Back Cover

Title page
System of Signs

The Best Game of the Preceding Volume

The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume

NORWAY CHESS 2020 GM Elshan Moradiabadi & GM Miloš Perunović

FOUR NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE (4NCL) GM Gawain Jones
CRITICAL TIMES AT THE US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 WGM Sabina-Francesca
Foişor
THE LEGEND OF HENRIQUE MECKING GM Rafael Leitão
HOW I SHOULD HAVE WON THREE BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS GM Daniel
Gormally
THE ENGLISH OPENING – PART II GM Aleksander Delchev
THE ENGLISH REPERTOIRE FOR WHITE – PART II GM Ivan Ivanišević
SACRIFICING THE QUEEN – PART II GM Kannappan Priyadharshan
POSITIONAL EXCHANGE SACRIFICE – Occupying The Outpost GM Michael Prusikin
THE BEAUTY OF THE KING MARCH GM Sundar Mohanraj Shyam
ROGERS' REMINISCENCES – LINARES 2003 GM Ian Rogers
FROM THE CHESS INFORMANT ARCHIVES Douglas Griffin

Games
Classification of Openings
A00-A24
A25-A49
A50-A99

2
B00-B24
B25-B49
B50-B74
B75-B99
C00-C24
C25-C49
C50-C74
C75-C99
D00-D24
D25-D49
D50-D99
E00-E24
E25-E49
E50-E74
E75-E99
Index

COMBINATIONS GM Branko Tadić

CARLSEN'S PUZZLE CHALLENGE
ENDINGS IM Goran Arsović
CORRESPONDENCE CHESS CCE Vladimir Tašić
TOURNAMENTS

3
4
5
6
² white stands slightly better
³ black stands slightly better
± white has the upper hand
µ black has the upper hand
+– white has a decisive advantage
–+ black has a decisive аdvantage
= even
∞ unclear
© with compensation for the material
‰ development advantage
О greater board room
‚ with attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
ʘ zugzwang
# mate
! a very good move
!! an excellent move
? a mistake
?? a blunder
!? a move deserving attention
?! a dubious move
∆ with the idea
™ only move
¹ better is
‡ centre
¸ king's side
« queen's side
× weak point
¬ endgame
® bishops of opposite color

7
¯ bishops of the same color
º double pawns
¼ passed pawn
> advantage in number of pawns
† time
86/203 Chess Informant
E 12 Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
¦ 3/b Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings
N a novelty
(ch) championship
(izt) interzonal tournament
(ct) candidates' tournament
(m) match
(ol) olympiad
corr. correspondence game
RR editorial comment
R various moves
ª with
– see

8
 145/115. D12
Danyyil DVIRNYY 2485 — Alexei SHIROV 2645
chess.com (ol-rapid) 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.Bd2 Be7 10.Ng6
hg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7?! [11...dc4] 12.cd5 cd5 [12...Nd5 – 86/381] 13.Kb1 a6 14.Rc1 Qb8 N
[14...Qb6] 15.h4 [15.e4! de4 16.fe4 e5 17.Bc4 0-0 18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Bd5 Nf6 20.Bb7 Ra7 21.Bc6 Qb3
22.ab3 ed4²] 15...b5 16.a4 0-0 17.a5 [17.ab5?! ab5 18.Bb5 (18.Nb5 Ra6µ) 18...Nb6 19.e4 Qa7µ]
17...Rc8 18.Bd3?! [18.g4 Qg3 19.Be2 Rab8 20.Na2 Rc1 21.Nc1²] 18...Qg3! 19.Rcg1 Rc4!?
[19...Nb8!? 20.Ne2 Qc7 21.h5 g5∞] 20.f4?! [20.Bc4 dc4 a) 21.Qc2 b4 22.Ne2 Qc7 23.Rc1 c3
24.Nc3 bc3 25.Bc3∞; 23...Rc8©; b) 21.Ne2 Qc7 22.Rc1 Rc8 23.Qd1 b4©] 20...Rac8?! [20...Rd4!
21.Ne2 (21.ed4 Qd3 22.Qc2 Qd4µ) 21...Rd3 22.Qd3 Qg4 23.Nd4 Ne4³] 21.Qd1 [21.Bc4 dc4
22.Qd1 b4 23.Rh3 Qg4 24.Qg4 Ng4 25.Ne4±] 21...b4 22.Ne2 Qg4 23.Nc1 Ne4!! 24.Be2? [24.Qg4
Nd2 25.Ka1 b3 26.Bb1 Ra4 27.Na2 ba2 28.Ba2 Nc5!! 29.dc5 (29.b4 Ncb3 30.Kb2 Ra2 31.Ka2 Rc2
32.Ka3 Nc4 33.Kb3 Rb2 34.Kc3 Bb4 35.Kd3 Rd2#) 29...Ra2! (29...Rc5–+) 30.Ka2 Rc5 31.b4 Rc2
32.Ka3 Nc4 33.Kb3 Rb2 34.Kc3 Bf6 35.Kd3 Rd2#; 24.Be4 Qd1 25.Rd1 de4 26.g4 Nf6 27.g5
Nd5∞] 24...Qf5 25.Bd3 Ndf6 26.g4? [26.Nb3 Ng4 27.Rf1 Rb8µ] 26...Ng4! 27.Rg4

27...Qg4!! 28.Qg4 Nd2 29.Ka1 [29.Ka2 b3 30.Nb3 Ra4#] 29...Rc1

0 : 1 Miloš Perunović

9
 145/147. D85
ANISH GIRI 2764 — IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI 2784
chess24.com (Internet-m1/3-rapid) 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Rc1 Qa5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Nf3
Bg4 11.d5 b5 12.Bc5 Rc8 13.Bb4 Qc7 14.Nd4 a5 15.Ba3 b4 16.Bb2 Qb6 17.c4

17...Na6! N [17...a4] 18.f4?! [18.h3 Bd7 19.Qe3 e5 20.de6 Be6 21.Be2 Nc5©] 18...e5! 19.h3
[19.Be2 Be2 20.Ne2 Nc5 21.fe5 b3!ƒ; 19.de6 Be6 20.e5 Rd8 21.Be2 Bf8³] 19...Nc5! 20.fe5
[20.hg4? Ne4–+; 20.Bd3 a4 21.hg4 a3 22.Ba1 ed4∞] 20...Be5 21.hg4 [21.Qe3 Bd7 22.Be2 Qf6µ]
21...Ne4 22.Qe3 [22.Qh6 Bd4 23.Qh7 Kf8 24.Bd4 Qd4 25.Qh8 Qh8 26.Rh8 Ke7 27.Rc8 Rc8
28.Bd3 Nc5 (28...Nc3 29.Ra1 Rh8 30.Kd2 Rh4©) 29.Kd2 Kd6©] 22...Re8! 23.Kd1!? [23.c5 Nc5
24.Be2 Bf4 25.Qh3 h6 26.0-0 Bc1 27.Rc1 Na4 28.Rc6™ 28...Qa7 29.Ra6 Qb7 (29...Qc5 30.Rc6
Qa7=) 30.Qh6 Nb2 31.Nf5 gf5 32.Qg5 Kf8 33.Qh6=] 23...Bg7 24.Qg1 [24.c5 Nc5 25.Ne6 Rad8
26.Bg7 Rd5 27.Kc2 Re6 28.Qh3 h5 29.Bc4 Rd2! 30.Kb1 (30.Kd2 Ne4 31.Kc2 Qf2 32.Kb1 Nd2
33.Ka1 Kg7–+) 30...Kg7–+; 24.Qf4 Rac8! 25.c5 Rc5 26.Rc5 Qc5 27.Bb5 Re5µ] 24...Nc3? [24...a4!
a) 25.Rh3 Qc5 26.Bd3 b3 27.a3 Re7³; b) 25.Bd3 b3 26.Be4 b1) 26...Re4 27.Nb3! Qg1 28.Rg1 Bb2
(28...ab3 29.Bg7 Kg7 30.ab3 Ra2 31.c5 Rd4 32.Ke1 Re4=) 29.Nd2! Rg4 30.Rc2 Ba3∞; b2) 26...ba2!
27.Ba1 Re4 28.Nb5 Qb8 29.Qh2 Qh2 30.Rh2 Rc4! 31.Nc3 (31.Rc4 Ba1 32.Rh1 Bb2 33.Kc2 a1=Q
34.Ra1 Ba1³) 31...Rd4 32.Kc2 Rc8 33.Re1 Rd5³; c) 25.Rc2 b3 26.Nb3! c1) 26...Qg1 27.Rg1 ab3
28.ab3 Reb8 29.Bg7 Kg7 30.Rb2 Ra1 31.Kc2 Kf6 (31...f5©) 32.b4 Ke5©; c2) 26...Qb4 27.Nd4 a3

10
28.Bc1 Nc5©] 25.Bc3 bc3 26.Nc2? [26.Nb5 a) 26...Re3 27.Kc2 Bd4 (27...Rae8 28.Re1!+–) 28.Rd1
Re2 29.Be2 Bg1 30.Rhg1+–; b) 26...Qf6 b1) 27.Rc3 Qf4 28.Rhh3! (28.Rf3? Qe5„) 28...Qg4
29.Rhf3+–; b2) 27.Rc2 Re7 28.Qf2+–] 26...Qf6µ 27.Rh2?! [27.Qd4 Re5! (27...Qd4 28.Nd4 Bd4³)
28.Bd3 Qg5 29.Qf2 Qg4 30.Qf3 Qg5 31.Qf2 Rae8–+; 27.Rh3 Qf4 28.Rd3 Bh6 29.Ra1 Rab8–+]
27...Rad8! [27...Bh6! 28.Ra1 (28.Rh6 Qf4–+) 28...Rab8 29.g3 Be3 30.Qh1 Rb2 31.Bd3 (31.Rh7
Bh6!–+) 31...Qb6–+] 28.Rb1 [28.Ra1 Qe5 29.Bd3 Qg3 30.Rh3 Qf4 31.Re3 Bd4–+; 28.g3 Qf3
29.Be2 (29.Re2 Qd3 30.Ke1 Qd2–+) 29...Rd5! 30.cd5 Qd5 31.Ke1 Qd2–+] 28...Rb8–+ 29.Rc1
[29.Rb3 a4 30.Rb8 Rb8 31.Rh1 Rb1 32.Ke2 Rc1–+] 29...Bh6 30.Ra1 Rb2 31.g3 Qf3 32.Be2 Re2
[32...Qe4] 33.Re2 Rc2
0 : 1 Goran Arsović, Miloš Perunović

D85

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 0-0 9.Qd2 Qa5 10.Rc1 Bg4 11.d5 b5

12.Bc5 Rc8 13.Bb4 1 Qc7 2 14.Nd4 a5 15.Ba3 b4 16.Bb2 3 Qb6 17.c4 4 Na6 5 18.f4 6 e5 19.h3 7 Nc5 20.fe5 8 Be5© 9
12.Be2 Nd7 13.c4 b4 14.0-0 Qb6 10 15.h3 Bf3 16.Bf3 a5 17.Be2 a4 18.f4 b3 19.e5 b2 20.Rb1 a3∞ 11
13.0-0 Rac8 12 14.Rfd1 13 Nb6 15.Bh6 Bf3 16.gf3 14 Na4 15 17.Bg7 Kg7 18.h4 c4 19.h5 f6 20.f4 Qc7∞
13...Rad8 14.Rfe1 16 Bf3 15.Bf3 c4 16.h4 e6 17.Bg5 Ne5 17 18.Bd8 18 Qd8 19.Rb1 19 a6 20.Be2 Qh4©

1
13.Bd4 Bf3 14.Bg7 [14.gf3 Bd4 15.Qd4 Nd7 16.h4 Qa2 17.h5 Qa3 18.Qe3 b4 19.hg6 Rc3! 20.gf7
Kf7 21.Rc3 bc3 22.Rh7 Kg8 23.Rh8 Kh8 24.Qh6 Kg8 25.Bh3 Nf8 26.Be6 Ne6 27.Qe6 Kh7
28.Qf7=]

a) 14...Be4?! 15.Bh6 Qb6 16.f3 Bf5 17.g4 Bd7 18.h4 Be8 19.h5 f6 20.hg6 Bg6 21.Be3 Qd6 22.Bb5
Nd7 23.Kf2 [23.Be2 Rab8 24.c4±] 23...Rab8 24.Be2 [24.Bd7 Qd7 25.c4±] 24...Qa3 (Ding Liren

11
2791 – Ian Nepomniachtchi 2784, chess.com (Internet-rapid) 2020 – 144/153) 25.d6! Qd6 26.Qd6
ed6 27.Rhd1 Rb2 28.Rd6 Ne5 29.Rd2 Rd2 30.Bd2±;
b) 14...Bg2! 15.Bg2 Kg7 16.0-0 [16.c4 Qd2 17.Kd2 bc4 18.Bf1 Nd7 19.Bc4 Rc5 20.Bb3 Rac8
21.Rc5 Nc5 22.f3 Kf6=; 16.e5 Nd7 17.d6 Rab8 18.0-0 Ne5 19.de7 f6∞; 16.d6 Nd7 17.0-0 – 16.0-0]
16...Nd7 17.d6 [17.Qd4 Kg8 18.e5 Rc4 19.Qe3 Qb6∞] 17...ed6 [17...Qa3 18.e5 Rab8 19.Rfe1 e6
20.Re3 Rc4∞] 18.e5 Rab8 19.ed6 Nf6∞
2
13...Qb6?! 14.Be2 e6 15.0-0 Na6 16.Be7 Nc5 17.Qf4 Bf3 18.Qf3 ed5 19.ed5 Re8 20.d6 Bf8
a) 21.Rb1 Be7 22.de7 a6 23.a4 [23.Bc4 Ne6 24.a4² Anish Giri 2764 – Ian Nepomniachtchi 2784,
chess24.com (Internetm1/ 1-rapid) 2020 – 145/(147)] 23...Ra7 24.ab5 Ree7 25.Bc4±;
b) 21.Bf8 Rf8 22.c4 b4 23.Qf4±
3
16.cb4 Qe5 17.Rc8 Bc8 18.Qc2 Qd4 19.Qc8 Bf8 20.b5 Qe4 21.Be2 Qg2 22.Rf1 Qd5 23.Be7 Nd7
24.Qc6 Qc6 25.bc6 Be7 26.cd7=
4
17.Bb5

17...e5! 18.de6 Be6

a) 19.0-0 Rd8 20.Rfd1 Bg4 [20...Ba2 21.cb4 h6 22.Qc3 ab4 23.Qb4 Kh7 24.Bc3 Na6 25.Qb2 Nc5
26.Qe2 Ne6 27.Ne6 Rd1 28.Qd1 Bc3 29.Rc3 Qb5 30.Nc5 Rd8 31.Qf1 Qb2 32.Rc1 Rd2©] 21.f3 Bd7
22.c4 [22.Bd7 Rd7 23.Qf2 Na6©] 22...Na6 23.Qf2 Nc5©;
b) 19.Ne6 fe6 20.c4 Bb2 21.Qb2

12
b1) 21...Nc6?! 22.Qf6 [22.0-0!? Rd8 23.Bc6 Qc6 24.Qe5 Rd2 25.Rfd1 Qc4 26.h3 Rd1 27.Rd1²]
22...Nd4 23.Bd7 Rf8
b11) 24.Qe5?! Rf2! 25.Kf2 Rf8 (Santosh Gujrathi Vidit 2725 – Ian Nepomniachtchi 2780, chess.com
(ol-rapid) 2020 – 145/149) 26.Kg3 Ne2 27.Kh4 Qd8 28.Qg5 Qd7 29.Rcf1±;
b12) 24.c5! Rf6 25.cb6 e5 26.b7 Rb8 27.Bc8±;
b2) 21...Na6!
b21) 22.Rd1 Nc5 23.Qe5 Rf8 24.f3 [24.0-0 Rad8©; 24.Rd6 Qc7 25.Qd4 Rad8 26.e5 Nb7 27.Qb6
Qb6 28.Rb6 Nc5©] 24...Rad8 25.Ke2 a4©;
b22) 22.Ba6 Qa6 23.Qd4 Qa7 24.c5 Rc6 25.0-0 Rac8 26.Qf6 Qf7 27.Qg5 Qf8=
5
17...a4 18.Be2 Be2 [18...a3 19.Ba1 Be2 20.Ke2 e6 21.Rhd1 Na6 22.Nc6± Andrey Esipenko 2624 –
Gawain Jones 2688, Douglas 2019] 19.Ke2 b3 20.ab3 ab3 21.c5 Qa6 22.Ke3 Qb7 23.Rhd1²
6
18.h3 Bd7 19.Qe3 e5 20.de6 Be6 21.Be2 Nc5©;
18.Nc6 Bb2 19.Qb2

13
19...Rc6! 20.dc6 Qc6 21.Bd3 [21.f3 Nc5©]
a) 21...Nc5 22.Bc2 Ne4 [22...Qb6 23.0-0 a4 24.Bb1 Rc8©] 23.Qd4 Bf5 24.Be4 Be4 25.f3 Bf5 26.0-0
[26.Qd5 Qa6 27.0-0 Rc8 28.c5 a4©] 26...a4 27.Rfe1 [27.Qe3 Qc7 28.Rf2²] 27...b3! 28.ab3 [28.g4
Be6 29.ab3 Qf3 30.ba4 Ra4 31.Rb1 Qg4 32.Qg4 Bg4 33.c5 Ra7 34.Rec1 Rc7 35.c6 Bf3=] 28...ab3
29.Re2 Qc7 30.c5 Rd8 31.Qc3 Bc2= Anish Giri 2764 – Ian Nepomniachtchi 2784, chess24.com
(Internet-m2/4- -rapid) 2020 – 145/148;
b) 21...Rd8!
b1) 22.h3 Rd3 23.hg4 Nc5! [23...Qe4 24.Qe2 Qg2 25.Qd3 Qh1 26.Kd2 Qh6 27.Qe3 Qh4 28.c5ƒ]
24.0-0 Ne4 25.Qe5 [25.Rfd1 Rd1 26.Rd1 Nc3 27.Rd8 Kg7 28.a3 Qc4 29.ab4 ab4 30.Rb8 Qg4
31.Rb4 Qd1 32.Kh2 Qh5=] 25...Nc3 26.g5 Qc4 27.Qb8 Kg7 28.Qe5 Kg8=;
b2) 22.Bb1 Nc5 23.0-0 Qc7 24.h3 [24.f3 Be6 25.Rfd1 Na4 26.Rd8 Qd8 27.Qf2 Nc3©] 24...Be6©
7
19.Be2 Be2 20.Ne2 Nc5 21.fe5 b3!ƒ;
19.de6 Be6 20.e5 Rd8 21.Be2 Bf8³
8
20.hg4? Ne4–+;
20.Bd3 a4 21.hg4 a3 22.Ba1 ed4∞
9
21.Qe3 Bd7 22.Be2 Qf6µ;
21.hg4 Ne4
a) 22.Qh6 Bd4 23.Qh7 Kf8 24.Bd4 Qd4 25.Qh8 Qh8 26.Rh8 Ke7 27.Rc8 Rc8 28.Bd3 Nc5
[28...Nc3 29.Ra1 Rh8 30.Kd2 Rh4©] 29.Kd2 Kd6©;
b) 22.Qe3 Re8!
b1) 23.c5 Nc5 24.Be2 Bf4 [24...Bg7 25.Qh3 h6∞] 25.Qh3 h6 26.0-0 Bc1 27.Rc1 Na4 28.Rc6™
28...Qa7 29.Ra6 Qb7 [29...Qc5 30.Rc6 Qa7=] 30.Qh6 Nb2 31.Nf5 gf5 32.Qg5 Kf8 33.Qh6=;

14
b2) 23.Kd1!? Bg7 24.Qg1 [24.c5 Nc5 25.Ne6 Rad8 26.Bg7 Rd5 27.Kc2 Re6 28.Qh3 h5 29.Bc4
Rd2! 30.Kb1 Kg7–+; 24.Qf4 Rac8! 25.c5 Rc5 26.Rc5 Qc5 27.Bb5 Re5µ]

b21) 24...Nc3? 25.Bc3 bc3 (Anish Giri 2764 — Ian Nepomniachtchi 2784, chess24.com (Internet-
m1/3-rapid) 2020 – 145/147) 26.Nb5 Qf6 27.Rc2 Re7 28.Qf2+–;
b22) 24...a4! 25.Rc2 [25.Bd3 b3 26.Be4 ba2! 27.Ba1 Re4 28.Nb5 Qb8 29.Qh2 Qh2 30.Rh2 Rc4!
31.Nc3 Rd4 32.Kc2 Rc8 33.Re1 Rd5³] 25...b3

26.Nb3! Qb4 [26...Qg1 27.Rg1 ab3 28.ab3 Reb8 29.Bg7 Kg7 30.Rb2 Ra1 31.Kc2 Kf6 32.b4 Ke5©;
31...f5©] 27.Nd4 a3 28.Bc1 Nc5©
10
14...Bf3?! 15.Bf3 Bc3 16.Qc2 Rab8 17.Bg4 Ne5 18.Be2 f6 19.f4 Nf7 20.Bd3±;

15
14...Rac8 15.h3 Bc3 [15...Bf3 16.Bf3 Ne5 17.Be2 Rfd8 18.f4 Nc6 19.e5± Kenneth Field – Tony
Brown, corr.1996] 16.Qc2 Bf3 17.Bf3 Nb6 18.Be2 Qa4 19.Qb1 Qa3 20.Rc2! Bg7 21.Bc1 Qa4
22.Bg4!² Lajos Portisch 2620 – Viktor Korchnoi 2600, Bad Kissingen (m/4) 1983 – 35/562;
14...Nb6
a) 15.Bd3 Na4 16.Rc2 Rab8 17.Bf4

a1) 17...Bc3 18.Qe3 Bf3 [18...Rb7?! 19.Ne5² Wang Zideng 2068 – Chu Ruotong 2261, Tianjin
2018] 19.Qf3 Rbe8 20.h4ƒ;
a2) 17...Bf3! 18.Bb8 [18.gf3 Rbd8∞] 18...Rb8 [18...Bg2 19.Kg2 Rb8 20.Qf4 Rf8 21.e5 Nc3©]
19.Qf4 Re8 20.Qf3 Bd4©;
b) 15.Ne5 Be5 [15...Be2? 16.Nc6+–] 16.Bg4 Bc3 17.Qe2 Bg7 (Raymond Stone 2330 – Piet Peelen
2380, Groningen 1990) 18.f4 Bc3 19.f5ƒ
11
21.h4 Rfd8∞ Zhou Jinchao 2609 – Ioan-Cristian Chirilă 2566, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid)
2019 – 141/(150)
12
13...a6 14.h3 Bf3 15.Bf3 c4 16.Rfd1 Qa3 17.Bg5 Rfe8 18.d6 Ne5 [18...Qd6 19.Qd6 ed6 20.e5 Ne5
21.Ba8 Ra8 22.Rd6 Nd3 23.Rc2²] 19.Be7 Nd3 20.e5 Rab8 21.e6! fe6 22.Bc6 Re7 23.de7 Qe7
24.Rc2² Marko Nenezić 2522 – Velimir Ivić 2511, Srbija 2019;
13...Bf3 14.Bf3 c4 15.Be2 Rfd8 [15...Rad8 16.f4 Qa3 17.Bf3 Nc5 18.Rc2 e6„; 15...Qa3] 16.f4
a) 16...Nb6?! 17.Bf3 Qa3

16
18.h4! e6 19.h5
a1) 19...ed5 20.e5! Rab8 [20...Na4 21.hg6 hg6 22.f5±] 21.Qf2 Qe7 22.Bd4 Na4 23.Bd1²;
a2) 19...Na4 20.hg6 hg6

21.f5!
a21) 21...Bc3 22.Qf2 ed5 23.fg6 fg6 24.Rc3! Nc3 25.ed5 Rf8 [25...Nd5 26.Bd4+–] 26.Qg3±;
a22) 21...ef5 22.ef5
a221) 22...Nc3 23.fg6 fg6 24.d6! Rd6 25.Rc3! Qc3 [25...Bc3 26.Bd5 Kh7 27.Rf7 Bg7 28.Rg7 Kg7
29.Qd4 Rf6 30.Ba8+–] 26.Qc3 Bc3 27.Ba8±;
a222) 22...Bc3 23.Qf2 Be5 24.fg6 fg6 25.d6 Rf8 26.Qd2 Qd6 27.Qd6 Bd6 28.Ba8 Ra8 29.Rf6±;
a223) 22...Qd6

17
a2231) 23.fg6!? Qg6 24.Bd1 Qe4 [24...Rd7 25.Bc2 Qd6 26.Bf5 Rdd8 27.Bd4! Qd5 28.Qg5+–]
25.Ba4 ba4 26.Rcd1±;
a2232) 23.Bf4 Qb6 24.Kh1 Qf6 [24...gf5?! 25.d6 Rab8 26.Bd5+– Magnus Carlsen 2875 – Alexander
Grischuk 2775, Stavanger 2019 – 141/150] 25.fg6 Qg6 26.d6 Rab8 27.Bd5±;
b) 16...Qa3 17.Bf3 Rab8 [17...Nc5 18.e5 Nd3 19.Rb1 Rab8 20.Bd4²] 18.e5 Nb6∞
13
14.h3 Bf3 15.Bf3 c4 16.Bg4 Rcd8 17.f4 Qa3 18.Bd7 Rd7 19.f5 b4 [19...gf5?! 20.Rf5 e6 21.Rg5 f6
22.Rg3± Marin Bosiočić 2598 – Markus Ragger 2669, Zagreb 2019] 20.Bd4 b3 21.ab3 cb3∞
14
16.Bf3 Nc4 17.Qg5 Rfe8 18.Bg7 Kg7∞
15
16...b4 17.Bg7 Kg7 18.cb4 [18.c4?! Na4 19.Qe3 Nc3 20.Rd2 f6∞] 18...cb4

a) 19.Rc6 Rc6 20.dc6 Rc8 21.Rc1 Na4 22.Rc4 [22.Qd4 f6 23.Qd5 Qd5 24.ed5 Nc3 25.Re1 Kf8
26.Bc4 a5∞] 22...Nc3 23.Bf1 Qb6 24.a3 [24.Qd7 Rc7 25.Rb4 Qc6 26.Qc6 Rc6 27.Rb7 a5 28.Re7
Na2 29.Ra7 Rc5=] 24...a5 25.ab4 ab4 26.Qb2 Rc6 27.Rc6 Qc6 28.Qb4=; 24...Rc6= Magnus Carlsen
2863 – Ian Nepomniachtchi 2784, chess24.com (Internet-m1/2-rapid) 2020 – 145/150;
b) 19.Rb1 Rc3 20.Qd4 f6 21.Rb4 [21.Rd2 Rfc8 22.Qb4 Qb4 23.Rb4 Rc2 24.Rbd4²] 21...Rc2 22.Bf1
Qa3 23.Rb3 Qa2 24.Qe3 [24.Rdd3²] 24...Rf2 25.Ra3 Qc2 26.Rc1 Qb2 [26...Rf1 27.Rf1 Nc4 28.Qa7
Na3 29.Qe7 Kg8 30.Qa3²] 27.Ra7 Rh2 28.Re7 Kg8 29.d6²
16
14.h3 Bf3 15.Bf3 c4 16.Qb2 [16.Rc2 a6 17.Rb1 Qa3∞] 16...Rb8 17.Qb4 Qb4 18.cb4 Ra8 19.Rc2
[19.a4?! ba4 20.Rc4 a3³] 19...a5 20.Rb1 ab4 21.Rb4 Rfb8 22.Be2 Be5 23.f4 Bd6 24.Rb1 Bc5 25.Kf2
[25.Bc5 Nc5 26.e5 Kg7 27.Kf2 f5 28.Ke3 Ra3 29.Kd4 Na6∞] 25...f6
a) 26.h4?! Kg7
a1) 27.Rcb2 Ra3 [27...c3 28.Rc2 b4 29.g4∞] 28.Bc5 Nc5 29.Bc4 Ne4 [29...Rc8 30.Bb5 Ne4 31.Kg1

18
Nc3 32.Re1 Nd5³] 30.Kg1 f5 31.Bb5 Nc3 32.Bc6 Ne2 33.Kf1 Rb2 34.Rb2 Nf4³;
a2) 27.Re1
a21) 27...f5!? 28.e5 [28.ef5 gf5 29.Bf3 Bd6µ] 28...Ra3 29.Bc5 Nc5µ;
a22) 27...Ra3 28.Bg4 Bb4! [28...f5 29.ef5

29...Re3! 30.Re3 Ra8³ Erwin L’Ami 2619 – Ivan Cheparinov 2670, Batumi 2019 – 142/163] 29.Rb1
Nc5! 30.Ke2 [30.Bc5 Bc5 31.Kf1 Bd6 32.f5 Re3µ] 30...Nd3 31.Bd7 Ne1!µ;
b) 26.Bg4 Ra3 27.Bc5 Nc5 28.Rc4 Ra2 [28...bc4 29.Rb8 Kf7 30.Ke2 Ne4 31.Be6 Kg7 32.Rb7 Kf8
33.Rb8 Kg7=] 29.Ke3 Ra3 30.Ke2 Ra2=;
14.Rfd1 Bf3 15.Bf3 c4 16.Be2 Qa3 17.Bd4 Bd4 18.Qd4 Qc5 19.a4 a6 20.ab5 ab5 21.Rb1 Rb8
22.Qd2 Ra8 23.h4 Ra5 24.h5 Rfa8∞ Mads Vestby-Ellingsen 2351 – Nils Grandelius 2681, Norge
2019
17

19
17...f6 18.Be3 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 [19...ed5 20.ed5 Rf7∞] 20.f4 ed5 21.fe5 [21.ed5

21...Nd3! 22.Bd3 Rd5 23.Bc4 bc4 24.Qe2 Rd3µ] 21...de4 22.Qc2 Be5©
18
18.Be2?! Rd7 19.f4 h6 20.fe5 hg5 21.Qg5 Qd8 [21...ed5? 22.Bg4 Rb7 23.ed5ƒ; 21...Qb6 22.Kh1 Re8
23.Bg4 Qd8³] 22.Qd8 Rdd8 23.a4 a6 24.ab5 ab5 25.Rb1 Rb8 26.Rb4 Be5 27.Reb1 Bc3 28.Rb5 Bd4
29.Kf1 Rbc8 30.d6 c3 31.Bd3 Rcd8 32.e5 f6 33.ef6 Bf6
a) 34.Ke2 Rd6 35.Rb6 Rd4 36.g3 [36.Re6 Rg4 37.Be4 Kg7 38.Rb7 Kh6³] 36...Rfd8 37.Rd1 Ra4
38.Re6 Ra2 39.Ke3 Kg7³;
b) 34.h5 Rd6 35.Ke2 gh5 36.Rh5 Ra8 37.Ke3 Bd4 38.Kf3 [38.Kf4 Rf8 39.Ke4 Bf6³; 38.Ke4 Bf2
39.Rh3 Rad8 40.Rf1 Bd4³] 38...Bb6 39.Bh7 Kg7³; 36...Rfd8³ Samuel Shankland 2717 – Gawain

20
Jones 2709, Saint Louis 2019 – 141/154
19
19.Be2 Qh4©

21
CHESS INFORMANT POWERHOUSE ANALYSIS

Dear readers, the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns proved to be
an unsurmountable obstacle for tournament organisers and sponsors. Fortunately, the diligent chess
crew in Stavanger invested enormous amount of patience, courage and effort making it possible for
the world-wide chess audience to enjoy the duels between the World Champion and his fellow peers.
The least we could do was to follow the suit and provide you with the first rate review and analysis.
GMs Elshan Moradiabadi and Milos Perunovic joined forces and produced a detailed and
inspirational article covering all the most entertaining and instructive games and moments of the
Tournament.

22
 B47
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7

Nothing new so far. Caruana has employed this system
before.
6.g3 This is not the only line Tari plays against the
Taimanov/Paulsen systems.
6...a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5 10.Bf4 d6
11.Qd2 h6 12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3

23
13...Bxe3!?
13...Bb4!? This is a new trend introduced by two prominent Indian theoreticians Harikrishna and
Ganguly. However, the nature of this move offers less chances for Black to fight for a win, and it
might have been already examined by Tari. Thus, Caruana seeks an even rarer line.
13...Be6 This is the most popular move, but recent games show that after: 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Nd5
Bxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.f4 O-O 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.d6! things are far from easy for Black in the ensuing
positions. The results in practice show that this line may vanish from mainstream sometimes soon!
Earlier this year two more interesting ideas came to life 13...Ke7 and 13...Bb4 Perunovic, Milos
14.fxe3 Be6 15.Qxd6 Rc8 When I first saw this position, I immediately checked my database of
correpsondence games, and expected to find some games reaching this position, but I was surprised to
realise that there were no game at all!
16.a4N
16.Qxc7 Rxc7 17.Rf2 is definitely a serious option. 17...Ng4 (17...Ke7!? 18.Nd5+ Bxd5 19.exd5
Kd6 20.e4 b5 21.Re1 Ng4 22.Rf3 Nf6 23.c3 Rb8©) 18.Rfd2 Ke7 19.Nd5+ Bxd5 20.exd5 Kd6
21.Re2 b5 In all these positions, it is only Black who can improve his position depsite being a
protected pawn down. 22.c3 a5 23.a3 h5©;
16.Rf2 Ng4! (16...Qxd6?! 17.Rxd6 Nd7 (17...Ke7? 18.Rb6 Rc7 19.Nd5+±; RR17...Rc6 !? 18.Rxc6
bxc6 19.Na4 Ke7 Perunovic,Milos) 18.Nd5 a5 19.Rd2 Rc6 20.Rxc6 bxc6 21.Nc7+ Ke7 22.Nxe6
fxe6²; RR16...Qc5 17.Qxc5 Rxc5 Perunovic,Milos) 17.Re2 (17.Qxc7 Rxc7 18.Rfd2 Ke7 transposes
to the previously examined line.) 17...Nf6 18.Red2 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Nd7 20.R1d2

24
20...Rxc3! Thematic! Now Black creates a fortress. 21.bxc3 Ke7 22.c4 Rc8 23.Bf1 Rc5 24.R6d3 Ra5
25.Rb3 Nc5 26.Rb2 f6 27.Rd1 Bd7 28.Bd3 Bc6=
16...h5= 17.h3
17.Rf2 h4 Perunovic,Milos
17...Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nd7 19.h4
19.a5!? Rc5 20.Ra1 Nb8 (20...O-O 21.h4 Rb8 22.Bf1 Kf8 23.Kf2 Rbc8 24.Ra3 (24.Be2 Ke7 25.Rd2
Nf6 26.Ke1 g6 27.Ra3 Ne8 (27...Rg8!? is another interesting plan to push for a win with the black
pieces.) 28.Bd3 Nd6©) 24...Ke7 25.Rd2) 21.Rb6 Bc8 22.Bf1 Rh6 23.Rxh6 gxh6 24.Bd3 (24.h4 Nc6)
24...Nc6 25.h4 Rxa5 26.Rxa5 Nxa5=
19...Ke7 20.Rd2 Nb6 21.Nd5+ Bxd5 22.exd5 Nc4 23.Re2
23.d6+ Nxd6 24.c3 b6 25.Rd5 f6 26.a5 b5 27.Rfd1 Rhd8 28.Bh3 Rc7 29.Bf5∞ was a better practical
approach to keep the balance in an active, dynamic way.
23...Nd6 24.e4 a5

25
Black has compensation, and achieved his goal. For the sacrificed pawn he gained a powerful knight
versus bad g2-bishop situation. Also, White does not have an obvious game-plan, while Black can
calmly prepare the standard b5 or f5 pawn breaks. Perunovic,Milos
25.Ra1 Rc4 26.c3 f6 27.Re3 Rhc8 28.Kf2 g5 29.Bf3 g4 30.Bg2 R4c5

31.Bf1?! Finally, after a long and tedious manoeuvring, Tari gives away some direct play to Caruana.
31...f5 32.exf5 Rxd5 33.Rd3?!
33.Bd3 Kf6 34.Rae1 Re8 35.R1e2 would have maintained the equality.
33...Rcc5 34.Rad1 Rxd3 35.Bxd3 e4 36.Be2?? Finally, Tari caves into the obvious. He tries to cover

26
the f3-square, but then the e-pawn becomes extremely dangerous!
36.Bc2 Rxf5+ 37.Kg2 Re5 38.Rd4 would have kept the balance.
36...Nxf5 37.Bb5 Nd6 38.Be2 Ke6 Now Black is totally dominant! Caruana won very easily!
39.Rc1 Ke5 40.Rd1 Rc7 41.Kg2 b6 42.Ba6 Rf7 43.Be2 Rf8 44.Rb1 Nf5 45.b4 Ne3+ 46.Kg1 Nd5
47.Rb3 Rc8 48.bxa5 bxa5 49.c4 Nb4 50.Rb1 Kd4 51.Bf1 Nd3 52.Rb5 Rc5 53.Bxd3 exd3 54.Kf2
Kxc4 55.Rb1 Re5 0-1

B69
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger, 2020

In this game Magnus takes extreme risk to score his first win in the tournament. It is always nice to
comment a game in the sharp Richter-Rauzer.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O e6 9.f4 Be7
10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6
11.e5 I wonder what would Magnus respond with against this move. Correspondence players do not
like this line that much from the white side. 11...b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.Qxc3 gxf6 14.Bh4 d5 15.Kb1
Rb8!? 16.a3 (16.Be2!? Rg8 17.g3 a5! (17...Na7!? 18.Rhf1 Nc8 19.f5 Nb6 20.fxe6 fxe6

21.Ne5!? A nice firework begins. 21...Na4 22.Bh5+ Rg6 23.Qd3 Rxb2+ 24.Ka1 Qa5

27
White seems to be at the verge of being checkmated. 25.Nc4!! A spectacular stroke! 25...Qb4
26.Bxg6+ Kd8! 27.c3 Rxa2+ 28.Kxa2 Nxc3+ 29.Ka1 Bb5 White is up two rooks but he has only one
way to make a draw! 30.Rb1 Nxb1 31.Rxb1 Qa4+ 32.Kb2 hxg6©; 17...Rc8 18.Qd3 Rg6 19.c3
Preventing the Nb4 jump. 19...Rb8 20.Ka1 a5∞) 18.Ka1 (18.a3 Qb6 19.Rhe1 Rc8 20.Qd3 Rb8
21.Qc3=; 18.Rhf1!? Na7 19.f5 Bb5 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Rg4 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Qd2 a4 24.Qh6
Rgb4 25.b3 Nb5 26.Qh5+ Kd7 27.Qf7 Qe8 28.Qxh7 Kc8©) 18...Rc8 19.Qd2 Qb6 20.Rhe1 (20.c4!?
a4 21.cxd5 Nb4 22.Rc1 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Nxd5∞) 20...h5 21.c3 a4 22.f5 a3 23.b3 e5 24.Qxd5 Bxf5∞)
16...Rg8 17.Bxa6 Qb6 18.Bf1 (18.Be2 Rxg2 19.Rhe1 Qa7! (19...f5?? 20.Bxe7 (20.Qh8+ Bf8 21.Bf6
is winning with the idea of Ng5) 20...Nxe7 21.Ne5 Bb5 22.Bf3 Rg8 23.Bh5 Ng6 24.Rxd5 Nxe5
25.Rdxe5 Rg1 26.Rxe6+ Qxe6 27.Rxg1 Rc8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qd4 1 : 0 Mrudul, Dehankar 2256 -
Golubev,Mikhail 2461, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 20.Rd3 Rc8 21.Qd2 Rb8 22.Qc3=) 18...Ra8
19.Qb3 Qa7 20.Qc3 Qb6!= (20...Rb8?! 21.Rd3! Na5 22.Nd2 Nc4 23.Nxc4 dxc4 24.Rxd7 is
unnecessary at this point. (Instead 24.Rh3! e5 25.Rf3±) 24...Qxd7 25.Bxc4 Qc6 26.Re1 Kf8 27.Re2
Qc5 28.h3 Kg7 29.Ka2 Rgc8 30.Qg3+ Kh8 31.Bb3± Inarkiev, Ernesto 2692 - Gupta,Abhijeet 2602,
Sharjah 2019 - 140/70)
11...gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 Following the mainline.
12...Qa5!? 13.f5 Rc8 14.Bd3 Nb4!?∞
13.f5 O-O-O 14.Bd3 This is a very surprising choice.
Instead, White has numerous simple plans at his disposal. For instance: 14.g3 could only give an
opportunity for Black to play for a draw in more or less forced lines should he know all the right
moves! 14...Kb8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh3 Na5 17.Nd4 b4 18.Nce2 e5 (18...d5 19.exd5 e5 20.Bxd7 Rxd7
21.Nf5 Nc4 22.Qd3 Rc8 23.Nc1 a5 24.Rhe1 a4 25.Re4 Qc5 26.Qe2 Nxb2! (26...Bf8 27.d6 Qc6
28.Rh4 Nxd6 29.Rxb4+ Nb7 30.Rc4 Qxc4 31.Rxd7± Tiviakov,Sergei 2591 - Warmerdam,Max 2399,

28
Nederland 2017) 27.Kxb2 Qc3+ 28.Kb1

28...b3! 29.cxb3 Ba3 30.Nd3 axb3 31.axb3 Rb7 32.Nb2 Rxb3 33.Rd2 Rb7 34.Ne3 Qc1+ 35.Ka2
Bc5©) 19.Bxd7 Rxd7 20.Nf5 Nc4 21.Qd3 (21.Qd5 Rc8 22.Nc1 Qc7 23.Qd3 Bf8 24.Rhe1 d5
25.exd5 Rxd5 26.Qxd5 Na3+ 27.bxa3 Qxc2+ 28.Ka1 Qc3+ 29.Kb1 Qc2+ 30.Ka1 Qc3+ 31.Kb1 1/2
: 1/2 Saurabh,Anand 2236 - Dobrovoljc,Vid 2389, New Delhi 2019) 21...Rc8 22.Nc1 (22.Ka1 Bf8
23.b3 Na3 24.c4 bxc3 25.Nxc3 d5 26.Nxd5

26...Rxd5 (26...Qf2? 27.Rhf1 Nc2+ 28.Kb2 Ba3+ 29.Kb1 Qc5 30.Nfe7 Rxe7 31.Nxe7 Qxe7
32.Qxa6 Qb7 33.Qxb7+ Kxb7 34.Rd7+ Kb8 35.Rxf6 Nb4 36.Rb6+ Ka8 37.Rd1 Ka7 38.Re6 Nd3
39.Rf1 h5 40.Rh6 Nf2 41.Re6 Rc5 42.h3 Kb7 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 Nxg4 45.Rf7+ Rc7 46.Rxc7+

29
Kxc7 47.Kc2 Bc5 48.Kd3 Bd4 49.Ke2 Nf2!= Navara,David 2734 - Saric,Ivan 2681, Greece 2019 -
141/61) 27.exd5 Nc2+ 28.Kb1 (28.Kb2?? Nb4 29.Qe3 Qa5 30.a4 Nc2 31.Qd3 Ba3+ 32.Kb1 Rc3-
+) 28...Na3+=)
14...Kb8
14...Ne5 is a worthy alternative.
15.Ne2 Bc8 Carlsen tries to provoke a serious fight.
15...Ne5!? 16.Qh6 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 Bc6 18.fxe6 Bxe4 19.Qe3 Qxe3 20.Rxe3 d5 21.exf7 Bc5 22.Rc3
Rc8 23.Nfd4 b4 24.Rb3 Rhf8 25.Ne6 Rxf7 26.Nxc5 1/2 : 1/2 Jorgensen,Poul - Calio,Mario, corr
2017/18
16.Nf4
16.Qh6!? Ne5 17.Qh5 leads to a complex position with more difficulties for Black.
16...Ne5 17.Be2

17...d5? This is too much even for Carlsen!

17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Qc3 d5 21.exd5 e5 22.Ne6 leads to too much simplification,
which Carlsen wanted to avoid at all costs.
18.exd5 exf5 19.Nd4 Bc5 20.Rhf1 Rhe8 21.a3 Ka8 White is completely winning despite the
dynamic and practical difficulties. However, Tari starts to play way too slow.
22.h3?!
22.Qc3 Bd7 (22...Bb7 23.Nxf5 Ng6 24.Ng3+-; 22...Rd6 23.Nb3 Be3 24.Nh5 Bb7 25.Rxf5+-) 23.d6
Bxd6 24.Nd5+-

30
22...Bd7

23.Nh5?? The knight on the rim, in a dynamic position like this, is indeed dim!
23.Qc3 Ng6 24.d6!+- with numerous decisive threats.
23...Nc4! Magnus does not let go of his advantage from this point onwards and wins in a truly
remarkable style!
24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Qc3 Rb8 26.Rf3

26...Re1!! A brilliant double-deflection. The rest is pretty easy for the World Champion.

31
27.Rxe1 Bxd4 28.Qb4 Qc7 29.d6 Qc6 30.Qa5 Bxb2
RR30...Rxb2+ 31.Kc1 Qxd6 32.c3 (32.Nf4 Rb5 33.Qd2 Qc5-+) 32...Bc5 33.Kxb2 Qd2+ 34.Kb1
Qxe1+ 35.Kc2 Kb7-+ Perunovic,Milos
31.Ka2 Be5 32.Rb1 Rxb1 33.Kxb1 Qxd6 34.Kc1 Qd4 35.Qxa6+ Kb8 36.c3 Qg1+ 37.Kd2 Qxg2+
38.Ke3 f4+ 39.Nxf4 Bxf4+ 40.Rxf4 Qg3+ 41.Rf3 Qe1+ 42.Kd4 Qe5+ 43.Kxc4 Qe4+ 44.Kc5 Qxf3
45.Kd6 Bc8 0-1

Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Aronian, Levon (2767)

Stavanger, 2020

The first stage of the game was fairly calm, since White did not show any serious intentions to play
for a win. We reached an apparently simple rook endgame, however...
28.b3 c5 29.c4 a5 30.Kf2 R1d3 31.R5e3 Rxe3 32.Rxe3 Rd2+ 33.Re2 Rd1 34.Kf3 a4 35.bxa4 Rc1
36.Re3
36.Rb2 Rxc4 37.Rxb6 Rxa4 38.Rc6 Ra3+ 39.Ke4 Rxa2 40.Rxc5 Rxh2 41.Kf3
36...Rxc4 37.Ra3?!
37.Rb3! Active solution! White sacrifices a pawn, thus gaining great activity for his rook. He got rid
of the queenside weakness which should be sufficient for a draw. 37...Rxa4 38.Rxb6 Rxa2 39.Rc6 Rc2
(39...Rxh2 40.Rxc5) 40.Rc8³ Black does have an extra pawn, but can hardly make any progress.
37...Kf5³ 38.a5 bxa5 39.Rxa5 Rc3+ 40.Ke2 h4! 41.gxh4 Kxf4 42.Kd2 Rh3 43.Rxc5 Rxh2+ 44.Ke1
44.Kd3 Rxa2 (44...e5 45.Rc4+ Kf3 (45...Kf5 46.a4) 46.Re4 Rxa2 47.Rxe5) 45.Rc8 Rh2 46.Rg8 Rh3+
47.Ke2

32
44...e5 45.Rc4+ e4 46.Rc6 Kf3 47.Rf6+ Ke3

48.Kf1?? A logical move. The white king goes to the "shorter side". However, this position is a
remarkable exception since the a-pawn is a nuisance that does not allow White to secure a draw.
48.Kd1! Rxa2 (48...Rxh4 49.Rxg6 Rh1+ 50.Kc2 Kf2 51.Rf6+ Ke2 52.a4 e3 53.a5) 49.Rxg6 Ra1+
50.Kc2 Rh1 51.Re6! Rxh4 52.Kd1 Rh1+ 53.Kc2 Re1 (53...Kf3 54.Kd2 Rh2+ 55.Ke1) 54.Rh6 Kf2
55.Rh2+ Kg3 56.Kd2! Ra1 57.Rh8
48...Rh1+ 49.Kg2 Rxh4 50.Rxg6 Ke2! 51.Kg3 Rh7? Once again a logical move - the rook goes far
away from the enemy king - and once again a mistake! Black should have played Rh5 with the idea
of controling the a-pawn, and preventing any counter-play that Black might generate. Curiously,
without the a-pawn, White would be able to clinch a draw by playing the simple Ra6.
51...Rh5! 52.a4 (52.Rb6 e3 53.Rb2+ Kd1 54.Rb1+ Kc2 55.Rb3 Re5-+; 52.Kg4 Ra5-+) 52...e3
53.Rb6 (53.Re6 Ra5-+) 53...Re5 54.a5 Kd3 (54...Rxa5? 55.Rb2+ Kd3 56.Rb3+ Kd2 57.Kf3)
55.Rd6+ (55.Rb1 e2 56.Kf2 Rf5+ 57.Kg2 Kc2 58.Ra1 Rxa5-+) 55...Kc2 56.Rc6+ Kb2 57.Rb6+
Ka2-+
52.Rb6?
52.a4!„ Counter-play! 52...e3 (52...Ra7 53.Rb6 Rxa4 54.Rb2+ Kd3 55.Rb3+ Kc4 56.Rb8) 53.a5 Kd2
(53...Rd7 54.Re6 Kd2 55.Kf3 Rf7+ 56.Kg2 e2 57.Rd6+=) 54.Rd6+ Ke1 55.Re6 e2 56.a6 Rd7
(56...Rg7+ 57.Kf3 Rf7+ 58.Kg2=) 57.Kf3 Rd3+ 58.Kg2 Ra3 59.Rb6=
52...e3-+ 53.Rb2+ Kd1 54.Rb1+
54.Kf3 e2 55.Rb1+ Kc2 56.Re1 Kd3
54...Kc2 55.Ra1 Rf7 56.a4 e2 57.Kg2 Rf5 58.Ra2+ Kd3 59.Ra1 Ke3 60.Ra3+ Ke4 61.Ra1 Rd5 0-1

33
 E36
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger, 2020

In a well-known theoretical line, Carlsen achieved nothing in a dry, close to equal endgame of this
Nimzo-Indian game. However, Caruana self-destructed his own position after fully equalising,
subsequently giving Carlsen a decisive point.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 The most principled.
7.Bg5 dxc4
7...c5!? is a choice we do not see very often at the highest level. Yet, engines are OK with this move.
8.Qxc4 b6 9.Rd1
9.Nf3 Ba6 10.Qa4 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.e3 Bxf1 15.Kxf1 Qxb2 16.h4© is
another way to go. Xiong had success in online chess with this move against Duda: (16.g3 This is
safe but seems less critical. 16...Rc8 17.Qg4+ Kf8 18.Qe4 Qb5+ 19.Kg2 Qc6 20.Qf4 Ke7 21.Rd2
Nd7 22.e4 c4 23.Rhd1 Rc7 24.Nd4 Qc5 25.Nb5 Rb7 26.Nd6 Rc7 27.Nb5 1/2 : 1/2 Rubinas,Pavel -
Daubenfeld,Nico, corr 2015/16) 16...Rc8 17.Rh3 c4 18.Rg3+ Kf8 19.Nd2 Qb6 20.Nxc4 Qa6
21.Qb4+ 1 : 0 Xiong,Jeffery 2709 - Duda,Jan Krzysztof 2757, chess.com (Internet-m/2-blitz) 2020
9...Ba6 10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7 12.Qc2

12...Qc6! This is the most accurate equalising move!

13.Qxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.e3
15.Nf3 This is less critical. 15...Rfd8 16.e3 Bb7 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Bb5 Ne7 19.Ke2 c6 (19...Kf8!?
20.Rhd1 c6 21.Bd3 c5 22.dxc5 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 bxc5 24.Rc1 Bxf3+ 25.gxf3 Rb8=) 20.Bd3 c5 21.dxc5

34
Bxf3+ 22.gxf3 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 bxc5 24.Rc1 Rb8= Beliavsky, Alexander 2651 - Yu,Yangyi 2662,
Tromsoe (m/2) 2013
15...Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Na5 17.Nf3 Nc4
17...Rac8 18.Ke2 c5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Rd7 Nc4 21.Rc1 (21.Rb1 Rb8 22.Nd2 Nxb2 23.Rxa7 f5 24.Rc7
Na4=) 21...Nxb2 22.Rc2 Na4 23.Rxa7 Ra8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Nd2 Nb6 26.Rb2 Ra6 27.Ne4 Nd5
28.Ra2 c4 29.Kd2 f5 30.Nc3 Nxc3 31.Kxc3 Ra4 32.Kb2 Kf8 33.Ra1 Ke7 34.Rd1 Ra6 35.Rd2 c3+
36.Kxc3 Rxa3+ 37.Kb2 1/2 : 1/2 Wang,Hao 2763 - Radjabov,Teimour 2765, chess.com (Internet-
rapid) 2020
18.Rb1 c5 19.Ke2 Rfc8 20.Rhc1 Nd6 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Rc2 Kf8 23.Nd2 c4 24.Rbc1 Rab8 25.Kf3

25...c3? For some unknown reason Caruana gives up a pawn.

Instead, he could have maintained the equality with: 25...Rc5 26.Nxc4 (26.b4 Rc6 27.g4 (27.Nxc4??
Rbc8µ) 27...a5 28.bxa5 Ra8=; 26.g4 h5 27.h3 hxg4+ 28.hxg4 f5=) 26...Nxc4 27.Rxc4 Rf5+=
26.bxc3 Rc5?
26...Nc4 would have forced a very promising rook endgame for Caruana. However, he seemed not to
care much about White's c-pawn.
27.c4 f5 28.Ke2 Ke7 29.Kd3 Kd7 30.Rc3 Rc6? For the third time Caruana allows Carlsen to
advance his pawn.
31.c5 Ne8 32.Nf3 Now, it is all over.
32...Ra6 33.Ne5+ Ke7 34.Ke2 Nf6 35.R1c2 Nd5 36.Rd3 Rc8 37.Rb3 Rc7 38.Rc4 Ra5 39.Nd3 e5
40.Nxe5 Raxc5 41.Rxc5 Rxc5 42.Rb7+ Ke6 43.Nxf7 Ra5 44.Nd8+ Kd6 45.Rb3 Ra6 46.Nf7+ Kc5
47.Ne5 h5 48.Kd2 h4 49.Nd3+ Kc4 50.Kc2 Rd6 51.Nf4 1-0

35
 Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

E20
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger, 2020

Caruana employs his choice for the only win he scored at the Candidates earlier this year. This
aggressive move seems to be White's most promising choice these days against the Nimzo-Indian.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 Aronian really loves this move.
4...d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 is the new trend in this very topical line these days.
5.d5 b5 6.e4 d6 7.Bd2 Aronian himself had reasonable success with this opening against Grischuk
despite a slight setback out of opening. 7...Bxc3!?
7...a6 8.Nge2 O-O 9.Nf4 exd5 10.cxd5 (10.Ncxd5 I am not sure what should I assign to this move.
10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Nc6

36
13.cxb5?! Too ambitious. 13...Nd4 14.bxa6 Qh4+ 15.Kd1 Bxa6 16.Qf4 Qd8 17.Qe3 Bxf1 (17...Kh8
18.Qc3 Bb7 19.Bc4 f5 20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Ne3 Re5µ Aronian,Levon 2773 - Grischuk,Alexander 2777,
lichess.org (Internet-rapid) 2020) 18.Rxf1 f5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Qc3 Ra4-+) 10...Nbd7 11.a4 c4
12.axb5 Ne5 13.Be2 Ba5!? 14.bxa6 (14.O-O? axb5µ and because of the check on b6 Black is better.)
14...Bb6 15.Qc1 Rxa6 16.Rxa6 Bxa6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.O-O Rb8 19.Qd2 Bc8! 20.Bd1 (20.Rb1?? loses
to 20...g5) 20...Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Rxb2∞
8.Bxc3 b4 9.Bd2 O-O 10.Ne2
10.Be3 This is another reasonable choice. 10...exd5 11.cxd5 Nfd7 The choice of the World
Champion himself. (11...Ne8 12.Ne2 f5 13.exf5 (13.Nf4 fxe4 14.fxe4 Qe7 15.Bd3 Nc7 16.O-O Nd7
17.a3 bxa3 18.Rxa3 Ne5 19.Be2 Black has a difficult position. I expect to see this move a bit more in
the future, Tsvetkov,Andrey 2350 - Khanin,Semen 2500, Moscow 2020) 13...Bxf5 14.Ng3 Bg6
15.Be2 Nd7 16.O-O Nef6∞; 11...a5!? 12.a3 (12.Ne2 Ne8 13.Ng3 f5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.exf5 Rxf5
16.Bd3 Re5 17.Qd2 Nf6 18.f4 Re8 19.O-O Qd7 20.Qe2 Qf7 21.Qf3 Nbd7∞) 12...Nxe4!?N
(12...bxa3 13.Rxa3 Nbd7 14.Ne2² Fedoseev,Vladimir 2664 - Wojtaszek,Radoslaw 2748, Douglas
2019 - 143/ (176)) 13.fxe4 Qh4+ 14.Kd2 Qxe4 15.Qf3 Qe7 16.Bd3 Re8 17.Nh3 (17.Ne2? Nd7
18.Bf4 Nf6 19.h3 Bb7-+) 17...Nd7 18.Bg5 f6 19.Qh5

37
19...Qe5!! A sheer chess poetry! 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Rab1 Qxd5 22.Qh8+ Kf7 23.Qh5+ Kf8=)
12.Ne2 f5 13.exf5 Rxf5 (13...Nb6!? 14.Ng3 (14.g4 Bb7 15.Nf4 Re8 16.Ne6 Qd7 17.Bd3 Bxd5
18.O-O Nc6 and Black is fine.) 14...Bxf5 15.Nxf5 Rxf5 16.Bd3 Re5∞) 14.Ng3 Re5 15.Kf2 Qh4
16.Qd2 Aronian,Levon 2758 - Carlsen,Magnus 2876, Douglas 2019 - 143/176 (16.Bd3 Rxe3
17.Kxe3 Qd4+ 18.Ke2 Ne5 19.Bb5 Qxb2+ 20.Qd2 Qa3 21.Rhe1 (21.Qg5 Nbd7 22.Nf5 Ng6
23.Rhe1 Ba6 24.Bxa6 Qxa6+ 25.Kf2 Nde5 26.Rxe5 dxe5 27.d6 b3 28.Ne7+ Nxe7 29.Qxe7 b2 30.d7
Qf6 31.Qxc5 bxa1=Q 32.Qd5+ Qe6! 33.Qxe6+ Kf8 34.Qd6+ Kf7 35.Qd5+ Ke7 36.Qxa8 Qd4+=;
21.Kf2 Ba6 22.Bxa6 Nxa6 23.Nf5 Rf8 24.Qg5 Qb2+ 25.Kg3 Nd3 26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Nf7+ Kg8
28.Nh6+=) 21...Ba6 22.Bxa6 Qxa6+ 23.Kf2 Nbd7 24.Nf5 Rf8 25.Qg5 g6©)
10.Bd3!? exd5 (10...Nbd7 11.Ne2 Ne5 12.Qc2 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 exd5 14.exd5 (14.cxd5? a5µ with
the idea of Ba6) 14...Re8 15.O-O Bf5 16.Qxf5 Rxe2 17.Qd3 Re8=) 11.cxd5 Nbd7 12.Ne2 Nh5
13.O-O f5 14.a3 Ne5 15.Bb1 bxa3 16.Rxa3 Nc4=
10...Nh5
10...exd5 11.cxd5 Nh5 12.Nf4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Nxg3 14.Ng2 Qh5 15.Nf4 Qh4 16.Ng2 Qh3=
11.Be3 A relatively artificial move, liked by engines.
11.Kf2 f5 12.exf5 exf5 13.a3 Nd7 14.Kg1 a5 15.axb4 cxb4 16.Nd4 Qb6 17.Be1 Nc5 18.Bf2∞;
11.h4!? f5 12.exf5 (12.Bg5 Qe8 13.dxe6 fxe4 14.e7 (14.Qd5 Nc6 15.e7+ Rf7 Transposes.) 14...Rf7
15.Qd5 (15.Qxd6 Nc6 16.Qxc5 Nxe7 17.O-O-O Bb7©) 15...Nc6 16.g4 exf3 17.gxh5 h6 18.O-O-O
Bg4 19.Ng3 hxg5 20.Ne4 b3 21.a3 f2 22.Nxd6 Nxe7 23.Qxg5 Qd7 24.h6 Bxd1 25.Nxf7 Qd4
26.Ne5 Nf5 27.h7+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ Kxh7 29.Qxf5+ Kg8 30.Bd3

38
It seems to be the time for Black to resign, but... 30...Bc2 31.Nh6+ gxh6 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Qxh6+
Ke7 34.Qg5+ Kd7 35.Bxc2 bxc2 36.Qf5+ Kc7 37.Qf7+ Kb6 38.Qe6+ Ka5 39.Kxc2 Rb8 40.b4+
cxb4 41.axb4+ Rxb4 42.Qd5+ Qxd5 43.cxd5 Rxh4 44.Rf1= It is not all forced, nevertheless it is the
general trend of this line.) 12...exf5 13.Nf4 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Re8+ 15.Kf2 Qf6 16.Qd2∞
11...f5 12.dxe6
12.Qd2!? fxe4 (12...Nf6? 13.dxe6 fxe4 14.Nf4! Nc6 15.O-O-O Qa5 16.Kb1±) 13.Ng3! Nxg3
14.hxg3 Qe8 (14...e5?! 15.g4 exf3 16.Bd3 f2+ 17.Bxf2 h6 18.Be3 e4 19.Be2 Nd7 20.g5 hxg5
21.Bxg5 Qe8 22.O-O-O Ne5 23.Rh2 e3 24.Qxe3 Ng4 25.Bxg4 Bxg4 26.Rdh1 Qxe3+ 27.Bxe3​→)
15.O-O-O! e5 16.g4 Nd7 17.Be2 Nf6 18.Rh4 a5 19.Rdh1 g6 20.Qe1ƒ
12...Bxe6 13.exf5 Rxf5 14.Qd2
14.Ng3 Re5 15.Kf2 Qh4 16.Qxd6 Nd7 17.Bd3 Rf8©
14...Nd7!?
14...Nc6 15.O-O-O Na5 16.Ng3 b3 17.a3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Qxd6 Qxd6
21.Rxd6=
15.O-O-O
15.Ng3 Qh4 16.Bf2 Nxg3 17.Bxg3 Qf6 18.Bd3 Rh5 19.Rc1 d5 20.O-O Ne5∞
15...Qa5 16.Kb1 Bxc4 17.Nc1 Bf7 18.Qxd6 Nhf6 19.Qc6 Re8 20.Bf2 Nb8 21.Qb5 c4 22.Qxa5
Rxa5 23.Rd4 Rc8 Up to this point, the moves have been more or less forced.
24.b3!? Caruana prepares an exchange sacrifice but...
24...Nc6 25.Rxc4 Bxc4 26.Bxc4+ Kh8

39
27.Rd1? A natural move which turns out to be very costly.
27.Nd3 Nd5 28.a4 bxa3 29.Be1 a2+ 30.Ka1 Ra3 31.Bxd5 Nd4 32.Bf2 Nc2+ 33.Kb2 a1=Q+
34.Rxa1 Rxa1 35.Bc4∞
27...Re5?
27...h5! 28.f4 Ne7µ
28.Rd6 Ne8 29.Rd2 Nc7 30.Ne2? This is way too slow. Now, Aronian wins by force.
30.Kb2 would have maintained the balance because Nb5 is not possible.
30...Nb5! 31.Kb2 Na3 32.Ba6 Rd8 33.Rxd8+ Nxd8 34.Kc1 Ne6 35.Bd3 Nc5 36.Kd2 Nxd3
37.Kxd3 Rd5+ 38.Nd4 Rd7 39.g4 a5 40.Bg3 Kg8 41.Be5 g5 42.Ke4 Nb1 43.Kf5 Nc3 44.Nc6 Rd3
45.Ke6 Nxa2 46.Nxa5 Rxf3 47.Bd6 Rd3 48.Nc6 Re3+ 49.Kf6 Rxb3 50.Nd4 Rh3 51.Nf5 b3
52.Ba3 Rxh2 0-1

40
 Fabiano Caruana vs Levon Aronian, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

B15
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger, 2020

The World Champion lost for the first time after two years and 125 games without a defeat!
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Qc2 Re8+ 9.Ne2

41
9...h5!? This move is becoming more and more popular in over-the-board games.
10.Be3
10.Bd2 Nd7 11.O-O-O (11.O-O Nf8 12.Rae1 h4 13.h3 Now we have a transposition to one of the
mainlines. 13...Bc7! preparing Qd6. 14.b3 g6 (14...Ne6 15.f4 Qd6 16.Bh7+ Kf8 17.Be4 Bd7 18.Qd3
g6 19.f5 Qh2+ 20.Kf2 Ng5 21.Bxg5 fxg5 22.fxg6 Kg7 23.gxf7 Re7 24.Bh7 Qd6 25.Bg8 Re6
26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8 Rd8 28.Bh7+ Kxf7= Tekeyev,Zaur 2407 - Esipenko,Andrey 2599, Russia
2018) 15.Kh1

15...a5 (15...Qd6?! Black is not ready, just yet. 16.Bf4 Rxe2!? A commital decision. 17.Bxd6 Rxc2
18.Bxc7 Rxa2 (18...Rd2?? 19.Re8! Kg7 20.Bd6 Ne6 21.Bc4! (21.Bb1?! Re2 22.Bd3 Rxa2 23.f4 Rd2

42
24.f5 gxf5 25.Bxf5 b6 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Rf4 f5 28.Rxh4 1 : 0 Sjugirov,Sanan 2663 - Bai, Jinshi 2579,
Russia - China (m) 2018) 21...Rxa2 22.f4+-) 19.Re8 Kg7 20.Bd6 Nd7 Black is holding by a thread.
Such way of playing in an over-the-board game is not very advisable.) 16.Ng1 Be6 17.f4 f5∞)
10.O-O h4 11.Re1 (11.h3 will transpose to the line mentioned above.) 11...Nd7 12.Bd2 h3∞
10...Nd7 11.O-O-O
11.Ng3

11...Nb6! (11...Bf4? 12.O-O! Bxe3 13.fxe3 Rxe3 14.Nxh5 Nf8 15.Qd2 Qe7 16.Rae1 Re6 (16...Rxe1
17.Rxe1 Qd6 18.Re8 b5 19.Qe3 Bb7 20.Qe7 Qxe7 21.Rxe7 Rb8 22.Nf4 a5 23.h4 Bc8 24.Re8 Ra8
25.Bf5 Bb7 26.Rxa8 Bxa8 27.h5± Maghsoodloo,Parham 2676 - Stefanova,Antoaneta 2462, europe-
echecs.com (Internet-rapid) 2020) 17.Qf2 Qd6 18.Rxe6 Qxe6 19.h3 Qd6 20.Qh4 f5 21.Bxf5 Bxf5
22.Rxf5 Qe6± And despite the clear winning advantage White failed to convert, Sevian,Samuel 2667
- Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu 2540, Helsingor 2019) 12.O-O Nd5 13.Bd2 h4 14.Ne4 h3 15.g3 Bf8
16.Rae1 b5 (16...Nc7?! 17.f3 Ne6 18.Be3 Qa5 19.a3 Bd7 20.g4!+- reinforcing the e4 strongpoint.
20...Rad8 21.Qf2 Be7 22.Qg3 Nf8 23.Qxh3 Ng6 24.f4 f5 25.Qh5 c5 26.gxf5 cxd4 27.Bxd4 Qd5
28.Ng5 1 : 0 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2643 - Liang,Awonder 2599, Greensboro 2019) 17.Qd1 g6 18.b3
Bf5∞;
11.O-O Nf8 12.h3 Be6∞
11...b5 Carlsen refrains from the well-probed main line.
11...Nf8 and now, White has many plausible choices. 12.Kb1 (12.Ng3 Be6! 13.Kb1 (13.Nxh5 Qa5
14.g4 Qxa2 15.Bh6 Bb3 16.Qd2 Qa1+ 17.Bb1 Bxd1 18.Bxg7 Ng6 19.Qh6 Re6 20.Rxd1 Ba3
21.bxa3 Qxc3+ 22.Bc2 Qa1+=) 13...g6 14.Ne4 b5!?∞) 12...Be6 13.c4 Rc8 14.h3 h4 15.Nc3 Ng6!?∞
12.d5!? At first it looks decisive, but it is hard to say where Carlsen went wrong. This is all quite OK

43
for Black.
12...c5 13.Bxb5 Rb8?
13...a6! Engines prefer this move on the depth 60. Although, it is hard to understand why this move is
better than the meaningful Rb8. 14.Bc6 (14.Ba4 Re5! a very important move, preparing Bf5 at some
point. 15.c4 (15.Bc6 Nb6! 16.Bxa8 Bf5 17.Qb3

17...Rxe3!! 18.fxe3 c4 and the queen is trapped.; 15.Bf4?? Rxe2-+) 15...Nb6 16.Bc6 Bf5 and White
is already in a serious trouble.; 14.Bd3 Ne5 and Black starts developing very annoying initiative.
White's pieces are crammed.) 14...Rb8 15.Rd2 Re7 16.Ng3 Ne5 17.Qa4 c4 18.Rhd1 h4 19.Ne2 Bf5©
14.c4!² a6 15.Ba4

44
15...Re7? However, this is a very serious mistake.
15...Re5! This is a must move now. 16.Nc3 Nb6 (16...Rb4 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.Ne4 Bf5 19.f3 Qe7
20.Bd2 a5 21.Bxb4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 axb4©

A picturesque blockade. Petrosian would have loved this! ) 17.Bb3 Bf5 18.Qd2 a5 19.a3 Nxd5
20.Nxd5 Rxb3 21.Nc3 Rb6 22.Nb5 Re6 23.Qxa5 Qb8 24.Rxd6 Rbxd6 25.Nxd6 Qxd6 (¹25...Rxd6)
26.Qa8+ Kh7 27.Qd5 Qxd5 28.cxd5 Rd6 29.Rd1+- Ivic, Velimir 2487 - Hansen,Torbjorn Ringdal
2423, Porto Carras 2018
16.Ng3 Ne5 17.Ne4?

45
17.Bd2! - controlling the b4-square is extremely important. 17...Reb7 18.b3 would have given White
a decisive advantage.
17...Reb7 18.b3 Rb4! Magnus seizes his chances and is back into the game.
19.Bd2 Rxa4 20.bxa4 Bf5 21.Rde1 h4?? Carlsen loses a valuable tempo.
22.h3 Ng6 23.Re3 Nf4 24.g4 Bg6 25.Kd1! Duda begins to prepare for Rb3.
25...f5 This only exacerbates the situation, but it is very hard to recommend anything better.
26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.gxf5 Bh5+ 28.f3 Qf6 29.Bc3 Qg5

30.Qe4??
30.Rhe1+-
30...Qg2?? This grave mistake returns the favour.
30...Kh7 would have poised White with serious technical problems. According to the engines on
relatively high depth, White's advantage is gone! But, it is hard to recommend anything concrete for
White. 31.Rf1 (31.Rhe1 Ng2) 31...f6 32.d6 Re8 33.Bxf6 Qxf6 34.Qxf4 Qa1+ 35.Ke2 Qb2+ 36.Kd3
Qa3+ 37.Kd2 Qb2+ 38.Kd1=
31.Rhe1+- From here onward Duda had no problem converting his winning advantage.
31...Qxa2 32.Qc2 Qxc4 33.Re8+ Kh7 34.Rxb8 Qxd5+ 35.Qd2 Bxf3+ 36.Kc1 Qxf5 37.Re3 Ne2+
38.Kb2 Nxc3 39.Qxc3 Qf4 40.Qd3+ f5 41.Rf8 Qb4+ 42.Kc1 Be4 43.Qb3 Qd4 44.Qc3 Qd6 45.Rf7
Qg6 46.Rd7 Qg1+ 47.Kb2 c4 48.Rxe4 fxe4 49.Rd4 Qf2+ 50.Qd2 c3+ 51.Kxc3 Qg3+ 52.Kb2 Qxh3
53.Rxe4 Qg3 54.Qd4 Qg2+ 55.Kc3 Qf3+ 56.Kb4 Qf8+ 57.Ka5 Qf5+ 58.Kxa6 g5 59.a5 h3
60.Re7+ Kg6 61.Qg7+ Kh5 62.Qh7+ Kg4 63.Re4+ 1-0

46
 B22
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 An interesting choice by Aronian.

3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Na3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nb5 Qd7 9.Nbxd4 a6 A less common but a
well-researched line.
9...Nd5!? 10.Bd2 Bd6!? (10...Be7?! 11.Nxc6 Qxc6 (11...bxc6 12.c4 Nb6 13.Qc2 c5 14.O-O-Oƒ)
12.Ne5 Qc5 (12...Qb6?! 13.Qa4+ Kf8 14.Nd3 Qc7 15.Be2± Kunz,Harry - Sanchez
Rodenas,Antonio, corr 2019/20) 13.Qa4+ Kf8 14.Bd3 Nb4 15.Qxb4 Qxe5+ 16.Qe4 Qxe4+ 17.Bxe4
f5 18.Bf3 Kf7 19.O-O-O²; 10...Nxd4 11.Ne5 Qd8 12.cxd4 a6 13.Bc4 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.Re1 Nf6
(15...Nb6 16.Ba5±) 16.Bg5 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Bd3²) 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.c4! (12.Bd3 Rb8 13.Qc2
h6 14.O-O c5 15.Rad1 Qc7= 16.c4 Nb4 17.Bxb4 Rxb4 18.Rfe1 O-O 19.b3 Rb6 20.Qe2 Rd8 21.Bc2
Be7 22.Qe4 f5 23.Qe5 Rbd6 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Qe3 Bf6 26.h3 Bb7 27.b4 cxb4 28.c5 Rc6 29.Bb3
Bc8 30.Rc1 Kh7 31.Nd4 Rxc5 32.Rxc5 Qxc5 33.Nxe6 Qd6 34.Qd3 Qxd3 35.Nf8+ Kh8 1/2 : 1/2
Van Foreest,Jorden 2644 - Duda,Jan Krzysztof 2758, Wijk aan Zee 2020) 12...Nf6 13.Bc3 O-O
14.Qc2

14...e5! 15.O-O-O Qe7 16.Nd2 Bc5 17.Nb3 Bb4 18.Bxb4 Qxb4 19.a3 Qe7 20.f3 a5 21.Bd3 a4
22.Nd2 Be6 23.Rhe1 Rfd8 24.Qc3 Qc7 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 h6 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 1/2 : 1/2
Rezzuti,Vincenzo - Raivio,Pertti, corr 2015
10.Bd3 Bd6
10...Bc5 11.O-O Nxd4 12.cxd4 Be7 13.Rc1 O-O 14.Ne5 Qd5 15.Re1 b5 16.Be2!±
11.O-O

47
11.Nxc6 Qxc6 12.Qd2 e5 13.O-O-O Be6 14.Bf5 Bc7 15.Bxe6 Qxe6 16.Bc5∞
11...Ne7!? Playing against the superfluous d4-square.
12.Qc2 O-O 13.Bg5 Ng6 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.g3 Rfe8 - all the best moves according to the
engines.
17.Bxf6
17.a3 b5 18.Qe2 is another plausible path to equality.
17...gxf6 18.h4 Kh8?
18...Kg7 19.h5 Nf8 20.c4 Be7∞

19.Qd2! White targets h6 now.

19...Bf8? Proves to be decisive.
19...Rad8 is insufficient due to 20.h5 Nf4!? 21.gxf4 Bxf4 22.Qc2 Rg8+ 23.Kf1 e5 24.Nf5 Bc6
25.Be4 Bb5+ 26.Re2 Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Qc4 28.Nd6 Qe6 29.Bf5+-
20.h5 Ne7 21.Bc2! Red8 22.Qd3 f5 23.g4?? This move lets go of the win and double score for
Aronian.
23.Ng5 Be8 (23...Kg8 24.Nxf7! Kxf7 25.Bb3! Bg7

48
26.Rxe6!! - now the black king is hopeless. 26...Bxe6 27.Nxe6 Rxd3 28.Nxc7+ Kf8 29.Rxd3+-)
24.Qe2 Now the e6 point is impossible to defend. 24...Bg7 25.Ngxe6 fxe6 26.Nxe6 Qb6 27.Nxd8+-
23...f6
23...Qf4 was even more to the point.
24.g5 Qf4 Just in time.
25.gxf6 Qg4+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Ke2 Nd5?! Now, it all becomes chaotic, though it is hard to see the
deep and difficult lines.
27...Bb5! 28.c4 Nd5 29.Nxe6 Rd6 30.Ne5 (30.Nfd4 Qxh5+ 31.Kf1 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qh5+=)
30...Qxh5+ 31.Qf3 Bxc4+ 32.Bd3 (32.Nxc4?? Rxe6+-+) 32...Bxd3+ 33.Rxd3 Rxe6 34.Rxd5 Qg6
35.Kf1 Qxf6∞
28.Qd2 Bb5+ 29.Nxb5 Qg4 30.Qg5 This is safe, but White had some brilliancy.
30.Nc7!! Nf4+ 31.Qxf4 Qxf4 32.Nxa8 Rxa8 33.Rd7 It is almost impossible to believe that White is
much better in this position. Let us probe a bit further. 33...Bh6 34.Rd4 Qc7

49
35.Kd3!! (35.Kd1? Qf7 36.Rd6 does not work anymore. 36...Qxh5) 35...Qf7 36.Rd6 Re8 37.Bb3
Qxf6 38.Rexe6 Rxe6 39.Rxe6 Qf8 40.Kc2 a5 41.a4±
30...Nf4+ 31.Ke3 Ng2+ 32.Ke2 Qc4+ 33.Bd3 Rxd3 34.Rxd3??† A sad blunder in time pressure for
Aronian.
34.Ne5 Nf4+ 35.Kf1 Rg3+ 36.Nxc4 Rxg5 37.Nc7 Rxh5 38.Kg1 Rg5+ 39.Kf1 Rh5=
34...Nf4+ Now it is all over.
35.Ke3 Qe4+ 36.Kd2 Qxd3+ 37.Kc1 Qxf3 38.f7 Qg4 0-1

Aronian, Levon (2767) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)

Stavanger, 2020

50
The position is a very sharp one. In the previous round Caruana lost the game with the white pieces
against the same rival, so he was highly motivated to score a full point. Curiously, it was the
relatively calm Alapin Sicilian line that led to the diagram position.
32...Qc4+ 33.Bd3
33.Rd3! Nf4+ 34.Kf1 h6! (34...Nxd3 35.Nbd4! (35.Bxd3 Qxd3+ 36.Kg2 Bh6 37.Qxh6 Rg8+
38.Ng5 Rxg5+ 39.Qxg5 Rg8 40.Qxg8+ Kxg8 41.Nd4∞) 35...h6! (35...Nxe1+ 36.Kxe1 Rxd4
(36...Qd5 37.f7 Bg7 38.h6 Be5 39.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 40.Kf1+- Black has no good defence against the
threat of f4.; 36...h6 37.Qg6+-) 37.Nxd4 Qd5 38.Kd2±) 36.Qe3 Nxe1+ 37.Kxe1 Qxa2 38.Ne5
Rxd4! (38...Qxb2? 39.Ng6+ Kh7 40.Nxf8+ Rxf8 41.Bxf5++-) 39.Qxd4 Qd5 (39...Qxb2
40.Qc4!!+-) 40.Qxd5 exd5 41.Kd2²) 35.Ne5 (35.Qxf4!? Qxf4 36.Nbd4

51
Two knights and a pawn for the queen! However, in view of the weakened position of the black king
and dangerous f6-pawn White may still have some ambition. 36...Qg4 37.Ne5 Qxh5 38.Bb3∞)
35...hxg5 36.Nxc4 Rxd3 (36...Nxd3 37.Bxd3 axb5 38.Ne5²) 37.Bxd3 Nxd3 38.Nc7 Rc8 39.Nxe6
Nxe1 40.Ne5²
33...Rxd3

34.Rxd3?? A really terrible mistake. White misses the chance to clinch a draw.
34.Ne5! Nf4+ 35.Kf1 Rg3+ 36.Nxc4 Rxg5 37.Nb6 Rxh5 38.Kg1 Rg5+ 39.Kf1 Rh5
34...Nf4+ 35.Ke3??

52
35.Qxf4 Qxf4 36.Rd4 Qh6 37.Nc7 Rc8 38.Nxe6 Re8 39.Kf1 Qxf6 40.Nxf8 Rxe1+ 41.Kxe1 Qxf8³
35...Qe4+ 36.Kd2 Qxd3+ 37.Kc1 Qxf3 38.f7
38.Nd6 h6-+
38...Qg4 0-1

D46
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger, 2020

Maybe Carlsen did not care much about his discontinued record, but he was surely anxious to get
back to the top of the standings!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Carlsen changes the move order.
RR It would be very interesting to implement the same idea, but starting with 5.Bd3!? Nbd7 6.b3
Perunovic,Milos
5...b6
5...Bd6 6.Nf3 (6.Bb2 Nbd7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Nge2 Re8 9.O-O e5∞) 6...Nbd7 transposes to one of the
mainlines. I belive that Duda did not want to enter the mainline with his bishop being placed on d6.
RR5...Bb4 6.Bb2 Ne4 7.Qc2 (7.Ne2 dxc4! 8.bxc4 (8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Nxc3 cxb3 10.Qxb3 Be7 White
does have some compensation for the pawn, but it is questionable if it is sufficient.) 8...e5 9.dxe5
(9.f3 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 exd4 12.exd4 O-O and White is experiencing permanent
problems with his damaged pawn structure.) 9...Nd7 10.Qc2 (10.Qd4 O-O 11.Ng3 (11.Qxe4? Nc5µ)
11...Nec5³) 10...Ndc5 11.Rd1 Qh4 12.g3 Qg4 13.Bg2 Bf5) 7...e5! 8.a3 (8.dxe5? d4 9.exd4 Qxd4
10.Rc1 Qxe5µ) 8...Bxc3+ (8...exd4!?) 9.Bxc3 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 dxc4 11.dxe5 cxb3 12.Bc4 b2
(12...a5!? 13.Bxb3 a4 14.Bc2 Qa5 15.Qxa5 Rxa5 16.f4 Nd7 17.Nf3 Nc5∞) 13.Qxb2 Qa5+ 14.Ke2
Nd7 15.f4 Nb6 16.Bb3 Bg4+ 17.Nf3 O-O-O!? 18.Bxf7 (18.Rhc1 g5; 18.Rhd1 g5) 18...Rhf8 19.e6
(19.Ba2 g5) 19...Nc4 20.Qb4 Rd2+ 21.Ke1 Qxb4 22.axb4 Rxg2 23.Rg1 (23.e7

53
23...Re8!∞) 23...Rxg1+ 24.Nxg1 Nd6 25.Rxa7 Kb8 26.Ra5 Nxf7 27.exf7 Rxf7∞ Perunovic,Milos
6.Bb2 Bb7 7.Bd3 Nbd7

8.Nge2!? A new opening trend thanks to the World Champion himself!

8...Bd6
8...Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Qc2 h6 11.Rfe1 Rc8 seems reasonable since the e4 breakthrough does not
seem to do much. 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 c5 14.Rad1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 a6 16.Ng3 Bb4 17.Nxe6 fxe6
18.Rxe6 Rc6 19.Bf5 Qc7 20.a3 Bd6 21.b4 Rf7 22.Qe2©
9.O-O O-O 10.Ng3

54
RR White prepared the thematic e4-pawn break. The g3N enables the e4 advance, while preventing
Black's desired e5-pawn break thanks to the highly unpleasant Nf5 threat. Compared to the standard
position with the white knight placed on f3, Black finds it very difficult to achieve full equality being
unable to execute c5- or e5-pawn breaks. Perunovic,Milos
10...c5?!
10...Re8 11.e4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 e5 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 a6 15.Nf5 (15.a4) 15...Bb4 16.a4 (16.a3 Bxc3
17.Bxc3 b5µ) 16...Nf8 17.f4 exf4 18.Ne2 (18.Rxf4 Ng6 19.Rf1 Bc8 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.d6 Ne5
22.Nd5 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Nfg4 24.Qf3 Ra7 25.Qg3 Kf8 26.Nf6 Nxf6 27.Bxe5 Rxe5 28.Qxe5 Qxd6
29.Qxd6+ Bxd6 30.Rxf6 Be5=) 18...b5 19.Nxf4 bxc4 20.bxc4 Bd6 21.Nxg7 (21.Nh5 Nxh5 22.Qxh5
Qb6+ 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8=; 21.Rb1 Be5 22.Nxg7 Kxg7
23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Qd4 N8d7 25.Rxb7 Qc8 26.Rxd7 Nxd7 27.Nd3 f6 28.Nxe5 Nxe5 29.c5 Qd7
30.Rc1©) 21...Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Qxb2 23.Nd3 Qd4 24.Nf5 Qxc4 25.Nxd6 Qxd5 26.Nxb7 N8d7
27.Nbc5 Nxc5 28.Nxc5 Qxd1 29.Rfxd1=
11.cxd5 cxd4
RR11...exd5 12.Nf5 Bb8 13.f4 g6 (13...cxd4 14.Nb5! dxe3 15.Nxg7! Kxg7 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Qh3+-
) 14.dxc5! gxf5 15.c6 Bxc6

55
16.Ne2!± Carlsen launches unstoppable attack on the black king: Nd4, Rf3-h3...
11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Qg4 f6 15.Bc2²;
11...Bxg3 12.fxg3! exd5 13.g4² Perunovic,Milos
12.Nce4 Bxg3
RR12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Nc5 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 (14...Nxd3 15.Nxb7 Nxb2 16.Qxd4 Qxd5 17.Qxd5
exd5 18.Rfb1! Rfb8 19.Nd6 Nd3 20.Rd1 Rd8 21.Nf5± and White wins a pawn.) 15.Bc4! dxe3
16.Qd4 exf2+ 17.Rxf2 e5 18.Qxe5 Qxe5 19.Bxe5² Perunovic,Milos
13.Nxg3 dxe3
RR13...Nxd5 14.Bxd4± White claims the bishop pair, which together with the knight and queen
could cause extreme danger for the black king. Perunovic,Milos
14.dxe6 exf2+ 15.Rxf2 fxe6 16.Qe2 Nc5 A novelty.
17.Bc2 A well-prepared pawn sacrifice by Carlsen. Engines claim that the position is balanced, but
all of their moves and ideas are unbeknownst to Duda. The Polish star who had already burnt a lot of
time on earlier moves, succumbed to his fate in two more moves.
17...Ba6 18.Qe1

56
18...Qe8?? This loses by force.
Instead, Duda should have continued with 18...Nd5! 19.Rxf8+ (19.b4 Rxf2 20.Kxf2 Nxb4! (20...Qe7
21.Kg1 Rf8 22.bxc5 Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 Qxc2 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 25.Qe8+ Rf8) 21.Qxb4 Qd3! 22.Bb3 Rd8!
Black gains powerful initiative for the sacrificed piece. The obvious threat is Qd2, with the h5-h4
pawn advance in mind. Perunovic,Milos (22...Rf8+ is sufficient only for a draw. 23.Kg1 Qe3+
24.Kh1 Nd3 25.Qd4 Nf2+ 26.Kg1 Nh3+)) 19...Qxf8 20.b4 Nd3 21.Qxe6+ Qf7 22.Qxf7+ Kxf7
23.Bb3 Rd8 and in long-term Black should hold, even though every move is a struggle for him.
Carlsen definitely managed to completely catch his opponent off-guard!
19.Rd1 Threating b4.
19...Rc8
RR19...Rd8 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.b4 Nd3 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Rd2 Qc8 24.Qxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxd3 Rxc2
26.Rd8+ Ng8 27.Bd4± Black is unable to defend from Nf5 and Nh5 threats. Perunovic,Milos
20.b4 Nb7 21.Ne4 Nd5 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.Bb1
23.Bb3+- Perunovic,Milos
23...Qxb4 24.Nf6+ ! The final blow! Perunovic,Milos
24...Kh8
RR24...Kf7 25.Qxb4 Nxb4 26.Rd7+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke8 28.Rxg7+- Perunovic,Milos
25.Qxe6 Ra8 26.Qxd5 1-0

B13
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger, 2020

57
The "poor" Aryan had a hard time in his first experience at the highest level. This game particularly
shows that he had problem dealing with dynamic problems against players like Firouzja.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 solid, but... 4...Nf6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Qb3 Qc7 7.h3 Bd7 8.Nf3 Nc6
8...e6 9.O-O Bd6 10.Re1 Bc6 11.Qd1 Nbd7 12.Qe2 O-O 13.Ne5 (13.Nbd2?! Nh5!„ Ganguly, Surya
Shekhar 2636 - Eljanov,Pavel 2650, Wijk aan Zee II 2020 - 144/33) 13...Bxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4

15.Bc2! f5 (15...Nxe5 16.Bf4 (16.f3? Bb5! 17.Qxb5 Nxf3+-+) 16...f6 17.Nd2 Qb6 18.Nxe4 dxe4
19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qxb2 21.Rab1 Qxa2 22.Rxb7 Qd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.Rxe5
Rf7=) 16.a4 Rac8 17.Na3 a6 18.Bf4 Qd8 19.f3 Qh4 20.Be3 f4 21.Bd4 Ng3 22.Qf2 Rf7 23.Rac1 g5
24.c4 Rcf8 25.Bb3 dxc4 26.Nxc4 Bd5 27.Rc3 Rg7 28.Nd6 Bxb3 29.Rxb3 h5 30.Kh2 g4 31.Ne4 Qd8
32.fxg4 hxg4 33.Nf6+ Nxf6 34.exf6 Nf5 35.fxg7 g3+ 36.Kh1 gxf2 37.gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 38.Bc5+ Ke8
39.Bxf2 Qd2 40.Rxb7 Nd4 41.Re5 Qxf2 1/2 : 1/2 Steinkellner,Peter - Tyulenko,Yuri, corr 2013/ 14
9.O-O e6 10.Re1 Bd6 11.Bg5
11.Qc2 O-O 12.Qe2 Be8 13.Nbd2 Nh5 14.Nf1 Nf4 15.Bxf4 Bxf4∞
11...O-O 12.Nbd2 Nh5 13.Qd1 f6 14.Be3 Nf4 15.Bf1

58
15...g5!? 16.c4!? This is a normal reaction to Black's aggressive play.
16...Kh8 17.Rc1 Rg8 18.Bxf4 Bxf4 19.b4? Again, Tari has a hard time dealing with dynamic
pressure and gives a clear plan to his opponent. This move does not achieve anything.
Instead, White should have tried 19.Rc3 Rg7 20.g3 Bd6 21.Bg2 reaching a very solid position.
19...Qd6 20.b5 Ne7 21.c5
21.Rc3
21...Qc7 Now Black's attack is overwhelming against the white king.
22.g3 g4! 23.hxg4 Rxg4 24.Bh3 Rg7 25.Kh1

59
25...e5! This was an easy move for Firouzja!
26.Bxd7 Qxd7 27.Nh2 Qh3 28.Rg1 Rag8 29.Qe2 e4 30.Rc3 Nf5 31.Nxe4 dxe4 32.Qxe4 Bxg3
33.Rg2 Re7 34.Qb1 Rge8 0-1

60
 Aryan Tari vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

C70
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 f5?!

The "delayed" Spanish (Jaenisch) gambit is pretty common in recent practice. Duda was prepared and
demonstrated how White should treat such lines.
5.d4! exd4
5...fxe4 6.Nxe5 Nf6 7.O-O Bd6 8.Nc3! Nxe5 (8...Qe7 9.Bg5 Nxe5 (9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 Qxe5 11.Bxf6
Qxf6 12.Nxe4+-) 10.Nxe4 ! 10...O-O 11.Re1+-) 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Nxe4! O-O 11.Bb3+ Kh8 12.f4
Nxe4 13.fxe5±
6.e5 b5
6...Bc5 7.O-O Nge7 8.c3 dxc3 9.Nxc3 O-O 10.Nd5 Black is lagging in development and has a pretty
weak king. He cannot easily deal with these problems, and he must suffer quite a lot. For example:
10...h6 (10...Kh8 11.Bg5 b5 12.Bb3; 10...Ng6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.Qb3+
Rf7 15.e6) 11.Bb3 Kh7 (11...Kh8 12.Bxh6!) 12.Bg5
7.Bb3 Bb7 8.O-O Na5 9.Nxd4!
9.Bxg8 Rxg8 10.Nxd4 Qh4! Morozevich,Alexander 2659 - Sychev,Klementy 2563, Moscow (blitz)
2019
9...c5
9...Nxb3 10.Nxb3 c5 11.Nc3 Qb6 12.Re1±

61
10.Nxf5!
10.Bxg8 cxd4 11.Bb3 Nxb3 12.axb3 Qb6∞ Ter Sahakyan, Samvel 2617 - Mikaelyan,Arman 2476,
Armenia (ch) 2020
10...c4 11.Nc3
11.Qg4 Qb6! 12.Nxg7+ (12.Nd6+?! Bxd6 13.exd6 O-O-Oµ) 12...Bxg7 13.Qxg7 Qg6 14.Qxg6+
hxg6 15.Bd2 Nc6 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Na3 Nd4 18.Nxc4²;
11.Re1!?
11...Qb6
11...cxb3 12.axb3 Qb6 13.Re1 O-O-O 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Nc6 16.Be3 Qb7 17.Bg5+-
12.Nd5
12.Re1! Qg6 (12...O-O-O 13.a4 b4 14.Ne4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 cxb3 16.Bg5±) 13.Ng3 O-O-O 14.Bf4
(14.Nce4 cxb3 15.axb3 Nc6 16.Bg5ƒ) 14...d5 15.Ba4!ƒ (15.a4!? b4 16.Nb5)
12...Bxd5? Tari makes a mistake here, missing the opportunity to gain some counter-play. The b7B is
the piece of crucial importance for the stability of Black's position, exerting pressure along the
diagonal towards the g2 point and protecting the king once Black castles long.
12...Qc6 13.Nf4 O-O-O 14.Nd4 Qc7 15.a4 b4∞
13.Qxd5 Qc6 14.Qd4±

B36
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger, 2020

62
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Be3 Bg7 9.f3 O-O
10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.b3 Rfc8 13.Be2 a6 14.Na4 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Nd7 16.g4

16...Rcb8!? This is a very interesting idea.

The most common move being 16...f5
17.Nc3 b5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Nc5 20.g5
20.Bxc5 dxc5 21.Rxc5 Bh6+ 22.Kd3 Bf4 23.Kd4 Rc8 24.b4 f6 Perhaps this is the maximum White
can hope for. After all, he managed to win a pawn, but it not certain if he will be able to improve his
position. It is highly likely that Duda investigated this position even further to a draw.
20.b4 Na4 21.Rc7 a5 22.bxa5 (22.Rb1 axb4 23.Rxb4 Nc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Rxc5 Bh6+ 26.Ke1 Rxa2
27.Rcxb5 Rxb5 28.Rxb5 Bf4) 22...Rxa5 White must pay close attention to his weakened king.
20...Bb2! 21.Rc2 Ba3 22.Rb1 a5 23.Kd1 Na6 Even though White has the pair of bishops, he cannot
make any progress due to Black's domination over the dark-square complex.
24.Bf1 Nb4 25.Rd2 Rb7 26.f4 Na6 27.Rc2 Nb4 28.Rd2 Na6 29.Rc2 Nb4 30.Rd2 1/2-1/2

Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Tari, Aryan (2633)

Stavanger, 2020

63
The World Champion demonstrated his unique class against his countryman Tari, showing us how
the good knight versus the bad bishop positions ought to be handled.
20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd2 The knight aims the standard stronghold on d5.
21...Qc6 22.Qa4! White makes it very hard for Black to manoeuvre his pieces, offering the trade of
queens along the way.
22...Rfb8 23.Nc4 Be7 24.g3
24.Na3 R5b6 25.Qxc6 Rxc6 26.Nc4±
24...Qc8 25.Qd1 g6 26.Kg2 Bf8 27.Qf3 Rb3 28.Rec1
28.Ra7 Qe6 29.Rea1± with the idea of 29...Rxc3 30.Rc7 Rc8 (30...Rbb3 31.Raa7 Rxd3 32.Qxf7+
Qxf7 33.Rxf7+-) 31.Rb7 Re8 32.Ra6+-
28...Qe6 29.Ra7 R8b7 30.Rxb7 Rxb7 31.Ra1 h5
31...Rb3 32.Ne3 Rxc3 33.Nd5 Rb3 34.Ra8 f5 (34...Kg7 35.g4 h6 36.h4+-) 35.g4 (35.Ra7 c4 36.Qe3!
fxe4 (36...Rxd3 37.Qb6 f4 38.h3!+- The Qb7 threats cannot be stopped.) 37.Qxe4 Kh8 (37...Rxd3
38.Nf6+! Qxf6 39.Qxc4++-) 38.Qxc4+-) 35...f4 36.Re8 Qxe8 37.Nf6+ Kf7 38.Nxe8 Kxe8 39.g5+-
and Black can hardly maintain this position.
32.Ra8 Kg7 33.Ne3 Rc7?
33...Qd7 34.Nd5±
34.Nd5 Rc8 35.Ra7 Rb8 36.h3 Rd8 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 Rd7 39.Ra8 f6 40.g5 f5 41.Qh3 Rf7

64
42.Re8! The final cut!
42...Qxe8 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qxg6+ Kh8
44...Bg7 45.Nf6++-
45.Nf6 1-0

Aryan Tari vs Magnus Carlsen, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)

Stavanger, 2020

65
Quite an entertaining position was reached in the Duda - Caruana clash. It all started with a tough
positional battle, leading to slight initiative for the American. Now we are on the key 37th move
when Caruana had the choice of sacrificing the rook in two ways, both being atractive and demanding
for White. The suggested sacrifice is even more difficult for White to face in over-the-board struggle,
leading to tedious suffering in an inferior endgame.
37...Rxe4
37...Qxg3! 38.cxd4 exd4 39.Nxc4 Qg2+ 40.Ke1 Qg1+ 41.Ke2 (41.Kd2? Qf2+ 42.Kc1 Qf1+
43.Kd2 Qxc4µ) 41...Bh3 42.Nd2 (42.Qa4 Qg2+ 43.Kd1 Qxf3+ 44.Kc1 Qf1+ 45.Kc2 d3+ 46.Kb3
d2 47.Nxd2 Qd3+ 48.Ka2 Qxd2³; 42.Ne3 c4! 43.Rd8 c3 44.Rxd4 cxb2 45.Rd1 b1=Q 46.Rxb1
Qxb1³) 42...c4 43.Rd8™ Be6 44.Nf1 d3+ (44...c3 45.Rxd4 cxb2 46.Qb4 b1=Q 47.Qxb1 Qxd4
48.Ne3³) 45.Rxd3 cxd3+ 46.Qxd3 Qg2+ 47.Ke1 Qh3 48.b4 Qxh4+³
38.fxe4 Qxe4 39.Qxc5™
39.Kf2?? Bc6-+;
39.Rd8 Qd3+ 40.Kf2 Qd2+-+
39...Qxa8 40.Qxc4 Be6 41.Qd3+ Kg8 42.Qd6 1/2-1/2

D78
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger, 2020

Firouzja seems to be the biggest threat to Magnus' throne. The young phenomenon achieved a
fantastic result in this event, showing his readiness to take the strongest players in the world in any

66
time format, and at any time. We cannot just go by without looking at one of his outstanding wins in
Norway.
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 c6 7.b3!? A psychologically provocative
move.
7...dxc4
7...a5 - this is one of the safest and trendiest choices at the moment. 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.Bxc3
Nd7 (10...a4?! A bit too commital. 11.cxd5 Qxd5 (11...cxd5?! Calling for trouble. It is not easy to see
how Black recoups the pawn on a4. 12.bxa4 Bd7 13.Qb3 Bxa4 14.Qxb7 Nc6 15.Rfb1 Qd6 16.Qb2
Na5 17.Bb4 Qe6 18.e3 Nc4 19.Qe2 Bb5 20.Qe1 Rfb8 21.Nd2 Qd7 22.Nb3 e5 23.dxe5 Nxe5
24.Bc3 Bc4 25.Qd2 Qf5 26.Rd1 h5 27.Nd4 Qd7 28.h4 Ra3 29.Rdc1 Rba8 30.Rc2 Bd3 31.Rcc1 Bc4
32.Nb3 Qf5 33.Rd1 Nf3+ 34.Bxf3 Bxc3 35.Qxc3 Qxf3 36.Qb2 Rxa2 0 : 1 Ding, Liren 2791 -
Caruana,Fabiano 2835, chess24.com (Internet-m/5-blitz-Armageddon) 2020) 12.bxa4 Qc4 13.Qd2
Rxa4 14.Rfc1 Qa6 15.a3 Bf5 16.Bb4 Nd7 17.e3²) 11.Rc1 Nf6 12.Ne5 Ne4!? 13.Be1 h5∞
8.bxc4 c5 9.Bb2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qb6 11.Qc1 Bd7
11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Nb3 Rfd8 (14...Rac8 Ding,Liren 2732 - Caruana,Fabiano
2820, Wijk aan Zee 2015 - 123/150) 15.Re1 Rac8 16.Bc3 Qa6 17.e4 Be6 18.c5 Ne8 19.e5 Bd5
20.Ba5 Rd7 21.Bf1 Qb7 22.Nd4 Rb8 23.Nc2 Qb2 24.Qxb2 Rxb2 25.Nb4 e6 26.Ba6 Nc7 27.Bc8
Re7 28.Rad1 Bf8= Turgut,Tansel - Blanco Gramajo,Cesar, corr 2015/16
11...Rd8 12.e3 Nc6 13.Nd2 Bd7 (13...Ng4 14.c5 Nxd4 (14...Qc7) 15.Bxd4 Qc7 16.Qb2!? (16.Nb3
Be6 17.Qc3 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Bd5 19.e4 Bc6 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.f4 Nf6 22.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rd8
24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Bf3 Qb8 26.Kg2 Qb1 27.Qb3 Qc1 28.e5 Qd2+ 29.Kf1 Nd7 30.Qc4 Qe3
31.Qe4 Qxc5 1/2 : 1/2 Pheby,Ian - Flecher, Joseph, corr 2015/16) 16...e5 17.Bc3 Qxc5 18.h3 Nf6
19.Nb3 Qe7 20.Bxe5 Be6 21.Rfc1 Bxb3 22.axb3 Ne8 23.Bxg7 Nxg7 24.h4 with quite substantial
advantage for White.) 14.Bc3 Qa6 (14...Rac8 15.Qa3 Ne8 16.Rfb1 Qc7 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.Rb2 Bxc3
19.Nxc3 Be6 20.Rc1 b6 21.Nd5 and White has some pressure, Schott,Detlef - Packroff,Hermann,
corr 2017) 15.a4 Rab8 16.a5 Ne5 17.Qa3 and White's pressure started mounting, Neubauer,Ralf -
Boos,Markus, corr 2013
12.Nd2 Nc6

67
13.Nc2!? This is an odd but very interesting move.
13.N2b3 Rac8 14.Rd1 Rfd8 15.h3 Be8 16.c5 Qa6 17.e3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc6 19.Qb2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2
Bf8 21.Rac1 Nd7 22.e4 Nb8 23.f3 Nc6 24.Bc3 Rd3 25.Rxd3 Qxd3 26.Qd2 Rd8 27.Qxd3 Rxd3
28.Kf2 Bh6 29.Rc2 f5 30.exf5 gxf5 31.f4 Kf7 32.Nc1 Rd5 33.Nb3 e6 34.Rd2 Rxd2+ 35.Nxd2 e5
36.fxe5 Bxd2 37.Bxd2 Nxe5 38.Ke3 Nc4+ 39.Kd3 Nxd2 40.Kxd2 Ke6 41.Ke3 Ke5 42.h4 a5 43.h5
a4 44.Kf3 a3 45.g4 fxg4+ 46.Kxg4 Kd4 47.Kg5 Kxc5 48.Kh6 b5 49.Kxh7 b4 50.Kg8 b3 51.axb3
a2 52.b4+ Kb6 53.h6 a1=Q 54.h7 Qg1+ 55.Kf7 Qf2+ 0 : 1 Firouzja, Alireza 2728 - Nyzhnyk,Illya
2665, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid) 2020
13...Rac8
13...Bh6 14.Rb1!? (14.Bc3 Rfd8 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Qb2 Bf5 17.e3 Rac8 18.Rbc1 b6 19.Nd4 Nxd4
20.Bxd4 Nd7 21.Nb3 e5 22.Bc3 Bd3 23.Rfd1 Bxc4 24.Bb4 Bf8 25.Bxf8 Nxf8 26.Rxd8 Qxd8
27.Qxe5 Ne6 28.h4 Bxb3 29.Rxc8 Qxc8 30.axb3 Qc1+ 31.Kh2 Qc2 32.Qb8+ Kg7 33.Qxa7 Qxb3
34.Qa1+ Kg8 35.Qa8+ Kg7 36.Bd5 Qb2 37.Bxe6 Qxf2+ 38.Kh3 Qf1+ 39.Kh2 Qf2+ 40.Kh3 Qf1+
41.Kh2 Qf2+ 1/2 : 1/2 Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi 2718 - So,Wesley 2780, chess.com (Internet-m/ 10-
blitz) 2018) 14...Qa6 15.Ne3!? Bxe3 16.fxe3 Bf5 17.e4 Bg4 (17...Be6

68
18.Rxf6! exf6 19.Bxf6 h6 20.Nf3 g5 21.Nxg5 Qxc4 22.Qe3 Rae8 23.Rc1 Qb5 24.Nxe6+-) 18.Qc3
Qb6+ 19.e3 Qd8 20.e5 Ne8 21.Ne4+-
14.Bc3!? Qa6
14...Bh6 15.Rb1 Qa6 16.e3 Rfd8∞
15.Qb2 Nh5? This gives away two valuable tempi.
16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nd5 Rfe8 19.Rfc1 Na5 20.e3 Nf5 21.e4! Ng7
21...Nd6 22.c5 Ndc4 23.Nxc4 Nxc4 24.Qb4 b5 25.c6!+-
22.Qa3?! A bit rushed.
22.c5 Nc6 23.a4+-
22...Nc6 23.Qxa6
23.Qb2 would have retained advantage for White.
23...bxa6 24.f4?!
24.Rab1 Kf8 25.f3 f5 26.Bf1±
24...Kf8 25.Kf2 Red8 26.Rab1 Ne8 27.Ke3
27.Nb3 Nd6 28.Ke3
27...f6 28.a3

69
28...Bf7? A decisive moment of the game.
29.Bh3 e6? - proves to be the final mistake.
30.Nb4 a5 31.Nxc6 Rxc6 32.c5 Nc7 33.Bf1+- e5 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.Nf3 Be8 36.Rb7 Ne6 37.Rxa7
Nxc5 38.Nxe5 Rf6 39.Ng4 1-0

70
 Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Alireza Firouzja, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Aronian, Levon (2767)

Stavanger, 2020

In the final round a highly interesting rook endgame occurred, resulting in a surprising loss for the
World Champion.
34.Rbxb3 Ra4 35.Rdc3
35.f3
35...Rc4 36.Rxc2 Rxc2 37.f3?!
37.Rb4! with the idea of trading the weak a-pawn. 37...Rc1+ (37...Ra2 38.Rb3 with Rc3 idea in mind.;
37...Kf8 38.a4 bxa4 (38...Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Rc4 40.Rxc4 bxc4 41.a5) 39.Rxa4 Ke7 40.f4; 37...Kg7
38.Kf1! (38.a4? Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Rc4 40.Rxc4 bxc4 41.a5 c3 42.a6 c2 43.a7 c1=Q 44.a8=Q Qf4+
45.Kg1 Qxe4µ)) 38.Kh2 Rc4 39.Kg1! Rxb4 40.axb4 Kf8 41.Kf1 Ke7 42.Ke2 Kd6 43.Kd3 c5
44.Kc3! The position on the board is a bit paradoxical. Even though Black can create a protected or
distant passed pawn (a dream-like scenario in pawn endings), White should be able to hold the
position. 44...cxb4+ (44...c4 45.Kd4 Ke6 46.f4 f6 47.g3) 45.Kxb4 Kc6 (45...Ke5 46.Kxb5 Kxe4
47.Kc4 Kf4 48.Kd4) 46.e5 Kb6 47.f3 Kc6

71
48.g3! Kb6 (48...Kd5 49.Kxb5 Kxe5 50.Kc4 f5 51.Kd3 f4 52.g4) 49.g4 Kc6 50.gxh5 gxh5 51.f4
Kd5 52.Kxb5 Ke4 53.Kc4 Kxf4 54.Kd5 Kf5 (54...Kg4 55.Kd6) 55.Kd6 Ke4 56.e6 fxe6 57.Kxe6
Kf4 58.Kd5 Kg4 59.Ke4 Kxh4 60.Kf4=
37...Kf8 38.Kh2 Ke7 39.Kh3
Why not 39.Kg3 right away.
39...Ke6 40.Rd3 Rc4
40...Ke5! 41.Rd7 Rc3 42.Ra7 (42.Rxf7 Rxa3µ) 42...f5 43.exf5 gxf5µ
41.Kg3 Ke5 42.Rd7 Rc3 43.Ra7?!
43.Rxf7 Rxa3 44.Re7+ Kd4 45.Rd7+ Kc3 Two connected passers are extremely dangerous.
43.Re7+! Forcing the black king to make a choice and clearing the path for the white king: 43...Kd4
(43...Kd6 44.Rxf7 Rxa3 45.Kf4 b4 46.e5+ Kc5 47.Rb7) 44.Rd7+ Kc4 (44...Ke3 45.Rxf7 Rxa3
46.Rb7) 45.Ra7 c5 46.Kf4 f6 47.Ra6„ and White obtains some counter-play.
43...f6 44.Ra8 Kd6?!
44...Kd4 45.Kf4 c5 46.g4 c4 47.Rd8+ Kc5 48.Rc8+ Kd6 49.Ra8 hxg4 50.fxg4 Rh3
45.Kf4 Kc7 46.g4 Kb7 47.Rg8 hxg4 48.fxg4 Rxa3 49.Rxg6 b4 50.Rxf6?? A waste of time. White
should have created counter-play by advancing his h-pawn right away.
50.h5 b3 51.Rg7+ Kb6 52.Rg8 Ra7 53.Rb8+ Rb7 54.Rxb7+ Kxb7 55.h6 b2 56.h7 b1=Q 57.h8=Q=;
50.Rg7+ Kb6 51.Rg8
50...b3-+ 51.Rf7+ Kb6 52.Rf8 Ra7 53.Rb8+ Rb7 54.Rd8 c5 55.Ke3 c4 56.Rd1 c3 57.Rb1 Kc5

72
58.Kd3 0-1

Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian, Stavanger 2020; Photo by Lennart Ootes/Norway Chess

73
Tournament Review

The British league - the Four Nations Chess League

(4NCL) has been dominated by Guildford, the team I play
for, winning every year since 2012. Sadly this season had
to be postponed in March. The organisers were quick to
offer an alternative online league, the first round of which
was played at the start of April.
I was approached by Chessable White Rose to play a few
games for them. White Rose is the emblem of Yorkshire,
the part of England I'm from, and they were my first team a
couple of decades ago. As I'm currently doing a project for Chessable it worked out nicely. As fate
would have it, Guildford and Chessable White Rose met in the final. Thanks to White wins on 1 and
3: Pentala Harikrishna winning an important game over Maxime Lagarde and James Adair defeating
Matthew Wadsworth, Chessable White Rose took the trophy. Particular praise should go to James. He
scored an astonishing 12½/13 in the first season, and is currently on 5/6 in the second. A combination
of strong preparation and dynamic tactical play has proved too much for the vast majority of his
opponents.
The event is played on lichess.org, with a time control of 45 minutes plus 15 seconds a move. I wasn't
sure how I'd cope with such a relatively slow speed played online but have found it really enjoyable.
Blitz is all well and good but it's nice to be able to immerse yourself in a position - something I've
really missed in this enforced sabbatical. I was pleased with my score in the first season, 3½/4 against
strong opposition. My second season has started less well!
At the time of writing we're six rounds into season two. Division One has been split into 4 groups of 8
teams, the winners facing each other in a semi-final knockout. Chessable White Rose are guaranteed
to progress, as are Wood Green - a team led by young English talents. We're promised a scrap in the
other two pools, with Guildford Young Guns (led this season by longterm stalwart Romain Edouard)
fighting against Wood Green's second team, the Monarchs. Finally Barbican, traditionally the team of
strong titled amateur players are battling it out with Chessplus Kingston, who are led by the
experienced Swedish GM Pia Cramling.
My second season didn't get off to the greatest of starts. I needed all my teammates' help after I was
deservedly beaten by Danny Gormally with White in round one.

74
 B23
Jones, Gawain (2670) - Gormally, Daniel (2479)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 I've just finished writing a new repertoire series where I recommend this
approach.
3...Nd4 4.Nf3 a6 5.Bd3 d6?! Danny played this very quickly, which threw me.
6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Ne2 e5 8.O-O?! Getting mixed up.
White should play 8.c3 dxc3 9.dxc3 when he has a pleasant advantage thanks to Black's d5-square
weakness. 9...Be7 (9...d5 10.O-O Nf6 (Plaskett,James 2438 - Escudero Manzano, Sergio 2206, La
Roda 2016) 11.exd5!? Qxd5 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Ng3²) 10.O-O Nf6 11.c4 O-O 12.Nc3 Be6 13.b3 Rc8
14.a4² Lyell,Mark 2245 - Poysti, Nathanael 2215, Budapest 2020
8...Nf6 9.f4 Hoping for some kingside attack ideas with Ng3, Bc4 and d3 but it's too slow.
9...Be7 10.Ng3?!
10.c3 is still better, but now there's no threat. 10...O-O! 11.cxd4

75
11...Bg4!„
10...g6 Danny continued to blitz. He told me afterwards that he'd played lots of one-minute chess in
preparation and couldn't slow down. It worked very well psychologically.
10...h5! was also strong. 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.Rxf5 g6µ It takes White too long to unravel.
11.Bc4 b5?!
11...exf4 12.Rxf4 d5 13.exd5 b5 14.Bb3 d3!µ
12.Bb3

76
12...d3! I'm never able to satisfactorily develop that bishop.
13.Qf3? Hoping to force Danny to take on c2 so I could develop more easily but there isn't time.
13.cxd3 O-O 14.d4 a5!∞ (14...Qb6?! 15.Kh1 Qxd4 16.d3± If White gets time to develop his dark-
squared bishop he'll be doing very well.)
13...Qb6+ 14.Kh1 h5! 15.cxd3
The problem is the strategically desirable 15.Qxd3? h4 16.Ne2 h3 17.g3 b4!-+ leaves me defenceless
on the long diagonal.
15...h4 16.Ne2 h3
It was even stronger to start with 16...Bg4! 17.Qf2 Qxf2 18.Rxf2 Nh5-+
17.g3 Bg4 18.Qf2

18...Qxf2! An extremely concrete sequence played quickly. I thought Danny would need to keep
pieces on the board to attack my king but instead he correctly exploits my lag in development.
19.Rxf2 Bxe2?!
19...exf4! 20.gxf4 Rc8-+
20.Rxe2 I found it hard to believe I could be in big trouble here. All White needs is to jettison the d3-
pawn and he'll be better thanks to the bishop pair.
20...exf4!

77
21.gxf4? No time for this automatic recapture.
21.d4! Nh5 22.gxf4 Nxf4 23.Rf2 (23.Re3 Ne6!µ) 23...Bg5! 24.Rf1 Ne2³
21...Rh4! There's no longer time to develop my pieces.
22.Re3
22.Rf2 Bd8! worried me. 23.d4 Bb6 24.d3 Bxd4 25.Rf3 Ng4-+;
22.d4 Rxf4 23.Kg1 Rf3-+
22...Rc8! 23.Rf3 Nh5 24.d4
24.f5 Rf4 25.Rxf4 Nxf4-+ There's no way to keep the c1-bishop.
24...Rxf4 25.Rxf4 Nxf4 26.d3 Nxd3 27.Be3

78
The bishop escapes but at the cost of too many pawns.
27...Nxb2-+ 28.Rf1 Nc4 29.Bg1 Bg5 30.Rf3 Nd2 31.Rxh3 Nxb3 32.Rxb3 Rc1 33.a3 Ra1 34.Kg2
Bc1 35.Rc3 Bxa3 36.Rc8+ Kd7 37.Ra8 Bb2 38.d5 Be5 39.Rb8 Re1 40.Rb7+ Ke8 41.Rb8+ Ke7
42.Bb6 Rxe4 43.h4 b4 44.Kf3 Rf4+ 45.Ke3 Rg4 46.Kd3 b3 47.Bd8+ Kd7 48.Bg5 b2 49.Kc2 Rg2+
50.Kb1 Kc7 51.Rb3 a5 52.Be3 a4 53.Bb6+ Kd7 54.Rb4 Re2 55.Bd4 a3 0-1

Gormally, Daniel (2479) - Lock, Gavin (2107)

Great Britain (Internet), 2020

79
Danny has shown some fine attacking play thus far this season:
21...g6

22.Rxh7! The rook on a1 is doing nothing so Danny finds a great way to activate it.
22...Kxh7 23.Qh1+ Kg8 24.Qh3 Black's pieces are all offside on the queenside.
24...Bf8 How else to prevent Rh1 and Qh8#?
25.Rh1
The immediate 25.Bg5! was a touch more precise. If Black tried the same defence as in the game with

80
25...Qd8 then 26.Bf6! Bg7 27.Ng5! mates.
25...Bg7 26.Bg5! Black is forced to give his queen to stave off mate.
26...Qd8
26...Nxe5 27.Be7! f6 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Bxf6 Kxf6 30.dxe5+ Kf7 31.Ng5+ Kf8 32.Qxg6+-;
26...f5 27.Qh7+ Kf7 28.Bf6 Rg8 29.Ng5++-
27.Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Rd1 Rc4

29.Rd3! It looks like White is only interested in the b3-pawn.

29...Na5 30.Qh4 Rdc8 31.Ng5! Actually, White is continuing his kingside attack.
31...Rc2 32.Rf3 R8c7 33.Qh7+ 1-0

Gormally, Daniel (2479) - Rudd, Jack (2331)

Great Britain (Internet), 2020

81
But the following is giving Danny nightmares. After obliterating Rudd's opening he relaxes
prematurely.
21.Bg5??
Or first 21.d5 exd5 and then 22.f4! The point seems to be to anchor the knight in place on g6. 22...e3
23.f5 e2 24.Re1+-
The human approach would be 21.Nf4!? Qxh5 22.Nxh5+- With the knight coming to f6 Black is
losing at least the exchange.
The engine wants 21.f4!+-
21...Qxg6 In shock Gormally resigned.
21...Qxg6 In fact after 22.Qh4

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Black still has to be careful. The threat is to retreat the bishop so Black's only defence is 22...Rf8!
23.Be3 Qf6 Black needs to keep the g6-pawn defended. Here White can make a draw with either
24.Bg5= (or 24.Qxe4+ Qf5 25.Qh4 Qf6=)
0-1

A00
Rudd, Jack (2331) - Jones, Gawain (2670)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

83
Jack is a very dangerous opponent. Even in classical games he moves more or less instantly, giving
his opponents severe practical problems, especially if they're not expecting it. Here he successfully
bamboozled me.
1.b4 I wasn't expecting this at all. Perhaps Jack was inspired by Michael Basman, the legendary
English IM who loves these flank openings.
1...e5 2.a3
Not going into the critical lines with 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.Nf3 O-O 5.e3 d5 etc.
2...d5 3.Bb2 Bd6 4.Nf3 Qe7
I haven't really studied these lines in quite a while. Perhaps it's more accurate to start with 4...Nd7 so
as not to block in the bishop. 5.e3 (5.c4!? c6) 5...Ngf6 6.d4 e4 7.Nfd2 O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Re8 A
reversed Advanced French. 10.g4?!

(Xiong,Jeffery 2679 - Smirnov,Anton 2567, chess.com (Internet-m/29-blitz) 2019) 10...Nb6! The

refutation with colours reversed. 11.g5 (11.c5 Nxg4 12.cxd6 Nxe3!-+) 11...Ng4 12.c5 Bxh2 13.cxb6
Qxg5-+
5.e3
5.c4!? is interesting here. 5...c6 (5...dxc4 6.e3 Nd7 7.Bxc4 Ngf6 8.d3 O-O 9.O-O c6 10.Nbd2 b5
11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Bc2 a5= Kural,Aziz - Musitani,Cesar, corr 2015/16) 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Nb5!
The point. Black loses his dark-squared bishop.
5...Nf6 6.c4
6.d4 would play in the typical Reversed French manner.
6...c6 Securing his solid centre, although Black is provoked after White's next

84
7.Nc3 d4!? I took a while here to decide whether to try and punish him.
7...a6= controlling the b5-square would have been the solid continuation.
8.Ne2
White could include 8.c5!? here, but that wouldn't allow my forthcoming blunder. 8...Bc7 (8...Bxc5?!
9.bxc5 dxc3 10.Bxc3 e4 11.Ne5 O-O 12.Qc2 Qxc5 13.d4 Qb6 14.Bc4© Luzuriaga,Norberto -
Marin,Milton, corr 2003) 9.Ne2 O-O see 8...0-0!
8...c5? After releasing my mouse I realised I'd just blundered. It's better not to release the tension.
8...dxe3?! 9.dxe3 O-O 10.c5 Bc7 11.Ng3 a5 12.Bc4 Be6 13.Qb3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1+
16.Bxa1² Benassi,Aspasio - Negri,Jacopo, corr 2001/02
8...O-O!

The right way to offer the pawn. 9.c5! (9.exd4?! Taking the pawn is too risky. 9...exd4 (9...e4!?
10.Ne5 Nbd7³) 10.Bxd4 (10.Nxd4 Be5!µ) 10...a5 11.Be3 axb4 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 Bxb4³
Domingo,Jordi - Muller,Henrique, corr 2010) 9...Bc7 10.Ng3∞
9.bxc5 Bxc5

85
10.Nxe5! Rudd is very good at spotting these combinations.
10...Qxe5 I took a while trying to recover from the shock and find any way to continue at all.
11.exd4 Ne4!? Apparently this is my novelty.
I rejected 11...Ng4 due to 12.Qb3! (Instead 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qxd7+? Nxd7 14.dxe5 Nxf2³ was
played in Serdijn,Geralt - Riemersma,Liafbern 2435, Nederland 1997) 12...Qf6 13.f3+-;
11...Bxd4 12.Bxd4 Qd6 13.Be3± White has every advantage going.
12.Qc2! The problem with the knight on e4.
12.Qb3 Qg5 at least now hits d2 to keep the game complicated.
12...Qe7 13.dxc5
13.d3! Palliser would have defused my compensation. 13...Nxf2 14.Kxf2+-
13...Bf5 14.Bxg7? I was shocked when he grabbed this pawn within a minute or so. White already
had sufficient material advantage.
14.d3 Nxc5 15.O-O-O± was a simple way to an advantage.
While the engine comes up with the crazy 14.f3 Ng3 15.Qa4+ Bd7 16.Qb3 Nxh1 17.Bxg7! Rg8
18.Qxb7!+-
14...Rg8

86
15.Qa4+? Jack is unable to adapt to the change in game.
I was busy trying to assess the craziness after 15.Bd4 Nc6 16.Be3 Ng3 (16...O-O-O!? 17.Qb2 Nxd2!
18.Ng3! Apparently the position is a draw but in a practical game anything could happen. (18.Bxd2?
Ne5-+)) 17.Qc3 Nxh1 18.d4 O-O-O 19.d5= with another 0.00 evaluation.
15.f3!? Ng3 16.Qc3 Nxh1 17.Bf6∞ is yet another irrational position evaluated at equality!
15...Bd7 16.Qb3 Nxc5
16...Rxg7 17.Qxb7 Nxc5! would be similar.
17.Qc3 Rxg7! 18.Qxg7? Jack allows the mate rather than fighting on.
18...Nd3+ 19.Kd1 Ba4# An unusual mating pattern! I was rather fortunate not to have started the
season with 0/2. 0-1

C33
Zakarian, David (2306) - Jones, Gawain (2670)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

87
So far this season my opponents have all been out to get me!
1.e4 e5 2.f4!? In our previous two meetings he played the Exchange Spanish and the Barry Attack, so
I wasn't expecting such naked aggression.
2...exf4 3.Bc4!? Nf6
He'd had an earlier game in the season that continued 3...Nc6 4.d4

4...Qh4+ was my own choice in a recent blitz game. (4...g5?! Probably wrong here. 5.h4 d6!∞
(5...Bg7 6.hxg5 Qxg5 (Black needs to open up some lines for his pieces: 6...d5!? 7.Bxd5 Qxg5 8.Ne2
Bg4 9.c3 O-O-O∞) 7.Ne2 Qxg2 8.Rg1

88
8...Qh3! Amazingly Black would still be ok here. (8...Qxe4? 9.Nc3 Qe7 10.Rxg7+- (10.Bxf4+-)
10...f3 11.Bg5 fxe2 12.Qd2 Qd6 13.Qxe2+ Nge7 14.O-O-O h6 15.Nb5 Qg3 16.Bxe7 Qf4+ 17.Kb1
Nxe7 18.Rxf7 1 : 0 Zakarian,David 2306 - Wilson,Jaimie 2097, Great Britain (Internet) 2020) 9.Bxf4
(9.Rxg7 Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Nf6 11.Qe1 Nxe4+ 12.Kd1 Nf2+ 13.Kd2 Ne4+=) 9...Bh6 10.Bxh6 Qxh6∞))
5.Kf1 d6! (5...Nf6 6.Nf3 Qh6!∞ (6...Qh5? 7.Nc3 Bb4 (Pridorozhni,Aleksei 2597 - Jones,Gawain
2670, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 8.Ne2! Nxe4 9.Nxf4 Qg4 10.c3+-)) 6.Nf3 Bg4!³ is the way
to do it.
4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O Nxe4

7.Nd5!? Now I was out of book.

7.Nxe4 d5 8.Bd3 dxe4 9.Bxe4 Re8 10.Re1 Nd7 11.c3 Bd6 12.d4 Nf6µ Zakarian,David 2353 -
Adams,Michael 2701, Great Britain 2019. Zakarian told me afterwards this was Mickey's suggestion
in their post-mortem.
7...c6!? Played after a long enough think that my computer started to go to sleep. Apparently no one
has been able to resist this mini-tactic.
I couldn't decide between the game and 7...Bd6!? 8.d4 (8.d3 Nf6 9.Nxf4 c6µ) 8...c6! 9.Nxf4 Bxf4
(9...Bc7!?) 10.Bxf4 d5µ I wasn't sure about the dark-square compensation but objectively Black's just
a pawn up. A similar postion to the game but the black queen seems to be better on d8 than b4.
8.Nxb4 Qb6+ 9.d4
9.Kh1 Qxb4 10.d3 d5!? (10...Nf6 Becker,Michael 2310 - Karsa,Laszlo 2405, Szekszard 1988)
11.Bxf4 Nf6µ
9...Qxb4 10.Bd3 d5 11.Bxf4

89
I expected 11.c3 Qd6 But Zakarian correctly couldn't see much compensation. 12.Qe1 (12.Ne5 g5!-
+) 12...Re8 (12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Bxf4 Qe7µ) 13.Qh4 Qe7 14.Qxf4 Nd7 15.Bd2 Nf8µ
Morin,Stephane - Sacerdotali,Sergio, corr 2009

11...Qxb2?!N I thought I might as well grab, but this opens too many lines. It was better to develop.
We have what a King's Gambit player is dreaming of. A strong initiative for a couple of sacrificed
pawns.
11...Bf5 The safest. 12.a3 Qxb2!? (12...Qe7 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nd7 15.Bd3 Rae8 (15...Ndf6
16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.Rae1 Qd7³ (17...Qf8?? 18.Nh4 g6 19.Be5 1 : 0 Kroes,Friso - Van Mechelen,Jan,
corr 2012/13)) 16.Qc2 Qd8!µ) 13.Rb1 Qxa3 14.Rxb7 Nd7µ;
11...Nd7 12.Qe1!? (12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Ng5 Nf6 14.c3 Qe7 15.Qe1 h6-+ Haarr,Jon Kristian 2110 -
Prakken,Gerrit 2168, Tromsoe 2009) 12...Qxe1 13.Raxe1 Ndf6³
12.Rb1
With 12.Bxe4! White isn't even objectively worse. Black has to find a narrow sequence to stay on the
board. 12...dxe4 13.Ng5 Nd7! (13...f5 14.Bd6±) 14.Bd6 (or 14.Nxe4 Nb6! 15.Bd6 Re8 16.Bc5!∞)
14...Qc3! (14...Nf6 15.Rb1 Qc3 16.Rb3 Qa5 17.Rg3​→) 15.Kh1 (15.Bxf8 Qe3+ 16.Kh1 Qxg5µ)
15...f5! The game follows a very forcing sequence. 16.Bxf8 Nxf8 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh6 Qxd4 19.Rad1
Qg7 20.Qxg7+ Kxg7 21.Rd8= It seems the game should end in a draw, for example: 21...h6 22.Nxe4
Ne6 23.Re8 fxe4 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Re8+=
12...Qa3 13.Ng5
13.Qe1!?©
13...Qe7 Bringing the queen back to help out.

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13...f5? would be too loose: 14.Qh5 h6 (14...Nf6 15.Qh4 h6 16.Nf3+-) 15.Nxe4 dxe4 (15...fxe4
16.Bxh6+-) 16.Bc4+ Kh7 17.Bf7! Qe7 18.Bg6+ Kg8 19.Rb3 Nd7 20.Bxh6+-
14.Qh5 Definitely the most natural.
14.Qe1!? was another interesting idea. 14...Bf5 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Qg3! A very strong square for the
queen. 16...Qe6 17.Be5 f6 18.Bd6 Re8 19.Rxb7 Nd7 20.h4ƒ
14...Bf5! I spent a while here to make sure I wasn't losing instantly.
14...h6 was my back-up plan, but here White can make a draw: 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rbe1 f5 17.Bxh6!
gxh6 18.Qxh6! b5™ 19.Re3 Qf6™ 20.Qh5 Qxd4 21.Qg6+ Qg7 22.Qh5 Qd4=
15.Bd6?! Tempting, and even the move I expected, but the wrong move order.
White should start with 15.Bxe4! dxe4 (15...Bxe4? looks prettier, but after 16.Rbe1 Black's king is
too weak. 16...h6 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bxh6! gxh6 19.Qxh6 f5 20.Re3+-) 16.Bd6 Qxd6 17.Rxf5 Qg6
18.Qh3 h6 (18...Nd7 19.Nxh7! Qxh7 20.Rh5 Qxh5 21.Qxh5 Nf6±) 19.Nxe4 Nd7 20.Rxb7=
15...Nxd6?!
15...Qxd6 16.Rxf5 Nxg5 17.Rxg5 I was scared of the firepower but after 17...g6 my king seems to be
safe enough. 18.Rxb7 Nd7µ
16.Rxf5?
16.Rbe1! Qxe1 17.Rxe1 Bxd3 18.cxd3 h6= I thought I couldn't be worse here with rook, knight and
two pawns for the queen. The engine slightly disagrees. Probably objectively balanced.
16...Qe3+
I didn't want to allow 16...h6! 17.Re5 but after 17...Qd8 18.Nh7 Re8-+ White can't break through.
17.Kf1?
17.Rf2 was the last chance 17...h6 18.Nh7 Nd7!µ
17...h6 18.Re1 Qxd4-+ 19.Nf3 Qc3 20.Ne5 Nxf5 21.Qxf5 g6 22.Qh3 Re8 23.Qg3

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23...Nd7!? Unnecessary but I was fairly confident the ending shouldn't be too difficult. Running
somewhat low on time I thought this the easier practical route, not allowing any cheapos.
24.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 26.Kxe1 Rd8 27.Nc5 b6 28.Nb3 c5 29.Bb5 Kg7 30.Ke2 Kf6
31.Nd2 Ke5 32.Nf3+ Kd6 33.Kd3 a6 34.Bxa6 Ra8 35.Bb5 Rxa2 36.Be8 Ke6 37.h4 Ra3+ 38.Kd2
Ra7 39.g4 Ra3 40.Ke2 Rc3 41.g5 h5 42.Ba4 Kf5 43.Ne1 Rc4 44.Bd7+ Ke5 45.Bb5 Re4+ 46.Kf2
Kd4 47.Bd3 Re7 48.Bb5 Kc3 49.Ba4 d4 50.Nd3 Ra7 51.Bb5 c4 52.Ne1 Ra5 53.Be8 d3 54.cxd3
cxd3 0-1

A28
Rogers, Jonathan (2333) - Adair, James (2450)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

An article on the online 4NCL wouldn't be complete without a trademark victory from Adair.
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Nd5
5.Qc2 is the mainline, with some craziness after 5...O-O 6.Nd5 Re8 7.Qf5 d6 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.Qh5
d5∞ Duda,Jan-Krzysztof 2753 - Carlsen,Magnus 2863, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2020
5...e4 6.Nxb4?! Automatic but risky.

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6.Ng1 is usually preferred: Carlsen,Magnus 2875 - Ding,Liren 2805, Stavanger (blitz) 2019
6...Nxb4 7.Nd4 c5! 8.Nb5?! The main move but probably an error.
It's better to force Black to play the check: 8.Nc2! Nd3+! 9.Bxd3 exd3 10.Na3 d5∞ A complex
position. White has an offside knight for now but at least the bishop will be able to develop.
8...d5 9.a3
9.cxd5 Nfxd5µ
9...Nd3+ 10.Bxd3 exd3 11.cxd5
White should act quickly before all his pieces become trapped. 11.b4! a6 12.Nc3 dxc4 13.bxc5 O-O
(13...Bd7 14.Qf3! Bc6 15.Qf4³) 14.O-O Be6³ White is worse but at least can fight.
11...Nxd5 12.O-O O-O 13.Qf3?!
13.b4 Bd7 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.dxc3 c4-+ A Fantastic passed pawn and a terrible bishop. Granda
Zuniga, Julio 2525 - Eingorn,Vereslav 2575, Zagreb (izt) 1987
13.Qb3 Nb6 14.Qa2 Be6 15.b3 (Kotov,Alexander 2500 - Tarjan,James Edward 2475, Casablanca
1974) Black can use the same theme as the game: 15...f5! 16.f4 Rf6 17.Bb2 Rg6-+

13...f5!
13...Be6 14.e4 Nb6 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 Nc4µ Siebrecht, Sebastian 2485 - Naiditsch,Arkadij 2641,
Bastia (rapid) 2005
14.Nc3
14.b3 a6 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.dxc3 c4!? 17.bxc4 d2 18.Bb2 Be6 19.Qe2 Qd7-+ Palliser,Richard

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14...Be6 15.Rb1 a5! Keeping the cage door shut.
16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Qf4

17...Ba2!?
Black could also have won material with 17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qd5+ 19.Kg1 Qa2-+
18.Ra1 Bb3 19.a4 Qd7 20.Ra3 c4 21.Re1 Rac8 White resigns in disgust. Only his queen escaped the
light-square cage. 0-1

Tan, Justin (2496) - Jones, Gawain (2670)

Great Britain (Internet), 2020

94
My opponent, a talented youngster from Australia, didn't play a very ambitious opening. I'm
obviously better but clearly it wouldn't be easy to win. The Exchange Spanish pawn structure makes
it difficult to convert the extra queenside pawn.
22...Ra4 Provoking a weakness.
23.a3 Engines don't think there's anything wrong with this but I was very happy to see it. Now I have
a plan of playing on the light squares.
23.Qe2! Qe4³ The pawn on a2 helps White's defence.
23...Qxd3 24.R1xd3 Re4 25.Be3 b6 Justin now hesitates for too long. He must try and get
counterplay on the kingside. As we'll see in the game, waiting doesn't work.
26.Kg2 Rde8 27.Rf5 R8e6 28.h3
28.b4!? Exchanging one of Black's doubled pawns looks wrong, but at least I can't enter so easily on
the light squares.
28...a5 29.Kf3

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29...a4! Fixing White's queenside.
30.Rd1 Kb7 31.Rh1 Kc6 32.h4 g4+ 33.Kg2 Kb5
33...R4e5! Exchanging White's only active piece! 34.Rxe5 Rxe5 35.Rd1 Kb5-+
34.Rd1 Kc4 35.Rh5 Re7 36.Rf5 Kb3 37.Rd2 Rxe3!? Sacrificing the exchange to break through.
¹37...R4e6 followed by ...Be5 and ... Rd6 exchanging the defender of the b2-pawn.
38.fxe3 Rxe3 39.Kf2! Re6 40.Rfd5 b5 41.Kg2 Re3 42.Kf2 Rxg3 43.Rh5 Rh3 44.Rxh7 Rh2+† This
was my first game for Chessable White Rose. I'd thought the time control was far too long, but
actually got into time trouble here. I didn't want to go for such a forcing line but it seemed to be
winning.
44...f5!? 45.h5 f4-+
45.Ke3 Bf4+ 46.Kxf4 Rxd2 47.Rxc7 Rd5 48.Kxg4 Kxb2 49.Rb7

96
49...b4! Creating a passed pawn as quickly as possible.
50.axb4 c4! Now my king can't be shifted.
51.h5 a3 52.h6 a2 53.Ra7 a1=Q 54.Rxa1 Kxa1 55.h7 Rd8
Justin resigned as Black is in time to stop his pawns. 55...Rd8 56.Kf5 Kb2 57.Kxf6 Kxc3 58.b5 Kb4
59.b6 Kc5 (or 59...c3) 60.b7 Kb6-+
0-1

C10
O'Donnell, Conor (2331) - Loeffler, Stefan (2352)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

The dynamic of online chess, even played at a slower time control, is somewhat different to Classical
chess. More blunders, disconnects and mouse slips, as the following couple of games illustrate.
1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 c5
7...Be7 is the other mainline which Meier switched to after having problems in the game line.

97
8.Be3 A forcing but quite unpleasant line for Black to face.
8...Qc7 9.Ne5 a6 10.Qa4+ Nd7
10...Bd7 Giving up the bishop pair accepts long-term suffering. 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 (11...Qxd7 12.Qxd7+
Nxd7 13.O-O-O± The bishop pair must give White very decent chances in the endgame.) 12.g3 Bd6
(12...O-O-O?! 13.Bg2 Nb6 14.Qb3± Svidler,Peter 2765 - Vaisser,Anatoli 2573, France 2006)
13.Bg2²
11.Bb5 cxd4 12.Bxd7+ Bxd7 13.Qxd4 Bb5
13...f6

was how Meier tried to defend in his blitz match with Duda. 14.Nxd7 (14.Qxd7+ Qxd7 15.Nxd7
Kxd7 16.O-O-O+ Kc7 (16...Kc6 17.Rd4±) 17.Rd4 (17.a4!? a5 18.Rd4 Ra6 19.Rhd1 Rd6 - perhaps
Black is holding, although Stockfish NNUE gives White a sizeable advantage after 20.Kc2!?)
17...Rd8 18.Rc4+ Kb8 19.a4 (19.Bb6 Rd5!) 19...e5 20.Bb6² Duda,Jan-Krzysztof 2734 - Meier, Georg
2628, chess24.com (Internet-m/6-blitz) 2020) 14...Qxd7 15.O-O-O looks less challenging. 15...Qxd4
16.Rxd4 Bc5! (16...Rd8 17.Rc4² Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 2734 - Meier,Georg 2628, chess24.com
(Internet-m/4-blitz) 2020) 17.Rc4 Bxe3+ 18.fxe3 Rf8!= (18...Rd8 19.Rb4 Rd7 20.Rd1² Delchev,
Aleksander 2548 - Bintakies,Michael 2162, Deutschland 2016)
14.a4 Rd8?! Natural but wrong.
14...Bd6! 15.Nxf7 (15.axb5!? Bxe5 16.Qa4 (16.Qc5 Qxc5 17.Bxc5 Kd7 (Womacka,Mathias 2499 -
Haba,Petr 2517, Deutschland 2011 - 111/123) 18.O-O-O+!? Kc7 19.Rhe1 Bf6²) 16...O-O 17.b6 Qe7
Meier held fairly easily in a couple of old games.) 15...Kxf7 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ke2 Of course White
should have a small advantage with the better structure but Black is probably fine. It's not so easy to
attack the pawns on light-squares. (17.Rd1!? Rhd8 18.Qh4 b4! 19.O-O bxc3 20.bxc3 Kg8=)

98
15.Qf4

15...Bc6? Losing without a fight.

15...Bd6! 16.Qxf7+ (16.Bb6!? Bxe5 17.Bxc7 Bxf4 18.Bxd8 Bc6 19.Bh4±) 16...Qxf7 17.Nxf7 Kxf7
18.axb5 axb5 19.Ra7± Stevic,Hrvoje 2588 - Fedorchuk,Sergey 2637, France 2018 (19.Ke2±
Gallagher,Joseph 2499 - Kortschnoj,Viktor 2564, Schweiz (ch) 2010)
16.Bb6 1-0

E12
Edouard, Romain (2645) - Townsend, M Paul (2200)
Great Britain (Internet), 2020

The following was a disaster for the man who's done so much for Yorkshire Chess. He completely
outplays his illustrious opponent just to fall foul of a mouse slip.
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.Qb3 A rare line that doesn't seem particularly impressive.
Romain tries to get his opponent out of theory, but the wrong approach against the White Rose
stalwart.

99
5.g3 is Edouard's usual treatment, as he played in a match against me back in 2014
5...b6 Transposing into a more theoretical line.
6.g3?! The c4-pawn is far too weak now.
6.Bg5 is the way White should go.
6...Nc6! 7.d5?! White's losing too much time.
7.dxc5

7...Ne4! 8.cxb6 Qxb6 9.Be3 Qa5 10.Nd2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Rb8 13.Qc2 O-O 14.Bg2
Ba6³ but at least White has survived the opening.
7...Na5 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Bg2 Bb7
9...Bxc3+!? 10.bxc3 (10.Qxc3 exd5µ) 10...Bb7µ
10.O-O Bxc3 11.bxc3 d6
11...Nxc4µ
12.Bg5 h6?! Letting White back into it.
12...Nxc4µ
13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nd2 Rae8 15.e4?! Too ambitious.
15.Rae1 Ba6 16.Qd3=

100
15...Ba6! Now the pawn will drop.
16.Qd3 exd5 17.exd5 Qg6! 18.Be4 f5 19.Bg2
19.Bf3 Re5³
19...Qg4 20.f3? As this doesn't defend the pawn it's simply a blunder.
20.Rfe1 Nxc4 21.Re6 Nxd2 22.Qxa6 Nf3+ 23.Bxf3 Qxf3³
20...Bxc4! 21.Qc2 Qh5 22.f4 Bxf1 23.Nxf1 Re2 24.Qd3 c4 25.Qd4 Rfe8 26.Bh1

26...R8e5?? Oh no!

101
But either of the intended moves did the job too: 26...R8e4!? 27.Bxe4 fxe4-+;
26...R8e3!? 27.Qxe3 Rxe3 28.Nxe3 Qe2-+;
26...Rc2!?-+ followed by doubling on the second rank was the most convincing win.
27.fxe5 1-0

102
CRITICAL TIMES AT THE US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
2020

We are reaching the end of 2020, a year full of adaptation,

surprises and finding one's self. I speak from my own
experience when I say that despite the hardships, it may
have been a wake-up call for humanity, and much needed
time to think and develop one's creativity. I hope our
readers find themselves in my words as well. As a chess
player, I have always loved developing my creativity. A
simple winning move was never enough. I have always
wanted to make it spectacular. Of course that brought with
itself some painful moments, when one tries too hard, it can backfire, but in the end, after some time
had passed, I have always felt it all happened for a reason and hopefully what has happened this year
with the world happened for a reason as well.
Earlier this year, when COVID-19 was far from becoming a worldwide scare, invitations for the US
Championships were sent like every year based on an invitational rating system. The event was
supposed to take place in April, but very soon we were announced that the dates were to be
postponed. Given that the situation only got worse, the organizers, the wonderful staff at the Saint
Louis Chess Club has continued the tradition to host the 2020 U.S. Chess Championships, but in an
unprecedented way in the American history - online. The time controls have been reduced from the
usual two time controls to 25minutes + 5 seconds increment per move. The month of October 2020
will certainly remain in the history of American Chess with an unprecedented online national
championship. Despite the change everyone has gladly reconfirmed their participation and the 5
national championships have taken place starting October 8th until October 29th. First the US Girls
Championship took place followed by Juniors, Seniors, Women and US Championship and they all
have the closing ceremony on October 29th with the winners accepting their prizes and delivering
their speeches online.
I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the hard work put by everyone involved with the
organization. The events have all taken place under fair-play rules and despite the change in times
from classical to rapid, everyone came eager to fight for top places and show nice games. Of course,
it being a rapid event more blunders have happened, but everyone tried to stay on top of their games.

103
The 2020 U.S. Women's Championship took place first and featured 12 of the strongest female chess
players in America. We have competed over the course of 4 days and 11 rounds for the top prize of
$100,000 in prize money and the title of 2020 U.S. Women's Chess Champion.
I was looking forward to playing after such a long time. Personally, I have never been a big fan of
online chess, but couldn't pass the opportunity to continue my training and try my very best for this
event. My personal result was disastrous, but I was happy to be able to have some interesting games,
including putting some pressure over the one who took home the title for the 8th time - GM Irina
Krush. (Foisor - Krush)
I have chosen some interesting positions to share further. I was particularly impressed by Irina's play
throughout the tournament. Irina has always been a fighter and she is the deserved winner of the
event. She has contracted COVID-19 early this year and has been recovering ever since. Her power
not to let the remaining of the virus affect her preparation for the tournament is motivational. (Krush -
Abrahamyan, Krush - Nguyen)
Another player that impressed during this year and was trailing the champ until the last round was IM
Carissa Yip. Her progress in the past year is impressive given that she is only 17 year old and I am
sure we'll continue to hear about her upcoming progress. (Abrahamyan - Yip, Zatonskih - Yip)
The third place finisher was certainly a surprise for many given her not having played much chess
since arriving in the United States, but I can say from own experience that sometimes taking a break
could be helpful. (Derakhshani - Zatonskih).
Lastly, I wanted to share two additional positions I hope the readers will enjoy.(Nguyen -
Samadashvili and Foisor - Nguyen)
After a day off the 2020 U.S. Championship started as the 5th and final Championship event featuring
12 of US's top chess players where the players battled for $150,000 in prize money and the title of
2020 U.S. Chess Champion.
With 4 top players over 2700 and Hikaru Nakamura's recent online success it was looking like a
promising event where he could maintain his US champion title. However, it was Wesley So, who
dominated the event from start to finish starting the event with 5 : 0, though GM's Jeffery Xiong and
Ray Robson were in close contention to the title as well, it was Wesley who was able to keep his
nerves until the final moment. I am sharing below some of my favorite moments of the event.

104
Foisor, Sabina Francesca (2228) - Krush, Irina (2429)
USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

105
While I did not have a good tournament, I missed a chance for a brilliancy in this game. But as the
rest of the event, Irina showed great technique and simplicity when it mattered.
12.Nxg5?! - unsound but not without justification. Tal would have loved this 2 + 2 = 5 sacrifice!
12.Qe2 would have been the natural move and proceed with the typical plan as follows: 12...Qc7
(12...O-O? 13.Nxg5+-) 13.O-O-O (13.Nxg5!? hxg5 14.Rxh8+ Bxh8 15.Qh5 Qe5 16.O-O-O Qf6
17.Nf3 Bg7 18.Nxg5 Ne5 19.Bxf7+ Nxf7 20.Nxf7 Be6 21.Ng5+ Bf7 22.Nxf7 Qxf7 23.Qxc5 Qxa2
24.Qb5+ Kf7 25.Qxb7 Rh8∞) 13...Bg4 14.Qe3 and White maintains the pressure.
12...hxg5 13.Rxh8+ Bxh8 14.Qh5

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14...Bf6?
14...Kd7!! This is a hard move to see, especially in the rapid. 15.Qxg5 Bf6 16.Qxc5 Ke8 17.O-O-O
Qa5 Engines claim that Black is much better, but a lot of practical nuances are between here and
winning this game.
15.Qxf7+? Sadly, I took e6 too seriously and failed to realise that allowing Black's king to make its
way to the queenside would crush my attacking dreams.
15.O-O-O!! e6 (15...Ne5 16.Nf3 Qxd1+ (16...Qc7?? 17.Nxe5+-) 17.Kxd1 Nxc4 18.Nxg5 Bxg5
19.Qxg5 e6 20.b3+-) 16.f4! Qe7 17.e5 Bg7 18.Ne4 Bd7 19.Nxg5 O-O-O 20.Nxf7 Rf8 21.Nd6+
Kb8 22.Ne4±
15...Kd7 16.O-O-O Kc7 Now that Black's king has made it to safety it is difficult to find a good way
to continue the attack.
17.Nb3

17...Ne5! Here I was given one more shot at trying to keep some chances alive, but after my choice
of retreating the queen the chances slowly faded away and my position started deteriorating.
18.Qh5
18.Rxd8 would have been my last chance, even though after 18...Nxf7 19.Rxc8+ Rxc8 20.Bxf7 Rf8
21.Bd5 Be5 22.f4 gxf4 23.Nxc5 Black has the beautiful move 23...f3! after which Black's rook
activity should prove fatal. 24.gxf3 Rxf3µ
18...Qh8 19.Qe2 b6 20.Bd5 Rb8!
20...Bb7?? 21.Bxb7 Kxb7 22.Nxc5+ bxc5 23.Qb5+ Kc7 24.Qa5+ Kc6 25.Qa6+=

107
21.Kb1 e6 22.Bc4 Qe8 23.f4 Nxc4 24.Qxc4 Bb7 The rest does not require any commentary.
25.e5 Rd8 26.Rxd8 Bxd8 27.Nd4 Bd5 28.Nb5+ Kb8 29.Qa4 Qd7 30.c4 Be4+ 31.Kc1 Bxg2
32.Qa3 gxf4 33.gxf4 Bc6 34.Nc3 Qd3 35.Qb3 Qe3+ 36.Kb1 Qxf4 37.Qd1 Bc7 38.Qe2 Qxe5
39.Qd2 Kb7 40.a3 Qd4 41.Qe2 e5 42.Kc2 e4 43.a4 e3 44.b3 Bf4 45.Qd3 Qxd3+ 46.Kxd3 Bh6
47.Nd1 Bf3 48.Nxe3 Bxe3 49.Kxe3 Bd1 0-1

Krush, Irina (2429) - Abrahamyan, Tatev (2358)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

Black's position is already difficult, but Abrahamyan lets the Champion win with a powerful straight-
forward attack.
19...h6?? 20.Rd5 Qc7 21.Rc1 Nc6

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22.Rxf5! hxg5
22...gxf5 23.Qh5 hxg5 24.Qg6+ Kh8 25.Bd4+ Nxd4 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Rxc7+-
23.hxg5 gxf5 24.Qh5 Qe5
24...Qd6 25.g6+-
25.g6
25.Rxc6 bxc6 26.g6 Qg7 27.Bd4 is even more beautiful!
25...Qg7 26.Bh6 Qf6 27.Bd2 Qg7 28.Bc3 1-0

Krush, Irina (2429) - Nguyen, Emily (2280)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

109
Going into the last round and needing a win to avoid having to play tie-breakers for the first place,
White reached this position after a solid and good opening. Here, Krush executes a typical plan in a
perfect fashion.
14.g4! Maybe somewhat unusual with the castled king, but a much needed idea required in the
position to develop winning chances.
14...Be4? This only worsen things.
14...Bg6 would allow 15.h4 of course, but attracting White to play f3 only proved in White's favor.
15.f3 Bg6 16.h4 h6 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Qc2 Kf7 19.Kh2? This throws away a lot of White's
advantage.
19...a5?!
19...Qd8 Black needed to defend her king.

110
20.Rg1! Preparing to play h5 or g5. A strong idea!
20...g5?! The attack along the h-file does not yield much for Black.
21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Bxg5 Rh8+ 23.Kg2 - in an already difficult position, Black went for 23...Nxg4? in
desperation;
Black should have tried getting some play on the queenside 23...a4 24.Nc5 Bxc5 25.Qxc5 Rab8
26.Qxb6 Rxb6 27.Rc2±
24.fxg4 Bxg5 25.Rgf1+
25.Rcf1+ Ke7 26.Qg6 Bf6 27.g5 Rag8 28.Rh1 was more accurate.
25...Ke7 26.Qg6 Bf6 27.g5 Rag8 28.Rh1 Qb5 29.Kf3 Rxh1 30.Rxh1 Rf8 31.Kg3 Qe2 32.gxf6+
Rxf6 33.Qxg7+ Rf7 34.Qg5+ Kd7 35.Nc5+ Kc7 36.Qe5+ Kb6 37.Qb8+ 1-0
And with this win, Irina Krush became US Women's Champion for the 8th time.

Abrahamyan, Tatev (2358) - Yip, Carissa (2421)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

Pawn breaks have always been a topic I have been fascinated about. In this position, Yip gets rid of
White's pressure on d5 and takes advantage of her powerful centre before taking advantage of the
trapped ♘h4,

111
by pushing 20...c4! 21.exd5
21.dxc4 would have been a better approach, though it may not seem natural to allow Black to open up
the d-file. 21...dxc4 22.Bc2 Nh7 and with the Nh4 trapped White's position keeps deteriorating.
23.Nhf5 gxf5 24.Nxf5 Qe6µ
21...e4! 22.Nxe4 Leads Black on to winning the game.
22.dxe4 was better but still losing. 22...Ne5 23.Qe2 cxb3 24.Nf3 Nc4-+
22...Ne5 23.Qg3 Nh5 24.d6 Rxd6 25.Nxd6 Nxg3 26.Nxe8 Qxh4 27.Nxg7 Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Qxh3
29.fxg3 Qxg3+ 30.Kf1 Qxf3+ 31.Bf2 Qh3+ 32.Ke2 Qxd3# 0-1

Zatonskih, Anna (2420) - Yip, Carissa (2421)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

No matter the round or the standing before each round, the Women's Championship was never short
of fighting spirit. In this position Zatonskih, despite not having her best tournament never gave up on
playing for the win.

112
Here she missed the opportunity to keep a decisive advantage by playing 33.Rc8+?
33.e5 had to be played first instead 33...Nh7 (33...Nh5 34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.Rxh4+-) 34.Qb8+ Nf8
35.Rxh4+- and with passive minor pieces, Black is in no position to come up with counterplay.
33...Kh7 34.Qxf7? Was played thus allowing Black counterplay, which Yip did not fail to catch up
to.
34.e5 would have still maintained the advantage.
34...hxg3 35.fxg3 Qd4+ - the following moves showed a possibility for the game to end in a draw.
36.Kg2 Qxe4+ 37.Kg1 Qe3+ 38.Kg2 Qd2+ 39.Kg1 In this position while the commentators were
discussing a potential perpetual check,

113
the young Carissa judged that her king had come out of danger and went for the aggressive 39...Ng4!
Getting really low on time Zatonskih missed the only move that would allow her to keep the position
equal. Instead, she went for 40.Bg2?? after which White is losing.
40.Bc4 would have kept her king safe, and would not allow Black more than perpetual check.
40...Qe1+ 41.Kg2 Qe4+ 42.Kf1 Ne3+ 43.Kf2=
40...Qe1+ 41.Qf1 Qe3+ 42.Kh1 Qh6+ 43.Bh3 Ne3 44.Qf3 Qxh3+ 45.Kg1 Ng4 46.Rc2 Bd4+ -
and, this is the reason we will surely enjoy in Carissa's play for years to come! 0-1

Derakhshani, Dorsa (2270) - Zatonskih, Anna (2420)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

114
Derakhshani was certainly a nice surprise in the tournament playing some brilliant games and always
trailling on the top places. In this position with the opposite side castling, she went for a typical
exchange sacrifice weakening Black's position.
15.Rxa5 bxa5 16.Ba3 Kb7 Of course, it is important to bring all the pieces to play, but the order of
moves is always equaly important. With the knight being the worst placed piece, White is making its
way to c5 via f4-d3.
17.Nf4! Nh6 18.c4 Opening up the way for the queen either on the h1-a8 diagonal or on 3rd rank.
18...dxc4 Black does not quite have a way to keep her king safe despite the material advantage.
19.Rb1+ Ka6
19...Kc8 would allow 20.Qf3

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20.Nd3!! And from here on it was just a matter of technique!
20...Rc8 21.Nc5+ Rxc5 22.Bxc5 Rc8 23.Qc3 Qa4 24.Qb2 Rc7 25.Bd6 Rd7 26.d5 exd5 27.e6 c3
28.Qb8 1-0

Nguyen, Emily (2280) - Samadashvili, Martha (2215)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

Martha Samadashvili was the wild card of this event and had a very nice tournament. She had a
beautiful attacking game here which I felt needed sharing.

116
21.Ndb3?? A gift to Martha in her debut at the US Women's Championship.
21.f4 or 21.e4
21...Nf3+! 22.gxf3 Qg5+ 23.Kh1 Qh5 24.Ne4
24.e4 Bc7-+ and there is no defence against mate or losing the queen.
24...Bc7! 25.Ng3 Bxf3+ 26.Kg1 Bxg3 0-1
I could not finish this part without sharing the following rook endgame. In my recently published
book with GM Elshan Moradiabadi, I have been proud to share some of my mishaps in endgames. I
am happy to have come across another nice example where I happened to be on the winning side.

Foisor, Sabina Francesca (2228) - Nguyen, Emily (2280)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

I had just played Kc6 and felt that thanks to my more advanced d-pawn and the ability to capture b6
very quickly, I should be winning even if Black's passed g- and h-pawns were connected. In a serious
time trouble I did not have the time to fully understand the situation, and was quite happy to find out
that, in fact, Black did have a way to save the game.

Fortunately for me, my opponent was rushed due to time scramble and played: 52...Kf6?? after
which White is winning.
However, 52...Rc1+ would have brought Black the draw. It is, of course, counter-intuitive to think
that making White capture the b-pawn could in any way help Black save the game. However, the idea
is that White's king will not have a hiding spot and once it takes cover in front of the d-pawn, Black
will have sufficient time to capture the b-pawn, then sacrifice her rook for White's remaining d-

117
passer, and with the h-pawn save the game as follows: 53.Kxb6 Rd1 54.Kc7 Rc1+ 55.Kd8 (55.Kb7
Rd1) 55...Rb1 56.d7 Rxb4 57.Ke7 Rb7 58.Ke8 Rxd7 59.Kxd7 Kg4= and White will not be in time to
catch the h-pawn.
52...Kg4?? would not work 53.d7 h3 54.d8=Q Rxd8 55.Rxd8 h2 56.Rh8 Kg3 57.Kxb6 Kg2
58.Kc7+-
53.Rxh4 Ke6 54.Re4+ Kf5 55.Re8 g5 56.d7 g4 57.d8=Q 1-0

So, Wesley (2770) - Lenderman, Aleksandr (2634)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

I have always believed that setting the right mood for a tournament is important, and by that I mean
starting with a win and getting a little luck on your side as well. Wesley So was able to just achieve
that when in the following position due to time pressure Alex Lenderman misjudged the power of
White's two connected passed pawns.

92...Bb5??
92...Be2 93.c6 (93.Kb6 Kd7 94.b5 Kc8=) 93...Ke7! They key move! 94.Kb7 (94.Kb8 Kd6 95.c7
Bg4 transposes.) 94...Kd6 95.c7 Bf3+ 96.Kb8 Bg4 97.b5 (97.c8=Q Bxc8 98.Kxc8 Kc6=) 97...Kc5=
93.c6 Ba4 94.Kb7 Ke7 95.c7 Bd7 96.c8=Q Bxc8+ 97.Kxc8 Kd6 98.Kb7 Kd7 99.b5 1-0
This was certainly a defining moment on Wesley's path towards the title - he continued with four
additional wins in a row.

Ramirez, Alejandro (2567) - So, Wesley (2770)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

118
I found this endgame to be instructive considering that we are dealing with the opposite-colour
bishops and equal material, but Wesley was able to create winning chances.
38...g4! This also happens to be my all-time favorite move!
39.hxg4 hxg4

40.fxg4
40.Ra4! - this move is important as it forces another pawn trade. 40...g3 41.Bc6 and because of the
threat of Ra6 it is hard to see how Black can improve. 41...Kg5 42.Ra6 Bc5 43.Ra8=

119
40...e4+ A nice intermediate move
41.Ke2 f4 This is more of a middle-game idea, but it suddenly creates an imbalance in the pawn
structure and allows Black to make further progress.
42.g5+ - maybe a desperation to take Black's king away from the support of the e-pawn, but it was in
vain as after 42...Ke5 43.g6 Rg8 - now the g6-pawn is falling and from here on it was beautiful
technical endgame which Wesley converted masterfully.
44.Ra6 Bc5 45.b6 Rxg6 46.Bh3 Rg3 47.b7 Rb3 48.Bc8 Rb2+ 49.Kd1 e3 50.Kc1 Bd4 51.Bg4 Rxb7
52.Bf3 Bc3 53.Ra4 Bb4 54.Kd1 Kd4 55.Ke2 Kc3 56.Ra1 Bc5 57.Rc1+ Kd4 58.Rc2 Rb1 59.Ra2
Bb4 60.Bh5 Re1+ 61.Kf3 Rf1+ 62.Kg4 Rf2 0-1

B33
So, Wesley (2770) - Xiong, Jeffery (2709)
USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

This was certainly the game to watch as Xiong had caught up with the leader and with a decisive
result either player could have been a step closer to winning the US Championship.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7
10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Rb8 13.a3 O-O 14.h4 Bh6 15.g4 Bf4 16.Qf3

16...Bb7N
16...Be6!? was the typical response in this position. 17.Nxf4 exf4 18.Qxf4 a5 (18...Ne5 19.Ne3
(19.Nd4 Bxg4 20.Qg3 Qe8 21.f3 Nxf3+ 22.Nxf3 Qxe4+ 23.Be2 Rfe8 24.O-O-O Bf5 25.Bd3 Qe3+
26.Kc2 Qe2+ 27.Nd2 Re3 28.Qxe3 Qxe3 29.Bxf5 a5 30.Be4 b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.Rde1 Qg3 33.Rhg1
Qh3 34.Rgf1 bxc3 35.bxc3 Qxh4 36.Rh1 Qg4 37.Bxh7+ Kf8 38.Be4 Kg8 39.Rh2 Rc8 40.Reh1 g5
41.Rh6 Qd7 42.Bd5 Qf5+ 43.Be4 Qe5 44.c4 Qd4 45.Bd3 d5 1/2 : 1/2 Cretu,Sorin - Wedel, Lutz,

120
corr 2018/19) 19...Qc7 (19...a5 Sharapov,Evgeny 2350 - Kuzubov,Yuriy 2441, Ukraine (ch) 2003 -
89/109) 20.Be2 d5 21.O-O dxe4 22.Qxe4 Ng6 23.h5 Nf4 24.Rfe1 Rbe8 25.Qf3 f5 26.gxf5 Bxf5
27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5+ Be6 29.Qg2 Qf4 30.Rad1 Bb3 31.Rd4 Qh6 32.f4 Bf7 33.Kf2 Qe6 34.Qg4
Qe3+ 35.Kg2 Re6 36.Qg3 1/2 : 1/2 Montella,Salvatore - Henri,Veronica, corr 2016) 19.h5 b4
20.axb4 axb4 21.h6 bxc3 22.hxg7 cxb2 23.gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 24.Rb1 Qa5+ 25.Qd2 Ba2 26.Qxa5 Nxa5
27.Na3 Bxb1 28.Nxb1 Rc8 29.Bg2 Rc1+ 30.Ke2 Kg7 31.Re1 h6 32.Bh3 Nb3 33.Rd1 Nc5 34.Bg2
Kf6 35.f4 Ne6 36.Bf3 1/2 : 1/2 Abolins-Abols,Donalds - Watson,Roland, corr 2019
17.g5 It was an interesting solution chosen by So, though it could have had a negative impact on his
position, had Xiong played 17...Na5.
17.Bg2 seems a little more natural, though things are not all that clear after 17...a5 18.Nxf4 exf4
19.Qxf4 Ne5©
17...Re8
17...Na5! 18.Nxf4 exf4 19.O-O-O (19.Qxf4 Bxe4!-+) 19...f5 20.Qxf4 fxe4 21.Qg3 e3ƒ
18.Nxf4 exf4 19.O-O-O b4?
19...Na5 20.Qxf4 Rxe4 21.Qg3 f5 22.f4²
20.axb4 Nxb4 21.Nxb4!?
21.cxb4 Bxe4 22.Qh3 Qc7 23.Bd3±
21...Bxe4

22.Qxf4?? A right choice in this position would have entirely changed the standings in the
Championship.

121
22.Qh3! Rxb4! (22...a5 23.Nd5 (23.Na6? Qb6 24.Nxb8 Rxb8 25.Rd2 Qc6 26.Bd3 (26.Rg1?? Qa4-
+) 26...Bxh1∞) 23...Re5 24.Bg2 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Qb6 26.Rd2 Rb5 27.Re1 Rxb2 28.Re8+! Rxe8
29.Rxb2 Re1+ 30.Kc2 Re2+ (30...Qxf2+ 31.Kb3 Qc5 32.Qd7+-) 31.Kd1+-) 23.cxb4 Qc8+ 24.Qc3
Bxh1 25.Rxd6 Qg4 26.Bc4 Be4 27.Qe1 and White has the upper hand.
22...Rxb4?
22...Qa5! 23.Bd3 Bxh1 24.f3 Bg2µ
23.Bd3 - with a slightly better position for White and with the time running down, So was able to
slowly improve his position.
23...Bxh1 24.Qxb4 Bf3 25.Rd2 d5 26.Bxa6 h6 27.gxh6 Re4 28.Qc5 Rxh4 29.Qc8 Qxc8 30.Bxc8
Rxh6 31.Bb7 Rh5 32.b4 Kf8 33.Kb2 Rf5 34.Kb3 Ke7 35.Ka4 g5 36.b5 Rf4+ 37.Ka5 Kd6 38.b6
Rc4 39.Rd3 Rc5+ 40.Kb4 Rc4+ 41.Kb3 Rf4 42.c4 Kc5 43.cxd5 Rb4+ 44.Kc3 Rxb6 45.d6 Rxb7
46.d7 Rxd7 47.Rxd7

This could have been the final moment to save the game by Black by trying to create a fortress.
47...f5?? However, it is close to impossible to hold this ending with few seconds on the clock.
47...Bd5 48.Kd3 Be6 49.Rd8 Bf5+! The only way. (49...g4?? 50.Rd4 Kc6 51.Ke4 Kc7 52.Ke5 Kc8
53.Kf6 Kc7 54.Ke7 Kc6 55.Rd6+ Kc5 56.Rxe6+-) 50.Ke3 Kc4!! 51.Rd6 g4 52.Kf4 Be6 53.Ke5
Kc3! The key point, Black's king needs to surpass the 4th rank in order to secure a fortress.
48.Kd3 Be4+ 49.Ke3 g4 50.Kf4 Kc6 51.Rf7 Kd6 52.Rxf5 1-0

Moradiabadi, Elshan (2555) - Xiong, Jeffery (2709)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

122
Elshan, has qualified for this year's US Championship by finishing 1st US player at the last US Open.
Despite being the lowest rated, Elshan did not fail to show strength and give every player a hard time.
Finding the right continuation in this position could have changed his faith by the end of the event,
but afterall strength comes from bad experiences too.
29.Nxf5? This frees the d1-square for Black's queen.
29.Qd3!+- This leads to a beautiful zugzwang for White, which Elshan missed. 29...Qe8 (29...Nc6
30.Qd7 Kh7 31.Qe8+-; 29...Nb7 30.Ndc4! b5 31.Qxf5 bxc4 32.Qf7++-; 29...Nxe6 30.Qd5+-)
30.Qd5! A difficult move to see. 30...f4 31.Nf5 Kh8 (31...a5 32.Nc4 b5 33.Ne5+-; 31...Bf8 White
gradually builds a winning position. 32.Nf3 Nc6 33.Nh2 Kh7 34.f3) 32.Ne4 Nc6 33.f3 Na5 34.Qd7
Qxd7 35.exd7 Nc6 36.Nxe7 Nd8 37.Nc8 Kg8 38.Nxa7 Kf7 39.Nc8 b5 40.Nxc5+-
29...Bf8 30.Qd3? This was a decisive turning point and with the time running out, Black was able to
slowly improve his piece placement.
30...Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Qxh5+ 32.Kg1 Qd1+ 33.Kh2 Nxe6

123
34.Ng3?? The final blunder.
34.Qd5? did not work either 34...Qh5+ 35.Kg1 Qf7µ;
34.Qd7 would have been White's last chance. 34...Nf4 35.g3 Qh5+ 36.Kg1=
34...Nf4 35.Qc4+ e6 36.Nde4 Bg7 37.b4 Qd5 38.Qa6 cxb4 39.Qc8+ Kh7 40.cxb4 h5 41.Qc2 Kh6
42.f3 Be5 43.Kh1 Qd3 44.Qc6 Qd1+ 45.Kh2 Qd8 46.Kh1 h4 47.Nf5+ Kg6 48.Ne3 Qc7 49.Qe8+
Kg7 50.Ng4 Qc1+ 51.Kh2 Ne2+ 52.Nxe5 Qg1+ 53.Kh3 Qh1+ 0-1

Xiong, Jeffery (2709) - Lenderman, Aleksandr (2634)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

I found this to be an interesting position

124
as a simple tactical attempt by Black could have proved fatal after 18.Bd4 and surprisingly White
gets a close-to-winnning advantage.
18...Ng4
18...e5 19.Bb6 Rd2 20.Bxa6 Ra8 21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.Bf1±
19.h3? A big miss by Xiong.
19.Bxa6! would have been the right continuation leading White to a winning position after: 19...Bg5

20.h4! Bh6 (20...Bxh4 21.Nxc6 Rxc6 22.Bxb7 Bf2+ 23.Kf1 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 Bxe3 25.Bxe3 Nxe3+

125
26.Ke2 Nf5 27.a4+-; 20...Ra8 21.Nxb7 Rxa6 22.Nxd8 Bxd8 23.b5 Bxb5 24.Rc8+-) 21.Nxc6+-
19...Bg5 20.hxg4 Rxd4 21.exd4 Bxc1 22.Rxc1 Bd5 23.Rc2 b6 24.Bd3 Rxc2 25.Bxc2 bxa5 26.bxa5
h6 27.Bd3 Bb7 28.Kf2 Kf8 29.g3 Ke7 30.Ke3 Kd6 31.Be2 f6 32.Bd3 Ke7 33.Kd2 Kd6 34.Ke3
Ke7 35.Kd2 Kd6 36.Ke3 1/2-1/2
Both Xiong and Robson were trailing So in the fight for the first place. In their 8 round game, Robson
did nott get the chance to recoup his pawn. In this position he allowed White to trade his bishop-pair
followed by taking the initiative, which Xiong was able to convert into a win with good technique.

Xiong, Jeffery (2709) - Robson, Ray (2673)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

15...Ne5?
15...Bd7! had to be played, in my opinion followed by 16.Bf4 Rbe8 17.Qd2 Bc6 18.h4 h6 19.c4
Qh5©
16.Ba3! Qxa3 17.Qxe5 Now, White is up a pawn and Xiong gradually but surely converted his
advantage.
17...Be6 18.Rfe1 Qd6 19.a4 Rfd8 20.Rad1 Qc6 21.Bb5 Qb7

126
22.Rd4!+- g6 23.Rh4 Qf3 24.Rf4 Qb7 25.Qf6 c6 26.Bd3 Re8 27.Bxg6 fxg6 28.Rxe6 c5 29.Qe5
Qd7 30.Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.Qxc5 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qxc2 33.Qxa7 Qb3 34.Qd7 Ra8 35.c4 Qxa4 36.Qe6+
Kh8 37.Rf7 Qa1 38.Qe7 Kg8 39.Rxh7 Rf8 40.Rh4 Qa8+ 41.Qe4 Qa6 42.Qd5+ Kg7 43.Qe5+ Rf6
44.Rf4 Qa8+ 45.Kg1 Qf8 46.Qxf6+ Qxf6 47.Rxf6 1-0

Robson, Ray (2673) - Shankland, Samuel (2691)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

In this position, Shankland went for a typical queenside attack in the Sicilian, but missed a nice
counterblow by White, which Robson executed with ease.

127
20...a3??
20...b3 21.cxb3 axb3 22.a3 Bb5 keeps Black in the game.
21.e5!+- Kf8
21...fxe5 22.Qh6+-;
21...dxe5 22.Qh6 e4 23.Bxe4+-
22.exf6 Ke8 23.b3 - with the queenside being safe, White did not have much trouble winning the
game from here on.
23...Qb6 24.Bxh7 d5 25.h5 Bc6 26.Bg8 Kd7 27.Bxf7 Rf8 28.Bg6 Rxf6 29.f4 Raf8 30.f5 e5 31.g5
Rxf5 32.Bxf5+ Rxf5 33.h6 d4 34.h7 Bxh1 35.h8=Q Be4 36.Qe2 Qc6 37.Qc4 Qxc4 38.bxc4 Rf2
39.Qxe5 Bxc2+ 40.Kc1 1-0

Swiercz, Dariusz (2649) - Robson, Ray (2673)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

Sometimes luck is necessary to be able to win from a balanced position.

Here, probably due to a limited amount of time or mouse-slip, Swiercz went for 34.Rf1?
34.Re1 would have kept the equality as follows: 34...Rxe1+ 35.Qxe1 Kf7

128
36.Qa1! A beautiful, but very hard move to see. White should not have any problems drawing the
game.
34...Qxb2 35.Qc7??
35.h3 This is a must play move, though after 35...Qe2µ Black should slowly convert this endgame.
35...Qf2 36.Rg1 Re1 37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.Qd7+ Kh6 39.Qh3+ Kg5 40.Qg3+ Qxg3 41.hxg3 Rxg1+
42.Kxg1 Kg4 0-1

Liang, Awonder (2592) - Robson, Ray (2673)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

129
In a still theoretical position, White chose 15.Nxg7+?? which seems to be move in the wrong
direction given White's lack of development and king still being in the centre.
15.Nxd6+ was played recently as follows: 15...Qxd6 16.O-O h5 17.Qe3 Rd8 (17...b3 18.c3 h4∞)
18.b3 Nd5 19.Qg3 Nf4 20.Bb2 Bxg2 21.Qxg7 Bxf1 22.Bf6 Kd7 23.Qxf7+ Kc6 24.Be4+ Nd5
25.Bxh8 Rxh8 26.Rxf1 Rd8 27.Re1 Rd7 28.Qe8 Kb6 29.Bxd5 Qxd5 30.Rxe6+ Ka7 31.Rg6 Qxd2
32.Qe4 Qd1+ 33.Kg2 h4 34.h3 1 : 0 Martirosyan,Haik 2622 - Keymer,Vincent 2568, chess.com
(Internet-m/27-blitz) 2020
15...Kf8 16.Nh5 Nxh5 17.Qxh5 Rg8 18.Bxh7 - despite winning some material, White's king in the
centre cannot survive Black's attack and Robson converted the advantage in a really nice fashion.
18...Rxg2 19.d4 Bf4 20.Qh4 Bxc1 21.Rxc1 f5 22.Kd2 Rg4 23.Qf6+ Qf7 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qe5
Rxd4+ 26.Qxd4 Rd8 27.Qxd8+ Kxd8 28.Rhd1 Qxh7 29.c3 Qxh2 30.Ke2+ Ke7 31.cxb4 Qe5+
32.Kf1 Bf3 0-1

Lenderman, Aleksandr (2634) - Robson, Ray (2673)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

Going into the last and round sharing the second place, this must have been a difficult loss for
Robson. Though in a slightly unpleasant position, Black should be able to keep the balance.

Instead 26...Bxd5? was played, leading slowly to a worse position.

26...Re8 27.Kf2 Bxd5 28.cxd5 Rbd8 and Black should be in the clear.
27.cxd5 Rbc8 This does not save Black either.
27...Rxd5 and this move does not work due to 28.Rc7+-

130
28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.e4 f6 30.Kf2 In just a matter of moves Black's position became hopeless and
Lenderman was able to keep his calm and cruise to victory scoring a full point.
30...Bd6 31.Rc1 Re8 32.Rc4 Kg6 33.Kf3 h5 34.h3 a6 35.a4 Kg7 36.a5 Kg6 37.e3 Kf7 38.Nc5
Bxc5 39.Rxc5 Re7 40.h4 Kg6 41.Rc8 Rd7 42.hxg5 fxg5 43.Rg8+ Kf6 44.Re8 Kf7 45.Re6 Kg7
46.d6 Kf7 47.Rh6 Kg7 48.Rxh5 Kg6 49.Kg4 Rxd6 50.Rxg5+ Kf7 51.Rd5 Rg6+ 52.Kf5 Rf6+
53.Ke5 Re6+ 54.Kd4 b6 55.Rf5+ Kg6 56.Kd5 Re8 57.axb6 a5 58.b7 a4 59.Rf1 1-0
Over past year Nakamura's success in online chess has been amazing. Also, he was the defending
champion, and obviously the one to beat in this event. Unfortunately, this tournament did not go well
for him.

Robson, Ray (2673) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

18.Ndb5! A typical idea!

18...axb5 19.Nd5 exd5 20.Bxf6 g6 21.Qh4?? Robson throws away a chance for brilliancy and gives
Black some hope.
21.exd5! Nd7 (21...Rae8 22.Qh4 Nd7 23.Be7 Ne5 24.f6 Kh8 25.Qg5 Bc8 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Rf4+-)
22.fxg6 fxg6 (22...Nxf6 23.gxh7+ Kh8 24.Qc3!+-) 23.Re7+-
21...Nd7 22.Be7 f6 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.exd5 Ne5 26.Rxf6 Qe7 27.Rxf8+ Qxf8 28.Kg1
bxc4 29.bxc4 Ba6 30.Re4 Qf5 31.Qd8+ Qf8 32.Qc7 The game continued, and eventually Nakamura
blundered leaving Robson in the contention for the first place.

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32...g5??
32...Qf5=
33.h3 Qf5 34.Re1 Bxc4 35.Qxd6 Nf7 36.Qxb6 g4 37.hxg4 Qxd5 38.a4 Qd7 39.Qg6+ Kf8 40.Qf6
Qxa4 41.g5 Qa7+ 42.Kh1 Qa6 43.Qd4 Bd3 44.Ra1 Qg6 45.Ra8+ Ke7 46.Ra7+ Kf8 47.Ra8+ Ke7
48.Qc5+ Qd6 49.Ra7+ Ke6 50.Qc8+ Ke5 51.Qe8+ Kf4 52.Qxf7+ Kg4 53.Qd7+ Qxd7 54.Rxd7
Bf5 55.Rg7 Bb1 56.Kg1 Bf5 57.Kf2 Bb1 58.Ke3 Bc2 59.Rc7 Bf5 60.g6 Bxg6 61.Rg7 Kf5 62.Rxg6
Kxg6 63.Kf4 1-0
I wanted to share a nice moment that could have happened in Elshan's game against the defending
Champion.

Moradiabadi, Elshan (2555) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

132
In this position, White could have gotten the advantage after 17.Bc6, but 17.Bxd7?! was played
instead, slowly giving up all the advantage.
17.Bc6 Rb8 18.a4!? Ne5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 (19...dxe5 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Qe2±) 20.Nxe5 dxe5

21.Bxe8! removing the blockade on d6. 21...Qxe8 22.Qd3 Qd8 23.Qc4 Qd6 24.f3±
17...Qxd7 18.e5? This move throws away the remaining of White's edge.
18.h3 b5 19.Qd2 and White is much better due to the poor placement of the knight on e8.
18...dxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Nd6 21.Qh5 Rae8 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qf6+ Kg8

133
25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2
I could not allow myself to write about the US Championship without sharing a rook endgame either.
I have been following Sam's progress for a few years now and I remember watching him lose in the
last year's US championship against Dominguez in a rook endgame. Now, with the reversed roles, I
found it interesting to share his technique.

Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758) - Sevian, Samuel (2660)

USA (ch-Internet-rapid), 2020

In this position White went for 44.g5? thinking that without the possibility to connect the f- to the e-
pawn the endgame could end in a draw.
Instead 44.Kf1 would have given him more chances and White avoids creating weaknesses on his
part as well.
44...Rb1+! Now White's king will not be able to take cover on g2.
45.Ke2 Ra1 46.Ra7 - and from here on comes the simple approach of the king 46...Kf8 47.Ra4

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47...a2! though we are told to wait a little longer with this move, it helps keep White from playing
anything else but the rook.
48.h4 Kg7 49.Ra7 h5! 50.Ra6 Now with White's weaknesses stabilised it is time to give up the a-
pawn for the h- and g-one, leading closer to the win.
50...Rh1 51.Rxa2 Rxh4 52.Ra5 Rg4 53.Re5 h4 54.Ra5 h3 55.Ra1 Rxg5 From here on it was just a
matter of precise conversion.
56.Rh1 Rh5 57.Kf1 Kf6 58.Kg1 Kf5 59.Kh2 Kg4 60.Rc1 Kf3 61.Rc2 f5 62.Ra2 g5 63.Rb2 g4
64.Ra2 Rh8 65.Kg1 Rd8 66.Ra1 Rd2 67.Ra5 Rd1+ 68.Kh2 Kxf2 69.Rxf5+ Kxe3 70.Rf8 Rd2+ 0-1

135
THE LEGEND OF HENRIQUE MECKING

We are still far away from normality here in South

America and there are no "real" tournaments in sight yet,
those where we actually move the pieces on a wooden
chessboard and press the button of the clock. We are all
now getting used to playing online tournaments and even I
played a couple of them.
In one of these tournaments Brazil's legendary first
Grandmaster, Henrique Mecking, took part. As it usually
happens whenever he plays, his participation was met with
great anticipation and finished with some controversy. Mecking is an "old timer", and his best years
were during the Cold War period. So, sometimes he sees a few ghosts and his opponents are unjustly
accused of cheating. But let us change the subject...
This article is a small tribute to an outstanding player that competed with the very best. A prodigy,
winner of 2 Interzonal Tournaments and once the number 3 in the FIDE rating list (behind Karpov
and Korchnoi). I hope that readers who are not familiar with his games will appreciate how strong he
was and delve even more deeply in the analysis of his games.
Brazil is often associated with football and samba (and now is also a "reference" on how not to
prevent COVID-19, unfortunately). But once, in those times of Pele, Rivellino, Carlos Alberto,
Tostao and so many great football players, Brazilians also dreamed of having a World Champion in
chess. It was not to be, but his legacy is still felt.

136
 Henrique Mecking, Rio de Janeiro 2017; Photo by Albert Silver

I will show some of Mecking's game, my personal favourites, in chronological order starting with his
duel (as a teenager, 18 at the time) against someone who was getting ready to perform the most
remarkable series of wins in chess history.
Fischer was clearly Mecking's idol. Both were lonely prodigies that studied chess mostly by
themselves.

D91
Mecking, Henrique (2540) - Fischer, Robert James (2720)
Buenos Aires, 1970

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5!? I have seen this game many times in my life, so it is not a
coincidence that I have played this interesting move many times during my career.
4...Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4! Fischer was usually a step ahead and he goes for what is
considered today the best move for Black.
7.e3 Be6 8.Rb1 There are many other possible plans for White, and it is not clear what is the best one.
8.Be2 Bg7 9.Nh3!? was the fashion a few years ago; 8.Nf3; 8.Qb1
8...b6 One of many possible moves.

137
8...Bg7; 8...Nd7; 8...c5
9.Nf3 Bg7 10.Nd2 O-O 11.Nxc4

11...Bd5! A strong move, posing White some concrete problems since his development is not so easy
now.
12.Qd2
12.Qc2 was more natural, with the idea of playing e4 next. A possible continuation would be 12...c5!
13.e4 Bxc4 14.Bxc4 cxd4 15.Bd5 d3! 16.Qxd3 (16.Qd1 Na6 17.Bxa8 Qxa8 18.Qxd3 Nc5©)
16...Nc6 17.O-O Qc7= with an equal position.
12...Qd7 A multi-purpose move: the queen can go either to a4 or e6.
13.Na3?! Not an easy move to make.
White could have sacrificed a pawn with 13.f3 Qe6 14.Na3 Bxa2 15.Ra1 Bd5 with a big fight ahead.
13...c5
13...e5!ƒ was more precise, with the initiative for Black.
14.f3 Qa4!? 15.Nb5

138
We are arriving at the critical moment of the game. The following moves show how good these two
players were - in such a complicated position the best compliment comes from having their moves
being approved by the computer.
15...Nc6!? Fischer was not one to shy away from calculation and he must have analysed very deeply
beforehand to be able to play this move since White has many interesting options at his disposal.
15...Rc8 16.Bg3 cxd4 17.exd4∞
16.Nc7 Qxa2
16...Rad8?? 17.Nxd5 Rxd5 18.Bb5+-

139
This is a very interesting position and Mecking's choice, although tempting, was probably not the
best. But who could resist trapping Fischer's queen?
17.Qc1!?
17.Qxa2 was not the best: 17...Bxa2 18.Ra1 Rac8 and Black escapes.
17.Rb2! was probably the most dangerous: 17...Qa1+ 18.Kf2 Rad8 19.Nxd5 Rxd5 20.Ra2 Qb1
21.Bc4! Qxh1 22.Bxd5² and this position looks very unpleasant for Black.
17...Rac8 18.Ra1 Qb3 19.Ra3 The queen is trapped, but Black has very serious compensation.
19...Rxc7 20.Rxb3 Bxb3© I wonder whether Fischer had all of this prepared when he went for
15...Nc6, and concluded that he had good compensation.
21.Qa3 Na5 22.Bg3 e5! A very important move to foresee, since without it White would have a big
advantage.
23.Bxe5
23.dxe5 Rd7 24.Be2 Rfd8 25.Bh4 (25.Qc1 Nc4©) 25...Bxe5! (25...Rd1+ 26.Kf2) 26.Bxd8 Bxc3+
27.Kf2 Rxd8© - probably White is somewhat better, but Black would have quite good practical
compensation.
23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Rd8 25.Be2 Rcd7 26.Qc1 Bc4 27.Qc2 I think that Black could still search for a
winning attempt here, but Fischer decided not to tempt his fate and forced a draw.
27...Bb3 28.Qc1 Bc4 29.Qc2 Bb3 30.Qc1 A really great fight! 1/2-1/2

D19
Hort, Vlastimil (2600) - Mecking, Henrique (2550)
Wijk aan Zee, 1971

Vlastimil Hort was one of the best players of the 70's. I had the honour to play him in a rapid
tournament in Germany in 2006.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Bg4
9...Bg6 and 9...Nbd7 are mostly played nowadays, while 9...Ne4 is also possible.
10.h3 Bh5 11.Rd1 Nbd7 12.e4 Qe7 13.g4! The clearest way of posing problems for Black. 13...Bg6
14.Bg5?! - but this is inaccurate.
14.Bd3 h6 15.Bf4²;
14.Nh4! I believe that Black's position is unpleasant after this move. 14...e5 15.d5ƒ
14...h6 15.Bh4 e5 16.d5
16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Bg3 Qa5 19.f3=

140
16...Rfe8 17.Nd2 What plan would you choose for Black in this position?

17...Bh7! I like very much the concept of "miniplans", those that consist of 2-3 moves ahead only.
This move is the perfect definition of it: Black intends Nf8-g6, improving his pieces.
18.Rac1 Nf8 19.Bg3 Ng6 20.Qf3
20.Nf3
20...Rad8³ 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.Nf1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1

23...Bxc3!? One of Mecking's strong points was calculation. He was never afraid of taking concrete
action. The text move is an "ugly" positional move, but the decision was supported by calculation.

141
23...Qc7³
24.bxc3 Qa3 25.Rd7! Rf8
25...Nh8!?

This is the main computer move. Would it be too much? I do not remember seeing anyone defending
the pawn in such way.
26.Rc7
26.Rxa7? Qc5-+;
26.Rb7! Nf4 (26...Qxa4 27.Qd3©) 27.Bxf4 Bxe4 28.Bc1! Only a computer could foresee such a
move! (28.Qe3 exf4µ) 28...Qxc1 29.Qe3©
26...Qxa4 27.Nd2
27.Qd3!
27...Qc2 28.Qe3 Nf4! The knight finally fulfills its destiny.
29.Bxf4
29.f3! was the best chance. 29...Nxh3+ 30.Kg2 Ng5 31.Rxa7³
29...exf4 30.Qxf4

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30...Qc1+! 31.Bf1 Nxe4-+ Now Black is completely winning.
32.Rd7 a5 33.Kg2 Nf6!
33...a4? would be embarassing: 34.Qxf7+! Rxf7 35.Rd8+ Rf8 36.Bc4+ Kh8 37.Rxf8+ Bg8
38.Nxe4+-
34.Ra7 Be4+ 35.Kg3
35.f3 Rd8-+
35...Bg6 36.Bg2 Rd8† And here White lost on time. 0-1
Mecking's play was very precise throughout this game.
RR This game is published in Chess Informant 11/453

The 1973 Interzonal was Mecking's brightest moment. To win an Interzonal must be something
special (he did it twice), but to win it on home soil is beyond words.
The Najdorf was a favorite of Mecking's throughout his career. This game shows how good his
preparation was, since was not afraid to cross swords in theoretical positions even against the feared
Soviet players. He, like Fischer, was a chess fanatic - he could work all day long and his openings
were carefully studied.

B96
Savon, Vladimir (2570) - Mecking, Henrique (2575)
Petropolis (izt), 1973

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.g4

143
9.O-O-O first is what is usually played.
9...b5 10.a3 Be7 11.Bg2?! Nowadays it is estabilished that White should not hurry with this move.
We will se why in a few moves.
11.O-O-O
11...Bb7 12.O-O-O Rc8 13.Bh4 White is ready for g5, but Mecking plays what is now a thematic
move.

13...Qc4! A fundamental move for Black's counterplay. Now it is obvious why White should have
kept the bishop on f1 a little longer. Now either the queens are traded or Black is in time for
counterplay with b4.
14.Qxc4?!
14.Rhe1 Qxe2 15.Rxe2 Nc5=;
14.Qe1 h6= Gabrielian,Artur 2532 - Saric,Ivan 2648, Moscow 2017
14...Rxc4 15.Bf3?! Now White's position becomes critical.
15.Rhe1 h6= (15...Nc5)
15...Nc5 16.Be2 Black has many tempting continuations at disposal and Mecking makes a very
precise choice.
16...Nfxe4
16...Rxc3 17.bxc3 Nfxe4 18.Bxe7 Kxe7µ a dream-like version of the typical exchange sacrifice in
the Sicilian.
17.Nxe4?!

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17.Bxe7 Rxc3µ (17...Nxc3 18.bxc3 Kxe7 19.Bxc4 Bxh1 20.Bxb5 Be4µ) 18.bxc3 Kxe7µ
17...Bxe4 18.Bxe7?!
18.Bxc4 Bxh4-+

Savon was probably counting on 18...Ke7 as Black's reply, with good drawing chances. Can you spot
what he missed?
18...Nb3+! Deadly!
18...Kxe7? 19.Bxc4 Bxh1 20.Bxb5! and White is close to a draw.
19.Kb1 Rxd4 20.Bxd6 Bxh1 21.cxb3 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Kd7-+ The rest is easy.
23.Be5 f6 24.Bc3 Be4+ 25.Ka2 Kc6 26.a4 Rd8 27.Be2 e5 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.Bxe5 Rd2 30.Bf1 Rd1
31.axb5+ axb5 32.Bh3 b4 33.Bxg7 Rd7 0-1
RR This game is published in Chess Informant 16/470

145
 A29
Smyslov, Vassily (2600) - Mecking, Henrique (2575)
Petropolis (izt), 1973

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nd5 e4 7.Nh4 This curious opening has been
tested in a few recent games.
7...Bc5
7...d6 Tomashevsky,Evgeny 2705 - Aronian,Levon 2775, Moscow (blitz) 2019
7...Re8 Flores,Diego 2606 - Abdusattorov,Nodirbek 2608, chess24.com (Inernet-m/4-blitz) 2019
8.O-O Re8 9.d3 exd3 10.Qxd3 Ne5 11.Qc2 c6 12.Nc3?!
12.Nxf6+ Qxf6=;
12.Be3! would be the most dangerous. 12...cxd5 13.Bxc5 d6 14.Bd4 dxc4 15.Rfd1© - this has been
tested in several games as well.

146
After this inaccuracy Black is ready to grab the initiative, but that requires precise calculation.
12...Nxc4! 13.Na4
13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Rxe4! (14...d5 15.Bxh7+ Kh8³) 15.Qxe4 d5© and Black has enormous
compensation.
13...Bf8 14.Qxc4 b5 15.Qd4 bxa4 16.e4
16.Qxa4 Rxe2µ
16...Ba6 17.Re1 Qb6µ 18.Be3 Bb4
18...Qxd4 19.Bxd4 Bb4 20.Bc3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 g6µ
19.Qxb6?!
19.Red1
19...axb6 20.Red1 Be2
20...g6µ
21.Rd4 c5 This allows White an interesting tactical possibility, but everything was calculated well in
advance.
21...Bc5 22.Rd2 Bxe3 23.Rxe2 Bc5µ
22.Rxb4 cxb4 23.e5 Ng4 24.Bxa8 Nxe3 25.Re1 Bc4 26.Be4 Nd5 27.a3 bxa3 28.bxa3 Nc3 29.Bf3
f6
29...b5-+

147
30.Rc1

Mecking now goes for an elegant finish.

30...Rxe5! 31.Kg2 Rc5! 32.Rxc3 Bf1+ 33.Kxf1 Rxc3 34.Bd5+ Kf8 35.Ke2 Rxa3-+ 36.Kd2 b5
37.Nf5 b4 38.Ne3 b3 39.Kc3 Ra2 40.Kb4 Rxf2 41.Kxa4 b2 42.Ba2 Rxh2 43.Kb3 Rh3 44.Nf1 Rh1
45.Nd2 Rg1 0-1
RR This game is published in Chess Informant 16/51

C68
Mecking, Henrique (2615) - Kortschnoj, Viktor (2670)
Augusta (m/12), 1974

I consider this to be Mecking's best game. Maybe this is a biased opinion: I have seen this game many
times since I was a kid (I had a book with Mecking's best games). But, objectively the game is really
good and to beat a player like Korchnoi at the height of his powers was a tremendous feat.
Unfortunately, Mecking lost in the first round of both Candidate's Matches he played. He had many
promising positions and deserved a better fate especially in his match against Polugaevsky (he lost 1 :
0, draws not counting).
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qd6 6.d3 f6 7.Be3 Bg4 8.Nbd2 O-O-O Black's
opening plan was too optimistic. The white queenside pawns must be pushed now.
9.Rb1! Simple and good.
9...Ne7 10.b4 Black's position is already very unpleasant, as White's attack is much faster and easy
flowing with the prospect of a potential demolition after b5.
10...g5 11.a4 Ng6 12.b5 cxb5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxb5 Qc6 15.Rb2

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15.Qb1±
15...Bc5 16.Nb3 Bb4
16...Bxe3 17.fxe3± offers no relief.
17.Nfd4!? Well calculated, although it was probably better to keep the attack going without
exchanges.
17.Ra2±
17...exd4? Now, Black is lost.
17...Bxd1 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Rxd1 Kd7² was the best defence. Black is slightly worse in the endgame,
but at least the attack is over.
18.Qxg4+ Qd7 19.Qxd7+ Rxd7 Korchnoi was counting on this. It seems impossible to capture on d4
and Black is ready to play c5 next. How would you play with White?

20.Nxd4! This solution is instantly recognisable for any die hard Mecking fan and it is his most
famous move. Truth be told, it was not the only move leading to an advantage, but it is by far the
most elegant one and leads to position that is easy to conduct.
20.Bxd4? Rxd4 21.Nxd4 Bc3 was Black's point.
20.Ra1 c5 (20...b6 21.Bxd4! Now this works. 21...Rxd4 22.Nxd4 Bc3 23.Ra8+ Kb7 (23...Kd7?
24.Rxh8 Nxh8 25.Rb5! Bxd4 26.Rd5++-) 24.Ra7+! Kxa7 25.Nb5+ Kb7 26.Nxc3 with a winning
position, although a bit more difficult than the one that occurred in the game.) 21.Bd2 Bxd2 (21...Bc3
22.Bxc3 dxc3 23.Rbb1+-) 22.Nxd2 and this position turns out to be very difficult for Black.
20...Bc3 21.Ra2 Rxd4

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21...Bxd4 22.Ra8# would be a nice adaptation of the "back rank mate".

22.Ra3! The point of white's play.

22...Rb4
22...Bb2 23.Rb3 does not change anything.
23.Rxc3+- With a pawn up, bishop against knight and Mecking's technique, this one is in the pocket.
23...Re8 24.f3 Kd7 25.Ra1 Rb5 26.Kf2 Kd6 27.Raa3 h5 28.Ra4 c6 29.Rca3 g4 30.Ra5 Ree5
31.Rxb5 Rxb5 32.fxg4 hxg4 33.Kg3 Rb1 34.Bd4 Rc1 35.Rc3 b5 36.Bxf6 b4 37.Rb3 Rf1 38.Bg5 c5
39.c3 bxc3 40.Rxc3 Rd1 41.Be3 c4 1-0
RR This game is published in Chess Informant 17/291

B97
Mecking, Henrique (2610) - Tal, Mihail (2645)
Las Palmas, 1975

Not even the great Mihail Tal escaped against the young Mecking. I quite like how my childhood idol
managed to outplay the legendary World Champion in an equal endgame.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 As I mentioned before, the Brazilian was a
strong theoretician and was not afraid to go for the main lines.
6...e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Nb3 Qa3 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Be2 Nc6 12.O-O h5 13.Nb1 Qb4 14.Qe3
d5 15.exd5 Ne7 Even back then the theory of the Poisoned Pawn Variation was going very deep.
16.Nc3
16.c4 and 16.dxe6 are also possible.

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16...Nf5 17.Qd3 Qb6+ 18.Rf2 Qe3
18...Bd6
19.Ne4 Qxd3 20.Bxd3 ¬ After so much fireworks we arrive to an endgame that is close to equality.
20...Be7 21.Re1 Kf8 22.dxe6 Bxe6
22...fxe6 23.Nec5 Kf7 24.Bc4 b5 25.Bxe6+ Bxe6 26.Nxe6=
23.Nec5 Nd4! 24.Nxe6+ Nxe6 25.Bf5 Nc7
25...Rd8 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Rxe6 Rd1+ 28.Rf1 Rd7= /²

26.Rd1! Nb5 27.Rd7 Rd8 28.c4 Nd6 29.Rxd8+ Bxd8 30.Bd3 b6 31.Rd2 Bc7 32.Kf2 Kg7 33.Kf3
Re8 34.Re2 Rd8 35.Rd2 Nb7 36.Be4 Rxd2 37.Nxd2 Nc5 38.h4! Fixing the weakness on h5. A very
well played game until now. One slip and Black is in grave danger.
38...Bd6?!
38...Ne6 with a probable draw. If White plays g3 it is no longer possible to execute the manoeuvre
that occurred in the game.

151
39.Nf1!± A nice move that is made even stronger by the unfortunate position of the bishop on d6.
The knight is heading to g3.
39...Bc7
39...Ne6 40.Ng3!
40.Ng3 Kh6 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Ng3+ Why almost all great players like to repeat moves in winning
technical positions? Surely this is not a coincidence.
42...Kh6 43.Bc2 Ne6 44.Nf5+ Kh7 45.g3 The red carpet is prepared for the White's king walk.
45...Ng7
45...Nc5 46.Ke3+-
46.Ne7+ Kh8
46...Kh6? 47.Ng8#
47.Nd5 Bd8 48.Ke4+- Ne6 49.Bd1
49.Nb4+-
49...Ng7
49...Nc5+ 50.Ke3+-
50.Nb4 a5 51.Nd5 Kg8 52.Nc3 Kf8 53.Bc2! A precise prophylactic move.
53.Kd5 Nf5
53...Ke7 54.Kd5 Kd7 55.Ba4+ Ke7

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55...Kc7 56.Nb5++-
56.Bc2 Kd7 57.Ba4+ Ke7 58.Kc6 Nf5 59.Nd5+ Ke6 60.Nxb6 Nd4+ 61.Kb7 Kd6 62.Nd7 Ne6
63.Kc8 Be7 64.Bd1 A truly great technical game! 1-0
RR This game is published in Chess Informant 19/481

D79
Mecking, Henrique (2606) - Shirov, Alexei (2683)
Florianopolis, 2017

Mecking quit playing for a long time due to illness. Nowadays he plays some tournaments from time
to time and still shows a great class. Just take a look at this game from 2017 against Alexei Shirov,
and guess who was the one making the sacrifices!
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 O-O 6.c4 c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qb3 Nc6
10.Be3 Na5 11.Qb4N
11.Qb5 Haik,Aldo 2455 - Morovic Fernandez,Ivan 2450, Pancevo 1985 - 40/564
11...Nxc3
11...Nc6 would most probably lead to a draw by repetition and no one could blame Mecking for such
outcome. But of course, Shirov keeps the game going.
12.Qxc3 Bf5 13.Rfc1 Qb6
13...Rc8 14.Qb4 Nc4 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 17.b3=
14.b3 Rfc8 15.Qd2 Nc6 The position is equal but not lifeless at all.
16.h3 a5

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17.g4! Be6
17...Be4 18.Ne5=
18.Ne5 Nb4
18...Qb4=
19.f4 f6 20.a3!? A bold decision, allowing Shirov to create a spectacle. And, of course, he delivers.
20.Nd3=
20...Rc2! A creative move! This intermediate move is just natural for Shirov and too difficult for me.
20...Nc2? would be a wrong version of this idea. 21.Nxg6!;
20...Nc6 would be a boring equality.

21.Nd7!? Dvoretzky liked to call these type of moves "desperados". It is one of my favorite tactical
themes.
21.Rxc2 Nxc2 22.Qxc2 fxe5 23.fxe5 Bxe5 24.Qd3=
21...Rxc1+
21...Bxd7 22.Rxc2 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 f5 24.Qd3 e6 and Black would have a comfortable position.
22.Rxc1 Bxd7 23.axb4 e6= 24.bxa5 Rxa5 25.f5! Breaking the pawn structure in order to bring the
bishops to life.
25...Qxb3
25...exf5 would lead to a complex position after 26.Rc5 Ra1+ 27.Kf2 fxg4 28.Bxd5+ Kh8 29.hxg4

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Bxg4
26.Rc7 Ra1+? This is the first real mistake of the game. The check improves White's king.
26...Ra2! would keep the game equal. 27.Qc1 (27.Qd3 Qxd3 28.exd3 Bc6 29.Rc8+ (29.fxe6 Ra8=)
29...Kf7 30.Rc7+=) 27...Bf8! and now one possible line is 28.Rxd7 Rc2 29.Qxc2 Qxc2 30.fxe6 Qxe2
31.Bf2 Kh8 32.Bxd5 and the position is balanced, although still quite complicated.
27.Kf2 Ra2

28.Qxa2?! Hats off for sacrificing against Shirov, but actually this move is not the strongest.
28.Qc1± - this simple move would leave Black with a very difficult position.
28...Qxa2 29.Rxd7 gxf5 30.gxf5 Qc2! Maybe Mecking missed this saving move.
31.fxe6 Qf5+ 32.Kg1 Bf8! 33.Bxd5 Be7= Now black holds.
34.Bg2 Kf8 35.d5 Qe5 36.Kf2 f5 37.Bh6+ Ke8 38.Bf3 Qh2+ 39.Ke3 Qg1+ 40.Kd3 Qb1+ 41.Kd4
Qb2+ 42.Kd3 Qb3+ 43.Kd4 Qb4+ 44.Kd3 Qb3+ 45.Kd4 Qb2+ 1/2-1/2
This game started with a slow opening but then became a great fight.
Mecking is Brazil's best player ever and he has inspired generations of players with his great games. I
hope this article sparkled the curiosity of those readers who did not much about this chess legend.

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HOW I SHOULD HAVE WON THREE BRITISH CHESS
CHAMPIONSHIPS

I should have won three British chess championships. Ok

the above statement is controversial. Lets clarify it. I
perceive myself as an underachiever, in chess as in life.
And perhaps the greatest barometer of achievement during
the course of my chess career, has been the British chess
championships which is normally held in over the summer,
typically in an English beach resort, but has been cancelled
this year because of the Coronavirus crisis.
During the 20 + years that I've played the British, there
have been winners of the calibre of Michael Adams, but there have also been players like Jacob
Aagaard, Chris Ward, R. Ramesh who have emerged triumphant. With all due respect to those
players, I don't think they are more naturally gifted at chess than I am. Just on that particular two
weeks, everything came together for them. They trained hard and worked hard at the board and were
in that special zone of anxiety-free play that everyone is looking for. And they showed enough
"cojones" to get over the line, something that I have failed to display so far.
The time during the lockdown has given me enough space to look back and contemplate, to think
about what I could have achieved. I believe that when I first started playing the British, it didn't occur
to me what a big deal it was. To win your national championship. It was only during the lockdown
that I thought about it, and it bothered me, that I've never won it.
Last year I didn't even play, and was locked away in the basement, doing the commentary. That was
overall a success and felt much more relaxing than playing, but now I wonder if that's the way
forward for me. I'm still not that old by chess standards and could have at least ten more years of
being in contention at the British.
Of course it won't be easy to win it, because Adams and Howell and other super grandmasters seem
to play every year, and I'm big underdog against them. Even if I hold them or get an upset win in our
individual games, I'm probably going to drop draws and losses to players around my own rating and
lower, that they won't do. But I'd love to have another pop at it.
The first really excellent chance I had to win it came in 1999 in Scarborough. This is one of the

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classic British championship venues like Torquay, and it lies on the North sea near Whitby, which
was made famous by the Bram Stoker's "Dracula". I drove up from London with Simon Williams and
John Naylor and we shared travel costs. Deep into the journey a thunderstorm broke out, and flashes
of lightning illuminated our small car. I wonder now if it was a portent for what was to follow. To get
to the venue where the chess takes place in Scarborough, you have to wander through town, past the
grand hotel which dominates the skyline, eventually the path sloping down to the coastal route. The
only other way to get there is to wander down through a high wooded area, directly from the cliff
itself. Either way feels inspiring and then you arrive at the Spa complex.
On the day before the first round I met up with Mark Hebden, who I was due to share a flat with, and
as I stood on the stairs of the venue he called up "Hey, flatmate!" All I could afford was a camp bed
in our flat. I had nothing in the bank and was struggling to even afford the accomodation. I had to
help out Richard O'Brien with the bulletin to even afford that, inputting games for pennies at a time,
but I think it helped me because it forced me to look at some chess.

Scarborough Grand Hotel

I got off to an explosive start and after winning my first three games I was paired with John Emms.

B82
Gormally, Daniel (2476) - Emms, John M (2586)
Great Britain (ch), 1999

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Qe2 I have no recollection of

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whether or not I prepared for this game, or if I did, what I actually prepared. I can't even recall if I had
a laptop in the flat then. All I seemed to recall was that I knew that against 1.d4, John tended to play
the Benoni and was pretty adept in that, so I probably felt my best chance of landing a blow was in a
sharp Sicilian. This feels like a solid set-up for both sides.
7...d6 8.f4 Be7 9.Nf3 Played to facilitate the push e5. I don't think I was comfortable with long,
worn-out strategic battles at this stage of my career, and wanted to force the issue as much as
possible. Everything was forward.
Apparently 9.Bd2 is more common, but as I said before, I'm not sure that I knew this on any deep
level, which you could have said about most openings then. (And now.) 9...Nbd7 10.g4 Nc5 11.g5
Nfd7 12.h4 is apparently theory, and Ponomariov won a game like this once (RR Ponomariov,
Ruslan 2717 - Kotsur,Pavel 2559, Tromso (ol) 2014). White retains the option of castling queenside,
which would compliment his ultra-aggressive set-up.
9...O-O

I think I was slightly surprised that he castled kingside. Surely that's hara-kiri? At that stage of my life
every position looked like a potential mate, and I wasn't familiar with the kind of tight-rope defences
and computer like resources that tend to predominate now.
10.e5 Nfd7 11.h4 This feels like a natural follow-up. It's only now, with my cynical and weary world
out-look, that I start to see the obvious weaknesses appearing in White's position... Oh, for the
innocence of youth...
11...dxe5 I think if he had played
11...f5 even if it's not objectively very good, I probably would have been scared to death, because I
had no back-up plan to playing for mate. 12.exf6 (The wild 12.g4!? can certainly be contemplated by
some attacking cowboys, like Simon Williams.) 12...Nxf6 blunts my attack somewhat.

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12.fxe5 Nc5! It's a good idea to eliminate one of White's key attacking pieces. I already knew that
John was a very capable defender with an excellent ability to work his way through tactical problems,
so perhaps this was no real surprise.
13.Bf4
I had probably underestimated John's last move, and had naively planned 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Ng5+
Kg8 15.Qh5 only to realize that this would be quickly dismissed by 15...Qxe5+ 16.Ne2 Qf5-+
13...Nxd3+ 14.cxd3 Nd7 15.Ng5 The key moment of the game - White is planning an assault on the
h7 pawn - what is the best way to defend against this?

15...h6?
With the cold-blooded 15...b5! Black could have called White's strategic bluff. This looks like an
amazing move to play - inviting Qe4, although I believe that I saw it (and feared that he would play
it) at the board. 16.Qe4 g6 17.Qxa8 Bb7 - and after 18.Qxf8+ (18.Qa7 Bc5 traps the queen.)
18...Bxf8 Black has a huge advantage because White's position is riddled with weaknesses. This was
the slice of luck that I was looking for, because if John had found ...b5! I think I would have been in
trouble. White's set-up is geared for mate and only mate, and if the blow doesn't land my position isn't
great.
16.Qe4! After I quickly and confidently played this, John winced, because he realized what he had
missed.
16...Bxg5
Emms had presumably missed in his earlier calculations that 16...g6 loses to the blow 17.Nxe6! when
White will emerge an exchange and a pawn to the good, if the knight is refused. 17...fxe6 18.Qxg6+
Kh8 19.Qxh6+ Kg8 20.Rh3 is even worse.

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17.hxg5 Nc5 18.Qe3 Now the h-file will be opened, with devastating consequences for Black.
18...hxg5
18...Rd8 19.d4+-
19.Qh3 I played the last moves quickly, perhaps too quickly because I was so nervous. i think I had
missed his next move, fortunately it doesn't change the result.

19...f5 20.exf6! Nxd3+ 21.Qxd3 1-0

This was an important win for me, not just in the tournament but in my whole career. I was up there
on the demonstration boards, and was able to take on and defeat one of the big boys. My nervous
energy and aggression and confidence had taken me to 4/4 and sole leader. I left the venue, it was a
roasting hot day and I felt incredible that I had scored such a quick win, and I ran into the chess
journalist John Henderson. He smiled at me and said "In the clubhouse Danny?" Indeed I was. But the
greatest test was still to come. Could I stay up there and post a good performance, even win the
tournament?

Jules and Calm Waters

Sports stars like golfers and snooker players, like to talk about statistics. What are your putting stats,
your tee to green stats, or your long-ball potting statistics. It was already clear that I was adept at
many aspects of the game, like if I got an opening that suited me, as in the John Emms game (Even if
I had been lucky in that one.). And in complex middlegames I felt fairly comfortable as well. But
there were glaring weaknesses as well, like in strategic play.
If the British chess scene was the PGA tour, I'd have been 156th in strategic and positional sense, and
probably top ten in tactics.

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In positions where you just had to manouevre around and do nothing for many moves, I wasn't nearly
so confident, which was why Julian Hodgson, a four-time British champion, did an adept bit of
preparation in our crucial fifth round game. He went for a quiet opening that was less preparation
based, and more about understanding and positional play.

A29
Hodgson, Julian M (2605) - Gormally, Daniel (2476)
Great Britain (ch), 1999

1.c4! e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5

Nowadays i tend to go for lines with 4...Bc5 although it's possible that "Jules" had prepared 5.Nxe5!?
which leads to sharp play after 5...Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe5 7.d4 Nxc4 8.e4 Black has to make difficult
decisions early in the game, and I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable here either.
5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Rb1 a5 8.O-O Be7 9.d3 O-O 10.Be3 Be6

11.Bxb6 I remember that this decision slightly surprised me at the time, that he gave up the two
bishops. White wants to fight for the light squares, and the removal of a piece that controls d5, is an
important link in this strategy.
11...cxb6 12.Rc1
According to theory, 12.Qa4 is more common, but I guess it doesn't matter much, because the
position is relatively quiet and not much is going on.
12...Rc8 Black's problem is that he lacks a clear plan. I don't have any pawn breaks of note, so just
have to wait, a situation that I didn't find particularly welcome.
13.Qa4 f6 14.Rfd1

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14...Nd4?! This was a weakness that would remain throughout my career. My desire to force the
issue, to break the tension, to head for exchanges. Although this is not so bad in itself, it is part of a
somewhat mistaken strategy, that is the belief that by exchanges I will force the game closer to a
draw.
A more experienced professional might have plumped for the cagey 14...Qe8!? not putting their cards
on the table just yet. 15.d4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 exd4 18.Nxb6 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Bxa2 - and
exchanges are taking place. Although no doubt this was no assurance of gaining a draw against
Hodgson and I was already familiar with the extent of his fierce determination. I had played him in a
saturday rapidplay in a church in leafy Golders Green, where he had managed to beat me in an
endgame with a knight and a rook and a pawn against two rooks (while turning down my draw offer
along the way).
15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Bd5 I think after seeing the game against John Emms, Julian just wanted to get the
queens off as soon as possible.
16.Qb5 was also possible.
16...Bxd5 17.Qxd4 exd4 18.Nxd5 Bc5 The engine doesn't mind Black here, but the same problem as
before remains. I lack a plan, while this is still a lot of stuff that White can contemplate undertaking.
19.Nf4 Kf7 20.Ng2 g5 21.Ne1

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21...g4?! I don't think I'd play this now, and looking at the game, it's hard to imagine what I was
thinking with this move, which just hands back the f4 square to the knight. This creates weaknesses
without gaining anything in return.
21...Rfe8 followed by doubling rooks on the e-file, made some sense and might have limited White's
ability to carry out aggressive activities.
22.Ng2 Rfd8 23.Rc2 b5?
23...Bf8 24.Rdc1 Rc5 and it's hard to imagine White has anything, although he will keep playing until
the last drop has been taken from the position.
24.Rdc1! b6 25.Nf4 Now I felt uncomfortable, as I realized I couldn't move the bishop.
25...b4 26.Kg2 a4

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27.e4! After this, I realized I was going to lose this game. There was just nothing to do, while White
is starting to create ideas. When Hodgson starts using his great imagination, you are in trouble.
27...b3 28.axb3 axb3 29.Rc4 Ra8 30.h3! Now I was regretting playing ...g4 earlier. White's plan is to
beat a path to h7, when he will be better over the entire board.
30...gxh3+ 31.Kxh3 Ra2 32.Rb1 Rc8 33.Kg4 b5 34.Rcc1 Rca8 35.Rh1 Rg8+ 36.Kf3 Rh8 37.Rh5 1-
0
A strategic masterclass by Hodgson, and not a painful loss by any means, because I knew that he was
much stronger than me. I had a chance on board one and failed the examination paper, this time.
Hogdson won in 1999. and 2000., backing up earlier British championship wins in the early 1990s.
When a big dog like Jules, or Adams or Short or Sadler played, they nearly always won it. They just
had a serious class and experience edge over the opposition. It was like a holiday tournament for
them, a breather from clashing with other super-GMs.

164
 Julian Hodgson. Event and photographer unknown.

The Bounceback

Hodgson had beaten me with experience. Rather than entering a sharp theoretical debate he had taken
the game along quieter paths and had reaped the benefits. I had lost because he knew more than I did,
he knew what pieces to exchange, what to leave on the board. What positions to aim for. I didn't get
downhearted though, because I was still doing well with 4/5.

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 Mark Hebden, Coventry 2015; Photo by John Upham

In the next round I was paired with my flatmate Mark Hebden. In our first encounter, a rapid played
before the British championship in Nottingham, he had been dismissive when I asked him if he
wanted to analyse the game after he had beaten me. "Nah, you're alright." came the answer. But over
the years, he became a good friend, because the world of British chess is a small one and you end up
running into the same people. I found him engaging and amusing company, rather like the player he
rightly always gets ranked with, Keith Arkell. Apart from that rapidplay game I scored heavily in my
early encounters with Mark.
I think that's because his style of play was to make the game sharp and force mistakes from his
opponents, and at that point I was able to calculate quite well, and I saw through a lot of his more
devious plans and designs.
Later on he realized that he was trying too hard to beat me, and adjusted his approach accordingly. He
just tried to stay on the board and his results picked up and in recent years he's pretty much evened up
the score.

Gormally, Daniel (2476) - Hebden, Mark (2510)

Great Britain (ch), 1999

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22...Qh4 We spent a lot of time after the game analysing this sharp middlegame, in the rowdy
analysis room. Mark is an excellent analyst and on the rare occasions when he does lose, he tends to
pick out a key moment where he feels he went wrong, and I can't quite recall what this moment was
in this game, although I feel it was around about here. Black makes a typically aggressive queen sally.
He wants to fight for the dark squares around the kingside.
23.Be3 Played to prevent ...Bh6.
23...h6 24.Bd4 So subtle, play Be3 to prevent ...Bh6 and go back to d4! I don't think I could ever play
like this now.
24...Re6 25.Qe3 Preparing f4.
25...d5! 26.f4
26.exd5

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26...Nf3+! 27.Qxf3 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Qxd4 is the typical tactical trick that Mark has conceived, and it
would more than solve Black's problems.
26...Nc6 27.Bb2 I still have visions of a Kingside attack. If he takes on e4 I will push f5, or maybe
even just play Qc3.
27...d4 28.Qf3 Bc5 29.Rf1 The position is on a knife-edge but I feel I'd rather be White, because it
feels like it will be quite easy to launch an attack on the kingside.
29...Rce8 30.Kh2 h5

31.Nh1?! Creative, but probably bad. Certainly the engine doesn't like it.

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31.e5?? Nxe5 32.Qxb7 Ng4+-+;
31.Rc1 Bd6 32.Ne2 and the game is objectively equal.
31...f5! Typical Mark. He loves fighting for the initiative, and here he undermines my strong point in
the centre.
32.Nf2 Nb4?
32...Bd6! 33.Bc1 R6e7 with the idea of preparing ...Nd8-e6
33.Bxd4 fxe4 34.Bxe4 Bxd4 35.Rxd4 Nc2 This is the sting in the tail that he has prepared, but it
turns out matters are not so clear.
36.Rd2
36.Rd7 Bxe4 37.Nxe4 Rxe4 38.Qc3 Nd4 39.Rxd4 was leading to an ending which slightly favours
White, although given my opponent's battling qualities, I doubt I would have won it.
36...Rxe4
36...Bxe4 37.Nxe4 Ne1! was interesting. 38.Qg3 Qxg3+ 39.Nxg3 h4 - and I'm not sure White is
even better here.
37.Nxe4 Bxe4

38.Qc3! This is what I had been counting on, and now I felt confident, because the black king is
exposed and his pieces are lacking coordination.
38...b4 39.Qc4+ Kg7 40.Rd7+ Re7 41.Qe6! Rxd7 42.Qxd7+ Kf8 43.Qc8+ Ke7 44.Qc7+ Ke8
45.Rd1​→ White's attack is decisive.

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45...Bf5 46.Qb8+ Kf7 47.Rd8 Qe7 48.Rh8 Kf6 49.Re8 Qc5 50.Re5 Qc8 51.Qd6+ 1-0
This was a very good "bounceback" and I think it showcased some of my qualities. That I was good
at calculating in sharp positions, and that I felt comfortable when I had the initiative and when there
was a clear goal to aim for.
This was the round before the rest day and I had 5/6. I felt very happy with life. Even though he had
lost Mark was very sporting. We went out for some beers and I'm not sure if it was that night, but
there was one night that I ended up in a Karaoke bar with Simon and some others, which was
probably after a curry. Simon belted out his favourite song "Sweet child of mine" by Guns and Roses.
Probably the last paragraph, sad as it is to say it, is one of the main reasons why I, or Mark or Simon
or Keith, have never won the British. Sure you need to relax, but at times we've taken that to excess. I
guess the social side of playing chess is as important to us if not more so, than the ultimate result.
Going out drinking increases the tension that you will inevitably feel, while also draining your
energy.
Ironically the best British that Simon and Mark ever had was when they were sharing a flat together
away from the main action, and weren't going out drinking so much. They both scored 8½/11, which
would normally get you into a play-off at the very least, except they run into a buzzsaw that week in
David Howell, who got 9/11.
I think the drinking was less of a problem when I played the 1999 British than it would be now. Back
then I was 23 years of age, had bundles of energy and was on the crest of a wave. Fearless, I could
look forward to the second week with growing confidence.

Tears and Ambition

The second week, where it was five games and a race to the finish line, did not go as well. I started
thinking about the result I that I could achieve. I started to tighten up.
Tournament victory was out of sight because Hodgson was too strong, but there was still the chance
of a much needed first Grandmaster norm. It's true that when you are on a good score in the British
going into the second week, then you're going to get a very strong opponent every round. I played the
likes of Rowson, Sasikiran and Kosten in that run. Not easy.
Going into the last round it looked like I was handed a winnable pairing. I was paired with Nigel
Davies, who seemed out of form and struggled early on in the event.
Such is the nature of the Swiss system that even if you are marooned early on, you can come back
into it. Probably because of this I underestimated Nigel. There was a potential prize of GBP 3.000 and
my first Grandmaster norm up for grabs. In the end, it all proved too much...

A05
Davies, Nigel Rodney (2518) - Gormally, Daniel (2476)
Great Britain (ch), 1999

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4!

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The first unpleasant psychological surprise, and a smart one from my opponent. Whether this is good
or not is not very relevant. What is more important is that it takes me onto territory which with I had
no familiarity. Davies was already exposing my lack of practical knowledge.
3...Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.Bg2 c5?! This already feels a little bit nervy. Why exchange a central pawn for a
wing pawn?
5...O-O 6.O-O e5 (6...c6 7.c4 e5 8.d3 Nbd7 is also playable for Black.) 7.d3 Nc6 (RR7...c6
Marin,Mihail 2545 - Georgiev,Vladimir 2515, Andorra la Vella 1997 - 70/2) 8.b5 Ne7 9.c4 h6 is
established theory, although White scores well from this position, probably because his extra space on
the queenside is already quite annoying for Black.
6.bxc5 dxc5 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 Nc6

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9.Ne5! It's the seemingly innocuous moves that can often decide the difference between players.
Nigel is a diligent student of the game, someone who swears by the 10.000 hours rule of practice, and
he would have understood very well that the slight advantages that White already possesses (pressure
on the queenside, more pawns in the centre, a half open b-file) can be amplified with exchanges.
9...Nxe5 I think the problem with my play in this game was that my thinking was too flat. When you
are nervous, it seems to affect your creative spark, and I was kind of like a willing lamb in this game,
being lead to slaughter.
Perhaps it would have been an idea to confuse the issue somewhat with the inventive 9...Na5!
intending ... Ng4 to follow. This is the first move of the engine, but I was less familiar with cybernetic
solutions at the time...
10.Bxe5 Already it seems I'm in a bit of a bind. How to develop the Bishop on c8, for example? And
what to do with it, even if I could? The problem is I can hardly play a plan with ...b6 and ...Bb7, not
at the moment anyway.
10...Qb6?! 11.Qb3 Even me, with all my poor knowledge of strategic play, probably didn't
contemplate taking on b3 here...
11...Qe6 12.f4 Nd7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Nc3 Nb6 15.d3 Qe3+ 16.Kh1

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16...Bd7? My position looks really bad, but there is little sense giving up a pawn. I think part of the
problem was that I was putting myself under desperate pressure to try to win the game.
16...Rb8 17.a4 (17.Qb2 Kg8 18.a4 Qd4 and White has a pleasant position, but perhaps no more than
that. (18...Nd7 19.Nd5 Qe6 20.f5! gxf5 21.Rxf5 might be a little bit scary, especially as I probably
have to play the ugly looking 21...f6 to avoid getting swamped.)) 17...Nd7 and Black is still very
much on the board.
17.Bxb7!± Calling my bluff.
17...Rab8 18.Bf3 h5 19.Qa3 Bg4 20.Qc1! An excellent reorganisation of his pieces.
20...Qd4 21.Nb5 Qd7 22.Nc3 h4 23.Qe3 Bxf3+ 24.Rxf3 hxg3 25.Rxg3 Qc6+ 26.Qf3 Qf6 27.Rc1
Rh8 28.Ne4 Qh4 29.h3 Nd7 30.Rcg1 Rb2 A desperate attempt at counterplay, but the threats I have
shrivel by comparison with the potential initiative that White enjoys on the kingside, something
which he heralds with his next move.

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31.Ng5! Threat - Qd5.
31...Rf8
31...Nf6 32.f5 Rh6 33.fxg6 Rxg6 34.Ne6++-;
31...e6 32.f5!! and I'm toast.
32.a4
32.Qd5 Nf6 33.Qe5 Rxa2 (33...Rb7 34.f5!​→ with a crushing attack.) 34.Qxe7 was even more brutal.
32...Rb6 33.Qe3 Re8 34.f5! Nf8 35.Qxc5 Now I could resign, and Nigel was already looking bored
and even looking at his watch, something that annoyed me enough that I carried on for a few more
moves. My insides were stewed up.
35...f6 36.Nf3 Qh5 37.a5 Rb2 38.Qc6 1-0
What agony! Tears welling in my eyes, I stumbled towards the exit. On leaving the venue, I ran into
Peter Wells and Nick Pert, who asked me how I got on. When I mumbled some unintelligible reply,
they broke into laughter.
I went back to the room and couldn't face anyone else that night so bought some cans of lager and
drank them in the hotel, alone. There was another thunderstorm and a blue bolt landed in the next
garden, only a few dozen feet from where I was sitting. Even this jolt didn't affect my morose state.
It was hard to deal with, that a tournament that had started to brightly had ended on such a sour note.
And yet a stronger character would have looked more deeply at those losses. They would have
learned from them and got stronger. I didn't. It also feels perverse now, that I was so stung by that
loss. Perhaps a tournament that had been spent mostly on the demo boards had skewed my thinking,
to believe that I was the huge favourite going into the game against Davies. He was the higher rated

174
player, and had the White pieces. He was already a GM, and for all my talent and promise, I was
exactly that, just another promising IM.
I guess the fact that it burned me was a good sign, though. It showed that I had ambition. I just wished
I had built on that ambition a bit more purposefully over the next few years. One thing that did stand
out from that round though, was something that happened halfway through the game, before it all
went wrong.
Hodgson came up to me and I congratulated him on winning the event, as he had already made a
relatively quick draw. He laughed and told me that I was the second most talented player in the
tournament. I knew he had a prospensity for humour, but I also knew that it wasn't completely a joke.
It was also the sort of thing that I liked to hear, because deep down I lacked self-esteem, which was
perhaps also the cause of my morose state after chastening losses. When I lost it would really burn,
perhaps because I thought it was a reminder that I really wasn't good enough.

The Warwick Storm

When I say that I should have won three British championships, it comes with a caveat. That I made
the most of the talent I possessed and worked hard on my game. That I gained enough experience in
international events to have enough confidence to win big tournaments. That I didn't waste my
chances by getting drunk during the tournament and that I did enough physical exercise to burn the
tension off. I didn't do these things to the degree that I would have been one of the heavy favourites to
win the tournament.
Nevertheless, over the years I had my chances, and the best one of all was in 2015 in Warwick, which
took place at a university campus. I would argue that I played the best chess of anyone that week, and
still didn't win. It's funny, but often the best tournaments you have are the ones when you have the
least expectations.
I turned up and it was pouring with rain, and I was completely drenched. Also, it's funny how the best
British championships I've had have often been preceded by a storm. Soaking, I felt decidedly
miserable and gloomy about my prospects, and I was unaware that the work I had already put in had
placed me in a very strong position. I had also blown the cobwebs off with a tournament just before. I
always played my best in my second or third tournament after a lay-off.
And the other factor in my favour, was my improved calculation. A few months beforehand I had

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played a very nice tournament in Batavia bar in Amsterdam. During one session we were joined by
Manuel Bosboom, who after a visit to a local coffee shop, was clearly stoned out of his gourd. He was
coming up with amazing suggestions that I just hadn't seen, and there was a general optimism to his
outlook that I found inspiring. "So what?" became my new mantra.
I realized after this post-mortem that my chess was stuck in a rut, and had become too gloomy and
introspective. It was like the depression that I felt in my everyday life had seeped into my chess. I
wasn't seeing my chances, so over the next few months worked on my calculation, setting up complex
positions on a board and writing down the variations. This more disciplined approach helped
enormously and I started to see more candidate moves, like in the game against Chris Ward:

Ward, Christopher (2423) - Gormally, Daniel (2484)

Great Britain (ch), 2015

16...b5! An unusual solution, but an effective one. Black is exploiting the fact that the white king is
stuck in the centre, to carry out a small tactical operation.
17.cxb5 Nxd5 18.Qf2
18.exd5 Qh4+ 19.g3 Qxa4 might have been a more sensible way for White to continue. I doubt he
has many problems here if he continues with 20.d6! (20.Be2!? Qc2∞) 20...cxd6 (20...e4? 21.Be2
cxd6?? 22.b3 and the queen is trapped.) 21.Bxa8 Rxa8 22.Qd3 although the position would be very
sharp and complex. (The lazy 22.O-O?! Qxb5µ leads to a better position for Black- his king is very
safe and he has good control over the light squares.)
18...N5b6 19.Nxb6 cxb6 20.O-O Nc5 21.Rfd1 Qe7 Although objectively speaking, this is still close
to equal, it's certainly easier to play for Black. For example I have the plan of putting the knight on an
even stronger square on d4.

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22.Rd5 Nb3 23.Rf1 Nd4 24.Qg3 f6 25.Bg4 Rad8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rc1 Qf7 28.a4

28...Qa2!? A sweeping queen sally that feels very much at home in the machine era. Certainly I was
working with computers a lot by this point, as I guess everyone was, running my games through an
engine to look for missed possibilities.
29.Qc3? - mistakenly going for active counterplay.
I'm not sure what I had in mind if he simply played 29.Qa3 even though it looks ugly to double the
pawns like this, it's hard for Black to exploit this factor. 29...Qxa3 30.bxa3 Kh7 31.Rc7 Kg6 gives
some fighting chances for both sides, in the ending.
29...Qxa4 30.Qc7 Rf8 31.Qxb6 Qb3 Now I'm sure to win at least a pawn. He can't even take on a5
because the check on e3 would be hanging.
32.Ra1 Qe3+ 33.Kh1 Qxe4 34.Be6+ Kh7 35.Qd6 Nxe6 36.Qxe6 Rd8 I felt I calculated this part of
the game quite well. Even though his b-pawn looks quite dangerous, I figured out that the tactical
threats that I could create would neutralise that.
37.Qc6
37.b6 Rd2 38.Rg1 Rxb2-+
37...Qe2 38.h3 Rd4 39.b6 Qxb2 40.Rxa5 Rd1+ 41.Kh2 Qf2 42.Qf3 Qg1+ 43.Kg3 I started to feel
that I had messed it up around about here and the position was becoming too chaotic, but somehow it
all just hangs together.

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43...Rf1! 44.Qd3+ f5 Now he can't avoid ruinous material losses.
45.Rxe5
45.Ra2 e4 and ...f4 is coming next and he's busted.
45...Qf2+ 46.Kh2 Qf4+ 47.Qg3 Rh1+ 48.Kxh1 Qxg3 49.Rb5 f4 50.Rf5
50.b7 f3 51.gxf3 Qe1+ 52.Kg2 Qe2+ 53.Kg3 Qxb5-+
50...Kg6 51.b7 Qe1+ 52.Kh2 Qb4 0-1

The Ugly Duckling

Before I played Ward there had been a gruelling test against the top seed, David Howell. I got into the
habit of trying to do some exercise before the games. The rooms were fairly basic as you'd expect
from university accomodation, and I didn't mind that. No TV, no distractions. The less noise the
better. Because you had so much time before the games I'd go for a run, or even that wouldn't be
enough to eat up all the available time, so I'd go for a walk around the campus grounds.
Eventually I would end up sitting by the lake, on a bench, and inevitably would be approached by

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some ducks looking for food. I developed this particular fondness towards this one duck, who was
much slighter than the others but just as insistent on getting fed. She'd squawk and waddle and get
into your presence if she felt there was any chance.
Just before I'm due to be playing David Howell I'm sat at the same lake, feeling utterly dejected about
my chances. This was a player I normally always lost to, I thought. And to make matters worse the
ugly duckling hadn't appeared. She was an underdog like me, we had a bond. But where was she?
Just before I was about to go to the game and had given up any hope, like a condemned man about to
go to his execution, she appeared.That's when I knew that I had a chance.
Even so, feelings of sentimentality aren't always enough to overcome iron logic, and for most of the
game I was seriously worse. It was only deep into the endgame, when we had already passed the 100
move barrier, that I began to fight back.

Howell, David (2698) - Gormally, Daniel (2484)

Great Britain (ch), 2015

103...Ke5! Quite possibly Black is in trouble even after this, but at least I had a punchers chance with
my king getting active. As I had been hopelessly lost a few moves earlier, I didn't feel any pressure or
anxiety about losing the game.
104.a5 Kxe4?
104...Rh8! 105.Nxd6 Rh1+ 106.Ke2 Rh2+ 107.Kf3 Rb2 is a much better way to play, according to
the engines, but it's hard to find cold-blooded moves like ...Rh8! when you've already been playing
for many hours.
105.Ke2! Be5 106.a6 Kf4 107.a7 Rh8 108.Rb8

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108.Ne3 Rh2+ 109.Kd3 is a decent try as Black has no time for ...Rh3. 109...Ra2 110.Rb7 Kf3
111.Nc2 Bf4 112.Rf7 Kxg4 113.Ke4 and the white king dominates, although even here things aren't
completely clear after 113...Ra5∞
108...Rh2+ 109.Kd1 Rh1+ 110.Kc2 Rh2+ 111.Kc1 Rh1+ 112.Kc2 Rh2+ 113.Kd1 Rh1+ 114.Ke2
Rh2+ 115.Kf1 David takes a risk to try and win the game, as he is won't to do.
115...Kf3 116.Kg1??
116.Ke1=; 116.Nh4+ gxh4 117.Rf8+ Ke3 118.a8=Q h3 119.Kg1 Rg2+ 120.Kh1= (But not
120.Kf1?? Rc2-+ which loses for White.)
116...Rg2+ 117.Kf1 Rh2?
We were both down to very little time and because I wasn't certain, I took the draw. 117...Rc2!
however, was winning. I saw this move and just didn't have enough time to check all the details.
118.Nh4+ (118.Nd4+ was the tougher one to crack, when trying to calculate this. 118...cxd4
119.Rf8+ Bf4 120.Re8 d3! I didn't get this far in my calculations. 121.a8=Q d2-+ and Black wins.)
118...gxh4 119.Rf8+ Ke3 120.Kg1 h3-+
118.Kg1 Rg2+ 119.Kf1 Rh2 120.Kg1 1/2-1/2
After the game I discussed some of the variations with my opponent then went back to the room. I
turned on the computer, hoping to get some lavish praise for gaining a draw against a formidable
opponent. I didn't know at this point that I had been completely winning at the end of the game.
When I ventured onto the site ChessBomb, I was in for a shock. All the comments were along the
lines of "Gormally is such an idiot, he has plus eight and still can't win!" "Utter moron, will never
amount to anything in chess!" I suppose it goes to show that you just can't impress the engine slaves.
In any case, if you ignore the hiccup at the end, it was a great result. And perhaps if I had beaten
David, I wouldn't have got to 5½/6, who knows? Obviously the variation at the end is one that you'd
find if you had more time. That's the nature of time-trouble chess, you are going to have horrendous
errors.

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 Daniel Gormally

Early Draw Offer and Epic Battle

It used to be that the British was over eleven rounds and I preferred it when it was, because you'd get
more games and if you happened to lose one or two, you had more chance to bounce back. Plus they
had a rest day, which was important to recover some energy. If you have to play nine days in a row
without a rest day against tough opposition, it's incredibly tiring. Can you imagine a tennis
professional asked to play nine matches in a row without any days in between? They'd refuse to play.
The reason they shortened the format to nine rounds was because they were struggling to attract
amateur players (who propped up the event financially) and under the old rules these amateurs would

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have to take two weeks summer holiday from their jobs. With nine rounds, they only had to take one.
In 2015 it was still eleven rounds and you could tell that the tournament was suffering a bit with
entries. There was also almost a complete lack of promising young players competing in the event.
Norm seekers were nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless it was still the British championship, and I
badly wanted to win it.
The game before the rest day I was paired with Jonathan Hawkins, who was the most improved
player in the country and had came equal first in the tournament the year before, with David Howell.

C88
Gormally, Daniel (2484) - Hawkins, Jonathan J (2554)
Great Britain (ch), 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 b4 9.d3 d6 10.Nbd2
Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.c3 I think I offered a draw at this point in the game. Pathetic, obviously. The
reason I did so was because I was extremely nervous. I had already started to think about winning the
championship. My opponent was slightly taken aback but he almost just as quickly responded in the
negative. Although he lost this game, the fighting attitude that he showed served him well in the end.
12...Rb8
I guess he also can play 12...Be6 when I think you're supposed to take on e6, and the position is very
double edged.
13.d4 Qc7
RR13...cxd4 Carlsen,Magnus 2815 - Karjakin,Sergey 2776, Monaco (rapid) 2011 - 111/(163)
14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Rd8 16.Qe2 b3?!
Perhaps my opponent could have avoided some of the problems that confronted him later in the game
by playing 16...bxc3!? 17.Ncxe5 (17.Nfxe5! Nb3 18.Bxb3 Rxb3 19.bxc3 Be6 20.Bf4²) 17...c4!
18.Nxc4 (18.Bxc4? leads to trouble for White after 18...Nxc4 19.Nxc4 Be6!; 18.bxc3 Nb3 19.Rb1
Be6 and it's hard to say if the knight on b3 is strong or weak.) 18...Nb3 19.Bxb3 Rxb3© with the two
Bishops in a relatively open position, Black enjoys excellent compensation.
16...Nc6!? which is rather analogous to the Davies game, where it also made sense to avoid the trade
of knights.
17.Nxa5 Qxa5
17...bxa2 would have made White's task harder. 18.Nc4 Bb7 19.Nfxe5 Nxe4 20.Rxa2 Bf6 The two
bishops give Black some play.
18.Bb1

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Although my position looks quite passive, I also have serious factors in my favour, for example his
light squares are quite weak. My plan is now to redeploy the bishop from b1 to c4. I think Black is
actually already in a lot of danger, and has to play the next few moves extremely accurately to avoid
landing himself in a strategically lost situation.
18...Qc7 19.Bd3 Qd6 20.Bc4 Be6 21.Ng5!± Now I felt very comfortable - this was vintage Gorm,
the moves were flowing, and I had built up a serious lead on the clock.
21...Bxc4 22.Qxc4 Rf8 23.Be3 Ng4 24.Nf3 Rfd8 25.h3 Nxe3 26.Rxe3 Rb6 27.Ree1 Qf6 28.Red1
Rdb8 29.Rd5 Re6

30.Qe2?! There was no need to dilly-dally anymore. I want to bring the knight around to c4, which is

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a good plan, but there was no need... When you are nervous and your opponent is in time trouble it's
tempting to play non-forcing moves. Sometimes you should resist that temptation.
30.Ra3! Qf4 31.Rxb3 Reb6 32.Rxb6 Rxb6 33.Rd2 with a pawn up and a winning position.
30...h5 31.Nd2 Qg5 32.Nc4 Rc8 33.Qf3 Rd8 34.Rxd8+
34.Rad1! Rxd5 35.exd5 Rf6 36.Qe3+-
34...Bxd8 35.Qf5 Qf4 36.Rd1 Bf6 37.g3 Qh6 38.h4 g6 39.Qf3 g5 40.hxg5 Qxg5 41.Ne3
41.Kg2 h4 42.Nd6+-
41...h4 42.Nf5 hxg3 43.fxg3 Re8 44.Kg2 Rd8 John was resisting very well, as he often does in bad
positions, and has even managed to force some kind of weakness out of my own kingside. Fortunately
my position is still close to winning and now I exchange rooks and go after his weak pawns.
45.Rxd8+ Bxd8 46.Qd3 Bf6 47.Qxa6 Qd2+ 48.Kf3 Qd1+

49.Qe2? Frustrated by my opponent's obdurate resistance, and tired after several hours of play, I find
myself unable to calculate properly and make the win much more difficult than it should have been.
49.Kf2! was much more accurate. The point is that ...Qa1 isn't as effective as in the game. 49...Qc2+
50.Qe2 Bd8 51.Nd6 Kf8 52.Nc4 with the idea of pushing the a-pawn.
49...Qa1! I had underestimated this and was now completely despondent that I was in the process of
blowing the win. I couldn't believe the defence that he was putting up - anyone else would have
crumbled by now.
50.Kf2 Qxa4 51.Qg4+ Kf8 52.Nh6! Qe8 53.Qg8+ Ke7 54.Nf5+ Kd7 55.Qxe8+ Kxe8 56.Ke2 Bg5
This ending should be drawn, although of course it's tough to defend.

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57.Nd6+ Ke7 58.Nb7 Bc1 59.Nxc5 Bxb2 60.c4 Ba3 61.Nxb3 Kd6 62.Kf3 Bb4 63.Nc1 Ke6
64.Nd3 Be7 65.g4 f6 66.c5

66...Bd8? Now my king manages to reach c4, when it's more or less over.
66...Kd7! was a draw - 67.g5 fxg5 68.Nxe5+ Kc7 69.Nd3 Kc6=
67.Ke2 Ba5?
Even here he has a chance, although it's difficult: 67...Kd7! 68.Nb4 Be7! 69.c6+ Kd6 70.Kd3 Bd8
71.Kc4 Ba5 72.Nd5 Kxc6 73.Nxf6 and probably this is drawn.
68.Nc1! Kd7 69.Kd3 Kc6 70.Kc4 Bc7 71.Nd3 Bd8 72.Nb4+ 1-0
A strange game. I think he deserved to draw, and I deserved to win. But, in the end only one of us
could be happy. I was delighted and relieved to win. Not only was I suddenly in great shape to win
the tournament, but I also though that I had knocked out one of my main rivals from contention.
I didn't think he could recover from this setback. In the end I underestimated Hawkins, because he
was the one who eventually delivered, winning his last five rounds. He had the heart of a champion, I
had the heart of a lamb.
In the second week I couldn't win a game, and only needed to win one to make the playoff, and two to
win it outright. It was just like Scarborough 1999 all over again. Or Liverpool 2008, when I also
couldn't win a game in the second week.
I distinctly remember having these long conversations with other players who were also in with a
chance, about who we could play, what other players were doing and so on. That already shows
anxiety. Would the top players be worrying about who they could play? They'd just get on with it.
And I got more and more nervous, before the games. So nervous that I almost couldn't bear it. And
yet everytime when I eventually sat down to play, I'd calm down.

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I just couldn't win a game and took draws against people I should have tried harder to beat. And I
should have prepared harder too. I recall on the rest day going to the cinema with Simon Williams. I
don't think I looked at a single chess position that day. I should have been sat in my room, working
my backside off, trying to prepare for the next game.
Despite all of this, going into the last round I still had a chance. I was paired against Aaron
Summerscale and I knew that I needed to win with the Black pieces. If I won I'd either win it outright
or at worse make the playoff.
We played a fair game and then eventually I repeated, because I thought that playing on was
excessively risky. I just didn't see any upside in it. At no point did I check the results on the other
boards, because I thought that would adversely affect my judgement.
Part of the problem was that if I lost, I'd only have won about GBP 50 from the tournament. When
you're skint, that's hard to contemplate.
I've been up there the whole tournament, I've scored 1½/2 against the top seeds and I end up winning
virtually nothing. I drew, which meant I came equal second and won about GBP 1500. That's one of
the problems with chess, that the money is so bad. I can't imagine another profession where you're
one of the best at what you do in the country, and you don't make anything for that week. It seems
dreadfully unfair. But that's life.
I've been in situations where it's worked in my favour, where I've gone into the last round of the
British needing a win to get a decent prize, I've won and the feeling the elation is something that is
difficult to describe. It's probably because so many of us live on the edge. I always thought if I had a
lot of money, then I'd have got far less satisfaction from winning those games. It's a perverse
conundrum.
Anyway, I drew with Summerscale and the only decisive game on the top boards was the one where
Hawkins beat Keith Arkell, which meant that Hawkins was the British champion, again.
So I'm still waiting to get that elusive title. And if I never win it, I'll still have great memories. The
British has dominated not just the affections of my chess career, but my life. Evenings spent in a sun
dappled beer garden with old friends, sharing a joke. Moments that you'll cherish forever.

Adams
The Everlasting Class

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The best player I ever faced in the British championships was unquestionably Michael Adams, a
seven times winner of the event. It was very clear from the first time I had a post mortem with him
that this was a player of a different level, essentially world-class. Problems that seemed intractable to
me he would solve very easily. There was also a huge level of objectivity, that was very impressive.
Adams first won the British championship aged seventeen, and it's hard to get my head around what
an achievement that was. It's difficult for a player to even compete in such a tournament at that age,
let alone win it.
I'm a firm believer that players who are of the very highest class show it early on. Adams was (and is)
just good, and he was good when he was young. The scary thing is that he hasn't lost a game at the
British championship (other than losing a rapid game in a playoff to Luke McShane) since the 1980s.
In 1990 he went into Eastbourne as an 18 year old defending champion.

B21
Adams, Michael (2555) - Watson, William N (2470)
Great Britain (ch), 1990

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 The Morra. I think it takes a certain amount of youthful cockiness to play like
this, on one of the top boards in the British championship. Later on in his career, Mickey's opening
repertoire became more solid. I guess gambits like this were more questionable when taking on 2700
plus opposition.
3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6
5...d6 6.Bc4 a6 7.O-O Nf6 is a line that I've had some success with. The idea is that later on you put
the bishop on ...g4 and reduce White's initiative by exchanging pieces. 8.Bf4!? (8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Rd1 e6
10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Be7 I've had this many times at blitz. I just don't think White has enough
compensation here.) 8...Bg4 9.Qb3 e6 Black should be fine.
6.Bc4 Nge7
I played a London league game during my teenage years that ended in a sad conclusion. The game
went 6...Nf6 7.O-O Qc7 8.Qe2 Ng4 - this is a tricky line, and White needs to be careful. 9.Rd1? Bc5
10.Rf1??

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10...Nd4! And to my utter shock I realized that I already had to resign. I got my revenge a few
months later against the same opponent, but this game was very painful. I was forced to spend the
next few hours waiting for everyone to finish so I could get a lift back.
7.Bg5 f6 8.Be3 Ng6 9.O-O Be7 10.Qe2 a6 11.Na4 Already White seems better, which he shouldn't
really be in the Morra gambit, so I wonder if the system that Watson deployed was a particularly
good one.
11.Rfd1 Qc7 12.Rac1 O-O 13.Bb3 Kh8 is an alternative continuation. Black seems very solid here,
but White has impressive development in the centre.
11...Qc7
11...b5? 12.Bb6
12.Nb6 Rb8 13.Rac1 O-O 14.Rfd1

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14...f5 White has something of a bind and it's difficult for Black to complete his development, so it's
understandable that he wants to break out like this.
15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Qd3 A typically calm, improving move from Adams. Facing him is like facing a
Sphinx. He exudes this air of quiet confidence that can be quite intimidating.
16...Kh8? Under pressure because he's had to face unpleasant problems from an early stage, Watson
blunders.
16...d5? however is not to be recommended and falls into a nice trap. 17.Qxf5! exf5 18.Nxd5 Qa5
What else? 19.Bb6 and the black queen is trapped.
Hackers might be drawn to 16...Rxf3 although it's hard to believe that an attack can be successful
when you are so far behind in development. 17.gxf3 Nge5 18.Qe4±;
16...Rf7! 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Qxd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Nge5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Rc7 Nxc4 22.R1xc4 Bd6!
and Black is very close to complete equality.
17.Nxd7 Bxd7 18.Qxd7 Qxd7 19.Rxd7 Equalising lines with ...Ne5 don't work anymore, because
the bishop on e7 will be hanging, so White is simply much better here with the two bishops and the
rook on the seventh rank.
19...Nf8 20.Rd2 Bb4 21.Re2 Rd8 22.a3 Bc5 23.Bxa6+- Bxe3 24.Rxe3 bxa6 25.Rxc6 Rb5 26.b4 a5
27.bxa5 Rxa5 28.g3 Rdd5 29.Rc8 Kg8 30.Rb3 Kf7 31.Rb7+ Nd7 32.Ne5+ 1-0

189
Michael Adams

190
INTRODUCTION AND IDEAS
OPENING SURVEY
PART II

In the first part of this opening series (Informant vol. 143) I

focused on the line 1.c4 e5 2.g3 offering the aggressive
2...h5!? and starting the fight for the initiative in the very
early stage of the game. This is the ideal surprising weapon
against players who wish to reply to 1.c4 in a slow,
positional manner.
In this article I will take a look at the other White's options
on move two - 2.Nc3 investigating on 2...Bb4! thus
completing the repertoire against 1.c4.
Black's main strategic concept behind 2...Bb4 is very simple and easy to follow. The aim is to quickly
exchange on c3 getting a favourable version of the Rossolimo Sicilian with the colours reversed.
(1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bc6)
Black is a tempo down, nevertheless by postponing development of the knight to f6 he gets the
aditional option to attack the centre with f5. The ideal setup would be to execute f5 and Nf6 in the
spirit of the Grand Prix Attack (Qe8-h5, f5-f4 and Bh3). Otherwise Black has everything in order by
developing the knight on e7 and postponing the break f5 for a later stage.
First, I will try to demonstrate Black's attacking possibilities with a couple of examples:

Soffer, Ram (2440) - Psakhis, Lev (2575)

Tel Aviv, 1990

191
Here White safely stopped f5-f4, but the source of trouble is his compromised pawn structure.
10...e4! 11.Ne1 b6! 12.Ba3 Ba6 13.Nc2 Ne5µ White's pawn structure collapses, and his Ba3 is out
of play.
14.Nb4 Bb7 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.Nd5 Rc8 17.Nxf6+ Rxf6 18.c5 dxc5 19.Bxc5 White is ready to give
material in order to get some activity, but all is in vain...
19...Nf3+ 20.Bxf3 exf3 21.Qb3+
21.Bd4 Qd7-+
21...Kh8 22.Qc4 Rc6 0-1

Radosavljevic, Slobodan (2215) - Delchev, Aleksander (2622)

Srbija, 2011

192
White does not have problem with the doubled c-pawns as in the previous example, but anyway after
the typical 11...f4! [∆ Bh3, Ng4] the white king is doomed.
12.b5 Ne7 13.c5 Bh3 14.Bxh3 Qxh3 15.Qb3+ Kh8 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Ng5 Qh5 18.Ne6 Ng4 19.h4
Nf5-+ and mate is unavoidable.

Martic, Ivan (2386) - Delchev, Aleksander (2546)

Paracin, 2020

It looks like White's defence is solid enough, but again Black breaks through with the standard pawn

193
sacrifice 16...f4! 17.exf4
17.gxf4?! Rf6!​→
17...Bg4! 18.Nc3 Nf5 19.fxe5 Nd4 20.Qc4 b5 21.Qxc7 Bf3​→ with a crushing attack.

The material is divided in 3 sections, as follows:

• Section I - �White does nothing to prevent the exchange on c3
• Section II - White is defending the knight and avoiding doubling of his pawns
�• Section �III - White goes for the most challenging 3.Nd5! which we meet with 3...Bc5!

SECTION I

3.d3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.d3 With this move White abandons any hope for achieving an opening
advantage.

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3...Bxc3+! 4.bxc3 d6 5.g3 f5! Black may go for the Grand Prix setup as he is not afraid of the d4
break.
6.Bg2 Nf6 7.Rb1 c6
Black should better adopt the classical Gran Prix setup 7...Nc6 8.Nh3! (8.Nf3?! O-O 9.O-O Qe8​→
10.Qb3 b6 11.Nh4 Na5 12.Qa3 Rb8 13.Be3

13...f4! I do not have any idea how the player like Svidler may get such a miserable position so
quickly. Now, Carlsen goes for a typical pawn sacrifice taking a complete control of the game. White
should play with extreme care to avoid catastrophe. 14.gxf4 - there was just no choice. Magnus had
another positionaly based solution at his disposal: (14.Bd2 Bg4 15.Rfe1 Qh5µ) 14...e4! (14...Qh5

195
Black's attack plays itself now. 15.Nf3 Bh3! Liquidating the main defender. 16.Bxh3 Qxh3 17.Kh1
Rbe8! Even stronger (than the direct 17...e4 18.dxe4 Nxe4 19.Rg1 c5 20.Rg2 Rbe8 21.Rbg1 Re7µ)
18.Qa4 (18.Qb2?! e4! 19.Ng5 Qh5-+ As early as on move 19. without making any special efforts
Black got an overwhelming advantage in Svidler,Peter 2753 - Carlsen,Magnus 2881, Stavanger 2014)
18...e4 19.Ng1 Qf5 20.d4 Ng4 with total domination.) 15.dxe4 Nxe4 16.Rbd1 Bb7µ) 8...O-O 9.O-O
Qe8 10.f4 e4! 11.Nf2 Kh8³ and the position is in Black's favour.
8.Nf3 Qc7 Black is defending the pawn on b7 and preparing to complete the development by h6, Be6
and Nbd7. It is understandable to play safe in the match for the world crown, but Black's position
definitely allows a much more aggressive treatment.
9.O-O
It was the ideal moment for 9.c5 dxc5 10.Qb3!?©
9...O-O 10.Bg5! Otherwise Black will play h6 and the bishop will be in trouble.
10.Qb3 c5! 11.Nh4 (11.Ng5 Nc6 12.Qb5 h6 13.Nh3 Na5³ was better for Black in Ehlert,Horst 1923
- Gross,Thorsten 2152, Verden 2008) 11...Nc6 12.Bg5=
10...Nbd7 11.Nd2 h6 12.Bxf6
12.Be3 Ng4 13.Qc1 f4 14.gxf4 exf4 15.Bd4 Nc5³
12...Nxf6 The position is still in Black's favour as he has more flexible pawn structure.
13.e4!
The more aggressive 13.e3 Be6 14.f4 Rae8³
13...f4! should offer Black better chances.
13...Be6 This is played in the same safe mode. 14.Bh3! Qd7 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Qxf5

196
The most precise way is 17.Rxb7! (17.Ne4 By considerably simplifying the position White came very
close to equality. 17...Qd7 18.c5! (18.Qb3 accepting further weakening of her pawns. Instead
18...Nxe4 19.dxe4 Rf7³ Tan,Zhongyi 2522 - Ju,Wenjun 2571, Chongqing/Shanghai (m/2) 2018)
18...d5 19.Nxf6+ Rxf6 20.Qe2 Rf5 21.f3=) 17...Qxd3 18.Nb3 Qxd1 19.Rxd1 Ne4 20.Rd3 Rac8 21.f3
Ng5 22.Nd2 Rf7 23.Rb2=
14.gxf4 exf4 15.d4 Be6 16.Re1 Rae8ƒ

3.e4

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.e4

197
3...Nc6!? I did not have any idea about how to handle this position, so I decided to preserve the
bishop.
3...Bxc3 4.bxc3 d6 5.d4 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2²
4.Nf3
I was afraid of something like 4.g3 d6 5.Bg2 f5 6.Nge2 Nf6 7.O-O O-O 8.d3 Bc5 9.Nd5 fxe4ƒ;
4.d3 Nge7 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 d6 7.Ne2 f5 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 f4ƒ Bern,Ivar 2340 - Tisdall,Jonathan
2425, Gausdal 1988
4.Nge2 avoiding the doubled pawns is already an achievement for White. 4...Bc5! - improving the
bishop. 5.d3 d6 6.a3 (6.g3?! Qf6) 6...a6 (6...a5) 7.Be3

198
(7.g3 Qf6! 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Qf3 10.Rg1 Nf6ƒ) 7...Nd4! (7...Bxe3 was also good enough. 8.fxe3
Be6 9.Qd2 Nf6 10.h3 O-O 11.Ng3 b5„) 8.Bxd4 exd4 9.Nb1 Ne7 10.Nd2 O-O 11.g3 b5! Black
takes the initiative! 12.b3 (12.b4 Bb6 13.Bg2 Rb8 14.O-O Ng6 15.f4 c5) 12...bxc4 13.bxc4
(13.Nxc4?! d5! 14.exd5 Nxd5µ) 13...Bd7 14.Bg2 Rb8 15.Qc2 a5! 16.O-O a4 17.Nf3 Black achieved
a lot on the quenside, but now the question is how to protect the d4-pawn. # Better was to sacrifice
the central pawn 17...Ng6! (17...Nc6 18.Qxa4 Rb2 19.Qd1 Qb8© Ermenkov,Evgenij 2429 -
Delchev,Aleksander 2596, Bulgaria 2012) 18.Nexd4 Ne5! 19.Ne2 Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 Rb3 21.Bg2 Qf6µ
and black dominates the whole board.
4...d6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nd7 10.Be3 c5 11.O-O
11.f4?! Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3 13.Qc2 O-O 14.O-O-O (Ynojosa Aponte,Felix Jose 2370 -
Noritsyn,Nikolay 2482, Batumi (ol) 2018) 14...Rb8​→
11...Ne5 12.Be2 O-O=

3.Nf3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nf3

199
3...Bxc3! Black continues with his plan.
4.dxc3
Also, with the knight on f3 Black does not have any trouble after the other recapture 4.bxc3 d6

5.e4 (In case of 5.g3 f5! is already fine building the Grand Prix setup. 6.d3 (6.Bg2 Nf6 7.O-O O-O
8.d3 Nc6ƒ) 6...Nc6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.Bg5 O-O 9.O-O Qe8 10.Bxf6 Rxf6 11.e3 b6 12.Nd2 Bb7 13.Re1
Nd8ƒ Luetic,Ante 2035 - Heberla,Bartlomiej 2556, Sarajevo 2015; 5.c5 Nc6! 6.cxd6 cxd6 7.g3 Nf6
8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O h6 10.d3 d5 11.Nd2 Be6 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Rb1 Qd7 14.c4 Bh3​→ Lopukhin,Anatoly
2282 - Volkov,Sergey 2578, Taganrog 2019; 5.d4 e4! winning an important tempo! 6.Nd2 Nf6 7.e3
Qe7 8.Rb1 c5! 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Qa4 O-O 11.O-O Bg4³ and it is not easy to find a job for Bc1 and Nd2,

200
as in Manz,Andreas 1814 - Haug,Johannes 2328, Helsingor 2017) 5...Nc6 6.g3 (6.d4 Nf6!; 6.Be2
Nge7 7.d4 O-O 8.O-O Ng6 9.Re1 b6 10.h3 h6 11.Be3 Qf6³) 6...Nge7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.d3 f5! 9.exf5
Bxf5 10.Ng5 Qd7 11.O-O h6 12.Ne4 Bh3³ Ivanchuk, Vassily 2728 - Kazhgaleyev,Murtas 2576,
Tbilisi (m/1) 2017
4...d6
4...Nc6 5.e4 d6 6.Bd3 (6.c5!? Nf6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.cxd6 cxd6 10.Nd2 O-O 11.g3 Be6
12.Bg2 b5 13.O-O b4³ Plachetka,Jan 2337 - Navara,David 2720, Slovensko 2017) 6...Nge7 7.h3 O-O
8.g4

White established the bind on the kingside, but on at a very high price - weakening the f4-square.
8...Ng6! 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Be3 b6 11.Qd2 Nd8! 12.O-O-O Ne6 13.Ng1 Ngf4³ Gabuzyan,Hovhannes
2553 - Kobalia,Mihail 2632, Moscow 2015
5.e4
5.c5 Nf6! 6.cxd6 cxd6 7.g3 h6 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.b3 d5³ Zeller, Frank 2371 - Janik,Igor
2483, Wien 2019
5.g3 Nc6 (5...Nf6 6.Bg2 h6 7.O-O O-O 8.b3 Nc6 9.a4 a5 10.Ba3 Be6 11.Nd2 Qd7 12.Re1 Bh3!³
Vakhidov, Jahongir 2578 - Bologan,Viktor 2654, Almaty (blitz) 2016) 6.Bg2 f6!?

201
We got a typical position for the line with dc3. Black enjoys easy equality and is already fighting for
more. (6...h6 7.O-O Be6 8.c5 Nf6 9.cxd6 cxd6 10.b3 O-O 11.c4 d5=) 7.e4! (7.Nd2 Be6 8.e4 Qd7
9.Qh5+ I cannot see what exactly White achieved with this move. (9.Qe2 O-O-O 10.h3 Qf7 11.b3 h6
12.Nf1 g6 13.Ne3 f5ƒ) 9...g6 10.Qe2 Bh3 11.f3 Bxg2 12.Qxg2 f5 13.Nf1 O-O-O 14.Ne3 Rf8
15.Bd2

White prepares to castle long, so Black gets ready to meet the white king there. 15...Nd8! (∆ Ne6-c5
×d3) 16.O-O-O Ne6³ Miezis,Normunds 2492 - Hillarp Persson,Tiger 2552, Sverige 2019) 7...Be6
8.Qe2 Nge7 9.Be3!? would keep the equality. 9...Qd7 10.b3! waiting to see where will Black castle
5...Nf6

202
It is better to postpone 5...f5?! as White can open the centre with 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.c5!ƒ
Shariyazdanov,Andrey 2526 - Bocharov,Dmitry 2562, Chelyabinsk (rapid) 2018
6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.b4 b6 9.a4 a5 10.Bd2 Bb7 11.Qe2 Qe7 12.Nh4 g6 13.Bg5 Qe6=
Sihite,Chelsie Monica 2252 - Seul,Georg 2372, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020

3.e3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.e3

3...Bxc3! 4.bxc3
4.dxc3 d6 5.e4 f5!³
4...d6! 5.d4 This is the favourite line of GM Suba, as he believes that the bishop pair and the strong
pawn centre must guarantee White some advantage.
5.g3 Ne7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Ne2 Nbc6 8.O-O Be6 9.d3 Qd7 10.e4 f5 11.f4 fxe4 12.Bxe4 Rad8 13.Qc2
d5​→ Schaefer,Michael 2194 - Godena, Michele 2598, Porto Mannu 2008
One original option is 5.Ne2 f5 6.d4 Nf6 7.Ba3 Nc6 8.c5! dxc5 (8...Be6!) 9.Bxc5²
Sveshnikov,Evgeny 2570 - Eingorn,Vereslav 2470, USSR 1980
5.e4 should not bother Black too much as after 5...f5! 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.d4 Qe7 8.Be3 Nf6 9.h3 Nbd7
10.Nf3 O-O and black got the ideal setup
5.d3 Ne7 6.Nf3 Nbc6 7.Be2 O-O 8.d4 Bf5 9.Ba3 Ng6 10.h3 Qf6=
5...c5!?

203
5...Nc6 is good enough. 6.Bd3 (6.d5 Nce7 7.e4 f5³ De Zwart,Cor - Dorenberg,Gaston 2310, Gent
1992) 6...Nge7 7.Ne2 O-O 8.O-O f5 9.a4 b6 10.Ba3 Na5=
6.Bd3!
Malakhatko,Vadim 2621 - Ovetchkin,Roman 2556, Voronezh 2008; 6.Nf3?! e4! 7.Nd2 f5 8.Nb3
(8.f3 Nf6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Qe7³ ×Bc1) 8...Qc7 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qg5 b6 11.Be2 Qe7 12.h4 Nd7
13.Ba3 Ba6!µ In this position the most important element is complete passivity of White's Ba3 and
Nb3. 14.O-O-O O-O-O 15.Qf4 Ngf6 16.Rhe1 Rhe8 17.Kc2 (Ismagambetov,Anuar 2497 - Volkov,
Sergey 2623, Moscow 2010) 17...Ng4! 18.Nd2 (18.Bxg4 fxg4 19.Nd2 Qe6-+) 18...Ndf6 19.Rf1
Nh5 20.Qg5 Qe6-+ ×Qg5
6...f5 7.e4! Qa5 8.Ne2 f4
8...fxe4 9.Bxe4 Nf6 10.Bc2 Be6 11.d5 Bf7 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.O-O O-O 14.Ng3​→ ∆ Nf5, f4
9.dxe5 dxe5

204
10.Nxf4! Refuting Black's setup.
10...exf4 11.Qh5+ Kf8 12.O-O Nc6 13.Bxf4©

3.g3/4.dc3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.g3 Bxc3 4.dxc3

I believe that after this recapture Black enjoys an easy equality.
4...d6 5.Bg2 Ne7 If White castles short very early - I recommend for Black the plan with the long
castle.
It is better to avoid the early 5...f5?! 6.c5!©
6.Nf3
6.e4

205
6...b6!? An excellent idea - after developing the bishop to b7 Black will break with f5 and the
exchange of White's most important piece - Bg2 would be inevitable. (6...O-O 7.Ne2 Nbc6 8.h3 f5 is
good enough.) 7.Nf3 Bb7 8.Qe2 Nd7 9.O-O O-O Black's setup is very flexible. 10.Ne1

White hopes to have time for the manoeuvre Nc2-e3-d5 10...f5! 11.exf5 (In case of 11.f3 Black has a
pleasant choice between 11...fxe4 (and 11...f4 12.Nd3 Ng6 13.Bh3 Qe8ƒ) 12.fxe4 Rxf1+ 13.Kxf1
Qe8³) 11...Bxg2 12.Nxg2 Nxf5 13.f4 Qe7 14.Bd2 (Kovalevsky,Stanislav 2050 -
Rakhmanov,Alexander 2640, Minsk (rapid) 2015) 14...Rae8³ Black easily solved all his opening
problems and already has a slight strategic advantage.
6...Nbc6 7.b3!? White plays a solid waiting move hoping to avoid the positions with castling on the

206
opposite sides.
7.O-O Be6 8.b3 f6! (∆ Qd7, 0-0-0) 9.Ne1 Qd7 10.Nc2 Bh3 11.e4 h5 12.Ne3 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 h4​→
Masic,Predrag 2356 - Damljanovic,Branko 2562, Srbija 2014
7.c5 d5! with the idea 8.e4 dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ng5 Ke8 11.Nxe4 f5³
7...O-O
White would meet 7...f6 with 8.e4! Be6 9.Qe2! with idea to wait and castle the same side as Black.
9...Qd7 10.Be3 O-O-O 11.O-O-O!=
8.O-O

8...Bf5!?
The natural plan is 8...h6 9.Ne1 Be6 10.Nc2 Qd7 11.e4 Bh3 12.Ne3 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 f5ƒ and Black
held the initiative in Bimiev,Ahmad 2125 - Rakhmanov,Alexander 2627, Russia 2018
White's best option in such positions is to continue with the plan e4, Ne1-c2-e3, for example: 9.Ne1
9.Be3 Qd7 10.Re1 Bh3 11.Bh1 h6! taking g5 under control and preparing to roll the kingside pawns
after f5, g5 and f4. On his part, White has nothing to show in the centre, or on the queenside. 12.c5 d5
13.b4 Ng6 14.Qb3 Rad8 15.Rad1 it looks like White got some counterplay, but after 15...Kh8!
16.Bc1 f5! White's pressure in the centre is not enough to hold the balance. 17.b5 Nce7 18.Qa4 f4!​→
Estrada Martinez,Cesar 2205 - De la Villa Garcia,Jesus 2525, San Sebastian 1996
9...Qd7 10.e4 Bh3 11.f3
11.Nc2 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 but even here after 12...f5ƒ Black's position is preferable.
11...Bxg2 12.Nxg2 f5=

207
3.g3/4.bc3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.g3 Bxc3 4.bxc3

In this line White enjoys both the bishop pair advantage and the central pawn majority, but Black has
excellent piece coordination.
4...d6 5.Bg2 Ne7!
Here is the first critical moment. If Black wants to achive the Grand Prix setup he should play 5...f5
but then White has a very strong reply 6.d4!

208
6...Nf6! is the only defence. (6...Nc6?! is a typical mistake in view of 7.Bxc6+! bxc6 8.dxe5 dxe5
9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nf3²; 6...Qe7 7.c5! ia also annoying, having in mind 7...dxc5 8.dxe5! Qxe5
9.Nh3! when White's two bishops become really strong. 9...Nf6 (9...Qxc3+ 10.Bd2 Qe5 11.Rc1©)
10.O-O O-O 11.Qb3+ Kh8 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Bxb7 Bxb7 14.Qxb7 Nbd7 15.Qxc7±) 7.Qb3! (7.c5!?;
7.a4!?) 7...Nc6! again the only move. (7...Nbd7?! 8.c5! dxc5 9.Nf3 e4 10.Nh4 g6 11.f3©) 8.Bxc6+!
bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nf3 O-O! - the only way to hold the position is to sacrifice the central pawn.
(10...Qe7 11.Ba3 c5 12.Qb5+ Nd7 13.Qc6 Rb8 14.Qxc7 O-O 15.Rd1±) 11.c5+ Kh8 12.Nxe5 Qe7
13.Nd3 Ba6 14.c4 Rfe8 15.O-O Qe4 (15...Qxe2 16.Re1 Qh5 17.Rxe8+ Rxe8 18.Bb2 Re4 19.Rc1±)
16.Bb2 Bxc4 17.Qc3 Bxd3 18.exd3 Qg4=
6.d3 O-O 7.Nh3!?

209
This flexible development of the knight is White's only option to fight for an advantage.
7.Nf3 Nd7 (Black adopted an interesting plan 7...c5!? 8.O-O Nbc6 9.Rb1 h6 10.e4 Qc7 11.Nh4 Be6
12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 f5 14.exf5 Nxf5 15.Nxf5 Bxf5 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.Qf3 Rae8³ Dunn,Andrew 2245 -
Hodgson,Julian 2545, Edinburgh 1989) 8.O-O

8...Rb8! My favourite plan in positions of this type. I am preparing the bishop fianchetto followed by
f5! 9.Ne1 b6 10.f4 Bb7 11.e4 exf4 (11...f5 would be the same.) 12.Bxf4 (It is better to avoid the
strategically risky 12.gxf4?! f5!) 12...f5! 13.exf5 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Nxf5 15.Qd2 Nc5 16.Ne3 Qd7
Black solved all his opening problems while White should take care about his weakened king's
position, and the d3-pawn, Georgiev,Biser 2258 - Delchev, Aleksander 2598, Varna 2012

210
7...c5!? After the inclusion of c5 Black is getting better control of the centre. White's main idea was
realised in the game
7...Nbc6 8.O-O h6 9.f4 Be6 10.e4! exf4 11.Nxf4² Kovalenko, Igor 2684 - Kuipers,Stefan 2414,
Gibraltar 2017
8.O-O Nbc6 9.f4
9.Rb1 b6 10.f4 Bg4! - it looks like this is Black's only idea to stop White's main plan 11.Nf2 Be6
12.e4 exf4! White cannot take with the knight now. 13.Bxf4 (13.gxf4?! f5!³) 13...Qd7 14.Qc2 Ng6
15.Bd2 (Kovalenko,Igor 2684 - Swapnil,S Dhopade 2527, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid) 2017)
15...Rab8³ 16.a4 (16.Nd1 f5!) 16...Nce5 17.h3 f5ƒ and Black got the advantage
9...h6!?
Black should avoid 9...f5 because of 10.e4! with a dangerous initiative, for instance: 10...exf4 (In case
of 10...fxe4 11.dxe4 Be6 12.f5! Bxc4 13.Rf2© White has very strong attack on the kingside.) 11.Bxf4
fxe4 12.Ng5!​→In my view Black's best option is 9...Bg4! 10.Nf2 Be6 11.e4 exf4! 12.Bxf4 Qd7=
10.e4 exf4

10...f5?! 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.g4​→

11.Nxf4² White gained a complete control over the d5-square and a very strong bishop pair.
11...Ne5 It was better to take g4 under control with 12.h3!
12.Qe2 Bg4! 13.Qc2 Bd7! Black managed to avoid the appearance of the white queen on the
kingside. 14.Be3 (14.a4 Qc7 15.h3 Rae8 16.Bd2 f5!=) 14...b5!„

211
After this move Black is doing well as his counterplay on the queenside is more than enough to keep
the balance, Gauri,Shankar 2378 - Berczes,David 2461, Charlotte 2019
12...Bd7 and now White is ready to start the assault 13.Nh5! with the idea of 13...f5
13...b5?! 14.Qd2!+- followed by sacrifice on g7
14.d4! Nxc4 15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Rxf5 Bxf5 17.Qe2± and White has a dangerous attack.

SECTION II

White defends his knight with Qc2 or Qb3.

In my opinion the lines with 3.Qc2 and 3.Qb3 were the most difficult and often finding the best setup
is a real challenge. The first important issue is to avoid transposition to other lines, and the second
one is to judge correctly whether to exchange the bishop on c3 or not.

3.Qc2

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4

212
3.Qc2 Nc6! Against 3.Qc2 this is the best move order as it contains a small trick which Black
revealed in this game.
4.e3 White stops all ideas with Nd4, counting to get the bishop pair advantage after 5.a3 Bc3 6.Bc3.
4.a3 - this move allows Black to achieve what he is looking for: 4...Nd4! 5.Qd1 (The trick is that
5.Qd3 Nb3! is fine for Black. 6.Rb1 (6.axb4?! Nxa1µ) 6...Nxc1 7.Rxc1 Bxc3 8.Qxc3 d6=) 5...Bxc3!
The basic idea, which became possible with the help of 4...Nd4. 6.dxc3 does not matter how White
takes on c3, Black has no problems at all. It is about entering the line 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.a3 Bc3 4.
bc3 (or 4.dc3) Nc6 which should be totally harmless for Black. (6.bxc3 Nc6 7.e4 d6 8.Ne2 f5! 9.exf5
Bxf5 10.Ng3 Bg6 11.d4 Nf6 12.Be2 O-O 13.O-O Qe7=) 6...Nc6 (6...Ne6 might be even better, for
instance 7.e4 d6 8.Be3 Ne7 9.Bd3 O-O 10.Ne2 f5³) 7.e4 d6 8.Bd3 Nge7 9.Ne2 O-O (It is simpler to
play 9...f5 at once. 10.exf5 Bxf5 11.Bxf5 Nxf5 12.Ng3 O-O 13.O-O Qd7³ Daly,Colm 2310 -
Gormally,Daniel 2375, Cardiff 1997) 10.Ng3!? Ng6 (10...Be6 11.O-O Qd7 12.Be3 b6=; 10...f5
11.exf5 Nxf5 12.O-O² would be just a little bit better for White.) 11.Nf5

213
11...Nf4! 12.Bf1 Bxf5 13.exf5 Qg5 14.g4 (14.g3? is a blunder! 14...Qxf5! 15.Qf3 (15.gxf4 Qe4+-+)
15...Qh5!µ and Black has a better position and the material advantage, Zlotnikov,Mikhail 2385 -
Kudrin,Sergey 2575, New York 1993) 14...h5 15.h4 Qxg4 16.Qxg4 hxg4 17.Rg1 Na5= with about
equal endgame.
4...d6! 5.Nf3
5.Nge2?! is too slow, and Black can try the Gran Prix setup 5...f5 6.Nd5 Bc5 7.a3 a5 8.b3 Nge7 (It
was already possible to start the attack with 8...f4!? 9.exf4 Nh6ƒ) 9.f4 O-O 10.Bb2 Nxd5 11.cxd5
Ne7 12.fxe5 Nxd5 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Ng3 Qe7 15.Bc4 c6 16.O-O f4ƒ and Black is much better.
5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 Nf6 If White proceeds with the standard 7.Qc2!? (7.b4 then Black has a very
strong reply 7...Bf5! with great counterplay in the centre and on the queenside. 8.Nf3 (8.Ne2?!
(Jakubowski,Krzysztof 2526 - Tari,Aryan 2523, Katowice 2017) 8...Ne4! 9.Qb3 Qh4ƒ) 8...a5! 9.b5
Nb8 with the idea of Nd7-c5 ×b3, d3. 10.d4! (10.Bb2 Ne4!ƒ) 10...Nbd7 11.Be2 Ne4 12.Qb2 Qf6!
13.O-O O-O and Black would have excellent counterplay against White's centre.) 7...O-O 8.d3 Bg4!?
9.Nf3 Re8 10.Be2 Black decided to open the centre with 10...e4! 11.dxe4 Nxe4 12.O-O Qf6ƒ and for
the time White lost for senseless queen moves, Black succesfully utilised all his pieces,
Sasvari,Zelimir 2205 - Jovanic, Ognjen 2512, Hrvatska 2014

214
5...Nge7! Transposes back to the game.
5...f5!? is also possible. 6.d4! Nf6 7.Bd2 O-O 8.O-O-O Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Qe7 10.Be2 Ne4 11.Be1 a5
12.a3 Bd7∞ with complicated fight in Verweij,Marcel - Dorenberg,Gaston 2345, Nederland 1992
6.d3
More flexible is the immediate 6.a3!? Bxc3 (I see no point of preserving the bishop here 6...Bc5!? it's
gave White some advantage 7.b4 Bb6 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O a6 10.Rd1 Bg4 11.Bb2 and Bb6 is definitely
not very happy, Van Kampen,Robin 2641 - Mitkov,Nikola 2461, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid)
2018) 7.Qxc3 a5! 8.d4 (In case of 8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 Black has a very solid game, but it appears
difficult to find a good plan. Something like 9...f6 (9...Nf5 10.Be2 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Qxh4
(Fischer,Johann 2346 - Ehrke,Michael 2224, Bad Wiessee 1999) 12.O-O² only helps White as the
break f4 is now in his agenda.; If Black plays like in the game 9...f5 then 10.d4!ƒ would be awkward
to meet.) 10.Be2 Qe8 11.O-O Qg6 should be enough to keep the balance.) 8...Bg4! 9.Be2

215
9...O-O! when accepting the pawn sacrifice would be too risky. For instance 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5
Bxe2 12.Kxe2 (12.Nxf7?! Qd7! 13.Kxe2 Qg4+ 14.Kf1 Rxf7©) 12...dxe5 13.Qxe5 (13.Rd1 Qc8!)
13...Qd7©
6...O-O 7.a3
7.Be2 f5 8.O-O f4! would be excellent for Black. For instance 9.Ne4 Bc5 10.a3 fxe3 11.fxe3 a5=
7...Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 a5! 9.b3 f5 Black managed to build an excellent setup and is threatening to take
the initiative with f4.
10.g3
10.Be2 Qe8 11.O-O Qg6„;
10.d4 e4 11.Nd2 d5=
10...Qe8
The immediate 10...f4 would be the right way to fight for the initiative - 11.exf4 Qe8! 12.Bg2 exf4
13.O-O Qh5 14.Bb2 Rf6​→
11.Be2
11.Bg2?! is also not good because of 11...f4 12.gxf4 Bg4
But castling long was the right choice here 11.Bb2! f4 12.gxf4 Bg4 13.Bg2 Qh5 14.Ng5∞

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11...f4! There is no point to wait with this break.
12.gxf4 Bg4 13.h3!
13.Rg1? now White is defenseless. The only chance was in 13...Qh5 14.Nxe5? this sacrifice is
obviously incorrect, but White was already much worse. The last chance to prolong the fight was to
give up exchange. (14.Rxg4 Qxg4 15.Kd2µ) 14...Nxe5 15.Bb2 Bxe2 16.fxe5 Ng6 17.exd6 Rf7-+
White is lost as he is a piece down and his king is in the centre, Ermenkov,Evgenij 2505 -
Nikcevic,Nebojsa 2395, Corfu 1993
13...Qh5 14.hxg4 Qxh1+ 15.Kd2© - and, for instance: 15...Qg2 16.Bb2 Qxf2 17.Rf1 Qg2 18.f5∞

217
With completely unclear position.

3.Qb3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Qb3

3...Nc6 4.e3
4.a3?! Nd4!=;
4.Nf3 d6! 5.g3 Whenever possible Black should play (In case of the immediate 5.a3 Black has to
make an important choice - to exchange the bishop or not. Although it seems like a good idea to
preserve the bishop pair when it is possible, in my opinion taking on c3 is more simple to handle.
5...Bxc3! (5...Bc5 6.e3! Bc5 is now only biting the granite (e3, f2) 6...Nf6 (The attempt to play in the
Grand Prix style with 6...f5 meets sudden refutation 7.Qd1! a6 (7...Bb6 8.d4 e4 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.b4 a5
11.Bb2² and Bb6 is out of play.) 8.d4 Ba7 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.b4 Nf6 11.Bb2 Be6 12.Nd5!²) 7.Qc2 a5
8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 Re8 10.Bd3² it is not easy to offer a sensible plan for Black.) 6.Qxc3 Nf6 7.e3 O-O
8.b4 e4! 9.Nd4 Ne5 10.Bb2 Re8 11.c5 (Onischuk,Alexander 2575 - Vydeslaver,Alik 2445, Halle
1995) Black missed a beautiful refutation 11...Nd5! 12.Qc2

218
(12.Qb3 dxc5 13.bxc5 c6µ) 12...Nf4!!µ) 5...f5! and Nf6. (The usual 5...Nf6 gives Black a pleasant
equality. 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O Re8 8.d3 h6 9.Bd2= (9.Nd5?! Bc5 10.e3 a5 11.Bd2 Nxd5 12.cxd5 Ne7
13.d4 (13.e4?! c6!ƒ Taimanov,Mark 2454 - Chepukaitis,Genrikh 2417, Saint Petersburg (rapid) 2001)
13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.exd4 a4=)) 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg2 e4!? It is matter of taste, but I would prefer
to postpone decisive actions after completing development. (7...O-O 8.O-O a5 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.cxd5
Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Qc2 Bc5!=) 8.Nh4!? is a very interesing continuation which Black should
meet with (8.dxe4 Nxe4 9.O-O Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nc5 11.Qc2 O-O Black forced the weakening of the
pawn structure, but White's bishop pair should balance the chances: 12.Nd4! Bd7 (12...Ne5 13.Nb3!)
13.Ba3 Ne5 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Nb3

The critical point of the game! 15...b6! is a classical exchange sacrifice! (If case Black plays 15...Qe7

219
the endgame after 16.Qd2 c6 17.Qe3 b6 18.f4 Ng6 19.Qxe7 Nxe7 20.Rf3 Rad8 21.Rd3 Be6 22.Nd2
is slightly better for White.) 16.Bxa8 Qxa8 for the sacrificed exchange Black has play on the light
squares and would most probably win the c4 pawn. Also, White's king is not very safe. 17.Nd2 Qe8!
18.f3 Ba4 19.Qc1 Rf6 (19...Qe6 20.Rf2 Rd8³) 20.Rf2 Rd6 21.Qe1

21...Qd7! Excellent play by GM Jesus de la Villa. 22.Nf1 Nxc4µ Black already has a pawn for the
exchange and a strong intiative, Franco Ocampos,Zenon 2490 - De La Villa Garcia,Jesus 2430, Leon
1989) 8...a5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 Nd4 11.Qd1 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Ne6„
4...Nf6! Against 3.Qb3 a bit more promising is the central strategy!
5.Nge2 O-O

220
6.g3 The fiancheto is the natural way to develop the bishop in the English opening, but Black finds
very concrete counterplay.
6.Nd5?!

White should better avoid this move. 6...Bc5 (6...a5!? is also very good (I refer you to the next game).
7.Nec3 (Against 7.g3?! e4! is very strong again. 8.Bg2 Ne5 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.Bxe4 d5! 11.cxd5
Nf3+ 12.Bxf3 Qxf3 13.Rg1 Ra6! 14.Nd4 Qh5 15.h4 Rf6 16.f4 Rd8-+ It is nearly impossible to
defend such position.) 7...Nxd5! 8.cxd5 (It was wiser to get a draw after 8.Nxd5 Bc5 9.Be2 Ne7
10.O-O c6 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7=) 8...Ne7 9.Be2 d6 10.O-O Bc5 11.Rd1 Bd7 In this pawn structure
White does not have any active plan. At the same time Black's attacking concept on cheking side is

221
very simple. 12.Qc2 (12.Qxb7?? Bb6-+) 12...Bb6 13.Kh1 (13.d4?! exd4 14.exd4 Nf5µ is definitely
bad for White.) 13...Kh8 14.d3

14...f5! 15.f4 (15.b3 f4!​→ would be too dangerous) 15...Ng8 (I prefer the immediate 15...exf4
16.exf4 Ng8µ) 16.g3 Qe7 17.Bf3 Rae8 18.Bd2 Nf6µ ×e3, Kh1; White's has only weaknesses and his
king is not very safe. 19.Rf1 Qf7! Black is threatening e4! 20.fxe5 (20.Rae1 e4 21.dxe4 fxe4 22.Bg2
Qh5​→ (or 22...Nxd5 23.Nxe4 h6µ)) 20...Rxe5 (20...dxe5µ) 21.d4 Re7 22.h3 Rfe8 23.Kh2 Qg6
24.Rae1 Qh6!µ - all the black pieces are ready for the final assault, Pavlovic,Milos 2488 -
Predojevic,Borki 2621, Srbija 2015) 7.Nec3 (7.g3?! Nxd5 8.cxd5 Ne7 9.Bg2 c6!) 7...d6 8.Be2 Nxd5
9.cxd5 Ne7 10.Na4 a6 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.e4 c6 13.Qc3 cxd5 14.Qxc5 dxe4 15.Qxe5 Nc6 16.Qc3
Bf5µ Maduro,Sherman 2143 - Dao,Thien Hai 2547, Bled (ol) 2002
In case of 6.a3 I prefer the plan with preserving the bishop, although there is nothing wrong with
exchanging it 6...Bc5! (6...Bxc3 7.Nxc3! (7.Qxc3?! d5!) 7...Re8 8.Be2 (8.d3 Ne7! 9.Be2 d5 10.cxd5
Nexd5 11.Bd2 b6 12.O-O c5! Black's setup against the hedgehog is very effective! 13.Nxd5 Nxd5
14.Qc2 Ba6!„) 8...Ne7! 9.O-O d5 10.cxd5 Nexd5 11.Qc2 a5! 12.b3 Bg4!=) 7.g3 (In case of 7.Ng3
Black should prepare d5. For instance: 7...d6 8.Qc2 a6 9.b4 Ba7 10.Be2 Ne7! 11.O-O c6 12.f4 exf4
13.Rxf4 Ng6 14.Rf1 d5=) 7...d6 8.Bg2 Bb6! is a very concrete play! Black saves time by skipping the
typical a5. 9.d3 (9.O-O Bf5! is the idea.) 9...Ne7! 10.O-O (10.Na4?! Ba5+) 10...c6 11.e4 Nd7!
12.Qc2 f5„ with a very nice counterplay for Black.
6...e4!? Pointing on the weakness of the light-squares f3 and d3. I believe that Razuvaev could not
expect his idea to be such a succesfull one. We saw a brilliant demonstration of Black's ideas in the
previous game.
7.Bg2 Re8 8.O-O

222
8...Bxc3! The bishop had no future and Black exchanges it.
9.Nxc3 d6 - the right way would be to exchange the strong pawn on e4.
10.f3!?
10.d4?! is not good because of 10...exd3 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.cxd5 Ne5 13.f4 Nd7! 14.Qxd3 Qf6
15.Qc2 Nc5µ ∆ Bf5 ×e4
10.a3?! White wants to play Qc2 and is covering the b4-square. But there is no time for such luxury:
10...Bf5 11.d3!? was the last chance to stay active. (11.Qc2?! Qd7 12.b3 Ne5! Black exploits the
light square weaknesses in a very instructive way! 13.Bb2 (13.Nxe4 Nxe4? 14.Bxe4 Nf3+)
13...Nf3+ 14.Kh1 Ng4! White needs a good advice here: 15.Bxf3 (15.h3 Ngh2µ) 15...exf3 16.Qd1
Ne5 17.Nd5 (Very nice would be 17.d4? Bc2!!-+) 17...Nd3 (17...Bd3 18.Rg1 Be2) 18.Bc3 Be4
19.Nf4 Re6!-+ Black established a complete domination and his attack is decisive, Anastasian,Ashot
2475 - Razuvaev,Yuri 2550, Moscow 1989) 11...exd3 12.Qxb7 Bd7 13.Qa6 Rb8! 14.c5 dxc5
15.Qxd3 Ne5 16.Qe2 c4ƒ
10...exf3 11.Rxf3 Ne5 12.Rf1 c6 13.d4 Ng6 14.e4 h6 15.h3 Be6! [∆ b5] 16.a4

223
16...Rb8! Although White has the bishop pair and strong centre, in my opinion Black's counterplay
should be enough for equality. For instance: 17.Be3 b5„

SECTION III

We came to the most important part of the article - White plays 3.Nd5! Definitely this is the critical
line, and the only chance to fight for an opening advantage. Black has five playable replies: 3...a5,
3...Ba5, 3...Be7, 3...Na6 and 3...Bc5.
In this article I will explore the 3...Bc5 option which is clearly the most fashionable on the top level.
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5

224
After 3...Bc5 White has three continuations: 4.b4, 4.Nf3 and 4.e3. The most dangerous line is 4.e3! in
which White is ready to sacrifice a pawn in return for a long-term initiative.

3.Nd5/4.b4

4.b4 White's early aggression on the queenside gives Black clear objects for counter-attack.
4...Bf8 5.Bb2 White should continue creating threats, as otherwise Black's counter-attack comes very
quickly.
5.a3?! is just too slow - 5...c6 6.Nc3 d5 7.e3 Nf6 8.Bb2 d4! 9.Na4 c5 10.Nxc5 Bxc5 11.bxc5 Nc6
12.Nf3 O-O³ and Black possesses the centre and also has a huge lead in the development.
5.Qb3 c6 6.Nc3 (6.Ne3 a5!„ counterattacking on the queenside, Vorontsov,Pavlo 2389 -
Osmak,Iulija 2409, Kyiv 2015) 6...Nf6 7.Nf3 (7.e4?! a5 8.b5 Bc5 was excellent for Black in
Salmensuu,Olli 2380 - Timman,Jan 2625, Koge 1997) 7...e4! 8.Nd4 (8.Ng5?! d5!µ Gross,Klaus-
Juergen 2215 - Lau,Ralf 2460, Deutschland 1985) 8...a5 9.b5 Bc5 10.e3 O-O 11.Be2 d5 12.cxd5

225
(In the game Semcesen,Daniel 2449 - Vysochin,Spartak 2550, Lviv 2010 Black had to play in the
most simple way.) 12...Bxd4! 13.exd4 a4 14.Qc2 Nxd5³ with clearly better chances.
5.Rb1 is too slow as well. Black took the centre and was clearly better. 5...c6 6.Nc3 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5
8.d3 Nf6 9.Bg5 d4 10.Ne4 Nc6 11.a3 Be7³ Sargissian,Gabriel 2680 - Volkov,Sergey 2623, Rijeka
(playoff-rapid) 2010
5.Qa4 c6 6.Nc3 (After 6.Ne3 Nf6 7.Bb2 Black should not miss the chance to take the initiative with
7...b5! 8.cxb5 cxb5 9.Qxb5 Nc6 10.a3 a5 11.Qa4 Ba6ƒ) 6...Nf6 7.Nf3 e4 8.Nd4 (8.Ng5 Qe7!)
8...Bd6 9.e3 Be5 10.d3 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5ƒ
5...c6 6.Ne3

226
6...f6!
I did not know that this move is so powerful. In my game from 2019 I played 6...d6 giving White
precious time to organise his pieces. After 7.Qc2 Nf6 8.g3 Ng4 9.Nxg4 Bxg4 10.Bg2 Be7 11.Nf3
Bf6 12.O-O O-O 13.h3 Bh5 14.e3² 1/2 : 1/2 Hoffmann,Michael 2438 - Delchev,Aleksander 2571,
Bayerisch Eisenstein 2019, White already enjoyed small advantage.
6...Bxb4 7.Bxe5² would be also in White's favour.
7.a3
7.Qa4 is not so good; 7...Ne7 (7...a5!?) 8.d4! (There is no time for 8.g3?! d5! 9.Bg2 (9.cxd5 Nxd5
10.Bg2 Nxe3 11.fxe3 Be6 12.Nf3 Nd7³) 9...d4 10.Nc2 Be6 11.d3 Nd7³ and Black is ready to start
his counter-attack on the queenside, Shaked,Tal 2490 - Timman,Jan 2655, Hoogeveen 1998) 8...exd4
9.Bxd4 d5 10.c5 a5 11.Nf3 Nf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.Rc1 (13.e3 Nd7​→) 13...b5!ƒ and again, Black is
holding the initiative.
7.c5 looks too experimental. Black equalised without much efforts: 7...d5 (7...b6!?; 7...a5!?) 8.cxd6
Bxd6 9.a3 a5 10.bxa5 Be6 11.g3 Ne7 12.Bg2 Qxa5 13.Nf3 O-O= Dubov,Daniil 2703 -
Artemiev,Vladislav 2709, Saint Petersburg (rapid) 2018
7.Qb3 a5! 8.a3 axb4 9.axb4 Rxa1+ 10.Bxa1 Qb6= was fine for Black in Malina,Diana 2149 -
Strutinskaya,Galina 2314, Russia (ch) 2000
7...d5! Black has a dream position - with strong centre and White's badly placed pieces.
8.g3
White's last chance to fight for the advantage was to strike in the centre with 8.d4!

227
8...e4 (8...a5!?) 9.g3 f5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nh3 Nf6 when I propose the following setup for Black
12.Bg2 (Kryvoruchko,Yuriy 2640 - Vysochin,Spartak 2529, Ukraine 2011) 12...Bd6 13.Qb3 Nc6
14.O-O Ne7 15.f3 exf3 16.Bxf3 (16.exf3?! f4!µ) 16...Be6=
8...Be6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bg2 Nc6

10...d4?! 11.Bxb7 Nd7 12.Nc2

For the second time White missed 11.d4!
11.d3?! Nge7 (11...d4 12.Nc2 Qd7³) 12.Rc1 g6 13.Nf3 Bh6 14.Rc2 Qb6 Black established complete
domination and can play on both wings, Aronyak Ghosh 2380 - Aravindh, Chithambaram 2609, New

228
Delhi 2019
11...e4 And now white should go for 12.Bxe4!
12.f3 exf3 13.exf3 Bd6 14.Ne2 Nge7 15.O-O O-O 16.f4 Qd7=
12...dxe4 13.d5 Bd7 14.dxc6 Bxc6 15.Qb3! When the position is still very far from clear!
15...Qd7 16.Rd1 Qf7 17.Nd5! Bd6∞

3.Nd5/4.Nf3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5

4.Nf3
If he wishes to avoid major problems Black should play the most precise 4...c6!
4...e4?! 5.Ng5! Lautier,Joel 2645 - Kramnik,Vladimir 2685, Cannes (m/1) 1993 - 57/19, and also
4...d6 5.d4! exd4 6.b4! Bb6 7.a4 c5 (7...c6 8.a5 cxd5 9.axb6 Qxb6 10.Qxd4​→) 8.a5 Bc7
(Ponkratov,Pavel 2630 - Ghosh,Diptayan 2544, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid) 2019) 9.Bg5 f6
10.Bf4​→
5.Nc3 d6! The best move order.
Otherwise if 5...Qe7 White can play immediately 6.d4! exd4 7.Nxd4, for instance. 7...Nf6 (7...d6
8.Bf4! Nf6 9.e3 O-O 10.Be2² Agrest,Evgenij 2596 - Mikhalevski,Victor 2536, Berlin (blitz) 2015)
8.Bg5! (8.Nf5 is not that clear: 8...Qe5 9.Nxg7+ Kf8 10.f4 Qc7 11.Nf5 d5 12.Nd4 dxc4∞
Chakravarthi,Reddy 2364 - Sokolov,Ivan 2589, Sitges 2017) 8...d6 9.e3 O-O 10.Be2 Re8 11.O-O

229
Nbd7 12.Qc2² and White enjoyed a typical slight advantage in Ponkratov,Pavel 2589 - Volkov,
Sergey 2609, Saint Petersburg 2016

6.e3! Clearly the most popular move.

Black enjoys a pleasant equality after all the other continuations: 6.a3 Nf6 7.e3 e4 8.Nd4 O-O 9.d3
d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Be2 Qe7 12.b4 Bb6 13.O-O Rd8= Topalov,Veselin 2760 - Anand,Viswanathan
2779, Saint Louis 2016
6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 O-O 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Interesting is 9...Qb6!? (9...Nbd7 10.O-O Nb6 11.b3 d5!∞
Draskovic,Luka 2447 - Krasenkow,Michal 2644, Batumi 2018) 10.e3 Qa6„
The immediate 6.d4 exd4 gives noting special after 7.Nxd4 Nf6 8.a3

230
(Unfortunately 8.Bg5?! is refuted by 8...Qb6µ; as well 8.Bf4?! Qb6µ; 8.g3 d5! 9.cxd5 (or 9.Nb3
Bb4!= Ponomariov,Ruslan 2743 - Artemiev,Vladislav 2524, Khanty-Mansiysk (rapid) 2013)
9...Nxd5 10.Bg2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 O-O 12.O-O Nd7=; 8.Nb3 Bb4!= Heberla,Bartlomiej 2556 -
Sokolov,Ivan 2625, Warszawa 2013; 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 d5! 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.O-O Re8 12.Nb3 Nxc3
13.bxc3 (Blomqvist,Erik 2515 - Tari,Aryan 2549, Sverige - Norge (m) 2016) 13...Bd6=) 8...d5!
9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nb3 Bb6 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.g3 (So,Wesley 2765 - Saric,Ivan 2690, Pro Chess
League (Internet-rapid) 2019) 12...Qf6! 13.Bf4 O-O 14.Bg2 Nc6 15.O-O Re8ƒ with strong initiative.
6...Bb4!? The most consistant - Black renews the threat Bc3.
I analyse the alternative 6...Qe7

231
in the next games, 7.d4! (while 7.d3 Nf6 8.a3 Bb6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Rd8 11.Qc2 h6 12.b4 Bf5
13.Bb2 Nbd7 14.Rad1 Rac8 15.h3 Bh7 16.Rfe1 d5³ Yu,Jennifer 2327 - Wang,Wesley 2328,
Charlotte 2018; 7.a3 Bb6 8.Be2 Nf6 9.d4 e4 10.Nd2 d5= Swicarz,Maciej 2325 - Kuzubov,Yuriy
2624, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020; 7.Be2 e4 (7...Nf6 8.d4!² Teske,Henrik 2475 - Godena,Michele
2513, Berlin (blitz) 2015) 8.Nd4 Nf6 9.O-O O-O 10.Rb1 d5! We got a typical position from the c3
Sicilian with colours reversed. 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.d3 Rd8 13.a3 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.b4 Bd6³
Swicarz,Maciej 2325 - Balakrishnan,Praveen 2498, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020; 7.Qc2 Nf6 8.Be2
Bg4 (8...Bb6!?) 9.h3 Bh5 10.O-O O-O 11.Nh4 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Nbd7 13.b3 g6 14.Bb2 Rfe8=
Pantsulaia,Levan 2581 - Ringoir,Tanguy 2508, Tromsoe (ol) 2014) 7...exd4 (7...Bb4!? and Black
efortlessly equalised! 8.Bd2 Nf6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Bg4= Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 2569 -
Sokolov,Ivan 2642, Bandar-e Anzali 2016) 8.Nxd4 Nf6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O

10...d5! is clearly the most aggressive option, involving a pawn sacrifice for development. (10...Rd8
11.a3 Bb6 (11...a5 12.Qc2!?²) 12.b4 Nbd7 13.Bb2 Ne5 14.Qc2²; 10...a5 11.b3 Na6 12.Bb2 Nc7
13.Qc2 d5 14.Rad1² Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 2537 - Yakubboev,Nodirbek 2556, Saint Petersburg
(blitz) 2018; 10...Nbd7 11.b3 Nb6 12.Bb2 d5 13.cxd5 Nbxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Bf3 Rd8 16.Qc2²
Tomashevsky,Evgeny 2714 - Grandelius,Nils 2573, Doha 2014) 11.cxd5 (White's only chance to
achieve something in this position is to play 11.b3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nbd7 13.Nf5 Qe5 14.Qc2 Nb6
15.Bd3 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Bd6 17.g3 Qe7 18.Rb1! avoiding the exchange of the bishops. (18.Bb2 g6
19.Bh3 Ba3=) 18...Be5 19.Bb2 Rad8 20.Bh3 Nbd5=) 11...cxd5 12.Nb3

232
(12.Bf3 Rd8 13.b3 Nc6 14.Nce2 Ne5 15.Bb2 Nxf3+! when White should play carefuly in order to
stay in the game 16.Nxf3! (In the game White took 16.gxf3?! and after 16...Bh3 17.Re1 Bb4µ lost the
exchange for no compensation, Hillarp Persson,Tiger 2550 - Erdos,Viktor 2604, Batumi 2019)
16...Bg4 17.Rc1!? is the best defence, but after (17.Nf4?! d4! 18.exd4 Qe4 19.Qc1 Bd6 20.Ne5 Rac8
21.Qe3 Qxe3 22.fxe3 Rc2© with initiative for Black in Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 2540 -
Bosiocic,Marin 2623, Khomeyn 2017; 17.Qd3 Qe4!?) 17...Rac8 18.Nf4 Rc6 19.h3 Black can again
play 19...d4!ƒ) 12...Bb4! 13.Nxd5 (13.Bd2 Nc6 14.a3 Bd6 15.Nb5 Bb8∞) 13...Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Rd8
15.Qh5 Nc6 16.a3 (16.Bf3 Be6; 16.Rd1!? Rxd1+ 17.Bxd1 Be6©) 16...Bd6 17.Nd4 (17.Bd2 Be6
18.Nd4 g6 19.Qh6 Be5 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.Bc3 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qf6 23.Rac1 Rd2 24.Bf3 Rb8©)
17...Be5! (17...g6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qa5∞) 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Bc4 (19.e4 g6 20.Qf3 Be6©) 19...g6
20.Qe2 Be6 21.Bxe6 Qxe6©

233
Black has just enough counterplay for the pawn, as in Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2767 - Carlsen,Magnus
2840, Wijk aan Zee 2017 - 131/13
6...Nf6 7.d4!² is known as better for White since Grischuk,Alexander 2792 - Moiseenko,Alexander
2707, Dubai 2014
7.d4
If White defends the knight with
7.Qc2 Black should aim for the following setup 7...Nf6! 8.a3 (8.Be2 O-O 9.d4 Re8 10.Bd2 Bg4=
Artemiev,Vladislav 2653 - Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi 2659, Martuni 2016 - 130/(9)) 8...Bxc3 9.Qxc3 O-
O 10.d3 (10.d4 e4 11.Nd2 Re8=) 10...a5 11.b3! c5! 12.Be2 Nc6 13.Bb2 Re8 14.O-O Bg4= and
White does not have even a shadow of advantage.
7.Qb3 Ba5 8.Be2 Nf6 9.d3 e4! is known as an equaliser. 10.dxe4 Nxe4 11.Bd2 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 Na6
13.Rc1 Bf5 14.Qd1 Nc5= Tomashevsky,Evgeny 2696 - Hammer,Jon Ludvig 2621, Moscow 2017

234
7...Nd7!
Definitely the most principled way to continue is 7...e4 8.Nd2 but after 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 Nf6 10.Ba3!
White exerts nasty pressure on the queenside. (10.f3?! is against the logic of the position: 10...Bf5!
11.fxe4 (11.g4? Nxg4µ) 11...Nxe4 12.Qf3 Nxd2 13.Bxd2 (Delaney,Killian 2247 - Van den
Doel,Erik 2599, Innsbruck 2019; (13.Qxf5 Nxf1 14.Rxf1 O-O) 13...Bg6³) 10...O-O 11.c5
(Interesting is 11.Be2 Re8 12.g4!?) 11...d5 12.Be2 Re8 13.O-O The ex World Champion Anand,
came up with an excellent idea to freeze White's queenside pawns with 13...b5! (13...b6 14.c4!² is
better for White, Stocek,Jiri 2592 - Praggnanandhaa,Rameshbabu 2532, Praha II 2019) 14.Bc1
(Nakamura,Hikaru 2779 - Anand,Viswanathan 2779, Saint Louis 2016), but then he failed to find the
right continuation 14...Na6! 15.a4 Nc7! 16.f4 exf3 17.Nxf3 Ne4= when Black would be at least
equal. In my opinion in the position arising after 7...e4 White's play is much easier.
8.Qc2 Ngf6 9.a3
9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Re8 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 e4 14.Nd4 Ne5 15.b4 Bg4!=
9...Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3
10.bxc3 O-O 11.Be2 Re8 12.O-O e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 14.a4 Ng6 15.a5 Nh4„
10...O-O 11.Be2 Re8 12.O-O
12.b3 e4 13.Nd2 d5! 14.a4 Nf8 15.Ba3 Ng6 16.O-O Bg4= also looks great for Black.
12.b4 e4 13.Nd2 d5 14.a4 Now Anand started his counter-attack with 14...dxc4! 15.Nxc4 Nb6! - here
White should already take care and avoid positions with the bad bishop against the strong knight on
d5 - 16.Na5!? (Otherwise, Black is better 16.Ne5 Nfd5 17.Qb2 Qg5​→; 16.O-O Bg4!³) 16...Nbd5
(16...Nfd5 17.Qb2 Qg5ƒ) 17.Qd2 Qc7 protecting the pawn and preparing Bg4. (The immediate
17...Ng4!? needs investigation 18.h3 Nh6 19.Nc4 Nf5​→ with good chances for successful kingside

235
attack.) 18.h3 (18.Qb2 Bg4!) 18...Re6! The start of a very inspiring manoeuvre! 19.Ba3 a6 20.Nb3
Ne8! White should quickly decide the fate of his king as Black rook is coming to g6. 21.Nc5 Rg6

22.g3! (22.Nxe4 Rxg2 23.Bf3 Rg6µ) 22...Nd6 23.a5 fixing the queenside pawn structure and
preparing the long castle. But, it is obvious that White's opening strategy completely failed. 23...Bf5
24.Qc2 (24.g4!? Be6 25.Qc2 Re8​→) 24...Re8 25.O-O-O Qc8 (why not 25...Nb5 26.Kb2 Ndc3µ)
26.g4 Bd7 27.Kb1 f5 Black is playing a piece up (Ba3) and can even afford to open the kingside.
(27...Nb5µ) 28.gxf5 Rf6 29.Rdg1 Bxf5 30.h4 Ref8 31.Rh2 Kh8 32.Qd2 Rg6µ Black is clearly better
and won the game in 15 more moves, Caruana,Fabiano 2808 - Anand, Viswanathan 2786, Stavanger
2017
Only after White castles short Black should close the centre with 12...e4 13.Nd2 Nf8∞

3.Nd5/4.e3

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.e3!

236
In my opinion, this line is the most awkward to meet!
4...Nf6!
4...c6?! was Black's best reply after 4.Nf3, but here is almost refuted by 5.d4! cxd5 6.dxc5 Qa5+
7.Bd2 Qxc5 8.Qg4 g6 9.b4 Qd6 10.cxd5 Nf6 11.Qc4 Na6 12.Rc1± with overwhelming advantage
for White in So,Wesley 2812 - Bacrot,Etienne 2708, Paris (rapid) 2017
5.b4!
The other main continuation 5.d4 is known as harmless. 5...Nxd5! 6.dxc5 Nf6 7.b4 Qe7 8.Bb2 O-O
9.Nf3 d6! 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.Be2 Bg4 12.O-O Nbd7 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qb3 a5 15.a3 Rfc8 16.Rac1 h6=
Caruana,Fabiano 2822 - Artemiev,Vladislav 2731, Bucuresti (rapid) 2019
5...Nxd5
In case of 5...Be7 6.Nxe7 Qxe7 7.Bb2 O-O White continues with 8.Nf3! offering a pawn. 8...d6
(After 8...e4?! 9.Nd4 d6 (is quite dangerous to accept the pawn. For instance: 9...Qxb4 10.Qc2 d6 (or
10...Qe7 11.Nf5! Qe6 12.g4) 11.Nb5!) 10.b5! Re8 11.Be2² White would follow with 0-0 and f3 with
a strong pressure on Black's king position.) 9.d3 (9.Be2 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.d3 Nbd7 12.O-O d5
13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.a3² Vitiugov,Nikita 2747 - Carlsson,Pontus 2456, Moscow (rapid) 2019) 9...Bg4
(9...b6 10.Be2 Bb7 11.O-O Nbd7 12.Nd2 h6 13.d4 Nh7 14.d5! f5 15.a4 c6 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.a5±
with strong pressure for White in Caruana,Fabiano - Bacrot,Etienne 2708, Paris (rapid) 2017) 10.Be2
Nbd7 11.O-O²
6.bxc5! Nf6 7.Nf3!
7.d4 is nothing special: 7...exd4 8.exd4 O-O 9.Nf3 Re8+ 10.Be2 b6=
In case of 7.Bb2 Qe7 8.Nf3

237
Black should play 8...Nc6! (Again accepting the pawn sacrifice is too risky: 8...e4 9.Nd4 Qxc5 10.f4
d6 11.Be2 O-O 12.g4​→ with the simple intention to deliver mate on the long diagonal with g5 and
Qc2-c3) 9.d4! (9.Qb3?! (Nakamura,Hikaru 2787 - Anand,Viswanathan 2770, Leuven (blitz) 2016)
9...Ne4³; 9.Be2 Qxc5 10.O-O (10.d4?! Qb4+) 10...Qe7 11.d4 d6!= would be fine for Black.)
9...exd4! only this is giving Black equality. (A bit weaker is 9...e4 10.Nd2 b6 11.Nb3 bxc5 12.Nxc5
O-O 13.Be2± (13.Qa4!?)) 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 b6! 12.Qe5 Qxe5 13.Bxe5 Kd8! 14.Bd4 Re8
15.Be2 Ba6 16.O-O bxc5 17.Bxc5 Ne4 18.Bd4 f6= 19.Rfc1 c5 20.Bb2 Rb8 and the arising endgame
is defendable.
7...Nc6! This is the most precise.
7...Qe7

238
8.Be2! One more time White leaves his pawn in order to take the initiative! 8...e4 (White's main idea
is to meet 8...Qxc5 with 9.d4! exd4 10.exd4 Qe7 11.O-O h6 (11...d5?! 12.a4!+-) 12.Bd3 O-O 13.Re1
Qd8 14.Bf4 d6 15.Qd2ƒ with a dangerous initiative - Bh6 is a serious threat.) 9.Nd4 Na6 10.Nb5! -
now Black has some difficulties; 10...O-O (One more time it is wiser to refuse the pawn sacrifice
10...Qxc5 11.Ba3 Qg5 12.O-O d6 13.f4! exf3 14.Rxf3 O-O 15.Bb2± and White is generating a
dangerous attack.) 11.Ba3 c6 12.Nd6ƒ
8.Be2!
8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 O-O 10.Be2 b6=;
8.Bb2 Qe7! is OK for Black as we have already seen.
8...O-O

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9.Bb2
In my view the most dangerous continuation is 9.d4!, for instance 9...exd4 10.exd4 White's central
pawns supported by the two strong bishops are looking quite threatening: 10...b6 11.Ba3! (11.d5 Nb4
12.Bb2 Na6! is more or less fine for Black.) 11...Re8 12.O-O bxc5 13.dxc5 a5 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Bf1
and I think that White is at least slightly better here.
9...d6
Anand is trying to avoid the risk, but the analysis shows that 9...Qe7! is completely playable and
should give Black equality with the best play. For example: 10.d4 (The pawn sacrifice is not that
strong here 10.O-O

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10...Qxc5! 11.d4 exd4 12.exd4 Qb4 13.Qc1 Re8 14.Re1 d5! and in case of 15.c5 the black queen is
out of danger. 15...Bg4! 16.Bc3 Qa4 17.Qb2 a6!³) 10...exd4 11.exd4 Re8 12.d5 Na5 13.Rc1 (Black
is also doing well after other moves: 13.d6 cxd6 14.cxd6 Qe4 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Rc1 b6=; 13.Kf1 b6
14.Bd3 Ba6! 15.Qc2 Nb7 16.Nd4 Nxc5 17.Nf5 Qd8=) 13...b6! 14.Rc2 Nb7! 15.d6 cxd6 16.cxb6
Nc5 17.O-O axb6 18.Nd4 Bb7=
10.cxd6 cxd6 11.O-O Re8

White enjoys the bishop pair advantage, but Black has no weaknesses and has very a nice piece
coordination. To create problems White should play on both wings: 12.a4! b6 13.d3!
Black is not afraid of 13.d4 because of 13...e4 14.Nd2 d5 15.Ba3 Ba6 with a blockade on the light-

241
squares.
13...Bg4
13...h6 14.Nd2 d5 is good for White: 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Nc4 Ndb4 17.f4!ƒ opening the long diagonal.
The best for Black was to slowly improve his pieces with 13...Bd7! 14.Nd2 Rc8 and if 15.Nb3 then
15...d5! is already fine.
14.h3 Bh5 15.g4!? Attacking on both wings was exactly what White was looking for 15...Bg6
16.Nh4! Rc8
There was an interesting option to strike back 16...Nxg4!? 17.Nxg6 Nh6!? and after 18.Bf3 Rc8
19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.Be4 Qh4 21.Qf3 Nb4! Black obtains an active counterplay.
17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.Bf3

18...Nh7!
18...g5?! - it looks like White's two bishops are dominating the knights, but in fact there was still
nothing to worry about and Black should try to stay active. 19.Bg2 Nd7 20.f4!? Black was planning
Nf8-g6 so Giri is increasing the speed. It was possible to slowly add more pressure as Black does not
have active counterplay, Giri,Anish 2771 - Anand,Viswanathan 2786, Stavanger 2017 - 132/11
(20.Bc3 Ne7 21.a5±)
19.Bg2 Qh4 20.Kh2 e4!„

242
THE ENGLISH REPERTOIRE FOR WHITE
PART II

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3

In my opinion, Black has a couple of solid continuations on

move 4. However, my choice is 4...Bb4 since it is the most
common one in tournament practice with a large number of
quality games to support it.
4...Bc5 5.Nxe5 White uses the right moment to reach the
position with the bishop pair and quite potent central
pawns, leaving his own king exposed for a few moves.
(5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O O-O reaching a completely different type
of position, though roughly equal with the manoeuvring
phase to come.) 5...Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe5

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7.b3!?

White defends the c4-pawn with the idea to chase away the pesky black knight by pushing d4 next.
This plan occurred in the Veselin Topalov - Anatoly Karpov game for the very first time. (7.e4 being
the top choice in this position. However, after 7...c5! (7...d6 8.d4±) 8.d4 (8.Be2 O-O 9.Kg2 d6 10.d3
h6= Black will manage to develop his light-squared bishop on a8-h1 diagonal, so White's bishop pair
advantage would not come to great effect.) 8...cxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O Black will complete his
development by playing d6, even though d-pawn will remain weak. On the other hand, White still
needs a few moves more to complete development, and he is saddled with the weak e4-pawn. The
play may continue with 10.Bf4 (Also, it is possible to play 10.Be2; or the preventive 10.h3) 10...Nc6
(or 10...d6 11.Be2 (11.h3 Be6 12.Kg2 Rc8 13.b3 Bd7! 14.Be2 Re8 15.Rhf1 Qa5 16.Bg5 Nc6 17.Qe3

244
Nxe4 18.Nxe4 f5=) 11...Be6 (11...Nc6 12.Qe3 Ng4+ 13.Bxg4 Bxg4 14.h3 Be6 15.b3 Qe7
16.Rad1²) 12.Kg2 Qc8∞) 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Re1 Ne5 13.h3 a6 14.Re3 b6 15.b3 Bb7 16.Bg2 Nh5
17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Qd4 Qc7 19.Rd1 Nf6 20.Qd6 Qxd6 21.Rxd6 Bc6=) 7...d5 (7...O-O 8.d4 (8.Bg2
White intends to execute an artificial castle, by playing Rf1 and Kg1. Black uses that time to his
benefit: 8...d5! 9.cxd5 c6! 10.Rf1 Nxd5 (10...Nd3+ 11.Kg1 (11.exd3 Qb6+ 12.Ke1 Re8+ 13.Ne2
Bg4 14.Bf3 (14.Rf2 Bxe2 15.Rxe2 Qg1+ 16.Bf1 Ng4) 14...Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Qg1+ 16.Rf1 Qxh2-+)
11...Nxc1 12.Rxc1 cxd5 13.Qc2 (13.Rf4) 13...Be6 14.Qd3 Rc8 15.Qd4 a6) 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.Kg1
Qb6+! (12...Re8 13.Bb2 Bg4 (13...Qb6+ 14.e3 Bg4 15.Qb1„) 14.Rf4„) 13.d4 (13.Kh1 Re8 14.Bb2
Bg4³) 13...Be6 14.Bf4=) 8...Neg4+ (8...Ng6 9.Bg2±) 9.Kg1 Re8 10.Qd3 Qe7 (10...d5 11.h3 dxc4
12.bxc4 Bf5 13.e4

13...Rxe4! 14.hxg4 Rxg4 15.Qxf5 (15.Qe3!? Qd6 16.Rh3∞) 15...Qxd4+ 16.Qf2 Rxg3+ 17.Bg2
Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Rxc3 19.Re1²) 11.Bg2 Ne3 12.Bf3!? (12.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 13.Qxe3 Rxe3 14.Rc1 d6
15.Bf3 (15.Kf2 Ng4+ (15...Re7 16.h3 c6 17.e4) 16.Ke1 Nf6 17.Kd2 Re7 18.h3 c6 19.g4 h6 20.a4²)
15...c6 16.Kf2 Re7 17.h3 (17.d5 c5)) 12...d6 13.h3 Bf5 14.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 15.Bxe3 Rxe3 16.Rc1 c6
17.g4 Be4 18.Kf2 Bxf3 19.exf3²) 8.d4 Nc6

245
(8...Ne4+ 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.h3 c5 (10...O-O 11.Bg2²) 11.Be3 (11.Bb2 Qf6+ 12.Kg1 e3 (12...Nc6
13.Qc2 Qg6 14.Bg2 f5 15.dxc5 Qxg3 16.Qc3 Qxc3 17.Bxc3²) 13.Rh2 Nc6 14.Qd3∞ (14.b4∞))
11...Qf6+ 12.Kg1 cxd4 13.Qxd4 O-O 14.Rd1 Bf5 15.Qd6 Be6 16.Qb4∞ Black must proceed with a
computer-like precision in order to stay in the game.) 9.cxd5!? (9.Bg2 dxc4 10.d5 Ng4+ 11.Kg1 Qf6
12.Bf4 Qxc3 13.dxc6 Ne3 14.Qc1 Qxc1+ 15.Rxc1 Nxg2 16.Kxg2 cxb3 17.axb3 bxc6³; 9.h3 O-O
10.Bg2 dxc4 11.d5 Ne5 12.Qd4© Topalov,Veselin 2725 - Karpov, Anatoly 2760, Monaco (blindfold-
rapid) 1997) 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Bg2 Qxd4+ 12.Qxd4 Nxd4 13.Rd1 White sacrificed a pawn
in order to get the pair of powerful bishops and quick development. However, this position needs
further testing in practical play so a more reliable evaluations could be made. 13...Ne6 (13...Nf5
14.a4!?©) 14.Ba3 f6 15.Rac1© Threatening Bd5. 15...Kf7 16.b4 White plans to fix the black pawns
by pushing b5, freeing the b3-square for his bishop as well. Clearly, White has some initiative. The
play may continue with: 16...a6 17.Bd5 c6 18.Bb3 Kg6 19.h4 Rd8 (19...Re8 20.Rc4 Nc7 21.h5+
Kxh5 22.Bc2 f5 23.g4+) 20.h5+ Kxh5 21.Rxd8 Nxd8 22.Bc2 Kg5 23.Rh1 Bf5 24.e4 Bg4 25.Rxh7
Ne6 26.Rh4 f5 27.e5 f4 28.Bc1 Bf5= (28...Rd8? 29.Rh2 Bf5 30.gxf4+ Nxf4 31.Kf3+-)
4...g6 5.d4 It is of great importance for White to play d4 before White manages to castle, not allowing
transposition into the King's Indian waters. (5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.d4 d6 reaching a typical King's
Indian position.) 5...exd4 (5...d6) 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O Re8 (8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.Qh4
(10.Qd3 Re8 11.Bf4²) 10...Ng4 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Bg5²) 9.Nc2 d6

246
10.Qd2!? The idea is: b3, Bb2, Ne3-d5 (one of White's knight will land on d5). 10...a5 (10...Bf5
11.Ne3 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.f3 Bf5 14.Nxf5 gxf5 15.f4²) 11.b3 Bf5 (11...Nb4 12.Ne3!² (12.Bb2
Nxc2 13.Qxc2 Bf5 14.Qc1 c6= Matlakov, Maxim 2700 - Artemiev,Vladislav 2709, Saint Petersburg
(rapid) 2018)) 12.Ne3 Be4 (12...Ne4 13.Bxe4! Bxe4 14.Bb2²) 13.Bb2 (13.f3 d5!∞) 13...Bxg2
14.Nxg2² Caruana,Fabiano 2835 - Artemiev,Vladislav 2716, chess.com (Internet-rapid) 2020 - 144/7
(14.Kxg2²)
4...Nd4 Black exchanges the knight by force, reducing the material on the board. In my opinion, he
cannot fully equalise by such simple means. White should retain better chances since Black obviously
loses precious time. 5.Bg2 (5.Nxe5?! Qe7 6.f4 d6 7.Nd3 Bf5​→) 5...Nxf3+ 6.Bxf3 Bb4 (6...Bc5 7.O-
O O-O 8.e3 d6 9.d4 Bb4 (9...Bb6 10.b4 c6 11.a4 exd4 12.exd4 d5 13.a5 Bc7 14.Bg5! dxc4 15.Ne4±
(15.a6∞ Marin,Mihail 2538 - Olafsson,Helgi 2521, Torino (ol) 2006 - 97/7)) 10.Nd5 (10.Ne4!? Bh3
(10...Nxe4 11.Bxe4 c6 12.Qa4 Qa5 13.Qc2²) 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bxb7 Bxf1 13.Bxa8 Bxc4
14.Bg2²; White can play either 10.Nd5 fighting against the b4B which has to retreat and lose even
more time.) 10...Nxd5 11.cxd5 exd4 (11...Bh3?! 12.Qa4! Bxf1 13.Kxf1 e4 14.Bg2 c5 15.dxc6 Ba5
16.b4 Bb6 17.cxb7+- Navara,David 2727 - Harikrishna, Pentala 2732, Praha (m/7-rapid) 2018 -
139/(12)) 12.Qxd4 Bc5 13.Qf4²) 7.Qb3 Bc5

247
(7...Ba5 8.Qa3 c6 9.b4 Bb6 10.b5ƒ; 7...Bxc3 8.Qxc3 d6 9.d4²) 8.O-O (8.d3!? with an intersting idea
of 8...O-O (8...h6 9.g4∞) 9.g4∞) 8...O-O (8...c6 9.Na4 Be7 (9...Bd6 10.Rd1 O-O 11.d4 exd4 12.Rxd4
Be5)) 9.Na4!? Be7

(9...Bd6 10.Rd1 Re8 (10...Qe7 11.d4 exd4 12.Rxd4 Be5 13.Rd1 Re8 14.Bg2 c6 15.e4 Bc7 16.Nc3²
Potkin,Vladimir 2588 - Molchano,Alexey 2334, Minsk 2017) 11.d4 exd4 12.Rxd4 Be5 13.Rd1 c6
(13...Qe7 14.Bg2 transposing to 10...Qe7) 14.Bg2 Rb8 (14...d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Bg5 d4 17.Nc5²;
14...Bc7 15.Nc3²) 15.Be3 b5 (15...Qa5 16.Rac1²) 16.cxb5 Rxb5 17.Qc2 Qc7 18.Bc5²) 10.d4! exd4
11.Rd1 c5 (11...d6 12.Rxd4 Nd7 (12...Re8 13.c5 Rb8 (13...d5 14.Bxd5 Nxd5 15.Rxd5 Bd7 16.Qxb7
Rb8 17.Qa6±) 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Bf4±) 13.Qc2 Re8 14.Rd1²) 12.e3 d5!? (12...dxe3 13.Bxe3 Qc7
14.Bf4 d6 15.Nc3 a6 16.Rd2 Rb8 17.Rad1 Be6 (17...Rd8 18.g4!ƒ) 18.Rxd6!± Svidler,Peter 2762 -

248
Sjugirov,Sanan 2674, Russia 2016) 13.cxd5 Bd7 14.exd4 c4 15.Qc2²
5.Nd5

The most popular move. White is not afraid of placing his knight on the rim of the board (h4),
because Black would terribly weaken his king's position by advancing g5.
5...e4
5...Bc5 6.Bg2 (6.d3 h6 7.Bg2 d6 8.O-O O-O) 6...d6 7.O-O O-O Black intends to play Nd5 followed
by Nd4. 8.e3 (In case of 8.d3 Black equalises very easily by applying the main idea 8...Nxd5 9.cxd5
Nd4 (9...Ne7 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxd4²) 10.Nxd4 (10.Nd2 Bg4 11.Re1 f5ƒ) 10...Bxd4 11.e3 Bb6=)
8...Re8!? White has many options at his disposal. However, (8...Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.d3 (White may opt
for a very direct 10.g4 Bg6 11.d4 Bb6 12.a4!?ƒ) 10...a5 11.Nc3!? White does not allow the trade of
knights on d5. The black bishop on h5 does not stand all to well, and White is planning to complete
development by playing b3 and Bb2. 11...h6 12.b3 Re8 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.a3 Ba7 15.Kh2²
Inarkiev,Ernesto 2693 - Efimenko,Zahar 2636, Antalya 2017) 9.d4 seems the most reasonable choice,
especially since White played 8.e3 first. (9.b3; 9.d3; 9.a3) 9...Bg4! The most commonly played
moves should lead to forced draws. I believe that the only move which could prove interesting,
unclear play with some chances for White's advantage is 10.h3!? (10.dxc5 e4 11.h3 exf3 (11...Bxf3
12.Bxf3 exf3 13.cxd6 Qxd6 14.Qxf3 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Ne5 16.Qg2 Qf6©) 12.hxg4 fxg2 13.Kxg2 dxc5
14.f3 Ne5 15.e4 (15.Nc3!? Nxc4 16.g5 Nd7 17.e4©; 15.b3) 15...Nxc4 16.Qc2 Nxd5 17.Qxc4 Nb4
18.Qxc5 Nd3= Nepomniachtchi, Ian 2768 - Vitiugov,Nikita 2730, Russia (ch) 2018) 10...Bxf3
11.Bxf3 exd4 (11...Bb6 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Bg2 Nxc4 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.Bxb7 Ra7 16.Bg2²) 12.b4

249
12...Bb6 (12...Bxb4 13.exd4 Nxd5 14.Bxd5© (14.cxd5 Ne7 15.Qa4 Bc3 16.Rb1 b6∞); 12...Nxd5
13.cxd5 Nxb4 14.exd4 Bb6 15.a3 Na6 16.a4 Ba5 17.Be3© (17.Rb1©)) 13.Nxb6 axb6 14.b5 Ne5
15.Bxb7 dxe3 (15...Ra7 16.exd4 Rxb7 (16...Nxc4 17.Bc6) 17.dxe5 Rxe5 (17...dxe5 18.Qxd8 Rxd8
19.Bb2²) 18.Bb2 Re6 19.a4²) 16.Bxe3 Nxc4 17.Bd4 Ra3 18.Qc2 Ne5 19.Bb2 Ra7 20.Bg2©;
5...Nxd5 6.cxd5 e4? 7.dxc6 exf3 8.Qb3+- and White wins a piece.
5...Be7 6.Bg2

(6.d4 Nxd5 7.cxd5 Nxd4 8.Nxd4 exd4 9.Qxd4 O-O 10.Bg2 c5!„) 6...e4 (6...O-O 7.O-O (7.d4 exd4
8.O-O d6 9.b3) 7...d6 8.d3 (8.d4 Nxd5 9.cxd5 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4 Bf6 12.Qd3)) 7.Nh4 d6
(7...Nxd5 8.cxd5 Bxh4 9.dxc6 Bf6 10.cxd7+ Bxd7 11.Bxe4 Bh3 12.Bxb7 Rb8 13.Bc6+ Kf8 14.Qc2

250
h5 15.Rb1 h4 16.b4±) 8.Ne3!? O-O 9.Nhf5²
6.Nh4
6.Nxb4 Nxb4 7.Nd4

We reached a familiar Rossolimo Sicilian position with the reversed colours. White is a tempo up, but
Black has a really decent position. 7...O-O=
6...O-O
6...d6 7.Bg2 The World Cup game between two young stars started with fireworks: 7...g5 8.Qa4!?
gxh4 (8...Bc5? 9.d4+-) 9.Nxb4 Bd7 (9...h3 10.Nxc6 Qd7 (10...hxg2 11.Nxd8+ Bd7 12.Qxd7+ Nxd7
13.Rg1 Kxd8 14.Rxg2±) 11.Bf1 Qxc6 (11...bxc6 12.b3± followed by Bb2 and long castle.)
12.Qxc6+ bxc6 13.f3²) 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Qa5 Qd7 12.b3 (12.b4!?) 12...h3 13.Bf1 Rg8 14.Bb2 b6
15.Qc3² Dubov,Daniil 2699 - Firouzja,Alireza 2702, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/ 1) 2019 - 142/14
6...Bc5 7.Bg2 d6 8.O-O g5 9.d4 Nxd5

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10.dxc5 (Also interesting is 10.cxd5 Nxd4 11.e3 Nb5 (11...Nf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.b4 Bb6 14.a4 a5
(14...a6 15.Bb2 O-O 16.a5 Ba7 17.Rc1) 15.bxa5 Rxa5 16.Bb2 O-O 17.Bc3ƒ) 12.a4 gxh4 (12...Nc3
13.Qd2 (13.Qc2 Qf6 14.bxc3 gxh4 15.a5 O-O 16.Bxe4) 13...Qf6 14.b3!?) 13.axb5 hxg3 (13...Qe7
14.Qh5 hxg3? 15.Ra4!+- Roux,Pierre-Yves - Brown,Alan, corr 2003) 14.fxg3 Qg5∞) 10...Ndb4™
11.a3 Na6 12.b4 gxh4 13.cxd6 Qxd6 (13...h3 14.Bh1 Qxd6 15.b5 Nc5 16.bxc6 Qxc6 17.Be3²) 14.b5
h3 15.Bh1 Nc5 16.bxc6 Qxc6 17.Be3²
7.Bg2 d6
7...Bc5 8.O-O Re8

(8...d6 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.Bxe4 Bh3 (10...Re8 11.d3 Bh3 12.Ng2) 11.Ng2 (11.Bg2) 11...Rae8 12.d3)

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9.e3! (9.d3 exd3 10.Qxd3 Ne5 11.Qc2 c6 12.Be3 (12.Nc3 Nxc4 13.Na4 Bf8 14.Qxc4 b5 15.Qc2
bxa4 16.Be3 (16.Qxa4 Rxe2; 16.e3 Qb6) 16...Ba6) 12...cxd5 13.Bxc5 d6 14.Bd4 dxc4 15.Rad1)
9...d6 (9...g5? 10.Nf5 d6

11.Nfe7+! (11.Nh6+ Kg7 12.f4! g4 13.Nxf6 Qxf6 14.Nxg4 Qg6 15.Nf2± Ivanisevic,Ivan 2618 -
Ruck,Robert 2530, Slovenija 2019) 11...Rxe7 (11...Nxe7 12.Nxf6+ Kg7 13.Nxe8+ Qxe8 14.Qh5+-)
12.Nxf6+ Kg7 13.Nxe4+-; 9...Nxd5 10.cxd5 Nb4 11.f3ƒ) 10.b3 (10.f3) 10...g5 11.Bb2 Nxd5
12.cxd5 gxh4 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Qh5+-;
7...Re8 8.O-O
8.a3
8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.Bxe4 Re8ƒ White is not able to complete his development and castle.
8.O-O g5 9.d4 h6 10.Bh1!? These are engine suggestions. I must admit that is it not easy to play in
such fashion.
I forgot how to respond to g5 so I proceeded with 8.Nxb4 Nxb4 9.a3 Nc6 10.d3 exd3 11.Qxd3=
Even though White has the bishop pair, Black manages to equalise by making useful moves and
preparing d5 while White finishes development, Ivanisevic, Ivan 2593 - Sethuraman,SP 2638,
Moscow (rapid) 2019
8...Bc5 9.O-O Re8
9...Nxd5 10.cxd5 Nd4 11.e3 Nf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5 13.b4 Bb6;
9...Bg4 10.h3 Be6 (10...Bh5 11.Nf4) 11.d3;
9...g5 10.d4+-;

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9...a5 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.Bxe4² White wins a pawn with no apparent compensation for Black.
Here, I suggest 10.b4 basically being a novelty and applied only once in online chess (Titled
Tuesday, chess.com)
10.e3 g5 (10...Bb6 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.f3 exf3 13.Nxf3²; 10...Nxd5 11.cxd5 Ne5 12.Bxe4) 11.b4
gxh4! (11...Bb6 12.Bb2 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Nd4

14.d3! gxh4 15.dxe4 Ne6 16.dxe6 Rxe6 17.e5± Nakamura,Hikaru 2790 - Anand,Viswanathan 2762,
Moscow (ct) 2016 - 128/11) 12.bxc5 (12.Bb2 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Ne5 transpose to 12.bc5) 12...Ne5
13.Bb2 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Bg4 15.Qb3∞ The position is very difficult to handle for both sides.
10...Bd4
10...Bb6 11.Bb2

254
(11.e3 Ne5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bb2 Qe6 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.f3∞) 11...Nxd5 (11...Bd4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4
13.e3 Nf5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.f3 (15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.f3 Qe6 (16...Qg6) 17.fxe4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Qxe4
19.Rf4) 15...Nxd5 16.cxd5 Qd7 (16...exf3 17.Qxf3 Bg6 18.Qf4² (18.Qe2²)) 17.Qb3²) 12.cxd5 Bd4
(12...Ne5 13.Bxe4 Ng6 14.Nxg6 Rxe4 15.Nf4±) 13.Bxd4 Nxd4 14.e3
11.Rb1 Ne7
11...Be6?! 12.e3 Be5 (12...Bb6 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bxe4 Bxc4 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qc2+ Kg8
17.Qxc4±) 13.f4 exf3 14.Qxf3 (14.Nxf3?! Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bxd5³ Santiago,Yago De Moura 2500 -
Triapishko,Alexandr 2506, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 14...Nd7 15.d4 Bf6 16.Nf5±;
11...g5 12.e3 gxh4 13.exd4²
12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.e3 Bb6 14.f3

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14...g5
14...c6 15.Bb2 exf3 16.Qxf3 Ne4 17.Rbd1²
15.fxe4 gxh4 16.Rf4 Qe6
16...Nd7 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.Bb2+ Ne5 19.Qh5​→;
16...h5 17.c5! dxc5 18.Bb2 Ng4 19.h3+-
17.c5
17.Rxh4 Ng4! 18.Bh3 Qxe4 19.Rxg4+ Bxg4 20.Qxg4+©
17...dxc5 18.Bb2 Ng4
18...Nd7 19.Qh5​→
19.Bh3
19.bxc5 Bxc5 20.Rf5 Be7 21.Qxg4+ Qg6 22.Qf4
19...h5 20.bxc5 Bxc5 21.Rf5∞

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Conclusion:
In two articles I tried to suggest interesting and fresh ideas in the English Opening, so you could
implement them in your own repertoires. Also, I hope that my analysis will prove to be useful for
both experienced players, and younger ones who seek progress in chess.

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PART II

In the previous volume of Informant our new columnist Kannappan Priyadharshan went into great
detail trying to explain all the fine points and rationele behind the queen sacrifice, quite often
misunderstood and overlooked resource in chess.
In this installment we are delighted to present you a few more instructive positions of the same kind.
Mastering the nuances of sacrificial play is not an easy task, but surely is extremely enjoyable and
rewarding.
Let's sac some royalty now!

Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2792)

Dortmund, 2018

Wojtaszek has just played 21.Re1 and is threatening to

capture the black queen. What are the options for Black in
this position?

21...Qxe1+!? Kramnik chooses the most forcing continuation, and that gets him only close to

258
equality, but not complete equality.
21...Qf4?! - this gives an unnecessary tempo move for White. 22.g3 Qxc1 23.Qxc1 Bxd3©;
21...Qf6 22.Qf3 Bxd3 23.Qxd3=;
21...Qd5 22.c6!? Bxd3 23.c7 Rdc8 24.Qxd3 axb4 25.axb4 Qd6 26.Rc4 Rxc7 27.Rxd4 Re7!=
22.Qxe1 Bxd3 So what exactly is the compensation that Black has for the sacrificed queen?
1) rook and bishop.
2) a passed pawn on d4.
23.bxa5
23.Qe7?! would be a greedy approach by White, and the drawback of Qe7 is that White's king has
back rank issues which Black will be able to exploit. 23...axb4 24.axb4 Bc2! 25.Qxd8+ (25.Qxb7??
d3-+) 25...Rxd8 26.Rxc2=
23...Rac8
23...Ba6 Black has a strong blockade on the a6-square, and the d-pawn is going to roll forward. 24.c6
bxc6 25.Rxc6 d3 26.Qd2 Rdc8=
24.Qe7 Ba6 25.c6 Re8
25...bxc6 continuation is also good enough. 26.Rxc6 d3™ 27.Rc7 Rf8 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Qe1 Rc2
30.h4 Bb5= - both sides cannot improve any further, leading the position to a draw.
26.Qb4 Rxc6 27.Rxc6 bxc6 28.h4 Clearing the back rank.
28...d3™ The whole counterplay for Black revolves around the advanced d-pawn, so it makes sense
to push that pawn forward.
29.Kh2 Kh7
29...Rd8?? 30.Qb6 Rd5 31.Qxc6+-
30.Qd6 Re6 31.Qd7
31.Qc5 Re2 32.Qxc6 d2 33.Qd7 Rxf2 34.Kg3 Re2= The white queen can't move away from
performing her duty of guarding the d1-square, and that guarantees Black a draw.
31...Rf6 32.Qd4 h5 33.a4 Re6 34.Kg3 Rg6+ 35.Kf3 White has made some progress with his king
over the last few moves. Black has to be sure that the white king doesn't control the d2-square as that
would free up the queen to attack the black bishop on a6.
35...Re6! Stopping White's king from getting to the e3-square.
36.Kg3 g6
36...Rg6+ 37.Kf3 Re6=

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37.Qa7 Kg7 38.Qd4+ Kg8 39.Qd8+

39...Kh7?? Kramnik gives Wojtaszek a golden opportunity to win the game. The blunder happens on
the dreaded 39th move, just before making the 40th move and getting into the second time control.
39...Kg7 40.f3 Re2 41.Kf4 d2 42.g4 hxg4 43.fxg4 Rf2+ 44.Kg3 Re2 45.h5 gxh5 46.gxh5 Kh7=
40.Qd4?? White fails to spot the win, and now we are back to a drawn endgame.
40.Qf8! Forcing the black rook to lose control of the e-file. 40...Rf6 41.f3! White's idea is to get his
king to d2 via f2-e1. 41...Rf5 42.Qd6™ Rxa5 43.Qc7! Rf5 44.Qxc6 d2 45.Qd7 Rf6 46.Qxd2 Re6 It
looks like Black has managed to get some sort of fortress, but this fortress can be broken down by
White. 47.a5 White has to get the f4-f5 pawn break at the right moment, and then pick up the kingside
pawns to break down Black's fortress. 47...Kg8 48.Kf2 Kg7 49.Qd4+ Kh7 50.f4 Kg8 51.f5 gxf5
52.Qf4 Kg7 53.Qg5+ Rg6 54.Qxh5 Bb7 55.g3 Rh6 56.Qg5+ Rg6 57.Qe3+-
40...Re2 41.Qd7 Bc4 42.Qxc6 Rc2 43.Qe4 Rc3 44.Qd4 Rc2 45.Qe4 Rc3 46.Qd4 Rc2 47.Qe4 1/2-1/2
There was no need to sacrifice the queen in this game, and then we saw Black making a big mistake
on the 39th move, which White failed to capitalise on. RR This game is published in Chess Informant
137/177

Nakamura, Hikaru (2769) - Karjakin, Sergey (2782)

Leuven (rapid), 2018

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38.a4 You would have guessed the move that Black played in this position, but the question is if that's
the best option for Black?
38...Qxb4
38...Qa6 continuation is technically good enough but optically doesn't look great, and that could be
the reason why Black didn't play that line. As all the major black pieces are on the queenside, White
can put pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal with Bc3 followed by Qd4 plan. 39.Bc3 Bf5 40.Qd4 f6 41.Re3
Re6=
39.Rxb4 axb4
What is the compensation that Black has for the sacrificed queen?
1) Rook, bishop and pawn which makes it materially equal for the white queen.
2) Easy pawn targets on a4 and c5 and if they are eliminated or swapped for the black pawns, then the
forces would need to focus only on the kingside.
3) If Black manages to place his bishop on d5, then the bishop would be an excellent multi-tasker.
4) The g2-pawn could become a target in the future, and that would mean the white king could be
weak.
40.Qd2 Rxc5
40...Rxa4?? 41.Rd8+ Kh7 42.Qg5 b3 43.g4!+-;
40...b3 41.Rd8+ Rxd8 42.Qxd8+ Kh7 43.Qh4+ Kg8 44.Qb4 Kh7 45.a5 Ra6=
41.Rd8+

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41.Qxb4 Rc4 42.Qxb7 Rcxa4=
41...Rxd8 42.Qxd8+ Kh7 43.Qb6
43.Qh4+ Rh5 44.Qxb4 Bd5 45.a5 Re5 46.Kg1 f6= White cannot make any further improvement in
this position.
43...Rc8 44.Qxb7
44.Qxb4 Bd5=
44...b3 45.a5 Rc2 46.a6 Ra2 47.a7 b2 48.a8=Q Rxa8 49.Qxb2 Ra4 50.Qe5 1/2-1/2
"The Minister of Defence" played a risk-free queen sacrifice, and that simplified the position to a
draw with no chances for either side.
When you are trying to build a fortress, it helps big time if you hold onto pawns on one side of the
board, and liquidate pawns on the other side.

Aronian, Levon (2764) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2769)

Leuven (rapid), 2018

The black rook has reached a dominating position on the c4-square, so how should White save his c3-
bishop now?
17.Rac1!? The drawback of Rac1 is that the a2-pawn becomes unprotected.
17.Qxc6!? cxd4 (17...Rxc3!? 18.Rab1 Ra3 19.Rxb6 c4= reaching an equal position as White has a lot
of pressure on the d5-pawn that negates Black's bishop pair advantage, and the advanced c-pawn.)
18.Nxd4 Rxc6 19.Nxc6 Qc7 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Bd4= - looks like a solid fortress for White after he

262
exchanges the pawn on the queenside and piles up his rooks on the d-file and pressurise the d5-pawn.
17.Qb2!? Bf6 18.e3 Qa8 19.Ne5 (19.Bf1? Bg4! 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Ne1 Bxd1 22.Rxd1 cxd4 23.exd4
Ne7³ The white king is weak, and the advanced pawn on c4 poses some long term issues for White.)
19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Be7 21.a4! Forcing liquidation on the queenside with the a5 idea. 21...Rxa4
22.Qxb6 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Qb8 24.Qa7!=
17...Bf6?!
17...Qa8! 18.Qxb6? Rb8 19.Qc7 Rc8 20.Qb6 (20.Qf4 Qa4! increases pressure on the d4-pawn and
also on the rook on d1. 21.Ba1 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Rf1 Qxa2 24.Bxd4 Qxe2³) 20...cxd4µ Black
is exerting tremendous pressure down the c-file.
18.Qxc6!? cxd4 19.Bxd4 Rxc6 20.Rxc6
We have got the queen sacrifice on the board. The compensation that White consists of:
1) Rook and knight for the queen.
2) Fantastic outpost on d4.
3) Pawns all are on one side of the board as the a2- and b6-pawns will be swapped soon.
4) The bishop on e6 is only tall pawn as of now.
20...Qa8! It is important that the side with the queen plays energetically and try to disrupt the
opponent's piece coordination as much as possible to ensure that a fortress is not built.
20...Bxd4 21.Nxd4 Qa8 22.Rxb6 Qxa2 23.e3=
21.Rxb6 Qa4! 22.Rd2 Rc8 23.h4

23...Bd8! A wise decision by Black to keep the dark-squared bishop. The bishops would give Black a

263
chance to break down White's fortress in the future.
24.Rb3 h6 25.Kh2 Bf5 26.Rdb2 Bc7 27.Be5?! I think it was more important for White to exchange
the rook. Offering the dark-square bishop trade makes White lose control of the outpost square on d4.
27.Rc3 A cleaner way to build the fortress. 27...Bd6 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8 29.e3 Bf5 30.Nd2=
27...Bxe5 28.Nxe5 Qe8?
The idea of 28...g5! move is to open up the h-file to generate attack against the white king. The move
also further clears the back rank for Black and also keeps the threat of g4 available whenever White
tries to land his knight on the f3 square. 29.e3! (29.hxg5?? hxg5 30.Rb8 Rxb8 31.Rxb8+ Kg7 32.Rb7
Kf6 33.Nf3 Qxa2 34.Nd4 Be6µ) 29...gxh4 30.Bxd5 Rc7 White has to play a series of only moves to
keep the balance in this position. (30...hxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Kh7 32.Bxf7 Rc7©) 31.g4™ Bc8 32.Rb8™
Qa5 33.Ng6™ Kg7 (33...Qxd5 34.Rxc8+ Kh7 35.Rxc7 Qd6+ 36.Kh3 Qxc7 37.Nxh4=) 34.Nf4
Bxg4 35.R2b7 Qd2 36.Rxc7 Qxf2+ 37.Kh1=;
28...Be4!? 29.Nf3 Qa6 30.Nd4 (30.Rb8 Rxb8 31.Rxb8+ Kh7 32.Rb2 Qf6 33.Rd2 g5 34.hxg5 hxg5³
Black can still trick White in this position, as there is always the possibility to go ...g4 and break
down the kingside pawn structure.) 30...Bxg2 31.Kxg2 Rc1 32.Rb1 Rxb1 33.Rxb1 Qxa2 34.Rb5=
29.Nf3 Be4 30.Bh3 Ra8 31.Nd4 Qe5 32.e3 g5!? This pawn push is double-edged, as the black
queen currently does not have an active role. I would have waited to improve my queen position a bit
further before pushing the g-pawn.
33.h5! White is keeping the h-file closed and also has fixed a weakness on h6.
33...Ra6
33...f5? 34.f3+-
34.Rb6 Rxb6 35.Rxb6 Qc7 36.Rxh6² Practically White is slightly better, as he can create mating nets
and passed pawn threats on the h-file.
36...Qa5 37.Bg2 Qxa2 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Kg2 Kg7

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40.Rd6! Controlling the critical central square on d5, and not letting Black play Qd5.
40...g4?? 41.Nf5++- Kh7 42.Rf6! Qb3 43.Nh6 Qd5 44.Nxf7 Kg7 45.Rf4 Kh7 The white knight is
stuck on f7. So, how can the knight escape and help White win this position?
46.h6! Kg6 47.Rxg4+ Kxf7 48.h7 Qh5 49.Rh4 Qf3+ 50.Kg1 Qd1+ 51.Kh2 Qe2 White needs to be
precise here to take home the win.
52.h8=Q?? Levon plays the most obvious move, but the one that does not win! It is tough to
calculate in a rapid game if the king escapes from the checks or not.
White would have gone with his gut feeling that the rook and queen would cover the king from the
checks. Unfortunately, as we will see in the analysis, whenever the white queen comes to block a
check, the support for the h4 rook is lost, and Black can double attack winning the rook.
52.Rh6™ Qxf2+ 53.Kh3 Qf1+ 54.Kh4 Qh1+ 55.Kg5 The whole point of this variation! 55...Qf3
56.h8=Q Qxg3+ 57.Kf5 and the king will escape from the checks.
52...Qxf2+ 53.Kh3 Qf5+ 54.Kg2 Qf3+ 55.Kg1 Qxe3+ 56.Kf1 Qf3+ 57.Ke1 Qxg3+ 58.Kd2 Qd3+
59.Kc1 Qc4+ 60.Kb2 Qb4+ 61.Kc2 Qc5+ 62.Kd1 Qg1+?? Now the white king uses the black
pawn on e4 as a hideout and escapes.
62...Qd6+™ 63.Kc1 Qc5+ 64.Kb1 Qb4+
63.Ke2™ Qg2+ 64.Ke3 Qf3+ 65.Kd4 Qd3+ 66.Ke5 Qc3+ 67.Kf5 Qc5+ 68.Qe5 Qc8+ 69.Kg5
Qd8+ 70.Kh5 Qd1+ 71.Rg4 1-0
A truly fascinating game because a major part of the endgame must have been played with seconds
on the clock.

Wei, Yi (2743) - Navara, David (2740)

265
 Yancheng (m/1), 2017

White is slowly outplaying Black in this Advanced Caro-Kann opening position. White has the pair
of bishops, a lot of space in the centre and queenside thanks to his e5- and a5-pawns.
17...Qg5!? Black starts searching for some counterplay by bringing his queen to take aim at the white
king.
17...Qc7 Black will try to put pressure on the e5-pawn and also possibly an exchange sacrifice on c3
if White plays b4 in the future.
18.Ra3?
18.f3! simply taking the e4-square away from Black's minor pieces. Now White is threatening to play
b4 and consolidate his space advantage on the queenside.
18...Qf5!?
18...Bf5 with the idea to go ...Qg6 and...Bd3 and get better control on the light-squares. 19.b4 Bh3
20.Bf3 Nd7 21.Kh1²
19.b4?! White is trying to force things on the board.
19.f3! h5 20.Qd2²
19...Nd3 20.g4 Keeping the initiative going.
20...Qg6 21.f4 Qe4 The black queen has moved around quite a bit in the past few moves, and White
has pushed his kingside pawns too much attacking her, making his own king weak in the process.
White has to play accurately to keep his initiative going, and if not - the extended kingside pawns

266
could become targets of attack.
If you would want to get a calculation workout, I would highly suggest you spend at least 15-20
minutes in this position and calculate all the intricacies of the position.
22.Bf3?
22.Qd2! White plans to reroute the a3-rook to d1 and win the trapped d3-knight. 22...h5! (22...Nxb4?

Looks like White has blundered a pawn, but he has a very nice trick up his sleeve. 23.f5!! Disrupting
the coordination between the black pieces. (23.cxb4?? Rc2µ) 23...exf5 24.Bd1! (24.Rb3 Nc2 25.Bf3
Nxd4 26.Bxe4 Nxb3 27.Qxd5 fxe4 28.Qxb3 Rc7© Black should be able to hold this position, as
White pawns are very weak.) 24...Rc4 (24...Nd3 25.Bf3+-; 24...Qd3 25.Qb2+- The black knight and
queen are poorly placed. 25...fxg4 (25...Rc4 26.Be2 Qe4 27.Bxc4+-) 26.cxb4) 25.Rb3 Qd3 26.Qxd3
Nxd3 27.gxf5± The black bishop on h7 is out of the game, and White can use that to his advantage.)
23.Raa1 (23.Rf3!? Nxb4! (23...Nc1! 24.Bd1 hxg4 25.Re3 Qb1 26.Re1 Rfc8 27.Ba4 Rc4! 28.Be3
(28.Rxc1?? Rxd4!-+) 28...d4 29.Qxc1 Qd3 30.Bf2 dxc3©) 24.f5 hxg4 25.Rf4 Qc2 26.Qe3 exf5
27.cxb4 g5 28.Rf2 f4© I like Black's chances in this position.) 23...Rc4! (23...hxg4 24.Rad1 Nxb4
25.f5!! Bxf5 26.Rf4 Qc2 27.cxb4+-) 24.Rad1 (24.gxh5? Rxd4 25.cxd4 Qxd4+ 26.Kg2 Be4+ 27.Kg3
Rc8©) 24...Rxd4 25.cxd4 Qxd4+ 26.Kg2 Qe4+ 27.Kg3 Nxb4 28.gxh5 (28.Bf3 Qc4 29.Rc1 Qb3©)
28...Nc6 29.Bf3©
22...Qxf4
22...Qg6?? 23.f5 exf5 24.Qxd3+-
23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Rxf4 Nxf4
We have reached the position with the material imbalance as Black has a rook and knight for the
queen.

267
The compensation that Black has in this position:
1) Weak white king.
2) Weak light squares near the king.
3) Opposite coloured bishops giving good drawing chances.
4) Great outposts available for the pieces, as Black can place his bishop on e4, rook on g6, knight on
e6 and so on.
25.Be3
25.Qf3 Ne6 26.Qxd5 Rd8 27.Qf3 Nxd4 28.cxd4 Rxd4= Technically equal, but White is the side that
needs to be precise to hold a draw.
25...Nd3! 26.Bd4 Re8 27.Qf3?
27.Ra2! White has to use all his pieces to defend his precarious position, so it becomes important to
activate the passive rook on a3. 27...Nxe5 28.Bxe5 Rxe5 29.Re2 Be4 30.Re3© White has to be
careful, as any minor error could make his position terrible.
27...Nxe5 28.Qxd5? Nxg4 The white king is terribly exposed now, and that will lead to his downfall.
29.Ra1

How can Black force matters in this position?

29...Rg6! Going straight for the opponent's king!
30.Qxb7 Ne3+?!
30...Ne5+ 31.Kh1 Nd3™ 32.Rf1 Nf2+!! - possibly Black did not spot this brilliant move in his

268
calculation. 33.Bxf2 Rg4-+
31.Kf2 Ng4+ 32.Kg1 Do not box your king in a corner, if you are getting attacked as that would
make it easier for the attacking side, as there would be no escape squares available.
32.Kf3 Nxh2+ 33.Kf2 Ng4+ 34.Kf3 Nf6 35.Qc7 (35.Qxa6?? Ne4-+) 35...Nd5 36.Qd7 Rge6µ
32...Ne5+ 33.Kf1?? Rf6+ 34.Kg2 Rg6+ 35.Kf1

35...Rg5! Allowing the h7-bishop to join the attack.

36.Bxe5 Bd3+ 37.Kf2 Rexe5
¹37...Rgxe5 38.Qb6 Re2+ 39.Kg1 Rd2-+
38.Rd1
38.Qc8+ Kh7 39.Rd1 Be4 40.Rd4 Rgf5+ 41.Kg1 Rf4-+
38...Re2+ 39.Kf3 Rf5+ 40.Kg4 h5+ 41.Kh4 Re4+ 0-1
One of the critical reasons why White lost this game was the fact that he had activated his Rook on a3
too late and by then Black had built a big attack against the white king. Losing the g4-pawn opened
up all sorts of attacks on the white king, which could have been avoided had White defended that
pawn.
Black played brilliantly with his minor pieces coordinating them in magnificent fashion, and they
were also defending each other as they progressed forward, aiming at the white king. RR This game is
published in Chess Informant 136/(45)

Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2751) - Aronian, Levon (2789)

chess.com (Internet-m/5-blitz), 2017

269
We have a complicated position on the board, and at first glance, everyone would prefer White due to
the uncastled black king on e8. The other key factor in the position is the strongly centralised bishop
on e4.
17.Nxd4!? This game is an excellent example of how players are willing to sacrifice their queens in
exchange for some activity in faster time controls.
17.Nd4 is technically a bad move, but a great practical move as Black has to quickly adapt to the new
conditions, which is tough in a blitz game.
17.Bb7?! O-O! 18.Bxc8 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Nxc8 20.Be5 c5© Black has a fantastic compensation due to
the weak white king, the broken kingside pawn structure, and having a great outpost on d4.
17.Nd5! Ne6 (17...f5!? 18.Nxe7 fxe4 19.Nxc8 O-O 20.Rxe4 (20.Nxd4 Bxd1 21.Nc6 Qf6 22.N8e7+
Kh7 23.Raxd1 Qxb2© I like White's chances in this complicated position due to the weak black king.
As White has more pieces on board, Black's pieces need to be careful not to run into any simple
tactical ideas.) 20...Nxf3+ 21.gxf3 Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxf3 23.Ne7+ Kf7 24.Ng6 Kxg6 25.Re6+©)
18.h3 Bh5 19.Qb3 O-O 20.Rad1 Nxd5 21.Rxd5ƒ The black position is highly suspect as the light
squares are weak near the black king and the bishop on h5 seems misplaced.
17...Bxd1

270
18.Nc6! What would be the best way for Black to react in this position?
18...Bxc3?? Black wants to create an escape route for the king via g7, but the issue is that he will be
missing his dark-squared bishop badly. White will be able to plonk his bishop on e5, and then Black
might be in big trouble.
18...Nxc6™ 19.Bxc6+ Kf8 20.Raxd1 Qf6 21.Bd7™ White is generating his play thanks to his active
bishops, so what should Black do? 21...Rd8! Sacrificing an exchange to reduce the attacking potential
of the white pieces. (21...Ra8 22.Bxc7 Kg8 23.Re2 Ra7 (23...Kh7?? 24.Nd5+- The queen is trapped.)
24.Nd5 Rxc7 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6=) 22.Bxc7 (22.Be5?? Qxe5 23.Rxe5 Bxe5-+) 22...Rxd7 23.Rxd7 Kg8
24.h3! Clearing the back rank. (24.Ree7!? - this leads to a fascinating variation. 24...Bf8 25.Re8 Kh7
26.h3³ (26.Be5?? Looks like White is dominating in the position with his active pieces, but Black has
a way to exploit the big weakness that White has, namely the back rank weakness. 26...Qf5 27.Rd5
Bg7! 28.Rxh8+ Bxh8 29.Bxh8 Qe6™ 30.Be5 f6µ)) 24...Kh7 25.Ree7 Rf8 26.Be5 Qg6 27.Bxg7
Qxg7!³ Black has some pressure on White's queenside pawns and also the knight on c3 cannot really
move, which gives Black enough time to consolidate his position.
19.bxc3 Nxc6 20.Bxc6+ Kf8 21.Raxd1 Qf6 22.Bd7 I am not sure about the position that Levon had
in mind when he captured the knight on c3 as Be5 is such a strong threat.
22...Rd8
22...Ra8 23.Be5+-
23.Be5 Qb6 24.Bxh8+- White has a huge material advantage.
24...f6 25.h4! This is a multipurpose move as it clears the back rank issues and also at the same time
helps getting the bishop out of h8.
25...c5 26.Rd5?

271
26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rd3 Qc7 28.Red1 Ke7 29.Rh3+- Black is busted now.
26...Kg8

27.Be6+?? Was it a mouse slip?

27.Re6 Qa7 28.Re7 Kxh8 29.Rd6 gxh4 30.Rxf6±
27...Kxh8 28.Bd7 Qb7?? A bizarre blunder by Black.
Move 28...Qa5 simply activating the queen and then picking up the pawns on c3 and a2, and then
start rolling your pawns would be the simplest way to win for Black.
29.Bc6! Qxc6 30.Rxd8+ Kg7 31.h5 Kf7 32.Rh8 f5??
32...Qd6 - this would have kept the balance. 33.Rh7+ Kf8 34.Rxh6 Kg7 35.Rg6+ Kf7∞
33.Rh7+ Kf8 34.Ree7 Qd5 35.Rd7 1-0
A sharp and complicated game that ended unexpectedly.

Jobava, Baadur (2703) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2789)

Leuven (rapid), 2017

272
The white king is weak, and what Black needs to do is to activate his a8-bishop and then the game
should be over. So, White rightfully decides to complicate the game as much as he can by offering his
two rooks for the queen.
31.Rce1! Black has to make a decision now!
31...Qxe1
31...Qf8 32.Rxe8 Qxe8 33.f5! Active play, and also clearing the f4-square for the queen. 33...Bg7
(33...g5 34.f6! Clearance, as White is opening up the b1-h7 diagonal and also securing an outpost for
the knight on f5. 34...Rxf6 35.Nf5 Bc5 36.Nxh6+ Rxh6 37.Rxh6 d4 38.Rg6+=) 34.Qf4 Rf6 (34...Qf8
35.g5! d4+ 36.f3 hxg5 37.Qxg5 d3 38.bxc4 Bxf3+! Dragging the king out of its shelter. 39.Kxf3
Qa8+ 40.Kg4 Qg2™ 41.Qe3™ Defending the knight on g3, and also clearing the g5-square for the
king. 41...gxf5+ 42.Kxf5 Qc6 43.Ne4™ Incredible! The White king is actually doing very good on
f5, and you need a lot of guts to play something like this. 43...Qd7+ (43...Rg6) 44.Kg5 Qe6™
45.Qg3™ Qxe4 46.Qxd6 Qg2+∞) 35.bxc4 g5! An excellent intermediate move! 36.Qf3! dxc4
37.Be4 Rf8 38.Bd5+ Bxd5 39.Qxd5+ Qf7 40.Qb5∞
32.Rxe1 Rxe1 So what is the compensation for the queen that Black has?
1) Two rooks and a pawn.
2) Two bishops advantage.
3) Massive pawn centre.
The drawbacks for Black in this position are:
1) The weak king on g8.

273
2) No coordination among the black pieces.
3) White can quickly open up the kingside and generate threats.
33.f5 Rf6
33...g5 34.Nh5! Clearing the g3-square for the queen. 34...Kf7 The idea of this move is to improve
the king's position and at the same time keep control of the e5-square so that if White goes Qg3,
Black can reply with Be5. (34...Rxb1? 35.Qg3 Rb6 36.Qc7 c3 37.Qd8+ Kf7 38.Qd7+= - repetition is
going to happen.) 35.f6™ Activating via f5. (35.Qg3?? Be5-+) 35...Rxb1 36.Qf5 Bxf6 37.Qh7+
(37.Qxb1?? d4+ 38.f3 d3 39.bxc4 Bc3-+) 37...Ke6 38.Nxf6 Kxf6 39.Qxh6+ Ke7 40.Qg7+ Kd8
41.Qg8+ Kc7 42.Qxa8=
34.g5 Leading to unnecessary complications.
34.Bc2 Merely saving the bishop would be good enough for White to hold this position. 34...c3
35.Qf4 Be5 36.Qxb4 d4+ 37.Kh3 Bxg3 38.Kxg3 gxf5 39.gxf5 Be4™=
34...hxg5 35.Qg4 Be5!

36.fxg6?? Looks like Jobava missed the upcoming Rf8 move.

36.Qxg5 d4+ (36...Rxb1 37.f4™ Clearing few escape squares for the king and also pushing the bishop
from its centralised e5-square. 37...Bc3 38.Nh5 d4+ 39.Kf2 Rb2+ 40.Kf1 Rd6 41.Qe7=) 37.Kh3
d3!? (37...Bf3 38.fxg6 d3 39.Qh6 Rf4 40.g7 Bg4+ 41.Kg2 Kf7 42.Qg5=) 38.f4 d2 (38...Bd4 39.fxg6
Bc6 40.Qh6 Re7 41.bxc4 d2 42.Bc2 Rg7© We can barely understand what is happening in the game
at this point.) 39.fxe5 d1=Q 40.Qxf6© Most likely the game will end in a draw with repetition of
checks.
36...Bxg3 Eliminating the defender.

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37.Qc8+
37.Qxg3 d4+ 38.f3 Re2+ 39.Kg1 Rxf3 40.Qc7 Find a nice little tactic for Black to win the queen.
40...Re1+! 41.Kh2 Rh1+ 42.Kxh1 Rf7+-+
37...Rf8 38.Qd7 d4+ 39.f3 Bxf3+ 40.Kxg3 Rg1+ 41.Kh2 Rg2+ 42.Kh1 Rb2+ 43.Kg1 Rxb1+
44.Kh2 Rh1+ 0-1
Jobava resigns as Kramnik has defended the threats on h7-square and will consolidate his pieces in
the next few moves and then pick up the g6-pawn.

275
A knight is usually the right piece for occupying a central outpost, as Aaron Nimzowitsch explained
in his classical work "My system". But, if there is an outpost on open file at the edge of the board, it
should be occupied by a rook, Nimzowitsch explained further.
There are two reasons for this rule:
1. A knight would be quite ineffective at the edge of the board, as it needs a central square to
demonstrate its full strength.
2. A rook on such an outpost is able to attack weak pawns in the opponent's position, which makes it
very difficult to ignore it. By exchanging it the opponent provides us with a very strong protected free
pawn, placed deep in the enemy's territory.
The consequence of the second point is that we often do not mind if our "outpost-rook" is be taken by
a minor piece. A slight material loss is usually fully compensated by a passed pawn and strong
squares for our minor pieces, while there are no open files for the enemy rooks.
Let us take a close look at some examples from the practical play:

De Saint Amant, Pierre Charles Four - Staunton, Howard

Paris (m/21), 1843

276
32...Qd7!? Not even the best way to offer the exchange, but such positional sacrifice like was a truly
revolutionary concept in the middle of 19th century! The rest of the battle was not of the highest
quality, but it remains the very first game in which the "Outpost Exchange Sacrifice" concept was
utilised.
33.Kg1 Nh5?! 34.Qd2
It was the right moment to take the rook, aiming to free own pieces by means of a counter sacrifice:
34.Bxc4! dxc4 35.d5! Bxd5 36.Rcd1 Bb7 37.Qd4 Qc6 38.f3 Bg3 39.Bf2 Bc7∞
34...f5 35.f4? Ng3µ 36.Bxc4 dxc4 37.Qb2 Rf6 38.Nc3 Ne4 39.Re2 Rg6 40.Rd1?

277
40...Nxc3! 41.Qxc3 Bf3! 42.Rde1 Bxe2 43.Rxe2 Qe7 44.Qb2 Re6 45.Kf2 Re4 46.Qa2 Kf7 47.g3
Qb7 48.Qa3 Re8 49.Qc3 Qh1 50.h4 g5 51.Qe1 Qh2+ 52.Kf1 Qh3+ 53.Kg1 Qg4 54.hxg5 Bxf4
55.Bxf4 Qxe2 56.Qxe2 Rxe2 57.gxh6 c3-+

D37
Steinitz, William - Chigorin, Mikhail
La Habana (m/20), 1892

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.c4 Be7 5.Nc3 Nbd7

It is a very commital decision to take away the pressure in the centre, but 6.c5!? might be better than
it looks.
6...c6 7.b4 O-O 8.Bb2 Qc7 9.Be2 Ne8? A very strange move by the great Russian. There was no
reason for this retreat.
After the logical 9...e5 Black would have been completely fine.
10.O-O f5 11.Qc2 Nef6 12.a4 Ne4 13.b5 Now White's attack on the queenside is much quicker than
Black's counterplay on the other side of the board.
13...Rf6 14.a5 Nxc3?! One more decision, which is difficult to explain. Why should Black exchange
the active knight after losing many tempi to transfer it to e4?
15.Bxc3 a6 16.bxa6 bxa6 17.Rfb1 Rf8 18.Rb2 Bb7 19.Rab1 Rfb8 20.Ne1! Bc8 21.Nd3 The
immediate
21.Rb6! looks preferable to me, in order to keep the second rook on the board, but objectively White
is winning in both cases.
21...Rxb2 22.Rxb2 Bf6 23.Qa4 Kf7 24.Qa3 Bd8 25.Bd1 Rb8

278
26.Rb6! Now or never!
26...Nxb6 There was no real choice: by attacking the weak pawns on a6 and c6 White can always
force his opponent to take the exchange.
27.cxb6 Qb7 28.Ne5+ Kg8 29.Ba4+- White's knight is much stronger than the black rook in such
closed position and the protected passed pawn is too powerful. The game is over.
29...Qe7 30.Bb4 Qf6 31.Qc3 h6 32.Bd6 Rxb6 33.axb6 Bxb6 34.Qxc6 Qd8 35.Bc5 Bc7 36.Ng6
Kh7 37.Be7 Bd7 38.Bxd8 Bxc6 39.Bxc6 Bxd8 40.Nf8+ Kg8 41.Nxe6 1-0

Yurgis, A. - Botvinnik, Mikhail Moisevich

Leningrad, 1931

279
Botvinnik annotated this well known battle in the Volume I of his selected games. 27...Rc3! This
typical sacrifice suggests itself.
28.Bxc3 dxc3 29.Qe3 Bxd3!? A natural and quite good move, although there were some easier ways
to win: 30.Rf2 Qd4! 31.Qxd4 Rxd4 32.Bf1

A critical position of the whole game. If you want to solve a nice tactics, try to find the best move for
Black.
32...c2? This is very temping, but wrong.
32...Bc5!! was called for 33.Rxd3 (33.Bxd3 Rxd3 34.Rxd3 c2-+) 33...Rxf4!! 34.gxf4 c2 35.Kg2

280
c1=Q-+ (35...Bxf2?? 36.Rd8+ Kf7 37.Rc8+-)
33.Rc1 Bxf1 34.Rcxf1? This is decisive mistake.

34.Rfxf1 Rd2-+;
34.Rfxc2 Bd3 35.Rc8+ Kf7 36.R1c7=
34...Rc4!! 35.bxc4 Bc5 - now Black's connected pawns are too strong for the white rook.
36.Kg2 Bxf2 37.Kxf2 b3 0-1

Brkic, Ante (2584) - Kalezic, Blazo (2457)

Baku (ol) 130/97, 2016

281
19.f5! An obvious breakthrough!
19...exf5 20.Bxf5 Ne6
20...gxf5? would have lost immediately: 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.e6++-, but 20...Rbe8 would have been
much more stubborn. Black seems to be OK here.
21.Bxe6 fxe6

22.Rf6! A thematic idea!

22...Bxf6 Black cannot reject the offer.

282
In case of 22...Bd7 23.h4! the threat 24.h5 would have forced him to accept it.
23.exf6 Rbe8 24.Be5! Of course, 24...e5 must be stopped.
24...Qd8 25.Qg5 Rf7 26.h4! Kh8

27.Ne2! Brkic improves his position move by move. Now the knight is next in line.
27...d4 - trying to free the bishop before White's knight reaches the d4-square.
28.Nxd4 Qd7 29.Re3 b5 30.Kh2 b4 31.c4 bxc3 32.bxc3 Bd5 33.a3 Rg8 34.Ne2! Qa4 35.Nf4 Qc2
36.Bd4 Qf5 37.Qh6 g5 38.Nxd5 exd5

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39.Qg7+!! A beautiful decisive blow!
39...Rgxg7 40.fxg7+ Kg8 41.Re8+ 1-0

Dardha, Daniel (2468) - Nguyen, Thai Dai Van (2571)

Bad Wiessee, 2020

Finally, we shall take a look at a recent game from one of the very few tournaments which took place
despite the global pandemic situation. White managed to sacrifice both of his rooks for two minor
pieces.

But enough of spoiler, let us take a closer look at this amazing clash: 24.Rxd4! This first exchange
sacrifice is almost forced. If black manage to protect his bishop on d4 with 24...e5, white would faces
a lot of suffer.
24...cxd4 25.Qxd4 e5 26.Qd1 The position is roughly equal. White got enough positional
compensation for his small investment, but not more than that.
26...Qc7 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.cxd5 Qg7 29.Rc1 Rc8?!
29...Bc8 would have kept the balance, for example: 30.Rc6 g4 31.Qc1 Qg5! 32.Rc7+ Kh8 33.Rxc8
Qxh5 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8 35.Qc7 Qg6! 36.Bb4 Qxe4 37.Qxd6 Qb1+ 38.Kg2 Qe4+=

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30.Rc6! The young belgian IM gives up his second exchange! A remarkable decision.
30...Bxc6 31.bxc6 Rcf8 The current position is very difficult to evaluate, and even more difficult to
play for both sides.
32.Bg4?! This bishop was well placed on h5, where it prevented Black from putting pressure on f2
by playing Qf7.
White should have stopped his opponent from pushing the queenside pawns: 32.Qe2! Kh8 33.Kg2±
Black is doomed to total passivity.
32...Qc7? This is a serious mistake. The light-squared bishop should have been prevented from
getting to f5 by all means.
After 32...Qf7 the game remains equal: 33.Qe2 (33.Bf5+? Rxf5 34.exf5 Qxf5-+) 33...b5 34.Bh5
(34.Qxb5?? Rxf2-+) 34...Qc7 35.Qxb5 Rb8 36.Qe2 Rb1 37.Kg2 Qb6 38.Qg4 Rxe1 39.Qd7+=
33.Bf5+± Now Black is in trouble, probably he is lost.
33...Kg7
33...Rxf5 34.exf5 Rxf5 35.Qd3 Kg6 36.g4+-
34.Qd3
34.h4! was a shortcut to the victory. 34...Rxf5 35.exf5 Rxf5 36.Qg4+-
34...Kf7 35.a4 Ke7 36.Bb4 h5? 37.Bd2 Rg8 38.Qe2 g4 39.h4! Rxf5 40.exf5 Qc8 41.Bg5+ Kf7
42.Qe4 Rh8 43.Qb4 Qb8 44.Qb5 Qc8 45.a5 Qc7 46.axb6 axb6
46...Qxb6 47.Qa4+-

285
47.Kg2 Ra8 48.Qb1 Rh8 49.f6 Qb8 50.Bd2 Kxf6 51.Bg5+ Kg7 52.Qf5 Qf8 53.Qd7+ Kg6
54.Qe6+ Kg7 55.c7 Qf3+ 56.Kg1 1-0

We will complete this article with two exercises for you to solve:

Selezniev, Alexey - Alekhine, Alexander

Triberg, 1921

Which plan should Black choose in this position?

Show/Hide Solution

17...a5! 18.Nf3 Qc7 19.Bd2 Ba6 20.Bd3 Rb4! 21.Bxb4?! cxb4 22.Nd2 Nc5µ with a clear
advantage for the future World Champion.

Prusikin, Michael (2440) - Niedermaier, Hans (2260)

Forchheim, 1999

286
What is the best move and correct plan for White?

Show/Hide Solution

24.Bxd7! Rxd7 25.Be3 Ba8 26.Ne2 Rdd8 27.Rc6!+- Nd7 28.Nc4 Bxc6 29.dxc6 Nc5 30.Nc3
Rde8 31.Qc2 Rc8 32.Bxc5 dxc5 33.Rd7 Rc7 34.Rxc7 Qxc7 35.Nd5 Qa7 36.c7 Bg5 37.Ncxb6 1-0

287
As a beginner, I was taught that the king is a fighting piece in the endgame! However gradually I
realised that the king is a fighting piece even in the middlegame! Whenever we think about the king
march, most of us will immediately recollect the famous king walk by Short against Timman! In this
article we shall explore different types of king walks in different positions which made a deep impact
on me.

Short, Nigel (2660) - Timman, Jan (2630)

Tilburg 53/115, 1991

31.Kh2! White's pieces are perfectly placed and so he decided to improve his king!
31...Rc8 Black is helpless and cannot improve his position.
When I was going through the game, I was wondering what if Black plays 31...Bc8, but of course,
this game would not have become very famous had the game continued that way. 32.g4 This move
would not have been possible with the bishop on c8 since the f3-knight would be hanging in that case.
32...Bxd7 33.gxh5 Black is helpless against White's deadly attack.

288
32.Kg3! Rce8 33.Kf4 Bc8 34.Kg5 Black resigned. 1-0

This is one of the games which is well known to the majority of chess lovers.
We shall now explore similar ideas in different types of positions.

Petrosian, Tigran V - Unzicker, Wolfgang

USSR - BR Deutschland (m), 1960

It is obvious that White is clearly better due to the control

over the only open c-file. Black's dark-squared bishop has
no targets whereas White's knight is very strong on b3
keeping a consistent pressure on the a5-pawn. Here
Petrosian decided to attack the black king. But, before that
he transfers his own king to the queenside so that his king
is safe once the position opens on the kingside.

289
29.Kf1 Kg8 30.h4 h5 31.R1c2 Petrosian plays patiently and does not reveal his plan yet.
31...Kh7 Surprisingly, Black is helpless and could not play any useful moves to improve his position.
32.Ke1 Kg8 33.Kd1 Kh7 34.Kc1 Kg8 35.Kb1

White successfully managed to bring the king to the queenside.

35...Kh7 36.Qe2 Qb7 37.Rc1+- White eventually played g4 and h5 and won the game convincingly.
37.g4 was possible and probably stronger than the text move. However, Petrosian decided to wait for
a few more moves before unleashing his plan of ripping apart the kingside.

290
 Andreikin, Dmitry (2709) - Topalov, Veselin (2785)
Khanty-Mansiysk (ct) 120/141, 2014

I was watching the game live, and Topalov true to his style had played the opening aggressively
reaching this position. I was wondering how would White react as his king was stuck in the centre
after 17...h5
However, Andreikin executed a nice king walk to the queenside by playing 18.Kc1! Bc5
18...g4 19.hxg4 hxg4

291
20.Kb1! If 20...gxf3 21.gxf3 Ng5 22.Ka2+- with a crushing attack.
19.Kb1 Re8 20.Ka2±

White's king is very safe now, and he is a healthy pawn up. After further consolidation he managed to
bring home the full point.

Salem, AR Saleh (2586) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2760)

Doha, 2014

I was fortunate enough to play against Kramnik in 2014 Qatar open and I was also lucky to witness
many of his games standing besides him. When I saw this position I thought they would soon agree
for a draw and started looking at other boards. However, when I returned to this game after five
minutes, suddenly Black's king was on h2! I immediately went back to the room and then saw what
had happened!

292
30.Ra8
30.Ke1?! allows Black to play 30...Rd3;
30.Rxh6 is not possible because of 30...Nd4+
The game would have taken a different course had the play continued with 30.Na2 Nf8 31.Nc1 Ng6
- the h6 pawn is again untouchable due to Nf4 32.Ra8 Ne5 keeping an eye on the c4-square and also
saving the option of playing g4 to post the knight on f3 and create mating threats.
30...Kf6 The start of Vlad's big plan which was not obvious until he played it!
31.Ra7 Kg6 32.Na2 Nd8 Defending the f7-pawn before executing the plan.
33.Ke1
White should have hurried with his counterplay by playing 33.Nc1 Kh5 34.Nb3 Kh4 35.Nd4 Kh3
36.Nxf5 Rf6 though computer claims it is still equal, I feel it would be easy to play with the black
pieces in a practical game, and especially in serious time trouble.
33...Kh5 34.Nc1 Kh4 35.Nb3 Kh3 36.Nd4 White is a bit late in obtaining counterplay.
36.Nc5 Kxh2 37.Rxa6 Rxa6 38.Nxa6 Kg2-+ - the h-pawn is unstoppable now!
36...f4 Black is already having a huge advantage.
37.Ra8

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37...Kxh2
37...h5 was probably stronger than the text continuation.
38.Nf5 Rf6 39.e4
39.Nxh6 Rxh6 40.Rxd8 Kg2 leaves White with a difficult task to save this position.
39...Nc6 40.Rxa6 Rg6!-+ Defending the rook from the annoying pin. Eventually, Black managed to
win the game in great style.

Stockfish 10 - LCZero
Internet (m/1), 2020

294
17.h5

The position looks like a quite standard Ruy Lopez structure where White has just played h5 to create
attacking chances on the kingside. It simply amazed me how the position changed drastically in
another 10 moves between two strong silicon monsters!
17...g6 Logical move trying to control the f5-square.
18.Kh2! It took me some time to understand the point behind this move. White wants to play Rh1
and bring the rook to the game.
18.Qg4 Qg7 Black is fine.

295
18...Kf7 Black understands White's idea, and plans to bring the rook to the g-file.
19.Rh1 Rg8 20.Kg1 Ke8

At first sight it looks like some chess 960 position due to the position of the kings! However, the
position is closed in nature, allowing Black can to keep his king in the centre.
21.Qg4
21.Qf3 Qf7
21...Bc8 The bishop was not doing much on the a6-f1 diagonal, so Black decides to bring it back to
its original square in order to keep an eye on the c8-h3 diagonal as well as defending the e6-knight in
the process.
22.Ndf1 Qg7 23.hxg6 White had to play this at some point to activate the h1-rook.
23...hxg6 24.Qh4 Rd7 Black shuffles his pieces a bit more to move the king to the queenside at the
appropriate time as he now stops White from playing Qh7.
24...Kd7 25.Qh7 Rh8 26.Qxg7+ Nxg7 is also preferable for Black. However, LCzero decided to
keep the queens on the board.
25.Nd2 Qf7 26.Ngf1 Rd8 27.Ng3 Kd7 28.Ne2 Ba6 The final step!
29.f4 exf4 30.Nxf4 Kc8-+

296
King is safe on the c8-square and Black swiftly managed to win the game.

Huzman, Alexander (2590) - Carlsen, Magnus (2786)

Kallithea, 2008

24.dxe6+ Black has two possible ways to capture on e6. What would you play as Black?
24...Kxe6 Carlsen decided to take the risk by capturing with his king as it tempts White to play for
more. In general, this is a nice strategy as it forces the opponent to consume lots of time.
24...fxe6 is also possible. I guess that White's play would have been more or less automatic in

297
generating counterplay. 25.Rd1+ Ke7 26.Qe3 Though Black has small material advantage, it is White
who has a more pleasant play, while Black is yet to solve certain problems.
24...Qxe6 loses the b5-pawn - 25.Qxb5++-
25.Nd4+
25.Qe3 Rhc8 Black's king is not exposed compared to the previous line, and he is doing fine.
25...Kd5! 26.Qf3+ Kxd4

Carlsen must have felt that he is not getting mated here and in the worst case he can always give his
queen for the rook in order to avoid getting mated.
27.Qe3+?! Whenever the opponent's king is in the centre of the board, or when it has crossed the 4th
rank, our first tendency is to give a check, or to find the forced mate. However, it is also equally
necessary to look for "quiet moves" as candidate options.
27.Re1! It is very difficult to play such a move in the game. However, the idea becomes obvious once
we are familiar with it. 27...Kc5 (Black may even lose if he becomes too greedy! 27...Qxa2?
28.Qd1+! Kc4 29.Re4+ Kc3 30.Qd4+ Kc2 31.Re2+ Kb3 32.Re3+ Kc2 33.Qc3+ Kb1 34.Re1#; If
27...Qe6 White at least has 28.Qe3+ Kd5 29.Rc1! Rhc8 30.Qd3+ Kxe5 31.Re1+) 28.Qe3+ Kd5
(28...Kc6 29.Rc1=) 29.e6! White is doing fine to generate enough counterplay.
27...Kd5 28.Rd1+ Ke6 29.Rd6+ Ke7 30.Qg5+ Ke8µ

298
Black managed to take his king back to its original square, and to win the game with precise play.

Khismatullin, Denis (2653) - Eljanov, Pavel (2727)

Jerusalem, 2015

Black has just played Kg5. His king is stuck in the centre and White now plays one of the best moves
I have ever seen.
44.Kg1!! White just moves his king and sacrifices the rook with a check!
44.Ra1 Rf6ƒ and Black takes over the initiative.

299
44...Qxd1+ Surprisingly this natural move is a blunder and it loses by force.
44...Rd5 45.Kh2!

45...Kf6! - bringing the king back to safety is the top priority! (45...Qxc6 46.Qg7!+-) 46.e4 Rc5
47.Qd6+ Kg7 48.Rxd3 Rxc6 and Black is still fighting to hold the game.
45.Kh2 Rxc6 46.Qe7+ Kh6 47.Qf8+ It is always a good strategy to repeat the moves to gain
valuable time on the clock.
47...Kg5
47...Kh5 48.g4+ Kg5 49.Qxf7 and Black gets mated soon.

300
48.Qxf7 Threatening f4, as well as Qf4. It is important to note that White's king is very safe from any
kind of checks and Black's queen is helpless against White's threats.
48...Rf6 Black delays the inevitable by sacrificing the rook.
48...Qa4 49.f4+ Kh6 50.Qf8+ Kh5 51.g4+ Kh4 52.Qh6#
49.f4+ Kh6 50.Qxf6 Now, Black's king is stuck in the corner and he cannot stop the mate.
50...Qe2 51.Qf8+ Kh5 52.Qg7 h6 53.Qe5+ Kh4
53...g5 54.Qe8+ Kh4 55.Qg6 gxf4 56.Qxh6+ Qh5 57.Qxf4+
54.Qf6+ Kh5 55.f5 gxf5
55...g5 56.Qg6+ Kh4 57.Qxh6+ Qh5 58.g3#
56.Qxf5+ Kh4 57.Qg6+- 1-0

Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) - Ding, Liren (2791)

chess24.com (Internet-m1/2-rapid), 2020

301
The position is equal and neither side can make any real progress. However, Ding Liren took his king
to the queenside. It is also important to note that the game was played in the rapid time control!
Knowing as many patterns as possible becomes very handy in such tense situations!
38...Kf7 39.Rf1 Ke8 40.Qe1 Kd7 41.Qc3 Kc8 42.Kg1 Kb7

Mission accomplished! Now, king is safe on the queenside and black can launch an attack on the
white king by playing timely g5. And, if the queens get exchanged, then he can push the pawns on the
queenside to create weakness. Also, the king becomes more useful defending the pawns.
43.Rf2 Qe8 44.Rf1 Qg6 45.Kh2 Be6 46.Qe1 Qg4 47.Qc3 Bd7 48.Qe1 Bc6 49.Qf2 Rd8 50.Ra1

302
50...Rh8 Black has made huge progress compared to the initial position. Sometimes it is a wise
strategy not to commit anything and keep the opponent guessing our intentions! From White's point
of view he might assume that Black may play g5 and from Black's point of view, it is easy to play a
move such as Rh8 and press the clock as it does not do any harm to his position. Such small factors
play huge role especially in time trouble situations.
51.Qf3 Qe6 52.Rf1 Rh6 Black made the rook move probably with the idea Rg6-g4 in mind.
However, Black cannot execute the plan as long as the queen remains on the d1-h5 diagonal.
53.Qe2 Qe8 54.Qd1 Rh8 55.Be1 Bd7 56.Kh1 Qg6 57.Kh2 Rd8 58.Bg3

58...Qg4 Black realises that he cannot create any attacking chances and tries his luck in the endgame.

303
59.Qxg4
59.Qf3 was probably better than the text continuation. However, I guess that Ding would have played
c4 at some point to unsettle the pawn structure.
59...Bxg4 60.Kg1 All the white pawns are stuck on the light-squares which make it easier for Black
to target them.
60...c6 Ding immediately goes for concrete action.
However, he could have also played 60...Rh8 intending Rh6-g6-g4. White has to watch out for many
pawn breaks, especially c4 or g6, f5 etc.
61.Ra1 Ra8 62.Be1 b5 63.Kf1
63.axb5! cxb5 64.Bxa5 (64.Rxa5 Rxa5 65.Bxa5 Bd1 leaves White with an unpleasant task of
defending the position.) 64...b4 I assume that Nakamura was worried about the pin. But, White
always has c3, or c4 at his disposal. 65.Kf2 Kc6 66.Ke1 Kb5 67.c4+ bxc3 68.Bxc3 Rxa1+ 69.Bxa1=
63...Kb6 64.Bc3 b4 65.Bb2 Rd8 66.Ke1

66...Kc7! Black has improved the queenside pawn structure to the maximum and now he shifts the
king to the centre to defend the pawns.
67.Kd2 Kd6 68.Rf1 Ke6 69.Ke1 Rg8 70.Kf2 g5! 71.hxg5 fxg5 72.Kg3 Rd8 73.Rf2 c4!? 74.bxc4 c5
75.Rd2 Rc8 Discouraging White to play d4.
75...Rf8 76.d4 exd4 77.exd4 Rf4
76.Ba1? Rf8! 77.c3
77.d4 Rf1 78.Bb2 Bd1-+ (78...Rd1 79.d5+ Ke7-+ also wins.)

304
77...Rf1 78.Bb2 Bd1 79.d4 h4+ 80.Kh2 g4 0-1

Meijer, Dolf (2200) - Shyam, Sundar Mohanraj (2424)

Leiden, 2009

25.Bxd1 This is one of few games of mine which I can never forget because of the way I played. At
this point both me and my opponent had nearly 45 mins each. I realised that my opponent cannot
make a breakthrough since his position is passive. Hence I decided to play fast in order to create
psychological pressure.
25...Kd7 26.Qb2 Qd6 27.Bc2 Ke7 28.Qc1 Kf8 29.Qb2 Kg7 30.Qb4 h5 31.Qb2

305
31...Kg6 I was playing very fast till here and my opponent consumed lots of time trying to figure out
my idea.
32.Qc1 f6 33.Qb1 Qc7 34.Qb4 I realised that I need to play either g4 or f5 to penetrate into White's
camp. However, that would weaken my king, so I decided again to take my king back to the place
where it came from!
34...Kf7 35.Bd1 Qc6 36.Bc2 Ke8 37.Ke3 Kd8 38.Qb1 Kc7 The position was closed in nature and
he did not have any useful plans. Therefore, I could afford to play in such manner.
39.Ke2 g4 I finally managed to create a powerful breakthrough.
40.fxg4 hxg4 41.Kf1 f5 42.exf5 Qh1+ 43.Ke2 Qf3+ 44.Kf1 exf5 45.Kg1
45.Bxf5?? e4!-+
45...e4-+

306
I managed to win the game after few more moves. After this game I realised that one should not
always play the best moves to win the game. It is also necessary not show your intentions right away
and keep the pressure by playing fast. Only then you should play the desired plan when your
opponent is low on time! Chess is a psychological game after all.

Shyam, Sundar Mohanraj (2481) - Afshar, Niusha (1993)

Dubai, 2014

30.Kf1 Once I saw this plan, I could hardly resist from playing it!
30.Be5 is also possible since after 30...Bxe5 31.Rxe5 White plays Re7 next with a decisive

307
advantage. However, I got tempted by the text continuation.
30...Ng6 31.Ke2 Ne7
If 31...Ne5 I was intending to play 32.Bxe5 Bxe5 33.Kd3 I did not bother much about the opposite
colour bishop ending since my king would easily penetrate to b5 square and the victory should be
automatic.
31...Be5 32.Bc1
32.Kd3 White's position is already winning
32...Rc8 33.Kc4 Nxc6 34.dxc6 Kf8
34...Rxc6 35.Kd5+-
35.Kb5 Bc7

36.Be5+- Ke8 1-0

Dear readers, I hope you had a pleasant feeling going through these games. Employing the "King
march" theme will always give you a good feeling and a possible victory becomes highly enjoyable.
Knowing such patterns becomes very handy in positions where your opponent does not have any
constructive plan, and also in mutual time trouble situations since a deadly king march is not a motif
your opponent would generally expect. I wish you good luck and great entertainment when applying
the king march!

308
LINARES 2003
Beauty and the Beast from Baku

I am standing, frozen, in the middle of a large crowd at the

Linares closing ceremony with the World Champion
hurling abuse at me, with his hand not far from my throat.
The crowd noise, the shouting, the hall becomes a blur and
I can only think, how did it come to this?
In 2003, Linares - the "Wimbledon of Chess" - was the
strongest tournament in the world.
For the previous two decades Garry Kasparov had been the
dominator on the tournament scene, winning all but a handful of the supertournaments in which he
competed. Before 2003 he had triumphed eight times in Linares.
However, back once again at the Hotel Anibal in the southern Spanish city, with little preparation
time after his victory over Deep Junior in New York, Kasparov's tournament had not gone to plan.
His 62 game undefeated streak at Linares had ended at the hands of a 15-year-old Teimour Radjabov
- the new boy from Baku who claimed he could see fear in Kasparov's eyes when they met a few
years earlier.
The pain of that round two defeat was obvious at the conclusion of the game - Kasparov let his clock
run down to zero, signed the scoresheets, and walked away from the board without a handshake. As
became apparent later, that loss to a teenage debutant at Linares affected Kasparov more than anyone
realised.
Kasparov's amazing sequence of 10 consecutive supertournament wins also looked likely to be
broken, as he was half a point behind two leaders - Kramnik, who was playing in his first Linares
tournament since winning the Braingames World Championship in 2000, and either Leko or Anand,
whose game was still in progress.

309
 Anibal Hotel, Linares; Photo by Cathy Rogers

GARRY’S DEPRESSION

So, the night before the fourteenth and final round, Kasparov was depressed.

310
Earlier in the day Kasparov had drawn with White against 20-year-old Spaniard Paco Vallejo - a draw
which had seen Kasparov hit his head with his hand as he stood up to leave the game. Later Kasparov
wandered down to watch the last game to finish, a Leko vs Anand rook endgame, from the back of
the playing hall.
When Kasparov saw me also watching Leko pushing for an unlikely win, he decided that I would be
a good shoulder to cry on.
"I'm playing terribly," was Kasparov's opening gambit. "This was the worst tournament of my life. I
blundered in almost every game. My opponents know that they just have to wait and I will blunder."
"It's not so bad," I replied, trying to cheer him up. "If you win your final game, you will probably still
win the tournament."
"With Black against Anand? Only if I can play the game without blundering. The way I am playing it
won't happen."
"You only need to play one good game tomorrow. If Anand loses tonight, he won't be in great shape."
"It won't happen."
Kasparov decided to change the subject and began throwing out variations in the Leko - Anand game.

Leko, Peter (2736) - Anand, Viswanathan (2753)

Linares 87/298, 2003

At first Kasparov was sure that Anand should draw, but he found problems in all his defensive set-
ups.
45...Ra1?

311
Kasparov noticed the key idea 45...Rc4

46.Kf3! (intending 46.f3 Rc2!; 46.f4 to the end. Neither could the players. In their post-game analysis
the players reached as far as 46...Rc3+! 47.Kf2 gxf4 48.Rxf4 Ra3 49.Rf5 f6 50.Rb5 (50.Ke2 Kf7
51.Kd2 Ke6 52.Kc2 Rg3=) 50...Kf7, with 24-year-old Leko opining that White should still be
winning and Anand, suspecting - accurately, as later analysis showed - that Black could hang on.
51.Rb7+ Ke6 52.Rb6+ Ke5 53.a6 Kf4! 54.Rxf6+ Kxg4 55.Rxh6 Kg5 56.Rb6 Kxh5 57.Ke2 Kg5
58.Kd2 Kf5 59.Kc2 Ke5 60.Kb2 Ra5 61.Rh6 (61.Kb3 Kd5 62.Kb4 Ra1 63.Rh6 Rb1+ 64.Ka5
Kc5=) 61...Kd4 62.Rh4+ (62.Kb3 Ra1=) 62...Kd3 63.Rh3+ Kc4 64.Ra3 Rb5+ 65.Kc2 Rb8=)
46...Ra4 47.Ke3 Rxg4 48.Kd3±
After Anand played 45...Ra1?, allowing 46.Kg2!!+-, Kasparov left to return to his hotel room, by
then confident that Anand would lose, but genuinely unsure what the "correct" result should have
been. (Notably, his hunch that the endgame should be a draw was correct, even if he could not prove
it.)
46...Re1
46...Ra4 47.f3 Ra2+ 48.Kf1 Kf8 49.Ke1 Ke7 50.Kd1 Ke6 51.Kc1
47.f3 Re6 48.Kf2 Kf8 49.Rb5 Kg7
49...Ke7 50.Rb7+
50.Rf5
50.Rb3!? Ra6 51.Ra3
50...Kf8 51.Rc5 Kg7 52.Rb5 Kf8 53.Rb6 Re5 54.a6 Kg7 55.a7 Ra5 56.Rb7 Ra3 57.Ke2 Kf6
58.Kd2 Ke6 59.Kc2 f6 60.Kb2 Ra4 61.Kb3 Ra1 62.Kb4 Kd6 63.Rh7 Ke5 64.Kb5 Ra2 65.Kb6 1-

312
0

LÉKÓ'S IMPRESSIONS

"My game against Anand was very special as I was in (virtually) a must-win situation," said Leko
later. "I was still to face Kramnik with black in the last round."
"When we reached the rook endgame with the extra a pawn, Vishy must have relaxed for a moment,
because he allowed me to play 40.g4!. After that I had the feeling that I have very good practical
chances to win the endgame."
"Then when he let me play 44.h5! I felt as if it is probably winning. The final moment was when I got
to play the stylish 46.Kg2! move; at that moment I knew - That's it, I am winning!"

C42
Leko, Peter (2736) - Anand, Viswanathan (2753)
Linares 87/298, 2003

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O
10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.Bd3!

16.h3 Kramnik,Vladimir 2809 - Anand,Viswanathan 2753, Wijk aan Zee 2003 - 86/318
16.c4 Kasparov, Garry 2838 - Karpov,Anatoly 2688, New York (m/2-rapid) 2002 - 86/319
16...Qd7!N
16...Bxd3?! 17.Qxd3 ∆Bd6? 18.Ng5!​→
17.Rb1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 b6 19.d5 Bf6 20.c4

313
20.Qb5?! Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ne5=
20...h6! 21.h3 Re7! 22.Rbd1 Rd8!
22...Rce8 23.Rxe7 Nxe7 24.Re1! ×c7
23.Rxe7 Nxe7 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Bxe5² Re8 26.Bg3 Nf5!?

26...Nc8
27.Bxc7! Qxc7 28.Qxf5 Qxc4 29.d6 Rd8 30.d7 Qc6 31.g3 a6
31...Qe6? 32.Qc2! ∆ Qc7
32.h4 b5 33.Rd5
33.Qe5!?
33...a5 34.Rxb5 g6! 35.Qd5 Qxd7 36.Qxd7 Rxd7 37.Rxa5 Kg7
37...h5
38.a4 Rd1+
38...h5!?
39.Kg2 Ra1?
39...h5 40.Kf3 (40.Rc5 Ra1 41.a5 Ra3=) 40...Ra1=
40.g4! Kf6 41.Kg3 Rc1 42.Rb5 g5?! 43.Rf5+ Kg6 44.h5+! [×h6] 44...Kg7 45.a5 Ra1?

314
45...Rc4 46.Kf3! (46.f3 Rc2!; 46.f4 Rc3+! 47.Kf2 gxf4 48.Rxf4 Ra3 49.Rf5 f6 50.Rb5 (50.Ke2 Kf7
51.Kd2 Ke6 52.Kc2 Rg3=) 50...Kf7 51.Rb7+ Ke6 52.Rb6+ Ke5 53.a6

53...Kf4! 54.Rxf6+ Kxg4 55.Rxh6 Kg5 56.Rb6 Kxh5 57.Ke2 Kg5 58.Kd2 Kf5 59.Kc2 Ke5 60.Kb2
Ra5 61.Rh6 (61.Kb3 Kd5 62.Kb4 Ra1 63.Rh6 Rb1+ 64.Ka5 Kc5=) 61...Kd4 62.Rh4+ (62.Kb3
Ra1=) 62...Kd3 63.Rh3+ Kc4 64.Ra3 Rb5+ 65.Kc2 Rb8=) 46...Ra4 47.Ke3 Rxg4 48.Kd3±
46.Kg2!+- Re1
46...Ra4 47.f3 Ra2+ 48.Kf1 Kf8 49.Ke1 Ke7 50.Kd1 Ke6 51.Kc1
47.f3 Re6 48.Kf2 Kf8 49.Rb5 Kg7

315
49...Ke7 50.Rb7+
50.Rf5
50.Rb3!? Ra6 51.Ra3
50...Kf8 51.Rc5 Kg7 52.Rb5 Kf8 53.Rb6 Re5 54.a6 Kg7 55.a7 Ra5 56.Rb7 Ra3 57.Ke2 Kf6
58.Kd2 Ke6 59.Kc2 f6 60.Kb2 Ra4 61.Kb3 Ra1 62.Kb4 Kd6 63.Rh7 Ke5 64.Kb5 Ra2 65.Kb6 1-
0
POSTSCRIPT
This endgame subsequently generated extensive debate from experts such as Karsten Mueller and Jan
Timman, with the conclusion eventually being that 45...Rc4 is insufficient not because of 46.f4,
which can be answered by 46...f6!, but because 46.f3 Rc2 47.f4! turns out to be winning after
47...Rc3 48.Kf2 f6 49.Rd5!!. Check out the fifth edition of Mark Dvoretzky's Endgame Manual,
edited by Mueller, for full details.

Lékó v Anand analysis; Photo by Cathy Rogers

316
LÉKÓ AND KRAMNIK SHARE THE FIRST

Kramnik and Leko, who were to play a world title match the next year, drew without too many
adventures thus won the 20th edition of the Linares tournament and shared a grand 9,600 Euros.
"Linares 2003 was a very special moment in my career," said Leko looking back. "Winning the
tournament together with Kramnik ahead of Kasparov and Anand - and winning it on tie-breaks - was
just fantastic!"
Kramnik commented at the time: "I don't think you can say Kasparov is in crisis - he did not play so
badly. Maybe he didn't have the luck or the energy that he normally has."
Radjabov finished last, but was far from discouraged: "The only bad thing about Linares was that I
finished in last place but it felt very interesting to play with the top players in the world. I was not in
my best form; maybe I was too happy after beating Kasparov."
While the final round games were in progress journalists were given forms to vote for Linares' most
fighting player, and for the Premio de Belleza - the most beautiful game. Leko, who had won the
tournament despite losing two games in an event with 67% draws, won the first named category
easily.
However, since there had been no stand-out game played, many games received a nomination from
the 20 or so voters for the Premio de Belleza.
Leko - Radjabov included the most spectacular attack, but many viewed this as a product of fine
opening preparation as much as creativity. (This turned out to be a false assumption. Leko later
admitted: "My game against Radjabov was not prepared specially, because we could not know which
French line Teimour was going to pick. However since I have always been very successful in the
McCutcheon French his choice was more than welcome! I was confident that the plan with h5,
followed by f4, was the most principled way to fight the variation and I handled the complications
very well over the board."

317
 Lékó 1st prize winner and also Linares most fighting player; Photo by Cathy Rogers

C12
Leko, Peter (2736) - Radjabov, Teimour (2624)
Linares 87/276, 2003

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2
10.Kxd2 c5 11.h4 Bd7 12.h5 g5 13.f4 Nc6 14.fxg5 Qa5!?

318
14...Qxg5+ Leko,Peter 2701 - Short,Nigel 2675, Batumi 1999 - 77/282
15.dxc5! d4 16.Nf3 O-O-O

17.Rab1!N
17.Ke2
17...dxc3+
17...Qxc3+!?
18.Ke2 Rhg8 19.Qe4! [×b7] 19...Qc7!
19...hxg5 20.g4±
20.g4! Ne7! 21.Bb5!
21.gxh6 Bc6„
21...hxg5
21...Nd5!?

319
22.Bxd7+ (22.gxh6 f5! 23.exf6 Bxb5+ 24.Rxb5 Nf4+„; 22.c6 Bxc6 23.Bxc6 Qxc6 24.gxh6 f5!
25.exf6 Qa6+ 26.Ke1 Nxf6 27.Qf4 Nd5!= (27...Rxg4 28.Qxf6 Re4+ 29.Kf2 Qe2+ (29...Re2+
30.Kg3 Qd6+ 31.Kh3+-) 30.Kg3 Rg8+ 31.Qg7!+-; 27...Qxa2!?)) 22...Rxd7 23.gxh6 f5! 24.exf6
Nxf6 25.h7!! Rh8 (25...Rf8 26.Qe5; 25...Nxh7 26.c6) 26.Qe5! Rd2+ 27.Ke1 Qxe5+ 28.Nxe5²
22.Rb3!
22.Nd4? Qxc5!​→ 23.Ba6? Bc6! 24.Bxb7+ Kc7 25.Bxc6 Rxd4-+
22...Nd5
22...Nf5? 23.gxf5 exf5 24.Bxd7+ Qxd7 25.c6!+-;
22...Bc6 23.Bxc6 Nxc6 24.Rhb1;
22...Bxb5+ 23.Rxb5 Nd5 24.Rhb1 b6 25.cxb6 axb6 26.a4±;
22...f5 23.exf6 Nd5 (23...Nf5 24.Bxd7+ Qxd7 25.gxf5 exf5 26.c6!+-) 24.f7! (24.Bxd7+ Rxd7 25.c6
Qxc6 26.Ne5 Qa6+ 27.Qc4+ Qxc4+ 28.Nxc4 Nxf6 29.Rxc3 Rc7 30.Nd6+ Kd8 31.Rxc7 Kxc7
32.Nf7 Rg7 33.Ne5 Kd6) 24...Bxb5+ 25.Rxb5 Qxf7 26.Rhb1±
23.Rhb1

320
23...Bc6?
23...Bxb5+ 24.Rxb5 b6 25.cxb6 axb6 26.a4±;
23...f5!! 24.exf6 Nxf6 25.Qe5 (25.Bxd7+ Rxd7 26.Qe5 Nxg4! (26...Rd2+ 27.Ke1 Qxe5+ 28.Nxe5)
27.Qxe6 Qg3!! 28.Qxg8+ Rd8 29.Qe6+ Rd7=) 25...Bxb5+ 26.Rxb5 Rd2+ 27.Ke1 Qxe5+ 28.Nxe5²
24.Bxc6 Qxc6

25.Nd4!+- Qa6+
25...Nf4+ 26.Kf3 Rxd4 27.Qxc6+ bxc6 28.Rb8+ Kd7 29.R1b7#

321
26.Ke1 Rd7
26...Kb8 27.Rxb7+ Ka8 28.c6;
26...f5 27.gxf5
27.c6 Rc7 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Rxb7 Nb6
29...Qa3 30.Nb5 Qc1+ 31.Kf2 Qd2+ 32.Kg3;
29...Nc7 30.Qh7
30.Qh7 Rf8 31.Qg7
31.Nf5+-; 31.Rxf7+-
31...Qa3 32.Qxf8+
32.Qxf8+ Qxf8 33.Nb5 Qc5 34.Nd6+ Kd8 35.c7+ Qxc7 36.Rxc7 Kxc7 37.h6
1-0

DRAGON WITH NO FIRE

The final round the following day ended as Kasparov had predicted. Despite venturing a Dragon and
not blundering, Kasparov could not beat Anand.

B72
Anand, Viswanathan (2753) - Kasparov, Garry (2847)
Linares 87/200, 2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.h3 Na5
10.O-O b6 11.Re1 Bb7 12.Bg5 Nxb3 13.axb3 h6 14.Bh4

322
14...Qd7!N
14...a6 15.Nd5 e6 (15...Nxd5 Ye,Jiangchuan 2670 - Fedorov,Alexei 2646, Istanbul (ol) 2000 - 80/
206) 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qd2
15.Qd2
15.f3!? ∆ Bf2
15...Nh5! [∆ g5] 16.f3 e5 17.Nde2
17.Ndb5 d5! 18.exd5 (18.Nxa7? d4 19.Ncb5 f5µ‚) 18...a6 19.Na3 b5©
17...f5

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18.Red1?!
18.exf5! gxf5 (18...Rxf5 19.Rad1²; 18...g5 19.Bf2 Qxf5 (19...d5 20.g4) 20.Qxd6 e4 (20...Qxc2∞)
21.Nd4 Bxd4 22.Qxd4 exf3 23.g4!) 19.Red1!
18...fxe4 19.fxe4 g5 20.Bf2
20.Bg3 Nf4
20...g4!
20...Rf6 21.Nd5; 20...Qf7
21.h4
21.Qxd6 Qf7 22.Be3 gxh3​→
21...Nf4 22.Qxd6 Qf7! 23.Nxf4 exf4 24.Qd7
24.Bd4 Rad8 25.Qb4 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 f3 27.Rd2 (27.Qc4 Bxd4+ 28.Qxd4 Qf4!) 27...Qf4©
24...Qxd7 25.Rxd7 Rf7 26.Rd6

324
26...Kh7
26...g3! 27.Bd4 Bf8 28.Rg6+ (28.Re6 Rd8) 28...Kh7 29.h5 Rd8ƒ
27.Rad1 Re8 28.Rd7 Ree7 29.Rxe7 Rxe7 30.Bd4 Rd7 31.Nd5=
31.Bxg7? Rxd1+ 32.Nxd1 Kxg7³
31...Bxd5 32.Bxg7 Bc6
32...Bc6 33.Rxd7 Bxd7 34.Be5 Bc6=
1/2-1/2

325
 Garry Kasparov vs Viswanathan Anand, Linares 2003; Photo by Cathy Rogers

BEAUTY OR/AND THE BEAST

Kasparov - Radjabov, featuring a Radjabov knight sacrifice and general willingness to randomise the
contest, narrowly won the Premio de Belleza, with around six votes; Leko - Radjabov had one vote
less. I voted for Radjabov's win, as did the Godfather of Spanish chess journalism Leontxo Garcia, as
I noticed when I walked past his desk.
When it was announced near the end of the closing ceremony that Radjabov had won the beauty
prize, Kasparov seemed stunned. Both winner and loser were asked to come to the stage - a big
mistake! - to each receive a small prize, a pen. (Kasparov had already been on stage once before,
snatching his fourth place plaque and returning to his seat in the front row as fast as possible.)
Kasparov used his second appearance on stage to grab the microphone, whereupon he began an
extraordinary rant. He said that the choice of the Kasparov - Radjabov game for a prize was a scandal,
an insult and humiliation to him and to chess. The World Champion added a few more angry words
before taking his seat again.
"Many things together led to Garry exploding at the closing ceremony," opined Leko later. "The
organisers decided to pick the sensation of the tournament, Radjabov's win as the best game prize.
Since this game was seen by Garry as the one which spoilt his tournament he was very upset about
this! And before then the traditional "Best Fighter" prize was awarded to me, which I guess was
simply too much for Garry to handle."

326
At the end of the ceremony the players were asked to go back to the stage for a photo of all the
players together with officials and organisers. Kasparov demurred, and headed down the aisle away
from the stage towards the exit.
I was heading in the opposite direction, trying to get through a mass of people to the players on stage.
Kasparov saw me and immediately continued venting, saying, "It was a scandal! How could anyone
vote for that game?"
Unfortunately then he added: "How did you vote?"
Sometimes in life it may be better to tell a lie and protect a vulnerable person from a painful truth. Or
I could have been economical with the truth and said "Rogers voted for Leko - Radjabov" - since
Cathy had indeed voted for that game.
Unfortunately, with Kasparov evidently hoping for and expecting some sympathy, I replied "Your
game against Radjabov", after which Kasparov launched one of the strongest verbal assaults I have
ever experienced.
And that is how it came to be that a frenzied Kasparov, in the middle of a growing crowd including
major Linares office-bearers, came to have his hand near my throat as he launched a volley of abuse.
(It should be noted that Kasparov was restrained enough not to touch me; just get very, very close.)
"You - and journalists like you - are responsible for the bad state of the chess world! Rogers, what is
your Elo?? You must hate chess. Don't you understand what a best game is? Quality! Where is the
quality in a piece blunder? By voting for this game you show that you would vote for any game
where Kasparov loses! Any game would be better than this for the prize!!"
After about 5 minutes of this tirade - with Klara Kasparova performing her duty of covering the lens
of Cathy's camera with her hand to avoid the scene being preserved in a photo - I had not said a word.
However I noticed that Leontxo Garcia, like Cathy, had abandoned the group photos to see what the
commotion was elsewhere in the theatre.
To my great shame, I tentatively pointed to Leontxo's distinctive bald head and managed to say "Ask
him how he voted".
As I had expected, though also to my great relief, Leontxo answered Kasparov's question honestly,
whereupon Kasparov turned his fire onto the Spaniard, who defended himself verbally, as I had been
too shocked to do.
Garcia later explained: "In his rage Kasparov talked about "Best Game". I explained - at the top of my
voice - that the paper on which I marked my vote said "Beauty Prize", not "Best Game Prize"."
"I think the main reason for his rage was a kind of semantic misunderstanding. In my opinion Premio
de Belleza should not be for the best game from the scientific point of view) but for the most
beautiful one. Beauty is a subjective concept. As a member of the jury, I voted for that game because,
in my opinion, a 15 year old boy's victory with Black against Kasparov (and after very brave play)
was beautiful. It is beautiful that a child of 15 has the courage to make the move 21...♘ge5 with
Black against Kasparov in his Linares debut. It is beautiful that a record of seven undefeated years

327
with white, and six years without losing in Linares at all, is broken by a 15-year-old child. I tried to
explain this to Garry during the incident after the prize-giving, but he was too angry."
Meanwhile Kasparov's mother had turned her attention to me, pointing out with force that I must hate
her son and hate chess.
However within a couple of minutes Klara decided that the wisest course was to try to drag her son
back to their hotel rooms to calm down, something she quickly succeeded in doing. As Kasparov left
he shouted: "Don't count on me for next year!".
Nonetheless, at one o'clock in the morning Kasparov could be seen outside the Anibal Hotel, still
complaining about the decision to award the prize to Radjabov.
Kasparov later said: "I'm ashamed of my behaviour during those 10 minutes; it was over the top. I
was tired and upset and I can apologise. But Rogers and Leontxo should also be ashamed - what they
did was a blow to classical chess. Linares is supposed to be about classical chess. If that game can be
given a beauty prize then classical chess is dead."
"I didn't say anything when the prize went to my losses to Ivanchuk in 1991 and 1997. My loss to
Kramnik in 1994 also got the prize, but alright that was a spectacular game. If it had been a prize for
most memorable game then I would have handed it to Radjabov myself! It was the first time I lost to
someone born after I won my title!"
That final point of generosity was rather spoiled when Kasparov also noted: "Radjabov is a unique
talent. I don't mean to be critical but I never finished last in a tournament."
After Kasparov left, waiters came around with trays of drinks and finger food, as if nothing had
happened. Still in shock, I grabbed the first drink that appeared, a beer, and finished it in one gulp.
(This was only the second time in my life I had drunk a beer.)
My Olympic captain, Manuel Weeks, unbeknownst to me had been adjacent during the tirade and
would probably have prevented Kasparov from strangling me properly. After the beer Weeks told me
what had just transpired, since at that moment everything was a blur.

328
Kasparov received the award for 4th place; Photo by Cathy Rogers

329
 Awarding the prize to Radjabov for the best game; Photo by Cathy Rogers

C11
Kasparov, Garry (2847) - Radjabov, Teimour (2624)
Linares 87/270, 2003

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.a3
9.Qf2 Sharapov,Evgeny 2414 - Vysochin,Spartak 2511, Polanica Zdroj 2000 - 79/(258)
9.Be2 Nijboer,Friso 2537 - Gurevich,Mikhail 2667, Amsterdam 2000 - 79/258
9...Qb6 10.Ne2!?

330
10...c4?!N
10...h6; 10...Bb7
11.g4
11.f5?! exf5 12.Nf4 Ne7
11...h5 12.gxh5 Rxh5 13.Ng3 Rh8 14.f5?!
14.h4!?
14...exf5 15.Nxf5 Nf6! 16.Ng3 Ng4
16...Nh5 17.Ne2!²
17.Bf4 Be6 18.c3 Be7
18...Ne7!?
19.Ng5! O-O-O
19...Na5 20.Qc2²
20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Be2!

331
21...Ngxe5?!
21...Rxh2? 22.Rxh2 Nxh2 23.Nh5 g6 24.Nf6 Rh8 25.O-O-O a5 26.Rh1 b4 27.Rxh2 Rxh2 28.Bxh2
bxa3 29.Kb1+-;
21...Rh4? 22.Bg5 Bxg5 23.Qxg5 Nxd4 24.cxd4 Qxd4 25.Qxh4 Qf2+ 26.Kd1 Qd4+ 27.Kc1 c3
28.Kb1+-;
21...Nh6?! 22.O-O! Na5 23.Qc2 Nb3 24.Rad1 g5 25.Be3 Rdg8 26.Rf2± g4? 27.Rdf1 Qd8 28.Rf6!
Bxf6 29.Rxf6+-;
21...Nxh2! 22.Nh5

332
(22.O-O-O b4! (22...Na5 23.Kb1 Nb3 24.Qc2 g5 (24...b4 25.cxb4 Nxd4 26.Be3+-) 25.Nf5! exf5
(25...gxf4 26.Nxe7+ Kb8 27.Ng6 Rh6 28.Nxf4 Rf8 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.Rxh2 Rxh2 31.Qxh2 Qc6
32.d5 exd5 33.e6±) 26.Qxf5+ Kb8 27.Bxh2 Rdf8 28.Qd7 Qb7 29.e6+ Ka7 30.Bc7±) 23.axb4 a5
24.Nh5 (24.b5 Qxb5 25.Nh5 a4 26.Rxh2 Na5 27.Kb1 Nb3 28.Qc2 a3 29.Qg6 Qa4 30.Qxe6+ Rd7
31.bxa3 Nc5! 32.dxc5 Qb3+ 33.Kc1 Qxc3+ 34.Kb1 Qb3+=) 24...axb4 25.Rxh2 Rdf8!© (25...Qa6
26.Qc2 bxc3 27.bxc3 Nb4 28.Qb1 Na2+ 29.Kd2±)) 22...Na5! (22...g6? 23.Nf6 Qc7 24.O-O-O±)
23.Rb1 (23.Rxh2? Nb3 24.Qd1 Rdf8! 25.Bg3 g6 26.Nf6 Rxh2 27.Bxh2 Qc7!µ) 23...Nb3 24.Qe3 g6
25.Rxh2 (25.Nf6? Ng4) 25...gxh5 26.Bxh5 Rdg8 27.Ke2²
22.Qe3!?
22.dxe5? d4 23.O-O-O (23.cxd4 Nxd4) 23...g5! 24.Bxg5 dxc3 25.Qe3 Bxg5 26.Qxg5 b4​→;
22.Bxe5! Nxe5 23.dxe5 Bc5 24.Bg4! (24.Bf3 Be3 25.Qe2 g5! 26.a4 (26.Kf1 Rdf8 27.h3 Rh4
28.Kg2 Rxf3! 29.Qxf3 Rf4) 26...b4 27.a5 Qc5 28.Bg4 (28.Kf1 Rdf8; 28.Ra4 bxc3 29.bxc3 Kc7
30.Nh5 (30.Ne4 dxe4 31.Rxc4? Bf2+ 32.Kf1 exf3-+) 30...Rb8 31.Ra1 d4©) 28...Kb8 29.Ra4 bxc3
30.bxc3 Ka7 31.Rf1 Rb8 32.Ra1 (32.Rf7+ Ka8 33.Ra1 Bf4 34.Nf1 Rb3∞) 32...Rb3 33.Rf7+ Kb8
34.Kf1±) 24...Be3 (24...Rdf8 25.Rf1; 24...Rh4 25.Qg5 Rdh8 26.Nh5 Be7 27.Qxe7 Rxg4 28.O-O-O±)
25.Qg2 (25.Qe2 d4 26.cxd4 (26.Ne4 d3 27.Qg2 Kb8©) 26...Qxd4 27.Rd1 Qxe5 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8
29.Qf3 (29.Nf1 Rd3​→) 29...Bc5+ 30.Qe4 Qg5©) 25...Kb8! (25...Rdf8 26.Rf1 Kb8 27.Kd1 (27.a4
b4©) 27...d4 28.Kc2 d3+ 29.Kb1 a5 30.Ka2 b4 31.Rab1±) 26.Rf1 (26.Ne2 d4 27.Nxd4 Bxd4
28.cxd4 Qxd4 29.Qe2

29...Rh3!! (29...c3? 30.Rd1 Qc5 31.bxc3 Rxd1+ 32.Qxd1 Qe3+ 33.Be2 Qxc3+ 34.Kf1±) 30.Bxh3
Qh4+ 31.Qf2 (31.Kf1 Qxh3+ 32.Kf2 Qh4+ 33.Kg1 Rf8 34.Rf1 Qg5+ 35.Qg2 Qe3+ 36.Rf2 Qc1+=)
31...Qe4+ 32.Qe2 Qh4+=) 26...d4 27.Ne4 d3 (27...dxc3 28.bxc3 Rd5 29.Be2±) 28.h3!? (28.a4?!
bxa4 29.Nd6 Rhf8! 30.Nxc4 d2+! 31.Ke2 Qb3! 32.Nxe3 (32.Kxe3 Qxc4 33.Qe4 Qc5+ 34.Ke2

333
Qb5+ 35.c4 d1=Q+ 36.Raxd1 Qxb2+ 37.Ke1 Qc3+=) 32...d1=Q+ 33.Raxd1 Qxb2+ 34.Ke1
Qxc3+=; 28.Rf7 Rhf8 29.Re7 Qc6 30.Bf3! (30.Bh3 Qd5 31.Rxe6 Rf4∞) 30...Qd5 31.Rxg7 Qxe5
32.Qg3 Bf4 33.Qg1 Be3 34.Qxe3 Qxg7 35.Ng5 Rd6 36.O-O-O e5 37.h4±) 28...Rhf8 29.Rf3±
22...Nd7?
22...Bd6! 23.dxe5! (23.O-O-O Nd3+ 24.Bxd3 Bxf4 25.Qxf4 cxd3 26.Rxd3 Na5 27.Qg4 Nc4„)
23...Bc5 24.Qf3 g5 25.Bd2 Nxe5 (25...Rdf8 26.Qg4 Nxe5 27.Qxg5 Nf7 28.Qg4 Bf2+ (28...Rhg8
29.Qh3±) 29.Kd1 Ne5 30.Qg7 Nd7 31.Kc2±) 26.Qg2 Rdf8 27.Rf1 Be3 28.O-O-O Bxd2+ 29.Rxd2
Qe3 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.Nf1²
23.Qxe6 Bh4 24.Qg4??
24.Qxd5 Nde5 (24...Rde8 25.O-O-O!+-; 24...Nf6 25.Qf5+ Kb7 26.O-O-O Nd5 27.Bg5+-; 24...Rhe8
25.Qg2 g5 26.Bd2 Na5 27.O-O Nb3 28.Rad1 Bxg3 29.hxg3 Nxd2 30.Rxd2+-) 25.Qe6+ (25.Qg2
Ng6 26.Bd2±) 25...Nd7 26.d5 Na5 27.O-O-O±
24...g5! 25.Bd2 Rde8
25...Na5 26.O-O (26.O-O-O?? Bxg3 27.hxg3 Qg6-+) 26...Nb3 27.Rad1 Nxd2 28.Rxd2 Kb8
29.Nh5∞
26.O-O-O Na5

27.Rdf1??
27.Kb1 Qg6+ 28.Ka2 Kc7! (28...Qc2? 29.Bf3 Nb3 30.Bxg5! Reg8 31.Ne4!! dxe4 32.Bxe4 Rxg5
33.Qe6+-) 29.Rhf1 Nb3∞
27...Nb3+ 28.Kd1 Bxg3 29.Rf7

334
29.hxg3 Qg6-+
29...Rd8!
29...Qe6? 30.Qxe6 Rxe6 31.Bg4 Rd6 32.Bxg5 Rg8 33.hxg3 Rxg5 34.Bf5©;
29...Qd6 30.Bxg5 Bxh2 31.Rf6 Qc7 32.Bf3 Kb8 33.Rxa6µ
30.Bxg5 Qg6 31.Qf5 Qxf5 32.Rxf5 Rdf8! 33.Rxf8+ Nxf8 34.Bf3 Bh4! 35.Be3 Nd7 36.Bxd5 Re8
37.Bh6 Ndc5! 38.Bf7 Re7 39.Bh5 Nd3 0-1
The following day, Kasparov and Garcia were due to meet again. Garcia: "Both of us were invited by
Canal + TV for a live interview in Madrid. When I arrived there, he was at the waiting room, alone.
As soon as he saw me, he got up and hugged me, with no words, and immediately started a
conversation on something else. I understood it was his way to apologise, and that was the end of the
problem."

Two years later, I was in Linares to see what turned out to be Kasparov's final classical tournament.
Despite a last round loss to Topalov, Kasparov tied for first with the Bulgarian who was soon to take
over the world number one ranking in Kasparov's absence. Kasparov accepted the final round loss
with dignity; maybe the fire that made him such a dominant champion, with an unending desire to
win everything, had finally been doused.
Had Linares 2003 been Kasparov's method of raging against the dying of the light? "Yes, in 2003
Kasparov was aware of his decline," Garcia would say much later.
POSTSCRIPT
Kasparov and I did not exchange words for a decade after Linares 2003.
However in 2013 Kasparov arrived at the Anand - Carlsen World Championship match at the
Sheraton Hotel in Chennai only to discover that FIDE had told the organisers not to allow Kasparov
into the press room, while also telling at least two of the commentators that they would be sacked if
they invited the former World Champion as a guest in the commentary box.
With their hands tied, the organisers found Kasparov a special conference room where he could invite
guests and analyse the match games.
To my surprise, I was invited to come to Kasparov's pad, where we spent more than an hour chatting
and trying to work out what was going on in the fourth match game. As in 1976, when we first
analysed together after our game at the World Cadet Championship, Kasparov demonstrated an
amazing number of variations.
The game was beautiful, and so was the company.

335
Walter Browne (USA) v. Viktor Korchnoi (Switzerland),
13th round, Wijk aan Zee, 31st January 1980

The traditional Hoogovens event in January 1980 was a 14-player all-play-all event. Going into the
final round, U.S. grandmaster Walter Browne trailed his compatriot, the World Junior Champion
Yasser Seirawan, by a ½-point. The two Americans had drawn in only 16 moves in the penultimate
round. Seirawan, who had the white pieces in that game, clearly believed that he had good chances of
securing first place; in his last game he had to face Jaime Sunye Neto of Brazil, albeit with Black,
whereas Browne had White against the formidable Viktor Korchnoi, the World #3.

336
 Seirawan and Browne shake hands as their 12-round encounter at Wijk aan Zee gets under way. (Photo credit: R. Croes, via
www.nationaalarchief.nl.)

Korchnoi was a ½-point behind Browne in 3rd place, 1½ points clear of Lev Alburt in 4th. With 3rd
place secured, he had nothing to lose by playing for a win against Browne.
Ultimately, this proved to be a significant factor in a game that decided the outcome of the
tournament.

The Browne-Korchnoi game gets under way. Korchnoi, in aggressive mood, has just played 2...c5. (Photo credit: F. Pereira, via
www.nationaalarchief.nl.)

Browne annotated the game in volume 29 of Chess Informant, and also for the magazine Chess Life;
his notes were published in the August, 1980 issue of the American periodical.

337
Korchnoi has just played 12...0-0, as Browne's rival for 1st place, Seirawan, looks on intently. (Photo credit: F. Pereira, via
www.nationaalarchief.nl.)

338
 A43
Browne, Walter (2540) - Kortschnoj, Viktor (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 29/102, 1980

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 A somewhat unusual choice for Korchnoi, but as noted above, his tournament
situation meant that he had nothing to lose by playing sharply for the win. In his choice of opening
variation it seems that his attention had been caught by Browne's game v. Miguel Quinteros from the
tournament in Buenos Aires, 1979; Korchnoi was present at that event, while Browne had annotated
the game for volume 28 of Chess Informant.
3.d5 b5 4.Bg5 Browne, however, was pleased with Black's choice; in Chess Life he points out that he
had had great success with this line, and so played, as he put it, "for a quick kill".
4...Bb7 5.Bxf6 exf6
More natural is 5...gxf6, since Black can recapture towards the centre. White is favoured after 6.e4
6.e4

339
6...a6 A significant moment.
Quinteros had continued instead 6...c4, but after 7.a4! a6 8.Be2 Bc5 9.O-O O-O 10.axb5 axb5
11.Rxa8 Bxa8 12.Nc3 White was better and eventually won Walter,Browne 2540 - Quinteros,Miguel
2545, Buenos Aires 1979 (see Chess Informant 28/111).
7.Be2
In Chess Informant, Browne points out that on 7.a4 Black can continue 7...Qe7 8.Nbd2 Bxd5∞ (but
not 8...c4? 9.axb5 axb5 10.Rxa8 Bxa8 11.Qa1 Bxd5 12.Qa7 Nc6 13.Qa8++-)
7...Bd6! 8.a4 Qb6
White wins after 8...c4? 9.axb5 axb5 10.Rxa8 Bxa8 11.Nd4 Qa5+ 12.Nc3 Bb4 13.O-O Bxc3 14.bxc3
O-O 15.Qa1! - Chess Life
8...b4 9.Nbd2±
9.axb5 axb5 10.Rxa8 Bxa8 11.Nc3 b4
11...c4? 12.Nd4 Bc5 13.Ncxb5 Bxd4 14.Nxd4±
12.Nb5 O-O
12...Be5? 13.Qa1 Bb7 14.Nd2 O-O 15.Nc4 Qxb5 16.Nxe5 Qb6 17.Nc4±
13.O-O Bb7
Also possible is 13...Re8
14.Nxd6 Qxd6

340
15.Bc4!
"And not 15.Nd2? Qe5! 16.b3 f5! White's last move over-protects the d-pawn and will eventually
threaten the thematic e5 break, as is common against Benoni set-ups. It also enables White to protect
his e-pawn, which is vulnerable to ...Re8 or ...f5 and prepares Qd3, Nd2 and f4, leaving Black little
counter-play. In addition, White retains the option of Ra1 later." - Browne, in Chess Life
15...Re8 16.Qd3 Na6 17.Nd2
Here Browne writes that he seriously considered 17.e5!? fxe5 18.Ng5 Qg6? 19.Qxg6 hxg6 20.d6 Rf8
21.f4!, until he noticed the reply 17.e5 fxe5 18.Ng5 e4! 19.Nxe4 Qg6
17...Nc7 18.f4 Qb6
Not 18...g6? 19.e5 fxe5 20.Ne4+-
19.Kh1 Prophylaxis against the possible ...f5 followed by a capture at d5.
19...d6 20.h3 Bc8 21.Nf3 h6

341
22.Re1
The attempt 22.e5? fails: 22...fxe5 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.d6 (24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.d6 Be6 26.d7 Nd5-+)
24...e4 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Ng5+ Kg8 27.Nxe4 Rxe4-+
22...Ba6 23.Nd2
23.e5? Bxc4 24.Qxc4 fxe5 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Rxe5 Rxe5 27.Nxe5 Qd6 leaves Black clearly better.
23...Bb7 24.Nf3 Here Browne comments, instructively: "At this moment I was behind on time and,
since Black must wait for White to try something unsound, I gave him the move."
24...Ba6 25.Nd2 Bc8 26.Nf3 At this point, the tournament situation played a critical part. Browne:
"In theory, White is better and should have played 26.b3 with a slight edge. However, in practice -
and against Viktor, when he desperately needs to win - this was the best move, and I didn't feel he
would repeat, and so..."
26...Bd7?! 27.Re3! Bb5
Not 27...g5? 28.e5 gxf4 29.e6 fxe3 30.exf7+ Kxf7 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Nh4, and White wins.
28.Nd2

342
28...Qb8? As Browne had anticipated, Korchnoi rejects the repetition of moves. However, the text
allows White to carry out the long-awaited breakthrough.
29.e5! fxe5 30.fxe5 Rxe5
30...dxe5? allows 31.d6, winning.
31.Rxe5 Bxc4 32.Qxc4! Preventing any blockade of the d-pawn, which is White's main advantage.
32...dxe5 33.Qxc5 Ne8
While here 33...Na6? allows 34.Qc6
34.Nc4!
34.Ne4? Qd8 35.d6 f5
34...Nf6 35.d6 e4 36.Ne5! Qe8
In Chess Informant, an editorial note runs: 36...e3? 37.d7! (37.Nc6 e2! 38.Nxb8 e1=Q+ 39.Qg1
(39.Kh2 Ng4+=) 39...Qd2=) 37...Nxd7 (forced) 38.Nxd7 Qe8 39.Ne5 e2 40.Qe3 b3 (40...f6
41.Qxe2 Kh8 42.Qc4 fxe5 43.Qxb4+-) 41.cxb3 f6 42.Qxe2 fxe5 43.Qe4±
37.Qd4 Kh8!

343
38.d7?
"White wins after 38.Kg1! Qe6 39.d7 Nxd7 40.Nxd7 e3 41.Ne5 e2 42.Qd8+ Kh7 43.Qd3+ g6
44.Qxe2 f6 45.Qc4! Qb6+ 46.Kf1 fxe5 47.Qf7+ Kh8 48.Qe8+ Kh7 49.Qxe5 In time pressure, I
doubt if anyone would have seen this 12-move analysis found by Robert Byrne in Reykjavik. At the
time, I overlooked, 41...f6, as in the game. Otherwise, I would have played 38.Kg1!." - Browne, in
Chess Life.
38...Nxd7 39.Nxd7 e3 40.Ne5 e2 41.Qe4 f6 42.Ng6+ The simplification to a queen endgame is
forced.
42...Qxg6 43.Qxe2 h5 44.Qc4 Kh7 45.Kh2 Qf5 46.Qxb4 Qxc2

344
47.Qb8
Later, Browne suggested that since the plan of preventing all checks and advancing the b-pawn does
not work, 47.Qd4 was to be preferred.
47...f5
"Taking advantage of White's slight inaccuracy with 47...Qe4! was better here. At the time, I didn't
realise that both sides should strive to centralise their queens. Fortunately, neither did my opponent!"
- Chess Life
48.Qe5 Qf2 49.b4

345
49...h4?
Korchnoi goes wrong in the queen endgame. Correct was 49...g6 50.b5 f4 51.Qe7+ Kh6 52.Qb4
Qg3+ 53.Kh1 f3 54.Qf8+ Kh7 55.Qxf3 Qe1+ 56.Kh2 Qe5+, and Black holds.
50.b5 g6
Worse is 50...f4? 51.Qh5+ Kg8 52.Qf3±
51.Qe7+ Kg8? 52.Qe8+?
Stronger was 52.Qd6!, but Browne was short of time (the second time control was at move 56).
52...Kh7 53.Qe7+ Kg8? 54.Qd6 Kf7?
Black should prefer 54...Kh7, although after 55.b6 f4 56.Qe7+ Kh6 57.b7 Qg3+ 58.Kh1 f3 59.Qf8+
wins. - Chess Life
55.b6 f4 56.Qd5+ Ke7
On 56...Kf6 57.Qb3 wins.
57.Qe5+ Here Black resigned.
57.Qe5+ On 57...Kd7 there follows 58.b7 f3 59.Qb5+ Ke6 (59...Ke7 60.Qg5+) 60.Qc6+ Ke7
61.Qxf3 Meanwhile, Seirawan had taken no chances and drawn against Sunye Neto. Thus, victory in
the present game allowed Browne to catch up with his compatriot, sharing 1st-2nd place in the event.
1-0

Douglas Griffin (Aberdeenshire, Scotland)

Douglas Griffin in Central Chess Club, Moscow
2019

Competitive player since the age of 12, representing Scotland at all levels from Under-14 to senior
international during 1980-1989. Inactive over-the-board since the mid-1990s, but remains a keen
student of chess history, and diligent collector of classic chess literature in the English and Russian
languages. Chess Informant associate.

346
347
348
A00-A24

1. * A00
Rudd, Jack (2331) - Jones, Gawain C B (2670)
Great Britain (Internet) 146/1, 2020

1.b4 e5 2.a3
2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.Nf3 - 3/1 (4.c4 - 19/3)
2...d5
2...a5 - 32/(2)
3.Bb2 Bd6 4.Nf3 Qe7
4...Nd7 5.e3 (5.c4!? c6) 5...Ngf6 6.d4 e4 7.Nfd2 O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Re8

10.g4?!N (10.Be2; 10.Qb3) 10...h6 (# 10...Nb6! 11.g5 (11.c5 Nxg4 12.cxd6 Nxe3!-+) 11...Ng4
12.c5 Bxh2 13.cxb6 Qxg5-+) 11.h4 Nf8 (11...a5!? 12.g5 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Bxa1 Bxb4 15.gxf6
Qa5 16.Rg1 Nxf6ƒ) 12.g5

349
(12.Be2) 12...Bg4? (12...Ng4! (∆ Ne3) 13.Qe2 Ng6!? 14.Bh3 (14.gxh6? Nf4! 15.exf4 e3-+)
14...h5µ) 13.Be2 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 hxg5 15.hxg5 N6h7 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxg5 Xiong,J (2679)-
Smirnov,A (2567) chess.com (Int.-m/ 29-blitz) 146/(1) 2019 (17...Nxg5 18.O-O-O​→)
5.e3
5.c4!? c6 (5...dxc4 6.e3 Nd7 7.Bxc4 Ngf6 8.d3 O-O 9.O-O c6 10.Nbd2 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Bc2 a5=)
6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Nb5!²
5...Nf6 6.c4
6.d4!?
6...c6 7.Nc3 d4!?
7...a6= ×b5
8.Ne2
8.c5!? Bc7 (8...Bxc5?! 9.bxc5 dxc3 10.Bxc3 e4 11.Ne5 O-O 12.Qc2 Qxc5 13.d4 Qb6 14.Bc4©)
9.Ne2 O-O - 8...0-0
8...c5?
8...dxe3?! 9.dxe3 O-O 10.c5 Bc7 11.Ng3 a5 12.Bc4 Be6 13.Qb3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1+
16.Bxa1²; 8...O-O! 9.c5! (9.exd4?! exd4 (9...e4!? 10.Ne5 Nbd7³) 10.Bxd4 (10.Nxd4 Be5!µ) 10...a5
11.Be3 axb4 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 Bxb4³) 9...Bc7 10.Ng3∞
9.bxc5 Bxc5 10.Nxe5! Qxe5 11.exd4

350
11...Ne4!?N
11...Ng4 12.Qb3! (12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qxd7+? Nxd7 14.dxe5 Nxf2³) 12...Qf6 13.f3+-; 11...Bxd4
12.Bxd4 Qd6 13.Be3±
12.Qc2!
12.Qb3 Qg5
12...Qe7 13.dxc5
13.d3! Nxf2 14.Kxf2+-
13...Bf5 14.Bxg7?
14.d3 Nxc5 15.O-O-O±; 14.f3 Ng3 15.Qa4+ Bd7 16.Qb3 Nxh1 17.Bxg7! Rg8 18.Qxb7!+-
14...Rg8

351
15.Qa4+?
15.Bd4 Nc6 16.Be3 Ng3 (16...O-O-O!? 17.Qb2 Nxd2! 18.Ng3! (18.Bxd2? Ne5-+)) 17.Qc3 Nxh1
18.d4 O-O-O 19.d5=; 15.f3!? Ng3 16.Qc3 Nxh1 17.Bf6∞
15...Bd7 16.Qb3 Nxc5
16...Rxg7 17.Qxb7 Nxc5!
17.Qc3 Rxg7! 18.Qxg7? Nd3+ 19.Kd1 Ba4# 0-1

2. A01
Noritsyn, Nikolay (2512) - So, Wesley (2770)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/2, 2020

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 d5 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.Nf3 f6

5...Qe7 - 19/2
6.c4 a6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.d4 e4 9.Ng1 a5N
9...Nh6; 9...Be6; 9...f5
10.Nc3 Bb4 11.Ne2 Ne7 12.O-O O-O!?
12...Ng6 13.Na4 Be7∞
13.Na4 [×Bb4] 13...Ng6 14.c5 Nh4 15.Ng3
15.a3 Bg4 16.h3

352
(16.axb4? Nxg2! 17.Kxg2 Bf3+ 18.Kg1 Qd7-+) 16...Bf3! 17.gxf3 Qd7 18.Nf4 g5 19.fxe4 gxf4
20.Kh2 (20.Qg4+ Qxg4+ 21.hxg4 Bd2!) 20...dxe4 21.Rg1+ Kh8 22.Qg4 Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Qxg4
24.Rxg4 fxe3 25.axb4 (25.fxe3 Be1ƒ) 25...e2 26.Rxe4 Rae8 27.Rxe8 Rxe8 28.Bc3 axb4 29.Bxb4 Rb8
30.Bc3 (30.Kg2?! Nh4+ 31.Kg3 Rxb4! 32.Kxh4 Rxd4+ 33.Kg3 Rd1-+; 30.Be1 Rxb3 31.Kg2?
Ra3!! 32.Rxa3 Nxe1+ 33.Kg3 Nc2-+) 30...Rxb3 31.Kg2 Rxc3 32.Nxc3 e1=Q 33.Rxe1 Nxe1+=
15...f5​→ 16.a3 f4 17.exf4 Bd2!?
17...Bh3!! 18.gxh3 Nf3+ 19.Kg2 (19.Kh1 Qh4 20.Rg1 Qxh3 21.Rg2 Ne1 22.Rg1 Rxf4-+) 19...Rxf4
20.Bc1 (20.axb4 Qd7 21.Bc1

21...Qxh3+!! 22.Kxh3 Rh4+ 23.Kg2 Rxh2#) 20...Rh4 21.Nf5 Rh5 22.Ng3 Rxh3! 23.Rh1 (23.Kxh3

353
Qh4+-+) 23...Qh4 24.axb4 axb4 25.Kf1 Qg4 26.Be3 h5 27.Nb2 Rf8-+
18.Qxd2 Bh3 19.f3™ Bxg2 20.fxe4 dxe4© 21.Rf2 Nf3+ 22.Rxf3 Bxf3 23.Nc3 Rxf4

24.Re1?
24.Qxf4! Qxd4+ 25.Kf1 Rf8 26.Nf5 Rxf5 27.Qxf5 Qd3+ 28.Kg1 Qd4+ (28...Qe3+ 29.Kf1=)
29.Kf1=
24...Qh4-+ 25.d5
25.Qc2 Re8 26.Re3 Rg4 27.Qf2 Rf8 28.b4 axb4 29.axb4 h5 ∆ Qh3, h4-+
25...Rg4 26.Ne2 Qh3 27.Nf4 Rxf4 28.d6 cxd6 29.cxd6 Rf7 30.Be5 h5 0-1

3. A21
Miezis, Normunds (2492) - Hillarp Persson, Tiger (2550)
Sverige 146/3, 2019

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nf3 Bxc3 4.dxc3 d6

4...Nc6 - 38/(24)
5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 f6 7.Nd2N
7.e4! Be6 8.Qe2 Nge7 9.Be3!? Qd7 10.b3!²
7...Be6 8.e4 Qd7 9.Qh5+
9.Qe2 O-O-O 10.h3 Qf7 11.b3 h6 12.Nf1 g6 13.Ne3 f5ƒ
9...g6 10.Qe2 Bh3 11.f3 Bxg2 12.Qxg2 f5 13.Nf1 O-O-O 14.Ne3 Rf8 15.Bd2 Nd8 16.O-O-O
Ne6³ 17.b4

354
17.Nd5 Qa4!; 17.Kb1 fxe4 18.fxe4 Nc5 19.Nd5 Qg4³
17...h5

17...f4! 18.Nd5?! c6µ

18.c5!? dxc5
18...fxe4 19.fxe4 dxc5µ
19.Nc4 Qa4 20.Kb1 Ne7?!
20...cxb4 21.cxb4 fxe4 22.fxe4 Nh6 23.Nxe5 Ng4 24.Nxg4 hxg4 25.Bc3 Rh5 26.Rhf1 Rf3!³;
20...fxe4 21.Nxe5 exf3 22.Nxf3 Nf6³
21.Nxe5 cxb4
21...Rf6 22.Nd7!=; 21...fxe4 22.f4!=
22.cxb4 Rd8?
22...Nd4! 23.Rc1 Rf6 24.Bc3 Nb5 25.Nd3³
23.Nf7 Rd3?
23...Rhe8 24.Nxd8 Rxd8 25.exf5±
24.Nxh8 Nd4
24...Rb3+ 25.Ka1!
25.Rc1 Nec6 26.Bc3+- a5 27.bxa5

355
27.Qb2 axb4 28.Bxd4 Nxd4 29.Nxg6 b3 30.a3
27...fxe4 28.fxe4?!
28.Qb2+-
28...Nb5 29.Bb2 Nb4 30.Qh3+ Kb8 31.Qe6 Rd5!

32.Qxd5?!
32.Qg8+! Ka7 33.Qxd5 Nxd5 34.exd5 Na3+ 35.Bxa3 Qxa3 36.Rhd1 Qb4+ 37.Ka1 Qf8 38.Rxc7
Qxh8+ 39.Kb1+-
32...Nxd5 33.exd5 Na3+ 34.Ka1
34.Bxa3 Qxa3 35.Rhd1 Qb4+ 36.Ka1 Qf8 37.Nxg6 Qg7+ 38.Kb1 Qxg6+ 39.Rc2²
34...Nc2+ 35.Rxc2
35.Kb1 Qe4 36.Rxc2 Qxh1+=
35...Qxc2 36.d6 cxd6 37.Nf7 Ka7?†
37...Qd3!³
38.Nxd6 Qd3 1-0

4. * A21
Swicarz, Maciej (2325) - Balakrishnan, Praveen (2498)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/4, 2020

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.Nf3 c6 5.Nc3 Qe7 6.e3 d6 7.Be2

356
7.d3 Nf6 8.a3 Bb6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Rd8 11.Qc2 h6 12.b4 Bf5 13.Bb2 Nbd7 14.Rad1 Rac8 15.h3
Bh7 16.Rfe1 d5³ Delchev,Aleksander
7.Qc2 Nf6 8.Be2 Bg4 (8...Bb6!?) 9.h3 Bh5 10.O-O O-O 11.Nh4 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Nbd7 13.b3 g6
14.Bb2 Rfe8=; 7.a3 Bb6 8.Be2 Nf6 9.d4

9...e4N (9...O-O) 10.Nd2 d5= Swicarz,M (2325)-Kuzubov,Y (2643) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(4)
2020
7...e4
7...Nf6 8.d4!²
8.Nd4 Nf6 9.O-O
9.d3 - 129/10
9...O-O

357
10.Rb1N
10.d3 exd3 11.Qxd3 Nbd7 12.Rd1 Ne5 13.Qc2 Bg4 14.f3 Bd7 15.Na4 Rfd8=
10...d5! 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.d3 Rd8 13.a3 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.b4 Bd6³ 16.Bb2 exd3 17.Qxd3 Qe5
18.f4 Qe7 19.Rbc1?

19.Bf3! a5 (19...Bg4 20.Ne2∞) 20.b5 Bc5 21.bxc6 (21.Kh1!?∞) 21...Ba6 (21...Qxe3+? 22.Qxe3
Bxe3+ 23.Kh1±) 22.Nb5 Qxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Bxe3+ 24.Kh1 Bxb5 25.Bxf6 Bxf1 26.Bxd8 Rxd8
27.Rxf1 Bxf4 28.Bh5 g6 29.Rxf4 gxh5 30.Rd4 Rc8=
19...a5! 20.b5 Bc5 21.Nd1

358
21.Kh1 Bxe3 22.Rce1 d4 23.Nd1 cxb5 24.Bf3 Rb8 25.Nxe3 dxe3 26.Rxe3 Rxd3 27.Rxe7 Be6µ
21...cxb5 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qxb5 Bxe3+ 24.Nxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Kh1 Ba6-+ 26.Qb2 Qxe2 27.Qxf6 Qe6
28.Qh4 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 f5 30.Re1 Qg6 31.h3 Re8 0-1

5. A21
Dudin, Gleb (2386) - Delchev, Aleksander (2548)
Srbija 146/5, 2020

1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 f5 5.Nc3 c6 6.Nh3 Be7 7.f3 Nf6 8.Bg5
8.fxe4 - 55/21
8...O-O 9.e3 exf3 10.Qxf3 Ng4! 11.Bf4N
11.Bxe7 Qxe7
11...Bh4+ 12.Kd2 Na6 13.Bd3 Nb4 14.Bb1

14...Ne5!?
14...c5ƒ
15.Qe2 Be6 16.b3 Ng6?!
16...b5! 17.a3! (17.cxb5 c5! 18.a3 cxd4 19.exd4 Nd5-+) 17...Na6 (17...Bxc4 18.bxc4 Nxc4+ 19.Kd1
(19.Kc1 Qa5©) 19...Qa5©; 17...Qa5 18.Rc1!∞) 18.cxb5 (18.Kc1 bxc4 19.dxe5 Nc5 20.b4 Nb3+
21.Kb2 a5!-+; 18.Bg3 bxc4 19.Nf4 Bf7 20.Bxf5 Nc7µ) 18...cxb5 19.Ba2 (19.Rc1 Bxb3 20.Qxb5
(20.g3 Bf6-+) 20...Nc5! 21.Bxe5 (21.dxc5 Rb8-+) 21...a6! 22.Qc6 dxe5 23.Qxc5 Be7 24.Qxe5 Bd6
25.Qxf5 Rxf5 26.Bxf5 Qa5-+) 19...b4! 20.Qxa6 (20.axb4 Nxb4​→) 20...bxc3+ 21.Kxc3 (21.Kc2
Ng4µ (21...Nf7 22.Kxc3 Bf6µ)) 21...Rc8+ 22.Kb2 Rc6 23.Qe2 Qa5! 24.Rhc1 Ra6µ

359
17.Bg3 Bf6 18.a3 Na6 19.Bd3 c5 20.Kc2 Nc7
20...d5!? 21.cxd5 Bf7ƒ
21.d5 Bc8 22.Raf1 Bxc3 23.Kxc3 b5 24.Qh5 Qf6+ 25.Kc2 b4
25...bxc4! 26.Bxc4 (26.bxc4 Bd7! 27.Rb1

27...Nxd5! 28.cxd5 c4 29.Bxc4 Rfc8 30.Qe2 f4 31.Bxf4 (31.Nxf4 Ne5-+; 31.exf4 Bg4!-+) 31...Bf5+
32.Kd2 Rab8!!-+) 26...h6 27.Nf2 Ne5µ
26.axb4 Na6! 27.Ng5 Nxb4+ 28.Kb1 h6 29.Ne4 Qd8 30.Qxg6 Nxd3
30...Qa5! 31.Rf2 Nxd3 32.Ra2 Qd8µ
31.Bxd6 Qb6 32.Kc2 Rb8?!
32...Nb4+ 33.Kd2 Bd7 34.Qg3 fxe4 35.Bxf8 Rxf8 36.Rxf8+ Kxf8 37.Qe5∞
33.Kxd3 Qxb3+ 34.Nc3 Ba6 35.Qe6+ Kh8 36.Rf4 Rf6 37.Rb1 Qxb1+ 38.Nxb1 Rxe6 39.dxe6 Rd8

360
40.Rxf5?†
40.e7! Rxd6+ 41.Rd4! Re6 42.Rd8++-
40...Rxd6+ 41.Kc3 Rxe6 42.Rxc5 Rxe3+ 43.Kd2 Re4 44.Kd3 Rh4 45.Rc7 Rxh2 46.Rxa7 Bxc4+
47.Kxc4 Rxg2 48.Nc3 1/2-1/2

6. A22
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)
lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 146/6, 2020

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e3 d5

3...Bb4 - 125/6
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qh5!? Nc6 6.Bb5

361
6...Nb4?!N
¹6...Qd6 7.Nf3 Nxc3! 8.bxc3∞ (8.dxc3 Bd7 9.e4 g6= Ivanisevic,Ivan)
7.Qxe5+ Be6
RR7...Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Bxe7 9.Ke2²; 7...Be7 8.Qe4 g6 9.Qb1 O-O 10.a3 Nd5 11.Nf3² Ivanisevic,Ivan
8.Qe4 a6 9.Be2 Be7 10.a3 Nd5 11.Nf3 O-O 12.O-O Na5 13.Nd4 Nxc3 14.dxc3 Bd5 15.Qg4 Nb3

16.Nxb3
16.Rd1! h5 (16...Nxd4 17.Rxd4 Qd6 18.Bc4 (18.c4 Be6 19.Rxd6 Bxg4 20.Rd2±) 18...Be6 19.Bxe6

362
Qxe6 20.Qxe6 fxe6 21.Kf1+- (21.e4? Bc5)) 17.Qxh5 Nxa1 18.Bd3
16...Bxb3 17.e4 Bc5 18.Bg5 Qd6 19.Bf4 Qe7 20.Qg3 Rad8 21.e5
21.Bxc7?! Rd2„
21...Qe6
21...Rfe8±
22.h4
22.Bg5! Rb8 23.Bf6 g6

24.c4! Qb6 (24...Bc2 25.b4 Bd4 (25...Bd6 26.Qf4 Rfe8 27.exd6+-; 25...Ba7 26.Qf4+-) 26.Qf4;
24...Bxc4 25.Qf4 Bxe2 26.Qh6+-) 25.Qh4 Rfe8 26.Rac1 Bf8 27.Rc3 Ba4 28.c5 Qc6 29.Rh3 h6
30.Bf3 Qd7 31.Qxh6!+-
22...Kh8 23.h5 h6 24.Bg4 Qc6 25.Bf3 Bd5 26.Rad1 Bxf3 27.Qxf3 Qxf3 28.gxf3+- c6 29.Kg2 Rfe8
30.Bg3 Kg8 31.f4 Be7 32.f5 Bc5 33.Kf3 a5 34.Ke4 a4 35.f4 Be7 36.Bf2 b5
36...c5 37.Be3 Kf8 38.Rg1 b6 39.Rd5 Rxd5 40.Kxd5 Rd8+ 41.Kc6 Rd3 42.Re1
37.Rg1 Kf8 38.Bb6 Rb8 39.Bc7 Rb7 40.Bd6 c5
40...Rd7 41.Bxe7+ Rexe7 42.Rd4 Rxd4+ 43.cxd4
41.Bxe7+ Rbxe7 42.Rxg7! Kxg7 43.f6+ Kf8 44.fxe7+ Kxe7 45.Rd5 Rc8 46.f5 Rc6 47.f6+ Ke8
48.Rd6 Rc8 49.Rb6 1-0

363
A25-A49

7. * !N A28
Rogers, Jonathan (2333) - Adair, James (2450)
Great Britain (Internet) 146/7, 2020

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Nd5

5.Qc2 O-O 6.Nd5 Re8 7.Qf5 d6 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.Qh5 d5 10.a3 Bf8

11.Bd3!? (11.d4 - 25/53) 11...e4 12.cxd5 exd3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 a5 15.Bb2 Re4 16.Nd4

364
16...Qd5N (16...Rg4) 17.Qxd5 cxd5∞ Duda,J (2753)-Carlsen,M (2863) chess24.com (Int.-rapid)
146/(7) 2020
5...e4 6.Nxb4?!
6.Ng1 - 146/8
6...Nxb4 7.Nd4 c5! 8.Nb5?!
8.Nc2! Nd3+! 9.Bxd3 exd3 10.Na3 d5∞
8...d5 9.a3
9.cxd5 Nfxd5µ
9...Nd3+ 10.Bxd3 exd3 11.cxd5?!
11.b4! a6 12.Nc3 dxc4 13.bxc5 O-O (13...Bd7 14.Qf3! Bc6 15.Qf4³) 14.O-O Be6³
11...Nxd5 12.O-O O-O 13.Qf3

365
13.b4 Bd7 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.dxc3 c4-+; 13.Qb3 Nb6 14.Qa2 Be6 15.b3 f5! 16.f4 Rf6 17.Bb2 Rg6-+
13...f5!N
13...Be6 14.e4 Nb6 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 Nc4µ
14.Nc3
14.b3 a6 15.Nc3 Nxc3 16.dxc3 c4!? 17.bxc4 d2 18.Bb2 Be6 19.Qe2 Qd7-+ Palliser,Richard
14...Be6 15.Rb1 a5! 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Qf4

17...Ba2!?

366
17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qd5+ 19.Kg1 Qa2-+
18.Ra1 Bb3 19.a4 Qd7 20.Ra3 c4 21.Re1 Rac8 0-1

8. ***** A28
Petrosyan, Manuel (2590) - Sargsyan, Shant (2601)
Armenia (ch-rapid) 146/8, 2020

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Nd5 e4 6.Ng1 O-O 7.a3
7.Qc2 Re8 8.a3 Bd6

9.f4N (9.Ne2 - 101/(9)) 9...exf3 10.Nxf3 Nxd5 11.cxd5 Ne5 12.Be2 c6 13.b3?! (13.O-O∞) 13...cxd5
(13...Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 b6 (14...Be5 15.Bb2 cxd5 16.O-O∞) 15.Bb2 Ba6³) 14.Bb2 b6 15.O-O Bb7
16.Nd4 g6

367
17.Nf5? Bf8µ Flores,D (2599)-So,W (2770) ProChessLeague (Int. -rapid) 146/(8) 2020 (17...gxf5
18.Qxf5 Re6-+)
7...Bd6
7...Be7 8.d3 exd3

9.Nf3N (9.Bxd3) 9...a5 10.Bxd3 Re8 11.O-O d6 12.b3 Bg4 13.Be2 Nd7 14.Bb2 Bf8 15.h3 Bh5
16.Nd4 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Nc5 18.Ng3² Petrosyan,M (2607)-Esipenko,A (2682) lichess.org (Int.-blitz)
146/(8) 2020
8.d3

368
8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.f4 exf3 10.Nxf3 Ne5 11.d4

11...Ng4!?N (11...Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 Be7 13.Bd3∞) 12.e4? (12.Bd3 c5 (12...Qh6?! 13.e4! (13.Qe2
Bg3+ 14.Kd2 d5! 15.cxd5 c6 16.dxc6 Re8ƒ) 13...Ne3 14.Qe2 Bf4 15.Rg1 Nd5 (15...d5 16.g3!±
(16.cxd5 Nxd5∞)) 16.Bd2 Bxd2+ 17.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Nf4 19.Bc2±) 13.O-O Qh6 14.h3 Nxe3
15.Qe2 Bf4 16.Re1 Re8 17.g3 Qxh3 18.Qh2 Qxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Bh6 20.dxc5 Re6 21.Kf2 Rf6+ 22.Nf3
Ng4+ 23.Kg1! (23.Kg2 g6 24.Bxh6 Nxh6 25.Re8+ Kg7 26.Nd4

26...b6!-+) 23...g6 (23...Re6? 24.Bxh6 Nxh6 25.Nd4+-) 24.Bxh6 Nxh6 25.Re8+ Kg7 26.Nd4 d6
27.Rf1!ƒ) 12...Bxh2! 13.e5 Bg3+ 14.Kd2 Qe7 15.Bd3 h6-+ Bocharov,D (2524) -Gareyev,T (2598)
Moscow (blitz) 146/(8) 2019

369
8...exd3 9.Nf3 Ne5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Bxd3

11...c6 12.f4

- 146/8
12.Nxf6+N

370
12...Qxf6 - 146/(8) (12...Bxf6N 13.Qc2 h6 14.O-O d6 15.Bd2 a5 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Be2²
Petrosyan,M (2613) -Giri,A (2769) Moscow (blitz) 146/ (8) 2019) 13.O-O d6 14.Qc2 Qh6 15.f4 Bf6
16.Bd2 Re8 17.a4 Bd7 18.a5 c5 19.a6 Bc6 20.axb7 1/2 (20) Byrne, M-Ludevid i Masana,J corr
146/(8) 2019
12...Bb8?!N
12...Bd4!? 13.Bc2 cxd5 14.Qxd4 dxc4 15.Qxc4 b6 16.O-O Bb7∞
13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.O-O d5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Qc2 h6 17.Bd2 Bd6
17...Qb6 18.Bc3! (18.Rae1 Bd6 19.Bc3 Bc5) 18...Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Qb6 20.Qd1 Bd6 21.Bc2 Be7
22.Qxd5 Be6 23.Qf3ƒ
18.Bc3 Qe7 19.Bd4 Bd7 20.Rae1± Rfc8 21.Qb3 Bc6

371
22.Bb1! b6 23.Qd3 Qe4
23...g6 24.f5+-
24.Qd1 Qe7 25.Qg4 f6 26.Qf5 Qf7
26...Kf8 27.g4​→ (27.Rf3!?​→)
27.Rf3 Bc5
27...Bd7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rg3 Qg8 (29...Be6 30.f5 Bd7 31.Rg4 Bb5 (31...Rc4 32.Ba2+-; 31...Be7
32.Ba2+-) 32.Qh8+ Qg8 33.Qxg8+ Kxg8 34.Bxf6+-) 30.Qxg8+ Kxg8 31.Bxf6+-
28.Bc3
28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Bf5 Rd8 30.Rg3+-
28...d4 29.exd4 Bd6

372
30.d5
30.Re6! ∆Bxf3 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Ba2!+-
30...Bxd5 31.Rd3 Bc5+ 32.Kh1 Bc6 33.b4 Bf2
33...Be7 34.b5 Be8 35.Rg3+-
34.Re2 Bh4
34...Qb7 35.Rxf2 Be4 36.Qe6+ Kh8 37.Qh3+-
35.Ba2 Qxa2 36.Rxa2 Re8 37.Rd1 Re3 38.Bd4 Rd8 39.Rad2 Re7 40.Qg4 Ba4 41.Qxh4 1-0

9. A29
Santiago, Yago de Moura (2500) - Triapishko, Olexandr (2506)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/9, 2020

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nd5 e4 6.Nh4 O-O 7.Bg2 Re8 8.O-O d6 9.a3
9.d3 - 57/40
9...Bc5 10.b4 Bd4
10...Bb6 11.Bb2 (11.e3 Ne5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bb2 Qe6 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.f3∞) 11...Nxd5
(11...Bd4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 13.e3 Nf5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.f3 (15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.f3 Qe6 (16...Qg6)
17.fxe4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.Rf4) 15...Nxd5 16.cxd5 Qd7 (16...exf3 17.Qxf3 Bg6 18.Qf4²
(18.Qe2²)) 17.Qb3²) 12.cxd5 Bd4 (12...Ne5 13.Bxe4 Ng6 14.Nxg6 Rxe4 15.Nf4±) 13.Bxd4 Nxd4
14.e3
11.Rb1

373
11...Be6?!N
11...g5 12.e3 gxh4 13.exd4²; 11...Ne7 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.e3 Bb6 14.f3 g5 (14...c6 15.Bb2 exf3
16.Qxf3 Ne4 17.Rbd1²) 15.fxe4 gxh4 16.Rf4 Qe6 (16...h5 17.c5! dxc5 18.Bb2 Ng4 19.h3+-;
16...Nd7 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.Bb2+ Ne5 19.Qh5​→) 17.c5 (17.Rxh4 Ng4! 18.Bh3 Qxe4 19.Rxg4+
Bxg4 20.Qxg4+©) 17...dxc5 18.Bb2 Ng4 (18...Nd7 19.Qh5​→) 19.Bh3 (19.bxc5 Bxc5 20.Rf5 Be7
21.Qxg4+ Qg6 22.Qf4) 19...h5 20.bxc5 Bxc5 21.Rf5∞
12.e3 Be5
12...Bb6 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bxe4 Bxc4 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qc2+ Kg8 17.Qxc4±
13.f4 exf3 14.Nxf3?
14.Qxf3 Nd7 15.d4 Bf6 16.Nf5±
14...Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bxd5³ 16.Qc2 g6 17.b5 Na5

374
18.Nxe5?!
18.Ng5! Bxg2 (18...Bc4 19.d3 Qxg5 20.dxc4∞) 19.Nxf7 Qd7 20.Nh6+ Kh8 21.Kxg2 Rf8 22.Bb2²
18...dxe5 19.Bxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxc7 b6µ 21.Qc2
21.Bb2 Nc4 22.Bc3 (22.e4 Qe6) 22...f5µ
21...Rac8 22.Qd1 Nc4 23.Qe2 Red8 24.Rb4 Qd3
24...Nxd2 25.Qxd2 Qxd2 26.Bxd2 Rxd2-+
25.Qf2 f5 26.g4 Rf8 27.g5 f4 28.Qg2 fxe3 29.dxe3 Rxf1+
29...Nxe3 30.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 31.Kh1 Rxf1+ 32.Qxf1 Rc1-+
30.Qxf1 e4 31.Qf6 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qe2+?†
32...Qg4+ 33.Kh1 Ne5!-+
33.Kg3 Qf3+ 34.Qxf3 exf3 35.e4
35.Kxf3²
35...Nd6 36.Bf4 Nf7

375
37.Kxf3?
37.Ra4! Ra8 38.Kxf3+-
37...Rc3+ 38.Kg4 Rxa3 39.h4 Nd8 40.Rc4 Ne6 41.Rc8+ Kf7 42.Be5 Ra4 43.Kf3 Ra3+ 44.Ke2 Ra4
45.Kd3
45.Kf3=
45...Nc5+ 46.Kc2 Rc4+ 47.Kb1
47.Bc3 Rxe4µ
47...Rb4+ 48.Ka2 Ra4+ 49.Kb1 Rxe4 50.Rc7+ Ke6 51.Bb2 Rxh4-+ 52.Rxa7 Kd5 53.Rf7 Kc4
54.Rf3 Kxb5 55.Bf6 Kc6 56.Bg7 Rb4+ 57.Kc2 Rc4+ 58.Kd1 b5 59.Rf6+ Kd5 60.Rf8 Rh4 61.Rd8+
Kc4 62.Rc8 Kd3 63.Rd8+ Ke3 64.Re8+ Ne4 65.Kc2 b4 66.Kb3 Kf4 67.Kxb4 Kxg5 68.Kb3 Kf5
69.Kc2 Rh2+ 70.Kd3 Rh3+ 71.Ke2 Ng3+ 72.Kf2 Nh5 73.Bd4 Nf4 74.Be3 g5 75.Rf8+ Kg4
76.Bxf4 Rf3+ 77.Kg2 Rxf4 78.Rh8 Rf7 79.Rg8 h5 80.Kh2 h4 81.Kg1 h3 82.Kh1 Kh4 83.Rh8+
Kg3 84.Rg8 Rf1# 0-1

10. * A29
Bok, Benjamin (2624) - Raja, Harshit (2472)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/10, 2020

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nd5 e4 7.Nh4 Bc5 8.O-O Re8 9.a3 d6 10.e3
g5
10...Bb6 - 130/13
11.b4 Bb6?!

376
11...gxh4! 12.bxc5 (12.Bb2 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Ne5 - 12.bc5) 12...Ne5 13.Bb2 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Bg4
15.Qb3∞
12.Bb2 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Ne5
13...Nd4 14.d3! gxh4 15.dxe4 Ne6 16.dxe6 Rxe6 17.e5± - 128/11
14.f4

14...Bg4N
¹14...Nc4 - 146/(10) 15.fxg5

377
15...Qxg5 (15...Nxb2? 16.Qh5! Qd7 (16...Re7 17.Bxe4+-; 16...Qe7 17.Bxe4+-) 17.Bh3+- Qe7
18.Nf5 Qf8 19.Nh6++-) 16.Bf6 (16.Bc3? Nxe3! 17.dxe3 Qxe3+ 18.Kh1 Qxc3µ) 16...Qxd5
17.Kh1!ƒ

17...Re5N (17...Kf8? 18.Qe2 a5 19.Rac1 Nxa3 (19...axb4!?) 20.Qf2 Be6 21.Qf4 Reb8 22.Bxe4+-)
18.Rc1 Nb2 19.Qe2 Nd3 20.Rc3 Be6 21.g4 c6 22.Nf5 Bd8 23.Bxd8 1-0 (23) Pranitchi, T-
Petruzzelli,R corr 146/(10) 2019
15.Qc2 gxh4 16.fxe5 hxg3
16...dxe5

378
17.Rxf7! (17.Bxe4 hxg3 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.hxg3+-) 17...Kxf7 18.Qxe4 Kg7 (18...Qd7 19.Qxh7++-)
19.Qxg4+ Kh6 (19...Kh8 20.Rf1 Qe7 21.Qh5+-) 20.Rf1 Qg5 21.Qe4 hxg3 (21...Rf8 22.Bxe5+-)
22.Rf7+-
17.Qxe4 gxh2+ 18.Kh1 Bh5
18...f5 19.Qf4 dxe5 20.Bxe5 Qe7 (20...Qh4 21.d6! ∆ Qc4+-) 21.d4+-
19.e6 fxe6 20.dxe6 Bg6 21.Qc4 Qe7
21...d5 22.Bxd5 c6 23.Rf7 Qxd5+ 24.Qxd5 cxd5 25.Rg7+ Kh8 26.Bf6! (26.Rxg6+ d4 27.Rf6+-)
26...Rxe6 27.Rxg6+ Rxf6 28.Rxf6+-
22.Qc3 1-0

11. A32
Salimova, Nurgyul (2372) - Delchev, Aleksander (2550)
Bulgaria 146/11, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qb6!? 6.Bg2

6.Nb3? Qc6; 6.Nc3!
6...Bc5 7.e3 Nc6
7...d5!? 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.O-O O-O=
8.Nb3
8.O-O Nxd4 9.exd4 Bxd4 10.Nc3 e5 11.Nb5 Bc5 12.b4 (12.Qe1 d6 13.b4 Bd4 14.Be3 Bxe3
15.Qxe3 Qxe3 16.fxe3 Ke7=) 12...Bxb4 13.Be3 Bc5 14.a4 Bxe3 15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Nf5+ Kf8
17.fxe3 d5 18.Rb1 Qc7 19.Bxd5 g6 20.Nh6 Kg7 21.Nxf7 Rf8 22.Ng5 Rb8=
8...Bb4+ 9.Bd2

379
9.N1d2 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.O-O O-O=
9...Ne5!? 10.Qc2
10.Qe2 d5! 11.cxd5 Bxd2+ (11...Bd7 12.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 13.Nc3; 11...exd5 - 40/(56)) 12.Qxd2
(12.N1xd2 exd5 13.O-O Bg4=) 12...Qa6 13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14.Kxe2 b6 15.dxe6 Ba6+ 16.Kd2 Rd8+
17.Nd4 fxe6 18.Na3 O-O©
10...d6
10...d5!? 11.cxd5 Qa6 12.Bxb4 Nd3+ 13.Kd2 Nxb4 14.Qc3 Nbxd5 15.Qc5 (15.Qd3 Qxd3+
16.Kxd3 b6³ - 39/67) 15...Bd7 16.Rc1=
11.O-O Bd7 12.Bxb4 Qxb4

380
13.N3d2N
13.c5 - 90/(19)
13...Rc8
13...Bc6!=
14.Qb3! Qa5?!
14...a5 15.Bxb7 Rc7 16.Bg2 (16.Ba6 Ke7 17.Qxb4 axb4 18.a3 Rb8 19.axb4 Rxb4 20.b3 d5©)
16...Ke7 17.Rc1 Rhc8 18.Qxb4 axb4 19.b3 d5=
15.f4 Nc6 16.Nc3
16.Qxb7? Rb8 17.b4 Qd8 18.Qa6 Nxb4-+
16...O-O
16...Qa6
17.Nde4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Qc7 19.Qa3 Na5
19...d5 20.Nd6 Rcd8 21.Rac1ƒ
20.b3 Qb6

381
20...d5 21.Nd6 Rcd8 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Rfc1 Qb6 24.Qc5±
21.Qxd6
21.Rfe1! d5 22.Rad1! Bc6 23.Nd6 Rcd8 24.c5 Qc7 25.e4 b6! 26.exd5 Bxd5 27.Bxd5 exd5 28.Rxd5
bxc5 29.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 30.Rxc5 Nxb3!=
21...Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 Bc6 23.Rae1 Qb6 24.Qe5 Qc7 25.Qxc7 Rxc7 26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5 b6 28.Nc3
Bxg2+ 29.Kxg2 Nc6 30.Rd5 f6 31.Nb5 Rb7 32.Rd6 Ne5 1/2-1/2

12. A33
Amin, Bassem (2686) - Lupulescu, Constantin (2656)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/12, 2020

1.Nf3 c5 2.g3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.Nc3 Qb6 7.Ndb5
7.Nb3 - 143/14
7...Ne5 8.Bf4 Nfg4 9.Qa4
9.e3

382
9...a6 (9...Qc6 10.h3 a6 (10...Nf3+?! 11.Ke2 Nge5 12.b3 g5 13.Bg2± - 68/(35)) 11.hxg4 axb5
12.Rh5!? (12.Bxe5 Qxh1 13.cxb5 b6∞) 12...Nf3+ (12...Nxc4? 13.Rxb5+-) 13.Ke2 Ng1+ 14.Kd3
bxc4+ 15.Kc2 f6 16.e4!? (16.g5 fxg5 17.Rxg5 Qf3 18.Bxc4 Qxd1+ (18...Qxf2+? 19.Kb3 Nf3
20.Ne4 Qg2 21.Rh5+-) 19.Rxd1 Nh3 20.Rh5 Nxf4 (20...Nxf2 21.Rf1 Ng4 22.Nb5ƒ) 21.gxf4 g6
22.Rh2 d5 23.Bd3 Kf7 24.Rdh1 Kg7=) 16...Bb4 17.Rh1 Bxc3 18.Kxc3! e5 19.Be3 Qxe4 20.Rxg1 d5
21.Bg2 d4+ 22.Bxd4 exd4+ 23.Qxd4²) 10.Qa4 (10.h3 axb5 (10...Qc6 - 9...Qc6) 11.hxg4 Nxc4
12.Qb3 (12.Rc1 - 144/12) 12...d5 13.Bxc4 dxc4 14.Qxb5+ Qxb5 15.Nxb5 Bb4+ 16.Ke2 Ra5 17.a4
O-O (17...Bd7 - 78/ (34)) 18.Rhd1 f6!? (18...e5 19.Bxe5 Bxg4+ 20.f3 Be6 21.Bc3²) 19.Bc7 Ra6
20.a5 Bc5 21.Bd6 Bxd6 22.Rxd6 e5 23.Kf3 f5„) 10...Ra7!? (10...Rb8 11.Be2 axb5 12.Nxb5 g5!?
13.Bxg5 Qc6!? 14.O-O-O Bc5∞) 11.h3 (11.Be2? axb5 12.Qxb5 Qc6-+) 11...axb5 12.Qxb5 Qc6
13.hxg4 Nd3+ (13...Qxh1 - 128/19) 14.Bxd3 Qxh1+ 15.Bf1 Qc6 16.O-O-O (16.Qb3 f6 17.Nb5
Ra5³; 16.a3 b6 17.O-O-O Be7 18.Bd3 Ra5 19.Qxc6 dxc6=) 16...Qxb5 17.Nxb5 Rxa2 18.Kb1 Ra5
19.Be5 Bb4 20.Bxg7 Rg8∞
9...g5
9...Be7 - 104/(161)
9...a6 - 105/(20)
9...Bc5 10.O-O-O f6 11.b4 - 104/(161)
9...Qxf2+!? 10.Kd2

383
10...Qc5 (10...Qb6?! 11.h3! (11.Bh3 g5! 12.Bxg5 f6 13.Bxg4 fxg5 14.Bh5+ Kd8 15.Rad1 Qc6
16.Rhf1 Qxc4 17.Rxf8+ Rxf8 18.Qa3 Qf4+!? 19.gxf4 Nc4+ 20.Ke1 Nxa3 21.bxa3 Rxf4 22.Bf3
Rh4∞) 11...g5 12.Bxg5 ∆f6 13.Bf4 Nh6 14.Ne4 Nhf7 (14...Kf7 15.c5±) 15.Nxf6+ Ke7 16.Ng4!
Bg7 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Be3 Qc6 19.Rg1 a6 20.Bg2 d5 21.Qb4+ Ke8 22.Na3±) 11.Ne4 Qb4+
(11...Qc6 12.Bg2) 12.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13.Kc2 O-O 14.h3 Nf6 15.Bxe5 Nxe4 16.Bg2 d6 17.Bf4 e5
18.Bxe4 exf4 19.a3 (19.gxf4 Be6 20.Kd3 Rac8„) 19...Bc5 20.b4 Be3 21.g4 Bd7=
10.Bxe5
10.Bxg5 Qxf2+ (10...f6 11.Bf4 Nxf2 12.Rg1 Nfd3+ 13.exd3 Nf3+ 14.Kd1 Qxg1 15.Kc2 e5 16.Be2
Qxa1 17.Bxf3∞) 11.Kd1 Be7! (11...Qb6 12.Bf4 Bc5 13.Kc2 O-O 14.b4 Be3 15.c5 Qc6 16.Bh3 d5
17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.Nd6∞) 12.Bxe7 (12.Nc7+ Kf8 13.Bxe7+ Kxe7 14.Bh3 (14.Nxa8 d6-+)
14...Ne3+ 15.Kc1 N3xc4 16.Nxa8 b5! 17.Qb4+ d6 18.Rd1 Bb7-+) 12...Kxe7 13.Bh3 Ne3+ 14.Kc1
N3xc4 15.Rd1 Qe3+ 16.Kc2 d6 17.b3 a6! 18.bxc4 axb5 19.Qxa8 b4 20.Rac1 bxc3 21.Qa5 Qxe2+
22.Kxc3 Bd7µ
10...Qxf2+
10...Nxe5 11.O-O-O a6 (11...Be7 12.e3 O-O 13.Be2 d6 14.Qb3²) 12.e3 Rb8 13.Nd4 Qc7 (13...Qb4
14.Qc2 b5!?∞) 14.Be2 Be7 15.f4 (15.Kb1 Nc6 16.Rc1 Qe5 17.Rhd1 h5 18.Ka1 g4∞ - 102/(35))
15...Nc6 16.Kb1 O-O 17.Qc2²
11.Kd1 Nxe5 12.Nc7+
12.Qa5? f6! 13.Ne4 Qe3 14.Bg2 Nxc4 15.Nxf6+ Kf7 16.Rf1 Nxa5 17.Ng4+ Ke7 18.Nxe3 d5µ
12...Kd8 13.Nxa8 Qd4+
13...Bc5 14.Kc2 (14.Qa5+? b6 15.Qxa7 Qd4+ 16.Kc2 Nxc4-+) 14...d6 15.Qa5+ Ke7 16.Ne4 ∆Qd4

384
17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qc3! Bd7 19.Qxd4 cxd4 20.Rd1 Nxc4 21.Rxd4 Ne3+ 22.Kd2 Nf5 23.Rc4 Bc6
24.e4 Rd8+ 25.Ke1 Nd6 26.Rxc6 bxc6 27.Nc7 Nxe4 28.Na6 Rd4 29.Rg1±
14.Kc2 Nxc4 15.e4
15.Kb3 Nd2+ 16.Kc2 Nc4= - 105/20
15...Qd2+
15...Ne3+? 16.Kb3 Qd2 17.a3!± - 123/22
16.Kb3 Qxb2+ 17.Kxc4

17...Bg7!
17...Qxa1? 18.Qa5+ b6 19.Qxg5+ Be7 20.Qe5+-; 17...d5+ 18.Kd3 Bg7 19.Ne2! Bd7 (19...dxe4+?!
20.Ke3 Qxa1 21.Bg2 Qe5 22.Rc1±; 19...Qxa1 20.Bg2 Qe5 (20...Bd7? 21.Qa5+ b6 22.Nxb6 dxe4+
23.Bxe4 Qe5 24.Qxa7 Qd6+ 25.Ke3 f5 26.Nxd7 Qxd7 27.Rd1! Qxd1 28.Qxg7+-) 21.Qxa7 Bd7
22.Ke3 (22.Qa5+ Ke7 23.Qb4+ - 19...Bd7) 22...f5 23.Nb6 Bc6 24.Rc1 ∆ Rc6) 20.Qxa7 Qxa1
21.Bg2 Qe5 (21...Bb5+ 22.Ke3 Qb2 23.Qb6+ Ke7 24.Qxb7+ Kd8 25.Qb8+ Ke7 26.Qc7+ Ke8
27.Re1 Qa3+ 28.Kf2 Bxe2 29.Rxe2 Bd4+ 30.Kf1 Qxa8 31.exd5±) 22.Qb6+ Ke7 23.Qb4+ Qd6
24.Qxd6+ Kxd6 25.Nb6 Bb5+ (25...dxe4+ 26.Ke3²) 26.Ke3 dxe4 27.Bxe4 f5 28.Bc2²
18.Qa5+
18.e5?? Bxe5 19.Qa5+ b6 20.Qxe5 Ba6+ 21.Kd4 Qf2+ 22.Qe3 e5+-+; 18.Qb3? Qxa1 19.Bg2
Qxc3+! 20.Qxc3 b5+ 21.Kd3 Bxc3 22.Kxc3 Bb7µ
18...b6 19.Qxg5+ f6 20.Qb5™

385
20.Qxg7?? Ba6+ 21.Kd4 Qf2#; 20.Qc1?? Ba6+ 21.Kd4 Qf2+ 22.Qe3 e5+-+
20...Ba6!
20...Qa3? 21.Rd1! Ba6 (21...f5 22.e5+-) 22.Rxd7+ Kc8 23.Qxa6+ Qxa6+ 24.Kb3 Qa5 25.Rxg7+-
21.Qxa6 f5 22.Qxa7
22.Nb5?? Qc2+ 23.Kb4 Bf8+; 22.Rd1 Qxc3+ 23.Kb5 Qc5+ 24.Ka4 Qc2+=; 22.Rb1 Qxc3+ 23.Kb5
Qc5+ 24.Ka4 Qc2+ 25.Rb3 Qxa2+ 26.Kb4 Bf8+ 27.Kc3 Bg7+=; 22.e5!? Bxe5 23.Nb5 Qc2+
24.Kb4 Qb2+ 25.Kc4 (25.Ka4? Qxa1 26.Bc4 Qxh1 27.Qxa7 Ke7 28.Nxb6 Qc6µ) 25...Qc2+
26.Kb4 Qb2+ (26...Bxa1!? 27.Bc4 Qd2+ 28.Ka3 Qb2+ 29.Ka4 Qc2+ 30.Bb3 Qe4+ 31.Ka3 Qxh1
32.Qxa7 Qc6 33.Nxb6 Ke7 34.Kb4 Rf8∞) 27.Kc4 Qxa1 28.Nxb6 Qc1+ (28...axb6 29.Qa8+ Ke7
30.Qa3+! d6 31.Bg2 Rc8+ 32.Kd3±) 29.Kd3 Qd1+ 30.Ke3 f4+! 31.gxf4 Bxf4+ 32.Kxf4 Rf8+
33.Ke3 Qc1+ (33...Qe1+? 34.Be2+-) 34.Kd3 Qd1+=
22...Qxc3+ 23.Kb5 Qc6+

386
24.Kb4N
24.Ka6 Qa4+ 25.Kb7 Qc6+=
24...Qc3+= 25.Kb5 Qc6+ 26.Kb4 Qc3+ 27.Kb5 1/2-1/2

13. A36
Dardha, Daniel (2468) - Nguyen, Thai Dai Van (2571)
Bad Wiessee 146/13, 2020

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.a3 b6 6.d3 Bb7 7.Bg5 h6N
7...Qc8 - 49/55
8.Bd2 e6 9.b4 Nge7 10.Rb1 d6
10...cxb4 11.axb4 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.b5 Na5∞
11.Qc1?!
11.b5 Na5 12.Nf3 O-O 13.O-O (13.Qc1 g5) 13...Qd7 14.Qc1 Kh7∞
11...Qd7 12.Nf3 Nd4 13.e4 f5ƒ 14.Qd1 O-O 15.O-O fxe4 16.dxe4

387
16...Rac8
16...Nxf3+!? 17.Bxf3 Nc6 (17...cxb4 18.axb4 Rac8 19.Be2∞) 18.b5 Ne5 19.Be2 g5ƒ
17.b5 Kh7 18.Re1 Rf7 19.Re3 Rcf8 20.Be1 g5 21.Rd3 Nxf3+
21...Rxf3!? 22.Bxf3 Ng6 23.Bg2 Ne5 24.Rxd4 cxd4 25.Ne2 d3 26.Nd4 g4µ
22.Bxf3 Bd4 23.Bh5 Rf6
23...Ng6! 24.Rxd4 cxd4 25.Qxd4 Ne5µ
24.Rxd4! cxd4 25.Qxd4 e5 26.Qd1© Qc7 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.cxd5 Qg7 29.Rc1 Rc8?!

388
29...Bc8 30.Rc6 g4 31.Qc1 Qg5! 32.Rc7+ Kh8 33.Rxc8 Qxh5 34.Rxf8+ Rxf8 35.Qc7 Qg6! 36.Bb4
Qxe4 37.Qxd6 Qb1+ 38.Kg2 Qe4+=
30.Rc6! Bxc6 31.bxc6 Rcf8 32.Bg4
32.Qe2! Kh8 33.Kg2±
32...Qc7?
32...Qf7 33.Qe2 (33.Bf5+? Rxf5 34.exf5 Qxf5-+) 33...b5 34.Bh5 (34.Qxb5?? Rxf2-+) 34...Qc7
35.Qxb5 Rb8 36.Qe2 Rb1 37.Kg2 Qb6 38.Qg4 Rxe1 39.Qd7+=
33.Bf5+± Kg7

33...Rxf5 34.exf5 Rxf5 35.Qd3 Kg6 36.g4+-

34.Qd3
34.h4! Rxf5 35.exf5 Rxf5 36.Qg4+-
34...Kf7 35.a4 Ke7 36.Bb4 h5? 37.Bd2 Rg8 38.Qe2 g4 39.h4! Rxf5 40.exf5 Qc8 41.Bg5+ Kf7
42.Qe4 Rh8 43.Qb4 Qb8 44.Qb5 Qc8 45.a5 Qc7 46.axb6 axb6
46...Qxb6 47.Qa4+-
47.Kg2 Ra8 48.Qb1 Rh8 49.f6 Qb8 50.Bd2 Kxf6 51.Bg5+ Kg7 52.Qf5 Qf8 53.Qd7+ Kg6
54.Qe6+ Kg7 55.c7 Qf3+ 56.Kg1 1-0

14. ** A40
Baldauf, Marco (2503) - Meier, Georg (2622)
Deutschland 146/14, 2020

389
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Bd3 Ba6
6...Nc6 7.Nf3

(7.Ne2 dxe4 8.Bxe4 Bb7 9.Nbc3 Nf6 10.Bf3 O-O 11.O-O² - 134/15) 7...dxe4N (7...Nge7?! 8.Nc3²)
8.Bxe4 Bb7 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Bxc6+ (10.Bc2 O-O 11.O-O-O Nb4 12.Bb1 c5∞) 10...Bxc6 11.Ne5 Bb7
12.O-O-O O-O 13.h4∞ Bluebaum,M (2647)-Grischuk,A (2777) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/ (14) 2020
7.Na3
7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3 Ne7

(8...Bxd3 9.Qxd3 dxe4 10.Nxe4) 9.e5N (9.Nge2) 9...c5 10.f4 O-O 11.Nf3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nbc6

390
13.O-O² Thybo,J (2574)-Vallejo Pons,F (2694) Deutschland 146/(14) 2020
7...dxc4 8.Bxc4

8...Nf6N
8...Bxc4 9.Nxc4²
9.f3 O-O 10.Ne2 Qe7 11.Rc1 Rd8 12.Qe3 Qb4+
12...c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.O-O Nd7 16.Nc4 Nb6 17.a3²; 12...Ne8!?
13.Kf2
13.Qc3 Qxc3+ (13...Qe7 14.b4²) 14.Rxc3²
13...Bb7 14.g4

391
14...Bxe4?!
14...c5
15.g5 Ng4+ 16.fxg4 Bxh1 17.Rxh1 Nc6 18.Qe4 Qxb2 19.Nb5 Nb4 20.h4 c6 21.g6?!
21.Rb1 Qc2 (21...Qd2 22.Nc3 Nd5 23.Rc1²) 22.Qxc2 Nxc2 23.Bd3 cxb5 24.Bxc2 Rac8 25.Be4²
21...cxb5 22.gxf7+ Kf8 23.Bb3?
23.Bxe6 Qc2 24.Qxc2 Nxc2 25.d5 Nb4 26.Nf4 Rac8! (26...Nxa2? 27.g5+- Ke7 (27...b4 28.g6 h6
29.Bg4+-) 28.h5 b4 29.Re1 Kd6 30.Bf5+-) 27.g5 Rc4 28.Kf3 Rxf4+ 29.Kxf4 Nxd5+ 30.Ke5 Nb4
31.h5∞
23...Nd5?
23...Nxa2 24.Bxa2 (24.Rb1 Nc3!-+) 24...Qxa2 25.Qxh7 (25.Rh3 Qd5 26.Qxh7 Rd7! 27.Qg8+ Ke7
28.Qxg7 Rf8 29.Nf4 Qa2+ 30.Kg1 Qa1+ 31.Kh2 Qb2+ 32.Ng2 Qxd4-+) 25...Ke7! (25...Kxf7?
26.Rf1 Rg8 27.Qh5+ Ke7 28.Qg5+ Kd6 29.Qf4+ Kd7 30.Qf7+ Kd6=) 26.Qxg7 (26.Rc1 Rf8-+)
26...Rf8 27.Qg5+ Kxf7-+
24.Rc1?

392
24.Bxd5 exd5 (24...Rxd5 25.Rh3! Rc8 (25...Ke7 26.Re3+-) 26.Qxh7 Kxf7 27.Rf3+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+
Kd6 29.Rf7+-) 25.Qxh7 Kxf7 26.Rf1 Rf8 27.Kg3+ Ke6 28.Qg6+ Rf6 29.Rxf6+ gxf6 30.Nf4+ Kd7
31.Qf7+ Kc8 32.Qe6+ Kb7 33.Qxd5+ Kb8 34.Ne6±
24...Rd7!-+ 25.Qxe6
25.Rc2 Qa3 26.Nf4 Rxf7 27.Qxe6 Rxf4+ 28.Kg3 Rf6 29.Qxd5 Qd6+ 30.Qxd6+ Rxd6-+
25...Nf4 26.Qe4 Qxe2+ 27.Qxe2 Nxe2 28.Kxe2 Rxd4 29.Kf3 a5 0-1

15. * A40
Jumabayev, Rinat (2654) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/15, 2020

1.d4 b6 2.c4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 Nf6 6.g3 exd5?

6...g6; 6...Bd6!? 7.Bg2 O-O 8.Nh3 Na6 9.b4

393
9...c5! 10.dxc6N (10.Nb5 Be5 11.Bf4! (11.Rb1 cxb4 12.axb4 Nc7³) 11...Bxa1 12.Qxa1©) 10...Bxc6
11.O-O Be5 12.Bxc6 dxc6 13.Qb3 Qe8∞ Korobov,A (2688) -Ponomariov,R (2631) chess. com (Int.-
rapid) 146/(15) 2020
6...Na6 - 103/42
7.cxd5 g6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.Nh3 O-O 10.O-O

10...a5N
10...Qe8
11.Be3 Na6 12.Bd4 h6 13.Nf4 Qe8 14.h4 g5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Nh3 Qg6 17.f4?!

394
17.d6!±
17...g4?
17...gxf4 18.Nxf4 Qxg3 19.Rf3 Qg5 20.e3²
18.Ng5 Rae8 19.b4?
19.d6! Bxg2 20.Kxg2+-
19...Nh5! 20.Kf2?
20.Bxg7 Qxg7 21.Qd3 axb4 22.axb4 Nxb4 23.Qc4 Re3 24.Rac1 Ba6 25.Qxb4 Rxg3 26.Rf2±
20...axb4 21.axb4 Nxb4 22.Ra7?

22.Bxg7 Qxg7 23.Qd2 Nc2 24.Ra4 Nxg3! 25.Rc1 (25.Qxc2 b5 26.Rb4 Nxf1 27.Kxf1 c5∞) 25...b5!
26.Rxc2 (26.Ra7? Nd4µ) 26...Nh1+ 27.Bxh1 bxa4 28.Bg2²
22...Nc2
22...Ba6! 23.Rxa6 (23.Bxg7? Qxg7 24.Rxc7 Nd3+-+) 23...Nxa6 24.d6 Bxd4+ 25.Qxd4 c6 26.Bxc6!
(26.Qc4+ Kg7 27.Qxa6 Nxf4! 28.gxf4 Qxd6 29.Qxb6 (29.Qc4 b5µ) 29...Qxf4+ 30.Nf3 gxf3
31.Bxf3 Rh8³) 26...dxc6 27.d7 Rd8 28.Qc4+ Kh8 29.Qxa6 Rxd7 30.Qxb6∞
23.Bxg7 Qxg7 24.Qxc2 Qd4+ 25.Ke1 Nxg3 26.Rxb7

395
26.Qd2 Qxd2+ 27.Kxd2 Nxf1+ 28.Bxf1 Rb8 29.e4ƒ
26...Nxf1
26...Re3! 27.Qd2 Qxc3 28.Qxc3 Rxc3 29.Kd2 (29.d6 Nxf1 30.Kxf1 Kg7∞) 29...Ra3 30.Rc1 Re8
31.Bf1 Ra2+ 32.Kd3 Ra3+ 33.Kd2 Ra2+=
27.Kxf1?
27.Bxf1 Qxf4 28.Qd2 Re3 29.d6! Qg3+ (29...Ra8 30.Qd5+ Kg7 (30...Kh8 31.Qh1++-) 31.Qf7+
Kh6 32.Qf6+ Kh5 33.Nd5 Qg3+ 34.Kd1 Qe5 35.Qxe5 Rxe5 36.Bg2 Kxg5 37.dxc7±) 30.Kd1 Rxc3
31.dxc7 Qe3 32.Qxe3 Rxe3 33.Bg2±
27...Qxf4+ 28.Nf3?
28.Ke1 Qxg5 29.d6 cxd6 30.Rxd7 Qe3 31.Nd5 Qg1+ 32.Bf1 Qg3+ 33.Kd1 Qe5 34.Qc6∞
28...Ra8
¹28...gxf3 29.Bxf3 Rf6³
29.Nd1
29.Na2 gxf3 30.Bxf3 Rfc8 (30...Kf7 31.Rxc7 Rh8 32.Rxd7+ Kf8 33.Ke1 Qh4+ 34.Kd1 Qd4+
35.Ke1=) 31.d6 Qxd6 (31...cxd6 32.Qb2∞) 32.Qxf5 Ra5 33.Qg4+ Kf8 34.Nb4∞
29...Ra1

396
30.Qd3?
30.d6! gxf3 31.Bxf3 Qxd6 32.e3 Rc8 33.Qb3+ Kf8 34.Bh5 Qf6³
30...gxf3 31.Bxf3 Rf6-+ 32.Rb8+ Kf7?
32...Kh7! 33.Rd8 (33.Re8 c5! 34.Re7+ Kh6 35.Ke1 Rg6-+) 33...Rh6 34.Rxd7+ Kg6 35.Ke1 Qh4+
36.Kd2 (36.Kf1 Qa4-+) 36...Rxd1+ 37.Kxd1 Qa4+ 38.Kd2 Qxd7-+
33.d6?
33.Rh8! Kg7 (33...b5!? 34.Ke1∞) 34.Rh5 Rh6 (34...Qa4 35.e3∞) 35.Qc3+ Kg8 36.Qxa1 Rxh5
37.Qf6∞
33...Rxd6 34.Qb3+ Ke7 0-1

16. A46
Karjakin, Sergey (2752) - Korobov, Anton (2687)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/16, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.Nd2 h6 4.Bh4 d6

4...c5 - 132/29
5.e4 Nbd7 6.c3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.f4 Be7 9.Ngf3
9.Qe2! O-O 10.Ngf3 (10.O-O-O c5 11.Ngf3 b5!? 12.Bxb5 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5∞; 10.Nh3!?)
10...Nh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.g3 e5 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.O-O∞ (14.O-O-O!?)
9...Nh5
9...g5! 10.Bg3 (10.fxg5 Nh5³) 10...Nh5 11.Qe2 Nxf4 12.Bxf4 gxf4 13.O-O-O Rg8ƒ

397
10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.g3

11...e5N
11...g5!?
12.fxe5 dxe5 13.d5
13.O-O Nhf6 14.Nh4 g6 15.Qb3 O-O-O∞; 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 O-O-O! 15.Qe2 (15.Be2?? Nf4!-
+) 15...Qxe5 16.Nf3 Qc5 17.O-O-O∞
13...Nhf6 14.Qe2 O-O 15.c4 c6 16.O-O Nc5 17.Rac1?!
17.Nh4 g6 18.Rf2 Bc8!∞
17...a5 18.Bb1 cxd5

398
19.exd5?
19.cxd5 Ba6 20.Nc4 Rfc8 21.Nfd2 Ne8∞
19...e4µ 20.Nd4 Rfe8?
20...Rae8 21.Rf4 Qe5 22.Qe3 (22.Nf5 Bc8µ) 22...Bc8µ
21.Rf4 Rad8 22.Rcf1 Qe5 23.Qe3?

23.Nf5 Bc8 24.Nxh6+ (24.Nxg7 Nxd5 25.cxd5 (25.Rxf7 Qd4+ 26.Kh1 Rf8 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.cxd5
Rxf1+ 29.Nxf1 Kxg7∞) 25...Qxg7 26.Rxf7 Qd4+ 27.Kg2 Qxd5∞) 24...Kf8 25.Qe3 (25.Nxe4 Bh3

399
26.Qd2 Ncxe4 (26...Bxf1? 27.Nxf6 gxf6 28.Kxf1+-) 27.Rxe4 Qc7∞) 25...Rd6 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.Rxf5
Qxb2∞
23...Rxd5! 24.cxd5
24.Nf5 Rd7 25.Nxg7 Kxg7 26.Rxf6 Qg5 27.R1f4 Ne6 28.R6f5 Qg6 29.Rf6 (29.Qc3+ Kg8-+)
29...Nxf4 30.Rxg6+ Nxg6µ
24...Nxd5 25.Nc4 Nxe3 26.Nxe5 Nxf1 27.Nxf7 Nd2 28.Nd6 Rd8 29.N4b5 Nxb1 30.Nxb7 Nxb7
0-1

17. A47
Indjic, Aleksandar (2618) - Ivanisevic, Ivan (2604)
Srbija 146/17, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.h3 d6

5...Be7 6.Nbd2 - 87/34
6.Be2 Nbd7 7.Bh2

7...g5!?N
7...g6
8.c4
8.Nxg5! Rg8 (8...Bxg2 9.Rg1 Bb7 10.Bf3²) 9.Bf3 Bxf3 10.Nxf3 Rxg2 11.Nbd2 Rg8 12.Qe2²
8...Ne4 9.Nbd2 Bg7 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Qc2 a5
12...f5 13.O-O-O Qf6∞

400
13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 h6?!
14...O-O 15.g4 (15.h4?! Nf6 16.Qc2 g4 17.Ng5 Re8 18.O-O-O h6 19.Ne4 a4³) 15...Re8 16.h4 gxh4
17.g5 Nf8 18.Qxh4 e5„
15.h4! a4 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.Nxg5 Ra5 18.f4?!

18.Nh3! b5 (18...a3 19.b3±) 19.cxb5 Rxb5 20.O-O Rxb2 21.Rfc1±

18...d5! 19.cxd5
19.Qc2 Nf6 20.O-O-O dxc4 21.Qxc4∞
19...Nf6 20.Qc2?
20.Qd3 Qxd5 21.e4 (21.Qe2 a3³) 21...Qb5 22.O-O-O Ng4 23.Nh3 (23.Qxb5+ Rxb5 24.Nh3 Rbh5³)
23...Qc6+ 24.Kb1 a3³; 20.Qf3 Qxd5 21.Rc1 Qxf3 22.Nxf3 Rb5³
20...Nxd5 21.Kf2

401
21...c5?
21...Nxe3 22.Kxe3 Qxd4+ 23.Kf3 Rc5 24.Qe4 a3 (24...Qxb2 25.Rad1 (25.Bg1 Rxh1 26.Bxc5 Qc3+
27.Ke2 Qb2+=) 25...Rc3+ 26.Rd3 Rxd3+ 27.Qxd3 Bd4 28.Nh3 Rxh3+ 29.gxh3 Qf2+ 30.Kg4 Qg2+
31.Bg3 f5+ 32.Kg5 Kf7 33.Qxd4 Qxg3+ 34.Kh5 Qf3+=) 25.Qxd4 (25.Rad1 Qxe4+ 26.Nxe4 Rd5
27.Rxd5 exd5 28.Nd2 axb2³) 25...Bxd4 26.Rab1 axb2 27.Ke2 Ke7 28.Nf3 Bf6ƒ; 21...a3! 22.Nf3
(22.b3 Nxe3! 23.Kxe3 Qxd4+ 24.Kf3 (24.Ke2 Rc5-+) 24...Rc5-+; 22.Qc6+ Kf8 23.b4 Nxe3!
24.Kxe3 Rxg5 25.fxg5 Qxd4+ 26.Ke2 Qg4+-+) 22...axb2 23.Qxb2 Nf6µ
22.Bg3

22...cxd4??

402
22...Rxh1 23.Rxh1 a3 (23...cxd4 24.e4 Qc7 25.Qxc7 Nxc7 26.f5 Na6 27.Rh7∞) 24.b4! (24.Qh7 Kf8
25.Qh5 Ra7 26.bxa3 (26.Bh4 Qd6µ) 26...cxd4 27.Nxe6+ fxe6 28.Qh8+ Bxh8 29.Rxh8+ Kf7
30.Rxd8 dxe3+ 31.Kf3 Rxa3³) 24...cxb4 25.Rc1 Nc3 26.Ne4 Bxd4 (26...Nxe4+ 27.Qxe4 Qd5
28.Qh7 Qxa2+ 29.Rc2 Qxc2+ 30.Qxc2 a2 31.Qc8+ Ke7 32.Qb7+=) 27.exd4 Qxd4+ 28.Kf3 Qd5
29.Ke3 Qxa2 30.Qd3 (30.Nxc3 Qxc2 31.Rxc2 bxc3 32.Rc1 b5 33.Kd3 b4∞) 30...Nd5+ 31.Kf3∞
23.Rxh8+ Bxh8 24.Qh7 dxe3+ 25.Kf3 Kd7
25...Qf6 26.Qg8+ Ke7 27.Rh1 Bg7 28.Rh7+-
26.Nxf7 Qe7 27.Bh4 Bf6 28.Bxf6 Qxf6
28...Nxf6 29.Ne5+ Rxe5 30.Qxe7+ Kxe7 31.fxe5+-
29.Ne5+ Ke8 30.Qd7+ Kf8 31.g3 Ne7 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Rh1 Ng8 34.Qd3 1-0

18. A47
Budisavljevic, Luka (2454) - Ivanisevic, Ivan (2604)
Srbija 146/18, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d6 6.Qe2

6.Nbd2 - 140/23
6...Nd5!?N
6...Nbd7
7.Bg5 f6 8.Bh4 Nb4 9.Bb5+ c6 10.Bc4 d5 11.Bb3 a5 12.Nc3 b5 13.a4
13.a3! a4 14.axb4 axb3 (14...Bxb4 15.Ne5! O-O 16.Nd3 axb3 17.Rxa8 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 b2 (18...Bxa8

403
19.cxb3±) 19.Nxb2 Bxa8 20.Bg3²) 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.Ne5! bxc2 17.O-O g6 18.Nd3²
13...bxa4 14.Nxa4 Ba6 15.c4 Be7 16.O-O O-O 17.e4 Nd7 18.Rfe1 Rf7! 19.exd5 exd5
19...cxd5!? 20.Rac1 (20.Qxe6 dxc4 21.Bd1 (21.Bxc4? Bxc4 22.Qxc4 Rc8 23.Qe6 Nc2µ) 21...Nd3
22.Re3 Nf8 23.Qb6 Ng6ƒ) 20...Nf8 21.Qd1 dxc4 22.Bxc4 Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Rc8∞
20.Nd2 Nf8
20...g5!? 21.Bg3 f5∞
21.Qf3?!
21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Ng6 23.Bg3²
21...Ng6 22.Bg3 f5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Nc3 Bb7 25.Be5 Bg5 26.Nf1 Nh4 27.Qh5
27.Qe2 f4 28.Nd2 f3 29.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 30.gxf3 Ba6ƒ
27...g6 28.Qd1 f4 29.f3 Bh6 30.Kh1

30...Ba6
30...Bf8! 31.Nd2 Nf5 32.Nde4 Ne3 33.Qd2 dxe4 34.Bxf7+ Kxf7 35.Nxe4 Bxe4 36.fxe4 Bd6µ
31.Qd2?!
31.Nd2 Nf5 32.Nde4! dxe4 33.Nxe4 (33.Bxf7+ Kxf7 34.Qb3+ Kf8 35.Nxe4∞) 33...Ra7 34.Nf6+
Kf8 35.Bxf7 Rxf7 36.Qa4∞
31...Rc8?!
31...g5³; 31...Nf5³

404
32.Ra4?
32.Nxd5!? Nxd5 33.Qxa5 Bb7 34.Nd2 (34.Rec1 Ra8 35.Qxd8+ Rxd8 36.Bc7 Rc8 37.Ra7 Rcxc7
38.Rxc7 Rxc7 39.Bxd5+ Bxd5 40.Rxc7 Nf5∞) 34...Nf5 35.Ne4 Bg7 36.Nc5 Qxa5 (36...Nfe3
37.Qxd8+ Rxd8 38.Ne6 Rc8 39.Bxg7 Rxg7 40.Nxg7 Kxg7∞) 37.Rxa5 Bc6 38.Nd3∞; 32.Ng3!?
32...Nf5

33.Rea1?
33.Rxb4 axb4 34.Nxd5 Bc4 35.Bxc4 Rxc4µ; 33.Rd1 Ne3 34.Nxe3 fxe3 35.Qe1 e2 (35...Bc4
36.Bxc4 dxc4) 36.Nxe2 Nd3 37.Qxa5! Nf2+ 38.Kg1 Bxe2 (38...Nh3+ 39.gxh3 Qxa5 40.Rxa5 Bxe2
41.Rda1 Be3+ 42.Kg2 Bxf3+ 43.Kg3∞) 39.Qxd8+ Rxd8 40.Kxf2 Bxd1 41.Bxd1∞
33...Ne3 34.Rxb4
34.Nxe3 fxe3 35.Qd1 Nd3-+
34...Bxf1 35.Nxd5 Bxg2+ 36.Qxg2
36.Kg1 Nxd5-+
36...Nxg2 37.Rb6
37.Nf6+ Kf8 38.Bxf7 axb4 39.Ra7 Qe7 40.Rxe7 Kxe7-+
37...Ne3 38.Nf6+ Kf8 39.Bd6+ Kg7 40.Be5 Rxf6 41.Rxf6 Qxf6 42.Kg1 Qxe5 0-1

19. A49
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger 146/19, 2020

405
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nb3 Nc6 8.Nc3 e6 9.e4 O-O
10.exd5 Nxd5
10...exd5 - 141/(19)
11.Ne4 Ne5

12.h4N
12.Nd4 Qb6 13.a4!? Nc4 14.Qe2! Qxd4 15.Rd1 Qe5 16.Qxc4²
12...h6 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Rd1 a5 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.a4 Rad8 17.Ra3!? Nc4 18.Rad3 Ne5 19.Ra3
19.R3d2 f5 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Kh7 22.h5 g5 23.Nb5 Bxb5 24.Qxb5 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Qxc3 26.Qb3
Qxb3 27.cxb3 Rc8 28.Bb2 Nf7 (28...b6 29.Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Rd7+ Kg8 31.Re7=) 29.Rd7 Kg8 30.Bxg7
Kxg7 31.Rxb7 Rc1+ 32.Kh2 g4∞
19...Rfe8
19...Nc4 20.Rad3=
20.Nc3?!
20.Nb5 Bxb5 21.axb5 b6∞
20...Qc4! 21.Nxd5 exd5 22.Qd2?

406
22.Qxc4 Nxc4 23.Rad3 Bxa4 24.b3 Ne5 25.Rc3 Bd7³
22...Bg4
¹22...Qc5! 23.Re3 (23.Qf4 g5! 24.hxg5 Ng6 25.Nb3 Qxa3 26.bxa3 Nxf4 27.Bxf4 Bg4 28.Rxd5
Re1+ 29.Kh2 Rxd5 30.Bxd5 hxg5 31.Be3 (31.Bxg5 Re5-+) 31...Bc3 32.Bxb7 Bf5-+) 23...Bxa4µ
23.f3 Bd7 24.Bf1 Qc5 25.Qf2 Nc4 26.Rad3 Re7 27.b3 Ne5 28.R3d2 Rde8 29.Bb2
29.Kg2!?
29...g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Ba1 Qb6 32.Kg2
32.Bb5 Qd6 33.g4!? ∆Ng6 34.Bxd7 Qxd7 35.Nf5 Bxa1 36.Nxe7+ Qxe7 37.Rxa1 Nf4 38.Kf1 Qf6
39.Re1 Re6©
32...Qg6
32...Qh6 33.Be2 Qh3+ 34.Kg1 f5 35.Nb5 f4 36.gxf4 Ng6 37.Bf1 Qh5 38.Rxd5 Nh4 39.Rxd7 Nxf3+
40.Kg2 Nh4+

407
41.Kh1! Bxa1 42.Qg3! (42.Rxe7? Rxe7 43.Rxa1 Nf3+ 44.Kg2 Qh2+ 45.Kxf3 g4+ 46.Kxg4 Qxf2-
+) 42...Nf3+ (42...Rxd7 43.Rxd7 Re1 44.Kg1 (44.Rd8+ Kf7 45.Rd7+ Kf8 46.Rd8+ Kf7=)
44...Bf6∞) 43.Qh3 Qxh3+ 44.Bxh3 Rxd7 45.Rxd7 gxf4∞
33.Kg1 Qb6 34.Kg2 Qg6 35.Kg1 Qb6 36.Kg2 1/2-1/2

408
A50-A99

20. A50
Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2726) - Dubov, Daniil (2699)
chess.com (Int.-m/7-blitz) 146/20, 2020

1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 b6 5.O-O Bb7 6.c4 O-O 7.d5 Na6 8.Nc3 Nc5 9.Nd4 e5
10.Nb3
10.Nc2 - 115/23
10...d6 11.e4

11...a5N
11...Ne8
12.Be3?!
12.Nxc5 bxc5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Bc8 15.h3 Bd7 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.a4∞
12...Bc8 13.f3
13.h3 Ncxe4!? (13...Nh5 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.b3 Bd7; 13...Nfd7∞) 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 a4 16.Nd2
(16.Nc1 f5 17.Bg2 f4 18.Bd2 a3©) 16...f5 17.Bg2 f4 18.Qe2 fxe3 19.Qxe3∞
13...Nh5 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.Qd2?
15.Bd2 f5 (15...Bd7 16.a4 f5 17.Nb5 f4 18.g4 Nf6 19.Qe1 Ne8 20.Bxa5 Bf6©) 16.exf5 gxf5 17.f4

409
Qe8 18.Bf3 Nf6 19.fxe5 dxe5∞
15...Bd7 16.b3 f5 17.Bg5
17.exf5 gxf5 18.f4 e4³; 17.Bf2 f4 18.g4 Nf6 19.h3 g5³
17...Qe8 18.Rab1 f4 19.g4 Nf6 20.a3 h6 21.Bh4 g5 22.Bf2 h5 23.h3 hxg4 24.hxg4

24...Nxg4! 25.fxg4 Bxg4 26.Qd3

26.Be1 Qh5 27.Bh1 Kf7 28.Rf2 Rh8 29.Rh2 Qg6 30.Rb2 Rxh2 31.Qxh2 Rh8 32.Qf2 Bd7 33.Ne2 g4
34.Bxa5 (34.b4 cxb4 35.axb4 a4-+) 34...g3-+
26...Qh5 27.Rfe1 f3
27...Rf6! 28.Rb2 Rh6-+
28.Bf1
28.Bh1 Rf6 29.Bg3 f2+ 30.Bxf2 Rxf2-+
28...Bh3 29.Bg3 Rf4 30.Kf2
30.Nd1 Raf8 31.Nf2 Bd7 32.Rb2 (32.b4 cxb4 33.axb4 axb4 34.Rxb4 Bh6 35.Reb1 g4 36.Rb8 Rf6
37.Rxf8+ Rxf8 38.Rb2 Bf4 39.Nh1 Kg7-+) 32...Bh6 33.Nh1

410
33...Rh4! 34.Bxh4 gxh4 35.Nf2 (35.Re3 Qg4+ 36.Kf2 Bxe3+ 37.Qxe3 Rf4-+) 35...Qg6+ 36.Kh1
Qg3 37.Qd1 Kh7-+
30...Raf8?
30...Rg4! 31.Re3 (31.Qxf3 Rf8-+) 31...Rxg3 32.Kxg3 Qh4+ 33.Kxf3 Rf8+ 34.Ke2 Rf2+-+
31.Bxh3 Qxh3 32.Rg1?
32.Qf1 Qg4 33.Qd3 Qh3 34.Qf1=
32...Rg4 33.Qf1

411
33...Rxg3! 34.Qxh3
34.Rxg3 Qh2+-+
34...Rxh3 35.Rxg5 Kh7
35...Rh2+ 36.Kg1 Rd2-+
36.Rbg1 Rh2+ 37.Kg3 Rc2 38.Nd1 Bh6 39.Rg4 Bf4+ 40.Kh4 Rh2# 0-1

21. * A57
Naumkin, Igor (2329) - Basso, Pier Luigi (2561)
Novi Sad 146/21, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 a6 4.Nc3 b5 5.cxb5 axb5 6.Nxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Ne4
7...Bb7 - 45/78
8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.bxc3
9.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 10.bxc3 g6 11.a4 Bg7 12.Ra3 f5! 13.Nh3 Na6 14.Nf4 Nc7©; 9.Bd2 Qa4 10.Qxc3
Na6 11.b3 Qe4 12.Qf3 Qxf3 13.Nxf3 Nb4 14.Bxb4 (14.Rc1 d6©) 14...cxb4 15.e4 g6 16.Rc1 Bg7
17.Rc2 O-O©
9...g6 10.Nf3
10.a4 Bg7 11.Ra3 O-O 12.e4 e6 13.dxe6 (13.Bb5 exd5 14.exd5 Bb7 15.Qd3 Na6©) 13...fxe6 14.Nf3
Nc6©; 10.e4
10...Bg7 11.Bd2

11...O-ON

412
11...d6 - 146/(21) 12.e4 O-O

13.c4? (13.a4 Bd7 14.Bc4 Bxa4 15.Qc1 Nd7 16.O-O Rfb8=) 13...Qa3 14.Rb1 Bg4 15.Bd3 Bxf3
16.gxf3 Nd7 17.O-O Ne5 18.Rb3 Qxa2 19.Qd1 Qxd2 0-1 (19) Barrionuevo,P (2259)-Ermolaev,E
(2289) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(21) 2020
12.e4
12.a4 e6©
12...Qa4 13.Qxa4
13.Bd3 Qxc2 14.Bxc2 Ra3 15.O-O Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Rxc3 17.Rfc1 d6∞
13...Rxa4 14.Bd3 Ba6 15.Bc2 Ra3 16.h4?!
16.O-O-O!? d6 (16...Bxc3?! 17.Bxc3 Rxc3 18.a4 d6 19.Kd2 Ra3 20.Ra1 Rxa1 21.Rxa1²) 17.Kb2
Ra5 18.a4 Nd7 19.Ra1 Rb8+ 20.Kc1 Bb5³
16...Rxc3 17.Rc1 Ra3 18.Bb1 d6 19.Rh3 Bc8 20.Rg3

413
20...f5!?
20...Nd7 21.Ng5 Rxg3 22.fxg3 Ne5µ
21.Ng5
21.exf5 Bxf5 22.h5 Nd7 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Bxf5 Rxf5 25.Rxg6 Kf8 26.Rg5 Rxg5 27.Nxg5 Rxa2
28.Ne6+ Kf7µ
21...Rxg3 22.fxg3 fxe4 23.Bxe4 Ba6 24.Bf4 Nd7 25.h5
25.Ne6 Rb8 26.Nxg7 Kxg7µ
25...gxh5 26.Bxh7+ Kh8 27.Bg6

414
27...Nf6
27...Ra8! 28.Ne6 Ne5 29.Nc7 Rg8 30.Nxa6 (30.Bxe5 Bxe5 31.Bxh5 Bxg3+ 32.Kd1 Bd3µ)
30...Nxg6µ
28.Nf7+?!
28.Ne6 Ra8 (28...Rc8 29.Bf5 Rg8 30.Nc7³) 29.Nc7 Ra7 30.Nxa6 Rxa6 31.Rb1 Bf8! 32.Rb2³
28...Kg8 29.Nh6+ Bxh6 30.Bxh6 Ra8 31.Bf5?
31.Rb1 Nxd5 32.Bxh5 Bc4µ
31...Bc8 0-1

22. A58
Yakimova, Mariya (2269) - Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina (2384)
Russia 146/22, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 O-O 8.e4 Qa5 9.Bd2 Bxa6 10.Be2
Qb4
10...Bxe2 - 141/23
11.Bxa6 Nxa6

415
12.e5N
12.Qe2 d6 (12...Qxb2 13.Rb1 Qa3 14.e5 Ne8 15.Rb3 Qa5 16.O-O d6∞) 13.Rb1 Rfb8 14.O-O Nd7∞
12...Ng4 13.Qe2 d6 14.e6?
14.exd6 exd6 15.O-O Qxb2 (15...Rfe8!?) 16.Rab1 Qc2 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Nc7 19.Nxd6 Rxa2∞
14...f5
14...Qxb2! 15.Rb1 Qc2 16.exf7+ Rxf7 17.O-O Nb4 18.Ne4 Qd3 19.Qxd3 Nxd3µ
15.O-O Nc7 16.a4
16.Bg5 Nf6 17.Rfd1 Rfb8 18.Rab1 Nb5 19.Nxb5 (19.Qd3 Qa5µ) 19...Qxb5 20.Qxb5 Rxb5 21.a3 h6
22.Bxf6 (22.Be3 g5µ) 22...Bxf6µ
16...Qb7 17.Bg5 Nxd5?!
17...Nf6! 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Rfd1 (19.a5 Rfb8 20.Ra2 Nxd5µ) 19...Rfb8 20.Ra2 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxd5µ
18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Bxe7 Rfe8 20.Bg5 Qxe6 21.Qd2 Ne5 22.Nxe5 dxe5?!
22...Qxe5 23.b3 Qd4 24.Rad1 Qxd2 25.Rxd2 Bd4ƒ
23.Be3 c4 24.Qe2 e4 25.Rfc1 Rec8 26.a5 Qd5
¹26...Qc6
27.a6 Qb5 28.a7 Qxb2 29.Qd1 Qb7 30.Ra5
30.Rab1 Qf7 31.g3 Rxa7 32.Bxa7 Qxa7∞
30...c3?

416
30...f4! 31.Bxf4 (31.Bc5 c3³) 31...Rxa7 32.Rxa7 Qxa7 33.Qd5+ Qf7 34.Qxe4 c3³
31.g3!± h6 32.h4
32.Rb1 Qf7 33.Qa4 (33.Qd6 Bf8 34.Qf4 g5! 35.Qxf5 Qxf5 36.Rxf5 c2 37.Ra1 Rd8∞) 33...Kh7
34.Kg2 g5
32...h5
32...Qf7 33.Qd6 Kh7 34.h5 g5 35.Rc5 Rd8 (35...Rxc5 36.Bxc5±) 36.Rc7! Qxh5 (36...Rxd6
37.Rxf7+-) 37.Rxg7+ Kxg7 38.Bd4+ Kg8 39.Qf6 Rxd4 40.Qxd4 Qf7

417
41.Rb1!! (41.Rxc3 e3!„) 41...c2 (41...Qxa7 42.Qd5+ Kh8 43.Rb7+-; 41...Rxa7 42.Rb8+ Kh7
43.Rh8+ Kg6 44.Qd6++-) 42.Rb8+ Kh7 43.Rxa8 c1=Q+ 44.Kg2+-
33.Rd5?
33.Rb1! Qf7 (33...Qe7 34.Qd5+ Kh8 35.Rb7 Qf8 36.Ra6+-; 33...Qc6 34.Rc5 Qa6 35.Rxc8+ Qxc8
36.Qd6+-) 34.Qd6 Bf8 (34...c2 35.Rb8+-; 34...f4 35.Bxf4+-) 35.Qf4 c2 36.Rb8+-
33...Rxa7! 34.Bxa7 Qxa7 35.Rd7 Rc7 36.Qd5+ Kh7 37.Rd6 Re7 38.Rc6 Qd7
38...e3?! 39.Qd6 exf2+ 40.Kg2 Kh8 41.Qxg6±; 38...Qa3 39.Re1∞
39.Rd6 Qe8 40.Rd8 Qf7
40...Qa4 41.Qc5 Rd7 42.Rxd7 Qxd7=
41.Qxf7 Rxf7 42.Rc8 f4 43.R1xc3 Bxc3 44.Rxc3= f3 45.Rc4 Re7 46.Kf1 g5 47.hxg5 Kg6 48.Rc5
Ra7 49.Ke1 Ra2 50.Re5 Re2+ 51.Kf1 Kf7 52.Kg1??
52.Rf5+ Kg6 53.Re5=
52...Re1+ 53.Kh2 Kg6-+ ʘ 54.Re6+
54.g4 hxg4 55.Kg3 Rg1+ 56.Kf4 g3-+
54...Kxg5 55.Re7 Kf5 56.Re8 Rf1 57.Rf8+ Ke5 58.Re8+ Kd4 59.Rd8+ Kc3 60.Rd5 Rxf2+ 61.Kh3
e3 0-1

23. A61
Donchenko, Alexander (2658) - Edouard, Romain (2645)
Bremen 146/23, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.Bf4 a6 8.a4 Bg7 9.h3 O-O 10.e3 Re8
11.Nd2 Nfd7 12.Be2 Ne5 13.O-O Nbd7 14.Bh2 f5 15.a5
15.Qc2 - 139/24
15...Rb8

418
16.Re1N
16.Qc2
16...Nf7 17.Bd3
17.Bf1; 17.Nc4 Nde5
17...Nde5 18.Bc2 b5 19.axb6 Rxb6 20.Rb1
20.Ra2 Rb4 21.e4 (21.Ne2 Bd7 22.Nf4 Qc8∞) 21...Rd4 22.exf5 Bh6 23.f4 Bxf4 24.Bxf4 Rxf4ƒ
20...Rb4 21.Na2 Rb8 22.Qe2 Bd7 23.Nc3 Bb5
23...g5 24.Qxa6 g4 (24...c4 25.Rec1 (25.Nxc4?? Ra8-+) 25...Qc7 26.Ra1 Rxb2 27.Rab1 Reb8
28.Rxb2 Rxb2∞) 25.hxg4 (25.Qf1 Ng5©) 25...Nxg4 26.Bf4 Rxb2 (26...Qh4 27.Bg3 Qh6©) 27.Rxb2
Bxc3 28.Reb1 Bxd2 29.Rb8 Qxb8 (29...Qe7?! 30.Qa7±) 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Bxd6 Nxd6 32.Qxd6 Rb2
33.Qxd7 Rxc2 34.Qe8+=
24.Nxb5 axb5 25.e4

419
25.b3
25...Nc4! 26.Nxc4 bxc4 27.Qxc4 Rb4 28.Qa6 fxe4 29.Bf4 1/2-1/2

24. A63
Kuzubov, Yuriy (2641) - Peng, Li Min (2428)
Ukraine (ch) 146/24, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 g6 6.Nc3 d6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Bf4
a6 11.a4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Rxe4 13.Nd2 Rb4 14.b3 a5
14...Bxa1 15.Qxa1 g5 16.Be3 Bf5 17.Nc4 (17.h4!? gxh4 18.Bh6 Rg4 (18...f6 19.e4 Bg6 20.Bh3©)
19.Bh3 Rg6 20.Bxf5 Rxh6 21.Ne4©) 17...Rxb3 18.Bd2 Bg6 19.Qa2 Rb4 20.e4©; 14...Rxf4 - 100/(36)
15.Ra2

420
15...b6N
15...b5?! 16.axb5 g5 17.Be3 Rxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Ra4±
16.Re1 Ba6?!
16...g5 17.Be3 h6 18.f4 (18.Nc4 Ba6 19.Qc2 Bxc4 20.bxc4 Nd7„) 18...Qe7 19.Bf2 gxf4 20.Nc4
Ba6 21.gxf4 Bxc4 22.bxc4 Rxc4 23.e4 Nd7„
17.Ne4 h6 18.Bd2 Rd4 19.Qc1
19.e3! Rd3 20.Qc2 f5 21.Bc3 Bxc3 22.Nxc3 Nd7 23.Nb5 Bxb5 24.axb5 c4 25.bxc4 Nc5±
19...Qe7 20.Nc3

421
20...Rb4
20...c4! 21.e3 (21.Be3 cxb3 22.Bxd4 bxa2 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Nxa2 Nd7∞) 21...Rd3 22.Bf1 (22.bxc4
Bxc4 23.Bf1 Rxc3 24.Bxc3 Bxc3 25.Bxc4 Bxe1 26.Qxe1 Nd7∞) 22...cxb3 23.Ra3 Nd7 24.Bxd3
Bxd3 25.Rxb3 Bc4 26.Ra3 Ne5©
21.Bxh6 Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Rxb3
22...Qe5 23.Nb1! (23.Qc1 Rxb3 24.Ne4 Nd7 25.f4 Qd4+! 26.Kh1 (26.e3 Qb4 27.Nxd6 c4 28.Ne4
c3µ) 26...Rd8 27.f5 Nf6 28.Nxf6+ Qxf6 29.fxg6 Qxg6³) 23...Rxb3 24.Nd2 Rb4 25.Nf3 Qg7 26.Qg5
Ra7! 27.e4 Nd7∞
23.Ne4 Nd7 24.h4
24.Ng5 Nf8 25.e4 Qe5 26.Nf3 (26.f4 Qd4+ 27.Kh1 Re8∞) 26...Qg7 27.Qf4 Rd8 28.g4!?∞
24...Rb4
24...Nf6! 25.Qg5 (25.Nd2 Rb4 26.e4 Re8³; 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6 26.h5 Re8 27.e4 Bd3³) 25...Kg7 26.h5
Rh8 27.g4 Rb4³
25.Ng5 Nf6 26.h5 Qf8
26...gxh5? 27.Ra3!+-
27.Qxf8+ Rxf8 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.e4 Re8 30.f4 Nxd5 31.e5
31.Rd2 Rd4 32.Rxd4 cxd4 33.e5 Nc3³
31...Rd4
31...Nf6 32.Bc6 Re7 33.Rd2 (33.exf6!? Rxe1+ 34.Kf2 Rf1+ 35.Kg2 Rd1 36.Bf3 Rdd4 37.Kh3∞;

422
33.Rae2 Ng4∞) 33...dxe5 34.Rxe5 (34.Rd6 Kg7 35.Ne6+ Kf7 36.Ng5+ Kg7=) 34...Rxe5 35.fxe5
Ng4 36.Rd8+ Kg7 37.Rd7+ Kh6 38.Nf7+ Kg7=
32.Bxd5+ Rxd5 33.Ne4
33.Rb2 dxe5 34.Rxb6 Bd3 35.Nf3 Bf5 36.Rxe5 Rexe5 37.Nxe5 g5=
33...Re6 34.Nf6+ Rxf6 35.exf6 Kf7 36.Rb2 Kxf6 37.Rxb6 Bd3 38.Rd1 Kf5 39.Kf2 Ke4 40.Re1+
Kd4 41.Re6 Kc3 42.Ke3
42.Rbxd6 Rxd6 43.Rxd6 Kd2 44.g4 c4 45.Rd5 c3 46.Rxa5 c2 47.Rc5 c1=Q 48.Rxc1 Kxc1 49.Ke3
Kc2 50.Kd4+-
42...Rd4 43.Rbxd6 Bf5

44.Rf6?
44.Rxg6 Re4+ 45.Kf3 Bxg6 46.Rxg6 Rxa4 47.f5 Ra1 48.g4+-
44...Rxa4 45.g4 Bxg4
45...Bc2 46.Rxg6! Bxg6 47.Rxg6 Ra1 (47...Rd4 48.g5 a4 49.Ra6+-) 48.f5 Rf1 49.Ra6 Kb4 50.Rb6+
Kc3 51.f6+-
46.Rxg6

423
46...Bf5?
46...Rd4! 47.Ra6 (47.Rxd4 cxd4+ 48.Ke4 Bd7 49.f5 (49.Rg3+ Kc4 50.f5 d3=) 49...Bxf5+! 50.Kxf5
d3=) 47...Bf5 48.Rgf6 (48.Rg5 Rd3+ 49.Kf2 Rd2+ 50.Ke1 Rd5 51.Rxa5 (51.Rf6 Be4 52.Rxd5 Bxd5
53.f5 Kd4=) 51...Kd3²) 48...Rd3+ 49.Kf2 Be4 50.Rxa5 Kd4²
47.Rg5+- Rd4
47...Re4+ 48.Kf3 Re6 49.Rxe6 Bxe6 50.Rxc5+ Kb4 51.Re5 Bc4 52.Ke3 a4 53.Kd2+-
48.Rf6 Rd3+ 49.Ke2 Be4 50.Rxc5+ Kd4
50...Kb4 51.Re5 Bh7 52.Rb6+
51.Rxa5 Re3+ 52.Kf2 Rf3+ 53.Kg1 Ke3 54.Ra3+ Ke2 55.Ra2+ Ke3 56.Kh2 Bd3 57.Ra3 Kf2
58.Rd6 Be2 59.Rxf3+ Kxf3 60.f5 1-0

25. * A70
Giri, Anish (2764) - Fier, Alexandr (2562)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/25, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.e4 O-O 9.Bd3 b5 10.Nxb5
Re8 11.O-O Nxe4 12.Bxe4
12.Re1 - 109/(37)
12...Rxe4 13.Nc3
13.Bg5 Qb6?! (13...Qd7! 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Re1 (15.Qd2 Na6 16.Rae1 Bb7 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Qf4 Nc7
19.Ne4 Rxe4 20.Rxe4 Nxd5∞) 15...Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Bb7 17.Qd2 Na6 18.Re1 Re8 19.Rxe8+ Qxe8
20.Bf4 Qd7 21.Ne4 Nb4 (21...Ba8!?) 22.Bxd6 Bxd5 23.Bxc5 Nxa2∞) 14.Nc3 Re8 15.Re1 Bd7?

424
(15...Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Nd7 17.Qe8+ Nf8 18.Re1 Bb7 19.Qe7±) 16.Ne4N (16.Qd2; 16.Rxe8+)
16...Rxe4 (16...Qxb2 17.Bf6! Bxf6 18.Rb1 Rxe4 19.Rxb2 Rxe1+ 20.Qxe1 Bxb2 21.Qe7+-) 17.Rxe4±
Sarana,A (2654)-Ponkratov, P (2631) lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 146/(25) 2020; 13.Ng5

13...Re7! (13...Rb4 14.Qf3 Bf5 (14...Rxb5? 15.Qxf7+ Kh8 16.Re1 Bd7 17.Re7 Qf8 18.Bd2 Qxf7
(18...Rxb2?? 19.Qxf8+ Bxf8 20.Bc3+ Kg8 21.Rxh7+-) 19.Nxf7+ Kg8 20.Rae1+-) 15.g4 Rxb5
16.gxf5 Bf6 17.Ne4 Nd7∞) 14.Bf4 (14.Re1 Ba6 15.a4 Bxb5 16.axb5 Nd7³) 14...h6 15.Nf3 Ba6
16.a4 Re4 17.Bg3 Rb4ƒ; 13.Re1 Rxe1+ 14.Qxe1 Bb7 15.Bf4 Nd7 16.Rd1 Nb6 17.Nxd6 Bxd5∞
13...Re8

425
14.Re1N
14.Bf4
14...Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Nd7 16.Bf4
16.Bg5 Nf6 17.Qe3 Bb7 18.Rd1 Qd7 19.Qf4 Nh5 20.Qd2∞
16...Nf6 17.Qd2 Bb7 18.Re1 Qd7 19.Ng5 Re8 20.Nge4
20.Rxe8+ Nxe8∞
20...Nxe4 21.Nxe4
21.Rxe4 Rxe4 (21...Re7∞) 22.Nxe4 f5 23.Nxd6 Ba8 24.b3 (24.Qe3 Bxd5 25.Qxc5 Bxa2∞) 24...g5
25.Bh2 f4 26.Ne4 Qf5 27.f3 Bd4+ 28.Kf1 Bxd5∞
21...f5 22.Nxd6 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 Bxd5 24.Qa5 Bd4

426
25.Nb5
25.b4?! g5 26.Bh2 h6! 27.bxc5 Qe6 28.c6 (28.Qd8+ Kh7 29.Qe8 Bxc5 30.Qxe6 Bxe6µ) 28...Bb6
29.Qc3 Bxc6µ
25...Bxb2 26.Nxa7 Bf6
26...c4 27.Nb5 Bg7 28.Nc3 Bb7 29.Be5 Bf8∞
27.Qxc5 Bxa2= 28.Nc6 Bd5 29.Nb4 Be4 30.Qc4+ Kg7 31.Qc7 Qxc7 32.Bxc7 Bc3 33.Na2 Bd2
34.Be5+ Kf7 35.Nc3 Ke6 36.Nxe4 fxe4 37.Bh8 Kf5 38.Kf1 h5 39.Ke2 Bf4 40.Bd4 g5 41.f3 exf3+
42.Kxf3 g4+ 43.hxg4+ hxg4+ 44.Ke2 Ke4 45.Bf2 1/2-1/2

427
B00-B24

26. B01
Heimann, Andreas (2622) - Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2655)
Magdeburg 146/26, 2020

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Nf6

3...Bg4 - 144/25
4.d4 Bg4
4...g6 5.c4 Qd8 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be2 (7.h3 - 4/133) 7...O-O 8.O-O c6 (8...c5 9.dxc5 Na6 10.Be3 Ng4
11.Bg5²) 9.Re1 Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nbd7 12.Bf4 (12.Qb3!? e5 - 53/112) 12...Nb6 13.Qd3²;
4...c6 5.Be2 Bf5 (5...Bg4 - 5... c6) 6.O-O e6 7.c4 Qd8 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Be3 (9.Qb3 Qb6) 9...O-O
10.Nh4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bf3²
5.Be2
5.Nc3 - 58/124
5...Nc6
5...e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Qd8 9.Qb3 Qc8 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Be3 (11.Rd1 - 67/122) 11...Nbd7
12.Rfd1 h6 13.Rac1²; 5...c6 6.h3 (6.c4 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 e6 8.O-O Nbd7 9.h3 Bh5 10.Bd2 Qb6 (10...Qc7
11.d5 - 111/38) 11.Be3 Qxb2!? (11...Qa5 12.a3² (∆ b4) - 111/(38)) 12.Rc1 Qa3 13.c5 (13.d5 Bc5
14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Ng5 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Nc5 18.Nxe6 Nxe6 19.Qxe6+ Qe7=) 13...Qa5
14.Qb3©) 6...Bh5 (6...Bxf3 7.Bxf3 Qe6+ 8.Be2 Qd6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Na3²) 7.O-O e6 8.c4 Qd8
(8...Qd6 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.d5!?ƒ; 8...Qa5 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.a3 Be7 11.Nc3²) 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Nb6
11.g4 Bg6 12.Ne5± - 133/42
6.c4

428
6.O-O O-O-O 7.Be3 e6∞ - 88/47
6.h3 Bxf3 (6...Bh5 7.c4! Qd6 8.Be3 O-O-O 9.Nbd2! ∆h6 10.O-O e6 (10...g5 11.d5+-) 11.a3 g5
12.b4±) 7.Bxf3 Qd7 (7...Qe6+ 8.Be3 Nd5 9.Qe2 Nxe3 10.fxe3 Qd7 11.Nd2 ∆ 0-0-0±) 8.O-O O-O-
O 9.c3 e5 10.Nd2 (10.Qb3 Na5! (10...e4 - 68/83) 11.Qc2 exd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Be3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4
Qxd4 15.Rd1 Qc5! 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Nc3 Bd6 18.Bxb7 Re8 ∆ Ke7-f8=) 10...exd4 11.Nc4 Bd6
(11...h5 12.Bf4 Nd5 13.Ne5ƒ) 12.Qb3 d3 13.Be3 Rhe8 14.Rfd1 a6 15.Rxd3 Bh2+ 16.Kxh2 Qxd3
17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qa4 a5 19.Qxc6 Qe4 20.Qa6+ Qb7 21.Qxa5 Nd5∞
6...Qh5!?
6...Qf5 7.Be3 (7.Nbd2 O-O-O 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Nxf3 e5 10.d5 Bb4+ 11.Kf1 Bc5 12.g4 Qd7 13.Qc2 Nb4
14.Qb3 h5„; 7.O-O e5 8.d5 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Nd4„) 7...e5! (7...O-O-O 8.Nc3 (8.O-O e5 9.d5 e4 10.Nd4
Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bd6 12.Re1 h5! 13.Nc3 c5! 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Qa4 Bxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Rxd4 17.Qxa7
Qxf2=) 8...e5 9.d5 e4 10.Nd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bb4 (12...Bd6 13.Bxa7!) 13.O-O Rhe8
14.Qc2! Bxc3 15.bxc3! (15.Bxc3 Ng4! 16.h3 Ne5„) 15...Nh5 16.Be3 Nf4 17.f3²) 8.d5 (8.Nxe5
Bb4+ 9.Nc3 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Qxe5=) 8...Nb4! (8...Bxf3 9.Bxf3 ∆Nb4
10.Qa4+ Qd7 11.Qb3²) 9.Na3 (9.Qa4+ b5! 10.Qxb5+ c6 11.Qa4 Qc2! 12.b3 Qb2µ) 9...Be7 10.O-O
O-O 11.Nh4 Qh5 12.f3 Bd7=
7.h3
7.Nc3 O-O-O 8.Be3 e5 9.d5 Bb4 10.Qa4 Nd4! 11.Bxd4 exd4 12.Qxb4 dxc3 13.Qxc3 Rhe8„; 7.d5
O-O-O 8.Qa4 (8.Bd2 Ne5 9.Nxe5 Qxe5 10.f3 (10.Bc3 Qxe2+ 11.Qxe2 Bxe2 12.Kxe2 e6 13.dxe6
Re8=) 10...Bd7 11.Qc1 (11.Bc3 Qg5 12.Qd4 b6 13.g3 e6ƒ) 11...e6 12.Bf4 Qd4 13.Be3 Qe5=)
8...Ne5 9.Qxa7 (9.Nxe5 Qxe5 (9...Bxe2!? 10.Bf4 Ng4! 11.Nc6 e5! 12.Qxa7 Bc5! 13.Qxc5 exf4∞)
10.f3 Bf5 11.Qxa7 e6! 12.Qa8+ Kd7 13.Qxb7 exd5„) 9...e6 10.dxe6 (10.Qa8+!? Kd7 11.Qa4+ Kc8

429
12.dxe6 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Bxe6 14.Nc3 Bc5 15.Bf4 Qf5 16.Bg3 Kb8 17.b4 Bd7 18.Qa5²) 10...Bb4+
11.Nc3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 fxe6 13.Be3 Bxf3 14.Qa8+ Kd7 15.O-O-O+ Ke7 16.Qa3+ Kf7 17.gxf3 Ra8
18.Qb2 Ned7 19.Rhg1 Qa5 20.Kb1 Nc5∞; 7.Be3 O-O-O 8.Nbd2 (8.O-O? e5ƒ 9.d5? e4µ; 8.Qa4?!
e5 9.d5 Nd4! 10.Bxd4 exd4 11.Nbd2 (11.Qxa7?! Re8! 12.Qa8+ Kd7 13.Qxb7 Bd6µ) 11...Re8
12.Kf1 Kb8 13.h3 g5³ ƒ) 8...e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Bxd4!? (11.Bxg4+ Nxg4 12.Bxd4 Re8+
13.Kf1 Nxh2+ 14.Kg1 Qxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Ng4 16.f3 Nf6 17.g4 h5 18.Kf2²) 11...Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Re8
13.Be3 Qg6 14.O-O (14.h3!? Qxg2 15.O-O-O Bc5 16.Rdg1 (16.Qd3 Bxe3 17.fxe3 Nd7 18.Qa3 Kb8
19.e4 Qg5„) 16...Rxe3 17.Qxe3 Qxh1 18.Qg3 Bxf2 19.Qxf2 Qxh3 20.Rxg7 Ne8 21.Rxf7 Nd6„)
14...Bc5 (14...Ng4 15.h3 Nxe3 16.fxe3 f5 17.Nb3 Qb6 18.Rf3 g6 19.Rc1 Bc5 20.Nxc5 Qxc5
21.Qd2²) 15.h3 Re5 16.Rae1 Rhe8 17.Nf3! Rxe3 18.fxe3 Rxe3 19.Qxe3 Bxe3+ 20.Rxe3²
7...O-O-O„ 8.Be3 e5 9.d5 e4 10.Nd4
10.Ng5 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Bb4+ 12.Nd2 (12.Kf1 Ne5 13.Qxh5 Nxh5 14.g4 Nf6 15.Bd4 h6 16.Bxe5
hxg5 17.Kg2 b5„) 12...Ne5 13.Qxh5 Nxh5 14.b3 c6„; 10.Nfd2 Ne5 11.Bxg4+ Nexg4 12.O-O
Bd6! 13.Nxe4 Bh2+ 14.Kh1 Nxe4 15.Qxg4+ Qxg4 16.hxg4 Be5=
10...Bb4+

10...Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Qxe2+ 12.Kxe2 Ne5 13.Nd2 Bb4 14.Rhc1 Rhe8 15.Rc2²; 10...Ne5!? 11.Bxg4+
(11.Qa4? Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Nd3+ 13.Kf1 (13.Kd2 Nxd5! 14.cxd5 Rxd5 15.Nd4 Bc5-+) 13...Ng4!
14.Bxa7 Ngxf2 15.Bxf2 Qf5-+) 11...Nexg4 12.O-O Bd6 13.Nb5 (13.Re1 Bh2+! 14.Kh1 Bf4 15.Qe2
Qg5 16.Nc2 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Nd7 (∆ f5) 18.Nd2 Rhe8 19.b4 f5³) 13...Bh2+ 14.Kh1 Nxe3 (14...Bf4?!
15.Nxa7+ Kb8 16.Nc6+! Kc8 17.Qa4ƒ) 15.fxe3 Be5!? 16.N1c3 (16.Qb3 Kb8 17.Nd4 Bxd4
18.exd4 e3 19.Qxe3 Rhe8„) 16...Qg5 17.Qb3!? Qxe3 (17...Qg3? 18.Nxa7+ Kd7 19.Rf4+-) 18.Rfe1
Qf4 19.Nxa7+ Kd7 20.Qb5+ Ke7 21.Qc5+ Ke8 22.Qg1 Qh4 23.Nab5 g6 ∆ Kf8-g7∞

430
11.Nd2?!N
11.Kf1?! Ne5 12.Nc2 (12.b3 c6! 13.Nc2 Ba5 14.Bxa7 cxd5µ) 12...Bd6 13.Bxg4+ Nexg4 14.Nc3
Nxe3+ 15.Nxe3 Be5 16.Qxh5 Nxh5 17.g3 Rhf8 ∆ f5³
11.Nc3 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Ne5 13.Qa4 Nd3+ 14.Kf1 Ng4 (14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 a6 16.Rb1∞; 14...a6
15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Rxd6 18.Re1 Re8 19.g4!? Qe5 20.Rg1 Qh2 21.Re3∞) 15.Bxa7!
(15.Qxa7? Nxe3+ 16.Qxe3 Bc5µ) 15...Ngxf2 16.Bxf2 Qf5 17.Qa8+ Kd7 18.Qa4+ Kc8 (18...Ke7
19.Nd1 Bc5 20.Ng3 Qf4 21.Nh5 Qf5 22.Nxg7 Qf4 23.Nh5 Qf5 24.Ng3 Qf4 25.Qc2±) 19.Qa8+=
11...Bxe2 12.Qxe2
12.Nxe2 Ne5µ
12...Ne5 13.Qxh5 Nxh5 14.b3

14.g4!? Bxd2+ (14...Nf6!? 15.b3 c6 16.g5 Nh5 17.O-O-O cxd5 18.cxd5 Bxd2+ 19.Rxd2 Rxd5
20.Rc2+ Kb8 21.Kb1 Re8 22.Ne2 Nd3³) 15.Bxd2 Nf6 16.b3 c6 17.Ke2 cxd5 18.Nf5 d4!?
(18...dxc4 19.Rhc1 Rd3 20.Bf4 Nfd7 21.Ne3 b5 22.bxc4 b4 23.c5 Nc6 24.Nc4 Nd4+ 25.Kf1 Ne6
26.c6! Nxf4 27.cxd7+ Kb7 28.Na5+ Ka6 29.Rc8 Rxh3 30.Ke1 Rh1+ 31.Kd2 Rxa1 32.Rxh8
Rxa2+=) 19.Bf4 Nf3 20.Rad1 h5! (20...g5 21.Bd6 Rhe8 22.Bc5 d3+ 23.Ke3∞) 21.Nd6+ Rxd6
22.Bxd6 g5³
14...c6! 15.O-O
15.O-O-O cxd5 16.cxd5 Nf6 17.d6 Rxd6 18.Nc4 Nxc4 19.bxc4 Rhd8 20.Nf5 Ra6µ
15...cxd5
15...Bxd2 16.Bxd2 cxd5 17.c5 (17.cxd5 Rxd5 - 15.. .cd5) 17...Nd3 18.f3!? (18.b4 Nhf4) 18...Rd7

431
19.fxe4 dxe4 20.Nf5 Kb8 21.g4 Nf6 22.Nxg7 Nd5 23.Nf5 h5 24.g5 Rg8³
16.cxd5
16.Rfd1 Bxd2 17.Rxd2 dxc4 18.bxc4 a6 19.Rb2 Rd7 20.c5 Rhd8 21.Rb4 Nd3 22.Ra4 Nhf4 23.Nf5
Ne6 24.c6 bxc6 25.Rxa6 c5³
16...Bxd2 17.Bxd2 Rxd5 18.Bc3
18.Rac1+ Kb8 19.Be3 Nd3 20.Rc4 Re8µ; 18.Be3!? b6 19.a4 Rhd8 20.Rfc1+ Kb7 21.Nb5 Nc6

22.g4! (22.Rc4 f5µ) 22...Nf6 23.Rc4 R5d7 24.g5 (24.Rac1 Ne5µ) 24...Nd5! 25.Rxe4 Na5 26.Re1!?
(26.b4 Nc6 27.Bd2 f5 28.Rh4 Ne5 29.Kg2 a6 30.Na3 Ne7 31.Bc3 N7g6 32.Rxh7 Nf4+ 33.Kh1
Rd1+ 34.Kh2 Nf3+ 35.Kg3 Ne6µ) 26...Nxb3 27.Rh4 a6 28.Nd4 Nxe3 29.fxe3 Nxd4 30.exd4 h6
(30...Rh8 31.Kf2 Kc6 32.Rc1+ Kd5 33.Rb1 Rb7 34.Ke3 b5 35.axb5 axb5 36.Re4³) 31.gxh6 gxh6
32.Rxh6 Rxd4 33.Kf2³
18...Nd3µ 19.f3
19.Ne2 f5µ
19...e3 20.Rad1?
20.Ne2 Nhf4 21.Nxf4 Nxf4 22.Rfe1 Re8 23.g3 Nd3 24.Re2 g5 25.Rf1 f5µ
20...Nhf4-+ 0-1

27. * B04
Brkic, Ante (2593) - Yuffa, Daniil (2594)
lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 146/27, 2020

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 Bf5 7.O-O Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.c4 N5f6

432
10.Nc3 Bd6
10...Ne4 11.Qb3 (11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Nxd6 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Nh4²; 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Ng5 Bg6
13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 Be7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Nf3 O-O 17.Be3 Rb8 (17...Bf6 18.Bd4 Re8 19.Re1 Qa5
20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Qd2=) 18.b3 Qc7 19.Qd2 Bb4 20.Bf4 Qb7 21.Qb2∞ - 132/(46)) 11...Nxc3
12.bxc3 b6 13.Bf4 Be7 14.h3 O-O 15.a4 c5 16.Rfd1²
11.Nh4 Bg6 12.g3
12.f4 Ne4 13.Nxg6 Nxc3 14.bxc3 hxg6 15.g3 (15.c5?! - 108/32) 15...Qa5 16.c5 Be7 17.Bd2²
12...O-O 13.Bf3 e5 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.d5 cxd5
15...Qc7 16.Bg5 Rfe8

17.Re1N Bc5 (17...Bb4 18.Rc1²) 18.Qd2 a5 19.Rad1 Bd4 20.Be3 c5 21.Nb5± Baskin,R (2390)-
Bortnyk,O (2598) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(27) 2020
16.Nxd5 e4 17.Bg2 Re8 18.Bg5 Be7

433
19.Nxe7+N
19.Nc3 Qc7 20.Qe2 Rac8 21.b3 Bc5 22.Rad1 Qe5 23.Bd2 Rcd8 (23...Nf8 24.Na4 Ne6 25.Nxc5
Nxc5 26.Be3 b6 27.Rd4 Rc7 28.Rfd1 Nd3 29.Qd2 Rcc8 30.h3 Rcd8∞) 24.Na4 Bf8 25.Bc3 Qf5
26.h3 Ne5 27.g4 Nf3+ 28.Bxf3 Qxf3 29.Qxf3 exf3 30.Bd4 b6 31.Nc3 Ne4 32.Nb5 Re7 33.Be3
Rdd7=; 19.Be3 Rc8 20.b3 b6 21.Bh3²
19...Qxe7 20.Re1 Nc5?!

21.Qc2?!
21.b4! Rad8 (21...Ncd7 22.c5ƒ) 22.Qc2 Ne6 (22...Nd3 23.Rxe4+-) 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Bxe4 Qxb4

434
(24...Nd4 25.Qb2 f5 26.Bd5 Qxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 28.Kg2 Ne6 29.Qc3! Re2 30.Qf6 Rd6 31.Kf1
Rxa2 32.Qe7+-) 25.Bd5 Rd6 26.Rab1 Qa5 27.h4 Kg7 (27...b5 28.h5! bxc4 (28...gxh5 29.Qf5±)
29.hxg6 Qxd5 30.gxf7+ Kxf7 31.Qh7+ Ng7 32.Rxe8 Kxe8 33.Qxg7±) 28.Qd1 b6 29.h5²
21...Rad8 22.a3
22.b4! - 22.b4
22...Qe5 23.Bf4?!
23.h4 a5∞
23...Qf5 24.Be3 Nd3 25.Re2 b6 26.h3 g5!ƒ 27.Rd1
27.g4

27...Nxg4! 28.hxg4 Qxg4 29.Rd1 f5µ

27...g4 28.h4
28.hxg4 Nxg4-+
28...Ne5 29.Kf1
29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Rd2 Rd3 31.Rxd3 exd3 32.Qc3 (32.Qd1 Nxc4-+) 32...Nf3+ 33.Bxf3 gxf3-+
29...Rxd1+ 30.Qxd1 Nxc4 31.Bg5 e3! 32.Kg1
32.Bxf6 Qxf6 33.Kg1 exf2+ 34.Rxf2 Qe6-+
32...Ne4 33.Bxe4
33.Bxe3 Nxe3 34.fxe3 Nxg3-+

435
33...Rxe4
33...Qxe4! 34.Bxe3 Ne5-+
34.fxe3 Ne5 35.Bf4 Nf3+ 36.Kf2 Re8
¹36...Rc4 37.b3 Rc6 38.a4 (38.e4 Qc5+ 39.Kg2 Qxa3-+) 38...Qe4-+
37.Qc2 Qd5 38.e4 Qd4+ 39.Be3 Qf6 40.Kg2 Nxh4+?
40...Re6-+
41.gxh4 Qf3+ 42.Kg1 Rxe4

43.Rf2?
43.Qd2! f5 44.h5! (44.Qd8+ Kh7 45.Qg5 g3! 46.Re1 g2Θ 47.b3 a6 48.b4 b5 49.h5 Rg4 50.Qe7 Qh3
51.Kf2 Qg3+ 52.Ke2 Re4-+) 44...f4 45.Qd5+ Kh8 46.h6! Qg3+ (46...Qxe2? 47.Qa8+ Kh7
48.Qxe4++-; 46...Rxe3 47.hxg7+ Kxg7 48.Qg5+ Kf7 49.Qf5+ Ke7 50.Qh7+ Ke6 51.Qg6+ Ke5
52.Qg5+ Ke4 53.Qg6+=) 47.Kf1 Rxe3 48.hxg7+ Kxg7 49.Qg5+ Kf7 50.Qf5+ Ke7 51.Qh7+=
43...Qxe3-+ 44.Qc8+ Re8 45.Qxg4 Qc5 46.Kg2 g6 47.Qf4 Qd5+ 48.Kh2 Re4 49.Qg3 Kg7 0-1

28. B07
Macovei, Andrei (2453) - Komliakov, Viktor (2372)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 146/28, 2020

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.O-O e5 7.h3 O-O 8.Re1 Nh5 9.Be3
9.Bg5 - 87/61
9...h6 10.Nbd2

436
10.Na3 - 105/(205)
10...Qf6
10...Nf4 - 33/163
11.Bf1 Nf4 12.b4
12.Kh2 g5 13.g3 Ng6 14.Bg2 Nce7!? ∆ Qe6∞
12...g5 13.b5
13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qc2 h5„
13...Ne7

14.a4N
14.dxe5 dxe5 15.a4 Neg6„
14...Neg6 15.a5 h5

437
15...g4 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.Qc2 (17.a6 b6 18.g3 Nh3+ 19.Kh2 Ng5 20.Be2 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Nxf3+
22.Nxf3 Qe6 23.Kg2 f5 24.exf5 Rxf5 25.dxe5 dxe5 26.Ra4 c6 27.Nh4²) 17...Nh3+ (17...h5 18.g3
Nh3+ 19.Kh2!± ∆Nxf2? 20.Re2!+-) 18.gxh3 (18.Kh1!? Ng5 19.Nh2 Bd7 20.g3 Rfe8 21.d5 ∆Nh3
(21...Ne7 22.f4!) 22.Bxh3! Bxh3 23.Qd1 ∆ Qh5±) 18...Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Qxf3 20.Bg2 Qh5 21.Qd1
Qxd1 22.Rexd1 a6 23.bxa6 Rxa6 24.Bf1 Raa8 25.Rdb1 Rfb8 26.d5±
16.b6?!
16.Nh2! Qe7 17.Rb1 f5 (17...a6 18.bxa6 bxa6 19.d5 Bd7 20.c4 Rfb8 21.c5 dxc5 22.Rc1 Bb5 23.Bxc5
Qd7 24.Nc4±) 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.g3 Nxh3+ 20.Bxh3 g4 21.Bf1 f4 22.Bc4+ Kh8 23.Ndf1 Bd7 24.a6
b6 25.Bd5 Rad8 26.Qd3 h4 27.Rb2 ∆Qf6 28.gxf4 exf4 (28...Qxf4 29.Kh1 Bh6 30.Ne3±) 29.e5 dxe5
30.Rxe5± ∆g3 31.fxg3 fxg3 32.Nxg3+-
16...g4
16...axb6 17.axb6 Rxa1 18.Qxa1 cxb6 (18...g4 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Nh2 cxb6 21.Qb1!?²) 19.dxe5 dxe5
20.Rb1 g4 21.hxg4 hxg4 22.Rxb6 Qd8! 23.Nh2 Bh6! 24.Qb2 Be6∞ 25.Rxe6!? (25.Rxb7 Nd3
26.Qb6 Qxb6 27.Bxb6 Nxf2=) 25...fxe6 26.Nxg4 Qh4! 27.f3 Nh3+ 28.gxh3 Bxe3+ 29.Nxe3 Qe1
30.Ng2 Qg3 31.Bc4 Nf4 32.Nf1 Nxh3+ 33.Kh1 Nf2+=
17.hxg4 Bxg4?!

438
17...hxg4 18.Nh2 axb6 19.axb6 Rxa1 20.Qxa1 c6 (20...cxb6!? 21.Nc4 (21.Qd1 b5 22.Qb3 d5!?
23.exd5 Qd8 24.dxe5 Qxd5=) 21...exd4 22.cxd4 d5 23.e5 Qg5 24.Nxb6 g3 25.Nf3 gxf2+ 26.Kxf2
Qg4„) 21.Qd1 Qh4 (21...Qe6 22.Nc4∞) 22.g3 Nh3+ 23.Kg2 Nhf4+ 24.Kh1 Qh7 25.Nc4 Bf6!
26.Nxd6 Kg7„ ∆ Rh8
18.bxc7
18.bxa7! Nh4 19.g3 exd4 20.Bxd4 Nxf3+ 21.Nxf3 Bxf3 22.Qc1! Qg5 23.Qxf4 Qxf4 24.gxf4 Bxd4
25.cxd4 d5 26.e5 Rxa7 27.Re3! Be4 28.Rg3+ Kh7 29.Kh2 Rg8 (29...Rfa8 30.Rc1±) 30.Rxg8 Kxg8
31.Kg3± ∆Kg7 32.Kh4 Kg6 33.Be2 Kf5 34.Rc1 c6 35.Rg1! Kxf4 36.Rg7! Bg6 37.e6+-
18...Rfc8 19.d5
19.Qb1 Rxc7 20.Ra3! Bh6 21.Rb3 Rb8 22.Nh2 Kh7 (22...Nh4 23.Nxg4 hxg4 24.g3 Nh3+ 25.Bxh3
gxh3 26.gxh4 Qg6+

439
27.Bg5! f6 28.c4 fxg5 29.hxg5 Bxg5 30.Rg3±) 23.Nxg4 hxg4 24.g3 Ne6 25.Bxh6 Kxh6 26.d5 Nc5
27.Rb4²
19...h4
19...Rxc7 20.Qb3 Bh6 21.c4 Kh7 22.Nh2 Rg8 23.Kh1 Bc8 24.Rab1 Nxg2 (¹24...h4 25.c5²)
25.Bxg2 Nf4 26.Bxf4 Bxf4 27.Ndf3! (27.Ndf1 Qh4 28.Qc2 Bh3 29.Ng3 Bxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Rxc4!„)
27...h4 28.Rg1±
20.g3
20.Qb3 Rxc7 21.c4 (21.Ra4 (∆ Rc4) 21...Bh6 22.Nh2 Bh5 23.c4 Kh8 24.Kh1 Rg8„) 21...Bh6
22.Nh2 Bh5 23.c5! dxc5 24.Nc4 Kh8 25.Kh1 Rg8 26.Qb2 Qg5 27.Ra3±
20...hxg3 21.fxg3 Bh6!?
21...Nh3+?? 22.Bxh3 Bxh3 23.Bg5+-; 21...Nh5? 22.Bh3! Bxh3 23.Bg5+-; 21...Rxc7 22.c4 Bh6
23.Ra3 Qh8!? (23...Kg7 24.gxf4 Nxf4 25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.Kf2! Bg5 27.Bh3! Bh4+ (27...Bxh3
28.Rg1+-) 28.Ke2 Bxe1 29.Qxe1 Bh5 30.Qg3+ Qg6 31.Qf2 Rh8 32.Bf5±) 24.gxf4 Nxf4 25.Bg2
Rf8„ ∆ f5
22.gxf4
22.c4 Rxc7 (22...Qg7 23.gxf4 Nh4 24.Kh2 Qh8 25.Bg2 Bxf4+ 26.Kg1±) 23.Ra3 Qh8!? - 21...Rc7
22...Nxf4 23.Bxf4 Bxf4 24.Bg2 Rxc7 25.c4

440
25...Kf8?!
25...Qg6! 26.Ra3 Rf8!„ ∆ f5
26.Kf2
26.Nf1! Qh6 27.Ra3 f5 28.Ne3! Bxe3+ 29.Raxe3 f4 30.Rc3 Rg7 31.Re2 Rc8 32.Qe1 Qh5 33.Kf1±
26...Ke7 27.Rh1 Rac8
¹27...Rg8 28.Qc2!? (28.Bh3 Bxd2 29.Bxg4 Rxg4 30.Qxd2 Rxe4©; 28.Qe2 b5 29.axb6 axb6 30.Qd3
b5! 31.c5 (31.cxb5 Rgc8∞) 31...Rxc5 32.Ra7+ Kf8 33.Rh7 Rh8 34.Ra8+ Bc8∞) 28...Bg5 (28...Bg3+
29.Ke2 Bf4 30.Qd3 b5 31.axb6 axb6 32.Nf1! b5 33.c5! Rxc5 34.Ra7+ Kf8 35.Ne3 Bxe3 36.Qxe3
Rc2+ 37.Kf1 Kg7 38.Rh6±) 29.Ra3 (29.Qd3 Qf4 30.Nf1 f5! 31.Ng3 fxe4 32.Nxe4 Bf5 33.Rae1
Rgc8„) 29...Qf4 30.Rc3 b5 31.cxb5 Qe3+ 32.Rxe3 Bxe3+ 33.Kxe3 Rxc2 34.Bf1 Rc3+ 35.Bd3 Bd7
36.Rb1 f5 37.Ne1! f4+ 38.Kf2²
28.Rb1 Rg8 29.Bh3!?
29.Qc2! Qg6 (29...Bg3+ 30.Ke2 Bf4 31.Qd3±) 30.Qd3 b5 31.axb6 (31.Rxb5? Bd7„) 31...axb6
32.Rbg1!± (32.Rhg1 f5!∞) ∆32...f5 33.Bh3+-
29...Bxd2 30.Bxg4 Bxa5
30...Rxg4 31.Qxd2 Rxe4 32.Rh6! Qf4 (32...Qf5 33.c5+-) 33.Qxf4 Rxf4 34.Rh4±
31.Bf5 Bb6+ 32.Rxb6
32.Ke2 Rxc4„
32...axb6 33.Qb3 Kf8! 34.Qxb6

441
34.Qa3!? Ke7 35.Qa4 (35.Qb4 Kf8!) 35...Rh8 36.Rg1 Qh6 37.c5 Rd8! (37...bxc5? 38.Qa5+-) 38.c6
(38.cxd6+ Qxd6 39.Rg5 Rc3„) 38...bxc6 39.dxc6 b5! 40.Qa6 (40.Qxb5 Ra8 41.Re1 Qf4„) 40...d5!
41.Qa3+ (41.Qxb5 Qxc6=) 41...Qd6 42.Qxd6+ Rxd6 43.Nxe5 dxe4=
34...Qd8?
34...Rxc4! 35.Qxb7 Rc2+ 36.Ke3 Rg3 37.Qa8+ (37.Kd3 Ra2=) 37...Ke7 38.Qb7+ Kf8 (38...Ke8??
39.Rh8+!+-) 39.Qa8+ Ke7=
35.Rh6 Ke7 36.Nxe5!+- Rg7 37.c5 Rxc5 38.Qxb7+ Qc7 39.Nc6+ 1-0

29. B12
So, Wesley (2770) - Liang, Awonder (2592)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/29, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 g6 4.e5

4.c3 - 74/121
4...c5

442
5.dxc5N
5.c3 Nc6 6.Be3 Bg7 (6...Qb6 7.Qd2 e6 8.f4²) 7.Bb5 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6∞
5...e6 6.Be3 Nd7 7.Bb5 Qc7 8.f4 Bxc5
8...Nh6!? 9.Nf3 Nf5 10.Bf2 Bxc5 11.Qd2 Bxf2+ 12.Qxf2 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 Qb4 14.Qd2 Qxb2 15.Rb1
Qa3 16.g4 Ne7 17.f5© (17.O-O© ∆h5? 18.f5! gxf5 (18...hxg4 19.fxe6 fxe6 (19...gxf3 20.exd7+ Bxd7
21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Rxf3ƒ) 20.Ng5+-) 19.gxf5 Nxf5 20.Bd3 Qc5+ 21.Kh1ƒ)
9.Bxc5 Qxc5 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bxd7+ Bxd7 12.Nf3?
12.Qd2²
12...Qe3+ 13.Qe2
13.Ne2 Bb5 14.Nd4 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Ne7³
13...Qxf4 14.g3 Qh6 15.h4 Ne7 16.Qf2 O-O 17.Ne2?!

443
17.Nh2 Qh5 18.Qf4 Qf5µ
17...f6! 18.Nf4 g5
18...Qg7!? 19.Nd3 Bb5 20.exf6 Rxf6 21.Nf4 Rf7 22.O-O-O e5-+
19.exf6 Rxf6
19...Qxf6?! 20.hxg5 Qxb2 21.O-O„
20.Ne5 gxf4 21.Nxd7 Rf7 22.g4 Qg7 23.O-O-O Nc6 24.Nc5 Re8 25.Rhe1 Ne5 26.Qd4 Nxg4
26...Nf3 27.Qxg7+ Rxg7 28.Rf1 (28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Nxe6 Rxg4 30.Rxd5 Nxh4µ) 28...Nxh4 29.Rxf4
e5 30.Rf6 e4µ
27.Rxe6
27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.Nxe6+ Kh6 29.Ng5 Rfe7 30.Rxe7 Rxe7 31.Rd4 Kh5 32.Nf3 Nh6! 33.Rxf4 Rf7
34.Rxf7 Nxf7µ
27...Rxe6?
27...Ref8! 28.Qxg7+ (28.Qxd5 Ne3-+) 28...Rxg7-+
28.Nxe6 Qe5 29.Qxd5 Qxd5 30.Rxd5 Rf6 31.Ng5 h6
31...f3? 32.Nxf3 Rxf3 33.Rg5+±
32.Nf3 Ne3 33.Rd7 Rf7 34.Rd4 Kg7 35.Kd2 Rf8 36.h5 Rf5 37.c4 b5 38.b3 bxc4 39.bxc4 Nf1+
40.Kd3 Ng3 41.Rd7+ Rf7 42.Rd6 Re7
¹42...Rf6=

444
43.Rg6+ Kf7 44.Kd4 Nxh5 45.Rxa6 Nf6 46.Ne5+ Kg7 47.c5 h5 48.c6 h4 49.Rb6

49...Kh6?
49...h3! 50.Rb3 (50.Rb2 Ne8 51.Rh2 Kf6 52.Rxh3 (52.Nd3 Rh7 53.Nxf4 Rh4 54.Ke3 Nc7 55.Rxh3
Rxh3+ 56.Nxh3 Ke5=) 52...Rxe5 53.Rh6+ Kg7 54.Kxe5 Kxh6 55.Kxf4 Kg6 56.Ke5 Kf7=) 50...h2
51.Rh3 Rxe5!! 52.Kxe5 f3 53.Rxh2 (53.c7 f2 54.c8=Q f1=Q 55.Rg3+ Kf7 56.Qe6+ Kf8=) 53...Ng4+
54.Kf4 Nxh2 55.Kg3 Nf1+ 56.Kxf3 Nd2+ 57.Ke3 Nc4+ 58.Kd4 Nb6=
50.Nd7!+- h3
50...Kg5 51.Nxf6 Kxf6 52.c7++-
51.Nxf6 h2 52.Ng4+ 1-0

30. * B12
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger 146/30, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.c3

6.Bc4 Nd7 7.O-O Ngf6 8.Bg5 Bd6 9.c3 O-O 10.Nbd2 Bh5 11.Qe1

445
11...Re8?!N (11...Qc7) 12.Qh4 Bxf3?

(12...Bg6 13.Rae1²) 13.Rxf3 (13.Nxf3! Qc7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Ng5+-) 13...exd4 14.cxd4 Qb6
15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Rxf6 Be7 17.Bxf7+ Kh8 Nguyen,H (1697)-Espinosa Veloz,E (2485) chess.com
(Int. -blitz) 146/(30) 2020 (17...Kh8 18.e5! Qxb2 19.Nb3 Rf8 20.Bg6+-)
6...Nd7 7.Bd3 Ngf6 8.O-O Bd6 9.Na3!?N
9.Nbd2 Bc7 10.Nc4 O-O 11.Bg5 Re8 12.Qc2²
9...b5?!
¹9...Bxa3 10.bxa3 O-O 11.Rb1 b5 12.a4 a6 13.Qe1 Re8 14.Qg3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qe7 16.Bg5 Qd6∞

446
10.Nc2 Bh5 11.Ne3 O-O 12.Nf5 Qc7 13.Qc2
13.Qe1!? Bg6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Bg5 Nh5 (15...c5?! 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.d5±) 16.Qh4 Rae8 17.Rad1 b4
18.Bc2 bxc3 19.bxc3 Qa3 20.Bb3 exd4 21.Rxd4ƒ
13...Bg6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Bg5 c5
15...a6!? 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qf2 exd4 18.cxd4 c5 19.d5 c4 20.Bc2 Rfe8 21.Rae1 Nc5 22.Qd4²
16.dxe5
16.Bxf6! gxf6 17.Bxb5 (17.d5? c4 18.Be2 Qxd5!µ) 17...cxd4 18.cxd4 exd4 19.Qc6 Qxc6 20.Bxc6
Rad8 21.Rad1 Ne5 22.Bd5 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 f5 24.Rxd4 fxe4 25.fxe4 Bxe4! 26.Bxf7+ Kg7 27.Rxe4
Rxf7 28.b3±
16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Bxb5 Bxe4?
19...c4! 20.a4 a6 21.Bd7 Bxe4 22.Qe2 Bd3 23.Qg4+ Kh8 24.Bf5 Rab8„
20.Qf2
20.Qe2! Rad8 (20...Rab8 21.Rae1 f5 22.Bd7! Qd5 23.Rd1 Qxa2 24.Rd2±) 21.Rae1 f5 22.Bc6 Qe6
23.Bxe4 fxe4 24.Qxe4 Qxe4 25.Rxe4 Rd2 26.a4 Rxb2 27.Rg4+ Kh8 28.Rf5 Rg8! 29.Rxg8+ Kxg8
30.Rxc5 Ra2 31.a5 a6²
20...Rab8 21.Bd7?!
21.a4 f5 22.Rae1ƒ
21...Rfd8 22.Rad1 Rb6 23.Rfe1 f5 24.Qh4 Qf6 25.Qxf6
25.Qg3+ Kh8∞
25...Rxf6 26.Ba4 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rg6 28.Rd2 f4 29.Bd1 Kg7 30.Kf1 Rh6 31.Kg1 Rg6 32.Rf2
32.Kf1 Rh6=
32...f5= 33.Kf1 Kf6 34.Bf3 Ke5 35.Rd2 Rh6 36.Kg1 a5 37.b3 Rb6
37...a4 38.Rd8 axb3 39.axb3 Rb6 40.Re8+ Kd5 41.Rd8+ Kc6 42.Bd1 Ra6=
38.Kf2 Ra6 39.Rd8 a4 40.Re8+ Kd5 41.Be2 Rg6 42.g3 axb3 43.axb3 fxg3+ 44.hxg3 Kd6 45.Bc4
Bc6 46.Rf8 Be4 47.Rb8 Kc7 48.Re8 Kd6 49.Rb8 Kc7 50.Rh8 Rh6 51.Ke3 Rh2 52.g4 Kd6 53.Re8
Rh3+ 54.Kf4 Rf3+ 55.Kg5 Bb1
55...Rg3 56.Re6+ Kc7 57.Re7+ Kd6 58.Re6+ (58.Rxh7 Rxg4+ 59.Kf6 f4 60.Re7 Rg6+ 61.Kf7 Rg7+
62.Kxg7 Kxe7=) 58...Kc7=
56.Re6+ Kc7 57.Re5 fxg4 58.Rxc5+ Kb6 59.Rb5+ Kc6 60.Kxg4 Rxc3 1/2-1/2

31. B12
Babiy, Olga (2228) - Kelbas, Yaroslav (2069)

447
 Kyiv 146/31, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Bd7 6.h5 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Na3

8.Bg2 - 144/32
8...a6N
8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Qb6 10.Nc2 Nb4 11.Ne3²; 8...Qa5 9.dxc5 e6 10.Rh3 Qxc5 11.f4 Qb6 12.Be3 Qa5
13.Nc2 f6 14.Nf3 fxe5 15.fxe5²; 8...e6 9.Nc2 Qb6 10.f4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nge7 (11...Nb4 12.Nf3
(12.Nxb4!? Bxb4+ 13.Kf2 ∆Ne7? 14.a3+-) 12...Nxc2+ 13.Qxc2 Rc8 14.Qd3 a6 15.Kf2 Ne7
16.Kg3²) 12.Nf3 f5 13.g5 O-O-O 14.g6 Kb8 15.Rh3 Rc8 16.Bd2 Na5 17.b3²
9.f4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qb6 11.Nc2 Nb4?!
11...e6!?
12.Nxb4 Qxb4+ 13.Kf2 Ba4 14.b3 Bb5 15.Nf3
15.a3!? Qc3 16.Bxb5+ axb5 17.Be3 e6 18.Ne2±
15...Bxf1 16.Rxf1 e6 17.f5 Ne7 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nh4 g5 20.hxg6 Rg8 21.Qd3 Qb5 22.Qb1 Nc6
23.Be3 Be7 24.Nf3 Bg5 25.Bxg5?
25.Nxg5 hxg5 26.Kg3ƒ
25...hxg5 26.Rh1 O-O-O 27.Rh7 Kb8 28.a3
28.g7!?
28...Rdf8

448
28...Rc8 29.Ra2
29.Rf7

29...Qb6?
29...Rxf7! 30.gxf7 Rf8 31.Qg6 Nd8 32.Nxg5 Nxf7 33.Nxf7 Qe8 34.Kg3 Rxf7©
30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.g7+- Rg8 32.Qh7 Ne7 33.b4 Qc6 34.Rd1 Qc3 35.Nxg5 Qb2+ 36.Kg3 Qxa3+
37.Rd3
37.Kh4! Qxb4 38.Rf1 Ka7 39.Nxe6
37...Qxb4 38.Nxe6?†
38.Kh4!+-
38...Qe1+ 39.Kf4 Qf1+?†
39...Qc1+! 40.Re3 Ka7 41.Qh3 (41.Ng5 a5„) 41...Qc2!„
40.Kg5! a5 41.Qh3 Qc1+ 42.Kf6 Qc6 43.Rc3 Qe8 44.Qh5 1-0

32. * B12
Iljiushenok, Ilia (2515) - Predke, Alexandr (2676)
Russia 146/32, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O c5 7.c4 Nbc6 8.dxc5 d4 9.Qa4?!
9.Qb3
9...Ng6 10.b4?

449
10.Rd1 d3 11.Be3 Be7 12.Bxd3 Bxd3 13.Qb3 Ngxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.f4 Nxc4 16.Rxd3 Qa5
17.Nd2 Nxe3 18.Qxb7 O-O

19.Qxe7?N (19.Nb3 Qa4 20.Qxe7 Nd5∞) 19...Nd5µ Savic,M (2453)-Goh,W (2474) Novi Sad
146/(32) 2019
10...a5 11.b5 Ncxe5µ

11...Nb4 - 56/143
12.c6N

450
12.Ba3 Rc8µ
12...bxc6 13.bxc6 d3 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bd1
15.c7+ Qd7µ
15...Bd6 16.c5 Bc7 17.g4?

17.Bb2 O-Oƒ
17...Nxg4-+
17...Rb8! ∆ Rb4-+
18.Bxg4
18.Bf4 Nxh2!? (18...Rb8-+) 19.Bxh2 Qg5+ 20.Bg3 (20.Kh1 Qh6 21.f4 Qf6-+) 20...Bxg3 21.c7+
Ke7 22.fxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Kh1 Qh3+ 24.Kg1 Qe3+ 25.Kh2 Be4-+
18...Qh4 19.h3 h5 20.Bd1 Be4! 21.Bg4 Bh2+! 22.Kxh2 hxg4 23.c7+ Kf8 0-1

33. * B13
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger 146/33, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.h3 g6

5...Nc6 - 18/184
6.Nf3 Bf5

451
7.Be2! Nbd7N
7...Bg7N - 146/(33) 8.O-O O-O 9.c3 Qc7 10.Be3 Nc6 11.Nbd2 Rad8 12.Re1 Rfe8 13.Rc1 h6 14.b4²
Antipov,M (2562) -Ivanchuk,V (2698) Gibraltar 146/(33) 2020; 7...Qc7
8.O-O e6!?

9.Bf4
9.c4! Bg7 10.Nc3 dxc4 (10...O-O? 11.g4! Be4 12.Nh2 (∆ f3) 12...dxc4 13.g5+-) 11.Bxc4 O-O
12.Re1 Rc8 13.Bb3 h5 14.Bg5ƒ
9...Qb6 10.b3 g5?!

452
10...Ne4!? 11.c4 (11.g4 g5 12.Nxg5 Nxg5 13.Bxg5 Rg8 14.Qd2 h6 15.Bxh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Qxd4
17.c3 Qe5 18.Qe3 Qxe3 19.fxe3 Rc8©) 11...Bg7 12.c5 Qd8 13.Bb5 O-O 14.Bxd7 Qxd7 15.g4 g5
16.Bh2 Bg6 17.Ne5 Bxe5 (17...Qd8 18.Nd2²) 18.Bxe5 f6 19.Bh2²
11.Bxg5 Ne4 12.Bh4?!
12.Be3 Rg8 13.Kh1±
12...Rg8 13.Kh1 e5! 14.dxe5
14.Nxe5? Nxe5 15.dxe5 Be7! 16.Bxe7 (16.Bg3 Rxg3 17.fxg3 Qe3! (17...Nxg3+ 18.Kh2 Nxf1+
19.Qxf1 Bxc2 20.Bh5 Qe6³) 18.Bb5+ Kf8 19.Rf3 Nxg3+ 20.Kh2 Qxe5 21.Rxg3 Bh4 22.Qf3 Be4
23.Qc3 Bxg3+ 24.Qxg3 Qxa1-+) 16...Qxf2 17.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 18.Kh2 Nxd1-+
14...Qg6?
14...Be7! 15.Bxe7 (15.Kh2 Qh6) 15...Nxf2+ 16.Rxf2 Qxf2 17.Bg5 h6! 18.Nc3 hxg5 19.Nxd5 g4
20.Qd4 Qxe2 21.Qb4 Kd8 22.Qe7+ Kc8 23.Qd6 Kd8 24.Qc7+ (24.Re1?! gxf3! 25.Rxe2 fxe2
26.Qe7+ Kc8 27.Qb4 a5 28.Qc4+! Kb8 (28...Kd8 29.Qh4+ Kc8 30.Ne7+±) 29.Qc7+ Ka7
30.Qxa5+ Kb8 31.Qc7+ Ka7=) 24...Ke8 25.Qd6 Kd8=
15.Rg1 Bc5 16.Qe1 Rc8
16...Qb6 17.Nc3! Nxf2+ (17...Bxf2 18.Bxf2 Nxf2+ 19.Kh2+-) 18.Bxf2 Bxf2 19.Nxd5+-
17.Nbd2 Qb6
17...Bb4

18.Nxe4! (18.c3! Bxc3 19.Rc1 Kf8 20.Nxe4 Bxe1 21.Rxc8+ Kg7 22.Bf6+! Nxf6 23.exf6+ Kh8
24.Nh4 Rxc8 25.Nxg6+ Bxg6 26.Nd6 Rc6 27.Nxf7+ Bxf7 28.Rxe1 Rxf6 29.Bf3+-) 18...Bxe1

453
19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Nxc8 Bb4 21.c3 Bc5 22.b4 Kg7 23.bxc5 Rxc8 24.Bf6+!! Nxf6 25.Nh4 Qg5
26.exf6+ Kxf6 27.Nxf5 Qxf5 28.Bg4+-
18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Nh2
19.e6! Qxe6 (19...Bxe6 20.Nd2 f5 21.Nc4 Qc7 22.Rd1 Rg7 23.Qd2 (23.g4!?) 23...Kf7 24.Nd6+
Bxd6 25.Qxd6 Qxd6 26.Rxd6+-) 20.Bc4 Qh6 21.Bd5+-
19...Nxe5 20.Rd1 Qh6 21.Bg3 Rxg3 22.fxg3 Bxg1 23.Qxg1 Qb6
23...Rxc2 24.Qf2+-
24.Qf1 Bg6 25.Qf4 f6 26.Ng4 Nxg4 27.Bxg4 Rd8 28.Rf1
28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.h4+-
28...Qd6 29.Qh6
29.Qxf6? Qxf6 30.Rxf6 Ke7 31.Rf1 Rd2„
29...Qe5 30.Qg7?!
30.h4! Ke7 (30...e3 31.Re1+-) 31.h5 Bf7 32.Qxh7 e3 33.Rf4 e2 34.Bxe2 Qxe2 35.Re4++-
30...Qe7 31.Qg8+ Qf8 32.Qc4 Qe7 33.Qg8+ Qf8 34.Qc4 Qe7 35.Bf5?
35.Rd1 Rxd1+ 36.Bxd1+-; 35.Qa4+ Kf7 36.Qxa7 Rd2 37.Rf2 e3 38.Re2 Rxe2 39.Bxe2 Bxc2
40.Kh2+-
35...Kf8 36.Qc3 Kg7 37.Qe3 Rd5 38.g4 b5 39.Rf4 Re5 40.c4 bxc4 41.bxc4 a5 42.h4 Bxf5 43.gxf5
h5 44.Rf1
44.g4 Qd8! (44...hxg4? 45.Rxg4+ Kh7 46.Rg6 Qf8 47.Qf4!+- ∆ Qg4-h5) 45.gxh5

454
45...Re7!! (45...Qd3? 46.Rg4+ Kh7 47.Qa7++-) 46.h6+ (46.Rxe4? Qa8-+) 46...Kh8 (46...Kh7
47.Qg3) 47.Rg4 Qd3 48.Qxd3 exd3 49.Rd4 Re2 50.Rxd3 Rxa2=
44...Kh7 45.Qe2 Qe8 46.Qe3 Qe7 47.Rf2 Qc5 48.Qxc5 Rxc5 49.Rc2 e3 50.Kg1 1/2-1/2

34. B13
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger 146/34, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Qb3 Qc7 7.h3 Bd7 8.Nf3 Nc6
8...e6 9.O-O Bd6 10.Re1 Bc6 11.Qd1 Nbd7 12.Qe2 O-O 13.Ne5 (13.Nbd2?! Nh5!„ - 144/33)
13...Bxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Bc2!? Nxe5 (15...f5 16.a4 Rac8 17.Na3 a6∞) 16.Bf4 (16.f3? Bb5!
17.Qxb5 Nxf3+-+) 16...f6 17.Nd2 Qb6 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qxb2 21.Rab1 Qxa2
22.Rxb7 Qd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.Rxe5 Rf7=
9.O-O e6 10.Re1 Bd6

455
11.Bg5N
11.Qc2 O-O 12.Qe2 Be8 13.Nbd2 Nh5 14.Nf1 Nf4 15.Bxf4 Bxf4∞
11...O-O 12.Nbd2 Nh5 13.Qd1 f6 14.Be3 Nf4 15.Bf1 g5!? 16.c4!? Kh8 17.Rc1 Rg8 18.Bxf4 Bxf4
19.b4?
19.Rc3 Rg7 20.g3 Bd6 21.Bg2∞
19...Qd6 20.b5 Ne7 21.c5
21.g3 g4!​→; 21.Rc3
21...Qc7 22.g3

456
22...g4!​→ 23.hxg4 Rxg4 24.Bh3 Rg7 25.Kh1 e5! 26.Bxd7
26.dxe5 fxe5 (26...Bxh3? 27.exf6) 27.Ng1 Bxh3 28.Nxh3 Bh6µ
26...Qxd7 27.Nh2
27.Ng1 e4 28.Rc3 (28.Rb1 e3 29.gxf4 exf2-+) 28...Bc7-+
27...Qh3 28.Rg1 Rag8 29.Qe2 e4! 30.Rc3 Nf5 31.Nxe4
31.Nb3 e3-+
31...dxe4 32.Qxe4 Bxg3 33.Rg2 Re7 34.Qb1 Rge8 0-1

35. ** B15
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger 146/35, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Qc2 Re8+ 9.Ne2
h5!?

457
10.Be3
10.Bd2 Nd7 11.O-O Nf8 12.Rae1 h4 13.h3 Bc7! 14.b3 g6 15.Kh1 a5 (15...Qd6?! 16.Bf4 Rxe2!
17.Bxd6 Rxc2 18.Bxc7 Rxa2 19.Re8 Kg7 20.Bd6 Nd7∞ ∆ Nb6) 16.Ng1 Be6 17.f4 f5∞; 10.O-O h4
11.Re1 (11.h3 - 140/46) 11...Nd7 12.Bd2 h3∞
10...Nd7 11.O-O-O
11.O-O Nf8 12.h3 Be6∞; 11.Ng3

11...Bf4? (11...Nb6! 12.O-O Nd5 13.Bd2 h4 14.Ne4 h3 15.g3 Bf8 16.Rae1 b5 17.Qd1 g6 18.b3
Bf5∞) 12.O-O! Bxe3 13.fxe3 Rxe3 14.Nxh5 Nf8 15.Qd2 Qe7 16.Rae1 Rxe1N (16...Re6 17.Qf2 Qd6

458
18.Rxe6 Qxe6 19.h3±) 17.Rxe1

17...Qd6? (17...Qd8 18.Qf4 Ng6 19.Qg3±) 18.Re8 b5 19.Qe3 Bb7 20.Qe7 Qxe7 21.Rxe7 Rb8
22.Nf4 a5 23.h4+- Maghsoodloo,P (2676)-Stefanova,A (2462) europe-echecs.com (Int. -rapid)
146/(35) 2020
11...b5
11...Nf8 12.Kb1 (12.Ng3 Be6! 13.Kb1 (13.Nxh5 Qa5 14.g4 Qxa2 15.Bh6 Bb3 16.Qd2 Qa1+
17.Bb1 Bxd1 18.Bxg7 Ng6 19.Qh6 Re6 20.Rxd1 Ba3 21.bxa3 Qxc3+ 22.Bc2 Qa1+=) 13...g6
14.Ne4 b5!?∞) 12...Be6 13.c4 Rc8 14.h3 h4 15.Nc3 Ng6!?∞
12.d5!?
12.Kb1N Nb6 13.Bc1 Be6 14.Rhe1 Bc4 (14...a5!?) 15.Ng3 Bxg3 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.hxg3 Bxd3
18.Qxd3 Qe6³ Azarov,S (2604) -Van Foreest,J (2682) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(35) 2020; 12.h3;
12.Ng3
12...c5 13.Bxb5 Rb8?
13...a6! 14.Bc6 (14.Ba4 Re5! 15.c4 (15.Bf4?? Rxe2-+; 15.Bc6 Nb6! 16.Bxa8 Bf5 17.Qb3

459
17...Rxe3!! 18.fxe3 c4-+) 15...Nb6 16.Bc6 Bf5 17.Rd3 Rb8µ; 14.Bd3 Ne5ƒ) 14...Rb8 15.Rd2 Re7
16.Ng3 Ne5 17.Qa4 c4 18.Rhd1 h4 19.Ne2 Bf5©
14.c4!² a6 15.Ba4

15...Re7?N
15...Re5! 16.Nc3 Rb4 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.Ne4 Bf5 19.f3 Qe7 20.Bd2 a5 21.Bxb4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 axb4©
16.Ng3 Ne5 17.Ne4?
17.Bd2! Reb7 18.b3±

460
17...Reb7 18.b3 Rb4! 19.Bd2 Rxa4 20.bxa4 Bf5 21.Rde1

21...h4??
21...Ng4! 22.f3 (22.Bc3? Bf4+ 23.Kd1 Qd7µ; 22.Re2 Be5 23.h3 Rb2 24.Qd3 Rxa2 25.hxg4 Bxe4
26.Rxe4 Ra1+ 27.Kc2 Rxh1 28.gxh5∞) 22...Bxe4 23.fxe4 Be5 24.Bc3 Bd4©
22.h3 Ng6 23.Re3 Nf4 24.g4 Bg6 25.Kd1! f5 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.gxf5 Bh5+ 28.f3 Qf6 29.Bc3 Qg5
30.Qe4??
30.Rhe1+-
30...Qg2??
30...Kh7! 31.Rf1 (31.f6+? Bg6; 31.Bd2 Qg2! 32.Rhe1 Rb2 33.Bc3 Nxh3! 34.Kc1 Nf2!µ; 31.Rhe1
Ng2 32.R3e2 Nxe1 33.Bxe1 f6©; 31.Be5 Nxd5!! 32.cxd5 Rb1+ 33.Qxb1 Qxe3 34.Kc2 Bxf3 35.Qe1
Qe4+=) 31...f6 32.d6 Re8 33.Bxf6 Qxf6 34.Qxf4 Qa1+ 35.Ke2 Qb2+ 36.Kd3 Qa3+ 37.Kd2 Qb2+
38.Kd1=
31.Rhe1 Qxa2?
RR31...f6 32.d6 Qxa2 33.d7 Rb1+ (33...Kh7 34.Qc2 Qxc4 35.Kc1 Rd8 36.Bxf6! Qxc2+ 37.Kxc2
gxf6

461
38.Re4! Ng2 39.Re7+ Kh6 40.R1e6 Kg5 41.Rc6+-) 34.Qxb1 Qxb1+ 35.Kd2 Qa2+ 36.Kc1 Qa3+
37.Kb1 Qb3+ 38.Bb2 Qb6 39.Re8++-
32.Qc2! Qxc4
32...Qa3 33.Be5 Bxf3+ 34.Kd2 Qb4+ 35.Qc3+-
33.Re8++- Kh7
33...Rxe8 34.Rxe8+ Kh7 35.Rh8+! Kxh8 36.Bxg7+ Kxg7 37.Qxc4+-
34.Rxb8 Qxd5+ 35.Qd2 Bxf3+ 36.Kc1 Qxf5 37.Re3 Ne2+ 38.Kb2 Nxc3 39.Qxc3 Qf4 40.Qd3+ f5
41.Rf8 Qb4+ 42.Kc1 Be4 43.Qb3 Qd4 44.Qc3 Qd6 45.Rf7 Qg6 46.Rd7 Qg1+ 47.Kb2 c4 48.Rxe4
fxe4 49.Rd4 Qf2+ 50.Qd2 c3+ 51.Kxc3 Qg3+ 52.Kb2 Qxh3 53.Rxe4 Qg3 54.Qd4 Qg2+ 55.Kc3
Qf3+ 56.Kb4 Qf8+ 57.Ka5 Qf5+ 58.Kxa6 g5 59.a5 h3 60.Re7+ Kg6 61.Qg7+ Kh5 62.Qh7+ Kg4
63.Re4+ 1-0

36. * B19
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger 146/36, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6
10.Bf4 Ngf6 11.O-O-O Be7

462
11...Nd5 - 84/81
12.Nf1!?N
12.Kb1; 12.Ne5; 12.Ne4
12...Ng4 - 146/36
12...Qa5N 13.Kb1 Rd8 14.Bc1 Nc5 15.Qe2 Na4 16.c4 O-O 17.Qc2

(17.Ne3! c5 18.d5 exd5 19.Nf5 Bd6 20.Qc2 ∆ g4‚) 17...c5∞ Aronian, L (2767)-Firouzja,A (2728)
Stavanger (rapid-Armageddon) 146/(36) 2020

463
13.Qe2 Qa5 14.Kb1 Qb5 15.Rd3
15.Qd2? Bb4! 16.c3 Bxc3! 17.Qxc3 Qf5+-+
15...Nb6 16.N3d2
16.Ne3?! Nxe3 17.fxe3 Na4! 18.c4 Qxc4 19.Ne5 Qb5 20.Qc2 Nb6 21.Rb3 Qa6 22.g4©
16...Nf6
16...Na4?! 17.Nc4! Qxc4 18.Qxg4 Qb4 19.Bc1 Bf6 20.Ng3 ∆ Nh5±
17.Ne3 Nfd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qe4 Nxf4 20.Qxf4 Qd5 21.Nf3 O-O 22.Ne5
22.g4 Rad8 23.g5 h5∞
22...f6?!
22...Bd6!? 23.Rg3 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Rad8 25.Qxh6 Qxe5∞
23.Ng4?!

23.Nf3 Rad8 24.Re1² ×e6

23...Bd6
23...Qxg2!? 24.Rdd1 Qd5 (24...f5 25.Nxh6+ Kh8 26.Rhg1 Qh3! (26...Qe4 27.Qg3 Bf6 28.Qg6+-)
27.Qc7 Rae8 28.Qd7 gxh6 29.Rg6 Qxh4 30.Rxe6 Rg8 31.a4 h5 32.Rde1 Qxf2 33.Rxe7 Qxe1+!
34.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35.Ka2 Rf8∞) 25.Rhg1 (25.Qc7 Qd6 26.Qxb7 a5³) 25...Kh7 26.Ne3 Qd7 27.Qg4
Bd8∞
24.Qc1 Rad8

464
24...Qxg2 25.Rg1 Qd5 26.Nxh6+ Kh8 27.Ng4 Qh5∞
25.Qd1 Bc7 26.Re1 Bb6 27.f3 Qf5
27...c5 28.Ne3 Qc6 29.d5±
28.Re4 Rfe8 29.Qe2 Kh8
29...c5 30.Ne3 Qh5 31.d5ƒ; 29...Qh5! 30.Rxe6 Kf8© ×d4
30.a3 Qd5 31.Ne3
31.Ne3 Qd7 32.g4²
1/2-1/2

37. * !N B19
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger 146/37, 2020

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3
10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.O-O-O Be7 13.Kb1 O-O 14.Ne4 c5

15.Be3!?
15.g4 Nxg4 16.Qe2 Qb6 17.Ne5 Ndxe5 18.dxe5 f5 19.exf6 Nxf6 20.Rdg1 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Bf6 22.b3

465
22...Qc6?N (22...Qd6?! 23.Bxh6 Qd4 24.Qxd4 Bxd4 25.Bxg7 Bxg7 26.h6± - 108/(201)) 23.Qxc6
bxc6 24.Bxh6± Zwahr,P (2277)-Chmiel,M (2267) Wroclaw 146/(37) 2020
15...Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6! 17.Qxb7 Nd5
17...Rb8 18.Qa6 Nd5
18.Qa6
18.dxc5 Nc3+!
18...Rb8?!
18...Qc7 19.dxc5 Nxe3 20.fxe3 Qxc5©
19.Bd2?!
19.dxc5! Nc3+ (19...Bf6? 20.Bd4±; 19...Qc7 20.Bd4!±) 20.Kc1 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Qc7 22.Qc4²
19...cxd4 20.Nxd4 Bf6 21.Nb3 Qc7 22.Rhe1 Rfc8 23.Rc1?
23.Qd3! a5 24.Bxa5 Qxa5 25.Nxa5 Rxb2+ 26.Kc1 Rxa2 27.Qb3! (27.Nc4? Bc3-+; 27.Nb3? Nb4)
27...Rxa5 28.c4 Rac5 29.Re4 Nc3 30.Rg4 Nxd1 31.Kxd1∞
23...Nb6 24.Re4

466
24...Nc4!N µ
24...Qc6 - 85/100
25.Bf4
25.c3 Qd7 (25...Rxb3? 26.Rxc4) 26.Rxc4 Qd3+-+
25...Qb6 26.Qxb6 Rxb6 27.Be3
27.c3 a5µ
27...Rb4 28.f3
28.Bd4 Rxb3 29.axb3 Nd2+-+
28...a5 29.Rxc4
29.c3 Rb5
29...Rcxc4 30.Bd2 Rb5 31.Bxa5 Rxh5 32.Rg1

467
32...Rb5
32...Rch4! 33.Rc1 (33.Rd1 Rh1 34.Be1 Re5-+) 33...Rh1 34.c4 (34.Be1 Bg5 35.Rd1 Bh4-+; 34.a4
Rxc1+ 35.Kxc1 Rh4 36.g4 h5 37.Bc7 hxg4 38.fxg4 Rxg4 39.a5 Bg5+ 40.Kd1 Rb4-+) 34...Rxc1+
35.Kxc1 Kf8-+
33.Bd2 h5 34.c3 g5 35.Kc2 g4 36.Nc1 g3
36...gxf3 37.gxf3+ Kh7 38.Rh1 Rh4-+
37.b3 Rc8 38.a4 Rf5 39.Ne2 h4 40.c4 e5
40...Kf8 41.Rh1 Ke7 42.Nc3 Kd7µ
41.Be3
41.a5? e4! 42.f4 e3! 43.Be1 (43.Bxe3 Rxa5-+) 43...Rd5µ
41...Bg5 42.Bxg5 Rxg5 43.Rh1 Rh5 44.Kc3
44.Nxg3 Rg5 45.Ne4 Rxg2+ 46.Kc3©
44...f5 45.b4 f4 46.a5?
46.b5! h3 47.Rxh3 Rxh3 48.gxh3 e4 (48...Ra8? 49.b6!+-) 49.Ng1! Re8 50.b6 Kf7 51.fxe4 (51.a5?
exf3 52.Nxf3 Re3+ 53.Kb2 Rxf3 54.b7 g2-+) 51...Ke6 52.a5 Kd7 53.Kd4 f3! 54.Nxf3 g2 55.a6 Rf8
56.Ng1 Rf1 57.a7 Rxg1 58.a8=Q Rd1+ 59.Ke5 g1=Q 60.Qb7+ Ke8 61.Qc8+ Kf7 62.Qb7+ Kg6
63.Qc6+ Kh7 (63...Kh5?? 64.Qe8+ Kh4 65.Qh8+) 64.Qb7+=; 46.Ng1! e4 47.fxe4 Re8 48.a5 Rxe4
49.a6 Re3+ 50.Kd4 Ra3 51.b5 Ra1

468
52.Rh3! (52.Kc3 Kf7 53.Kb2 Ra5 54.Kb3 Ra1=) 52...Rxg1 53.a7 Ra1 54.b6 Rh7 55.Rxh4 Rxh4
56.b7 f3+ 57.Kc3 Kh7 58.b8=Q f2 59.Qc7+ Kh6 60.Qb6+ Kh5 61.Qb5+ Kg4 62.Qd7+ Kf4
63.Qd4+=
46...h3 47.gxh3
47.Rxh3 Rxh3 48.gxh3 Ra8!! 49.c5 Kf7 50.Kc4 Ke6-+
47...e4 48.fxe4
48.Nxf4 Rf5 49.Rg1 Rxf4 50.Rxg3+ Kf7 51.fxe4 Rxe4 52.c5 Rb8 53.Rg4 Rbxb4-+
48...g2 49.Rg1 Rxh3+ 50.Kd4 f3 51.c5 Kf7 52.Nf4 f2 0-1

38. * B22
Tadic, Stefan (2257) - Sanal, Vahap (2581)
Srbija 146/38, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 Be7 7.Na3 Nc6?!
7...O-O - 22/342
8.Nb5 Qd8 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Bf4 Nd5?!
11...Ke7N 12.b4 Nd5 13.Bg5+ f6 14.bxc5 fxg5

469
15.Nxg5 (15.Bc4!? a6 16.Nbd4 Nxc3 17.Nxc6+ bxc6 18.O-O!?ƒ) 15...a6 16.Nd4 Nxc3 17.Nxc6+
bxc6 18.Bf3

18...Ra7 (18...Rb8! 19.Bxc6 Rf8©) 19.Kd2 Nd5 20.Rab1² Licznerski,L (2341)-Greenfeld,A (2510)
Suwalki 146/(38) 2019; 11...a6
12.O-O-Oƒ Ke7 13.Bg3 a6 14.Nbd4

470
14...Bd7N
14...f6? 15.c4 Nxd4 (15...Ndb4 16.Nb3 Ba7 (16...b6 17.a3+-) 17.Bd6+ Kf7 18.a3+-) 16.Nxd4 Bxd4
(16...Nb4 17.Nb3+-) 17.Rxd4 Nb6 18.Bd6+ Kf7 19.f4+-; 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bd7 16.Rhe1ƒ ∆Rhc8
17.Nb3 Bb6 18.Rxd5! exd5 19.Bxa6+ Kd8 20.Bxb7 Rxa2 21.Rd1!±
15.Nf5+! Kf8 16.Nd6 b5 17.c4
17.Ng5!? f6 18.Nge4 (18.Ngf7!? Rg8 19.Bf3±) 18...Bb6 19.Bf3±
17...bxc4 18.Bxc4 Nce7 19.Ne5 Be8
¹19...Bxd6 20.Nxd7+ Ke8 21.Bxd6 Kxd7 22.Bg3 (22.Bxe7? Rhc8! 23.b3 Kxe7=) 22...Rhc8 23.b3±
20.Nxe8 Kxe8 21.Rhe1 Nb6

471
22.Be2
22.Nxf7! Kxf7 23.Bxe6+ Kg6 24.Bb3 Rhc8 25.Re6+ Kf5 26.Kb1 Ng6 (26...Rc6 27.Rxc6 Nxc6
28.Rc1+-) 27.Rd3 Re8 (27...Rf8 28.Rf3+ Kg5 29.h4+ Nxh4 30.Re5+ Kh6 31.Rxf8 Bxf8 32.Bxh4+-)
28.Rc6 Rac8 29.Be6+! Rxe6 30.Rf3+! Ke4 31.Rxe6+ Kd5 32.Re1+-
22...Bb4 23.Rf1 Nf5 24.Kb1 Nxg3

25.fxg3!+- Rf8
25...f6 26.Bh5+ g6 (26...Kf8 27.Nd7+ Nxd7 28.Rxd7 Be7 29.Rc1+-) 27.Rxf6 gxh5 28.Rxe6++-
26.Bf3 Rc8 27.Bc6+ Ke7 28.Bb7 Rc7 29.Nc6+ Rxc6 30.Bxc6 a5 31.Rf2 Bd6 32.Rc2 Rb8 33.Kc1

472
h5 34.Bf3 Na4
34...h4 35.gxh4 Bxh2 36.g4 Bf4+ 37.Kb1+-
35.Rc6 Be5 36.b3 Nc3 37.Rd2 a4 38.bxa4 Nxa4
38...Rb1+ 39.Kc2 Ra1 40.Kb3+-
39.Rdc2 g6 40.Rc8 Rb6 41.Kd2 Nb2 42.Ke2 Ra6 43.Ra8 Rb6 44.Ra7+ Kf6 45.Rb7 Na4 46.Rxb6
Nxb6 47.Rc6 Bd4 48.Rc7 e5 49.Bc6 Nc4 50.Bd5 Nd6 51.Kd3 Kf5 52.Rc6 Nb7 53.Bxf7 Nd8
54.Bxg6+ Kg5 55.Ra6 1-0

39. *** B22

Aronian, Levon (2767) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger 146/39, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5

4...exd5 - 144/35
5.d4 Nf6 6.Na3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nb5 Qd7
8...Qd8 - 103/79
9.Nbxd4 a6
9...Bd6 10.Nxc6

10...bxc6N (10...Qxc6?! 11.Bb5! Qxb5 12.Qxd6ƒ) 11.Bd4 Bb7 12.Ne5 Qe7 13.Nc4 Bc7 14.Qb3
Ba6 15.Qa3! Qxa3 16.Nxa3 Bxf1 17.Kxf1² Van Foreest,J (2644)-Yu,Y (2726) Wijk aan Zee
146/(39) 2020

473
9...Nd5 10.Bd2 Bd6 (10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 a6 12.Bd3

12...Be7N (12...g6 13.h4 e5 14.Nf3 Bg7 15.h5 O-O 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Qe2 Re8 18.O-O-O e4 19.Bxe4
Qa4=) 13.Qe2 (13.Qg4 e5 14.Bf5 (14.Qxg7!? Bf6 15.Qh6 exd4 16.O-O©) 14...Qc7 15.Bxc8 Qxc8
16.Qe4 exd4 17.Qxd5 Bf6 18.cxd4 O-O 19.O-O (19.Be3 Rd8 20.Qc5 Qd7 21.Rd1 Qa4ƒ) 19...Rd8=)
13...O-O 14.O-O Qc7 15.Rfe1 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Qxf4= Blomqvist,E (2538)-Gajewski,G (2614)
ProChessLeague (Int.-rapid) 146/ (39) 2020) 11.Nxc6 (11.Bd3 O-O 12.O-O Re8 13.Re1 Nxd4
14.Nxd4 a6 15.c4 Nf6 16.Bg5²) 11...bxc6

12.Bd3N (12.c4) 12...Rb8 13.Qc2 h6 14.O-O c5 15.Rad1 Qc7∞ Van Foreest,J (2644)-Duda,J (2758)
Wijk aan Zee 146/ (39) 2020

474
10.Bd3 Bd6 11.O-O

11...Ne7!?N
11...O-O 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bd4ƒ
12.Qc2 O-O 13.Bg5 Ng6 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Rfe1 Bd7
15...b6 16.h4! Bb7 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nxe6! fxe6 20.Qxg6+ Kh8 21.Rxe6 Rad8
22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Qg4+ Kh8 24.Ng5! Bh2+ (24...fxg5 25.Qh5+ Kg8 26.Qxg5+ Qg7 27.Rg6+-)
25.Kh1 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Be5 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.Rxe5! fxe5 29.Ne6 Qe7 30.Qg6+ Kh8 31.Nxf8 Qxf8
32.Qh5+ Kg8 33.Qxe5+-
16.g3 Rfe8 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.h4 Kh8?
18...Kg7!? 19.h5 Ne7 (19...Nf8 20.c4²) 20.Bxh7 Rad8©; 18...Rad8!? 19.h5 Ne7! (19...Nf8 20.Qd2ƒ)
20.Bxh7+ Kh8©
19.Qd2!
19.h5 Ne7! 20.Bxh7?! Bxg3! 21.fxg3 Qxg3+ 22.Kh1 e5ƒ
19...Bf8
19...Kg7? 20.h5 Ne7 21.h6+ Kg8 (21...Kh8 22.Bc2! Rad8 23.Ng5!! Rf8 24.Nxh7 Rg8 (24...Bxg3
25.Nxf8 Bh2+ 26.Kf1 Rxf8 27.Qd3 Ng6 28.Nxe6! Bxe6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Qxg6+-) 25.Nxf6 Bxg3
26.Nxg8 Rxg8 27.Kf1+-) 22.Nh2!​→ ∆Ng6 23.Bxg6 fxg6 24.Ne2+-
20.h5 Ne7 21.Bc2 Red8
21...Rad8? 22.Qd3 f5 23.Ne5 Kg8 24.Nxf5! Nxf5 25.Nxd7+-

475
22.Qd3 f5 23.g4?
23.Ne5 Be8; 23.Ng5! Be8 (23...Kg8 24.Bb3 (24.Nxf7! Kxf7 25.Bb3+-) 24...Bc8 25.Nxf7 Kxf7
26.Rxe6 Kg7 (26...Bxe6 27.Nxe6 Rxd3 28.Nxc7++-) 27.Nxf5+ Nxf5 28.Qxd8 Qxd8 29.Rxd8 Bxe6
30.Rxa8+-) 24.Qe2! Rxd4 (24...Nc6 25.Ndxe6! fxe6 26.Nxe6+-) 25.Rxd4 Nc6 26.Rdd1+-
23...f6
23...Qf4!? 24.Ne5 (24.gxf5? Qg4+ 25.Kf1 Bb5 26.c4 Qh3+ 27.Ke2 Nd5!​→) 24...Be8 25.Qg3
Qxg3+ 26.fxg3∞
24.g5

24.gxf5 e5 25.Rxe5™ fxe5 26.Ng5 Bb5 27.Nxb5 Rxd3 28.Nxc7 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Rc8 30.Nce6 Nxf5
31.Nf7+ Kg8 32.Nxe5³
24...Qf4! 25.gxf6 Qg4+!
25...Nd5 26.Ne5! Qg5+ 27.Qg3 Qxf6 28.Nxd7 Rxd7 29.Rxe6+-
26.Kf1
26.Kh1? Bc6-+
26...Qh3+

476
27.Ke2
27.Kg1! Qg4+ (27...Bc6? 28.Qf1! Qxh5 29.Nxc6 Nxc6 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Qg2 Bh6 32.Kf1 Rg8
33.Qh2+-) 28.Kf1 Qh3+=
27...Nd5 28.Qd2 Bb5+! 29.Nxb5 Qg4!
29...axb5? 30.Rg1 Qxh5 31.Qg5+-
30.Qg5 Nf4+
30...Qc4+? 31.Bd3 Nf4+ 32.Kf1 Nxd3 33.Na3!+-
31.Ke3 Ng2+ 32.Ke2 Qc4+!?
32...Nf4+ 33.Ke3=
33.Bd3
33.Rd3! Nf4+ (33...Rxd3 34.Bxd3 Nf4+ 35.Ke3 Qxd3+ (35...Nxd3? 36.Nd6+-) 36.Kxf4+-) 34.Kf1
h6! (34...Rxd3 35.Na3! Rxf3+ 36.Nxc4 Rxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Nh3+ 38.Ke2 Nxg5 39.Rd1±; 34...Nxd3
35.Nbd4! h6! (35...Nxe1+ 36.Kxe1 Rxd4! 37.Nxd4 Qd5 38.Kd2! f4 39.Qxd5 exd5 40.Bb3±)
36.Qg3 (36.Qe3 Nxe1+ 37.Kxe1 Qxa2 38.Ne5 Rxd4 39.Qxd4 Qd5∞) 36...Nxe1+ 37.Kxe1 Rxd4
38.Nxd4 Qxa2 39.Kd2 Rd8 40.Kc1∞) 35.Ne5 hxg5 36.Nxc4 Nxd3! (36...Rxd3 37.Bxd3 Nxd3
38.Nc7 Rc8 39.Nxe6 Nxe1 40.Ne5! Nd3! (40...Nc2? 41.Ng6+ Kg8 42.Nxg5±) 41.Nxd3 Bd6²)
37.Bxd3 axb5 38.Ne5 Rd5∞
33...Rxd3

477
34.Rxd3?†
34.Ne5!! Nf4+ 35.Kf1 Rg3+™ 36.Nxc4 Rxg5 37.Nc7 Rxh5 38.Kg1 Rg5+ (38...Rc8 39.Rd7=)
39.Kh2 (39.Kf1=) 39...Rc8! 40.Rd7 Rh5+ 41.Kg1 Rg5+ 42.Kh2=
34...Nf4+ 35.Ke3?
35.Qxf4!! Qxf4 36.Rd4 Qh6 37.Nc7 Rc8 38.Nxe6 Re8 39.Kd3 Qxf6 40.Nxf8 Rxe1 41.Nxh7!
(41.Nxe1 Qxf8µ) 41...Rd1+ 42.Ke2 Qc6!? (42...Kxh7 43.Kxd1∞) 43.Ne5! Qh1 44.Rxd1 Qe4+
45.Kf1 Qxe5 46.Ng5∞
35...Qe4+ 36.Kd2 Qxd3+ 37.Kc1 Qxf3 38.f7 Qg4 0-1

40. * B23
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger 146/40, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.f4 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Nd4 6.O-O Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.d3 a6 9.Nc3 b5
10.Qe1 Bb7 11.f5
11.Bd2 - 45/171
11...Nf6 12.Qh4 Qd7 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6

478
14...O-O-ON
14...gxf5N

- 146/(40) 15.Ng5?! (15.Nh4 fxe4 16.Rxf6! exf6 17.Qxf6 Rg8 18.Nf5 Rd8 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Re1 d5
21.dxe4 Qe6 22.Ng7+ Rxg7 23.Qxg7 h6 24.e5 d4 25.Rf1 Qg6=) 15...Rg8 16.Rxf5 Rg6

479
17.Qh3? (17.Qh4 O-O-O 18.Nxf7 Rdg8 19.g3 h5!?©) 17...O-O-O 18.Nxh7 (18.Nxf7? Rdg8 19.g3
e6-+) 18...Rdg8 19.Nxf6 Rxg2+ 20.Qxg2 (20.Kf1 exf6µ) 20...Rxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qxf5-+ McConnell,S
(1895) -Viani,A (2397) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(40) 2020; 14...Rg8
15.Ng5 Ng4 16.Qh3 Ne5 17.Nd5 Kb8
17...Bxd5 18.exd5 Rdg8∞ ∆ gf5
18.fxg6 Qxh3 19.gxh3!
19.Nxh3?! Bxd5 20.exd5 hxg6³
19...e6
19...Bxd5 20.exd5

480
20...Rdg8! (20...hxg6 21.Nxf7 Nxf7 22.Rxf7 Rde8 23.Re1 Rxh3 24.Rexe7 Rxe7 25.Rxe7 Rh5 26.Re6
Rg5+ 27.Kf2 Kc7 28.c4²) 21.Nxf7 Rxg6+ 22.Kh1 Nxf7 23.Rxf7 e6 24.dxe6 Rxe6 25.Rg1 Re2„
26.Rgg7 Rxc2 27.Rb7+ Ka8 28.Ra7+ Kb8=
20.Nf6 hxg6 21.Ng4! Nxg4?
21...Rh5 22.Nxf7 (22.Nxe5? Rxg5+-+) 22...Nxf7 23.Rxf7 c4! (23...Rxh3 24.Raf1 c4 25.Kg2 Rh5
26.Rg7ƒ) 24.Nf6 (24.Raf1 cxd3 25.cxd3 Rxh3=) 24...Rxh3 25.Rd1∞
22.hxg4 Rh4 23.Nxf7 Rxg4+ 24.Kh1 Rd7 25.Rf6 c4 26.Raf1± Rh4

26...d5? 27.Ne5+-

481
27.Rxe6?
27.Kg2! d5 28.Kg3 Rh5 29.e5 cxd3 30.cxd3 Rc7 31.h4 Rc2 32.Rxe6 Rxb2 (32...d4 33.Re8+ Ka7
34.Re7 Rh7 35.e6 Rxb2 36.Rd7+-) 33.Re8+ Ka7 34.Nd8 Rh7 35.e6+-
27...d5! 28.Nd6
28.e5? d4+ 29.Kg1 Rg4+-+
28...cxd3
28...dxe4!? 29.dxe4 Kc7! 30.Nxb7 (30.Rff6 c3! 31.bxc3 (31.b3 Rg4 32.h3 Rg3 33.Kh2 Re3 34.Rxg6
Re2+ 35.Kg3 Rxc2 36.Nxb7 Kxb7 37.Rxa6 Rd3+ 38.Kf4 Rf2+ 39.Ke5 Rxh3 40.Rab6+ Ka7=)
31...Rg4 (∆ Rd6!) 32.h3 Rg3 33.Kh2 Rxc3 34.Rxg6 Rh7!?„) 30...Kxb7 31.Rf2 g5©
29.cxd3 dxe4 30.dxe4 g5

31.Nxb7
31.Rf8+! Ka7 32.Kg1! (32.Kg2 Rdh7) 32...Rdh7 33.Rfe8! ∆ R8e7±
31...Kxb7 32.b4 Rhh7 33.Rff6
33.Rf2 Rd4 34.a3 Rd3=
33...Rd2 34.Rb6+ 1/2-1/2

482
B25-B49

41. * B29
Miron, Lucian Costin (2507) - Kantans, Toms (2499)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/41, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6
6...d6 7.Bb5+ (7.Bd3 - 7/311) 7...Nc6 8.O-O Be7 9.exd6 (9.c4!? - 5/350) 9...Qxd6 10.dxc5 Qxc5
11.Bd3²
7.dxc5
7.c3 - 137/46
7...Bxc5 8.Qxd5
8.c3 d6 9.b4?! Bb6 10.Qxd5 O-O 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.Qxd6 Bg4ƒ
8...Qb6
8...d6 9.exd6 Qb6 10.Qe4+ Be6 11.Qh4 Bxd6 (- 88/(99)) 12.Bd3²
9.Bc4
9.Qd2 O-O 10.Bd3 d6 11.O-O Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5=
9...Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 O-O 11.Rf1 Bc5 12.Ng5
12.c3 d6 13.Ng5 - 32/216 (13.b4 - 21/274)
12...Nd4+
¹12...Nxe5 13.Nxf7 (13.Qxe5 d5„ - 64/155) 13...Nxf7 14.Rxf7 Qe6+ 15.Qxe6 dxe6 16.Rxf8+
Kxf8 17.Bf4!? (17.Bg5 Bd7 18.Rf1+ Ke8 19.Bd3 Be7 20.h4 Rc8! 21.Bxe7 (21.Bxh7 Bb5+)
21...Kxe7 22.Ke3 h6 23.c4 Be8=) 17...Bd4 (17...Bd7 18.Rf1 Ke7 19.Bd3 Bd4 20.c3²) 18.Bd6+!
(18.Rf1 Ke7! (18...Bf6 19.Bd3 Kg8 20.Be4²) 19.Bd2 a5 20.Bd3 Bd7 21.c3 Bf6=) 18...Ke8 19.c3
Bf6 20.Bd3 Kf7 21.Be4²
13.Kd1 Ne6 14.Ne4!
14.Qe4? Nxg5 15.Bxg5 d5! 16.exd6 Qxd6+ 17.Kc1 (17.Bd3 Qxh2µ - 22/351) 17...Be6 18.Bxe6
fxe6 19.Rd1 Qxh2 20.Qxe6+ (20.b4 Bxb4! 21.Kb2 Qc7 22.Qxb4 Qe5+-+) 20...Kh8 21.Qd5 b6
22.a3 a5 23.b3 Rae8µ; 14.c3 d6„ - 23/334
14...d6!?
14...Be7 15.Nd6 (15.Bd2 Qxb2 16.Bc3 Qb6 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6 g6 19.Kc1 Qc5∞; 15.c3 Qc6

483
(15...d6 - 13/339) 16.Qd3 (16.a4 b6 17.Qxc6 dxc6 18.Kc2 Rd8=) 16...d5! 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Bd5 Qc7
19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Bf4 Qb6=) 15...Bxd6 (15...Qc6 16.a4 b6 17.Qxc6 dxc6 18.Ra3²) 16.exd6 Qc6
17.a4 (17.b4 b5! 18.Bb3 Bb7 19.Qxc6 Bxc6 20.g3 a5 21.bxa5 Rxa5=) 17...Rb8 (17...b6 18.Qxc6
dxc6 19.Ra3²) 18.Be3 Qxd5+ 19.Bxd5 b6 20.a5 Bb7 21.Rf5²
15.exd6 Rd8
15...Bxd6? 16.Nxd6 Rd8 17.Bf4!+- ∆Nxf4 18.Qxf7+ Kh8 19.Qg8+! Rxg8 20.Nf7#
16.Qh5
16.Bf4 Nxf4 17.Qxf7+ Kh8 18.Qxf4 Bxd6 19.Nxd6

19...Rxd6+! (19...Qxd6+ 20.Qxd6 Bg4+ 21.Kd2 Rxd6+ 22.Bd3±) 20.Kc1 Rf6 21.Qe5 Rxf1+
22.Bxf1 Bd7©; 16.Bd3!? Bxd6 17.Qh5 Qc7 (17...f5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Qxf5 Nf8!? (19...Qxh2
20.Qf7+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Rg8 22.Be3 Qxg2 23.Kc1! - 72/148) 20.Qf7+ Kh8

484
21.Qf4! (21.Bg5 Bg4+ 22.Kc1 (22.Kd2 Qb4+ 23.Kc1 Rxd3! 24.Bh6 Ne6!µ) 22...Rdc8„) 21...Ng6
(21...Qc5 22.Be3 Qh5+ 23.Kd2 Be6 24.Bd4! (24.Qg5 - 35/203) 24...Qd5 25.c3± ∆Qxg2+? 26.Rf2
Ng6 27.Bxg7+ Kg8 28.Qe3+-) 22.Qxd6 Bg4+ 23.Ke1 Rxd6 24.Bf4 Nxf4 (24...Re8+ 25.Kd2 Re2+
26.Kc3 Rc6+ 27.Kb4 Rxg2 28.Rae1 Bd7 29.Bg3 Rb6+ 30.Ka3+-) 25.Rxf4 Bh5 26.Kd2±; 17...Bc7
18.Qxf7+ Kh8 19.Qh5 - 18.Qf7) 18.Nxd6 (18.Bg5!? ∆f6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nxf6+ Kh8 21.Ne8!
Rxe8 22.Qxe8+ Kg7 23.Qh5 Nf8 24.c3 Be6 25.Kc2 Ng6 26.Rae1 Bf7 27.h4​→) 18...g6 19.Nb5
gxh5 20.Nxc7 Nxc7 21.b3 b6 22.Bd2 (22.Bb2 Ba6) 22...Ba6 (22...Ne6 23.Rf5) 23.Bxh7+ Kg7 24.c4
Nd5 25.Bd3 Ne3+ 26.Bxe3 Rxd3+ 27.Ke2 Rd5 28.Rf3²
16...Bxd6 17.Bd3 Bc7 18.Bd2!?

485
18.Qxf7+ - 146/42
18...Qxb2?N
18...Rd7

- 146/(41) 19.Kc1!? (19.Bc3 h6!∞) 19...a5?N (19...h6 20.a4! (20.Bc3? Nf4µ) 20...Qd4 (20...Nf4?!
21.Rxf4 Bxf4 22.Bxf4 Re7 23.Qh4±) 21.Ra3 ∆Nf4 22.Rxf4! (22.Bxf4? Bxf4+ 23.Kb1 Be5)
22...Bxf4 23.Bxf4 Re7 (23...Qg1+ 24.Qd1 Qxg2 25.Nd6 Re7 26.Bf5!+-) 24.Qf3 Bd7 25.Rc3 Qg1+
26.Kd2 Bc6 27.Rc4±; 19...Nf8?! 20.Bc3 Ng6 (20...Qe3+ 21.Kb1 h6 22.a4 Ng6 23.Re1 Rxd3
(23...Qf4? 24.g3+-) 24.Rxe3 Rxe3

486
25.Qd5! Be5 26.Nc5±) 21.Ng5 h6 22.Nxf7 Rxf7 23.Rxf7 Kxf7 24.b3!±) 20.a4 Qd4 (20...h6 21.Ra3
Qd4 22.Rc3 Qe5 23.Ng5! Nxg5 24.Re1+-) 21.Ra3 b6 22.Bc3 Qe3+ 23.Kb1 Bb7 24.Nf6+ gxf6
25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Bxf6 Ke8 27.Bb5+- Kantans,T (2499)-Gazik,V (2502) chess.com (ol-rapid)
146/(41) 2020
19.Bc3 Qa3 20.Rxf7
20.Qxf7+ Kh8 21.Rf5 Qf8 22.Ng5! Rxd3+ 23.cxd3 Qxf7 24.Rxf7 Kg8 25.Re7 Nxg5 26.Rxg7+ Kf8
27.Rxc7+-
20...Be5 21.Bxe5 Rxd3+ 22.cxd3 Qxd3+ 23.Nd2 Bd7 24.Rf3+- Qd5 25.Qf7+ Kh8 26.Bxg7+
26.Bxg7+ Nxg7 27.Qxd5
1-0

42. * B29
Kovalev, Vladislav (2648) - Gazik, Viktor (2502)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 146/42, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 Qb6 9.Bc4
Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 O-O 11.Rf1 Bc5 12.Ng5 Nd4+
¹12...Nxe5
13.Kd1 Ne6 14.Ne4 d6 15.exd6 Rd8 16.Qh5 Bxd6 17.Bd3 Bc7 18.Qxf7+ Kh8

19.Bd2?!N
19.Bg5 Nf4! 20.Rxf4 (20.Bxf4 Bg4+ 21.Kc1 Rd7 22.Qb3 Bxf4+ 23.Kb1 Bxh2∞) 20...Be6! 21.Rf6
Rxd3+ 22.cxd3 Bxf7 23.Rxb6 axb6 24.g3 h6 25.Be3 Rxa2=; 19.Nf6!? Qc5 20.Ne4 Qf8 21.Bd2

487
Qxf7 22.Rxf7 Bxh2 23.g3 Bg1 24.Ke2 Bd4 25.Raf1²; 19.a4!? Bd7 20.Bd2 ∆Nc5 21.Nxc5 Qxc5
22.Bc3 Qg5 23.Rf3 Bd6 (23...Bxh2 24.Bf6 Qg4 25.Bxd8 Rxd8 26.Qd5 Re8 27.Be2±) 24.Bf6 Qxg2
25.Qh5 Qg1+ 26.Kd2 Qxh2+ 27.Qxh2 Bxh2 28.Bxd8 Rxd8 29.Raf1 Bd6 30.Rf7 Bc6 31.Bb5 Bd5
32.Rd7²; 19.Qh5 Rxd3+ 20.cxd3 Bd7 21.Bd2! (21.Nc3?! Rd8³ 22.Kc2? Be8-+) 21...Bb5 (21...Ba4+
22.b3! Qd4 23.Rc1 Qxd3 24.Qf5! Bc6 25.Ng5±; 21...Rd8 22.Bc3 Ba4+ 23.b3 Be8 24.Qf3 Bb5
25.Kc2! Bxd3+ 26.Kb2 Bxf1 27.Rxf1±; 21...Qxb2!? 22.Bc3 Ba4+ 23.Ke1 Qxg2 24.Rf2 Qg6
25.Qxg6 hxg6 26.Rf7 Re8 27.Ke2 Kg8 28.Raf1 g5 29.R1f5 Bc6 30.Kd1²) 22.Qh3! (22.Bc3? Bxd3µ)
∆22...Rd8 (22...Be5 23.Rc1! Bxb2 24.Ng5 Ba4+ 25.Ke1 h6 26.Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nxh6+ gxh6 28.Qg4+
Ng7 29.Qxa4 Bxc1 30.Qc4+ Kh7 31.Bxc1 Re8+ 32.Kd1±) 23.Ng5 Nxg5 24.Bxg5 Ba4+ 25.b3
Bxb3+ 26.axb3 Qxb3+ 27.Ke1 Qb4+ 28.Kf2 Bb6+ 29.Be3 Qd2+ 30.Kg1 Qxe3+ 31.Qxe3 Bxe3+
32.Kh1 Kg8 33.g3²
19...Bd7? #
19...Nf4!! 20.Rxf4 (20.Bxf4 Bg4+ 21.Ke1 Rxd3 22.cxd3 Qxb2 23.Nd2 Qxa1+ 24.Kf2 Qd4+
25.Kg3 Be2 26.Bxc7 Qxd3+ 27.Rf3 Bxf3 28.Nxf3 Rc8∞) 20...Be6! 21.Qh5 Bxf4 22.Bxf4 Rxd3+
23.cxd3 Qg1+ 24.Ke2 Qxa1 25.Be5 Qc1 26.Bxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qe5+ Kf8 28.Qf6+ Bf7 29.Qh8+ Bg8
30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qe5+ Kd8 32.Qd4+ Kc7 33.Qd6+ Kc8 34.Qf8+ Kc7 35.Qd6+ Kc8=
20.Bc3 Bb5 21.Nd2 - 146/42
21.Ng5N Bxd3 22.cxd3 Qe3

23.Nxe6 (23.Qxe6 Qxg5 24.g3±) 23...Qxd3+ 24.Kc1 Qe3+ 25.Kc2 Qe2+ 26.Kb3 Qb5+=
Alekseev,E (2626)-Kantans,T (2499) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(42) 2020
21...Bxd3 22.cxd3 Qc6
¹22...Nd4 23.Nf3 (23.Rc1!?) 23...Rf8 24.Bxd4 Rxf7 25.Bxb6 Bxb6 26.Rc1±

488
23.Re1! Nd4 24.Re7+- Qxg2 25.Bxd4 Qg4+ 26.Nf3 Be5 27.Bxe5 Rxd3+ 28.Ke2
28.Kc2
28...Qe4+ 29.Kf2 Qe3+
29...Rxf3+ 30.Qxf3 Qh4+ 31.Kg2 Qxe7 32.Re1
30.Kg2 Rd2+
30...Qe2+ 31.Kg3
31.Nxd2 Qxd2+ 32.Qf2
32.Kh1
32...Qg5+ 33.Qg3 Qxe7 34.Re1 b6 35.Bc3 Qd7 36.Qg5 Qb7+ 37.Kg1 h6 38.Qxh6+ Kg8 39.Qe6+
Kh8 40.Qe7 1-0

43. B30
Ding, Liren (2791) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)
chess24.com (Int.-m/4-rapid) 146/43, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.e4 Nxe4

5...d6 - 146/55, B 50
6.Re1 Nf6 7.Nxe5 Be7

7...Nxe5 8.Rxe5+ Be7

8.c4N

489
8.c3
8...O-O 9.Nc3 Nxe5 10.Rxe5 d6 11.Re1 Be6
¹11...Bg4 12.Qc2 Qd7 13.d3 Rfe8 14.Bf4²
12.Bxb7 Rb8 13.Bg2 Bxc4 14.d4² Be6 15.b3 Rb4?!
15...h6 16.Bf4² (16.Bb2 c4)
16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Qxd8 Rxd8 18.Ba3 Rbb8
18...Rbd4 19.Ne2 Rd2 20.Nf4 Ng4 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Bc1! (22.Bh3 h5) 22...Rd1 23.Bb2 Rxa1
(23...R1d2 24.Bc3) 24.Bxa1 Rd2 25.Bh3 h5 26.f3 Nf2 27.Bxe6+ Kf8 28.Bf5 Rxa2 29.Bc3±
19.Na4 Rdc8 20.Rac1 Nd7 21.Bd5! Bxd5 22.Rxe7 Bc6 23.Nxc5 Nxc5 24.Rxc5± a6 25.f4 h6
26.Kf2 Bb5 27.Ke3 Rd8 28.Rcc7?
28.Bb4 Rd3+ 29.Kf2 Bd7! 30.Rc7 Be6 31.Be1±
28...Rd3+ 29.Ke4

29...Rd2?
29...Rbd8! 30.Bc5 Rd2! 31.Rxf7 (31.h4 Re2+ 32.Be3 Rxa2 33.Rxf7 Bd3+ 34.Ke5 Re2 35.Rxg7+ Kh8
36.Kf6 Rxe3 37.f5 Rd6+ 38.Kf7 Rd8 (38...Bxf5 39.Rg8+ Kh7 40.Kf8+ Rd7 41.Rxd7+ Bxd7
42.Rg7+ Kh8 43.Rxd7 Rxg3=) 39.Kf6=) 31...Bc6+! 32.Rxc6 (32.Kf5 Bd7+) 32...Kxf7 33.Rxa6
Re8+ (33...Rxh2 34.b4 Re2+ 35.Kf3 Re1∞) 34.Kf3 Rd3+ 35.Kg4 h5+ 36.Kh3 (36.Kh4 Re2©)
36...Re2©
30.Rxf7 Re8+ 31.Kf5 Bd3+ 32.Kg4 Rxh2

490
32...Be2+ 33.Kh4 g5+ 34.fxg5 Re4+ 35.Rf4+-
33.Rxg7+ Kh8 34.Bd6+- Rf2 35.Bc5 Rd2

36.Bb4
36.f5! Re4+ (36...Rg8 37.Rxg8+ Kxg8 38.f6) 37.Kf3
36...Rc2 37.Rxc2 Kxg7 38.Rc7+ Kg6 39.Rc6+ Kf7 40.Rxh6 Re2 41.Rd6 Re3 42.Kh4 Be2 43.g4 Rf3
44.Rd4 Rf2 45.Kg5 1-0

44. * B31
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger 146/44, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 e5 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 exd4 8.Bf4 a6
8...Nge7 9.Bd6 O-O 10.Nbd2 a6 11.Qa4 Ra7 12.Bd3 b5 13.Qc2 Bb7 14.a4ƒ - 142/39
9.Ba4
9.Qa4 Nge7 10.Bd6 b6 (10...O-O - 24/333) 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bd3 Nc8 13.Bg3© (13.Ba3?! b5
14.Qb3 Rb8ƒ ×Ba3)
9...Nge7 10.Bd6 b5
10...O-O - 31/208
11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Re1
12.Ng5 O-O 13.Qf3 Qe8 14.Qh3 h6
12...Nc8 13.e5 Nxd6 14.exd6+ Kf8

491
15.h4N
15.Nbd2 f5∞ ∆ Bf6, Kg7, ×d6
15...Bf6 16.Nbd2 Kg7 17.Bd5
17.Ne4 Na5
17...Na5?!
17...Bxh4! 18.Ne4 Bf6∞
18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Ne4 Re8

492
20.h5

20...Rc8 -146/44
20...d3?N 21.Qxd3 Bxb2 22.h6+ Kg8 23.Rad1 Rb8 24.Re2 Bf6 25.Rde1 Re6 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Ne5
Rd8 28.Ng4 Qh8 29.Rxe6 dxe6 30.d7+- Idani,P (2588)-Goh,W (2501) chess. com (Int.-rapid)
146/(44) 2020
21.Rc1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 h6 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Qd2 d3
24...Na5? 25.Nxf6 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Kxf6 27.Qe5+ Kf7 28.Qd5+ Kg7 29.Ne5 Qe8 30.Qxd4 Kh7
31.Ng4+-; 24...Re6 25.Nxd4±
25.b4?
25.Qxd3 Bxb2

493
(25...Na5 26.Rc1 Nc6 27.Rxc6 dxc6 28.Nc5±; 25...Re6 26.Re2!±) 26.Re2! Ba1! (26...Bf6 27.Rc2
Re6 28.Qd5+-) 27.Qd1 (27.Rc2 Re6 28.Qd5 Qe8!„) 27...Bf6 28.Nh2! h5 (28...Qb6 29.Nxf6 Rxe2
30.Qxe2 Kxf6 31.Qe7+ Kf5 32.Nf1+-) 29.g4!±
25...Re6 26.Qxd3 Qb6 27.Rd1
27.Nxf6 Rxe1+ 28.Nxe1 Kxf6
27...Qc6 28.Nxf6 Rxf6 29.Ne5 Qc8
29...Qxd6? 30.Qe2±; 29...Qb6 30.Ng4 Rxd6 31.Qc3+ Kg8 32.Nxh6+ Kh7 33.Rxd6 Nxd6 34.Ng4±
30.Qd5 Re6
30...Nxd6? 31.Ng4 Re6 32.Qd4+
31.Ng4
31.Nd3 Rxd6 32.Qe5+ Kh7
31...Kh7 32.Qd4 Qf8
32...Rxd6? 33.Nf6+ Kh8 34.Nd5+ Kh7 35.Qf4+-
33.Qa7 Rxd6 34.Re1 Nd8 35.Ne5 Qe7 36.Nf3 Re6 37.Rd1 Rd6 38.Re1 Re6
38...Ne6!? 39.Nd4 h5 40.Qc5! Nxc5 (40...Kg8 41.Nxe6 dxe6 42.Qe5=) 41.Rxe7+ Kg8 42.Nxb5
Rd1+ 43.Kh2 Kf8 44.Re3 axb5 45.bxc5=
39.Rd1 Rd6 1/2-1/2

45. !N B33
So, Wesley (2770) - Xiong, Jeffery (2709)

494
 USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/45, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7
10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Rb8
12...O-O - 109/79
13.a3 O-O 14.h4!? Bh6 15.g4
15.g3!? a5 16.Bg2 Ne7 17.Nce3 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Be6 19.O-O=
15...Bf4 16.Qf3 Bb7
16...Be6 - 89/109
17.g5?!
17.Bg2 a5 18.Nxf4 exf4 19.Qxf4 Ne5 20.Qg3 Re8 21.O-O∞
17...Re8?

17...Na5 18.Nxf4 exf4 19.O-O-O f5 20.Qxf4 fxe4 21.Qg3 e3 22.Bg2 e2∞

18.Nxf4!N
18.Bd3
18...exf4 19.O-O-O b4 20.axb4 Nxb4 21.Nxb4?!
21.cxb4 Bxe4 22.Qh3 Qc7 23.Bd3 Bxh1 24.Rxh1 Rxb4 25.h5±
21...Bxe4 22.Qxf4?

495
22.Qh3 Rxb4 23.cxb4 Qc8+ 24.Qc3 Bxh1 25.Rxd6 Qg4 26.Bc4 Be4 27.Qe1 Qg2∞
22...Rxb4?
22...Qa5! 23.Bd3 Bxh1 24.f3 Bg2 25.h5 Rec8 26.Kb1 Qe5µ
23.Bd3!
23.Qxd6? Ra4 24.Qxd8 Ra1+-+; 23.Rxd6? Qb8 24.Bd3 Ra4 25.Bxe4 Raxe4-+; 23.f3? Qa5-+
23...Bxh1
¹23...Ra4 24.Rhe1 Ra1+ 25.Kd2 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Bg6=
24.Qxb4
24.cxb4 Qc8+ 25.Kd2 Bc6 26.Qf5 Qxf5 27.Bxf5 g6=
24...Bf3 25.Rd2
25.Rg1 a5 26.Qf4 Bh5=
25...d5?!
25...Re1+ 26.Kc2 g6 27.b3 d5=
26.Bxa6?!
26.Qf4! Bh5 27.b4 Bg6 28.Kb2 Bxd3 29.Rxd3 Qd7 30.Qd2±
26...h6!?
26...Re1+ 27.Kc2 g6 28.b3 Qc7=
27.gxh6 Re4 28.Qc5
28.Rd4!? Qxh4 29.Qb8+ Kh7 30.hxg7 Re1+ 31.Kc2 Qxf2+ 32.Kb3 Kxg7 33.Bd3 Re7∞
28...Rxh4?

496
28...Re1+ 29.Kc2 Qxh4
29.Qc8?
29.hxg7 Kxg7 30.Be2 Bxe2 31.Rxe2 Rf4 32.Rd2 Qf6 33.b3±
29...Qxc8± 30.Bxc8 Rxh6
30...gxh6? 31.Bb7 Rh5 32.b4 Kf8 33.b5 Ke7 34.b6 Kd6 35.Rb2! Re5 36.Rb5 Re1+ 37.Kc2 Re2+
38.Kb1 Be4+ 39.Kc1 Rc2+ 40.Kd1 Rxc3 (40...Ra2 41.Bc6 Kxc6 42.b7 Kxb5 43.b8=Q+ Kc6
44.Qe8+ Kc5 45.Qxf7+-) 41.Ba6 d4 42.b7+-
31.Bb7 Rh5 32.b4 Kf8 33.Kb2?
33.Kc2 Bh1 34.Rd1 Bf3 35.Rd4 Be4+ 36.Kb2±
33...Rf5?
33...Ke7 34.Ka3 Bh1 35.Rd1 Rh3=
34.Kb3± Ke7 35.Ka4 g5 36.b5?
36.Ba8! g4 37.b5 Kd6 38.b6 Re5 39.c4±
36...Rf4+ 37.Ka5 Kd6! 38.b6 Rc4= 39.Rd3 Rc5+ 40.Kb4 Rc4+
40...Be2? 41.Rxd5+ Rxd5 42.Bxd5+-
41.Kb3 Rf4!
41...Be4? 42.Bxd5! Bxd3 43.Bxc4 Be4 44.Kb4+-
42.c4 Kc5 43.cxd5

497
43.Bxd5 Bxd5 44.Rxd5+ Kxb6=
43...Rb4+ 44.Kc3 Rxb6?

44...Be2 45.d6 Bxd3 46.d7 Rc4+=

45.d6! Rxb7 46.d7 Rxd7 47.Rxd7 f5?
47...Bd5! 48.Kd3 Be6 49.Rd8 Bf5+ 50.Ke3 Kc4! 51.Rb8 (51.Rg8 g4 52.Kf4 Be6 53.Rxg4 Bxg4
54.Kxg4 Kd3=) 51...Be6=
48.Kd3+- Be4+
48...Bg2 49.Rg7 g4 50.Ke3 Kd6 51.Kf4 Be4 52.Rg6+ Ke7 53.Kg5 Kf7 54.Rf6+ Kg7 55.Rxf5+-
49.Ke3 g4 50.Kf4
50.Rd8 Kc4 51.Rc8+ Kd5 52.Re8 Bf3 53.Kf4 Be4 54.Re5+ Kd4 55.Rxf5
50...Kc6
50...Kc4 51.Ke3! Kc5 52.Rd8 Kb5 53.Re8 Bc2 54.Rf8 Kc4 55.Rc8+ Kb3 56.Kf4 Be4 57.Rc5
51.Rf7 Kd6 52.Rxf5 1-0

46. * B36
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger 146/46, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nxd4 7.Qxd4 d6 8.Be3 Bg7 9.f3 O-O
10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.b3 Rfc8 13.Be2 a6 14.Na4 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Nd7 16.g4 Rcb8

498
16...f5 - 118/51
17.Nc3 b5 18.Nd5 Bxd5

19.cxd5

19...Nc5!
19...Kf8?!N 20.h4 (20.Rc7 Ke8 21.f4 b4 (21...Kd8 22.Rc6±) 22.h4 Bc3+ 23.Kc2 Rc8 24.Rc6±)
20...b4

499
21.f4 (21.Rc7 Ke8 22.h5±) 21...Rc8 22.g5 (22.Rc6±) 22...Bc3+ 23.Kc2 Nc5 24.Bxc5 Rxc5 25.Bc4
Bg7 1/2 (25) Mishra,A (2397)-Yip,C (2418) Charlotte 146/(46) 2020
19...Rc8? 20.Rc6! Ne5 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.Rc1 Rxc1 23.Kxc1 ∆ a4±
20.g5N
20.b4 Na4 21.Rc7 a5!„ 22.bxa5 (22.Rb1 axb4 23.Rxb4 Nc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Rxc5 Bh6+ 26.Ke1
Rxa2 27.Rcxb5 Rxb5 28.Rxb5 Bf4=) 22...Rxa5; 20.Bxc5 dxc5 21.Rxc5 Rc8 (21...Bh6+!? 22.Kd3
Bf4©; 21...Be5!? 22.Ke3 Rc8©) 22.Rxc8+ (22.Rc6 Rxc6 23.dxc6 Rc8=) 22...Rxc8 23.f4

23...e5!? 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.g5 Bc3+ 26.Kd3 Bb2 27.Bg4 Kf7 28.Rf1 Rc1 29.Rf2 Rc3+! 30.Kd2 a5

500
31.f5 exf5 32.exf5 a4 33.f6 (33.Bd1 Rc5 34.bxa4 bxa4 35.fxg6+ Kxg6 36.h4 Rc4 37.Kd3 Rd4+
38.Kc2 Rb4=) 33...Rc5! 34.h4 axb3 35.axb3 h6 36.gxh6 Bc1+ 37.Kd3 Bxh6=
20...Bb2! 21.Rc2 Ba3! 22.Rb1 a5 23.Kd1 Na6 24.Bf1 Nb4 25.Rd2 Rb7= 26.f4 Na6 27.Rc2 Nb4
28.Rd2 Na6 29.Rc2 Nb4 30.Rd2 1/2-1/2

47. B40
Delchev, Aleksander (2554) - Budisavljevic, Luka (2454)
Srbija 146/47, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7! 7.O-O O-O 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nc3 Nc6
10.a3! [∆ b4, Bb2, Ne2 ×d4]
10.Bg5 - 89/129
10...Bg4!
10...Re8 11.b4 d4 (11...Bf8 12.Bg5!; 11...Bb6 12.Bg5 d4 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.Re1) 12.bxc5
dxc3 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Rb1²; 10...h6 11.b4 Be7 (11...Bb6 12.Na4 Bc7 13.Bb2 Ne4 14.Re1 Re8
15.c4!ƒ) 12.Qd3 a6 13.Bb2 Be6 14.Ne2 Qc8 15.Nf4 Bf5 16.Qb3 Be4 17.Rad1²; 10...d4 11.Na4 Be7
12.b4²; 10...Be6 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Nd4²; 10...a5!? 11.Bg5 Be6 12.Qd3 h6
13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nxd5 Qxb2 15.Rfb1 Ne5²
11.h3 Be6 12.b4 Be7

13.Bb2N
13.Bg5
13...Qd7

501
13...Ne4!? 14.Ne2! (14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Bxd4 f5 18.f3 Rad8 19.Rad1
Bc4 20.Rfe1 Bd6) 14...Bf6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nf4 Rad8 17.Qd3²
14.Kh2
14.Ng5! Bf5 (14...Rad8 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Re1 a6 17.Qe2 e5 18.Rad1±) 15.g4 Bg6 16.f4 d4 17.Ne2
d3 18.cxd3 Bxd3 19.Re1 Rae8 20.Ng3²
14...Rad8 15.Re1 Rfe8
15...d4 16.Ne2 d3 17.cxd3 Qxd3 18.Qxd3 Rxd3 19.Nf4²
16.Nd4

16...h5!? [∆ h4‚¸]
16...Nxd4 17.Qxd4 a5!? 18.bxa5 Ra8 19.Qd2 Qc6 20.Rad1²
17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Na4
18.Ne2!? Bd6 (18...e5? 19.b5+-) 19.c4 Qf7 20.cxd5 Nxd5 21.Rf1 h4 22.Qb3²
18...h4 19.c4! hxg3+ 20.fxg3 d4
20...Bd6?! 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Qg4+±; 20...dxc4 21.Qxd7 Rxd7 22.Rxe6
Kf7 23.Rae1²
21.c5! Bf8?!
21...e5! 22.Qb3+ (22.b5 Na5 23.Rxe5 Qxb5 24.Rb1 Qc4=) 22...Kh8 23.b5 (23.Rad1 Qf5!) 23...Na5
24.Qb4 Qc7! (24...b6 25.Rxe5 Bxc5 26.Nxc5 bxc5 27.Rxc5±) 25.Rac1 (25.b6 axb6 26.cxb6 Qc2
27.Qxa5 Rd5 28.Qa7 e4 29.Rac1 Qd3©) 25...Rf8 26.b6 axb6 27.Qxb6 Qxb6 28.cxb6 e4 29.Bxe4

502
Nxe4 30.Rxe4 Bf6 31.Nc5 d3 32.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Rd1 Rxb6 34.Rxd3 Rb2+ 35.Kg1 Rxd3 36.Nxd3
Rb3=; 21...d3?! 22.Bc3 e5 23.b5±
22.Rc1?!
22.Qb3! Qf7 23.b5 Na5 24.Qb4 b6 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 Nb3 27.Qc4 Nxa1 28.cxb6 axb6
29.Rxa1 Bd6 30.Rd1 Rd8 31.Rd3 Nh5 32.Qh4±
22...Ne7! [∆ Nf5 ×g3] 23.Qb3 Nf5 24.c6
24.Rcd1 Qc7 25.Rd3∞
24...Qf7 25.c7
25.Nc5 Bd6 26.Kg1 Bxg3 27.Rxe6=
25...Rc8 26.Bxb7 Rxc7 27.Bc6?†
27.Rxc7 Qxc7 28.Rxe6= ∆Qf7? 29.Nc5!+-
27...Rec8 28.b5
28.Qxe6 Qxe6 29.Rxe6 Kf7 30.Rxf6+ Kxf6 31.b5 Bd6
28...Bd6!-+ 29.Qxe6 Bxg3+ 30.Kh1 Bxe1 31.Qxf5 Bd2 32.Rd1 Be3 33.Nc5 Rxc6 34.bxc6 Rxc6
35.Nd3
35.Bxd4 Rd6
35...Rc2 0-1

48. B40
Petkov, Momchil (2358) - Delchev, Aleksander (2550)
Bulgaria 146/48, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.Qe2 e5

5...d6 6.O-O Be7 7.e5 (7.c3 - 120/60) 7...dxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 (8...Nd4!?) 9.Qxe5 O-O 10.Nc3²; 5...d5
- 121/53
6.O-O Be7 7.Nc3!?
7.c3 O-O 8.Na3 (8.Rd1 d5!³) 8...Re8 9.d3 h6! 10.Nc4 Bf8 11.a4 d6! (11...d5 12.exd5 Qxd5
13.Re1„) 12.h3 Be6 13.Re1 Qd7 14.Kh2 Rad8 15.Bd2 Qc8 16.b4 cxb4 17.cxb4 d5³
7...O-O
7...Nd4 8.Nxd4 cxd4 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 d6 11.f4 O-O! 12.d3 Bf6 13.f5! Bd7 14.h4 Rc8 15.Be4
Rc5 16.a4 Qc8 (16...Qc7? 17.c4 dxc3 18.b4+-) 17.Rf2​→
8.Nd5! Nxd5?!

503
8...d6! 9.c3! (9.Nxe7+ Qxe7 10.c3 h6 11.d3 Re8 12.Nh4 Bg4 13.f3 Be6 14.f4 exf4 15.gxf4 c4!„)
9...Re8 10.d3 h6 11.Be3 Nxd5! (11...Bf8 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Nd2; 11...Be6 12.Nd2) 12.exd5 Nb8
13.Nd2 Nd7 14.f4! exf4 15.Bxf4 Nf6 16.Rae1 Bg4 17.Qf2 Qd7=
9.exd5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Re1 Bf6

12.d6!
12.d3 d6 13.Bf4 Qc7=
12...Qb6 13.Qc4!?
13.d3 Qxd6 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Bd5 d6 16.Qf3 Bd7 (16...Qc7 17.Re2 Bd7 18.Rae1 Rae8?? 19.Bxf7+!+-)
17.Bxb7 Rae8 18.b3 Be5 19.Bd2²
13...Qxd6 14.d3 Qb6
14...a5 15.Bd5!; 14...Be5?! 15.b4 cxb4 16.Qb5
15.Bd5!

504
15.Bf4 a5 16.Qd5 Ra6!
15...d6N
15...g5 16.h4 h6 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.f4 g4 19.Re2! d6 20.f5 Kg7 21.Rh2 Rh8 22.Rxh8 Kxh8 23.Bxf7±
16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Bf4² Be5! 18.Bg5
18.Bxe5?! dxe5 19.f3 (19.Rxe5?? Qf6-+) 19...Bh3„
18...Qc7 19.Bd5 h6 20.Bd2 Bd7 21.a4 Rae8 22.b4! b6
22...g5!? 23.bxc5 dxc5 24.a5 Rf6 25.Qb3 Ref8 26.Qxb7 Rxf2 27.Qxc7 Bxc7 28.Bf4 Bxf4 29.Kxf2
Bd2+=
23.b5
23.a5?! b5; 23.bxc5 dxc5!; 23.f4! Bf6 24.b5 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Re8²
23...Bf6
23...g5!=
24.Qb3 Bg5 25.f4 Bf6

505
26.Rxe8
26.Bf3! Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 g6 28.Qd5 Kg7 29.Kg2 Re8 30.Rxe8 Bxe8 31.Bg4 Bf7 32.Be6 Bxe6
33.Qxe6 Qb7+ 34.Qe4 Qf7²
26...Rxe8 27.Re1 Rxe1+ 28.Bxe1 Qc8 29.Qb1 Qe8 30.Bd2 Qe2 31.Qe1 Qxe1+ 32.Bxe1 Bg4 33.a5
Bd1 34.Bb3 g5 35.Kf2 Kg7 36.Bd2 g4 37.Ke1 Bf3 38.Be6 Kf8 39.f5 Bg5 40.Bxg5 hxg5 41.axb6
axb6 42.f6
42.Kd2 Kg7
42...Ke8 43.Kd2 Kf8 44.c3 dxc3+ 45.Kxc3 d5 46.Kd2 d4 1/2-1/2

49. B40
Musalov, Ruslan (2348) - Inarkiev, Ernesto (2661)
Russia 146/49, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O Be7 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.Re1 e5
8...Rb8 - 104/(200)
9.c3 Re8

506
10.d4N
10.a4 Bf8 11.Nc4 h6∞
10...exd4 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.Nb3 Bg4 13.Nbxd4 Bf8
13...d5!∞
14.h3 Bh5 15.Qa4 d5 16.exd5
16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.exd5 Qxd5 (17...Rxe1+ 18.Nxe1 cxd5 19.Be3²) 18.g4 Bg6 19.Be3²
16...Rxe1+
16...Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Bd2 f6=
17.Nxe1 Nb4 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bg5 Qb6 20.Rd1 Bc5 21.Nef3?!

507
21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Nef3 Nd3 23.Rd2∞
21...Nfxd5
21...Ne4! 22.Bh4 Nxd5 23.Ne5 Nf4 24.Nxg6 Nxg6 (24...Nxg2 25.Kxg2 hxg6∞) 25.Bxe4 Nxh4³
22.Re1?
22.Qb3 h6 23.Bh4 Nf4 24.Nf5 Nxg2 25.Kxg2 Re8∞
22...h6 23.Re8+ Rxe8 24.Qxe8+ Kh7 25.Bd8 Qd6 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.gxf5 Qg3?
27...Nf4 28.Bh4 Nxg2 29.Kxg2 Qd5 30.Qe5 Qxe5 31.Nxe5 Bd4 32.Nxf7 (32.Be7 Bxe5 33.Bxb4
Bxb2µ) 32...Nxa2 33.b3 a5 34.Nd6 Nc1µ; 27...Qb8 28.Qxf7 (28.Qb5 Bxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Qxd8 30.a3
Nc6 31.Qxb7 Qf6µ) 28...Qxd8 29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Ne5 Qe7 31.f6 Nxf6 32.Qf5 Bxf2+! 33.Kf1 Qc5µ
28.Bh4 Qd6
28...Qc7 29.Ne5+-; ¹28...Nf6 29.Qxf7 Qd6 30.Bf1±
29.Qxf7 Nd3

508
29...Nf6
30.Ng5+?
30.Nd2 N5f4 (30...N3f4 31.Nc4+-; 30...Nf6 31.Ne4 Nxe4 32.Bxe4+-) 31.f6 Qf8 32.Be4+ Kh8
33.Qd7 Ne5 34.Qf5 Nfg6 35.Kh1+-; 30.Nd4+-
30...hxg5 31.Bxd5 gxh4 32.Qg8+ Kh6 33.Qh8+ Kg5 34.Qxg7+ Kxf5 35.Qh7+
35.Qg4+ Kf6 36.Qxh4+ Kg7 37.Qg5+ Qg6 38.Qxg6+ Kxg6 39.Be4+ Kg5 40.Bxd3²
35...Kg5
35...Qg6+ 36.Qxg6+ Kxg6 37.Be4+ Kg5 38.Bxd3=
36.Qxd3 Qf4
36...Qg3+ 37.Qxg3+ hxg3=
37.Qf3 b6 38.Qxf4+ Kxf4 39.Kg2 a5 40.a4 Bd4 1/2-1/2

50. B41
Antipov, Mikhail Al (2607) - Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2602)
Russia 146/50, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3 Bb7 9.f3 Nc6 10.Rc1
Bc5!?

509
10...Ne5 - 103/101
11.Na4N
11.b4! Bxd4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 e5 (13...d6?! 14.Rd1 Ke7 (14...Rd8 15.Na4±) 15.Be2±; 13...O-
O 14.e5 Ne8 15.Rd1 f6 (15...Bc6 16.Bd3 f6 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.O-O±) 16.Qxd7 Qxe5+ 17.Kf2 Nc7
18.Qd4 (18.Be2±) 18...Qxd4+ 19.Rxd4±) 14.Qe3 d6 15.Be2 O-O 16.O-O²
11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bxd4
12...e5!? 13.Nxc5 bxc5 14.Be3 a5 15.b3 O-O²
13.Qxd4 b5 14.Nb6
14.Nc5 e5 15.Qe3 Qb6 (15...d6 16.Nxb7 Qxb7 17.b4 O-O 18.Be2²) 16.Kf2 O-O 17.Nxb7 Qxb7
18.c5 Rfd8 19.Be2 d5 20.cxd6 Rxd6²
14...Rb8 15.e5
15.c5 e5 16.Qe3 O-O 17.b4 d5 18.exd5 Bxd5! (18...Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Bd3²) 19.Bd3 Bc6
20.O-O Rbd8∞
15...Nd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5

510
17.Kd2?!
17.Rc3 Bc6 (17...bxc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.Rxc4 Qd8 20.O-O O-O 21.Rfc1²) 18.b4 O-O 19.Bd3 f6
20.exf6 Rxf6 21.O-O²
17...Rc8 18.c5 f6
18...O-O 19.Bd3 f6 20.Rhe1 fxe5 21.Qxe5 (21.Rxe5 d6 22.Rg5 h6 23.Rg4∞) 21...Qd8∞
19.Bd3
19.exf6 gxf6 (19...O-O 20.fxg7 Rf4 21.Qe3±) 20.Qxf6 Rg8 21.b4 d6 22.Rg1²
19...fxe5 20.Qh4 e4 21.fxe4 Bc4 22.Rhf1
22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Rxc4 Qe5∞
22...Qe5 23.b4 Qb2+ 24.Rc2 Qxa3 25.Bxc4 bxc4 26.Rxc4
26.Qh5+ g6 27.Qe5 Qd3+ 28.Ke1 Qe3+ 29.Kd1 Qd3+=
26...Qb2+ 27.Kd3 a5
27...Qb3+ 28.Rc3 Qxb4 29.Qh5+ Kd8 30.Qg5+ Kc7 31.Qe5+ Kb7 32.Rf7 Qb1+ 33.Rc2 Qb3+
34.Kd2 Qb4+=
28.Rd4
28.Qf4 axb4 29.c6 Qf6 30.cxd7+ Kxd7 31.Rd4+ Ke8 32.Qxf6 gxf6 33.Rxf6 Ke7=
28...axb4 29.Qh5+ g6 30.Qe5 Qc3+ 31.Ke2= Qb2+ 32.Ke3 Qc3+ 33.Ke2 Qb2+ 34.Ke3 Qc3+
35.Ke2 Qb2+ 36.Ke3 Qc3+ 37.Ke2 Qb2+ 38.Ke3 Qc3+ 39.Ke2 Qb2+ 40.Ke3 Qc3+ 1/2-1/2

511
 51. * B43
Popovic, Dusan (2500) - Damljanovic, Branko (2502)
Srbija 146/51, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.f4 Bb4 8.Bd2 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Qxf4
10.Qe2 d6
10...Nc6 - 137/57
11.Nf3 Nc6 12.O-O

12...Qg4 13.h3 - 146/51

13.e5N dxe5 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.Qxe5 O-O 16.Qd6 b5 17.Ne5 Qh5³ Vovk,Y (2577)-Kallai,G (2459)
Magyarorszag 146/(51) 2020
13...Qh5

512
14.b4N
14.e5 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Qxe2 16.Bxe2 Nxe5 (16...Ne4 17.Nxf7 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Rf8 19.Ng5 Rxf1+
20.Rxf1 Ne5 21.Nxh7 Ke7²) 17.Bxe5 Bd7 (17...Ke7?! 18.Bf3 Rd8 19.c4±) 18.Bf3 Bc6 19.Bxc6+
bxc6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Rxf6²; 14.Qe1
14...e5! 15.Qf2 O-O

¹15...Be6 16.Bd2 Nd7 17.a4 (17.Nh4 f6 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qf7 20.c4©) 17...O-O 18.b5 Ne7
19.Nh4 f6 (19...g5 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.exf5 Nc5 22.Be2 Qh4 23.Qxh4 gxh4 24.f6 Ng6 25.Bc4ƒ)
20.Bb4 Nc5 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Qxc5 Qxh4 23.Qxe7 Bxh3 24.gxh3 Qg3+ 25.Kh1 Qxh3+ 26.Kg1=

513
16.Nh4?
16.Bd2! d5 (16...Be6? 17.Nh4±) 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Rae1 Nf4 (18...Nf6 19.a4 e4 20.Bxe4 Nxe4
21.Rxe4²) 19.Be4 Bd7 20.c4 (20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxe5 Qxf3! 22.Qxf3 Bxf3 23.Rxf3 Ng6∞) 20...Rae8
21.a3²
16...d5 17.Bd2
17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bd2 Nf4 19.Be4 (19.Bxf4 exf4³ 20.Qxf4?? g5-+) 19...Be6 20.a4 Rad8 21.Nf3
Bd5³
17...Nxe4! 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.g4 Bxg4 20.hxg4 Qxg4+ 21.Kh2
21.Ng2 Nd4-+
21...Qh5! 22.Rg1 f6 23.Qg3
23.Rae1 Rad8 24.Rxe4 (24.Be3 Nd4 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Re3 Qh6-+) 24...f5 25.Rc4 (25.Re3 Rxd2
26.Qxd2 Qxh4+ 27.Rh3 Qf6-+) 25...b5 26.Rxc6 Rxd2 27.Qxd2 Qxh4+ 28.Kg2 Qe4+-+
23...g5 24.Qh3
24.Qg4 Qxg4 25.Rxg4 Rad8 26.Bc3 Ne7-+
24...Nd4 25.Raf1 Kh8 26.c3
26.Nf5 Qe2+ 27.Qg2 Nf3+-+
26...Ne2

27.Rg4
27.Rg2 Rad8! (27...gxh4? 28.Rf5+-) 28.Rxf6 Nf4 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.Bxf4 exf4-+

514
27...Rad8 28.Be3 Nf4 29.Bxf4 exf4 30.Rfxf4
30.Nf5 Qxh3+ 31.Kxh3 Rd3+ 32.Kh2 Rc8-+
30...gxf4 31.Ng6+ hxg6 32.Rh4 Kg7 33.Rxh5 Rh8 34.Qe6 Rxh5+ 35.Kg1 Re5 0-1

52. * B47
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger 146/52, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Bc5
10.Bf4 d6 11.Qd2 h6 12.Rad1 e5 13.Be3 Bxe3!?
13...Be6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.f4 O-O 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.d6!ƒ; 13...Bb4!?;
13...Ke7 - 143/48
14.fxe3 Be6 15.Qxd6 Rc8

16.a4N
16.Rf2

515
16...Ng4! (16...Qxd6?! 17.Rxd6 Nd7 (17...Ke7? 18.Rb6 Rc7 19.Nd5+±) 18.Nd5 a5 19.Rd2 Rc6
20.Rxc6 bxc6 21.Nc7+ Ke7 22.Nxe6 fxe6²) 17.Re2 Nf6 18.Red2 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Nd7 20.R1d2 Rxc3!
21.bxc3 Ke7 22.c4 Rc8 23.Bf1 Rc5 24.R6d3 Ra5 25.Rb3 Nc5 26.Rb2 f6 27.Rd1 Bd7 28.Bd3 Bc6=
Perunovic,Milos
16.Qxc7 Rxc7 17.Rd2 (17.Rf2 Ng4 (17...Ke7!? 18.Nd5+ Bxd5 19.exd5 Kd6 20.e4 b5 21.Re1 Ng4
22.Rf3 Nf6 23.c3 Rb8©) 18.Rfd2 Ke7 19.Nd5+ Bxd5 20.exd5 Kd6 21.Re2 b5©) 17...Ke7

18.a4N (18.Nd5+ Bxd5 19.exd5 Ne8! (19...Kd6) 20.c3 Nd6©) 18...Rhc8 19.h3 Rc4 20.Rd3 b5!
21.axb5 axb5ƒ Priasmoro,N (2502)-Andreikin,D (2726) chess. com (Int.-blitz) 146/(52) 2020
16...h5= 17.h3 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nd7 19.h4

516
19.a5!? Rc5 20.Ra1 Nb8 (20...O-O 21.h4 Rb8 22.Bf1 Kf8 23.Kf2 Rbc8 24.Ra3 (24.Be2 Ke7 25.Rd2
Nf6 26.Ke1 g6 27.Ra3 Ne8 (27...Rg8!?) 28.Bd3 Nd6©) 24...Ke7 25.Rd2) 21.Rb6 Bc8 22.Bf1 Rh6
23.Rxh6 gxh6 24.Bd3 (24.h4 Nc6) 24...Nc6 25.h4 Rxa5 26.Rxa5 Nxa5=
19...Ke7 20.Rd2
20.Rfd1 Rc5 21.R6d2 Rhc8 22.Nd5+ Bxd5 23.b4 Rxc2 24.Rxd5 Nf8 (24...Nf6 25.Rxe5+ Kf8 26.Bh3
Rc1 27.Bxc8 Rxd1+ 28.Kg2 Rb1 29.b5 axb5 30.Rxb5 Rxb5 31.axb5 b6=) 25.Rxe5+ Ne6 26.Rxh5
R8c3©
20...Nb6 21.Nd5+
21.Rfd1 Rxc3! 22.bxc3 Nxa4ƒ
21...Bxd5 22.exd5 Nc4 23.Re2
23.d6+ Nxd6 24.c3 b6 25.Rd5 f6 26.a5 b5 27.Rfd1 Rhd8 28.Bh3 Rc7 29.Bf5∞
23...Nd6 24.e4 a5 25.Ra1 Rc4
25...g5!? 26.hxg5 Rhg8 27.Bf3 Rxg5 28.Kf2 Rf8©
26.c3 f6 27.Re3 Rhc8 28.Kf2 g5 29.Bf3
29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg5 fxg5 31.Kg3 Kf6 32.Kxg4 Rh8∞
29...g4 30.Bg2 R4c5 31.Bf1?!
31.Ke1 b5 32.axb5 Rxb5 33.Ra2 Rcb8 34.Re2 a4∞
31...f5 32.exf5 Rxd5 33.Rd3?!
33.Bd3 Kf6 34.Rae1 Re8 35.R1e2=; 33.Rae1 Kf6 34.Rd3 Rcc5 (34...Rxd3 35.Bxd3 Nxf5 36.Bxf5
Kxf5 37.Ke3=) 35.Red1 Rxd3 36.Rxd3 Nxf5 37.Bg2 b5 38.Rd5 Rxd5 39.Bxd5 bxa4 40.Bc6 a3
41.bxa3=
33...Rcc5 34.Rad1 Rxd3 35.Bxd3 e4

517
36.Be2??
36.Bc2 Rxf5+ 37.Kg2 (37.Ke2? Rf3 38.Rd4 Rxg3 39.Bxe4 Rh3µ) 37...Re5 (37...Rf6 38.Re1 Re6
39.b4 axb4 (39...Kf6 40.bxa5 Ke5∞) 40.cxb4 Kf6 41.a5 Ke5 42.b5!„) 38.Rd4=
36...Nxf5 37.Bb5 Nd6 38.Be2
38.c4 Rf5+ 39.Ke2 Rf3µ
38...Ke6µ 39.Rc1 Ke5 40.Rd1 Rc7 41.Kg2 b6 42.Ba6 Rf7 43.Be2 Rf8 44.Rb1 Nf5 45.b4 Ne3+
46.Kg1 Nd5 47.Rb3 Rc8 48.bxa5 bxa5 49.c4 Nb4 50.Rb1 Kd4 51.Bf1 Nd3 52.Rb5 Rc5 53.Bxd3
exd3 54.Kf2 Kxc4 55.Rb1 Re5 0-1

53. ** B47
Sadzikowski, Daniel (2527) - Babula, Vlastimil (2571)
Polska - Cesko (m) 146/53, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2 h5 8.O-O h4 9.Re1 hxg3
10.hxg3 d6
10...Ne5!?

518
11.f4N (11.Bf4 d6∞; 11.a4 - 144/44) 11...Nc6 12.Be3 d6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Na4 Rb8 15.c4 c5

16.Qd2 - 146/(53) (16.b3N Bb7 17.Qe2 Be7 (17...Ne7) 18.Rad1 Nf6 19.Bc1 Nd7∞ Henderson de La
Fuente,L (2491)-Shankland,S (2691) chess24.com (Int. -m/2-blitz) 146/(53) 2020) 16...Nf6 17.Bf3
Bb7 18.Nc3

519
18...g5!? (18...Nd7! 19.Rad1 g5!) 19.fxg5 Nd7 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Rad1² So,W (2770)-
Pichot,A (2630) chess. com (ol-rapid) 146/(53) 2020
11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.e5

12...dxe5?N
12...d5
13.Rxe5! Nf6 14.Ne4 Nxe4
14...Nd7 15.Rh5 Rxh5 16.Qxh5±

520
15.Bxe4
15.Rxe4 Bd6 16.Bf4 Bxf4 17.Rxf4±
15...f5 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Rc5
17.Rxf5! exf5 18.Bxd6 Qd7 19.Bf3 Kf7 (19...Rh6 20.Qe2++-) 20.Qd4 Bb7 21.Qc5±
17...Bxf4 18.Bxc6+

18...Ke7??
18...Kf7! 19.gxf4 Bb7 20.Qf3 (20.Rxf5+?! exf5 21.Qd5+ Kf6 22.Bxb7 Rae8µ) 20...Rac8 21.Bxb7
Qxc5 22.Bxc8 Qxc8∞
19.gxf4
19.Qd4! Be5 20.Bxa8+-
19...Bb7
19...Qd6 20.Qxd6+ Kxd6 21.b4 Rb8 22.Rd1+ Ke7 23.a3+-
20.Qd4 Kf7
20...Kf8 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Qd6+ Qe7 23.Rd1+-
21.Qc4 Kf6 22.Qc3+ Kg6 23.Be8+ 1-0

54. B48
Shankland, Samuel L (2609) - Pichot, Alan (2548)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 146/54, 2020

521
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-O Be7 9.f3 b5
10.g4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bb7 12.Kb1 O-O 13.Rg1!?
13.g5 - 119/51
13...b4 14.Na4 d5

15.e5?!N
15.Nb6 Rad8 16.e5 Ne4! 17.fxe4 dxe4 18.Nc4 f6! (18...Rxd4 19.Qxd4 Bc5 20.Qd7 Qxd7 21.Rxd7
Bc8 22.Rc7 Bxg1 23.Nd6 Bxh2 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Nxc8 Bxe5 26.Bxa6 g5©) 19.a4 (19.Be2 fxe5
20.Nxe5 Bc5 21.c3 bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxe5 23.Bxe5 Rxd2 24.Rxd2 Bxg1∞) 19...fxe5 20.Nxe5 Bf6
21.Bc4 Bd5 22.Qxb4 Bxe5∞
15...Nd7 16.Qe3 Rfc8 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.Nb6 Nxb6 19.Bxb6 Qd7 20.f4 Bb5 21.f5 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Rc6
¹22...Qb5 23.Bd4 Qxd3 24.cxd3 a5∞
23.Bd4 Rac8 24.f6 Bf8?!
24...Bc5 25.Rg2 a5 26.Qe3 Qd8∞
25.Rd2?!
25.fxg7 Bxg7 26.Rd2±
25...Qc7?!
25...g6 26.g5 Bc5 27.Bxc5 Rxc5 28.h4 Qb5∞
26.Rg3?
26.fxg7 Bxg7 27.Re2 a5 28.Rg3 a4 29.Rh3 Rc4 30.Qxh7+ Kf8 31.Qd3 b3 32.c3±

522
26...g6 27.h4 a5?!
27...h6!µ
28.g5?!
28.h5 g5 29.h6 a4 30.Rh3 Kh8 31.Rh5 Qb7 32.Rxg5 (32.Rdh2 b3 33.c3 a3∞) 32...Rc3 33.Qe2 Bc5∞
28...Bc5 29.Bxc5 Rxc5 30.Re2 Rc4 31.h5 Rh4 32.Rh3 Qc4?!
32...Rxh5 33.Rxh5 gxh5µ
33.Qxc4 Rcxc4 34.Reh2?!
34.b3 Rce4 35.Rxh4 Rxh4 36.h6 Rg4 37.a3 Kf8 38.axb4 axb4 39.Kb2 Ke8 40.c3∞
34...Rxh3 35.Rxh3 Rg4?
35...gxh5! 36.Rxh5 (36.a3 h4-+) 36...Re4 37.c3 bxc3 38.bxc3 Rxe5µ
36.c3! Rxg5
36...gxh5 37.cxb4 axb4 38.Rxh5 Re4 39.Kc2 Rxe5 40.Kb3 Re4 41.Rh2 e5 (41...Rg4 42.Ka4∞)
42.Rd2 h6 43.gxh6 Kh7 44.Rxd5 Kxh6 45.Rb5 Kg5 46.Rxb4 Rxb4+ 47.Kxb4 Kg4 48.Kc3 Kf3
49.Kd2 Kf2 50.Kd3 Kf3=
37.cxb4 axb4 38.a4
38.h6!? Rxe5 39.Rb3 Re1+ 40.Kc2 Re4 41.a4 Rc4+ 42.Kd3 Kf8 43.a5 Ke8 44.a6 Kd8 45.a7 Rc8
46.Rxb4 Kc7 47.Kd4 Ra8 48.Ra4 Kb6 49.Ke5! Rxa7 50.Rxa7 Kxa7 51.Kd6 d4 52.Ke7 d3 53.Kxf7
d2 54.Kg8 d1=Q

55.Kxh7!=

523
38...Rxe5
38...bxa3 39.h6! Rg1+ 40.Ka2 axb2 41.Kxb2 Rg2+ 42.Kb1=
39.Rb3 gxh5 40.Rxb4 h6 41.a5 d4 42.Ra4

42...Rd5??
42...d3 43.Kc1 (43.a6?? Re1+ 44.Ka2 d2 45.Rd4 d1=Q 46.Rxd1 Rxd1 47.b4 Rd8 48.b5 Ra8-+)
43...Re1+ 44.Kd2 Re2+ 45.Kxd3 Rxb2 46.a6 Rb8 47.a7 Ra8 48.Kd4 Kh7 49.Kc5 Kg6 50.Kb6 Kxf6
51.Kb7 Rxa7+ 52.Kxa7 Kg5 53.Kb6 h4 54.Kc5 h3=; 42...Rb5 43.a6 Rb8 44.Rxd4 Ra8 45.Ra4 h4
46.b4 h3 47.b5 h2 48.Rh4 Rb8 49.Rxh2 Rxb5+ 50.Rb2 Ra5 51.Ra2 Rb5+ 52.Kc2 Rb8 53.a7 Ra8=
43.a6 Rd8 44.Kc2 h4 45.b4 h3 46.b5 Ra8 47.Rxd4 Kh7 48.Rh4 Kg6 49.Rxh3 Kxf6 50.Ra3 Rc8+
51.Kb3 1-0

524
B50-B74

55. * B50
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger 146/55, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.e4 d6 6.c3 g6

6...Nxe4N 7.d4 f5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Nbd2 Nxd2 10.Nxd2 Be6

11.Re1 (11.Qa4!?) 11...Qd7 12.Qa4 Bd5? (12...O-O-O 13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Qxc6+ bxc6 15.Rxe5²)
13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Nc4 [∆ Nb6, Re5] 14...O-O-O 15.Bg5 Rd7 16.Rad1 Qe6

525
17.Nxe5!+- Giri,A (2764)-Leko,P (2663) chess24.com (Int.-m/ 4-rapid) 146/(55) 2020; 6...Be7
7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bg4

9.dxe5N
9.d5 Nd4 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Bxd4 exd4 12.Qxd4 O-O 13.Nc3 Re8©; 9.Be3 exd4 10.Bxd4 Bg7 11.Nc3
O-O 12.h3 (12.Be3?! Ne5) 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Ng4 15.Qd2 Ne5 16.Be2 Qc8 17.Kg2
Nc4∞
9...dxe5 10.Nc3 Bg7 11.h3
11.Qa4 O-O 12.Be3 Nd7!? 13.Nd5 Nb6∞

526
11...Bxf3 12.Qxd8+
12.Qxf3 O-O 13.Be3 Nd4 14.Qd1 Qa5∞
12...Rxd8 13.Bxf3 O-O 14.Kg2 Nd4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Rd6 18.Rac1 Bd8 19.Rfd1
Kg7 20.Ne3 Ra6 21.a3 h5 22.Nc4 Bf6 23.h4 Rc8 24.Ne3
24.Rxd4 exd4 25.e5 Bxe5 26.Bxb7

26...Rxc4! 27.Rxc4 d3 28.Bxa6 d2 29.Rd4 Bxd4 30.Be2 Bxb2 31.a4=

24...Rac6 25.Rxc6 Rxc6 26.Rd3 Bd8 27.Bd1 Rc1 28.Bb3 b5 29.Rd1 Rc8 30.Ba2 a5 31.Rd3?!
31.Bb1 a4 32.Bd3 Ba5 33.Nd5=
31...a4 32.Kf1
32.Rc3?! Rxc3 33.bxc3 Ne2 34.Nd5 (34.c4 b4! 35.axb4 Nc3-+) 34...Ba5 35.c4 Nc1 36.cxb5 Nxa2
37.b6 Nb4! (37...Bxb6 38.Nxb6 Nc3=) 38.Nxb4 Bxb6 39.Nd5 Bd4³
32...Bb6 33.Rc3
33.Ke1 Rc1+ 34.Rd1 Ba5+!? (34...Nc2+ 35.Kd2 Bxe3+ 36.fxe3 Rxd1+ 37.Kxd1 Nxe3+ 38.Kd2
Nf1+ 39.Ke2 Nxg3+ 40.Kf3 Nf1 41.Ke2 Ng3+ (41...Nh2 42.Bd5„ ∆ Bc6) 42.Kf3=) 35.Kf1 Bd2!
36.Rxc1 Bxc1 37.Nd1 Kf8 38.Bd5 Ke7³
33...Rxc3 34.bxc3 Nb3 35.Ke1 Bc5 36.Nc2 Nc1?
36...f5! 37.exf5 (37.f3 f4! 38.gxf4 exf4 39.Kf1 Be7-+; 37.Bb1 fxe4 38.Nb4 Na5 39.Bxe4 Nc4-+)
37...gxf5 38.f3 f4! 39.gxf4 exf4 ∆ Be7-+
37.Bd5 Nd3+ 38.Ke2 Nxf2 39.Bc6 f6 40.Ne3 Nh1 41.Nf1 Bxa3 42.Bxb5 Bb2 43.Bxa4 Bxc3

527
44.Kf3 Bd4 45.g4 hxg4+ 46.Kxg4 Nf2+ 47.Kf3 Kh6 48.Ng3 Nd3 49.Be8 Nf4 50.Ne2 Ne6 51.Bf7
Nc5 52.Ng3 Bc3 53.h5 Be1 54.Bxg6 Bxg3 55.Kxg3 Kg5 56.Kf3 Nb3 57.Bf7 Nd4+ 58.Kg3 Ne2+
59.Kf3 Nf4 60.Kg3 Nxh5+ 61.Bxh5
61.Kf3 Kh4 62.Bg6=
61...Kxh5 62.Kh3 Kh6 63.Kh4 Kg7 64.Kg3 Kf8 65.Kf2 Ke7 66.Ke2 Ke8 67.Ke3 Kd7 68.Kd3
Kd6

69.Kc3??
69.Kd2! Kc5 (69...Kd7 70.Kd3=; 69...Kc6 70.Kc2!=) 70.Kc3=
69...Kc5 0-1

56. ** B50
Savitskiy, Sergey (2451) - Zakhartsov, Vladimir (2484)
Russia 146/56, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.g3 Nf6 5.e5 dxe5 6.Nxe5 Qc7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 Qxc6
10.Bg5! Bg4
10...Qxh1? 11.O-O-O Bd7 (11...Nd7 12.Nd5+-) 12.Bxf6 Qc6 (12...Bc6 13.Bh4+-) 13.Bg2 Qd6
14.Qxd6 exd6 15.Bxb7+-; 10...h6?! - 99/122
10...Be6? 11.O-O-O

528
11...Rc8N Beerdsen,T (2479)-Sarana,A (2654) lichess.org (Int.-m/9-blitz) 146/(56) 2020 (11...Rc8
12.Rg1! Qc5 13.Qxc5 Rxc5 14.Be3 Rc7 15.Bf4 Rd7 16.Bg2±; 11...h6)
11.Bxf6 Bf3
11...h5!? 12.Nd5 (12.Bxg7 Bxg7 13.Qxg7 O-O-O 14.h3 Bf3 15.Rg1 Qe6+ 16.Be2 Rhg8 17.Qh7
Rh8=) 12...exf6 13.Bg2 Qe6+ 14.Ne3 (14.Kd2 O-O-O 15.h3 Qe2+ 16.Kc1 Be6∞; 14.Kf1 Qe2+
15.Kg1 Rc8∞) 14...Rd8 15.Qa7 Qe5 16.Qxb7 Bc5 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Bxe4 O-O©
12.Bxg7 Rg8
12...Rd8 13.Qe5 f6 (13...Rd6) 14.Bxf6

529
14...Rg8N (14...Qxf6) 15.Be2 (15.Bd3! Bxh1 (15...Rxd3 16.cxd3 Bxh1 17.Bh4+-) 16.Qh5+ Kd7
17.O-O-O Qxf6 18.Be4+ Ke6 (18...Kc8 19.Qc5++-) 19.Bd5+ Bxd5 (19...Rxd5 20.Nxd5+-)
20.Nxd5+-) 15...Bxh1 16.Bg5 Bf3∞ Chigaev,M (2588)-Xiong,J (2709) lichess.org (Int.-blitz)
146/(56) 2020
13.Bxf8 Bxh1 14.Bxe7 Qe6+

14...Kxe7 15.O-O-O+-
15.Kd2N
15.Be2 Qxe7 16.Kf1 (16.O-O-O?! Rd8∞) 16...Rd8 17.Qf4 Rg6±
15...Qh6+?
15...Kxe7 16.Qh4+ Kf8 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.Re1 Qd6 19.Qxh7±
16.Qe3 Qxe3+ 17.Kxe3 Kxe7

530
18.Bxa6?
18.f3! Rg5 (18...Rad8 19.Bh3+-) 19.Kf2 Rh5 20.h4+-
18...Rxa6 19.Rxh1 Rd8 20.g4 Rb6 21.Rb1 Rh6 22.Rh1 Rb6 23.Rb1 Rh6 24.Rh1 1/2-1/2

57. B52
Kilgus, Georg (2461) - Miron, Lucian Costin (2507)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/57, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.c4 Ngf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.d3
8.d4 - 22/470
8.a3 - 95/(143)
8...O-O

531
9.Kh1N
9.Ne1 Ne5 10.f4 Nc6 11.Nc2 a6 12.Qf3 Nd7!?„ ∆ Bf6
9.h3 Ne5 10.a3 (10.Be3 Nfd7 11.Ne1 Bf6 12.f4 Nc6∞) 10...Nfd7 11.Rb1 Bf6 (11...f5!?) 12.Nxe5
Nxe5 13.Be3 b6 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.b4 Nd4 16.f4 g6∞; 9.Ng5!? h6 (9...d5 10.cxd5 (10.f4 d4 11.Ne2
∆Nb8 12.e5 Nfd7 13.Ne4 Nc6 14.Rf3!? ∆ Rh3ƒ) 10...exd5 11.f4 d4 12.Ne2 Qb6 13.Ng3ƒ) 10.Nh3
Ne5! (10...d5 11.cxd5 (11.f4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Nb6 13.e5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Ng4 15.b3 f6„) 11...exd5 12.f4
d4 13.Ne2 Re8 14.Ng3 Qb6 15.Nf2 Bf8 16.e5 Nd5 17.Qf3 Qc6 18.Bd2 b5 19.Nfe4ƒ) 11.f4 Nc6
12.Nf2 (12.f5 d5„) 12...a6„ ∆ Rb8, b5
9...a6
9...Ne5!? 10.Nxe5 (10.Ng1 a6 11.f4 Nc6 12.Nf3 Rb8„ ∆ b5) 10...dxe5 11.f4 exf4 (11...Nd7 12.f5
Bg5 13.Qg4ƒ) 12.Bxf4 Nd7 13.Qh5 Qb6 14.b3 g6 15.Qh3 Bf6 16.e5!? Nxe5 17.Rae1 Nd7 18.Ne4
Bg7 19.Bd6 f5! 20.Ng5 h6 21.Bxf8 Nxf8 22.Nf3 Rd8∞
10.Ng1!? d5
10...Ne5 11.f4 Nc6 12.f5 (12.Nf3 Rb8„ ∆ b5) 12...Nd7 13.Bf4 Nde5 14.Nf3 Bf6„
11.f4
11.cxd5!? exd5 12.f4 d4 13.Nce2 Nb8 (13...b5 14.b4!?ƒ) 14.Ng3 Re8 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.Bd2 Bf8 17.a3
∆a5 18.e5 Nd5 19.Ng5! h6 20.N5e4 Qd7 21.Qh5ƒ
11...d4 12.Nce2 b5 13.b3 Rb8
¹13...Nb8 14.e5 Nfd7 (∆ Nc6) 15.Nf3 Nc6 16.Ng3 Qc7∞
14.e5 Ne8 15.Ng3

532
15.Nf3!? bxc4 (15...f5 16.b4!²) 16.bxc4 g6 17.Qe1 Qc7 18.g4!? (18.h3 Ng7 19.g4 f5 20.exf6 Rxf6
21.Ng3 Rff8 22.Ne4 e5∞) 18...f5 (18...Ng7 19.Ng3 f5 20.exf6 Nxf6 21.Ne5²) 19.exf6 Nexf6
20.Ng3 Qc6 21.h3 Rbe8 22.Qe2 e5 (22...Bd6 23.Qg2²) 23.f5ƒ
15...bxc4 16.bxc4 Qa5?!
16...g6 ∆ Ng7∞
17.Ne4ƒ f5 18.exf6 Nexf6 19.Bd2 Qc7
19...Qb6 20.Qf3ƒ ∆ Rae1
19...Qa3!? 20.Qe2 Rfe8 21.Nf3 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Bf8 23.Ng5 Nf6 24.Qf3 (24.Qe2 Rb2 25.Rad1 Qxa2
26.Nxe6 Bd6 27.f5 a5 28.g4 Nd7∞) 24...h6 25.Qh3 (25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Qxe4 Qb2∞) 25...Rb6
(25...hxg5? 26.fxg5+-) 26.Rae1 Qxa2 27.Bc1

27...e5! 28.fxe5 hxg5 29.Qf3 (29.Bxg5 Nh7 30.Qd7 Rbe6 31.Qf7+ Kh8 32.Re4 Rxe5™ 33.Rh4 Re1!
34.Rxh7+ Kxh7 35.Qh5+=) 29...Qa4! 30.exf6 Rxf6 31.Qd5+ Kh7 32.Bd2 Rxe1 33.Rxe1 Qe8! 34.h4
Bd6 35.Kg1 Qg6 36.Bxg5 Rf5=
20.Ng5² Qc6 21.Re1 h6 22.Rxe6
22.Nxe6 Rfe8 23.Nf3 Ng4 24.Kg1! Ne3 (24...Bf6 25.Nfxd4! Bxd4+ 26.Nxd4 Rxe1+ 27.Bxe1 Qf6
28.Nc2 Rb2 29.Qxg4 Rxc2 30.Rd1 Qd4+ 31.Kf1 Rxa2 32.Qf3±) 25.Bxe3 dxe3 26.f5! Bf6 27.Rb1
Rxb1 28.Qxb1 Nf8 29.Rxe3 Nxe6 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.fxe6 Qxe6 32.Qe1 Qd7 33.Qe3±
22...Bd6 23.Ne4
23.Qf3 Qxf3 (23...Qc7 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4± ∆Bxf4 26.Re7 Bxd2 27.Qg6+-) 24.N5xf3 Ng4
25.g3 Rb6 26.Rf1±

533
23...Nxe4 24.dxe4

24.Rxe4 Nf6„
24...Rbe8
24...Rf6!? 25.Qg4 Kf7 26.f5 Ne5 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.Rxf6 gxf6 29.Qh4!? (29.Qxh6 Bf8 30.Qh4
Rb7²) 29...Kf7 (29...Bf8 30.Nf3 Rb2 31.Bc1! Rb4 32.Nxe5 fxe5 33.h3!± ∆Rxc4 34.f6!+-) 30.Bxh6
Qb7!? 31.Nh3²
25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.e5± Bf8 27.Rb1 Nb6
27...g5 28.Qh5! Re7 29.fxg5 hxg5 30.Nf3±; 27...Qe6 28.Qf3! Qxc4 29.Rb7 Re7 30.Qc6±
28.Qe2 g6
28...Qe6 29.f5! Qxc4 30.Rxb6 Qxe2 31.Nxe2 Rxe5 32.Re6 Rxf5 33.Kg1±
29.Ba5 Nd7 30.Nf3 Qa4?!
30...g5 31.Re1±
31.Be1
31.Qe4! Bg7 32.Rb7 Nf8 (32...Qxa5 33.Qxg6 Re7 34.Rxd7+-) 33.Qd5+ Re6 34.Qxc5+-
31...Qc6 32.h3 Rb8 33.Rxb8 Nxb8 34.Nd2 Kf7

534
35.Qe4?†
35.Bh4 Qe6 36.g4!+-
35...Qxe4 36.Nxe4 Ke6² 37.g3 Kf5 38.Nf2 Nd7?†
38...g5! 39.Kg2 (39.fxg5 hxg5=) 39...gxf4 40.g4+ Kxe5 41.Kf3 Nd7 42.Nd3+ Kf6 43.Kxf4 Nb6
44.Nb2 Ke6 45.Ba5 Nd7 46.Nd3 Ne5 47.Nxe5 Bd6 48.Bd2 Bxe5+ 49.Ke4 Bg7=
39.Ba5! g5 40.fxg5?
40.Bc7! gxf4 41.g4+ Kg6 42.Kg2 Be7 43.Nd3+-
40...hxg5
40...Nxe5 41.gxh6 Bxh6 42.Bb6 Bf8 43.Ba7 Nxc4 44.Nd3 Ke4 45.Bxc5 Bg7 46.Nf2+ Kf3 47.Kg1
Ke2 48.g4 Be5 49.g5 d3 50.h4 d2 51.Kg2 Nb2 52.Bb4=
41.Bc7 Bg7?
41...Nxe5 42.Bxe5 Kxe5 43.Kg2 d3 44.Nxd3+ Kd4 45.Nf2 Kxc4 46.Kf3 a5 47.Ke2=
42.g4+ Ke6 43.Ne4! Bxe5 44.Nxg5+ Ke7 45.Bxe5
45.Ba5 Bd6 46.Nf3 Nf6 47.Kg2+-
45...Nxe5 46.Ne4 d3
46...Nxc4 47.Kg1± ∆Ke6 48.Nxc5+ Kd5 49.Nxa6 d3 50.Nb4+ Kd4 51.Nxd3 Kxd3 52.Kf2 Ke4
53.Kg3 Ke5 54.Kh4 Kf6 55.Kh5+-
47.Nd2 Kf6 48.Kg2 Kg5 49.Kg3+- Nc6 50.h4+ Kf6 51.Kf4 Nb4 52.a3 Nc2 53.a4 Ke6 54.Ke4
Nb4 55.g5 Kd6 56.h5 Ke6 57.h6 Kf7 58.Kf5 Nc6 59.g6+ Kg8 60.Ke4 Nb4 61.Ke5 a5 62.Kd6 1-0

535
 58. B60
Popovic, Dusan (2500) - Ratkovic, Milovan (2421)
Srbija 146/58, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qd2 Bd7
10.O-O-O Na5
10...O-O-O - 95/153
11.Kb1 O-O-O 12.f4 Kb8 13.Nxa5 Qxa5

14.Bc4N
14.Be2
14...h5
14...f5 15.exf5 Qxf5∞
15.Rhf1
15.f5
15...Be7
15...f5!ƒ
16.Qd3 Rc8 17.Bb3 h4 18.Qh3 Rc7 19.f5 Qe5 20.Rde1 Rhc8 21.Re3
21.Qxh4 a5 22.a4 b5! 23.axb5 (23.Nxb5 Bxb5 24.axb5 Qxb5©) 23...Rxc3 24.bxc3 Qxb5 25.Ka1
Rxc3 26.Rb1 Kc7 27.Qf2²
21...b5 22.a3

536
22.Nd5 exd5 23.exd5 Qd4 24.Rxe7
22...a5 23.Nd5?
23.Rff3 a4 24.Ba2 b4! 25.fxe6 (25.axb4? Qd4 26.fxe6 Rxc3!! 27.bxc3 Qd1+ 28.Kb2 a3+ 29.Kxa3
Qc1+ 30.Kb3 Bb5-+) 25...fxe6 26.axb4 Rb7 27.Qxh4 Rxb4©
23...exd5 24.exd5 Qd4 25.Rxe7 a4 26.c3

26.Ba2 Rxc2-+
26...Qd2?
26...Rxc3! 27.bxc3 Rxc3 28.Bc2 (28.Rxd7 Rxh3 29.gxh3 Qd3+-+) 28...Rxh3 29.gxh3 Kc8-+
27.Rd1 Qf2 28.Bc2 b4?!
28...Bxf5 29.Qxf5 (29.Bxf5 Rxe7 30.Bxc8 Re2 31.Qf5 Rxb2+ 32.Kc1 Qe2=) 29...Qxf5 30.Bxf5
Rxe7 31.Bxc8 Kxc8 32.Rd4²; 28...Rg8 29.Rxf7 Rxg2 30.Qd3 b4! 31.Rxd7 (31.axb4 a3 32.Rxf6 a2+
33.Kxa2 Qxc2 34.Qxc2 Rxc2 35.Rxd6∞) 31...Rxd7 32.Qb5+ Kc8 (32...Rb7 33.Qe8+ Kc7 34.Qc6+
Kb8 35.Qe8+=) 33.Qc6+ Kd8 34.cxb4 Rxh2∞
29.Re4?
29.axb4 a3 30.Qd3! axb2 31.Qe3! (31.Kxb2 Rxc3 32.Qxc3 Rxc3 33.Kxc3 Bb5∞) 31...Qxe3
(31...Qxg2 32.Kxb2 Qxh2 33.Rd2 Qg3 34.Qxg3 hxg3 35.Re3+-) 32.Rxe3 Rxc3 33.Rxc3 Rxc3
34.Re1! h3 35.Kxb2 Rc4 36.Kb3 Rf4 37.gxh3 Rf3+ 38.Kc4 Rxh3 39.Re7±
29...bxa3 30.Rb4+ Rb7 31.Rxb7+ Kxb7

537
32.Qd3?
32.bxa3 Rg8 33.Qf3 Qxf3 34.gxf3 h3 35.Re1 (35.Rd2 Rg2 36.Kc1 Bb5µ) 35...Kc7µ
32...Qb6 33.Kc1 Qxb2+ 34.Kd2 a2 35.Qd4 Bxf5 0-1

59. B62
Sethuraman, SP. (2588) - Gelfand, Boris (2702)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 146/59, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Qd3

8...Nxd4N

538
8...h6 - 143/54
9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.O-O-O Rc8 12.Kb1
12.Qxa7 Qc6! 13.Rd3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Kxe7∞; 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 (12...gxf6? 13.Qxa7±) 13.Qxd6 Qxd6
14.Rxd6 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ke7 (15...Rxc3 16.Rhd1 O-O 17.Rd7 Ra3 18.Kb2 Ra4 19.Rxb7 Rxe4 20.Rxa7
Re2 21.a4±) 16.Rhd1 Rc7 17.Kb2 Rhc8 18.R1d3 g5²
12...Qc6 13.f4
13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qxd6 Bxc3 15.bxc3 b5 16.Qxc6+ Rxc6 17.Rd3 Ke7 18.Rhd1 Rc7²
13...O-O 14.Qxa7?!
14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7∞; 14.f5 b5 15.Qd3 a6∞ (15...b4?! 16.Nb5±)
14...h6 15.Bh4?

15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qa4 Bxc3 (16...b5!? 17.Qxb5 Qc7​→) 17.Qxc6 Rxc6 18.bxc3 Ra8³
15...Nxe4??
15...g5! 16.fxg5 Nxe4 17.Be1 (17.Rd3 hxg5 18.Qe3 f5µ) 17...Bxg5 18.h4 Bf6 19.Rh3 d5µ
16.Bxe7 Nxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qc4
17...Qxc3 18.Qd4 Qxc2+ 19.Ka1 Rc4 20.Rd2 Rxd4 21.Rxc2 Re8 22.Rc7+-
18.Bxf8 Qxc3 19.Qd4 Qxc2+ 20.Ka1 1-0

60. * B62
Huschenbeth, Niclas (2612) - Bacrot, Etienne (2673)
Espana 146/60, 2020

539
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3 Bd7

8.Bxf6N
8.O-O-O - 139/64
8.Ndb5 Nb4 9.Qd2 a6 10.Nd4

10...Be7N (10...Nc6) 11.Bc4 b5 12.Bb3 Qb6 13.O-O Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6∞ Dvirnyy,D (2485)-Le,Q
(2709) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(60) 2020
8...Qxf6!?

540
8...gxf6 9.Ndb5 (9.O-O-O a6∞) 9...Qb6 (9...Nb4 10.Qd2 a6 11.Nd4 Qb6∞) 10.O-O-O Ne5
11.Nxd6+ Bxd6 12.Qxd6 Qxf2 13.Nb5 Rc8 14.Nd4 Qe3+ 15.Kb1 Rg8 16.g3∞
9.Ndb5 O-O-O 10.Nxd6+ Kb8 11.Nc4 Qf4 12.Qg3 g5 13.Bd3 Bc5
13...h5!?
14.Qxf4+ gxf4 15.g3 f3 16.e5 Bd4?!
16...a6 17.Ne4 (17.a4 Bd4 18.Be4 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxf3 Rc8 21.O-O-O Rc7©) 17...Be7©
17.Be4 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5

19.Bxf3
19.O-O-O! Bc6 (19...Bxc3 20.bxc3 Bc6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rd3 Rxd3 23.cxd3±) 20.Bxc6 bxc6
21.Ne4²
19...Bc8
19...Bxc3+ 20.bxc3 Ba4 21.Be4 Rc8 22.Kd2 Rhd8+ 23.Bd3 e5 24.Rhe1²
20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 f5 22.Be2 Bd4 23.f4 h5 24.Rf1 h4 25.g4 Rd8 26.Ke1 Be3 27.gxf5 exf5
28.Rf3
28.Bd3 b6 (28...Bc1 29.b3 Ba3©) 29.Ke2 Re8 (29...Bd4 30.Re1 Rg8 31.Kd1 h3©) 30.Bb5 Re6
31.Bc4 Re8 32.Bb5=
28...Bc1 29.Nd1?!
29.b3 b6 30.Nd1 Bb7 31.Rh3 Bxf4 32.Rxh4 Bd2+ 33.Kf1 f4ƒ
29...Rd4 30.Bd3 Rxf4 31.Ke2

541
31.Rxf4 Bxf4 32.h3 Kc7µ
31...Rd4 32.Bxf5 Rd2+ 33.Ke1 Bxf5 34.Rxf5 Rxh2

34...Rxc2 35.Rf2 Rc8 36.h3=

35.Nf2??
35.Rf2 Rh1+ 36.Rf1 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 Kc7 38.Kg2 Kd6 39.Kh3 Bg5 40.Kg4 Be7 (40...Bf6 41.c3 Ke5
(41...Kc5 42.Ne3 b5 43.Kh3=) 42.Ne3 Ke4 43.Nc4 Kd3 44.Nd6 Kc2 45.Nxb7 Kxb2 46.c4 Kxa2
47.c5 Kb3 48.c6 Be5 49.Nc5+ Kc4 50.Na6=) 41.Ne3 Ke5 42.c3 Ke4 43.Nc4 b6 44.a4 Bd8 45.b4
Kd3 46.Ne5+ Kxc3 47.Nc6 a6 48.a5! bxa5 (48...b5 49.Nxd8 Kxb4 50.Nb7 Kc4 51.Nd6+ Kc5
52.Nf5 b4 53.Nxh4 b3 54.Nf3 b2 55.Nd2=) 49.bxa5 Bc7 50.Kxh4 Kc4 51.Kg4 Kc5 52.Ne7 Bxa5
53.Kf3 Kc4 54.Ke2=
35...Bxb2 36.Rd5 Rg2 37.Kf1 Rg8 38.Nd3
38.Rh5 Rh8-+
38...Bc3 39.Rd7 Kc8 40.Rh7 Rh8 41.Rf7 h3 42.Kg1 Ba5 43.Nf4 Bc7 44.Kh1 Bd6 45.Rf6 Kd7
46.Rf7+ Kc6 47.Rf6 Rh4 48.Nd3 Re4 49.Rf2 a5 0-1

61. B67
Solodovnichenko, Yuri (2544) - Zubarev, Alexander (2422)
Ukraine (ch) 146/61, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 Be7
10.Be3 h5 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.Nxc6 Bxc6
12...bxc6 - 101/150

542
13.Bd3 d5

14.Bf4N
14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.c4 Bc6 17.Bd4²
14...Qb6 15.exd5
15.e5 Ba3!? 16.Bb5 (16.b3 Nd7³) 16...Bxb5 (16...Nd7 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Bxc6 Bxe3 19.Bxd7+ Kxd7
20.Qd3∞) 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.exf6 gxf6 20.Qf4 Ke7∞
15...Nxd5?!
15...Bxd5 16.Rhe1 (16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Be5 O-O-O 18.Bxg7 (18.Be4 Bf6∞) 18...Rhg8 19.Be5
(19.Bc3? Rxg2!µ) 19...f6 20.Bg3 Bc5 21.Ka1 Ne3 22.Rde1 h4 23.Bxh4 Rxg2 24.Qc3 (24.Re2 Nc4
25.Qc3 Rxd3 26.cxd3 Rxe2 27.d4 Qxb2+ 28.Qxb2 Nxb2 29.dxc5 f5=) 24...Rxd3! 25.cxd3 Nc2+
26.Kb1 Na3+ 27.Ka1 Nc2+=) 16...Rd8 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Qf4²
16.Be5?!
16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Be5 f6 (17...O-O 18.Qe1 h4 19.c4 Bc6 20.Bd4 Qc7 21.Qc3±) 18.Bg6+ Kf8
19.Bf4±
16...Nf6 17.Qg5 Rg8 18.Qf4
18.Rhe1 O-O-O∞ (18...Nd7!? 19.Qxh5 Nxe5 20.Qxe5 O-O-O©)
18...g5! 19.Qc4 O-O-O 20.h4 Nd5 21.Bh7?
21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.Rde1 (22.Bh7 Rgd8 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Bc3 gxh4³) 22...Bc5 (22...gxh4 23.Qf4∞)
23.Bc3 (23.hxg5? Rxe5! 24.Rxe5 Bd4-+) 23...Bb5 24.Qe4 Bxd3 25.cxd3 Bd4 26.Rc1 Kb8³

543
21...Ne3 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Qe2

23...gxh4?!
23...f6! 24.Bg3 (24.Re1 Nxg2 25.Qxg2 fxe5-+) 24...Ba3 25.b3 Qc5 26.Be1 f5-+
24.Bf4?
24.Re1 Ba3 25.b3 Bc5µ
24...Nd5?!
24...Ba3 25.b3 Nxg2! 26.Qxg2 Qd4-+
25.Nxd5 Rxd5 26.Be4
26.Be5 Qc5 27.Bc3 Bb5 28.Qe1 Rg5µ
26...Bf6 27.c3
27.Bc1 Rd7 28.Bxc6 Qxc6µ
27...Rd8 28.Bxc6 bxc6!?
28...Qxc6 29.Be5 Bg5 30.f4 Be7µ
29.Kc1
29.Qc2 Qb5 30.a4 Qd5 31.Be3 Rg8µ
29...Qb5 30.Qe4 Kb7 31.Qh7 Rd7 32.Re1?
32.Qe4 Qd5µ

544
32...Bg5 33.Qe4
33.Bxg5 Qxg5+ 34.Kb1 Qxg2 35.Qxh5 h3-+
33...f5 34.Qe3 Rd3 35.Bxg5 Rxe3 36.Bxe3 Qe5 37.Bf2 Qh2 38.Rxe6 h3 39.Re7+ Kc8 0-1

62. B68
Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2784)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 146/62, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f4 Be7
10.Nf3 b5 11.e5 b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.Qxc3 gxf6 14.Bh4 Rg8 15.Kb1 Rb8

16.h3N
16.Rg1 - 139/66
16...Qa5
16...h5!? 17.g4 (17.Bc4 Qa5 18.Bxf6 (18.Qd3 Rxg2 19.Rhg1 Rxg1 20.Rxg1 Kd8∞) 18...e5 19.Bxe5
dxe5 20.Qd3 Rb7 21.Qh7 Rf8 22.Bb3© (22.Rhe1?? Rxb2+ 23.Kxb2 Ba3+ 24.Kb1 Qc3-+)) 17...Qa5
18.Qxa5 Nxa5 19.gxh5 Bb5 20.Bd3 Rh8∞
17.Qxa5
17.Bxf6 Nb4 (17...Bxf6 18.Qxf6 Rg6 19.Qh8+ Ke7 20.Qxh7 Qa3 (20...Qb4 21.b3 Qa3 22.Bd3
Rf6∞) 21.Qh8™ Qxa2+ 22.Kxa2 Rxh8∞) 18.Bc4 (18.a3? Bxf6 19.Qxf6 Nxc2! 20.Kxc2 Ba4+
21.Kb1 Bxd1µ) 18...Ba4 19.Ne1 d5 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.Bxd5! Rgc8 22.Qa3 Bxc2+ 23.Nxc2 Qxa3
24.Nxa3 Nxd5∞
17...Nxa5 18.Bxa6 Rxg2 19.Rhg1 Rg6

545
19...Rxg1 20.Rxg1 Kf8 21.Bd3±
20.f5 exf5 21.Bg3 Nc6
21...Nb7
22.Bxd6 Bxd6 23.Rxd6 Rxg1+ 24.Nxg1 Ke7 25.Rd1 f4 26.Rf1 Rg8 27.Ne2
27.Bb5 Ne5 28.Bxd7 Kxd7 29.b3 h5 30.a4 (30.Ne2 f3 31.Nf4 h4 32.Kb2 Rg3 33.a4 Ng6∞) 30...h4
31.Kc1 Rg3 32.Ne2 Rxh3 33.Nxf4 Rg3∞
27...Bxh3 28.Re1
28.Rxf4 h5 29.a4 Bg4∞
28...f3 29.Ng1+
29.Nd4+ Ne5 30.Nxf3 Kd6∞
29...Be6 30.Nxf3 Nb4
¹30...Ne5 31.Nd4 h5 32.b4 (32.a4 h4 33.Bb7 h3 34.a5 h2 35.Nxe6 Rg1 36.Rc1 fxe6 37.a6 Nd7
38.a7 Nb6∞) 32...h4 33.a4 h3 34.Rh1 Rh8 35.Bf1 h2 36.Bg2∞
31.Bb5 Nxa2 32.c3 Rg3 33.Nd4 Nxc3+

34.Kc2!
34.bxc3 Rxc3=
34...Nxb5 35.Nf5+ Kd7 36.Nxg3 f5 37.Rf1?!
37.Nh5! Kd6 38.Nf4 Nc7 39.Kd3 Nd5 40.Nxd5 Bxd5 (40...Kxd5 41.Rh1 f4 42.Rh5+ Kc6

546
43.Ke4±) 41.Kd4±
37...Kd6 38.Kd3 Ke5 39.Nh5 Bd5 40.Rc1
40.Nf4 Be4+ 41.Ke3 Nc7 42.b4 h5! 43.Rc1 Nd5+ 44.Nxd5 Bxd5 45.b5 f4+ 46.Kf2 Kd6=
40...Nd4 41.Rc5 Nb3 42.Rb5 Nd4 43.Rb8 Ne6 44.Rb5 Nd4 45.Rc5 Nb3 46.Rb5 Nd4 1/2-1/2

63. B69
Tari, Aryan (2633) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger 146/63, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O e6 9.f4 Be7
10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 O-O-O 14.Bd3
14.g3 - 141/61
14...Kb8 15.Ne2 Bc8
¹15...Ne5 16.Nf4 Ng4!? (16...Rc8 17.Rhf1 Rc7∞) 17.Rhe1 d5„ (17...Bf8!?)
16.Nf4 Ne5 17.Be2! d5?
17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 (18.Qc3 d5 19.exd5 e5 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Ne2 Qb5³) 18...bxc4 19.fxe6 (19.Nd4?!
d5! 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.exd5 e5 22.Nc6+ Qxc6 23.dxc6 Rxd2 24.Rxd2 exf4µ) 19...fxe6 20.Qc3 d5
21.exd5 e5 22.Ne6 Bxe6 23.dxe6 Qxe6∞; 17...Nc6!?
18.exd5

18...exf5N
18...Nc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Qd4 Qc7 22.Qe3 e5 23.Ne6 Bxe6 24.dxe6±; 18...Nxf3

547
19.Bxf3 e5 20.Nh5 Bxf5 21.Ng3 Bg6 (21...Bc8 22.Be4±) 22.Qe2 Rc8 23.Be4 Rc4 24.Rhf1 Rd8
(24...Rhc8? 25.d6! Rxc2 (25...Bxd6 26.Rxf6 Rd4 27.Bxg6 hxg6 28.c3 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Rd8 30.Ne4+-
) 26.Bxc2 Rxc2 27.dxe7 Rxe2+ 28.Ka1+-; 24...Qc5? 25.Bxg6 hxg6 26.Ne4 Qb6 27.d6+-) 25.Nf5±
19.Nd4 Bc5 20.Rhf1 Rhe8 21.a3 Ka8 22.h3?!
22.Qc3±
22...Bd7

23.Nh5?
23.d6! Qxd6 (23...Bxd6 24.Nd5 Qb7 25.Nxf6 Rf8 26.Nxf5 Bxf5 27.Rxf5+-; 23...Bxd4 24.Qxd4
Qxd4 25.Rxd4 Bc6 26.g3±) 24.Qc3! Rc8 25.Nxf5 Qc6 26.Nd5±
23...Nc4µ 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Qc3
25.Ka1 Rb8 26.c3 Qa5 27.Rb1 (27.Nc2 Ba4 28.Nb4 Bxd1 29.Rxd1 Rb6-+) 27...Bxa3 28.bxa3
Qxa3+ 29.Qa2 Qxc3+ 30.Rb2 Bc8 31.Nc2 Re2 32.Rc1 (32.Rf3 Qxc2!-+) 32...Rb3-+; 25.Ka2 Rb8
26.c3 Bxd4 27.cxd4 Re3! 28.Qb4 Qc7 29.Qc5 Qb7 30.Qb4 Bb5-+
25...Rb8 26.Rf3

548
26.Nxf5 Bxf5 27.Rxf5 Re3 28.Qxf6 Bd6 29.Ka1 (29.Rf3 Re5-+) 29...c3 30.b4 a5-+; 26.Nc6 Bxc6
27.dxc6 Re3 28.Qxf6 Rxa3-+
26...Re1!! 27.Rxe1 Bxd4 28.Qb4 Qc7 29.d6 Qc6 30.Qa5 Bxb2
30...Rxb2+ 31.Kc1 Qxd6 (31...Rb5-+) 32.c3 (32.Rd1 Ra2-+) 32...Bb6 33.Qxa6+ Kb8 34.Kxb2
Qd2+ 35.Kb1 Qxe1+ 36.Kb2 Qd2+ 37.Kb1 Qd1+ 38.Kb2 Qb3+ 39.Kc1 Bc8-+
31.Ka2 Be5 32.Rb1
32.c3 Qb7 33.Qb4 Qd5-+
32...Rxb1 33.Kxb1 Qxd6 34.Kc1 Qd4 35.Qxa6+ Kb8 36.c3
36.g3 Qg1+ 37.Kd2 c3+ 38.Ke2 (38.Rxc3 Qf2+-+) 38...Qb1-+
36...Qg1+ 37.Kd2 Qxg2+ 38.Ke3 f4+ 39.Nxf4 Bxf4+ 40.Rxf4 Qg3+ 41.Rf3 Qe1+ 42.Kd4 Qe5+
43.Kxc4 Qe4+ 44.Kc5 Qxf3 45.Kd6 Bc8 0-1

64. B69
Karjakin, Sergey (2752) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2784)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 146/64, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.O-O-O a6 9.f4 Bd7
10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.f5 Qb6 13.Kb1 O-O-O 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.g3 b4!?
15...Kb8 - 141/(61)
16.Ne2
16.Na4 Qa5 17.b3 Kb8 (17...Na7 18.Nb2 Nb5 19.Bxb5! Qxb5 20.Nc4±; 17...Ne5 18.Nd4 Kb7

549
19.Nb2±) 18.Bc4 (18.Nb2 Bc8 19.Nc4 Qc7∞; 18.Bh3 Rhe8∞) 18...Na7 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nf5 Bxf5
21.exf5 Nb5∞
16...e5 17.Nc1

17...Be6N
17...f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Qd5 (19.Be2?! d5³) 19...Rhf8 20.Bd3 Bg4 (20...Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Qb5∞)
21.Be4 Kc7 22.Nd3∞
18.Qh6 Kb8 19.Bh3 Bf7 20.Nh4 d5 21.Qg7
21.Nf5

550
21...Bc5! (21...dxe4 22.Nxe7 Nxe7 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Qxh7 Be6 25.Bxe6 Qxe6 26.Qxe4±; 21...d4
22.Nxe7 Nxe7 23.Rhf1 Rhf8 24.Nd3±) 22.Qxf6 (22.Nb3 a5„) 22...Rhf8 23.Qh4 a5 24.Qxh7 a4©
21...Rhf8 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Bg2?!

23.Rhf1 Nd4 (23...Bc5 24.Bg2 Ne7∞) 24.Nf5 (24.Qxe7? Rf7-+) 24...Bc5 25.Nxd4 Bxd4 26.Nb3
Bc4∞
23...Bxg2
23...Rf7! 24.Qh6 Be6 25.Rxd8+ Bxd8³

551
24.Nxg2 Qf2 25.Nh4 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Rc8 27.Qxh7
27.Nd3
27...Nd4 28.Nb3 Rxc2 29.Rxd4
29.Nxd4 Rxb2+ 30.Kc1 exd4 31.Qg8+ Ka7 32.Qc4 Rxa2 33.Qc7+=
29...Rxb2+ 30.Kc1 exd4 31.Qg8+ Ka7 32.Qc4 Bd6 33.Qc6 Rxa2 34.Qd7+ Ka8 35.Qc6+ Ka7
36.Qd7+ Ka8 37.Qc6+ Ka7 1/2-1/2

65. B69
Vuckovic, Bojan (2578) - Dimic, Pavle (2356)
Srbija 146/65, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f4 Be7
10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 O-O-O 14.g3 Kb8 15.Bh3 Na5 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Nd4 b4
18.Nce2 e5 19.Bxd7 Rxd7 20.Nf5 Nc4 21.Qd3 Rc8 22.Nc1
22.Ka1 - 141/61
22...a5 23.Rhe1
23.Nb3 a4 (23...d5 24.exd5 a4 25.Nxe7 (25.Nd2 Na3+ 26.bxa3 Rc3 27.Nc4 (27.Qe2? bxa3+ 28.Nb3
axb3 29.cxb3 Rxb3+ 30.axb3 Qxb3+ 31.Ka1 Bb4-+) 27...Qc5³) 25...Rxe7 26.d6 Rd7 27.Nd2 Ne3
28.Ne4 Nxd1 29.Rxd1∞) 24.Nd2 Na3+ 25.bxa3 bxa3+ 26.Nb3 d5! 27.Nxe7 (27.exd5 Bb4∞)
27...Rxe7 28.exd5 Rec7 29.d6 Rxc2 30.d7 (30.Qxc2? Rxc2 31.Kxc2 axb3+ 32.axb3 Qc5+µ)
30...Rb2+ 31.Ka1 Rd8∞
23...Rdc7

552
23...a4 24.Ne3 Nxe3 25.Qxe3 Qc6 26.Re2 (26.Qe2 d5∞) 26...d5∞
24.Re2N
24.Nb3 a4 25.Nxe7 Rxe7 26.Nd2 Nxb2! 27.Kxb2 Rc3 28.Qd5 (28.Nc4 Qc7 29.Qxd6 Rxc4∞)
28...Rec7 29.Rc1 R3c5 30.Qd3 (30.Qe6 Qc6∞) 30...Rc3=
24...Bf8 25.Qb3 Rc5
25...Ka7!?∞
26.Ne3

26...Qc6?!
26...Na3+!? 27.bxa3 (27.Ka1 Nb5 28.Nd5 Qc6∞) 27...Rc3 28.Qa4 bxa3+ 29.Nb3 Rxe3 30.Rxe3
Qxe3 31.Nxa5 Qe2∞; 26...a4 27.Nxc4 axb3 28.Nxb6 bxc2+ 29.Rxc2 Rxc2 30.Nxc8 (30.Nd7+ Kb7
31.Nxf8 Rxh2∞) 30...Rxc8∞; 26...Nxe3 27.Qxe3 Qc6∞
27.Nxc4 Rxc4 28.Rd5?!
28.a4! Rc5 (28...Bh6 29.Rd5 Bxc1 30.Kxc1 Rc5 31.Red2±) 29.Nd3 Rc4 30.Nf2 Rc5 31.Ng4±
28...f5?
28...a4 29.Qd3 a3 30.Nb3 Qb6 31.Rd2 R8c7∞
29.Qd3?!
29.Rxa5 fxe4 30.a3 d5 31.Na2 Qb7 32.axb4±
29...fxe4 30.Rxe4 Rc5

553
30...Rxc2?? 31.Rb5++-
31.Rxc5 Qxc5 32.b3 Bh6 33.Rc4 Qb6 34.Rxc8+ Kxc8 35.Ne2 Qc6
35...Qe3 36.Qxd6 Qxe2 37.Qxh6 e4=
36.Qxh7 Qh1+ 37.Kb2 Qxh2 38.Qe4

38...Bd2??†
38...Kd7∞
39.Qc6+ 1-0

554
B75-B99

66. B75
Grischuk, Alexander (2777) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/66, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6 8.Qd2 h5 9.Bc4
9.Be2 - 120/77
9...Nbd7 10.Bb3 Nc5 11.O-O-O b5 12.Kb1 Bb7

13.a3N
13.Nd5; 13.Rhe1; 13.Qf2
13...Nxb3 14.cxb3!?
14.Nxb3 Nd7 (14...O-O 15.Bd4 Bc6 16.Qf2ƒ) 15.Nd5 (15.Bd4 Ne5 16.Qf2 O-O 17.g4ƒ) 15...Rc8
16.Rhe1ƒ
14...Rc8 15.Nc2 Qc7
15...Nd7 16.Bd4 Bh6 17.Qf2 O-O∞
16.Bd4
16.Rhe1!?
16...O-O

555
16...e5 17.Be3 d5 18.Bg5 d4 (18...dxe4 19.Nb4 e3 (19...exf3? 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nbd5+-) 20.Qxe3 O-
O 21.Ka2 a5 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Nbd5 Bxd5 24.Nxd5 Qc6 25.Qe4²) 19.Nxd4 Nxe4! (19...exd4?!
20.Qxd4±) 20.Nxe4 Bxe4+ 21.fxe4 exd4 22.Rc1 Qb8 23.Rxc8+ Qxc8 24.Qb4 Qe6 25.Qc5ƒ
17.Qf2 e5?!
17...Qd7; 17...e6
18.Bb6 Qd7 19.Nb4² Rxc3?!
19...Qe6 20.Rd3²; 19...Ne8 20.Rhe1²
20.bxc3 Qe6 21.Kb2± Rc8
¹21...d5
22.Ba5! d5?!

22...Nd7 23.Nd5±; 22...Bxe4!? 23.Qb6 (23.fxe4? Nxe4 24.Qb6 Nxc3 25.Rxd6

556
25...Na4+! 26.Ka2 (26.bxa4? e4+ 27.Rd4 Qc4 28.Rd1 bxa4-+) 26...Qg4-+; 23.Qd2!? Bb7 24.Qxd6
Qxd6 25.Rxd6 e4±) 23...Nd5 24.Nxd5 (24.Qxa6? Rxc3 25.Qxb5 (25.fxe4 Rxb3+!-+; 25.Rxd5 Bxd5
26.Nxd5 Rxb3+! 27.Kxb3 Qxd5+ 28.Kb2 e4+ 29.Kc1 Qc4+ 30.Kd1 Qb3+-+) 25...Rc5-+; 24.Qb7!?
Nxb4 (24...Rxc3 25.fxe4 Rxb3+ 26.Kxb3 Nxb4+ 27.Rd5+-) 25.fxe4 Nc6 26.Bb4 a5 27.Bxd6 a4
28.Qxb5±) 24...Bxd5 25.Qxa6±
23.Qa7!+- Ba8 24.Nxa6 Bf8 25.Nc7 Qe7 26.Nxb5 Qe8 27.Nc7 Qe7 28.Bb6
28.b4!?
28...dxe4 29.Nxa8 Qxa7 30.Bxa7 Rxa8 31.Bf2 Bxa3+ 32.Kc2 Be7 33.Ra1 Rc8 34.Rhd1 exf3
35.gxf3 e4 36.fxe4 Nxe4 37.Bd4 f5 38.Kb2 Kf7 39.b4 g5 40.Kb3 g4 41.Ra7 Ke6 42.Ra6+ Kf7
43.c4 Bd6 44.Bg1 Ke7 45.c5 Be5 46.Rd5 1-0

67. B76
Giri, Anish (2764) - Navara, David (2719)
chess24.com (Int.-m/8-blitz) 146/67, 2020

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be3 c5 5.Nc3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O d5
10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qa5 15.b3 Rb8?! 16.Qc5!
16.a3 - 107/(70)
16...Qxc5 17.Nxc5 Nc3 18.Re1

557
18...Nxa2+N
18...Rd8; 18...Re8
19.Kb2 Nb4 20.Rxe7± Bf5
¹20...Rd8
21.Bc4! Rbd8?!

21...h5 22.Ra1±; 21...Nd5 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Rxa7±

22.g4!+- Bxc2

558
22...Be6 23.Ra1!?; 22...Nd5 23.Rxa7; 22...Bc8 23.Rxa7
23.Nd7 Bd3 24.Nxf8 Bxc4 25.bxc4
25.Nxh7!?
25...Kxf8 26.Rxa7 Nd3+ 27.Kc3 Ne5 28.Re1! Nxf3 29.Ree7 Kg7
29...f5 30.Rxh7 Kg8 31.Rhg7+ Kh8 32.Rxg6
30.Rxf7+ Kh6 31.Rxf3 1-0

68. B78
Bar, Lutz - Ilyasov, Anatoly
corr 146/68, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7
10.Qd2 Na5 11.O-O-O

11...Nxb3+
11...Rb8!? 12.Bh6 b5!? (12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b5 (13...e5 14.Nde2 b5!? 15.Rxd6 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 b4
17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Qc7∞) 14.Nd5 Nxb3+ 15.axb3 Nxd5 16.exd5 b4 17.h4 f6∞) 13.Bxg7 Kxg7
14.Nd5 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.h4 e5 17.Nxf6 c3!? 18.Nf5+ Bxf5 19.Qxc3 Qxf6 20.exf5 gxf5=
12.cxb3!? Qb8?!
¹12...Rc8 13.h4 h5 14.Kb1 Re8 15.Bh6 Bh8 16.g4 hxg4 17.h5 Qa5∞
13.Bg5
13.Bh6 - 58/(246)

559
13...d5 14.Bxf6 exf6

15.exd5N
15.Nxd5 f5 16.exf5 Qe5 17.f6 Bxf6 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Kb1 Rfd8 20.Qe3 Re8 21.Qf2 a5©
15...f5 16.Kb1 a6 17.Rhe1 Qd6 18.Qf2 Rfc8 19.Qh4 Bf6 20.Qg3 Qc5 21.Qf4 Re8 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8
23.Qd2 b5 24.Nc2 a5?!
24...b4 25.Na4 Bxa4 26.bxa4 a5 27.d6 Qe5 28.Ne3 Qxe3 29.d7 Re6 30.d8=Q+ Bxd8 31.Qxd8+ Re8
32.Qxa5 Qe2 33.Qd5 Qxg2∞; 24...Qd6 25.a3²
25.d6ƒ Bg7 26.a3 h5 27.b4 axb4 28.Nxb4 Qb6 29.Qc1 Rc8 30.Qf4 Qf2
30...Bxc3? 31.Nd5+-
31.Qd2 Qb6 32.h3 Kh7 33.Qd5
33.Qg5 Re8; 33.g4 Rc4!? 34.gxh5 Rd4 35.hxg6+ fxg6 36.Qe2 Qxd6©
33...Kg8 34.Qd2 Rc4?

560
34...Kh7
35.Qg5! Rd4 36.Rxd4 Bxd4 37.Qe7 1-0

69. B78
Fernandez Martinez, Juan - Vertiz Gutierrez, Pedro
corr 146/69, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7
10.h4 h5 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.O-O-O Ne5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 b5 15.g4 a5!
15...hxg4? 16.h5 Nxh5 17.Nd5 Re8

561
18.Rxh5! gxh5 19.Qh2 Rxd5 20.Bxd5 Qb6 21.f4​→
16.gxh5 a4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Bd5 e6 19.hxg6 exd5 20.h5 Bg5∞ 21.Qg2

21...Nc4N
21...Rxc3 - 44/263
22.gxf7+ Kh8 23.Rdg1 Rxf7 24.Qxg5
24.Nxd5 Bh6
24...Qxg5 25.Rxg5 dxe4

562
26.f4!
26.Nxe4 Nd2+ 27.Nxd2 Rxg5³
26...Rxf4 27.Rg6 Bf5 28.Rh6+ Kg7 29.Rg6+! Kh8
29...Bxg6 30.Ne6+ Kf7 31.Nxf4²
30.Rh6+ 1/2-1/2

70. B81
Paravyan, David (2653) - Zabotin, Alexander (2486)
Russia 146/70, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.g4 h6 8.h4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qf3
h5 11.gxh5

563
11...e5?!N
11...Nxh5 - 119/62
12.h6
12.Bc4 Rb8 (12...Bg4 13.Qg2 Bxh5 14.f3²) 13.Bb3 Rxh5 14.Bg5²
12...g6

12...gxh6 13.Bh3 Bxh3 14.Rxh3²

13.Bg5! Be7 14.Rg1

564
14.Bc4!?
14...Be6 15.Bh3
15.O-O-O!?
15...Bxh3 16.Qxh3 Qd7 17.Qd3 Qe6
17...Ng4 18.Na4±
18.O-O-O± Nh5
18...O-O 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.h5±
19.Kb1 Nf4 20.Qd2 Nh3 21.Rg3 Nxg5 22.hxg5 O-O 23.Ne2
23.b3!?
23...Kh7 24.f4 exf4
¹24...Qc4
25.Qxf4
25.Nxf4 Qe5 (25...Qc4 26.b3 Rab8 27.Qc1+-) 26.Rdg1+-
25...f5 26.Nd4
26.Re3!?
26...Qxe4 27.Qxe4
27.Qf2 f4 28.Rgd3
27...fxe4 28.Nxc6 Rae8 29.c4 Rf5 30.Rd5?!
30.Nxe7 Rxe7 31.Kc2±
30...Rf1+?!
30...Bd8∞
31.Kc2 Bxg5?!
31...Rf2+ 32.Kc3 Rf3+ 33.Rxf3 exf3 34.Nxe7 f2 35.Rd1 Rxe7 36.Rf1 Re3+ 37.Kd2 Re5 38.Rxf2
Rxg5 39.b4!+-; 31...Bf8±
32.Rgxg5?
32.Rdxg5 e3

565
33.Rxg6! e2 34.Rg7+ Kxh6 (34...Kh8 35.Ne7 Rc1+ 36.Kb3 Rxe7 37.Rxe7 e1=Q 38.Rxe1 (38.Rgg7!?
+-) 38...Rxe1 39.Rg6+-) 35.Ne7 (35.R3g6+ Kh5 36.Ne7 e1=N+ 37.Kd2 Nf3+ 38.Ke2 Re1+
39.Kxf3 Rf8+ 40.Kg2 Re2+ 41.Kh3 Rxe7 42.Rxe7 Kxg6 43.Re6+ Kg5 44.Rxd6 Rf2 45.Rb6 Rc2
46.Kg3 a5 47.a3+-) 35...Rc1+ 36.Kd3 Rxe7 37.Rxe7 e1=Q 38.Rxe1 Rxe1 39.b4+-
32...e3 33.Nd4 Rf2+?
33...e2 34.Nxe2 Rxe2+ 35.Rd2 Rxd2+ 36.Kxd2 Rf2+ 37.Kc3 Rf3+ 38.Kd4 Rf2²
34.Kc3 e2 35.Nxe2 Rexe2 36.Rxd6 Rc2+ 37.Kb4 Rxb2+ 38.Kc5 Rb7
38...Rxa2 39.Rgxg6 Rf5+ 40.Kb6+-; 38...Rg2 39.Rxg2 Rxg2 40.a4+-; 38...Kxh6 39.Rdxg6+ Kh7
40.Rxa6 Rf8 41.Ra3+-
39.Rdxg6 Rxa2 40.Kc6+- Rab2?! 41.Rg7+ Rxg7 42.hxg7 Kg8 43.Kd6 Rd2+ 44.Rd5 Rg2 45.c5
Rg6+ 46.Kc7 Rxg7+ 47.Kb6 1-0

71. B84
Fedorchuk, Sergey A (2615) - Stephan, Victor (2439)
Chartres 146/71, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Bf3 Qc7 9.g4

566
9...d5?!N
9...Nb6 - 25/505
10.exd5 Bb4
10...Nb6 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.O-O±; 10...Nxd5 11.Bxd5 (11.Nxd5 exd5 12.O-O Be7
13.Qe2±) 11...exd5 12.Qe2+ Be7 13.Nf5 Nf6 14.Qe5! Qxe5+ 15.fxe5±
11.dxe6

11...Nc5?!

567
11...Nb6 12.g5 Nfd5 13.O-O fxe6 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.f5 O-O 16.Kh1+-; 11...Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qxc3+
13.Qd2 Qxa1 14.exd7+ Bxd7 15.Qe3+ Kf8 16.O-O±
12.exf7+ Kxf7 13.O-O+- Rd8
¹13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Re8
14.Nce2 Ba5
14...Bxg4 15.c3
15.c3 Bb6 16.f5
16.g5!?
16...h5 17.g5 Ng4 18.Bxg4
18.Nf4!?
18...hxg4 19.Ng3
19.b4!?
19...Kg8 20.Qxg4
20.g6
20...g6 21.Qf3 gxf5 22.Ngxf5
22.Be3!?
22...Be6
¹22...Bxf5
23.Be3
23.Bf4
23...Rf8 24.Qh5 Bxf5 25.Nxf5 1-0

72. B85
Sprenger, Jan Michael (2482) - Korobov, Anton (2688)
Deutschland 146/72, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.a4 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.f4 Qc7 10.Kh1
Nc6 11.Be3 Bd7 12.Nb3 b6 13.Bf3 Bc8 14.g4 Bb7 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Rfe8 17.Qd2
17.Rf3 - 117/70
17...Na5 18.Nxa5 bxa5

568
19.Ne2N
19.Rf3; 19.Qf2; 19.Rad1!?
19...Rac8= 20.Ng3?!
20.c3; 20.Rac1
20...Qxc2 21.Qxa5 Qb3µ 22.Qe1 Rc2
22...d5 23.Bd4 (23.f5 dxe4 24.f6 Bb4 25.Bd2 Bxd2 26.Qxd2 Red8µ) 23...Nc5µ; 22...Rc4!?
23.Bd4

569
23.Rf3
23...e5! 24.Bc3
24.Qe3 Rxb2 25.Qxb3 Rxb3 26.Rab1 Rxb1 27.Rxb1 exd4 28.Rxb7 Nc5µ; 24.Ra3 Qe6µ
24...exf4
24...Nc5!?
25.Rxf4 Bxg5
25...Nc5!?
26.Rf3 Rxg2 27.Kxg2 Nc5 28.Bd4 Qe6! 29.Bxc5 dxc5 30.Qc3 Bxe4
¹30...Qg6µ
31.Nxe4 Qxe4 32.Qxc5³ h6
¹32...Bf4
33.Rf1
33.Qf5=
33...Qg4+
33...Bf4!?
34.Rg3
34.Kh1 Re2 35.Qg1™ Qe4 36.Rf2 Rxb2 37.Qg2=
34...Qxa4?!
34...Qe2+ 35.Qf2 Qxf2+ 36.Kxf2 Bh4 37.b4©; 34...Re2+ 35.Rf2 Qe4+ 36.Kh3 Qe6+ 37.Kg2 Re5³
35.Qd5= Re2+ 36.Kh1 Qe8 37.Rgf3
37.Qb7=; 37.Rg2=
37...Bf6 38.Rxf6?
38.b3=
38...gxf6 39.Rg1+ Kh8 40.Qf3 Qe4 41.Qxe4 Rxe4-+ 42.Ra1 Re6 43.Ra5 Kg7 44.Kg2 Kg6 45.Kf3
f5 46.b4 Rb6 47.Kg3 Kg5 48.h4+
48.Ra4
48...Kg6 49.Kf3 f6 50.Kg3 h5 51.Ra3 Rxb4 52.Rxa6 Rg4+ 53.Kf3
53.Kh3 f4

570
53...Rxh4 54.Ra8 Rg4 55.Rg8+ Kh7 56.Rf8 Kg7 57.Ra8 h4 58.Ra7+ Kg6 59.Ra8 Rg5 60.Ra4 h3
61.Ra2 Rh5 62.Kg3 h2 63.Rxh2 f4+ 64.Kg2 Rxh2+ 65.Kxh2 Kf5 0-1

73. B85
Areshchenko, Alexander (2678) - Van Foreest, Jorden (2682)
Deutschland 146/73, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 d6 9.Be3 Nc6
10.Kh1 O-O 11.Qe1 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Nd7 14.Bd3 Bb7

15.Ne2N
15.Rf3 Rae8 16.Rh3 e5 17.fxe5 (17.Be3 f5∞) 17...dxe5 18.Be3=; 15.a4 - 107/(76)
15...e5!
15...Bf6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Nd4 Nd7=
16.Bc3 Nc5 17.Ng3 Bh4 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Qe3
19.Ba5 Qc6 20.Bb4 a5 21.Bxc5 Qxc5 22.b4 Qc7 (22...Qb6 23.a4 bxa4 (23...Bxg3 24.Qxg3 axb4
25.axb5 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Qd4 27.Rb1 Bxe4 28.Bxe4 Qxe4 29.Qd3! Qxd3 30.cxd3 f6 31.Rxb4=)
24.Rxa4 axb4 25.Qxb4 Qxb4 26.Rxb4 Bc6ƒ) 23.Bxb5 axb4 24.Qxb4 Bxg3 25.hxg3 Qxc2 26.Rae1
Qc7ƒ
19...Bxg3
19...g6!?
20.Qxg3 f6 21.Rae1 Rf7³ 22.Re3
22.Bb4!?

571
22...Rd8
22...Na4 23.Be2 Qb6³
23.Qh4
23.Qe1!?
23...Rfd7
¹23...Na4³
24.Be2!
24.Rh3 h6 25.Rg3 Rf7ƒ
24...Qb6
24...Rd6!?
25.Bg4 Rd6?

25...Rf7 26.Bf5 g6 27.Rg3 Qc6=

26.Bf5!+- h6
26...g6?! 27.Rh3! Qc7 28.Bxg6
27.Qg4 Qc7
27...Nxe4 28.Rxe4 Bxe4 29.Bxe4
28.Qg6 Rd1 29.Ree1 Rxe1 30.Bxe1 Kf8 31.Qh7 Kf7 32.Bb4

572
32.Bg6+ Ke6 33.Ba5! Qxa5 34.Qxg7
32...Na4 33.Bg6+ Ke6 34.Bh5 Nc5 35.Bxc5 Qxc5 36.Qxg7 Bxe4 37.Qf7+ 1-0

74. B85
Areshchenko, Alexander (2678) - Koch, Thomas (2461)
Deutschland 146/74, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.O-O Be7 9.Be3 O-O 10.g4
Nc6 11.g5 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Nd7 13.f5 Re8 14.Rf2
14.fxe6 - 50/265
14...b5?!
14...Ne5; 14...Kh8
15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Nd5

16...exd5N
16...Qd8 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Rd1±
17.Qxd5+ Kh8 18.Qxa8 Nb6
18...Bxg5 19.Bxg5 Nb6 20.Bxb5! Nxa8 (20...axb5 21.Qa5+-) 21.Bxe8 Qc5 22.Bd2 Nc7 (22...Be6
23.b4 Qa7 24.a4+-) 23.b4 Qb6 24.Bh5+-
19.Bxb6 Qxb6 20.Rf1!
20.Qd5 Bb7 (20...Rf8 21.Rf1 Bh3 22.Kh1 Bxf1 23.Rxf8+ Bxf8 24.Qf7 Qd8 25.Bxf1²) 21.Qe6
(21.Qd2 d5©) 21...Bc8 22.Qb3 d5 23.Kg2²

573
20...Bxg5??

20...Qe3 21.Kh1±; 20...Rd8 21.Qd5 Qe3 22.Qf7 Bxg5 23.Kh1! Qxe4+ 24.Bf3 Qg6 25.Qc7±;
20...Rg8 21.Qd5™ Bb7 22.Qf5 Bc8 23.Qf4 (23.Qf7 Bxg5 24.Kh1 Bf6 25.Bd3±) 23...Bh3 24.Rd1
Rf8 25.Qg3 d5 26.Rxd5±
21.Qc6!! 1-0

75. B89
Anton Guijarro, David (2688) - Van Wely, Loek (2615)
Deutschland 146/75, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 a6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.O-O-O Qc7
10.Bb3 Na5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 Nd7 14.Nf5 exf5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.exf5 Bb7 17.Rhg1
17.f6 - 74/271
17...Bxd5 18.Rxd5 O-O 19.f6 Nxf6 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Rgd1
21.Qd2
21...Qe7 22.Rxd6

574
22...Be5N
22...Qe5 23.c3 (23.R1d4 a5 (23...Qxh2?? 24.Rxf6! gxf6 25.Rg4+ Kh8 26.Qf3 Qe5 27.Re4!+-)
24.Qf3 Rfc8ƒ) 23...Rad8=
23.Rd7 Qf6= 24.Kb1
24.Bd4 Bxd4 25.R7xd4 Rae8 26.Qd2 Re6ƒ
24...Rfe8
24...Bxh2 25.Bd4 Qf5 26.Bc3©
25.h3
25.h4!?
25...Rac8
25...g6!?
26.Qd3
26.R1d3=
26...Bxb2 27.Rd6 Qe5 28.Rxa6
28.Rd5 Qc3 29.Rd6 Ba1 30.Qxc3 Bxc3 31.R1d3 h6 32.Rxa6 b4³
28...Bc3³ 29.Bd4?!
29.Qd5
29...Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Qf5 31.Rd2 h5

575
31...Qxh3µ
32.Rd6
32.h4 Re1+ 33.Kb2 Re4µ
32...Qxh3µ 33.Kb2 Qf1
33...Qf3!?
34.Rd5 Ra8 35.Rd1 Qe2 36.Rg1 g6 37.Rd6 Qe5 38.f4 Qxd4+ 39.Rxd4 Rad8 40.Kc3

40...Re3+
40...Kg7!?
41.Kd2 Ree8 42.Kd3 b4 43.c4 bxc3 44.b4
44.Rxd8 Rxd8+ 45.Kxc3 Kg7-+
44...Rxd4+ 45.Kxd4 Rc8-+ 46.b5 h4 47.b6 h3 48.b7 Rb8 49.Kxc3 Rxb7 50.f5
50.Rh1 Ra7 51.Kb3 Kg7 52.Rxh3 Kf6
50...h2 51.Rh1 g5 52.Rxh2 Kg7 0-1

76. ** B90
Popovic, Milan S (2320) - Arsovic, Goran (2392)
Srbija 146/76, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3

6.Nb3 Nc6 (6...Nbd7 - 143/(79)) 7.Be2 g6 8.Be3 Bg7 9.Nd5! Nd7

576
10.Rb1N (10.Qc1; 10.Bg4) 10...O-O 11.O-O e6 12.Nc3 Qc7 13.Qd2 Nf6 14.Rbd1 Rd8 15.Bf4 Ne8
16.Bg5 Rd7 17.f4 b5 18.a3 b4 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.f5ƒ Moussard,J (2626) -Vasquez Schroeder,R (2441)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(76) 2020
6...e5 7.Nf5 d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 gxf6
9...Qxf6 - 131/74
10.Na2 Bxf5 11.exf5 Qd5 12.Be2

12...Nd7N
12...e4 - 146/(76) 13.O-O Nc6 14.Nc3 Qe5 15.f4 exf3 16.Bxf3

577
16...O-O-ON (16...dxc3 17.Bxc6+ bxc6 18.Re1 Bc5+ 19.Kh1 Be3 20.Qf3 cxb2 21.Rab1 O-O
22.Rxe3 Qd4= (22...Qa5 23.Rxb2 Qd2 24.Rb1 Rfe8=) 23.Rd3 Qe5 24.Qg3+ (24.Re3 Qd4=)
24...Kh8 25.Qxe5 fxe5 26.Rxb2 Rfd8=) 17.Ne4 Kb8 18.Qd3 Bh6 (18...Qc7 19.Qc4 Qb6 20.Kh1
Ne5 21.Qe2 Bh6∞) 19.Qc4² Joeres,S (2201)-Hoffmann, J (2113) Deutschland 146/(76) 2019
12...Qxg2 13.Bf3 Qh3 14.Bxb7 Ra7 15.Qf3 Qxf3 16.Bxf3²
13.O-O e4 14.Nc3
14.c4!? Qd6 (14...Qe5 15.Bf3 O-O-O 16.Re1 e3 17.fxe3 dxe3 18.Nc3 Bd6 19.g3 Qxf5 20.Rf1²)
15.Re1 O-O-O 16.Bh5 Qf4! 17.Qxd4 (17.Bxf7 Ne5 18.Be6+ Kb8 19.Qe2 e3 20.fxe3 dxe3 21.g3
Qf2+ 22.Qxf2 exf2+ 23.Kxf2 Nd3+ 24.Ke2 Nxe1 25.Rxe1 Bh6 26.Kf1 Rd2 27.Re2 Rhd8 28.Bd5
Rxe2 29.Kxe2 Kc7∞) 17...Bc5 18.Qxe4 Bxf2+ 19.Kh1 Qg5 20.Re2 Qxh5 21.Rxf2 Rhe8 22.Qf3
Qxf3 23.gxf3 (23.Rxf3 Re2ƒ) 23...Ne5©
14...Qe5 15.f4 exf3
15...Qxf5 16.Bg4 Qc5 17.Nxe4 Qb6 18.Rf3 Rd8 19.Rb3 Qc6 20.Qe2 Be7 21.Rxb7+-
16.Bxf3

578
16...dxc3!
16...O-O-O 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.g3 Kb8 19.b4²
17.Re1 Bc5+
17...O-O-O! 18.Rxe5 (18.Bxb7+ Kc7! 19.Rxe5 Nxe5 20.Bd5 (20.Qb1 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Kxb7 22.bxc3+
Ka7 23.h3 Rd2µ) 20...Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Rd7 22.g3 Rhd8 23.Qe1 Rxd5 24.Qxc3 Kb6³) 18...Nxe5
19.Qe1 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 cxb2 22.Rb1 Kb8! 23.Rxb2 Rhg8 24.Rb1 Rg1+ 25.Qxg1 Bxg1
26.Kxg1 (26.Rxg1 Rd5³) 26...Rd5 27.Kf2 Rxf5³
18.Kh1 Be3 19.Bxb7
19.Qd3 cxb2 20.Rab1 Nc5 21.Qxe3 O-O 22.Qf2 (22.Qxe5 fxe5 23.Rxe5? Rac8! 24.Re2 (24.Rxb2
Nd3!-+) 24...Na4-+) 22...Qc3 23.Re3 Qd4 24.c3 Qf4 25.Qe2 Rad8 26.g3 Qxf5 27.Rxb2 Kg7³
19...cxb2 20.Rb1 Rb8 21.Qf3

579
21...O-O
21...Bc1!? 22.Rxe5+ Nxe5 23.Qc3 O-O 24.Qg3+ Kh8 25.Qh4 Rbd8 (25...Kg7 26.Qg3+ Kh8
27.Qh4=) 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Bf3™ Rfe8 (27...Nxf3 28.gxf3 Rd2 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Qf6+=) 28.Kg1
Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 h6 30.Rxb2 Bxb2 31.Qxb2 Rd2 32.Kf1 Rc8∞
22.Rxe3 Qc5 23.Rc3
23.Rxb2 Rfe8 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Rb1 Qxc2 26.Rf1 Ne5 27.Qg3+ Kf8 28.Bxa6 Rb8=; 23.Rb3 Qxc2
24.R3xb2 Qc7=
23...Qe5= 24.Re3 Qc5 25.Rc3 1/2-1/2

77. B90
Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2629) - Illingworth, Max (2493)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 146/77, 2020

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3 Be6 9.Bg2 b5 10.O-O
Nbd7 11.Bg5 Be7 12.b3

580
12.Nd5 - 143/68
12...Rc8N
12...O-O
13.Kh1 O-O 14.f4 Nb6
14...b4!? 15.Na4 (15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bf5 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.fxe5 Bxc2 19.exd6 Qe5 20.Qd2
Be4³; 15.f5 Bc4! 16.bxc4 bxc3 17.Nxc3 Rxc4µ) 15...Nc5 16.Nxc5 Rxc5³
15.a4 b4 16.Nd5?!
16.Na2 a5 17.c3 bxc3 18.Naxc3 Ne8 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.f5 Bd7∞
16...Nfxd5
16...Bxd5! 17.exd5 e4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Ra2 Re8µ
17.exd5 Bf5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rc1 Rc5 20.Qd2 Rfc8
20...e4 21.Qxb4 (21.Nd4 g6 22.Nc6 Qf6 23.Nxb4 a5 24.Nc6 Rxd5µ) 21...Nxd5 22.Qd2 a5³
21.fxe5 Rxc2 22.exd6?

581
22.Rxc2 Rxc2 23.Qxb4 Qxe5 24.Nf4 Qe3 25.Qe1 Qxe1 26.Rxe1 g6 (26...Kf8 27.Nxh5 Rd2 28.Nf4
a5©) 27.Re8+ Kg7 28.Rd8 Nc8³
22...Rxd2?
22...Qe5! 23.Rxc2 Rxc2 24.Rxf5 (24.Qf4 Qxe2-+) 24...Qa1+ (24...Qxf5? 25.Qe3 Qd7 26.Nd4 Rc3
27.Qe7 a5∞) 25.Rf1 Qxf1+ 26.Bxf1 Rxd2-+
23.dxe7 Rxe2 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.d6 Bd7 26.Rc1± Kh7?
26...Nc8 27.Bf1 Re5 28.Rc7 Bxh3 29.Bxh3 Nxd6 30.Bf1 Ne8 31.Rb7 g6 32.Bxa6 Kg7 33.Bb5 Nd6
34.Rd7±
27.a5?!
27.Rc7 a5 28.Rb7+-
27...Nc8

582
28.Rxc8! Bxc8 29.Bc6 Kg6 30.e8=Q Rxe8 31.Bxe8 Kf6 32.d7 Bb7+ 33.Kg1 Ke7 34.Bxf7+- Kxd7
34...h4 35.gxh4 Kxd7 36.Kf2 Kd6 (36...Ke7 37.Bg8+-) 37.Ke3 Bd5 38.Bxd5 Kxd5 39.h5 Ke5
40.Kd3 Kd5 41.h4+-
35.Kf2
35.Bxh5 Bd5 36.Bd1 Kc6 37.Kf2 Kb5 38.Ke3 Kxa5 39.Kd4 Bg2 40.h4 Kb6 41.g4 Kc6 42.h5 Kd7
43.g5
35...h4
35...Kc6 36.Bxh5 Kb5 37.Ke3 Kxa5 38.Kd4 Kb6 39.h4 Bc6 40.Bd1
36.gxh4 Kd6 37.Ke3 Ke5 38.Kd3 Kf4 39.Kc4 Kg3 40.Be6 Kxh4 41.Kxb4 Bg2 42.Kc3 g5
42...Bxh3 43.Bxh3 Kxh3 44.b4 g5 45.b5 axb5 46.a6
43.b4 Bf1 44.Bc8 Kg3 45.Bd7 Kf4 46.Kd4 Be2 47.Bc8 Bf1 48.Kc5 Ke5 49.Bxa6
49.Kb6 Kd4 50.Bxa6 Bxh3 51.Bb7
49...Bxa6 50.b5 Bc8 51.a6 Bxh3 52.b6 Bf1 53.b7 1-0

78. B90
Ponkratov, Pavel (2628) - Sakaev, Konstantin (2596)
Russia 146/78, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3 Nbd7 9.a4 Be7 10.Bg2
b6 11.Nd5
11.Bg5 - 71/(260)

583
11...Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Rb8 13.O-O h4

14.f4?!N
14.g4 Bb7 15.Qd1 Nc5 16.Nc3 Ne6 17.Be3 (17.Nd5 Bg5 (17...O-O 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Re1 Rfd8=)
18.f4 Nxf4 19.Nxf4 Bxf4 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.Rxf4 O-O=) 17...Bg5 18.Bxg5 Nxg5 19.Qd2 Ne6
20.Rad1 Ke7∞
14...hxg3 15.Qb3
15.Nxg3? Nf6 16.Qd3 Bxh3µ
15...Bf6³
15...Qc7!? 16.Qxg3 (16.Nxg3 Nf6 17.f5 b5³) 16...Qxc2 17.Nc3 g6 18.Nd5 Bh4 19.Qa3 Qc5+
20.Be3 Qxa3 21.Rxa3 Bb7³
16.Qxg3 Bb7 17.f5
17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Nd4 O-O 19.Nf5 Re8 20.Be3 Bc8 21.Rad1 Bxf5 22.exf5 Rc8 23.c3 Nc4ƒ
17...Rc8 18.Rd1?
18.Nc3 Kf8 19.Rd1 Be7 20.Be3 Nf6 21.Qe1 Rc4 22.b3 Rxe4! 23.Nxe4 Bxe4³
18...Rxc2 19.Qd3 Rc6
19...Qc8! 20.Ra3 (20.Nc3?!

584
20...Rxg2+! 21.Kxg2 Nc5 22.Qe2 (22.Qf3 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Qc2+ 24.Rd2 Qxe4 25.Qxe4 Bxe4+
26.Kh2 Kd7-+) 22...Rh4 23.Kg1 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Rxe4-+) 20...Qc4 21.Qxc4 Rxc4-+
20.Ng3
20.Ra3 Nc5 21.Qe3 a5 22.Nc3 Rh4µ
20...a5 21.Qf3 Ba6
21...Bg5 22.Be3 Nc5 23.Nh1 Rh4 24.Nf2 Bxe3 25.Qxe3 Rf4-+
22.Nh5 Rc2 23.Bd2
23.Rd2 Qc7 24.Nxf6+ Nxf6 25.Rxc2 Qxc2 26.Be3 Qxb2-+
23...Qc7
23...Nc5! 24.Rab1 Bd3-+
24.Rac1 Ke7 25.Qb3
25.Nxf6 gxf6! 26.Qe3 Rc8 27.b3 Qc5µ
25...Rc8 26.Nxf6 Nxf6
26...gxf6! 27.Bf3 Rg8+ 28.Kh1 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Nc5 30.Qe3 Bb7-+
27.Be3 Qc6 28.Rxc2 Qxc2 29.Qxc2 Rxc2 30.Bxb6 Bb7 31.Bxa5
31.Re1 Rxb2 32.Bxa5 Nh5 33.Re3 Bc6µ
31...Rxb2

585
31...Bxe4 32.Rd2 Rc1+ 33.Kh2 Bxg2 34.Rxg2 Nd5µ
32.Rc1! Bxe4
32...Ke8 33.Rc7 Rb1+ 34.Kh2 Rb3 35.Kg1 g6³
33.Rc7+= Ke8 34.Rc8+ Kd7 35.Rc7+ Ke8 36.Rc8+ Kd7 37.Rc7+ Ke8 38.Rc8+ Kd7 39.Rc7+ Ke8
40.Rc8+ Kd7 41.Rc7+ 1/2-1/2

79. * B90
Papp, Gabor (2602) - Donchenko, Alexander (2658)
Bremen 146/79, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 g6 7.g4 Nc6 8.Bg2 Bg7
8...Nxd4 - 138/(97)
9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.e5 Nd5 11.Nxd5 cxd5

586
12.exd6N
12.Bxd5 - 146/(79) 12...Rb8 13.Bc6+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.exd6

15...Bxb2? (15...O-O 16.O-O (16.dxe7 Qxe7+ 17.Qe2 Qb4+ 18.Kf1 Qb7 19.Rg1 Rfe8 20.Be3 Qxb2
21.Rd1 Qxa2³) 16...exd6∞) 16.Bxb2 Qe6+ 17.Kf1 Rxb2 18.Qd4 Qf6 19.d7+ Kd8 20.Qc5 Rb8
21.Kg2 Qb6 22.Qc3 Qf6 23.Qc4 Qe6 24.Qxe6 fxe6 25.Rhe1± Schulz,L (2293)-Michalowski,P
(2106) Deutschland (ch) 146/(79) 2020
12.Qxd5 Rb8 13.Qc6+ Kf8 (13...Bd7 14.Qxa6 Bxe5 15.a4 h5∞) 14.O-O Bxe5 15.Bh6+ Bg7 16.Qc3
f6∞

587
12...e6
12...Rb8!? 13.Bxd5 Qxd6 14.O-O h5 15.Qf3 Be6 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Bf4 hxg4 18.hxg4 Rc8 19.Rae1
Qc6 20.Qxc6+ Rxc6 21.c3 Rc4 22.Bg3 Rxg4=
13.c4 Qxd6 14.cxd5

14...Qb4+
14...O-O! 15.O-O (15.dxe6 Qxe6+ 16.Be3 Rb8 17.O-O Rxb2=) 15...Rb8 16.dxe6 Qxe6 17.Re1 Qf6
18.Rb1 h5! 19.gxh5 Rd8 20.Qe2 (20.Qf3 Qxf3 21.Bxf3 Bf5 22.Bf4 Rb4 23.Bc7 Rd3 24.hxg6 Rxf3
25.Re8+ Bf8 26.Bd6 Rb6 27.Rd1 Rxd6 28.Rxd6 Kg7 29.Kg2 Rf4 30.Rdd8 Bc5 31.Kg3 Rc4∞)
20...Rb5! (20...gxh5 21.b4² (21.Qxh5 Rb5 22.Qf3 Qxf3 23.Bxf3 Bxh3 24.Be3 Bf5 25.Rbc1 Rxb2=))
21.h6 (21.hxg6 Qxg6 22.Be3 Bxh3 23.Qf3 Bf5 24.Rbc1 Rxb2 25.a3 Rc2=) 21...Bf5 22.Ra1 Bf8
23.a4 Rb3©
15.Bd2 Qxb2

588
16.O-O! O-O?
16...Qxa1 17.Qc2 Qd4 18.dxe6 O-O 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.Bxa8 Bxg4 21.Be3 Qd8 22.hxg4 Qxa8
23.Rc1 Rxf7 24.Qc6²
17.Rb1 Qxa2 18.d6 Bd7
18...Ra7 19.Qc1 e5 (19...a5 20.Be3 Rd7 21.Rd1+-) 20.Be3 Rd7 21.Rd1+-
19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Qf3+- Rf8 21.Bg5 f6 22.Be3 e5 23.Rb7 Qe6 24.Rc1 Rf7 25.Rb8+ Rf8 26.Qb7 h5
27.Rc7 Rxb8 28.Qxb8+ Kh7 29.Qb7 1-0

80. B90
Lobanov, Sergei (2510) - Fedoseev, Vladimir (2674)
Russia 146/80, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 g6 7.g4 Bg7 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 Bd7
9...O-O - 115/(74)
10.O-O-O h6 11.f3 Rc8 12.h4 Ne5

589
13.Be2N
13.Rh2
13...b5 14.g5

14.a3 Qc7 15.Kb1 (15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Rxh1 17.Rxh1 Nh5 18.Nd5 Qb7 19.b3 Be6! 20.Nb6
(20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Nf4 Nxf4 22.Bxf4 Qc6 23.Be3 Nf7∞) 20...Rc7 21.Rg1 Nc6 22.Nxe6 fxe6∞)
15...Qb7 16.g5 (16.b3 b4 17.axb4 Qxb4∞) 16...hxg5 17.hxg5 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Nh5 19.Nd5 Nc4
20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Ka1 Rb8 22.Rb1 Be6∞
14...b4!

590
14...hxg5 15.hxg5 Nh5 (15...Rxh1 16.Rxh1 Nh5 17.f4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.f5±) 16.f4 Nc4
17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.f5ƒ
15.Nb1
15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.gxh6 (16.exd5 h5 (16...hxg5 17.hxg5 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 Qa5 19.Kb1 Qxd5 20.Nf5
Qxd2 21.Nxg7+ Kf8 22.Bxd2 a5∞) 17.Qxb4 O-O©) 16...Bf6! (16...Bxh6 17.Bxh6 Nc3 18.bxc3
bxc3 19.Qe3 Qa5 20.Kb1±; 16...Nc3 17.hxg7 Rg8 18.Rdg1 Qa5 19.bxc3 bxc3 20.Qe1 Rb8 21.Nb3
Rxb3 22.cxb3 Qxa2 23.Qxc3 Qxe2 24.h5ƒ) 17.exd5 Qa5 18.Kb1 Nc4 (18...Qxd5 19.Bg5±) 19.Bxc4
Rxc4∞
15...hxg5 16.hxg5 Rxh1 17.Rxh1 Nh5∞ 18.Rg1
18.Bxa6?! Ra8 19.Bb7 Nc4 20.Qd3 Nxe3 21.Bxa8 Ng2! 22.Bc6 Ngf4 23.Bxd7+ Qxd7 24.Qd2
Bxd4 25.Qxb4 Qc6³; 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.b3 Rc8 21.Qxb4 Qc7 22.Qd2 Ng3 23.Rh7 Kf8
(23...Nxe4?! 24.Rxg7 Kf8 25.Qg2 Kxg7 26.Qxe4 e5 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.c4! exd4 29.Bxd4+ Kf8
30.Qh4ƒ) 24.Qh2 Nh5=
18...a5 19.b3 Nc6 20.Bc4
20.a4 Nxd4 (20...bxa3 21.Nxa3 Kf8∞) 21.Bxd4 Kf8∞
20...Qc7
20...Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Qc7 22.Bxg7 Nxg7 23.Ba6 Rb8 24.f4 Bb5 25.Bxb5+ Rxb5 26.Rh1 Nh5∞
21.Nb5

21...Qb8
21...Qb7!? 22.a4 (22.Qxd6 Ne5 23.Qb6 Qxb6 24.Bxb6 Nxc4 25.bxc4 Nf4µ; 22.f4 Nd8µ) 22...bxa3

591
23.N1xa3 Kf8³
22.f4?!
22.a4 bxa3 (22...Ne5 23.Be2 Qb7∞) 23.N1xa3 Ne5 (23...Be6) 24.Be2 Nxf3 (24...Bxb5 25.Bxb5+
Kf8∞) 25.Bxf3 Bxb5 26.Bg4 Bd7 27.Bxd7+ Kxd7 28.Nc4 Rxc4 29.bxc4 Qb2+ 30.Kd1 a4 31.Qa5
a3 32.c5 a2 33.Qa4+ Ke6 34.Qc4+ Kd7 35.Qa4+=
22...a4 23.Be2 axb3 24.axb3 Ba1
24...Qa8! 25.Bxh5

25...Qa2! 26.c3 (26.c4 Qxb3 27.Be2 Bb2+ 28.Qxb2 Qxe3+-+) 26...Qa1 27.Qb2 (27.Be2 bxc3
28.Nxc3 Nb4-+) 27...Qxb2+ 28.Kxb2 gxh5 29.Kc2 bxc3 30.N1xc3 Nb4+ 31.Kd2 Bxb5 32.Nxb5
Rc2+ 33.Kd1 Rb2µ
25.f5 gxf5! 26.Bxh5
26.g6 Nf6 27.gxf7+ Kxf7 28.exf5 Bxf5µ (28...Rh8!?)
26...Qxb5 27.g6 fxg6 28.Bxg6+ Kd8µ 29.Qd5
29.Qd3 Qb7 30.Bxf5 Ne5 31.Rg8+ Kc7 32.Rxc8+ Qxc8µ
29...Rb8 30.Qxb5 Rxb5 31.exf5 Bf6 32.Bg5 Nd4 33.Rg2 Bxg5+ 34.Rxg5 Rc5-+ 35.Rg2 Bc6
35...Bc6 36.Rh2 Be4
0-1

81. * B90
Bologan, Viktor (2574) - Miron, Lucian Costin (2507)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/81, 2020

592
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.a4 b6 9.Be2 Be7 10.O-O
O-O 11.Nd2
11.Qd3 - 123/(81)
11...Be6 12.f4
12.Bd3 Nbd7 13.Qe2 Qb7 14.Bc4 Rfc8 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Rfe1 Rc5„; 12.Bf3 Nc6
(12...Nbd7 13.Re1 ∆Nc5 14.Nf1 Rfc8 15.Bg5) 13.Nd5 (13.Re1 h6 14.Nf1 Na5 15.Ng3 Rfc8 16.Nf5
Bf8∞) 13...Bxd5 14.exd5 Nb4 15.c4 a5 16.b3 Nd7 17.g4 (17.Ne4) 17...Nc5 18.Ne4 Nbd3„
12...exf4
12...d5 13.fxe5 Qxe5 14.Nf3 Qc7 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Re8 17.Kh1 Bc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Nd4
Nbd7 20.c4²
13.Bxf4 Nbd7 14.Nf3

14...Qc5+N
14...Ne5 - 146/ (81) 15.Nd4

593
15...Nc4 (RR15...Rfe8!? 16.Kh1 Qb7 17.Nxe6 (17.Bg5 Rac8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nf5 Red8 20.Nh6+
Kh8 21.Rxf6!? gxf6 22.Qf1 Qe7 23.Bxa6 Rc5!∞) 17...fxe6 18.Qd4 Nfd7 (18...Qc7) 19.Rad1 Qc6
20.Qe3 Bf6 21.b3!? (21.Bh5 Re7∞) 21...Rec8 22.Na2 Qxc2 23.Nb4 Qc5 24.Nxa6 Qxe3 25.Bxe3
Rc3 26.Bg1 Be7 27.Rb1 Nf6! 28.Bd4 Rc2 29.Bb5 Nxe4 30.Bxb6 Nc3= Stoica,Valentin) 16.Bc1N
(16.Bxc4) 16...Qc5 (RR16...d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Nxd5 Qc5+ 20.Kh1 Rxf1+ 21.Bxf1
Qxd5 22.Qxd5 exd5 23.b3 Bf6 24.Rb1 Re8 25.Bf4² Stoica,Valentin) 17.Kh1

17...d5? (17...Nd7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Bf6 (19...Qxd5? 20.Nf5+-) 20.c3²) 18.Nb3 Qc6 19.Rxf6!
Bxf6 20.exd5+- Coro,L (2352) -Talukdar,R (2341) chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/(81) 2020
15.Kh1

594
15.Nd4!? Qb4 (15...Ne5 16.Kh1 - 15.Kh1; 15...d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.b4! Qc7 19.Nxe6
fxe6 20.Qd4 Qc6 21.Rad1²) 16.Kh1 Ne5 17.Rb1! (17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Qxb2 19.Bd2 d5∞)
17...Rfe8 18.Be3 Nc4 19.Bg1²
15...Ne5
15...d5!? 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nd4 (17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 Rfc8 19.c3 Qd5 20.Qc2 Nc5∞) 17...Nxc3
18.bxc3 Qc7 (18...Qxc3 19.Bd3©) 19.Rb1 Nc5 20.Nxe6 (20.Bg4 Rab8 21.Qf3 Qd7∞) 20...fxe6
21.c4 Rad8„
16.Nd4 Rfe8
16...Qb4 17.Rb1! - 15.Nd4
17.Qd2
17.Be3 Qc7 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Rxf5 Qb7 20.Bd4 ∆b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bxb5 Rxa1 23.Qxa1 Ra8
24.Qf1 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 Qxe4 26.Bxe5 dxe5 27.Rxf7²
17...Nc4 18.Bxc4
18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Bxd6 Bxd6 21.Qxd6 b5„ 22.Qd3 Red8 23.Qxc4 bxc4 24.Kg1 Rab8
25.Rab1 Rd4 26.e5 Nd7 27.Rfe1 Rd2=
18...Bxc4
¹18...Qxc4 19.Rae1 Rac8 20.Nxe6 Qxe6 21.Bg5 Bd8„
19.Rf3
19.Rfe1 ∆Bf8 20.Nf5 d5 21.e5 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Nd6²
19...Bf8 20.b3 Be6
20...Nxe4!? 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Be3 Bd5! 23.Ne2 Qc6 24.Nc3 (24.c4 Be6 25.Nd4 Qb7 26.Raf1 Re8
27.Nxe6 R8xe6=) 24...Re5 25.Nxd5 Qxd5 26.Qxd5 Rxd5 27.Bxb6 Rd2 28.Rc3 d5„
21.Raf1
21.h3 Bc8 22.Raf1 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Be3 f6 25.Ne6 Qa5 26.b4!? Qxb4 27.c3 Qc4! 28.Nxf8
Ra7 29.a5 Rae7 30.Bg5 Re2 (30...fxg5? 31.Nd7!+-) 31.Qxd6 Re1 32.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 33.Kh2 Qc5=
21...Bg4„ 22.Re3 Rac8
22...b5!? 23.axb5 axb5 24.Ndxb5 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 Qxb5 26.c4 Qc6 27.Nf6+ gxf6 28.Rg3 h5 29.h3
f5∞
23.h3 Bh5 24.Nf5 Re6?

595
24...d5! 25.e5 Nd7 26.Nxd5 Qxc2 27.Nde7+ Bxe7 28.Qxd7 Bf8 29.Nd6 Rcd8 30.Qb7 Bxd6
31.exd6 Rxe3 32.Bxe3 Qe2 33.Rf5! Bg6 (33...Qxe3? 34.Qc7±) 34.Qxb6 Qd1+ 35.Kh2 Rxd6
(35...Qxd6+ 36.Qxd6 Rxd6 37.Rc5 h5=) 36.Rc5 h6 37.Rc8+ Kh7 38.Qb8 Be4 39.Rh8+ Kg6 40.Qg8
Kf6™ 41.Qb8 Bxg2 42.Kxg2 Qe2+ 43.Bf2 Qe4+=
25.Bg5!± Nd7
25...Qa5 26.Bxf6 Rxf6 27.Qd3 ∆ Nd5±
26.Nd5! Qxc2 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 28.Nd4
28.Nf4+-
28...Rc5 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.b4 Rc4 31.Ne7+ Kh8 32.g4 Nf6?
32...Be8 33.e5 dxe5 34.Rd3 Bxe7 35.Bxe7 h5 36.gxh5 Kh7 37.Rd6±
33.gxh5 Bxe7 34.h6+- Kg8 35.hxg7
35.Ref3
35...Kxg7
35...Ng4 36.Rg3 Bxg5 37.Rxg4 Be7 38.Rf7
36.Bxf6+ Bxf6 37.Rg3+ Kf7 38.Rgf3 1-0

82. * B90
Studer, Noel (2573) - Keymer, Vincent (2568)
Deutschland 146/82, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6

596
10.Ng5 Qd7 11.Qf3 Nc6
11...d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.O-O-O d4 14.Nce4 O-O 15.Bd2 Nxe4 16.Qb3+ Kh8 17.Nxe4 Qc6

18.Qd3N (18.f3 - 40/(312)) 18...Nd7 19.f3 Rac8 20.Kb1 b5 21.c3 Nc5 22.Nxc5 Qxc5 23.cxd4 exd4
24.Rhe1 Bf6 25.Rc1

25...Qd6 (25...Qd5!?) 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Qf5 Rf8 28.Qf4 Qd7∞ Van Foreest,L (2535)-Tsiamis,K
(2226) Paleochora 146/(82) 2020
12.Qh3 Nd8 13.Bb6 h6 14.O-O-O O-O 15.Bxd8 hxg5 [- 21/(421)] 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qg3

597
17...b5!
17...Nh5; 17...g4
18.f3N
18.a3?! a5³; 18.Qxg5 b4 19.Ne2 Qc7 20.f3 (20.Ng3 a5ƒ) 20...Qc4 21.Qd2 Qxa2 22.Qxb4 Rab8
23.Qa3 Qxa3 24.bxa3 d5 25.exd5 Nxd5 (25...exd5 26.Rhe1 Rb5 27.Ng3 (27.Kd2 Ra5 28.Ng3 Nd7
29.Re3 Rf6 30.Rb3 Nb6©) 27...Nd7 28.Rd3 Rc5 29.Re2²) 26.Rd3 Rfc8 27.Rhd1 Kf7 28.Kd2 (28.Ng3
Nc3 29.Rd7+ Ke8 30.R1d3 Rb1+ 31.Kd2 Nd5 32.Rxg7 Kf8 33.Rg5 Rb2 34.Ne4 Rcxc2+ 35.Kd1
Rxg2 36.Rxg2 Rxg2=) 28...Rc5 29.Rb3 Rbc8 30.c3 Rc4©
18...g4
18...b4 19.Ne2 g4 20.Kb1 a5 21.h3 gxf3 22.gxf3 Rac8∞
19.Rhe1
19.a3 gxf3 20.gxf3 Nh5 21.Qg4 Nf4 22.Rhg1 a5ƒ
19...gxf3 20.Qxf3
20.gxf3 b4 21.Ne2 (21.Na4 Rac8 22.Qg5 Rc6∞) 21...a5 22.Kb1 a4∞
20...Rac8 21.Qd3 Rfd8
21...Rc6 22.Kb1 (22.a3 Rb8³) 22...b4 23.Na4 Qc7 24.Qb3 Re8³
22.Kb1 Rc4 23.a4
23.a3 Rd4 24.Qh3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 a5 26.g4 b4 27.g5 Nh7 28.g6 Nf8 29.axb4 axb4 30.Na2 Nxg6
31.Nxb4 Nf4 32.Qc3 Qb7 33.Nc6 Rd7∞

598
23...Qe8! 24.axb5
24.g4 Rc5 (24...Nxg4 25.Rg1 Nf6 26.Rdf1©) 25.axb5 axb5 26.g5 Nh5³
24...axb5 25.b3?!
25.g4 Qd7 26.g5 Nh5 27.Ne2 g6 28.b3 Rc5³
25...Rc5 26.Na2 d5 27.exd5

27...Nxd5!
27...exd5 28.Nb4 Rdc8 29.Qf5∞
28.Qg3 Rdc8?!
28...Qe7! 29.Rxe5 (29.Qg6 b4µ) 29...Qa7! 30.Qg4 Nc3+ 31.Nxc3 Rxd1+ 32.Nxd1 Rxe5µ
29.Rxe5 Rxc2

599
29...Qf7 30.Re2 Qa7 31.Qg4 R5c6 32.Qd4∞
30.Rdxd5!= Qc6 31.Rd1 Rxa2 32.Kxa2 Qc2+ 33.Ka3 Qxd1 34.Qe3 Qd6+ 35.Kb2 Ra8 36.Rxe6
36.Rxb5 Qa6 37.Rc5 Qa1+ 38.Kc2 Qa2+ 39.Kc3 Qa1+ 40.Kd3 Qf1+ 41.Kc3 Qa1+=
36...Qa3+ 37.Kc3?
37.Kc2 Qa2+ 38.Kd3 (38.Kc3 Qa1+ 39.Kb4 Qa5+ 40.Kc5 b4+ 41.Kd4 Rd8+ 42.Ke4 Qh5µ)
38...Qxb3+ 39.Ke2 Qb2+ (39...Ra2+ 40.Kf3 Qd5+ 41.Qe4 Ra3+ 42.Ke2 Qh5+ 43.Kd2 Qg5+
44.Ke2=) 40.Qd2 Qxd2+ 41.Kxd2 Ra2+ 42.Kd3 Rxg2 43.Rb6=
37...Rc8+ 38.Kd4 Qb2+ 39.Ke4 Qxg2+ 40.Kd4 Qb2+
40...Qg4+! - 40...Qb2
41.Kd5 Qg2+ 42.Kd4 Qg4+! 43.Kd5 Qd1+ 44.Ke5 Qc2?
44...Rc2! 45.Kf4 Qf1+ 46.Kg4 Rg2+-+
45.Qh3?
45.Kf4! Qxh2+ 46.Kg4 Qg2+ 47.Kh4 Rf8³
45...Rd8 46.Kf4 Rd4+ 47.Kg5 Rd5+ 48.Kf4 Qf2+ 0-1

83. B90
Jakubowski, Krzysztof (2481) - Spoelman, Wouter (2571)
Deutschland 146/83, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 Be7 9.Qf3 O-O 10.O-
O-O b5 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bc8 14.Bd3 a5 15.Nd2 Nd7 16.Kb1

600
16.g5 - 117/(75)
16...Ba6 17.Bxa6 Rxa6 18.Ne4 a4 19.g5 Qc7 20.Rd3
20.Rc1 a3 21.b3 f5 22.gxf6 Nxf6 23.c4 Nxd5 24.Qg4 Nf4 25.Bxf4 Rxf4 26.Qe6+ Kh8∞
20...f5 21.gxf6 Nxf6 22.Rg1

22...Kh8N
22...Nxe4 23.Qxe4 Rc8 24.c4=
23.Ng5

601
23...Rc8
23...Qc4!? 24.Qg2 (24.Ne6 Rg8 25.Ng5 Rc8 (25...Rf8=) 26.Rc1 g6∞; 24.Qd1 Ra5 25.Ne6 Rf7
(25...Rg8 26.Ng5 Rf8=) 26.Ng5 Rf8=) 24...b3! 25.Nxh7 Qxc2+ 26.Ka1 Rg8 27.Ng5 Qxd3 28.Nf7+
Kh7 29.Qg5 Ng4! 30.Qxe7 a3 31.Ng5+ Kh8 32.Nf7+ Kh7=; 23...Ne8 24.Nf7+ (24.Qe4 Bxg5
25.Bxg5 Ra8 26.Qxb4 Rxf2 27.Rc3 Qf7∞) 24...Kg8 25.Nh6+ Kh8=
24.Rc1 Qd7 25.Qg2 g6
25...Bf8 26.Ne4 (26.f4 Ra5 27.Rcd1 b3∞) 26...b3 27.c4 (27.cxb3 Qb5 28.Rdc3 Rxc3 29.Nxc3 Qd3+
30.Ka1 axb3 31.Qf1 Qxf1 32.Rxf1 h6∞; 27.Nxf6 bxa2+ 28.Kxa2 gxf6∞) 27...a3 28.axb3 axb2
29.Kxb2 Rca8 30.Nc3 Be7 31.Rg1 Bd8©
26.f4 exf4
26...Kg8!? 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Ne4 Nxe4 29.Qxe4 Qf5
27.Bxf4² Qf5?
27...b3 28.Ne6 Rxc2 29.Rxc2 bxc2+ 30.Kxc2 Kg8 31.Bd2²
28.Rf1 Qd7 29.Bd2+- Kg8

29...b3 30.Bc3 Kg8 31.cxb3 Qb5 32.Qf3 axb3 33.a3+-

30.Nxh7! Kxh7 31.Qg5 Kg7 32.Rg3?!
32.Rdf3 Qc7 33.Qh6+ Kf7 34.Bg5 Qxc2+ 35.Ka1; 32.Qh6+ Kf7 33.Bg5 Rg8 34.Rdf3
32...Ng4 33.Qxg4 Qxg4 34.Rxg4 Ra5 35.Rfg1
35.c4! Bf6 (35...Rac5 36.b3) 36.Bh6+ Kxh6 37.Rxf6

602
35...Bf6 36.Rxg6+ Kf7 37.Rh6
37.Bxb4 Rxd5 38.R6g4
37...Rxd5 38.Bxb4 Rg8 39.Rh7+ Ke6 40.Re1+ Re5 41.Rd1 Rd5 42.Rc1 Rg2 43.a3 Rf5 44.Ra7 Rf3
45.Ra6 Be5

46.Bxd6! Bxd6 47.Rd1 Rxh3 48.Raxd6+ Ke7 49.R6d4 Rhh2 50.Rc1 1-0

84. B90
Preotu, Razvan (2487) - Sjugirov, Sanan (2675)
USA (Internet) 146/84, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Qf3 O-O 10.O-
O-O b5 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bc8 14.Bd3 a5 15.Nd2 Ba6 16.Ne4
16.Bf5 - 145/79
16...a4 17.Kb1 Nd7 18.h4
18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.g5 Qc7∞
18...Qc8

603
19.Ng5?N
19.Bg5 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 f6 21.Be3 Qa6 (21...Qb7) 22.Ng3 Qxd3 23.Rxd3 Rfb8∞
19...Bxd3 20.Rxd3
20.cxd3 Nf6 21.Rc1 Qb7 22.Rc6 Qb5µ
20...Nf6 21.Rg1
21.Qd1 Qxg4 22.f3 Qc4 23.f4 b3 24.cxb3 axb3 25.Qxb3 Qa6 26.Rc1 e4 27.Rd4 Rfb8-+
21...Qc4! 22.Qd1 Rfc8
22...Ra5! 23.Nf3 Nxd5 24.Nd2 Qc6 25.Ne4 Rc8 26.Bc1 b3! 27.cxb3 axb3 28.a3 Nb4 29.Re3
(29.axb4? Qc2+ 30.Qxc2 bxc2#) 29...Qc2+ 30.Qxc2 bxc2+ 31.Ka1 d5-+
23.Nh3
23.f4 b3 (23...Ra5 24.fxe5 Rxd5 25.b3 axb3 26.axb3 Rxd3 27.Qxd3 Qxd3 28.cxd3 dxe5 29.Bd2
Nd5-+) 24.cxb3 axb3 25.Qxb3 Qa6 26.Rc1 Nxg4µ
23...Ne4 24.f3

604
24...Nc3+! 25.bxc3 bxc3 26.Qf1
26.Ka1 Rab8 27.Nf2 Rb2-+
26...Rab8+ 27.Kc1 Qxa2 0-1

85. B90
Yuffa, Daniil (2583) - Sakaev, Konstantin (2596)
Russia 146/85, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 h5 9.Nd5 Bxd5
10.exd5 Nbd7 11.Qd2 Be7 12.O-O-O
12.Be2 - 121/77
12...Qc7 13.Kb1 Nb6 14.Qa5 Rc8 15.c3 Bd8 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Qa4+ Kf8 18.g3 g6
18...Rc7 19.Bh3 h4 20.f4 Re7∞
19.f4 exf4

605
19...Kg7!? 20.Bh3 Rc7 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.d6 (22.Rhf1 Be7 23.Na5 Rd8 24.Nc4 Qc5 25.Nxe5 Rxd5
26.Nd3 Qb5=) 22...Rc6 23.Qb4 Qxb4 24.cxb4 Bb6 25.Rhe1 e4 26.d7 Rd8∞
20.gxf4N
20.Qxf4 Kg7=
20...Rc7!
20...Ng4 21.Bh3 Qb5 22.Qe4 Bf6 23.Nd4 Qe8 24.Qf3 Qd7∞
21.h4 Ng4 22.Re1 Re7 23.Be2?!

606
23.Rxe7 Bxe7 24.Nd4 Bf6 25.f5 Bxd4 26.cxd4 Rg8 27.fxg6 Rxg6³
23...Qf2! 24.Nc1
24.Nd4 Bb6 25.Ref1 Qg2 26.Bf3 Qd2 27.Rd1 Qe3³
24...Qg2 25.f5
25.Reg1 Qxd5 26.Rd1 Qf5+ (26...Qc5µ) 27.Bd3 Qf6µ
25...gxf5µ 26.Bd3
26.Qb3 Qe4+ 27.Ka1 Rg8µ
26...Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Bxh4 28.Re8+ Kg7 29.Rxh8 Kxh8 30.Bxf5 Bg5-+ 31.Qd4+
31.Qc2 Qf1 32.Bc8 Ne5 33.Bxb7 h4-+
31...Kg8 32.Bc2 Qf1
32...h4 33.Qd3 h3 34.Qh7+ Kf8
33.Qd1 Qxd1 34.Bxd1 Bxc1 35.Kxc1 Kg7 36.b4 Kf6 37.a4 Ke5 38.a5 Nf6
38...Kf4 39.c4 h4 40.c5 h3 41.c6 bxc6 42.dxc6 h2 43.c7 h1=Q 44.c8=Q Ne3
39.Bf3 h4 40.Kd2 Nxd5 41.Ke1 b5! 42.axb6 Nxb6 43.Bb7 Nd5 44.Bxa6 Nxc3 45.b5 Kd5 46.b6
Kc6 47.b7 Kc7 48.Kf2 Ne4+ 49.Kf3 h3 50.Bb5 Kxb7 0-1

86. * !N B90
Sarana, Alexey (2657) - Stukan, Martin (2316)
Russia 146/86, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7
10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 g6 12.O-O-O Nb6 13.Kb1 Nbxd5 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Bd3 Qc7 16.Rhe1 -
146/86
16.c4N Nb6 17.Rhe1 Nbd7 18.f4 O-O-O 19.f5

607
19...Kb8 (19...gxf5 20.Bxf5 Kb8∞) 20.Rc1 (20.fxg6 fxg6 21.h4 Rc8 22.Rc1 Rhg8∞) 20...gxf5
21.Bxf5 Macovei,A (2453) -Abdusattorov,N (2627) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(86) 2020 (21.Bxf5
Rhg8 22.Bh4 Nc5∞)
16...O-O-O 17.c4 Nf4
17...Nb6 - 135/84
18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Qxf4 Rhe8 20.Rc1 Kb8 21.Re2

21...d5!N =
21...Rc8 22.g3 (22.Rce1 d5 23.Qxc7+ Rxc7 24.Nd2 dxc4 (24...Ng8 25.cxd5 Rd8 26.Bc4²) 25.Bxc4

608
Rd8! 26.Rxe7 (26.Bxf7? Bb4-+) 26...Rxd2 27.Bxf7 Rxg2 28.Rxc7 Kxc7 29.Re7+ Nd7 30.h4
(30.Be6? Kd6 31.Rxd7+ Kxe6 32.Rxb7 Rxh2µ) 30...Kd8 31.Re6 Rh2 32.Rxg6 Rxh4=) 22...Bd8
23.Rec2²
22.Qxc7+ Kxc7 23.c5?!
23.cxd5+ Kb8 24.g3 Bf8 (24...Nxd5? 25.Bc4±) 25.Rce1 (25.Rxe8 Nxe8 26.Re1 Nf6=) 25...Rxe2
26.Rxe2 h4 27.Nd2 hxg3 28.hxg3 Rxd5 29.Bc4 Rd7=
23...Bf8 24.Rec2 Re3³ 25.Rd1
25.Bf1 Rde8 (25...Ng8!?) 26.c6 b5 27.Nc5 Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Re1³
25...Rde8 26.a4
26.c6 b5 27.a4 Re1 28.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 29.Ka2 bxa4 30.Nc5 Bxc5 31.Rxc5 Rg1µ
26...Re1 27.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 28.Ka2 Nd7! 29.c6

29.Be2 Nb8! 30.f4 Nc6 31.Rd2 Rh1µ

29...Ne5?!
29...bxc6! 30.Bxa6 c5 31.Bb5 c4µ
30.cxb7+ Kxb7 31.Be2 Nc6 32.Bxa6+ Kb6 33.a5+! Nxa5 34.Nxa5 Kxa5 35.Bb7 d4 36.Rd2=
Bh6 37.Rxd4 Re2 38.f4 Bg7 39.Rd7
39.Bf3 Rxb2+ 40.Kxb2 Bxd4+ 41.Kc2=
39...Kb4 40.Kb1 Rxb2+ 41.Kc1 Rf2 42.Rxf7 Bd4 43.Kd1

609
43.Be4 Be3+ 44.Kd1 h4 45.Ke1 Rxf4 46.Rxf4 Bxf4=
43...h4 44.h3 Be3 45.Bf3 Rd2+
45...Kc3 46.Rc7+ Kd3 47.Rd7+ Bd4 48.Be2+ (48.Re7=) 48...Rxe2 49.Rxd4+ Kxd4 50.Kxe2 Ke4=
46.Ke1 Rd4 47.f5 gxf5 48.Rxf5 Bf4 49.Bb7 Bd6 50.Ke2 Rf4
50...Bg3=
51.Rh5 Bc5 52.Bf3 Kc4 53.Rg5 Be7 54.Ra5 Bb4 55.Ra8 Kd4 56.Rd8+ Ke5 57.Kd3 Bd6 58.Rh8
Ra4 59.Rh5+ Kf6 60.Rh6+ Ke7 61.Bc6 Rb4 62.Bd5 Bg3 63.Bc4 Rb2 64.Bd5 Rb4 65.Re6+ Kf8
66.Re2 Rf4 67.Ra2 Ke7 68.Be4 Bf2 69.Ra6 Rf6 70.Ra5 Rf4 71.Rh5 Kf6 72.Ke2

72...Rxe4+
72...Bg3=
73.Kxf2 Ra4 74.Rd5 Ra2+ 75.Kf3 Ra3+ 76.Kf4 Rg3 77.Rd6+ 1/2-1/2

87. ***** !N B92

Sprenger, Jan Michael (2482) - Areshchenko, Alexander (2678)
Deutschland 146/87, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5
8.Be3 Be6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.a4 Rc8 11.Qd3 O-O 12.a5 Qc7 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 (13...Rfe8 14.Bf3 h6

610
15.h3N (15.Nd2) 15...Nf8 16.Nd2 Ng6 17.Bb6 Qc6 18.Nf1= Nh4 19.Be2 Ng6 20.Be3?! (20.Bf3=)
20...Red8 21.Ng3 d5 22.exd5 Nxd5µ Praggnanandhaa,R (2608)-Grischuk,A (2777) chess.com (Int.-
rapid) 146/ (87) 2020) 14.Bf3 Nc5 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 f5 18.Qb3 Bf7 19.d6 Bxb3
20.dxc7 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Be6 22.Bxb7 Rxc7 23.Bf3

23...Kf7N

611
(23...Rc8) 24.h4 (24.g3N g5 25.Bh5+ Kf6 26.f4 gxf4 27.gxf4 e4∞ Kramnik,V (2753)-Ding,L (2791)
chess24.com (Int.-m/1-rapid) 146/(87) 2020) 24...g6 25.g3 Rc8 26.Be2 c4 27.Kf1

27...Bc5 - 146/(87) (27...Bb4N 28.Bf3 Ke7 29.Ra1 Rb8 30.Bb6 Bd6= Susla,V-Koch,C corr 146/(87)
2020) 28.Bxc5 Rxc5 29.Ra1 Bd7 30.Ke1 Bb5 31.Rd1 Ke7 32.Kd2 c3+ 33.bxc3 Bxe2 34.Kxe2 Rxc3
35.Kd2 Rf3= Marti Pericot,J-Schnabel,M corr 146/(87) 2019
8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8 12.a5 Re8 13.Rfd1 h6 14.Nc1

612
14...Ng4!N (14...Bf8 - 46/(334); 14...Qc7) 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.f3 Be6 17.N1e2 Qc7 18.Kh1 Nf6
19.Ng3 Qc6 20.Bb6 Nd7 1/2 (20) Efimenko,Z (2602) -Wojtaszek,R (2717) Deutschland 146/(87)
2020
8...Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 O-O 11.O-O-O Be7 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Kb1 Nd7 15.Nd2
15.Qc4 - 138/(110)
15...b5 16.Nf1

16...Nf6N
16...Nb6

613
17.Qd3

17...d5! 18.exd5 Rad8

18...e4! 19.Qb3 (19.Qd2 Rfd8 20.Ne3 Bc5 21.Qc3 Rac8=) 19...Bc5 20.Ne3 Rfd8 21.g4 Qf4©
19.Bf3 Rfe8 20.Nd2 g6 21.g4
21.Rhe1 Bc5 22.Re2 Rd7 23.c4²
21...e4! 22.Nxe4 Nxd5 23.h4 Nf6
23...Nb6!? 24.Qe3 Nc4 25.Qc1 Rxd1 26.Bxd1 Qe5 27.Bf3 (27.f3 f5 (27...Bc5 28.Re1 Rd8 29.f4 Qc7
30.Nxc5 Qxc5©) 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.Nd2 Ne3©) 27...Rd8©
24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.Bd5 Rd7 26.g5 Bg7
¹26...Red8 27.Qb3 (27.gxf6 Rxd5 28.Qxd5 Rxd5 29.Rxd5 h5=) 27...Bg7©
27.Rhe1
27.Qf3 Qe5 28.Qb3 Qc7 29.a3²
27...Red8?!
27...Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Qc5 29.Rd1 Qb4 30.c3 Qxh4 31.Qg3 Qxg3 32.fxg3 Be5 33.g4 Bf4 34.a4 Bxg5
35.axb5 axb5 36.Kc2=
28.Qf3 b4 29.Rd3 a5 30.Qe4 a4 31.f4 Rc8

614
31...Bxb2! 32.Bxf7+ (32.Kxb2 Rxd5 33.Rxd5 Qc3+ 34.Kc1 Rxd5 35.Qxd5 Qxe1+ 36.Kb2 Qc3+
37.Kb1 a3 38.Qe5=) 32...Kxf7 33.Qe6+ Kf8 34.Rxd7 Qxd7 35.Qxd7 (35.Kxb2 Qd4+ 36.Kb1 a3=)
35...Rxd7 36.Kxb2 Rd4 37.Rf1 Kf7=
32.Bc4! Rxd3 33.cxd3 a3 34.b3 Rf8 35.Kc2 Qc5 36.Re3 Bd4 37.Rf3 Bg7?!
37...Bc3 38.Rf1 Qd6=
38.f5!± gxf5 39.Rxf5 Qc7 40.Qf4 Qe7

41.d4?

615
41.Kd1! Qb7 (41...Bc3 42.d4! Qd7 43.h5 Qxd4+ 44.Qxd4 Bxd4 45.g6+-) 42.Qe4 (42.Bd5!?)
42...Qxe4 43.dxe4 Bc3 44.h5±
41...Kh8 42.Rxf7 Rxf7 43.Qxf7 Qxf7 44.Bxf7 Bxd4 1/2-1/2

88. * B92
Ramirez, Alejandro (2567) - So, Wesley (2770)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/88, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qd3 Be6
10.Bd2 Nc6!
10...Nbd7 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Re8 (12...Ne8 - 142/81) 13.c4 a5

(13...Bf8 14.Na5 Rb8 15.b4 e4 16.Qe3²) 14.Rac1?!N (14.Rab1 a4 (14...b6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Qd1
Nfd7∞) 15.Na1 g6∞) 14...a4 15.Na1 Nc5 16.Qh3 Nfe4 17.Be3 Bg5 18.Nc2 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 f5³
Womacka,M (2439)-Yuffa,D (2566) Gibraltar 146/(88) 2020
11.Nd5

616
11.a3 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5=
11...a5!
11...Bxd5 12.exd5 e4 13.Qe3 Nxd5 (13...Ne5 14.c4 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qd7 16.Nd4²) 14.Qxe4 Nf6
15.Qf5 d5 16.Rfe1²
12.a4 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb4 14.Bxb4
14.Qb5 Nxc2 15.Rac1 Nd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Rc4 Ne4 18.Rxd4 Nxd2 19.Rxd2 Bf6=
14...axb4 15.Qb5
15.a5 Qd7 16.Nd2 Qc7 17.Nc4 Qc5 18.Qe3 Nd7 19.Qxc5 Nxc5 20.f4 e4∞
15...Rc8N
15...Qd7 16.Qxb4 Nxd5 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.axb5 e4∞ (18...Nb6∞)
16.Rac1 Qd7 17.Rfd1 Qxb5 18.Bxb5 Rc7„ 19.c4 bxc3 20.bxc3
20.Rxc3 Rxc3 (20...Rfc8 21.Rxc7 Rxc7 22.Na5 g6 23.Nc4 Kg7∞) 21.bxc3 Ne4 22.c4 Rc8 23.Kf1
Bg5∞
20...Ne4 21.c4 f5
21...Nc5 22.Nxc5 Rxc5=
22.f3 Nc5 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Kf2 g6 25.Ke2 h5 26.Kd3 Bd8 27.Rb1 Ba5 28.Bd7 Rc7 29.Be6+ Kg7
30.c5 Rxc5
30...dxc5?! 31.d6 Rc6 32.Kc4 Bb4 33.Bd7 Rb6 34.Bb5©

617
31.Rxb7+ Kf6 32.Rb5 Rc3+ 33.Kd2 Rc5+ 34.Kd3 Rxb5
34...Rc3+=
35.axb5 Bb6
35...Ke7 36.Ra1 Bb6 37.Ra6 Rb8³
36.Ra1 g5 37.h3 Rb8 38.Bd7

38...g4! 39.hxg4
39.h4 Bc5 (39...gxf3 40.gxf3 Rg8 41.Ra6 Bc5 42.Bc6 e4+ 43.fxe4 fxe4+ 44.Kxe4 Rg4+ 45.Kd3
Rd4+ 46.Kc3 Rb4=) 40.Bc6 e4+! 41.fxe4 f4³
39...hxg4 40.fxg4 e4+ 41.Ke2
41.Kc3 f4 42.Ra4 Rb7 43.Bf5 f3 44.Bxe4 f2 45.Bd3 Kg5³
41...f4µ 42.g5+
42.Ra6 Bc5 43.Bc6 Rh8 44.b6 Rh2 45.Kd1 Bxb6! 46.Rxb6 Rxg2µ
42...Ke5
42...Kxg5 43.Ra4 Rb7 44.Bh3 Re7 45.Ra6 (45.Be6 Rc7) 45...Bc5 46.Ra8 Ra7
43.g6?!
43.Ra6 Bc5µ
43...Rg8-+ 44.Ra6 Bc5 45.b6 Rxg6 46.Bh3
46.b7 Rxg2+ 47.Kd1 Rb2

618
46...Rg3 47.b7 Rb3 48.Bc8 Rb2+ 49.Kd1 e3
49...f3! 50.gxf3 exf3 51.Ra8 f2 52.Bh3 Rxb7
50.Kc1 Bd4 51.Bg4 Rxb7 52.Bf3

52...Bc3
52...Rb2 53.Ra8 Rd2 54.Re8+ Kf5 55.Rf8+ Kg5
53.Ra4 Bb4
53...Bd4 54.Ra2 Rb3 55.Kd1 Kf5 56.Ke2 Kg5 57.Rc2 Be5
54.Kd1 Kd4 55.Ke2 Kc3 56.Ra1 Bc5 57.Rc1+ Kd4 58.Rc2 Rb1 59.Ra2 Bb4 60.Bh5 Re1+ 61.Kf3
Rf1+ 62.Kg4 Rf2 0-1

89. B92
Alekseev, Evgeny V (2626) - Iljiushenok, Ilia (2515)
Russia 146/89, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Re1 Be6
10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.a4 Qc7 12.a5 Rfc8 13.Be3 h6 14.Nd2

619
14...Qc6N
14...b5 - 142/(83)
15.Nf1 b5 16.axb6 Nxb6 17.Bc1 Qb7
17...a5 18.Ne3 a4 (18...Qb7 - 17...Qb7) 19.Ncd5 Bd8 (19...Bxd5 20.exd5 Qc5∞) 20.h3 Nc4
21.Nxf6+ Bxf6∞
18.Ne3 Bf8
¹18...a5 19.Qd3 a4 20.h3 Bf8 21.Ng4 Nbd7„
19.h3 Nc4
19...a5!?
20.b3 Nxe3 21.Rxe3 Rc7 22.Na4
22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.exd5 Bf5 24.c4 a5 25.Ba3 Qb6 26.c5 dxc5 27.Rxe5 Bg6 28.Re3 Bd6 29.Rc1²
22...d5 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.c4
24.Bb2 e4 (24...Bxf3 25.Rxf3 Rd7 26.Qe2 Re8 27.Re3²) 25.Be2 Be6 26.Be5 (26.c4 Be7 27.Qc2²)
26...Rd7 27.Qc1 Nd5 28.Rg3 g6 29.c4 Rc8 30.Nc3 Nxc3 31.Bxc3² ∆Qxb3?! 32.Qf4±
24...Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Qxf3 26.Rxf3 Rb8 27.Ba3 Nd7
27...Ne4! 28.Re3 (28.Bxf8 Kxf8 29.Rd1 Ng5 30.Re3 Ne6! 31.Rd6 Nd4 32.Rxa6 Nxb3 33.Rxe5
Rxc4=) 28...Nd2 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.c5 Rxb3 31.Rxe5 g6=
28.Kf1

620
28.Rd3 e4 29.Re3 a5 30.Bxf8 Nxf8 31.Ra3 (31.Rd1 Ne6 32.Rd5 Rcb7 33.Rxa5 Rxb3 34.Rxe4 Rc8=)
31...f5 32.Nc3 Ne6∞
28...f6 29.Ke2 Bxa3 30.Rxa3

30...Nf8! 31.Rd3
31.Nc3 Ne6 32.Nd5 Nd4+ 33.Kd1 Rcb7 34.Rg3 Kf7 (34...Nxb3 35.Nxf6+ Kh8 36.Nd5∞) 35.b4
Nc6 36.Rxa6 Nxb4 37.Nxb4 Rxb4 38.Ra7+ R4b7=
31...Ne6 32.g3
32.Kd2 Nd4 33.f4 Rc6∞
32...Kf7 33.Kd2 Nd4 34.f4 h5 35.fxe5 fxe5 36.Re3 Kf6

621
36...g6 37.Kd1 a5 38.Nb2 Kf6 39.Rxa5 Rxb3=
37.Nc3!² Kf5
37...Rc6 38.Ne2 Nxe2 39.Kxe2 Rd6 40.Ra5²
38.Ne2
38.Nd5 Rd7 (38...Rcb7 39.b4 Nc6 40.Rf3+ Kg5 41.Rxa6 Nxb4 42.Re6 Nxd5 43.Rxe5+ Kh6
44.Rxd5±) 39.b4
38...Rd8?!
38...Nxe2 39.Kxe2 Rc6 40.Ra5 Re6 41.Rd5 g5 42.Kd2
39.Nxd4+ Rxd4+
39...exd4? 40.Rf3+ Kg5 41.Ra5+ Kg6 42.Rxa6+ Kh7 43.Ra5+-
40.Kc3± Rc6 41.Ra1 Rcd6 42.c5 Rc6 43.b4 Ke6 44.Rae1 Rd5 45.Kc4

622
45...Rd4+
45...a5? 46.Kb5+-
46.Kb3 Rd5 47.Ka4 Rc8 48.Re4 Kf5 49.g4+ hxg4 50.Rxg4!
50.hxg4+ Ke6 51.Ka5 Rc6 52.R1e2±
50...Rd4 51.Ka5 Rc6
51...e4 52.Rf1+ Ke5 53.Rxg7+-
52.Rxg7 Rd3 53.Ka4 Rxh3 54.Re7+- Rhh6 55.R7xe5+ Kf4 56.Re8 Kf3 57.Rf8+ Kg2 58.Re7 Rhg6
59.Rff7 Rh6 60.Rh7 Rhf6 61.Rhg7+ Kh3 62.Rh7+ Kg2 63.Reg7+ Kf3 64.Rf7 Ke4 65.Rxf6 Rxf6
66.Rd7 Ke5 67.Ka5 Rh6 68.Ra7 Kd5 69.Rxa6 Rh1 70.Kb5 1-0

90. B93
Heimann, Andreas (2622) - Huschenbeth, Niclas (2605)
Magdeburg 146/90, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e5 7.Nb3 Nc6
7...Nbd7 - 114/78
8.f5 d5

623
9.Bg5N
9.exd5 Nb4 10.Bg5 Bxf5 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.cxd3 Be7 (12...Qb6 13.Qe2 O-O-O∞; 12...Nbxd5 13.O-O
Be7³) 13.O-O (13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.O-O Nxd5µ) 13...Nfxd5³
9...dxe4
9...d4 10.Nd5 Be7 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qh5ƒ (12.Bd3 Bg5„)9...Bb4!? 10.Bxf6 (10.exd5 Ne7! 11.Bc4
Bxf5³) 10...Qxf6 11.Qxd5 (11.exd5 Ne7 12.Qf3 Bxf5³) 11...O-O (11...Qh6 12.Be2 (12.a3 Qe3+
13.Be2 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Nxd2 Na5∞) 12...O-O 13.Qd2 Bxc3 14.bxc3
Qh4+ 15.g3 Qxe4 16.O-O Rd8 17.Bd3 Qd5 18.Qe3²) 12.O-O-O Bxc3 13.bxc3 Rd8 14.Qc5 Qh6+
15.Rd2 Rxd2 16.Nxd2 Bxf5! 17.exf5 Rd8

624
18.Bd3 (18.Qf2 e4 19.Qe1 (19.Qe2 Ne5 20.g4 Nf3 21.Qxe4 Nxd2 22.Qe7 Rc8 (22...Nb3+ 23.Kb2
Qc1+ 24.Kxb3 Qb1+ 25.Ka3 Qc1+ (25...Rc8 26.Qxf7+ (26.Bc4 Qxh1 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.f6 Qc1+
29.Kb3 Qb1+=) 26...Kxf7 27.Bc4+ Rxc4 28.Rxb1 b5=) 26.Kb3=)) 19...e3 20.Nc4 e2+ 21.Kb2
exf1=Q 22.Rxf1 Qxh2∞) 18...e4 19.Bxe4 Qxd2+ 20.Kb2 Qf4 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qxc6 Rb8+ 23.Ka1
Qxf5=
10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.g4

11.Nxe4 Bxf5! 12.Nxf6 Be7 13.O-O-O+ Kc8 14.Be2 (14.g4 gxf6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.gxf5 Re8„)
14...gxf6 15.Rhf1 fxg5 16.Rxf5 f6∞; 11.Bc4 Ke8 (11...Be7 12.Bxf7 Bxf5 13.O-O Bg6 14.Rad1+ Kc8
15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Rde1²) 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.O-O Nb4 14.Nxe4 Be7 15.Rf2 b5 16.Bf1 Bb7 17.Nbc5

625
Bc6∞
11...h5! 12.O-O-O+?!
12.Nxe4 Kc7 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.Bxf6 Rg8 15.g5 Bxf5∞
12...Kc7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nd5+ Kb8 15.Be2 hxg4 16.Bxg4 Ka7 17.h3
17.Kb1 Ne7 18.Nxe7 Bxe7 19.h3 b5 20.Rhe1 Kb6 21.Nd2 Bb7 22.Nxe4 Bc6³
17...Bh6+ 18.Kb1 Bg5
18...e3!? 19.Rhe1 Rd8 20.Nxe3 (20.Nxf6 Nd4 21.Rd3 Bg5 22.Ne4 Bf4³) 20...Rxd1+ 21.Nxd1 Ne7
22.Ne3 Bd7³
19.Rhe1 Rd8 20.Nc5 Nd4 21.Nc7?!
21.Ne7 Re8 22.Nxe4! Rxe7 23.Nxg5 Bxf5 (23...fxg5?! 24.Rxd4 f6 25.Rd6 Rf7 26.Red1²) 24.Rxd4
Bxg4 25.Rxg4 fxg5 26.Rxg5 f6 27.Rf5 Rh8 28.Rxf6 Rxh3=
21...Rb8µ 22.c3

22.Nxe4 Bh4 23.Rf1 b6 24.c3 Bb7 25.Nd2 Rbc8 26.cxd4 Rxc7 27.dxe5 fxe5µ
22...Bxf5! 23.cxd4
23.Rxd4 exd4 24.Bxf5 e3 (24...dxc3 25.bxc3 Kb6 26.N7xa6 bxa6-+) 25.Kc2 (25.cxd4 Rxd4-+)
25...dxc3 26.Kxc3 Rd6 27.b4 Rbd8-+
23...Bxg4?
23...Bg6! 24.Bd7 (24.d5 f5 25.Be2 Kb6-+; 24.dxe5 f5! 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Bd1 Rc8-+) 24...exd4

626
25.Rxd4 Bf4 26.Ne8 (26.Nd5 Bd6-+) 26...Bg3 27.Re2 Bf2! 28.Rd5 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Rxd7 30.Nxf6
Rd1+ 31.Kc2 Rf1-+
24.hxg4 Rbc8
24...e3 25.d5 Kb6 26.N7xa6 bxa6 27.Ne4∞
25.Nxe4 Rxc7 26.dxe5 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Re7 28.Rd5 Bf4 29.Nxf6 Bxe5 30.Nh5
30.Ng8! Re8 (30...Re6 31.g5=) 31.g5 Bf4 (31...Bg7 32.Nh6=) 32.Rf5 Rxg8 33.Rxf4=
30...Kb6 31.Rd2 Kc6 32.Kc2
32.Rf2 Bd4 33.Rf4 Bh8 34.Rf2 Re1+ 35.Kc2 Rg1 36.Nf6=
32...Rd7
32...f5 33.Re2 (33.gxf5? Rh7-+; 33.g5 Rh7 34.Nf6 Bxf6 35.gxf6 Rf7 36.Rh2 Rxf6 37.Kd3 Kd5
38.Ke3 Ke5 39.Kf3 Rd6 40.Re2+ Kf6 41.Rh2³) 33...fxg4 34.Re4 Bd6 35.Rc4+ Kd5 36.Rxg4 Re2+
37.Kc1 Rf2³
33.Rf2 Rd4 34.Rf5! Kd6 35.Rxf7 Rxg4 36.Rxb7 Rg5 37.Rb6+ Kc5 38.Rh6 a5 39.Nf6 Rg2+ 40.Kd3
Bxb2 41.Rh5+ Kc6 42.Rxa5 Bxf6 43.Ra6+ Kb5 44.Rxf6 Rxa2 45.Ke4 1/2-1/2

91. ** B96
Hector, Jonny (2477) - Hillarp Persson, Tiger (2550)
Sverige 146/91, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Qd3 Qxb2
10.Rb1 Qa3 11.e5
11.f5 Be7 12.fxe6 Bxe6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.e5 dxe5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Be2 e4

627
17.Qg3N (17.Bh5+ - 146/(91) 17...Kf8 18.Qh3

18...Nd7N (18...Bb4? 19.O-O!+- - 123/89) 19.O-O f5 20.Kh1 Nf6 21.g4 Rc8 22.Rb3 Qc5 23.gxf5
e5! 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.f6 Nxf6 26.Rbf3 Qc6 27.Qf5

628
27...Rg8? (27...Rc7! 28.Qg6 Bc5 29.Qg2 (29.Qxf6+ Qxf6 30.Rxf6+ Ke7³) 29...Be7=) 28.Qh7+-
Qd5 29.Qxh6+ Rg7 30.Rg1 Qg8 31.Rxf6+ 1-0 (31) Rozen,E (2395)-Solomon,A (2321) Petah Tikva
146/(91) 2020) 17...Nd7 18.Rxb7

18...Rc8 (18...Qc1+! 19.Nd1 Qg5 20.Qc7 Rd8 21.O-O Rg8 (21...O-O 22.Nf2 (22.Bc4 Kh8 23.Bxe6
e3µ) 22...Bc5³) 22.g3 Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Qxc7 24.Rxc7 Rg5 25.Bxa6 Rc5 26.Rxc5 Bxc5³) 19.O-O Rxc3

629
20.Qg6+? (20.Qg7 Rf8 21.Rd1 Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Qc8 23.Qg6+ Kd8 (23...Rf7 24.Bh5+-) 24.Qxe4+-)
20...Kd8 21.Rd1 Rc7= 22.Rb8+ Rc8 23.Rb7 Rc7 24.Rb8+ Rc8 1/2 (24) Harutjunyan,G (2444)-
Drygalov,A (2492) Chelyabinsk 146/(91) 2020
11...Nd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd3 13.Bxd3 exd5 14.e6!? Nc6
14...fxe6 15.Bg6+ Kd7 16.Bf7 (16.f5 e5 17.Ne6 Nc6³) 16...e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Nf3 Nc6 19.Bxd5
Bc5 20.Bf2 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Re8 22.Rhe1 Kc7 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Nxe5 Be6=
15.exf7+ Kxf7 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rb6 c5

18.O-ON

630
18.Rc6 Be7 19.Rc7 Re8 20.O-O Kf8 21.Bxe7+ (21.Bg6? Bxh4 22.Bxe8 Kxe8-+) 21...Rxe7 22.Rc6
Be6 (22...Rd7 23.Re1 Kf7 24.a4 Rd8 25.Rc7+ Rd7=) 23.Rxd6 Bf7=; 18.c4 d4 19.O-O Ra7
18...Ra7! 19.a4

19.f5 Be7 20.Bxe7 Rxe7! (20...Kxe7 21.Re1+ Kd7 22.Re6 c4 23.Rexd6+ Ke7 24.Bf1²) 21.f6 gxf6
22.Rxd6 Be6 23.Be2 Rd7 (23...Kg6 24.Bxa6²) 24.Rxa6 Rb8 25.Bh5+ Ke7=
19...g6?!
19...a5! 20.c3 Rb7 21.Rxb7+ Bxb7 22.Rb1 Bc8 23.Rb8 g5! 24.fxg5 (24.Rxc8 gxh4 25.Kf2 Ke6
26.Rc7 Be7=) 24...hxg5 25.Bxg5 Bg7 26.Ra8 Bxc3 27.Ra7+ Kf8 28.Ra8 Kf7=
20.a5
20.f5 gxf5 21.Bg3 (21.Bxf5 Bxf5 22.Rxf5+ Ke6 23.Rf6+ Ke5 24.Rf2 Bg7∞) 21...Kf6 22.Re1 Kg7
23.a5²
20...c4 21.Be2 Bf5 22.Bf3 Be4 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Rc6?!
24.Rd1 Ke6 (24...Rh7 25.Rd4±) 25.Rd4 (25.Kf2 Rhh7 26.Ke3²) 25...Rhh7 (25...e3 26.Rxc4±)
26.Rxe4+ Kd5 27.Re1±
24...Bg7 25.Rxd6

631
25.Rd1 Rd7 26.Rxa6 d5 27.Rc6 Ra8 (27...c3 28.Bf2²) 28.Rxc4 Rxa5 29.Rxe4 Rc7 30.Re2 Rc4 31.Be1
Ra1 32.Rxa1 Bxa1 33.g3²
25...Re8
25...e3! 26.Re1 Re8 27.Re2 Re4 28.g3 Rd4=
26.Rfd1
26.Kf2
26...e3 27.Rd7+ Rxd7 28.Rxd7+ Kg8 29.Be1 Rb8 30.Kf1 Rb1 31.Ke2 Rc1 32.c3
32.Rd6 Rxc2+ 33.Kxe3 Rxg2 34.Rxa6 c3 35.Rc6 Rxh2 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Rc7 Rh3+ 38.Ke4 c2
39.Rxc2 Ra3 40.Kd5 h5 41.Kc6 Ra1 42.Bb4 h4=
32...Bxc3 33.Bxc3 Rxc3= 34.Ra7 Rc2+ 35.Kxe3 Rxg2 36.Rxa6 Rxh2 37.Rxg6+ Kh7 38.Rc6 Ra2
39.a6 c3 40.f5 c2 41.Kd2 h5 42.Rc7+ Kh6 43.Ra7 h4 44.Ra8 h3 45.Rh8+ 1/2-1/2

92. B96
Van Foreest, Lucas (2531) - Donchenko, Alexander (2654)
Deutschland 146/92, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Bc4 Qb6 8.Bb3 e6 9.Bxf6 Nxf6
10.Qd2
10.f4 - 109/151
10...Nd7 11.O-O-O Nc5 12.f4
12.Rhe1 Bd7 13.Nf5 (13.f4 O-O-O 14.f5 g6 15.Kb1 Bg7∞) 13...O-O-O!? 14.Nxd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6

632
Nxb3+ 16.cxb3 Qxf2 17.Re2 Qh4=
12...Bd7 13.Kb1 Be7

14.Rhf1N
14.g4 O-O-O 15.Nf5 Bf8 16.Ne3 Bc6 17.Qd4 Kb8 18.Nc4 Qc7∞
14...O-O-O 15.Nf5!? Bf8
15...exf5 16.Nd5+-
16.Ne3
16.Nxd6+ Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Bc6 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Kc1 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.g3
Kc7=
16...Bc6 17.f5 Kb8 18.Qe1
18.Qd4 Qa7!? 19.Bc4 b5 20.Be2 Nb7„; 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Ne5 Be8 20.g4 Be7 21.Nd3 h6∞
18...Nxb3
¹18...Qc7∞
19.axb3 Be7 20.fxe6 fxe6

633
21.Ned5! exd5
21...Bxd5 22.exd5 e5 23.Qg3 Bf6 24.Ne4 Rhf8 25.Rf3±
22.exd5 Bf6 23.dxc6 Rhe8
23...Qxc6 24.Nd5 Be5 25.h4²
24.Qd2 bxc6
24...Qxc6 25.Nd5 Be5 26.Rf3²
25.Na4 Qb5 26.Rfe1 Re5 27.Ka2
27.Nc3 Qa5 28.Rxe5 Bxe5 29.Qd3 h6 (29...d5 30.Re1 Bf6 31.Re6±) 30.Rf1²
27...Kc7 28.c4 Qa5 29.Qf2 Kb7 30.Rxe5 Bxe5 31.Qh4 h6 32.Qe7+ Kb8 33.c5 Qc7 34.cxd6 Bxd6
34...Rxd6 35.Qe8+ Kb7 36.Rc1 Rd5 37.g3²
35.Qe4 Rd7?!
35...Be7 36.Rc1 Rd5 37.Qc4 Kb7 38.h3²
36.Qd3± Ka7?
36...Qa5 37.Qc4 Kc7 38.Qd4 Qb5 39.Qa7+ Kd8 40.Qb6+ (40.Qf2±) 40...Ke8 41.Qd4±
37.Qd4+! Kb8 38.Nc5 Qa5+ 39.Kb1 Rd8 40.b4+- Qb5 41.Qxg7 Bc7 42.Rxd8+ Bxd8 43.Qf8 Kc8
44.Qxh6
44.Qe8 Qf1+ 45.Ka2 Qc4+ 46.Ka3 Qd5 47.Ne6+-
44...Qf1+ 45.Ka2 Qxg2 46.Qe6+ Kb8 47.Qd6+ Bc7 48.Qf8+ Ka7

634
49.Qc8 Qd5+ 50.Ka3! Qf3+ 51.b3 1-0

93. *** B97

Huschenbeth, Niclas (2612) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2686)
Espana 146/93, 2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qxb2
10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Be2 Be7 12.O-O Nbd7 - 146/93
12...Qa5; 12...Qc5N 13.Na4 Qa7 14.Nb6

14...Nbd7 (14...Nxe4! 15.Qe3 Bxh4 16.Qxe4 (16.Nxc8 Qc5 17.Qxe4 d5 18.Qe3 Bf6 19.Nf5 Qxe3+

635
20.Nxe3 Bd4 21.Kf2 b5³) 16...d5 (16...Bf6 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.f5 d5 19.Qe3 Bg5 20.Qd4 Bf6=)
17.Qe3 O-O 18.Nxa8 Qxa8 19.Rfd1 Qa7©) 15.Nxa8 Qxa8 16.Qe3± Yakubboev,N (2591)-
Saydaliev,S (2384) Uzbekistan (ch) 146/(93) 2020
13.f5
13.Kh1 - 36/(345)
13...Ne5
13...e5 14.Ne6 fxe6 15.fxe6 Nf8 (15...Nc5 16.Rxf6 gxf6 17.Bh5+ Kf8 18.Bxf6 Nxe6 (18...Bxf6?
19.Qf2+-) 19.Bxh8 Qc5+ 20.Kh1 Bg5 21.Qe1 Kg8 22.h4 Kxh8 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Nd5 Nf4∞)
16.Rxf6

16...gxf6? (16...Bxf6 17.Bh5+ g6 (17...Kd8? 18.Rb3 Qc5+ 19.Bf2 Bg5 20.Qd3+-) 18.Bxf6 gxh5
19.Bxh8 Bxe6 20.Bg7 (20.Rxb7 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Ng6 22.Bf6 Qc4= 23.Kg1 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Qc4=)
20...O-O-O 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Qxh6 Re8 23.Qxh5 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Rg8∞) 17.Bh5+ Kd8 18.Rb3 Qa5
19.Bf2

636
19...d5N (19...Bxe6) 20.Nxd5 1-0 (20) Sychev,K (2572)-Giri,A (2764) chess.com (Int. -blitz)
146/(93) 2020
14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Rb3
15.Bxf6

15...Bxf6N (15...gxf6) 16.Bh5+?! (16.Rb3 Qa5 17.Bh5+ Nf7 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Nf3 Rd8³) 16...Ke7
17.Nxe6

637
17...Kxe6? (17...Bxe6 18.Rxb7+ Kd8µ) 18.Qd5+? (18.Nd5! Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Bg5 20.Qd1 (∆ Bg4)
20...Kd7™ 21.Rb3 (21.Nb6+ Ke7 22.Nxa8 g6! 23.Nb6 (23.Be2 b5±) 23...gxh5³) 21...Kd8! 22.Rc3
Nc4 23.Rcf3 Bf6 24.Rxf6! gxf6 25.Qf3 Qd4 (25...f5?! 26.Qg3ƒ) 26.Qg3 Qxe4 27.Bf3 Qh7 28.Re1©)
18...Ke7 19.Rxb7+

19...Bxb7? (19...Kd8! 20.Rb3 Qc5+ 21.Qxc5 dxc5 22.Nd5 (22.Rd1+ Nd7 23.Nd5 Bd4+ 24.Kh1
Rb8-+) 22...Ra7 23.Rd1 Rd7-+) 20.Qxb7+ Ke6 21.Nd5 Qc5+ 22.Kh1 Nc4 23.Rxf6+ gxf6 24.Qe7#
1-0 (24) Sychev,K (2572)-Vantika,A (2286) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(93) 2020
15...Qa5
15...Qc5?! 16.Na4 Qc7 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bh5+ Kd8 20.Kh1 (20.Nxc8?! Qxc8 21.Qb4

638
Ke7µ; 20.Qe3!?ƒ) 20...Bd7 21.Rd1ƒ
16.Bh5+ Nf7
16...Nxh5!? 17.Bxe7 Qc7 (17...Kxe7?? 18.Nd5++-) 18.Bh4 (18.Qe2 Kxe7 19.Qxh5 Rf8 20.Qh4+
Ke8 21.Qh5+ Rf7³) 18...Bd7∞
17.Bxf7+
17.Bxf6 Bxf6 - 15.Bf6
17...Kxf7

18.Qe2N
18.Nf3 Rf8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Qxd6 Kg8 21.e5 Qd8 22.Ne4 Be7∞
18...Rf8 19.Nf3 Kg8 20.e5 dxe5 21.Nxe5

639
21...Nd7! 22.Bxe7
22.Nxd7 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1 Bxh4 24.Qf8+ (24.Nb6 Qc5+ 25.Kh1 Rb8 26.Qe2 (26.Qf4 Qf2µ) 26...Qc7
27.Ne4 Bd7 28.Nxd7 Qxd7 29.Rd3 Qa4µ) 24...Kh7 25.Nb6 Qe5 26.Qf1 Qd4+ 27.Kh1 Rb8 28.h3
Bg5³
22...Rxf1+ 23.Kxf1
23.Qxf1 Qxe5 24.Nd1 b5 25.Rd3 Qf5µ
23...Qxe5
23...Nxe5

640
24.Na4! Qxa4 25.Qxe5 b6 26.Rg3 Qb5+ 27.Qxb5 axb5 28.Ra3=
24.Qxe5 Nxe5 25.Na4 b5 26.Nb6 Rb8 27.Bd6 Rxb6 28.Bxe5 Rb7 29.Ke2= Rf7 30.Rf3 Bb7
31.Rxf7 Kxf7 1/2-1/2

641
C00-C24

94. ** C11
Fier, Alexandr (2562) - Bluebaum, Matthias (2672)
Bad Wiessee 146/94, 2020

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.a3 O-O
8...a5

9.h4N (9.Nf4) 9...b5 10.Nf4 Ba6 11.Bd3 Qb6 12.Be3² Carlsen,M (2862)-Maghsoodloo,P (2676)
chess.com (Int.-m3/6-blitz) 146/(94) 2020
9.Nf4 Qa5 10.Ra2
10.Bd3? - 143/90
10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 cxd4 12.b4 Qb6 13.cxd4

642
13...f6N
13...a5 - 146/(94) 14.b5 f6 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Bd3 a4!? 17.O-O Ne4

18.Be3N (18.g3) 18...Bd7 19.Qg4∞ Vazquez, G (2527)-Schmakel,S (2435) USA (Internet) 146/(94)
2020
14.exf6 Nxf6 15.Bd3 Bd6 16.O-O Bd7 17.Re1

643
17.g3 Ne4 18.Be3 Bxf4 19.Bxf4 Qxd4³
17...Rae8
17...Ne4! 18.g3 Rac8 19.Bxe4 (19.Be3 Bxf4! 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.gxf4 Nc3 22.Qh5 Nxa2 23.Qxh7+
Kf8 24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh5+=) 19...dxe4 20.Rxe4 Qc6 21.Re1 Bxf4 22.Bxf4 Qd5 23.Rd2 Bc6 24.f3∞
18.g3 Re7?!
18...Ne4 19.Be3 (19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Rxe4 Qb5∞) 19...Bxf4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.gxf4 Nc3 22.Qh5
(22.Bxh7+? Kxh7 23.Qd3+ Ne4 24.f3 Bb5-+) 22...Nxa2 23.Bxh7+ (23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh8+ Kf7
25.Qh5+ Ke7 26.Qh4+ Kd6 27.f5∞) 23...Kf8 24.Bg6 Qxd4 25.f5 Nc3™ 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Rxe6+
Bxe6 28.Qxe8+ Kf6 29.Qxe6+ Kg5∞
19.Rae2 Rfe8 20.Re5!?
20.Qb3²
20...a6
20...Bxe5 21.dxe5 Ne4 22.Be3 d4 23.Bc1 Nc3 24.Qh5 g6

644
25.Bxg6 (25.Nxg6!? hxg6 26.Bxg6 Bc6 (26...Rf8? 27.Bg5 Rg7 28.Bf6+-) 27.Bg5 Qc7 28.Bf6 Rh7
29.Qg4 Rg7 30.Qh3 Rh7 31.Qg4=) 25...hxg6 26.Qxg6+ Rg7 27.Qh6 Rh7 28.Qg6+ Rg7=; 20...a5!?
21.Rg5 Bb5?!
21...h6 22.Rg6 (22.Rge5∞) 22...Qxd4!? (22...Rf8∞) 23.Rxh6 gxh6 (23...Bxf4 24.Bxf4 e5 25.Be3 Qc3
26.Rh4∞) 24.Bh7+ Rxh7 25.Qxd4 e5 26.Qd3 exf4 27.Rxe8+ Bxe8 28.Bb2 Be7∞
22.Bb1 Qc6?!
22...Ne4 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Nh5 Rf8 25.Rxe4 Bc6 26.Reg4 Rff7±
23.Nh5 Rf8 24.Bf4 Bxf4 25.Nxf4 Ba4 26.Qd2 Rc8 27.Rge5 Qc3 28.Qxc3 Rxc3 29.Nxe6
29.Bf5 Bd7 30.Bxe6+ Bxe6 31.Nxe6 Rxa3 32.Rc1±
29...Rxa3 30.Nc5 Rc7 31.Bf5 b6 32.Nxa4 Rxa4 33.g4 g6 34.Be6+ Kg7 35.g5 Nd7 36.R5e3

645
36.Rxd5 Nf8 37.Bg4 Rxb4 38.Rd8±
36...Nf8?
36...b5! 37.Bxd5 Nb6 38.Bg2 Rxb4 39.Re6 Nc8 40.d5 Rd4 41.Rxa6 b4±
37.Bxd5+- Rxb4 38.Re7+ Rxe7 39.Rxe7+ Kh8 40.Rf7 Kg8 41.Rf4+ Kg7 42.Kg2 a5
42...Rb5 43.Rf7+ Kg8 44.Rd7+ Kh8 45.Rd8 Kg7 46.Kf3 h6 47.h4 hxg5 48.hxg5 a5 49.Ke4 a4 50.f4
a3 51.Rb8
43.Kf3 a4 44.Ke4 Rb2 45.Rf7+ Kg8 46.Ke5 a3 47.f4 Rf2 48.Ra7+ Kh8 49.Rxa3 Re2+ 50.Kf6 Rf2
51.Bf3 Kg8 52.Ke7 b5 53.d5 Rf1 54.Re3 b4 55.d6 b3 56.d7 Nxd7 57.Kxd7 b2 58.Bd5+ 1-0

95. C19
Fier, Alexandr (2562) - Edouard, Romain (2645)
Bremen 146/95, 2020

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 cxd4 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 Qc7
10.Ne2 Nbc6 11.f4 dxc3 12.Qd3 d4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bd7 15.Rg1 Nf5 16.Qf2 Bc6!?

646
16...Qc6 - 115/94
17.Bd3
17.g4! Ne7 18.Rb1 (18.Bd3 O-O-O 19.Qxa7 Rh8 20.Qf2 Rxd3!? 21.cxd3 Qd7©; 18.Be3 O-O-O
19.Bd4 Nd5 20.Rg3 Qa5©) 18...Qa5 (18...O-O-O!? 19.Qxa7 Nd5 20.g5 Rh8 21.h3 Rh4 22.Qf2 Rhh8
23.Rg3 Qa5©; 18...Nd5!?) 19.Rb4 O-O-O 20.h4 Qd5 21.Bd3 Qa2 22.Rd4 Bd5©
17...O-O-O

17...Rd8; 17...Rh8

647
18.Qxa7N
18.g4 Nd4 19.Rg3 Rd7 20.Be3 Rgd8©; 18.a4 Qd7 19.Qxa7 Qd5=
18...Nh4
18...Rxd3!? 19.cxd3 Rd8 20.g4 Nd4 21.Be3 (21.Kf2?! f6!ƒ) 21...Nc2+ 22.Ke2 Nxe3 23.Qxe3
(23.Kxe3 Bb5 24.d4 Rd5©) 23...Bb5©; 18...Qe7!?; 18...Rxg2!?
19.Be3
19.Rb1 Rxg2 20.Rxg2 Nxg2+ 21.Kf1 f6„ (21...Rh8„)
19...Nxg2+ 20.Rxg2
20.Ke2 Rh8 21.Rab1 Nxe3 22.Kxe3 Rxh2ƒ
20...Rxg2

21.Bb6
21.Bf1 b5 (21...Rxh2 22.Bb6 Qe7 23.Qa8+ Kd7 24.O-O-O+ Rd2 25.Qxd8+ Qxd8 26.Bxd8 Rxd1+
27.Kxd1 Kxd8 28.Bc4²) 22.Qxc7+ Kxc7 23.Bxg2 Bxg2=
21...Qe7 22.Bxd8
22.O-O-O Rd5 23.Kb1 Rd2 24.Rg1 R5xd3 25.cxd3 Kd7∞
22...Qxd8 23.O-O-O Qh4 24.Qa8+
24.Qd4 Rxh2 25.Kb1 Rh1=; 24.Kb1?! Qf2! 25.Qxf2 Rxf2³
24...Kc7 25.Qa5+ Kb8 26.Qxc3

648
26.Be4 Bxe4 27.Rd8+ Qxd8 28.Qxd8+ Ka7 29.Qd4+ Kb8 30.Qxc3 Rxh2 31.Qd4 Rxc2+ 32.Kd1
Bg6²
26...Qxf4+ 27.Kb2 Rxh2= 28.Bb5
28.Rf1 Rf2 29.Rg1 Rg2=
28...Bd5 29.Rf1 Rf2 30.Rxf2 Qxf2 31.a4 Qb6 32.Ka3 Qg1 33.Kb4 b6 34.Bd7 Qb1+ 35.Ka3 Qa2+
36.Kb4 Qb1+ 37.Ka3 1/2-1/2

96. * C19
Ivic, Velimir (2548) - Livaic, Leon (2507)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/96, 2020

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4
10.Ne2 Nbc6 11.f4 dxc3 12.Qd3 d4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bd7 15.Rg1 Nf5 16.Qf2 Qc6 17.Bd3
Qd5 18.Be3
18.Rb1 - 115/94
18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Rxg2 20.Rxg2 Qxg2 21.Be4
21.O-O-O

21...Qd5! (21...Qxh2?! 22.Qd4 Bc6 23.Rg1 Qh8 24.Kb1²) 22.Rg1 O-O-O 23.Qxa7 Bc6 24.Rd1
Rd7©
21...Qxh2 22.O-O-O
22.Bxb7 Rb8 23.Be4 Qh4+ 24.Qf2 Qxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Rb5!=
22...Bc6 23.Bxc6+

649
23.Qf3 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Qf2 25.Qa4+ Kf8 26.Qb4+ Kg7 27.Qxc3 Qxf4+ 28.Kb2 b6=; 23.Kb1 Bxe4
(23...Rd8?? 24.Bxc6+ bxc6 25.Rg1+-) 24.Qxe4 Qf2! 25.Qa4+ (25.Qxb7 Qb6+ 26.Qxb6 axb6
27.Ka2 Ra4 28.Rb1 Rxf4 29.Rxb6 Kd7 30.Kb3 Rf5 31.Rb5 f6 32.Kxc3 Kc6 33.a4 fxe5=) 25...Kf8
26.Qb4+ Kg7 27.Qxc3 Rd8!

28.Rd6N (28.Rxd8 Qb6+ 29.Qb3 Qxd8 30.Qxb7 Qd1+ 31.Kb2 Qd4+ 32.Kb3 Qe3+ 33.c3 Qxf4
34.Qxa7 Qxe5=) 28...Rh8 29.Rd3 Rh1+³ Yoo,C (2455)-Livaic,L (2507) lichess.org (Int. -blitz)
146/(96) 2020
23...bxc6 24.Qd4

24...Kf8?

650
24...a5! 25.Kb1!? (25.Rg1 Qd2+ 26.Qxd2 cxd2+ 27.Kxd2 Kd7=; 25.f5 exf5 26.Kb1 Kf8 27.Ka1
(27.Rg1 Re8 28.Qd6+ Re7=) 27...Re8 28.Qc5+ Kg7 29.Rg1+ Kh7 30.e6 Rxe6 31.Qxf5+ Kh8
32.Qf1 (32.Rf1 Qc7=) 32...Rh6=) 25...Qe2 26.a4 Qg2 27.Qb6 Qe4∞ 28.Rd4 Qg2 29.f5 exf5 30.Rh4
Qd5! 31.Rh8+ Kd7 (31...Ke7?? 32.Qc7+ Ke6 33.Rh6++-) 32.Qb7+ Ke6 33.Rxa8 (33.Rh6+?? f6!
34.Rxf6+ Kxe5-+) 33...Qd1+ 34.Ka2 Qxc2+ 35.Ka3 Qc1+=
25.Kb1! Rb8+ 26.Ka1

26...Kg8N
26...Re8 27.Rg1 Qh4 (27...Qxc2 28.Qc5+ Re7 29.Rb1 Qd3 30.Rb8+ Kg7 31.Qg1+ Qg6 32.Qh2 Qh6
33.Qg3+ Qg6 34.Qh4+-) 28.Qxa7 Qe7 29.Qa5+-
27.Rg1+ Kh8 28.Qd1 Rb3 29.Qd8+ Kh7 30.Qg8+ Kh6 31.Qh8# 1-0

97. C24
Stoyanov, Tsvetan (2387) - Delchev, Aleksander (2531)
Pirot 146/97, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 Be7! 5.O-O d6 6.Re1 O-O 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.a3 h6!

651
8...Re8?? 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 11.Ne6 Qb6 12.Nc4 Qa6 13.Nc7
9.h3!?N
9.Nf1 d5! 10.Ba2 Bd6 11.Ng3 Re8=; 9.Ba2 Re8 - 43/384
9...Re8 10.Ba2 Nf8!
10...Bf8 11.c3! (∆ d4) 11...d5 12.Qc2 Bd6 (12...dxe4?! 13.Nxe4! Nxe4 14.Rxe4±) 13.b4 b6 14.Bb2
Bb7 15.d4! exd4 (15...Nxe4?! 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4 exd4 18.Qxd4! Nf6 19.Rxe8+ Nxe8 20.Ne5±)
16.cxd4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Rxe4 18.Rxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Nf6 20.Qc2±
11.c3 Ng6 12.Nf1!
12.d4 Bf8 13.Qc2 Be6=
12...Bf8 13.Ng3 d5 14.Qc2 Be6
14...dxe4 15.dxe4 Be6 16.Bxe6 Rxe6 17.Be3²
15.d4
15.Bd2 Qc7 16.c4 d4 17.c5 Bxa2 18.Rxa2 b6=
15...Nxe4
15...dxe4! 16.Nxe5 Bxa2 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Rxa2 Qd5! 19.Ra1 Bd6³
16.Nxe5?!
16.dxe5! Nxg3 17.fxg3 Qd7 18.Bb1 (18.Nd4 c5 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Bf4 c4 21.Rad1 Bc5+ 22.Kh2 b5
23.Bb1 Rad8=) 18...Rad8 19.Be3 c5 20.Bf2 Be7 21.Kh2 Nf8=

652
16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nxg3 18.fxg3 d4!³ 19.Bb1 g6 20.Bf4 Bf5
20...d3! 21.Qxd3 (21.Qd2 g5 22.Be3 Bf5µ) 21...Qb6+ 22.Kh2 Qxb2µ
21.Qb3?!
21.Qf2 Bxb1 22.Raxb1 d3 23.Rbd1 Qd5 24.Qf3 Rad8³
21...Bxb1?!
21...d3! 22.g4 Be6 23.Qd1 Qb6+ 24.Kh2 Qxb2 25.Bxd3 Qxc3-+
22.Raxb1 dxc3 23.Qxc3 Qd5 24.Rbd1 Qc5+= 25.Qxc5 Bxc5+ 26.Kh2 g5 27.Be3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3
Rad8 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.e6 Kg7 31.exf7
31.h4! b6 (31...Re8 32.Rb3) 32.e7 Re8 33.Kh3 Kf6 34.Kg4=
31...Kxf7 32.g4?! Rd5 33.Kg3 Rb5 34.b3 a5 35.Kf3 Kf6 36.g3 Re5 37.Rd3 Ke7 38.h4 b5 39.Rd1
Re6

39...Rc5 40.Rd3 Rd5 41.Ke3 Kd6µ

40.hxg5?
40.Rd3 Re5µ
40...hxg5 41.Rh1 Kd6 42.Rd1+ Kc5 43.Rd8 Re5 44.Ra8 Kd4!-+ 45.Rc8
45.Rxa5 Re3+ 46.Kf2 Rxb3-+
45...c5 46.Kf2 c4 47.bxc4 bxc4 48.Rd8+ Kc3 49.Rb8 Kd2 50.Rd8+ Kc2 51.Rb8 c3 52.Rb7 Kc1
53.Kf3 c2 54.a4 Kd2 55.Rd7+ Kc3 56.Rc7+ Kd3 57.Kf2 Re2+ 58.Kf1 Re4 0-1

653
C25-C49

98. C28
Fier, Alexandr (2562) - Nguyen, Thai Dai Van (2571)
Bad Wiessee 146/98, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.f4 exf4

5...d5 - 68/268
6.Bxf4 O-O 7.Nf3 d5?! 8.Nxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 Qf6
9...Re8 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qd2 f5 12.O-O-O!?±
10.Qc1

10...Bg4N
10...Re8 11.c3 Bg4 12.d4 Bxf3=; 10...Nb4!? 11.Bb3 Be6
11.Bxc6?!
11.c3 Rad8 (11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 Ne7 13.e5 Qh4+ 14.Bg3 Qh3 15.Be4 Nf5 16.Bxf5 Qxf5 17.Qd1
Rad8 18.d4 Bb6 19.O-O±) 12.Qd2 ∆ 0-0-0±
11...Qxc6 12.Ne5 Qe6 13.Bg3
13.Nxg4 Qxg4 14.Qd2 f5

654
15.h3! (15.e5 g5! 16.Be3 Rfe8! 17.Bxc5 Rxe5+ 18.Kf2 Rxc5∞) 15...Qh4+ 16.g3 Qh5 17.e5 g5
(17...Rfe8 18.Qc3! Bb6 19.h4±) 18.Bxg5 Qf3 19.Rf1 Qxg3+ 20.Kd1 f4 21.Bf6±
13...f5! 14.Nxg4 fxe4! 15.d4
15.Qg5 exd3+ 16.Be5 Rf7 17.O-O-O dxc2 18.Rde1 (18.Kxc2? Be7! 19.Qh5 (19.Nh6+ Qxh6
20.Qxh6 gxh6³) 19...Rf5 20.Qh3 Qg6ƒ; 18.Rd8+ Rxd8 19.Qxd8+ Bf8 20.Qd4 c5 21.Qe4 Rf5 22.Re1
h5 23.Bg3 Qxe4 24.Rxe4 hxg4 25.Rxg4=) 18...Be7 19.Bf6 Bxf6 20.Nh6+ Kh8 21.Nxf7+ Qxf7
22.Qb5 Rd8∞ (22...Qg6 23.h4)
15...Qxg4 16.dxc5?

655
16.Qd1! Qxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Bd6 18.Bxd6 cxd6=
16...e3! 17.Qd1
17.Rf1 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 e2+ 19.Ke1 Rf8 20.Qe3 Rf1+ 21.Kd2 Rd1+ (21...Qd7+ 22.Kxe2 Rxa1
23.Qb3+ Qf7-+) 22.Kc3 Kf7! 23.Rc1 Qe6 24.Be5 (24.Qf4+ Qf6+µ) 24...Rxc1 25.Qxe2 Kg8-+
17...e2 18.Qd5+
18.Qd3 Rad8 19.h3 Qg5 20.Qc3 Kh8!? (20...Qd5?? 21.Qb3+-) 21.Kxe2 Qh5+ 22.Ke1 Qd5-+
18...Kh8 19.Bxc7 Rae8 20.c3 Rf5 21.Qxb7 Rf1+ 22.Rxf1 exf1=Q+ 23.Kxf1 Qe2+ 24.Kg1 Qe3+
25.Kf1 Qe2+ 26.Kg1 Qe3+ 27.Kf1 Rf8+ 28.Qf3 Rxf3+ 29.gxf3 Qxf3+ 30.Kg1 Qe3+ 31.Kh1
Qxc5-+ 32.Bg3 Qd5+ 33.Kg1 h5 34.Rf1 Qxa2 35.Rf2 Qb1+ 36.Kg2 Qe4+ 37.Kg1 Qb1+ 38.Kg2
Qe4+ 39.Kg1 h4 40.Bb8 Qe1+ 41.Kg2 Qe4+ 42.Kf1 Qh1+ 43.Ke2 Qb7 44.Bf4 Qxb2+ 45.Kf3
Qxc3+ 46.Kg4 a5 47.Re2 a4 48.Be5 Qc4+ 49.Kf3 Kh7 50.Re4 Qd3+ 51.Re3 Qf5+ 0-1

99. * C28
Karjakin, Sergey (2752) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 146/99, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O Bxc3 7.bxc3 Be6
7...Na5 8.Bb3 h6 9.h3

(9.Re1) 9...Qe7N (9...O-O) 10.Nh2 Nxb3 11.axb3 g5!?∞ Nepomniachtchi,I (2784)-Giri,A (2764)
chess24.com (Int.-m1/2-rapid) 146/(99) 2020
8.Bb3
8.Bxe6 - 68/(268)

656
8...h6 9.Re1 O-O
9...Bxb3 10.axb3²
10.h3

10...Ne7N
10...Re8
11.Nh4 c5 12.Qf3 Kh7 13.g4 Nfg8 14.g5
14.Nf5
14...c4!?
14...Ng6 15.Nf5 (15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Qg3 Qd7∞; 15.Qg3 N8e7 16.Kh2 b5 17.gxh6 gxh6 18.Bxe6
fxe6 19.Rg1 Rf6 20.Be3∞) 15...N8e7 16.Nxg7!? (16.Nxe7 Qxe7 17.Qh5 Nf4 18.Bxf4 exf4∞)
16...Kxg7 17.gxh6+ Kh7 18.Qf6 Rg8 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Qf7+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Nf4 22.Qf6+ Kh7
23.Qf7+=
15.dxc4 Rc8?!
15...Ng6 16.Nf5 Rc8 17.Rd1 Bxf5 18.Qxf5²
16.Nf5
16.Qg3! Bxc4 (16...hxg5 17.Bxg5 f6 18.Bc1 Qd7 19.Ba3±; 16...Ng6 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.c5! Bxb3
19.cxb3 Rxc5 20.Rd1±) 17.gxh6 Nxh6 (17...g6 18.Ba3±) 18.Kh2 Ng6 19.Bg5 Qd7 20.Re3±
16...Qd7

657
17.c5?
17.Ba3! Bxf5 18.exf5 hxg5 (18...Qxf5 19.Qxf5+ Nxf5 20.c5±; 18...Nxf5 19.c5±) 19.c5! Nxf5
20.cxd6 f6 21.Rad1±
17...dxc5 18.Rd1 Qc6

19.Nxe7?!
19.Bd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Qd7 21.Nxe7 Nxe7 22.gxh6 gxh6 23.Kh2 Qf5³; 19.Bxe6 fxe6 (19...Qxe6??
20.Rd6 Qc4 21.Nxe7 Nxe7 22.gxh6+-) 20.Nxe7 Nxe7 21.Qg4 Ng6 22.gxh6 gxh6 23.Qh5 Nf4
24.Bxf4 Rxf4 25.Rd3 Rcf8 26.Rad1„

658
19...Nxe7 20.gxh6??
20.Bd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Qg6µ; 20.Bxe6 Qxe6 21.Qg4 f5 22.gxf6 Qxf6 23.Be3 Rc6µ
20...c4-+ 21.hxg7 Kxg7 22.Ba3
22.Qh5 Rh8 23.Qxe5+ f6 24.Qd6 Kf7 25.Qxc6 Nxc6 26.Ba4 Rcg8+ 27.Kf1 Bxh3+ 28.Ke2 Ne5
22...Ng6 23.Bxf8+
23.Rd6 Qe8 24.Rxe6 Qxe6 25.Bxf8+ Kxf8 26.Ba4 a6
23...Rxf8 24.h4 Nxh4 25.Qg3+ Ng6 26.f3 cxb3 27.axb3 Rh8 28.c4 Qc5+ 29.Kf1 Kf6 30.Qg1 Bh3+
31.Ke2 Nf4+ 32.Kd2 Rd8+ 0-1

100. * C33
Zakarian, David (2306) - Jones, Gawain C B (2670)
Great Britain (Internet) 146/100, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.f4!? exf4 3.Bc4!? Nf6

3...Nc6 4.d4

4...g5?! (4...Qh4+ 5.Kf1 d6! (5...Nf6 6.Nf3 Qh6!∞ (6...Qh5? 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Ne2! (8.e5) 8...Nxe4
9.Nxf4 Qg4 10.c3+-)) 6.Nf3 Bg4!³) 5.h4 Bg7 (5...d6!∞) 6.hxg5 (6.c3) 6...Qxg5 (6...d5!? 7.Bxd5
Qxg5 8.Ne2 Bg4 9.c3 O-O-O∞) 7.Ne2

659
7...Qxg2N (7...Qg4) 8.Rg1 Qxe4? (8...Qh3! 9.Bxf4 (9.Rxg7 Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Nf6 11.Qe1 Nxe4+=
12.Kd1 Nf2+ 13.Kd2 Ne4+=) 9...Bh6 10.Bxh6 Qxh6∞) 9.Nc3 Qe7 10.Rxg7+- (10.Bxf4+-) 10...f3
11.Bg5 fxe2 12.Qd2 Qd6 13.Qxe2+ Nge7 14.O-O-O h6 15.Nb5 Qg3 16.Bxe7 Qf4+ 17.Kb1 Nxe7
18.Rxf7 1-0 (18) Zakarian,D (2306)-Wilson,J (2097) Great Britain (Internet) 146/(100) 2020
4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nf3
5.e5 - 108/232
5...O-O 6.O-O Nxe4 7.Nd5!?
7.Nxe4 d5 8.Bd3 dxe4 9.Bxe4 Re8 10.Re1 Nd7 11.c3 Bd6 12.d4 Nf6µ
7...c6!?
7...Bd6 8.d4 (8.d3 Nf6 9.Nxf4 c6µ) 8...c6! 9.Nxf4 Bxf4 (9...Bc7!?) 10.Bxf4 d5µ
8.Nxb4 Qb6+ 9.d4
9.Kh1 Qxb4 10.d3 d5 11.Bxf4 Nf6µ
9...Qxb4 10.Bd3 d5 11.Bxf4

660
11.c3 Qd6 12.Qe1 (12.Ne5 g5!-+) 12...Re8 (12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Bxf4 Qe7µ) 13.Qh4 Qe7
14.Qxf4 Nd7 15.Bd2 Nf8µ
11...Qxb2?!N
11...Bf5 12.a3 Qe7 (12...Qxb2!? 13.Rb1 Qxa3 14.Rxb7 Nd7µ) 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nd7 15.Bd3
Rae8 (15...Ndf6 16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.Rae1 Qd7³) 16.Qc2 Qd8!µ; 11...Nd7 12.Qe1!? (12.Bxe4 dxe4
13.Ng5 Nf6 14.c3 Qe7 15.Qe1 h6-+) 12...Qxe1 13.Raxe1 Ndf6³
12.Rb1
12.Bxe4! dxe4 13.Ng5 Nd7! (13...f5 14.Bd6±) 14.Bd6 (14.Nxe4 Nb6! 15.Bd6 Re8 16.Bc5!∞)
14...Qc3! (14...Nf6 15.Rb1 Qc3 16.Rb3 Qa5 17.Rg3​→) 15.Kh1 (15.Bxf8 Qe3+ 16.Kh1 Qxg5µ)
15...f5! 16.Bxf8 Nxf8 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh6 Qxd4 19.Rad1 Qg7 20.Qxg7+ Kxg7 21.Rd8= h6 22.Nxe4
Ne6 23.Re8 fxe4 24.Re7+ Kg8 25.Re8+=
12...Qa3 13.Ng5
13.Qe1!?©
13...Qe7
13...f5? 14.Qh5 h6 (14...Nf6 15.Qh4 h6 16.Nf3+-) 15.Nxe4 dxe4 (15...fxe4 16.Bxh6+-) 16.Bc4+
Kh7 17.Bf7! Qe7 18.Bg6+ Kg8 19.Rb3 Nd7 20.Bxh6+-
14.Qh5
14.Qe1!? Bf5 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Qg3! Qe6 17.Be5 f6 18.Bd6 Re8 19.Rxb7 Nd7 20.h4ƒ
14...Bf5!

661
14...h6 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Rbe1 f5 17.Bxh6! gxh6 18.Qxh6! b5™ 19.Re3 Qf6™ 20.Qh5 Qxd4
21.Qg6+ Qg7 22.Qh5 Qd4=
15.Bd6?!
15.Bxe4! dxe4 (15...Bxe4? 16.Rbe1 h6 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bxh6! gxh6 19.Qxh6 f5 20.Re3+-) 16.Bd6
Qxd6 17.Rxf5 Qg6 18.Qh3 h6 (18...Nd7 19.Nxh7! Qxh7 20.Rh5 Qxh5 21.Qxh5 Nf6±) 19.Nxe4
Nd7 20.Rxb7=
15...Nxd6?!
15...Qxd6 16.Rxf5 Nxg5 17.Rxg5 g6 18.Rxb7 Nd7µ
16.Rxf5?
16.Rbe1! Qxe1 17.Rxe1 Bxd3 18.cxd3 h6=
16...Qe3+
16...h6! 17.Re5 Qd8 18.Nh7 Re8-+
17.Kf1?
17.Rf2 h6 18.Nh7 Nd7!µ
17...h6 18.Re1 Qxd4-+ 19.Nf3 Qc3 20.Ne5 Nxf5 21.Qxf5 g6 22.Qh3 Re8 23.Qg3 Nd7!? 24.Nxd7
Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 26.Kxe1 Rd8 27.Nc5 b6 28.Nb3 c5 29.Bb5 Kg7 30.Ke2 Kf6 31.Nd2 Ke5
32.Nf3+ Kd6 33.Kd3 a6 34.Bxa6 Ra8 35.Bb5 Rxa2 36.Be8 Ke6 37.h4 Ra3+ 38.Kd2 Ra7 39.g4
Ra3 40.Ke2 Rc3 41.g5 h5 42.Ba4 Kf5 43.Ne1 Rc4 44.Bd7+ Ke5 45.Bb5 Re4+ 46.Kf2 Kd4 47.Bd3
Re7 48.Bb5 Kc3 49.Ba4 d4 50.Nd3 Ra7 51.Bb5 c4 52.Ne1 Ra5 53.Be8 d3 54.cxd3 cxd3 0-1

662
 101. !N C41
Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/101, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bf4 O-O 7.Qd2 c6 8.O-O-O b5 9.f3! b4
10.Nb1
10.Na4!?; 10.Nce2 - 96/214
10...a5 11.g4 a4 12.h4

12...c5!N
12...Qb6 13.h5 d5 (13...b3 14.cxb3 axb3 15.a3 d5 16.g5±) 14.g5 Ne8 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5ƒ
13.Nf5 Bxf5! 14.gxf5 Nc6 15.h5 Nd4
15...a3!? 16.b3 d5! 17.h6 (17.e5 h6! 18.Qg2 (18.exf6? Bxf6 19.c3 Qb6 20.Bxh6 c4!​→) 18...Kh8
19.Rg1 Rg8) 17...g6∞
16.Qg2
16.h6 a3 17.b3 (17.hxg7 axb2+ 18.Kxb2 Re8 19.Bc4 d5 20.exd5 Bd6ƒ) 17...g6∞
16...Kh8 17.Be3
17.c3 bxc3 (17...b3?! 18.a3±) 18.bxc3 Rb8 19.cxd4 cxd4 20.Rd2 Qc7+ 21.Rc2 Qb6 22.Nd2 d3
(22...Rfc8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8+ 24.Kd1 Rc3 25.Bc4 d5 26.Bxd5) 23.Bxd3 (23.h6 g5 24.Bxd3 Qd4©)
23...Qd4©
17...h6! 18.Bd3

663
18.Rg1 Rg8
18...Nd7! 19.Rhg1 Bf6 20.f4 Re8
20...Qc7! 21.Nd2 b3! 22.axb3 axb3 23.Nxb3 Nxb3+ 24.cxb3 Rfb8-+
21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nd2 Nc5​→ 23.Nc4 b3 24.Kb1 bxc2+ 25.Bxc2 Rb8 26.Bd3
26.e5 dxe5 27.fxe5 Rxe5! 28.Nxe5 Bxe5 29.Bd3 a3 30.b3 Bf6µ
26...Rb4?!
26...Qc7-+ ∆ Rec8
27.a3! Rb3 28.Bc2 Rb8 29.e5™ dxe5 30.fxe5 Rxe5 31.Nxe5 Bxe5 32.Bd3 Bf6 33.Qc2 Qa5 34.Rg2
Nxd3 35.Qxd3 Qd5 36.Re2?
36.Rc2
36...Kh7?

36...Rb3! 37.Qa6 d3-+

37.Qe4??
37.Qh3 Rb5³
37...Rxb2+! 38.Kxb2
38.Kc1 Bg5+ 39.Kxb2 Qb3+ 40.Ka1 Qxd1+ 41.Ka2 Qb3+ 42.Ka1 Bf6-+
38...d3+! 39.Kc1 Qc5+ 40.Kd2 Qc2+! 41.Ke1

664
41.Ke3 Qxe2+ 42.Kf4 Qxd1-+
41...Bh4+! 0-1

102. * C45
Tari, Aryan (2630) - Malakhov, Vladimir (2669)
Deutschland 146/102, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 Qh4 7.O-O
7.Qe2 Nf6 8.Be3 (8.h3 - 83/(302)) 8...Bxe3 9.Qxe3 d6 10.Nd2

10...Ng4!?N (10...O-O) 11.Qg3 Qxg3 12.hxg3 Rb8 13.b3= Xiong,J (2709) -Burke,J (2538) USA
(ch-Int.-m/2-rapid) 146/(102) 2020
7...Nf6 8.Qf3 O-O 9.e5
9.Bf4!? d6 10.e5 (10.h3 Nh5 11.Bh2 g5!∞) 10...Nd5 (10...Nh5 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.fxe3 d5 13.e4 Be6∞)
11.Bg3 Qg4 (11...Qb4 12.Nc3! Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qa4 14.Bf4²) 12.Nd2 Qxf3 13.Nxf3 Rb8 14.b3 a5∞
9...Ng4 10.Bf4 Bd4 11.Bg3 Nxe5 12.Qf5 d6 13.Qxe5 Bxe5 14.Bxh4 Bxb2 15.Nd2 Bxa1 16.Rxa1
Rb8! 17.f3

665
17...Be6N
17...c5
18.Bf2
18.Be1!? c5 19.c4 f5 (19...Rb2? 20.Nb3±; 19...Rb6 20.Ne4 f6 21.Nc3²) 20.Nb3 Rfe8 21.Ba5 Re7
22.Kf2²
18...c5
18...Rb2 19.Nb3 c5 20.c4 g6 21.Be1 Bf5 22.Bc3 (22.Bxf5 gxf5³) 22...Rxb3 23.axb3 Bxd3 24.Rxa7
Bc2 25.Rxc7 Bxb3 26.Bf6=
19.Kf1 f6 20.Ke1 Rfe8 21.Kd1 1/2-1/2

103. *** C48

Chigaev, Maksim (2598) - Rakhmanov, Alexander (2646)
Russia 146/103, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.h3!?

4.Bb5 - 143/99
4...Bb4 5.Nd5
5.Bd3!? O-O 6.a3

666
6...Bc5N (6...Bxc3 7.dxc3²) 7.b4 Bd4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.dxc3 d6 10.c4² Kovalev,V (2648)-Fedoseev,V
(2678) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(103) 2020
5...Ba5
5...Bc5 6.c3 O-ON (6...Nxe4? - 146/103) 7.b4 Bb6 8.Nxb6 axb6 9.d3 d5 10.Qc2

10...h6 (10...Re8N 11.Be2 Qd6 12.O-O Ne7 13.Re1 Ng6 14.Bf1 h6 15.a3 Bd7 16.exd5 Nxd5

667
17.g3? Morozevich,A (2659)-Nguyen,Q (2242) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(103) 2020 (17.g3 Qc6!µ;
17.Qb2 Ndf4 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Re3∞)) 11.Be2 b5 12.O-O Be6 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Rfd1∞ Carlsen,M
(2863)-Le,Q (2709) chess24.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(103) 2020
5...Nxd5 6.exd5 e4 7.dxc6 exf3 8.Qxf3 dxc6 9.Bc4 (9.c3 Bd6 10.d4 O-O 11.Bd3 Re8+ 12.Be3 Qg5!?
(12...Be6=) 13.O-O Qd5 14.Qd1 Bf5=) 9...Qe7+ 10.Kd1 O-O 11.Re1 Be6 12.Re4 Bc5 13.Qe2 Bxc4
14.Rxe7 Bxe2+ 15.Rxe2 Rfe8
6.c3 Nxe4?

7.d4N

668
7.d3
7...Ne7
7...exd4 8.Bd3 dxc3 9.O-O Nc5 10.Re1+ Ne6 11.Qa4! O-O 12.Qg4±; 7...d6 8.Bd3 f5 9.Bc4 exd4
10.O-O dxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Re1±
8.Qa4 c6
8...Nxd5 9.Qxa5 c6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.dxe5±
9.Nxe7 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qxe7
11...Bxa1 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.dxe5 d6 14.Bd3! Bxe5 (14...dxe5? 15.Qc2+-) 15.O-O O-O 16.Bg5 f6
17.Be3±
12.Bxc3 exd4+ 13.Be2 dxc3 14.O-O O-O 15.Bd3 Qf6 16.Qb4 Rd8
16...d6 17.Rac1 Bxh3 18.Qxb7±
17.Rfc1

17...a5
17...b6! 18.Qxc3 (18.Rxc3 Bb7±) 18...Qxc3 19.Rxc3 c5 20.Be4 d5 21.Rd1 Be6 (21...Bxh3 22.Bxd5
Be6 23.Rcd3 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5±) 22.Rcd3 Rd6 23.Bxd5 Rad8 24.Be4 Rxd3 25.Bxd3
Kf8±
18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.Rxc3 a4 20.a3 g6
20...d6 21.Rb1±
21.Bc2 Ra7 22.Rd1 Re8

669
22...d5 23.Rd4±
23.Rd6 Re6 24.Rd4 b5 25.Rd1 Ra8 26.Ng5! Re7 27.Ne4 Kg7 28.Nd6 Ba6 29.f4 Rb8 30.Rd4 f6
31.Kf2 Kf8 32.g4 Rg7 33.h4 Re7 34.f5+- b4
34...Kg7 35.fxg6 hxg6 36.h5+-
35.axb4 a3 36.Rxa3 Re2+ 37.Kf3 Rxc2 38.Rxa6 Rc3+ 39.Kf4 Rh3 40.Ne4 Ke7 41.Ra7 Rd8 42.Nc5
Rxh4 43.Nxd7 1-0

104. C48
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger 146/104, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.dxc3 Qe5+
8...Bc5 - 92/(310)
9.Qe2
9.Be2 Bc5 10.O-O O-O 11.Bd3 d5∞
9...Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 c6 11.Bd3 d5 12.Re1 Bd6 13.Bf4 Ke7 14.Kf3+ Be6 15.c4 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Bxf4
17.Kxf4 Rad8 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Re2 Rd4+ 20.Kg3 Rhd8 21.Rae1 R8d6 22.f4N
22.f3=
22...Kf6 23.Kf3 h5 24.Re3 Rd2 25.R1e2 Rd1 26.g3 g6 27.Re5 b6 28.b3 c5 29.c4
29.a4 c4 30.bxc4 Ra1 31.c5 Rc6 32.cxb6 axb6 33.R5e4 Ra3+ 34.Kg2 Rac3=
29...a5 30.Kf2 R1d3 31.R5e3 Rxe3 32.Rxe3 Rd2+ 33.Re2 Rd1 34.Kf3 a4 35.bxa4 Rc1 36.Re3
36.Rb2 Rc3+ 37.Kf2 Rxc4 38.Rxb6 Rxa4 39.Rb2=
36...Rxc4

670
37.Ra3?!
37.Rb3! Rxa4 38.Rxb6 Rxa2 39.Rc6 Rc2 (39...Rxh2 40.Rxc5) 40.Rc8³
37...Kf5 38.a5 bxa5 39.Rxa5 Rc3+ 40.Ke2 h4! 41.gxh4 Kxf4 42.Kd2 Rh3 43.Rxc5 Rxh2+ 44.Ke1
44.Kd3 Rxa2 (44...e5 45.Rc4+ Kf3 (45...Kf5 46.a4) 46.Re4 Rxa2 47.Rxe5) 45.Rc8 e5 (45...Rh2
46.Rg8 Rh3+ 47.Ke2) 46.Rf8+ Kg4 47.Rh8=
44...e5
44...Rxh4?? 45.Rc4+ Kg5 46.Rxh4 Kxh4 47.a4+-
45.Rc4+ e4 46.Rc6 Kf3 47.Rf6+ Ke3 48.Kf1?
48.Kd1 Rxa2 (48...Rxh4 49.Rxg6 Rh1+ 50.Kc2 Kf2 51.a4 e3 52.Rf6+ Ke1 53.a5 e2 54.a6 Rh7
55.Kc3 Rd7 56.Kc4 Kd2 57.Re6 e1=Q 58.Rxe1 Kxe1 59.Kb5=) 49.Rxg6 Ra1+ 50.Kc2 Rh1

671
51.Re6!! Rxh4 52.Kd1=
48...Rh1+ 49.Kg2 Rxh4 50.Rxg6 Ke2 51.Kg3

51...Rh7
51...Rh5! 52.a4 (52.Rb6 e3 53.Rb2+ Kd1 54.Rb1+ Kc2 55.Rb3 Re5-+; 52.Kg4 Ra5-+) 52...e3
53.Rb6 (53.Re6 Ra5-+) 53...Re5 54.a5 Kd3! (54...Rxa5? 55.Rb2+ Kd3 56.Rb3+ Kd2 57.Kf3)
55.Rd6+ (55.Rb1 e2 56.Kf2 Rf5+ 57.Kg2 Kc2 58.Ra1 Rxa5-+) 55...Kc2 56.Rc6+ Kb2 57.Rb6+
Ka2-+
52.Rb6 e3 53.Rb2+ Kd1 54.Rb1+

672
54.Kf3 e2 55.Rb1+ Kc2 56.Re1 Kd3-+
54...Kc2 55.Ra1 Rf7 56.a4 e2 57.Kg2 Rf5 58.Ra2+ Kd3 59.Ra1 Ke3 60.Ra3+ Ke4 61.Ra1 Rd5 0-1

673
C50-C74

105. C54
Aronian, Levon (2773) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 146/105, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O
10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 f5!
12...Bg6 - 144/92
13.Nxd5
13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Ne2 g5 15.h4 (15.Qxc6 f4 16.Bd2 Nxd2 (16...Be8!? 17.Qh6 c5 18.h4∞) 17.Kxd2
Ba5+ 18.Nc3 Rb8ƒ) 15...f4 16.hxg5 (16.Bc1 c5! 17.hxg5 Bg6 18.Qd1 cxd4 19.Nxf4 Qd7ƒ
(19...Rxf4!? 20.Bxf4 Qf8ƒ); 16.Bd2 g4 17.Ng5 Bg6ƒ) 16...Ba5+ (16...fxe3 17.Rxh5 exf2+ 18.Kf1
Qe8 19.Rh6 c5∞) 17.Bd2 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 Bg6 19.Qxc6 Rb8ƒ; 13.exf6 Nxf6 (13...Bxf3!? 14.fxg7
(14.gxf3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qxf6³) 14...Re8 15.gxf3 Nxf2! 16.Qxf2 Bxd4 17.Ne4 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 dxe4∞)
14.Bxc6 Bxf3 15.Bxb7 Bxg2 16.Rg1 Rb8 17.Rxg2 Rxb7∞
13...Ba5+

14.Ke2N
14.Nc3? Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nxd4µ; 14.Kf1 Bxf3 15.Bxc6 (15.gxf3? Nxd4! 16.Qc4
(16.Bxd4? Nd2+ 17.Ke2 Qxd5-+) 16...Nxf3 17.Rd1 Kh8 18.e6 Qh4µ) 15...Nxf2! 16.gxf3 (16.Kxf2
Bxd5 17.Bxd5+ Qxd5³) 16...Nxh1 17.Bxb7 Rb8 18.Bc6 f4! 19.Bxf4 (19.Bf2 Nxf2 20.Qxf2 Kh8ƒ)

674
19...Rxf4! 20.Nxf4 Qxd4 21.Nd3 Ng3+ 22.Kg2 Nf5ƒ
14...Nxd4+! 15.Bxd4 Nd2! 16.Qc5
16.Bc4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Bf7 18.b4 Bxd5 19.Qc3 Bb6³; 16.g4 Qxd5 17.Nxd2 Qxd4 18.Qc4+ Qxc4+
19.Nxc4 (19.Bxc4+ Bf7 20.Bxf7+ Rxf7 21.Nc4 Bb4∞) 19...fxg4 20.Nxa5 g3+ 21.Ke3 (21.Kd2?
Rad8+ 22.Kc3 Rf3+ 23.Kb4 c5+ 24.Kxc5 (24.Ka4 Rd4+ 25.Bc4+ Kf8 26.b3 Be8+ 27.Ka3 b5-+)
24...b6+ 25.Kc6 g2 26.Rhe1 (26.Rhg1 bxa5 27.Rxg2 Rf7-+) 26...bxa5µ; 21.Ke1 Rf5 22.Nc4 (22.f4
Rxf4ƒ) 22...c6 23.Ba4 b5 24.Ne3 Rxe5 25.Bb3+ Kh8 26.Kf1 Rf8 27.Ng4 Bxg4 28.hxg4 Rxf2+
29.Kg1∞) 21...Rf3+ 22.Ke4 gxf2 (22...g2!?³) 23.Nxb7 Raf8³
16...Ne4

17.Qc2
17.Qc4 Bf7 (17...Nd2?! 18.Nf6+ Kh8 19.Nxh5 Nxc4 20.Bxc4±) 18.Nf6+ (18.Qd3 Qxd5∞)
18...gxf6 19.e6 a6! 20.exf7+ Rxf7 21.Rhd1 (21.Bc6 bxc6 22.Rhd1 Qd5∞; 21.Ba4 b5 22.Qc2 bxa4
23.Rhd1 Qe8 24.Kf1∞) 21...axb5 22.Qxb5 Qe8 23.Qxe8+ Rxe8∞
17...Nd2 18.Qc5 Ne4 19.Qc2 1/2-1/2

106. * C54
Aronian, Levon (2773) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/106, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6
10.h3 Bh5 11.Bb3 Qxd3 12.Nxe5 Qf5 13.Nef3 Rad8
13...Rae8!?N 14.g4 Bxg4 15.hxg4 Qxg4+ 16.Kh1

675
16...Bxf2 (16...Ne5 17.Nh2 Qd7 18.Bc2 Bxf2 19.Re2 Nd5 20.Nc4! Nxc4 21.Rxf2±) 17.Nh2 Qxd1
(17...Rxe1+ 18.Qxe1 Qg3 19.Qf1 Re8 20.Ndf3 (20.Nhf3 Re1 21.Nxe1 Qh4+= 22.Kg2 Qg3+
23.Kh1 Qh4+=) 20...h6 (20...Ne5 21.Qe2 Kf8 22.Bg5 Ng4 23.Qc2 Be3 24.Bh4 Nf2+ 25.Qxf2 Bxf2
26.Bxg3 Bxg3²) 21.Bd2 Nc8 22.Qg2 Qxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Bb6∞) 18.Rxd1 Be3 19.Nhf3² Horvath,A
(2488)-Kaczur,F (2507) Zalakaros 146/(106) 2020; 13...Bg6
14.Qe2 Qc8

15.Qf1N
15.Ne4 - 143/101

676
15...Rfe8 16.Ne4 Be7
16...Bxf3 17.gxf3 (17.Nxc5 Rxe1 18.Qxe1 Re8 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Qf1 Bc6∞) 17...Be7 18.Ng5 Bxg5
19.Bxg5 Ne5 20.Qg2 (20.Rxe5 Rxe5 21.Bxd8 Qxd8 22.f4 Re8 23.Rd1 Qe7∞) 20...Rd6 21.Bf4 Qf5
22.Bg3 Rdd8 23.f4 Nd3 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Bc2 Nc4 26.Qxb7 h5©
17.Bf4
17.g4 Bg6 18.Bf4 Na5 19.Bc2 f5∞
17...Nd5 18.Bg3 Bxf3 19.gxf3 a6?
19...Qf5! 20.Qb5 a6 21.Qxb7 Na5 22.Qxa6 Nxb3 23.axb3 Qxh3 24.Rad1 Bf8 25.Qf1 (25.Qc4 Ne3!
26.fxe3 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxg3+=) 25...Qf5©
20.Rad1 Qf5 21.Qc4 Nb6 22.Qe2 Ne5?
22...Nd5 23.Nd6! cxd6 24.Bxd5±
23.f4 Ng6 24.Ng5 Nd5

25.Qg4! Qxg4 26.hxg4 c6

26...Bxg5 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.fxg5 Ndf4 29.Rd7+-
27.Nf3 Bf8 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.Bxd5 cxd5 30.Rxd5 Re2 31.Rd8 f6 32.f5 Ne7 33.Nd4 1-0

107. ** C54
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Grischuk, Alexander (2777)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/107, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 Bb6 8.h3 Ne7 9.Bb3 Ng6

677
10.Nbd2 c6 11.d4 exd4
11...h6 - 112/171
12.cxd4 d5 13.e5?!
13.exd5

13...Nxd5N 14.Nc4 - 146/(107) (14.Ne4N h6 15.Ne5 Qh4 16.Nf3 Qd8 17.Ne5 Qh4= Sevian,S
(2660)-Xiong,J (2709) chess.com (Internet) 146/(107) 2020) 14...Bc7 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bd2 a5 17.a4
Kh8 18.Bc2 Re8 19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Ne3 Be6= Gagare,S (2481)-Adams,M (2694) Gibraltar
146/(107) 2020
13...Nh5 14.Bc2 Nhf4 15.Nf1 f6 16.Bxf4
16.Ng3 fxe5 17.Bxg6 Nxg6 18.Bg5 (18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Qf6µ) 18...Qc7 19.Nxe5 (19.dxe5
Bd7µ) 19...Nxe5 20.Rxe5 Rxf2!µ; 16.N1h2 fxe5 17.Bxf4 Nxf4 18.Rxe5 (18.Nxe5? Bxh3!-+)
18...Qf6³
16...Nxf4

678
17.Ng3N
17.Qd2 fxe5 18.Rxe5 Qf6µ
17...fxe5 18.Rxe5 Bc7 19.Re3 Qf6 20.Ne2 Bxh3=
20...Bd7 21.Nxf4 Bxf4 22.Re2 Rae8³
21.gxh3 Nxh3+ 22.Kg2 Nxf2 23.Kxf2 Qh4+ 24.Kg2 Qg4+ 25.Kf2 Qh4+ 26.Kg2 Qg4+ 27.Kf2
Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

108. * C54
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger 146/108, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.h3 a6 9.a4 Re8 10.Nbd2
Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 Ba7 13.Qc2
13.Nf1 Qd7 14.Be3 (14.Qc2 - 146/109) 14...Bxe3 15.Nxe3 d5 16.b5 Ne7 17.c4 d4 18.Nf5 Kh7=
13...Qd7 14.Rb1
14.Nf1 - 146/109 14...d5 - 140/(120)
14...Ne7

679
14...Rd8 - 140/(120)
15.d4N
15.Nf1 - 146/(108) 15...Ng6 16.Ng3

16...c6N (16...d5) 17.c4 Ree8 18.Bd2 Rad8 19.Nf5 Ne7 20.Ng3 Ng6 21.Rbd1 d5 22.Bc3 Bb8 23.c5
Bc7∞ Leko,P (2663)-Anand,V (2753) chess24.com (Int.-m/ 5-blitz) 146/(108) 2020
15...Ng6 16.b5 Nh5 17.Nf1 Rae8 18.bxa6 bxa6 19.a5 Qc8 20.Be3 exd4 21.cxd4

680
21...Rxe4?
21...c5! 22.dxc5 (22.d5?! Rxe4 23.N1d2 R4e7 24.Nc4 Rd8³) 22...Bxc5 23.Bxc5 Qxc5 24.Qxc5
dxc5=
22.Qc6! d5 23.N1d2 R4e6 24.Qxd5 Nf6 25.Qb7 Bb8?
25...Qa8 26.Qxc7 (26.Qxa8 Rxa8 27.Rb7 Nd5=) 26...R8e7 27.Qc4 Nd5 28.Qb3²
26.Qxc8 Rxc8 27.Rb7± [×Bb8] 27...Ree8 28.Nb3 Ne4
28...Nd5 29.Nc5 ×a6
29.Nc5! Nxc5 30.dxc5 c6
30...Ne7 31.Nd4; 30...Ne5 31.Nxe5 Rxe5 32.g4!?+-
31.Rb6 Ne5 32.Nxe5 Bxe5 33.Rxa6+- Bd4 34.Kf1 Re4 35.Bxd4 Rxd4 36.Ra1 Rc4 37.Rb6 Rxc5
38.a6 Rb5 39.Rxb5 cxb5 40.a7 Ra8 41.Ke2 Kf8 42.Kd3 Ke7 43.Kc3 Kd6 44.Kb4 Kc6 45.Ra6+
Kb7 46.Kxb5 h5 47.Rb6+ Kxa7 48.Ra6+ Kb7 49.Rxa8 Kxa8 50.Kc6 1-0

109. C54
So, Wesley (2741) - Radjabov, Teimour (2758)
chess24.com (Int.-m1/1-rapid) 146/109, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 a6 8.a4 h6 9.Re1 Re8 10.Nbd2
Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 Ba7 13.Nf1 Qd7 14.Qc2 Rd8
14...d5 - 140/(120)
15.b5 Ne7 16.d4!?

681
16.c4²
16...Ng6N
16...exd4 17.cxd4 (17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.cxd4 axb5 19.axb5 Qxb5∞) 17...d5 18.e5 Ne4 19.N1d2 c5!
20.Nxe4 (20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Bb2∞) 20...dxe4 21.Rxe4 cxd4 22.Qd3∞
17.Ng3

17...axb5
17...d5! 18.Nxe5 (18.exd5 Nxd5 19.dxe5 Qe8∞) 18...Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.Qxe4

682
Qd5 22.Qe2 (22.Bf4 Qxe4 23.Rxe4 g5 24.Be3 (24.Bg3?! f5µ) 24...Bxe3 25.Rxe3 axb5 26.axb5
Rd5=) 22...Qd3=
18.axb5 Bb6 19.Rb1 Ree8 20.Be3 Qe7 21.Rbd1 Nd7 22.Nf5 Qe6 23.Bc1
23.Bxh6?! gxh6 24.Nxh6+ Kg7 25.Ng5 Qf6 26.Ngxf7 Rf8! 27.Nxd8 Kxh6µ; 23.h4²
23...Qc4 24.Bxh6!?
24.Qd2!? Qxb5 (24...Nf4 25.Qb2²) 25.Nxg7 Kxg7 26.Qxh6+ Kg8 27.d5 Ra8 28.Nh2 Nf4
29.Ng4​→
24...gxh6 25.Qd2 f6! 26.d5?
26.Nh2 Ne7 (26...Nf4 27.Ng4 h5 28.Nge3 Qxb5 29.g3 Nxh3+ 30.Kg2 Ng5 31.Rb1 Qc6 32.Nd5+-)
27.Ng4 Nxf5 28.exf5 Re7 (28...h5?! 29.Nxf6+! Nxf6 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Qh6+ Ke7 (31...Kg8
32.Qg6+ Kf8 33.dxe5±) 32.dxe5 Kd7 (32...Qf7?! 33.exf6+ Kd7 34.Qg6!±) 33.e6+ Kc8 34.Qxf6∞)
29.dxe5 dxe5 30.Qxh6 Rf8 31.Rxd7 (31.Rd2!?©) 31...Rxd7 32.Nxf6+ Rxf6 33.Qxf6 Qf4 34.Qg6+=
26...Ndf8?
26...Nf4! 27.g3 Ra8! 28.gxf4 Ra2 29.Ne3 Qa4 30.Qd3 Nc5 31.Qb1 Kh7-+
27.Nxh6+ Kg7
27...Kh7? 28.Ng4 Nf4 29.g3+-; 27...Kh8! 28.Nf7+ Kg7 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Qe2 Qxe2 31.Rxe2 Ra8³
28.Nf5+ Kg8 29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.Nf5+ Kg8 31.Nh2?
31.Nh6+=
31...Nf4 32.Ng4 Nh7 33.g3

683
33...Ng5! 34.Nh4 Kf7
34...Nfxh3+! 35.Kg2 Kf7 36.Nh6+ Kg7 37.N6f5+ Kf8-+
35.gxf4 Nxh3+ 36.Kh2
36.Kg2! Nxf4+ 37.Kf3 Rh8 38.Rh1 c6! 39.bxc6 bxc6 40.Nf5 (40.dxc6 d5-+) 40...cxd5 41.Ngh6+
Rxh6 42.Nxh6+ Ke6 43.exd5+ Nxd5µ
36...Nxf4 37.Nh6+ Ke7 38.Rg1 Kd7?!
38...Ra8! 39.Ng6+ Nxg6 40.Rxg6 Qxe4µ
39.Ra1 Qxe4

39...Re7 40.Qd1∞
40.N4f5?
40.Qd1! Nxd5 (40...Qe2 41.Rg7+ Re7 42.Rxe7+ Kxe7 43.Ng6+! Kd7 (43...Ke8 44.Nxf4 Qxd1
45.Rxd1 exf4∞) 44.Ng4! Ke8 45.Nxf4 Qxd1 46.Rxd1 exf4∞) 41.Ra4 Bd4 42.N4f5 Qf4+ 43.Kh1∞
40...Rg8! 41.Nxg8 Qxf5 42.Rg7+ Ke8 43.Qd1
43.Kg1 Bxf2+ 44.Kxf2 Nh5+ 45.Kg1 Nxg7-+
43...Qh3+ 44.Kg1 Kf8 45.Rg4 Kf7 0-1

110. *** C58

So, Wesley (2770) - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2627)
chess.com (Int.-m1/5-blitz) 146/110, 2020

684
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Nd5 9.Nf3 Bd6
10.O-O O-O
10...Nf4 - 143/(109)
11.Re1 f5 12.Nxe5 Qf6 13.Nf3
13.Nc4? Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Qh4 15.Bxd5+ cxd5 16.g3 Qh3

17.f4N (17.Qf3 f4µ) 17...d4 18.Qf3 Rb8 19.Qg2 Qh5 20.Qe2

20...Qg6?! (20...Qxe2 21.Rxe2 d3! 22.cxd3 Bc5+ 23.Re3 (23.Kf1 Ba6-+) 23...Rd8-+) 21.d3 Bd7ƒ
Shkapenko,P (2424)-Demchenko,A (2641) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 146/(110) 2020

685
13...g5 14.c4
14.g3 f4 15.Nc3 fxg3 16.hxg3 Qxf3 (16...Nxc3 17.dxc3 Qxf3 (17...Bg4 18.Bxg5 Qxf3 19.Qxf3
Bxf3 20.b4 Nb7 21.Re3²) 18.Qxf3 Rxf3 19.Bxg5±) 17.Qxf3 Rxf3 18.Be4 Rf7 19.Nxd5 cxd5
20.Bxd5 Bb7 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7∞
14...Nf4 15.Bf1 g4 16.d4 gxf3 17.Qxf3 Ne6 18.c5 Nxd4
18...Bc7! 19.b4 Qxd4 20.Qc3 Qxc3 21.Nxc3 Rb8! 22.Rb1 (22.bxa5 Bxa5 23.Re3 (23.Bd2 Rb2-+)
23...f4µ) 22...Nb7 23.Bc4 Rf6 24.Rb2 Kf8 25.Rbe2 Nbd8 26.a3³
19.Qc3 Bc7 20.b4

20...Nb7?N
20...Rb8! - 146/(110) 21.Bb2? - 146/(110) (21.bxa5 Be5 22.Bc4+ (22.Qd3 f4∞) 22...Kh8 23.Qe3
Qg7 24.Nd2 Bf6∞; 21.f4N Be6 22.bxa5 Rf7∞ Houglan,R-Deakin,C corr 146/(110) 2020) 21...Rd8∞
Melkumyan,H (2663) -Krysa,L (2531) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(110) 2020 (21...Rxb4! 22.Qxb4
Bxh2+ 23.Kh1 (23.Kxh2 Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Nf3+ 25.gxf3 Qxb4-+) 23...Qh4 24.Bc4+ Kh8 25.Bxd4+
Be5+ 26.Kg1 Bxd4-+)
21.Bc4+
21.Bb2! Rd8 (21...Be5 22.Bc4+ Kg7 23.Rxe5 Qxe5 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Bxd4+ Kg6 26.Nc3+-)
22.Bc4+ Kg7 23.Nd2+-
21...Kg7?
21...Ne6 22.Bb2 Qxc3 23.Nxc3 Re8 24.Na4 (24.Ne2 Kf8 25.Ng3©) 24...Kf8 25.Re2 Nbd8
26.Rae1©

686
22.Bb2+- Rd8 23.Nd2

23...a5
23...Be5 24.Kh1 f4 25.Rxe5 Qxe5 26.Nb3+-
24.Nb3 axb4 25.Qxd4! Rxd4 26.Bxd4 Qxd4 27.Nxd4 Kf6 28.Nxc6 Nxc5 29.Nxb4 1-0

111. C60
Bernadskiy, Vitaliy (2629) - Predojevic, Borki (2601)
Srbija 146/111, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Qxd4 Nf6 9.Nc3
Bg4 10.O-O-O Bxf3 11.gxf3 a5!?

687
11...O-O 12.Qe3 (12.e5 Nh5∞) 12...a5 (12...Nh5 - 53/319) 13.f4 Rad8 14.f5 Rxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Re8
16.f3 Qe5∞
12.h4N
12.e5 Nh5 13.f4 O-O 14.Qe3 Rad8 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.f5 Re8 17.fxg6 (17.e6 Ng7∞) 17...hxg6 18.f4
Qh4=
12...Rf8?
12...O-O 13.Qe3 Nh5 14.Ne2 (14.f4 Rad8 15.Rdg1 f5 16.exf5 Qxe3+ 17.fxe3 Rxf5∞) 14...a4 15.a3
Rad8 16.Rdg1 f5 17.e5 (17.Kb1 Rde8∞) 17...Qe6∞
13.Rhe1 Nd7?

688
13...Qe6 14.f4 Nd7 15.f5 Qd6 16.Qxd6 cxd6 17.Rxd6±
14.Nd5! Qd8
14...Qd6 15.Nf6+! Nxf6 16.e5 Qxd4 17.exf6+ Kd8 18.Rxd4+ Kc8 19.Re7+-
15.Qg7!+- Ra6 16.Re3 h5 17.f4 cxd5
17...Qc8 18.Nc3
18.exd5+ Qe7 19.Rxe7+ Kxe7 20.f5 Rf6 21.fxg6 Rxg6 22.Qc3 Kd8 23.d6 1-0

112. * C67
Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)
lichess.org (Int.-rapid) 146/112, 2020

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 Ke8 10.h3 h5 11.Ne2 b6 12.Bg5 c5 13.Nc3 Bb7 14.Rad1 Bxf3 15.gxf3 c6 16.f4 Be7 17.Ne4
Rd8
17...Bxg5 18.fxg5 Ke7 19.Nd6 Ke6 20.f4 Rhd8 (20...Rad8?! 21.Rfe1 g6 22.Kf2± Mueller, Karsten)
21.Rfe1 Nd4 22.Re4 Rd7 23.c3 Nf5 24.Kf2 Rad8= - 127/(119)
18.Rxd8+ Bxd8 19.Rd1 Bxg5
19...Be7 20.Rd3 Rf8∞ ∆ f6
20.fxg5 Ke7 21.Nd6 Nd4 22.c3! Nf3+ 23.Kg2 Nxg5
23...Nxe5? 24.Nf5+ Ke6 25.Nxg7+ Ke7 26.f4 Nc4 27.Kf3! Nd6 (27...Nxb2? 28.Nf5+ Ke8
(28...Ke6 29.Rd6+ Kxf5 30.Rf6#) 29.Re1+ Kd8 30.Re7+-) 28.f5 f6 29.h4+-

689
24.f4 Ne6

25.f5! Nf4+N
25...Ng5 - 146/(112) 26.h4 Nh7 27.Nxf7 Kxf7 28.Rd7+ Ke8 29.Rxg7 Rf8 30.Rxh7 Rxf5 31.Rxa7
Rxe5 32.Kf3 Rf5+ 33.Ke3 Re5+ 34.Kf4 Re2 35.b3 c4 36.bxc4 Rc2 37.c5 bxc5 38.Ra3 c4 39.Ke5
Kf7 40.Kd4 Rh2 41.Kxc4 Rxh4+ 42.Kc5 Rh3 43.Rb3 h4 44.Kxc6 Rg3 1/2 (46) Dimitrov,D-
Marchant,A corr 146/(112) 2020
26.Kg3 Nd5! 27.c4 Ne3
¹27...Nb4 28.Rd2! f6 (28...Nxa2? 29.f6+ gxf6 30.Nf5+ Ke6 31.Kf4 fxe5+ 32.Ke4 f6 33.Rd6+ Kf7
34.Rd7+ Kg8 35.Rg7+ Kf8 36.Rxa7+-) 29.a3 Na6 30.exf6+ gxf6 31.Ne4±
28.Rg1! Nc2 29.Kf4! Kf8 30.Ke4 Rg8 31.Rg2 Nd4 32.b4! g6 33.f6 Ne6 34.a3 g5 35.Nf5 g4
35...Ke8 36.Rd2 g4 37.Ne7! Rh8 38.h4 cxb4 39.axb4 a5 40.c5 bxc5 41.bxa5 Nd4 42.Nf5 Kd7
43.Nxd4 cxd4 44.Rxd4+ Kc7 45.e6! fxe6 46.Ke5+-
36.h4?!
36.Ne7! Ng5+ (36...Rh8 37.h4+-) 37.Kf5 gxh3 (37...Nf3 38.Kf4+-) 38.Rd2+-
36...g3 37.Rxg3 Rxg3
¹37...Rg4+ 38.Rxg4 hxg4 39.h5 b5 40.cxb5 cxb5 41.Ne3! g3 42.Kf3+-
38.Nxg3 cxb4 39.axb4 a5 40.c5! axb4 41.cxb6 Ke8
41...Nc5+

690
42.Ke3!+- (42.Kd4? b3 43.Kc3 Na4+ 44.Kxb3 Nxb6=)
42.Kd3
42.Nxh5 Kd7 43.Nf4 Nxf4 44.Kxf4 b3 45.e6+! fxe6 46.b7 Kc7 47.f7 b2 48.b8=Q+ Kxb8
49.f8=Q++-
42...Nc5+ 43.Kc2 Kd7 44.Nxh5 b3+ 45.Kc3 Ke6
45...Na4+ 46.Kxb3 Nxb6 47.Nf4 Ke8 48.h5 Nd7 49.h6 Nf8 50.Kb4 Nh7 51.Kc5 Kd7 52.Kd4+- ∆
Ke4-f5, Nh3-g5
46.Nf4+! Kf5

691
47.Nd3?
47.h5! b2 (47...Kxe5 48.Nd3++-; 47...Na4+ 48.Kxb3 Nxb6 49.h6+-) 48.Kxb2 Kxe5 49.h6 Kxf6
50.Ka3+-
47...Na4+= 48.Kxb3 Nxb6 49.Kc3 c5 50.h5 c4 51.Nf4 Kxe5 52.h6 Kxf6 53.Kd4 c3 54.Kxc3
Nd5+ 55.Nxd5+ Kg6 56.Kd4 Kxh6 57.Ke5 f6+ 58.Nxf6 1/2-1/2

113. C68
Tan, Justin (2496) - Jones, Gawain C B (2670)
Great Britain (Internet) 146/113, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Bd6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 f6 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nbd2 Ne7
10.Rad1 Ng6 11.Nc4 Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Qe7 13.c3 O-O-O 14.Rfe1 Rhe8 15.Bc1 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5
17.g3 Qh5!?

692
17...g5 - 99/226
18.Rd3?!N
18.Kg2
18...g5 19.Rd4?
19.Kg2 Qg6³
19...Qg6 20.Red1 c5 21.Rd5 Rxe4 22.Qd3 Ra4! 23.a3
23.Qe2! Qe4³
23...Qxd3 24.R1xd3 Re4 25.Be3 b6 26.Kg2 Rde8 27.Rf5 R8e6 28.h3
28.b4!?
28...a5! 29.Kf3 a4 30.Rd1 Kb7 31.Rh1 Kc6 32.h4 g4+ 33.Kg2

693
33...Kb5
33...R4e5! 34.Rxe5 Rxe5 35.Rd1 Kb5-+
34.Rd1 Kc4 35.Rh5 Re7 36.Rf5 Kb3 37.Rd2 Rxe3
¹37...R4e6
38.fxe3 Rxe3 39.Kf2 Re6 40.Rfd5 b5 41.Kg2 Re3 42.Kf2 Rxg3 43.Rh5 Rh3 44.Rxh7 Rh2+
44...f5!? 45.h5 f4-+
45.Ke3 Bf4+ 46.Kxf4 Rxd2 47.Rxc7 Rd5 48.Kxg4 Kxb2 49.Rb7 b4 50.axb4 c4 51.h5 a3 52.h6 a2
53.Ra7 a1=Q 54.Rxa1 Kxa1 55.h7 Rd8 56.Kf5 Kb2 57.Kxf6 Kxc3 58.b5 Kb4 59.b6 Kc5
59...c3
60.b7 Kb6-+ 0-1

114. ** C70
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger 146/114, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 f5?! 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 b5

6...Bc5 - 38/ 435
7.Bb3 Bb7 8.O-O

694
8...Na5

9.Nxd4! - 146/114
9.Bxg8 Rxg8 10.Nxd4 Qh4!ƒ; 9.c3N Nxb3 10.axb3 Ne7 11.Nxd4 c5 12.Ne2 Qb6∞ David,A
(2520)-Van Foreest,L (2522) Cattolica 146/(114) 2020 (12...Ng6∞)
9...c5
9...Nxb3 10.Nxb3 c5 11.Nc3 Qb6 12.Re1±
10.Nxf5! - 146/114

695
10.Bxg8N cxd4 11.Bb3 Nxb3 12.axb3 Qb6∞ Ter Sahakyan,S (2617) -Mikaelyan,A (2476) Armenia
(ch) 146/(114) 2020
10...c4

11.Nc3N
11.Qg4 Qb6! 12.Nxg7+ (12.Nd6+?! Bxd6 13.exd6 O-O-Oµ) 12...Bxg7 13.Qxg7 Qg6 14.Qxg6+
hxg6 15.Bd2 Nc6 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Na3 Nd4 18.Nxc4²
11...Qb6
11...cxb3 12.axb3 Qb6 13.Re1 O-O-O 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Nc6 16.Be3 Qb7 17.Bg5+-
12.Nd5
12.Re1!? Qg6 13.Ng3 O-O-O 14.Nce4 cxb3 15.axb3 Nc6 16.Bg5©
12...Bxd5?
12...Qc6 13.Nf4 O-O-O 14.Nd4 Qc7 15.a4 b4„
13.Qxd5 Qc6 14.Qd4 Qe6

696
14...O-O-O 15.a4 cxb3 16.axb5 Qxb5 17.c4 Nxc4 18.Bg5+-
15.Nd6+?!
15.Qe4! d5 (15...Nc6 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ba2±) 16.Qg4 Kd7 (16...O-O-O 17.Bd2 Nb7
(17...Nc6? 18.Ne7++-) 18.a4 g6 19.Ne7+ Kd7 20.Qxe6+ Kxe6 21.Nc6 cxb3 22.axb5 axb5
23.Ra6+-) 17.Qf4 Nc6 (17...cxb3? 18.Nd4 Qg6 19.e6+ Ke8 20.axb3+-) 18.a4 Rc8 (18...cxb3
19.axb5 Nxe5 20.Nd4 Qf6 21.Qg3+-) 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ba2 Qxe5 21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.Bb1±
15...Bxd6 16.exd6 Nf6?
16...Kf7! 17.Qc3 cxb3 18.Qxa5 bxc2 19.Qc3 Nf6 20.Qxc2 Rhe8²
17.Qc3! O-O
17...cxb3 18.Re1 Ne4 19.Qf3+-
18.Qxa5 Ng4?!

697
18...cxb3 19.axb3 Qxd6 20.Qd2! Qc6 21.Qd3±
19.Qc3!+- Rae8 20.Bg5 cxb3 21.Qxb3 Qxb3 22.axb3 Re2 23.f3 Nf6 24.Rfc1 h6 25.Kf1 Rfe8
26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Re1 1-0

115. ** C70
Babiy, Olga (2228) - Vakulenko, Oleksandr (2308)
Dnipro 146/115, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 b5 8.Bb3 d6
8...Nge7 9.d5 Na5 10.Bd2 Nxb3 11.axb3 (11.Qxb3 c5 (11...d6 12.Bc3 f6) 12.Bc3 f6 13.a3 (13.d6
Nc6 14.Qd5 b4 15.Bd2 Bb7„) 13...d6 14.Nbd2 O-O 15.O-O Bd7 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.b3²) 11...Bxb2

698
12.Nc3N (12.Bc3 Bxc3+ (12...Bxa1 13.Bxa1 O-O 14.Bf6 a5 15.d6! cxd6 16.Nd4ƒ (16.Qd2? Ra6
17.Qh6 Nf5!-+)) 13.Nxc3 Bb7 (13...Rb8 14.h4ƒ) 14.O-O (14.h4 f5„) 14...O-O 15.Qd4©) 12...b4
13.Na4

13...Bg7 (13...Bxa1 14.Qxa1 O-O 15.Bg5© (15.Bh6 f6)) 14.Bxb4 d6 15.Rc1ƒ Yoo,C (2455) -
Khanin,S (2482) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(115) 2020
9.h3
9.Ng5!? Nh6 10.Bd5 Bd7

699
11.h3N (11.Be3) 11...O-O?! (11...Rc8 12.Nf3 Ng8 13.O-O Nge7 14.Bb3 O-O 15.Re1²) 12.Nf3 Rb8
13.Bg5 Qe8 14.O-O Kh8 15.Re1 Ng8 16.Nc3 h6 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Rc1ƒ Matviishen,V (2501)-
Ashwath,R (2328) Suwalki 146/(115) 2019
9...Nge7

9...Nf6 - 138/144
10.d5N
10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nc3 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Bb7∞; 10.Nc3 O-O 11.O-O Na5 12.Bc2
c5∞

700
10...Na5
10...Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 (11...dxe5?! 12.a4 Bd7 13.Be3 O-O 14.O-O²) 12.O-O O-O 13.Nd2 Bb7
14.Nf3 Bg7 15.Re1²
11.Bd2 c5
11...Nxb3 12.axb3 Bxb2 13.Bc3!?
12.dxc6
12.Bc3 f6!∞
12...Bxb2
¹12...Nxb3 13.axb3 Nxc6∞
13.Nc3 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6?
15...O-O 16.Bh6 Nxc6 (16...Re8?? 17.c7! (17.Nd5 Nf5) 17...Qxc7 18.Nd5+-) 17.Nd5 (17.Bxf8
Qxf8 18.Nd5 Ne5 - 17.Nd5) 17...Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Bxf8 (19.Qxe5 f6³) 19...Qxf8 20.Qxe5 Be6
21.Nf6+ Kh8∞
16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Qe7+ 18.Kd1!
18.Be3 O-O 19.O-O Bf5∞
18...O-O 19.Re1 Qf7 20.Qd4±

20...g5?
20...Bf5 21.g4+-; 20...Ra7 21.Bh6 Rd8 22.Nd2 Re7 23.Ne4 Re5 24.f4 Rxd5 25.Nxf6+ Qxf6
26.Qxd5++-; 20...a5!? 21.Bh6 (21.Bc3?! g5 22.Nxg5 Qh5+ 23.Nf3 b4 24.Bb2 a4 25.bxa4 Ra5„)

701
21...Rd8 22.Nd2 ∆ Ne4±
21.Nxg5!+- fxg5 22.Bc3 Qg6 23.Re7 Qb1+ 24.Kd2 Qa2+ 25.Kc1
25.Bb2? Rxf2+
25...Qa3+ 26.Bb2
26.Bb2 Qc5+ 27.Qxc5 dxc5 28.Rg7+ Kh8 29.Rg6+
1-0

116. * !N C70
Vutov, Mario (2260) - Delchev, Aleksander (2550)
Bulgaria 146/116, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nge7 5.c3 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 b5 9.Bb3
9.Bc2 d5! 10.exd5 Nb4! 11.Nc3

(11.Bb3 - 111/(111)) 11...Nxc2N (11...O-O) 12.Qxc2 O-O 13.Bg5 f6 14.Bh4 Bb7 (14...Nxd5
15.Qb3 (15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Qxc7 Rf7 17.Qc5 Bb7ƒ) 15...c6∞) 15.Rfe1 Rf7 16.Rac1 Rc8 (16...b4
17.Ne4 Bxd5³ 18.Qc5) 17.Bg3

702
17...Bxd5 (17...Bh6!?; 17...Nxd5 18.Ne4 Nb4 19.Qb3 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Qd5 21.Qxd5 Nxd5 22.Re6
Ra8=) 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.a3 Nf5 20.Qc6 Qxc6 21.Rxc6 Rd7∞ Kovalev,V (2648) -Delchev,A (2550)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/(116) 2020
9...d6 10.h3 O-O 11.Nc3 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4

12...Bb7 13.Ne2! (13.b3 c5 14.Be3 Nac6=) 13...Nc4 14.Rb1 Qd7 15.b3 Nb6 16.Nf4²; 12...c5 -
114/(115)
13.Bd3!N [∆ a4]
13.b3 Nb6 14.Re1 (14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Re1 Qd7 16.Nf4 f5 17.e5 Ned5) 14...Bb7 15.Be3 (15.Ne2 f5

703
16.Nf4 Qd7) 15...Qd7 16.Qd2 f5!„; 13.a4
13...Nb6
13...Bb7!? 14.a4 d5 15.axb5 dxe4 16.Bxc4 exf3 17.bxa6 fxg2 18.Re1 Nf5©
14.Be3 Bb7 15.d5 [∆ Bd4!]
15.Qd2 f5!; 15.Re1 Qd7 16.Rc1 (16.Qd2 f5!) 16...Rac8 17.d5 b4 18.Ne2 Na4„
15...c6! 16.dxc6 Nxc6 17.Qd2 Re8 18.Rad1

18...Rc8!= 19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Qf4?

20.Rc1 Qb8 21.b3 Ne5 22.Be2 Ned7!„
20...Ne5
20...f6! 21.Bh4 g5 22.Qf5 gxh4 23.e5 (23.Nd5 Qd8) 23...Nxe5 24.Qxh7+ Kf7 25.Nd4 Rh8-+
21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Qh4 b4 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Qc5!µ 25.b3 Qxd5 26.f3 Qd4+ 27.Qxd4 Bxd4+
28.Kh1 Be3 29.Bxe3 Rxe3 30.Bc4

704
30...d5!-+ 31.Bxd5 Bxd5 32.Rxd5 Rc2 33.Ra5 Ree2 34.Rg1 Rxa2 35.Rxa2
35.Ra1 Rab2! 36.Rg1 Rxb3 37.Rxa6 Rc3 38.Rb1 b3 39.Rb6 Rcc2
35...Rxa2 36.Rc1 Kg7
36...Ra3 37.Rc6 Kf8 38.h4 Ke7 39.Kh2 a5 40.Ra6 Kd7 41.Kg3 Kc7
37.Rc6 g5
37...Ra3 38.h4 a5 39.Ra6 Kf8 40.Ra7 Ke8 41.Kg1 Rxb3 42.Rxa5 Kd7 43.Ra7+ Kc6 44.Rxf7 Rc3
38.Kh2 f6 39.h4 gxh4 40.Kh3 Kg6 41.Rc4 a5 42.Rg4+ Kf5 43.Rxh4 Ke5 44.Rxh7 Kd4 45.Rc7
Ra3 46.Rc4+ Kd3 47.Rc5 a4 48.bxa4 b3 49.Rb5 Kc4 50.Kg4 Rxa4 51.Rxb3 Kxb3+ 52.Kf5 Ra6
53.g4 Kc4 54.f4 Kd5 55.g5 fxg5 56.fxg5 Ra1 57.Kf6 Kd6 0-1

705
C75-C99

117. * C78
Giri, Anish (2764) - Shirov, Alexei (2649)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/117, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 10.Qd3
O-O 11.Bg5 exd4
11...h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.axb5 axb5 14.Qxb5 Ne7 15.dxe5 Qf4 16.Kh1 Qxe4 (16...c6) 17.exd6 cxd6
18.Nbd2

18...Qf5N (18...Qg4 19.Bc2 Bc7 20.Qe2 Ng6 21.Qd3 Rxb2 22.Ra4 Qh5=) 19.Qxf5 Bxf5 20.Kg1 d5
21.Rfe1 Rb7© Giri,A (2764)-Grischuk,A (2777) chess24.com (Int.-m1/4-rapid) 146/(117) 2020
12.cxd4 h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5 15.Nc3!?
15.axb5 - 108/(92)
15...Nxg3 16.fxg3 Ne5
16...g4? 17.e5! Kg7 18.Bc2 Rh8 19.Nh4 Nxd4 (19...Bxd4+ 20.Kh1+-) 20.Kh1 dxe5 21.axb5 axb5
(21...Be6 22.bxa6+-) 22.Rxf7+! Kxf7 23.Rf1+ Ke7 (23...Nf5 24.Nd5+-) 24.Ng6+ Kd6 25.Nxb5+
Kc6 26.Qc4+ Kb7 27.Be4+ c6 28.Rf7++-
17.Qd2

706
17...Nc4?!N
17...bxa4 18.Rxa4 Be6 (18...Nxf3+?! 19.Rxf3 c6 (19...Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 Rxb3 21.e5±) 20.Bc2±;
18...Ba7 19.Ba2 c6 20.Kh1 Nxf3 21.Rxf3²) 19.Bxe6 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 fxe6 21.Kg2²
18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.h4
19.a5 Ba7 20.Rae1²
19...Be6
19...f6!?
20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Qf6
21...g4? 22.Ne1! f5 (22...Ba7 23.Rc1+-) 23.Nc2 Qf6 24.Rf4 Rbe8 25.Raf1+-
22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Rad1 Rbe8

707
24.Nxg5?!
24.a5! Ba7 25.Nh4 Qxd4+ (25...Qg7 26.Nf5 Qg6 27.Rde1+-) 26.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 27.Rxd4 gxh4
28.Rg4+ Kh7 29.Rxh4+! (29.gxh4 Re5 30.Rxc4 Rxd5 31.Rxc7 (31.b4±) 31...Kg6 32.b4 Rd4 33.Ra7
Rxb4 34.Rxa6 Rxh4 35.Rxd6+ Kg7 36.Ra1±) 29...Kg6 30.Rg4+ Kh5 31.Rxc4±
24...Bxd4+ 25.Qxd4 Qxg5 26.Rf4
26.Qxc4 Qe3+ 27.Rf2 Re4 28.Qxc7 Qxg3²
26...f5 27.g4

708
27.Rh4 Re5 28.Qxc4 Qxg3 29.Rh3 Re1+ 30.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 31.Kh2 Qe5+ 32.Rg3+ Kf7 33.Qxc7+
Ke8∞
27...Re5?
27...Re4! 28.Rxe4 fxe4 29.Qxe4 (29.Re1 Qf4 30.Rxe4 Qf1+ 31.Kh2 Rf2 32.Kg3 Rxg2+ (32...Qxg2+
33.Kh4 Re2=) 33.Kh4 Rh2+ 34.Kg5 Rh7∞) 29...Rf4 30.Qe6+ Kg7 31.Re1 Qxg4∞
28.gxf5 Kf7 29.Qxc4?!

29.Rg4 Qh6 30.Rh4 Qg5 31.Qxc4+-

29...Rfe8?
29...Rg8! 30.Qf1 (30.Rf2 Qh5 31.Rfd2 (31.Rff1 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Qg5+=) 31...Rh8 32.Qxc7+ Re7
33.Qxd6 Qh4 34.Rf1 Re1∞) 30...Kf6!±
30.Rdf1 Qg3
30...Re2 31.R4f2 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 Re1+ 33.Kh2 Qh5+ 34.Kg3 Re3+ (34...Qg5+ 35.Qg4 Re3+ 36.Rf3+-
) 35.Rf3 Rxf3+ 36.gxf3+-
31.R4f3 Qg5 32.Qxc7+ R8e7 33.Qxd6 Re2 34.Rg3 Qh5 35.f6 Rb7 36.Rg7+ 1-0

118. C82
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778) - Heimann, Andreas (2617)
Deutschland 146/118, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5
10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bc2 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 f6 13.Nf1!?

709
13.exf6 - 111/160
13...Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 fxe5 15.Kg1 Qd6 16.Ng5
16.Be3!?
16...Bf5 17.Bb3
17.Bxf5 Rxf5 18.Qd3 e4 19.Qh3 Qg6 20.Ng3 Re5! (20...Rxg5?? 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qe6++-; 20...Rf6
21.Nh5 Rf5 22.Ng3=) 21.Bf4 Ree8 22.Qd7 Rad8 23.Qxc7 h6 24.Nh3 e3 25.Re1 d4³
17...Ne7

18.Ng3N
18.Ne3 Rad8
18...c6
¹18...Kh8 19.Nxf5 Nxf5 20.Qh5 h6 21.Bd2 Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Qf2 23.Bxd5 Qxd2 24.Bxa8 Qxg5
25.Qxg5 hxg5³
19.Qe2
19.Be3 Kh8 20.N5e4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Qg6 22.Ng3∞
19...Kh8! 20.Bd2 h6 21.Re1 e4
21...hxg5 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.Rxe5 Ra7 24.Bxg5 Rf7 25.Nxf5! (25.Bxe7 Raxe7 26.Rxe7 Rxe7 27.Nxf5
Re1+ 28.Kf2 Rb1∞) 25...Nxf5 26.Re8+ Kh7 27.Bc2 g6 28.Re6²
22.Qh5 Bg6 23.Qh3 Nf5 24.Nxf5 Bxf5 25.Qh4

710
25...Qe7?
25...a5³
26.Nf3 Qxh4
26...Qf6 27.Qxf6 Rxf6 28.Nd4 Bd7 29.Be3²
27.Nxh4 Bh7 28.g3² g5?!
28...b4!?
29.Ng2 Kg7 30.Be3± Bf5 31.Bc5 Rf7 32.Bd1! Kg6 33.h4 Bh3 34.h5+ Kh7 35.Ne3 Bd7 36.Ng4
Re8 37.Rf1 Rxf1+ 38.Kxf1 Bxg4 39.Bxg4 1-0

119. C84
Smirnov, Anton (2597) - Delchev, Aleksander (2550)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/119, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1
7.Qe2 b5 8.Bb3 (8.d5 Nc5 9.dxc6 Nxa4 10.cxd7+ Bxd7 11.Nxe5 O-O³) 8...d5 9.dxe5 Na5!=; 7.d5
Nc5=
7...b5 8.Rxe4
8.Bb3 d5 9.dxe5 Be6 10.c3 O-O 11.Nd4!? Nxe5 12.f3 Bh4∞
8...d5! 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Rxe5
10.Bxb5+ axb5 11.Rxe5 O-O 12.Nc3 c6 13.Re1 Bd6=
10...bxa4 11.Nc3

711
11.c4!? O-O! 12.Rxd5 Bd6 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Rh5 Bxc4 15.Qxa4 Bd3©; 11.b3 O-O 12.Ba3 Bxa3
13.Nxa3 Re8!„; 11.Qe2 - 146/120
11...O-O 12.Nxa4
12.Rxd5 Bd6 13.Bg5 Qe8 14.Qd3 Be6 15.Re1 Qc6 16.Ra5 Rfe8!„
12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3

15.Nc3N
15.Qf3
15...Bg4 16.Qd3 c6
¹16...Qh5
17.Qf1
17.Ne2!? Rfe8 18.f3 Bh5 19.Bf4 Be7 20.Nc3 g5! 21.Bd2 Bg6
17...Qh5!³ [×Kg1, c2] 18.Bd2 Qg6 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne2 Bxc2 21.Nf4 Bxf4
21...Qf6 22.Qf2 Bg6³ 23.Rac1 Rfb8 24.Be3 Rb6 25.Nxg6 Qxg6 26.Rc2 h5 27.Rec1 h4 28.g4 h3ƒ
22.Bxf4

712
22...a5! 23.Qf2 a4 24.Re3 Bd3 25.Rae1 Bc4 26.a3 f6 27.Re7 Rfe8 28.Qe3 Rxe7 29.Qxe7 h5
30.Qe6+ Kh7 31.Qxc6
31.Bd2 Qc2 32.Bc3=
31...Ra6! 32.Qc8?
32.Qe8 Qf5 33.h4 Rb6 34.Re7 Rxb2 35.Rxg7+ Kxg7 36.Qe7+=
32...Rb6 33.Bc1 Qd3 34.Qh3 Qxf3 35.Qg2 Qf5 36.Qf2 Qg4 37.Re3 Qd1+ 38.Re1 Qd3 39.Kg2
Qg6 40.h3 Bd3 41.Kh2 Be4 42.Bf4 Rc6-+ 43.Rc1 Rxc1
43...Re6
44.Bxc1 Qe8 45.Qe2 Kg6 46.Qe1 Qc8 47.Qc3 Qf5 48.Kg1 Bd3
48...Qxh3
49.Qe1 Qxh3 50.Qf2 Be4 51.Qh2 Qg4 52.Be3 Qd1+ 53.Kf2 Qf3+ 0-1

120. * C84
Gazik, Viktor (2541) - Basso, Pier Luigi (2570)
Bojnice 146/120, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1 b5 8.Rxe4 d5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5
10.Rxe5 bxa4 11.Qe2 c6
11...Be6 - 144/111
12.Nc3

713
12...a3N
12...Ra7 - 146/(120) 13.Nxa4 O-O©
13.Na4
13.bxa3 Ra7 14.Bf4 - 12...Ra7 14...O-O

15.Re3N (15.Re1) 15...Bxa3 16.Na4

714
16...Be7 (16...Re7 17.Rxe7 Qxe7 18.Qxe7 Bxe7 19.Re1 Be6 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 d4=) 17.Re1 Be6
18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5² Piorun,K (2601)-Gajewski,G (2618) Polska (ch-m/5-blitz) 146/(120) 2020
13.b3!? Be6 (13...f6 14.Re3 Kf7 15.Nb1!? Bf5 16.Bxa3 Bxa3 17.Nxa3 Re8 (17...Qa5?! 18.b4!±)
18.Re1 Rxe3 19.Qxe3 Qd6 20.Nb1 Bxc2 21.Nc3²) 14.f4 Kf8 15.Na4²
13...Ra7 14.b3 O-O 15.Qd3?!
15.Qf3 Bd6 16.Re1 Re7 17.Bf4 Rfe8 18.Rxe7 Qxe7 19.h3 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Qe4∞
15...Bd6 16.Re1 Qh4 17.g3
17.h3 Qf6³
17...Qh3
17...Qf6
18.Nc5 Bf5 19.Qc3 h5! 20.Bxa3 h4 21.Re2?!
21.Re3 f6³
21...f6?!
21...Bg4! 22.Re3 hxg3 23.fxg3 f5 24.Rae1 f4 25.gxf4 Qh6µ
22.Bb4 a5! 23.Bxa5

715
23...Rfa8
23...Qg4! 24.Rae1 (24.f3? Qh3-+) 24...hxg3 25.fxg3 (25.hxg3? Kf7-+) 25...Rxa5! 26.Nb7 (26.Qxa5
Qxd4+-+) 26...Bxg3 27.Qxg3 (27.hxg3 Rxa2µ) 27...Qxg3+ 28.hxg3 Rxa2³
24.b4 Bxc5?!
24...g5!? 25.Rae1 Rh7 26.b5! hxg3 27.fxg3 cxb5 28.Qf3! Kg7 29.Qxd5 Bxg3 30.hxg3 Rxa5 31.Re7+
Kh6 32.Rxh7+ Bxh7 33.Qf3²
25.Qxc5?!
25.dxc5 Kf7! (25...Be4 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qc4+ Rf7 28.Qxe4±) 26.Rae1 (26.Qe3 Rh8 27.Rae1 g5
28.a4 Kg6∞) 26...Be4 27.Rxe4 hxg3 28.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 29.hxg3 dxe4 30.Rxe4∞
25...Be4 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qxc6 Qg4
27...e3 28.Qd5+ Kf8 29.Qd6+ Kf7 30.Qd5+ (30.fxe3?! Rd7 31.Qf4 Rh8 32.Rf1 hxg3 33.Qxg3
Qe6³) 30...Kf8 31.Qd6+=; 27...hxg3 28.hxg3 e3 29.Qd5+ Kf8 30.Bb6 exf2+ 31.Kxf2 Qh2+ 32.Kf1
Qh3+=
28.Re1 f5 29.d5 Qf3 30.d6 h3 31.Qc4+?!
31.Kf1! Qg2+ 32.Ke2 Qf3+ 33.Kf1=
31...Rf7 32.Qf1 Rd7
32...f4
33.Re3
33.Qxh3 Rxd6 34.Qf1 Qc3 35.Rd1 Raa6!µ

716
33...Qh5 34.Bc7?
34.Qc4+ Kh7 35.Bc7 (35.Qd5? Ra6 36.Bc7 Rxa2-+) 35...Rxa2! 36.Re1 Qf3 37.Qf1 Rxc2 38.Qxh3+
Kg8 39.Qf1 f4ƒ
34...Rxa2 35.Rc3? Qf7-+ 36.b5
36.Qxh3 Ra1+ 37.Kg2 e3!-+
36...Qd5 37.Re3
37.b6

37...e3! 38.Rxe3 Ra1-+

37...Rxc2 38.b6 Rd2 39.Re1 e3 40.f3 Rg2+ 41.Kh1 Rf2 42.Qxh3 Qxf3+ 43.Kg1 Rd2 44.Rf1 Rd1
45.b7 Qf2+ 0-1

121. C84
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger 146/121, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7 9.c3 Na5 10.Ba2 c5
10...bxa4 - 132/130
11.Bg5 O-O

717
12.Nbd2!?N
12.axb5 axb5 13.Na3 Qb8 14.Nc2 h6 15.Bh4 c4 16.Nb4 Be6 17.Re1 Qb7 18.d4∞
12...Rb8
¹12...bxa4!? 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Bd5 Rb8 15.b3 Nxb3 16.Nxb3 axb3 17.Bxb3 a5 18.Nd2©
13.axb5 axb5 14.Re1 b4?!
14...h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qe2 (16.Nf1 c4 17.Qe2 Be6 18.Ne3 Qb6∞) 16...Qc7 17.Bd5 Nc6 18.Nf1
Ne7 19.Bb3 Ng6 20.g3∞
15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 bxc3 17.bxc3 Qc7 18.Qc2 Bb5
18...Bg4 19.Nd2 Nh5 20.Be3 h6 21.Ra2 Bd7 22.Rea1²
19.Bxb5 Rxb5 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd2 Qc6
¹21...h5 22.Reb1 (22.Nc4 Rfb8 (22...Bg5 23.Qe2 g6 24.Ra6±) 23.Qe2 (23.g3 h4 24.Kg2 Qd7)
23...h4 24.Qg4²) 22...Rxb1+ 23.Rxb1 Rb8 24.Rxb8+ Qxb8 25.g3²
22.Qa4 Rfb8 23.Nc4 Be7
23...h5 24.g3 h4 25.Na3 R5b6 26.Qxc6 Rxc6 27.Nc4 h3 (27...Rd8 28.Kf1 d5 29.Ne3 d4 30.cxd4
(30.Nd5 c4!„) 30...Rxd4 31.Ra3±) 28.Kf1±
24.g3 Qc8 25.Qd1 g6 26.Kg2 Bf8 27.Qf3 Rb3 28.Rec1 Qe6 29.Ra7 R8b7 30.Rxb7 Rxb7 31.Ra1±
h5 32.Ra8 Kg7 33.Ne3 Rc7?
33...Qd7
34.Nd5 Rc8 35.Ra7! Rb8 36.h3! Rd8 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 Rd7

718
38...g5 39.Rb7 Kg8 40.Qf5+-
39.Ra8 f6 40.g5! f5 41.Qh3! Rf7

42.Re8!! Qxe8 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qxg6+ Kh8 45.Nf6 1-0

122. C89
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger 146/122, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 Bf5 14.d4 Qf6
14...Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 16.Nd2 Bg4 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.Qc1 Re7© - 101/263
15.Be3 Qg6 16.Nd2

719
16...Rae8N
16...Rfe8
17.Qf3 Bg4 18.Qg2 Qh5 19.h4
19.a4!? Bh3 20.Bd1 Qf5 21.Qf3 Qd3 22.Bb3²
19...Be2
19...Re6? 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.f3 Bf5 22.g4+-
20.Nf1
20.Bd1 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Bxd1 22.Raxd1 Rxe3 (22...Re6!?) 23.Ne4 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Bc7 25.Nc5 Qg4
26.Re3 Qc8!?=
20...Re6
20...Bf3 21.Bd1 Bxd1 22.Raxd1 f5©
21.Bd2 Rfe8 22.a4
22.Ne3 Nf4! 23.Qxc6 Bf3 (23...Nh3+ 24.Kg2 Nf4+ 25.Kg1=) 24.g4! Bxg4 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Nf1
Nh3+ 27.Kg2 Rf6 28.Re8+ Bf8 29.Qc5 Rxf2+ 30.Kg3 Rf3+ 31.Kg2=
22...Bf3 23.Rxe6 Rxe6 24.Qh3 Bg4 25.Qh2 h6 26.axb5 axb5 27.Ne3

720
27...Bf3?
27...Nxe3! 28.Bxe6 (28.Bxe3 Re7©) 28...Bxe6 29.Bxe3 (29.fxe3 Qg4 30.Be1 Bd5©) 29...Qe2 30.b4
Bd5©
28.Qh3! Be4
28...Nxe3? 29.Bxe6; 28...Kh7 29.Qf5+ Qxf5 30.Nxf5 Kg6 (30...Re2? 31.Bd1 Rxd2 32.Bxf3 Bf8
33.Ra8+-) 31.Nxd6 Rxd6 32.Bc2+ f5 33.Re1+-
29.Qg4 Qxg4 30.Nxg4 f5 31.Ne5! Bxe5 32.dxe5 Kf8
32...Rxe5 33.Re1+-
33.f4 Re7 34.Bxd5! cxd5
34...Bxd5 35.c4! Bxc4 36.Bb4+-
35.Be3 Rc7 36.Ra5 Bd3 37.Bd4 Rc6 38.Kf2 h5 39.Ke3 Bc4 40.Ra3 Rg6 41.b3 Bf1 42.Bc5+! Ke8
43.Bb4+- Bg2 44.Kd4 Rc6 45.Ra7 g6 46.Re7+ Kd8 47.e6 Rc7 48.Rf7 1-0

123. ** C90
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger 146/123, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 b4 9.a5 d6 10.c3 Rb8
11.Bc4 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.h3!? h6!?

721
13...Bb7 14.d4 exd4 15.cxd4 Bf6 16.Bb3 (16.Qd3 Qd6 17.Bxa6 Bxa6 18.Qxa6 Ra8 19.Qd3 Nxa5=)
16...Qd7 (16...Qd6?! 17.Nbd2 Nxd4 18.Ne4 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Qd8 20.Rd1±) 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5
Be7 19.Qd3∞
14.d4 bxc3 - 146/123
14...Be6N 15.Qa4 Qe8 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxe5 Qxa4 18.Rxa4 Rfd8 19.Re1 bxc3 20.Nxc3 Bb4
21.Bd2 Nxc3 22.Bxc3 Bxc4 23.Rxb4 Rxb4 24.Bxb4 Rxd4 25.Bc5 Rd2 26.Re8+ Kh7 27.b4 Rd7
28.h4 Kg6 29.Kh2 Bb5 30.Re5 Kf6 31.Re8 h5 32.Rh8 g6 1/2 (32) Hameister,R-Conde Poderoso,A
corr 146/(123) 2020
15.Nxc3

722
15...Be6N
15...Nxc3 - 146/(123) 16.bxc3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Bb4 (18...Bf6?! 19.Ba3 Re8 20.Bc5²;
18...Bd6 19.Qf3²) 19.Re3 Bc5

20.Rd3 (20.Ba3!? Qxd4 21.Bxc5 Qxc5 22.Qc2 Kh8 23.Qc3©) 20...Bd6 Dubovik,V-Wlodarczyk,R
corr 146/(123) 2020 (20...Bd6 21.Ba3ƒ)
16.Nxe5
16.Bxa6 Bb4 17.Bd2 (17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nxc3 19.bxc3 Bxc3 20.Be3 Bxe5∞ (20...Bxe1
21.Qxe1©)) 17...exd4 18.Ne4 Bxd2 19.Qxd2 Ndb4∞

723
16...Nxe5 17.Bxd5
17.dxe5 Nxc3 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.bxc3 Rb3ƒ
17...Bxd5 18.Rxe5 Bb3?!
18...Be6∞
19.Qg4
19.Qd3! Bf6 20.Re1 Qxd4 21.Qxa6²
19...Be6 20.Rxe6
20.Qg3 Bh4 (20...Bd6 21.Bxh6 Qf6 22.Bf4 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Qg6 24.Qxg6 fxg6 25.Na4²) 21.Qd3 Bf6
22.Re1 Bxd4 23.Qxa6 Qf6 24.Ne4 Qf5©
20...fxe6 21.Bxh6
21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Qxa6 Qxd4 23.Be3 Qe5³
21...Rf7 22.Be3 Rxb2
22...Qd6 23.Qe2 Qc6 24.Rc1 Rf5∞
23.Qxe6 Bg5 24.Bxg5 Qxg5 25.Ne4 Qf5 26.d5 Qxe6 27.dxe6 Rf5 28.Rd1

28...Rb8
28...Re5 29.Ng5! Kf8 30.Rd8+ Ke7 31.Rd7+ Kf8=; 28...Kf8!? 29.h4 Re5 30.Ng5 Ke8 31.Rd7 Rxe6
32.Rxc7 Re1+ 33.Kh2 Rxf2 34.Rxg7 Rf5∞
29.h4 Re8

724
29...Rxa5 30.Rd7 Re5 31.Ng5 Re1+ 32.Kh2 c5 33.f4 c4 34.Rc7∞
30.Ng5 Rxa5 31.Rd7 c6
31...Rc5 32.f4 a5 33.e7 Rb5 34.Rxc7 a4 35.Ra7=
32.f4 Rd5 33.Ra7 Rd4 34.f5 Rxh4 35.Rxa6 Rh5 36.Ne4 Rxf5 37.Nd6 Rff8 38.Nxe8 Rxe8 39.Rxc6
Kh7 40.Kf2 Kg6 41.Kf3 Kf6 42.Kf4 Rxe6 43.Rxe6+ Kxe6 44.Kg5 Kf7 45.g3 Kf8 46.Kg6 Kg8
47.g4 Kh8 48.Kf7 Kh7 49.g5 Kh8 50.g6 1/2-1/2

124. ****** C95

Le, Quang Liem (2709) - Amin, Bassem (2690)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/124, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4
Nbd7 11.c4 c6 12.Nc3 b4 13.Ne2 Nxe4 14.Qc2 f5
14...Nef6 15.Ng3 c5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Rxe5 Bd6 19.Re2 Qc7 (19...Bb7

20.Bg5N (20.Nf5) 20...Bxg3?! (20...h6 21.Nf5 hxg5 22.Rd1 Ne8 23.Qd2 (23.Nxd6 Nxd6 24.Red2

725
24...g4! 25.Rxd6 Qh4∞) 23...Bc8 24.Nxd6 Qxd6 25.Qxd6 Nxd6 26.Rxd6 Be6 27.Re5 Rfc8 28.Rxg5
a5„) 21.fxg3 Qd4+ 22.Be3 Qe5 23.Bf4 Qd4+ 24.Kh2± Shirov,A (2647) -Santos Latasa,J (2575)
lichess. org (Int.-blitz) 146/(124) 2020) 20.Bg5 Bxg3 21.fxg3 Qxg3 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Rf1

23...f5N (23...Qg6 - 142/131) 24.Rf3 Qg7 25.Qd3 Qd4+ 26.Qxd4 cxd4 27.Bc2² Durarbayli,V (2625)
-Real de Azua,E (2456) Gibraltar 146/(124) 2020
15.c5+ d5 16.Be3 Kh8 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bh4

726
19.g3
19.Rf1 Qe8!?
19...Bg5 20.Bxg5 - 146/124
20.f4N Be7

21.Kh2

727
- 146/ (124) (21.Rac1N

21...a5 - 146/(124) (21...Qe8N 22.Kh2 Qh5 23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Qe2 Qh6„ Deac,B (2625)-Amin,B
(2686) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(124) 2020) 22.Kh2 Bd7 23.Ba4 Qe8 24.Ng1 Qg6 25.Qg2 Bc8
(25...Qh6 26.Nf3 Rac8∞) 26.Nf3²

728
26...Ba6? Diaz Camallonga,C (2467)-Kovalev,V (2648) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(124) 2020
(26...Ba6 27.g4±)) 21...a5 - 146/ (124) (21...Be6N 22.Nd4 Qd7 23.Ba4 Rac8 24.a3

24...Nxc5? (24...a5 25.axb4 axb4∞) 25.Bxc6 (25.axb4 Nxa4 26.Qxa4±) 25...Rxc6 26.axb4 Rcc8
27.bxc5 Bxc5 Diaz Camallonga,C (2467)-Oparin,G (2652) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 146/(124) 2020
(27...Bxc5 28.Qd3ƒ)) 22.a3 Ba6 23.Nd4 Qd7 24.Ba4 Bb7 25.Nf3

729
25...Ba6 Le,Q (2709)-Kovalev,V (2648) lichess.org (Int. -blitz) 146/(124) 2020 (25...Ba6 26.axb4
axb4 27.Bb3 Bb7 28.Bd4²)
20...Nxg5!?

20...Qxg5 21.h4 Qe7 22.f3 Nxc5!? (22...g5!?; 22...Qxc5+ 23.Qxc5 Nxc5 24.Nd4±) 23.Rac1 Ne6
24.Qxc6 Bb7 (24...f4!?) 25.Qd6 Qxd6 26.exd6 Rad8 27.Nf4 Nxf4 28.gxf4 (28.Rc7 Nd3 29.Ree7
Rxd6 30.Rxg7 Rh6 31.Rxb7 Nc5 32.Ra7 Nxb3 33.axb3 f4„) 28...Rxd6 29.Rc7 Bc6 30.Ree7 d4
31.Rxg7 Rh6„
21.Kg2?N

730
21.Nd4 f4; 21.f4! Ne6! (21...Nf3+ 22.Kg2 Nxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Be6 24.Nd4 Qd7 25.Ba4 Rac8 26.h4±)
22.Ba4 Bd7 23.h4 Qe7 24.Rac1 a5²
21...f4!-+ 22.Nxf4 Rxf4 23.gxf4 Bxh3+?
23...Nxh3 24.Kg3 (24.Qd2 Qh4 25.Qe3 (25.e6 Nxf4+ 26.Kf3 Qh3+ 27.Kxf4 Qh6+-+) 25...Nxf4+
26.Kg1 Qg4+ 27.Qg3 Ne2+ 28.Rxe2 Qxe2-+; 24.Rh1 Qh4 25.Kf1 Bf5 26.Qd2 Be4 27.Rh2 Qg4-+)
24...Nxf4! 25.Kxf4 Qh4+ 26.Ke3 Qg5+ 27.f4 (27.Ke2 Qxe5+ 28.Kf3 Qh5+ 29.Ke3 Bf5-+)
27...Qg3+ 28.Kd2 Qxf4+ 29.Re3 Bf5-+
24.Kg3 Qd7

25.Qd1!
25.f3? Nxf3! 26.Kxf3 Qg4+ 27.Kf2 (27.Ke3 Qg3+ 28.Kd2 Qxf4+-+) 27...Rf8-+
25...Rf8
25...Nf7 26.a3 Nh6 27.axb4+-
26.fxg5 Qf5 27.f4! Qxf4+ 28.Kxh3 Qxg5 29.Rf1 Qh6+ 30.Kg3 Qe3+ 31.Rf3 Qg5+ 32.Kh2 Qh4+
33.Kg2 Qg4+ 34.Rg3 Qe4+ 35.Kg1 Qxe5 36.Qg4 Qxb2 37.Rf1 1-0

125. C96
Iniyan, P. (2506) - Caruana, Fabiano (2835)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/125, 2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2
c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.f4 Ng6 17.Nf3 Bh4
18.Rf1

731
18.Nxh4 - 89/(334)
18...Bg3 19.e5?

19.f5 Ne5 20.a4!? (20.Ng5 Qf6!³ (20...h6 21.f6)) 20...b4 (20...Bd7 21.Ng5! h6 22.f6! g6 (22...hxg5?
23.Bxg5 Ng6 24.Qh5​→; 22...gxf6 23.Nf3 Kg7 (23...b4? 24.Qd2) 24.Nxe5 Bxe5 25.Bf4 ∆ Ra3‚)
23.Ra3!? (23.Nf3 Qxf6 24.Nxe5 Qxe5 25.Ra3©) 23...Bh4 24.Nf3 Bxf6 25.Bxh6 Re8 26.Nxe5 Bxe5
27.Raf3 bxa4 28.Rxf7 Qh4∞) 21.b3 Qf6 22.Kh1∞
19...Nxf4N
19...Bxf4
20.exd6 Ng6?
20...Qxd6 21.Ng5 f5ƒ
21.Ng5! Bh4

732
21...Qxd6 22.Qh5 h6 23.Nxf7! Rxf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7 25.Be3±
22.Nxh7! Re8
22...Kxh7? 23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Rxf7! Rxf7 25.Bxg6+-
23.Qh5
23.Rxf7!? Kxf7 24.Bg5! Bxg5 25.Qh5 Be3+ 26.Kh1 Qxd6 27.Bxg6+ Ke7 28.Qh4+! (28.Bxe8 Qg3!
„ 29.Bc6 (29.Qf7+ Kd6 30.Qf8+ Kc7 31.Qe7+ Kb8 32.d6? Ra7! 33.d7 Rxd7 34.Bxd7 Bf4-+)
29...Bf4 30.Qe8+ Kd6 31.Qd8+ Ke5 32.Qe8+ Kd6= (32...Kd4?? 33.Rd1+ Kc4 34.Qe4#)) 28...Kd7
29.Bxe8+ Kc7! (29...Kxe8? 30.Rf1!+-) 30.Re1 Bf4 31.Bc6 Ra7 32.Re8±; 23.d7!? Qxd7 (23...Bxd7
24.Qf3 Qe7 25.Bg5 Bxg5 26.Nxg5 Qxg5 27.Qxf7+ Kh7 28.h4 Qg3 (28...Qg4 29.Rf4 Qg3
30.Rf6!+- - 28...Qg3) 29.Rf6 Bf5 30.Rxf5 (30.Bxf5?? Re1+! 31.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 32.Kh2 Qxh4+-+)
30...Kh6 31.Rd1+-) 24.Bg5! Kxh7 25.Bxh4 Kg8 (25...Re5 26.Bg3 Rxd5 27.Qf3+-) 26.Bxg6!? fxg6
27.d6±
23...Re5 24.Qf3 f5?
24...Ra7! 25.g3 Bxh3 26.Bf4! Bxf1 (26...Qxd6!? 27.Bxg6 Qxg6 28.Bxe5 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 Bd8∞)
27.Bxg6 Be2 28.Qh1 fxg6 29.Bxe5 Bf6 30.Nxf6+ gxf6 31.Bf4 g5 32.Re1 Bg4 33.Qe4 gxf4 34.Qg6+
Kf8 35.Qh6+ Kg8 (35...Rg7? 36.Re7+-) 36.Qg6+ Kf8=
25.Qh5! Qxd6 26.Bg5 Bxg5 27.Nxg5 Qf6 28.Rae1
28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Ne4! Qf7 30.Rf2!?+-
28...Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Bd7 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Ne6+ Kf7
31...Bxe6 32.Rxe6 Qd4+ 33.Kh1 Ne7 34.d6 Ng8 35.Bxf5+-

733
32.Bxf5! Nf8

33.Nxf8?!
33.Qh5+! Kg8 (33...g6 34.Bxg6+ Qxg6 35.Rf1+ Ke7 36.Qh4+ Kd6 37.Qf4+ Kxd5 38.Nc7++-)
34.Rf1+-
33...Bxf5 34.Qh5+ Kg8?
34...g6 35.Qh6 g5! (35...Rxf8? 36.Qh7+ Qg7 37.Re7++-) 36.Qxf6+ Kxf6 37.Ne6±
35.Ne6 Bg6 36.Qf3
36.Qe5+-
36...Qxb2
¹36...Qxf3 37.gxf3 Bf7 38.Kf2+-
37.d6+- Rb8 38.d7 Qd2 39.Rd1 Qc2 40.d8=Q+ Rxd8 41.Rxd8+ 1-0

734
D00-D24

126. D10
Krush, Irina (2429) - Nguyen, Emily (2280)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/126, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bb5

6.Nc3 - 130/(141)
6...Bf5 7.Nf3 a6?
7...Rc8
8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.O-O e6

10.Nbd2N
10.Ne5; 10.Qa4! Qb6 (10...Nd7 11.Qxc6±) 11.Rc1 Rc8 12.Ne5±
10...Qb6 11.Nb3 Be7 12.Rc1 O-O 13.Ne5 Rfc8 14.g4! Be4
¹14...Bg6 15.h4 h5 (15...h6 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.g5 hxg5 (17...Nh5 18.Qg4+-) 18.hxg5 Nd7 19.Qg4
Nf8 (19...c5 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Nd4+-) 20.Be5 a5 21.Kg2+-) 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Qc2±
15.f3
15.h4! h6 (15...h5 16.g5 Ng4 17.Nd7 Qa7 18.Ndc5+- ∆ f3) 16.g5 hxg5 (16...Ne8 17.gxh6 f6 18.Qg4
Bf5 19.h7+! Kh8 20.Ng6+ Bxg6 21.Qxg6+-) 17.hxg5 Nh7 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qh6 Bf8 20.Qh4 Bg7

735
21.f3 Bf5 22.Rf2+- Nf8 (22...f6 23.Rh2 fxe5 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.e4 exf4 26.exf5 gxf5 27.Nc5 Bxd4+
28.Kh1 Bxc5 29.Qd7+-) 23.e4 dxe4 24.fxe4 Bxe4

25.Ng4!+- ∆ Be5, Rh2

15...Bg6 16.h4 h6 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Qc2± Kf7 19.Kh2 a5 20.Rg1 g5
20...a4 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Qd8 23.g5 Nd7 24.h5! gxh5 25.Rg3​→
21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Bxg5 Rh8+ 23.Kg2 Nxg4?
¹23...Qb5 24.Qf2±
24.fxg4 Bxg5 25.Rgf1+
25.Rcf1+! Bf6 26.g5 Qc7 27.Rf2+-
25...Ke7
¹25...Bf6 26.Qxc6! (26.g5?! Qc7! 27.Rf4 e5„) 26...Qxc6 27.Rxc6±
26.Qg6 Bf6 27.g5 Rag8 28.Rh1 Qb5 29.Kf3 Rxh1 30.Rxh1 Rf8 31.Kg3 Qe2 32.gxf6+ Rxf6
¹32...Kd8 33.Qg4 Qxe3+ 34.Kg2 a4 (34...Rxf6 35.Rf1+-) 35.Rh3! (35.Nc5? Rxf6© (35...Qd2+
36.Kg3 Qe3+ 37.Qf3 Qg5+ 38.Qg4 Qe3+=)) 35...Qe1 36.Nc5 Qd2+ 37.Kh1+-
33.Qxg7+ Rf7 34.Qg5+ Kd7 35.Nc5+ Kc7 36.Qe5+ Kb6 37.Qb8+ 1-0

127. * D10
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger 146/127, 2020

1.d4 d5

736
1...Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 Qb6!? 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Bb5 e6 8.Nf3

8...Be7N (8...Bd7 9.O-O Be7=) 9.O-O (9.a3!?=) 9...O-O 10.Qe2 Bd7 11.Rfc1 Rfc8 12.Bd3 Be8
13.Bg5 Qd8= Hnydiuk,A (2411) -Piorun,K (2596) Polska 146/(127) 2020
2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bb5!? Bd7 7.Nc3 a6 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Nge2 e6 10.O-O
10.Rc1
10...Bxe2?!
10...Be7 - 118/112
10...Bh5 - 72/342
11.Qxe2 Be7
11...Nb4!?; 11...Bd6 - 117/113
12.a3
12.Rac1!?
12...O-O 13.Na4

737
13.Rac1
13...h6N
13...Qa5 14.Qd1! Rfc8 15.b4 Qd8 16.Nc5±; 13...Re8!?²
14.Bg3
14.Nc5!? Bxc5 15.dxc5 e5 16.Bg3²
14...Nd7
14...Re8!?²
15.h3 Qa5?!
15...b5! 16.Rac1 Nxd4 17.exd4 bxa4²
16.Qd1! Rfc8 17.b4 Qd8 18.Rb1?!
18.Nc5 b5 19.Qg4±
18...Ra7?
18...b5! 19.Nc5 Nb6∞
19.Nc5!± Ncb8 20.Qe2?
20.Rc1 b6 21.Nb3 g6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Qe2±
20...a5!= 21.Rfc1
21.e4 b6 (21...axb4 22.exd5 exd5 23.axb4 b6 24.Rfe1 Bf6 25.Nxd7 Nxd7=) 22.Nxd7 Nxd7 23.exd5

738
exd5=
21...axb4?!
21...b6! 22.Nxd7 Nxd7=
22.axb4 Nf6
22...b6 23.Nxd7 Nxd7 24.b5 Nf6²
23.b5

23.Qc2!? Qf8 24.Nxe6 (24.b5) 24...Rxc2 25.Nxf8 Rxc1+ 26.Rxc1 Nc6 27.b5 Nb4 28.Ng6 fxg6
29.Bxg6∞
23...b6?
23...Nbd7 24.Nxd7 Nxd7 25.Rxc8 Qxc8 26.Qd2 Nb6=
24.Na6! Rxc1+
24...Nbd7 25.Rc6+-
25.Rxc1 Nbd7 26.Rc6 Qf8 27.Qc2 Ra8 28.Rc7
28.Nb8! Nxb8 29.Rc8 Nbd7 30.Rxf8+ Bxf8 31.f3+-
28...Bd6
28...Bd8 29.Rb7 Be7 30.Qc6 Rc8 31.Nc7+-
29.Bxd6 Qxd6 30.Qc6 Qf8

739
30...Qxc6 31.bxc6 Nf8 32.Rb7+-
31.Rxd7 Nxd7 32.Qxd7 Rc8 33.g3

33.Kf1! Qd8 (33...h5 34.Qb7 Qd8 35.g3 g6 36.Ke2 Kg7 37.h4 Kg8 38.Nb4 Rb8 39.Nc6 Rxb7
40.Nxd8 Ra7 41.e4+-) 34.Nc5! Kf8 (34...bxc5 35.Qxd8+ Rxd8 36.dxc5 Kf8 37.b6 Ke7 38.c6 Kd6
39.c7+-) 35.Qxd8+ Rxd8 36.Na4 Rb8 37.Ke2 Ke7 38.e4 Kd6 39.exd5 Kxd5 40.Ke3 f5 41.Be2 g5
42.g4 Kd6 43.Bd3 fxg4 44.hxg4 Kc7 45.Be4 Rh8 46.Bf3 Rh7 47.Nb2 Kd8 48.Nc4 Ra7 49.d5 exd5
50.Bxd5+-
33...Rc3! 34.Bf1 Qc8 35.Qxc8+ Rxc8 36.h4
36.f3 Kf8 37.Nb4 g5 38.Kf2 Ke7 39.e4 Kd6 40.Nc6 Ra8 41.Be2 f5 42.Ne5 Ra4 43.Ke3 Ke7
44.Bd3 fxe4 45.fxe4 dxe4 46.Kxe4 Ra1 47.Nc4 Rh1 48.Kf3 Rd1 49.Be2 Rxd4 50.Ke3 Rd8
51.Nxb6+-
36...g5
36...Rc3!? 37.h5 Kf8 38.Nb4 Rb3 39.Nc2 Ke7 40.Ne1 Rb1 41.Ng2 Kf6 42.f3 g6 43.hxg6 Kxg6
44.Kf2 Rb2+ 45.Be2 Rb4 46.Ne1 Kg7 47.f4 Kf6 48.Nf3 Rb3 49.Ne5 Ke7 50.f5! exf5 51.Nf3+-
37.Nb4
37.h5!? Kf8 38.f3 Rc2 39.Nb8 Ke8 40.Nc6 Rb2 41.Ne5 Ke7 42.Ng4 f5 43.Ne5 Ra2 44.Bd3 Ra4
45.Kf1 Ra1+ 46.Kf2 Kf6 47.g4 Ra4 48.Be2 fxg4 49.fxg4 Rb4 50.Bd3 Rb2+ 51.Ke1 Ke7 52.Be2
Kd6 53.Kf2 Rb3 54.Bd3 Rb4 55.Kf3 Ra4 56.Bg6 Ke7 57.e4+-
37...Kf8?!
37...Rc3 38.h5 Kf8 39.Nc6 Rb3 40.Ne5 Ra3 41.Kh1 f6 42.Nc6 Rb3 43.Bh3 f5 44.Bf1 g4 45.Kg2

740
Kf7 46.Ne5+ Ke7 47.Be2 Rb2 48.Ng6+ Kd6 49.Bd3 Ra2 50.Bf1 Rd2 51.Nf4 Rb2 52.Bd3 Ra2
53.Be2 Ra3 54.f3 e5 55.dxe5+ Kxe5 56.Nd3+ Kd6 57.Kf2 gxf3 58.Kxf3 Rb3 59.Kf4+-
38.Nc6
38.hxg5 hxg5 39.f3 Ke7 40.g4 f6 41.Kf2 Kd6 42.f4 gxf4 43.exf4 Ra8 44.Be2 Kd7 45.Nc6 Rg8
46.Kg3 Kd6 47.Bf3 Rg6 48.Nb4 Rg7 49.Be2 Rg8 50.Bd3 Ra8 51.g5 f5 52.Nc6 Rh8 53.Be2 Kd7
54.g6 Ke8 55.g7+-
38...Ra8 39.Be2
39.h5 Ra3 40.Ne5 f6 41.Nc6 g4 42.Be2 f5 43.Ne5 Kg7 44.Nd3 Kf6 45.Kg2 Ra5 46.Nf4 Ra3

47.f3! Rxe3 48.fxg4 Rb3 49.Kf2 Ra3 50.Ng6 fxg4 51.Ne5 Ra4 52.Nxg4+ Kg5 53.Ne5 Ra7 54.Ke3
Ra3+ 55.Bd3 Ra7 56.g4 Ra3 57.Kd2 Ra2+ 58.Kc3 Ra7 59.Kb3 Kf6 60.Bg6 Rc7 61.Kb4 Ra7 62.g5+
Kxg5 63.Nf7++-
39...Ra2
39...Ra1+ 40.Kg2 gxh4 41.gxh4 Rb1 42.f3! f5 43.Kf2 Kf7 44.Ne5+ Ke7 45.e4 fxe4 46.fxe4 dxe4
47.Ke3 Rb2 48.h5 Kf6 49.Bc4 Ke7 50.Ng4+-
40.Kf1 Ra1+ 41.Kg2 Ra2
41...gxh4 42.gxh4 Rb1 43.f3 Rb2 44.Kf2 Rb1 45.e4 Rh1 46.exd5 exd5 47.Kg3 Rb1 48.Kf4 Rb2
49.Ke3 Ke8 50.Ne5+-
42.Bd3?
42.Bh5 Ra8 43.Kh3 f6 44.Kg2 Kg7 45.Bf3 Kf8 46.h5 Ra3 47.e4! dxe4 48.Bxe4 Rb3 49.Na7 Ke7
50.Bg6 Kf8 51.Kf1 g4 52.Ke2 Ke7 53.d5 Rb2+ 54.Kf1 exd5 55.Nc6+ Kf8 56.Nd4 Rb4 57.Nf5

741
Rb1+ 58.Kg2 Rxb5 59.Nxh6 Ra5 60.Nxg4+-
42...Rd2 43.Bf1
43.Nb4 gxh4 44.gxh4 Rb2 45.Nc2 Rb1=
43...f6! 44.hxg5 hxg5 45.g4?!
45.Kg1 g4 46.f3 gxf3 47.Bh3 f5
45...Ke8?
45...Rb2 46.Na7 Ke8 47.Kg1 Rb3 48.e4 Ra3 49.Nc8 Kd7 50.Nxb6+ Kc7=
46.Kg3
46.Kg1!? Kf8 47.f4 gxf4 48.exf4 Rb2 49.Bd3 Rd2 50.Nb4 Rb2 51.Nc2 Rb3 52.Ne1 Rb2 53.Nf3 Rb3
54.Be2 Kf7 55.Kf2 Ra3 56.Ne1 Ke7 57.Bd3 Rb3 58.Ke3 Rb2 59.Nc2 Kd6 60.Kd2 Rb3 61.Be2 Ke7
62.Ne1 Rb2+ 63.Ke3 Kd6 64.Nf3 Ra2 65.Nh4 Rb2 66.Ng6 Rb3+ 67.Bd3 Ra3 68.g5 f5 69.Ne5+-
46...Rd1 47.Be2?
47.Kg2
47...Rg1+!= 48.Kh2 Re1
48...Rb1=
49.Bd3 Rd1?
49...Rc1 50.Kg2 (50.f4 Re1=) 50...Rc3=; 49...Ra1!?
50.Nb4 Kd7 51.Kg2 Ra1
51...Re1 52.f3 Kd6 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.f4 e5 55.dxe5+ fxe5 56.fxe5+ Kxe5 57.Nc6+ Kd6 58.Nd4 Ke5
59.Bf5 Ra2+ 60.Bc2 Kf6 61.Ke1 Ke7 62.Kd2 Ra3 63.Nf3 Kf6 64.Ke2 Rc3 65.Nd4 Ke5 66.Bf5
Kf6 67.Kd2 Ra3 68.Nc6+-
52.f4

742
52...Ra3?!
52...gxf4 53.exf4 Ra3 54.Be2 Re3 (54...Ke8 55.g5 f5 56.Kf2 Kf8 57.Nc6 Ra2 58.Ne5 Ke7 59.Ke1
Ra1+ 60.Bd1 Rb1 61.Kd2 Rb2+ 62.Kc1 Rh2 63.Bf3 Ke8 64.Kd1 Ke7 65.Ke1 Ke8 66.Kf1 Ke7
67.Bg2 Rh7 68.Kg1 Kf8 69.Bf3 Ra7 70.Bh5 Rh7 71.Bg6 Ra7 72.Kg2 Ra2+ 73.Kh3 Ra3+ 74.Kh4
Re3 75.Bh5 Re1 76.Kg3 Re3+ 77.Kf2 Rb3 78.Bf7 Rb2+ 79.Kg3 Ke7 80.g6 Rb1 81.Kh4 Kf6
82.Nd7+ Kg7 83.Nxb6+-) 55.Bd3 Ke8 56.f5 Kf7 57.Kf2 Rh3 58.Be2 Rb3 59.Na6+-
53.fxg5 fxg5
53...Rb3 54.gxf6 Rxb4 55.Bg6+-
54.Nc6 Kd6
54...Rb3 55.Ne5+ Ke7 56.Kf3 Rb2 57.e4! Ra2 58.Ke3 Rg2 59.exd5 exd5 60.Bf5 Rb2 61.Kd3 Rb3+
62.Kc2 Rh3 63.Nc6+ Kd6 64.Nd8 Rh2+ 65.Kd3 Rh3+ 66.Kd2 Rb3 67.Nf7+ Ke7 68.Nxg5+-;
54...Ra2+ 55.Kf3 Rd2 56.Ne5+ Ke7 57.e4+-
55.Ne5 Ke7
55...Ra8 56.Kf3 Ra7 57.e4+-
56.Kf3 Ra2
56...Ra4 57.e4 Ra2 58.Ke3+-
57.e4! Ra1 58.Ke3 Re1+ 59.Be2 Rg1

743
59...dxe4 60.Nc4+-
60.Kf2
60.Bf3!? Rb1 (60...dxe4 61.Be2 Rb1 62.Kxe4+-) 61.exd5 Rxb5 62.dxe6 Kxe6 63.Be2 Ra5 64.Ke4
Ra1 65.Nf3 Ra5 66.Bd3 Kd6 67.Ne5 b5 68.Be2 Kc7 69.Kd5 Kb6 70.Bd3 Ra1 71.Bf5 b4 72.Kc4
Rd1 73.Bd3 Kc7 74.Kxb4+-
60...Ra1 61.Nf3 Kf6 62.Ke3 Ra8 63.Bd3 Rg8 64.Bb1 Ke7 65.Ne5 Ra8 66.Bd3 Rc8 67.Nc6+ Kd6
68.Ne5 Rf8 69.exd5 exd5 70.Bf5 Re8 71.Kd3 Re7 72.Bg6
72.Nf3 Rg7 73.Ke3 Rg8 74.Kd2 Ke7 75.Kc2 Rg7 76.Ne5 Kd6 77.Kd2 Rc7 78.Nf3 Rg7 79.Ng1
Rg8 80.Nh3 Ke7 81.Ke3 Rg7 82.Bc2 Kd6 83.Bd3 Ke7 84.Nf2 Rf7 85.Nd1 Rf4 86.Bf5 Rf1 87.Nc3
Kd6 88.Na4 Rh1 89.Nxb6 Rh2 90.Nc8+ Kc7 91.Ne7+-
72...Ra7 73.Ke3 Ke6 74.Bf5+ Kd6 75.Kd2 Ra2+ 76.Kc3 Ra3+ 77.Kb4 Ra7
77...Re3 78.Nf7+ Ke7 79.Nxg5+-
78.Bc2
78.Kc3 Rc7+ 79.Kb2 Ke7 80.Nc6+ Kd6 81.Kb3 Rg7 82.Ne5 Ra7 83.Nf3 Rg7 84.Kc3 Ke7 85.Ne5
Kd6 86.Kb2 Ra7 87.Nf3 Rg7 88.Kc2 Ke7 89.Kd3 Kd6 90.Ke2 Ke7 91.Ne5 Kd6 92.Kd2 Ra7
93.Nf3 Rg7 94.Ng1 Ke7 95.Nh3 Rg8 96.Ke2 Kd6 97.Ke3 Ke7 98.Kd2 Rg7 99.Nf2 Rf7 100.Ke3
Rf8 101.Nd1 Kd6 102.Bd3 Rf7 103.Be2 Re7+ 104.Kd2 Rf7 105.Nc3 Ke6 106.Bd1 Rf8 107.Ke3
Rc8 108.Na4 Ra8 109.Nxb6+-
78...Ke6 79.Nc6 Ra2
79...Ra8 80.Bf5+ Kd6 81.Ne5 Ra7 82.Nf3 Rg7 83.Kc3 Rg8 84.Kd2 Rg7 85.Bc2+-

744
80.Kb3 Ra1
80...Ra8 81.Bf5+ Kd6 82.Ne5 Ra7 83.Kc3 Re7 84.Kd3 Rg7 85.Nf3 Rg8 86.Ke3 Re8+ 87.Kd2 Rg8
88.Bc2+-
81.Kc3
81.Bf5+ Kd6 82.Nd8 Ke7 (82...Ra7 83.Ne6+-) 83.Ne6 Ra5 84.Kb4 Ra7 85.Nxg5+-
81...Rc1?!
81...Kd6 82.Bf5 Ra8 83.Ne5 Ra3+ 84.Kc2 Ra7 85.Nf3 Rg7 86.Kd2 Rg8 87.Bc2 Rg7 88.Bd1 Ke7
89.Kd3 Kd6 90.Nd2 Ra7 91.Nb1 Rh7 92.Nc3 Rh3+ 93.Kd2 Rg3 94.Be2 Rh3 95.Nd1 Ke6 96.Ne3
Rh2 97.Kd3 Rh3 98.Bf1 Rf3 99.Bg2+-
82.Ne5 Rg1
82...Ke7 83.Nf3 Kf6 84.Kd2 Rf1 85.Ke2 Ra1 86.Bb3+-
83.Bf5+ Ke7
83...Kd6 84.Nf7+ Ke7 85.Nxg5+-
84.Nd7 Rc1+ 85.Kb3 Rc4
85...Rb1+ 86.Bxb1 Kxd7 87.Bh7 Ke6 88.Bg8+ Kd6 89.Kc3+-; 85...Kd6 86.Nxb6 Rf1 87.Kb4 Rc1
88.Nc8+ Kc7 89.Ne7 Kd6 90.b6+-
86.Nxb6 Rxd4 87.Kc3 Rd1 88.Nc8+ Kd8 89.b6 d4+ 90.Kc2 Re1 91.Nd6 Re3 92.Nf7+ Ke7 93.b7
d3+ 94.Kd1 1-0

128. D11
Tadic, Branko (2500) - Lazic, Miroljub (2414)
Srbija 146/128, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.d4 Nbd7 7.c4 e6 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Nc3 Bd6
9...Be7 - 143/(122)
10.Qb3 Qb6 11.Qxb6 Nxb6 12.g4 Bg6 13.Nb5 Bb8 14.Ne5 a6 15.Nc3

745
15...Nbd7?!N
15...O-O 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.g5 Nh5 18.e3² ×Nh5 (18.e4 Nf4 19.Bxf4 Bxf4 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5
exd5 22.Bxd5 Rab8 23.h4 Rfd8 24.Bf3 Rxd4=)
16.Nxg6 hxg6

17.Rd1
17.e4!? Nxe4 (17...Nxg4? 18.Re1!+-) 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Rxh3 20.Re1!? Rh4 21.Bxb7 Rxg4+
22.Kf1 Ra7 23.Bf3 Rh4 (23...Rxd4 24.Be3±) 24.Bg5 Rh8 25.Rac1ƒ
17...O-O?!

746
17...Nb6 18.a4ƒ
18.g5 Ne8
18...Nh5 19.e4 (19.e3± ×Nh5) 19...dxe4 (19...Nf4 20.exd5 Nxg2 21.Kxg2 exd5 22.Nxd5) 20.Bxe4
Nf4 21.h4 Nb6 22.Bxb7 Ra7 23.Bf3 f6 (23...Rd7 24.Ne4 Rfd8 25.Nc5 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Rxd4
27.Be3+-) 24.a4±
19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Nb6 21.Nc5 Nd6 22.Nxb7 Nxb7 23.Bxb7 Ra7 24.Be4 Rd7 25.Be3 Nc4
26.Rdc1
26.Rac1 Nxb2 (26...Nxe3 27.fxe3 e5 28.Kf2± (28.Bc6 Rdd8 29.d5±)) 27.Rd2 Na4 28.Bc6 Rc7
29.d5! exd5 30.Rdc2+-
26...Nxe3
26...Nxb2? 27.Rab1 Na4 28.Bc6+-
27.fxe3 e5

¹27...f5 28.gxf6 gxf6 29.Rc6 e5 30.Rd1 a5 31.d5±

28.Bc6! Rd6 29.d5 Ba7 30.Rc3 f5 31.Kg2 Rb8
31...f4 32.e4+-
32.Rb1
32.b3!? f4 33.exf4 Bd4 34.Rac1 Bxc3 35.Rxc3 exf4 36.Kf3 Rf8 37.h4+-
32...e4

747
¹32...Rb4 33.b3 Re4 34.Kf3 Rh4 35.Rh1 Bb6 36.Bb7 Kf7 37.Rc6 e4+ 38.Kg3 Rh8 39.Rhc1+-
33.b4+- Kf8 34.Ra3 Rdd8 35.Rbb3 1-0

129. * D12
Yakubboev, Nodirbek (2591) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2732)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/129, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.Bd2 Be7 10.Nxg6
10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.O-O-O!? a6 13.Kb1 Nc6 14.Rc1 Rb8?!

(14...Nd7) 15.Bd3N (15.h4) 15...Rxh2 16.Ne2!² Caruana,F (2835)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2778)

chess24.com (Int. -rapid) 146/ (129) 2020
10...hxg6 11.O-O-O dxc4
11...a6 - 109/215
12.Bxc4 b5 13.Bd3 a6

748
14.a4?!N
14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nd7 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.Rc1 (17.f4 c5ƒ) 17...c5ƒ; 14.Kb1 c5 15.dxc5 Nbd7
16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxc5 18.Qc2 Rc8 19.Rc1 O-Oƒ
14...Nbd7 15.Kb1 O-O 16.Rc1 c5! 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5
18.Bxb5 Rfb8 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc4 Nfd7-+
18...Qb7 19.Kc2

19...Rab8

749
19...Qc6! 20.Kd1 Rfb8 21.Ke2 Rb7 22.Kf2 (22.Qc4 Nb6 23.Qb3 c4 24.Rxc4 Nxc4 25.Qxc4 Qxc4
26.Bxc4 Rab8 27.Nc3 Rxb2µ) 22...Rab8µ
20.Kd1
20.Ra1 cxd4 21.exd4 Nd5 22.Rhc1 Nc7 23.Ra5 Nxb5 24.Rxb5 Qc7+ 25.Kb1 Qxh2³
20...e5
20...Nd5
21.Qa2 e4
21...Qc6! 22.Nc3 (22.Qb3 Rb7µ) 22...cxd4 23.exd4 exd4 24.Ne4 Qb6µ
22.Be2 exf3 23.gxf3 Qc6
23...Rfc8
24.Nc3 cxd4 25.Nb5 Bc5?
25...Qb7 26.Nxd4 (26.Rc7 Qb6 27.exd4 Ra8 28.Qb3 Bd6 29.Rc3 Nh5µ) 26...Bc5 27.b4 (27.Bc3
Ne5-+) 27...Bxd4 28.exd4 Nb6-+
26.exd4 Rxb5

27.Bxb5?
27.Qa4 Rfb8 28.Rf1 (28.dxc5 Nxc5 29.Qd4 Nfd7∞) 28...Qd6 29.Bxb5 Bxd4 30.Bxd7 Nxd7©
27...Qxf3+ 28.Kc2 Bxd4 29.Qa3?
29.Qc4 Be5 (29...Qb7 30.Qxd4 Qxb5 31.Kb1 Ne5©) 30.Rhe1 Rb8 31.b4 Qf5+ 32.Kb3 Bd6 33.Bxd7

750
Nxd7©
29...Qb7 30.Bxd7 Nxd7 31.Kb1
31.Rhe1 Rb8 32.Bc3 (32.b4 Ne5-+) 32...Bxc3 33.Qxc3 (33.Kxc3 Qg2-+) 33...Rc8-+
31...Qe4+ 0-1

130. D18
Anton Guijarro, David (2688) - Kovalenko, Igor (2645)
Espana 146/130, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Nh4 O-O
10.h3 Ne4
10...Rc8 - 135/135
11.Nxf5 exf5 12.Nxe4 fxe4 13.Bd2 Bxd2 14.Qxd2

14...Qe7N
14...Nf6; 14...Nb6
15.b4 Rad8
¹15...Rfd8 ∆ Rac8
16.Rac1 Kh8
16...Nf6!?
17.Qc3 f5 18.Bb3 Rf6

751
¹18...f4 19.exf4 Rxf4 20.b5 (20.Qe3 Rdf8 21.b5 Qd6 22.Rc3²) 20...cxb5 21.Qe3 Qd6 22.axb5²
19.b5ƒ Rdf8
19...Rg6!?
20.bxc6 bxc6 21.f4?!
21.Qa5 f4 22.exf4 Rxf4 (22...e3 23.Qc3 exf2+ 24.Rxf2 Rxf4 25.Rxf4 Rxf4 26.Qxc6±) 23.Qc3 Rf3
24.Qc4²; 21.Bd1 Nb6 (21...Rg6 22.Bh5 Rh6 23.Be2²) 22.Qc5²; 21.a5! Rg6 (21...c5?! 22.Ba4! cxd4
23.Qc7 Rd6 24.Rc6 Rd5 25.Bb3 Rc5 26.Rxc5 Qxc5 27.Qxd7 dxe3 28.Qe6 exf2+ 29.Rxf2+-) 22.Ba4
Qg5 23.g3±
21...exf3 22.Rxf3 g6
22...c5!?
23.a5! c5 24.Ba4?!
24.Rf2
24...cxd4 25.exd4
25.Qxd4 Ne5 26.Rff1 Rd6=
25...Rd6 26.d5+ Nf6 27.Re3 Qg7

28.Bc6?
28.Qb4! Rfd8 (28...Qh6 29.Ree1 (29.Qxd6? Qxe3+ 30.Kh2 Ng4+ 31.hxg4 Qh6+ 32.Kg3 Qe3+=)
29...Rxd5 30.Rc7±; 28...Rxd5 29.Re7 Rd4 30.Qc5 Qh6 (30...Rd5 31.Qe3 f4 32.Qxa7 Qh6 33.Rc6±)
31.Qxd4 Qxc1+ 32.Kf2±) 29.Rc6±

752
28...Nxd5?!
28...Ne4! 29.Qb4 (29.Qxg7+ Kxg7 30.Rb1 Rdd8=) 29...Qe5 (29...Rdd8=) 30.a6 Rf7=
29.Qxg7+?!
29.Bxd5 Rxd5 30.Re7 Qxc3 31.Rxc3²
29...Kxg7 30.Bxd5 Rxd5= 31.Re7+ Kf6 32.Rxa7 Kg5 33.Rxh7 1/2-1/2

131. D22
Chernov, Evgen (2194) - Babiy, Olga (2228)
Dnipro 146/131, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Bxc4 e6 7.Nc3 Nc6
7...Nf6 8.g4 Bg6 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bf1!?² - 110/224
8.a3 Nf6 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nh4 Be4!? 11.f3
11.Rg1 h6 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Nf3 Qf6 14.Bd3 Ng5 15.Nxg5 hxg5=; 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Nf3 h5
13.Rg1²
11...Bd5

12.Be2?N
12.Bd3

753
12...e5! (12...Nh5?! 13.Ng2 Ng3 14.Rg1± ×Ng3) 13.g5 (13.e4 Nxe4 14.fxe4 Qxh4+ 15.Kd2 Bb3!
16.Qxb3 Nxd4 17.Qa4+ (17.Qxb7 Qf2+ 18.Ne2 Rd8-+) 17...c6 18.Ne2 O-O-O​→) 13...exd4
14.exd4 Nh5 15.Be4 Bd6!? 16.Rg1 Bc4!∞ 17.b3 Be6 18.d5 Be5 19.Bb2 f5!„; 12.Nxd5
12...Nh5!
12...Na5 13.Nxd5 (13.Qa4+ Bc6!µ 14.Qxa5? b6 15.Qe5 Bd6 16.Qg5 h6 17.Qxg7 Rh7-+)
13...Nxd5=; 12...Bd6 13.Ng2 Bg3+ 14.Kf1 e5„; 12...Nd7 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.e4 Bc4=
13.gxh5
13.Ng2 Ng3 14.Rg1 Nxe2 15.Qxe2µ
13...Qxh4+ 14.Kf1 Ne7
14...O-O-O 15.e4 Bb3!? 16.Qxb3 Nxd4 17.Qa4 Bc5 18.e5 Qxh5​→
15.e4 Bc6 16.Qe1
16.Be3 O-O-O 17.b4 f5 18.Bf2 Qf6!? (18...Qxh5 19.a4„) 19.Rg1 (19.a4 fxe4 20.fxe4 Nf5​→)
16...Qxh5

754
17.f4?
17.Qg3 O-O-Oµ
17...Qh6 18.f5 Qf6 19.Rg1 Qxd4
19...exf5 20.e5 Qe6-+
20.Qg3 exf5 21.Bg5 f4 22.Bxf4 Ng6 23.Bxc7 Bc5 24.Rg2 O-O 25.Rd1 Qf6+ 26.Ke1 Rfe8 27.b4
Bd4 0-1

132. D23
Shankland, Samuel L (2691) - Xiong, Jeffery (2709)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/132, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ c6 5.Qxc4 Bg4 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.e4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 e6 9.Be3 Be7

755
10.Be2N
10.Rg1 - 97/288
10...O-O
10...Qc7!?
11.Qb3 c5 12.d5
12.f4 cxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc5 14.Bxc5 Bxc5 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.O-O Qe7 18.Rad1 Rad8=;
12.O-O-O cxd4 13.Rxd4 Bc5 14.Rd2 Qc7 15.Kb1 a6=
12...exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Qc7 15.O-O-O Rad8= 16.Qf5
16.Kb1!?
16...Bf6
16...g6!? 17.Qf4 Ne5 18.Kb1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8=
17.f4?!
17.Kb1
17...g6 18.Qh3?!
18.Rhg1 Bg7 (18...Bd4 19.e5 Nb6 20.Qc2 Bxe3+ 21.fxe3 c4=) 19.Qd5 Nf6 20.Qc4 b5 21.Qc2 c4∞
18...Bd4
¹18...c4³
19.Kb1 Qc6

756
19...Nb6!?
20.Qf3 Nf6
20...Bxe3 21.Qxe3 Nf6 22.Bf3 Qe6=
21.Bxd4
21.e5 Ne4 (21...Qe4+ 22.Qxe4 (22.Ka1

22...Bxb2+! 23.Kxb2 Qb4+=) 22...Nxe4 23.Kc2²) 22.Ka1 Qa4 23.Rxd4 Rxd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4
25.Rd1 Nd2 26.Qd3 Qxd3 27.Bxd3 Rd8 28.Rxd2 c4 29.b3 cxd3 30.Kb2 Rd4=
21...Rxd4 22.Rxd4 cxd4 23.Bd3 Rc8= 24.Rd1 Nh5 25.Qg4 Nf6 26.Qe2 Nh5 27.Qg4 Nf6 28.Qe2
Nh5 29.Qg4 1/2-1/2

757
D25-D49

133. !N D27
Van Foreest, Jorden (2682) - Navara, David (2707)
Espana 146/133, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.e4 Nxe4 8.Qe2 Nf6 9.d5 Nxd5 10.Rd1
Be7
10...Qe7 - 72/355
11.Nc3 O-O

12.Nxd5!N
12.Bxd5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nc6! (13...Be6 14.Nf6+ Bxf6 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.Bg5ƒ) 14.Bf4 (14.Nf6+
Bxf6 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.Bg5 Nd4 17.Nxd4 Bxg5 18.Nf3 Bf6³; 14.Be3 Bd6∞) 14...Bg4 15.Bc7 Qd7
16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.Rxd7 Bxd7∞
12...exd5 13.Bxd5 Qc7
13...Qe8 14.Re1 (14.Bg5 Bxg5 15.Qxe8 Rxe8 16.Nxg5 Rf8 17.Rac1ƒ) 14...Qd8 15.Qe4 (15.Be4ƒ)
15...Bf6 16.Bf4²
14.Qe4! Be6?!
14...Bf6 15.Bg5±

758
15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kh8 17.Bg5! Bxg5 18.Nxg5 h6
18...Nc6 19.Qh3 h6 20.Ne6+-; 18...Qf4 19.Rd8! Qxf2+ 20.Kh1 Rxd8 21.Nf7+ Qxf7 22.Qxf7+-
19.Rd3! Nc6 20.Qg6 hxg5 21.Rh3+ Kg8 22.Qh7+ Kf7 23.Rf3+ Ke6 24.Re1+ Ne5 25.Qh3+
25.Rfe3 Rae8 26.Rxe5+ Qxe5 27.Rxe5+ Kxe5 28.Qxg7+ Kd6 29.Kf1+-
25...Kd6 26.Rd3+! Ke7™ 27.Rd5 Kf7 28.Rdxe5
28.Rexe5!? Kg8 29.Qe3±
28...Kg8

29.Qe3
29.Qc3!?; 29.Qg3!?
29...Qf7 30.Re7
30.f3!?
30...Qxa2 31.Rxb7 Qd5 32.Re7 Rab8 33.Re5?!
33.Qc1
33...Qd4 34.Qxd4
34.b3
34...cxd4= 35.R1e2 d3 36.Rd2 Rfe8
36...Rfc8=; 36...g4=

759
37.Rxe8+ Rxe8 38.f3 Rb8 39.Rxd3 Rxb2 40.Ra3 Rb4 41.h3 Rb1+ 42.Kh2 Kh7 43.Rxa6 Rb2 44.Re6
Rc2 45.Kg1 Ra2 46.Kf1 Rb2 47.Re2 Rb4 48.Kf2 Kg6 49.Rd2 Rb3 50.g4 Ra3 51.Rd5 Ra2+ 52.Kg3
Ra3 53.Rf5 Kh6 54.Rf8 g6 55.Rf7 Ra2 56.Rf6 Kg7 57.Rb6 Ra3 58.h4 gxh4+ 59.Kxh4 Rxf3 60.Kg5
Rf7 61.Rxg6+ Kh7 62.Rh6+ Kg7 63.Rg6+ Kh7 64.Rh6+ Kg7 65.Rg6+ 1/2-1/2

134. D30
Kuzubov, Yuriy (2643) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2710)
Espana 146/134, 2020

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 a6 4.c5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Nh5

7.Bg5N
7.e3; 7.Bd2
7...Be7
7...f6 8.Be3 f5 9.Bg5 (9.Ne5 Bd7=) 9...Be7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.e3 Nf6 12.Be2 Bd7=
8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.e3 Nf6 10.Be2 O-O 11.O-O Rd8 12.Rc1
12.h3!?; 12.Re1!?
12...e5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Qd4 Qe7
15...Qxd4 16.exd4 Bf5=
16.Bd3 c6 17.b4 g6 18.Rfe1 Be6 19.Qh4 Re8 20.Ne2 Nh5 21.Qxe7 Rxe7 22.Nd4 Ng7 23.f3 Bf5=
24.Bf1 Bd7 25.Kf2 Nf5
25...a5!? 26.b5 Ne6=

760
26.Bd3 Nxd4 27.exd4 Kf8 28.Rc3 h6
28...Rxe1 29.Kxe1 Re8+ 30.Kd2 Kg7 31.Be2 Kf6=
29.Bc2 Rae8 30.Rxe7 Rxe7 31.Re3 g5
31...Rxe3 32.Kxe3 Ke7=
32.f4 f6 33.Bg6 Bg4
33...Rxe3 34.Kxe3 f5=
34.h3 Bd7 35.f5 Rxe3 36.Kxe3 h5?

36...Be8? 37.Bxe8 Kxe8 38.Kd3+-; 36...Ke7

37.g3!+- Be8?!
37...Ke7 38.h4 Kd8 (38...a5 39.Bxh5 Bxf5 40.bxa5) 39.Kd2 Ke7 40.Kc3 Kd8 41.Kb3 Bc8 42.Ka4
Bd7 43.Ka5 gxh4 44.gxh4 Kc7 45.a3; 37...a5 38.h4 (38.bxa5? Be8! 39.Bxe8 Kxe8=) 38...axb4
39.Kd3
38.Bxe8 Kxe8 39.Kd3 Kd7 40.Kc3 Kc7 41.Kb3 a5 42.Ka4 axb4 43.Kxb4 Kb8 44.Ka5 Kc7
45.a3 h4 46.g4 Kb8 47.Kb6 Kc8 48.Ka7 Kc7 49.a4 Kc8 50.a5 Kc7 51.a6 1-0

135. D31
Rodshtein, Maxim (2614) - Lupulescu, Constantin (2656)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/135, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6!? 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4

5.Qb3 c5!? 6.Qxd5 (6.Nf3 c4 7.Qc2 Nc6„) 6...cxd4 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Nd5 Be6 9.Nf4 (9.Nb6 Ra7

761
10.e3 Kc7 11.Nc4 b5 12.Ne5 Bb4+ 13.Kd1 Ne7∞) 9...Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Nf6 12.g3
Nc6 13.Bg2 Re8∞; 5.Nf3 h6 (5...c6 6.Qc2 - 111/(192); 5...Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bf4
g5 - 136/135) 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.e3 Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Qc2 O-O 10.Bd3 Re8 11.O-O (11.h3 Be6 ∆
Nbd7) 11...Bg4 12.Ne5 (12.Nd2 Nbd7 13.Na4!?) 12...c5 13.Qa4 Nbd7∞
5...Nf6
5...c6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Qf3!? Ne7 (7...Nf6 8.h3 O-O 9.Bd3 Bxf4 10.Qxf4 Nbd7 11.Nf3 Re8 12.O-O Nf8
13.Rac1 ∆Ng6 14.Bxg6 hxg6 (14...fxg6 15.Ne5²) 15.Ng5²) 8.Bd3 Bf5 (8...O-O 9.Bxd6 (9.Nge2
Bf5=) 9...Qxd6 10.Nge2 ∆Nd7 11.Qg3 Qb4 12.O-O-O Nf6 13.f3 b5 14.a3 Qa5 15.Qd6 Qd8
16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.g4 a5 18.Nf4²) 9.Bxd6!? Bxd3 10.Qf4 h6 11.Qe5!? f6 (11...Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7
13.Qxg7 O-O-O 14.Qg4 Rdg8 15.Qh3 Qb4 16.O-O-O²) 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qd1 Bf5
15.Qb3 (15.Nf3 g5 16.O-O Nd7 17.Rc1 (17.Re1 O-O-O∞) 17...O-O 18.Nd2 Kg7 19.Re1 Rfe8 20.e4
dxe4 21.Ncxe4 Nf8 ∆ Ng6∞) 15...O-O 16.Nge2 a5 17.Ng3 Be6 18.h4 h5 19.Nge2!? ∆ Nf4²
6.e3 c5
6...Bd6 7.Bg5 (7.Nge2 - 140/152; 7.Qf3 - 118/125) 7...Be6 (7...c6 8.Bd3 O-O 9.Nge2 Re8 10.Qc2 h6
11.Bh4 Nbd7 12.h3 b5 13.O-O Bb7 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bf5 Nb6 16.Rfe1² ∆a5 17.e4) 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bh4
Nbd7 10.Nge2 (10.f4 g5„) 10...Qe7 11.Rc1!? (11.h3 O-O-O!? 12.O-O g5 13.Bg3 Bxg3 14.Nxg3
h5„) 11...c6 (11...O-O-O 12.Qb3 g5 13.Bg3 Bxg3 14.Nxg3 h5 15.h4²) 12.f3 g5 13.Bg3 Bxg3+
14.hxg3 h5 15.Qb3²
7.Nf3

7...c4!?
7...Nc6 8.Be2 Be6 9.O-O c4 (9...Rc8 10.Ne5 Be7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nxc6 Rxc6 13.Bf3²) 10.Ne5 Rc8
11.Bf3 (11.Bg5 Be7 12.f4 O-O 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f5 Bd7 15.Nxd5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qg5 17.e4 Nxe5

762
18.Qd4 Rfe8 19.f6ƒ) 11...Be7 (11...b5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxc6 Rxc6 14.Nxe4 Nd5 15.Be5 f6 16.Bg3
Be7 17.Nc5 Bf7 18.a4±) 12.Nxc4!? dxc4 13.d5 Bd7 14.e4 O-O 15.d6 Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Bg4 17.Bxg4
Nxg4 18.Rad1 Qxd6 19.Rxd6²
8.Ne5
8.Be2 b5 9.a3 Bd6 10.Ne5 (10.Be5 Bb7 11.Qc2 Qe7 ∆ Nbd7=) 10...O-O 11.Bf3 Bb7 12.Bg5 Be7 ∆
Nbd7=
8...b5„ 9.a3
9.Be2 Be7 (9...b4 10.Na4 Bf5 11.b3 c3 12.Bd3²) 10.O-O O-O 11.Bf3 Bb7 12.Qc2 b4 13.Ne2 Nbd7
14.Ng3 Re8∞; 9.g4 Bb4 10.Bg2 Ne4 11.Bxe4 (11.Qc2 O-O 12.h3 f6„) 11...dxe4 12.g5 Nd7
13.Nxd7 (13.Nc6 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qb6 15.d5 Nc5„) 13...Bxd7 14.h4 Qa5 15.Qc2 O-O 16.h5 Bg4„
9...Bb7

9...Nbd7!? 10.g4 (10.Be2 Bb7 11.Bf3 Be7 (11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ne4 13.e6ƒ) 12.Qc2 O-O 13.O-O
Nb6 14.Rfc1 Ne8„ ∆ f6) 10...Ne4! (10...Nxe5?! 11.dxe5 Bxg4 12.f3± ∆Nh5 13.fxg4 Qh4+ 14.Kd2
Nxf4 15.exf4 Qf2+ 16.Qe2 (16.Ne2 Bc5µ) 16...Qxf4+ 17.Kc2 d4 18.Qg2 Rc8 19.Qb7! Qxg4 20.e6!
d3+ 21.Kb1 Qxe6 22.Ka2 Be7 23.Re1+-) 11.Nxe4 (11.Bg2 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be6 14.e4
Qd7∞) 11...dxe4 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Qd5 15.O-O Qe6 16.f3 f6„
10.Bg5N
10.g3 Nbd7 11.h4!? Be7 12.Bg2 (12.Bh3 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Qb6 14.Bg2 Rd8∞) 12...O-O 13.Qc2
Nxe5!? (13...Nb6 14.g4!?) 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Qb6 18.O-O Qe6„;
10.g4!? Ne4 (10...Be7 11.g5 Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bh3 Bd5 14.Qh5 g6 (14...Qa5+ 15.Kf1​→)
15.Qh6 Bf8 16.Qh4 h5 (16...Bg7 17.Ng4!?) 17.O-O Bg7 18.f3 exf3 19.Nxf3 Nc6 20.e4 Be6 21.d5

763
Bxh3 22.Qxh3 Nd4∞) 11.Bg2 f6!? 12.Nf3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bd6 14.Nh4 Nc6 (14...g6 15.O-O O-O
16.Qb1 Rf7 17.a4²) 15.Nf5 Bxf4 16.exf4 O-O 17.Ne3 Qa5!? (17...Ne7 18.f5²) 18.Nxd5 (18.Bxd5+
Kh8 19.Qd2 Qc7„) 18...Rae8+ 19.Kf1 f5! 20.Rg1 fxg4 21.Qxg4 Bc8 22.Qh5 Kh8 (22...Bf5?
23.Nf6+!) 23.Bf3 Bf5 24.Rg3 Ne7∞; 10.Be2
10...Be7 11.Bxf6?!
11.g3 Nbd7 (11...Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bg2 O-O 14.Qb1 Nxc3 15.bxc3 f6 16.Nf3 Bc6∞) 12.Bg2
O-O 13.O-O h6 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.f4 Bd6 16.g4 Ne4„
11...Bxf6ƒ 12.Be2 Nd7 13.f4
13.Ng4 Be7 14.Bf3 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.O-O O-O ∆ Qd7³
13...O-O 14.Bf3 Nb6 15.O-O Be7! [∆ f6] 16.Qc2
16.Bg4 g6 17.f5 ∆Bf6 (17...Qd6!?) 18.a4 b4 19.fxg6 (19.Ne2 g5!³) 19...fxg6 20.Ne2 Qe7 21.a5
Bxe5 22.Rxf8+ Rxf8 23.dxe5 Nd7 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Nd4∞
16...f6 17.Ng4 Qd7³ 18.Ne2 a5 19.Ng3 b4 20.h4

20.Nf5 Bd8 21.axb4 axb4 22.Rxa8 Bxa8 ∆ b3µ

20...Rfc8!?
20...b3 21.Qd2 Na4 22.h5 (22.Ne2 Rae8 23.Rac1 Bd8 24.Nc3 Nxc3 25.Qxc3 Kh8µ) 22...c3 23.bxc3
Ba6 24.Rfe1 Rac8! (24...Rfc8 25.e4! b2 (25...Nxc3 26.e5∞) 26.Rab1 Bxa3 27.e5 Nxc3 28.Rxb2∞)
25.h6 (25.e4 b2 26.Rab1 Bxa3µ) 25...Rxc3 26.e4 b2 27.Rab1 (27.Nf5 gxh6 (27...bxa1=Q??
28.hxg7+-) 28.Rab1 Bxa3 29.e5 Bd3! 30.e6 Qc8! 31.Nfxh6+ Kg7 32.Rxb2 Bxb2 33.Bd1 Bc1-+)
27...dxe4 28.Nxe4 Rxa3 29.Rxb2 Nxb2 30.Qxb2 Rd3 31.Qa2+ Kh8 32.Qxa5 Bc8! (32...Qxd4+

764
33.Nef2 Qa7 34.Rxe7 Qxe7 35.Qxa6 Ra3 36.Qb5=) 33.hxg7+ Kxg7 34.Qh5 Kh8³
21.h5
21.axb4 axb4 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.h5 b3 (23...h6?? 24.Nxh6+!+-) 24.Qb1 Kh8 25.Ne2 Ra2µ; 21.Qb1
Na4 22.Nf2 Rc6 ∆ Rb6µ
21...b3!µ 22.Qf5
22.Qd2 c3! 23.bxc3 a4 24.Rfe1 Nc4 25.Qd3 Bxa3 26.h6 Bf8-+
22...Qxf5 23.Nxf5 Kf7 24.Nf2 c3 25.bxc3 Rxc3 26.a4
26.Nxe7 Kxe7 27.e4 a4 28.Rfe1 Kf8-+
26...Nc4
26...b2 27.Rab1 Nxa4 28.Bd1

28...Ba6! 29.Bxa4 Bxf1 30.Rxb2 Rc1 31.Nd1 Bd3 32.Nxe7 Kxe7 33.Rb7+ Kf8 34.Kf2 Rac8 35.Kg3
Bc2-+
27.Nd1 Rc2 28.Nxe7 Kxe7 29.Rf2 Nd2 30.Rxd2 Rxd2 31.Ra3 Bc6
31...b2 32.Rb3 Ba6 33.Nxb2 Rc8 ∆ Rc1-+
32.Rxb3 Ra7! 33.Nc3 Rb7 34.Nxd5+ Bxd5 35.Rxb7+ Bxb7 36.Bxb7 Re2 37.e4 Rd2 38.d5 Kd6-+
39.g4 Re2 40.e5+ fxe5 41.fxe5+ Kxe5 0-1

136. D31
Anton Guijarro, David (2688) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2710)
Espana 146/136, 2020

765
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nc3 c6 6.e4
6.Qc2 - 111/192
6...dxe4 7.Ng5 Be7 8.Bc4 Bxg5 9.Qh5 Be7 10.Qxf7+ Kd7 11.Na4
11.d5? Qf8 12.Qe6+ Kc7 13.Qxe4 Bd6-+; 11.Be6+ Kc7 12.Bf4+ Kb6 13.d5 Bxe6 14.Qxe6 Bg5
(14...Ka7 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.Be3+ Kb8 17.Bf4+ Ka7=) 15.dxc6 (15.Bd6 Be7=) 15...Nxc6 (15...Bxf4
16.c7+ Kxc7 17.Nd5+ Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Nf6∞) 16.Nd5+ Ka7 17.Bc7 Qf8™ 18.Bb6+ Kb8 19.Bc7+
Ka7=
11...Qa5+™

12.Bd2N
12.Nc3 Nf6 13.Qxg7 Rf8=
12...Qxa4

766
13.b3
13.Bb3?! Qb5 14.Qxg7 Kc7 (14...Nf6 15.Qxh8 a5 16.d5 (16.g4 Na6 17.g5 Nd5 18.Qxh7 Nab4
19.Qxe4 Kd8µ) 16...cxd5 17.Bc3 Ra6µ) 15.Bxg8 (15.Qxh8 Bg4µ) 15...Rxg8 16.Qxg8 Qf5µ
13...Qa3 14.Qxg7 Nf6
14...b5? 15.Qxh8 bxc4 16.Qxg8±
15.Qxh8 Qd6 16.g3
16.O-O b5 17.Be2 (17.Bb4 Qxb4 18.Be6+ Kxe6 19.Qxc8+ Kf7 20.Qb7 Qa5 21.Qxa8 Qc7 22.a4
Nd5 23.a5 Bb4 24.Rfc1 Bxa5 25.Rxa5 Nb6 26.Rxc6 Nxa8 27.Rxc7+ Nxc7µ) 17...Kc7 18.a4 Kb7
19.axb5 cxb5 20.Bxb5 Be6 21.Bc4 Nc6 22.Qg7 Rg8 23.Qh6 Rg6 24.Qh4 Bg4!³
16...b5 17.Bf4
17.Be2!?
17...Qb4+ 18.Bd2 Qd6 19.Bf4 Qb4+ 20.Bd2 1/2-1/2

137. D31
Van Foreest, Jorden (2682) - Kryvoruchko, Yuriy (2682)
Espana 146/137, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Bd3
7.Bxd6 - 107/(118)
7...Bxf4 8.exf4

767
8...Qe7+N
8...Qf6
9.Nge2
9.Kf1
9...Nf6 10.O-O O-O 11.Ng3 Qd6 12.Qd2 b6 13.Rfe1 Na6
13...Ba6?! 14.Nf5! Qc7 15.Re7 Qd8 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.Qe3 Kh8 18.Qe5 Re8 19.Re1±
14.Re5 Nc7 15.Rae1
15.h3!?
15...Bd7
15...Ng4 16.Rg5!? h6 (16...f6 17.Bxh7+ (17.Rxg4 Bxg4 18.f5 h5 19.h3 h4 20.Nge4 dxe4 21.Bc4+
Nd5 22.Nxe4 Qc7 23.hxg4©) 17...Kxh7 18.Qc2+ Kg8 19.Qg6 Rf7 (19...Qd7 20.Nf5! fxg5 21.Re7
Ne6 22.fxg5! Rxf5 23.Rxd7 Bxd7 24.Qxf5±) 20.f5 Qxg3 (20...Nxf2 21.Rh5 Re7 22.Rxe7 Qxe7
23.Kxf2±) 21.hxg3 fxg5 22.Qxc6 Nf6 23.g4 Ba6 24.f3²) 17.Rxg4 Bxg4 18.f5 Rfe8 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8
20.h3 Qf6 21.Qf4 Re1+ 22.Kh2 Bxh3 23.Kxh3∞
16.h3 Rfe8 17.a3 Rad8 18.Bc2
18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Bxf5 g6 20.Bc2 Nd7=
18...Bc8
18...c5!?
19.Qd3

768
19.Nf1!?
19...g6 20.Qe3

20.f5!?
20...Nd7!
20...Qf8; 20...Ba6
21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Qxe8+ Nxe8 23.Rxe8+ Kg7 24.Rxc8 Nf6= [×Rc8] 25.Bd3
25.f5 Qd7 26.Ra8 Qb7 27.Rd8 Qc7=
25...b5!
25...Qxf4 26.Rxc6 Qxd4 27.Bf1±
26.f5 Qd7 27.fxg6 hxg6
27...Qxc8?? 28.Nf5+ Kf8 29.g7++-
28.Ra8 Qb7 29.Rd8 Qc7 30.Ra8 Qb7 1/2-1/2

138. D31
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger 146/138, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 b6 6.Bb2 Bb7 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Nge2
8.Nf3 - 73/(494), D 46
8...Bd6 9.O-O O-O 10.Ng3 c5?!

769
10...Re8 11.e4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 e5 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 a6 15.Nf5 (15.a4) 15...Bb4 16.a4 (16.a3 Bxc3
17.Bxc3 b5µ) 16...Nf8 17.f4 exf4 18.Ne2 (18.Rxf4 Ng6 19.Rf1 Bc8 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.d6 Ne5
22.Nd5 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Nfg4 24.Qf3 Ra7 25.Qg3 Kf8 26.Nf6 Nxf6 27.Bxe5 Rxe5 28.Qxe5 Qxd6
29.Qxd6+ Bxd6 30.Rxf6 Be5=) 18...b5 19.Nxf4 bxc4 20.bxc4 Bd6 21.Nxg7 (21.Nh5 Nxh5 22.Qxh5
Qb6+ 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8=; 21.Rb1 Be5 22.Nxg7 Kxg7
23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Qd4 N8d7 25.Rxb7 Qc8 26.Rxd7 Nxd7 27.Nd3 f6 28.Nxe5 Nxe5 29.c5 Qd7
30.Rc1©) 21...Qb6+ 22.Kh1 Qxb2 23.Nd3 Qd4 24.Nf5 Qxc4 25.Nxd6 Qxd5 26.Nxb7 N8d7
27.Nbc5 Nxc5 28.Nxc5 Qxd1 29.Rfxd1=
11.cxd5
11.Nb5 Be7 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb8 14.Qe3 Nc6 15.Rac1 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Re8=
11...cxd4 12.Nce4!
12.Nb5 Bxg3 13.fxg3 Nc5 (13...Nxd5 14.Nd6 Nxe3 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qxd4 Qg5 17.Nxf7 Rxf7
18.Rxf7 Nf5 19.Qf4 (19.Qxd7 Qe3+ 20.Kh1 Bxg2+! 21.Kxg2 Qe2+ 22.Kg1 Qe3+ 23.Kf1 Qf3+
24.Ke1 Qe3+ 25.Kd1 Qf3+ 26.Kc2 Qf2+ 27.Kb1 Qe1+ 28.Bc1 Qe4+ 29.Kb2 Qe5+=) 19...Qxf4
20.gxf4 Rd8 21.Rd1 Bc6 22.g4 Kg8 23.Rfxd7 Rxd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.gxf5 exf5=) 14.dxe6 fxe6
15.Bc4 dxe3 16.Qe2 Qd2 17.Bd4 Qxe2 18.Bxe2 Nd5=
12...Bxg3 13.Nxg3 dxe3 14.dxe6 exf2+ 15.Rxf2 fxe6 16.Qe2

16...Nc5N
16...Rf7 17.Qxe6 Bd5 18.Qf5 (18.Qh3!?) 18...Qe7 19.Qg5 h6 20.Qh4 Ne8 21.Qxe7 Rxe7 22.Nf5
Rf7 23.Re1±
17.Bc2 Ba6 18.Qe1 Qe8?

770
18...Nd5! 19.Rxf8+ (19.b4 Rxf2 20.Kxf2 Nxb4!? (20...Qe7 21.Kg1 Rf8 (21...Nd7 22.Bb3©) 22.bxc5
Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 Qxc2 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 (24...Kh8? 25.Bxg7+! Kxg7 26.Nh5+ Kh8 27.Qe5+ Nf6
28.Qe7+-) 25.Qe8+ Rf8 26.Qe6+=) 21.Qxb4

21...Qd3!! 22.Rc1 (22.Qc3? Ne4+ 23.Kg1 (23.Nxe4? Rf8+ 24.Kg1 Qf1+ 25.Rxf1 Rxf1#) 23...Qxc3
24.Bxc3 Nxc3 25.Bb3 Re8-+) 22...Qxc2+ 23.Rxc2 Nd3+ 24.Kg1 Nxb4 25.Rc7 Rd8 26.h4©)
19...Qxf8 20.b4 Nd3! 21.Qxe6+ Qf7 22.Qxf7+ Kxf7 23.Rf1+ Ke6∞
19.Rd1!± Rc8
19...Ncd7 20.Rd6 e5 21.Nf5±‚

771
19...Rd8 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.b4 Nd3 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Rd2 Qc8 24.Qxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxd3 Bxd3
26.Bxd3 Rd8±
20.b4 Nb7
20...Ncd7 21.Ne4±
21.Ne4! Nd5
21...Rxc2 22.Rxc2 Nxe4 23.Qxe4+-; 21...Nh5 22.Rdd2+-
22.Rxf8+!
22.Ng5+-
22...Qxf8
22...Kxf8 23.Bb3+-
23.Bb1?!
23.Bb3!+-
23...Qxb4?

23...h6±
24.Nf6+! Kh8
24...Kf7 25.Qxb4 Nxb4 26.Rd7+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke8 28.Rxg7+-
25.Qxe6 Ra8

772
25...Ne7 26.Qh3 (26.Ba1+-) 26...h6 27.Ba1+-
26.Qxd5 1-0

139. D31
Gorodetzky, David (2489) - Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2625)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/139, 2020

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Ne2
8.Be2 - 126/132
8...Nd7 9.Qd6
9.Qd2 - 103/(286)
9...a5
9...c5 10.Bc3 Ne7 - 103/286 (10...Ngf6 - 54/(391))
10.Bc3

10.Ba3 Qe5 11.Qd2 (11.O-O-O Qxd6 12.Bxd6 b6 (12...Ngf6 13.Nc3 b6 14.Be2 Bb7 15.g4©)
13.Nc3 Bb7 14.Be2 O-O-O 15.Rd2 Nh6 16.Rhd1 (16.g4 Rhe8 17.Rhd1 f6 18.Na4 e5 19.b4 Nf7∞)
16...Nf5 17.Bf4 Nc5 18.g4 Rxd2 19.Rxd2 Nh6 20.Be3 Kc7 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.Na4 e5 23.Nxc5 Bc8
24.f3 f5„) 11...Ngf6 12.f4 (12.Bd6 Ne4 13.Bxe5 Nxd2 14.Bxg7 Rg8 15.Kxd2 Rxg7 16.Nf4 Nc5„;
12.O-O-O Ne4 13.Qe3 b5!? 14.f4 Qc7 15.Qxe4 b4 16.b3 (16.Bxb4 axb4 17.Kb1 Nf6 18.Qe3 e5!
19.Nc1 O-O 20.fxe5 Ng4³) 16...bxa3 17.Nc3 O-O 18.Bd3 Nf6 19.Qe5 Qxe5 20.fxe5 Nd7 21.Rhe1
Rd8 22.Be4 Bb7 23.Rd6 Nxe5 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Rxe5 Ra8 27.Na4 Kg6 28.h4 Kf6
29.Rg5 c5 30.Nxc5 Bc6„) 12...Qb8! (12...Qe4?! 13.O-O-O c5 14.Nc3 Qc6 15.Bd3 O-O 16.Rhg1 ∆

773
g4±; 12...Qc7?! 13.Bd6 Qb6 14.Nc3 Ng4 15.O-O-O Qe3 16.h3 Qxd2+ 17.Rxd2 Ngf6 18.g4±) 13.O-
O-O b5„ 14.Bd6 Ne4 15.Bxb8 Nxd2 16.Rxd2 Nxb8 17.Nd4 b4 18.Be2 Ra7 19.Rhd1 Ke7 (19...c5?
20.Nxe6!±) 20.c5 Rc7 21.Bf3 Re8 ∆ Kf8∞
10...Ngf6
10...Ne7!? 11.O-O-O Qxc4 (11...e5 12.Ng3 Qf4+ 13.Bd2 Qh4 (13...Qd4 14.Qc7! Qb6 15.Qd6 Qd4
16.Qa3 Qc5 17.Qd3ƒ) 14.Bd3 O-O 15.Rhe1 Ng6 16.Nf5 Qf6 17.Be4 a4 18.Bb4²) 12.Nf4 (12.Ng3
Qh4 (12...Qc5 13.Ne4±) 13.Rd4 Qh6+ 14.Rd2 b5 15.Be2 b4 16.Bd4 e5! 17.Bxe5 Qxd6 18.Bxd6
Nf6 19.Re1 Ned5 ∆ Kd8∞) 12...Qc5 (12...Qxa2 13.Bd3 a4 14.Bc2! ∆Qc4 (14...a3? 15.b3+-)
15.Nh5±) 13.Qxc5 Nxc5 14.Bxg7 Rg8 15.Nh5 Nd7 16.Bd3 a4!? 17.g4 (17.Bxh7 Ra5! 18.Rxd7
Rxh5 19.Rxe7+ Kxe7 20.Bxg8 Rg5=) 17...Ra5 18.Rhg1 Rg5 19.Bh6 Rd5 (19...Rxg4 20.Ng7+)
20.Be3 f5 21.g5 e5∞
11.b3 Qf5!?
11...Qc2 12.f3! a4 (12...Ra6 13.g4 a4 14.b4 c5 15.Qd1²) 13.b4! Ra6 (13...h5 14.Rc1! Qxa2 15.b5!
∆Rh6 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Qxc6 Rb8 18.Bd2 Rg6 19.Nc3 Qa3 20.Nb5 Qc5 21.Qxc5 Nxc5 22.Bf4±;
13...c5 14.b5 a3 (14...h5 15.Rc1 Qf5 16.h4 e5 17.Rd1±) 15.Rc1 Qxa2 (15...Qa4 16.g4±) 16.Nf4±
∆e5 17.Bd3! exf4 18.O-O Kd8 19.Rb1 ∆ Rf2+-) 14.Rc1! Qxa2 (14...Qf5 15.Qd2!± ∆O-O 16.Ng3
Qg6 17.Bd3+-) 15.Qd3! (∆ Ra1) 15...Nb6 16.Rd1 O-O 17.Nc1! Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 b5
20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ba2±; 11...c5!? 12.O-O-O

(12.Rd1 Ra6 13.Qd2 O-O∞ - 58/(435); 12.Qd2 a4 13.f3 Qc6 14.b4 cxb4 15.Bxb4 Nc5 16.Nd4 Qd6
17.Rd1 Bd7 18.Be2 Rc8∞; 12.f3 Qe3 13.Bd2 (13.Rd1 a4 14.b4 Ra6„ 15.Qc7?! Rc6 16.Qa5 cxb4
17.Qxb4 Nc5µ) 13...Qe5 14.Qxe5 Nxe5 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.Bf4 (16.O-O-O Bc6) 16...Ng6 17.Bd6 b6 ∆
0-0-0∞) 12...a4!? (12...Ra6 13.Qd2 a4 14.Nf4!? (14.f3 Qc6 15.b4 cxb4 16.Bxb4 Qxc4+ 17.Kb2 Rb6
18.Rc1 Qxb4+ 19.Qxb4 Rxb4+ 20.Ka3 Nb6 21.Kxb4 Ke7 22.Nc3 Bd7∞; 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nc3

774
Qd4 16.Qxd4 cxd4 17.Rxd4²) 14...axb3 15.axb3 b6 (15...Qc6 16.Bd3 O-O 17.Rhe1 Ra3 18.Kb2 Qa6
19.Bb1²) 16.Bd3 Qa8 17.Bb1 O-O 18.Qc2 g6 19.h4ƒ) 13.Bb2 (13.f3 Qe3+ 14.Kb2 Ra6 15.Qf4
Qxf4 16.Nxf4 Ke7 17.g4 h6∞) 13...axb3 14.axb3 Qh4!? (14...Ra6 15.Qd2 b6 16.h4©) 15.f3 Qh6+
(15...Ra6 16.Qd2 Qf2 17.Be5 O-O 18.Bg3 Ra1+ 19.Kb2 Rxd1 20.Qxd1 Qe3 21.Bf4 Qf2 22.Qd2
Nh5 23.Be3 Qh4 24.Nc3 e5 25.Be2©) 16.Rd2 Ra6 17.Qd3 e5!? 18.Bxe5 (18.g4 e4! 19.fxe4 O-O
20.Rg1 Qg5„) 18...O-O 19.Bf4 g5! 20.Be3 (20.Bg3 Nh5 21.Qc3 Re8³) 20...Re8 21.h4 Ra1+ 22.Kb2
Ng4! 23.Kxa1 Rxe3„
12.f3
12.Ng3 Qc2 13.Bd2 a4 14.b4 Qb2 15.Rc1 c5„ 16.Be2 Ra6 17.Qc7 Rc6 18.Qf4 e5 19.Qe3 cxb4
20.O-O O-O 21.Rb1 Qa3 22.Rxb4 Qxe3 23.Bxe3 Nc5 24.Rb5 b6 25.Rfb1 Nfd7 26.Bf3 e4=
12...Qc5

13.Qd2N
13.Qxc5 Nxc5 14.O-O-O (14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nc3 e5 ∆ Bf5„) 14...b5 15.Be5 bxc4 16.bxc4 Ba6
17.Nd4 Ncd7 18.Bd6 c5! 19.Nb3 a4 20.Nd2 (20.Nxc5 Nxc5 21.Bxc5 Rc8) 20...O-O-O 21.g4 h6
22.h4 Kb7 23.Rh2 Kc6 24.Bg3 Nb6„
13...O-O 14.g4 e5!?
14...b5 15.g5 Ne8 16.Ng3 f5!? 17.gxf6 Nexf6 18.cxb5 Bb7 19.Rc1 Ne5 20.Be2 Rad8 21.Bxa5 Rxd2
22.Rxc5 Rxa2 23.Rxe5 Ra1+ 24.Bd1 Rxa5 25.Rxe6 cxb5=
15.Ng3 Ne8
¹15...b5 16.g5 Ne8 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Bxa5 Rxa5!? 19.Qxa5 (19.b4 Qa7 20.bxa5 Nc5 21.Rc1 Nc7„
∆ N7e6) 19...Bb7 20.Be2 Nc7 21.Rd1 Ra8 22.Qd2 Nd5 23.Bd3 Nf4© ∆ 24.Be4 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Qa7

775
26.h4 Nf8 27.Qf2 Qa5+ 28.Kf1 Qxa2∞
16.Bd3
16.O-O-O b5 17.Ne4 Qb6 (17...Qa3+ 18.Kb1 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.cxb5 Be6 21.Bd3±) 18.h4
Ndf6 19.Nxf6+ Nxf6 20.h5ƒ
16...Nc7
16...b5 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Be4 Rb8 19.Rc1 Nef6 (19...b4 20.Bb2 Qb6 21.Nf5​→ ∆Kh8 22.Rc6 Qb5
23.Nxg7! Nxg7 24.Qh6+-) 20.Bxa5 Nxe4 (20...Qa7 21.Bc7 Nxe4 22.Bxb8 Nxb8 23.Nxe4 Bb7
24.Qf2 Qa5+ 25.b4! Qxb4+ 26.Qd2 Qa3 27.O-O²) 21.Nxe4 Qa7 22.Bb4 Rd8 (22...Re8 23.Nd6 Rd8
24.Nf5 Bb7 25.Qf2²) 23.Bc5 Qa6 24.O-O Qe6 25.Qd6²
17.Rd1
17.O-O-O b5 (17...Ne6 18.h4ƒ) 18.Rhe1! bxc4 19.Bxc4 Nb5 20.Nf5 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Qa3+ 22.Qb2
Qxb2+ 23.Kxb2 Re8 24.Nd6²
17...Ne6 18.Bf5
18.h4 Rd8∞
18...Nd4
18...b5!? 19.Ne4 Qa7 20.Qf2 bxc4 21.bxc4 Nb6 22.Bxe5 Nxc4 23.Qxa7 Rxa7 24.Ba1 Nf4 25.Bxc8
Rxc8 26.Kf2=
19.Bxd4 exd4 20.Qxd4 Qxd4 21.Rxd4 Nc5 22.Kf2 g6 23.Bc2 Be6 24.Rhd1 b5
24...a4 25.b4 Na6 26.a3 c5 27.bxc5 Nxc5 28.Rb1 Rfc8 29.Ne4=
25.cxb5 cxb5 26.h4 Rfc8 27.R1d2 b4 28.g5
28.Ne2!? ∆ Nf4
28...a4 29.Rxb4
29.bxa4 b3 30.axb3 Bxb3=
29...axb3 30.Bxb3 Bxb3 31.axb3 Rab8= 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.Rd5 Nxb3
33...Ne6 34.Rd3 Nf4 35.Rc3 Nd5 36.Rc5 Nf4=
34.Ne4 Ra8 35.h5 gxh5 36.Nf6+ Kf8 37.Kg3 Na5† 38.Nxh7+
38.f4 ∆ f5
38...Kg7 39.Nf6 Kg6 40.Ne4 Nc4 41.Rc5 Ne3 42.Rc6+ Kg7 43.Nf6 Rh8 44.f4 Nf5+ 45.Kh3 Nd4
46.Rc4 Ne6!?
46...Nf5=

776
47.Kh4 Kg6 48.Nd5 Re8 49.Re4 Ng7! 50.Ne7+†
50.Rxe8 Nxe8 51.Ne7+ Kg7 52.Kxh5 Nf6+! 53.gxf6+ Kxf6 54.Nd5+ Kf5=
50...Kh7?†
50...Rxe7!-+
51.Re5?
51.Nd5 Rxe4 52.Nf6+=
51...Rxe7! 52.Rxe7 Nf5+ 53.Kxh5 Nxe7-+ 54.Kh4 Kg7 55.Kg3 Kg6 56.Kg4 Nf5 57.Kf3 Ng7
58.Ke4 Nh5 59.Ke5 Ng3 60.Kd6 Ne4+ 61.Ke7 Kg7 62.Kd7 Nf2 63.f5 Ne4 64.g6 f6 65.Ke7 Nc3
66.Ke6 Ne2 67.Kd5 Ng3 68.Ke6 Nh5 69.Kd5 Kh6 70.Ke6 Kg5 71.Kf7 Kxf5 0-1

140. D35
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger 146/140, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.Qc2 g6 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3
10.Qxd3 Nbd7 11.h4

11.O-O - 97/(300)
11.h3 - 97/300
11...a5N
11...Nb6
12.Kf1 a4 13.a3 Qb6

777
13...Nh5 14.Qc2 (14.g4 Nxf4 15.exf4 Qc7 16.Qe3 Nb6=) 14...Qa5 (14...O-O 15.Nxa4 b5 16.Nc3
b4 17.Ne2 c5 18.Bg5 c4 19.g3²) 15.Bg5 f5 (15...Bd6 16.g4 Ng7 (16...Nhf6 17.e4!±) 17.h5²; 15...f6
16.g4 fxg5 17.gxh5 gxh4 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kd8 20.Rc1²) 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.Ne2²; 13...O-O!?
14.Qc2 h5 15.Bg5
15.Kg1!?
15...O-O 16.Ne5 Rfe8 17.Bxf6
17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 19.Ne2 (19.Rb1 Bd8 20.Qh6+ Nh7 21.Qxh5 Rg8) 19...Qxb2 20.Rb1
Qxa3 21.Rxb7 Reb8 22.Nf4 Qa1+ 23.Ke2 Qa2+ 24.Kf3 Rxb7 25.Qh6+ Nh7 26.Ng6+ Kg8
27.Nxe7+ Kh8=
17...Nxf6 18.Rh3 Qb3 19.Qb1

19.Qxb3 axb3 20.Rc1 Kg7 21.Nd3 Ne4=

19...Ne4! 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.Qxe4 Bd6 22.Rg3
22.Rf3!?
22...Bxe5 23.dxe5 Qb5+ 24.Kg1 Rxe5 25.Qd4 Rd5 26.Qf6 Rf5 27.Qd4
27.Qc3?! Qe2 28.f4 Rd8µ
27...Qe2 28.e4 Rb5 29.Rb1 Qc2 30.Qd3 Rc5
30...Qxd3 31.Rxd3 Ra6ƒ
31.Qxc2 Rxc2 32.b3 b5

778
32...Re2!?
33.Rd3 axb3 34.Rbxb3 Ra4 35.Rdc3 Rc4
35...Rxc3 36.Rxc3 Rxe4 37.Rxc6 Rxh4 38.Rb6 Ra4 39.Rxb5 Rxa3=
36.Rxc2 Rxc2 37.f3
37.Rb4=
37...Kf8³ 38.Kh2 Ke7 39.Kh3 Ke6 40.Rd3 Rc4
¹40...Ke5
41.Kg3 Ke5 42.Rd7 Rc3 43.Ra7 f6 44.Ra8

44...Kd6?!
44...Rb3!
45.Kf4 Kc7 46.g4= Kb7 47.Rg8! hxg4 48.fxg4 Rxa3 49.Rxg6 b4 50.Rxf6?
50.Rg7+ Kb6 51.Rg8 c5 (51...Rh3 52.Rb8+ Ka5 53.Kf5 Rxh4 54.Kxf6 Rxg4 55.e5 Rf4+ 56.Ke6 Re4
57.Kd6 c5 58.Kxc5 Rxe5+ 59.Kc4=; 51...b3 52.g5 fxg5+ 53.hxg5 Ra7 54.Rb8+ Rb7 55.Rxb7+ Kxb7
56.g6=) 52.Rb8+ Kc7 53.Rb5 Kc6 54.Rb8 Rh3 55.h5=
50...b3-+ 51.Rf7+ Kb6 52.Rf8 Ra7! 53.Rb8+ Rb7 54.Rd8 c5 55.Ke3 c4 56.Rd1 c3 57.Rb1 Kc5
58.Kd3 0-1

141. D35
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger 146/141, 2020

779
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.Bd3 O-O
8...Nbd7 - 132/149
9.Nge2 Re8 10.O-O Nbd7 11.f3 b5 12.Bf2

12...Bb7N
12...b4; 12...Nb6; 12...a6
13.Ng3 b4 14.Na4 c5 15.Nf5
15.b3 g6 16.dxc5 Rc8 17.Qd2 Nxc5 18.Bb5 Ncd7=; 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Nf5 Qb6=;
15.dxc5 g6 (15...Nxc5 16.Bb5 Ncd7 17.Nf5ƒ) 16.Rc1 (16.Qc2 Bc6 17.b3 Bxa4 18.bxa4 Bxc5
19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qxg6+ Kh8 21.Nf5 Bf8 22.Nxh6 Ne5 23.Qg5 Bxh6 24.Qxh6+ Kg8=) 16...Rc8
17.Ne2ƒ
15...Bf8
¹15...c4 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bf5 g6 18.Bh3 Qd6=
16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Rc1
18.Bb5!?
18...Qb6 19.Qa4 Bc8 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Qa6 Re7
21...Rac8!?
22.Rfd1²
22.Rfe1!?

780
22...Ne8 23.Qxb6?!
23.Rd2!?; 23.Bf1!?
23...axb6 24.Bb1 Ba4
24...g6!?
25.b3 Bd7 26.Ne2
26.Nc2!?
26...Nc7 27.Rd2 Bc6 28.Nd4 Bb7 29.g4 Ne6 30.Nf5
30.Bg3!?
30...Rc7 31.h4

31...Rac8?!
31...h5! 32.gxh5 Nf4 33.h6 (33.Rdc2 Nxh5 34.e4 g6 35.Bxc5 bxc5 36.Nd6 Nf4 37.Nxb7 Rxb7=)
33...g6=
32.Rcd1 Bf8
32...Re8!?
33.Bg3!² Rc3
¹33...Rd7
34.Kf2! Bc5 35.Bd3?!
35.Bd6!±

781
35...d4!= 36.e4
36.exd4 Nxd4 37.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 38.Kg2 Be3 39.Re2 Bc5=
36...Ra8! 37.Bc4 Rc2
37...Ba6!?
38.Bd3
38.Kf1 d3 (38...Raxa2 39.Rxc2 Rxc2 40.Be5=) 39.Bxd3 Rcxa2=
38...Rcxa2 39.Be5 Rxd2+ 40.Rxd2 Ra5 41.Kg3 Ba6 42.Bxa6 Rxa6 43.Nxd4 Bxd4 44.Bxd4 Ra3
45.Rd3
45.Bxb6 Rxb3 46.Rd5 g5=
45...Nxd4 46.Rxd4 Rxb3 47.Rd8+ Kh7 48.h5 Ra3 49.Rd4 Ra4 50.e5 Ra5 51.Rxb4 Rxe5 52.Rxb6
1/2-1/2

142. D36
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)
Stavanger (rapid-Armageddon) 146/142, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Nf3 Re8 10.Bd3
Ne4
10...Nbd7 - 84/337
11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Nd2 f5 14.O-O-O?! Nd7
14...Be6!?; 14...Na6!?
15.g4

782
15...fxg4N
15...Nf6
16.Ndxe4
16.Qxe4 Qf7 (16...Nf6 17.Qxe7 Rxe7 18.Nc4 Bf5∞) 17.Qxg4 Ne5 18.Qe2 Bg4 19.f3 Nxf3 20.Rdf1
Nxd2 21.Qxd2 Qe6∞
16...Nb6 17.Ng3 Be6 18.Kb1 Rf8³ 19.e4
19.Ka1!?
19...Rad8 20.Rhe1 Qf6
20...Qb4!? 21.a3 Qc4µ
21.f4
21.Nce2!?
21...gxf3
21...Rxd4? 22.f5©; 21...Qxf4 22.Ka1³
22.Qf2 Nc4µ 23.Rg1
23.b3
23...Qh4! 24.b3 Nd6 25.Kb2 Rf7
25...b5!?-+
26.Rd2

783
26.Rd3!?
26...Rdf8?!
26...b5!?
27.Re1
27.e5 Ne8 28.Nge4µ
27...Kh8
27...Rf4!?
28.Rd3
28.e5!?
28...Rf4 29.e5
29.Ree3
29...Nf5 30.Nce4 Bd5 31.Rxf3

31...Nxg3?
31...Rxf3! 32.Qxf3 Qxh2+ 33.Re2 Qxg3 34.Qxf5 (34.Qxg3 Nxg3 35.Nxg3 g6-+) 34...Rxf5 35.Nxg3
Rf3 36.Ne4 Bxe4 37.Rxe4 Kg8-+
32.hxg3 Rxf3 33.Qxf3 Rxf3
33...Qh2+ 34.Qe2 Qxe2+ 35.Rxe2 Bxe4 36.Rxe4 Kg8=
34.gxh4 Bxe4 35.Rxe4= Kg8 36.Ka3 Kf7 37.Kb4 h5 38.a4

784
38.Kc4 Ke6 39.Re2=
38...Ke6 39.a5 Rg3
39...Rf1!?
40.a6?!
40.Kc4=
40...b6³ 41.Kc4?
41.Rf4 Rg4 42.Rf8 Rxd4+ 43.Kc3 Rd7 44.Rh8 Kxe5 45.Rxh5+ Ke6³
41...Rg4 42.Kd3?!

42.Re1
42...Rg3+?
42...c5! 43.dxc5 bxc5-+
43.Re3= Rg4 44.Rf3 c5 45.dxc5 bxc5 46.Rf8 Kxe5 47.Rf7† 1-0

143. * !N D46
Moranda, Wojciech (2605) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2732)
Polska 146/143, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.O-O O-O
10.Qc2 Bb7 11.Ng5 h6 12.Nge4

785
12...Be7 13.Rd1
13.a4N b4 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Qc7 17.Bd2 c5³ Gumularz,S (2513) -Potkin,V
(2583) lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 146/(143) 2020
13.Nxf6+
13...Qb6
13...Qb8 - 115/149
14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Qe2 Rfd8 16.b3 a6 17.a4

786
17...c5!N
17...b4 18.a5 (18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 c5 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Bb2 Rac8=) 18...Qc7 19.Na4 Qxa5 20.e4
Qh5 (20...Rxd4?! 21.Be3 c5 22.Bxd4 cxd4 23.Rdc1²) 21.Qxh5 Nxh5 22.Be3©
18.axb5 cxd4!?
18...axb5 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 (19...Bxa8 20.Nxb5 Bc6 21.Bb2 Qb7 22.Ra1 (22.Qf1?! Rb8³) 22...Bf8
23.Ra7 Qb6 24.Ra1 Qb7=) 20.Nxb5 (20.Bxb5 cxd4 21.Rxd4 Bd6©) 20...Qc6 (20...cxd4 21.Nxd4
Ne4 22.Bb2 Bf6©) 21.Qf1 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Qd5©
19.Na4
19.exd4 axb5 20.Rxa8 Bxa8 21.Bxb5 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Qxd4ƒ
19...Qa7 20.b6 Qb8 21.Bb2
21.exd4 Bc6 22.Bxa6 Nd5 23.Bd2 Nxb6 24.Ba5 Bb7!? 25.Nc5 (25.Bxb6 Bxa6©) 25...Bxc5 26.Bxb7
Bxd4 27.Bxa8 Bxa1 28.Bf3 Bf6=
21...dxe3 22.Qxe3

22...Ng4?
22...Bc6 23.Rac1 Qb7„; 22...Rd5!?
23.Qg3 Qxg3 24.hxg3 Bf6 25.Bxf6
25.Be2 Bxb2 26.Nxb2 Nf6 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Bf3 Nd5 29.Nc4±
25...Nxf6 26.Nc5 Rdb8 27.Bc4 a5 28.Rd6² 1/2-1/2

144. * D46

787
 Cheparinov, Ivan (2686) - Bacrot, Etienne (2673)
Espana 146/144, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5
10.Bd3 Bb7 11.e4 e5 12.h3 Re8 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Be3 Qc7

15...Qe7 - 119/147
16.Rae1

16.Rac1

788
16...Bxc3?!N
16...Rad8 - 146/(144) 17.f4 Bxc3 18.bxc3 c5 19.e5 Qc6 20.Rd1 c4 21.Bf5 g6 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.exf6
gxf5 24.Rf3 Qc8 25.Rg3+ Kh8∞ Roth, P-Van der Velde,M corr 146/(144) 2020
RR16...Bh2+ 17.Kh1 Bf4 18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Re3 Qh6 (19...Nd7 20.e5²) 20.Kg1ƒ Paunovic,Tomislav
17.Qxc3!
17.bxc3 c5 18.Bxb5 Bxe4 19.Qa4 Re6²
17...Nxe4
17...a6 18.f3 Rad8 19.a4±; 17...c5 18.f3 (18.Qxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxc5 Bxe4 20.Bxb5 Reb8 21.Bc4 Rxb2²;
18.Bxb5 Nxe4 19.Qc2 Re6 20.Bc4 Rg6 21.f3 Ng3 (21...Ng5 22.Kh1±) 22.Rf2±) 18...c4 19.b3 Rac8
20.Rc1 Bd5 21.Rfd1±
18.Qc2

18...Qe5?!
18...f5 19.Bxb5±; 18...c5 19.Bxb5 - 17...c5
18...Nf6 19.Bd4² ƒ
19.Bd2! f5 20.f3 Rad8?
20...Qc5+ 21.Qxc5 Nxc5 22.Bxf5 Rad8 (22...Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rd8 24.Be3±; 22...Kf7 23.Bc2±) 23.Bb4
Rxe1 24.Rxe1 Rd5 25.Bc2 Kf7 26.Re3±
21.fxe4 Qd4+ 22.Re3 fxe4 23.Bxe4 1-0

145. ***** D46

789
 Nguyen, Thai Dai Van (2571) - Mendonca, Leon Luke (2499)
Bad Wiessee 146/145, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 O-O 9.O-O b5
10.Be2!?
10.Bd3 Bb7 11.a3 (11.e4 - 146/144) 11...h6 12.Rd1 (12.e4!?) 12...Qc7

(12...a6=) 13.h3N (13.e4) 13...a5 14.e4 e5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Be3 Rfe8∞ Yu,Y (2709)-
Korobov,A (2688) ProChessLeague (Int.-rapid) 146/(145) 2020
10...Bb7
10...a6 11.Ng5 Be7 12.e4 Ne8 (RR12...h6 13.Nf3 b4 14.Na4 c5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Bb7∞
Petronijevic,Zoran) 13.Nf3 c5 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 (15.exd5 Nef6∞ Petronijevic,Zoran) 15...Nef6

790
16.Nxf6+N - 146/(145) (16.Rd1; 16.a4N Nxd5 17.exd5 Bb7 18.Rd1∞ Leko,P (2663)-Carlsen,M
(2863) chess24.com (Int. -m/3-rapid) 146/(145) 2020) 16...Bxf6 17.Bf4 Re8 18.Rfd1 Qe7 19.Qd2
Qe6 20.e5 Be7 21.a4 bxa4 22.Rxa4 Nb6 23.Ra3 Nc4 24.Ng5 Bxg5 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Bxg5 Rb8=
Denton,S-Fric,L corr 146/(145) 2020
11.e4 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nd4
13.Nh4!? g6 14.f4 Neg4 15.e5

(15.g3 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 b4 17.Nd1 Bd4 18.Bf3

791
(18.h3) 18...c5N (18...Re8) 19.e5 Nd5∞ Korobov,A (2688)-Shankland,S (2691) chess.com (ol-rapid)
146/(145) 2020) 15...Qb6+N (15...Bc5+) 16.Kh1 Nf2+ 17.Rxf2 Qxf2 18.Nf3 Rfe8 19.Bd2 b4
20.Ne4?! (20.Rf1 Qc5 21.Ng5 bxc3 22.Bxc3 a5 23.exd6 Bc8=) 20...Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qb6?!
(21...Be7³) 22.Bc4 (22.Ng5∞) 22...c5 23.Qe3

23...Qc6?! (23...Ba6!) 24.Qb3 Be7 25.Bxf7+ Kg7 26.Bxe8 Rxe8= Sarana,A (2652) -Shirov,A (2664)
Moscow 146/(145) 2020
13...Neg4 14.Nf5!?
14.g3 - 128/ 158

792
14...Bxh2+ 15.Kh1 g6
15...Bb8 16.Bg5 Bc8! (16...Qc7? 17.f4 g6 18.Nh6+ Nxh6 19.Bxf6+-) 17.Rad1 Qc7 (17...Qb6
18.Bxg4 Nxg4 19.Qe2 Qc7 20.g3 f6 21.Qxg4 fxg5 22.Qxg5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Qf7∞) 18.Nd6 Be6
19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.e5 Rd8=
16.f3 gxf5 17.fxg4

17...Bc7?N
17...Nxg4 18.Rxf5 Bf4 19.Rh5 (19.Bxf4 Qh4+ 20.Kg1 Qf2+=) 19...Nf2+ 20.Kg1 Qd4 21.Kf1 Bxc1
22.Qxc1 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Qxe4 24.Qh6²; 17...Be5! 18.Rxf5 Qe7 19.Bf4 Bxf4 20.Rxf4 Rad8 21.g5
Ne8 22.Raf1 Bc8 23.Bg4 Bxg4 24.Rxg4 Rd6=
18.Bg5?
18.Rxf5! Bc8 19.Rg5+ Kh8 20.Be3±
18...h6! 19.Rad1 Qe7 20.Qc1 Rfd8
20...hxg5? 21.Qxg5+ Kh8 22.Rd7! Qe5 23.Rxc7 Nh7 24.Qf4+-
21.Nd5!?
21.Rxf5!? Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 hxg5 23.Qxg5+ Kf8 24.Rxf6 Be5 25.Qh6+ Ke8 26.g5 Bxf6 27.gxf6 Qd6
28.Bb3∞
21...cxd5

793
22.Rxf5?
22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Qxc7 Qb6 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.exf5 Rxa2 26.Rd2=
22...Nxe4??
22...Be5! 23.Rdf1 Rd6 24.Bf4 Nd7-+
23.Bxe7+- Ng3+ 24.Kh2 Rd7 25.Rg5+ Kh7 26.Bd3+ f5 27.Kh3 Rxe7 28.Bxf5+ Nxf5 29.Rxf5
Rae8 30.Rdf1 Be5 31.Rxe5 1-0

794
D50-D99

146. D52
Ratkovic, Miloje (2456) - Basso, Pier Luigi (2596)
Paracin 146/146, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Rc1 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Ba3
10.Rc2 b6 11.Be2 Ba6 12.O-O Bxe2 13.Qxe2 O-O 14.e4 Rfe8

14...e5 - 121/146
15.Bf4N
15.e5 c5 16.Nd2 cxd4 17.cxd4 Rac8 18.Nc4 Qa6 19.Nxa3 Qxa3∞
15...Qa4 16.Rd1
16.c4?! c5 17.e5 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Rd1 Rac8³
16...Rac8 17.e5
17.h3 Bf8 18.e5 (18.Rcd2 c5∞) 18...h6 19.c4 b5∞
17...c5 18.Ng5 Nf8 19.Rcd2
19.Ne4 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Qc6 21.h4 Red8∞
19...Red8 20.Qh5 Qe8

795
20...Rc7 21.Be3 cxd4 22.Bxd4 h6 23.Ne4 Ng6„
21.Ne4 cxd4 22.cxd4

22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Rxd4 Ng6 24.Bg3 Qb5 25.Ng5 Qb1+ 26.Rd1 Qc2 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Rf1 Bc1
29.Nf3 Rxc3∞
22...Bc1! 23.Nd6
23.Bg5 f5! 24.Qxe8 Rxe8 25.Nd6 Bxd2 26.Bxd2 Red8 27.Nxc8 Rxc8 28.Rc1 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 Ng6
30.Kf1 Ne7 31.Ke2 Nd5³
23...Rxd6 24.exd6 Bxd2 25.Bxd2
25.Rxd2 f6 (25...Qc6 26.h4 (26.Qd1 Qc1 27.d5 Nd7 28.dxe6 Qxd1+ 29.Rxd1 fxe6³) 26...Qc1+
27.Kh2 Ng6 28.Qf3) 26.Qd1 Rc4 27.Qb3 Qc6³
25...Qa4 26.d5

796
26...e5! 27.Re1?!
27.h3 f6 28.Rc1 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 Qc4 30.Ba3 g6 31.Qh6 Nd7³
27...Qxa2 28.Bg5
28.Be3 Qxd5 29.Rd1 Qe6-+
28...Qxd5 29.Rd1 Qe6 30.Be7 Nd7-+ 31.h3 h6 32.Qf3 e4 33.Qe2 Rc4 34.Qa2 Rc1! 35.Qd2 Rxd1+
36.Qxd1 Qc4 37.Qg4 Qc6 0-1

147. ** D76
Vazquez Igarza, Renier (2551) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2686)
Espana 146/147, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.O-O Nb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 a5
10.Nh4
10.Qe2 a4 (10...Be6 - 121/150) 11.Rd1

797
11...h6 - 146/(147) (11...Nb4N 12.e4 Bg4 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Rac1 a3 15.b3 (15.bxa3 Nc6 (15...Rxa3
16.Qb2+-) 16.d5 Na5 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nac4 19.Bc5±) 15...Ra5 16.d5 e6 17.h3 (17.d6 c5 18.h3
Bxf3 19.Bxf3±) 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 exd5 19.Nxd5 N6xd5 20.exd5

20...Re8 (20...Nxd5 21.Qd2+-) 21.Qd2 Qd6 22.Bf4 Be5 23.Re1± Vachier Lagrave,M (2778)-
Melkumyan,H (2663) chess. com (Int.-blitz) 146/(147) 2020) 12.h3

798
12...Nb4N (12...a3) 13.e4 Bd7 14.Be3 Qc8 15.Kh2 a3 16.b3 f5 17.Ne5 Kh7 18.h4 Ra5 19.f4±
Bartel,M (2648) -Golubka,P (2495) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(147) 2020
10...a4

11.Rb1N
11.f4; 11.Qe2
11...Re8 12.Re1 e5
¹12...Be6 13.b3 axb3 14.axb3 Qc8 15.Bb2 Bh3∞

799
13.d5 Nb4
13...Na5 14.e4 Bd7 15.b3 axb3 16.axb3 Nc8 17.Nf3 Nd6 18.Be3²
14.e4 Bd7 15.Bf1 Bf8 16.a3 Na6 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.Be3² Ra5
18...Nc8 19.Nd2 b6 20.Rc1 Nd6 21.Rc2 Bg7 22.f3 f5 23.Nc4 Nb3 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.exf5 Bxf5
26.Ne4²
19.Nd2 Bd6 20.Rc1 Qf6

21.h4! Rea8 22.Bg5

22.h5!? Rf8 (22...g5?! 23.g4!±) 23.Kg2 Qg7 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.Be2 f5 26.Bg5±
22...Qg7 23.h5 f6
23...h6 24.Be3 g5 25.Nb5 Bxb5 26.Bxc5 Be2 27.Bxe2 Rxc5 28.Rxc5 Bxc5 29.Qc2 Bd6 30.Nf1±
24.Be3 f5 25.hxg6
25.Nb5! Bxb5 26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Rxc5 Bxf1 28.Rxa5 Rxa5 29.Nxf1 f4 (29...Ra8 30.hxg6 hxg6
31.exf5 gxf5 32.d6±) 30.Qg4±
25...f4 26.Bxc5 Bxc5

800
27.Nb5!
27.gxf4 Qxg6+ 28.Bg2 exf4 29.e5 Bg4 30.Nf3 Kh8ƒ
27...Bxf2+
¹27...fxg3 28.Rxc5 gxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Rf8+ (29...Qf8+ 30.Kg2 Qxc5 31.Qh5 Qe7 32.Nxc7 Rc8
33.Nc4! hxg6 34.Qxg6+ Qg7 35.Qxg7+ Kxg7 36.Nxa5 Rxc7 37.Kg3±) 30.Nf3 Qh6 31.Rxc7!
Qh2+ 32.Ke3 Qf4+ 33.Kd3 Bxb5+ 34.Kc2 Qxf3 35.gxh7+ Kh8 36.Qxf3 Rxf3 37.Bxb5 Rxb5
38.Rg1 Rf2+ 39.Kc1 Rf8 40.d6 Rd8 41.Rxb7²
28.Kxf2 fxg3+
28...Rf8 29.Qh5 fxg3+ 30.Kg1 hxg6 31.Qg5±; 28...Bxb5 29.Bh3 fxg3+ 30.Kg2±
29.Kg1 Bxb5 30.Qg4± Kh8 31.Nf3 Rg8
31...Rf8 32.Qxg3 Qxg6 33.Qxg6 hxg6 34.Nxe5 Rxf1+ 35.Rxf1 Bxf1 36.Kxf1±; 31...Be8 32.Nh4 c6
33.Re3±
32.Qh5+-
32.Bxb5! Rxb5 33.Qh4 Rxb2 (33...Qxg6 34.Nxe5 Qg7 35.Rxc7! Qxc7 36.Qf6+ Rg7 37.Qf8+ Rg8
38.Nf7++-) 34.Nxe5+-
32...Qxg6
32...Be8 33.Qxh7+ Qxh7 34.gxh7 Rg7 35.Nxe5+-
33.Qxe5+ Qg7 34.Rxc7 Qxe5 35.Nxe5 Rg7 36.Rc5 Bxf1 37.Rxa5 g2 38.d6 h6 39.Rc5 1-0

148. D78
Saric, Ante (2541) - Kozul, Zdenko (2597)

801
 Hrvatska (ch) 146/148, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Qa4 dxc4 6.Qxc4 Bg7 7.Nf3 O-O 8.O-O Qb6 9.Nc3 Be6
10.Qa4
10.Qd3 - 1/408
10...Rd8 11.Qa3

11...Nbd7N
11...Bf8
12.Ng5 Qxd4
12...Nf8 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.e3 c5 15.d5 (15.Na4 Qa6 16.Nxc5 (16.dxc5 Ng4 17.Rb1 Rac8 18.b4 b5
19.cxb6 axb6 20.b5 Qa7 21.Qb3 Ne5©) 16...Qxa3 17.bxa3 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Nd7 19.Rb1 Nxc5=)
15...Nc7 (15...Nf8 16.e4 N8d7 17.f4²) 16.e4 Nb5 17.Nxb5 Qxb5 18.Rb1²
13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Rd1
14.Qxe7 Qc4 15.Qa3 a5 16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 Nd5 18.e4 N5b6 19.Nxb6 Nxb6∞; 14.Be3 Qd6
15.Qb3 Nd5 16.Rad1 a5∞
14...Qc4„ 15.Bh3
15.Bf4 a5 16.Rd3 Qb4 17.Rad1 Kf7 (17...Qxa3 18.bxa3 Kf7 19.Ne4 Ke8 20.Ng5 Nc5 21.Rxd8+
Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.Be3©) 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Qxb4 axb4 20.Bxe4 e5 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Rxd7
exf4 23.Rxb7 fxg3 24.hxg3 Rxa2 25.Rxb4 Rxb2 26.Rxb2 Bxb2 27.Bxc6=
15...Kf7 16.Bg5 a5 17.Rac1 Qb4 18.Qa4 Qxa4 19.Nxa4 Nd5 20.e4 N5b6 21.Nxb6 Nxb6 22.b3

802
Bb2
22...Bd4 23.a4 Rd6 24.Bf1 Rad8³
23.Rb1 Ba3 24.Be3 Nd7³ 25.Kf1?!
25.Bf1 Nc5 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.f3 Kf6³
25...Nc5 26.f3

26...e5
26...Rxd1+! 27.Rxd1 a4µ
27.Ke2 Rd6
27...Rxd1 28.Rxd1 a4 29.b4 Bxb4 30.Rb1 Na6 31.f4 exf4 32.Bxf4 Rd8µ
28.Rd2 Rxd2+ 29.Bxd2 Bb4 30.Be3 Ne6 31.f4 exf4 32.gxf4 Rd8 33.f5?!
33.Rd1 Rxd1 34.Kxd1 Nc5 35.e5 e6³
33...Nd4+ 34.Bxd4 Rxd4µ 35.fxg6+ hxg6 36.Rd1 Rxe4+ 37.Kf3 Rh4 38.Bc8 b6 39.h3 Bd6
39...e6 40.Kg3 Rh5µ
40.Rc1 Rf4+ 41.Ke2 c5 42.Rf1 Rxf1 43.Kxf1

803
43...a4!
43...Kf6 44.Ke2 (44.a4 b5! 45.axb5 c4 46.bxc4 a4-+) 44...Ke5 45.Ke3 a4µ
44.bxa4 Kf6 45.Ke2 c4 46.Ba6 c3 47.Bd3 g5 48.Bh7 Ba3! 49.Kd3 Bb2-+ 50.Ke3 Ke5 51.Bc2
Bc1+ 52.Kf3 Kd4 53.Ke2 Bf4 54.Kf3 Bd2 55.Ke2 Kc4 56.Bb3+ Kb4 57.Kd3 e5 58.Bd5
58.Kc2 e4
58...Kxa4 59.Kc2 Ka3 60.Kb1 Kb4 61.Kc2 Kc5 62.Bb3 Kd4 63.Kd1 Ke3 64.Bd5 e4 65.Bc6 Kf3
66.a4 Bf4 67.Kc2 Be5 68.Bd5 Kg3 69.Bxe4 Kxh3 70.Kd3 g4 71.Bf5 Kh4 72.Ke3 g3 73.Kf3 Kg5
73...Bd4 74.Kg2 Kg5 75.Bc2 Kf4
74.Be4 Kf6 75.Ke3 Ke7 76.Kd3 Kd6 77.Bg2 Kc5 0-1

149. ** D78
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)
Stavanger 146/149, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 c6 7.b3!? dxc4
7...a5 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.Bxc3

804
10...a4!? (10...Nd7 11.Rc1 Nf6 12.Ne5 Ne4 (12...Be6 - 62/(498)) 13.Be1 h5∞) 11.cxd5 cxd5?!
(11...Qxd5 12.bxa4 Qc4 13.Qd2 Rxa4 14.Rfc1 Qa6 15.a3 Bf5 16.Bb4 Nd7 17.e3²) 12.bxa4 Bd7
13.Qb3

13...Bxa4N (13...e6) 14.Qxb7 Nc6 15.Rfb1 Qd6 16.Qb2± Ding,L (2791)-Caruana,F (2835)
chess24.com (Int.-m/5-blitz) 146/(149) 2020
8.bxc4 c5 9.Bb2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qb6 11.Qc1 Bd7
11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Nb3 Rfd8 (14...Rac8 - 123/150) 15.Re1 Rac8 16.Bc3 Qa6
17.e4 Be6 18.c5 Ne8 19.e5²; 11...Rd8 12.e3 Nc6 13.Nd2 Bd7 (13...Ng4 14.c5 Nxd4 (14...Qc7)
15.Bxd4 Qc7 16.Qb2!? e5 17.Bc3 Qxc5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Nb3 Qe7 20.Bxe5 Be6 21.Rfc1 Bxb3 22.axb3

805
Ne8 23.Bxg7 Nxg7 24.h4±) 14.Bc3 Qa6 (14...Rac8 15.Qa3 Ne8 16.Rfb1 Qc7 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.Rb2
Bxc3 19.Nxc3 Be6 20.Rc1 b6 21.Nd5ƒ) 15.a4 Rab8 16.a5 Ne5 17.Qa3ƒ
12.Nd2 Nc6 13.Nc2!?
13.N2b3 Rac8 14.Rd1 Rfd8

15.h3N (15.Rb1) 15...Be8 16.c5 Qa6 17.e3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc6 19.Qb2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Bf8∞
Firouzja,A (2728)-Nyzhnyk, I (2665) ProChessLeague (Int.-rapid) 146/(149) 2020 (20...Qc6+!?
21.Kg1 h5∞)
13...Rac8

806
13...Bh6 14.Rb1!? (14.Bc3 Rfd8 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Qb2 Bf5 17.e3 Rac8 18.Rbc1 b6 19.Nd4 Nxd4
20.Bxd4 Nd7∞) 14...Qa6 15.Ne3!? ∆Bxe3 16.fxe3 Bf5 17.e4 Bg4 (17...Be6 18.Rxf6! exf6 19.Bxf6
h6 20.Nf3 g5 21.Nxg5 Qxc4 22.Qe3 Rae8 23.Rc1 Qb5 24.Nxe6+-) 18.Qc3 Qb6+ 19.e3 Qd8 20.e5
Ne8 21.Ne4+-
14.Bc3!?N
14.Rb1
14...Qa6
14...Bh6 15.Rb1 Qa6 16.e3 Rfd8∞
15.Qb2 Nh5? 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nd5 Rfe8 19.Rfc1 Na5 20.e3 Nf5 21.e4! Ng7
21...Nd6 22.c5 Ndc4 23.Nxc4 Nxc4 24.Qb4 b5 25.c6!+-
22.Qa3?!
22.c5 Nc6 23.a4+-
22...Nc6 23.Qxa6
23.Qb2±
23...bxa6

24.f4?!
24.Rab1 Kf8 25.f3 f5 26.Bf1±
24...Kf8 25.Kf2 Red8 26.Rab1 Ne8 27.Ke3

807
27.Nb3 Nd6 28.Ke3
27...f6 28.a3 Bf7? 29.Bh3 e6?
¹29...f5 30.exf5 gxf5 31.Nb4±
30.Nb4 a5 31.Nxc6 Rxc6 32.c5 Nc7 33.Bf1!+- e5 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.Nf3 Be8 36.Rb7 Ne6 37.Rxa7
Nxc5 38.Nxe5 Rf6 39.Ng4 1-0

150. D79
Firouzja, Alireza (2728) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger 146/150, 2020

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d4 O-O 6.c4 c6 7.Ne5 Ng4 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Bf4
9.f4 - 142/153
9...Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Nc6
10...Bxe5 11.dxe5 Nc6 12.Qxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxe5 14.Nc3 Rb8 15.Rfd1²
11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Nc3 e6
12...Be6? 13.e4±
13.Qd2

13...b6N
13...Bd7; 13...Qf6
14.Rad1

808
14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Bb7 16.Rad1 - 14.Rad1
14...Bb7 15.e4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Re8 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Rc8 19.f4 Ba6
19...Rc7!? 20.Qf2 Rd7 21.f5 (21.g4 Qc7∞) 21...f6 22.h4 Qe7∞
20.Rf2 Qe7 21.f5
21.Bxc6!? Rxc6 22.Nd5 Qb7 (22...Qe4 23.Nb4 Bb7 24.Nxc6 Qxc6 (24...Bxc6 25.Qd4+±) 25.Qc3+
±) 23.f5 f6 24.Nb4 (24.Nf4 Bc4 25.Qd7+ Qxd7 26.Rxd7+ Kh6 27.Rxa7 Re1+ 28.Kg2 Rd6 29.Rc2
Bb5©) 24...Rcc8 (24...Rc7 25.Nxa6 Qxa6 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Rxf6! Qe2 (27...Kxf6? 28.Qf4++-)
28.Qd4±) 25.Nxa6 Red8! 26.Qe2 (26.Qxd8 Rxd8 27.Rxd8 Qxa6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.b3 Qb5=)
26...Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Qxa6 28.Qd7+ Kh6 29.Qf7 Qc4 (29...Rc1+ 30.Kg2 Qc4 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.Qf8+
Kh7 33.Qxf6 Rc2 34.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 35.Kh3²) 30.Qxf6 (30.fxg6 Qxf7 31.gxf7 Kg7 32.f8=Q+ Rxf8
33.Rd2 Rc8=) 30...Qe4 31.fxg6 Rc1+ 32.Rf1 Rxf1+ 33.Qxf1 Qd4+ 34.Qf2 Qd1+ 35.Kg2 Qd5+
36.Kf1 Kxg6 37.a3²
21...f6 22.Be6 Rcd8 23.Nd5 Qf8 24.Qc3
24.Qf4 Ne5 25.Rc1 Rxd5! 26.Bxd5 Re7 27.Rd2 (27.Be4 g5 28.Qd2 Ng4 29.Qd6 Nxf2 30.Kxf2
Qe8=) 27...Nd3 28.Rxd3 Bxd3=
24...Ne5 25.Rd4 Qc5
25...Kh8 26.Nc7 Rxd4 27.Qxd4 Rd8 28.Bd5 Bc8 29.Ne6 Bxe6 30.fxe6 Qg7=
26.Qxc5 bxc5 27.Ra4 Rd6 28.Rxa6
28.b3 Rb8 29.Ra5 Rb5 30.Rxa6 Rxa6 31.Nc7 Rbb6 32.Nxa6 Rxa6=
28...Rxa6 29.Nc7

809
29...Raxe6! 30.Nxe6+ Kh6 31.Nxc5 Ng4 32.Rf4
32.Rf1 Re2 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.h3 Ne3 35.Rf3 f5 36.b4 Nc2 37.a3 Re1+ 38.Kf2 Ra1=
32...Re1+ 33.Kg2 Rc1
33...gxf5! 34.h3 Re2+ 35.Kf1 Rc2! 36.hxg4 Rxc5 37.Rxf5 (37.gxf5 Kg5 38.Kg2 Rxf5=) 37...Rxf5+
38.gxf5 Kg5=
34.Rxg4
34.Nd3 Rc2+ 35.Kh3 Ne5 36.Nxe5 fxe5 37.Re4 Rxb2 38.a4 Ra2 39.Rxe5 Rxa4 40.f6 Rb4=
34...Rxc5 35.Rh4+ Kg5
35...Kg7 36.Ra4 Rc2+ 37.Kf3 Rxb2 38.Rxa7+ Kh6 39.fxg6 hxg6 40.h4 f5=
36.Rxh7 Rc2+ 37.Kf3 Rxb2 38.h4+ Kxf5 39.Rxa7 Ke6 40.g4 Rc2 41.Ra6+ Ke5 42.Ra5+ Ke6 43.g5
43.h5 gxh5 44.gxh5 Rc3+ 45.Ke4 Rc4+ 46.Kd3 Rh4=
43...Rc3+ 44.Ke2 Rh3
44...fxg5 45.hxg5 Rg3 46.Kf2 Rd3=
45.Ra6+ Ke7= 46.Rxf6
46.gxf6+ Kf7=
46...Rxh4 47.Ra6 Rf4 48.Ra5 Kd6 49.Ke3 Rg4 50.a4 Rh4 51.Kd3 Rg4 52.Ke3 Rh4 53.Kf3 Ke6
54.Ke3 Kd6 55.Kd3 Rg4 56.Ra6+ Ke7 57.Ra5 Kd6 58.Ke2 Ke6 59.Kf3 Rb4 1/2-1/2

151. D85
Saric, Sinisa (2408) - Vuckovic, Bojan (2578)
Srbija 146/151, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 O-O 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.Be2 Nc6
10.d5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Ne5 12.Rc1

810
12...e6N
12...Ned7 - 72/413
13.f4 Ned7 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.h4! Rf7
15...Bh6 16.Bg4! Bxf4 17.Bxe6+ Kg7 18.Nxb6 Nxb6 19.Bd4+ Rf6 20.Rc2 (20.Bxf6+? Qxf6 21.Bb3
Bxc1 22.Qxc1 Re8ƒ) 20...Kh6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Bg4±
16.h5± Qe7
16...c6 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nc3 Nf8 19.Qc2 Qe7 20.e5±
17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nxb6
18.Rxc7 Qb4+ 19.Nc3 Qxb2 20.Qb3 Qxb3 21.axb3 Nf8 22.Nb5 Rxc7 23.Nxc7 Rc8 24.Nb5±;
18.Qb3 Nxa4 19.Qxa4 Nf8 20.e5 Rd8 21.Rg1±
18...axb6
18...Qb4+ 19.Qd2 (19.Kf1 axb6 20.Rxc7 Nf8 21.Rxf7 Kxf7 22.e5 Rxa2 23.Kg2 Rxb2 24.Bf3±)
19...Qxd2+ 20.Kxd2 axb6 21.Bc4 Nf8 22.Kc2±
19.Rxc7 Rxa2
19...Qb4+ 20.Kf1 - 18...Qb4
20.Kf1
20.Bc4! Rxb2 21.Qg4! Rb1+ (21...Rc2 22.Rc8+ Nf8 23.Qxg6 Qb4+ 24.Kf1+-) 22.Ke2 Rxh1
23.Bxe6 Nf6 24.Rxe7 Nxg4 25.Rxf7 Nxe3 26.fxe3 Rh2+ 27.Kd3+-
20...Rxb2

811
20...Bxb2 21.Qb3 Ra1+ 22.Kg2 Rxh1 23.Kxh1 Bg7 24.Kg2 Qd8 25.Rc1 Nf8 26.Bg4±
21.Bc4
21.e5 Qd8 22.Qc1 Rb1 23.Qxb1 Qxc7 24.Qxg6 Nf8 25.Qb1 Qc6 26.Rh3+-
21...b5

22.Rxd7! Qxd7 23.Qxd7 Rxd7 24.Bxe6+ Rf7 25.Kg2 Rc2

25...Bc3 26.e5 b4 27.Rd1 Kg7 28.Bxf7 Kxf7 29.Rd7+ Ke6 30.Rd6+ Kf7 31.Rf6+ Kg7 32.Rb6+-
26.Rb1 Rc7
26...Rb2 27.Rd1 Kf8 28.Bxf7 Kxf7 29.Rd7+ Kg8 30.Rxg7+ Kxg7 31.Bd4++-; 26...Bb2 27.Bb3 Re2
28.Kf3+-
27.Rxb5+- Kh7 28.Bxf7 Rxf7 29.Kg3 Bh6 30.Kg4 Re7 31.Kf3
31.e5 Kg7 32.Kf3 Kf7 33.Rb6
31...Rf7 32.Kg4
32.e5 Rc7 (32...Bxf4 33.e6 Rf6 34.Bxf4) 33.Ke4
32...Re7 33.Rb4
33.e5
33...b5 34.Bb6 Rf7 35.e5 Kg8 36.Bc5 Rb7 37.f5 gxf5+ 38.Kxf5 Bd2 39.Rg4+ Kh7 40.e6 b4
41.Rh4+ Kg8 42.Bd4 Rb5+ 43.Ke4 Kf8 44.Bf6 1-0

152. * D85
Lysyj, Igor (2593) - Lobanov, Sergei (2510)

812
 Russia 146/152, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.Nf3 b6
10.Bd3 Bb7
10...e6 11.h4 (11.O-O - 130/(160)) 11...c5 12.h5 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Bc2 e5 15.Nc6 Qxd2+

16.Kxd2N (16.Bxd2) 16...Re8 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nb4 (18.b4 Bb7 19.bxc5 Bxc6 20.cxb6 axb6 21.f3
Bf8=) 18...Bb7 19.f3 Rad8+

20.Ke3 Checa,N (2527)-Burke, J (2538) USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/(152) 2020 (20.Ke3 f5! 21.Rad1
(21.exf5? e4 22.f6 exf3+ 23.Kf4 fxg2µ; 21.Nd3 f4+ 22.Ke2 Ba6 23.Rad1 Rd6 24.Rd2 Red8 25.Rhd1

813
Kf7 26.b4 Nxd3 27.Bxd3 Rxd3 28.Rxd3 Bf6³) 21...Rxd1 22.Rxd1 fxe4 23.fxe4 Bh6+ 24.Ke2 Nxe4
25.Rd7 Nxc3+ 26.bxc3 Bxg2³)
11.O-O e6 12.b4 c5 13.bxc5
13.dxc5 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 bxc5 15.b5 (15.bxc5 Nxc5!³) 15...Qf6 (15...Rc8) 16.Qxf6 Nxf6 17.Rfe1 a6
18.bxa6 (18.b6 Nd7 19.Nd2 (19.Rab1 Rfb8 20.Re2 Bc6 21.Reb2 Rb7 22.Nd2 Bb5 23.Bxb5 axb5
24.Rxb5 Rxa2 25.Nc4 Ra4 26.Rc1 (26.Nd6? Rxb6µ) 26...Rb4 27.Rxb4 cxb4 28.Rb1 Nxb6! 29.Rxb4
Rc7=) 19...Bc6 20.Rab1 Rfb8 21.Rec1 Rxb6 22.Rxb6 Nxb6 23.Rxc5 Bb5 24.Bxb5 axb5 25.Rxb5
Rxa2=) 18...Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6=
13...bxc5 14.Ba5

14...Qe7N
¹14...Qb8 15.Rac1 Rc8 16.Bb5 Nf6 17.dxc5 Bxe4∞
15.Rab1 Nf6
15...Bc6 16.Rbc1 Rfb8 17.Rfe1² (17.dxc5 Rb2 (17...Nxc5? 18.Bb4+-) 18.Qe3 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5
20.Bc4 Qf6 21.Bc3 Bxc3 22.Rxc3 Rd8©)
16.Qg5
16.Rfe1! Rfc8 17.dxc5 Rab8 18.Bb4 Ba8 19.h3 a5 20.Bxa5 Rxb1 21.Bxb1 Qxc5 22.Bb4±
16...Rfc8 17.e5
17.dxc5 h6! 18.Qf4 (18.Qe3 Qxc5=) 18...Qxc5 19.Bb4 Qc7=
17...Bxf3 18.gxf3 Nd5 19.Qxe7 Nxe7 20.Ba6 Nc6! 21.Bxc8 Rxc8

814
22.Bd2!
22.Rfc1 Nxd4 (22...Nxa5? 23.Rb5±) 23.Kg2 Bxe5 24.Rc4 Nf5 25.Rbc1 Bd6 26.Bb4 Rc6 27.Bxc5
Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Ra6©
22...Nxd4 23.Kg2 Bxe5 24.f4 Bf6 25.Rfc1² Rc6
25...Nf5 26.Be3 Nxe3+ 27.fxe3 c4 28.Rb7²
26.Rb7 a6 27.Be3 e5 28.fxe5 Bxe5 29.a4
29.Rd7 Ne6 30.Rc4 Bf6 31.Kf3²; 29.Rcb1! Nf5 30.R1b6²
29...Ne6 30.Rc4 Kg7 31.Rd7 Kf6 32.f4 Bd6 33.Kf3 Nf8 34.Rb7 Ke6
34...Ne6 35.Ke4 Nc7 36.Rb1 Ke6 37.Rbc1 f5+ 38.Kf3 Kd5 39.R4c2 c4 40.Rd1+ Ke6 41.Bd2²
35.Re4+ Kd5 36.Rxf7 Ne6 37.Rd7?!
37.Rxh7 Rb6 38.Rh6 Rb3 39.Rxe6! Kxe6 40.Rxg6+ Kd7 41.Ke4²
37...Nd4+?
37...Rb6! 38.Rxh7 (38.Bf2 h5 39.Re3 Nd4+ 40.Kg2 Rb2©) 38...Rb3 39.Rxe6 Kxe6 40.Ra7 Kf5
41.Rd7 Ke6 42.Ra7 Kf5=
38.Bxd4 cxd4

815
39.Re5+!+- Kc4 40.Re6 Kd5 41.Re5+
41.Rf6 a5 (41...Rc3+ 42.Ke2 Re3+ 43.Kd2 Re6 44.Rxe6 Kxe6 45.Rxh7 Bxf4+ 46.Kd3+-) 42.Rxh7
Rc3+ 43.Kg4 Bb4 (43...d3 44.Rd7 Rc6 45.Kf3+-) 44.Rd7+ Ke4 45.Re6+ Kd3 46.Rxg6+-
41...Kc4 42.Ke4 Bxe5 43.fxe5 Kc5 44.Rxh7 Rc8 45.Rd7 Rh8 46.Rc7+! Kb4 47.Kxd4 Kxa4
47...Rxh2 48.Rc4+ Kb3 49.Kd5+-
48.Rc2 Rd8+ 49.Ke4 Rd1 50.e6 Re1+ 51.Kd5 Kb3 52.Rd2 a5 53.Kd6 a4 54.e7 a3 55.Kd7 Kc3
55...a2 56.Rxa2 Kxa2 57.e8=Q Rxe8 58.Kxe8+-
56.Rf2 Rd1+ 57.Ke6 1-0

153. * D85
Ponkratov, Pavel (2631) - Goganov, Aleksey (2565)
Chelyabinsk 146/153, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O 8.Qd2 c5 9.d5 Bxc3
10.bxc3 Qd6 11.f4 e6 12.Nf3 exd5 13.Bc4 Nd7
13...Be6 - 144/146
14.Bxd5

816
14...Qa6N
14...Qe7 - 146/(153) 15.O-O Nb6 16.c4 (16.Rae1!?) 16...Be6 17.Qc3 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qe4 19.Nd2

19...Qf5?! (19...Qd4+ 20.Qxd4 cxd4 21.Rfb1 Rfe8 22.Rb4 Re2 23.Rd1 Rb8 24.a4²) 20.Rae1 Rae8
21.Re5 Rxe5 22.fxe5 Qg4 Koudounis,V (1930)-Heimann,A (2633) Paleochora 146/ (153) 2020
(22...Qg4 23.Re1 Qd4+ 24.Qxd4 cxd4 25.Re4 Re8 26.Kf2±)
15.c4 Nb6

817
16.O-O!
16.Qc3 Re8 17.O-O Nxd5 18.exd5 Bf5∞
16...Nxc4
16...Be6? 17.f5 Bxd5 18.Qh6+-
17.Qd3 Be6™ 18.Bxe6 Qxe6
18...fxe6 19.Ng5 (19.Rac1 Nb6 (19...b5 20.Ng5 h6 21.e5±) 20.Qxa6 bxa6 21.Ng5 e5 22.f5²) 19...h6
(19...Rfd8?! 20.Qh3±) 20.e5! Nxe5 21.Qxa6 bxa6 22.Nxe6 Rf6 23.Nxc5²
19.Ng5 Qa6 20.Qh3
20.e5! h6 (20...Rad8? 21.Qh3 h5 22.e6±) 21.Ne4 Rad8 (21...Rfd8 22.Qc3 Nb6 23.f5±; 21...Qe6
22.Rae1 (22.Nxc5 Qc6 23.Qxc4 Rac8 24.Rac1 b6 25.Qe2 (25.Qb3 bxc5∞) 25...bxc5 26.Rc4 Qe6
27.h3²) 22...b5 23.Nf6+ Kg7 24.Qc3 b4 25.Qc1ƒ) 22.Qc3 b5 23.f5ƒ
20...h5 21.e5 Qa3 22.Rf3 Qb2 23.Rd1 Qe2 24.Rfd3 Rae8
24...Qxa2? 25.e6 f6 26.e7+-
25.Rd7 Re7 26.Qd3 Qxd3 27.R1xd3 Rxd7 28.Rxd7 f6?
28...Nb6! 29.Rxb7

818
29...Rc8! 30.Nxf7 c4 31.Nd6 (31.Nh6+ Kh8 32.Nf7+=) 31...Rc6 32.e6 Nd5 33.e7 Nxe7 34.Rxe7
(34.Nxc4 Rxc4 35.Rxe7 Ra4=) 34...c3 35.Re8+ Kg7 36.Re6 Kg8 37.Re8+=
29.Nh7+- Rf7 30.Nxf6+ Kf8 31.Rd8+! Kg7 32.Rg8+ Kh6 33.h3 h4 34.Kf2 b5 35.Kf3 a5 36.Ke4
1-0

154. * D85
Lysyj, Igor (2593) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2716)
Russia 146/154, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be3 Nc6
7...O-O - 135/155
8.Bb5 O-O 9.Nge2 Na5 10.b3 e5

819
10...a6 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.Bc2 f5

13.d5N (13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bxf5 Rxf5 15.O-O Nd5= (15...Qd7)) 13...Nb4 14.a3 f4 15.Bxb6 (15.Bd4
Nxc2+ 16.Qxc2 e5 17.Bc5 Rf6 18.f3 c6∞) 15...Nxc2+ 16.Qxc2 cxb6 17.f3 Qd6 18.O-O Bd7³
Saric,S (2408) -Milosevic,M (2274) Srbija 146/(154) 2020
11.dxe5N
11.d5
11...a6
11...Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 a6 (12...Bxe5? 13.Bc5+-) 13.Bd3 Bxe5 14.f4 Bg7 15.h3 Nc6 16.O-O²

820
12.Bd3 Bxe5 13.O-O Nc6 14.Rc1
14.f4!? Bg7 (14...Bxc3 15.Nxc3 Bg4 16.Qb1 Nb4 17.h3! Qxd3 18.Qxd3 Nxd3 19.hxg4 Rfd8
20.Rad1 Nb4 21.Kf2±) 15.Bc5 Re8 16.e5²
14...Be6
14...Re8 15.f4 Bg7 (15...Bd6 16.e5 Ba3 17.Rc2 Be6 18.Be4²) 16.e5 f6 17.Ng3 fxe5 18.f5ƒ
15.Bb1
15.f4 Bg7 16.f5 Bd7 17.Bb1 Ne5 18.h3 Bc6 19.Qe1²
15...Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Rad8 17.f4

17...Bd6! 18.Kf2
18.f5 Bc8 19.Bf4 Bxf4 20.Nxf4 Ne5 21.Ncd5 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 (22.Nxd5 c6 23.Nb6 Kg7=) 22...Rxd5
23.exd5 c6 24.dxc6 Nxc6=
18...f6 19.Rxd6!?
19.h3 Ba3 20.Rxd8 Rxd8=
19...Rxd6 20.Bc5 Rdd8 21.Bxf8 Kxf8= 22.Ke3 Ke7 23.h3 Bf7 24.Nd1 a5 25.Nb2 Rc8 26.Nc3
Nb8
26...Nb4 27.Nba4 Nxa4 28.Nxa4 c6 29.Nb6 Rd8 30.a3 Na6 31.Bd3 Nc7 32.b4²
27.Bd3 N8d7 28.Be2 c6 29.h4 Nc5
29...f5 30.e5 Nc5 31.Rd1 Nd5+ 32.Nxd5+ Bxd5 33.g4²

821
30.Nd3 Nxd3 31.Bxd3 Ra8 32.Rb1 Nd7 33.Rc1 Nb6 34.Rb1 Nd7 35.Rc1 Nb6 1/2-1/2

155. D85
Goganov, Aleksey (2573) - Ponkratov, Pavel (2628)
Russia 146/155, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 O-O
10.Rc1 Rd8 11.d5 e6 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 Nc6 14.h4 Ne7
14...exd5 - 140/170
15.c4
15.d6! Qa4 (15...Nc6 16.h5 g5 17.e5+-) 16.h5 (16.Rd1!?) 16...b6 (16...gxh5 17.e5 Nf5 (17...fxe5
18.Bg5+-) 18.Bd3±) 17.Rh4±
15...Qxd2+

16.Kxd2N
16.Nxd2
16...b6 17.h5 g5
17...exd5!? 18.exd5 (18.cxd5 f5³) 18...g5 19.h6 Bf8∞
18.h6 Bf8 19.Bd3
19.Kc2 Ng6 20.g3 Bd7 21.Nd2 Bd6∞
19...b5
19...exd5 20.cxd5 (20.exd5 b5∞) 20...Ng6 21.Kc2 Bd6 22.g3 Bd7 23.Nd2 Ne5 24.Be2 g4∞;

822
19...Ng6 20.e5 g4 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.h7+ Kh8 23.Nh4 Kxh7 24.Nf5+ Kg8 25.Nh6+ Kg7 26.Nxg4
exd5 27.exf6+ Kg8 28.Ne5 dxc4+ 29.Kc3 Be6∞
20.Bxc5
20.d6!? bxc4 21.Bxc4 (21.Bxc5 Nf5! 22.Rxc4 Nxd6 23.Bxd6 Rxd6∞; 21.Rxc4 Rxd6 22.e5 fxe5
23.Bxc5 Rd5 24.Bxe7 Bxe7∞) 21...Ng6 22.Bxc5 Bxd6 23.Bxd6 Rxd6+ 24.Ke3 Kf7 25.e5 (25.Rhd1
Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Nf8 27.Rd8 Ke7 28.Rd2 Bd7 29.e5 Bc6∞) 25...Rd8 (25...Nxe5 26.Nxe5+ fxe5
27.Bd3±) 26.exf6 Kxf6 27.Rh5 Ne7 28.Nxg5 Nf5+ 29.Ke2 Kg6 30.g4 Rd4! 31.Nxh7 Kxh7 32.gxf5
Rxc4 33.Rxc4 Ba6 34.Rh4 Rc8 35.Kd3 exf5 36.Kc3 Bxc4 37.Rxc4 Re8 38.Rc5 Re2 39.Rxf5 Rxa2=
20...bxc4 21.Bxc4

21...Nxd5! 22.Bxd5
22.Bxf8 Nf4+ 23.Kc3 Kxf8 24.g3 Ng6 25.Rhd1 Bd7∞
22...exd5 23.e5 g4 24.Nd4 fxe5 25.Nc6 Re8?!
25...Bxc5! 26.Rxc5 (26.Nxd8 Be7 27.Nc6 Bg5+ 28.Kc3 d4+ 29.Kb4 Bd2+ 30.Ka3 Bxc1+ 31.Rxc1
Kf7 32.Nxe5+ Kf6 33.f4 gxf3 34.Nxf3 Bb7=) 26...Rf8 27.f3 (27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Rxc8 Raxc8
29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.Rh5 Rc6 (30...Re8 31.Rf5=) 31.Rxe5 Rxh6 32.Rxd5 Ra6 33.Rd4 Rxa2+ 34.Ke3=)
27...gxf3 28.gxf3 e4! 29.f4 (29.fxe4 dxe4 30.Ne7+ Kh8 31.Nxc8 Raxc8 32.Rxc8 Rxc8 33.Ke3 Rc2
34.Rf1 Kg8 35.Rg1+ Kf8 36.Rg7 Rxa2 37.Rxh7 Kg8 38.Rc7=) 29...Bd7 30.Ne5 (30.Ne7+ Kh8
31.Nxd5 Rf5 32.Ke3 Be6 33.Kxe4 Raf8 34.Rf1 Rh5=) 30...Be6 31.Rc6 Rae8 32.Ke3 Kh8∞
26.Rh5± a5 27.Bxf8
27.Rg5+ Kf7 (27...Kh8? 28.Nxe5!+-) 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.Nxe5+ Kf6 30.f4! gxf3 31.Nxf3±
27...Rxf8 28.Rxe5

823
28.Nxe5 Rxf2+ 29.Ke3 Rf8 30.Rg5+ Kh8 31.Rc6²
28...Kh8

28...Ba6 29.Ke3 Kh8 30.Re7²

29.Ke3
29.Re7! Bf5 (29...Rxf2+ 30.Ke3 Rf8 31.Ne5 Bf5 32.Rcc7±; 29...Ba6 30.Ne5 Rxf2+ 31.Ke3 Re2+
32.Kf4+-) 30.Ne5 Rfe8 31.Rcc7 Rxe7 32.Rxe7±
29...Bf5
29...Ba6 30.a4 Rac8 31.Re7±
30.Nd4 Be4 31.f3 gxf3 32.gxf3 Bg6 33.f4 a4
33...Bf7 34.f5 Bg8 35.Kf4±
34.f5 Bf7 35.a3 Bg8 36.Kf4 Rab8 37.Rce1 Rbc8 38.Kg5 Bf7 39.Re7 Bg8 40.R1e3
40.Ne6! Bxe6 (40...Rfe8 41.f6 d4 42.Kf5 d3 43.Ng5+-) 41.fxe6 Rg8+ (41...Rf3 42.Rg7+-) 42.Kf6
Rg6+ 43.Kf7 Rxh6 44.Re8+ Rxe8 45.Kxe8+-
40...Rb8 41.Ra7
41.R3e5 Rb2 (41...Rfc8 42.f6+-) 42.Re8 Rg2+ 43.Kf4+-
41...Rb1 42.Rxa4 Rg1+ 43.Kf4 Rh1 44.Ra6 Rh4+ 45.Ke5 Re8+ 46.Ne6 Rxh6 47.Kxd5
47.a4! Rh2 48.Kxd5 Rh5 49.Ke4+-
47...Rh1

824
47...Rh5 48.Ke4 Rh4+ 49.Ke5 Rh5 50.Kf6 Rh6+ 51.Kg5 Rh2 52.Ra4±
48.Ke5
48.a4 h5 49.Ke5+-
48...Rb8
48...Rh5± - 47...Rh5
49.Ra7?
49.a4 Rh5 50.Kf6+-
49...Rb5+ 50.Kf4
50.Kf4 Rf1+ 51.Rf3 Rxf3+ 52.Kxf3 Rxf5+ 53.Nf4 h5=
1/2-1/2

156. D85
So, Wesley (2770) - Swiercz, Dariusz (2649)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/156, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Rc1 O-O 9.Nf3 Qa5
10.Qd2 Bg4 11.d5 b5

12.Bd3N
12.Be2 - 145/150
12...Nd7

825
12...c4!? 13.Bb1 (13.Be2 Nd7 14.O-O Rac8„) 13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nd7 15.f4 Rad8 16.O-O Nb6∞
13.c4 b4 14.O-O Qc7

14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nb6 16.f4 Bc3 17.Qe2²

15.Ne1! Nb6?!
15...f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 (16...gxf5 17.Bh6± (17.Bf4 Qb6 18.Nc2 Bc3 19.Qe3±)) 17.Bxf5 Rxf5 18.Nd3
Raf8 19.h3²
16.f4 Bd7 17.f5!± Na4 18.Nf3 Nc3 19.Bh6 a5 20.e5! Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qxe5 22.Rce1 Qd4+ 23.Be3
Qg7 24.Bh6 Qd4+ 25.Be3 Qg7 26.Bxc5+- Rfc8
26...Rfe8 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.f6+-
27.Bxe7
27.fxg6 hxg6 (27...Rxc5 28.gxf7+ Kh8 (28...Kf8 29.Qe3+-) 29.Rxe7+-) 28.Bxe7 Re8 29.Bf6+-
27...Qd4+ 28.Kh1 Bxf5 29.Rxf5! gxf5 30.Qg5+ Qg7 31.Qxf5 Re8 32.d6 Rad8 33.c5
33.d7+-
33...a4 34.Re3 Ne2 35.Bxe2 1-0

157. D85
Korobov, Anton (2688) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2686)
Espana 146/157, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Be3 Bg4 9.Rc1 O-O
10.d5 Qa5 11.Qd2 b5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.O-O Bxf3 14.Bxf3 c4 15.Bg4 Nf6 16.Bf3 Nd7 17.Be2 Qa3

826
17...Rfd8 - 141/150
18.f4

18...Rad8N
18...Nc5
19.Rfd1
19.e5 f6 20.d6 (20.e6?! Nb6 21.Bf3 f5³; 20.exf6 Rxf6 (20...Nxf6 21.Bf3 Rd7∞) 21.Bf3 Nc5 22.Bd4
Rf5 23.Bxg7 Kxg7∞) 20...fxe5 (20...e6!?) 21.Qd5+ Kh8 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Rxf8+ (23.Qxb5 Qxd6
24.Qxc4 Bxh2+ 25.Kh1 Bg3∞) 23...Rxf8 24.Bg4 Bf4! 25.Bxf4 (25.Bd4+? e5µ) 25...Rxf4 26.Rf1
Rxf1+ (26...Rxg4 27.Qe6 Qxd6 28.Qxg4 Nf6 29.Qe2²) 27.Kxf1 Nf6 (27...Qc1+ 28.Kf2 Qf4+
29.Qf3 Qd2+ 30.Kf1 Qc1+ 31.Kf2 Qd2+=) 28.d7! Nxd5 29.d8=Q+ Kg7 30.Qxd5 Qxc3 31.Qxb5
Qc1+ 32.Ke2 Qc2+=
19...Nc5 20.e5
20.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21.Kh1 e5! 22.f5 gxf5 23.exf5 Rd6³
20...Nd3! 21.Bxd3 Rxd5 22.Qc2 cxd3 23.Rxd3
23.Qb3 Qxb3 24.axb3 f6 25.c4 bxc4 26.bxc4 Rdd8³
23...Rxd3 24.Qxd3 a6³ 25.Qd5
25.Rc2 Rc8 26.h3 e6³
25...Rc8 26.e6

827
26.Qd2 e6 27.h3 Bf8 28.Kh2 Rc4³
26...Qd6! 27.exf7+ Kf8 28.Qxd6 exd6 29.Bd2 Kxf7 30.Kf2 Rc4 31.Ke2 h5 32.Kd3 Ra4 33.Rc2
Ke6 34.g3 d5 35.Be3 Kf5 36.Bc1
36.h3 b4 37.g4+! (37.cxb4 Ra3+ 38.Kd2 Ke4 39.Bf2 Rd3+ 40.Ke2 Bc3 41.a3 h4µ) 37...hxg4
38.hxg4+ Kxg4 39.cxb4 Kf5³
36...Rc4 37.h3
37.Be3 Kg4 (37...h4!?) 38.Ba7 Bf6µ
37...d4 38.g4+
38.cxd4 Rxc2 39.Kxc2 Bxd4 40.Kd3 Bf2 41.g4+ hxg4 42.hxg4+ Kxg4 43.Ke4 b4-+
38...hxg4 39.hxg4+ Kxg4 40.Rg2+ Kf5 41.Rg5+ Kf6 42.Bd2
42.Bb2 Bh6 43.Rd5 dxc3 (43...Bxf4 44.cxd4 g5-+) 44.Bxc3+ Ke6 45.Re5+ Kd6-+
42...Kf7-+ 43.cxd4 Rxd4+ 44.Kc2 Bh6 45.Rg4 g5 46.fxg5 Rxg4 47.gxh6 Rh4 48.Kb3 Ke6 49.Bg5
Rh5 50.Bc1 a5 51.Bd2 Rh3+ 52.Kc2 b4 53.h7 Kd5 0-1

158. D85
Fressinet, Laurent (2635) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764)
Deutschland 146/158, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 O-O
10.Rc1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 Bd7!?

828
12...Bg4 - 144/150
13.Bc4N
13.Bd3 e6 14.Rc7 Bc6 15.Ke2 a5 16.Bf4 Na6 17.Bxa6 Rxa6∞; 13.Rc7 Rc8 14.Rxc8+ (14.Rxb7? Bc6
15.Rxe7 Bf6µ) 14...Bxc8 15.Bc4 Nc6 (15...Bd7!?) 16.d5 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.f4 Bd6∞
13...Nc6 14.d5 Nd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Ke2 Rfc8
16...Rac8 17.Bd3 f5 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Rb1 b6=
17.Bd3 e6 18.Be3
18.Kf3 f6 19.Bc4 Kf7=
18...Bxe3 19.Kxe3 exd5 20.exd5 Kf8= 21.Rhd1

829
21...Ba4! 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Rb1 b6 24.Rb4 Bd7
24...Bc2 25.Bxc2 Rxc2 26.Re4 Rxa2 27.d6 Ra3+ 28.Ke2 (28.Kd2? Ra5µ) 28...Ra2+ 29.Ke3 Ra3+=
25.Rc4 Ke7 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Kd4 Kd6 28.h4 Bd7³ 29.a3 h6 30.Be2 b5 31.Bd3 a6 32.Bc2 Be8
33.f4 Bd7 34.g3 Bg4 35.Be4 Bd1 36.Bg2 f5 37.Bh1 h5
37...Be2 38.Bg2 a5 39.Ke3 Bd1 40.Kd4 b4 41.axb4 axb4 42.h5! Bxh5 (42...gxh5 43.Bf1 b3 (43...Bf3
44.Bd3=) 44.Bc4 b2 45.Bd3=) 43.Kc4 b3 44.Kxb3 Kc5 45.Kc3=
38.Bg2 Bc2

39.Bf1?!

830
39.Bf3 Be4 (39...Bb3 40.Bh1 (40.Be2? Bxd5 41.Bd1 a5 42.a4 b4-+) 40...Bd1 41.Bg2³) 40.Bd1
(40.Bxe4 fxe4 41.Kxe4 a5-+) 40...Bxd5 41.a4! bxa4 (41...b4 42.a5 b3 43.Kc3 Kc5 44.Be2 b2
45.Kxb2 Bc4 46.Bf3³) 42.Bxa4 Bf7³
39...Be4-+ 40.a4
40.Be2 Bxd5 41.Bd3 Kc6 42.Be2 a5-+
40...bxa4 41.Kc3 a3 42.Bxa6 Bxd5 0-1

159. *** D87

Del Rio de Angelis, Salvador Gabriel (2508) - Salgado Lopez, Ivan (2595)
Espana 146/159, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O
10.O-O Bg4 11.f3 Bd7 12.Rb1
12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Qd2 Qa5 14.d5 (14.dxc5 Rfd8

15.Qc2N

831
(15.Bd5) 15...e6 - 146/(159) (15...Ne5N 16.Bb3 Bb5 17.c4 Be8 18.Rfd1 Nd7 (18...e6©) 19.Rd5
(19.c6 Rxc6 20.Qd2 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Ra8 22.c5 Rc7∞) 19...e6 20.Qd2 Qc7 21.Rd6 Nxc5³ Khanin,S
(2482)-Belous,V (2524) USA (Int.-rapid) 146/(159) 2020) 16.Rb1 Ne5 17.Bb3 b6 18.cxb6 axb6
19.Bd4 Bb5© Pultinevicius,P (2512) -Federzoni,E (2233) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/ (159) 2020)
14...Ne5 15.Bb3 Qa6 (15...c4 - 47/(568)) 16.Rfd1N (16.f4) 16...Bb5 17.Nf4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4
19.Rc2 (19.Nd3 b6 20.Nb2 Rfd8 (20...Qxa2 21.Ra1 Qb3 22.Rdc1 f5 23.Nd1©) 21.Nxc4 Qxc4∞)
19...Rfd8 20.h4 e6 21.Qf2 Qa4 22.Rdd2 exd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.exd5 Qc4³
Timofeev,A (2580)-Artemiev,V (2716) Chelyabinsk (rapid) 146/(159) 2020
12...Qc7 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.d5 Na5 15.Bd3 e5 16.Be3 c4
16...f5 - 47/567
17.Bc2 b6 18.f4 exf4

832
18...f6 19.f5 Nb7 20.Ng3 Nd6 21.h4ƒ
19.Bd4! Nb7N
19...Bxd4+ 20.Nxd4 Qc7 21.Qd2 (21.Qe1 f6∞) 21...Rae8 22.Rxf4 f6 23.Rbf1 Qd6 24.h4 Nb7 25.h5²
20.Rxf4
20.Nxf4! f6 (20...Bxd4+?! 21.cxd4±) 21.Qe1 Nd6 22.h4 Bg4 23.Qg3±
20...Qc7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd2 f6 23.Nd4 Rae8 24.Rbf1 Nd6?!
24...Qd6 25.Rh4 (25.Qe2 b5 26.a4 bxa4 27.Qxc4 Rc8 28.Qb4 Nc5∞) 25...Kg8 26.Qh6 Re7∞
25.Qf2
25.h4!? Re5 (25...Qd8 26.h5 g5 27.h6+±) 26.Qf2 Ne8 27.a4²
25...Qd8 26.h4 Re5?!
26...Qe7 27.h5 Qe5 28.a4 Rf7∞ 29.h6+!? Kxh6 30.Rxf6 Rxf6 31.Qxf6 Qxf6 32.Rxf6 Nxe4 33.Bxe4
Rxe4 34.Rf7 Be8 35.Rxa7 Re5 36.d6 (36.Ra8 Bd7 37.a5 bxa5 38.Rxa5 Bf5=) 36...Rd5 37.Ra6 Kg5=
27.Nf3 Ree8 28.Nd4?!
28.e5! fxe5

833
29.Nxe5! Rxf4 (29...Bf5 30.Nc6 Qd7 31.g4+-) 30.Qxf4 Bf5 (30...Qe7 31.Nxd7 Qxd7 32.Qf6+ Kg8
33.Bxg6! hxg6 34.Qxg6+ Kh8 35.Rf6+-) 31.Nc6 Qd7 32.Nd4! Kh8 33.Bxf5 Nxf5 (33...gxf5
34.Ne6+-) 34.Nxf5 gxf5 35.Qxc4+-
28...Re5 29.Nf3 Ree8 30.Nd4 1/2-1/2

160. * D90
Egresi, Mate (2362) - Antal, Gergely (2571)
Magyarorszag (ch-rapid) 146/160, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 c6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Bf4 O-O 8.e3 Nc6 9.Ne5 Nxe5
9...Nh5N 10.Bh2 e6 11.g4 Nf6 12.h5 Ne4 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Nxe4 dxe4

834
16.Bg3? (16.Qc2 Qa5+ (16...c5 17.Qxc5 Qh4 18.O-O-O Qxf2 19.Bc4 Bd7 (19...Qxe3+ 20.Kb1±)
20.Kb1²) 17.Qc3 Qxc3+ 18.bxc3²) 16...c5µ Egresi,M (2362)-Horvath,J (2438) Magyarorszag (ch-
rapid) 146/(160) 2020
9...Qb6 - 140/171
10.Bxe5 Ne4 11.Bxg7 Kxg7
11...Nxc3 - 127/166
12.Nxe4 dxe4

13.h5N

835
13.Bc4 e5 (13...Qd6 14.O-O Bd7 15.Rc1 a6∞) 14.dxe5 Qa5+ 15.Qd2 Qxe5 16.h5 Bg4∞
13...Be6 14.Be2 Rc8 15.Qa4
15.O-O Qd5 16.b3 Qg5ƒ
15...Qb6 16.h6+ Kg8
16...Kf6 17.Rb1 Rfd8³
17.Qa3?
17.O-O Qxb2 18.Rfe1 f6 19.Qxa7 Kf7∞
17...Rc2 18.Rb1

18.Rh4 Bd5 19.Rb1 Rfc8 (19...Qf6 20.Rf4 Qg5µ) 20.Bd1 R2c7µ

18...Bxa2! 19.Qxa2 Qb4+ 20.Kf1 Qd2 21.Kg1
21.Re1 Rc1!-+
21...Qxe2 22.Rf1 Rfc8!
22...Rxb2 23.Qd5µ Qb5 24.Qxe4 Rc8 25.Kh2 (25.Qxe7? Qxf1+! 26.Kxf1 Rc1#) 25...Qg5µ
23.Kh2 Qh5+
23...Rxb2?! 24.Qxa7 Kf8 25.Qa1 f6µ
24.Kg1 Qb5 25.Kh2 a5
25...Rc1! 26.Rxc1 Qh5+ 27.Kg3 Qg5+ 28.Kh3 (28.Kh2 Qh4+ 29.Kg1 Rxc1#) 28...Rxc1 29.Rxc1

836
Qxh6+ 30.Kg3 (30.Kg4 Qh2 31.Qd5 h5+ 32.Kg5 Kg7-+) 30...g5!-+
26.Qa3 Qg5 27.Kg1 Rc1 28.Qa4
28.b3 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Rc2 30.Qa4 Rc1+ 31.Ke2 Rc6-+
28...Rxf1+
28...Qf5-+
29.Kxf1 Qg4 30.Ke1 Qxg2 31.Rf1 Qh3-+ 32.d5
32.Qxa5 Qxh6-+
32...Qxh6 33.Qxe4 Rc1+ 34.Ke2 Qh5+ 35.f3 Qh2+ 36.Rf2 Qg1 37.Qa4 Qe1+ 38.Kd3 Qxf2
39.Qe8+ Kg7 40.Qxe7 Qxf3 41.d6 Rd1+ 42.Kc2 Qe2+ 43.Kb3 Qb5+ 0-1

161. *** !N D97

Checa, Nicolas D (2527) - Sevian, Samuel (2660)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/161, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O
6...Be6 7.Qb5+ (7.Qa4+ Bd7 8.Qb3 c5 9.d5 b5 10.Nxb5 (10.e4 - 135/161) 10...Na6 11.Nc3 Rb8!
12.Qd1 Qa5 13.Nd2

13...Nxd5!N (13...Ng4) 14.Nxd5 Ba4 15.b3 Bc6 0-1 (15) Drenchev,P (2434)-Ivic,V (2548) Srbija
146/(161) 2020) 7...Bd7 8.Qxb7 Nc6 9.Qb3 Rb8 10.Qd1 Bf5 11.a3 O-O 12.e3 e5 13.d5 Ne7

837
(13...Na5 - 138/180) 14.Nh4N (14.Bc4) 14...Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.g3 Vranic,L (2137)-Tisma,I (2088)
Senta 146/(161) 2020 (16.g3 c6 17.d6 (17.dxc6 Nxc6 18.Bc4 Qb6µ) 17...Ned5 18.e4 Nxc3 19.bxc3
Ne8 20.Be2 Be6ƒ)
7.e4 Na6 8.Be2
8.e5 Nd7 9.e6 fxe6 10.Be3 Nb6 11.Qb3 Qd6

12.Bxa6N (12.Rc1 - 51/(486)) 12...bxa6 13.Ng5 a5 14.O-O Rf5 15.Rfe1 Nd5 16.Nge4 Qb6 17.Qc2
Rb8 18.Na4 Qb5 19.Rad1 Bb7∞ Yilmaz,M (2607)-Abdumalik,Z (2471) Gibraltar 146/(161) 2020
8...c5 9.d5 e6 10.O-O exd5 11.exd5 Re8 12.Rd1 Bf5 13.d6 h6 14.Be3 Ng4 15.Bf4

838
15...Bxc3! 16.bxc3 Re4 17.Qb5 Rxf4 18.Qxb7 Ra4

19.Bxa6?!N
19.d7 Nc7 (19...Be4 - 123/166) 20.h3 Nxf2! (20...Nf6) 21.Kxf2 Bxd7 22.Bb5 Nxb5 23.Rxd7 Qb8!
24.Qd5 Qf8 25.Qb3 Ra5 26.Ne5 c4! 27.Nxc4 (27.Qb4 Qxb4 28.cxb4 Ra6 29.Kg1 Nd6∞) 27...Qc5+
28.Kg3 Ra6∞
19...Rb8 20.Qxa7 Ra8 21.Qxc5 R4xa6
21...R8xa6! 22.h3 Nf6 23.Ne5 (23.Qe5 Be6-+) 23...Qe8-+
22.h3

839
22.Qd4 Nf6 (22...Rxa2 23.Rxa2 Rxa2 24.c4 Nxf2 25.Re1 Ne4 26.c5 Qa5µ) 23.Ne5 Nd7µ
22...Nf6 23.Ne5 Ne4 24.Qd5 Nxd6 25.Nc6 Qe8
25...Qb6! 26.Nb4 Ne4 27.Nxa6 Qxf2+ 28.Kh2 Qg3+ 29.Kg1 Rxa6-+; 25...Qf6! 26.Nb4 Be6
27.Qd3 Rb6-+
26.Nb4 Be6 27.Qd2 Nc4
27...Rb6 28.Qxh6 Nf5 29.Qg5 Qe7µ
28.Qxh6 Rd6 29.Rxd6 Nxd6 30.Rd1 Nb5 31.Qe3 Bc4 32.Qg3 Qe2 33.Rd7 Qe1+ 34.Kh2 Nxc3
35.Nc6?
35.Rd6 Qe7 36.Nc6 Qf8µ
35...Qe6?
35...Be6 36.Ne7+ Kg7 37.Rb7-+
36.Ne7+= Kf8

37.Rc7?
37.Nxg6+! fxg6 (37...Qxg6 38.Qxc3 Be6 39.Rd3 Qf5 40.Qb4+ Ke8 41.Qd6 Rc8=) 38.Qf4+ Qf5
39.Qd4 Ke8 40.Rb7 Nd5 41.Qg7 Qf4+ 42.Kh1 Qc1+=
37...Ne2
37...Ne4! 38.Nxg6+ fxg6 39.Qf4+ Kg8 40.Rb7 Bxa2-+
38.Nxg6+ Kg7

840
38...Qxg6 39.Qxg6 fxg6 40.Rxc4 Rxa2³
39.Qg5 Qxg6 40.Qxg6+ Kxg6 41.Rxc4 Rxa2 42.h4 Kf5 43.g3 Ke5 44.Kg2 Nd4 45.Rc3 Nc2
46.Rc7 f6?

46...Kf6³
47.h5
47.Re7+! Kf5 (47...Kd4 48.h5 Ra8 49.h6 Kd5 50.h7=) 48.Re2!=
47...Ne1+ 48.Kg1 Kf5 49.h6 Kg6 50.h7 Ra8 51.Kf1 Nf3 52.Kg2 Ng5 53.Rc2?
53.g4 Nxh7 54.f4 Ra6µ
53...Nxh7 54.Rb2 Ng5 55.Re2 Nf7 56.Rb2 Ne5 57.Rc2 Nd3 58.Rd2 Ne1+ 59.Kf1 Nf3 60.Rb2
Ra1+ 61.Ke2 Ng1+-+ 62.Ke3 Ra3+ 63.Ke4
63.Kf4 Ra4+ 64.Ke3 Kf5 65.Rb5+ Kg4
63...Nf3 64.Kf4 Ng5
64...Nh2! 65.Rc2 Rf3+ 66.Ke4 f5+ 67.Kd4 Ng4
65.Rc2?!
65.Kg4 Ra4+ 66.f4 Ne4 67.Rb3 Ra8 68.Rb4 f5+ 69.Kh3 Nf2+ 70.Kg2 Ra2
65...Kh5 66.g4+ Kg6 0-1

841
E00-E24

162. E01
Sakaev, Konstantin (2596) - Predke, Alexandr (2676)
Russia 146/162, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6 6.Nc3 Nc6
6...c6 - 139/ 173
7.Bg5 dxc4 8.e4 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.O-O-O+ Ke8 13.Bxc4

13...h6N
13...Be6
14.Bf4!
14.Bxf6 gxf6 (14...Bxf6 15.e5 Bd8 16.Rhe1²) 15.Nd5 c6 16.Ne3 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Ng4 Ke7
19.Nxe5 fxe5 20.Rd2 Rad8 21.Rhd1 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 c5=
14...Bxf4+
14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Bg4 16.Rd2²
15.gxf4 Be6 16.Bd3² Bg4 17.Rd2 Nh5?!
17...g6 18.Rg1²
18.Rg1 Bd7

842
18...Bf3 19.Nb5 Rd8 20.Bc4! Nxf4 21.Rxg7±
19.f5± Bc6 20.Be2
20.e5 Ke7 21.Rg4±
20...Nf6 21.e5
21.Rxg7?! Kf8 22.Rg1 Bxe4! 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Rd7 Rc8 25.Bh5 Rh7 26.Bf3 Nf6 27.Rd3 c6∞
21...Nd7
21...Ne4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.f6 gxf6 24.exf6 Bf5 25.Bc4 Rd8 26.Re2+ Be6 (26...Kf8 27.Re7+-)
27.Rg7+-
22.e6
22.Bb5 Ke7 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.f4+-
22...fxe6 23.fxe6 Nf6 24.Rxg7 Rh7 25.Rxh7
25.Rg3 Ke7 26.Bd3 Rhh8 27.Rg7+ Kxe6 28.Bc4+ Kf5 29.Ne2! Ne4 30.Nd4+ Kf6 31.Rf7+ Kg6
32.Nxc6 bxc6 33.Rd4 Rhe8 34.Rf3+-
25...Nxh7 26.f4 Ke7 27.f5 Nf6 28.Bb5
28.Rd3 Rg8 29.Rg3±; 28.Nd1! Rg8 29.Ne3 Be4 30.Rd1±
28...Bf3
28...Bxb5 29.Nxb5 c6 30.Nd6 Rb8 31.Nf7±
29.Rf2 Bg4 30.Bd3 Rd8 31.Kd2 b5 32.Rf4 a6 33.b4 Bh3 34.a3 Rg8

843
35.Be4?!
35.Rh4 Bg2 36.Rxh6 Bc6 37.Ne2+-
35...Kd6
35...Bg2 36.Rh4 Bxe4 37.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 38.Rxe4 Kf6 39.Rf4 Rg2+ 40.Kd3 Rxh2 41.Re4+-
36.Rh4 Bg2 37.Bd3
37.Bxg2 Rxg2+ 38.Kd3 Ke5 39.e7+-
37...h5 38.Rf4
38.Ne2! Bd5 39.Nf4 Rg5 40.Ke3+-
38...Bc6 39.Rf2 Rg4 40.Ne2 Ke5 41.h3?!
41.Ng3 h4 42.Re2+ Kd6 43.Nf1 Rd4 44.Kc2±
41...Rh4
41...Rg2 42.Ke1 Rxf2 43.Kxf2 h4 44.Ke3²
42.Ng1 Kd6 43.Re2 Rf4 44.Re3 Rf2+ 45.Ne2
45.Ke1! Rg2 46.Ne2 Nd5 47.Rg3±
45...h4?
45...Nd5 46.Rg3 Rh2 47.Ke1 h4 48.Rg6 Rxh3 49.f6 Nxf6 50.Rxf6 Rxd3 51.e7+ Kxe7 52.Rxc6 Rxa3
53.Rh6 a5=
46.Ke1! Rg2 47.Nf4 Ra2

844
48.Be2!+- Ra1+ 49.Kd2 Be4 50.Nh5! Ra2+ 51.Ke1 Bxf5 52.Nxf6 Bxe6 53.Ne4+ Kc6 54.Nc5
Bc8 55.Bf3+ Kd6 56.Bg4
56.Nb7+ Bxb7 57.Rd3+ Ke5 58.Bxb7
56...Bxg4 57.hxg4 Rg2 58.g5 Kd5 59.Ne6 Kd6 60.Kf1 Rg4 61.Nc5 Kd5 62.Nxa6 c6 63.Rc3 Kd4
64.Rh3 Ke5 65.Nb8 Kd6 66.Kf2 Rc4
66...Rxg5 67.Rxh4 c5 68.Na6 c4 69.Nc5
67.Rd3+ Ke6 68.g6 c5 69.g7 Kf7 70.Rd7+ Kg8 71.Na6 cxb4 72.Nxb4 Rf4+ 73.Kg2 h3+ 74.Kxh3
Rf3+ 75.Kg4 Rxa3 76.Nd5 Ra6 77.Kg5 1-0

163. *** !N E01

Andersen, Mads (2585) - Bluebaum, Matthias (2660)
Deutschland 146/163, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Qc2 c5 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qb6
10.e3 exd5
10...e5 - 79/(470)
11.O-O - 146/163
11.a3N Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Nc6 13.N2f3 Bg4 14.O-O Rac8 15.Qd3 Ne4 16.Rab1 Bh5 17.Bh3 Nxd4
(17...Rcd8=) 18.Nxd4 Rc5 19.b4 Rc3 20.Qb5 Qxb5 21.Nxb5 Rc4 22.Rb2 axb4 23.axb4 Ra8 24.Rfb1
Kf8= 25.Bf1 Rcc8 26.Bh3 Rc4 27.Bf1 Rcc8 28.Bh3 1/2 (28) Wojtaszek,R (2717)-Huschenbeth,N
(2605) Polska 146/(163) 2020; 11.Nc3
11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rc1 Rb8 14.Nc3 - 146/163

845
14.Bxb4N Qxb4 15.b3 h5

16.Nc3 (16.Qxc6?! Bf5 17.Qa4 Rfc8³) 16...h4 17.Ne2 Bd7 18.Nf4 hxg3 19.hxg3 Rfc8 20.Bf3 a4
(20...Qd6!?) 21.bxa4 Ra8 22.Nd3 Qxa4 23.Qxa4 Rxa4 24.Nc5 Ra5 25.a4 Rca8 26.Bd1 Be8= Ding,L
(2805)-Giri,A (2763) Yekaterinburg (ct) 146/ (163) 2020
14...h5 15.a3 - 146/163
15.Na4N Qd8 16.Bxb4 Rxb4 17.b3 h4! 18.Qxc6 h3 19.Bh1 d4 20.Qc7 dxe3 21.fxe3

21...Qe8 (21...Qd3 22.Qc3 (22.Re1 Bg4 23.Qxa5 Qd2 24.Nb2 Be2 25.Nc4 Bxc4 26.Rad1 (26.bxc4?
Ng4-+) 26...Qc3 27.bxc4 Ng4 28.Qh5 Qxc4 29.Bd5 Qc2 30.Bxf7+ Rxf7 31.Rd8+ Rf8 32.Qd5+

846
Kh7 33.Rxf8 Rb1 34.Qg8+= Kh6 35.Qe6+ Kh7 36.Qg8+=) 22...Qg6 23.Nc5 Bf5©) 22.Re1 Re4!
23.Qxa5 Rxe3 24.Qd2 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qb5© Vidit,S (2726)-Giri,A (2764) chess24.com (Int.-m/1-
rapid) 146/(163) 2020
15...Be7 16.Na4

16...Qc7!N
16...Qd8 17.Qxc6 Bf5 18.Qc7 Qe8 19.Nb6±
17.Nc5
17.Qxc6 Qxc6 18.Rxc6 Bd7 19.Rc7 Bd8 20.Rxd7 Nxd7 21.Rd1 (21.Bxd5 Bf6 22.Rb1 Rfc8∞)
21...Nb6 22.Nxb6 Rxb6 23.Bxa5 Rxb2 24.Bb4 Re8 25.Bxd5 Be7 26.Bc6 (26.Bc3 Rc2 27.Rd3 Bxa3
28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Rxa3=) 26...Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Bxd8=
17...h4 18.e4
18.Qa4 hxg3 19.hxg3 Qe5 20.Qf4 Qh5 (20...Qxf4 21.gxf4 Rxb2 22.Bxa5 Bf5 (22...Ng4 23.Be1
Bf5∞) 23.Bc3 Rb5 24.Bb4 Ra8 25.Bf1 Rb6∞) 21.Qxb8 Ng4 22.Qb6 Qh2+ 23.Kf1 Bxc5 24.Qxc6
(24.Rxc5? Bf5 25.Qa6 Be4-+) 24...Ne5 25.Qb5 Bh3 26.Bxh3 Qxh3+ 27.Ke1 Qh1+ 28.Qf1 Qe4
29.Qh3 Nf3+ 30.Ke2 Nd4+ 31.Kf1 Qd3+ 32.Kg2 Qe4+=
18...Rb5 19.Be3 Ng4 20.Bf4
20.Bd4?! hxg3 21.hxg3 Qd6 (∆ Qh6) 22.Qd2 Qg6ƒ
20...Bd6 21.Nd3 Bxf4 22.Nxf4 Qb6
22...dxe4!? 23.Bxe4 Qe5 24.Rab1 g5 25.Re1 Qh8 26.Nd3 hxg3 27.fxg3 Qd4+ 28.Nf2∞
23.Rab1

847
23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 hxg3 25.hxg3 dxe4 26.Bxe4 Rxb4 27.Bxc6 Rb2 (27...Rc4 28.Nd5 Qc5 (28...Rxc2
- 27.. .Rb2) 29.Qd2=) 28.Nd5! Rxc2 29.Nxb6 Rxf2 30.Ra4 Rf6 31.Nd5 Rd6 32.Ne7+ Kh8 33.Ra8
Rdd8 34.Bd5 Be6 35.Bxe6 Rxa8 36.Bxg4 Ra2=
23...dxe4 24.Bxe4 Re5 25.Re1

25...Rxe4! 26.Rxe4 Bf5 27.Nh3?!

27.Rf1 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Qxb2 29.Ng6! fxg6 30.Qxg4 Qxa3 31.Qc4+ Rf7 32.Re1 Qf8 33.Qxc6 Qb4
34.Re8+ Kh7 35.Qc8 Qb1+ 36.Kg2 Qb7+ 37.Qxb7 Rxb7 38.Ra8 hxg3 39.hxg3 Rb5 40.Kf3=
27...hxg3?!
27...c5! 28.Qe2 Nf6 29.Ng5 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 h3µ
28.hxg3 c5 29.Qe2 Nf6 30.Ng5 Nxe4 31.Nxe4 c4 32.Qxc4 Rd8
32...Re8! 33.Re1 Rxe4 34.Rxe4 Bxe4 35.Qxe4 Qxb2 36.Qa8+ Kh7 37.Qxa5 Qc1+ 38.Kg2 (38.Kh2
Qh6+=) 38...Qc6+ 39.f3 Qc2+ 40.Kh3 Qd3 41.Kh4 g6 42.f4 Qf3=
33.Re1 Qxb2 34.Qc7 Ra8 35.Nd6
35.Ng5 Qf6 (35...Qb3? 36.Qxa5+-) 36.Qxa5! Rc8 37.Qd2²
35...Be6 36.Rxe6 Qb1+
36...fxe6 37.Qf7+ Kh8 38.Qh5+=
37.Kg2 fxe6 38.Qf7+ Kh7 39.Qh5+ Kg8 40.Qf7+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

164. !N E01
Lysyj, Igor (2593) - Esipenko, Andrey (2682)
Russia 146/164, 2020

848
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Qc2 c5 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qb6
10.Nf3 exd5 11.O-O Nc6 12.Nc3 d4 13.Na4 Qb5

14.Qd3!N
14.Bxb4 - 91/438
14...Qxd3
14...Qxa4? 15.b3 Ne5 (15...Qa3 16.Bc1+-) 16.Nxe5 Qe8 17.Bxb4 axb4 18.Qxd4±; 14...Qh5 15.Bg5
Be7 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Nxc8 Rbxc8 18.Qb3 Rc7 19.Rac1 Rd7 20.h3 h6 21.Bf4 Nd5 22.Bd2²
15.exd3 Bf5
15...Ra7 16.Rfc1 Bg4 17.Bxb4 axb4 18.Nc5²
16.Bxb4 Nxb4
16...axb4 17.Nc5 b6 (17...Bc8 18.Nd2 Nd7 19.Rfc1²) 18.Nb3 (18.Nh4!? Bh3 19.Bxh3 bxc5 20.Bg2
Ra6 21.Rfc1 Nd7 22.Nf5²) 18...Bxd3 19.Rfc1 Be4 20.Nbxd4²
17.Rfd1
17.Nxd4 Bxd3 18.Rfd1 Rad8 19.Nb3 Be4 (19...Bc2 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Bxb7 g6 22.Nac5²) 20.Nbc5
Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bc2 22.Rd6 Nxa2 23.Nb6 Re8 24.Bxb7²
17...Bxd3 18.a3
18.Nxd4² - 17.Nd4
18...Nc2 19.Rac1 Be2 20.Rd2

849
20...Bb5
20...d3! 21.Rxe2 (21.Nc5 Rad8 22.Nxd3 Bxf3 (22...Bxd3?! 23.Rcd1±) 23.Bxf3 Nd4 24.Ne1 Nxf3+
25.Nxf3 g6=) 21...dxe2 22.Rxc2 Rfe8 23.Ne1 Rad8 24.f3 Nd5 25.Nc3 Ne3 26.Rxe2 Nc4∞
21.Nc5
21.Nb6 Ra6 22.Nd5! Nxd5 23.Rcxc2 d3 24.Rc5 Bc6 25.Ne5! Ne7 26.Rxd3±
21...d3 22.Nxd3 Rad8 23.Rdxc2 Bxd3 24.Rc5
24.Rc7 Be4 25.Ne5 Bd5 26.Bxd5 Rxd5 27.Nc4 Rb5 28.Re1²
24...b6 25.Rc6 Rb8 26.Ne5 Bb5 27.Rc7 Rbe8 28.f4 Rd8 29.Rb7 Rd6 30.Bf3 Ba6
30...Nd7 31.Nxd7 Bxd7 32.Rd1! Rxd1+ 33.Bxd1±
31.Ra7 Bb5 32.Rb7 Ba6 33.Ra7 Bb5 34.Rcc7 Rd2
34...Be8 35.Rab7±
35.g4?
35.Nxf7! Be2 (35...Rxb2 36.Ne5+-) 36.Ne5 Bxf3 (36...g6 37.Be4!+-) 37.Rxg7+ Kh8 38.Nxf3 Rxb2
39.Ne5 Rc8 40.Rxh7+ Nxh7 41.Ng6+ Kg8 42.Ne7++-
35...Be2 36.Bxe2
36.g5 Bxf3 37.Nxf3 Rd1+ 38.Kf2 Nh5=
36...Rxe2 37.Nxf7

850
37...Ne8! 38.Rcb7
38.Re7 Rxe7 39.Rxe7 Nf6 40.Ne5 Nd5 41.Re6 (41.Rd7 Nxf4 42.Nc4 Rc8 43.Nxb6 Rc2 44.b4 axb4
45.axb4 Rb2=) 41...Rxf4 42.Rd6 Ne3 43.h3 h5! 44.g5 (44.gxh5 Rf5=) 44...Rf1+ 45.Kh2 h4 46.Rxb6
Rf2+ 47.Kh1 Rf1+=
38...Re4= 39.Ne5 Rexf4
¹39...Rfxf4 40.Re7 Kf8 41.Rf7+ Rxf7 42.Rxf7+ Kg8 43.Re7 Nc7=
40.Kg2
40.Rxb6 Re4 41.Rxa5 Re1+ 42.Kg2 Re2+ 43.Kh3 Re3+ 44.Kh4 (44.Kg2 Re2+) 44...h6 45.g5 Rf4+
46.Ng4 (46.Kh5 Kh7 47.gxh6 (47.g6+? Kg8 48.h4 Ree4-+) 47...Rf5+ 48.Kg4 Rexe5 49.Rxe5 Rxe5
50.hxg7 Kxg7=) 46...h5! 47.Kxh5 Rh3+ 48.Kg6 Rxg4 49.Ra8 Rh6+ (49...Re3 50.h3 Rg2=) 50.Kf5
Rxb6 51.Kxg4 Kf7 52.b4 g6=
40...Re4 41.Re7 h6 42.h3 Re2+ 43.Kg3 Re3+ 44.Kg2 Re2+ 45.Kg3 1/2-1/2

165. E09
Delchev, Aleksander (2531) - Mincic, Srbislav (2165)
Pirot 146/165, 2020

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Nbd2 b6 9.e4 dxc4!
9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 Bb7 11.Rd1 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Qc7 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.c5!±; 9...Bb7 10.e5
Ne8 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Re1² - 85/418
10.Nxc4 Bb7 11.Ne3!
11.Rd1 c5 12.Nfe5 (12.e5 Nd5 13.Nd6 Bxd6 14.exd6 Rc8 15.dxc5 Rxc5 16.Qd3 Qa8 17.Bd2 Rd8

851
18.Rac1 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 h6; 12.Ng5 h6 13.e5 Bxg2 14.exf6 Nxf6 15.Kxg2 hxg5 16.dxc5 Qc7 17.cxb6
axb6 18.Qe2 Rfc8³) 12...cxd4 13.Rxd4 Qc7 14.Bf4 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Qc6!=; 11.Bg5 b5 12.Ne3 c5
13.d5 exd5 14.exd5 Re8 15.Rfd1 Bf8 16.a4 a6; 11.e5 Nd5 12.Qe4 b5 13.Ne3 c5 14.Qg4 Nb4
(14...N5b6) 15.Rd1 cxd4 16.Qxd4 Nb6 17.Qg4 Qc7
11...c5 12.d5 exd5 13.exd5

13...Re8?!N
13...Nxd5!? 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Rd1 Be6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Rxd8 Raxd8 18.Be4²
14.Rd1 Bf8 15.b3 b5 16.Bb2 Qc7?!

852
16...Qb6 17.a4 a6 18.Ng5 h6 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Nf6 21.Bg2 Rad8 22.a5 Qc7 23.Bxf6 gxf6
24.Rd4!±; 16...a6 17.Ng5 h6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Nf6 20.Bg2 Rb8 21.Nf5±
17.Nd4! [×c6] 17...Qb6 18.Nc6 Rac8 19.a4 a6 20.Nf5
20.Bc3! Ba8 21.Ba5 Qb7 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ne7+ Bxe7 24.d6 Qb8 25.Bc7 Rxc7 26.dxc7 Qxc7
27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Bxa8+-
20...Bxc6
20...Nxd5? 21.Bxd5 Bxc6 22.Nh6+ gxh6 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qxh7+ Ke6 25.Rd2!+-
21.dxc6 Ne5 22.Nd6 Bxd6 23.Rxd6 c4

24.Rad1+-
24.Qf5 Qc5 25.Bxe5 Qxe5 26.Qxe5 Rxe5 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.Rc1 Rc5 29.Rd4 c3 30.Rd3 c2 31.Rd2
Kf8 32.Rcxc2 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Ke7 34.Rb2 Kd6 35.Rb6 Nd5 36.Rxa6 Rxc6 37.Rxc6+ Kxc6 38.f4 Kc5
39.Bxd5 Kxd5 40.Kf2+-
24...Nd3
24...cxb3 25.Qxb3 Nc4 26.Rd7!
25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.bxc4 bxc4 27.Rxf6 Qd4 28.Rf4! Nxf4 29.Rxd4 Re1+
29...Ne2+ 30.Kf1 (30.Qxe2) 30...Nxd4 31.Qxc4
30.Bf1 1-0

166. ** E11
Makarian, Rudik (2441) - Yuffa, Daniil (2583)
Russia 146/166, 2020

853
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Nc6 7.b3
7.Nc3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg2 O-O 10.O-O b6 11.Rac1 Bb7

12.Qf4N (12.Rfd1) 12...Na5 13.Ne5 c5 14.e3 Rac8 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Ng4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.d5
Rcd8 19.b4! h5 20.d6 Qe6

21.bxa5 (21.Bh3! Bc6 (21...hxg4 22.Bxg4 Qe5 23.d7 Re7 24.bxa5±) 22.bxa5 Bd7 23.Nf6+ Qxf6
24.Qxf6 gxf6 25.Bxd7 Rxd7 26.axb6 axb6 27.Rb1 Rb8 28.Rd5±) 21...Qxg4 22.axb6 axb6 23.d7 Re7
24.Qc7 Rdxd7 1/2 (24) Salemgareev,T (2461) -Pogorelskikh,S (2255) Chelyabinsk 146/(166) 2020
(24...Rdxd7 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.Qxb6 c4=)7.e3 d5 8.Qc3 O-O 9.Nbd2

854
9...Rd8N (9...dxc4) 10.Bg2 dxc4 11.Nxc4 Nd5 12.Qa3 Qxa3 13.Nxa3 e5 (13...Bd7 14.O-O Be8
15.Rfc1²) 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nb4 16.O-O Be6 17.b3 Bd5 18.Nc4²

Faizrakhmanov,R (2451)-Radzhabov, R (2351) Chelyabinsk 146/ (166) 2020 (18.Rfd1±)

7...d5 8.Bg2 dxc4
8...Ne4 - 139/176
9.bxc4 O-O 10.O-O

855
10...Rb8N
10...e5
11.Qc3 b6 12.Nbd2 Ba6 13.Rab1
13.Ne1 Qd7 14.Nc2 Rfd8 15.Nb3²
13...Nd7 14.Bh3
14.d5 Na5 15.Nd4 Rbe8 16.Rfe1 Qf6 17.e4 e5 18.N4b3²
14...Na5 15.e4
15.Rfe1 Rbd8 16.c5 Rfe8 17.e3 Nb8 18.Rbc1²
15...Rbd8 16.Rfe1 e5 17.d5²
17.dxe5 Nc5 18.Bf1 Bb7 19.Nh4 Nc6 20.f4 Nd4ƒ
17...f6 18.Nh4
18.Be6+ Kh8 19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.c5 Qf7 21.Kg2 Nb7 22.Nb3²
18...Kh8 19.Nb3 Nb7
19...Nxc4?! 20.Bf1 b5 21.Na5±
20.Bf5 Ndc5 21.Qf3
21.Rbc1 Na4 22.Qf3 Qe8∞
21...g5

856
21...Bxc4?? 22.Ng6+ hxg6 23.Bxg6+-
22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.Ng2 Bxc4 24.h4
24.Rec1 Ba6 25.Qa3 Bd3 26.Rb3 Be2 27.Rb2 Bh5 28.Ne3©
24...Rg8 25.hxg5 Rxg5 26.Rbd1 Bxa2 27.Ne3 Bb3 28.Rb1 Rf8

28...Ba4 29.Kg2 h5 30.Rh1 Be8 31.Rh4©

29.Kg2! Rf7 30.Rh1 a5?!
30...Ba4 31.Ra1 a5 32.Be6! Be8 33.Nf5 Qf8 34.Bxf7 Bxf7 35.Rad1²
31.Rh6!+- a4
31...Ba4 32.Rbh1 Rgg7 33.Ng4 Bc2 34.R6h4 a4 35.Nh6 Rf8 36.Bxh7! Rxh7 37.Nf5+-
32.Rbh1 Rgg7 33.Bg6 Rxg6 34.Rxg6 Qf8 35.Rxh7+! Rxh7 36.Rxf6 Qe7 37.Rf8+ Kg7 38.Rc8 Qf7
39.Qg4+ Kf6 40.Qf5+ 1-0

167. * E11
Rapport, Richard (2760) - Koch, Thomas (2461)
Deutschland 146/167, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.a3

5.Nc3 - 144/168
5...Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 O-O 7.Nc3 d6 8.h3

857
8.e3 e5 9.Qc2 Bg4 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.O-O c6

13.Rfd1N (13.Rad1) 13...Rad8 14.Rd2 Nc5 15.Rad1 Rxd2 16.Nxd2 (16.Rxd2 a5 17.h3 Bh5=)
16...Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Rd8 18.b4 Nce4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.c5 a5 21.f3 Nf6= Velten,P (2483) -
Gharamian,T (2603) Cappelle-la-Grande (rapid) 146/(167) 2020
8...e5N
8...Nbd7; 8...b6
9.g4 c6

858
9...Nc6 10.Bg2 (10.d5?! Na5µ) 10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Be6 13.O-O²
10.O-O-O Re8 11.e3
11.dxe5!? dxe5 12.g5 Nh5 (12...Nfd7 13.Ne4 Na6 (13...Nc5 14.Qd6!±) 14.Qd6²) 13.Ne4 Nd7
14.Qc3 (14.Qd6²) 14...Nf4 15.e3 Ng6 16.Bd3²
11...e4 12.Ne1 h6 13.Be2 a6 14.Nc2 b5 15.Rdg1 bxc4 16.Bxc4 Be6
16...a5 17.g5 hxg5 18.Rxg5 d5 19.Be2 Nbd7 20.h4 Nf8 21.Rhg1 Ne6 22.R5g3²
17.Bxe6 Qxe6 18.g5 hxg5 19.Rxg5 d5 20.Rhg1 g6 21.h4
21.Ne2!? Nbd7 (21...Qxh3?! 22.Nf4 Qh8 23.Qb4 Ra7 24.Kb1 Nbd7 25.Qd6±) 22.Nf4 Qe7 23.Qe2
Ra7 24.h4²
21...Nh7
21...Qh3 22.Ne1! (22.h5 Nxh5 23.Qd1 Kf8 24.Rh1 Qf3 25.Qxf3 exf3 26.Ne1 Nd7 27.Nxf3 Ng7∞)
22...Qxh4 23.f4! Nh7 (23...exf3 24.Nxf3 Qh3 25.R5g3 Qh7 26.R3g2±) 24.R5g3 Nd7 25.f5 g5
26.Qg2 Qh6 27.Rh1 Qg7 28.Rh5ƒ
22.Re5 Qc8 23.h5 g5

24.f4! f6?!
24...exf3 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Ne1 Kh8 27.Nxf3 f6 28.Qe2! Nd7 (28...Qxh5? 29.Nxg5! Qg6
(29...Qxe2 30.Nf7#) 30.Nh3+-) 29.Nd2²
25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qh2 a5 27.fxg5 fxg5 28.Qd6
28.Na4 Nd7 (28...Ra7 29.Nc5 Nd7 30.Qd6 Ndf6 31.h6±) 29.Qd6 Ndf6 30.h6±

859
28...Na6
28...Ra7 29.Na1 Qf8 30.Qe6+ Qf7 31.Qc8+ Qf8 32.Qh3 Rf7 33.Kb1±
29.Na1!?
29.Rf1! Rd8 30.Qh6 Nc7 31.b4! axb4 32.Nxb4+-
29...Nb4 30.axb4
30.Kb1 Nd3 31.Nb3 Rb8 32.Ka2±
30...axb4 31.Nc2 bxc3 32.bxc3 Rd8
32...Kh8 33.h6 Rd8 34.Qc7 Qd7 35.Qe5+ Kg8 36.Nb4²
33.Qh6 Qf8 34.Qxc6

34...Qf2?!
34...Qd6 35.Nb4 Kg7 36.Rf1²
35.Qe6+ Kf8
35...Kg7 36.h6+ Kh8 37.Qe5+ Nf6 38.Kb2! Re8 39.Qc7 Rg8 40.Ra1+-
36.Qh6+ Ke8
36...Kg8 37.Rxg5+ Nxg5 38.Qxg5+ Kh7 39.Qxd8+-
37.Qe6+ Kf8 38.Qh6+ Ke8 39.Rd1 Rd7 40.Qe6+ Kd8 41.Qa6+- Qf6 42.Qa8+ Ke7 43.Nb4 Qd6
43...Kf7 44.Nxd5 Qf5 45.c4

860
44.Nc6+ Kf6 45.Ne5 Kg7
45...Rd8 46.Rf1+ Ke6 47.Qa7 Qe7 48.Qxe7+ Kxe7 49.Nc6+
46.Nxd7 Qxd7 47.Qa6 Nf6 48.h6+! Kg6 49.Rf1 Qe7 50.Kc2 g4 51.h7! 1-0

168. ** E11
Gledura, Benjamin (2620) - Quesada Perez, Yuniesky (2598)
Chesterfield 146/168, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 O-O 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2 Nfd7 8.b4
8.Nb1 - 135/(168)
8...e5 9.d5 a5 10.Bb2 c5
10...c6 11.O-O cxd5 (11...g6) 12.cxd5 Nb6 13.bxa5 Rxa5

14.Bc3N (14.a4) 14...Ra8 15.a4 Na6 16.a5 Nd7 17.Nc4 Ndc5 18.Nfd2 f5 19.Nb6 Rb8 Jacobson,B
(2487)-Oparin, G (2652) USA (Int.-rapid) 146/(168) 2020 (19...Rb8

861
20.f4! exf4 (20...fxe4 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Ndc4 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1±) 21.e5 dxe5 (21...Ne4 22.Nxe4 fxe4
23.e6±) 22.Bxe5 Bd6 23.Bxf4 Bxf4 24.Rxf4±)
11.b5 Nb6 12.Qc2

12.Bd3
12...f5N
12...g6 - 146/(168) 13.O-O-O N8d7 14.Ne1 Bg5 15.g3 Nf6 16.h4 Bh6 17.h5 g5 18.Kb1 Ng4
19.Bxg4 Bxg4 20.f3 Bd7 21.Nd3

862
21...Qe7 (21...f5?! 22.f4! fxe4 23.Nxe4 Bf5 24.Rde1±) 22.Bc1 (22.f4!?) 22...f5 23.exf5! Bxf5 24.g4
Bxd3 25.Qxd3 Rf7 26.Ne4± Keymer,V (2568)-Amin,B (2686) Deutschland 146/(168) 2020
13.O-O-O f4 14.g3² N8d7
14...fxg3 15.hxg3 Bg4 16.Rdf1 N8d7 17.Ng1! Bxe2 18.Nxe2 Nf6 19.f3²
15.Rdg1 Rf7 16.h4 fxg3 17.Rxg3 Nf8 18.h5 Bf6

19.Nf1! h6 20.Kb1 Nh7 21.Bc1 Kh8 22.Ne3± Bd7 23.Ng2! Ng5 24.Ngh4 Nxf3 25.Rxf3 Nc8
26.Ng6+ Kh7 27.Rg1 Ne7 28.Rfg3 Ng8 29.f4 Qc7
29...exf4? 30.e5+-

863
30.fxe5 dxe5 31.Bg4
31.Rf1 Qd6 32.Qd3 b6 33.Bb2+-
31...Bxg4 32.Rxg4 Re8 33.Qg2 Bd8
33...Ne7 34.Nxe7 Qxe7 35.Rf1 Ref8 36.Rf5 Kh8 37.Rg6+-
34.Rg3 Nf6 35.Qe2
35.Rf3! Nxh5 (35...Qd7 36.Bxh6! gxh6 37.Nxe5 Rxe5 38.Qg6+ Kh8 39.Rxf6+-) 36.Rh3 Nf6
37.Bxh6! gxh6 38.Ne7+-
35...Nd7 36.Kc2 Nb6 37.Kd3 Nc8 38.Qg4 Nd6

39.Bd2
39.Bxh6! gxh6 (39...Kxh6 40.Nf8+-) 40.b6! Qd7 (40...Qxb6 41.Nf8+ Rexf8 42.Qg6+ Kh8
43.Qxh6+ Rh7 44.Qxf8#) 41.Nf8+ Rexf8 42.Qg6+ Kh8 43.Qxh6+ Rh7 44.Qxf8#
39...b6 40.Bc3 Bg5?!
40...Bf6 41.a4±
41.Bxe5 Rxe5 42.Nxe5 Rf2 43.Nf3 Qe7 44.Qe6 Qf8 45.Nxg5+ hxg5 46.Qg6+ Kh8 47.Qxg5 Rf3+
48.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 49.Qe3 Qf6 50.e5 Qf5+ 51.Kc3 Ne4+ 52.Kb3 1-0

169. * E12
Moradiabadi, Elshan (2555) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/169, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.e3 Bb4+ 6.Nfd2 O-O 7.a3 Be7 8.Nc3 c5 9.d5 d6 10.e4

864
exd5 11.cxd5 Ba6

11...Nbd7 12.Bd3 (12.Be2 - 61/537) 12...Ne8 13.Nc4

13...Ba6N (13...a6) 14.Qe2 Bxc4 15.Bxc4 Bf6 16.O-O Qe7 17.a4 Ne5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.f4 Bd4+
20.Kh1 Nf6 21.Rae1² Bartel,M (2638)-Hevia Alejano,C (2467) USA (Int.-rapid) 146/(169) 2020
12.Bc4N
12.Be2
12...Ne8 13.O-O Bf6 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Nf3 Nd7 16.Bb5 a6

865
17.Bxd7
17.Bc6 Rb8 18.a4!? Ne5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 (19...dxe5 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Qe2±) 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe8!
Qxe8 22.Qd3 Qd8 23.Qc4 Qd6 24.f3±
17...Qxd7 18.e5?
18.h3 b5 19.Qd2± ×Ne8
18...dxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Nd6 21.Qh5 Rae8 22.Bxg7= Kxg7 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qf6+ Kg8
25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

170. E15
Predke, Alexandr (2684) - Shaposhnikov, Evgeny (2547)
Chelyabinsk 146/170, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Ba6 7.b3 O-O 8.Nc3 d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5
9...exd5 - 99/364
10.Rc1 Nd7 11.Bg2

866
11...c5N
11...N7f6
12.O-O
12.Nxd5 exd5 13.dxc5 Re8 14.O-O Rxe2 15.Qxd5 Nxc5 16.Nd4 Re8 17.Qxa8 Qxa8 18.Bxa8 Bxf1
19.Kxf1 Rxa8 20.Nc6 Kf8=
12...Nxc3 13.Rxc3 Rc8 14.Rfc1 Qf6
14...Nf6 15.R3c2 (15.dxc5 Ne4 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.R3c2 Rxc5 18.Rxc5 Nxc5=) 15...cxd4 16.Nxd4
Qd6 17.Nc6 Qxd2 18.Rxd2 Rc7 19.Rdc2²
15.R3c2
15.dxc5 Nxc5 (15...Rxc5 16.Rxc5 Nxc5 17.b4 Ne4 18.Qd4²) 16.Qe3 Nd7 17.h3 Rfd8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8
19.Rxc8+ Bxc8 20.Nd4²; 15.b4!? cxd4 (15...c4 16.Qb2 (16.a4 b5 17.Ra3ƒ) 16...b5 17.Ra3 Bb7
18.Rxa7 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 c3 20.Rxc3 Qxd4 21.Raa3 Nb6 22.Qc1±; 15...cxb4 16.Rxc8 Bxc8 17.Qxb4
Ba6 (17...Qd8 18.Qd6±) 18.e3±) 16.Nxd4 Rxc3 17.Rxc3 Nb8²
15...Rfd8 16.Qf4!?
16.dxc5 Rxc5 17.Qe3 Rxc2 18.Rxc2 Qa1+ 19.Bf1 Nf8=
16...Qxf4 17.gxf4 Kf8
17...cxd4 18.Nxd4 Rxc2 19.Rxc2 Nb8 20.e3 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Bxc8 22.Nb5 a5=
18.e3 Nf6?!
18...cxd4 19.Nxd4 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ (21.Nc6 Bb5=) 21...Bxc8=

867
19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Rxc5 bxc5 21.h3 Nd7 22.Ng5 Ke7
22...h6 23.Ne4 Rc8 24.Bf1²
23.Bc6! Nb8 24.Ba4
24.Rxc5? Rc8-+
24...Bb7 25.Rxc5 Na6 26.Rb5 Rd1+
26...Rd7 27.f3 Rc7 28.Ne4 (28.Ra5 Rc5 29.Rxc5 Nxc5 30.Bb5 a5 31.Nxh7 Bxf3 32.Ng5 Bd5 33.Be2
f6 34.Nf3 Ne4 35.Nd4 Nc3=) 28...f5 29.Nd2 Nc5 30.Kf2 Nd3+ 31.Kg3²
27.Kh2 Rh1+?
27...Rd7 28.Kg3 Rc7 29.Nf3 Nc5 30.Nd2 a6 31.Rb4 Nd3 32.Rc4²
28.Kg3 Rg1+ 29.Kh4! Bc8

30.Ra5!+- h6
30...f6 31.Nf3 Rg2 32.Bb5+-
31.Nf3 Rg2 32.Bb5 Nc7 33.Rxa7 Kd6 34.Ba4 f6?!
34...Rxf2 35.Ne5 Nd5 36.Bd7+-
35.Nd2! Na6 36.Bb5 Nb8 37.Nc4+ Kc5 38.a4 Kb4 39.Nd6 Ba6 40.Bxa6 Nc6 41.Rc7 Na5 42.Bc4
Nxc4 43.Rb7+ 1-0

171. E16
Bacrot, Etienne (2673) - Vazquez Igarza, Renier (2551)
Espana 146/171, 2020

868
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.O-O O-O 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Nc3 Ne4
10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qc8

11...Ra7 - 57/(516)
12.d5N
12.e4
12...Na6 13.e4 Nc5 14.Rfe1 Ba6 15.Nd2 Rb8
¹15...d6!? 16.e5 (16.Be3 e5∞; 16.dxe6 Nxe6 17.Be3 Rb8 18.f4 Bf6„) 16...dxe5 17.Bxe5 f6 18.Bd4
e5 19.f4 exd4 20.Rxe7 (20.cxd4 Qd7 21.dxc5 Bxc5+ 22.Kh1 Rae8∞) 20...d3 21.Qd1 Re8∞
16.e5 exd5 17.cxd5 Bd3 18.Qd1 d6

869
18...Re8 19.Nb3 Bc4 20.Re3 Bf8 21.Nd2 Bd3 22.h4²
19.Nf3
19.Nb3! Nxb3 (19...Bc4 20.Nd4±) 20.axb3 Bf5 (20...Ba6 21.e6± (21.h4 dxe5 22.Bxe5±)) 21.e6!
fxe6 22.dxe6 Kh8 23.Bc6±
19...Re8 20.Nd4 dxe5 21.Bxe5² Bf8 22.Re3 Bg6 23.Nc6 Ra8 24.Bf3
24.Bf4 Rxe3 25.Bxe3 Ne4 26.Bf4!? Nd6 (26...Nxc3 27.Qe1 Nb5 28.Rc1 Qe8 (28...h6 29.a4 Nd6
30.Ne7+ Bxe7 31.Qxe7±) 29.d6 Qxe1+ 30.Rxe1 Nxd6 31.Ne7+ Bxe7 32.Bxa8 Kf8 33.Bc6²)
27.h4²
24...Qd7 25.Bg4 Bf5 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 27.Qd4

870
27.c4 Qd7 28.Nd4 Nb7 (28...f6 29.Bf4 Rxe3 30.Bxe3 Re8∞) 29.Qd3 Bc5∞
27...Nd7?!
27...f6! 28.Bxc7 (28.Bf4 Rxe3 29.Bxe3 Re8∞) 28...Ne4 29.Rf1 (29.Bxb6? Qxf2+ 30.Kh1 Ra6!-+)
29...Bc5 30.Qd3 Rac8 31.d6 Nxd6 32.Bxd6 Qxd3 33.Rxd3 Rxc6 34.Bxc5 Rxc5 35.Rd7 Rxc3
36.Rb7=
28.Bxc7 Bc5
28...Rxe3 29.fxe3 Re8 30.Rf1 Qc2 31.Qg4 Bc5 32.Nd4 Qxc3 33.Qxd7 Qxe3+ 34.Kh1 Qe4+ 35.Nf3
Re7 36.Qd8+ Re8 37.Qg5 Qd3 38.Qc1 Qxd5 39.Qd2²
29.Qd3 Qxd3 30.Rxd3 Re4 31.d6
31.Kf1 Rae8 32.Rad1±
31...f6 32.Kf1 Ra4
32...Rae8 33.Rad1 Kf7 34.Nd8+ Kf8 35.Nb7±
33.Rd2 Re8 34.Ne7+
34.Re1 Rxe1+ 35.Kxe1 Re4+ 36.Re2 Rxe2+ 37.Kxe2 Kf8 38.f3+-
34...Kf7 35.Re1
35.Nd5 Re5 36.Rad1±
35...Rc4 36.Rde2
36.Rd3±

871
36...Rxc3 37.Nd5 Rxe2 38.Rxe2 Rc1+ 39.Kg2 Ne5?

39...Rd1! 40.Re7+ Kg8 41.Nc3 Rd3 42.Ne4²

40.Rxe5!+- Bxd6
40...fxe5 41.d7 Be7 42.Nxe7+-
41.Re2 Rxc7 42.Nxc7 Bxc7 43.Rb2 Ke6 44.Kf3 Kd5 45.a4 g6?
45...f5 46.Rb5+ Ke6 47.Ke3
46.h4 f5 47.Ke2 Ke4
47...Kc6 48.Rc2+ Kd7 49.Kd3 Be5 50.Kc4 Kc6 51.Re2
48.Rd2 1-0

172. E16
Pechac, Jergus (2512) - Shengelia, David (2544)
Bojnice 146/172, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.O-O O-O 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Qc2 Na6
9...Be4 - 133/168
10.Nc3 d5 11.Ne5

872
11...c6N
11...Qc8; 11...c5
12.Rac1 Nh5 13.Be3 f6?!
13...Nb4 14.Qd2 dxc4 15.Nxc4 Nd5 16.Rfd1²
14.cxd5
14.Nxc6! Bxc6 15.cxd5 Nb4 (15...Bb7 16.d6! Bxg2 17.dxe7 Qxe7 18.Kxg2+-; 15...exd5 16.Qf5 g6
17.Qe6++-; 15...Bxd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qxd5+ Kh8 19.Qxa8 Qxa8 20.Bxa8 Rxa8
21.Rc6+-) 16.Qe4! exd5 17.Qf3 g6 18.a3 Na6 19.Nxd5 Ba4 (19...Bd7 20.Bh6 Ng7 21.Qb3 Be6
22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Qxb6+-) 20.Bh6 Re8 21.Qc3+-
14...cxd5

873
14...exd5? 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 - 14.Nc6
14...fxe5? 15.dxc6 Bc8 16.dxe5 Rb8 17.Nb5+-
15.Ng6!?
15.Nf3 g6 16.Bh6 Ng7 17.Bh3 Qd6 18.Qb3 Rfc8 19.a3²
15...hxg6 16.Qxg6 Qe8
16...Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qe8 18.Qd3 Rc8 (18...Nb4 19.Qd1 Bc6) 19.Bf3 Nb4 20.Qb1 f5 21.Kg2²
17.Qxe8 Raxe8 18.g4 g5
18...Kf7 19.gxh5 Rh8 20.Bf3 Bd6 21.Na4 b5 22.Nc5 Bxc5 23.dxc5 Rc8 24.a3²
19.gxh5 f5 20.f4 g4 21.h3!± gxh3
21...Kg7 22.hxg4 fxg4 23.Kh2 Rh8 24.Kg3 Rxh5 25.Rh1±
22.Bf3 Kh7 23.Kh2 Rc8 24.Kxh3 Bc6 25.Bf2 Be8 26.Bh4 Bxh4 27.Kxh4 Rf7 28.e3 Rfc7 29.Rc2
29.a3 b5 30.Na2! Rc2 31.Nc3 Rxb2?! (31...Rxc1 32.Rxc1 b4 33.Ne2+-) 32.Nxd5! Rxc1 33.Nf6+
Kh6 34.Rxc1+-
29...b5 30.Rg2 b4

874
31.Ne2
31.Nd1! a4 32.Nf2 Rg7 (32...Rc2 33.Rfg1 Rxb2 34.Rg7+ Kh6 35.Rg8 Bd7 36.R1g6+ Kh7 37.R8g7+
Kh8 38.Nh3+-) 33.Rxg7+ Kxg7 34.Rg1+ Kh8 35.Nd3+-
31...Rc2 32.Rfg1 R8c7 33.h6 Rxb2 34.Rg8?!
34.Rg7+ Rxg7 (34...Kxh6?! 35.Rg8 Bc6 36.R8g5 Be8 37.Kg3 Bg6 38.Kf2+-) 35.Rxg7+ Kxh6
36.Re7 Bb5 37.Rxe6+ Kh7 38.Kg5 Bxe2 39.Bxd5 Bb5 40.Re7+ Kh8 41.Rb7±; 34.Bh5! Bb5
(34...Bxh5 35.Kxh5 Rbc2 36.Rg7+ Rxg7 37.Rxg7+ Kh8 38.Ng1! Rh2+ 39.Kg6 Rg2+ 40.Kf7+-)
35.Kg5! Nb8 36.Kf6 Nd7+ 37.Kxe6 Nf8+ 38.Kxf5 Rbc2 39.Rg7+ Kxh6 40.Rxc7 Rxc7 41.Ng3
Bd3+ 42.Kf6 Kh7 43.Be8+-
34...Re7
34...Bb5! 35.R1g2 (35.R8g7+ Kh8 36.Rg8+ Kh7=) 35...Bxe2 36.Ra8 Bxf3 37.Rxb2 Rc6 38.Kg5 Be4
39.Ra7+ Nc7 40.Rxa5 e5 41.Ra7 Rg6+ 42.Kh4 Rxh6+ 43.Kg5 Rg6+=
35.Rf8 Nc7 36.Kg5 Rf7
36...Bg6 37.Nc1 Re8 38.Rxe8 Nxe8 39.Nd3 Rh2 40.Ne5 Rxh6 41.Rc1 Rh3 42.Rc6±
37.Rxf7+ Bxf7 38.Kf6+- Rxa2 39.Kxf7 Nb5 40.Rg7+ Kxh6 41.Kg8 Nd6 42.Rh7+
42.Re7 Ne4 43.Rxe6+ Nf6+ 44.Rxf6#
42...Kg6 43.Bh5+ Kf6 44.Kf8 1-0

173. E18
Malakhov, Vladimir (2669) - Meshkovs, Nikita (2585)
Srbija 146/173, 2020

875
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.d4 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Rc1 c5 10.d5
exd5 11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Re8 13.Nd2 d6

14.f4N
14.Ne4 - 68/468
14...Nd7 15.Ne4 Bxc3
15...Be7 16.g4 b5 (16...Nf6 17.Nf2²) 17.b3 a5 18.g5 Bf8 19.Ng3²
16.bxc3 Qe7
16...Nf6 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.e4²
17.g4 c4
17...b5 18.Rf2 Nb6 19.Ng3 Bc8 20.h3 Bd7 21.e4 f6∞
18.g5 Nc5 19.Ng3 Qe3+ 20.Kh1 Bc8 21.Rf3 Qe7 22.h3 Ne4
22...f6! 23.gxf6 Qxf6 24.Kh2 (24.Qd4 Qxd4 25.cxd4 Ne4 26.Nxe4 (26.Rxc4 Nd2 27.Rc7 Nxf3
28.Bxf3 Bxh3 29.Kh2 Bc8 30.Nh5 Kf8 31.Rxg7 Re7 32.Rg5 Ba6 33.e4∞) 26...Rxe4 27.e3 b5 28.Rg3
Re7 29.e4∞) 24...b5∞
23.e3 f5 24.gxf6
24.Nxe4 fxe4 25.Rf2 Bf5 26.Rd2 Rac8 27.Kh2 Rc5∞
24...Qxf6
¹24...Nxf6 25.Qd4 h5! 26.e4 Nxe4 (26...h4!? 27.e5™ hxg3 28.exf6 Qxf6 29.Qxf6 gxf6 30.Rxg3+
Kh7 31.f5 Rg8 32.Rxg8 Kxg8 33.Be4 Bd7=) 27.Nxh5 Qf7 28.Ng3 Nf6 29.Qxc4 Bb7 30.Rd3 Rac8

876
31.Qb3 Rc5 32.c4 b5∞
25.Nxe4 Rxe4 26.Rg3 Re7 27.Qa4 Bf5 28.Qxc4 Rae8
28...Rc8!? 29.Qb4 (29.Qd4?! Qxd4 30.exd4 Re2 31.a4 Ra2µ) 29...Bd3 (29...Bg6 30.c4 Rc5©) 30.c4
Rec7 31.Qd2 Rxc4 32.Rxc4 Bxc4∞
29.Qe2

29.Re1 Rc8 30.Qd4 Qxd4 31.cxd4 Rc3 32.Kh2 Rc2©

29...Be4
29...h5! 30.Qxh5 Rxe3 31.Rxe3 Rxe3 32.Kg1 Bd3 (32...g6 33.Qg5 Qxg5 34.fxg5 Re2©) 33.Qg5 Kf7
34.h4 b5©
30.Qd2 Bxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Re4
¹31...Rc7 32.Qd3 (32.Kf3 Rc4 33.Qd3 b5©) 32...Rec8 33.c4 b5 34.c5 Rxc5 35.Rxc5 Rxc5∞
32.c4² Qe7 33.Rc3 Qd7 34.Qd3 Qf7 35.a4 Qd7 36.a5! bxa5?!
36...h5 37.axb6 axb6 38.Qd2 Qc7 39.Qc1 Qc5 40.Qb2 R8e7 41.Qb5²
37.c5± dxc5 38.Rxc5 a4?
38...Rb4 39.Qc3 g6 (39...Rb1 40.e4!±) 40.Rf3 Rb7 41.Rxa5±
39.d6+- g6 40.Rc7 Qd8 41.Qc3 1-0

174. E20
Halkias, Stelios (2563) - Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2591)
chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/174, 2020

877
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.a3
7.O-O Nc6 8.a3 (8.Qa4 - 139/(180)) 8...Be7 9.e4 a6 10.Bf4 b5 11.Qc2 Bb7 12.Rad1 Na5 13.Rfe1© -
123/176
7...Bxc3+
7...Bd6 8.Nd2²; 7...Be7 [%emt 0:00:17] - A
8.bxc3 c5 9.O-O Qa5!?
9...Nc6 10.a4 (10.dxc5 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Ne4 12.Bf4 Nxc3 13.Rd2 Ne4 14.Rc2 Nxc5 15.Rxc4 Nd7 ∆
Nb6=) 10...Nd5 11.Qc2 Qa5 12.Bb2 cxd4 13.cxd4 c3 14.Ba3 Rd8 15.Rfb1 Bd7!? (15...Qc7 16.e4
Nf6 17.e5 Nd5 18.Ng5 f5 19.Bd6!²) 16.Rxb7 Rab8 17.Ng5 g6 18.Rxb8 Rxb8 19.Bc5 Rb5!?
(19...Rb2 20.Qc1 Nf6! 21.Qf4 Qd8 22.Rc1 c2 23.Bf1 Be8! 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Nb4 26.Bxb4
Rxb4=) 20.Ne4 Rxc5 21.dxc5 f5„ 22.Ng5 Nd4 23.Qd3 Qxc5 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 25.Nf3

25...Nb3! 26.Ra2 Qxd3 27.exd3 e5! 28.Kf1 (28.Nxe5 Be6 ∆ Nd4=) 28...e4! 29.dxe4 (29.Ne1 Nd4
30.f3 e3 31.Nc2 Be6 32.Nxd4 Bxa2 33.Ke2 c2 34.Nxc2 Bb3=) 29...fxe4 30.Ng1 Nd4 31.Ne2 Be6
32.Nxc3 Bxa2 33.Nxa2 Kf7 34.Nc3 Ke6 35.Nxe4 a5 36.Ng5+ Kf5 37.Nxh7 Ne6 38.h4 Nc5=;
9...Bd7!? 10.Ne5 (10.a4 Bc6 11.dxc5 Bd5 12.Ba3 Qc7 13.c6 Rd8=; 10.dxc5 Bc6 11.Qd4 (11.Bf4
Qxd1 12.Rfxd1 Na6 13.Bd6 Rfc8 14.Rd4 Nd7 15.Rxc4 Naxc5 16.Bxc5 Bd5=) 11...Nbd7 12.Bf4
Qa5 (12...Qc8 13.Qxc4 Bd5 14.Qb4 Qxc5 15.Bd6 Qxb4 16.cxb4²) 13.Bd6 Rfc8 14.Qxc4 Nxc5
15.Qb4 Qxb4 16.cxb4 Nb3 17.Rab1 Ba4=) 10...Bc6 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.dxc5 Qa5 13.Be3 (13.Rb1
Rad8 14.Qc2 Rd7 15.a4 Qxc5 16.Rb5 Qe7 17.Bg5 Rfd8 18.Qb1 h6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Rxb7 Na5
21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Qb5 Qd8„) 13...Rfd8 14.Qb1 Rd7 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Bd4 Rad8 17.Qb4 Qa6
18.Rab1 (18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rab1 Rd2) 18...Nd5 19.Qb2 f6„ 20.f4 Qa4 21.e4 Nc7 22.Qe2 Nb5 23.e5
(23.Rb4? Qxa3 24.Qxc4 Nxd4 25.cxd4 Qe3+ 26.Rf2 Qe1+! 27.Rf1 Qxe4-+) 23...f5 24.Rb4 Qxa3

878
25.Qxc4 Nxd4 26.cxd4 Qe3+ 27.Kg2 Qe4+ 28.Kh3 Kf7 29.Rf2 h6 30.Ra4 g5 31.Qe2=
10.Bg5

10.Be3 Nd5 11.Bd2 Nc6 12.Qc2 cxd4 13.cxd4 c3 14.Bc1 Bd7 15.Rb1 Nce7!? 16.Rxb7 Bc6 17.Ng5
Ng6 18.Rb1 Rab8³; 10.Rb1 Nc6 11.Qc2 h6 (11...cxd4 12.cxd4 Qf5 13.Qa2! Rd8 14.Bb2 Qc2 15.e3
Na5 16.Rfc1 Qe2 17.Re1 Qc2 18.Rbc1 Qa4 19.Ne5 Nd5 20.Be4 Bd7 21.Qb1©) 12.a4 (12.e4 b6
13.Rd1 Bb7 14.a4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 16.Qxc4 Qxa4 17.Bd2 a5³) 12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nd5 14.Ba3
Nxd4 15.cxd4 Rd8 16.Qxc4 b6 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.axb5 a6=; 10.Qc2

10...Bd7!? (10...Nc6 11.a4 Rd8 12.Ba3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxc4 Qc3! 15.Qa2 Qc2=) 11.Ne5

879
Bc6 12.Nxc6 (12.e4 Ba4 13.Qb2 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qa6 ∆ Nc6∞; 12.Nxc4 Qa6 13.Ne5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2
Rc8„) 12...Nxc6 13.dxc5 Rad8 14.Rb1 Rd7 15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Qxd1 Rd8 17.Qc2 Qxc5 18.Be3
(18.Rxb7?! Ng4 19.e3 Na5 ∆ Nb3µ) 18...Qd6 19.Rxb7 Qd1+ 20.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 21.Bf1 Nd5 22.Bc5
h5 23.Kg2 Nxc3 24.Rc7 Ne5 25.Bxa7 Kh7 26.a4 (26.f4? Nd5-+) 26...Nxa4 27.f4 Rd7 28.Rxd7
Nxd7 29.e3 Nab6=
10...Ne4!?N
10...Nd5 11.dxc5 h6 12.Bd2 Qxc5 13.e4 Ne7 (13...Nb6 14.Bf4 Qa5 15.a4 Nc6 16.Bc7© e5 17.Qd2
Be6 18.Rfb1 Rad8!? 19.Bxd8 Rxd8 20.Qc2 Rd3 21.Rb5 Qxc3 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.a5 Nd7 24.Rxb7
Nc5 25.Rc7 Nb3 26.Rb1 Nbxa5„) 14.Be3 Qa5 15.Nd2 Qc7 16.f4 (16.Qa4 b6 17.Rfd1 Ba6∞)
16...Rd8 17.a4 e5 18.Qe2 b6 19.Rfd1 Nd7 20.Qxc4 Nc5„
11.Qc2
11.Be3!? Nxc3 (11...Nc6 12.dxc5 Rd8 13.Qc2 Nxc5 14.Ng5©) 12.Qc2 h6! (12...Nc6 13.Ng5 Nxe2+
14.Kh1! f5 15.dxc5ƒ) 13.dxc5 Nc6 14.Bd2 (14.Bf4 e5 15.Bxe5 Na4 16.Qxc4 Be6 17.Qf4 Nxe5
18.Qxe5 Nxc5 19.Nd4 Rae8=) 14...Nxe2+ 15.Kh1 Ned4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxc4 Qxd2 18.Rad1
Qa5 (18...Nb3!? 19.Rxd2 Nxd2 20.Qd3 Nxf1 21.Qxf1 e5 22.Qb5 e4 23.h4 f5∞) 19.Qxd4 Qxa3
20.Ra1 e5! 21.Qxe5 Qb4 22.Rab1 Qd2 23.Kg1 a5 24.Bxb7 Bxb7 25.Rxb7 a4 26.c6 a3 27.c7 Rfc8
28.Rb8 Qd7 29.Rxa8 Rxa8 30.Rb1 Rc8 31.Rb8 a2=
11...f5!
11...Nxg5 12.Nxg5 g6 13.Qe4²
12.Be7 Re8 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Qxc5
14...Nd7 15.c6 bxc6 16.Nd4²
15.Nd4
15.e4 f4!? (15...Nd7 16.exf5 exf5 17.Rfe1ƒ; 15...Bd7 16.exf5 Qxf5 17.Qb2 Bc6 18.Nd4 Qc5
19.Nxc6 Nxc6 20.Qxb7 Ne5 21.Qb4²) 16.e5 fxg3 17.hxg3 Nd7 18.Ng5 g6 19.Rfe1 Nxe5 20.Qe4©
15...Nc6
15...g6 16.Qa4 Re7 17.Rab1 Na6 (17...e5 18.Rb5 Qc7 19.Rfb1©) 18.Rfd1©; 15...Nd7!? 16.Qa4 Re7
17.Rfd1 a6 18.Rab1 Nf6 19.Qb4 Qxb4 20.Rxb4 e5 21.Nc6!? (21.Nc2 e4 22.Rd8+ Kf7 23.Ne3 Re8
24.Rxe8 Kxe8 25.Rxc4 b5 26.Rc5 g6 27.c4 Ke7=) 21...bxc6 22.Bxc6 a5! 23.Rb2 Rea7 24.Bxa8 Rxa8
25.Rb5 Kf7 26.Rxe5 Ra6 27.f3 Be6∞
16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qa4ƒ Rb8 18.Rab1
18.Bxc6 Rf8 19.Rfb1 Rb3∞
18...Bd7
18...Rb3 19.Rxb3 cxb3 20.Qxb3 Ba6 21.Re1!? (21.Bf3 Qc4 22.Qd1!? (22.Qc2 Rf8! 23.Rb1 e5

880
24.Rb4 Qc5 25.Qd2 Bc4∞; 22.Qb4 e5! 23.Qxc4+ (23.Rd1?! e4) 23...Bxc4 24.Bxc6 Rb8„) 22...e5!
(22...Qxc3 23.Qd7±) 23.Qd7 Rf8 24.Bxc6 Qxe2 25.Rc1 Kh8! 26.Qd6 Rg8∞) 21...h6 (21...Bc4
22.Qb4 Qb5 23.Qd6 Bd5 24.e4²) 22.Bf3 Qc4 23.Qb4 c5 (23...e5 24.Rd1! ∆e4 25.Bh5!±) 24.Qa5
Qb5 25.Qc7²
19.Rfd1 Rb5!?
19...Rxb1 20.Rxb1 Rd8 21.Qd1! Qxa3 22.Qd4ƒ
20.Rb4 Ra5 21.Qc2 Bc8

22.a4
22.Qa2!? h6!? (22...Ba6 23.a4²) 23.a4!? (23.Rd4 Ra6 24.Rbxc4 Qe7 (24...Rxa3 25.Rxc5 Rxa2
26.Bxc6 Rf8 27.Bd7 Bxd7 28.Rxd7²) 25.Bxc6 Rxa3 26.Qb1 Rf8! 27.Qb4 Qxb4 28.cxb4 Ra1+
29.Kg2 Ra6! 30.Ba8 Kh7 31.Rc5 Rb6 32.Bf3 g5 33.h3 Kg6 34.b5 a6=) 23...Kh7 24.Rxc4 Qe5
25.Bxc6 Re7 26.Bf3 Ba6 27.Rcd4 Rc7 28.Qd2 Rac5 29.Rd6! Bc4 30.Qd4 Ra5 31.h4!? Qxd4 32.cxd4
Rxa4 33.Rc1²
22...e5! 23.Qd2
23.e3 Be6 24.Qb1 Ra6 25.Rb8 Rb6! 26.Rxe8+ Kf7 27.Qc1 Kxe8 28.e4 fxe4 29.Bxe4 h6 30.Qc2 Rb8
31.h4 Kf7 ∆ Rf8=
23...Be6
23...e4!? 24.Rdb1 (24.Qg5 Qf8! 25.Qe3 Be6∞) 24...Qd5 25.Qf4 Qd8! 26.h4 Rae5 27.e3 h6! (∆ g5)
28.h5 Qe7 29.Bf1 (29.Rxc4? c5µ) 29...Kh8 30.Rb8 (30.Bxc4 Rc5∞) 30...Ra5 31.R1b4 Rd5∞
24.Qg5 Qe7! 25.Qxe7 Rxe7 26.Bxc6 Rc5 27.Rd6

881
27.Rb8+ Kf7 28.Bb5 Rec7 29.Rdd8 e4 30.f4 exf3 31.exf3 Bc8! 32.Ra8 Ke7 33.Rd4

33...a6! 34.Bxa6 Bd7 35.Rg8 Kf6 36.Rf8+ Ke7 37.Rh8 h6 38.Kf2 Bxa4=
27...Kf7 28.Rb8 Rc7 29.Bb5 Rd5 30.Rxd5 Bxd5 31.f4 exf4 32.gxf4 Ke7 33.Kf2 Kd6 34.Ke3
34.Rd8+ Kc5 35.Re8 Kd6 36.Ke3 (36.Re5 Be6=) 36...Bf7 37.Re5 Rc5!= 38.Kd4 Rxe5 39.fxe5+ Ke7
40.Bxc4 Bxc4 41.Kxc4 g5 42.Kd4 h5 43.c4 g4 44.Ke3 Ke6 45.Kf4 h4 46.a5 g3=
34...Re7+= 1/2-1/2

175. ** E20
Caruana, Fabiano (2828) - Aronian, Levon (2767)
Stavanger 146/175, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 b5 6.e4 d6 7.Bd2 Bxc3!?
7...a6 8.Nge2 O-O 9.Nf4 exd5 10.Ncxd5 (10.cxd5 Nbd7 11.a4 c4 12.axb5 Ne5 13.Be2 Ba5!?
14.bxa6 (14.O-O? axb5µ) 14...Bb6 15.Qc1 Rxa6 16.Rxa6 Bxa6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.O-O Rb8 19.Qd2
Bc8! 20.Bd1 Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Rxb2∞) 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Nc6 13.cxb5?!
(13.Bd3∞) 13...Nd4

882
14.bxa6N (14.Bd3) 14...Qh4+ 15.Kd1 Bxa6µ Aronian,L (2773) -Grischuk,A (2777) lichess.org (Int.-
rapid) 146/(175) 2020
8.Bxc3 b4 9.Bd2 O-O

10.Ne2N
10.Be3 - 146/(175) 10...exd5 11.cxd5

883
11...Ne8N (11...Nfd7 12.Ne2 f5 13.exf5 Nb6!? (13...Rxf5 - 143/176) 14.Ng3 (14.g4 Bb7 15.Nf4
Re8 16.Ne6 Qd7 17.Bd3 Bxd5 18.O-O Nc6∞) 14...Bxf5 15.Nxf5 Rxf5 16.Bd3 Re5∞; 11...a5!? 12.a3
(12.Ne2 Ne8 13.Ng3 f5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Bd3 Re5 17.Qd2 Nf6 18.f4 Re8 19.O-O Qd7
20.Qe2 Qf7 21.Qf3 Nbd7∞) 12...Nxe4!? (12...bxa3 13.Rxa3 Nbd7 14.Ne2²) 13.fxe4 Qh4+ 14.Kd2
Qxe4 15.Qf3 Qe7 16.Bd3 Re8 17.Nh3 (17.Ne2? Nd7 18.Bf4 Nf6 19.h3 Bb7-+) 17...Nd7 18.Bg5 f6
19.Qh5 Qe5!! 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Rab1 Qxd5 22.Qh8+ Kf7 23.Qh5+ Kf8=) 12.Ne2 f5 13.Nf4!?
(13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Be2 Nd7 16.O-O Nef6∞) 13...fxe4 14.fxe4 Qe7 15.Bd3 Nc7 16.O-O
Nd7 17.a3 bxa3 18.Rxa3 Ne5 19.Be2ƒ Tsvetkov,A (2350)-Khanin,S (2500) Moscow 146/(175) 2020
10.Bd3!? exd5 (10...Nbd7 11.Ne2 Ne5 12.Qc2 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 exd5 14.exd5 (14.cxd5? a5µ)
14...Re8 15.O-O Bf5 16.Qxf5 Rxe2 17.Qd3 Re8=) 11.cxd5 Nbd7 12.Ne2 Nh5 13.O-O f5 14.a3 Ne5
15.Bb1 bxa3 16.Rxa3 Nc4=
10...Nh5
10...exd5 11.cxd5 Nh5 12.Nf4 Qh4+ 13.g3 Nxg3 14.Ng2 Qh5 15.Nf4 Qh4 16.Ng2 Qh3=
11.Be3
11.h4!? f5 12.exf5 (12.Bg5 Qe8 13.dxe6 fxe4 14.e7 Rf7 15.Qd5 (15.Qxd6 Nc6 16.Qxc5 Nxe7 17.O-
O-O Bb7©) 15...Nc6 16.g4 exf3 17.gxh5 h6 18.O-O-O Bg4 19.Ng3 hxg5 20.Ne4 b3 21.a3 f2
22.Nxd6 Nxe7 23.Qxg5 Qd7 24.h6! Bxd1 25.Nxf7 Qd4 26.Ne5 Nf5 27.h7+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ Kxh7
29.Qxf5+ Kg8 30.Bd3 Bc2∞) 12...exf5 13.Nf4 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Re8+ 15.Kf2 Qf6 16.Qd2∞; 11.Kf2
f5 12.exf5 exf5 13.a3 Nd7 14.Kg1 a5 15.axb4 cxb4 16.Nd4 Qb6 17.Be1 Nc5 18.Bf2∞
11...f5 12.dxe6
12.Qd2!? fxe4 (12...Nf6? 13.dxe6 fxe4 14.Nf4! Nc6 15.O-O-O Qa5 16.Kb1±) 13.Ng3! Nxg3
14.hxg3 Qe8 (14...e5?! 15.g4 exf3 16.Bd3 f2+ 17.Bxf2 h6 18.Be3 e4 19.Be2 Nd7 20.g5 hxg5

884
21.Bxg5 Qe8 22.O-O-O Ne5 23.Rh2 e3 24.Qxe3 Ng4 25.Bxg4 Bxg4 26.Rdh1 Qxe3+ 27.Bxe3​→)
15.O-O-O! e5 16.g4 Nd7 17.Be2 Nf6 18.Rh4 a5 19.Rdh1 g6 20.Qe1ƒ
12...Bxe6 13.exf5 Rxf5 14.Qd2

14.Ng3 Re5 15.Kf2 Qh4 16.Qxd6 Nd7 17.Bd3 Rf8©

14...Nd7!?
14...Nc6 15.O-O-O Na5 16.Ng3 b3 17.a3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Qxd6 Qxd6
21.Rxd6=
15.O-O-O
15.Ng3 Qh4 16.Bf2 Nxg3 17.Bxg3 Qf6 18.Bd3 Rh5 19.Rc1 d5 20.O-O Ne5∞
15...Qa5 16.Kb1 Bxc4 17.Nc1 Bf7 18.Qxd6 Nhf6 19.Qc6 Re8 20.Bf2 Nb8 21.Qb5 c4 22.Qxa5
Rxa5 23.Rd4 Rc8 24.b3!? Nc6 25.Rxc4 Bxc4 26.Bxc4+ Kh8

885
27.Rd1?
27.Nd3 Nd5 28.a4 bxa3 29.Be1 a2+ 30.Ka1 Ra3 31.Bxd5 Nd4 32.Bf2 Nc2+ 33.Kb2 a1=Q+
34.Rxa1 Rxa1 35.Bc4∞
27...Re5?
27...h5! 28.f4 Ne7µ
28.Rd6 Ne8 29.Rd2 Nc7 30.Ne2?
30.Kb2
30...Nb5! 31.Kb2 Na3 32.Ba6 Rd8 33.Rxd8+ Nxd8 34.Kc1 Ne6 35.Bd3 Nc5 36.Kd2 Nxd3
37.Kxd3 Rd5+ 38.Nd4 Rd7 39.g4 a5 40.Bg3 Kg8 41.Be5 g5 42.Ke4 Nb1 43.Kf5 Nc3 44.Nc6 Rd3
45.Ke6 Nxa2 46.Nxa5 Rxf3 47.Bd6 Rd3 48.Nc6 Re3+ 49.Kf6 Rxb3 50.Nd4 Rh3 51.Nf5 b3
52.Ba3 Rxh2 0-1

176. E21
Edouard, Romain (2645) - Townsend, M Paul (2200)
Great Britain (Internet) 146/176, 2020

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.Qb3 b6 6.g3?!

6.Bg5 - 94/(401)
6.a3 - 96/365
6...Nc6! 7.d5?!
7.dxc5 Ne4! 8.cxb6 Qxb6 9.Be3 Qa5 10.Nd2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Rb8 13.Qc2 O-O 14.Bg2
Ba6³

886
7...Na5

8.Qc2N
8.Qa4
8...O-O 9.Bg2 Bb7
9...Bxc3+!? 10.bxc3 (10.Qxc3 exd5µ) 10...Bb7µ
10.O-O Bxc3 11.bxc3 d6
11...Nxc4µ
12.Bg5 h6?!
12...Nxc4µ
13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Nd2 Rae8 15.e4?!
15.Rae1 Ba6 16.Qd3=
15...Ba6! 16.Qd3 exd5 17.exd5

887
17...Qg6! 18.Be4 f5 19.Bg2
19.Bf3 Re5³
19...Qg4 20.f3?
20.Rfe1 Nxc4 21.Re6 Nxd2 22.Qxa6 Nf3+ 23.Bxf3 Qxf3³
20...Bxc4! 21.Qc2 Qh5 22.f4 Bxf1 23.Nxf1 Re2 24.Qd3 c4 25.Qd4 Rfe8 26.Bh1 R8e5??
26...Rc2-+; 26...R8e4!? 27.Bxe4 fxe4-+; 26...R8e3!? 27.Qxe3 Rxe3 28.Nxe3 Qe2-+
27.fxe5 1-0

888
E25-E49

177. E25
Predke, Alexandr (2676) - Lysyj, Igor (2593)
Russia 146/177, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 Nf6
10.Be3 O-O 11.Qb3 Nfd7 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qa3 b6 14.cxb6 axb6 15.Bb5
15.Nh3 - 110/(286)
15...Ba6

16.c4N
16.Rb1?! Ne5³
16...Ne5 17.Ne2
17.Bf4 Bxb5 18.cxb5 Nbd7 19.Nh3 (19.Ne2 Qc2ƒ) 19...Qc4 20.Nf2 f5ƒ; 17.Rc1 Rd8 18.Rc3 Bxb5
19.cxb5 Rxa4 20.Rxc7 Rxa3 21.Kf2 Nbd7 22.Ne2=
17...Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4
18...Bxc4=
19.Nf4
19.Nd4!?

889
19...Bb5 20.Kf2 Rxa4
20...Qc2+ 21.Kg3 Rxa4 22.Qc1 Qxc1 23.Rhxc1 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Nd7 25.Bxb6 Nxb6 26.Rb1 e5
27.Nh3=
21.Qb2=

21...Nc6
21...Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Nd7 23.Rc1 Qa4 24.Rc7© ƒ
21...Rb4 22.Qd2 Nd7 23.Rhc1 Qb3=; 21...Nd7 22.Rhc1 Qb4 23.Rab1 Qxb2+ 24.Rxb2 Bc4=
22.Rxa4 Qxa4 23.Ra1 Qc4 24.Rc1 Qa4 25.Ra1
25.Bxb6 Ba6=
25...Qc4 26.Rc1 Qa4 27.Ra1 1/2-1/2

178. ** E32
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778) - So, Wesley (2770)
lichess.org (Int.-m/2-rapid) 146/178, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e4 d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bd3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7
10.Bf4 Qh4 11.g3 Qh5 12.O-O g5 13.cxd5 Bxc3 14.bxc3 exd5 15.Be3
15.Be2 - 145/(178)
15.Bc1 - 145/178
15...Nxe5 16.f3 Nxd3
16...Nc5!? 17.Bf5 Ne6 18.Rae1 Nxd4 (18...Re8!?) 19.Bxd4 Nc6 20.Bc5 (20.f4!?) 20...Bxf5 21.Qxf5

890
Rfe8

22.Rxe8+N (22.f4) 22...Rxe8 23.Qd7 Re2= Mamedyarov,S (2767)-Navara,D (2717) Batumi

146/(178) 2019
17.Qxd3 Nd6
17...Nc5

18.Qd2N (18.Qb5) 18...h6 19.g4 (19.Nb5 Ne6 20.Qxd5 Rd8 21.Qe5²) 19...Qg6 20.Nf5 Bxf5
21.Bxc5 Bd3 22.Bxf8 Bxf1 23.Bxh6 Qxh6 24.Rxf1 Rd8

891
(24...Rc8 25.Qxd5 b6©) 25.Kg2 (25.Rb1!?) 25...Qf6= Sarana,A (2654) -Sevian,S (2660) chess.com
(Int.-m/12-blitz) 146/(178) 2020
18.g4 Qg6 19.Qxg6+ hxg6 20.Bxg5 f6 21.Bf4 Nc4

22.Nb5N
22.h4; 22.Rfe1
22...Bd7 23.Nc7 Rac8 24.Nxd5 Rc5
24...Kf7!?

892
25.Rad1
25.Rfd1!?
25...Be6 26.Nb4 g5 27.Rfe1 Bxg4
27...Kf7 28.Be3 (28.Bg3 Ra5©) 28...Ra5©
28.fxg4 gxf4 29.Nd3 Ra5 30.Nxf4 Rxa2= 31.Ng6 Rf7
31...Nd2 32.Re2 Rd8 33.Kg2 a5=
32.h4
32.Re8+ Kh7 33.Nh4 Rd2 34.Rxd2 Nxd2 35.Nf5 Rc7=
32...Kg7 33.h5 Kh6 34.Rd4 b5 35.Re8 f5
35...Rd2 36.Rxd2 Nxd2 37.Kg2 a5=
36.Rh8+ Kg5 37.Rg8 Kh6™
37...Ra1+? 38.Kh2 Kh6 39.Nf8 ∆Ra6 40.g5+! Kxh5 41.Kg3+-
38.Rh8+
38.Nf8 Ra6™ ∆ 39.g5+ Kxh5 40.Kh2 f4³
38...Kg5 39.Rg8 Kh6™ 40.g5+ Kxh5 41.Nf4+ Kg4 42.g6

42.Nd5+ f4 43.g6 Ra1+ 44.Kf2 Ra2+=

42...Rb7™

893
42...Re7? 43.Nd5+ Re4 44.Rxe4+ fxe4 45.Rf8!+-
43.Rf8
43.g7 Ra1+ 44.Kh2 Ra2+ 45.Kg1 Ra1+=; 43.Ne6+ f4 44.Nxf4 Ne5 45.Ne2+ Kf3 46.Rf4+ Ke3
47.Re8 Rxe2 48.Rf7 Kd3 49.Rd8+ Ke3 50.Re8=
43...Ne5 44.Nh5+
44.Kf1 Nf3 45.Rf7 Rb8 46.g7 Rg8 47.Rb4 Nd2+ 48.Kf2 a5 49.Rxb5 Kxf4 50.Rfxf5+ Ke4 51.Rxa5
Rxa5 52.Rxa5=
44...Kxh5 45.Rxf5+ Kxg6 46.Rxe5 a5
46...Rb6
47.Rd6+ Kg7 48.Rg5+ Kf8 49.Rf6+ Ke7 50.Ra6 Kf7 51.Rag6 Ke8 52.Rg8+ Kd7 53.R8g7+ Kc8
54.Rxb7 Kxb7 55.Rxb5+ Ka6 56.Rb8 a4 57.c4 a3 58.c5 Ka5 59.Ra8+
59.c6=
59...Kb4 60.Rb8+
60.c6=
60...Ka4 61.Ra8+ Kb4 62.Rb8+ Kxc5

63.Rb3!
63.Ra8? Ra1+ 64.Kf2 Kb4 65.Rb8+ Kc3 66.Rc8+ Kb2 67.Rb8+ Ka2-+; 63.Rc8+? Kb4 64.Rb8+
Kc3 65.Rc8+ Kb2 66.Rb8+ Kc2-+
63...Ra1+

894
63...Kc4 64.Rf3=
64.Kh2 Kc4 65.Rg3 Ra2+ 66.Kh1 Ra1+
66...Kb4 67.Rg4+=
67.Kh2
67.Kg2? Kb4 68.Rg4+ Kb3 69.Rg3+ Kb2-+
67...Kd4 68.Rg4+ Ke3 69.Rg3+ Kf4 70.Rb3 Ke4 71.Rg3 Kd4 72.Rg4+ Kc3 73.Rg3+ Kc4 1/2-1/2

179. E34
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778) - So, Wesley (2770)
lichess.org (Int.-m/4-rapid) 146/179, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 Nc6 8.Bd2 O-O 9.h3 a5
10.g4 a4

10...Qg6 - 115/178
11.Qxb4N
11.Qd1
11...Nxb4 12.gxf5 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxa1 14.e3
14.Kc1 exf5 (14...a3 15.bxa3 exf5 16.Kb2 Ne4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.Ne5²) 15.Kb1 Nb3 16.axb3 axb3∞
14...a3
14...exf5!?

895
15.bxa3 exf5
15...Rxa3 16.Kc1 b5 17.Kb2 Nc2 18.Ne5²; 15...b5!?
16.Kc1 Be6 17.Kb2 Ne4 18.Nxe4
18.d5 Bxd5 (18...Nxc3 19.dxe6 Ne4 20.exf7+ Kxf7 21.Be1²) 19.Nxd5 Rfd8 20.Nxc7 (20.Bc4 Nxd2
21.Nxd2 c6 22.Rxa1 cxd5 23.Bb3 d4„) 20...Rac8 21.Ba5 Nxf2 22.Rg1 (22.Rh2 Nd1+ 23.Kxa1 Rd5
24.Rd2 Rxa5 25.Rxd1 Rc5 26.Nd4 R5xc7=) 22...b6 23.Bxb6 Rb8 24.Na8 (24.Bc4 Rxb6+ 25.Kxa1
Nxh3 26.Rc1ƒ) 24...Nc2 (24...Rd1 25.Be2 Rxg1 26.Nxg1 Rxa8 27.Kxa1²) 25.Kxc2 Rdc8+ 26.Kb3
Rxa8 27.Bd4 Rcb8+ 28.Kc4 g6 29.Rg2²
18...fxe4 19.d5
19.Ne1 Rfc8 20.Be2 b6=; 19.Ng5 Bd5 20.Bg2 f5 21.f3 Rfe8=
19...Bxd5 20.Nd4 c5 21.Nb5 Rfd8 22.Bc3 Bc6
22...Rd7!?
23.Rg1!
23.Be2 Rd3!µ
23...g6 24.Be2

24.Bc4! Ra4 25.Be2 Rd3 26.Nc7 Kf8 27.Bxd3 exd3 28.Rxa1 Ke7 29.Be5 f6 30.Bg3 h5©
24...Rd3! 25.Bxd3 exd3 26.Rxa1?
26.Nd6 Nc2 27.Rd1 Nxa3 28.Rxd3 Nb5 29.Nxb5 Bxb5³

896
26...Bxb5 27.Bd2
27.e4
27...Ra4 28.f4 Rc4?!
28...f5
29.Rc1 Rxc1 30.Bxc1 f5 31.Kc3 Kf7 32.a4 Ba6 33.Ba3 c4 34.Bc5 Ke6 35.h4 Kd5 36.Bd4 Ke4
37.Kd2 Kf3 38.a5 Bb5 39.a3 Be8 40.Bf6 Bf7 41.Bd4 Kg3 42.Bf6 Kg4 43.Bg5 Bd5 44.Bf6 h6
45.Bg7?

45.Be7
45...g5!
45...g5 46.fxg5 (46.hxg5 h5-+) 46...h5 47.g6 Kxh4 48.Bf8 Kg4-+
0-1

180. E36
Ding, Liren (2791) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)
chess24.com (Int.-m2/4-rapid) 146/180, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.h4
9.Bg5 - 140/183
9...Ba6 10.Qc2 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5

897
12.Rh3N
12.Bg5
12...Nc6 13.Bg5
13.Qxc5? Rc8 14.Bg5 e5 (14...h6 15.Rd1 hxg5! 16.Rxd8 Rfxd8 17.Qxg5 Rd5! 18.e4 (18.Qe3 Ne7!
19.Nd4 Rcd8-+; 18.Qf4 e5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Rc3 Re8µ) 18...Rxg5 19.Bxa6 Rxg2 20.Bxc8 Nxe4³)
15.Qe3 h6 16.Bxf6 (16.Rd1

16...hxg5! 17.Rxd8 Rfxd8 18.Qxg5 Nh7! 19.Qe3 e4!-+) 16...Qxf6µ

13...Nd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Rd1 e5 16.Rf3

898
16.Qc6 Qa5+ (16...Qc8 17.Qxc8 Bxc8 18.Bxf6 Bxh3 (18...gxf6 19.Rg3+ Kh8 20.e3 dxe3 21.Rxe3
Be6=) 19.Bxe5 Be6 20.Bxd4∞) 17.b4 Qb6 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Bxf6 gxf6=
16...Bb7
16...Rc8!?
17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rg3+ Kh8 19.e3 Qe7
19...Qb6!?
20.exd4 exd4+ 21.Be2
21.Qe2 Qe5 22.Qxe5 fxe5 23.Rb3 Be4 (23...Bd5 24.Rb5 Rad8 25.Ra5 Rd7 26.Rc1ƒ) 24.Rb5 f6 25.f3
Bg6 26.Rc1ƒ
21...Be4
21...Rg8 22.Rxg8+ (22.Rxd4 Rxg3 23.fxg3 Re8 24.Qd3 Bxg2 25.Rd7 Qe5 26.Rxf7 Be4 27.Qe3
Qxb2=) 22...Rxg8 23.Rxd4 Re8 24.Qd2 Ba6 25.Qe3 Qxe3 26.fxe3 Rxe3 27.Rd2 Bxe2 28.Rxe2
Rb3=; 21...Rad8=
22.Qd2
22.Qa4
22...d3
¹22...Rad8
23.Bxd3 Bxd3+ 24.Re3 Qb7

25.Qxd3

899
25.Rxd3!? Qxg2 26.Qf4 Rfe8+ 27.Kd2ƒ
25...Qxg2 26.Qd4 Qg1+?!
26...Qc6
27.Ke2 Qg6 28.Rf3 Rae8+ 29.Kf1 Re6 30.Rg3 Qf5 31.Qg4 Qxg4 32.Rxg4 a5 33.b4
33.Rd5 Rb6 34.Rxa5 Rxb2=
33...axb4 34.axb4 Rb8 35.Rb1 Re5 36.Kg2 h5 37.Rc4 Kg7 38.Kf3 f5 39.Kf4 Kf6?!
39...Rbb5=; 39...f6=
40.Rd1?!
40.Rc6+ Re6 41.Rxe6+ fxe6 42.b5 e5+ 43.Ke3²
40...Rb6 41.f3 Reb5= 42.Rdd4 Rb8 43.Ke3 R5b6 44.Kd3 Ke6 45.Kc3 Ra6 46.Kb3 Rba8
46...Ra1=
47.b5 Ra1 48.Rc2 R1a3+ 49.Kb4 R3a4+
49...R8a4+ 50.Kc5 Rxd4 51.Kxd4 Rxf3=
50.Kc5 Rc8+ 51.Kb6 Rxd4 52.Rxc8 Rxh4 53.Ka5 Kd7 54.Rc5
54.Rf8 Rf4 55.Rxf7+ Ke6=
54...Rh1 55.b6 h4 56.b7 Ra1+ 57.Kb6 Rb1+ 58.Ka7 Ra1+ 59.Kb8 h3 60.Rc2 Rh1??
60...Ra3=
61.Ra2+- Rb1 62.Ka7 1-0

181. * E36
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)
Stavanger 146/181, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Rd1 Ba6
10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7
11...Qe7 - 137/182
12.Qc2 Qc6 13.Qxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.e3
15.Nf3
15...Bxf1
15...Bb7
16.Kxf1 Na5 17.Nf3

900
17...Nc4N
17...Rac8 - 146/(181) 18.Ke2 c5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Rd7 Nc4 21.Rc1 (21.Rb1 Rb8 22.Nd2 Nxb2
23.Rxa7 f5 24.Rc7 Na4=) 21...Nxb2 22.Rc2 Na4 23.Rxa7 Ra8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Nd2 Nb6= Wang,H
(2763) -Radjabov,T (2765) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 146/(181) 2020
18.Rb1
18.Rc1!? Nxb2 19.Rc6 b5 20.Nd2 Na4 21.Ke2 a5 22.Rb1 Rfb8 23.Rxc7ƒ
18...c5 19.Ke2
19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Ke2 Rab8 21.Rhc1 Nxb2 (21...Rxb2+ 22.Rxb2 Nxb2 23.Rxc5 Na4 24.Rc7 (24.Ra5
Nc3+ 25.Kd3 Nd1 26.Rxa7 Nxf2+ 27.Ke2 Ne4 28.a4 Rc8=) 24...Rb8 25.Nd4²) 22.Nd2 Rb5
23.Ne4 f5=
19...Rfc8 20.Rhc1 Nd6
20...cxd4 21.Nxd4 Nd6 22.g4 Kg7=
21.dxc5 bxc5 22.Rc2 Kf8
22...Rab8 23.Rbc1 c4 24.Nd2 Kg7 25.Kf3 Rd8=
23.Nd2 c4 24.Rbc1 Rab8 25.Kf3

901
25...c3
25...Rc5 26.b4 (26.Nxc4 Rf5+ 27.Ke2 Nxc4 28.Rxc4 Rxb2+ 29.R1c2 Rxc2+ 30.Rxc2 Ra5=) 26...Rc6
27.Nb3 Rbc8 28.Na5 R6c7=
26.bxc3 Rc5 27.c4 f5 28.Ke2 Ke7 29.Kd3² Kd7 30.Rc3
30.Rb1!?
30...Rc6?!
30...Ke7
31.c5± Ne8 32.Nf3 Ra6 33.Ne5+ Ke7 34.Ke2
34.Kc2!?
34...Nf6 35.R1c2 Nd5 36.Rd3 Rc8 37.Rb3 Rc7 38.Rc4 Ra5 39.Nd3 e5?!
39...Kd8; 39...Nf6
40.Nxe5 Raxc5 41.Rxc5 Rxc5 42.Rb7+ Ke6 43.Nxf7+- Ra5 44.Nd8+
44.Nxh6!? Rxa3 45.g3
44...Kd6
¹44...Kf6
45.Rb3
45.Rh7!?
45...Ra6 46.Nf7+ Kc5 47.Ne5 h5 48.Kd2 h4 49.Nd3+ Kc4?! 50.Kc2 Rd6 51.Nf4 1-0

902
 182. E48
Navara, David (2707) - Kryvoruchko, Yuriy (2682)
Espana 146/182, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Ne2 Re8 8.O-O Bd6 9.Bd2 Nbd7
9...a6 - 131/186
10.Rc1 a6 11.f3 c5 12.Nf4!?

12.Qe1; 12.Bb1; 12.Kh1

12...cxd4N
12...c4
13.exd4 Nf8 14.Na4
14.Qb3 b5 15.Rfe1 (15.Ncxd5?! Ne6! 16.Be4 Bxf4 17.Nxf4 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Qxd4+ 19.Qe3 Qxe3+
20.Bxe3 Nxf4 21.Rxf4 f6³) 15...Rxe1+ 16.Rxe1 Qb6∞; 14.Kh1!?; 14.Re1!?
14...Ne6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6= 16.Nc5
16.Qb3 Nh5ƒ
16...Qb8! 17.Kh1 Bxh2 18.Nxe6 Rxe6™
18...fxe6? 19.f4+-
19.Bf5?!
19.f4! Bg3 20.Bf5 (20.Qf3?! Ne4 21.Bxe4 Rh6+ 22.Kg1 Bh2+ 23.Kf2 dxe4 24.Qxe4 Re6 25.Qf3

903
Qd8!³) 20...Qd6 (20...Rb6?! 21.Rc3! Ne4 22.Bxe4 Rh6+ 23.Kg1 Bh2+ 24.Kf2 dxe4 25.g3±;
20...Ne4 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Be3 g6 23.Qg4 Kf7©) 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Be1 Ne4 23.Kg1 Bxe1 24.Rxe1
Qf6=
19...Rc6µ 20.f4 g6! 21.Bxg6
21.Bd3 Rxc1 22.Bxc1 Bg3 23.f5 Nh5 24.Qg4 Qd6µ; 21.Rxc6 bxc6 22.Bd3 Bg3 23.Qf3 Nh5µ
21...hxg6 22.Kxh2 Rxc1
22...Kg7!?
23.Bxc1 Qd6
23...Ne4!?
24.Kg1 Qe6 25.f5 gxf5 26.Qf3

26...Rc8! 27.Bg5 Ne4 28.Qxf5 Rc2 29.b4

29.a3 Qg6 30.Qxg6+ fxg6 31.Be7 Rxb2µ
29...Rxa2 30.Qxe6
30.Qf4µ
30...fxe6 31.Be7 Ng3
31...Rd2-+
32.Rf6
32.Rf2 Ra1+ 33.Kh2 Nf5 34.Bc5 Rd1-+

904
32...Ne2+ 33.Kf1 Nxd4 34.Bc5 Rd2 35.Ke1
35.g4 e5-+
35...Rd3
35...Re2+ 36.Kd1 Re4 37.Rf8+ Kg7 38.Rb8 b5 39.Rb6 Kf6 40.Rxa6 Rg4-+
36.Rf8+ Kg7 37.Rb8 b5 38.Rb6 Kf6 39.Rxa6 Kf5 40.Rb6 e5 41.Bxd4 Rxd4 42.Rxb5 Ke4-+
43.Rb8 Ke3 44.Rd8 Rxb4 45.Rxd5 Rb1+ 46.Rd1 Rxd1+ 47.Kxd1 Kf2 0-1

183. E49
Grischuk, Alexander (2777) - Aronian, Levon (2773)
lichess.org (Int.-m/2-rapid) 146/183, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Bd3 Qc7
10.Bb2 b6 11.Qe2 Bb7
11...Nc6 - 29/(546)
12.Nf3

12...Be4N
12...Nbd7
13.c4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Rd8 15.O-O cxd4 16.exd4 Nc6 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.cxd5 Ne7
20.Rac1 Qd6?!
20...Qf4 21.g3 Qf5 22.Qxf5 Nxf5 23.Rfd1ƒ; 20...Qd7=
21.Rc4 Rac8 22.Rg4+ Kh8 23.Rh4 Ng6 24.Rh5 Rc5 25.Rd1 Qf4 26.h3 Qc4 27.Qf5

905
27.Qxc4 Rxc4 28.d6 Rc6 29.Rhd5 Nf4 30.R5d2 Rc3∞
27...Kg7 28.Rd4 Qc1+?!
28...Qe2=
29.Kh2 Qc2?!

29...Rc4
30.Rxh7+! Kxh7 31.Qxf6 Rf8?
31...Rcxd5 32.Qxf7+ Kh6 33.Rxd5 Rxd5 34.Qxd5 Qxf2±
32.Ne5?
32.Nh4! Rc4 (32...Kg8 33.Nf5+-) 33.Nxg6 fxg6 (33...Rxd4? 34.Nxf8+ Kg8 35.Qxd4 Kxf8 36.d6+-
; 33...Qxg6 34.Qh4+ Qh6 35.Qxh6+ Kxh6 36.Rxc4+-) 34.Rxc4 Qxc4 35.Qxf8 Qxd5 36.Qe7+ Kh6
37.Qxa7+-
32...Kg8! 33.Rg4?
33.Nxg6 Qxg6 34.Rg4 Qxg4 35.hxg4 Rxd5 36.Qe7²; 33.f4! Rxd5 (33...Qc3 34.Ng4! Rxd5 35.Rxd5
Qxf6 36.Nxf6+ Kg7 37.Nh5+ Kg8 38.Rd7+-; 33...Qb2 34.Nxg6 (34.Ng4?? Rc2-+) 34...fxg6
35.Qxg6+ Kh8 36.Qh6+ Kg8 37.Qg5+ Kf7 38.Qf5+ Kg7 39.Qg4+ Kh8 (39...Kf7 40.Re4+-)
40.Qh4+ Kg8 41.f5! Rc7 42.f6 Rh7 43.Qg3+ Kh8 44.Qe5 Rh6 45.d6+-) 34.Rxd5 Qe4 35.Rd7 Nxf4
36.Qg5+ Ng6 37.Ng4 Qf4+ 38.Qxf4 Nxf4 39.Rxa7±
33...Qc3!= 34.f4 Rxd5 35.Rxg6+ fxg6 36.Qxg6+ Kh8 37.Qh6+ Kg8 38.Qe6+ Kg7 39.Qxd5 Rxf4
40.Qd6 Rf8 41.Qe7+ Kg8 42.Qg5+ Kh7 43.Qe7+ Kg8 44.Qg5+ Kh7 45.Qh5+ Kg7 46.Qg6+ Kh8
47.Qh6+ Kg8 48.Qg6+ Kh8 49.Nf7+ Rxf7 50.Qxf7 Qxa3 51.h4 Qd6+ 52.Kh3 a5 53.h5 Qe5 54.g4

906
a4 55.Kh4 Qh2+ 56.Kg5 Qe5+ 57.Kh4 Qh2+ 58.Kg5 Qe5+ 59.Kh4 1/2-1/2

907
E50-E74

184. E52
Aronian, Levon (2767) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)
Stavanger 146/184, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd2 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Rc1 Re8 9.Bd3 Ba6
9...Bb7 - 144/185
10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.O-O Bf8 12.Ne2 Qc8 13.Qa4 c5

14.Ng3N
14.dxc5
14...Qb7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Qb5
16.Qd4

908
16...Qa6! 17.b4 Nce4 (17...Ne6 18.Qb2 Ne4 19.Rfd1=) 18.Qb2 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 (19.Nxd2 Qa4³)
19...Qa4 20.Rb1 Rac8ƒ; 16.Qc2!?
16...Rac8
16...Nfe4!?; 16...a6!?
17.Rfd1 a6 18.Qf1 Nfe4= 19.Be1
19.Nd4 Nxd2 20.Rxd2 g6=; 19.Bb4!?
19...g6 20.Ne2
20.Nd4=; 20.b3=
20...Na4 21.Rb1
21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.b3 Nb2 23.Rb1 Nd3ƒ
21...Bg7 22.Nfd4 Nac5 23.Nf3
23.Rbc1=
23...Ne6 24.Ned4

909
24...Nxd4
24...Rc7!?
25.Nxd4 Rc4 26.b3 Rc7 27.Qd3
27.Rbc1 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Rc8 29.Rxc8+ Qxc8=
27...Nc5 28.Qd2 Ne4
28...Ne6!?
29.Qd3 Nc5 30.Qd2 Ne4 1/2-1/2

185. E54
Korobov, Anton (2688) - Huschenbeth, Niclas (2612)
Deutschland 146/185, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.O-O cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6
10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Rc1 h6 12.Bh4 Nc6 13.a3 Be7 14.Ba2
14.Qd3 - 143/188
14...Nh5 15.Bg3 Nxg3

910
16.hxg3N
16.fxg3
16...Bf6 17.d5 exd5

18.Qxd5
18.Nxd5!? ∆Bxb2 19.Rc2 Bxa3 20.Rd2 Bc5 21.Re1 Rc8 22.Nc3 (22.Re4 Qd6 (22...Kh8 23.Qa1!
Ne7 (23...Qd6 24.Rg4! Rg8 25.Rh4±‚) 24.Nxe7 Bxe4 25.Rxd8 Rcxd8 26.Qe5 Bh7 (26...Bxf3?
27.Nf5 Bd4 28.Nxd4+-) 27.Nf5 Bxf5 28.Qxf5±) 23.Ne3 Qg6 24.Rg4 Qh7 25.Nd5 Kh8 26.Bb1 g6
27.Nf4 Ne7 28.Ne5±‚) 22...Qc7 23.Rd7 Qxg3 (23...Qb8 24.Ne4 (24.Bxf7+ Rxf7 25.Rxf7 Kxf7

911
26.Qd5+ Kf8 27.Ng5 hxg5 28.Qf5+ Kg8 29.Qe6+ Kh8 30.Qh3+ Kg8 31.Qe6+=) 24...Nd8
(24...Rcd8

25.Qb1! Be7 (25...Rxd7? 26.Neg5+-) 26.Rxe7 Nxe7 27.Neg5! hxg5 28.Nxg5 g6 29.Nxf7! Rxf7
30.Rxe7+-) 25.Nf6+! gxf6 (25...Kh8 26.Qd3 gxf6 27.Bb1+-) 26.Nd4! Bxd4 27.Qxd4+-) 24.Ne4
Bxf2+ (24...Qb8 25.Qb1! Be7 26.Rxe7 Nxe7 27.Neg5 hxg5 28.Nxg5 g6 29.Rxe7+-) 25.Nxf2 Nd8
26.Ne4±‚
18...Qxd5 19.Nxd5 Rac8
19...Bxb2 20.Rxc6 Bxc6 21.Ne7+ Kh7 22.Nxc6 Bxa3 23.Nfe5ƒ
20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Rfe1 Rfd8

912
22.Rc4
22.Rcd1!?; 22.g4!?
22...Ba6 23.Rc3
23.Rg4+ Kf8 24.Rh4 Kg7 25.Bb1 Bd3 26.Bxd3 Rxd3=
23...Kf8= 24.Kh2 Nd4 25.Nxd4 Rxd4 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Rc1 Be6 28.Bxe6 fxe6 29.Rc7 Rd2
30.Rxa7 Rxb2 31.f3 b5 32.g4 Kg8 33.Kg3 b4 34.axb4 Rxb4 35.Kh4 Rb5 36.Re7 Re5 37.f4 Re4
38.g3 Re3 39.f5 e5 40.Kh5 Rxg3 41.Kg6 Rxg4+ 42.Kxf6 Ra4 43.Re8+ Kh7 44.Rxe5 h5 45.Kg5
1/2-1/2

186. * !N E61
Gajewski, Grzegorz (2618) - Piorun, Kacper (2601)
Polska (ch) 146/186, 2020

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 e5 7.d4 exd4
7...Nbd7 - 128/188
8.Nxd4 Re8 9.O-O Nbd7 10.h3 Nc5 11.Qc2 a5 12.b3 h5! 13.Bb2 h4 14.g4

913
14...c6N
14...Nxg4 - 146/(186) 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.f3? (16.Kh1 c6 (16...h3 17.Bf3±) 17.Rg1²) 16...Bd7 17.Qf2
Erigaisi,A (2559)-Travadon,L (2431) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/(186) 2020 (17.Qf2

17...h3! 18.Bh1 Nd3 19.Qd2 Qg5+ 20.Kh2 Rxe3-+)

15.Rae1 Qe7 16.Rd1 Nh7
16...Nxg4! 17.hxg4 Bxg4 18.Bf3 Qg5 19.Kh1 Bxd4 20.Bxg4 Qxg4 21.Rxd4 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 Re5
23.f3 Rg5+ 24.Rg4 Rxg4+ 25.fxg4 Nd3 26.Qxd3 Qg3+ 27.Kh1 Qh3+=
17.Nf3

914
17.e4 Nf6 18.f3 a4 19.b4 Ne6 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Ne2²
17...f5 18.gxf5 Bxf5 19.Qe2 g5
19...Ng5 20.Nxg5 Qxg5 21.f4 Qe7ƒ; 19...Ne6!?
20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Kh1 Kh8 22.Rg1 Qf7 23.Qc2 Rf8
23...Re7!? 24.Rd2 Rg8 25.a3 g4∞
24.Rdf1
24.Rd2 Rae8 25.a3 g4 26.hxg4 Ng5 27.Nf5 Bxf5 28.gxf5 Qxf5 29.Qxf5 Rxf5 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 h3
32.bxc5 hxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Rxc5 34.Rxd6 Rxc4=
24...Rae8 25.Nce2 Qh5?!
25...Qe7 26.a3 Nf6 27.Nc3 Rf7„
26.Qd1?
26.Nf4! gxf4 27.Bf3 Qe5 28.Rxg7! Qxg7 29.Rg1 Qf6

30.Rg6! fxe3 (30...Qe5 31.Rh6 Re7 32.Ne2+-) 31.Rxf6 Rxf6 32.fxe3 Rxe3 33.Qd2±
26...Nf6 27.Nc2 Nfe4! 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qd4+?
29.Kh2 Rxf2 30.Rxf2 Nxf2 31.Qxd6 Qxe2 32.Qxc5 Kg6µ
29...Kh7 30.f3 Ng3+-+ 31.Nxg3 hxg3 32.Qxd6

915
32...Bxh3
32...Rf4! 33.Qc7 (33.exf4 Bxh3) 33...Kh8
33.Qxg3 Bf5+ 34.Qh2 Qxh2+ 35.Kxh2 Bxc2 36.e4 Bd3
36...Ne6 37.Kg3 Nf4 38.Rh1+ Kg6
37.Re1 g4 38.fxg4 Bxe4
38...Rf2
39.Bxe4+ Rxe4 40.Rxe4 Nxe4 41.Re1 Rf4 42.Kh3 Kg6 43.Kh4 Kf6 44.Re2 Ke5 45.Re1 Rf8
46.Kh3 Rh8+ 47.Kg2 Kf4 48.Rf1+ Kxg4 49.Rf7 Nc5 50.Kf2 Re8 51.Rg7+ Kf4 52.Rf7+ Ke4 0-1

187. * E61
Pikula, Dejan (2435) - Ratkovic, Miloje (2456)
Paracin 146/187, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Be2 O-O 5.O-O d6 6.c4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qc2 Re8 9.b4
9.Rd1 c6 (9...e4 - 121/(188)) 10.b3 Qe7 11.Ba3 e4 12.Nd2 Nf8

916
13.b4N (13.Rac1) 13...h5 14.b5 c5 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.Nb3 b6 17.Bb2 Ne6 18.a4 Nc7 19.a5 Bf5
20.Rd2² Pikula,D (2435)-Volkov,D (2346) Paracin 146/(187) 2020
9...e4 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.a4 Nf8 12.b5 h5 13.Re1

13...h4N
13...c6
14.Ba3
14.h3 N8h7 15.Ba3 (15.f4 exf3 16.Nxf3 Bf5 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Ne4 19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.Qxe4
Rxe4 21.Bd2 Nf6 22.a5∞) 15...Ng5 16.Bf1 Bf5∞

917
14...h3 15.g3 N8h7 16.c5 Ng5 17.cxd6
17.b6 axb6 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.Rab1 (19.Nc4 Bg4! 20.Nxd6 Bxe2 21.Nxe8 Qxe8 22.Qxe2 (22.Rxe2
Rc8 23.Rc1 Qe6³) 22...Nf3+ 23.Kh1 Nxe1 24.Qxe1 Qe6³) 19...Bg4! 20.Rxb6 (20.Nd5 Nxd5
21.Bxg4 Nf6 22.Be2 Qd7 23.Bb5 (23.Rb5 d5 24.Qb3 Re6³) 23...Rec8 24.Qb3 Qd8³) 20...Bxe2
21.Nxe2 Rec8 22.Qb3 Qe6ƒ
17...cxd6 18.Nc4 Rd8 19.Rec1 Be6 20.Nd2 Rac8 21.Qd1 Qd7 22.Rab1 b6³ 23.Rb2 Rc7 24.Rbc2
Rdc8 25.Bb4

25...Nf3+! 26.Bxf3
26.Nxf3? exf3 27.Bxf3 Bb3µ
26...exf3 27.Nce4
27.Ncb1 Bh6 (27...Rxc2 28.Rxc2 d5³) 28.Rxc7 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 Qxc7 30.Nc3 Nd5 31.Nxd5 Bxd5³
27...Nxe4 28.Rxc7
28.Nxe4 Rxc2 29.Rxc2 Rxc2 30.Qxc2 Bf5 31.g4 Bxe4 32.Qxe4 Qc8 33.Bd2 a5 34.Qxf3 (34.bxa6
Qxa6 35.Qxf3 Qxa4 36.Be1 Qa1 37.Kf1 b5-+) 34...Qc2-+
28...Rxc7 29.Nxe4 Bb3
29...d5 30.Nc3 Rc4 31.Na2 Qc8³
30.Rxc7 Qxc7

918
31.Qb1?
31.Bxd6 Qc4 32.Qb1 (32.Nd2 Bxd1 33.Nxc4 Bxa4 34.Na3 f6 35.Kf1 Kf7 36.Ke1 Ke6 37.Bb4 f5
38.Kd2 Bf6 39.Kd3 Kd5µ) 32...Bxa4-+
31...d5-+ 32.Be1
32.Be1 Bc2-+
0-1

188. E61
Lenderman, Aleksandr (2634) - Shankland, Samuel L (2691)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/188, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qc2 Re8 9.b4
9.Re1 - 127/191
9...e4 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.Bb2 Nf8 12.Rfc1 Bf5 13.Qd1 h5

919
14.Nb3N
14.a4
14...N8h7 15.d5
15.b5 Ng5 16.a4 h4 17.h3 c5„
15...Ng4 16.h3 Ne5 17.Nd4 Qh4 18.Nxf5
18.Qe1 Bd7 19.f4 Qxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Nd3 21.Bxd3 exd3 22.Kf2 Bxd4!? 23.exd4 Rec8 24.c5 Bf5
25.Bc1 Nf6∞
18...gxf5 19.Rc2 Ng5 20.Qf1 f4 21.exf4 Qxf4³ 22.Kh1?

920
22.Bxh5? Nef3+! 23.Bxf3 exf3 24.Nb5 Be5 25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.g3 Qf5-+; 22.Nb5 e3 23.f3 (23.fxe3
Qxe3+ 24.Qf2 Qe4 25.Rac1 Qg6 26.Qg3 h4! 27.Qb3 Re7µ) 23...Re7³
22...Nef3!
22...Nd3 23.Bxd3 Be5! 24.g3 Qf3+ 25.Qg2 (25.Kh2 exd3 26.Rd2 h4-+) 25...exd3 26.Rd2 (26.Qxf3
Nxf3 27.Rcc1 d2 28.Rd1 h4 29.Kg2 Ne1+-+) 26...Qf5-+
23.g3
23.gxf3 exf3 24.Bc1 (24.Bd3 Qh4 25.Bf5 Re5-+) 24...Qf5 25.Bxg5 Qxc2-+
23...Qf5 24.h4 Nd4! 25.Rd2 Ngf3 26.Bxf3 Nxf3
26...exf3 27.Kh2 Qg4 28.Qh3 Qg6 29.Rad1 Nf5µ
27.Re2 Bxc3 28.Bxc3 Qg4
28...Kh7 29.Rae1 Qg4 30.Re3 f5-+
29.Bf6 Kh7 30.Re3 Rg8 31.c5 Rg6
31...Qf5 32.Bg5 a5 33.cxd6 cxd6 34.bxa5 Rxa5-+
32.Bg5 Re8
32...Nxg5 33.hxg5 Rxg5 34.Kg2 f5µ; 32...Qf5 33.Rd1 a5 34.Ra3 Rag8! 35.Rxa5 Nxg5 36.hxg5 Qf3+
37.Kh2 h4-+
33.cxd6 Rxd6 34.Rc1 Rxd5 35.Kg2
35.Rxc7? Rd1! 36.Qxd1 Qh3#

921
35...c6 36.Qc4 Qf5
36...Kg6-+
37.Bf4

37...a6
37...Nxh4+! 38.gxh4 (38.Kg1 Ng6-+) 38...Qxf4-+
38.Rh1 Kg8 39.a4 Rd4 40.Qc3 Red8 41.Bh6?
41.Qc5 R8d5 42.Qe7 Rd7 43.Qe8+ Kh7-+
41...Kh7 42.Bf4 Rd1 43.Rxf3
43.Rxd1 Rxd1 44.Rxf3 exf3+ 45.Qxf3 Qd5-+
43...Rxh1 44.g4 exf3+
44...Rdd1-+
45.Qxf3 hxg4 0-1

189. E63
Hnydiuk, Aleksander (2411) - Gumularz, Szymon (2506)
Polska 146/189, 2020

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Be6
10.Qa4 Qc8 11.Bxf6
11.Rfd1 - 56/644

922
11...Bxf6 12.Nd2

12...Bg7N
12...Rb8 13.Nde4 Bg7 14.Nc5²; 12...Nd4 13.e3 Nf5 14.Nde4 Be7 15.Nd5²
13.Nde4
13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qxc6 Rd8 15.Nde4 (15.Nd5 Qd7 16.Qxc7 Qxc7 17.Nxc7 Rac8 18.Nxe6 Rxd2
19.Nxg7 Rxb2 20.Ne6 fxe6 21.Rab1 Rxa2 22.Rb7 Rf8=; 15.Rfd1 Rd6 16.Qa4 Qb7 17.b4²) 15...Rb8
16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 Rb6 18.Qc2 Rxd5 19.Rac1²
13...f5 14.Nc5 e4³ 15.Rfd1
15.Nd5 Bf7 16.Rad1 Kh8³; 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.Nd5 Qf7 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Rab1 Ne5³
15...Re8
15...Bf7!? 16.Nd5 (16.Bh3 Nd4 17.Rac1 (17.N5xe4? Be8-+) 17...Re8³) 16...Kh8³
16.Nd5
16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Nd5 Qf7³
16...Ne5
16...Bf7 17.Na6 Be5³
17.Qb3
17.Nxe6 Rxe6 18.c5 c6 19.Nf4 Re8 20.Qb3+ Kh8 21.h4 Rb8 22.Qc2 Qc7³
17...Bf7 18.Qxb7 Nxc4

923
18...Qxb7 19.Nxb7 Rab8 20.Nxc7 Re7 21.Nc5 Bxc4 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rxb2µ
19.Rac1
19.Qc6 Nxb2 20.Rdc1 Nc4! 21.Nd7 Re6 (21...Ne5 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Nxc7 Rb8µ) 22.N5f6+ Kh8
23.Qxc4 Rxf6 24.Qxc7 Qxc7 25.Rxc7 Rd6µ
19...Nxb2 20.Rd2 Qxb7 21.Nxb7

21...Nd3! 22.Rxc7
22.exd3 Bxd5 23.Rxc7 Rac8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Nd6 Rc1+ 26.Bf1 Bc3-+
22...Bxd5 23.exd3
23.Nd6 Red8 24.exd3 Rxd6 25.dxe4 fxe4 26.Bxe4 Bxe4 27.Rxd6 Be5-+
23...Rac8-+ 24.Rd7 Rc1+ 25.Bf1 e3! 26.fxe3 Bh6 27.Rxd5 Bxe3+ 28.Kg2 Bxd2 29.d4 Bb4 30.Bb5
Rc2+ 31.Kh3 Re1 32.g4
32.g4 Re3+ 33.Kh4 Be7+ 34.g5 Rxh2#
0-1

190. * E63
Lenderman, Aleksandr (2634) - Robson, Ray (2673)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/190, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 h6
10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd5 Kg7 13.Nxc7 Rb8 14.Nd5
14.e4

924
14...Be7N (14...g5 15.Nd5 Be6 16.Rad1 Rbc8 17.b3²) 15.Nd5 Bc5 16.h3 Be6 17.Rfd1 a5 18.b3 b6
19.Rd2 Rd7 20.Rad1 Rbd8 21.Nc3 Rxd2 22.Rxd2

22...Nd4 (22...Rxd2 23.Nxd2 Nb4 24.Kf1 Bd4 25.Ndb1 Nd3 26.f3 Nb4©) 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxd4
Bxd4 25.Nb5 Bc5 26.Kf1 Kf8 27.Ke2 Ke7© Vidit,S (2726)-Dubov,D (2699) chess.com (Int.-m/3-
blitz) 146/(190) 2020
14...e4 15.Nd2 e3 16.fxe3 Bxb2 17.Rab1 Ba3

925
18.Rb3N
18.Nb3 - 145/188
18...Bf8 19.Nf3
19.Nf4 Rxd2 20.Bxc6 Bc5ƒ
19...Bc5
19...b6 20.Nd4 Bb7 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Kf2 Bc5©
20.Ne1 Bg4
20...Na5 21.Rb5 b6 22.Nd3 Nb7 23.Nxc5 Nxc5 24.Nc3 Re8 25.Bd5 Be6 26.e4 Rbc8©
21.Nd3 Bf8
21...Bxe2!? 22.Nxc5 Bxc4 23.Rc1 (23.e4 Ne5 24.Rb2 Rbc8 25.Rxf7+ (25.Nxb7 Bxf1 26.Bxf1 Rb8
27.Rb5 Rdc8 28.Ne3 Rc3 29.Rxe5 Rxb7 30.Nd5 Rc1 31.Ne3 Rc3=) 25...Kxf7 26.Rxb7+ Kg8
27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Nxc8 Rxc8 29.Nd7+ Nxd7 30.Rxd7 Bxa2 31.Rxa7 Rc1+ 32.Kf2 Rc2+ 33.Kf3 g5
34.g4 Bc4 35.h3 Be2+ 36.Kg3 Rc3+ 37.Kh2 Rc2=; 23.Nxb7

926
23...Rxd5! 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Rbb1 Be4 26.Rb3 Bd5=) 23...Bxb3 24.axb3 Ne5 25.b4 Rbc8∞
22.Bf3 Be6
22...Bxf3 23.Rxf3 (23.exf3?! Na5 24.Rc3 b5³) 23...b6 24.Rb1 Bd6©
23.Rc3 g5 24.Nf6!?
24.Nc7 Bh3 25.Rb1 Rd7 26.Nb5 Be6©
24...Kxf6 25.Bxc6+ Kg7

26.Bd5! Bxd5?!

927
26...Re8 27.e4 Bxd5 28.exd5 (28.cxd5 Rxe4 29.Rc7 Re7 30.Rxe7 Bxe7=) 28...Rxe2 29.c5 Rd2∞
27.cxd5 Rbc8
27...Rxd5? 28.Rc7+-; 27...Rd7 28.e4 Re8 29.Rc4 Bd6 30.a4²
28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.e4± f6
29...Rc2 30.Kf2 Rxa2 (30...Ba3 31.Rb1 b6 32.Rb3 Rxa2 33.Rc3±) 31.Rc1±
30.Kf2 Bd6 31.Rc1 Re8 32.Rc4 Kg6 33.Kf3 h5 34.h3 a6 35.a4 Kg7 36.a5 Kg6 37.e3 Kf7 38.Nc5!

38...Bxc5
38...Rc8? 39.Nxb7 Rxc4 40.Nxd6++-
39.Rxc5+- Re7 40.h4 Kg6 41.Rc8 Rd7 42.hxg5 fxg5 43.Rg8+ Kf6 44.Re8 Kf7 45.Re6 Kg7 46.d6
Kf7 47.Rh6 Kg7 48.Rxh5 Kg6 49.Kg4
49.e5 Kxh5 (49...Kf5 50.e4+ Kxe5 51.Rxg5+) 50.Ke4 Kg6 51.Kd5 Rd8 52.e6 Kf6 53.e4
49...Rxd6 50.Rxg5+ Kf7 51.Rd5 Rg6+ 52.Kf5 Rf6+ 53.Ke5 Re6+ 54.Kd4 b6 55.Rf5+ Kg6 56.Kd5
Re8 57.axb6 a5 58.b7 a4 59.Rf1 1-0

191. * !N E67
Socko, Bartosz (2601) - Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2710)
Espana 146/191, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Qc2 e5 8.Rd1 Re8 9.Nc3 c6 10.b3
e4 11.Ng5 d5
11...e3 - 63/(498)

928
12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nb5

13...Rf8!N
13...h6 - 146/(191) 14.Nc7 hxg5 15.Nxa8 Re6 16.Qc7 Qe8 17.Bxg5 Rc6 18.Qa5 a6 19.Rac1 b6
20.Qa4 b5 21.Qa5 Nf8 22.Nc7 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qd8

24.Qb6N (24.Qc3) 24...Bg4 25.Nxd5 Qxd5 26.Bxf6 Bxe2 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Qc5± Socko,M (2413)-
Quinn,J (2139) Great Britain (Internet) 146/(191) 2020
14.Ba3
14.Nh3 Ne8! 15.Ba3 Ndf6 - 14.Ba3

929
14.Nc7 Rb8 15.Ba3 (15.Bf4 h6 16.Nh3 Nb6 17.Nb5 Ra8 18.Nc7 Rb8=) 15...h6 16.Nh3 Nb6
17.Bxf8 Bxf8 18.a4 Bf5©
14...Ne8! 15.Nh3
15.Qd2 Bf6 16.Nh3 Be7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Rac1 Ndf6 19.Qg5 Bf5 20.Nc3 Rc8∞; 15.Bxf8 Nxf8
(15...Bxf8!?) 16.Nh3 Bg4 17.f3 (17.Nc3 Ne6©) 17...exf3 18.exf3 Bf5 19.Qe2 Rc8 20.Rac1 Rxc1
21.Rxc1 a6 22.Nc3 Ne6 23.Qd2 Nxd4 24.Nf4 Nc7©
15...Ndf6 16.Bxf8 Bxf8© 17.a4
17.Qd2 Bf5 18.Nc3 Rc8© (18...Bb4©)
17...Bb4 18.Rdc1

18...e3! 19.Qd3?!
19.f4? Bf5 20.Qb2 h6 21.Kf1 Ne4 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Nc3 Qd7 24.Ng1 Bh1! 25.Nd1 Nf6µ; 19.fxe3
Bf5 20.Qb2 (20.e4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Qb2 Nf6 23.Nf4 Bf5©) 20...Qe7 21.Nf4 Rd8 22.Kh1
Ne4³; 19.f3 Bd2 20.Qb2 (20.Rd1 Bf5 21.Qb2 Qa5ƒ) 20...Bxc1 21.Rxc1 Bd7 22.Nc3 Qb6 23.Nd1
Ng7 24.Nf4 (24.Nxe3?! Re8 25.Kf2 Ne6³) 24...Re8 25.Nd3 Nf5∞
19...Bxh3 20.Bxh3 exf2+ 21.Kxf2 Ne4+ 22.Kg1
22.Kg2 Qe7 23.Qc2 Bd2 24.Nc7 Rd8 25.Nxe8 Bxc1 26.Rxc1 Rxe8 27.Qc7 Ng5 28.Qxe7 Rxe7
29.Bg4 Re4µ
22...Qe7³ 23.Bg2 a6 24.Nc3 Nxc3 25.Rxc3 Bxc3 26.Qxc3 Nf6 27.Bf3 Re8 28.Rc1 Kg7 29.Rc2 g5
¹29...Ne4!? 30.Bxe4 Qxe4 31.Qd3 Qg4 32.Kf2 Qd7 33.Qf3 Re6 34.Kg2 h5³
30.Qd2 Qe3+ 31.Kf1 Qxd2 32.Rxd2 Re3 33.Rb2

930
33.Rd3 Rxd3 34.exd3 Kg6 35.Kf2 Kf5³
33...g4 34.Bg2 Rc3 35.Ke1 Rc1+ 36.Kf2 Kg6 37.a5 Kf5 38.b4 Ne4+ 39.Bxe4+ Kxe4 40.b5 Rh1
41.Kg2 Ra1 42.bxa6 bxa6 43.Rb7 f5
43...Rxa5 44.Rxf7 Kxd4 45.Rxh7 Kc4 46.h4 gxh3+ 47.Kxh3 d4 48.Re7=
44.Rxh7 Kxd4 45.h4 gxh3+
45...Rxa5 46.Rf7 Ke5 47.Ra7 Ra2 48.Kf2 d4 49.Re7+ Kd6 50.Re8=
46.Rxh3 Rxa5 47.Kf3 Ke5

47...Kc4 48.Rh6 Ra1 (48...Ra3+ 49.Kf4 a5 50.Ra6 a4 51.Ra8=) 49.Kf4 Rf1+ 50.Ke5 a5 51.Ra6 Kb5
52.Ra8 Rf2 53.Kxd5 Rxe2 54.Rb8+ Ka4 55.Rb1=
48.Rh8! Ra1
48...Ra3+ 49.e3 a5 (49...d4 50.Re8+ Kf6 51.g4! fxg4+ 52.Kxg4 Rxe3 (52...dxe3 53.Kf3=) 53.Rxe3
dxe3 54.Kf3 Ke5 55.Kxe3=) 50.Re8+ Kf6 51.Rd8 Ke6 52.Re8+ Kd7 53.Re5 Kc6 54.Rxf5 d4
55.Ke4 dxe3 56.Kf3=
49.Re8+ Kf6
49...Kd4 50.Kf4 Rf1+ 51.Kg5 Rf2 52.e3+ Kc4 53.Rc8+ Kb4 54.Rb8+ Ka4 55.Rf8=
50.Rf8+ Ke5 51.Re8+ Kd4

931
52.e3+
52.Ra8! a5 53.Kf4 a4 54.Kxf5 a3 55.g4 a2 56.Ke6 Ke4 57.g5=
52...Kc4 53.Rc8+ Kb4 54.Rb8+ Kc4 55.Rc8+ Kb4 56.Rb8+ Kc5 57.Rc8+ Kd6 58.Rd8+ Ke6
59.Re8+ Kd7 60.Ra8 a5 61.Kf4 a4 62.Ke5
62.Kxf5 a3 63.g4 a2 64.Kg6= (64.Ke5? d4!-+)
62...a3 63.Kxd5 a2 64.Ra7+ Kc8 65.Ke5 Kb8 66.Ra3 Kb7 67.Rb3+ Kc6 68.Rb2 Kc5 69.Rf2 Kc4
70.Kxf5 Kb3 71.g4 Rg1 72.Rxa2 Kxa2 73.g5 Kb3 74.g6 Kc4 75.Kf6 Kd5 76.g7 Ke4 77.Kf7 Kxe3
78.g8=Q Rxg8 79.Kxg8 Ke4 1/2-1/2

192. E71
Cramling, Pia (2462) - Hillarp Persson, Tiger (2550)
Sverige 146/192, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Na6 8.Bd3 c6
8...Nh5 - 70/(528)
9.Nge2 Bd7 10.a3 cxd5 11.cxd5 Nc5 12.Bc2 Nh5 13.O-O Rc8 14.Qd2 a5

932
15.b4N
15.g4 Nf6 16.Ng3 h5! 17.f3 Nh7 18.b4 (18.gxh5?! Qh4 19.Nce2 Bf6µ) 18...axb4 19.axb4 Na6
20.Rab1 Bf6 21.Bd3 Bg5©; 15.Rac1
15...axb4 16.axb4 Na6 17.Ba4 f5 18.Bg5
18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bg5 Bf6∞
18...Qe8
¹18...Nf6 19.Bc6 (19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.f3 Rc4 (20...Nxb4?! 21.Na4 Qb5 (21...Rc2 22.Qxb4 Rxe2
23.Qc4+-) 22.Rfb1 Rc4 23.Nac3 Qc5+ 24.Be3 Qc8 25.Nb5 Rc2 26.Qxb4 Rxe2 27.Re1 Rxe1+
28.Rxe1±) 21.exf5 gxf5 22.b5 Nc5 23.Qa2 Rb4∞) 19...Nxb4 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.exf5
gxf5 23.Na4 Rc2 24.Qxb4 Rxe2 25.Nb6 Qe7 26.Nc4 e4 27.Rab1 f4∞
19.Bxd7
19.Bc6! bxc6 20.Rxa6 Rf7 21.Rd1 Bf8 (21...f4 22.f3²) 22.Ra5²
19...Qxd7 20.Na4 Qf7
20...Rc7!? 21.Nec3 Nf4 22.Ra3 fxe4 23.Nxe4 h6 24.Bxf4 exf4∞
21.Nb6 Rc7 22.Rac1

933
22...f4
22...Bf6! 23.Bh6 (23.exf5 Bxg5 24.Qxg5 Qxf5 25.Qxf5 gxf5 26.Rxc7 Nxc7 27.Rc1 Nb5∞) 23...Bg7
24.Bxg7 Qxg7 25.Nc4 Qe7 26.exf5 Rxf5 27.g4 (27.Ne3 Rf8∞) 27...Nf4 28.gxf5 Qg5+ 29.Ng3
Rxc4! 30.Qe3 Rxb4 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.Kh2 Qh4 33.Rc8+ Kg7 34.Ne2 Nxe2 35.Qxe2 Qf4+ 36.Kg2
(36.Kh1 Qf5 37.Rc3 Nc5©) 36...Qg5+ 37.Kh2 Qf4+=
23.f3 Bf6 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Nc3
25.Qd3 Nd7 (25...Nxb4? 26.Qa3 Na6 27.Qxd6±) 26.Rxc7 Nxc7 27.Nc4 Qe7 28.Rc1²
25...Qe8 26.Nca4 Qb5 27.Rxc7 Nxc7 28.Qc3

934
28...Na8! 29.Nxa8 Rxa8 30.Nb2 Nh5 31.Nd3
31.Qc4 Qb6+ 32.Kh2 Ng3 33.Rc1 Qf2 34.Nd3 Qe2 (34...Nf1+ 35.Kh1 Ng3+=) 35.Qc7 Qxd3
36.Qxd6 Qd4 37.Qe7 Ne2 38.Qe6+ Kg7 39.Qe7+=
31...Ng3 32.Re1 Ra2 33.Kh2 Qb6?
33...Ra8 34.Qc2 Qb6=
34.Qc8+ Kg7 35.Rc1 Kh6 36.Qf8+ Kg5

37.Qe7+
37.h4+! Kh5 (37...Kxh4 38.Qf6+ Kh5 39.Kh3 Kh6 40.Nf2! Rxf2 41.Kg4+-) 38.Kh3 Qe3 39.Rc7+-
37...Kh6 38.Qf8+
38.h4 Nh5 39.Rc7 Qxc7 40.Qxc7
38...Kg5 39.Qe7+ Kh6 40.Qf8+?
40.h4+- - 38.h4
1/2-1/2

193. *** E71

Bryakin, Mikhail (2448) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2722)
Chelyabinsk (rapid) 146/193, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 e5 6.d5

6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Be3

935
9...Be6N (9...b6) 10.O-O-O+

10...Nd7 - 146/(193) (10...Kc8N 11.c5 Nd7 12.Ng5 Nd4 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Nb5 (14.f4 Nc6 15.fxe5
Ndxe5 16.Be2²) 14...Nxc5 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 a5 18.Bc4 Rf8 19.f3 c6=
Parligras,M (2591) -Melkumyan,H (2663) chess.com (ol-rapid) 146/(193) 2020) 11.Ng5 Nd4
12.Nxe6+ fxe6 13.g4 c5 14.Kb1 h6 15.h4 a6 16.Bh3 Ke7 17.Bf1 Bf6 18.b3 g5 19.h5 Kd6 20.Na4
Bd8 21.Rd3 Ba5 22.a3 Ke7= Sciarretta, R-Ansel,A corr 146/(193) 2020
6...a5 7.Be3
7.Bd3 - 54/575

936
7.g4 Na6 8.Nge2 h5 9.g5

9...Nd7N (9...Nh7) 10.h4 Ndc5 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Bg2 Nb4 (12...O-O 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.O-O-O Qe8
15.Kb1 b5! 16.cxb5 Bxb5 17.Nxb5 Qxb5 18.Nc3 Qb4∞) 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.f3 Bd7 15.a3 Na6
16.Qd2 O-O 17.O-O-O² Livaic,L (2507)-Korobov,A (2688) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/ (193) 2020
7...Na6 8.Nf3 Nc5 9.Nd2 h5 10.Be2

10...Bh6N
10...h4
11.Bxh6 Rxh6 12.h4

937
12.b3 h4 13.a3 Nh5 14.b4 Nd7 15.Bxh5 Rxh5 16.O-O Kf8 17.Nb3 axb4 18.axb4 Rxa1 19.Qxa1
Kg7∞
12...Kf8 13.Qc2 Rh8 14.b3 Kg7∞ 15.Nf1 Bg4
15...c6 16.Ne3 Bd7 17.Rd1 cxd5 18.Nexd5 Bc6 19.g3 Ne6„
16.f3 Bd7 17.Ne3 c6 18.Qd2 Qb6
18...cxd5 19.cxd5 Ne8 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.g3 f5 22.exf5 gxf5∞
19.Rb1 Rhd8 20.g3 Qa7 21.Kf1 Rab8 22.Kg2
22.Nf5+!? Bxf5 23.exf5 cxd5 24.cxd5 Qb6 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Kg2 Rbc8∞
22...cxd5 23.exd5
23.Ncxd5 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bc6 25.Qe3 Bxd5 26.exd5 Ra8 27.Rhe1 Nd7=
23...Re8 24.Rhe1 Ra8 25.a3

25.Nc2 Re7 26.Rf1 Rae8∞

25...a4!³ 26.b4
26.bxa4 Nxa4 27.Nxa4 Qxa4 28.Rxb7 Qxa3 29.Reb1 Qc5³
26...Nb3 27.Qd3 Rac8 28.Ne4
28.Rb2 Qd4 29.Rc2 Rc7 30.Rd1 b5!µ
28...Nxe4 29.fxe4 Rf8!

938
29...b5 30.cxb5 Bxb5 31.Qxb5 Qxe3 32.Bxh5 Qd4 (32...Rc2+ 33.Kh3²) 33.Bg4 Rc2+ 34.Kh3 Re7µ
30.Rbd1 Nd4
30...b5 31.cxb5 Bxb5 32.Qxb5 Qxe3 33.Qd3 (33.Bxh5? Rc2+ 34.Kh3 Qc3 35.Bg4 Nd4 36.Qxa4
Ra2-+) 33...Qd4µ
31.Rc1

31...b5! 32.Rc3
32.Qc3 f5 33.c5 f4-+
32...bxc4 33.Nxc4 Bb5-+ 34.Qe3 Qa6 35.Bf1 Bxc4 36.Bxc4 Rxc4 37.Qd3 Rfc8 38.Rec1 Rxc3
39.Qxa6 Rxc1 40.Kf2 R1c2+
40...R8c2+ 41.Ke3 Re1+ 42.Kd3 Rg1
41.Ke1 Nf3+ 42.Kf1 R8c3 43.Qxd6 Re3 0-1

194. * E73
Riazantsev, Alexander (2638) - Makarian, Rudik (2441)
Russia 146/194, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Be3 Nc6
6...c6 - 145/ 198
7.d5 Ne5 8.f4 Neg4 9.Bd2 Nh6 10.Nf3
10.h3 e6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.g4 b5 (12...Nd7! 13.Nf3 b6 (13...Nc5 14.Qc2 Bd7„) 14.Qc2 Bb7∞)
13.cxb5 Bb7

939
14.Qc2N (14.Qb3) 14...d5 15.O-O-O d4 (15...dxe4 16.Bc4 (16.g5 Nf5 17.gxf6 Qxf6©) 16...Nf7
17.Nge2 Qe7 18.Be3²) 16.Be3 dxc3 17.Rxd8 Raxd8 18.Qxc3± Santos Latasa,J (2575)-Guseinov,G
(2665) chessclub.com (Internet) 146/(194) 2020
10...c6

11.a4N
11.O-O
11...e6 12.dxe6 Bxe6 13.Ng5 Re8 14.O-O

940
14.Nxe6 Rxe6 15.Qc2 Qb6 (15...Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Qe7 17.O-O-O Rxe4 18.Bd3 Re6 19.h3 Nf5
20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Rhe1 (21.Qxf5 Re4µ) 21...Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Qd7³) 16.a5 Qd4µ
14...Bg4! 15.Bxg4?!
15.Re1 Bxe2 16.Rxe2 Nhg4 (16...Nd7 17.h3 f6 18.Nf3 f5∞) 17.a5 Nd7 18.Nf3 Nc5 19.Qc2 Ne6∞
15...Qb6+ 16.Kh1 Nhxg4 17.Qe2 h6 18.Nxf7
18.a5 Qc7 19.Nxf7 (19.h3 Nh2! 20.Kxh2 hxg5 21.fxg5 Nh5µ) 19...Qxf7 20.h3 Qe6 21.hxg4 Qxg4³
18...Kxf7 19.h3 Qd4 20.hxg4 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qxe4?!
21...Rxe4! 22.Qf3 Qxc4 23.Rac1 Qd5µ
22.Qf3 Qxc4
22...Qxf3 23.Rxf3 Re4 24.Rc1 Rd8 25.Rd3 Bd4 26.b3∞
23.f5 gxf5

941
24.Rac1
24.Qxf5+?! Kg8 25.Rac1 Qe6³
24...Qd5 25.Qxd5+ cxd5 26.Rxf5+ Ke6 27.Re1+ Be5 28.Bf4 Kd7 29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Rexe5 Rxe5
31.Rxe5 Kd6 32.Rh5 Kc5 33.Kg1
33.Rxh6 d4 34.Kg1 Kb4 35.Rd6 Kxa4 36.Rxd4+ Kb3 37.Kh2 Kxb2 38.Rb4+ Kc3 39.Rxb7 a5=
33...Rg8 34.Rxh6 Rxg4 35.b3 Rg3
35...b6 36.Kf2 Kb4 37.Rh7 a5 38.Rh3=
36.Rh3 Rg7 37.Kf2 d4 38.Rd3 Kd5 39.Kf3 Rf7+
39...a5 40.Rd1 Rf7+ 41.Ke2 Re7+ (41...Ke4 42.g4=) 42.Kf2 Re3 43.Rb1 Rc3 44.b4=
40.Ke2 Rg7 41.Kf3 a5 42.g4

942
42.Rd1= - 39...a5
42...Re7
¹42...Rh7 43.Kf2 Rh2+ (43...Ke4 44.Rg3 Rh2+ 45.Ke1=) 44.Ke1 Rg2 45.Rh3 Rxg4 46.Rh5+ Ke4³
43.Kf2 Ke4 44.Rg3 Rf7+ 45.Ke2 Rh7 46.g5 d3+ 47.Kd2 Rh2+ 48.Kc1 Kd4 49.g6 Rh1+ 1/2-1/2

195. ** E73
Sevian, Samuel (2660) - Robson, Ray (2673)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/195, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Be3 Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 8.h3 e6 9.f4
9.Nf3 Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 Nd7

943
11.Be2N (11.Rc1; 11.Qd2; 11.dxe6; 11.O-O Bxc3 12.bxc3 e5

13.Be2N (13.Bh6) 13...b6 14.Qc2 a5 15.f4 exf4 16.Rxf4 Ne5 17.Raf1 Tsvetkov,A (2358)-Matinian,N
(2475) Chelyabinsk 146/(195) 2020 (17.Raf1 f6 18.Bd4 Qe7 19.Qd2 Bd7∞)) 11...Nc5 12.O-O Bxc3
13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Qc2 Nc5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Rad1 Qe7³ Kezin,R (2470) -Grischuk,A (2777)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 146/ (195) 2020
9...Ned7 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.g4 b6 12.Qc2 Bb7 13.O-O-O

944
13...Nc5N
13...Qc8
14.Bf3 Nfd7 15.e5 Qe7 16.exd6 cxd6 17.Bxb7 Nxb7 18.Nge2 Rac8 19.Qd3 Ndc5
19...g5!? 20.Kb1 (20.fxg5 Ne5µ) 20...gxf4 21.Bxf4 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5∞
20.Qc2?
20.Bxc5 Nxc5 21.Qxd6 Qxd6 (21...Qb7©) 22.Rxd6 Bxc3 23.bxc3 (23.Nxc3 Rxf4 24.b3 Rf3³)
23...Rce8 24.Rh2 e5 25.fxe5 Rxe5 26.Kc2 Re3=
20...Na5 21.Bd4
21.b3 d5 22.Kb1 (22.cxd5?! exd5-+) 22...Nc6 23.cxd5 Nb4 24.Bxc5 (24.d6?! Qb7 25.Qc1 Ne4-+)
24...Qxc5 25.Qd2 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 Qxc3-+
21...Nxc4 22.Kb1 d5 23.f5 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Ne3
24...Qf6! 25.Rf4 (25.fxe6 Nxe6 26.Rxd5 (26.Nxd5 Qf3-+) 26...Ne3-+) 25...Ne3 26.Qc1 Qe5-+
25.Qd2 exf5
25...Nc4 26.Qh6 exf5 27.Nf4 Qe3-+
26.Nf4 Nc4 27.Qg2
27.Qd1 Ne4 28.Nfxd5 Nxc3+ 29.Nxc3 Qb4 30.Qb3 Qxb3 31.axb3 Ne3µ
27...Ne4 28.Ncxd5

945
28.Nfxd5 Qc5 29.Rhd1 Nxc3+ 30.bxc3 Rce8-+
28...Ncd2+! 29.Ka1?
29.Rxd2 Nxd2+ 30.Ka1 Qe4-+
29...Qc5! 30.Ne2 f4 31.b4 Qc2
31...Qd6-+
32.Rc1
32.Ne7+ Kg7 33.Rxd2 Qxd2 34.Qxe4 Rc2-+
32...Qxc1+
32...f3 33.Rxc2 Rxc2 34.Ne7+ Kg7 35.Qh2 (35.Nf5+ Rxf5-+) 35...fxe2 36.Qe5+ Rf6-+
33.Nxc1 Rxc1+ 34.Kb2 f3 35.Qh2 Rb1+ 36.Ka3 f2 37.Ne7+ Kf7
37...Kh8 38.Qe5+ Nf6 39.Rf4 Nc4+!-+
38.Qf4+

946
38...Ke8??
38...Kg7 39.Qe5+ Rf6 40.g5 f1=Q 41.gxf6+ Qxf6-+
39.Qe5?
39.Nf5! Rxf5 (39...gxf5 40.Qe5+ Kf7 41.Rd7+ Kg6 42.Qg7#; 39...Nc4+ 40.Rxc4 Rxf5 41.gxf5+-)
40.gxf5 Kf7 41.Qe5+-
39...Rf3+-+ 40.Ka4 b5+?
40...Nc3+ 41.Ka3 Nxa2+! 42.Rd3 Rxd3+ 43.Kxa2 Ra3+! 44.Kxa3 Nc4+-+
41.Ka5?
41.Qxb5+ Kf8 (41...Kf7 42.Qd5+ Kg7 43.Qe5+ Kf7=) 42.Rd8+ (42.Nxg6+ Kg7 43.Qe5+ Kxg6
44.Rxe4 Nxe4 45.Qxe4+ Kg5 46.Qe7+ Kf4-+) 42...Kg7 43.Qe5+ Nf6 44.Rg8+ Kf7 45.Qc7 Ne8
46.Qd8 Rxb4+! 47.Kxb4 Rf4+ 48.Kc3 Ne4+ 49.Kb3 N4f6 50.Rxe8 f1=Q 51.Rf8+ Ke6 (51...Kg7
52.Nf5+! Rxf5 53.Qe7+ Kh6 54.gxf5 Qd1+=) 52.Qc8+ Kxe7 53.Qc5+ Ke6 54.Qe3+ Re4 55.Rxf6+
Kxf6 56.g5+! Kf5 57.Qc5+ Ke6 58.Qc6+ Kf7 59.Qxe4 Qxh3+ 60.Kb4=
41...Ra3+ 42.Kxb5 f1=Q+ 43.Kc6 Qf6+ 0-1

947
E75-E99

196. E85
Aczel, Gergely (2532) - Kozul, Zdenko (2589)
Slovenija 146/196, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Qd2 a6 9.d5 h5 10.h3
10.O-O-O - 129/195
10...Nh7

11.O-O-ON
11.g4 Qh4+ (11...h4 12.Rg1²) 12.Bf2 Qf6 13.Bg2 h4 14.Be3 Qe7 15.O-O-O Bf6„
11...b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Rxa2 14.Kb1 Ra8 15.Rc1 Nc5! 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Rxc5

948
17...c6! 18.Rxc6
18.Nbc3 Bb7 19.Nc1 (19.d6 Re8 20.Nc1 Re6µ) 19...Qb6 20.Rc4 cxd5 21.exd5 Nf6 22.N1a2 Rfd8µ
18...Bd7 19.Rd6
19.Rc5? Qb6-+
19...Nf6 20.Na3?!
20.g4 Ne8 (20...h4 21.Nc1 Qb8 22.Rxd7 Nxd7 23.Na2 Qb6³) 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Qb4 Nf6 23.Nec3
Rfc8³
20...Qb8 21.Rxd7
21.Nc4 Rc8 22.Rb6 Qa7-+
21...Nxd7 22.Ka2
22.Nc2 Nc5 23.Nc1 Nb3 24.Nxb3 Qxb3-+
22...Nc5-+ 23.Nc1 Qb6 24.Bc4 Rfb8 25.Qc2 Bf8 26.d6 Bxd6 27.Rd1 Bf8
27...Na4 28.Nb3 Nxb2 29.Kxb2 Bxa3+ 30.Kb1 Rc8 31.Rd3 Kg7 32.g4 Ra4
28.Rd5 Na6
28...Qa7 29.g4 Ne6 30.Rd3 Nd4 31.Qd2 hxg4 32.hxg4 Rc8
29.Nd3
29.Bxa6 Qxa6 30.Rd3 Rc8 31.Rc3 Bxa3 32.bxa3 Qxa3+ 33.Rxa3 Rxc2+
29...Bxa3 30.bxa3

949
30...Nb4+! 31.Nxb4 Rxa3+ 0-1

197. E90
Anton Guijarro, David (2688) - Pulvett Marin, Daniel Eduardo (2502)
Espana 146/197, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.h3 e6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.O-O e5 10.a3
10.Bg5 - 144/21
10...h6 11.b4 Nh7

12.Bc2N

950
12.Qc2; 12.Be3
12...f5 13.Nb5 Rf6 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Nh4 a6?

15...Nb6 16.Rb1 (16.bxc5 dxc5 17.Qh5 (17.Qe2 Rf7∞) 17...a6 18.Nc3 e4∞ (18...Ng5 19.f4 exf4
20.Rxf4²)) 16...a6 17.Nc3 Nxc4 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Qh5 e4∞
16.Nxd6! Rxd6 17.Nxf5 Qf6
17...Rf6 18.Nxg7 (18.Qg4 Rxf5 19.Qxf5 Ng5 20.Rb1+-) 18...Kxg7 19.f4+-
18.Be3!
18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Rb1 Nhf6 20.Be3±
18...b6 19.Rb1 Ndf8
19...Ng5 20.bxc5 Nxc5 21.Nxd6 Qxd6 22.Qh5+-
20.bxc5 bxc5 21.Bxc5
21.Nxd6 Qxd6 22.Qh5 Nf6 23.Qh4+-
21...Bxf5 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.Bxd6 h5
23...Ng5 24.Rb3 Nd7 25.f4 exf4 26.Rxf4+-
24.Rb3
24.c5 Ng6 25.c6+-
24...Ng6 25.Qb1 e4 26.Rb8+ Rxb8 27.Qxb8+ Nhf8

951
27...Bf8 28.Rd1 Kg7 29.Qa7++-
28.Qb6 Be5
28...Nd7 29.Qxa6 Bd4 30.c5 Qxd5 31.Qc8+ Ngf8 32.Bxf8 Nxf8 33.c6+-
29.Bxe5 Nxe5
29...Qxe5 30.Re1 Nf4 31.Qe3+-
30.Rd1 Nxc4 31.Qxa6 Nb2 32.Rd2 Qg5 33.Qe2
33.Rc2 Nd3 34.Qc4 Qf5 35.Re2+-
33...Nd3 34.Qe3 Qe5
34...Qxd5 35.f3 Qc6 36.fxe4 Ne5 37.Rb2 Nfd7 38.Qg5+ Kf8 39.Rf2++-
35.d6
35.Re2 Nf4 (35...Qxd5 36.Qxe4 Qxe4 37.Rxe4+-) 36.Re1 Nxd5 37.Qxe4+-
35...Nd7 36.Re2 Nf4 37.Re1 Nd3 38.Rb1 N7c5 39.Qh6 Kf7 40.Rb8 Qa1+ 41.Kh2 Qe5+ 42.g3
Qg7 43.Qxh5+ Ke6 44.Rb6 Qd4?!

44...Ne5 45.Qe8+ Kd5 46.Qe7 Qf7 47.Qxf7+ Nxf7 48.h4+-

45.Qg6+
45.d7+! Kxd7 46.Qf7+ Kc8 47.Qe8+ Qd8 48.Rb8++-
45...Kd5 46.Qf7+ Ne6 47.Rb5+?!

952
47.Ra6 Qxf2+ 48.Qxf2 Nxf2 49.d7 Nd8 50.Ra8+-
47...Kxd6 48.Rf5! e3 49.fxe3 Qxe3
49...Qb2+ 50.Kh1 Ne5 51.Qf6 Qc1+ 52.Rf1 Qxe3 53.Rd1+ Nd3 54.Qf5 Nc5

55.Qf4+! Qxf4 56.gxf4 Ke6 57.Kg2 Nxf4+ 58.Kg3+-

50.Qb7 Qd2+?!
50...Ne5 51.h4 Qe2+ 52.Kg1 Qd1+ 53.Kg2 Qe2+ 54.Rf2+-
51.Qg2 Qe3
51...Qc3 52.Qd5+ Ke7 53.Qb7+ Nc7 54.h4-+
52.Qd5+ Ke7 53.Qb7+ Ke8 54.Qf7+ 1-0

198. E90
Klekowski, Maciej (2506) - Banikas, Hristos (2599)
Paleochora 146/198, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Be3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.exd5 Nfd7

953
9...Re8 - 123/190
10.Qd2N
10.Bd3 f5 11.Qd2 Ne5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.f4 Bg7 14.O-O Na6 15.Rae1 Nc7∞
10...Ne5 11.Nh2
11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Bd3 Nd7 (12...f5 - 10.Bd3) 13.O-O Bg7 14.f4 f5 15.Rae1 Nf6∞
11...f5 12.f4
12.Be2 Nbd7 13.O-O Nf6∞
12...Nf7
12...Ned7 13.Nf3 Re8 14.Bd3 Qe7 15.Kf2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nf6∞
13.Nf3 Nd7 14.Bd3 Re8 15.O-O Nf6 16.Rfe1 Bd7∞ 17.a4 Qa5
17...Ne4 18.Bxe4 fxe4 19.Ng5 Nxg5 20.fxg5 Qb6 21.Bf4²; 17...Nh5 18.Kh2 Qa5 19.g3 Bxc3
20.Qxc3 Qxc3 21.bxc3 Nf6 22.a5 Re7∞
18.Qc2 a6 19.Bd2 Qc7 20.a5 Rxe1+ 21.Bxe1 Re8 22.Na4 Nh5 23.Bd2 Bh6 24.Qc1

954
24...Bxa4!
24...Ng3 25.Nb6 Ne4 26.Bc2 Nxd2 27.Qxd2 Re7 28.g3 Ne5 29.Nh4 Qd8 30.Qf2 Nf7 31.Nf3 Bg7
32.Bd3²
25.Rxa4 Ng3 26.Kf2?!
26.Ra3 Ne2+ 27.Bxe2 Rxe2 28.Rb3 Qe7 29.Kf1 Re4 30.Rb6 Bg7∞
26...Ne4+ 27.Bxe4 fxe4 28.Nh2 Bg7³ 29.Ra3 h5
29...Bd4+ 30.Be3 Rf8 31.Ke1 (31.Qd2? Ne5-+) 31...h5!? (31...Nh6 32.g4 Qg7³) 32.Qd2 Nh6
33.Bxd4 cxd4 34.Qxd4 Nf5 35.Qxe4 Rf7³; 29...Qe7 30.Be3 Qh4+ 31.Kf1 Nh6 32.Bf2 Qe7 33.g4
Bd4³
30.g4 Qe7 31.Kg2 Bd4 32.Nf1?!
32.Be3 Qf6 (32...g5!?) 33.Rb3 Bxe3 34.Qxe3 Qd4³
32...hxg4
32...e3 33.Bxe3 Qe4+ 34.Kh2 Qf3-+
33.hxg4

955
33...e3! 34.Bxe3
34.Nxe3 g5! 35.Nf5 (35.Qf1 Qe4+ 36.Qf3 gxf4 37.Qxe4 Rxe4-+) 35...Qe2+ 36.Kh3 gxf4 37.Bxf4
Bxb2-+
34...Qe4+-+ 35.Kg3 Qh1
35...g5! 36.fxg5 (36.Qd2 gxf4+ 37.Bxf4 Ne5) 36...Be5+ 37.Bf4 Qh1 38.Qe3 Nxg5
36.Bxd4 cxd4 37.Kf2 Ng5! 38.fxg5 Rf8+ 39.Ke2 Qg2+ 40.Kd3 Rxf1 0-1

199. E91
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764) - Kamsky, Gata (2674)
Deutschland 146/199, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 Nc6 6.d5 Nb8 7.Nf3 c6
7...O-O - 80/(580)
8.O-O O-O 9.h3

956
9...e5N
9...Nbd7
10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.Re1
11.Be3 Na6 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Rad1²
11...d5 12.exd5 cxd5 13.Bg5! dxc4

14.Nd4!² Qc8 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.Bf3!

16.Qd4 Nc6 17.Qxc4 Qxc4 18.Bxc4 Rfe8 19.Rad1²

957
16...Qa6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Bd8
18...Bxb2 19.Rb1 c3 20.Nxc3! (20.Ne7+ Kg7 21.Qd4+ Qf6 (21...f6 22.Nxg6! hxg6 23.Re7+ Rf7
24.Rxf7+ Kxf7 25.Re1 Ba3 26.Qd8+-) 22.Qxf6+ Kxf6 23.Bxb7 Nd7 24.Bxa8 Rxa8 25.Nd5+ Kg7
26.Ne3²) 20...Bxc3 21.Bxb7 Qf6 22.Re3! Nc6 23.Bxa8 Rxa8 24.Rf3 Qe5 25.Rc1 Rd8 (25...Nd4
26.Re3+-) 26.Qf1! Bb2 (26...Bb4 27.Rxc6 Rd2 28.Rc1+-) 27.Rxc6 Rd2 28.Re3±
19.h4
19.b3!? cxb3 20.Qxb3 Nd7 21.Rad1©
19...Nc6 20.h5 Qa5 21.Qc1

21...Nb4?!
21...Qc5!? 22.Qh6 Qd4 (22...Nd4 23.Qf4 Nxf3+ 24.Qxf3©) 23.Rad1 Qh4 24.Qe3 Bg5 25.Qc3©
22.Qxc4 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 Bf6 24.b4
24.Rad1 Rad8 (24...Bxb2? 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.Re7+-) 25.b4 Qb6 - 24.b4
24...Qb6 25.Rad1 Rad8 26.a4 Kg7 27.Qf4 Rfe8?
27...h6 28.g3 (28.hxg6 fxg6 29.a5 Qb5 30.Bb3 h5 31.g3 Rfe8=) 28...Qd6 29.Qf3 b6 (29...Qxb4
30.hxg6 fxg6 31.Rb1 Qd2 32.Rxb7+ Kh8 33.Rd1 Qg5 34.Rxa7±) 30.b5²
28.h6+ Kf8 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.a5 Qd8 31.Qf3 Qe7
31...Re5 32.Bxb7 Qe7 33.Ba6 Re1+ 34.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 35.Bf1±
32.Bxb7 Be5 33.Bc6
33.g3 Rd8 34.Rxd8+ Qxd8 35.Bd5 Qe7 36.b5+-

958
33...Rd8 34.b5+- Rxd1+ 35.Qxd1 Bc7 36.Qa1?!
36.b6! axb6 (36...Bb8 37.Qa1+-) 37.a6 Bb8 38.g3 Qc7 39.Qd5+-
36...Be5
36...Qe5 37.Qxe5 Bxe5 38.b6 axb6 39.a6 Bb8 40.g3 Ke7 41.f4 Kd6 42.Bb5 Kc5 43.Be8+-
37.Qd1 Bc7

38.Qa1
38.b6! - 36.b6
38...Be5 39.Qe1 Bd4 40.Qd2 Qc5 41.g3! Ke7 42.Kg2 f5 43.Qg5+ Bf6 44.Qf4 Be5 45.Qd2 Bd4
46.f4 Kf6
46...Qc4 47.Qe1+ Qe6 (47...Kd6 48.Kh3+-) 48.Qb4+ Qd6 49.Qc4+-
47.Kh3 Qc4 48.Bg2 Qc5 49.Bf3 Ke7 50.Qe2+ Be3 51.Qb2 Bd4 52.Qb3 Kd6 53.Bc6 g5 54.fxg5
54.Qf7 gxf4 55.Qd7+ Ke5 56.b6! axb6 57.axb6 fxg3 (57...Qxb6 58.Qe7#) 58.b7+-
54...a6 55.Qf7 axb5 56.Qd7+ Ke5 57.g6 Kf6 58.g7 1-0

200. * E92
Krasenkow, Michal (2605) - Barski, Radoslaw (2444)
Polska 146/200, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 Na6 9.Be2 Nc5 10.Nd2
Bd7 11.O-O h6 12.Be3 Nh7
12...c6 - 56/679

959
13.Nb3 b6 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.Qd2 h5

15...Qh4

16.f4N (16.f3 f5 17.Bf2 (17.exf5 gxf5∞) 17...Qg5 18.Qxg5 Nxg5∞) 16...exf4 17.Rxf4 Qe7 18.Rff1
Ng5 19.Bd3 Rab8 20.Rae1 Qe5 (20...Be5 21.Nb5 Bxb5 22.cxb5 c4! 23.Bxg5 (23.Bxc4 Nxe4 24.Qc2
f5 25.Bd3 Qh4 26.Bxe4 fxe4 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rf1 Bh2+ 29.Kxh2 Rxf1 30.Qxc7 Qf6 31.Qc8+
Kf7= 32.Qc7+ Kg8 33.Qc8+ Kf7=) 23...hxg5 24.Bxc4 g4 25.hxg4 Qh4ƒ) 21.Kh1 Rfe8 22.Qf2 Re7
23.Bf4 Qd4

960
24.Qxd4?! (24.Qc2 Nxh3 25.Bh2 Rxb2 26.Qxb2 Qxd3 27.Qb8+ Be8 28.Qd8 Bf8 29.Nb5 Rxe4
30.gxh3 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Bxb5 32.cxb5 Qxd5+ 33.Kg1 Qd4+ 34.Kf1 Qd3+ 35.Re2 Qf3+ 36.Ke1
Qc3+=) 24...Bxd4 25.h4 Nh7 26.Nb5 Bxb5 27.cxb5 Nf6 28.Bxh6? (28.g3 Nh5³) 28...Ng4 29.Bd2
Nf2+ 30.Rxf2 Bxf2 31.Rf1 Bxh4µ Mrva,M (2386)-Mazur,S (2449) Drienica 146/(200) 2020
16.f4N
16.Nb5; 16.a3
16...exf4 17.Bxf4 Rb8 18.Rf3?!

18.Rae1 Bd4+ 19.Kh1 Qh4„

961
18...g5!µ 19.Be3
19.Bh2 g4 20.Rf4 (20.hxg4 hxg4-+; 20.Rd3 f5-+) 20...Qg5 21.hxg4 hxg4-+; 19.Bg3 g4-+
19...g4 20.Rff1
20.hxg4 hxg4 21.Rf4 Qh4 22.Bf2 Qh6 23.Nb5 Nf6-+
20...gxh3 21.g3 Qe7 22.Bf4 f5
22...Bd4+ 23.Kh2 h4 24.gxh4 Kh8µ; 22...h4 23.gxh4 (23.g4 Bd4+ 24.Kh2 f6 25.Nb5 Be5-+)
23...Qxh4-+
23.exf5 Bxf5 24.Rae1 Bd4+
24...Qf7 25.Kh2 Qg6µ
25.Kh1
25.Kh2! h4 26.Nb5 hxg3+ 27.Bxg3∞
25...Qf7?!
25...Bxc3! 26.Qxc3 Qf6 27.Bxh5 (27.Qxf6 Nxf6 28.Bc1 Ng4-+) 27...Rxb2-+
26.Bh6

26.Nb5 Rxb5! 27.cxb5 Qg6 28.Kh2 Nf6ƒ

26...Bg7
26...Rfe8! 27.Bd3 Rxb2! 28.Qxb2 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Bxd3µ

962
27.Bd3 Qg6 28.Rxf5 Rxf5 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Nb5 Qg5= 31.Qxg5+ Rxg5 32.Re7+ Kf6 33.Re6+
Kg7 34.Re7+ Kf6 35.Re6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

201. * E94
Swiercz, Dariusz (2649) - Robson, Ray (2673)
USA (ch-Int.-rapid) 146/201, 2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 c6 10.Kh1
Nbd7 11.Bg5
11.Nc2 Nb6 12.a4 (12.Bg5 - 43/(748)) 12...Be6 13.Ne3N (13.Na3) 13...a5 14.f4 Qc7 15.Ra3 Rad8
16.Qe1 Bc8! 17.c5 dxc5 18.e5 Nfd5 19.Ne4 Radovanovic,M (2457)-Popovic,M (2320) Srbija
146/(201) 2020 (19.Ne4 f5! 20.Nd6

(20.exf6 Rxe4 21.fxg7 Rde8ƒ) 20...Rxd6! 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Qxa5 Bd4 23.Nxd5 (23.Nc4 Qe7µ)
23...cxd5 24.Bb5 Bd7 25.Bxd7 Nc4 26.Qa7 Qxd7³)
11...Qb6 12.Nb3 a5 13.Na4 Qb4 14.Nc1 Nc5 15.Nxc5
15.Nd3 - 110/315
15...Qxc5 16.Qd2

963
16...Nd7N
16...d5?! 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Nd3 Qf8 19.e5 Nd7 20.f4±; 16...Qb4!? 17.Rd1 (17.Qc2 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5
19.Nd3 Qb6 20.e5 Nd7 21.f4 f6 22.exf6 Nxf6∞) 17...Nd7„
17.Rb1 f5! 18.Nd3
18.Be3 Qe5 19.Bf4 Qe6 20.exf5 Qxf5 21.Nd3 d5 22.cxd5 Qxd5=
18...Qd4

18...Qxc4 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Rbe1 Qf7 21.Bh6∞

964
19.Be3
19.exf5 Nc5! 20.f6 (20.fxg6 Bf5 21.Rbd1 (21.gxh7+? Bxh7 22.Rbd1 Rxe2 23.Qxe2 Bxd3µ)
21...Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Nxd3 23.gxh7+ Kxh7∞) 20...Bxf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Nxc5 dxc5 23.Rbd1 Be6=
19...Qf6
¹19...Qxc4 20.Nf4 (20.exf5 Qxa2 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rfe1 Nf8³) 20...Qb4 21.Qd1 a4³
20.Nf2
20.Bg5 Qd4 (20...Qf7!?) 21.Be3=
20...Nc5 21.Bf4
21.Rfe1 fxe4 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Nxe4 Qd4 24.Qxd4 cxd4 25.Bd3∞
21...fxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.fxe4 Rxe4 24.Bd3 Re8 25.Bh6 Qd4 26.Bxg7 Qxg7 27.Qf4

27...Be6
27...Re5! 28.Rf3 Qe7 29.Qg3 Kh8³
28.Qxd6 Rad8 29.Qa3
29.Qg3 Qd4 30.Rbd1 Qd6 31.Qg5 Qe7=
29...Qd4
29...Qe5 30.Rbe1 Qd6 31.Qxd6 Rxd6 32.Rf3 Red8 33.Bf1 Bf5³
30.Rbd1 Bxc4 31.Bxc4+ Qxc4 32.Qxa5 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 Qc2
33...Qe2 34.Rb1 Qc2 35.Re1 - 33... Qc2

965
34.Rf1?
34.Re1! Rxe1+ 35.Qxe1 Kf7 36.Qa1 Ke6 37.h3 Kd5 38.a4=
34...Qxb2 35.Qc7?

35.h3 Qe2 36.Rc1 Qe5µ

35...Qf2!-+ 36.Rg1 Re1 37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.Qd7+ Kh6 39.Qh3+ Kg5! 40.Qg3+ Qxg3 41.hxg3
Rxg1+ 42.Kxg1 Kg4 0-1

202. E97
Malakhatko, Vadim (2488) - Baidetsky, Valentin (2415)
Odessa 146/202, 2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 Ne8 10.a4 f5
11.a5 Nf6 12.Bd3
12.Re1 - 145/199
12...h6

966
13.Ra3N
13.Nd2
13...f4 14.a6 b6 15.c5 g5 16.Nd2 Rf7 17.Nb5 Ng6 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.Rc3 Bf8 20.Qc2 Ne8 21.Bb2
g4
21...Bxa6? 22.Nxd6 Bxd6 (22...Bxd3 23.Nxf7 Bxc2 24.Nxd8 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Rxd8 26.Ra1+-;
22...Nxd6 23.Bxa6 g4 24.Rc6±) 23.Bxa6±
22.Rc1 Bd7 23.Na3
23.Nc7 Nxc7 (23...Rc8? 24.Ne6 Rxc3 (24...Bxe6 25.Rxc8 Bxc8 26.Qxc8+-) 25.Nxd8 Rxc2 26.Rxc2
Rh7 27.Nc6+-) 24.Rxc7 f3 25.g3 h5 26.Rb7 h4∞
23...f3 24.g3 h5„ 25.Bb5 Bh6
25...h4 26.Bxd7 Qxd7 (26...Rxd7 27.Rc8 Rxc8 28.Qxc8 Bh6 29.Qxd8 Rxd8 30.Rc2 hxg3 31.hxg3
Bxd2 32.Rxd2 Rc8 33.Nb5 Nf8∞) 27.Rc8

967
27...hxg3! 28.fxg3 (28.Rxa8? g2! 29.Qb3 Nf4-+; 28.hxg3? Rh7! 29.Rxa8 Rh1+ 30.Kxh1 Qh7+
31.Kg1 Qh3-+) 28...Rxc8 29.Qxc8 Bh6 30.Qxd7 Rxd7 31.Rc8 Bxd2 32.Rxe8+ Nf8 33.Nc4 Bxb4
(33...Bg5 34.Rc8 b5! 35.Na3 Be3+ 36.Kf1 Rh7 37.Bc1 Bxc1 38.Rxc1 Rxh2 39.Rc8 Rh1+ 40.Kf2
Rh2+=) 34.Ba3 Bxa3 35.Nxa3 Rc7 36.Nb5 Rc1+ 37.Kf2 Rc2+ 38.Kg1 Rc1+=
26.Rd1
26.Bc6 Bxc6 27.dxc6 Nf4! 28.gxf4 Qh4 29.Nxf3 gxf3 30.Rxf3 Bxf4 31.Qb3 d5! 32.Re1 Nd6
33.Qxd5 Bxh2+ 34.Kg2 Qg4+ 35.Kxh2 Qxf3 36.Rg1+ Kh7 37.Qxe5 Qxf2+ 38.Rg2 Qh4+ 39.Kg1
Qe1+=
26...Bxb5 27.Nxb5

968
27...Nf4! 28.gxf4?
28.Kf1 Ne2 29.Rc6 h4 30.Bxe5 Bf8 31.Bd4 hxg3 32.hxg3 Rh7 33.Ke1 Rh1+ 34.Nf1 Bh6∞
28...Bxf4 29.Kf1 Bxh2 30.Ke1 h4 31.Nf1 Bf4?
31...Bg1! 32.Qc1 (32.Ba3 g3 33.fxg3 hxg3 34.Nxg3 Qh4-+) 32...Rf4 33.Qc2 g3 34.fxg3 hxg3
35.Nxg3 Qh4 36.Kd2 Qxg3-+
32.Bc1 Qg5?!
32...Qd7 33.Bxf4 (33.Qd3 g3 34.fxg3 hxg3 35.Bxf4 Rxf4 36.Nxg3 Qg4 37.Nf5 f2+ 38.Kd2 Qxd1+
39.Kxd1 f1=Q+ 40.Qxf1 Rxf1+ 41.Kc2 Ra1 42.Nfxd6 Nxd6 43.Nxd6∞) 33...Qxb5 34.Be3 Qxb4
35.Rd2 Rg7©
33.Rc8 g3?
33...Rxc8 34.Qxc8 g3! 35.Bxf4 Rxf4 36.Qxe8+ (36.Kd2 g2 37.Ne3 g1=Q 38.Qxe8+ Kh7 39.Rxg1
Qxg1 40.Qe7+ Kh8 41.Qe8+=) 36...Kg7 37.Ne3 gxf2+ 38.Kxf2 (38.Kd2 Rxe4 39.Qd7+ Kg6
40.Qe6+ Kg7 41.Qd7+=) 38...Qg3+ 39.Kf1 Qh3+ 40.Ke1 Qg3+=
34.Rxa8+- g2 35.Rxe8+ Kh7 36.Bxf4 Qxf4 37.Nxd6 g1=Q
37...gxf1=Q+ 38.Kxf1 Qh2 39.Ke1
38.Nxf7 Qxf7 39.Qc8 Qgg6 40.Rh8+ Kg7 41.Rxh4 Qe8 42.Qxe8 Qxe8 43.Nd2 Qb5 44.Nxf3
Qxb4+ 45.Ke2 1-0

203. E97
Sviridov, Valery (2558) - Belyakov, Bogdan (2458)
Russia 146/203, 2020

969
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4
h5 11.d5
11.h3 - 55/(625)
11...Ne7 12.h3 Nh6 13.Bg3 g5 14.Nd2 g4 15.hxg4 hxg4 16.c5 f5

17.Bh4N
17.cxd6
17...f4 18.Bg5 f3! 19.gxf3 Qe8 20.fxg4 Qg6! 21.Bxh6
21.Bxe7 Nxg4 22.f3 Ne3+ 23.Kf2 Nxd1+ 24.Raxd1 Rf4∞
21...Bxh6 22.Nc4

970
22...Bf4?!
22...Qf6! 23.Ne3 (23.Qd3 Ng6 24.cxd6 cxd6 25.Qg3 Bf4 26.Qg2 Kg7 27.Nb5 Bg5µ) 23...Ng6
24.Nf5 Bxf5 25.exf5 Nf4 26.Ne4 Qh4 27.Re1 (27.Bf3?! Nh3+ (27...Kf7!?) 28.Kg2 Nf4+=)
27...Nh3+ 28.Kg2 Nf4+ 29.Kg1=
23.Kg2! Qf6
23...Bd7 24.Rh1 Kg7 25.f3 b5 26.cxb6 axb6 27.Qd3±
24.Rh1
24.cxd6! cxd6 25.Rh1 Be3 26.Qg1 Bxf2 27.Qh2 Qg7 28.Rhf1 Bxg4 29.Bxg4 Qxg4+ 30.Kh1 Qf3+
31.Qg2+±
24...Be3 25.Qg1
25.fxe3? Qf2+ 26.Kh3 Kg7-+
25...Bxc5
25...Qxf2+ 26.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 27.Kg3 Bxc5 28.Rh6 Bd7 29.Rah1±; 25...Bxf2 26.Qh2 Qg7 27.cxd6
cxd6± - 24.cd6
26.Ne3 Qg7
¹26...Rf7 27.Rh2! Rg7 28.Kh1 Qf4 29.Rh3 Bd7 30.Qh2²
27.Rh2± Bd7
27...Rf6 28.Kh1 Bxe3 29.fxe3 Rg6 30.Nb5 (30.Rh4±) 30...Bxg4 31.Bxg4 Rxg4 32.Qxg4 Qxg4
33.Rg1 Qxg1+ 34.Kxg1±

971
28.Kh1 Bxe3
28...Kf7 29.g5 Ke8 (29...Rg8 30.Ng4+-) 30.Bg4+-
29.fxe3 Rf7 30.g5 Raf8 31.Qg3

31...c6?!
31...Ng6 32.Rg1 b5 33.a3 a5 34.b4+-
32.dxc6 bxc6 33.Bc4 d5 34.exd5 cxd5
34...Nf5 35.Qg1 Nd6 36.Bd3+-
35.Nxd5 Bc6 36.Qg2 Nxd5 37.Bxd5 Bxd5 38.Qxd5 Qg6 39.e4 Rc8 40.Rf1 Rf8 41.Rf6 Qg7
42.Rhh6 Qxg5 43.Rfg6+ Qxg6 44.Rxg6+ Kh7 45.Qe6 Rf1+ 46.Kh2 R1f2+ 47.Rg2 R2f6 48.Qxe5 1-
0

972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
CLASSIFICATION

I – Combinations with mating attack

II – Combinations to reach the draw
III – Other combinations

1. Sharapov, Evgeny - Oosterbos, Ron

corr, 2020
Ia

1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Nh5!! [∆ Ng7] 1...Rxc5

1...gxh5 2.Qxh5 Rc7 3.Rc3!! Qa5 4.Rg3 Kh8 5.Nxh7 Nxh7 6.Qg4+-; 1...Qxc5 2.dxc5 gxh5 3.c6!
Rxc6 4.Nxf7+-

980
2.dxc5 Qc7 3.Ng7 1-0

2. Kovalev, Vladislav (2648) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2716)

chess.com (Internet-blitz), 2020
Ia

1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Bf8! 2.Bxf8
2.Qxa5 Rxg2+ 3.Kh1 (3.Kxg2 Rg5+-+) 3...Qh5 4.Kxg2 Qf3+ 5.Kh2 Rh5-+
2...Rxg2+! 3.Kxg2
3.Kh1 Rfxf2 4.Rxf2 Qxf2-+
3...Rg5+ 4.Kh2 Qf4+ 0-1

3. Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Ding, Liren (2791)

chess24.com (Internet-m3/2-rapid), 2020
Ia

981
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Rf3±
1.Rxf7+! Kxf7 2.Qe6+ Kg7 3.Ne7 Qxc4 (3...Bxg5 4.Qxg6+ Kf8 5.Qxg5 Qxc4 6.Ng6+ Kf7 7.Qf5+
Ke8 (7...Kg7 8.Qxd7++-) 8.Nxh8+-) 4.Qxg6+ Kf8 5.Nf5 Qe4+ 6.Ka1 Qxf5 7.Qxf5+ Ke7 8.g6+-

4. Babarykin, Stanislav (2379) - Lapaj, Mateusz (2216)

Internet (ol-rapid), 2020
Ia

982
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Bxh7+! Kxh7 2.Qh4+ Kg8

2...Kg6 3.Qg5+ Kh7 4.Qh5+ Kg8 5.Ng5 Rd8 6.Qh7++- - 2...Kg8
3.Ng5 Rd8 4.Qh7+ Kf8 5.Qh8+ Ke7 6.Qxg7 Rf8 7.Bh4 Ke8 8.Ne4 Be7 9.Rad1
9.Bxe7! Kxe7 10.Qf6+ Kd7 11.Rfd1+ Kc7 12.Nd6 Qd8 (12...Qb8 13.Nb5+ Kc8 14.Rd6 a6
15.Rxe6! axb5 16.Rxc6+ Bxc6 17.Qxc6++-) 13.Nb5+ Kc8 14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Qxf7+-
9...Bxh4 10.Nd6+ Ke7 11.Nxc8+ Raxc8 12.Qg4 Bf6±

5. Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2627) - Svane, Rasmus (2613)

chess.com (ol-rapid), 2020
If

983
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Qh3!
1.Rh3 Nh5! 2.g4 Qc1+! 3.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 4.Kf2 R8c2+ 5.Ke3 (5.Kf3? Rxa2! 6.Ne4!! dxe4+ 7.Kxe4
f5+ 8.gxf5 exf5+ 9.Kd3 Rc8! 10.Re3 Nf6-+) 5...Rxa2 6.Ne4 dxe4 7.Qd8+ Kh7 8.Kxe4 Re1+ 9.Kd3
Ra3+ 10.Kd2 Rxh3 11.Kxe1 Nxf4µ
1...Rxc2
1...Qb4 2.Rexc3 Qxd4+ 3.Kf1 Qd1+ 4.Kf2 Ng4+ 5.Qxg4 Qd4+ 6.Kg3 Rxc3+ 7.Rxc3 Qxc3+
8.Qf3+-
2.Rxa3 Rc1+ 3.Kf2 R8c2+ 4.Kg3 Rc3+ 5.Rxc3 Rxc3+ 6.Nf3 Ra3 7.Kh4 a5 8.g4+-

6. Sjugirov, Sanan (2675) - Baryshpolets, Andrey (2569)

chess24.com(USA-Internet), 2020
If

984
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Qxf4
1...Qe1+! 2.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 3.Bf1 Bh3 4.Qxd4 Rxf1+ 5.Qg1 Rxg1+ 6.Kxg1 Kg6 7.Kf2 Kf7 8.Ke3
Ke7-+
2.Qc6∞

7. Antipov, Mikhail Al (2562) - Jones, Gawain C B (2679)

Gibraltar, 2020
Ih

985
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Re8!! hxg5
1...Qd7 2.f7+ Kh8 3.Nf6 Qd6 4.Ne6 Rfxe8 (4...Bxe6 5.R1xe6 Qc7 6.Rxa8 Rxa8 7.Re8++-)
5.fxe8=Q+ Rxe8 6.Nxe8+-
2.Rxc8 Raxc8 3.Ng7 Nh4 4.Nxf5 Nxf5 5.Qxb7 Bxd4 6.Qd7+-

8. Stocek, Jiri (2595) - Laznicka, Viktor (2638)

Pardubice (blitz), 2020
Ii

986
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Rh8! 2.Qd2
2.Bxg7 Rxh3-+
2...Rg5! 3.Qe3
3.h4 Rxh6 4.Qe3 Bd5 5.c4 Rxh4 6.cxd5 cxd5-+
3...Bxe2 4.Bxg5 Bxf1 5.Rxf1 fxg5 6.Qxg5+ Nf6-+

9. Aronian, Levon (2767) - Firouzja, Alireza (2728)

Stavanger (rapid-Armageddon), 2020
Ii

987
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.c5?
1.Ndf5! Qxa2 (1...exf5 2.g6! fxg6 (2...Bf6 3.gxf7++-) 3.Qxg6+-) 2.Nh6+ gxh6 3.gxh6+ Bg5 4.h7+
Kf8 5.h8=Q+ Ke7 6.Qxf7+!+-
1...g6?
1...Qxa2!-+
2.Qh8+! Kxh8 3.Nc6+ Kg8 4.Nxa5 Nf3 5.Rd1²

988
 1. Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Tari, Aryan (2633)
Stavanger, 2020

White to move
Deflection - the final tactical blow!

Show/Hide Solution

42.Re8! Qxe8 43.Qh6+ Kg8 44.Qxg6+ Kh8

44...Bg7 45.Nf6++-
45.Nf6 1-0

2. Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2757)

Stavanger, 2020

989
White to move
White's army is perfectly positioned and ready for total assault. A powerful tactical stroke is in the
air!

Show/Hide Solution

24.Nf6+! Kh8
24...gxf6 25.Qxe6+ Kg7 26.Rxd5+-; 24...Kf7 25.Qxb4 Nxb4 26.Rd7+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke8
28.Rxg7+-
25.Qxe6 Ra8 26.Qxd5 1-0

3. Tari, Aryan (2633) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)

Stavanger, 2020

990
Black to move
In order to execute an irresistible attack along the b-file Black sacrifices the exchange in the most
effective manner. A crushing attack follows!

Show/Hide Solution

26...Re1!! 27.Rxe1 Bxd4 28.Qb4 Qc7 29.d6 Qc6 30.Qa5 Bxb2

30...Rxb2+ 31.Kc1 Qxd6 32.c3 (32.Nf4 Rb5 33.Qd2 Qc5-+) 32...Bc5 33.Kxb2 Qd2+ 34.Kb1
Qxe1+ 35.Kc2 Kb7-+
31.Ka2 Be5 32.Rb1 Rxb1 33.Kxb1 Qxd6 34.Kc1 Qd4 35.Qxa6+ Kb8 36.c3 Qg1+ 37.Kd2 Qxg2+
38.Ke3 f4+ 39.Nxf4 Bxf4+ 40.Rxf4 Qg3+ 41.Rf3 Qe1+ 42.Kd4 Qe5+ 43.Kxc4 Qe4+-+

4. Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Caruana, Fabiano (2835)

lichess.org (Internet-m/12-rapid), 2020

991
White to move
White possesses a powerful bishop pair, so he needs to open up the position even further. Also, the
h3N must return into action. Therefore, White temporarily sacrifices a pawn trying to bring all his
pieces in life!

Show/Hide Solution

16.e6!! fxe6 17.Ng5 Rf6 18.Qc2! Rg6

18...g6 19.Bb2+- (19.Qf2!? c5 20.Ba3 Nd7 21.Rad1+-)
19.Rxe6! Qxe6
19...Rxe6? 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Qh8#
20.Nxe6 Rxe6 21.Bb2+-

5. Carlsen, Magnus (2881) - So, Wesley (2741)

chess24.com (Internet-m1/1-rapid), 2020

992
White to move
At a first glance, the position is pretty unclear. Both kings are in danger, so White sacrifices his queen
trying to punish Black's lack of proper development. In the process he manages to find a secure
shelter for his own king.

Show/Hide Solution

21.Qxc8+! Bxc8 22.Rxc8+ Kh7 23.Nf3! f6 24.Kf2 Qb2+ 25.Be2 Na6 26.Rxa8 Nc5 27.Rd1! Ne4+
28.Kg1 f5
28...Qxe2 29.Rd7+ Kxh6 30.Rh8+ Kg6 31.Nh4+ Kg5 32.Rg7#
29.Bd3+-

6. Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)

lichess.org (Internet-rapid), 2020

993
Black to move
Carlsen performs a devastating mating attack by executing a series of forcing moves.

Show/Hide Solution

37...Rxb2+! 38.Kxb2
38.Kc1 Bg5+ 39.Kxb2 Qb3+ 40.Ka1 Qxd1+ 41.Ka2 Qb3+ 42.Ka1 Bf6-+
38...d3+! 39.Kc1 Qc5+ 40.Kd2 Qc2+! 41.Ke1
41.Ke3 Qxe2+ 42.Kf4 Qxd1-+
41...Bh4+! 0-1

7. Carlsen, Magnus (2863) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2736)

chess24.com (Internet-m3/6-blitz), 2020

994
White to move
In the diagram position Black seems to have a quite realistic drawing chances if he manages to reduce
the material even further. However, the black king is poorly placed, allowing Carlsen to make serious
threats and convert his advantage.

Show/Hide Solution

63.Re7!
63.Re8? Kh6 64.g4 Rg2+ 65.Kh1 Rg3= Magnus Carlsen - Hikaru Nakamura
63...Kh6 A bit more stuborn resistance Black can pose after
63...Rb1+ 64.Kf2 Nd1+ 65.Ke2 Kh6 66.Re6+ (66.Rc7!?+-) 66...Kh7 67.Nf7 g4 68.h4 Nc3+ 69.Kd3
Nd5 70.Kd4 Rd1+ 71.Ke5 Ne3 72.Kf4 Rf1+ 73.Kxe3 Rxf7 74.Ke2!+- and Black cannot save the
g4P.
64.Nf7+ Kg6 65.Nh8+ Kh6 66.Rxe3 Kg7 67.Re5 Kxh8
67...g4 68.h4 Kxh8 69.Rh5+ Kg7 70.Rg5++-
68.Rxg5+-

8. Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) - Carlsen, Magnus (2863)

lichess.org (Internet-rapid), 2020

995
Black to move
The World Champion uses a series of forced moves and simplifies the position. Then the conversion
becomes much easier.

Show/Hide Solution

30...Rxg3! 31.Kxg3 Qa3+ 32.Kh2 Qxc1 33.Qc4

33.Qxc2 Qxc2 34.Rxc2 Rc7-+
33...Rc7 34.Qb5 Qxg5! 0-1

9. Carlsen, Magnus (2862) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)

chess24.com (Internet-m1/1-rapid), 2020

996
White to move
The black knight is offered to White, but it cannot be captured right away. In actual fact, White needs
to cut off the black queen from influencing the centre, and only then to engage a knight hunt!

Show/Hide Solution

16.d6!
16.f4? Ng4!∞ with the idea of 17.Bxg4 Qxf4+
16...exd6 17.f4+-

997
998
999
 1. Indjic, Aleksandar (2618) - Djuric, Stefan (2358)
Srbija, 2020
NB 2/k

1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...h5! 2.Kxd5
2.Ne2 Ke6 3.Ke3 h4=; 2.Nxd5 h4 3.gxh4 Nxh4 4.Nc3 Ng2 5.Ne2 Ke6 6.Kc4 Nxf4 7.Nxf4+
Kxe5=
2...h4 3.gxh4 Nxf4+ 4.Kd6 Ne6= 5.Ne2
5.Nb1 f4 6.Nd2 Nd4 7.Kd5 Nf5 8.Nf3 (8.h5 Kg7 9.Nf3 Ng3=) 8...Ng3 9.Nd4 Ke7=
5...f4 6.Ng1 Nd4 7.Kd5 f3 8.Nh3 Ne6 9.Kd6 Nd4 10.Kd5 Ne6 11.Kd6 Nd4 12.Kc5 Ne6+
13.Kd5 Nf4+ 14.Ke4 Nxh3 15.Kxf3 1/2-1/2

2. Kostolansky, Sebastian Lukas (2402) - Pechac, Jergus (2498)

Drienica, 2020
NB 5/e

1000
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Nd8! 2.Bb4+ Kd7 3.Kf2 Ne6 4.Bd2 Kc6 5.Kg2 b5! 6.axb5+
6.a5 Kb7 7.Kf2 Ka6 8.Kg2 Nxd4 9.Bxg5 b4-+
6...Kxb5 7.Kh3
7.f4 gxf4 8.g5 Kc4 9.g6 Kxd4-+
7...Kc4-+ 8.f4 Nxf4+ 9.Bxf4 gxf4 10.g5 f3 11.g6 Kd3 12.g7 f2 13.g8=Q f1=Q+ 14.Kh2
14.Kxh4 Qh1+ 15.Kg3 Qg1+-+
14...Qf2+ 15.Kh1 Qe1+ 16.Kg2 Qg3+ 17.Qxg3+ hxg3
17...hxg3 18.Kxg3 Kxd4 19.Kf2 Kd3 20.Ke1 Kc2-+
0-1

3. Nielsen, Viktor (2301) - Brondt, Nicolai (2223)

Ballerup, 2020
R 3/c6

1001
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Rb5! Rh2 2.b4 Rh7+ 3.Ka6 Rh4

3...Kc6 4.Rc5+ Kd6 5.Rc3+-
4.Rb7 Rh1 5.b5 Ra1+ 6.Kb6 Kd5
6...Rb1 7.Ra7 Rb2 8.Ra3 Kd7 9.Rc3 Rb1 10.Ka6+-
7.Rh7 Rb1
7...Kd6 8.Kb7 Rb1 9.b6 Rb2 10.Ka7 Ra2+ 11.Kb8+-
8.Rc7+- Kd6 9.Rc2 Ra1 10.Kb7 Rh1 11.b6 Kd7 12.Rd2+ Ke7 13.Kc7 Rc1+ 14.Kb8 Rb1 15.b7
Rb3 16.Rd4 Ke6 17.Kc7 Rc3+ 18.Kb6 Rb3+ 19.Kc6 Ke7 20.Rd5 Rb1 21.Rb5 Rc1+ 22.Kb6 Rd1
23.b8=Q Rd6+ 1-0

4. Adams, Michael (2701) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (2626)

Biel, 2020
R 6/a

1002
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.f3!
1.Rc4 Kg5 2.Ke4 Kf6=
1...Rb8 2.Kc4! Rc8+ 3.Kb3!
3.Kd5!? Rc2 4.Kxe5 Rxb2 5.Rd4 Kg6 6.Rd6+ Kf7 7.Rb6 Re2+ 8.Kf5+-
3...Rf8 4.Ka4 Rxf3 5.Re4+- Kg6
5...Rf5 6.Ka5 Kg6 7.Kxa6+-
6.Rxe5 Kf6 7.Re8 Kf7 8.Ra8 Ke7 9.Ka5!
9.Rxa6? Kd7 10.b5 Kc7 11.Ka5 Kb7=
9...Rb3 10.Rb8
10.Rxa6 Kd7 11.b5 Kc7 12.Ra7+ Kb8 13.Rh7 Rxb2 14.Kb6 Kc8 15.Rh8+ Kd7 16.Rb8
10...Kd7 11.Kxa6 Kc7 12.Rb7+ Kc8 13.b5 Rxb2 14.Rh7 Rb1 15.Kb6 Rb2 16.Rh8+ Kd7 17.Rb8
Rb1 18.Ka7 1-0

5. Thybo, Jesper Sondergaard (2573) - Rasmussen, Allan Stig (2559)

Danmark (ch), 2020
R 7/i

1003
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Kh3!
1.Kf3? Ke6 2.Ke3 Re4+ 3.Kd3 Ke5 4.h5 (4.Re8+ Kf4 5.Rf8 Re7= (5...Ke5 6.h5 Rh4 7.h6 Kf4
8.Rxf7 Kxg5 9.h7 Kg6=)) 4...Rh4=; 1.Kh2 Rd4 2.Kg3 f6! 3.Rh7+ Kf8 4.gxf6 Rg4+ 5.Kh3 Rg6 6.h5
Rxf6 7.Ra7 f4 8.f3 Rf5 9.Kg4 Ra5=
1...Rf4
1...a5 2.f3 Rg1 3.Kh2 Rc1 4.h5 a4 5.Ra8+-
2.h5! Rxf2 3.h6+- Rf3+ 4.Kg2 Rf4 5.h7 Rh4 6.g6! fxg6 7.Ra8 Kd6 8.h8=Q Rxh8 9.Rxh8 Kc5
10.Ra8 Kb5 11.Kf3 a5 12.Ke3 Kb4 13.Kd4 a4 14.Rb8+ Ka3 15.Kc3 Ka2 16.Rg8 1-0

6. Andersen, Mads (2585) - Efimenko, Zahar (2602)

Deutschland, 2020
R 9/h

1004
1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...Nc7! 2.Rb6 Nd5 3.Ra6

3.Rb8+ Kg7 4.a6 Rxc6 5.a7 Nc7 6.Rc8 Ra6 7.Rxc7+ Kh6 8.f4 (8.Kh3 Ra3 9.f4 g5 10.fxg5+ Kxg5=;
8.Kf3 Ra4 9.Ke3 g5=) 8...Ra3 9.Kf2 g5 10.fxg5+ Kxg5 11.Rxh7 f4=
3...Nc7
3...Rc2 4.Nd4 (4.Ne5 Ra2 5.Ra7 Ne3+ 6.Kf3 Nd1 7.Nd3 Ra3 8.Ke2 Nc3+ 9.Kf1 Nb5 10.Ra8+
Kf7=) 4...Ra2 5.Ra8+ Kg7 6.a6 Ne3+ 7.Kg1 Ra1+ 8.Kh2 Ra2 9.a7 Rxf2+ 10.Kg1 (10.Kh3? Ra2
11.Re8 Ng4-+) 10...Rf1+ 11.Kh2 Rf2+=
4.Ne7+ Kf7 5.Rc6 Rxc6 6.Nxc6 Ke6= 7.Kf3 Kd6 8.Nd4 Kc5 9.Nxf5 gxf5 10.Kf4 Kb5 11.Kxf5
Kxa5 12.Kg5 Kb6 13.Kh6 Kc6 14.Kxh7 Kd6 15.f4 Ke7 16.Kg6 Nd5 17.f5 Nf6 1/2-1/2

7. Tari, Aryan (2633) - Caruana, Fabiano (2828)

Stavanger, 2020
R 9/i

1005
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Nd6! 2.Be2 Ke6! 3.Rc1 Ke5 4.Rd1 Rc7 5.Kg2 b6 6.Ba6 Rf7 7.Be2 Rf8!
7...Nf5?! 8.Rd8 Nd6 9.Rh8 Rf5³; 7...e3! 8.Rf1 Nf5 9.Rd1 (9.Bd3 e2! 10.Re1 Ne3+ 11.Kg1 Rf3
12.Rxe2 Rxg3+ 13.Kh1 Rf3-+; 9.Kh2 Rd7 10.Rd1 Rd2-+) 9...Nxh4+ 10.gxh4 Rf2+-+
8.Rb1 Nf5-+
8...e3 9.Rf1 Nf5-+
9.b4 Ne3+ 10.Kg1 Nd5 11.Rb3
11.Rc1 Rc8 12.bxa5 Nxc3
11...Rc8 12.bxa5 bxa5 13.c4 Nb4 14.Rb1 Kd4 15.Bf1 Nd3 16.Rb5 Rc5 17.Bxd3 exd3 18.Kf2
Kxc4 19.Rb1 Re5 0-1

8. McShane, Luke J (2680) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778)

Deutschland, 2020
R 9/k

1006
1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...Rb6!
1...Kg7 2.Ke1 Kg6 (2...Rb6?! 3.Ra1 Rb3 4.Kd2+-) 3.Kd2 f5 4.Rc2²
2.Ra1 Rb3 3.Bc8
3.Ra5 Rxc3 4.Rc5 Rd3 5.Bxc4 Rxd4 6.Bxe6 fxe6 7.Rc6 Re4=; 3.f4 Rxc3 4.Ra5 Bg4 5.d5 Kg7 6.Rc5
Rc2! 7.h4 h5 8.Rc7 Bf5 9.d6 c3 10.d7 Rd2 11.Rxc3 Bxd7=
3...Bxc8 4.Ra8 Rxc3 5.Rxc8+ Kg7= 6.d5 Rd3 7.Rxc4 Rxd5 1/2-1/2

9. Toth, Aleksandar (2352) - Milanovic, Danilo (2455)

Srbija, 2020
Q 4/l

1007
1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...Qd6!=
1...Qd4? 2.Qc6+-
2.Qc7
2.h4 Qc5 3.Kg1 Qc1+ 4.Kh2 Qc5=
2...Qd5+ 3.Kg1 Qd1+ 4.Kh2 Qd4 5.Kg2 Qd5+ 6.Kf1 Qd1+ 7.Kg2 Qd5+ 8.Kh2 Qd4 9.Kg2 1/2-
1/2

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THE DRAGON SICILIAN [B78]

In this Informant article I would like to share some analysis on the Dragon Sicilian, one of the
variations with truly unique and rich history. However, in the correspondence chess arena the Dragon
is considered to be a somewhat dubious variation due to the impact the powerful engines and their
ability to calculate long, forcing lines to the bitter end for Black. On the other hand, I quite like the
old saying: "There are no losing variations, but often they are badly mistreated!" So, we should
rewind the analysis a bit, and seek for improvements along the way. In the following examples I will
present you some of the lines I find acceptable for Black.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7
10.O-O-O

CHAPTER 1

10...Rc8 A bit of a surprise at the very beginning of the variation. Van Assche tried to avoid certain
lines, so he played a very unusual move, rarely seen even in the correspondence practice. Obviously,

1009
he wanted to check if his opponent would be able to find his way.
10...Na5!? A very interesting continuation, but rarely played nowadays. 11.Bb3 (Also possible is
11.Be2 hoping that Black will continue with 11...Rc8 reaching the common Dragon waters.
(However, Black should proceed with the tempting 11...Rb8 advancing the b-pawn next. This idea
deserves further investigation.)) 11...Rb8!? The rook is supporting the advancement of the b-pawn,
and is ready for attack once the b-file gets opened. (11...Nxb3+?! might be too premature. The bishop
can be captured a bit later, as the 11...Rb8 continuation clearly demonstrates. 12.cxb3!? Qb8?! Not
the most correct move. It seems much wiser to place a rook on b8, since the queen is a bit stranded.
(Better is 12...Rc8 13.h4 h5 14.Kb1 Re8 15.Bh6 Bh8 16.g4 hxg4 17.h5 Qa5∞) 13.Bg5 d5 14.Bxf6
exf6 15.exd5 f5 16.Kb1 a6 17.Rhe1 Qd6 18.Qf2² Black did not manage to organise his forces and
create any kind of meaningful counterplay, Bar,Lutz - Ilyasov,Anatoly, corr 2020) 12.Bh6 b5!? It is
possible to launch an attack on the queenside. White does not achieve much by exchanging the dark-
square bishops. (12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b5 (13...e5 14.Nde2 b5!? 15.Rxd6 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 b4 17.Nd5
Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Qc7∞) 14.Nd5 Nxb3+ 15.axb3 Nxd5 16.exd5 b4 17.h4 f6∞) 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Nd5
Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.h4 e5 17.Nxf6 c3!? 18.Nf5+ Bxf5 19.Qxc3 Qxf6 20.exf5 gxf5=
Matyukhin,Sergey - Gudmundsson,Elvar, corr 2018/19
11.Nxc6!? Bxc6 12.Bb3

12...b5?! After a few moves we reached the similar position to the 11...Nd4 line, with the exception
of White's bishop on d4 and Black's on d7 in the 11...Nd4 continuation. How significant is this
difference?
Quite possibly this is a bit better continuation. Of course, further analysis will show some
improvements and corrections in time to come: 12...a5! 13.a4 Qe8 Black is obliged to go for a b-
pawn advance. In actual fact, this may be the only chance to implement such idea. 14.Qe2 Controling
the b5-square. 14...Nd7∞ Black plans to place the knight on c5, forcing White to capture it with the

1010
dark-square bishop. Otherwise, the a4-pawn falls. The position is pretty unclear.
13.Bxa7 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Qa5 Now the difference becomes evident. The c6B is under
attack. Black did not have much of a choice, since White planned to bring the bishop back to d4
neutralising the power of the g7B, with a pawn in his pocket.
16.dxc6 Qxa7 17.Rhe1 White is quickly occupying the open lines putting pressure on the black
pawns in the centre.
17...Rxc6 18.Re4! White intends to capture the b4-pawn with the rook. The queen capture would
result in instant assault on her, so White wisely activates the rook, controling the 4th rank in the
process. Also, the rook will support the advancement of White's pawns very soon.
18...e6 19.Rxb4 d5 20.g4 Ra6 21.c3±

White kept the advantage till the end of the game, Van Assche,Jeroen - Teichmann,Cenek, corr 2019

CHAPTER 2

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7
10.O-O-O Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5

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12.Kb1
In olden days White used to continue with the routine-like 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 b5 15.g4

15...a5! (15...hxg4? is clearly a mistake, as shown in the model game. White obtains a very promising
attack. 16.h5 Nxh5 17.Nd5 Re8 18.Rxh5! gxh5 19.Qh2 Rxd5 20.Bxd5 Qb6 21.f4​→
Bergmanolson,Michael - Montella,Salvatore, corr 2019/20) 16.gxh5 a4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Bd5 e6
19.hxg6 exd5 20.h5 Bg5∞ Fernandez Martinez,Juan Carlos - Vertiz Gutierrez, Pedro, corr 2020
12...Re8
After 12...Nc4 we reach positions which are often discussed in practice. Black cannot achieve much,

1012
as displayed in the model game: 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 Obviously White is intending to capture the
b5-pawn without any consequences. Also, if the black rook retreats to c5 White has the tricky Ne6 at
his disposal. 15.b3 b4 Therefore Black sacrifices the exchange. 16.bxc4 bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qc7 But, after
a few more moves it is apparent that Black does not have any meaningful attacking plan. His only
pride is the g7B. 18.g5! Excellent move! Forcing the knight to the rim of the board thus rendering it
pretty useless. 18...Nh5 19.Rd3 Rc8 20.Qd2 Qxc4 21.Rb3± White defended himself with simple
means, by placing the rook on the b-file, Dlouhy,Radek - Montella,Salvatore, corr 2018/19
13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Bh6

16...e6
16...Kh7! Once again, an excellent move! This is the only reasonable fighting chance for Black.
Obviously, Black is planning to get rid of the h6B and position the rook on h8 thus neutralising
White's attack. 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Nf5+ After a few forced moves... 19...Bxf5 (Black
cannot play 19...gxf5? because it allows White to create a powerful attack. 20.Qg5+ Ng6 21.exf5
Bxf5 22.Rxh5! (22.Qxf5 e6 (22...Nf6 23.Bxf7!+-) 23.Qxh5+-) 22...e6 23.Qh6+ Kf6 24.Rxf5+ exf5
25.Nd5+ Ke6 26.Qg7+-) 20.exf5 Rh8 (20...e6? 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Ne4 d5 23.Qd4 Qc7 24.Rdg1+-)
21.fxg6 Nxg6 White is two pawns down, but on other hand Black's king terribly exposed. The
engines give White clear advantage, but in practice it is not that simple to proceed. In actual fact,
Black managed to save himself and clinch a draw in our model game. Anyhow, White could have
played better along the way... 22.Nd5 (Here I believe that White should have played 22.Qd5 e6
23.Qd4+ Qf6 24.Qxa7 even though White is a pawn down, Black's position remains very difficult.
The practice will show if there is any major improvements for White in this line.) 22...Nf6 23.Rxh8
Qxh8 24.Qg2 Qd8 25.Nf4 Qe8 26.Rg1 Qc6 and Black is very close to equality, Volodarsky,Yury -
Kolomytchenko,Igor, corr 2019
17.Rdg1 Qf6

1013
Black did not improve his chances much by opting for 17...g3 since after a few forced moves
18.Nce2 Qf6 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Nxg3 Nxg3 21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Rxg3 Nc4 23.Bxc4 Qxd4 24.Bd3
Qg7 25.Qf4± the ensuing position is rather problematic for Black, as his king is very weak and under
heavy fire, Grigoryev,Valery - Baranowski,Tadeusz, corr 2019/20
18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qd2 Thus far this line is deeply explored. At a first glance, the open
h-file, exposed Black's king, and undefended d6-pawn should be White's main targets.
20.Qe3 does not change the evaluation of the position.
20...Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 22.Nce2 White is planning to remove the h5-knight and attack the enemy king.
22...Kf8 Black does not have any other rational option but to evacuate his king to a more secure
position.
23.Ng3 Ke7 24.Nxh5 gxh5 25.Rd1 Target for White is the d6-pawn now.
25...Kd8 26.Qa5+ Ke7 27.Qb4 Rc5 28.Qxb7 White eliminates the black pawns, allowing his own a-
pawn to advance along the a-file.
28...Qxg5 29.Qxa7 Rd8 30.Rhg1±

White has a clearly better chances. At the moment the black king is sheltered, but all the black pieces
are therefore pretty immobile. On top of that, there are many nasty sacrifices looming. Obviously,
White has an extremely powerful a-passer which should prove to be decisive, Nekhaev,Andrey -
Palsson,Jon, corr 2018

THE INFLUENCE OF CORRESPONDENCE CHESS ON DEVELOPMENT OF OPENING

THEORY

1014
It is well known that correspondence chess players invest a lot of energy in their opening
preparations. In the pre-engine era, it was of upmost importance to spend days focused on the
analysis in order to discover each and every subtlety in certain line or variation. With the emergence
of modern engines and databases all the necessary information became available to a much wider
chess audience. As a result, the level of play got much higher and deeper in every aspect.

CHAPTER 3

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7
10.O-O-O Rc8 11.Bb3 Nxd4 This continuation is still very much common in the correspondence
practice.
12.Bxd4

12...b5 Black executes the usual type of assault.

13.Nd5 White goes for a logical continuation inviting exchanges and weakening Black's king
position.
Also, White can proceed with 13.Bxa7 Ortiz,Nadya 2212 - Daulyte,Deimante 2307, Khanty-
Mansiysk (ol) 2010 - 110/(107) or 13.h4 Hossain,Enamul 2479 - Abu Sufian,Shakil 2299, Dhaka
2006 - 97/152
13...Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.exd5 a5 16.a3

1015
16...Kg8! This is an obligatory move, as Black must avoid all the unpleasant checks.
17.Rhe1 Rc5 18.Re3 b4 By engaging a pawn sacrifice Black is intending to open a and b-files,
making possible for his major pieces to exert pressure along the open lines.
19.axb4 axb4 20.Qxb4 Qa8 21.Bc4 Bf5 The black bishop is targeting c2. Next, he plans to double-
up the rooks on the c-file and place the white king in great danger.
22.Ra3 Qc8 23.b3 Qc7

The black queen lost a couple of tempi reaching c7, allowing Black to continue with the attack. The
pressure along the c-file is still very much present, so Black wishes to include the second rook into
the affair. On the other hand, White's a3R is positioned rather awkwardly and can be a target of the

1016
enemy forces very soon.
24.Qd2 Rc8 25.g4 Bd7 26.Ra2 Bb5 27.Bxb5 Rxb5 28.Kb1 Qc3 Black is able to trade the queens
under very favourable circumstances, in view of pretty weak White's pawns on the kingside.
29.Qxc3 Rxc3 30.f4 Rc4=

A roughly equal ending arose, and a draw was agreed a few moves later, Van Tienhoven,Richard -
Perez Fernandez, Jose Vicente, corr 2019/20

1017
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1019
1020
1021
1022
Table of Contents
Back Cover 4
Title page 5
System of Signs 7
The Best Game of the Preceding Volume 9
The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume 10
NORWAY CHESS 2020 GM Elshan Moradiabadi & GM Miloš Perunović 22
FOUR NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE (4NCL) GM Gawain Jones 74
CRITICAL TIMES AT THE US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 WGM
103
Sabina-Francesca Foişor
THE LEGEND OF HENRIQUE MECKING GM Rafael Leitão 136
HOW I SHOULD HAVE WON THREE BRITISH CHESS
156
CHAMPIONSHIPS GM Daniel Gormally
THE ENGLISH OPENING – PART II GM Aleksander Delchev 191
THE ENGLISH REPERTOIRE FOR WHITE – PART II GM Ivan
243
Ivanišević
SACRIFICING THE QUEEN – PART II GM Kannappan Priyadharshan 258
POSITIONAL EXCHANGE SACRIFICE – Occupying The Outpost GM
276
Michael Prusikin
THE BEAUTY OF THE KING MARCH GM Sundar Mohanraj Shyam 288
ROGERS' REMINISCENCES – LINARES 2003 GM Ian Rogers 309
FROM THE CHESS INFORMANT ARCHIVES Douglas Griffin 336
Classification of Openings 348
A00-A24 349
A25-A49 364
A50-A99 409
B00-B24 428
B25-B49 483
B50-B74 525
B75-B99 555
C00-C24 642
C25-C49 654
C50-C74 674

1023
C75-C99 706
D00-D24 735
D25-D49 758
D50-D99 795
E00-E24 842
E25-E49 889
E50-E74 908
E75-E99 948
Index 973
COMBINATIONS GM Branko Tadić 980
CARLSEN'S PUZZLE CHALLENGE 989
ENDINGS IM Goran Arsović 998
CORRESPONDENCE CHESS CCE Vladimir Tašić 1009
TOURNAMENTS 1018

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