A Perfect Attack

Michael Adams's first win at the Tata Steel in round ten was a great achievement especially when his opponent was the ultra-solid Sergey Karjakin:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.27"]
[Round "10.5"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:59"]
[BlackClock "0:11:57"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 {Diagram [#] The London system is
becoming more and more popular, even at a top level. White is playing the Slav
defense with an extra tempo.} Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 9. Ne5 {
This is one of the main ideas of the whole line. White wants to attack on the
kingside and therefore plays in a Stonewall way.} Bb7 10. f4 {The bishop on g3
is also seemingly well placed, ready to go to h4. It seems as White had won
some tempos on the development of that piece, but if we count carefully, we
shall see that it is all the same. In the Stonewall the bishop goes to h4 via
d2-e1-h4. Here Karjakin had lost the time while maneuvering Bf4-g3-h4.} Ne7 {
A nice defensive maneuver.} 11. Qf3 ({Funnily, Karjakin has some experience
with this line, but as Black:} 11. Qc2 c4 12. Be2 Nf5 13. Bf2 Be7 14. Ng4 Nxg4
15. Bxg4 Nd6 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qxf5 Qc8 {Andreikin,D (2720)
-Karjakin,S (2762) Baku 2015}) (11. Bh4 Ne4 {is good for Black.}) 11... Nf5 12.
Bf2 Be7 13. g4 Nd6 {Petrosian loved to place his knights this same way against
the Stinewall and to crack jokes about the awesomeness of the Dutch defense.}
14. g5 Nfe4 15. O-O-O ({Perhaps it was better to postpone the castling for one
more move} 15. Qh3) 15... c4 $146 {[%cal Gc5c4,Gb6b5,Gb5b4,Ga7a5] Diagram [#]
A novelty in comparison to the email game:} ({Sodomski,A (2006)-Fedorov,S
(2399) ICCF email 2011, which saw} 15... cxd4 16. exd4 b5 17. h4 b4 18. cxb4 a5
{which also looks quite promising for Black.}) 16. Bc2 (16. Bxe4 $6 dxe4 17.
Qg2 b5 {[%cal Gb7d5,Ga7a5,Gb5b4] Diagram [#] followed by Bb7-d5 and advance of
the "a" and "b" pawns will lead to a dream position for the second player.})
16... b5 {Both sides attack on the opposite flanks and the Big question is-
"Who is opening the king first." Since the white pawn chain is somewhat more
exposed, Adams does it.} 17. Qh3 b4 18. Nxe4 ({Naturally, Karjakin does not
want to open any files with} 18. cxb4 a5 $1 {Diagram [#]} (18... c3 19. bxc3
Qc7 (19... Nxc3 20. Qxh7#)) 19. b5 c3 20. bxc3 Nxb5 {when Black is definitely
happy.}) 18... dxe4 19. Be1 Bd5 {Adams prepares b4-b3.} ({The other way to
attack is} 19... bxc3 20. Bxc3) 20. Rg1 $6 {Diagram [#] Which Karjakin ignores.
} ({In case of} 20. cxb4 a5 $1 21. bxa5 {The English GM was probably planning
the rich exchange sacrifice} Rxa5 $1 {when} 22. Bxa5 $2 {might lead to quick
mate after} ({But White had definitely more chances defending the position
after} 22. a3 {than the one in the game. On a second thought} Nb5 $1 {Looks
really scary for White.}) 22... Qxa5 23. Kb1 (23. Rd2 c3 24. bxc3 Qxc3 25. Kd1
Rb8 $19) 23... c3 {[%csl Rb1] Diagram [#] and the white king has no defenders.}
) 20... b3 21. axb3 (21. Bb1 {seems more stubborn although Black's attacking
chances are huge after} bxa2 22. Bxa2 a5 ({Or} 22... Rb8)) 21... cxb3 22. Bb1
f5 $1 {[%csl Rc1][%cal Gf8f1] Diagram [#] A very nice idea. Adams offers his
opponent a choice of two eveils. To close the kingside and basically to resign
on the other one. Or...} 23. gxf6 Bxf6 {To open the "f" file for the black
rook and activate his bishop.} 24. Rg4 Nf5 {With the intention to improve
calmly with a7-a5-a4-a3 or Ra8-c8 and Qd8-a5.} 25. Kd2 {White tries to escape
but the poor king gets surrounded.} Qa5 26. Ke2 Bxe5 27. dxe5 ({There is no
way back as the "f" file had been opened-} 27. fxe5 Bc4+ 28. Kd2 (28. Kf2 Nxd4+
) 28... Qa1 {[%csl Rd2][%cal Ra1b2]}) 27... Rad8 28. Kf2 {Or:} (28. Bd2 Bc4+
29. Ke1 Rxd2 $1 {[%csl Ye1] Diagram [#] and White's position falls apart.} 30.
Kxd2 (30. Rxd2 Qa1 31. Rd1 Qxb2) 30... Rd8+ 31. Kc1 Rxd1+ 32. Kxd1 Qa1 33. Kc1
Bd3) 28... Qa1 {It is over.} 29. Bd2 Bc4 30. Qh5 Qxb2 31. Ke1 Rxd2 $1 {[%csl
Re1][%cal Rb2c1,Rc1d2] Diagram [#]} (31... Rxd2 32. Rxd2 Qc1+ 33. Kf2 Qf1#) 0-1

Report.

Chinese Perfection-Part 2

After Hou Yifan's inspired win Wijk an Zee witnessed another Chinese precision in round five. Thanks to this win, Ding Liren moved to a shared first place:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.21"]
[Round "5.5"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:55:52"]
[BlackClock "0:42:34"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 {Diagram [#] Karjakin repertoire is a solid
Nimtzo-Queen's Indian openings.} 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 8.
e4 d5 9. Bd3 ({Grischuk's fabulous idea to sacrifice four pawns in a flash:} 9.
exd5 exd5 10. Bg2 dxc4 11. O-O cxb3 12. Re1 bxa2 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. d5 cxd5 {
did not find followers yet, Grischuk,A (2771)-Fedoseev,V (2659) Baku 2015})
9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Qe2 Nbd7 {Black is very solid and intends to swap
off a pair of knights on e4, free his position a bit and prepare c6-c5 for
ultimate leveling of the chances.} 12. O-O-O $146 {[%csl Yc1,Ye8][%cal Gg3g4,
Gh3h4] Diagram [#] But Ding ruins Black's plan for a slow, sleepy game.} ({
Normal play will be} 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. O-O c5 {when Topalov found a way to
complicate matters with} 14. d5 exd5 15. Rfe1 dxc4 16. Bxc4 O-O 17. Rad1 Qd7
18. Ng5 {for the pawn White has plenty of play, Topalov,V (2767)-Leko,P (2737)
Beijing 2013}) 12... Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bc2 a5 {The king on the queenside
requires actions.} 15. Rhe1 b5 {[%csl Yc1] Diagram [#] Karjakin tries to
create counter play before castling.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 15... O-O)
16. c5 {The only move. It gives a lot of squares to the black pieces (d5 and
c3 in particular) but at the same time provides stability on the flank. Bad was
} (16. cxb5 a4 $1 {when Black opens too many files against the white king.})
16... b4 17. g4 Ba6 ({White is not even sacrificing the pawn after} 17... Nxg4
18. Rg1) 18. Qe5 O-O ({White is not forced to trade queens after} 18... Qd5 $6
19. Qf4) 19. g5 Nh5 $1 {Diagram [#] Karjakin correctly sacifices a pawn.
White's attack is too strong after} (19... Nd5 20. Qe4 {To force a weakening
move.} g6 21. h4 Bb5 22. h5 {Followed by a timely capture on g6 and doubling
of the heavy piecs along the "h" file and mate. Say} Nc3 23. Bxc3 bxc3 24. hxg6
hxg6 25. Qh4 {[%csl Yg8][%cal Rh1h8] Diagram [#] and it is over.}) 20. Qe4 g6
21. Qxc6 Ra7 22. Be4 {Prepares the d4-d5 advance. From a hinsight better was
the immediate} (22. Qb6 Qxb6 ({White was probably worried about his queen
safety in after} 22... Qa8 $5) 23. cxb6 Rb7 24. Be3 {White's advantage is
clear, for example} Rxb6 (24... Bd8 25. Be4 Rxb6 26. d5 exd5 27. Bxd5 Rb8 28.
Ne5 {[%csl Gd5,Yd8,Ge3,Ge5,Yf8,Yh5] Diagram [#] with huge difference in the
activity of the pieces.}) 25. d5 Rd6 26. Bc5) ({If Ding starts to retreat
Black will get what he wants-} 22. Qe4 Bb7 23. c6 Ba8) 22... Bb7 23. Qb6 $1 {
The only move. Queens should leave the board as if} (23. Qb5 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 a4
$1 {Black will get strong attack along the "a" and "b" files.}) 23... Qxb6 24.
cxb6 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 (25. bxa7 $2 Bxf3) 25... Rb7 26. Be3 Rc8+ $2 {[%cal Gf8f2,
Yc8c1] Diagram [#] It is tempting to put the rook on the open file with a
tempo but this might be the losing mistake! It did great where it was as
proven by the line} (26... Bd8 27. d5 exd5 28. Rxd5 Bxb6 29. Bxb6 Rxb6 30. Rxa5
f6 {[%csl Rf2,Rf3] Diagram [#] and the rook is ready for the harvest on the
"f" file. In this line the most probably outcome would be a draw.}) 27. Kb1
Rxb6 28. d5 $1 Rd6 29. Rd2 Kf8 30. dxe6 Rxe6 31. Rxe6 fxe6 {The result of the
forced play is a cheerless endgame for Karjakin. The main problem is not the
isolated e6 pawn, but the pair of black queenside pawns which are blocked on
the color of their own bishop.} 32. Rc2 $1 {[%csl Ya5,Yb4][%cal Gb1c2,Gc2d3,
Gd3c4,Gc4b5,Gb5a5] Diagram [#] Excellent technique by Ding. The rook is ready
for the decisive penetration.} Rd8 ({Or} 32... Rxc2 33. Kxc2 {followed by a
triumphal king march all the way to b5.}) 33. Nd4 Ng7 (33... Kf7 {would lose
faster to} 34. Rc7) 34. Nc6 Rd1+ 35. Rc1 {Once more White speculates with the
threat of a rook swap to win the decisive tempo.} Rd5 36. Nxe7 $1 {[%csl Ya5,
Yb4,Ge3,Yg7] Diagram [#] Such moves are harder to make than it seems. The
knight was clearly superior to the bishop but the latter was Black's best
defender. Once that it is gone none can save the queenside pawns.} Kxe7 37.
Rc7+ {A small check but once more excellent technique. The king is driven back.
} Kf8 38. Rc5 $1 {Wins the "a" pawn.} Ke7 39. Rxd5 exd5 40. Bb6 Kd6 {A better
try was} (40... Ne6 41. Bxa5 Nxg5 42. Bxb4+ Kd7 43. a4 Nf3 44. h3 Ng1 {Diagram
[#] when Black regains the pawn. The bishop is still clearly superior to the
knight but thanks to the reduced number of pawns left on the board and the
light color of the a8 square Black has decent drawing chances.}) 41. Bxa5 Kc5
42. Bd8 Nf5 {It seems as this is a fortress but with subtle maneuvering Ding
breaks in.} 43. Kc2 Nd4+ 44. Kd3 Nf5 45. Bc7 Kc6 46. Bf4 Kc5 47. Be3+ Kb5 48.
Ke2 $1 {[%csl Yd5,Yg6,Yh7][%cal Ge2f3,Gf3f4,Gf4e5,Ge5f6,Ge5d5] Diagram [#]
Intending Ke2-f3-f4-e5.} Nh4 49. Bd2 Nf5 50. Kf3 Nd4+ 51. Kf4 Nc6 {The last
stand.} 52. Be3 Ka6 53. Bc5 Kb5 54. Bd6 Ka5 $2 {And it is over in just one
move.} ({After} 54... Kb6 55. Ke3 Kb7 56. f4 Kc8 {White still need to prove
his win, which I suspect he can do with either} 57. f5 ({Or} 57. a3 bxa3 58.
Bxa3) 57... gxf5) 55. Ke3 {Karjaking resigned due to} (55. Ke3 Kb5 56. f4 Ka6
57. f5 $1 {Diagram [#]}) 1-0

Report.

The Miracle is a Fact!

Perhaps nobody believed this after the disastrous start of the match (0-2) that Karjakin will make it to the rapid and blitz tie-breaks. None, but his wife I suspect, maybe even Sergey had huge doubts.
But he did it, in style in the last, fourth classical game in Baku:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.04"]
[Round "58.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:12:23"]
[BlackClock "0:15:27"]

1. Nf3 {Diagram [#] In the decisive game of the match Karjakin decides to
avoid the open games. Wise decision, especially taking into account the fact
how well Svidler did there at this tournament. Another argument about
Karjakin's opening choice is the fact that he also avoids the Gruenfeld.} d5 2.
d4 c5 {Svidler had already played like that, in a rapid game against
Nepomniachtchi.} 3. c4 cxd4 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qxd4 {The above-mentioned game saw:}
(5. Nxd4 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Nc3 e5 8. Ndb5 a6 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Na3 Be6 {and
Black solved his opening problems, Nepomniachtchi,I (2702)-Svidler,P (2740)
Nizhnij Novgorod 2013}) 5... Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 {Diagram [#] Curiously,
this position was discussed in the match for the world championship between
Lasker and Tarrasch, roughly 100 years ago!} Bd7 {The second main move and the
beginning of Black's problems. Tarrasch reacted with} (7... e5 {but this also
allowed the white knight the b5 squre. After} 8. Ndb5 Kd8 9. Be3 Nc6 10. g3 Bd7
11. Rd1 Kc8 12. Bg2 {White had an edge, Lasker,E-Tarrasch,S Berlin 1916}) ({
The main move is} 7... a6) 8. Ndb5 Kd8 {Or} (8... Na6 9. Bf4 g6 10. e4 Bg7 11.
O-O-O Bc6 12. f3 {with advantage for White, Lindberg,B (2426)-Berkell,P (2249)
Sweden 2004}) 9. Be3 $1 {[%csl Ya7,Rb6][%cal Re3b6,Rb6a7] Diagram [#] Support
the white knight on b5.} Nc6 ({Black does not have the move} 9... a6 10. Bb6+
Kc8 11. Nc7) 10. f3 $146 {A novelty. The idea is to limit the black knights.} (
{A recent GM game saw Black demolished in mere seventeen moves after} 10. g3
Ng4 11. Bd2 Nb4 ({However, Black had plenty of improvements along the way, for
example here} 11... a6 12. Na3 e5) 12. Rc1 Nxa2 13. Nxa2 Bxb5 14. Bg2 e6 15.
Ba5+ Ke8 16. Bc7 Bc6 17. Rxc6 {[%csl Ya8,Ye8] Diagram [#] 1-0 (17) Grigoriants,
S (2606)-Gleizerov,E (2501) Dresden 2015}) 10... h5 {Stops the positional
threat g2-g4.} 11. O-O-O Kc8 12. Bg5 {[%csl Gb5,Gd1,Yf8,Gg5,Yh8] Diagram [#]
White can be very happy with the opening. He has better development, extra
space and on the top of this Black has huge difficulties in bringing his
dark-squared bishop out.} g6 {A sad choice but the alternatives were no better:
} ({Bad is} 12... e6 13. e4 Be7 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Rxd6 $16) ({Even worse is
the attempt to get rid of the annoying knight:} 12... a6 13. Na4 axb5 14. Nb6+
Kb8 15. Nxa8 Kxa8 16. Bxf6) 13. Nd6+ exd6 14. Bxf6 Rg8 15. e4 {[%csl Yd6]
Diagram [#] One more advantage is added to white's position- the isolated d6
pawn.} Be6 16. Kb1 Kd7 17. Nd5 Bg7 18. Bxg7 Rxg7 19. Bb5 {The pins along the
a4-e8 diagonal and the half-open d file make Black's position very difficult.
White intends to double his rooks along the d file (or sometimes along the c
one too!) The e4-e5 threat is always in the air and the g7 rook is stuck on
this ugly square.} Kd8 $1 (19... Rd8 20. Rd2) (19... Bxd5 $2 20. exd5) 20. Rd2
Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Kc7 22. Rc1 Re8 $1 23. Rd4 ({Another idea was} 23. Bd3 {
intending to meet} Re5 {with} 24. f4 Re6 25. b4 $1) 23... Re5 {[%csl Yc1][%cal
Ga8e8,Ge8e5,Ge5c5] Diagram [#]} 24. Ba4 {The bishop is clearly superior to the
knight and Karjakin wants to keep it on board. The endgame of this game has
similarities with the one that the Russian GM won against P. Eljanov at the
decisive second rapid game of their tie-break.} ({The rook endgame promises
good drawing chances to Black} 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Rdc4 c5 26. f4 Re6 27. e5 g5
28. exd6+ Kxd6 29. Rxc5 gxf4) 24... b5 25. Bb3 Rc5 26. Rd5 Rxc1+ 27. Kxc1 a6 {
Svidler did the best that he could-traded one of the active white rooks, got
rid of the pins, but his position still remains clearly worse.} 28. Rd3 g5 {
Black plays for fortress.} (28... f5 $1 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Rg8g1] Diagram [#] to
exchange pawns and open files was better, for example} 29. Bd5 (29. exf5 gxf5
30. g3 h4) 29... Nb4 30. Rc3+ Kd7 31. Bb3 fxe4 32. fxe4 Re7 {with excellent
chances for a draw.}) 29. Kd2 h4 30. Rc3 Kb6 31. Rd3 Kc7 32. Ke3 f6 33. Rc3 Kb6
34. Rd3 {Karjakin does not hurry.} Kc7 35. Rc3 Kb6 36. Bd5 Ne7 37. Kd4 Rh7 38.
Be6 $1 {[%csl Rc8,Yd6,Rf5][%cal Gd4d5,Gd5d6,Re6c8,Re6f5] Diagram [#] All the
white pieces are optimally placed. The bishop took under control important
squares (c8 in particular) and opened the road for the white king. It is time
to somehow break the black fortress.} Rh8 39. a3 Rd8 {Perhaps Black should
have tried to take the open file with} (39... Ra8 40. Rc2 Ra7 41. g3 hxg3 42.
hxg3 Rc7) 40. Rc2 $1 {[%cal Gc2f2,Gf3f4] The idea is to open a second front
after Rc2-f2 and f3-f4!} Rh8 41. Rf2 Ng6 $1 {The best defense. Otherwise f3-f4
would be played but now the white king gets in.} 42. Kd5 Rd8 {With the threat
Ng6-f4xe6.} 43. Bf5 Nf4+ 44. Kd4 {Diagram [#]} Re8 $2 {This loses. The
critical line was} (44... d5 $1 45. e5 fxe5+ 46. Kxe5 d4 {It seems as Black
will soon lose this pawn and the last hope, but the position somehow holds.
For example} 47. Rd2 Kc5 48. Rc2+ Kb6 49. Be4 d3 50. Rd2 Kc5 51. g3 hxg3 52.
hxg3 Nh5 53. Bxd3 Nxg3 54. Rc2+ Kb6 {Diagram [#] A lot of pawns have been
traded and what is best, White does not have time to win the g5 one-} 55. Bg6
Rf8 {and Black should hold this.}) 45. g3 Ne6+ 46. Bxe6 $1 {Diagram [#]
Probably Svidler has spent most of his time calculating the line} (46. Kd5 hxg3
47. hxg3 Nc5 48. Kxd6 g4 $1 49. Bxg4 (49. fxg4 Rxe4 50. b4 Nb7+ 51. Kd7 $16)
49... Rxe4 50. fxe4 Nxe4+ 51. Ke6 Nxf2 52. Bf5 Kc5 {and maybe he found a draw
there, but Karjakin found a better way.} (52... b4 $5)) 46... Rxe6 47. Kd5 {
White wins a pawn which together with the active pieces secures him the win.}
Re5+ 48. Kxd6 hxg3 49. hxg3 g4 50. fxg4 Rxe4 51. Rf4 $1 {[%cal Gg4g5,Gg5g6,
Gg6g7,Gg7g8] Diagram [#] Much better than} (51. Rxf6 Rxg4 52. Ke5+ Ka5 53. Rf3
Rg8 54. Kf5 Rf8+ 55. Kg4 Rg8+ 56. Kh3 b4) 51... Re3 52. Rxf6 Rxg3 53. Ke5+ Kb7
54. Kf5 Rb3 55. g5 Rxb2 56. g6 Rg2 57. Ke6 {[%csl Yg2][%cal Ge6f7,Gg6g7,Gg7g8,
Rf6a6] Diagram [#] Followed by Ke6-f7 and wins the rook. An important detail
is that the white rooks cuts the black king along the sixth rank and Black
cannot create a dangerous passer.} 1-0

Report.

Miracles in Game Three

Those of you who have followed closely the matches from the World Cup remember how easily Svidler went through the semi-final. After a win with the black pieces in game one against Anish Giri, he simply did not let a single chance to his opponent in game two by choosing an ultra-solid opening line as White. Soon many of the pieces disappeared and the Russian GM comfortably went into the final.
Many people expected a similar scenario in game three of the final match. Svidler needed only a draw to win the event outright after the furious 2-0 start. At the beginning everything seemed fine with his strategy, although Karjakin tried to complicate matters at an early stage of the game:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.03"]
[Round "57.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:12:32"]
[BlackClock "0:16:45"]

1. e4 c5 {In a must-win situation Karjakin probably did not even consider the
Berlin as an option.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {Diagram [#] The last time
Svidler played this solid was back in 1999 against Garry Kasparov.} a6 5. c4
Nc6 6. Qe3 Nf6 7. h3 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Be2 Nd7 {[%cal Gg7a1] Diagram [#] Sooner
or later this knight will step back to open up the bishop and get to a better
position. Black can also start with the castling:} ({Relevant:} 9... O-O 10.
O-O Rb8 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Rb1 Qb6 13. Qd2 Nde5 {as in Lagarde,M (2540)-Edouard,R
(2634) Saint Quentin 2015}) 10. Rb1 {White carefully finishes the development.}
Nde5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 {Both sides achieved what they wanted-
approximate equality. However, we should not forget that Karjakin is in a
must-win situation.} f5 {The typical Accelerated Dragon counter-play.} 14. exf5
$146 {[%csl Re7][%cal Re1e7,Rd1d8] Diagram [#] And a standard reply which
appears to be a novelty. Svidler does not want to allow the f5-f4 advance. In
correspondence game another player with the white pieces did:} ({Predecessor:}
14. Nd5 e6 15. Nf4 e5 16. Ne2 f4 17. Qa3 Qg5 18. Rxd6 Bxh3 {with complications
in Szymanski,R (2372)-Chomicki,H (2229) ICCF email 2011. Karjakin definitely
would not mind these.}) 14... Bxf5 15. Be4 Qd7 16. Nd5 Qe6 17. Bxf5 Qxf5 {
Diagram [#] One more light piece disappeared. At least Black got some activity
along the half-open f file.} 18. Bd2 {Of course not} (18. Nxe7+ $4 Nxe7 19.
Qxe7 Rae8 20. Qxd6 Qxf2+ 21. Kh1 Re1+ 22. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 23. Kh2 Be5+ $19) 18...
Rae8 19. Bc3 e6 20. Nb6 d5 $1 {[%csl Yb6,Rg1] Diagram [#] The only chance to
complicate matters. Black starts an attack through the center while the white
knight is away from the main battlefield.} 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Third light piece
leaves the board...} 22. Qc5 ({Black is somewhat better in the endgame after}
22. cxd5 $6 exd5 23. Qc5 d4 24. Qxf5 Rxf5 25. Rd2 $15) 22... Rf6 {A risky
decision, the only real chance to play for a win! If this was an ordinary game
Karjakin would have opted for} (22... dxc4 23. Qxf5 exf5 24. Nxc4 Re7 $11 {
Diagram [#]}) 23. b4 {With the idea b4-b5. Once again the d5 pawn is poisoned
due to} (23. cxd5 exd5 24. Nxd5 Re2 25. Qb6 Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Rfxf2 {and the
rooks rock.}) 23... Ne5 24. cxd5 Nd3 {This was the position that Karjakin had
in mind. He will regain the pawn on f2 and open up the white king. True, in
the process his knight might get trapped, but did he have anything to lose?}
25. Qe3 ({Another way to defend is} 25. Qc7+ $5 {when Black has to choose
wisely where to go with the king. The obvious square} Kg8 $2 {is a bad choice
because of} (25... Kh8 {is better but then the line} 26. Qc3 Nxf2 ({White has
risk-free advantage in the line} 26... Qxf2+ 27. Kh1 e5 28. Qxd3 Qxb6 29. d6
$14) 27. Nd7 {is good for White.}) ({According to the computer, the best move
is} 25... Kh6 {but then White can win a tempo with a timely check against the
enemy king as in the line} 26. Qg3 Nf4 27. Qh4+ $1 {(away from the fork on e2)}
Kg7 28. dxe6 g5 29. Qg4 $11) 26. Nd7 Qxf2+ 27. Kh2 Rf7 28. Rf1 Qxf1 29. Rxf1
Rxf1 30. dxe6) 25... Nxf2 {The match situation is not about rational decisions
any more! Once again, from objective perspective best was} (25... Qxf2+ 26.
Qxf2 Nxf2 27. Re1 Nd3 28. Re3 Nf4 {Diagram [#] with a draw.}) 26. Rf1 {The
knight is trapped.} Qe4 27. Rbe1 {Svidler plays according to the position. He
had probably calculated the line which happened later in the game. A draw
could have been achieved by simple means with} (27. Qxe4 Nxe4 28. dxe6 Rfxe6
29. Nd5 Nd2 30. Nc7 $11) 27... exd5 (27... Ref8 28. Qxe4 Nxe4 29. Rxf6 Nxf6 $16
{leaves Black no hint of a chance.}) 28. Rxf2 $6 {Diagram [#] Not yet a
mistake but a huge step forward it. White could have won the knight with} (28.
Qd2 Nxh3+ 29. gxh3 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 {Diagram [#] when Black has chances for a
draw. But only in this game, not in the match...}) 28... Qh4 {Probably Svidler
was hoping for the nice line:} (28... Qxe3 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxf6 Kxf6 31.
Nxd5+) 29. Qd2 $4 {[%csl Re1] Diagram [#] Unbelievable! The exhausting matches
and the final pressure came too much for Svidler. He blunders the game away.} (
{Instead} 29. Qxe8 Qxf2+ 30. Kh2 Qxb6 {would give some winning chances for
Black but should be still a draw with careful play. For example} 31. Re7+ Kh6
32. Rd7 Qxb4 33. Qg8 Qf4+ 34. Kh1 Qe5 35. Rxh7+ Kg5 36. Qd8 {followed by
Rh7-d7. Black cannot win with his king that exposed.}) 29... Rxf2 30. Qc3+ (30.
Qxf2 Rxe1+) 30... d4 {Diagram [#] Svidler resigned due to} (30... d4 31. Qc7+
Rf7) 0-1

Report.

Almost There

Peter Svidler made a huge step towards the overall win at the FIDE World Cup 2015. He was successful in the second game against Sergey Karjakin. Excellent opening preparation gave him a chance to almost effortlessly equalize and when the game was heading to the logical result...Karjakin blundered badly:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.02"]
[Round "56.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:14:23"]
[BlackClock "0:02:37"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Diagram [#] The Ruy Lopez was the most expected
opening in this game. It served very well Svidler so far and Karjakin would
not mind the complex, rich positions that he can get.} a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 {Diagram [#] Today's choice is the
Breyer line. Black reroutes the c6 knight to d7 and opens up the bishop on b7.
The other one may go to g7 in order to open the e file and put more pressure
on white's center. This line was a favorite one to the twelfth world champion-
Anatoly Karpov in the mid-seventies and the beginning of the 1980-ties.} 10. d4
Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. Qc2 ({Another plan is}
15. Nf1 Qc7 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bg5 {as in Dominguez Perez,L (2732)-Adams,M (2742)
Baku 2015}) 15... Rc8 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 c5 $1 $146 {[%csl Rc2][%cal Rc8c2]
Diagram [#] "A very new interesting, sharp idea which probably solves Black's
problems" Svidler. The Russian GM revealed also that this was an idea of a
friend(s) of his which he received in a conversation through Skype. The name(s)
of the helper(s) remained a secret.} ({Previously Black had developed with}
17... Qc7 18. Bb2 Ra8 19. Rad1 Nb6 20. c4 {as in the game...Karjakin,S (2767)
-Carlsen,M (2868) Stavanger 2013. Svidler also mentioned that he lost a
similar position to his opponent before and was aware how strong Karjakin is
in these type of positions.}) 18. bxc5 {The only move to play for the
advantage. Both} (18. dxc5 dxc5 19. Bxb5 cxb4) ({And} 18. Bxb5 cxb4 {promise
White no advantage at all.} (18... cxd4)) 18... exd4 19. c6 $5 {[%csl Gc6]
[%cal Gc5c6] Diagram [#] A surprise for Svidler, who criticized himself for
the following play.} ({The main line which he analyzed was} 19. Nxd4 {when
Black should continue} b4 {and then} 20. c6 {is best and might have transposed
to the game. Instead, the obvious} (20. cxb4 $6 dxc5 21. bxc5 $2 {loses to}
Bxc5 {and White cannot escape with the d4 knight due to the discovered check
on f2.})) 19... dxc3 {Black believed this should lead to a forced draw.
Otherwise he would have gone back into the main line of his analyzes with} (
19... Bxc6 20. Nxd4 b4 {Let's go a bit further here} 21. Ba6 (21. cxb4 {is
immediately equal after} Bxe4 22. Qb3 Bxd3 23. Rxe8 Nxe8 24. Qxd3 Qb6 $11) {
Now I suspect that the main line was this-} 21... bxc3 ({Although Black may go
as well for} 21... Rc7 22. cxb4 Bxe4 (22... Bb5 $5) 23. Qd1 {The computer
claims slight advantage for White but since ,amy pawns were already traded and
the queen's flank pawns have almost disappeared completely, Black should hold.
And Black had definitely analyzed this further.}) 22. Bxc8 cxd2 23. Bxd2 Bxe4
24. Bxd7 Bxc2 25. Bxe8 Nxe8 {Diagram [#]}) 20. cxb7 ({Not} 20. cxd7 cxd2 21.
Qxd2 Nxd7 {where White has to hold.}) 20... cxd2 21. Qxd2 $1 {Diagram [#]
Clearly better than} (21. bxc8=Q dxe1=Q+ 22. Nxe1 Qxc8 23. Bxb5 Qxc2 24. Nxc2
Rxe4 {when everything disappears and the game peters out to a draw.}) 21... Rb8
22. Bxb5 Qb6 {From far away Svidler was planning} (22... Rxb7 23. Bc6 Rb6 24.
Nd4 ({But here he saw the unpleasant resource} 24. Ra8 $1 {Diagram [#] and
dismissed the line. Actually, after} Qc7 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. Ba4 Nef6 {the
position will be very similar to the one in the game.}) 24... Qc7 $11) 23. Rb1
Qxb7 24. Bd3 Qa8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Bb2 {Plenty of things have been traded but
Black is not yet quite there. Karjakin owes the bishop pair and the pawn on d6
might be a target, thus Svidler has to play energetically.} Qa2 $1 {[%cal
Ga2b2] Diagram [#]} 27. Re2 $1 {[%csl Gb2,Gd2,Gd3,Ge2] The best move to keep
as many pieces on the board as he can.} (27. Bd4 Qxd2 28. Nxd2 g6 {should be a
draw.}) 27... h6 {Svidler wanted to trade off everything after} (27... d5 {but
was not sure about the line} 28. e5 (28. Bxf6 Qxd2 29. Rxd2 Nxf6 30. exd5 $14 {
was fine with Black, he knew he can hold this.}) 28... Ne4 {It seems as Black
is fine indeed-} 29. Qc2 Ndc5 30. Bd4 Qxc2 31. Bxc2 Ne6 $11) 28. Qc1 {[%csl
Ya2][%cal Rb2f6] Diagram [#] Karjakin regroups and creates a simple threat in
the process Bb2xf6} Qb3 29. Bc4 Qb7 30. Qd1 {A tough position for both the
players. White has a slight edge but no real way to increase it. Black on his
turn has no safe path to the draw. On the top of that Svidler was getting low
on time.} ({Nothing gives} 30. Qf4 Qc6 {when the bishop has no good squares-}
31. Ba2 Qa6 $1 {(Svidler) Although this is a draw after} 32. Qe3 Qxa2 33. Bxf6
$11) ({An important resource for him is} 30. Bxf6 Nxf6 31. e5 Qb1 $1 $11 {
(Svidler)}) (30. e5 dxe5 31. Nxe5 Nxe5 32. Bxe5 Qb1 $11) 30... Re8 {The
pressure on the e4 pawn forces White to trade pieces.} 31. Bxf6 Nxf6 32. e5
dxe5 33. Nxe5 Re7 34. Qd4 ({Karjakin suggested the semi-waiting move} 34. g3 {
in the post-mortem, but also showed what he did not like} Nd7 35. Bd5 Qb5 36.
Bc6 Qxe5 (36... Qc5 $11 {is easier}) 37. Rxe5 Nxe5 {with a fortress.}) ({Low
on time and close to his aim Svidler saw ghosts in the lines after} 34. Qd8 Qb4
{is a third way to defend.} (34... Qc7 35. Nxf7 $1 {Diagram [#] he thought
this is winning for White but Black has the cold-blooded} Qxc4 36. Rxe7 Qc1+
37. Kh2 Qf4+ {with perpetual.}) ({And in the beautiful line that he had
calculated} 34... Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Qf5 36. Ng6 $1 {White indeed wins after the
obvious} Rxe2 ({But} 36... Re8 $1 {Diagram [#] which Svidler also saw (but was
not sure about) was a forced draw} 37. Rxe8 Nxe8 38. Qxe8 Qxg6 $11) 37. Qxf8+
Kh7 38. Bxf7 $18 {as Black has only one check (Svidler).})) 34... Nd7 35. Nxf7
{Which is OK. A more interesting attempt was} (35. Rb2 $5 {when Black has to
avoid} Qxb2 $2 ({And has to defend with} 35... Qc7 {White can still try
various things, say} 36. Bxf7+ Rxf7 37. Nxf7 Kxf7 38. Qd5+ Kg6 39. Qe4+ Kf7 40.
Rb7 Qd6 41. Qf5+ Ke8 {but Black should hold.}) 36. Bxf7+ $1 {Diagram [#]
(Svidler)}) 35... Rxf7 36. Rb2 Qc6 {The critical position of the game and
maybe the match. The game was heading towards the draw which meant that
Karjakin will have only one white color till the end to try and level the
score. He tried} 37. Rb5 $4 {[%csl Yb5][%cal Rc4f7,Rc4b5] Diagram [#] A
tragical mistake!} ({It was time to force a draw with} 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. Bxd5 g5
39. Rb7 Ne5 $11) 37... Kh8 $1 {All of a sudden, Black wins a piece. With two
minutes on the clock Svidler almost went for the prepared drawish line after} (
37... Nf6 $11) 38. Rd5 {Makes things easier, but Black was already winning
anyway after} (38. Bxf7 Qxb5) 38... Nb6 {Diagram [#] It is over, Black wins a
whole rook.} 0-1

Report.

Svidler Takes the Lead in Baku

Peter Svidler managed to make an important step towards the overall win of the World Cup 2015. Yesterday, he was more creative and outwitted his compatriot Sergey Karjakin to take an early lead in their match of four games:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.01"]
[Round "55.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:22:20"]
[BlackClock "0:02:14"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O {Diagram [#]} (5... c5 6. e4
$5 Nc6 7. Qe2 O-O 8. e5 Nd7 9. c4 d4 10. h4 $5 {Svidler,P (2758)-Karjakin,S
(2766) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 CBM 160}) 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 b5 9. exd5 {
Diagram [#]} ({The two players have also discussed the positions arising after:
} 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 b4 (10... Bb7 11. h4 Qc7 12. Bf4 Rfc8 13. Ne3 Qd8 14. Ng4
Bf8 15. c4 Ne7 16. b3 Bc6 17. h5 h6 18. Ne3 Nb6 19. Qe2 bxc4 20. dxc4 dxc4 21.
bxc4 Na4 22. Qc2 Rab8 23. Reb1 Qa5 24. Rb3 Nb6 25. Qe2 Nd7 26. Rab1 Qc7 27. g4
Be4 28. Rxb8 Rxb8 29. Rxb8 Qxb8 30. Nf1 Bc6 {1/2-1/2 (30) Karjakin,S (2753)
-Dominguez Perez,L (2734) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 11. h4 a5 12. Bf4 a4 13. a3
bxa3 14. bxa3 Ba6 15. Ne3 Rb8 16. c4 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Nb6 18. Nd6 Nd5 19. Qxa4 Rb6
20. Rac1 Nxf4 21. Qxf4 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Bxd6 23. Qe3 Rb3 24. a4 Qc7 25. Nc4 Be7
26. Ne5 Bd6 27. Nc4 Be7 28. Ne5 {1/2 (28) Svidler,P (2756)-Karjakin,S (2772)
Loo RUS 2014}) 9... Nxd5 {A slight surprise.} ({"Generally, Sergey takes"} 9...
exd5 {"which is fine for Black." Obviously Svidler put his efforts in the
study of that line.}) 10. Ne4 ({"I suppose I should play"} 10. a4 {Diagram [#]}
b4 11. Nc4 {"But then Black simply develops with Qd8-c7, Bc8-b7, Ra8-d8 and I
am not sure what is my plan." Svidler}) 10... Bb7 11. c3 $146 {Diagram [#]} ({
Predecessor saw:} 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. c4 bxc4 13. dxc4 Ndb4 14. Bc3 {Grossmann,S
(1886)-Lindenberg,G (1889) Greifswald 2003}) (11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 e5) 11... a6 (
{Svidler suggested instead} 11... h6 {[%csl Rf7,Yg5][%cal Rf7e6] Diagram [#]
to rule out Bc1-g5 and to keep the pawn on f7 thus depriving White of targets.
After the possible} 12. d4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 {he explained that
without the dark-squared bishops on the board his position would be better,
but since it is still alive he would rather prefer to have the black pieces.})
12. a4 {Before White does anything he wants to weaken the black queenside.} ({
White considered teh curious idea} 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bc1 $5 {Not to obstruct the
queen in its support for the d3-d4 break. However, he could not convince
himself that he is better in the line} e5 ({Some preparatory move like} 13...
Qd7 $5 $11 {Diagram [#] though looks good for Black. He can bring his rooks
first on d8 and e8 and play e6-e5 later.}) 14. d4 cxd4 ({Another option for
Black is} 14... exd4 $5 15. cxd4 c4 {with good position.}) 15. cxd4 f5 16. Nc5
Bxc5 17. dxc5 e4 {However, in the final position White has the strong} 18. Ng5
{and if} Qd7 19. f3 $1 {to break open his bishops with advantage.}) 12... b4 {
This is not forced at all. A reasonable alternative was} (12... h6 {followed
by Qd8-c7 with equality.}) 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bd2 e5 15. Rc1 {[%csl Rc5][%cal
Rc1c5] Diagram [#] For a moment White felt optimistic as he has targets on the
queenside.} Rf7 {Svidler suggested as a better defense the move} (15... Rc8 $1
{With the idea to take control of the c5 square. The point becomes obvious in
the line} 16. d4 ({Probably Karjakin was afraid of the move} 16. Bh3 {and after
} f5 {Either} {Or} 17. Neg5 (17. Nfg5 {However, if he is careful with} Qd7 $1 {
he should be fine. The main thing Black needs to avoid is greediness after} (
17... fxe4 $2 18. Be6+ Kh8 19. Nxh7 $1 {[%csl Yh8] Diagram [#] A typical trick
as} Kxh7 20. Qh5#)) 17... Qd6 {but in both cases Black holds.}) 16... cxd4 17.
cxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 {and in comparison to the game c5 is under control.})
16. d4 $1 {White got the initiative and what followed next was connected with
oversight by Black.} bxc3 17. bxc3 cxd4 18. cxd4 {Diagram [#]} Nxd4 $2 {
Svidler did not mention this but that move might be the worst mistake Karjakin
did today. The fact that these two knights were traded was very favourable for
White who made excellent use of his fianchettoed bishop.} (18... exd4 $1 {
Instead was more tenacious. White still keeps an edge but he has to play first
of all very energetically with} 19. Qb3 Rb8 20. Nfg5 $1 fxg5 21. Nc5 Ncb4 22.
Nxb7 Rxb7 23. Bxb4 Rxb4 24. Qxd5 Rb8 25. Qc4 {And then it is not yet clear of
the opposite bishop position after} d3 $1 {[%cal Rd3d2] Diagram [#]} 26. Bd5 (
26. Rcd1 d2 27. Re2 Rb1 28. Rxb1 d1=Q+ 29. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 30. Bf1 Qd6 {is also
better for White but maybe hold able.}) 26... d2 27. Bxf7+ Kh8 28. Qxa6 Bc5 $5
$16 {is actually won for White.}) 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qb3 ({Karjakin only
expected} 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Rxc5 Nc3 {with massive liquidations and a draw after
} 22. Bxc3 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 dxc3 $11) 20... Rb8 $6 {Objectively, a mistake. From
far away Karjakin considered this a good move and good position for him, but
White's next reply clarifies the situation.} ({Better was} 20... Qd7 $1 {
Diagram [#] although after} 21. Rc4 {White is clearly better. For example} f5
22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. Bxg5 Nf6 $1 {to break the pin at once} 24. Bxb7 Qxb7 25. Qxb7
Rxb7 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Rxd4 $16 {Although White keeps winning chances Black
has hopes to hold this endgame.}) 21. Rb1 $1 {[%csl Yb7,Rb8,Yd5,Rg8][%cal
Rb1b8,Rg2a8,Ra2g8] Diagram [#] This pin is more than annoying.} Qd7 (21... Rf8
22. Bf4 $1 {reveals one point behind the pin.}) 22. Rec1 ({Worse is the greedy
} 22. Ng5 fxg5 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24. Qxb8+ Rf8 {[%csl Gd5,Yg1] Diagram [#] with
huge compensation for a pawn (Svidler).}) 22... Qe6 {The last mistake
according to White. Svidler was afraid of the move} (22... h6 {Diagram [#]
when he could not see a clear win. True, after} 23. Nc5 ({Or} 23. Rc4 {which
would practically lead to the same after} f5 24. Nc5 ({As} 24. Rxd4 fxe4 25.
Bxe4 Bc5 {is good only for Black.}) 24... Bxc5 25. Rxc5 Nc3) 23... Bxc5 24.
Rxc5 ({Once again White should avoid capturing the exchange} 24. Bxd5 $2 Bxd5
25. Qxb8+ Rf8 {with a win for Black actually!}) 24... Nc3 25. Bxc3 dxc3 {
Diagram [#] Now Svidler considered two winning attempts:} {White can take the
exchange} 26. Bd5 ({The quiet} 26. Rxc3 {when Black is completely tied up but
it is not that easy to pick up the black bishop as Black is always threatening
to move away his rook with a tempo, or sacrifice the exchange:} Kh7 {If White
tries to triple his pieces along the b file there is} 27. Qc2+ (27. Qb2 Bxg2 ({
Or even the preparatory} 27... Re7 28. Rb3 Bxg2 29. Rxb8 Be4 (29... Qh3 $5 {
looks good too.})) 28. Qxb8 Be4 {and White still has to prove his win.}) 27...
f5 28. Rcb3 $2 Rc8 $1 $11) 26... Bxd5 27. Qxb8+ Rf8 (27... Kh7 28. Rd1) 28. Qc7
{And Black can still fight} (28. Qf4 $1 {is best with decent winning chances.})
28... Qe6 {In all these lines White is close to winning but there is still
plenty of play going on.} ({But Karjakin has to avoid E. Miroshnichenko's
discovery} 28... Qf5 $2 29. Rb7 $1)) 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Rd8 25. Ba5 $1 {
Diagram [#]} Rd6 ({In case of} 25... Rdd7 {Svidler saw the beautiful win after}
26. Re1 Qf5 ({But he was not so sure about the line} 26... Qd6 {when he had to
find an even more stunning win} 27. Bb4 $3 {[%csl Gb4] Diagram [#] when Black
is doomed, since} Nxb4 28. Re8+ {loses the queen to start with.}) 27. Qxb7 Rxb7
28. Re8+ Rf8 29. Bxd5+) 26. Qc4 {White is completely dominating and Rb1xb7 is
a deadly threat. Unstoppable.} Nc3 27. Rxb7 ({Svidler saw another win} 27. Qxe6
Rxe6 28. Bxc3 Bxg2 29. Rc8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Bb4+ Kf7 32. Kxg2 Rb6 33.
Rb2 $18) 27... Qe1+ 28. Bf1 Ne2+ 29. Qxe2 {Diagram [#]} 1-0

Report.

How Good Was the Preparation?

Round two of the World Cup continued with many interesting games. The rating favorite did well in most of the games, but there were a couple of exceptions. Sergey Karjakin lost to Alexander Onischuk with the black pieces, and the other surprise was pleasant for the hosts:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.09.14"]
[Round "10.25"]
[White "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:13:58"]
[BlackClock "0:44:32"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 {Diagram [#] Navara's great memory
gives him the advantage of diversity in the opening.} 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7.
Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 {
This knight is quite a problematic piece in the Caro- Kann for White and
Guseinov hurries to bring in back in the center.} Nxe4 {On the other hand
Black is happy to trade some pieces.} 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qd3 {Diagram [#] A
fighting move.} ({The main line is considered harmless for Black} 15. Qe2 {due
to the maneuver} Qd5 16. c4 Qe4 17. Qxe4 Nxe4 18. Be3 f5 19. Nd2 Nf6 20. Nf3
Bd6 {1/2-1/2 (20) Harikrishna,P (2740)-Berkes,F (2659) Kocaeli 2015}) 15... c5
{A relatively rare move. The main continuations are} (15... O-O) ({and} 15...
Qd5) 16. Kb1 cxd4 17. Nxd4 O-O $6 {What can be more natural than that?!
Instead, both} (17... Rc8) ({and} 17... Qd5 {would be playable.}) 18. Bxh6 $5 {
[%csl Yd8][%cal Rd1d8,Rd3g3] Diagram [#] Kaboom! Something went wrong with
Navara's preparation as this move is not even a novelty! Or maybe he just
considered the complications favourable for him? Judging by the speed with
which he was banging the moves, it should have been the latter.} gxh6 19. Qg3+
Kh8 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd8 Raxd8 22. Qe3 Ng8 23. Qxa7 $146 {Diagram [#] Both
players are blitzing, Guseinov comes up with a novelty. The stem game saw} (23.
f4 Rf5 24. g4 Rfd5 25. a3 e5 26. fxe5 {with advantage for White Kokarev,D
(2628)-Gavrilov,A (2456) Moscow 2014}) 23... Bf6 24. f3 {Finally, both players
start thinking. The material balance is weird. A queen and three pawns are
fighting a rook, bishop and knight. Techically speaking we have 9+3=5+3+3.
White should be up a pawn. Concretely speaking, White should be better thanks
to his safe king. However, if Black managed to co-ordinate his pieces, the
evaluation will change as the pieces can easily outnumber the queen in the
attack against the white pawns for instance.} Ne7 (24... Rf7 $5 {looks more
solid.}) 25. Qe3 {Diagram [#] White wins pawn number four but the black rooks
occupy the open files.} Bg7 26. Qxe6 Nd5 27. c3 Rfe8 28. Qf5 {Compy criticizes
this move and suggests instead} (28. Qg6 {presumably to defend the g2 pawn
with the queen. However then Black has} Re2 {and if} 29. Rc1 Nf4 $1 {is
unpleasant for White to say at least.}) 28... Re2 {Creates concrete threats.}
29. Rc1 {Or else Black can sacrifice on c3} (29. g4 Bxc3 {Diagram [#]} (29...
b5) (29... Ne3 {are not bad neither.}) 30. bxc3 Nxc3+ 31. Kc1 Nxa2+ {with
guaranteed draw.}) 29... Rxg2 {Now Navara rejects the draw, possible after} (
29... Ne3 30. Qb5 Rdd2 {[%csl Re8,Yh8][%cal Re8g6,Rg6e8,Rb5e8] Diagram [#]} 31.
Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qg6+ $11) 30. a3 b5 31. Qf7 Nf6 {The position is very complicated.
Navara had other interesting options:} (31... b4 $5 {might lead to a forced
draw (!) after} 32. axb4 Nxb4 33. Qc7 Bf6 34. Re1 Rgd2 35. cxb4 Rxb2+ 36. Kc1
Ra8 37. Re5 $1 {Diagram [#]} Rg2 38. Kb1 Rd8 39. Re1 Ra8 (39... Rb2+ 40. Kc1
Ra8) 40. Re5 Rd8 $11) ({While} 31... Ne3 32. Re1 Nc4 33. Re8+ Rxe8 34. Qxe8+
Kh7 35. Qxb5 {is not that great as the endgame after} Rxb2+ 36. Qxb2 Nxb2 37.
Kxb2 $18 {Diagram [#] is lost for Black. The pawns easily outnumber the bishop.
}) 32. Qb7 Rd5 ({White is better after} 32... Rdd2 33. Qxb5 Nxh5 34. Re1) 33.
f4 $1 {[%csl Gf4] Diagram [#] Surprisingly, Black has problems with the moves
after this. The queen is taking care of everything.} Kh7 34. Re1 {The rook got
active and Black decided to give the b5 pawn but to activate the pieces.} Rdd2
35. Qxb5 Nd5 36. Ka1 $1 {Nice prophylaxis as if White carelessly advances the
pawn} (36. a4 $2 {[%csl Ye1] Diagram [#] there is} Rxb2+ 37. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 38.
Kxb2 Bxc3+ {and Black wins.}) 36... Rgf2 ({Here} 36... Rxb2 $2 {is bad due the
counter-attack} 37. Qd3+ Kh8 38. Re8+ Bf8 39. Qxd5 $18) 37. Qe8 {Diagram [#]
Threatens mate in two.} Nxf4 38. Qe4+ Kh8 39. Qa8+ Kh7 40. Qe4+ Kh8 {Guseinov
made the control moves just in time to get the needed time to find the right
continuation.} 41. Qf5 $1 Rd8 {[%csl Yd8] Diagram [#] Once that the active
black pieces go back, White gets the time he needs to push his queenside pawns.
} 42. Qb5 (42. Qf7 $5 {was not bad neither.}) 42... Rd5 {This makes things
easier for White.} (42... Kh7 {was more stubborn but White is much better
anyway.}) 43. Re8+ Kh7 44. Qc4 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Rc4e4] Diagram [#] The threat
Qc4-e4+ forces the black king out.} Rxh5 45. Qg8+ Kg6 46. Re7 Rh1+ 47. Ka2 Nh5
48. Qe6+ {And the powerful white pieces finished the job.} Nf6 ({Or} 48... Kh7
49. Qe4+) ({Hopeless is} 48... Bf6 49. Qg4+ Bg5 50. Qe4+ Kf6 (50... Rf5 51.
Re6+) 51. Qe6# {Diagram [#]}) 49. Qf7+ Kf5 50. Qxg7 Rhh2 51. Rb7 {Diagram [#]
An epic, irrational battle.} 1-0

Report.

A Win in the Last Round

The last round of the Russian Super Final saw no huge surprises. Evgeny Tomashevsky comfortably drew his game with the white pieces against Peter Svidler and this proved enough for a clear first place as his nearest riva, Sergey Karjakin could not win as black against D. Jakovenko.
The already former Russian champion Igor Lysyj managed to score his only win in the event:

[Event "Russian Championship Superfinal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.08.20"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Lysyj, Igor"]
[Black "Artemiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:17:56"]
[BlackClock "0:24:31"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 Be6 {Diagram [#]
"An obvious idea. Somehow nobody had played like that and I did not seriously
analyze it." Lysyj} 7. Qa4+ $6 {Now Artemiev's opening play will be pure
success and he will get a chance to fight for the bronze medal.} ({White can
also consider grabbing a pawn with} 7. Qb5+ {and I suspect that this is the
way that White should fight for the advantage. One example} Bd7 8. Qxb7 Nc6 9.
Qb3 O-O {although Black has compensation thanks to his better development,
Agdestein,S (2637)-Lei,T (2450) Warsaw 2014}) 7... Bd7 8. Qc2 $146 {[%csl Yc2]
Diagram [#]} ({In all three predecessors White continued} 8. Qb3 {but had
horrible results.}) (8. Qa3 $5 {might be an option although it is evident that
White has less than nothing out of the opening.}) 8... c5 9. d5 ({Black is at
least equal after} 9. dxc5 Na6 10. e4 Nxc5) 9... O-O 10. e4 e6 11. Be2 exd5 12.
exd5 {Lysyj made an interesting parallel with the line of the English opening,
in which White has much better version of this line with his queen on d1 and
the black bishop on c8 instead of d7.} Na6 13. Bg5 {From far away Lysyj
thought that he could castle but here he realized that} (13. O-O {is strongly
met with} Nb4 14. Qb3 {[%csl Yb3] Diagram [#]} Nfxd5 $1 15. Nxd5 Be6 $17) 13...
Bf5 14. Qb3 Nb4 15. O-O h6 ({Once again Artemiev could have won a pawn after}
15... Nbxd5 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Bc4 Qc6 18. Rfe1 {Diagram [#] and although White
has some compensation for it, it is hardly sufficient.}) 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Rac1
{White can be happy for not losing the pawn but it is still his opponent who
is calling the shots.} a6 ({Black has plenty of choice, e.g} 17... Nd3 18. Bxd3
Bxd3 19. Rfe1 c4 {looks tempting.} 20. Qxb7 Rfb8 21. Qc7 Rxb2 {to open up the
bishops.}) 18. Rfd1 b5 19. Ne1 {Lysyj believed his opponent missed this
resource. Now the knight on b4 is in danger.} Rfe8 $2 ({The easiest way to
save the knight was} 19... Qe7 {Diagram [#]} 20. a3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxd5 22. Qxd5
Qxe2 23. Qxc5 Rfd8 {with advantage to Black.}) 20. a3 Bf8 ({Artemiev suggested
after the game} 20... Na2 $5 21. Qxa2 b4 {Indeed, in the complication after}
22. axb4 cxb4 23. Nf3 bxc3 24. bxc3 Be4 {Black has compensation for the pawn.})
21. Rd2 $1 {[%csl Yb4] Diagram [#] Now the knight remains in trouble and Black
has to demonstrate resourcefulness.} ({But not} 21. axb4 $6 cxb4 22. Bf3 bxc3
23. Qxc3 Qxc3 24. bxc3 Ba3 {with clear edge in the endgame.}) 21... Nd3 22.
Nxd3 c4 23. Qd1 cxd3 24. Bxd3 {Black did everything he could, but lost a pawn
in the process.} Bd6 ({Perhaps Black's best chance was to at least keep the
bishop pair on board after} 24... Bd7) 25. g3 Re5 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Kg2 {[%csl
Rc5,Rc6,Gd5] Diagram [#] "I understood that the situation of the pawn on b5
will make it much easier for me to convert the extra pawn" Lysyj. The c6 and
c5 squares in particular are of paramount importance for White.} Rae8 28. Qf3
Qd7 29. h4 Qb7 (29... h5 $5) 30. Re2 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Ye2,Ye5] Diagram [#] The
rook swap makes it easier to White to co-ordinate his forces as the d5 pawn is
no longer a huge target.} Rxe2 31. Nxe2 Be5 32. b4 Rd8 33. Rd1 $1 {The correct
set up. The rook is placed behind the passer and next the knight goes to the
wonderful outpost on c5.} (33. Rc6 Qd7 {complicates matters} 34. Rxa6 Qxd5 35.
Qxd5 Rxd5 36. Ra5 Bf6 {as in the R+B versus R+N endgame the latter usually has
the advantage over the former combination and in many cases they manage to
compensate for the extra pawn.}) 33... h5 34. Nc1 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Gc1b3,Gb3c5]
Diagram [#]} Rd6 35. Nb3 Rf6 36. Qe4 Bd6 37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. Nc5 {In addition to
the extra pawn White added more active pieces. All of them are optimally
placed to help the pawn go forward.} Qa7 39. Ne4 Rf5 40. Qc6 Bc7 41. d6 Bd8 42.
d7 a5 43. Rd5 axb4 44. axb4 Qa2 45. Rxf5 gxf5 46. Qc3+ Kg6 47. Nc5 Qd5+ 48. Qf3
Qd6 49. Qa8 Qb6 ({White wins everything in the line} 49... Bb6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 51.
Qg5+ Ke5 52. Qxh5 Bxc5 53. Qh8+) 50. Qd5 {Diagram [#] Vladislav Artemiev could
not make it to the medals but proved that has bright future, while the already
former Russian champion Igor Lysyj won his first game at the end of the event.}
1-0

Report.

Karjakin with an Important Win

Round nine of the Russian Super Final saw Sergey Karjakin scoring an important win in the battle for the medals.

[Event "Russian Championship Superfinal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.08.18"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:29:02"]
[BlackClock "0:37:58"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {The forced
nature of the Arkhangelsk line makes it preferrable option at top level.} 7. c3
d6 8. a4 Rb8 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. d5 ({Giri
opted instead for slight and lasting advantage after} 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Ra3 f6 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qxf3
21. Qxf3 Rxf3 22. Kg2 {Giri,A (2773)-Nakamura,H (2802) Stavanger 2015}) 13...
Ne7 14. Bc2 Qd7 {[%cal Rd7h3] Diagram [#] "I got a little bit upset that he
played like that as I believe that Black equalizes after that" Karjakin.} 15.
c4 Ng6 16. h3 {This practically forces Black to sacrifice a piece.} ({Worse is
} 16. Qd3 Nh5) 16... Bxh3 (16... Bh5 17. Qd3 {proveides no compensation
whatsoever for the pawn.}) 17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Ng5 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qh4+ 20. Kg2 Nf4+
{[%csl Gf4] Diagram [#] Better than} (20... h6 21. Nh3 Nxe4 22. Qe2 f5 23. Ra3
{with advantage for White as proven in the game Karjakin,S (2672)-Radjabov,T
(2729) Cap d'Agde 2006}) 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nf3 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 {For the piece
Black will get soon a second pawn and will enjoy attacking possibilities.} Rfe8
24. Ra3 {A very important move in White's set-up without which he would be
simply worse.} Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 26. Rc3 {Diagram [#]} Ba5 {A somewhat
misterious bishop move.} ({Perhaps Black should just go into an endgame with}
26... Qh5+ 27. Nh2 Qxd1 28. Rxd1 Bxf2 {where his pawns might become quite
dangerous as well.}) (26... Rbe8 $5 {deserves serious attention too. Karjakin
considered the position as approximately equal.}) 27. Rc1 $146 {Diagram [#]} ({
The only predecessor saw:} 27. Rc2 Rbe8 ({But Karkjakin was afraid of the
cunning} 27... Be1 $5 {which separates the white heavy pieces and might be
quite annoying. Obviously, the bishop is untouchable} 28. Rxe1 $4 (28. Nxe1 $4
Qxd1) 28... Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Qxf3+ 30. Kg1 Qg4+ 31. Kf1 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 f3 $19) 28.
Nh2 Qh3 29. Qf3 Qh6 30. b4 {with advantage for White in Lopez Martinez,J (2550)
-Bellia,F (2405) San Sebastian 2008}) 27... Rbe8 28. Nh2 Qh4 29. Nd4 $1 {[%csl
Gd4][%cal Gh2f3,Gd4f3] Diagram [#] After this move it becomes evident that
Black misses his bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal. The knights cement White's
position and provide time to consolidate the position.} h5 ({There is no
counterattack after} 29... Re1 $2 30. Qa4 Qxf2 31. Qxe8+ $1 {[%csl Yf2][%cal
Rf1f2] Diagram [#] (Karjakin)}) ({But maybe Svidler should have sent the
bishop back to where it belonged} 29... Bb6 30. Ndf3 Qe7 31. b4 Re2 $16) 30.
Qd3 {Better than} (30. Qa4 Bb6 {when the trick} 31. Ne6 $2 {does not work due
to} Rb8 32. Qc2 f3 $1 33. Ng5 Qxg5 {with mate threat which prevents White from
snatching the rook (Karjakin).}) 30... Qf6 {Svidler could have brought the
bishop back again} (30... Bb6 {to which White intended to continue with} 31.
Ndf3 (31. Ne6 $2 f3 $1) 31... Qe7 32. b4 {with advantage. For example} Re2 33.
Rc2 Rxc2 34. Qxc2 Qe2 35. Qf5 Bxf2 (35... g6 36. Qxf4 Re4 37. Qf6 $16) 36. Ng5
Bg3 37. Qxf7+ Kh8 38. Ngf3 $1 $16 ({A funny line is} 38. Nhf3 Qxf1+ 39. Ng1
Qxg1+ (39... Qd1 $4 40. Qxe8#) (39... Qe1 40. Qxh5+ Kg8 41. Qf7+) 40. Kxg1 {
[%csl Yg1] Diagram [#]} Re1+ 41. Kg2 Re2+ $11 {with study-like perpetual.}))
31. Nc6 Bb6 32. b4 f3 {The last attempt for counter-play which White
mercilessly refutes.} 33. Qxf3 Rf4 34. Qc3 ({But not} 34. Qxh5 $2 Rh4 {when
the threat Qf6-f4 will force White to part with his queen.}) 34... Qxc3 35.
Rxc3 Bxf2 36. Rf3 $1 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Gc4c5,Gb4b5] Diagram [#] Trades one of
the active rooks and the remaining one is neither capable of creating of its
own, nor good enough to stop the white passers.} (36. c5 {was also playable
though} Re2 37. cxd6 cxd6 38. Rf3 Rxf3 39. Nxf3 $16 {(Karjakin)}) 36... Rxf3
37. Nxf3 Re2 38. Ng5 $1 {The white horses made good job today.} f6 ({The
knight cannot be trapped after} 38... Bh4 39. Nxf7 Re8 40. Rf4 Bf6 41. Nh6+ {
(Karjakin)}) 39. Ne6 h4 ({Or} 39... g5 40. Nxc7 g4 41. Ne8 g3 42. Nxf6+ Kf7 43.
Nxh5 {and White is just in time (Karjakin).}) 40. Nxc7 Bg3 {Black last chance
was} (40... h3 {when if White is not careful things might end in perpetual.
Svidler however saw the following study} 41. Rxf2 $1 ({For example} 41. b5 {is
only a draw after} Bg3 42. b6 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 Rg2+ 44. Kh1 Rh2+ $11) 41... Rxf2
42. b5 Rb2 43. c5 $1 {[%cal Gd5d6,Gb5b6,Gb6b7,Gd6d7,Gd7d8,Gb7b8] Diagram [#]}
dxc5 44. d6 Rd2 45. Nd5 $1 Kf7 46. b6 Rxd5 47. b7 Rd1+ 48. Kh2 Rb1 49. d7 $18)
41. Ne6 Rc2 ({Now on} 41... h3 {the simplest is} 42. Nf4 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 g5 44.
Nxh3 Rxh3 45. Kg2 g4 46. Rxf6 {Diagram [#] and Black is completely stuck.}) 42.
b5 {Sergey Karjakin will play tomorrow decisive game with the white pieces
against the tournament leader Evgeny Tomashevsky.} (42. b5 Kf7 43. b6 Rb2 44.
b7 $18) 1-0

Top Chess in Chita

The Russian Super Final takes place in Chita. With two rounds to go anything can happen in both sections. Evgeny Tomashevsky is leading the men's tournament, half a point ahead of the nearest rival but will have to defend the black color tomorrow against Sergey Karjakin who is trailing him by half a point. In the ladies section the leader is the young Aleksandra Goryachkina.
Not all the players have the tournament of their lives, but there are plenty of interesting games to watch. Like this one:

[Event "Russian Championship Superfinal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.08.16"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Khismatullin, Denis"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2642"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:41"]
[BlackClock "0:24:02"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. b4 {White is stronger on the
queenside and expands as much as he can there. The problem with this plan is
that it neglects the development of the kingside.} ({A more common plan is} 5.
Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O {Carlsen,M (2863)-Mamedyarov,S (2756) Shamkir 2015})
5... Bg7 6. a4 O-O 7. Nbd2 Ne4 8. Bb2 Bg4 9. Qb3 a5 $146 {Diagram [#] "If I
stand passive I might get significantly worse" Dubov. Black is sacrificing a
pawn.} ({In the predecessing games Black was defending with} 9... Nxd2 10. Nxd2
Be6 {Kaenel,H (2364)-Sermier,G (2420) Switzerland 2011}) 10. b5 Nd7 {The point
behind Black's last move. Now White is more or less forced to accept the
challenge.} 11. cxd5 ({Bad is} 11. Bd3 $2 Ndc5 $1 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qc2 Nxd3+
14. Qxd3 Bxb2 $19) ({The other natural move} 11. Be2 {also has a drawback} Nxd2
12. Nxd2 Bxe2) 11... cxd5 12. Qxd5 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 e5 $1 {[%csl Ye1][%cal Ge8e1]
Diagram [#] The point behind the sacrifice. Black breaks open the center and
intends to attack the uncastled white king.} 14. Be2 {Khismatullin understands
the danger and rushes to safeguard his king.} ({Black's initiative remains
strong in the endgame after} 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Qxd8 Rfxd8) ({The pawn-grabbing
} 14. Qxb7 $2 {is suicidal} exd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 16. exd4 Re8+) 14... Be6 15. Qe4
({Once more} 15. Qxb7 {looks dubious on the account of} exd4 16. Bxd4 Nc5 $5 (
16... Bxd4 $1 17. exd4 Nb6 {aint's bad neither.}) 17. Bxc5 Bxa1 18. Bxf8 Kxf8
19. Qe4 Bc3 {(Dubov)}) 15... Re8 {Black had plenty of choice how to develop
the initiative.} ({Like in the line above it made sense to open the center at
once with} 15... exd4 16. Bxd4 Nc5 17. Bxc5 Bxa1 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. Qd3 {with
plenty of compensation for the pawn.}) ({He could have also asked White if he
wants to repeat the moves after} 15... Bf5 {Or not, but when White goes for}
16. Qf3 (16. Qd5 Be6) 16... exd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. exd4 Nb6 {Black seems
perfectly fine.}) 16. d5 {This move slightly shocked Black who possibly
expected something like} (16. Nf3 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 {with initiative.}) 16...
Nf6 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rf6e4] Diagram [#]} ({From far away Dubov wanted to
continue} 16... Bf5 {and it is somewhat misterious why he did not follow his
plan. The line} 17. Qc4 Rc8 18. Qa2 Rc2 (18... Qh4 $5 {might be better.}) 19.
Bd1 Rxb2 20. Qxb2 e4 21. Qa3 Bxa1 22. Qxa1 Nc5 $15 {is very good for Black.})
17. dxe6 $1 {The move that we should expect from Khismatullin- fearless
attacker.} ({Black has risk-free advantage after} 17. Qh4 Nxd5 18. Qxd8 Rexd8
$15) 17... Nxe4 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Bc4+ Re6 {The only move.} ({In case of}
19... Kf6 20. Nxe4+ Kf5 21. f3 $1 {[%csl Yf5][%cal Rg4f5,Rg2g4] Diagram [#]
Black is in trouble. For instance} h5 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. Nd6+ Kf6 24. f4 $1 {
Followed by 0-0 leaves him no reasonable moves.}) ({The king is not save in
the center} 19... Ke7 20. Nxe4 {with the threat Bb2-a3+}) 20. Nxe4 Rc8 ({Dubov
did not like the line} 20... Qh4 {because of the study-like play} 21. Bd5 $1 {
Diagram [#]} Rd8 22. g3 $1 Qh5 23. Bxe6+ Kxe6 24. O-O {with advantage for
White.}) 21. Bxe6+ ({Or else Black intended to give back the sacrificed
material after} 21. Rd1 Qxd1+ $1 22. Kxd1 Rxc4 23. Ng5+ Kf6 24. Nxe6 Kxe6 $17 {
with clear advantage in the endgame. It should also be noted that Dubov saw
the line} 25. Kd2 Rxa4 26. Bc3 $6 Ra2+ 27. Kd3 e4+ $19) 21... Kxe6 22. O-O {
The smoke is going down but it is anything but clear still. White has adequate
material balance for the queen, but the black pieces control the open files.
The good old verdict unclear suits best in the situation.} Qd3 23. Ng5+ Kf5 {
"A nutter" would Simon say. Indeed, Black could have played safer} (23... Ke7
24. Ba3+ Ke8 25. Ne6) 24. h4 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Ge3e4,Ra1a3,Ra3f3] Diagram [#]
With the idea to insert the white rook along the third rank after e3-e4+
followed by Ra1-a3-f3.} Qe2 {The queen moves away from the third rank with a
tempo. It should also be noted that around this point of the game both players
were down to two minutes on their clocks.} ({On} 24... Qb3 {Dubov did not like}
25. Rfb1 ({However} 25. e4+ {might be even stronger, for example} Kg4 26. Bc1
Kxh4 27. Nxh7 Rc3 28. Bg5+ Kg4 29. Rac1 {and the black king is in danger.}))
25. e4+ Kg4 26. Bc1 {A critical moment of the game.} Rc3 $6 {It looks logical
to swap off one of the active white pieces with} (26... Bf6 $5 {this however
gives an extra option for White} 27. Nxh7 Bxh4) ({Or} 26... Bh6 27. Be3 ({This
time} 27. Nxh7 {is not as good} Bxc1 28. Raxc1 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 Qd2 30. Rc7 Qe1+
31. Kh2 Qxf2 $17) 27... Bxg5 28. Bxg5 Rc3 29. Rac1 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 h6 31. Bxh6
Kxh4 32. Be3 {If anyone is better here it is only White.}) 27. Be3 $6 ({
Khismatullin missed a golden chance} 27. Nxh7 $1 {was extremely strong when he
could have created a mating net after} Kxh4 28. Bg5+ Kg4 29. Kh2 $1 {Diagram
[#]} Kh5 30. Rae1 Qa2 (30... Qc2 31. f3) (30... Qg4 31. f3) 31. g4+ (31. f3)
31... Kxg4 32. Rg1+ Kh5 33. Kg2 Kg4 34. Kf1+ Kh3 35. Rh1+ Kg4 36. Rh4+ Kf3 37.
Rh3+ Kg4 38. Rxc3 $18) 27... Kxh4 ({Black cannot play for checkmate himself}
27... Rxe3 28. fxe3 Kg3 29. Rf3+) 28. Nf3+ ({Also interesting is} 28. g3+ Kg4
29. Rae1 Qc4 30. f3+ {with the idea} Kxg3 ({But Black is fine after} 30... Kh5
$1 31. g4+ Kh4 32. Nxh7 Kg3 33. Bf2+ Kf4) 31. Bf2+ Kf4 32. Bh4 Qc8 33. Re2 {
and White wins.}) 28... Kh5 29. Rad1 Qc2 {Surprisingly, this is also a mistake.
} (29... Rxe3 30. fxe3 Qxe3+ 31. Rf2 Qxe4 32. Rd7 Bh6 33. Rxh7 Qe3 {would most
likely ended in a draw.}) 30. Rfe1 ({Dubov saw the move} 30. Rd7 {and intended
to defend with} Rc7 {In the time-trouble both players missed the fantastic
resource:} 31. Ne1 $3 (31. Rc1 $2 Qxc1+ 32. Bxc1 Rxd7 {was the line that Black
was hoping for.}) 31... Qc3 32. g4+ Kxg4 33. Rxc7 Qxc7 34. Kg2 $1 {[%csl Yg4]
[%cal Rf2f3,Rf1h1,Rh1h8] Diagram [#] When all of a sudden the black king is in
mating net. White should win after} Bf6 35. Rh1 Bh4 36. Nf3 g5 37. Nxg5 $1 Qc2
(37... Bxg5 38. f3#) 38. Nf3 Bg3 39. Rxh7 Qxe4 40. Rg7+ Kf5 41. Kxg3 $18) ({
Black is defending after} 30. Rd5 g5 $1 {with the tactical idea to take any of
the white light pieces at the moment he captures on g5.} 31. Nxg5 (31. Bxg5
Rxf3) (31. Nxe5 Qxe4 32. g4+ Kh4 33. Rd4 Qxe5 34. Kg2 Qxd4) 31... Rxe3) 30...
g5 31. Nh2 Rd3 32. Rc1 Qxa4 {Diagram [#]} 33. b6 $2 {Now White's attack slows
down and it is the material advantage which matters.} ({White should have
opted for} 33. Rc7 Kg6 34. Rxb7) 33... Kg6 34. Nf1 Qxe4 35. Rc7 a4 36. Rec1 a3
37. R1c4 Qd5 38. R4c5 Qd6 39. Rxb7 a2 40. Rc1 e4 41. Ra7 {The time trouble is
over and Blаck has enough time to convert the advantage.} a1=Q ({But not}
41... Ra3 42. b7 a1=Q 43. Rxa1 Rxa1 44. Rxa1 Bxa1 45. Ba7 Be5 46. b8=Q Qxb8 47.
Bxb8 Bxb8 48. Nd2 {[%csl Yd2,Re4,Yf2,Yg2,Rg5] Diagram [#] when in order to
draw White needs to give his knight and two pawns for the e4 and g5 pawns only.
}) 42. Raxa1 Bxa1 43. Rxa1 Rd1 44. Rxd1 Qxd1 45. b7 ({There is no fortress
after} 45. g3 h5 46. Kg2 h4 47. gxh4 gxh4 48. Nh2 Kh5 49. Kh3 Qh1 {zugzwang.})
45... Qb1 46. g4 Qxb7 {[%cal Gg6f6,Gf6e6,Ge6d5,Gd5c4,Gc4d3,Gd3e2] Diagram [#]
Next Dubov demonstrated neatly the winning plan. First the king goes all the
way to e2.} 47. Kg2 Qd7 48. Nh2 Qd1 49. Ba7 Kf6 50. Bb6 Ke5 51. Ba7 Kd5 52. Bb6
Kc4 53. Ba7 Kd3 54. Bb6 Ke2 55. Bc5 {Then the queen is transferred to the
kingside.} Qd7 56. Bb6 Qf7 57. Be3 h6 58. Bb6 h5 59. gxh5 Qxh5 60. Nf1 Qf3+ 61.
Kg1 Qh3 62. Ne3 Kf3 63. Bd4 g4 64. Be5 {Diagram [#] And last, the decisive
break comes.} g3 $1 {White resigned not willing to see} (64... g3 65. Bxg3
Qxg3+ 66. fxg3 Kxe3 67. g4 Kd2 $19) 0-1

Andreikin-Karjakin (Part 2)

This is the second part of the game in question. The attack that Andreikin conducted was highly instructive, flawless.

Andreikin-Karjakin on Youtube

Caruana Scores First Win

Fabiano Caruana scored his first win today at the Tashkent Grand Prix. His opponent Boris Gelfand blundered badly in a position which was seemingly equal:

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2014.10.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, F."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2844"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.10.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {
Caruana explained at the press conference that he could not remember the
theory after the principled 7.Bh4 move and decided to play it simple. A quick
look in the Megabase reveals that 7.Bxf6 is played more often.} Qxf6 8. e3 ({
As teh bishop is going to capture on c3 anyway White decided to skip the a2-a3
move. One important example of this approach is the following game} 8. a3 Bxc3+
9. Qxc3 O-O 10. e3 Bf5 11. Nf3 Nd7 12. Be2 Rfc8 13. O-O c5 $132 {Radjabov,T
(2793)-Grischuk,A (2764) London 2013}) 8... O-O 9. a3 Bf5 {The trade of the
light-squared bishop is very good for Black.} 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Bxd3 {
Simple play.} ({Both the players saw that in the line} 11... Qg6 $2 12. Bxf5 $1
Qxg2 13. f3 Qxh1 14. O-O-O {the black queen will be trapped. For instance} g6
15. Qf2 gxf5 16. Ne2 Qxd1+ 17. Kxd1 {and White is winning as the black king is
too exposed.}) ({Caruana also mentioned the interesting} 11... Bg6 {move with
good play for Black.}) 12. Qxd3 $11 {The outcome of the opening is cheerful
for the second player. Gelfand managed to trade three light pieces and has
plenty of space for the remaining ones.} c5 $146 {[%csl Yc3,Gc5][%cal Gc7c5]
Diagram [#] A logical novelty. Boris plays on the flank where he is stronger.}
({Also good is the immediate} 12... Nd7 13. Nf3 c5 $11) ({Previously Black
preferred not to advance the pawns on the queenside} 12... Qg5 13. g3 Qg4 14.
Ne2 Nd7 {Jaracz,P (2502)-Jakubowski,K (2532) Czechia 2013}) 13. Ne2 {The
knight looks more flexible on e2 and might attack the d5 pawn in the future
from f4.} ({In case of} 13. dxc5 Rc8 14. Ne2 Rxc5 {both sides will have weak
pawns and the black knight can occupy the excellent outposts on e4 and c4.} 15.
Nd4 Nd7 {[%cal Gd7e5,Ge5c4] followed by Nd7-e5-c4.}) 13... Nd7 14. O-O Qc6 {A
flexible move. Gelfand keeps all his options on the c file.} ({If} 14... c4 15.
Qc2 b5 16. a4 {and White has some pressure on the queen's wing.}) 15. a4 Rfc8 (
{Fabiano also mentioned the move} 15... c4 {in the press conference. Since
Black had traded three sets of light pieces this is indeed a very good idea.
The attack with e3-e4 is not going to be that effective for the first player
and Black can hope to advance on the queen's flank.}) 16. Rfb1 Rc7 {Both the
sides maneuver and do all the useful moves.} 17. a5 Rac8 18. h3 Nf6 19. Ng3 Qe6
$6 {This leads to some trouble for Black.} ({It was easier not to allow the
knight to f5 with the simple} 19... g6 $11) 20. dxc5 {"Now from completely
unclear the positions becomes slightly pressing for me." Caruana} Ne4 ({At the
press conference the players briefly discussed the line} 20... Qe7 21. Qd4 ({
However} 21. a6 bxa6 22. Rxa6 Qxc5 23. Rb3 {gives White a pull in this line.})
21... Rxc5 22. Nf5 Qe6 23. g4 $5 {This was Fabiano's intention, but then Boris
can react with the sharp} Rc4 $5 24. Qxa7 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Rxg4+ 26. Ng3 h5 {with
plenty of joy and an attack. The least he can do here I suppose is perpetual.})
21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qd6 Qf5 23. Ra4 Rxc5 $1 {Simple and strong.} ({Black has
still some problems in case of} 23... Rd7 24. g4 Rxd6 25. gxf5 Rxc5 26. Rxb7
Rxf5 27. Rxe4 {although Black should survive after} Ra6 28. Re8+ Kh7 29. Ree7 (
29. e4 $5 {to spoil Black's regrouping seems interesting.}) 29... Raf6 30. f4
Rxa5 (30... a6) 31. Rxa7 Raf5 32. Kg2 g5 $1) 24. Rxb7 {The critical moment of
the game. Gelfand needed to chose how to force the draw. He made the wrong
choice.} Rxa5 $2 {A blunder.} ({Correct was} 24... Rxc3 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. exf4 {
which was called "unpleasant" by Gelfand, but with active play he can force a
draw} Rc1+ ({They both saw} 26... R3c7 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxe4 Rc5 29. Re5 $1
$16 {although this should also be holdable for Black.}) 27. Kh2 R8c2 $1 {
Activity above all! The two rooks on the second rank guarantee the half point.}
28. Rxe4 (28. Kg3 Rf1 29. Rxa7 Rfxf2) 28... Rxf2 29. Re8+ Kh7 30. Rxf7 Rcc2 $11
{[%csl Gc2,Gf2]}) 25. Rxa5 Qxa5 {[%csl Gb7,Rc8,Gd6,Yg8][%cal Gb7h7] Diagram [#]
} 26. Rxf7 $1 {This was missed by Gelfand who looked very frustrated after the
game.} Qxc3 (26... Kxf7 27. Qd7+ Kg6 28. Qxc8 {leaves Black no chances as his
king is exposed and the c pawn runs fast.}) 27. Rxa7 Kh8 ({One more nice line
was given by the two players} 27... Rf8 28. Ra8 $1 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rd6d5,
Rd5a8,Rd5e4] and Black cannot win the pawn back} Qe1+ ({Or else Black loses
another pawn} 28... Rxa8 29. Qd5+ Kf8 30. Qxa8+ Kf7 31. Qxe4) 29. Kh2 Qxf2 30.
Rxf8+ Qxf8 31. Qxf8+ Kxf8 32. Kg3 g5 33. Kg4 {as the pawn endgame is easily
won for White.}) 28. Rf7 {An extra pawn and active pieces leave no chances to
Black.} Re8 29. g4 $1 {With the threat Rf7-f8 to win the e4 pawn.} ({Caruana
avoids the line} 29. Rf8+ Rxf8 30. Qxf8+ Kh7 31. Qf5+ Kh8 32. Qxe4 Qe1+ 33. Kh2
Qxf2 {where Black will survive.}) 29... Kh7 30. Qd7 Rb8 31. Qf5+ Kg8 32. Ra7
Qb2 ({The pawn cannot be saved.} 32... Qc4 33. Rxg7+) 33. Qxe4 Rf8 34. Qd5+ Kh7
35. Rf7 {Not the kind of play we are expecting from the world's number two but
Caruana took his chance and brought the point back home.} 1-0

Sergey Karjakin moved back to 50 % after defeating Anish Giri. Nothing changes on the top- Andreikin and Nakamura remain joint leaders.

Andreikin Joins the Nakamura in the Lead

Today's round in Tashkent was very interesting. Two games were decisive and I chose to annotate the sharper one for you.

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2014.10.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Andreikin, D."]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.10.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. Nc3 {Diagram [#] The choice of the opening
was quite a shock for me. It is not often that we see this position in a top
grandmaster game. I would not be surprised to see it in the game of FM Stuart
Fancy of Papua New Guinnea whom I coached at the last two Olympiads. Or in a
game of my former teammate FM Bonno Pel. They both love to start their games
with 1.Nb1-c3} cxd4 {There are plenty of continuations for both the sides that
might leave to different openings.} ({For instance} 4... d5 5. e4 dxe4 6. Nxe4
Nbd7 {will lead to the Rubinstein French and have been tested already.}) 5.
Qxd4 ({Now White could have chosen a Sicilian approach with} 5. Nxd4 Be7 6. e4
d6 {with a Scheveningen type of postion in Koneru,H (2600)-Hou,Y (2591)
Antakya 2010}) 5... Nc6 6. Qh4 Bb4 ({Another Sicilian position appeared after:
} 6... h6 7. e4 Rg8 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. O-O-O a6 {in Gurgenidze,B (2461)-Kapengut,
A (2455) Moscow 1981}) ({Most of the people prefer the solid} 6... Be7 {I also
have the feeling that this was more in the spirit of the solid Karjakin.}) 7.
e4 Bxc3+ $146 {This is what the bishop came for on b4.} ({The only predecessor
saw} 7... d6 8. Bd3 e5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 $14 {Ornstein,A (2440)-Schneider,L
(2425) Uppsala 1985}) 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bd3 ({The endgame is good for Black} 9.
Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qxf6 gxf6 $11) 9... d6 {Black's plan is to build dark-squared
blockade.} 10. Rd1 {Andreikin brings the rook into the action and prepares
various disovered attacks.} Rg8 $1 {A very sensible choice by Karjakin. I
suspect that the memories of his last game were too fresh to allow the
following play:} (10... O-O 11. Bxh6 $5 {Diagram [#] Two days ago Sergey lost
thanks to the same sacrifice to Jobava (with reversed colors!)} gxh6 12. e5 {
with the idea} (12. Qxh6 {also interesting is} Ng4 (12... e5 13. Ng5) 13. Qh5
Nce5) 12... dxe5 13. Qxh6 $1 {This is much better than} (13. Bh7+ Nxh7 14. Rxd8
Rxd8 15. Qxh6 e4) 13... Qe7 14. Ng5 e4 (14... -- {The threat is} 15. Bh7+ Kh8
16. Be4+ Kg8 17. Rd3 $1 {and checkmate.}) 15. Bxe4 Ne5 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. f3 $18
{this deprives the black knights of the g4 square and the attack is
unstoppable.}) 11. Be3 e5 {The outcome of the opening is an approximately
levelled game. White owes the bishop pair, but Black had developed his pieces
in accordance to Capablanca's principle- on the different color of the bishop
that he owes.} ({In fact, Karjakin could have equalized completely with the
move:} 11... g5 $5 12. Qxh6 ({The queen has no retreat square} 12. Qg3 $4 g4
13. Nd2 Nh5 $19 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Rh5g3]}) ({It is doubtful that the rook and
the pawns are better than the light pieces in the line} 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5
Rxg5 14. Qxg5 Bd7) 12... Rg6 13. Qh8+ Rg8 $11) 12. Bb5 Qc7 {Probably the first
inaccuracy in the game. Black could have played more aggressively with} (12...
Qa5 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. O-O (14. Rxd6 $2 {is bad to} Qxc3+ 15. Rd2 Ba6 $1) 14...
Ba6 ({Not} 14... Qxc3 15. Rxd6 $16) 15. Rfe1 Rd8 {Black is solid in the center
and Andreikin has to prove that his queen is doing something on the king's
side.}) 13. Nd2 Be6 14. f3 {To bring the queen in the game after Qh4-f2.} Qa5 (
{One more way to equalize is} 14... O-O-O $5 15. O-O ({The pawn is untouchable
} 15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Bxa7 $2 b6) 15... d5 $1 $11) 15. c4 {Diagram [#]} Ke7 $6 {
[%csl Ye7][%cal Rc4c5] It is true that sometimes Black can leave the king in
the center in the Sicilian, but probably this is not the case here. White will
be always threatening to open the king with c4-c5.} ({White has ample
compensation for the pawn in case of} 15... Qxa2 16. O-O Qxc2 17. c5 dxc5 18.
Rc1 Qa2 19. Ra1 Qb2 20. Rfb1 Qc3 21. Qf2) ({But} 15... a6 16. Bxc6+ bxc6 {was
to be preferred.}) (15... Rc8 {was also OK.}) 16. O-O g5 $2 {This is too much.
Now Dmitry will have a chance to attack both flanks. He will do it flawlessly!}
17. Qf2 Rgd8 {The c4-c5 breaks are already in the air:} (17... Nh5 18. Nb3 Qc7
19. c5 $1 $16) ({Or even worse for Black} 17... a6 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20.
Bxc6 Qxc6 21. Na5 Qc8 22. c5 $1 $18) 18. h4 $1 {All of a sudden, the strike is
coming from the other side. But this is something taht the bishops enjoy-play
on two flanks.} Nh7 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. g4 $1 {[%cal Gg1g2,Gf1h1,Rh1h8,Rh8h1]
Consistent play on the flank. Andreikin prepares the next maneuver.} (20. a4 $5
{with the idea c4-c5 was also very good.}) 20... f6 21. Kg2 Nf8 {If the knight
could fly Black would have sealed the file with Nf8-g6-h4. Alas, he is one
tempo down.} 22. Rh1 Bf7 ({No human being will think about the pawn on a2 in
this situation} 22... Qxa2 23. c5 d5 24. exd5 Bxd5 25. c4 Be6 26. Ra1 Qc2 27.
Ba4 Qg6 28. Ne4 {with total control for White.}) ({After} 22... Ng6 {the
follow up might be} 23. Rh7+ Bf7 24. Nb3 Qxa2 25. Qd2 {with too many threats.
The main ones are Qd2-c3 and Rd1-a1 to trap the queen and the instant blowing
of the house with Be3xg5.}) 23. Nf1 $1 {[%csl Rf5] The bishop had covered the
king, but released the f5 square. This is where the knight is heading for!} Bg6
24. Bd2 {[%csl Rd5,Rf5]} Qb6 25. Ne3 {Or maybe for the d5 square?} Kf7 {
Diagram [#]} 26. Qe1 $1 {[%csl Ge1][%cal Ge1a5,Ge1h1,Gh1h8] Diagram [#]Grand
play! The queen is moving away from the trade, supports the bishop on d2 and
is ready to attack on both flanks.} Ne6 27. Nf5 Qc7 ({The utility of the white
queen becomes obvious in the line} 27... Ncd4 28. Nxd4 Nxd4 29. Ba5 $1 Nxc2 30.
Qd2 Ne3+ 31. Kg3 Qc5 32. Rde1 b6 (32... Nxc4 33. Bxc4+ Qxc4 34. Bxd8 Rxd8 35.
Rc1 Qe6 36. Rc7+ Rd7 37. Qa5 $18) 33. Bb4 Nxc4 34. Bxc5 Nxd2 35. Bb4 Nxe4+ 36.
fxe4 {White is close to winning but I suspect this was Sergey's best bet.}) 28.
c5 $1 {The beginning of the end. Black's position quickly detoriates on the
open diagonals.} dxc5 29. Bc4 b5 ({One of the threats for White is to trade on
e6 and bring the queen on c4-} 29... Rh8 30. Bxe6+ Kxe6 31. Qe2 Rxh1 32. Qc4+
Kd7 33. Qd5+ Kc8 34. Qe6+ Kb8 35. Rxh1 $18) 30. Bd5 {This move only
demonstrates how helpless Black is.} ({White could have won more forcefully
with} 30. Bxe6+ Kxe6 31. Rh6 Rg8 32. Ba5 $1 Qxa5 (32... Nxa5 33. Rd6+ Kf7 34.
Qd2 Rad8 35. Qd5+ {and mate in three.}) 33. Rd6+ Kf7 34. Qh1 $3 {with the
unstoppable Rh6-h7! or Rh6xg6!} Qb6 35. Rxg6 Rxg6 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qxg6 {and
mate.}) 30... Rac8 31. Rh6 Ncd4 {Diagram [#]} 32. Ba5 $1 {[%csl Yc7,Yd8]
Beautiful finish!} Nxc2 ({Andreikin would not be interested in the exchange in
case of} 32... Qd7 {but in the king} 33. Qh1 Rf8 34. Rxg6 Kxg6 35. Qh5#) 33.
Qh1 Qxa5 34. Rh7+ {The moral of the game- if you have the advantage of the
bishop pair, try to attack on the color of the bishop that the opponent does
not have!} ({It is mate in three.} 34. Rh7+ Bxh7 35. Qxh7+ Kf8 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37.
Qg7#) 1-0

Andreikin is now joint leader with Nakamura.