[Event "S CA Closed Ch."]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Silman, Jeremy"]
[Black "Lakdawala, Cyrus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[Annotator "Donaldson"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,83,23,23,73,48,49,33,38,38,54,17,19,61,61,18,36,8,-2,-19,40,14,78,76,
65,49,66,38,28,11,0,0,12,-20,-4,-6,11,-56,-65,-55,-55,-32,19,4,13,32,37,34,34,
10,7,2,2,-6,38,6,12,32,88,49,148,320,317,329,322,210,210,210,213,210,210,213,
213,213,210,213,213,213,213,274,274,231,402,478,29995,29996] This positional
tour de force was considered by Jeremy to be his best game and was extensively
annotated by him in the fourth and final edition of How to Reassess Your Chess
which was published in 2010. Since then chess engines have gotten stronger at
evaluating closed positions. Not surprisingly they have made a few new
discoveries, but Jeremy's overall impressions of this instructive and
well-played game hold true.} 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nc6 {The
motivation behind this line of the Modern Defense is to follow up with ...e5,
induce d5 by White, and then play ...f5 without having to first move the king
knight as is the case in the King's Indian.} 5. Be3 ({The traditional main line
} 5. d5 Nd4 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Qb6 {is now known to favor White after} 8. Na4
Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qc7 (9... Qa6 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. Nc3 {is a bad Benoni for Black
with his queen on a very odd square.}) 10. Bc3 e5 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Bxg7 Nxg7
13. Nac3 {Recently Black has experimented with 5...Ne5 (Mamedyarov) and 5...
Nb8 (Dubov).}) 5... e5 6. d5 Nce7 7. c5 (7. g4 {is a major alternative when
after} f5 8. gxf5 gxf5 9. Qh5+ {Black should probably play} Ng6 (9... Kf8 10.
Bh3 Nf6 11. Qf3 f4 12. Bd2 {with a small but persistent advantage for White
first seen Portisch-Ree, Amsterdam 1967 and Franett-Biyiasas, Portland 1971.})
10. exf5 Qh4 {and not}) 7... f5 8. cxd6 cxd6 9. Bb5+ Kf8 {Black moves his king
in this line as he loses control over the e6 square (imagine Nf3-g5-e6) if he
trades light-squared bishops.} 10. Nf3 f4 $6 {This advance gains space on the
kingside but at the price of locking in Black's king bishop. More in the
spirit of this opening was} (10... Bh6 {with the aim of trading off the
problematic bishop before advancing ...f4. To be fair he achieves this aim in
the game, but shouldn't have had the second chance..}) 11. Bd2 h6 {This is
played both to prevent Ng5-e6 and to meet g3 with ...g5.} 12. a4 {White grabs
more space on the queenside.} g5 13. a5 g4 14. Ng1 Nf6 {[#]} 15. Nge2 $6 ({
The Silicon oracles advocate for} 15. h3 {putting the question to Black on the
h-file. After} h5 16. hxg4 hxg4 17. Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Nge2 Ng6 19. g3 {White has
neutralized any potential attack by Black on the kingside and will be able to
concentrate his energies on the opposite side of the board. He has also made
it harder for Black to trade off dark-squared bishops. After the game
continuation it will be Black who decides if and when the h-file is opened.})
15... Ng6 16. g3 {Here Jeremy writes in How to Reassess Your Chess: "Killing
my opponent's counterattack on the kingside. Quite honestly, after playing 16.
g3 I felt that the point was already mine!."  This is an overstatement, but
there is no question that Jeremy, whose hero Tigran Petrosian often reached
similar positions playing against the King's Indian, liked his game.} f3 17.
Nc1 h5 18. Qa4 h4 19. Rf1 hxg3 20. hxg3 Bh6 21. Nb3 Rb8 {This stops the
advance a5-a6 by White but is passive. An alternative approach was the more
active} (21... a6 22. Bc4 b5 23. axb6 Qxb6 {though after} 24. Qa5 {White has a
small but pleasant advantage.}) 22. Qb4 {White targets Black's weak d-pawn.}
Kg7 23. Bxh6+ {This trade facilitates White's plan to transfer his knight to
c4 via d2.} (23. Bd3 {and}) (23. O-O-O {were equally viable alternatives.})
23... Rxh6 {[#]} 24. Nd2 $6 {This move seems ever so natural, but as Stockfish
16 points out it is a small in accuracy which allows Black the opportunity to
protect his d-pawn in a comfortable way without any adverse side effects.
Correct was} (24. Bd3 $1 {(clearing the way for a double attack with Nb5)} Ne8
(24... Nh8 25. Nb5 Nf7 26. Nxa7 Bd7 27. Nd2 Qc7 28. Nc4 Ng5 29. Nb6 {doesn't
provide Black with enough compensation for the pawn.}) 25. Nb5 a6 26. Na3 {
offers White long-term pressure on the queenside. The attempt to alleviate
this with} b6 {fails to} 27. axb6 Qxb6 28. Qxb6 Rxb6 29. Na5 Rxb2 30. N3c4 Rb5
31. Nc6 {when the threat of Na7 is difficult to meet.}) 24... Nh8 $1 25. Nc4
Nf7 {Black is just in time to guard d6. He has also exchanged off his
dark-squared bishop and controls the h-file.The position offers equal chances
for both sides.} 26. Ne3 Qh8 $6 (26... Kg6 {to prepare...Bd7, which if played
immediately walks into a knight fork, was correct.} 27. O-O-O Bd7) (26... Bd7
27. Bxd7 Qxd7) 27. O-O-O Rh2 28. Kb1 Qh6 29. Rde1 Nh7 {[#]} 30. Qc4 $1 {
"A decisive penetration into c7 is assured. The grand plan has worked to
perfection!" - Silman.} a6 31. Qc7 Ra8 32. Bd7 (32. Be8 {was also strong.})
32... Bxd7 33. Qxd7 Nf6 34. Qxb7 {This is good enough but} (34. Qe6 $1 {
was even better as the terrible threat of Nf5+ forces Black to enter a very
odd variation:} Qxe3 35. fxe3 Re8 {now White's queen will be trapped but he
emerges on top after} 36. Qf5 Rh5 37. Rxf3 $1) 34... Qh8 35. Nf5+ Kg6 36. Nh4+
Kg7 (36... Rxh4 {was the only way to keep the game going but} 37. gxh4 Qc8 38.
Qc6 {should win in the end.}) 37. Nf5+ Kg6 38. Nh4+ Kg7 (38... Rxh4 {was again
forced.}) 39. Rh1 $1 Rxh1 40. Rxh1 Qd8 41. Nf5+ Kg6 42. Rh6+ $1 {This is a
pretty finish to get a great game against a strong opponent.} 1-0

[Event "Bazna Kings 5th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2011.06.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2011.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Ne4 Ng6 11. b3 Ke8 12. Bb2 c5 13. Nfd2 h5 14. Nc4
b6 15. f4 Ne7 16. Ne3 Nf5 17. Nd5 Bb7 18. Rfd1 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 a5 20. Re1 Rd8 21.
Nf6+ Ke7 {[#]} 22. e6 Rxd5 23. Nxd5+ Kd6 24. exf7 Kxd5 25. Re5+ Kd6 26. Rxf5
Ke6 27. Rg5 Kxf7 28. Be5 c4 29. Bxc7 Bc5+ 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Be5 g6 32. f5 gxf5
33. Rxh5 Rd8 34. Bc3 cxb3 35. cxb3 Kg6 36. Rh8 Rd3 37. Rh3 Be3 38. Be1 f4 39.
Ke2 Rd8 40. g3 Rc8 41. gxf4 Bxf4 42. Rc3 Re8+ 43. Kd1 Rd8+ 44. Kc2 Re8 45. Bg3
Be3 46. Kd3 Bc5 47. Kc4 a4 48. Kb5 axb3 49. axb3 Re2 50. Bc7 Re6 51. b4 Be7 52.
Rc4 Kf5 53. Bxb6 Bd6 54. Bc7 1-0

[Event "Dusseldorf WR Masters"]
[Site "Dusseldorf"]
[Date "2023.02.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Esipenko, Andrey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2023.02.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. b4 a5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Qb3
Nh5 9. Ne2 Nxf4 10. Nxf4 g6 11. a4 Bg7 12. Ra2 O-O 13. O-O Ne5 14. Bxd7 Qxd7
15. Rd1 Qc6 16. Nd3 Nxd3 17. Rxd3 Rfc8 {[#]} 18. Nd2 axb4 19. cxb4 b6 20. cxb6
Qxb6 21. b5 Rc1+ 22. Nf1 Qa5 23. Rd1 Rc3 24. Qb1 Rc4 25. Rd3 Rb8 26. Rb3 Rxa4
27. Rxa4 Qxa4 28. g3 Rb6 29. h4 h5 30. Kg2 Bf6 31. Nd2 Kg7 32. Qd3 Bxh4 33.
gxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Bxc3 8. bxc3
Qe7 9. dxc5 dxc5 10. Ne5 Qc7 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Qd2 g5 13. Bxg5 Qxe5 {[#]} 14.
Rad1 f6 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. Bf4 Qh5 17. Bd6 Re8 18. Qf4 Nd7 19. g4 Qf7 20. Rd3 e5
21. Qh6 Qg6 22. Qxg6 hxg6 23. Be4 Kf7 24. f4 exf4 25. Bd5+ Ne6 26. Bxf4 Nb6 27.
Be5 Nxd5 28. cxd5 Nf8 29. Rxf6+ Kg8 30. Bd6 Kg7 31. Rf4 g5 32. Rf2 b6 33. Rdf3
Ng6 34. Rf7+ Kh6 35. h3 Ba6 36. R2f6 Bxe2 37. Be7 Bc4 38. Rd6 Bxd5 39. Bxg5+
Kxg5 40. Rxd5+ Kh4 41. Rf3 Re5 42. Rxe5 Nxe5 43. Rf5 Nd3 44. Kh2 Rh8 45. a4 Rh6
46. Kg2 a5 47. Kf3 Nb2 48. Kf4 Nxa4 49. c4 Nc3 50. Ke3 a4 51. Kd3 Nd1 52. Rf8
Kxh3 53. g5 Rd6+ 54. Ke4 Kg4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Oparin, Grigoriy"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 Re8 12. Qb3 Qe7 13. Nf1 c6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15.
Ng5 Rf8 16. a5 Nh4 17. g3 Ng6 18. Kg2 Ne8 19. Qc2 Nd6 20. Bb3 Kh8 21. Qe2 h6
22. Qh5 Qe8 {[#]} 23. Be3 f6 24. Nf7+ Nxf7 25. Qxg6 Bxh3+ 26. Kh2 Bxf1 27. Bxa7
Ng5 28. Qxe8 Rfxe8 29. Rxf1 Rxa7 30. Rad1 b6 31. axb6 Rb7 32. Bc2 a5 33. Rd6
Rxb6 34. b3 Ne6 35. Rb1 Nc5 36. b4 axb4 37. Rxb4 Ra6 38. Rc4 Ra2 39. Bd1 Nb7
40. Rdxc6 Rxf2+ 41. Kg1 Rd2 42. Bh5 Ra8 43. Rc8+ Rxc8 44. Rxc8+ Kh7 45. Bg4 Nd6
46. Rc6 Kg6 47. Bf3 Nf7 48. c4 Ng5 49. Bg2 Kh5 50. c5 Kg4 51. Ra6 Rc2 52. c6
Kxg3 53. Ra3+ Kf4 54. Ra6 h5 0-1

[Event "Buenos Aires Club Argentino-50"]
[Site "Buenos Aires"]
[Date "1955.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Black "Pachman, Ludek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D88"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1q3rk1/pb2np1p/1p4p1/3B4/4PN2/5P2/PQ4PP/2R3K1 w - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "1955.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 22. Ne6 Bxd5 (22... fxe6 23. Bxe6+ Rf7 24. Qf6 Qf8 25. Rc7) 23. Qg7# 1-0

[Event "Zagreb Masters (Glavni)"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1955.11.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Black "Bertok, Mario"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E80"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/q3pbn1/3p1r2/p2p1P1p/3P1P1Q/3B3R/PP2N2P/6RK w - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "1955.11.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 31. Rg6 Bxg6 32. fxg6 Rgf8 33. Qg5 Kg8 34. Qh6 1-0

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1954.11.13"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Black "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1n3rk1/7q/p1P2p2/1n1P1Rpp/1Q6/3N4/4r1PP/5RK1 w - - 0 33"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "1954.10.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 33. Rxg5+ Kf7 34. Rxf6+ Kxf6 35. Qxf8+ Kxg5 (35... Qf7 36. Rf5+) 36. h4+
(36. h4+ Kxh4 (36... Kg6 37. Nf4#) 37. Qf4#) 1-0

[Event "YUG-ch05"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1949.11.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fuderer, Andrija"]
[Black "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B95"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/1p4rp/p6q/4b3/3Np3/6Pb/P1PQNP2/3RR1K1 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "1949.11.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 35... Qh4 36. Kh1 Bxg3 37. fxg3 Rxg3 38. Nxg3 Rxg3 39. Re2 Bg2+ 40. Kg1
Bf3+ 41. Kf2 Rg2+ 0-1

[Event "YUG-ch06"]
[Site "Ljubljana"]
[Date "1951.01.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Black "Bertok, Mario"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E66"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r4k1/4p2p/1q1P1ppB/2p2b2/r3N3/5QP1/4PPBP/5RK1 w - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1951.01.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 26. Nxf6+ (26. Nxf6+ exf6 (26... Kh8 27. Nd7 Bxd7 28. Qf7) 27. Qd5+ Kh8
28. Qf7) 1-0

[Event "Yugoslavia"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gabrovsek, Ludvig"]
[Black "Gligoric, Svetozar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[Annotator "Soltis"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rr3k/1b2q1pp/pp3p2/4p1n1/Pbn1P3/1N1N1PP1/BP3BQP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 26... f5 27. Nxb4 (27. h4 fxe4 28. hxg5 exd3) 27... fxe4 28. h4 Nxf3+ (
28... Nxf3+ 29. Kh1 Qxb4 30. Be1 Rxd1) 0-1

[Event "Chennai Women's Chess Olympiad"]
[Site "chess24.com"]
[Date "2022.08.02"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Chumpitaz, Ann"]
[Black "Krush, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B62"]
[WhiteElo "2278"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Peru"]
[BlackTeam "United States"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "PER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

{[%evp 0,47,39,26,46,48,84,70,76,38,30,34,85,56,62,48,66,41,13,21,51,-2,-26,
-26,-19,-37,2,-19,9,10,10,-180,-87,-102,76,-67,165,190,190,222,342,205,617,
1352,29995,29996,29997,29996,29997,29998]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bd7 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd3 a6 8. f4 Nc6 9. O-O-O b5 10. e5 {Since
White has already castled and her rook is centralized, she is well positioned
to start operations in the center} dxe5 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qg3 {Of course,
White will avoid the queen trade.} Qa5 13. fxe5 b4 $2 {This is too ambitious.
Now Black will be quickly punished. [#]} ({Instead} 13... Nd7 {was necessary
as it keeps the e-file closed and doesn't give the White rook entry squares on
the d-file.}) 14. exf6 {White has removed a key defender (the f6-knight) and
will use the open d-file for the attack. The bishop on g5 is perfectly
positioned for a potential checkmate on d8, and the Black king has no escape
route.} bxc3 15. Bc4 {Bringing the last minor piece into the attack and
defending the a2-pawn.} Rg8 ({White isn't scared of} 15... cxb2+ {as after} 16.
Kb1 {the king will safely hide behind the enemy pawn.}) 16. Bf4 Ba3 17. Bc7
Bxb2+ 18. Kb1 {The white king is perfectly safe!} Qb4 19. Bb3 a5 20. Rd6 a4 21.
Rhd1 {Every single white piece is attacking the black king. Checkmate is
inevitable.} gxf6 22. Qxg8+ Ke7 23. Rxe6+ fxe6 24. Qxe6+ 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.10.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Greek Gift"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbq1rk1/pp1n1ppp/4p3/2ppP3/3P4/P1PB1N2/2P2PPP/R1BQK2R w KQ - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2023.10.02"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 1. Bxh7+ {This is a classic sacrifice. Eliminating the h7-pawn opens the
h-file for the white pieces to come in.} Kxh7 ({Declining the sacrifice with} 
1... Kh8 {does not help: after} 2. Ng5 {(with the threat of Qd1-h5) White gets
a crushing attack after} g6 3. Qg4 Kg7 4. Nxf7 {.}) 2. Ng5+ Kg6 ({If Black
retreats with} 2... Kg8 {White continues thematically with} 3. Qh5 Re8 $2 (3...
Qxg5 {is the only move that saves the game}) 4. Qxf7+ Kh8 5. Qh5+ Kg8 6. Qh7+
Kf8 7. Qh8+ Ke7 8. Qxg7# {.}) ({After} 2... Kh6 3. Nxf7+ {White can try to
checkmate, but simply picking up the queen is enough.}) 3. h4 $1 {The king is
in the kill zone, and White brings in another piece to assist with the attack.}
f5 4. h5+ Kh6 5. Nxe6+ {White is clearly winning.} *

[Event "30th Elekes Memorial"]
[Site "Budapest HUN"]
[Date "2005.05.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Humpy, Koneru"]
[Black "Nemeth, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2508"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1qb2rk1/1p3ppp/p2bp3/8/1P2BP2/P3P2P/1B2Q1P1/5RK1 w - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2005.05.21"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 21. Bxh7+ $1 {Black's last move was castling short, but instead of
finding safety, the king will soon meet his demise. White is perfectly
positioned to start an attack, as the king has no defenders besides the lone
rook.} Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Bxg7 $1 Kxg7 ({The alternative} 23... f6 24. Qg6 {
will soon lead to mate after Bg7-f6 or Bg7-h6 with discovered check.}) 24. Qg5+
Kh7 25. Rf3 {Now that both the g- and h-file are half-open, the major pieces
will win the game. Note how far away the black queen is from the action!} Rg8
26. Qh4+ Kg6 27. Rg3+ Kf5 28. Qh7+ Kf6 29. Rxg8 {White has won her material
back and will capture another bishop} Qa7 30. Qh4+ Kf5 31. Qg4+ Ke4 32. Qf3+
Kd3 33. Qd1+ Kxe3 34. Qxd6 Bd7 35. Qxd7 1-0

[Event "FIDE Online Olympiad"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2020.08.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Abrahamyan, Tatev"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2358"]
[BlackElo "2229"]
[Annotator "Tatev"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/1pbq1pp1/p1ppbnnp/4p3/3PP3/2P1BNNP/PPBQ1PP1/3RR1K1 w - - 0 18"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2020.08.21"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#] This is a typical structure that arises from Giuoco Piano or even some
Spanish structures. White has more space in the center due to the pawns on d4
and e4, but otherwise the position is quite symmetrical. Note that the knight
on g3 came via the route of b1-d2-f1-g3; it is ready to hop to f5 at the right
moment. His counterpart on g6 followed a similar path to get there. White
strikes first:} 18. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 19. Qxh6 {Even though Black has a lot of
defenders around the king, the g7-square remains extremely vulnerable. Black
needs to get either the queen or the bishop to f8 immediately, but lacks time
to do so. White has two big threats of Nf3-g5 and Ng3-f5.} Qe7 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21.
exf5 Nf4 ({If} 21... Nh8 22. Ng5 {followed by Re1-e3-g3 is devastating.}) 22.
Qxf4 exf4 23. Rxe7 {White is up two healthy pawns} Rd7 24. Rde1 Rfd8 25. Ng5
Rxe7 26. Rxe7 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Kf1 Kg7 29. Ke2 d5 30. Kf3 Nb6 31. Bb3 Kf6
32. h4 Kxf5 33. Bc2+ Kf6 34. b3 Nd7 35. Nh3 Ba5 36. b4 Bc7 37. Nxf4 Nf8 38. g4
Ng6 39. g5+ Kg7 40. Bxg6 Bxf4 41. Kxf4 Kxg6 42. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Cherry Blossom Classic"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.05.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sriniaiyer, Sudarshan"]
[Black "Durarbayli, Vasif"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E47"]
[WhiteElo "2324"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Foisor"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6kb/pb2rp1p/1p1Np1pB/8/2Pn4/P7/5PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#] Sudarshan had an excellent tournament, losing just once and gaining over
80 rating points. Here, In round one, he outplayed the eventual tournament
co-winner, reaching the following position up an Exchange. Durarbayli defended
valiantly, finding a way to this endgame where precise play is required by
White in order to prevent Black from setting up a fortress.} 24. Nxb7 $6 {
This allows Black some defensive ideas.} ({As I were doing commentary with GM
Rashad Babayev, we focused on the following line, which seems to make White's
task easier:} 24. c5 $1 {and now} {(b)} b5 {was the engine's suggestion, but
after} ({(a)} 24... Bg7 {would fail because of} 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 {and now} 26. c6
$1 {. It seems as if White gives up the pawn, but due to the looseness of the
black minor pieces, White wins after} Bxc6 27. Rc4 $3 {and the bishop or
knight must fall.}) 25. Nxb7 Rxb7 26. c6 {Black fails to stop the c-pawn. After
} Rc7 27. Bf4 Rc8 28. c7 {White should win. With the pawn on the seventh rank,
and the inability of the d4-knight, White will find a way to promote the
c-pawn or activate their rook to win the a- and b-pawns.}) 24... Rxb7 25. c5
Bg7 26. Bxg7 $2 {A mistake. Now Black will be able to support the knight in
the center and stop the c-pawn from becoming dangerous.} ({Here} 26. c6 $1 {
was White's final attempt to keep the c-pawn and maintain a big advantage, i.e.
,} Rc7 (26... Rb8 27. Re4 Bxh6 28. Rxd4 Bxc1 29. c7 {and wins}) 27. Bf4 Rc8 28.
c7 {and White should win.}) 26... Kxg7 27. cxb6 $6 ({The stronger} 27. Rb1 {
would have been White's final try to maintain an advantage, when Black would
have to find a precise series of moves:} Rd7 ({or} 27... b5 28. Rbd1 Nc6 29.
Rd6 Rc7 30. Rb1 a6 31. f4 {with holding chances}) 28. cxb6 axb6 29. a4 ({if} 
29. Rxb6 $4 Nc2 30. Rc1 Nxa3 31. g4 Rd5 {Black brings the knight to safety via
the b5-square}) 29... Ra7 30. Re4 Rxa4 31. Rd1 e5 32. Rxe5 Nf5 33. Rb5 {
White maintains the advantage, but Black has serious chances to hold this
position as there are pawns on only one side of the board.}) 27... axb6 {
From here Durarbayli defends valiantly to hold the draw.} 28. Rc4 Rd7 ({
I prefer} 28... Nf5 {to bring the knight to d5, as it is protected there and
it also protects the b6-pawn.}) 29. Kf1 b5 30. Rc3 g5 31. Rc5 Kg6 32. Rd1 Rd6
33. a4 {Once the queenside pawns go, the game peters out to a draw.} ({
Stockfish still gives White a big advantatge should the kingside pawns be
blockaded, so that there are potential weaknesses to attack. But with little
time on the clock, it is hard to find human advantages here. For the improvers,
I recommend trying to outplay the engine with the white pieces from the
position after} 33. h4 h6 34. g4 {.}) 33... bxa4 34. Rc4 e5 35. Rxa4 f6 36. g4
h5 37. h3 Rb6 38. Raxd4 exd4 39. Rxd4 Rb1+ 40. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cherry Blossom Classic"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.05.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nyzhnyk, Illia"]
[Black "Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2347"]
[Annotator "Foisor"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2br1qk1/5pp1/1p1p3p/p1pP1B2/2P2PP1/1P5P/P3Q1K1/4R3 b - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#] Defensive ideas are always the toughest to see. Sometimes missing them in
critical moments can lead to a dominant position for the opponent. In the
following position Black is struggling due to lack of space and White having
control of the only open file. Here staying and doing nothing is not the right
approach. The Uruguayan IM Roselli missed an idea to open lines on the
queenside, and the result was that White was able to win the endgame.} 31...
Bd7 $4 ({The right path was} 31... a4 $1 {when the position is equal after} 32.
Qe7 ({or} 32. bxa4 Bxf5 33. gxf5 Ra8) 32... Bxf5 33. gxf5 Qxe7 34. Rxe7 b5 35.
cxb5 axb3 36. axb3 Rb8 {.}) (31... Bxf5 {works equally well provided that it
is followed by the break on the queen side. The following gives a flavor of
play:} 32. gxf5 a4 33. bxa4 Ra8 34. f6 Qd8 35. Qe7 gxf6 36. Qxd8+ Rxd8 37. Rb1
Ra8 38. Rxb6 Rxa4 39. Rxd6 Kg7 40. Rc6 Rxc4 $11) 32. Bxd7 Rxd7 33. a4 $1 {
A very important move; with the queenside stabilized, White is dominating on
the kingside.} f6 34. Qe8 Rc7 35. Re6 Qxe8 36. Rxe8+ Kf7 37. Rb8 Ke7 38. Kf3
Rd7 39. Rxb6 g6 40. Ke4 Ra7 41. h4 Rd7 42. Kd3 ({The alternative} 42. Ra6 {
works equally after} Rb7 43. h5 gxh5 44. gxh5 Rxb3 45. Kf5 {.}) 42... f5 43. g5
hxg5 44. fxg5 Kf7 45. Ra6 Rb7 46. Kc2 Ke7 47. Rxa5 {Remember: don't mistake a
"fortress" for a draw. Take your chance and find a way to get counterplay.} 1-0

[Event "Cherry Blossom Classic"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Durarbayli, Vasif"]
[Black "Burke, John M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Foisor"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/3n3k/5PR1/p2B3P/8/4r3/6K1 b - - 0 52"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Durarbayli has pressed Burke for the entire game, and now, a pawn down, Black
has to play precise in order to hold the game. The drawing line is reminescent
to a difficult study position; with very little time on the clock it is easy
to go astray. Here Burke decided to try and push his own passed pawn instead
of stopping White's passed f-pawn. While Black is not losing yet, this mistep
was followed by another error..} 52... Nb5 $2 ({The clearest path is} 52... Nf7
{, working to stop the f-pawn. White could continue with} 53. Rg7 ({it's equal
after} 53. Rg6+ Kh5 54. Rg7 Re4) 53... Re4 54. Bc3 Rc4 {and now Black's
drawing idea is to chase the white bishop and distract White from marching the
passer. Heading into the rook endgame leads to a draw:} 55. Rxf7 ({or} 55. Rg6+
Kh5) 55... Rxc3 56. Kg2 ({on} 56. Ra7 {Black holds with} Rf3 57. Ra6+ Kh5 58.
f6 Kxh4) 56... Rc4 57. Kg3 {etc.}) 53. Bg7+ Kh7 54. f6 {Realizing the error of
his ways, Black hurries the knight back to defend.} Nd6 55. Bf8 {[#] Now it's
likely that only a cyborg could save this game, such were the time constraints
and the difficult choices to be made.} Re6 $4 {Allowing White to advance the
f-pawn.} ({The best way to proceed was} 55... Ne4 $1 {; after} 56. Rg7+ Kh8 57.
Rg4 Nf2 $1 ({taking the pawn} 57... Nxf6 $4 {loses of course to} 58. Bg7+) 58.
Rxa4 Nh3+ 59. Kh1 (59. Kf1 {loses the f-pawn after} Rf2+ 60. Ke1 Rxf6) 59...
Kh7 $1 {and now the white king is stuck in the corner, unable to help the
pawns advance. The attempt to activate the monarch with} 60. Ra7+ {allows the
black king to get active. After} Kg6 61. f7 {Black has time to get the knight
back and win the f-pawn as in} Nf2+ 62. Kg2 Nd3+ 63. Kf3 Rf2+ 64. Ke4 Rxf7 {.})
({The engine also shows that the cold-blooded} 55... Re1+ 56. Kg2 Re2+ {
saves the game. It looks like White is being invited to have the king join the
game, but after} 57. Kf3 Re6 $1 58. Rg7+ Kh8 {the point is that the f-pawn
can't advance without loss, and if} 59. Rg6 Nf7 60. Kf4 Re5 {Black has just
enough counterplay with the a-pawn, or against the h-pawn, to hold the game
with perfect defense. Of course this is a tall ask over-the-board.}) 56. Rg7+
Kh8 57. f7 {After winning Black's knight, White went on to win the game
shortly after.} Nxf7 58. Rxf7 Re4 59. h5 Kg8 60. Rf5 Rh4 61. Kg2 Kh7 62. Rf7+
Kg8 63. Rf5 Kh7 64. Kg3 Rh1 65. Ra5 Rf1 66. Ra7+ {Despite having just equality
throughout the game, Durarbayli never lost hope and kept trying to find ways
to change the balance. It doesn't always succeed, but learning to exploit
small advantages is important if you want to become a better player.} 1-0

[Event "Cherry Blossom Classic"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Antipov, Mikhail"]
[Black "Matviishen, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Foisor"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2k1/pbrnqpp1/1p2p2p/8/3PP3/PB2RN1P/4QPP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#] This position resulted from a Semi-Tarrasch, where White has a
comfortable position with more space, but Black tries to prove that it's hard
for White to further improve. I find White's position easier to play, as even
a small inaccuracy gives White the initiative. Here Antipov correctly plays
the thematic} 20. d5 $1 {Well-timed, restricting the black pieces as White
threatens d5-d6. This game is worth analyzing as it shows how White's
positional advantages transform into a kingside attack. Black plays natural
moves, but is helpless to thwart White's initiative.} Nc5 21. Ba2 Ba6 22. Qd2
exd5 $2 {The capture on d5 should be avoided as now White quickly infiltrates
on the opened e-file.} ({Nearly forced was} 22... Qe8 {, when White makes slow
progress with} 23. Qd4 Rcd7 24. Qc3 Bb7 25. Ne5 Rd6 26. Nc4 R6d7 27. Rde1 {.})
23. exd5 Qf6 24. Ne5 Re7 ({If} 24... Qd6 25. Rde1 {with a big edge.}) 25. Nc6
Rxe3 26. Qxe3 Rd6 $4 {Abandoning the back rank leads to real problems. Black
had to keep the eighth covered with} (26... Ra8 {(or 26...Rf8), but White's
advantage continues after} 27. d6 Bb5 28. Ne5 {.}) 27. Qe8+ Kh7 28. Ne7 h5 29.
Bb1+ $6 ({The direct} 29. Qg8+ {leads to a win after} Kh6 30. Qh8+ Kg5 31. f4+
Qxf4 32. Qxg7+ Rg6 33. h4+ Qxh4 34. Qe5+ Kh6 35. Nf5+) 29... g6 30. Re1 {
White dominates the board, in no small part because of the ugly rook on d6.}
Rd7 ({If} 30... Qg7 31. Nf5 $1 gxf5 32. Bxf5+ Kh6 33. h4 $1 {and Black must
shed material with Qe8-e3+ threatened.}) 31. d6 $6 {Unnecessary. White just
needed to fuel his attack with} (31. Re3 {.}) 31... Bb5 $2 {This makes it
easier for White, but the game is lost anyway.} ({A sterner test is} 31... Bd3
{, as after} 32. Bxd3 Nxd3 33. Re2 Nf4 34. Re4 Rxd6 35. Qg8+ Kh6 36. Qf8+ Kh7 {
White needs to find} 37. Ng8 $1 {in time pressure. The threat is 38.Qg8+ Kxg8
39.Re8#.}) 32. a4 $6 {Giving Black a chance to make White work for the point.}
({The easiest way was} 32. Re5 Bd3 ({or} 32... Nd3 33. Bxd3 Bxd3 34. f4 {
and wins}) 33. Rxc5 bxc5 34. Qxd7 Bxb1 35. Nd5 {when the d-pawn moves quickly.}
) 32... Bxa4 ({After} 32... Bd3 {White has to find the win in the above note.})
33. Re5 Bd1 34. Rf5 Rxe7 35. Qxe7 {A pure example of domination.} 1-0

[Event "U.S. Cadet Ch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Zhao, Erick"]
[Black "Chen, Ryo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B60"]
[WhiteElo "2403"]
[BlackElo "2435"]
[Annotator "Zhao"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 a6 {I had fully
been expecting the move 6. ...e6, and had prepared for in the short time we
had between pairings being announced and the first round. Surprise! So I
continued with ideas I knew from my preparation.} 7. Qd2 Qb6 8. Nb3 e6 9. O-O-O
Qc7 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6 $5 {Part of what I took from my preparation was that
the main ideas in these kinds of positions were Bc1-g5, f2-f4, and then Bg5xf6
followed by Bf1-d3 and f4-f5. That's what I tried here, but of course there
are quite a few other ideas that work just as well.} ({I think} 11. Kb1 $1 {
might be best, as after} b4 12. Bxf6 {White will play Nc3-e2-d4 and the king
is comfortable on b1.}) ({White can also try} 11. a3 $5 {to make the ...b5-b4
push less effective. After} Rb8 12. Be2 Be7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 $1 14. Qxd6 Qb6 15.
Qd3 Be7 16. e5 {I think White is a bit better.}) 11... gxf6 12. Bd3 b4 13. Ne2
Bd7 14. f5 $6 {A bit hasty. I should have prepared this by moving my king to
safety with} (14. Kb1) 14... e5 $6 15. Bc4 $2 {[#]} Nd4 $1 {I missed the point
of this move: now if} 16. Bd3 (16. Bd5 $4 Bh6 {wins.}) ({I also thought about} 
16. Qd3 {for a little bit, but Black has a brilliant attacking response:} d5 $1
17. exd5 ({I considered sacrificing material with} 17. Bxd5 Bb5 18. Nexd4 Bxd3
19. Bxa8 {, but after} Bc4 $1 {White is busted}) 17... Bxf5 18. Nbxd4 Bxd3 {
and Black is winning.}) (16. Nexd4 Qxc4 17. Ne2 a5 {is also unpleasant for
White.}) 16... Nxb3+ 17. axb3 a5 18. Bc4 Bc6 19. Bd5 Rc8 $6 {This allows me to
create counterchances. Black should have played} (19... Ke7 $1 {as it takes a
long time to manuever the white knight to e3, and Black has clear ideas of ...
a5-a4, ...h7-h5, and ...Bf8-h6.}) 20. c4 $1 {He can't take it: if} a4 $6 (20...
bxc3 {e.p.} 21. Nxc3 $1 {my king is very safe and I control the d5-square.})
21. Kc2 ({It looks a little scary, but} 21. Qxb4 $1 {is honestly just a free
pawn. Black's counterplay dries up after} axb3 ({or} 21... Bh6+ 22. Kb1 Bxd5
23. Rxd5 axb3 24. Nc3 {with a significant advantage}) 22. Nc3 Bh6+ 23. Kb1 O-O
24. Qxb3 {.}) 21... axb3+ $6 {Not needed yet. Perhaps Black should activate
another piece with} (21... Rg8 $1 22. Ng3 h5 $1 {and now if} 23. Nxh5 {Black
plays} Ke7 24. Ng3 axb3+ 25. Kxb3 Bh6 $1 {with excellent compensation.}) 22.
Kxb3 Bh6 23. Bxc6+ Qxc6 24. Qd5 Ke7 25. Qxc6 Rxc6 26. Kxb4 Rb6+ 27. Kc3 Rg8 28.
g3 Rg4 {[#]} 29. Kd3 $2 ({With both of us in time pressure, we both missed} 29.
Rhe1 $1 {, which saves the e-pawn. If} Rxe4 30. Nf4 $18 {and wins. Now we both
started making errors.}) 29... Rxb2 30. Nc3 Kf8 $6 31. Nd5 $6 ({I only
belatedly realized that} 31. Nb5 $1 {wins the d-pawn after} Ke7 32. Kc3 Rf2 33.
Nxd6 {.}) 31... Bg5 32. Nc3 h5 33. Nb5 h4 34. Kc3 {Where to move the rook?} Re2
$6 ({Here} 34... Rf2 $1 {is correct, but it's not immediately clear why. But
after} 35. Rxd6 Be3 {we see the point - with the rook on e2, White would have
Kc3-d3.}) 35. gxh4 $6 ({White is winning after} 35. Nxd6 hxg3 36. hxg3 Rxg3+
37. Kb4 {.}) 35... Be3 36. Kd3 Rgg2 37. Rhe1 Rxe1 38. Rxe1 Bc5 39. Re2 Rg4 40.
Nc3 Rxh4 41. Rg2 Rh3+ 42. Kc2 Bd4 $6 ({The position is equal after} 42... Be3 {
.}) 43. Nd5 Ra3 44. Kd1 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Rc1 46. Nxf6 Rc2+ 47. Kf3 Rc3+ 48. Kg4
Rxc4 49. Kh5 Ke7 50. Nd5+ Kf8 51. Kh6 Rc1 52. Kh7 Rg1 53. Rxg1 $2 {It was a
lot easier if I had just kept the rooks on the board. However, with just one
minute left on my clock, I felt that this endgame was something I could win.
In what follows there are a lot of msitakes for both sides, but I was
eventually able to bring home the point.} Bxg1 54. h3 Bh2 55. Kh6 Bf4+ 56. Kh5
Bd2 57. f6 Kg8 58. Ne7+ Kf8 59. Kg4 Bc1 60. h4 Bd2 $4 61. h5 Bc1 62. Kf5 $2 Bd2
63. Kg4 Bc1 64. Nf5 Ba3 65. Kf3 Bc1 66. Kg4 Ba3 67. Kh4 Bb4 68. Ne3 Bd2 69. Ng4
Bf4 70. Kh3 Kg8 71. Kg2 d5 72. exd5 e4 73. Nf2 e3 74. Ng4 Bg5 75. d6 Bf4 76. d7
Bc7 77. Nxe3 Kh7 78. Ng4 1-0

[Event "U.S. Cadet Ch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2023.06.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adewumi, Tanitoluwa"]
[Black "Zhao, Erick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2393"]
[BlackElo "2403"]
[Annotator "Zhao"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Bd3 b6 $5 {An interesting idea I
prepared before the round.} ({The main line is} 5... g6 6. Bc2 Bg7 7. d4 O-O 8.
O-O e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 {but I wanted to try to something different.}) 6. O-O Bb7
7. Re1 Rc8 8. Bc2 Qc7 $1 9. a4 ({Now} 9. d4 $2 {is not possible as White can't
recapture after} cxd4 $1 {.}) 9... a6 10. Na3 e6 11. d3 Be7 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rc1
Rfe8 14. Qe2 Bc6 $6 {This move feels unnecessary, as the a6-pawn is undefended,
and it limits the scope of my bishop. But I wanted to try to play ...b6-b5.
Instead} ({I think} 14... e5 $1 {is better, as stopping d3-d4 is necessary.})
15. d4 $1 Qb7 16. Bd3 Ra8 {[#]} ({Here I considered} 16... b5 {, but it just
loses a pawn without much compensation after} 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19.
Qxb5 Qxb5 20. Nxb5 {.}) 17. Nd2 $6 ({White likely passed up} 17. e5 $1 {
over fears of ...Bc6xf3, but the white bishops are quite strong after} Bxf3 (
17... dxe5 18. dxe5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nd5 20. Bd2 {is better for White}) 18. gxf3
dxe5 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Be4 Qa7 21. Bxa8 Qxa8 {. White has an advantage, but
Black is not without a bit of compensation for the Exchange.}) 17... Nf8 18. e5
dxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Qg4 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 Bxa4 22. Ne4 Qe7 23. Qg4 {White's idea
is Ne4-f6+, and the queen also 'looks' at the undefended a4-bishop.} Red8 24.
Nd6 Bc6 25. Qg3 Ng6 $6 ({After} 25... f5 $1 {Black is a pawn up in a
comfortable position. If} 26. b4 Ng6 27. Nac4 cxb4 28. cxb4 Nxb4 {and Black is
a bit better.}) 26. Nac4 Rab8 27. Ra1 b5 $6 {Allowing Nc4-a5 gives White a lot
of play.} ({Instead} 27... a5 {is a lot less weakening.}) 28. Na5 Ba8 29. Bxg6
hxg6 30. Nb3 $1 {Both the a6- and c5-pawns are attacked.} Qa7 31. Re4 $6 ({
During the game,} 31. Ne4 {annoyed me. If I protect the c-pawn, then White has
ideas of Ne4-g5 and Qg3-h4. After} Ne7 32. Nbxc5 {Black no longer has any
advantage, and White is the one who can think of playing for the win.}) 31...
c4 ({I could have unbalanced the game with} 31... Nxc3 $1 32. bxc3 Bxe4 33.
Nxe4 c4 34. Nbd2 $1 (34. Nd4 $2 {loses to} Rxd4 35. cxd4 Qxd4 36. Re1 b4) 34...
Rd3 {. Here White's two knights are good, but my rooks can become active.
Black has to play to push the queenside pawns, while White can pressure the
king with Qg3-h4, Ne4-g5, and Qh4-h7+.}) 32. Nd4 $2 {[#] Now the tactics start
to work in Black's favor. Note that 32. Nd2 prevents Black's ideas.} Nxc3 $1
33. Rh4 $1 Qxd4 $1 34. bxc3 ({If} 34. Qh3 Ne2+ $1 35. Kf1 Bxg2+ $1 36. Kxg2
Nf4+ {, and}) (34. Rxd4 Ne2+ {is a clean win.}) 34... Qd2 $6 (34... Qd3 {
stops Qg3-h3, but after} 35. Qf4 {Black has to find} Rxd6 36. exd6 Qxc3 37. Rc1
{The alternative} Qf6 {with good winning chances.}) 35. f4 $2 {The final
mistake.} ({I think} 35. Qh3 {leads to a draw} Kf8 36. Rg4 {and Black has to
stop the queen from getting to the back rank with} Qh6 {but now the position
will repeat after} 37. Rh4 Qd2 {.}) 35... b4 36. Qh3 Kf8 37. Nxc4 Qxc3 38. Rh8+
Ke7 39. Qh4+ f6 40. exf6+ Qxf6 41. Rxd8 Qxh4 42. Rxb8 Qxf4 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.05"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "11.1 Svidler, P."]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B95"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/2q1bp2/p3p1p1/1p1bP1Bp/2p4P/P2BQ1R1/1PP2PP1/1K1R4 w - - 0 23"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,53,27,29,63,44,91,79,91,59,59,27,76,67,107,60,49,15,-11,-15,-1,-1,47,
44,41,23,12,6,55,42,42,27,40,-11,-20,-28,-9,-20,31,-5,-9,4,4,4,0,-24,90,9,9,9,
9,50,133,211,61,297] [#]} 23. Bxg6 $1 ({The move order is important. If White
first captures on e7,} 23. Bxe7 {, then} cxd3 $1 {wins for Black.}) 23... fxg6
24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Rxg6+ {Now the hole down to Black's king is the size of a
crater.} Kh8 26. Rh6+ Kg7 ({Or} 26... Kg8 27. Qg3+ Qg7 (27... Kf7 28. Qg6# {
is obviously worse}) 28. Rg6 {and White wins.}) 27. Rxh5 {Black resigned.} ({
The threat is 28.Qg3+ Kf7 29.Rh7+ and if} 27. Rxh5 Kg6 {, then} 28. Rh6+ Kg7
29. Rd4 {and Black is done.}) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "11.2 Carlsen, M."]
[Black "Pantsulaia, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2564"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1k1r/p4pb1/6q1/1pp2Npp/3n4/P2Q3P/1P3PPB/3RR2K w - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,27,-9,8,32,44,23,42,49,26,15,128,72,88,85,107,73,84,74,74,15,69,51,
150,16,120,7,7,17,36,36,36,11,9,-10,-10,-21,20,-8,-9,-21,0,-33,4,-55,-59,-59,0,
-63,0,104,36,19,19,-23,305,238,29991,29992] [#]} 28. Bc7 $1 ({The world #1
hits the back rank defender. This is much stronger than} 28. Qe4 Bf6 29. Be5
Kg8 30. Ne7+ Bxe7 31. Qxg6+ fxg6 32. Bxh8 {which, of course, also should win.})
28... Rd7 ({It was relatively better to play} 28... Bf6 {, but giving White
the exchange while entering an endgame is not your path to success against
Carlsen.}) 29. Re8+ $1 {Boom! Black resigned as White forces mate. The
conclusion would have been} (29. Re8+ Kxe8 30. Qe4+ Ne6 31. Qa8+ Nd8 32. Qxd8+
Rxd8 33. Rxd8# {Practice your mating puzzles!}) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "11.3 Janik, Igor"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, L."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r4k1/p4ppp/8/8/q1p1r3/P1RnBQP1/1P5P/5RK1 b - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,64,32,34,34,19,19,-11,27,-78,-3,-24,10,-19,38,13,47,-21,57,-18,317,
311,113,77,78,54,48,-4,-6,-36,-8,-12,28,-96,-66,-52,-32,-94,-35,-41,-41,-75,
-66,-68,-73,-91,-85,-99,-69,-78,-81,-72,-97,-55,-55,-217,-163,-218,-204,-239,
-221,-278,-258,-341,-278,-338,-364] [#]} 28... Qe8 $1 {Black simultaneously
pushes the bishop and guards the f7-pawn.} 29. Bc1 Rb6 $1 {The strongest move,
although it should be said that both 28...Re1 and 28...Nxc1 also would offer
Black winning positions. The immediate threat is 30...Rf6.} 30. Qh5 ({White is
without good option, for instance,} 30. Rxc4 Rxc4 31. Qxd3 Rc8 {is hopeless
for White because the white king will never be safe and}) (30. h4 {is met by}
Rf6 31. Bf4 h6 32. Rc2 Nxf4 33. gxf4 Re3 34. Qf2 Rg6+ 35. Kh2 Qe6 {and White's
king is toast.}) 30... h6 {There is no need to rush, as Black slowly shoves
White over the edge.} 31. Qd5 Rb5 32. Qd6 Nxc1 ({and White resigned. A
possible continuation was} 32... Nxc1 33. Rcxc1 Rxb2 34. Qc5 Ree2 {and it is
game over.}) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.22"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "11.4 Abasov, N."]
[Black "Caruana, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2rk/1p3ppn/1np1p2p/p3P3/Pq1PBP2/2N1Q1R1/1P3P1P/6RK w - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,51,39,63,0,5,13,-1,0,-33,-5,-5,27,-27,16,-40,-1,-6,-2,-10,-25,-7,0,0,
11,-12,0,-5,13,17,10,-15,8,1,-1,14,19,29,27,-3,34,35,67,20,119,47,47,1,22,57,
49,3,112,112] [#]} 24. Bxh7 $1 {It is hard to imagine at first glance, but
this game only lasts two more moves before the former world champion
challenger resigns. The knight on h7 is an essential defender, and, at the
same time, White needs the e4-square for another piece.} Kxh7 25. Ne4 $1 {
Yes, that's the guy who is needed in the attack. The immediate threat is Ng5+.}
Qe7 ({If} 25... Kh8 {, then} 26. f5 Qxd4 27. Qxd4 Rxd4 28. Nf6 exf5 29. Nxg8
Kxg8 30. Rxg7+ {and White easily wins the endgame.}) 26. f5 {Black resigned.
The immediate threat is 27.f6, and if} (26. f5 exf5 {, then White forces mate
with} 27. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 ({or} 27... gxf6 28. Qxh6+ Kxh6 29. Rh3#) 28. Qxh6+ $1
gxh6 29. Rxg8+ Rxg8 30. Rxg8# {. No wonder Caruana had enough.}) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.06"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "11.5 Sarana, A."]
[Black "Shevchenko, Kirill"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/1Rnkpp1p/6p1/r7/p2P4/2N5/P2K1PPP/7R w - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,51,27,32,32,13,66,42,56,36,59,76,54,56,53,61,60,55,28,5,39,23,59,41,
43,46,62,46,46,46,45,43,54,56,56,56,76,85,85,85,85,85,241,241,234,244,244,242,
282,287,330,352,453,433] [#]} 21. Rhb1 $1 {White prepares Nb5 and rather
amazingly, Black has no defense against the pin on c7.} Rc8 ({Black doesn't
have any good options, for instance,} 21... Kc6 22. R1b6+ Kd7 23. Nb5 Rc8 24.
Na7 Ra8 25. Rc6 {when} R8xa7 {is met by} 26. Rcxc7+ {, winning the rook}) ({or
} 21... Ra6 22. Nb5 Rc6 23. Na7 Rc4 ({also} 23... Rf6 24. Rc1 {ends Black's
resistance.}) 24. Kd3 {, and the rook is out of squares.}) 22. Nb5 a3 23. Na7
$1 Rxa7 ({Desperation, but} 23... Ra8 24. Rc1 {is similar to above.}) 24. Rxa7
Kc6 25. Rxa3 Rd8 26. Rc3+ {and Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "11.6 Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Berkes, F."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2p2pk1/3b2p1/2Np1b1p/1P1Pn3/4P3/3NqPPP/2Q1B1K1 b - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,60,27,27,27,3,13,15,40,1,13,-22,-30,-98,36,20,31,-32,-23,-9,-8,4,4,4,
28,-2,61,32,7,7,7,20,13,9,41,45,33,29,36,7,15,21,27,27,27,33,3,3,6,-28,59,-7,
30,14,14,-55,-156,-184,-246,-474,-472,-1542,-29988] [#]} 26... Ng5 $3 {An
unbelievably nasty move that threatens 27...Nh3+ 28.gxh3 Bxh3 with mate to
follow.} 27. e4 ({Desperation, but White is without a defense, for instance,} 
27. h4 Nh3+ 28. Kh1 Bg4 $1 (28... Nxf2+ {obviously also wins, but White cannot
move so why not improve the position of the pieces?}) 29. Nb7 Bxb4 30. gxh3 ({
or} 30. f3 Qxe3 31. Bg3 Bxd2 {and curtains.}) 30... Bxd2 31. Qxd2 Qf3+ 32. Kg1
Bxh3 {with mate next move.}) 27... Nh3+ ({Or} 27... Bh3 28. gxh3 Nxh3+ 29. Kg2
Qg4+ 30. Kf1 Nf4 {with mate.}) 28. Kh1 dxe4 29. gxh3 e3 {One of several
winning moves; this move forces mate.} 30. Kg1 Bxh3 {and White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "11.7 Lagarde, Max"]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "2599"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b2rk1/pp2bppp/1qp3n1/3p3P/4PP2/2NQ4/PPP1B1P1/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 12"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,74,27,22,17,17,33,17,17,35,70,91,90,63,60,59,67,67,49,49,60,25,28,25,
7,-11,23,44,26,32,-21,-70,-70,-162,-118,-118,-126,-126,-105,-105,-138,-128,-99,
-276,-272,-271,-337,-341,-350,-361,-349,-334,-334,-334,-334,-384,-334,-334,
-282,-313,-312,-312,-273,-210,-372,-371,-371,-351,-294,-305,-283,-354,-316,
-371,-384,-29995,-29996] [#]} 12... dxe4 $1 {This is the beginning of an
amzing firestorm unleashed by the Indian youngster on his unsuspecting victim.}
13. Qg3 ({If} 13. Qe3 {, then} Bc5 14. Qxe4 Nh4 $1 {(the knight cannot be
captured because of ...Bf2+)} 15. Na4 Qa5+ 16. Bd2 Nxg2+ {with a decisive
advantage for Black.}) 13... Nh4 $1 14. Rxh4 Qg1+ 15. Bf1 e3 {Boom!!!} 16. Nd1
({Of course, the pawn cannot be captured,} 16. Bxe3 Bxh4 {and Black wins.})
16... Re8 {Again stopping Bxe3 on account of ...Bxh4.} 17. Ke2 Be6 $5 ({
Threatening nasty things on c4. However, here, Black could possibly have
improved with} 17... Bxh4 18. Qxh4 b6 $1 19. f5 Ba6+ 20. c4 Re5 21. Nxe3 Rae8 {
with a clear advantage for Black, but there is obviously a lot left to play
for.}) 18. b3 $4 ({The French grandmaster collapses. It was necessary to play} 
18. f5 Bxh4 19. Qxh4 Bd5 20. Nxe3 Re4 21. Qf2 Bc4+ 22. Ke1 Qh1 23. g3 Rae8 24.
Qg2 Qxh5 25. Bxc4 Rxc4 {and Black has a clear advantage but White continues to
fight.}) 18... Rad8 19. Nxe3 Bf6 (19... Bxh4 {also wins.}) 20. Rb1 Bf5 21. Qf2
({Or} 21. Bb2 Bxb2 22. Rxb2 Rd4 23. b4 Be6 24. Kf3 Bd5+ 25. Nxd5 Qxf1+ 26. Kg4
f5+ 27. Kh3 cxd5 {and White will not survive.}) 21... Bxh4 22. Qxh4 Bxc2 23.
Qxd8 Rxd8 24. Nxc2 Qc5 {and Black had a winning position, which eventually was
converted.} 25. Ne3 Re8 26. Kf3 Qd4 27. Ke2 Qc5 28. Kf3 Qxh5+ 29. g4 Qh1+ 30.
Kg3 Re6 31. Bd2 h5 32. gxh5 Qxh5 33. Re1 Rg6+ 34. Kf2 Qh4+ 35. Kf3 Qg3+ 36. Ke4
Rd6 37. Re2 f5+ {and White resigned.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.04"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "11.8 Ivanisevic, I."]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2536"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1kr4r/pb6/1p2p2p/5pp1/P1PP2n1/qPQ3PR/6P1/1K2RBB1 b - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,20,27,27,27,18,27,73,39,55,11,53,35,28,25,56,51,28,26,26,20,54,18,
114,1,1,-6,-6,-22,-6,-6,-6,-4,0,-17,-13,-13,-20,-24,-7,-72,-85,-85,-74,-74,-52,
-63,-39,-84,-59,-52,-50,-65,-48,-50,-69,-115,-1,2,-4,-4,5,-195,-200,-367,-325,
-324,-314,-352,-367,-356,-309,-363,-349,-271,-336,-411,-496,-740,-824,-852,
-801,-858,-868] [#]} 28... Be4+ ({Best! In the game, the Webster University
head coach won after} 28... e5 29. dxe5 Rhd8 30. Bd3 Bxg2 31. Bxf5 ({or} 31.
Rh5 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Be4 33. Rxe4 fxe4 34. Qd6+ Qxd6 35. exd6 Rf8 {and Black wins}
) 31... Bxh3 32. e6 $4 Rf8 ({the amazing} 32... Ne3 $3 {would have been even
better, e.g.,} 33. Bxh3 Nxc4 {, threatening ...Nd2+}) 33. Bc2 Rc7 $2 (33... Qd6
$1) 34. Bd4 $2 (34. c5 $5) 34... Bg2 35. Qd2 Qd6 36. a5 Rd8 37. axb6 axb6 38.
Rd1 Bf3 39. Be5 Qxd2 40. Rxd2 Rxd2 41. e7 Bc6 {and White resigned.}) 29. Bd3 ({
It would probably have been better to play} 29. Rxe4 {, but after} fxe4 30. Be2
Rhf8 31. Be3 Nxe3 32. Qxe3 Rf6 {, Black is winning easily.}) 29... Rxc4 $3 {
Boom!} 30. Qxc4 Rc8 {Black gives up two rooks for the queen, but the rook on
h3 and the bishop on g1 are not participating in the game.} 31. Qxc8+ Kxc8 32.
Rc1+ Kd7 33. Rc3 Bxd3+ 34. Rxd3 Qb4 {and Black wins.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.19"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "11.9 Carlsen, M."]
[Black "Abasov, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Hansen"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b5/pk3q2/2p1r2p/2p1B2R/2P5/1P1P4/P1K4Q/8 b - - 0 34"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,85,24,27,53,53,42,43,37,55,33,2,31,-43,-14,-15,-4,-6,-13,-70,-77,-111,
-73,-93,-62,-77,-37,-118,-54,-122,-56,-108,-109,-198,-49,-71,-49,-41,-41,-52,
-10,-10,1,29,29,-59,11,-15,20,20,20,1,1,0,46,-3,70,72,59,75,87,63,42,42,42,42,
35,11,35,-196,89,-69,140,94,98,119,160,183,265,77,177,0,190,190,306,242,329,
329] [#]} 34... Qf1 $3 ({After having been on the heels the entire game, Black
misses his chance after an uncharacteristic slip by Carlsen, and this one
could have been costly. The game continued} 34... Rg6 $4 35. Bf4 Rf6 36. Be3
Bf5 37. Bxc5 Qg6 38. Kc3 $2 (38. Kb2 $1 {was much better}) 38... Re6 (38... Qe8
$5 {would have been a better chance}) 39. Rh4 Bg4 40. Bxa7 $4 ({another miss
by Carlsen, after} 40. Qf4 {, White would have kept his advantage}) 40... Qf6+
$4 ({Black could have saved himself with} 40... Qg7+ $1 41. Bd4 Qg5 $1 {
, threatening a check on c1.}) 41. Kb4 Re5 42. d4 Qe7+ 43. c5 {and Black
resigned.}) 35. Qd2 ({Nothing works for White, for instance,} 35. Rxh6 Rxh6 36.
Qxh6 Qe2+ {, winning the bishop on e5 or}) (35. Kc3 Rg6 {, and White cannot
stop the penetration in White's position.}) 35... Rg6 36. Rh2 Rg1 $1 {Complete
penetration of White's back ranks.} 37. Bb2 Qb1+ 38. Kc3 Bf5 39. Rf2 Rd1 {
and it would have been game over for the eventual winner of the World Cup.} 1-0

[Event "U.S. Senior ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.15"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Khachiyan, Melikset"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2462"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 {A wise decision, Khachiyan
grabs space against his higher-rated opponent.} Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 7. a3 b6 8. Be3
Bb7 9. f3 Be7 10. Rc1 {Melik chooses the classical set up. He probably wasn't
aware that these days people go for:} (10. Qd2 d6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Rc1 Nbd7 13.
g4 $1 {Engines scream an advantage for White here, aiming for a Scheveningen
with the pawn on c4!}) 10... O-O 11. Be2 d6 12. O-O ({With} 12. Qd2 {he could
still try the same setup! For example,} Nbd7 (12... Re8) 13. g4 Qd8 ({or} 13...
Rfc8 14. g5 Ne8 15. h4) 14. g5 Nh5 {and now the very modern} 15. Kd1 $1 {.})
12... Nbd7 13. b4 Rac8 14. Qd2 Qb8 15. Rfd1 Rfe8 16. Bf1 {[#] Thematic. White
clears the e-file to make sure ...d6-d5 does not offer extra tactical
resources to Black.} Ne5 {There was a time that ...Kg8-h8 followed by ...
Re8-g8 and ...g7-g5 was considered a thing. We see these ideas on Fischer -
Andersson (with reversed colors; Fischer began with 1.b3) and Taimanov -
Yusupov. I studied both games in one of Dvortesky's books, but sadly, the
engines brutally refute the plan today!} 17. Na4 Ba8 18. Nb3 $6 ({White
understandably missed} 18. Nxb6 $5 {, which is a 2700+ idea. After} Qxb6 19.
Nf5 Qc7 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Qxd6 Nd5 22. Qxe7 Nxe7 23. c5 {one needs to
correctly evaluate this piece-down position as better for White on top of
accurately calculating the lines. A tough road to travel!}) 18... Nxc4 19. Bxc4
b5 20. Nb6 bxc4 21. Nxc8 ({Alternatively,} 21. Na5 d5 22. Nxc8 Rxc8 23. exd5
exd5 {leads to a similar balance.}) 21... Rxc8 22. Nd4 ({Here} 22. Na5 {
was better.}) 22... d5 23. Bf4 $1 {A concrete way to maintain the balance.} ({
After} 23. exd5 {Khachiyan realized that Black has the option of} Nxd5 {.})
23... e5 $6 {This is a bluff.} 24. Nf5 $6 {Khachiyan responds with the obvious
move, but after} (24. Bg3 g6 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Ne2 a5 27. Nc3 Nxc3 28. Qxc3
axb4 29. axb4 Qb6+ 30. Bf2 Qb5 31. Be3 Bxb4 32. Rb1 Bxc3 33. Rxb5 {Black's
problems remain.}) 24... Bf8 25. Bg5 dxe4 26. Bxf6 Qb6+ 27. Qe3 Qxf6 28. fxe4
a5 29. Qh3 $1 {Another accurate move by Melik to maintain the balance.} Qe6 $2
{[#] An unfortunate blunder.} 30. Nd6 $1 {Trading the queens is forced.} Qxh3
31. gxh3 Bxd6 32. Rxd6 g6 33. Rcd1 $1 {Classical play by Khachiyan, showing
perfect judgement. White has to trade the rooks. The rest is not just a matter
of technique -- it's more basic than that.} Rf8 34. Rd8 Bxe4 35. bxa5 Bb7 36.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Rd7 Ba6 38. Rd6 1-0

[Event "U.S. Senior ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.21"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 {Dlugy plays London almost exclusively for as long as I
remember. He also had success at employing the sidelines of London with.} c5 3.
dxc5 {Objectively not the best move.} Na6 {Provocative.} ({Sufficient for a
draw is} 3... e6 {, as seen in last year's event:} 4. Bd6 Bxd6 5. Qxd6 (5. cxd6
Qb6 6. b3 Ne4 7. e3 Qxd6 8. Qxd6 Nxd6 9. c4 {is equal}) 5... Qe7 (5... Na6 6.
Nc3 Qe7 {transposes.}) 6. Nc3 Na6 7. Nb5 Ne4 (7... Kf8 $5) 8. Qxe7+ Kxe7 9. f3
Nexc5 10. e4 Nb4 {as in Dlugy-D. Gurevich, Saint Louis 2022.}) 4. e4 Nxe4 5.
Bxa6 Qa5+ 6. b4 Qxa6 {The position is equal, but there are imbalances all over
the board.} 7. Qd4 d5 $6 (7... Qf6 $5 {is one idea, while}) (7... Nf6 8. c4 d6
9. cxd6 Be6 10. Nd2 exd6 {is more to the point for Black, focusing on the two
bishops.}) 8. Ne2 e6 9. Nbc3 $6 ({Here} 9. f3 Nf6 10. a4 {would give White a
pleasant advantage.}) 9... Nxc3 10. Nxc3 f6 $1 {[#]} 11. Qd3 $2 {A serious
error, almost losing on the spot.} ({White needed to play} 11. a4 {, when a
lot of interesting ideas pour into the position. I just put together one a few
sample lines for you as entertainment, but you should consider analyzing this
without an engine for fun.} e5 12. Qxd5 exf4 ({or} 12... Be6 13. Qe4 O-O-O ({
not} 13... exf4 14. b5 $18 {with a tremendous position}) 14. Be3 Qc4 15. Qxc4
Bxc4 16. a5 f5 17. Bd2 $1 {and White castles queenside with an edge}) 13. Nb5 (
{White is worse after} 13. O-O-O Be6 14. Rhe1 Kf7) 13... Be6 14. Nc7+ Kf7 15.
Qe4 f5 16. Qe5 Qc4 17. O-O-O {and now only} f3 $1 {keeps Black in the game.
What a mess!}) ({White is worse after} 11. O-O-O Qc6 {.}) 11... Qxd3 12. cxd3
a5 $1 {A smart lever.} 13. Na4 axb4 $1 {This is the key point - Black
demolishes White's barricade.} 14. Nb6 Ra6 15. Nxc8 Bxc5 16. Rc1 b6 17. Nd6+ ({
I think} 17. d4 Bxd4 18. Rc7 {was a better practical decision.}) 17... Kd7 18.
Nb7 Rc8 ({Now} 18... e5 {was probably more accurate, and Black is better after}
19. Rxc5 exf4 20. O-O Rxa2 21. Rxd5+ Kc6 22. Rd4 b3 23. Nd6 b5 {.}) 19. Nxc5+
bxc5 20. Rc2 c4 {[#]} 21. Rb2 $2 {Tatamount to resignation.} ({After} 21. Bc1
$3 {I was surprised that I couldn't find a clear win. For example,} {(b)} cxd3
({(a)} 21... c3 22. d4 Kc6 23. Ke2 e5 24. dxe5 fxe5 25. f3 Rca8 26. a3 Kb5 27.
Kd3 bxa3 28. Bg5 a2 29. Ra1 d4 30. Re2 {is what a GM would play 'by hand,' or
by intuition, but as you can see this is not winning at all.}) 22. Rxc8 Kxc8
23. Kd2 Rxa2+ 24. Kxd3 {and now} Rxf2 {is the best try. The position after} 25.
Rg1 {is harder to hold, but I still don't see how Black wins.}) 21... e5 22.
Bc1 cxd3 23. Kd1 Rac6 24. Bd2 Rc2 25. Rxc2 Rxc2 26. Bxb4 Rxf2 27. Bd2 Rxg2 28.
a4 Rg4 29. a5 Ra4 30. Rg1 g5 31. Rg3 Ra1+ 32. Bc1 e4 33. Kd2 Rxa5 34. Rh3 Ra2+
35. Kd1 Ke6 36. Rxh7 d4 37. Rh3 Rg2 {A neat victory for Akopian, and a
reminder of why he was at a super-GM level at his peak.} 0-1

[Event "U.S. Junior Ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.15"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Liang, Jason"]
[Black "Jacobson, Brandon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2608"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,94,19,38,25,16,14,23,25,-6,9,9,24,-1,13,-24,-15,-26,-6,-11,30,5,-2,9,
15,15,15,15,25,16,15,15,42,10,57,34,32,42,42,19,116,120,97,96,96,96,129,37,50,
50,48,49,58,53,54,78,45,57,57,33,38,-70,42,24,0,0,195,159,0,52,-62,-127,178,
-127,-127,-184,-179,-183,-183,-250,-271,-272,-221,-356,-646,-698,-816,-1232,
-1245,-1270,-533,-533,-575,-624,-625,-625,-678]} {In this game, Brandon
Jacobson demonstrated his strength and obtained a convincing advantage.
However, the game got a bit messy in the technical phase} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 {Brandon's pet line.} 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. h3 Bf8 {Postponing ...g7-g5. Liang goes for a provocative line which
ultimately backfires.} 10. Bg5 ({The loss of tempo with} 10. c4 $5 {actually
makes sense. After} Bd7 11. Be3 {, followed by Nb1-c3 and d3-d4 you have a
solid Maroczy where White has a long-lasting advantage. It would be a choice
of a classical player, but Liang prefers to play for dynamics.}) 10... h6 11.
Bh4 g5 $1 {A must.} 12. Bg3 Bg7 13. Nbd2 b5 14. Bc2 Bb7 $6 {Aiming for the ...
d6-d5 break, but this move weakens the f5-square.} 15. Nf1 Ne7 16. Ne3 Ng6 {[#]
} 17. Nf5 ({The engine thinks a few moves are of equal worth here, but I
believe that} 17. h4 $1 {is best. White has a solid advantage after} g4 18. Nh2
Bc8 19. Nf5 (19. Nhxg4 $6 Nxg4 20. Nxg4 Nxh4 {allows Black practical play with
...Qd8-g5}) 19... h5 20. Nxg7 Kxg7 21. d4 {.}) 17... Ne7 18. Nxg7 ({First} 18.
Ne3 {and then h3-h4 was better, but Liang's mind was already made up.}) 18...
Kxg7 19. h4 $6 {Wrong timing. The h-file only helps Black.} Ng6 20. hxg5 hxg5
21. Nxg5 Rh8 22. Bb3 Rh5 $1 {From here Jacobson is highly accurate, making the
most out of his initiative.} 23. Qd2 $6 ({Liang had to go for chaos with} 23.
Nxf7 Qe7 24. d4 {.}) 23... Qh8 24. Kf1 d5 $1 {Opening lines to White's king.
The weak e5-pawn is unimportant.} 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. f3 Re8 $1 {Preparing ...
Qh8-h6.} ({If} 26... Qh6 {immediately, White is ok after} 27. Bxd5 Bxd5 28. Ne4
Nf4 29. Bxf4 exf4 30. Qf2 {because the rook needs to be on e8 for ...f7-f5 to
work.}) 27. Nh3 ({If} 27. d4 Qh6 28. Bxd5 (28. Ne4 $2 Ndf4 $1) 28... Bxd5 29.
Ne4 Bc4+ 30. Kf2 f5 {and Black will win a piece with ...f5-f4.}) 27... Nde7 28.
Ng1 $2 {This loses by force.} Nf5 29. Bf2 Rh2 $2 {Now begins a series of
mistakes in time pressure.} ({Black could have won a crucial tempo with} 29...
Rh1 30. Ke2 Rh2 $1 {.}) 30. Qg5 $2 ({After} 30. d4 Rh1 31. Qg5 Rh5 32. Qd2 e4 {
the position was still dangerous, but White could fight with} 33. d5 {, and if}
exf3 34. g4 $1 {.}) 30... Bc8 31. d4 f6 32. Qd2 {[#]} Rxg2 $4 ({The engine
gives the somewhat paradoxical} 32... Rd8 $1 33. Re4 Rh1 34. Rg4 Qh2 35. Re1 c5
36. Ree4 c4 37. Bc2 Kf7 {and evaluates the position as -3. I can understand
why Black is winning, but the win itself is not trivial. Perhaps this is
because the position doesn't bear the classical traits of a king attack.}) 33.
Kxg2 Nf4+ 34. Kf1 Qh2 35. Re4 $4 {A slip in a difficult position, but both
players begin to hallucinate!} ({Only} 35. Re2 Qg2+ 36. Ke1 Nxe2 37. Qxe2 $1 {
saves the day; for example,} Ng3 38. Qe3 Nf5 39. Qe2 {with equality.}) 35...
Ng3+ $4 ({The correct} 35... Qg2+ 36. Ke1 Ng3 {wins; if} 37. Bxg3 Qxg1#) 36.
Ke1 $4 {The last mistake, transposing to the line above.} ({White could still
win with three pieces for the queen after} 36. Bxg3 $1 Qxd2 37. Bxf4 Qxb2 38.
Rd1 {.}) 36... Qg2 $1 {Back on track. Now Brandon gets through the time
pressure and finds his way.} 37. Kd1 Nxe4 38. fxe4 Bg4+ 39. Kc1 Qf1+ 40. Be1
exd4 $1 41. Bd1 Nd3+ 42. Kb1 Rxe4 43. Bxg4 Rxe1+ 44. Kc2 Nb4+ 45. Kb3 Qc4+ 46.
Ka3 Rxa1 47. b3 Qxc3 {A messy game indeed! But the position after the opening
was quite dynamic, and the risk of going wrong was high. This time it was
Liang who lost the thread first.} 0-1

[Event "U.S. Junior Ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mishra, Abhimanyu"]
[Black "Guo, Arthur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2591"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
O-O Qd7 9. e3 Rd8 10. Qc2 e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nd2 b5 13. a4 Bb4 14. axb5 Qxb5
15. f4 Nd3 16. Qxc4 {Both players have demonstrated excellent preparation.} Qc5
17. Bc6+ Ke7 18. Qxc5+ Bxc5 19. Nc4 Rb8 20. Rd1 Rhd8 {[#]} 21. Kf1 {Now Kf1-e2
is a threat. Black needs to attack the c4-knight} Kf8 $6 ({Correct is} 21...
Rb4 22. b3 Ng4 (22... Rxb3 $6 23. Ba4 Rc3 24. Na5 Rd6 25. Bd2 Ra3 26. Rxa3 Bxa3
27. Nc4 Rd5 $1 {with a probable draw, eventually}) 23. Ke2 Rxb3 {with dynamic
balance. Black has nothing to worry about after} 24. Bd2 Nb2 25. Rab1 Rdb8 {.})
22. Ke2 Nxc1+ 23. Raxc1 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rb4 25. Kd3 Ng4 26. Rd2 {Now it is a bit
uncomfortable.} Rb8 $6 {And more uncomfortable still.} 27. Ke2 $1 {White
threatens to play e4-e5} Nf6 ({Not} 27... Nxh2 $2 28. Ne5 {.}) 28. e4 Be7 $6 {
Now Black is worse, and the knight goes passive.} ({After} 28... g6 $1 29. e5
Ng8 {the knight re-emerges via the e7-square.}) 29. e5 Ne8 30. Rd7 g6 31. Kd3
Rd8 32. Ne3 Rxd7+ 33. Bxd7 Bc5 {[#]} 34. Nd5 $2 {This gives Black a golden
opportunity to save the day.} ({After} 34. Bxe8 $1 Kxe8 35. g4 c6 36. Ke4 Ke7
37. Nc2 a5 38. Nd4 Kd7 39. b3 {White has good winning chances.}) 34... Bg1 $1
35. h3 Ng7 ({More to the point was} 35... Bh2 36. g4 g5 {.}) 36. g4 c5 $6 37.
f5 $2 {Hasty. With} (37. Ke4 Ne6 38. Bb5 {Black should give up the c-pawn;
else White is winning with Bb5-c4, h2-h4 and f4-f5.}) 37... gxf5 38. gxf5 Bd4
39. b4 Bxe5 40. bxc5 Ne8 41. c6 f6 ({Avoiding} 41... Nc7 $4 42. Nxc7 Bxc7 43.
f6 {and White marches his king to b7.}) 42. Bxe8 Kxe8 43. Kc4 Kd8 44. Kc5 Kc8
45. Kb5 Bb2 46. h4 Be5 47. h5 Bb2 48. Nf4 Bc1 49. Ne6 Be3 50. Nf8 h6 51. Ne6
Kb8 52. Kc4 Kc8 53. Kd5 {[#]} Bd2 $4 {Finally Black breaks under the pressure.}
({The fortress is impenetrable after} 53... a6 $1 54. Kc4 Bf2 55. Kb4 Bb6 {.})
54. Nc5 $1 {Now White has a path.} a5 55. Kc4 Kc7 56. Kb5 Be3 57. Ne6+ Kd6 58.
c7 Kd7 59. Kxa5 Bf4 60. Nxf4 Kxc7 61. Kb5 Kd6 62. Ne6 Ke5 63. Ng7 Kd5 64. Kb6
Kd6 65. Kb7 Kd7 66. Ne6 1-0

[Event "U.S. Junior Ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.18"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Stearman, Josiah"]
[Black "Daggupati, Balaji"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2551"]
[BlackElo "2571"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,82,18,21,44,49,54,29,29,30,21,21,42,18,18,14,14,35,59,5,11,32,51,24,
23,19,82,82,87,98,85,69,69,69,96,-3,43,-40,-17,-173,-178,-175,-180,-181,-194,
-171,-171,-243,-254,-245,-255,-265,-166,-212,-226,-223,-223,-225,-225,-237,
-256,-273,-266,-416,-185,-187,-175,-194,-194,-187,-182,-197,-201,-219,-233,
-212,-203,-631,-653,-657,-684,-722,-782,-791,-791]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 {The Sicilian Four Knights is a new focus of
theoretical debate, highly publicized thanks to games among the world's elite.}
6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 c5 $5 ({The long-time mainline was} 8... Qc7 9.
f4 Qb6 {, but Leela and her colleagues have shown that many other ideas are
playable in this opening.}) 9. a3 $6 {Too passive.} ({White has an edge after} 
9. Bd3 Qc7 10. c4 Nb4 11. Bf4 f5 12. Nd6+ Bxd6 13. exd6 Qb6 14. O-O O-O 15. Re1
$14 {Black needs to play ...Nb4-c6, ...Bc8-b7, ...Ra8-b8, and ...a7-a5.
Capturing on d3 gives White a free hand to open the game. The queenside comes
under pressure (after ...Nb4xd3) with Qd3-c3 and Bf4-e5, forcing ...Rf8-f7 and
thereby cutting the rook off from queenside action.}) 9... Bb7 10. c4 Nb4 11.
axb4 Bxe4 12. b5 a6 $1 {Black has totally equalized.} 13. bxa6 Qb6 14. Qa4 Qb8
15. f4 Be7 16. h4 $6 {I'm not sure what this accomplishes.} ({The alternative} 
16. a7 Qb7 17. Qa6 Qb3 18. Qa3 Qb7 {doesn't offer much either, but White could
at least try Rh1-g1 with g2-g3 or repeat the position.}) 16... f6 17. a7 Qb7
18. Rh3 $2 {[#] Overly optimistic. White misses a key tactical idea.} fxe5 19.
Rb3 Rxa7 $1 20. Rxb7 Bxh4+ 21. Kd1 Rxa4 {White must have forgotten that after
Rb7-b8+, Black simply moves his king and both rooks attack each other!} 22.
Rxa4 Bxb7 {The dust is settled, and Black is winning.} 23. b4 exf4 24. Ra7 Be4
25. b5 Ke7 26. Bxf4 Rf8 27. g3 g5 28. Be3 Rxf1+ 29. Ke2 Rf5 30. gxh4 gxh4 31.
b6 Kd6 32. b7 Kc7 33. b8=R+ Kxb8 34. Rxd7 Rh5 35. Bf4+ Kc8 36. Rd2 h3 37. Ke3
Bg2 38. Kf2 Rf5 39. Kg3 Rxf4 40. Kxf4 h2 41. Rxg2 h1=Q 0-1

[Event "U.S. Girls' Junior Ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.22"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Yip, Carissa"]
[Black "Lee, Alice"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C22"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2461"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qc4 {I couldn't pass over this game. Back
in 2020, during the depths of COVID-19, I discussed this option extensively
with none other than GM Alexander Shabalov! As it turned out, I won with Black
pieces in this line against Shabba's friend, GM Jaan Ehlvest, in the 2021 U.S.
Championship qualifier.} Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. f3 {Both ...
d7-d6 and ...a7-a5 make sense. Black needs to win as many tempi as she can by
taking advantage of White's awkwardly placed queen.} a5 9. g4 {This must have
been Carissa's prep.} ({Ehlvest played} 9. a3 {-- maybe he and Shabalov had
separately discussed this among themselves. It's a move that Ehlvest had used
to defeat Tang earlier, which I only relalized belatedly after the games made
it to the online database.} Ne5 (9... d6 $5 10. Qa2 Be6 11. Bc4 Qd7 12. Nge2
Bc5 13. Bg5 Nb4 $2 14. Qb3 $1 {was seen in Ehlvest-Tang, Chess.com 2020}) 10.
Qa2 d6 11. Bc4 Nxc4 12. Qxc4 Be6 13. Qd3 Nd7 14. axb4 Ne5 15. Qe3 axb4 16. b3
Ra1+ 17. Nb1 Qa8 18. Qd4 c5 {and White resigned in Ehlvest-Moradiabadi, Chess.
com 2020.}) 9... d5 $6 {Principled but inaccurate.} ({Instead} 9... Ne5 10. Qd4
d6 11. Qf2 c6 $1 {leads to a double-edged position where I prefer to be Black.
Engines estimate this as roughly equal, but I like a position where one is
ahead in development. I guess that reads into my personal bias toward
classical measures!}) 10. exd5 Ne5 11. Qd4 c6 12. Bf4 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Nxd5 14.
Qd4 {The game should lead to a balanced position, but it remains tactically
sharp.} Nxg4 $1 15. Ne2 ({Here} 15. fxg4 $2 {is met with} Bxg4 {and the
d1-rook cannot move. White must try} 16. Bh6 Qf6 17. Qxf6 Nxf6 18. Bd2 Bxd1 19.
Kxd1 Ng4 {but this is good for Black.}) 15... Qf6 $2 {an oversight.} ({Correct
was} 15... Qh4 $1 16. fxg4 Bxg4 17. Bg3 Qh6+ 18. Qd2 Bxe2 19. Bxe2 Rxe2 20.
Qxh6 gxh6 21. Rhg1 f6 22. c4 {with a balanced endgame. Black cannot hold on to
her extra pawns for too long.}) 16. fxg4 Bxg4 17. Qxf6 Nxf6 18. Nc3 $2 ({After
} 18. Rd2 Ne4 19. Ng3 $1 {is what Carissa missed. Now if} Nxd2 20. Bxd2 {
White has time to use the bishops, while in the game, White was under
immediate pressure from Black.}) 18... Bxd1 19. Nxd1 Ne4 20. Rg1 g6 $6 {
Losing time.} ({Black had to go for counterplay with} 20... a4 21. Bd3 a3 {.})
21. Ne3 $6 f6 $2 {In what follows, Lee got the best of her celebrated opponent
in a topsy-turvy battle.} 22. a4 Kh8 23. Nc4 Nc5 24. Be3 Nxa4 25. Bd4 Kg7 26.
b3 Rad8 27. Bf2 Nc3 28. Nxa5 Ne2+ 29. Bxe2 Rxe2 30. Be1 Rde8 31. Bg3 Ra8 32.
Re1 Rg2 33. Bc7 g5 34. Kb2 f5 35. Nxb7 Rf8 36. Re6 f4 37. Be5+ Kf7 38. Rf6+ Kg8
39. Rxc6 Re8 40. Bd4 f3 41. Nd6 Rf8 42. b4 Rd2 43. Bc5 f2 44. Bxf2 Rdxf2 45. b5
Rxh2 46. b6 Rhf2 47. Ne4 R2f5 48. c4 g4 49. c5 Re5 {[#] Both sides have been
walking a tightrope; now Yip slips as she strains to find a path to victory.}
50. Ng3 $2 (50. Nf6+ {leads to a draw after} Rxf6 ({or} 50... Kg7 51. Nxg4 Re4
52. Rc7+ Kg6 53. b7 Rxg4 54. Rc8 Rb4+ 55. Kc3 Rxb7 56. Rxf8 Rc7) 51. Rxf6 Rxc5
52. Rf4 h5 53. Rb4 Rc8 $1 54. Rb5 $11) 50... Re3 $1 51. Rd6 Rxg3 52. c6 Rf2+
53. Kc1 Ra3 54. Rd2 Rc3+ 55. Kb2 Rxc6 56. Rxf2 Rxb6+ 57. Kc3 Kg7 58. Kd4 Rf6
59. Rg2 h5 60. Ke4 Kg6 0-1

[Event "U.S. Girls' Junior Ch"]
[Site "Saint Louis USA"]
[Date "2023.07.17"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Lee, Alice"]
[Black "Atwell, Rose"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2461"]
[BlackElo "2236"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2023.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Alice Lee is simply unstoppable. I am convinced that she can be the next
American woman to become a strong GM. In this game, she demonstrated her
knowledge of classical ideas with style.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5
exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bd3 Nf6 {A bit inaccurate.} ({After} 
8... Ne7 {(intending ...Bc8-f5, which is thwarted by White's next move)} 9. Qc2
{Black has shown how to equalize in correspondence play:} b6 $5 10. Nf3 Ba6 11.
O-O Bxd3 12. Qxd3 O-O 13. Rac1 Nd7 14. Rc2 Qg6 15. Qxg6 hxg6 16. Rfc1 f6 {
was passive but solid in Rau-Lehnhoff, ICCF 2020.}) 9. Qc2 (9. Nge2 O-O 10. Qd2
(10. Ng3 Re8 11. O-O g6 12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. f3 Nf8 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. Bc2 h5 16. e4
{was seen two days later in Z.Tang-Atwell, Saint Louis 2023}) 10... a5 11. f3
c5 12. Nb5 Qe7 13. dxc5 {was played in Tarjan-Atwell, Larry Evans Memorial
2023, and analyzed by Tarjan in our June issue.}) 9... O-O 10. Nge2 Re8 11. h3
a5 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rab1 {White should have gone for the f2-f3 / e3-e4 break
by playing 13.Qd2.} Qe7 14. a3 Ne4 $2 {Strategically unsound. White obtains a
better pawn structure.} 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Ng3 Nf6 17. Rfd1 h5 18. d5 $1 {
The correct plan by Alice!} h4 19. d6 Qd8 $2 {Now Black loses a pawn.} ({After
} 19... Qe6 20. Ngxe4 $5 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Qxe4 Rxe4 23. d7 Bxd7 24. Rxd7
Rb8 25. Rc1 {Black has a long way to get a draw in this endgame.}) 20. Ngxe4
Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bf5 22. f3 Qg5 $6 23. Qc5 $1 Qg6 24. d7 Red8 25. Rd6 f6 26. Qc4+
({Or} 26. Rbd1 {first.}) 26... Kh8 27. Rbd1 Bxh3 28. R1d2 Bf5 29. Nf2 Qg3 30.
R6d4 g5 31. Qf7 h3 32. Qxf6+ Kg8 33. Nxh3 Bxh3 34. Qg6+ Kf8 35. Rd6 Rxd7 36.
Rxd7 Bxd7 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "American Continental Ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2023.05.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Stearman, Josiah"]
[Black "Corrales Jimenez, Fidel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2489"]
[Annotator "Stearman"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After a long battle in round 3 with Cuban GM Carlos Albornoz that ended in a
draw, I found myself with 2.5/3 facing off with Cuban-born American GM Fidel
Corrales Jimenez. Just one month prior, I had defeated Jiminez in a crazy
Najdorf battle. I expected a similarly tense game, with perhaps an opening
change as I held the White pieces once again.} 1. e4 e5 $5 {As expected, a
surprise. While I had not expected this, I fortunately had some preparation up
my sleeve.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {
Telegraphing his intentions to offer the Marshall gambit. But I deviated with..
.} 8. d4 $5 {Perhaps not as familiar with the more intricate complexities of
Nxd4, Fidel chooses to secure the center with the more solid} d6 {The solid
response, avoiding the intricate complexities of} (8... exd4 $2 {and now the
Black Knight fails to find a satisfactory safe haven} 9. e5 $16) ({when} 8...
Nxd4 $5 {White responds with a flurry of tactics:} 9. Bxf7+ $1 ({after} 9. Nxd4
$6 exd4 10. Qxd4 $2 c5 $1 {White would find the usually strong light-squared
bishop trapped on b3!}) 9... Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 11. Qxd4 Bb7 {and White emerges
a pawn up, but Black has good compensation with the bishoip pair and the
semi-open f-file.}) 9. Be3 Bg4 10. c3 ({A humorous aside: the DGT broadcast
erroniously said I played the} 10. h3 $4 {when after} Bxf3 {now the d4-pawn
falls due to similar Noah's Ark trapping ideas; for instance,} 11. gxf3 exd4
12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 c5 {.}) 10... Re8 ({The greedy} 10... Nxe4 $2 {fails
promptly to} 11. Bd5 $1) 11. h3 Bh5 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 {
[#] This was the first critical moment of the game. Black is attempting to
gain space on the Queenside while also disrupting my commanding control of the
center. The continuation I opted for resulted in a very imbalanced middlegame.}
15. dxc5 dxc5 16. g4 $6 ({The engine gives the positionally incredible} 16. Qb1
$1 {, and only the very best would think of this multi-purpose move. Not only
do I get out of the annoying pin, I also threaten a strong e4-e5 push in the
center. A sample variation where Black tries to evade the tactics on the
h7-pawn:} h6 17. e5 $1 Nd5 {and only now} 18. g4 $1 Bg6 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxg6
{with a great advantage.}) 16... Bg6 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. f4 {This is
the variation I had calculated ahead of time. I evaluated that my bishop pair,
with a menacing kingside pawn storm, would be enough for an advantage. As we
will see, however, Black has play of his own!} c4 20. Nf3 Bc5 {Trying to trade
off my strong e3-bishop while leaving me with the sub-optimal cleric on c2. I
wanted to connect rooks, so I played} 21. Qe2 $2 Qf6 $1 {A disturbing
oversight on my part! Fidel's play has now materialized. The black queen is
now lasering down both the b2- and f4-pawns, and it looks like I will be in
quite the mess.} 22. Rad1 Rad8 {I now spotted the resilient} 23. Rd5 $1 {[#]}
Bxe3+ $2 ({Fidel needed to keep the tension while also improving his a5-knight
with} 23... Nb7 $1 {. The threat to the b2- and f4-pawns remain, and it would
be hard for me to stir up more trouble for black.}) 24. Qxe3 Qxb2 25. Qd2 $1 {
This was the big idea -- now I am threatening both the a5- and d7-knights.} c3
26. Qd1 Rf8 $2 ({The engine gives the crazy} 26... Nc4 $1 27. Rxd7 Nd2 $3 28.
Rxd8 Rxd8 {with the typical 0.00 evaluation!}) 27. Re2 $2 {During the game, I
felt this was the most logical continuation, but} ({The preparatory and
destructive} 27. e5 $1 {was the way to go.}) 27... Nc4 $2 ({Here} 27... Qxa2 {
was the last opportunity for Jiminez to even the playing field. After} 28. Rxd7
Rxd7 29. Qxd7 b4 {the pawns start rolling with complications to come.}) 28. Bb3
c2 29. Rxc2 Qf6 30. Bxc4 $1 {After the game, Jiminez told me that this was the
move he missed.} bxc4 31. Rxd7 Rxd7 32. Qxd7 Qxf4 33. Kf2 Qxe4 {Now up a
knight for two pawns, with a significant time advantage to boot, this should
have been a fairly routine conversion.} 34. Re2 Qa8 35. h4 $2 c3 {Allowing
this was a huge mistake. Now Black is able to utilize the annoying c-pawn to
create counterplay.} 36. Rc2 Rd8 37. Qe7 Rc8 38. Qe3 Qb8 $1 39. Qd3 ({Not} 39.
Rxc3 $4 Qb2+ {.}) 39... a5 40. Kg2 Rc5 41. Qd7 Rc7 42. Qa4 Qa8 43. Qf4 Qc8 44.
Kf2 Rc4 45. Qe5 Rc5 46. Qe3 a4 47. Ng5 Rc7 48. Re2 {After a series of
shuffling moves, my opponent finally cracked under time pressure.} Kf8 $2 49.
Qf4 $1 {Threatening the pawn on a4 as well as Ng5-e6+.} Rb7 50. Qxa4 f6 51.
Qa3+ Kg8 52. Qxc3 $1 {The rest is a proverbial "matter of technique."} Qb8 53.
Nf3 Kh7 54. h5 gxh5 55. Qd3+ Kh8 56. Qg6 Rb2 57. Qxh5+ Kg8 58. Qd5+ Kh8 59.
Rxb2 Qxb2+ 60. Qd2 Qb6+ 61. Qd4 Qe6 62. a4 Qa2+ 63. Kg3 Qc2 64. Qd8+ Kh7 65. a5
f5 66. gxf5 Qxf5 67. Qh4+ Kg8 68. Qc4+ Kh8 69. a6 Qg6+ 70. Kf2 Qb6+ 71. Nd4
Qf6+ 72. Ke2 Qe5+ 73. Kd1 Qh5+ 74. Kc2 Qg6+ 75. Qd3 Qg2+ 76. Kc3 Qh1 77. Kb4
Qe1+ 78. Ka4 Qe8+ 79. Nb5 {Finally the checks have been evaded, and the a-pawn
will prove decisive. This wild back-and-forth game proved to be the
kickstarter I needed for what would amount to an amazing tournament... for the
both of us!   Perhaps it was the fact that Jiminez stopped giving private
lessons at this point in the event, but the story I'll tell is that I whipped
him into shape! Following this loss Jiminez tore through the field with a
blazing 6/7, eventually placing in third -- one spot ahead of me.} 1-0

[Event "American Continental Ch"]
[Site "Kingston"]
[Date "2023.05.23"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Stearman, Josiah"]
[Black "Leiva, Gianmarco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2392"]
[Annotator "Stearman"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7p/6p1/4N1K1/1k2B1Pr/4P3/1p6/8 b - - 0 50"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2023.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#] In round 11 I found myself paired with Peruvian IM Gianmarco Leiva. After
losing to first place finisher GM Georg Meier and beating Colombian GM Sergio
Barrientos, I once again found myself in a position where a draw would be
satisfactory! This time the stakes were even higher, with a coveted World Cup
qualifcation on the line.   The nerves were definitely on edge, as after 50
moves I had carelessly blitzed into an endgame where the waters were muddy
indeed. My saving grace? I had around an hour to my opponent's mere five
minutes.} 50... Rh3 $2 {The wrong square, but for a very specific reason.} ({
Black had to find} 50... Rh2 $1 51. Nd3+ Kc3 52. Nxb2 {and now Black can play}
Rxb2 $1 {as the in-game sacrifice no longer works; the king is closer and the
rook is better positioned. Black wins after} 53. Bxg6 {no longer works as the
King is closer and Rook better positioned.} hxg6 54. Kxg6 Kd3 55. Kf5 Rb5+ 56.
Kf6 Ke4 57. g5 Rb6+ 58. Kf7 Kf5 {.}) 51. Nd3+ $1 Kc3 {White must eliminate the
immediate threat with} 52. Nxb2 $1 Kxb2 {And now, with the black king so far
away, it's time for another endgame transition.} 53. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 54. Kxg6 Kc3
55. g5 Kd3 56. Kf5 {"Shouldering" the black king away.} Rf3+ 57. Ke5 Rxe3+ 58.
Kf6 Rf3+ 59. Ke5 {Continuing to prevent the black king from approaching our
g-pawn. As soon as we're given the chance, we push it!} Re3+ 60. Kf6 Rf3+ 61.
Ke5 Kc4 62. g6 Rg3 63. Kf6 Kd5 64. g7 Kd6 65. Kf7 Rxg7+ 66. Kxg7 {Bare Kings,
a fitting end to a crazy event!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kent County CA EasterCongress Premier"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Thomas, George Alan"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bb3 d6 7. Ng5 d5 8. Nxd5
Nd4 9. Ne3 Nxb3 10. axb3 h6 11. Nf3 Nxe4 12. Nxe5 Qf6 13. Nf3 Bb7 14. Qe2 O-O-O
15. O-O Bd6 16. Ng4 Qf5 17. d3 Ng5 18. Nh4 Qd5 19. c4 Nh3+ 20. Kh1 Qh5 21. c5
Rhe8 22. Qc2 Qxh4 23. cxd6 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Qxg4+ 25. Kh1 Qf3# 0-1

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 1"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r3q1/pkp5/N7/8/2Q5/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5b2/4q1kp/5p1N/1Q6/8/8/1B6/1K6 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 3"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "k1r5/p4p2/4b3/3N4/8/8/6B1/7K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 4"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/5b2/7K/8/8/2N5/8/B7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 5"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "kbn1B3/pq6/NpQ5/1P6/8/8/8/7K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "Margate"]
[Site "Margate"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Problem 6"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Pandolfini"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pkp/5p2/5K1b/3q4/B7/8/2Q5 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.01"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Blohberger, Felix"]
[Black "Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2522"]
[BlackElo "2587"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 d6 8. Nc2
Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 O-O 10. Bd3 d5 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nc6 14. Ne3
Qd4 15. Qxd4 Nxd4 16. Rd1 Rd8 17. b3 Be6 18. Bb2 Nc6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Nd5 Bxd5
21. Bxd5 Nb4 22. Bxb7 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Ra7 24. Rd7 Nxa2 25. Bc6 Rxd7 26. Bxd7 Kf8
27. Kf1 Ke7 28. Bf5 h6 29. Ke1 Kd6 30. Kd2 Kc5 31. Bd3 a5 32. Be4 Kd4 33. Bc6
Nc3 34. h4 f5 35. g3 Ne4+ 36. Ke2 Nc5 37. Kf3 Nxb3 38. Kf4 Nc5 39. Kxf5 a4 40.
Bxa4 Nxa4 41. g4 Nc5 42. h5 {[#]} Ne4 (42... Nd7 43. g5 hxg5 44. h6 Nf8 45. Kf6
Ke4 (45... g4 46. Kxf7 Nh7) 46. Kxf7 Kf5 47. Kxf8 Kg6) (42... Ne6 43. Kf6 Ke4
44. Kxf7 Nf4 (44... Ng5+ 45. Kg6 Kf4) 45. Kg7 (45. f3+ Kxf3 46. g5 Kg4 47. gxh6
Kxh5 48. h7 Ng6) 45... Kf3 46. g5 Nxh5+ 47. Kxh6 Nf4) 43. f3 Ng3+ (43... Ng5
44. f4 Nh7 45. g5 hxg5 46. fxg5 Nf8 47. h6 Nh7 48. g6 fxg6+ 49. Kxg6 Nf8+) 44.
Kf6 Ke3 45. Kxf7 Kxf3 46. g5 hxg5 $2 (46... Nf5 47. Kg6 Kg4 48. gxh6 Nh4+ 49.
Kf7 Kxh5 50. h7 Ng6) (46... Kg4 47. gxh6 Ne4) 47. h6 g4 48. h7 {[#]} Ne4 $4 (
48... Ne2 49. h8=Q g3 $11 50. Qh5+ Kf2 51. Qf5+ Ke3 52. Qf1 Nf4 53. Kf6 g2) 49.
h8=Q g3 50. Qh5+ Kf4 51. Qh1 Nf2 52. Qg2 Ng4 53. Kg6 Ne3 54. Qe2 Ng4 55. Kh5
Ne3 56. Kh4 Nf5+ 57. Kh3 Ne3 58. Qb2 g2 59. Qf2+ Ke4 60. Kg3 Kd3 61. Kf3 Nf5
62. Kxg2 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Huang, Renjie"]
[Black "Sarana, Alexey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4
Bb6 9. a4 Bb7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Bd5 O-O 13. Na3 Rfb8 14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Qd5 Rba7 19. Qxe5 dxe5 20. Rfd1
Ra4 21. Nc2 Rxa1 22. Nxa1 Ra2 23. Rb1 Ra4 24. Re1 b4 25. cxb4 Rxb4 26. b3 Rd4
27. Kf1 Rd2 28. Re2 Rd3 29. b4 Kf8 30. Nc2 Ke7 31. Ne3 Bxe3 32. Rxe3 {[#]} Rd1+
(32... Rxe3 33. fxe3 Kd6 34. Ke2 c5 (34... Kc6 35. Kd3 Kb5 36. Kc3 c5 37. bxc5
Kxc5 38. Kb3) 35. Kd3 $1 (35. bxc5+ Kxc5 36. Kd3 Kb4) (35. b5 c4 36. Kd2 Kc5)
35... cxb4 36. Kc4) 33. Re1 Rd4 34. b5 Rb4 35. Rc1 Kd6 36. Rd1+ Rd4 {[#]} 37.
Rxd4+ $2 (37. Rb1 Rxe4 (37... Kc5 38. f3 Rb4 39. Rc1+ Rc4 40. Rd1) 38. b6 cxb6
39. Rxb6+) 37... exd4 38. Ke2 Kc5 39. Kd3 g5 40. f3 (40. g3 g4) 40... Kxb5 41.
Kxd4 Kb4 42. Kd3 c5 43. Kc2 Kc4 44. g3 Kd4 45. Kd2 c4 46. h4 gxh4 47. gxh4 h5
0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2023"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2023.08.11"]
[Round "4.8"]
[White "Svane, Rasmus"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Benjamin"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2023.07.30"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nh5 8.
Be3 Bd6 9. Bd3 Nf4 10. Bxf4 Bxf4 11. O-O O-O 12. Qc2 g6 13. a3 e5 14. dxe5 Bxe5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rae1 Qf6 17. Re3 Be6 18. Nf3 Nxf3+ 19. Rxf3 Qh4 20. Qc1 Rfe8
21. Rf4 Qg5 22. Rd4 Qf6 23. Qd2 Rad8 24. Bb5 Rf8 25. Be2 Rfe8 26. Bf3 b5 27. a4
Rb8 28. axb5 Rxb5 29. Bxd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Qxd5 Re2 32. Qa8+ Kg7 33.
Qxa7 Rxb2 34. Qe3 Rc2 {[#]} 35. Rc1 Qxf2+ 36. Qxf2 Rxc1+ 37. Qf1 Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1
Kf6 39. Ke2 Ke5 40. Kd3 Kd5 41. c4+ Kc5 {[#]} 42. Kc3 (42. g4 f5 43. gxf5 (43.
h3 fxg4 44. hxg4 h5) 43... gxf5 44. h3 h6 45. h4 h5 46. Ke3 Kxc4 47. Kf4 Kd5
48. Kxf5 Kd6 49. Kg6 Ke6 50. Kxh5 Kf7) 42... h5 43. Kd3 (43. h4 f6 44. Kd3 Kc6
$1 (44... g5 $2 45. hxg5 fxg5 46. Ke4 $18 Kxc4 (46... h4 47. Kf5 h3 48. gxh3
Kxc4 49. Kxg5 Kd5 50. Kf6) 47. Kf5 Kd5 48. Kxg5 Ke5 49. Kxh5 Kf6 50. g4 Kg7 51.
Kg5 Kh7 52. Kf6 Kg8 53. Kg6 Kh8 54. Kf7 Kh7 55. g5 Kh8 56. Kg6 Kg8 57. Kh6 (57.
Kf6 Kh7 58. g6+ Kh8) 57... Kh8 58. g6 Kg8 59. g7) 45. Kd4 Kd6 46. c5+ Kc6 47.
Kc4 (47. g3 g5) 47... g5 48. hxg5 fxg5 49. Kd4 h4 50. Ke4 g4 $11) 43... h4 44.
h3 $2 {[#]} (44. g3 $11) 44... f5 (44... f6 $3 45. Kc3 f5 46. Kd3 g5 47. Kc3 g4
48. Kd3 g3 (48... f4 49. hxg4 f3 50. Ke3 fxg2 51. Kf2 Kxc4 (51... h3 52. g5)
52. Kxg2 Kd5 53. Kh3 Ke5 54. Kxh4 Kf6 55. Kh5) 49. Ke3 (49. Kc3 f4) 49... Kxc4
50. Kf4 (50. Ke2 Kd4 51. Kd2 f4 52. Ke2 Ke4 53. Ke1 (53. Kd2 f3) 53... Ke3 54.
Kf1 Kd2 (54... f3 55. gxf3 Kxf3 56. Kg1 g2 57. Kh2 Kf2) 55. Kg1 Ke2 56. Kh1 f3
57. gxf3 Kf2) 50... Kd3 51. Kg5 Ke3 52. Kxh4 Kf2) 45. Kc3 g5 46. Kd3 g4 47. Ke3
gxh3 48. gxh3 Kxc4 49. Kf4 Kd3 50. Kxf5 Ke3 51. Kg4 Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Karlsbad-01 International Masters"]
[Site "Karlovy Vary"]
[Date "1907.08.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz"]
[Black "Rubinstein, Akiba"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C49"]
[PlyCount "156"]
[EventDate "1907.08.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8.
Bg5 Qe7 9. Qd2 Nd8 10. Bc4 Be6 11. Bb3 Bxb3 12. axb3 Ne6 13. Bh4 h6 14. Rfe1 a6
15. Bg3 Nh5 16. d4 Nef4 17. Bxf4 Nxf4 18. g3 Ng6 19. Qd3 Qe6 20. Nd2 f5 21. d5
Qd7 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Ne4 Raf8 24. Re3 {[#]} Ne7 25. Rd1 Kh8 26. c4 Ng8 27. f3
Nf6 28. Rf1 Nxe4 29. Qxe4 {[#]} Qd8 30. Qg4 Qb8 31. Kg2 Qa7 32. Rfe1 Qc5 33.
Qe4 Qb4 34. R1e2 R5f6 35. Qd3 Kg8 36. Qc3 a5 37. Qxb4 axb4 38. c3 bxc3 39. Rxc3
Ra8 40. Kh3 b6 41. Kg4 Ra1 42. Rb2 Kh7 43. b4 Kg6 44. Rbb3 Rf5 45. Rc2 Rh1 46.
f4 exf4 47. gxf4 h5+ 48. Kg3 Rg1+ 49. Kf2 Rg4 50. Rf3 Rgxf4 51. Rxf4 Rxf4+ 52.
Ke3 Kf5 53. Kd3 Rf3+ 54. Kd4 Rb3 55. Rf2+ Kg6 56. Rg2+ Kh6 57. b5 Rf3 58. Ke4
Rf6 59. Ra2 g5 60. Ra7 Rf4+ 61. Kd3 Rf7 62. c5 dxc5 63. d6 Rd7 64. Rxc7 Rxd6+
65. Ke4 Rd4+ 66. Kf5 h4 67. Rc8 Rf4+ 68. Ke5 c4 69. Rh8+ Kg7 70. Rc8 Kg6 71.
Rg8+ Kh5 72. h3 c3 73. Rh8+ Kg6 74. Rg8+ Kh6 75. Rh8+ Kg7 76. Rc8 Rf3 77. Rc6
Rxh3 78. Rxb6 Rf3 0-1

[Event "Lodz Dreimeisterturnier 8R"]
[Site "Lodz"]
[Date "1908.08.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rubinstein, Akiba"]
[Black "Salwe, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D33"]
[Annotator "Razuvaev"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1908.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "16"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qb6 {[#]} 9. Nxc6 $1 {Why is Rubinstein ridding Black of the isolated
d5-pawn? Because the isolated pawn couple c6- and d5 will now be subject to a
blockade while White gains time.} bxc6 10. O-O Be7 11. Na4 Qb5 12. Be3 O-O 13.
Rc1 {White has the initiative and is ready to occupy the c5-square.} Bg4 14. f3
$1 {This defensive move is, at the same time, the first step of a profound
strategic plan.} Be6 15. Bc5 Rfe8 16. Rf2 $1 {The point of this subtle move
will only be clear four moves later. Since 14.f3 has weakened the second rank,
covering it with a rook is important.} Nd7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qd4 Ree8 19. Bf1
$1 {[#] Curiously, three unattractive moves (f2-f3, Rfl-f2, Lg2-fl) have
allowed White to regroup and form a spring of pieces ready to uncoil.} Rec8 20.
e3 $1 {It is only now that the depth of White's 14th move becomes apparent.
The white pieces have become active and wonderfully coordinated, whereas Black
has failed to generate any counterplay.} Qb7 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 Rc7 23. Rfc2
Qb6 24. b4 a6 {Forced since White threatened to play 25.b5, whereas 24 ... a5
would have already been refuted by 25.Rxa5.} 25. Ra5 Rb8 {No better is} (25...
Qxd4 26. exd4 Bc8 27. Rxd5 cxd5 28. Rxc7 {, etc.}) 26. a3 Ra7 27. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6
28. Qxa7 Ra8 29. Qc5 Qb7 30. Kf2 h5 31. Be2 g6 32. Qd6 Qc8 33. Rc5 Qb7 34. h4
a5 35. Rc7 Qb8 36. b5 a4 37. b6 Ra5 38. b7 {This game is a classic example of
how to combat an isolated pawn and an isolated pawn couple. The maneouvre of
14.f3,16.Rf2, 19.Bf1, 20.e3 is the mark of a great strategist.} 1-0

[Event "Elizabethtown Christmas Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.12.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "O'Banion, Glen"]
[Black "Nunn, Amy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "1650"]
[BlackElo "1442"]
[Annotator "Nunn, Amy"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "CL Nov 2023"]
[SourceDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2023.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. Bf4 Bg7 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc1 d6 5. Bh6 O-O 6. Bxg7 Kxg7 7. c4 {
Black has the advantage due to better development.} Bf5 8. e3 c5 9. Be2 Bxb1
10. Qxb1 Qa5+ 11. Nd2 cxd4 12. b4 Qb6 13. e4 Nbd7 14. O-O Rac8 15. a3 Rfe8 16.
Kh1 e5 17. Qd3 Nf8 18. Rfc1 Ne6 19. g3 Re7 {The c4-pawn is weak, so I want to
manipulate White's pieces.} 20. Ra2 Rec7 21. Rac2 h5 22. Bf3 Qc6 {Preparing to
open fronts on both sides of the board.} 23. b5 Qe8 24. Bg2 Qh8 25. Bh3 Ng4 26.
Bxg4 hxg4 27. Qe2 Qh5 {Black is only "up a pawn" but the positional advantage
is huge, and the engine rates this as -4!} 28. Rg1 Rh8 29. Rg2 Ng5 30. Nf1 Nf3
{Preventing any f-pawn pushes to open the board.} 31. Rb2 Qg5 32. Rb3 Rcc8 33.
b6 axb6 34. Rxb6 {[#]} Qc1 $1 {This is MY BEST MOVE! The queen owns the first
rank and can't be dislodged!} 35. Rb4 Rh3 {Glen: "I wish you hadn't done that!"
} 36. Ra4 {Now mate is forced.} Rch8 37. Rg1 Rxh2+ 38. Nxh2 Qxg1# 0-1

