[Event "Tata Steel-B 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ragger, Markus"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Ragger spent 0 seconds on
this anti-Berlin move.} d6 5. c3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Ba4 {[#]} Nd7 {
This frees the f-pawn to challenge White's center, and may allow ...Nc5-e6,
which White usually stops with Be3 or d3-d4.} ({A month later, in the online
PRO League, Eric's played the World Champion and continued:} 8... b5 9. Bc2 Re8
10. Nbd2 Bf8 11. Nf1 Nb8 12. d4 Nbd7 13. Ng3 Bb7 14. b3 g6 15. a4 Bg7 16. Bd3
d5 17. Bg5 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Nxe4 exd4 20. Nxd4 c5 21. Nc6 Qc7 22. Qd6
Qxd6 23. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 $11 {Black should is OK here, but White is
Carlsen, and this was a rapid game.} bxa4 (24... c4 $1) 25. bxa4 Bf8 26. Ne7+
Kg7 27. a5 Rb8 28. h3 Rb3 29. c4 Rd3 30. Bf4 Rd4 31. Bg3 h5 32. Kf1 Rd3 (32...
Ne4 $1 $11) 33. Bf4 Rd4 34. g3 Rd3 35. Ndc8 Bxe7 $2 36. Rxe7 Kf8 37. Bh6+ $18
Kg8 38. Be3 Ra3 39. Nd6 Rxa5 40. Kg2 Ra2 41. Rxf7 g5 42. Re7 g4 43. h4 a5 44.
Bh6 {1-0 (44) Carlsen,M (2840)-Hansen,E (2603) chess.com INT 2017}) 9. d4 {
Caution: Statistics About half the games that have reached this position it is
White to move (having saved a tempo with d2-d4), but this doesn't seem to make
much difference to the results -- 50% with Black winning as many as White.} ({
The following game is Viktor Kortchnoi's last-ever win over a 2600+ player:} 9.
Be3 Nb6 10. Bb3 Kh8 11. Nbd2 f5 12. Bxb6 cxb6 {[#]} 13. Bd5 $6 ({Later,
Caruana imrpoved with:} 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 $11 {0-1 (32)
Anand,V (2783)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis, 2017.}) 13... g5 $1 {"Not exactly
the typical move of an 79-year-old player, but there it is.... Korchnoi just
loves to jam his g-pawns forward. 13...g5!? isn't as crazy as it first appears,
since White has a hard time applying the principle: Meet a wing attack with a
counter in the centre." - Lakdawala, "Kortchnoi: Move by Move"} 14. h3 g4 $1
15. hxg4 fxg4 16. Nh2 Bg5 $15 17. Nc4 b5 18. Ne3 Bxe3 (18... h5 $1 $15) 19.
Rxe3 Qf6 20. Qe1 Ne7 21. f3 Nxd5 22. exd5 Rg8 23. Qg3 $2 gxf3 24. Qxf3 Bf5 $1
25. Rf1 Rg5 $1 26. Kh1 Qh6 $1 27. Rf2 Rag8 28. Re1 Qg6 (28... Rh5 $1 29. g3 Qg6
$19) 29. Re3 Bxd3 $19 {taking the B allows ...e4; White struggled on, but lost
0-1 (46) Caruana,F (2721)-Kortschnoj,V (2544) Gibraltar, 2011.}) 9... exd4 10.
cxd4 Nb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 12. Nc3 $14 {[#]} Kh8 $146 (12... Bf6 13. Be3 g6 14. Qd3
Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bg7 16. Rad1 Kh8 (16... Qh4 $5) 17. f4 Qh4 18. Qe2 Ne7 19. Kh1 d5
20. e5 $16 {1/2-1/2 (41) Van Foreest,J (2548)-Short,N (2678) Douglas 2015}) 13.
Be3 f5 $1 14. exf5 {Eric had a long think here, and produced a lemon. [#]} Bf6
$2 (14... Bxf5 $2 15. d5 Ne5 (15... Na5 16. Bxb6 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 cxb6 18. Nd4 $18
) 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. Ne6 $18) (14... d5 $8 $14 {Black will recover the f-pawn
with a roughly balanced game.}) 15. Ne4 $18 ({White also has} 15. Be6 $1 {
Simply saving the pawn with a huge advantage} Ne7 16. Qd3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 $16 {
White'd tripled pawns look weird, but how will Black get his Ns into the game?}
) 15... Bxf3 (15... Bxf5 16. Nxf6 Qxf6 17. d5 Ne5 (17... Ne7 $2 18. Bg5 $18) (
17... Na5 18. Rc1 $16) 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Rc1 $16) 16. Qxf3 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4
18. Rad1 $18 {[#] Black's Nb6 and ra8 are out of play, while all of White's
pieces are centralized and ready to go for Black's K, where White also has a
4v2 majority.} c5 $1 {Weakens d6 but supports the B and keeps the d-file
blocked.} (18... Bxb2 19. Nc5 $18 {and Ne6 is lights out.}) 19. Qh5 h6 (19...
Qe8 20. Qxe8 (20. Qg4 $1) 20... Rd8 21. Nxd6 $18) (19... Nd7 20. Nxd6 (20. Ng5
$4 Bxf2+ $1 $15) 20... Nf6 21. Nf7+ $18) 20. Qg6 (20. f6 $1 {is also resignable
} Bxf6 (20... Rxf6 21. Nxf6 Qxf6 22. Re8+ $18) 21. Nxd6 $18 (21. Rxd6 $18))
20... d5 {[#]} 21. f6 $1 $18 Qc7 (21... Bxf6 22. Nd6 (22. Nxc5 $18) 22... Qxd6
23. Bc2 $18) (21... Rxf6 22. Nxf6 Qxf6 23. Re8+ Rxe8 24. Qxe8+ Kh7 25. Rd2 (25.
Bc2+ g6 26. Kh1 $3 $18 {stepping out of the checks on f2 allows Re1-e7.}) 25...
Nc4 26. Re2 Nd6 27. Bc2+ $18) 22. Ng5 $1 gxf6 (22... hxg5 23. Re7 $18) 23.
Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Ne6 1-0

[Event "79th Tata Steel 'B'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.21"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Lei Tingjie"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2467"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "Eric Hansen"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventCountry "NED"]

{As I started finding my rhythm in the second half of the tournament, it
became apparent that I needed to score a couple wins with Black to catch up to
the leaders. Naturally, this was one of those games.} 1. d4 {[%mdl 32768]} Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 {[#] I went for the Grunfeld against her because
she had a pretty poor and unpredictable record against it.} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3
O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. e4 (8. Nc3 Nb6 9. e3 Re8 {is considered the main line these
days.}) 8... Nb6 9. d5 Na5 10. Nc3 c6 11. Bf4 {[#]} Nac4 (11... cxd5 12. Nxd5
Nxd5 13. exd5 Nc4 14. b3 Nb6 15. d6 exd6 16. Nd4 d5 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Qd2 Qf6 19.
Be3 Qd6 20. a4 $14 {White went on to win a nice game in Hammer,J-Grandelius,N,
Oslo 2015.}) 12. dxc6 (12. Qe2 cxd5 13. exd5 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd6 16.
Rfe1 Re8 {White has a space advantage but Black was able to hold the knight
blockade on d6 and the game in Carlsen,M-Wei Yi, Bilbao 2016.}) 12... Qxd1 (
12... bxc6 $6 13. Qc2 {Black has issues dealing with the incoming rook to d1.}
e5 (13... Nxb2 $5 14. Qxb2 Na4 15. Nxa4 Bxb2 16. Nxb2 $14 {In practical play
the three pieces tend to do better than the Queen when there is a lot of play
left on the board.}) 14. Rad1 Qe7 15. Bc1 $14 {White is seriously better both
due to the pawn structure and the incoming b3 which will put the knights in
awkward spots.}) 13. Nxd1 bxc6 (13... e5 14. Bc1 ({incorrect is} 14. cxb7 $6
Bxb7 {when Black regains the pawn with great activity.})) {At first glance,
Black has great activity while White is a bit far off from attacking the c6
weakness.} 14. e5 {[#] Played immediately. It looks like this was in my
opponent's preparation. Often it is easier to prepare long lines against the
Grunfeld due to the forcing nature of some variations. White is now
threatening to play Rc1 and b3 with immediate pressure.} Nd5 {Logically taking
the square that is now available after White's last move.} 15. Rc1 Ncb6 ({
Playable but hard to see was:} 15... Nxf4 16. gxf4 Nb6 17. Nd4 {Analysis
Diagram [#]} Bd7 (17... Nd5 18. Nxc6 Nxf4 $11) 18. Ne3 (18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Rxc6
Rac8 20. Ne3 Rxc6 21. Bxc6 Bh6 22. f5 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Nc4) (18. Bxc6 {This
capture bothered me the most and ultimately disuaded me from calculating
further. But upon further analysis, I tend to agree with the evaluation that
Black has full compensation after} Rad8 {The active pieces, f4 weakness, and
White's slight development lag contribute toward this; e.g.} 19. Nc3 Bg4 $44))
16. Nd4 (16. Bd2 $1 $14 {White should take the opportunity to preserve the
bishop.} Ba6 17. Re1 Rac8 18. Rc5 $1 {This key move puts Black in a bind and
ultimately gives White the strategic edge without allowing tactics.}) ({
editor - White temporarily wins a pawn with} 16. Rxc6 {but after} Nxf4 17. gxf4
Nd5 $15 {Black gets the pawn back and keeps the B pair.}) 16... Bd7 17. Re1 (
17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Rxc6 Nxf4 19. gxf4 Rac8 $44 {Black is ready to challenge the
c-file and play ...Bh6.}) 17... Rac8 18. Bd2 (18. Rc5 Nxf4 19. gxf4 Bh6 $132)
18... c5 19. Nb3 c4 20. Na5 {[#]} Be6 ({I hesitated from} 20... Rc5 21. b4 (21.
Nb3 $11) 21... Rc7 ({Strong is} 21... c3 22. Nxc3 Nxb4 $11) 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23.
Rxc4 Rxc4 24. Nxc4 {Black has decent compensation with the bishop pair but I
wasn't sure it was enough.}) 21. Bf1 Rfd8 22. Nxc4 (22. f4 Rc7 23. Nxc4 Nxc4
24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. Bxc4 Nxf4 26. Ba5 Rd7 27. Bb5 Nh3+ 28. Kg2 Rd5 29. Nc3 Rd2+
30. Re2 Rxe2+ 31. Bxe2 Bxe5 $15) 22... Nxc4 {We were both in early time
trouble at this point so I thought it was time to take some tactical chances.}
23. Rxc4 (23. Bxc4 Rxc4 24. Rxc4 Nb6 25. Rc2 Bf5 $17) 23... Nc7 {When I played
this I thought I was winning for a brief moment} 24. Rxc7 Rxd2 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8
$36 {[#] At this point I rated my position as preferable. Black's rook on the
second rank and bishop potential mean that White has to be precise.} 26. a3 {
White tries to make a useful pass.} ({A logical alternative was} 26. f4) 26...
Bh6 (26... Bxe5 $6 27. Rxe5 Rxd1 28. Kg2 Bb7+ 29. f3 Bxf3+ 30. Kxf3 Rxf1+ 31.
Kg2 Rc1 32. Rxe7 Rc2+ 33. Kg1 Rxb2 34. Rxa7 $11 {is not a good way to play for
a win as Black.}) (26... Kf8 27. Nc3 Rxb2 28. Rd1 $5 Bxe5 29. Rd8+ Kg7 30. Rxc8
Rc2 $13) (26... Be6 $5 27. f4 Bb3 28. Ne3 Rxb2 29. Rc1 Bf8 {Ideally, Black
wants to get in e6, h5, and Kg7 with a rook on the 2nd rank.} 30. Nc4 Ra2 31.
Rc3 Bxc4 32. Bxc4 Ra1+ 33. Kg2 e6 34. Bb5 {this is a decent try for Black,
although with correct play White should hold fairly easily.}) 27. h4 {Another
useful pass from White which prepares to lock down the kingside with f4} ({
I was hoping for} 27. f4 g5 28. fxg5 Bxg5 $40) 27... Be6 28. f4 {White locks
my dark-squared bishop down and gains enough time to get counterplay.} (28. b4
Ra2 {get the a-pawn.}) 28... Bb3 29. Ne3 Rxb2 30. Rc1 Bf8 31. Rc8 {[#] If
Black manages to free up both bishops the position will be untenable for White.
However, she has done an excellent job of preventing this -- and with only one
minute on the clock!} Ra2 ({I considered} 31... e6 {too risky in light of} 32.
Ng4 Kg7 33. Nf6 Bxa3 $2 (33... Ra2 $142 34. h5 $1) 34. Rg8+ Kh6 35. Be2 $3 (35.
g4 $2 Bc5+ $8 36. Kh1 Bd5+ $8 $15) 35... Rxe2 36. g4 $18 {Checkmate is
unstoppable!}) 32. Rc3 ({Also playable was} 32. Bc4 Rxa3 33. Bxb3 Rxb3 34. Kf2
$11 {White's activity on the kingside is too much.}) 32... Ba4 (32... Rxa3 $4
33. Nc4) 33. e6 $6 {During the game this move seemed very good to me.} fxe6 (
33... f5 34. Nd5 $36) 34. Bc4 Ra1+ 35. Kf2 Kf7 36. Ng4 Bg7 37. Ne5+ Bxe5 38.
fxe5 {[#]} Bc6 $2 ({I missed a big chance with..} 38... Bd1 $1 {I actually
considered the move, but intuitively I thought that putting my pawns all on
light squares was asking for too much.} 39. Ke3 Bg4 40. Kf4 h5 {It turns out
Black puts the bishop on f5 and keeps some serious winning chances. The goal
would be to eventually try to get ...g5 in after kicking White's king away.})
39. Bxe6+ Kxe6 40. Rxc6+ Kxe5 41. Ra6 {Pushing with Black isn't such a bad
thing. But this game I needed to win, and missing 38...Bd1 was a hard one to
shake off. I ended up analyzing the move for two hours and came to the
conclusion that it was a serious winning opportunity that I missed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "79th Tata Steel 'B'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.24"]
[Round "9.6"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Dobrov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2603"]
[BlackElo "2499"]
[Annotator "Eric Hansen"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventCountry "NED"]

{[%mdl 32768] Dobrov was the only lower-rated player who I had White against.
I definitely considered it a must win.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 {
[#] This line has fallen out of fashion but both Robin (van Kampen) and myself
have stayed loyal to it.} dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Qd2 {[#]}
b6 {Already an inaccuracy but neither of us knew this.} ({Standard is} 8... Be7
9. O-O-O O-O 10. h4 {with a sharp middlegame.}) 9. O-O-O ({Superior was..} 9.
Bb5 $1 Bb7 (9... O-O 10. Bc6 Rb8 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Kb1 Nf6 13. Ne5 $16) 10.
Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Qc3 $14 {Black has a worse structure and White has annoying
moves such as ...Bc6.}) 9... Bb7 10. Qf4 {I went for this setup because I
thought I had seen it before. I want to follow with Bc4 and d5 if possible.}
Qe7 11. Bc4 O-O-O 12. Rhe1 {[#]} Kb8 ({Korchnoi opted for} 12... Nf8 13. g3 Ng6
14. Qe3 Kb8 15. h4 Qb4 16. Bb3 h6 17. Qe2 Qa5 18. c3 Qh5 19. Nfd2 Qxe2 20. Rxe2
h5 {and Black managed to equalize in Vallejo Pons-Korchnoi, Biel 2002.}) 13. c3
{At this point White has a pretty good grip on the position. Black needs to
act fast before d4-d5 hurts. Black actually has a lot of decent choices:} (13.
Kb1 h6 (13... Qb4 14. Bb3 Qa5 $14) (13... e5 14. Nxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16.
Bxf7 exd4 17. Rxd4 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Ne5 $11) 14. h4 g5 (14... Rhe8 15. c3 e5 $13)
(14... Rhg8 15. h5 g5 16. hxg6 Rxg6 $11) 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Nfxg5 Rdg8 17. Nxf6
Nxf6 18. Nxf7 Qxf7 19. Bxe6 Qg7 20. Bxg8 Rxg8 21. Rd3 $14) 13... h6 ({Not} 
13... e5 14. Nxf6 gxf6 15. Qf5 Rhg8 16. g3 $16) 14. h4 {[#]} Rhg8 {A mistake.
Black had to follow through.} ({Better was} 14... g5 $1 15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Nfxg5
(16. Nexg5 Rdg8 17. Ne4 (17. Nxf7 Qxf7 18. Bxe6 Qf8 19. Bxg8 Qxg8 $15) 17...
Rxg2 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 Nxf6 20. Ne5 Rhh2 21. Rh1 $11) 16... Rdg8 (16...
Rhg8 17. Nxf6 Nxf6 18. Nxe6 $18) 17. Nxf6 Nxf6 {The critical line is} 18. Nxf7
Qxf7 19. Bxe6 Qg7 20. Bxg8 Rxg8 21. g3 Rf8 $11 {With the Queens on the board I
feel the position is close to dynamically equal.}) 15. h5 g5 16. hxg6 Rxg6 {
[#] Black has compromised his structure but is ready to play both ...Rxg2 and .
..Bg5. White needs to act fast.} 17. d5 (17. g3 Bg5 18. Nexg5 hxg5 19. Qe3 g4
20. Nh4 Rg5 $11) 17... Bg5 ({Much better was} 17... Nf8 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6
Rxf6 20. dxe6 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nxe6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Rd8+ Bc8 {White can claim
a symbolic edge due to the pawn structure, but as soon as Black plays ...c5
and ...Kc7 I don't see enough for White. For example, the Rook can camp on f6
annoyingly.}) 18. Nfxg5 (18. Nexg5 hxg5 19. Qg3 $14) 18... hxg5 19. d6 (19.
Qxc7+ Kxc7 20. d6+ Qxd6 21. Nxd6 {with the same position as the game, except
the King is on c7 which shouldn't help White.}) 19... cxd6 20. Qxd6+ Qxd6 21.
Nxd6 {[#]} Bc6 $2 {A time trouble blunder although the alternatives are not so
simple:} (21... Rf6 22. Nxb7 Kxb7 23. Rd2 $18 {Black is paralyzed.}) ({The
critical line is:} 21... Rg7 22. Nxb7 Kxb7 23. Bb5 Kc7 24. Re4 Nc5 25. Rxd8
Nxe4 (25... Kxd8 26. Rd4+ Kc8 27. b4 Nb7 28. Ba6 $16) 26. Rd7+ Kb8 {Analysis
Diagram [#] I didn't look any further than here because I assumed this would
be a fantastic endgame.} 27. Kc2 Nf6 (27... Nxf2 28. Ba6 $18 Ne4 29. Rb7+ Ka8
30. Rc7 Rg8 31. Rxf7 $18) 28. Re7 Nd5 29. Re8+ Kb7 30. c4 Nb4+ 31. Kd2 $16 {
I give White a big plus since Re7 cannot be stopped.}) 22. Nxf7 Rf8 23. Bxe6
Nc5 24. Bc4 b5 25. Ne5 {It is all but over.} bxc4 26. Nxg6 Rxf2 27. Ne5 Kc7 {
One of my smoothest victories of the event because it was a fairly complete
game: I achieved a small plus, played the middle game well, put severe
pressure on my opponent's clock, and converted my chances.} (27... Be4 28. Nd7+
Nxd7 29. Rxe4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-B 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lu, Shanglei"]
[Black "Hansen, Eric"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2603"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 {Transposing to a Scandinavian.} 3. Nxe4 {[#]} Nf6 (3...
Bf5 4. Qe2 {threatening Qb5+} Nd7 5. d3 e6 (5... Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6) 6. g4 $1
Bg6 7. h4 h5 8. g5 Ne7 9. Bd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Bc3 O-O 12. Nh3 {1/2-1/2 
(102) Lu,S (2599)-Topalov,V (2813) Baku 2015}) (3... e5 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. d3 h6 6.
Bd2 Nf6 7. Nf3 Nxe4 8. dxe4 Bd6 9. h3 Qe7 10. Qe2 Be6 11. O-O-O Bxc4 12. Qxc4
Bc5 13. Be3 $11 Bb6 $5 {1/2-1/2 (27) Lu,S (2640)-Harikrishna,P (2727) China
2018}) (3... Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. Bd3 Nxe4 6. Bxe4 Nf6 7. Bf3 c6 {with something
like a Fort Knox variation in the French.} 8. Ne2 Bg4 9. Bxg4 Nxg4 10. h3 Nf6
11. c4 e6 12. O-O Be7 13. b3 O-O 14. Bb2 Qc7 {1/2-1/2 (55) Mamedyarov,S (2801)
-Giri,A (2782) chess.com INT 2018}) 4. Nxf6+ exf6 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. c3 {
[#] White has no weaknesses, while Black has a slight lead in development and
a difficult-to-breakdown kingside pawn structure.} Re8+ (7... Nc6 8. Ne2 f5 9.
Qc2 Qf6 10. Bd2 h6 11. O-O-O $5 a5 12. Ng3 Ne7 13. f3 a4 14. Kb1 c5 15. dxc5
Bxc5 16. Rhe1 Rd8 17. Bf4 Be6 18. Be5 Qg6 19. Ne2 Nd5 (19... Bxa2+ $1) 20. Nd4
Bxd4 21. Bxd4 Nb4 $1 22. cxb4 Rxd4 $17 {1/2-1/2 (46) Topalov,V (2772)-Kramnik,
V (2783) Norway blitz, 2014,}) (7... c5 $5 {is an interesting sac} 8. dxc5 Bxc5
$11 9. Bxh7+ $6 (9. Ne2 $11) 9... Kxh7 10. Qh5+ Kg8 11. Qxc5 Re8+ (11... b6 $5)
12. Be3 Qd3 $44) 8. Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nd7 10. Qc2 g6 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. Qd2 c4 $1
13. Bb1 Nb6 {[%mdl 32832] [#]Critical Position} 14. h4 $2 {Thematic, but
apparently the losing move.} ({White had to prevent Black's next move with} 14.
d5 $1) 14... Nd5 $1 {Attacking Be3 and supporting ...f5-f4 when Black has
material-winning pressure on the e-file.} 15. h5 Bg4 $1 16. Rh4 f5 17. Rdh1 {
[#]} Re7 $1 {Simply doubling on the e-file, with the bonus of protecting along
the 7th.} (17... Bxe2 $2 18. hxg6 $8 (18. Qxe2 $2 g5 $19 (18... f4 $2 19. hxg6
$1 fxe3 20. Rxh7)) 18... Nxe3 (18... fxg6 $2 19. Rxh7 $16 Qxh7 20. Rxh7 Kxh7
21. Qxe2 {and here} f4 {fails to both Qxc4 and Qh5+.}) 19. fxe3 fxg6 (19... Bd3
20. Bxd3 hxg6) 20. Rxh7 Qxh7 21. Rxh7 Kxh7 22. Qxe2 Bf4 23. Qxc4 $16) (17...
Re6 18. hxg6 fxg6 19. Rxh7 Qxh7 20. Rxh7 Kxh7 21. f3 Rae8) 18. Bc2 (18. f3 {
doesn't save White, since Black has both the simple} Bxh5 $19 ({and the
ruthless} 18... Rxe3 19. fxg4 Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Bf4+ 21. Kd1 Ne3+ $19)) 18... Rae8
19. Ba4 Rxe3 {Not the only winning move, but the most forcing.} (19... Nxe3 20.
Bxe8 Nxg2 $19) 20. hxg6 (20. fxe3 Rxe3 {with extra material and threats on e2
and the c1-f4 diagonal.}) 20... fxg6 {A miniature win over a 2600+ player! It
may be sign of Eric's high standards that he chose not to annotate this game
-- which was more-or-less decided by finding the correct plan after ....Nd5 --
and opted for games with more fight in them.} 0-1

[Event "79th Tata Steel 'B'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.29"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilya"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2603"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Eric Hansen"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventCountry "NED"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {[#] The Kan caught me
by surprise since not only did I beat Smirin in this opening in 2014, but also
because he had done well in Wijk with two Black wins from the Modern Defense.}
5. Bd3 {Last time I went for a c4 Maroczy structure. Assuming he had some prep
I decided to go for the main line 5.Bd3.} Ne7 $5 {A playable move that
immediately took me out of book. Ilya needed a last round win to have a chance
for first, so I suspect he wanted a non-theoretical position.} 6. O-O Nbc6 7.
Nb3 {[#] On one hand I avoid trading pieces and the knight on e7 doesn't have
a second base. On the other hand, knights on b3 aren't particularly dangerous.}
Ng6 {Smirin is an ultra-aggressive player who sometimes gets away with dubious
setups. The knight on g6 is not good unless White stumbles into something.} (
7... g6 $5 {In hindsight, I think this move is a bit more annoying to deal
with. Artemiev plays this line and if Black can get in a quick ...d5 he might
be quite happy.} 8. c4 ({An example would be} 8. a4 Bg7 9. a5 d5 10. N1d2 O-O
11. c3 e5 $11 {Horvitz,R-Seirawan,Y 1987}) 8... Bg7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11.
Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Ne5 13. Be2 N7g6 14. Qd2 b6 $13 {Jakovenko,D -Artemiev,V, 2015.}
) 8. a4 ({A different but effective setup was adopted in a previous game:} 8.
Nc3 b5 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 O-O 11. Qh5 d6 $14 {Leko,P-Carlsen, M Amber, 2008.
Black still struggles to find enough space to maneouver effectively.}) 8... b6
9. f4 Be7 10. Be3 d6 11. c3 {Stylistically, I wanted to play against Smirin
and his aggression. I was hoping to put my pieces on good squares while
avoiding commital moves. c3 rather than c4 is an example.} O-O 12. N1d2 Bb7 {
[#]} 13. Qf3 $1 {This simple move was my longest think of the game and what
caused Ilya a lot of trouble. I'm simply threatening Qf2 while trying to avoid
any can-opening moves by Black.} (13. Qh5 e5 14. f5 (14. g3 exf4 15. gxf4 $14 {
The space advantage is still good for White, but I didn't see the need to
expose my king, especially when I can't follow up with f4-f5.}) 14... Nf4 15.
Bxf4 exf4 16. Rxf4 Ne5 17. Qe2 Re8 $13 {Great compensation for Black with the
two bishops, knight on e5, and the potential to cause chaos with ...d5.}) (13.
Qe2 {is no different} e5 14. f5 Nf4 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Rxf4 Ne5 17. Rff1 Re8 $36
{with the same sort of dynamic imbalance that I didn't want.}) ({I was
intially attracted to} 13. Nc4 {hoping for} b5 $2 ({... until I realized that
Ilya had something else in store:} 13... d5 $1 14. Bxb6 (14. Nxb6 d4 $1 $17)
14... dxc4 15. Bxd8 Rfxd8 $44) 14. Nb6 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Bxb5 $16 {I'm a
fully fledged pawn-grabber these days (thanks Yasser).}) 13... e5 (13... Nb8 {
followed by ...Nd7 was a good try. Black has a slow setup but it's not easy
for White to take advantage of it.}) (13... Na5 $5 14. Qf2 Nxb3 15. Nxb3 b5 16.
Na5 $1 Qd7 17. g3 Rab8 18. Nxb7 Rxb7 19. axb5 axb5 20. h4 $16) 14. f5 Nf4 15.
Bc2 {[#] And here the benefit of Qf3 becomes clear: ...Nf4 doesn't come with
tempo, which allows White to play around it and attempt to trap it with g3.} d5
(15... Bg5 $2 {allows White to trap the N:} 16. g3 Nh3+ 17. Kg2 Bxe3 18. Qxe3
Ng5 19. h4 $18) 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Qxf4 Re8 {[#]} 19. Ne4 (19. c4
Bg5 20. Qg3 Rc8 $40) (19. f6 $1 {A similar idea as the game, and superior
because it is forcing.} gxf6 (19... Bxf6 20. Ne4 $18) (19... Qxd5 20. Be4 Bc5+
21. Kh1 Qd7 22. Rad1 $18) 20. Rad1 Qxd5 21. Be4 Qd7 22. Nf3 Qc8 23. Bxb7 Qxb7
24. Nxe5 fxe5 25. Qg4+ Kh8 26. Rd7 Qc6 27. Rxf7 Rg8 28. Rxh7+ Kxh7 29. Rxe7+
$18) 19... Qxd5 ({Maybe the only attempt to survive was} 19... f6 20. Rad1 Bxd5
$16 {and to follow up with ...Ra7-d7. During the game I didn't think Black
could take this pawn because of the pin, so my two pawn advantage would be
decisive.} 21. Nd4 b5 22. Kh1 Qb6) 20. f6 Ng6 (20... Bxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22.
Nxf6+ Kg7 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Nd4 $16 {During the game I considered this endgame
lost for Black, but I am not bold enough to definitely say it in my notes here.
Extra pawn, queenside majority, and better structure should be enough.}) 21.
Qf2 gxf6 {[#]} 22. Nd4 $1 $18 {It was at this point I considered my position
absolutely winning. Once I saw Nd4 I realized it was over because it allows me
to have impeccable coordination before I go for the throat. My next moves are
Rae1 and Bb3 and Black is helpless.} (22. Rad1 Qc4 23. Nxf6+ (23. Ng3 $5 Rad8
24. Nd4 Bc5 {also looked like it was giving Black too much activity.}) 23...
Bxf6 24. Qxf6 Re2 {seemed totally unnecessary.}) 22... Rad8 23. Rae1 Kf8 24.
Bb3 Qe5 (24... Qxe4 25. Rxe4 Bxe4 26. h4 h5 27. Qe3 $18) 25. Nxf6 {[#]} Qxf6 (
25... Qxf6 26. Qg3 Qg7 (26... Bd6 27. Rxf6 Bxg3 28. Rxf7+ Kg8 29. Rxb7+ Kh8 30.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. hxg3 $18) 27. Ne6+) 26. Qg3 {A picturesque final position where
every piece does its job. I was able to a punish a slightly dubious opening
setup by Smirin in a game that felt pretty heavy due to the last round
consequences.} 1-0

[Event "GRENKE Chess Open"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2017.04.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Wagner, Dennis"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2434"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "GER"]

{In round 5 of the GRENKE Chess Open I played against GM Dennis Wagner from
Germany, a young player and someone I was playing for the first time. After a
slow start this was the first time I was paired up. It's always important to
make these games count so you can continue to play against strong opposition!} 
1. Nf3 {[%mdl 32768]} Nf6 2. c4 b6 {Inviting my opponent to transpose back to
the QID with d4 e6 since that was what I prepared mostly.} 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5
5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 a6 {The hedgehog move order, controlling the b5 square so
that White cannot put as much pressure on d6.} 7. Re1 (7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9.
Bg5 Nbd7 {is another main line.}) 7... d6 8. e4 {[#]} Be7 (8... Nbd7 $2 9. d4
cxd4 10. Nxd4 {now Black needs to play ...Qc7 to protect the Bb7 against the
threat of e5, but it fails to a typical motif...} Qc7 11. Nd5 $1 $14 {Analysis
Diagram [#] editor - Aman has had this position before, and went down quickly
after declining the piece. Black can take the Nd5 without getting mated or
immediately having to give back the piece, but White gets a terrific long-term
attack. Here are two examples:} exd5 (11... Qb8 12. Bg5 $1 Be7 13. Nxe7 Kxe7 {
Black has a very bad Hedgehog and now gets destroyed on the dark squares.} 14.
f4 h6 15. Bxf6+ Nxf6 16. e5 $18 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nd7 18. Bc6 $3 Qc7 19. Qf3 $1
Nxe5 20. Qa3+ $1 Kf6 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qc3 Rhd8 23. Re3 Qc7 24. Nf3 {(1-0, 24)
Dvirnyy,D (2540)-Hambleton,A (2461) Forni di Sopra, 2013.}) 12. exd5+ Kd8 13.
Nc6+ Bxc6 (13... Kc8 14. b4 $1 $40) 14. dxc6 Nc5 15. b4 $18 Ne6 16. c5 (16. a4
$1 {/\a5, aiming to plant the B on b6.}) 16... Be7 17. cxb6 Qxb6 18. Be3 Qc7
19. a4 Rb8 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 Rxb5 22. Ra8+ Rb8 23. Ra7 Qc8 24. Bf4 {White
is still down a whole piece, but would have to play the illegal and impossible
...Rh8-c7 just to equalize.} Ke8 25. c7 Rb4 26. Bc6+ Kf8 27. Ra8 Qxa8 28. Bxa8
Rc4 29. Bxd6 Ne8 30. Bxe7+ Kxe7 31. Qd8+ Kf8 32. c8=Q {(1-0, 32) Roussel
Roozmon,T (2430)-Lawson,E (2393) Montreal, 2006.}) 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 (
10... Nbd7 11. e5 $16) 11. Be3 O-O (11... Qxc4 $4 12. Rc1 Qc7 13. Nd5 $18) 12.
Rc1 Nbd7 13. f4 Rac8 14. g4 {[#] Despite the aggressive nature of this move,
we are still following known theory. The computer really favours White, but
that is the case in positions with large space advantages like the hedgehog or
KID.} Nc5 {by compelling the Bishop to move from e3, the f4 pawn lacks support
and this is critical for the ensuing variations.} 15. Bf2 g6 16. b4 ({editor -
} 16. g5 Nh5 17. Be3 e5 18. Nde2 exf4 $13 {(½-½, 43) Svidler,P (2754)
-Carlsen,M (2801) Moscow blitz, 2009.}) 16... Rfd8 $6 (16... Ncd7 17. b5 Nc5 {
is the solid option. Black is still slightly worse.} 18. Rc2 $14) 17. f5 (17.
bxc5 dxc5 $11 {is obviously exactly the type of complications Black is hoping
for.}) 17... e5 {[#]} 18. g5 $2 (18. Nc2 Ncd7 19. g5 Nh5 20. f6 Bf8 21. Ne3 $16
) 18... Nh5 $2 {Giving White another chance to play Nf3 and avoid
complications in the middle of the board.} (18... Nfxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. fxg6
hxg6 21. Bxe4 $13 {was difficult to evaluate over the board.}) 19. f6 Bf8 (
19... exd4 $6 20. fxe7 Qxe7 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Qxg5 23. bxc5 bxc5 $14 {
was something to consider, but if White plays precisely I believe the extra
piece will be felt.}) 20. bxc5 $6 {We have been exchanging blunders back and
forth for the past couple of moves, but my opponent makes the final one. White
should have retreated with Nf3 or Nc2 while he could.} dxc5 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22.
cxd5 exd4 23. Bxd4 Qf4 $1 {[#] This is the move that I had seen in my
calculations. After this, I believe Black has a clear advantage.} 24. Bb2 ({
I had a feeling my opponent would sacrifice a pawn because playing} 24. Be3 Qe5
$15 {with ...Bd6, ..Nf4 and ...b5-c4 coming looks completely lost without
counterplay.}) 24... Qxg5 25. Qf3 c4 26. e5 {The pawn storm is coming but I
can get my Bishop out to c5 before White plays d6, fortunately.} Bc5+ 27. Kh1
Nf4 {[#]} 28. e6 (28. Rxc4 Qxg2+ 29. Qxg2 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 Rxd5 $17) 28... Qxg2+
29. Qxg2 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 fxe6 31. dxe6 (31. Rxe6 Rxd5 $19 {threatening ...Rd2+
and ...Kf7 is far too easy.}) 31... Rd2+ 32. Kh3 Rxb2 33. Rxc4 {[#] I had to
be a bit careful in this position, but with an extra piece Black should be
winning without too many problems.} Rf2 34. f7+ Kf8 35. a4 Ke7 36. a5 b5 37.
Rc3 h5 38. Rd3 Rc7 39. Kh4 Rf5 40. Re2 Bf2+ 41. Kh3 Bc5 42. Kh4 b4 43. Rg2 Bf2+
44. Kh3 Rc3 45. Rxc3 bxc3 46. Rxg6 c2 47. Rg5 {one last trick, hoping for
stalemate ideas after ...Rxg5.} c1=Q {Threatening ...Qf1#. My opponent
resigned here. This win suddenly put me in a great position to play for a norm
- I had great chances until round 8 where I played a GM with White and lost. I
think that if I had won that game I would have certainly made the norm.
Nevertheless, this was good foreshadowing for Iceland!} 0-1

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2434"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] I was quite honoured and excited for my round 4 encounter
against Alexei Shirov with the black pieces. Not only is he a 2700-level
player and chess legend in his own right, but there would certainly be a huge
style mismatch. I was planning to play the Sicilian instead of my usual, solid
French. It did not seem like the smartest idea going into the game - to be
honest I am not sure how I convinced myself!} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nc6 {[#] The Sicilian Taimanov is an opening I have been studying lately,
and have only had a chance to test in tournament chess on a few occassions. I
believe a refreshing, new approach to 1.e4 with Black is what I've been
missing, and one can only play so many games with a bad Bishop in the French. :
^)} 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 {[#] Shirov does not go for the "main" line,
but certainly the most fashionable one lately. Qf3 was introduced a few years
ago with the simple idea to play 0-0-0 very quickly and often play Qg3,
entering a favourable endgame with a lot of dark square weaknesses for Black.}
Bd6 (7... Nf6 8. O-O-O d6 $13 {is another way of playing, although these
structures resemble that of a Scheveningen more than a Taimanov.}) 8. O-O-O Be5
9. g3 (9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd4 Bxd4 11. Rxd4 d5 12. Qg3 Qxg3 13. hxg3 Nf6 $14 {
is a very critical line for the evaluation of this entire opening! Shirov
himself has played into this a number of times with great success, so actually
the heavy majority of my preparation was specific to this endgame.}) 9... Nge7
10. Qe2 b5 11. f4 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Rb8 {[#] This move has been seen
only a handful of times, all in recent years and with good results. It is the
new way of playing this variation, delaying castling in favour of Queenside
counterplay.} 14. e5 Bb7 $146 {I think that the reason this move is such a
powerful novelty is how surprising the main variation can be. Shirov makes
extremely logical moves from this point on, but ends up in a middlegame in
which I believe Black has the better attacking chances.} 15. Bg2 Bxg2 16. Qxg2
b4 $1 {Chasing the N to the e4-square, precisely where it wants to go...} 17.
Ne4 O-O 18. Rhd1 Nd5 $11 {[#] This was more or less the end of my preparation,
although I did check what should be done if White sacrifices his Rook in this
position or anything similar. Once you realize Rxd5 is never justified, White
has a hard time dealing with a5-a4-a3. Black has easy play.} 19. Qf3 {Shirov
had used about an hour on the clock so far, and continued to spend more and
more time likely calculating Rxd5 and being frustrated that nothing works.} (
19. Rxd5 exd5 20. Nd6 Qc6 21. Qxd5 (21. Rxd5 a5 $40) 21... Qxd5 22. Rxd5 f6 23.
Nc4 g5 $15) 19... a5 (19... Rfc8 20. R1d2 Qa5 21. Qb3 Nc3 22. Nd6 Nxa2+ 23. Kd1
Nc3+ 24. Ke1 Qa1+ 25. Kf2 Qh1 $11 {is a long variation that I couldn't see
until the very end. I knew that it was likely I had a perpetual but I also
thought I had better chances by continuing the attack more slowly with a4-a3.})
20. Nd6 a4 {I continue my relatively straightforward plan of trying to play a3
and unlock the c3-square for my pieces.} 21. a3 {[#]} Qc5 (21... bxa3 22. Qxa3
Rb3 23. Qxa4 Rbb8 $44 {sacrifices a pawn for unclear compensation but unless I
have a forced win I get nervous about those two connected pawns and the fact
that I can never use the c8-square for my pieces.}) 22. axb4 Rxb4 23. Qa3 Rfb8
24. c3 {[#]} Qc6 $1 {I was happy with this move: protecting a4, getting out of
the annoying pin, maintaining the pin on the c3-pawn, and preparing to use the
h1-a8 diagonal to reach the weakened White King in the future.} 25. Rxb4 Nxb4
26. Kb1 Qf3 {After I played ...Qf3 I definitively knew that I was better, but
time pressure was upon both of us so I had to (and did) play extremely
accurately to maintain the edge.} 27. Qxa4 Nd5 28. Nb5 {[#]} h5 $1 (28... Nxc3+
29. Nxc3 Qxc3 30. Qc2 Qb4 31. Rxd7 g6 $11) ({Certainly not} 28... Rxb5 $4 29.
Qa8+ Rb8 30. Qxb8#) 29. c4 Nb6 (29... Ne3 30. Rxd7 Qf1+ 31. Ka2 Nxc4 $13 {
is a less convincing version of what happened in the game.}) 30. Qc2 Nxc4 {[#]}
31. Rxd7 {I didn't consider this move because it felt too greedy, but Alexei
played it very quickly. It's always scary when a strong player makes a quick
move that you overlooked. Fortunately my intuition was correct, and it was
indeed too greedy!} ({editor - White doesn't have any objectively better moves
-- Black wins with accurate play -- so the unpleasant question for White is
"what sets Black the most practical difficulties?". He might have tried} 31.
Rd3 Qh1+ 32. Rd1 Qc6 33. Rd4 $8 Nxe5 $1 34. fxe5 Qxb5 {is also pretty horrible
for White, who is down a pawn with an exposed K and loose pawns... but
multiple major piece endings contain a lot of game-saving perpetuals.}) 31...
Ne3 (31... Nxb2 $1 {was even stronger e.g.} 32. Qxb2 Qf1+ 33. Ka2 Rxb5 34. Qc3
Rb8 $19) 32. Qd3 Qh1+ 33. Ka2 {[#]} Nd5 {Threatening ...Nb4+ as well as just
centralizing the N on the best square and disconnecting White's heavy pieces
along the d-file.} 34. Kb3 (34. Qe2 {is a surprisingly resilient computer
defense which I doubt either of us were remotely considering.} Nb4+ 35. Kb3 Nc6
$19) 34... Qe1 35. Rxd5 exd5 36. Qxd5 Qa5 {Now the Knight falls by force, but
that can be expected when the King is running out to c4 with Queens still on
the board.} 37. Kc4 Qa4+ 38. b4 Qa2+ {Shirov resigned as I will be up an
entire Rook after the Queens are exchanged on d5. I think that this is one of
my cleanest games from start to finish. Although I may have missed stronger
moves, I never committed any errors, and I also managed to successfully employ
a strong novelty in a main line of a big Sicilian opening. At 2693, beating
Alexei Shirov with Black is by far the best result of my chess career. It
certainly gave me the confidence that a GM norm was entirely possible in
Reykjavik.} 0-1

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.21"]
[Round "4.10"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2434"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:49"]
[BlackClock "0:01:22"]

1. e4 c5 $5 {Aman usually plays the French, but said he didn't want to face
some of Shirov's Winawer preparation.} 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3
Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 {[#] The most popular move these days. White prepares to
castle long and has the strategic threat of Qg3, attacking g7 and fighting for
the central dark squares.} ({Historically,} 7. Qd2 {has been the most popular.}
Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 O-O 10. Kb1 b5 11. g4 Bb7 12. g5 Nh5 13. a3 Be7 14. Nb3
$14 {1-0 (33) Hansen,E (2603)-Van Foreest,J (2612) Wijk aan Zee, 2017.}) 7...
Bd6 8. O-O-O Be5 9. g3 (9. Nxc6 {leads to a characteristic Sicilian ...e6
endgame where White hopes to exploit Black's lazy LSB and weaker dark squares.}
bxc6 10. Bd4 Nf6 (10... Bxd4 11. Rxd4 Nf6 12. Qg3 Qxg3 13. hxg3 d5 14. exd5
cxd5 $11 {1-0 (48) Shirov,A (2689)-Perunovic,M (2624) Reykjavik, 2015.}) 11.
Bxe5 Qxe5 12. Qg3 Qxg3 13. hxg3 d5 14. Be2 Ke7 (14... dxe4 15. g4 $14) 15. exd5
cxd5 16. g4 g5 17. Rh6 $14 {1-0 (36) Shirov,A (2673)-Ladva,O (2510) Puhajarve,
2016.}) 9... Nge7 10. Qe2 b5 11. f4 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 {[#]} Rb8 (
13... O-O 14. e5 Bb7 15. Bg2 Bxg2 16. Qxg2 {is similar to the game line, where
Black had played ...Rb8 instead of ...00, and so had the option of ...b4.} Nf5
17. Rd3 d5 18. g4 Ne7 19. Ne2 Rac8 20. Nd4 Qa5 21. Kb1 Nc6 {with a position
resembling a Steinitz French, but where Black is more comfortable for having
exchanged several pieces, especially the "French Bishop" which would be
blocked on b7; see: Leko,P (2693)-Ladva,O (2510) Tallinn (blitz), 2016.}) 14.
e5 $6 {Dominating the central dark squares and giving the Nc3 a square on e4
after ...b4 is totally natural, but it's strategically suspect since it
concedes two central light squares for Black's N.} (14. Qd2 b4 15. Na4 a5 16.
Rc4 Qa7 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Nc6 19. Rd2 Ke7 20. e5 Rd8 21. Bg2 Na7 $1 22.
Rhd1 Nb5 (22... Bb7 $2 23. Nc5 Bxg2 24. Rxd7+ $16) 23. Bc6 (23. Nc5 $1 $14)
23... d5 {½-½ (23) Motylev,A (2663)-Bosiocic,M (2602) Moscow, 2017.}) 14...
Bb7 15. Bg2 Bxg2 16. Qxg2 b4 17. Ne4 O-O $11 18. Rhd1 Nd5 {[#]White has a
terrific-looking outpost on d6, but Black has simpler and more direct play by
pushing on the queenside.} 19. Qf3 {After 30+ minutes of thought. The Nd5 is
holding together Black's position, so White would like to play Rxd5. It's
playable for White, but Black is fine after:} ({In the online post-mortem,
Aman said he knew the Black was OK if he pushes the a-pawn should White sac on
d5; e.g.} 19. Rxd5 $6 exd5 20. Nd6 a5 21. Qxd5 a4 {and Black keeps the
initiative.}) 19... a5 {Black offered White a draw here... which is not
allowed at Reykjavik, which uses the Sofia no-draws-before-move-30 rules.} 20.
Nd6 a4 {Threatening ...b3.} 21. a3 ({If} 21. Kb1 a3 $1 {and Black can get a
strong square on c3.}) 21... Qc5 22. axb4 Rxb4 23. Qa3 Rfb8 24. c3 $2 (24. Rxb4
Nxb4 25. Qxa4 Qe3+ 26. Kb1 Nd5 $17 {is similar to the game.}) 24... Qc6 $8 $17
25. Rxb4 Nxb4 $1 (25... Rxb4 $2 26. Rxd5 Rb3 $8 27. Rb5 $8 Qh1+ 28. Kc2 Qxh2+
29. Kc1 $13) 26. Kb1 Qf3 $17 (26... Na6 $1 $18) 27. Qxa4 Nd5 $8 $17 28. Nb5 $1
h5 $1 {[#] Eliminating back-rank dangers and so threatening ...Rxb5, and a
horrible position to play as White, especially when down to 2:40.} 29. c4 Nb6
$1 {Played with 23 seconds left.} 30. Qc2 Nxc4 $8 31. Rxd7 Ne3 {Played with 12
seconds left.} (31... Nxb2 {Also wins:} 32. Qxb2 Qf1+ 33. Ka2 Rxb5 $19 {
Material is equal, but White's K is a sitting duck.}) 32. Qd3 {Pinning the N
and threatening to swap on d8; played with 30 seconds left.} Qh1+ $8 $19 33.
Ka2 Nd5 $8 {Blocking the attack on d8 and threatening ...Nb4.} 34. Kb3 {
8 seconds left.} Qe1 {Threatening ...Qb4 or ...Qa5 and winning the N.} 35. Rxd5
exd5 36. Qxd5 Qa5 37. Kc4 Qa4+ 38. b4 Qa2+ {Exchanging Qs and winning the Nb5.
Shirov resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] In Round 5 of the Reykjavik Open I was paired with White against
GM Erwin L'ami. His wife Alina L'ami is a well known ChessBase reporter and
was taking pictures throughout the event. When playing such strong players,
usually it's impossible to predict exactly which opening they will use - this
game was no exception.} 1. d4 f5 {I did not expect this opening from Erwin,
although he certainly plays it often enough. I assumed he would prefer the
Nimzo, considering one of the main lines I play against the Dutch in the
database involves playing h4!? very early, which not to everyone's taste as
Black.} 2. c4 Nf6 3. h4 {[#] I have never really fancied the main lines
against the Dutch, but just like the Grunfeld I believe the sidelines are
actually a lot more testing! This move dissuades Black from playing a setup
involving ...g6.} e6 (3... g6 4. h5 Nxh5 5. Rxh5 gxh5 6. e4 $14 {is already
better for White.}) 4. g3 {Claiming the long diagonal before Black can play ...
b6, ...Bb7 and attempt to prove that the move h4 has no particular benefit for
White.} d5 5. Bg2 Bd6 {[#]} 6. cxd5 {Anish Giri was giving his comments on
some of the ongoing games and afterward I noticed he mentioned that the
concept of h4 was not all that bad actually! However, he criticized cxd5
because White often wants to wait (e.g. with Qc2) until Black commits ...Nbd7
in order to play cxd5 when ...exd5 would lose the f5-pawn. Here, Black can
recapture with the e-pawn and he should be happy with that exchange.} (6. Nf3
O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. cxd5 cxd5 $14) 6... exd5 7. Nh3 O-O 8. Bf4 {
Trying to execute a positional concept of exchanging the dark squared Bishops
and trying to exploit the weakened dark squares in Black's camp.} Be7 $6 {
Although it's understandable Erwin wants to avoid this exchange, it may not
have been the wisest decision in hindsight, especially considering we
exchanged these Bishops later on anyway.} 9. O-O c6 10. Nd2 Ne4 (10... Qb6 11.
Nb3 a5 12. Qc2 Nbd7 13. Rac1 a4 14. Nc5 $13) 11. Nf3 {It's very important for
White to avoid trading pieces on the e4-square and instead focus his attention
on the e5, f4, and g5 squares.} Nd7 12. Nhg5 Ndf6 13. Ne5 Nxg5 {[#]} 14. Bxg5 (
14. hxg5 $1 {is actually a good option here, although it didn't seem very easy
to justify over the board.} Ne4 15. g6 h6 16. e3 $14 {and although this pawn
on g6 is very far up the board, it's not very easy for Black to target, and
meanwhile the Ne5 is dominating.}) 14... Ng4 15. Qd2 (15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nd3 (
16. Nxg4 fxg4 $15 {is also better for Black with easy play on the e and
f-files and also the f5 square now available for the Bishop.}) 16... f4 $1 $17)
15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 a5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. f4 Qb4 {[#] Now we reach the critical
position for the endgame. It was both the opinion of myself and my opponent
that although the position was surely equal, Black had more constructive ideas
involving some a4-a3 advance, ...Ra6-b6 to target my Queenside, or simply
supporting a well-timed ...c5 advance. We both completely misevaluated White's
chances!} 19. Rfd1 (19. Qxb4 axb4 20. a3 bxa3 21. Rxa3 Rxa3 22. bxa3 Be6 23.
Rb1 Rb8 24. a4 Bc8 $1 $11 {Black intends to bring his King to support his
Queenside pawns, meanwhile tying White down to passive defense of the isolated
a-pawn.}) 19... Ra6 20. a3 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 a4 22. Rc1 {[#] Putting pressure on
all of Black's Queenside pawns so they cannot easily advance. In hindsight, I
think that I was playing a bit too reactively, because I never started to
develop my own counterplay until much later. I could have started that
immediately with h5!} Be6 23. Rd4 Kf7 24. Rb4 Ra7 25. e3 Ke7 26. Bf3 Rfa8 27.
Kf2 Kd7 28. Be2 Kc7 {[#] After a long journey, Black has succeeded in bringing
his King over to the Queenside and now intends to advance his pawn mass and
hopefully pressure b2. It finally dawned on me that White doesn't merely have
counterplay on the Kingside, but in fact is essentially just winning.} 29. h5
$1 Ra5 30. Rd4 {Removing the Rook from the precarious b4 square where it can
be trapped in some lines after ...c5. This Rook will sit on d2 where it
protects White's only weakness (b2), while the other Rook supports the g4
advance.} (30. Rg1 c5 31. Rb5 Rxb5 32. Bxb5 c4 $17) 30... b6 31. Rd2 Rc5 $6 {
[#] Black is trapping his own Rook without realizing it.} 32. Rg1 $1 {Now I
felt as though I was winning by force over the board, or at least Black would
have to commit himself to the most passive defense possible.} Rf8 33. g4 Rf7 (
33... g6 34. Kg3 $16 {intending Kh4-g5.}) 34. Bd3 $1 fxg4 35. Bxh7 Rf8 36. Kg3
{Stepping off the f-file and away from some tactics involving ...d4. Now the
threat, which is hard to stop, is f5 and if ...Bxf5 White has Rf1 utilizing
the pin. This tactic enables White to keep the initiative.} (36. Bc2 d4 $132 {
is still winning, but certainly not the type of counterplay White needs to
allow.}) 36... Rb5 {[#]} 37. f5 Rb3 38. fxe6 Rxe3+ 39. Kh4 (39. Kxg4 Rxe5 40.
Kh4 Rf4+ {is slightly less accurate.}) 39... Rxe5 40. Rxg4 Rxe6 41. Rxg7+ Kd6
42. Rg6 {White will trade the Rooks and use his extra piece to help promote
the extra passed h-pawn. Black resigned with the end very near. This game was
an interesting example of how important objectivity and psychology can be in
chess. Both my opponent and I were playing a position the computer believes to
be significantly better for White, yet we both had the understanding that
Black was pushing for a win! It is funny to think that I would have accepted a
draw at any point earlier in this game, while my opponent would have never
thought to offer one.} 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Ramirez, Alejandro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] In round 7 of the Reykjavik Open I was paired against a friend
of mine, GM Alejandro Ramirez. It's never easy to play against people you know
very well, and certainly not in a situation where you have to play for a norm!
I didn't know exactly what to expect, but my main goal in the opening was not
to allow any dangerous preparation.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 {I was not sure if
Alejandro had prepared against 2. e4 because he stopped to think in this
position. I had just played a game against a strong GM at the GRENKE Chess
Open just prior to Reykjavik, which continued 2...Nf6 3.f3 e5 4.dxe5. I
managed to get a nice opening advantage, although the game ended in a draw.} g6
3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 {Instead, ...Nf6 just transposes to the main lines of the
KID. The reason for delaying the development of Ng8 is to allow for sidelines
like ...Nge7 or a quick e5/f5 advance.} 5. Be3 e5 6. d5 (6. Nge2 exd4 7. Nxd4
Nge7 8. Be2 O-O 9. Qd2 $14 {is another variation altogether.}) 6... Nce7 (6...
Nd4 7. Nge2 Nxe2 8. Bxe2 f5 9. exf5 {Black cannot recapture with the g-pawn
because of Bh5+.} Bxf5 10. g4 Bd7 11. h4 $14) 7. Bd3 f5 8. f3 {[#] Since I
play the Saemisch KID, this structure was the most familiar to me.} Bh6 $5 {
The computer dislikes this move, although it is easy for a human to understand.
In exchange for misplacing the N on h6 and losing a few tempi, Black exchanges
off White's most powerful piece in the position and wants to lay claim to some
important dark squares.} (8... Nf6 9. Nge2 O-O 10. h3 $14 {was what I was
intending}) 9. Bxh6 Nxh6 10. Qd2 f4 11. Nge2 (11. h4 Nf7 12. O-O-O $14 {
would have been more accurate, since Black's Kingside expansion is delayed
quite a bit compared to the game. It felt a bit strange to disconnect my pawns
though -- I could not be sure that the h4 pawn would not be a target.}) 11...
g5 12. h3 Ng6 13. Nc1 {[#]} Nf7 (13... a5 {was the move that should have been
played. Alejandro told me after the game that he simply overlooked White's
idea of b4 a5 bxa5! allowing enough time for Nb3 and c5.} 14. Bc2 Bd7 15. Nd3
b6 16. O-O-O Ng8 $11) 14. b4 {Although not best according to the computer, we
both felt that this was an achievement for White, based on the following
forced sequence...} a5 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. c5 $1 dxc5 17. Nb3 Ra8 18. Nxc5 O-O {
[#]} 19. Bc4 (19. Rc1 $11 {is given as best, but I don't find it clear where I
should put my King now. The Kingside looks very dangerous and the center will
not be safe forever.}) 19... Nd6 20. Bb3 {After stationing my Bishop on what I
believed to be the optimal square, I plan to play 0-0-0 and pressure along the
c-file while abandoning the Kingside altogether.} Qe7 21. O-O-O {[#] Strangely,
the computer seriously dislikes this move, but offers no resistance to the
plan I outlined above. I remain reasonably happy with this plan, despite the
evaluation.} Rf7 (21... Kh8 22. Kb1 b6 23. Nd3 Bd7 24. Rc1 $13) 22. Kb1 b6 23.
Nd3 (23. Ne6 $5 {looks too forward} Nf8 24. Nxf8 Rxf8 25. Rc1 Bd7 $11 {and I
would rather have an extra pair of N's on the board since White has more space.
}) 23... Bd7 24. Rc1 h5 {Naturally, Black needs to create some counterplay
with the g4 pawn break, because White has an easy plan to target c7 and slowly
manoeuvre his pieces to better positions.} 25. Nd1 {[#]} Bb5 (25... Nb5 {
takes advantage of the Nc3 finally giving up control of b5, and looks to head
to the d4 square. I think this sacrifice was critical.} 26. d6 Qxd6 27. Bxf7+
Kxf7 28. Nc3 Nd4 $17) 26. Nb4 {Not allowing the N to be exchanged!} g4 $2 {
A mistake. My opponent could feel the pressure on c7 as well as moves like Nc6
happening in the future and - likely out of panic - desperately tried to force
some counterplay.} 27. hxg4 (27. Nc6 Qg5 28. hxg4 hxg4 29. Nf2 g3 30. Ng4 Kg7 {
although winning, this did not seem as forcing as the line I chose in the game.
}) 27... hxg4 28. Nf2 g3 29. Ng4 Rh7 30. Nh6+ (30. Rxh7 Kxh7 31. Qc3 Rc8 32.
Nc6 Bxc6 33. Qxc6 $14 {Black still has a firm blockade on the dark squares -
not easy to penetrate.}) 30... Kg7 {[#]} 31. Nf5+ $1 {Beginning a forcing
variation, the only path to a clear advantage.} Nxf5 32. Rxh7+ Kxh7 33. exf5
Nh4 34. d6 (34. f6 $6 Qxf6 35. Rxc7+ Kh6 36. Bc2 Kg5 $13 {was incredibly messy.
}) 34... Qxd6 (34... cxd6 35. Qd5 {forks the Rook and Bishop,} Ra5 36. Qg8+ Kh6
37. Rh1 $18) 35. Qxd6 cxd6 36. Rh1 {Winning a piece, although Black has a few
last tricks involving the advanced g3-pawn combined with ...Bf1xg2.} Kg7 37.
Rxh4 Bf1 {[#]} 38. Nd5 {This was a difficult move to find in time trouble,
because I have to be sure that my f-pawn wins the game as I am giving up all
of my Kingside pawns for this!} ({editor - There's a study-like win here:} 38.
Rg4+ Kf6 $140 39. Rg6+ Kxf5 40. Bc2+ e4 41. Bxe4+ Ke5 42. Nc6#) 38... Bd3+ (
38... Bxg2 $2 39. f6+ Kg6 40. Bc2+ Kf7 41. Rh7+ Ke6 42. Be4 $18) 39. Kc1 $2 {
A weak move just before time control. With low time I didnt want to go into
any complications and assumed that the extra piece was winning easily. However,
simple calculation shows that Bc2 was a quicker win.} (39. Bc2 Bxc2+ 40. Kxc2
Rxa2+ 41. Kd3 Rxg2 42. f6+ Kf7 43. Rh7+ $18 {Queens the f-pawn very easily.})
39... Bxf5 {[#]} 40. Kd2 {I was trying to be too safe as I notched down my
40th move and took some deep breaths. I knew I was winning and, with this
being such an important game for my GM norm situation, I was definitely
feeling the pressure to convert.} (40. Nxb6 {should have been played as well.
The pawn is waiting to be captured!} Rb8 41. Nd5 Be6 42. Nxf4 $18) 40... b5 41.
Rh1 Ra7 42. Nc3 Ra5 43. Ne4 Ra7 44. Ke2 {After this move I strongly believed
that my opponent would resign, because I didnt see any options for Black other
than Bxe4. Trading pieces when you're down a piece already seemed as good as
resigning.} Bxe4 45. fxe4 Rc7 {[#] After this move, I had a long think because,
to my surprise, this position was not simple at all. I don't think I've ever
been up a clean piece and had so much trouble converting - certainly a credit
to my resilient and resourceful opponent.} 46. Rd1 Rc3 47. Kd2 (47. Rxd6 Re3+
48. Kd2 Rxe4 {looked like it was allowing too much counterplay with 3
connected pawns and the looming threat of f3 gxf3 g2.} 49. Bc2 Re3 50. Bd3 $18)
47... b4 48. Rb1 {Intending a3 or a4 because the Rook would be hanging on c3.}
Kf6 49. a3 (49. a4 f3 50. gxf3 g2 51. Bd5 $18 {was also winning}) 49... Re3 {
[#]} 50. a4 $1 {Now that the Rook is on e3, f3 is no longer possible and the
Rook also has a long way to travel to cover the a8-square.} (50. axb4 $5 Rxe4
51. b5 f3 $1 52. gxf3 Rb4 $11 {Black always had resources like this that were
scary to calculate.}) 50... d5 (50... Rxe4 51. a5 $18 {and funnily enough, the
Rook has trapped itself in the middle of the board.}) 51. Bxd5 Ra3 52. Bb3 Kg5
53. Kd3 f3 54. gxf3 Kf4 {[#]} 55. Kc4 {The final touch. Bb3 trapped the Black
Rook and now the King comes to collect all the material.} Kxf3 56. Kxb4 Rxa4+
57. Bxa4 Kxe4 58. Bc6+ {White has too much extra material and finally, after a
long fight and great resistance by Ramirez, I managed to secure the victory
and move to 5.5/7, just shy of the leaders. This game was definitely the most
nerve-wracking and intense to play, even though I had been playing opponents
rated much higher than 2550. Although my game against Shirov might have been
my best game, this game gave me the most personal satisfaction during the
tournament.} 1-0

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hambleton, Aman"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Aman Hambleton"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] Besides my only loss in the event (a very early blunder against
GM Movsesian 2677), the other game where I was in big trouble was in round 8
against the young Dutch talent and current Dutch Champion GM Jorden Van
Foreest. He's also a good friend of mine and even competed on the Montreal
Chessbrah PROchess team for a few matches. Having just won my previous game, I
had 5.5/7 and was in great shape to secure a norm with either 0.5 or 1 point
in the next few games.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 {I
employed the Saemisch variation of the KID, something which I have done as
long as I can remember in the database. Naturally, this type of guaranteed
repetition allows for my opponents to prepare extremely deep variations for me.
} O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 exd4 9. Nxd4 {[#] So far my opponent had
been moving instantly, and although I knew the opening theory as well, I was
hesitant. I knew that my opponent had prepared a dangerous variation, but I
couldn't identify where it would be.} d5 $5 (9... Re8 {is usually included
before trying to play ...d5, in order to prevent White's response cxd5 cxd5
and e5.} 10. Rd1 d5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nc2 $14) 10. cxd5 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. g4
Nc6 $13) 10... cxd5 11. e5 {The most natural reaction, forcing Black's N to
move to the undesireable e8-square.} Ne8 {[#]} 12. f4 (12. Bg5 Qd7 13. Bb5 Nc6
14. Rc1 Nc7 $11 {gives Black great play against a loose pawn center.}) 12... f6
13. exf6 (13. e6 {is a major alternative, which I knew about, but I didn't
have any specific preparation here and it felt risky to enter a line where I
am sacrificing a pawn (often 2!) without any guidelines.} Nc6 14. f5 gxf5 15.
Be2 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxe6 17. O-O $13) 13... Nxf6 14. Be2 {It is necessary to
control the important g4-square.} Nc6 15. O-O Re8 {[#] Although none of the
moves are incredibly difficult, I should stress that my opponent was moving
instantly and I was spending a lot of time calculating the many complicated
sacrifices involving ...Rxe3. It's always scarier to play a position when you
know your opponent has so recently seen the computer evaluation at home!} 16.
Kh1 (16. Rad1 Ng4 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 18. Rde1 Rxe3 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Qxe3 d4 {
looked very powerful, but it turns out that White can salvage equality e.g.}
21. Qg3 dxc3 22. Qxg4 Qb6+ 23. Kh1 cxb2 24. f5 $11) 16... Ng4 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 {
[#]} 18. Bf2 (18. f5 Rxe3 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Qxe3 Bxf5 $13 {is what my opponent
told me was the end of his preparation. The computer gives 0.00 but Black
clearly has great compensation with the pair of Bishops, mobile pawn center,
and open b-file.}) (18. Bg1 Qf6 19. Nxd5 Qd8 20. Nf3 Bxf3 21. gxf3 {may have
just been a slightly improved version of what happened in the game.}) 18... Qf6
19. Nxd5 {Simplifying into a slightly worse endgame, but I considered that the
lesser of the evils, bearing in mind that I was down more than an hour on the
clock.} Qd8 20. Nf3 (20. Ne3 Rxe3 21. Qxe3 Nxd4 $44 {does not seem correct.
Black's pair of Bishops, 2 pieces for the Rook and control of the d1-square
seem overwhelming.}) 20... Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nd4 {[#] A strong move, but not one I
had missed. Unfortuantely, Black's opening has been a massive success and now
he is enjoying a slightly better endgame with more than an hour ahead on the
clock. All these things combine to create a position that should be losing in
practical play, especially considering the psychological factors that almost
the entire game has been preparation!} 22. Nc3 Nxf3 23. Qxd8 Rexd8 24. Rfd1 (
24. Rad1 Nd2 25. Bh4 $1 {a move I had missed} Rd4 26. Bf2 Rd3 27. Rfe1 Bxc3 28.
bxc3 Ne4 $15 {Black is still clearly better.}) 24... Nd4 25. Bxd4 {Simplifying
again, mostly because of the time situation. I assumed the closer I got to a
rook endgame the better chances I stood to make a draw, but that is not always
the case.} Bxd4 26. Kg2 Rac8 27. Rab1 Bxc3 28. bxc3 b6 {[#] Although the
material is exactly level, there is no endgame more unpleasant than the one
that stands before me. White has 4 pawn islands and they are all isolated
pawns.} 29. c4 Kf7 30. Kf3 Ke6 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 {[#] The computer offers an
evaluation of a mere -0.4 but I considered this position to be completely lost.
} 32. Ke3 (32. Rb3 {is the magic move apparently, ruthlessly searching for
counterplay with Ra3:} Rc8 33. Re3+ Kf6 (33... Kd6 34. Rd3+ Kc6 35. h4 $11) 34.
Ra3 Rc7 35. Ra6 $11 {with Black's rook passive and the idea to play c5.}) 32...
Rc8 33. Rb4 Kd6 34. Kd4 Rf8 35. Ke4 Kc5 36. a3 Re8+ 37. Kd3 Rd8+ 38. Ke3 Rd6
39. h4 a5 40. Rb1 {[#] I finally made the time control, playing the last 10
moves on increment, but was now faced with a lost endgame. I decided to play
on out of spite and self pity mostly.} Kxc4 41. h5 b5 42. Rc1+ Kb3 43. Rc7 gxh5
({editor -} 43... Kxa3 $1 {also wins, but Black has to trust (or calculate)
that he gets the first check after both sides promote:} 44. h6 b4 45. Rxh7 b3
46. Rg7 (46. Rb7 Rd8 $19) 46... b2 (46... Rd1 {going to h1 also wins.}) 47. h7
b1=Q 48. h8=Q Qe1+ {and this first check leads to mate.}) 44. Rb7 {[#] I
realized my only hope for a draw was to liquidate pawns on the Queenside,
collect the remaining pawns on the Kingside, and somehow manage to sacrifice
my Rook for the remaining pawn.} b4 $5 45. axb4 a4 46. Rxh7 {At this point
both my opponent and I had the impression Black may have ruined his winning
chances. Jorden had a very long think here and came up with the accurate:} Rd5
$1 47. Ke4 Rb5 48. f5 {[%mdl 64] [#]Critical Position} h4 $2 (48... Rxb4+ $8 {
wins the game} 49. Ke5 (49. Kd5 h4 50. f6 a3 51. f7 Rf4 {access to the
f4-square is the major difference between this variation and what happened in
the game.} 52. Ke5 Rf2 53. Ke4 a2 54. f8=Q Rxf8 55. Rb7+ Kc2 56. Ra7 Kb2 57.
Rb7+ Ka1 {wins for Black.}) 49... h4 50. f6 a3 51. f7 a2 52. f8=Q a1=Q+ {
the check ensures that Black can deliver a checkmate.}) 49. f6 $8 $11 {Now the
game is drawn.} a3 50. f7 Rb8 51. Rxh4 a2 52. Rh1 Rf8 53. Kd5 $1 {[#] The move
my opponent missed, reminded us of a famous endgame study where White's King
starts on h8 and manages to assist his passed pawn on c6 while catching
Black's passed pawn on h5!} Rxf7 54. b5 Rh7 55. Ra1 Rh5+ 56. Kc6 Kb2 57. Rxa2+
Kxa2 58. b6 Rh6+ 59. Kc7 Rxb6 60. Kxb6 {This miraculous draw was the final
notch I needed for the GM norm. I did not know right after the game that it
would be enough, as it depended entirely on the ninth round pairing, but I
knew that I had been extremely lucky in this game. A definite lesson to stay
realistic and continue playing as long as you believe there are chances for
your opponent to slip up. Jorden went on to win his final two rounds in
convincing fashion and came 2nd place in the Reykjavik Open while I went on to
score 7/10 after drawing my final two rounds and securing my 10-round GM norm!}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Doknjas, John"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2521"]
[BlackElo "2216"]
[Annotator "John Doknjas"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] The 2017 Reykjavik Open was played in the exquisite Harpa
Conference Centre. Almost all of the building is completely transparent, as
its four sides are covered with intricate glass designs (which are illuminated
into various colours at night!). This provided a wonderful view of Reykjavik
while playing in the tournament hall. The hall itself was quite large -- there
was ample room for the hundreds of players, as well as a generous amount of
space for the players on the tables. The distance between myself and my board
was probably around a whole foot! For most of the tournament, there was only
one round per day. This allowed my family and I to spend a good amount of time
touring Reykjavik and its surrounding areas. The best sights we saw were
definitely the geysers - explosive bursts of water and steam from the ground,
generated by the vast amounts of thermal energy underneath Iceland. ..........
.... I found out I was paired with my opponent on the night before - since the
rounds were in the afternoon, this gave me 6 hours to prepare. I typically
used less than 1, and despite my opponent being a GM this round was no
exception :) My opponent, like most GMs, played multiple openings. However,
unlike most GMs, she had finished 3rd in the Women's World Championship. My
time was spent reviewing my general repertoire against her lines, so I didn't
have much time to prepare anything too specific. I went into the game just
wanting to play well.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 {[#] There goes my hour of preparation!
} c6 {A solid line, similar to the 2...d5 variation. Black's idea is to take
back on f6 with the e-pawn, and then attempt to construct a vise on the center.
} 3. Bxf6 (3. e3 $4 Qa5+ {Don't be one of the dozen players who ended up here
as White!}) 3... exf6 4. e3 d5 5. g3 $6 {A questionable move - the light
squares in White's camp are now noticeably weak. This is due to the e3-g3 pawn
placement, which weakens the Kingside and f1-a6 light squares. White's
f1-Bishop can only cover so much.} (5. c4 {Both this move and Bd3 are standard.
}) 5... Bd6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nd2 f5 {[#] Following the tried and true plan.
Although my c8-Bishop is now very poor, my control over the center compensates
fully for this. The lack of mobility of White's three minor pieces balances
out with my bad Bishop.} 8. Ne2 {With the idea of putting the Knight on f4 and
pressuring my center.} Be6 {Putting the Bishop to at least some use - on this
square it protects my two key pawns, as well as discouraging White's c4 pawn
thrust.} 9. O-O Nd7 {Heading towards f6.} 10. Rc1 $1 {Preparing the c4 move -
without it, White is helpless against Black's center.} Nf6 11. c4 {[#]} Ne4 {
With my d5 pawn under more pressure, I cannot have White's g2 Bishop
continuing to rain down fire on it.} (11... dxc4 $5 {is another plan.} 12. Nxc4
Bc7 {A weird position - White has the two center pawns, but it is Black who
seems to control more of the center squares. This control, along with the two
Bishops, more or less dynamically balance the game.}) 12. cxd5 cxd5 {A sad
necessity... or is it? During the game I believed that maintaining my powerful
Knight on e4 was more important than having an isolated pawn on d5. But now
I'm not so sure.} (12... Bxd5 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. d5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 $14 {White
should be a tad better - Black's pawn on f5, which was once a proud soldier,
now stands out like a sore thumb.}) 13. Nb3 $1 {Black's Queenside squares
begin to feel uncomfortable.} b6 {The point of White's previous move - my a6
and c6 squares are now weak. Although I still have my lightsquare Bishop to
defend them, at the moment it is rather occupied on e6. The isolated d5 pawn
turns out to be more trouble than expected...} 14. Nf4 Bxf4 $2 {Buckling under
the pressure - that's what playing a GM does to you! Giving up my dark-squared
Bishop is a bad mistake, as now I'm left with only a bad Bishop on e6.
Comparing the g2 and e6 Bishops, it is obvious that White's is superior -
although at the moment, both are equally inactive.} (14... Qd7 {More natural,
and much stronger. Black will move the Rooks to the c-file, and enjoy a
comfortable position.}) 15. exf4 (15. gxf4 {Another option, in order to not
isolate the d4 pawn. My opponent may have avoided this because her King is now
opened. However, this could work to White's advantage if she manages to move
the f1-Rook to the now open g-file.}) 15... Qd7 16. Rc2 Rac8 {[#] At this
point White's advantage seems merely symbolic - my Bishop on e6 is terrible,
but it's difficult to see how White will activate the g2 Bishop. editor -
Interestingly, all the top engines rate this position as slightly better for
Black; apparetently (based on some tests shuffling around pieces) that's
mainly because White's Nb3 is misplaced.} 17. Re2 $5 {Sharpening the game!
This move gives Black full control of the c-file, and in return White plans to
control the e-file. The game becomes a positional race - who can use their
file faster?} Rc4 $1 {Preparing to double on the c-file, while also attacking
the isolated d4 pawn. I remembered having some ideas with ...Qa4, which
employs a double attack against a2 and d4.} 18. f3 {What else? There was no
point in surrendering the c-file if this move was not played.} Nd6 19. Rfe1
Rfc8 20. Bf1 $1 {[#] A subtle, but extremely strong, move (one which I
completely missed). White prepares to activate her lightsquare Bishop, while
at the same time repel Black's c4 Rook. White will soon demonstrate utter
domination with the Bishops, so using my activity while it lasts was
imperative here.} R4c6 $2 {Too passive - dynamic play is required.} (20... Qc7
$1 21. Rd2 Rc2 {with enough play to keep me actively fighting.}) 21. Rf2 {
Opening up the dormant piece on f1, and pressuring my weak Queenside squares.
Did my opponent plan ahead to this moment with 13.Nb3?} (21. Rd2 {This move is
more or less identical to Rf2, except it supports d4.}) 21... a5 $1 {I
remember being worried about g4 ideas from White, followed by a pawn storm. As
a result, I felt quick activity on the Queenside was needed. In retrospect,
most of my worries about a pawn storm were simply ghosts, but in this case
seeing ghosts helped me play the right move.} 22. Qb1 {Preparing the retreat
Nc1.} a4 23. Nc1 Qc7 {The game begins to shift to my favour now. My complete
control of the c-file, along with the activity it brings, fully compensates
for White's superior Bishop.} 24. Nd3 Rc4 {Attacking the d4 pawn - this move
also provokes b3, although I can't remember if that was my goal during the
game.} 25. b3 axb3 $6 {Opening up the a-file gives White an avenue of activity
there. Better was:} (25... Rc3 26. bxa4 Ra8) 26. axb3 {[#]} Rc2 {Backing out
and choosing the safe move, although it turns out this move is not safe for me
at all...} (26... Rxd4 {I considered this move during the game, but after a
long think I backed out of it. My Rook is trapped on d4, and while I try to
fish it out White will be invading on the a-file. I felt I could not use my
extra pawn in time.}) 27. Rxc2 Qxc2 28. Qxc2 Rxc2 29. Rc1 {What to do now? If
I keep the Rooks on, White gets full control of the c-file. If I exchange
Rooks, White has an obvious advantage in the endgame.} Rxc1 30. Nxc1 {White's
light-square Bishop bares its teeth and awakens for the second time.} f6 {
Preventing White's Knight from jumping to e5. The last thing I want is to have
two inferior minor pieces - one is enough!} 31. Na2 {[#]} Bc8 $2 {My idea was
to put the Bishop on b7, and King on e6. If I accomplished this, I figured my
position should be holdable. In retrospect, this move caused me quite some
grief on the Queenside.} ({It's better to immediately bring the King to the
defence of my pawns. I don't have time for the luxury of maneuvering my Bishop.
} 31... Kf7 32. Nc3 Ke7 33. Na4 Nc8 34. Ba6 Na7 35. Kf2 (35. Nxb6 $2 Nc6 {
And d4 falls - Black is equal.}) 35... b5 36. Nc5 Bc8 {Black's position isn't
fun, but it should not be too hard to draw. With my bad Bishop exchanged, the
game will be close to equal.}) 32. Nc3 Bb7 33. Na4 b5 {A move I didn't want to
play, but it is forced.} (33... Nc8 $2 34. Bb5 Kf7 35. Bd7 Ke7 36. Bxc8 Bxc8
37. Nxb6 {This is even worse than my position in the game - my bad Bishop is
almost useless against White's powerful Knight.}) 34. Nc5 Bc6 35. Kf2 {[#]} b4
$1 {Giving up a pawn, but providing me with an interesting fortress. I think
this move gave me some nice practical chances.} (35... Kf7 36. Ke3 Ke7 37. Kd2
g6 38. Kc3 Kd8 39. Kb4 {Black's position is horrible - White is positionally
dominating on all levels.}) 36. Na6 Bb5 37. Nxb4 Bxf1 38. Kxf1 Nb5 {My idea is
to put pressure on d4, while blocking White's passed pawn. My hope is that
White cannot protect d4 and make meaningful progress at the same time.} 39. Nc2
Kf7 40. Ke2 Ke6 41. Kd3 g6 {[#] Now the waiting begins...} 42. Ne3 $1 {A
strong move - the Knight pressures my pawns, while preparing the g4 break.} h5
$1 {An instructive endgame move - this move forces White to play h3 if she
ever wants to push g4. This will allow me to exchange an extra pair of pawns
when the break happens. When you are defending an endgame, having fewer pawns
on the board generally makes your defence easier.} 43. b4 $6 {This might be a
bit impatient - White should only push this pawn when the White King is ready
to sprint to a4. Now I get the c4 square for my Knight.} Nd6 {The Dark Knight
returns! From d6, the Knight protects the f5-pawn, prepares to jump to c4 if
needed, and stops White's pawn from advancing to b5.} 44. Nd1 $2 {Another
slight inaccuracy. By moving the Knight back, it gives me the opportunity to
move my King to the Queenside.} (44. Kc3 {Better - when White brings the King
to a4, it is difficult to suggest a plan of defence for Black. My pieces are
completely tied down. editor - but now Black has} Nb5+ {and White has to go
back or lose her d-pawn.}) 44... Kd7 {Black's King is no longer really needed
on the Kingside, and stopping White's passed pawn is far more important.} 45.
Nc3 Kc6 46. Kc2 Nc4 {Preparing to target White's Kingside pawns, if White's
King continues its journey to a4.} 47. b5+ Kd6 48. Kd3 Nb2+ 49. Ke2 Nc4 50. h3
Nb6 {And again, I have to wait. However, my position has improved compared to
what I had on the 41st move.} 51. g4 hxg4 52. fxg4 fxg4 53. hxg4 Nc4 {[#]} 54.
g5 $6 {It would have been more prudent for White to bring her King further up
the Kingside before playing this advance. I think impatience with not being
able to break my fortress yet was having an effect on my opponent.} (54. Kf3
Nb6 55. Kg3 Nc4 56. Kh4 Nb6 {and only now} 57. g5 {when I don't have the
option of taking on g5 and liquidating a pair of pawns. editor - This is right
strategically, but instead of 56...Nb6, Black has 56...Ne3! preparing to fork
from f5 if White pushes g5, or to c2 and a3 to harass White's isolated pawns.})
54... fxg5 55. fxg5 Ke6 $1 {The King returns home to the Kingside - my goal is
to tie down White's pieces in an effort to prevent my King from reaching f5.}
56. Kf3 Nb6 {Now ...Kf5 threatens to draw the game.} (56... Kf5 $2 {Too risky:}
57. Nxd5 Kxg5 58. Ke4 {White's extra pawn and better piece coordination
promises a win.}) 57. Kg4 Kd6 58. Kf4 {[#]} ({editor -} 58. Ne2 Nd7 59. Nf4 Nf8
{and White is still not making any progress.}) 58... Na8 $1 {A venemous move,
preparing to bring the Knight to e6. From this square, it will target White's
g5 and d4 pawns.} 59. Kg4 Nc7 60. b6 {From this point on, the game becomes a
tough series of calculations taking place in a time scramble.} Ne6 61. Nxd5 $1
{The only move to play for a win, but a strong move nonetheless. The Knight is
taboo due to White's b6 pawn.} Nxd4 (61... Kxd5 $4 62. b7 {A new Queen will be
crowned shortly, followed by the dethroning of a certain King.}) 62. b7 Nc6 63.
Nb4 {Planning to move the Knight to d3, with tempo. From that square, White's
idea is to move the Knight to f4 or e5, from where it will attack g6.} Nb8 64.
Nd3 {[#]} Nd7 $1 {A strong move, which I think my opponent may have missed. It
is important to control the e5 square before moving my King to capture the b7
pawn:} (64... Kc7 $2 65. Ne5 Kxb7 66. Nxg6 {During the game it was unclear if
this was losing or drawn, but White definitely has serious winning chances.
editor - Black has to play carefully, but it is a draw with either ...Nc6 or ..
.Nd7.}) 65. Kf4 (65. Nf4 Ne5+ {This is why the e5 square is important! Black
manages to protect the g6 pawn, and my King will take b7 in a few moves.})
65... Kc7 {[#]} 66. Ke4 (66. Ne5 Nf8 67. Nf7 Ne6+ 68. Ke5 Nxg5 69. Nxg5 Kxb7
$11) 66... Kxb7 67. Kd5 Nf8 {The last finesse - Black's Knight is heading to
h7 to take White's remaining pawn.} 68. Nf4 Nh7 69. Nxg6 {My reward for
holding GM Harika to a draw in Round 2 was being paired with another GM from
India for the afternoon double-game day. Two GMs in one day -- more excitement
to come in Round 3.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Firat, Burak"]
[Black "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2503"]
[BlackElo "2289"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 {The Russian
System. White gets pawns on e4 and d4 in return for a few tempi off the
exposed Q. It doesn't get an advantage against the Grunfeld -- what does? --
but it keeps more pieces on the board than the direct-to-endgame lines with ...
Qa5+.} dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 {[#]} 8. Qa4 $5 {A rare move which was
semi-popular about 6 years ago, and which has the advantage of putting many
Black players (including Michael in this game) out of their prep.} (8. a4 {
doesn't stop ...b5, since after} b5 9. axb5 $2 axb5 {White's Q and R are
hanging.}) (8. e5 b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 {is one of the main lines, when White has
tried all sorts of things, including:} 10. e6 (10. Ng5) (10. h4)) (8. Be2 b5 9.
Qb3 c5 10. dxc5 Be6 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Be3 Rc8 13. Rd1 b4 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5
Nxc5 16. O-O {is another mainline, when White has the B pair but Black does
just fine with Kaufman's recommended:} Qd6) 8... Bg4 (8... c5 $1 9. dxc5 Bd7
10. Qa3 (10. Qb3 a5 {with fine play for Black - Kaufman}) 10... Bc6 11. Nd2 $13
{½-½ (43) Wang,H (2742)-Grischuk,A (2754) London, 2012.}) 9. Be2 Nc6 10. d5
b5 11. Qd1 Na5 12. e5 ({Computers recommend:} 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 c6 {with a
typical Russian System middlegame: White has the Bs, Black has active minors.})
12... Nd7 13. e6 {[#]} fxe6 $1 $146 (13... Bxf3 14. exf7+ Rxf7 15. Bxf3 Ne5 16.
Be2 c6 $13 {½-½ (46) Bartel,M (2653)-Borisek,J (2541) Porto Carras, 2011.})
14. Ng5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 (15. Nxe2 $2 Nc5 16. Nf4 exd5 17. Nfe6 Nxe6 18. Nxe6 Qd6
19. Nxf8 Rxf8 $17 {Black's center pawns will rule.}) 15... Nc5 16. Nxe6 Bxc3+
$1 17. bxc3 Qxd5 {[#]} 18. Nxf8 $2 (18. Nxc5 $142 Qxc5 19. O-O Nc4 $15 {
Black's pawns and K are a bit loose, but he is up a P.}) 18... Qxg2 $1 $17 19.
Rf1 Rd8 $3 {Playing for mate rather than settling for comp.} (19... Rxf8 20.
Be3 Qc6 $17) 20. Qxe7 {[#]} Nd3+ $8 $19 ({Just to show some of Black's
attacking possibilities, there's a draw after:} 20... Rd1+ 21. Kxd1 Qxf1+ 22.
Qe1 $8 Qd3+ 23. Bd2 (23. Qd2 Qf3+ 24. Kc2 Qe4+ 25. Kd1 $11) 23... Qf3+ (23...
Nc4 24. Qe2 $8 Qd5 $13) 24. Qe2 Qh1+ 25. Be1 Qd5+ $11) 21. Ke2 {White is
losing, so the choice is the "best" way to lose. The game move allows a nice
mate with the Ns.} (21. Kd2 {loses to:} Nc6 $8 (21... Qxf1 $2 22. Qe6+ Kxf8 23.
Qf6+ (23. Ba3+ $2 Nc5+ $19) 23... Ke8 $8 $11) 22. Qe6+ Kxf8 23. Ba3+ (23. Qf6+
Kg8 24. Qe6+ Kg7 $19) 23... Ndb4+ (23... b4 $1) 24. Ke2 Re8 $19) 21... Qg4+ $8
22. Kd2 Nb4+ $1 ({White bowed to the inevitable:} 22... Nb4+ 23. Qxd8 (23. Ke1
Nc2#) 23... Nc4+ 24. Ke1 Nc2# {A nice win by Michael, who raised his score to
4/5 after 5 rounds; his only dropped points being a loss to GM Sergei
Movsesian (2677).}) 0-1

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karavade, Eesha"]
[Black "Doknjas, John"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2216"]
[Annotator "John Doknjas"]
[PlyCount "183"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] My opponent in this game was a strong IM from India.
Interestingly enough, she was my third opponent from India, and my previous
two were GMs! My preparation for this game consisted of briefly reviewing my
main lines, as she played multiple openings. Once again I was out of my prep
early on, but the game turned out interesting nonetheless.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5
3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 {The Benoni - I've played this opening for
roughly 10 years now. One great aspect of it that I like is the ability to
gain active play on all sides of the board. Black is not limited to playing in
only the Kingside, center, or Queenside. Often the best Benoni games involve
attacking all over the place, simultaneously.} 6. e4 g6 7. Nge2 {[#] An
interesting system against the Benoni. The idea of it is to bring the Knight
to g3 and overprotect the e4 pawn. This allows White to focus on attacking in
the center, and not having to worry about defending e4. The drawback is that
the Knight is not ideally placed on g3, and it takes White an extra tempo to
move it there.} Bg7 8. Ng3 h5 $5 {Not the main move, but I felt in the mood to
play this. Pushing the h-pawn up the board immediately makes the game more
double edged. Apparently the craziness of a normal Benoni wasn't enough that
day...} 9. Be2 h4 {After this move there is no going back - the pawn is headed
to h3.} (9... O-O {Castling would still be fine here.}) 10. Nf1 h3 11. g3 {
[#] In return for the weak pawn on h3, Black has gained a dynamic advantage -
a few tempi. If White manages to castle then I might be in trouble, although
even then the h3 pawn acts as a thorn in the King's side.} a6 (11... Na6 $5 {
Another option, perhaps more in the spirit of the position. The goal is to
quickly prepare the ...b5 push before White manages to fully consolidate her
position.}) 12. a4 Nbd7 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Nd2 $1 {The correct piece setup by
White. From d2, the Knight protects e4 and is ready to go to c4 if needed.} O-O
{At this point I had spent too much time, and had not played that well either.
My mistake was not understanding that normal moves do not work well here. The
h3 pawn is almost sacrificing itself in order to give me activity. I have to
take advantage of it.} 15. O-O Re8 {A useful move, pressuring e4 and
preventing the Nd2 from moving...} 16. f3 $1 {So much for immobilizing Nd2! f3
also has another purpose: preparing to play g4 one day and then take the
isolated h3 pawn.} Rb8 {[#]} 17. Be3 $5 {Playing prophylactically - White
plans to bring her Bishop to f2 and reinforce the Kingside. However, perhaps
it was better to immediately prepare the b4 push. Waiting too long in the
Benoni often results in a brutal punishment.} (17. Rc1 $1 {Immediately posing
the question to Black about how to deal with the threat of b4.}) 17... Nh7 $2 {
A weak move - I'm trying to push ...f5, even though I spent my last move
preparing ...b5. I do not have the luxury of taking my time in this position -
the only thing that matters is getting activity somewhere.} (17... Ne5 $1 {
is far stronger than the game move. My plan is simple: play ...Bd7, followed
by ...b5. This must be done before White can push b4. It is important to note
that 18.f4 is answered by 18...Neg4! editor - 17...Ne5 is certainly more
aggressive, but (FWIW) Stockfish rates 17...Nh7 as Black's best move.}) 18. Bf2
{[#] or else 18...f5 with a reasonable game for Black.} Ndf8 {With the idea of
19...Bd7. This is a sad move, but I don't have much choice if I want to
develop the c8-Bishop.} (18... Ne5 $2 {Now this is immediately refuted, due to
the absense of a Knight on f6.} 19. f4) (18... Ndf6 {This move blocks the
Knight on h7 from returning into the game.}) (18... f5 {A desperate bid for
activity, perhaps my best chance here.} 19. exf5 gxf5 {White is better due to
my weak Kingside pawns, but in return I am able to activate my pieces. This
would probably be a better option than the game.}) 19. Bd3 $1 {Once again,
preventing my ...f5 break, a threat which had gained merit due to my c8-Bishop
being opened up.} Bd7 20. Rc1 {Finally! Although due to White's delay, Black
is not so bad off.} b5 21. axb5 axb5 {[#]} 22. b4 $1 {Correctly not fearing 22.
..c4. Even though Black gains a protected passed pawn, I am left with almost
no activity on the Queenside. Also, White gets the important d4 square - a
wonderful outpost for a Knight.} c4 (22... cxb4 $2 23. Nxb5 Qd8 24. Nxd6 $18)
23. Be2 g5 $1 {This move, contrary to how it looks, is mainly positional. I
want to bring my f8-Knight to g6, giving me good control over the dark squares
(h4, f4, e5, etc).} (23... f5 $5 {was another option, giving the game a
different taste as opposed to 23...g5. My activity in this variation is
quicker, but my Kingside becomes more exposed.} 24. exf5 Bxf5 25. Nde4 {
Followed by 26.Bd4 - White enjoys a slightly better position.}) 24. Re1 Ng6 {
My f8-Knight finally finds a purpose.} 25. Nf1 {[#] En route to f5, via e3.
This move makes sense, considering my 23...g5 move weakens my Kingside light
squares. This is an instructive moment - any pawn move that gives you control
over one colour complex will always weaken your control over the other colour
complex.} f5 {A must. If White's f1-Knight reaches f5, I may be forced to give
up my light-squared Bishop for it. If this happens, my b5 pawn, e6 square, and
c6 square will all be terribly weak.} 26. exf5 {Forced - or else I play f4.} (
26. Bd4 $2 f4 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qd4+ Nf6 {With good play for Black on the dark
squares.}) 26... Bxf5 27. Ne3 {The Knight blocks the f2 Bishop.} (27. Bd4 {
activates the Bishop, but allows me to exchange off a few pieces with} Bxd4+
28. Qxd4 Qb6 29. Qxb6 Rxb6 {and it's hard to believe White has anything here.})
27... Bd7 28. Qc2 Ne7 {Preventing White's Knight from reaching f5.} (28... Ne5
29. f4 gxf4 30. gxf4 Nf7 31. Bf3 $40 {Be4 and Nf5 are coming - Black will have
to deal with an unpleasant attack.}) 29. Qd2 Nf5 $6 {A mistake - the Knight on
e3 is merely restricting White's pieces. Offering to exchange it off is merely
helping the opponent.} ({Starting immediate counterplay on the a-file was a
stronger idea,} 29... Ra8 $1) 30. Nxf5 Bxf5 31. Bf1 $1 {[#] A strong move with
multiple purposes. White contests the e-file, prepares to win the h3 pawn 
(after playing g4), and still maintains control over the important d3 square.}
Qf7 {Attempting to take advantage of the now vulnerable f3 pawn. At this point
I was quite low on time - this caused me to believe my position was worse than
it was, and as a result my play seemed to flounder.} 32. Rxe8+ Qxe8 33. g4 $1 {
The h3 pawn has finally been lost - at least my pieces on the 7th and 8th
ranks managed to get plenty of activity for it!} Bg6 (33... Bd7 $1 {is another
idea, freeing up the Queen and Rook from defending the b5 pawn:} 34. Bxh3 Ra8
35. Bd4 Qg6 36. Bxg7 Kxg7 37. Qd4+ Nf6 {Compared to the 37th move in the game,
Black seems much more active. The Queen is better stationed on g6 than the
Bishop. On that square, it both defends the Black King, and threatens to
invade White's position.}) 34. Bxh3 Ra8 {Or else 35.Ra1 is almost decisive.}
35. Bd4 Ra3 {[#] Wanting to play ...Rb3 and take the isolated b4 pawn. At this
point the game seemed hopeless to me. This was due to me having low time,
being down one pawn, and the psychological effect the game was having - I was
taking too long on my moves, and none of them were giving me nice results.} 36.
Bxg7 Kxg7 37. Re1 (37. Qd4+ $6 Nf6 {Now White cannot move the Rook to e1.})
37... Qd7 38. Qd4+ Kh6 $1 {This move looks risky, but in a way it makes my
King safer. If I had left it on g7 or moved it backwards, it would be easier
for White's Rook and Queen to reach it.} (38... Nf6 $2 39. Re6 Qd8 40. f4 $18 {
is dead lost for Black.}) 39. Bf1 $1 {[#] Improving the Bishop - it is no
longer out of play, and now it is once again controlling the important d3
square.} Rb3 $5 {The b4 pawn seems irrelevant in this position, but what else
is there to do? This move puts some psychological pressure on White, because
now she feels like she must prove her activity or else I have two connected
passed pawns.} ({Objectively,} 39... Ra8 {was the better move. The Rook runs
back home to defend the King. In this scenario, I would likely lose my b5-pawn
and then eventually the game.}) 40. Re6 $1 {Setting a subtle trap.} Qg7 $1 {
Responding to the trap well. This move threatens a Queen exchange, which would
relieve the pressure on Black's King.} (40... Rxb4 $4 41. Bd3 $1 $18 {Both
pieces attacking the Bd3 are pinned!} Nf8 (41... cxd3 42. Qxb4) 42. Qh8+ Nh7 $4
{Why not blunder again after 2 moves?} (42... Qh7 43. Qxf8+ {[%eval 32764,0]})
43. Rxg6# {With a situation that might be problematic.}) 41. Nxb5 Nf8 (41...
Qxd4+ 42. Nxd4 Rxb4 $4 {Winning a pawn....} 43. Nf5# {and blundering the game.}
) 42. Qxg7+ Kxg7 {[#]} 43. Re7+ (43. Rxd6 $6 {is still winning for White, but
it provides me with some good play:} c3 {During the game this looked good to
me, but the engine says White is still comfortably winning after} 44. Rc6)
43... Kf6 44. Rc7 {Monitoring the c-pawn, while preparing to take d6 with the
Nb5.} Bd3 {Forced or else I lose the c4-pawn (my only asset in this position).}
(44... Rxb4 $2 45. Bxc4 Rb1+ {Black's pseudo-activity soon peters out:} 46. Kf2
Rb2+ 47. Ke3 Rxh2 48. Nxd6 $18) 45. Bxd3 cxd3 46. Kf2 {Allowing my King to e5,
but White doesn't have a choice here. She must bring her King closer to the
dangerous passer on d3.} Ke5 {[#] At this point, I saw that White could
immediately win with 47.Rf7, attacking the f8-Knight and threatening mate on
f5.} 47. Ke3 $4 {Missing a clear win! I was very surprised when she played
this move. Now I have real chances to draw the game.} (47. Rf7 $1 Kxd5 (47...
Ng6 48. Rf5#) 48. Rxf8 $18) 47... Rxb4 $4 {Once again, allowing 48.Rf7. It
actually may have been here that I saw the Rf7 move.} (47... Kxd5 48. Rc3 Rxc3
49. Nxc3+ Kc4 50. Ne4 Ne6 51. b5 Kxb5 52. Nxd6+ Kc5 53. Nf7 Kd5 54. Kxd3 $18 {
Once White manages to push the h-pawn or f-pawn, it will be over. Two pawns
and a Knight vs a Knight is an easy win.}) 48. Nc3 $4 {A comedy of errors.} (
48. Rf7 Rf4 49. Rxf4 gxf4+ 50. Kxd3 Kxd5 51. h4 $18) 48... Ng6 49. Kxd3 ({
This time Rf7 has no bite:} 49. Rf7 Rf4 50. Rxf4 Nxf4 {and Black should draw.})
49... Nf4+ 50. Ke3 Rb3 ({Lifting the pressure too quickly is a mistake:} 50...
Nxd5+ $2 51. Nxd5 Kxd5 52. Rg7 Rb3+ 53. Kf2 Rb2+ 54. Kg3 $18 {When the g5-pawn
falls, White is winning.}) 51. Kd2 {[#]} Rb2+ $5 {I saw 51...Nxd5 in the game
and knew it was probably a draw, but I prefered to play this. I figured I
should be still able to draw, but this move also provided me with some winning
chances. It is quite unpleasant to tread through the minefield as White in the
position.} (51... Nxd5 52. Nxd5 Kxd5 53. Rg7 Kd4 54. Rxg5 Rb2+ 55. Kd1 Rxh2 {
and Black should have no problems drawing. My superior activity fully
compensates for the missing pawn. In Rook endgames, activity is one of the
most important factors to be considered.}) 52. Kd1 Kd4 {Once again preferring
activity to a guaranteed draw.} (52... Rxh2 {Obviously this draws easily, and
perhaps I should have played it.}) 53. Kc1 $2 (53. Ne4 $1 {A stronger move,
forcing Black to stop attacking and just start taking pawns. The game peters
out to a draw in many ways. For example:} Rxh2 54. Nxd6 Nxd5 55. Ra7 $11 {
White's Rook checks from the side save her from any tricks I have. The game is
an easy draw.}) 53... Nd3+ $1 {Bringing the Knight into the attack, with tempo.
} 54. Kd1 {[#]} Rxh2 (54... Ne5 55. Ne4 Nxf3 56. Nxd6 Kxd5 57. Nf5 Nxh2 {
should be a draw, although practically Black has winning chances. The
psychological aspect is also important to consider -- White had gone from
winning, to equal, and now to worse. Almost no one can play optimally under
these conditions. I could tell that around this point in the game, my opponent
was visibly unhappy.}) 55. Ne4 Rh1+ $6 {The result of seeing a mirage in time
pressure! I thought that 56.Ke2 Re1+ was checkmate, missing that White could
move her King to d2. It's important to note that at this point in the game we
were both quite now low on time (this was the second time control, reached
after 40 moves).} (55... Ke3 {A natural, stronger move, with the threat of: ...
Rh1+-Rc1+-Rxc7!} 56. Re7 Kxf3 57. Nxd6 Kxg4 $11) 56. Ke2 Rh2+ 57. Kf1 Kxd5 58.
Nxg5 {[#] During the game I felt that White had some advantage here. While
this is not entirely false, my evaluation was mainly due to psychological
factors. I had just lost control of the game, having let White's King escape
its "prison". Like my opponent, I proceeded to play badly after losing my
advantage.} Kd4 59. Re7 {Cutting the King off, and threatening 60. Re4+} d5 60.
Kg1 Rd2 61. Re8 {[#]} Ne5 $6 {Not necessarily a bad move, but in time trouble
this Knight caused me quite some grief. It ends up mainly being a liability,
forcing my King on d4 to defend it until it moves.} (61... Nf4 $1 {A better
move, preparing 62...Kd3 and 63...d4. If White moves her Rook to attack my
Knight, my King goes to e3:} 62. Rf8 Ke3) 62. Kf1 Ra2 63. Rf8 Nc4 64. Re8 Ne5 {
It is interesting how both sides seem to be in a mutual zugzwang.} 65. Kg1 Rd2
66. Rf8 $2 {[#] Allowing my King access to the e3 square.} Re2 $2 {Missing my
chance. I was likely lulled into the waiting game we were both playing, that I
didn't seriously consider 66...Ke3.} (66... Ke3 $1 67. Re8 Kf4 {The King
invades the dark squares like a snake. There is no way for White to win the
Ne5.} 68. Kf1 Nd3 {Followed by 69...Kg3. In a time scamble, Black has some
very good winning chances.}) 67. Rf5 Kd3 $2 {The King is just in the way of
the pawn here.} (67... Kc3 {Followed by running the d-pawn down the board.})
68. Nh3 (68. Nf7 $5 Nxf7 69. Rxf7 d4 {Should be a draw, but who knows what
could happen in the time scramble we were in.}) 68... Kd2 69. Nf2 {[#]} Re3 (
69... Ng6 $1 {was an interesting idea I missed during the game. The d5-pawn is
sacrificed in order to allow Black's King to invade on the Kingside.} 70. Rxd5+
Ke3 71. Rd3+ (71. Rf5 $2 Re1+ 72. Kg2 Nh4+) 71... Kf4 {With good drawing
chances.}) 70. Kg2 Ke2 $1 {Correctly bringing the King closer.} 71. Nh3 d4 72.
g5 d3 73. Nf4+ Kd1 {[#]} 74. Nxd3 $1 {An excellent practical choice. I think
we were both playing on the 30 second increment at this point, and with so
little time it is not clear how to stop White's pawns. I remember a large
crowd gathering to watch the game around here.} Nxd3 75. Kg3 Ke2 (75... Re1 $1
{A better idea - my King is too slow, so for now it should be ignored.} 76. Kg4
Rg1+ {Always put Rooks behind passed pawns!} 77. Kh5 Ke2 78. g6 Ke3 79. Kh6 Nf4
80. g7 Rh1+ 81. Kg5 Ne6+ 82. Kf6 Nxg7 $11 {the f-pawn will fall shortly,
followed by a draw.}) 76. g6 Re8 77. g7 Rg8 78. Rf7 Ke3 79. Re7+ $1 {Cutting
off my King - now White is close to objectively winning.} Kd4 80. f4 {[%mdl 64]
[#]Critical Position There is a move that saves Black, but one probably only
an engine could find in a few seconds.} Kd5 $2 (80... Nb4 $8 81. Kg4 Nd5 {
The Rook is forced to either give up the g7-pawn, or the e-file.} 82. Rf7 Ke4 {
With my King so close, it is an easy draw.}) 81. f5 {Now White is winning.} Kd6
82. f6 Ne5 {[#]} 83. Kh3 $8 {Putting me in zugzwang. If White had advanced her
King to h4 or f4, I would have the ...Ng6+ fork:} (83. Kh4 $2 Ng6+ 84. Kh5 Nxe7
85. f7 Rxg7 86. f8=Q $11) (83. f7 $4 Rxg7+ $19) 83... Ng6 84. Re4 $1 Kd5 (84...
Kd7 $2 85. Kg4 $18 {and Black is helpless against the White King advance.}) 85.
Re1 $4 {Blowing the win! To be fair, neither my opponent or I saw the winning
move during the game:} (85. Re8 $3 {This might have been the move of the game,
had it been played.} Rxe8 86. f7 Re3+ (86... Rb8 87. g8=Q $18) 87. Kh2 $8 Re2+
88. Kg1 $18) 85... Nf4+ $8 $11 86. Kh4 {[#]} Ng2+ $4 (86... Ne6 $8 {This draws.
The threat is 87...Nxg7.} 87. Rg1 (87. Rxe6 $2 {is a tempo slow} Kxe6 88. Kg5
Kf7 $19) 87... Ke5 88. f7 Rxg7 89. Rxg7 Kf6 90. Rh7 Kg6 91. Rh5 Kxf7 $11) 87.
Kg5 $4 {Returning the favour.} (87. Kh5 $8 $18 Nxe1 88. f7 {The point of 87.
Kh5: I cannot take on g7 with check.} Rxg7 89. f8=Q $18 {And no matter what I
do, either my Rook or Knight will be forked and taken by the Queen.}) 87...
Nxe1 88. Kg6 Nf3 {The Knight returns just in time.} 89. f7 {[#]} Ne5+ {A funny
position - Black is the one trying to exchange a Rook and a Knight for two
pawns!} ({editor - or} 89... Rxg7+ 90. Kxg7 Ng5 $11) 90. Kh7 Rxg7+ 91. Kxg7
Nxf7 92. Kxf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik Open"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2017.04.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Doknjas, Joshua"]
[Black "L'Ami, Alina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2123"]
[BlackElo "2324"]
[Annotator "Joshua Doknjas"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]

{[%mdl 32768] Playing in the 2017 Reykjavik Open was a great experience. The
tournament was very well organized and it was exciting to play alongside some
of the top players in the world. One of the main drawbacks is that everything
in Iceland is very expensive, e.g., a regular hamburger was about $20 bucks.
The game I am annotating was played in the 9th round. At this point in the
tournament, I had 5/8, and I knew I had to win if I wanted to fight for some
of the category prizes.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6.
h3 e5 7. Nde2 {[#] Already at this point my opponent was spending a lot of
time. In my preparation, I saw that my opponent had barely any games where
White played 6. h3. I decided to spend most of my time looking at the main
line with 7... h5 and the sharper lines with 6... e6.} Be6 $6 {Especially if
this move is not followed up with ...d5, White should be getting a much better
position out of the opening.} 8. g4 Be7 9. Bg2 h6 10. Ng3 g6 $5 {[#] This move
really surprised me. 10... g6 seemed to just weaken the h6-pawn and prevent
Black from castling. Now, instead of playing a normal move like 11.Be3 or 11.
0-0, I looked for a way to really punish my opponent's last move.} 11. f4 $6 (
11. Be3 $142 $16 Nbd7 (11... Kf8 12. Qd2 Kg7 13. Nd5 $16) 12. Qd2 Nb6 13. b3
$16) 11... Qb6 $1 {I completely missed this move. I was expecting either 11...
exf4 or 11...Nc6. In both cases, White would have a much better position.
After 11...Qb6, White's position gets a lot harder to play.} (11... exf4 12.
Bxf4 $16) (11... Nc6 12. f5 $16) 12. f5 gxf5 13. Nxf5 $6 {I remember playing
this move fairly quickly. I thought that getting the Bishop pair would just
give White an advantage. However, as it turns out, Black has some dangerous
counterplay with ...d5.} (13. exf5 Bc4 $13) 13... Bxf5 14. exf5 {[#]} Nc6 ({
Playing ...d5 right here is an option for Black as well:} 14... d5 $5 15. Qe2 (
15. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bh4+ $17 17. Ke2 (17. Kd1 Nc6 $19) 17... Qf2+ 18. Kd1
Nc6 $17) 15... d4 $13 (15... e4 $5 $13)) 15. Qe2 {[#]} ({Stopping Black's
counterplay with ...d5 makes more sense. However, during the game, I wasn't
really afraid of it.} 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 $11) 15... d5 (15... Nd4 $1 $17 {
Playing this move before ...d5 forces White's queen into a bad position. Also,
Black's Knight on d4 will be a huge problem for White in some lines.} 16. Qf2 (
16. Qd3 d5 $15) 16... d5 17. O-O (17. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Qa5+ $19) (17. Bxd5
$2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qa5+ (18... Qc6 {also wins.}) 19. Nc3 Bh4 $1 20. Qxh4 Nf3+ $19
) 17... Ne2+ 18. Kh1 Qxf2 {and Black is much better in this endgame.}) 16. Bxd5
{[#] I don't remember even looking at any move besides this. It seemed to me
that this was just more natural and stronger than 16. Nxd5.} Nxd5 (16... Nd4 $1
{Again, throwing in this move first would have been much better for Black.} 17.
Qg2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qc5 19. Ne3 (19. Nc3 $2 Bh4+ 20. Kf1 O-O-O) 19... Bh4+ 20.
Kf1 O-O-O) 17. Nxd5 Qa5+ 18. Qd2 Bh4+ 19. Kf1 Qb5+ 20. Kg2 {[#]} Qc4 $2 {
This wasn't the best way for Black to show compensation for the pawn.} (20...
O-O-O 21. c4 $1 Qc5 $44 (21... Qxc4 $2 22. Nb6+ $18)) 21. Nc7+ Ke7 22. Nxa8
Qe4+ 23. Kh2 Nd4 {[#]} 24. f6+ $1 {Without this move, Black has dangerous
compensation for the Rook. White's idea is to divert Black's Bishop from the
attack or put Black's King into a bad position.} (24. Rf1 $2 Rc8 $1 {
activating the Rook first before ...Ne2.} (24... Ne2 $4 25. f6+ Bxf6 (25... Ke8
26. Nc7+ Kf8 27. Qd8#) 26. Re1 $18) 25. c3 Ne2 $44 26. Rg1 (26. f6+ Ke8 $11)
26... Bf2 $11) 24... Bxf6 (24... Kf8 25. Rf1 {and Black is unable to continue
the attack.}) 25. Rf1 Rxa8 26. Qf2 Qxc2 27. Bd2 Qg6 28. Bb4+ Ke6 29. Rae1 Rd8
30. Bc3 Nc6 31. Qb6 Rd7 {[#] Around here I was in serious time pressure and
finding a way to win without giving Black counterplay proved to be challenging.
} 32. Rf5 (32. Rxf6+ $5 $18 Qxf6 33. Rxe5+) 32... h5 33. Bxe5 (33. Rfxe5+ $1
Bxe5+ 34. Rxe5+ Kd6 35. Re2 $1 {and White threatens Bb4+ Qc5# During the game,
I didn't even consider 33.Rfxe5.}) 33... Rd2+ 34. Kh1 Bxe5 35. Rexe5+ (35.
Rfxe5+ Kd6 36. Re7 $18) 35... Kd6 36. g5 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Qg7 {[#]} 38. Rf6+ $5 (
38. Qc5+ Kc7 39. Re7+ Kb8 {This is completely winning for White after either
Rook takes on f7, but with extremely low time on the clock, I thought that it
would be too dangerous to allow Black's Queen to come down to the 2nd rank.})
38... Kxe5 39. Qe3+ Kd5 40. Qf3+ Kc4 41. Qc3+ Kd5 42. Rd6+ Kxd6 43. Qxg7 Rd2+
44. Kf1 Nd8 45. Qh6+ Ke7 46. g6 Rd6 47. Qe3+ Kf6 48. Qf4+ Ke7 {[#]} 49. Qe5+ $2
{Right after I let go of my Queen, I realized I missed a much more
straightforward and nicer way to win. The endgame is still easily winning for
White as Black's pawns start to fall.} (49. Qxd6+ $1 Kxd6 50. g7 $18) 49... Re6
50. Qc7+ Ke8 51. gxf7+ Nxf7 52. Qxb7 Rf6+ 53. Kg2 Rg6+ 54. Kh2 Kf8 55. a4 Kg7
56. b4 h4 57. a5 Rg3 {[#]} 58. Qe7 Rg5 59. Qa7 Kg6 60. Qxa6+ Kf5 61. Qd3+ Kf6
62. Qf3+ Ke6 63. Qe4+ Ne5 64. a6 {After this game I had 6/9; and going into
the 10th and final round, I was leading the U2200 section and Top Junior
category. I was paired with GM Ramirez in the final round and lost. At the end
of the 2017 Reykjavik Open I won two prizes: U2200 - 2nd Place and Top Junior
- 2nd Place, (ahead of IM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu who placed 3rd, and IM
Awonder Liang who fell out of the top 3).} 1-0

[Event "WWCCh 2017"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2017.02.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Pogonina, Natalija"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E49"]
[WhiteElo "2487"]
[BlackElo "2287"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "IRI"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5
7. Nge2 c5 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 b6 10. O-O Ba6 {[#] There are a few hundred
games in the MegaBase from here. White scores well, which may be because
White's basic plan -- push in the center with Re1, Rf1 and play f3 and e4 --
makes it easier to play the White than Black, who has to prepare to react to
all of White's maneuvers.} 11. f3 Re8 12. Ng3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. Bb2 Rc8 (
14... h5 $5 15. Rae1 cxd4 (15... Ne7 16. e4 h4 17. Nh1 Qd7 18. e5 Nh5 19. f4 g6
20. Qf3 cxd4 21. cxd4 Rac8 22. g4 hxg3 23. hxg3 f5 (23... Rc2 24. g4 Rxb2 25.
gxh5 Rc8 $132) 24. Re2 $13 {0-1 (40) Gerzhoy,L (2481)-Hansen,E (2596) Montreal
2014}) 16. cxd4 g6 17. Nh1 Qd7 18. e4 h4 19. Nf2 Nh5 20. Qd2 Na5 21. Ng4 Nc4
22. Qc1 Rac8 $11 {0-1 (40) Jakovenko,D (2732)-Maze,S (2591) Gibraltar 2016})
15. Rae1 {[#] A very common pawn structure from the e3 Nimzo (see the survey
in Chess Canada 2015.09). Black should use her Rs to pressure White's center,
and prepare the Ns to blockade on any central square that becomes available.
When White plays e3-e4 is it very dangerous for Black to capture the center
pawns (with ...cxd4 and ...dxe4) when White's central duo is both
well-supported and mobile, since this makes it very hard, if not impossible,
to prepare good squares for the Ns in response to both d4-d5 and e4-e5. Two
1952 games from in this line demonstrate Black's difficulties, and show White
getting a crushing attack, seemingly "out of nowhere".} Rc7 (15... h6 16. e4
cxd4 17. cxd4 dxe4 18. fxe4 Ne5 19. Qd1 Nc4 20. Bc1 Nh7 21. e5 Re6 22. Re4 Nf8
23. Nf5 Kh8 24. Qh5 $18 {and Black is busted.} Rc7 25. Rh4 Nh7 26. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7
27. Bxh6+ Kg8 28. Rg4+ Rg6 29. e6 $1 {1-0 Kotov-Unzicker, Saltsjobaden, 1952.})
(15... cxd4 16. cxd4 Qd7 17. e4 dxe4 18. fxe4 Ne5 {(is similar to
Pogonina-Zhou)} 19. Qd1 (19. Qe2 $142 {defending the Bb2, so that if} Nc4 20.
Rxf6 $1 $18 Nxb2 (20... gxf6 21. Nh5 $18) 21. Nf5 $1) 19... Nc4 20. Bc1 Qc6 21.
e5 Nd5 22. Qf3 f6 $2 23. Nh5 $1 $18 Rf8 24. Qg3 Qc7 25. Bh6 $1 Rf7 26. Qf3 Rd8
27. Nxg7 Rxg7 28. exf6 Rgd7 29. f7+ $1 {(1-0, 29) Averbakh-Golombek,
Saltsjobaden, 1952.} (29. f7+ Rxf7 30. Qxd5 $1 $18)) ({Black should NOT close
the c-file with ...c4 (as in Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO 1938) -- but should
probably allow White to push e5, and aim for counterplay on the c-file -- and,
as in this recent top-level example:} 15... Qc7 16. e4 Ne7 17. e5 Nd7 18. a4 (
18. f4 cxd4 19. cxd4 Qc2 $132) 18... cxd4 19. cxd4 Qc2 20. Qxc2 Rxc2 $11 21.
Ba3 g6 22. Rc1 Ra2 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Ra1 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 f6 26. f4 Nf8 $1 {
Nice! exf6 would leave White's pawn on f6 doomed.} 27. Rc1 Ne6 $11 {(½-½, 64)
Eljanov,P (2739)-Wang,Y (2737) Baku Ol, 2016.}) 16. e4 dxe4 17. fxe4 Ne5 {
[#] The same maneuver as in the 1952 games above.} 18. Qd1 (18. Qe2 {looks
more natural, but White is aiming for Qb3xf7.}) 18... cxd4 $2 (18... Rd7 $5 19.
d5 (19. Qe2 cxd4 20. cxd4 Rxd4 $1 $14) 19... c4 $5 20. Bc1 $1 (20. a4 $2 Nd3
$17) 20... h6 {with an unbalanced Benoni-like position.}) 19. cxd4 Ng6 $6 {
[%mdl 64]} (19... Nc4 $142 {also as in the 1952 games.}) {[#]Critical Position}
20. Qb3 {White spent 15 minutes on this. White's central pawn duo give her a
clear plus, but if Black doesn't blunder then at some point White will have to
turn that positional pressure into a tactical sequence that either creates a
passed pawn (possibly winning an exchange) or gives up a pawn for a kingside
attack. In the game, White consistently refuses to "pull the trigger" and
Black keeps hanging around...} (20. Nf5 $1 {giving up one 1/2 of the beautiful
central pawn duo is a difficult move to make, but it is tactically justified}
Rxe4 21. Rxe4 Nxe4 22. d5 $8 Rd7 (22... f6 23. d6 $18) (22... Nd6 23. Nxg7 Qg5
24. Nh5 $1 $18) 23. Qd4 Nf6 24. Nxg7 Nxd5 25. Nh5 f6 26. Qc4 $1 $18 {[%csl Rf6]
[%cal Gh5f6]}) 20... Rce7 {[#]} (20... Rd7 21. e5 Nd5 22. Ne4 $16) 21. d5 $6 {
Again, too timid!} (21. Rxf6 $1 {"Is just part of chess culture", is what I
imagine Kasparov saying; meaning: you play this move automatically, and
calculate the variations afterward. Black just gets killed on the dark squares:
} gxf6 22. Qf3 Rd7 (22... Re6 23. Rf1 $1 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gg3h5,Rh5f6] aiming
for Nh5 or Nf5.}) 23. Nh5 Rd6 24. Rf1 b5 25. d5 Qb6+ 26. Kh1 $18 {the only
white piece not attacking f6 is her Kh1.}) 21... Ng4 (21... Nxe4 22. Nf5 $8 $16
) (21... Nd7 22. Nf5 Rxe4 23. Rxe4 (23. Qc3 $2 f6 $15) 23... Rxe4 24. d6 $1 (
24. Bxg7 $16) 24... Ndf8 $2 25. Nh6+ $1 $18) {[#]} 22. h3 (22. Nf5 $142 $1 Rxe4
23. Rxe4 Rxe4 24. d6 $1 {puts the d-pawn on a safe square, blocks the diagonal
to h2, and gets closer to promotion. White now threatens both Qf3 and taking
on g7, for example} (24. Nxg7 $4 Qc7 25. g3 Qc5+ $19) 24... a5 $2 {just a
random move to demonstrate a threat (...Qd7 is worse, since then Qf3 also eyes
a8)} 25. Qf3 Rf4 (25... Qe8 26. d7 $18) 26. Ne7+ $1 $18) 22... N4e5 23. Nf5 Rd7
24. Qg3 f6 $1 25. Rc1 $14 {[#]} Kh8 (25... b5 $5 {is a try, hoping for ...Nc4,
but White stays in charge after} 26. Rc5 $1 Nc4 27. Rxb5 Nxb2 28. Rxb2 {
and White is up a protected passed pawn, since} Rxe4 $4 29. Rb8 $18) 26. a4 b5
27. axb5 Qb6+ 28. Bd4 Qxb5 29. Rc3 h5 $2 30. Rfc1 Qe2 {[#]Finally, a threat!
White has something to worry about (...Qxe4)....} 31. Bxe5 $2 {... and White
used 2 of her remaining 9 minutes on this overreaction! Trading the B for a
redundant N makes Black's task easier.} (31. Be3 $142 {and Nd4.}) 31... Nxe5 $8
32. Rc7 Red8 (32... Rxc7 33. Rxc7 g5 $8 34. Qe3 Qxe3+ 35. Nxe3 Ra8 36. d6 Rd8
37. Nf5 a5 {Black should draw.}) 33. Qe3 Qxe3+ 34. Nxe3 Kg8 35. Nf5 Kf8 (35...
g6 $142 36. Nd4 Rxc7 37. Rxc7 Ra8 38. Ne6 a5 (38... Nf7 $5) 39. d6 Ra6 $8 $11)
36. Nd4 {both players under 2 minutes.} Rxc7 37. Rxc7 {[#]} Rd7 $1 {Qiyu now
ahead on the clock.} (37... Ra8 {is too slow with the K on f8.} 38. Ne6+ $18)
38. Rc8+ Kf7 (38... Ke7 39. Nf5+ Kf7 40. Rh8 a5 41. Ra8 g6 42. Nd4 Nc4 43. Rc8
(43. Kf2 f5 $1 $11) 43... Nd6) 39. Ne6 a5 40. Ra8 Nc4 {Time control made by
both players, who now had an extra 30 min (+30s/move) to complete the game.} (
40... Nc6 $4 41. dxc6 Rd1+ 42. Kf2 Kxe6 43. c7 $18) 41. Kf2 {[#]} g6 {20
minutes on this. Black had a very interesting alternative in ...f5. It's a
pawn sac that gives Black enough activity or targets no matter which way White
takes. I expect White might have burnt most of her remaining time trying to
figure out how to keep an advantage in the resulting endgames.} (41... f5 $5
42. exf5 Rxd5 (42... h4 $1 {Stockfish =}) 43. g4 hxg4 44. hxg4 Kf6 45. Kg3 (45.
Kf3 g5 46. fxg6 Rd3+ $11) 45... g5 46. fxg6 Rd3+ $8 47. Kh4 Ne5 $8 $11 48. g7
$140 $4 Ng6+ 49. Kh5 Rh3#) (41... f5 $5 42. Rf8+ Ke7 43. Rxf5 a4 {deflecting
the white R makes Black's a-pawn dangerous enough to draw. For example:} 44.
Rg5 a3 45. Rxg7+ Kd6 46. Rxd7+ Kxd7 47. Nc5+ Kd6 48. Nb3 a2 49. g4 (49. Kf3 $4
Nd2+ $19) 49... hxg4 50. hxg4 Nd2 51. Na1 Nxe4+ $11) 42. Ra6 f5 (42... Rd6 $1
43. Ra7+ Ke8 44. Ng7+ (44. Rg7 Rb6 $1 45. Rxg6 a4 46. Rxf6 Ke7 47. Rh6 (47. Rf8
$2 Rxe6 $15) 47... a3 48. Rh7+ Kd6 49. Ra7 Ke5 $11) 44... Kd8 $11) 43. exf5
gxf5 44. Nf4 h4 45. Rh6 a4 46. Rxh4 a3 47. Rh7+ Ke8 48. Rh8+ Ke7 49. Ra8 Rb7
$11 50. Ke2 Rb5 51. Nd3 {[#] Each player had only 2 minutes here.} Rxd5 $11 {
...and Qiyu went down to 32 second before capturing here. Black's difficulty
is that ...Ra5 and ...Na5 are both plausible (though insufficient) winning
attempts.} 52. Ra4 Rxd3 53. Rxc4 (53. Kxd3 $4 Nb2+ $19) 53... Rb3 54. Ra4 Kf6
55. h4 {[#]} Kg6 {The simplest.} ({It doesn't lose, but there's no point
freeing the white K just to get your own pawn to a2 when it is never going to
get to a1:} 55... Rb2+ 56. Kf3 a2 57. Ra6+ Kg7 58. g3 Rh2 59. Kf4 Rf2+ $11 60.
Kg5 Kh7 61. Ra7+ Kg8 62. Kg6 Kf8 $11 {would be a drawn but ulcer-inducing line.
}) 56. g4 fxg4 57. Rxg4+ Kh5 58. Ra4 Rb2+ {Gives White a chance to lose by
going to the back rank.} 59. Kd3 Rh2 60. Kc3 Rxh4 61. Rxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "WWCCh 2017"]
[Site "Tehran"]
[Date "2017.02.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Black "Pogonina, Natalija"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2247"]
[BlackElo "2447"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventCountry "IRI"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O {[#]} b5 (5...
Be7 {We transpose to this game at move 16, but in Zhou-Pogonina White is a
tempo up.} 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12.
Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Be3 d5 18. exd5
exd5 19. a4 Rb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. b3 Ra8 {½-½ Kasparov (2804)-Topalov (2757)
Linares, 2005.}) 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Re1 d6 10. a3 {[#]} Nb8 (
10... Na5 $5 {could lead to the Kasparov-Topalov game (above).}) (10... Qd7 11.
Ne2 Nd8 12. Ng3 g6 (12... Ne6 13. Ba2 Rfe8 14. Ng5 d5 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 $13 {
0-1 (40) Caruana,F (2808)-Carlsen,M (2853) Saint Louis, 2015.}) (12... c5 $5
$146) 13. c3 c5 14. Ba2 Ne6 15. b4 Rac8 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. Bh6 Rfe8 18. d4 Ne6
19. Ng5 $2 (19. Rc1 $142 $11) 19... Nxg5 (19... Rxc3 $4 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. dxe5
dxe5 22. Qxd7 Nxd7 23. Bxe6+ $18) 20. Bxg5 Rxc3 21. Ne2 Rc7 22. Ng3 Qg4 23. Qd2
$2 Nxe4 $8 $19 24. Qa5 (24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. f3 Bxg5 $19) 24... Nxg3 $19 25. hxg3
Rec8 26. Bxe7 Rxe7 27. dxe5 dxe5 {Black is up two pawns and won easily.} 28.
Rad1 Kg7 29. Qb6 h5 30. Qd6 Rce8 31. Rc1 Qd4 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. axb4 Rd8 34. Rc5
Rd2 35. Bb3 Rd4 {0-1 (35) Wei,Y (2706)-Zhou,J (2635) Shenzhen, 2016.}) 11. Ne2
{Both sides has played quickly up to here, possibly because they were
following this Pogonina game from last year's Russian Women's Team
Championship:} (11. a4 b4 12. Ne2 Nbd7 13. Ng3 Nc5 14. Bc4 Re8 15. a5 Rb8 16.
c3 bxc3 17. bxc3 Bf8 (17... d5 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Nxe5 Bxc4 $11) 18. Ba3 Ne6 19.
Qd2 Bc6 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 d5 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Bxa6 dxe4 24. Ne5 Ba8 25.
Rad1 Qd6 $6 26. Bc4 g6 27. Qh6 Qe7 28. f4 $2 (28. h3 $142) (28. a6 $142) 28...
exf3 29. gxf3 (29. Nxg6 $2 f2+ $1 $19) 29... Nd5 30. Ne4 Rb2 31. Bxd5 Bxd5 32.
Nd7 $4 Bxe4 $19 33. Nxf8 Qg5+ $4 (33... Ng5 $8 $19) 34. Qxg5 Nxg5 35. fxe4 $11
Nf3+ 36. Kf1 Nxh2+ 37. Kg1 Nf3+ 38. Kf1 Nh2+ 39. Kg1 Nf3+ 40. Kf1 Nh2+ 41. Kg1
Nf3+ {½-½ (41) Shuvalova,P (2320)-Pogonina,N (2490) Sochi, 2016.}) 11... c5
12. Ng3 Nc6 13. c3 Bc8 14. h3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 {[#] This is the same position
as Kasparov-Topalov (note to move 5), but there it was Black to move. The
difference is that Topalov played ...Na5, and White saved his B with Ba2,
which cost him a tempo when he then exchanged with BxBe6.} 16. b4 $1 (16. d4
exd4 17. cxd4 e5 18. d5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 cxd4 20. Bd2 Rc8 $11 21. Rc1 (21. Nf5 Rf7
{then ...Bf8.}) 21... Qd7 {(½-½, 76) Kallio,H (2502)-Vajda,L (2539) Budapest,
2002.}) 16... Qd7 17. Qb3 Rab8 {[#] Qiyu had been playing almost instantly up
to here, and now had 94 minutes on the clock (4 more than she started with),
while Black was down to 65. However, a series of long thinks on each of her
next three moves gave back most of that time advantage...} 18. Be3 Rfe8 19.
Reb1 Bf8 20. a4 cxb4 {[#] After this, times were now 49m v 43m.} 21. axb5 axb5
22. cxb4 d5 23. Rc1 $14 d4 {[#]} (23... Nxb4 $2 24. Nxe5 Qd6 25. Nf3 {
threatening forks with e5 and Bc5.} Nd7 26. Ra5 $14 {with pressure on the
b-pawn.}) 24. Bd2 {Not bad, but White had better:} (24. Ra6 $1 Rec8 (24... dxe3
25. Rcxc6 $16) (24... Nxb4 $2 25. Nxe5 $8 Qe7 26. Nf5 $8 $18 Qb7 27. Rxe6 $18)
25. Bd2 {Threatening Rcxc6 then Nxe5.} Qe8 (25... Kh8 26. Rcxc6 Rxc6 27. Nxe5
Rxa6 $8 28. Nxd7 Nxd7 29. Ne2 $16 {Materially, Black is ahead with RR v Q, but
Black's central pawns are vulnerable.}) 26. Ng5 $1 Nd8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. f4 $1
(28. Nxe6 $2 Nxe6 29. Qxe6+ Qxe6 30. Rxe6 Rc2 $132) (28. Nf5 $5) 28... exf4 29.
Ne2 $1 $16 {and with the pawns broken up, White's Ns run riot.}) 24... Ra8 $1
$14 {Preventing Ra6 as in the note above.} 25. Ng5 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 h6 27. Nf3 Qb7
{[%cal Gg3f1,Gf1h2,Gh2g4] [#] The big island of pawns in the center keeps
White's B inactive and leaves few good squares for any of the Ns. The isolated
pawns on e6 and b4 are the natural targets, but both can be sufficiently
defended. Maybe White should consider moving her Ng3 to g4: Ng3-f1-h2-g4.
Black could kick it away with ...h5, but that weakens g5. It's a slow maneuver,
but this is a nearly closed position, so everything is slow.} 28. Ne2 Nd7 29.
Ne1 Bd6 30. Nc2 Nf8 31. Qa2 Rb8 {[#]} 32. f4 $6 {This undoubles Black's
e-pawns and gives her an outpost on e5. If Black puts a N on e5 then her
d4-pawn could be weak; though it is not vulnerable now because of the pin on
b6-g1 diagonal. It doesn't give Black an advantage, but it looks like an
unwise attempt at activity, when the position would be slightly better (and
unloseable) with queenside maneuvering.} (32. Nc1 Qe7 33. Qa3 Rb7 34. Qa6 Nb8 {
White's not making any progress, but hasn't given Black anything to hope for
either.}) 32... exf4 33. Nxf4 (33. Ncxd4 $4 Qb6 $19) 33... Qe7 34. Qa6 Qc7 35.
Ne2 Qd7 36. Qa2 Kh7 37. Qb2 Bc7 {[#] Black threatens ...Ng6 then ...Qd6 with
strong control of the dark squares.} 38. Bf4 Rd8 39. Rf1 Ng6 40. Bxc7 Qxc7 $15
41. Na3 Qe7 42. Nxb5 Nge5 $1 (42... e5 $1 {gets the pawn back immediately:} 43.
Na3 (43. Ra1 Nxb4 44. Ra7 $2 Qc5 $19 {Black wins a piece.}) 43... Nxb4 44. Qd2
(44. Nc1 $2 Nf4 $17) 44... Ra8 45. Nc4 Ra2 46. Qd1 $15) 43. Nf4 Rb8 {[#]} 44.
Na3 $2 (44. Nxd4 Qa7 (44... Rxb4 $2 45. Nxc6 Nxc6 46. Qc3 $14) 45. Nfxe6 $8
Rxb4 (45... Re8 46. Qf2 $16 (46. b5 $1 $18) 46... Nxd3 $2 47. Qf5+ g6 48. Nf8+
$18) 46. Qc3 $8 Nxd4 47. Qxb4 Nxe6+ (47... Ndf3+ $5 {is exciting, for a few
moves:} 48. Kh1 Nxd3 $8 49. Nf8+ $8 Kh8 50. Ng6+ $8 Kh7 $8 51. Nf8+ $8 $11) 48.
Kh1 Nxd3 49. Qd6 $11 {possibly more fun to play as Black, but objectively
equal.}) 44... Rxb4 45. Qc2 Rb7 46. Nb1 $2 (46. Nc4 $142 $11 Nb4 47. Qd2 Nxc4
48. dxc4 {the pawn on d4 looks more dangerous than it is.} Qg5 (48... e5 49.
Nd5 $11) 49. e5 $11 (49. Qd1 $11)) 46... Nb4 $1 $15 47. Qf2 Qd6 48. Qg3 Rf7 49.
Nd2 g5 $1 $17 {[#]} 50. Nh5 $6 {After this, times were: 1 min vs 4 min; but
even with an hour, White could spend the time only hoping for a miracle.} (50.
Ne2 Rxf1+ 51. Nxf1 Nbxd3 $17) 50... Rxf1+ 51. Nxf1 Nbxd3 $19 52. h4 Qe7 53.
hxg5 Qxg5 54. Qxg5 hxg5 {[#] White's only hope is to trade her Ns for Black's
pawns, but there's no realistic way that can happen.} 55. Nd2 (55. Nf6+ Kg6 56.
Ne8 Nc4 $19 {is no better.}) 55... Kg6 56. Ng3 Nf4 57. Kf1 Ng4 58. Ne2 Ne3+ 59.
Kf2 Nxe2 60. Kxe2 Nxg2 61. Nf3 Nf4+ 62. Kd2 d3 63. Ne5+ Kh5 64. Ke3 g4 65. Nc4
{[#]} g3 66. Kf3 g2 67. Kf2 Kg5 68. Nd2 Kg4 69. Nf3 g1=Q+ $1 {Deflection sac
to promote the d-pawn. Pogonina advances to round 2:1.5 - 0.5.} 0-1

[Event "Blackpool Chess Conference"]
[Site "Blackpool"]
[Date "2017.03.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Black "Fallowfield, Jeremy R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2287"]
[BlackElo "2069"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2017.03.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7.
Nb3 Be6 8. h3 $5 {[#] The (Weaver) Adams variation. White prepares g2-g4 with
either a pawn storm, or piece control over d5 with g4-g5 and Bg2, or both.
"For players of the white pieces, 6.h3 looks a bit like a holy grail of
playing against the Najdorf – a positionally sound line where play is
governed by general principles, and yet White can count on frequently gaining
a vicious attack." - GM Bryan Smith, The Najdorf in Black and White (Mongoose,
2018)} Be7 9. Qf3 {A system that's been tried a couple of times by Shirov, Ni
Hua and others.} Nbd7 (9... d5 $2 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qg3 {wins e5
or g7 since} Bf6 $2 13. O-O-O {will win the Bd5 with c2-c4 or Be3-f3:} b5 14.
Be2 e4 15. f3 $18) 10. g4 h6 11. O-O-O {[#]} b5 (11... Rc8 {threatening ...
Rxc3 is more common, and better-scoring;} 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 Nb6 14. h4 Qc7
15. c3 Nbxd5 16. Bd2 (16. Rxd5 $2 Qc6 $8 17. Qf5 g6 $8 18. Rxd6 $8 gxf5 $15)
16... Nb6 17. g5 Nfd7 18. gxh6 gxh6 19. Kb1 $13 {(½-½, 54) Kamsky,G (2732)
-Gelfand,B (2733) Kazan, 2011.}) 12. Qg2 $5 b4 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 a5 15. f4
a4 16. Nd2 b3 $5 {[#]Not the only move, but thematically sac-ing a pawn to
open lines at the White K.} 17. axb3 (17. cxb3 $2 axb3 {and White can't close
the queenside with} 18. a3 $4 Qc7+ 19. Nc4 Ra4 $17 20. Qe2 exf4 21. Bd4 (21.
Bxf4 Nb6 $19) 21... O-O {threatening Rc8, and here} 22. Qxe7 Re8 $19 {traps
the Q before going back to the attack.}) 17... axb3 18. Nxb3 exf4 19. Bxf4 O-O
20. Bd3 Nc5 (20... Qb6 $15 {is the computer's choice.}) 21. Nxc5 $8 {[%mdl 64]
[#]Critical Position} Ra1+ $2 {This does force White's K to the center, but
because Black has to spend a tempo recapturing on c5, checking on a1 has the
effect of trading Black's well-developed Ra8 for White's undeveloped Rh1.} ({
After} 21... dxc5 $1 {Black may have been worried about} 22. d6 {which looks
like it wins the Be7, since} Bxd6 ({But Black has clear improvments in this
line:} 22... Bxd6 $1 23. Bxd6 Ra1+ 24. Kd2 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Qxd6 {When material
is equal, but White's K is more exposed than Black's.}) ({But Black has even
better} 22... c4 $3 23. dxe7 (23. Bxc4 Ra1+ $8 24. Kd2 Bxd6 25. Rxa1 Bxf4+ 26.
Ke1 Re8+ 27. Be2 (27. Kf1 Ne4) 27... Ne4 {with a winning check coming from
either d2, or a5 or g3 or h4.}) 23... Qxe7 {White is up a piece, but has to
give it back immediately with c2-c3 immediately or will get destroyed by ...c3.
} 24. c3 $1 (24. Bxc4 Ra1+ 25. Kd2 Qb4+ $19 {regains at least a piece with a
huge attack.}) (24. Qe2 Ra1+ 25. Kd2 Qb4+ {followed soon by ...Re8+ snagging
the Q.}) (24. Be2 c3 $1 25. bxc3 Ne4 $19) 24... cxd3 25. Rxd3 Ne4 $1 $17) 23.
Bxd6 Qxd6 $2 24. Bh7+ $18 {wins the Q for White.}) 22. Kd2 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Qa5+
24. Ke2 Qxc5 {[#]White is up a pawn with the B-pair, and although her K is in
the center, it is her opponent's K that is in danger. White plays the rest
forcefully and accurately.} 25. Be3 $1 Qb4 $6 ({Of course not} 25... Qxd5 $4
26. Bh7+ $18) (25... Qc7 $142 {coordinating with the kingside.}) 26. g5 $1 hxg5
27. Qxg5 {And Black has to give up a piece to avoid getting mated.} (27. Qxg5
Qb7 (27... Re8 28. Rg1 g6 29. Bxg6 Nxd5 30. Bh7+ $18) 28. Rg1 Ne8 {and White
has a choice of wins, e.g.} 29. Qh5 Nf6 30. Qh6 g6 31. Bxg6) 1-0

[Event "2016 Continental"]
[Site "Colima"]
[Date "2016.11.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Black "Cori, Deysi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2312"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Qc7
7. Qd2 b5 {[#]} 8. a4 $2 (8. O-O-O Nf6 (8... Bb7) 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11.
f3 Bb7 12. Bd3 b4 13. Ne2 Bc5 14. Kb1 Qb6 15. g4 d5 $13 {(1-0, 37) Garcia
Pantoja,R (2456)-Cordova,E (2610) Oaxtepec, 2016.}) (8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. O-O-O Bb7
10. f3 Rc8 11. g4 Nf6 12. g5 Nh5 13. Bh3 Be7 14. Bg4 g6 15. Bxh5 $16 {(1-0, 34)
Shirov,A (2695)-Dubov,D (2629) Moscow, 2013.}) 8... b4 $11 9. Na2 Nf6 10. f3
Rb8 11. Be2 Ne5 12. b3 $6 {[#]} (12. c3 $142) 12... d5 $15 13. O-O-O dxe4 14.
Bf4 Nd5 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16. fxe4 Nf6 $1 17. Bf3 Be7 18. Kb1 {[#]} Bb7 {Black
can't be too unhappy about giving up the b4-pawn, since that will open both
the b-file and the a3 diagonal, but allowing the Na2 back into the game gives
White her once chance...} (18... O-O $2 19. Nc6 $16) (18... Rb6 $1 {defends b4
and c6, giving Black time to finish developing.}) 19. Nxb4 $1 Rc8 (19... O-O $4
20. Nbc6 $16) 20. Ne2 $4 {After this it is all one-way traffic, with all
Black's pieces attacking the white K.} (20. Nd5 $3 {Spectacular, but it
utimately just gives back a pawn to trade some pieces and finish developing.}
exd5 (20... Nxe4 21. Bxe4 exd5 $2 22. Bf5 $16) 21. exd5 Bxd5 (21... O-O 22. d6
$14 {[%csl Rb7,Re7][%cal Rf3b7,Rd6e7] attacking both Bs.}) 22. Rhe1 Ne4 $8 (
22... Qd6 $2 23. Nf5 $18) 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Nf3 $8 Bxc2+ (24... Qf5 $4 25. Rxe4
$18 {and check on d7.}) (24... Rxc2 $4 25. Qd7+ $18) 25. Qxc2 $11) 20... Qc7
21. Nd4 $6 {White was under 2 minutes, but there are no good moves to be found
even with much more time.} (21. Ng3 Bxb4 $2 (21... a5 $1 $15) 22. Qxb4 Qxc2+
23. Ka1 $11 {Black got the pawn back, but White threatens Rc1 and Nf5.}) (21.
e5 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Qxe5 $17) 21... O-O $19 22. e5 {[#] Black has too many good
choices.} Ne4 (22... Bxb4 $1 23. Qxb4 Bxf3 $1 24. gxf3 (24. Nxf3 Qxc2+ $19)
24... Nd5 $19) 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Nxa6 $2 Qb7 $1 {[%csl Ra6] Trapping the N
while keeping the B-pair slicing across White's porous queenside.} 25. Qe2 Rxc2
26. Nxc2 Qxb3+ 27. Kc1 Bg5+ 28. Rd2 Qxc2# 0-1

[Event "2016 Continental"]
[Site "Colima"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Martinez, Ayelen"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2238"]
[BlackElo "2312"]
[Annotator "MacKinnon / Upper"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[WhiteClock "0:36:36"]
[BlackClock "0:14:40"]

{[%mdl 32768] http://chess.ca/newsfeed/node/913} 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 {[#] The Breyer
Variation is a popular choice nowadays. The basic idea is to reroute the
Knight to d7, fianchetto with Bb7, and then use the c-pawn as needed to
contest the center.} (9... Na5 {is the classical continuation} 10. Bc2 c5) 10.
d4 (10. a4 $5 {is a seldom-played possibility, but it doesn't appear to yield
much} Bb7 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. d3) 10... Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2
Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15. a4 {[#] It's clear that both players were
booked up. So far, all of White's moves are the most common in the position.}
c6 {this is a solid way of playing the position, but my feeling is that White
gets a small edge.} (15... c5 {would be my first reaction here - contesting
the centre and not minding a closed position} 16. d5 c4 $1 {And an unclear
position with chances for both sides emerges.} 17. Bg5 {is scoring best for
White. It provokes ...h6 before heading back to e3} h6 18. Be3 Qc7 {
recommended by GM Roiz, whose opinion is based on the game} 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3
Nc5 21. Rea1 Bg7 22. Qc1 Nfd7 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rxa8+ Bxa8 26.
Qa1 Bb7 {(1/2-1/2, 47) Kokarev,D (2611)-Khismatullin,D (2656) St. Petersburg,
2013.}) 16. Bg5 Bg7 17. Qd2 {[#]} Qc7 {We're still in established opening
theory here, but I can't help but feel that Black's play has been a little too
tentative. White has a clear edge.} (17... Qe7 18. b3 (18. b4 Nb6 19. Bb3 bxa4
20. Bxa4 Nxa4 21. Rxa4 Qe6 22. Bh6 Bh8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. f4 exf4 25. Qxf4 Nd5 $1
26. Qd2 f6 27. Nf3 Nb6 28. Raa1 Qf7 {1/2-1/2 Kovalev,V (2557) -Sargissian,G 
(2671) Minsk, 2014.}) 18... Rac8 19. axb5 cxb5 20. d5 Rc7 21. Be3 Rec8 22. Ne2
Nc5 $11 {(1-0, 106) Hou,Y (2673)-Kosintseva,T (2483) Beijing (blitz), 2014.})
18. Bh6 Bh8 (18... Nf8 19. b4 Ne6 20. Bb3 Nd7 21. Rad1 bxa4 22. Bxa4 a5 23.
bxa5 Rxa5 24. Bb3 Ndf8 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Nf1 $14 {1-0 (70) Kosteniuk,A (2498)
-Zhao,X (2496) Moscow, 2011.}) 19. Nf5 $1 $146 {A strong novelty, putting Qiyu
under a lot of pressure. White's advantage stems from more active pieces and a
space advantage.} (19. Bb3 c5 20. Ng5 c4 21. Bc2 d5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. f4 $6
Neg4 $1 24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. e5 (25. Nxf7 Qb6+ $15) 25... Nxh6 26. Nf3 Ng4 $15 {
1-0 (40) Polgar,J (2687)-Golod, V (2599) Netanya, 2009.}) 19... Rad8 20. axb5
axb5 21. Ra7 {[#]} d5 $2 {The first mistake of the game but also a very
serious one. Qiyu understandably tries to untangle her position somewhat by
hitting back in the centre. There is a major tactical flaw, however.} (21...
Nf8 $142) (21... Nb6 $142) 22. Qg5 $2 (22. Nxe5 $1 Nxe5 (22... dxe4 23. Nxf7 $1
$18 Qb6 (23... Kxf7 24. Rxb7 (24. Bb3+ Nd5 25. Rxb7 $18) 24... Qxb7 25. Nd6+)
24. Rxb7 Qxb7 25. Qg5 {and Black cannot survive.}) 23. dxe5 {[#]Analysis
Diagram} dxe4 (23... Rxe5 24. Bf4 $18) (23... Qb8 24. exf6 Qxa7 25. Ne7+ Rxe7
26. fxe7 Re8 27. Bg5 $1 (27. exd5 cxd5 {should also win.}) 27... Qc5 (27... f6
$2 28. Be3 Qa2 29. Bc5 $18 {and the e7 pawn is a monster.}) 28. e5 $1 {A neat
move aiming for Bf6; just compare the activity of the Bishops.}) 24. Nd6 $18
Rxe5 25. Rxb7 Qxd6 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Bf4 $1 {An important final nuance} (27.
Rxe4 {is strong as well - taking advantage of back rank problems.})) 22... dxe4
$1 {And Qiyu is right back in it!} 23. Bb3 {[#]} Nb6 $2 (23... Rb8 {A hard
move to play - but necessary to defend against Bxf7+ and Rxb7 followed by Nd6+
ideas} 24. Rxe4 $1 c5 (24... Nxe4 $2 25. Qe7 $1 {This is the wildest position
I've seen in a while! Black's getting checkmated in a few more moves.}) (24...
Nc5 $2 {Almost works, but the computer shows a very pretty line:} 25. Rxe5 (25.
dxc5 $2 Nxe4 $15) 25... Nxb3 26. Qf4 $3 Rxe5 27. Nxe5 Nd5 (27... Rc8 28. Nd6
Qxd6 29. Nxg6 Qxf4 30. Ne7#) 28. Nxg6 $3 Nxf4 (28... hxg6 29. Ne7+ Qxe7 30.
Qxb8+ $18) 29. Nfe7+ Qxe7 30. Nxe7#) 25. dxe5 $16) 24. Nxe5 (24. Bxf7+ $3 {
also keeps a big advantage} Kxf7 (24... Qxf7 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. dxe5 Nbd5 $18)
25. Nxe5+ Ke6 (25... Kg8 26. Nxg6 $18) (25... Rxe5 26. dxe5 gxf5 (26... Nfd5
27. Rxb7 $18) 27. exf6 Bxf6 28. Qxf5 $18) 26. Ng3 $18 {And Black is in big
trouble with her King so exposed.}) 24... Nfd5 {[#] The right idea - limiting
the b3 Bishop's scope.} 25. Ng4 (25. Qh4 $1 f6 (25... Ra8 26. Rxa8 Bxa8 27.
Rxe4 $18 {White is up material, her pieces are better, and her attack
continues.}) 26. Nxg6 $1 hxg6 27. Bf4 {All of White's pieces are coordinated
perfectly. Here's the line my Komodo engine gives:} Qc8 28. Nh6+ Kf8 29. Ng4
Bg7 30. Bh6 Nd7 31. Bxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qh6+ Kf7 33. Qh7+ Ke6 34. Qxg6 Kd6 35. Nh6
$18) 25... Qb8 26. Rea1 Nc4 {[#]} 27. Qh4 (27. Nfe3 $1 Ndxe3 (27... Ncxe3 28.
fxe3 Rd6 29. Bxd5 cxd5 30. Qh4 $18 {threatening Bf4.}) 28. fxe3 $18 (28. Nxe3
$18) 28... f5 {opening the 7th to defend g7.} 29. Nf6+ Bxf6 30. Qxf6 Rd7 31.
R1a4 $3 {a preposterous but effective way to force open the a2-diagonal.} Rf7
32. Qh4 bxa4 33. Bxc4 Qxa7 34. Qf6 {[%eval 32764,0]}) 27... f6 $2 (27... Rd7
$142 $16) 28. Nfe3 Ncxe3 29. Nxf6+ $4 {Playing for mate, but any of the three
recaptures on e3 leaves White with a winning advantage.} Bxf6 30. Qxf6 Nf5 $8 {
[%mdl 64] [#] Defending the mate on g7, saving the hanging piece on e3, and
threatening to chop the attacker of h6. White resigned. It is aways shocking
when your opponent comes back with a move you had overlooked (30... Nf5), but
it's necessary to compose yourself and try to find the best move. If we take
stock, White is down a piece for a pawn, but the exposed Black King and the
terrible Bb7 give White big compensation. In fact, there is actually a forced
draw here after:} (30... Nf5 31. Bf4 $1 $11 {and Qiyu would do best to go for
the draw after ...Qxf4:} Qc8 (31... Qxf4 32. Rxb7 Rf8 33. Bxd5+ cxd5 34. Qe6+
Kh8 35. Raa7 Qc1+ $11 {with a repetition.}) 32. Be5 Rxe5 $13 33. dxe5 Rf8 34.
Bxd5+ cxd5 35. Qb6 Rf7 $8 (35... Bc6 36. Rc7 $18) 36. Kh2 $13 {major
prophylaxis against ...d4 and ...e3 followed by ...Qc2.} (36. e6 $5 $13)) 0-1

[Event "WCCC U8"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Atanasov, Anthony"]
[Black "Ansat, Aldiyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "1546"]
[BlackElo "1791"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2016.10.22"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]

{[%mdl 32768] Black equalizes easily after a bland opening by White, but the
game produces an interesting middlegame material imbalance --- RPP vs BB --
which White handles better than Black.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 (4.
c4 {going into a Benoni is normal, though White should be prepared for a
Blumenfeld gambit with} b5) 4... exd5 5. Nxd5 Nxd5 6. Qxd5 Be7 {Diagram [#]} 7.
e3 {After this Black should be at least equal on all lines as he can play ...
d5 with more space. More testing moves are:} (7. Bf4 $1 Nc6 8. O-O-O O-O 9. Bd6
{1-0 (29) Landa,K (2638)-Simacek,P (2485) Czechia, 2013.}) (7. e4 $1 O-O 8. Be2
d6 9. O-O Nc6 10. c3 Be6 11. Qh5 h6 12. Rd1 $14 {(1-0, 36) Karpov,A (2740)
-Topalov,V (2640) Dos Hermanas, 1994.}) 7... O-O 8. Be2 Nc6 9. O-O Nb4 (9... d6
{preparing ...Be6 is another way to prepare ...d5, though White can change
course and play} 10. e4) 10. Qd1 d5 $11 {[#]} 11. c3 ({At some point White
will want to break out his DSB with c4 or e4, and could do so now.} 11. c4 $11)
11... Nc6 12. Qc2 Be6 13. Rd1 a5 {I'm not sure what this is supposed to do.} (
13... Rc8 {looks more natural.}) 14. Bd3 g6 15. e4 {Diagram [#]} d4 $1 (15...
dxe4 16. Bxe4 Qc7 17. Bh6 $14 (17. Ng5 $14)) 16. Bh6 c4 $1 (16... Re8 17. cxd4
cxd4 18. Bb5 $14 {White has pressure on Black's d-pawn.}) 17. Bxc4 (17. Bxf8
cxd3 18. Qxd3 Bxf8 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. cxd4 Qb6 $15 {White's center looks nice,
but it's not going anywhere.}) 17... Bxc4 18. cxd4 Ba6 {[%mdl 64] Diagram [#]
Critical Position White would like to keep his d4-e4 center as long as
possilble, but he's going to be forced to advance the d-pawn soon, and doing
so now is an improvement, kicking away the N when it doesn't have a good
choice of squares:} 19. Bxf8 (19. d5 $142 $1 Nb4 (19... Nb8 20. d6 Bf6 21. Bxf8
Qxf8 22. e5 Bg7 $16) (19... Re8 {saves the R but loses the game} 20. dxc6 Qc7
21. Qc3 $1 {threatens mate and defends the Q to unpin the c6-pawn,} Bf8 22.
Bxf8 Rxf8 23. cxb7 {with two extra pawns.}) 20. Qb3 Be2 $13 {makes an escape
square on a6 for the N,} (20... Re8 21. a3 a4 22. Qc3 $16 {with a mate threat
and attack on the Nb4} (22. Qxa4 $2 Bc4 $19 {traps the Q.})) 21. Bxf8 Bxf8 22.
Rd2 $13 {and at least Black has to give up the B pair.}) 19... Bxf8 20. a3 (20.
d5 {doesn't transpose to the previous note because after} Nb4 21. Qb3 a4 $1 22.
Qc3 {now that the Bh6 has taken the exchange on f8 there is no mate threat on
g7, so after} (22. Qxa4 $4 Bc4 {as above, White's Q is trapped.}) 22... Rc8 $1
$17 {Black either forks an exchange or gets his R to c2 with an attack on f2,
and an Octopus landing on d3.}) 20... Bg7 21. Qd2 Qd6 22. d5 Ne5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5
$15 {[#] Diagonals vs Files For the B-pair White has RPP and one of those
pawns is a protected passer. But White's Rs are not active now since there's
only one open file (which Black has covered) and not likely to be active
anytime soon, since the only way to open another file is to expose his K by
pushing his kingside pawns. OTOH, Black's B's are both active since there are
open diagonals. Not surprisingly, computers prefer Black.} 24. h3 {Either pawn
move has its disadvantages, since it restricts one B while giving squares to
the other; but I prefer} (24. g3 {which could make f2-f4 a tactical threat.})
24... Re8 $1 ({The automatic} 24... Rc8 $2 {is a mistake, since Black should
not want to trade off one of White's redundant Rs.}) 25. Re1 Rf8 26. Qc2 Qf6
27. Rab1 Qf4 (27... h5 $5 {aiming for ...h4 then ...Qf4 is another way to
harness the Bs for attack.}) 28. g3 Qh6 29. Kg2 Qg5 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 {[#]}
b5 $6 (31... Bb5 $142 32. Qc5 Bd7 $15 {and ...Bc8 will protect the b7-pawn
while attacking the kingside.}) 32. Qc1 Qh5 33. Qe3 Bc8 {[#]} 34. Rh1 $1 {
White plays safe!} (34. g4 Qh4 35. f4 {is tempting, but there's no need to
advance the pawns unless forced to, and delaying their advance leaves Black
unsure of which diagonals to attack.}) (34. h4 Qg4 $15 {the following shows
one of Black's attacking chances:} 35. Rbc1 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Bg4 37. Rc5 $2 Bd4 $1
$19) 34... Re8 35. Rbc1 Bg7 36. Qf3 {[#]} Qe5 {Black is hoping for an attack
with ...Bb7 and ...f5, but there's nothing wrong with the Q trade,} (36...
Qxf3+ 37. Kxf3 f5 38. Rhe1 fxe4+ 39. Rxe4 Rf8+ 40. Rf4 (40. Kg2 Bb7 $17) 40...
Rd8 $15) 37. Rhe1 Bb7 $6 (37... f5 $4 38. exf5 Qxe1 39. Rxe1 Rxe1 40. f6 $18) (
37... Bd7 $142 {protects b5.}) 38. Qd3 Rf8 (38... f5 $1 39. Qxb5 Re7 $13) 39.
Qxb5 Bc8 40. Qd3 Qd6 41. b5 f5 {[#] Black gets his break in, but it's a
different story with White's passed b-pawn and access along the c-file.} 42.
Rc6 $1 (42. e5 $1 Bxe5 43. Rc6 Qb8 44. d6 $18) 42... Qe5 43. Qc4 Bd7 {Diagram 
[#]} 44. b6 $2 {White tries to keep his kingside pawns in their defensive
lineup, but here he misses his chance to shut out Black's Bs for good.} (44. f4
$1 Qd4 (44... Qb2+ 45. Re2 $18) 45. Qxd4 Bxd4 46. e5 $1 $18 {Black has no
attack and White's pawns will roll.}) 44... fxe4 $6 (44... f4 $1 {threatening .
..fxg3 then ...Qh5, when g3-g4 loses to ....Bxg4.} 45. g4 Qg5 $1 $13 {and
Black has dangerous threats with ...Bxg4, or ...f3+ then ...Qh4.}) 45. Rxe4 Qf5
46. Rf4 Qxh3+ 47. Kg1 Ra8 $1 48. Qf1 $8 $16 {[#]} Qh5 $2 (48... Qxf1+ $142 49.
Kxf1 Rb8 50. Rb4 $16) 49. b7 $1 $18 Rb8 50. Qc1 $1 Be5 (50... Bh6 51. Rc8+ $18)
(50... Rxb7 51. Rc8+ {is mating.}) 51. Rc8+ Kg7 52. Rh4 (52. Qc5 $1 {aiming
for f8 is more precise, but White's cool move wins too.}) 52... Qe2 53. Qh6+ $1
Kf6 54. Rf4+ Bf5 55. Qf8+ Kg5 56. Qe7+ 1-0

[Event "CCSCSL Autumn Invitational"]
[Site "St Louis"]
[Date "2016.11.22"]
[Round "9.9"]
[White "Hua, Lefong"]
[Black "Colas, Josh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2284"]
[BlackElo "2347"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[WhiteClock "0:23:30"]
[BlackClock "0:02:46"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 {A "Very dirty" win. - Lefong Hua.} e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2
Bxd2+ 4. Qxd2 d5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 {[#]} Qe7 (8... Nc6
9. Nge2 Ne7 10. Qc2 g6 11. h3 Bf5 12. g4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc8 14. O-O-O Nd6 $11 {
1-0 (38) Wojtaszek,R (2723)-Vocaturo,D (2597) Doha 2015}) 9. Nge2 Rd8 (9...
Nbd7 10. O-O b6 11. Rae1 Bb7 12. f3 c5 13. g4 Rfd8 14. Nf4 Nf8 15. g5 Ne8 16.
h4 $13 {1-0 (56) Fressinet,L (2696)-Bischoff,K (2547) Germany 2012}) 10. O-O b6
(10... Nbd7 11. Rae1 Nf8 12. f3 c5 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. Rc1 Qb6 15. Nd4 Bd7 16.
Nce2 Rac8 17. a3 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Rc8 19. Re1 Ne6 20. Bb1 g6 21. Ba2 $14 {1/2-1/2
(49) Bischoff,K (2537)-Tratar,M (2499) Austria 2012}) 11. Rfe1 Bb7 12. f3 c5
13. Rad1 Nc6 14. Ng3 g6 15. Qf2 Rac8 16. Bb1 Qf8 17. Nge2 Qh6 18. Nc1 Ba6 19.
Nd3 Bxd3 20. Bxd3 c4 21. Bf1 a6 22. e4 b5 23. e5 Nh5 24. g3 Ng7 25. f4 $14 {
[#] A typical queenside vs central strategy in the QG exchange.} b4 26. Na4 (
26. Nxd5 $5 Rxd5 27. Bxc4 $44) 26... Ne6 27. Bg2 Ne7 28. Rf1 c3 29. bxc3 bxc3
30. Rc1 Rc4 31. Nxc3 Rxd4 32. Rcd1 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 d4 34. Ne4 Nf5 35. Nf6+ {[#]}
Kh8 $1 $11 (35... Kg7 $2 36. h4 $16 {and the Qh6 is running short of squares.})
36. Nd5 Qf8 37. Be4 Qc5 38. Bxf5 Qxd5 39. Bxe6 fxe6 40. Rd3 Qe4 41. Qd2 g5 42.
fxg5 Kg8 43. h4 Qxe5 44. Qf2 (44. Rf3 $1 $11) 44... Qe4 45. Qd2 e5 46. Rb3 d3
$19 47. Kh2 Qf3 $2 {[%mdl 64] [#]Critical Position} (47... Qd5 48. g6 hxg6 49.
Qg5 Qd6 $19) 48. g6 $8 $132 {Only move, White now has significant counterplay.}
Qf5 (48... hxg6 49. Qg5 $8 $11) (48... Qe2+ 49. Qxe2 dxe2 50. gxh7+ Kxh7 51.
Re3 Rd2 52. Kg1 $8 $11 Rxa2 53. Rxe5 a5 54. Kf2 a4 (54... Kg6 $4 55. Rxe2 $18)
55. Ra5 $1 $11 (55. g4 $4 a3 56. Ra5 Ra1 $8 57. Kxe2 a2 58. Kf2 Rh1 $19) 55...
a3 56. Ra7+ $8 (56. g4 Ra1 $19 {as above.}) 56... Kg6 57. Ra6+ Kf5 58. h5 Ra1
59. Kxe2 a2 60. h6 Rh1 61. h7 $11) 49. gxh7+ Kh8 50. Rb7 Rc8 51. Qe3 Rf8 52.
Rb2 e4 53. a4 {[#]} Qe5 $2 (53... Qf3 $1 $19) 54. Rf2 $11 Rxf2+ 55. Qxf2 Kxh7
56. Qf7+ Kh6 57. Kh3 d2 58. g4 d1=Q 59. g5+ Qxg5 60. hxg5+ Kxg5 61. Qg7+ Kf4
62. Qh6+ Ke5 63. Qg5+ {[#]} Kd6 $4 {Played very quickly.} 64. Qd8+ {So was
this.} 1-0

[Event "2017 CCCSA GM/IM Norm Invitational"]
[Site "B"]
[Date "2017.03.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Black "Vigorito, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E57"]
[WhiteElo "2289"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

{[%mdl 32768] A Caro-Kann Panov-Botvinnik attack turns into a standard IQP
position where White gets a very strong, and very thematic, sacrificial attack
on the light squares.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 {[#]
} 6. Bg5 (6. Nf3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 {is the start of the well-worn
"Endgame Variaiton", which continues} Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+
Nxb5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 {and Black is reckoned to be OK. ... though here's a crazy
recent result to remind White players to stay alert:} 13. Qc5+ Ke8 14. Qxb5+
Qd7 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qb3 Bd6 17. O-O Rb8 18. Qe3+ Kf8 19. Rd1 $4 Qh3 {White
resigned since the only way to stop the mate (f4) loses the Rd1 to ...Qg4+;
Riazantsev,A (2671)-Jakovenko,D (2709) Sharjah, 2017.}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 (7.
d5 {is the other main option for White:} Ne5 8. Qd4 h6 $1 $13) 7... h6 $1 ({
It's risky to take the d-pawn} 7... Qxd4 8. Qxd4 Nxd4 9. O-O-O e5 10. f4 Bg4
11. Nf3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 $13 {When White has a significant lead in development; e.
g. Mamedyarov,S (2736)-Sethuraman,S (2640) Baku, 2015 (1-0, 41).}) 8. Bh4 (8.
Be3 {is a much less dynamic way of using the IQP,} e6 9. Nf3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O
11. Qd2 Ne7 $1 12. Rad1 a6 13. Bd3 Nf5 14. Bf4 $11 {(½-½, 30) Kamsky,G (2740)
-Eljanov,P (2678) Moscow, 2013.}) 8... e6 {Safer than ...Qxd4, as at move 7.}
9. Nf3 Be7 10. O-O O-O {[#]} 11. a3 $1 (11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Bb1 Rc8 14.
Re1 Re8 15. a3 Nh5 16. Qc2 Bxh4 17. Qh7+ $2 (17. d5 $8 $13) 17... Kf8 18. d5
Bg5 $4 (18... Nd4 $1 19. Nxd4 Bxf2+ $8 20. Kxf2 Qh4+ $19) 19. Rcd1 $8 $18 Qf6
20. d6 g6 21. Nxg5 Rcd8 (21... hxg5 22. Ne4 $18) 22. Nxe6+ $1 $18 {1-0
Naiditsch,A (2674)-Eljanov,P (2761) Sibenik, 2010.}) 11... b6 12. Qd3 Bb7 13.
Rfe1 {[#] A nearly standard IQP position, which can also arise out of an
e3-Nimzo. ...h6 (rather than ...g6 to defend a battery along the b1-h7
diagonal) weakens Black's kingside light squares, which White exploits nicely.}
Rc8 (13... Nh5 14. Bg3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Bf6 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Bxb2 $6 (17...
Kh8 {(1-0, 82) Kobalia,M (2666)-Riazantsev,A (2689) Moscow, 2011.}) 18. Rad1
Na5 $2 19. Ne7+ $1 Kh8 20. Qf5 $8 $18 Qxd1 (20... Qc7 21. Ng5 $1 $18) 21. Rxd1
Bxf3 22. Bd3 {1-0 Gulko,B (2533)-Krush,I (2489) Rockville, 2013.}) 14. Bb3 Nh5
$1 15. Bg3 (15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. g3 (16. Rad1 $2 Nf4 17. Qe3 Nxg2 $1 18. Kxg2 Nf5
19. Qf4 Nh4+ $19) 16... Nf6 17. Rad1 Ned5 $15) 15... Bf6 16. Bc2 g6 {[#]} 17.
Rxe6 $1 $13 {[%mdl 128] This works only because ...h6 has weakened g6.} Nxg3 $1
{One of only two moves which don't immediately lose.} ({Not} 17... fxe6 $4 18.
Qxg6+ Ng7 19. Ne5 $1 $18 Bxe5 $140 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ Ke7 22. dxe5 $18) (
17... Nxd4 $1 18. Nxd4 (18. Rxf6 $6 Nxc2 $8 19. Rd6 (19. Rxg6+ {looks tempting,
but Black is better after} fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Ng7 21. Qxc2 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rxf3 $17)
19... Nxa1 20. Rxd8 Rfxd8 $15) (18. Rd6 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Qe8 $1 $13) 18... Qxd4
19. Qxd4 Bxd4 20. Re7 $11 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rxc3 22. Bxg6 $11) 18. hxg3 Bg7 19. Re4
Ne7 20. Rf4 {Stopping ...Nf5, which would now lose to Rxf5.} Qc7 21. Re1 Rcd8
22. Ne5 {[#]} Nc6 $2 (22... Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qxe5 24. dxe5 Rxd3 25. Bxd3 {and
White is up a safe pawn.}) (22... Nd5 23. Nxd5 (23. Rh4 Nxc3) 23... Bxd5 $14)
23. Qc4 $16 {Good, but not nearly the best.} (23. Nxf7 $3 $18 {this second
strike on the light squares would end the game:} Rxf7 (23... Rxd4 24. Qxg6 $18
{is mating.}) 24. Bb3 Ne5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5 (25... Qxe5 26. Qxg6 $18) 26. Qxg6+ $18
{with total ownership of the light squares.}) 23... Qe7 {Pinning the N to e1}
24. Bxg6 $1 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nxe5 {[%mdl 64] [#]Critical Position} 26. Rxe5 $4 {
Giving away most of White's advantage.} (26. Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 (26... Rxf7 $2 27.
Rxe5 $18) (26... Qxf7 27. Rxe5 Qxc4 28. Rxc4 {and White is up two pawns with a
much safer K.}) 27. Qe2 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 Qxf7 29. Qxe5+ $18 {also with an extra
two pawns and huge initiative.}) (26. Rxf7 $3 {putting yet a third piece en
prise to the N would have been a worthy finish:} Nxc4 27. Rexe7 Rfe8 (27...
Rxf7 28. Bxf7+ Kf8 29. Rxb7 $18) 28. Rg7+ Kh8 29. Rh7+ Kg8 30. Reg7+ Kf8 31.
Rxb7 $18) 26... Qxe5 27. Rxf7 Bd5 $8 28. Nxd5 {[#]} Qxd5 $4 (28... Rxf7 $8 29.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 $14 {and there are no particularly useful discovered checks, though
White's extra pawns and protected K give him the easier game.}) 29. Qc7 $1 $18
Rfe8 30. Rg7+ Kf8 31. Rh7 1-0

[Event "Carnival"]
[Site "Quebec"]
[Date "2017.02.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Black "Le Siège, Alexandre"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[Annotator "Bator Sambuev"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 {Trying to play a Zukertort.} g6 {
But now I get Grunfeld or, if you want, Catalan reversed.} 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O
6. Be2 c5 7. dxc5 {[#]} (7. O-O {leads to Tarrasch reversed, another opening
in my repertoire.}) 7... dxc4 (7... Qa5 {is the main line. I think White's
extra move (Be2) should tell in some circumstances. For example:} 8. cxd5 Nxd5
9. Qxd5 Bxc3+ 10. Bd2 Rd8 11. Qxd8+ $5 Qxd8 12. Bxc3 {and compared to the same
line in the Catalan, White already may castle. I think in such a position this
should be important.}) 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc4 {On the other hand, now I lose my
extra tempo, and the position is equal.} Nbd7 10. c6 bxc6 11. Bd2 (11. O-O {
would be more accurate, but I didn't want to evacuate my king from the centre
too early.}) 11... Nb6 (11... Ng4 {now could be unpleasant.}) 12. Be2 c5 13.
Rc1 ({Following a wrong plan. After} 13. O-O Bb7 14. Rfd1 {I have a chance to
trade some pieces and then attack Black's weak pawns.}) 13... Bb7 14. b3 a5 {
[#]} 15. Bb5 {This is the point of my plan. Here I already was optimistic. If
I manage to complete development, Black's pawns on a5 and c5 will become
targets. But, after some thinking, Alexandre found very strong regrouping.}
Rdc8 16. O-O Ne8 $1 (16... c4 {allows Black to get rid of the c-pawn, but not
the a-pawn.}) 17. Be2 Nd6 18. Rc2 c4 19. Rfc1 {[#] It looks like it's going to
be another boring grandmaster draw. But suddenly it becomes very sharp.} Nd5 $5
{Not the best move -- 19...a4 -- but eventually we get a very interesting
study-like ending.} 20. Nxd5 (20. Na4 Nb4 (20... c3 {also leads to a draw, but
requires some accuracy:} 21. Bxc3 Bxc3 22. Nxc3 Nb4 23. Rb2 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rc7
$1 25. a3 Rac8 $1 $11 26. Rd1 Rxc3 27. axb4 axb4 28. Rd4 $11) 21. Bxb4 cxb3 $1
22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Nxc8 24. axb3 axb4 {Black is slightly better due to
the bishop pair, but most likely it's a draw. I found one trick that Alexandre
missed playing 19... Nd5. Unfortunately for me I missed another intermediate
move that led me to lost position.}) 20... Bxd5 21. Bxc4 $2 ({After} 21. Nd4 {
it's still equal. But I realized my mistake too late.}) 21... Nxc4 ({Here
Alexandre noticed that on} 21... Be4 $2 22. Bxf7+ $1 {wins! But...}) 22. e4 {
[#]} Bb2 $1 (22... Bxe4 $2 23. Rxc4 Rxc4 24. Rxc4 {Black should be OK due to
the bishop pair, but a pawn is a pawn.}) 23. Rd1 ({editor -} 23. bxc4 $2 Bxc1
24. exd5 Bxd2 25. Nxd2 Rab8 $19 {White's pawns aren't going anywhere.}) 23...
Bxe4 24. Rxc4 Rxc4 25. bxc4 Rd8 $1 {This is the problem. This pin should
secure Black some material advantage.} 26. Kf1 Bd3+ 27. Kg1 {[#] White cannot
do anything else.} Be4 {Black tries to win the c-pawn while keeping a-pawns on
the board. That would be deadly for White.} (27... Bxc4 28. Rb1 Bf6 29. Bxa5 {
with drawing chances.}) 28. Kf1 a4 29. Ne1 Bb7 30. Nc2 Ba6 31. Ne3 f5 {The
last few moves were more-or-less logical. I understood that passive defence
most likely leads to a loss and prepared one interesting trap.} 32. Ke1 f4 33.
Nd5 Bxc4 34. Bc1 $1 {[#]} Rxd5 ({It looks like my last move came as surprise
for Alexandre. Black's position is still winning after:} 34... Rb8 {but what
if Black simply wins second pawn?}) 35. Rxd5 Bxd5 36. Bxb2 Bxa2 {A key factor
is that a1 is the wrong corner for Black's B. My task is to trade as many
pawns as possible. So...} 37. h4 $1 Bd5 {[#]} 38. Kf1 $3 ({The whole point.
When I calculated 32.Ke1 with this ending I understood, that} 38. g3 fxg3 39.
fxg3 {might be dangerous because Black may attack g3. The problem is that
after losing my g-pawn (say, Black trades it for his e-pawn) I probably lose
my h-pawn. But if there is only one pawn on the kingside then I can move my
king toward the a1 corner and give up my bishop for the g-pawn. That's why I
think it's so important to trade h-pawns.}) 38... Kf7 ({After} 38... h6 39. Bc1
g5 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. g3 fxg3 (41... e5 42. Bb2) 42. fxg3 g4 {Black can't even
attack g3.}) 39. Be5 f3 40. g3 {Now it's elementary because e-pawn is
absolutely harmless.} Ke6 41. Bb2 Bc4+ 42. Ke1 Kd5 43. Kd2 e5 44. Kc3 e4 45.
Bc1 a3 46. Be3 {[#] The remaining moves don't require any comment.} Kc6 47. Bc1
Kb5 48. Be3 Ka4 49. Bc1 Bd3 50. Be3 Be2 51. Bc1 a2 52. Kb2 Bc4 53. Be3 Be6 54.
Bd4 Kb4 55. Be3 Bb3 56. Bd4 Kc4 57. Be3 Kd3 58. Bc5 {From my point of view, a
very instructive ending.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Carnival"]
[Site "Quebec"]
[Date "2017.02.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Poulin, Mathieu"]
[Black "Sambuev, Bator"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2165"]
[BlackElo "2584"]
[Annotator "Bator Sambuev"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{It was must-win game because it was obvious that LeSiege should win with
white pieces.} 1. d4 {[%mdl 32768]} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 {
[#]} b6 ({Usually I play here} 5... cxd4 6. exd4 d5 (6... O-O 7. a3 Be7 {
is also an option.}) 7. a3 Be7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 {but it's not a
position for must-win game. So I recalled one interesting line that I used to
play many years ago.}) 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Na6 {Black's way of development looks
weird but it makes sense. 5.Nge2 has only one idea: to avoid doubling of pawns.
If I simply don't take the knight then I have some lead in development.} 8. f3
O-O {[#]} 9. e4 (9. d5 {is the most logical move - it's better to keep centre
closed. It's interesting that I played this position as White:} d6 10. Kf2 Rb8
11. e4 exd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. Ra1 Nc7 14. Ng3 Bg6 15. h4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 h5 {
and now} 17. a4 {would have secured White comfortable advantage.} (17. Bg5 b5
$132 {(½-½, 81) Sambuev,B (2491)-Kovalyov,A (2557) Quebec Open, 2009.})) 9...
d5 {The only way to exploit and advantage in development is to attack. And you
need open files for this.} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. e5 Ne8 {[#]} 12. Ng3 ({Formally,
a novelty.} 12. Kf2 Nec7 13. Ng3 f6 14. exf6 Qxf6 $15 {(0-1, 31) Granda Zuniga,
J (2599)-Ibarra Jerez,J (2496) Barcelona, 2008. That's approximately what I
was intending to do.}) 12... Nec7 13. Be3 f5 ({But now I changed my mind.} 
13... f6 {still more logical and stronger.}) 14. f4 Ne6 15. Nge2 {[%mdl 64]
The text move has a clear idea: White is three moves from significant
advantage (g3, Bg2, 0-0). What to do? [#] Critical Position} ({But Black's
reply shows that it is a serious mistake. White should complete development
even at the cost of a pawn:} 15. Bb5 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxc3+ 17. bxc3 Nxf4 18. O-O
Ng6 {with good compensation.}) 15... Rb8 $3 {The winning move! I'm kidding, of
course; Black doesn't win, but it allows me to reach the main goal: to blow up
the centre! It took more than 20 minutes to find this move. After considering
all the "normal" moves and being not satisfied by the results I concentrated
on the main goal: how to put more pressure on d4. I can switch the Queen or
Bishop via b6, but it's still not enough. Eventually I found another piece! I
think from practical point of view it's the best move, 'cause it makes White
calculate a lot and to solve difficult problems.} 16. g3 b5 17. Kf2 $2 ({
And White immediately makes a mistake. After} 17. Bg2 b4 18. axb4 Rxb4 {
there is no way to hold the centre:} 19. Bxd5 (19. O-O $2 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxd4
21. Bxd4 Nxd4 $17) 19... cxd4 20. Bxe6+ (20. Nxd4 Qxd5 21. Nxd5 Rxd4+ {and
probably a draw.}) 20... Bxe6 21. Nxd4 Bc4 22. Kf2 (22. Nc6 $2 Qa8 $19) 22...
Bb6 {the position is very complicated.}) 17... b4 18. axb4 Rxb4 {[#]} 19. Bg2
$4 {And now the decisive mistake.} ({editor -} 19. dxc5 $1 {is the saving move,
because} d4 {does not win a piece after} ({Instead of ...d4, Black should try} 
19... Naxc5 20. Nxd5 (20. Qxd5 $4 Ne4+ $1 21. Kg2 Nxc3 22. Qxd8 Bb7+ $19 {
Black will be up a piece with both White's Rs hanging.}) 20... Ne4+ 21. Kg1 $44
{Black is still down a pawn, but White's development is woeful.}) 20. Nxd4 Nxd4
21. Na2 $1 {and the Rb4 has no safe square.}) 19... cxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Bxd4
Nxd4 {[#] The rest is simple.} 22. Nxd5 (22. Qxd4 $2 Bb6 $19 {of course.})
22... Be6 23. b4 Bb6 24. Ne3 Nc7 25. Qd3 Rf7 26. Rhd1 Rd7 27. Kf1 Ndb5 28. Qxd7
Bxd7 {For some reason my opponent made another several moves, but let's say he
resigned here.} 0-1

[Event "2017 CUCC"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2017.01.14"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Kleinman, Michael"]
[Black "Qin, Joey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2350"]
[BlackElo "2481"]
[Annotator "Joey Qin"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {[#]} a6 {Allowing White
to construct a Maroczy but planning to take advantage of the fact that White
will not have the ideal piece positioning.} (4... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6
7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O 11. Kb1 {It's not easy for
Black to find good play. He will constantly have to worry about the d6-pawn.
editor - this postion has been played hundreds of times, with White scoring
decently. I have included two games where two Tactical Giants lost as Black:}
Qa5 12. Qd2 {[#]Analysis Diagram} Qb6 {has also been played, and may be best.}
(12... Rfd8 13. Nd4 Kh8 14. f4 h6 15. h4 $1 Rac8 16. g4 $1 Nxe4 $2 {the young
Tal doesn't withstand the pressure, and meets an in-form Lutikov.} (16... Kg8
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. g5 {with initiative.}) 17. Rxe4 $1 hxg5 18. Nxc6 Rxc6 19.
hxg5 $18 Kg8 20. Rh1 Bxg5 21. fxg5 d5 22. Rd4 e5 23. g6 $4 (23. Qh2 $18) 23...
Rxg6 (23... exd4 $19) 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Qxa5 {1-0 Lutikov,A-Tal,M Riga, 1955.})
(12... Qa6 13. Nd4 b5 14. f3 Rfc8 15. g4 Be8 16. Nce2 Rc4 17. b3 Rc7 18. Ng3
Rac8 19. Rc1 Rc3 (19... h6 $1 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Qxh6 Nh7 $8 22. Nh5 Bf8 $15)
20. Nh5 $1 b4 $2 21. Nxg7 $1 $18 Qa3 22. Nxe8 $1 (22. Ndf5 $3) 22... R8c5 23.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Ra5 25. Qg5+ $8 Rxg5 26. Bxg5 {White has a RBNP for the Q.}
Rc5 27. Bd8 $8 Kf8 (27... Rc8 28. Bf6 Rc5 29. Re2 Ra5 30. c4 $18) 28. Re2 $1
Ke8 29. Bf6 {1-0 Zhigalko,S (2656)-Shirov,A (2709) Jurmala, 2013.})) 5. c4 Nc6
6. Qe3 {[#] e3 seems like a strange position for the queen but White will
develop via b3 and Bb2.} g6 7. h3 {Stopping ...Bg4 and ...Ng4 ideas.} Bg7 8.
Be2 Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 (10. Rd1 {is the main move, threatening e5 and
forcing Black to make an early decision on how to develop his pieces.} Nd7 11.
Nc3 Nc5 12. Rb1 a5 13. b3 {was played two months later in the PRO League: 0-1 
(55) Kleinman,M (2289)-Pichot,A (2556) chess.com INT 2017}) 10... Be6 11. Rd1
Nd7 {[#] With possible ideas of ...Ne5, ...Nc5, and ...Qb6. Black's main
problem is the lack of space so trading off pieces would be good for him.} 12.
b3 (12. Rb1 {might have been stronger -- getting off the a1–h8 diagonal and
planning an immediate b4 to seize initiative on the queenside.} Rc8 13. b4 Bxc4
$1 {Black needs to find this move otherwise White will have a lot of binding
pressure.} 14. Bxc4 Nce5 15. Nxe5 (15. Bxf7+ Nxf7 16. Nd5 e6 17. Nf4 Re8 $13)
15... Bxe5 $8 16. Qd3 Nb6 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Nd5 e6 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Be3 Qb5
$11) 12... Qa5 {I considered trading off queens to relieve some pressure, but
the knight on b6 would be awkwardly placed and need to be relocated. ...Qa5
also seemed to lead to more complex positions and chances for both sides.} (
12... Qb6 13. Qxb6 Nxb6 14. Bd2 $11) 13. Bb2 Rfc8 {[#] Preparing for ...b5
ideas.} 14. Na4 {Kleinman wanted to get out of the annoying pin and trade off
the important g7 bishop in hopes of a possible future kingside attack. However,
after the trade, Black obtains a comfortable position where he can utilize the
dark squares.} (14. Rab1 b5 15. Nd5 Bxb2 16. Rxb2 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxd5 18. Bxd5
e6 19. Bc4 $14) 14... Bxb2 15. Nxb2 b5 16. cxb5 {Black is not afraid of
trading off the e6 bishop because the resulting pawn structures will better
due to the bad bishop on e2.} (16. Ng5 Nc5 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 $11) 16... axb5 17.
Nd3 b4 {Fixing the White queenside.} 18. Qh6 {[#] The start of a faulty plan.
Even without the dark-squared bishop, Black has enough resources to defend.
Meanwhile with all the White pieces migrating to the kingside, the queenside
will be left powerless.} Qb6 $5 {The move that I spent the longest time on in
the game. First of all, it clears the a-file for the rook to bear down on the
a2-pawn. Secondly, it offers Nd4 defensive ideas. Thirdly, in lines where
White trades off the e6 bishop, the f-file is opened and the Queen eyes the f2
pawn. Finally, future f2-f4 ideas are stopped.} 19. Nf4 ({editor -} 19. Ng5 Nf8
$8 $11) 19... Nce5 20. Ng5 Nf8 {[#] The White attack has been stopped and now
Black has serious threats with ...Rc2.} 21. Rac1 $6 ({Trying to complicate the
position and continue the attack, but at this point it is better just to step
back and go on the defense.} 21. Nfxe6 fxe6 22. Rd2 Rc3 $13) 21... Rc3 {
Nullifying possible tactics and threatening ...Rxa2.} (21... Rxc1 $2 22. Rxc1
Rxa2 $2 23. Nfxe6 fxe6 24. Rc8 $18 {and Black gets mated.}) 22. Nfxe6 fxe6 {[#]
} 23. Rxc3 $2 {Now Black is winning; the White queenside is about to collapse
and the White pieces are still stuck on the kingside.} (23. a4 $1 Rxb3 24. Bb5
Rb2 ({editor -} 24... Rc3 $142 $1) 25. Rf1 $8 $13) 23... bxc3 24. a4 Qxb3 25.
f4 c2 26. Rf1 Qe3+ 1-0

[Event "Ottawa Winter Open"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2017.01.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Demchenko, Svitlana"]
[Black "Gordon, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2086"]
[BlackElo "2310"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. c4 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7
$5 {[#] An unusual Benoni move-order, which can help if White goes for an
early Nd2-c4, but rules out an equalizing option after 7.e4 then ...Bg4.} 7. e4
g6 8. Bd3 (8. h3 Bg7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Qe7 11. Re1 Rb8 12. a4 a6 13. Bf4 Ne8
14. Qd2 Nc7 15. Bf1 Rd8 16. Rad1 Ne8 17. Bg5 f6 18. Be3 Ne5 19. Nxe5 fxe5 20.
a5 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 $14 {1-0 (59) Borovikov,V (2595)-Kononenko,D (2430) Rivne
2005}) (8. Bf4 Nh5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bh6 Bf8 11. Be3 a6 12. a4 Bg7 13. Be2 O-O 14.
O-O Re8 15. Nd2 $14 {1-0 (46) Aleksandrov,A (2604)-Idrisov,T (2262) Nakhchivan
2012}) 8... a6 9. a4 Bg7 10. Bf4 (10. O-O O-O 11. h3 h6 12. Re1 g5 $1 13. Ne2
g4 $1 14. hxg4 Nxg4 15. Ng3 Nde5 16. Be2 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Nxf5 Rxf5 19. Rf1
$14 {1-0 (31) Psakhis,L (2605)-Manor,I (2475) Israel 1992}) 10... Qe7 {Natural,
but Black might be able to develop without protecting the d6-pawn.} (10... Ng4
$5 11. Bxd6 $140 $6 Qb6 $132 12. e5 Ndxe5 13. Bxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 {and Black
has model dark-square play after either} Qxb2 $5 ({or} 14... Bxe5 15. Qe2 Qf6
$15 16. Ne4 Qd8 17. Nxc5 O-O)) 11. O-O O-O 12. h3 {The game has transposed to
a common position. If White has to play this (to keep the B on the h2-d6
diagonal when Black plays ...Nh5) then the early ...Nbd7 is just fine.} Rb8 (
12... Nh5 13. Bh2 Bh6 14. Re1 Bf4 (14... f6 15. a5 Ne5 16. Na4 Bf4 17. Nb6 Rb8
18. Bf1 $14 {0-1 (34) Piket,J (2615)-Romanishin,O (2595) Manila 1992}) 15. g3
Bh6 16. Bf1 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f4 Qd4+ 19. Kg2 Qb4 20. Qd2 f5 21. e5 $6 (21.
exf5 Bxf5 $14) 21... dxe5 22. Rxe5 Bg7 $13 {1-0 (44) Shirov,A (2675)-Dubov,D 
(2629) Moscow 2014}) 13. a5 $146 Ne8 14. Qb3 b5 15. axb6 Rxb6 {[#] The
position of Black's Rb6 could almost stand for the whole Benoni opening: it's
precarious but dynamic. It is lost if White can organize central play (Nc4 or
e4-e5) but makes up for it with counter-attacking chances on the dark squares.
It might be worth mentioning that with White pawns on d5, e4 and h3 all
covering light-squares, Black must either aim for piece play on the dark
squares, or a pawn break on the light squares (with ...f5). Count how many of
Black's next moves are on the dark squares.} 16. Qc2 Ne5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5
Qxe5 19. Ra2 {Both players now aim their Ns at their best squares (c4 and d4).}
Nc7 20. Nd1 Nb5 (20... f5 $5 {would be a different way to play, developing the
Rf8 and trying to make the d5-pawn a target.} 21. Ne3 fxe4 22. Bxe4 Rb4 $13)
21. Ne3 Nd4 22. Qd1 (22. Nc4 Nxc2 23. Nxe5 Nb4 24. Nc4 $8 Rb8 25. Ra3 Nxd3 $1
26. Rxd3 a5 27. Ra1 Ba6 $11) 22... Qg5 23. Kh2 (23. f4 $6 Qg3 $36 24. Qe1 $4
Nf3+ $19) 23... Rb3 24. f4 Qh4 25. Qd2 Re8 26. Nc4 $13 {[#]} (26. Ra3 $11)
26... Bxh3 $3 {The Bc8 had been developed the whole time! Of course, this line
requires lots of correct caluculation, but the clue to finding it comes from
Vukovic's "Art of Attack in Chess", which said something like: when your
pieces control one colour complex, sacrifice on the other colour so you can
attack on both.} 27. gxh3 Rxe4 $1 {The point: Black not only gets a second
pawn, but threatens ...Re2+, which brings the Rb3 into play.} 28. Bxe4 $4 (28.
Nxd6 $2 Re2+ $1 $19) (28. Ne3 $142 Rxf4 $2 (28... Re8 $17 {threatening ...c4.
Black has two pawns, and an attack for the piece.}) 29. Ng2 $8 Rxd3 $1 30. Qxd3
$8 Rf2 $8 31. Rxa6 (31. Rxf2 Qxf2 32. Ra3 $1) 31... Qf4+ $6 32. Kg1 Ne2+ $140
$2 33. Qxe2 $18) (28. Ra3 $142 $1 $11 Re2+ $8 (28... Ne2 $2 29. Qe1 $8 $18) 29.
Bxe2 $8 (29. Qxe2 $2 Nxe2 30. Bxe2 Qxh3+ 31. Kg1 Qg3+ 32. Kh1 Rxa3 33. bxa3 {
White has more pieces and they are very well coordinated, but her K is exposed
and h5-h4-h3 will break their coordination.} h5 34. Rf3 Qe1+ 35. Bf1 Qe4 $19)
29... Qg3+ 30. Kh1 Qxh3+ 31. Kg1 Qg3+ $11) 28... Rxh3+ $8 $19 (28... Qxh3+ $4
29. Kg1 Rg3+ 30. Bg2 $18) 29. Kg1 Qg3+ $8 30. Bg2 (30. Qg2 Ne2#) 30... Qh2+ $8
31. Kf2 Qg3+ $11 {Black needed only a draw to clinch first place, but would
have enjoyed his tournament more if he had found:} (31... Rg3 $1 $18 32. Ne3 (
32. Rg1 Rf3+ $1 33. Ke1 Qxg1+ 34. Bf1 Qxf1#) 32... Rf3+ $1 33. Ke1 Rxe3+ $8 34.
Qxe3 (34. Kd1 Re2 $19) 34... Nc2+ $8 35. Kd2 Nxe3 36. Kxe3 Qxg2 37. Rd1 h5 $19
{[%csl Yb2,Yd5,Ye3,Yf4,Gh5][%cal Gh5h1]}) 32. Kg1 Qh2+ 33. Kf2 Qg3+ $2 $11
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hart House Reading Week Open"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2017.02.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yang, Kaiqi"]
[Black "Plotkin, Victor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2432"]
[BlackElo "2401"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "156"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 32768] IM Kaiqi Yang won the 2017 Hart House Reading Week Open with 5.5/
6 -- TPR of 2714! -- conceding a draw only to IM Nikolay Noritsyn, who was
clear second with 5/6. Yuanchen Zhang held Noritsyn to a draw in the final
round to finish 3rd with 4/6. Others: IM Tomas Krnan3.5/6; IM Peter Vavrak 3/6
http://chess.ca/crosstable?tournament_check_number=201702086} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3
e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 {[#]} 6. Qc2 {The most popular anti-Meran
move. The Q goes to a useful square without conceding a tempo to Black after
Bd3 dxc4.} (6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 {is the start of the very complicated Meran
variation of the semi-Slav. Black's resources seem to be at least enough for
equality, and so 6.Qc2 has actually become the main move among top players,
with only Mamedyarov showing a clear preference for Bd3.}) 6... Be7 {This is
not the most popular, but it has been played by Kortchnoi, Vallejo Pons, and
other 2600+ GMs. Pros: it's less exposed to attack than on d6 (from e4-e5, or
cxd5 then Nb5). Cons: It doesn't help support ...e5, it occupies a decent
square for Black's Q, and (as we'll see in this game) it can be exposed on the
e-file after e3-d4 and d4-d5!} (6... Bd6 {is far-and-away the main move; it and
}) (6... a6 {and}) (6... b6 {all score better than Be7.}) 7. b3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 {
[#]} 9. e4 $5 {Before playing this thematic break White usually castles and
plays Bb2... but maybe there's no need to prepare it when Black is so far from
being able to strike back in the center!?} ({Here are some examples of more
typical play by White:} 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 c5 $1 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Rac1 (12. Rfd1
cxd4 13. exd4 Qc7 14. Nb5 Qb8 15. Ne5 Rfd8 16. f4 Nf8 $11 {(0-1, 39) Sambuev,B
(2523)-Zhigalko,S (2667) Istanbul Ol, 2012.}) 12... Qc7 (12... Bd6 13. Rfd1 Qe7
14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Ne4 cxd4 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Nxd4 $14 {White has the Bishop
pair on a semi-open board; Weiss,M-Schlechter,C Vienna, 1896.}) 13. Rfd1 Qb8
14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bb5 Rfd8 17. e4 Bb7 18. d5 $1 exd5 (18... Nf8
19. dxe6 $14 fxe6 (19... Nxe6 20. Bd7 $16) 20. Be5 Qa8 21. Qb2 $16) 19. exd5
Bd6 20. Qe4 Nf8 $14 {White has more space, and eventually squeezed out some
concessions from Black in Spraggett,K (2571)-Santos,A (2326) Figueira da Foz,
2010.}) 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb7 11. Bb2 h6 $146 (11... Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Nf6 13. Bd3
c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Rd1 Bb4+ 16. Kf1 Qe7 (16... Kh8 17. Bxh7 $14) 17. Bxf6 $1
Qxf6 18. Bxh7+ Kh8 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. g3 $16 Rd1+ 23.
Kg2 Rxh1 24. Kxh1 $16 {In Adamski,J (2410)-Georgievski,V (2320) Rzeszow, 1980,
Black has only a little development for the pawn, since the following tactic
doesn't work:} Qa1+ $2 25. Kg2 Qxa2 26. Ng5 $1 $18 {with a forced mate.}) 12.
O-O-O $5 {[#] Unusual. White normally castles short, as you can see from the
games embedded above. But unless Black can force open the b or c-files, the
white K isn't in much danger; and Black's Bs don't make much of an impression.
On the other hand, Black's Ph6 gives White a hook to aim at, and his two Bs
are already pointed at the Black K.} Qc7 (12... b5 $5 {is the obvious way to
create some play, when} 13. c5 {concedes d5 but still seems to keep an
advantage:} b4 {trying to force open the a-file, but it looks like White is
faster; e.g.} (13... Nd5 14. a3 {this keeps the queenside files closed.
Computers prefer Black, but I'm not so sure.}) 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6 15. g4 $5 {
and White has the initiative.}) 13. Rhe1 a5 14. a3 Rfd8 15. Kb1 {[%mdl 64] [#]
Critical Position ...c5 or ...Nxe4} c5 $6 (15... Nxe4 $142 16. Bxe4 Nf6 17. Bd3
c5 $13 (17... b5 $13)) 16. d5 $1 {A very strong pawn sac.} exd5 17. Nc3 $1 (17.
cxd5 Bxd5 18. Ned2 (18. Nd4 $5) 18... Bf8 $15 {and Black's play against the
White King should come first.}) 17... dxc4 $2 (17... d4 $4 18. Nb5 {and the Q
and Be7 are hanging.}) (17... Bd6 18. cxd5 {gives White a space and
development advantage, since the d5-pawn can't be taken:} Nxd5 $4 19. Nxd5 Bxd5
20. Bh7+ $18 {winning the exposed Bd5.}) 18. Bxc4 {[#] If Black's Rs were on
e8 and d8 then the position would be balanced, but where they are now Black's
position may already be beyond saving!} Bxf3 $1 (18... Bf8 $2 19. Qg6 $1 $18) (
18... Nf8 $2 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Ne5 $18 {wins f7 and the game; e.g.} Nd5 (20...
Ne6 21. Nxf7 $18) 21. Nxf7 $8 Kxf7 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Qf5+ $18 {material will
be equal for one ply, then Black will have to give up the exchange to save
himself from the light-square attack.}) 19. gxf3 Nf8 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 {[#]
} Rxd5 $8 (21... Rac8 $2 22. Rg1 $18 {Black's kingside is toast:} Ne6 (22...
Ng6 23. Qxg6 $18) 23. Rxg7+ Nxg7 24. Qc3 $18) 22. Rxd5 $16 {White is up an
exchange for a pawn and with more active pieces.} Rd8 23. Qf5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Ne6
25. Be5 $1 Qc8 26. f4 g6 {[#]} 27. f5 $1 $18 {Trading a doubled pawn to
degrade Black's kingside and open another file for the R.} gxf5 28. Bb2 Qc7 29.
Qxf5 Qxh2 30. Qf3 Qh4 31. Rg1+ Kf8 32. Rh1 Qg5 33. Qa8+ Bd8 34. Rd1 h5 35. f4
Qh4 36. Ka2 Ke8 37. Qc6+ {[#] Materially, Black is ahead, with NPP for the R,
but his K is so exposed that there's no way to save the game. In fact, almost
1/2 of White's next 30 moves are checks, which might indicate time trouble,
but certainly shows who has the initiative. I've included a few notes the
computer rates as improvements, but none of them significantly alter the
evaluation: White is winning.} Kf8 38. Qa8 Ke8 39. Qc6+ Kf8 40. f5 $1 Nd4 $1 (
40... Qg4 $2 41. Qd6+ {defending d1} Be7 42. Qb8+ {[%eval 32764,0]}) 41. Qh6+ (
41. Qd6+ $142 Be7 (41... Ke8 42. Rg1 $18) 42. Qh6+ Ke8 43. Bxd4 cxd4 44. Qh8+
$1 Bf8 45. Rc1 $1 $18) 41... Ke7 42. Qh8 Bc7 43. Qc8 Qh2 (43... Qg3 $1 44. f6+
$8 $16) 44. Re1+ Kf6 (44... Be5 $142) 45. Qh8+ $1 Kxf5 46. Qh7+ Kf6 47. Qh6+
Kf5 48. Qh7+ Kf6 49. Rf1+ Bf4 50. Qh6+ Kf5 51. Qxb6 Ne6 52. Qb7 $1 (52. Qxa5 $2
Qe2 $1 53. Re1 Qf2 {and the h-pawn gives Black some hope.}) 52... Kg6 53. Qe4+
Kg5 54. Qd5+ Kg4 55. Qf3+ Kf5 56. Rh1 Qd2 57. Rxh5+ Ng5 58. Qh3+ Ke4 59. Qh1+
Kf5 60. Qh3+ Ke4 61. Qh1+ Kf5 62. Qf1 Kg6 $1 63. Rh1 Be5 64. Qc1 {[#]If
Black's K was on e4 then the following exchanges would give decent drawing
chances; but so far back it can't support the f-pawn or the weak queenside
pawns.} Qxb2+ 65. Qxb2 Bxb2 66. Kxb2 Ne4 67. Kc2 f5 68. Rg1+ Kf6 69. Kd3 Ke5
70. Rg8 {[#] Stopping the f-pawn (due to Re8+) and preparing to win the a-pawn.
} Kd5 71. Ra8 {If Black's c5 pawn was back on b6 this would probably draw, but
three isolated pawns are two weaknesses too many.} f4 72. Rf8 $1 Nf2+ 73. Ke2
Ng4 74. Rxf4 Ne5 75. Ra4 Nc6 76. Kd2 Nd4 77. Kc3 Nc6 78. Rh4 Ne5 1-0

[Event "Hart House Reading Week Open"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2017.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hua, Eugene"]
[Black "Issani, Nameer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2303"]
[BlackElo "2205"]
[Annotator "John Upper"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

{[%mdl 32768]} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bc5 5. Nf3 d6 6. d3 a6 7.
a3 O-O 8. O-O h6 {[#] The opening doesn't promise a tactical slug-fest --
especially not if White continues in the usual way with e2-e3 and Nd2, keeping
all his pieces behind his slowly-advancing pawn wave -- but all the pieces are
still on the board, and both of Black's Bs are pointed at the White K.} 9. h3 (
9. b4 Ba7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. e3 Ne7 12. Nd2 (12. d4) 12... Rb8 13. Nde4 Ng6 14.
Rc1 c6 15. c5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 d5 17. Nd6 $16 {(0-1, 44) Grischuk,A (2754)
-Carlsen,M (2857) chess.com blitz, 2016.}) 9... Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Bb2 (11. e3
Qd7 12. Kh2 Ne7 13. a4 Ng6 14. Nd2 c6 15. Nce4 Ne8 16. c5 $2 d5 17. Nc3 a5 18.
Ba3 axb4 19. Bxb4 f5 {(1-0, 39) Kuljasevic,D (2567)-Valsecchi,A (2407) Skopje,
2014.} (19... d4 $15)) 11... Nh5 12. e3 f5 13. b5 axb5 {[#]} 14. cxb5 (14. Nxb5
$5 {would be an atypical capture -- White's b-pawn push is to dislodge the Nc6
and extend the power of the Bg2 -- but it leaves White with more pawn presence
in the center, and some tempo play against the Ba7; e.g.} Bb6 15. c5 $5 Bxc5
16. d4 Na7 (16... Bb6 17. d5 $16) 17. dxc5 Nxb5 18. a4 $14) 14... Na5 (14...
Ne7 $6 15. Nh4 {attacks h5 and b7.}) 15. Kh2 Nf6 {[#] Black can improve his
position with central play (...Qd7 and ...c6) or a kingside pawn advance, or
both, but I don't see any promising plan for White. It might be objectively
best to sit tight with Ne2, but White lashes out with...} 16. d4 e4 17. Nd2 d5
{Computers hate this move, which has the effect of making all four Bs "bad".}
18. a4 c6 19. Ba3 Rf7 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Nb3 Nxb3 (21... Nc4 $1 22. Bc5 Bb8 $19
{and suddenly, Black has unstoppable winning threats with ...Nxe3 and ...Ng4+.}
) 22. Qxb3 g5 23. Rfb1 $2 f4 $17 24. Bc5 {[#]} Bb8 $17 (24... f3 $142 $1 25.
Bf1 h5 {Black's pawn storm will tear the roof of White's castle.}) (24... fxg3+
$142 $1 25. fxg3 Bb8 {threatening ...Bxg3+ then ...Qc7+.}) 25. exf4 gxf4 26.
Nxe4 $1 Nxe4 (26... Nh5 $1 27. Qd1 Nxg3 $1 28. Nxg3 fxg3+ 29. fxg3 Bxg3+ $8 $19
) 27. Bxe4 fxg3+ 28. fxg3 Rg7 $1 {[%mdl 64] [#]Critical Position Black is down
a pawn but is threatening g3 and has four pieces pointed at the White K.
Tactically, both LSBs might come off the board (if Black chooses) and White's
Q is currently forced to keep the pin on the d5-pawn.} 29. Rg1 $2 (29. Ra3 $8 {
a preposterous-looking defensive move, but the best available, and keeps the
game alive.} Bxg3+ (29... Rxg3 $4 30. Qxb8 $8 Rxb8 31. Rxg3+ $8 $18) 30. Qxg3
Rxg3 31. Rxg3+ Kh8 $8 $13 {Materially, Black is ahead, but his exposed K and
White's active pieces make it a game.} (31... Kf7 32. Rf1+ $18 {wins the Q for
a R.})) 29... Qc8 $2 {Defends the Be6 and so threatens ...dxe4.} (29... Qh4 $4
30. Qxb8+ $18) (29... Qc7 30. Bc2 $1 $16 {threatens Qe3 (forking e6 and h6)
and with White's a1-R coming to the f-file, now White will have more pieces
pointed at the Black K than vice versa.}) (29... Qg5 $1 {threatens ...Bxh3
then ...Qg4.} 30. Raf1 $8 {threatens Rf8#.} Bc7 {defends f8 and renews the
threat to h3.}) (29... Bc7 $1 $19 {puts the B on a safe square so that ...Qh4
is a killing threat.}) 30. Bf3 Bxh3 $15 31. Qe3 Bf5 32. Rg2 Qd8 33. Kg1 $1 {
Getting off h2 means no check from Black's DSB and no h-file pin after Qxh6.}
Bh3 34. Qxh6 Bxg2 {[#]} 35. Qe6+ $2 (35. Bxg2 $2 Qd7 $8 $19 (35... Bxg3 36.
Qxc6 $13)) (35. Bg4 $3 Rxg4 36. Qe6+ $13 Kh8 37. Qxg4 Be4 38. Rf1 $1 {
threatening Rf8 and Rf7.} Bxg3 $8 39. Qxg3 Qg8 $8 $11) 35... Kh8 $19 36. Bxg2 (
36. Kxg2 Rxg3+ 37. Kf1 Ra7 $19 (37... Rxf3+ $4 38. Ke2 $11)) 36... Bxg3 37. Rf1
Qh4 38. Rf6 Bf4 39. Kf1 {[#]} Rxg2 $4 (39... Rb8 $19) 40. Kxg2 $11 Rg8+ 41. Rg6
$8 Qh2+ 42. Kf3 Qh5+ 43. Rg4 Qh1+ 44. Kxf4 {[#]} Qf1+ $4 (44... Qh2+ $8 $11 45.
Ke3 Qh3+ 46. Kf2 Rxg4 (46... Qxg4 $4 47. Qh6#) 47. Qf6+ Kh7 48. Qf5+ $8 {
and White has a perpetual.}) 45. Ke5 $18 Qe2+ 46. Kf6 $8 (46. Kd6 $2 Rd8+ 47.
Kc7 (47. Ke7 Re8+ $19) 47... Qxe6 48. Rh4+ Kg7 49. Kxd8 Qf6+ 50. Be7 $13) 46...
Qf3+ 47. Qf5 $8 Qxg4 48. Qxg4 $8 Rxg4 49. a5 Rg2 50. a6 Rf2+ 51. Ke6 Kg7 52. a7
Ra2 53. Kd7 1-0

