CONTENTS

Back Cover
Title page
System of Signs

The Best Game of the Preceding Volume

The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume

WILL WESLEY SO CLIMB THE SNOWY PEAK? by GM Sarunas Sulskis

A PEACEFUL TOURNAMENT by GM Farruk Amonatov
MINGLING WITH THE ELITE MY TATA STEEL MASTERS EXPERIENCE by GM Baskaran Adhiban
ELEGANCE AND TENACITY IN MOSCOW FEDOSEEV, A WORTHY WINNER by GM Emilio Cordova
GET TO KNOW THE CHINESE LEAGUE! by GM Bu Xiangzhi
PICK YOURSELF UP ...AND START ALL OVER AGAIN by GM Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko
THE KING IS THE GOAL by GM Yu Yangyi
IMPRESSIONS FROM GIBRALTAR by GM Michael Adams
A PERFECT GIFT FROM GIBRALTAR by GM Ju Wenjun
A FUNDAMENTAL STEP by GM Surya Ganguly
A GREAT FIGHT FROM TATA STEEL by GM Eduardas Rozentalis
A REPORT ON BAKU`S WOMEN OLYMPIAD by GM Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
OPENING APPROACHES IN DOHA by GM Aleksandar Colovic
EYES ON THE STARS, FEET ON THE GROUND by GM Axel Bachmann

Games
Classification of Openings
A00-A49
A50-A99
B00-B49
B50-B99
C00-C49
C50-C99
D00-D49
D50-D99
E00-E49
E50-E99
Index

Combinations by GM Branko Tadi

Endings by IM Zoran Petronijevi
Studies by IM Yochanan Afek
Tournaments
SISTEM ZNAKOVA SYSTEM OF SIGNS ZEICHENERKLRUNG
SYSTME DE SYMBOLES SISTEMA DE SIGNOS SPIEGAZIONE DEI SEGNI
TECKENFRKLARING

white stands slightly better

black stands slightly better
white has the upper hand
black has the upper hand
+ white has a decisive advantage
+ black has a decisive dvantage
= even
unclear
with compensation for the material
development advantage
greater board room
with attack
with initiative
with counter play
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
better is
centre
king's side
queen's side
weak point
endgame
bishops of opposite color
bishops of the same color
 double pawns
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
with
see
 130/140. D07
Aronian 2795 R. Rapport 2730
Novi Sad 2016

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Nf3 e5 6.de5 Bb4 [6...Be6 125/111] 7.Bd2 Nc3 8.bc3 Ba5 9.e3 0-0
10.Qa4 Bb6N [10...Qe7; 10...Qd5] 11.Qf4 Qe7 12.h4 [12.Bc4 Be6 13.Bb3 Rad8] 12...f6!? 13.ef6 Rf6 14.Qc4 Kh8
15.Bd3 Bf5 16.Bf5 Rf5

17.Ng5? [17.0-0 Raf8; 17.Qe2] 17...Ne5 18.Qe4 Qd7 19.0-0 Re8 [19...h6! 20.Nh3 Re8!] 20.Qc2 h6 21.Ne4 Rh5
[21...Qd8!?] 22.Ng3 Rh4 23.Rad1 Rf8 24.Bc1 Qg4 25.Rd5 Qg5! 26.Qe2 c6 27.Rd4
27...Rh1!? [27...Ng4] 28.Kh1 Bd4 29.f3?! [29.ed4? Qh4 30.Kg1 Ng4 31.Re1 Qh2 32.Kf1 Qg3+; 29.Kg1 Bc5]
29...Bb6 30.Ne4 Qh5 31.Kg1 Bc7?! [31...Rf4!] 32.Kf2?! [32.Ba3 Rd8] 32...Qh2 33.Ke1? [33.f4 Re8] 33...Rd8+
34.Bd2 Nd3 35.Kd1 Qe5 36.g4 [36.Nf2 Qb5 37.Nd3 Rd3] 36...Qb5 37.Qg2 Nb2 [37...Bb6!?] 38.Kc2?! [38.Ke1]
38...Nc4 39.Bc1 Rd5 40.g5 Na5 41.Bd2 Qd3
0 : 1 T. Paunovi
 130/125. !N C83
P. Harikrishna 2752 F. Caruana 2808
Baku (ol) 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4
12.Nb3 d3 13.Bb1 Nb3 14.ab3 Bf5 15.b4 0-0

16.Bf4!N [16.Re1 107/102] 16...Qd7 17.h3 Rfd8 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bg3 Kh8?! [ 19...h5 20.Re1! d2 (20...hg4 21.e6! fe6
22.hg4) 21.Re2 Bb1 22.Rd2 Qe6 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.Qb1 hg4 25.hg4 Qg4 26.Kg2] 20.Re1 Qc8 21.Nd2?! [21.Nh4! Bh4
22.Bh4 Rd5 23.Ba2! Re5 24.Re5 Ne5 25.f4 Nc4 26.f5 Bf5 27.gf5 Qf5 28.Bc4 bc4 29.Qg4] 21...a5 22.ba5 Ra5 [
22...b4] 23.Ra5 Na5 24.f4 f5 25.ef6 Bf6 26.Ba2! Nc4 [26...b4 27.f5 Be8 28.Ne4 b3!] 27.Bc4! bc4 28.g5! Qh3
29.Qf3 Bh5 30.Qf2 Be2 31.gf6 gf6 32.Qg2 Qe6 33.Kh2 Rg8 34.Ra1 [34.Qh3] 34...Rg6 35.Qe4? [35.Ra8! Kg7
(35...Rg8 36.Rg8 Kg8 37.f5! Qf5 38.Qc6+) 36.Ra7 Kh8 37.Qe4 Qe4 38.Ne4+] 35...Qe4! 36.Ne4
36...Bf3! 37.Nf2 [37.Nd2 Rh6 38.Kg1 Rh1 39.Kf2 Ra1=] 37...d2= 38.Ra7 Rh6 39.Bh4 d1Q 40.Nd1 Bd1 41.Kg3 Kg8
42.f5 Bc2 43.Rc7 Bd3 44.Rc5 Rh5 45.Bf6 Rf5 46.Rf5
1/2 : 1/2 S. Shankland

C83

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Ne4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.de5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4

12.Nb3 d3 1 13.Bb1 2 Nb3 14.ab3 Bf5 15.b4 3 0-0 16.Bf4! 4 Qd7 17.h3 Rfd8 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bg3 h5 5 20.Re1! d2 6
12.cd4 Nd4 13.Nd4 Qd4 14.Nf3 Qd1 15.Rd1 0-0 16.Nd4 7 Rfd8 17.Be3 Bd5 18.Rac1 8 Ne6 19.Nf5 Bf8 20.a3 9 b4 10

1
12...dc3 13.Nc5 Bc5 14.Be4 Qd7 15.bc3 Rd8 16.Qd7 Bd7
17.e6!? fe6 18.Ng5 Ne7 19.Nh7 Bd6 20.g3 Bc6 21.Bc6 Nc6 22.Ng5 Ke7 23.Re1 e5 24.h4 Rde8 25.a4 b4 26.cb4 Nb4
27.Re2 Nijboer 2567 - S. Ernst 2572, Nederland (ch) 2010 109/(207)
2
13.Nc5 dc2 14.Qd8 Rd8 15.Ne6 fe6 16.Be3 Rd5 17.Rfc1

a) 17...Kf7 18.c4 [18.Rc2 Rhd8 19.Rd2 Ne5 20.Ne5 Re5 21.Rd8 Bd8 22.Kf1 Bf6 23.g3 c5 24.a4 b4= Kaczr 2431 - M.
Pacher 2466, Budapest 2017] 18...bc4 19.Rc2 Ne5 20.Ne5 Re5 21.Rc4;
b) 17...Ne5 18.Ne5 Re5 19.Bd4 [19.Rc2 Rd5 20.c4 Rd7 21.Kf1 Kf7 22.Ke2 Rhd8= 23.cb5 ab5 24.a4 ba4 25.Ra4 Rb8
26.Rac4 Rb7 27.g3 1/2 : 1/2 S. Azarov 2577 - H. Melkumyan 2653, Bad Wiessee 2016]
b1) 19...Re2 20.Kf1 [20.Bg7? Rg8 21.Kf1 Rd2 22.Bd4 Bg5! 23.h4 Bh6] 20...Rd2 21.Be3 Rd7 22.Rc2 Bf6 [22...Kf7
23.a4 Rhd8 24.Ke2 H. Tiemann - Calhau, corr. 2008] 23.c4 b4 24.Ke2 Kf7 25.Rd1 Rhd8 26.Rd7 Rd7 27.b3 Bd4
28.Rd2 e5 29.f4 Ke6 30.Kf3 g6= S. Ganguly 2614 - Ar. Das 2404, New Delhi 2009; 23.a4;
b2) 19...Rg5 20.Rc2 Kf7 21.Be3

b21) 21...Rh5
b211) 22.a4?! Rd8 23.ab5 ab5 24.g3 Bc5 25.Bc5 Rc5 26.Re2 Ke7 27.Kg2 Rcd5 28.Ra7 R8d7 29.h4 h6 30.Kf3 Rf5= Mi.
Adams 2744 - W. So 2773, Wijk aan Zee 2016 127/128;
b212) 22.c4! Bd6 23.g3 [23.h3 Rb8 24.b3] 23...Rb8 24.b3 bc4 25.Rc4;
b22) 21...Re5 22.c4 b4 23.Rd1 Rd8 24.Rd8 Bd8 25.Kf1 [25.Rd2 Bf6 26.Kf1 Ke7 27.b3 Bg5 28.Bd4 Rf5 29.Rc2 Bf6=
E. Bacrot 2697 - S. Sethuraman 2639, Gibraltar 2016 127/(128)] 25...Bg5 26.Bd4 [26.Bg5 Rg5 27.b3 Re5 28.Rd2
Ke7 29.h3 g5= M. Warmerdam 2347 - Gao Rui 2551, Groningen 2016] 26...Ra5 27.b3 Bf6 28.Be3 Bg5 29.f4 Be7
30.g4 h5 31.h3 g6 32.Ke2 M. Carlsen 2844 - Ding Liren 2766, Wijk aan Zee 2016 127/(128)
3

15.Be3 0-0 16.Nd4 Nd4 17.cd4 c5 18.Bd3 cd4 19.Bd4 Qd4 20.Bf5 Qe5 21.Qh5 g6 22.Bg6 Qh5 23.Bh5 Bf6 24.Bf3
Ra7 25.Rab1 Rd8 1/2 : 1/2 Quparadze 2498 - Jojua 2575, Georgia (ch) 2017;
15.Re1 0-0
a) 16.Be3 Qd5 [16...Bg6 17.Bd4 Nd4 18.cd4 Bb4 19.Re3 d2 20.Bg6 fg6 21.Rd3 Rf4 22.d5 Re4 23.Rd2 Bd2 24.Qd2
Iv. Sokolov] 17.Bd4!
a1) 17...Rfd8

a11) 18.Re3 Nd4 19.cd4 c5 20.Bd3 cd4 21.Re2 Qe6 22.Rd2 Bd3 23.Rd3 Bc5 24.Qd2 Rd5 25.h3 h6 26.Qf4 Re8 27.Qd2
Ba7 28.Rd1 Bb8 29.Re1 Be5 30.Ne5 Re5 31.Re5 Qe5 32.Rd4= Wei Yi 2706 - W. So 2773, Wijk aan Zee 2016
127/(128);
a12) 18.Bd3 Bd3 19.Qd3 Qb3 20.e6 fe6 21.Qe4 Qd5 22.Qg4 Bf8 23.Re6 Re8 24.Ng5 [24.Re8 Re8 25.Ra6 Re4 26.Qc8
Ne5!= Marc. Kanarek 2533 - Mh. Anurag 2383, Cappelle-la-Grande 2016 128/(118)] 24...Nd4 25.cd4 Br. Tadi;
a13) 18.h4! Bg6 [18...h6 19.Re3 Nd4 20.Nd4! Bg6 21.b4 c5 22.bc5 Bc5 23.Ba2 Qb7 24.Qg4 Iv. Sokolov] 19.b4! d2
[19...Bb4? 20.Ba2 Qd7 21.e6 Qd6 22.Be5 Ne5 23.Re5 Bc5 24.h5+] 20.Qd2 Bb1 21.Rab1 Bb4 [21...Nd4? 22.Qd4
Qd4 23.Nd4 Bb4 24.Nc6+] 22.Qf4 Be7 [22...Nd4 23.Nd4 Bc5 24.e6 fe6 25.Ne6 Rf8 26.Nf8 Rf8 27.Qe5 Bf2
28.Kh2 Qd8 29.Re4 Bh4 30.g3 Br. Tadi]
23.e6! fe6 24.Qg4 F. Caruana 2804 - Hou Yifan 2663, Shamkir 2016 128/118;
a2) 17...d2 18.Re2 Bb1 19.Rb1 Nd4 20.Nd4 Bg5 21.g3 c5 [21...f6?! 22.f4 c5 23.Nc2 Bh6 24.Rd2 Lorparizangeneh
2519 - Lalith Babu 2584, Moscow 2017] 22.Nf5 Qd3 23.Nd6 Qg6 24.h4 Bh4 25.Rd2 Be7 26.Rd5 F. Caruana 2767 -
E. LAmi 2611, Reykjavk 2012;
b) 16.h3 Qd7 17.b4 Rfd8 18.g4 Bg6 [18...Be6 19.Bf4 a5 20.ba5 Ra5 21.Ra5 Na5 22.Nd4 Ante Brki 2585 - A.
Colmenares 2350, Biel 2016] 19.Ba2 Kh8 20.Bf4 Rf8 21.Bg3 f5 22.ef6 Bf6 23.Be6 Qd8 24.Re3 Iv. ari 2660 - M.
Al-Sayed 2524, Biel 2016
4
16.Re1 Qd7 17.h3 15.Re1
5
19...Kh8?! 20.Re1 Qc8

a) 21.Nd2?! a5 22.ba5
a1) 22...Ra5 23.Ra5 Na5 24.f4 f5 25.ef6 Bf6 26.Ba2! Nc4 [26...b4 27.f5 Be8 28.Ne4 b3!] 27.Bc4! bc4 28.g5! Qh3
29.Qf3 Bh5 30.Qf2 Be2 31.gf6 gf6 32.Qg2 Qe6 33.Kh2 Rg8 34.Ra1 [34.Qh3] 34...Rg6

a11) 35.Qe4? Qe4! 36.Ne4 Bf3! 37.Nf2 [37.Nd2 Rh6 38.Kg1 Rh1 39.Kf2 Ra1=] 37...d2= P. Harikrishna 2752 F.
Caruana 2808, Baku (ol) 2016130/125;
a12) 35.Ra8! Kg7 [35...Rg8 36.Rg8 Kg8 37.f5! Qf5 38.Qc6+] 36.Ra7 Kh8 37.Qe4 Qe4 38.Ne4+;
a2) 22...b4!?;
b) 21.Nh4! Bh4 22.Bh4 Rd5 23.Ba2! Re5 24.Re5 Ne5 25.f4 Nc4 26.f5 Bf5 27.gf5 Qf5 28.Bc4 bc4 29.Qg4 S.
Shankland
6
20...hg4 21.e6! fe6 22.hg4;
20...d2 21.Re2 Bb1 22.Rd2 [22.Rb1 hg4 23.Rd2 Qf5 24.hg4 Qg4 V. Anand 2776 - Mamedyarov 2761, Moscow (blitz)
2016] 22...Qe6 23.Rd8 Rd8 24.Qb1 hg4 25.hg4 Qg4 26.Kg2
7
16.Ng5 h6
a) 17.Ne6 Ne6 18.Be3 Bg5 19.Bg5 hg5 20.Bb3 Rad8 21.Be6 fe6 22.b4 Kh7 23.h3 Kg6= Vedmediuc 2437 - Ante Brki
2584, Baku (ol) 2016;
b) 17.Bh7 Kh8 18.Ne6 Ne6 19.Be4 Rad8 20.Be3 Bg5 21.Bg5 hg5 22.Rac1 g6 23.g3 Kg7 24.Bd5 Rfe8 25.Kg2 Re7=
Zhang Xiaowen 2374 - Khotenashvili 2493, China 2016;
16.Be3 Rfd8 17.Rdc1 h6 18.Nd4 Bd5 19.Bd1 Nd3 20.Rc7

a) 20...Bg5 21.Bg5 hg5 22.e6 fe6 23.Nc6 [23.Bg4 Rd6] 23...Rd6 24.Ne7 Kf8 25.Ng6 Kg8 26.Bc2 26...Nb2
27.Ne7 Kh8 [27...Kf8 28.Bh7] 28.Rb1 Nd3! 29.Bd3 Ba2 30.Rd1 Rad8 31.Ng6 Kg8 32.Ne7 [32.Ne5 Bc4 33.f3 a5
34.Ra7 a4 35.Kf2 Rd3 36.Nd3 Rd3 37.Rd3 Bd3=] 32...Kh8=;
b) 20...Bf8 21.e6 fe6 22.Bg4 Re8 23.b3 Bd6 24.Rc2 Ne5 25.Be2 [25.Bh5 Rec8 26.Rac1 Rc2 27.Rc2 g6 28.Be2 h5]
25...Be4 26.Rd2 Bb4 27.Rdd1 Bd5 28.Rac1 Rac8 29.h4 [29.f4!?]
29...Ba3! 30.Rc2 Rc2 31.Nc2 Be7 32.h5 Rc8 33.Nd4 Kf7 34.f3 (Hou Yifan 2667 - M. Muzychuk 2563, Lviv (m/7)
2016 127/129) 34...Rc3 35.Bd2 Rc8= Br. Tadi
8
18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Bg5!? Rd7 20.Ne7 Be7 21.Be7 Ne6!? 22.Be4 c6 23.Bd5 Rd5 24.Rd5 cd5 25.Rc1 h5 26.f3 Kh7= Svidler
2739 - F. Caruana 2670, Amsterdam 2009 106/99
9
20.Bb1 Bb7 21.f4 Rd1 22.Rd1 Rd8 23.Rd8 Nd8 24.Kf2 Ne6 25.g4 Bd5 26.Ng3 Nc5 27.Bd2 S. Azarov 2577 - Ant.
Pavlidis 2530, esko 2016
10
21.ab4 Bb4 22.Nd4 a5
a) 23.f4 g6 24.f5 Nd4 25.Bd4 Bf3!? 26.gf3 Rd4 27.Be4 [27.Rd4 Bc5=] 27...Rd1 28.Rd1 Re8= Vachier-Lagrave 2785 -
S. Sethuraman 2639, Gibraltar 2016 127/(129);
b) 23.Ba4 Br. Tadi
G. Arsovi
WILL WESLEY SO CLIMB THE SNOWY PEAK?

We have been witnessing Wesley Sos constant improvement on his way to the top of the chess elite for quite a
time. In the second half of 2016 the 23 year old Filipino-American GM arrived at the steep part of the path and
took a rapid ascend that has captured and continues to nurture admiration of chess fans across the globe.

 Wesley Sos is having a fascinating undefeated streak of not losing more than 50 top level games in a row. The list
of high-profile events is impressive: the 4th Sinquefield Cup (Saint Louis), the golden 42nd Chess Olympiad Baku,
where Wesley literally proved a motor of the US-team, then Isle of Man Masters, rounded off with winning both
London Classic 2016 and Wijk aan Zee 2017, the latter a full point ahead of reigning World Champion Magnus
Carlsen.

Riding the crest of a wave, Wesley stormed into the tight club of ELO 2800+ on January 1st 2017. Ever since, he
should be viewed as a potential challenger to Magnus Carlsen with all due seriousness. This of course is by no
means meant to degrade Fabiano Caruanas chances at his similar mission. Yet while Fabiano enjoys his well-
deserved publicity, I will modestly try to fill the still existing gap on Wesley. Analysing his aforementioned success,
I learned he deserves it in full measure!

We will start with the Tata Steel tournament and retrace Wesleys path back till Baku. Carlsen and So arrived in Wijk
aan Zee after fighting different battles. While Magnus had successfully defended his title against Sergey Karjakin in
New York, Wesley had a victory from London in his pocket. Glorious as it was, London Classic missed only one thing
the direct presence of the World Champion. But world-renowned Wijk aan Zee Chess Festival didnt! Further riding
the crest of his beautiful white wave, Wesley left Magnus behind by a full point!

While in London Wesleys main strategy was not losing, in a larger pool of players, he certainly needed more wins.
And he did score! Below I am presenting his two Wijk wins as White.

The first game showcases an overwhelming of the opponent strategy. Advancing his black pawn to a4, Wojtaszek was
confident that he had taken an important b3-square under firm control. He was, however, virtually laughed off by
Wesley, committing both 18.b4! and 24.Nb3! Such a unique ability to turn his opponents strength into a weakness
defines Wesley as an extraordinary fighter, dangerous to anyone. Even to Magnus Carlsen...

E06
So 2808 Wojtaszek 2750
Wijk aan Zee 2017

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.Qc2

c5 7.0-0

7...Nc6
[7...cd4 is played far more often, but after 8.Nd4 Nc6 9.Nc6 bc6 10.b3 the resulting structure suits Wesleys tenacious
style well. With the text Wojtaszek possibly takes advantage of the World Championship armoury, familiar to him
since serving as second on Team Anand.]

8.dc5 d4
[8...Bc5?! 9.cd5 Qd5 10.Nc3 hands in advantage to White easily. (but not 10.Ng5 Nd4!) 10...Qh5]

9.a3 a5 10.Rd1 e5 11.Nc3 Bc5 12.Nd5! Without this resolute intervention Whites position would have no appeal
whatsoever.
[12.Bg5 h6 13.Bf6 Qf6 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.b4? doesnt work due to 15...ab4 16.Nc5 Qc5 17.ab4 Nb4 as the knight hits
the queen.]

12...h6

13.Bd2N
[Stronger than 13.e4?! a4 14.Bd2 Bg4= A. Stella 2419 Milos M. Pavlovic 2469, Budapest 2016]

13...a4 14.Bb4!
Wesley had foreseen this bishop scenario, playing 13.Bd2. Blacks footing on the queenside is now heavily contested.

14...Nb4
[On 14...Bb4 a tepid 15.Nb4?! was hardly on Wesleys mind. (I rather believe he was ready to temporarily sacrifice 2
pawns by 15.ab4! Nd5 16.cd5 Nb4 17.Qd2 Nd5 18.Ne5 which actually yields him more than an edge.) 15...Qd6
16.c5 Qe7 17.e3 d3!]

15.ab4 Nd5 16.bc5

[And not 16.cd5?! Bd6 17.Ra4 as now Black has 17...Bf5! 18.Ra8 (18.Qb3 Qc7) 18...Bc2 19.Rd8 Rd8 20.Rc1 Ba4]

16...Nb4 17.Qd2 Nc6 18.b4!

[Marks a turning point in the middlegame. Wesley basically mocks 13...a4 supposed benefits. Indeed, how much Black
would wish his pawn were still on a5! But now it has gone undefended and gets on Whites menu after the subsequent
b4b5 punch, followed by Qd2b4.]

18...Qe7 19.Qb2
[As Wojtaszek was ready to meet the hasty 19.b5?! Na5 20.Ra4 Nb3 21.Qb4 Ra4 22.Qa4 Nc5= comfortably equalising
the game.]

19...Bg4

20.Re1! A very hard move to make. If one is willing to discover a secret of what is required to become a 2800 player, he
should dig deeper into such moves.

20...Rfd8
[And yet the main appeal of Wesleys last unassuming move is revealed at 20...Bf3. Now Im pretty sure he intended
another odd-looking 21.ef3! which nevertheless brings his rook into action once and for all. (21.Bf3 e4 22.Bg2 e3 23.f4
is just messy, although should favor White anyway.) 21...Qf6 22.b5 Nd8 23.Qe2]

21.Nd2 And hes got what he wanted.

21...Be6 22.b5 Nb8

Black is losing ground fast now.
[Yet 22...Na5 23.Ra4 Qc5 24.Qa2 nets White at least an exchange.]

23.Qb4 f5
Blacks counterplay comes in too late.
 Radoslaw Wojtaszek. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili
24.Nb3! Beautiful! Wesley dismisses natural laws at b3
once again. He needs his knight there to protect c5.

24...Nd7? Last mistake.

[Black should have better kept the white long-range
bishop off by 24...e4 25.Ra4 Ra4 26.Qa4 Nd7 although
not much hope is left after 27.Qa7]

25.Bb7 Crushing Blacks queenside for good.

25...Rab8 26.Ra4 Rb7

27.c6!+ The point of 25.Bb7.


27...Qb4 28.Rb4 Rc7 29.cd7 Rc4
[There are different wins on 29...Rdd7 30.c5 Bb3 31.c6+ being just one of them.]

30.Rc4 Bc4 31.Rc1! Be6

[31...Bb3 32.Rc8]

32.Rc8 Ultimate liquidation.

32...Rc8 33.dc8Q Bc8 34.b6 and Black resigned, as hes losing the bishop. 1 : 0

I find the game against Rapport a truly breathtaking adventure! Consistently pursuing his strategy of light-square
domination, Wesley finally achieves a perfect post for his knight on f5. It turns out that he has paid a horrific price for
this commodity though, as his own king falls into heavy canon fire along the g-file. To make things even worse,
Rapport raids his queenside with the bishop, inflicting tangible damage there too. Wesley, however, doesnt lose his
cool during a hurricane and suddenly steps on Rapports toes with 35.Ne7! with a knight which the Hungarian GM
presumably believed to be fixed on f5. A perfect display of an ambush attack!

E18
So 2808 Rapport 2702
Wijk aan Zee 2017

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.d4 Bb7 4.c4 e6 5.Bg2 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Rc1

9...Nd2
[9...c5; 9...d6]

10.Qd2 d6 11.d5 e5 12.e4 Nd7 13.h4 a5 14.Bh3 Nc5 15.Kg2 Bc8

 Richard Rapport. Photo by Josip Asik
Rapport possibly follows a recent game Tomashevsky
2731 Ponomariov 2709, Baku (ol) 2016, where the
defence ultimately triumphed.

16.Rh1N
[The game went 16.Bc8 Qc8 17.Qe2 Be7 18.Nd2 Nd7
19.Rh1 Nf6 20.Nf1 h5 21.Ne3 g6 and now
Tomashevsky decided to switch the kings residence by
22.Rcg1 Kg7 23.Kf1 Rh8 24.Ke1 Qd7 25.Kd1 but
overpressed on the long run.]

16...Bh3 17.Rh3 Qd7 18.Nh2 Wesley gives start to a

quite odd-looking regroupment.
[18.Qe2; 18.Ne1]

18...h5 19.f3 g6 20.g4?! Kh7 21.Rh1 A mysterious, yet

creative idea. Wesley has foreseen his knight transfer
to g3, threatening h5 and taking f5 under control. To
make that work, he will also need his queen on e2 or
d1. Meanwhile his rooks are at risk of getting stuck.
[21.Qe2 Bg7 (21...Rg8) 22.gh5 gh5 23.f4? Rg8! 24.Qh5
Bh6 25.Rg3 Nd3+]

21...Rg8 22.Qd1 Bg7 23.Nf1 Bh6 24.Kf2 Allows

Black a lovely shot, however, it seems that Whites
middlegame strategy was about to collapse anyway.
24...Bc1! 25.Ng3
[25.b3 Bb2 26.Ne2 hg4]

25...Bb2 26.Nb5

26...Bc1! Having snatched a pawn, Rapport now redirects his bishop back to a powerful outpost on f4.

27.gh5 Bf4 28.Nc3 f5! 29.hg6 Rg6 30.Nf5 The knight has at last come to a desired stronghold. After all, Wesleys
strategy proved not to be that outlandish. With his rooks stuck on the h-file, however, his king now will be shelled and
he will need nerves of steel to survive the onslaught.

30...Rag8 31.Kf1
31...b5! Taking advantage of the immobility of the knight on c3.

32.cb5
[32.Nb5 Rg2 33.h5 Rd2 34.Qe1 Nd3 35.Qh4 Rgg2 is just a disaster.]

32...Rg2 33.Qb1!
[33.h5 Rd2 34.Qb1 Nd3+ with two cherries on the cake 35.Ne2 (or 35.Nd1 Qb5!! 36.Qb5 Rd1 37.Ke2 Rd2 38.Kf1
Rf2#) 35...Qb5!! 36.Qb5 Rd1#;
33.a4 Rd2 34.Qb1 Rgg2 35.Nd1 Na4 36.h5 Nb2 37.Nc3 (37.Nb2 Qb5) 37...Rdf2 38.Ke1 Bd2# murders the king.]

The pawn on b5 needs extra protection, as the sidelines reveal. The square d3 must also be kept under lock and key.

33...Qf7?! With the self-evident idea of tripling on the g-file and checkmating White. Yet with a powerful spy on f5, it
turns out to be a rough road to walk on. After a relatively extensive analysis, compared with the limited time Rapport
 had for thinking during the game, I consider he shouldnt have taken eyes off the b5pawn and should have kept
looking for inroads through the queenside instead.
[Lets first look at 33...Rd2

A) 34.Rg1
A1) 34...Qe8 35.Rg4 Qh5 (35...Rd3 36.Rg8 Qg8 37.Ne2) 36.Ng3 (However 36.Rg8 Kg8 37.b6! This break gives White
lots of opportunities.) 36...Bg3 37.Rhg3 Rg4 38.Rg4 Rd3 and the win is near.;
A2) 34...Rg1 35.Kg1 Be3 36.Kh1 Nd3 37.Rh2 Nf2 38.Rf2 Rf2 and with a powerful knight-f5 the heated struggle keeps
going 39.Qe1 Bd4 40.Qc1;

B) 34.Ne2 Nd3 35.a4 Qe8 36.Rg1 Rg1 37.Kg1 Qg6

B1) 38.Nfg3 Re2 39.Qd3 Re3 40.h5 (40.Qc4 Bg3 41.Qc7 Kh6) 40...Qg3 41.Rg3 Rd3+ Black is winning;
B2) Instead a cold-blooded 38.Kf1 Re2 (or 38...Nc1 39.Qc1 Re2 40.Qc7+) 39.Ke2 Nc1 40.Kf1+ gives a win to
White.;

33...a4! This move didnt come easy to me at all, but I like it best. It prevents White from consolidating its pawn by a2
a4, makes ground for obstructing ideas as Nc5b3 and Qd7-b5, available once the white knight leaves c3. To top it off,
a4a3 and Rg2b2, the future looks scary for White.

A) 34.b6 a3 35.bc7 Rb2 36.Qd1 Rgg2 37.Ne2 Rbe2 38.Qe2 Re2 39.Rg1 Ra2 40.Rg7 Qg7 41.Ng7 Ra1 42.Kg2 Rg1
43.Kg1 a2 44.c8Q a1Q with imminent checkmate;

B) 34.h5 a3 35.Qb4 (35.Ne2 Re2! 36.Ke2 Rg2 37.Kf1 Rb2+ with a deadly Qb5 next) 35...Rb2
B1) 36.Qc4 Rgg2 37.Nd1 (37.h6 Rgc2 38.Nd1 Rc4 39.Rg1 Rc1 40.Rg7 Kh8+) 37...Rbc2;
B2) 36.Qa3 Rgg2;

C) 34.Ne2
C1) 34...Re2 35.Ke2 Rg2 36.Kf1;
C2) 34...a3 An attempt to repulse Black by 35.Rg1 leads to even more exciting play (35.Nf4 Rb2+) 35...Re2 36.Ke2
(36.Rg8 Rb2+) 36...Rg1 37.Qg1 Qb5 Here we go! 38.Kf2 Nd3 (but not 38...Qb2 39.Kf1 Qb1 40.Kg2 Qa2 41.Kh1+
when the white king reaches the safety, but his counterpart is doomed.) 39.Kg2 (39.Ke2 Nc1 followed by mate on e2.)
39...Qb2 40.Kh1 Nf2 41.Kg2 and despite a heavy shelling the struggle keeps on 41...Ne4 42.Kh1 Nf2 43.Kg2 Nd3
44.Kh1 and now the best albeit risky bet for Black might be unobvious 44...Qc1 (but not 44...e4 45.fe4 Nf2 46.Kg2
Ne4 47.Kf3);
C3) 34...Nb3! looks gorgeous and leads to flamboyant wins 35.ab3 (unless White discovers a cold-blooded 35.Qd3!
which helps him to prevent the black queens inroads for the time being.) 35...Qb5
C3a) 36.Qb2 Qd3+ better (than 36...a3 37.Qc2 Re2 38.Qe2 a2 39.Qb5 a1Q 40.Kf2 Qb2 41.Kf1= and here I struggle
to find a win.);
C3b) 36.Qc2 ab3 37.Qc7 Kh8 38.Nfg3 Re2 39.Ne2 b2 40.Kf2 Rg2!!+]

34.Ne2 Qg6?
[On 34...Re2 35.Ke2 Rg2 36.Kf1 Qg6 White fares quite well and has at least a draw on account of 37.Ne7 (On 37.b6
however, the going may again get tough 37...Nd3! 38.Qd3 Ra2 39.Ng3 Bg3) 37...Qg7 38.Nf5]

35.Ne7! A stab in the back, which Rapport apparently missed in the heat of the battle. Now Black collapses.

35...Rf2 36.Kf2 Qg2 37.Ke1 Rg3

[37...Bg3 38.Kd1 Qf3 39.Ng8 Ne4 40.Qe4 Qe4 41.Nf6+]

38.Rg3
[But not reckless 38.Ng3? Bg3 when Black is calling the shots again.]

38...Qh1
[38...Bg3 39.Ng3 Qg3 40.Ke2 Qg2 41.Ke3+ and Black is busted.]

39.Rg1 Qf3 40.Nf4 Qe3

[40...ef4 41.Nf5 Nd3 (41...Ne4 42.Qb2) 42.Kd2 Ne5 43.Rg7 Kh8 44.Rc7 (44.Qg1 Nc4) 44...Qf2 45.Kc3 Qf3 46.Kb2
Nd3 47.Ka1+; 40...Qf4 41.Nf5 Ne4 42.Qc2 Qf5 43.Qc7+]

41.Ne2 Nd3

42.Qd3!! The second time period reached, Wesley So delivers a spectacular kick. Rapports attack is eliminated.
[42.Kd1 Nf2 43.Kc2 Qe2 44.Kb3 Qb5 is too much trouble.]

42...Qd3
43.Ng8!!+ Such deep invasion demonstrates well that the sin of fear is alien to Wesley.

43...Qf3 Without the sneaky knight, Blacks threats fizzle out fast.

44.h5! to land the rook on g6.

44...Kh8 45.Rg6 Qh1

[45...Qe4 46.Nf6 Qb1 47.Kf2 Qf5 48.Kg2]

46.Kd2 Qe4
[46...Qh5 is untouchable 47.Rh6+]

47.Nf6 Qb4 48.Ke3 with checkmate on g8 to follow. 1 : 0

Lets take a step back. We are now in London, where Wesley claimed the first place in the Grand Chess Tour 2016. He
became best among the best, but in addition, the London victory was a nice cherry on the cake in its own right!

It goes without saying that there were many rivals who minded Wesleys supremacy and were eager to contest it to the
utmost limit. I mentioned before that Wesleys main strategy here was not losing. If you happen to think that in order
to win a star-studded event like London its most important to have a winning ability, you are wrong. If you look up the
Final Standing, you will see that most Wesleys most common result was draw. As Napoleon Bonaparte knew: The
first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue.

The next game shall serve as an example of Sos endurance.

A34
Aronian 2785 So 2794
London 2016

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nb4 6.Bc4 Nd3 7.Ke2 Nf4 8.Kf1 Nd3
[8...Ne6; 8...Be6]
 Levon Aronian. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis
Wesley is typically well aware of the latest opening
trends, especially those introduced by his fellow
countrymen. The text move has been first used by
Caruana at Russian Team Championship 2013.

9.Qe2
[The pioneer game went 9.Qb3 e6 10.Bb5 Nc6
Jakovenko 2734 Caruana 2772, Russia 2013]

9...Nc1 10.Rc1 e6 11.h4 a6 12.e5 Nc6 13.Rh3 b5

14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Be4

15...Qd7N
[15...Qb6 16.Qe3 (16.Ng5!? Nd4 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qg4) 16...Rd8 17.h5 h6 18.Rh4 Rd7 19.Rg4 Nd4 was fine for Black in
Bluebaum 2640 J. Sarkar 2415, Stockholm 2016/17; RR 15...h6 Timson C. Peckham, ICCF 2013]

16.Rg3 g6 17.Kg1 Be7 18.Qe3 0-0-0

[A risky rendez-vous with a rook along the c-file, yet castling short is outright madness: 18...0-0? 19.Qh6+]

19.Rg4! Aronians crawling rook maneuvre Rh1h3g3g4f4 is well worth noting.

19...Kb8 20.Rf4 Rhf8 21.a4 b4 22.Bc6 Bc6

[22...Qc6 23.Ne4 Rd5 24.b3 (24.Nf6 Bf6 25.ef6) 24...Rfd8 25.Rf7 (25.d4 cd4 26.Qd2 Qe8 27.Nf6 Bf6 28.Rf6)
25...Rd3 26.Qf4 Qe4 27.Qe4 Be4 28.Re7]

23.Ne4 Be4 24.Re4 a5

[24...Qa4 25.Rc5! was no doubt, Aronians bloody idea.]

25.Rec4 Quite logic, but somewhat slow.

[Was Black ready enough if White attempted to blast the game open immediately by 25.d4?

A) 25...Qa4
A1) 26.b3 Qb5 27.dc5 Qd3 (27...Rd3 28.Qe2 Rfd8 29.Ne1+) 28.c6 Qe3 29.c7! Ka7 (29...Kb7 30.cd8N!+ is bound
to put a smile on your face!) 30.fe3 Rc8 31.Rec4 (but not 31.Nd4 Kb6 32.Rc6 Kb7);
A2) 26.dc5 Rd1 27.Rd1 Qd1 28.Kh2 Rc8 29.Rd4 Qc2 30.Rd7 Qc5 31.Qc5 (31.Qe4 Rc7) 31...Bc5 32.Rf7 a4;

B) Was Aronian concerned with his e4rook isolation after 25...c4!? ? 26.Rc4 Rc8 27.d5! ed5 28.e6 (28.Rc8 Rc8
29.Rf4)
B1) 28...Qd6 29.Rcd4 (29.Rc8 Rc8 30.Re5? f6+) 29...Qc5;
B2) 28...Qb7 29.Qf4 Ka8 30.Rc8 Rc8 31.Re1 fe6 32.Re6]

25...Qa4
[An attempt to freeze d2d4 25...Qd3? runs into a nice kick 26.Rc5!

A) 26...Bc5 27.Qc5 Qa6 (27...Rd7 28.Qf8) 28.Qc7 Ka8 29.Rc6 Qb7 30.Qa5+;

B) 26...Qe3 27.Rb5!+]
26.d4
[Aronian possibly felt torn between this blast and a tempting exchange sacrifice 26.Rc5 Bc5 27.Qc5 Rc8 (27...Qd7? is
asking for trouble 28.Qa5 Qb7 29.Rc4 Rd5 30.Qa4 Rb5 31.Nd4+) 28.Qb6 Ka8

A) 29.Qa6 with perpetual check;

B) 29.Rc8 Rc8 30.Nd4 b3 (30...Qd1 31.Kh2 Qd2 32.Nb5 Qd7 33.Qa5 Kb8 34.Qb4) 31.g3 Maybe he underestimated
this silent move. (an impatient 31.Nb5? meets a sad end 31...Rc1 32.Kh2 Qh4#) 31...Qb4 32.Nb5 Qc5 33.Qa5 Kb8
34.d4;

C) 29.Rc7 Rc7 30.Qc7 b3 and the white knight is immediate denied access to d4.]

26...Rd5 27.dc5 Qc6 Put to a hard test, Wesley doesnt lose his cool and blocks down the c-pawn first.

28.Nd4 If the white knight reaches d6 now, it will basically be game over.

28...Qc7 still trying to maintain the blockade of the c-pawn.

29.Qf3 Keeping control on f7 and c6, but losing it on d4 and e5.
[29.Nb5 Qe5 30.Re4 (30.c6 Qe3 31.c7 Kc8 32.fe3 Rb5+) 30...Bc5 is just one funny line.

A) 31.Re5 Be3 32.Rd5 (32.Re3 Rb5) 32...Bc1 serves Black very well.;

B) 31.Rc5 Rd1!; 29.c6 Re5 30.Qb3 Rd8 31.Qa4 Rdd5; 29.f4 Bc5 30.Nc6 Qc6 31.Rc5 Rc5 32.Rc5 Qa6 shouldnt harm
Black, as Rf8c8 is near at hand.;

29.Qe4 Rc8 30.c6 Re5]

29...Rfd8 30.Nb5 Qe5 31.c6 No doubt this was Aronians idea. He now seems comfortably winning, but...

31...Rc8! Wesley keeps blockading the enemy pawn until the end.

32.Qf7
32...Qf6! Catching the queen onto exchange!

33.Rf4!
[33.Qh7?? Rb5]

33...Qf7
[Black shouldnt fool around with 33...Qb2? for example 34.Rcc4! Rb5 35.Qe7 b3 36.Rc5]

34.Rf7 Rb5 35.Re7 Rc7 And Whites attack is warded off

36.Re6 Ka7 37.Kf1 Aronian offered a draw in spite of his extra pawn. Now not a strength but a weakness, c6 is
perishing soon after 37.Kf1 Kb6= with Rc5 coming. 1/2 : 1/2

Lets take another step back, we are now in the Isle of Man. The next example of Wesleys defensive tenacity is a game
against the young and ambitious Dutchman Benjamin Bok. With a pawn down as Black since the opening, Wesley
doesnt bat an eye and fights throughout the middlegame, relying on his robust knights d5 and c6. Sensing the
vulnerability of his extra pawn on c5, Bok puts in lots of care and finally protects it by 24.b2-b4. This is immediately
registered in Wesleys radar screen and with his knight on c6 he blocks the c5 pawn and mines its support on b4. Upon
reaching the endgame, Wesley quickly steers the game into liquidation.

B12
Bok 2594 So 2794
Isle of Man 2016

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 c5 7.c4 dc4
[Somewhat more rare move in comparison to 7...Nbc6]

8.Na3 Nbc6 Yet now we have a transposition to a highway.

9.Nc4 Nd5
10.Bg5 Most straightforward.
[A more reserved 10.a3 was a case in Leko 2713 Ding Liren 2755, Tsaghkadzor 2015 and Gharamian 2647 Le
Quang Long 2405, Lille 2015]

10...Qd7 I will omit explanations of the opening stage, as the reader would best be guided by two epic games from the
World Cup 2009 between Cheparinov and Bologan.

11.Rc1 h6 12.Be3 b5 13.Na3

[13.Nd6 Bd6 14.ed6 c4 was played in one of the mentioned games, Cheparinov 2671 Bologan 2692, Khanty-
Mansiysk (m/1) 2009 107/(36)]

13...a6 14.dc5 White has won the pawn, but theres huge difference between the stranded Na3 and its muscular
counterpart on d5.

14...Be7 15.Nc2 Ne3 16.Ne3 Be4 17.a4 Qb7

18.Bd3N
[Deviating from the other Cheparinov Bologan game, which went: 18.ab5 ab5 19.Nd2 Bg6 20.Bf3 Rd8 Cheparinov
2671 Bologan 2692, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/4rapid) 2009 107/(36)]

18...Bd3
[18...Rd8 19.Be4! Rd1 20.Rfd1 is Whites smart idea.]

19.Qd3 0-0

Benjamin Bok. Photo by Harald Fietz

No doubt Wesley has come to this position pawn down
intentionally. What compensation does he have for the
lost c5pawn? Well, its just firmly blockaded by his
knight on c6. The a4b5 pawn set-up on the queenside
strangely favours Black, as White is unable to keep
both a and b files shut. If the white pawn were on a3,
not a4, Whites advantage would be huge. Now its not
to be. In order to complete the strategical picture, its
necessary to add that the white knight e3 finds the
access to d6 barred.

20.ab5 Qb5
[20...ab5 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Qe2]

21.Qb5 ab5 22.Rfd1 Rfc8 23.Rd7 Ra2 24.b4

Bok has done a lot to strenghten up his pride pawn c5. But the moment it became secure, the b4 is heading itself straight
into the mouth of Nc6.

24...Bg5!
[But not 24...Rb2 25.Nd4! Rd2 26.Rd1 Rd1 27.Nd1 Nb4 28.Re7 Rc5 29.Ne2]

25.Ng5 hg5 and now the power of the c6 blockader manifests itself, threatening the b4 and e5 pawn.

26.Rb1 Rca8
[26...Ne5 27.Rb7 Rd8 28.Rb5 Rdd2 29.Ra5 Rab2 30.Raa1 Rf2 31.b5 Rbe2 32.b6+ is not the right way.]

27.h3
[27.Rb7 Ra1 28.Rf1 Nb4 (28...Nd4 29.Rb8! Rb8 30.Ra1) 29.Rb5 Nd3 (29...Nc6!?) 30.c6 Rf1 31.Kf1 Rc8 32.Ke2 Nf4
33.Kf3 Rc6 34.h4]

27...R8a4
28.Rb7
[28.Rbd1 Rb4 29.R1d6 Ne5 30.c6 Rb1 31.Kh2 Rc1]

28...Rb4 29.Rb4 Nb4 30.Rb5 Nd3 31.Nc4

[31.c6 Ra1 32.Kh2 Rc1]

31...Rc2 32.Nd6 Ne5=

[32...Rc5 33.Rb8 Kh7 34.Nf7 Kg6= should hold too.]

33.Ne4 f6 34.Rb8 Kh7 35.Rb3 Rc4 36.f3 Nd7 37.Rb7

37...Nc5! Final liquidation.

38.Rc7
[38.Nf6? Kg6 is actually losing the game 39.Nd7 Rc1]

38...Re4! Cutting through the knot with a sword.

[38...Rc1 39.Kh2 Nd3 40.Nf6 Kg6 41.Rc1 Nc1 42.Ne4 shouldnt lose either, but it lacks Wesleys resolute play.]

39.fe4 Ne4 And the game has reached the deadlock.

40.Re7 e5 41.g4 Nc3 42.Kg2 Nd5 43.Ra7 Nf4 44.Kg3 Kg6 45.Rb7 Ne2 46.Kf2 Nf4 47.Kg3 Ne2 48.Kf2 Nf4 1/2 :
1/2

Our last step back, now we arrived at the destination of our retracing path. I will finish my tale with one of Wesleys
games from the Baku Olympiad. Playing against Sedlak with Black, Wesley drops a pawn (20...b5!) without hesitation
to put the enemy bishop out of business and thus wins more time for looming assault on Sedlaks king, still stuck in the
centre. Conscious of the power of the bishop pair in his possession, Wesley starts a beautiful dark-square symphony
with the 25...Re3! sacrifice, followed by Rf8, Qd4 and running his side pawn to g3 via h4. Despite Sedlaks material
preponderance and his d-pawn nearly queening, nothing can distract Wesley from his ultimate goal to take the enemy
king prisoner. A glorious victory by a lesser force, which effectively succeeded in nailing down the enemy rooks!

D02
Sedlak 2537 So 2782
Baku (ol) 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bg3 0-0 8.Bd3 b6 9.Qe2 Sedlak is preparing the central
break e3e4.
[9.Ne5 is just another way to treat this particular London position. However in a recent top game White got thoroughly
outplayed in the hands of an expert Englishman. 9...Bb7 10.f4 Ne7! 11.Qf3 Nf5 12.Bf2 Be7! 13.g4 Nd6 14.g5 Nfe4
with an important occupation of the centre in Karjakin 2769 Adams 2744, Wijk aan Zee 2016; RR 9.e4 Kamsky 2678
Nakamura 2787, USA (ch) 2016 128/133]

9...Bb7 10.Rd1 Re8 11.e4

11...Be7 Modern chess. Such moves were just unthinkable some 20 years ago, if not earlier. Black retreats his bishop
and cordially invites his opponents to cross into his territory by e4e5. Yet in that case the bishop on g3 gets blunt.
[11...cd4? 12.e5 dc3 13.bc3+; 11...de4 12.Ne4 Ne4 13.Be4 (Stronger than 13.Qe4 f5) 13...cd4 14.Nd4 Nd4 15.Rd4
 Be4 (15...e5 16.Rd6! Qd6 17.Bb7+; 15...Bd5 16.0-0) 16.Rd6+]

12.e5
[12.0-0 takes the sting out on the h-file and Black may even consider grabbing a pawn with 12...cd4 13.cd4 de4 14.Ne4
Nd4!? 15.Nf6 Bf6 16.Nd4 Bd4 as 17.Be5? runs into (17.Bh7 Kh7 18.Qd3=) 17...Qd5!+]

12...Nh5 Limiting the scope of Bg3 and denying the white knights usual intervention-point e5 is the modern
compensation for pushing the black knight around.

13.a3 g6 14.Nf1 f5 15.ef6 Bf6 Despite some delay due to ongoing clashes in the centre, the purpose of 10...Re8 is now
beautifully revealed. With Whites royal family stuck in centre, the rooks command on the e-file may soon grow from
purposeful to menacing.

16.Ne3
[Neither 16.Ne5? cd4 17.cd4 Nd4; nor 16.Be5 cd4 17.cd4 Ne5 18.Ne5 (18.de5? Nf4) 18...Nf4 could keep White out
of harms way.]

16...e5!N Supported by the rook from rear, this centre blast looks more powerful than Whites attempt on move 11.
Despite quite a fresh outlook, the game has had antecedents. Only now does Wesley deviate from his compatriots
game.
[Sevians game went 16...cd4 17.cd4 Ng3 18.hg3 e5 19.de5 Ne5 20.Ne5 Re5 21.0-0 Artemiev 2653 Sevian 2595,
Martuni 2016]

17.de5
[17.Nd5 ed4 18.Be4 is so unlikely, that its difficult to comment on. 18...Na5 19.c4 Nc4 20.Nf6 Nf6 21.Qc4 Bd5+]

17...Ne5 18.Ne5
[18.Be5 Be5 19.Ne5 Re5 20.0-0

A) 20...Nf4 21.Qg4 (21.Qf3 Qf8) 21...Qf6;

B) 20...Qe7]

18...Ng3 19.hg3 Re5 20.Bc4!? Sedlak tries to grab the bull by the horns, but Wesley So skillfully shakes off the
pressure.
[20.Kf1?! Qe7 (20...Bg5? 21.f4 Qf8 22.Qf2) 21.Ba6 Ba6 22.Qa6

A) Now the tripling 22...Re8 is the biggest threat to Whites 20.Kf1 strategy, as 23.Rd5 runs into 23...Re3! (not on
23...Rd5 24.Qc4) 24.fe3 Qe3 25.Rd1 Bd4 26.Qc4 Kg7 27.Rh7 Kh7 28.Qf7 Kh6 29.cd4 Qe2+;

B) 22...Re3 23.fe3 Rf8 24.Ke2 is a murky business.]

20...b5!
[20...Qd7 21.Kf1 (21.Bd5? Rd5) 21...Rae8 22.Ng4! Re2 23.Nf6 Kg7 24.Rh7 Kf6 25.Rd7 dc4 26.Rb7]

21.Bb5
[Now 21.Bd5? Bd5 22.Rd5 Rd5 simply doesnt work, as the c4square is covered.]

21...Qb6 22.0-0
[22.Kf1 Rf8]

22...Kg7! Safety first! With Whites dark-squared bishop gone, the American star now begins a true dark-squared
symphony!
[22...d4? would just have jumped the gun to 23.Qc4 Kg7 24.Ng4 Bd5 25.Qa4]

23.Bd3 Bg5!
[23...d4?! 24.cd4 cd4 25.Nc4 Qc6 26.Qf3 makes things messy.]
24.c4
[On 24.f4 Wesley must have put in very sharp calculation.

A) To begin with 24...Rae8? doesnt seem his idea. 25.fe5 c4 26.Rf3 (26.Bc4 Be3 27.Kh1 Re5) 26...Re5 27.Bc4
(27.Re1) 27...Be3 28.Re3 Re3 29.Qf2 dc4 30.Rd7 Kh6 31.Qf4 g5 32.Rd6+;

B) Nor 24...d4 25.cd4 cd4 26.fe5 (26.Nf5 Rf5 27.Bf5 d3 28.Qf2 favors White as well.) 26...Be3 27.Kh2;

C) However 24...c4! must have certainly been on his mind 25.fe5 and now Black has a choice, which is not always good
as it also gives ground for erring.
C1) 25...Qe3 26.Qe3 Be3 27.Kh2 cd3 when 28.Rd3? (28.Rfe1 Bf2 29.Rf1 Rf8; 28.e6, however, may render things
somewhat messy.) runs into 28...Ba6!;
C2) 25...Be3 26.Kh2 cd3 27.Rd3 (27.Qf3 d4 28.Qf7 Kh6 29.cd4 Qb2 30.d5 Qe5+; 27.Qd3 d4 28.cd4 Qb2 29.d5
Qe5+) 27...Ba6 28.Qf3 (28.Qg4 Bd3 29.Qd7 Kh8 30.Rf7 g5 31.e6 Be4 32.Qe7 Qd8 33.Qd8 Rd8 34.e7 Rg8! 35.Rf8
Bg6+; however 28.Rf6! Bd3 29.Qd3 Bg1 30.Kh1 Qe3 31.Qd5 is completely fine for White.) 28...Bd3 29.Qf7 Kh8
30.e6 Bh6 31.e7 Qc6 32.Rf6 Qd7 should be winning.]

24...Rae8
[24...d4 25.Nd5 Qe6 26.Qc2 was Sedlaks idea for sure. 26...Rd5 27.cd5 Qd5 28.f4!]

25.cd5 Re3!
[25...c4 26.Nc4! Re2 27.Nb6 ab6 28.Be2 Re2 29.d6]

26.fe3 Be3
27.Rf2? It seems that Sedlak starts cracking under pressure. With his rook pinned down badly, the defence becomes
very hard.
[27.Kh2 Re5 (27...c4 28.Qf3) 28.g4 g5 29.Qf3 (29.d6 Qd6 30.Rf7 Kf7 31.Bc4 Bd5 32.Rd5 Qh6 33.Kg3 Bf4 34.Kf3
Re2 35.Rd6 Kg7 36.Rh6 Re3+) 29...Bf4; 27.Kh1]

27...c4! 28.Bc4 Rf8 29.Rdf1 Qd4 30.b3

[30.g4 Rf2 31.Rf2 Bf2 32.Qf2 Qc4 33.Qa7 Qd5+; I think Sedlaks best chance could have been pushing 30.d6! After
30...Bf2 31.Rf2 Rf2 32.Qf2 Qc4 he apparently ended calculations, overlooking the strong 33.Qd2! which keeps the
struggle going!]

Nikola Sedlak. Photo by Dusan Krunic

30...h5! With h5h4 approaching fast, Black is now
on a mighty dark-squared attack!

31.d6 Now its too late.

31...h4!

32.Kh1
[32.gh4 Qe4

A) 33.Kh2 Qh4 34.Kg1 Qg3 35.Qb2 (35.Qe3 Qe3 36.d7 Bc6 37.Be6 Qd4) 35...Kh7 36.Kh1 Bf2;

B) 33.Qe3 Qe3 34.d7 Bc6; 32.g4 h3 33.gh3 Qe5+ renders White completely helpless to this powerful attack, incited
by the bishop pair.]

32...Rf2
[32...hg3 also wins 33.Rf7 (33.Qe3 Qh4) 33...Rf7 34.Rf7 Kh6 when we get a game transposition: 35.Be6 Qh4 36.Bh3
Qh3#!!]

33.Rf2 hg3 34.Rf7 Kh6 An amazing attack! 0 : 1

Analysing Wesleys success, I learned he deserves it in full measure! When I was almost done with my article on
Wesley So, I found him at the 2nd position of the March 2017 FIDE Rating List, rated 2822. A thin gap of less than 20
ELO points between him and Magnus Carlsen doesnt seem any longer impassable. Come on, Wesley!

SHARJAH, UAE
February 18-27, 2017
The 1st stage of the
World Chess Grand Prix Series 2017
(18 players, 9 rounds)

1-3. Alexander GRISCHUK, Maxime VACHIERLAGRAVE, Shakhriyar MAMEDYAROV 5,

4-8. DING Liren, Michael ADAMS, Dmitry JAKOVENKO, Hikaru NAKAMURA, Ian NEPOMNIACHTCHI 5,
9-12. Richard RAPPORT, Pavel ELJANOV, LI Chao, Francisco VALLEJO PONS 4,
13-14. Levon ARONIAN, HOU Yifan 4,
15-17. A. R. Saleh SALEM, Jon Ludvig HAMMER, Evgeny TOMASHEVSKY 3,
18. Alexander RIAZANTSEV 3

A PEACEFUL TOURNAMENT?

Even when Sharjah Grand Prix didnt give us the great fights that many of us were expecting, we can find
several games which are worth our attention.

With names like Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian, Nakamura, Mamedyarov, Ding Liren and Elianov on top of the starting
rank and a total of 18 very strong GMs participating, the expectations were high. The combination of different
styles of playing with a swiss format, promised a very interesting show. But the tournament never reached its
 climax.

For having an idea, we can check this list: Vallejo Pons 9 draws out of 9 games. Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi,
Aronian and Hou Yifan 8. And even two of the players that shared the first place, Grischuk and Vachier-Lagrave,
made 7 draws. Of course, draw is the usual result in super-tournaments. However, in this one, there was a large
number of draws without a fight.

The lack of aggressive intentions that reigned the tournament was exemplified in the last round. The game between
the two leaders, Vachier-Lagrave and Grischuk, took only 23 uneventful moves. That fast draw gave a number of
players - Mamedyarov, Adams, Jakovenko, Nakamura and Nepomniatchchi the chance of catching up with them.
Mamedyarov took his chance by beating Hou Yifan. Lets start with this game on our quest for finding the
remarkable moments.

Here our expectations for an interesting game were fulfilled! With his energetic style, Shakriyar forced Hou Yifan into
problems that she was not able to solve.

E20
Mamedyarov 2766 Hou Yifan 2651
Sharjah 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 0-0 6.e4 b5

7.e5 The direct approach.

[7.Nh3 d6 8.Nf4 e5 9.Nfe2 Nh5 10.g4 Qh4 11.Kd2 Nf4 also leads to interesting fights, like in Eljanov 2765
Harikrishna 2763, Stavanger 2016 128/173]

7...Ne8 8.f4 d6 9.Nf3 ed5 10.cd5 Nc7

[10...c4 11.a4 Nd7 (11...Bg4 12.ab5 Nd7 13.e6) 12.Be2 Qb6 13.ab5 Nc7 was Mamedyarov 2757 Karjakin 2766,
Khanty-Mansiysk (ct) 2014 120/181]
 Hou Yifan. Photo by Paul Truong
11.a4!N An interesting novelty in the elite.
[11.Bd3 c4 12.Bc2 (12.Be4 f5! Shirov 2673
Grandelius 2641, Baku (ol) 2016.) 12...de5 13.d6]

11...Bb7 12.Bd3

12...h6?! A logical, but not strong move.

[12...g6!? 13.0-0 (13.Bb5 de5 14.0-0 Habermehl
Dibley, corr. 2010.) 13...c4; 12...Nd5!? This move
must be checked. It is difficult to take such a decision in a practical game. From a psychological point of view, the
feeling that you got trapped in an opening preparation makes it hard to keep the necessary focus for analysing with
precision. 13.Bh7 Kh7 14.Ng5 Kg8
A) 15.Qd3 Re8 16.Qh7 Kf8 17.Qh5 (17.Qh8 Ke7 18.Qg7 Kd7 19.Qf7 Qe7 20.Qf5 Kc7) 17...g6 18.Qh6 Ke7 19.Nf7
Kf7 20.Qh7 Ke6 21.Qh3=;

B) 15.Qh5 Qg5 16.fg5 Nc3 17.0-0 g6 18.Qg4 Nc6 19.bc3 Bc3 20.Rb1 Ne5 21.Qg3 b4

with an absolutely unclear position.]

13.0-0 13...Bc3? And this is a clear mistake.

[It would have been better 13...c4 14.Bb1 Nd7 15.ab5 (15.Qc2 f5 16.ef6 Nf6) 15...Re8]

14.bc3
14...de5
[14...Nd5 15.ab5 Nc3 16.Qe1! c4 (16...Nd5 17.Qe4 g6 18.Bc4 de5 19.fe5+) 17.Bc4 d5 18.Bd3; 14...c4 15.Bb1 Nd5
16.Qc2 f5 17.Nd4! g6 18.ab5 de5 19.fe5+]

15.ab5 e4
[15...Qd5 16.c4 Qd8 17.fe5]

16.Be4 Bd5

17.Bb1! Nd7
[17...Bc4 18.Qc2 g6 19.f5 Bf1 20.fg6 Bd3 21.Qd3 Qd3 22.Bd3+]

18.c4! Bb7 19.Ra3 Ne6 20.Qc2 Nf6?! After this move, Blacks position is beyond salvation. It was necessary to play:
[20...f5 21.Qe2]
21.Bb2+ Ne4
[21...Be4 22.Bf6 Bc2 23.Bd8 Bb1 24.Rb1 Rfd8 25.g3+ is also hopeless for Black. The pawn in a7 is too weak.]

22.Rd3 and the rest was easy for a player like Shakhriyar.

22...Qc7 23.f5 Nd4 24.Nd4 cd4 25.Bd4 a6 26.b6 Qc6

27.f6 Rfd8 28.fg7 Rd6 29.c5 Rg6 30.Ba2 Ng5 31.Rg3 Nh3 32.Kh1 An excellent game of Mamedyarov. 1 : 0

With that victory Mamedyarov recovered the lead, which he had lost the day before in his game against Grischuk. A
fragment from that game will serve as an introduction to a selection of decisive moments in three tricky rook endings
from this tournament.

TRICKY ROOK ENDINGS

Grischuk 2742 Mamedyarov 2766

Sharjah 2017

49...Ke7? Rook endings are always tricky!

[49...Kc7! 50.Re6 Re3

51.Rf6 Re5 52.Kh6 (52.c6 Rc5 53.Rf4 Rc6=) 52...Rc5 53.Rf4

If it were Whites turn, Rd4 wins, but after 53...Kd7 54.Re4 Rc2 55.h4 Rg2 it is a draw;
51.Kf5 f3 52.Rf6 f2 53.Ke6 (53.Kg6 Re5 54.Rf2 Rc5 55.Rd2 h5=) 53...Re2 54.Kd5 Rd2 55.Kc4 Re2 56.Kd4 Kd7
57.c6 Kc7 58.Kd5 Rd2 59.Ke6 Kc6 60.Kf7 Kc7 61.h4 h5 62.e6 Re2 63.Ke7 Kc6 64.Kf8 f1Q (64...Kd6?? 65.e7 Kd7
66.Rf7+) 65.Rf1 Re6=]

49...Ke7? 50.c6

50...f3
[50...Ra7 51.h4 Rc7 52.h5 f3 53.Rd3 Rc6 54.Rf3 Rc5 55.Re3!+; 50...Rc3 51.Rd7 Ke8 52.Rf7 Rc6 53.Rf4 Rc2 54.h4
Re2 55.Kf6+; 50...Ra5 51.Rd7 Ke8 52.Rf7 Rc5 (52...Re5 53.c7 Rc5 54.Kf6 Rc6 55.Re7 Kf8 56.Rd7) 53.c7 f3 54.h4
h5 55.Rf3 Rc7 56.Kh5+]

51.Rd7
[51.c7? Rc3 52.Rd3 f2 53.Rc3 f1Q 54.c8Q Qf7 55.Kh6 Qg6= is a funny line.]

51...Ke8 52.Rf7 Rc3 53.c7 h5
[53...f2 54.Rf2 Rc7 55.h4 Rc4 56.h5 Re4 57.Kf6 Rh4 58.Ke6 Rh5 59.Ra2 Kd8 60.Kd6+]

54.Rf3 Rc7

55.Rh3! Kd7
[55...Rf7 56.Rh5 Rf2 57.h4 Rf8 58.Rh7 Rf5 59.Rh8 Ke7 60.Rh5 Rf8 61.Rh7 Ke8 62.h5 Rf5 63.h6+]

56.Rh5 Rc4
[56...Kc6 57.h4 Kd5 58.Rg5+]

57.Rh7 Kc6 58.Kf6 Kd5 59.Rd7 Ke4 60.Rd1

[60.Ke6? Rc5=]

60...Rc2
[Black resigned before 61.Ke6 Rh2 62.Kd6]
1:0

Our second example is from the other victory of Grischuk.

Grischuk 2742 Eljanov 2759

Sharjah 2017

42...Kf6?
[Pavel can save his position with 42...Ke6! 43.Rb7 Ra3

A) 44.Kd4 Rg3 45.Rh7 (45.b6 Rg2 46.Rb8 Rb2 47.b7 Kd7 48.Ke5 g4 49.Kf4 Kc7 50.Rh8 Rb7 51.Rh5 Kd6 52.Rh6
Kc5=) 45...h4 46.b6 Rg2 47.b7 Rb2 48.Kc5 Ke5 49.Kc6 Ke4=;

B) 44.Kf2 Ra2 45.Kg1 Ra1 46.Kh2

B1) 46...Kd6? 47.g4! (Whites king is free again!) 47...h4 (47...hg4 48.Kg3+) 48.Rg7 Re1 49.Rg5 Re4 50.b6+;
B2) 46...g4! 47.Rb8 (47.Rh7 Ke5 48.Rh5 Ke4 49.Rg5 Rb1 50.Rg4 Kf5=) 47...Rb1 48.b6 Kd6=]

42...Kf6? 43.Rb7 Ra3 44.Kd4 Rg3 45.b6+ Now, Blacks king is not helping to stop the b-pawn and the race is lost.

45...Rg2 46.Rb8 Rb2 47.b7 Kg7 48.e5 g4 and Pavel resigned. 1 : 0

Whites strongest move is 49.Kc3 when he is on time for stopping the pawns. 49...Rb6 50.e6 Kf6 51.Rf8 Ke6 52.b8Q
Rb8 53.Rb8 Ke5 54.Kd2+.

Our last example is from the second round, a game between compatriots.

Li Chao 2720 Hou Yifan 2651

Sharjah 2017

75.Rd6? Li Chao chose the wrong plan.

[The right one is 75.Ke6 Re4 76.Kf6 f4 (76...Ke8 77.Rf7 Rd4 78.Kg6 f4 79.Kg7 Rd7 80.g6 f3 81.Kg8+) 77.d5 f3
78.Rf7 Kg8 79.Kg6 Rd4 80.Rc7 (Here not 80.Rb7, or 80.Ra7: 80.Rb7? Rf4 81.d6 f2 82.d7 Rf8 83.Rb1 Rd8 84.Rc1
f1Q! 85.Rf1 Rd7=)

A) 80...Rf4 81.d6 f2 82.d7

82...Rf8 (82...f1Q 83.d8Q Rf8 84.Qd5 is checkmate in 3 moves.) 83.Rc1 Rd8 84.Rc8! Now it is clear why the rook had
to go to c7!
84...Kf8 85.Rd8 Ke7 86.Rf8+;

B) 80...Kf8 81.Rc8 Ke7

82.Rc6! (82.Rc3? Rf4!=)

B1) 82...Rf4 83.Rf6!+;
B2) 82...Rd5 83.Rf6 Rd3 (83...Rd6 84.Kg7) 84.Kg7 Rc3 85.g6+;
B3) 82...Kf8 83.d6 Ke8 84.Rc8 Kd7 85.Rf8 Rd6 86.Kh7+]

75.Rd6? Kf7! Now it is draw. Li Chao will try to confuse Hou Yifan, but she makes no mistakes.

76.Kc6 Rg4 77.Rf6 Ke7 78.d5

78...Rc4! The only move. Now Whites king is cut from supporting the d-pawn and Blacks f-pawn will create enough
counterplay.

79.Kb5 Rc1 80.Rg6 f4 81.Re6

[81.d6 Kd7 82.Rf6 f3 83.g6 Rg1 84.Kc5 Rg5 85.Kd4 f2=]

81...Kd7 82.Rf6
[82.g6 f3 83.Rf6 Rg1=]

82...Rg1 83.Kc5 Rg5 84.Rf7 Ke8 85.Rf4 Rg6 And the next moves are 101 knowledge for all chess player.

86.Ra4 Kd7 87.Ra7 Kd8 88.Rb7 Rh6 89.Rg7 Rf6 90.Kd4 Rh6 91.Rf7 Ke8 92.Ra7 Kd8 93.Kc5 Rg6 94.Rf7 Rh6
95.Rg7 Rf6 1/2 : 1/2

In our next game we will see an interesting victory from the first round Vachier-Lagrave beating Li Chao.

C42
Vachier-Lagrave 2796 Li Chao 2720
Sharjah 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Nc3 10.bc3 dc4 11.Bc4 Bf5
12.Ne5 Later in the article we will see another game, in which Li Chao suffered a painful defeat, this time in the hands
of Nepomniachtchi with 12.Bg5.

12...Be5N
[RR 12...Nd7 Esenov 2319 Gunbayar 2283, Beijing 2008]

13.de5 Qe7 14.Re1 Nd7 15.Qf3 g6 It is better to weaken the dark squares than to give up the b1h7 diagonal.
[15...Be6 16.Bd3]

16.Qg3 Rfe8 17.Bf4 Qc5?!

A dubious move, it was better:
[17...b5 18.Bb3 Nc5 19.Bg5 Qf8 20.Qh4 (20.Rad1?!

20...a5! Blacks threats on the queenside arrived before Whites threats on the kingside through the dark squares.)
 20...a5 21.Bh6 Qe7 22.Bg5=]

18.Bb3 a5

19.a4?!
[More precise is: 19.Qh4! (Now Bf7 is threatened, while Whites attack is going through the dark squares.) 19...h5
(19...a4 20.Bf7 Kf7 21.Qh7 Ke6 22.Rad1+) 20.Rad1 Nf8 (20...a4 21.Bf7 Kf7 22.Rd7 Bd7 23.Qf6 Kg8 24.Qg6 Kh8
25.Bg5+) 21.Bh6 Qe7 (21...Ne6 22.Rd7 Qc3 23.Bd2 Qc5 24.Qf6 Qf8 25.Rb7 Qg7) 22.Bg5 Qc5 23.h3]

19...b5 20.h4 Be6 21.Bc2 After this provocative move that aims to the kingside, Black has to play energetically.
[21.Bd1!? b4 22.cb4 ab4 23.h5 Rab8]

21...b4 22.Bd3

22...b3!? The position is very interesting. Black has achieved a good counterplay on the queenside, compensating
 Whites activity on the kingside and the bishop pair.

23.h5 Nf8 24.Bh6 b2

[24...Qc3!? (Not an easy decision over the board, but Black seems to be okay.) 25.Rab1 b2 (25...c5 26.Qg5) 26.Re2
(26.Qg5 Ba2+) 26...Rab8 27.Qg5 Ba2 28.Qf6 Ne6 29.hg6 fg6 30.Bg6

30...Rf8 31.Bf8 hg6 32.Bd6 Qc1 33.Re1

33...Bb1 34.Qe6 Kg7 35.Qe7 Kg8 36.Qe6= A crazy line! Just an example of the tactical richness of the position.]

25.Rab1 Rab8 26.Qf4

26...Nd7? Until this moment, Li Chaos play was beyond critics. After this move, Maxime will slowly outplay him.
[26...Ba2 Freeing e6-square for the knight was the only move. 27.e6 f5 28.Bf8 Rf8 29.hg6 Bb1 30.e7 Bd3 31.Qh6 hg6
32.Qg6 Kh8 33.Qh6=]

27.Qg5 Qe7 The resulting position after the queens disappearance is quite uncomfortable for Black, but there are not a
lot of options.
[27...Kh8 This move stops the bishop-sacrifice on g6.

A) 28.hg6 hg6 29.Bg6? (29.Re4) 29...fg6 30.Qg6 Qe7!+ Black has enough pieces for defending his exposed king;

B) 28.Qd2 Ne5 (28...Rb3 29.Rb2 Qc3 30.Rb3 Qd2 31.Bd2 Bb3 32.Ba5 Again an uncomfortable ending.) 29.Be3 Qd6
30.Bd4 f6

31.Bg6 and White has all the fun.]


28.Qe7 Re7 29.Re2 Ree8 30.Reb2 Rb2 31.Rb2 The complex middle-game has derived in a position where White has
the bishop pair and his control over the b-column has no counterpart. Blacks rook cannot make use of the d-column,
because Whites bishops control all the squares. I would be terrified if I was Black. My computer does not think the
same and evaluates the position as just slightly better for White.

31...Ne5 32.Be2 gh5

[32...Ng4 33.Bg5 gh5 34.f3 Ne5 35.Bh6 transposes into the game.]

33.f3 Nd7
[33...f6 34.Rb7 Nf7 35.Bf4 Blacks deteriorated structure and his exposed king makes the defense very hard in a
practical game.]

34.Rb7 Nc5?!
[After this move, Whites advantage is clear. The passive 34...Ra8 is better.]
35.Ra7 Nb3
[35...Na4? 36.Ra5+ 36...Nc3 37.Rg5 Kh8 38.Bg7+]

36.g3 Bd5 37.Kf2 Maxime will improve his pieces without hurry, Black has no counterplay.

37...Rb8 38.Bf1 Be6 39.Bd3 Bd5 40.Bf5 Re8 We reached the 40th move. Maxime keeps improving his pieces.

41.Bc2 c5 42.Rc7 c4? It is more stubborn to keep the pawn on c5.

[ 42...Bc4]

43.Bf5!+ Rb8 44.Bd7 f6 45.Bb5 Bf7 46.Rc6 Na1 47.Ra6 Just a matter of taste now. Of course 47.Rf6 was also
possible.

47...Nc2 48.Ra5 Na3 49.Bc6 Nb1

50.Rb5 A good game from Maxime, in which he put a lot of pressure, imagination and technical skills! 1 : 0

The second victory of Maxime came the next day, a good example of endgame-technique.

Rapport 2692 Vachier Lagrave 2796

Sharjah 2017

35...Ne6 36.Rd7
[36.Kg4 Rd8 It is just hopeless for White.]

36...Rd8 The kind of moves that express chess personality. Maxime goes for the activity of his pieces.
[Also possible was 36...b5 or 36...Rb8 with clear advantage in both cases.]

37.Rb7 Rd2 38.Ba3 Ra2 39.Ra7 Re2 40.Bc1 Rc2 41.Ra1 Whites pieces are returning to their original squares...

41...Rc3 42.Kg4 Rb3 Now, the c-pawn is free.

43.Kf5 Rd3 44.Ra8 Kh7 45.Ra7?! Seeking some activity. Objectively, the move just loses, but maybe it was the best
practical decision.
[ 45.Ra2]

45...Rd1!+ 46.Rf7 Nd8! The key.

47.Rc7
[47.Rf8 Rf1]

47...Rf1 48.Ke4 Rc1 49.Rc8 Nf7 50.Rc6 Nh6 51.e6

51...Ng8 Is this the knight from g8 or from b8?

52.Rc7 Nf6 53.Ke5 Kg6 54.e7 Re1 0 : 1

Our next example of endgame-technique is really impressive.

Adams 2751 Hammer 2628

Sharjah 2017

Michael Adams. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis

The position looks like White stands slightly better.
Lets see what happens when a top-class player put his
hands on it.

21.Qc4! Forcing the exchange of queens.

21...Rd1 22.Rd1 Rd1 23.Kh2 Qc4 24.Rc4 c6 25.Rb4

Rd7 For sure this was the position Adams had in mind
before playing 21.Qc4. Black has two weaknesses: b7
and e5, and White can slowly improve his position.
26.Kg3 Kf7 27.Kf3 g5 28.Ba7 White is threatening to win the pawn on e5 with Bb8!

28...Ng8
29.h4!! A very strong move. One of the ideas is to fix the kingside with h5, leaving Black with minimum space. The
other one is that if Black captures on h4, the pawn on h6 will become a target.

29...gh4 Black cannot allow h5. It would be a slow death. Here is an example of how that would look:
[29...Kf6 30.h5 Ne7 31.g4 White simply fixes the opponents pawns on the kingside. Blacks pieces are paralysed, like
in the classic books. 31...Nc8

32.Bc5 Ne7 33.c4 Kf7 34.Ke2 Ng8 35.Rb3 Nf6 36.f3 Ng8 37.Ba7 Kf6 38.Bb8 Ne7

39.Rd3! Rd3 40.Kd3 Nc8 41.Kc3 c5 42.Bc7 (Zugzwang!) 42...Ke7 43.Be5+]

30.Kg4 Ne7 31.Be3! Now, h6 is also a weakness.

31...Ng8 32.Kh4 Ke8

33.Rb3 with the idea of transferring the rook through the 3rd rank after c3-c4.

33...Rg7 34.g4 Rf7 35.c4 Rd7 This move stops Rd3, but Black has not enough defenders for his three weaknesses.

36.Ba7 Nf6 37.f3 Rf7 38.Bb8 Tying up the knight.

38...Nd7 39.Bd6 Kd8 40.Kh5 Beautiful. Each one of Whites pieces is attacking each one of Blacks weaknesses!

40...Rf6 41.Rd3 Ke8 42.Bb4 c5 43.Bd2 White has concentrated his efforts on h6 and the pawn will fall. The result of
29.h4!

43...Rf7 44.Bh6 Nf6 45.Kg6 Ng8

46.Bg5 The technical move. Also possible would have been possible the nice:
[46.Rd8 Kd8 47.Kf7 Nh6 48.Kg7]
An instant classic! An endgame conducted with mastery by Adams. 1 : 0

Adams produced this masterpiece after having missed his chances in the round before against Mamedyarov. This
fragment is an example of Shakriyars forcing style, which inflicted the only defeat upon Michael.

Mamedyarov 2766 Adams 2751

Sharjah 2017

Black wants to capture the pawn on g7. It is going to be a position where Black has three pawns for the knight and
Whites king seems to be more exposed. Shakhriyar decides to defend the g7pawn.

30.Qe5
[30.Rg6 fg6 31.Kg2 Kg7 32.Qe7 Qf7 it is halfway between equality and a small advantage for White.]

30.Qe5 Qe6?
[Adams misses 30...Qd3! and now 31.Qe8 (31.Rg6 Qf1 is perpetual check.) 31...Kg7 32.Rg6 Kg6=]

31.Qb8 Kg7 32.Qa7 Whites wining chances have improved considerably.

32...Qc4 33.Qe3 b5 34.a3 c5

35.Ne4!?
[35.Qe5 Kh7 36.Re1 Qd3 37.Qe3 Qf5 38.Qe4 Qe4 39.Re4 It looks like White should win this ending, but it is not an
easy task.]

35...f5? This is a serious mistake.

[Michael should play 35...b4! 36.ab4 (36.a4!? Qd5 Computers evaluate this position , but it is not so clear for me.)
36...cb4 37.Rc1 (37.Rg6 fg6 looks like just draw.) 37...Qd5 38.Qf3 b3 39.Rb1 Rb6]

36.Rg6+ Kg6 37.Nc5 Qd5 38.Kg1 Qd1 39.Kg2 Qd5

40.Kh3 Black has no more checks and White has reached the 40th move.

40...Qd1 41.Qe8 Kf6 42.Nd7 Kg5 43.Qg8 1 : 0

Our last game is an example of attacking mastery. Showing an excellent opening preparation, Nepomniachtchi came
with a strong novelty and made a good use of it against Li Chao.

This was the only victory of the talented Russian grandmaster, who ended the tournament without a defeat and half
point behind the winners.

C42
Nepomniachtchi 2749 Li Chao 2720
Sharjah 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d6 4.Nf3 Ne4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Nc3 10.bc3
 Ian Nepomniachtchi. Photo by David Llada
10...dc4 Nowadays, the main line in this position. It
used to be 10...Bg4 some time ago.

11.Bc4 Bf5
[11...Bg4 is more popular. Now White has several
options: 12.h3 (12.Qd3; 12.Rb1) 12...Bh5 13.g4 (RR
13.Re1 Ehlvest 2650 Anand 2635, Linares 1991
52/(303)) 13...Bg6 14.Ne5 Nd7 15.f4, So 2710
Ipatov 2584, Tromso (m/1) 2013]

12.Bg5 It seems that this move helps Black, but Ian has
a strong idea behind it.

12...Qc7
[12...Qa5!? attacks the c3pawn. But more important, it
gives Black the chance of bringing his queen to the
kingside. 13.Nh4 Be6 14.Be6 Qg5 is okay for Black.]

13.Re1 h6
[13...Nd7 14.Nh4 Bh2 15.Kh1 Bg6 16.Be7
16...Rfe8? 17.Ng6 hg6 18.Bf7+]
14.Nh4!N This is Ians idea! A very strong novelty, according to my database.

14...Bh7
[14...Bh2 15.Kh1 Bh7 16.Re7+]

15.Bh6! Bh2
[15...gh6 16.Qg4 Kh8 17.Nf5 Bf5 18.Qf5 f6 19.Re6 Black has no time for bringing his knight to defend the king.
19...Na6 (19...Nd7 20.Rae1 Nb6 21.Bd3+) 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.Qh3 Qg7 22.R1e4 Nc7 23.Rg4 Ne6 24.Rg7 Kg7
25.Be6+]

16.Kh1 Bf4? After this move, Whites attack will be impossible to stop:
[16...gh6 17.Qg4 Kh8 18.Nf5 Bf5 (18...Rg8 19.Re8+) 19.Qf5 Qf4 (19...Bf4 20.Qf6 Kg8 21.Re7+; 19...Bd6 20.Qf6
Kh7 21.Bd3 Kg8 22.Qh6) 20.Qh5 Nd7 21.Re7]
17.Bg7!+ Kg7 18.Qg4 Kh8
[18...Bg6 19.Re4 Whites attack develops similarities in all the variants. He is bringing pieces to the kingside with
intermediate threats. By doing that, Black no time for bringing his pieces to the defense. 19...Bd6 20.Nf5 with a forced
mate.]

19.Nf5 Bf5 20.Qf5 Qd6 21.g3 Bh6 22.Kg2 b5 23.Bb3 Qg6

[Again, Black has no time for bringing pieces to defend his king. 23...Nd7 24.Rh1 Kg7 25.Rh4+]

24.Qg6 fg6 25.Re7 g5 26.Re6 Kg7 27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Re7 Kg6 29.Bc2

A deserved victory for Ian. Recently, it is noticeable how he is progressing and I am confident that in the next Grand
Prix tournament he will fight for the highest places.
1:0

Not so bad for a tournament that was so heavily criticized.

MINGLING WITH THE ELITE MY TATA STEEL MASTERS
EXPERIENCE

The year 2016 didnt end so well for me, but there was always one thing which kept me going, and that was the
 Tata Steel Masters 2017

I knew it was a great opportunity and at the same time if I failed, it would show that I wasnt yet ready for claiming
my place amongst the elite. So I worked very hard and gave everything I had for the training. I wanted to show the
world that I can hold my own facing the VIPs. I wanted to give my best and finish with a plus score.

But somehow for the first four rounds, I put too much importance on the strengths of my opponents and their
ratings, failing to acknowledge what I can do. After the fourth round I started to look at the tournament with a
different mindset. I believed in my calculation and judgement, not my opponents! I started to believe that I can
beat these guys. I feel that this attitude started to turn the tournament around.

My win against Karjakin was the game changer; it gave me the hope and confidence that I can compete in this
environment, and after that I kept getting stronger with each round. Although I didnt convert many advantages, I
eventually finished in third place with a plus score.

For this article I chose the game against Wesley So, the winner of the Tata Steel Masters 2017.

C33
Adhiban 2653 So 2817
Wijk aan Zee (6), 2017

I had tried something funky in the previous round and it

worked well, So I was eager to stick to the same
strategy.

1.e4 e5 2.f4!? Kings Gambit! For the first time in my

life! I decided to channel the spirit of Paul Morphy!

2...ef4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nd5

[RR 5...Bb4 Mikhalchishin 2533 Pavasovic 2568,
Sibenik 2002 85/(284)]

6.Nd5 Bd6 7.Nf3 0-0

[The computer prefers 7...c6 8.Nc3 f6 9.d4 with a
complex fight.]

8.d4 Re8 9.e5 c6N

[RR 9...f6 Reprintsev 2440 Afonin 2235, Saint Petersburg 1998]
10.Nf4 Already a pawn up against one of the most solid players in the world!
[So recommended 10.Nc3!? as a stronger option after the game.]

10...f6 11.Nd3
[Another very interesting option is 11.c3 fe5 12.de5 with a healthy extra pawn.]

11...fe5 12.de5 Played instantly.

[But sometimes automatic recaptures arent best; I had a very interesting option in 12.0-0!?

12...Nd7 with careful play Black can neutralize Whites initiative (12...ed4 13.Ng5 is a complete disaster for Black;
12...e4 13.Ng5! ed3 14.Qh5 h6 15.Nf7 with a crushing mating attack; 12...Bg4 13.de5 Bc7 is a decent possibility with
good chances of equalizing.)]

12...Qb6!?
[12...Bc7 13.0-0 Bg4 14.h3 Bh5 15.Qe1! with advantage (15.Bg5 Qd5 is fine for Black)]

13.Qe2 Bf5 14.Be3 Qa5 15.c3 A major mistake, weakening the d3square, after which the worst is over for Black.
[15.Bd2! is stronger: after 15...Qb5 16.a4 Qa6 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Bc3 Black can forget about winning back the pawn.]

15...Qa6 16.Rd1 Bc7

17.0-0
[The last ditch attempt is 17.Nh4! and Black has to decide between:

A) 17...Bd3 18.Rd3 Be5 19.Nf5! with a strong initiative on the kingside;

B) 17...Be4!? 18.Bf4 Qc4 (18...Bd5 19.Nf5 with a strong attack) 19.0-0 Nd7 20.b3 Bd3 21.Rd3 Qc5 22.Rf2! Ne5
23.Re3 with lots of nasty pins for Black and hence White keeps a clear advantage;

C) 17...Be6! 18.0-0 Nd7 and Black will win either the e5 or a2pawn with equality.]

17...Nd7 18.Bd4
[What was the problem of the position? It was the pinned knight, hence it was possible to come up with 18.b3!? Bd3
19.Rxd3 Ne5 20.Ne5 Be5 21.c4 breaking the annoying pin; Black has some issues to solve.]

18...c5 19.Bf2
[19.Ng5 Qg6! 20.Be3 Bd3 21.Rd3 Ne5 I wasnt very happy about this position during the game, but had an amazing
idea: 22.Rd7! Nd7 23.Qc4 Kh8 24.Nf7 Kg8 25.Nh6 with a draw.]

19...Ne5 20.Nfe5 Be5

I had assumed that this was equal, but soon realized that I was the one fighting for equality not a happy scenario after
being a healthy pawn up.

21.Qf3 Be4! 22.Qh3 Bd3

[22...Qa2!? 23.Bc5 with transposition to the game.; 22...b6 23.Ne5 Re5 24.Rd7 with play on the 7th rank and the dark
squares.]

23.Qd3
[23.Rd3!? Qa2
24.Qh5! is a funny idea, ruthlessly going for an attack. 24...Bf6 (24...g6 25.Qh4 with sufficient compensation for the
pawn.) 25.Rh3 h6 26.Qg6 Qf7 27.Qf7 Kf7 28.Bc5 with an equal endgame.]

23...Qa2 24.Bc5 Qb2

25.Ba7! The only move for equalizing, otherwise White is worse.

[25.Qd5 Kh8 26.Bb4 Bc3 27.Rb1 Qe2! winning back the piece with an extra pawn; 25.Bb4 Qb3! with a pawn up.]

25...Bc3 26.Bf2! The b-pawn is doomed.

26...Be5 27.Rb1 Qa2 28.Rb7 Rf8

[28...Kh8 29.Bg3 with a draw.]

29.Qb3 Qb3 30.Rb3 Ra2 31.Rf3 Rf3 32.gf3 Kf7 33.Bg3 Bd4 34.Kh1 Rd2 35.Bf4 Re2 36.Rd1 Bc3 37.Rd3 Bb4
 38.Rd4 Bc5 39.Rd2 An exciting draw with lots of interesting twists! 1/2 : 1/2

I feel that Richard Rapport and I were the closest to beating So in an otherwise smooth tournament victory for him. Also
I cannot say that I am not proud to come up with a plus one against the powerful trio Karjakin-So-Carlsen. Thanks to
this debut, I am convinced that my destiny is in chess and I will aim to climb to the top some day.
ELEGANCE AND TENACITY IN MOSCOW FEDOSEEV, A
WORTHY WINNER

With his fresh and original style, Vladimir Fedoseev earned his ticket for Dortmund in another edition of
Aeroflot Open, the annual venue for chess lovers.

The young Russian Vladimir Fedoseev flew high in the 2017 edition of the prestigious Aeroflot Open! This Open
used to be considered the strongest in the world. For those who think that this evaluation goes now to Gibraltar or
London let me say that I am particularly doubtful if any of them managed to displace the Aeroflot. It should be
noted that the average rating of the entire A Open was 2582, which means that, unlike in the traditional opens, there
are no rounds of rest (we call it rest when one faces rivals that are 300 or 400 Elo points below). In Moscow
you are fighting day after day against players with more than 2500 or the always dangerous young talents with 2450
Elo points. For having an idea of how strong the tournament was, we can mention that the new emerging Indian
 star, Adhiban Baskaran, after a brilliant 3rd place in Tata Steel behind Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So, left
Moscow with only 4 points from 9 rounds. We could think that maybe Adhiban was not in his best form, but not
even the players with 2700 Elo points had the podium assured. Yu Yangyi, the first player in the starting list, after
sharing the first place with Nakamura and Anton in Gibraltar, ended the Aeroflot 2017 in the 10th place.

For me it was the 3rd experience in this tournament, with discrete performances, but improving every year. My first
time in 2007 I played in the B section (3.5 of 9), 2016 I ascended to the A section (3.5 out of 9) and this year I
made 5 out of 9 which gives me the feeling that I am on the right path! Aeroflot, as all the strong tournaments, is
obviously a good opportunity for training your chess but more than that this is the tournament for those who
love chess!

The winner of the 2017 edition, Vladimir Fedoseev, is a perfect example for that. With his creative style, he seeks to
get away from the theoretical and known, which makes his chess more rich in possibilities. In our more and more
computerized chess world, a little freshness with the seal of authenticity never comes badly.

As a testimony of my words, I will comment three of Vladimirs games.

The game I chose as the introduction of the article was played in the first round. It clearly demonstrates Fedoseevs
rather original style that reminds us of the classics of the romantic era of chess a game that is not flawless, but
nevertheless very entertaining.

A06
Ramirez 2549 Fedoseev 2658
Moscow 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 Bf5 3.Bb2 e6 4.g3 One of Alejandros

characteristics is his ability to enter into flexible
positions, where what matters most is the play of
manoeuvres and flexibility in the pawn structure.

4...Nc6
[RR 4...h6 Taimanov 2530 Raicevic, Vrnjacka Banja
1977 23/13]

5.Bg2
5...h5!?N A very interesting move that immediately reflects the style of our young champion. He seeks to get off the
theoretical path, entering a pitched merciless battle, in which the most crafty general leads his troops to victory. I am
particularly fond of this type of positional imbalances, where the dynamic force of the pieces comes into play and the
long term factors usually have less weight.
[RR 5...Nf6 Tam Tran Vo Minh Quoc Vuong Dang, Ho Chi Minh City 2005]

6.d3 h4!? In this type of position, when one is already starting the march of the pawns, it is difficult to turn back both
the pawn and the plan. In the pawn moves lies the skeleton of the position and they usually decide the factors in the
long run. We shouldnt underestimate the strength of this little infantry. In the words of Philidor: The pawns are the
soul of chess.

7.Nh4 Rh4 8.gh4 Qh4

Lets talk a little bit about this original position. Black has sacrificed an exchange for a more compact and favourable
structure. The weaknesses of White are not obvious. Although its king is still in the center of the board, no immediate
threat is seen. I think the factors that stand out in this position are the long term ones. It seems paradoxical, but with the
sacrifice, Black is searching for counterplay based on long-term factors. I think Blacks compensation focuses on the
agility of the development of his pieces and the strength that the queen exercises from h4, but I still do not see what
kind of plans he should follow to justify his decision. Perhaps the right strategy is to wait for the target to become more
clear, depending on Whites way of completing its development.

9.e3 Bb4 10.Nd2 Bg4 11.Qc1

Although they have not yet come into play, White still has two rooks in the barrack, waiting to be called to battle.
Clearly White will have the better chances in an ending, but it is not easy to find out how. It is true that Black has
achieved a rapid development of pieces, but White still does not have chronic weaknesses and this makes the exchange
sacrifice dubious. However we must not forget that often the first question in chess is not How should I continue?,
but How will my opponent continue? Sometimes we cannot win, if our opponent doesnt play. Think of the
zugzwang situation!

11...Nge7

I remember that while I was walking around, watching the games, I stopped with great interest in front of this position.
It seemed to me that Blacks compensation is more than justified.

12.h3 Bh5 13.a3 Ba5 14.b4 Bb6 15.Nf3 Bf3 16.Bf3 d4 17.e4 Ne5 18.Be2 g5
In this position Black has achieved an interesting compensation. I do not think it is enough to fight for an advantage, but
it is clear that the square f4 ensures a stable position for a knight. The computer evaluates that White has an advantage
here. It cannot be denied that the approach of the computer will always be very objective, but I am always on the side
of using our own heads. This is a game made for humans and mistakes are part of the game!

19.Rg1
[19.Kd2 Qf4 20.Kd1 Qh4 21.Qd2 is the computers suggestion. A line very unlikely to appear in a human game.]

19...f6 20.Rg3 N7g6 21.Qd2 Nf4

As long as the position remains closed, Blacks space and the well placed knights are enough compensation for the
exchange.

22.0-0-0 If White manages to break open the center with c3, he will get all his pieces into action. In an open position
 Black will not be able to fight against the bishop-pair with his material disadvantage.

22...a5?! Although it looks like a natural move, I do not think it was the best option. White has more forces than Black
in the queenside, so it is not clear why Black is creating a new front in this area. Castling would have guaranteed a solid
compensation. I find the following plan interesting: c6Bc7Neg6Be5Qh7Rh8 and the queen can go to d7 or f7
and the king to b8. This schematic manoeuvre may seem very long, but it is not easy for White to destroy the control
that Black has over d4. Black has a dynamic compensation for the exchange.
[22...0-0-0]

23.Bg4

23...Kf7!? The kind of moves that players with the style of Fedoseev usually do not reject, since it encloses a beauty in
itself. To centralize the king la Steinitz is something that one as a chess player almost always wants to do. I am a
great admirer of the original and fresh game and this type of moves cause an aesthetic impression in me. Maybe not the
right way to play, but let me insist: chess is a game created by and for humans; plenty of mistakes, full of beauty.

24.Kb1 ab4? I dont like this capture. If we observe in detail, we will realize that the queen in d2 lacks objectives, lacks
dreams! By taking on b4, Black gives life to an inert being and above all, gives her goals!
[24...Nc6 would have been very interesting. Now the queens access to b4 is not allowed and White is forced to define
the future of the b4 pawn.; 24...c6 is a waiting strategy.]

25.Qb4 Qh8
26.Rh1! Maybe this is the move that Fedoseev overlooked. Black is looking for the transfer of his queen to e8, from
where he would control a4 and b5. Those squares would serve as a bridge for the rook. From there the rook could start
bothering the pieces of White on the queenside. However, after 26.Rh1, it is difficult to do it, since if Qe8, White would
follow h4, creating a very chaotic game. Usually in this type of positions we refuse to calculate, since our king is in
danger and it is clear that after the opening of the h-column the situation of the black king is far from being safe.

26...Qh4
[26...Qe8 27.h4 Ra5 28.hg5 Rb5 29.Rh7+ Kg6 30.Re7+]

27.Bc1 Nfg6 28.Qb3 Re8

29.Bf5 Nf4 30.Bg4 Nfg6 31.Bf5 Nf4 32.Bg4 And draw was agreed! Here the computer gives decisive advantage for
White, but to the human eye, the solution of the position is complicated. Black has a firm control over e5 and f4 that
force White to be very precise in order to materialize its advantage.
[32.Bf4 Qf4 (32...gf4 33.Rg2) 33.Bg4 Qf2 (33...Kg7 34.Rg2+) 34.Bh5 Ke7 35.Qb4 Kd8 36.Be8 Qg3 37.Qf8+]
A perfect sample of the Aeroflot Open. Interesting fights from the very first round!
1/2 : 1/2

Vladimir Fedoseev. Photo by Harald Fietz

Fedoseev 2658 Najer 2659

Moscow 2017

This game meant an important step into the right direction for Vladimir. In the first board of the sixth round he had to
play against the winner of the previous edition, Evgeniy Najer, who was leading the tournament by half a point.
Evgeniy is a great fighter, he calculates well, and above all, does not lose focus during the game, a fundamental quality
for a chess player. In my routine walks (something I recommend for improving the circulation and release some tension
after being seated for a long time), I was following the games that were played in the main boards, since the tournament
was approaching its last part. I could observe that the game in the first board had gone through known paths of the Slav
defense, in which Black voluntarily gives the bishop-pair and in return, obtains a solid structure as well as the dominion
of the h-column. However, White has what is considered the small exchange (that is how Mikhail Botvinnik used to
call the advantage of having two bishops vs. bishop and knight) and a very flexible game. In this type of positions,
White gets a game without risk, where he can easily defend his weaknesses and try to create some in his rival.

21.Bf1! I know that my exclamation mark may seem a little exaggerated here, but it clearly demonstrates the concept of
no hurry, a concept I learned from my literary master: The great Mark Dvoretsky. In my childhood I read the books
of this extraordinary author and teacher with big excitement. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to meet him, but
thanks to his works I managed to raise my level from beginner to a strong master. The move also illustrates a saying
from another one of my masters, Julio Granda, who used to say that for the bishops the further, the better. Since the
bishops can perform the same action from the distance, it is better to place them where they do not interfere with the
rest of the pieces. Finally, as important as having a plan, is to fight against the plans of your opponent.

21...dc4!? A move that expresses the character of Najer. He is a player looking for clear ideas, direct confrontation and
immediate goals. The strategy of Fedoseev seems to have an effect! He improves his position gradually and does not
concede weaknesses. I think that Evgeniy had to maintain the tension with the manoeuvre Rdh8, or even f6, with a solid
position. The voluntary exchange of the white doubled-pawns is something that favoured Vladimir.

22.bc4 e5? A positional mistake after which the light-squared bishop will gain activity. Whites strategy worked well.
He has no weaknesses and Black did not find the right path for keeping the position equal.
[ 22...b6 23.b4 Rd2 24.Kd2 Bb4 25.Kc2 Bc5 with adequate compensation for the exchange. Black achieves a clear
control over the dark-squares and can improve his position with a5, Ne8d6]

23.Bd3 Rdh8 24.b4 Bd6

A critical moment of the game. White has begun to free his forces and expel the black pieces.

25.Bf1!? Fedoseev keeps himself faithful to his strategy! He removes the bishop and waits for Black to continue
weakening. White had several good options:
[25.Bf5 Kb8 26.Rad1 Ne8 27.Bc3; 25.Be4!? Rh3 26.Rh3 Rh3 27.Bc3]

25...e4 26.Be1
26...ef3!? Black sacrifices the exchange, searching for compensation in his active bishop and the pawn on f3. Another
possibility was:
[26...R4h6 27.fe4 Be5 although a pawn is a pawn! 28.Rd1]

27.Bh4 gh4 28.c5 Bg3 29.Bc4 Re8 30.Kd3 Fedoseev slowly improves his position. The bishop controls the knight,
while the king covers all the weaknesses. The bishop of g3 is a mere spectator and the f3pawn does not fulfil any vital
function but that of distracting the rival. If White manages to put his rooks to work, the fight will be decided.

30...Ne6 31.Bd5 f2

Finally the pawn is advanced. Now the king can easily block it and the rooks may come into play. The bishop from g2
will protect h3 as well as hit on b7. Great technique from Fedoseev! If we look at the last 11 moves, 5 were made with
the white bishop! But the reward will be big!

32.c6! Opening the position and creating weaknesses. Now the rook in a1 is active!

32...b6 33.Be6! An important virtue in life and chess is to be able to adapt to any situation!, After this change the
position becomes clearly winning.

33...Re6 34.Rhc1+ The changes were made timely and the rooks come into play. The game is decided.

34...Kc7 35.b5 a5 36.Ke2 Re5 37.Rab1 Re7 38.Rc4 Bd6 White was planning to bring his rooks to the d-column.

39.Kf2 Bc5 40.Rb3 f6 41.Kf3 Bd6 42.Rd3 Be5 43.Rc2 Bd6 44.Rcd2 Re6 45.Rd4 g6 46.e4 Zugzwang! Fedoseed
showed excellent technique in the endgame. 1 : 0

D38
Fedoseev 2658 Matlakov 2701
Moscow 2017

After saving a miraculous ending against the always dangerous Denis Khismatullin in the 7th round, Vladimir was
leading the tournament with half a point of advantage over a group of 7 players. He had to face Maxim Matlakov, a
young and strong player, with White. Maxim is very solid and technical, however in the eighth round he did not have
his best day. I was surprised again by the ease that Fedoseev has, moving back his pieces without any objection,
waiting for the slightest error and maintaining the pair of bishops. In addition, he can quickly adapt to any changes that
may exist in the position a great virtue! But the biggest virtue of Fedoseev was his tenacity, which ultimately gave
him the title.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qb3 c5 6.dc5 Na6 7.a3
[RR 7.Bd2 Koneru 2598 - Hou Yifan 2661, Sharjah 2014 122/143]

7...Bc3 8.Qc3 Nc5 9.cd5 Qd5 10.Be3 Nce4

11.Qe5 Fedoseevs style! He goes for a position without risk, seizes the pair of bishops and leaves no weaknesses.

11...Qe5 12.Ne5 Nd5 13.Bc1 This type of bishop-retreats are very typical. One of the advantages of the bishop-pair is
the possibility of changing one of them for a better pawn-structure. One must always remember that when you have two
bishops, you have to try to keep the structure as flexible as possible.

13...Nc5 14.Rb1 A human move. Avoids the change of the bishops and thus keeps the possibility of a positional
imbalance alive. On the other hand, from the psychological point of view, it is always a bit uncomfortable when the
opponent makes these types of passive moves. They are not threatening or improving anything, they are a provocation!
And this often influences the decisions we make.

14...f6 15.Nc4 e5 Castling was possible, but I do not see a problem in this move. Of course, Black has to pay attention
to the white bishop-pair. They are now in their original squares, but the bishop-pair is a permanent advantage that can
increase its power.

16.f3

16...Ke7 This move that looks so healthy and natural, allows White to create some confusion in the black territory. A
very interesting idea would have been to play more energetically:
[16...b5!? 17.Nd6 Ke7 18.Nb5 Bd7 19.e4 Rab8!

and Black can develop its pieces.


A) 20.b4 Bb5 21.exd5 Nd3 22.Bxd3 Bd3 23.Rb2 Rhd8=;

B) 20.Na7 Nc3 21.Be3 (21.Ra1 Nb3) 21...N5a4 22.Rc1 Rb2;

C) 20.ed5 Bb5
C1) 21.Be3
C1a) 21...Na4 22.Ba7 (22.b4 a6) 22...Bf1 23.Bb8 (23.Rf1 Rb3=) 23...Bd3 24.Rd1 Nb2 25.Rd3 Nd3 26.Kd2 Rb8=;
C1b) 21...Nd3?! 22.Kd2 Rhd8 23.a4 Ba6 24.b4 Rd5 25.b5 Nf2 26.Ke1 Nh1 27.Ba7 Rb7 28.Bc4 Rd8 29.Bc5 Ke8
30.Rc1;
C2) 21.Bb5 Rb5 22.Be3 Nd3=]

17.e4 Nf4 18.Be3

[18.Bf4 ef4 19.Na5 Bd7=]

18...Ncd3?!
[18...Nb3!? This move blocks Whites queenside. 19.g3 Ne6 with full control over d4. Black has good counterplay.]

19.Bd3 Nd3 20.Ke2 Nf4 21.Bf4N

[RR 21.Kf2 Sazonova 2085 Stetsko 2220, Mamaia 2016]

21...ef4

22.Na5 The position is objectively balanced, but the stalking knight on a5 generates uncomfortable feelings. Perhaps an
interesting idea could have been to place the rook in d8 and seek for activity by means of f5. Black needs to change a
rook, otherwise the pressure will be lethal! When one is in a positionally inferior situation, it is usually good to
exchange pieces. The computer evaluates this position as equal, but for a human being it is very uncomfortable to play.
Thats why I feel that 18...Ncd3 was the mistake that gave White the whole initiative.

22...b6? Chronicle of a Death Foretold! This move weakens the position, lets the white pieces invade the queenside and
gives White the initiative. When fighting against knights, the structure should be kept flexible, since by defining it, we
create ourselves weaknesses and concede strong squares to our opponent.

23.Nc6 Kd6? Unfortunately, the well-known phrase one mistake never come alone is fulfilled. Usually after one
error a series of them are triggered. Perhaps the best thing here would have been to seek some shelter for the king in f7,
 place the rook in e8 and wait for Whites plan. The knight in c6 is strong like an elephant!

24.Rbc1 Ba6 25.Kf2 Rhc8 26.Rhd1 Ke6 27.g3 Begins the siege against the black king!

27...fg3 28.hg3 g6 29.f4

29...Bb7?? A big mistake that will be punished in a forceful way. It is always important to consider the threats of the
rival, especially those that come with check or possible captures!

30.f5 and Maxim resigned. The position was completely desperate, looking for a variant with which Black could
prolong his suffering was unnecessary. With this victory, Vladimir paved the way for the first place. I was very
impressed by the coldness and confidence with which Fedoseev always showed himself to his rivals. He deserves his
victory. Another edition finished a tournament worthy of praise! The level was as strong as in all the previous
editions. What remains, is to enjoy and learn from the games that have already happened and to prepare better for next
year. I hope that the advices and concepts about the positions and items selected will be useful to the reader. Remember
that these are guidelines, not laws. And above all things: enjoy the game! 1 : 0
GET TO KNOW THE CHINESE LEAGUE!

The Chinese Chess League is getting stronger every year, attracting more and more foreign players. But still it is
not very well known in the international chess community.

In this article I want to take a closer look at this very interesting tournament with the readers. While the first part
will help you get an idea of the event, the second part is a selection of chess material from the 2016 edition.

The Chinese Chess League has been successfully running for 12 years now. It contains 12 teams, the 2 teams ranked
 last are dropped down to Division B, while the 2 top teams from Division B are upgraded. Division A developed
from one round-robin to a double round-robin, from one rapid game each team to an almost classical time control
and from 10 to 12 teams (22 rounds!). Now we even have a very well-managed and strong Division B, which also
attracted top foreign players. Young and talented Chinese players can gain a lot of experience in the League by
playing against very famous competition, which is a big opportunity for them.

In Division A each team is composed of five players and two reserves. The maximum number of Chinese players
that can be registered for the team is seven, but there is no limit for registering foreigners. Boards 1-3 are male
players, while Boards 4-5 are female players, plus one reserve each. In the male and female sections, the board
order can change. When two foreign competitors have played, the hosting teams foreign player will move
automatically to the next board to give Chinese local players more chances to play with foreigners.

There are normally six sessions: Among each session there are three to four rounds of games. Two match points are
granted for a win and one for a draw. The time control is 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move for the whole game.
Each round starts at 1 pm and the Zero Tolerance rule applies. To assure the quality of the games, we also require
the Sofia rule (draw offer after 30 moves only).

The 2016 Chinese Chess League took place in Shen Zhen from April to December. For an idea of how strong the
league is, it will be enough to mention that there were 12 players with an Elo rating of 2700 and higher. The winner
of the 2016 edition was the Shanghai Team, composed of the following players: Ni Hua, Zhou Jianchao, Lou
Yiping, Xu Yi, Ju Wenjun and Zhang Xiaowen from China, reinforced by Pentala Harikrishna, Dmitry Andreikin
and Anna Zatonskih. I played for the Shandong Team that earned third place.

I will start with our biggest hope, his name is Wei Yi! He is currently the youngest grandmaster in China, and his games
are always interesting.

B90
Wei Yi 2700 Gao Rui 2552
China 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

6.Nb3!? One of the features of Wei Yi is his approach to the openings. In this game he chooses a line that is not
common in the Najdorf, but it is a new and interesting idea. White removes the knight from d4 before Black can play
...e5, threatening it. This makes Black unable to follow the normal routine in the variation.

6...e6
[Playing the normal 6...e5 wouldnt do any good now, as it enables White to pin the f6-knight and take control over the
d5-square. 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Qd3. Also, White can decide to develop his bishop through g2.;
I think Black should consider playing with 6...g6, arriving at a Sicilian Dragon structure, where ...a6 can also be useful.
6...g6!? 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Be2 (8.f3 0-0 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0) 8...0-0 9.0-0 Nc6;
RR 6...Nbd7 Kanarek 2532 - Wojtaszek 2713, Poland (ch) 2016 - 128/75]

7.g4 b5 8.Bg2

8...Bb7
[If Black tries to drive away the white knight prior to attacking e4, his lack of development will put him under a strong
attack. 8...b4 9.e5 d5 10.ef6 bc3 11.0-0 Qf6 12.bc3 Ra7 13.Rb1]

9.g5
9...b4 A delicate decision in this variation. It is better to finish development first.
[9...Nfd7 10.0-0 (10.Be3 Nc6 11.f4 Nb6) 10...Nc6 11.f4 Be7]

10.Nd5 ed5N Black has no time to keep the position closed.

[10...Nd5 11.ed5 e5 12.a3 This is why pushing the b-pawn too early is not good. And the bishop on b7 is badly placed.
RR Bartel 2625 - Wojtaszek 2713, Poland (ch) 2016]

11.gf6 de4

Wei Yi. Photo by David Llada

12.Qg4!? Whites f6-pawn is like poison in Blacks
territory. Black has to deal with it at once, but
whichever path he may chose, it will always cause
some problem.
[Now White forces Black to take this poison, but I
prefer 12.Rg1

12...gf6 (12...Qf6 13.Na5 Bc8 14.Be4 Ra7 15.Be3;

12...Rg8 13.Bh3 Nd7 14.Bd7 Qd7 15.Bh6 g6 16.Bf8
Rf8 17.Qd4) 13.Qh5 Compared to the actual game, Black suffers even more.;
12.Be3 gf6 (12...Nd7 13.fg7 Bg7 14.Qd6 Bb2 15.Rd1 Bc3 16.Bd2 Ne5 17.Bc3 Qd6 18.Rd6 bc3=) 13.Qh5 Rg8 14.Bh3
Nc6 15.0-0-0 Van Foreest 2615 Van Wely 2667, Netherlands (ch-rapid) 2016]

12...gf6 It is better to take with the queen. White gains some activity, but Blacks pawn structure and king safety are
guaranteed.
[12...Qf6 13.Na5 Bd5 (13...h5 14.Qg5 Bc6 15.Nc6 Qg5 16.Bg5 Nc6 17.Be4) 14.Qc8 Qd8 15.Qd8 Kd8 16.Be3]

13.Be3 h5
14.Qe2
[Yi does not give Rui the chance to use the white queen and develop his own pieces, like in case of 14.Qf5 Qd7 15.Qf6
Rg8 16.Rg1]

14...Nd7 15.0-0-0 White has two pawns less, but Black`s pawn structure and piece development are not good. Whites
position is slightly better.

15...Qc7?!
[ 15...a5]

16.Bf4 f5 17.Bh3 0-0-0

18.Rd4?! White should take the pawn first, avoiding the dark-square bishop trade, and then start to attack Blacks
weaknesses.
[18.Bf5 Kb8 19.Kb1]

18...Bh6 19.Bh6 Rh6 20.Rc4

[Now White can also take the pawn, but this will allow Black to coordinate his pieces. 20.Bf5 d5]

20...Nc5 21.Qe3 Rf6

22.Qd4 Qe7 23.Rd1 Rd7 24.Nc5 dc5

25.Rc5?! White chooses to keep pieces for attacking, but overlooks Blacks counterplay. He should have entered in a
rook and bishop ending, where material is equal, but White has more activity and a better pawn structure:
[25.Qc5 Qc5 26.Rc5 Kd8 27.Bf5

A) 27...Rdd6 28.Rd2 (or 28.h4) 28...h4 29.Kd1;

B) 27...Rd1 28.Kd1 Ke7 29.Ke2 Kd6 30.Ra5]

25...Kd8 26.Qb4
Now it is not easy to go into the same ending.
[26.Qd7 Qd7 27.Bf5 Qd6 and Blacks intermediate move prevents the white king from joining the battle.]

26...Rfd6?
[Black missed a chance to draw: 26...Rd1 27.Kd1

27...e3! 28.Qa5 Ke8 29.Re5 Re6 30.Re6 Qe6 31.Qf5 Qd6 32.Qd3 Bf3 33.Ke1 ef2 34.Kf1 Qe5. Through attacking
Whites king, Black reduced some pressure, and now the position is equal.]
27.Rd6 Qd6 28.Qa5 Ke8 29.Re5 Re7
[If Black avoids the rook exchange, he will have to trade his queen and enter into a slightly worse ending: 29...Kf8
30.Qc5]

30.Re7 Ke7 31.Qf5 Qh2 32.b3 Kf8

33.Kb2?
[White does not want to play the pure queen and pawn ending and gives Black another opportunity. 33.Qh5 Qf2
34.Qh8 Ke7 35.Qe5 Kf8 36.Qb8 Kg7 37.Qb7 Qe3 38.Kb2 Qh3 39.Qe4+]

33...Qd6?!
[Under time pressure, Black chooses the wrong move. Keeping the h-pawn would have offered drawing chances:
33...h4 34.Qd7 (34.Qc5 Ke8) 34...Qe5 35.Kb1 Qd5]

34.Qh5 Qd4 35.Ka3

35...Bd5? After this move, White can stabilize his territory and is heading towards victory. Black should invade Whites
territory, with practical chances for a draw:
[35...Qc3 36.Qh6 Kg8 37.Qg5 Kf8 38.Qd8 Kg7 39.Qb6 Bc6 40.Bf1 Bb5 41.Bb5 ab5 42.Qb5 Qc2]

36.Qh6 Ke7 37.Qg5 f6 38.Qe3+

38...Qd1 39.Qc5 Ke8 40.Qc8 Ke7 41.Qc5 Ke8 42.Bf5 Qc1 43.Ka4 Qf4 44.Qxd5 e3 45.b4 1 : 0

Black is lost, and after some meaningless checks, he resigns.

Wei Yi had some good ideas in the opening, and got an advantage thanks to powerful play. Although he had some
inaccuracies later on, he kept attacking and didnt allow his opponent to simplify. On his way to victory he found his
opponent`s weaknesses and used them well.

Not only the best Chinese players are competing in the league; there are also several illustrious visitors from all around
the world. Starting with the ladies: Harika Dronavalli, Nana Dzagnidze, Antoaneta Stefanova, Anna Ushenina, Olga
Girya, Anna Zatonskih. And the gentlemen: Pentala Harikrishna, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Dmitry Andreikin, Richard
Rapport, Baadur Jobava, Jeffrey Xiong.

Also Ernesto Inarkiev plays in the Chinese League regularly. He is just one day older than me, and has been doing well
the last two years, which is reflected in his rating. Here we have one of his interesting games, where both players
conducting their attack in a creative way.

E86
Inarkiev 2729 Dai Changren 2361
China 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nge2 e5 6.f3 0-0 7.Be3 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 a6
10.Bh6!? The players have chosen a common line in the Saemisch variation. In this line White usually places his king
on b1:
[10.Kb1 b5 11.c5 (11.Nc1 ed4 12.Bd4 Re8 13.h4 Nb6) 11...Qa5 12.Qc2

12...d5 13.ed5 b4 14.dc6 bc3 15.cd7 Nd5!! Deshun Xiu 2492 Yang Wen 2549, China 2012 - 114/203. But Inarkiev
decided to trade Blacks dark-square bishop and attack Blacks king with h4h5.]

10...b5
[Black is not worried about trading the dark-square bishop, since Whites king also loses a defender. 10...Bh6 11.Qh6
b5 12.h4 Qa5 13.h5 (13.g4 b4 Bu Xiangzhi 2465 Ye Jiangchuan 2593, Shenyang 1999); 13.a3 b4 14.Nb1 Rb8)
13...b4 14.Nb1 Qa2 15.Ng3 Nb6 16.c5 Nc4 17.Rd2 Na5 18.cd6 Nb3 19.Kc2 Na1 Beliavsky 2610 - Kasparov 2805,
Linares 1993 - 57/(579)]

11.h4
[Now White can choose to trade the dark-square bishop, before breaking up the kings defence: 11.Bg7 Kg7 12.h4 h5
13.Kb1 (13.g4 hg4 14.h5 gf3 15.hg6 Rh8)

A) 13...Qa5 14.Nc1;

B) 13...Rb8 14.de5 de5 15.g4 hg4 16.Ng3 gf3 (16...b4 17.Na4 Qa5 18.h5 Qa4 19.b3 Qa5 20.hg6 fg6 21.Qg5) 17.h5;

C) 13...Qc7 14.g4 hg4 15.h5 gf3 16.hg6 fg6 17.Qh6 Kf7 18.Ng1 ed4 19.Nf3 Ne5 20.Nd4 b4 21.Nce2 c5]

11...Qa5 12.Bg7 Kg7

13.a3 This move is absolutely necessary. White gains nothing by rushing the attack:
[13.h5 b4 14.Nb1 Qa2 15.Ng3 Qa5]

13...Rb8N If Black tries to stop h4-h5, he would have to face an even stronger attack from White.
[RR 13...Nb6 Sherwin - Berliner, USA (ch) 1962; 13...h5 14.g4

A) 14...bc4 15.gh5 Nh5 16.Rg1;

B) 14...hg4 15.h5 gf3 (15...Rh8 16.de5 de5 17.Ng3) 16.hg6 fg6 17.Qh6 Kf7 18.Ng1;

C) 14...Rb8
C1) 15.de5 de5 16.g5 (16.Ng3 b4 17.ab4 Qb4 18.gh5 Nc5) 16...Ne8 17.cb5 ab5 18.Na2=;
C2) 15.Rh2 hg4 (15...b4 16.g5 Ne8 17.Nb1) 16.de5 Ne5 17.Qd6 Nfd7]

14.h5

14...b4?! Black got lost in the crossroads. He should move his king to a safe place first, retaining the opportunity to
open up the b-file. Then he can start some counter-attack:
[14...Kh8? 15.hg6 fg6 16.c5 dc5 17.de5 Ne5 18.Qd6 Nfd7 19.f4+; 14...Kg8 15.hg6 fg6 16.cb5 ab5 17.Kb1]

15.Na2 c5 16.de5
[Capturing the c5-pawn gives Black the chance to recapture the pawn with a piece: 16.dc5!?

16...Nc5 (16...Qc5 17.ab4 Qc4 18.Nec3) 17.Qd6 Be6 18.ab4 Qa2 19.Nc3 Nb3 (19...Qb3 20.Qc5 Rb4 21.Rd2+)
20.Kc2 Na1 21.Ra1 Qa1 22.h6 Kg8 23.Qe5 Rfd8 24.Qf6 Kf8 25.g3]

16...de5 Black should take with the knight, as this makes his pieces more active:
[16...Ne5 17.hg6 fg6 18.Nf4 (18.Qd6 Nfd7 19.Qd2 Rf7) 18...Qc7 19.ab4 cb4]

17.Kb1 Qa4 18.ab4 cb4 19.g4

[19.Ng3!? is also a good idea. Its not easy to find a good line for Black.]

19...Nc5 20.hg6 fg6 21.Qh6 Kg8 22.Rd5 Ne6

23.Nac1
[White decides to make his own king safer, missing a chance for a winning strike with 23.g5!

23...Nh5 (23...Ng5 24.Qg5 Nd5 25.cd5 Qb3 26.Ng1) 24.Ng3 Nd4

25.Bd3 (25.Rd4 ed4 26.Nh5 gh5 27.g6 Rb7 28.c5 b3 29.gh7 Rh7 30.Qg5 Kf7 31.Nc1) 25...Nf3 (25...Rb7 26.Nh5 gh5
27.g6 Rg7 28.Qh5+) 26.Nh5 Nd2 (26...gh5 27.g6 Rb7 28.Be2+) 27.Kc1 Nb3 28.Kc2 Rf2 (28...gh5 29.g6 Rb7
30.Rh5+) 29.Kd1+
 Ernesto Inarkiev. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis
It may look like Whites king is in danger, but Black is
already a spent bullet; Whites attack is unstoppable.]
23...Qc6? Black is only concerned about defending, but
fails to find the correct way, which is to help his knight
on f6 guard the h7square:
[ 23...Rb7 24.Re5 Qd1

25.Bg2 (25.Re6 Be6 26.Nf4 Ng4 27.fg4 Qd2 28.Ne6

Qh6 29.Rh6 Rf1; 25.Qe3 Ng4 26.fg4 Rf1 27.Rf1
Qf1) 25...Qd6 26.Ra5 Rbf7
Though Black is a pawn down, his pieces work in harmony. Also, Whites rook on a5 and the bishop on g2 can become
a target for Blacks pieces.]

24.g5+ Ng5
[After 24...Nh5 25.Ng3 Black has lost the chance to play 25...Nef4 26.Nh5 Nh5 27.Rh5.]

25.Qg5 Nd5 26.cd5 Qc7

27.Bg2 Bd7 28.Nd3 Bb5 29.Qd2 Qc4

30.Nec1 White chooses to play solidly. The piece sacrifice also works:
[30.Ne5 Qe2 31.Qh6 Rb7 32.Bh3+]

30...Qd4 31.Rd1 Rfc8 32.Nb4 Qc5 33.Bh3 1 : 0

Black will lose an exchange, with no chances of attacking. White only needs to move his pieces to the right places to
seal his victory.

Before presenting two examples from my own experience, I would like to share an interesting fragment. Here my team-
colleague, Wen Yang, playing with Black, showed a resolute attitude.

Xu Xinglun 2523 Wen Yang 2614

 China 2016

This position is from a game between Xu Yinglun (representing the Guangdong team) and Wen Yang (Shandong
Team). Now it is Blacks turn. Although White has the bishop pair and two central connected pawns, Blacks queenside
connected passed pawns are just closer to promotion. This forces Whites queen and rook to defend passively. After
some calculation, Wen Yang decides to sacrifice and open up the position.

27...Bd5! 28.cd5 Nd5

29.Bf2 The chess board is so big, but there are no good place for the bishops to go! All the available squares will
become Black targets.
[29.Rd1 Ne3 30.Bh7 Kh7 31.Rd6 Rd6 32.Qe5 Rd1 33.Kf2 Rf1 34.Ke2 b2 35.Qb2 Rf2 36.Kf2 Nd1+ recovers the
sacrificed material;
29.Bd4 Nc7 30.Be4 Qd4 31.Qd4 Rd4 32.Ba8 Na8+ White is an exchange up, but the queenside pawns give Black a
 decisive advantage;
29.Bc1

29...Nb6 30.Rd1 (30.Be4 Rac8 31.Qb1 Qb4+) 30...Nc4 31.Bh7 Kh7 32.Rd6 Nb2 33.Rd8 Rd8 34.Bb2 Rd1 35.Kg2
Rd2 36.Kh3 Rb2 37.Ra4 Rf2 38.f4 b2 39.Rb4 f5, entering a winning rook ending after a series of exchanges.]

29...Ne3 Black chooses to break Whites bishop pair and invade the enemys territory through the light squares.
[The following moves also could win. 29...Nc3 30.Bc4 Nd1 31.Rd1 Qd1 32.Kg2 Rd2 33.Bb3 Rb2 (33...Qe2 34.Qd2
Qd2 35.Ra4)

Although Black has a queen against two bishops, it is quite hard to find a way to invade. 34.Bd1 Rd8 35.Ba4 Rdd2
36.Kh3 Rf2 37.Kg4 Rh2+]

30.Bh7
[30.Be3 Qd3 31.Bf2 Qf3 32.Raa1 Rd3+
Black has three pawns against one white bishop, the material is more or less equal now. But the black rook will land on
the seventh rank with decisive effects.]

30...Kh7 31.Be3 Rdc8 32.Rf2

32...Qd3?! This is a bit rushed. Black should control the fourth rank first and then look for a chance to invade Whites
territory:
[32...Rc4 33.Ra1 (33.Rd2 Qc6 34.Kf2 Rc3) 33...Qb4 34.Bd2 Qc5 35.Re1 Rc2 36.Be3 Qc3 37.Qc3 Rc3 38.Bd2 Rd3
39.Bc1 a3 40.Ba3 Ra3 41.Ree2
Black has a huge advantage, but its still not easy to win.]

33.Qd2? White did not grab the chance. He could still get a draw, by choosing the following line:
[33.Qd4

33...Rc3 34.Qd3 Rd3 35.Bc1 Rd1 36.Rf1 Rf1 37.Kf1 Rc8 38.Bb2 Rc2
39.Bd4=]

33...Qd2 0 : 1

No matter how White recaptures the queen, Blacks pawn promotion cannot be stopped:
[34.Rd2 (34.Bd2 Rc2) 34...Rc3 35.Kf2
35...b2 36.Ra4 b1Q 37.Ra8 Qh1+]

I reserved a hard fight and an interesting endgame from my own production for the last part of the article. First we will
take a look at my game against Chen Qi, a young player from the Beijing Team. His rating is 400 points lower, but
nowadays younger generations grow quickly. This game was played in the third round of the first leg. As I was playing
with Black, I didnt dare to be careless, and was prepared for a long and hard battle.

C41
Chen Qi 2315 Bu Xiangzhi 2719
China 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 ed4 4.Nd4 Nf6

The unconventional Philidor Defence. I have not achieved good results against higher level opponents with it. So I tend
to use this type of opening mainly against lower-rated players to avoid opening preparations.

5.Nc3 Be7 6.g3

6...0-0
[Better than 6...d5, since it allows White to gain some advantage and also, with too many pieces exchanged, it would be
difficult for me to try to win the game: 6...d5 7.e5 Ng4 8.Bg2 Ne5 (8...0-0 9.0-0 Ne5 10.Re1) 9.Qe2 Nec6 (9...Nbc6
10.Nc6 Nc6 11.Nd5) 10.Be3 Nd4 11.Bd4 0-0 12.Nd5 Bb4 13.Nb4 Qd4 14.c3 Qd8 15.0-0]

7.Bg2 Re8 I have also tried to get some counter-play in the center, but as space is limited, the pawn structure has some
problems:
[7...Nc6 8.Nc6 bc6 9.0-0 Nd7 10.b3 Bf6 11.Bb2 Rb8 12.f4 c5 13.e5 de5 14.Ne4 ef4 15.Nf6 Nf6 16.Rf4 Ante Brkic
2598 Bu Xiangzhi 2675, Biel 2011]

8.0-0 c6 9.h3 Bf8

10.Bf4 Whites dark-square bishop should be developed through b2, from where it covers the central squares and exerts
some pressure on the black kingside.
[10.b3 Nbd7 11.Bb2 Nc5 12.Re1 a5 13.a4]

10...Nbd7 11.Qd2 Ne5 12.b3 b5N

[RR 12...Ng6 Vysochin 2529 - Zavgorodniy 2428, Ukraine 2011; 12...Bd7 Schut 2305 - Dauletova 2267, Istanbul (ol)
2012]

13.Rad1 A natural move, occupying the center and pressing on Blacks backward d6pawn at the same time. In the
following lines, Black doesnt have any problems:
[13.a3 a5; 13.Nc6 Nc6 14.e5 de5 15.Bc6 Bh3]

13...b4 14.Na4 c5 This is a little bit too rushed. I should have developed the bishop, preparing ...c5:
[14...Bd7 15.Bg5 c5 (15...h6 16.Bf6 Qf6 17.f4 Ng6 18.c4) 16.Nf5 Bb5 (16...Ba4 17.ba4 h6 18.Bh4) 17.Rfe1 h6
18.Bh4 (18.Bf6 Qf6 19.f4 Nc4 20.bc4 Ba4 21.Nd6 Qd6 22.Qd6 Bd6 23.Rd6 Rad8=) 18...g5 19.f4 gh4 20.fe5 Re5
21.gh4] Now White can choose between an equal or a complicated position, the latter not easy to evaluate.

15.Nb5
15...Bh3?! Actually, I was prepared to push...d5, but I overlooked Whites Nc7 with d6.
[15...d5 16.ed5

A) 16...a6 17.Nc7 Qc7 18.d6 Qb8 19.Be5 (19.Ba8 Qa8 20.Be5 Bh3) 19...Re5 20.Ba8 Qa8 21.Nb6 Qc6 22.d7 Bb7
23.f3+;

B) 16...Bd7 17.Rfe1 (17.c4 a6) 17...Ng6

B1) 18.Nc7 Re1 19.Re1 Nf4 20.Qf4 Rc8+;
B2) 18.Bc7 Re1 19.Qe1 (19.Re1 Qc8) 19...Qc8 20.d6 Bb5 21.Nc5 Qf5 22.Qb4 (22.Ba8 Qc5) 22...Qc2 23.Rd4 Re8
24.Qb5 Re1 25.Bf1 Ne5 26.Kg2;
B3) 18.Re8
B3a) 18...Be8 19.Nc7 (19.Bc7 Qc8 20.d6 Bb5 21.Nc5 Qf5 22.Ba8 Qc5 23.Ba5) 19...Nf4 20.Ne8 Nh3 21.Bh3 Ne8=;
B3b) 18...Ne8 19.d6 Rb8 (19...Bb5 20.d7 Nf4 21.Qf4 Nc7 22.Ba8 Na8 23.Qe5 Nb6 24.Nc5 Bc5 25.Qc5 Bd7
26.Qb4) 20.Na7 Nf4 21.Qf4 Bd6 22.Rd6 Nd6 23.Qd6 Ba4 24.Qd8 Rd8 25.ba4 Rd1 26.Kh2 Rd2 27.Be4;

After some calculation, I didnt feel comfortable playing 15...Ba6 to trade his nearly dead knight for my bishop: 16.c4
Bb5 (16...bc3 17.Nac3 Qa5 18.a4) 17.cb5 Qa5 18.Bg5 (18.Qe2 h6) 18...Qb5 19.Bf6 gf6]

So, I chose the risky text sacrifice. I wasnt very sure about the final position; I just felt that I could use the knight on b5
to gain something.

16.Be5 Ne4 17.Be4 Bf1 18.Rf1

[Taking the bishop with the king also gives White the advantage: 18.Kf1 Re5 19.Bg2]

18...Re5 19.Ba8 Qa8 20.f4 Re7 In the following line, I cannot catch Whites knight. In the end, Blacks rook controls
the second rank, but because there are not enough attacking pieces, Whites king is still quite safe:
[20...Re4 21.Nc7 Qc8 22.Nd5 Qe6 23.f5 Qe5 24.Rf4 Re2 25.Qd3]

21.Re1? My opponent starts to make mistakes under time pressure, overlooking my following moves.
[21.Nb2! (a key move) 21...d5 (21...Qc6 22.Nd6 Rd7 23.Nbc4 Bd6 24.Rd1 Qf3 25.Qe1 Re7 26.Ne5 Re5 27.fe5 Be7
28.e6+) 22.Nd6
A) 22...g6 23.f5 (23.Qg2 Bg7 24.Nbc4 Qc6 25.f5 Rc7) 23...Qc6 24.Qf4 Rd7 There is no other place to go; quite an
awkward situation. 25.fg6 Qd6 26.gf7 Kh8 27.Qg4 If Blacks rook wasnt on d7, his next move would be playable.
Now its losing. 27...Qg6 28.Qd7 Qg3 29.Kh1 Qh4 30.Kg2 Qe4 31.Kf2 (31.Rf3 Qe2 32.Rf2 Qe4=) 31...Qc2 32.Kg3
Qb2 33.Qd5+;

B) 22...Qc6 23.Nf5 Re4 24.Ne3 Qe6 25.Re1 c4 26.bc4 dc4 27.Nbc4 Rc4 28.Nc4 Qc4 This might be the best line for
Black, with only one pawn for the exchange.]

21...Re1 22.Qe1 Qc6

[22...Qb8 23.c4 a6 24.Nbc3 bc3 25.Nc3]

23.c4 a6 24.Nbc3
[24.Qe2 Qd7 25.Nb6 Qb7 26.Na4 ab5 27.cb5 d5 28.b6 c4 29.bc4 Qc6+]

24...bc3 25.Nc3 Qc8

[25...Qf3 26.Nd5 h5 27.Kh2 Qd3 (27...g6 28.Nf6 Kg7 29.Nd7=) 28.Qe8 Qc2 29.Kh3 Qb1]

26.Nd5 Qd8?! I had to decide between occupying Whites territory or guarding my own. I chose the wrong one. My
idea was to stop Whites attack and bring the g7bishop into the battle, but it wasnt necessary.
[I should harass the enemy and look for chances to revive the dark-square bishop: 26...Qh3 27.a3 h5 (27...a5 28.a4=)]
27.a3 a5 28.Qc3 f5 29.Kg2 h5 30.Kh3
[30.Qe3 Kf7 31.Qc3 g6 32.Qh8 Black is a pawn up, but in zugzwang. 32...Qe8 33.Qf6 Kg8 34.Kf1 Qf7 35.Qd8=]
30...Kf7
[I wanted to play 30...g6, but then found out that it is not easy to win after trading queens, since Blacks king will not be
able to get into the battlefield: 31.Qf6 Qf6 32.Nf6 Kf7 33.Nd5 Be7 34.a4 Bd8 35.Ne3 Ke6 36.Nd5 g5 37.Ne3 h4
38.Nd5 g4 (38...hg3 39.Kg3 gf4 40.Kf4=) 39.Kg2 h3 40.Kh2=]

31.Qf3?! Finally, my opponent made another mistake. He was probably worried that after the king moved away, I will
have possibilities like ...h4. Therefore, he retreats his knight, which was in a very good position. Now my pieces can be
more useful.
[31.Kg2 h4 (31...g6 32.Qh8) 32.gh4 Qh4 33.Qa5=]

31...g6

32.Nc3?
[32.Qe2 Bg7 33.Qe1 Bf6]

32...Qe7 33.Qd5 Kg7 34.Nb5 Kh7 35.Qd2 Qe4 36.Kh2 Qf3 37.Qd5
[White is in serious trouble, nothing can save him: 37.Nd6 h4 38.gh4 Bh6+; 37.Nc3 Bg7 38.Nd5 Qb3+]

37...Qb3?!
[37...Qe2 38.Qg2 (38.Kh3 h4+) 38...Qe3+]

38.Qf7?
[38.Nd6 h4 39.Qb7 Qb7 40.Nb7 hg3 41.Kg3 a4 42.Nd8 Kg8 43.Kf3 Be7 44.Nc6 Bd6]

38...Bg7+ 39.Nd6 h4 40.Nf5

[40.Ne8 Qg3 41.Kh1 Qe1 42.Kg2 Qe4 43.Kg1 Qd4 44.Kg2 Kh6+]

40...Qc2 0 : 1

This wins material and my opponent decided to resign. My team beat the Beijing team
3.5 : 1.5 and it was our first win in 2016. In this game, my opponent put me under a lot of pressure. He also calculated
accurately in the opening and middle game. He just missed the opportunity to get advantage and made serious mistakes
under time pressure. Which gave me the chance to win this game and I took it.

Last but not least an endgame from the last round of the final leg. My opponent was the young player Zhao Chenxi
from the Shenzhen Team. In the first round robin against the same team, I spoiled a winning position and had to draw
with another young player, Lin Yi. So this time I had only one thought - to achieve victory. In spite of playing White,
my opponent only wanted a draw. From the very opening he was exchanging piece after piece. We arrived in the
following position after 18 moves.

Zhao Chenxi 2302 Bu Xiangzhi 2705

China 2016

19.g3?! Not a very good move.

[19.f3 Rhc8;
White should have played f4 directly: 19.f4! Kf6 20.e5 Kf5 21.g4 Kg4 22.Rhg1 Kh5 23.Rg7 Rd8 24.Ke1 Rd3 25.Rf7
and White has no problems getting the desired draw.]

19.g3?! Rd8 20.Ke3 Rdc8 The previous check on d8 was to get control over the c-file. Also interesting would is to
induce White to advance his pawn to b5. In that way, my bishop would have had an extra target:
[20...Rc4 21.f3 Ba6 22.b5 Rdc8 23.Kd2 Bb7]

21.f4?!
[White shouldnt rush this move. In some situations, the f-pawn can go to f3 to protect e4. The following line is better:
21.Ne2 Rc2 22.Rhd1 Ba6 23.Rc2 Rc2 24.Rd2=]

21...Kf6 22.Ne2 Rc2

[22...Rc4 23.Rc4 (23.e5 Kg6 24.Rc4 Rc4 25.Rd1) 23...Rc4 24.Rc1=]

23.e5?! A natural move, but it weakens the light squares. The following pawn sacrifice is better:
[23.Rhd1 Be4 24.Rc2 Bc2 25.Rd7 and Whites activity is enough compensation for the missing pawn.]

23...Kg6 24.Rc2
[24.Rhd1 Ra2 25.Ra1 Rb2 26.Rab1 Rb1 27.Rb1 Rc2 28.Rc1]

24...Rc2 25.Rc1 Ra2 26.Rc3 h5

Even if the situation is equal in material, Whites pieces are all tied to defensive roles. My opponent decided to sacrifice
a pawn to free his pieces. This decision was correct, but he chose the wrong timing to do it. First, he should restrain my
king from entering the battlefield and only then sacrifice the f-pawn:

27.f5?
[27.b5 Bd5 28.h3 Rb2; 27.h3 Bg2 28.h4 Bd5 29.Nd4 Rg2 30.f5 ef5 31.Ne2 Kh7 32.a4

White is a pawn down, but Blacks rook is trapped. White can also get counter-play by attacking Blacks queenside.]

27...Kf5 28.Rc7 Ra3 29.Kf2 Bd5 30.Rf7 Ke4 31.Rg7 Ra2 32.Rc7

I already foresaw this position when I played 30...Ke4. Now I have a forced path to victory.

32...a5! 33.ba5
[33.b5 Rb2+]

33...b5 34.Ke1
[34.Rc3 Bc4 35.Re3 Kd5 36.Ke1 b4+]

34...b4 35.Nf4 b3 36.Nd5

36...ed5! 37.Rb7 b2 38.Kd1 Kd3 39.Rb3 Kc4 40.Rb7 Kc3 0 : 1

Realising that my b-pawn is unstoppable, Zhao Chenxi resigned. Eventually my team took third place in the team
ranking. In the Chinese League, younger generations have shown their challenging spirit. I believe there will be more
and more young talented players, who will make the future Chinese team competitions even stronger.

I hope that you enjoyed this small insight into the Chinese Chess League and that I could convince you to keep an eye
on the development of chess in my country.
PICK YOURSELF UP ...AND START ALL OVER AGAIN


The final leg of the Grand Chess Tour 2016 was the 8th edition of the London Chess Classic and took place from
the 9th to the 18th of December. Wesley So was not the only hero of the tournament

Wesley won the competition another demonstration of his constant improvement. His long streak of victories in strong
tournaments without loosing a single game is impressive. For not loosing you have to put a big effort in fighting, but
that effort sometimes is not enough. Then the real strength lies in coming back ready for another fight the next day after
a defeat. A player that really gave us an impressive example of how that can look like, is Hikaru Nakamura.

Nakamura began with a very bad step.

D85
Nakamura 2779 So 2794
London 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e4 Nc3 6.bc3

Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Rc1 0-0 9.Qd2 e5 10.d5 Nd7 11.c4 f5
12.Bg5 Nf6

13.Ne2? and after 13...Ne4!

[Whites position is just lost. 0 : 1 in 29 moves.] Not the best way for starting a tournament...

Lets take a closer look at what happened in his 6th round against Caruana. Before this game both players had 3 out of
5, being half point behind the leader. But each of them arrived here in their own winding ways. Nakamura had already
recovered from his terrible first game against Wesley So. Then he had an unpleasant endgame against Giri, which he
managed to hold. He could have been pawn down with White against Vishy, but won eventually. Inspired by that win
he went on to beat Topalov with black and then put enormous pressure on Kramnik. Vladimir managed to hold the
position finding a series of only moves. Caruana had a very different tournament. He drew with Anand with white, then
he beat Topalov in a crazy game with multiple mistakes (Topalov was the one to commit the last blunder). He had some
pressure against Kramnik, drew his game against Aronian and finally he was close to winning against Vachier-Lagrave,
but probably miscalulated and shared the point.

 Caruana vs Nakamura, London 2016. Photo by Asik Josip

B96
Caruana 2823 Nakamura 2779
London 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Its weird, but according to my database both players did
not have this position for about 5 years! Since Fabiano was the one to choose this line, it means that Hikaru must have
been very surprised. On the other hand, Hikaru has more experience in this line he played it on both sides of the
board. My guess is that Fabiano decided for an opening line that he never played before in order to escape the
preparation.

7...h6
[7...Qb6 is the main line 8.Qd2 Qb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 h6 11.Bh4 de5 12.fe5]

8.Bh4 Qb6 On the one hand Black restricted some of Whites possibilities by including h6 first for example going for
Nb3 but White now has the option of moving the bishop to f2.

9.a3
[9.Nb3? Qe3 and one of the central pawns will fall.; 9.Qd2 Qb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.e5 de5 12.fe5 leads via transposition
 into one of the main lines of the variation.]

9...Be7
[The idea is of course 9...Qb2? 10.Na4+ traps the queen - a basic line that we are all familiar with.]

10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7

[Other possibilities are 11...b5 12.g4 Nc6 13.0-0-0 as in Grischuk 2747 Vachier-Lagrave 2773, London 2015
127/92; 11...Nc6 is not so popular amongst the top players.]

12.0-0-0 b5 13.g4
[13.e5? is met by typical 13...Bb7! and Black wins the pawn on e5.]

13...g5 The positional idea behind this move is to take control over the e5 square. But the square has its price! It opens
the position a little, while Blacks king is still in the center and will probably be unsafe for the rest of the game.The idea
is not new, it was used before in Giri Vachier-Lagrave at Norway Chess 2016 and later in Azarov 2581 A. R. Salem
2617, Abu Dhabi 2016. Both games ended with forfeit for White!
[13...Bb7 was played the very next day in Nakamura Vachier Lagrave 1:0!]

14.h4
[14.Bg2 Rb8 15.e5 de5 16.fe5 Ne5 17.Qe2 Ng6 18.Bg3 Nf4 19.Bf4 Qf4 20.Kb1 Bd7 21.Bc6 Rd8 22.Rhf1 Qg4? is the
game Azarov Salem mentioned before. Both players did well until this moment, where White could have seized a
decisive advantage. (22...Qc7 was the only option) 23.Qe5? (23.Bd7! Rd7 24.Qe5 0-0 25.Nc6! Rd1 26.Rd1 and
White wins a piece.) 23...0-0]

14...gf4 15.Be2
This exact position was reached in Giri 2790 Vachier Lagrave 2788 at Norway Chess in Stavanger. Black won a very
complex game, but when Maxime commented this game, he confessed that he was not aware that this position was
tested before in correspondence chess.

15...b4N When analysing this game, M.V.L. considered several moves. As you can see, he did not mention the one
played by Nakamura. It looks like the novelty is not very good.
[Here I will partially use Maxime Vachier-Lagraves comments:
15...Ne5 16.Qf4 Neg4 is the direct option, but it leads to a very unpleasant position after the more or less forced
sequence: 17.Bg4 e5 18.Nd5! (18.Qf6? The sacrifice does not work here! 18...Bf6 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Nc6 Bg4 wouldnt
be as smart as it looks.) 18...Nd5 19.Qf3 As it was pointed out in Maximes analysis: 19...Bg4 20.Qg4 Nf6 21.Qf3!
ed4 22.Bd4 and White wins back the piece. Black is in trouble here.;
15...h5 16.g5 Ng4 17.Qf4 and again e5 doesnt work for Black. 17...e5 18.Nd5! Qb7 19.Qg3 Nf2 20.Qf2 ed4 21.Ne7
Ke7 22.Qd4+;
15...Bb7 is the best according to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The following line seems relatively forced: 16.g5 Ne5
17.Qf4 Ng6 18.Qf3!? (18.Qe3 This is the place for the bishop, but not the queen. 18...hg5 19.hg5 Rh1 20.Rh1 Nd7
Black is doing relatively ok having the e5 square while also putting pressure on the weak g5 pawn, for example: 21.Rh7
Qc5!) 18...hg5 (18...Ne5!? 19.Qg2!? Rg8 20.Rh3 hg5 21.hg5 Nfd7 22.Rg3 Not a very pleasant position for Black,
given his kings lack of safety. After a possible 0-0-0, Black has to calculate all the sacrifices on b5 very carefully.)
19.hg5 Rh1 20.Rh1 Nd7 21.Be3 Nde5 22.Qf2 0-0-0 with an unclear position. I guess it is easier to play with White,
since his king is much safer.;
15...d5 This move does not look good to me for general reasons. Black is opening the center with his king standing right
there! But to support this feeling you need to calculate an extremely complicated computer line: 16.g5! Ne5 17.Qg2
17...Ne4 18.Ne4 de4 19.Qe4 Bb7
20.Ne6!! fe6 21.Bh5 Kf8 22.Qf4 Kg8 23.Bf7!! Kh7 24.g6 Kg7 25.Bd4 Bf6 26.Rhf1 Nd3! 27.Rd3 Qf4 28.Rf4 e5
29.Rf6! Kf6 30.Bc3 with a very unpleasant endgame for Black.;
15...Rg8 was played by M.V.L. against Giri.

A) 16.Qf4! e5 17.Qh6 ed4 (17...Rg6 18.Ne6!!+ Qb7 19.Ng7 Kd8 20.Qh8+) 18.Bd4 Bb7 19.Rhf1 Ng4 (19...0-0-0
20.Bf6 Nf6 21.Rf6 Bf6 22.Qf6+) 20.Bg4 Rg4 21.Rf7 Kf7 22.Qh5 Rg6 23.Qh7 Ke8 24.Qg6 Kd8 25.Qg8 Nf8 26.Rf1
White is winning;
B) 16.Rdg1? d5! and Black seized the initiative! Giri 2790 Vachier-Lagrave 2788, Stavanger 2016 128/84]

16.ab4 Ne5 So why did Hikaru give away the pawn and only then went for Ne5? The devil lies in the details!

17.Qf4 Neg4 18.Bg4 e5

19.Qf6!! Now when Black gave away the b-pawn, this beautiful positional sacrifice works perfectly!
[Here comes the difference: 19.Nd5? Nd5 20.Qf3 Nb4!+ That is why Hikaru played b4 first!]

19...Bf6 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Nf5!

[21.Nc6 Bg4 22.Nd8 Bd8 23.Rd2 Rc8 This endgame is not so clear to me. I think Caruana played much better.]

21...Rb8
[21...Bf5 22.Bf5

This is fascinating! White is a queen down for only 2 pieces, but is totally dominating! Black has no counterplay and
White can slowly improve his pieces and pawns. For example:

A) 22...Be7
A1) 23.Bb6?! Qb8 24.Bc7! (24.Nc7?! Kf8 25.Na8 Qa8 The knight on d5 was better than the rook on a8!) 24...Qb7
25.Rh3!? Rg8 26.Ne7 Ke7 27.Bd6 Ke8 28.Rc3 Rd8 29.Rc7 Qb5 30.Re7 Kf8 31.Bd7!? Rd7 32.Rd7 Kg7
33.b3 After a series of only moves, Black is still suffering!;
A2) 23.Rd3!+ and Black has no defense against the rook coming to c7 and the bishop coming to b6. For example:
23...Rg8 24.Rc3 Rb8 25.Rc7 Rb4 26.Re7 Qe7 27.Ne7 Ke7 28.h5+;

B) 22...Rb8 Black wants to get rid of the knight on d5, even by the price of a rook. 23.c4! White has so many ways to
improve the position, while Black can only stand and wait. (23.Rd3!? Rb5 24.c4 Rd5 25.Rd5 Be7 26.c5 Qb8 27.Rhd1
dc5 28.bc5 and Black is also in deep trouble.)]

22.Nf6! Qf6 23.Rd6?! It is hard to a give question-mark to this move, when the correct combination is so tricky.
[23.Nd6! This was even stronger.

A) 23...Ke7 24.Bc5! Qf4 (24...Bg4 25.Nb5!! Ke8 26.Nc7#) 25.Kb1 Qg4 26.Nc8 Ke8 (26...Kf6 27.Rhf1 Kg6
28.Rg1+) 27.Nd6 Kd7 (27...Kf8 28.Rhg1+) 28.Nf7 Kc7 29.Bd6!? Kb7 30.Bb8 Rb8 31.Ne5 Qe4 32.Nd7!+;

B) 23...Kf8
And here only 24.Bf5!! gives White a decisive advantage, but this is by no means obvious to the non silicon eye.
(24.Bc8 Qf2 25.Rhf1 Qe3 26.Kb1 Rh7 and Black is holding) 24...Bf5 (24...Be6 25.Bc5+) 25.Nf5 Rd8 26.Rd8 Qd8
27.Bc5 Ke8 28.Ng7 Kd7 29.Rd1+]

23...Be6 24.Rhd1
[24.Be3 might have been more precise preventing 0-0. 24...Rb4 (24...0-0 25.Nh6 Kh8 26.Nf7+) 25.Ra6

A) 25...Kd7 26.Ra7 Kc6 27.Ne7! Qe7 (27...Kb5 28.Be2+) 28.Re7 Bg4 29.Re5 with a big advantage for White.;

B) 25...Bf5 26.Rf6 Bg4 This line is better for White compared to the one that could have happened after 25...Rb4.]

24...0-0 25.h5 Qg5?

[Black could have resisted more, for example with 25...Rb4! 26.Bh4
26...Bf5!! A brilliant move that can easily be overlooked. 27.Bf6 (27.Rf6 Bg4 28.Rg1 Re4 29.Rh6 f5 and the outcome is
far from clear.) 27...Bg4 28.Re1!? In all the lines Black is suffering but not losing. (28.Rg1 Re4 29.Ra6); 25...Rfe8
26.Bh4! Qh8 27.c3!! keeping the attack. The computer gives decisive advantage and it is quite clear that White is
dominating all over the board. (27.Ne7 Re7 28.Be7 Bg4 29.Rd8 Rd8 30.Rd8 Kh7 31.Rh8 Kh8 32.Bf6 Kh7 33.Be5 Bh5
34.Kd2 Kg6 and I am not sure if White can win this endgame.)]

26.Be3 Qf6 27.Nh6 Kh8 28.Bf5

[28.Nf7!? Rf7 29.Be6 Qf3 gives some unnecessary activity to Black.]

28...Qe7
[28...Qh4 29.Rg1! Qh5 30.Nf7 Bf7 31.Rh6 Qh6 32.Bh6 Rg8 33.Rh1 and White should win this.]

29.b5
[29.Nf7 was even stronger 29...Rf7 (29...Qf7 30.Re6+; 29...Bf7 30.Rh6 Kg7 31.Rg1) 30.Re6 Qb4 Probably this was
the reason why Fabiano played b5 first. But White is winning here by force with computer precision. 31.Rh6 Kg8
32.Rg1 Rg7 (32...Kf8 33.Rh8 Ke7 34.Rb8 Qb8 35.Bc5 Kd8 36.Rg8+) 33.Be6 Kf8

34.Bc5!! Brilliant! Without this move White is not winning! (34.Rh8 Ke7 35.Rg7 Kd6!! 36.Rd7 Ke6 37.Rb8 Qb8 and
Black is still in the game.) 34...Qc5 35.Rh8 Ke7 36.Rg7 Ke6 37.Rh6#]

29...Qe8
[29...ab5 30.Nf7 Rf7 31.Re6+ and the difference is that Black has no counterplay over the b-file.]

30.Nf7 Rf7 31.Re6 Qb5 32.Rh6 1 : 0

The game could have continued: 32...Kg8 33.Rg1 Rg7 (33...Kf8 34.Rh8 Ke7 35.Rb8 Qb8 36.Bc5 Kd8 37.Rg8+)
34.Be6 Kf8 35.Rh8 Ke7 36.Rg7 Kd6 and there is no checkmate threat on e1! 37.Rb8+.

How can I summarize the game? Hikarus novelty turned out to be a suspicious one. Caruana got a winning position out
of the opening, but the combination was far from obvious. Later Nakamura could have resisted more, but he missed his
chances.

I dont know how Hikaru recovered so quickly after a painfull loss against Fabiano the day before. I dont think that
there is a universal trick to get over a bad loss. If such a trick existed, top players like Topalov would use it for avoiding
 to have such terrible tournaments like this one. For the same reason I believe that there is no recipe for dealing with
time trouble. Ask Grischuk or Ivanchuk. But there are things that one can do to recover. For example, getting enough
sleep, to start with. Usually when you are playing an open tournament after a defeat, you will face a weaker opponent.
This is not the case at the top level! It is vital to forget about the past game and concentrate on the one to follow. That is
much easier to say than to do. Watching a movie, talking to a friend, reading a book, going for a walk, swimming,
running... these are some things that might help. I dont know what Hikarus choices were, but he definitely succeeded!

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, London 2016. Photo by Harald Fietz

B96
Nakamura 2779 Vachier-Lagrave 2804
London 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave could easily be described as the expert of this line. He successfully played it against Caruana,
Grischuk, Giri and other grandmasters. We have to go way back for finding his last defeat with this opening he lost
2012 against Emanuel Berg.

8.Bh4 Qb6 9.a3 Be7 10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7 12.0-0-0 b5 13.g4 Bb7
[As we saw in the previous game that was played the day before, here Nakamura opted for g5. 13...g5 RR A. Giri 2790
Vachier-Lagrave 2788, Stavanger 2016 128/84]

14.Bg2 Rc8 Black decided to keep the king in the center. It is quite a risky strategy, but so far it paid off for Maxime.
[14...g5 15.h4!? gf4 16.g5 Ne5 17.Qf4

A) 17...Nfg4 18.g6 Rf8 19.Bg3 Yu Yangyi 2662 S. P. Sethuraman 2553, Kocaeli 2013. White has a strong initiative.;

B) 17...Nh5 18.Qd2 (18.Qe3!?) 18...hg5? 19.hg5 0-0-0 20.Kb1 Naiditsch 2702 Guliev 2545, Le Port-Marly (rapid)
 2012. (20.Bf1!? Blacks king is not safe at all);

C) 17...Nfd7 deserves further investigation. The position is very complex and the three results are posible. ]

15.Kb1 A useful move by all means. The battery on the c-file is dangerous and in some variations Whites king might
receive unpleasant check on the c1h6 diagonal. This position was met in Wan Yunguo 2494 Gao Rui 2475, China
2013, and Kanmazalp 2437 Solodovnichenko 2587, Teplice 2016.

15...g5 Black is fighting for the e5 square. But the king is now going to be unsafe till the end of the game. In this line the
price of each move is much higher for Black. One incorrect move and you can get a losing position!

16.Qh3! A novelty at the elite level. This move was scarcely played before, but looks very strong!

16...Nc5?!N The whole idea behind g7g5 was to conquer the e5 square. Now that the knight is gone, White should
seize the initiative. In Maximes defence the best move (16...Nh7) is very hard to find over the board.
16...gf4? 17.g5! This is one of the ideas behind this move. Another one is to put the queen away from the bishop on b7
and the knight on e5. 17...Nh7 18.g6! Black is collapsing.;
16...Rg8
17.e5!! That is why the queen had to move! 17...de5 18.fe5 Bg2 (18...Ne5 19.Bg3 transposes) 19.Qg2

A) 19...Ne5 20.Bg3 White opens the position for just one pawn and now all the pieces are attacking. Black is in trouble
here. 20...Qc5 unpinning the knight (20...Nfg4 too greedy! 21.Rhe1! And there is no defence. For example, 21...b4

22.Nd5!! ed5 23.h3! ba3 24.hg4 Qb7 25.b3+ Pawns dont matter anymore.; RR 20...Neg4 21.Bc7 1:0 Pommrich 2197
- Epinoux 2122, ICCF 2013) 21.Qb7!? White starts collecting the pawns on the queenside (21.Ne4!? Ne4 22.Qe4
Ng6 23.Rhf1!? keeping Blacks king in the center.) 21...Nc4 22.Rd3 protecting the knight on c3 in case of Na3.
22...Kf8 23.Qa6 Kg7 24.Ncb5 The engine gives decisive advantage, but in a practical game there is a lot of play
ahead.;

B) 19...Qe5 20.Bg3!? Qc5 21.Rhe1 with a very strong attack 21...b4 (21...Kf8? 22.Re6!+) 22.ab4 Qb4 23.Nf5! ef5?
24.Bd6+;

16...Rf8?! is worse than Rg8 since the king will have no option of running to g7.;
16...Nh7 looks like the strongest option to me. Now:

A) 17.e5!? Bg2 (17...de5 18.fe5 with a very strong attack. White is ready to give the e5 pawn away.) 18.Qg2 gf4 19.ed6
Bd6 20.Rhe1 with attack for White;

B) 17.f5 e5 18.Nb3 Nhf6 and Black managed to close the center so now the king is safer. The position remains
unclear;

C) 17.fg5 Ng5 18.Qg3 Ne5 Black is relatively safe, as long as White did not manage to open the position with e5;

D) 17.Qh6? Bf6! threatening to trap the queen 18.Qh3 (18.e5? Nhf8!+) 18...gf4 and Black will take over the e5
square. Black is at least okay here.]

17.Rhe1! White finished the development and now all the pieces are attacking. White is ready to open the position.
Black is in trouble.

17...h5
[The alternative could have been 17...gf4 where White has to find a series of strong and only moves that lead to a big
advantage: 18.g5! Nfd7 19.g6! a typical idea in many sicilian positions. White is undermining the e6 pawn. Once this
pawn is gone, White can occupy the key square on d5 19...fg6 20.Ne6! Ne6 21.Qe6! Ne5 22.Bd4! Qc4 23.Nd5! Qc2

A) 24.Ka2 is somewhat worse for very unobvious reasons 24...Bd5 25.ed5 Qf5 26.Qf5 gf5 27.Be5 de5 And now 28.d6?
doesnt work, because after (28.Re5 keeps the advantage for White.) 28...Rc5! there is no b2b4! 29.b4? Rc2!;

B) 24.Ka1 Bd5 25.ed5 Qf5 26.Qf5! gf5 27.Be5! de5 28.d6! White is close to winning.]

I guess Maxime felt that the position is not good anymore, so he decided to complicate it hoping for some
miscalculation from his opponent.

18.Nf5! A very aggressive and strong move! I believe it is too late for giving Black any advice.
[18.fg5! Was also strong 18...Ng4 19.Bg3 but then the knight goes to f5 anyway! 19...Ne5 20.Nf5! ef5 21.ef5+ Bg2
22.Qg2 White will place a strong knight on d5 and f6 is coming. Whites advantage is decisive.]

18...Nce4
[18...ef5 19.ef5 Ng4 20.Bc5!? Bg2 21.Qg2 Qc5 22.Nd5+; 18...Ng4 19.Bd4+ It is difficult to find moves for Black to
continue. Whites attack is overwhelming.;
18...gf4

A) 19.Bc5!? Very computer-ish line 19...Qc5 (19...dc5 20.Nd5! ed5 21.ed5+) 20.Ne7 Ke7 21.e5! hg4 22.ef6 Kd7
23.Qg4 Rhg8 24.Qg8 Rg8 25.Bb7+;

B) 19.Ne7 This is a human approach 19...Qe7 20.e5! de5 21.Re5 Bg2 22.Qg2 Kf8 (22...Ncd7 23.Qb7!! Rb8 24.Qc6+)
23.gh5! keeping the attack and a lot of pieces (23.Bc5 Rc5 24.Rc5 Qc5 25.Rd8 Ne8 26.Re8 Ke8 27.Qa8 Kd7 28.Qh8
hg4 29.Qf6 is close to winning.)]

19.Be4! Ne4 20.Bd4! Again Nakamura is on fire!

20...Rg8 21.Ne7! The bishop on e7 was a very good defender. That is why the knight went to f5.

21...Ke7 22.gh5 gf4 23.Qh4 Kf8 Black is two pawns up, but his pieces are completely dis-coordinated, the king is still
trying to find a safe place, White has a strong passed pawn and his king is well protected. Black is lost. Until this
moment Hikaru was playing flawlessly, but now he played like a human being and not like a Stockfish-machine.

24.Ka1? Too slow! This is very unusual, since Hikaru is very aggressive player.
[24.h6! Was much stronger! 24...e5 25.h7 Rh8

And now for example 26.Ka1!! Black is completely lost 26...Nc3 27.Bc3+ and soon there will be some sacrifice on
d6.; 24.Qf4 Was also strong 24...e5 25.Qh6 Ke7 26.Ne4 Be4 (26...Qc2 27.Ka1 Be4 28.Be5 de5 29.Qd6 Ke8 30.Re4
Qe4 31.Qd7 Kf8 32.Qc8 Kg7 33.Rg1+) 27.Bc3 It is not too obvious to the human eye, but Whites attack is close to
being decisive. For example: 27...Rh8 28.Qe3 b4! 29.Bb4!? Bc2 30.Ka1 Bd1 31.Qe5 Kd7 32.Qf5 Kc6 33.Rd1 Kb7
34.Bc3 f6 35.Bf6+]

24...b4? Objectively a bad move, but with a very tricky idea behind it.
[24...Qe7! Black desperately needs to exchange queens, because of his kings lack of safety. He is ready even to lose a
whole piece for that. 25.Qf4! (25.Qe7?? Ke7 26.Ne4 Be4 27.Re4 e5 And suddenly the position becomes equal or
unclear, to be precise.) 25...Qg5! Same idea!

A) 26.Qf3 Nc5 (26...Qf5 27.Qf5 ef5 28.h6 Ke7 29.Bg7!?+ winning some material after Rg1 and h7.) 27.Qf2 Qh5
28.Qf4! A complete computer line is 28...e5 29.Be5 de5 30.Re5 Qg6 31.Qb4 Qc6 32.Qh4! It is not at all obvious, but
Whites attack is close to being decisive according to my Stockfish;

B) 26.Re4 The human approach. 26...Qf4 27.Rf4 e5 Black gets a very bad endgame, but at least the queens are gone.
For example: 28.Rf2 ed4 29.Rd4 White is pawn up and Black has many weaknesses to protect. But the position is by no
means winning.;
24...e5? 25.Ne4 Be4 26.Re4+]

25.Ne4
[25.ab4? A move that Maxime was hoping to see. 25...e5! 26.Ne4 Qc2! And now there is a huge threat of perpetual
check on the a4c2 squares! 27.Nc5 (27.Nc3?? Rg2! and now White is even losing!) 27...dc5 28.Bc5 Kg7 and Blacks
king is going to be safe on h7! 29.Rd6 Kh7! 30.Qf6 Qa4!? 31.Kb1 Be4! 32.Re4 Rg1! 33.Bg1 Qc2! 34.Ka2 Qa4!;
25.h6! Was much stronger 25...e5 (25...bc3 26.h7 cb2 27.Bb2+) 26.h7 Rh8 The following line is one of many that is
winning 27.Ne4 Be4 28.Re4 Qc2 29.Rde1 b3 30.Qh6 Ke7 31.Qf4+]

25...Be4 26.Re4 Qc2 27.Ree1?

[27.Rde1 was much stronger. The idea is that after 27...ba3 28.Qf4 ab2 29.Bb2+ there is no Rg5 and the pawn on e6 is
hanging. According to my Stockfish the best move for Black is Qb2]

27...ba3 Now White has to find some only moves to keep the winning position.
[27...Rg2 was another possibility. 28.Qf4 e5 29.Qh6!? Kg8 30.Rc1 Qf5 31.Rc8 Qc8 32.Rc1+]

28.Qf4! ab2 29.Bb2

29...Rg5!! My guess is that Hikaru may have missed this move. If the queen takes the rook, her control over a4 is lost.

30.Qd6!
[30.Qg5? Qa4=]

30...Kg8 31.Rg1
[31.Rd3 was also very strong and safe. 31...Ra5 32.Ra3 Ra3 33.Qa3 and White should win soon.]

31...Qa4 32.Ba3?!
[32.Kb1! was stronger, but my guess is that Hikaru might not have seen a fantastic idea for Maxime 32...Qe4 (32...Qc2
33.Ka2 Qc4 34.Ka3!!+ and there are no checks!) 33.Ka2 Qa4 34.Qa3 Qa3 35.Ka3 Rg1 36.Rg1 Kh7 37.Rg7 Kh6
38.Rf7 Kh5 and White should be winning here since Black cannot capture the h2 pawn.]

32...Rg1?
[32...Kh7!! could have been a very unpleasant surprise 33.Rg5 Rd8!! 34.Rg7! (34.Qd8?? Qa3 35.Kb1 Qb3= 36.Kc1
Qc3=; 34.Qd3 Rd3 35.Rd3 White should win this endgame, but there could be some practical problems.) 34...Kh6!!
(34...Kg7 35.Qg3 Kh7 36.Rd8+) 35.Rd4!! Qd4 36.Qd4 Rd4 37.Rf7 and Black cannot win the pawn on h2! 37...Rd1
38.Kb2 Rd2 39.Kc3 Rh2 40.Bf8! Kh5 (40...Kg5 41.h6+) 41.Rh7+]

33.Rg1 Kh7 34.Qd3 Kh6 35.Rg6 Kh5 36.Rg1 f5 37.Qf3 1 : 0

A fantastic game by Hikaru! Excellent home preparation and a powerful attack in the middlegame. There were some
inaccuracies, but he never missed the winning advantage.

Nakamura had to recover and get himself ready for fighting again twice during the tournament. He showed that he is
growing in the direction of a mature chess personality and this attitude was rewarded with a victory in Gibraltar a
month later, ahead of Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave, after playing two rounds of tiebreaks.
STRATEGIES FOR TRAPPING THE ENEMY KING

In attacking games, where one is putting all the eggs in one basket, going for the enemy king requires very
precise calculation and a decided attitude. I will showcase two of my recent games, one from Gibraltar, one from
 Moscow.

In Gibraltar I ended sharing the first place (losing in the round of tie-breaks against the final winner, Hikaru
Nakamura). From this tournament I selected a Sicilian defense against the young and talented Austrian Valentin
Dragnev, who had a good performance in the Rock.

In Moscow I was the first player in the ranking list, but I couldnt keep the level I showed in Gibraltar. Nevertheless
there is one game a French Defense that I find interesting for the topic of the article. My rival this time is the
very strong Venezuelan Eduardo Iturrizaga.

While in the first game I will be focussed on concrete variations, in the second my comments will be strategically
oriented.

B46
Dragnev 2492 Yu Yangyi 2738
Gibraltar 2017

The strategies for capturing the enemys king can take

different forms. In attacking games where one is
putting all his eggs in one basket, going for the king
requires very precise calculation and a decided attitude.
In other games one cannot go for the king directly, but
has to accumulate certain advantages first. As showing
is better than telling, I will give the eye to two of my
recent games, one from Gibraltar, one from Moscow.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6

6.Bf4!? My opponent is a very young player and does
not have such a definite repertoire, so I had not
prepared this line specifically, but I think Black has
good prospects of obtaining a position with
counterplay.

6...d6 The usual line. Another possibility is:

[6...Qb6 7.Nb3 Nf6 8.a3 Ne7 9.Bd3 (9.Qd6!? Qd8 10.Qd2 Ng6 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Bd6) 9...Ng6 10.Bg3 Blomqvist
2574 Svidler 2748, Gibraltar 2017 (10.Be3!?)]

7.Nc6 bc6 8.Qd2

8...Be7! 8...e5?! is not so precise since it allows Whites bishop to land in g5 at once. With this tempo, White can
continue its development and start pressing the center.
[8...e5?! 9.Bg5! Nf6

A) 10.0-0-0!? h6 11.Bh4 Be6 12.Kb1 (RR 12.f3 Volokitin 2681 Laznicka 2634, Novi Sad 2009 107/51) 12...a5;

B) 10.Bc4!? h6 11.Bf6 Qf6 12.0-0 Be7 13.f4 0-0N (13...Be6 Pikula 2434 Sprenger 2513, Croatia 2016) 14.f5 Rd8
15.Rad1 Fressinet 2660 Javakhishvili 2455, Gibraltar 2017; 8...d5 9.0-0-0 Nf6 10.g4 Bb4 11.Bg2 0-0 12.g5
Andreikin 2733 Zubov 2606, Abu Dhabi 2016 130/56]
9.h4?!
[9.Be2 e5!? (9...d5 10.0-0-0 Nf6 11.Bf3 0-0 12.Kb1 a5 13.g4 (Kovalevskaya 2438 Kobalia 2632, Moscow 2015)
13...Nd7!?) 10.Bg3 Nf6 11.f4 Qc7 (11...ef4 12.Bf4 0-0 13.0-0-0 Ng4 14.Qe1 Qc7 15.Bg4 Bg4 16.Rd3) 12.0-0 0-
0; 9.0-0-0 e5 10.Be3 (10.Bg3 Nf6 11.f4 Nh5=) 10...Nf6

A) 11.f4 Ng4 (11...ef4 12.Bf4 Nh5 13.Be3) 12.g3 0-0 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Bb3 Nxe3 15.Qe3

15...Bf6=;

B) 11.Bg5 Be6 12.Bf6 gf6 13.f4 Qa5 14.Kb1 (14.f5 Ba2 15.Na2 Qa2 16.Qc3 Qa4 17.Bc4 a5) 14...ef4 15.Qf4 Qe5
The bishop pair and the central pawns compensate the double pawns. 16.g3 (16.Ne2 Rb8 17.b3 a5) 16...Rb8
(16...Qf4!? 17.gf4 f5=) 17.Qe5 fe5 18.Ba6 f5]

9...e5N
[RR 9...Nf6 Ryder Smalcl, ICCF 2013]

10.Bg5
[10.Bg3 Nf6 11.h5 Be6]

10...f6! It is important to keep the bishop to defend the d6 pawn.

11.Be3 f5

12.Bg5 It was interesting to open the center even at the price of sacrificing the pawn on h4 with:
[12.f4!? Bh4 (12...fe4 13.fe5 Bh4 14.Rh4 Qh4 15.Bf2 Qh6 16.Be3=) 13.Bf2 Bf2 14.Qf2 Nf6 15.fe5 Ng4 16.Qd2 de5
17.0-0-0 Qd2 18.Rd2 f4

19.Rh5! The only move that keeps the position equal, but it is very difficult to calculate it with precision during the
game. 19...Kf7= (19...g6 20.Rg5 Kf7 21.Be2 h5 22.Rd6 Be6 23.Rc6 Kf6 24.Bg4 hg4 25.Rg4 Kf7 26.Rg5 Kf6=)]

12...fe4 13.Ne4 d5 14.0-0-0

14...Nf6! While the position remains dynamically balanced 14...Nf6 compels White to be precise.
[14...Qc7 15.Be7 Ne7 16.Nc5 0-0 17.f3 Qd6 18.Qc3 Nf5 19.Bd3 Ng3 20.Rhe1 Re8=]

15.Nxf6
[15.Bf6?! gf6 16.Qh6 Rb8! 17.b3 Kd7! Blacks king will find a safe place in c7, while the center and the two bishops
assure Black a slight advantage.]
15...gf6 Whites advantage in development is compensated by Blacks strong center. The position is dynamically
balanced and requires very precise play from both sides.

16.Bh6 Qb6 17.Be2 Be6

18.Bh5? This check just drives Blacks king where it wants to go. The king is equally safe on d7 and it facilitates the
transfer of the rook from h8 to the attack. Also, Whites bishop moves away from the defense of the king. The correct
 play is linked to make Blacks center weaker before going for the king.
[18.f4!? e4 19.Bh5 Kd7 20.g4 Rhb8 21.b3 a5! 22.f5 Bg8 23.Rhe1

A) 23...a4 24.Re4 ab3 25.cb3 Bd6 26.Bf4 Bf4 (26...Ra2 27.Qa2 Bf4 28.Rf4 Qe3 29.Rd2 Qf4 30.Qa7 Qc7 31.Qa3
Qb6 32.Re2 Qb4 33.Qb4 Rb4 34.g5=) 27.Rf4 Qa7 28.Ra4 Qc5 29.Qc2=;

B) 23...Qb4 24.Qb4 ab4 25.Re4 Bd6 26.Re2 (26.Bf4?! Ra2 27.Bd6 Kd6 28.Ree1 h6!) 26...Ra2

Although the position is balanced, it is easier to play with Black.]

18...Kd7!
From this moment on, Blacks moves are quite natural. My plan for attacking is very clear and my forces are well
placed. Exactly the opposite is Whites situation. After playing my king to d7 I felt confident about the result of the
game. There is still work to do though...

19.f4?! First step in the wrong direction. It was necessary to play:

[19.Be3 Qb5 20.Be2 Qa4 21.Kb1 Rhb8 22.b3

And although Black retains the advantage and is in the drivers seat, White would have been able to put its bishops into
play again.]

19...Rhb8
20.b3?! The second step in the wrong direction, this time there wont be a way back.
[20.Qc3 was the only move for defending. A very difficult decision to take at the board.]

20...a5!+ Now the five pieces of Black participate directly in the attack!

21.fe5
[21.c3 Qc5 22.Kb1 Qa3 23.g4 (23.Qb2 Bf5 24.Ka1 Qb2 25.Kb2 a4 26.b4 Rg8 27.Rd2 e4+) 23...d4+]

21...a4!
[It is important not to waste time in the attack, for example 21...fe5? 22.Qe2]

22.Qf4
[22.Qd3 ab3 23.ab3 Qa5 24.ef6 Ba3 25.Kb1 Bb4 26.Qh7 Kc8 27.Qh8 Kb7 28.Qg7 Kb6 29.Be3 c5+]

22...ab3 23.ab3

23...Qa5! 24.Bg4 Qc3 25.Be6 Ke6 26.Qg4 f5

And the central pawns proved to be decisive! Blacks king is safe, Whites king is going to be executed... 0 : 1

 Valentin Dragnev and Yu Yangyi. Photo by Sophie Triay

B12
Yu Yangyi 2738 Iturrizaga 2652
Moscow 2017

Now lets see the more strategical approach.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.c3!?

[6.0-0 c5]
6...Nc8?! This move frees e7, but the knight is far from the kingside and will have to move again.
[6...Nd7 7.0-0 h6!? RR Anand 2650 Karpov 2730, Brussels (m/5) 1991 52/150 (7...c5!? RR Benjamin 2540
Seirawan 2615, USA (ch) 1991 52/(150)); 6...c5 7.dc5 Nec6 8.b4 Nd7 9.Nd4]

7.0-0
[7.Qb3 Qc7 (7...Qb6!?) 8.Nh4 Bg6 9.Nd2 c5 10.Ng6 hg6 11.Nf3 Nc6 Adair 2454 Speelman 2517, Great Britain
2016]

7...Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.Nbd2

9...a5?!N Winning space in the queenside, but not generating threats against the white center. More consequent would
have been:
[9...Nd7!? 10.Ne1 f6! 11.f4 (11.ef6 Bf6 12.f4 Nd6 13.Nd3 Be7 14.a4 a5 15.Ne5 Ne5 16.fe5 Ne4=) 11...fe5 12.fe5 Bg5
(RR 12...c5 Nguyen Anh Dung 2508 Shen Siyuan 2374, Ho Chi Minh City 2011)
13.Bf2! Keeping pieces on the board in order to make Blacks coordination more difficult.]

10.Ne1! Initiating the activity on the kingside without wasting time on stopping Blacks expansion on the queenside.

10...a4 11.Bd3
[11.f4!? With the idea of g4 and f5, using the bishop as a target. 11...Bg6 12.Bd3 (12.g4 f5) 12...Nd7 13.Bg6 fg6
14.Qg4 Rf5]

11...Bxd3
[11...Nb6!? 12.Bf5 ef5 13.Nd3 Blacks structure has been weakened, but the f5 pawn makes it difficult for White to
attack with his pieces.]

12.Nd3 Nd7
13.Qg4! Starting a direct attack with pieces. This forces Black either to play f5, weakening the pawn on e6, or to put
his king on h8, where it is distanced from his defensive forces.

13...f5
[13...Kh8!?
A) 14.h4 Qa5! (14...Bh4? 15.g3 Be7 16.Kg2) 15.Rac1 Qb5=;

B) 14.Nf3 Ncb6 15.Qh5 Kg8;

C) 14.b4?! Na7;

D) 14.b3!?;

E) 14.f4! g6 (14...f5 15.ef6 Rf6 16.Rae1; 14...Ncb6 15.f5) 15.Qh3 Ncb6 16.b3 and the g4f5 plan gives White a
clear advantage.]

14.ef6 Rf6 15.Nf4 Nf8

16.Nf3 White has accumulated four pieces, attacking e6 and g7 and also the rook on f6 is a target.

16...Nd6 17.Ne5 Rf5 18.Nh5 Bf6

[18...g6 19.Ng3 Rxe5 20.de5 Nc4 21.Qe2 Ne5 22.Rae1]
19.Ng3 Opting for the more direct plan. Also interesting would have been:
[19.Nd3!? a3 20.b3 Ne4 21.Rac1 The rook on f5 is not stable.]

19...Re5 20.de5 Be5 21.Bc5!

21...g6?! This unnecessarily weakens the kingside and the 2nd rank. It is better to expel the white bishop.
[ 21...b6 22.Bd6 Bd6 23.Rae1]

22.Rfe1 Bg7 23.Qb4! Nb5

[23...Nc4 24.Qb7 a3 25.b3 Na5 26.Qb4 Rb8 27.Be7!+]

24.c4! dxc4?
[24...b6 Trying to keep the position as closed as possible. 25.Be7 c5 26.Qb5 Qe7 27.Rad1! (27.cd5?! a3! allows Black
counterplay on the a column, while attacking the pawn on b2.) 27...Qb7 28.cd5 ed5 29.Nf1]

25.Rad1 Qf6

26.Ne4!+ Qxb2 27.Qc4 Once the position is open, Black has no resources for avoiding the invasion of the white
pieces.

27...Nc3 28.Bf8 Rf8 29.Rd2! Qa3 30.Qe6 Kh8

31.Nd6 The extra pawn to offset the exchange cannot compensate Whites centralisation. The fight is over!

31...Bf6 32.Nf7 Kg7 33.Rd7 Qa2 34.Ng5 1 : 0

Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli. Photo by Maria Emelianova
IMPRESSIONS FROM GIBRALTAR


Playing in this prestigious tournament is always a pleasant experience. The organiser, Brian Callaghan, has
created a very special event and his efforts are well cherished by the chess community. The tournament is
getting stronger year by year and the side events in the evening are always a lot of fun.

For this article I have selected a couple of moments that caught my eye. From my own experience, I selected an
instructive endgame that I played in the second round and two of my victories, not flawless, nevertheless interesting.

After the first round, I bumped into Daniel Fridman at the evening buffet. We were commenting our respective
encounters from that day and he shared a study-like variation that could have occurred in his game. Lets make this
position our starter.

Pustovoitova 2407 Fridman 2594

Gibraltar 2017

50...Be5!
[Daniel had been intending 50...g5? when he spotted the very pretty 51.Ng6 and the mating idea (The soulless computer
points out 51.hg5 hg5 52.Ra1 gf4 53.Rh1 Bh6 54.Nd7+ and; 51.Rg8 Be5 52.fe5 Re5 53.Rg7 Kh8 54.hg5+ also win)
51...gf4 52.Rh8 Bh8 53.Nf8# cant be sensibly prevented.]

50...Be5! 51.Re8 Rg2! Black still needs to be alert to hold on.

52.fe5 f4! With the f-pawn running the white king on f7 is no longer so powerful and the game soon ended in a draw.

53.e6 f3 54.Re7
[If 54.e7 Re2 55.Rf8 f2 56.Ke8 either 56...Rd2 (or 56...g5 lead to a draw.)]

54...Re2 55.Kf6 Kg8 56.Kg6 Kf8 57.Rf7 Ke8 58.Rf3 Re6 1/2 : 1/2

My second round game against Debashis was a long grind, leading to a tough rook and pawn ending that was not easy to
play.

Debashis 2472 Adams 2751

Gibraltar 2017
38.Nd6?
[The rook and pawn endgame is treacherous. 38.Re1! holds much more easily as 38...h4 39.Re6 Ra1 40.Ke2 h3? leads
nowhere: 41.gh3 gh3 42.Rh6]

38.Nd6? Kd6 39.Rc4

[It was hard to choose between this and 39.Rc5 Rb2 40.Rg5 Rb3 41.Ke2! (41.Rh5 Rb2 42.Rh8 b3 43.Rb8 Kd5+)
41...Rb2 42.Ke3 b3 43.Rh5 Rc2 44.Rh8 b2 45.Rb8 Kd5 46.Rb4! c5 47.dc5 Kc5 48.Rb8 Kc4 49.Kf4 Kc3 50.Kg4 Rc1
(50...Rf2 51.Kg5) 51.Kf5=]

39...h4
[39...Ra1!? was perhaps the best try. 40.Ke2 h4 41.gh4 gh4 42.d5 c5 43.Rg4 Rb1 44.Rh4 Rb3 45.g4 Rb1 46.Kd3 and
White seems to just about survive 46...Rc1 47.Rh8 c4 48.Kd2 Rf1 49.g5

A) 49...c3 50.Kd3 Rf2 51.Kc4 c2 (51...Rf4 52.Kb3 Kd5 53.g6=) 52.Rh1=;

B) 49...Rf2 50.Ke3 Rg2 51.Rb8 Rg5 52.Rb4 Kc5 53.Ra4 Kb5 54.Ra2 Rd5 55.Rd2=]

40.gh4
[The calm 40.Kg1! was good enough, but this was the last move of the time control 40...Ra1 41.Kh2 Rf1 42.Rb4 Rf2
43.d5 holds.]

40...gh4
[40...Ra1!? 41.Ke2 gh4 42.Rc5 (42.d5 c5 43.Rg4 Rb1 transposes to the note above.) 42...Ra2]

41.Kg1
[After some thought on reaching the time control my opponent defends precisely. Instead 41.d5? c5 42.Rg4 Rb2 43.Rh4
Rb3 wins easily.; 41.Rb4? Ra1 42.Ke2 h3+]

41...g3
[A better try than 41...Ra1 42.Kh2 Rf1 43.Rb4 Rf2 44.d5 cd5 45.Rg4]

42.fg3 hg3 43.Kf1 Rf2 44.Ke1

[44.Kg1? Rb2+]

44...Rg2 45.Kf1
[45.Rb4 likely comes to the same, my opponent ensures his king will get in front of my passed pawn.]

45...Rf2 46.Kg1 Kd5 47.Rb4 Rc2

[47...Rb2 is met by 48.Kf1 Ke4 49.Rc4]

48.Rb8
[The alternative 48.Ra4!? looks like it holds: 48...Ke4 (48...g2 49.Rb4 Ke4 50.Ra4 Kd3 51.Rb4 Kc3 52.Rb8 Kd4 53.b4
Kc4 54.Rb6 Kd5 55.Rb8 Kd6 56.Rb7 Rb2 57.Kh2) 49.b4 Rc4 50.Kg2 Kd4 51.Ra6]

48...Kd4

49.b4?
[I had been expecting this move from way back. But once the position appeared on the board, it occurred to me that
leaving the pawn on b3 was better as it gives the rook an extra square on b4, which will prove handy. 49.Rd8 Kc5
50.Rb8 Rb2 51.Rb7 Kd6 52.Rb8 Kc7 53.Rb4 c5 54.Rb5 Kc6 55.Rb8 and now I dont see how Black can progress.
55...Re2 56.Rc8]

49...Rb2 I now had a winning plan in mind.

50.Rb6 Kd5 51.Rb8 Ke6! The triangulation is handy here.

[51...Kd6 52.Rb7]

52.Rb7
[52.Rb6 Kd7 53.Rb7 Kd6 returns to the game.]

52...Kd6 53.Kf1
[53.Rb8 Kc7 and the b-pawn falls.]

53...Rf2 54.Kg1 Re2 55.Kf1

[55.Rg7 keeps a little more hope, but loses to the same idea 55...Re4 56.Rb7 (56.Rg6 Kc7 57.Rg3 Rb4+) 56...Re7
57.Rb8 Kc7 58.Rg8 Re4 59.Rg3 Rb4 60.Kf2 Re4 and the king is cut off decisively.]

55...g2! 56.Kg1 Re7! 57.Rb8

[57.Rb6 Kc7 58.Ra6 Kb7 59.Ra2 Rg7+; 57.Re7 Ke7 58.Kg2 Kd6 59.Kf3 Kd5+]

57...Rg7 Now Whites king is paralysed and I can organise favourable conditions to round up Whites remaining pawn.

58.Rd8
[58.b5 Kc7! 59.Ra8 Kb7!+]

58...Kc7 59.Rd4 Rg8

[Preventing his rook accessing the eight rank is not necessary, but good practice. 59...Kb6 60.Rd8 Rg4+]

60.Rc4
[60.Rf4 Kb6 61.Rf5 Rg4+]

60...Kb6 61.Rf4 Kb5 62.Re4 Rg3 63.Rf4 Rb3 64.Kg2 Rb4 65.Rf1

65...Rb2
[It was still not too late to go wrong: 65...c5 66.Kf3 Rd4? (66...Rb2! the key is to cut the king off along the seventh rank
when it can never get near my pawn.) 67.Ke3=]

66.Kf3 c5 67.Ke3 Kb4 68.Rf8 c4 0 : 1

My fluctuating game with Hou Yifan was important for my tournament. I patriotically essayed the English Opening for
the third time in a row, and got some advantage. We both lost our bearings in the run up to the time control, before a
tricky knight against pawn ending worked out in my favour.

A33
Adams 2751 Hou Yifan 2651
Gibraltar 2017

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.e4 0-0 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Be3 d6 12.f4
As Blacks knight on c6 is a bit misplaced, like its opposite number on b3, I decided to prevent it redeploying via e5.

12...Rc8 13.Rc1 Nb8

[The more traditional hedgehog move 13...Qc7!? was quite possible as 14.Nd5 ed5 15.cd5 Qb8 rebounds on White. The
knight retreat looks a bit artificial.]

14.Qd3 a6
[14...Nbd7 could be met by 15.Bf3]

15.Nd4 Not the only option, but I hoped to play f5 in the future.

15...Nc6
[After 15...Nbd7 White has a variety of options 16.b4 (16.Qb1!?) 16...Qc7 17.g4 would lead to death or glory, and
seems interesting to the machine, but I think I would have played something more modest.]

16.b4
[16.Rfd1 was a good choice as 16...Na5 17.e5 looks promising.]

16...Nd4 17.Bd4 Nd7

[With the c5 square covered 17...e5 falls short. 18.fe5 de5 19.Be5 Qd3 20.Bd3 Ng4 21.Bf4 Bf6 22.Nd5 Bd4 23.Kh1
Bd5 24.ed5 Nf2 25.Rf2 Bf2 26.g3 leaves White having more fun.]

18.Qg3 Forcing matters, but the preparatory 18.Rfd1 was more precise.

18...Bf6
[After 18...e5 19.Be3 or (19.fe5 Ne5 20.Be5 de5 21.Rfd1 keeps some pressure.)]

19.Rfd1
[I rejected 19.Bf6! Nf6 20.e5 de5 21.fe5 due to 21...Qd4 22.Rf2 Ne4 23.Ne4 Qe4 24.Bf3? (But 24.Rd1! Rfd8 25.Rd6 is
more interesting.) 24...Qe3]

19...Qc7
[I thought I could keep some pressure after 19...e5! 20.Be3 (20.fe5 Be5) 20...ef4 21.Bf4 Be5 22.Nd5 (22.Bg4? Rc4)
22...Bd5 (22...Re8 23.Bg4 Bd5 24.Rd5 Rc6 25.Rcd1) 23.Rd5 Qe7 (23...Nf6?? 24.Be5) 24.Bg4 but in fact 24...Rc6!
25.Bd7 Bf4 26.Qf4 Qd7 leaves Whites initiative evaporating fast and a draw looks odds on.]

20.Bf6 Nf6 21.e5 de5 22.fe5 Nd7 23.Rd6

I was pretty happy here, but Hou Yifans next move undermining my pawn on e5 sent me into confusion.
 Hou Yifan. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis
23...f6 24.ef6
[The computer suggests 24.Bg4! f5 (24...Ne5? 25.Be6
Kh8 26.Bc8) 25.Bh3! Whites bishop looks ridiculous
here, but the monster rook on d6 is so powerful that
there is time for White to recycle it. (25.Be2 f4 didnt
appeal to me at all.) 25...Rfe8 26.Ne2! Another nice
touch heading to f4 26...Be4 27.Nf4 Nf8 28.Qe3 Rb8
and either 29.Bg4 (or 29.g3 restore harmony. Not
surprisingly this fantastic idea was much too deep for
me.)]

24...Rf6 25.Bd3 Rcf8

[I thought 25...e5 was dangerous and my opponent
agreed, but we were both scared of shadows: 25...e5
26.Bh7 (26.Rf6 Nf6 is the best move, but doesnt look
impressive.) 26...Kh7

A) 27.Qd3?! e4 loses material: 28.Ne4 (28.Qh3 Rh6)

28...Be4 29.Qe4 Kh8;
B) 27.Qh3 Kg8 28.Rd7 Qc4 29.Rb7? I was trying to
work out the ramifications of this when Hou Yifan
played something else (29.Qg3 is the sensible option,
although 29...Rf7 30.Rf7 Qf7 31.Qe5 Qg6 leaves
Black with fine compensation for a pawn.) 29...Qd4
30.Kh1 Rc3 (30...Rcf8! 31.g3 Qd3! wins on the spot.)
31.Rb8 Kf7 32.Qh5 Ke6 left me totally confused, but
this is somewhat academic.]

26.Rd1 g6
[After 26...e5?!

A) 27.Rd7 isnt a threat 27...Qd7 28.Bh7 Kh7 29.Rd7 Rf1#;

B) My intended 27.Bh7 Kh7 28.Qd3 is also good. (28.Qh3 Kg8 29.Qd7 Qc4 is less impressive);

C) 27.c5! is best 27...bc5? (27...Rd6 28.cd6) 28.Bc4]

27.Be2 Nc5
[After 27...Rf2

A) 28.Rd7! looks suicidal, but 28...Qg3 29.hg3 Rg2 30.Kh1 Ba8 31.Ra7 Rg3 (31...Bc6 32.b5) 32.Kh2 Rc3 33.Rdd7
leaves White in control.;
B) 28.Bf1!? I thought it was very clever leaving Black without a good move. However the computer counters this
effectively with 28...R2f5! 29.Re6 Ne5! The game move, putting the knight en prise, proved a good try with little time
remaining and events now become highly chaotic.]

28.Qe3
[My opponent pointed out the neatest solution: 28.Rd8! favourably clarifies matters 28...Qg3 29.hg3 Ne4 30.Rf8 Rf8
31.Ne4 Be4 32.Rd6; 28.bc5!? is possible 28...Qc5 29.Kh1 Rf2 30.Rg1 Bg2 31.Rg2 Rf1 32.Bf1 Rf1 33.Rg1 Rg1 34.Qg1
Qd6 White is better, but the game is not over yet.]

28...Rf2 Forced, but now I thought erroneously that I was winning easily.

29.Qf2 Rf2 30.Kf2

30...Kg7?
[Now to my horror I noticed 30...Bd5! when matters are totally unclear. 31.Nd5 (31.bc5 Qc5 32.Kf1 Qd6 33.cd5)
31...ed5 32.R6d5 Ne4 33.Ke3 Nf6]

31.bc5
The ice cool 31.Kf1! is rather neat.

31...Qc5 32.R1d4?
[The variation 32.Kf1 Qf5 33.Kg1 Qc5 34.Kh1+ should be possible to calculate on a better day.]

32...Bd5
[32...e5 33.Na4 was my point, would you believe I forgot about this idea again in the last 2 moves?!]

33.Rd7 Kh6 34.Ke3 Bc6

[34...e5 35.R7d5 ed4 also looks drawish.]

35.Ne4
35.Kd3 was better, but its natural to try to play safely in time trouble.

35...Qa3 36.Kf2 Qf8 37.Bf3 Bd7

Around here I noticed 37...e5 and became concerned, which is a little ironic as 38.g4! wins on the spot.

38.Rd7 Qc8 My opponent continues methodically collecting my pawns.

39.Ra7 Qc4

40.h4 My few remaining hopes are centered on the fact that Blacks king is not happily placed.

40...Qd4
[40...g5!? 41.hg5 Kg6 gives the monarch a bit more room, but the check is very natural.]

41.Kg3 Qe5 42.Kh3 Qf5 43.Kg3 Qe5 44.Kh3 Qf5 45.Kh2

I was about to acquiesce to a draw with 45.Kg3, but then I realised I could continue the game with no risk, and some
hidden traps.

45...Qf4 46.g3 Qf3 47.Rh7 Kh7 48.Ng5 Kg7 49.Nf3 After this forced sequence, we reach an endgame where Blacks
pawns look dangerous, but my kingside majority is very handy and Black needs to be careful.

49...a5
[49...b5? 50.Nd4 Kf6 51.g4 b4 52.Nb3 and the queenside pawns are neutralised before they get going.]

50.g4
50...a4?
[Pushing the passed pawn is natural, but 50...Kf6! leaves White with too many runners to be contained for any progress
to be made 51.Kg3 (51.Nd4 Ke5; 51.Ne1 b5 52.Nc2 b4 53.Kg3 b3 54.Na3 a4 55.Kf3 Ke5 56.Ke3 Kd5=) 51...a4
52.Nd4 a3 53.Nc2 a2 54.Kf3 Ke5 (54...e5 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.Na1 b5 57.Nb3 b4 58.Na1 Kd6) 55.Ke3 b5 56.Na1 b4
57.Nb3 Kd5 58.Kd3 e5 and its time to settle for a draw.]

51.Nd4! a3
[51...Kf6 52.Nb5! halts the pawn and soon wraps up

A) 52...e5 53.Kg3 Ke6 54.Kf3 Kd5 (54...Kf6 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.g5+) 55.Nc3+;

B) 52...Ke5 53.Kg3 Kd5 54.h5 gh5 55.g5 Ke5 56.Kh4+]

52.Ne6! Probably this was what Hou Yifan missed. It looks too time consuming to grab this pawn, but the promotion
races run like clockwork from my point of view.

52...Kf6 53.Nd4 Ke5 54.Nc2 54.Nb3 also works, but I was happy to play a forcing line I had calculated to a win.

54...Kf4
[54...a2 55.Kg3 (55.g5+) 55...b5 56.g5 b4 57.Na1 Kd4 (57...Kf5 58.Nb3 Ke4 59.h5) 58.h5 Kc3 59.h6 Kb2 60.h7
Ka1 61.h8Q and the new queen effortlessly deals with the pawns: 61...Kb1 62.Qh1 Kb2 63.Qg2 Ka3 64.Qf3 b3
65.Qc3]

55.Kh3!
[55.g5? Kg4]

55...a2
56.g5! The last difficult move: the g-pawn will soon be on its way.

56...b5
[56...Ke4 57.h5+]

57.Na1 b4 58.Nb3 Ke5

[58...Kf5 59.Kg3! Ke5 60.h5 gh5 61.Kh4+]

59.h5 gh5 60.Kh4 Kd5 61.g6 Kc4 62.Na1

[The alternative 62.g7 Kb3 63.g8Q Kb2 64.Qg2 Kb3 65.Qd5 Kb2 66.Qd4 Ka3 67.Qa1 b3 68.Qc3 also works. The
queen is a very useful piece!]

62...Kc3 63.g7 Kb2 64.g8Q Ka1 65.Qc4 Kb2

[If 65...b3 White has two options to end the game, but with different results: 66.Qc1# (66.Qb3?? stalemate!)]

66.Qb4 Kc2 67.Qa3 Kb1 68.Qb3 Ka1 69.Kg5 The second rooks pawn prevents stalemate ideas here

69...h4 70.Qc2 1 : 0

Black resigned before 70...h3 71.Qc1#.

Not long after we finished, we discovered we were seated opposite each other again, this time for the dinner alongside
the much anticipated Battle of the Sexes event. I was happy to observe the action, glass of wine in hand, after my many
moves earlier. Examining the games too closely is not really the idea of the event, but the play from move 16 onwards
is worth a look.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES

A00
Boys Girls
Gibraltar 2017

Photo by Sophie Triay

1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bg4 3.c4 e6 4.Qb3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nbd7
6.cd5 ed5 7.Nd5 Rb8 8.Nh3 Bd6 9.Qe3 Kf8 10.Qa7
c6
[10...Nd5 was worth considering.]

11.Nc3 Qc7
[11...Nc5 raises some questions about how the queen
might escape.]

12.d4 Bh2 Both sexes appear to be partial to rooks

pawns!

13.e4 Not a bad pawn centre after playing the Grob!

13...Re8 14.e5 Ne5 15.de5 Qe5 16.Be3 g6 White cant

castle, but its not easy to get to his king.

17.Qb7 Kg7 18.Kf1 Rb8 19.Qc6 Rb2 20.Rh2 Rc8

[Not 20...Qh2 21.Bf4]

21.Bf4 Qd4 22.Rd1

[Inspired! The tempting 22.Qd6 Qc3 23.Be5 Qc1 rebounds.]

22...Rb1
[22...Bd1 23.Qc8 Be2 looks like it should be mate, but after 24.Kg1 Rb1 25.Bf1 Rf1 26.Kg2 the white king walks
away without a scratch on him.]

23.Qd6
[Another cool move as 23.Rb1 Rc6 is no fun.]

23...Qd6 24.Bd6 Bd1 25.Nb1 Rc1 26.Ke1 Rb1

[26...Bg4 keeps on fighting 27.Kd2 Rd1 28.Kc3 Rd6]

27.Be5! Very clever the discovered checks are harmless.

27...Bb3 28.Kd2 Ba2 29.Ng5 Rb5 30.Rh7 Kg8 31.Bf6 1 : 0

A funny and interesting game.

After a successful deviation from 1.c4 against Ju Wenjun in round 6, I returned to the English for my last white game. I
was quite pleased with it when it finished, leaving me with a perfect score with the white pieces, but the computer
points out a rather shocking hole in the middle.

A20
Adams 2751 Sethuraman 2637
Gibraltar 2017

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.cd5 cd5 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.Qb3
[Not 8.Nd5?? Qa5; In a game against Sebastian Bogner in the Bundesliga, I settled for 8.e3, but simple development
cant trouble Black.]

8...Bd6
[8...h6 9.Bf4 g5 10.Be5 led to an eventful encounter with Arkadij Naiditsch, in another one of my games, but White has
decent chances for an edge here.]

9.Nh3 h6 10.Bf4 The only critical try.

10...Nb6
[10...Bf4 11.Nf4 Nb6 12.a4 a5 leaves White with an array of options: 13.0-0 (13.h4!?; 13.e3!?) 13...0-0 but none of
them look too impressive. (13...g5!? 14.Nh3 0-0)]

S.P. Sethuraman. Photo by Harald Fietz

11.Be5 This move is not so easy to meet in practice.
Black has to make some precise judgements.

11...Ng4
[11...g5 12.f4 Looked good to me, although the
computer is not that impressed.; 11...Qe7 12.Bf6 Qf6
13.Nd5 Nd5 14.Qd5 Bb4 15.Kf1 0-0 16.Qe4 Rd8 is a
good practical choice, there is plenty of compensation
for the pawns with Whites king permanently
misplaced.]

12.Bg7
[12.Bd6 Qd6 13.0-0 is an improved version of the
previous line as the knight will have to return to f6, but
I liked the idea of wrecking the Black kingside.]

12...Rg8 13.Be5 Ne5 14.de5 Be5 15.Rd1!

[15.0-0 Be6 enabled Black to mobilise efficiently, I had
planned the rook move creating an awkward pin in
advance.]

15...Be6 16.Ne4 Qc8 17.Nf4 de4

[So far so good with my calculation, as 17...Bf4 is met
by 18.Nf6 Ke7 19.Ng8 Qg8 20.a4! which is not easy
for Black to meet, and practically Whites position is
much more desirable as my king is much the safer.]

18.Qb5 Nd7

19.Rd7?
[I realised that 19.Ne6! fe6 20.Rd7 Qd7 21.Qe5 Qd5 22.Qe4 Qe4 23.Be4 lead to an ending where White has a small
advantage, although my computer suggests Black has a license to neutralise and shows 0.00. However I was convinced
I had a stronger continuation.]

19...Qd7
[I didnt think too much about 19...Bf4!. Allowing a discovered check looks ridiculous, but 20.Rc7 (If I managed to
regain my composure 20.Rd1 Bd7 21.Qb4 Bc6 22.Be4 Bg5 23.0-0 is not unplayable, although White is aiming for a
draw.) 20...Bd7 21.Rc8 Rc8+ wins a piece.]

20.Qe5 0-0-0 21.0-0 I correctly assessed Black has big problems here. His pawns are dropping off all over the board and
his king position is an ongoing problem.

21...Qc7
[21...Qd6 22.Qe4 I didnt see 22...Rd7 which looks a slightly tougher defence.]

22.Qe4 Kb8
[22...Rde8; 22...Rge8 23.Ne6 fe6 (23...Re6 24.Bh3) 24.Qe3 hits both rooks pawns.]

23.Ne6 fe6 Whites bishop is a monster and my king could hardly be better protected, something that cant be said for
my opponents.

24.Qe6 h5
[24...Rge8 25.Qg4 Rd2 26.Bb7!? the computer choice (26.Bf3 Rb2 27.Qg6 looked good to me) 26...Rde2 (26...Kb7
27.Qb4+) 27.Bg2]

25.Qf6!
[This little queen nudge is very strong. The alternatives allow Blacks rooks to get some scope: 25.h4 Rge8 26.Qf6 Re2
27.Bb7 Qe7; 25.e3 h4]

25...Rdf8
[25...Rge8 26.Bf3 Qe5 27.Qf7!]

26.Qh4 Rf5 27.Bf3 Rd8 28.Kg2 Rc5 29.b4 Rc4 30.Qh5 With four connected passed pawns on the kingside I figured
conversion would be trivial, but its true that none of them are approaching the eighth rank in a hurry.

30...Rb4 31.Qg5 Qd6 32.Rc1

[32.h4!?]

32...a6 33.h4 Rb5 34.Qg7 Rd7 35.Qh8 Rd8 36.Qc3 a5! The best try.

37.h5 a4 38.h6
[The supercool 38.Qc2 was simpler after 38...a3 39.Rb1 Rc8 40.Qc8 Kc8 41.Rb5 Qd2 42.Rb7 Qa2 43.h6 where the
black queen is powerless. I reluctantly gave up my passed h-pawn, but its not a bad decision.]

38...Qh6 39.Qc7 Ka7

40.Rc4!
[Other tempting looking lines allow Black to start creeping back into the game 40.Rc6 Qd2 41.Rc4 Rd4; 40.Bb7 Qb6!
(40...Rb7 41.Qa5!+); 40.Rc5? Qb6]

40...Rd6 41.Ra4 Ra6 42.Rh4 Qf8?

42...Qd6 keeps the game going, but is unlikely to change the result.

43.a4 Rb4
[43...Rb1 44.Rh7+]

44.Rf4 Overworking the black rook. 1 : 0

A PERFECT GIFT FROM GIBRALTAR

Hou Yifan and I have played many games in the past and now we met at the board on my birthday! I didnt want
to lose this game!

I was very excited to play in Gibraltar this year. Some time ago I started to dedicate more time to studying and it is
nice to see this kind of result. I ended the tournament playing on Board 4 against my friend Yu Yangyi with the
chance of sharing first prize. Unfortunately, I lost that game, but with a 2731 performance I added 20 Elo points to
my rating. That made me break the 2600 barrier and put my name in a selected list, joining Judit Polgar, Koneru
Humpy, Anna Muzychuk and Hou Yifan.

C11
Hou Yifan 2651 Ju Wenjun 2583
Gibraltar 2017

This was an unexpected encounter in Gibraltar. Yifan

and I have played many games in the past and now we
met at the board on my birthday! I took it very serious,
prepared a lot and to be honest I didnt want to lose
this game.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3

Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.dc5

9...Nc5!? A rare move that was recently played by Nakamura.

10.0-0-0 a6 11.Qf2
[11.h4!? b5 12.Qf2 Na4 13.Na4 ba4 14.c3 Rb8]

11...b6 12.Nd4 Qc7 13.g3N

[13.Kb1 Bb7 14.Nc6 Bc6 15.Bd4 Bb7 16.Bd3 b5 17.Ne2 b4 18.Ng3 So 2773 Nakamura 2787, USA (ch) 2016
128/98]

13...Bb7 14.Bg2 Na5!? Because of the bishop move I decided to put my knight on c4 with the idea of b5 and b4 of
course expecting to face an attack on my kingside.

15.f5! with this sacrifice of the e5 pawn, White takes the initiative. The game is getting very complex now.
[15.Kb1 Nc4 16.Bc1 b5]

15...Qe5
[15...Ne4 16.Ne4 de4 17.f6 Bc5 18.Qf4 (18.fg7 Rfc8 with a complex game. Squaqre f7 is defended and Black has all
his army attacking the white king in the queenside.) 18...Rfd8 19.Qg5 Bf8! (19...g6?! It allows the fast h4h5. 20.h4)]

16.Bf4 Qf6

17.h4
[17.g4!?

A) 17...e5 18.g5 Qd6 19.f6! Bf6 (19...gf6 20.Nf5 Qe6 21.Be3+) 20.Nf5 Qe6 21.Bh3! Kh8 22.gf6;

B) 17...g5! this move stops g5, gaining time by attacking the bishop on f4. 18.Bg3 Ne4 (18...Nc4) 19.Ne4 de4
20.Rhe1 Bc5 21.Be4 Rad8 22.c3 Bd4 23.Rd4 Rd4 24.Qd4 Qd4 25.cd4 Rc8 26.Kd1 Be4 27.Re4 ef5 28.gf5 Kg7=;

17.Rhe1! A quiet move that aims to stop e5. h4 is also coming. 17...Nc4 18.h4 h6 19.b3

A) 19...e5? 20.Bd5 ef4 (20...ed4 21.bc4 dc3 22.Be5+) 21.Bb7 Nb7 22.Nd5 Ba3 23.Kb1 Qd6 24.bc4 b5 25.f6;

B) 19...Ne4 20.Ne4 de4 21.bc4 e5 22.Be3 Ba3 23.Kb1 ed4 24.Bd4 Qe7 (24...Bc5=)]

17...e5 18.Nd5?!
[This move surprised me. I was more focussed on: 18.Bg5 Qd6 19.Be7 Qe7 20.f6! Qf6 21.Qf6 gf6 22.Nf5 d4 23.Bb7
Ncb7 24.Nd5 Kh8 25.Nf6 Nc6 26.g4 White is a pawn down, but the initiative in the kingside gives enough
compensation.]

18...Bd5 19.Bg5 Qd6 20.Be7

[20.Ne2?! Bg2 21.Rd6 Bg5 22.hg5 Bh1 23.Rd1 Rac8]

20...Qe7 21.Bd5 ed4 22.Ba8

[22.f6 gf6 23.Ba8 Ra8 24.Rhe1 Ne6 25.Rd4 b5 26.Rg4 Kh8 27.Rf4 Nc4 28.Rf6 Ra7]

22...Ra8 23.Rhe1
[23.Qd4 Rc8 24.Kb1 Nc6]

23...Qc7 24.b4

24...Nc6!? During the game I decided to sacrifice the knight to keep my opponents king in danger. Both of us were
very short of time.
[24...Nc4 25.Qd4! (25.Rd4 Nb7; 25.bc5 bc5) 25...Na4 26.f6]

25.bc5 bc5 26.Qf4 Qb6 27.Qd6

[27.Qe4 h5 The exposed white king and the central pawn are more important than the exchange.]

27...h5 White is threatening Re5, so I wanted to put my king safe first. Instead of h6 I played h5, because I was hoping
 that my queen could reach h6 check sometimes. Maybe here Black should simply play
[27...Rb8 28.Qd7 Qb2 29.Kd2 Qc3 30.Kc1 Qb2=]

28.Re5
[28.Qd7 is stronger. After this move Black cannot avoid the disappearing of her rook: Blacks attack will be weaker and
the defense not so easy.

A) 28...Kf8? 29.f6!! gf6 (29...Nb4 30.fg7 Kg7 31.Re5 Na2 32.Kd2 Qb4 33.Ke2) 30.Qd6 Kg7 31.Rf1+;

B) 28...Nb4! 29.Re8 Kh7!! (29...Re8 30.Qe8 Kh7 31.Qf7+) 30.Ra8 Na2 31.Kd2 Qb4 32.Ke2 Qc4 33.Kf3 Qc3
34.Rd3 Qc2 35.Qf7 Qd3 36.Kf2 Qe3 37.Kg2 Qe4 38.Kg1 Qe3= (38...Qa8?? 39.f6+)]

28...c4! 29.Rde1 c3 30.Re8 Re8 31.Re8 Kh7

32.Qd5?
[32.f6! ( Rh8!) 32...Qb2 33.Kd1 Qb1 34.Ke2 Qc2 35.Kf3 Qf5 36.Ke2 gf6 (36...Qf6 37.Qf6 gf6 38.Kd3!) 37.Rh8
Kh8 38.Qf8 Kh7=]

32...d3!! 33.Qd3 Nb4 34.Qe4 Qg1 35.Qe1 Qg2! 36.Qe4

[36.Qe2 Qh1 37.Qe1 Qb7 38.Qe4 Qd7 39.f6 g6 threatening Qd2 and Na2. Black is winning.]

36...Qd2 White resigned before being checkmated. 0 : 1

This was one of the most amazing games in my chess life. I guess my birthday brought me some luck. My decision to
play more aggressively definitely payed off. Maybe sometimes, when you dont want to lose, it is better to pick an
opening line that forces you to attack, so you are not distracted dealing with the path the game should take. 2600 on my
26th Birthday a perfect gift. I had a great time in Gibraltar!

Ju Wenjun, Valentina Gunina, Daulyte Deimante. Baku Olympiad Closing ceremony. Photo by Maria Emelianova
A FUNDAMENTAL STEP

During a Chess Olympiad the teams are facing decisive moments every day. In a close race, as we saw in Baku,
the weight of those moments only unravels itself at the very end of the tournament. Surya Ganguly has analysed
the game, revealing the underlying levels elite fights can contain.

Before round 6, Ukraine, India and Netherlands were leading. On top board India was paired against the
Netherlands, while Ukraine was downfloated and matched against the USA. In fact this was a very important round
for USA, as it represented a direct encounter with one of the leaders. But first came a rest day and the famous
Bermuda party, after which it seemed a whole new tournament was about to start! On top board Caruana faced the
super solid Eljanov, which would put an end to Fabianos complaint that he was unable to win in crucial Olympiad
matches.

B31
Caruana 2808 Eljanov 2739
Baku (ol) 2016

1.e4 c5 The first surprise from Eljanov. Probably the

rest day encouraged him to ditch the dynamic Berlin
and opt for a boring Sicilian!

2.Nf3 Nc6 A second and bigger surprise. Up to 2008

Eljanov played many Sveshnikov Sicilians, but since
then he only had two games with 2...Nc6, in 2012,
which was the last time he opted for this move. In
recent times he has occasionally also played a few
Taimanov Sicilians. Incidentally, Eljanov was in Team
Gelfand for his world championship match against
Anand, where Gelfand played the Sveshnikov
exclusively.

3.Bb5 g6
And a third surprise! Eljanov had never played this before. However, in his world title contest, Gelfand played 3...e6
exclusively but later, after the match, he switched over completely to 3...g6. So once again Eljanovs choice did not
come totally out of the blue.

4.Bc6 bc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0

8.h3 In a number of games played, this move remains far behind 8.d4, but clearly this is now the modern main line.
White delays the push of the d-pawn in order to play d3 after Black advances ...d5.

8...f5
[8...d5 is Gelfands new love. He played this twice against Inarkiev in their match and later, after the Olympiad, he
adopted it a couple more times, against Anand and Svidler at the Tal Memorial. Incidentally, just two days after this
game, Harikrishna decided to follow Gelfands idea and drew against Adams, using the same move when India faced
England. After 9.d3 came 9...c4, introduced by Gelfand and one of the most topical lines of the Rossolimo to date.
10.dc4 de4 11.Qd8 Rd8 12.Re4 The start of a pawn sacrifice line devised by Gelfand.]

9.e5 Nf7 10.d3

10...Rb8 Once again deviating from Gelfands idea. Before switching to 8...d5, Gelfand played 8...f5 against Inarkiev
and at this point opted for 10...Ba6.
[In fact 10...Ba6 11.c4 e6 12.Nc3 g5 occurred in Inarkiev 2730 Gelfand 2734, Magas (m/3) 2016 129/46, and
Kasimdzhanov 2703 Mamedov 2655, Almaty (blitz) 2016 129/(46)]

11.Na3
[11.c4?! d6! One of the ideas behind playing ...Rb8 instead of ...Ba6.]

11...Ba6
Up to this point neither player had consumed much time, but now at last it was time to think.

12.Nc4 After 41 minutes! No, it was not due to getting over a hangover the morning after the Bermuda party! There was
a rest day in between to recover from that. This 41 minutes were spent on good solid thought. Indeed, there are many
options and, before playing such a committal move which might totally change the structure, it makes a lot of sense to
think properly and profoundly.
[12.d4 was another option. 12...cd4 13.cd4 Qb6 and Black is doing fine.]

12...Bc4 Played after 20 minutes of thought. Both players concluded that the change of structure is fine for them!

13.dc4 d6 14.e6 Ne5 15.Ne5 Be5 16.Bh6 Bg7

[16...Rb2 17.Qc1! Rb6 18.Bf8 Qf8 19.f4.]

17.Bg7 Kg7
I assume both players were evaluating this position as soon as 12.Nc4 had been played. In a way, both were right. First
of all, from Blacks point of view, he is doing fine and is definitely not worse. From Whites point of view, he didnt
have any advantage earlier anyway, and this position, despite being equal, does contain dynamic chances.

18.Rb1
[18.b4 cb4 19.cb4 Rb4 20.Qd4 Kg8 21.Qa7 c5=.]

18...Qa5 19.a4

19...Rf6
[19...Rfd8 was seen post-Olympiad in the Spanish league: 20.Qc2 d5 21.b4 Qc7 22.cd5 cd5= : (40) Y. Quesada
Perez 2636 Y.Kuzubov 2629, Monzon 2016.]

20.Re3 Qa6 21.b3 Qc8 22.Qe1

22...a5 I am somewhat sceptical about this move. It allows White to create a passed a-pawn, after which Black must
take care on both sides of the board.
[22...Qa6 is a computer suggestion. Basically, for the time being Black could just wait and see how White will improve
his position. Its not easy to come up with a concrete plan. 22...Rb7 23.b4 Qb8 24.Qd2 a6 is also not clear but I would
still prefer White despite the computers 0.00 evaluation.]

23.b4 ab4 24.cb4 cb4 25.Rb4

25...Ra8 A move which was blitzed out instantly. Its obvious that not even for one second did Eljanov feel that he
might actually survive by entering a queen and pawn endgame. Looking at ...Rb4 on the chessboard. I also feel exactly
the same way, but the engine has a different opinion.
[25...Rb4! 26.Qb4 Re6 0.00 is the silicon evaluation. I can totally understand Eljanov getting rather scared here. From a
human perspective the a-pawn looks very dangerous and the fact that the computer wants to play ...Kf7 after ...a5
would make me nervous even in advanced computer-assisted chess! 27.a5 Kf7 28.Qb6 Re3 29.fe3
29...f4! I wonder if all my engines had got bugged or can it really be that the evaluation of this position should be 0.00.
Pardon me for clicking a bit more, just out of curiosity... 30.ef4 (30.a6 fe3 31.a7 c5 32.Qb8 e2 33.Kf2 Qf5=; 30.e4
Qh8 31.a6 Qa1 32.Kh2 Qa2=) 30...Qe6! 31.a6 Qc4 32.a7 Qc1= Okay, so Black is indeed just in time and I have no
virus infecting the engines!]

26.Qa1
[26.c5 dc5 27.Rc4 would have been teeny bit annoying.]

26...f4 Played after a decent spell of thought this time.

[26...Kg8 27.a5 Re6 28.Re6 Qe6 29.a6 Kf7 and once again the heartless guy points out that the a-pawn is not going
anywhere. 30.Rb7 Qc4 31.a7 Qc5=.]

27.Re4 f3 28.g4! Kg8 29.Qd1

29...Re6?! Not the best timing.
[29...c5 30.Rb5 Qf8 31.Rb7 Qh6 32.Qf1 (32.Kh2 Qh4 33.Rb2 h5) 32...Qf8 33.Qd1 Qh6 was one way of creating
counterplay.]

30.Qf3 Re4 31.Qe4 So finally White was able to activate all his pieces, while holding on to his passed a-pawn.
Moreover, on top of all this, the black king is now slightly exposed.

31...Qc7

32.c5! Now that he has gained the initiative, Fabiano starts playing with the utmost precision.

32...dc5 33.Qc4 Kg7 34.Qc3 Gaining 30 seconds on the clock whilst enjoying the better position is never harmful to
ones health.

34...Kg8 35.Qc4 Kg7 36.Qc5

36...Qd6?!
[36...Ra5 was more resilient: 37.Qe3 Re5 38.Qc3 Qa5 39.Kg2 Qd5 40.Kg3 Kf7 If the first time control had ended this
way, then the result of this game might well have been different.]

37.Qc3 Qf6 38.Qe3! Rf8 39.Re4 Rf7 40.Re5 Qd6

The first time control is over and so is Blacks dream of holding his position!

41.a5!+ As they say, Passed pawns should be pushed! Its all over now.

41...Qd1 42.Kg2 Qa1 43.Qe2! e6 44.a6 Qd4 45.Re6 c5 46.Re7 Qd5 47.f3 c4 48.Rf7 Qf7 49.Qe5 Kh6 50.Qe3 Kg7
51.Qd4 Kh6 52.a7 Qb7 53.h4
And to conclude: a mate in five! This was a very controlled game by Caruana. He managed to find the best moves when
they were really needed. And it was thanks to this extremely important game that the USA regained their confidence
and, in the next round, crushed the Indian team 3.5 : 0.5 to take their place as Olympiad leaders. 1 : 0
A GREAT FIGHT FROM TATA STEEL

It was a last-round game with great importance for the final crosstable Dmitry Andreikin against Levon
Aronian

A big fight of two great players, containing a lot of interesting strategic as well as tactical moments. I would like to
focus mostly on the positional ideas, as it might be very instructive for all of us. During my analysis it was also
interesting to compare the human and computer ways of thinking. It differs so often!

D11
Andreikin 2736 Aronian 2780
Wijk aan Zee 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Slav Defense Quiet

Variation means a slow development of the events.
White avoids any sacrifices of his c4pawn and simply
plans to use his little space advantage in an attempt to
get some edge on the long run. It reminds us of times
of classical chess. For some years already it became
quite popular again among the very top-level players.

4...Bg4 Very natural and also very popular move. Black

develops his bishop pinning the knight at the same
time. However, he has to take into consideration that he
might be forced to exchange the bishop for the white
knight.
[There are a lot of other possibilities like: 4...Bf5;
4...e6; 4...a6; 4...g6]

5.h3 White immediately attacks the bishop in order to define Blacks intention towards this piece.
[The theory suggests other interesting options like 5.Nc3; or 5.Qb3]

5...Bh5
Black refrains from the exchange at the moment. I personally often boldly give my bishop for the knight. But I have to
confess that it is a concession. Practise shows that after 5...Bf3 White gets a small though lasting edge due to a bishop
pair as well as a space advantage. Blacks position is very solid, but its quite difficult to get any serious counterplay.
White often manages to complete his development and then look for an opening of the position in the center or kingside
in order to activate his bishops.

6.Nc3 The knight goes to the most natural place. It puts an eye on the key central squares e4 and d5.

6...e6 The black bishop left from c8 its initial stand. Thats why the triangle of pawns e6d5c6 doesnt make any
problems. Moreover, in case of the exchange of the mentioned bishop, these pawns will make a chain on the light
squares exactly what will be needed. His dark bishop gains freedom to move.

7.g4 White goes on attacking the bishop. Why not on the previous move? Because he had to move his knight from b1
and take control over the e4square first.
[There is another interesting option: 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.Nh4 or (8.Ne5 With the same idea of going for the black bishop. But
he is activating his knight first. Followed by g2g4. White is also putting pressure on the queenside and is looking for
some advantage in the endgame.)]

7...Bg6 8.Ne5 Since Black hasnt taken control over this central square, the white knight goes there.

8...Nbd7 9.Ng6 The bishop is exchanged!

[This hasnt been practiced much yet. But it seems that in case of the more active 9.h4 Black manages to get a playable
position by simplifying the tension in the center: 9...dc4! Now he threatens to exchange the knight, followed by an
exchange of the queens on the d-line. White is forced to take on g6. After 10.Ng6 hg6 11.g5 Nd5 12.Bc4 Bb4 Blacks
pieces are well developped, his king is ready to make a long castle and he is probably doing well.]

9...hg6
Lets stop here and look at the first results of the opening. White has achieved his purpose he exchanged the black
bishop and hopes to use his bishop pair and space advantage. Black achieved a very solid position. His pawns are on
the light squares, just what is needed when you have only the dark bishop left in the middlegame. How to evaluate the
difference between the pawn structure in the game and the one which could have occurred had Black exchanged the
bishop on f3 already on the 5th move? I think the current one is better for Black as it makes his position more solid.
Whites kingside is exposed, Blacks pawns can be a good shield for his king. His rook is now on the semi-open line.
But as always in chess, things are not so simple. The mentioned advantages can easily become drawbacks. The pawn on
g6 and the semi-open h-line can be a great chance for White to start an attack on the kingside by pushing his pawn to
h5. Look at the black pawn structure: on one hand his h-pawn came closer to the center and took control over some
more squares like f5, h5 and eventually h4 (after g6g5). On the other hand a double pawn is a double pawn and this
structure is not so flexible any more.

10.a3
White prevents the black bishop from landing on b4 and prepares his own pawn to go to b4 for the future events. There
are many other options like:10.Bd2 or; 10.cd5;
[It is important to mention that after 10.g5 the knight goes to g8: 10...Ng8 , followed by Ng8e7f5. (Not 10...Ne4?! as
it leaves Black with a weak central pawn after 11.Ne4)]

10...g5 Looks very natural. The move fixes the exposed white pawn structure and stops g4g5. But, the pawn on g5 can
become a target for the Whites dark bishop.
[Other options would be 10...Bd6 or; 10...Be7 developing the bishop. RR Tomashevsky 2710 Eljanov 2683, Saratov
2011 113/137]

11.Bd2 Both sides are not in a hurry to define where they are going to place their king, as this decision can give a
chance to the opponent to start an attack. Sometimes White chooses 11.Qf3.
11...g6 This move is a novelty. Black is probably waiting for White to define where to locate his queen and king. Only
after that he will make his own decision about the locations of his pieces. In the meantime he moves the g-pawn to g6.
Another black pawn is placed on a light square.
[Usually Black develops his bishop: 11...Bd6 RR Ch. Sandipan 2585 K. Raghunandan 2295, Mumbai 2016; or
11...Be7 RR An. Schenk 2463 Shirov 2679, Germany 2016]

12.Qf3 a6 And one more pawn is moving to the light square! Black is preparing himself for the actions on the
queenside.

13.Bd3 Finally White moved his bishop.

[The computer suggests 13.0-0-0!? But White waits one more move.; 13.e4 is also an interesting alternative, with the
idea of eliminating some black pawns placed on light squares. 13...de4 14.Ne4 Ne4 15.Qe4 Bg7 16.0-0-0 leads to a
complex position with chances for both sides, e.g. 16...0-0 17.h4 (17.Kb1 b5 Black is trying to open files on the
queenside and the knight is getting good squares, so black has enough counterplay here.) 17...Nf6! 18.Qd3 gh4 19.Bg5
Qa5]

13...dc4 Slow development of the events is finished. Black opens the center in order to get counterplay.
[13...Be7 would once again be a passive but solid strategy.]

14.Bc4
14...b5 This was Blacks idea. He opens the center to gain some space.
[14...Nd5?! 15.e4 would preserve Whites strong pawn center.]

15.Bf1! The bishop has already made a few moves. Now it goes to the initial square. As the center is open now the
right place for the bishop is the long diagonal.

15...c5 16.Bg2 The bishop is very strong. It looks like White got an advantage.

16...Ra7 Where to put the rook?

[16...Rc8? allows unpleasant 17.Qb7; Maybe 16...Rb8 ? Black preferred to keep his a-pawn protected by the rook.]

17.0-0 The center is open. Whites pieces are better developed. The short castle is justified.
[Immediate 17.b4 was also possible. But it is not practical to go for complications like 17...cb4 18.ab4 Bb4 19.Nb5 Bd2
20.Ke2! (20.Kd2 Qb8 21.Na7 Qb2 22.Kd3 Qb3=) 20...Nd5!]

17...Qb8?! It seems to me that it was not possible to delay the development of the bishop on f8 any more.
[17...Be7 or; 17...Bg7 was needed.]

18.Rfd1 Quite often it is difficult to decide which rook to place on which line. White chooses the most natural way. He
puts his f-rook on the d-line, keeping the c1square for another rook.
[However, the computer prefers an immediate move of either rook: 18.Rac1; or 18.Rfc1. I think all the options are
good.]

18...Be7 Finally. The bishop moved!

19.b4! Strong move. White is ready to sacrifice a pawn in order to seize the center.

19...cb4
[19...cd4 20.ed4 Nb6 21.Bg5 Nfd5 Black has achieved activity for its knights, but with the bishop-pair and a saver
king, White is better.]

20.ab4 Nb6
[Maybe Black could have tried a chance to go for complications and grab the pawn: 20...Bb4 21.e4 Rc7!

Dimitry Andreikin. Photo by Harald Fietz

However White would have a possibility to use his
initiative by tactical means:

A) 22.Nb5 Qb5 23.Rdb1 a5 24.Bb4 ab4 25.Ra8 Nb8

26.Qf6 0-0 27.d5 with a strong attack in human terms.
The computer finds an interesting line for Black:
27...Nd7 28.Rf8 Nf8 29.Qg5 b3 30.Qe3 b2 31.Qd2
Rb7 where the b2 pawn is a good compensation for the
small lack of material.]

B) 22.Bf1! Bc3 (22...0-0 23.Nb5+; 22...Ng4!? 23.Nb5

Rc2 24.e5) 23.Bc3 0-0 (23...Ne4 24.Ba5+) 24.Bb4;

21.e4
[White managed to start moving his strong pawn center.
Very human and understandable. As often, the
computer goes another way. 21.Qg3!? Bd6 (The
exchange of the queens is not good: 21...Qg3 22.fg3
Nc8 is the only way to protect the b5pawn. 23.e4 and
White is much better.) 22.Bc6 Kf8! The right way, as
after (22...Ke7? 23.Qf3 Black can face some problems
due to his king stuck in the center.) 23.Qf3 Kg7 The
king managed to reach his usual camp and the position
is full of mutual tactical possibilities.]

21...Nfd7 The knight has to retreat to make the g5

pawn protected.

22.e5 White opens more space for his pieces in the center.

22...Nc4 23.Bc1 The bishop temporarily retreats. White needs to preserve it from an exchange.

23...0-0 Finally! A long awaited castle has been accomplished. Only now we can say that both sides completed their
development. The real middlegame is just starting!
 Levon Aronian. Photo by Harald Fietz
24.Ne4 The black pawn is under attack.

24...Qd8 25.h4?! White got a nice advantage due to his

bishop pair and strong center. There was no need for
complications. The g5pawn is weak and the black
pieces are stuck, protecting it.
[The quiet 25.Bf1 would preserve a positional
advantage as Blacks attempts to untie his pieces would
lead to a pawn loss: 25...Ndb6 26.Nf6 Bf6 27.ef6 The
black knights would become active on the queenside as
a compensation for the lost g5pawn, but sooner or
later Whites attack on the black king would become
quite dangerous.]

25...gh4 26.Bh6 This was Whites idea behind the

pawn sacrifice. His bishop comes to the kingside with
serious intentions.

26...Re8
[Maybe Black should have considered an exchange
sacrifice: 26...Bb4?! as in case of its acceptance, Black
would get some compensation in a view of the
possession of dark squares. But after 27.g5 Black
cannot stop the attack Nf6; 26...g5!? is more resistant,
making Whites task more difficult after 27.Bf8 Nf8]

27.Qh3 Wrong direction!

[27.Qf4!+ was stronger. 28.g5 or 28.Ng5 would follow with serious threats.]

27...f5 The position became very sharp and complicated. Its understandable that its quite difficult to find the best
moves during the game. Black has to do something on the kingside in order to protect himself from Whites threat g4
g5.
[It was possible to play 27...g5. Black protects his extra pawn and it seems that he has good chances for a successful
defense. But Levons intuition was right according to the engines Whites attack is very strong: 28.f4 gf4 29.Qf3 Ne3
30.Qf4 Nd1 31.Rd1 f6 32.ef6 Bf6 33.g5 Bg7 34.Qh4 Qe7 35.Bh3]

28.gf5 This time White has to make a difficult choice. Taking the pawn en passant or making the move in the text. Both
are good and both look promising.
[28.ef6 Nf6 29.g5 Ne4 30.Qe6 Kh8 31.Qe4 -was another option.]

28...ef5
[The only move, as 28...gf5? allows a dangerous attack in the center: 29.d5!+ The knight is untouchable because of the
forced mate. Otherwise the strong white central pawns will smash Blacks position.]

29.Nc5 As a result of his operations on the kingside White got a two connected central passed pawns. He would be
happy to add another pawn to the chain. However, 29.Nc3!+ is better, as the knight would threaten to take on b5 or go
to d5.]

29...Bg5? Right idea, wrong execution. The dark bishops have to be exchanged, but Black misses an intermediate move.
[29...Nc5! Strangely enough Blacks chance was in allowing White to have 3 passed connected pawns! After 30.bc5
Bg5 31.Bg5 Qg5 its very difficult to believe that the strong white center will not bring a victory. The computer tries to
hold Whites pawns and to use the white exposed king. Anyway White has a plus here. 32.Kh1 Qf4 33.Qh2 Qh2
34.Kh2]
30.Bd5! This is the intermediate move which allows White to improve his pieces.

30...Kh7 31.Bg5 Qg5 32.Qg2 By exchanging the queens White adds value to his passed pawns.

32...Qg2?! Black chooses to go for a difficult endgame.

[Maybe from the practical point of view it was better to sacrifice an exchange: 32...Qf4!? 33.Bf7 (or 33.Nd7 Rd7
34.Bc6 Ne5 35.Bd7 Nd7 36.Ra6 Nf8) 33...Nc5 34.Be8 Ne6 In both cases Black would preserve chances for a
counterplay due to the fact that the white king is exposed.]

33.Kg2

Lets take a look at the position after the queens swap. White is a pawn down, but his pawn center is quiet dangerous. If
we add the activeness of white pieces, we can evaluate his position as the much better one.

33...Ndb6 Of course in the endgame resulting from the exchange on c5, the three passed pawns would give White a
winning position.

34.Bc6 Rd8 35.Ne6 The white pieces are marching forward.

35...Rc8

36.Bb5! A small combination which Dmitry probably prepared in advance.

[The computer prefers another interesting option, starting with an intermediate move: 36.Rh1! g5 (if Black accepts the
bishop sacrifice, his king suddenly finds itself under a powerful rooks attack: 36...Rc6 37.Rh4 Kg8 38.Rah1+) 37.Bb5
the two black pawns, a6 and g5, are under attack. After 37...Kg6 38.Ra6 Ra6 39.Ba6 Re8 40.Bc4 Nc4 41.Rc1 White
should be winning.]

36...Re7 37.Ba6! White exchanges his two pieces for the black rook, correctly assessing that the black knights will not
be able to block and stop the white passed pawns.

37...Re6 38.Bc8 Nc8 39.Rdc1 N8b6 40.Ra7 White has to act energetically. He maximally activates his rooks in order to
attack the black knights.

40...Kh6 41.Rc7 Na3 Black tries all his chances to block the white pawns.
42.R7c5! It is absolutely necessary to control the b5- and d5-squares. The black knights are restricted now.
[Playing the other rook to c5 is equally strong: 42.R1c5!; The most natural 42.R7c6? is a mistake, as after 42...Rc6
43.Rc6 Nd5 the black knights are pretty active.]

42...Kh5 As already mentioned, the black pieces are restricted. Thats why he tries to move his king.
[The waiting moves were not helping Black: 42...Kg7 43.f4; Or 42...Re8 43.f4 In both cases the white pawns would
start rolling.; But 42...Kg5!? 43.Kh3 Re8 44.Rg1 Kf4 would lead to a probably lost position, but with some practical
chances for a draw.]

43.Rc6! The correct moment for the rook exchange. The black king just moved from h6 to h5. Thus it is now too far
away to keep the white passed pawns. Neither are the black knights able to do so. White is winning.

43...Rc6 44.Rc6 Nd5 45.Rc5 Nf4

[45...Nb4 46.e6 If the black king still were on h6, it could go to g7 and hold the pawn. Being on h5 its not possible any
more.]

46.Kh1 White moves his king as far as possible from the black pawns.
[Of course 46.Kh2 was equally good.]

46...g5
[The white pawns cant be stopped. It can be clearly seen in case of:46...Nd3 47.e6. Unfortunately for Black, his pawns
are not dangerous for White.]
47.b5 Nb5 48.Rb5 g4 49.d5 h3 50.e6 1 : 0

A notable game conducted with decision by Andreikin.

A REPORT ON BAKU`S WOMEN OLYMPIAD


I speculated that the big four of Russia, China, Ukraine and Georgia would continue to dominate and noted the
rise of Asian chess. So what actually happened?

I had an extraordinary start to the Olympiad in Baku. Playing top board for Scotland against Russia, I was
summoned early to the playing hall in preparation for the ceremonial first move by the President of Azerbaijan. His
presence was a symbol of the hosts commitment to the event, well funded and backed at the highest political level.

After that first move the excitement was released and we were witnessing a competition that, besides some expected
victories, also brought some surprising results. Two of the favourites suffered serious disappointment. Georgia
fielded their strongest available team with the same coach (Elizbar Ubilava) and captain (Davit Jojua) that guided
them to victory in the 2015 World Team Championship. However they were never in contention for gold after the
shock of being defeated by the young Philippines team in round two. Defending Champions Russia sorely missed
their leader from 2014, Katerina Lagno, and finished out of the medals in the fourth place. Seeded second, behind
China, they started promisingly by comfortably winning their first five matches to share the lead with the Ukraine.
The clash of giants in round six saw a hard fought draw with Anna Muzychuk demonstrating fine technique to
defeat Alexandra Kosteniuk on board one. I was particularly impressed by the series of mini tactical operations to
maintain the advanced e-pawn.

A29
A. Muzychuk 2550 Kosteniuk 2538
Baku (ol), 2016

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.Ne5 This

move was approved by Botvinnik himself, who tried it
against Keres in 1966, in a very instructive game that I
recommend playing through. Although the main line
seems to be 5.Bg2, this daring pawn capture was
awarded an exclamation mark by Svidler in 2007, in
the annotations to his game against Aronian for the
Chess Informant.

5...Bf2
It is hard to resist the temptation of preventing White
from natural castling. The recapture 5...Ne5 scores
well for White.

6.Kf2 Ne5 7.e4

7...d6 Kosteniuk prefers to keep control over d5 instead of securing a knight on e5.
[7...c5 is the main line when 8.h3 was played in a modern classic that is worth studying (8.d3 d6 9.h3 h5 10.Be2 Nh7
11.Kg2 h4 12.g4 Ng5 13.Be3 Botvinnik Keres, USSR 1966) 8...0-0 9.d3 a6 10.Bg2 b5 11.Rf1 d6 12.Kg1 h6 13.b3
Aronian 2750 Svidler 2735, Mexico City 2007 101/10]

8.d4 Bg4 9.Be2 Be2 10.Qe2 Nc6 11.Rd1 0-0 12.Kg2N

[RR 12.Qf3 K. Gierth Z. Nowak, corr. 2004]

12...Re8 13.Qf3 h6 14.Be3

Lets sum up the opening outcome. At first sight Black is doing fine, no obvious pawn weaknesses, except that the h6
pawn can become a target for Whites bishop in some variations. White has a space advantage and Black knights,
although centrally located, are struggling for nice outposts. Whites pawn centre can require additional support,
especially the e4 pawn.

14...Qe7
In view of this I think Black should force matters and exchange a pair of minor pieces by: 14...Ne4 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Nd6
Qd6 17.Bf4 Qd7 which would have greatly assisted her defence. The game move allows White to consolidate her
position and keep pressure.

15.Bf2 Qd7 16.Re1 Ng4 17.Bg1 Nb4 18.Rad1 c6 19.a3 Na6

Lets compare this position with the one in the previous diagram. The difference is noticeably in Whites favour. Anna
does not miss her chance to strike in the centre.

20.e5! With the threat of e5e6 leaving the knight on g4 stranded.

20...h5 21.h3 Nh6

One knight ended up on h6 from f6 and another on a6 from c6. Clearly something went terribly wrong for Black. In
addition she loses the pawn on h5.

22.ed6 Qd6 23.Qh5 Re6 24.Re6 Qe6 25.Qe2 Qg6

26.d5 After creating a central passed pawn White confidently converts her material advantage.

26...Nf5 27.Qg4 Qf6 28.Rf1 g6 29.Qf4 cd5 30.cd5 Qd6

Anna Muzychuk. Photo by Antonio Ahel

31.g4 Qf4 32.Rf4 Nd6 33.Bd4 f5 34.Be5 Nf7 35.Bf6
Nd6 36.Be7 Nc8 37.d6 Ne7 38.de7
The e7 pawn appears vulnerable but is maintained by a
series of mini tactical operations.

38...Kf7 39.Nd5 Ke6 40.Rd4 Re8 41.gf5 gf5 42.Rd1

Ke5 43.Kf3 Nb8 44.Nf4 Nc6 45.Re1 Kf6 46.Nd5
Kf7 47.Kf4 Nd4

48.Re5 b5 49.Ke3 Nc6 50.Rf5 Kg7 51.Kd3 a5 52.Rf6 Ne5 53.Ke4 Ng6 54.Re6 Kf7 55.Kf5 Nh4 56.Ke5 Rb8 57.Nc7
1:0

Ukraine went on to capture bronze whilst seventh seeds Poland celebrated an unexpected silver. Although traditionally a
strong team, their last appearance on the podium was bronze at Bled 2004. Top board Monika Socko identified team
 spirit as the key factor: Everybody wanted to play all the games and we did not argue!. She described their
performance as the greatest success in the history of Polish womens team chess. The following game is from the
critical match against Russia, where it was especially important not to lose.

D97
Goryachkina 2475 Szczepkowska 2409
Baku (ol) 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 A cunning choice to sidestep the almighty opening preparation of the Russian team.
According to my database, Karina is primarily a Kings Indian player, venturing into the Gruenfeld for the first time.
This turn of events may have taken Alexandra by surprise who from this moment on starts consuming time. Presumably
to mess up her opponents preparation, she avoids the Exchange Variation that she usually plays against the Gruenfeld
and replies with the Russian System.

4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dc4 6.Qc4 0-0 7.e4 Nc6 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nd4 ed4 11.Qd4 c6

The players have reached the crossroads of this highly debatable variation where Black sacrifices a pawn for the
initiative and dynamic play. Remarkably Aronian has been seen playing this position with both colours!

12.Qd1
The alternatives are 12.Qc4 and 12.d6. It is understandable, if Goryachkina did not expect this variation to happen, that
she did not feel comfortable entering the complications and prefers a safer approach by retreating her queen to d1.

12...Re8 13.dc6 White goes for a continuation played only once before, more popular is immediate castling.
[RR 13.0-0 Eingorn 2530 Kuzmin 2520, Kharkiv 1985 41/(553)]

13...Qd1 14.Nd1 Ne4 15.cb7 Bb7

16.Ne3N White keeps the extra pawn hoping that, without queens on the board, it will be more difficult for Black to
prove any compensation. Previously White developed the bishop on e3 instead and after an exciting struggle the game
ended peacefully on the 68th move in Kozul 2630 D. Sadzikowski 2492, Jerusalem 2015.

16...f5
[Black walks past an amazing tactical resource: 16...Nc3! which would have offered her an advantage. 17.Bf3 Bf3
18.gf3 Rab8 where White struggles to finish the development without losing pawns on the queenside.]

17.0-0 f4 18.Bc4 Kh8 19.Nd1 Rac8 20.Bd3 g5

Karina Szczepkowska. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis

21.Be4 In an attempt to untangle her pieces White
exchanges her bishop for the powerful knight on e4,
but that does not bring relief. In the open position the
two Black bishops plus rooks on the open files
dominate completely.

21...Be4 22.Nc3 Bd3 23.Rd1 Bc2 24.Rf1 Rcd8 25.a4

Bd3 26.Rd1 Bc2 27.Rf1

27...Bb3 Karina finds a winning manoeuvre! The rook on f1 has nowhere safe to hide.

28.Kh1 Bc4 29.Rg1 Bd4 30.Nd1 Re2 31.a5 Rc2 32.Re1 Kg8

33.h4 h6 34.hg5 hg5 35.Kg1 Kf7 36.g3 Rh8 Nicely played by Karina who along with her team mates had the
tournament of her life! 0 : 1

China recovered from a slow start (draws against Vietnam in round 3 and Romania in round 6) to top the rankings after
round nine. In the penultimate round China continued their winning streak narrowly beating Poland 2.5-1.5. It all came
down to the last round when Russias golden dreams rested on beating China and hoping tie breaks went their way. The
Chinese strategy was to play safe, yet Russia had high hopes that their best scorer Valentina Gunina would make good
use of the White pieces on board two.

E11
Gunina 2520 Ju Wenjun 2583
Baku (ol), 2016

Gunina finished with the best performance of the Womens Olympiad overall. Her style reminds me of the great
Mikhail Tal. Going into the last round with the White pieces, in a must win situation for the team, she tried hard to
overcome the resistance of her formidable opponent.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 b6 9.b3 a5 More popular is the immediate
development of the knight to d7, followed by Ba6 or a5.
[RR 9...Ba6 Landa 2615 Fier 2558, Vlissingen 2008 106/(155); 9...Nbd7 Mamedyarov 2763 Alekseev 2700,
Astrakhan 2010 109/313]

10.Bf4 Nbd7 11.Nc3 After this White experiences difficulties protecting the c4 pawn. It was preferable to place a
knight on d2, in order to keep the c-file open for the heavy pieces and allow the other knight to go to e5.

11...Ba6 12.Nd2N
[RR 12.Rfd1 Keinanen 2218 M. Kanep 2509, Helsinki 2016]

12...Nh5 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rfd1 Nhf6 15.h3

Both sides, by and large, have completed development of their pieces. However if Blacks pieces are occupying
harmonious squares, the Whites pieces are almost tripping over each other.
15...b5 Perfect timing.

16.a3
Surprisingly there is no good way of defending the c4 pawn. In case of 16.c5, b5b4 will follow and suddenly after the
 c3 knight retreats, the e2 pawn is attacked by the a6bishop.

16...bc4 17.bc4 dc4 This pawn on c4 is much stronger than it looks. Black defends it easily with the bishop from a6 and
indirectly by the c8rook after the crucial ...c6c5.

18.Bg5 Not the best solution. White should be able to meet ...c5 with d4d5. For that reason the best try was to regroup
the pieces, starting with the d2 knight to prepare e2e4 planning further advances in the centre and on the kingside.

18...c5 Even stronger was to attack the bishop first with h6, since it is Whites most active piece, and later play ...c5.

19.dc5 Bc5 20.Nde4 Qc7 21.Bf4 e5 22.Bg5 Ne4 23.Be4

23...h6
[Black has to be vigilant, 23...g6 allows an attractive option 24.Bf5! to continue the attack.]

24.Bh6 And Gunina cannot resist the piece sacrifice! As always, she is on the lookout for tactical solutions. Sacrifices,
correct or otherwise, are integral to her playing style and have contributed to her many successes.

24...gh6 25.Qd2
25...Kg7!
Wise decision! Although it may seem that Black could keep the extra piece and survive the attack after 25...f5 26.Qh6
Nb6 it is easy to miss something. This is exactly what Gunina hoped for, to create a complicated messy position full of
tactical possibilities. Instead Ju Wenjun takes the game into an ending where her trump card: passed c- pawn assisted
by two bishops offers her the upper hand.

26.Qd7 Qd7 27.Rd7 Bd4 28.Rc1

28...Rfd8 Well played! It is safer to exchange any active pieces that are in Guninas hands, just in case. And of course it
is a sign of a good technique! The Chinese player flawlessly converts her advantage till the end of the game.

29.Rd5 Rd5 30.Bd5 Rd8 31.Bc6 Rb8 32.a4 Bc3 33.Rc3 Rb3 34.Rc2 Kf6 35.Kg2 Ke6 36.e4 Ke7 37.Rd2
37...Rd3 38.Rc2 Rb3 39.Bd5 Rb4 40.Rd2 Bc8 41.Bc6 c3 42.Rc2

42...Rb3 43.Kf3 Bh3 44.Ke2 f6 45.Rc1 Kd6 46.Be8 Kc5 47.Bf7 Ra3 48.Be8 Be6 49.f4 Bc4 50.Kf3 c2 51.Kg4 Bd3
52.Bb5
52...Be4 53.fe5 fe5 54.Be2 Kd4 55.Bf1 Rb3 0 : 1
So long awaited victory for China who last achieved gold in Bled 2004.

One of the joys of the Olympiad is that it brings together players from all over the world with different life stories to
unite in their shared love for chess. Phiona Mutesi of Uganda has a book about her written by Tim Grothers that was
made into a film by Walt Disney Pictures. Phiona managed to win her two games in Baku before travelling to attend the
Queen of Katwe big screen premiere. Another remarkable fact to be mentioned is Margarita Voiskas appearance in
the Bulgarian team for the nineteenth time. Whether she reaches Eugene Torres record of playing in most Open
Olympiads remains to be seen, but to continue at the top for such a long stretch of time for a country with strong chess
traditions is a remarkable achievement. Pia Cramling is another Olympiad regular who continues to impress with the
support of her family as husband Juan was team captain and daughter Anna also played. She played all 11 rounds on
top board for Sweden to repeat her bronze medal success in Troms.
Chess and politics mix well in the Baltic Republics. Dana Rieznice, Minister of Finance for Latvia, made media
headlines by beating the World Champion in her spare time.

Reizniece 2243 Hou Yifan 2658

Baku (ol) 2016

24.g4 White prevents the knight transfer to e3 via f5. However this also signals the start of an inspired attack on the
kingside.

24...g6 25.Rde1 Bg7 26.h4 Kh8

[Blacks main problem is the lack of counterplay. This is the first critical moment where, if Black realised the danger,
she could try to change the character of the game by offering a pawn sacrifice: 26...f6 27.Nf3 h5!? 28.g5 (Accepting the
pawn would allow Black to activate her knight: 28.gh5 Re7 29.hg6 Qg6 with sufficient counterplay to compensate for
the pawn.) 28...Re7 29.Bh3 f5 30.Ne5 Kh7 Black blocks up the position on the kingside. Black should successfully
defend her position by following up with a timely exchange on e5. However that strategy does not offer any winning
chances so perhaps psychology played an important part. Should the higher rated player strive to win the game at any
cost despite an objective assessment of the position?]

27.Bh3 f6 28.Nf3 Re7 29.Qg2

 Dana Reizniece. Photo by David Llada
The second critical moment.

29...Nf7
[I feel that this is the last point where Black can free her
pieces by changing the pawn structure, moving forward
either the f-pawn or e-pawn: 29...f5!? 30.Re2 (30.g5
e5!) 30...fg4 31.Bg4 Nf5 32.Bf5 gf5 with a double
edged position.; 29...e5 30.fe5 fe5 31.Nd2 and it is
now necessary to sacrifice the pawn, to avoid the
blockade, 31...e4!? 32.Ne4 Ne4 33.Re4 Re4 34.Qe4
Qe4 35.de4 d3 when Black should not have any
problems reaching a draw despite the pawn less.]

30.Re2 Qd7 31.Rfe1 Rde8 32.g5

[The engine still assesses the position around equal and
suggests moves like 32...Qd6 or 32...Nd8. However it
is extremely dificult to keep calm and simply wait in
such a passive position.]

32...f5 33.h5! Reiznice does well to keep Whites momentum going.

33...gh5
[Black is not in time for counterplay in the centre: 33...e5 because of the new weakness on g6 34.hg6 hg6 35.Nh4 and in
case of 35...Qd6 White crashes through on the light squares: 36.Bf5! gf5 37.Nf5 Qd7 38.Qh3 Kg8 39.Rh2+]

34.Nh4 White conducted the finale with energy and imagination to bring her a well deserved victory.

34...Qc7 35.Qf3 Kg8

36.g6 Nh6 37.Qh5 Qf4 38.gh7 Kh7 39.Bf5 ef5 40.Re7 Qg3 41.Ng2 Re7 42.Re7 f4 43.Qe5 Qg4 44.Qf4 Qd1

45.Ne1 Qh5 46.Nf3 Nf5 47.Rb7 Qg6 48.Qg5 Qe6 49.Qh5 Kg8 50.Rb8 Bf8 51.Qg4 1 : 0

Victoria Cmylite, Member of Parliament for Lithuania, had to meet her political commitments before turning up for the
second half of the tournament. In her absence Deimante Daulyte performed fantastically on top board with the
following king hunt as a highlight.

A15
Krush 2444 Daulyte 2421
Baku (ol) 2016

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 d6 5.c4 e5 6.d3 0-0 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.0-0 Bf5
Black continues development with the aim of exchanging light-squared bishops then advancing pawns on the kingside
once the White kings star defender, the g2 bishop, is exchanged. The other plan was immediate expansion on the
kingside starting with Nh5 and intending a well timed ...f5f4 and ...g5g4.]

9.Nc3 Keeping an eye on the central d5 square. Speelman preferred to develop his knight on d2 followed by a pawn
storm on the queenside:
[9.Nbd2 Qd7 10.a3 Bh3 11.b4 Speelman 2597 Gelfand 2713, Las Vegas (m/2) 1999 76/(12)]

9...Qd7 10.Re1 This move is puzzling. Usually it is played if White wants to keep the g2 bishop alive and reply Bh1
after Blacks ...Bh3. However since White later allows this exchange anyway, I dont understand the reason behind the
rooks move.

10...Rae8 11.Nd2 Bh3N

[RR 11...Qc8 Hedden 1869 Buchheister 1853, Hamburg 1999]

12.Nde4 Bg2 13.Nf6 Bf6 14.Kg2 Bg7 15.Nd5 f5 16.e4 Nd8 17.Qd2 c6 18.Nc3 f4 As a result of a series of superficial
moves White faces an unpleasant choice: to allow f4f3 which looks rather alarming due to the absence of her light-
squared bishop or to stop it by playing f2f3.

19.f3 Understandably White is concerned about the black pawn appearing on f3 and frankly it is easy to miss what is
about to happen.

19...fg3! 20.hg3 Rf3! Amazing! All of a sudden Blacks pieces crash through the White kings defences. Does Krush
now wish she left her rook on f1! Daulyte admitted that she saw this move from distance and was very happy to execute
it over the board. Who would not!

21.Kf3
More resilient was to decline the trojan horse and continue with 21.Rf1 albeit with a pawn down and the worse
position.
21...Qh3! Cutting out the way to a safe retreat for Whites king. Another long range move by a heavy piece that, just a
moment ago, seemed so far away.

22.Ke2 The king is caught in the middle of a firing squad. There is no salvation now.

22...Bh6 23.Qc2 Ne6 On each turn Black is able to bring more ammunition into the battle.

24.Kd1 Nd4 25.Qf2 Rf8 26.Qg1 Rf3

Complete domination by Blacks army. An aesthetic finish with the second rook landing on f3! 0 : 1

Whilst the big four did not have it all their own way, they were still contenders and secured two of the three podium
places. Other Asian nations made less impact than expected. Although India, Iran and Vietnam continue to impress and
the hosts excelled for a top ten finish. Since the inception of the biennial Womens World Team Championships in
2007, the big four are the only countries to have won medals at that event. The round-robin format makes it hard for
lesser nations to reach the top. The Olympiad, which is operated as a swiss, has many more permutations that give
teams from the chasing pack opportunities to rise through with a run of good form at the finish.

In looking forward to Batumi 2018, I still expect the big four to dominate. For future years, we get an indication from
the World Junior and Youth Girls that there are opportunities for other nations to compete as there is not one nation that
is constantly sweeping the board. All the ambitious nations will have to consider how they can generate greater
numbers of strong players through their junior programmes, if they are to seek success in the 2020s.
OPENING APPROACHES IN DOHA

The rapid and blitz formats allow for a different approach to the openings compared to classical chess. While the
elite players are very careful in the openings when playing classical tournaments, usually playing deeply
analysed and solid lines, in rapid and blitz they frequently vary their approach. This can take the form of several
different strategies.

1. Preparing a line especially for the tournament.

A good example for this was Ivanchuks use of the 4.Qc2 line in the Slav. This is a very solid line against the Slav and
doesnt involve any risk; it is a positional line that aims to obtain a rich middlegame position. The rapid format allowed
Ivanchuk to play it whenever he faced the Slav, irrelevant of the results of the opening (having an advantage or not) and
not fearing any special preparation from his opponents. Ivanchuk was confident that he could outplay his opponents in
these positions and the tournament showed he was right: his result couldnt have been better he won all three games
when he played the line!

D23
Ivanchuk 2747 Mamedyarov 2768
Doha 2016

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2

Ivanchuks preferred way to combat the Slav in Doha. This line is usually played when White wants to avoid the main
lines of the Slav. It leads to slow, maneuvering play as White fianchettoes his bishop on g2. Ivanchuk faced the main
three set-ups in the three games he played in Doha.

4...dc4 This is the most common reaction.

[4...e6 was the choice of the World Champion, but he quickly misplayed it 5.Nbd2 dc4 6.Nc4 c5 7.dc5 Bc5 8.a3 0-0
(8...b5! is the first moment when Black could play this move 9.Nce5 Qc7 10.e4 0-0 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.0-0 a6 and Black is
equal here as the Ne5 is not as stable as it would like to be.) 9.b4

A) 9...b5! this was obligatory now, and Black is fine 10.bc5 (10.Na5 Bb6 11.Bd2 Ba5 12.ba5 a6 13.e3 Bb7 and Black is
fine with smooth development, when White needs to keep an eye on the a5pawn) 10...bc4 11.e3 (11.Qc4 Bb7 12.Bg5
Nbd7 gives Black excellent compensation in view of his development advantage and the weak pawn on c5; 11.Bb2
Bb7 12.e3 Nbd7 13.Bc4 Rc8 and Back is at least equal after he takes on c5 with the rook) 11...Ba6 (11...Bb7 is also
possible) 12.Bb2 Qa5 13.Bc3 Qc7 14.Bd4 Qa5 with a probable repetition;
B) 9...Be7?! this is an automatic move, typical for rapid and blitz, but its an imprecision after which White gets an
advantage 10.Bb2 Qc7 11.Rc1 and White had a lasting pressure which he managed to convert into a win: Ivanchuk
2747 Carlsen 2840, Doha 2016]

5.Qc4 Bf5
[5...Bg4 this became popular after Anands fine win against Mamedyarov at the 2014 Candidates 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.g3 e6
8.Bg2 Bd6 (8...Be7 was Anands choice and its probably the better option 9.Ne5 Bh5 10.Nd7 Nd7 11.0-0 0-0 with
equal position: Mamedyarov 2757 Anand 2770, Khanty-Mansiysk (ct) 2014 120/139) 9.Qb3 Nb6 10.Ne5 Bh5
11.Ndc4 with some pressure: Ivanchuk 2747 Dreev 2652, Doha 2016]

6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Nbd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.e3 0-0 10.Qe2

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Photo by Eteri Kublashvili

White waits with the development of the Nb1 so that
Black cannot successfully try to simplify the position
after ...Ne4.

10...Rc8 Black has a wide choice of options here, but

Whites strategy is always similar to what Ivanchuk
does in the game.
[10...Qa5 11.Rd1 Rac8 10...Qc8; 10...Ne4 even
without Nc3 played!; 10...Bg6; 10...c5; 10...Qc7 Bu
Xiangzhi 2681 Eljanov 2727, Tsaghkadzor (wtc)
2015 124/127]

11.Rd1 Qa5 12.Bd2

[12.h3 Mamedyarov 2756 Wagner 2549, Moscow
2015 124/(127)]

12...Qb5N
[12...Qb6 Konopka 2458 Manik 2510, Slovakia 2003]

13.Qb5 cb5 Black is equal here, thanks to his excellent

pieces and activity, but White has the long-term
advantage of the better pawn structure.

14.Ne1 Ne4 15.Nc3 Nd2 16.Rd2 Bb4 17.Bb7 Rc7

18.Bf3 Rc3 19.bc3 Bc3 20.Rad1 Bd2 21.Rd2 Rc8
22.Nd3

The position is still quite OK for Black, but this was Ivanchuks tournament he won in 45 moves.

C42
Dominguez 2739 Jobava 2702
Doha 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Ne5 d5?!

An unbelievable move! At first it looks like a fingerfehler, as if Black moved the pawn one square too ahead, but in fact
Black gets some counterplay for the pawn. Of course, this cannot possibly be played in a classical game such risks
can only be taken with faster time controls]

4.ed5
[4.d4 this transposes to normal Petroff theory and cannot be considered critical 4...Ne4 5.Bd3 Bd6 Bosiocic 2591
Jobava 2702, Doha 2016, C 43]

4...Qd5 5.d4
[5.Qe2 Be7 6.Nc3 Qd8 7.b3!? is another attempt 7...0-0 8.Bb2 Re8 9.0-0-0 and Black is hard pressed to find enough
play for the pawn]

5...Nc6 6.Nc3N
This is a pragmatic approach, chosen by both Dominguez and Karjakin. The latters choice is telling, as facing Jobava in
the last round of the blitz he needed to win in order to catch Carlsen, but he still remained true to his positional style,
choosing a solid and controlled way.
[6.Nc6 is objectively better, Black doesnt have enough compensation for the pawn after this 6...Qc6 (RR 6...bc6
Keosidi 2381 Kuznetsov 2188, Tomsk 2008) 7.Qe2! this forces the exchange of queens

A) 7...Be7 8.Qb5 0-0N (RR 8...Bd7 L. Blom Trevis, corr. 2006) 9.Qc6 bc6 10.Bc4 Bf5 11.c3 Rfe8 12.0-0 is similar to
the game.;

B) 7...Be6 8.Qb5 Qb5 9.Bb5 c6 10.Be2 0-0-0 11.c3 and Black doesnt have enough for the pawn in this endgame, even
though he eventually managed to draw: Bok 2598 Jobava 2702, Doha 2016;

6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 0-0-0 8.Be3 Black gets some activity like in some lines of the Scandiniavian and this is probably what
attracted Jobava to this line. Objectively though, White should be better. 8...Qh5 9.h3 Bd6 (9...Nd5 10.Bc1 Bd6 11.0-0
Nf6 12.c3 Bh3 13.Ne5! Qh4 14.Nf7 Bh2 is a messy line perfect for blitz, but White has the advantage after 15.Kh2
Be6 16.Kg1 Bf7 17.Nd2) 10.Nc3 (preventing ...Nd5) 10...Rhe8 11.Qd2 with the idea to castle long.]

6...Qd4 7.Nc6 Qd1 8.Nd1 bc6 Black should look for compensation for his ruined structure in the activity of his pieces,
but White has easy play here he will finish development and aim at the doubled pawns.

9.Ne3 This is imprecise as now Black can develop his Bf8 to c5.
[9.Be2 was Karjakins choice 9...Bd6 (9...Bc5 10.Be3 is the idea behind the postponed Ne3 move) 10.Ne3 0-0 11.0-0
Re8 12.Bf3 Bd7 13.Nc4 Bc5 14.Bf4 and White has a dream position easy play against the doubled pawns while
Black has no counterplay: Karjakin 2785 Jobava 2702, Doha 2016]

9...Bc5 10.g3 0-0 11.Bg2 Ba6 12.Bd2 Rae8 13.Bc6 Re6 14.Bf3 Ne4 15.Be4 Re4

Black has some compensation in view of the bishop pair and the weakened white squares.

2. Playing a scheme.

This is very practical, both in rapid and blitz, as the opening moves are always more or less the same and the possible
plans are well-developed and studied. It eliminates the pre-game question what should I play against him? and gives
the additional confidence of knowing what youre doing. Carlsens choice of the London System is a good example of
 this. It is not surprising that Carlsen adopted this approach the epitome of pragmatism, he found a direct way to get to
a middlegame where he was confident he could outplay his opponents, not much different from what he does in
classical chess.

B13
Carlsen 2840 Bok 2598
Doha 2016

1.d4 Nf6
[1...d5 2.Bf4 now White automatically plays the next moves, all typical of the London System 2...c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3
White waits with the development of the Ng1 in order to avoid the lines when Black plays a quick ... Qb6, followed by
...c4 and ...Bf5 (4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c3 Qb6! 6.Qb3 c4 7.Qc2 Bf5! is the line White aims to avoid) 4...Nf6 5.Nd2 e6 recently
this has become the preferred choice (5...Bf5; 5...cd4 6.ed4 Bf5; 5...Qb6 6.Qb3 c4 7.Qc2 and there is no ...Bf5 now)
6.Ngf3 Bd6 7.Bg3 0-0 (7...Bg3 was recently played against Carlsen, for details see my article in Informant 130. 8.hg3
Qd6 9.Bb5 Carlsen 2857 Ghaem Maghami 2566, Baku (ol) 2016 130/138) 8.Bb5 Whites strategic plan here is the
fight for the e5square, hence his last move, targeting a defender of that square. Now Black has a choice:

Carlsen Magnus. Photo by Andreas Kontokanis

A) 8...a6 an aggressive move, as if telling White that his
strategy to obtain e5 is harmless. However, after this
game Black players will have to think twice about
choosing this move again. 9.Bc6 bc6 10.Qa4!
improving upon his own play, this move aims to
continue the black-square strategy that White
commenced with Bb5 (10.Ne5 Qc7 11.Nd3 Carlsen
2850 Karjakin 2762, Berlin 2015) 10...Rb8 11.Qa3!
hitting more black squares 11...Bg3 12.hg3 cd4N (RR
12...Qb6 Andreikin 2736 Sethuraman 2658,
Stockholm 2015/16 128/(132)) 13.cd4 a5 the only
way to activate the bishop, but White is already better
the black squares and the weak pawn on c6 are a
defining factor in this position 14.0-0 Qb6 15.b3 Ba6
16.Rfc1 Nd7 this loses a pawn (16...Bb5 17.Ne5 Rfd8
18.Qc5 with a dominating position) 17.Qd6 Qa7
18.Rc6 and White is already winning. A rare case when
Anand suffered an opening catastrophe 18...Bb5
19.Rc7 Rb7 20.Rac1 a4 21.Rb7 Qb7 22.Rc7 Qb8
23.Rd7 Bd7 24.Qd7 Carlsen 2840 Anand 2779, Doha
2016;

B) 8...Ne7 a logical move, not giving White what he

wants 9.Bd3 b6?! in view of Carlsens games, this
appears to be dubious (9...Qb6!? as played in the rapid
game: Gelfand 2734 Inarkiev 2730, Magas (m/6
rapid) 2016) 10.e4! White has the initiative now.
B1) 10...de4N 11.Ne4 Ne4 12.Be4 Rb8? (12...Nd5 is preferable) 13.dc5 Black is in trouble now 13...Bg3 14.hg3 f5?
(14...Qd1 15.Kd1 f5 16.Bd3 bc5 17.Kc2 with an excellent endgame for White, but here at least Black is not
immediately lost) 15.Qd8 Rd8 16.c6!+ Nd5 17.Bd5 Rd5 18.Rd1 Rd1 19.Kd1 Ba6 20.Ne5 Rc8 21.c4 preventing ...Bb5
21...b5 22.b4 bc4 23.a4 Rd8 24.Kc2 Rd5 25.f4 Carlsen 2840 Bosiocic 2591, Doha 2016;
B2) 10...Bg3 11.hg3 de4 12.Ne4 Ng6N covering the b1h7 diagonal (RR 12...Ned5 Prasanna 2512 Raes 2254, Abu
Dhabi 2016) 13.dc5 Bb7 sacrificing a pawn for activity, but it shouldnt suffice (13...bc5 14.Qe2) 14.Nf6 Qf6 15.cb6
e5 (15...ab6 16.Qe2) 16.Bg6 hg6 17.Qd7?! start of an imaginative idea, but one with a tactical flaw (the greedy
17.ba7 was good 17...Ra7 18.0-0 and Black has nothing for the two pawns) 17...Qb6 18.Ng5? (18.0-0-0
was still good for White; 18.Qh3 f6) 18...Bg2 Not only taking the pawn, but also preventing Qh3. (18...Bc8 19.Qa4+
with the idea of Qh4) 19.0-0-0 Rab8 and now Blacks attack is faster 20.b3 Qf2 21.Qg4 Rfc8 22.Kb1 Rc3 23.Qb4 Rcc8
0:1 Carlsen 2840 Korobov 2692, Doha 2016]

2.Bf4
[2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 is the proper London System, with a knight already on f3 3...e6 (3...c5 is a major alternative) 4.e3
Bd6 5.Bg3 0-0 (5...c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.Bb5 transposes above, see 1...d5 2.Bf4) 6.c4 c5 the most direct way to
simplify the position, but in these symmetrical positions Black should always be careful not to suffer because of his
passive Bc8. Since Black equalised in this game, White should look for alternatives here 7.Nc3 (7.cd5!? Nd5 8.dc5
Bc5 9.Bc4; 7.dc5 Bc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Nc3 Qa5= is similar to the line with Bf4 in the QGD, but here White has played
the useless move Bg3 instead of the more useful a3) 7...dc4 8.dc5N (8.Nb5? Scholz Hennemeier, Germany 1999)
8...Bc5 9.Bc4 a6 10.0-0 (10.a4 b6) 10...b5 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Qe2 Nbd7 and Black has equalised: Carlsen 2840
Jakovenko 2704, Doha 2016]

2...d5 3.e3 c5 4.Nc3 This is less aesthetical move than 4.c3, putting a knight in front of the c-pawn, but its possible to
play like this.
[4.c3]

4...cd4 5.ed4 a6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Nce2

[RR 7.Nge2 Jobava 2665 Ponomariov 2709, Baku (ol) 2016 130/136]

7...Bg4 Black develops the bishop outside the pawn chain, but this also allows White to preserve his Bd3
[7...Nb4!? looks critical, exchanging the important Bd3 8.h3!? trying to prevent the development of the Bc8 8...Nd3
9.Qd3 e6 10.Nf3 Be7 with complex play.]

8.c3 e6 9.Qd2 Bh5 10.Bg5N

[RR 10.Ng3 Archangelsky 2270 Van Delft 2404, Hoogeveen 2006]

10...Bg6 The typical maneuver ...Bh5g6 to exchange the bishops is met by another typical maneuver in these Carlsbad
structures.

11.Nf4! Bd3 12.Nd3 In these structures the best position for the knight is on d3.

12...Bd6 13.Nf3 Ne4!? 14.Bd8 Nd2 15.Kd2 Rd8 16.Rhe1 0-0=

The endgame is equal, but Carlsen proved to be the better player.

C64
Quparadze 2481 Vallejo Pons 2711
Doha 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5

Francisco Vallejo Pons. Photo by Paul Truong

This is a rare guest. An old favourite of Spassky and
played a few times by Fischer in the early 1960s, the
variation nowadays is occasionally played by Ivan
Sokolov, Paco Vallejo and Ivan Ivanisevic.

4.0-0 This allows Blacks next, hence its considered a

bit less precise.
[4.c3!

A) curiously, but in his last game in the Cordell, Fischer

played 4...Nge7 here 5.d4 (5.0-0! is better) 5...ed4
6.cd4 Bb4 7.Bd2 Bd2 8.Qd2 a6 9.Ba4 d5 10.ed5 Qd5
11.Nc3 Qe6 12.Kf1 Qc4 13.Kg1 0-0 (13...Be6=)
14.d5 Na7 with complex play: Tal Fischer, Curacao
(ct) 1962;

B) 4...Nf6
B1) 5.d4! this is the critical test for the Cordell
Variation 5...ed4 6.e5 Ne4
B1a) 7.0-0!? is an interesting alternative 7...d5! This
was already played by Fischer back in 1960!
B1a1) 8.Nd4 0-0= Gligoric Fischer, Buenos Aires
1960;
B1a2) 8.cd4 Bb6 curiously enough here White is a
tempo up compared to the line in the Italian (1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 ed4 6. e5 d5
7.Bb5 Ne4 8. cd4 Bb6) as he has already castled. In
principle the extra tempo should give White a chance for an advantage, even though in practice this has proven to be
rather elusive. 9.Be3 0-0 10.Bc6 bc6 11.Qc2 (N. Kosintseva 2552 Adams 2723, Gibraltar 2011) 11...f5! 12.Qc6 Rb8
with the idea to push ...f4 13.Nc3 Bb7 (13...f4
14.Bd2 Nd2 15.Nd2 Bd4 and Black is fine) 14.Qa4 f4 15.Bc1 (Saric 2666 Ivanisevic 2641, Croatia 2016) 15...c5!;
B1a3) 8.ed6
B1a31) 8...0-0!? played by Spassky and probably the better move of the two 9.dc7 (9.Bc6 bc6 10.dc7 Qc7 11.cd4 Bd6
12.Re1 Re8 13.Nbd2 Bf5 is unclear) 9...Qc7 (9...Qf6?! 10.Bc6 bc6 11.cd4 Bd6 12.Re1 and Black didnt have enough
for the material deficit in: Stein Spassky, USSR (ch) 1961) 10.cd4 Nd4! 11.Nd4 Qb6 12.Qc2 Nf2! 13.Rf2 Bd4
14.Bf1 Re8 15.Nc3 Be6 again with unclear position;
B1a32) 8...Nd6 was Svidlers choice in a very important game for him game 3 of the final of the World Cup in 2011
9.Re1 (9.Bg5! looks very promising for White 9...f6 10.Re1 Kf8 11.Bc6 bc6 12.cd4 Bb6 13.Bd2 and Black has
problems with the Kf8) 9...Be6 10.Bg5 Qc8 and Black will manage to castle 11.Bc6 bc6 12.Nd4 Bd4 13.Qd4 0-0 with
equality: Grischuk 2746 Svidler 2739, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/3) 2011 - 112/179;
B1b) 7.cd4 Bb4
B1b1) 8.Bd2 is harmless 8...Nd2 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.Ba4 d6= Jimenez Zerquera Fischer, Leipzig (ol) 1960;
B1b2) 8.Kf1 a6 (8...d5!? can lead to a very curious draw after 9.Qa4 Be7 10.Bc6 bc6 11.Qc6 Qd7 12.Qa8 Qb5 13.Kg1
Qe2 14.Qc8 Bd8 15.h3 Qf2 16.Kh2 Qg3) 9.Bd3 (9.Ba4 b5 10.Bc2 d5=) 9...d5 10.ed6 Nf6 (10...Nd6?? 11.d5 loses a
piece after the subsequent Qa4) 11.dc7 Qc7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 Be7 and Black has certain compensation as White
cannot easily solve the problem of the king on f1;
B1b3) 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.0-0
B1b31) 9...d5 is an alternative, played by both Kamsky and Tkachiev, but after 10.Qa4! Bd2 11.Nd2 Bd7 12.f3 a6
13.Bc6 Bc6 14.Qc2 (or 14.Qa3 Short 2665 Kamsky 2695, Linares (m/4) 1994 61/(320)) 14...Ng5 15.Nb3 White is
 better in both cases: Karjakin 2723 Tkachiev 2642, Moscow 2009;
B1b32) 9...Nd2 10.Bd2 Bd2 11.Qd2 Ne7 12.Ng5 tempting, but Black should be fine after it (12.Rfe1 d6 13.Bc4 but
this is quite playable for Black) 12...d6 13.f4 Bf5 14.Rae1 de5 15.fe5 Qd5 with unclear play: Anand 2779 Vallejo
Pons 2711, Doha 2016;
B2) 5.d3 0-0 this transposes to the lines that usually arise from the Berlin move-order, 3...Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3, which are
considered to be OK for Black: Onischuk 2601 Vallejo Pons 2711, Doha 2016;
B3) 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 Bb6
B3a) 7.Bg5 was considered best, but probably Vallejo discovered hidden resources, at least good enough for rapid and
blitz! 7...h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.Qd3 (9.a4 a5 can also be inserted if White wishes to do so) 9...g5! practically the only move!
(9...Bd7 was nicely refuted in an old game between Anand and Leko 10.Nbd2 a6 11.Bc6! Bc6 12.Rfe1 Re8 13.a4 Ba7
14.b3 with a nice advantage for White, as Black is completely devoid of counterplay 14...Qe7 15.h3 Rad8 16.b4 Bd7
17.b5 Anand 2769 Leko 2725, Frankfurt (rapid) 2000 79/(306)) 10.Bg3 (10.Ng5 hg5 11.Bg5 may look scary at
first, but Black defends 11...ed4 12.Bc6 bc6 13.cd4 Kg7 14.Nc3 Qd7) 10...Nh5 (10...g4 is an alternative) 11.Bc6
(11.Na3 ed4 12.cd4 f5 Caruana 2670 Nielsen 2680, Amsterdam 2009 108/(240)) 11...bc6 12.de5 (12.Nbd2 a5
Hunt 2408 Adams 2706, Great Britain (ch) 2010) 12...de5 13.Qd8 Rd8 14.Be5 Re8 15.h3 f6 16.Bh2 Re4 and Black
was fine: Topalov 2767 Vallejo Pons 2684, Dos Hermanas (m/3rapid) 2008 102/238;
B3b) 7.Re1 not really testing 7...d6 8.h3 h6 and Black has acceptable play: Tari 2584 Vallejo Pons 2711, Doha 2016]

4...Nd4 5.Nd4 Bd4 6.c3 Bb6 7.d4 c6 8.Bc4

[8.Ba4 d6 9.Na3 Nf6 10.Bc2 Be6= Perez Ponsa 2585 Vallejo Pons 2711, Doha 2016]

8...d6 9.de5 de5 10.Qh5 Qe7 11.Bg5 Nf6 12.Qf3 h6 13.Bf6 Qf6 14.Qf6 gf6

Black has no problems here, his bishop pair compensates for the weakened pawn structure.

3. Playing an innocuous line, but with certain ideas behind it.

Grischuk scored 2/2 with the odd 6.Nb3 in the Najdorf. The move is funny on several levels:
The idea of Blacks 5...a6 is to play ...e5 and chase away the strong d4-knight without allowing Nd4-b5. So White
doesnt even wait for ...e5 and plays 6.Nb3 immediately.
In many lines of the Sicilian (the most direct being 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Qb6) Black plays ...Qb6 in
order to force the d4-knight to leave its central outpost, after which the queen loses a tempo to come back to c7. Again,
 White plays Blacks desired move Nb3 voluntarily.
Instead of developing, White wastes time removing one of his active pieces from its central position.
These kind of attempts against the Najdorf (6.a3 being another odd one) are understandable since White is struggling to
achieve anything when facing this opening. By playing obscure sidelines he hopes to at least get the black player to a
less analysed position. And this logic works even better at faster time controls.

B90
Grischuk 2737 Amonatov 2620
Doha 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3

[6.a3]

6...e5 This has become the automatic move in the Najdorf against everything except 6.Bg5 and 6.Bc4, but somehow I
feel it is not the best option here.
[6...e6 7.g4 b5; 6...g6 7.Be2 Bg7; 6...Nc6]

7.Bg5 White fights for the control of the d5square.

7...Be7 8.Bf6 Bf6 9.Qd3

9...0-0N
[9...Be6 10.0-0-0 Be7 is very similar to another line in the Najdorf, arising after 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bf6
Bf6 10.Qd3, but here White can play a more useful move than Be2 11.Nd5 (11.g3!? 0-0 12.f4 is the typical plan from
the above-mentioned line, White doesnt need a bishop on e2 to play like this and can hope to make better use of the
extra move he has.) 11...Bd5 12.Qd5 Qc7 13.Kb1N (RR 13.Qa5 Milov 2446 Roediger 2024, Bad Homburg 2016)
13...0-0 (13...Nd7 Nf6) 14.Na5! (preventing the convenient ...Nd7f6) 14...Nc6 15.Nc4 Rad8 16.Ne3 Grischuk
2737 Nepomniachtchi 2767, Doha 2016]

10.0-0-0 Be7 11.Nd5 Bg5 12.Kb1 Be6 13.g3 Nc6 14.h4 Be7 15.Bh3

Grischuk won after 49 moves.

 Alexander Grischuk. Photo by Harald Fietz

4. Sticking to ones repertoire.

Many strong players stick to their usual openings even in rapid and blitz. This has the advantage that they know them
inside-out and can confidently play the opening and middlegame, having thoroughly studied them before. Examples of
this include Aronian, who played his usual Spanish lines after 1.e4 and played 1.c4 with White; Dreev, who stuck to his
favourites, the Caro-Kann and the Slav Defence; Vachier-Lagrave with the Najdorf and the Grunfeld and Anand with
his usual openings like the Spanish, Caro-Kann, Nimzo-Indian, QGD with Black and 1.e4 with White. Even Carlsen
(when playing with Black) falls into this category, not hiding his preparation and playing the openings he prepared for
the match against Karjakin the lines in the Spanish and the Marshall Attack, the Chebanenko Slav and the popular
line with 5...e6 after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dc4 5.a4 e6 (beating Grischuk in the rapid and Radjabov in the
blitz).
After taking a closer look at these different approaches, one thing that we can be sure of is that whichever strategy the
best players choose for these faster events there is always serious work behind the openings they play. And while some
of these openings will not be repeated, due to their unreliability on elite level, they certainly prove a fruitful ground for
further research and can turn out to be excellent choices for any other player, not only in rapid and blitz, but in classical
as well. The tournaments in Doha were full of such pearls of inspiration. One only needs to pick up what suits him/her
and put in the required work. As Igor Zaitsev used to say, It is always easier to discover treasure in a place where
someone has already found a handful of coins. Let the elite find the coins for you and then dig deep enough to find the
treasure. Happy hunting!
EYES ON THE STARS, FEET ON THE GROUND

For us, chess players, controlling our emotions is as important as a good preparation and choosing the right
moves.

Losing a game can be quite painful to any chess player. Furthermore, losing to an 11-year-old (who looks even
 younger!) can be a lot more painful than usual. And that is exactly how my last game in Europe went, losing in just
18 moves(!) against 11-year old Indian wonder-kid, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, in the last round of the strong
Open of Isle of Man.

As soon as this very well organized tournament began, I could feel that things were not going my way. So, I was not
completely surprised that after the tournament finished, my rating went 25 points down. Definitely not how I wanted to
end the European tour I started in January 2016!

Honestly, after such a busy year with tons of playing and a terrible performance in Isle of Man, I did not have a lot of
expectations for the rest of the year. However, everything changed and things have been going very well since then.
With the idea of staying on the positive side, I always try to close the chapter when I have a bad performance or a bad
game. That has been an issue Ive been working and focusing on in the last few years. As professional chess players,
we are constantly put to the test. Losing a game or having a bad tournament happens to everyone, including the very
best players in the world. In my experience, working on the psychological aspect of our game can definitely make a big
difference in the short- and long-term results of every chess player.

Besides the psychological, there is another aspect which has had a huge impact on my chess results. Without any doubt,
the best event of my year 2016 was getting married with my beloved fiance, Malu. We celebrated our wedding in
December in our home town, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. I have to highlight Malus role throughout my last few years.
She has been a very supportive and positive partner. Even without knowing a single thing about our game, Malu has
had a tremendously positive effect on my attitude and handling of things. This has changed my life and, as a result, also
my chess.

After my disappointing experience in Isle of Man, which was played in the first week of October 2016, I got the chance
to play in three different tournaments in South America. First, I was able to defend my title in the II Abierto
Internacional de la Patagonia, which was played in the beautiful village of Villa la Angostura, Argentina. This
tournament was actually the strongest event of the year in South America with more than 10 GMs. Then, it was time for
the National Championship in Asuncion, Paraguay. This tournament was a very special one for me, since it is the only
tournament I played back home throughout the year. Happily, I was able to get the title back after a two-year
domination of my fellow GM and friend, Neuris Delgado. Lastly and already in 2017, my winning streak continued
with a very surprising victory in the III Floripa Open, the biggest Open of Brazil, which included a very fought win
against Latvian legend and hero, Alexei Shirov.

 A40
Bachmann 2620 Rodriguez Vila 2447
Patagonia 2016

In the last round, I was paired against the current leader

of the tournament, the Uruguayan GM Andres
Rodriguez Vila. Before this game, Andres had played
an outstanding tournament with impressive wins over
players like Cori Tello, Tiviakov, Perez Ponsa and
Vasquez. As a result of his good performance, he was
leading half a point ahead of Mareco and myself,
before the last round. So, only a win could give me a
chance to fight for the title.

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4 3.Bd2 Qe7 4.e3!? Not the most

popular move. However, my strategy for the game was
to try to play a calm game knowing that my opponent
is extremely dangerous in dynamic positions.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Bd3

Andres Rodriguez Vila. Photo by ChessBase

6...d6 I am not a big fan of this move. I prefer ideas
with 6..d5 or 6..b6 when I play these positions with
Black.
[6...d5 7.cd5 ed5 8.Nge2; 6...b6 7.Nge2 Bb7 8.0-0
These were the positions that I had in mind. Of course,
there is plenty of history and games, but I was quite
satisfied with the result of the opening and my
intentions in the game. 8...d5 9.cd5 ed5 10.Ng3]

7.Nge2!? The idea of this flexible move is to allow

White to recapture on c3 with knight and also to bring
 the knight to g3 if its necessary.
[7.Nf3?! e5! and Black is definitely happy. Thats the
biggest difference between having the knight on f3 or
e2.; 7.a3 Bc3 8.Bc3 b6 (8...e5 9.Ne2) 9.Qf3 d5
10.Ne2]

7...c5 8.a3 Bc3

[8...Ba5 9.b4 cb4 10.Ne4 Ne4 11.Be4]

9.Bc3 e5 10.d5
[10.0-0!? is a more flexible move. Maybe it is not
necessary to fix the centre with d5 yet.]

10...b5?
[10...e4! 11.Bc2 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Ne5 13.b3 b5!? This was a better version of the same idea. Blacks pieces are active and
his compensation might be more consistent than in the actual game.]

11.cb5 Nbd7 12.e4 While playing, I was extremely happy on how the opening went. However, I knew the game was
far from being over.

12...c4 13.Bc2 Nc5 14.Ng3 Bd7 15.a4 a6 16.ba6 Ra6 17.a5 Rfa8 18.0-0 Nb7 19.Qd2 Qd8
20.Ra3?! A very important misstep. By overlooking a tactical trick, White allows Black to get back to the game. After
realizing I made a mistake, I instantly walked away from the board to try to calm down. Luckily, the situation is still
favourable for me after Whites inaccuracy.
[20.Ra2! Na5? 21.Rfa1 Nb3 22.Bb3+]

20...Na5 21.Qe2 Accepting my mistake, I realized it was time to change my mindset and focus on the kingside. After
all, Blacks pieces are not especially well placed on the queen side.
[21.Rfa1?? Was my original idea. 21...Nb3! 22.Bb3 Ra3 23.ba3 cb3 and Black might be the one fighting for the
advantage!]

21...Qb6 22.h3 Bb5 23.Nf5! Nb3 24.Ra6

24...Ra6? Missing the tactical trick. Blacks position was already difficult, but after this it is simply lost. There is more
stubborn play after:
24...Ba6 25.Kh2

A) 25...Ne8 26.f4 f6 27.Ne7 Kf8 (27...Kh8 28.Qh5+) 28.Nc6 ef4 29.Rf4 Ra7 30.e5 de5 31.Qe5+;

B) 25...Bc8 26.Ne7 Kf8 27.Nc6]

25.Nd6!+ Qd6
[25...Nd4 26.Bd4 ed4 27.Nc4 Qc5 28.Bd3+]

26.Bb3 Ne4 27.Bc4 Ng3 28.Qg4! f5

[28...Nf1 29.Qc8 Qf8 30.Qf8 Kf8 31.Bb5+]

29.Qg3 Bc4

30.Rd1! The final blow. White consolidates his advantage and the game is over.
[30.Be5?! Qg6 31.Qg6 hg6 32.Rd1 Ra7]

30...f4 31.Qg5 f3 32.Be5 Qd7 33.d6 Be6 34.g4 Ra7 35.Re1 Qc8 36.Rc1 Qf8 37.Qe3 Rf7 38.Bg7 Qd6 39.Be5 Qd8
40.Bd4 h5 41.Qe5 Kf8 42.Qh8 1 : 0

As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, playing the National Championship of Paraguay is always special since
it is the only tournament I played in my country throughout the year. Thanks to the good management and efforts of the
Paraguayan Chess Federation, the tournament brought together all 4 GMs for the strongest national championship ever.
In this key game, I faced Paraguayan chess legend, Zenon Franco Ocampos. As a kid, I grew up having Zenon as the
main ambassador of our country in the chess world. Throughout my chess career, I had the chance to get to know him
more personally, which made me respect and admire him even more.

Bachmann 2620 Franco Ocampos 2507

Paraguay (ch) 2016

1...Qc5 In this already difficult position, Zenon thought his best chance was to trade queens and move to the rooks
endgame.

2.Qc5 Rc5 3.Rd7 Kf6 4.Ra7 Rc4

Franco Ocampos. Photo by David Llada

5.Rh7?! The first innacuracy. As pointed out by Zenon
after the game, White misses his first chance by not
being able to find:
[5.b3! Rf4 6.Ra4 Ra4 7.ba4 Ke5 8.g4 fg4 (8...f4
9.h4+) 9.hg4 Kd5 10.Kf2 Kc4 11.Ke3 Kb4 12.Ke4
Ka4 13.Ke5+]

5...Kg6 6.Rb7 Rf4 7.b4 Rc4 8.a4 Rc1 9.Kf2 Rc2

10.Kf3 Ra2 11.a5 e5

12.Rb8? Second mistake. Despite being in time trouble, it is hard to understand the logic that I took to make this move.
[12.Rb6 Kg5 13.a6 e4 14.Ke3 Rg2 15.Rb5+]

12...Ra3 13.Ke2 f4 14.Rb6 Kf5 15.a6 Ra2 16.Kf1 Ke4 17.b5 Ke3 18.Kg1 Ra1 19.Kh2 e4
20.Rh6? The final mistake. After this move, the game escapes from my hands and, with accurate play, Black could have
saved half a point.
[20.Rf6 In this pawn race, more important than eating the h6 pawn is that the rook collaborates with the king to stop the
f pawn. 20...f3 21.gf3 ef3 22.Kg3! Rg1 23.Kh4 Ra1 24.b6 Ra6 25.Kg3 f2 26.Re6 Kd3 27.Kf2+]

20...Kf2 21.Rc6

21...f3?? Returning the favour. Black misses his only chance to make a draw after an extremely beautiful defensive
resource.
[21...e3! Only move! 22.Rc4 e2 23.Rf4 Ke3 24.Rf7 e1=Q (24...Rh1 25.Kh1 e1=Q Should be a draw.) 25.Re7 Kf2
26.Re1 Ke1 27.h4 Ra5 28.h5 Rb5 29.g4 Kf2 30.h6 Rb6 31.g5 Ra6 32.h7 Ra8 33.g6 Kf3 34.Kh3 Rh8 35.Kh4 Kf4

36.Kh5 Kf5 37.Kh6 Ra8 38.g7 Ra6 39.Kh5 Ra1 40.Kh4 Kf4 41.Kh3 Kf3 42.Kh2 Ra2=]

22.Rc2 Ke3 23.gf3 Kf3 24.Rb2 e3 25.b6 e2 26.Re2 Ke2 27.b7 Kf3 28.h4
Whites king escapes through the h3 square and, this detail, decides the game. 1 : 0

Bachmann 2620 Shirov 2683

Florianopolis 2017

Florianopolis is a well-known Brazilian city, famous for its amazing natural resources and beaches. Furthermore, it
hosted the biggest open tournament in Brazil with more than 400 participants (!) from 14 different countries. In this
third edition, the organizers made a big effort and brought one of the biggest names in the chess world: latvian GM
Alexei Shirov. Born in Riga, Alexei is well-known for being a fighter at the chess board, always going for a win and
producing masterpieces.

1.Nd2!? It was no surprise that after 8 rounds, Alexei was leading with 7 out of 8. In round 9. I had the difficult
mission of facing him, who was one point ahead. This game was my last chance of remaining in contention for the title.

1...f5?! After this move, Black enters by force in a very difficult endgame. It would have been a better decision to
accept the challenge:
[1...Qd3 2.Ne4! Qd1 (2...Qa6 3.Bf1 Qa7 4.Qc1 Kh7 5.Nd6 With a very good compensation for the material. I
definitely prefer White over Black, in spite of being a pawn down.) 3.Red1]

2.Nc4 Bc4 3.dc4 e4

Alexei Shirov. Photo by Maria Emelianova

Black is in trouble. However, when you face a world-
class player such as Shirov, it is always difficult to
convert the advantage.

4.Qd8?! White obtains a better endgame. Nonetheless, I

overlooked that Black would get serious counterplay
after sacrificing a pawn. A better move would have
been:
4.f3! And now:

A) 4...Ne5 5.fe4 Nd3 (If 5...Qd1 6.Rad1 Nc4 7.Bc1

And White has a technically won position.; 5...Nc4
6.Qb3 Qc7 7.ef5 Re3 8.Re3 Qc5 9.Kh1 Qe3 10.Qc4
Kh8 11.fg6+) 6.Re2 fe4 7.Qb3;

B) 4...ef3 5.Qd8 (5.Bf3!?) 5...Rad8 6.Bf3 Without the

pawn on e4, it is way more difficult for black to get any
counterplay.

4...Rad8 5.Red1 Ne5 6.Bf1 Rd1 7.Rd1 Re6 8.Rd8 Kf7

9.Rb8 Re7 10.Bb6 Nf3 Despite being a pawn down,
Blacks situation has improved. Even after exchanging
rooks, Shirov will create enough counter-play by
attacking the pawn on b2.

11.Kh1 It is not so strong:

[11.Kg2 Ne1 12.Kh1 Rd7 13.Ba5 (13.Rd8? Rd8
14.Bd8 Nd3) 13...Nd3 14.c5!]

11...Rd7 12.Rd8
[12.Be2 Rd2!? 13.Rb7 Ke8 14.Bf3 ef3 15.h4 Rb2 16.c5]

12...Rd8 13.Bd8 Ne1 14.Bb6 Bf8

15.f4? Interesting idea, but a bad move that costs the advantage.
[15.Be2! Nd3 16.Bd3 ed3 17.Be3 g5 (17...Bc5 18.Bh6 Bf2 19.Kg2+) 18.Kg2+

White is winning here. Some illustrative lines are:

A) 18...Kg6 19.Kf1 Kh5 20.f3! (20.h3 f4! 21.gf4 g4 Is less clear.) 20...f4 21.gf4 g4 22.Kf2+;

B) 18...Bd6 19.Kf1 f4 (19...Kg6 20.f3! Fixing the f pawn in a light square ends Blacks counter-play. 20...h5
21.Ke1+) 20.gf4 gf4 21.Bb6 f3

22.Ke1 Bh2 23.Kd2 Ke6 24.Kd3 Kf5 25.Ba5 h5 26.Bd8 Kg4 27.a5 Bd6 28.Bb6! h4 29.a6 ba6 30.c5 h3 (30...Bb8
31.c6 h3 32.c7) 31.cd6 h2 32.d7 h1=Q 33.d8=Q+]

15...g5!
[15...ef3? 16.Kg1+]

16.Kg1 gf4 17.gf4 Bd6 18.Kf2 Nf3

19.Kg3?! In the time trouble, I started committing way too many inaccuracies that will change a technically won
position into a complicated one that can go either way.
[19.Be2! Nh2 (19...Bf4 20.Bf3 ef3 21.h3+; 19...Nd2 Blacks best try. 20.c5 Bf4 21.Ba5 Bh2 22.Bb6 It is not as clear
as it was before, but White should be able to convert his advantage by playing c6a5 next.) 20.Kg3 Ng4 21.Bg4 fg4
22.Kg4+]

19...Nd2 20.Be2 Nb3 21.Bd1 Nc5 22.Bc2 Ke7 23.h4 Kd7 24.Ba5 Ne6 25.Bb6 Bf4 26.Kf2 Bc1 27.b4 Bb2 28.b5
Bc3 29.Ke3 Bb4 30.a5 Bc5

After a few forced and natural moves, we reach a technically drawn position. Nonetheless, as the game shows,
everything can happen in time trouble.

31.Bc5 Nc5 32.Kf4 Ke6 33.b6 Kf6 34.Bd1 Ke6 35.Bh5 At this point and knowing the game slipped away, I
convinced myself that drawing or losing would be the same.

35...Nd3 36.Ke3 Nc5 37.Be8? Mistake explained in the lines before. It would have been better to repeat the position
and accept the draw.
[37.Kf4=]

37...Kd6?+ With seconds on the clock, Alexei believes in me and doesnt go for a win.
[37...Ke5!+ 38.Bf7 f4 39.Ke2 Kd4 40.Bd5 f3 41.Kf2 Kd3]

38.Bg6??
[38.Kf4=]

38...Ke6?? Again!
[38...Ke5+]

39.Bh7 Ke5 40.Bg8 f4 41.Ke2

41...Kd6??
[41...Kd4! Simple but effective. Black promotes first. 42.Bd5 f3 43.Kf2 e3 44.Kf3 (44.Kf1 e2 45.Kf2 Nd3+)
44...Kd3+]

42.Bd5= Nb3?? The final and decisive mistake. Shirov miscalculates and moves into a completely lost endgame.
[42...f3 43.Kf2 Ke5 44.Ke3 (44.Bb7?? Kf4+) 44...Kd6=]

43.Bb7 Na5 44.Be4 Nc4 45.b7 Kc7 46.Kf3

Blacks king is too far from the h pawn and, as a result, the endgame is lost. A very inaccurate game. Anyway, my
victory against Alexei, together with the win in the last round over fellow GM Delgado, gave me the title of this very
strong and well-organized tournament.
1:0

As the reader can see in the games I picked above, the results could have easily been different and, with that, the final
standings of the tournaments too. The truth is that when facing time troubles and double-edge positions, things will not
always go our way. Why do I mention this? Because I find it important that we control our emotions in such moments,
both winning and losing. There is an extremely thin line between success and failure in these three games I analysed.
Thats why its of great importance to remain calm and stable. Resist over-celebrating when getting positive results, as
well as being disappointed about negative results. Keep focused on where you are heading to. As a famous quote by
Roosevelt says: Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.

PARTIJE GAMES PARTIEN PARTIES PARTIDAS PARTITE

PARTIER

KLASIFIKACIJA OTVARANJA CLASSIFICATION OF

OPENINGS KLASSIFIZIERUNG DER ERFFNUNGEN CLASSIFICATION DES
OUVERTURES CLASIFICACIN DE LAS APERTURAS CLASSIFICAZIONE DELLE
APERTURE KLASSIFIKATION AV PPNINGAR

A00-A49

1. A01
Rapport, Richard (2702) - Van Wely, Loek (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 131/1, 2017

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.c4

5.h4 - 120/1
5...d6 6.Be2 f5 7.h4 h6N
7...Nf6 - 15/42
8.Nc3 Nf6 9.d4 e4 10.Ng1 Ne7
10...O-O 11.Nh3
11.d5 c5
11...O-O 12.Nh3 a6 13.Nf4 Qe8 14.Qc2
12.Nh3 O-O 13.Nf4 a6 14.Qd2 Rb8 15.f3 Qe8 16.O-O-O
16.a4!? Bd7 17.O-O-O
16...b5 17.Rdg1 b4 18.Nd1 a5 19.Nf2 a4 20.Bd1 a3 21.Ba1 g5?
21...Qf7
22.hxg5 hxg5

23.g4!?
23.Ne6 Bxe6 24.dxe6 Qg6 25.g4!
23...gxf4 24.gxf5 fxe3 25.Qxe3 Nxf5 26.Qg5
26.Rxg7+!? Kxg7 (26...Nxg7 27.Qh6) 27.Rg1+ Kf7 28.Qg5 Ke7 29.Bxf6+ (29.Re1 e3 30.Ne4 Kd8 31.Bxf6+
(31.Nxf6? Qe7-+) 31...Rxf6! (31...Kc7 32.Nxd6! Kxd6 (32...Nxd6 33.Rxe3 Rxf6 34.Rxe8 Nxe8 35.Qe5+) 33.Qf4+
Kd7 34.Qxf5+ Kc7 35.Qe5+ Kb7 36.Be7) 32.Nxf6 Qe5 33.Ng4+ Qe7 34.Qxe7+ (34.f4 Qxg5 35.fxg5 Rb7 36.Nxe3
Rg7 37.Nxf5 Bxf5 38.Rg1 Ke7 39.Bc2 Bxc2 40.Kxc2 Kf7 41.Rf1+ Kg6 42.Rf6+ Kxg5 43.Rxd6 Kf5 Kc2)
34...Kxe7 35.Nxe3 Nxe3 36.Rxe3+ Kf7 37.Bc2 Bd7) 29...Rxf6 30.Nxe4 Qg6 31.Qxg6 Rxg6 32.Rxg6 Bd7 33.Kd2
Rh8
26...exf3 27.Bxf6 Rxf6 28.Qxf6 Qe3+ 29.Kb1 Qxf2 30.Qd8+ Kf7 31.Qc7+
31.Bc2 Qd4 32.Qc7+ Kf6 33.Qd8+=
31...Kf6 32.Qd8+ Kf7 33.Rxg7+?
33.Qc7+=
33...Nxg7 34.Qc7+

34...Kg8?
34...Kf6!? 35.Qd8+ (35.Qxd6+ Be6!! 36.Bc2 Rh8 37.Rd1 Qe3 38.dxe6 Nxe6-+) 35...Ke5 36.Qe7+ Ne6 37.Rh5+ Kd4
38.Qf6+ Kd3-+34...Bd7! 35.Qxd7+ (35.Bc2 Re8 36.Qxd7+ Re7-+) 35...Kg8 36.Bc2 Qg2 37.Bh7+ Kh8-+
35.Bc2 Bf5 36.Qxb8+ Kf7 37.Qc7+ Kg8 38.Qd8+ Kf7 39.Qc7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

2. A01
Rapport, Richard (2702) - Karjakin, Sergey (2785)
Wijk aan Zee 131/2, 2017

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.Na3 e4

5...Na5 - 123/3
6.Nc4 Be7 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.Ne2 O-O 9.O-O a5 10.d3 a4 11.Ng3 d5 12.Ne5 Qe8 13.dxe4 Nxe4

14.Nd3!?N
14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qd4 f6 16.Qc4+ Kh8 17.Qxc6 a3 18.Bc3 Ba6 19.Qxe8 Rfxe8 20.Nc4 Bxc4 21.bxc4 Ra4 22.Rab1
Rxc4 23.Rb3=
14...Bd6 15.b4
15.Nxe4 Qxe4 (15...dxe4 16.Nf4=) 16.Qd2 f6 17.Bd4=
15...Nxg3 16.hxg3 a3 17.Bd4 Ba6 18.Re1 Bc4 19.Nc5
19.Qg4 f6 20.Nc5 Qg6 21.Qe6+ Qf719.e4!? dxe4 20.Nc5
20...f5 (20...f6 21.Nxe4 Qf7=) 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd4+ Be5 23.Qxc4 Bxa1 24.Ne6+ Kf6 25.Nxf8 Bb2 26.Nxh7+ Kg6
27.g4 Kxh7 28.gxf5
19...f6 20.f4 Qg6 21.Kf2 Rfb8 22.c3 Rb5 23.g4 Bxc5 24.Bxc5= Qe4 25.Bd4 Rab8 26.Qf3 h6
26...Qc2+ 27.Kg1=
27.Kg3 Re8 28.Rad1 Qc2 29.Qf2 Qxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Rbb8 1/2-1/2

3.*** A07
Bluebaum, Matthias (2632) - Najer, Evgeniy (2659)
Moscow 131/3, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.Bg2 c6 4.O-O Nf6 5.h3 Bxf3!?

5...Bh5
6.Bxf3
6.exf3!? - 1/14
6...e5
6...Nbd7 7.d3 e5 (7...e6) 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 Bc5 - 131/(3) 10.Bg2 (10.Qe2!? O-O 11.Nd2 a5 12.Nc4N (12.a4) 12...Re8
13.Rd1 Qc7 14.a4 h6 15.Ne3 Bf8 16.Nf5 Kh7 Vorobjov,P (2215)-Neiksans, A (2627)/Tallinn (rapid) 131/(3) 2017)
10...Qe7 11.a4 O-O 12.Qe2 a5 13.Nd2 Rfd8 14.Nb3N (14.Nc4) 14...Bb6 15.Bd2 Nc5= Giri,A (2782)-Kramnik,V
(2812)/Paris (blitz) 131/(3) 2016
7.d3

7...a5!?
7...Bc5 8.e4 dxe4 (8...O-O) 9.dxe4 Qxd1?!N (9...Nbd7 - 131/(3)) 10.Rxd1 h5? (10...O-O) 11.Nd2 h4 12.Kg2 hxg3
13.fxg3 Nbd7 14.Nc4 Krysa,L (2491)-Morozov,N (2406)/Roquetas de Mar 131/(3) 2017
8.a4N
8.Nd2
8...Bc5 9.Nd2 O-O 10.e4 Re8 11.c3
11.Bg2!?
11...Nbd7 12.Bg2 Ba7
12...dxe4 13.dxe4 Qe7=
13.exd5 cxd5 14.Nb1!? Na3-b5 14...e4
14...Nc5 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 Nce4=
15.d4 h6= 16.Na3 Bb8 17.Be3
17.Nc2!?
17...Ra6
17...Nb6!?
18.b4?!
18.b3=18.h4=
18...axb4
18...Nb6!? 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.Qb3 Rxa4 21.Rfc1 Rxa3 22.Rxa3 Nc4
19.cxb4 Nf8 20.Qb3

20.h4=
20...h5!?
20...Ne6!?
21.Bg5?
21.b5 Rd6 22.h4
21...N8h7-+ 22.Bd2
22.b5 Rae6 23.Bf4 Bxf4 24.gxf4 e3 25.Nc2 exf2+ 26.Rxf2 Ne4-+
22...h4 23.g4
23.Rae1 hxg3 24.fxg3 Nh5-+
23...Qd6 24.Rfc1
24.Rfe1 Nf8 25.Kf1 Ne6-+
24...Qh2+ 25.Kf1

25...Bg3! 26.g5
26.fxg3 e3-+ (26...Nxg4 27.Bf4 Rf6 28.hxg4 e3 29.Qxd5 Qxg3-+)
26...Bxf2 27.Kxf2 e3+
27...Nxg5-+
28.Bxe3 Nxg5
28...Ne4+ 29.Kf1 Ng3+ 30.Kf2 Nxg5-+
29.Kf1 Nh5
29...Nfe4-+29...Nxh3-+
30.Ra2
30.Bxg5 Ng3+-+
30...Ng3+
30...Rf6+ 31.Bf2 Ng3+
31.Ke1 Qg1+ 0-1

4. A07
Bachmann Schiavo, Axel (2628) - Shirov, Alexei (2683)
Florianopolis 131/4, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 e5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Re1 Re8 10.c3 a5 11.a4 h6
12.Nc4 Nb6
12...Bf5 - 57/(1)
13.Nxb6 cxb6 14.Be3 Be6 15.Nd2!?

15...f5?!
15...Re7 16.Nc4 Ra6 17.Qe215...Qxd3 16.Ne4! Qxd1 (16...Qa6 17.Bf1 Qa7 18.Qc1 Kh7 19.Nd6) 17.Rexd1
16.Nc4 Bxc4 17.dxc4 e4 18.Qxd8?!
18.f3! exf3 (18...Ne5 19.fxe4 Nd3 (19...Nxc4 20.Qb3 Qc7 21.exf5 Rxe3 22.Rxe3 Qc5 23.Kh1 Qxe3 24.Qxc4+ Kh8
25.fxg6+-) (19...Qxd1 20.Raxd1 Nxc4 21.Bc1+-) 20.Re2 fxe4 21.Qb3) 19.Qxd8 (19.Bxf3!?) 19...Raxd8 20.Bxf3
18...Raxd8 19.Red1 Ne5 20.Bf1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Re6 22.Rd8+ Kf7 23.Rb8 Re7 24.Bxb6 Nf3+ 25.Kh1
25.Kg2 Ne1+ 26.Kh1 Rd7 27.Bxa5 (27.Rd8? Rxd8 28.Bxd8 Nd3) 27...Nd3 28.c5!
25...Rd7 26.Rd8
26.Be2 Rd2!? 27.Rxb7+ Ke8 28.Bxf3 exf3 29.h4 Rxb2 30.c5
26...Rxd8 27.Bxd8 Ne1 28.Bb6 Bf8 29.f4?
29.Be2! Nd3 30.Bxd3 exd3 31.Be3 g5 (31...Bc5 32.Bxh6 Bxf2 33.Kg2+-) 32.Kg2+- Bd6 (32...Kg6 33.Kf1 Kh5
34.f3! f4 35.gxf4 g4 36.Kf2+-) 33.Kf1 f4 (33...Kg6 34.f3! h5 35.Ke1+-) 34.gxf4 gxf4 35.Bb6 f3 36.Ke1 Bxh2
37.Kd2 Ke6 38.Kxd3 Kf5 39.Bxa5 h5 40.Bd8 Kg4 41.a5 Bd6 42.Bb6! h4 43.a6 bxa6 44.c5 h3 (44...Bb8 45.c6 h3
46.c7+-) 45.cxd6 h2 46.d7 h1=Q 47.d8=Q+-
29...g5
29...exf3? 30.Kg1+-
30.Kg1 gxf4 31.gxf4 Bd6 32.Kf2 Nf3 33.Kg3?!
33.Be2! Nxh2 (33...Bxf4 34.Bxf3 exf3 35.h3+-) (33...Nd2 34.c5 Bxf4 35.Bxa5 Bxh2 36.Bb6) 34.Kg3 Ng4 35.Bxg4
fxg4 36.Kxg4+-
33...Nd2 34.Be2 Nb3 35.Bd1 Nc5 36.Bc2 Ke7 37.h4 Kd7 38.Bxa5 Ne6 39.Bb6 Bxf4+ 40.Kf2 Bc1 41.b4 Bb2
42.b5 Bxc3 43.Ke3 Bb4 44.a5 Bc5+ 45.Bxc5 Nxc5 46.Kf4 Ke6 47.b6 Kf6 48.Bd1 Ke6 49.Bh5 Nd3+ 50.Ke3 Nc5
51.Be8?

51.Kf4=
51...Kd6
51...Ke5! 52.Bf7 f4+ 53.Ke2 Kd4 54.Bd5 f3+ 55.Kf2 Kd3-+ (55...e3+ 56.Kxf3 (56.Kf1 e2+ 57.Kf2 Nd3+-+)
56...Kd3-+)
52.Bg6??
52.Kf4=
52...Ke6??
52...Ke5-+
53.Bh7 Ke5 54.Bg8 f4+ 55.Ke2 Kd6??
55...Kd4 56.Bd5 f3+ 57.Kf2 e3+ 58.Kxf3 Kd3-+
56.Bd5=
56...Nb3??
56...f3+ 57.Kf2 Ke5 58.Ke3 (58.Bxb7?? Kf4-+) 58...Kd6=
57.Bxb7 Nxa5 58.Bxe4 Nxc4 59.b7 Kc7 60.Kf3 1-0

5. A07
Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2673) - Bindrich, Falko (2590)
Moscow 131/5, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.O-O Nd7 5.d3 Ngf6 6.h3 Bh5 7.Qe1 e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 Bc5 10.a4 a5
10...O-O - 124/4
11.Nbd2 O-O 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.Bd2 b6 14.Nh4 Rfe8 15.Kh1 Bg6 16.Rd1 Nf8N
16...Bf816...b5!?
17.Bg5 N6d7 18.Nf5 Ne6
18...f6 19.Be3 Ne6 20.Rxd7!? Qxd7 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.Nb6 Qb7 23.Nxa8 Rxa8
19.Ncd6!?
19...Bxd6?!
19...Nxg5 20.Nxe8 Rxe8 21.Qd2 Nxe4 (21...Bxf5 22.exf5 Nxh3 23.Bxh3 (23.Qxd7 Nxf2+ 24.Kh2 Qxd7 25.Rxd7
e4) 23...Nf6) 22.Bxe4 Nf6 23.f3 (23.Qe2 Bxf5 24.Bxf5 e4 25.h4 Qe5) 23...Nh5 24.Qg2 Bxf5 25.Bxf5 e4 26.f4
g619...Reb8!?
20.Nxd6 Reb8
20...Nxg5 21.Nxe8 Rxe8 22.Qd2
21.Be7
21.Be3 Ndc5 22.f4
21...Ndc5 22.Nf5 Nb7
22...Bxf5? 23.Bd6+-
23.Qc3 Nec5 24.Bg5?!
24.Bd6 Nxd6 25.Nxd6 Rd8!? (25...f6=) 26.Qxe5 f6 27.Qd4 Ne6 28.Qd2 Nc5 29.Qf4 Ne6 30.Qd2 Nc5=
24...Re8?!
24...Nxa4 25.Qa3 Nac5 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nxg6+ hxg6 28.Be3 Rd8 29.f4
25.b3 f6 26.Be3 Rad8 27.f4 Kh8?!
27...Rxd1 28.Rxd1 exf4 29.Bxf4 Qc8 30.Qc4+ Bf7 (30...Qe6 31.Qxe6+ Nxe6 32.Be3) 31.Qd4
28.fxe5 fxe5 29.Qc4 Bh5 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Bg5 Rb8?
31...Rf8 32.Be7 Rxf5 33.Rxf5 Qxe7 34.Rxh5 g6 35.Rh4 Kg7 Rh4
32.Nxg7!+- Nd6

32...Qxg7 33.Bf6+-32...Kxg7 33.Bf6+ Kg6 (33...Kh6 34.Qc3+-) 34.g4 Bxg4 35.Bxe5! Qxe5 36.Qf7+ Kg5 37.hxg4+-
33.Ne8! Bf7
33...Nxc4?? 34.Rf8#
34.Nxc7 Bxc4 35.bxc4 Rc8 36.Bf6+ Kg8 37.Bxe5 Nxc4 38.Bf4 Nxa4 39.h4 1-0

6. !N A11
 Draskovic, Luka (2458) - Tuna, Alp (2285)
Beograd 131/6, 2017

1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Bg4 4.Qb3! Qc7

4...Qb6 5.Qxb6 axb6 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7.gxf3 cxd5 b6
5.cxd5
5.Ne5 - 103/3
5...Bxf3?!
5...cxd5
6.gxf3 cxd5 7.Bb5+ Nd7

8.Qxd5!
8.Nc3 e6
8...Qxc1+ 9.Ke2 Qc7 10.Rc1 Qd6 11.Qxb7 Rd8 12.Rc7!N
12.Qxa7
12...Nf6 13.Nc3 Qb6?!
13...a6 14.Ba4 (14.Ne4!? Qxc7 (14...Nxe4 15.Rxd7 axb5 (15...Rxd7 16.Qc8#) 16.Rxd6 Nxd6 17.Qc6+ Rd7 18.a4+-)
15.Qxc7 axb5 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Rg1) 14...e6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.fxe4 Be7 17.e5 Qxe5 18.Bxd7+ Kf8 19.d4
14.Qxa7 Qxa7 15.Rxa7 Rb8
15...e6 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.fxe4 Bd6 18.d4 f6 19.f4 e5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.Rd1+-
16.a4 Kd8
17.Ne4! e6
17...g6 18.Nxf6 Nxf6 19.Ra3!+-
18.Rc1 Rc8 19.Rxc8+
19.Rc3!? Rxc3 20.dxc3+-
19...Kxc8 20.Nxf6 Nxf6 21.a5
21.Rxf7+-
21...Rg8?
21...Nd5
22.a6+- Bc5
22...Nd5 23.Bd7+ Kb8 24.Rb7+ Ka8 25.Bc6+-
23.Rxf7 Kb8 24.d4 Ba7 25.Rb7+ Ka8 26.Bc6 Rc8 27.Rb6+ 1-0

7. A11
Van Wely, Loek (2695) - So, Wesley (2808)
Wijk aan Zee 131/7, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.Bg2 c6 4.c4 e6 5.O-O Nf6 6.d3 Bd6 7.Nc3
7.Qb3 Qb6 8.Be3 Qxb3 9.axb3 - 118/2
7...O-O 8.Qb3 Qb6 9.cxd5N
9.Be3 Qxb3 10.axb3 a6 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.h3 Bf5 13.g4 Bg6 14.f4 h6 15.Ra4
9...Qxb3 10.axb3 exd5 11.Be3 a6 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nbd7 14.d4 Rfe8 15.Kg2 g6 16.Bh6 Ne4 17.Rad1 f5 18.h4
Ndf6 19.e3 a5!? 20.Rh1 Ra6 21.Ra1 Rea8
21...Nd2!? 22.Bd1=
22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Bxe4 dxe4
23...fxe4 24.h5 Rb6 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.Bg5 Bf8 (26...Rxb3 27.Rh6 Kf7 28.Rh7+ Ke6 29.Rg7) 27.Bf6 Bg7 28.Bxg7
Kxg7 29.Ra3 Rb4 Ra6-b6
24.d5 c5

24...cxd5 25.Rhd1=
25.h5! Rb6 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Bg5 Be5
27...Rxb3 28.Bf6
28.Rad1 Rxb3 29.d6! Rd3 30.d7
30.Rxd3 exd3 31.d7 Bxb2-+ (31...Bc7 32.Rc1 b6 33.Rc3! Bd8 34.Bxd8 Rxd8 35.Rxd3 Kf7=)
30...Bc7
31.b3?
31.Rc1! b6 32.Rh6! Rxd7 33.Rxg6+ Rg7 34.Rc6!=
31...b5
31...Bd8! 32.Bf4 (32.Bxd8 Rxd8-+) 32...b6
32.Be7
32.Rc1!
32...c4 33.bxc4 bxc4
33...b4
34.Rc1 Rxd7 35.Ba3 Be5 36.Rxc4 a4 37.Rc6 Rd3 38.Bc5 a3 39.Rxg6+
39.Bxa3 Rdxa3 40.Rxg6+ Kf7 41.Rg5! Ke6 42.Rh6+ (42.Rhh5 Rf8 43.g4!) 42...Bf6 43.g4! fxg4 44.Rxg4
39...Kf7 40.Rg5?
40.Rc6! a2 41.Rh7+ Kg8 42.Rb7 Bd6! 43.Bxd6 Rxd6 44.Rxd6 a1=Q 45.Rg6+ Kf8 46.Rb5
40...a2 41.Rxf5+ Ke6 42.Rxe5+ Kxe5 43.Bd4+ Rxd4 44.exd4+ Kxd4 45.Ra1 Kc3 0-1

8. A12
Hou, Yifan (2651) - Muzychuk, Mariya (2546)
Gibraltar 131/8, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Bg4 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Be2 e6 7.h3
7.O-O - 112/2
7...Bh5 8.Nc3 Bd6 9.d3 h6
10.a3N
10.O-O
10...O-O 11.g4 Bg6 12.Rg1 e5
12...Ne5!? 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.d4 (14.f4 Bd6) 14...Bh2 15.Rg2 Bc7
13.h4 dxc4
13...d4 14.exd4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Ne5 16.Nf5 Re8 17.Kf1 Bxf5 (17...h5 18.Nxg7 Kxg7 19.gxh5 Qc8 (19...Nxh5 20.Bxh5
Qxh4 21.Bxg6 Qh3+ 22.Ke2! Nxg6+ 23.Ne4+ Kf8 24.Kd2) 20.hxg6 Qh3+ 21.Rg2 Qh1+ 22.Rg1 Qh3+=) 18.gxf5
Bc5
14.dxc4 Nc5 15.g5
15.b4 Ne6 16.g5 hxg5 17.hxg5 Nh7 18.Nh4 Nhxg5 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.c5 Bc7 21.Qb3
15...e4! 16.Nd2 hxg5 17.hxg5 Nh7?
17...Ne8 18.b4 Nd3+ 19.Bxd3 exd3 20.c5 Be7 21.Qg417...Nfd7! 18.Ndxe4 Bh2 19.Rh1 Be5
18.Ndxe4! Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Be7
19...Bxe4 20.Qd4+-19...Bh2 20.Rg4 Bxe4 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 22.Rxe4 Nxg5 23.Re7
20.Bd3
20.Qc2!?
20...Bxg5
20...Nxg5 21.Nxg5 Bxg5 22.Bxg6 fxg6 23.Qxd8 Bxd8 24.Rxg6
21.Qc2!+- Qe7
21...Bxe4 22.Bxe4 f5 23.Bd3+- (23.Bxf5?? Qa5+-+)
22.Nxg5 Nxg5 23.Bxg6 Nf3+ 24.Ke2 Nxg1+ 25.Rxg1 fxg6 26.Qxg6 Rf7 27.Rh1 Qe8 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rh4 Qc8
30.Re4 1-0

9. A12
Rapport, Richard (2702) - Carlsen, Magnus (2840)
Wijk aan Zee 131/9, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 Bf5 3.Bb2 e6 4.d3 h6 5.Nbd2 Nf6 6.c4 c6 7.g3 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Nbd7 10.a3 a5 11.Qb1 Bh7
12.b4
12.Bc3 - 12/33
12...axb4 13.axb4
13...Qb6
13...dxc4 14.Nxc4 Nd5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Bd4! Nxb4 17.Qb2 Nf6 18.Ra1
14.Bc3 Rxa1 15.Qxa1 Bxb4 16.Bxb4 Qxb4 17.Rb1 Qd6 18.Rxb7 e5N
18...c5!? 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bh3 g5 21.Qa7 Rd8= (21...g4? 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Rxd7+-)18...Rb8
19.d4
19.cxd5!? cxd5 20.Bh3 Nc5 21.Rb5 e4 22.dxe4 Ncxe4 23.Nb3
19...exd4 20.Nxd4 c5 21.N4b3 d4!?
21...dxc4 22.Nxc4 Qe6 23.Ne3 Be4 24.Bxe4 Nxe4=
22.Bh3
22...d3?
22...Rb8 23.Rxb8+ (23.Rb5 Re8 24.Qa5 Rxe2 25.Bxd7 Qxd7 26.Rb8+ Re8 27.Nxc5 Qe7) (23.Qa7 Rxb7 24.Qxb7

24...g5! 25.Bxd7 Nxd7 26.Ne4 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Qb8=) 23...Qxb8 24.Qa5 Qe5 25.Qd8+ Nf8 26.Bf1 Bc2 27.Nf3
(27.Qc8 Nd7) 27...Qh5 28.Na5 Be4 Sokolov,Ivan
23.e3!
23.exd3?! Qxd3=23.e4!?
23...Ne5
23...g5! 24.Ra7 g4 25.Ra6 Qe7 26.Bg2
24.Bg2!
24.f4? Nf3+! 25.Nxf3 Be4
24...Rc8 25.f4 Neg4
25...Nc6 26.e4
26.e4 Re8!? 27.e5 Nxe5 28.fxe5 Rxe5

29.Rb6! Qe7
29...Qc7 30.Rc6 Qb8 31.Rxc5+-
30.Rb8+ Ne8
31.Bc6! Re1+ 32.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 33.Nf1 1-0

10. A13
Sethuraman, SP. (2637) - Dragnev, Valentin (2492)
Gibraltar 131/10, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.Bg2 Bd6?!

4...a6 - 128/5
5.Na3 Bxa3N
5...c55...e5
6.bxa3 Nc6 7.Bb2 Nf6 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Ng5
9.Qxc4
9...Re8
9...h6?? 10.Bxf6!+-9...e5!? 10.f4 h6 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 hxg5
10.f4 h6 11.Nf3 Qd5?
11...e5!? 12.fxe5 (12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Ng4 14.Bb2 Qe7 15.O-O (15.Bf3? Qc5) 15...Qxe2 16.Qc3 Nf6)
12...Ng4 13.Qe4 Ngxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Qxe4 17.Bxe4 Kxg7 18.Bd5 Be6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6
20.Rc1=
12.Bxf6! gxf6

13.Ng5! Qd7
13...Qxg2?? 14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qxf7#13...Qf5 14.Be4 Nd4 (14...Qc5 15.Bxc6+-) 15.Qxc4 Qb5 16.Qxd4 e5 (16...fxg5
17.Qf6+-) 17.Qc3 hxg5 18.fxg5 f5 19.Rb1 Qa6 20.Bc2
14.Qh7+ Kf8 15.Qxh6+ Ke7 16.Ne4 Qd4 17.Rc1
17.Rb1+-
17...Rg8 18.e3 Qb2 19.Rc3
19.O-O Rg6 20.Qh4+-
19...Rg6 20.Qh5 Qb6
20...Qxa2 21.Qc5+ Ke8 22.Rc1 Qb3 (22...Bd7 23.Nc3 Qb2 24.Rb1 Qc2 25.Be4+-) 23.O-O f5 24.Nf6+ Rxf6 25.Bxc6+
Bd7 26.Bxd7+ Kxd7 27.Rxc4+-
21.Rxc4 Bd7 22.O-O Rag8 23.Rfc1 Qb2 24.Qc5+
24.Qc5+ Ke8 25.R4c2 Qb6 26.Qc3 Ke7 27.Nc5+-1-0

11. A20
Carneiro, Vitor Roberto (2426) - Fier, Alexandr (2581)
Brasil (ch) 131/11, 2017

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bg2 h6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.f3 exf3 8.Nxf3 Nf6 9.O-O Be7 10.Nh4 O-O 11.Nf5 Bb4?
N

11...Nc6
12.Nxh6+! gxh6 13.Rxf6! Bxc3
13...Qxf6 14.Nxd5 Qg7 (14...Qd6? 15.Bf4) 15.Nxb4 Nc6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bf4
14.Rxh6+- Bb4 15.e4!?
15.Qd3 f5 16.Qf3 Rf6 17.Qh5 Rxh6 18.Bxh6+-
15...dxe4 16.Bxe4 Re8
16...Be7 17.Bxb7!? Bf6 (17...Bxb7? 18.Qg4++-) 18.Bxa8 Qxd4+ 19.Qxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Kg2+-
17.Rh8+! Kg7
17...Kxh8 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Bh6+ Ke7 21.Bg5++-
18.Rh7+ Kg8

19.Rh8+?
19.Qf3! Be6 20.d5! (20.Be3+-) 20...f5 21.Qh5 Qf6 22.dxe6 Re7 23.Bxf5+-1/2-1/2

12. A20
Adams, Michael (2751) - Sethuraman, SP. (2637)
Gibraltar 131/12, 2017

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.Qb3
8.Nxd5? Qa5+-+
8...Bd6
8...h6 - 117/6
9.Nh3 h6 10.Bf4 Nb6 11.Be5
11...Ng4N
11...g5!? 12.f4!? g4 13.Nf2 O-O 14.O-O11...Nh5!?
12.Bxg7
12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Nf4 Nf6 14.Nb5 Qe7 15.Rc1 O-O 16.Nc7 Rb8 17.Nfxd5 Nbxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Qb4+
20.Rc3 Qxb2 21.Qb3
12...Rg8 13.Be5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Rd1 Be6
15...Bd7 16.O-O (16.Nxd5? Ba4) 16...Rc8 17.Nxd5 Ba4 18.Qe3 Bxd1 19.Rxd1 Nxd5 20.Qxe4
16.Nxe4 Qc8 17.Nf4 dxe4
17...Bxf4 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.Nxg8+ Qxg8 20.O-O
18.Qb5+ Nd7 19.Rxd7?
19.Nxe6! fxe6 20.Rxd7 Qxd7 21.Qxe5 Qd5 22.Qc3
19...Qxd7?
19...Bxf4!!

20.Rxb7+ (20.Rc7+ Bd7 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8-+) (20.Rd1+ Bd7 21.Qb4 Bc6) 20...Bd7! 21.Qxd7+ Qxd7 22.Rxd7 Kxd7
23.Bxe4 Bc1 24.Bxa8 Rxa8
20.Qxe5 O-O-O 21.O-O Qc7 22.Qxe4 Kb8 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6 h5 25.Qf6 Rdf8 26.Qh4 Rf5
26...Rh8 27.Bf3 Rd8 28.Kg2
27.Bf3 Rd8 28.Kg2 Rc5 29.b4 Rc4 30.Qxh5 Rxb4 31.Qg5 Qd6 32.Rc1 a6 33.h4+- Rb5 34.Qg7 Rd7 35.Qh8+ Rd8
36.Qc3 a5 37.h5 a4 38.h6
38.Qg7 Rd7 39.Qg4 a3 40.h6+-
38...Qxh6 39.Qc7+ Ka7 40.Rc4! Rd6 41.Rxa4+ Ra6 42.Rh4 Qf8 43.a4 Rb4 44.Rf4! 1-0

13. A21
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767) - Carlsen, Magnus (2840)
Wijk aan Zee 131/13, 2017

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.Nf3 c6 5.Nc3 d6 6.e3 Qe7 7.d4 exd4 8.Nxd4 Nf6 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O d5
10...Rd8 - 92/(7)
11.cxd5 cxd5

12.Nb3N
12.b3
12...Bb4 13.Nxd5
13.Bd2 Nc6 14.a3 Bd6 15.Nb5 Bb8
13...Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Rd8 15.Qh5 Nc6 16.a3
16.Rd1!? Rxd1+ 17.Bxd1 Be6 18.e4
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 Bh2! 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Rb1 Rab8
22...Qb3!? 23.e4 Qd3 24.Qxd3 Rxd3 25.Be3 Rb8 26.Bxa7 Rxb2 27.Bc5 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 Rc3 29.Bb4 Rc2 c5-c4
23.b4 c5 24.Bb2
24.b5?! c4
24...Qa2 25.Rfe1 Bxb2 26.Qxb2 Qxb2 27.Rxb2 a5!?
27...cxb4 28.axb4 Rd5 29.Ra2 Rxb4 30.Rxa7
28.Kf1
28.b5 a4 29.Ra1 Rd3 30.Kf1 Rb3 31.Rxb3 axb3 32.Ke2 b2 (32...Rxb5 33.Kd3 b2 34.Rb1 - 32...b2) 33.Rb1 Rxb5
34.Kd3 Rb3+ 35.Kc4 Rxa3 36.Rxb2 Ra5=1/2-1/2

14. A31
Adhiban, Baskaran (2682) - Ramirez, Alejandro (2549)
Moscow 131/14, 2017

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7 5.f3 e6

5...Nf6 - 41/39
6.e4 Nc6 7.Nc3N
7.Be3
7...Qb8!? 8.Be3 Bc5 9.Qd2 Nge7 10.O-O-O!?
10.Be2 O-O 11.O-O Rd8!? 12.Nc2 d5
10...O-O 11.Ndb5?!

11.Nxc6 Nxc6 (11...Bxc6 12.Bxc5 bxc5 13.Qg5) 12.Bxc5 bxc5 13.Qd6

11...d6! 12.Nxd6
12.Na4 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 Rd8 d5
12...Rd8 13.Bxc5 bxc5 14.Qf4 f6! 15.Qg3 a6 16.Be2 Nd4 17.e5 fxe5 18.Nxb7 Nef5! 19.Qf2 Qxb7 20.Bd3 Rab8
21.Rhe1 Qc7 22.g4?!
22.Kb1 Rb7 (22...Rb4?! 23.Bxf5! Nxf5 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Rxe5) 23.Be4 Rbb8=
22...Nd6 23.Re3?!
23.Rxe5? Nxc4-+
23...Rb4 24.Qh4 h6 25.Rxe5? Rdb8!-+
25...Nxf3? 26.Rxc5!25...Nxc4 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Re3 Rb8
26.Rxe6
26.b3 Qa5-+
26...Rxb2 27.Nd5 Qa5 28.Qh5
28.Re7 Rb1+! (28...Rc2+!-+) 29.Bxb1 Qa3+ 30.Kd2 Nxc4+ 31.Ke1 Nxf3+-+
28...Nxe6
28...Rb1+ 29.Bxb1 Qa3+ 30.Kd2 Nxf3+ 31.Ke2 Rb2+ 32.Kf1 Nxh2+-+
29.Ne7+ Kf8 30.Ng6+ Kf7 31.Qe5 Qa3 32.Nh8+ Kg8 33.Qxe6+ Kxh8 0-1

15. A31
Iordachescu, Viorel (2600) - Bida, Mihai Eugen (2456)
Romania 131/15, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.f3 Bb7 6.e4 e6 7.Nc3 Bc5
7...Nc6 8.Be3 Bc5 (8...Qc7 9.Be2 a6 10.Qd2 Be7 11.Nb3) (8...Bb4 9.Qc2!? O-O 10.O-O-O Qc7 11.Ndb5 Qb8
12.Qd2 d6 13.Bg5) 9.Qd2 O-O 10.O-O-O Qb8 11.Be2 Rd8 12.g4!? (12.Bf4 - 57/46) 12...Bb4 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 d5
15.exd5 Nxd4 16.Rxd4 exd5 17.Bf4 Qc8 18.Rhd17...Bb4 8.Qb3 (8.Nb5 O-O 9.Nd6 Ba6 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Ne8
12.Nb5 Bxb5 13.cxb5 d5 14.Be2 Nd7) (8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 Qb8 11.a3 Bd6 12.g3 Bxg3 13.hxg3
Qxg3+=) 8...Na6 (8...Bc5 9.Be3 O-O!? 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Bxc5 bxc5 12.Qxb7 Nc6 13.O-O-O Rb8 14.Qa6 Qc7)
9.Bf4 O-O 10.O-O-O7...Be7!? 8.e5 (8.Be2 O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.O-O Qb8 (10...d5 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e5)
(10...Rc8 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qd2 Qc7 13.Bf4) 11.Kh1 Rd8 12.Qe1 (12.Qd2 d5) 12...Bd6 13.Ndb5 Bc5 14.Bg5 Be7
15.f4 a6) 8...Nh5 9.Be3 Bg5! (9...O-O 10.Qe2 d6 11.O-O-O) 10.Qd2 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 Qh4+ 12.Kd1 O-O f6;
7...d6 - 99/(21)
8.Nb3
8.Nc2 O-O 9.Be3 d5=8.a3 Nc6 9.Be3 (9.Nb3 Be7 10.f4 e5) 9...O-O 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Bxc5 bxc5 12.Qd6
Qb68.Be3 O-O 9.Qd2 (9.Be2 d5! 10.e5 Ne8 11.cxd5 exd5 12.f4 Nc6 13.Bf3 Nc7) 9...d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.O-O-O
Qc8 (11...Nc6 12.Nf5 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 Bc8 14.cxd5 Bxf5 15.dxc6 Qc7 16.g4) 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Nf5 Re8 14.cxd5
Nxd5! 15.Nxd5 Re5 16.Nc7 Qxc7 17.Qc2 Rc8 18.Bf4 g6! 19.Nh6+ Kg7 20.Kb1 Be3 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Bxe5+ Nxe5
23.Ng4 Nxg4 24.fxg4 Be4+ 25.Bd3 (25.Ka1 Bc2 26.Rd6 Be4=) 25...Bxg2 26.Rhe1 Bf4=
8...Bb4 9.Be2
9.Bf4 Qe7 (9...O-O 10.Bd6) 10.Be2 Bxc3+ (10...d5 11.exd5 Nh5 12.Qd2 Nxf4 13.Qxf4 O-O (13...exd5 14.O-O Bd6
15.Qd2 dxc4 16.Rad1) 14.Qe3 Na6 15.dxe6 Nc5 16.O-O-O Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Nxe6 18.g3) 11.bxc3 e5 12.Be3 d6
13.O-O Nbd7 14.a4 Nc5
9...Qc7N
9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 O-O 11.Ba39...O-O 10.O-O Nc6 11.Bg5 h6 (11...Be7 12.Bf4 d6 13.Qd2) 12.Bh4 (12.Bf4 d5)
12...Ne5!? (12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.a4 Ne5 15.Nd4) 13.Rc1 (13.Nb5 Ng6 14.Bf2 d5) (13.Qd4 Ng6 14.Bf2 Qb8
15.Rfd1 d5 16.exd5 Bd6) 13...Ng6 14.Bf2 Qb8 (14...Nf4 15.Re1 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Ba6 17.Red1 d5 18.Nb5) 15.g3
Rd8 16.Bd4 Be7
10.Bg5!?
10.Bd2 a6 11.Na4 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Bc6 13.Nc3 O-O 14.Rc1
10...Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Ba6
11...h6 12.Bh4 e5!? (12...Nh5 13.Nd4 Ba6 14.Nb5 Bxb5 15.cxb5 Qxc3+ 16.Kf1 O-O 17.Rc1 Qb4 18.Rb1 Qc3
(18...Qc5 19.Qd2) 19.Be7 Rc8 (19...Re8 20.Rb3) 20.Kf2 d5 21.Rc1 Qxc1 22.Qxc1 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Nd7 24.exd5 exd5
25.Rc7 Nf8 26.g3) 13.Bxf6 (13.O-O Nh5! 14.c5 bxc5 15.Bc4 Nc6 16.f4 Nxf4 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 18.Rxf4+ exf4
19.Qd5+ Kf8 20.Qf5+ Kg8=) 13...gxf6 14.c5 (14.O-O Na6 Nc5) 14...Na6! (14...bxc5 15.O-O c4 16.Nd2) 15.cxb6
axb6 16.O-O Nc5 17.Qd2 Ke7 18.Rfd1 h5
12.O-O Bxc4 13.Bxc4 Qxc4 14.Qd6 h6
14...Nc6!? 15.Rfd1 O-O-O 16.Rab1 Ne8 17.Qa3 f6 18.Be3 (18.Bf4 d6 19.Nd4 Kb7 20.Qb2 Nc7) 18...Nc7 19.Nd2
(19.Bf2 d5! 20.Nd4 Kb7) 19...Qa6 20.Qd6 Qe2 21.Re1 Nb5 22.Qg3 Qd3
15.Bxf6
15.Bh4 Nc6 16.Rfd1 (16.Rab1 Ne7! 17.Nd4 Qc5=) 16...O-O-O 17.Rab1 g5 18.Bf2 (18.Bg3 Ne8 19.Qa3 d6 20.Nd4
Rd7 21.Bf2 g4) 18...Rhg8 (18...Ne8 19.Qa3 Nc7 (19...d6? 20.Nd2+-) 20.Nd4! Kb7 21.Bg3 d6 22.Bxd6 Nxd4
23.Rxd4 Qe2 24.c4) 19.Nd4 Qa4 20.Nb5 Ne8 21.Qg3
15...gxf6 16.Rfd1 Rg8 17.Kh1 Rg6
17...Nc6!? 18.Qxd7+ Kf8 19.Qc7 Ne5 20.Qxc4 Nxc4 21.Rd7 Ne3 22.g3 Rc8
18.Rd2

18...Qb5?!
18...Qc8 19.c4 (19.Rad1 Nc6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Kf8) 19...Nc6 20.c5 Qd8 21.Rad118...Qc6 19.Qd3 (19.Qa3
Qc7 20.Nd4 Qc5 21.Qb2 (21.Qxc5 bxc5 22.Nb5 Kd8 23.Rb1 Nc6 24.Rbd1 Nb8 25.g3 a6 26.Nd6 Ke7 27.f4 Rg8=
Ra7) 21...Nc6 22.Nb5 Kf8 23.Rxd7 Ne5 24.Rc7 Nd3 (24...Qe3!?) 25.Rxc5 Nxb2 26.Rc7 a6 27.Nd6 Rd8 28.Rc6 b5
29.Rxa6 f5 30.e5 Nd3=) 19...Qc8! (19...Kf8 20.Rad1) (19...Qc7 20.Nd4) 20.f4 Nc6 21.c4 Qc7 22.c5 Rd8
19.Rad1 Qc6 20.Qa3
20.Qd3! Kf8 (20...Qc8 21.f4 Nc6 (21...Kf8 22.f5) 22.Qb5! Qc7 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Rxd7 Kxd7 25.Nd4 Rc8 26.Qa4
a6 27.f5) 21.f4 Kg8 22.f5 (22.Nd4!? Qa4 23.Ne2 f5) 22...Rg5 23.Nd4 Qc5 24.Qf3 Qe5 25.Qe2
20...Qc7 21.Nd4
21.c4 Nc6 22.c5 Rd8=21.Qa4 Rg8 22.Qd4 Rg6 23.c4 Nc6! 24.Qxd7+ Qxd7 25.Rxd7 Rc8 26.Rb7 f5 27.Rdd7 fxe4
28.Rxf7 exf3 29.Rxf3 Ne5=
21...Rg5?

21...Qc5 22.Qb2 (22.Qxc5 bxc5 23.Nb3 (23.Nb5 Kd8 24.Nd6 Ke7 25.f4 Rg8) 23...c4 24.Na5 (24.Nc5 Rg5 25.Nxd7
Nxd7 26.Rxd7 Ra5 27.Rb7 Rxa2 28.h4 Rd8=) 24...Rg5 25.Nxc4 (25.Nb7 Ke7 26.f4 Rb5 27.Nd6 Rc5=) 25...Rc5
26.Ne3 Ke7 27.c4 Rc7=) 22...Kf8 23.Nb3 (23.Nb5 Kg8 24.f4 Na6 25.Rxd7 Qh5) 23...Qe5 24.Qa3+ Kg7 25.Qe7 f5
26.exf5 Qxf5 27.Qd8 Kh7 Rg8
22.c4! Qc5
22...Qe5 23.Nb5+-22...Qxc4 23.Rc2 Qa6 24.Qe3 Ke7 25.Rcd2 f4
23.Qc3 a6
23...Qe5 24.Qe3 Qc5 25.f4 Rg8 26.Qe2 Nc6 27.Nb5 O-O-O 28.Nd6+ Kb8 29.Nxf7 Rdf8 30.Rxd7+-
24.f4 Rg8 25.Nb3
25.f5 Ra7 26.fxe6 dxe6 27.Nxe6+-
25...Qe7
25...Qc6 26.Qxf6 Qxe4 27.c5 b5 28.c6!+-
26.e5
26.Qe3 Nc6 27.Qxb6 Rb8 28.Qc7 Qd8 29.Rxd7+-
26...b5
26...f5 27.c5 b5 28.c6 Nxc6 29.Nc5+-
27.Na5!?
27.cxb5+-
27...Ra7
27...fxe5 28.c5 Kf8 29.Qxe5+-
28.f5+- Rc7 29.Rd6
29.exf6 Qc5 30.Qf3 Qxf5 31.Qa8+-
29...Kf8
29...fxe5 30.Rb6 Rc8 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.Nb7
30.fxe6 Nc6 31.Nxc6 1-0

16. A33
Adams, Michael (2751) - Hou, Yifan (2651)
Gibraltar 131/16, 2017

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.e4 O-O 9.Be2 b6 10.O-O Bb7 11.Be3 d6
12.f4 Rc8 13.Rc1 Nb8
13...Qc7!? 14.Nd5 exd5 15.cxd5 Qb8 e4
14.Qd3 a6N
14...Nbd7 15.Bf3 - 91/(22)
15.Nd4 Nc6
15...Nbd7 16.b4 (16.Qb1!?) 16...Qc7 17.g4
16.b4
16.Rfd1 Na5 17.e5
16...Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Nd7
17...e5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Bxe5 Qxd3 20.Bxd3 Ng4 21.Bf4 Bf6 22.Nd5 Bd4+ 23.Kh1 Bxd5 24.exd5 Nf2+ 25.Rxf2 Bxf2
26.g3
18.Qg3
18.Rfd1
18...Bf6
18...e5 19.fxe5 (19.Be3) 19...Nxe5 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Rfd1
19.Rfd1
19.Bxf6! Nxf6 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 Qd4+ 22.Rf2 Ne4 23.Nxe4 Qxe4 24.Rd1! (24.Bf3? Qe3) 24...Rfd8 25.Rd6
19...Qc7
19...e5! 20.Be3 (20.fxe5 Bxe5) 20...exf4 21.Bxf4 Be5 22.Nd5 (22.Bg4? Rxc4) 22...Bxd5 (22...Re8 23.Bg4 Bxd5
24.Rxd5 Rc6 25.Rcd1) 23.Rxd5 Qe7 (23...Nf6?? 24.Bxe5+-) 24.Bg4 Rc6! 25.Bxd7 Bxf4 26.Qxf4 Qxd7
20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5 Nd7 23.Rd6 f6

24.exf6
24.Bg4! f5 (24...Nxe5? 25.Bxe6+ Kh8 26.Bxc8) 25.Bh3! (25.Be2 f4) 25...Rfe8 26.Ne2! Be4 27.Nf4 Nf8 28.Qe3
Rb8 29.Bg4! (29.g3!?)
24...Rxf6 25.Bd3 Rcf8
25...e5! 26.Bxh7+ Kxh7 27.Qh3+ (27.Qd3+?! e4 28.Nxe4 (28.Qh3+ Rh6) 28...Bxe4 29.Qxe4+ Kh8) 27...Kg8
28.Rxd7 Qxc4 29.Qg3 (29.Rxb7? Qd4+ 30.Kh1 Rcf8! (30...Rxc3 31.Rb8+ Kf7 32.Qh5+ Ke6) 31.g3 Qd3!-+) 29...Rf7
30.Rxf7 Qxf7 31.Qxe5 Qg6
26.Rd1 g6
26...e5?! 27.c5! (27.Rxd7 Qxd7 28.Bxh7+ Kxh7 29.Rxd7 Rf1#) (27.Bxh7+ Kxh7 28.Qh3+ Kg8 29.Qxd7 Qxc4)
27...Rxd6 (27...bxc5? 28.Bc4++-) 28.cxd6
27.Be2 Nc5
27...Rf2 28.Rxd7! (28.Bf1!? R2f5! 29.Rxe6 Ne5!) 28...Qxg3 29.hxg3 Rxg2+ 30.Kh1 Ba8 31.Ra7 Rxg3+ (31...Bc6
32.b5) 32.Kh2 Rxc3 33.Rdd7
28.Qe3
28.Rd8! Qxg3 29.hxg3 Ne4 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Rd628.bxc5!? Qxc5+ 29.Kh1 Rf2 30.Rg1 Bxg2+
31.Rxg2 Rf1+ 32.Bxf1 Rxf1+ 33.Rg1 Rxg1+ 34.Qxg1 Qxd6
28...Rf2 29.Qxf2 Rxf2 30.Kxf2 Kg7?
30...Bd5! 31.Nxd5 exd5 32.R6xd5 Ne4+ 33.Ke3 Nf6
31.bxc5
31.Kf1!+-
31...Qxc5+ 32.R1d4?

32.Kf1 Qf5+ 33.Kg1 Qc5+ 34.Kh1+-

32...Bd5!
32...e5 33.Na4+-
33.Rd7+ Kh6 34.Ke3 Bc6
34...e5 35.Rxd5 exd4+
35.Ne4
35.Kd3!?
35...Qxa3+ 36.Kf2 Qf8+ 37.Bf3 Bxd7
37...e5? 38.g4!+-
38.Rxd7 Qc8 39.Ra7 Qxc4 40.h4 Qd4+
40...g5!? 41.hxg5+ Kg6=
41.Kg3 Qe5+ 42.Kh3 Qf5+ 43.Kg3 Qe5+ 44.Kh3 Qf5+ 45.Kh2
45.Kg3=
45...Qf4+ 46.g3 Qxf3 47.Rxh7+ Kxh7 48.Ng5+ Kg7 49.Nxf3 a5
49...b5? 50.Nd4 Kf6 51.g4 b4 52.Nb3+-
50.g4
50...a4?
50...Kf6! 51.Kg3 (51.Ne1 b5 52.Nc2 b4 53.Kg3 b3 54.Na3 a4 55.Kf3 Ke5 56.Ke3 Kd5=) 51...a4 52.Nd4 a3 53.Nc2
a2 54.Kf3 Ke5 (54...e5 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.Na1 b5 57.Nb3 b4 58.Na1 Kd6=) 55.Ke3 b5 56.Na1 b4 57.Nb3 Kd5 58.Kd3
e5=
51.Nd4! a3
51...Kf6 52.Nb5! Ke5 (52...e5 53.Kg3 Ke6 54.Kf3 Kd5 (54...Kf6 55.Ke4 Ke6 56.g5+-) 55.Nc3++-) 53.Kg3 Kd5
54.h5 gxh5 55.g5 Ke5 56.Kh4+-
52.Nxe6+! Kf6 53.Nd4 Ke5 54.Nc2
54.Nb3+-
54...Kf4
54...a2 55.Kg3 (55.g5+-) 55...b5 56.g5 b4 57.Na1 Kd4 (57...Kf5 58.Nb3 Ke4 59.h5) 58.h5 Kc3 59.h6 Kb2 60.h7
Kxa1 61.h8=Q+ Kb1 62.Qh1+ Kb2 63.Qg2+ Ka3 64.Qf3+ b3 65.Qc3+-
55.Kh3!
55.g5? Kg4=
55...a2
56.g5! b5
56...Ke4 57.h5+-
57.Na1 b4 58.Nb3 Ke5
58...Kf5 59.Kg3! Ke5 60.h5 gxh5 61.Kh4+-
59.h5 gxh5 60.Kh4 Kd5 61.g6 Kc4 62.Na1
62.g7 Kxb3 63.g8=Q+ Kb2 64.Qg2+ Kb3 65.Qd5+ Kb2 66.Qd4+ Ka3 67.Qa1 b3 68.Qc3+-
62...Kc3 63.g7 Kb2 64.g8=Q Kxa1 65.Qc4 Kb2
65...b3 66.Qc1# (66.Qxb3??)
66.Qxb4+ Kc2 67.Qa3 Kb1 68.Qb3+ Ka1 69.Kg5 h4 70.Qc2 h3 71.Qc1# 1-0

17.* A34
Eljanov, Pavel (2755) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2766)
Wijk aan Zee 131/17, 2017

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 e6 6.Bc4

6.Nxd5 exd5 7.b4 c4 8.Bb2 Bxb4 9.Bxg7 Rg8 10.Be5N (10.Bb2 - 125/14) 10...Nc6 11.Bg3 Bf5 12.Be2 Be7 13.O-O h5
14.d3 h4 15.Bf4 d4 16.exd4 Nxd4 (16...Bh3 17.g3 Bxf1 18.Bxf1 Nxd4 19.Rb1) 17.dxc4 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Bd3
19.Qe5 Bxf1 20.Rxf1 Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Harikrishna,P (2766)/Wijk aan Zee 131/(7) 2017
6...Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.Qe2N
8.d4 cxd4 9.exd4 O-O 10.Re1 - D 41
8...O-O
9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Bb5
10.Bb3 e5 11.d4 (11.d3!?) 11...cxd4 12.exd4 exd4 13.Be3 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bg5=
10...Bd7 11.d4 cxd4 12.exd4 Nb4! d5 13.Bxd7 Qxd7 14.Ne5 Qe8 15.a3 N4d5 16.Rd3!?
16.Qg4 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Rc8 (17...Qa4!?) 18.Bh6 Bf6
16...f5
16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 f6 18.Nf3 Qd7
17.Bd2 Bf6 18.Re1 Rc8 19.Rg3 Qe7 20.Bh6 Kh8
20...Nxc3 21.bxc3 Qxa3 22.Nd3
21.Bc1 Kg8 22.Bh6 Kh8 23.Bc1 Kg8
24.Rh3!?
24.Bh6=
24...Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Rc6 26.Qe2
26.Nxd5?! Nxd5 27.Qxd5? exd5 28.Rxe7 Rxc1+ 29.Re1 Rxe1#26.Rg3 Qf6 27.Qe2 a6 (27...Qxd4?! 28.Nb5 Qe4
29.Qd2 Qa4 30.Nd4)
26...Rfc8 27.Bd2 Nxc3 28.bxc3 Nd5
28...Qxa3? 29.Qh5 h6 30.Bxh6+-
29.a4 Qf7
29...Nxc3 30.Bxc3 Rxc3 31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.d5 e5 33.Rd1 Rc5 34.d6 Qd7 35.a5 a6 (35...Rxa5? 36.Qc4+ Kf8 37.Qc7+-)
36.Qe3 Rb5 (36...Rxa5? 37.Qb6+-) 37.Qc3 Kf7 38.Qc4+ Kg6 39.Qc3=29...Qd7!?
30.Rg3 Nxc3 31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.Bxc3 Rxc3 33.h3 Rc6
33...b6
34.Qe5 Qd7 35.Qb8+ Kf7 36.Qxa7 Ra6 37.Qb8!
37.Qc5 Rxa4
37...Rxa4 38.Rb1 b5
38...Qxd4 39.Rxb7+ Kg6 40.Qe8+ Kh6 41.Qxe6+ g6=
39.Rxb5 Ra8 40.Qe5 Rd8 41.Rb6 Qd5 42.Qxd5 1/2-1/2

18.*** A34
Aronian, Levon (2785) - So, Wesley (2794)
London 131/18, 2016

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4 6.Bc4 Nd3+ 7.Ke2 Nf4+ 8.Kf1 Nd3!?
8...Ne6 - 128/20
9.Qe2 Nxc1 10.Rxc1 e6 11.h4 a6
11...Nc6 12.h5N (12.e5 - 131/(18) 12...Bd7N 13.Rh3 Qb6 14.b3 O-O-O 15.Qe3 Be8 Jakovenko,D (2732)-Vidit,S
(2642)/Gibraltar 131/(18) 2016) 12...Bd7 13.Qe3 Qc7 14.e5 O-O-O 15.Rh4 Be7 16.Rg4 g6 17.Nb5 Qb6 18.Be2 Kb8
Nepomniachtchi,I (2704)-Bok,B (2611)/Moscow 131/(18) 2016
12.e5 Nc6 13.Rh3!?N
13.h5 h6!? (13...Nd4!?)
13...b5 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.Be4 Qd7 - 131/ 18
15...Qb6!?N 16.Qe3 Rd8 17.h5 h6 (17...Rd7!? 18.h6 g6) 18.Rh4! Rd7 (18...Be7 19.Rg4 Kf8 20.d3) 19.Rg4 Nd4
20.Bxb7 Nf5 Bluebaum,M (2640)-Sarkar,J (2415)/ Stockholm 131/(18) 2016 (20...Nf5 21.Qe4! Qxb7 22.Qxb7 Rxb7
23.Ne4 Rc7 24.Rf4)
16.Rg3 g6
16...O-O-O?! 17.d4! cxd4? 18.Nxb5! axb5 19.Qxb5+-
17.Kg1
17.h5 O-O-O 18.d4 Bh6! 19.Rc2 cxd4 20.Nxb5 d3! 21.Nd6+ Qxd6 22.exd6 dxe2+ 23.Kxe2 Rxd6 24.Ne5 Bf4 25.Nxc6
Bxg3 (25...Rxc6 26.Rxc6+ Bxc6 27.Rc3=) 26.Na5+ Kb8 27.Nxb7 Rd4 28.Ke3 Rxe4+ 29.Kxe4 Kxb7 30.fxg3=
17...Be7
17...Bh6!?
18.Qe3 O-O-O 19.Rg4! Kb8 20.Rf4 Rhf8 21.a4 b4?!
21...Nb4!? 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ra1 Nd3 24.Ra5!! b4 25.Na4 Nxf4 26.Qxf4 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Qd5 28.Qf4
22.Bxc6! Bxc6 23.Ne4 Bxe4
23...Bxa4? 24.Nxc5
24.Rxe4 a5
24...Qxa4 25.Rxc5! Rd3 (25...Bxc5 26.Qxc5+-) 26.Qxd3 Bxc5 27.Rf424...Qd3 25.Rxb4+ Ka8 (25...cxb4 26.Qb6+
Ka8 27.Rc7+-)
25.Rec4
25.d4 Qxa4 26.b3 Qc6 27.dxc5 Rd525.Rf4!! Rc8 (25...Kb7 26.d4 Qxa4 27.b3 Qc6 28.dxc5 Rd5 29.Nd4 Qc7 30.Nb5
Qxe5 31.c6++-) (25...h5 26.b3) (25...Qd3 26.Rxc5! Qxe3 (26...Bxc5 27.Qxc5) 27.Rb5+!) (25...Qxa4 26.Rxc5
Bxc5 27.Qxc5 Rc8 28.Qb6+ Ka8 29.Nd4) (25...h6 26.Rfc4! (26.b3 g5 27.Rfc4 Qd3 28.Rxc5 Bxc5 29.Qxc5 Qa6
30.Qc7+ Ka8 31.Rc5 Rc8 32.Qxa5 Qxa5 33.Rxa5+ Kb7 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Nxg5) 26...Qxa4 (26...Qd3 27.Qxh6)
27.d4 Rd5 (27...Qc6 28.dxc5 (28.Qxh6 g5!) 28...Rd5 29.Qxh6) 28.Qxh6) 26.b3
25...Qxa4!
25...Qd3?! 26.Rxc5! (26.Qh6 Kb7 27.Rf4) 26...Bxc5 27.Qxc5 Qa6 28.Qc7+ Ka8 29.Rc5 Rc8 30.Qxa5 Qxa5
31.Rxa5+ Kb7 32.Rb5+ Ka6 33.Rxb4
26.d4
26.Ng5 Rd5 27.Ne4 Qc6 28.Nxc5 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Rxc5 30.Rxc5 (30.Qxc5 Qxc5 31.Rxc5 Rd8=) 30...Qa6 31.d4 Rd8!
(31...Rc8?! 32.d5) 32.Qf4 Qb6! 33.Qxf7 Rxd4 34.Rc1 (34.Rc2 Qd8!=) 34...Rd2 35.b3 Qd8! 36.Qxe6 Rxf2! 37.Kxf2
(37.Qc4 Rd2 38.e6 Qd4+ 39.Qxd4 Rxd4 40.Re1 Rd8 41.Re5 Kc7 42.Rxa5 Kd6 43.Rb5 Kxe6 44.Rxb4 Kf5)
37...Qd2+ 38.Kf3 Qxc1 39.Qg8+ Qc8 40.Qxc8+ Kxc8 41.Ke4 Kd7 42.Kd4 Ke6 43.Kc5 Kxe5 44.Kb5 h5 45.Kxa5
Kf4 46.Kxb4 g5 47.hxg5 Kxg5 48.Kc4 Kf4 49.b4 Kg3 50.b5 Kxg2 51.b6 h4 52.b7 h3 53.b8=Q h2=
26...Rd5
26...cxd4?? 27.Nxd4+-
27.dxc5 Qc6 28.Nd4 Qc7 29.Qf3!
29.f4 Bxc5! 30.Nc6+ Qxc6 31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Rxc5 Qa6 33.Qd4 Rc8=29.Nf3 Qa7! 30.Nd2 Qc7! (30...Rc8?! 31.Ne4!
Rxe5 32.Qf4 f6 (32...Qc7? 33.Nd6) 33.Nxf6 Bxf6 34.Qxf6 Qc7 35.c6) 31.f4 f6! 32.exf6 Bxf6 33.Nf3 Rfd8
29...Rfd8 30.Nb5 Qxe5 31.c6 Rc8

32.Qxf7?!
32.c7+! Kb7 33.Nd4! Bd6 34.Nc6! Qh2+ 35.Kf1 Rxc7 (35...Ka6 36.g3 Rxc7 37.Ke2) 36.g3! Kb6 (36...Qh3+
37.Kg1 Qf5 38.Qe3) 37.Qe3+ Ka6 38.Ke2!
32...Qf6 33.Rf4 Qxf7
33...Qxb2!? 34.Rcc4 Rxb5 35.Qxe7 Qa1+! (35...Qe5 36.Rf7 Qc7 37.Qxe6 Re5 38.Rxc7 Rxe6 39.Rb7+ Ka8 40.Rb5)
36.Kh2 Qe5 37.g3 Qc7! 38.Qxe6 b3 39.Rf7 Re5! 40.Rxc7 (40.Qf6 Rf5!) 40...Rxe6 41.Rb7+ Ka8 42.Rxb3 Rcxc6=
34.Rxf7 Rxb5 35.Rxe7 Rc7 36.Rxe6 Ka7 37.Kf1
37.Kf1 Kb6 38.Ke2 a4 39.Rc4 a3 40.bxa3 bxa3 41.Rc2 (41.Ra4 Rb2+ 42.Ke3 a2 43.Re8 Ra7 44.Rb8+ Kc7 45.Rxa7+
Kxb8 46.Ra6=) 41...Rb2 42.Kd2 Rxc2+ 43.Kxc2 Rxc6+ 44.Rxc6+ Kxc6 45.Kb3 Kc5 46.Kxa3 Kc4=1/2-1/2

19. !N A34
Giri, Anish (2773) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2766)
Wijk aan Zee 131/19, 2017
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4 6.Bc4 Nd3+ 7.Ke2 Nxc1+ 8.Rxc1 a6
8...Nc6 - 101/(29)
9.d4 b5 10.Bd5 Ra7 11.dxc5 e6

12.c6!N
12.Bb3
12...b4
12...exd5 13.Nxd5 Rc7 14.Qd4 Rxc6 (14...Nxc6? 15.Qb6) 15.Qe5+ Be6 16.Rhd1 Rxc1 17.Rxc112...Qb6 13.Qd4
13.Qd4! Rc7
13...Qe7 14.Na4 exd5 15.Rhe1! Kf1
14.Na4 exd5 15.exd5 Be7
15...Re7+ 16.Kf115...f6 16.Rhe1 Be7 17.Kf1 O-O 18.Nc5
16.Qxg7 Bf6 17.Qh6 Re7+ 18.Kf1 Qxd5
18...Be5 19.Nxe5 Qxd5 (19...Rxe5? 20.c7+-) 20.Nf3 Qb5+ 21.Kg1 Qxa4 22.h3
19.Qxf6 Rg8 20.h3
20.h420.g3
20...Re6 21.Qf4 Nxc6 22.Nc5 Re7 23.g3 Rg6 24.Kg2 Qd6 25.Qc4 Qf6 26.Rce1 Qxb2 27.Na4?
27.Qf4
27...Qa3 28.Nb6?
28.Rxe7+ Nxe7 29.Nc5 Qc3 30.Qxc3 bxc3 31.Rc1 Nd5=
28...Bb7 29.Nd5
29...Rge6?
29...Rd6! 30.Nxe7 Ne5! 31.Qb3 Qxb3 32.axb3 Nxf3 33.Re3 Ne5+ 34.Kh2 Ng4+!!-+
30.Qc5 Rxe1?
30...Qd3 31.Rd1 Qb5 32.Qxb5 axb5 33.Nxe7 Kxe7
31.Rxe1 Rxe1

32.Nxe1?
32.Qd6!! Ne7 (32...Re7 33.Ne5!+-) 33.Qb8+ Bc8 34.Nxe1
32...Qxa2 33.Nf3 Kd7 34.Kh2 Qe2 35.Nf6+ Kc7 36.Nd5+ 1/2-1/2
 20. A34
Nakamura, Hikaru (2785) - Lagarde, Maxime (2594)
Gibraltar 131/20, 2017

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nxc3
6...g6 - 125/156...Nc7 - 131/19
7.bxc3 e5 8.d3 Be7 9.O-O Be6
9...O-O
10.Rb1 Rb8

11.c4N
11.Ng5!? Bd7 (11...Bxa2?! 12.Rxb7!) (11...Bxg5 12.Bxg5 Qd7 13.Be3) (11...Bd5 12.Ne4 Bxa2 13.Ra1 Bd5
(13...Be6 14.Be3) 14.c4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 Qd7 16.Bb2 f6 17.e3) 12.f4
11...e4?!
11...O-O 12.Bb2 f6=
12.Ne1 exd3 13.Nxd3 Qd7 14.Be3 b6
14...Nd4? 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Nxc5+-
15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.Bxc5 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1
17.Bxc6+ Qd7 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 19.Bd4 f6 (19...Bxc4 20.Bxg7 Rhc8 21.Rb2) 20.Rfd1 Kc6 21.Rdc1 Rhc8
17...bxc5 18.Bxc6+ Ke7 19.Rb3! Bxc4 20.Rd7+ Kf6 21.Rf3+ Kg6 22.Rd6+
22.Be4+ Kh6 23.Rc3 Be6 24.Rxa7 Rb2 25.Kf1 Rc8 26.a4 c422.Rxa7 Rb2 23.Rc3 Rxa2 24.Rxa2 Bxa2 25.Rxc5
22...Be6 23.Be4+ Kh5!
23...Kh6? 24.Rxf7+-
24.Ra6 Rb2 25.Rc3 Rc8 26.Bf3+ Kg5 27.h4+ Kf5
27...Kf6=
28.a4

28...Rc7?
28...c4! 29.Rxa7 Ke5 30.e3 Rd8 31.Ra5+ (31.Rb7 Rxb7 32.Bxb7 Rd1+ 33.Kg2 Ra1) 31...Kf6 32.Ra6 (32.Rb5 Ra2=)
32...Ke5=
29.Ra5 Bd7?
29...Kf6 30.Rcxc5 Rxc5 31.Rxc5 Rb6 32.a5 Rd6 33.Be4 h6 34.Bd3
30.Rcxc5+ Rxc5 31.Rxc5+ Ke6 32.Ra5 Rb4 33.Ra6+ Ke7 34.a5 1-0

21. A34
Tadic, Branko (2472) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2673)
ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 131/21, 2017

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nc7 7.O-O e5 8.b3!? Be7 9.Bb2 O-O 10.Rc1 f6 11.Ne1
Bd7
11...Bg4 - 48/(49)
12.Nd3 Bf5?N
12...Rc8
13.Ne4 Bxe4
13...Ne6 14.Nexc5
14.Bxe4 Ne6 15.f4 exf4 16.Nxf4 Nxf4 17.Rxf4 Qd7 18.Qc2 h6
19.Bd3!?
19.e3 Rad8 20.Rf2 Kh8 21.Qd1!? Qh5 (21.Bf5 Qd5 22.Qd1 b6 23.Qh5)
19...Bd6?
19...Rad8 20.Qc4+ Kh8 21.Rd1 (21.Qe4 f5 22.Rxf5 Qxf5 23.Qxf5 Rxf5 24.Bxf5 Rxd2 25.Rc2=) 21...Nd4 22.Bb1 Qd5
23.Qd3 Qg8 (23...f5 24.Bxd4 cxd4 25.Rxf5) 24.Qe4
20.Qc4+ Kh8
20...Rf7 21.Bf5 Qc7 22.Rf2 Kh8 23.Qg4
21.Qe4 f5 22.Rxf5 Rxf5 23.Qxf5 Qxf5 24.Bxf5+- Nd4 25.Bg4 Re8 26.e3 Nc6 27.Bd7 Rd8 28.Bxc6 bxc6 29.Kf1 Kg8
30.Ke2 Bf8 31.Rc4 Rd5 32.Ba3?!
32.Ra4 Rh5 33.h4 (33.Rxa7 Rxh2+ 34.Kd3+-) 33...g5 34.Kf3+-
32...Rh5 33.h4 g5 34.hxg5 Rxg5 35.g4 Kf7 36.Rf4+ Ke8 37.d4?
37.Ra4 Rg7 38.Bb2 Rd7 (38...Rg6 39.Kf3+-) 39.Ra6+-
37...Be7 38.Re4?!
38.Bxc5 Bxc5 39.dxc5 Rxc5 40.Ra4 a5 41.Rc4 Rg5 42.Kf3 Kd7 43.Kf4
38...Kd7 39.Kf3 h5 40.gxh5 Rxh5 41.dxc5 Bxc5 42.Bxc5 Rxc5 43.Ra4
43.Rd4+ Ke6 (43...Kc7 44.e4) 44.Rc4 Rf5+ 45.Ke4 Re5+ 46.Kd4 Rd5+ 47.Kc3 Ra5 48.a4 (48.Rxc6+ Kd5 49.Rc4
Rxa2 50.Ra4 Re2 51.Kd3 Rb2=) 48...Kd6
43...a5 44.Rc4 Rh5 45.Kg4 Re5 46.Kf4 Rh5 47.e4 Kd6 48.Ra4 Rb5 49.Rd4+ Ke6 50.Rc4 Kd6 51.Ke3
51.e5+= - 56.e5
51...Rh5 52.Ra4 Rg5 53.Kd4 Rh5 54.Rc4 Rg5 55.Rc2 Rb5 56.e5+
56.Rh2 Rb4+ 57.Kd3 a4=56.Kc4 Rb4+ 57.Kd3 Rb5 (57...a4? 58.Rc4+-) 58.Rc4 Rg5 59.Rd4+ (59.Ra4 Kd7 60.Kc3
Kd6 61.Kb2 Rc5 62.Ka3 Ke5 63.Rc4 Rxc4 64.bxc4 Kxe4=) 59...Kc5=
56...Rxe5 57.Rxc6+ Kxc6 58.Kxe5

58...a4! 59.b4 a3 60.Kd4 Kb5 61.Kc3 Ka4 62.Kc4 1/2-1/2

22.* A37
Krishna Teja, N. (2276) - Kononenko, Dmitry (2616)
Marianske Lazne 131/22, 2017

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nb5 d5 8.cxd5 Qa5+
8...exd5=
9.Nd2 Qxb5 10.dxc6 Ne7 11.a4 Qb6 12.b3!?
12.Nc4 Qb4+ 13.Bd2 Qxc4 14.cxb7 Bxb7 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Rc1 Qa2 17.Ba6 (17.Ra1= - 76/(45)) 17...O-O 18.b4 Qa3
19.Bc4 Rfc8 20.O-O Nd5 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Bf4 Ra8 23.b5 Rc4

24.e4!?N (24.Ra1) 24...Rxc1 25.Qxc1 Qxc1 26.Rxc1 dxe4 27.a5 g5! 28.Bc7 d3 Christiansen,J (2408) -Merkesvik,S
(2140)/Norge 131/(22) 2017 (28...d3 29.Kf1 (29.b6? axb6 30.Bxb6 (30.axb6? d2 31.Rf1 Ra1) 30...g4))
12...Nxc6N
12...O-O
13.Nc4 Qc7
13...Qd8 14.Ba3 Bf8 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.O-O Kg7 17.f4 f6 18.Qd2 Qe7 (18...Qc7 19.b4 Rd8 20.Rfc1) 19.Bxc6 bxc6
20.Qxd4
14.Ba3 Bf8 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.O-O e5
16...Kg7 17.Bxc6! Qxc6 18.Qxd4+
17.f4 Be6 18.Rc1
18.fxe5 Bxc4 19.bxc4 Kg7 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Qxd4 Rhd8 22.Qf4 Qe6=
18...Bxc4 19.Rxc4 Kg7 20.fxe5
20.b4!? Qe7 21.Qc1 exf4 22.b5 Ne5 23.Rc7 Qd6 24.gxf4 Ng4 25.Bxb7 Rae8
20...Qxe5 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 23.Rxd4 Rhd8 24.Rc4 Rd6 25.Rfc1 Re8 26.Rxc6 1/2-1/2

23.* A37
Aronian, Levon (2785) - Topalov, Veselin (2760)
London 131/23, 2016

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O e6 7.e3 Nge7 8.d4 O-O
8...cxd4 9.exd4 d5 10.cxd5! exd5 (10...Nxd5? 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Ne5) 11.Bg5
9.Re1
9.d5 Na5! 10.Nd2 exd5 11.cxd5 Rb8 (11...Nf5= - 90/27)
9...a6N
9...cxd4 - 131/(23) 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bg5!?N (12.Nxd5 exd5=) 12...Bf6 (12...f6 13.Bd2) (12...Qb6
13.Na4 (13.Qd2!?)) 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Qd2 Nce7 15.Ne4 Bg7 16.Bg5 (16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Ne5) 16...f6 17.Be3 b6=
Jakovenko,D (2704) - Quparadze,G (2481)/Doha (blitz) 131/(23) 2016
10.Bd2 Rb8
10...cxd4?! 11.exd4 Nxd4 (11...d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bg5!) 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Bh6! Bg7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd2
11.Rc1 b6 12.Ne2 e5!?
12...Bb7 13.Bc3 cxd4 14.Nexd4 (14.exd4 d5!) 14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4
13.Bc3
13.d5 Nb4 14.Bxb4 cxb4
13...h6
13...b5!?
14.d5 Nb4 15.Ra1!
15.a3?! Na2 16.Ra1 Nxc3 17.Nxc3 f5
15...b5!?
15...a5 16.a3 Na6 17.Nd2 f5 18.b3
16.a3 bxc4 17.axb4 cxb4 18.Bd2 Nxd5 19.Qc1! c3
19...Qc7? 20.Nxe5+-19...Be6!? 20.Rxa6 c3 21.bxc3 b3 22.Qb1 (22.Qb2? Nb6!) 22...b2
20.bxc3 b3 21.Qb1
21.Qb2
21...Nf6! 22.Qb2 Qc7 23.c4! Qxc4 24.Nc3
24.Bc3 Ne4 25.Nd2 Nxd2 26.Bxd2 Bf5
24...Be6 25.Rec1 Nd7 26.e4
26.Bf1 Qc6! 27.e4 Nc5 28.Be3 Nxe4 29.Rxa6 Qb726.Ra4!?
26...Nc5 27.Bf1 Qb4 28.Be3
28.Nd5? Qxe4-+28.Bxa6? Ra8! 29.Bf1 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 Qxe4
28...Rfc8 29.Nd2?!
29.Bxa6 Nxa6 30.Rxa6 Ra8! (30...d5!? 31.exd5 Bd7 e4) 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.Nd2 f5!?
29...a5! 30.Bxc5 Rxc5 31.Ra4 Qb7 32.Bc4 Qc6 33.Bd5
33.Bxe6!? fxe6 Rc3 34.Raa1 Rc8 35.Ndb1 d5! 36.exd5 exd5 37.Qxb3 e4
33...Bxd5 34.exd5 Qd7?!
34...Qc7 35.Nde4 Rc4 36.Rxc4 Qxc4 37.Nxd6 Qd4 38.Rd1 Qb4
35.Ra3 a4 36.Nxa4 Rxd5 37.Nxb3 e4 38.Qa2 Qf5 39.Re1 Rdb5 40.Rc1
40.Re3!? d5 41.Nc3 d4 42.Nxb5 dxe3 43.N5d4 exf2+ 44.Qxf2 Qd5
40...d5 41.Nac5
41.Nc3!?
41...d4
41...h5!? 42.Ra5 Rxa5 43.Qxa5 h4
42.Ra7
42.Ra8 Qd5 43.Rxb8+ Rxb8
42...d3 43.Rc7?!
43.Ra5 Bf8 44.Rxb5 Rxb5 45.Qa8 e3 46.fxe3 d2 47.Rd1 Kg7 48.Qa1+ Kh7 49.Nd4 Qxc5 50.Nxb5 Qxe3+ 51.Kg2
Qe2+ 52.Kh3 (52.Kh1? Qf3+ 53.Kg1 Bc5+-+) 52...Qxb5 53.Rxd2=
43...h5 44.Qa4 h4 45.Qxe4! Qxe4 46.Nxe4 Rxb3
47.gxh4?
47.Rd7! h3 (47...Bh6 48.Rd1 R3b4 49.Nd2 h3 50.Rxd3=) 48.Rd1=
47...Bh6! 48.Rf1
48.Rd1 Rb1 49.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 50.Kg2 d2-+
48...R3b4 49.f3
49.Ng5 Rxh4 50.f4 Rd8 51.Nxf7 Bxf4! 52.Nxd8 (52.Rxf4 d2!-+) 52...Bxc7 53.Ne6 Bb6+ 54.Kg2 d2 55.Rd1 Re4-+
49...Rb2 50.Nf6+
50.Rd7 Be3+ 51.Kh1 Rb1 52.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 53.Kg2 d2! 54.Nxd2 Rb2-+ (54...Rd1?? 55.Ne4!=)
50...Kg7 51.Ng4 d2 52.Rd7
52.Nxh6 Kxh6 53.Rd7 Re8!-+
52...Re8 53.Nf2 Re1 0-1

24. A40
Bachmann Schiavo, Axel (2620) - Rodriguez Vila, Andres (2447)
Villa La Angostura 131/24, 2016

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ 3.Bd2 Qe7 4.e3

4.Nc3 - 76/(48)
4...Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Bd3 d6 7.Nge2!?
7.Nf3?! e5!7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 b6 (8...e5 9.Ne2) 9.Qf3 d5 10.Ne2
7...c5 8.a3N
8.O-O
8...Bxc3
8...Ba5 9.b4 cxb4 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4
9.Bxc3 e5 10.d5
10.O-O!?
10...b5?
10...e4! 11.Bc2 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Ne5 13.b3 b5!?
11.cxb5 Nbd7 12.e4 c4 13.Bc2 Nc5 14.Ng3 Bd7 15.a4 a6 16.bxa6 Rxa6 17.a5 Rfa8 18.O-O Nb7 19.Qd2 Qd8
20.Ra3?!
20.Ra2! Nxa5? 21.Rfa1 Nb3 22.Bxb3+-
20...Nxa5 21.Qe2
21.Rfa1?? Nb3! 22.Bxb3 Rxa3 23.bxa3 cxb3
21...Qb6 22.h3 Bb5 23.Nf5! Nb3 24.Rxa6 Rxa6?

24...Bxa6 25.Kh2 Bc8 (25...Ne8 26.f4 f6 27.Ne7+ Kf8 (27...Kh8 28.Qh5+-) 28.Nc6 exf4 29.Rxf4 Ra7 30.e5 dxe5
31.Qxe5+-) 26.Ne7+ Kf8 27.Nc6
25.Nxd6!+- Qxd6
25...Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.Nxc4 Qc5 28.Bd3+-
26.Bxb3 Nxe4 27.Bxc4 Ng3
28.Qg4! f5
28...Nxf1 29.Qc8+ Qf8 30.Qxf8+ Kxf8 31.Bxb5+-
29.Qxg3 Bxc4 30.Rd1!
30.Bxe5?! Qg6 31.Qxg6 hxg6 32.Rd1 Ra7
30...f4 31.Qg5 f3 32.Bxe5 Qd7 33.d6 Be6 34.g4 Ra7 35.Re1 Qc8 36.Rc1 Qf8 37.Qe3 Rf7 38.Bxg7 Qxd6 39.Be5 Qd8
40.Bd4 h5 41.Qe5 Kf8 42.Qh8+ 1-0

25. A42
Gelfand, Boris (2721) - Stefanova, Antoaneta (2512)
Gibraltar 131/25, 2017

1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.e4 Bg4 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Nf6 7.d5 Nb8 8.Qc2
8.O-O - 49/69
8...Na6N
8...O-O
9.h3 Bd7
10.Nb1!? c6 11.Nc3 cxd5 12.exd5 O-O
12...Bf5 13.Qa4+ Qd7 14.Qa3 Nc5 15.O-O O-O 16.Be3
13.Be3 Nc5 14.Nd4 e5
14...a5 15.O-O Qb6 16.Rad1 a4 17.f4
15.dxe6 fxe6
15...Nxe6 16.Rd1 (16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.O-O Bc6 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Rfe1) 16...Re8 17.O-O Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc6 19.b4
16.O-O Qe7 17.Rad1 b6
17...d5 18.Bg5 Nce4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qb3
18.Bf3 Rad8 19.b4 Na6 20.a3 Nb8 21.Rfe1 Nh5 22.Qd2 Rc8 23.Bg5 Qf7
24.Nxe6! Bxe6 25.Rxe6+- Rxc4
25...Nf4 26.Re7 Nxh3+ 27.Kh2 Nxg5 28.Bd5+-
26.Re7 Bxc3 27.Qxd6 Qf5 28.Qd5+ Qxd5 29.Bxd5+ Kh8 30.Bxc4 Nc6 31.Rf7 1-0

26. A43
Mulyar, Michael A (2381) - Papp, Gabor (2584)
Philadelphia 131/26, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Bxf6 Qxf6 6.e4!?

6.c3 - 106/185
6...Qxb2 7.Nbd2 Ba6 8.Rb1 Qxa2 9.Bxb5 Bxb5 10.Rxb5 g6N
10...d6 11.O-O Nd7 12.Nb3 g6 13.e5 Qa6 14.Ra5 Qb6 15.Qe2
11.Rxc5 Na6
11...Qa6 12.Qb1 d6 (12...Bg7 13.Qa2! O-O 14.Ra5 Qb6 15.O-O) 13.Rb5 Nd7 14.Qb2 Rg8 15.O-O
12.Rc4
12.Rb5 Bg7 13.O-O O-O 14.Nb3 Nc7 15.Ra5 Qb2 16.Nfd4
12...Bg7 13.O-O O-O?!
13...d6 14.Nb3 (14.e5 O-O 15.Qe2 Nc5) 14...O-O 15.Nfd4 Nc5! 16.Nc6 a5! 17.Nxe7+ Kh8 18.Nc6 (18.Nd2 a4
19.Nc6 a3) 18...a4 19.Nba5 Qb2 20.Rb4 Qc3 21.Rc4 Qb2=
14.c3! Nb8
14...Qa5 15.Qa1 Qxa1 16.Rxa1 Nb4 (16...Nb8 17.Ra5) 17.Rxb4 Bxc3 18.Rba4 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 a5 20.Ne5 Ra7
21.Ra4
15.Ra4 Qb2
16.Nc4! Qb5?!
16...Qxc3 17.Nb6+-16...Qb7 17.Qb1 Qxb1 18.Rxb1 a5 19.Nd4
17.Qc2
17.Qa1 d6 (17...Bxc3 18.Qa2! d6 (18...Qc5 19.Rb1 a5 20.Nb6+-) 19.Rb1 Qe8 20.Nb6+-) 18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Nb6 Bxc3
20.Qa2 axb6 21.Rxa8 Nd7 22.Ra7
17...a6
17...Qc5 18.Rb1 Na6 19.Ncd2 Qc8 20.Rc4 Nc7 (20...Nc5 21.Nb3) 21.Qa4
18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Nb6 Ra7 20.Rc4 Qa5 21.Nc8 Rc7 22.Nxe7+ Kh8
23.Rcb4! Rxc3
23...d6 24.Rxb8 (24.Nxg6++-) 24...Rxe7 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Nd4 Re8 27.Nc6+-
24.Qd2 Qd8
24...Qc5 25.Rxb8 Rc2 26.Ng5! h6 27.Rxf8+ (27.Nxf7+?? Kh7-+) 27...Bxf8 28.Nxf7+ Kh7 (28...Kg7 29.Qxh6+ Kxf7
30.Qh7+ Bg7 31.Qxg6+ Kxe7 32.Qxg7++-) 29.Qf4 Qxe7 30.h4+-
25.Rxb8 Qxb8 26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.h4+- a5 28.Qf4 Rf8 29.Ne5 f5 30.N5xg6+ hxg6 31.Nxg6+ Kg8 32.Nxf8 Bxf8
33.Qg5+ Bg7 34.exf5 Kh7 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.f6 1-0

27. A48
Kamsky, Gata (2669) - Kulaots, Kaido (2590)
Moscow 131/27, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Nbd2 Nc6
6...Bf5 - 48/ 86
7.e4 Qe8
7...e5! 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 10.Bxe5 (10.Be3 Qe7=) 10...Nxe4 11.Bxg7 Re8! 12.Nxe4 Rxe4+ 13.Be2 Qxd1+
14.Rxd1 Kxg7 15.Rd8 Rxe2+ (15...b6=) 16.Kxe2 Bg4+ 17.hxg4 Rxd8=
8.Bc4 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Be3 Qe7 12.O-ON
12.Qb3
12...Rd8 13.Qc2 Nh5
13...b6 14.Rfd1 Bb7 15.a4 a5=
14.Nf3 Be6
14...Nf4 15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Qb3 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 Ne6 18.a4
15.Qb3 Bxc4 16.Qxc4 Rd7 17.a4 Nf4?!
17...a6 18.a5
18.Bxf4 exf4
19.e5! Qe6
19...g5 20.Qe4 c6 21.Qf5 h6 22.h4
20.Qxf4 Qb3 21.Rab1 Re8 22.Rfe1 c5 23.Re2 Rd1+
23...Rde7 24.Rbe1 b6 25.h4
24.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 25.Re1 Qb3?!
25...Qd5 26.a5
26.Ng5! Rf8
26...f6 27.e6! Qb6 28.e7 fxg5 29.Qc4+ Kh8 30.Qf7 Qc6 31.Rd1 Qc8 32.Qxe8+ Qxe8 33.Rd8+-
27.e6! fxe6 28.Qh4+- h6 29.Nxe6 Rf7 30.Qd8+ Bf8 31.Nxf8 Rxf8 32.Qd6 Qc2 33.Qd5+ Rf7 34.Re8+
34.Re8+ Kg7 35.Qe5+ Rf6 36.Re7++-1-0

28. A48
Gordievsky, Dmitry (2564) - Kuzubov, Yuriy (2643)
Moscow 131/28, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.c3 O-O 6.h3 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.a4N
9.Bc7 - 129/27
9...Nc6 10.Bc7 Re8 11.Bc4 Bd7 12.Nbd2 Rac8 13.Be5
13.Bg3 Na5 14.Be2 Red8=
13...Red8 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nb3 b6 16.Nfd2 Ne5 17.Ba6 Rc7 18.f4 Nc6 19.Kf2 Na5! 20.Nxa5

20...Bc8! 21.Be2
21.Bxc8 Rxd2+ 22.Kf3 (22.Ke1 Rxb2 23.Nc4 Bxc3+ 24.Kd1 Rb4-+) 22...bxa5 23.Ba6 c4 24.Bb5 (24.Rab1?? Rd6
25.Bb5 a6-+) 24...Rxb221.Nab3 Bxa6 22.a5 Bb5
21...Rxd2 22.Nc4 Bh4+ 23.g3
23.Kf3 Bb7+ 24.e4 Bxe4+ 25.Ke3 Rxe2+ 26.Kxe2 Bxg2 27.Rhd1 Bxh3
23...Bxg3+ 24.Kf3 Bb7+ 25.e4
25...Rxe2!
25...Bxe4+?? 26.Kxe4 Rxe2+ 27.Kf3+-
26.Kxe2 Bxf4
26...Bxe4 27.Rhf1 Rc6
27.Rhf1 g5 28.a5 Bxe4 29.a6 Rc6-+ 30.Rfd1 b5 31.Rd8+ Kg7 32.Nd2 Bf5 33.c4 bxc4 34.Nxc4 Bc8
34...Bxh3 35.Ra8 Rc7-+
35.Rxc8 Rxc8 36.Na5 Bc7 37.Nb7 Bb6 38.Kd3 c4+ 39.Kc3 h5 40.Re1 Kf6 0-1

29. A48
Kamsky, Gata (2637) - Smirin, Ilia (2685)
Deutschland 131/29, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nbd2 Nc6 10.Bc7 Rd7 11.Bh2
Rd8 12.Bb5
12.a4 - 126/(28)
12...Bd7 13.a4N
13.O-O Nd4 14.exd4 Bxb5 15.Rfe1 (15.c4 Bc6 16.d5 Bd7=) 15...cxd4 16.Nxd4 e6=
13...a6 14.Be2 b5
14...Bf5 15.Nc4 Nd7 (15...b5 16.Nb6 Ra7 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa7 Nxa7 19.O-O) 16.a5
15.O-O b4
15...c4 16.Rfd1 (16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 Bc6) 16...Rac8 (16...Bf5 17.Ne1 Rac8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bf3 Nd7) 17.axb5
axb5 18.Ne5 (18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.exd4 Bc6=) 18...Be8
16.Rac1
16.cxb4 Nxb4 (16...cxb4 17.Rac1) 17.Nc4 Ne4 (17...Be6 18.Nb6 Ra7 19.Rfd1) 18.Nfe5 Be6 19.Rfd1
16...Bf5
16...bxc3 17.Rxc3 Nb4 18.Rxc5 Bxa4 19.Nd4 Rac8 20.Rfc1
17.cxb4 Nxb4 18.Rxc5 Nd3
18...Bd3 19.Bxd3 Nxd3 20.Rc2 Rac8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8
19.Bxd3 Bxd3 20.Re1 e6 21.Nd4 Nd5
21...Ne4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Rec1 Bd5 24.f3
22.N2f3 Bf8
22...Nb4 23.Rc7 Rd5 24.Rec1 Bf6 25.b3
23.Rcc1 Nb4 24.Ne5 a5 25.Ndc6 Nxc6 26.Nxc6 Rdc8 27.Rc3 Ba6 28.Be5 Bb7 29.Rec1 h6 30.h4 Kh7

31.Nxa5! Rxc3 32.Bxc3+- Bd5 33.Be1 Rb8 34.b3 g5 35.h5 g4 36.Rc7 e5 37.Bc3 e4 38.Be5 Re8 39.Bf4 Kg8 40.Nc4
1-0

30. A48
Kamsky, Gata (2666) - Gordievsky, Dmitry (2562)
Moscow 131/30, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nbd2 Nc6 10.Bc7 Rd7 11.Bh2
Rd8 12.a4 Bf5 13.g4N
13.Bb5 - 126/(28)
13...Be4 14.Nxe4
14.g5? Rxd2! (14...Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Ne4=) 15.Nxd2 Bxh1 16.gxf6 Bxf6 17.f3 Rd8
14...Nxe4 15.Bg2 Rac8 16.a5
16...Nxc3! 17.bxc3 Bxc3+ 18.Ke2 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 b5 20.axb6 axb6 21.Rb1

21.Nd2 Na5 22.Ne4 Nb3 23.Rb1 c4

21...c4! 22.Ne5
22.Rxb6 c3 23.Rb1 Nb4 24.Rc1 Nd3 25.Rc2 Nb4=
22...Na5 23.Be4 c3 24.Nf3 b5 25.Nd4 Rxd4! 26.exd4 c2= 27.Bxc2
27.Rc1 Nb3 28.Bf4 b4 29.Rxc2 Nxd4+ 30.Kd2 Nxc2 31.Bxc2 Rc3 32.Bd3=
27...Rxc2+ 28.Kf1 Nc4 29.Rxb5 Ne3+ 30.Ke1 Ng2+ 31.Kf1 Ne3+ 32.Ke1 Ng2+ 33.Kf1 1/2-1/2
A50-A99

31. A58
Maiorov, Nikita (2511) - Perunovic, Milos (2604)
Lisboa 131/31, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.g3 O-O 8.Bg2 d6 9.Nf3 Nxa6 10.O-O Qb6 11.Nd2 Nd7
12.Nc4 Qb4 13.Ne3 Nc7 14.a4N
14.Qc2 - 112/(137)
14...Rb8 15.Ra3 Ba6 16.Na2 Qd4
16...Qb6!? 17.b3 (17.Nc3 Qb4= (17...f5!?)) 17...f5
17.Qc2 c4 18.Nc3

18...f5! 19.Ned1
19.Qd1 Qxd1 20.Nexd1 Rb7
19...Nc5 20.Be3 Qf6 21.f4
21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.e4 f4 23.Ne2 g5
21...Nb3! 22.Bf2 Nd4
22...e5!? 23.dxe6 Qxe6 24.a5 (24.Ba7 Nd4 25.Qd2 Nb3 26.Qc2 (26.Qe3 Qd7! 27.Qf2 d5 28.Bxb8 Rxb8) 26...Nd4=)
24...d5 25.Bb6 Rxb6! 26.axb6 Qxb6+ 27.e3 Rd8
23.Qd2 Nb3 24.Qe1
24.Qc2
24...e5!?
24...Nd4 25.Qd2 Nb3=
25.dxe6 Qxe6 26.Ne3?!
26.Ba7 Rb7! 27.Bxb7 Bxb7 28.Qf2 d5 29.e3 (29.Rxb3 cxb3 30.Bd4 Bxd4 31.Qxd4 Qc6) 29...d4 30.Rxb3! cxb3
31.Bxd4 Bxd4 32.exd4 Qc6 33.d5 Nxd5 34.Qf3 Qb6+ 35.Qf2 Qc6=
26...Bb7 27.Bxb7
27.Qd1 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Nc5 29.Ned5 Bxc3! 30.Nxc3 (30.Nxc7 Qe4+ 31.Kg1 Bxb2 32.Re3 (32.Ra2 c3) 32...Qc6)
30...Rxb2
27...Rxb7 28.Qd1 Rd8
28...Ra8 29.Nc2 d5
29.Nc2?!
29.a5 Nc5 30.Ra2 Rdb8 31.Qd2 Rb3
29...d5 30.Nd4 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 Rxb2 32.a5
32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Qd4+ Qf6 34.e3 Rdb8
32...Qd6 33.Ra1 Bxd4+ 34.Qxd4 Ne6 35.Qf6 d4-+ 36.Na4 Rxe2 0-1

32.* A58
Matsuura, Everaldo (2480) - Macedo, Maximo Iack (2366)
Brasil (ch) 131/32, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.e4 O-O 8.e5
8.Nf3 - 127/34
8...Ne8 9.Nf3 d6 10.exd6 exd6
10...Nxd6 11.Bd3N (11.Be2) 11...Nxa6 12.O-O Nb4 13.Re1 e6 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Be3?! (15.Bf4 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Nf5
(16...Nc4 17.Qc2 Qa5 18.Ne5 Rfe8)) 15...Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Nc4 17.Qe2 Rb8 18.Rab1 Qa5 Zatonskih,A (2443)-
Oparin,G (2625)/ Gibraltar 131/(32) 2017
11.Be2 Bxa6N
11...Nxa6
12.O-O Qb6 13.Re1 Nc7 14.Qc2 Re8 15.Bf4 Bxe2 16.Rxe2 Nba6 17.Rae1 Nb4 18.Rxe8+ Nxe8 19.Qd2 c4
19...Nc7 20.a3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nbxd5 22.Bg3 c4
20.Be3 Qb7 21.Bd4 Nd3
21...Nf6 22.a4 Nbxd5 (22...Nd3 23.Rb1 Nxd5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.b3 Rb8 26.Rd1!) 23.Bxf6 Nxf6 24.Qxd6 Qxb2
25.Qc6
22.Re2 Nf6 23.b3
23.Ne1!? Nb4 (23...Rb8 24.Nxd3 cxd3 25.Qxd3 Nxd5 26.g3) 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.a3 Bxc3 26.Qxc3 Nxd5 27.Qxc4
23...Nxd5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.bxc4 N5f4 26.Re3 Qb4 27.Rxd3?
27.g3 Nh3+ (27...Ra3 28.Ne4) 28.Kg2 Nhxf2 29.Rxd3 Nxd3 30.Qxd3 Ra3 31.Qd4+ f6 (31...Kg8 32.Ne4) 32.Ne4
Rxa2+ 33.Kh3
27...Nxd3 28.Qxd3

28...Ra3!= 29.Qd4+ Kg8 30.Nd1 Qb1! 31.Ne1 Rxa2 32.Qxd6 Ra1 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qd4+ Kg8
RR34...f6 35.Qd7+ Kh6 36.Qh3+ Kg7 37.Qd7+= Da Costa Junior, Luiz Roberto
35.Qd8+ Kg7 36.Qd4+ 1/2-1/2
 33. A62
Xiong, Jeffery (2667) - Jones, Gawain C (2665)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/33, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.O-O exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.Re1 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Rxe4
12.Qc2
12.Bg5 - 127/35
12...Bf5 13.Bh3N
13.Ng5
13...Na6
13...Qf6 14.Rb1! h6 15.Bd213...Rg4! 14.e4 Rxe4 15.Rxe4 Bxh3 16.g4 h6 17.Qb3 Nd7 18.Nd2 f5 19.Re6 Qh4
14.Bxf5 gxf5

15.Ng5 Re5
15...Nb4 16.Qb1 (16.Qb3 Re7)
16.Bf4 Nb4 17.Qb3?!
17.Qb1 Qf6 (17...h6 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.a3 Na6 20.Nh3+-) (17...Rxd5 18.a3 Nc6 19.Qa2+-) (17...Qd7 18.Bxe5 dxe5
19.a3 Nxd5 20.e4 fxe4 21.Nxe4 c4 22.Rd1+-) 18.Bxe5 dxe5 (18...Qxe5 19.a3 Nxd5 20.Qa2+-) 19.Qc1 h6 20.Nf3+-
17...a5?
17...Re7 18.Nf3 Qd7 19.a3 Na6 20.Rad1 Bf6 21.Kh1 Nh4
18.a3+-
18.Bxe5 Bxe5 (18...dxe5 19.a3 a4 20.Qc4+-) 19.a3 a4 20.Qc4 Qxg5 21.axb4 Bxb2 22.Ra2 a3 23.bxc5 Qd2
18...a4 19.Qc4
19.Qf3 Nc2 20.Qh5 Qd7 (20...Qe7 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Qxf5+-) (20...Qf6 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Qxh7+ Kf8
23.Qh5 Qg6 24.Ne6+ Kg8 25.Qxg6 fxg6 26.e4) 21.Qxh7+ Kf8 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.e4
19...b5 20.Qxb5 Nc2 21.Bxe5 dxe5
21...Bxe5 22.Qb7+-
22.Qb7 Qe8
22...Qf8 23.Qd7+-
23.Nxf7 Rb8 24.Qc7 Rc8 25.Qb7 Rb8 26.Qc7 Rc8 27.Nd6 Rxc7 28.Nxe8 Rd7 29.Nxg7 Kxg7 30.Kf1
30.Rac1+-
30...Nxa1 31.Rxa1 Rxd5 32.Rc1 Rd2 33.Rxc5 Kf6 34.Rc6+ Kg5 35.Rb6 Rc2 36.f3 f4 37.h4+
37.Kf2 h5 38.h4+ Kf5 39.gxf4 exf4 40.Rb4+-
37...Kh5 38.gxf4 exf4 39.Rb4 Kxh4 40.Rxf4+ Kg3 41.Rg4+ Kh3 42.Rxa4 Rxb2 43.Kf2 h5 44.Ra8 h4 45.a4 Kh2
46.a5 Rb7 47.Rh8?
47.a6 Rg7 48.Rb8 Rg2+ (48...Ra7 49.Rb4+-) 49.Ke3 Rg7 50.Rb7 Rg1 51.a7 Ra1 52.Kf2 h3 53.f4+-
47...h3 48.Rh4??
48.a6 Ra7 (48...Rg7 49.Rb8+-) 49.Rh6 Rg7 50.f4 Rg2+ 51.Ke3 Rg3+ 52.Kd4 Kg2 53.f5 h2 54.f6+-
48...Rb1??
48...Rg7 49.a6 (49.Rg4 Rxg4 50.fxg4 Kh1 51.a6 h2=) 49...Rg2+ 50.Ke3 Rg6! 51.Ra4 Kg3 52.a7 h2 53.a8=Q h1=Q
54.Qb8+ Kg2 55.Rg4+ Rxg4 56.fxg4 Qc1+=
49.Ra4??

49.a6 Ra1 50.Rh6+-

49...Kh1??
49...Ra1 50.Rh4 Rxa5 51.f4 Ra4 52.Kf3 Ra1 53.f5 (53.e4 Rf1+ 54.Kg4 Rg1+ 55.Kh5 (55.Kf5 Kg3 56.Rg4+ Kf2=)
55...Rg8=) 53...Rf1+ 54.Kg4 Rg1+ 55.Kh5 Kg3 56.e4 h2 57.Rxh2 Kxh2 58.f6 Rf1 59.Kg6 Kg3 60.e5 Kf4=
50.a6 h2 51.a7 Rf1+ 52.Ke3 Kg2 53.Rg4+ Kh1 54.a8=Q Rxf3+ 55.Qxf3# 1-0

34. A78
Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2595) - Grigoryan, Karen H (2544)
Srbija 131/34, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nd2 Bg7 8.e4 O-O 9.Be2 Na6 10.O-O Re8 11.Re1 Nc7
12.a4 Rb8 13.Qc2 b6 14.Nc4 Ba6 15.Bf4 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 Ng4
16...Nh5 - 24/159
17.h3N
17.Nb5
17...Ne5 18.Be2 a6 19.Reb1 b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.b4 c4 22.Ra5 f5! 23.exf5

23...gxf5
23...Qf6! 24.Ra7 (24.Rc1 gxf5 25.Qd2 Ng6 26.Bg5 Qd4) (24.Bxe5? Qxe5 25.Ra3 Ra8 26.Rxa8 Nxa8-+) 24...Re7
(24...Rec8!?) 25.Rd1 gxf5 (25...Qxf5 26.Qxf5 gxf5 27.Ra3 Bf6) 26.Qd2 Nf7 27.Ra3 Qg6 28.Rc1 Ne5
24.Qxf5 Ng6?!
24...Rf8! 25.Qe4 (25.Qg5 Ng6 26.Qxd8 Rbxd8 27.Bd2 Bd4 28.Rf1 Nf4) 25...Ng6 26.Bd2 Qf6 27.Rf1 Rbe8 28.Qg4
Qd4
25.Bg5 Qc8 26.Qc2 Rf8 27.Bg4 Qe8 28.Ne4
28.Rd1 Ne5 (28...Bd4 29.Ne4 (29.Rxd4 Qe1+ 30.Kh2 Qe5+ 31.Bf4 Rxf4 (31...Qxd4 32.Bxd6 Rxf2 33.Qe4+-)
(31...Nxf4?! 32.Re4) 32.Rxf4 Nxf4 (32...Qxf4+ 33.g3 Qd4 34.Bf5) 33.Qf5) 29...Qe5 30.Bh6) (28...Qe5 29.Bd2
Rf7 30.Ne4) 29.Ra7
28...Qe5 29.Re1 Kh8

30.Qc1! Nf4
30...Qxd5 31.Ra7 Rbe8 (31...Qc6 32.Bh6) 32.Bf3 Ne5 (32...Rxf3 33.gxf3 Ne5 34.Re3) 33.Rxc7 Rxf3 34.Qd1! Qxd1
35.Rxd1 Rf7 36.Nxd6
31.Bxf4 Rxf4 32.Ng3 Qd4
32...Qc3 33.Ra7 Qxc1 34.Rxc1 Rf7 35.Rd1 Be5 36.Ne4
33.Bf3 Rxf3?!
33...Rf7 34.Ne4 Be5 35.Rd1 Qb6 36.Bg4
34.gxf3 Rg8 35.Qd1
35.Re4 Qxd5 36.Ra7
35...c3
35...Nxd5 36.Kf1 Nxb4 37.Qxd4 Bxd4 38.Nf5 Bc5 39.Rxb5
36.Qxd4 Bxd4 37.Kf1 Rf8 38.Rd1 Be5 39.Ne2+- Rxf3 40.Kg2 Rf8 41.Rd3 c2 42.Ra2 Rf4 43.Rxc2 Rc4 44.Rxc4 bxc4
45.Rd1 c3 46.Kf3 Kg7 47.Ke4 Na6 48.f4 Bf6 49.Rc1 Nxb4 50.Nxc3 Na6 51.Na4 Be7 52.Rc6 Nb8 53.Rc7 Kf6
54.Ra7 Bd8 55.Nc3 Bb6 56.Rb7 Ba5 57.Na4 Na6 58.Ra7 1-0

35. !N A90
Eljanov, Pavel (2755) - Carlsen, Magnus (2840)
Wijk aan Zee 131/35, 2017

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.Nc3 c6 7.Bf4

7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 - 110/50
7...Bxf4 8.gxf4 O-O 9.e3 Bd7
9...b6 10.O-O Bb7 (10...Ba6?! 11.Ne5 Nfd7 12.b3! Nxe5 13.dxe5 dxc4 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.b4!) 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Rc1
Qe7 (12...Ne4!?)
10.Qb3 Qc7 11.O-O Be8 12.Rfc1 Qe7

12...Bh5?? 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nxd5+-

13.Qa3!N
13.Ne5 Bh5 14.Rab1 Na6 (14...Kh8 15.Qa3!) 15.cxd5!? (15.Qa3 Nb4) 15...exd5 (15...cxd5 16.Qa3 Nb4 17.Nb5)
16.Qc2 Ne4 17.b413.Rab1!?
13...Qxa3 14.bxa3 Nbd7 15.Rab1 Rb8 16.a4! a5
16...Nb6 17.c5 (17.Bf1!?) 17...Nc4 18.Bf1! (18.Ne5 Na5 19.Rb4 Nd7) 18...Na5 19.Rb4
17.Rb2 Ne4?!
17...Bh5 18.Ne5 (18.Rcb1? Bxf3 19.Bxf3 b6=) 18...Rfc8 19.Rcb1 b6 20.Bf1 Be8 21.Rb3
18.Nxe4 dxe4
18...fxe4 19.Ng5 Rf6 20.f3 h6 21.Nh3 exf3 22.Bxf3 e5! 23.cxd5 exd4 24.exd4 cxd5 25.Rxb7 Rxb7 26.Bxd5+ Kf8
27.Bxb7 Rb6 28.Bc6 Rb4 29.d5 Nf6
19.Ng5!
19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 (20.fxe5 c5! 21.d5 Bxa4 22.Rcb1? b5!) 20...c5
19...Rf6 20.f3! h6 21.Nh3 exf3 22.Bxf3 Rf7 23.Nf2
23.c5
23...c5! 24.Nd3! cxd4 25.exd4 Nf6 26.Nc5
26.Ne5 Rc7 27.c5! (27.Rcb1 Rd8) 27...Bxa4 (27...Rd8 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Bxb7 Rxd4 30.c6+-) 28.Rcb1
26...Ne4! 27.Nxe6 Bxa4 28.d5 Bd7 29.Bxe4?!
29.Rb6
29...fxe4 30.Nc5 Bg4 31.Re1
31.Nxe4 Rxf4 32.Nd6 Rf6 Bh3 33.h3 Bxh3 34.Nxb7
31...Rc8!
31...Rxf4 32.Rxe4 Rbf8 33.Rxf4 Rxf4=
32.Nxe4 Rxf4 33.Nd6 Rcf8! 34.Rb3
34.Rxb7?? Bh3 35.Rbb1 Rg4+ 36.Kh1 Bg2+ 37.Kg1 Be4#
34...R8f6
34...b5!? 35.c5 (35.cxb5 Bf3 36.Re8 Rxe8 37.Nxe8 Bxd5=) 35...Bf3 36.Rxf3 Rxf3 37.Nxb5
35.Ne4
35.Nxb7 Rxc4 36.Nxa5 Ra4 37.Nc6 Rxa2=
35...Rg6 36.Rg3 b6! 37.d6?!
37.Nd2 Bf5 (37...Rgf6 38.Ne4) (37...Kh7 38.Re4!) 38.Rxg6 Bxg6 39.Re6=
37...Kh7! 38.Nf2?
38.Ree3 Bh3 39.Re1=38.h4!? Bf5 39.h5! Rxg3+ 40.Nxg3 Bg4 41.Ne4 (41.Re4 Rxe4 42.Nxe4 Kg8) 41...Bf5 42.a4
Kg8 43.c5 bxc5 44.Nxc5 Rd4=
38...Rxc4 39.Nxg4 Rgxg4 40.Rxg4 Rxg4+ 41.Kf2 Rd4 42.Re6 Kg8 43.Ke3 Rd1 44.d7
44.Ke4 Kf7 (44...Re1+?? 45.Kd5 Rxe6 46.Kxe6 Kf8 47.d7??) 45.Re7+ Kf6 46.Rd7 h5 47.Rd8 (47.h4 g6! 48.Rd8 Ke6
49.Rg8 (49.Re8+ Kd7-+) 49...Rg1 50.Rd8 Rg4+) 47...Ke6 48.Rg8 (48.Re8+ Kd7 49.Re7+ Kxd6 50.Rxg7 Rd2-+)
48...Rd2! (48...Rxd6 49.Rxg7 Rd2 50.Rg6+=) 49.Rxg7 Kxd6-+
44...Rxd7 45.Rxb6 Rd5 46.Rb2 Kh7 47.Ke4
47.a4 Rh5!
47...Rh5 48.Kf4 Rh4+ 49.Kg3 g5 50.Rb7+ Kg6 51.Rb6+ Kh5 52.h3?!
52.Rb3 Ra4 53.a3 Rd4 54.Rc3 a4-+ Rd2-b2-b3
52...Ra4 53.Rc6
53.Rb2 Ra3+ 54.Kg2 Kh4-+
53...Ra3+ 54.Kg2 Rxa2+ 55.Kg3 a4 56.Ra6 a3 57.Kf3 Rb2 58.Kg3
58.Rxa3 Kh4-+
58...a2 59.Kf3 a1=Q 60.Rxa1 Kh4 0-1
B00-B49

36. B01
Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Adhiban, Baskaran (2653)
Wijk aan Zee 131/36, 2017

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O e6 8.c3
8.c4 - 26/151
8...Be7 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.Bxh5 Ng6 11.Qb3N
11.Bf3
11...Rb8 12.c4
12.Qa4+?! b5 13.Qxa7? Qc8 14.Qa5 c6-+12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.c4 Nf6 14.Qa4+ - 12.c4
12...Nf6
12...Ndf4!?

13.Bf3 (13.Bxg6 Ne2+! 14.Kh1 hxg6) 13...Qxd4 14.Be3 Qe5 15.Bxa7 Rd8 16.Qxb7 O-O
13.Bxg6 hxg6 14.Qa4+ c6 15.Qxa7 Bd6
15...Qc7 16.Nc3 Ng4! 17.g3 Rxh3 18.Bf4 Bd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Ne4 Qc7 21.d5!
16.Nc3 Bc7 17.Rd1
17.Ne2! O-O (17...Bb6 18.Qa3 Bxd4 19.Bf4 Ra8 20.Qb3) 18.Be3
17...Qd6 18.g3 Qd7
18...Qb4 19.Bd2 Qxc4 20.b3 Qa6 21.Qxa6 bxa6 22.Kg2
19.h4 O-O
19...e5? 20.dxe5 Qh3 21.exf6 Rxh4 22.Qe3+ Kf8 23.fxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qf3+-
20.Qc5

20.a4!
20...b5! 21.cxb5 cxb5 22.a3
22.d5 Rfc8!22.Qb4 Bd6 23.Qb3 b4
22...Rfc8 23.Qg5 b4
23...Ba5!
24.axb4 Rxb4 25.Qd2 Bb6 26.Ne2 Rbc4
26...Rb3 27.Ra3 Ne4 28.Qf4 Rxa3 29.bxa3 Qa4
27.Qd3 e5
27...Qb7!?
28.Bg5
28.dxe5 Qxd3 29.Rxd3 Ng4 30.Rc3 Bxf2+ 31.Kg2 Rxc3 32.bxc3 Bc5 33.e6 fxe6 34.Ra4
28...Ng4 29.Rac1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Re8
30...Rxc1+ 31.Bxc1 exd4 32.Bf4 Qc6 33.f3 (33.b4 Qh1+! 34.Kxh1 Nxf2+ 35.Kg2 Nxd3) 33...Ne3 34.Bxe3 dxe3
35.Kg2=
31.Rd1
31.Qf3 exd4 32.Nf4

32...Nxf2! 33.Qc6! (33.Qxf2 d3 34.Qxb6 d2 35.Rd1 Re1+-+) (33.Kxf2 d3+ 34.Kf1 d2 35.Rd1 Re3 36.Qd5 Qg4-+)
33...Qxc6 34.Rxc6 d3 35.Nxd3 Nxd3+ 36.Rxb6 Re1+ 37.Kg2 Re2+ 38.Kf3 Rxb2
31...exd4 32.Bf4
32.Nxd4? Bxd4 33.Qxd4 Re1+!-+
32...Nf6?!
32...Qd5! Qh1!
33.Nc1! Nd5 34.Bd2?
34.Qf3 Nb4 35.Nd3 Nxd3 36.Qxd3=
34...Qc6?
34...Qg4!
35.Rf1 (35.Bg5 Ne3! 36.Re1 (36.Rd2 Qh3 37.fxe3 dxe3 38.Re2 Rc8 39.Nb3 Qxg3+ 40.Kh1 Qf3+ 41.Kg1 Re8-+
Re4) 36...Qf3) (35.Re1 Re3! 36.Bxe3 dxe3 37.Qxd5 (37.Kh2 exf2 38.Rf1 Qe6-+) 37...exf2+ 38.Kf1 Qh3+ 39.Ke2
fxe1=Q+ 40.Kxe1 Qxg3+-+) 35...Ne3! 36.fxe3 Qxg3+ 37.Kh1 dxe3-+
35.Ne2 Qf6 36.Rc1
36.Bg5 Qe6 37.Nxd4 Qh3
36...Qf5 37.Qxf5 gxf5 38.Kf1 d3 39.Nc3 Nxc3 40.Rxc3 Bd4
40...Re2 41.Rxd3 Rxf2+ 42.Ke1=
41.Rb3 g6
41...Rc8 42.Bf4= (42.Rxd3 Bxb2=)
42.f3= Be5 43.g4 fxg4 44.fxg4 Bf6 45.h5 gxh5 46.gxh5 Re5 47.h6 Kh7 48.Rxd3 Rf5+ 49.Ke2 Bxb2 1/2-1/2

37. B01
Grandelius, Nils (2643) - Xiong, Jeffery (2667)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/37, 2017

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bg5!? g6!?N

5...a65...Bg4 - 78/(91)
6.Qd2 Bg7 7.O-O-O O-O 8.Bh6
8.h4 Rd8 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Be2 Nc6
8...Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Nc6 10.Nf3
10.h3 Nb4 (10...Nxd4 11.Nb5 Nf5 12.Qxf8+! Kxf8 13.Nxd6)
10...Bg4 11.Be2
11...Rfd8?
11...Rad8 12.Qe3 (12.d5 Ne5 13.Rhe1 (13.Nxe5 Bxe2 14.Nxf7 Rxf7 15.Nxe2 Ng4-+) 13...Nxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxf3 15.gxf3
Rfe8) 12...Nb4
12.d5 Nb8?!
12...Ne5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.f3 Bd7 15.Rhe112...Na5 13.Rd4!12...Nb4 13.a3 a5 14.Rd2 (14.axb4 axb4 15.Nb1 b3
16.c3 Ra1 17.Rd4 Bf5 18.Nd2 Nxd5)
13.h3
13.Rhe1 Nbd7 14.Ng5 Bxe2 15.Rxe2
13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nbd7 15.h4 Ne5 16.h5 Nc4
16...Nfg4 17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.Qd2
17.Rd4?!
17.hxg6! Qb4 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 (18...Kh8 19.Na4 Qxa4 20.Be4+-) 19.Na4 (19.Rd3+-) 19...Qxa4 20.Bh5+ Kg8
21.Bg6+-
17...Qb4
17...Qc5 18.Rf4+- Qb4 19.Nd1 Qd2+ 20.Kb1+-
18.Rxc4?
18.Nd1 Qc5 19.Rf4 Ne5 20.Rxf6 exf6 21.hxg6 Nxg6 22.Ne3+-
18...Qxc4 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Ne4 Rd7
20...Qd4 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Bg4+-
21.Ng5?!
21.Kb1 Rf8 (21...Rad8?? 22.b3 Qd4 23.Ng5 Rd6 24.Be4+-) 22.Qh3 (22.Ng5 e5 (22...Qf4 23.Qxf8++-) 23.dxe6
Re7) 22...Rf7 23.Ng5 Rd6 24.Nxf7 Kxf7
21...Qf4+
21...e5 22.dxe6 Re7
22.Kb1 Rad8 23.g3 Qd2
24.c4??
24.Rd1 Qxd1+ 25.Bxd1 Rxd524.Bg4! Qxd5 25.b3 Rd6 26.f4 b5 27.f5! gxf5 28.Bf3! Qc5! 29.Bh5 Kh8! (29...Qd5
30.Bf7+ Qxf7 31.Nxf7 Kxf7 32.Qf4) 30.Nf7+ (30.Bf7 Rd1+-+) 30...Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ (32.Nxd8 Rxd8
33.Qh6+ Kg8 34.Bg6 Rd4 35.Bxh7+ Kf7 36.Bg6+ Ke6)24.b3 Rxd5 25.Bxd5+ Rxd5 26.f4 Rc5 27.Rc1 Rc6 28.Qh3
e6 29.Nxe6 Qd7 30.Re1 Ne4!
24...e6-+ 25.Ka1 exd5 26.cxd5
26.Rd1 Qxf2-+
26...Rxd5 27.Bxd5+ Rxd5 0-1

38. B04
Socko, Monika (2455) - Gazik, Igor (2295)
Graz 131/38, 2017

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c4 Nb6 6.e6!? fxe6 7.Be2!?
7.Ng5 - 87/56
7...Nd7?!N
7...g6 8.h4 Bg7 9.h5 e5 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.Rxh8+ Bxh8 12.d5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.Bg5
8.Nc3 Nf6
9.h4! e5
9...g6? 10.h5 Nxh5 (10...gxh5 11.Ng5+-) 11.Rxh5 gxh5 12.Ng5+-9...Bd7 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.O-O
10.d5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Qxd4 e5 13.Qd1 Be7 14.g4! O-O 15.Be3 Qd7 16.Rg1 c6 17.Qc2
17.g5 Ne8 18.h5
17...cxd5 18.cxd5 b5
18...Qe8 19.Qd1!? g4 (19.h5 Bd7 20.O-O-O b5)
19.g5 Ne8 20.Bxb5 Qc7 21.Bd3 g6 22.h5 Bf5 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Bxf5
24.Rh1!?24.O-O-O!?
24...gxf5?
24...Rxf5 25.O-O-O
25.Rh1 Rb8 26.f4
26.O-O-O Rb4 27.f3+- Qh2
26...Bd8 27.O-O-O
27.Qh2 Qg7 28.O-O-O Rb4 29.fxe5 Bxg5 30.Bxg5 Qxg5+ 31.Kb1+-
27...Qg7
28.g6! Bb6 29.Bxb6 Rxb6 30.Rdg1 exf4 31.Rh7 Qd4 32.Qh2 Qe3+ 33.Kc2 1-0

39. B04
Hansen, Eric (2603) - Xiong, Jeffery (2667)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/39, 2017

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 c6 6.O-O Bg7 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.Re1 O-O 9.c3
9.h3 Bf5 10.Bb3 a5 11.c4 a4 12.Bxa4 Nb4 13.Nc3 Nd3 14.Re29.Bg5 - 15/139
9...Bg4
9...Nd7 10.Bb3 N7f6 11.h3 Bc8
10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Nxf3 e6 13.a4! a5N
13...Rad8
14.Bg5 N7b6 15.Bf1 c5
15...h6 16.Bh4! Nf4 17.Bg3 g5 18.h4
16.dxc5! Qxc5 17.Qb3 Rfc8
17...Rfe8 18.Rad1 e5 19.Bb5
18.Rad1 h6
18...Nc4 19.Bc1! Ndb6 20.Nd4 (20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Bxd2 Nd5 22.g3 Rab8 23.h4) 20...Rd8 21.Nb5
19.Bc1!?
19.Bh4 Nc4 20.Bg3 b5! (20...Nd6 21.Ne5) 21.axb5 Ndb6 22.Nd4 a4 23.Qc2 e5 24.Nc6 Re8
19...Rd8 20.Nd4 Rd6 21.Nb5 Rd7 22.g3!
22.c4 Nb4 23.Be3 Qc6 24.Be2 Rad8 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.Rd1 Qc8 27.Rd2
22...Rad8 23.h4!?
23.Na3
23...Nc8!? 24.Na3 Nd6 25.Nc4 Nf5 26.Qb5?!
26.Bg2? Nxg326.Rd3! Qc7 27.Bg2 Qc5 28.Qb5 (28.Ne5 Re7 (28...Bxe5 29.Rxe5) 29.Bd2 Qc7) 28...Qc7 29.Kf1!
(29.Red1 Nxc3 30.Rxd7 Nxb5 31.Rxd8+ Kh7 32.axb5 Qxc4) 29...Bf8 30.Be4 Nd6 31.Nxd6 Rxd6 32.Red1
26...Qc7 27.Rd3?!

27...Rc8?
27...Nxc3! 28.Rxd7 (28.Rxc3 Bxc3 29.bxc3 Nxg3! 30.Qe5 (30.fxg3 Qxg3+ 31.Kh1 Qxe1-+) 30...Nxf1 31.Bxh6 Qxe5
32.Nxe5 Nd2 33.Nxd7 Rxd7) 28...Nxb5 29.Rxc7 Nxc7 30.Nxa5 Ra8 31.Nxb7 Rxa4=
28.Rf3 b6 29.Qb3 Nfe7 30.Rd1 Nf5 31.Na3 Bf8 32.Nb5 Qb8?!
32...Qe5 33.Rfd3
33.h5! Bc5 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Bf4 Qb7 36.Bg2?!
36.Be5!
36...Rf8?!
36...Nxf4 37.Rxf4 Rxd1+ 38.Qxd1 Qe7 39.b4 axb4 40.cxb4 Bxb4 41.Qg4 Bc5 42.Qxg6+ Kh8 43.Kh2!
37.Rfd3! g5?
38.Rxd5! exd5 39.Rxd5 Rdf7
39...Kh7 40.Rxf5 Qc8 41.Be4+-
40.Rxc5 Qe7 41.Rxf5 gxf4 42.Rxf4 1-0

40. !N B06
Kovalev, Vladislav (2598) - Smirin, Ilia (2670)
Moscow 131/40, 2017

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Bg5 a6 5.Qd2 Nd7 6.f4

6.O-O-O - 56/124
6...b5 7.Nf3 Bb7 8.O-O-O b4 9.Nd5 Bxd5 10.exd5 Ngf6 11.Qxb4!N
11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Bc4 Rb8
11...Nxd5 12.Qa5 N5f6
12...c6 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8!? 14.c4 N5f6 15.Bd3
13.Bd3 O-O?! 14.f5! Qc8
15.Rhe1?!
15.h4! c5 16.fxg6 fxg6 (16...hxg6 17.h5 gxh5 (17...c4 18.Bf5! gxf5 19.h6 Bh8 20.h7+ Nxh7 21.Rxh7 Kxh7 22.Qxf5+
Kg8 23.Rh1 Nf6 24.Bxf6+-) 18.g4 hxg4 19.Qd2! c4 (19...gxf3 20.Bh6+-) 20.Bf5 e6 21.Bh6+-) 17.h5
15...Re8 16.Ne5?
16.Nh4!? c5 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Bxg6
16...dxe5 17.dxe5 Ng4 18.e6 Nde5 19.exf7+ Nxf7 20.Bxe7

20.Bc4 Qxf5-+
20...Qb7
20...Nfe5! 21.Be4 (21.f6 Nxd3+ 22.cxd3 Nxf6-+) 21...Rb8 22.f6 (22.h3 Kh8! 23.hxg4 Nc4-+) 22...Nxf6 23.Qxe5
Rb5!-+
21.b3 Nf2 22.fxg6 Nxd3+ 23.Rxd3 hxg6 24.Rg3
24.Qc5 c6 25.Bh4 Qb5
24...Qc6 25.h4 Rab8 26.a4 Qd7 27.Rd3 Qc6
27...Qg4-+
28.Rg3 Qd7
28...Rxe7! 29.Rxe7 Qf6 30.Qxc7 (30.Qe1 Qb2+ 31.Kd1 Rd8+ 32.Rd3 Rxd3+ 33.cxd3 Qxb3+ 34.Ke2 Ne5-+)
30...Qf1+ 31.Kd2 Bh6+ 32.Kc3 Qf6+ 33.Kc4 Rb6!-+
29.Rd3 Qg4! 30.Qxc7 Rbc8 31.Qg3 Qf5 32.Bb4 Ne5
32...Rxe1+ 33.Bxe1 Qc5 34.Qf2 Qa3+ 35.Kd1 Ne5-+
33.Rc3 Nc6 34.Rf3 Rxe1+ 35.Bxe1 Qe4 36.Kb1 Nb4 0-1

41.* B12
Firouzja, Alireza (2465) - Bluebaum, Matthias (2632)
Moscow 131/41, 2017

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.c3!? Ne7 6.Be2 Ng6

6...h6 - 124/ 37
7.h4 h5

8.Ng5! - 131/41
8.Bd3N Ne7 9.Bg5 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nd7 11.Nbd2 Qb6 12.b4 a5 13.O-O Nf5 14.Rfb1 axb4 15.cxb4 Qb5= Zhigalko,S
(2671)-Motylev,A (2663)/ Tallinn (blitz) 131/(41) 2016
8...f6 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Nh3 Kd7!?N
10...Nxh4 11.Nf4 Ng6 12.Rxh5 Kf7 13.Rxh8 Nxh8 14.Bh5+ Kg8 15.Qe210...e5 11.Bxh5 Qe7 12.Qf3 Qe6 13.dxe5
Qxe5+ 14.Be3
11.Nf4
11.Bxh5 Nxh4 12.Nf4 Ng6 13.g4 Be4 14.Rg1 (14.f3 Bxb1 15.Rxb1 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Bd6=) 14...Nxf4 15.Bxf4 Bxb1
16.Rxb1 Bd6=
11...Nxf4 12.Bxf4 Qe8?!
12...Bd6 13.Bxd6 Kxd6 14.Bxh5 Qb6 15.b3 c5 16.Bg4 Bxg4 17.Qxg4 Nc6
13.c4! dxc4 14.Bxc4 Qg6 15.Qb3
15.O-O! Qg4 16.Qd2 Bd6 (16...Qxh4? 17.d5!) 17.Bxd6 Kxd6 18.Nc3
15...b5 16.O-O?
16.Nc3 Qxg2 17.O-O-O
16...Rg8
16...bxc4?? 17.Qb7++-
17.g3 Qg4 18.Re1 Bb4?!

18...a5! 19.a4 (19.Bxb8 Bb4! (19...Rxb8 20.Bf1)) 19...Bb4 20.axb5 Bxe1 21.bxc6+ Ke8
19.Bxe6+!?
19.Qxb4 Qxf4 20.Bf1
19...Bxe6 20.Rxe6 Qxe6 21.Qxb4 Na6 22.Qd2 Rae8 23.Nc3 Nc7 24.d5! Nxd5 25.Nxd5 Qxd5 26.Qc2 Kc8 27.Rd1
Qf3?
27...Qe4 28.Qc5 Qxf4 29.Qxc6+ Qc7 30.Qa8+ Qb8=
28.Qf5+ Kb7 29.Rd7+ Ka8

30.Rxa7+!+- Kxa7 31.Bb8+ Kxb8 32.Qxf3 Re6 33.Qxh5 Rge8 34.Qf7 R8e7 35.Qg6 Kb7 36.h5 Kb6 37.g4 c5 38.h6
f5 39.gxf5! Rxg6+ 40.fxg6 Re6 41.g7 Rg6+ 42.Kf1 1-0

42.* B12
Sutovsky, Emil (2628) - Topalov, Veselin (2739)
Gibraltar 131/42, 2017

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.Bxh6 Rxh6 10.Nbd2
10.Nc3 - 127/(41)
10...Nd7 - 131/42
10...Na6N 11.c3 c5 12.a3 Rc8 13.b4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Kf8 15.Ke2 g6 16.Qb5 Rc7 17.Rac1 Nb8 18.Nb3 a6 19.Qd3 Kg7
20.Rxc7 Qxc7 21.Rc1 Qd7 (21...Nc6 22.Na5! Nxd4+ 23.Kd1!) (21...Qb6) 22.Nc5 Bxc5 23.bxc5 Sutovsky,E
(2625)-David,A (2574)/Novi Sad 131/(42) 2016
11.c3N
11.g3
11...c5 12.a3 Rc8 13.b4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nb6 15.O-O!?
15.g3 Rc7 16.O-O Qc8=
15...Bxh4 16.Nxh4 Qxh4 17.Rac1 Qd8 18.Qb5+ Qd7
18...Kf8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Qa5 Rg6 21.Qxa7
21...Kg8! 22.Qxb6 Qc3 23.Qd8+ (23.Nb1? Qh3 24.g3 h4-+) (23.Rd1 Qc2) 23...Kh7 24.Qh4 Qxd2 25.Qxh5+ Kg8
26.Qh4=
19.Rxc8+ Nxc8 20.Qa5 b6 21.Qa6 Ne7 22.Rc1 Kd8?
22...f6!? Kf7
23.b5 Nf5

24.Nb3?
24.Rc6!?24.a4! Nxd4 (24...Ke7 25.Rc8+- Ra8) 25.Kh2! Rh8 (25...Ke7 26.Rc8+-) 26.a5 Ke7 27.axb6 Nxb5
28.Rb1!+-
24...Rh8 25.a4?
25.Na5!? Nxd4 (25...bxa5? 26.Qxa5+ Ke8 27.b6+-) 26.Nc6+ Nxc6 27.Rxc6 Ke7 28.Qa4 Rd8 29.Qc2 Qe8 30.Rc7+
Rd7 31.Rc8 Rd8=
25...Ke7 26.a5 Rb8 27.axb6 axb6 28.Rc6 Qb7 29.Qa3+ Kd7 30.g3 Ke8 31.Qc1 Qe7 32.Rc7
32.Rc8+ Rxc8 33.Qxc8+ Qd8
32...Qd8 33.Qc6+ Kf8 34.Rd7 Qc8

35.Na5?
35.Rc7 Qe8
35...bxa5 36.Rc7 Qd8 37.b6 Ne7-+ 38.Qc5 a4 39.b7 a3 40.Qd6 a2 41.Rc1 Qxd6 42.exd6 Rxb7 0-1

43. B12
Bok, Benjamin (2594) - So, Wesley (2794)
Douglas 131/43, 2016

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O c5 7.c4 dxc4
7...Nbc6 - 123/48
8.Na3 Nbc6
8...Nec6 - 55/145
9.Nxc4 Nd5 10.Bg5 Qd7 11.Rc1 h6 12.Be3 b5 13.Na3
13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 c4
13...a6 14.dxc5 Be7 15.Nc2 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Be4 17.a4 Qb7
18.Bd3N
18.axb5 - 109/(55)
18...Bxd3
18...Rd8? 19.Bxe4! Rxd1 20.Rfxd1
19.Qxd3 O-O 20.axb5 Qxb5
20...axb5 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Qe2
21.Qxb5 axb5 22.Rfd1 Rfc8 23.Rd7 Ra2 24.b4

24...Bg5!
24...Rb2!? 25.Nd4! Rd2 26.Nd5!? (26.Rd1 Rxd1+ 27.Nxd1 Nxb4 28.Rxe7 Rd8!= (28...Rxc5 29.Ne2)) 26...Bxc5
27.bxc5 exd5 28.Nxc6 Rxc6 29.g3
25.Nxg5 hxg5 26.Rb1 Rca8
26...Nxe5 27.Rb7 Rd8 28.Rxb5 Rdd2 29.Rb8+ (29.Rf1 f5) (29.Ra5 Rxa5 (29...Rab2 30.Raa1 Rxf2 31.b5 Rbe2
32.b6+-) 30.bxa5 Ra2 31.Rb8+ Kh7 32.Ra8 Ra1+ 33.Nf1 Kg6) 29...Kh7 30.b5 Rxf2 31.b6 Rfb2 32.Rxb2 Rxb2
33.h3
27.h3
27.Rb7 Ra1 28.Rf1 Nxb4 (28...Nd4 29.Rb8+! Rxb8 30.Rxa1) 29.Rxb5 Nc6!?= (29...Nd3 30.c6 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Rc8
32.Ke2 Nf4+ 33.Kf3 Rxc6 34.h4)
27...R8a4 28.Rb7
28.Rbd1 Rxb4 29.R1d6 Nxe5 30.c6 Rb1+ 31.Kh2 Rc1
28...Rxb4 29.Rxb4 Nxb4 30.Rxb5 Nd3 31.Nc4
31.c6 Ra1+ 32.Kh2 Rc1=
31...Rc2 32.Nd6 Nxe5=
32...Rxc5 33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Nxf7 Kg6=
33.Ne4 f6 34.Rb8+ Kh7 35.Rb3 Rc4 36.f3 Nd7 37.Rb7

37...Nxc5! 38.Rc7
38.Nxf6+? Kg6 39.Nd7 Rc1+-+
38...Rxe4!
38...Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Nd3 40.Nxf6+ Kg6 41.Rxc1 Nxc1 42.Ne4
39.fxe4 Nxe4 40.Re7 e5 41.g4 Nc3 42.Kg2 Nd5 43.Ra7 Nf4+ 44.Kg3 Kg6 45.Rb7 Ne2+ 46.Kf2 Nf4 47.Kg3 Ne2+
48.Kf2 Nf4 1/2-1/2

44. B12
Motylev, Alexander (2663) - Donchenko, Alexander (2553)
Moscow 131/44, 2017

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.O-O Qxb2 9.Qe1 c4 10.Rb1 Qxc2 11.Bd1 Qxb1
12.Nxb1 Bxb1 13.Ba4 Bd3 14.Qa5 Kd7

15.Rd1!
15.Rc1 - 113/(37)
15...Nh6?N
15...Ne7 16.Rxd3 cxd3 17.Ng5 Nf5 18.Nxf7 Rg8 19.Bxc6+ bxc6 20.Qa6 Rc8 21.Bd2! Be7 22.g4 Nh4 23.Kf1 Rc7
24.Nd6 Ba515...h6 16.Bc1 b6 17.Qa6 Kc7 18.Bxc6 Kxc6 19.a4
16.Bg5!
16.Ne1 Be4 17.f3 Bg6 18.Bg5
16...Be4
16...Ng8!? Ne7 17.Bxc6+ Kxc6 (17...bxc6 18.Rd2!+- Rb2) 18.Bd8!+-
17.Rd2!+- b6 18.Qa6 Kc7 19.Rb2 Nb8 20.Bd8+ Kxd8 21.Qb7 Ba3 22.Qxa8 Kc8 23.Bc6 1-0

45.** B13
Riazantsev, Alexander (2671) - Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2709)
Sharjah 131/45, 2017

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.exd4 d5 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4
11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+
12.Qxb5+ Qd7 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Qb3? (14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.Be3 Bb4+ 16.Ke2 Rhc8)
12...Ke7
13.Qc5+!?
13.Qxb5 Qd7 14.Nxd5+ Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 16.Be3 Ke6= - 111/ 58
13...Ke8
13...Nd6 14.Nxd5+ exd5 15.Qxd5 (15.O-O!?) 15...Qc8 16.O-O Qb7 17.Qe5+ Kd7 18.Rd1
14.Qxb5+ Qd7 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Qb3
16.Qd3!? - 131/(45) 16...Bb4+ 17.Kf1 f6 18.Kg2 Kf7 19.Bf4 Ba5?! (19...Rac8 20.Rhd1) 20.Rhd1 (20.Rhc1! Bb6
(20...Rac8? 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Qxh7) 21.a4 a5 22.Ra3!) 20...Rad8 21.Rac1 Grischuk, A (2737)-Vidit,S (2689)/Doha
(rapid) 131/(45) 2016
16...Bd6 17.O-ON
17.Bd2 - 131/(45) 17...Qe6+ 18.Kd1!? Rb8?! (18...Kf8 19.Qd3 Rd8) 19.Qd3 Kf8 Kislinsky,A (2456)-Dzierzak,R
(2230)/Krakow 131/(45) 2016 (19...Kf8 20.Rc1 Rxb2 21.Re1)
17...Rb8 18.Qe3+
18.Qd3 Qh3 19.Qe3+ Kf8 20.f4
18...Kf8
19.Rd1??
19.Re1 h5!
19...Qh3
19...Qh3 20.f4 Qg4+-+0-1

46. B15
Wei, Yi (2707) - Rapport, Richard (2717)
Yancheng (m/3) 131/46, 2016

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bf5 7.Bd3
7.Ne2 Bd6 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bc4 O-O 10.O-O Re8 11.f4 - 44/1607.Qf3 - 51/ (138)
7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Bd6 9.Qe3+ Qe7 10.Nf3N
10.Ne2
10...Nd7 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Be3?!
12.c4!? b5! (12...Rhe8 13.O-O f5 14.Bd2 Kf8=) 13.b3 (13.c5 Bc7 14.O-O Nf8 15.Bd2 Ne6 16.a4 Rhd8 d4) 13...bxc4
14.bxc4 c5=
12...Nb6! 13.O-O-O Kd7 14.Rhe1 Nd5 15.Kc2?!
15.c4 Nxe3 16.fxe3 f5=
15...b5! 16.Bc1 a5 17.g3 a4 18.a3?!
18.h3 a3!? 19.b3 b4 20.c4 Nc3 21.Rd3 Nxa2 (21...Rhe8 22.Rxe8 Kxe8 23.Bd2 Nxa2 24.c5 Bc7 25.Re3+ Kd7 26.Re1=
Ra1) 22.Bd2 Rhe8 23.Ra1 Nc3 24.Bxc3 bxc3 25.c5 Bc7 26.Kxc3
18...h5 19.h4?!
19.Kd3 g5 (19...Rhe8 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Re1 Rxe1 22.Nxe1=) 20.h3=
19...Rhe8 20.Rxe8?!
20.Kd3
20...Rxe8 21.Re1 f5?
21...Rxe1! 22.Nxe1 Ke6 23.Kd3 Kf5 24.Ke2 Kg4 25.Nf3 f5
22.Rxe8 Kxe8 23.b3 Nb6?!
23...f4!
24.gxf4 (24.c4 axb3+ 25.Kxb3 bxc4+ 26.Kxc4 fxg3 27.fxg3 f6! (27...Bxg3 28.Kc5) 28.a4 Bxg3) 24...Nxf4 25.Bxf4
Bxf4
24.bxa4 Nxa4 25.Kd3 Nb6 26.Nd2 Bc7
26...f4? 27.Ne426...Kd7 27.f4 Ke6 28.c4=
27.f4!
27.c4 f4!
27...Kd7 28.Nf1
28.c4? Nxc4 29.Nxc4 bxc4+ 30.Kxc4 Ba5-+ Be1
28...Nc8
28...g6 29.Ne3 Bd8 30.Bd2 Be7 31.Bc1 c5 32.c4! cxd4 33.Kxd4 Nxc4 34.Nxc4 bxc4 35.Kxc4 Kc6 36.Kd3 (36.a4
Bc5) 36...Bc5 37.Be3 Bxa3 38.Bf2 Kd5 39.Be1 Bc5 40.Ke2 Ke4 41.Ba5 g5!? 42.hxg5 h4 43.gxh4 Kxf4 44.h5 Kxg5
45.Kf3 Kxh5 46.Bc3=
29.c4 Nd6 30.cxb5 cxb5 31.Bd2 Ne4 32.Be1 g6 33.Ne3 Bd6 34.Nc2 Ke6 35.Ke3 f6
35...Kd5 36.Kd3 Be7 37.Ne3+ Kc6 38.Bb4 Bxb4 39.axb4 Nxg3 40.d5+ Kd6 41.Nc2 Kxd5 42.Nd4 Ne4 43.Nxb5
Nf2+ 44.Ke3 Ng4+ 45.Kd3=
36.Kd3 g5 37.hxg5 fxg5 38.fxg5 Nxg5
39.d5+!
39.Ke3 Kd5 40.Kd3 Ne4 41.Ne3+ Ke6 42.g4 hxg4 43.Nxg4 Bxa3
39...Kxd5 40.Nd4 Bxa3 41.Nxf5
41.Nxb5=
41...Bb2 42.Ne3+ Kc6 43.Ke2
43.g4=
43...Bd4 44.g4 Bxe3 45.Kxe3 hxg4 46.Kf4 Nf3 47.Bb4 Ne5 48.Kxe5 g3 49.Be1! b4 50.Kd4 1/2-1/2

47. B23
Aldama Degurnay, Dionisio (2375) - Izoria, Zviad (2604)
Las Vegas 131/47, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6! 6.d3 Nge7 7.O-O d5 8.Bb3 O-O 9.Qe1 Na5 10.e5
10.Bd2 - 98/(85)
10...a6 11.a4?!
11.Bd2 c4 12.dxc4 dxc4 13.Ne4! Nec6 14.Rd1 cxb3 15.axb3 b5 (15...h6 16.Be3 Qc7 17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Bc5 Rd8
19.Qe3! Rxd1 20.Rxd1 b5 21.Ng5!!) 16.Be3! Bd7 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.exf6
11...Nxb3 12.cxb3 Nc6 13.a5!?N
13.Bd2
13...Nxa5!?
14.f5! exf5 15.Bg5 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Rxf6
17...Qxf6? 18.Rxa5+-
18.Qh4
18.Rxa5!? Qxa5 19.Nxd5 Qxe1 20.Nxf6+ Kf7 21.Rxe1 Kxf6 22.Re8 b5
18...Kg7 19.Rae1 Nc6 20.Ne2 Be6
20...Qd6! 21.Nf4 Bd7 22.Qg5 Rf7 23.h4 h6!
21.Nf4 Bg8 22.Qg3! Kh8! 23.h4?
23.Rf2
23...Qd6
24.Ne5! d4
24...Nxe5 25.Rxe5 Qxe5?? 26.Nxg6++-
25.Nxc6 bxc6 26.Re5! Bxb3!? 27.Rfe1 Bf7
27...Qf8 28.Qg5
28.Qg5 Rf8?
28...Ra7! 29.Ne6 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Bxe6 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Rxe6 Qf8 33.Qe5 Ra8 34.Re7=
29.Re7 c4 30.Rd7!
30.Rd7 Qxd7 31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Re7 Qc8 (32...Qd8 33.Ne6+-) 33.Ne6+-1-0

48.* !N B23
Yu, Yangyi (2738) - Khismatullin, Denis (2639)
Moscow 131/48, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6!? 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.Nh3 b4

6...d6 - 102/ (119)6...Nf6 7.O-O d6 8.f4 b4 (8...Nc6 - 127/47) 9.Ne2 Be7 10.Nf2 Nc6 11.g4 Nd7 12.a3N (12.c3)
12...a5 13.Ng3 Qb6 Vitiugov,N (2724) -Donchenko,A (2559)/Gibraltar 131/(48) 2017
7.Ne2
7.Na4!?
7...d5 8.e5?!
8.O-O!?=
8...Nc6 9.f4
9...Nh6!N
9...Nge7
10.Nf2
10.Neg1!?
10...Nf5 11.O-O
11.g4?! Nh4! 12.O-O Nxg2 13.Kxg2 h5
11...Qb6
11...Be7!?
12.c3 Be7
12...h5
13.g4?!
13.a3 a5 14.axb4 axb4 15.Rxa8+ Bxa8 16.Bh3 d413.Bh3 d4
13...Nh4 14.Bh1 h5 15.g5 f6?!
15...a5 16.a4 g6 17.Ng3 Kf8
16.exf6 gxf6 17.Ng3
17.a3 bxc3 18.bxc3 O-O-O 19.Ng3 fxg5 20.fxg5 Bd6
17...fxg5 18.fxg5 O-O-O 19.Qe2
19.Nxh5 Rdf8 (19...Kb8 20.a3) 20.Qe2 (20.Qg4? Nf3+! 21.Bxf3 Ne5-+) 20...Qc7 21.Nh319.Qe1 Kb8
19...e5
19...Kb8!? 20.Nh3 e5
20.Nxh5?!
20.Be3! Qc7 21.c4 dxc4 22.Rac1!
20...Kb8! 21.Qg4?
21.a3 Na521.Ng3 Ka7
21...Ng6-+ 22.Nf6?!

22.Qe2
22...e4! 23.dxe4 Nce5
23...Qc7
24.Qg3 Bd6 25.h3 Qc7 26.Rd1 Nd7! 27.Qf3 Nxf6 28.gxf6 dxe4
28...Rdg8-+
29.Qg4
29.Nxe4 Bxe4 30.Qxe4 Bh2+ 31.Kf2 Bg3+-+29.Qe2 Rdg8 30.Kf1 Bg3 31.Nxe4 Rxh3-+
29...Rhg8
29...Ne5-+
30.Kf1 Nf4 31.Qf5
31.Qh4 e3 32.Bxe3 Ng2-+
31...e3 32.Bxe3 Bxh1?
32...Rg1+! 33.Kxg1 Ne2+! 34.Kf1 Ng3+ 35.Ke1 Nxf5-+
33.f7?
33.Rxd6! Bg2+ 34.Ke1 Qxd6 35.Qxf4 (35.Bxf4 Rge8+ 36.Ne4 Rxe4+! 37.Qxe4 Bxe4 38.Bxd6+ Rxd6 39.cxb4 cxb4
40.Rd1 Re6 41.Rd4 b3 42.f7 Bg6+-+) 35...Qxf4 36.Bxf4+ Kb7 37.Ke2 Rgf8 38.Rg1 Rxf6 39.Rxg2 Rxf4-+
33...Bg2+ 34.Ke1 Qe7 35.Ng4
35.Kd2 Rg5-+
35...Rxg4 0-1

49. B27
Xiong, Jeffery (2667) - Dobrov, Vladimir (2499)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/49, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6!? 3.g3

3.d4 - 93/83
3...Bb7 4.Qe2 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O Nf6N
6...d6
7.e5 Nd5 8.d4 Nc7
8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qc8 10.Rd1
9.Rd1 Qc8 10.c3
10.Bg5!? cxd4 (10...Nc6? 11.d5) 11.Bf6! Kf8 (11...Bxf6 12.exf6 e6 13.Rxd4) 12.Bxg7+ Kxg7 13.Rxd4
10...Bc6
10...O-O
11.h4!?
11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Na3 O-O 13.Nc4
11...Qa6 12.Qe3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nd5 14.Qe1 Qb7 15.h5 O-O 16.Nh4 Na6 17.a3
17.Na3 Nac7 18.Nc4
17...e6?!
17...Nac7
18.Nd2 d6 19.Nc4 dxe5 20.dxe5 Qe7
20...Ba4 21.Nd6 Qd7 22.hxg6! hxg6 23.Nxg6! fxg6 24.Rxd5 exd5 25.Bxd5+ Kh8 26.Qe420...Nc5 21.b4 Nb3 22.h6
Bh8 23.Rb1 Nxc1 24.Rbxc1
21.b4 g5
22.h6!?
22.b5! Bxb5 23.Bxd5 gxh4 24.Bxa8 Bxc4 25.Rd4
22...Bxh6 23.Nd6 Nac7 24.a4
24.b5! Bd7 (24...Nxb5? 25.Bxd5 Bxd5 26.Rxd5! exd5 27.Nhf5 Qe6 28.Nxh6+ Qxh6 29.Nxb5+-) 25.Ne4
24...Bg7 25.Nf3 f6?
25...g4 26.Bg5 Qd7 (26...f6 27.Nd4!) 27.b5 Bxb5 (27...gxf3 28.bxc6 Qxc6 29.Rac1 Qxa4 30.Bxf3) 28.Nh2! Bxa4
29.Rd4 Bc2 30.Nxg4
26.b5 Be8 27.Ba3 Qd7 28.Ne4 f5 29.Nexg5 Bh5 30.Bxf8 Rxf8 31.Rac1 Qe7 32.Rc6 f4
33.Rxd5! exd5
33...Nxd5 34.Nxe6 fxg3 35.Nxf8 Qxf8 36.Qe4+-
34.Qb1! Bg6
34...Bxe5 35.Nxe5 fxg3 36.fxg3 Qxg5 37.Rxc7 Qe3+ 38.Kh2 Qh6 39.Qc1+-
35.Rxg6! hxg6 36.Qxg6 Rd8 37.Nh4 Kf8 38.Nf5 1-0

50. B32
Fedorov, Alexei (2576) - Zhigalko, Andrey (2599)
Belarus (ch) 131/50, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nb5 Qb8 6.Bd3 a6 7.N5c3 e6 8.Be3 b5 9.f4 Be7 10.O-O d6 11.Qf3 Bb7
12.Nd2 Nf6 13.Qh3 O-O?!N
13...h5!?13...Nb4 - 80/138
14.Nf3
14.g4! Nb4 15.g5 Nd7 16.f5 Nxd3 17.cxd3
14...Rd8?
14...Re8 15.a3 (15.e5? dxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxf6 Bxf6 19.Qxh7+ Kf8-+) (15.g4 Nb4 16.g5 Nd7
17.Rad1 (17.f5?! exf5 18.exf5 Bd8 19.Bd4 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 Bb6) 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3) 15...e5 16.Nh4!?
14...h5!?
15.g4 b4

15...Nb4 16.g5 Ne8 17.f5

16.g5! bxc3?
16...Ne8 17.Nd5 exd5 18.exd5 g6 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd416...Ng4 17.Qxg4 bxc3 18.bxc3
17.gxf6 gxf6
17...Bxf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Bc5++-
18.Kf2! Kh8

18...Nb4 19.Rg1+ Kh8 (19...Kf8 20.Qxh7+-) 20.bxc3 Nxd3+ 21.cxd3 Bc6 22.Rab1 Qc7 23.Rg3 Rg8 24.Rbg1+-
19.Ng5! fxg5 20.e5 1-0

51. B44
Roganovic, Milos (2484) - Todorovic, Goran M (2458)
Srbija 131/51, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.O-O O-O 10.Be3 d6
10...d5 - 80/(166)
11.Na4 Ng4 12.Bc1 Qh4 13.h3 Nf6 14.a3 Ba5 15.b4 Bc7 16.Qf3 d5N
16...Be6
17.Nc3
17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Nc5 Bd6 19.Re1 a5 20.Bd2 axb4 21.Bxb4 d4
17...dxc4
17...d4 18.Na4 (18.Ne2 c5! 19.Bd2 Bb7 20.Qg3 (20.Ng3 g6) 20...Qxg3 21.Nxg3 g6) 18...Re8 19.Bd2 h6 20.Rac1
Rb8 (20...Nh7)
18.Bxc4 Bb6 19.Be3 Bd4?!
19...Bxe3 20.Qxe3 Nh5 21.Rad1 (21.Ne2) 21...Nf4 22.Ne2
20.Bxd4! exd4 21.Ne2 Nxe4
21...Qxe4 22.Qxe4 Nxe4 23.Nxd4 Bb7 24.Nb3
22.Rad1
22.Rfd1!?
22...Nc3 23.Nxc3 dxc3 24.Qxc3 a5 25.Rfe1
25.Rd6 axb4 (25...Bb7 26.bxa5+-) 26.axb4 Bb7 27.Re1
25...axb4 26.Qxb4!
26.axb4 Ba6 27.Bb3 Bb5 28.Rd7
26...Be6?
26...Qf6 27.Rd6 Qf4 28.Rxc6
27.Rxe6! c5
28.Re4!+- cxb4 29.Rxh4 bxa3 30.Ra1 Ra7 31.Bb3 Rfa8 32.Rb4 g6 33.Bd5 Rc8 34.Rb7 Rxb7 35.Bxb7 Rc3 36.Kf1
Kg7 37.Ke2 f5 38.Bd5 Kf6 39.Kd2 Rc5 1-0

52.** B46
Dragnev, Valentin (2492) - Yu, Yangyi (2738)
Gibraltar 131/52, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bf4 d6

6...Qb6 7.Nb3 Nf6 8.a3 Ne7 9.Bd3 (9.Qd6!? Qd8 (9...Qxd6) 10.Qd2 Ng6 11.O-O-O b5 12.Bd6) 9...Ng6 10.Bg3
(10.Be3!?) 10...h5N (10...Bd6) 11.h4 Blomqvist,E (2574)-Svidler,P (2748)/Gibraltar 131/(52) 2017
7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Qd2 Be7!
8...d5 - 130/568...e5?! 9.Bg5! Nf6 10.Bc4!? (10.O-O-O!? h6 11.Bh4 Be6 12.Kb1 (12.f3 - 107/51) 12...a5) 10...h6
11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.O-O Be7 13.f4 O-ON (13...Be6) 14.f5 Rd8 15.Rad1 Fressinet,L (2660)-Javakhishvili,L
(2455)/Gibraltar 131/(52) 2017
9.h4?!
9.Be2 e5!? (9...d5 10.O-O-O Nf6 11.Bf3 O-O 12.Kb1 a5 13.g4 Nd7!?) 10.Bg3 Nf6 11.f4 Qc7 (11...exf4 12.Bxf4 O-
O 13.O-O-O Ng4 14.Qe1 Qc7 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.Rd3) 12.O-O O-O9.O-O-O e5 10.Be3 (10.Bg3 Nf6 11.f4 Nh5=)
10...Nf6 11.Bg5 (11.f4 Ng4 (11...exf4 12.Bxf4 Nh5 13.Be3) 12.g3 O-O 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Bb3 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Bf6=)
11...Be6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.f4 Qa5 14.Kb1 (14.f5 Bxa2 15.Nxa2 Qxa2 16.Qc3 Qa4 17.Bc4 a5) 14...exf4 15.Qxf4 Qe5
16.g3 (16.Ne2 Rb8 17.b3 a5) 16...Rb8 (16...Qxf4!? 17.gxf4 f5=) 17.Qxe5 fxe5 18.Bxa6 f5
9...e5N
9...Nf6
10.Bg5
10.Bg3 Nf6 11.h5 Be6
10...f6! 11.Be3 f5 12.Bg5
12.f4!? Bxh4+ (12...fxe4 13.fxe5 Bxh4+ 14.Rxh4 Qxh4+ 15.Bf2 Qh6 16.Be3=) 13.Bf2 Bxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Nf6 15.fxe5
Ng4 16.Qd2 dxe5 17.O-O-O Qxd2+ 18.Rxd2 f4 19.Rh5! Kf7= (19...g6 20.Rg5 Kf7 21.Be2 h5 22.Rd6 Be6 23.Rxc6
Kf6 24.Bxg4 hxg4 25.Rxg4 Kf7 26.Rg5 Kf6=)
12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 d5 14.O-O-O Nf6!
14...Qc7 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Nc5 O-O 17.f3 Qd6 18.Qc3 Nf5 19.Bd3 Ng3 20.Rhe1 Re8=
15.Nxf6+
15.Bxf6?! gxf6 16.Qh6 Rb8! 17.b3 Kd7!
15...gxf6 16.Bh6 Qb6 17.Be2 Be6 18.Bh5+?
18.f4!? e4 19.Bh5+ Kd7 20.g4 Rhb8 21.b3 a5! 22.f5 Bg8 23.Rhe1 Qb4 (23...a4 24.Rxe4 axb3 25.cxb3 Bd6 26.Bf4
Bxf4 (26...Rxa2 27.Qxa2 Bxf4+ 28.Rxf4 Qe3+ 29.Rd2 Qxf4 30.Qa7+ Qc7 31.Qa3 Qb6 32.Re2 Qb4 33.Qxb4 Rxb4
34.g5=) 27.Rxf4 Qa7 28.Ra4 Qc5+ 29.Qc2=) 24.Qxb4 axb4 25.Rxe4 Bd6 26.Re2 (26.Bf4?! Rxa2 27.Bxd6 Kxd6
28.Ree1 h6!) 26...Rxa2
18...Kd7! 19.f4?!
19.Be3 Qb5 20.Be2 Qa4 21.Kb1 Rhb8 22.b3
19...Rhb8 20.b3?!
20.Qc3
20...a5!-+ 21.fxe5
21.c3 Qc5 22.Kb1 Qa3 23.g4 (23.Qb2 Bf5+ 24.Ka1 Qxb2+ 25.Kxb2 a4 26.b4 Rg8 27.Rd2 e4-+) 23...d4-+
21...a4!
21...fxe5? 22.Qe2
22.Qf4
22.Qd3 axb3 23.axb3 Qa5 24.exf6 Ba3+ 25.Kb1 Bb4 26.Qxh7+ Kc8 27.Qh8+ Kb7 28.Qg7+ Kb6 29.Be3+ c5-+
22...axb3 23.axb3 Qa5! 24.Bg4 Qc3 25.Bxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qg4+ f5 0-1

53. B46
Ponizil, Cyril (2497) - Navara, David (2737)
Cesko 131/53, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.O-O Nf6 9.Qe2 d5 10.b3 Bb7 11.Bb2
Bd6 12.h3
12.Kh1 - 108/56
12...Be7N
12...O-O12...e5
13.Rfe1
13.Rae1 O-O 14.f4 Rfe8 15.e5 Nd7 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qg4 c5
13...O-O 14.Na4 Rfd8 15.c4
15.e5 Nd7 16.c4 Nb6 17.Nxb6 Qxb6
15...dxe4
15...dxc4!? 16.Bxc4 (16.bxc4 c5) 16...c5 17.Nc3 Nd7 (17...Rd4!?) 18.Rad1 Ne5
16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 c5 18.Qg4 g6 19.Be5 Qc6 20.f3 Rd2
20...Rd7 21.Qf4 f6 22.Bc3 e5 23.Qe3 Rad8 24.Nb2 Bf8 25.Rad1 Qe6
21.Nc3?!
21.Qf4 Rd3 (21...Rad8 22.Bc3 Rc2 23.Rad1 (23.Qe5? Rxg2+! 24.Kh1 Rh2+! 25.Kxh2 (25.Qxh2 Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Rd2
27.Bxd2 Bd6-+) 25...Bd6) 23...Rd7 24.Kf1! Bc8 25.Rxd7 Bxd7 26.Qb8+ Be8 27.Re2) 22.Bc3 f6 23.Rad1 Rxd1
24.Rxd1 e5 25.Qe3
21...Rad8 22.Qf4 g5
22...Qd7? 23.Nd5
23.Qg4 Rc2?!
23...Qd7 24.Rad1 Qd3 25.Rxd2 Qxd2 26.Re2 Qd323...R8d3 24.Ne4 (24.h4 Rc2 25.Nd1 f6 26.Ne3 Rcd2 27.Bf4 h5!
(27...Rd4? 28.Nd5!+-) 28.Qxh5 gxf4 29.Nf5! exf5 30.Rxe7 Rxg2+! 31.Kxg2 Qxf3+ 32.Qxf3 Rd2+ 33.Kf1 Bxf3
34.Rae1 Bg2+ 35.Kg1 Be4 36.R1xe4 fxe4 37.Rxe4 Rxa2 38.Rxf4 Rb2=) 24...f5 25.Qh5 fxe4 26.Qh6 Kf7 27.Qh5+
Kg8 (27...Kf8 28.fxe4 Kg8 29.Qh6 Kf7 30.Qh5+=) 28.Qh6=
24.Rad1
24.Ne4 f5 25.Qh5 Qe8 26.Qxe8+ Rxe8 27.Nd6 Bxd6 28.Bxd6 g4! 29.hxg4 fxg4=
24...f6?

24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe8 26.Rd3

25.Ne4! f5
25...fxe5 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.Nxg5 Qe8 28.Nxe6+ Qg6 29.Qxg6+ hxg6 30.Nxd8+-25...Rf8 26.Bd6 f5 27.Qg3+-
26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.Qh5!+- fxe4
27...Qd7 28.Nxg5 Bc8 29.Bd6! Bxg5 30.Qxg5+ Kf7 31.Rd1+-
28.Rd1! Rc1
28...Be7 29.Qh6 Bf8 30.Rd8+-
29.Rxc1 exf3 30.Rc2 Qd7

31.Rd2! Qe7 32.gxf3 Ba5 33.Rg2 Bd8 34.h4 Qf8 35.Rg3 Bc6 36.Rxg5+
36.Rxg5+ Bxg5 37.Qxg5+ Kf7 38.Qf6+ Ke8 39.Qxe6+ Qe7 40.Qxc6++-1-0

54. B48
Fier, Alexandr (2581) - Leenhouts, Koen (2487)
Amsterdam 131/54, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3 Nf6 8.O-O-O Ne5
8...Be7 - 123/59
9.Qg3 b5 10.f4 Neg4 11.Bg1 h5 12.e5 b4 13.Na4 Nd5 14.h3N
14.Kb114.Nb3
14...Nh6 15.Bd3 g6 16.Be4 Bb7 17.Qf3 Nf5?
17...Rc8 18.Bf2 Nf5 19.Kb1 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Bc6 21.Rc4 Qa5 22.b3 Be7
18.Nxf5 gxf5 19.Bxd5 Bxd5
19...Rc8 20.Qb3 Bxd5 21.Rxd5! exd5 22.Nb6 Bh6 23.Bd4 (23.Nxc8 Qxc8 24.Qxb4) 23...Rg8 24.Nxc8 Bxf4+
25.Kb1 Qxc8 26.Qf3 Bh6 27.Qxf5
20.Rxd5! exd5 21.Nb6! Rb8 22.Nxd5 Qc6 23.Bf2 Be7 24.Rd1 a5
24...Rc8 25.Rd2 (25.Qd3 Rg8 26.Nxe7 (26.g3 h4! 27.gxh4 Rg2 28.Rd2 Rh2) 26...Kxe7 27.Bh4+ Ke8 28.g3) 25...h4
26.b3
25.Qd3 a4 26.Nxe7 Kxe7 27.Qxf5+- b3 28.axb3
28.Rxd7+ Qxd7 29.Qf6+ Ke8 30.Qxh8+ Ke7 31.Qxb8 bxa2 32.Qb4+ Ke8 33.Qa3 Qb5 34.Kd2+-
28...axb3 29.Rxd7+
29.Rxd7+ Qxd7 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qxh8+ Ke7 32.Qxb8+-1-0

55. B48
Fedorov, Alexei (2563) - Perunovic, Milos (2616)
Romania 131/55, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.O-O h5 9.h3 b5 10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.a3 Bb7
12.Re1 Rc8
12...h4 13.Bd4 (13.Qf3 - 72/(187)) 13...Be7 (13...Qd6 14.Nd5! Be7 (14...Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Qg4 Qc6 17.b3)
15.c4) 14.Bf1!? d6 (14...Rc8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Qg4 g6 17.Ne4! Qxc2 18.Rad1) 15.a4 (15.f4 Rd8 16.f5 O-O) 15...b4
16.Na2 Nxe4 (16...d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.c3) 17.Nxb4 Qc8 18.a5
13.Qd2!?
13.Qf3 h4 (13...Be7 14.Qg3 Kf8 15.e5 h4 16.Qh2 Nh5 17.Be4) (13...Bd6 14.Bf4 Be7 15.Ne2) 14.Bd4 Be7 15.Rad1
Kf8 16.Rd2 (16.Nb1 Qc7 17.Nd2 e5 18.Bc3 Bc5) 16...d6 17.Qe2 Kg8 18.f4 Nh5!?13.Bd4 Qd6!? (13...Be7
14.Qf3!? (14.Qe2 Kf8 15.a4 Qd6!? 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Qf4) 14...Kf8 15.a4 (15.b4 d6 16.Nb1 e5
17.Bb2 g5) 15...b4 16.Na2 Bc5 17.c3) 14.Bf1 e5 15.Ba7 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 Bc5 (16...g5!? g4) 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.f3
Ke7 19.Rd2 Rd8 20.a4 b4 21.Nd1 d5=
13...Be7N
13...h4 14.Bd4 Qd6 (14...Be7 15.Rad1 Kf8 16.Be2 d6 17.f4) 15.Qe3! (15.Bf1 e5 16.Nd5 Rh5!? (16...Be7 17.Bc3
Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxe5 Be6 21.Re3 Rh5=) 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Qe2 Rg5 19.Be3 (19.Bc3 Qe6
20.Kh2 Bc5 21.Qd2 d5=) 19...Rg6 20.f3 Qe6 21.Kh1 f5) 15...e5 16.Ba7 Be7 17.Rad1 Qc6 18.Be2!? (18.Nd5 Nxd5
19.exd5 Qxd5 20.Bf1 Qe6 21.Qxe5 Qxe5 22.Rxe5 Rh6 Re6) 18...O-O 19.Bd3 Nd5
14.f3
14.Bg5 h4 15.a4 b4 16.Na2 Rh5!? (16...Qxa4 17.c3 bxc3 18.Nxc3 Qd4 19.Ra4 Bb4 20.e5 Bxc3 21.Rxd4 Bxd2
22.Bxd2 Nd5 23.Ree4) (16...Qc5 17.Rad1 Qe5 18.Bf1) 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nxb4 Qb6 19.c3 Rg5 20.Bf1 a5 21.Nd3
Qc7 22.Qe3 f5
14...h4 15.e5 Nh5 16.Be4 Qc7 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Ne4 Ng3 19.Nxg3 hxg3 20.Rad1
20.Bf4?! Bc5+ 21.Be3 (21.Kh1? Bf2-+) 21...Rh5
20...Rh4
20...Rh5!? 21.f4 (21.Bd4 Qc7 22.c3 g6 23.Re4 d6=) 21...Rc6 22.Qe2 g6 23.c3 d5=
21.c3
21.f4 Rc4 22.Rf1 Qc6
21...a5
21...Rd8 22.Bd4 (22.f4 d6) 22...g6 23.Qe3 Rh5 24.f4 d5 25.Re2 Bh4 26.b4 Qc6
22.Re2
22.f4 b4 23.cxb4 axb4 24.a4
22...b4 23.axb4 axb4 24.Bd4 Qb5 25.Qe1 bxc3 26.bxc3 Bg5 27.Re4
27.Rb1 Qd3 28.Reb2 Rxd4 29.cxd4 Qxd4+ 30.Kh1 Bf4 31.Rb5 Rc5=
27...Qb3 28.Rb1 Qc2 29.Re2 Qd3 30.Reb2
30...Rxd4!?
30...Bf4 31.Rb8 Rxb8 32.Rxb8+ Ke7 33.Bc5+ d6 34.Bxd6+ (34.Rb7+ Kf8 35.Bxd6+ Kg8 36.Rb8+ (36.Rb4? Be3+
37.Kh1 Bf2) 36...Kh7 37.Rb4 f5 38.Bc5 g5) 34...Kd7 35.Rb2 f6 36.Rb7+ Kc6 37.Rc7+ Kb6 38.Rd7 Kc6=
31.cxd4 Qxd4+ 32.Kh1 Bf4 33.Rb8
33.Rb6?! Qxe5! (33...Rc6? 34.Rb8+ Ke7 35.Qa5!+-) 34.Qd1 d5
33...Rxb8 34.Rxb8+ Ke7 35.Qb4+ Qxb4 36.Rxb4 Bxe5 37.Kg1
37.h4 f5 38.Kg1 g6 39.h5 gxh5 40.Rh4 f4=
37...g5= 38.h4 Bd6 39.Ra4 Bc5+ 40.Kf1 gxh4 41.Rxh4 e5 42.Ke2 Ke6 43.Rg4 Bf2 44.Rg8 d5 45.Re8+ Kf5 46.Rd8
Ke6 47.Re8+ Kf5 1/2-1/2

56. B49
Wei, Yi (2725) - Karthikeyan, Murali (2578)
Liaocheng 131/56, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qd4 c5 11.Qc4
O-O
11...Bb7 - 68/(151)
12.Na4 d6 13.a3N
13.e513.c3
13...Bd7?!
13...Ba5 14.e5 dxe5 15.Qxc5 Nd5 16.Qxc7 Bxc7 17.Bd2
14.e5!
14.axb4 Bb5 15.Qa2 Bxe2 16.Rfe1 Bb5 17.Nc3 Bc6 18.bxc5 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.b4
14...Bb5
14...dxe5? 15.axb4 Bb5 16.Qxc5 (16.Qh4 - 14...Bb5) 16...Qxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxe2 18.Rfe1 Bb5 19.b3+-
15.Qh4 dxe5
15...Bxe2? 16.exf6 Qd8 17.axb4+- Bxf1 18.Kxf1+-15...Nd5 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.axb4 Nxe3 (17...Bxe2 18.Bxc5 Qd8
19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Rfc1+-) 18.fxe3 Bxe2 19.Rf2 Bb5 20.bxc5
16.axb4 Bxe2 17.Rfe1 Bb5 18.Nxc5 Nd7 19.c4 Bc6 20.Nxa6 Qb7
21.Qg3! f5 22.Nc5! Qxb4 23.Nxe6 Rf7 24.Rxa8+?!
24.Bh6! f4 25.Qg5 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Qxb2 27.Rf1+-
24...Bxa8 25.Ra1 Bc6?
25...Be4 26.Bh6 Qxb2 27.Rf1 Qb6 (27...g6 28.Ng5) 28.Nxg7 Qxh6 29.Nxf5+ Qg6 30.Qxg6+ hxg6 31.Nh6+ Kf8
32.Nxf7 Kxf7 33.f3
26.Bh6! Qxb2
26...g6 27.Nd8+-
27.Rf1!+- e4 28.Nd8 Rf8
28...f4 29.Qg5 e3 30.Nxf7 exf2+ (30...e2 31.Re1 Qc3 32.Qxg7+ Qxg7 33.Bxg7 Kxf7 34.Bc3+-) 31.Rxf2 Qa1+ 32.Rf1
Qd4+ 33.Kh1+-
29.Nxc6 Qf6 30.Qc7 Nc5 31.Ne7+ 1-0
B50-B99

57. B51
Salomon, Johan (2470) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796)
Gibraltar 131/57, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 e6 7.Bc2 b5 8.d4 Bb7 9.a4
9.O-O - 125/49
9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.b3N
12.Bf4
12...Rc8 13.Bb2

13.Bd3 b4 14.Nbd2 a5 15.Bb2 Qc7 16.Rac1 Qb8

13...Rxc2! 14.Qxc2 Bxe4 15.Qe2 Bc6 16.Rc1 Qa8
16...Qb6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nbd2 Nd5
17.axb5 Bxb5 18.Qd1 Rb8
18...Nd5!? 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Bxc3 Nf6
19.Na3 Bc6 20.Nc4 Nd5 21.Ba3 Nf4 22.Ra2
22.Bxd6 Bxf3 23.gxf3 (23.Qxf3 Qxf3 24.gxf3 Bxd6 25.Nxd6 Ne2+ 26.Kf1 Nxc1 27.Rxc1 Rxb3 28.Rc8+ Nf8 29.Ke2
g5) 23...Bxd6 24.Nxd6 Rd822.Rc3!?
22...Bd5 23.Rc3 Nf6 24.Ncd2 g5! 25.Nxg5?
25.Qf1 Ne4 (25...g4 26.Ne1 Qa7) 26.Nxe4 Bxe4
25...Bxb3!-+ 26.Qf3 Qxf3 27.Rxf3 Bxa2 28.Rxf4 Nh5 29.Rg4 f5 0-1

58. B51
Ramirez, Alejandro (2549) - Chandra, Akshat (2505)
Saint Louis II 131/58, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 e6 7.O-O b5 8.Bc2 Bb7 9.d4 Be7 10.Nbd2
10.Re1 - 125/50
10...Qc7 11.Bd3 O-O 12.Re1 Rfe8N
12...cxd4
13.Nf1 cxd4 14.cxd4 e5 15.d5 Nc5 16.Ng3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rac8 18.Bg5 Nd7
18...h6 19.Bd2 Bf8 20.b3 g6 21.h3
19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Nf5 Ree8 21.Qa3
21.Qe3!? Nc5 22.Rec1 a5 (22...Qd7 23.Ng5 h6 24.b4! hxg5 (24...Na4 25.Qh3+-) 25.bxc5 Rxc5 26.Rxc5 dxc5
27.Qxg5) 23.Rc2 g6 24.Nh6+ Kh8 25.Ng5 Rf8 26.Rf1
21...Nc5 22.b4 Na4
22...Nd7? 23.Qc1! Qb8 24.Qg5+-
23.Rac1 Qd7
23...Qd8 24.Qd3 Nb6 (24...Nb2 25.Qe2 Nc4 26.Nd2 Nxd2 27.Qxd2) 25.Nd2
24.Ng5! Qd8
24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rc8 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Qh3 h6 28.Nxh6+! (28.Nf3) 28...gxh6 29.Qxh6 Nc3 30.g3
25.Qg3 Qf6 26.Qh4+- h6
26...Qg6 27.Nxd6 Qxd6 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxg7+-
27.Nf3 Qd8 28.g4
28.Qxd8! Rcxd8 29.Rc7 Bc8 (29...Ba8 30.Ra7+-) 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Nxd6+-
28...Qxh4?
28...Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Qd7 30.g5
29.N3xh4 Rcd8 30.Rc7 Bc8 31.Rec1 Nb6 32.R1c6 Bxf5 33.Nxf5 Nc4 34.a4 Ra8 35.a5 Red8 36.f3
36.Re7+-
36...Nb2 37.Nxd6 Nd3 38.Rb6
38.Nxf7 Rf8 39.Nd6 Nxb4 40.Rb6+-
38...Nxb4 39.Nxf7 Re8 40.d6 Kh7 41.d7 Rf8 42.g5 1-0

59. B51
Grandelius, Nils (2642) - Lu, Shanglei (2612)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/59, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 b5 7.c4 b4

7...g5 - 127/60
8.a3 bxa3 9.b3N
9.Rxa3
9...g6 10.Bxa3 Bg7 11.Nc3 Rb8 12.Rb1

12.Bc2 O-O (12...e5 13.d3 O-O 14.Bc1) 13.d4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Bb7 15.Qd2
12...Ng4! 13.Bf1
13.b4 cxb4 14.Bxb4 O-O 15.Nd5 a5 16.Bc3 Rxb1 17.Qxb1 e6 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Nc3 Nge5
13...Nde5 14.b4 cxb4 15.Bxb4 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 O-O 17.Nd5 Bd4 18.Ne3 Ne5
18...Nxe3 19.fxe3 Bf6 20.d4 Be6
19.Qg3 Nc6 20.Bc3 Bxc3 21.dxc3 Be6 22.h4?!
22.Nd5 Rxb1 23.Rxb1 Ne5 24.Rb7 (24.Qe3 Bxd5 25.cxd5 Qc7! 26.Bxa6 Ra8 27.Bf1 Ra3 28.Rc1 Qb7) 24...Bxd5
25.cxd5 Nd7
22...Rxb1 23.Rxb1 a5 24.c5 dxc5 25.Qg5 Qd6 26.Rb6
26.Rd1 Qe5
26...Rb8 27.Rxb8+ Nxb8 28.Bc4
28.Nf5 Bxf5 29.exf5 Nd7 30.fxg6 hxg6 31.h5 a4
28...Nd7 29.h5 a4-+ 30.hxg6 hxg6 31.Bd5 Bxd5 32.Nxd5 Nf6
32...a3 33.Qd2 Qb8 34.Nxe7+ Kf8-+
33.c4 Nxd5 34.e5
34.cxd5 a3-+
34...Qa6 35.cxd5 a3 36.d6 a2 37.Qxe7 a1=Q+ 38.Kh2 Qe2 39.Qe8+ Kg7 40.d7 Qaxe5+ 0-1
 60.* B51
Kovalev, Andrei (2506) - Najer, Evgeniy (2677)
Cesko 131/60, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qd3 h6 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.Nc4 Be6
11.Be3
11.Ne3 Rc8 12.O-O (12.Bd2 - 75/(176)) 12...Be7 13.a4 O-O 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Bd2 Rfd8 16.Be1 Bc4 17.Nxc4 Qxc4
18.Qxc4N (18.a5) 18...Rxc4 19.f3 Rdc8 20.Rd3 Bf8 21.Kf1 Nd7 22.Nd5 Nc5 (22...Rxc2 23.Bc3 Rc4 24.Ne3 Nc5
25.Rd5 R2xc3 26.bxc3 Rxc3 27.Nf5) 23.Rc3 Ne6 24.Rxc4 Rxc4 25.c3 David,A (2561)-Nitin,S (2398)/Vlissingen
131/ (60) 2016
11...Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Rc8 13.Qb3N
13.Qd3
13...b5 14.O-O Be7 15.a4

15...b4! 16.Nd5
16.Qxb4? d5
16...Nxd5 17.Qxd5
17.exd5 O-O (17...a5 18.c3 Rb8 (18...bxc3 19.Qb5+ Qd7 20.bxc3) 19.Bd2 bxc3 20.Qxc3 O-O 21.Rfb1 Ra8 22.b4)
(17...Rb8!?) 18.Qxb4 Rb8 19.Qa3 f5 20.f4 Qc7 21.Rf2 e4 22.Rd1 a5 23.c3 Rfc8
17...Rxc2
17...Qc7!? 18.Rfc1 Qc4
18.Rfc1 Rxb2 19.Qc6+ Qd7 20.Qa8+ Bd8 21.Qxa6 O-O 22.Rab1 Rxb1 23.Rxb1 f5
23...d5!? 24.exd5 (24.Bc5 Be7 25.Bxe7 Qxe7 26.exd5 Rb8 27.Qc6 Qd8 28.h3 b3 29.Qc4 Qb6=) 24...Be7 25.Qc6
Qxc6 26.dxc6 Rc8 27.Rc1 b3 28.Rb1 Rxc6 29.Rxb3 Ra6 (29...f5=) 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Rb7 Rxa4 32.h3 Bf6 33.Rxf7
Kg6=
24.exf5
24.Rxb4 f4 25.Rb7 Qe6 26.Bb6 (26.Bd2 Qa2 27.Be1 Qa1 28.Kf1 Kh7 29.a5 f3 30.gxf3 Rxf3 31.Qe2 Rf6=) 26...d5
27.exd5 Qxd5 28.h3 Bxb6 29.Qxb6 e4 30.Qb2 Rf6 31.Qb5 Qxb5 32.axb5 (32.Rxb5 Rc6=) 32...Kf8=
24...d5 25.Bc5
25.g4 d4 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Qc4+ (27.Bxb4? Rb8) 27...Kh8 28.a5 Ra8 29.Ra1 Qb7
25...Qxf5 26.Rd1?
26.Rf1 Rf6 27.Qb7 Qc2 28.Qxd5+ Kh7 29.Be3 (29.Qxd8 Qxc5 30.Qd3+ Kh8 31.h3=) 29...Bb6 30.Rc1 Qf5 (30...Qe2
31.Qe4+ Rg6 32.h3 Bxe3 33.fxe3 b3 34.a5 h5) 31.Bxb6 Rxb6 32.Qb3 e4=
26...Qc2 27.Qe6+ Kh8 28.Qxd5

28...Be7! 29.Bb6 b3-+ 30.Rf1 b2 31.Qb5 Bg5 32.Bc5 Rc8 33.Bd6

33.Bd6 Bc1-+0-1

61. B51
Pavlidis, Antonios (2532) - Kotronias, Vasilios (2524)
Greece (ch) 131/61, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 5.e5 dxe5 6.Nxe5 Qd5 7.Nf3 Qe4+
7...Bg4 - 97/122
8.Kf1 Nf6 9.d3 Qf5 10.Nbd2 g6 11.b3 Bg7 12.Bb2 O-O 13.Qe2 Ba6 14.Qe5 Rfd8N
14...Qxe5 15.Nxe5 Rfe8 16.g3 Rad8 17.Kg2 Bc8 18.Rhe1
15.Re1 e6 16.h3 Ne8 17.Qxf5 exf5 18.Ne5
18.Bxg7!? Kxg7 19.g4 Bc8 20.Ne5 Nf6 21.f3
18...Rac8 19.Ba3 Bf8
20.g4! f6
20...Ng7 21.Kg2 f6 22.Nec4 (22.Nef3) 22...Kf7 23.Ne3! f4 24.Nec4
21.Nef3
21.Nec4 Ng7 22.Ne3
21...Rd5
21...Ng7 22.gxf5 gxf5 (22...Nxf5?! 23.Ne4) 23.Nh4 Kf7 24.Bc1! Bd6 25.Rg1
22.Nc4 fxg4
22...Ng7 23.Bb2 Kf7 24.g5
23.hxg4 Rd7
23...h5 24.gxh5 (24.Re4) 24...Rxh5 25.Rxh5 gxh5 26.Re4
24.Nfd2 Bxc4 25.bxc4
25.Nxc4 Nc7 26.Bb2 Nd5 27.a3
25...Re7 26.Kg2 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Rb8 28.Re6
28.Ne4 Kf7 29.Rh1
28...Rc8 29.Nb3 Kf7 30.Re1 Rb8 31.Bxc5 Bxc5
31...Rxb3 32.Bxf8 Rb2 33.Bc5+-
32.Nxc5 Rb2
32...Ng7 33.Nb3+-
33.Re6 Rxc2 34.a4+- Ng7 35.Rxc6 h5 36.Rc7+ Kg8 37.gxh5 Nxh5 38.Rxa7 g5 39.a5 g4 40.a6 g3 41.Ne4 gxf2
42.Nxf2 Ra2 43.Kf3 f5 44.c5 1-0
 62.* B56
Shyam, Sundar M (2554) - Narayanan, Srinath (2474)
India 131/62, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Bxd5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.c4
a5 12.Qd2 b6 13.Be2 O-O 14.O-O Nh5
14...Na6 15.Rac1 (15.Rae1 - 106/63) 15...Nh5N (15...Nc5) 16.Kh1 Nc5 17.Nxc5 bxc5 18.Rc3 f5 19.Rb3 Bh4! 20.g4
(20.g3? Bxg3 21.f4 (21.hxg3 Nxg3+ (21...f4 22.gxf4 Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 exf4-+) 22.Kg1 Qh4+-) 21...Qh4
22.Bxh5 Qxh5 23.Rg1 Qf3+ 24.Qg2 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Bxf4 26.Bxf4 exf4 27.Kf3 Rae8) 20...fxg4 21.fxg4 Rxf1+
22.Bxf1 Qf6 23.Qg2 Nf4 Sivuk,V (2540)-Amonatov,F (2619)/New Delhi 131/(62) 2017
15.g3 f5 16.f4 Nf6 17.Bf3N
17.Nc1
17...Rc8 18.a3 Na6 19.Rad1 Nd7
19...a4! 20.Nc1 (20.fxe5 axb3 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Be2 Be5 23.Rf3 Nc5 24.Bxc5 bxc5 25.Rxb3 f4) 20...exf4 21.Bxf4
Ne4 22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.Qe2 Bf6
20.Nc1
20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.Nd4 (21.Be2!? Nc5 (21...Nxc4 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.Nd4) 22.Nd4 g6) 21...Nxc4 22.Qe2 Nxe3
23.Ne6 Qe8 24.Qxe3 Rf7 25.Qxb6 Nc5 26.Qxa5 Bf6 27.Qd2
20...a4 21.Na2 Bf6 22.Rc1?!
22.Nb4 Nxb4 23.Qxb4 exf4 24.Bxf4 Nc5
22...Ndc5
22...exf4! 23.Bxf4 (23.gxf4 Ndc5) 23...Nac5 (23...Ndc5!?) 24.Rcd1 Ne522...Nac5!?
23.Bd1 exf4 24.Rxf4 Re8
24...Ne4 25.Qe2 Be5 26.Rf3 Nac5
25.Rxf5 Bxb2 26.Rb1
26.Qxb2 Rxe3 27.Bg4 Re4 (27...Nd3?! 28.Qd2 Re4 (28...Nxc1? 29.Qxe3 Nxa2 30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Rh5 g6 32.Qxg6 Rc7
33.Bf5 Qe7 34.Kg2+-) 29.Qxd3 Rxg4 30.Qe2 Rg6 31.Nc3) 28.Bh3 Nd3 29.Qb1 Nxc1 30.Qxe4 Nc5 31.Qc2 Nxa2
32.Qxa2 Qe7 33.Rf1 Re8
26...Bf6
26...Bxa3 27.Kg2
27.Bc2
27...Nb3! 28.Bxb3
28.Qf2 Nac5 29.Nb4 Qe7
28...axb3 29.Rxb3 Rxc4 30.Bxb6
30.Rf4 Rxf4 31.Bxf4 g5 32.Be3 Nc5 33.Rb1 Qe7
30...Qc8 31.Rf2
31.Qd3 Rce4 32.Rf1 Nc5 33.Bxc5 dxc5
31...Nc5 32.Bxc5 Qxc5-+ 33.Nb4
33.Kg2 Bd4-+
33...Bd4 34.Kg2 Bxf2 35.Qxf2 Qb5 36.Re3 Rce4 37.Rxe4 Rxe4 38.Qf5 Re2+
38...Qe2+ 39.Kh3 g6 40.Qc8+ Re8-+
39.Kh3 g6 40.Qg5 Re8 41.Qg4 Qf1+ 42.Kh4 Qg2 43.Nd3 Qxh2+ 44.Kg5 Qd2+ 45.Nf4 Re5+ 46.Kf6 Qd4 47.Qd7
Rf5+ 48.Ke7 Rf7+
48...Qf6+ 49.Ke8 Qf8#
49.Kxd6 Rxd7+ 50.Kxd7 g5 0-1

63. B63
Kokarev, Dmitry (2651) - Predke, Alexandr (2573)
Moscow 131/63, 2017

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 O-O 9.Nb3 h6 10.Bxf6 Bxf6
11.Qxd6 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qf6!?
12...Qh4 - 37/211
13.Qg3 e5 14.Bc4 Ne7 15.Rd2N
15.Rd3
15...Be6 16.Bxe6
16.Bd5 Nc8!? (16...Bxd5 17.exd5 Rfd8 18.Rhd1 Nf5 19.Qf3 Qg5 20.c4) 17.Rhd1 (17.Bxb7 Rb8 18.Bxc8 Rfxc8)
17...Nb6
16...Qxe6 17.Rhd1

17...Nc8! 18.c4
18.Rd5 Re8 19.R1d3 Qe7
18...Qxc4
18...Nb6!? 19.Qc3 Rfc8
19.Qxe5 Nb6 20.Rd4
20.Qd4 Qa6 (20...Qe6) 21.Qb4 (21.Kb1 Rac8) 21...Rac8 (21...Qxa2 22.c4 Qa6 23.Rc2=) 22.Na5 (22.Qa5 Qc4)
22...Nc4 23.Nxc4 Rxc4 24.Qb3 Rxe4
20...Qe2 21.R4d2 Qc4 22.Rd4 Qe2 23.R4d2 Qc4 24.Rd4 Qe2 25.R4d2 Qc4 1/2-1/2

64. B65
Vitiugov, Nikita (2724) - Predke, Alexandr (2573)
Moscow 131/64, 2017

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 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O 10.f4 Qa5
11.e5 dxe5 12.Qxe5 Qxe5 13.fxe5 Nd5 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Bd3 b6 16.Be4 Rb8 17.Nb5 Bb7 18.Rhe1 a6 19.Nc7
19.Rd7 - 101/(146)
19...a5 20.Rd7 Ng6 21.Nb5N
21.Bxg6
21...Bc8
21...Bxe4 22.Rxe4 Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ (23.Rd6 Kf8=) 23...Rxd8 24.Na3 Rd5 25.Nc4 b5 26.Nxa5 Nxe5 (26...Rxe5 27.Rxe5
Nxe5 28.c4 bxc4 29.Kc2) 27.c4
22.Rd6 Nxe5 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Rxe5 Ba6 25.a4 Rfd8= 26.b3
26.Rc6 Rdc8=
26...Rxd6 27.Nxd6 Kg8 28.Re3 Kf8 29.g3
29.Rf3

29...Ke7!? (29...f6 30.Re3 e5 31.Rc3 Bf1 32.g3 Bh3=) 30.Nxf7 Bb7 31.Rf4 Rf8 32.Ne5 Rxf4 33.Ng6+ Kf6 34.Nxf4 e5
35.Nh5+ Kg6 36.Ng3 Bxg2 37.Kd2=
29...Rd8 30.Ne4 Ke7 31.Ng5 Bb7 32.h4 Rd6 33.Nh3 f6 34.Nf4 e5 35.Nd3 Bc8 36.Nf2 Rd4 37.Rc3 Bd7 38.Rc7 f5
39.Nd3 Kf6 40.Nb2
40.Rb7 Rd6 41.Rb8 Be6 42.Rf8+ Ke7 43.Rb8 Bxb3 44.Nxe5 Bxa4 45.Rb7+ Kf6 46.Nc4 Rc6 47.Rxb6 Rxb6 48.Nxb6
Bb5=
40...f4 41.gxf4 exf4 42.Nd3 Kf5
42...g5!? 43.hxg5+ Kxg5 44.Kd2 Rd6
43.Kd2 Kg4 44.Kc3 Rd5 45.Rc4 Rf5
45...Kxh4!?
46.Rc7 Rd5 47.Rc4 Rf5 48.Rc7 Rd5 1/2-1/2

65. B66
Sjugirov, Sanan (2673) - Alekseenko, Kirill (2588)
Moscow 131/65, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qd2 Bd7 10.Be2 h5 11.f4 a6
12.O-O-O O-O-O 13.Rhf1 Kb8 14.Rf3 Be7 15.Kb1 h4 16.a3
16.Rd3 - 106/216
16...Rc8 17.Qe1 Na5N
17...Rc7
18.Ka2
18.Na2!? Nc4 (18...Nxb3 19.Rxb3) 19.Rd4 Bb5 20.a4 e5 21.Nc3 exd4 22.Nd5 Qa7 (22...Qc6 23.axb5 Na3+
24.Ka2) 23.axb5 Bd8 24.bxa6 Qxa6 25.Nxd4
18...Nxb3 19.cxb3 Bc6 20.Rfd3 Qc5 21.Bf3 Rc7 22.h3 b5?!
22...Qb6
23.Ne2
23.b4!?
23...Bb7
23...b4!?
24.Nd4 Rcc8 25.Rc3 Qb6 26.Rxc8+ Kxc8

27.f5! e5 28.Nc2 Kd7 29.Ne3 Bd8 30.Qd2 Ke7 31.Nd5+ Bxd5 32.Qxd5 b4 33.a4 a5 34.Rc1 Qb8 35.Rc6 Bb6
36.Be2 Bc5 37.Bc4 Rf8 38.Ra6 Qc7 39.Rc6 Qa7 40.Kb1 Kd7?!
40...Qb8
41.Ra6+- Qc7 42.Bb5+ Ke7 43.Rxa5! 1-0

66.* B66
Perez Ponsa, Federico (2583) - Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal (2535)
Antofagasta 131/66, 2017
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 h6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Bf4 d5 11.Qe3
Bb4 12.a3 Ba5 13.f3
13.exd5 - 81/ (181)13.Be2 - 81/181
13...O-O N
13...Qe7
14.h4N
14.e5 - 131/(66) 14...Nh5 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qxh6 Ng7 17.Bd3 f5 18.g4 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Ra7 20.Rhg1 Qa5 21.gxf5 exf5
22.Kd2 Perez Ponsa,F (2585)-Ivanchuk,V (2747)/ Doha (rapid) 131/(66) 2016
14...Nd7
14...Re8!?
15.Bd6 Re8
15...Bb6 16.Qe1 Re8 17.g4
16.Na4 Nb6 17.Nxb6 Bxb6 18.Qf4
18.Bc5 Bxc5 19.Qxc5 Bd7=
18...Qf6
18...Be3+ 19.Qxe3 Qxd6 20.e5 Qe7 21.g4 c5
19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.c4
20.Kb1!?
20...Be3+ 21.Kc2 f5?!

21...dxe4 22.fxe4 e5 23.Be2 f5 24.Bf321...Kg7 22.Bd3 a5 23.exd5 exd5 24.Rhe1

22.Be5! f4 23.h5 f5 24.Bd3
24.Rh3!? Ra7 (24...fxe4 25.fxe4) 25.g3 fxe4 26.gxf4 Rf7 27.Rg3+ Kh7 28.fxe4 Bxf4 29.Bxf4 Rxf4 30.e5
24...Kf7 25.Rde1
25.Rh4!? Rg8 26.Bf1 Bf2 27.Rh1
25...a5
25...Rg8 26.Re2
26.g3!? Bf2 27.gxf4 Bxe1 28.Rxe1 Rg8 29.Kc3 Rg3 30.exd5 exd5 31.cxd5 cxd5 32.Kd4 Be6 33.b4!? axb4 34.axb4
Rxf3 35.Rc1 Bd7 36.Rc7 Ke8 37.Rb7 Ra4 38.Bd6 Ra2 39.Bb5?
39.Rb8+ Kf7 40.Rh8 Rd2 41.Rh7+=
39...Rd2+ 40.Kc5 Rc2+ 41.Kb6?!
41.Kd4 Bxb5 42.Rxb5 Kd7
41...Bxb5 42.Kxb5 d4-+ 43.Bc5 d3 44.Kc6 Re3
44...Rxf4 45.Re7+ Kf8 46.Rd7+ Kg8 47.Rxd3 Rxb4
45.Rb8+ Kf7 46.Rb7+ Kf6 47.Kd5?
47.Rd7
47...Re4 48.Bf8 Rd4+ 49.Kxd4 0-1

67. B67
Dubov, Daniil (2661) - Predke, Alexandr (2573)
Moscow 131/67, 2017

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 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O 10.h4 Bd7
11.Qd2 Bc6 12.f3 a6
12...h6 13.Bxh6!? gxh6 14.Qxh6 Nh7 15.e5 f6
13.Ne2 Rc8
13...h6!?
14.Nd4 Nd7N
14...Ba4 - 96/153
15.Kb1 Bf6
15...Ne5!? 16.f4 Ng4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Qe2 h5!? (18...Nf6 19.Nxc6 Rxc6 20.g4) 19.g3 Bd7
16.g4 d5?! 17.f4
17.Bxf6 Nxf6 (17...Qxf6 18.g5 Qe7 19.h5) 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4
17...Nc5 18.e5 Be7 19.Qe3
19.Bg2!?
19...f6 20.Nxe6
20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Nxe6 d4 22.Nxd8 dxe3 23.Nxc6 Rxc6 - 20.Ne6
20...d4 21.Nxd8 dxe3 22.Nxc6 Rxc6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Re1?!
24.Bc4+ Kh8 25.Rhe1
24...Re8?!
24...Bxg5 25.hxg5 (25.fxg5 Ne4! 26.Bg2 Re6 27.Kc1 Rf2) 25...Rxf4 26.Rxe3 Rd6 27.Kc1 Rxg4 28.Be2 Rf4 29.b3
25.Rh3 Ne4 26.Bxf6 Rxf6 27.Kc1 Nf2 28.Rhxe3 Rxe3 29.Rxe3 Nxg4 30.Re4 Rh6 31.Rb4 b5 32.a4 Ne3

33.axb5!
33.Bd3 Rxh4 34.axb5 axb5
33...Nxf1?!
33...axb5 34.Bxb5 Rxh4 35.Re4
34.b6+- Re6 35.c4 Re1+ 36.Kc2 Re8 37.b7 Rb8 38.c5 Ne3+ 39.Kb3 Nd5 40.c6 Kf7 41.Kc4 Ke6
42.Kc5!
42.Rb3? Kd6 43.Rd3 Kxc6 44.Rxd5 Rxb7=
42...Nxb4 43.c7 Nd3+ 44.Kb6 Rxb7+ 45.Kxb7 Nc5+ 46.Kc6 1-0

68. B72
Sasikiran, Krishnan (2661) - Swapnil, S Dhopade (2526)
Stockholm 131/68, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.h3 Bg7 7.g4 O-O 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.O-O Rc8
10...Na5 - 53/(204)
11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Re1N
12.Qd2
12...Nd7 13.Rb1 Qa5
13...a5!?
14.Bd2 Qc7 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Rfe8 17.c3 b5 18.Re4 Nb6 19.Bg5 Qb7 20.Qb3 h6 21.Bf4 g5 22.Bg3 Nc4 23.Rd1
Qb6
23...Be5!? 24.Bxe5 Nxe5 25.a4 a6=
24.Bf1 Qc5
24...Rc5 25.a4 Be5 26.Kg2
25.Bxc4 bxc4 26.Qc2
26.Qa4!?
26...Bf6 27.Qe2 Rc7 28.Rd2 Rb8 29.Kg2 Qb5 30.Qf3 Kg7 31.h4!? Rc5
31...gxh4 32.Bf4 Qa4 (32...Rc5?

33.Bxd6! exd6 34.Rf4 h3+ (34...Be5 35.Rxf7+ Kh8 36.Re2!+-) 35.Kxh3 h5 36.Rxf6 hxg4+ 37.Kxg4 Qd7+ 38.Kg3+-)
33.Qe3 Rh8 34.g5 hxg5 35.Bxg5
32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Re1 Qb7 34.Rh1 Rb5 35.Rdd1 Rh8?
35...Qd7 36.Qe4 Rh8 37.Rxh8 Kxh8 38.Rh1+ Kg8 39.Qh7+ Kf8 40.Qh6+ Kg8 (40...Ke8?? 41.Qh8+ Bxh8 42.Rxh8#)
41.Qh7+ Kf8=35...Qc8 36.Qe4 Qg8 37.Rh5 Rxb2 38.Rdh1 Kf8=
36.Rxh8 Kxh8 37.Bxd6! Rxb2

38.Be5! Kg7
38...Bxe5 39.Qxf7 Rxf2+ (39...Rb1 40.Qf8+ Kh7 41.Qf5++-) 40.Qxf2 (40.Kxf2 Qb2+ 41.Kf3 Qxc3+ 42.Ke4 Qc2+
43.Kxe5 Qxd1 44.Qf8+ Kh7 45.Qxe7+ Kg6 46.Qf6+ Kh7 47.Qf7+ Kh6 48.Qh5+ Kg7 49.Qxg5+ Kh7 50.Qf5+ Kg7
51.Qd7+ Kf8 52.Qc8+ Kg7 53.Qxc4+-) 40...Kg7 41.Qe3 Bf6 42.Rd2+-
39.Bxf6+ exf6 40.d6 Qd7 41.Qf5 Qc6+ 42.Qd5 Qb6?
42...Qd7 43.Kg3 Qe8 44.Qd4 (44.d7? Qh8 45.Rh1 (45.Kg2 Qh4 46.Qf3 Rxf2+ 47.Qxf2 Qxg4+ 48.Qg3 Qxd1 49.Qc7
Qe2+=) 45...Qb8+ 46.Kg2 Qf4 47.Qd4 Qxd4 48.cxd4 Rb8 49.Rc1 Rd8 50.Rxc4 Rxd7=) 44...Qb8 (44...Qh8 45.Kg2
Qa8+ 46.Qd5 Qh8 47.Qf3+-) 45.a4+-
43.Rd4+- Rb5 44.Qa8 Rb2?!
44...Qb8 45.Qxb8 Rxb8 46.Kf3 Kf8 47.Ke4
45.d7 Rxf2+ 46.Kxf2 Qb2+ 47.Kg1 Qb1+ 48.Kh2 Qb2+ 49.Qg2 1-0

69. B72
Firouzja, Alireza (2465) - Cordova, Emilio (2655)
Moscow 131/69, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 b5 11.Bf3
11.O-O-O - 72/(261)
11...e5 12.Nb3 Bb7 13.O-ON
13.O-O-O
13...Rc8 14.a3 Nb6 15.Na5 Ba8 16.Qd2
16.Rfd1 Na4 17.Nxa4 bxa4 18.Qd2 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qb4 O-O 21.Qxe4 Qxa5 22.Rxd6 Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8=
16...Nc4
16...Na4 17.Nxa4 bxa4 18.Rad1 O-O=16...Nbd7 17.Nb3 Nb6 18.Na5=
17.Nxc4 Rxc4 18.Rfe1
18.Rad1 Nxe4 (18...Ke7 19.Qe3) 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Qd5 Rc4 22.c3 O-O=
18...Qc7 19.Rad1
19.Qh6 Ke7 20.Re3!?
19...Ke7 20.Qh6 b4 21.axb4 Rxb4 22.Rb1
22.Rd3!? Rxb2 23.Bd122.Ra1!? Rxb2 23.Nd1 Rxc2 24.Ne3 Rc5 25.Rxa6
22...Rhb8 23.Nd1! Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4
24...Nxe4? 25.c3 Ra4 (25...Rc4 26.Ne3+-) 26.Ne3
25.Ne3 Qc5 26.c4 Rb3 27.h3 Qd4
27...Rf4 28.Re2
28.Rbd1 Rd3?!
28...Qc5
29.Qg5
29.Rxd3 Qxd3 30.Qg529.b4!? Rexe3 30.fxe3 Rxd1 31.exd4 Rxe1+ 32.Kh2 Re4 (32...exd4 33.Qd2) 33.dxe5 Rxe5
34.Qd2
29...h6?!
29...Rexe3! 30.fxe3 Rxd1 31.exd4 Rxe1+ 32.Kh2 (32.Kf2 Re4 33.dxe5 Rxe5=) 32...Re4 (32...exd4 33.Qd2 Re4 34.b4)
33.dxe5 Rxe5 34.Qd2 a5=
30.Qxh6 Rf4?!
30...Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Qxb2 32.Qg5 Ke6 33.Rxd6+ Kxd6 34.Qxf6+ Kc5 35.Qxf7
31.Qg5?!
31.g3! Rf3 32.Rxd3 Qxd3 33.Kg2 e4 34.Qh8
31...Kf8?!
31...Ke6=31...Kd7=
32.Qh6+ Kg8?
32...Ke8 33.Rxd3 Qxd3 34.Qh8+ Ke7 35.Qb8 Qd2 36.Rf132...Ke7
33.Rxd3! Qxd3 34.Rd1!+- Qe2 35.Rxd6 Qxf2+?! 36.Kh2 Rd4 37.Nd5 Rxd5 38.cxd5 1-0

70. B72
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796) - Jones, Gawain C (2665)
ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 131/70, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Qd2 Ng4
8...O-O - 70/(203)
9.Bxg4 Bxg4 10.f3 Bd7 11.h4 Ne5 12.b3 Rc8 13.h5N
13.Nd5
13...gxh5
13...O-O 14.Bh6 Qa5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nd5 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rfe8 18.c413...Qa5!? 14.h6 Bf8 (14...Nxf3+ 15.gxf3
Bxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Ne2 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 exd4 19.Nxd4) 15.Nd5 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 f5 17.c4 Kf7
14.Rxh5 Qa5
14...Rc5 15.Rh1
15.Nd5 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 e6 17.Nf4
17.Nc3 a6 18.Rah1 h6 19.Nce2 Rc5 20.R5h3
17...Ng6 18.Nd3 d5?!

18...e5!? 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Rxf5 h5 21.Rh1 h4 22.f4 Ne7 23.Rg5 exf4 24.Nxf4 Bf6 25.Rh5
19.e5!
19.exd5? e5!
19...f6
19...f5 20.Bh6 Kf7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Rah1
20.f4 Kf7 21.a4 a6 22.Nf3
22.Rah1
22...Bc6
22...f5
23.Bd4
23.exf6!? Bxf6 24.Bd4
23...Rcf8?!
23...fxe5
24.Rah1 h6 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Rxh6 Rxh6 27.Rxh6+- Kg7 28.Rh1 Bd7 29.g3 Bxd4 30.Nxd4 Rc8 31.a5 Rc7 32.c3 Bc8
33.b4 Kf6 34.Rh6 Kg7 35.Rh5 Kf6 36.g4 Re7 37.Nf3 Bd7 38.Nfe5 Be8 39.Rh6 Kg7 40.g5 b6?! 41.axb6 Rb7 42.f5
42.Nc5!? Rxb6 43.Ncd7 Nxe5 (43...Rb5 44.Nf6) 44.Nxb6
42...exf5 43.Nxg6 Bxg6 44.Nf4 Rxb6 45.Ke3 Rc6 46.Rxg6+ Rxg6 47.Nxg6 Kxg6 48.Kf4 1-0

71. B80
Svetushkin, Dmitry (2577) - Forcen Esteban, Daniel (2541)
Roquetas de Mar 131/71, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Bb7 9.a4 b4 10.Na2 Qa5?!
10...e5 - 77/(214)
11.Nb3 Qc7N
11...Qxa4 12.Nxb4 Qd7 13.Na5
12.Nxb4 d5 13.exd5 Bxb4 14.Qxb4 Nxd5 15.Qd2
15.Qe4!?15.Qc5! Qe5 (15...Nc6 16.Bd2) 16.Kf2 Nd7 17.Qd4 Rc8 18.c3 Nxe3 19.Qxe5 Ng4+ 20.fxg4 Nxe5 21.Na5
Rb8 22.Nxb7 Rxb7 23.b4
15...Qe5 16.Kf2 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qxb2 18.Bd3
18.Be2!? O-O 19.c4
18...Nd7 19.Nc5
19.Rhd1!? Qc3 20.Rab1
19...Nxc5 20.Qxc5 Rc8! 21.Rab1
21.Qd6!?
21...Rxc5 22.Rxb2 Bc8 23.Rhb1 Ke7 24.Rb8 Rd8= 25.Ra8 Rd7 26.h4 h5 27.Ke3 Rdc7 28.Rb4 f5
28...g6=
29.f4 Kf6
29...Bb7 30.Ra7 Bxg2 31.Bxa6 Be4=
30.Rb6 Kf7
30...Ra5!?
31.g3 Kf6 32.Rb4 Ke7 33.Rab8 a5?!
33...Bd7
34.R4b5 Bd7 35.Ra8
35.Rxc5 Rxc5 36.c4
35...Rxc2
35...Bxb5 36.axb5 Rd7=
36.Bxc2 Bxb5 37.axb5 Rxc2 38.Kd4

38...Rd2+?
38...Kd6 39.Ra6+ Kc7 40.Rxa5 Rd2+! 41.Kc3 Kb6 42.Ra6+ Kxb5 43.Rxe6 Rg2 44.Rg6 Kc5 45.Rxg7 Ra2=
39.Kc5 Rc2+ 40.Kb6+- Rc3 41.Ka6
41.Ka7
41...a4 42.b6 a3 43.b7 Rb3 44.Ka7 a2 45.Kb8 Rb2 46.Ra6 e5 47.fxe5
47.Ka8
47...g5 48.Ka8 gxh4 49.gxh4 Rb6 50.Rxa2 Ke6 51.Ra5 1-0

72. B81
Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Van Wely, Loek (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 131/72, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.h3 g5
8...Nxd4 - 124/68
9.Nxc6N
9.Nde29.Be3
9...bxc6 10.e5 Nd5 11.exd6 Qxd6
11...Bxd6 12.Ne4 Be5 (12...Ba6? 13.c4! Bb4+ 14.Bd2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Nf4 16.Qc3) 13.c4 Nf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Qa4
O-O 16.Rd1 Qe7 17.c5
12.O-O Ba6 13.Re1 Be7
13...Nxc3 14.Qxd6 Bxd6 15.Bxc6+ Ke7 16.Bxa8 Ne2+ 17.Rxe2 Bxe2 18.Be4
14.Ne4 Qc7 15.c4 Nb4
15...Nf4 16.Bxf4 gxf4 17.Qa4 Bb7 18.Rad1
16.b3
16.Be3!?
16...Rd8

16...O-O 17.Qf3 f5 18.gxf5 exf5 19.Qh5 Qe5 20.Rb1 fxe4 21.Bb2 Qf5 22.Bxe4 Qxf2+ 23.Kh1 Rf6 24.a3+-
17.Qf3! Nd3
17...Nc2?! 18.Bb2 (18.Nf6+ Kf8 19.Qc3 e5 20.Qxc2 Bxf6 21.Bb2) 18...Nd4 (18...Nxe1 19.Rxe1) 19.Bxd4 Rxd4
20.Nf6+ Kf8 21.Rad1
18.Rd1 Nxc1
18...Qe5 19.Bd2
19.Raxc1 Qf4
19...O-O 20.Nf6+ Kh8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Nh5
20.Rxd8+
20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Qxc6+ Kf8 22.Qxa6
22...Bc5! 23.Rxd8+ Kg7 24.Rf1 Rxd8
20...Bxd8 21.Qxf4
21.Qc3 O-O 22.Rd1 Bc8
21...gxf4 22.Nc5 Bc8 23.Bxc6+ Ke7 24.Bf3 Bb6 25.Nd3 Rd8 26.Nb4
26.Ne5 Kf6! 27.Nc6 Bb7 28.c5 Bxc6 29.Bxc6 Bc7
26...Bd7
26...Rd2 27.c5 Bd8 28.Kg2
27.c5 Ba5 28.Rc4 Rc8 29.c6 Bxb4 30.Rxb4 Bxc6 31.Bxc6 Rxc6 32.Rxf4+- a5 33.Kg2 Rc5 34.h4 Rd5 35.Kf3 f6
36.Ke3 h5 37.f3 hxg4 38.fxg4 Rd1 39.Ra4 Re1+ 40.Kf3 Re5 41.Rc4 Rd5 42.h5 Rd2 43.Ra4 Rd5 44.Ke3 Rg5 45.Rc4
Kd6 46.Kf4 Rd5?! 47.Rc8 Rd4+ 48.Kg3 Kd7 49.Ra8 Rd3+ 50.Kg2 Rd2+ 51.Kf3 Rd3+ 52.Ke4 Rh3 53.Rxa5 e5
54.Kf5 Rf3+ 55.Kg6 e4 56.h6 e3 57.h7 Rh3 58.Ra7+ Kd6 59.Ra8 1-0

73. B85
Smirin, Ilia (2667) - Grandelius, Nils (2642)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/73, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Kh1 Qc7 11.Qe1
Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Qg3 g6 15.Bf3 Rad8 16.f5 e5 17.Be3 Kh8 18.Bg5
18.Qf2 - 35/(330)
18...gxf5N
18...Ne8
19.exf5 Rg8 20.Bxb7
20.Qh4 Rxg5 21.Qxg5 Rg8 22.Qh6 e4 (22...d5!?) 23.Bh5! (23.Be2 d5 24.Rad1 Qb6) 23...Rg7 24.Be2 d5 25.Rad1
Qc5 (25...Qb6?! 26.Nxd5 Bxd5 27.Rxd5 Nxd5 28.Qxb6 Nxb6 29.f6 Bxf6 30.Rxf6 Rg6=) 26.Qd2 Rg8
20...Qxb7 21.Qh4

21...Ne8
21...Rxg5!? 22.Qxg5 Rg8 23.Qd2 d5
22.f6 Bf8 23.Rf5 Rc8 24.Qh3 a5
24...d5!? 25.Rxe5 Bd6 26.Rf5 d4 27.Nd5 Rxc2
25.Be3 Rc4
25...Rg6!?
26.Raf1 Rh4 27.Qf3 Qxf3 28.R5xf3 Rc4 29.R3f2 Nc7 30.Rd1 Rgg4
30...b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.Nd5 Nxd5 33.Rxd5 Re4 34.Bd2 Rc4=
31.h3 Rg3 32.Bb6 b4 33.axb4
33.Nb1!?
33...axb4 34.Bxc7
34.Kh2 Rg6 35.Bxc7 bxc3 36.Bxd6 Bxd6 37.Rxd6 cxb2 38.Rb6 h6 39.Rxb2 Rc6 40.Rb7 Rgxf6 41.Rxf7 Rxf7 42.Rxf7
Rxc2=
34...bxc3 35.Bxd6 Bxd6 36.Rxd6 cxb2 37.Rb6 h6= 38.Rxb2 Rgc3 39.Rb8+ Kh7 40.Rf8 Rc7 41.Re2 Rxc2 42.Rxe5
Rf2 43.Re7 1/2-1/2

74.* B90
Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750)
Wijk aan Zee 131/74, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3 e5

7.Nf5!?
7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4 Be6 9.Ba2N (9.Bb3) (9.Bxe6) 9...O-O 10.O-O b5 11.Re1 Re8 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Nd2 Rb8= Karjakin,S
(2785)-Giri,A (2773)/Wijk aan Zee 131/(74) 2017
7...d5 8.Bg5 d4 9.Bxf6 Qxf6N
9...gxf6 10.Nb1 (10.Ne2 Qb6 11.Rb1 Be6 12.Qc1 Nd7 13.Neg3 Nc5 14.f3 O-O-O (14...Rc8)) 10...Bxf5 11.exf5
Qd5 12.Qd3 Nc6 (12...e4? 13.Nc3!) 13.Nd2
10.Nd5 Qd8

11.Qg4! Bxf5
11...g6? 12.Qg3! Nc6 13.Nxd4! exd4 14.Nc7++-
12.Qxf5 Bd6 13.h4 Nc6 14.Bc4 b5 15.Bb3 Ne7 16.Qg4 O-O 17.Rh3 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Ra7 19.Rg3 Qf6 20.a4 Bb4+
20...Rc7 21.Bb3 b4
21.Kf1 bxa4 22.Rxa4 a5 23.Ra1 Rc7 24.Bb3 Ra8 25.Kg1 Bf8 26.Qh5 g6 27.Qg4 Ra6 28.h5 Qf4 29.Qe2 Qf6 30.Qb5
Qc6?
30...Rc5 31.Qd3
31.Qxe5 Re7 32.Qf4 a4 33.Bd5 Qc7
33...Qxc2 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Rf3 Qc7 36.Qg5
34.Qd2 Qb6 35.Ra2 Rc7 36.Rf3 Qb4 37.Qe2 Rb6 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.g3 Kg7 40.Kg2 Rd7 41.Qd1+- Rf6 42.Rxf6 Kxf6
43.c3! dxc3 44.Rxa4
44.Rxa4 Qxb2 (44...Qc5 45.Rc4+-) 45.Qd4+ Kg5 46.e5+-1-0

75. B90
Anand, Viswanathan (2779) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2804)
London 131/75, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 Nbd7 9.g4 Rc8N
9...b5 - 123/(77)
10.f5
10.g5?! Rxc3! 11.bxc3 (11.gxf6 Rc7) 11...Nxe4 12.Qd3 Ndc5 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.Qe3 exf4 15.Qxf4 h6
10...Bxb3
10...Bc4?! 11.Bxc4 Rxc4 12.Qd3 b5 13.g5
11.axb3
11...d5
11...Rxc3! 12.bxc3 Nxe4 13.h4 Be7 14.g5 Qb6 15.Qf3 d5
12.exd5 Bb4 13.Bg2 Qb6
13...Rxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc3+ 15.Bd2 Bxa1 16.Qxa1 O-O 17.Be3 Qc7 18.c4
14.Bd2 e4 15.Qe2 O-O 16.O-O-O Nc5 17.Kb1 Rfd8 18.Rhe1 a5 19.Qf2?!
19.Nxe4 Nfxe4 20.Bxe4 Re8 21.Qf2!19.d6! Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Rxd6 21.g5 Nd5 22.Be5 Rdd8 23.Bxe4
19...Qc7?!
19...Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Nxd5 21.Bd4 a4 22.Bxe4 (22.bxa4 Qb4 23.Qg3 Qxa4 24.Qa3 Qxa3 25.bxa3 Rd7 26.Kb2)
22...axb3 23.cxb3 Qb5 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 25.Qc2 Qxb3 26.Qxb3 Nxb3 27.Bc3
20.Bf4
20.g5! Nxd5 (20...Bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxd5 22.Bd4) 21.Nxe4
20...Qb6 21.Be5
21.Nxe4 a4 (21...Bxe1 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxe1) 22.bxa4 Bxe1 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Rxe1 Nxa4 25.Be5
21...a4 22.bxa4 Bxc3 23.Bxc3 Nxd5 24.Rxd5
24.Bd4 - 19... Bc3
24...Rxd5 25.Bxe4 Rd6
25...Rd7 26.f6 (26.Bd4 Nxe4 27.Rxe4 Qc6 28.Qe2 Rdd8) 26...Qd8 27.Bf5 Rd1+ 28.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 29.Ka2 Qd5+
30.Ka3 Qc6 31.Qd4 Ra8 32.b3 g6
26.a5 Qb5 27.Qe2 Qxe2! 28.Rxe2 Rd1+
28...Nxe4! 29.Rxe4 Rdc6
29.Ka2 Re8?
29...Nxe4 30.Rxe4 Rd7 31.f6 gxf6 32.Bxf6
30.Bf3! Rxe2 31.Bxe2 Rc1 32.Bf3+- Rxc2
33.Bxb7! 1-0

76.* !N B90
Ragger, Markus (2697) - Xiong, Jeffery (2667)
Wijk aan Zee II 131/76, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 b5 8.Ng3 Qc7
8...Nbd7 9.a4!N (9.Nf5) 9...b4 10.Nd5 Bb7 11.Bc4 Rc8 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.Qd3 Qb6 14.a5 Qa7 15.Bg5 Be7 16.O-O
O-O 17.b3 d5 18.Nf5 Bd8 19.exd5 Bxd5 Ragger,M (2697)-Lu,S (2612)/Wijk aan Zee II 131/(76) 2017 (19...Bxd5
20.Bxf6 Bxc4 21.Nh6+! Kh8 22.Bxg7+ Kxg7 23.Nf5+ Kh8 24.bxc4)
9.Bd3 Be6N
9...g6
10.O-O Nbd7 11.f4 Be7 12.Qf3
12.f5 Bc4 13.a3 O-O 14.Be3 d5 (14...Rab8) 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Qf3 Bc5
12...O-O 13.Kh1 Qc6
13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.Qf2 Rfe8 16.a3 Rac8
14.f5 Bc4 15.Bg5 Rac8
15...b4 16.Nd1 Bxd3 17.cxd3 d5 18.Ne3 d4 19.Rac1 Qb5 20.Nc4
16.Nh5! b4 17.Bxf6 Nxf6
17...Bxf6 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 (18...bxc3 19.b3) 19.Nd5 Kh8 20.Rfd1 (20.Nhxf6 Nxf6 21.Nb6 Qxe4 22.Nxc8 Rxc8
23.Rfc1) 20...Qxc2 21.Nxb4 Qc5 (21...Qxb2?! 22.Rab1 Qc3 23.Rxd6) 22.Nd5
18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Bxc4 Qxc4
19...bxc3 20.b3 a5 21.a4
20.Nd5 Qxc2 21.b3
21.Rf2 Qc5 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Qg3+ Kh8 24.Qh4 Rg8 25.Qxf6+ Rg7 26.Rd2
21...a5 22.Qe3 Kh8?!
22...Rfe8 23.Rf2 Qc6 24.Rd1
23.Rac1! Qxa2 24.Nxf6 Rxc1
24...gxf6? 25.Qh6 Kg8 (25...Qe2 26.Kh2+- Rf3) 26.Rf3 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1+-
25.Rxc1 gxf6 26.Qh6 Kg8

27.Qxf6?
27.Rf1! Qxb3 (27...Rc8 28.Qxf6 Qc2 29.Rf3+-) 28.Qxf6! (28.Rf3? Qxf3 29.gxf3 b3 30.Qxf6 (30.Qc1 a4=) 30...b2
31.Qg5+=) 28...Qg3 29.Rf3 Qg7 30.Qh4! a4 31.Rg3 b3 32.Rxg7+ Kxg7 33.Qg5+ Kh8 34.Qf6+ Kg8 35.Qh6 f6
36.Qd2 Rd8 37.Qb4+-
27...Qd2 28.Rf1 Re8?
28...h5! 29.Qh4 (29.Rf3 Kh7 30.Kh2 Rg8 31.Qxf7+ Rg7 32.Qxh5+ Kg8=) 29...Qh6 30.f6 Re8! 31.Rf5 Re6 32.Rxh5
Qxf6 (32...Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Qf4+ 34.Qxf4 exf4 35.Rxa5 Kh7 36.Rg5 Kh6=) 33.Qg4+ Qg7 (33...Kf8 34.Rf5=) 34.Qf5
Qf6 35.Qg4+=
29.Rf3+- a4 30.Rg3+ Kf8 31.Qg7+ Ke7 32.f6+ Kd8
32...Ke6 33.Qg4+ Kxf6 34.Qd7! Rf8 35.bxa4 b3 36.Rf3+ Kg7 37.Qe7 Qh6 38.Rxb3+-
33.Qxf7 a3 34.Qa7 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Qf4 36.Qb8+ Kd7 37.Qb5+ Kd8 38.Qxb4 h5 39.Qxd6+ Kc8 40.Qc6+ Kd8 41.f7!
1-0

77. B90
Perunovic, Milos (2616) - Volokitin, Andrei (2668)
Romania 131/77, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Be2 h5 11.h4 gxh4
12.Bxh4 Nc6 13.Nb3 Be6 14.Qd2 Qb6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nce5 17.Qa5 Qa7 18.c3
18.Bg3 - 89/228
18...Ng6 19.Bg3
19.Bxg4?! hxg4 20.Qa4+ b5 21.Qxg4 Qd7! 22.Qxd7+ Kxd7 23.g3 b4
19...Be5 20.Bxg4 Bxg3 21.fxg3 hxg4 22.Rxh8+ Nxh8 23.Ke2 b5N
23...Ng6 24.Qa4+ b5 25.Qxg4 Ne5 26.Qf5 (26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Nxd4 Nc4 (27...Kd7?! 28.a4! (28.Nf3)) 28.a4 bxa4
29.Rxa4 Nb6 30.Ra5 (30.Rb4 Nxd5 31.Rb7 Kd8 32.c4 Kc8 33.Rb3 Nf6=) 30...Nc4=) (26.Qe4!?) 26...Qd7 27.Nd4
24.Qb4 Qb7
24...Ng6 25.Rh1 (25.Qxg4 - 23...Ng6) 25...Ne5 26.Nd4 O-O-O
25.Qe4 Ng6 26.Rh1 e6
26...Qc8 27.Nd2 Kf8 28.Rh5
27.Rh5! e5 28.Rh7
28.Nd4! b4 (28...Qd7 29.Ne6! (29.Nf5 O-O-O 30.Rh7) 29...Ke7 30.Rh7) (28...Qc7 29.Ne6! Qa5 30.a3 Ra7
31.Ng7+ Kf8 32.Nf5) 29.Nf5 Rd8 30.c4
28...O-O-O?
28...Qc8 29.Qd3 Qd7 30.Na5
29.Na5 Qd7 30.Nc6 Re8?!
30...Rf8 31.a4 Ne7 32.axb5 axb5 33.Nxe7+ Qxe7 34.Qxg4+
31.a4+- Kb7?
31...Nf8 32.Rh8+-
32.Qxg6 1-0

78.* B90
Nijboer, Friso (2546) - Almasi, Zoltan (2702)
Deutschland 131/78, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 Nbd7 9.g4 Rc8 10.Qd2
10.Qf3 Rxc3! 11.bxc3 d5 12.Bd3 Qc7 13.g5N (13.O-O) 13...dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Qxc3+ (15...Be7 16.O-O
Bxh3 17.Rfe1 Be6) 16.Bd2 Qc7 17.h4 Bd6 Sprenger,J (2513)-Hracek,Z (2594)/ Hrvatska 131/(78) 2016
10...b5 11.O-O-O Be7 12.f4 O-O 13.Kb1
13.f5 - 116/82
13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.g5 Nfd7 16.Nd4 Nb6N
16...Nc5
17.Nf5
17.h4!? b4 (17...Nec4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qd3 Re8 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5) 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Nxe6 fxe6 (19...Nc3+
20.Qxc3! fxe6 (20...bxc3 21.Nxd8 Rcxd8 22.Bxa6) 21.Qg3 Qc7 22.Rh2) 20.Bxe5 (20.exd5 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4
22.Be3 e5) 20...dxe5 21.exd5 Qxd5 22.Qxd5 exd5 23.Rxd5 Rcd8 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Bxa6
17...b4! 18.Nxe7+?!
18.Ne2 Nec4 19.Qd4 (19.Qxb4 a5 20.Qb5 Bd7 21.Qb3 Na4) 19...Bxf5 20.exf5 Rc5 (20...Na4!?) 21.Rd3 Rxf5
22.h418.Qf2 Qc7 (18...bxc3 19.Bxe5 cxb2 20.Bxg7 (20.Bxb2?! Bxg5 21.Rg1 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 Na4 23.Rxg5 (23.Qxg5
Qxg5 24.Rxg5 Rb8 25.Rxd6 Rxb2+ 26.Kc1 Rxa2=) 23...Nxb2 24.Kxb2 Rc5! 25.Rd5 Qa5 26.Rxc5 Qb4+ 27.Kc1
Qe1+=) 20...Na4 21.Bd4) 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Qd6 23.Qf3 Bd7
18...Qxe7 19.Qxd6
19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Rfd8 22.d6 Qb7 23.Bg2 Qb5
19...Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Nec4 21.Bxc4 Nxc4 22.Nd5 Nxd6 23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Bxd6 Rcd8 25.e5
25.Bxb4 Rfe8 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.exf5 Rd5 28.Rf1 g6 29.fxg6 fxg6 30.Rg1 Re4 31.a3 Kg8
25...Rfe8 26.Rf1 Rd7-+ 27.Nc6 Bxh3 28.Rc1
28...f6! 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.b3 Bg2 31.Nb8
31.Nxb4 fxe5-+
31...Rxd6 0-1

79. B90
Shirov, Alexei (2683) - Delgado Ramirez, Neuris (2615)
Florianopolis 131/79, 2017

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.O-O-O Rc8 11.Kb1
Be7 12.Bd3 Qc7 13.h3 h4 14.f4 b5 15.Rhe1 Bc4 16.fxe5
16.a3 - 89/237
16...dxe5 17.Nd5 Nxd5
17...Bxd5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Bf5 N5f6 20.Bg5 Rd8 21.Qf2 Ne4 (21...Nb6 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Bxh4) 22.Bxd7+ Rxd7
23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Rxe4 Bxg5 25.Rxe5+ Be7 26.Qe2 Kf8
18.exd5 Bxd3N
18...Bxd5 19.Bf5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Qd3
19.Qxd3 Qc4?!
19...Bd6 20.Nd2 O-O 21.Rf1
20.Qf5 g6 21.Qf2 Qc7
22.Nd4! Nc5
22...exd4 23.Bf4 Qc5 24.d6+-
23.Nc6
23.Bf4 exf4 (23...Nd7 24.Nc6 Bc5 25.Qe2 O-O 26.Bg5+-) 24.Nc6 Ne6 25.Nxe7 Qxe7 26.dxe6 O-O 27.exf7+ Qxf7
28.Rd6
23...Ne4 24.Qe2 Bd6

24...f5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.Bd4 Qxd5 27.Bxh8+-

25.Bb6!+- Nc3+
25...Qxb6 26.Qxe4 Kf8 (26...f5 27.Qd3 e4 28.Rxe4+! fxe4 29.Qxe4+ Kf8 (29...Kd7 30.Qe6+ Kc7 31.Qf7+ Be7
32.Qxe7#) 30.Qxg6+-) 27.Nxe5+-
26.bxc3 Qxb6 27.Qf3 1-0

80. !N B91
Antoniewski, Rafal (2532) - Dziuba, Marcin (2566)
Polska 131/80, 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Be6 10.h3
10.a4 - 129/82
10...Nbd7 11.a4 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 14.Nxb5 Nxe4 15.Nc7

15...Qa4!N
15...Qb7?! 16.Nxe6 fxe6
17.Nc3! (17.b3) 17...Nxc3 (17...Ndf6? 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qg4+-) 18.Qg4 (18.bxc3 Qc7 19.Qg4 Kf7 20.Qh5+ (20.f4
exf4 21.Bxf4 Nf6) 20...Kg8 21.Qg4=) 18...Ne2+ 19.Kh2! (19.Qxe2 d5) 19...Qc7 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 (20...Rf7?
21.Bd5+-) 21.Qxe7 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Rxf2 23.Kh1
16.b3 Qc6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.c4 Ndf6 19.Qc2
19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Bxc6 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Rb8 22.Ba4 Ne4=
19...d5 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Qc7 22.Bd2 Bc5 23.cxd5 exd5 24.b4 Bb6= 25.Qxc7
25.Qb3 e4 26.b5 (26.Bxe4 Nxe4 27.Qxd5+ Kh8 28.Qxe4 Qxg3+ 29.Qg2 Qd3 30.Bc1 Qb3=) 26...Kh8=
25...Bxc7 26.Rc1 Bb6 27.Rc6 Bd4 28.g4 h6 29.b5 Ra8 30.Ra6 Rb8 31.Bf1 Ne4 32.Be3 Bxe3 33.fxe3 Kf7 1/2-1/2

81.* B91
Giri, Anish (2773) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767)
Wijk aan Zee 131/81, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 Nbd7 9.a4 b6 10.Nd5 Nxd5
10...Bb7 11.Nxe7 Qxe7 12.Nc3 Rc8 13.O-O O-O 14.Re1N (14.Be3) 14...Qe6 15.Qd2 Rfd8 16.b3 Nc5 17.Bb2 h5
18.Rad1 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ba3 h4 21.Qe3 Rd7 22.Rd2 hxg3 23.hxg3 Ng4 24.Qg5 Nf6 25.Qe3 (25.Bb4 Na6 26.Ba5
Rc5 27.Na2) 25...Ng4 26.Qg5 Nf6 1/2 Bartel,M (2640)-Navara,D (2744)/Lublin 131/(81) 2016
11.Qxd5 Rb8 12.Nc3 O-O 13.O-O Bb7 14.Qd1 Rc8 15.Re1N
15.Qe215.Be3
15...h6?!
15...Nf6 16.Be3 (16.Bg5 Rc4) 16...h6 17.Qe2 Qc7
16.Bh3 Rc6?
16...Bc6 17.Be3 Rb8 18.Nd5
17.Bxh6! gxh6 18.Qg4+ Bg5 19.Qxd7 Qxd7 20.Bxd7 Rc7 21.Bf5 Bd2 22.Red1 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Rd8
23...Rxc3 24.Rxd6 Bc6 25.Rb123...Rc6 24.Rd3
24.Rab1 Rc6 25.f4! exf4 26.e5 Bc8 27.Be4 Rxc3 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.exd6 Rc4 30.Bd3 Rc6

30...Rxa4 31.Rxb6 Kg7 32.Kf2 fxg3+ 33.hxg3

31.Rd1!+- Kf8
31...Bd7 32.Bxa6+-
32.Bxa6! fxg3 33.hxg3 1-0

82. B92
Eljanov, Pavel (2755) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750)
Wijk aan Zee 131/82, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Bxd5
11.exd5 O-O 12.a4
12.O-O - 121/(79)
12...Rc8 13.a5 Ne8 14.O-O Bg5 15.c4 f5 16.f3N
16.f4
16...Bxe3+ 17.Qxe3 f4?!
17...Qh4 18.Nd2 Nef6 19.b4 Rfe8
18.Qf2 g5 19.Nd2 Ndf6 20.b4 Ng7 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.fxe4 g4 23.c5 Qg5 24.c6 bxc6?
24...Rb8 25.Qe1! (25.b5!?) 25...Nh5 (25...f3 26.Bd3 Nh5 27.g3) 26.cxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxa6
25.Bxa6 g3 26.Qf3 Rc7 27.dxc6 gxh2+ 28.Kxh2 d5
28...Nh5 29.Qh3 Ng3 (29...Rxc6 30.b5+-) 30.Bc4+ Kg7 31.a6+-
29.exd5 Nf5 30.d6
30.Rae1 Nd4 31.Qe4 f3 32.Rf2 Qh6+ 33.Kg1 Rf5 34.d6! Qxd6 (34...Rh5 35.Qg4+ Kf8 36.Qxh5 Qxh5 37.dxc7+-)
35.Bc4+ Kg7 36.b5+-
30...Qh6+ 31.Qh3 Qxd6 32.Bc4+?
32.Rad1 Qxc6 (32...Nd4 33.Bc4+ Kg7 34.b5) 33.Rc1 Qd6 34.Rfd1 Qe7 35.Rxc7 Qxc7 36.Bb5
32...Kh8 33.b5
33.a6 Ne3 34.a7 Ra8 (34...Nxf1+? 35.Bxf1 Ra8 36.b5+-) 35.Rfc1 f3! 36.Be6 e4+ 37.Qg3 Qxe6 38.Qxc7 Qh6+ 39.Kg1
f2+ (39...Ng4 40.Qb8+ Kg7 41.gxf3 Qe3+ 42.Kh1 Qxf3+ 43.Kg1 Qf2+ 44.Kh1 Qf3+=) 40.Kxf2 Ng4+ 41.Ke1
Qe3+ 42.Kd1 Qd3+=
33...Rg7?!
33...Ne3 34.a6 f3! 35.Rxf3 (35.a7 e4+ 36.g3 Nxf1+ 37.Bxf1 Rcc8 38.Qd7 Qh6+ 39.Kg1 Rcd8 40.Qe7 Rde8=) 35...e4+
36.Qg3 (36.Rg3? Rg7-+) 36...Qh6+ 37.Qh3 Qd6+=
34.Rad1
34.Rfd1 Nd4! (34...Qc5? 35.Qa3 f3 36.Rd2!+-) 35.a6 f3 36.g4 e4+ 37.Kh1 (37.Qg3 Qh6+ 38.Qh3 Qd6+=) 37...e3
38.a7 e2 39.Rdb1 Rg6! 40.g5 f2 41.Bxe2 Nxe2 42.a8=Q Qd5+ (42...Rxg5 43.Qxf8+ Qxf8 44.c7 Ng3+ 45.Kh2 Nf1+
46.Rxf1 Qf4+ 47.Kh1 Qe4+=) 43.Kh2 Qd6+=
34...Nd4
34...Qc5!? 35.Bd3 (35.Be2 Rg3 36.Qh5 Rg6) 35...Ne3 36.Rc1 Nxf1+ 37.Rxf1 Rfg8 38.Kh1
35.Rxd4
35.Kh1 Qb4 36.Bd3 e4! 37.Rc1 Qxa5 38.c7 (38.Bxe4 Ne2) 38...Rxc7 39.Bxe4 Ne2 40.Rxc7 Qxc7
35...Qxd4 36.Qd3 Qc5?
36...Qb2! 37.Bd5 (37.Qe2 Qd4 38.Qd3 Qb2=) 37...f3 38.Bxf3 e4 39.Qxe4 (39.Bxe4 Rxf1 40.Qxf1 Qe5+ 41.Kh1
Qxe4 42.Qf8+ Rg8 43.Qf6+=) 39...Qxb5=
37.Rf3 Qe7 38.Bd5 Qg5 39.Rh3 Rd8 40.b6?

40.Qf3 e4 41.Bxe4 Rd2 42.b6+-

40...e4! 41.Qxe4 f3!= 42.Qxf3 Rxd5 43.c7 Qe5+ 44.Rg3 Rxg3 45.Qxg3 Qh5+ 46.Qh3 Qe5+ 1/2-1/2

83.** B94
Nakamura, Hikaru (2785) - Gopal, Geetha Narayanan (2579)
Gibraltar 131/83, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 h6 8.Bxf6
8.Bh4 - 130/86
8...Nxf6 9.g3 e5 10.Nf5 Be6 11.O-O-O g6 12.Ne3 Rc8 13.Ned5
13.Rd3 h5 14.Bg2 Bh6 15.Kb1 O-O 16.Rhd1 Qa5 17.Ned5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Rc5N (18...Kh8) 19.a3 - 131/(83) (19.b4
Qb5 20.a4 Qxa4 21.bxc5 Qb5+=) (19.c3N Qd8 20.f3 Kg7 21.Qf2 Re8 22.f4 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 exf4
25.gxf4 Qf6 26.f5 Re5= Kollars,D (2500)-Shankland,S (2674)/ Gibraltar 131/(83) 2017) 19...Kg7 20.b4 Qb5 21.a4
Qxa4= 22.bxc5 Qb5+ 23.Ka1 Qa4+ 24.Kb1 Qb5+ 25.Ka1 Qa4+ 26.Kb1 1/2 Hansen,E (2603)-Bok,B (2608)/Wijk
aan Zee II 131/(83) 2017
13...Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Rc5 15.b4N
15.Kb1 Bxd5 16.exd5 Bg7=
15...Rxd5!?
15...Rc8 16.h4 h5 17.Kb2 Bh6
16.exd5 Bd7 17.h4 h5 18.Kb2 Bg7 19.c3 O-O 20.a3 f5 21.Ka2 Qc7 22.c4 e4 23.Qd2 a5
23...Kh7 24.Be2 Rc8 25.Qe3 a5
24.b5 Qc5
24...Be5!? 25.Qe3 (25.Be2 f4 26.gxf4 Rxf4 27.Qe3 Bxb5 28.Rc1 Be8) 25...Bxb5 26.Rc1 Rc8 27.Be2 Ba4
25.Qe3 Qxe3 26.fxe3 Be5 27.Rg1 b6 28.Be2 Kf7 29.Rdf1 Ke7 30.Kb3 Rc8 31.a4 Rc7 32.Kc2 Rc8 33.Kd2 Rh8
34.Rf4 Bxf4 35.gxf4 Kf6= 36.Kc3 Rc8 37.Kd4 Be8 38.Bd1 Bf7 39.Bb3 Rc7 40.Ba2 Rc8 41.Bb3 Rc7 42.Ba2 Rc8
43.Bb3 1/2-1/2

84. B94
Lomasov, Semen (2441) - Khismatullin, Denis (2639)
Moscow 131/84, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 h6 8.Bh4 g6 9.f4 e5 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.O-O-O
Qc7 12.Nb3 b5
13.Rxd7!?N
13.Qf3 - 129/90
13...Nxd7 14.Nd5 Qd6
14...Qb8 15.Bf6 (15.Na5 Bg7 16.Qf3 Bb7 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.Be2 O-O 19.Be7 Nb6 (19...Rfe8 20.Rf1 f6 21.h4)
20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Nxb6 Qxb6=) 15...Nxf6 16.Nxf6+ Ke7 17.Nd5+ Ke8 18.Nf6+ Kd8 19.Qd2+ Qd6 20.Qa5+ Qc7
21.Qd2+=
15.Na5 h5 16.Kb1 f5?!
16...f6 17.Qf3 Be7 18.Be2
17.Qf3
17.g3!? Nb6 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bg2 Rc8 21.Qxe5+ Qe6 22.Qxe6+ Bxe6 23.Re1 Kf7 24.Rxe6! Kxe6
25.Bh3+ Kd6 26.Bxc8
17...fxe4
17...Nc5 18.exf5 Bxf5 - 17...fe417...f4 18.Be2 Nb6 19.Rd1 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Qb6 21.Rxe5+ Be6 22.c4!
18.Qxe4 Nc5
18...Nb6 19.Nf6+ Kf7 20.Bd3 Bf5 21.Qf3
19.Nf6+?!
19.Qf3! Bf5 20.Nc4! bxc4 21.Nf6+ Kf7 22.Bxc4+ Kg7 23.Qxa8 Be7 24.Qa7+-
19...Qxf6 20.Qxa8 Qxh4 21.Qxc8+ Qd8 22.Qc6+ Kf7 23.Be2 Kg7 24.Rf1
24.Nb7 Qd7 (24...Nxb7 25.Qxb7+ Kh6 26.Qxa6) 25.Qxd7+ Nxd7 26.c4
24...Qxa5?
24...Be7 25.Nb3 (25.Nb7 Qc8=) 25...Qc8 26.Qd5 Qe6=
25.Qf6+ Kh7

26.Bxh5!+- gxh5
26...Rg8 27.Qf7+ Bg7 28.Bxg6+ Kh8 29.Qf2+-
27.Qf5+ Kh6 28.Qxe5 Bg7 29.Qf4+ Kh7 30.Qf5+ Kh6?
30...Kg8 31.Qc8+ (31.Qd5+ Kh7 32.Qxh5+ Kg8 33.Qxc5 Qd8) 31...Kh7 32.Qxc5 Qd2 33.Qxh5+ Qh6=
31.g4 hxg4 32.Qxg4 Kh7 33.Qh5+ Kg8 34.Qf7+ Kh7 35.Rg1 1-0

85. B94
Wei, Yi (2706) - Van Wely, Loek (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 131/85, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Bc4 Qb6 8.O-O Qc5 9.Bd5 e6 10.Re1 Be7
10...Ne5 - 129/89
11.Be3 Qa5 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Nc5?N
13...Kf7 14.Ng5+ Kf8 (14...Kg8? 15.b4! Qe5 16.Qd3 h6 17.f4+-) (14...Ke8 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Ne5 (16...Nf6
17.Bd4+-) 17.Bf4 Bf6 18.Ne4) 15.f4 h6 16.Nf3
14.b4!?
14.Nxg7+ Kf7 15.Nd5 Kxg7 16.Nxe7 Kf7 17.b4! Qxb4 18.Qxd6+-
14...Qxb4 15.Nc7+ Kd8 16.N3d5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Qa3
17...Qa4 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Nb6+ Qd4 20.Nxa8+-
18.Nb6
18.e5! Ne6 (18...dxe5 19.Bc1! Qa4 20.Rxe5 Bg4 21.Qd2+-) 19.Qg4 dxe5 20.Nb6+-
18...Rb8 19.Nc4
19.e5 Ne6 20.Qg4 Bd7 21.Rad1 Qxa2 22.exd6 Bf6 23.Nd5+-
19...Qb4 20.Nxd6 Nd3 21.Qxd3
21.Nf7+ Ke8 22.Qh5 g6 23.Qd5 Rf8 24.Reb1 Rxf7 (24...Qc3 25.Nd6+ Bxd6 26.Qxd6 Qe5 27.Qxd3+-) 25.Rxb4 Nxb4
26.Qe5 Nc6 27.Qh8+ Bf8 28.Bh6
21...Qxd6 22.Qxd6+ Bxd6 23.Rad1 Kc7
24.Rxd6! Kxd6 25.Bf4+ Ke6 26.Bxb8 Bd7 27.Ba7 Rc8 28.Rc1 Rc4 29.f3 Ra4 30.Ra1 Rc4 31.c3! b5
31...Rxc3 32.Bd4 Rc2 33.Bxg7+-
32.a3 a5 33.Bb6 Ra4 34.Bd4 g6 35.Kf2 g5 36.Ke3 Bc6 37.Kd2 h5 38.Kc2 b4 39.cxb4 axb4 40.axb4 Rxb4 41.Kc3+-
Ra4 42.Rxa4 Bxa4 43.g3 h4 44.f4 gxf4 45.gxf4 h3 46.Kd2 Kd6 47.Ke3 Bc2 48.f5 Kc6 49.Kf4 Bd3 50.Bb2 Bc2
51.e5 Kd5 52.Kg5 Bd3 53.e6 1-0

86. B96
Wei, Yi (2706) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767)
Wijk aan Zee 131/86, 2017

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.a3 Nbd7 10.Be2
10.Bc4 - 117/79
10...e5N
10...Be7
11.Nf5 g6 12.Bf2!?
12.Ne3! Be7 (12...Qxe3 13.Bf2 Ng4 (13...Qxf4 14.g3+-) 14.Bxe3 Nxe3 15.Qd2 Nxg2+ 16.Kd1 Nxf4 17.Bc4)
13.Bf2! Qc6 (13...exf4 14.Ned5 Qd8 15.Qd2 Nxd5 (15...g5 16.O-O-O) 16.Nxd5 Bh4 17.Qxf4 Bxf2+ 18.Qxf2 Ne5
19.O-O-O) 14.Bf3
12...Nc5
12...Qc7?! 13.Ne3 exf4 14.Ned512...Qc6!? 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.Ne3 Bc5 15.O-O
13.b4! gxf5 14.O-O
14.bxc5 Qc7 15.O-O Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Qd5 Qc6 18.Bc4 Be6 19.Qxc6+ bxc6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.cxd6 exf4 22.Bd4
Rg8 23.Rxf4 Bxd6 24.Rxe4 Rg6 25.Be3
14...Nfxe4
14...Qc7 15.bxc5 - 14.bc5
15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.bxc5 dxc5
16...Qc7 - 14.bc5
17.fxe5?!
17.Qd5! Bg7 (17...Qe6 18.Qxe4 exf4 19.Qxf4! Bd6 20.Qh4 Be7 21.Qh5 Rg8 22.Rae1) 18.Rad1 Be6 19.Qxe4 exf4
20.Qa4+ Qc6 21.Qxc6+ bxc6 22.Bxc5 Bf8 23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.Rxf4
17...Be6 18.Rb1 Qc6 19.Bg4 b5 20.Bh4 Rg8
20...Bg7 21.Bf6 Bxf6 22.Rxf6 Rd8 23.Qe2 Rg8 (23...h5!?) 24.Bxe6 (24.Bh3 Rg6 25.Rxg6 fxg6 26.Bxe6 Qxe6 27.Qxe4
Rd4 28.Qa8+ Rd8=) 24...fxe6 25.g3 Rd7 26.Rxh6 Kd8!
21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Rf6! Qg4
22...Qxe5 23.Rxa6! Rc8 24.Rc6! Ra8 25.Qe2 c4 26.a4! Rg6 27.Bf6! Rxf6 28.Rxf6 Rxa4 29.Rff1
23.Qd2! Be7
23...Qxh4? 24.Qd5 Ra7 25.Rd1+-
24.Rf4 Qd7
24...Qe6 25.Bxe7 Qxe7 26.Rxe4
25.Qxd7+ Kxd7

26.e6+!
26.Rxf7 Rge8 27.Re1 Ke6 28.Rxe7+ Rxe7 29.Bxe7 Kxe7 30.Rxe4 Ke6=
26...fxe6 27.Rf7 Rg5 28.Rd1+ Ke8 29.Rh7 b4
29...c4 30.Bxg5 hxg5 31.Rh8+ Bf8 32.Rf1 Ke7 33.Rg8 e3 34.Rf3 a5 35.Rxe3
30.a4
30.Bxg5! hxg5 31.Rh6 bxa3 32.Rxe6
30...c4 31.Bxg5 hxg5 32.Rh8+ Bf8 33.Rf1 Ke7 34.Rh7+ Kd6 35.Rh8 Ke7 36.Rh7+ Kd6 37.Rhf7 Bh6 38.Rd1+ Ke5
39.Rc7 c3
39...b3 40.Rc5+ Kf4 41.Rxc4 b2 42.Re1
40.Kf2 g4 41.Rc5+ Kf6 42.Ke2?!
42.Rd4 Rb8 43.Rxe4
42...Rb8 43.Rb1?!
43.Rd4! a5 (43...b3 44.cxb3 Rxb3 45.Rxe4) 44.Rxe4 Rd8 45.Kf2
43...Rd8 44.Rf1+ Ke7 45.Rc7+ Kd6 46.Rc4 Ke7
46...Ke5 47.Rd1 Rb8 48.Rc5+ (48.Rb1 Rd8 49.Rbxb4 Rd2+ 50.Ke1 Rxc2 51.Rxe4+ Kf5) 48...Kf6 49.Rd4 - 43.Rd4
47.Rd1 Rb8 48.Rdd4 b3 49.cxb3 Rxb3 50.Rc7+
50.Rxe4 Rb2+ 51.Kd3 Rxg2 52.Rc6
50...Kf6 51.Rxe4 Rb2+ 52.Kd3 Rd2+ 53.Kxc3 Kf5 54.Re1 Rxg2 55.Rc5+ Kf6 56.Re4 Rxh2 57.Rxg4 a5 58.Kd3 Rd2+
59.Ke4 Re2+ 60.Kf3 Re3+ 61.Kf2 Re5?
61...Ra3 62.Rxa5 Bd2 63.Rb5
62.Rg6+! Kxg6 63.Rxe5 Bd2 64.Rxe6+ Kf7 65.Re4+- Kf6 66.Ke2 Bc3 67.Rc4 Be5 68.Rc5 Ke6 69.Rxa5 Bc7 70.Rb5
Kd6 71.Kd3 Kc6 72.Kc4 Bb6 73.a5 Ba7 74.a6 Bb6 75.Rb3 1-0

87. B96
Caruana, Fabiano (2823) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2779)
London 131/87, 2016

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.a3 Be7 10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7
12.O-O-O b5 13.g4 g5 14.h4 gxf4 15.Be2 b4N
15...Rg8 - 128/84
16.axb4 Ne5 17.Qxf4 Nexg4 18.Bxg4 e5
19.Qxf6!!
19.Nd5? Nxd5 20.Qf3 Nxb4!-+
19...Bxf6 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Nf5!
21.Nc6 Bxg4 22.Nxd8 Bxd8 23.Rd2 Rc8
21...Rb8
21...Bxf5 22.Bxf5 Rb8 (22...Be7 23.Rd3! (23.Bb6?! Qb8 24.Bc7! (24.Nc7+ Kf8 25.Nxa8 Qxa8) 24...Qb7 25.Rh3!?
Rg8 26.Nxe7 Kxe7 27.Bxd6+ Ke8 28.Rc3 Rd8 29.Rc7 Qb5 30.Re7+ Kf8 31.Bd7!? Rxd7 32.Rxd7+ Kg7
33.b3) 23...Rg8 24.Rc3 Rb8 25.Rc7 Rxb4 26.Rxe7+ Qxe7 27.Nxe7 Kxe7 28.h5+-) 23.Rd3 Rb5 24.c4 Rxd5 25.Rxd5
Be7 26.c5 Qb8 27.Rhd1 dxc5 28.bxc5
22.Nxf6+! Qxf6
23.Rxd6?!
23.Nxd6+! Ke7 (23...Kf8 24.Bf5!! (24.Bxc8 Qxf2 25.Rhf1 Qe3+ 26.Kb1 Rh7) 24...Bxf5 (24...Be6 25.Bc5+-)
25.Nxf5 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.Bc5+ Ke8 28.Ng7+ Kd7 29.Rd1++-) 24.Bc5! Qf4+ (24...Bxg4 25.Nb5+!! Ke8
26.Nc7#) 25.Kb1 Qxg4 26.Nxc8+ Ke8 (26...Kf6 27.Rhf1+ Kg6 28.Rg1+-) 27.Nd6+ Kd7 (27...Kf8 28.Rhg1+-)
28.Nxf7+ Kc7 29.Bd6+!? Kb7 30.Bxb8 Rxb8 31.Nxe5 Qxe4 32.Nd7!+-
23...Be6 24.Rhd1
24.Be3 Rxb4 (24...O-O 25.Nxh6+ Kh8 26.Nxf7++-) 25.Rxa6 Bxf5 (25...Kd7 26.Ra7+ Kc6 27.Ne7+! Qxe7 (27...Kb5
28.Be2++-) 28.Rxe7 Bxg4 29.Rxe5+-) 26.Rxf6 Bxg4
24...O-O 25.h5 Qg5+?
25...Rfe8 26.Bh4! Qh8 27.c3!! (27.Ne7+ Rxe7 28.Bxe7 Bxg4 29.Rd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ Kh7 31.Rxh8+ Kxh8 32.Bf6+
Kh7 33.Bxe5 Bxh5 34.Kd2 Kg6)25...Rxb4! 26.Bh4 Bxf5!! 27.Bxf6 (27.Rxf6 Bxg4 28.Rg1 Rxe4 29.Rxh6 f5)
27...Bxg4 28.Re1!? (28.Rg1 Rxe4 29.Rxa6)
26.Be3 Qf6 27.Nxh6+ Kh8 28.Bf5
28.Nxf7+!? Rxf7 29.Bxe6 Qf3
28...Qe7
28...Qh4 29.Rg1! Qxh5 30.Nxf7+ Bxf7 31.Rh6+ Qxh6 32.Bxh6 Rg8 33.Rh1+-
29.b5
29.Nxf7+ Rxf7 (29...Bxf7 30.Rh6+ Kg7 31.Rg1++-) (29...Qxf7 30.Rxe6+-) 30.Rxe6 Qxb4 31.Rh6+ Kg8 32.Rg1+ Kf8
(32...Rg7 33.Be6+ Kf8 34.Bc5+!! Qxc5 35.Rh8+ Ke7 36.Rxg7+ Kxe6 37.Rh6#) 33.Rh8+ Ke7 34.Rxb8 Qxb8 35.Bc5+
Kd8 36.Rg8++-
29...Qe8
29...axb5 30.Nxf7+ Rxf7 31.Rxe6+-
30.Nxf7+! Rxf7 31.Rxe6 Qxb5 32.Rh6+
32.Rh6+ Kg8 33.Rg1+ Kf8 (33...Rg7 34.Be6+ Kf8 35.Rh8+ Ke7 36.Rxg7+ Kd6 37.Rxb8 Qxb8 38.Bd5+-) 34.Rh8+
Ke7 35.Rxb8 Qxb8 36.Bc5+ Kd8 37.Rg8++-1-0

88. B96
Nakamura, Hikaru (2779) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2804)
London 131/88, 2016

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.a3 Be7 10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7
12.O-O-O b5 13.g4 Bb7
13...g5 - 128/84
14.Bg2 Rc8 15.Kb1 g5
16.Qh3! Nc5?!N
16...gxf4? 17.g5! Nh7 18.g6!+-16...Rg8 17.e5!! dxe5 18.fxe5 Bxg2 (18...Nxe5 19.Bg3 Bxg2 20.Qxg2 - 18...Bg2)
19.Qxg2 Nxe5 (19...Qxe5 20.Bg3!? Qc5 21.Rhe1 b4 (21...Kf8? 22.Rxe6!+-) 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Nf5! exf5? 24.Bd6+-)
20.Bg3 Qc5 (20...Nfxg4 21.Rhe1! b4 22.Nd5!! exd5 23.h3! bxa3 24.hxg4 Qb7 25.b3+-) 21.Qb7!? (21.Ne4!? Nxe4
22.Qxe4 Ng6 23.Rhf1!?) 21...Nc4 22.Rd3 Kf8 23.Qxa6 Kg7 24.Ncxb516...Nh7 17.e5!? (17.Qxh6? Bf6! 18.Qh3
(18.e5? Nhf8!-+) 18...gxf4) (17.f5 e5 18.Nb3 Nhf6) (17.fxg5 Nxg5 18.Qg3 Ne5) 17...Bxg2 (17...dxe5
18.fxe5) 18.Qxg2 gxf4 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Rhe1
17.Rhe1! h5

17...gxf4 18.g5! Nfd7 19.g6! fxg6 20.Nxe6! Nxe6 21.Qxe6! Ne5 22.Bd4! Qc4 23.Nd5! Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 (24.Ka2
Bxd5+ 25.exd5 Qf5 26.Qxf5 gxf5 27.Bxe5 dxe5 28.Rxe5 (28.d6? Rc5! 29.b4? Rc2+!)) 24...Bxd5 25.exd5 Qf5
26.Qxf5! gxf5 27.Bxe5! dxe5 28.d6!
18.Nf5!
18.fxg5! Nxg4 19.Bg3 Ne5 20.Nf5! exf5 21.exf5 Bxg2 22.Qxg2+-
18...Ncxe4
18...exf5 19.exf5 Nxg4 20.Bxc5!? Bxg2 21.Qxg2 Qxc5 22.Nd5+-18...gxf4 19.Nxe7 (19.Bxc5!? Qxc5 (19...dxc5
20.Nd5! exd5 21.exd5+-) 20.Nxe7 Kxe7 21.e5! hxg4 22.exf6+ Kd7 23.Qxg4 Rhg8 24.Qxg8 Rxg8 25.Bxb7+-)
19...Qxe7 20.e5! dxe5 21.Rxe5 Bxg2 22.Qxg2 Kf8 (22...Ncd7 23.Qb7!! Rb8 24.Qc6+-) 23.gxh5! (23.Bxc5 Rxc5
24.Rxc5 Qxc5 25.Rd8+ Ne8 26.Rxe8+ Kxe8 27.Qa8+ Kd7 28.Qxh8 hxg4 29.Qf6+-)18...Nxg4 19.Bd4+-
19.Bxe4! Nxe4 20.Bd4! Rg8 21.Nxe7! Kxe7 22.gxh5 gxf4 23.Qh4+ Kf8 24.Ka1?
24.Qxf4 e5 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 (26...Qxc2+ 27.Ka1 Bxe4 28.Bxe5 dxe5 29.Qd6+ Ke8 30.Rxe4 Qxe4
31.Qd7+ Kf8 32.Qxc8+ Kg7 33.Rg1++-) 27.Bc3 Rh8 28.Qe3 b4! 29.Bxb4!? Bxc2+ 30.Ka1 Bxd1 31.Qxe5+ Kd7
32.Qf5+ Kc6 33.Rxd1 Kb7 34.Bc3 f6 35.Bxf6+-24.h6! e5 25.h7 Rh8 26.Ka1!! Nxc3 27.Bxc3+-
24...b4?
24...e5? 25.Nxe4 Bxe4 26.Rxe4+-24...Qe7! 25.Qxf4! (25.Qxe7+?? Kxe7 26.Nxe4 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 e5) 25...Qg5!
26.Rxe4 (26.Qf3 Nc5 (26...Qf5 27.Qxf5 exf5 28.h6 Ke7 29.Bg7!?+-) 27.Qf2 Qxh5 28.Qf4! e5 29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Rxe5
Qg6 31.Qb4 Qc6 32.Qh4!+-) 26...Qxf4 27.Rxf4 e5 28.Rf2 exd4 29.Rxd4
25.Nxe4
25.axb4? e5! 26.Nxe4 Qxc2! 27.Nc5 (27.Nc3?? Rg2!-+) 27...dxc5 28.Bxc5+ Kg7 29.Rd6 Kh7! 30.Qf6 Qa4+!?
31.Kb1 Be4+! 32.Rxe4 Rg1+! 33.Bxg1 Qc2+! 34.Ka2 Qa4+!=25.h6! e5 (25...bxc3 26.h7 cxb2+ 27.Bxb2+-) 26.h7
Rh8 27.Nxe4 Bxe4 28.Rxe4 Qxc2 29.Rde1 b3 30.Qh6+ Ke7 31.Qxf4+-
25...Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Qxc2 27.Ree1?
27.Rde1 bxa3 28.Qxf4 axb2+ 29.Bxb2+-
27...bxa3
27...Rg2 28.Qxf4 e5 29.Qh6+!? Kg8 30.Rc1 Qf5 31.Rxc8+ Qxc8 32.Rc1+-
28.Qxf4! axb2+ 29.Bxb2 Rg5!! 30.Qxd6+!
30.Qxg5? Qa4+=
30...Kg8 31.Rg1
31.Rd3 Ra5+ 32.Ra3 Rxa3+ 33.Qxa3+-
31...Qa4+ 32.Ba3?!
32.Kb1! Qe4+ (32...Qc2+ 33.Ka2 Qc4+ 34.Ka3!!+-) 33.Ka2 Qa4+ 34.Qa3 Qxa3+ 35.Kxa3 Rxg1 36.Rxg1+ Kh7
37.Rg7+ Kh6 38.Rxf7 Kxh5+-
32...Rxg1?
32...Kh7!! 33.Rxg5 Rd8!! 34.Rg7+! (34.Qxd8?? Qxa3+ 35.Kb1 Qb3+ 36.Kc1 Qc3+=) (34.Qd3+ Rxd3 35.Rxd3+-)
34...Kh6!! (34...Kxg7 35.Qg3+ Kh7 36.Rxd8+-) 35.Rd4!! Qxd4+ 36.Qxd4 Rxd4 37.Rxf7 Rd1+ 38.Kb2 Rd2+ 39.Kc3
Rxh2 40.Bf8+! Kxh5 (40...Kg5 41.h6+-) 41.Rh7++-
33.Rxg1+ Kh7 34.Qd3+ Kh6 35.Rg6+ Kxh5 36.Rg1 f5 37.Qf3+ 1-0
 89.* !N B97
Mamedov, Rauf (2688) - Jobava, Baadur (2701)
Moscow 131/89, 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Be7 11.fxe6 fxe6
12.Be2 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.g4 h6 15.Qh3 O-O 16.g5 hxg5 17.Nxe6 Qc6 18.Rf1
18.Qf5 Re8 (18...Nxe4 - 119/75) 19.Nd5 Bd8 20.Nxd8 Bxf5 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Nxc6 Rxe4 23.Nxb8N (23.Nd4 Rxd4
24.Rf1 Bg4 25.Bxg4 Rxg4 26.Rxb7 Nc6 27.Rxf6 Ne5=) 23...Bg4= 24.O-O Rxe2 25.Rxb7 Bc8 26.Rb6 Rxd2 27.Rxf6
Kg7 28.Rf2 Rd1+ 29.Rf1 Rd2 30.Rf2 Rd1+ 31.Rf1 Rd2 32.Rf2 1/2 Wei,Y (2717)-Volokitin,A (2647)/Baku (ol)
131/(89) 2016
18...g4 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Rxf8+ Bxf8 21.Qxg4 Qe8 22.Nd5 Qxe6 23.Qxe6+ Bxe6 24.Nc7 Ra7 25.Nxe6 b5 26.a4
26.Nxf8 - 108/(75)
26...Nc6 27.axb5 axb5 28.Rxb5

28...Ra4!N
28...Ra8 29.Rb6 (29.Kd1)
29.Ng5
29.Nxf8 Rxe4+ 30.Kf2 Kxf8=
29...Be7= 30.h4 Bxg5 31.Bxg5 Rxe4+ 32.Kf2 Ne5
32...Rc4=
33.Rd5 Rc4 34.Rxd6 Rxc2+ 35.Rd2 Rxd2+ 36.Bxd2 Ng6 37.Kg3 Nxh4 1/2-1/2

90. !N B97
Yilmazyerli, Mert (2443) - Benidze, Davit (2522)
Izmir 131/90, 2016
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5
Nfd7 12.Ne4 Qxa2 13.Rd1
13.Rb3 - 11/ 397
13...Qd5 14.Qe3 Bc5 15.Nxe6 Bb4+ 16.c3 Qxe6 17.cxb4 O-O 18.Rd6!N
18.Be2
18...Qa2
18...Qxe5 19.Bc4 Nc6 (19...Nb6? 20.Rxb6 Qa1+ 21.Kf2 Qxh1 22.Nf6+! Kh8 23.Nxh7! Kxh7 24.Qe4+ Kg8 25.Rh6
gxh6 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Bf6#) 20.O-O Kh8 (20...Nb6 21.Bb3 Bf5 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Qxe5 fxe5 24.Rxf5) 21.Bxf7 Qb2
(21...Qb5 22.Rd5) 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Be7
19.Be2 Qb1+ 20.Kf2! Qxh1

20...Qxb4 21.Rhd1 Nc6 22.Rxd7 Bxd7 23.Nf6+! (23.Rxd7 Nxe5) 23...Kh8 (23...gxf6 24.Bxf6+-) 24.Rxd7+-
21.Bh6! Qxh2
21...gxh6 22.Rxh6 Qb1 (22...Kh8 23.Rxh7+ Kxh7 24.Nf6+ Nxf6 25.Bd3+ Kh8 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Qxf6+
Kg8 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qh7#
) 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qf5+-
22.Qg5 g6 23.Bxf8 Kxf8
23...Nxf8 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Nh5+ Kg8 26.Qf6 gxh5 27.Rd8 Bf5 (27...Nd7 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Bc4 Qxe5 30.Rxf8++-)
28.e6! Qc7 29.exf7+ Qxf7 30.Bc4+-
24.e6!+-

24...fxe6
24...Qe5 25.Qd8+ Kg7 26.e7+-
25.Rxe6 Nc6 26.Nd6
26.Nd6 b5 27.Bf3 (27.Rf6+ Kg7 28.Nf5+ Kg8 29.Bf3 Bb7 30.Rxg6+ hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Bd5 Qf4+ 33.Kg1 Qc1+
34.Kh2 Qf4+ 35.Kh3+-) 27...Bb7 28.Rf6+ Kg7 29.Rf7+ Kg8 30.Rxd7+-1-0
C00-C49

91. C00
Bogdan, Dan (2383) - Jianu, Vlad Cristian (2544)
Romania 131/91, 2016

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.O-O c5 5.d3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nb3 b6 10.c4
10.Re1 Bb7 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nbxd4 O-O 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne5 (14.Nd4 Ba4=) 14...Bxe5 15.Rxe5 Nb4 16.Bd2 Bxg2
17.Bxb4 Qf6 18.Bc3 Bb7 19.Rd5 e5 20.Rxe5 Qc6 21.f3 Rfd8 22.Qe2 Qxf3=
10...Nde7 11.d4
11.Qe2 O-O 12.Bf4 a511.Bg5 f6 12.Be3 e5 13.d4 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Ba6! (14...O-O 15.Bc3 Be6 16.Qe2 Qc7 17.Rad1
Rad8 18.Na1!?) 15.Rc1 Rc8 (15...exd4 16.Nfxd4) 16.Be3 O-O 17.Nbd2 Nf5
11...Ba6! 12.dxc5
12.Qe2 - 119/798
12...Bxc4 13.Re1 O-O
13...Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bd5! (14...O-O 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 (15...Rad8 16.Bg5=) 16.Nxd4 Rad8 17.Bg5 Rxd4 (17...f6 18.Be3
bxc5 19.Nb3 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1=) 18.Bxe7 Re8 19.Bd6 Rd8 (19...bxc5 20.Bxc5=) 20.Rxd4 Bxd4 21.Rc1 bxc5 22.Be7
Rd7 23.Rxc4 Rxe7 24.b4 Rc7 25.b5=) 15.Ng5 (15.Nfd4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 bxc5 18.Nb3 c4 19.Na5 c3)
15...O-O 16.Ne4 Rad8 17.cxb6 axb6 18.Nc3 Bxg2 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Kxg2 Nb4
14.Nfd2 Bd5 15.Ne4
15.Bxd5? Qxd5 16.Ne4 Rfd8 17.Qxd5 Nxd5 18.Re2 h6
15...a5N
15...Qc7!? 16.Bf4 e5 17.Bg5 Rad8 18.Qe2 (18.Qc2 f6 19.Be3 f5 20.Nd6 e4) 18...f6 19.Bd2 f5 20.Nc3 Bxg2 21.Kxg2
bxc5 22.Qc4+ Kh8 23.Qxc5 Qb7 24.Qb5 Qa8! 25.Kg1 (25.f3 e4) 25...f4 26.Ne4 Nf515...h6
16.Bg5
16.cxb6 Qxb6 (16...a4 17.Nbc5 a3 18.b7) 17.Be3 Qc7 (17...Qb4 18.Bd2 Qb8 19.Bc3 e5 20.Re2 Rd8 21.Rd2 Qb6
22.Nbc5) 18.Bg5 Rfd8 19.Qc1! (19.Qc2 a4 20.Nbd2 Qa7) 19...Qa7 (19...a4 20.Nbc5) 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxf6
Bxg2 22.g4!
16...a4 17.Nbd2 f6 18.Be3 a3
18...f5 19.Ng5 h6 20.Ngf3 (20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Bxh6 Bd5) 20...bxc5 21.Bxc5 Bxb2
19.bxa3 f5 20.Ng5 h6
20...Bxa1 21.Qxa1 e5 22.cxb6 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Nd5
21.Ngf3
21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.cxb6 Bxa1 23.Qxa1 Bd5 24.Bxh6 Rf7 25.Nf3 Bxf3 26.Bxf3 Qxb6 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Qf6 Kh7
29.Bd2 Qd4 30.Qxd4 Nxd4 31.Bxa8 Ra7
21...bxc5
21...b5! 22.Nb3 e5
22.Bxc5 Bxa1 23.Qxa1 Kh7 24.h4

24.Qc1!? Rc8 25.Nc4 Bxf3 26.Bxf3 Nd4 27.Bxd4 Qxd4 28.Rxe6 Rc7 29.Qe3 Qxc4 30.Rxe7+ Rxe7 31.Qxe7+ Rf7
24...Rf7! 25.Nb3
25.Qc1 Ng8! 26.Nc4 Rb8 27.Rd1 Nf6 28.Ne3 Rd7
25...Ra4 26.Qd1 Qa8 27.Kh2
27.h5 g5 28.Qc2 Ng8 29.Rxe6!? Bxe6 30.Ne5 Rc7 31.Ng6 Qe8! 32.Bd6 (32.Qb2 Nge7-+) 32...Raa7!
27...Ng8 28.Bd6
28.h5 g5 29.Nxg5+ hxg5 30.Bxd5 exd5 31.Qxd5 Qb7-+
28...Re4 29.Nc5 Rxe1 30.Nxe1 Nf6
30...Bxg2 31.Nxg2 e5 32.Qd5 Qe8! 33.h5 g5 34.Ne3 Nf6-+
31.Bxd5 exd5 32.a4 Qd8 33.Bf4 d4!?
33...Qe7 34.Ned3 Ne4-+
34.Ned3 Re7 35.Kg1 Qd5
35...Ne4 36.Qb3 Nc3 37.Bd2 Qd5
36.Qb3 Kg7 37.Qb5 Ng4?!
37...Re2 38.Qb7+ Ne7
38.Qb1?
38.Qb3 Qf7 39.Qb6 Qe8
38...Nce5
38...g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.Bxg5 Nce5-+
39.Nxe5 Nxe5 40.Bxe5+ Qxe5-+ 41.Nd3 Qe4 42.Qb4? Rb7 0-1

92. C02
Yu, Yangyi (2738) - Ju, Wenjun (2583)
Gibraltar 131/92, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Bd7 7.Be2 Nge7 8.dxc5 Qxc5
8...Qc7 - 42/(322)
9.b4 Qb6 10.c4 Qc7 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bb2 Nf4N
12...Rc8
13.O-O Ne7 14.Nc3 Neg6
14...Qb6 15.g3 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 h5 17.Rfd1 Nf5 18.Rd3
15.Rc1 Nxe2+
15...Bc6 16.b5 Rd8 17.Qa4
16.Qxe2 Qb6 17.Rfd1 Be7 18.g3 Bc6 19.Nd4 O-O 20.Nxc6 bxc6
20...Qxc6 21.Ne4 Qa6 22.Qxa6 bxa6 23.Rc7
21.h4 Rfd8 22.h5 Nf8 23.h6 g6
23...Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 a5 25.bxa5 Qxa5 26.hxg7 Kxg7 27.Ne4
24.Ne4 Rd5 25.Qf3 Nd7
26.Nd6!
26.Nc3!? Rxd1+ (26...Nxe5 27.Qf4+-) 27.Rxd1 Qc7 28.Ne4 Nxe5? 29.Nf6+ Kh8 (29...Kf8 30.Bxe5+-) 30.Ng4+-
26...Rf8
26...Bxd6 27.Rxd5! cxd5 28.exd6 Qxd6 29.b5 Qb6 30.a4
27.Rxd5 exd5
27...cxd5 28.Nc8 Qd8 29.Nxe7+ Qxe7 30.Rc7+-
28.Qg4 Qc7
28...Nf6 29.Qd4 Ne4 30.Qxb6 axb6 31.Rxc6+-
29.Qd4+- Nb6 30.b5 Nc4 31.e6 f6 32.Nxc4 dxc4 33.Qxc4 c5 34.Rd1 Rd8 35.Rd7 Rxd7 36.exd7+ Kf8 37.Qd5 Qb6
38.a4 1-0

93. C07
Adams, Michael (2751) - Ju, Wenjun (2583)
Gibraltar 131/93, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5 Qxc5 6.Ngf3 Nf6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O Nbd7
8...O-O - 125/82
9.a4 b6N
9...Qc7
10.a5 b5?!
10...Bb7 11.a6 Bxf3 (11...Bd5 12.c4 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 O-O 14.b3 Qc7 15.Bb2) 12.Nxf3 O-O 13.Qe2
11.Nb3
11.Ne4!? Qc7 (11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Rb8 13.Be3 Qc4 (13...Qc7 14.Qd4!) 14.Nd4) (11...Qh5 12.a6) 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6
13.Bxb5 (13.a6!?) 13...a6 14.Be2 Bb7
11...Qh5
11...Qc7 12.Bxb5 a6 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Ra4!
12.a6 b4 13.Be2
13.Ra5!? Nd5 14.Be4 N7f6 15.Bxd5 exd5 (15...Nxd5 16.Re1) 16.Re1 Be6 17.Nbd4
13...Nb6 14.Ra5 Nbd5
15.Ng5! Qg6 16.Bd3 Qh5 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Qxh5 Nxh5 19.Bc6 Rb8 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Be3 Ra8 22.Nd4
22.Nf3 Nf6 23.Ne5
22...Bd8
22...Bd7 23.Ngf3 Nf6 24.Ne5
23.Rxd5 Bb6
23...Bxa6 24.Ra1 Bc4 25.Rc5 Bxg5 26.Bxg5 Be6 27.Bd2+-
24.Ne4+- f5 25.Nxf5 Bxa6 26.Rfd1 g6 27.Bh6+ Kf7 28.Ng5+ Kf6 29.Rd6+! Kxf5 30.R1d5+ Kg4 31.h3+ Kf4
32.Nf3+ 1-0

94.* !N C07
Idani, Pouya (2563) - Kobalia, Mihail (2628)
Moscow 131/94, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd7 7.O-O Nc6 8.Nb3 Nf6 9.Qe2 a6 10.a4 Bd6 11.Rd1
e5 12.Nbxd4 Nxd4 13.Rxd4
13.Nxd4 - 112/(156)
13...Qe7 14.Rxd6 Qxd6 15.b3 e4 16.Ba3 Qf4
17.Bb5+N
17.Re1 - 131/(94) 17...Be6!N (17...Bg4) 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qc4 Kf7 20.Bc1 Qd6 21.Ng5+ Kg6 22.h4 h5 23.Bb2
(23.Qe2 Rad8 24.Nxe4 Qe5) 23...Rac8 24.Qe2 Qf4 Melia,S (2393)-Kashlinskaya,A (2450)/Wroclaw 131/(94) 2016
17...axb5!
17...Nd7 18.Bd3 Nf6=
18.Qxb5+ Nd7
18...Bd7 19.Qc5 Nd5 20.Qxd5 O-O-O 21.Qc4+ Qc7 (21...Bc6 22.Bc5 Qc7 23.Nd4) 22.Qxe4
19.Qb4
19.Re1 Kd8! 20.Rd1 (20.Ng5 h6 21.Be7+ Ke8 22.Qb4 hxg5 23.Bd6 Ne5! 24.Bxe5 Qf5-+) 20...Re8 (20...exf3?!
21.Qb6+ Ke8 22.Re1+ Ne5 23.Qb5+ (23.Qc7 Qf6 24.Rxe5+ Be6 25.Qxb7 Rd8 26.Qc6+ Rd7 27.Bd6 Qg6 28.Qc8+
Rd8 29.Qc6+ Rd7=) 23...Kd8 24.Qb6+=) 21.Bc1 e3! 22.Bxe3 Rxe3 23.fxe3 Qxe3+ 24.Kh1 Kc7
19...Kd8 20.Qe7+ Kc7 21.Rd1
21...Ra6! 22.Ne5 Qf6 23.Nxf7 Qxe7 24.Bxe7 Re6
24...Re8 25.Bd6+ Kc6 26.Bg3 Nf6-+
25.Bd6+ Kc6 26.Nxh8 Rxd6-+ 27.Rxd6+ Kxd6 28.Nf7+ Ke7 29.Ng5 Nf6 30.f3 e3 31.a5 Bf5 32.c4 Bc2 33.b4 Bd3
0-1

95.* C07
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2559) - Wang, Hao (2680)
Romania 131/95, 2016

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6
11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bf1!?
12.Qe2 - 127/98
12...Be7
12...Bd7 13.Qf3 O-O-O?! 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Rd312...Bd6!?
13.Qf3
13.g3 O-O 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.a4!? (15.Nb3 Bd7=) 15...Qxb2 16.Nb3 Rd8 17.Qe2 Qc3 18.Be5 Qb4 19.Bg2 Nd5
(19...Nd7 20.c3 Qb6 21.a5) 20.Red1 (20.a5 Bd7 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Bxg7 Re8 23.Bd4 Bd6=) 20...a5 (20...Bd7 21.Rd4
Qb6 22.a5 Qb5 23.Qe1) 21.Rd4 (21.Rab1 Nc3 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Qd3 Nxb1 24.Qxd8+ Qf8 25.Qd1 Na3 26.Bf1
Qe7 27.Bd3 Bd7 28.Bd6 Qf6 29.Bxa3 Bxa4) 21...Qb6 22.Rd3 (22.Rg4 f6 23.Bd4 Qa6) 22...f6!? (22...Nf6 23.Bd4
Qc7 24.Be5 Qb6=) 23.Bb2 Bf8 24.Qd1! (24.Rad1? Bd7! 25.c4 Bxa4) 24...Qc7 25.Nd4 Bd7 26.Nxe6 Bxe6
27.Bxd5=
13...O-O 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Qg3
17.Re3 Rd8 (17...e5 18.Qg3 Ng4 19.Ree1 Re8 20.b4!? Nh6 (20...Nf6 21.c4) 21.c4 Bg4 (21...Nf5 22.Nxf5 Bxf5
23.c5) 22.Rc1 Rad8 23.Nb3 f6 24.b5) (17...Bd7!? 18.Rc3 Qb8 19.Rb3 b5 20.c4 e5 21.Nc6 (21.Nf5 e4 22.Ne7+
Kh8) 21...Qe8) 18.Rc3 Qe7 (18...Qb6!? 19.Rcd3 Qxb2 20.c4 Bd7 21.Rb3 Qxa2 22.Ra3=) 19.Qg3 (19.Rcd3 Re8=
e5) 19...Bd7 20.Rc7 Qb4! 21.Qb3 (21.b3 Qb6 22.a4 Ne4 23.Qf4 g5!? 24.Qe5 f6 25.Qxe4 Qxc7 26.Bd3 Bc8
27.Nxe6 Bxe6 28.Qxe6+ Qf7 29.Qg4 Kh8 30.h4 Qe7) 21...Qxb3 (21...Qd6!? 22.Rxb7 e5 23.Rb6 Qc5 24.Nf3
Ng4) 22.Nxb3 Nd5 23.Rc4 Bb5 24.Rcd4 Bxf1 25.Kxf1 b5=
17...Qxg3
17...Qb6 18.b3 Bd7 19.c4 Rfd8 20.Re3 Be8 21.Red3
18.hxg3 Bd7
18...b5?! 19.c3 Bb7 20.a4
19.c4
19.Nf3 Rfd8 20.Ne5 Be8 21.g4 h6 22.f3 Kf8=
19...Rfd8
19...Rfc8 20.f3 Kf8 21.g4 h6 22.Kf2 b5=
20.f3

20...h5N
20...Kf8
21.Kf2 Kf8 22.Rd2
22.b3 - 17.c4 22...g6 23.Rd3 a5 24.Red1 Ke7 25.Be2 Be8= Movsesian,S (2673)-Vitiugov,N (2726)/Tallinn (blitz)
131/(95) 2016
22...g6 23.Nb3 Ke7= 24.Nc5 b6 25.Nd3 a5 26.Red1 Be8 27.Ne5 Rxd2+ 28.Rxd2 Rc8 29.b3 Nd7 1/2-1/2

96. C10
Inarkiev, Ernesto (2723) - Cordova, Emilio (2655)
Moscow 131/96, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Be3 Bd6 9.Bd3 b6 10.Ne5 O-O
11.Qe2
11.Qf3 - 109/(162)
11...Bb7 12.O-O-O c5 13.f4N
13.Nc4
13...Qc7 14.Rhe1 Rfd8
14...Nd5 15.dxc5 Bxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 bxc5 18.Bc4 Rfd8
15.dxc5 Bxc5?!
15...bxc5 16.Bg1 (16.Bd2 c4! 17.Bxc4 Bd5) 16...c4! 17.Bxc4 Bd5 18.Rd4 a5
16.Bxc5 Qxc5 17.g4 Qb4?!
17...Rd4 18.Qf2 (18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5 Ne4 20.c3 Rc8) 18...Ne4 19.Qxd4! Qxd4 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Rxe4 Bxe4 22.Rd4
Bd5 23.c4 Bh1 24.Kd2
18.Rf1 Nd5 19.c4 Qc5

20.g5! Qe3+ 21.Rd2 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Nb4 23.Bb1 Rac8

23...Nc6 24.gxh6 gxh6 (24...Nxe5 25.h7+) 25.f5 Nxe5 26.Rxe5 exf5 27.b3 (27.Rexf5) 27...Be4 28.Bxe4 fxe4 29.Re7
Rf8 30.Kd2
24.gxh6 gxh6 25.f5 exf5?!
25...Nc6 26.b3 Nxe5 27.Rxe5 Rd5 28.Re2 Rd6 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.fxe6 Rxe6 31.Rxe6 fxe6 32.Rg6
26.Rg1+ Kf8 27.Bxf5+- Nxa2+ 28.Kb1 Nb4 29.Bh7 f5 30.Rg8+ Ke7 31.Nc6+ 1-0

97. C11
Karjakin, Sergey (2785) - Adhiban, Baskaran (2653)
Wijk aan Zee 131/97, 2017
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 a6 9.a3 O-O 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Qf2

11...Nd7!?N
11...Qa5 - 130/ 101
12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bxf6
15.O-O-O e5 (15...Bg5 16.Be3 Bf6 17.Qd2 Nb6 18.g3) (15...b5!?) 16.Bc5! Nxc5 17.Qxc5 exf4 18.Bc4 (18.Nxd5 Bg4
19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Rd6 Qe7 21.Bd3 Rae8 22.Rf1) 18...Kh8 19.Bxd5 Be7 20.Qc4 Qb6 21.Bf3 Bf6 22.Qb4
15...Qxf6 16.g3

16...g5! 17.O-O-O gxf4 18.Kb1

18.Rd4 fxg3 (18...f3?! 19.Rf4 Qh6 20.Kb1 (20.Qxf3 e5 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qh4 Qxh4 23.Rxh4 Nf6) 20...Rxf4 21.gxf4
Qxf4 22.Rg1+ Kh8 23.Ne2! Qf7 24.Rg3 Ne5? (24...Qe7 25.Nd4) 25.Qd4+-) 19.Qxg3+ Kh8 20.Rh4 Rg8 21.Qh3
Nf8 22.Bd3 Qg7 (22...Rg7? 23.Rf1 Qg5+ 24.Kb1 Kg8 25.Rhf4 Bd7 26.R4f3) 23.Rh5 Bd7
18...f3 19.g4?
19.Rd4 Ne5 20.Rf4 Qg7 21.Na4 Bd7 22.Nb6 Rae8
19...Ne5 20.g5 Qg7 21.g6?!
21.h4 Bd7
21...hxg6 22.Bd3 Bd7 23.Rdg1 Nxd3 24.cxd3 Rf5-+ 25.Rg4 Raf8 26.Rhg1 Be8 27.Nd1 Rh5 28.h4 Re5 29.Ne3 Bb5
30.Rd4 Re4 31.Rxg6 Bxd3+! 0-1

98.** C11
Hou, Yifan (2651) - Ju, Wenjun (2583)
Gibraltar 131/98, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.O-O-O a6 11.Qf2
11.h4!? b5 12.Qf2 Na4 13.Nxa4 bxa4 14.c3 Rb8
11...b6 12.Nd4 Qc7
12...Bb7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne2?!N (14.Bd4 - 128/(98)) 14...Qc7 15.Nd4 Bb5! 16.Kb1 (16.Bxb5? Ne4 17.Qe2 axb5
18.Nxb5 Rxa2 19.Kb1 Rfa8-+) 16...Ne4 17.Qe1 Rfc8 18.Bd3 Bc4 19.Rc1 b5 20.Nf3 a5 Espinoza Palomino,W
(2416)-Sedlak,N (2529)/Roquetas de Mar 131/(98) 2017
13.g3N
13.Kb1 - 128/98
13...Bb7 14.Bg2 - 131/98
14.Nxc6N Bxc6 15.Bg2 Bb7 16.Kb1 Rac8 17.Bd4 b5 18.a3 Nd7 19.Rhe1 b4 20.axb4 Bxb4 Aryan,C (2503)-Paehtz,T
(2365)/ Gibraltar 131/(98) 2017
14...Na5!?
15.f5!
15.Kb1 Nc4 16.Bc1 b5
15...Qxe5
15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.f6 Bc5 18.Qf4 (18.fxg7 Rfc8) 18...Rfd8 19.Qg5 Bf8! (19...g6?! 20.h4)
16.Bf4 Qf6 17.h4
17.g4!? g5! (17...e5 18.g5 Qd6 19.f6! Bxf6 (19...gxf6 20.Nf5 Qe6 21.Be3+-) 20.Nf5 Qe6 21.Bh3! Kh8 22.gxf6)
18.Bg3 Ne4 (18...Nc4) 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Rhe1 Bc5 21.Bxe4 Rad8 22.c3 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.cxd4
Rc8+ 26.Kd1 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 exf5 28.gxf5 Kg7=17.Rhe1! Nc4 18.h4 h6 19.b3 Ne4 (19...e5? 20.Bxd5 exf4 (20...exd4
21.bxc4 dxc3 22.Be5+-) 21.Bxb7 Nxb7 22.Nd5 Ba3+ 23.Kb1 Qd6 24.bxc4 b5 25.f6) 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.bxc4 e5
22.Be3 Ba3+ 23.Kb1 exd4 24.Bxd4 Bc5= (24...Qe7)
17...e5 18.Nxd5?!
18.Bg5 Qd6 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.f6! Qxf6 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Nf5 d4 23.Bxb7 Ncxb7 24.Nd5 Kh8 25.Nxf6 Nc6 26.g4
18...Bxd5 19.Bg5 Qd6 20.Bxe7
20.Ne2?! Bxg2 21.Rxd6 Bxg5+ 22.hxg5 Bxh1 23.Rd1 Rac8
20...Qxe7 21.Bxd5 exd4 22.Bxa8
22.f6 gxf6 23.Bxa8 Rxa8 24.Rhe1 Ne6 25.Rxd4 b5 26.Rg4+ Kh8 27.Rf4 Nc4 28.Rxf6 Ra7
22...Rxa8 23.Rhe1
23.Qxd4 Rc8 24.Kb1 Nc6
23...Qc7 24.b4 Nc6!?
24...Nc4 25.Qxd4! (25.bxc5 bxc5) (25.Rxd4 Nb7) 25...Na4 26.f6
25.bxc5 bxc5 26.Qf4 Qb6 27.Qd6
27.Qe4 h5
27...h5

27...Rb8 28.Qd7 Qb2+ 29.Kd2 Qc3+ 30.Kc1 Qb2+=

28.Re5
28.Qd7 Nb4! (28...Kf8? 29.f6!! gxf6 (29...Nb4 30.fxg7+ Kxg7 31.Re5 Nxa2+ 32.Kd2 Qb4+ 33.Ke2) 30.Qd6+
Kg7 31.Rf1) 29.Re8+ Kh7!! (29...Rxe8? 30.Qxe8+ Kh7 31.Qxf7+-) 30.Rxa8 Nxa2+ 31.Kd2 Qb4+ 32.Ke2 Qc4+
33.Kf3 Qc3+ 34.Rd3 Qxc2 35.Qxf7 Qxd3+ 36.Kf2 Qe3+ 37.Kg2 Qe4+ 38.Kg1 Qe3+= (38...Qxa8?? 39.f6+-)
28...c4! 29.Rde1 c3 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Rxe8+ Kh7 32.Qd5?
32.f6! Rh8! 32...Qb2+ 33.Kd1 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qxc2+ 35.Kf3 Qf5+ 36.Ke2 gxf6 (36...Qxf6 37.Qxf6 gxf6 38.Kd3!)
37.Rh8+ Kxh8 38.Qf8+ Kh7=
32...d3!-+ 33.Qxd3 Nb4 34.Qe4 Qg1+ 35.Qe1 Qg2! 36.Qe4
36.Qe2 Qh1+ 37.Qe1 Qb7 38.Qe4 Qd7 39.f6+ g6-+
36...Qd2+ 0-1

99. C11
Nabaty, Tamir (2644) - Vaganian, Rafael A (2564)
Yerevan 131/99, 2016

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.d4 e6 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.Be2 a6 10.Nd1
10.O-O - 113/(99)
10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.O-O Bb7 14.c3 Nc5 15.Qe3 Rc8N
15...Qc7
16.Qh3 Ne4 17.Ne3 Bc5 18.f5
18.Bxc5 Rxc5 (18...Nxc5 19.f5 exf5 20.Nxf5 Rc6 21.Bd3) 19.Rad1 Qb6 20.Rd4
18...exf5 19.Nxf5 Qg5
19...Bxd4+ 20.cxd4 Rc6 21.Bd3 Bc8 22.Qe319...Qb6 20.Bd3 Rc7 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Qg3 Bxd4+ 23.cxd4 Qg6
24.Qe319...Qc7 20.Kh1 Bxd4 21.cxd4 f6 22.Qh4 g6 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.exf6+ Nxf6 25.Bd3
20.Bd3 Rc7?!
20...Bxd4+ 21.cxd4 Rc7 22.Nd6 Bc8 23.Nxc8 Rcxc8 24.Rae1
21.Bxc5 Rxc5

22.e6! Bc8
22...fxe6? 23.Nd6! Qe7 24.Nxb7+-
23.Nd4 g6?
23...Rc7 24.Rf5 (24.Rae1 Qg6 25.Rxf7 Rcxf7 26.exf7+ Qxf7 27.Qe3) 24...Qg6 25.Rxd5 Bxe6 26.Nxe6 Qxe6
(26...fxe6 27.Rd6 Nf2 28.Bxg6 Nxh3+ 29.gxh3 hxg6 30.Rxe6 Rf6 31.Rae1) 27.Qxe6 fxe6 28.Rd4 Nc5 29.Bc2
24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Rxf7! h5 26.e7 Kxf7
26...Re8 27.Ne6+-
27.exf8=Q+ Kxf8 28.Qxc8+!
28.Qxc8+ Rxc8 29.Ne6++-1-0

100. C11
Brkic, Ante (2579) - Luther, Thomas (2541)
Oesterreich 131/100, 2016

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bxd4
11.Qxd4 Qb6 12.Qd2 Nc5 13.O-O-O Bd7 14.Qd4 a5
14...a6 - 65/278
15.h4 Qb4 16.Qe3N
16.Rh3 Qxd4 17.Rxd4 h5 18.Re3 g6 19.b3 Ke7=
16...Na4 17.Nxa4 Qxa4 18.Kb1 Rc8 19.Bd3 O-O
19...Bb5? 20.b3 Qb4 21.a3 Qc5 22.Qxc5 Rxc5 23.b4+-
20.c3 f5
20...Bb5 21.Bc2 Qc4 22.h5
21.exf6 Rxf6 22.g3 Be8 23.h5 Bxh5
23...h6 24.Bc2 Qd7 25.Qd3 (25.Rd4)
24.Bxh7+! Kxh7 25.Rxh5+ Kg6
25...Kg8 26.Rdh1 Re8 27.Qd3 Kf7 (27...Qe4 28.Qxe4 dxe4 29.Rxa5+-) 28.Re1 Qd7 29.Rhe5
26.Rdh1
26.Rd4 Qc6 27.Qe5 Qc7 28.Qg5+ Kf7 29.Rh7 Rg8 30.g4
26...Kf7 27.Re5 Rh6 28.Re1 Rc6 29.f5 Rh2 30.fxe6+ Rxe6 31.Rf5+! Rf6 32.Qe6+
32.Qe6+ Kg6 33.Rxf6+ gxf6 34.Qg8+ Kh6 (34...Kf5 35.Qxd5++-) 35.Qh8++-1-0

101.* C15
Jobava, Baadur (2701) - Lopez Martinez, Josep Manuel (2552)
Espana 131/101, 2017

1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.Be3 b6
8...O-O - 30/(224)
9.Nf4 Bb7 10.Qg4
10.Bb5+ Nd7 11.Nh5 c6 12.Bd3N (12.Qf3) 12...g6 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Be4 e5 15.O-O Qe6 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bh6
Shyam,N (2446)-Nasybullina,A (2219)/Chennai 131/(101) 2017
10...g6N
10...Nc610...Nd7
11.Bb5+! c6
11...Nd7? 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Qxe6+ Be7 (13...Qe7 14.Bxd7++-) 14.Bg5 c6 15.O-O-O Rf8 16.Rhe1 Rf7 17.Bc4 Rg7
18.Bh6+-
12.Bc4 Qd6
12...Nd7 13.O-O-O Qe7 14.Rhe1 O-O-O 15.Nd3
13.O-O-O Nd7

14.Nxe6! fxe6
14...h5 15.Qf4 Qxf4 16.Nxf4+-
15.Bf4 Qe7
15...Qf8 16.Qxe6+ Qe7 17.Qg4 O-O-O 18.Rhe1 Qf8 19.Re6 b5 20.d5 (20.Qf3 Nb8 (20...bxc4 21.Rxc6++-) 21.Bxb5
Bg5 22.Bxg5 Qxf3 23.gxf3 cxb5 24.Bxd8 Rxd8 25.Rf6) 20...h5 (20...cxd5 21.Bxd5+-) 21.dxc6! Bxb2+ (21...hxg4
22.cxb7+ Kxb7 23.Bd5+ Kc8 24.Rc6+ Kb7 25.Rxf6++-) 22.Kxb2 hxg4 23.cxb7+ Kxb7 24.Bd5+ Kc8 25.Rc6+ Kb7
26.Rxg6+ Kc8 27.Rc6+ Kb7 28.Rf6+ Kc8 29.Rxf8 Rdxf8 30.Rd4
16.Rhe1+- O-O-O
16...Nf8 17.Bxe6 h5 18.Qh3 Bg5 19.Bd7++-
17.Rxe6 Qf8
18.Rxc6+!
18.Rxc6+ Bxc6 19.Ba6+ Bb7 20.Qf3! Re8 21.Qxb7+ Kd8 22.Bb5 Qf7 23.Bd6+-1-0

102.** C16
Sadler, Matthew D (2670) - Speelman, Jonathan S (2526)
Great Britain 131/102, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 b6 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qg3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.Ne2 O-O-O
10...Kf7 11.h4 (11.a4 - 131/(102) 11...c5 12.h4 (12.Qd3 - 100/97) 12...Ne7 13.h5 h6 14.Nf4 Rhc8 15.O-O cxd4
16.cxd4 Rxc2 17.Ba3 Kg8N (17...Rc4) 18.Qb3 Rc6 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Qb5 Nb8 21.Rac1 Kokarev,D (2643)-
Demidov,M (2536)/Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 131/(102) 2016) 11...Ne7 12.h5 h6 13.Nf4 c5N (13...Rhc8) 14.O-O Qa4
15.Be3 Rac8 16.Ng6 Rhg8 17.Rfc1 Ke8 18.Rab1 Kd7 Lopez Martinez,J (2552) -Narciso Dublan,M (2508)/Lorca
131/(102) 2016
11.a4 Kb7
11...Nb8 - 21/189
12.O-O Nb8 13.a5 Nc6 14.axb6 axb6
15.c4! dxc4 16.Qa3 Nb8 17.Bg5 Re8 18.d5! Qxd5N
18...exd5 19.Nd4 Rxe5 20.Qa8+ Kc8 21.Ra7+-
19.Rfd1 Qe4 20.Nc3 Qc6 21.Qa8+ Kc8 22.Qxc6 Nxc6 23.Ra8+ Nb8

24.Nb5!+- Re7
24...Ne7 25.Ra7+-
25.Rxb8+!
25.Rxb8+ Kxb8 26.Rd8+ Kb7 27.Bxe7+-1-0

103. C19
 Firouzja, Alireza (2470) - Pourramezanali, Amirreza (2510)
Iran (ch) 131/103, 2017

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 O-O 8.Bd3 Nbc6 9.Qh5 Ng6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Be3
c4 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.Qg4 Qf7 14.Ng5 Qe8 15.h4 Bd7
15...a5 - 122/97
16.Qe2 b5 17.Nh3 a5N
17...Ne7
18.h5 gxh5
18...h6 19.hxg6 (19.Nf4!?) 19...Qxg6 20.Nf4 Qe4 21.f3 Qh7 22.g4
19.Nf4 g6 20.g4! h4
20...hxg4 21.Qxg4 Qf7 (21...Rf7 22.Nh5) 22.O-O-O Ra7 23.Rdg1 Qf5 24.Qh4 Be8 25.Qh6
21.Nh3 b4

22.Ng5! bxc3
22...h6 23.Rxh4! Kg7 (23...hxg5 24.Bxg5 Rf7 25.Bf6 Rxf6 26.exf6 e5 27.Qf3 exd4+ (27...e4 28.f7+ Qxf7 29.Rh8+
Kg7 30.Rh7++-) 28.Kf1+-) 24.Ne4 dxe4 25.Bxh6+ Kg8 26.Bxf8 Qxf8 27.Qxe4
23.Rxh4 Rf7 24.Nxf7 Qxf7 25.Kf1 Qe7 26.Rh3 a4 27.Qe1 Na7 28.Qxc3 Nb5 29.Qd2 c3 30.Qc1+- Be8 31.Bg5 Qa7
32.Rd3!
32.Qf4 Qxd4 (32...Nxd4 33.Kg2 Nxc2 34.Rah1+-) 33.Qxd4 Nxd4 34.Rxc3+-
32...Nxd4 33.Be3 Bb5 34.Qd1! Nxc2
34...Qb6 35.Kg2 Bxd3 36.Qxd3+-
35.Bxa7 Nxa1 36.Kg2 c2 37.Qxa1 Bxd3 38.Be3 Rc8 39.f3 h5 40.Qd4 Be2 41.Qb6 c1=Q 42.Qxe6+ Kh7 43.Qf7+
Kh8 44.Bxc1 Rxc1 45.Qxg6 Rc3 46.Qf6+ Kg8 47.gxh5 1-0

104. C19
Sutovsky, Emil (2628) - Kovalenko, Igor (2684)
Gibraltar 131/104, 2017

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.h4 Bd7 13.h5 O-O-O 14.Qd3 d4
14...Nf5 - 23/232
15.h6 Be8 16.Rb1 Nd5 17.Nxd4 Nxf4 18.Bxf4 Rxd4 19.Qe3 f5 20.Bd3 Ra4 21.Rh3 Qh7N
21...Kb8
22.Rb3! Rxg2 23.Rg3
23.Rxc3! Kb8 24.Rg3
23...Rxf4 24.Rxg2
24.Qxf4 Rxg3 25.Qxg3 Qxh6 26.Rxc3 Bh5 27.Be2 Bxe2 28.Kxe2 a6
24...Qxh6 25.Rxc3 Kd8 26.Kd1 Ke7 27.Kc1! Nxe5
27...Rh4 28.Qxh6 Rxh6 29.Bb5 Rh1+ 30.Kb2 Kf8 31.Rcg3
28.Qc5+ Kf6 29.Kb2 Bc6 30.Re2?!
30.Rg8 Rh4 31.Rf8+ Nf7 (31...Kg5? 32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Rg3+ Rg4 34.Qe3+ Kg6 35.Rf6++-) 32.Bxf5! Rh5 33.Qd6 Rxf5
34.Qd8+ Ke5 35.Qc7+ Kd4 36.Rxf7 Rb5+ 37.Rb3 Rxb3+ 38.Kxb3 Qe3+ 39.Ka2 e5 40.Rf1
30...Nxd3+ 31.Rxd3 Kf7 32.c3

32.Qxa7 Qg7+ 33.c3 Re4=

32...Rf1?
32...Re4 33.Red2 (33.Rf2 Qf6=) 33...Qf6 34.Qxa7 Qe5 35.Qb6 Re2=
33.Rd8+- Be4
33...Qc1+ 34.Kb3 Qb1+ 35.Rb2 Ba4+ 36.Kxa4 Qxb2 37.Qc7+ Kf6 38.Rf8+ Kg6 39.Rg8+ Kh6 40.Qg7+ Kh5
41.Qg5#
34.Red2 Rb1+ 35.Ka2 Qh1 36.Rf8+
36.Qc7+ Kf6 37.Rf8+ Kg6 38.Rg8+ Kh6 39.Rh2+ Qxh2+ 40.Qxh2#
36...Kg6 37.Rg8+ Kh7 38.Qe7+ 1-0

105. C24
Bartel, Mateusz (2641) - Rausis, Igors (2589)
Cesko 131/105, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 O-O 8.Nxe5
8.exd5 - 99/(200)
8...Qe7 9.f4 dxe4
10.Nc3N
10.d4
10...exd3 11.O-O-O dxc2 12.Rde1!?
12.Bxc2 Na6!? (12...Nbd7)
12...Qc7 13.g4 Be6 14.g5 Nfd7 15.g6?
15.Bxc2 Nxe5 16.Rxe515.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Rxe6 fxe6 17.Bxe6+ Kh8 18.Qxd7 Qxf4+ 19.Qd2 Qf3 20.Re1 Rad8
21.Qe2 (21.Qxc2 Rfe8) 21...Qf4+ 22.Qe3 Qxh2 23.Bb3
15...Nxe5
15...hxg6? 16.Nxg6
16.gxh7+ Kh8 17.fxe5 Bxb3 18.Rhg1
18.axb3 Qe7 19.Rhg1 Nd7 (19...Na6!?) 20.Qg2 g6
18...g6?
18...Qe7 19.axb3 Nd7 - 18.ab3
19.axb3
19.e6!? Bxe6 (19...Qd8 20.Qxd8 Rxd8 21.axb3 fxe6 22.Rxg6 Na6 23.Kxc2 (23.Reg1 Nb4) 23...Nb4+ 24.Kb1 Rd7=)
20.Qd4+ f6 21.Rxg6 Nd7! 22.Rxe6 Ne5 23.Rg8+ (23.Rgxf6 Rxf6 24.Rxf6 Rd8) 23...Rxg8 24.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 25.Rxf6
Rd8 26.Qe4 (26.Qh4 Qg7 27.Kxc2 Rf8=) 26...Qd7 27.Kxc2 Qd3+ 28.Qxd3 Nxd3=
19...Nd7 20.Qg5
20.Qg5 Rae8 (20...Qd8 21.e6 Qxg5+ 22.Rxg5) 21.e6 fxe6 22.Qxg6 Nc5 23.b4 Nb3+ 24.Kxc2 Nd4+ 25.Kb1 Qxh7
26.Qxh7+ Kxh7 27.Re3 Rf6 28.Reg320.Qd4 c5 21.Qh4 Rae8 22.e6 Rxe6 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Rxg6 Ne5 25.Rg8+ Rxg8
26.hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 27.Ne41/2-1/2

106. C24
Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Wei, Yi (2706)
Wijk aan Zee 131/106, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.O-O Be7 6.Bb3 O-O 7.c3 Nbd7 8.Re1 Nc5 9.Bc2 Bg4 10.Nbd2 Ne6 11.h3
Bh5 12.Nf1 Nd7!
13.g4!?
13.Ng3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 g6 15.Bh6 (15.Be3 Bg5= - 60/292) 15...Re8 16.Rad1 Bg5=
13...Bg6 14.Ng3 Ng5 15.Bxg5N
15.Kg2 Nxf3 16.Qxf3 Re8! 17.Be3 Bg5 18.Bxg5 Qxg5 19.Rad1 Rad8=15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.gxf5 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Bg5=
15...Bxg5 16.d4 Bf4 17.Ne2 Qf6 18.Kg2 exd4?!
18...Rad8 19.Nxf4 Qxf4 20.Qc1 Qxc1 21.Raxc1 f6=
19.Nfxd4 Rfe8 20.Nxf4 Qxf4 21.f3
21.Qc1 Bxe4+ 22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Qxf4 Rxf4 24.Re7 Nc5 25.Rae1 Kf8 26.Kg3 g5 27.h4
21...Nb6?!
21...d5 22.exd5 Bxc2 (22...cxd5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Ba4!) 23.Qxc2 cxd5 24.Re2
22.Qc1 Qxc1 23.Raxc1 d5 24.e5 Nd7 25.f4 Bxc2 26.Rxc2 Nc5
26...g6 27.Kf3 a5 28.h4 Nc5 29.Re3 (29.g5 Kf8 30.h5)
27.Re3 Rad8 28.Kf3 Ne4 29.b4 g5?
29...f6! 30.exf6 (30.e6 Nd6 31.f5) 30...Nxf6 31.Ne6 Rc8 32.Rce2 Kf7 33.Ng5+ Kf8 34.f5
30.c4!+- c5
30...gxf4 31.Kxf4 f6 32.e6+-
31.Nb5 gxf4 32.Kxf4 cxb4 33.cxd5 1-0

107. C33
Adhiban, Baskaran (2653) - So, Wesley (2808)
Wijk aan Zee 131/107, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5

3...Qh4+ 4.Kf1 - 91/260
4.Bxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5
5...Bb4 - 85/(284)
6.Nxd5 Bd6
6...g5 7.h4
7.Nf3 O-O 8.d4! Re8 9.e5 c6N
9...c5 10.O-O Bf8 11.c4 Nc6 12.Bxf4 cxd4 13.Ng5
10.Nxf4 f6
11.Nd3
11.O-O!? fxe5 12.dxe5 Bc5+ 13.Kh1 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bf511.Qd3! fxe5 12.dxe5 Bc7 (12...Bb4+ 13.Bd2 Bxd2+
14.Kxd2) 13.Qb3+ Kh8 14.O-O
11...fxe5 12.dxe5
12.O-O!? Bg4 (12...exd4 13.Ng5 h6? 14.Nf7 Qc7 15.Qh5+-) (12...e4 13.Ng5) 13.dxe5 Bc7
12...Qb6 13.Qe2 Bf5 14.Be3 Qa5+ 15.c3 Bc7
15...Qa6 16.Rd1 Bc7 17.Nh4! Be6! (17...Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Bxe5 19.Nf5!) (17...Be4!? 18.Bf4 Qc4 (18...Bd5 19.Nf5)
19.O-O Nd7 20.b3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Qc5+ 22.Rf2! Nxe5 23.Re3) 18.O-O Nd7
16.O-O
16.Nc5 Qb5! 17.Qxb5 cxb5 18.Nxb7
16...Qa6
16...Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Bxe5 18.Ng5! g6 19.Qc4+ Qd5 20.Qh4+-16...Nd7!? 17.Ng5 Bxe5 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 19.Qc4+ Be6
20.Qd3 Bf5! 21.Rxf5 Qxe3+ 22.Qxe3 Rxe3=
17.Rad1 Nd7
17...Qxa2 18.Ng5 Bg6 19.Nf4+-
18.Bd4
18.b3!? Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.c4
18...c5! 19.Bf2
19.Ng5!? Qg6! 20.Be3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Nxe5 22.Rd7! Nxd7 23.Qc4+ Kh8 24.Nf7+ Kg8 25.Nh6+=
19...Nxe5 20.Nfxe5 Bxe5 21.Qf3 Be4!
21...Bxd3 22.Rxd3 Qxa2 23.Qxb7 Rab8 24.Qd7 Rf8
22.Qh3 Bxd3 23.Qxd3
23.Rxd3!? Qxa2 24.Qh5! Bf6 (24...g6 25.Qh4) 25.Rh3 h6 26.Qg6 Qf7 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7 28.Bxc5=
23...Qxa2 24.Bxc5 Qxb2 25.Bxa7!
25.Qd5+ Kh8 26.Bb4 Bxc3 27.Rb1 Qe2!-+
25...Bxc3
25...Rxa7 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.Qxe5=
26.Bf2 Be5
26...b5 27.Rb1 Rad8 28.Qxb5 Qxb5 29.Rxb5 Rd2 30.h3=
27.Rb1 Qa2 28.Rxb7= Rf8
28...Kh8 29.Bg3=
29.Qb3+ Qxb3 30.Rxb3 Ra2 31.Rf3 Rxf3 32.gxf3 Kf7 33.Bg3 Bd4+ 34.Kh1 Rd2 35.Bf4 Re2 36.Rd1 Bc3 37.Rd3
Bb4 38.Rd4 Bc5 39.Rd2 1/2-1/2

108.* C41
Najer, Evgeniy (2659) - Jobava, Baadur (2701)
Moscow 131/108, 2017
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.a4
7.Re1
7...a5
7...c6
8.Qe2
8.Re1 b6 9.b3 (9.Bg5 Bb7 10.Qd2 h6 11.Bxf6 (11.Bxh6=) 11...Bxf6 12.Rad1 Bg5 (12...Re8 - 130/104) 13.Nxg5 hxg5)
9...Bb7 10.Ba3 Re8N (10...exd4) 11.h3 exd4 12.Qxd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qxd8 Raxd8 15.Bxe7 Rxe7= Navara,D
(2742)-Jobava,B (2665)/Baku (ol) 131/(108) 2016
8...c6 9.Rd1 Qc7
9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Re8 11.Nf5 (11.Qf1 Qc7=) 11...Ne5 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Bg5 d5 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.f3 cxd5 16.fxg4
Nexg4=
10.Ba2

10.h3 Re8= (10...h6 - 16/201)

10...Nb8!? Na6-b4
10...Re8!? 11.Qc4 (11.Be3 h6) (11.Ng5 Rf8 12.Be3) 11...Rf8 12.h3 (12.Be3 exd4 13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.Qe2 Neg4 15.Bf4
Nh5=) 12...b6 13.dxe5!? (13.Qe2 Ba6=) 13...Nxe5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Nb5 Qb7 16.Nd6 Bxd6 17.Rxd610...h6
11.h3 Na6 12.Be3 Nd7?!N
12...Nb4 13.Bb3 (13.Bc4) 13...b6
13.Re1?!
13.Rd2 Nb4 14.Bb3
13...exd4
13...Nb4!?
14.Bxd4?!
14.Nxd4 Ndc5 15.Rad1
14...Ndc5
14...Nb4=
15.Bc4
15.Rad1 Be6=
15...Re8
15...Ne6 16.Be3 Bf6 (16...Nac5 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Ne6 19.Be3 Bf6=) 17.Qd2 Nac5=
16.Rad1
16.Qe3 Bf8 17.Bxa6 Nxa6 18.Bb6 Qe7 19.Bxa5
16...h6
16...Be6!? 17.Bxe6 Nxe6=
17.Nd2
17.Qe3!?
17...Bf8
17...Bg5!?
18.Qh5
18.f4 Ne6 19.Be3 d5 20.exd5 Nxf4 21.Bxf4 Rxe2 22.Bxc7 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Nxc7=
18...Nb4= 19.Bxc5
19.Rc1=
19...dxc5 20.Rc1 Be6 21.Bxe6
21.e5 Rad8 22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.Nf3 g6 24.Qh4 Bg7=
21...Rxe6 22.Nc4 Rd8
22...g6 23.Qh4 Bg7=
23.Qg4 Be7?
23...Rd4 24.Ne3 g6
24.f4 Rd4 25.b3?
25.Ne3 Rg6 26.Qf3 Bh4 27.Rf1 Rg3 28.Qh5 Be7 29.Nf5
25...Rg6 26.Qf3 Bh4 27.Re3 Rg3 28.Qf2 Rxh3
29.g3!
29.Qe2? Rxe3 30.Qxe3 Qd7
29...Qc8?

29...Be7 30.Qg2 Qd7 31.Ne5 Qc8 32.Nf3=

30.Kg2! Bd8
30...Qg4 31.Ne2 Bf6 32.Qf3
31.Ne2?
31.Qf3 g6 32.f5 Rh5 33.Ne2 Bg5 (33...b5 34.axb5 cxb5 35.c3 bxc4 36.cxd4 Nd3 37.Rxd3 cxd3 38.Qxd3+-) 34.c3
Bxe3 35.Nxe3+-
31...Rh5 32.Nxd4 cxd4
32...Qh3+ 33.Kf3 cxd4 34.Ree1 Rh4 35.Rh1 Qg4+ 36.Kg2 Rxh1 37.Rxh1 Bc7 38.Rf1 h5
33.Ree1 b5 34.Ne5?
34.Nd6! Qg4 35.Rh1 Rxh1 36.Rxh1
34...bxa4?

34...Bc7! 35.Qxd4 (35.Nd3 bxa4 36.bxa4 Qh3+ 37.Kf3 f5 38.Nxb4 Qg4+ 39.Kg2 axb4 40.e5 Qh3+ 41.Kf3 Qg4+=)
35...Bxe5 36.fxe5 bxa4 37.bxa4 Qe6 38.Qd6 Qc4 39.e6 fxe6 40.Qd2
35.Qxd4!+- axb3 36.cxb3 Qh3+
36...Bc7 37.Nd7 Qd8 38.Qd2 Rb5 39.Red1 h5 40.Nc5 Qf8 41.Na4+-36...Bf6 37.Qd7 Qxd7 38.Nxd7 Nd3 39.Rh1+-
37.Kf3 Bh4 38.Rg1 Bf6 39.Rh1! Qxh1+ 40.Rxh1 Rxh1 41.Qd6 Bxe5 42.Qxe5 Nd3 43.Qe8+ Kh7 44.Kg2
44.Qd7+-1-0

109. C42
Rapport, Richard (2702) - Wei, Yi (2706)
Wijk aan Zee 131/109, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nc4 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Ne3 Be6
6...c6 - 44/(373)6...Nf6 - 72/(298)
7.Nc3 Nf6 8.g3N
8.d4 d5=
8...Nc6 9.Bg2 Qd7 10.b4 d5 11.b5 Nd4 12.Qd3 c5 13.O-O O-O-O 14.Re1 h5 15.h4 g5?!

15...Nf5
16.b6! a6
16...axb6 17.hxg5 Ne4 18.Nexd5+-
17.hxg5 Ng4 18.Ncxd5 h4

19.Nc7?
19.Nxg4! Bxd5 20.Nf6 Bxg2 21.Nxd7 Nf3+ 22.Qxf3 Bxf3 23.Bb2 Rh5 24.Nxf8 hxg3 25.fxg3 Rxf8 26.Re7
19...h3! 20.Bxb7+?
20.Nxg4! hxg2 21.Nxe6 Rh1+ (21...Qd5 22.Re4 f5 23.c4 Qxe4 24.Qxe4 fxe4 25.Nxd8) 22.Kxg2 Rxe1 23.Nxd8
Qxg4 (23...Qd5+ 24.f3) 24.Bb2 Rxa1 25.Bxa1 Kxd8 26.Bxd4 Qxd4 27.Qf3
20...Kxb7 21.Qxa6+ Kc6 22.Nxg4
22.Rf1 Kd6 23.Qb7 Bg7
22...Bxg4 23.b7+ Kxc7-+ 24.Qa5+ Kb8 25.Qa8+ Kc7 26.Qa5+ Kd6 27.Qb6+ Kd5
27...Nc6 28.d3 (28.d4 h2+ 29.Kg2 h1=Q+ 30.Rxh1 Rxh1 31.Bf4+ Ke6 32.Qb3+ Qd5+-+) 28...h2+ 29.Kg2 h1=Q+
30.Rxh1 Rxh1 31.Kxh1 (31.Bf4+ Ke6-+) 31...Bf3+ 32.Kh2 Bg7-+
28.Re3 h2+ 29.Kh1 Qc6 30.Rb1 Qxb6 31.Rxb6 Bd6 32.Bb2 Rde8 0-1

110. C42
Gaponenko, Inna (2407) - Kosteniuk, Alexandra (2549)
Tehran (m/1) 131/110, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Be7 9.Nc3 h6
9...c6 - 102/(219)
10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nb5 Bd8 12.O-O-ON
12.O-O=
12...O-O 13.Rde1 Bd7 14.h3 Ne7 15.Nc3 b5 16.g4
16.Nd4 b4 (16...Rb8!? 17.Bf3 (17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.dxe4 c5) 17...b4 18.Nd1 c5 19.Bf4) 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.dxe4 Ng6
19.Bg4=
16...b4 17.Ne4 Nfd5
17...Nxe4 18.dxe4 a5 19.Rhg1
18.Nh4 Rb8 19.Ng3?
19...Ng6?!
19...Nc3! 20.bxc3 (20.Be3 Nxa2+ 21.Kb1 (21.Kd2 a5 22.Ra1 b3) 21...b3) 20...bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nd5 22.Bd2 Bxh4
20.Nhf5 Nh4 21.Nxh4 Bxh4 22.Bf3 Bxg3?!
22...Be6=
23.fxg3 Be6 24.Rh2
24.h4 Ne7 25.g5
24...Rb5 25.Bxd5?
25.h4 Ne7 26.g5 hxg5 27.hxg5 Ng6 28.d4
25...Bxd5 26.b3 Be6= 27.Kb2 a5 28.a3 Ra8 29.Ra1 Bd5 30.Re2 Kf8 31.Rf2 Bb7 32.axb4 axb4 33.Rxa8+ Bxa8
34.h4 Ke7 35.g5 hxg5 36.Bxg5+ f6 1/2-1/2

111. C42
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796) - Li, Chao (2720)
Sharjah 131/111, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4
Bf5
11...Bg4 - 79/(282)
12.Ne5 Bxe5N
12...Nd7
13.dxe5 Qe7 14.Re1 Nd7 15.Qf3 g6
15...Be6 16.Bd3
16.Qg3 Rfe8 17.Bf4 Qc5?!
17...b5 18.Bb3 Nc5 19.Bg5 Qf8 20.Rad1?! a5
18.Bb3 a5

19.a4?!
19.Qh4! h5 (19...a4 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qxh7+ Ke6 22.Rad1+-) 20.Rad1 Nf8 (20...a4 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rxd7+ Bxd7
23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Qxg6+ Kh8 25.Bg5+-) 21.Bh6 Qe7 (21...Ne6 22.Rd7 Qxc3 23.Bd2 Qc5 24.Qf6 Qf8 25.Rxb7)
22.Bg5 Qc5 23.h3
19...b5 20.h4 Be6 21.Bc2 b4 22.Bd3 b3 23.h5 Nf8 24.Bh6 b2
24...Qxc3!? 25.Rab1 b2 (25...c5 26.Qg5) 26.Re2 (26.Qg5 Ba2-+) 26...Rab8 27.Qg5 Ba2 28.Qf6 Ne6 29.hxg6 fxg6
30.Bxg6 Rf8 31.Bxf8 hxg6 32.Bd6 Qc1+ 33.Re1 Bxb1 34.Qxe6+ Kg7 35.Qe7+ Kg8 36.Qe6+=
25.Rab1 Rab8 26.Qf4 Nd7?
26...Ba2 27.e6 f5 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.hxg6 Bxb1 30.e7 Bxd3 31.Qh6 hxg6 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Qh6+=
27.Qg5 Qe7 28.Qxe7 Rxe7 29.Re2 Ree8 30.Rexb2 Rxb2 31.Rxb2 Nxe5 32.Be2
32...gxh5 33.f3 Nd7 34.Rb7 Nc5 35.Ra7 Nb3
35...Nxa4? 36.Rxa5 Nxc3 37.Rg5+ Kh8 38.Bg7+ Kg8 39.Bxc3++-
36.g3 Bd5 37.Kf2 Rb8 38.Bf1 Be6 39.Bd3 Bd5 40.Bf5 Re8 41.Bc2 c5 42.Rc7 c4 43.Bf5 Rb8 44.Bd7 f6 45.Bb5 Bf7
46.Rc6 Na1 47.Ra6 Nc2 48.Rxa5 Na3 49.Bc6 Nb1 50.Rb5 1-0

112. !N C42
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2749) - Li, Chao (2720)
Sharjah 131/112, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4
Bf5
11...Bg4 - 79/(282)
12.Bg5 Qc7 13.Re1 h6 14.Nh4!N Bh7

15.Bxh6! Bxh2+
15...gxh6 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Nf5 Bxf5 (17...Rg8? 18.Re8!+-) 18.Qxf5 Bxh2+ (18...Nd7? 19.Bd3 Nf6 20.Qxf6++-)
(18...f6 19.Re6 Nd7 20.Rae1 Nb6 21.Bd3 Rad8 22.Re7!+-) 19.Kh1 Qf4 20.Qh3 Nd7 21.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 22.Kxh2
16.Kh1 Bf4?

16...gxh6! 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qf4 - 15...gh6

17.Bxg7! Kxg7 18.Qg4+ Kh8
18...Bg6 19.Re4! Bd2 (19...Bd6 20.Nf5++-) 20.Nf5+ Kf6 21.f4!+-
19.Nf5 Bxf5
19...Rg8? 20.Re8!+-
20.Qxf5 Qd6 21.g3 Bh6 22.Kg2 b5
22...Nd7 23.Rh1 Kg7 24.Rh4+-
23.Bb3 Qg6 24.Qxg6! fxg6 25.Re7+- Rh1 25...g5 26.Re6
26.Rh1 Rf6 27.Re8+ Kg7 28.Rhe1+-
26...Kg7 27.Rh1 Rh8 28.Re7+ Kg6
28...Kf6 29.Rhe1 g4 30.R1e6+ Kg5 31.Bc2 Rg8 32.Rf7+-
29.Bc2+ Kf6 30.Rhe1 g4 31.R1e6+ Kg5 32.Rg6+ Kh5 33.Re5+ Bg5 34.Rexg5# 1-0
C50-C99

113. C54
Karjakin, Sergey (2785) - Aronian, Levon (2780)
Wijk aan Zee 131/113, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.h3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Be6 9.c3 Bb6 10.Bb3N
10.Bb5
10...f6?

11.d4?
11.c4! Nde7
12.c5! Bxb3 13.Qxb3+ Kh8 14.cxb6+-
11...Bf7 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Nxe5 fxe5 15.Be3 Bc6
15...Qd6!? 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Nd2 Qc6 18.Qg4 (18.f3 Rxa2 19.Rxa2 Qc5+ 20.Kh1 Bxa2 21.Re4 Bf7 22.Qe2 Rd8
23.Nf1=)
16.Nd2 Qf6 17.Qe2 Qg6 18.f3 Rad8 19.Bxb6 axb6 20.Ne4 Rf4 21.Rad1 Rdf8 22.Qc4+ Kh8 23.Kh2 h6 24.Rd2 Kh7
25.Qd3

25...Kh8?!
25...Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxe4 28.fxe4 Kg6 29.Kg3 (29.Rd7 Rf7=) 29...Rf7 (29...Kf6? 30.Rf2+ Ke7
31.Rxf8 Kxf8 32.Kg4 g6 33.h4 Kf7 34.h5 b5 35.hxg6+ Kxg6 36.b3 h5+ 37.Kh4 Kh6 38.a4 bxa4 39.bxa4 b6 40.c4 c5
(40...c6 41.c5 bxc5 42.Kg3!+-) 41.g3 Kg6 42.g4+-) 30.Rd8
26.Rde2 Qe6 27.b3 R4f7 28.Qe3
28.c4!?
28...Re7 29.Qf2 Qd5 30.Re3 Qa5 31.Qb2 Rfe8 32.c4 Bd7 33.Nc3 c6 34.Ne4 Re6 35.Rd1 Bc8 36.b4 Qa8 37.Nd6
R8e7 38.Red3 Rd7 39.Qc2 Ree7 40.Qf2 Qb8 41.Qxb6+- e4 42.fxe4 Rxe4 43.Qf2 Kg8 44.Qg3
44.c5 Rxb4 (44...Rde7 45.Qg3+-) 45.Re1+-
44...Ree7 45.c5 Qc7 46.Nf5 Qxg3+ 47.Rxg3 Rf7 48.Nxh6+ Kh7 49.Nxf7 Rxd1 50.Re3 Bf5 51.Nd6 Bb1 52.a4 Bc2
53.a5 Rb1 54.Rc3 Bb3 55.Nxb7 Bd5 56.a6 Rxb4 57.Ra3 Rb2 58.h4 1-0

114. C54
Sethuraman, SP. (2629) - Zhou, Jianchao (2619)
Liaocheng 131/114, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.a4 d6 6.c3 a6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3! Ba7 10.Nbd2 O-O 11.O-O Kg7
12.b4!?N
12.Re1 - 130/111
12...g4 13.Bh4!?

13.Nh4
13...Ne7?
13...gxf3 14.Qxf3 Nb8! 15.d4 Nbd7 (15...exd4? 16.e5 dxe5 17.Ne4 Nbd7 18.Rfd1 Rd3) 16.Rfe1
14.Bxf6+! Kxf6 15.Nh4 Kg7 16.Kh1 d5
16...h5!?
17.Bb3
17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Qxh4 (18...Qxd5 19.Qe2 Be6 20.f3!) 19.Qe2
17...dxe4 18.dxe4 Ng8
18...Kh8!?
19.g3
19.Nf5+! Kh8 (19...Bxf5 20.exf5) 20.f3
19...Qd3! 20.Qe1 Rd8??

20...Be6
21.Nc4! Be6 22.Rd1 Qxd1
22...Bxc4 23.Rxd3 Bxd3 24.Nf5+ Kf8 25.Kg1 Bxf1 (25...Rd7? 26.Qd1+-) 26.Qxf1 Rd7 27.b5
23.Bxd1 Bxc4 24.Nf5+
24.Bxg4 Nf6 25.Be2+-
24...Kh7 25.Be2 Be6 26.Bxg4 Nf6 27.Qe2 Nxe4 28.Ne7!
28.Ne7 Nf6 29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.Qxe5+-1-0

115.* C54
So, Wesley (2808) - Eljanov, Pavel (2755)
Wijk aan Zee 131/115, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6

5...O-O 6.h3 d6 7.c3 a6 8.Re1 Ba7 9.Bb3 Re8 10.Nbd2 Be6 11.Nf1 h6 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Qd7 14.Nh2 Bxb3N
(14...d5) (14...Ne7) 15.axb3 Ne7= Harikrishna,P (2766) -Karjakin,S (2785)/Wijk aan Zee 131/(115) 2017
6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Na3 h6
8...Ne7 - 128/112
9.Nc2 Qe7!?N
9...O-O
10.Be3!
10.h3 g5!?
10...Be6 11.Bxe6 Qxe6 12.Bxa7 Rxa7 13.d4 Ne7 14.Nd2 O-O 15.Qe2 Raa8 16.g3
16.a5!? Rfe8 17.d5
16...Rfe8 17.a5 Rac8

18.d5 Qd7 19.Ne3 Nh7 20.Ra3 Rf8 21.Rb3 Rb8 22.Ra1 f5 23.exf5 Nxf5 24.Qg4?!
24.Nxf5 Qxf5 25.c4=
24...h5! 25.Qxh5 Nxe3 26.fxe3 Rf5 27.Qh4?

27.Qe2 Ng5 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 (29.Nxf1? Rf8) 29...Qf7+

27...Ng5
27...Rbf8! 28.Rxb7 (28.Rf1? Rxf1+ 29.Nxf1 Qf5-+) 28...Qf7! (28...Rf2 29.Ne4)
28.Rb4
28.e4! Nf3+ 29.Nxf3 Rxf3 30.Qh5 Rbf8 31.Rxb7 Qc8 32.Rb4 Qa8! Qa7
28...e4
28...Rbf8 29.Rg4 Nh7 30.Ne4 Qb5! 31.Qh3 Qe2
29.Kg2 Qf7 30.Nxe4 Qxd5
30...Nf3 31.Qh3 Qxd5 (31...Rh5 32.Nf6+! gxf6 33.Qg4+ Ng5 34.Rf1! (34.h4? f5!-+) 34...Qxd5+ 35.Kg1 Rh7
36.h4) 32.Rd1 Qxd1 33.Qxf5 Qg1+ 34.Kxf3 Rf8 35.Qxf8+ Kxf8
31.Rd4 Nf3 32.Nf6+! Rxf6 33.Rxd5 Nxh4+ 34.gxh4 Rbf8 35.Rd2 Rg6+ 36.Kh1 Rf3 37.Re1 Re6 38.Rd4 1/2-1/2

116. C54
Adams, Michael (2751) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2628)
Sharjah 131/116, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.c3 d6 7.a4 O-O 8.Re1
8.Bg5 - 130/111
8...Kh8N
8...Ba7 9.Nbd2 Ng4 10.Re2 Bd7 11.Nf1 h6 12.Ng3 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.h3 Nf6 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Rxe3 Qe8 17.a5
Nd7 18.Qb3 Rb8=
9.h3 h6 10.Na3 Bxa3 11.Rxa3 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.d4

13...Qe8?
13...Nd7 14.b4 Qf6 15.b5 Ne7
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.a5! Rd8 17.Qe2?!
17.Qb3! Rb8 18.Ra4 Qe7 (18...c6 19.Rb4 Qf7 20.Be3+-) 19.Rb4 c6 20.Be3
17...Qc6 18.Rb3 Rd7 19.Rb4 Rfd8 20.Be3 Kg8
20...Nxe4 21.Bxh6+-20...Rd3 21.Bd4!
21.Qc4 Rd1 22.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 23.Kh2 Qxc4 24.Rxc4 c6 25.Rb4 Rd7 26.Kg3 Kf7 27.Kf3 g5 28.Ba7 Ng8

29.h4!! gxh4
29...Kf6 30.h5 Ne7 31.g4 Nc8 32.Bc5 Ne7 33.c4 Kf7 34.Ke2 Ng8 35.Rb3 Nf6 36.f3 Ng8 37.Ba7 Kf6 38.Bb8 Ne7
39.Rd3 Rxd3 40.Kxd3 Nc8 41.Kc3 c5 42.Bc7 Ke7 43.Bxe5+-
30.Kg4 Ne7 31.Be3 Ng8 32.Kxh4 Ke8 33.Rb3 Rg7 34.g4 Rf7 35.c4 Rd7 36.Ba7 Nf6 37.f3 Rf7 38.Bb8 Nd7 39.Bd6
Kd8 40.Kh5 Rf6 41.Rd3 Ke8 42.Bb4 c5 43.Bd2 Rf7 44.Bxh6 Nf6+ 45.Kg6 Ng8 46.Bg5 1-0

117. C54
Carlsen, Magnus (2840) - Karjakin, Sergey (2785)
Wijk aan Zee 131/117, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Bg5 d6
6...h6 7.Bh4 Be7 - 113/106
7.Nbd2 h6 8.Bh4 g5?
9.Nxg5! hxg5N
9...Bxf2+?! 10.Bxf2 hxg5 11.h3
10.Bxg5 Kg7 11.Qf3 Be6

12.b4?!
12.O-O-O?! Bxc4 13.Nxc4 Qe7 Qe612.Bd5! a5 (12...Nb8?! 13.Qxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bxf6+ Kxf6 15.Bxb7 Nd7 16.Bxa8
Rxa8 17.b4 Bb6 18.Ke2) 13.O-O-O Nb8 14.Qg3 Nbd7 15.d4! exd4 16.cxd4 Bxd5 (16...Bb4 17.e5+-) (16...Bxd4
17.Nf3 Bc5 18.Bxf6+ Kxf6 19.Qg5#) 17.exd5 Bb4 18.Bxf6+ Kxf6 19.Ne4+ Ke7 20.Rhe1 Bxe1 21.Rxe1 Rg8
22.Ng5+ Ne5 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Qxe5+ Kd7 25.Qf5++-
12...Bb6 13.Bd5 a5! 14.b5 Nb8 15.Bxb7 Ra7
15...Nbd7 16.Bc6!? Rb8 17.Nc4
16.Bd5?
16.Bc6! Nxc6 17.bxc6 Ra8 18.h4 Rh8 19.d4! exd4! (19...Rh6 20.d5 Bc8 21.Nc4) 20.e5 dxe5 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Bxd8
f5

23.Be7! (23.g4 d3! 24.Bxc7 d2+ 25.Kd1 Bxc7 26.gxf5 Bd5 27.Rg1+ Kf7) (23.Bg5 Nxg5 24.Qg3! Kf7 25.Qxg5
Rag8 26.Qd2 dxc3 27.Qe2 Rg4!) 23...Kf7 24.Ba3 d3 25.O-O-O! Nxf2 26.g4! Nxg4 (26...Rad8 27.c4!) 27.Qxd3
16...Nbd7 17.Nc4 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qe8 19.Ne3 Rg8 20.O-O Nh7 21.Nf5+ Kh8 22.Bh4 Ra8 23.Rae1 f6 24.Re4 Nc5
24...Qf7!? 25.Nh6 Qg6 26.Nxg8 Rxg8
25.Re3 Nd7 26.d4!?
26...Qg6!
26...Ng5 27.Bxg5 Rxg5 28.Re4
27.Ne7 Qg4 28.Nxg8 Rxg8 29.Qxg4 Rxg4 30.g3 exd4?
30...Nhf8 31.h3 (31.Rd1 exd4 32.cxd4 Ng6) 31...exd4 32.Re8 Rg8 33.cxd4 Ng6
31.cxd4 Bxd4 32.Re8+ Rg8 33.Re7
33.Rxg8+ Kxg8 34.Kg2 Nhf8 35.g4 Ng6 36.Bg3
33...Rg7 34.Re4 Ne5 35.Kg2 Bb6 36.f4 Ng6 37.Kh3?
37.Re8+ Rg8 38.Rxg8+ Kxg8 39.Kh3 (39.f5!? Ne7 40.g4 Nxd5 41.Bf2 Bxf2 42.Kxf2 Ng5 43.Re1 Kf8 44.h4 Nf7)
37...Kg8 38.Rfe1 Kf7 39.Re6 Rg8 40.R1e4?! f5 41.Re2 Rh8 42.a4 Kg7
43.Rxg6+!
43.Re7+! Nxe7 44.Rxe7+ Kg8 - 43.Rg6!
43...Kxg6 44.Re6+ Kf7 45.Re7+ Kg8
45...Kg6!? 46.Re6+ Kh5 47.Be7 Bd4 48.Kg2 Re8 49.Kf3 Nf6 50.Bxf6! Rxe6 51.dxe6 Bxf6 52.h3 Kg6 53.Ke3 Bb2
54.g4 fxg4 55.hxg4 Kf6 56.f5 d5 57.g5+ Ke7 58.g6=
46.Kg2 Nf8 47.Bg5 Rh7 48.Re8 Kf7 49.Rd8 Kg8 50.Re8 Rf7 51.Bh6 Rf6 52.Bg5 Rf7 53.Bh6 1/2-1/2

118. C55
Fedorchuk, Sergey A (2624) - Ivanchuk, Vassily (2722)
Hrvatska 131/118, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.O-O d6 6.a4

6.Re1 - 103/210
6...g6 7.d4!?
7.Nc3 Bg7 8.h3 O-O 9.Be3 Be6 (9...Qe7!?) 10.Bxe6 fxe6
7...exd4N
7...Bg4
8.Nxd4
8.Re1!? Bg7 (8...Bg4 9.e5! dxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5+ Be7) 9.e5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 (10...O-O!? 11.Nxg6
Re8) 11.Rxe5+ Kf8 12.Qf3 Kg8 13.Nd2 Kh7 14.Bxf7 Rf8 15.Bxg6+ Kxg6 16.Qd3+ Kf7 17.Qc4+ Kg6 18.Qd3+=
8...Nxd4
8...Bg7!? 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.e5 Nd5 (10...Ne4 11.e6!? O-O 12.exf7+ Kh7) (10...Ng4 11.e6 f5 (11...d5 12.Qxg4 Bxe6
13.Qf3 dxc4 14.Qxc6+)) 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.Re1+ (12.Qe2+) 12...Be6 13.Nd2 O-O 14.Ne4 Qb4=
9.Qxd4 Bg7

10.Nc3
10.e5?! Nd7! (10...Ng4!?) 11.f4 dxe5 (11...O-O 12.Qd3 (12.Qe4!?) 12...Nc5 13.Qxg6?? d5!-+) 12.fxe5 O-O 13.Bf4
Nxe5 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.Rxf7 Kh810.Bd2!? O-O (10...Nh5 11.Qe3 Bxb2 12.Bxf7+! Kxf7 13.Qb3+)
11.Bc3 Re8 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Rfe1=
10...O-O 11.Qd3 Re8 12.Ba2?!
12.f4?! c6 d5 (12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bf5)12.h3! Be6 (12...Nd7?! 13.Qg3) 13.Bxe6 (13.Rd1!?) 13...Rxe6 14.Be3=
12...Be6 13.Bxe6 Rxe6 14.f3
14.Be3 Ng4 15.Bd4 Qh4 16.h3 Ne5 17.Qd1 c5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Nd5 Rf8 20.Qd3=
14...c6 15.Bf4?!
15.Rd1! d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Be3=
15...d5 16.exd5?!
16.Rfd1 Qb6+ (16...Qe7!?) 17.Be3 dxe4 (17...Qxb2?? 18.Rdb1 dxe4 19.fxe4+-) (17...Qb4 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5
cxd5 20.Bf2) 18.Nxe4 Qxb2 19.Bd4 Qb4 20.Rab1 Qe7 21.Nc5
16...Nxd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Kh1
18.c3 Qb6+ 19.Rf2 Rae8
18...Qf6 19.Bd2 Qxb2 20.Rab1 Qa2 21.Rxb7
21...Rc8!
21...Qxa4 22.Qxd5 Qxc2 23.Qd7!=
22.Rxa7
22.c3 d4! 23.cxd4 Rc2 24.Bf4 Rxg2 (24...Ree2!?)
22...Rxc2 23.Bf4 Ree2!?
23...Rxg2 24.Qb123...Rb6!-+
24.Qb5 d4! 25.Ra8+ Kh7 26.Qb8 g5 27.Qg8+ Kg6 28.Ra6+

28...f6!-+
28...Re6!? 29.Be5 Rxa6 30.Qxg7+ Kh5-+
29.Qxa2 Rxa2 30.Bg3 h5 31.f4 h4 32.f5+ Kh7 33.Bc7 d3 34.Rd6 h3! 35.Rd1 Rad2 36.Ra1 Rc2 37.Rd7 d2 0-1

119.** C65
Adams, Michael (2748) - Topalov, Veselin (2760)
London 131/119, 2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Be6 7.O-O Bd6 8.d4
8.b3 - 123/114
8...Nd7 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.f4

11...Bd4+ - 131/ 119

11...Qd4+!?N 12.Kh1 Bd6 13.Qe2 (13.f5 Bc4 14.c3 (14.e5 Bxf1 15.exd6 Bxg2+! 16.Kxg2 O-O-O 17.dxc7 Rd5)
14...Qc5 15.Nxc4 (15.e5 Bxf1 16.exd6 Bd3 17.Qe1+ Kf8 18.dxc7 Qxf5) 15...Qxc4 16.e5 Bxe5 17.Re1 f6 18.Qd4
Qd5 19.Bf4 O-O 20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.Qxd5+ cxd5 22.Rxe5 Rad8=) (13.e5 Bc5 14.f5 Bd5) (13.c3 Qd3 14.f5 (14.Rf3
Bg4! 15.Rxd3 Bxd1=) 14...Bd7 (14...Bc4 15.Rf3 Qe2 16.Qg1) 15.Rf3 Qb5 16.a4 Qe5 17.Nf1 O-O-O) 13...O-O-O
14.f5 Bd7 15.Nf3 Qa4 16.b3 Qa5 17.Bd2 Bb4 18.Bxb4 Qxb4= Nakamura,H (2787) -Aronian,L (2792)/Zuerich (blitz)
131/ (119) 2016
12.Kh1 f6
12...f5!? 13.Qe2 (13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Re1+ Kf7) 13...O-O 14.Nf3 Bc5 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Bc4! 18.Rfe1
fxe4 19.Qh3 (19.Qxe4 Qxe4 20.Rxe4 Bd5 21.Rd4 h6) 19...h6 20.Rxe4 Qf6 21.Rxc4 hxg5 22.Qb3 Qf7 23.h3 gxf4
24.Rxf4 Qxb3 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.axb3=
13.c3N - 131/119
13.f513.Qe2N O-O 14.Nf3 Bc5 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Rae1 Rae8 17.Qf2 Bd6= Robson,R (2675)-Swiercz,D
(2647)/ProChessLeague (Internet) 131/(119) 2017
13...Bb6
13...Be3!?
14.f5 Bf7

15.e5! fxe5 16.Qg4 Qd3

16...O-O 17.Ne4 Bd5 (17...h5 18.Qg3 Bc4 19.Bh6 Rf7 20.Rfd1 Qc8 21.Nf6+ Kh8 (21...Kf8 22.Qxe5 gxh6 23.b3! Ba6
24.Rd7! Rxd7 25.Nxd7+ Qxd7 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qg7+ Kd6 28.Rd1++-) 22.Nxh5 gxh6 23.Qxe5+ Kg8 24.Nf6+ Rxf6
25.Qxf6) (17...Bg6 18.Bg5 Qc8 19.Ng3) 18.Ng3! Kh8 19.b3 Qe7 20.c4 Bf7 21.Bb216...Qd5 17.Ne4!
(17.Qxg7? Rg8-+) 17...O-O-O 18.Bg5 Rde8 19.f6+ Be6 20.Qh4
17.Qxg7 Rg8
17...O-O-O 18.Qxf7 Be3 19.Qe6+ Kb8 20.Qxe5 Bxd2 21.Bxd2 Qxd2 22.f6
18.Qxe5+ Kd7 19.Qe4
19...Qa6?
19...Qd5! 20.c4 (20.Qxd5+? Bxd5 21.Nf3 Raf8) 20...Qd4! (20...Qxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxc4 22.Nf6+ Ke7 (22...Kc8
23.Nxg8 Bxf1 24.Bg5 Bc4 25.Re1+-) (22...Kd6 23.Re1! Rgf8 24.Bf4+ Kc5 25.Ne4+ Kb5 26.a4+ Ka6 27.a5 Bd4
28.Ra4+-) 23.Nxg8+ Rxg8 24.Rf3) 21.Rd1 Kc8 22.h3
20.f6 Rae8
20...Rad8 21.b3 Kc8 22.Nc4 Rde8 (22...Bd5 23.Qf5+ Kb8 24.Bg5) 23.Qf5+ Be6 24.Qh5
21.Qf5+!
21.Qxh7? Qe2! 22.Qxf7+ Kc8 23.g3 Rh8-+
21...Kd8
21...Re6 22.c4!+-21...Be6 22.Qxh7+ Kc8 23.f7 Bxf7 24.Qxf7 Qe2 25.Qf3+-
22.c4! Qa5
22...Bd4 23.Rd1 c5 24.Nf3 Qxc4 25.Bg5+-
23.Qh3!
23.Qxa5 Bxa5 24.Nb3 Bb4 25.Bd2 Bxd2 26.Rad1 Kc8 27.Nxd2 Re2
23...Qb4
23...Be6 24.Qd3+ Kc8 25.f7 Bxf7 26.Rxf7 Re1+ 27.Rf1 Qg5 28.Qh3++-
24.Qxh7?!
24.Nb3! Qxc4 (24...Re1 25.Bg5! Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Rxg5 27.Rd1++-) (24...Be6 25.Qd3+ Qd6 26.Qc2+-) 25.Rd1+ Bd5
26.f7 Qe2 27.Rxd5+ cxd5 28.fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 (28...Rxe8 29.Bg5++-) 29.Bf4+-
24...Qf8?!
24...Bg6 25.Qh3 Rh8 26.Qg4 Bh5 27.Qf5
25.b3 Bd4
25...Re2?? 26.Qd3++-
26.Qd3 Qd6
26...c5 27.Nf3 Bg6 28.Qd1 Qxf6?? 29.Bg5+-
27.Ne4 Qd7
27...Rxe4 28.Qxe4 Bxa1 29.Bf4 Rg4 30.Bxd6 Rxe4 31.Be7+ Ke8 32.Rxa1+-
28.Rd1 Kc8
28...c5 29.Nxc5+-
29.Qxd4 Qg4 30.Bg5! Rxe4
30...Rxg5 31.Nxg5 Qxg5 32.Qd7+ Kb8 33.Qd8+ Rxd8 34.Rxd8#30...Qxe4 31.Qxe4 Rxe4 32.h4+-
31.Qxa7 Bd5 32.Qa8+ Kd7 33.Rxd5+!
33.Rxd5+ cxd5 34.Qxg8+-1-0

120.*** C65
Wei, Yi (2706) - Karjakin, Sergey (2785)
Wijk aan Zee 131/120, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.Nxe5 d5 8.d4 Bb6 9.O-O dxe4
9...Nxe4 10.Nd2 (10.Nxc6 Qf6N (10...Qd6 - 112/ (184)) 11.Nb4 Be6 12.Nd2 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Nd5
Qe5 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Nxe3 f5 So,W (2773)-Caruana,F (2795)/Saint Louis (blitz) 131/ (120) 2016) 10...Nxd2N
(10...c5) 11.Bxd2 c5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Rfe1= Xu,X (2447)-Malakhov,V (2695)/China 131/(120) 2016
10.Bg5
10.Nxc6 Qe8 11.Ne5 c5 12.Re1 Qe6 13.Be3N (13.Na3) 13...Nd5 14.Nd2 f5 15.Ndc4 Bb7 16.dxc5 Nxe3 17.fxe3
Bxc5 Sokolov,I (2642)-Lorparizangeneh,S (2468)/Bandar-e Anzali 131/(120) 2016
10...c5! 11.Nd2
11...cxd4?N
11...Bb7! 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Nb3
12.Nxe4 dxc3

13.Qf3! Bb7
13...cxb2? 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Bxf6+-
14.Bxf6 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Qxf6?!
15...gxf6
16.Ng4! (16.Nc6 Qd2 17.bxc3) 16...cxb2 17.Rad1 f5 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Qc6 Qe7 20.Rd7 Qh4 21.g3
16.Nd7 Qg6
16...Qd4 17.Qxd4 Bxd4 18.Rad1+-
17.Qxg6 hxg6 18.Nxf8 cxb2 19.Rab1 Kxf8 20.Rfd1! Ke7
20...Re8 21.Kf1 Re4 22.Rxb2
21.Rxb2 g5 22.Rbd2 Rh8
22...f5 23.Re2+ Kf6 24.Rd7 g4 25.g3 Rf8 26.Kg2 Rh8 27.Rde7 Kg6 28.R2e6+ Kh7 29.Rf7+-
23.g3 Rh5 24.Kg2 Kf6
24...Rh6 25.Rd7+ Ke6 26.R7d5 Rf6 27.f3 g4 28.f4+-
25.h3 Rh6 26.Rd8 Ke7 27.R1d7+ Ke6 28.Rd2 Rf6 29.Rg8 Rg6 30.Re8+ Kf6 31.Rd7 1-0

121. C67
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796) - Adams, Michael (2751)
Gibraltar 131/121, 2017

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.h3 Be7 10.Nc3 Nh4
11.Nxh4
11.Nd4 - 114/110
11...Bxh4 12.Be3 h5 13.Rad1+ Ke8 14.Ne2 b6 15.a4N
15.f4
15...c5 16.Nc3 Bf5 17.Nb5 Bd8 18.Rd2 a6 19.Nc3 h4
19...a5!? 20.Nb5 Rc8 21.c4 Be7 22.f3
20.a5!? Rh5 21.Rfd1 Bh7 22.Nd5
22.f4 f6 (22...Rh6 23.f5) 23.Rd7 Bxc2 24.R1d2
22...Be4 23.c4 Rb8
23...Rxe5 24.Bf4 Re6 25.Bxc723...Rf5!? 24.f4 (24.f3 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Be7=)
24.f4
24.axb6 cxb6 25.f4 f6 26.e6 Bf5 27.Re1 Rb7 28.Bf2 (28.e7 Bxe7 29.Bxc5 bxc5 30.Rde2 Bd3 31.Rxe7+ Rxe7 32.Rxe7+
Kf8=) 28...Be7 29.Re3
24...Rf5 25.Nc3 Bb7 26.axb6 cxb6 27.Rd6 Bc7 28.Rd7 Bd8 29.Ne2 g4 29...Rh5 30.e6!? Be7?!
30...fxe6 31.Rxg7 Rh8 32.Rd6 Bc8 33.f5
31.Rc7
31.exf7+ Kxf7 32.Rc7 Rh6 33.Rdd7 Re6 34.Rxb7 Rxb7 35.Rxb7 Rxe3 36.Nc3
31...Bc8 32.exf7+ Kf8
32...Kxf7 33.Rd8!+-
33.f5! Bxf5
33...Rxf5 34.Nf4 Rf6 35.Nd5 Bd8 (35...Rxf7 36.Nxb6+-) 36.Nxf6 Bxc7

37.Rf1! gxf6 38.Rxf6 Be6 39.Bh6+ Ke7 40.f8=Q+ Rxf8 41.Rxf8 Bxc4 42.Rh8
34.g4
34.Ra7! Rh8 (34...Rd8 35.Rxd8+ Bxd8 36.Ra8+-) (34...Rc8 35.Rd5 g6 36.Nf4+-) 35.Bf4 Rc8 36.Nc3 Be6 37.Re1+-
34...hxg3 35.Nxg3 Bc2 36.Rdd7 Re5 37.Bf4 Bf6 38.Nh5!
38.Ra7!
38...Re1+ 39.Kf2 Bh4+ 40.Ng3 Re6 41.Bd6+?!
41.Ra7 Rd8 42.Rxd8+ Bxd8 43.Ra8+-
41...Rxd6 42.Rxd6 Bf6

43.Rxf6!
43.Ra7 Bg6 (43...a5 44.Nh5 Bg5 45.Rd5 Bh6 46.Kf3+-) 44.Rxa6 b5 45.cxb5 Rxb5 46.Rdb6 Rb4
43...gxf6 44.Nh5 Rd8 45.Nxf6 Bf5 46.Kg3 Rd6
46...Rd4 47.Ng4
47.Ng4 Rd4
47...Bxg4 48.hxg4+-
48.b3 b5 49.Ne5 Re4
49...bxc4 50.Ra7 Rd8 51.Kf4 Bc2 52.bxc4+-
50.Rxc5 bxc4 51.Rd5 Rxe5 52.Rxe5 Bd3 53.b4 c3 54.Rc5 c2 55.Rc7 1-0

122. C67
Shirov, Alexei (2677) - Georgescu, Tiberiu Marian (2460)
Novi Sad 131/122, 2016

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.Bf4 Bd7
11...Be6 - 114/11111...Be7 - 122/118
12.Rad1
12.a3 Be7 13.Rfe1 Rd8 14.Ne4 Be6 15.Nfg5 (15.b4 Nd4 16.Nd6+ Rxd6 17.exd6 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 cxd6=) (15.Neg5 c5
16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.c3 Kf7=) 15...Nd4 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rac1 Rf8 18.Be3 Nf5=
12...Rd8!?
12...Be7 13.Rfe1 (13.g3 Rd8 14.Bg5 Nh6 15.Kg2 Bf5=) (13.Ne2 Rd8 14.Bg5 c5 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Nf4 Bc6 17.Ng5
Nh4) (13.Ne4 Rd8 14.Nfg5 (14.Rfe1 Be6 15.Nfg5 Rxd1 16.Rxd1 Bc8=) 14...Rh6!? 15.Rfe1 Rg6) (13.Rd3 Rd8
14.Rfd1 Nh4 15.Nd4 (15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.Ne2 c5) 15...Ng6=) (13.Ng5 Nh4!? 14.Rfe1 (14.e6 fxe6 15.Nce4 Rc8
16.Be5 c5 17.Rfe1 Rg8 Ng6) 14...Ng6 15.Bc1 Bxg5 (15...Bf5 16.e6) 16.Bxg5 Bf5 17.Rd2 Nf8 18.Ne2 Ne6
19.Nd4 Nxg5 (19...Bxh3 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Red1) 20.Nxf5 g6 21.Ng3 Rd8 (21...Ke7 22.f4 Ne6 23.Red1) 22.Rxd8+
(22.Red1 Rxd2 23.Rxd2 h4 24.Ne2 Ke7 25.f4 Ne4 26.Rd4 f5=) 22...Kxd8 23.h4 Ne6 24.Rd1+ Ke7 25.Ne4 Rd8
26.Rxd8 Kxd8 27.Kf1 b6 28.Ke2 c5=) 13...Rd8 14.Ng5 Bc8 (14...Be6 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Ke8 17.Nxe6 fxe6
18.Ne4) 15.e6!? f6 (15...fxe6 16.Nce4) 16.Rxd8+ Bxd8 17.Nf7 Rg8 18.Nxd8 Kxd8 19.Ne4 b6 20.g4 hxg4 21.hxg4
Nh4 22.Re3 Bxe6! (22...Ke7 23.Ra3 Bxe6 24.Rxa7 Bxg4 25.Bxc7) 23.Bg3 Rh8 24.Nxf6 Nf3+! 25.Rxf3 (25.Kg2
Nd4) 25...gxf6 26.Rxf6 Bxg4 27.Rf7 Bd7=
13.Ng5N

13.b3 - 113/123
13...Be7
13...Be6 14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.Nxe6+ fxe6 16.Ne413...Rh6!? 14.Rd3 (14.Nge4 Rg6 15.f3 h4=) 14...Be6 (14...Be7
15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.g4 Rxd3 18.Rxd3 Rg6 19.f3) 15.Rxd8+ (15.Rfd1 Rxd3 16.Rxd3 Bc4 17.Rd1 Be7=)
15...Kxd8 16.g4 hxg4 17.hxg4 Nh4!? (17...Ne7 18.Bg3 Nd5 19.Nce4) 18.Bg3 Bc4! (18...Be7 19.Bxh4 Rxh4
20.Nxe6+ fxe6 21.f3) 19.b3 (19.Rd1+ Ke8 20.Rd4 (20.b3 Ba6 21.e6 f5) 20...Bd5! 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Rxd5 Be7
23.Ne4 Rg6=) 19...f6 20.exf6 gxf6 21.bxc4 fxg5 22.Ne4 Be7 23.f3 (23.f4 gxf4 24.Rxf4 (24.Bxf4? Re6) 24...Ng6
25.Rf7 Ke8 26.Rf1 Nf8 Ne6=) (23.Rd1+ Kc8 24.Kf1 Ng6 25.Rd3 Rh1+ 26.Ke2 Ra1 27.Rf3 Rxa2 28.Rf7 Kd7
29.Nxg5 Ke8 30.Rg7 Nf8 31.Kd3 Ra3+ 32.Kd2 Ra4=) 23...Ng6 24.Kg2 (24.Kf2 Nf8 Ne6) 24...Rh7 (24...Nf8 25.f4
gxf4 26.Bxf4 Re6 27.Kf3) 25.Rd1+ Kc8 26.Re1 Kd8=
14.e6 Bxe6
14...fxe6 15.Nce4 Rc8 16.Rfe1 Rf8 (16...c5 17.Nf7) 17.Be5 (17.Nh7 Rh8 18.Neg5 c5 19.c3 c4 20.Re2 b5) 17...c5
18.g3
15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Bxc7 Rd4
16...Rc8 17.Bf4 g5 18.Be5 Rg8 19.g416...Rd7 17.Bb8 Nd4 18.Bxa7 Nxc2 19.a3 e5 20.Ne4 Nd4 21.Rd2
17.Rxd4
17.Bb8 Bf6 18.Bxa7 Rb4 19.Rb1 (19.Rfe1 Rxb2 20.Ne4 Rxa2 21.Bb6 Be7=) 19...b5 20.Rfd1 Rc417.Be5 Rxd1
18.Rxd1 Bf6 19.Bc7 Ke7 20.Ne4 Rc8 (20...Bxb2 21.Rb1) 21.Bh2 Rd8 22.Rxd8 Kxd8 23.c3 b6 24.Kf1 Nh4 25.f3
17...Nxd4 18.Be5 Bf6
18...Nxc2 19.Ne4 (19.Bxg7 Rg8 20.Be5 Rg5 21.Bb8 a6 22.Rd1 Nb4 23.a3 Nd5 24.Ne4 Rf5 25.Ng3 Rg5 26.Re1 Kf7
27.Ne4 Rf5 28.g4 hxg4 29.hxg4 Rf3 30.Kg2 Rb3 31.Be5 Nf6=) 19...Rf8 20.Bxg7 (20.g4 hxg4 21.hxg4 b6 22.Kg2
Nb4) 20...Rf5 21.Bc3 Rd5 22.Rc1 Nd4 23.Kf1 e5 24.g4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Kf7 26.Kg2 Ne2 27.Re1 (27.Rh1 Nxc3
28.bxc3 Bf8=) 27...Nxc3 28.Nxc3 Rd4 29.Ne4 a5 30.Kg3 a4=
19.Bxd4 Bxd4 20.Ne4 Ke7 21.Rd1 Bb6 22.Kf1 Rf8
22...Rd8 23.Rxd8 Bxd8 24.Ke2 b5 25.Kd3
23.Ke2 Rf5 24.g4 Rf8
24...Ra5 25.Ra1 Bc7 26.a4 b5 27.b3 g6 28.c4 bxc4 29.bxc4 c5 30.Kd3
25.c4
25.Rd3 hxg4 26.hxg4 Rh8 27.a4 Rh4 28.Rb3! Rxg4 29.Kf3 Rh4 30.a5 Rh3+ 31.Ng3 Bxa5 32.Rxb7+ Kd8 33.Rxa7 Bc7
34.Kg4 Rh2 35.Ne4
25...hxg4 26.hxg4

26...Rh8! 27.Kf3
27.a4 Rh4 28.Kf3 Rh3+ 29.Ng3 Rh2 30.Ne4 Rh3+=
27...Rh2
27...Rh3+ 28.Kg2 Rh4 29.Kg3 (29.f3 Bc7) 29...Rh8 30.Rd3 Bc7+ 31.Kg2 b6=
28.b3
28.Re1 Rh3+ 29.Kg2 Rd3=28.c5 Bc7 29.Rd3 Rh1 30.Ng5 Rb1 31.Rb3 b5=
28...Bc7?
28...Rh3+ 29.Kg2 Rh4 30.Kg3 Rh8 31.f4 Rf8 32.Kf3 a5! (32...Rh8 33.Ng5) 33.Re1 (33.a3 Bc7 34.Nc5 Bd6 35.Nxb7
Bxf4 36.Ke4 Bc7 37.Nc5 Bd6 38.Nd3 c5= Rb8) 33...Bc7 34.f5 exf5 35.Nc5+ Kd6 36.Nxb7+ Kd7 37.g5 Rh8
38.Rd1+ Ke7 (38...Kc8? 39.Nd6+) 39.Nc5 Rh3+ 40.Kg2 Rh2+=
29.Nc5 Bb6 30.Kg3 Rh6 31.Nxb7 Rh8 32.c5 Bc7+

33.Nd6! Rd8 34.Kf4 Bxd6+

34...Rf8+ 35.Ke3 a5 36.Rd4
35.Rxd6 Rxd6 36.cxd6+ Kxd6 37.Kg5+- Ke7 38.Kg6 Kf8 39.Kh7 Kf7 40.g5 c5 41.f4 a6 42.a3 a5 43.a4 1-0

123. C72
Motylev, Alexander (2663) - Vavulin, Maksim (2604)
Moscow 131/123, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.O-O Bd7 6.d4 exd4 7.Bxc6
7.Nxd4 - 102/243
7...bxc6 8.Qxd4 Ne7 9.Nc3N
9.c4
9...h6?!
9...c5 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.Bf4
10.Re1 Ng6 11.e5! d5
11...dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Rxe5+ Be7 14.Qe4
12.Na4 Qb8
12...Be7? 13.e6 Bxe6 14.Rxe6 fxe6 15.Qxg7+-12...a5 13.Bd2
13.Bd2
13.e6!?
13...Qb5?

13...Be6 14.Qc3 Qb5 15.Nd4 Qxa4 16.b3 Bb4 17.Qd3 Qa3 18.Bxb4 Qxb4 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qxg6+
14.e6! Bxe6
14...fxe6 15.Qg4 Ne7 (15...Kf7 16.b3) 16.Ne5
15.Rxe6+! fxe6 16.Qg4 Ne7 17.Qxe6 Rd8
18.Ne5?
18.b3! Rd6 19.Qh3 Kf7 20.Re1 Kg8 21.Nd4 Qb8 22.Nc5
18...Rd6 19.Qf7+ Kd8 20.Nc3
20.b3 Qe2
20...Qxb2 21.Rb1 Qxc2 22.Qf4
22.Rb8+ Nc8 23.h3 Be7 (23...Qxd2 24.Qf5) 24.Qxg7 Rf8 25.Nf7+ Rxf7 26.Qxf7 Kd7
22...Rf6 23.Rb8+ Nc8 24.Qg4 Qf5 25.Nxc6+ Kd7 26.Ne5+ Kd8 27.Nc6+ Kd7 28.Ne5+ Kd8 29.Nc6+ 1/2-1/2

124.* C84
Karthikeyan, Murali (2578) - Bu, Xiangzhi (2711)
Liaocheng 131/124, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.Nc3 Be7 8.d3 d6 9.a4 b4 10.Ne2
10.Nd5 - 31/391
10...Na5
10...O-O 11.a5 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Ng3
13...Nf4N (13...Re8) 14.Re1? (14.d4!? e4 (14...Nxg2? 15.d5! Nd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Kxg2 Bxd5+ 18.Bxd5 Qxd5+
19.Qf3+-) 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ng6 (16...e3 17.Qg4! exf2+ 18.Rxf2 Ng6 19.Nf5) 17.Qh5 ( e6) 17...Bd5 18.Rd1
c6 19.Nxe4 Qc7) 14...Nxg2! 15.Kxg2 Nd4 16.Ne4 Nxb3 17.cxb3 f5 18.Ng3 Qd5 Inarkiev,E (2709)-Bu,X (2705)/
Doha (rapid) 131/(124) 2016
11.Ba2 O-O 12.Ng3 c5 13.Nf5 Bc8 14.N3h4 Ne8 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Bd5

16...Qxh4!?N
16...Rb8 17.Nf5 (17.Qh5 Nc7=) 17...Bxf5 18.exf5 Nc7=
17.Bxa8 Nc7 18.Bd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Qd4 20.Qf3 Bb7 21.c3?!
21.c4 Bc8 (21...bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 (22...Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Bxd5 24.c4) 23.Rb1 Nb3 24.Qe4) 22.Re1 Bg4 23.Be3 Bxf3
24.Bxd4 Bg4 25.Be3
21...Qxd5
21...bxc3?! 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Rb1
22.Qxd5 Bxd5 23.Be3 Nb3 24.Rad1 a5 25.f4 Bc6
25...Rd8 26.fxe5 dxe5 27.cxb4 axb4=
26.fxe5 dxe5 27.d4 cxd4 28.cxd4 e4!
28...Nxd4?! 29.Bxd4 exd4 30.Rxd4
29.Rf4
29.d5 Bxa4
29...Re8
29...Bxa4?! 30.Rxe4 Nc5 31.dxc5 Bxd1 32.c6
30.Rdf1 Re7 31.d5
31.R1f2!? f6 32.Rc2 Bxa4 33.d5 Kf7 34.d6 Rd7 35.Rc7 Ke6 36.Rxe4+ Kxd6 37.Bf4+ Kd5 38.Re7 (38.Rxd7+? Kxe4)
38...Rxe7 39.Rxe7 Nd4 40.Bc7 Nc6 41.Rxg7 Bc2 a4
31...Bxd5 32.Rd1 Re5 33.Rf2 Bf4 33...Bc6 34.Rd8+ Re8 35.Rxe8+ Bxe8 36.Rf4 Bc6
36...Bxa4?! 37.Rxe4 Kf8 38.Bf4
37.Bb6 f6
37...Bxa4?! 38.Rxe4 f6 39.Re7
38.Kf2 Kf7
38...Bxa4?! 39.Rxe4 Kf7 40.Rc4
39.Ke3 Ke6 40.g4 h6 41.h4 Kd6
41...Bxa4?! 42.Rxe4+ Kd6 43.g5
42.Rf5 Bd7
42...Bxa4? 43.Bxa5 (43.Kxe4 Bd7 44.Rf4 Kc6=) 43...Nxa5 44.Rxa5
43.Rf4
43.Bxa5 Bxf5 44.Bxb4+ Kd5 45.gxf5 Nd4
43...Bxa4
43...Bc6=
44.Rxe4 Bd7 45.Bd8 Be6!
45...Bc6? 46.Re7 g5 47.Rh7
46.Kf4 Kd7 47.Bb6 g5+ 48.Kg3 Bd5 49.Re3 a4! 50.Rxb3 Bxb3 51.Bc5= a3 52.bxa3 bxa3 53.Bxa3 gxh4+ 54.Kxh4
Ke6 55.Bc1 f5 1/2-1/2
 125.** C84
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766)
Sharjah 131/125, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 O-O 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 Be6 11.b4
11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.b4 Nc6 13.Bd2 d511.d4 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 Re8 13.Ra1 Nc4 14.Re1 - 130/128
11...Bxa2 12.Rxa2 Nc6 13.Bg5 Nd7 - 131/125
13...Ng4!?N

14.Bxe7 - 131/(125) (14.Bd2N Nf6 15.Re1 Re8 16.Qb1 Qd7 17.Qb3 Bacrot,E (2689)-Fressinet,L (2672)/London
(rapid) 131/(125) 2016 (17.Qb3 a5 18.Nxb5 (18.bxa5 Reb8=) 18...axb4 19.axb4 Rxa2 20.Qxa2 Nxb4 21.Bxb4
Qxb5=)) 14...Nxe7 15.Qb1 c6 16.a4 Qc7 17.Qb3 Rab8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rfa1 Rb7 20.Ra6 h6 21.R1a5 Nc8 22.Ra8
Nb6 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8= Bacrot,E (2692)-Inarkiev,E (2732)/Espana 131/ (125) 2016
14.Be3 Nf6 15.Bg5 Nd7 16.Be3 Nf6 17.Qb1 d5 18.exd5N
18.Bg5
18...Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.c4!? bxc4 21.dxc4 Qe6
21...Qxc4 22.Rc2 Qe6 (22...Qd5 23.Rd1) 23.Qc1 Na7 24.Rxc7 Nb5 25.Rc6
22.Qe4?!
22.Rd2!? Rad8 23.Qc2 f5 24.Rd5! Rxd5 (24...e4 25.Nd4 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 Rxd5 27.cxd5 Qxd5 28.Qxc7 Qxd4 29.Qxe7=)
25.cxd5 Qxd5 26.Rc1 Rd8 27.h3 (27.Qxf5 a5) 27...e4 28.Qxc6 Qxc6 29.Rxc6 Rd1+! 30.Kh2 Bd6+ 31.g3 exf3
32.Rxa6 Ra1=
22...Rad8! 23.g4
23.Rd2 f5 24.Qc2 Rxd2 25.Nxd2 f4 26.Bc5 Bxc5 27.bxc5 Rd8
23...h5
23...g6 24.g5 (24.Kh1 f5 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.Rg1+ Kh8 27.Qc2 f4) 24...a5 25.b5 Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 27.Qxe6 fxe6
28.Ne5 Bxg5 29.Rd123...f5!? 24.gxf5 Rxf5 25.Kh1 Rdf8 26.Nd2 Bg5
24.g5 Qg4+ 25.Qxg4 hxg4 26.Nh4!?
26.Nd2 Rd3 27.Kg2 f5 28.gxf6 gxf6 f5
26...g6
26...Nd4 27.Kg2 Ne6 28.Nf5 Bxg5 29.Bxg5 Nxg5 30.b5
27.Kh1 e4
27...Nd4 28.Rg1 Nf5 29.Rxg4 Nxe3 30.fxe3 Rd3 31.Re4 Bxg5 32.Nf3 Bxe3 33.Nxe5=
28.Rg1 Ne5 29.Bf4 Nxc4 30.Rxg4
30.Bxc7 Rd3 31.Rxg4 Rc8 32.Bg3 Nd2 (32...Rxa3 33.Rxa3 Nxa3 34.Rxe4 Bxg5=) 33.Bf4
30...c5! 31.bxc5 Bxc5 32.Rc2 Rd4 33.Rg3 Re8 34.Kg2 Bf8 35.Rgc3 Nxa3 36.Ra2 Rd3 37.Rc6 a5
38.Nxg6!? fxg6 39.Rxg6+ Kh7?!
39...Kh8! 40.h4 Rf3 41.Bc7 Bb4 42.h5 Nc4 43.Re2 Rf5
40.Rc6 Bb4 41.h4 Nb5 42.h5

42.Rac2
42...Nc3?
42...Nd4 43.Rc7+ Kg8 44.h6 Nf5-+
43.Rc2 Nd5 44.g6+ Kg8 45.Bg5 Rf3 46.h6 Nf4+
46...a4 47.R2c4 Re4
47.Bxf4 Rxf4 48.Rc8 Rxc8 49.Rxc8+ Rf8 50.Rc7 Rf6 51.Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

126. C89
Paravyan, David (2525) - Swiercz, Dariusz (2645)
Moscow 131/126, 2017

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.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qh5
18...Qxg2+ - 106/(101)
19.Be3 Bh3 20.Qh1 f5 21.Bb6 Rd7 22.Qd5+ Kh8 23.Nd2 Bxg3 24.Qxd7 Bf4 25.Qc6 Bxd2

26.Bc5N
26.Qd6 Rg8 27.Qg3 b4
26...Rg8 27.Qd5
27.Bd4 h6 (27...Bf4 28.Be5) 28.Re3 Bxe3 29.fxe3 Kh7
27...Bf4 28.Re3
28.Bd4? Bxh2+! 29.Kxh2 Bg4+ 30.Kg1 (30.Kg3 f4+-+) (30.Kg2 Qh3+ 31.Kg1 Bf3-+) 30...Bf3-+
28...Bxe3
29.fxe3?!
29.Bxe3 Qg4+ 30.Kh1 f4 31.Rg1 Qd7 32.Qxd7 Bxd7 33.Bxf4 Bc6+ 34.Rg2
29...Qe2! 30.Bd4
30.b4 h6! 31.Qb7 (31.Kh1? Bg4-+) 31...Qb2
30...h6
30...Qxb2
31.b3 Kh7
31...Rc8! 32.Qb7 Rc7! 33.Qa8+ Kh7 Re7-e4 34.Rc1 Rxc3!-+
32.Qb7
32...Kg6! 33.Qxa6+ Kh5 34.Qc6 Rc8 35.Qb7 Re8 Re4! 36.Qf7+ g6 0-1

127. C90
Dubov, Daniil (2661) - Kovalev, Vladislav (2598)
Moscow 131/127, 2017

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 b4 9.a5 O-O 10.c3 Rb8 11.Bc4

11...Nxe4!
11...d5 - 68/316
12.Bd5 Nxf2 13.Kxf2 Nxa5 14.cxb4 c6 15.Ba2 Rxb4 16.d4!?
16.Kg1? e4-+16.d3 Qb6+ 17.Be3 Rxb2+ (17...Qb7!?) 18.Kg1 Qc7 (18...Qb8 19.Bxf7+ Rxf7 20.Rxa5) 19.Qc1 Rb8
(19...Rb7!?) 20.Nc3
16...exd4 17.Kg1 d5 18.Bd2N

18.Na3 c5 19.Bd2 Bf6 20.Bxb4 cxb4 21.Nb1 d3 22.Bb3 Bf5

18...Be6!?
18...Rxb2!? 19.Rxe7 Qxe7 20.Bxa5 Qc5 21.Bb3 (21.Bd2 d3+ 22.Kh1 Re8) 21...d3+ 22.Kh1 Bg4 23.Nbd2 Rb8
19.Bxb4 Bxb4 20.Nxd4!?
20.Rf1 c5 21.Na3 Nc6 22.Nc2 Ba5 23.Bb120.Qxd4 c5 21.Qf2 Bxe1 22.Nxe1 Qb6 23.Nc3 d4 24.Nd5 Qd8 25.Nf3!
20...Bxe1 21.Qxe1 Qb6 22.Qf2 c5 23.Nf3 Rb8 24.Nc3 c4 25.Nd4
25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Rb1 Kf8 27.Nd4 Ke7 28.Kf2 Kd6 29.Ke3 Rb4 Kc525.Bb1!? Nc6 26.Qxb6 Rxb6 27.Bc2 Rxb2
28.Rxa6 g6 29.Rxc6 Rxc2 30.Nb5
25...Qxb2 26.Rb1 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 Rxb1 28.Bxb1 g6
28...Nb7 29.Nc6 Kf8 30.Ke3
29.Na2 Nb7 30.Ke3 Kf8 31.Nc6 Ke8 32.Kd4 Kd7 33.Ncb4 Kd6 34.Nc3
34.Nxa6? Na5
34...Nd8
34...Na5 35.Ba2 Nb3+ 36.Bxb3 cxb3 37.Nxa6 b2 38.Nb4 Bf5 39.Nd3 Bxd3 40.Kxd3 Ke5 41.Kc2 f5 42.Kxb2 Kd4
43.Kc2 Ke3 44.Nxd5+ Kf2 45.Nf4 g5 46.Ne6 Kxg2 47.Nxg5=
35.Bc2
35.Nbxd5 Nc6+ 36.Kxc4 Ne5+ 37.Kd4 Nc6+ 38.Kc4=
35...Bh3!?
35...a5 36.Nb5+ Kd7 37.Na2 (37.Nxd5? Nc6+ 38.Kc5 (38.Kxc4 Bxd5+ 39.Kxd5 Nb4+-+) 38...Bxd5-+) 37...Nb7
38.Ba4 Kc6 39.Nbc3+ Kd6 40.Nb5+ Kc6=
36.Nbxd5
36.gxh3 Ne6+ 37.Ke3 d4+ 38.Kd2 dxc3+ 39.Kxc3 a5 40.Na6! Kd5 41.Bd1=1/2-1/2

128.* C95
Molner, Mackenzie (2520) - Shlionsky, Aaron (2278)
New Jersey 131/128, 2017

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.Nbd2
Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6
14...d5!? 15.exd5 (15.axb5!? - 68/321) 15...exd4! 16.Nxd4N (16.Rxe8) 16...Bxd5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa8 Rxe1+
19.Qxe1 Qxa8= Molner,M (2450) -Francisco,R (2273)/ProChessLeague (Internet) 131/(128) 2017
15.Qc2 Qc7
15...Rc8 - 126/117
16.b4
16.b3!?
16...g6
16...Nb6 17.a5! Nbd7 (17...Na4 18.c4!) 18.Bb2 d5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Rxe5 21.f4
17.Bb2 Bg7?

17...Nb6! 18.axb5 (18.a5 Na4 19.Ba3) 18...cxb5 19.d5

18.c4! bxc4N
18...bxa4 19.c5 exd4 20.Bxd4
19.Bxc4
19.Nxc4!?
19...Rac8?! 20.dxe5! Nxe5
20...dxe5
21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Nb3 Bb7
22.a5!? Nd5!
22...Nd7

23.a5
23.Re3!? Bf8 24.Rf3 Re7 25.Na5 c5 26.Nxb7 Qxb7 27.Qe2+-
23...Bf8
23...c5 24.Nxc5 Nxc5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Bxf7+! Kxf7 27.Qb3++-
24.Bc3 Rb8 25.Qe2 Bd6 26.Rac1 Bc8 27.Bxa6 Bxb4 28.Bxb4 Rxb4 29.Bc4! Rb8 30.Rc3 Qa7 31.Ra1 Ra8 32.Bd3
Rb8 33.Qc2 Bb7 34.a6 Ba8 35.Nc5 Nxc5 36.Rxc5 Red8 37.Rc1 Qb6 38.Rxe5 Rxd3?
38...Qb2 39.Qxb2 Rxb2 40.Rc3+-
39.Qxd3 Qb2 40.Qc3 Qxc3 41.Rxc3 1-0

129.* C96
Schroeder, Jan Christian (2550) - Seul, Georg (2405)
Basel 131/129, 2017

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.a4 Bb7 16.Nxe5
16.Qe2!?
16...Nxe5 17.f4

17...Nd7
17...Ng6 18.Nf3 Bf6 19.g3N (19.Kh2 - 107/ (110)) 19...Qd7 20.Kg2 Rfe8 21.Ra3 Bd8 22.h4 Nf8 23.h5 h6 24.f5 Bf6
25.Nh2 Nh7 26.Ng4 Bd4 Sutovsky,E (2628) -Anton Guijarro,D (2650)/Gibraltar 131/(129) 2017
18.Nf3 Re8 19.b3
19.e519.Bd2 - 89/(334)
19...Bf6 20.Rb1 g6N
20...Qb6
21.Bd3 Qb6 22.Kh2 Bg7 23.Qd2!
23.Bb2 Bxb2 24.Rxb2 bxa4
23...Nf6 24.Bb2 Bc8 25.Bc2 Qd8 26.Bc3 Ra7 27.Rbd1 b4 28.Ba1 Rd7 29.g4 Bb7 30.Qf2 Rde7
31.Qh4! Nxd5 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.f5 f6
33...Kg8 34.f6 Re6 35.exd5 Rxe1 36.Nxe1+-
34.g5 fxg5 35.Qxg5 Nf6 36.e5 Kg8 37.fxg6 h6 38.Qxf6 Rf8 39.Qxd6 Qe8 40.Rd3 Rxf3 41.Rxf3 Bxf3 42.Bd3 Bb7
43.Bc4+ Kh8 44.Rf1 1-0

130.* C96
Topalov, Veselin (2739) - Anton Guijarro, David (2650)
Gibraltar 131/130, 2017

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.a4 Bb7 16.Qe2
16.Nxe5 - 131/129
16...Rb8 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.axb5N
18.Nf1 - 131/(130) N 18...Bf6 19.Ne3 c4 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bd2 Bc8 22.Ba5 Qe7 23.Bb4 Hansen,M (2452)-Wagner,D
(2548)/ Vandoeuvre les Nancy 131/(130) 201618.f4
18...axb5 19.Nf1
19.f4 Ng6 20.Nf3 Bf6 21.e5 Re8 22.Qf2 Be7 23.Rd1 Ra8=
19...Re8 20.Ne3 Bf6 21.Bd2 Bc8 22.Ba5 Qe7 23.Bc3
23.Qf1!? b4 24.f4 Ng6 25.Nf5 Qf8
23...Ng6 24.Qf3 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Qg5! 26.Kh2 h5 27.Ra7 Re7 28.Rxe7 Nxe7 29.Ra1 Ng6 30.Qg3?!
30.Rb1
30...Qf6 31.Nf5?!
31.Nd1 h4 32.Qe3 Ne5
31...Bxf5! 32.exf5 Ne5 33.Rb1 h4 34.Qf4 g5!?
34...Nd7!?
35.Qe3 Nc4 36.Qc1 Kg7 37.Bd3 Ne5 38.Be4 g4 39.hxg4 Nxg4+ 40.Kg1 Qh6! 41.Qxh6+ Kxh6 42.Kf1 Kg5 0-1
D00-D49

131. D00
Rapport, Richard (2717) - Wei, Yi (2707)
Yancheng (m/2) 131/131, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6

4...Ne4 - 130/139
5.Nd2 e5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Ngf3 Nxf3+?!
7...Nc6
8.Nxf3 Be7N 9.Bb5+! Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Ne5 Qf5 12.Qa4+ Kf8
12...Nd7 13.Bxe7 Kxe7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qh4+ f6 16.O-O-O
13.Bxf6 gxf6
13...Bxf6? 14.Nd7+ Ke7 15.Nxc5 b6 16.e4 (16.Nb3 Rhd8 17.Qa3+ Ke8 18.O-O) 16...Qe5 17.Qd7+ Kf8 18.Qb7 Rd8
19.Nd7+ Rxd7 20.Qxd7 Qxe4+ 21.Kf1
14.Nf3

14...Rg8
14...d4!? a4-h4 15.cxd4 Rg8 16.Kf1 (16.Qb5 Rxg2 17.Qxb7 Rd8 18.Rf1 Rg4 19.Rd1 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Qe5) 16...Qd3+
17.Kg1 Qe4 18.Qd1 Rd8 19.g3 (19.Rc1 h5 20.Kf1 cxd4 21.exd4 h4 22.h3 f5) 19...h5
15.Nh4 Qe6 16.Qc2
16.g3!? d4 17.Ng2
16...d4! 17.g3
17.O-O? Qg4 18.Qxh7 (18.g3? Qxh4-+) 18...f5 19.g3 Bxh4 20.Qh6+ Ke7 21.exd4 cxd4
17...Qd5?
17...dxe3 18.O-O!17...Rd8 18.Rd1 (18.O-O?! d3 19.Qd1 Qe4) (18.O-O-O Qxa2 19.exd4 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Rxd4 21.cxd4

21...Rg5!! 22.Qc8+ Bd8 23.Qxd8+ Kg7 24.Qc8 (24.Rd1? Rb5-+) 24...Qa1+ 25.Kc2 Qxh1 26.Nf5+ Rxf5 27.Qxf5
Qf1=) 18...dxe3 19.Rxd8+ Bxd8 20.O-O
18.e4
18.O-O-O!?
18...Qc4 19.b3 Qxc3+?!
19...Qa6 20.O-O-O
20.Qxc3 dxc3 21.O-O-O Nf5 21...f5 22.Nxf5 Rg6 23.Rd7 Re6 24.Rxe7?!
24.f3 b5 25.Rhd1 Bg5+ 26.Kc2 b4 27.R1d5 Ra6 28.Kb1 c4!? 29.bxc4 Rxa2 30.Kxa2 c2 31.Rd1 cxd1=Q 32.Rxd1 a5
33.Kb3+-24.Rxb7 Rxe4 25.Rd1 Re5 (25...Re8 26.Rdd7+-) 26.Nxe7 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Kxe7 28.Kc2+-
24...Rxe7 25.Nxe7 Kxe7 26.Kc2 Rd8 27.Kxc3 b5 28.Kc2 Rd6
28...Rd4 29.f3 Kd6 (29...Rd6 30.Rd1 Rh6 31.Rd2+-) 30.Rd1 Rxd1 31.Kxd1 Ke5 32.Kd2 Kd4 33.h4 c4 34.bxc4 bxc4
35.e5! Kxe5 36.Kc3 Kd5 37.a4 Kc5 38.g4+-
29.Rd1 Rh6 30.h4 Rf6 31.Rd2 Ra6 32.Kd3 Ke6 33.Rc2 Kd6 34.g4 c4+?!
34...Ra3!? 35.Kc3! (35.f4?! c4+ 36.Kc3 Kc5 37.f5 b4+ 38.Kd2 c3+ 39.Kd3) (35.g5 c4+ 36.Kc3 cxb3 (36...Kc5
37.Kb2! Ra6 38.Rd2+-) 37.axb3 Ra1 38.Rd2+ Ke5 39.Rd7 Ke6 40.Rb7 Rf1 41.Rxa7 Rxf2 42.Ra6+ Ke5 43.Rh6 Kxe4
44.Rxh7+-) 35...Ke5 (35...Ra6 36.f4+-) 36.Kb2 Ra6 37.Rxc5+ Kxe4 38.Rxb5 Kf3 39.g5 Kxf2 40.Rf5+ Kg3 41.Rxf7
Kxh4 42.Rxh7+ Kxg5 43.a4+-
35.bxc4 bxc4+ 36.Kd4
36.Kxc4? Ke5
36...Ra4 37.Rxc4 Rxa2 38.e5+ Kd7 39.f3 Ra6 40.Rb4 Kc7 41.g5 Re6 42.Ra4 Kb6 43.f4 a5 44.f5 Re8 45.e6 1-0

132. D00
Rapport, Richard (2717) - Wei, Yi (2707)
Yancheng (m/4) 131/132, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qc2 Ne4 6.Bf4 Nc6 7.Nd2 Bf5N
7...Nxd2
8.Bd3 cxd4
8...e6 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Ne2 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.exd4 Qc6
9.exd4 e5!? 10.Bxe4 dxe4
10...Bxe4 11.Nxe4 exf4 12.Nd2 Bd6 13.Ngf3
11.Nc4 Qa6 12.Nxe5
12...Nxd4!
12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Qg6 14.Bg3 Be7 15.Ne2 e3 16.Qb3 exf2+ 17.Kxf2
13.cxd4 f6
13...Bb4+? 14.Bd2 Bxd2+ (14...Rc8 15.Qxc8+ Bxc8 16.Bxb4+-) 15.Qxd2 f6 16.Qf4! Qa5+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Ng4+-
14.Ne2 fxe5 15.Bxe5 Bb4+ 16.Nc3 Rc8 17.Rc1 Qxa2
17...O-O? 18.Qb3+ Qc4 19.Qxc4+ Rxc4 20.a317...Rc6?! 18.a417...Bxc3+?! 18.bxc3 O-O 19.Qe2
18.O-O Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qxc2 20.Rxc2 O-O 21.Ra1
21.c4 e3 22.Rc3 b5 (22...a5!?) 23.c5 exf2+ 24.Rxf2 b4
21...e3 22.Rcc1 exf2+ 23.Kxf2 a6 24.Ke3 Be6= 25.Ra5 Rfd8 26.Kd2 Rc6 27.Rf1 Bc4 28.Rf3 b6 29.Ra1 a5 30.h4 Ra8
31.h5 a4 32.Rg3 Ra7 33.Bb8 Rb7 34.Be5 b5 35.Kc2 Bd5 36.Kb2 b4 37.Rxa4 bxc3+ 38.Kc1 h6
38...Rc8 39.Ra3 c2 40.Rgc3=
39.Ra8+ Kh7 40.Rb8! Ra7 41.Ra8! Rcc7 42.Rxa7 Rxa7 43.Rxc3 Bxg2 44.Kd2 Bd5 45.Ke3 Bf7 46.Rc7 Rxc7 47.Bxc7
Bxh5 48.Kf4 Kg6 49.d5 Be2 50.Be5 Bc4 51.d6 Be6 52.Kg3 Kh7 53.d7 Bxd7 54.Bd4 g5 55.Bf6 Kg6 56.Be7 h5
57.Bd8 h4+ 58.Kf2 Kh5 59.Be7 g4 60.Bd6 g3+ 61.Bxg3 hxg3+ 62.Kxg3 1/2-1/2

133. D00
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767) - So, Wesley (2808)
Wijk aan Zee 131/133, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.dxc5 e6

4...Qa5 - 39/444
5.e4 h6 6.Bh4N
6.Bxf6
6...dxe4 7.Qe2!?
7.Nxe4 Qa5+! 8.Qd2 (8.Nd2 Nbd7=) 8...Qxd2+ 9.Nxd2 Bxc5=
7...Qa5
7...g5 8.Bg3 Qd5
8.O-O-O?!
8.c3 Nbd7 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qxc5
8...Qxa2 9.Qb5+?
9.Bxf6 Qa1+ 10.Nb1 gxf6 11.Qxe4 a6=
9...Nbd7 10.c6
10.Bxf6 Qa1+ 11.Nb1 a6! 12.Qc4 gxf6 13.Qxe4 Nxc5-+10.Nb3 a6 11.Qa5 (11.Qc4 Nxc5-+) 11...Qxa5 12.Nxa5
Bxc5-+
10...bxc6 11.Qxc6

11...Bb7!
11...Rb8 12.Nb3 Nd5 (12...Bb7 13.Qc7 Bd5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rxd5 exd5 16.Ne2 h5 17.f4) 13.Bb5 (13.Rxd5 exd5
14.Bb5 Ba3! 15.bxa3 Qxa3+ 16.Kb1 O-O-+) 13...Ba3! 14.bxa3 Qxa3+ 15.Kd2 (15.Kb1 O-O-+) 15...Qb4+ 16.Kc1
Qxb5-+
12.Qxb7 Qa1+
12...Rb8 13.Qxb8+ Nxb8 14.Bb5+ Nfd7-+
13.Nb1 Rb8 14.Qxb8+
14.Qc6 Qxb2+ 15.Kd2 Bb4+ 16.Ke2 O-O!-+
14...Nxb8 15.Bb5+ Nfd7 16.Ne2 Be7
16...a6 17.Bxd7+ Nxd7 18.Nc3 f5-+
17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Nd4 Nb3+- 18...Nc5! 19.h4 Rd8 20.Rh3 Ra3 20...Nd3+! 21.Bxd3 Rxd4 22.Be2 Rxd1+
23.Bxd1 Qa5-+ 24.Nd2 f5 25.Rg3 Qe5 26.Ra3 Nc6 27.g3 Qd4 28.Re3 Nb4 0-1

134. D00
Rapport, Richard (2717) - Yu, Yangyi (2729)
Danzhou 131/134, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 g6 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.c4 dxc4 6.Bxc4 Bd6 7.Nc3 Nd7
7...O-O - 90/313
8.Bb3 Nb6 9.Nf3 Qe7N
9...c6
10.O-O O-O 11.h3 Be6 12.e4 Rad8 13.Qc1 Rfe8
13...Bxb3 14.axb3 a6 15.Re1 Rfe8 16.Qc2 c6=
14.Re1 Bb4 15.d5
15.Bxe6 Qxe6 16.a3 Bf8 (16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3 c6 18.a4) 17.Qc2 c6=
15...Bc8?!
15...Bd7 16.e5 (16.a3 Bd6) 16...fxe5 17.Rxe5 Qf8 18.Ne4 Rxe5 19.Nxe5 Bd6=
16.e5
16.a3 Bc5 (16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3 c6 18.Qa5 cxd5 19.Qxa7 Qd6 20.Rad1) (16...Ba5 17.Ba2) (16...Bd6 17.Nb5) 17.e5
fxe5 18.Rxe5 Qf8 19.Ne4 Nd7 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Qc2 Bd6 22.Rc1
16...Bxc3
16...fxe5!? 17.Rxe5 Qf8 18.Ne4 Rxe5 (18...Nd7!?) 19.Nxe5 Bd6 20.Nf6+ Kg7 21.Nh5+ Kg8 22.Nf6+ Kg7=
17.Qxc3 fxe5 18.Rxe5 Qd6 19.Rae1 Rxe5 20.Rxe5 Nd7
21.Re3
21.Re6!? fxe6 (21...Qc5 22.Re3) 22.dxe6 Nc5 23.e7+ Nxb3 24.Qxb3+ Kg7 25.Qc3+ Kg8 26.exd8=Q+ Qxd8 27.Qe3
Qd1+ 28.Kh2 Qd6+ 29.Kh1 b6 30.Ng5
21...Nf6 22.Ng5 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 Qxd5 24.Ne4 Qd1+ 25.Kh2
25.Re1 Qd4 26.Qxc7 Be6=
25...Qd4 26.Nf6+?!
26.Qxc7=
26...Kg7 27.Ne8+ Kf8 28.Qxc7?!
28.Nxc7 Qxc3 29.bxc3 Bf5
28...Be6 29.Re4 Qd7
29...Qxe4?! 30.Qxd8 Qf4+ 31.Kg1 Qc1+ 32.Kh2 Qc8 (32...Qxb2?? 33.Nf6+ Kg7 34.Qg8+ Kh6
(34...Kxf6 35.Qh8++-) 35.Qh8!! Qb4 36.g3+-) (32...Qf4+=) 33.Qxc8 Bxc8 34.Nd6 Be6 35.b3 Bd5=
30.Qxd7 Rxd7 31.Nf6 Rd2 32.Rb4 Rxf2 33.Nxh7+ Kg7 34.Ng5 Bd5 35.Nf3 a5
35...Bxf3? 36.Kg3 Rxg2+ 37.Kxf3 Rh2 38.Kg3 Rc2 39.Rxb7=35...Re2!?
36.Rb6 Bxa2 37.Kg3 Re2 38.Rxb7 a4 39.Nd4?
39.Rb4 Bb3 40.Nd4 Rxb2 41.Kf4 Kf6 (41...Rxg2 42.Nxb3 Rb2 43.Rxa4 Rxb3 44.Kg4=) 42.Rb6+ Ke7 43.g4 Rb1
44.Kg5
39...Rxg2+! 40.Kxg2 Bd5+ 41.Kg3 Bxb7 42.h4 Kf6 43.Kf4 Bd5 44.Nb5 Ke6 45.Nc3 Bc6 46.Ne2
46.Ke3 Kf5-+46.Kg5 Ke5-+
46...Kd5 47.Kg5 Ke5 48.h5
48.Nc3 Be8 49.Ne2 Ke4 50.Kf6 Kd3-+
48...gxh5 49.Nc3 Kd4 50.Nb1 Kc4 0-1

135. D02
Lenderman, Aleksandr (2581) - Williams, Simon Kim (2443)
London (open) 131/135, 2016

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6 3.d4 Bf5 4.Bg2 e6 5.c3

5.c4 - 98/269
5...h5!?N
5...Bd65...Be75...Nf6
6.Qb3 Rb8 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.Ne5 Nf6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qa4 O-O 11.b4 a5!? 12.bxa5 c5 13.Ba3 cxd4?!
13...c4
14.cxd4 Bxa3 15.Qxa3 Ne4 16.Nb3
16.Bxe4 Bxe4 (16...dxe4 17.Nb3) 17.O-O
16...Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Bxe4
18.f3 Nc3 19.Kd2 Nxa2 20.Rxa2 Rxb3 21.e4
18...Bxe4 19.f3 Bg6
19...Bc2 20.Kd2 Bxb3 21.axb3 Rxb3 22.Rhb1+-
20.Kd2 Rfc8 21.Rhc1 Rc4 22.Rxc4 dxc4

23.Kc3!?
23.Nc1 d5 24.a4 f6 (24...Ra8 25.Kc3 Rxa5 26.Kb4+-) (24...Kf8 25.Na2! Ke7 (25...Rb2+ 26.Ke1) 26.Nc3 Kd7 27.a6
Rb2+! 28.Kc1! Rb6! (28...Rc2+? 29.Kd1 Kc7 30.Rb1! Rxc3 31.a7+-) 29.a7 Ra6 30.e4! dxe4 31.Nxe4 Rxa7 32.Kc2)
25.a6 Ra8 26.Na2 Rxa6 27.Nb4 Ra5 28.Nc6 Ra6 29.Ne7+ Kf7 30.Nxg6 Kxg6 31.Kc3 Kf7 32.a5 Ke7 33.Kb4 Kd6
34.Kb5 Ra8 35.a6 Kc7 36.e4!23.a6!! cxb3 (23...Rb6 24.Kc3! (24.Na5!? d5 25.a4 (25.a7 Ra6 26.Nc6 Ra3) 25...Rxa6
26.Nb7)) (23...Ra8 24.Kc3! Rxa6 25.Kxc4 Rc6+ 26.Kb5 Rc2 27.Nc1!) 24.axb3 f6 25.a7 Ra8 26.Kc3 Be8 27.Ra6
23...cxb3 24.axb3 f5?!
24...f6 25.a6 Be8 26.a7 Ra8 27.Ra6 e5! 28.dxe5 fxe5! 29.Kb4 Bf7 30.Ra5 (30.Ra1 Bd5 (30...e4!?) 31.Kb5)
30...Be824...Rc8+! 25.Kb4 Rb8+ 26.Kc4 Bc2 27.Kc3! (27.a6? Bxb3+ 28.Kc3 Bd5) (27.b4?! Rc8+ 28.Kb5 Rb8+
29.Kc4= (29.Kc6?! Rxb4 30.Kxd6 (30.a6? Ba4+ 31.Kc7 Rxd4 32.a7 Rc4+ 33.Kb8 Bc6 34.Rb1 f5 35.Rb6 Bd5
36.Rxd6 Rb4+ 37.Kc8 Ra4-+) 30...Rxd4+ 31.Kc5 Rd5+ 32.Kb6 Rd1 33.Ra3 Rb1+ 34.Kc7 Bb3)) 27...Bxb3!
(27...Rc8+?! 28.Kb2 Bg6 29.a6 f6 30.a7 Ra8 31.Kc3) 28.e4! d5! (28...f5? 29.a6 fxe4 30.fxe4+-) 29.a6 Bc4 30.a7 Ra8
31.Kb4 Be2! 32.e5! (32.Kc5? dxe4 33.fxe4 Bf3-+) 32...Bxf3 33.Kc5 f6 34.exf6 e5! (34...gxf6 35.Kb6 e5) 35.Kb6
exd4 36.Kb7 Rxa7+ 37.Rxa7 d3 38.Ra2 gxf6 39.Kc6 Be4 40.Kc5 Kh7 41.Kd4 Kg6 42.Ke3 h4 43.Kf4 hxg3 44.hxg3
Kh6=
25.a6 Be8 26.a7 Ra8
26...Rc8+ 27.Kb4 Bc6? 28.Rc1+-
27.Ra6!
27.Kc4? Kf7 28.b4 Ke7 29.b5 Kd727.Kb4? Bc6 28.Ra6 Bd5 29.Ka5 Kf7 30.b4 Ke7
27...e5?!
27...Bb5 28.Rb6 Rxa7 29.Rxb5 Ra2 30.Kd3 Kf727...Kf7 28.Kb4 Bc6 29.Rxc6 Rxa7
28.dxe5 dxe5 29.Kb4
29.b4 Bb5 (29...Kf7 30.Kc4 Ke7 31.b5 Kd7 32.Kc5 Kc7 33.Re6+-) 30.Rb6+-
29...Bf7 30.Ra5!
30.Kc5? Bxb3=
30...e4
30...g6 31.Kc5 Bxb3 32.Kb6+-
31.fxe4
31.Kc5 Bxb3 32.Kb6 Bd1 33.Kb7 Rxa7+ 34.Kxa7 Bxe2 35.f4 Bg4 36.Kb6 e3 37.Re5 e2 38.h4 Kf7=
31...fxe4?!
31...Kf8?! 32.exf5!31...g6! 32.exf5 (32.Kc5? Bxb3) 32...gxf5 33.Kc3 (33.Kc5? Bxb3 34.Kb6 Bc2!=) 33...Kf8 34.b4
Ke7 35.b5 Kd7 36.b6 Kc6 37.Rxf5 Be8 38.Rf6+ Kb7
32.e3 h4 33.gxh4 Kh7 34.Kc5 Bxb3 35.Kb6 g6 36.Kb7 Re8 37.a8=Q Rxa8 38.Kxa8 Be6 39.Rg5 1-0

136. D02
Giri, Anish (2771) - So, Wesley (2794)
London 131/136, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 cxd4!? 7.exd4 Nh5 8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3 Bd6 10.g3 O-O 11.Bg2N
11.Nh4
11...f5 12.Ne5?
12.Ng5 Qe8 (12...Nf6 13.Nh3 h6=) 13.f4 Nf6=12.Nb3 f4 13.Bd2 fxg3 (13...Nf6) 14.hxg3 Nxg3!? 15.Bg5! Qe8
16.fxg3 Bxg3+ 17.Kd2 Qg6 (17...e5 18.Be3) 18.Be3 (18.Qe2 Rxf3 19.Bxf3 Qxg5+ 20.Kc2 Qf5+ 21.Qd3 Qxd3+
22.Kxd3 b6) 18...Bf2 19.Qb1 Rf5
12...f4! 13.Qxh5
13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qxh5 fxe3 15.fxe3 Rb8 16.Nb3 a513.gxf4 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Rxf4 15.Nd3 Rh4 16.Qe2 Qc7 (16...Rxh2
17.Rxh2 Bxh2 18.f4 Bg3+ 19.Kd1 Qf6 20.Kc2) 17.h3 Bd7
13...fxe3 14.fxe3 Nxe5
14...Bxe5 15.dxe5 Bd7 16.Qe2 (16.O-O-O Rf2 17.Bh3 g6 18.Qg4 Qb6! (18...Nxe5? 19.Qd4 Nc6 20.Qc5) 19.Kb1
Raf8) 16...Nxe5 17.Nf3 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Qa5! Bb5 19.a4 b5
15.dxe5 Bc5 16.Rf1!
16.O-O-O Bd7!? (16...Rf2 17.Rdf1! g6 (17...Rxg2 18.Qf7+ Kh8 19.Nb3 Ba3 20.bxa3 Bd7 21.Kb1) 18.Qh3 Rxf1+
19.Rxf1 Bxe3 20.g4) (16...Bxe3 17.Rhe1 Bb6)
16...Bxe3 17.Rxf8+ Qxf8 18.Qf3 Qxf3 19.Nxf3 Bd7 20.Rd1 Rf8
20...Bb6!? 21.c4 Rc8 22.b3 (22.cxd5? Rc2) 22...Kf8
21.c4
21.Ke2 Bb6 22.c4 Rf7!? (22...Kf7 23.Nd4 dxc4 24.Rf1+ Ke7 25.Rxf8 Kxf8 26.Ke3=) (22...Bc6 - 21.c4) 23.cxd5 Bb5+
24.Ke1 exd5 25.Rxd5 Bc6 (25...Bc4 26.Nd2! Bxa2 27.b3=) 26.Nh4 Re7 27.Rd3 Rxe5+ 28.Kd1=
21...Bc6 22.Nd4?
22.Ke2! Bb6 23.Nd4 Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Rf5 25.cxd5 Rxe5+ 26.Kd3 Bxd5 (26...exd5 27.Rf4 Re1 28.Rf5=) 27.Bxd5 exd5
28.Ra4 a6 29.Rf4=
22...Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rf5 24.g4
24.Rf4 Rxe5+ 25.Kd2 g5 26.Rf2
24...Rxe5+ 25.Kf2 Kf7 26.b4 Ke7
26...a6
27.b5 Bd7 28.b6?!
28.cxd5 Bxb5 (28...exd5? 29.Bxd5 Bxb5 30.Re4! Rxe4 31.Bxe4=) 29.Rb4 (29.a4 Be8 30.d6+ Kd7 31.Bxb7 Ra5)
29...Ba6 30.dxe6 b6
28...dxc4 29.Rxc4 axb6 30.Rc7 Rb5 31.Rxb7 Kd6 32.Kg3 h6 33.Rb8 Rb2
33...Rb4! b5, Ra4 34.Rg8 Ra4 35.Rxg7 Ra3+ 36.Kf2 Rxa2+ 37.Kg3 b5-+
34.Bf3 b5?!
34...g534...Ba4!?
35.a4! b4 36.a5 Rb3 37.Kg2!
37.Kf2? Kc5 38.Rd8 (38.a6 Ra3 39.Be2 e5 40.Rb7 Bc6 41.Rxg7 e4-+) 38...Bb5 39.Rc8+ Kd4 40.Rd8+ Ke5 41.Rb8
Bc4-+
37...Bc6?!
37...Kc5 38.a6 Ra3 39.Rb7 Bc6 40.Bxc6 Kxc6 41.Rxb4 - 37...Bc637...g5 38.a6 Ra3 39.Rxb4 Rxa6
38.Bxc6 Kxc6 39.a6 Ra3 40.Rxb4 Rxa6 41.h4 e5 42.Kf3 Kd5 43.Rb5+ Ke6 44.Rb7 Kf6 45.g5+ hxg5 46.hxg5+ Kg6
47.Re7 Ra5 48.Ke3= Rb5 49.Kf3 Rb3+ 50.Kf2 Rb5 51.Kf3 Rd5 52.Ke3 e4 53.Kxe4 Rxg5 54.Kf3 Kh5 55.Re1 Rg4
56.Rh1+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

137.* D02
Sedlak, Nikola (2537) - So, Wesley (2782)
Baku (ol) 131/137, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bg3 O-O 8.Bd3 b6 9.Qe2
9.e4 - 128/133
9...Bb7 10.Rd1 Re8 11.e4 Be7
11...cxd4? 12.e5 dxc3 13.bxc3+-11...dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 (13.Qxe4?! f5) 13...cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4
Bd5 (15...e5 16.Rxd6! Qxd6 17.Bxb7+-) (15...Bxe4 16.Rxd6+-) 16.O-O
12.e5
12.O-O cxd4 13.cxd4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxd4!? 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Bxh7+ (17.Be5? Qd5!-+) 17...Kxh7
18.Qd3+=
12...Nh5 13.a3 g6 N
13...c4
14.Nf1 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne3
16.Ne5? cxd4 17.cxd4 Nxd416.Be5? cxd4 17.cxd4 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 (18.dxe5? Nf4) 18...Nf4
16...e5!N
16...cxd4 - 131/(137) 17.cxd4 Nxg3 18.hxg3 e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5 21.O-O Artemiev, V (2653)-Sevian,S
(2595)/Martuni 131/(137) 2016
17.dxe5
17.Nxd5? exd4 18.Be4 Na5 19.c4 Nxc4 20.Nxf6+ Nxf6 21.Qxc4+ Bd5-+
17...Nxe5 18.Nxe5
18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.O-O Qe7 (20...Nf4 21.Qg4 (21.Qf3 Qf8) 21...Qf6)
18...Nxg3 19.hxg3 Rxe5 20.Bc4!?

20.Kf1?! Qe7 (20...Bg5? 21.f4 Qf8 22.Qf2) 21.Ba6 Bxa6 22.Qxa6 Re8 (22...Rxe3 23.fxe3 Rf8 24.Ke2) 23.Rxd5 Rxe3!
(23...Rxd5? 24.Qc4) 24.fxe3 Qxe3 25.Rd1 Bd4 26.Qc4+ Kg7 27.Rxh7+ Kxh7 28.Qf7+ Kh6 29.cxd4 Qe2+-+
20...b5!
20...Qd7 21.Kf1 (21.Bxd5+? Rxd5) 21...Rae8 22.Ng4! Rxe2 23.Nxf6+ Kg7 24.Rxh7+ Kxf6 25.Rxd7 dxc4 26.Rxb7
21.Bxb5
21.Bxd5+? Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Rxd5-+ >
21...Qb6 22.O-O
22.Kf1 Rf8
22...Kg7!
22...d4? 23.Qc4+ Kg7 24.Ng4 Bd5 25.Qa4
23.Bd3 Bg5!
23...d4?! 24.cxd4 cxd4 25.Nc4 Qc6 26.Qf3
24.c4
24.f4 c4! (24...Rae8? 25.fxe5 c4 26.Rf3 (26.Bxc4? Bxe3+ 27.Kh1 Rxe5) 26...Rxe5 27.Bxc4 (27.Re1) 27...Bxe3+
28.Rxe3 Rxe3 29.Qf2 dxc4? 30.Rd7++-) (24...d4 25.cxd4 cxd4 26.fxe5 (26.Nf5+ Rxf5 27.Bxf5 d3+ 28.Qf2)
26...Bxe3+ 27.Kh2) 25.fxe5 Qxe3+ (25...Bxe3+ 26.Kh2 cxd3 27.Rxd3 (27.Qf3 d4 28.Qf7+ Kh6 29.cxd4 Qxb2
30.d5 Qxe5-+) (27.Qxd3 d4 28.cxd4 Qxb2 29.d5 Qxe5-+) 27...Ba6 28.Rf6! (28.Qg4 Bxd3 29.Qd7+ Kh8 30.Rf7 g5
31.e6 Be4 32.Qe7 Qd8 33.Qxd8+ Rxd8 34.e7 Rg8! 35.Rf8 Bg6-+) (28.Qf3 Bxd3 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.e6 Bh6 31.e7 Qc6
32.Rf6 Qd7-+) 28...Bxd3 29.Qxd3 Bg1+ 30.Kh1 Qe3 31.Qxd5) 26.Qxe3 Bxe3+ 27.Kh2 cxd3 28.e6 (28.Rxd3?
Ba6!) (28.Rfe1 Bf2 29.Rf1 Rf8)
24...Rae8
24...d4 25.Nd5 Qe6 26.Qc2 Rxd5 27.cxd5 Qxd5 28.f4!
25.cxd5

25...Rxe3!
25...c4 26.Nxc4! Rxe2 27.Nxb6 axb6 28.Bxe2 Rxe2 29.d6
26.fxe3 Bxe3+ 27.Rf2?
27.Kh2 Re5 (27...c4? 28.Qf3) 28.g4 (28.Rde1!) 28...g5 29.Qf3 (29.d6 Qxd6 30.Rf7+ Kxf7 31.Bc4+ Bd5 32.Rxd5
Qh6+ 33.Kg3 Bf4+ 34.Kf3 Rxe2 35.Rd6+ Kg7 36.Rxh6 Re3+-+) 29...Bf4+27.Kh1
27...c4! 28.Bxc4 Rf8 29.Rf1 Qd4 30.b3
30.g4 Rxf2 31.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 32.Qxf2 Qxc4 33.Qxa7 Qxd5-+30.d6! Bxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Rxf2 32.Qxf2 Qxc4 33.Qd2!
30...h5! 31.d6 h4! 32.Kh1
32.gxh4 Qe4 33.Qxe3 (33.Kh2 Qxh4+ 34.Kg1 Qg3 35.Qxe3 (35.Qb2+ Kh7 36.Kh1 Qh3+ 37.Kg1 Qxg2#) 35...Qxe3
36.d7 Bc6 37.Be6 Qd4) 33...Qxe3 34.d7 Bc632.g4 h3 33.gxh3 Qe5-+
32...Rxf2
32...hxg3 33.Rf7+ (33.Qxe3 Qh4+) 33...Rxf7 34.Rxf7+ Kh6 35.Be6 Qh4+ 36.Bh3 Qxh3#
33.Rxf2 hxg3 34.Rf7+ Kh6 0-1
 138. D12
Andreikin, Dmitry (2736) - Aronian, Levon (2780)
Wijk aan Zee 131/138, 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nc3 e6 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.a3
10.g5 Ng8 Ne7-f5 (10...Ne4?! 11.Nxe4)
10...g5
10...Bd610...Be7 - 113/137
11.Bd2
11.Qf3
11...g6N
11...Bd611...Be7
12.Qf3 a6 13.Bd3
13.O-O-O!?13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bg7 16.O-O-O O-O 17.h4 (17.Kb1 b5) 17...Nf6! 18.Qd3 gxh4
19.Bg5 Qa5
13...dxc4
13...Be7
14.Bxc4 b5
14...Nd5?! 15.e4
15.Bf1! c5 16.Bg2 Ra7
16...Rc8? 17.Qb716...Rb8!?
17.O-O
17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 Bxb4 19.Nxb5 Bxd2+ 20.Ke2! (20.Kxd2 Qb8 21.Nxa7 Qb2+ 22.Kd3 Qb3+=) 20...Nd5!
17...Qb8?!
17...Be717...Bg7
18.Rfd1
18.Rac118.Rfc1
18...Be7
19.b4! cxb4
19...cxd4 20.exd4 Nb6 21.Bxg5 Nfd5
20.axb4 Nb6
20...Bxb4 21.e4 Rc7! 22.Bf1! (22.Nxb5 Qxb5 23.Rdb1 a5 24.Bxb4 axb4 25.Ra8+ Nb8 26.Qxf6 O-O 27.d5 Nd7
28.Rxf8+ Nxf8 29.Qxg5 b3 30.Qe3 b2 31.Qd2 Rb7) 22...Bxc3 (22...O-O 23.Nxb5+-) (22...Nxg4!? 23.Nxb5 Rc2
24.e5) 23.Bxc3 O-O (23...Nxe4 24.Ba5+-) 24.Bb4
21.e4
21.Qg3!? Bd6 (21...Qxg3?! 22.fxg3 Nc8 23.e4) 22.Bc6+ Kf8! (22...Ke7? 23.Qf3 Ke7) 23.Qf3 Kg7
21...Nfd7 22.e5 Nc4 23.Bc1 O-O 24.Ne4 Qd8 25.h4?!
25.Bf1 Ndb6 26.Nf6+ Bxf6 27.exf6
25...gxh4 26.Bh6 Re8
26...Bxb4?! 27.g5 Qg4, Nf626...g5!? 27.Bxf8 Nxf8
27.Qh3
27.Qf4!+- 28.g5, 28.Ng5
27...f5
27...g5 28.f4 gxf4 29.Qf3 Ne3 30.Qxf4 Nxd1 31.Rxd1 f6 32.exf6 Bxf6 33.g5 Bg7 34.Qxh4 Qe7 35.Bh3
28.gxf5
28.exf6 Nxf6 29.g5 Nxe4 30.Qxe6+ Kh8 31.Qxe4
28...exf5
28...gxf5? 29.d5!+-
29.Nc5
29.Nc3!+-
29...Bg5?
29...Nxc5! 30.bxc5 Bg5 31.Bxg5 Qxg5 32.Kh1 Qf4 33.Qh2 Qxh2+ 34.Kxh2
30.Bd5+! Kh7 31.Bxg5 Qxg5+ 32.Qg2 Qxg2+?!
32...Qf4!? 33.Bf7 (33.Nxd7 Rxd7 34.Bc6 Nxe5 35.Bxd7 Nxd7 36.Rxa6 Nf8) 33...Nxc5 34.Bxe8 Ne6
33.Kxg2 Ndb6 34.Bc6 Rd8 35.Ne6 Rc8 36.Bxb5!
36.Rh1! g5 (36...Rxc6 37.Rxh4+ Kg8 38.Rah1+-) 37.Bxb5 Kg6 38.Rxa6 Rxa6 39.Bxa6 Re8 40.Bxc4 Nxc4 41.Rc1+-
36...Re7 37.Bxa6! Rxe6 38.Bxc8 Nxc8 39.Rdc1 N8b6 40.Ra7+ Kh6 41.Rc7 Na3 42.R7c5!
42.R7c6? Rxc6 43.Rxc6 Nd542.R1c5!
42...Kh5
42...Kg7 43.f442...Re8 43.f442...Kg5!? 43.Kh3 Re8 44.Rg1+ Kf4
43.Rc6!+- Rxc6 44.Rxc6 Nd5 45.Rc5 Nf4+
45...Nxb4 46.e6
46.Kh1
46.Kh2
46...g5
46...Nd3 47.e6
47.b5 Nxb5 48.Rxb5 g4 49.d5 h3 50.e6 1-0

139. D12
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750) - Giri, Anish (2773)
Wijk aan Zee 131/139, 2017

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.g3 O-O
10...a6 - 124/118
11.Rc1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nbd7 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.O-O e5 15.d5N
15.Ne2
15...Nc5
15...Nb6!? 16.dxc6 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Rfd8 18.Ne4 (18.Rf2 Rac8 19.e4 Qxc6 20.Qxc6 Rxc6 21.Be3 Rd3!=) 18...bxc6
19.Rf2 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Rac8=
16.Qc2 b5 17.Be2 cxd5 18.Nxb5 Qb6
18...Qd7 19.b4 Ne6 20.Qc6 Rfd8 (20...Qxc6?! 21.Rxc6) 21.a3 a6 22.Nc7 Nxc7 23.Qxc7 Qe6 24.Rc6 Bd6 25.Qa5
19.b4 Ne6 20.Qc6 Rfb8
20...Qxc6?! - 18...Qd7
21.Qxb6
21.a3 Bd8 22.Kg2 a5
21...Rxb6 22.a3 Bd8
22...Rb7
23.Nc3
23.Rfd1!? d4 (23...a6 24.Nc3 a5 25.Na4 Rbb8 26.b5) 24.exd4 a6 25.Nc3 Nxd4 26.Kf2 a5 (26...Nb3 27.Rb1 Nxd2
28.Rxd2) 27.b5
23...d4
23...Rd6!? 24.Nb5 (24.Na4 Bb6 25.Rfd1 e4) 24...Rd7 25.Rc6 Bb6 26.Kg2
24.Na4 Rd6 25.Bc4 Nd5
25...Nd7 26.e4
26.Bxd5
26.e4 Ne3! 27.Bxe3 dxe326.Rfd1!?
26...Rxd5 27.e4 Rd7 28.Nb2
28.Rc6!?
28...d3! 29.Be3 Bb6
29...d2 30.Rc2
30.Kf2 f5 31.Nc4 fxe4
31...d2 32.Rcd1 Rd3 33.Bxb6 axb6 34.Nxe5 Rd4
32.Bxb6
32...d2!
32...axb6 33.Nxb6 d2 34.Nxd7! dxc1=Q 35.Rxc1 Rxa3 36.fxe4 Ng5 37.Nc5
33.Rcd1
33.Ra1 axb6 34.Nxb6

34...Rd3!! 35.fxe4 (35.Nxa8? e3+ 36.Kg2 (36.Ke2 Rb3! 37.Rfe1 Nd4+ 38.Kf1 Rxa3-+) 36...e2 37.Rfd1 Rxa3 38.Rxd2
Rxa1 39.Rxe2 Rxa8 40.Rxe5 Nd4) 35...Rad8 36.Nd5 Ng5 37.Ke2 Rd4
33...axb6 34.Rxd2
34.Nxb6? e3+! 35.Kxe3 Rxa3+ 36.Kf2 Rd4
34...Rd4
34...Rxd2+ 35.Nxd2 Rxa3=
35.Rxd4 exd4 36.fxe4 b5 37.Ne5
37.Na5 Rc8
37...Rxa3= 38.Rc1
38.Rd1 Rb3 39.Nc6 Kf7=
38...Ng5 39.Rc8+ Kh7 40.Rd8 Nxe4+ 41.Kg2 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

140. D15
Krysa, Leandro Sergio (2491) - Caruana, Fabiano (2827)
Gibraltar 131/140, 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 g6 6.g3

6.h3 - 119/122
6...Bg7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O Bg4N
8...Ne48...Nbd7
9.Ne5 Bf5
9...Be6!?
10.h3 Nfd7 11.f4
11.g4!? Be6 12.Nf3
11...Nf6 12.Qb3 Qc8?!
12...Ra7 13.g4 Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Be3
13.g4 Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.f5! gxf5 17.gxf5
17.Rxf5 e6 18.Rg5 (18.Rf4? Nd7=) (18.Rh5!?) 18...Nd7 (18...f6 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.Nc4 Qc7 (20...Nd7? 21.Nd6 Qd8
22.Qxe6+-) (20...Qd7 21.Nb6! Qxd4+ 22.Be3 Qe5 23.Kg2 Ra7 24.Rf1+-)) 19.Nc4
17...Nd7 18.Kh1
18.Ng4!? Bxd4+ 19.Kh1 Kh8 20.Bh6 Rg8 21.Rad1 Bg7 22.Rg1 ->
18...Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bxe5 20.Bh6 Rd8 21.f6?!
21.Rg1+ Kh8 22.Qxf7 Rg8 23.Rad1
21...Rd3!
21...Bxf6? 22.Rxf6+-21...Qe6 22.Qxe6 fxe6 23.fxe7+- Rf8, Rg121...Rd5 22.Rg1+ Kh8 23.Bg7+ Kg8 24.Qe3+-
22.Rg1+ Kh8 23.Bg7+ Kg8 24.Bh6+ Kh8 25.Bg7+ Kg8 26.Bh6+ 1/2-1/2

141. D15
So, Wesley (2808) - Carlsen, Magnus (2840)
Wijk aan Zee 131/141, 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 a6 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Qb3 Qc7 8.cxd5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5
11.Bd2 Qxe5 12.Bc3
12.Be2 - 127/139
12...Qc7 13.Qxd5 e6 14.Qc4N
14.Qd4
14...Qxc4 15.Bxc4 Rc8 16.Bb3 Be7 17.Ke2
17.f3 Bf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.e4 Bg6 20.Ke2 f5 21.Rac1 Ke7 22.e5 b5 (22...f6 23.exf6+ Kxf6 24.Rhd1 Ke7 25.Ke3 Rhd8
26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Kf4 Bf7 28.Rd2 Rc5=) 23.Ke3 a5 24.a4 bxa4 25.Bxa4 Rhd8=
17...Be4!?
17...Bf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rac1 Ke7=
18.Bxg7
18.Rac1 Bxg2 19.Bxg7 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Rg8 21.Rc8+ Bd8 22.Bf6 Kd7 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Bxd8 Kxd8 25.f3 Bh3 26.Bc2
h5=18.f3 Bc6 19.Kf2 O-O=
18...Rg8 19.Be5 Rxg2 20.Rac1
20.Rhg1 Rxg1 21.Rxg1 Rc5 22.f4 b5=
20...Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rg5 22.Bf4 Rc5= 23.Rxc5 Bxc5 24.Bc4 b5 25.Bd3 Bxd3+ 26.Kxd3 f5 27.f3 Kd7 28.e4 Kc6 29.h3
h5 30.b3 Bb6 31.Be5 Bc5 32.Bf4 Bb6 33.Be5 1/2-1/2

142. D27
Nakamura, Hikaru (2785) - Caruana, Fabiano (2827)
Gibraltar 131/142, 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nbd2 Ke7 10.b3
10.Be2 - 75/(354)
10...b6 11.Be2 a5!?N
11...Bb711...Nbd7
12.Ne5 Ba6 13.Ndc4
13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Nd3 Bb4 (14...Rd8 15.Nxc5 bxc5 16.Nc4 Nc6 17.f3 a4=) 15.Nf3 Rd8=
13...Nfd7 14.Nxd7
14.Nd3 Nc6 15.Bb2 Bxc4 16.bxc4 f6 17.Rfd1 Rhd8=
14...Nxd7 15.Bb2 f6 16.Rfd1 Rhd8 17.a3 Rac8= 18.Rdc1 Bb7 19.Bc3 Bd5 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 Bxc4 22.Bxc4 Bd6
23.Be1

23...f5! 24.h3 Nf6 25.Kf1 Rc7

25...Be5 26.Ra7+ Rd7 27.Rxd7+ Nxd7=
26.Bb3 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Ra8 28.Rc6 Nd7 29.Rc1 Ra3 30.Bc4 Nf6 31.Ke2 g5 32.Rc2 h5 33.f3 b5! 34.Ra2
34.Bxb5 Nd5=
34...Rxa2+ 35.Bxa2 Nd5 36.Bxd5 exd5 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 fxg4 39.fxg4 Ke6 40.Kd3 Be7 41.e4 dxe4+ 42.Kxe4
Bd6 43.Bd2 Be7 44.Be1 Bd6 45.Bd2 Be7 1/2-1/2

143. D29
Caruana, Fabiano (2827) - Batchimeg, Tuvshintugs (2390)
Gibraltar 131/143, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 a6 5.Bxc4 e6 6.O-O b5 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.a4 bxa4 9.Rxa4 c5 10.Nc3 cxd4 11.exd4 Be7
12.Qe2 O-O 13.Bg5 Bc6 14.Raa1 Nd5N
14...a5 - 2/489
15.Qe4 g6
15...Nf6?! 16.Qh4 g6 (16...h6? 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qxh6+- Ng5) 17.Ne5
16.Qh4 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h5
17...Nf6 18.Qh6 Qxd4?! 19.Be4
18.Qg3 Qf6 19.Rac1 Ra7
19...Qxd4? 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21.Nxe6 Qf6 22.Nxf8 Nf4 23.Nxg6 Qxg6 (23...Nxg6 24.Rfd1+-) 24.Rfd1+-
20.Rfd1 Kg7 21.Be4 Rb7 22.Bxd5!?
22.Rd222.Rd3!?
22...exd5
22...Bxd5 23.Nge4
23.Rd2 Re8 24.h4 Nd7

25.Ne2! Nf8?!
25...Nb6 26.Nf4 Kh8 27.Rdc2
26.Nf4 Kh8 27.Rdc2 Ba4 28.Rc7 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 Bd7 30.Nf3 Be6?! 31.Ne5! Re7 32.Rc6
32.Rxe7! Qxe7
33.Qxg6!! fxg6 34.Nexg6+ Kg7 35.Nxe7+-
32...Qf5 33.Rxa6 Rb7 34.b3
34.Ra8!? Kg7 35.Qa3 Nh7 36.Ned3+-
34...Kg7 35.Rd6 Rc7 36.Kh2 Rb7 37.Rc6 Re7 38.b4 Rb7 39.Nfd3
39.b5!?39.Rc3!?
39...Qe4??
39...Nd7
40.Nc5 1-0

144.* D37
Ding, Liren (2760) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2785)
Sharjah 131/144, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Nd2 e5
12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qb1 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3!
14...e4 - 26/552
15.Qxd3 Ne4 16.Ncxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4 Qb6 18.Rb1 N
18.Qb1
18...h6N
18...f6 - 131/(144) 19.O-O Ne2+ 20.Kh1 fxg5 Ruecker,B (2275)-Zumsande,M (2485)/ Stockholm 131/(144) 2016
19.Bh4 g5 20.b4 Bf8 21.Bg3
21...Rad8! f5
21...f5? 22.Qd5+ Ne6 23.c5
22.exd4!
22.Rd1 f5 23.Qb1 f4 24.exd4 exd4+ 25.Kf1 d3 26.Bxf4 gxf4
22...exd4 23.Be5 Bg7 24.O-O
24.Nf3 Bxe5 25.Nxe5 Qc7 26.f4 gxf4 27.O-O Qxe5 28.Qxf4 Qxf4 29.Rxf4 d3 30.Rd1 Re2=
24...Rxe5 25.Qd3 Qg6!
25...Re3!? 26.fxe3 dxe3 27.Qf5 exd2+
26.Rb3 g4 27.c5 b6 28.cxb6
28.cxb6 axb6 29.Qxg6 fxg628.Nc4 Re6 29.Qxg6 fxg6 30.Nb2 Re2 31.Rc1 h51/2-1/2

145. D38
Fedoseev, Vladimir (2658) - Matlakov, Maxim (2658)
Moscow 131/145, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.a3
7.Bd2 - 122/143
7...Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Be3 Nce4 11.Qe5 Qxe5 12.Nxe5 Nd5 13.Bc1 Nc5 14.Rb1 f6 15.Nc4 e5
16.f3 Ke7
16...b5 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb5 Bd7 19.e4 Rab8! 20.exd5 (20.b4) (20.Nxa7 Nc3 21.Be3 (21.Ra1 Nb3) 21...N5a4
22.Rc1 Rxb2) 20...Bxb5 21.Bxb5 (21.Be3 Na4 (21...Nd3+?! 22.Kd2 Rhd8 23.a4 Ba6 24.b4 Rxd5 25.b5 Nf2+ 26.Ke1
Nxh1 27.Bxa7 Rb7 28.Bc4 Rd8 29.Bc5+ Ke8 30.Rc1) 22.Bxa7 (22.b4 a6) 22...Bxf1 23.Bxb8 (23.Rxf1 Rb3) 23...Bd3
24.Rd1 Nxb2 25.Rxd3 Nxd3+ 26.Kd2 Rxb8=) 21...Rxb5 22.Be3 Nd3+
17.e4 Nf4 18.Be3
18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Na5 Bd7=
18...Ncd3+?!
18...Nb3!? 19.g3 Ne6
19.Bxd3 Nxd3+ 20.Ke2 Nf4+ 21.Bxf4N
21.Kf2
21...exf4 22.Na5 b6? 23.Nc6+ Kd6? 24.Rbc1 Ba6+ 25.Kf2 Rhc8 26.Rhd1+ Ke6 27.g3 fxg3+ 28.hxg3 g6 29.f4
Bb7??

30.f5+ 1-0

146. D38
Grischuk, Alexander (2742) - Eljanov, Pavel (2759)
Sharjah 131/146, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.e3 Bf5
8...Nbd7 - 110/(231)
9.Qb3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nbd7 11.Be2 c5 12.dxc5N
12.O-O12.Bxf6
12...Nxc5 13.Qb4 Nce4?!
13...Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Qd4 Ba6 16.Bxf6 gxf6
14.Nd4 Bh7 15.O-O g5 16.Bg3 Qb6 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Rfc1 Rfc8 19.c4 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Rc5 21.Nb3 Rc7 22.cxd5
Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Nxd5 24.Nd4 Bg6
24...Nb4?! 25.Rc7 Rxa2 26.Rxb7 Nd3 27.Bxd3 Bxd3 28.Rxb6 Kg7 29.g4 Kh7 30.f3 Ra6
25.Bb5! a4 25...Nb4?!
25...Ra3!? 26.Bc4 Rc3 27.Rxc3 Nxc3
26.a4 Na6 27.f3 Nc5 28.e4 Rd8 29.Rc4 h5 30.Kf2 f6 31.Ke3 Bf7
31...Kf7 32.a531...Kf8 32.a5 Bf7 33.Rc3
32.Rb4 Be2 32...Ra8
32...Kf8 33.Be2 Rd6 34.Nf5 Rc6 35.Bb5 Rc8 36.Rd4+-
33.Ne2 Rc8
33...Kf8 34.Rd4 Ke7 35.Nc3 Rd8 (35...Rc8 36.Nd5+ Bxd5 37.Rxd5 Rc7 38.f4) 36.Bc4 Rxd4 (36...Bxc4 37.Rxc4)
37.Kxd4
34.Rd4 Be8 35.Rd6 Bxb5 36.axb5+- Kf7 37.Nc3 Re8 38.Rxb6 f5 39.Rd6 fxe4 40.Nxe4 RR
40.fxe4
40...Nxe4 41.fxe4 Ra8 42.Rd7+ Kf6
RR42...Ke6! 43.Rxb7 Ra3+ 44.Kf2 (44.Kd4 Rxg3 45.Rh7 (45.b6 Rxg2 46.Rb8 Rb2 47.b7 Kd7=) 45...h4 46.b6 Rxg2
47.b7 Rb2 48.Kc5 Ke5 49.Kc6 Kxe4=) 44...Ra2+ 45.Kg1 Rb2 46.b6 Rb1+ 47.Kh2 g4! 48.Rh7 (48.Rb8 Kd6 49.e5+
Kc6 50.e6 Re1=) 48...Ke5 49.Rxh5+ Kxe4=
43.Rxb7 Ra3+ 44.Kd4 Rxg3 45.b6 Rxg2 46.Rb8 Rb2 47.b7 Kg7 48.e5 g4 49.e6 1-0

147. D38
Edouard, Romain (2611) - Vocaturo, Daniele (2606)
Sitges 131/147, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qc2 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Nd2 Nxg3
11.hxg3 Nb6 12.e3
12.a3 - 103/(297)
12...c6 13.Bd3 Be6 14.Kf1N
14.O-O-O14.a3
14...Qf6 15.a3 Bd6 16.Ne2 O-O-O 17.b4 Kb8 18.Rb1 h5 19.a4 Rc8
19...h4!? 20.gxh4 gxh4 21.a5 Nc4! 22.Nxc4 dxc4 23.Bxc4 h3! 24.g3 Bxc4 25.Qxc4 Qf5
20.a5 Nd7
20...Na8!? 21.e4 Qe7
21.e4! dxe4
21...h4!? 22.e5 Nxe5 23.dxe5 Bxe5 24.gxh4 Rxh4 25.Rxh4 gxh4 26.Ng1 Rg821...Qg7!?
22.Nxe4 Qe7 23.Qd2 f6?!
23...Rcg8 24.b5 c5
24.Nc5 Bg4
24...Bf7
25.f3 Be6 26.Qe3
26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.b5
26...Bxc5?
26...Rce8
27.bxc5 Qf7 28.Rb4
28.Nc3!? Bc4 29.Ne4 Bxd3+ 30.Qxd3 Qd5 31.Qa6!? Nb6 32.Qe2
28...Rhe8 29.Qd2 Ka8 30.Kf2 a6?! 31.Nc3 Bd5 32.Rhb1+- Rc7 33.Nxd5
33.Qb2!?
33...cxd5 34.c6! bxc6 35.Bxa6 Nb8
35...Rb8

36.Rb6!
36.Rb6 Ka7?! 37.Rb7+
37.Qb2
37...Ka8 38.R7b6 Qh7 39.Bb7+ Ka7 40.Qc3 h4 41.g4 Rce7 42.Qc5 Re2+ 43.Kg1 Re1+ 44.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 45.Kf2 Nd7
46.Ra6+ 1-0

148. D45
Hort, Vlastimil (2423) - Friedrich, Norbert (2251)
Zuerich 131/148, 2016

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.b3 Bb4 7.Bd2 O-O 8.Be2 b6
8...Qe7 - 65/421
9.O-O Be7 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Qe2N
11.Ne511.cxd511.Qc211.Rc1
11...Qc7 12.Rac1 Rad8 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b4! Qb8 15.a3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1 Bd6 17.Be1 Ne4
17...b5!? 18.Qa2 Nb6 19.Nb1 Nc4 20.Nbd2
18.Qa2 Ndf6= 19.Ne2 Re7 20.Ng3 g6 21.a4 Rde8 22.a5 Qd8 23.a6 Ba8 24.Qb2 Re6

25.Ne5! Qe7
25...Nxg3 26.hxg3 Bxe5 27.dxe5 Rxe5 (27...Ng4 28.Be2 Nxe5 29.Bc3) 28.Bc3 (28.Qd4 Qe7 29.Bc3 Re6 30.Ba1)
28...R5e6 29.Bd4 Qe7 30.Rd225...Bxe5 26.dxe5 Rxe5 27.Nxe4 Nxe4 28.f3 Nd6 29.e4
26.Nxe4 Bxe5?
26...Nxe4 27.f4 f5 28.Bxe4 fxe4 (28...dxe4?! 29.Qb3) 29.Qe2!? Bxb4 30.Bxb4 Qxb4 31.f5! Rf6 32.fxg6
(32.Rf1!?) 32...hxg6 33.Rf1 Ref8 34.Rxf6 Rxf6 35.Rf1 Rxf1+ 36.Qxf1 Qf8 37.Qe1+-26...dxe4 27.Bc2
27.dxe5 Nxe4 28.f3 Ng5 29.f4!?
29.h4 Nxf3+ 30.gxf3 Rxe5 31.Bf2 c5 32.bxc5 bxc5 33.Bb5 Rf8 34.Qa3+-
29...Ne4 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.Qd4 c5 32.bxc5
32.Qd7!?
32...bxc5 33.Qxc5
33.Rxc5!? Rxa6 34.Bc3 ->
33...Qxc5 34.Rxc5 Rxa6 35.Rc7 Bc6 36.Bh4
36.e6!?
36...Bb5 37.Bf6
37.Rb1!? Bd3 38.Rbc1
37...Bd3?
37...Ra3
38.Rdc1 Rb6
38...Bb5
39.Rxa7 Rb1?!
39...Ra6 40.Rac7 Raa8
40.Rxb1 Bxb1 41.e6!+- fxe6 42.Rg7+ Kf8 43.Rxh7 Ba2 44.Be5 Bd5 45.Rg7 Ra8 46.Rxg6 Ra2 47.h4 Re2 48.h5 1-0

149. D47
Kolesar, Milan (2194) - Haba, Petr (2472)
Marianske Lazne 131/149, 2016

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.e4 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5
Bxe5 12.O-O?!
12.h3
12...Ng4!
12...O-O 13.h3=
13.h3N
13.g3 h5
13...Qh4 14.Be2
14.Qd2 Be6!? (14...h6 15.Nxb5! Nh2 16.Qb4 Nf3+ 17.gxf3 Qxh3 18.Nd6+ Kd7 19.f4 Bxd6 20.Qd4 Qg4+
21.Kh2) (14...Bh2+ 15.Kh1 Bc7 16.Bxb5! cxb5 17.Nxb5 Bb8 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Qxd6 Nxf2+ 20.Kg1 Nxh3+
21.gxh3 Bxh3 22.Qc6+ Bd7 23.Qxa8+ Ke7 24.Qxh8 Qg3+=) 15.Qg5 Qxg5 16.Bxg5 h6 17.Bc1 Nf6=14.Nxb5 Bh2+
(14...O-O!?) 15.Kh1 O-O 16.f3 Be5 17.fxg4 Qg3 18.Kg1 cxb5 19.Qf3 Qh2+ 20.Kf2 Bc7
14...Nh2!
14...h5 15.Nxb5! cxb5 16.Qd5
15.Re1?
15.Nxb5? O-O!-+15.f4 Nxf1 16.fxe5 Ng3 17.Bf3 O-O (17...Bxh3!? 18.gxh3 Rd8 19.Qe1 Qxh3) 18.Be3 (18.Qe1?
Nf5!-+) 18...f5! 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Bc5 Be6!? 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Bxc6 Nd4 23.Be4 Qf2+ 24.Kh1 Qxb2
15...Bxh3! 16.gxh3 Rd8! 17.Nd5!
17.Qc2 Rd6 18.Bg4 h5!-+
17...Rd6! 18.Bh5!
18.Bg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Qh3!-+
18...O-O! 19.Be3 cxd5! 20.Bc5! Rh6
20...Rf6!? 21.Bxf8 Qxf2+ 22.Kh1 Nf1!-+
21.Bxf8 Rxh5
21...d4!?21...Kxf8 22.Qxd5 Rxh5 23.Qc5+ Ke8 24.Qc8+ Ke7 25.Re3 Qf4 26.Rd1 Nf3+ 27.Kf1 Kf6 28.Ke2 Nh2!-+
22.Be7! Qxh3
22...Bf6!?
23.Re3 Nf3+! 24.Qxf3 Bh2+ 25.Kh1 Bg3+ 26.Kg1 Bh2+ 27.Kh1 Bg3+ 28.Kg1 dxe4! 29.Rd1!?
29.Qg2 Bxf2+! 30.Kf1 Qxe3 31.Rd1 h6-+
29...Bh2+
29...Rd5=
30.Kh1 Bg3+ 31.Kg1 Bh2+ 32.Kh1 Bg3+?
32...Qxf3+! 33.Rxf3 Bc7+ 34.Rh3 Rxh3+ 35.Kg2 Rh2+ 36.Kg1 e3! 37.fxe3 Rxb2-+
33.Kg1 1/2-1/2
D50-D99

150. D73
So, Wesley (2808) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2766)
Wijk aan Zee 131/150, 2017

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.c4 c5 5.Nc3 d5 6.d4 cxd4

6...O-O - 35/ 552
7.Nxd4 dxc4
7...e5!?
8.Qa4+ Nbd7 9.O-O O-O 10.Rd1 Nb6 11.Qa3 Qd6 12.Qxd6 exd6 13.a4 a6 14.Bf4 d5N
14...Ne8 15.Rac1 a5 16.Ndb5 Bd7 17.Bxd6 Nxd6 18.Rxd6 Bc6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Rxc6
15.a5 Nbd7 16.Rac1 Rd8 17.Bc7 Re8 18.Bd6
18.Nxd5
18...Ne5

19.Bxd5!
19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Rd8!
19...Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bg4
20...Rd8? 21.Nb6! Rxd6 22.Nxa8+-
21.Rd2
21.Nc7 Nd3 22.exd3 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 Bxd4 24.dxc4 Bxb2 25.Nxa8 Rxa8 26.Rb1 Bc3 27.Bc7
21...Red8
21...Rad8 22.Nc721...c3!? 22.Rxc3 Nc6 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Nc7 Bxc3 25.bxc3
22.Nb6 Rxd6 23.Nxa8 Nc6 24.Nf3 Rxd2 25.Nxd2 Bxb2 26.Rxc4 Bxe2 27.Re4 Bd3 28.Re3

28...Nb4?
28...Bf5!?28...Bc2
29.Nb6 Bd4 30.Re7 Nc6 31.Rxb7 Nxa5 32.Rd7! Nc6
32...Bxb6 33.Rxd3+-
33.Nb3 Bf5?
33...Bxb6 34.Rxd3 Nb8+- (34...Nb4)
34.Rxd4 Nxd4 35.Nxd4+- Bd3 36.Kg2 Kf8 37.Kf3 Ke7 38.Ke3 Bf1 39.Nf3 Kd6 40.Kd4 f6 41.Nd2 Be2 42.Nd5 f5
43.Nc3 Bh5 44.Nc4+ Ke6 45.f4 Kd7 46.Kc5 h6 47.Nd5 Ke6 48.Nc7+ 1-0

151. D73
Xiong, Jeffery (2667) - Smirin, Ilia (2667)
Wijk aan Zee 131/151, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Qa4+
8.Qb3 - 63/408
8...Bd7 9.Qb3 Bc6 10.O-O Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nd7 12.a4N
12.Bf4
12...O-O 13.a5 b6 14.Qa2 bxa5 15.Nd2 Nb6
15...e6 16.Qxa5 (16.Nc4 a4 17.Ba3 Re8 18.Nd6 Re7 19.Nc4=) 16...Qb6 17.e4 (17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Ba3 Rfc8)
17...dxe4 18.Nxe4 f5 19.Ng5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qc6+ 21.Nf3 Rfc8
16.Qxa5 e5 17.Ba3 Re8 18.e3 Qd7 19.Rfd1
19.Rfb1!?
19...Bf6
19...e4 20.Bf1 Qf5 21.c4
20.dxe5 Bxe5 21.Bc5 Rec8
21...Na4 22.Bd4 Bc7 23.Qa6 Bb6 24.Rdb1
22.Bd4 Qe7 23.Bxe5 Qxe5

24.c4! Qe6 25.c5 Nc4 26.Nxc4 dxc4 27.Rd6 Qe8 28.Bxc6 Rxc6 29.Rad1 Qe4
29...Rxd6 30.Rxd6 Qe7 31.Rd4
30.Qc3?!
30.Rxc6! Qxc6 31.Rd6 Qe4 32.c6! Qb1+ 33.Kg2 Qe4+ 34.f3 Qxe3 (34...Qe7 35.Qc5+-) 35.c7 Kg7 36.Qd5 Qe2+
37.Kh3+-
30...Re8
30...Rxd6 31.cxd6 Rd8 32.Qa5 Rd7 33.Qb5 Qe6 34.e4! f6 35.Qc6
31.Rxc6 Qxc6 32.Qxc4 Rc8 33.h4 h5
33...Qxc5?? 34.Rd8++-
34.Kh2 Kg7 35.Qc3+ Kh7 36.Qc4 Rc7
36...Kg7 37.Rd5
37.Rd5 a5 38.Qd4 Rc8 39.e4 a4 40.Rd7+- Kg8
40...Rf8 41.Ra7+-
41.Rd6 Qb5 42.c6! a3 43.Kg2
43.Qf6 a2 (43...Qc5 44.e5 a2 45.e6+-) 44.c7 Rf8 45.Rd8 Qc5 46.c8=Q Qxc8 47.Rxc8 Rxc8 48.Qa6+-
43...Qb2 44.Qd5 Kg7

45.Rxg6+!
45.Rd7 Rf8 46.c7 Qc3 47.e5 a2 48.Qxa2 Qxe5 49.c8=Q+-
45...fxg6
45...Kxg6 46.Qg5+ Kh7 47.Qxh5+ Kg7 48.Qg4+ Kh7 49.Qxc8 a2 50.Qf5+ Kg7 51.c7+-
46.Qd7+ Kh6 47.Qxc8 Qe5
47...a2 48.Qf8+ Qg7 49.Qf4+ Kh7 50.c7+-
48.c7 Qxe4+ 49.Kh2 Qd4
49...Qd4 50.Qf8++-1-0

152. D77
Kramnik, Vladimir (2809) - Topalov, Veselin (2760)
London 131/152, 2016

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 c5 7.dxc5 dxc4 8.Na3 c3
8...Qa5 - 42/(589)
9.Nb5 cxb2 10.Bxb2 Bd7N
10...Na6
11.Qb3 Bc6 12.Rfd1 Qc8
12...Nbd7 13.Rac1 Qa5 14.Nbd4 Bd5 15.Qa3 Qxa3 16.Bxa3
13.Rac1 Nbd7 14.Nbd4 Bd5 15.Qa3 Re8

16.c6! Nb6?!
16...bxc6 17.Nxc6 Qb7 (17...Bxc6? 18.Nd4+-) 18.Nfe5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Nxe5 20.Bxe5
17.c7
17.Ng5! Bxg2 (17...h6 18.Bh3! Ng4 19.Nge6! fxe6 (19...Bxe6 20.cxb7 Qxb7 21.Nxe6+-) 20.Bxg4+- Nc4 21.Qb3
Nxb2 22.Qxb2 h5 23.cxb7 Qxb7 24.Bxe6++-) 18.Kxg2 bxc6 19.Qb3 e6 20.Nxc6 Qb7 21.Kg1
17...Nc4 18.Qb4 Nxb2 19.Qxb2 b6 20.Qa3?
20.Ne5! Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Nd5 (21...Qb7+ 22.Kg1) 22.Qb3 e6 23.e4 Nxc7 24.Ndc6
20...e6?
20...Bh6 21.Rc2 Qb7 22.Bh3! e6 23.Ne5
21.Nb5 Bf8 22.Qb2 Bg7 23.Qd2
23.Ng5!? Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Ne4 25.Qb3! Nxg5 26.Nd6 Qd7 27.h4+-
23...Qd7
23...Ne4 24.Qf4 Qa6 25.a4+-
24.a4 Ne4 25.Qf4 a6
26.Qxe4! axb5 27.Qd3 f5 28.Ng5
28.Ng5 Rac8 29.Nxe6! Bxe6 30.Qxd7 Bxd7 31.Rxd7+-1-0

153.* !N D78
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2644) - Bu, Xiangzhi (2711)
Liaocheng 131/153, 2017

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d4 O-O 6.c4 c6 7.b3 Ne4 8.Bb2 Bf5 9.e3 a5 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4
12.Qe2 e6
12...Nd7 - 67/536
13.Rfd1 Nd7 14.Bf1 Bxf3 - 131/153
14...g5N 15.Rac1 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 f5 17.Bd3 Nf6 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.b4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Rf7 21.Qe2 h5 22.Rc3 h4
Jakovenko,D (2709)-Ding,L (2760)/Sharjah 131/ (153) 2017
15.Qxf3
15...Nc5!N
15...Nf615...Re8
16.Be1 Ne4 17.a4 f5 18.Qe2 Rf7 19.Bg2 Bf8 20.f3 Nf6 21.Bc3 Bb4 22.Bb2
22.Bxb4 axb4 23.e4 fxe4 24.fxe4 dxe4 25.Bxe4 Qa5 26.Bg2 (26.c5 e5 27.Bd3 Re7) 26...Re8 27.Re1 e5! 28.dxe5 Rfe7
29.e6 Qf5 30.Rf1 Qc5+ 31.Qf2 Qxf2+ 32.Rxf2 Rxe6=
22...Qe7 23.e4 fxe4 24.fxe4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.Qxe4 Raf8 27.Rf1

27...e5! 28.dxe5 Bc5+ 29.Bd4 Rf5! 30.Rae1 Qxe5= 31.Qxe5 Rxe5 32.Bxc5 Rxc5 33.Re7 b5 34.cxb5 Rxf1+ 35.Kxf1
cxb5 36.axb5 Rxb5 37.Ra7 Rxb3 38.Rxa5 1/2-1/2
 154.** D85
Tari, Aryan (2572) - Vuckovic, Bojan (2584)
Novi Sad 131/154, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Na4 Bf5
6...O-O 7.e4 Nb6 8.Be3 Bg4 9.Nc5 Nc6 10.Nxb7 Qb8 11.Ba6 Nb4 12.Nc5 Nxa6 (12...Bxf3 - 71/ (486)) 13.Nxa6 Qc8
14.Nc5 Rd8 15.Rc1N (15.O-O) 15...Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Rxd4 18.O-O a5 19.Rc2 Svane,R (2546)-Van
Wely,L (2685)/Novi Sad 131/(154) 2016
7.Nh4 Bd7 8.e4 e5 9.Nf3 exd4 10.exd5

10...Qe7+!?N
10...O-O - 131/(154) 11.Be2 d3 12.Qxd3 Bxa4 13.O-O c6 14.Qe4 Qe8 15.Qxa4 Qxe2 16.Qb3 Na6 17.Be3N (17.Re1)
17...Qxb2 18.Qxb2 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Ba3 20.Rxb7 cxd5 21.Rd1 Nc5 22.Rc7 Ne6 23.Rd7 Rfc8 24.h4 Bc5 25.Bxc5 Nxc5
26.R7xd5 Kg7= Li,C (2746) -Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)/Moscow 131/(154) 2016
11.Be2 Qb4+
11...O-O 12.Nxd4 Qb4+ 13.Nc3 Bxd4 14.O-O Re8 15.a3 Qb6 16.Bf4 Bg7
12.Bd2 Qxa4 13.Rc1
13.Qxa4 Bxa4 14.Rc1 (14.O-O Bc2 15.Rac1 d3 16.Bd1 O-O 17.Bxc2 dxc2 18.Rxc2 c6=) 14...c6 15.b3 Bb5 16.Bxb5
cxb5 17.Rc7 b6 18.Bb4 Na6 19.Re7+ Kd8 20.Rxf7 Re8+ 21.Kd1 Nxb4 22.Rxg7 Re7 23.Rg8+ (23.Rxe7 Kxe7 24.Re1+
Kd7 25.Nxd4 Nxa2 26.Nxb5 a6 27.Nd4 Nb4=) 23...Re8 24.Rg7=
13...Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 c6 15.Bb4
15...Bf8!
15...cxd5 16.Rc7 Nc6 17.Bd6 (17.Rxb7? Nxb4 18.Rxb4 Ke7) 17...Bf8 18.Bg3 Rc8 19.Rxb7 Nd8 20.Rxa7 Bh6
21.Nd2 (21.Rc7 Rxc7 22.Bxc7 Ne6 23.Bd6 f6 24.Kc2 Kf7) 21...Nc6 22.Rb7 Nd8 23.Ra7= (23.Rb8 Rxb8 24.Bxb8
O-O)
16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Ne5
17.Nxd4 Kg7 18.Kd2 Rd8
17...cxd5 18.Rc7 Ke7! 19.Rxb7 f6?!
19...Kd6 20.Nxf7+ Kc6 21.Rb3 (21.Nxh8 Kxb7 22.Nf7 Nc6 23.Bf3 Be6 24.Ng5 Bg8) 21...Rf8 22.Rf3 Bf5 23.Nh6
Nd7 24.Nxf5 Rxf5 25.Rxf5 gxf5 26.Kc2 Re8 27.Bd3 f4=
20.Nf3
20.Nxd7 Nxd7 21.Bb5 Rhd8 22.Rc7! Kd6 23.Rc6+ Ke5 24.Re1+ Kf5 25.Ree6
20...Nc6 21.Bb5 Kd6= 22.Kd2
22.Rxd7+ Kxd7 23.Nxd4 Rab8! 24.Bxc6+ Kd6 25.Kd2 (25.Kc2 Rhc8 26.Re1 Rb4 27.Kc3 Rxd4 28.Kxd4 Rxc6=)
25...Rxb2+ 26.Kc3 Rxa2 27.Re1 Rb8
22...Rab8 23.Bxc6 Bxc6 24.Rb3 Ba4
24...a5 25.Nxd4 Bd7=
25.Rxb8 Rxb8 26.b3 Bd7 27.Nxd4 a5 28.a3 Ke5 29.Kd3 Bf5+
29...Rc8=
30.Nxf5 Kxf5 31.Rb1 Ke5 32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 Rb5 34.Kc3 g5 35.Re1+ Kd6 36.g3
36.Re8 Rb7 37.Rd8+ Ke5=
36...Rb8 37.Rb1 Rc8+ 38.Kd3 Ra8 39.b5 Ra3+ 40.Kd4 Ra4+ 41.Kd3 Ra3+ 42.Ke2 Ra7 43.Kd3 1/2-1/2
 155. D85
Shirov, Alexei (2673) - Kulaots, Kaido (2570)
Suomi 131/155, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.d5 Bxf3
11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.gxf3 Ne5 13.O-O-O f6N
13...c6 - 123/(153)
14.f4 Nf7 15.Bh3
15.h4!? Qd6 16.Kb1 Rad8 17.h5
15...c6 16.Rhe1 cxd5 17.exd5 a5 18.Qe3 Re8 19.Be6 Ra6
19...a4 20.Kb1 Qd6 21.h4 Nd8 22.Bh3
20.h4 Nd6 21.h5 Rb6 22.Re2
22.Qh3 Rb4 23.hxg6 h6 (23...hxg6? 24.Rg1+- Rh8 25.Rxg6+ Kxg6 26.Rg1#

) 24.Bd7 Rh8 25.Qe6

22...Rb4 23.hxg6 Re4
23...hxg6 24.Rg1 Qc7+ 25.Kb1 Ne4 26.Rc2+-23...h5 24.Rh1 Rh8 25.f3 Nc4 26.Qc3
24.gxh7!!+- Rxe3 25.Rg1+ Kh8
25...Kxh7 26.fxe3+-
26.fxe3 Nf5 27.Rg8+ Kxh7 28.Rh2+ Nh6 29.Rg1! Bf5 1-0

156. D85
Anton Guijarro, David (2650) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2796)
Gibraltar 131/156, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Bb5 c6 9.Be2 O-O 10.Qa3 b6 11.Nf3
c5 12.O-O Bb7 13.d5 e6 14.Be3 exd5 15.Rad1 Qd6N
15...d4 - 125/153
16.exd5 Nd7 17.c4 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Nf6
18...Ne5 19.g3 Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 Be5 21.Bd2
19.Bd4 Re7 20.Bf1
20...Rae8! 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Qxa7 Kg7 24.Re1
24.h3 Bc8 25.Qa3 h5 26.Qc1 Ra7 27.a3 Bd7
24...Rxe1 25.Nxe1 Bc8 26.Nc2 h5 27.Qa3 h4 28.Qe3
28.h3 Qf4 29.Qe3 Be5 30.Qxf4 Bxf4
28...Qe5 29.Qxe5 Bxe5 30.Bd3 f5 31.g3 hxg3 32.hxg3 g5 33.Na3 Kf6 34.Nb5 f4= 35.Kg2 fxg3 36.fxg3 Bd7 1/2-1/2

157.** D85
Nakamura, Hikaru (2779) - So, Wesley (2794)
London 131/157, 2016

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.Qd2 e5 10.d5
10.dxe5 - 52/457
10...Nd7N
10...Qd6
11.c4 - 131/157
11.Bd3 f5 12.Bg5 Nf6 13.Nf3?!N (13.c4 - 131/(157)) 13...fxe4 14.Bxf6 Rxf6 15.Bxe4 Bf5 16.Bb1 Rd6 17.c4 e4
18.Ng5 Bd4 Beradze,I (2460)-Mchedlishvili,M (2601)/Georgia (ch) 131/(157) 2017
11...f5 12.Bg5 Nf6 13.Ne2?
13.Bd3 - 131/(157) 13...fxe4 14.Bc2 Bf5 (14...b5! 15.cxb5 Bb7 16.Ne2 (16.Bb3 e3! 17.Bxe3 (17.fxe3 Qb6 (17...Qd7!?)
18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bc4 (19.Nh3 a6 20.bxa6 Bxa6 21.Nf2 Bd8) 19...a6 20.a4 axb5 21.axb5 Bh4+ 22.g3 Bd8 23.Ne2
Ra4) 17...Ne4 (17...Bxd5 18.Bxd5+ Qxd5 19.Nf3 Rac8) 18.Qd3 Qa5+ 19.Ke2 Nd6 20.Rxc5 Rac8) 16...Bxd5
17.Nc3 Bc4 18.Qxd8 Raxd8 19.Nxe4) 15.Ne2 h6 16.Be3 Stupak,K (2562)-Laylo,D (2451)/Subic Bay 131/(157)
2016
13...Nxe4! 14.Bxd8 Nxd2 15.Be7 Rf7 16.Bxc5 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 b6 18.Bb4 Ba6-+ 19.f4
19.d6 Rc8 20.c5 bxc5 21.Rxc5 Rxc5 22.Bxc5 Rb7-+
19...Rc8 20.fxe5
20.d6 exf4 21.Nxf4 Rd7-+
20...Bxe5 21.Rf3 Bxc4 22.Re3 Bg7 23.Nf4 Rd7 24.a4 Bh6 25.g3 Bxf4 26.gxf4 Rxd5 27.Re7 Rd4 28.Bd2 Kf8 29.Bb4
Re8 0-1

158. D85
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2559) - Areshchenko, Alexander (2673)
Romania 131/158, 2016

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.Nd2 Bd7 10.Rc1
10.Be2 Ba4! (10...cxd4) 11.Qc1 cxd4 12.Bxd4 O-O 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qa3 Rd8 15.Rb1 (15.Nc4 Qa6 16.Qxe7 Re8)
15...Nc6 (15...Rxd2!? 16.Kxd2 Qg5+ 17.Ke1 Bc2 18.Rxb7 Bxe4) 16.Rxb7 Rxd2 17.Kxd2 Qg5+ 18.Ke1 Qxg2
19.Rf1 Qxe4 20.f3 Qh4+ 21.Rf2 Qf4 22.c4 Rd8 23.Qxa4 Qc1+ 24.Bd1 Ne5 25.Qc2 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1 Nd3+ 27.Ke2
Nf4+=10.Rb1 - 118/149
10...cxd4
10...Ba4? 11.Nc4! Qxc3+ 12.Rxc3 Bxd1 13.Kxd1 cxd4 14.Ra3 dxe3 15.Nb610...Qxa2!? 11.Rb1 (11.Bc4 Qa4 12.Bb3
Qa6 13.d5 O-O 14.f4 Qd3 15.Kf2 Bd4! 16.Re1 Bg4) 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 O-O!? (12...b6 13.Bc4 Qa4 14.Qe2 O-O
15.d5 e6) 13.Rxb7 Rc8 14.Be2 Ba4 15.Qb1 Qxb1+ 16.Rxb1 a6!? (16...Nc6 17.Ba6) (16...e6 17.O-O Nc6 18.Ra1
Bc2 19.e5) 17.O-O Nc6 18.d5 Nd4 19.Bxd4 Bxd4 20.Rb4 Bb5! 21.Bxb5 Bc3 22.Bxa6 Rxa6 23.Rc1 Bxb4 24.Rxc8+
Kg7 25.Nf1 Ra2 26.Rc1 Re2 27.Ng3 Rd2 28.Kf1 Bd6 29.Ne2 f5=
11.cxd4
11.Nc4!? Qa4 (11...Qxa2!? 12.Ra1 Qxa1 13.Qxa1 dxe3 14.Nb6 axb6 15.Qxa8 Bxc3+ 16.Ke2 O-O 17.Kxe3 Bd4+
18.Kf3 Nc6 19.Qxb7 Ne5+ 20.Kg3 h5) 12.Qxa4 Bxa4 13.cxd4 O-O 14.Be2 Rd8! 15.d5 (15.Na5 Bxd4 16.Nxb7
Bxe3 17.fxe3 Re8 18.Rc7 Nd7=) 15...Na6 16.Na5 Nb4 17.Nxb7 Rdc8 18.Rxc8+ Rxc8 19.O-O Nxa2 20.f4 Rc2 21.Bf3
Bb5 22.Rb1 Nc3
11...O-O
11...Qxa2 12.Bc4 Qa4 13.Qf3 O-O 14.O-O Nc6 15.e511...Nc6!? 12.d5 Nd4 13.Bd3 (13.Bc4 Ba4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4
15.Bb3 Bb5 16.Bc4=) 13...Ba4 14.Qg4 Bd7 15.Qd1 Ba4=
12.Bc4 Ba4 13.Bb3
13.Qe2?! Nc6 14.d5 (14.e5 Rad8) 14...Ne5 15.O-O Nxc4 16.Nxc4 Qa613.Qg4 Nc6 (13...Nd7!? 14.O-O Bxd4
15.Bxd4 Qxd2 16.Bc3 Qd6 17.Qg5 e6 18.Qa5 Rfc8 19.Bb2 Nb6 20.Qg5 (20.Qc3? e5-+) 20...Nd7=) 14.e5 Bb5
(14...Rad8!? 15.O-O Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Qxd2 17.Bc3 Bd7! 18.Qh4 Qh6 19.Qxe7 Qf4 20.e6 Bxe6 21.Bxg7 Kxg7
22.Bxe6 Rfe8 23.Qxb7 Rxe6 24.Qxa7 Re2=) 15.O-O Bxc4 16.Rxc4 Qxa2 17.Rfc1 a5 18.R1c2 Qa3 19.R2c3=
13...Bb5
13...Bxb3 14.axb3 (14.Qxb3 Nc6 15.d5 Nd4 16.Qd3 Rac8 17.O-O Rc3 18.Rxc3 Qxc3 19.Qb1 b6 20.Bxd4 Bxd4
21.Nb3 f5) 14...f5 15.exf5 Qxf5 16.O-O Nc6 17.Rc5 Qd7 18.Qc2 Nxd4 19.Qc4+ Ne6 20.Rd5 Qc6 21.Rc5 Qd7=
14.a4N
14.Bc4 Bxc4 15.Rxc4 Qxa2 16.O-O a5!? (16...Na6 17.Qc1 (17.d5 Rfc8) 17...b5 18.Rc2 Qa5 19.Qb1 Rfc8 20.Ra2 Qb6
21.d5 Qb7 22.Nb3) 17.Qe2 (17.Rc7 a4 18.Rxb7 Rc8) (17.d5 b5) (17.Ra4 Qe6 18.Qe2 Qd7 19.Rfa1 e6) 17...Nc6
18.d5 Ne5 19.Rc7 Rfc8 20.Rxc8+ (20.Rxe7 Qb2! 21.Rb1 Rc1+ 22.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 23.Qf1 Qb2) 20...Rxc8 21.Qb5 Rb8
22.h3 b6 23.f4 Qa3 (23...Bh6 24.Kf2 Qa3 25.Ke2) 24.Bxb6 Ng4!?
14...Ba6 15.Bc4 Bxc4
15...Nc6!? 16.O-O Rac8 17.d5 Ne5 18.Bxa6 (18.Qb3 Ng4 19.Bf4 Be5 20.Bxe5 Qxd2 21.Ba1 Rc7) 18...Qxa6
19.Qb3 Nd3 20.Rc4 Ne5 21.Rc2 (21.Rb4 Rc3) 21...Rxc2 22.Qxc2 b6 23.Rc1 Nd3 24.Qc4 Qxc4 25.Rxc4 Be5 26.Kf1
f5
16.Rxc4 Nd7
16...Nc6 17.O-O Rac8 18.h3!? Qa6 19.Qa1!? Na5 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Rc1
17.O-O
17.Qb3 Nb6 18.Rb4 Qa6 19.Nc4 Rfc8 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.e5 Rc6 22.Qb1 e6=
17...Nb6 18.Nb3 Qa6 19.Rc7 Nxa4 20.Qc2
20.Rxe7 Qb5 21.Bd2! Bf6 22.Rc7 Rfc8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.e5 Bg7 25.Re1 Qd5 26.Qf3 Qxf3 27.gxf3 Rc2 28.d5=
20...b5 21.Rxe7
21.Rc1 b4 22.Bd2 Qb5 a5
21...Rac8
21...Rfc8!? 22.Rc7 b4 23.Ra1 Qe6! 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Qd3 Rc3 26.Qb5 Rxe3 27.fxe3 Qxb3 28.Qe8+ Bf8 29.Qxa4
Qxe3+ 30.Kh1 Qxd4 31.Qxa7 Qxe4
22.Rc7
22.Qa2 Bf6 23.Rd7 Qe6 24.Rxa7 Rc3! 25.e5 Bg7 26.Rb1 Qc4
22...b4 23.Rxc8
23.Ra1 Rxc7 24.Qxc7 Qd3 25.Qxa7 Nc3
23...Rxc8 24.Qa2 Qb5 25.g3
25.Ra1 Nc3 26.Qxa7 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 Nc1!
25...Nc3 26.Qxa7 Nxe4 27.Ra1 Nc3!?
27...Bf8 28.Qa6 Qf5
28.Qa6 Qf5 29.Qb7
29...h5!
29...Bf8 30.Nc5=
30.Ra5
30.Qxb4 Nd5 31.Qe1 (31.Qd2? Rc3-+) 31...Re8! (31...Rc3 32.Nc5 Rc2 33.Rd1 h4) 32.Ra5 h4
30...Qh3 31.Qf3 h4
31...Rd8! 32.d5 (32.Nc5 Bxd4) 32...h4 33.Ra7 Bf6!
32.Ra7?!
32.Nc5! Rd8 33.Ra7 Qf5 34.Qxf5 gxf5 35.Rb7=
32...Qe6 33.Nc5 Qd5?!
33...Qc4! 34.Kg2 Rd8 35.Nd3 b3
34.Qxd5 Nxd5 35.Kg2= hxg3 36.hxg3 Bf8 37.Ra5 Bxc5 38.dxc5 Nxe3+ 39.fxe3 b3 40.Rb5 b2 41.Rxb2 Rxc5 42.Rb4
Kg7 43.Kf3 Ra5 44.Rc4 Rb5 45.Ra4 Rc5 46.Rb4 Ra5 47.Ke4 1/2-1/2

159. D85
Kozul, Zdenko (2616) - Vorobiov, Evgeny E (2585)
Nova Gorica 131/159, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+
11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.d5 Na5 16.Rb4 b6 17.e5 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Rad8
18...Rac8 - 60/458
19.Ra4N
19.Bd4 Rxd5 20.Ra4 Rxd4! 21.Qxd4 (21.Rxa2 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Bxe5 23.Rd7 Rc8 24.g3 Rc1+ 25.Kg2 Bd6 26.Rxa7
Bc5) 21...Bxe5 22.Qh4 Qc219.Re1!? Qa3 (19...Nc4 20.Bf4) 20.Bd2 Rc8 21.Rb1 Rc4 22.Re3 Qc5 23.Qe1
19...Qb2 20.Re1

20...e6! 21.Bd4
21.d6?! Bxe5 22.Bc1 Qb521.Rd4 Kh7 22.Bc1 (22.dxe6 Rxd4 23.Bxd4 Qb4 24.Re3 fxe6) 22...Qb3 23.d6 Qxd1
24.Rdxd1 Nc4 25.Bf4 b5
21...Qb3 22.Qa1

22.d6 f6 23.exf6 (23.Bg4 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 (24.Bxe6+ Kh8 25.Rxd1 fxe5 26.Bc3 Rf6 27.Rxa5 Rxe6 28.Rxa7 Rdxd6
29.Rxd6 Rxd6 30.f4=) 24...fxe5 25.Be3 Kf7 26.Be2 Nc6) 23...Qxd1 24.Bxd1 Bxf6 25.Rxe6 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Rfe8
27.Rxe8+ Rxe8
22...Rxd5! 23.Bxd5
23.Rb1 Rxd4 (23...Qc2 24.Bxd5 exd5) 24.Rxd4 Qc2 25.Rc1 Qf5 26.Qa4 Bxe5
23...Qxd5 24.Bc3 Nc6 25.Ra2 a5 26.Rd2 Qc5 27.Rc1 Bxe5 28.Bxe5 Qxe5 29.Qxe5 Nxe5 30.f4 Ng4 31.Rb2= Nf6
32.Rxb6 Nd5 33.Rbc6 Nxf4 34.R1c4 Nd5 35.Rc8 Rxc8 36.Rxc8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

160. D94
Alonso Rosell, Alvar (2537) - Movsziszian, Karen (2507)
Espana 131/160, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Nf3 c6 6.h3 d5 7.exd5 cxd5 8.Be2 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nc6 10.O-O b6 11.a3 Bb7
11...e6 - 8/153
12.d5 Na5 13.Ba2 Rc8 14.Ne5N
14.Bg514.Re1
14...Nd7
14...Rxc3!? 15.bxc3 Nxd5 16.Re1 e6
15.Ng4!? h5
15...Nc4 16.Qe2 Nd6 17.Bh6
16.Nh6+ Kh7 17.Bb1 Nf6?!

17...Bxc3 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Qxh5+ Kg8 (19...Kg7 20.Qxg6+ Kf8 21.bxc3) 20.Qxg6+ Rg7 (20...Bg7 21.Qh7+ Kf8
22.Bh6 e5! 23.dxe6 Nf6 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Bxg7 Qxh8 26.Bxh8 Rff8 27.Bxf6+ Rxf6) 21.Qe6+ Kf8 22.bxc3 Nc5
23.Qf5+ Kg8 24.Bh6 Qxd5 25.Qxd5+ Bxd5 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Ba2
18.Nxf7! Rxf7 19.Bxg6+! Kg8
19...Kxg6 20.Qd3+ Ne4 21.Qxe4+ Rf5 22.g4+-
20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Bg5 Qh8?
21...Rxc3! 22.Bxf6 Kxf6 23.bxc3 Qxd5 24.f3 Nb3 25.Qxd5 Bxd5 26.Rad1 e6
22.Re1 Qh7 23.Qe2 Re8 24.Qe6+ Kg6 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Re3+- Kg7 27.Ne4 Qh6 28.Rg3+
28.Rg3+ Kh8 29.Nd6+-1-0

161.* D97
Goryachkina, Aleksandra (2475) - Szczepkowska, Karina (2409)
Baku (ol) 131/161, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4
c6 12.Qd1
12.Qc4 b5 13.Qxc6 Bd7 14.Qd6 Re8 15.f3 Nh5 16.Be3 f5 17.O-O-ON (17.Qa3 - 127/169) 17...Qc8 18.Qc5 Qxc5
19.Bxc5 Rac8 20.Bd6 (20.Bd4 Nf4 (20...b4 21.Ba6 bxc3 (21...Rb8 22.Ne2 fxe4 23.Ng3) 22.Bxc8 Bh6+ 23.Kc2 Rxc8
24.b3) 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Kd2 Nxe2 23.Nxe2 fxe4 24.fxe4 (24.Nc3 exf3 25.gxf3 Rc5 26.d6 Bc6 27.Rhe1 Kf7
28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Re1+ Kd7 30.Re7+ Kxd6 31.Rxh7 Bxf3 32.Rxa7 (32.b4 Rc4 33.Nxb5+ Kc6 34.Nxa7+ Kb6 35.Kd3
Rxb4=) 32...b4 33.Ra6+ Ke7 34.Na4 Rh5 35.Rxg6 Rxh2+ 36.Ke3 Bd1=) 24...Rxe4 25.Rhe1 Kf6 26.Ng3 Rb4 27.b3
Rd4+ 28.Ke3 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 Ke5) 20...fxe4 21.Rde1 (21.Rhe1 Bf5 (21...a5 22.Kb1 exf3 23.Bxf3 Nf6 24.Be5) 22.f4
b4 23.g4 Nxf4 (23...Bd7 24.gxh5 bxc3 25.b3 c2 26.Rd2 Bc3 27.Bc4 Bxd2+ 28.Kxd2 Bb5! 29.Bxb5 Red8 30.Bc4
(30.Kc1 Rxd6 31.Rxe4 Kf8) 30...Rxd6 31.Kxc2 Rxd5 32.hxg6 Kg7 33.gxh7 Kxh7 34.Rxe4 Kg6=) 24.Bxf4 Bd7
25.d6 bxc3 26.b3) 21...b4?! (21...Nf6 22.Kb1 Rxc3! 23.bxc3 Nxd5 24.Bb4 Nxc3+ 25.Bxc3 Bxc3 26.Rd1 Bf5 27.Kc1
Rc8 28.fxe4 Be5+ 29.Kb1 Bxe4+ 30.Bd3 Bxg2) 22.Bxb4 Nf4 23.Ba6 Savchenko,B (2618)-Garcia,J (2438)/Subic
Bay 131/(161) 2016
12...Re8 13.dxc6
13.O-O - 41/(553)
13...Qxd1+ 14.Nxd1 Nxe4 15.cxb7 Bxb7 16.Ne3N

16.Be3
16...f5
16...Nc3! 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Rab8
17.O-O f4 18.Bc4+ Kh8 19.Nd1 Rac8 20.Bd3 g5 21.Bxe4
21.f3 Nc5 22.Bb5 Red8 23.Nc3 Bd4+ 24.Kh1 Bf6
21...Bxe4 22.Nc3 Bd3 23.Rd1 Bc2 24.Rf1 Rcd8 25.a4 Bd3 26.Rd1 Bc2 27.Rf1 Bb3-+ 28.Kh1 Bc4 29.Rg1 Bd4
30.Nd1 Re2 31.a5 Rc2 32.Re1 Kg8 33.h4 h6 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Kg1 Kf7 36.g3 Rh8 Bd5 0-1
E00-E49

162.* E01
Aronian, Levon (2780) - Giri, Anish (2773)
Wijk aan Zee 131/162, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Na3!?N
8.Qc2 - 130/172
8...Nbd7 9.Rc1 Ne4
9...b6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Qb3 Ba6 (11...Bb7 12.Bf4 Ne4 13.Rc2) (11...a6 12.Bf4 b5 13.Bc7 Qe8 14.Nb1) 12.Nb5 Ne4
13.Bf4
10.Be3

10...Bxa3 - 131/162
10...b6! 11.Ne5 (11.Qa4 Bb7 12.b4 b5! (12...dxc4 13.Nxc4 b5 14.Qc2) 13.cxb5 a5! 14.bxc6 (14.bxa6 Bxa6) 14...axb4
15.Qc2 Bxc6 16.Qxc6 Rxa3) (11.Nc2 Ba6!= (11...a5 12.Nce1! Ba6 13.Nd3!)) (11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Nb5 (12.Bf4
Ba6=) 12...a6 13.Nc3 Nef6=) 11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nc510...Nd6N 11.Bf4 Nf5 12.Qd3 Nf6 13.Rfd1 h6 Lesiege,A
(2521) -Mareco,S (2645)/ProChessLeague (Internet) 131/(162) 2017
11.bxa3 Nd6 12.c5! Nc4
12...Nf5 13.Bf4
13.Rxc4!
13.Bf4 b6 (13...e5!?) 14.Rxc4 (14.Nd2 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 bxc5 16.Bd6 Re8) 14...dxc4 15.Qa4 (15.Nd2 e5! 16.dxe5
Nxc5) 15...b5 16.Qc2
13...dxc4 14.Qc2! h6
14...b5 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.Bxc6 Bd7!?
15.Qxc4
15.Nd2 c3 (15...e5 16.Nxc4 exd4 17.Bxd4) 16.Nc4 Nf6 17.Nd6 Nd5 18.Bc1 Qa5 19.e4
15...b6
15...e5!? 16.dxe5 Qe7 17.Bd4 Rd8 (17...b6 18.cxb6 axb6 19.Qxc6 Rxa3 20.Nh4 Qe6) 18.Qc3 b6
16.Bf4 Re8
16...a5 17.Bd6 Ba6 18.Qc2 Re8 19.a4 bxc5 20.dxc5 e5 21.Nh4 Rc8 22.Rd1
17.Bd6 Bb7 18.Ne5
18.Rb1
18...bxc5 19.dxc5!
19.Rb1 Nb6! 20.Qxc5 f6! 21.Nxc6 Qd7 22.Ne7+ Kh7
19...Nxe5 20.Bxe5 a5 21.Rb1 Ra7 22.Qc3! f6 23.Bd6 Ba8 24.Be4! f5 25.Bc2 Rb7 26.Rd1 Rd7 27.e4! Qf6 28.Qc4
28.Qxa5
28...Kh8 29.Re1 Qf7 30.Qd3
30.exf5 exf5 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.Bxf5 Rf7 33.Be4 Bb730.Re3! Red8 31.exf5 exf5 32.Qf4 Rxd6 33.cxd6 c5 34.Qxf5
Qxf5 35.Bxf5 Bc6
30...f4?
30...Rdd8
31.gxf4!
31.e5?! g5
31...e5 32.Qh3
32.f5 Qxa2 33.Kh1 Rb7 34.Rg1+-
32...Rxd6
32...exf4 33.e532...Qg6+ 33.Qg3 Qxg3+ 34.hxg3 exf4 35.gxf4+-
33.cxd6 Qg6+
33...Qxf4
34.Qg3 Qxd6 35.Rd1+- Qc5
35...Qe7 36.fxe535...Qc7 36.fxe5 Rxe5 37.f4 Rc5 (37...Re8 38.e5+-) 38.Bb3+-
36.Rd7 Rg8
36...Qf8 37.fxe5
37.Bb3 exf4

38.Qg6! f3 39.h4 Qc3 40.Bxg8 Qe1+ 41.Kh2 Qxf2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+ 43.Kg4 1-0

163. E04
Van Wely, Loek (2695) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2766)
Wijk aan Zee 131/163, 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bd7 6.Ne5 Nc6?!
6...Bc6 - 131/164
7.Nxc4 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Nd5 9.Qd3 O-O
9...Qf6 - 57/(472)
10.O-O Be7N
10...Bxc3 11.bxc3
11.Rd1 Bf6 12.e3 Ncb4
12...b5 13.Nd2 Ncb4 14.Qb1 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Nd5 16.Ba3! Nxc3 17.Qc2 Nxd1 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.Bxa8 Nxe3 20.fxe3
Qxa8 21.Qxc7 Qd5 22.Rc1 Bg5 23.Nf1
13.Qd2 c5?! 14.Ne4 cxd4 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6

16.e4! Rac8 17.Na3!

17.Na5? Nc2
17...Ba4 18.exd5 Bxd1 19.Qxb4 Be2
19...exd5 20.Bf4 Be2 21.Qxb7 d3 22.Qb4
20.d6 Rfd8 21.Bd2 b6
21...e5 22.Re1 d3 23.Bh3! Rc6 24.Nc4+-
22.Re1 d3 23.Nc4+- a5
23...h5 24.h4 Qd4 25.b3 a5 26.Qb5+-
24.Qb5 Rc5 25.Qa6 b5
25...h5 26.b3+- Qb6
26.Nxa5 Rc2
26...Qxb2 27.Nb3 Rc2 28.Qb6 Qf6 29.Ba5+-
27.Nc6 h6 28.Nxd8 Qxd8 29.Qa8 Rc8 30.Qb7 f5 31.Bc6 Qf8 32.d7 Rd8 33.Qc7 Kh7 34.Bxb5 Qf6 35.Qc3 e5
36.Bxd3 1-0

164.* E04
Topalov, Veselin (2739) - Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2572)
Gibraltar 131/164, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bd7 6.Ne5 Bc6 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.e3 Qd7 9.O-O Rd8!?
9...O-O-O - 126/160
10.Qe2 e5 11.Nc3 Be7 - 131/164
11...Bd6N 12.Qxc4 exd4 13.exd4 O-O 14.Rd1 h6 15.Be3 Ng4 16.Qb5 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Shankland,S (2674) -
Libiszewski,F (2545)/Gibraltar 131/(164) 2017
12.dxe5N
12.d5
12...Nxe5 13.Bxb7 Bb4 14.Rd1?!
14.Ne4!? Nxe4 (14...Nfg4!?) 15.Bxe4 O-O!? 16.Qc2 (16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Qxe5 Rfe8) 16...Qh3
(16...f5 17.Bg2 Qd3 18.Qa4) 17.Bg2 Qe6 18.Rb1 b3
14...Nd3 15.e4
15.Bg2
15...Bxc3
15...Qe6!? 16.Bg5 O-O 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Nd5 Qxb2 19.Qxb2 Nxb2 20.Rdc1
16.bxc3 Qb5
16...O-O!?
17.e5
17.Bd5 O-O! 18.Bg5 Nxd5 19.exd5 (19.Bxd8? Nxc3-+) 19...Rxd5
17...Nd5?!
17...Qxe5? 18.Qxe5+ Nxe5 19.Re1 Nd7 20.f4+-17...O-O! 18.exf6 Qxb7 19.fxg7 Rfe8 20.Be3 Qe4
18.Rb1! Nxc3?

18...Qxb1 19.Bc6+ Rd7 20.Bxd7+ Kxd7 21.Qg4+ Kc6 22.Qxc4++-18...Qc5 19.Qf3 O-O 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Qxd5
Rxd5 22.Rb7
19.Qf3! Qxe5
19...Qxb1 20.Bc6+ Rd7 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Qg4++-
20.Qc6+ Kf8
20...Rd7 21.Bb2 Ne2+ 22.Kg2 Nd4 23.Bxd4 Qxd4 24.Bc8 Qxf2+ 25.Kh1 O-O 26.Bxd7+-
21.Bb2 Ne2+ 22.Kg2

22...c3?
22...Qe6 23.Qxc7 Re8 24.Bf3 Kg8 25.Qc6!
23.Ba3+ Kg8 24.Qe4 c2
24...Rd4 25.Qxe5 Nxe5 26.Rxd4 Nxd4 27.Re1+-
25.Rxd3!
25.Rxd3 Qxe4+ 26.Bxe4 Rxd3 27.Rb8+ Rd8 28.Rxd8#
1-0

165.** E04
Andreikin, Dmitry (2736) - Lu, Shanglei (2619)
China 131/165, 2016

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bd7 6.Ne5 Bc6 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.O-O Qd7 9.e3 Rd8 10.Qe2 e5 11.Qxc4
11.Nc3 - 131/164
11...exd4 12.Qb5

12...Rb8 - 131/165
12...Nd5!?N 13.Qxb7 Be7 14.Rd1 O-O 15.Qb3 Bf6 (15...Qg4 16.h3 Qe6 17.exd4 Bf6) 16.Na3 Cuenca Jimenez,J
(2492)-Kozak, A (2376)/Gibraltar 131/(165) 2017 (16.Na3 Qg4) (16.Nc3!)
13.Rd1 N
13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Qxc6+ bxc6 15.exd4=
13...a6 14.Qc4N
14.Qf1 - 131/(165) 14...Bd6 15.exd4 O-O 16.Bh3 Qd8 17.Nc3 h6 18.Qc4 Re8 19.Be3 Ne7 20.Re1 c6= Tomashevsky,E
(2722)-Bu,X (2698)/Novi Sad 131/ (165) 2016
14...Bd6 15.exd4 O-O 16.Nc3 h6 17.Nd5
17.Be3 Rfe8 18.a3 Qf5 19.Qd3 (19.Bxc6?! bxc6 20.Qxc6? Rxe3! 21.fxe3 Rxb2 22.Rf1 Qc2-+) 19...Qxd3 20.Rxd3
Ne7= c6
17...Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Rfe8 19.Be3 Ne7 20.Qh5
20.Qb3 Qb5!? 21.Qxb5 axb5=
20...Qf5 21.Qxf5
21.Qf3 Qxf3 22.Bxf3 c6 23.d5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Rxd5 Be5=
21...Nxf5= 22.Rd3 Nxe3 23.fxe3 c5
23...c6=
24.Rc1 cxd4 25.Rxd4 Be5 26.Rd7 Bxb2 27.Rc2 Bf6 28.Bxb7 a5
28...Rxe3 29.Bxa6 Re7=
29.e4 Re7 30.Rxe7 Bxe7 31.Rc7 Bd8 32.Rd7 Bb6+ 33.Kf1 Rd8 34.Rxd8+ 1/2-1/2

166. !N E04
Lysyj, Igor (2643) - Harutyunian, Tigran K (2515)
Moscow 131/166, 2017

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.O-O Rb8 10.Na3 O-O
11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.a4 Na5 16.Ne5 Rbd8
17.b4!N
17.Bxd5 Bxb5 - 103/ 348
17...Nxb4
17...Nb3? 18.Rad1 Bxb5 19.axb5 Nc3 20.e3! Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Nb3
18.Rab1

18...Nd5?!
18...Nc2 19.e3 c6 20.Nxc6 Nxc6 21.Bxc6 Rc8 22.Be4 Bxb5 23.axb5 Na3 24.Rb3 Nc4 25.Rd118...f6! 19.Rxb4 fxe5
20.Nxc7 Bxe2 21.Re1 Bc4 22.dxe5 Rd2 23.f4 Rc8 24.Nb5 Bd5
19.Rfc1 f6 20.Nc6 Nxc6 21.Rxc6 Bxb5 22.axb5 Rfe8
22...Rd6 23.Rcc1 f5 24.Ra1 Ra8 25.e3
23.Ra1 Rd6
23...Ra8? 24.Rxe6 Rxe6 25.Bxd5+-
24.Rxd6 cxd6 25.Rxa7 Ne7 26.Rb7 d5 27.Rxb6 Kf7 28.e3 Rc8 29.Bf3 f5 30.h4 Rc2 31.Rb7 Kf6 32.g4 f4?
32...fxg4 33.Bxg4 Rb2 34.Kg2
33.exf4+- Rc4 34.g5+ Kf7

35.f5! Rxd4 36.Bh5+ g6 37.f6 gxh5 38.Rxe7+ Kg8 39.b6 1-0

167. E05
Eljanov, Pavel (2755) - Aronian, Levon (2780)
Wijk aan Zee 131/167, 2017

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.c4 O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Qc1
11.Bg5 - 120/(173)
11...Bxf4!? 12.Qxf4 Qd6 13.Qc1 Bd5N 14.Nc3 Nc6 15.e3 Nb4 16.Qb1 Qe7 17.a5
17.e4 Bc4 18.Rd1 a5 19.b3 Ba6=
17...c5 18.Nxd5 Nfxd5 19.e4 Nc7 20.dxc5 Qxc5 21.e5
21.Qc1 Qe7 22.Nd4 Rac8 23.Qe3 g6=
21...Qe7 22.h4 h6 23.Qe4 Nb5 24.Rfc1 Rad8 25.Rc4
25.Bf1 Na7 26.Ra4 Nac6 27.Rc4 Nd5 28.Bd3 f5 29.exf6 Nxf6 30.Qe2 Qd6 31.Bc2 e5
25...Nc6 26.Qf4?!
26.b4 Rd7 27.Rac1 Rfd8 28.Bf1 Nbd4 (28...Rd1 29.Rxd1 Rxd1 30.Kg2 Qd8 31.Be2 Rd5=) 29.Nxd4 Rxd4 30.Qe1
Nxb4 31.Rxd4 Rxd4 32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Qc3 Rd7 34.h5
26...Rd7 27.Ne1?! Nbd4
27...Rd4 28.Rxd4 Nbxd4 29.Kh2 Qb4 30.Nd3 Qb5
28.Qe3
28.Kh2!?
28...Rfd8 29.h5?!
29.Nc2 Nf5 30.Qe1 Rd229.Kh2 Nf5 30.Qc3 Rd2
29...Nf5 30.Qc5
30.Qc3 Ncd4 Qg5
30...Qg5 31.Bxc6 bxc6 32.Qxc6 Qxh5
32...Rd2! 33.Qf3 (33.Nf3 Rd1+ 34.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35.Kg2 Qxh5 36.Nh4 g5!-+) 33...Nd4 34.Qe3 Qxh5
33.Qf3 Qg5 34.b4 Rd2 35.Qf4 Qxf4 36.Rxf4
36.gxf4 Rb2 37.Rc6 Rdd2 38.b5! axb5 39.Nd3! Ra2 (39...Rxd3 40.a6 Rd8 41.a7 Ra8 42.Rb6 Kh7 43.Rb8 Rxa7 44.Rxa7
Kg6 45.Rf8) 40.Rxa2 Rxa2 41.a6 Kh7
36...Rb2 37.Rc1?
37.Rc4 Rdd2 38.Rc3 (38.b5 Rxb5 39.Rc6 Rbb2 40.Rxa6 Rxf2 41.Rb6 Ra2 (41...Rxb6 42.Kxf2)) 38...Rxb4 (38...Rxf2?
39.b5!)
37...Nd4! Ne2 0-1

168.** E06
So, Wesley (2808) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750)
Wijk aan Zee 131/168, 2017

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Qc2 c5 7.O-O Nc6
7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6! 9.Rd1 (9.Be3 Bc5 10.Nc3 Bxd4 11.Na4 Bxe3! 12.Nxb6 Bxb6) 9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 Qxc6
(10...bxc6 11.Nc3 Ba6 (11...Qa6 - 40/(611)) 12.Na4 Qb4 (12...Qb7 13.b3) 13.b3 dxc4 14.Bd2 Qb5 15.Nb2! cxb3
16.axb3 Rab8 17.Nc4) 11.Bg5 h6! 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Na3 Bd7 14.Rab1 Rac8 15.Qd3 Rfd8 16.cxd5 Qa4 17.Rd2 (17.d6
b5) 17...exd5! 18.Bxd5 Be6 19.e4 Rc5 20.Qf3 Bxd5 21.exd5 b5
8.dxc5 d4 9.a3
9.Bg5
9...Nd7N (9...e5) 10.Bxe7 Qxe7

11.Nbd2?! - 131/(168) (11.b4N Nxb4 12.Qb2 Nc6 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Nxc5 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.Qe3 Rb8=
Wojtaszek,R (2729)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2682)/Polska 131/(168) 2016) 11...e5 12.Ne1 Nxc5 13.Nd3 Bf5 14.a3 a5
15.Rab1 a4 Gelfand,B (2734)-Fressinet,L (2687)/Almaty (blitz) 131/(168) 2016
9...a5 10.Rd1
10.e3 d3
10...e5
10...Bxc5 11.Nc3 Qe7 12.Na4! e5 13.Bg5 Ba7 14.Nd2 h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.c5
11.Nc3 Bxc5 12.Nd5 h6 13.Bd2N
13.b3
13...a4
13...Ba7 14.e4!
14.Bb4 Nxb4
14...Bxb4 15.axb4 Qd6 16.Rxa4 Bf5 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Qb3 d314...Bd6!? 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Nd2 Be6 (16...Qd8!?)
17.Nxf6+ gxf6=
15.axb4 Nxd5 16.bxc5 Nb4 17.Qd2 Nc6

18.b4! Qe7
18...Be6 19.b5 Na5 20.Nxe5!? Nb3 21.Qf4 Nxc5! 22.Rxd4 Qa518...Qc7
19.Qb2! Bg4 20.Re1! Rfd8?!
20...f5 21.Nh4! (21.b5 Nd8 22.e3 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 e4! 24.exd4 Ne6) (21.Nd2 e4 22.f3?! Bh5 23.fxe4 f4!) 21...Kh7
22.b5 Nd8 23.h3 Bh5 24.Qa3
21.Nd2 Be6
21...d3 22.e3
22.b5 Nb8 23.Qb4! f5
23...Nd7 24.Bxb7 Ra7 25.Bc6 Qxc5 26.Rxa4
24.Nb3! Nd7
24...Qf7 25.Rxa4 (25.Na5) 25...Rxa4 26.Qxa4 Bxc4 27.Na5 Bd5 28.Bxd5 Qxd5 29.Rc1 Rc8 30.Qc4 Qxc4 31.Rxc4
Rc7 32.f4
25.Bxb7 Rab8
26.Rxa4!+- Rxb7 27.c6 Qxb4 28.Rxb4 Rc7 29.cxd7 Rxc4 30.Rxc4 Bxc4 31.Rc1! Be6 32.Rc8 Rxc8 33.dxc8=Q+ Bxc8
34.b6 1-0

169. !N E12
Artemiev, Vladislav (2655) - Petrosyan, Manuel (2549)
Moscow 131/169, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 Bb7 8.e4 Qe7 9.Bd3 Nxd5

10.Bg5!N Nf6 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bf4

12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 Bg7 14.O-O O-O 15.Rfe1
12...Nh5
12...Nd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Nd4!?
13.Bc7! Bc6?
13...d6? 14.Nb5+-13...Na6 14.Nb513...Qe6 14.O-O Be7 (14...Na6 15.Nb5) 15.Nd5
14.O-O-O+- d6
14...Qe6 15.Nd5 Be7 16.Bc4+-
15.Nb5 Qd7

16.e5! Bxb5
16...dxe5 17.Nxe5+-16...Bxf3 17.e6! (17.gxf3+-) 17...Qxe6 (17...fxe6 18.Bg6+ Ke7 19.Bxd6++-) 18.gxf3+-
17.Bxb5 Qxb5 18.exd6 Be7
18...Kd7 19.Qf5+ Kc6 20.Qd5+ Kd7 21.Ne5+ Kc8 22.Qxa8+-
19.dxe7 Nd7 20.Qe4 Rc8 21.Qb7 1-0

170. E12
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766) - Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2711)
Sharjah 131/170, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.Qc2!?

6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 Be7 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 O-O 10.Bd3 c5!
6...Nbd7 7.cxd5! exd5
7...Nxd5 8.Nxd5 exd5 9.Bg5! Qc8 10.e3 (10.g3!? - 66/434)
8.Bf4 a6 9.g3!?
9.e3 Be7 (9...Ne4?! 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Ng5! Nf6 12.Bc4 Bd5 13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Qxc7) 10.Bd3 c5 11.O-O - 97/364
9...Be7 10.Bg2 O-O
10...Nf8 - 66/426
11.O-O Re8 12.Rac1 c5
12...Nf8 13.Rfd1 Ne6 14.Be5
13.dxc5!
13.Rfd1
13...bxc5 14.Ne5N
14.Rfd1
14...Bf8
14...Nb6 15.Rfd1 Bd6 16.Nd3 c4 17.Ne1 (17.Nb4!?) 17...Bxf4 18.gxf4 Qc7 19.e3 Rad8 20.Nf3
15.Qb3!?
15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Na4 Qb5!=
15...Qb6?!
15...Nxe5 16.Qxb7 Rb8 17.Qxa6 Ra8 18.Qb5 Rb8 19.Qa4 d4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Rxb2
16.Qxb6 Nxb6 17.Rfd1 Ra7 18.e3 h6 19.h4 Ba8 20.Nd3
20.Rc2!?
20...Rd7 21.Bh3!?
21.b4!
21...Rb7?!
21...Ra7! 22.b4 c4 23.Nc5 Nh5!
22.b4! cxb4
22...c4?! 23.Nc5
23.axb4 d4 24.exd4 Nbd5 25.Be5?!
25.Nxd5! Nxd5 26.Bd2
25...Nxc3
25...Bxb4! 26.Nxd5 Nxd5 27.Bg2 Rb5 28.Nxb4 Rxb4 (28...Nxb4 29.Bf1) 29.Rc5 Rb5 30.Rdc1
26.Rxc3 Nd5 27.Rc4 Nxb4
27...f6! 28.Bf4 (28.Bg2 Rb5 29.Bf4 Nxf4 30.gxf4 (30.Nxf4 Rxb4=) 30...a5 (30...Bxg2 31.Kxg2 Reb8 32.Ra1 R8b6
33.Ra4) 31.bxa5 Rxa5) 28...Nxf4 29.gxf4 Rb6 30.Bg2 Bxg2 31.Kxg2 Reb8!
28.Nc5! Bxc5?!
28...Rb6 29.Nd7 Bf3! 30.Ra1 Rc6 31.Rxc6 Nxc6 (31...Bxc6? 32.Nxf8 Rxf8 33.Bd6+-) 32.Rxa6
29.dxc5 Nc6
29...a5!?
30.Bc3 Rbe7 31.Rd6 Rc7 32.Rg4! f5
33.Rgg6!
33.Rc4!?
33...Ne5?
33...Na7! 34.f4 (34.Rd1 Bf3 35.Rc1 Nb5 36.Bb2 Rce7 37.Bf1) 34...Nb5 35.Ba5 Rf7 36.Rxa6
34.Bxe5 Rxe5 35.c6 Kh7
35...Kf7 36.h5 Re1+ 37.Kh2 (37.Kg2? Rxc6 38.Rxc6 Rc1=) 37...Re2 38.Bg2 Rxf2 39.Kg1 Re2 40.Bd5+ Kf8 41.Rd7
Re7 42.Rxe7 Rxe7 43.c7+-
36.h5 Rc5 37.Bg2 Rd7 1-0

171. E12
Li, Chao (2720) - Eljanov, Pavel (2759)
Sharjah 131/171, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e3 Be7 8.Bb5+ c6 9.Bd3 c5!? 10.O-O cxd4 11.exd4
Nd7
11...Nc6 12.Re1 O-O 13.Bc2 Nf6 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rad1
12.Qe2
12.Bd2 - 72/458
12...O-O
12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qc7=
13.Ne4 N5f6 14.Nc3N
14.Bd2
14...Qc7
14...Nd5 15.Rd1 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qc7
15.Bg5!? h6 16.Bh4 Qf4?!
16...Rfc8 17.Bg3 Qd8 18.Ba6 Bxa6 19.Qxa6 Nb8!=16...Bd6!? 17.Nb5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Bxh2+ 19.Kh1 Qf4 20.Bxf6
Nxf6 21.Qh3

21...Ng4! 22.f3 Nf2+ 23.Rxf2 Qe3 24.Kxh2 Qxf2

17.Bg3 Qg4 18.Ba6! Bxa6 19.Qxa6 Qf5 20.Rac1
20.Qb7 Qc2
20...Qa5?!
20...Nd5! 21.Nxd5 Qxd5 22.Rc7 Bd8! 23.Rxa7 Rxa7 24.Qxa7 b5
21.Qb7! Rfe8 22.Nd2 Bf8 23.h3 Qf5 24.Nc4 a6 25.Rfd1 b5 26.Ne3 Qh5 27.Bc7!? Qg6 28.b4 Nh5 29.Ne2 Ndf6
30.Rc6 Qg5 31.Be5
31.Rxa6 Rxa6 32.Qxa6 Nd5 33.Nxd5 Qxd5 34.Nc3 Ra8 35.Qxb5 Qb3 36.Qxh5 Qxc3 37.Bb6 Qxa3 38.Bc531.Nc3!
Nf4 32.h4 Qxh4 33.g3 Nh3+ 34.Kg2 Qh5 35.Rh1+-
31...a5! 32.Qxb5?!
32.Ra6 Rxa6 33.Qxa6 axb4 34.axb4 Nd7 35.Qxb5 Nhf6 36.Qa5
32...axb4 33.axb4 Ra2!
33...Reb8 34.Qd3 Rxb4 35.g4!
34.Rc2 Rea8 35.Rxa2?!
35.Qc6
35...Rxa2 36.Qc4 Rb2 37.b5 Nd5?
37...Nd7
38.Nxd5 exd5 39.Qd3 Qg6 40.Qxg6 fxg6 41.Nc3 Rb3

42.Rc1
42.Rb1! Rxc3 43.b6 Nf6 44.b7 Nd7 45.Rb5 Kf7 46.Rxd5 Nb8

47.Rd8! (47.Bxb8? Rb3!) 47...Na6 48.Ra8 Rb3 49.Ra7 Be7 50.g4 (50.Bd6?? Rb1+ 51.Kh2 Bxd6+-+) 50...g5
(50...Rb2 51.Kg2 Bd6 51...Ke8 52.Rxa6 Rxb7 53.Rxg6+-) 51.Bd6+-
42...Ba3?
42...Nf6 43.Bxf6 gxf6 44.Nxd5 Rxb5 45.Nxf6+ Kf7 46.Ng4 Bg7
43.Rb1!+- Rxc3 44.b6 Nf6 45.b7 Nd7 46.Rb5! 1-0
 172. E17
Bachmann Schiavo, Axel (2628) - Carneiro, Vitor Roberto (2426)
Florianopolis 131/172, 2017

1.g3 Nf6 2.Bg2 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.c4 Bb7 5.d4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.d5 exd5 8.Nh4 c6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nf5 Nc7 11.e4 d5
12.Nc3 Bf6 13.exd5 cxd5 14.Bf4 Nba6 15.Rc1
15.Re1 - 129/174
15...g6N
15...Qd7
16.Nd6 Bc6

17.Nce4!?
17.Nxd5!? Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Nc7 (19...Bxb2 20.Rcd1) 20.Qc6 Ne6 21.Bh6 Nd4 22.Qd5 Ne2+ 23.Kg2
Nxc1 24.Bxf8 Qxf8 25.Nxf7! (25.Rxc1? Rd8-+) 25...Nxa2! 26.Nd8+ Kh8 27.Qxa8 Qxd8 28.Qxd8+ Bxd8 29.Ra1
Nb4 30.Rxa7 Bf6 31.Rb7 Bxb2 32.Rxb6=
17...dxe4 18.Rxc6 Bg5?
18...Bg7 19.Bxe4 Nc5 20.Bg2 N5e6 21.Be3 Qe7
19.Bxg5! Qxg5 20.Nxe4!+- Qe5
20...Qe7 21.Nf6+ Kg7 (21...Kh8 22.Qc1+-) 22.Qf3 Ne8 23.Nd5 Qe5 24.Qd1 Kh8 (24...Qxb2 25.Rc2+-) (24...Rd8
25.Re1+-) 25.Re1+-
21.Nf6+ Kg7
21...Kh8 22.Qc1+-
22.Nd7 Qxb2 23.Rc2 Qb5 24.Qd4+ Kh6 25.Bxa8 Rxa8 26.Rxc7 Nxc7 27.Qf4+ Kg7 28.Qxc7 1-0

173.* E18
Aronian, Levon (2780) - Rapport, Richard (2702)
Wijk aan Zee 131/173, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Be1!?
9.Ne5 - 130/1789.Rc1 - 130/179
9...Re8?!N
9...c5 10.d5!? Bxc3 11.Bxc3 exd5 12.cxd59...d5 10.Qc2 Nxc3N (10...Na6) (10...c5) 11.Bxc3 Nd7 (11...dxc4?
12.Ng5+-) 12.cxd5 exd5 13.b4 c5?! (13...c6) (13...b5!? 14.a4 a6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.Qd3 c6 18.Nd2 Nb6
19.e4) 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Bh3! (16.bxc5 Rac8=) 16...Rfd8 17.bxc5 Rac8 18.Qa4 Nxc5 19.Qxa7 Rc6
20.Rab1 Vitiugov,N (2724)-Inarkiev,E (2723)/Moscow 131/(173) 2017
10.Qc2 d5?
10...Nxc3 11.Bxc3 d6 12.e4 e5 13.d5
11.Nxe4! dxe4 12.Nd2 Bxd4
12...Qxd4 13.Nxe4 Bc6 14.Bc3 (14.Rb1 a5 15.b3 Bc3) 14...Qxc4 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.b3 Qc5 17.e4 Nd7 18.Rfc1
13.Rd1 Qc8
13...Qe7 14.Nxe4 Nc6 15.e3 Be5 (15...Bf6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Bc3 Qg6 18.Qa4 Na5 19.Bxa5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 bxa5
21.Rd7) 16.f4 Bd6 17.Ng5 f5 18.Nxe6 Nb4 19.Bxb4 Bxg2 20.Bxd6 cxd6 21.Kxg2 Qxe6
14.Nxe4 Bc5 15.Ng5!
15.Nxc5 bxc5 16.Be4 h6 17.f3 Bf2
15...f5
15...g6 16.Bc3
16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Bc3 Bf8
17...h6 18.Nxe6! Rxe6 19.Rd8+ Bf8 (19...Kh7 20.Qxf5+ Rg6 21.Qf7+-) 20.Qxf5+-
18.e4! h6
19.exf5! hxg5
19...exf5 20.Rfe1! (20.Nh3) 20...Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 hxg5 22.Qxf5 c6 (22...c5 23.Re8 Qf7 24.Qe4+-) 23.Re8 Qf7
24.Qc8+-
20.f6! c5

20...c6 21.f4 g4 22.fxg7 Bc5+ (22...Bxg7 23.Qg6 Qf7 24.Qxg4) 23.Kh1 Bb4 24.f5! Bxc3 25.f6!+-
21.f4! g4
21...gxf4 22.Rxf4+-
22.f5!+- gxf6
22...e5 23.fxg7 Qxg7 24.f6 Qf7 25.Qe4 Na6 26.Qxg4++-
23.fxe6 Qh7 24.Qg2 Na6 25.Rd7 Qh5
25...Be7 26.Bxf6+-
26.Rxf6 Rad8 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.Qf1+ 1-0

174. E18
Nakamura, Hikaru (2785) - Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2652)
Gibraltar 131/174, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Rc1 d6 10.d5 Nxd2 11.Nxd2
11.Qxd2 - 52/535
11...e5
11...Kh8 - 42/(711)
12.b4 a5 13.a3 axb4 14.axb4 Na6 15.Qb3 Bg5N
15...g6
16.e3 f5 17.f4 Bf6
17...Bh6 18.Nb5 Kh8 19.Nf317...exf4 18.exf4 Bf6 19.Nb5
18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Nf3 Kh8?!
19...Bf6
20.Nxe5! dxe5

21.Nb5 Qd7 22.Qc3 Rae8 23.Rcd1 Rf6 24.e4 fxe4 25.Bxe4

25...c6?
25...Qg4 26.Rfe1 Bc8 27.Na725...Qf7
26.dxc6 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Bxc6 28.Qf3! Qf8 1-0

175. E18
So, Wesley (2808) - Rapport, Richard (2702)
Wijk aan Zee 131/175, 2017

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.d4 Bb7 4.c4 e6 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 Bf6 9.Rc1 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 d6 11.d5 e5
12.e4
12.h4 - 52/535
12...Nd7 13.h4 a5 14.Bh3 Nc5 15.Kg2 Bc8 16.Rh1N
16.Bxc8 Qxc8 17.Qe2 Be7 18.Nd2 Nd7
16...Bxh3+ 17.Rxh3 Qd7 18.Nh2
18.Ne1 Be7 19.Nd3
18...h5 19.f3
19.Qe2 g6 20.g4 hxg4 21.Nxg4 Bg7
19...g6 20.g4 Kh7 21.Rh1 Rg8 22.Qd1 Bg7! 23.Nf1 Bh6 24.Kf2?
24.g5 Bf8 (24...Bg7) 25.Ne3 Be724.Ng3
24...Bc1! 25.Ng3
25.Qxc1?? Nd3+25.b3 Bb2 26.Nb5 (26.Ne2? hxg4) 26...f5
25...Bxb2 26.Nb5 Bc1!
26...Raf8 27.gxh5 f5 28.hxg6+ Rxg6 29.exf5 Rxf5 30.Qc2 (30.Nxf5 Qxf5) 30...e4 31.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 32.Qxe4 Be5
27.gxh5 Bf4! 28.Nc3 f5! 29.hxg6+ Rxg6 30.Nxf5 Rag8 31.Kf1

31...b5!!
31...Rg2 32.Ne2! b5 33.Nxf4 exf4 34.R3h2
32.cxb5
32.Nxb5 Rg2 33.Nc3 Rd2-+
32...Rg2! 33.Qb1

33...Qf7?
33...Rd2 34.Ne2 (34.Rg1 Rxg1+ 35.Kxg1 Qe8-+ 36.Kh1 Nd3) 34...Nd3 35.a4 c6!-+33...c6-+ 34.bxc6 (34.dxc6 Qa7
35.b6 Qa6+ 36.Qb5 Nd3! 37.Qxa6 Rf2#) (34.Ne2 Qa7 35.Nxf4 Nd3!-+ 36.Nxd3 Rg1+ 37.Rxg1 Qxg1+ 38.Ke2
Rg2+-+) 34...Qa7-+
34.Ne2 Qg6?
34...c6
35.Ne7!+- Rf2+ 36.Kxf2 Qg2+ 37.Ke1 Rg3 38.Rxg3 Qxh1+ 39.Rg1 Qxf3 40.Nxf4 Qe3+ 41.Ne2 Nd3+ 42.Qxd3!
Qxd3 43.Ng8 Qf3 44.h5! Kh8 45.Rg6 Qh1+ 46.Kd2 Qxe4 47.Nf6 Qb4+ 48.Ke3 1-0

176. E20
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2766) - Hou, Yifan (2651)
Sharjah 131/176, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 b5 7.e5 Ne8 8.f4 d6 9.Nf3 exd5 10.cxd5 Nc7 11.a4!
11.Bd3 - 119/173
11...Bb7 12.Bd3 h6?!N
12...g6!?12...Nxd5! 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 15.Qh5 (15.Qd3 Re8 16.Qh7+ Kf8
17.Qh5 (17.Qh8+ Ke7 18.Qxg7 Kd7 19.Qxf7+ Qe7 20.Qf5+ Kc7) 17...g6 18.Qh6+ Ke7 19.Nxf7 Kxf7 20.Qh7+
Ke6 21.Qh3+=) 15...Qxg5 16.fxg5 Nxc3 17.O-O g6 18.Qg4 Nc6 19.bxc3 Bxc3 20.Rb1 Nxe5 21.Qg3 b4
13.O-O Bxc3?
13...c4 14.Bb1 Nd7 15.axb5 (15.Qc2 f5 16.exf6 Nxf6) 15...Re8
14.bxc3 dxe5
14...c4 15.Bb1 Nxd5 16.Qc2 f5 17.Nd4! g6 18.axb5 dxe5 19.fxe5+-14...Nxd5 15.axb5 Nxc3 16.Qe1! c4 (16...Nd5
17.Qe4 g6 18.Bc4 dxe5 19.fxe5+-) 17.Bxc4 d5 18.Bd3
15.axb5 e4
15...Qxd5 16.c4 Qd8 17.fxe5
16.Bxe4 Bxd5 17.Bb1 Nd7 18.c4 Bb7 19.Ra3 Ne6 20.Qc2 Nf6 21.Bb2 Ne4 22.Rd3 Qc7 23.f5 Nd4 24.Nxd4 cxd4
25.Bxd4 a6 26.b6 Qc6 27.f6 Rfd8 28.fxg7 Rd6 29.c5 Rg6 30.Ba2 Ng5 31.Rg3 Nh3+ 32.Kh1 1-0

177. E29
David, Alexandru Vasile (2377) - Zhigalko, Andrey (2584)
Romania 131/177, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nc6 8.Ne2 b6 9.O-O Ba6 10.e4 Ne8 11.f4
11.Ng3 Na5 12.f4 Bxc4 (12...f5!? 13.exf5 (13.dxc5 g6 14.exf5 exf5 15.Be3 bxc5 16.Bxc5 Rf7 17.Bd4 Bxc4 18.Bxc4
Nxc4 19.Re1 d5 20.Nf1 Ned6) 13...cxd4 14.fxe6 (14.cxd4 Bxc4 15.a4 Qf6! 16.Bxc4 Nxc4 17.fxe6 Qxe6 18.f5 Qf7
d5) 14...dxe6 15.f5 e5 16.Bb2 dxc3 17.Bxc3 Bxc4 18.Bxc4+ Nxc4 19.Qb3 Rc8 20.Bxe5 Rf7 21.Bf4 Nd2 22.Bxd2
Qxd2=) 13.Bxc4 Nxc4 14.f5 cxd4 (14...f6 15.Qd3!? Na5 (15...b5!? 16.dxc5 Rc8 17.Be3 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Qc7 19.Rfd1
Rf7 20.a4=) 16.Bf4 Qc8!? (16...Rc8 17.e5 Rf7 18.Rae1) 17.Rad1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qc4 19.Qe3 (19.Qf3 Nc6) 19...Qa4
(19...Nc6 20.fxe6 dxe6 21.d5) 20.e5 Nc4 21.Qe4 d5 22.Qf3 fxe5 23.dxe5 Qxa3 24.Qg4 Ne3 (24...Kh8 25.Rde1)
25.Qf3 Nc4=) 15.cxd4 f6! 16.Bf4 (16.Rf4 b5!? (16...exf5 17.Nxf5 Ned6 18.Nxg7!? Kxg7 19.e5 fxe5 20.Rg4+ Kh8
21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Qxd6 Qf6 23.Qxf6+ Rxf6 24.Re4 Re8 25.Bb2=) (16...Qe7 - 107/281) 17.Rh4 (17.a4 Qa5 18.e5 Rc8
19.fxe6 dxe6 20.Ne4 fxe5 21.Rxf8+ Kxf8 22.Qf3+ Kg8 23.Bh6 Qc7! 24.Qg4 Ncd6 25.Qxe6+ Qf7) (17.Rb1 Qb6
18.Kh1 Rc8 19.Rh4 - 17.Rh4) 17...Qb6 18.Kh1 Rc8 19.Nh5 (19.Rb1 Rf7! 20.Rb3 Ncd6 21.Be3 Qc6) 19...e5! 20.dxe5
fxe5 21.Rg4 Qd4 22.Bh6 Qxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rf7-+) 16...Ned6 17.Qb3 Na5 18.Qd3 Qe7
11...f5 12.e5!?
12.d5?! exd5 (12...Na5 13.e5 - 12.e5) 13.cxd5 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 fxe4 15.Qxe4 Nd612.exf5 exf5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Ng3
g6 15.Be3 Qa5 (15...d6 - 51/543) 16.Re1 (16.Be2 Rf7 17.Qd5 Qxc3 18.Bxc5 Nf6 19.Qd6 Ne8 20.Qd5 Nf6=) 16...Nf6
(16...Ng7 17.Be2 Rf7 18.Nf1 Bf3+/=) 17.Qd2 (17.Qc2 Rae8 18.h3 Re6 19.Nf1 Rfe8) 17...Rad8 18.Bf2 d5
(18...Ng4 19.Rad1 Nxf2 20.Qxf2 d6 21.Qf3 Bb7

22.Bxf5! gxf5 23.Nxf5 Kh8 24.Nxd6) 19.Qe3 Rfe8 20.Qxc5 Qxc5 21.Bxc5 Bxc4=12.Ng3 g6 13.dxc5 (13.Be3 -
72/475) 13...bxc5 (13...Qe7 14.Be3 Nf6 15.Be2 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Qa4 Bb7 18.Rab1) 14.Be3 Na5!? (14...d6
15.exf5 exf5 16.Bxf5) 15.Bxc5 Rf7
12...Na5!?
12...d6 13.Be3 (13.Qa4 Bb7 14.exd6 Na5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Be3 Qxd6) (13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 dxe5
16.Qd1 (16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Qd1 Qd7 18.Bf4 Nf7 19.c4 g5) (16.Qd2 Ne7 17.c4 Nd6) 16...Ne7 17.c4 e4 18.Bb2 Nd6
19.Qb3 b5!? 20.cxb5 Qb6 21.Qg3 Rf7 22.Be5 Qxb5) 13...Na5 14.Bf2 (14.Qa4 Rc8) 14...Qc7 (14...Qc8!?) 15.Re1
(15.d5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Bg3 Qe3+ 18.Kh1 Bxc4 19.Rf3 (19.Nf4 Bb3) 19...Qh6 20.Nf4 e5 21.Ne6 f4 22.Bxc4
Nxc4 23.Nxf8 Kxf8 24.Qf1 Nd2 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Rxf4+ Nf6 27.Qf2 Nb3 28.Re1 c4) 15...Rc8 16.Nc1!? Bxc4
17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.dxc5 bxc5 (18...dxc5 19.Qb3) 19.Nd3 Qa5 20.a4 d5 21.Rb1 a6 22.Qb3! Nd2 23.Qb6 Qxb6 24.Rxb6
Ne4 25.Rxe6 a5 26.Rc1 c4 27.Ne1=
13.d5 d6
13...Bxc4 - 85/44413...Qc7 14.d6 Qc6 15.a4 (15.Rf3?! g6 16.Ng3 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.h4 Ng7) 15...Bxc4 16.Bxc4
Nxc4 17.Qd3 Qd5 18.Qxd5 exd5 19.Rd1 g6 20.Rxd5 Ng7 Ne613...Qc8 14.d6 Bxc4 (14...Qc6 - 13...Qc7) 15.Bxc4
Nxc4 16.Qd3 b5 17.a4 a6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Be3 Rxa1 (19...Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Ra4 21.Rxa4 bxa4 22.Qd3 c4 23.Qc2)
20.Rxa1 g5
14.dxe6?!
14.Ng3?! g6 15.Qe2 Qe714.g4 g6 (14...Bxc4? 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.dxe6 Nc7 17.Ng3 dxe5 18.Qe2) (14...fxg4 15.dxe6
Qe7 16.Ng3 (16.Be4? Rd8) 16...Qxe6 (16...dxe5?! 17.Qxg4 Nxc4 (17...Bxc4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.f5) 18.fxe5 Rxf1+
19.Bxf1 Nxe5 20.Qe4) 17.Be4 Bb7 18.Bd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Qf7 (19...Qc8?! 20.e6 c4 21.Be3 Nb3 22.Rb1 Nf6 23.f5)
20.e6 Qf6 21.Bd2 b5 22.Qe2) (14...exd5 15.cxd5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 c4 17.Qg3 (17.Qd1 Nb3 18.Rb1 fxg4) 17...Nb3
18.Rb1 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxd5 20.gxf5 Qe4! 21.Be3 Rd8 22.Qf4 Qxf4 23.Nxf4 Nc7 24.Rbd1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rxf5
26.Rd8+ Rf8 27.Rd7 Rf7=) 15.Ng3 (15.gxf5?! exf5! (15...gxf5 16.Ng3 Ng7 17.Ra2) 16.e6 Nxc4 17.Ng3 (17.Qa4
Nc7! 18.Bxc4 b5-+) 17...Qf6 18.Ra2 Nc7) 15...Qe7 (15...Qd7!? 16.Ra2 Ng7) 16.Re1 (16.Ra2!? Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4
18.Qd3 Na5 19.Re2 Ng7 20.c4) 16...Ng7 17.gxf5 exf5 (17...gxf5 18.Ra2) 18.e6 Bxc4 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.Qa4 Na5
21.c4 Qe8 22.Qc2 b5 23.cxb5 Qxb5 24.Bb2 Qb3 25.Qg2
14...Qe7 15.g4
15.Ng3 g6
15...g6 16.gxf5
16.Ng3 Ng7 17.gxf5

17...gxf5! (17...Nxf5 18.Bxf5 gxf5 19.Qxd6 Rae8 20.Qxe7 Rxe7 21.Rd1 Bxc4 22.Rd7 Nc6 23.Nh5 Bxe6 24.Rd6=)
18.Ra2 (18.Be4 fxe4 19.f5 Nxc4 (19...dxe5?? 20.Qg4 Bxc4 21.Bg5) 20.f6 Qxe6-+) (18.Re1 Rad8 19.exd6 Rxd6)
18...Qxe6 (18...Kh8 19.exd6 (19.Nh5?! Nxh5 20.Qxh5 Bxc4 21.exd6 Qxe6 22.Bxc4 Nxc4 23.Re2 Qxd6-+) 19...Qxe6
20.Rd2 Rad8 21.Re1 Qf6 22.Bf1 Bxc4 23.d7 Bb3 24.Qf3 Ba4 25.Bb2 Nb3) 19.Re1 Kh8!? (19...Rad8 20.Rd2 Kh8
21.Bf1 Rfe8 22.Rd5) 20.Rd2 dxe5 21.Rxe5 Qg8! 22.Re7 Rfe8 23.Rde2 Bxc4 24.Rxe8 Nxe8! 25.Bxc4 (25.Rg2 Rd8
26.Rd2 Rd5) 25...Nxc4 26.Re7 Nf6 27.Qd3 Qd8 28.Qe2 Qd5 29.Qe6 Rf8
16...gxf5 17.Ng3 Qxe6!?
17...Ng7 - 16.Ng3
18.Re1 Rd8N
18...Bxc4
19.Qc2
19.Ra2 Bxc4 20.Rd2 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 d5 22.Qf3
19...Ng7 20.Be3
20.Qf2 dxe5 21.Rxe5 Qd6 22.Bc2 Nxc4 23.Bb3 Kh8-+20.Bf1 Bxc4 21.Bh3 dxe5 22.Rxe5 Qg6 23.Be3 Nc6 24.Rxf5
Rfe8-+
20...Bxc4
20...dxe5 21.fxe5 (21.Rad1 e4-+) 21...f4 22.Bxf4 Rxf4 23.Bxh7+ Kh8 24.Rad1 Rdf8-+
21.exd6 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Rxd6 23.Qa6 Qc8
23...Qc4 24.Qxa7 h5 25.Qe7 Rg6-+
24.Qxc8
24.Qxa7? Rf7-+
24...Rxc8 25.Bf2 Nc6 26.a4 Kf7 27.Re3 Rcd8 28.Kg2 Rd3 29.a5 Nxa5 30.Rxd3 Rxd3 31.Bxc5 Ne6-+ 32.Bd4 Nxf4+
33.Kh1 Nc6 34.Nxf5 Ke6 35.Ng7+ Kd5 36.Bf6 b5 37.Rb1 Kc4 38.Nf5 a5 39.Kg1 a4 40.Kf2 Nh3+ 41.Ke2 Nf4+
42.Kf2 a3 43.Ne3+ Rxe3 44.Kxe3 Nd5+ 45.Kd2 Nxf6 46.Ra1 Kb3 47.Rb1+ Ka4 48.Ra1 Ne4+ 49.Kd3 Nc5+
50.Kc2 Nb3 0-1

178. E32
Miron, Lucian Costin (2501) - Zhigalko, Andrey (2584)
Romania 131/178, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.Nf3 d6 6.g3 b6 7.Bg2 Bb7 8.O-O Nbd7
8...Bxc3 9.Qxc3 Nbd7 10.Rd1 (10.b3 a5 (10...Ne4 11.Qc2 Rb8 (11...f5 12.Ng5) 12.Bb2 f5 13.d5! (13.Rad1 - 18/577)
13...exd5 (13...Qe7 14.Nd4) 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Rad1 Ba8 16.Nd4) 11.Bb2 Qe7 (11...Ne4 - 56/613) 12.Rad1 Be4
13.Rfe1 (13.Bh3!? a4 14.Nd2) 13...c6 14.Bf1 (14.Bh3 b5!?) 14...d5 15.Nd2 Bg6) 10...Qe7 (10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.d5
e5 13.Ne1) 11.b3 - 8...Nbd7 (11.b4 - 56/619)
9.Rd1
9.Na4 Ba5!? 10.a3 (10.b3 a6 b5) 10...c5 11.Bf4 Qe79.b3 a6!? 10.Bb2 h6 11.Rfd1 b5 12.d5!? (12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3
Be4 14.Qd2 bxc4 15.bxc4 Nb6) (12.cxb5 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 axb5 14.a4 Be4 15.Qb2 Qb8) 12...Nc5 (12...bxc4 13.bxc4
Nc5 14.Na4) 13.Rab1!? (13.Nd4 e5 14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.dxc6 bxc4 16.bxc4 Bxc3 17.Bxc3 Qe7) (13.Nh4 bxc4
14.dxe6 Bxg2 15.exf7+ Rxf7 16.Nxg2 Ng4!? (16...cxb3 17.axb3 Ne6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Ng5 20.Qg4 Bc5 21.Nf4
Qb8 22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Qxb3 24.h4) 17.f3 Nxb3 18.fxg4 Nxa1 19.Bxa1 c6) 13...bxc4 14.bxc4 e5 15.Bc1 Bxc3
16.Qxc3 Bc8 17.Qc2 Bd7 18.Nd2 Ba4 19.Nb3 a5 20.Be3 Nfd7 21.Bh3
9...Qe7
9...a6!? 10.a3 (10.b3 b5 11.Bb2 Rb8) 10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3 b5 12.b3 bxc4 13.bxc4 Rb8 14.a4!? Ba3 (14.Be3 h6
15.Qa5 Ne4 (15...Be4!? 16.Qxa6 Rb2) 16.c5 Ndf6 17.Ne5!? (17.Rac1 Bd5 18.Qxa6 Ng4) 17...Nxg3 18.c6
(18.hxg3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 dxe5 20.dxe5 Nd5 21.Bd2 Qc8 22.c6 Rd8) 18...Nxe2+ 19.Kf1 Bc8 20.Nf3 Rb5!? 21.Qe1
Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Re8) 14...c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 (15...Ne4 16.Qe3 Ndxc5 17.Ba3) 16.Bf4 Qc8 17.Qa3 e5 18.Be3
10.b3
10.Bf4 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 a5 12.b3 Rfe8 e5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bc1 a4 15.Ba3 axb3 16.axb3 Ra5=10.Bd2 Bxc3 (10...c5
11.d5) 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qd2 a5=10.Nb5!? a6!? (10...c6 11.Nc7 (11.Nh4 d5) 11...Rac8 12.a3 Ba5 13.Nxe6 fxe6
14.b4 c5 15.bxa5 (15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.bxc5 d5) 15...bxa5 16.Bh3) 11.Nxc7 Rac8 12.Qa4 d5! (12...Ba5 13.b4)
13.Nxa6 Bd6 14.c5 bxc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxc5 Rxc5 17.Bg5 Rc4
10...c5!?N
10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Rfd8 (11...Ne4 12.Qc2 f5 13.Ng5 Qf6 14.Nh3) (11...c5 12.dxc5!? (12.Bb2 - 10...c5) 12...bxc5
(12...dxc5 13.Bf4!) (12...Nxc5 13.Bb2 Rfd8 14.Ne1) 13.Qd3 d5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Nh4) 12.Bb2 c5 13.Qe3 (13.d5!?
exd5 14.cxd5 Qxe2 15.Re1 Qb5 16.Nh4 Qb4 17.Qc1) 13...cxd4 (13...a5 14.d5 Re8 15.Nh4) 14.Nxd4 Bxg2
15.Kxg2 Nc5 (15...Ne5 16.Nb5) 16.Qf3
11.dxc5
11.Bb2 Bxc3 (11...Rfc8?! 12.d5! exd5 13.Nh4 Bxc3 14.Nf5 Qf8 15.Bxc3) (11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Ne5
14.Nf3) (11...d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.dxc5 Rfc8 14.Rac1 Nxc5 15.Nd4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Na4 17.Qd2 Nxb2 18.Qxb2)
(11...Rae8 12.Rac1 (12.d5 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 exd5 14.cxd5 Qxe2 15.Re1 Qb5 16.Nh4 Qb4) 12...Bxc3 13.Qxc3 Ne4
14.Qe3 f5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Nd2 Ndf6 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.f3 Nf6 19.Rd3) 12.Qxc3 Ne4 13.Qc1!? (13.Qc2 f5 14.Nd2
Ndf6 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.f3 Ng5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Rd3 a5 20.Rad1 Ra6) 13...f5 14.Ng5 Ndf6 15.Nxe4
Nxe4 16.f3 (16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Rd3 e5 18.f3 Ng5 Ne6) 16...Ng5 17.Qc3 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Rad8 19.Ba3 Nf7 20.Rd2
11...Nxc5
11...Bxc5 12.a3 a5 13.e3 Ne5 14.Qe2 Rfd8 15.Bb2
12.Bb2 Rfc8 13.Nd4
13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 (14.Qxc3 Nce4 Ng4) 14...b513.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qb7+ 15.f3 d5 16.a3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3
(17.Bxc3 e5!? 18.Bxe5 Qe7) 17...e5! 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxe5 f6 20.Qd4 Ne6 21.Qf2 Rc2 22.Rab1 Rd813.Rac1 a6
14.a3 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 e5 (15...b5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qb2 bxc4 18.Rxc4 f5 19.Nd4) 16.Nh4 Bxg2 (16...g6 17.Bxb7 Nxb7
18.Ng2 b5 19.Ne3 h5!?) 17.Nxg2 b5 18.Ne3 bxc4 19.Nf5 (19.bxc4 g6 20.Bb4 Rc6) 19...Qe6 20.Rxd6 cxb3
21.Qb1 Qe8 22.Bb4 Nce4 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rxf6 (24.Rxa6?! Qb5 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Rxf6 Qxe2 27.Rxf7 Qc2)
24...Nxf6 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxc8 Qxc8 27.Qxb3 Kg8=
13...Bxg2 14.Kxg2 a6!?
14...d5 15.Nxd5!? (15.Rac1 dxc4 16.bxc4 Qb7+ 17.Nf3 Rd8) 15...exd5 16.a3 Ba5!? (16...dxc4 17.axb4 Nxb3 18.Nxb3
cxb3 19.Qxb3 Qxe2 20.Re1 Qc4 21.Qf3 Qd5=) 17.b4 Nce4 18.bxa5 g6 19.f3 (19.Nf3 dxc4 20.Bxf6 (20.axb6 c3!)
20...Nxf6 21.axb6 axb6 22.a4 Rc5) 19...Nd6 (19...Rxc4 20.Qd3 Nc5 21.Qd2 Nfd7 22.axb6 Nxb6 23.Nc6 Qe6 24.Na5
Rc8 25.Rac1=) 20.axb6 Nxc4 21.Kh1 axb6 22.Qc3! Ne3 23.Nc6 Qe6 24.Rdc1
15.f3 Qb7 16.Nb1!?
16.a4 Ncd7 17.Na2 Bc5 18.Nc3=16.Rac1 b5 17.cxb5 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 axb5 19.a3 Nd5 20.Qd2 Ne7 21.b4 (21.e4 e5
22.Nf5 Nxf5 23.exf5 e4) 21...Na4 22.Ba1 d5 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Qd3 Rc4=
16...Ncd7!?
16...Ng4?! 17.Qc1! Nc216...b5 17.a3 Ng4!? 18.Bc1 Ba5 19.b4 Bb6 20.bxc5 Rxc5 21.h3 Rxc4 22.Qb2 Qd5 23.e3
Ne5 24.Qe2 Rac8 25.Nd2 Rc2
17.a3?!
17.Ba3 Bc5 (17...Nd5 18.Qc1 b5 19.e4 Bxa3 20.Nxa3 N5b6 21.Ndxb5 axb5 22.Nxb5) 18.Qd2 b5 19.Bxc5 dxc5
20.Nc2 Ne5 (20...b4 21.Qe3 a5 22.Nd2 a3) 21.Qd6=
17...Bc5 18.Qd2
18.Nd2 b5 19.e4 Rab8 20.Rab1 h518.Qd3 Ne5 19.Qd2 b5
18...b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Nc2
20.Qd3 Ne5! 21.Qxb5 Bb6 (21...Qe7!? 22.e4 d5 23.Nd2 dxe4 24.fxe4 Nfg4) 22.Nc3 Nfg4 23.Na4 Ne3+ 24.Kh1
Nxd1 25.Qxb6 Qd7 26.Rxd1 Rcb8 27.Rd2

27...Rb7!20.Nc3 b4 21.axb4 Bxb4 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Ra1

20...d5 21.Nc3 Bf8 22.Nd4?
22.Rab1 Nc5 23.Ba1 Ne8 24.e3 h5 h4
22...e5 23.Ncxb5 exd4 24.Nxd4 Nc5-+ 25.a4 Ra6 26.Rab1 Rb6 27.Ba1 Nxa4 28.Nf5 Nc5 29.b4 Ncd7 30.Qg5 Kh8
31.Rd4 Rc2 32.Nxg7 Rxe2+ 33.Kh3 Bxg7 34.Rg4 Rxh2+ 35.Kxh2 Nxg4+ 36.fxg4 d4 37.Qd8+ Nf8 38.g5 Rxb4
39.Bxd4 Rxd4 0-1

179. E32
Cruz Lledo, Pablo (2415) - Postny, Evgeny (2620)
Stockholm 131/179, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.e5 dxe5 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.a3
8.Nf3 - 99/374
8...Bc5 9.Ne4 Bd4 10.f4N
10.Nf3
10...f5
10...Bxg1 11.Rxg1 f5 (11...Qh4+? 12.g3 Qxh2 13.Qxh2 Nxh2 14.Be2 b6 15.Kf2 Bb7 16.Nc3+-) (11...Qd4?! 12.Ng5
f5 13.Nf3) 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Bd3 (13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bd3 e5! 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 exf4) 13...e5 14.fxe5 Nxe4
(14...Ng4 15.Bg5 Qe8 16.O-O-O) 15.Bxe4 Nc6 16.Rf110...Nc6!? 11.Nf3 (11.h3 Ne3 12.Bxe3 Bxe3 13.Ne2 f5
14.exf6 gxf6) 11...f5 12.exf6 e5!? 13.fxg7 Re8
11.exf6 Nxf6
11...e5!?
12.Nf3 Nc6 13.Bd3 e5!?
13...h6
14.Bd2
14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Bd2 exf4 17.O-O-O Bxb2+ 18.Qxb2 Kxh7 (18...Qxb2+ 19.Kxb2 Kxh7 20.h3)
19.Bc3 Qh6
14...exf4 15.O-O-O Kh8
15...h6 16.Rhe1 Ng415...Ng4 16.Kb1 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Bb4 Re8 19.Nd6 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Be3 21.Nxc8
(21.Nxe8? Qxd3+ 22.Rxd3 Bf5 23.Rd1 Rxe8-+) 21...Qxd3+ 22.Rxd3 Raxc8 23.Rd7 Re6 24.Rf1
16.Neg5 h6 17.h4 Qd6?!
17...Qe7 18.Bxf417...Be3
18.Kb1 Bg4?!
18...Be3 19.Bc3
19.Bg6
19.Bf5!?
19...Qc5?

19...Bb6 20.Be3
20.Bb4! Qb6 21.c5+-
21.Bxf8?! Rxf8 22.Rd3
21...Qb5 22.Rxd4 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Qd7 24.c6! Qxd4 25.cxb7 Rab8 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Qxc7
27.Nf7+!? Kg8 28.Qb3 Qb6 29.Nxh6+ Kh8 30.Qxb6 axb6 31.Nxg4 Nxg4 32.Re1
27...Nd7 28.Nf7+ Kg8 29.Nd6 Be6 30.Re1 Qd5 31.Be8 Qa2+
31...Nc5!? 32.b8=Q Qd3+ 33.Kc1 Nb3+ 34.Qxb3 Bxb3 35.Bb5
32.Kc2 Qb3+ 33.Kc1 f3 34.gxf3 Rxe8 35.Nxe8 Bf5 36.Nd6 1-0

180. E32
Hess, Robert L (2571) - Ruiz Castillo, Joshua Daniel (2331)
ProChessLeague (Internet-rapid) 131/180, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Nf3 Bb7 8.Bf4 d6 9.e3 Nbd7 10.Be2 Ne4 11.Qc2
f5
11...g5!? 12.Bg3 f5 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Bxg2 15.Rg1 Bb7 16.Bh411...Qe7 e5
12.h3 g5!?
12...Qe7
13.Bh2 g4? 14.hxg4 fxg4 15.Bd3!
15.Rg1 Kh8!
15...Ndf6
15...gxf3 16.Bxe4 fxg2 17.Rg1
16.Bf4!! gxf3 17.gxf3 e5N
17...d5
18.Bh6 Rf7

19.O-O-O!
19.fxe4? Ng4!
19...Qe7 20.fxe4 Kh8
20...Ng4 21.Rdg1+-
21.Bg5 Rg8 22.f4 Qe8 23.Rh4 Rg6 24.Qh2 exd4 25.Bxf6+ Rgxf6 26.e5 1-0

181. !N E32
Nguyen, Anh Dung (2482) - Friedel, Joshua E (2510)
Las Vegas 131/181, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d6 7.Nf3 b6 8.e3 Bb7 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.O-O Ne4 11.Qd3
f5 12.Nd2 Qh4 13.f3 Ng5! - 50/(575)
13...Nxd2? 14.Bxd2 e5 15.d5
14.f4!N
14.b3? Rf6! Rh6 15.g3 Qh5 16.h4

16...f4!! 17.exf4 (17.hxg5? fxg3-+) 17...Nh3+ 18.Kh2 Nxf4 19.Qe3 Nxe2 20.Qxe2 Raf814.g314.Rf214.b4
14...Ne4 15.Nf3 Qe7
15...Qh6!?
16.Bd2
16.b4! Bb2
16...h6 17.a4?! a5! 18.Be1 g5! 19.Nd2 Nxd2 20.Qxd2 Kh7?!
20...Nf6!
21.d5?
21.Bd3! Nf6 Ne4 22.d5! Ne4 (22...Kg8 23.fxg5 hxg5=) 23.Bxe4 fxe4 24.Bg3
21...Nc5 22.Ra3 g4! 23.Qc2 h5
23...exd5 24.Bxg4 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4
24.dxe6 Qxe6 25.b4 axb4 26.Bxb4 h4 27.Bxc5 bxc5 28.Rb1 Bc6 29.a5 h3 30.g3

30...Rxa5! 31.Rxa5 Qxe3+ 32.Kf1 Bg2+ 33.Ke1 Be4! 34.Qc1?

34.Qb2 Qg1+ 35.Kd2 Bxb1-+ 36.Ra7 Rf7 37.Ra8 Qd4+ 38.Qxd4 cxd4
34...Qg1+ 35.Kd2 Qd4+ 36.Ke1 Bxb1 37.Qxb1 Qg1+ 38.Bf1 Re8+ 39.Kd2 Qxh2+ 40.Kc3 Qxg3+ 41.Bd3 Kg6
42.Ra1 Qxf4 43.Qb5 Re3 44.Rd1 h2 45.Qb8 0-1

182. E35
Miron, Lucian Costin (2501) - David, Alexandru Vasile (2377)
Romania 131/182, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.dxc5
8.a3?! Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 cxd4 10.cxd4 g5 11.Bg3 Nc6 12.e3 Bf5! (12...Ne4 13.f3! Qa5+ 14.Ke2 Bg4!? 15.Kd1 (15.fxg4
Rc8) 15...Nc3+ 16.Kd2! Nb1+ 17.Ke2=) 13.Qa4 (13.Qxf5?! Qa5+ 14.Kd1 Ne4 15.Nf3 Ne7!) 13...O-O 14.Bb5
Rc8 15.Ne2 a6 16.Bxc6 Rxc6 17.O-O Rc2 18.Rfe1 Qb68.e3 cxd4 (8...g5!? 9.Bg3 cxd4 10.Bxb8 dxc3 11.bxc3 Bc5
12.Be5 O-O 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Bd4 Bxd4 15.cxd4 Ne4=) 9.exd4 Nc6 10.Bb5 O-O 11.Ne2 Qb6 12.Bxc6 (12.Bxf6?!
Qxb5) 12...Qxc6 13.O-O Ne4=8.Nf3 g5 (8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.a3 Bd6!? 12.e3 O-O 13.Be2 a5 14.O-
O Rb8 15.Na4 Qe7 16.Rac1 Rd8) 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.dxc5 (10.e3 Bf5 11.Bxb8 Rxb8 12.Bd3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 c4 14.Bxe4
Bxe4 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qxa7 Qb6 17.Qxb6 (17.Qa3 b4) 17...Rxb6 18.a3 Ke7 19.h4 (19.Ke2?! Ra8) 19...g4 20.Ne5
Bxg2 21.Rg1 Bf3 22.Rg3 Ra8=) 10...Bf5! (10...Nc6 11.e3 Qa5 12.Nd2! Bxc3 (12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3 14.Rb1 Qxc5
15.Rb5 Qa3 16.Rb3 Bxd2+ 17.Qxd2) 13.bxc3 Qxc3 14.Qxc3 Nxc3 15.f3 Bf5 16.Nb3 Nd4) 11.Nd4 (11.Bxb8
Nxc3 12.Qxf5 Ne4+ 13.Kd1 Qxb8 14.e3 Nxf2+ 15.Kc2 a6 16.Ne5 Qc7 17.Bc4 dxc4 18.Rhf1 Nd3 19.Nxf7 Qxc5
20.Nxh8 Qxe3 21.Qf7+ Kd8 22.Qd5+ Ke8=) 11...Nxc3 (11...Nxg3?! 12.Nxf5 Nxh1 13.O-O-O) (11...Bxc3+
12.bxc3 Nxg3 13.Nxf5 Nxh1 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Qf5 Qd7 16.Qxd5 g3) 12.Qxf5 Ne4+ 13.Kd1 O-O 14.f3 Bxc5
15.e3 - 8.dc5
8...O-O
8...g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3 Qa5 11.Ne2 Bf5 12.Be5 O-O 13.Nd4 Nxc3 (13...Re8 14.Nxf5 (14.Bxb8 - 91/ 459) 14...Rxe5
15.Nxh6+ Kg7 16.Ng4 Re7 (16...Re6 17.Bd3 Nxc3 (17...f5? 18.O-O Bxc3 19.Qb3!+-) (17...Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 f5 19.f3
fxg4 20.fxe4 Qxc5 21.Rb1!) 18.O-O Ne4 19.a3 Qxc5 20.Qd1) 17.f3 (17.Bd3 f5) 17...Nxc3 18.Kf2 Ne4+ 19.fxe4
dxe4 20.Rd1! f5 21.a3 Qxc5 22.Qxc5 Bxc5 23.Rd5) 14.Nxf5 (14.Qxf5 - 80/548) 14...Ne4+ 15.Kd1 Nc6 16.Bd6
(16.Bd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 Rfe8 18.Bd3 Re6! 19.Ne3 Rae8) 16...Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.h4 (18.Nxh6+ Kh8 19.h4
(19.f3 d4 20.Rc1 Na4! 21.e4 Ne5) 19...g4 20.f3 d4 21.Qf5 dxe3 22.Qf6+ Kh7 23.Qf5+ Kxh6 24.Qg5+=) 18...g4
19.f3 d4 20.e4 d3 21.Qd2 Qa4+ 22.Ke1 Nxe4 23.Nxh6+ Kh8! (23...Kh7? 24.Bxd3) 24.fxe4 Qxe4+ 25.Kf2 (25.Kd1
Ne5 26.Rc1 Nf3 27.Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.Qh6+ Kg8 29.gxf3 Qxf3+ 30.Kd2 Qf2+ 31.Kd1 Qf3+=) 25...Rad8 26.Re1 Qd4+
27.Kg3 Qd6+ 28.Qf4 d2 29.Rd1 f5 30.Bc4 Qxf4+ 31.Kxf4 Rd4+ 32.Kg5 Rxc4 33.Rxd2 f4 34.Rd5 Nd4 35.Kxg4 f3
36.gxf3 Ne2+ 37.Kg5 Nd4=
9.e3 Be6
9...g5 10.Bg3 Nbd7 (10...Ne4 11.Bd3! (11.Nf3 Nd7 12.Bd6 Re8) (11.Ne2 Bf5 (11...Qa5 12.O-O-O!) 12.Nd4
Nxc3 13.Qxf5 Ne4+ 14.Kd1 Bxc5 15.f3 Bxd4 16.exd4 Qb6 17.fxe4 Qxb2 18.Rc1 Qxd4+ 19.Ke1 Qe3+=) 11...Bf5
(11...Nc6 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Bd6 Re8 14.Ne2 b6 15.O-O-O) 12.Ne2 Na6 13.Bd6! Re8 14.Rd1 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Rc8
16.O-O) 11.Bd3 Nxc5 12.Ne2 Re8 13.O-O Nxd3 14.Qxd3
10.a3
10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Be2 Rc8 12.O-O (12.Nd4 Nxc5 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.O-O Nd7=) (12.c6 bxc6 13.O-O Nc5 14.Rac1 Qe7
15.Nd4 Bd7) 12...Nxc5 13.a3 (13.Nd4 Nce4) 13...Bxc3 14.Qxc3 g5 15.Bg3 Nfe4 16.Qe1 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Nb3
18.Rd1 Qb6
10...Bxc3+
10...Bxc5 11.Rd1 (11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Be2 g5!? 13.Bg3 d4 14.Rd1 Qb6) 11...Nc6 (11...Nbd7 - 126/178) (11...Be7
12.Bd3 Nc6 13.Nge2 Qb6 14.O-O d4 15.Na4) 12.Nf3 Rc8 13.Be2 Bb6 14.Qb1
11.Qxc3 g5 12.Bg3 Ne4 13.Qc2
13.Qc1!? Nd7! (13...Nc6 14.Bd3 Bf5 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.f3 Bg6 17.Ne2) 14.b4 a5 (14...Ndxc5 15.Qb2! Na4 16.Qd4)
15.Nf3 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Qa8 18.Qb2 Ndxc5! 19.Be5 (19.bxc5 Qa5+ 20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Qxd2 Qa1+
22.Qd1 Qc3+=) 19...Na4 20.Qa1 Nb6 21.Bd3 Qxa1+ 22.Bxa1 Ra8 23.O-O Nc4 24.Bd4 Ra3=
13...Nc6!?
13...Nd7 14.Nf3 (14.b4? a5 15.Rd1 (15.Qb2 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1+ 17.Qxa1 Qa8 18.Qb2 Ndxc5!) 15...axb4 16.axb4
Qf6 17.Ne2 (17.Bd3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 d4 19.Ne2 Ra2) 17...Ra1 18.f3 Rfa8!) (14.f3 Nexc5 15.Ne2 (15.b4?! Qf6
16.Rc1 Bf5 17.Qd1 Rae8) 15...Rc8 16.Nd4 Ne4 17.Qd1 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Qf6 19.g4 (19.Be2) 19...Ne5 Nc6)
14...Rc8!? (14...Ndxc5 15.Be2 (15.b4 Rc8! 16.Nd4 (16.Qd1 Re8! 17.Be5 d4!) (16.Qb2 Na4 17.Qd4 h5 18.Bd3 h4
19.Be5 f6 20.Bxe4 Rc4) 16...Bd7 17.Be2 Na4 18.Qb3 Nac3) 15...Rc8 (15...Bd7) 16.O-O Qf6 17.Be5 Qf5 18.Bc3
(18.Bd4?! Ng3!) 18...Ng3 19.Bd3 Qxd3 20.Qxd3 Nxd3 21.hxg3 Nd4) 15.Nd4 (15.Qd1 Ndxc5 16.Be2 (16.b4 Re8!
17.Be2 Nc3 18.Qc2 N5e4) 16...Qb6 Nb3 17.b4
17...Nc3! 18.bxc5 Qb2 19.Be5 d4! 20.Bxd4 Bb3 21.Rb1 Qxb1 22.Qxb1 Nxb1 23.Nd2 Nxd2 24.Kxd2 f5 25.h4 g4
26.f3) 15...Ndxc5 16.Bd3 (16.Qd1 Qb6 17.b4 Bd7! 18.Be2 Ba4 19.Qb1 Nc3 20.Qf5 Bd7 21.Qc2 N5e4) (16.Be2
Bd7 17.b4 Na4 18.Qb3 Nac3 19.Bd3 Qe7) (16.f3 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qd6 18.Qf2 Bd7 19.Rd1 f5 20.Bd3 Ba4!? 21.Bxf5
Rxf5 22.Nxf5 Nd3+ 23.Rxd3 Rc1+ 24.Kd2 Rc2+ 25.Ke1 Rc1+=) 16...h5 17.f3 (17.Qe2 h4 18.Be5 Re8! 19.Nxe6
Rxe6) 17...Nxg3 18.Bh7+ Kg7 19.hxg3 Qd6 20.Rxh5 Ne4 21.Qe2 Qxg3+ 22.Kd1 (22.Kf1? Nf6 23.Nxe6+ fxe6
24.Rh3 Qe5 25.Bd3 g4 26.Rh1 Rh8) 22...Nf6 23.Nxe6+ fxe6 24.Rh3 Qe5 25.Bd3 g4 26.f4 Qd6 27.Rh4 Kf7
14.b4
14.Bd3? Qa5+ 15.Ke2 Nb414.Nf3 Qa5+ 15.Nd2 Bf5 16.Qd1 (16.Qc1 Rac8 17.b4 Nxb4 18.axb4 Qxb4 19.Be5 Rxc5
20.Qd1 Rfc8) 16...Qxc5 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.h4 d4 19.Rc1 Qf5 20.f3 Rfe8
14...f5
14...b6!? 15.Rd1 (15.cxb6?! Qf6) (15.Bb5 Qf6 16.Rd1 Bf5 17.Bd3 bxc5 18.bxc5 Rab8!? 19.Bxb8 Rxb8) 15...bxc5
16.f3 (16.Bd3 Qb6 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Qxc5 Qa6) 16...Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qf6 18.Qxc5 Rfc8!? (18...Ne5 19.Qd4 Rfc8
20.Ne2 Rc2 21.f4) 19.Ba6 Ne5 20.Bxc8 Rxc8 21.Qd4 Rc2 22.f4 Bg4 23.Qxe5 Qa6
15.Bd6?!
15.Nf3 f4 16.exf4 Qf6 17.Rc1 Bg4 (17...Rae8 18.Bd3 gxf4 19.Bh4 Qg7) 18.Bd3 (18.Bb5 Qe6) 18...gxf4 19.Bh4
Qg7 20.Kf1 Rae815.f3 Qf6 16.Rd1 f4 17.exf4 gxf4 18.Bf2 Nxf2 19.Kxf2 Rad8 20.Ne2 d4 21.Nc1 Ne5 22.Bd3
Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Rfe8 24.Qf2 Qf6 25.h3 Nxd3 26.Nxd3 Bc4 27.Kh2 Re315.Ne2 f4 16.exf4 gxf4 (16...Qf6!? 17.Rc1
gxf4 18.Bxf4 Rae8 19.Qd3 Qb2 20.Be3 Bf5) 17.Bxf4 (17.Nxf4 Rxf4 18.Bxf4 Qf6 19.Qc1 Nd4 20.Ra2 Re8)
17...Rxf4 18.Nxf4 Qf6 19.Qc1 Rf8 20.f3 Nd4 21.fxe4 Nb3 22.Qe3 Qxa1+ 23.Kf2 d4 24.Qg3+ Kh8 25.Qf3 (25.Qh4
Kh7 26.Qe7+ Rf7 27.Qxe6 Rxf4+ 28.Kg3 Rxf1 29.Rxf1 Qxf1 30.Qxb3 d3=) 25...Qb2+ 26.Be2 Rf7 27.g3 Bc4 28.Rd1
(28.Qh5 d3 29.Qxh6+ Kg8=) 28...Nc1! 29.Rxc1 Qxc1 30.Bxc4 Qxc4 31.Kg2 Qc2+ 32.Kh3 Kh7 33.Qh5 Rxf4
34.gxf4 Qxe4=
15...Nxd6 16.cxd6 Rc8N
16...Qf6
17.Qb2
17.Qd3 Qxd6 18.Nf3 Ne5
17...Qxd6 18.Nf3 g4
18...f4! 19.Bb5 g4 20.Nd4 fxe3 21.O-O Rxf2 22.Rxf2 exf2+ 23.Qxf2 Nxd4 24.Qxd4 Qb6
19.Nd4
19.b5 Na5 20.Qe5 Qxe5 21.Nxe5 d4! 22.Ng6 Rfe8 23.Bd3 Rc3 24.Nf4 Nb3 25.Rd1 Nc519.Nh4 Qe5! (19...d4
20.Rd1 Kh7 21.Be2 Qe7 22.g3) 20.Qxe5 Nxe5 21.f4 gxf3 22.Nxf3 Ng4
19...f4! 20.Nxc6

20.Nxe6 Qxe6 21.Bb5 fxe3 22.O-O Qe4

20...bxc6?!
20...fxe3! 21.fxe3 Qxc6 22.Qd4 (22.Bd3 Qc7 g3) 22...Qc3+ 23.Qxc3 Rxc3 24.Kd2 Rb3
21.exf4 Qxf4 22.Ba6 Qe4+ 23.Qe2= Qxe2+ 24.Bxe2 c5 25.bxc5 Rxc5 26.O-O Rc2 27.Rfe1 Bf5 28.f3 h5!?
28...gxf3 29.Bxf3 d4 30.Rad1 d3=
29.Rad1 Re8 30.Rxd5 Bc8 31.Kf1
31.Rdd1 Rexe2 32.Rxe2 Rxe2 33.Rd8+ Kf7 34.Rxc8 gxf3 35.gxf3 Re3=
31...Rexe2 32.Rxe2 Ba6 33.Re5 gxf3 34.gxf3 Ra2= 35.Kf2 Bxe2 36.Rxe2 Rxa3 37.Kg3 Kf7 38.Re5 Kg6 39.h4 a5
40.Rg5+ Kh6 41.Rb5 Kg6 42.Rb6+ Kg7 43.Kf4 a4 44.Ra6 Kf7 45.Ke4 Ra1 46.Kf5 a3 47.Ra7+ Ke8 48.Ke6 Re1+
49.Kf6 Ra1 50.f4 a2 51.f5 Kd8 52.Ra3 Ke8 53.Re3+ Kf8
53...Kd7=
54.Re2 Kg8 55.Re8+ Kh7 56.Ra8 Rh1 57.Ra7+ Kh6 58.Rxa2 Rxh4 59.Ra8 Kh7 60.Kg5 Rg4+ 61.Kxh5 Rg1 62.f6
Rf1 63.Kg5 Rf2 64.Ra5 Kg8 65.Kg6 Rg2+ 66.Rg5 Rxg5+ 67.Kxg5 Kf7 68.Kf5 Kf8 69.Kg6 Kg8 70.f7+ Kf8 71.Kf6
1/2-1/2
 183. E41
Lombaers, Peter (2314) - Short, Nigel D (2675)
Gibraltar 131/183, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bd3 c5 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.a3 cxd4 9.axb4 dxc3 10.b5 Ne5 11.bxc3
11.Nxc3 - 79/504
11...O-O 12.O-O Re8
12...Bg4 - 12/587
13.Nf4N
13.Ba3
13...b6
13...Bg4 14.f3 Bd7
14.Ra4
14.Be2 Bb7 15.Qd4 Nc4 16.f3 (16.Bxc4?! Re4 17.Qd2 Rxc4=) 16...Qc7 17.Rd1
14...Bb7
14...a5 15.bxa6 g5 16.Ne2 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Ne4 18.Ng3 Nc5 19.Qd4 Ne6 (19...Nxa4?! 20.Nh5) 20.Qd3 Nc5=
15.Bb2 Qc7

16.Qc2! Rfa1 16...Nc4

16...g5 17.Ne2 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Ne4 19.Qd416...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Re4 18.Rfa1 Rxa4 19.Rxa4
17.Rfa1 Ne4
17...Qc5 18.Rxa7 (18.Qb3?!
18...Rxe3! 19.Ba3 (19.fxe3? Qxe3+ 20.Kh1 Ng4-+) 19...Nxa3 20.Qxa3 Qxa3 21.R4xa3 Re7 22.Rxa7 Rc8=) 18...Qxb5
19.Bc1
18.Rxa7 Rxa7 19.Rxa7 Qc8
19...Qb8 20.Ra2 Qe5
20.Ra4?!
20.Ba3
20...g6?!
20...Nxb2 21.Qxb2 Qxc3 (21...Nxc3 22.Ra1) 22.Qxc3 Nxc3 23.Ra7 Re7 24.f3
21.Ba3 Qd7 22.Bxc4 dxc4 23.Rxc4 Ra8 24.Rd4 Qxb5 25.Bb4 Nc5 26.f3 Ba6 27.Rd1 Bb7 28.e4 Qc4 29.Qd2 Bc6
30.Qd4 Qb3
30...Qxd4+ 31.cxd4 Ne6 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Rc1 Rc8 34.Bd6+-
31.h4 h5 32.Qd6 Nb7 33.Qd3 Rd8 34.Nd5 Bxd5 35.exd5 Nd6 36.Bxd6 Rxd6 37.c4 Qb4 38.Qd4+- Kh7 39.Kh2
Rd7 40.d6 Qa4?! 41.Rb1! Rb7 42.Qd5! Ra7 43.Rxb6
43.Re1! Re7 43...Qb4 44.Rd1
43...Qe8 44.Rb4??
44.Rb144.Qd444.Qe4
44...Qe1!= 45.Qd4 Qxb4 46.Qxa7 Qxd6+ 47.g3 Qd2+ 48.Kh3 Kg7 49.Qa1+ Kg8 50.Qf1 Qc2 51.g4 hxg4+ 52.fxg4
Qc3+ 53.Kg2 Qc2+ 54.Kf3 f5 55.Qe2 fxg4+ 56.Kf2 Qc3 57.Qxg4 Qd2+ 58.Kf1 Qc1+ 59.Ke2 Qc2+ 60.Ke3 Qc3+
61.Kf2 Qd2+ 62.Kg3 Qc3+ 63.Kg2 Qc2+ 64.Kh3 Qd3+ 65.Qg3 Qxc4 66.Qxg6+ Kh8 67.Qh6+ 1/2-1/2

184. E43
David, Alexandru Vasile (2377) - Svetushkin, Dmitry (2562)
Romania 131/184, 2016
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 b6 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 Bb7 9.Nd2
9.Re1 Ne4 10.Qc2 f5 11.Nd2 (11.Bb2 - 40/(708)) 11...Qh4!? (11...Nxf2?! 12.Kxf2 Qh4+ 13.Kf1 Qxh2 14.Nf3 Bxf3
15.gxf3 Qh1+ 16.Ke2 Qg2+ 17.Kd1 Qxf3+ 18.Be2) (11...Nxd2 12.Qxd2 (12.Bxd2 Nc6 13.e4 cxd4 14.exf5 Qf6)
12...Qc7 13.e4 fxe4 14.Bxe4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Qxc4 17.Ba3) (11...Qf6 12.f3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 d6 14.e4
cxd4 15.Bb2 fxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Nc6! (17...d3?! 18.Ba3 Rd8 19.Rae1) 18.Rae1 (18.cxd4 d5 19.Re2 Rfe8
20.Rae1 Qf7 21.Qe3 dxc4 22.d5 Nb4 23.dxe6 Qg6 Nd3) 18...Ne5 19.Rxd4 (19.Qxd4 Rac8) 19...Qg6 20.Kh1 Rac8
21.Qe2 Nf7 22.Qxe6 Qxe6 23.Rxe6 Rfe8=) 12.g3 Qf6 13.f4 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 (14.Qxd2 d6 15.e4 cxd4 16.Bb2 Bxe4
17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Rxe4 Nd7! 19.Rxd4 Nc5 20.Re1 Qf5) 14...d6 (14...Nc6!? 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.e4 Na5 (16...fxe4?!
17.Bxe4 h6 18.Rab1 Rab8 19.Be3 Qe7 20.Qg2!) 17.Qa4 Qd8 18.exf5 exf5 19.Re5 Bc6 20.Qa3 d6 21.Rxf5 Re8)
15.Re2 (15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.c4 Be6 18.Bc3 Qf7 19.e4 Bxc4 20.exf5 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 d5 22.Re7 Qxe7
23.Qxd5+ Qf7 24.Qxa8 Qd7) 15...Nd7 16.Rae1 Rac8 17.e4 cxd4 18.exf5 e5 19.cxd4

19...e4! 20.Rxe4! (20.Bxe4 Qxd4+ 21.Kg2 Rxc4) 20...Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Qf7 (21...Qxd4+ 22.Be3 Qf6 23.Qd1) 22.Bd3
Kh8 23.Bb4 Rfe8 24.Rd1 d5
9...Nc6 10.Bb2
10.Nb3 Ba6!? (10...d6 11.a4 Qc7!? (11...a5 - 58/593) 12.Ba3 (12.a5 Ba6 13.f3 cxd4 14.axb6 axb6 15.exd4 Na5)
12...Rfd8 13.e4 Ba6 (13...Ne7 14.Nd2 e5 15.d5) 14.Re1 Rac8) 11.Re1 Rc8 12.Bf1 (12.a4 cxd4 13.exd4 d5 14.cxd5
Bxd3 15.dxc6 Bc4 16.a5 Qd5) (12.e4 d5) 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 d5 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Rc1 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.Rxc4
Qd7= Rc7, Rec810.f4 d5!? (10...Qe7 11.e4 cxd4 12.e5) (10...d6 11.Rf3!? cxd4 12.Rh3 dxc3 13.Bxh7+ Nxh7
14.Qh5 f5 15.Qxh7+ Kf7 16.Qh5+ Ke7 (16...Kg8? 17.Nf3) 17.Qg5+ (17.Rg3 g6! 18.Rxg6 Kd7) 17...Kf7=)
11.cxd5 (11.dxc5 Na5) 11...Nxd5 12.Nf3 (12.Rf3 cxd4 13.Ba3 g6!) 12...Nxc3 13.Bxh7+ (13.Qc2 cxd4 14.Bxh7+
Kh8 15.Ba3 Qf6! 16.Bd3 dxe3 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.Rac1 Nd5) 13...Kxh7 (13...Kh8 14.Qe1) 14.Qc2+ Kg8 15.Ng5 f5
16.Qxc3 cxd4 17.Qd3 Rf6 18.Qe2 Rh6 19.Rd1 Qc710.Rb1!? d6 (10...Qc7 11.Re1 Rfd8 12.Nf3!? e4) 11.Qe2
(11.Re1 Ba6 12.Bb2 d5 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Rc8) 11...Re8 (11...Qe7 12.Bb2 Rae8 13.Bc2!?) 12.f4!? e5 13.fxe5 dxe5
14.Ne4 (14.d5 e4 15.Bc2 Ne5 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Ba6) 14...Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Qe7 16.Qd3 h6 17.Bd5 Nd8 18.e4
exd4 19.cxd4 Bxd5 20.exd5 cxd4 21.Rb3 (21.Qg3 Qe5 22.Bf4 Qh5 23.Rbd1 Nb7 24.Rxd4 Nc5=) 21...Rc8! (21...Qe2
22.Qh3! Qxc4 23.Rg3 Qxd5 24.Qxh6 Ne6 25.Qf6!+-) 22.Bxh6 (22.Qg3 Rxc4 23.Bxh6 Qf8 24.Rbf3 Rc3=)
22...gxh6 23.Qh3 Rxc4 24.Rg3+ Kh7 25.Qf5+ Kh8 26.Qf4 Kh7=
10...d6
10...Ba6!? d5
11.e4
11.f4 d5 (11...cxd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.Ba3 Re8 14.c5) 12.Ba3 Re8 13.dxc5 Na511.f3 Ba6 12.Rf2 (12.e4 d5) 12...Rb8!?
(12...d5 13.cxd5 Bxd3 14.dxc6 Bb5 15.dxc5 Bxc6 16.Ba3) 13.e4 b5 14.cxb5 Bxb5 15.Bxb5 Rxb5 16.Ba3
Qc711.Qe2!? e5 (11...Re8 12.e4 (12.f4 d5) 12...e5 13.d5 Ne7 14.a4 Bc8 15.Rfb1 Ng6 16.g3) (11...Qc7 12.e4
(12.Nb3 Ba6) 12...e5 13.d5 Ne7 14.Rfe1 Bc8 15.Nf1 Ne8 16.Ng3) 12.d5 Ne7 13.a4 Bc8 (13...a5 14.Rfb1)
14.Ra2!? Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.Rfa1 a5 17.Bc1
11...e5 12.d5
12.Nf3 cxd4 13.cxd4 exd4 14.Re1 Ng4=
12...Ne7
12...Na5 13.Nb3
13.Re1 Bc8
13...Ng6 14.g3 Bc8 15.Nf1 - 13...Bc8
14.Nf1 Ne8!?N
14...Ng6 15.g3 Bg4 (15...Re8 16.Bc1) 16.f3 Bd7 17.Ne3 Qc7 18.a4
15.Ng3
15.Ne3 f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Nf1 Nf6 18.Bc1 h6 19.a4 Rb8 Rb7-f715.Bc1 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ng3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3
Qd7 19.a4 Rb8 20.Bd2 (20.a5 b5 21.cxb5 Qxb5 22.c4 Qb3) 20...Nf5 (20...h6?! 21.a5 b5 22.cxb5 Qxb5 23.c4 Qb3
24.Qxb3 Rxb3 25.Reb1) 21.Ne4 h6 Nf6
15...Ng6
15...f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Qc2 g6 18.Ne4 Nf6 19.Ng5 Ng7 20.Bc1
16.Bc1 Nf4 17.Bc2 Qg5 18.Qf3
18.h3 g6 (18...Ba6?! 19.Bd3 Qd8 20.Bf1) 19.a4 Bd7 20.Bd3 Qh4 21.Bf1 a5 22.Qf3 Ng718.a4 Rb8 (18...Ba6 19.a5)
19.h3 g6 20.Qf3 Ne2 20...Qf6 (20...Qh4 21.Nf1 Qf6 22.Nh2) 21.Kh2 Qh4 22.Nf1 Nh5 (22...Bd7 23.Qg3) 23.a5
b5 (23...bxa5 24.Rxa5 f5 25.g3 Qe7 26.exf5 Bxf5 27.Bxf5 Rxf5 28.Qe2 Rf7 29.Ra6) (23...Neg7 24.axb6 axb6
25.Ng3) 24.cxb5 Rxb5 25.Ne3
18...Bg4 19.Qe3
19.Bxf4 exf4 (19...Qxf4 20.Qxf4 exf4 21.Nf1 Bd7 22.a4) 20.h4 Qe5 21.Qxg4 Nf6 22.Qf3 fxg3 23.fxg3 (23.Qxg3
Qxg3 24.fxg3 Ng4) 23...h5
19...g6 Ng7
19...Bd7 20.a4 h5 (20...g6 21.Bd3! Ng7 22.Bf1) 21.h3 h4 22.Qf3 Nxh3+ 23.gxh3 Qg6 24.Qg2 hxg3 25.fxg3 Nf6
26.g4
20.Nf1?
20.f3 Bc8 21.Qf2 Ba620.h3 Bd7 21.a4 Ng7 22.Qf3 Qf6 (22...Qh4 23.a5) 23.Kh1 g5! 24.Nf1 Qh6 25.Nh2
f520.Kh1 Ng7 21.Rg1!? Qd8 22.a4
20...Bd1! 21.Qg3 Qxg3 22.hxg3 Ne2+ 23.Rxe2
23.Kh2 Bxc2 24.Rxe2 Bd3 25.Re1 Nf6!? (25...Bxc4 26.Bh6 Ng7 27.Nd2 Bd3 28.c4 f5 29.f3) 26.Nd2 Ng4+ 27.Kg1 f5
28.f3 Nf6 29.Re3 fxe4 30.a4 Rf7 31.fxe4 Bc2 32.Ra2 Ng4 33.Rf3 Bd1
23...Bxe2 24.Ne3 Nf6 25.f3 b5 26.cxb5 Bxb5 27.c4 Bd7 28.Bb2 Rfb8 29.Bc3 Ne8 30.Kf2 a5 31.a4
31.g4 a4 32.a3 (32.g5 a3 33.g3 f6 34.f4 exf4 35.gxf4 fxg5 36.fxg5 Ng7) 32...f6 33.g3 Ng7 34.f4 h5!
31...Nc7 32.f4 f6 33.Ke2 Na6! 34.Bxa5 Nb4 35.Bxb4 Rxb4 36.a5 Rb7-+ 37.Kd2 h5 38.f5 Kg7 39.g4 hxg4 40.Nxg4
Rba7 41.Rh1 Rxa5 42.Rh6 Be8 43.fxg6 Bxg6 44.Rh3 Ra2 45.Rg3 R8a3 46.Rxa3 Rxa3 47.Ne3 Ra2 48.Ke1 Kf7 49.g3
Ke7 50.Bd3 Kd8 51.Nc2 Kc7 52.Kd2 Bh5 53.Kc3 Ra8 54.Ne3 Rg8 0-1

185. E46
Georgescu, Tiberiu Marian (2460) - Berescu, Alin Mile (2452)
Novi Sad 131/185, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Ne2 d5 6.a3 Bd6 7.Ng3 c6 8.Qc2
8.c5 Bc7 9.f4 (9.b4 e5 10.Be2 Re8) 9...b6 10.b4 a5 11.Bd2 Re8 12.Bd3 Ba6=8.e4 Nxe4 (8...e5!? 9.cxd5 exd4
10.Qxd4 Re8) 9.Ngxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Be7 (10...Bc7 11.f4 b5 12.c5 Ba5+ 13.Kf2 Bc7 14.Be2 (14.g3 e5!) 14...a5
15.Bf3) (10...e5!? 11.Be3 (11.Nxd6 Qxd6 12.Be3 Re8=) 11...Bc7 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 Bb6 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Rc1
Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Qxb2 18.O-O Nd7 19.Qd3 Nf6 20.Rb1 Qd4=) 11.f4 Nd7 12.Be3 b6 13.Qf3 Bb7 14.Nc3
Rb8 c58.Bd2!? e5 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Be2 (10.Qc2 Be6 11.O-O-O!? Na6 (11...Re8 12.Kb1 dxc4 13.f4 Bc7 14.e4)
12.f4 Bc7 13.Be2 dxc4 14.Nce4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.g4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Nc5 18.Qxc4 Qe7 19.Kb1 Bb6) 10...dxc4
(10...Be6 11.Qc2 dxc4 12.O-O-O b5 13.f4 Bc7 14.Nce4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qc8 16.g4) 11.Bxc4 Nbd7 (11...Ng4 12.Qc2
Nd7 (12...Qh4 13.Nce4! Na6 14.f4 Bc7 15.O-O-O) 13.Nce2! (13.Nce4 Nb6 Nd5) 13...Nb6 (13...Bc7 14.Rd1
Qh4 15.h3 Nge5 16.Ba2 Nf6 17.Bc3) 14.Ba2 Nd5 (14...Qf6 15.f4! Bxb2 16.Bb1 g6 17.Ra2) 15.e4 Qb6 (15...Nxf2
16.O-O) 16.O-O Nc7 17.h3 Nf6 18.Bf4) 12.Qc2 Nc5 13.f4 Bc7 14.b4 Be6 15.Bxe6 Nxe6=8.Be2 Re8!? (8...Nbd7
9.O-O dxc4 10.Bxc4 - 8.Bd3) (8...e5!? 9.cxd5 exd4 (9...cxd5 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Nxd6 Qxd6 12.O-O) 10.exd4 cxd5
11.O-O Nc6 12.Bf3 h6 13.Nge2 Bg4=) 9.O-O Nbd7 10.f4 (10.b4 a5 11.b5 c5) 10...b6 11.e4 dxe4 12.Ngxe4 Nxe4
13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.c5 f58.Bd3 Nbd7 9.O-O dxc4 10.Bxc4 e5 11.Ba2 (11.dxe5 - 119/183)
11...Nb6 (11...exd4 12.exd4 Nb6 13.Bg5) 12.dxe5 (12.Qd3 Re8 13.Rd1 Qe7) (12.Nce4 exd4 13.Qxd4 Bxg3
14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.fxg3 (15.hxg3?! Qxd4 16.exd4 Re8 Be6) 15...Qxd4 16.exd4 Nd5=) 12...Bxe5 13.Qc2 Qe7
14.f4!? (14.Nce4?! Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Re8) (14.Nce2 - 124/188) 14...Bxc3 (14...Bc7 15.e4) 15.bxc3 (15.Qxc3 Re8!
(15...Be6 16.b3!) 16.f5 (16.b4 Be6 17.Bb1 Bd5 18.e4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Re1 Nd5 21.Qd4 Qf6=) 16...Nbd5
17.Qd4 Nxe3 18.Re1 Nxf5 19.Rxe7 Nxd4 20.Bxf7+ Kf8=) 15...h5!? (15...Be6 16.c4 Bb2) 16.Qg6 (16.Bb1 g6 17.f5
h4 18.fxg6 hxg3 19.gxf7+ Rxf7 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.Qh6+ Kg8=) 16...Be6 17.Qg5 Rfe8 18.c4 Nfd7 19.Qxh5 Qc5
20.Bb2 Qxh5 21.Nxh5 f6 22.Rf3 Bf7 23.c5 Nd5 (23...Bxa2? 24.Rg3) 24.Ng3 Nxc5 25.Bd4 Ne6 26.Bxd5 cxd5
27.Nf5 Nxd4 28.exd4 Rad8 29.Rg3 g6 30.Rc1 Rd7=
8...e5!?
8...Nbd7 9.Bd2 Re8 10.Be2 (10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 Nf8 12.Nf5 (12.O-O Ng4!?) 12...Bxf5 13.Bxf5 Ne6 14.O-O g6
15.Bd3 Rc8 16.f4 Ng7 17.b4 b6 c5) 10...e5 11.Nf5 Bb8 (11...Bf8 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nb5 Nb6 14.dxe5 Rxe5 15.Ng3
Bd7 16.Bc3) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.O-O a68...Re8 9.Bd3 Nbd7 (9...e5!? 10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.O-O Be6
12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f4 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Nc6 15.b4 d4=) 10.O-O dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Bd3 (12.Ba2 e5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.e4
Qe7 Be6) 12...e5 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Qh4 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bf6 (16...Bc7 17.b4) 17.Bf3 Nd5
9.cxd5
9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Be2 (10.cxd5 cxd5 - 9.cd5) 10...Be6 11.cxd5 (11.O-O?! dxc4 12.f4 Bc7 13.e4 Ng4 14.Bxg4 Bxg4
15.Be3 Nd7 16.e5 f6) 11...cxd5 (11...Nxd5 12.Nce4 Bc7 13.Nc5) 12.f4 Bc7 13.O-O Nc6 14.b4!? (14.Rd1 Rc8!?
(14...Qb8 15.Bf3 Rd8 16.b4 (16.Qf2 Na5!) 16...d4 17.Nce4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 dxe3 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.Ng5 g6
21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Bxe3 Bxf4=) 15.Bf3 Re8 16.f5 Bd7 17.Bxd5 Ng4 18.Nf1 Bb6) 14...d4 15.Na4 dxe3
16.Bb2 Qd2 17.Qc5 Bd6 18.Qb5 Qd5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.f5 Bd7 21.Rad1 Nce7 22.f6 gxf6 23.Nc5 Bc6 24.Nce4
9...cxd5 10.Nb5N
10.dxe5 Bxe5 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.O-O Be6 13.f4 (13.Bf5?! Rc8) (13.Nce2 Rc8 (13...Qb6) 14.Qd1 d4 15.f4 Bc7 16.f5 Bd7
17.exd4 h6 18.Kh1 Re8) 13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Re8 15.Rb1 b6 16.Bb5 (16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 h6 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Bb2
Rad8 20.c4 Qe7 21.f5 Bc8) 16...Rc8 17.c4 d4 (17...Bd7 18.Qd3 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Na5 20.Ba6 Be6 21.Qxd8 Rcxd8 22.e4
Bc4=) 18.e4 d3 19.Qc3 Nd4 20.Bxe8 Nxe4 21.Qxd3 Nxg3 22.hxg3 Bf5 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qe3 Bxb1 25.Rd1 Rxc4
26.Bb2 Qe7=
10...Nc6
10...exd4!? 11.Nxd4 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc6 Rb8 14.Be2 (14.Qa4 Be5 15.Bd3 d4 16.exd4 Bxd4 17.O-O Ng4
18.Be2 Qh4 19.Bxg4 Qxg4 20.Qd1 Re8) 14...d4! 15.Qc4! (15.O-O? d3) (15.exd4? Bb7) (15.Qc2?! Ba6!)
15...Be5!? (15...dxe3 16.Bxe3 Nd5 17.Bc5 Rxb2 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rd1 Be6 20.O-O=) 16.O-O Be6 17.Qa6! Re8
18.exd4 Bxd4 19.Be3 Bc8 20.Qd3 Bxe3 21.Qxd8 Rxd8 22.fxe3 Rxb2 23.Rfd1 Re8 24.Rab1 Ra2 25.Bb5=
11.Nxd6 Qxd6 12.dxe5 Qxe5 13.Bb5
13.Bd3 h5! (13...Nd4 14.Qc3 Nc6 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.Bb1) 14.Ne2 h4 15.O-O h3 16.g3 Bd7 Rac8
13...Bd7
13...h5!? 14.Qa4 (14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Qxc6 Bg4 16.f3 Rac8 17.Qa4 h4 18.Ne2 h3) (14.h3 h4 15.Ne2 Qg5) 14...a6
15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qh4 a5 17.O-O Re8 18.f4 Qe6 19.Nxh5 Nxh5 20.Qxh5 Rb8
14.O-O h5 15.Bxc6
15.h3 h4 16.Ne2 Rac8
15...bxc6
15...Rac8 16.Qd3 Rxc6 17.f3 Rc4 18.Ne2 Bb5 19.Nd4 (19.Nc3?! Rxc3) 19...Rxc1 20.Nxb5 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Re8
22.Nxa7 Qxb2 23.Rb1 Rxe3 24.Rxb2 Rxd3 25.Rxb7 Rxa3 26.Nc6= Ne5
16.Bd2 h4 17.Bc3 Qe6
17...Qg5 18.f4 Qh6 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Ne4 21.Rac1 Rfe8=
18.Ne2 Ne4 19.Nf4 Qh6 20.Bb4
20.h3 Bf5 21.Rfc1 Rac8 22.b4 g5 23.Ne2 g4 24.hxg4

24...h3! 25.gxh3 Bg6 26.Nf4 Ng5 27.Qd1 Be4!? (27...Nxh3+ 28.Nxh3 Qxh3 29.Qf1 Qxg4+ 30.Qg2 Qf5=) 28.Nh5
Nf3+ 29.Kf1 f5 30.Bg7 Qg5 31.Bxf8 fxg4 32.Ng3 gxh3 33.Bd6 h2 34.Ke2 Qg4 35.Nxe4 dxe4 36.Qh1 Nd4+ 37.Kf1
Qe2+ 38.Kg2 Qf3+ 39.Kxh2 Qh5+=
20...Rfe8 21.f3 Nd6 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Qf2?!
23.Qc3 c5 24.b4 d423.Qd2 h3 24.g4 Re5 25.Nxh3 Qe7 26.Nf4 Rxe3 27.Rae1 Re8 28.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 29.Rf2 d4 30.Nd3 f5
31.Nc5 Bc8 32.Qxe3 dxe3 33.Re2 fxg4 34.Kg2 Bf5 35.Kg3 gxf3 36.Kxf3=
23...d4! 24.Rad1 c5 25.Qxh4?
25.Rfe1 g5 26.Ne2 d3 27.Nc3 c4 28.e4 Qe5 (28...Bc6 29.Qe3 Qe5 30.Rf1 f4 30...Rab8 31.Rf2) (28...Be6 29.e5)
29.Nd5 (29.Qe3 Be6 30.Rf1 Rab8 31.Rd2 Qf4) 29...Be6 30.f4 gxf4 31.Nxf4 Qg5
25...Ba4!?
25...Rxe3 26.Qg5 Rae8 27.Nh5 (27.b4 cxb4 28.axb4 R3e5 29.Qg3 Ba4-+) (27.Nd3 Bb5 28.Qxc5 Qd7-+) 27...Qe5
28.Qxe5 R8xe5 29.Ng3 Bb5 30.f4 Re8 31.Rf3 Re1+ 32.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 33.Kf2 Rc1-+
26.Rd2
26.Rc1 Rxe3 27.Nh3 (27.Qg5 Re5 28.Qg3 Bb5 29.Rfd1 Rae8-+) 27...Re5 28.Ng5 Qg6 29.Ne4 (29.f4 Re2 30.f5 Qh6
31.Qxh6 gxh6 32.Nf3 d3! 33.Rf2 Rae8-+) 29...Bb5 30.Rfe1 c4 31.Qg3 Qxg3 32.hxg3 Rd8 33.g4 d3 34.Red1 Ba4
35.Rd2 Bc2
26...Rxe3 27.Qg5
27.Nh3 f6 28.Nf2 Qe727.Rc1 d3 28.Nh3 Re2
27...Bb5 28.Rc1 Re5 29.Qg3 Rae8 30.Nd3
30.Rcd1 d3! 31.Nxd3 Qd4+ 32.Qf2
32...Re3!-+
30...Bxd3 31.Rxd3 c4-+ 32.Rd2 c3 33.Rxc3
33.bxc3 Qxa3
33...dxc3 34.Rxd6 Re1+ 35.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 36.Kf2 cxb2 0-1

186. E48
Navara, David (2742) - Stefansson, Hannes (2574)
Baku (ol) 131/186, 2016

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 a6
9...c5 - 83/(540)
10.Rc1 b6 11.Ng3 c5 12.Bb1N
12.dxc5
12...Be6 13.dxc5 Bxc5
13...bxc5 14.e4! d4 15.Na4 c4 16.f4
14.Nce2 Nbd7 15.Bc3 Bd6 16.Nd4
16.Nf5!?
16...Rc8 17.Qe2 b5 18.Nxe6
18.f4 Bg4 19.Qd2 Nb6
18...fxe6 19.e4 Bf4?!
19...Be5
20.Rce1 Be5 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.f4! Qb6+?
22...Nc4 23.e5 Nd7 24.Qh5 h6 25.Qe2
23.Kh1 Ng6 24.e5 Nd7 25.Qh5 Ndf8 26.f5 exf5 27.Nxf5 Rcd8 28.Nd6 Re6?! 29.Qf3 Nxe5

30.Rxe5! Qxd6 31.Qf7+ Kh8 32.Rxd5! 1-0

E50-E99

187. E61
Khismatullin, Denis (2639) - Kovalev, Vladislav (2598)
Moscow 131/187, 2017

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.d4 d6 6.e3 Nc6 7.Nge2 Bd7 8.b3
8.O-O - 130/(190)
8...a6 9.Bb2 Rb8 10.Rc1 b5 11.Nd5 bxc4N
11...Ne8
12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Rxc4 Na5
13...Rb6 14.Nf4 e6 15.O-O
14.Rc2 c5
14...Bb5 15.O-O c5 16.Qd2 cxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.exd4 e6 19.Rfc1 d5 20.Nf4
15.dxc5 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Nc4 17.Rc2 Qa5+ 18.Rc3?

18.Nc3 Na3 19.Rc1 Nb5 20.Qd2 Nxc3 21.Rxc3 (21.c6 Bxc6 22.Bxc6 Rfc8 23.Rxc3 Rb6 24.Rc4 Qxd2+ 25.Kxd2
Rcxc6 26.Rhc1) 21...dxc5 22.O-O18.Kf1! Ne5 (18...Na3 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.c6) 19.Qd2 (19.c6 Bf5 20.Qd2)
19...Qxd2 20.Rxd2
18...Bg4! 19.bxc4
19.f3? Nxe3! 20.Qd2 Nxg2+ 21.Kf2 Bh3 22.Qh6 Be6 23.Rc2 (23.Kxg2 Qxa2-+) 23...Rfc8 24.Kxg2 Rxc5-+19.Qc1
Ne5 20.Qc2 Rbc8 21.h3 (21.c6 Nxc6) 21...Bf3 22.Kf1 Rxc5
19...Bxe2 20.Qd2 Bg4 21.O-O
21.f3 Bh3! 22.O-O (22.Bxh3 Rb1+-+) 22...Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qxc5
21...dxc5 22.Qc1 Rb4 23.a3 Rb6 24.h3?!
24.Qc2
24...Be2! 25.Re1

25...Rfb8! 26.Be4

26...Bf3! 27.Bd3
27.Bxf3 Rb1 28.Qd2 R8b2-+
27...Rb3 28.Rxb3 Rxb3 29.Bf1 Be4-+ 30.Qa1
30.Rd1 Rb1 31.Qd2 Qxd2 32.Rxd2 Bf3-+
30...Rxa3 31.Qb2 Qxe1 32.Qb8+
32.Qxa3 Qd1-+
32...Kg7 33.Qe5+ Kh6 34.Qxe7 Ra1 35.Qf8+ Kg5
35...Kh5?? 36.g4+ Kg5 37.Qe7+ f6 (37...Kh6 38.Qf8+=) 38.h4+! Kxg4 (38...Kxh4?? 39.Qxh7+ Kxg4 (39...Kg5
40.f4+ Kxg4 41.Qh3#) 40.Qh3+ Kg5 41.f4#) 39.Qxe4+ Kh5 40.Qf3+ Kh6 41.Qf4+ Kg7 42.Qc7+=
36.Qxc5+ Bf5 37.Qe7+ f6 38.f4+ Kh6 39.Qf8+ Kh5 40.g4+ Kh4 0-1

188. E61
Ider, Borya (2463) - Hou, Yifan (2651)
Gibraltar 131/188, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.Bf4 Bb7 4.e3 g6 5.h3 Bg7 6.Be2 d6 7.c4 Nbd7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.O-O e6 10.Qc2
10.Bh2 - 26/605
10...Nh5 11.Bh2 f5 12.d5N
12.Nd2
12...e5 13.g4 fxg4 14.hxg4 Nhf6 15.Ng5

15...Nxd5! 16.Ne6 Nxc3 17.Nxd8 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Bf3 19.Qd3

19.Qc2 Raxd8 20.Bg3! (20.e4 Nf6) 20...Nc5 (20...Nf6?! 21.Bh4) 21.b4 Ne4 22.a4 h5
19...Nc5!
19...Raxd8!? 20.e4 Nc5 21.Qd5+ Rf7 22.Rae1
20.Qa3 Rfxd8
20...Raxd8! 21.b4! (21.Qxa7 Rf7! 22.b4 Ne4) 21...Ne4 22.c5 dxc5 23.bxc5 Rf7 24.cxb6 axb6
21.e4
21.b4!? Ne4 22.Rac1
21...Rf8! 22.Rae1 Bh6 23.b4 Ne6!?
23...Nxe4 24.Rxe4 Bxe4 25.f3 Bc6 26.c5 Rf7 27.Qc3 Bb7 28.Qb3 Rf8 29.cxd6 cxd6
24.c5 Nd4 25.Qd3 b5 26.Bg3 Bg5 27.a4 a6 28.Qa3 Bxg4 29.Rd1
29.f4?! exf4 30.Qd3 dxc5 31.bxc5 Rad8-+29.cxd6! cxd6 30.f4 exf4 31.Qd3
29...Nf3+
29...Bxd1!? 30.Rxd1 Be7
30.Kg2 dxc5 31.bxc5 h5 32.Qa2+
32.Rd3 h4 33.Bh2
32...Kh7 33.Qd5?! Rae8 34.Qc6 Re7 35.Rd3 h4 36.Bh2

36...bxa4?
36...Ref7! 37.Rb1 Nd4 38.Qd5 Rxf2+ 39.Kh1 Nc2 40.Qxe5 Be3!-+
37.Qxa4 Kh6 38.Qa3 Ref7 39.Qb2 Re7 40.c6 a5 41.Rb3 Kg7
41...a4! 42.Ra3 (42.Rb8 h3+ 43.Kh1 Nxh2 44.Rxf8 Nxf1 45.Qb8 Rh7!-+) 42...Nd2 43.Bxe5 h3+ 44.Kg1 Nc4
42.Rb5?
42.Kh1
42...h3+ 43.Kh1 Nxh2 44.Rxe5 Bf3+
44...Rxe5? 45.Qxe5+ Kh6 46.f4 Bf6 47.Qc5 Nxf1 48.Qxf8+ Bg7 (48...Kh5? 49.Qxf6 Bf3+ 50.Kg1 h2+ 51.Kf2+-)
49.Qa3!+-
45.Kg1 Nxf1-+ 46.Rxe7+ Kh6 47.Qg7+ Kh5 48.Qh7+ Kg4 49.Re8 Rxe8 50.Qd7+ Kh4 51.Kxf1 Rd8 52.Qh7+ Kg4
0-1

189.**** E63
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2668) - Vocaturo, Daniele (2576)
Ortisei 131/189, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 e5 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8
11.Bg5 Rd7
11...Rd4 - 57/(546)
12.h3
12.Nd5 - 131/(189) 12...Nxd5 13.cxd5 h6N (13...f6) 14.Bd2 c6 15.dxc6 Rxd2 16.cxb7 Bxb7 17.Bxb7 Rb8 18.Ba6
Rbxb2 19.a4 e4 20.Rad1 Bc3= Bok,B (2613)-Georgiadis,N (2470)/Biel (m/ 2-rapid) 131/(189) 201612.Bh3N Rd4
13.Bxc8 Rxc8 14.b3 a6 15.f3 h6 16.Be3 Rdd8 17.Rfd1 e4 18.Rac1 exf3 19.exf3 Bf8 20.Kf2 Ba3 21.Rb1 Bb4 22.Na4
Kg7 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.Bxc5 Predojevic,B (2652) -Draskovic,L (2449)/Bosna i Hercegovina 131/(189) 2016
12...c6 13.Rac1 Ne8N - 131/189
13...Rc713...h6N 14.Be3 Nh5 15.b4 f5 16.b5 Rc7 17.Bxa7 (17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Nb5! Rf7 19.Bxc6) 17...e4 18.Bb6 Rf7
Corvi,M (2305)-Paulet,I (2187)/Ortisei 131/(189) 2016
14.b4 Rd4
14...f6 15.Be3 f5 16.b5 e4 17.f3 Nd6 (17...exf3 18.Bxf3 Re7 19.Bg5 Re6 20.Bf4)
15.b5 Rxc4
15...e4 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Be3 Rxc4 18.Nxe4 Be6 19.Nd2 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Bxa2 21.Rxc6
16.bxc6 bxc6
17.Nd5! Rxc1
17...cxd5? 18.Rxc4 dxc4 19.Bxa8 Bxh3 20.Rb1
18.Ne7+ Kf8 19.Rxc1 Bf6
19...Bd7 20.Nxc6 Rc8 21.Bd2
20.Nxc8 Bxg5
20...Rxc8 21.Be3 a6 22.Rxc6 Rxc6 23.Bxc6
21.Rxc6 Rb8 22.e3
22.Nxa7 Rb1+ 23.Kh2 Rb2 24.Rc8 Rxa2 25.Bc6 Rxa7 26.Rxe8+ Kg7 27.Rxe5
22...Bd8 23.Bf1 a5 24.a4 Bc7 25.Na7 Ke7??
25...Rb7 26.Nb5 Bd8 27.Ra6
26.Rxc7+!
26.Rxc7+ Nxc7 27.Nc6++-1-0

190.* E63
Banusz, Tamas (2613) - Radjabov, Teimour (2722)
Espana 131/190, 2016

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.d4 d6 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Nd2 Qc8N
10...h6 - 129/189
11.Nd5 Nd7 12.b4 h6 13.Be3 Re8 14.Rc1 - 131/190
14.Nb3N Nd8 (14...f5 15.Rc1 Nd8 16.Qd2 Nf7 17.Rfd1 c6 18.b5) 15.Qd2 Kh7 16.Rac1 f5 17.Rfd1 c6
18.b5! Bg8 19.Nb4 (19.Nc7! Qxc7 20.Qxd7 Re7 (20...Qxd7 21.Rxd7 Be6 22.Rc7 cxb5 23.cxb5) 21.Qxc7 Rxc7
22.Bxa7!) 19...Nb6 20.Na5 e4 21.f3 c5 22.Nd5 Adly,A (2595) -Libiszewski,F (2543)/Menton 131/(190) 2016
14...Nd4?!

14...Ne7 15.Nb3 Nf5 16.Bd2 c6 17.b5! c5 18.Bc3

15.Bxd4! exd4 16.Nb3 c5?!
16...Nb6 17.Nf4! (17.Nxd4) 17...c6 (17...Bxc4?! 18.Na5 Ba6 19.a4) 18.c5 Nd5 (18...Bxb3 19.Qxb3 Nd7
20.Nxg6) 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Nxd416...Nf6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Nxd4 Rd8 19.e3
17.bxc5 Nxc5
17...Ne5 18.Nxd4 Qxc5 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Qb3
18.Nxd4 Bh3
18...Qd7 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Qc2 Rae8 21.e3
19.Nb5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Re5 21.f4 Re4 22.Nd6+- Qe6 23.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 24.Rf3 Re8 25.Rc2 g5 26.h3 Ne6 27.Qd3
27.Kh2 Qd4 (27...Nd4 28.Re3+-) 28.Qd3+-
27...Nd4 28.Qxe4 Rxe4 29.Re3
29.Rcc3 Nxf3 (29...Rxe2+ 30.Rf2+-) 30.Kxf3 Rd4 31.Ra3+-
29...Rxe3 30.Nxe3 gxf4 31.gxf4 Nxc2 32.Nxc2 Kf8 33.Ne3 Ke8 34.Nf5 Bf8 35.e4
35.Kf3 Kd7 36.Kg4 Kc6 37.Kh5+-
35...Kd7 36.e5 Kc6 37.Kf3 Kc5 38.Ke4 a5
38...Kxc4 39.Nd6++-
39.Kd3 a4 40.Kc3 b6 41.Nd6
41.Nd6 Bxd6 42.exd6 Kxd6 43.Kb4+-1-0

191.* !N E63
Luch, Michal (2448) - Santos Latasa, Jaime (2545)
Portugal 131/191, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.d5 Nb8 9.Ne1 a5 10.Nd3 Na6 11.e4 Nd7
11...Nb4 - 79/(519)
12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4

13...Nb6!N
13...Ndc5
14.Qb3 Re8 15.Be3

15.Bd2 Bg4 16.h3 Bd4+ 17.Kh2 Qh4 18.Be1 Qh6

15...a4! 16.Nxa4 Nxa4 17.Qxa4 Bf5 18.exf5 - 131/191
18.Nf2N Nc5 19.Qc2 Nxe4! 20.Bxe4 (20.Nxe4 Qe7-+) 20...Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Qe7 22.Ng3 Qxe3+ 23.Kh1 h5
Mamedyarov,S (2772) -Shimanov,A (2642)/ ProChessLeague (Internet) 131/(191) 2017 (23...h5 24.f5! Qg5 (24...h4
25.fxg6! fxg6 26.Qxg6 hxg3 27.Rae1! Qxe1 (27...g2+ 28.Kxg2 Qd2+ 29.Rf2 Qxe1 30.Qf7+=) 28.Qf7+ Kh7 29.Qf5+
Kh6 30.Qf4+ Kh5 31.Qf5+=) 25.fxg6 fxg6) (23...Qb6) (23...f5 24.Rf2 Qc5)
18...Rxe3 19.Qc2 Bd4
19...Qh4 20.Kh1 Rae8 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rad1 Nc5 23.Nxc5 dxc5
20.Kh1 Qh4 21.Qd2 Rae8 22.Rae1
22...Nc5! 23.Rxe3 Bxe3
23...Rxe3? 24.Nf2 Qxf4 25.Nd1
24.Qd1 Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Bxf4 26.Qh3 Qxh3 27.Bxh3 Re4 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.Bc8 b6 30.b3 Kg7 31.Kg2 Be5 32.h3 Bd4
33.Bg4 f5 34.Bf3 Re3 35.Rd1 Be5 36.Rc1 Kf6 37.b4
37.Kf2 Bd4 38.Rd1 Ke5
37...Ra3-+ 38.Rc2 Ra4 39.c5
39.b5 Kg5-+
39...Rxb4
39...bxc5 40.bxc5 dxc5 41.Rxc5 Rxa2+ 42.Kf1 Bd6-+
40.cxb6 cxb6 41.Be2 Re4 42.Bf1 Re3 43.Rc6 Rg3+ 44.Kh1 Ra3 45.Rxb6 Rxa2 46.Rb1 Kg5 47.Re1 Kh4 48.Bg2 Rd2
49.Rb1 Rd3 50.Rg1 Bd4 51.Bf1?
51.Rb1 f4-+
51...Rd1 0-1

192.* E63
Ruck, Robert (2566) - Martinovic, Sasa (2563)
Hrvatska 131/192, 2016

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 e5 8.d5 Nb8
8...Ne7 - 125/188
9.e4 a5 10.Ne1 Na6 11.Nd3 Nd7 12.Be3 f5 13.Qd2 Nac5
13...b6 14.exf5N (14.a3) 14...gxf5 15.f4 e4 16.Nf2 Nf6 17.Nb5 Bd7 18.Nd4 Qe8 19.b3 h5 20.Nh3?! (20.a3 b5!?
(20...h4!?) 21.cxb5 (21.Qxa5 bxc4 22.bxc4 Qd8 23.Qd2 Nc5) (21.Nxb5) 21...Nc5 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Na4)
20...Ng4 21.a3 Nc5 22.Rab1 h4 Vukic,M (2391)-Kadric,D (2562)/Bosna i Hercegovina 131/(192) 2016
14.exf5N
14.Nxc5
14...gxf5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.f4 e4 17.Bd4 Bd7 18.Rfe1
18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.g4 fxg4 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Qf6
18...Rf7 19.Re3 Nd3 20.Bxg7 Rxg7 21.Kh1 Qf6 22.Bf1 Nc5 23.Be2 Kh8 24.Rd1 Rag8 25.Qd4 Qxd4 26.Rxd4 h5
27.Rd1?!

27.Bxh5! Nd3 28.Rexd3 exd3 29.Rxd3 Re7 30.Kg2

27...h4! 28.Kg2 Rh7 29.Rg1 Rg6 30.Nd1 Kg7 31.Nf2 Kf6 32.Kf1 hxg3 33.hxg3 c6 34.g4 fxg4
34...cxd5 35.cxd5 fxg4 36.Nxe4+ Nxe4 37.Rxe4 Rh5 38.Rd4 Rh2 39.Rg3 Rg8 40.Re4 Kf5
35.Nxe4+ Nxe4 36.Rxe4 cxd5 37.cxd5?!
37.Rd4 Rh2 38.Rxd5 Ke7
37...Rh3
37...Rh5 - 34...cd5
38.Rd4 Rg7 39.Re4 b5 40.Kg2 b4 41.Kf1 Rg8 42.Kf2 Rc8 43.Bd1 Rd3 44.Re3 Rd2+ 45.Re2 Rxd5-+ 46.Bb3 Rd4
46...Rd3-+
47.Rge1 a4?!
47...Rxf4+ 48.Kg1 a4-+
48.Be6?!
48.Ke3 Bb5 49.Kxd4 Bxe2 50.Bxa4 Bf3
48...Bxe6 49.Rxe6+ Kf5 50.Re7 Rxf4+ 51.Kg1 Rc2 52.b3 a3 53.Re8 Rxa2 54.R1e7 g3 0-1

193. E81
Aronian, Levon (2780) - Van Wely, Loek (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 131/193, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nge2 a6 7.Ng3
7.Be3 - 121/(193)
7...Nbd7 8.Be2 c6 9.O-O b5 10.Be3 Rb8 11.Rf2N
11.b3
11...Qc7 12.Rc1 b4 13.Na4 c5 14.d5 e6 15.b3 Re8 16.Qd2 exd5 17.cxd5
17.exd5 h5 18.Bh6 Bh8
17...Nb6 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.Bh6 Bh8 20.h3 Bd7 21.Bc4 Bb5 22.Kh1 Qd8
22...Nd7 23.Rff1 Bxc4 24.Rxc4 a5
23.Bg5 Rb7 24.Qf4 Qe7 25.Qh4 Qe5 26.Rd2 Bxc4?!

26...Nd7 27.f4 Qg7 28.e5 f5 (28...dxe5 29.f5!) 29.exf6 Qf7 (29...Nxf6 30.f5 Rbe7 31.Rf1) 30.f5 Bxf6 31.Rf2
27.f4! Qxe4?!
27...Qc3 28.Rxc3 bxc3 29.Rc2 Bd3 30.Rxc3 Nxe4 31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Bf627...Qe7 28.Rxc4 Bg7 29.e5 dxe5 30.f5 e4
31.Re2
28.Nxe4 Nxe4 29.Re1 Bc3?!
29...Bb5 30.f5 gxf5 31.g4! f4 (31...fxg4 32.Rg2+-) 32.Rxe4 (32.Bxf4) 32...Rxe4 33.Bf6 Bxf6 34.Qxf6 Rd7 35.Qg5+
Kf8 36.Qf5
30.f5!+- Bxd2
30...Bxd5 31.Rxd5 Bxe1 32.Qxe1 Nf6 33.Qd1+-
31.Bxd2 Bxd5

32.Rxe4! Bxe4
32...Rxe4 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.f6#
33.Qf6 Bxg2+ 34.Kg1 1-0
 194. E81
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2750) - Van Wely, Loek (2695)
Wijk aan Zee 131/194, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Ne2 O-O 6.Nbc3 c6 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.Qd2 a6 9.c5
9.g4 - 55/(607)
9...b5 10.cxb6 Nxb6 11.Nf4 a5 12.Be2 Nfd7 13.O-O Ba6 14.Bxa6 Rxa6 15.Qe2 Qa8 16.Rac1N
16.Rfd1
16...Rb8 17.Rc2 a4 18.Bf2 Ra5 19.Nd3 e6

20.Nb1! c5
20...e5 21.Nb4 c5 22.dxc5 dxc5 (22...Nxc5?! 23.Qd2 Nc6) 23.Nd3 c4 24.Nc1 Bf8 25.Na3
21.dxc5 Nxc5
21...dxc5 22.Na3 c4! 23.Nxc4 (23.Nc1) 23...Nxc4 24.Rxc4 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Bxe5 26.Rb1 Rab5 27.Qc2 Rb4 28.Rxb4
Rxb4 29.g3
22.Nxc5 dxc5 23.Rd1
23.Bxc5? Rxc5 24.Rxc5 Bd4+-+23.Rxc5?! Rxc5 24.Bxc5 Nd7 25.Ba3 Qc6 26.Rd1 Ne5
23...Qc6 24.Qd2 Rba8 25.Na3 h5 26.Qd6 Rc8 27.Qxc6 Rxc6 28.Rd8+ Kh7 29.Rb8 Ra7
29...Ra8 30.Rxa8 Nxa8 31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Bxc5 Bxb2 33.Nc4 Bg7 34.Kf2
30.Rxc5 Rd6 31.Rc1
31.Kf1! Nd7 (31...Ra8 32.Rxa8 Nxa8 33.Nc4+-) 32.Rc4 Nxb8 (32...Raa6 33.Rb7) 33.Bxa7
31...Rad7
31...Bxb2 32.Nb5 Ra8 (32...Bxc1 33.Nxd6+-) 33.Rxa8 Nxa8 34.Nxd6 Bxc1 35.Nxf7+-
32.Rf1! Bxb2 33.Nb5 Nc4?
33...Rc6 34.Rxb6 (34.Bxb6?! Be5 35.Rd8 Rb7 36.Bd4 Rxb5=) 34...Rxb6 35.Bxb6 Rb7 36.Rb1 a3 37.Kf1 Rxb6 38.Nxa3
Ra6 39.Nc4 Bc3 40.Rb3
34.Nxd6+- Rxd6 35.Rb4 Rc6 36.Rxa4 g5 37.h3 g4 38.hxg4 hxg4 39.fxg4 Ne5 40.Bd4 Bxd4+ 41.Rxd4 Rc2 42.Ra1
Kg6 43.a4 Kg5 44.a5 Kxg4 45.a6 Kg3 46.Ra3+ 1-0

195. E84
Wang, Hao (2680) - Fedorov, Alexei (2563)
Romania 131/195, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.h4 h5 10.Nc1 a5!?N
10...e5 - 65/(556)
11.Be2
11.N1e2!? Bd7 12.O-O-O Ra8 (12...e5 13.d5 Nb4 14.Kb1 Na6 15.Nc1 a4 16.Be2 a3 17.b3 Nc5 18.Nd3) 13.Kb1 a4
14.Nc1 Na5 (14...e5 15.d5 Nd4 16.N1e2) 15.Be2 c6 16.g4
11...Bd7
11...e5 12.Nb3! (12.d5 Nd4 13.Nb3 (13.Nb5 Nxb5 14.cxb5 c6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Nb3 Ra8 17.Rd1 d5) 13...c5 14.dxc6
Nxe2 15.Nxe2 Qc7!? 16.Qxa5 (16.c5 dxc5 17.cxb7 Qxb7) 16...Qxc6 17.Nc3 Qxc4 18.Rd1 b6! 19.Bxb6 Be6
20.Rxd6 Nd7) 12...Ra8 13.d5 a4 14.dxc6! axb3 15.cxb7 Bxb7 16.a4! Ra3
12.Bd1!? b6
12...e5 13.d5 Nd4 14.N1e212...Ra8!? 13.N1e2 a4 14.Rc1 a3 15.b3 Nh7 16.Bc2 e5 17.d5 Ne7 18.Bd3!? (18.c5 dxc5
19.Bxc5 b6 20.Bb4 (20.Be3 Nc8 Nd6) 20...Nf6 21.Bd3 c5 22.dxc6 Nxc6) 18...b6 (18...f5 19.c5! fxe4 20.Nxe4
Nf5 21.Bg5 Nxg5 22.hxg5) 19.O-O (19.Ng3 Qe8 f5 20.Nb5 Qd8 21.b4 f5 22.exf5 Nxf5 23.Bxf5 Bxf5 24.Nxf5
(24.Nc3 Bf6 25.Bf2 Bxh4!? 26.Rxh4 Qxh4 27.Nxf5 Qh2 28.Ne3 Ng5) 24...gxf5 25.Bg5 (25.O-O Rf7) 25...Bf6
26.Bxf6 Rxf6 27.f4 Rg6 28.fxe5 dxe5 29.Qc2 Kh8 30.Qxf5 Rxg2) 19...f5 20.g3!? Nf6 21.exf5 Nxf5 22.Bg5 Qe8
23.Qc2 Nh7 24.Bd2
13.N1e2 e5 14.d5 Ne7 15.Bc2 Nh7 16.O-O-O f5 17.Rdg1 Qe8
17...Kh8 18.exf5 Nxf5 (18...gxf5 19.g4) 19.Bg5 Qe8 20.g4
18.Kb1!
18.exf5 Nxf5 19.g4 (19.Bg5 b5) 19...Nxe3 20.Qxe3 e4 21.Bxe4 hxg4 22.Qd3 b5
18...Nf6 19.Bg5 Kh8
19...b5 20.Nxb5 Bxb5 21.cxb5 Qxb5 22.Bd3 Qb7 23.Nc3 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Qb6 25.Bxf6 Rxf6 26.g4!
20.a3!?
20.exf5 gxf5 (20...Bxf5 21.g4 Bxc2+ 22.Kxc2) 21.g4 fxg4 (21...hxg4 22.h5+-) 22.Ng3! gxf3 23.Bh6
20...b5! 21.cxb5 Bxb5 22.Rc1
22.Nxb5 Qxb5 23.Bd3 Qa4 24.Ka1! fxe4 25.fxe4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Qxe4 27.Bxe7 Rf2 28.Re1 Qf5 29.Rh3! (29.Bg5? e4-
+) 29...e4 30.Rc3 Rxg2 (30...Bxc3 31.Qxc3+ Qe5 32.Qxe5+ dxe5 33.d6 cxd6 34.Bxd6 Rb5 35.a4 Rd5 36.Bc7) 31.Bg5
Kg8 32.Be3 Qf3!? (32...Qg4 33.Rc2 Rb3 34.Ka2 a4 35.Qc1!) 33.Bd4 Bxd4 34.Qxd4! (34.Rxf3 Bxb2+ 35.Qxb2
Rxb2 36.Re3 Rd2 37.Rxe4 Kg7 38.Nc3 Kh6=) 34...Rxe2 35.Rxe2 Qxe2 36.Rxc7 Qf1+ 37.Ka2 Qf8 38.Qxe4
22...Bd7
22...Bc4 23.Ba4 Qc8 24.Rc2 fxe4 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Nxe4 Bxd5 27.N2c3 Ba8 28.Nb5 Bxe4 29.fxe4 Qg4 30.Nxc7
23.Bh6
23.Bd3 fxe4 24.fxe4 c6 25.dxc6 Nxc6 26.Rcf1 Ng423.Ka1!?
23...fxe4 24.fxe4 Ng4 25.Bxg7+ Kxg7 26.Rhf1 Ng8
26...Rxf1 27.Rxf1 Qd8!? 28.Ng1 c6 29.dxc6 Qb6 30.Bb3! Bxc6 31.Ba2 Rf8 32.Nf3 Rf6 (32...Bd7 33.Rc1 Rf6
34.Nd1) 33.Re1 Bd7 34.Rc1 Bc6 (34...Ne3 35.Nxe5) 35.Ka1 Qe3 36.Qc2
27.Ng1 Rxf1 28.Rxf1 N8f6 29.Nf3 Qc8
29...Qd8?! 30.Ng5 c6 31.Bd1!
30.Ng5 Qa6 31.Rf3 Qb6
31...Qc4 32.Nd1
32.Nd1
32.Ba4! Qg1+ (32...Qd4 33.Qc1!+-) (32...Bxa4 33.Nxa4 Qb5 34.Qc2 Rb7 35.Rc3 Ne8 36.Ka2) 33.Ka2 Bc8
34.Nd1
32...Rf8 33.Rb3 Qa7 34.Rc3
34.Ka2 Kg8 35.Rf3 Qb6 36.Rc3 Nh7?! 37.Ne6
34...Nh7! 35.Nf3
35.Ne6+ Bxe6 36.dxe6 Re8 37.Qd5 Re7 Nf8=
35...Rf7?!
35...a4 36.Qc1 Rb8 (36...Rc8 37.Rc4 Qa6 38.Rb4 Qf1 39.Qd2) 37.Rc4 Bb5 38.Rb4 Bd7
36.Qe2 Bc8
36...Qb7 37.Bd3 c6 38.dxc6 Bxc6 39.Qc2 Be8
37.Bd3 Ngf6 38.Qe3?!
38.Qc2! Bg4 39.Ka2 Bb5
38...Qb8?!
38...Qxe3 39.Nxe3 Kh6! 40.Nc4 Ba6 41.Kc1 Bxc4 42.Rxc4
39.Qc1 Qa7 40.Ka2 Ng4 41.Bb5 Nhf6 42.Rc4
42.Ng5
42...Qb6 43.a4 Re7 44.Ng5 Nh7 45.Nf3
45.Nxh7 Kxh7 46.Qg5 Rg7 47.Qd8+-
45...Nhf6 46.Ng5 Nh7 47.Ne6+?
47.Nxh7
47...Bxe6 48.dxe6 c5 49.Nc3 Qb7! 50.Bd7 Ngf6= 51.Qd2 Nxd7 52.exd7?!
52.Qxd6 Ndf8 53.Rxc5 Nxe6 54.Rxe5 Kf7 55.Rxa5 Nf6 56.Nd5 Rd7 57.Qe5 Nxd5 58.exd5 Nc7 59.Qf4+ Kg8 60.d6
Ne8 61.g4 hxg4 62.Qxg4 Rxd6 63.Qc4+=
52...Rxd7 53.Nd5 Qa6 54.Rc3 Rf7 55.Qc2?!
55.Qc2 Nf655.Rb3 Qc4 56.Nb6 Qxe4 57.Qxd6 Qd4 58.Rd3 Qxd6 59.Rxd6 e4 60.Re6 Rf41/2-1/2

196. E91
David, Alexandru Vasile (2377) - Istratescu, Andrei (2602)
Romania 131/196, 2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Nf3 d6 6.Be2 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Na5 9.h3 e5 10.a3 b6 11.b4 Nb7 12.Ne1
12.Bd2 - 45/(739)12.Bg5 h6 13.Bd2!? Nh5 (13...Bd7 14.Qc1 Kh7 15.Re1 Nh5 16.Ra2 Nf4 17.Bf1) 14.Re1 Nf4
15.Bf1 f5 16.Nh2!? g5 17.Ra2
12...Nd7!?
12...Ne8 13.Bd2 (13.Nd3 f5 14.Rb1 Qh4 15.f3 f4) 13...f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.f4 (15.Rb1 Bd7 16.Rb3 Nc7) 15...Qe7
(15...e4 16.Nc2 Bd7 17.Rb1 Qe7 18.Kh2 g4) 16.Nc2 Kh8 17.Kh1 Bd7
13.Bd2
13.Qc2 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.f4 Qe7 (15...e4 16.Kh2 (16.Be3 a5 17.Rb1 axb4 18.axb4 Rf6) 16...Qe7 17.g3) 16.Bb2
Nf6!? 17.g3 cxb4 18.axb4 a5 19.Ng2 Bd7
13...f5N
13...Qe7
14.exf5
14.Nd3 Qh4 (14...f4 15.Qc2 Qg5 16.Bg4 Nf6 17.Bxc8 Raxc8 18.Rfe1 Nh5 19.Nb5) 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Qc1 f4 17.f3
Nf6 18.Nf2 Bf5 19.Bd3 (19.Nfe4 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Kh8 21.Bd3 Rg8) 19...Bxd3 20.Nxd3 Rfc8
14...gxf5 15.f4
15.g3!? Qe7 16.Ng2
15...Qe7
15...a5 16.bxa5 Nxa5 17.Rb1
16.Rc1
16.Rb1 cxb4 (16...Nf6 17.Nc2 Bd7 18.Bd3 Ne4 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 exf4 21.Bd3 Qg5 22.Qf3 Be5 23.Kh1 Rae8
24.Ne1 Qh4 25.Qf2) 17.axb4 a5 18.Nc2 exf4 19.Nb5 Ne5 20.Bxf4 axb4 21.Nxb4 Nc5 22.Nc6! Qf6 23.Qc1! h6
24.Nbd4
16...Nf6!?
16...Nd8 17.Kh2 Nf7 18.g3!? Nf6 19.Ng216...cxb4 17.axb4 a5 18.Nc2 exf4 19.Nb5 Ne5 20.Bxf4 (20.bxa5 bxa5
21.Ncd4 Bd7 22.Bxf4 a4) 20...axb4 21.Nxb4 Nc5 22.Nc6 Qf6
17.Be3
17.Nc2 Bd7 18.Bd3 (18.Qe1 Kh8 19.Ne3 Rae8 20.fxe5 Qxe5) 18...Ne4! 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 exf4 21.Bd3
Qg517.g3 cxb4 18.axb4 a5 19.Nc2 Bh6 20.Kh2 axb4 21.Nxb4 Nc5
17...exf4
17...cxb4 18.axb4 a5 19.Nc2 Bh6 20.Qd217...Bd7!? 18.fxe5 (18.Nc2 Qe8 19.Qe1 Nh5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Qh4 Nf4)
18...dxe5 19.Nd3 Rac8 20.bxc5 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Bg5 Qe8
18.Bxf4
18...Ne4! 19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.Nc2 Bd7
20...Qh4 21.Qd2 Qe3 (21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.Qxg4 Qxg4 23.hxg4 cxb4 24.axb4 a5) 21...Bxh3! 22.gxh3 Bh6 23.Bxh6
Qg3+=
21.Qd2
21.Bg4 Qh4 22.g3! Bxg4 23.hxg4 Qf6 24.Ne3 Qd4 25.Qe2
21...cxb4?!
21...Qf6 22.Rb1 Rac8
22.axb4 a5 23.Rb1 axb4
23...a4 24.Qe3
24.Nxb4 Qe8 25.Kh1
25.Qe3! Rf6 26.Bh2 Rxf1+ 27.Bxf1 Be5 28.Nc6
25...Ra3
25...e3!? 26.Bxe3 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Nc5 (27...Ra3 28.Bxb6 Bxh3 29.Bf3!+-) 28.Bf4 Ra3 29.Bf3! Bc3 30.Qf2 Bxb4
31.Qh4 Bf5 32.Bg4! Bg6 33.Bxd6 Bc3 34.Be6+ Nxe6 35.Bxa3+-25...Nc5 26.Qe3 Rf6 27.Bg5 Rxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Be5
29.Bh4
26.Nc2
26.Qc1! Rc3 27.Qe1 e3 28.Nc6
26...Ra2 27.Rxb6 e3 28.Qe1! Rxc2
28...Bc8 29.Rb3 Rxc2 30.Rxe3 Qd8 31.Bd3 Rc3 32.Rg3 Rxd3 33.Rxd3 Bf5 34.Rdf3
29.Rxb7 Bxh3!?
29...Ra2 30.Bg3
30.Rxg7+?
30.gxh3 Qe4+ 31.Rf3 Rxe2 (31...Rxf4 32.Qg3+-) 32.Qxe2 Rxf4 33.Kg2 Bd4 34.Re7+-
30...Kxg7 31.Qa1+

31...Kg8?
31...Kg6! 32.Bd3+ (32.gxh3? Qe4+ 33.Bf3 Qxf4 34.Rg1+ Kf5-+) 32...Bf5 33.Bxc2 e2 34.Re1 Bxc2 35.Qc3 Rxf4
36.Qxc2+=
32.gxh3 Qe4+ 33.Bf3 Qg6 34.Rg1 Rxf4 35.Rxg6+ hxg6 36.Qg1 Rf6 37.Qxe3+- Rxc4 38.Bg2 Rc7 39.Kh2 Kf7
40.Kg3 Re7 41.Qd3
41.Qh6 Re5 42.Bf3 Kg8 43.Bd1 Ref5 44.Qe3 Re5 45.Qa7+-
41...Re5 42.h4 Kg7 43.Bh3 Kh6 44.Bg4 Kg7 45.Be6 Rfxe6 46.dxe6 Rxe6 47.h5!?
47.Kg4 Kf7 48.Qd5 Ke7 49.Qb7+ Kf6 (49...Ke8 50.Kg5+-) 50.Qd7+-
47...gxh5 48.Qf5 Rf6
48...Rh6 49.Qd7+ Kg8 50.Kf4+-48...Rg6+ 49.Kh4 Rf6 50.Qd5+-
49.Qxh5 Q 2/d 49...Kf8 50.Qe2 Kf7 51.Kg4 Rg6+ 52.Kf5 Rf6+ 53.Kg5 Rg6+ 54.Kh5 Re6 55.Qc4 Kf6 56.Qf4+ Ke7
57.Kg5 Re5+ 58.Kg6 Kd7 59.Qc4 Rc5 60.Qa4+ Kc7 61.Kf6 Re5 62.Qa6 Rh5 63.Qc4+ Rc5 64.Qf7+ Kc6 65.Ke7
Re5+ 66.Kd8 Kc5 67.Qf2+ Kc6 68.Qc2+ Rc5 69.Qa4+ Rb5 70.Qc4+ Rc5 71.Qa6+ Kd5 72.Kd7+- Ke4 73.Qe2+
Kd4 74.Qd2+ Ke4 75.Kxd6 Rf5 76.Qc2+ Kf4 77.Ke6 Re5+ 78.Kf6 Re3 79.Qf5+ Kg3 80.Kg5 Kg2 81.Kg4 Rg3+
82.Kh4 Re3 83.Qf4 Re2 84.Kg4 Rf2 85.Qe4+ Kh2 86.Qe5+ Kg2 87.Qd5+ Kh2 88.Qe4 Ra2 89.Qe5+ Kg1 90.Qc5+
Kh2 91.Kf3 Kh1 92.Qc1+ Kh2 93.Qh6+ Kg1 94.Qg6+ Kh2 95.Qh7+ Kg1 96.Qb1+ 1-0

197.* !N E92
Inarkiev, Ernesto (2723) - Smirin, Ilia (2670)
Moscow 131/197, 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh6 11.h3 exd4
11...Nc6 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.c5 Be6 (13...Nf7 - 52/(633)) 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.O-O Kh8 16.Qd2N (16.Rc1) 16...Nf7 17.Rfd1
a6 18.Nd5 Rc8 19.Ne3 Ne7 20.Ne1 Ng6 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Postny,E (2601)-Rathnakaran,K (2407)/Graz
131/(197) 2017
12.Nxd4 Nc6 13.h4 Nxd4
13...f5 - 121/196
14.Qxd4 f5 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.hxg5 Qxg5

17.c5!N
17.Rh5
17...Bd7
17...Ng4 18.Bxg4 Qxg4 19.cxd6 c6 20.Qd1
18.Rh5 Qg6 19.cxd6 Bc6 20.Qd2 fxe4?!
20...cxd6 21.Qxd6 fxe4 (21...Rf6 22.Qd2) 22.Qxg6 hxg6 23.Rh1
21.dxc7 e3
21...Nf5 22.Bf4 Nd4 23.Be5 Bxe5 24.Rxe5
22.Qxe3 Rae8 23.Qg5+- Qxg5 24.Rxg5 Nf5
25.Rxf5! Rxf5 26.O-O-O Rff8 27.Bh5 Ra8 28.Nd5 Rf5 29.Bf3 Be5 30.Bg4 Rg5 31.Bxe5+ Rxe5 32.Nf6
32.Nb4 Rc5+ 33.Nc2+-
32...Rc5+ 33.Kb1 Kg7 34.Rc1
34.Nh5+ Rxh5 35.Bxh5 Rc8 36.Rc1 Rxc7 37.Bf3
34...Rxc1+ 35.Kxc1 Kxf6 36.g3 Ke5 37.a3 a5 38.Kd2 Kd4 39.c8=Q Rxc8 40.Bxc8 h6 41.Be6 Ke5 42.Bh3 Kd4
43.f4 b6 44.Be6 Be8 45.Ke2 Bc6 46.Kf2 Bb7 47.g4 Kc5 48.Ke3 Kd6 49.Bf5 Ke7 50.g5 hxg5 51.fxg5 Bd5 52.Kd4
Kd6 1-0

198. E94
Sjugirov, Sanan (2673) - Gordievsky, Dmitry (2564)
Moscow 131/198, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Na6 7.O-O e5 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bh4 c5
12.Ne1 Nh6 13.a3 Bd7 14.Nd3 g5
14...Kh8 - 54/601
15.Bg3 f5N
15...Qe7
16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Bg4 Nc7 18.Ne4 h6
18...b5!? 19.b3 (19.Bxe5 bxc4 (19...Bxe5 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Nxc5) 20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Bxd7 Qxd7 22.Ne1 Rae8
23.Nxg5 Qf5 24.Ngf3 Nxd5) 19...Ne8
19.b4 b6 20.Rb1 Ne8 21.Re1 Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qf3?!
23.f3 Qg6 24.Bf2 h5 25.Bh3 Rab8
23...Qg6! 24.Bh5
24.Qd1 e4! 25.Rxe4 Nxg3 26.Re6 (26.Be6+ Kh8) 26...Bxe6 27.Bxe6+ Kh8 28.hxg3 Qf6
24...Qh7 25.bxc5
25.Qe4 Nxg3 26.Qxh7+ Kxh7 27.hxg3 Bf5 28.Rbd1 g4 29.f3 gxf3 30.gxf3 cxb4 31.Nxb4 (31.axb4 Rfc8) 31...Bf6
25...Nxg3
25...Nd4 26.Qd1 Bf5 27.Re3 bxc5 28.Rb7 Rfb8
26.Qxg3 Bf5 27.Rb3 bxc5 28.Nb2
28.Nc1 Rab8
28...Bc2 29.Rb7 Rab8 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Nd1 Rb1 32.Qh3?
32.Be2 Bf8 33.Qc3 Rb3 34.Qa5 Qb7 35.Ne3 Bg6 36.h3
32...Qf5
32...Qd3 33.Qg4 Qf5
33.Bg4 Qd3 34.Qh5 Qg6 35.Qh3 Qd3
35...e4 36.Bh5 Qf6 37.Be2 Ra1
36.Qh5 Qd2?!
36...Qg6=
37.Rf1 Kh7 38.Qe8
38.Qf7! Qf4 39.Qd7 Bd3 40.g3 Qf8 41.Ne3! Rb8 (41...Bxf1? 42.Bf5++-) (41...Rxf1+ 42.Nxf1 Bxc4 43.Bf5+ Kh8
44.Ne3 Be2 45.Qxa7 c4 46.Qc7) 42.Re1
38...Bg6 39.Qe6?

39.Qd7 h5 40.Bf5 Rxd1 41.Bxg6+ Kxg6 42.Qe8+ Kh6 43.Qe6+ Kh7 44.Qf5+ Kg8 45.Qe6+=
39...Qd3!-+ 40.Ne3
40.Bf3 h5 41.Ne3 (41.Qh3 Kh6-+) 41...Rxf1+ 42.Nxf1 g4-+
40...Rxf1+ 41.Nxf1 h5 42.Bh3 g4 43.Bxg4 hxg4 44.Qxg4 Qf5 45.Qh4+ Qh5 46.Qe7 Qd1 47.Qh4+ Kg8 48.Qd8+
Bf8 49.Qf6 Bd3 50.Qe6+ Kh7 51.Qh3+ Bh6 52.Qd7+ Bg7 53.Qh3+ Kg6 54.Qe6+ Bf6 55.Qg8+ Kh6 0-1

199. E97
Komarov, Dimitri (2498) - Fier, Alexandr (2614)
Tehran 131/199, 2016

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bc1 f5 11.d5 Ne7
12.Ng5 Nf6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 h6 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.dxe6 e4 17.Be3 Ne8N
17...c6 - 102/(418)
18.Qb3
18.Bh5!? Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nf6 20.Bf7+ Rxf7 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Qb3 b6 23.c5+ d5 24.Rad1
18...c5
18...Bxc3 19.Qxc3 (19.bxc3 b6 20.Rfd1 Qc8 21.c5 bxc5 22.Bxc5! Nf6 (22...dxc5? 23.Rd7 Rb8 24.Qa3) 23.Bf2 Rb8
24.Qc4 Qb7) 19...Ng7 (19...Qc8 20.g4 (20.c5 d5 21.Qe5 Rf6 22.b4 Rxe6 23.Qc3) 20...Qxe6 21.h3 (21.Kh1 fxg4
22.Bxg4 Nf5 23.Rg1 Kh7)) 20.Kh1 Nxe6 21.g4
19.Rad1
19.Qxb7 Nc7 20.Bh5 Rb8 21.Bf7+ Kh8 22.Qxa7 Ra8 23.Qb7 Rb8=19.Bh5 Nc7 20.Bf7+ Rxf7 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Rad1
b6 23.Rd2
19...Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qc8

21.g4! Qxe6 22.Kh1 Ng7

22...fxg4 23.Bxg4 Nf5 24.Rg1 Kh7 25.Rd522...Nf6 23.h3 Rf7 24.Rg1
23.Rg1 Kh7??

23...Rf6 24.Rg2 b6 25.Rdg1

24.Qxg7+! Kxg7 25.gxf5+ Kf6 26.fxe6+- Nf5 27.Bd2 Kxe6 28.Bg4 Rg8 29.Bxf5+ Kxf5 30.Be3 Rxg1+ 31.Kxg1
Ke6 32.f5+ 1-0

200. E97
 Zhou, Jianchao (2619) - Karthikeyan, Murali (2578)
Liaocheng 131/200, 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bd2
10.Bxf6 - 93/472
10...c5 11.Ne1N
11.a3
11...Nh7 12.Qc1
12.Nd3 f5 13.f3 Nf6 (13...f4!?) 14.Rb1 (14.g4 fxg4 15.fxg4 g5) 14...g5 15.b4 b6
12...g5 13.Bd3 f5 14.exf5
14.f3 f4 15.Be2 Nf6 16.Nd3 Ng6 17.Qd1 h5
14...Bxf5 15.f3 Qd7 16.Qb1
16.Ne4 b5
16...Nf6 17.g4?

17.Bxf5 Nxf5 18.Qd3 Nd4

17...e4! 18.Bc2
18.Nxe4 Nxg4! 19.Kh1 (19.fxg4? Bxe4 20.Ng2 (20.Bxe4 Bd4+-+) 20...Rxf1+ 21.Qxf1 Rf8 22.Qe2 Bd4+ 23.Be3 Bf3-
+) 19...Ne518.gxf5 exd3 19.Qxd3 Nxf5 20.Ne2 Nh4 21.Rf2 Qh3-+18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxg4 20.Bc3 (20.fxg4
Bd4+-+) 20...Bxc3 21.bxc3 Bf5-+
18...Bxg4! 19.Nxe4
19.fxg4? Nxg4! 20.Ng2 (20.Nxe4 Bd4+ 21.Kg2 Rxf1 22.Kxf1 Nxh2+ 23.Kg2 Qg4+ 24.Kxh2 Rf8-+) 20...Bd4+
21.Kh1 Rxf1+ 22.Qxf1 Rf8-+
19...Nxe4
19...Bh3 20.Ng2 b5-+
20.Bxe4 Bf5-+ 21.Ng2 Rae8 22.f4
22.Kh1 Ng6-+
22...Bxe4 23.Qxe4 Nf5 24.Qd3 Bxb2 25.Rae1 g4
25...b5!? 26.cxb5 c4 27.Qf3 (27.Qxc4 Bd4+ 28.Kh1 Ng3+ 29.hxg3 Qh3#) 27...Qxb5-+
26.Kh1 Bd4 27.Re2
27.Ne3 Nh4 28.Nc2 Nf3-+
27...Qf7 28.Rfe1 Rxe2 29.Rxe2 b5 30.Re6
30.cxb5 Qh5 31.Be1 g3 32.Bxg3 c4!-+
30...bxc4 31.Qxc4 Qh5 32.Qd3 g3 0-1
REGISTAR INDEX REGISTER REGISTRE REGISTRO REGISTRO
REGISTER

1. Adhiban, Baskaran (2653) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2736)
Wijk aan Zee, 2017
Ia

1.? +

Show/Hide Solution
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1.Rxf5!
1.Nxf5? Nxf5 2.Qf4= (2.Rxf5?! Bxf5 3.Rxf5 Rxe4!)
1...Nxf5 2.Rxf5!
2.Nxf5? Bxf5 3.Rxf5 Rxe4!
2...Qd4+
2...gxf5 3.Nf6++-; 2...Bxf5 3.Nxf5 gxf5 4.Nf6++-
3.Rf2 f5 4.Ng5
4.Nxg6!? hxg6 5.Qxg6+ Qg7 6.Nf6+ Rxf6 7.Qxe8++-
4...Qg7 5.Qxg7+ Kxg7 6.Bc6+-

 2. Genov, Valentin (1564) - Kolev, Georgi (1796)

Sofia, 2016
Ia

1.? +

Show/Hide Solution
Show/Hide Solution

1.Nf6+! Kh8
1...gxf6 2.Qxh6 fxg5 (2...f5 3.Qh7#) 3.Qh7#
2.Qxf7!
2.Nxf7+ Rxf7 3.Qxf7 Qd8 4.Ne8 Ne2+ 5.Bxe2 (5.Kh1) 5...Qd7 6.Qf8+ Kh7 7.Bd3+ g6 8.Nf6# 1 : 0 Genov,Valentin
1564 - Kolev,Georgi 1796
2...Rxf7
2...Qd8 3.Qg8+! Rxg8 4.Nf7#; 2...gxf6 3.Qh7#; 2...hxg5 3.Qxf8#
3.Nxf7#

3. Matlakov, Maxim (2701) - Smirin, Ilia (2670)

Moscow, 2017
Ib

1.? +

Show/Hide Solution
Show/Hide Solution

1.Re6!!
1.Rxg4? Rc4 2.h5 Rxg4+ 3.Qxg4 Qc8 4.Qxc8 Rxc8 5.Rxe7 gxh5= Matlakov,Maxim 2701 - Smirin,Ilia 2670
1...Rc4
1...Kg7 2.Rxg6+ fxg6 3.Rxg4+-; 1...Kh7 2.h5 Rg8 3.hxg6+ Rxg6 4.Rxg6 fxg6 5.Rxg4+-
2.Rxg6+ fxg6 3.Qxg6+ Kf8 4.Qf5+ Kg7 5.Qxg4+ Kf8
5...Kh7 6.Qh5+ Kg7 7.Rd3 Rg8 8.Rg3+ Kf6 9.Qh6+ Ke5 10.Qe6+ Kd4 11.Rxg8+-
6.Qf5+ Kg7 7.Rd3 Rg8 8.Rg3+ Kh6 9.Qe6+ Kh7
9...Kh5 10.Qf7+ Kh6 11.Rxg8+-
10.Qf7+ Kh6 11.Rxg8+-

4. Lalith, Babu MR (2584) - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2429)

Moscow, 2017
Id

1...? +

Show/Hide Solution
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1...Bb3! 2.Qe2
2.Qxb3? Qxf2+ 3.Kd1 Qd2#
2...Nxf2!
2...Rfe8 3.Qxe4 Qxe4+ 4.Bxe4 Rxe7 5.f3 f5-+
3.Qxf2 Qxd3 4.Qh4
4.Qd2 Qe4+ 5.Qe2 Qxe2+ 6.Kxe2 Rfe8-+
4...Bc4 [0 : 1 Lalith,Babu MR 2584 - Abdusattorov,Nodirbek 2429] 5.Kf2 Qe2+
5...Qd2+
6.Kg1 Qe3+ 7.Qf2 Qxe7-+

5. Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2767) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2766)

Wijk aan Zee, 2017
Ie

1.? +

Show/Hide Solution
Show/Hide Solution

1.Nf5!
1.Qh5 a6 2.Bg5 Rd6 3.Bh6+ Ke8 4.Qe5 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2767 - Harikrishna,Penteala 2766
1...Rxf5
1...Qe8 2.Re2+-; 1...Qxf5 2.Bh6+ Rxh6 (2...Ke8 3.Qb8++-) 3.Qxf5+-
2.Bh6+ Ke8 3.Qb8+ Qd8 4.Rxd8+ Bxd8 5.Qxb7+-

6. Ozen, Bahadir (2303) - Roganovic, Milos (2481)

Beograd, 2017
Ig

1.? +

Show/Hide Solution
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1.Ng5! hxg5 2.g4! Qxg4

2...Kg8 3.Rh3 Rfd8 (3...Bd3 4.f5 Rfe8 5.Qh5+-) 4.Rh7 (4.f5 Bd3 5.Qh5+-) 4...Rd7 5.Nf5+-
3.Rh3+ Qxh3 4.Bxh3 1-0

7. Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2652) - Stefanova, Antoaneta (2512)

Gibraltar , 2017
Ih

1...? +

Show/Hide Solution
Show/Hide Solution

1...Qxh3!
1...Rf5+? 2.Kg2= (2.Bf4? g5 (2...Qc6+ 3.e4 (3.Qe4 Qc1) 3...Bxf4 4.gxf4 g5) 3.e4 Rf6 4.e5 Rg6 5.Bd2 Qxh3
Iturrizaga Bonelli,Eduardo 2652 - Stefanova,Antoaneta 2512)
2.Qxe5
2.Bxh6 Qh1+ 3.Kf4 (3.Kf2 Qh2+ 4.Kf1 Qxe2+ 5.Kg1 Qe1+-+) 3...f6!-+
2...Qf1+ 3.Ke4
3.Bf2 Qh1#
3...Qg2+ 4.Kd4 Bg7-+

8. Yu, Yangyi (2738) - Khismatullin, Denis (2639)

Moscow , 2017
Ih

1...? +

Show/Hide Solution
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1...Rg1+!
1...Bxh1 2.Rxd6! (2.f7? Bg2+ 3.Ke1 (3.Kg1 Ne2#) 3...Qe7!-+ Yu,Yangyi 2738 - Khismatullin,Denis 2639) 2...Bg2+
3.Ke1 Qxd6 4.Bxf4 Rge8+ 5.Ne4 Rxe4+ 6.Qxe4 Bxe4 7.Bxd6+ Rxd6 8.f7 Rf6 9.cxb4 cxb4 10.Rd1
2.Kxg1 Ne2+! 3.Kf1 Ng3+-+

9. Buhmann, Rainer (2625) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2724)

Moscow , 2017
Ie

1...? +

Show/Hide Solution
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1...Re1+! 2.Kxe1 Bxf2+ 0-1


1. Saravana, Krishnan P (2282) - Hegde, Ravi Gopal (2163)
Chennai, 2017
2/c2

1...? =

Show/Hide Solution
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1...f4!= 2.gxf4+ Kxf4 3.Kc5 Kf3=

3...f5? 4.Kd5! (4.Kxb5? Kf3! 5.Kc4 f4 6.b5 Kxf2 7.b6 f3 8.b7 Kg1 9.b8=Q f2 10.Qb6 Kh1 11.Qh6+ Kg1 12.Qg5+
Kh1 13.Qh4+ Kg1 14.Qg3+ Kh1 15.Qf3+ Kg1 16.Kd3 f1=Q+ 17.Qxf1+ Kxf1 1/2 : 1/2 Saravana,Krishnan P 2282 -
Hegde,Ravi Gopal 2163) 4...Kg4 5.Ke5 f4 6.Ke4+-

2. Meskovs, Nikita (2490) - Chakravarthi, Y V K. (2047)

PRO Chess League (rapid), 2017
3/c2

1...? =

Show/Hide Solution
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1...e5!
1...f6? 2.f4+- Kc6 (2...e5 3.f5 Kc6 4.Ke4 Kb7 5.Kd5 Kc7 6.b5 axb5 7.a6+-) 3.Ke4 g6 4.Kd4 Kb5 5.Kd3 Kc6 6.Kc4
Kd7 7.b5 axb5+ 8.Kxb5 g5 9.a6 Kc7 10.a7 Kb7 11.a8=Q+ Kxa8 12.fxg5 fxg5 13.hxg5 h4 14.g6 h3 15.g7 h2 16.Kb6
1 : 0 Meskovs,Nikita 2490 - Chakravarthi,Y V K 2047
2.f4 exf4+ 3.Kxf4 g6! 4.Kg5 f5! 5.Kf4 Kc6 6.Ke5 Kc7 7.Kd4 Kc6=

3. Luz, Arthur Nader (2077) - Menna Barreto, Felipe Kubiaki (2291)

Florianopolis, 2017
3/c4

1.? =

Show/Hide Solution
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1.Kf3!
1.Ke2? Ke5-+ 2.Kd3 g5 3.c5 dxc5 4.h4 gxh4 5.gxh4 Kf4 6.h5 Kg5 0 : 1 Luz,Arthur Nader 2077 - Menna
Barreto,Felipe Kubiaki 2291
1...g5 2.Ke2 c6 3.Kd3 c5 4.Ke2 Ke6 5.Kd2=

4. Bachmann, Axel (2628) - Shirov, Alexei (2683)

Florianopolis, 2017
NB 5/e

1...? =

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1...f3+!
1...Nb3?? 2.Bxb7 Nxa5 3.Bxe4+- Nxc4 4.b7 Kc7 5.Kf3! 1 : 0 Bachmann,Axel 2628 - Shirov,Alexei 2683
2.Ke3
2.Kf2 Ke5 3.Ke3 Kd6=
2...Kd7 3.Kf2 Kc8=

5. Ni, Shiqun (2339) - Pogonina, Natalija (2487)

Tehran (m/2), 2017
R 9/h

1...? =

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1...Kc5!
1...Rc5? 2.Ne4+- Nxe4 3.Rd4+ Ke5 4.Rxe4+ Kf5 5.Rc4 1 : 0 Ni,Shiqun 2339 - Pogonina,Natalija 2487
2.Rd4 Rd1 3.Rf4 Kxb5 4.Rf6 Kxc6 5.Ke2 Rg1 6.Ne4 Kd5 7.Nxd6 Rxg5=

6. Jones, Gawain C (2665) - Ragger, Markus (2690)

Wijk aan Zee II, 2017
R 9/i

1.? +

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1.c6+! Kc8
1...Kxc6 2.Re6+ Kd7 3.Nc5++-
2.Nc5 Ra1 3.Re8+ Bd8 4.Ne6+- Rd1 5.h4 g6 6.Kb3 Rd2 7.Rg8 h5 8.g5 Rd6 9.Nxd8 Rxd8 10.Rxg6 Kb8 11.Rh6 Ka7
12.Rxh5 Rd3+ 13.Kc4 Rg3 14.Kc5 1-0

7. Cheparinov, Ivan (2689) - Fridman, Daniel (2594)

Gibraltar, 2017
R 9/k

1.? +

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1.e4! a4
1...dxe4 2.Rxc6+ Kxc6 3.Bxe4++-
2.e5+ Kd7 3.f6+- a3 4.Bf5+ Kc7 5.f7 a2 6.Ra1 Ra4+ 7.Ke3 d4+ 8.Kf4 Ra8 9.Rxa2 Rf8 10.e6 Kd6 11.Ra6 d3 12.Ke3
Rd8 13.Rxc6+ Kxc6 14.e7 1-0

8. Kovalenko, Igor (2684) - Muzychuk, Anna (2558)

Gibraltar, 2017
Q 3/d

1.? +

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1.Qf6+! Qg7+
1...Qxf6+ 2.Kxf6 Kh7 3.g5 Kg8 4.Kg6+-
2.Kf5! 1-0

9. Chernyavsky, Alexander (2274) - Pridorozhni, Aleksei (2568)

Taganrog, 2017
Q 4/d

1...? =

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1...Kh2!
1...Kh1? 2.Qe6 Qf3+ 3.Kc4 Kg2 4.d6+- Qc6+ 5.Kd4 h4 6.Qg4+ Kf1 7.d7 Qf6+ 8.Kd5 1 : 0 Chernyavsky,Alexander
2274 - Pridorozhni,Aleksei 2568
2.Qe6 Qa1+ 3.Kc4 Qc1+ 4.Kd4 Qg1+ 5.Ke5 Qg5+ 6.Kd6 h4=
CHESS INFORMANT 50 JUBILEE TOURNEY
Final award by Yochanan Afek

Chess Informant, founded in 1966, has celebrated its 50th anniversary by organizing an International composing tourney
for endgame studies. Privileged to act as its judge I received 36 anonymous entries from the tourney director Gady
Costeff, to whom I am grateful for his invaluable assistance in checking the candidate entries for soundness and
originality.

The general standard of the field was very good. I gave some priority to players friendly entries i.e. those with
digestible settings as well as comprehensive ideas and solutions. Most of the entries luckily did match these unwritten
requests. Personally I am not particularly fond of artificial efforts to stretch a sufficiently lengthy solution by either
multiple piece exchanges (in this case on the very same square) or unnecessary BTM stipulation. Two of the more
serious candidates suffering from these flaws I decided to allow a second chance in another tourney instead of ranking
them low. Two other entries improved on prize-winners from previous major events which I had judged. I hesitated
before deciding to award each of them a deserved special honourable mention. Here is my ranking:

1. Hlinka, Michal (Slovakia) & Kekely, Lubos (Slovakia)

1st Pr. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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Following the Zugzwang after the quiet 8.Ka3! Whites rook and bishop create a second battery. By exchanging roles as
the front and the rear pieces of the newly formed battery the thematic pieces change also the targeted half of the royal
couple! Surprisingly In the final move even two batteries are activated with the rook as the rear piece and this time both
bishops are the front ones! All this occurs with no need for extra material! A genuine chess miracle!
1.Bf3 Ra3+
1...h1=Q 2.Bxh1 Ra3+ 3.Kc4 Nxh1 4.Rf8+-
2.Nc3 Rxc3+! preparing the following fork 3.Kxc3 Ne2+! 4.Bxe2
4.Kd2? Nxf4 5.Bh1 Nh5! 6.Bc7 Ng3=
4...h1=Q black has a new queen, but... 5.Bf1+ Kg3 6.Bc7! Battery against the king. 6...Qh8+
6...Qb7 7.Rf7+ Kg4 8.Rg7+ Kh5 9.Rh7+ Kg4 10.Bh3+ Kf3 11.Rf7+ Ke2 12.Bg4++-
7.Kb3!
7.Kc2? Qh7+=
7...Qh1 8.Ka3! Qb7 9.Rf7+ battery towards the queen 9...Kg4 10.Rg7+ Kh5
10...Kf5 11.Bh3+ Kf6 12.Be5++-
11.Rh7+ Kg4
11...Kg6 12.Bd3++-
12.Bh3+ Kf3 13.Rf7+ Ke2 14.Bf1+ Kd1 15.Rd7+ Kc2 16.Bd3+ with two batteries unleashed after: 16...Kc1 or
16...Kd1 17.Be4+ /Ba6
17.Bf4++-

2. Minski, Martin (Germany)

2nd Pr. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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In the heat of the battle each side promotes a second queen; however the side that sacrifices both his queens is the one to
emerge the eventual winner against the remaining enemy queen. A breathtaking battle with plenty of quiet moves and
subtle finesses.
1.f6+
1.Qc3+? Kg8 2.Kd6 e1=Q 3.Be6+ Qxe6+ 4.Kxe6 (4.fxe6 Qxg2=) 4...Qxg2 5.Qc7 Qa8 6.Qf7+ Kh8=
1...Kh8 2.g6! e1=Q+
2...Bc4+! 3.Qxc4 e1=Q+ 4.Kf7+- see main line
3.Kf7 Bc4+!
3...Qh5 4.Qb8+-
4.Qxc4 Qe8+!
4...Qh5 5.Be6!+-
5.Kxe8 Qe1+ 6.Qe2!!
6.Qe6? Qxe6+! 7.Bxe6 stalemate 6.Be6? Qxe6+! 7.Qxe6 stalemate 6.Kf7? Qe8+ /Qe7! 7.Kxe8 stalemate
6...Qxe2+ 7.Kf8 Qxg2 8.g7+ Kh7 9.Bb7!
9.Bf5+? Kh6 10.g8=Q Qa8+ 11.Ke7! Qa3+!= (11...Qxg8? 12.f7+-)
9...Qg1
9...Qg6 10.Be4! Qxe4 11.g8=Q++-; 9...Qg4 10.Be4+ Kh6 11.g8=Q Qc8+ 12.Ke7!+- see main line
10.Be4+ Kh6 11.g8=Q Qc5+ 12.Ke8
12.Kf7? Qc4+! 13.Ke7 Qxe4+= (13...Qxg8? 14.f7+-)
12...Qc8+ 13.Ke7!!
13.Kf7? Qd7+ /Qc4=
13...Qxg8
13...Qc7+ 14.Ke6 Qc4+ 15.Bd5+-
14.f7 Qg7 15.Ke8+-

3. Minski, Martin (Germany) & Pervakov, Oleg (Russia)

3rd Pr. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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Materially black seems to do fine, yet whites bishop and advanced pawn eventually make the difference. A game-like
heroic sacrificial battle decided by a subtle pawn move. The mutual quiet queen sacrifices are eye catching.
1.Rf2+ Kg8 2.Qg6!! Qf7;
2.Bxc4+? Kh8 3.Qg6?! Rxd6!-+
2...Rb8!
2...hxg6 3.Bxc4+ Kh7 4.Rh2+ Qh4 5.Rxh4#
model mate 2...Kh8 3.Rh2 h6 4.Rxh6+! gxh6 5.Qxh6+ Kg8 6.Bxc4#

model mate 2...Rb7 3.Qe4! Rb4 4.Qd5+ Kh8 5.Qxa5! Rb8 6.Qxa4+-
3.Bxc4+ Kh8 4.Bd3!
4.Rh2? Qb6+!-+
4...Qh4!!
4...hxg6 5.Rh2+ Kg8 6.Bc4+ Kf8 7.Rh8#
5.Qf5!
5.gxh4? hxg6=
5...Qxg3+ 6.Kf1 Qxd3+! 7.Qxd3 Bb5 8.Qxb5! axb5 9.d4!! exd4 10.Rc2
10.d7? d3!-+
10...Rf8+
10...d3 11.Rc7 Rf8+ 12.Ke1 Rd8 13.d7 Kg8 14.Rc8+-
11.Ke1! Kg8
11...Rd8 12.d7 Rxd7 13.Rc8+ Rd8 14.Rxd8#
 model mate
12.d7 Rd8 13.Rc8+-

4. Hornecker, Siegfried (Germany) & Minski, Martin (Germany)

4th Pr. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? =

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The aim of whites sacrificial play is obviously to turn his remaining queen to a crazy one. Following a mutual rook
 sacrifice, an original systematic manoeuvre of the WB & BK prepares the ground by the quiet and powerful 7.Qe3!!
1.Re8+! Thematic try:
1.Rd7+?! Kxd7 2.Bc6+! (2.Bc8+! Ke8! 3.Bd7+! Kf7! 4.Be6+! Kg6!-+ position X with bRa7) 2...Ke6! 3.Bd7+!
(3.Bd5+! Ke5!-+) 3...Kf7! 4.Be6+! Kg6!-+ position X with bRa7 1.Qxg3? Rxg3-+
1...Kxe8 2.Bc6+ Rd7
2...Kd8 3.Qf8+ Kc7 4.Qe7+ Kb6 5.Qb4+ Kc7 6.Qe7+ Kb6 7.Qb4+=
3.Bxd7+ Kf7! 4.Be6+!
4.Be8+? Kg8! 5.Bf7+ Kh7! 6.Bg6+ Qxg6 7.Qe7+ Qg7 8.Qe4+ Rg6-+
4...Kg6! [position X without bRa7] 5.Bf5+!
5.Bf7+? Kh7!-+
5...Kh5! 6.Bg4+!
6.Bg6+?! Kh4! 7.Qe7+ Qg5 8.Qe4+ Rg4 9.Qe1+ Rg3 10.Qe4+ Qg4 11.Qe7+ Kh3-+
6...Qxg4
6...Kh4 7.Qe7+=
7.Qe3!! Qh6/Qg5 with stalemate;
7.Qc5+? Qg5 8.Qf2! Rg4!-+
7...Rg3 8.Qxg3! Qxg3 stalemate

5. Arestov, Pavel (Russia) & Tarasiuk, Vladislav (Ukraina)

Sp. Pr. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? =

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A surprising discovery is behind this logical study based on a crystal clear reciprocal zugzwang. The special prize is
also for the best theoretical contribution.
1.Bf3+!
1.Kg7? Bxf7 2.Kxf7 Kc5-+; 1.Bd1? Bxf7+ 2.Kxf7 Kd5! 3.Bf3+ Ke5 4.Bxb7 c5 5.Ba6 d5-+
1...Kb6! 2.Bd1!! Thematic try:
2.Kg7? Bxf7 3.Kxf7 c6! 4.Ke6 Kc5 5.Kd7 d5! 6.Kc7 b5! 7.Kb7 b4-+
2...Be6
2...Bxf7+ 3.Kxf7 see main line
3.Kg7!
3.Bg4? Bxf7+ 4.Kxf7 d5-+ e.g. 5.Ke6 Kc5 6.Ke5 b5 7.Bh5 c6 8.Be2 b4 9.Bf1 b3 10.Bd3 b2 11.Bb1 Kb4 /Kc4
3...Bxf7 4.Kxf7 d5! 5.Ke6 Kc5 6.Kd7! c6 7.Kc8!! Thematic try:
7.Kc7? b6! 8.Kc8 (8.Kb7 b5 9.Be2 b4-+) 8...d4 9.Be2 Kb4! 10.Kc7 c5 11.Kxb6 c4 12.Kc6 d3-+
7...b6! 8.Kc7! 8...b5 9.Kb7! Thematic try:
9.Kd7? d4! 10.Be2 b4 11.Ke6 d3! 12.Bxd3 Kd4 13.Bc2 c5 14.Kd6 c4-+
9...b4
9...d4 10.Be2! b4 11.Ka6! (11.Bd3? b3! 12.Ka6 Kb4-+) 11...b3 12.Ka5 b2 13.Bd3=
10.Bb3! Kb5 11.Kc7 c5! 12.Bxd5
12.Kd6? c4 13.Bd1 d4 14.Kd5 b3 15.Kxd4 Kb4-+
12...c4 13.Kd6 b3 14.Ke5! b2 15.Be4=

6. Slumstrup Nielsen, Steffen (Denmark)

1st HM Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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All three white pieces are sacrificed in the course of a fierce struggle to keep the seventh rank closed in order to secure
promotion.
1.Be8!
1.g7?? Rxa4#

1.Bb3? Be4+ (1...Rxh5 transposes) 2.Ka7 Rxh5 3.Rc1+ Kxd8 4.g7 Rh7 5.Rc7 Rxg7=; 1.Rc1+? Kxd8 2.g7 Rxa4+
3.Kb7 Rb4+ 4.Kc6 Be4+ 5.Kd6 Rb6+ 6.Ke5 Re6+ 7.Kd4 Re8!=
1...Be4+
1...Rh3 2.Rc1+ Kxd8 3.g7 Nd7 4.Rc8+ Kxc8 5.Bxd7+
2.Ka7 Rxh5 3.Nb7! Try:
3.Rc1+? Kxd8 4.g7 Rh7 with no bishop on b7 this move secures Black a draw
3...Bxb7 4.Rc1+ Bc6! Clears the 7th rank 5.Rxc6+ Kd8 6.g7 Try:
6.Rc8+? Kxc8 7.g7 Nd7! 8.Bxd7+ (8.Bxh5 Nf6=) 8...Kc7=
6...Rh7 7.Rc8+! Kxc8 8.Bd7+! Nxd7 9.g8=Q+ Nf8+ 10.Ka8!+-
10.Kb6? Rh6+ 11.Kc5 Rf6=

7. Miljanic, Mirko (Serbia)

2nd HM Informant -50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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A very attractive logical miniature displaying an original reciprocal zugzwang.

1.h7 Qh8 2.Bf8 Ke8 3.Ke4!
3.Kd3? b3!=
3...Kxf8 4.Rc7!! Thematic try:
4.Rb7? b3! 5.Kd3 b2! 6.Kc2 b1=Q+ 7.Kxb1 Qe5!=4.Ra7? b3= EGTB (4...Qc3=)
4...b3 5.Kd3! 5...b2 6.Kc2 b1=Q+ 7.Kxb1 Qe5 8.Rc8++-

8. Rusz, Arpad (Hungary)
3rd HM Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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The surprising capture refusal 6.Kb6!! allows the single tempo required for dominating the black knight. A pleasant
discovery!
1.Nc7+
1.Rc8? R3a6+! 2.Kb5 Rxe6 3.Qf8 Re5+ 4.Kb4 Re4+ 5.Kc3 Re3+ 6.Kc2! Re2+ (6...Ra2+? 7.Kb1+-) 7.Kd1 Re1+
8.Kc2 Re2+ 9.Kd3 Re3+ 10.Kc2 Re2+=
1...Bxc7+ 2.Kxc7 b5+ 3.Kc6!
3.Kc8? Rh3! 4.Qb2 Ne3! 5.Rc7 Nd5 6.Rxa7+ Kxa7 7.Qa2+ Kb6 8.Qxd5 Rh8+= TB
3...R7a6+
3...bxc4 4.Qf8#
3...R3a6+ 4.Kxb5 Rb7+ 5.Kxa6 Rxb4 6.Rxb4+-
4.Kxb5 R3a5+ 5.Qxa5 Rxa5+ 6.Kb6!!
6.Kxa5? Kb7 7.Kb5 (7.Re4 Kc6 8.Kb4 Kd5=) 7...Ne3 8.Rf4 (8.Rd4 Kc7 9.Kc5 Nf5=) 8...Nd5 9.Rf7+ Nc7+ 10.Kc5
Kc8 11.Kc6 Ne8 12.Ra7 Kd8 13.Rf7 Kc8=
6...Kb8 7.Re4! Ra6+ 8.Kxa6 Kc7 9.Kb5 Kd6 10.Kc4+-

9. Polasek, Jaroslav (Czech Republic)

Sp. Hon. Mention Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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A fine improvement on H. van der Heijden, 4th Prize Olympic tourney Dresden 2008 in which I acted as the judge.
Here we witness two additional logical tries, upgrading the original version that should naturally still be regarded as a
partial anticipation.
1.e6!
1.Rf1+? Kc2 2.e6 Nd4 3.e7 Ne6+ 4.Kg6 Nxc7=1.Bd6? Rg4+ 2.Kf6 (2.Kxh6= TB7) 2...Nd4 3.Bc5 Rf4+ 4.Kg6 Rg4+
5.Kxh6 Ne6= TB7
1...Ra7!
1...Nd4 2.e7 Ne6+ 3.Kh8 quickest 3...Nxc7 4.Rc8 Rc4 5.Rxc7 Rxc7 6.e8=Q+-
2.Rf1+!! Foresight. The black king must be moved to the 'c' file. Logical try:
2.Rf7? Nd4 3.e7 Ne6+ 4.Kxh6 Nxc7 5.e8=Q Ra6+=2.Rc8? Nd4 3.e7 Rxc7 4.Rxc7 Ne6+
2...Kc2 3.Rf7 Nd4 4.e7 Ne6+ 5.Kg6! Nxc7 6.Rf8 Ra6+ 7.Kf7 Ra7
7...Nb5 8.Rc8+! (8.e8=Q? Nd6+) 8...Kb3 (8...Kd3 9.Rd8+) 9.Rb8+-
8.Rc8 Kd3 Main
8...Kb3 9.Kg6 Ra6+ 10.Kg7 Ra7 11.Kh8! (11.Kxh6? compare with the main line 8...Kd3; 11...Ra6+ 12.Kg7 Rc6
13.Kh8 Rh6+ 14.Kg8 Nd5 15.e8=Q Nf6+=) 11...h5 12.Rxc7 Rxc7 13.e8=Q+-
9.Kg6 Ra6+ 10.Kg7 Ra7
10...Rc6 11.Kh8!+-
11.Kxh6! Logical try:
11.Kh8? compare with the main line 8...Kb3; 11...Ne8= 12.Rxe8 Ke4 13.Kg7 h5
11...Ra6+ 12.Kg7
12.Kh7? Nd5 13.Rd8 Ra7 14.Rxd5+ Ke4=
12...Ra7
12...Rc6 13.Kg8 Nd5 (13...Rg6+ 14.Kf7 Rc6 15.e8=Q Nxe8 16.Rxc6+-) 14.Rd8!+-
13.Kh8!+-

10. Tarasiuk, Vladislav (Ukraina)

Sp. Hon. Mention Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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Another significant improvement on an earlier study by L. Tarasiuk, 4th prize, FIDE Cup 2015, in which I acted as the
judge.
1.Ng4! Try:
1.h7? Nf6 2.Nf3 Rh6! 3.Ng5 Nxh7! 4.gxh7 Kg2 5.b4 Kg3 6.b5 Kg4! 7.b6 Kxg5 8.b7 Ra6+ 9.Kb8 Rh6 10.Ka8 Ra6+=
1...Rxg4 2.h7 Ra4+! 3.Kb7 Rh4 4.g7 Rxh7 5.g8=Q Nf6+! 6.Qxh7+ Nxh7 7.Kc7!! Thematic try:
7.Kc6? Nf6 8.b4 Ne4 9.b5 Nxc3 10.b6 d4 11.b7 d3 12.b8=Q d2 13.Qh8+ Kg2!=
7...Nf6! 8.Kc6! 8...Kg2
8...Kg1 9.b4 Ne4 10.b5 Nxc3 11.b6 d4 12.b7 d3 13.b8=Q d2 14.Qg3+!+-
9.b4 Ne4 10.b5 Nxc3 11.b6 d4 12.b7 d3 13.b8=Q d2 14.Qb2!+-

11. Arestov, Pavel (Russia)

1st Comm. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? =

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The final pin stalemate is not new (Kasparyan, 1st Pr. Revista Romn de ah 1938) however the tactical play leading
to it is well constructed.
1.Be4+! Rxe4
1...Kb6 2.Qc4! Rxe4 3.Qxe4 see main line
2.Qd5+ Kb6! 3.Qxe4 Qh8+ 4.Ka2! Qxh2+ 5.Kb3 d2+ 6.Kxb4 Rb3+!!
6...d1=Q 7.Qe6+ Kc7 8.Qe5+=
7.Nxb3 Qd6+ 8.Ka4! d1=Q
8...Qd7+ 9.Ka3=
9.f8=Q!
9.Qe3+? Kb7 10.f8=Q Qg4+!-+
9...Qxf8 10.Qe3+! Kb7 11.Qb6+! Kc8 12.Qc5+! Qxc5 stalemate!

12. Slumstrup Nielsen, Steffen (Denmark)

2nd Comm. Informant-50 JT, 2016

1.? +

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Two Black Q+B batteries, unleashed against the white monarch, are unable to tame the advanced pawn owing to
whites accurate play.
1.a7 Qh3+ 2.Ng3 Bf3 3.Ne4+ Bg2+
3...Bg4+ 4.Ka4+-
4.Kb2 Bc3+ 5.Kc1!
5.Kc2? Qc8 6.Qxg2+ Bg7+
5...Qc8
5...Qh6+ 6.Kb1+-
6.Qxg2+ Bg7+ 7.Qc2 Bh6+ 8.Nd2!
8.Kb2? Bg7+ 9.Nc3 (9.Kc1 loss of time) 9...Qc6 (9...Qa6) 10.Qb3+ Kh7=
8...Bxd2+ 9.Kb2! Qb7+
9...Qa6 10.Qb3+ Kg7 11.Qg3+ White will check his way to the a8 square, for instance 11...Kh7 12.Qh4+ Bh6
13.Qe4+; 9...Qa8 10.Qb3+ Kg7 11.Qb8+-; 9...Bc3+ 10.Qxc3 Qb7+ 11.Qb3+
10.Qb3++- Yochanan Afek, International arbiter