6-pawn can be
won nearly by force.} ({The right move is} 28. Nf1 $1 {and if} Re6 $2 (28...
Re4 29. Qc1 {is equal}) 29. Ng3 Qe5 30. Qc1 Rexd6 31. Bd3 {White is quite a
bit better.}) 28... Re6 29. Nh4 $6 {Not the best resistance, as I can easily
win the d6-pawn, and the knight on h4 is not really better than f3.} ({Black
is pressing after} 29. Bd3 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Qd5 31. Qxd5 Bxd5 32. Bxa6 Bxb3 33.
Rb1 Bxa4 34. Rxb6 Ne8 {, but White has decent drawing chances as there are
fewer pawns on the board.}) 29... Qe4 30. h3 Kf8 {Improving the king position,
as there is still no way to defend the d6-pawn.} 31. Bf1 Qxc4 32. Bxc4 Rxe1+
33. Rxe1 Rxd6 {The rest is a matter of technique.} 34. Nf5 Rd7 35. f3 Nh5 36.
Kf2 g6 37. Ne3 Nf4 38. Kg3 Rd4 39. Ng4 h5 40. Ne3 h4+ 41. Kf2 Rxc4 $1 {With
this simplification tactic it is just over.} 42. Nxc4 Nd3+ 43. Ke2 Nxe1 44.
Kxe1 b5 45. axb5 axb5 46. Ne5 Ke7 47. Kd2 Bd5 48. Kc2 Kd6 49. Nd3 Bxb3+ 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2022.09.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Niemann, Hans Moke"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2861"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Norway"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,113,19,23,27,-9,-4,6,11,-7,-7,4,3,-2,-2,-2,-17,-21,-22,-19,-28,-29,30,
10,8,6,-2,23,11,-21,-26,-20,-11,-16,-14,-41,-40,-47,-55,-39,-38,-23,-35,-30,
-33,-34,-41,-46,-40,-38,-39,-51,-59,-40,-56,-48,-58,-65,-80,-78,-56,-85,-100,
-97,-92,-107,-93,-99,-91,-97,-105,-94,-101,-101,-99,-99,-99,-99,-99,-99,-99,
-107,-122,-121,-121,-121,-121,-145,-88,-102,-104,-108,-115,-112,-120,-115,-103,
-185,-169,-228,-229,-295,-324,-330,-373,-373,-378,-369,-364,-372,-375,-397,
-625,-872,-1011,-1011]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 ({A Catalan order that
transposes to the game is} 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3
dxc4 8. Bg2) 3... Bb4 4. g3 {Not the most common move order to get to the game
variation.} ({The Ragozin order} 4. Nf3 d5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 {also transposes.}) 4... O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. a3 Bxc3+ (6... Be7 {is a
legitimate option.}) 7. bxc3 dxc4 8. Nf3 ({Niemann said that he took some time
looking at} 8. Qa4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Nf3 Bd5 {followed soon by ...c7-c5.})
8... c5 ({Among the alternatives, the most ambitious is to try to hold onto
the pawn by} 8... b5 9. a4 c6 $2 (9... Bb7 10. axb5 {gives White a slight edge}
) {, but then White has the forcing} 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Ng5 $1 Nd5 12. Qc2 f5 (
12... g6 13. e4 Ne7 14. e5 Nbc6 15. Ne4) 13. e4 Nb6 14. exf5 exf5 15. O-O {
and Black will lack compensation for the Exchange.}) 9. O-O cxd4 {The
alternatives} (9... Nc6) (9... Qa5 {and}) (9... Bd7 {have all scored
reasonably well.}) 10. Qxd4 {A new move in my database.} ({After} 10. cxd4 Bd7
$1 {threatens to hold onto the passed c-pawn with ...b7-b5 at some point, with
a fully equal position.}) 10... Nc6 11. Qxc4 e5 $1 12. Bg5 h6 {[#]} 13. Rfd1 $6
{Losing time.} ({Better was} 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd2 {, uncovering the powerful
g2-bishop, but Black has good enough development and potential pressure
against White's weakened queenside, so this seems about equal.}) 13... Be6 $1
14. Rxd8 ({Black is favored after} 14. Qa4 Qa5 $1 15. Qxa5 Nxa5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 {
with his control over the c4-square and pressure down the c-file.}) 14... Bxc4
15. Rxa8 Rxa8 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Kf1 $6 {Trying to keep things complicated, but
it was already time to bail out with something like} (17. Nd2 Bxe2 18. Ne4 f5
19. Nd6 f4 20. Be4 $1 {when Black is slightly for choice.}) 17... Rd8 18. Ke1
Na5 19. Rd1 ({Not} 19. Nd2 $2 Rxd2 $1) 19... Rc8 $1 {Bravely going for the win.
Most players would have settled for equality and a likely draw after} (19...
Rxd1+ 20. Kxd1 Bd5 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22. Nxg2 Nc4 {.}) 20. Nd2 Be6 21. c4 $5 ({
Another idea is} 21. Ne4 f5 22. Nd6 Rxc3 23. Bxb7 Nxb7 24. Nxb7 Rxa3 {with a
slight edge for Black.}) 21... Bxc4 {[#] A little impatient.} ({Either} 21...
b6 $1 {or}) (21... Kf8 22. Bd5 Ke7 {are still more effective.}) 22. Nxc4 {
Not a bad move, but Magnus at his normal alertness would have chosen one of
two other moves:} ({a)} 22. f4 $1 {(admitttedly an engine move, yet not one
beyond human comprehension), threatening to take on c4 and then penetrate to
d7. Then} Be6 (22... exf4 23. Nxc4 Rxc4 24. Rd7 fxg3 25. hxg3 {followed by
Bg2-d5 should draw.}) 23. Ne4 Kg7 24. Nd6 {might follow. I prefer Black here.})
({b)} 22. Ne4 {is natural, with ideas of Ne4xf6+ and Ne4-d6:} Bb3 $1 (22... Be6
23. f4 exf4 24. Nxf6+ Kg7 25. Nh5+ {is equal}) 23. Rb1 b6 (23... Kg7 24. Nd6)
24. Nxf6+ Kg7 25. Ne4 Be6 {, with advantage to Black, but White should hold.})
22... Rxc4 23. Rd8+ ({Avoiding} 23. Rd7 $2 Rc1+ 24. Kd2 Nb3+ 25. Ke3 (25. Kd3
$4 Rd1+) 25... Nc5 {.}) 23... Kg7 24. Bd5 Rc7 25. Ra8 a6 26. Rb8 f5 27. Re8 $5
({Perhaps} 27. e4 {is an idea here.}) 27... e4 $1 28. g4 $2 {Perhaps Carlsen
was disgusted by this point. Normally he would stay patient and stubborn.} Rc5
29. Ba2 Nc4 ({Or} 29... fxg4 30. Rxe4 f5 31. Re7+ Kf6 32. Rf7+ Kg5 {and Black
has everything going for him.}) 30. a4 ({The engine gives White good chances
to hold after} 30. Bxc4 Rxc4 31. gxf5 Ra4 {but this endgame looks promising
for Black.}) 30... Nd6 31. Re7 ({If} 31. Rd8 e3 $1 32. fxe3 Ne4 33. Kf1 Rc1+
34. Kg2 Rc2 35. Bd5 Rxe2+ 36. Kf1 Rf2+ 37. Ke1 Rxh2 {and Black is winning.})
31... fxg4 ({More precise was} 31... Rc2 $1 32. Bd5 Rc1+ 33. Kd2 Rc5 34. Bb3
fxg4 {with a winning position, but the game continuation is strong as well.})
32. Rd7 e3 $1 33. fxe3 ({Of course Carlsen avoids} 33. Rxd6 $4 Rc1+ 34. Rd1
exf2+ {.}) 33... Ne4 34. Kf1 Rc1+ $2 {Giving Carlsen some hope of survival.} ({
Correct was} 34... Rf5+ $1 35. Kg2 b5 {with a significant advantage.}) 35. Kg2
Rc2 36. Bxf7 $1 ({Much worse was} 36. Rxf7+ $2 Kg6 37. Be6 Rxe2+ 38. Kf1 Rxe3 {
.}) 36... Rxe2+ 37. Kg1 Re1+ 38. Kg2 Re2+ 39. Kg1 Kf6 {[#]} 40. Bd5 $2 ({
Only the cold-blooded} 40. Rxb7 {has some chances to hold:} Ng5 (40... Nd6 41.
Rb6 Ke5 42. Bh5) (40... Rxe3 41. Bc4) 41. Bh5 $1 Nf3+ 42. Kf1 Rc2 43. h4 $1 {
and the fight goes on.}) 40... Rd2 41. Rf7+ Kg6 42. Rd7 $2 (42. Rf4 {is a
better try, when one fun line is} Ng5 (42... Rxd5 43. Rxe4 Kf5 {looks good for
Black}) 43. Bg2 Kh5 44. Rb4 Kh4 $1 45. Rxb7 h5 46. e4 (46. Ra7 Nh3+ 47. Bxh3
Kxh3) 46... Ne6 $1 47. a5 Nf4 48. Bf1 Ra2 49. e5 $1 Ne2+ 50. Bxe2 Rxe2 {
and White is slightly worse.}) 42... Ng5 $1 {Simplifying by force.} 43. Bf7+
Kf5 (43... Kf6 $1 {is easier:} 44. Rxd2 Nf3+ 45. Kg2 Nxd2 46. Bd5 b5) 44. Rxd2
Nf3+ 45. Kg2 Nxd2 46. a5 Ke5 {Stopping ...Bf7-d5. There are still tricky
sidelines in what follows, but everything wins for Black.} 47. Kg3 Nf1+ 48. Kf2
({No better is} 48. Kxg4 Nxh2+ 49. Kg3 Nf1+ 50. Kf2 Nd2 {.}) 48... Nxh2 49. e4
Kxe4 50. Be6 Kf4 51. Bc8 Nf3 52. Bxb7 Ne5 53. Bxa6 Nc6 54. Bb7 Nxa5 55. Bd5 h5
56. Bf7 h4 57. Bd5 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2022.09.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Niemann, Hans Moke"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,86,33,29,6,18,21,7,7,7,6,5,12,21,17,-26,-8,-28,7,5,7,2,20,2,32,-8,38,
19,22,27,30,20,24,32,67,51,63,-42,-20,-41,12,55,60,-11,55,42,58,43,72,64,41,17,
27,0,0,0,0,0,54,55,2,-7,8,1,1,17,23,-24,-2,-50,-59,-49,-33,-46,-25,-33,27,23,
21,14,18,13,13,10,14,14,12,14,17]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5.
c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Bb6 8. a4 a5 9. h3 h6 10. Na3 {Rare.} (10. Nbd2 {
has been the main move, and was used by Niemann later in the month.}) 10... Ne7
11. d4 Ng6 12. Bf1 {The first new move.} (12. Bb3 {had been played.}) 12... c6
13. Nc4 Bc7 14. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 $1 ({The inferior} 14... dxe5 15. Be3 Be6 16. Qc2
{, with the idea b2-b4, favors White.}) 15. Bf4 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 d5 17. Rad1 Be6
18. e5 $5 ({Things are equal after} 18. Qg3 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Qb8 {, e.g.,} 20.
Qxb8 Rfxb8 21. Nb6 Ra7 22. e5 Nd7 23. Nxd7 Bxd7 24. f4 g5 {.}) 18... Nd7 ({Here
} 18... Ne4 19. Nd2 f5 $1 20. exf6 Rxf6 21. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 22. Nxe4 Rxf4 23.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Qe3 {is unclear, but Black's bishops ensure at least equality.})
19. Qg3 $1 {[#]} ({A key point, sacrificing the knight. If White retreats with
} 19. Nd2 {,} f6 $1 20. exf6 Rxf6 21. Bxc7 Qxc7 {is comfortable for Black.})
19... Kh8 $2 ({The cold-blooded} 19... dxc4 $1 20. Bxh6 g6 {was necessary, but
obviously risky. After the game, Niemann showed that he hadn't worked out the
details, but trusted his position. One important try is} 21. Bg5 (21. h4 $5) (
21. Qf4 $5) 21... f6 $1 (21... Qe8 $4 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 23. Bf6 Bd8 24. Qh4 Bxf6
25. exf6 {and White wins}) 22. Bh6 g5 $1 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 {, which tutns out to
be equal after} 24. Qf3 Bd5 25. Qh5 Nxe5 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Qh8+ {
, etc,}) 20. Nd6 Nc5 21. Rd4 $2 {The engines give three other moves as
maintaining a winning advantage:} (21. c4) (21. Be3 {, and}) (21. Bxh6 gxh6 22.
Qe3 Kh7 23. Qxc5 {, although in the last case} Bb6 24. Qa3 Qh4 {looks a little
scary.}) 21... Bxd6 ({Best was} 21... f5 $1 {.}) 22. exd6 Ne4 23. Rexe4 $5 ({
Also strong is} 23. Qh2 {, with the idea ...f4-f3.}) 23... dxe4 24. Rxe4 Qf6 {
[#]} 25. Bd3 $2 {White was counting upon the line in the following note.
Better was} (25. Be3 $1 {with a strong d-pawn, two bishops, and attack, e.g.,}
Rfe8 26. Bd3 Bd7 27. Rh4 $1) 25... Bf5 26. Re3 ({Niemann was counting on} 26.
Be5 Qg5 27. Rg4 $5 {, but as he showed after the game,} Qc1+ $1 (27... Bxg4 $2
28. f4 $1 Qd8 29. Qxg4 f6 30. Qg6 {mates quickly}) 28. Kh2 Bxg4 {is unclear, e.
g.,} 29. Qxg4 (29. hxg4 Rfe8 30. d7 Re7 31. Bf5 Qd2 {is dynamically equal})
29... Qg5 30. Qe4 f5 31. Qd4 $1 Rad8 32. f4 Qg6 33. c4 b6 $1 34. Qxb6 Rxd6 $1
35. Bxf5 $1 (35. Bxd6 $2 Qxd6 36. Qe3 g5 $1) 35... Rxf5 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Bxd6 {
and we've reached an equal position.}) 26... Bxd3 27. Rxd3 Qf5 $1 {The d-pawn
is blockaded, and the position is balanced.} 28. Qe3 Rfe8 29. Qd2 Rad8 30. Be3
c5 31. g4 $5 Qe4 32. Bxc5 Qxa4 33. Bd4 Re6 ({Also possible is} 33... Kg8) 34.
Bb6 Rd7 35. Bc7 $2 {A potentially dangerous slip. Correct was} (35. Rd5 Qa1+
36. Kg2 Re1 37. Bd4 {with equality.}) 35... Qc6 $6 {Letting White off the hook.
Firouzja should have played} (35... Qa1+ $1 36. Kg2 Re1 {with a dangerous
attack.}) 36. Re3 Rxe3 37. Qxe3 Rxc7 38. dxc7 Qxc7 39. Qe8+ Kh7 40. Qe4+ Kg8
41. Qe8+ Kh7 42. Qe4+ Kg8 43. Qe8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2022.09.10"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,63,19,38,25,16,14,14,11,24,-5,2,5,11,21,-24,19,4,-4,8,34,0,4,-2,-12,
-4,12,-1,15,-48,15,22,26,-11,-19,-21,-22,-39,36,49,49,39,59,-15,-7,0,0,-10,30,
55,267,315,271,271,266,251,243,246,246,246,267,260,281,264,260,288]} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 h6 8. Re1 a6 {
This and 8...a5 are the main lines of this extremely popular line, played
about equally often.} ({So varies from a previous game against Firouzja:} 8...
a5 9. Bb3 Be6 10. Ba4 Bb6 11. d4 Bd7 12. Be3 exd4 13. cxd4 Re8 14. d5 Ne5 15.
Nxe5 Bxa4 16. Qxa4 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Rxe5 {Firouzja-So, Chess.com, 2021.}) 9. a4 a5
10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b3 Re8 12. Bb2 {A new move, at least in my database.} ({a)} 
12. Bb5 {has been played in nearly every game, one encounter going} Bd7 13. Bb2
Ba7 (13... Ne7 $11 {is equal}) 14. Nf1 Nb8 15. Bxd7 Nbxd7 16. Ng3 d5 17. Qc2 c6
$11 {with equality in Nepomniachtchi-Anand, Chess.com 2020.}) ({b)} 12. Qc2 {
was tried this year in a high-level encounter:} Ba7 (12... Qd7) (12... d5 $5)
13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15. Bxe3 Qf6 16. Qe2 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Nd2 Qf6 {
and the position was equal in Giri-Praggnanandhaa, chess24.com, 2022.}) 12...
d5 {Logical, and equalizing.} 13. Bb5 dxe4 14. dxe4 $2 ({Correct was} 14. Nxe4
$1 Nxe4 15. Rxe4 (15. dxe4 $2 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 Bxb3) 15... f6 {with a complex,
if equal, position.}) 14... Nh5 $1 {[#]} 15. Nc4 $2 {Compounding his problems.
Firouzja should have tried} (15. Ba3 $1 Bxa3 16. Rxa3 Qf6 $15 {when Black is
better.} (16... Nf4)) 15... Qf6 {Now White is in real trouble. Black has ...
Be6xh3 and ...Nh5-f4 themes.} 16. Bxc6 (16. Bc1 {, defending against ...Nh5-f4,
allows} Rad8 {, when} 17. Qe2 {(defending f3) fails to} Bxh3 18. gxh3 Ng3 {
and White can resign.}) 16... bxc6 17. Ncxe5 Bxh3 $1 ({Also strong is} 17...
Rad8 {, since} 18. Nd3 (18. Qc2 Bxh3) 18... Bxh3 $1 ({or} 18... Bxb3 $1) 19.
Nd4 (19. Qe2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rxd3 $1) (19. gxh3 Nf4 {is lights out}) 19... Qg6 $1
20. Qf3 Bg4 21. Qe3 Ba7 $1 {wins, with the threat of ...c6-c5.}) 18. Nd3 {
The only practical try in a lost position.} (18. gxh3 {is met with the
extremely strong} Rxe5 $1 19. Bc1 Qg6+ 20. Kf1 Rxe4 ({or} 20... Bxf2 21. Kxf2
Qg3+ 22. Kf1 Qxh3+ 23. Kf2 Qg3+ 24. Kf1 Re6 $1)) 18... Qg6 $2 {Giving away a
large part of the advantage.} (18... Rad8 $1 {transposes to the note on 17...
Rad8.}) 19. Nh4 $1 Qg5 20. Nxc5 Qxh4 $6 ({Last chance for} 20... Rad8 $1 {
with the advantage after} 21. Qf3 Bg4 22. Qe3 Qxh4 23. Nd3 $15) 21. gxh3 Qg5+
22. Qg4 Qxc5 23. c4 {Opening up a beautful bishop diagonal. Black has to be a
little careful now.} Rab8 {[#]} ({The correct} 23... Qg5 $1 {cuts down on
White's attacking chances.}) 24. e5 $1 {A brilliant move.} g6 $4 ({We see
White's point after} 24... Rxb3 25. Bd4 Qxc4 26. Be3 $1 Qxg4+ 27. hxg4 {
Although Black gets a lot of pawns for the piece White has the chances, for
example,} Rxe5 28. gxh5 Rxh5 (28... Rb4 $5) 29. Reb1 Rxb1+ 30. Rxb1 Rh4 31. f4
Kf8 32. Rb7 {.}) 25. Ba3 $1 ({Tempting is} 25. e6 {, but it would run into}
Rxb3 $1 26. exf7+ Kxf7 27. Rxe8 Rg3+ $1 {with near equality.}) 25... Qb6 26. e6
$1 {A killing blow. After a disastrous start, Firouja has played a great game.}
c5 27. exf7+ Kxf7 28. Qd7+ Kf8 29. Qd5 Kg7 30. Bxc5 Nf6 31. Bxb6 Nxd5 32. Rxe8
(32. Rxe8 Rxe8 33. Bxa5 Nb6 34. Bc3+ Kf7 35. a5 {is easy.}) 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2022.08.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2022.08.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,77,27,27,23,6,6,14,14,-29,7,7,6,10,11,4,18,20,19,-5,-4,-30,1,0,7,5,19,
19,21,0,33,0,0,-15,-16,-29,-11,-26,-27,-33,-14,-22,-38,-33,-13,-19,-20,-40,-6,
-10,0,0,24,0,-10,4,68,88,73,80,80,43,43,44,115,131,159,167,202,100,100,84,364,
285,982,992,1160,1195,1195,1267]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5.
Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 c6 9. h4 $5 {Extremely rare, with only 8
games in my database and 6 from this year. There are literally thousands of
games with the alternatives} (9. Bf4 {and}) (9. Rd1) 9... b6 (9... a5 $5 10.
Nc3 $5 (10. Bf4 $14) 10... b6 11. e4 Ba6 $2 (11... dxc4 $1 12. Rad1 b5 13. e5
Nd5 14. Ng5 $1 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qb6 16. Ne4 $13) 12. e5 Ne8 13. b3 $5 (13. cxd5 $1
Bxf1 14. Bxf1 cxd5 15. Bd3 g6 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. Qe2 {with excellent attacking
chances, e.g., by Kg2, Rh1, etc.}) 13... b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Rfe1 (15. Rfc1)
15... Rc8 16. Qb1 (16. Bf1) 16... Bb4 (16... b4 17. Na4 Bb5 18. Nb2 Qb6 19. h5
h6 20. Be3 $14) 17. Rc1 Ba3 18. Re1 g6 19. Nd1 Ng7 20. Ne3 $16 {Sethuraman,S 
(2638)-Narayanan,S (2657) chess24.com 2022}) 10. Nc3 Ba6 (10... dxc4 $5 11. e4
b5 $13) 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Rfc1 Bb7 ({A recent game went} 12... Rc8 13. Qa4 Nb8
14. Bf4 (14. Bf1 $5) 14... Qd7 $2 (14... Qe8 $1) 15. Qxd7 Nfxd7 (15... Nbxd7
16. a4 $1 Ne4 17. Nb5 $16) 16. a4 Nc6 17. Nb5 Bb7 {Sargsyan,S (2645)-Makarian,
R (2505) Khanty-Mansiysk 2022; and here} 18. Bd6 $1 a6 19. Bxe7 Nxe7 20. Na7 $1
{with the idea} Ra8 $6 21. Rc7 {was strong.}) 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Qb3 $5 (14. Qd1
a6 15. Rc2 b5 16. Rac1 $14) 14... a6 15. a4 h6 16. e3 $6 (16. Na2 Ne4 17. Rxc8
Qxc8 18. Rc1 Qa8 19. Rc7 Bc6 20. Nb4 Bxb4 21. Qxb4 $14) 16... Nh5 $5 (16... Ne4
$11) 17. Bh3 Rc4 (17... g5 $1 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Be5 Ng7 $11) 18. Qd1 $1 Nxf4
19. exf4 Bd6 20. Bf1 Rc7 21. Bd3 Nf6 22. Qe2 Qa8 (22... Qc8 $5 23. Rc2 {
and Rac1.}) 23. Ne5 Rfc8 (23... Ne4 $5) 24. f3 $5 (24. Rc2 Ne4 25. Rac1 $14)
24... h5 (24... Nd7 $14) 25. Qe3 Bb4 26. Rc2 (26. Kg2) 26... g6 (26... a5 27.
f5 $1) 27. Rac1 Kg7 28. Bxg6 $1 (28. g4 $1 hxg4 29. h5 $1 {is strong but
riskier.}) 28... fxg6 29. Qd3 ({Or} 29. f5 $1 {with the idea Qg5.}) 29... Ne4
$1 30. fxe4 (30. g4 $5) 30... dxe4 31. Qe3 Bd5 (31... Rf8 $1 32. g4 hxg4 $6 33.
Rg2 $1) 32. g4 $5 (32. f5 $1 exf5 33. Nxd5 Rxc2 34. Rxc2 Rxc2 35. Nxb4 $18 Rxb2
36. Qc1 $1 Rxb4 37. Qc7+) 32... hxg4 33. Rg2 Kh7 34. Rxg4 Rg8 35. Kh2 Qc8 $6 (
35... Bd6 36. Rg5 Bxe5 37. dxe5 Rd7 38. h5 $18) 36. f5 $1 gxf5 (36... exf5 37.
Nxd5 Rxc1 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. Rxg6+ Kf8 40. Qh6+ Ke7 41. Nd5+ Ke8 42. Rxg8+) 37.
Rxg8 Kxg8 (37... Qxg8 38. Nxd5 Rf7 39. Qe2 $1 $18) 38. Qg5+ Rg7 39. Nxd5 (39.
Nxd5 Qxc1 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Nf6+ Kh6 42. Qh8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2022.08.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2022.08.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. Ba2
b5 9. Qc2 (9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 {has been played numerous times, when} cxd4 11.
Rd1 b4 $1 12. exd4 $1 (12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Rxd4 Qa5 (13... Qb6 $11) {Tan,Z (2525)
-Kashlinskaya,A (2491) Astana 2022; and now} 14. e4 Bc5 15. Rc4 Rc8 16. Nd4
Nxa2 17. Rxa2 Qd8 18. Be3 {was roughly equal.}) 12... bxc3 13. d5 Nxd5 14. Rxd5
Qc7 15. Rd3 Be7 16. Rxc3 O-O $11 {has appeared in a few games and is probably
level, but there is plenty of play in the position.}) 9... cxd4 10. exd4 Nxd4
$5 {Daring.} (10... Bb7 {looks sound; it might be met with} 11. d5 $1 exd5 12.
O-O Be7 13. Bg5 O-O 14. Rad1 Na5 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bxd5 Qc8 $11) 11. Nxd4 Qxd4
12. Nd5 Nxd5 $2 (12... Qe5+ $1 13. Kf1 (13. Be3 Nxd5 14. Qc6+ Ke7 15. Qxa8 Nxe3
16. Qa7+ Kf6 17. Qxe3 Bd6 $11) 13... exd5 14. Qc6+ Kd8 15. Qxa8 $4 (15. Bd2 Ra7
16. Ba5+ Rc7 17. Bxd5 $1 Qd6 $1 $11) 15... Bc5 $1 {with a winning attack}) 13.
Qc6+ Ke7 (13... Kd8 $2 14. Bg5+ f6 15. Bxd5) 14. Qxa8 Qe5+ 15. Kf1 $1 Qd4 16.
Bg5+ Kd7 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5+ exd5 19. Rd1 $16 {The bishop pair gives Black
some chances, but the weak pawn on d5 combined with White's activity means
that he is far from equality.} Bb7 20. Be3 b4 21. axb4 Bxb4 22. Bd4 Rc8 $2 (
22... f6 23. h4 h5 24. Rh3 Bd6 $16) 23. h4 $6 (23. Bxg7 $1 Rc2 24. Bd4 Bc6 25.
g3 Ba4 26. Ra1 Bb3 27. Kg2 a5 28. Rhc1 $18) 23... Rc2 24. Rh3 (24. Bxg7 Bc5 $1
$14) 24... g6 25. Rf3 (25. Bc3 Bc5 26. Rf3 f5 27. g4 $1) 25... f5 26. h5 a5 27.
hxg6 hxg6 28. Rg3 Ba6+ 29. Kg1 Be2 30. Ra1 Bh5 31. Rd3 Be2 32. Re3 Bh5 $2 (
32... Rd2 $1 33. Bc3 Bxc3 34. Rxc3 d4 35. Rc5 d3 {should draw.}) 33. Re5 (33.
f3 $5) 33... Kd6 34. Re8 Kd7 35. Rb8 (35. Ra8 Ke7 36. Ra7+ Kd6 37. Ra6+ Kd7 38.
f3 $18) 35... Be2 36. Rb6 $2 (36. Rg8 $1 Bh5 (36... Bc4 37. Rg7+ $18) 37. f3 $1
Ke6 38. Rd1 $18) 36... g5 $1 37. Rg6 g4 38. Bc3 Bc5 ({Even} 38... Rxc3 $1 39.
bxc3 Bxc3 40. Rb1 Bb4 {should hold here.}) 39. Bxa5 Rxb2 40. Bc3 Rb3 (40... Rc2
$1 41. Be5 Bb5 $11) 41. Be5 Bc4 $2 (41... Bd3) 42. Rd1 $2 (42. Ra8 $1 {
threatens Rg7+, e.g.,} d4 43. Rg7+ Ke6 44. Re8+ Kd5 45. Rd7+ Kc6 46. Rc7+ Kd5
47. Rd8+ $18) 42... Bd3 43. Rc1 Bc4 (43... Rb1 $11) 44. Rd1 (44. Ra1 $1) 44...
Bd3 45. Rc1 Bc4 46. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Rapid"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2022.08.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2022.08.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
b6 9. Rd1 Bb7 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Ba6 12. e4 dxc4 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 c3 15. Bg5
$5 (15. Nxc3 $1 {seems to give better chances, since the dangerous-looking} Nb4
16. Qb2 Nd3 $6 17. Qb1 $1 {leaves Black's knight trapped on d3.}) 15... h6 (
15... Rc8 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nxc3 Rfd8 $11) 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nxc3 Nxc3 $6 (
17... Rac8 $1) 18. Qxc3 Rac8 19. Nd2 $1 c5 20. Ne4 cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rfd8 22. Nd6
$5 ({Better still is} 22. Rd2 $1 {, since} Nc5 23. Nd6 $1 {is very strong.})
22... Rc5 $6 (22... Rc7) 23. f4 f6 24. exf6 $2 (24. b4 $1 fxe5 25. fxe5 Rxe5
26. b5 $1 {wins material, e.g.,} Bc8 (26... Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Rxb5 28. Bc6 Rc5 29.
Qd6 $1 Qxd6 30. Rxd6 $18) 27. Rac1 Rc5 28. Rxc5 Nxc5 29. Nf5 $1 $18) 24... Qxf6
(24... Nxf6 $14) 25. Qa4 (25. Nb7 $16) 25... Ra5 26. Qc6 Nb8 (26... Nc5 $1 $14)
27. Qc7 Rc5 28. Qxa7 Bd3 29. Nb7 $2 {Apparently winning material, but it falls
short.} (29. Kh1 $1 $14) 29... Qd4+ 30. Kh1 Rc2 $3 31. Nxd8 Rxg2 $1 (31... Qxd8
$4 32. Rxd3) 32. Qf7+ ({The miraculous point is} 32. Rxd3 Rg1+ $1 33. Rxg1 Qe4+
34. Rg2 Qe1+ 35. Rg1 Qe4+ $11) 32... Kh7 33. Kxg2 Qd5+ 34. Kf2 Qd4+ 35. Kg2
Qd5+ 36. Kh3 $6 {A wild try; perhaps White was ahead on time and felt he could
win on the clock.} Bf5+ 37. Qxf5+ $1 (37. Kh4 $4 Qg2 $1 {and to avoid mate,}
38. Qxf5+ exf5 39. Rh1 {is forced, which is inferior to the game.}) 37... Qxf5+
38. Kg2 Qe4+ 39. Kf2 e5 $1 40. fxe5 $4 (40. Ne6 $1 {might hold.}) 40... Nd7 $1
{[#] The beautiful point of 39...e5! . ...Nxe5 is threatened and White's
knight on d8 can't move.} 41. Re1 (41. Rxd7 Qf5+) 41... Qf5+ 42. Ke2 (42. Kg2
Nxe5 43. h4 Qf3+ 44. Kh3 Nd3 $1 $19) 42... Qxe5+ 43. Kd3 Nc5+ 44. Kc4 Qc7 $1
45. b4 Na4+ ({Or} 45... Nb7+ 46. Kb3 Nxd8 $19) 46. Kb5 (46. Kb3 b5 47. Rac1
Qxd8) 46... Nc3+ 47. Ka6 Qxd8 48. a4 Nd5 49. Rec1 Nxb4+ 50. Kb5 Nd3 51. Rd1 Qd4
52. Ka6 Nc5+ 53. Kxb6 Qb4+ 54. Kc6 Nxa4 55. Rac1 Nc3 56. Re1 Qd4 57. Ra1 Qd5+
58. Kc7 Nb5+ 59. Kb6 Nd4 60. Rac1 Qd6+ 61. Kb7 Nb3 62. Rb1 Nc5+ 63. Ka7 Qc7+
64. Ka8 Na4 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. a3 Nc6 3. Nc3 f5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 a5 6. e3 d6 7. d4 Be7 8. Nge2 O-O
9. O-O Kh8 10. Rb1 Qe8 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 e4 (12... Bd7) 13. f3 $5 (13. Nf4)
13... exf3 (13... d5 $5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. cxd5 Nxb4 16. fxe4 (16. Qb3) 16...
fxe4 17. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $13) 14. Bxf3 Nd8 (14... Bd8) 15. Nf4 (15. Nb5 $1 Qd7 16.
d5 $16) 15... c6 (15... Ne6 16. Qd3 Ng5 17. Bg2 Nge4 $14 {with the idea} 18.
Nxe4 fxe4 19. Bxe4 $4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Bf5) 16. b5 (16. d5 $1) 16... Ne6 17. bxc6
bxc6 18. d5 Nxf4 19. exf4 c5 20. Re1 Qf7 21. Bb2 Bd7 22. Qd3 Rab8 23. Nb5 Ne4
$2 (23... Rb7 $14) 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Qxe4 Rfe8 (25... Bxb5 26. cxb5 Rfe8) 26.
Qf3 (26. Nc7 $3 Bf5 27. Bxg7+ Kxg7 (27... Kg8 28. Rxb8 Bxe4 29. Nxe8 $1 $18)
28. Rxb8 Rxb8 (28... Bxe4 29. Nxe8+ Kg6 30. Rxe4) 29. Qxe7 Qxe7 30. Rxe7+ Kf6
31. Re1 $18) 26... Bf8 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Bc3 Qg6 29. Re1 Rxe1+ 30. Bxe1 Qc2 31.
Nc3 Be7 32. Qd1 Qxd1 33. Nxd1 Kg8 34. Bc3 h5 35. Ne3 Kf7 36. Kg2 g5 37. Kf3 Bc8
38. Ke4 Bh3 39. Kf3 Bd8 40. Bd2 Bd7 41. Bc3 Bh3 42. f5 Bf6 43. Bxf6 Kxf6 44. g4
hxg4+ 45. Kg3 Ke5 $4 (45... Kf7 46. Nxg4 Bf1 47. Ne3 Bd3 $11) 46. Nxg4+ (46.
Nxg4+ Bxg4 47. Kxg4 Kf6 48. h3) 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.29"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. a3 c6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3 d5 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Nf6 8. f3
Bc5 9. Be3 O-O 10. Nc3 Re8 11. Nc2 Qe7 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd4 Qg5 14. Qe3 Qg6
15. O-O-O Nbd7 16. g4 Nb6 17. Bd3 Be6 18. h4 Nfd7 19. e5 f5 20. Nd4 Nc4 21.
Bxc4 Bxc4 22. gxf5 $5 (22. Nxf5 $1 Nxe5 23. h5 Qe6 24. Ne4 $18) 22... Qh5 (
22... Rxe5 $1 23. Ne4 $1 Qf7 24. Rhg1 $16) 23. e6 Nf6 24. Ne4 (24. Rhg1 $1)
24... c5 {[#]} 25. Nxc5 $2 (25. Ng3 $1 Qh6 (25... cxd4 26. Rxd4) 26. Qxh6 gxh6
27. Nc2 $18) (25. Rdg1 $1 Nxe4 26. fxe4 cxd4 27. Rxg7+ $3 Kxg7 28. Qxd4+ Kg8
29. Rg1+) 25... Rac8 26. Ne4 Bxe6+ $6 (26... Nxe4 $1 27. fxe4 Bb3+ 28. Kd2 Bxd1
29. Rxd1 Red8 $17) 27. Kd2 $2 (27. Kb1) 27... Bxf5 28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Qf4 Bg6
30. Rc1 Rcd8 (30... Qa5+ $19) 31. Rc4 Qd5 32. Kc3 b5 33. Rc7 a5 (33... Re2 $1)
34. b4 axb4+ (34... Qa2 $1 35. Qc1 Rc8 $19) 35. axb4 Ra8 (35... Qa2 $1 $19) 36.
Qxf6 Ra3+ $2 (36... Re3+ $1 37. Kd2 Rd3+ 38. Ke1 Re8+ 39. Kf1 Qxd4 $19 40. Rg7+
Kh8 41. Rxg6+ Qxf6 42. Rxf6 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 Re2+ $19) 37. Kd2 $1 Ra2+ (37... Rd3+
38. Kc1 Qxd4 39. Rg7+ Kh8 40. Rxg6+ Qxf6 41. Rxf6 $11) 38. Kd1 Ra1+ 39. Kd2
Ra2+ 40. Kd1 Ra1+ 41. Kd2 Qa2+ 42. Nc2 Qd5+ 43. Nd4 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.29"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 a5 8. Re1
Ba7 (8... h6) 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Bb3 c6 12. Bc2 exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. e5
Nh5 15. Nf1 Nhf4 16. Bxf4 (16. h4 $1 Ne6 (16... Bg4 17. N1h2 Bxf3 18. Nxf3 $16)
17. g3 $16) 16... Nxf4 17. Qd2 Ne6 18. Ng3 f6 19. Nf5 $2 (19. Bf5 $1 g6 (19...
fxe5 $2 20. Rxe5 $18 {with the idea} Nc7 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Ng5+ Kg8 23. Qd3 {
etc.}) 20. Bxe6+ Bxe6 21. Qh6 Qe7 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Ng5 $1 Bxd4 24. Re2 $1 c5
25. Rae1 Ra6 26. Qh4 $18 {with great pressure.}) 19... fxe5 20. Nxe5 $2 (20.
Rxe5 $1 {intrduces a lengthy forced draw after} Bb8 $1 21. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 22.
Qxh6 Rxf3 $1 23. Rxe6 $1 Bxe6 24. gxf3 $1 Qd6 25. Qxh7+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Ke7 27.
Re1 Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qg2 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31. Qh6+ Ke7 32. Qh7+ $11) 20...
g6 {Suddenly the pawn on d4 is weak and White's kingside is at risk.} 21. Nh6+
(21. Ne3 Nxd4 22. N3g4 Bxg4 23. Nxg4 Qd6) 21... Kg7 22. Neg4 (22. Nf3 Rxf3 $1
23. gxf3 Qg5+ $1 24. Qxg5 Nxg5 25. Ng4 Nxf3+ 26. Kg2 Nxe1+ 27. Rxe1 h5 28. Ne5
Bxd4 $17) 22... Nxd4 23. Qc3 Bxg4 24. Nxg4 h5 25. Re6 $1 {[#] Slightly
desperate, but it almost works!} (25. Ne3 Qf6 26. Nd1 (26. Rad1 Qxf2+ 27. Kh1
Rae8) 26... Rae8 $19 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Bd3 Ne2+ 29. Bxe2 Rxe2 $19) 25... hxg4
26. Rxg6+ Kf7 27. Re1 {...Ne2+ was threatened, and} (27. Qd3 Rg8 {achieves
nothing.}) 27... Re8 $4 (27... Rg8 $1 {is simple and decisive.}) 28. Rxg4 Rxe1+
29. Qxe1 Qf6 30. Bg6+ Kf8 31. Qe3 $4 {Natural, but White had to play} (31. Bh7
$1 {(threatening Rg8+)} Rd8 (31... Kf7 32. Bg6+ Kg7 $5 (32... Kf8 33. Bh7 $11)
33. Bd3+ Kh8 34. Rg6 Qf4 35. Qd1 Nf3+ $1 36. Qxf3 Qxf3 37. gxf3 Bd4 {with a
likely draw in store}) 32. Rg6 (32. Qxa5 $5 Ne2+ 33. Kh1 Bxf2 34. Rg8+ Kf7 35.
Qxd8 Ng3+ 36. Kh2 Nf1+ 37. Kh1 Ng3+ $11) 32... Qh4 33. Qe5 $1 Nf3+ (33... Qxh7
34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Rg7 Qxg7 36. Qxg7 Rd7 37. Qh8+ $11) 34. gxf3 Qxf2+ 35. Kh1
Qf1+ 36. Kh2 Bb8 $5 (36... Qf2+ 37. Kh1 Qf1+ $11) 37. Rf6+ Kg7 38. Rd6+ Kxh7
39. Qh5+ $11) 31... Ne6 $1 32. Qh6+ Ke7 33. Kh2 (33. Qh7+ Kd6 34. Bf5 Rf8 $1
$19) 33... Bxf2 34. Qh7+ Kd6 35. Bf5 Rh8 {Simplest.} 36. Qg6 Qxg6 37. Rxg6 Re8
{A typical Firouzja slugfest.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.30"]
[Round "17.3"]
[White "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. Ne5 Bf5 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. cxd3 e6 8.
Nc3 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. h4 $5 (10. d4 Be7 11. O-O $14) 10... h5 11. d4 Be7 12.
Qe2 (12. g3 $14) 12... c6 (12... Bxh4 $5) 13. O-O-O (13. g3) 13... a5 (13...
Bb4 $1 14. Qc2 Qa5 15. Kb1 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 Nb6 $15) 14. Kb1 a4 (
14... b5 $1) 15. g4 (15. Bg5 $5) 15... g6 (15... b5 $1 16. gxh5 $2 b4 $19) 16.
Bg5 Nb6 17. f4 $2 (17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. a3 hxg4 19. Qxg4 Rh5 $13) 17... hxg4 18.
Qxg4 Nc4 19. Qe2 Qa5 20. Bxe7 Kxe7 21. Rc1 Ra6 22. Ka1 Rb6 23. Nd1 Rb3 $1 24.
Rxc4 $6 (24. Kb1 Ra8 (24... Rb6 25. Ka1 Rb3 26. Kb1) 25. Qe1 $5 Qa6 26. Rh2 Kd7
27. Nc3 b5 $17) 24... dxc4 25. axb3 (25. Qxc4 Rb4 26. Qc3 a3 $1) 25... axb3+
26. Kb1 Ra8 27. Kc1 Qb4 $1 {The point.} 28. Kb1 Ra2 {Threatening ....Qa5 and ..
.Ra1#.} 29. Qe1 (29. Nc3 Qxc3 30. bxc3 Rxe2 $17) 29... Qa4 30. Kc1 Ra1+ 31. Kd2
{[#]} c3+ $1 32. Kxc3 (32. bxc3 Qa2+) (32. Nxc3 Rxe1 33. Rxe1 Qa8 34. Ke2 b6
35. Kf2 c5 $19) 32... Rc1+ 33. Kd3 Qc4+ 34. Ke4 Qd5+ 35. Kd3 c5 36. Rg1 (36.
Qd2 Rc2) 36... Rc2 {With the idea ...c4#.} 0-1

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.30"]
[Round "17.5"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf4 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Nc3 Bxd4 14.
Nd5 d6 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bc4 Kh8 17. Be3 {Played once in the past, which isn't
much for Berlin Defense theory.} (17. Qe4 fxg5 18. Bd3 Bf5 $1 19. Qxf5 Nf6 $1
20. Nxf6 g6 {has drawn some games.}) 17... Bxb2 (17... Be5 18. f4 c6 $5 19.
fxe5 cxd5 20. Bxd5 dxe5 (20... fxe5 $11) 21. Rd1 $14 {was the original game
Laurent Paoli,P (2496)-Fedorchuk,S (2617) Paris 2022.}) 18. Rb1 Be5 19. f4 c6
20. Bd3 $1 cxd5 (20... Be6 21. fxe5 Bxd5 $11) 21. Qh4 h6 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bg6
$1 {This and more may have been preparation.} (23. Bxh6 $2 e4 $1 24. Bd2+ Kg8
25. Be2 Nd6 {and Black's two pawns and strong center clearly outweigh any
attacking chances.}) 23... Kg8 24. Bxh6 $1 {A good practical try.} (24. Rb3 Qd7
$1 25. h3 Kf8 26. Bc5+ Nd6 {and Black is escaping.}) 24... gxh6 25. Qxh6 {[#]}
Qe7 26. Rb3 Bg4 (26... Qg7 27. Qh5 f5 $1 28. Bxe8 f4 29. Bg6 Be6 {is assessed
as '0.00' by the computer.}) 27. Qh4 (27. Rg3 Qg7 $1 28. Qxg7+ $2 (28. Qh4 f5
29. Bxf5 Bxf5 30. Rxg7+ Nxg7 $17) 28... Nxg7 29. Rxg4 Rc8 $19) 27... Qd7 28. h3
(28. Rg3 $1 f5 29. h3 Qg7 30. Bxe8 Rxe8 31. hxg4 f4 32. Rd3 d4 $11) 28... Be6
$5 (28... Bf5 $1 29. Bxe8 Qxe8 30. Qxf6 Qg6 31. Qxe5 Re8 32. Qxd5+ Be6 $5 33.
Qd6 Qe4 34. Rg3+ Kf7 $13 {Perhaps drawn with accurate play, but Black has what
chances there are.}) 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. Rg3+ Kf8 31. Qxf6+ Bf7 32. Qg7+ Ke7 33.
Qxe5+ $4 {Now White stays a piece down.} (33. Rf3 $1 {forces a repetition:} Rf8
(33... Qe6 34. Qg5+ Kd7 35. Qg7 Ke7 36. Qg5+ $11) 34. Qf6+ Ke8 35. Qxe5+ Be6
36. Qh5+ Rf7 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qh4+ Ke8 39. Qh8+ $11) 33... Qe6 34. Qc7+ Kf8 35.
Qc5+ (35. Qxb7 Qb6+ $1) 35... Re7 36. Qxa7 Bg6 (36... Qe1+ $1 37. Kh2 Qe5 $19)
37. Qd4 Rf7 38. Re3 Be4 39. Rg3 Qd6 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Rg8 Qf6 42. Qh5 Qf2+ 43.
Kh2 Qf4+ 44. Kg1 Kd7 45. Qh8 Kc7 $2 {Black could put the game to rest with} (
45... Qf1+ 46. Kh2 Qf6 $19 47. Qh5 Kd6) 46. Rc8+ (46. Qc3+ $1 Kd7 47. Qc8+ Kd6
48. Rd8+ Ke5 {still wins for Black, but it's messier.}) 46... Kb6 $4 (46... Kd6
47. Rd8+ Kc6 48. Qc3+ (48. Rc8+ Rc7) 48... Kb6 49. Qb3+ Kc7 $19) 47. Qd8+ $4 {
Instinct with no time left. Simply} (47. Qb2+ Ka7 48. Qa3+ Kb6 49. Qb4+ Ka7 50.
Qa5# {mates}) 47... Kb5 $5 (47... Rc7 $1) 48. Qe8+ Kb4 49. a3+ Kxa3 50. Ra8+
Kb2 $4 (50... Kb4 51. Qa4+ Kc5 $19) 51. Qb5+ Kc1 52. Ra1+ Kd2 53. Qb4+ Kxc2 54.
Ra2+ Kd1 $4 {The final blunder.} (54... Kd3 55. Ra3+ Ke2 56. Ra2+ Kd3 57. Ra3+
Ke2 {draws, e.g.,} 58. Qb5+ Ke1 59. Ra1+ Kd2 60. Qb4+ Kc2 61. Qc5+ Kd3 62. Ra3+
Ke2 63. Qb5+ $11) 55. Qb3+ Ke1 56. Qc3+ Kd1 57. Ra1+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.30"]
[Round "18.1"]
[White "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d3 d6 6. Qd2 e6 7. b3 Nge7 8. Bb2
O-O 9. Nf3 d5 10. O-O d4 11. Na4 b6 $17 {White's opening has been a failure,
but in Firouzja's blitz games that doesn't mean much.} 12. e3 e5 13. exd4 exd4
14. a3 a5 15. Rfe1 Rb8 16. Bc1 h6 17. Qd1 g5 18. Ra2 Bd7 (18... Bg4 $1 19. h3
Bh5) 19. h4 $1 g4 20. Nh2 h5 21. f3 $2 {Weakening e3 and g3 without any
compensation.} (21. Rae2 $2 Ng6 22. Nb2 Nce5 {with the idea ...Qf6.}) (21. Bf4
$1 Rb7 22. Bg5 $11) 21... Ne5 $2 (21... Be5 $1 {attacks g3, which can't be
defended without great concessions:} 22. Nf1 (22. f4 Bd6 23. Rae2 Nf5 24. Nf1
Nce7 {with control of the board, better pieces, and a promising attack with ...
.Ng6 in store.}) 22... Qc7 23. Rae2 (23. f4 Bd6)) 22. fxg4 hxg4 (22... Bxg4 23.
Nxg4 Nxg4 $11) 23. Rae2 (23. Rxe5 $5 Bxe5 24. Nxg4 Bg7 25. Bg5 {exposes
Black's king:} f6 26. Bf4 Rc8 27. Qe2 f5 28. Bg5 fxg4 29. Bxe7 Qc7 30. Bxf8
Rxf8 $11) 23... f6 24. Re4 {Notice how there still haven't been any piece
exchanges.} Bc6 $2 (24... Qc8) 25. Nxg4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Nxg4 27. Rxg4 f5 28. Rg5
Rf6 $2 {Black is lost, but this makes it easy.} (28... Qd7 29. Bf4 Qe6 $1 30.
Kh2 $1 (30. Bxb8 Rxb8 31. Bd5 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Qxd5 33. Qe2 $16) 30... Rbc8 31.
Bd5 $1 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Qf6 33. Qh5 $18) 29. Bf4 Rc8 30. Be5 {[#]} Rg6 (30... Rf7
31. Qh5 {is winning, e.g.,} Rc6 32. Bxg7 Rxg7 33. Bxc6 Nxc6 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.
Qxf5) 31. Bd5+ Kf8 32. Qh5 Bxe5 33. Rxg6 Nxg6 (33... Nxd5 34. Qh6+ $1 Ke8 35.
cxd5 $18) 34. Qxg6 Qc7 35. Nxb6 Rd8 36. Qg8+ Ke7 37. Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Saint Louis Blitz 2022"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2022.08.30"]
[Round "18.4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2022.08.29"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qa4 b6 8. Qxc4
{White plays it safe.} (8. Ne5 Qxd4 9. Bxa8 Qxe5 {is an exchange sacrifice
that has been contested in a few high-level games.}) 8... Bb7 9. Bg5 h6 $5 {
Ceding the center in exchange for the bishop pair.} (9... Nbd7 {is the usual
move here, preparing ...c5.}) 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nc3 Nd7 12. e4 (12. Rfd1 {
would discourage ...c5 and prepare Rac1 and e4.}) 12... c5 $1 13. e5 $1 (13. d5
exd5 (13... Qe7 $5) 14. exd5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Rad1 Bd4 $15) (13. dxc5 $2
Rc8 $1 14. Rfd1 Rxc5 15. Qd3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bc6 $17 {with a serious structural
advantage.}) 13... cxd4 (13... Bxf3 14. Bxf3 cxd4 15. exf6 Ne5 16. Qe2 Nxf3+
17. Qxf3 dxc3 18. fxg7 Kxg7 19. bxc3 $11) 14. exf6 dxc3 15. fxg7 Kxg7 16. Rad1
(16. Qxc3+ Qf6 $11) 16... Rc8 (16... cxb2 $1 17. Qd4+ Nf6 18. Qxb2 Qe7 $15) 17.
Qg4+ Kh7 18. bxc3 Qe7 19. Qa4 Nf6 (19... Rc7 $11) 20. Qxa7 Qc7 21. Qa4 (21.
Ng5+ hxg5 22. Bxb7 Kh6 23. Qa6 Rb8 24. Bf3 Qxc3 25. Qe2 $11) 21... Kg7 22. Rc1
Ra8 23. Qb3 Qc5 24. Rb1 Bd5 25. Qxb6 Qxc3 26. Rfc1 Qa3 27. Ne5 Bxg2 28. Kxg2
Qxa2 29. Qd4 Ra4 30. Qd1 Re4 31. Ra1 Qb2 32. Nc4 Qb4 33. Rab1 Qe7 34. Qf3 Rd8
35. Ne3 Rd2 36. Rd1 Ra2 37. Re1 Qa7 38. h3 h5 39. g4 hxg4 40. hxg4 Qc5 41. Qg3
Qg5 42. Kg1 Nxg4 43. Ng2 Rxe1+ $6 (43... Rc4 $1) 44. Rxe1 Rxf2 45. Re4 $1 f5
46. Rxe6 (46. Qc7+ $1 Kh8 47. Rxg4 fxg4 48. Kxf2) 46... Qc1+ 47. Re1 Qc5 48.
Kh1 Rc2 49. Qh4 Nf2+ 50. Kh2 Ng4+ 51. Kh1 {[#]} Kg6 $4 52. Re6+ $4 (52. Nf4+
Kf7 (52... Kg7 53. Ne6+) 53. Qh7+ Kf8 54. Ng6#) 52... Kf7 53. Re1 Nf2+ 54. Kh2
Ng4+ 55. Kh1 Rc1 56. Qh7+ Kf6 57. Qh8+ Kg6 $4 (57... Kf7 $11) 58. Nf4+ Kg5 59.
Ne6+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad Women-28"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "1988.11.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Chilingirova, Pavlina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2365"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp1p1p1p/2n3pQ/5qB1/8/2P5/P4PPP/4RRK1 w - - 0 17"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1988.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary (W)"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria (W)"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

{[#]} 17. Qxf8+ {Eliminating the defender of the back rank. Black resigned
here in view of} Kxf8 18. Bh6+ Kg8 19. Re8# 1-0

[Event "SPICE Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.12.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ladan, Nicholas"]
[Black "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2264"]
[BlackElo "2408"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r5k/2p2ppB/2p1rq1p/3n4/7R/B5Pb/1PQ2P1P/2R3K1 b - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2022.12.18"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,9,-169,-237,-575,-637,-637,-637,-663,-659,-691,-691]} {[#] My bishop
on h3 is trapped, so I need to take immediate action} 25... Rbe8 {Threatening
back-rank mate.} 26. Be4 ({Here} 26. Rxh3 {runs into} Re1+ 27. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 28.
Kg2 {[#]} Ne3+ $3 {distracting the f2-pawn and opening the f-file for my queen.
If} 29. fxe3 Qf1#) 26... Qf3 $3 {[#] The queen is untouchable!} 27. Rxh3 ({
Black is mated after} 27. Bxf3 Re1+ 28. Rxe1 Rxe1#) 27... Rxe4 {I'm still
threatening back-rank mate.} 28. Qd1 Nf4 $3 {Following the same theme, but
this time it's the knight that covers the g2-square. My opponent resigned as
material loss was inevitable:} (28... Nf4 $3 29. gxf4 (29. Qxf3 Re1+ 30. Rxe1
Rxe1#) 29... Qxh3 {and Black is clearly winning.}) 0-1

[Event "URS-ch FL54"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanishin, Oleg M"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 {[#]} 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 f6 7. O-O fxe5 8.
Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Qc7 10. c4 Qxe5 11. Bh5+ g6 12. Bf3 O-O-O 13. Re1 Qd6 14. Nc3
dxc4 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. Qxc4 Be7 17. Bf4 Qd4 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. Bxb7+ {[#]} 1-0

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 1"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7b/1k5b/8/2q5/1BP5/4P3/PP2B2Q/R1KR4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k7/pp5b/3b4/8/8/q7/6P1/Q2R1rRK b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 3"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/b7/6k1/8/6n1/8/4B1P1/4QK2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 4"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k5q/8/3b4/6Q1/8/2Pb4/1P1N4/2KR4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 5"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/3r4/5b2/3B4/b1P2k2/3KR3 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "ABC-382"]
[Site "Irkutsk"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Problem 6"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini,Bruce"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/4k3/4b3/4n3/4P3/3r4/2Q1RK2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2001.06.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rook and h-pawn v. bishop"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/R7/7K/8/7P/3b4/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2001.06.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 1. Rg7+ Kf8 (1... Kh8 2. Rd7 Bc4 3. Kg6 Bb3 4. Rh7+ Kg8 5. Rc7 Kh8 6. h5
Ba2 7. Rh7+ Kg8 8. Rb7 Kh8 9. h6 Bd5 10. Re7 Bc6 11. h7 Be4+ 12. Kh6 Bg6 13.
Rd7 Be8 14. Rb7) 2. Rg5 Kf7 3. Rg3 Bc2 4. Kh5 {This is a kind of zugzwang} Bb1
(4... Be4 5. Kg5 Kg7 6. Kf4+) (4... Kf6 5. Rg5 Bf5 (5... Bd1+ 6. Kh6 Bc2 (6...
Kf7 7. Rg7+ Kf8 8. Kg6)) 6. Kh6 Bd3 7. Rg3 Be4 8. Rg4 Bd3 9. Rf4+) (4... Bd1+
5. Kg5 Kg7 (5... Bc2 6. Kf4) 6. Rc3 {Black cannot return his bishop to the
critical diagonal, so White pushes the pawn on through.}) 5. Rg5 Be4 6. Kg4 Bd3
7. h5 Bc2 8. h6 Bg6 9. Kf4 Kf6 10. Rg1 Bc2 11. Rg7 Bd3 12. Rc7 {and 13.h7 wins
the bishop.} *

[Event "EU-ch 2nd"]
[Site "Ohrid"]
[Date "2001.06.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[PlyCount "253"]
[EventDate "2001.06.01"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,253,19,34,15,-2,30,12,9,2,11,7,33,27,15,15,16,6,-8,-13,11,8,27,34,26,
14,45,39,36,37,32,25,29,40,30,37,53,18,31,16,29,2,9,4,0,-7,0,0,6,-22,-5,-26,
-33,-27,-30,-79,-49,-62,-16,-25,-23,-19,-20,-72,-56,-44,-40,-50,0,0,-32,-20,0,
0,0,-7,-29,-85,-89,-91,-109,-129,-153,-164,-167,-167,-180,-188,-193,-199,-170,
-201,-182,-214,-218,-223,-207,-221,-220,-226,-227,-226,-227,-225,-215,-220,
-219,-219,-213,-215,-206,-207,-205,-205,-209,-206,-206,-206,-202,-206,-206,
-204,-204,-204,-201,-215,-215,-208,-204,-206,-204,-204,-206,-210,-210,-210,
-203,-210,-210,-214,-210,-210,-208,-208,-208,-208,-210,-210,-208,-208,-208,
-210,-225,-221,-216,-218,-218,-218,-218,-218,-208,-203,-208,-204,-206,-209,
-207,-209,-210,-210,-214,-210,-198,-210,-181,-186,-184,-213,-216,-229,-228,
-271,-281,-286,-284,-286,-285,-307,-302,-298,-298,-298,-298,-369,-360,-309,
-303,-296,-288,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,
-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,
-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,
-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-386,-26,-26,-26,-27]} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e3 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. c3 b6 6. Nd2 Bb7 7. Ngf3 Be7 8. Bg3 O-O 9.
Bd3 d6 10. h3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. Qe2 Qc8 13. O-O Qb7 14. a4 Rac8 15. Rfe1
Nb8 16. e4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Rfd8 18. N2f3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Rxc6 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe5
Rc5 22. Nd4 Nd7 23. Bg3 Nf8 24. Qe4 Qd7 25. Qf3 Ng6 26. Re4 Rd5 27. Rae1 Bc5
28. Nb3 Rd3 29. Nxc5 bxc5 30. Qh5 Qc6 31. Qe2 R8d5 32. h4 Rd2 33. Qb5 Qxb5 34.
axb5 Rxb2 35. c4 Rdd2 36. Ra1 Ne7 37. Be5 Rb3 38. Rg4 Nf5 39. Rf4 f6 40. Bb8 a6
41. Rxa6 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Rdd1 43. Rxf5 exf5 44. Rc6 Rd4 45. Rxc5 Rb4 46. g3 Rdxc4
47. Rxf5 Kf7 48. Rd5 Rc2 49. Ba7 Ke6 50. Rd3 Rxb5 51. Kg2 h5 52. Be3 Rcb2 53.
Ra3 Kf5 54. Ra7 Kg6 55. Rc7 Rb7 56. Rc6 R2b5 57. Rc4 Re7 58. Kf3 Rbe5 59. Rb4
Kf5 60. Rf4+ Ke6 61. Rb4 Rd7 62. Rb6+ Kf5 63. Rb4 Rd3 64. Rf4+ Ke6 65. Rb4 Ra3
66. Rb7 g6 67. Rb4 Rf5+ 68. Kg2 Ra6 69. Rc4 Rfa5 70. Re4+ Kf7 71. Rb4 Ra4 72.
Rb5 Ke6 73. Kf3 R6a5 74. Rb6+ Kf5 75. Bd2 Rd5 76. Be3 Rda5 77. Rb8 Rd5 78. Rf8
Ra1 79. Rb8 g5 80. hxg5 fxg5 81. Rf8+ Ke6 82. Re8+ Kf7 83. Rh8 Ra4 84. Rc8 Rb4
85. Kg2 Rb1 86. Kf3 Rf5+ 87. Ke4 Rbb5 88. Rc7+ Kg6 89. Rc6+ Rf6 90. Rxf6+ Kxf6
91. Bd4+ Ke6 92. Kf3 Kf5 {[#]} 93. g4+ $2 (93. Be3 Rb3 94. Kg2 Kg4 95. Bd4 h4 {
no other way to breach White's fortress} 96. gxh4 gxh4 (96... Kxh4) 97. Be5 {
If White understands the firstposition we considered, he does not even have to
work out if he can keep the f2-pawn, because it isn't necessary for the
defense.}) 93... hxg4+ 94. Kg2 Rb3 95. Be3 Kg6 {The king is coming around to
h4.} 96. Bc5 (96. Kh2 Kh5 97. Kg3 Rd3 98. Kh2 Kh4 99. Kg2 g3 100. fxg3+ Kg4)
96... g3 $1 (96... Kh5 $6 97. Bd6) 97. f3 $1 (97. fxg3 Kf5) 97... Kf5 98. Bd6
g4 99. Kxg3 {[#]} gxf3 (99... Rxf3+ 100. Kg2 Rd3 101. Bc7 Kg5 102. Be5 (102.
Bg3 Rd2+ 103. Kf1 Kf5) 102... Rd5 {[#]} 103. Bc7 (103. Bg7 Rd2+ 104. Kg3 Rd3+
105. Kg2 g3 106. Kh3 Kf4) (103. Bc3 Kf4 104. Bb4 g3 105. Be1 Rd3 106. Kh3 Rb3 {
zugzwang}) (103. Bg3 Rd2+ 104. Kf1 Kf5) 103... Rd2+ 104. Kg3 Rd3+ 105. Kg2 Kh4
{followed by g4-g3 and Black breaks through.}) 100. Bc5 Ke4 101. Kf2 Rc3 102.
Ba7 {This is another fortress} Rc7 103. Bb6 Rc2+ 104. Kf1 Rc6 105. Ba7 Ra6 106.
Bc5 Kf4 107. Bd4 Ra4 108. Bc5 Rc4 109. Ba7 Rb4 110. Bc5 Rb5 111. Bd4 Kg4 112.
Kf2 Rb4 113. Bc5 Rb2+ 114. Kf1 Rc2 115. Ba7 Rb2 116. Bc5 {[#]} Rb5 (116... f2
117. Kg2 $1 (117. Bxf2 $4 Kf3) 117... Re2 118. Bxf2 Ra2 119. Kg1 $1 Kf3 120.
Bc5 $11) 117. Bd4 Kf4 118. Kf2 Rd5 119. Bb6 Rd7 120. Be3+ Kg4 121. Bb6 Rb7 122.
Bc5 Rb5 123. Bd4 Rh5 124. Bb6 Rh2+ 125. Kf1 f2 126. Ke2 $1 {Bascially a mirror
image of the earlier note.} Kg3 127. Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Somerset op"]
[Site "Somerset"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Tseshkovsky, Vitaly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[PlyCount "207"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,207,34,36,27,-4,33,32,53,48,61,35,8,9,46,-22,-11,-6,-19,-5,0,-29,-10,
2,28,38,60,43,43,43,54,44,48,40,110,19,2,-4,32,51,30,19,64,40,59,56,82,19,79,
84,68,70,69,105,75,96,111,103,109,105,102,67,107,96,98,86,98,89,84,94,98,93,
111,93,113,114,118,106,109,109,108,50,41,34,29,14,29,62,49,55,49,55,124,127,
127,29,166,166,161,155,155,162,153,207,214,214,214,220,220,211,238,238,250,258,
258,258,265,265,271,271,271,271,265,265,265,265,265,265,265,265,265,265,265,
265,265,271,274,274,274,274,274,187,220,216,209,211,219,229,270,229,229,229,
229,229,229,229,229,233,230,233,231,231,243,248,272,272,272,272,269,270,270,
269,315,291,296,270,269,269,269,231,269,269,269,232,232,232,232,248,248,270,
329,390,382,382,375,377,378,378,376,420,438,27,27,27,557,557,28446,29207,29957,
29960]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bg5
h6 8. Bf4 Be6 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. Rd1 g5 11. Bg3 g4 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Qc8 14. f4
gxf3 15. exf3 c6 16. Bd3 Nd7 17. Qe2 h5 18. h3 h4 19. Bh2 Nc5 20. Bc2 Bf5 21.
b4 Bxc2 22. Qxc2 Na6 23. a3 Nc7 24. O-O a5 25. f4 axb4 26. axb4 Nd5 27. Nxd5
cxd5 28. Qxc8+ Rxc8 29. Rxd5 e6 30. Rd4 Bf8 31. Rfd1 Be7 32. Kf1 b5 33. Bg1 O-O
34. Bf2 Rfe8 35. Ke2 Rc2+ 36. R1d2 Rec8 37. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 38. Kf3 Rb2 39. Rd7 Kf8
40. Be3 Bxb4 41. Rb7 Be7 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Re8 Ba3 44. Bf2 Rb3+ 45. Kg4 Rb2 46.
Bxh4 Rxg2+ 47. Kf3 Rg6 48. Bf6+ Rxf6 49. exf6+ Kxf6 50. Rb8 b4 51. Rb5 Kg6 52.
Kg4 Kh6 53. Rb6 Kg6 54. h4 Kf6 55. Rb7 Kg6 56. h5+ Kf6 57. Rb8 b3 58. Rxb3 Bf8
59. Rb8 Bh6 60. Rg8 Bg7 61. Kf3 Bh6 62. Ke4 Bg7 63. Rc8 Bh6 64. Rb8 Bg7 65. Rg8
Bh6 66. Rg1 Bg7 67. Rh1 Bh6 68. Rh4 Ke7 69. Kd4 Kf6 70. Kc5 e5 71. fxe5+ Kxe5
72. Rg4 Ke6 73. Kc6 Ke7 74. Rg8 Ke6 75. Rh8 Bc1 76. Re8+ Kf6 77. Rg8 Ke6 78.
Kc5 Ke5 79. Kc4 Bh6 80. Kd3 Bf4 81. Ra8 Kf6 82. Ke4 Bc1 83. Rc8 Bd2 84. Rd8 Bh6
85. Rg8 Ke6 86. Rh8 Bg7 87. Re8+ Kf6 88. Rg8 Bh6 89. Kd5 Bf4 90. Rg4 Bh6 91.
Kd6 Kf5 92. Rg8 Kf6 93. Kd7 Bg7 94. Ke8 Bh6 95. Rg2 Bg7 96. Rg1 Bh6 97. Rf1+
Kg7 98. Rxf7+ Kg8 99. Ke7 Bg7 {[#]} 100. h6 Bxh6 101. Kf6 Bg5+ 102. Kg6 Bh4
103. Rf4 Bg3 104. Rg4 (104. Rg4 Bh2 105. Kf6+ Kf8 106. Rh4) 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "rook + g pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/1R6/6P1/7K/8/2b5/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 1. g7 (1. Kg5 Bd4 2. Kh5 Bc3) 1... Kh7 (1... Bxg7 2. Kg6) 2. Rf7 Bd4 (
2... Bxg7 3. Kg5) 3. g8=Q+ Kxg8 4. Kg6 *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.01.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "rook v bishop"]
[Black "puzzle"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5k2/5P1R/8/6K1/8/8/b7/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1941.03.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "20"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Black can draw if she hangs tight: [#]} 1... Ke7 $1 {Preventing the king from
getting to f6, while continuing to threaten to take the pawn} ({We see the
necessity of this after} 1... Bc4 $4 2. Kf6 Ba2 3. Rh8#) 2. Kg6 {And now any
safe bishop move on the a2-g8 diagonal holds, i.e.} Bc4 3. Rg7 Ba2 *

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "**Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1904.04.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. Nxe5 {A popular variation in the
19th- and early 20th-century.} Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. f4 Ng6 $2 {A serious mistake;
Lasker had several opening problems in this tournament.} (7... Nc6 {has held}
8. e5 Bb4 {is considered about equal.}) 8. e5 c6 {Other moves are worse:} (8...
Be7 9. f5 $1) (8... Bb4 9. exf6 Qxf6 10. O-O Bxc3 (10... O-O 11. f5 Ne7 12. Ne4
Qb6 13. f6 $1 Qxb5 14. fxg7 $1 Kxg7 15. Nf6 {with a winning attack.}) 11. bxc3
O-O 12. f5 Ne7 13. Qh5) 9. Bc4 $4 (9. exd6 $1 {yields a decisive advantage
after} cxb5 10. Qe2+ Kf8 11. f5 Nh4 12. O-O h6 13. Nxb5 $18) 9... Bc7 10. exf6
Qxf6 $17 11. O-O $6 d5 12. Bxd5 $5 {Desperation.} (12. Be2 O-O 13. Kh1 Re8 {
is positionally lost.}) 12... cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Qe2+ Ne7 $1 15. Re1 (15. c4
Bd8 16. Bd2 Qe6 {doesn't help.}) 15... Bd8 16. c4 f6 $4 {Lasker, a legendary
defender, blunders.} (16... Kf8 $1 {was easiest, and}) (16... Be6 17. Nxe7 Bxe7
18. d5 Bf5 {was also sufficient to gain a winning advantage.}) 17. Bd2 a5 {
Forced, versus Bb4.} 18. Qh5+ $6 (18. Nxe7 Bxe7 19. c5 Qxd4+ 20. Kh1 O-O 21.
Bc3 Qxc5 22. Qxe7 {would restore equality.}) 18... g6 19. c5 Qa6 $2 (19... Qc6
20. Nxe7 Bxe7 21. Qe2 Qd7 22. d5 Kf7 {leaves White short of full compensation,
but the computer's}) (19... Qd7 $1 20. Nxf6+ Kf7 {is best:} 21. Qe5 (21. Nxd7
gxh5 22. Ne5+ Kg7 $17) 21... Qf5) 20. Qh6 Be6 {There's no other defense to Qg7.
} 21. Nxf6+ $4 ({Clear second place and a rare win over the champion was to be
had by the simple} 21. Nxe7 $1 Bxe7 22. d5 $1 {and wins, e.g.,} Bxd5 23. Rxe7+
Kxe7 24. Qg7+ Bf7 25. Re1+) 21... Kf7 22. Ne4 Nf5 23. Qh3 Be7 24. Bc3 (24. Ng5+
$1 Bxg5 25. fxg5 Qc4 26. Rf1 Ke7 27. Rae1 Kd7 28. Bc3 {gives White three pawns
and enough play for the piece.}) 24... Bd5 $6 (24... h5 $1 25. d5 Bxd5 26. Bxh8
Rxh8 {and Black's pieces are too strong.}) 25. g4 Nh4 26. Nd6+ Kf8 $5 (26...
Bxd6 27. Qxh4 Bf8 28. Re5 Qc6 29. f5 {gives atttacking compensation for the
piece.}) 27. Rxe7 $1 {A gunslinger's sacrifice, in Janowski's style, when [#]}
(27. Kf2 {was only about equal.}) 27... Nf3+ 28. Qxf3 $1 Bxf3 29. Rf7+ $4 ({
Spoiling a brilliant idea.} 29. Rae1 Bd5 30. f5 {leaves White with only a
piece for the queen, but with terrifying threats of f5-f6 and Bd2. The engine
assesses this as '0.00', with lines like} h5 $1 31. f6 Qc6 $1 32. f7 Kg7 33.
R1e6 $1 Bxe6 34. d5+ Kf8 35. Re8+ Qxe8 36. fxe8=Q+ Rxe8 37. Nxe8 Kxe8 38. Bxh8
Bxd5 $11) 29... Kg8 30. d5 {There's nothing better, e.g.,} (30. Re1 Bd5 31. Rc7
Rd8 32. Ree7 Qd3 $1) 30... Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Re1 Qc6 $1 33. b4 Rd8 34. Bd4
Rxd6 35. cxd6 Bh1 0-1

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Black "Marshall, Frank James"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1904.04.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 Be7 8.
dxc5 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. b4 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qd2 a5 14. a3 Qb8
15. Rab1 axb4 16. axb4 Ra3 17. Nd4 Qe5 18. Nce2 Bg4 19. f3 Bd7 20. c3 Re8 21.
Ra1 Rea8 22. Rxa3 Rxa3 23. Re1 Qc7 24. Nc2 Ra2 25. Ra1 Qa7 26. Qc1 Bf5 27. Rxa2
Qxa2 28. Ncd4 Bd3 29. Qe3 Bxd4 30. Nxd4 Qa1+ 31. Kf2 Qb2+ 32. Kg3 Bf1 {[#]} 33.
Kf4 $3 {Lasker at his finest.} ({The obvious} 33. Qf2 Qxc3 34. Nxc6 {leads to}
Bb5 35. Nd4 Bd7 $1 {and one of the pawns falls.}) 33... Qxg2 34. Ke5 $1 Qg6 $6
{This should turn out badly. It certainly wasn't easy to see that} (34... Qxh2+
35. f4 Qh4 $3 {actually holds after} 36. Kd6 Qd8+ $1 37. Kxc6 Qc8+ 38. Kxd5
Qa8+ $1 39. c6 Qd8+ {, as Sherwood shows in a lengthy analysis.}) 35. Qf4 Bd3
36. b5 $6 (36. Qh4 $1 {is more accurate.}) 36... Bxb5 37. Nxb5 ({The engine
finds} 37. Qf5 $1 Qg1 38. Kd6 $1 Qxh2+ 39. f4) 37... cxb5 ({It turns out that} 
37... Qe6+ 38. Kd4 Qe2 $3 {holds following} 39. Na3 Qb2 40. Qf5 Qf2+ 41. Kd3
Qf1+ 42. Kc2 Qf2+ 43. Kb3 Qxc5 {, but this is an engine invention and hardly
the sort of line one plays over-the-board.}) 38. Kd4 Qc2 39. c6 $2 ({Maybe
it's a draw in any case, and Sherwood shows Black surviving} 39. Kxd5 Qd3+ (
39... Qxc3 40. c6) 40. Qd4 Qxf3+ 41. Kd6 Qa8 42. c6 Qd8+ 43. Kc5 Qa5 44. Qb4
Qc7 {, although I'm not convinced after} 45. Kd5 {at this point. It's fair to
say that Black has more resources than one would imagine in such a position.})
39... Qa4+ 40. Ke3 Qa7+ 41. Kd3 b4 $1 {Wonderful, and the only move.} 42. c7 (
42. c4 Qc5 $1 $11) 42... Qa6+ 43. Kd2 bxc3+ 44. Kxc3 Qc6+ 45. Kd2 f6 {Agreed
drawn here. A great defensive effort by Marshall. A sample line might be} (
45... f6 46. Kd1 $5 {(with the idea Qc1!)} d4 47. Qc1 Qxf3+ 48. Ke1 Qe4+ {
with perpetual check.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "**Fox, Albert Whiting"]
[Black "Schlechter, Carl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Annotator "Watson"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1904.04.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. O-O Re8 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. h3 h6 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
e4 dxe4 16. Ndxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Qf4 18. Re1 Be6 19. Re3 Ng6 20. Nc5 Bd5 21. Qe2
Qg5 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qxe8+ Kh7 {[#] It's been a well-played and balanced
game up to this point.} 24. f3 $4 {Terrible.} (24. Be4 Qxc1+ 25. Kh2 Qf4+ 26.
Kg1 Bxe4 27. Nxe4 {is only equal.}) 24... Qxc1+ 25. Kh2 Qf4+ 26. Kh1 Qxd4 27.
Bxg6+ Kxg6 28. Nd7 Qxb2 {Two extra pawns should win easily.} 29. Ne5+ Kh5 $5 {
Still winning, but there are better options, e.g.,} (29... Kf5 {is good,}) ({
or the safer} 29... Kh7 $1 30. Nd7 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. Kh1 g5 {and White's
attack peters out.}) 30. Qe7 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. Kh1 g5 $6 (32... Qg5 $1 $19
{leads to an easier win.}) 33. Qd6 Kh4 $4 {A horrible overreach. It's not
immediately obvious, but} (33... b6 $1 {is a particularly good solution
creating zugzwang, for example,} 34. Qb8 (34. Kg1 Kh4 $1 35. Qxh6+ Kg3 36. Nd3
Qd4+) (34. a4 b5) 34... Bxf3 $1 35. gxf3 Kh4 36. Qd6 Kg3 37. Nxf7 Qxd6 38. Nxd6
c5 {and Black's pawns are too strong.}) 34. Qxh6+ Kg3 35. Nd3 $1 {Now Black's
king is too exposed.} Qe3 36. Qd6+ Kh4 37. Qh6+ Kg3 38. Qd6+ Kh4 39. Kh2 $1 {
[#] Threatening mate on h6 and preparing g3.} Be6 {Nothing works here. The
prettiest lines come after} (39... Bxf3 40. Nf4 $3 gxf4 (40... Qxf4+ 41. g3+) (
40... Bh5 41. Nd5 $1 Qf2 42. Nf6 Be2 43. Qd4+ $1 Qxd4 44. g3#) (40... Qf2 41.
Qh6+) 41. Qh6+ Bh5 42. Qf6# {Like a study!}) 40. Qf8 g4 41. Qh8+ Kg5 42. Qg7+ (
{Mate follows quickly:} 42. Qg7+ Kh5 43. f4 $3 g3+ 44. Kh1 {, etc.}) 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Pool A"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.22"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "2.1 Santos Ruiz, Miguel"]
[Black "Mhango, Banele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2587"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b3r1/1pq1kp2/p2pp2R/6p1/4P1P1/P1N1QP2/1PP5/2KR4 w - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2022.11.20"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Spain"]
[BlackTeam "South Africa"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RSA"]

{[%evp 0,49,58,16,49,61,87,48,53,33,36,34,72,39,51,18,36,19,19,23,53,45,101,92,
92,82,82,82,72,68,80,61,77,-68,65,65,104,91,88,204,181,206,273,201,208,184,447,
513,541,567,567,387] [#]} 21. Rd5 $1 ({White has several good moves but this
is the simplest path. Other options include} 21. e5 d5 ({or} 21... dxe5 22. Ne4
) 22. Rxd5) ({and} 21. Qd4 Qc5 22. Qf6+ Ke8 23. e5 {, in both cases White is
winning.}) 21... Bd7 22. Rxg5 Qc4 23. Nd5+ exd5 24. exd5+ Be6 25. Rxe6+ {
and Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Play-off"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.24"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "2.2 Sindarov, Javokhir"]
[Black "Nihal, Sarin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6r1/1p1q3k/1p2pR1p/1Pp1B1nP/P1P1P3/3r2P1/4Q1K1/5R2 w - - 0 52"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2022.11.23"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

{[%evp 0,103,27,13,13,13,27,7,8,8,8,8,12,-5,-6,-21,5,-9,-9,-20,-30,-25,-25,-32,
-18,-27,-10,-12,-1,-14,-8,-9,-4,-21,-5,-16,-8,-26,-14,-42,-26,-24,8,-10,0,1,-4,
-9,-10,-5,20,-43,0,-38,-15,-12,15,-21,35,-14,44,47,46,66,89,80,93,90,90,72,68,
88,90,87,109,75,89,93,84,115,102,102,99,104,112,117,102,106,101,59,46,120,29,
64,57,57,146,167,306,141,155,155,155,199,910,1181] [#]} 52. Qxd3 $1 ({Simple
and effective. Black resigned as} 52. Qxd3 Qxd3 53. Rf7+ Nxf7 54. Rxf7+ Rg7 55.
Rxg7+ Kh8 56. Rd7+ {of course easily wins for White.}) 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Play-off"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.23"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "2.3 Vakhidov, Jakhongir"]
[Black "Kovalenko, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2607"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1r1k1/2p2pp1/1p3n1p/pP1P4/P7/1P2R2P/6PB/5RK1 w - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2022.11.23"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

{[#]} 31. Rxe8+ $1 Rxe8 ({If Black recaptures with the knight, White also wins
rather easily, for instance,} 31... Nxe8 32. Rc1 Rd8 33. Bxc7 Nxc7 34. Rxc7
Rxd5 35. Rc6 {with a won endgame.}) 32. Rxf6 $1 ({Not} 32. Bxc7 $2 Nxd5 {
when it is far from clear whether White will win.}) 32... gxf6 33. Bxc7 Kf8 ({
Or} 33... Re1+ 34. Kf2 Rd1 35. Bxb6 Rxd5 36. Bxa5 {when the bishop and
queenside pawns decide the game in White's favor.}) 34. d6 Re1+ 35. Kf2 Rd1 36.
Ke2 Rd5 37. Bxb6 Ke8 38. Bxa5 Rxd6 39. Bd2 $1 ({This is better than the game
continuation which also eventually won:} 39. Bc7 Rd5 40. Bf4 Kd7 41. Bxh6 Rd4
42. Bd2 f5 43. Bc3 {and White eventually won the game.}) 39... f5 40. a5 Kd7
41. a6 Kc8 42. Be3 {and White is easily winning.} 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Play-off"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.23"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "2.4 Narayanan, S.L.."]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2622"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/1p3qpp/p1p3n1/P2pP1B1/8/1N6/1P1Q1PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2022.11.23"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

{[#]} 22... h6 $1 {Kicking the bishop away to gain access to the h4-square.}
23. Be3 Nh4 $1 {After this knight leap, it is impossible for White to properly
defend himself; there are simply not enough defenders.} 24. Qe2 ({Or} 24. f4
Bh3 $1 {and Black is winning.}) 24... Qg6 25. f4 Bh3 26. g3 ({Opening up for a
light-squared disaster around the king, but no better is} 26. Qf2 Nxg2 27. Qg3
Qh5 {and Black is winning.}) 26... Bg4 27. Qf2 Nf3+ 28. Kh1 Nxe5 {and Black
had won a pawn and had a clearly winning position.} 0-1

[Event "13th World Teams Pool B"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.22"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "2.5 Gumularz, Szymon"]
[Black "Abdisalimov, Abdimalik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2561"]
[BlackElo "2457"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3qrk1/p1pbp1bp/1pn3p1/2P2p2/8/B1P2NP1/P1Q1PPBP/R2R2K1 w - - 0 14"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2022.11.20"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UZB"]

{[%evp 0,61,24,15,32,34,55,26,16,21,4,12,30,29,35,41,56,52,71,40,46,46,54,28,
52,31,47,53,69,81,81,64,163,161,287,215,163,196,277,282,346,416,429,434,448,
443,451,460,461,483,460,435,492,457,509,532,583,569,654,696,740,753,759,687] 
[#]} 14. Ng5 $1 {A really annoying knight leap with a straight-forward threat
that is impossible to properly counter.} Bf6 ({Or} 14... h6 15. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7
16. Rd1 Qe8 17. Ne6 Rb8 18. Nxf8 Kxf8 19. e4 {and White is much better.}) 15.
Rxd7 $1 {The threat behind the previous move.} Qxd7 16. Rd1 {The point behind
the previous two moves: now Black cannot resist White's invasion.} Qe8 17. Bd5+
$1 Kh8 18. Ne6 $1 Qd7 19. Qa4 $1 b5 20. Qxb5 Rab8 21. Qxc6 Qxc6 22. Bxc6 {
White is winning and soon picked up the full point.} Rg8 23. Bb4 a5 24. Bxa5
Rb2 25. Bf3 c6 26. Bxc6 Rxa2 27. Bb4 Rxe2 28. Bd7 Re4 29. c6 Rc4 30. c7 Bxc3
31. Bc5 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Pool B"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.21"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "2.6 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Rodshtein, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b5/p6k/1p2p2p/2p1Pp2/2Br1Pqp/7R/PP3QP1/5RK1 w - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2022.11.20"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

{[%evp 0,61,15,14,26,26,22,-10,6,13,49,-10,25,25,27,24,24,3,39,48,70,58,59,72,
61,50,69,60,60,36,86,76,126,50,72,76,66,54,54,43,37,37,58,55,44,20,49,3,-3,-13,
-11,-22,21,13,31,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,502,492] [#]} 28. Be2 $1 {Kicking the queen
away to launch an irresistible attack against Black's king.} (28. Rxh4 $2 Qg6 {
is comfortably better for Black.}) 28... Qg7 29. Qxh4 Bb7 30. Rg3 $1 {An
important zwischenzug before continuing the attack, the queen gets kicked away
from the g-file where it creates counterthreats against White's king along
with defending the h6-pawn.} Qd7 ({Not the best defense, but even after} 30...
Qf8 {it rapidly goes downhil:} 31. Kf2 Rd7 32. Rh1 c4 33. Qg5 Qg7 34. Qxg7+
Rxg7 35. Rxh6+ Kg8 ({Black cannot capture the rook as} 35... Kxh6 36. Rh3+ Kg6
37. Bh5+ Kh7 38. Bf7# {ends the game.}) 36. Bxc4 {and game over.}) 31. Kf2 $1 {
Black resigned. The threat is, of course, 32.Qxh6+ followed by 33.Rh1#.} 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Play-off"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.23"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "2.7 Moussard, Jules"]
[Black "Nihal, Sarin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rqk2r/4ppb1/p2p2pp/1pnP4/n6P/P1P1BP1N/1P4P1/1KRQ1B1R b k - 0 19"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2022.11.23"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

{[#]} 19... Nxb2 $1 {Black sacrifices initially two minor for a rook and two
pawns to break through to White's king.} 20. Kxb2 Na4+ 21. Ka2 Nxc3+ 22. Rxc3
Rxc3 23. Bd2 Qa5 $1 {Now the investment becomes a piece.} 24. Bxc3 Qxc3 25. Qb1
Qd2+ 26. Kb3 Qxd5+ {Black has three pawns for the piece, but White's king is
wide open and his undeveloped pieces will not come to his rescue.} 27. Kc2 O-O
28. Bd3 Rc8+ 29. Kd2 Bc3+ $1 ({The game continued} 29... Rc3 30. Nf4 Qc5 31.
Ne2 Rxa3 32. Rc1 Qd5 33. h5 Qg5+ 34. f4 Qxh5 35. Qb4 Ra2+ 36. Rc2 Rxc2+ 37.
Kxc2 Qd5 {and Black won eventually. The text move is better.}) 30. Ke2 Qe5+ 31.
Kd1 ({Or} 31. Kf2 Bd4+ 32. Kf1 Qe3 {and it is over for White.}) 31... Ba5 32.
Nf2 h5 $1 {Black wants the e3-square for the queen.} 33. Qb3 Rc3 34. Qb2 d5 35.
Rf1 Qd4 36. Ke2 Bb6 {and Black is winning.} 0-1

[Event "13th World Teams Play-off"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.24"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "2.8 Bai, Jinshi"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2569"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1qk2r/p2b1p1p/5np1/3p4/2PP4/Q1N1bN2/PP4PP/R3KB1R w KQk - 0 15"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2022.11.23"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

{[#]} 15. Ke2 $3 {An absolute stunner of a move, clearing the e1-square for
the rook, exposing the vulnerability of the Black king on e8.} Bf4 16. Re1 Be6
17. Kd1 $1 {White completes his unusual and very strong castle-by-hand. White
is much better.} dxc4 ({Or} 17... Bd6 18. c5 Bf4 19. Bb5+ Kf8 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21.
Re1 {and White is winning.}) 18. Bxc4 Qe7 19. Qxe7+ Kxe7 20. g3 Bh6 21. b3 $1 (
{This was best. The game continued} 21. Re2 Rhc8 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Rhe1 Kf7 24.
Kc2 Nd5 25. Ne5+ Kg8 {and although White eventually won, it got a lot more
complicated than it should have been.}) 21... Rhd8 22. Kc2 {and White is
winning.} 1-0

[Event "13th World Teams Pool A"]
[Site "Jerusalem ISR"]
[Date "2022.11.22"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "2.9 Ivanchuk, Vasyl"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1n1q2k1/2r1rp1p/pp1b1np1/3pN3/3P4/BP4PB/P1R2P1P/2R2QK1 w - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2022.11.20"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

{[#]} 26. Nd7 $3 {All of a sudden, Black has too many loose and un-/
underprotected pieces.} Rexd7 ({Nothing works for Black, for instance,} 26...
Rcxd7 27. Bxd6 Rxd6 28. Rc8) ({or} 26... Rxc2 27. Nxf6+ Kg7 28. Rxc2 Kxf6 29.
Rc8) ({or} 26... Bxa3 27. Rxc7 Bxc1 28. Rc8 Qxc8 29. Nxf6+ Kg7 30. Bxc8 {
in each case White is winning.}) 27. Bxd6 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Rxd6 29. Rc8 Qxc8 30.
Bxc8 Nc6 31. Qxa6 Nxd4 32. Kg2 {and White was winning, but Black managed to
swindle his way to a win.} 0-1

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2021.06.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hikaru"]
[Black "raync910"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C25"]
[WhiteElo "3381"]
[BlackElo "1042"]
[Annotator "Linville"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL February 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "60"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ke7 {
[%emt 0:00:01] Bongcloud $1} 3. f4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} 6. d4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bxf3 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 8. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:01] \"King's still
on e7 but still not completely clear\" (Nakamura).} 9. Nxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:01]}
Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 11. O-O-O {
[%emt 0:00:00] I completely missed this move; otherwise, I would have moved my
queen to avoid the discovered attack.} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Nxf6+ {[%emt 0:
00:01]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 13. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kxd8 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
14. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. Rd1+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kc7 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 16. Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 17. Bxc6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxd1+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 18. Qxd1 {[%emt 0:00:00] [#]} Rd8 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 19. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:00] The premove that blundered the queen.
\"Whoops $1 I blundered, but I'm still going to win the game\" (Nakamura).}
Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 20. cxd3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:02] Taking
the pawn instead with the king would have kept my pawn structure intact.} 21.
Bxa7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} f6 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 24. g4 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 25. h3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 26.
Kb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 27. Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc7 {
[%emt 0:00:01]} 28. b3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 29. a4 {[%emt 0:
00:01]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30. b4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:00:01]
Another mistake when 30...cxb would have been better.} 31. b5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 32. a5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bb8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33. b6+ {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 34. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:
02]} 35. Bxd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kxd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 36. a6 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 37. a7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kb7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 38. Kd5 {
[%emt 0:00:00] Hikaru won on time Time expires for Black.} 1-0

