[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Bb3 Qe7 13. Ne4 {This is one of
the main positions of the Moscow variation.} e5 (13... Rd8 {is too passive:}
14. Rfd1 $1 (14. Rad1 $143 a5 15. a3 Ra6 (15... Nf8 16. Ne5 Bd7 17. f4 Be8 18.
g4 Kh8 19. Rde1 $14 {1/2-1/2 San Segundo Carrillo,P-Zvjaginsev,V/Pamplona 1996/
CBM 052 (28)}) 16. Rd2 (16. h3 $5 {Dreev}) (16. h4 $5) 16... Nf6 17. Nc5 Ra7
18. Ne5 Bd7 19. Rfd1 Be8 20. Na4 Raa8 21. e4 Qc7 22. Nf3 Rac8 23. e5 Nd7 24.
Rc1 $6 (24. Qe4 $11) 24... c5 25. Qe4 b6 26. g3 Qb8 27. d5 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Qxe5
29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. Nxb6 (30. Re2 Bxa4 31. Bxa4 Rxd5) 30... Rb8 31. Nc4 Bd4 $17 {
0-1 Bareev,E-Dreev,A/Wijk aan Zee 1995/CBM 045 (54)}) 14... Nf8 15. Ne5 (15.
Rac1 $5 Bd7 16. a3 Be8 17. Ne5 f5 $6 18. Nd2 Rac8 19. Nd3 g5 20. Qc5 Rc7 21.
Qxa7 Bh5 22. Re1 Kh8 23. Qa5 b5 24. Rc5 $16 {1-0 Goldin,A-Bykhovsky,A/Israel
1996/CBM 052 ext (34)}) 15... f6 16. Nf3 Bd7 17. Qc5 Qxc5 18. dxc5 f5 19. Nd6
Bxb2 20. Rab1 Bf6 21. Nxb7 Re8 22. e4 fxe4 23. Nd2 e3 24. fxe3 Bg5 25. Kf2 Reb8
26. Nd6 a5 27. N2c4 a4 28. Bc2 a3 29. Rxb8 Rxb8 30. Rb1 Rxb1 31. Bxb1 $16 {
1/2-1/2 Biriukov,O-Ivanov,S/St Petersburg 1998/CBM 065/[Hecht] (51)}) 14. Nc3 {
[%cal Rc2g6] An interesting move. After provoking ...e6-e5 the knight comes
back to support d4-d5. White has a lot of other options seen in practice:} (14.
Rfe1 Kh8 15. Ned2 (15. Rad1 f5 16. Nc5 e4 17. Nd2 Nxc5 18. dxc5 Qe5 19. Rb1 Bd7
20. Red1 Rad8 21. Qc4 b5 22. cxb6 axb6 23. a4 b5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Guliev,S-Yagupov,
I/Moscow 1997/EXT 2000 (46)}) (15. Nc3 $142 $1) 15... Re8 $1 16. Nc4 e4 17.
Nfe5 $6 (17. Nfd2 Nf8 18. h3 Bf5 19. Rac1 Rad8 $15 {Dreev}) 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5
(18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Bf5 $15) 18... Bf5 19. Rad1 Rf8 20. Nd6 Bxe5 21. Nxf5
gxf5 22. Rd2 Rad8 23. Red1 Kg7 $15 {0-1 Dautov,R-Dreev,A/Yerevan (ol) 1996/Inf
68/[Dreev,A] (75)}) (14. Rfd1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nf6 16. Nc5 b6 17. Nd3 c5 18. Nf4
Kh7 19. Nde6 Bxe6 20. Bxe6 b5 21. Bd5 Rad8 22. a4 a6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra5 Kh8
25. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Tukmakov,V-Korotylev,A/Biel 2003/CBM 095 ext}) (14. Rad1 exd4
15. exd4 (15. Rfe1 d3 16. Qxd3 Kh7 17. Nd6 Nc5 18. Qc2 Nxb3 19. Nxc8 Rfxc8 20.
Qxb3 a5 21. Qc2 Rd8 22. b3 Qb4 {1/2-1/2 Litvinenko,N-Wilczek,T/Chessfriend.com
2003/Telechess CBM 101 (43)}) 15... Nf6 (15... Nb6 16. Rfe1 Bg4 17. Ned2 Qd6
18. h3 Bf5 19. Ne4 Qf4 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. Qc5 Qxb2 23. Ng3 Nd5 24.
Nxf5 gxf5 25. Bxd5 cxd5 26. Qxd5 $44 {1/2-1/2 Dautov,R-Godena,M/Vienna 1996/
CBM 053 ext/[Chekhov] (42)}) 16. Nc5 Bf5 17. Qc1 Rad8 (17... b6 18. Nd3 Qd6 19.
Nde5 Be4 20. Rfe1 Bd5 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. h3 Ne4 23. Qe3 Rac8 24. Rc1 b5 $11 {
0-1 Shipov,S-Dreev,A/Internet ICC 2002/EXT 2003 (74)}) 18. Rfe1 Qc7 19. h3 Nd5
20. Nd3 Qd6 21. Nfe5 Rfe8 22. Nf4 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Qxh6
Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 d4 $13 {1-0 Sokolov,I-Savchenko,S/Lyon 1994/CBM 045 (88)}) (14.
Ng3 $5 Kh8 15. h4 (15. Rad1 Re8 (15... f5 $5) (15... a5) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5
Bxe5 18. f4 Bg7 (18... Bc7 $143 19. Qc3+ (19. f5 g5 20. Qc4 Qxe3+ 21. Kh1 Qe7
22. Qxf7 Qxf7 23. Bxf7 Rf8 24. Bg6 b6 25. Nh5 Be5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Gallo,L-Busch,
K/IECG 2003/Telechess 117 (53)}) 19... Kg8 $2 (19... f6 $142 20. e4 $36 {
Kaidanov,G.}) 20. f5 g5 21. Kh1 Be5 22. Qc4 Bxg3 23. hxg3 Rf8 24. Qc3 c5 25. f6
Qc7 26. Qd3 c4 27. Bxc4 Bf5 28. Rxf5 Rad8 29. Rd5 {1-0 Kaidanov,G-Ippolito,D/
Connecticut 2002/CBM 087 ext}) 19. f5 (19. e4 Bg4 {1/2-1/2 Castaneda,G-Yagupov,
I/Tula 2007/CBM 119 ext}) 19... Bxf5 20. Nxf5 gxf5 21. Qxf5 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Qe4
23. Qxf7 Re7 24. Qf2 {1/2-1/2 Ruck,R-Goloshchapov,A/Topola 2004/CBM 101}) 15...
f5 (15... Re8 $5 {[%cal Ye5e4]} 16. Qc4 Rf8) 16. h5 e4 17. Nd2 g5 18. Rac1 c5
19. Qc4 Qf6 20. dxc5 Ne5 21. Qb5 a6 22. Qa5 Nd3 23. Rc2 Nxb2 24. Rb1 Nd3 25.
Nc4 $14 {0-1 Bacrot,E-Filippov,V/Corsica 1997/EXT 1999 (49)}) 14... a5 $146 (
14... Kh8 15. Rad1 f5 (15... b6 16. d5 Bb7 17. h4 Nc5 18. d6 Qd7 19. h5 Nxb3
20. axb3 g5 21. e4 Rad8 22. Ne2 Qe6 23. Ng3 (23. Qd3 $5) 23... Rxd6 24. Nf5
Rdd8 25. Nh2 c5 26. Ng4 a5 27. Nge3 $44 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Piket,J/Monte Carlo
2002/CBM 087 ext (38)}) 16. d5 (16. Ne2 a5 17. Rfe1 Kh7 18. a3 e4 19. Nd2 c5
20. Nc3 Nb6 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 cxd4 23. exd4 Be6 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. d5 Qd7
26. a4 Rac8 27. Qb3 $13 {1-0 Epiney,F-Mauro,L/Chessfriend.com 2003/Telechess
CBM 95 (49)}) (16. e4 f4 17. d5 g5 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Na4 g4 20. Nd2 Ba6 21. Bc4
Bb5 22. Nc3 Bxc4 23. Nxc4 Nc5 24. Nd6 $36 {1-0 Pozo Vera,S-Rasmussen,K/Havana
CUB 2007/The Week in Chess 655 (66)}) 16... e4 17. Nd4 Ne5 18. Nce2 Bd7 (18...
cxd5 $142) 19. Nf4 Rfc8 20. d6 Qf6 21. Nde6 Rab8 22. Qc5 Kh7 23. Qxa7 $16 {
1-0 Makarov,M-Lastin,A/Krasnoyarsk RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 670 (40)}) (14...
Kh7 $142 $1 15. Rad1 (15. Rfe1 $143 Re8 (15... b6 16. Rad1 Bb7 $11 17. h4 $6
Rae8 18. h5 e4 19. Nd2 Nf6 20. hxg6+ fxg6 21. f3 exf3 22. Nxf3 Ng4 23. Qd3 Rxf3
24. gxf3 Nxe3 $17 {0-1 Graf,A-Goloshchapov,A/Dubai 2003/CBM 093 ext (51)}) 16.
Rad1 e4 17. Nd2 f5 18. Nc4 Nb6 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. a3 Bd7 21. Rd2 b5 22. d5 Qc5
23. dxc6 Bxc6 24. Ne2 Qxc2 25. Rxc2 Red8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov,S-Gelfand,B/
Moscow RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 681 (82)}) 15... f5 (15... Re8 16. d5 Nc5 17.
d6 Qd7 18. Nd5 (18. Ne4 $142) 18... e4 19. Ne1 cxd5 20. Qxc5 d4 21. exd4 Rd8
22. Nc2 f5 23. Ne3 b6 24. Qd5 $6 Bb7 25. Qe6 Qxe6 26. Bxe6 Rxd6 $17 {0-1
Halkias,S-Potkin,V/Katernberg GER 2007/The Week in Chess 682 (54)}) 16. d5 (16.
Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Rd3 f4 19. exf4 Qxf4 20. Re3 Bf5 21. Qe2 Rad8 22.
Bc2 $11 {1/2-1/2 Oms Pallise,J-Perez Candelario,M/Lorca 2005/CBM 111 (29)})
16... e4 17. Nd4 Ne5 18. Nce2 Nd3 $1 19. dxc6 bxc6 20. Qxc6 Bb7 {The g6 pawn
is protected!} 21. Qe6 Rfe8 22. Qxe7 Rxe7 23. Nc1 Bxd4 24. exd4 Nxb2 25. Rd2
Nd3 26. Nxd3 exd3 27. Bc4 Rd8 28. Rxd3 Rc7 29. Re3 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Bu
Xiangzhi-Motylev,A/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 682}) 15. a3 {
An obvious reply. The insertion of ...a7-a5 and a2-a3 must be favorable for
White as Black's queenside is now weakened.} (15. Qxg6 $2 a4) 15... Kh7 16.
Rfe1 (16. Rad1 {needs testing.}) 16... b6 (16... Re8 $5) 17. Rad1 Bb7 18. d5 $1
{Of course! Instead of anti-positional plans with h2-h4 (see 14...Kh7), White
breaks in the centre.} Rac8 (18... cxd5 {deserved attention although the
weakness of the b6 pawn was now quite annoying.} 19. Bxd5 Nc5 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21.
e4 $14) 19. d6 Qe8 20. h4 $1 {Now, after gaining space in the centre, it's
time to switch to the kingside!} f5 21. e4 $1 {[%cal Rh4h5]} f4 22. Na4 $1 {
The consequences of 14...a5? will now make Black worry during the whole game.
However, his position is still very solid.} Bf6 23. g3 Bd8 24. Kg2 Rf6 25. g4
Ba6 ({Alas,} 25... Qf8 {doesn't work due to} 26. g5 $1 Rxd6 27. Rxd6 Qxd6 28.
Qc4 Qf8 29. Rd1 Rc7 30. Qe6 Bc8 31. Rd6 $18) (25... Rf8 $5 {deserved attention
but I guess, Black intentionally allowed White to open up the kingside, in
order to get some counterplay in future.}) 26. g5 Rf8 27. gxh6 $6 {This turns
out to be good for Black.} (27. Rh1 $142 c5 ({in case of} 27... h5 {White will
prepare an invasion to e6}) 28. Bd5 b5 29. Nc3 b4 (29... c4 30. a4 $1 b4 31.
Nb5) 30. Na4 c4 31. axb4 axb4 32. Ra1 {keeping initiative.}) 27... Kxh6 28. Rg1
c5 29. Bd5 b5 30. Nc3 {The knight has fulfilled its mission.} b4 31. Ne2 $6 (
31. Na4 c4 32. axb4 axb4 33. Ra1 Bb5 34. Qd2 Nf6 $132) 31... Nb6 32. Kh2 Rh8 $2
{Overlooking a tactical blow. After} (32... Kg7 33. Rg4 Rh8 {the position
remained tense.}) {[%tqu "En","What tactical blow did Black overlook?","","",
"d5f7","",10]} 33. Bf7 $1 Qxf7 34. Nxe5 Qe8 35. Nxg6 {and the black king is
helpless.} Nd7 36. Nexf4 Ne5 37. d7 $1 Nxd7 38. e5 Qxe5 39. Nxe5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 {The Breyer system seems to suit Mamedyarov's style
perfectly well. It is quite flexible and allows Black to change the setup from
one game to another, confusing the opponent from an early stage . The
objective correctness of the lines employed is of secondary importance, once
the points are brought home!} 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6
15. a4 Bg7 {This is considered to be slightly passive.} ({The main line goes} 
15... c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 {, for instance:} 20. Bg5
(20. Bxc5 dxc5 {Grischuk,A (2748)-Kamsky,G (2720)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 130/[Marin,
M] (0-1, 101)}) 20... Be7 21. Ra3 {Inarkiev,E (2684)-Kamsky,G (2726)/Baku 2008/
CBM 124/[Marin,M] (0-1, 48)}) 16. Bd3 d5 $5 {But this is a really rare move!
Black immediately sets up tension in the centre, taking advantage of the fact
that White has just spent another tempo with a piece that had consumed a lot
of time already.} ({The aforementioned evaluation of 15...Bg7 is based on the
fact that Black usually defends his b-pawn with} 16... c6 {, see for instance
Timofeev,A (2521)-Bologan,V (2655)/Kazan 2001/CBM 085/[Wedberg] (1-0, 37)}) 17.
Bg5 $1 {A logical developing move. It had been the over the board choice of a
player who five years later was to become one of the greatest World Champions
ever. In view of the pin, Black is best advised to refrain from releasing the
tension in the centre. The position becomes very complicated, requiring deep
calculation on every step. The fact is that the moves dxe5 and exd5 and their
symmetrical corresponding moves need to be taken into account on every step.} (
17. axb5 {is not dangerous.} dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 axb5 21.
Bg5 f6 22. Bd2 c5 $5 (22... Rxa1 23. Qxa1 Qa8 24. Qxa8 Rxa8 25. dxe5 fxe5 26.
Re2 Ra2 $132) 23. dxe5 {White did not find a good moment to capture on a8
because after ...Qxa8 he would have to lose a tempo to move or defend his rook.
} Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Qd5 26. Qe1 (26. Re2 {is slightly more
consistent, but White's advantage remains microscopical:} Rxe5 27. Rxe5 fxe5
28. Be3 e4 29. g3 c4 30. Qa7 h5 {with a probable draw.}) 26... Rxe5 27. Rxe5
Qxe5 28. Qxe5 fxe5 29. b3 c4 $11 {and Black has no problems at all, Garcia
Vera, R-Redolfi,A/Buenos Aires 1958/MCL (1/2, 39)}) (17. exd5 exd4 18. Rxe8+ (
18. Nxd4 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Nc5 {/\ Qd5=/+}) 18... Qxe8 ({Minic recommends} 18...
Nxe8 {, which looks good enough, indeed.} 19. Nxd4 Nc5 20. axb5 $1 Bxd4 $1 21.
cxd4 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxd5 $11) 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bf1 (20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. Bf1 c6 $11) 20... c5 21. Nde2 Bc6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 $15 {
Berezjuk,S (2436)-Sodoma,J (2379)/Czechia 2008/CBM 127 Extra (1/2, 31). The
position is almost symmetrical, but Black's pieces are more active.}) 17... b4
$5 $146 {Finally removing this pawn from the attacked square and sacrificing
it in order to spoil White's structure.} (17... dxe4 $6 {leaves the initiative
to White:} 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Nxe4 exd4 20. Nxd4 c5 (20... h6 21. Nc6 Qc8 22.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Bxf6 $1 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 Bxf6 25. Qe4 $16 {Milic}) 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 (
21... Bxf6 $2 22. Nc6 {/\ Qd7!+- Milic}) 22. Nxc5 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 b4 $5 24. Rc1
{'?!' Milic,B.} (24. Rd1 $1 bxc3 25. Qxc3 Rc8 26. b4 Ne4 $5 27. Qe1 $1 $16 Nxc5
$2 28. Nc6 $1 $18 {Milic}) 24... bxc3 25. bxc3 (25. Qxc3 Rc8 $1 $44 {Milic})
25... Qd5 26. Ndb3 Bf8 27. Qd1 Qxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rc8 29. Nxa6 Rxc3 30. Rb1 Bd6 $11
{/\...Rc6} 31. Rd1 Bf8 32. Rb1 Nd7 $2 (32... Bd6 $11) 33. a5 Rc6 34. Rd1 $16 {
Karpov,A-O'Kelly de Galway,A/Caracas 1970/MCD (1-0, 41)}) 18. cxb4 {
Strategically, not the most consistent and possibly not the best move.} (18.
exd5 {looks like a premature releasing of the tension, similar to Black's ...
dxe4 in the previous game.} bxc3 19. bxc3 exd4 20. c4 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 h6 22. Bf4
Nc5 23. Qd1 c6 $132) ({White should continue his development by connecting
rooks, but how?} 18. Qd2 {places the queen on a vulnerable square, allowing ...
Nxe4 in certain cases.} bxc3 19. bxc3 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Nxe4 exd4 22.
Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. cxd4 Qd5) (18. Qc2 {does not put too much pressure and may be
answered with} h6) (18. Qc1 {prevents both ...h6 and ...Nxe4, but is a bit
passive. Black could answer symemtrically with} Qc8 {, getting out of the pin.}
) ({The main drawback of Black's novelty is the weakening of the queenside
light squares. From this point of view,} 18. Qb3 $5 {deserves serious
attention:} c5 (18... h6 19. Qxb4 Rb8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Qa5) 19. exd5 Bxd5 20.
Qxd5 $1 (20. Bc4 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 exd4 22. cxd4 cxd4 $11) 20... Nxd5 21. Bxd8
Raxd8 (21... Rexd8 22. Be4 $16) 22. Bc4 $14 {White is better regrouped and
Black's position has many weak light squares.}) 18... h6 19. Bxf6 (19. Bd2 {
is harmless:} dxe4 20. Nxe4 exd4) ({The thematic} 19. Bh4 $5 {, as worked out
by Judit Polgar in another line of the Breyer, deserves attention:} g5 20. Nxg5
hxg5 21. Bxg5 exd4 22. exd5 $44 {[%cal Gg3f5]}) 19... Qxf6 20. Rc1 Qd6 $44 {
Black is well regrouped now and exerts strong pressure against White's centre
and queenside.} 21. b5 (21. exd5 Bxd5 22. dxe5 (22. Ne4 Qxb4 $132) (22. b5 exd4
23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. bxa6 Nc5 $132) 22... Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 {With so many dark
squares under attack, White cannot maintain his material advantage.}) (21. Qc2
Qxb4 (21... Rac8 $6 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ne4 $1 Qxb4 24. Bxa6 $16 {This is a
moment in which the insertion of the moves Qc2 and Rac8 favours White if
compared to the game continuation.}) 22. Qxc7 Red8 $132) 21... axb5 {Black
cannot ignore the queenside tension.} (21... exd4 $6 22. bxa6 Bxa6 23. Bxa6
Rxa6 24. Nxd4 $16 {Black has not enough compensation for the pawn, because he
cannot play} dxe4 $2 25. Nb5 $1 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 {[%cal Gb5c7,Gd1d7]} Rd8 (26...
Re7 27. Rxc7 $18) 27. Rxc7 $18) 22. Bxb5 {[%cal Gb5e8] The only way to avoid
disaster in the centre.} (22. axb5 exd4 $17) 22... c6 23. Bf1 exd4 24. Nxd4 {
Black has excellent development and the missing bishop leaves White unstable
on dark squares. Despite the missing pawn, Black's position looks very
pleasant. However, he must avoid certain tricks still.} Rab8 $1 {The start of
a coherent plan of improving the piece placement even more. For the time being,
the weakened b-file is taken under control.} (24... dxe4 $2 25. Nxc6 $16) 25.
b3 (25. Qd2 $2 dxe4 $1 $15) 25... Ba8 26. Nf3 Nc5 27. Rb1 Ne6 $44 28. Qd2 Rb4
29. exd5 {White intends to place his bishop on b5, but this way of releasing
the tension leaves the g7-bishop very active.} (29. e5 $5 {may be a better way
to restrict Black's initiative.}) 29... cxd5 30. Bb5 Rd8 31. Red1 Rf4 $36 {
[%cal Gf4f3] Suddently dark clouds are gathering around the white king.} 32.
Ne1 {This (and the next) knight retreat does not look nice, but it is hard to
find a satisfactory continuation.} (32. b4 Rxf3 33. gxf3 Ng5 $40) (32. Be2 h5
33. b4 d4 $36) 32... Bd4 $1 33. Nh1 Ba7 {One gets the feeling that the whole
board is Black's. The ease with which he transfers his pieces from one wing to
another is impressive.} 34. Nd3 Rh4 35. Re1 ({Rather sadly, White cannot bring
his knight back in the game:} 35. Ng3 $2 Qxg3) 35... Ng5 36. Qe2 Ne4 37. Rbc1
Bb8 {The start of what should have been the decisive phase of the attack. The
next few moves may have been played in mutual time trouble.} 38. f4 g5 $5 (
38... Rxf4 $1 39. Nxf4 Qxf4 40. g3 (40. g4 Ng5 $19) 40... Nxg3 $19) 39. g3 (39.
Nhf2 gxf4 $17) 39... Rxh3 $2 (39... gxf4 40. gxh4 f3 41. Qb2 Ba7+ $1 $19) 40.
Qg4 Qe6 41. Qxe6 fxe6 42. Bd7 $2 {This is a nice trick, but after Black's
accurate answer it will leave the bishop hanging.} (42. Kg2 Rh5 43. Nhf2 $13 {
offers White chances to regroup properly, while the h5-rook may have problems
returning into the game.}) 42... Kf7 $1 $17 (42... Rxd7 $2 43. Rc8+ $16) 43.
Kg2 Rh5 44. f5 exf5 $1 (44... Rxd7 $6 45. fxe6+ Kxe6 46. Rc8 $132) 45. Bxf5 Nf6
(45... Rxh1 $5 46. Rxh1 Nxg3 $17) 46. Nhf2 d4+ 47. Kg1 Bxg3 $17 {Having again
gained an advantage, Mamedyarov will not let it slip away for the second time.}
48. Ne5+ Bxe5 49. Rxe5 g4 50. Be6+ Kg6 51. Rcc5 g3 52. Nh3 Rxe5 53. Rxe5 Ne4
54. Bg4 Rf8 55. Re6+ Kg7 56. Re7+ Kh8 57. Be2 Nd2 58. Nf4 (58. a5 Nf3+ 59. Kg2
(59. Bxf3 Bxf3 {[%cal Gf8c8]} 60. Kf1 d3 61. Ke1 Bg4 62. Ng1 Rf2 63. Re8+ Kg7
64. Rd8 Ra2 65. Rxd3 Ra1+ 66. Kd2 Rxg1 $19) 59... Nh4+ 60. Kg1 (60. Kxg3 Nf5+)
60... Bg2 $19 {[%csl Gh3]}) 58... Rxf4 59. Re8+ Kg7 60. Rxa8 Rf2 61. Bh5 Rh2
62. Bd1 Ne4 63. Bf3 Ng5 64. Bg2 h5 65. Rd8 Ne6 66. Rd7+ Kf6 67. a5 Nf4 68. Bf1
d3 69. Rd6+ Ke5 70. Rd8 g2 71. Re8+ Kd6 0-1

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP 2nd"]
[Site "Tashkent"]
[Date "2012.11.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2012.11.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UZB"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2 e6 {Evading the main
line} (6... c5) 7. O-O b6 8. b4 (8. b3 {is the most popular move but the text
continuation is quite logical.}) 8... dxc4 (8... c5 $6 {is premature:} 9. bxc5
bxc5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 (10... exd5 11. Ba3 Qa5 $140 $2 12. Bxc5 Qxc3 13. Bxf8 Bxf8
14. Rc1) 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Ba3 Nd7 13. Qc2 Re8 {1-0 Gromek,J-Witkowski,S/
Wroclaw 1955/MCL (22)} (13... Bb7 14. Rfd1) 14. Rab1 $16 {[%cal Rd4c5]}) 9.
Bxc4 Bb7 (9... Nd5 $5 10. Nxd5 (10. Qb3 Bb7 11. Bb2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd7 13. Be2
Nf6 14. Rac1 Ne4 15. Ba1 Qe7 16. Rc2 Rfc8 $11 {0-1 Salas,M-Stahlberg,G/
Santiago de Chile 1946/EXT 2002 (62)}) 10... exd5 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 $5) 11...
Re8 12. Ba3 a6 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Bb2 Bb5 15. a4 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Bf8 $5 17. Qd2 Bd6
$132 {1/2 Frey Beckman,K (2350)-Lombardy,W (2525)/Mexico 1980/EXT 2009 (60)})
10. a4 Nbd7 (10... Nd5 11. Nxd5 exd5 {[%csl Rb7] is less appropriate with the
bishop on b7:} 12. Bd3 c6 13. Ba3 Nd7 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Qe2 Re8 16. Rfd1 f5 17.
Ba6 Bxa6 18. Qxa6 Rc7 19. Qd3 $14 Qf6 $6 20. b5 $16 {1/2 Orsag,M (2385)
-Ftacnik,L (2595)/Pribram 1997/EXT 2001 (53)}) 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Qe2 c5 {Black
tries to solve his problems surgically.} (12... Bf8 $5 {but, of course,
without ...c7-c5 Black will suffer a lot.}) 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. bxc5 {It turns
out that this pawn can't be recaptured without serious concessions.} Bf8 15.
Bb5 $1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Bxc5 17. Ne5 Bxa3 18. Nxd7 Rxc3 $2 (18... Nxd7 $142 19.
Rxd7 Rxc3 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 {with good drawing chances (M.Golubev).}) 19. Nxf6+
Qxf6 20. Bxe8 {White has won an exchange but it it still not so easy to
convert it.} Be4 21. Qg4 Bd5 22. Qd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 a6 24. h3 (24. e4 $142 Bb3 (
24... Bb2 25. Rb1 Ba2 26. Re1 Rc2 27. Rd8 Kg7 28. Red1) 25. h3 Bc5 26. Rd2)
24... Kf8 25. Bd7 (25. e4 Bc5 26. Rdd1 Bxe4 27. Rac1 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Bxf2+ 29.
Kxf2 Kxe8) 25... Bd6 26. e4 Bc5 $6 (26... Be5 $5 27. Rb4 Bc4) 27. Rdd1 Bxe4 28.
Rac1 {After the exchange of rooks White's technical task becomes easier.} Bb4
29. Rxc3 Bxc3 {[%mdl 4096]} 30. Rc1 Bd4 $6 (30... Bd2 $142 {keeping the
a5-square under control.}) 31. a5 $6 {Missing an opportunity to trade a pair
of bishops:} (31. Bc6 $1 {If} Bb2 {then} 32. Rc5 Bd3 33. Bb7 {[%cal Yc5c8,
Yc8a8]}) 31... Ke7 32. Bc8 (32. Bc6 {was already too late due to} Bb2 33. Rc4
Bd3) 32... Bb2 33. Rc5 Bd3 $2 {This move allows White to rearrange his pieces
in the best way and successfully attack the a6-pawn.} ({After} 33... Kd6 34.
Rc4 Bd5 {it is still unclear how White can win, e.g.} 35. Rc2 Bf6 36. Bxa6 Bd8
{recapturing the a5-pawn.}) 34. Bb7 {[%cal Yc5c8,Yc8a8]} Bb5 35. Rc8 Be5 36.
Ra8 Bc7 37. Bxa6 Bc6 38. Ra7 Kd6 39. Bb7 1-0

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP 2nd"]
[Site "Tashkent"]
[Date "2012.12.03"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2012.11.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UZB"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rd2 h6 13. Rad1 d6 14. Qb5 Ne8 {
This line was examined in several CBM issues (see e.g. CBM 139, annotations to
Navara - Leko) including an article by GM Spyridon Skembris in CBM 140. Here
I'll only mention recent developments.} 15. g4 {A fresh attempt. White keeps
his bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal.} (15. Qxb6 axb6 16. g4 Nc6 17. b3 Na7 18. Ne1
Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rab8 20. Nd3 b5 $132 {1/2 Arencibia Rodriguez,W (2511)-Corrales
Jimenez,F (2578)/Panama City 2011/EXT 2012 (64)}) (15. e4 g5 (15... Nd7 16. e5
Qxb5 17. Nxb5 d5 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Nh4 $5 Bxg2 20. Nxg2 a6 21. Na3 Nb6 22. Rxd8
Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Bxd8 24. Bd2 Nc7 25. Ne3 Ncd5 26. Nac4 $14 {1-0 Fedoseev,V (2477)
-Bernadskiy,V (2438)/Lvov 2010/CBM 139 Extra (68)}) (15... Qxb5 {A primitive
move but White failed to prove his advantage in the following game:} 16. Nxb5
Bxe4 17. Nxd6 Nxd6 18. Bxd6 Rxd6 19. Rxd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Nc6 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22.
Kxg2 Rc8 23. Nd3 (23. Rd7 Ne5 24. Rxa7 Nxc4) 23... Nb8 {[%cal Yg8f8,Yf8e7]} 24.
Nxc5 Rxc5 25. Rd8+ Kh7 26. Rxb8 Rxc4 27. Rb7 Ra4 28. Rxf7 Rxa2 $11 {1/2
Alvarez Pedraza,A (2515)-Pogorelov,R (2430)/San Sebastian 2011/CBM 141 Extra 
(44)}) (15... Bc6 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. h4 Ra7 18. e5 {Probably a bit premature.}
Rad7 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Rxd7 Nxd7 22. Bxc6 Bd4 23. Kg2 Nb8 24. Bf3
Nd6 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 26. Nb5 Rd7 $14 {/= 1/2 Girya,O (2429)-Galojan,L (2385)/
Moscow 2011/CBM 140 Extra (42)}) 16. Be3 Nd7 17. Qa4 $6 {Hardly logical} (17.
h4 {is the main continuation seen in practice}) 17... Bc6 (17... Nef6 $5 $132)
18. Qc2 Qb7 19. Nd5 Bf8 20. Bxg5 $6 hxg5 21. Nxg5 Ne5 22. f4 Bh6 23. h4 Nxc4
24. Qxc4 exd5 25. exd5 {1-0 Melkumyan,H (2619)-Podolchenko,E (2474)/Rogaska
Slatina 2011/CBM 145 (50)} Bb5 {, and White's attack should be parried}) 15...
Nd7 (15... Qc7 $5 16. Qa4 a6 17. h4 Nd7 18. Qc2 Nf8 19. Bg3 Nf6 20. Nh2 Bxg2
21. Kxg2 Qc6+ 22. e4 Rd7 23. f3 Rad8 24. Nf1 Ng6 $11 {1-0 Rodshtein,M (2634)
-Zhigalko,S (2658)/Moscow 2012/CBM 147 (76)}) 16. h4 $5 $146 {[%cal Yg4g5]
[%mdl 8] A new, quite good plan.} (16. Qxb6 Nxb6 (16... axb6 $5 {leads to a
position from the following game, in which Black equalised:} 17. b3 Ndf6 18. h3
Ne4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. a4 Rac8 21. Ne1 Bg6 22. Nc2 Bg5 23. Bxg5 Bxc2 24. Bxd8
Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Rxd8 26. b4 cxb4 27. Rb1 d5 28. cxd5 exd5 29. Rxb4 Rd6 30. Rd4
Nc7 31. e4 Ne6 32. e5 Rd8 33. Rxd5 Rxd5 34. Bxd5 Nc5 35. Bc6 Nd3 $11 {1/2
Hernandez Carmenates,H (2582)-Lafuente,P (2505)/Barcelona 2008/CBM 126 Extra 
(53)}) 17. b3 a6 18. Ne1 (18. h4 $5 {- game}) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rac8 20. Nf3
(20. e4 $5) 20... Bf6 21. Ne4 d5 22. cxd5 Nxd5 23. Bg3 c4 $11 {1/2 Roiz,M 
(2668)-Leko,P (2728)/Saratov 2011/CBM 145 (54)}) 16... a6 17. Qxb6 Nxb6 18. b3
Bf6 (18... d5 19. Ne5 Bxh4 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5
Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Nf6 25. Rd3 $14 ({but not} 25. Rxc5 $4 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Ne4+)) (
18... a5 19. a4) 19. Nb1 d5 $6 {This version of the central advance is even
less fortunate but what else can Black do?} ({If} 19... Be7 {then anyway} 20.
g5 {e.g.} e5 21. Be3 e4 22. Ne1 hxg5 23. Bxg5 (23. hxg5 $143 Nc7 24. Nc3 d5 {
M.Notkin}) 23... f6 24. Bf4 {, and White keeps pressure.}) 20. g5 hxg5 21. hxg5
Be7 22. Ne5 Nd6 23. g6 $1 f6 {Allowing a strong tactical blow.} (23... fxg6 24.
Nxg6 Bf6 25. Rd3 $16) (23... Rac8 $5 {[%cal Rf7f6]} 24. cxd5 {the simplest} (
24. gxf7+ Nxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Nc3 Bf6 27. cxd5 $1 exd5 28. Nxd5 Nxd5 29.
Bxd5+ Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 c4 32. bxc4 Rxc4 33. e3 Ra4 34. Rd2 Ke6 {
keeping drawing chances}) 24... Nxd5 (24... exd5 $2 25. gxf7+ Nxf7 26. Nc4 $1)
25. gxf7+ Nxf7 26. Bh2 $16) 24. Nf7 $1 e5 (24... Nxf7 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Bc7)
25. Nxd6 {A difficult choice. Perhaps it was better to take the exchange:} (25.
Nxd8 Rxd8 26. Bh2 d4 27. Bxb7 Nxb7 {, and now} 28. e3 {[%cal Yf2f4] opening up
the position (indicated by IM M.Notkin)}) 25... Rxd6 (25... Bxd6 26. Be3 {
[%csl Rc5][%cal Yc4d5]}) 26. Bg3 f5 27. Bxe5 Rxg6 28. cxd5 {White has won a
pawn; now he has to consolidate his position.} c4 29. Bg3 Bb4 30. bxc4 $1 {
The right decision. With two connected passed pawns for the exchange and a
pair of bishops White should be technically winning.} Bxd2 31. Nxd2 Rc8 32. e3
a5 (32... Nxc4 33. Nxc4 Rxc4 34. d6 $18) 33. Rb1 Ba6 34. d6 Nd7 35. Kf1 $6 (35.
e4 $142 $1 {opening up the position even further.}) 35... Kf8 36. Bf3 Rf6 37.
Kg2 g5 $1 {Black has considerably improved the co-ordination of his forces.}
38. Bh2 Bxc4 $6 {Missing a tactical resource:} (38... f4 39. Ne4 (39. Bg4 Rxd6
40. Ne4 Rd3) 39... g4 $1 40. Bd1 (40. Bxg4 Rg6 41. Kh3 Rh6+ $11) 40... Re6 41.
Ng5 f3+ 42. Kg1 Rg6 {with good drawing chances.}) 39. Nxc4 Rxc4 40. Rb7 Ke8 41.
Be2 Rc8 $2 {After this passive move Black's pieces will be completely tied up.}
(41... Rc6 42. Bb5 Rcxd6 43. Bxd6 Rxd6 {was correct, e.g.} 44. Ra7 (44. f4 $6 {
doesn't succeed due to} gxf4 45. exf4 Kd8 {, and the pawn endgame is drawn:}
46. Rxd7+ Rxd7 47. Bxd7 Kxd7 48. Kg3 Ke6 49. Kh4 a4 $1 50. Kg5 a3 $1 51. Kg6
Kd5 52. Kxf5 Kd4 $1 {shouldering off the white king} (52... Kc4 $4 53. Ke4 Kc3
54. f5 Kb2 55. f6 Kxa2 56. f7 Kb2 57. f8=Q a2 58. Qb4+ Kc2 59. Qe1 Kb2 60. Qd2+
Kb1 61. Kd3 $18) 53. Ke6 Kc3 54. f5 Kb2 55. f6 Kxa2 56. f7 Kb2 57. f8=Q a2 $11)
44... Ke7 45. a4 Rd2 46. Bxd7 Rxd7 47. Rxa5 Ke6 {, and it is not quite clear
whether this rook endgame is winning or not.}) 42. Bb5 Rd8 43. Be5 Re6 44. f4
gxf4 45. Bxf4 Rg6+ 46. Kf3 Rg1 47. Be5 Rg6 48. Kf4 Rh6 49. a4 Re6 50. Rc7 Rh6
51. Kg5 Rh7 (51... Re6 52. Bf6 Rxf6 53. Bxd7+ Rxd7 54. Rxd7 $18) 52. Bf6 Rb8
53. Bc6 {So, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's plan sets Black new problems in this line.
} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 a6 9. O-O Bd6 10. Rad1 (10. Qc2 {leads to the main line of this system
examined in the theoretical survey in CBM 153. The text move is hardly a good
alternative. Generally, White's rook will be vulnerable on d1 after the
eventual ...Bc8-g4 (after ...e6-e5, of course).}) (10. Rfe1 {makes more sense
but Black has no serious problems anyway:} e5 11. d5 Ne7 (11... e4 $143 12.
Nxe4 Nxe4 13. dxc6 Nxd2 14. Nxd2 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Qxd2 16. cxb7 Bxb7 17. Kg1 Rab8
18. Qa3 Rbd8 19. Qc5 Qd6 20. Qxd6 Rxd6 21. Rac1 $14 {1/2 (52) Lenic,L (2595)
-Moiseenko,A (2677) Moscow 2010}) 12. e4 h6 13. Qd1 Ng6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Bf1 c5
{1/2 (15) Lenic,L (2602)-Arutinian,D (2573) Martuni 2010}) 10... e5 (10... Qe7
11. e4 e5 12. Bg5 exd4 (12... Qe8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nd5 Kg7 15. dxe5 fxe5 16.
Qb3 $14 {1-0 (40) Lampert,J (2333)-Sumets,A (2590) Wunsiedel 2013}) 13. Nd5
Qxe4 14. Nxf6+ (14. Bxf6 b5 15. Bxb5 axb5 16. Qxa8 Qxd5 17. Bxd4 Bg4 $17) 14...
gxf6 15. Bd3 Qe6 $13) 11. dxe5 (11. d5 Ne7 12. e4 h6 13. Be2 Ng6 14. Ne1 Nf4
15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Nd3 Nd7 17. Nb1 Re8 18. Nd2 Nc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20. Qc2 Bd6 $11
{1/2 (49) Gagunashvili,M (2625)-Serper,G (2507) Las Vegas 2007}) 11... Nxe5 12.
Be2 (12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Be2 Bd7 14. Qh4 Bc6 15. Bc1 Qe7 16. f3 Rad8 17. Qc4 Bd6
18. e4 Qe5 19. g3 Bc5+ 20. Kg2 b5 21. Qb3 h6 $132 {1-0 (50) Raicevic,V (2446)
-Stevanovic,S (2253) Serbia 2006}) 12... Qe7 13. Ng5 $6 {Hardly a good
manoeuvre since the knight doesn't reach the e4 square.} ({It was time to
simplify the game, aiming for equality:} 13. Ne4 $5) 13... Bf5 $1 14. e4 ({
In the event of} 14. Nge4 $2 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 b5 $1 16. Qc2 {the knight is pinned,
and Black obtains a big advantage, e.g.} Rfe8 17. f3 Ng4 $1 {etc.}) 14... Bd7
15. Qc2 h6 16. Nf3 {An inglorious retreat.} Rfe8 17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. g3 $6 (18.
h3 $142 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Qe5 20. g3 {since} Bxh3 $6 {is risky due to} 21. Bf4 {
[%cal Ye4e5]}) 18... Neg4 $1 19. h3 $6 ({Of course, after} 19. Bd3 Bc5 20. Re2
Bc6 {White's position is unpleasant but now it just collapses.}) 19... Nxf2 $1
{[%mdl 640]} 20. Kxf2 Bxh3 {[%cal Rd6c5]} 21. Kg1 (21. Nd4 Bc5 22. Be3 Qe5 {
with deadly threats}) 21... Bxg3 22. Bf1 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 Bg4 24. Bg2 Bxf3 25.
Bxf3 Qd6 26. Re2 Qg3+ 27. Bg2 Ng4 {White's king is naked and helpless.} 28. Nd1
Re6 29. Ne3 Rc6 30. Qb1 Qh2+ 31. Kf1 Qf4+ (31... Qf4+ 32. Ke1 (32. Kg1 Rxd2)
32... Qg3+ 33. Kf1 Nh2+ 34. Kg1 Nf3+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 Nxc5 8.
Bg2 Nce4 9. O-O Bxc3 (9... Nxc3 {is more common and logical, not yielding
White the bishop pair.}) 10. bxc3 d5 {Hardly a good idea - to open up the
position against White's bishops.} (10... d6 11. Nd4 Nc5 12. Rd1 (12. Ba3 Bd7
13. Bxc5 dxc5 14. Nb5 Bxb5 15. cxb5 Qc7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 $11 {0-1 (67) Vera
Gonzalez Quevedo,R (2510)-Rivera,A (2440) Cienfuegos 1997}) 12... Bd7 13. Nb3
Qc7 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 {0-1 (53) Neubauer,M (2465)-Stefansson,H (2574) Rijeka 2010}
15. Bxb7 Rab8 16. Bf3 $14) (10... Qc7 $5 11. Nd4 (11. Bf4 $5 Qxc4 $4 12. Ne5)
11... d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rac1 Qe5 15. e3 Bd7 {1/2 (15) Brunner,N
(2412)-Renet,O (2469) Haguenau FRA 2013}) (10... Qa5 $5 11. Nd4 d5 (11... Qxc3
$6 12. Qxc3 Nxc3 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rfc1 e5 15. Rxc3 exd4 16. Rd3 Rxe2 17. Rxd4
$36) 12. cxd5 exd5 13. c4 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bb2 Bd7 16. f3 (16. Qb3 $5)
16... Rac8 17. Qd3 Nc5 18. Qd2 Na4 19. e4 Qd6 $11 {1/2 (31) Vera Gonzalez
Quevedo,R (2495)-Adla,D (2435) Matanzas 1992}) 11. Ng5 $5 {White wants to
immediately get rid of Black's centralised knight. A tactical fight now starts.
} (11. Bf4 $5 {was probably more appropriate, though,} dxc4 $140 $6 12. Ne5)
11... Nd6 $1 (11... Nxg5 12. Bxg5 dxc4 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. Qa4 {with unpleasant
pressure.}) 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Rd1 Bf5 14. Qb3 h6 15. Nh3 Bxh3 16. Bxh3 Re8 17.
Bg2 Rxe2 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 Qf6 20. Bf4 Ne4 $2 {[%mdl 64] The wrong choice.
} (20... Nf5 $1 21. Qxb7 Rae8 22. Qf3 (22. Qxa7 Nh4 $1 23. Qb7 g5) 22... R2e4 {
gave Black a decent compensation for the pawn.}) 21. Qd3 Nxc3 22. Rac1 {
Black's pieces are in trouble.} Nxd1 $2 (22... g5 $8 23. Rxc3 gxf4 24. Qxe2
Qxc3 25. Qg4+ Qg7 26. Qxf4 $16 {[%csl Rg8]}) 23. Qxe2 Nc3 24. Qc4 {The knight
is trapped, and further resistance is hopeless.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Nfd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. a3
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 f6 10. exf6 Qe8+ (10... Qxf6 {is the common move in this
position - see CBM 106, annotations to Moskalenko - Gonzalez by V.Gavrikov.
Here is a later GM game:} 11. Ne2 Nb6 12. Nf4 c5 $6 (12... Nc6 $13) 13. a4 Nc6
14. a5 Nc4 15. Nxd5 Qe6+ 16. Qe2 N4xa5 17. Qxe6+ Bxe6 18. Nc7 $16 {1/2 (26)
Aleksandrov,A (2604)-Kravtsiv,M (2546) Bhubaneswar 2010}) 11. Qe2 (11. Kf2 $6
Nxf6 12. Bd3 Ne4+ 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Qb3+ Kh8 15. f4 Nc6 16. Ne2 Na5 $17 {
1/2 (48) Hawkins,J (2383)-Zdebskaja,N (2408) Hastings 2010}) 11... Qf7 $5 $146
{Black goes for sharp play, not content with equality after the recapture on
f6:} (11... Nxf6 12. Qxe8 Nxe8 13. Ne2 Nd6 (13... Nd7 $142 $11 {[%cal Yd7b6]})
14. Bf4 Rd8 15. Ng3 Nc6 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Kf2 Bf7 18. Nf5 Bg6 {1/2 (18) Shmeliov,
D (2270)-Kraai,J (2505) Las Vegas 2007} 19. Nxd6 cxd6 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Rab1 b6
22. Rb5 $14) 12. fxg7 Re8 13. Be3 Nc6 14. Qd2 Na5 15. Rb1 Nb6 16. Rb4 {White
must give up an exchange; however, if he successfully completes his
development after that, Black's exposed king will guarantee him good
compensation.} Nac4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 $6 {Too subtle.} (17... Nxc4 $142 18. Rxc4
dxc4 19. Ne2 Bf5 {[%cal Ya8d8,Yc7c5] with an excellent position for Black.})
18. Rb5 $1 Bf5 $6 {In the second half of the Candidates tournament Levon
Aronian often took strange decisions when he should have made simple and good
moves.} (18... Nd5 $142 19. Rxd5 Qxd5 20. Ne2 Bf5) 19. Kf2 $6 {White prefers
to follow his initial plan but it was quite possible to play} (19. Re5 {, e.g.}
Rxe5 20. dxe5 Qe7 21. Ne2 Qxe5 22. Nf4 Re8 23. Kf2 Qxg7 {- Black restores the
material balance but his position is poor as his king is completely
unprotected.}) 19... Nd5 20. Rxd5 ({It is strange to suggest} 20. Bf4 $5 {
after White has not played 19.Re5.}) 20... Qxd5 21. Ne2 a5 {[%mdl 32] The plan
of advancing queenside pawns eventually fails. Black can only make c4 a passed
pawn but it will be safely blocked on c3; meanwhile, White develops his
initiative on the kingside.} (21... Rad8 {[%cal Yc7c5] deserved attention here,
too, although it would work better with Black's queen on f7 (see annotation to
move 17).}) 22. h4 b5 23. h5 b4 $6 (23... Qd6 $5 {(recommended by P.Maletin)}
24. Ra1 Qf6 {probably offered Black more counter-chances.}) 24. cxb4 axb4 25.
axb4 Qb5 $6 (25... Bd3 $142 26. Nf4 Qd6 {, according to P.Maletin.}) 26. Re1
Bd3 (26... Ra3 27. Bg5 $1) 27. Nf4 Ra3 (27... Ra4 28. d5 Qxb4 29. Qxb4 Rxb4 30.
h6 $16 {[%csl Gg7] _|_, P.Maletin}) 28. d5 Bb1 29. Kg3 c3 {Black has finally
managed to push his c-pawn but the collapse on the e-file comes before it can
queen.} 30. Qc1 Rb3 31. Bc5 (31. Bd4 {was even simpler:} c2 32. h6 $18 {
[%cal Rf4h5]}) 31... Rxe1 (31... Qd7 32. Ne6 {[%cal Yc1g5]}) 32. Qxe1 Qd7 33.
h6 Qf7 34. Nh5 Bg6 35. Qe8+ $1 Qxe8 36. Nf6+ Kf7 37. Nxe8 Ra3 38. Nf6 Ra8 39.
g8=Q+ Rxg8 40. Nxg8 Kxg8 {[%mdl 4096]} 41. Kf4 Bd3 42. Ke5 Kf7 43. Be3 {
The principle of the diagonal: the bishop stops Black's passed pawn and
supports White's kingside pawns along the same diagonal.} Bf1 44. g4 {White
plays g5, f4-f5 (the g5-g6 threat forces Black's king to stay on f7) -f6, then
d5-d6, creating a decisive passed pawn on the b-file.} 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4
exd4 {I have always felt a great relief when facing this move over the board.
By giving up the tension so soon, Black simplifies White's choice of plans.
And in order to occupy the "weak" d4-square, Black needs a lot of cooperation
from White's part.} ({I find} 8... c6 9. h3 Qb6 {favoured by Tal, Fischer and
Kasparov, more challenging.}) 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 a6 {Very straightforward.
Black intends to prepare ...b7-b5. But the last move is also very committal
and White has all the time he needs to take preventive measures.} 11. Re1 Rb8
12. Rb1 Ne5 13. Bf1 $6 {Played after 18 minutes, this rare move kind of
puzzles me. The bishop retreat does not prevent Black's queenside expansion in
any way. Later, White will need to spend another tempo on returning with the
bishop to the long diagonal.} ({I have always played} 13. b3 {, inspired by
Nikolic's games and Dautov's annotations. I got a stable advantage each time,
but maybe I need to re-consider the whole line. Mamedyarov could not have gone
in empty-handed for this line, he surely had something, at least worked out in
one practical game, as he frequently does in the Breyer Ruy Lopez.} c5 14. Nc2
{So, Black has got himself serious weaknesses along the d-file, now he has to
prove that his counterplay is good enough for compensating for the static
problems.} Nc6 (14... Nh5 15. Ne3 $5 ({I was happy with this creative move
found over the board, but maybe the simple} 15. g4 {, untested between strong
players yet, is better.} Nf6 {Luch,M (2432)-Guimaraes,R (2142) Porto 2013 (1/
2-1/2, 42)} 16. Bb2 $14 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. f4 {Black needs to sacrifice a
piece, with not entirely clear compensation.}) 15... b5 (15... Nxc4 16. Nxc4
Bxc3 17. Bd2 $44 {[%csl Gd5,Gd6,Gh5]}) 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Bb2 b4 18. Ncd5 Ba6 {
Marin,M (2545)-Golubev,M (2525) Bucharest 1996 EXT 1999 [Marin,M] (1-0, 73)}
19. Nf5 $1 $36) (14... b5 15. f4 {loses either the d6-pawn after} Ned7 ({or if
} 15... Nc6 $6 {- a piece to} 16. e5 {[%csl Gc6,Gf6]}) 16. Qxd6 {Hjartarson,J 
(2605)-Hillarp Persson,T (2445) Reykjavik 1997 CBM 062 [Stohl,I] (1-0, 32)}) (
14... Be6 {does not bring in too much dynamism to Black's position.} 15. f4 Nc6
16. Bb2 h5 (16... Nh5 $5) 17. Nd5 $14 Nh7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Qd2 b5 (19... Bxd5
20. cxd5 Na7 21. b4 b6 22. Rb3 $16 {Marin,M (2552)-Dragomirescu,C (2247)
Predeal 2006 (1-0, 46)}) 20. Nde3 $5 $16 {[%cal Gb1d1,Gf4f5,Ge4e5]} (20. b4
Nxb4 21. Ncxb4 cxb4 22. Qxb4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 Nf6 $36 {Delchev,A (2613)-Gallagher,
J (2497) Heraklio 2007 (1-0, 40)}) (20. cxb5 axb5 21. Rbd1 $14) 20... bxc4 21.
bxc4 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Qc7 23. Qc3+ $16) 15. f4 ({Being a Benoni player with Black,
I never considered} 15. Nd5 {[%cal Gc1g5]} Nxd5 16. cxd5 Nd4 {seriously. But
maybe this is not such a good Benoni for Black, for instance} 17. Bb2 Nxc2 18.
Qxc2 b6 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. f4 $14 {Naumann,A (2522)-Thiede,L (2450) Germany
2010 (1-0, 59). Play is rather one-sided, the question is whether White's
central and kingside attack would break through or not.}) 15... Nd4 (15... Nb4
$5 {is another, more restrictive, way to trade the knights.}) 16. Be3 (16. Nxd4
cxd4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Qb6 19. Bb2 Bd7 20. Qd2 Rbc8 {[%cal Gd4d3,Gc8c2]}
21. Kh2 Rc3 $5 22. Bxc3 dxc3 23. Qc2 $14) 16... Qa5 $2 {A terrible blunder.
After the game, my young and talented opponent complained that, together with
his trainer GM Constantin Ionescu, who hosted him during the tournament, he
had had this variation on the board for a whole week!} (16... Nxc2 17. Qxc2 b5
18. cxb5 axb5 19. b4 {During my preparation for the game I had considered
White's position slightly better, but maybe Black could keep the balance even
with} Bd7 $5) 17. b4 $1 $18 {Marin,M (2527)-Vajda,L (2484) Bucharest 1999 CBM
070 [Marin,M] (1-0, 27)}) 13... c5 14. Nc2 b5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. b4 {
Practically admitting the failure of his initial plans. Vachier might have
thought he could take on b5 unpunished, but in view of the hanging h3-pawn,
the weak f3-square and the possibility of a central break with ... d6-d5,
White's underdeveloped army would be in big danger.} (16. Bxb5 Rxb5 17. Nxb5
Bxh3 {[%cal Gh3g4]} 18. f3 (18. Re3 d5) 18... d5) (16. Nxb5 d5 17. f4 Nc6 18.
e5 Ne4 19. Kh2 g5 $40) 16... c4 {The f1-bishop is just passive now.} 17. Nd4 d5
$1 $146 {The most energetic way to take over the initiative. White is in big
trouble already.} (17... Bd7 18. Be3 Qc8 {Frare,F (2247)-Disconzi da Silva,R 
(2386) Sao Jose de Rio Preto 2005 (1/2-1/2, 53)}) 18. Bg5 (18. exd5 Nxd5 19.
Ncxb5 (19. Nxd5 Qxd5 $19 {[%cal Gd5d4,Gc8b7]}) 19... Bd7 {[%csl Gc3]} 20. Bb2
$8 Nxb4 $1 (20... Bxb5 $2 21. Nxb5 Rxb5 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Rxe5 Bxe5 24. Bxc4
$14) 21. Nd6 Nbd3 22. Nxe8 Bxe8 $17 {[%csl Gb2,Ge1]}) (18. f4 Nxe4 $1 19. Rxe4
(19. Nxe4 Nd3 $1 $19 {[%csl Gd4,Ge1,Ge4]}) 19... dxe4 20. fxe5 Bxe5 21. Nce2 e3
22. Bxe3 Bb7 $19) 18... dxe4 19. Nxe4 Bb7 20. Bg2 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Qb6 22. Bxf6
Bxf6 23. Qe2 Re7 24. Nc2 Rd8 25. Re1 Rdd7 26. Ne3 Kg7 {To a certain extent,
the position looks symmetrical, but Black has a huge advantage. The c4-pawn is
much stronger than the a2-pawn and the control over the d3-square offers hopes
for setting up global domination.} 27. Rd1 Nd3 $6 {This offers White chances
to kick for his life. Let us remember the moment of Carlsen's Be3-h6 from the
previous game. It is good, of course, to occupy a good square with the knight 
(f4 and d3, respectively), but it would be better not to obstruct any of our
pieces!} (27... Rd3 {followed by ...Qd6}) ({or} 27... Qd8 {planning ...Rxd1
followed by ...Rd7 would have been more convincing.}) 28. a4 {At last some
white activity.} Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Rd4 {Black has finally occupied this square,
meaning that White has really provided some help. The last move attacks the
bishop and over-defends c4, threatening ...bxa4.} 30. a5 Qd6 31. Qg4 {And now
he strikes on the opposite wing.} Kh6 32. Nc2 {With his rook trapped in the
centre, it almost looks as if Black had been tricked, but...} Nxf2 $1 {The
start of some spectacular mutual blows.} 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Qh4+ Kg7 {And now,
we should not hurry to call it a day the other way around...} 35. Bxg6 $1 {
Hitting h7 and d4 simultaneously.} Ng4+ 36. Kf1 hxg6 37. Nxd4 Qxd4 38. Qxg4
Qd3+ {It may seem that the worse is over for White. In queen endings the
number of pawns is less relevant than the rank of the passed pawns. Isn't the
a5-pawn just as good as the c4-pawn? Well, almost, because a third element
interferes, the king's safety. This detail alone, clearly favouring Black,
decides the game.} 39. Qe2 ({If} 39. Kf2 c3 {Black would soon deliver mate
witb four queens on board.}) 39... Qxg3 40. a6 Qxh3+ {The pawns are not that
important, but their absence is... There is no shelter available for the king.}
41. Kg1 Qg3+ 42. Kf1 Qc3 43. Qa2 Qh3+ 44. Kg1 c3 45. Qa1 ({White had no time
for advancing his pawn:} 45. a7 Qe3+ 46. Qf2 (46. Kf1 Qc1+ 47. Ke2 c2) (46. Kg2
Qd2+ 47. Qxd2 cxd2) 46... Qxf2+ 47. Kxf2 c2 48. a8=Q c1=Q {We have transposed
to another queen ending without any counterplay for White. And the extra pawns
finally do count!}) 45... Qg4+ 46. Kf1 Qf3+ 47. Kg1 Qe3+ 48. Kf1 Kh7 (48... Kh7
{Unpinning the pawn. If} 49. Qa2 Qc1+ 50. Ke2 Qb2+ {with a familiar
transposition to a simple pawn and then again queen ending.}) 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.14"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Ne4 Qd5 7. Nd2 c3 8. Ndf3 $5
{A rare move.} ({The usual continuation is} 8. bxc3) 8... Qa5 ({Now and in the
whole next phase of the game, Black refrains from} 8... cxb2 {, which would
make the extra pawn look more real, but at the same time allow White's rapid
development with} 9. Bxb2 {Over the board and against such an aggressive
player like Mamedjarov, it is not easy to embark on such a continuation. With
hindsight, it is easy to recommend precisely this continuation. But if
Nakamura had played like that and lost anyway, commentators may well have
criticised him for treating the issue of development so superficially. Only
further practice and analysis will show the best way to react.}) 9. Ne5 Nf6 10.
Ngf3 e6 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. bxc3 $1 {A good moment to relese the tension. After
castling, White will not have to worry about ...c3-c2+ anymore.} bxc3 13. O-O {
Black's extra pawn is rather vulnerable and, what's worse, he is well behind
in development.} Nbd7 {Black gives away the c6-pawn, hoping that after the
opening of the c-file the c3-pawn will become strong.} ({He must have
refrained from} 13... Be7 {on account of} 14. Ba3 {, when the natural} Bxa3 {
would actually lose a tempo. Once again, choosing between two evils is by no
means easy.}) 14. Nxc6 {Mamedjarov spent 12 minutes on this natural move.
Eventually, he must have realised that, far from having to give up anything in
exchange for the c6-pawn, he will manage to activate his position radically
over the next moves.} Qb6 15. Nfe5 Bb7 16. a5 Qc7 17. Qa4 Bd6 18. a6 Bxc6 19.
Qxc6 O-O $6 {After 20 minutes Nakamura enters an ending with very improbable
chances of saving it.} ({But there was no obvious way out of the trouble
anyway, for instance} 19... Rc8 $5 20. Qxc7 Bxc7 (20... Rxc7 {would help White
develop his initiative with} 21. Nc4 Be7 22. Na3 {with the threat of Nb5,
attacking the c3- and a7-pawns.}) 21. f4 {with such threats as Bb5 and Ba3.})
20. Qxc7 Bxc7 21. Nxd7 Nxd7 22. Ba3 Rfd8 (22... Rfc8 {would fail to secure the
c3-pawn after} 23. Be4 Rab8 24. Bb7 {followed by Rfc1.}) 23. Rfc1 e5 24. Be4
Rab8 25. Rxc3 Ba5 26. Rcc1 {Combined with the bishop pair and the queenside
space advantage, White's extra pawn ensures a decisive advantage, but there
might be technical problems along the way.} Bb4 {According to the engines this
makes things even worse, but anticipating a bit it looks like offering
reasonable chances to save the game.} 27. Bxb4 Rxb4 28. Rc7 {The start of a
forced manoeuvre, winning a piece.} exd4 29. Rxa7 ({With hindsight,} 29. exd4
Rxd4 30. f3 {inevitably followed by Rxa7 may be recommended as a more reliable
way to win.}) 29... dxe3 30. Rxd7 Rxd7 31. a7 exf2+ 32. Kxf2 Rxa7 33. Rxa7 g6 {
Despite the extra bishop, White still needs to prove he has a convincing
winning plan, especially since the colour of the h8-corner offers Black the
saving prospect of exchanging all his pawns for the g2-pawn and, of course,
the rooks. But with all the pawns on board, the rook exchange would generally
yield White an easy win.} 34. Ke3 Rb6 35. Bd5 Rf6 {By using the Chessbase
function "similar endings", I got a whole bunch of grandmaster games 
(including Kasparov-Shirov, Linares 2000, in which Black defended too badly to
show it here) ending with the same result: a win. But in almost all the games
Black made the same mistake (or at least inaccuracy) of principle as in this
one: weakening the g6-pawn by advancing his h-pawn. When quoting the game
below, I had to make 1-2 neutral moves to reach the exact position (with
different move numbering, of course). But this was not too painful, since most
strong players tend to place their pieces on the same squares. And what about
the evaluation? I believe the answer stays beyond human possibilities (and
even more of the computer's!) But I would use Bronstein's system: I feel that
White's chances to win are not worse than Black's to draw.} 36. g4 $6 {As
strange as it may be, space is not so important yet in this ending. The last
move has the drawback of weakening his own structure.} ({I would first try the
plan from the following game, aimed at provoking the advance of the f7-pawn in
order to weaken the king's defence. For this purpose it is important that the
centralised bishop defends the g-pawn.} 36. Kd4 Kg7 37. Rb7 h5 38. Ke5 Rf2 39.
Bf3 ({The typical intrusion} 39. Kd6 Rf6+ 40. Ke7 {does not offer anything due
to} Rf5 41. Bb3 Rf2 {But with different structures this will work, we will see
later.}) 39... Rd2 40. Ra7 Rb2 41. Rb7 Rd2 42. Bd5 Rf2 43. Ra7 Rf6 44. Ra3 $1 {
The pieces are in the right places and White prepares the rook's transfer to
the f-file. Black is not in time to reach the seventh rank with his rook.} Rf2
45. Kd6 Re2 (45... Rf6+ 46. Ke5 Rb6 47. Rf3 {[%csl Gb7] is similar.}) 46. Ra2
Re1 47. Rf2 f5 48. Bf3 Kf6 49. Re2 Rd1+ 50. Bd5 h4 51. Re6+ Kg7 $6 {I have
taken this as the main line because it occurred in the game where the whole
previous sequence was played.} (51... Kg5 {this is more stubborn.} 52. h3 Rd2
53. Kc5 Rc2+ 54. Kb4 $1 {The king gets out of the way in order to allow Bc6-e8.
} Rc7 {This is too passive, but Black seems to be helpless anyway.} (54... Rd2
55. Bc6 Kh6 {The only way to parry Be8.} 56. Kc3 Rf2 57. Kd4 $18) 55. Bc6 Rg7
56. Be8 Rg8 57. Kc5 Rg7 58. Kd6 Kh6 59. Ke5 Kg5 60. Kd6 Kh6 61. Re7 Rg8 62. Ke6
Rf8 63. Bf7 Kg7 64. Be8+ Kh6 65. Bd7 Kg5 66. Ke5 Ra8 67. Be8 Ra2 68. Re6 {
1-0 (93) Panczyk,K (2365)-Pokojowczyk,J (2390) Warsaw 1981 EXT 2003 [Marin,
Mihail]}) 52. h3 g5 (52... Rd2 53. Ke5 Re2+ 54. Kf4 Rd2 55. Bf3 Kh6 56. Ke5 Kg5
57. Bc6 $18) 53. Ke5 g4 54. hxg4 fxg4 55. Be4 (55. Re7+ Kh6 56. Be4) 55... h3
56. g3 Rg1 57. Kf4 Re1 58. Rg6+ Kf7 59. Rxg4 h2 60. Rh4 {1-0 (59) Kruppa,
Y-Kozlov Samarkand 1983}) ({Actually, against ...h7-h5 there is another plan,
similar to that from our main game.} 36. Bc4 h5 37. g3 Kg7 38. Rb7 Kf8 39. h3
Kg7 40. g4 hxg4 41. hxg4 Kf8 42. Rc7 Kg7 43. Ke4 g5 $1 {The only chance. White
won most of the games with this structure, but I did not find any really
relevant among them.} (43... Rf2 $2 44. g5 {Jussupow,A (2610)-Boensch,U (2558)
Bundesliga 0001 2000 (13.3) 1-0 leads to the same as in Mamedyarov-Nakamura)})
{A possible plan is} 44. Ke3 Rf4 45. Be2 Rf6 46. Rc5 Re6+ 47. Kf3 Kh6 48. Bd3
Re7 49. Rf5 Ra7 50. Ke3 Rb7 51. Kd4 {and White's attack looks promising.})
36... h6 {This offers White the posibility of winning the pawn ending after a
well timed sacrifice and general exchange on f7.} ({White's task would have at
least been more difficult after} 36... Kg7 37. h4 Kg8 38. g5 ({Once again, the
intrusion does not work:} 38. Ke4 Kg7 39. Ke5 Rf1 40. Kd6 Rf4 41. g5 Rf2 42.
Ke7 Rf5) 38... Rf5 39. Ke4 Kg7 {For instance, the attempt to exchange rooks
with} 40. Ra3 $2 {would lead to a rook and bishop versus rook ending after} h6
$1) 37. Ke4 Kg7 ({Black loses in very instructive way after} 37... g5 $5 {
True, the sacrifice on f7 does not work at all, but now finally the intrusion
is decisive!! The point is that the f5-square is defended by the g4-pawn and
the pawn itself is defended, too.} 38. h3 Kg7 39. Rb7 Rf4+ 40. Ke5 Rf1 41. Kd6
Kf8 (41... Rf2 42. Ke7 Re2+ 43. Kd8 Rf2 44. Ke8 Re2+ 45. Re7) 42. Rb8+ Kg7 {
and now in Plachetka,J (2445)-Danner,G (2412) Stary Smokovec 1981 EXT 1998 
(1-0, 91) the simplest would have been} 43. Rb3 Ra1 44. Rb7 Rf1 45. Ke7 {
as in the last subline.}) 38. h4 Rf1 39. Rb7 Rf2 (39... g5 $2 {does not work
at all:} 40. h5 Rf4+ 41. Ke5 Rxg4 42. Bxf7 {1-0 (51) Flohr,S-Bondarevsky,I
Moscow 1945 and the pawn ending is won with the white pawn on h5.}) 40. g5 $2 {
This should have led to an immediate draw. Instead, it won.} ({The most
dangerous plan is} 40. Ke5 Rf1 $2 (40... Re2+ 41. Kd6 Rf2 42. Bxf7 Rxf7 43.
Rxf7+ Kxf7 44. g5 {is curtains, since, unlike in the similar later line in the
game, the white king is far advanced already.}) ({The only defence is} 40...
Kf8 $3 {and I could not find a way to make progress.}) 41. Re7 $1 {This was
probably the sealed move, meaning Najdorf found it over the board! The rook
stands well on e7 for two reasons, illustrated by the game continuation and
the next comment.} (41. Kd6 {is premature.} Rf6+ 42. Ke7 Rf4) 41... Rf6 (41...
Kf8 42. Kd6 Rf6+ 43. Kd7 $1 {With the rook elsewhere on the seventh rank,
Black could play ...Rf4, but now this loses to the exchanges on f7.}) 42. Bxf7
Rf2 ({The point is:} 42... Rxf7 43. Ke6 $3 Rxe7+ 44. Kxe7 g5 45. h5) 43. Bd5+
Kh8 44. Be4 {Reshevsky,S-Najdorf,M Buenos Aires m 1953 (7) 0-1 with reversed
colours}) 40... hxg5 $2 {Heading straight for disaster.} ({Black should have
kept the h-pawns:} 40... Rf5 41. Be6 Rf1 42. Bc4 Rf5 $1 ({Allan Beardsworth
kindly tried to prove on his site that my initial evaluation in the daily
articles was true and that White would win anyway. The next move of his
analysis is not the best, but it allows White win in a very instructive way:} 
42... Rf2 $2 43. Ke3 Rf5 44. Bd3 Re5+ 45. Kd4 Re8 46. Bc4 Rf8 47. Bd5 Kg8 48.
Ke5 Kg7 49. Re7 {with complete domination and zugzwang.}) 43. Rxf7+ Rxf7 44.
Bxf7 Kxf7 45. Kd5 Ke7 46. Ke5 {and now the h-pawn saves Black with:} h5 $1 $11)
41. hxg5 (41. hxg5 {And in view of the simple line} Rf5 42. Rxf7+ Rxf7 43. Bxf7
Kxf7 44. Kd5 Ke7 45. Ke5 {Black resigned.}) 1-0

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2014.10.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 {Not really introducing a main line of the
King's Indian (or Grьnfeld, whatever Black intended to play in the first place)
, but hardly a bad move. As long as White has more space he can hope for at
least a slight advantage.} ({I find it useful to compare the game variation
with the following KI/BI hybrid which can best be called the Hromadka Indian:} 
4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 c5 7. d5 e6 {This used to be my main weapon with
Black in the late '80s and the early '90s.} 8. O-O exd5 9. exd5 Re8 {The
position is the same as after 10.exd5 in the main game, but here it is White
to move.} 10. h3 {I will mention with brief comments my latest experince with
this position in order to explain some of the main ideas the way I had
perceived them back in 1983 at the age of 18, when I took up this opening
under the guidance of GM Theodor Ghitescu.} Na6 {That was the age when I had
started to understand the meaning of the basic principles. One should develop
knights and only then bishops. The last move is connected with at least two
ideas, either ...Nb4 hoping to cet to c2-d4 with the support of the
light-squred bishop or ...Nc7 preparing ...b7-b5.} 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Bf5 13.
Qd2 Kh7 14. Bd3 {Since the threat ...Nb4 becomes real, White hurries to
exchange the active black bishop.} Qd7 {Development is a high priority. Rather
than activating the white queen with an exchange on d3, Black connects his
rooks, parrrying the threat of Bxf5.} 15. Rfe1 Be4 {With his development
complete Black can afford to start active operations in the centre.} 16. Nxe4
Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Qc2 Rae8 {Bekker Jensen,S (2403)-Marin,M (2555)
Gothenburg 2000 (1/2-1/2, 22). Black is quite active and has solved all the
opening problems.}) 4... O-O 5. Be2 c5 {This is by far not the only way of
attacking the centre, but should be regarded as an entirely satisfactory one.}
({The Grьnfeld approach is less effective. With his knight on b1, White can
build up his central space advantage without allowing a knight exchange on c3.
} 5... d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 Nb6 8. O-O Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. d5 Nb8 11. a4 c6
12. a5 N6d7 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Nf6 15. Qb3 Qc8 16. Bg5 (16. dxc6 $5 Nxc6 17.
Ra4 $14) 16... Nxe4 17. Bxe7 Re8 18. d6 Nxd6 19. Bxd6 Rxe2 20. Ng5 Qd7 $2 (
20... Qe8 21. Qxb7 Nd7 $14) 21. Rae1 $18 {Grischuk,A (2785)-Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2717) Riga 2013 (1-0, 44)}) ({The classical King's Indian setup is entirely
viable, though:} 5... d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Rd1 e4 10. Nd2 Qe7
11. b4 Nf8 12. Bb2 h5 13. Rac1 Bf5 14. Nb3 N8h7 15. d5 $13 {Grischuk,A (2785)
-Caruana,F (2779) Paris FIDE GP 2013 (4) 1/2}) 6. d5 d6 7. O-O e6 8. Nc3 {
This e2-e3 variation against the Benoni, which can arise via the Symmetrical
English move order, too, has more venom than one might suspect at a brief
glance. The absence of an early target on e4 causes Black some problems
organising his counterplay.} Re8 $5 {By delaying the exchange on d5 Black
intends to deprive the white king's knight of the c4-square.} (8... exd5 9.
cxd5 {Morozevich,A (2758)-Kramnik,V (2769) World Championship 2007 (9) 1-0}) 9.
e4 ({The main idea behind Black's last move can be seen after} 9. Nd2 Na6 {
When the desirable Nd2-c4 is impossible.} 10. dxe6 {Rather harmless.} Bxe6 11.
e4 Nb4 12. Nb3 Nc6 13. Bf4 Nd4 $11 {Svidler,P (2751)-Gelfand,B (2753)
Jerusalem 2014 (1/2-1/2, 33)}) (9. Re1 {Pinter,J (2553)-Chernin,A (2583)
Budapest zt 1.4 2000 (7) 1/2}) 9... exd5 10. exd5 {The game has reached the
Hromadka tabiya mentioned above, but with an extra tempo for Black! It is
instructive to notice that this tempo may become irrelevant if Black does not
use it properly.} Bf5 {With an extra tempo, more than one move should be
viable in this position. But frankly speaking I find the last move the least
effective of them.} (10... Ne4 11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bg5 Qb6 14. Re1
Bd7 15. Nd2 f5 16. Nf3 Na6 17. Be7 Nb4 18. Bg5 Na6 19. Be7 Nb4 20. Bg5 Na6 21.
Be7 Nb4 {Vyzmanavin,A (2470)-Mikhalchishin,A (2480) Lvov 1984 (1/2-1/2, 21)}) (
{Personally, I would stick to what I learned as a teen-ager:} 10... Na6 11. Be3
(11. Bf4 Ne4) (11. h3 Bf5 12. Bd3 Qd7) (11. Bg5 h6) 11... Nc7 ({I would play} 
11... Bf5 $5 12. Bd3 Qd7) 12. a4 $6 {An absolutely unnecessary weakening of
the queenside, since ...b7-b5 was not a threat yet.} Na6 13. Qd2 Nb4 {Tejero
Royo,F (2198)-Hamdouchi,H (2522) Seville 2002 (0-1, 62)}) 11. Bd3 $146 {
A logical novelty. Black is not prepared for maintaining the tension so this
is a good moment to exchange the active bishop.} (11. Nh4 Bd7 12. Nf3 Na6 13.
Bd3 Rb8 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. Qd2 Nh5 {1/2-1/2 Matsuura,E (2482)-Bittencourt,J (2471)
Rio de Janeiro 2009}) 11... Bxd3 (11... Qd7 12. Bf4 {more or less forces Black
giving up the tension anyway due to the pressure against the d6-pawn.} Bxd3 13.
Qxd3 Na6 14. Rfe1 {[%csl Gd6] Since sooner or later he would have to take on
d3 anyway, Gelfand prefers doing it at a moment when the seemingly flexible ...
Nbd7 is possible. But the game will prove that this setup is rather passive
for Black, so Gelfand's early middlegame play is at least questionable.}) 12.
Qxd3 Nbd7 13. Bf4 Qb6 14. b3 a6 $6 {This move fails to create a realistic
threat of ...b7-b5 and finally leaves Black struggling in a passive and
one-sided position.} ({It is hard to explain why he refrained from the natural
} 14... Ng4 $5 {, aimed at neutralising the bishop's pressure on d6.} 15. Rae1
Rxe1 16. Rxe1 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qd2 {White threatens h2-h3 followed by
Bh6 and f4 with attacking chances, but Black can try} f5 $5 {True, the
weakness of the e6-square is a bit scary, but there is no easy way for White
to drive the e5-knight away, for instance:} 19. Bh6 (19. Bg5 Nf7 {[%csl Gc3]})
19... Bxh6 20. Qxh6 Qa5 21. Qd2 f4 $1 {[%csl Rc3,Ge5]}) 15. h3 $1 {Preventing .
..Ng4 and clearing the h2-square for the bishop for the case Black plays the
other possible freeing manoeuvre, ...Nh5.} (15. Rae1 Nh5 16. Bd2 Ne5 17. Nxe5
Bxe5 {would free Black's position.}) 15... Re7 {Doubling rooks is just an
attempt to simplify the position to a passive, but probably defensible ending,
rather than a display of activity.} 16. Rae1 Rae8 17. Rxe7 $1 {A classical
principle when playing for a stable advantage is to exchange one rook in order
to avoid Black's counterplay and keep the other to retain enough winning
chances.} Rxe7 18. g4 Qc7 19. Kg2 Qb8 (19... h5 {plays into White's hands.} 20.
g5 Ne8 21. a4 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 Rxe5 24. f4 Re7 25. f5 $1 (25. Ne4 Ng7
26. Nf6+ Kf8 {[%cal Gg7f5]} 27. f5 $5 {does not offer more than a draw by
perpetual} Nxf5 28. Rxf5 gxf5 29. Qxf5 {Black is under some pressure, but the
maximum what White can achieve is a perpetual with Nh7-f6.}) 25... Re5 26. Ne4
$36) 20. a3 $1 {After gaining a lot of space in the centre and on the kingside,
White starts active operations on the queenside. Black cannot organise the
counterplay with ...b7-b5 and cannot prevent b3-b4 either.} Re8 21. b4 Bf8 22.
Rb1 Qd8 23. b5 $1 {The exchange only would only activate the black knight, so
gaining more space is the best plan on this wing.} a5 {The opening of the
b-file would be too dangerous. But in the endgame Black will be in some danger
due to his numerous queenside pawns placed on dark squares.} 24. Bh2 Nb6 {
This knight is the only active black piece, obviously not enough to compensate
for the other positional problems.} 25. g5 $5 {White has an overwhelming space
advantage in all the sectors of the board, but the position is not winning by
itself. Now or later White needs starting active operations.} Nh5 26. Ne4 h6 $2
{A careless move, putting Black in a critical position after White's strong
reply.} ({Black should have prepared ...h7-h6 with} 26... Nc8 $5 {[%csl Gd6]
[%cal Gh7h6] over-protecting d6.}) 27. gxh6 $3 {Apparently an anti-positional
move. Indeed, if Black could retrieve this pawn his kingside position would
look promising, but Mamedyarov perceived the hidden dynamic nuances very well.
I would add that this is the first typical Mamedyarov move in the whole game.
So far he has played in solid positional style, but with the first given
opportunity he switches into attacking mode.} Nf6 $2 {This only speeds up the
defeat.} (27... f5 28. h7+ Kxh7 29. Neg5+ Kg8 30. Ne6 $16) ({Quite possibly,
Gelfand had planned} 27... Nc8 {when defending the h6-pawn looks impossible.
Since the e4-knight is hanging, White's only attempt to keep the pawn would be}
28. Qe3 {but is this not losing a piece to} f5 {? It turns out it does not do
so due to} 29. h7+ $1 Kh8 30. Neg5 $1 Rxe3 31. Nf7+ Kxh7 32. Nxd8 Re7 33. Ng5+
Kg8 34. Nge6 $16) 28. Nfg5 Bxh6 (28... Nc8 29. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 30. Ng5+ Ke7 (30...
Kg8 31. Qxg6+ Kh8 32. Nf7#) 31. Qxg6 Kd7 {The computer gives many winning
lines from the range +10.00 or more. Over the board I would choose} 32. h7 {
and even though this would yield less than +4.00 it would be good enough to
retrieve the piece and continue the game with two extra pawns and a persistent
attack.}) (28... Nh7 29. Qc3 Na4 30. Qa1 $18) 29. Nxf6+ (29. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 30.
Nxd6+ Kg7 31. Nxe8+ Qxe8 32. Rb2 $18 {[%cal Gb2e2]}) 29... Qxf6 30. Ne4 Qf5 31.
Re1 $18 {[%cal Ge4f6,Gh2d6]} Nd7 32. Bxd6 {White has won an essential pawn and
retains the initiative. With a bit of accuracy this should be enough to win.}
Bg7 33. Re2 Bd4 34. Bc7 a4 35. b6 Kg7 36. Qf3 Bb2 37. Bf4 {[%cal Ge4d6]} (37.
Bf4 Be5 (37... Re7 38. Ng3 Qf6 39. Qg4 Kf8 40. Bg5 $18) 38. Ng3 Qf6 39. Qg4 Qd8
40. Nf5+ Kh7 41. Nh6 Kg7 (41... Rf8 42. Nxf7 Rxf7 43. Bxe5) 42. Bxe5+ Nxe5 43.
Qf4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tbilisi FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2015.02.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2015.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Bb4 7. Rc1 Qa5 8. Nd2
Ne4 9. Ncxe4 dxe4 10. Bh4 {Sacrificing the pawn on a2 is a common idea in the
Cambridge-Springs. The development advantage and central control gives White
plenty of compensation.} Qxa2 11. Be2 Qa5 12. O-O $1 {What a nice move! The
knight on d2 is hanging, but White will be able to recover it without problems
and keep his compensation.} Bxd2 13. Ra1 Qb4 14. Qc2 c5 (14... Bxe3 15. fxe3 {
opens up the f-file, which is very dangerous for Black.}) 15. Ra4 Qb6 16. Qxd2
{The minor piece is recovered and Black's development is sub-par. He is up a
pawn, but clearly on the defensive side.} e5 17. Ra5 $2 {Overlooking or
underestimating Black's next move!} Qh6 {An unusual tactic. The bishop is
hanging on h4, but also important is that the e-pawn is now pinned.} 18. Bg3
exd4 19. Bf4 (19. f3 {was probably the only way to fight for compensation, but
it should be insufficient.}) 19... g5 20. Bg3 d3 21. Bd1 {White is not dead,
for his two missing pawns he has the pair of bishops and Black's king will
always feel uncomfortable, but Black should win with good play. Mamedyarov
made his life pretty hard at different junctures, but the win was never in
question.} b6 22. Ra1 f5 23. Ba4 O-O 24. f3 Qe6 25. fxe4 fxe4 26. Bxd7 Rxf1+
27. Rxf1 Bxd7 28. Qc3 Qe7 29. b3 Re8 30. Qa1 a5 31. Be1 Rd8 32. Rf2 h6 33. Bd2
Rf8 34. Rxf8+ Qxf8 35. Qe5 Qe8 36. Qf6 Qe6 37. Qd8+ Kf7 38. Bc3 Qd6 39. Bd2 Qe6
40. Bc3 a4 41. bxa4 Bxa4 42. Qc7+ Ke8 43. Bd2 Bd7 44. h3 Ke7 45. Qb8 h5 46. Qh8
Qxc4 47. Qe5+ Qe6 48. Qxg5+ Kd6 49. Qxh5 b5 50. Qh8 b4 51. h4 Qa2 52. Qf6+ Kc7
53. Qf2 b3 54. Bc3 Qxf2+ 55. Kxf2 Kc6 56. Ke1 Kb5 57. h5 Ka4 58. Bb2 Kb4 59.
Kd2 c4 60. g3 Bg4 61. h6 Bf5 62. g4 Bg6 63. Bf6 Ka3 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Bg5 $5 {Another attempt to avoid the Grünfeld Defence.}
Ne4 (3... Bg7 4. Nc3 {, and Black should either play the King's Indian or go
for} d5 {(the system 4.Bg5 Bg7 in the Gruenfeld), which is quite risky.}) 4.
Bf4 c5 (4... e5 5. dxe5 Bb4+ 6. Nd2 d6 7. Ngf3 $14) 5. Qc2 (5. f3 {was played
in the following blitz game, without any success for White:} Qa5+ 6. Nd2 Nxd2
7. Bxd2 Qb6 8. Bc3 Bg7 9. e3 Nc6 10. Ne2 cxd4 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. Qd2 Rd8 13. Rd1
a5 14. Be2 d5 $11 {1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2743)-Aronian,L (2815) Dubai 2014}) (
5. Nd2 Nxd2 6. Qxd2 Bg7 7. d5 d6 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 e5 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 Nd7 12.
Ne2 Nf6 13. Nc3 Kh8 14. O-O-O a6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. h3 b5 17. g4 $13 {1-0 (42)
Minzer,C (2350)-Sanchez Almeyra,J (2435) Buenos Aires 1994}) 5... Qa5+ (5... d5
6. cxd5 Qxd5 (6... Bf5 7. g4 $1) 7. e3 {[%cal Yf1c4]}) (5... Nf6 6. d5 Bg7 7.
Nc3 d6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. e4 a6 10. a4 Nh5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bd2 e5 13. g3 $14 {
0-1 (31) Stojanovic,M (2443)-Gross,D (2465) Valjevo 2000}) (5... f5 $5 6. f3
Qa5+ 7. Nd2 {- game}) 6. Nd2 f5 (6... Nxd2 7. Bxd2 Qc7 8. d5 (8. dxc5 Bg7 9.
Bc3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 O-O 11. h4 Qxc5 12. h5 Nc6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. Nf3 d6 15. e3
Bg4 16. Be2 Rac8 $13 {1-0 (41) Chernyshov,K (2531)-Feher,G (2402) Zalakaros
2005}) 8... Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. Bd3 a6 11. Nf3 $14 {1/2 (11) Ivanisevic,I (2596)
-Macieja,B (2613) Vrsac 2006}) (6... Nf6 7. d5 d6 8. e4 Bg7 (8... Na6 9. a3 Bg7
10. Be2 $14 (10. Ne2 $2 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Bf5 12. Qf3 Nb4 {1/2 (23) Ovsejevitsch,S
(2508)-Eljanov,P (2568) St Petersburg 2002})) 9. Ne2 O-O 10. Nc3 Nh5 11. Bg5 f6
12. Be3 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 $132 {1-0 (35) Ovsejevitsch,S (2545)-Schmidt,W (2435)
Legnica 2006}) 7. f3 (7. e3 Bg7 8. Ngf3 Nc6 9. d5 e5 10. Bg3 Nb4 11. Qb1 {
1-0 (48) Ovsejevitsch,S (2582)-Bae,T (2411) Basel 2011} Nxg3 12. hxg3 e4 $36) (
7. Ngf3 Bg7 $132) 7... Nf6 8. d5 d6 (8... Bg7 9. Be5 d6 10. Bc3 Qc7 11. e4 O-O
12. Bd3 e6 13. dxe6 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Bxe6 16. Ne2 Nc6 17. Bxg7 Qxg7
18. Bxc6 bxc6 $11 {1/2 (35) Barsov,A (2445)-Vareille,F (2380) Val Thorens 1995}
) 9. e4 (9. e3 $5 Bg7 10. Ne2 {[%cal Ye2c3]}) 9... Na6 10. Ne2 fxe4 11. fxe4
Bg7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Be2 Nh5 (13... Ng4 $5 14. O-O Bd4+ 15. Kh1 Nf2+ 16. Rxf2
Bxf2 17. Bh6 $44 Bd7 $1 18. Nf3 Bd4 {, giving back the exchange with a decent
position.}) (13... Nb4 {hardly makes sense:} 14. Qc1 (14. Qb1 $2 Nxe4 15. Qxe4
Bf5) 14... Ng4 15. O-O Bd4+ 16. Kh1 Nf2+ 17. Rxf2 Bxf2 18. Bh6 $44) 14. Bg5 Qd8
$2 {[%mdl 16384] A bad move. The exchange on h5 destroys Black's kingside pawn
structure.} (14... Nf4 $1 15. O-O Nxe2+ 16. Nxe2 Bg4 $13) 15. Bxh5 gxh5 16. Nf3
h6 17. Be3 Bg4 18. O-O e6 19. Qd2 $1 Kh7 20. Rad1 $1 {A good move. White wants
Black to close the centre.} e5 $6 ({It was probably better to balk to the end:
} 20... Qd7 {After the game move White should not worry about the centre and
starts a decisive attack.}) 21. Rf2 Nc7 22. Rdf1 {[%mdl 128]} Rb8 {Too late
for counterplay!} (22... Qe7 {was not much better, though.}) 23. h3 Bd7 24. Ne2
$1 {[%cal Re2g3]} h4 25. Kh2 b6 26. g3 hxg3+ 27. Nxg3 Rg8 28. Nh5 Ne8 29. Nxg7
Nxg7 30. Bxh6 Nh5 31. Ng5+ Kg6 32. Rg1 Qe7 33. Nf7+ Kh7 34. Bg5 Qe8 35. Qe2 Ng7
36. Rf6 Rf8 37. Rh6+ Kg8 38. Bf6 Rxf7 39. Qh5 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2016.06.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.05.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Bf4 b6 8. a4
c5 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. a5 bxa5 11. Nb3 Qb6 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Be3 Qxb3 14. Bxc5 Qxd1
15. Rfxd1 Rfe8 16. Rxa5 a6 17. Ne5 Rad8 18. Bb6 Rb8 19. Ba7 Rbd8 20. Bb6 Rb8
21. Bd4 e6 22. e3 Red8 23. Bb6 Rdc8 24. Ba7 Ra8 25. Bd4 Rc7 26. Rda1 Nd7 27.
Nxd7 Rxd7 28. Bf1 e5 29. Bc5 d4 30. cxd4 exd4 31. Bxa6 Rxa6 32. Rxa6 Bxa6 33.
Rxa6 f5 34. exd4 Bxd4 35. b4 Bxc5 36. bxc5 {A NARROW PATH (the more active
king) White's advantage may be evident, but when the various subtleties are
taken into account, the handling of this position - admittedly especially on
the part of the attacking side - demands great accuracy, since the border
between a draw and a win/loss is very porous! Although some typical ideas and
plans are adequately well known, the varying little details are always what
make the handling of positions like this so complicated even for the leading
members of our guild. BLACK TO MOVE (Position after 36.b4xc5) In the present
case, apart from his passed pawn White has no other point in his favour with
the positions occupied by rooks, kings and pawns, meaning that Black may
absolutely harbour some hope of saving the game. EIN SCHMALER GRAT (der
aktivere König) Zwar ist der weiße Vorteil evident, aber in Anbetracht
diverser Finessen verlangt die Stellungsbehandlung - freilich insbesondere vom
Verteidiger - große Genauigkeit, da die Grenze zwischen Remis und Gewinn/
Verlust sehr schmal ist! Obwohl einige typische Ideen und Pläne hinlänglich
bekannt sind, sind es stets die unterschiedlichen, kleinen Details, welche die
Behandlung derartiger Stellungen selbst für die Großen unserer Zunft so
kompliziert gestalten. SCHWARZ AM ZUG (Stellung nach 36.b4xc5) Im vorliegenden
Fall verfügt Weiß außer über seinen Freibauern bei der Turm-, Königs- und
Bauernstellung über keinen weiteren Pluspunkt, so dass Schwarz sich durchaus
Hoffnung auf Rettung machen kann.} Rd1+ $2 {So that in standard fashion - true
to the Tarrasch rule - he can immediately post his rook behind the passed pawn,
which, however, is not always the best plan. Here it costs him vital time,
which Black would first of all do better to use for other activities,
especially for the mobilisation of his king. However, the defender should on
no account allow the white rook to be able to support its passed pawn from
behind. Interesting alternatives: Um in Standardmanier den Turm - getreu der
Tarrasch-Regel - sofort hinter dem Freibauern zu postieren, was aber nicht
immer am besten ist. Hier kostet dies vitale Zeit, die Schwarz zunächst
besser für andere Aktivitäten, insbesondere für die Mobilisierung seines
Königs, nutzen sollte. Allerdings darf der Verteidiger es keinesfalls
zulassen, dass der weiße Turm seinen Freibauern von hinten unterstützen kann.
Interessante Alternativen:} ({(1)} 36... Rc7 $5 37. c6 Kf7 38. Kg2 Ke6 39. Kf3
Ke5 $1 {Apparently the only defence with which Black can hold back the
opposing king and prevent the creation of some sort of zugzwang situation.
Allem Anschein nach die einzige Verteidigung, mit der Schwarz den gegnerischen
König zurückhält und die Schaffung etwaiger Zugzwangsituationen unterbindet
.} (39... Kd5 $2 40. Kf4 {This forces a fatal loosening of Black's pawn
structure. Erzwingt eine verhängnisvolle Lockerung der schwarzen
Bauernstruktur.} h6 41. h4 Ke6 42. Kf3 Kd6 43. Rb6 Ke6 (43... Rxc6 $2 44. Rxc6+
Kxc6 45. Kf4 Kd5 46. h5 $18) (43... Kc5 44. Rb1 Kd6 45. Rc1 $18 {and with the
active rook behind his passed pawn White wins easily: und mit dem aktiven Turm
hinter seinem Freibauern siegt Weiß leicht:} Ke5 46. Ke3 Kd5 47. Rc2 Ke5 48.
Rc5+ Kd6 49. Kd4 Ke6 50. Rc2 Kd6 51. Rc3 g5 (51... Ke6 52. Kc5 $18) 52. hxg5
hxg5 53. Rc5 Ke6 54. Kc4 {/\Kb5+-}) 44. Ke3 Kd5 45. Ra6 Ke5 (45... Re7+ 46. Kf3
$1 Rc7 (46... Ke5 47. c7 $1 {The simplest. am einfachsten} (47. Ra5+ Ke6 (47...
Kd6 48. h5 $18) (47... Kf6 48. Rc5 Rc7 49. Ke3 Ke6 50. Kd4 Kd6 51. Rc2 h5 52.
Rc1 Ke6 53. Kc5 $18) 48. Rc5 Rc7 49. Ke3 {etc. +- usw. +-}) 47... Rxc7 48. Rxg6
Rh7 49. Ra6 h5 50. Ra5+ Ke6 (50... Kf6 51. Kf4 $18) 51. Kf4 $18) 47. h5 $1 gxh5
(47... g5 48. Ra5+ Ke6 (48... Kxc6 49. Rxf5 Rh7 50. Rf6+ Kd5 51. Kg4 $18) 49.
Rc5 Kf6 50. Ke3 $18 {/\Kd4 etc. +-}) 48. Ra5+ Kxc6 (48... Kd6 49. Rxf5 $18) (
48... Ke6 49. Rc5 $18) 49. Rxf5 Rh7 50. Rxh5 Rf7+ 51. Kg2 (51. Kg4 $2 Rxf2 52.
Rxh6+ Kd7 $11) 51... Rf6 52. Re5 Kd6 53. f4 $18 {with the winning plan of
marching the king to h5 plus g3-g4 mit dem gewinnbringenden Plan der
Königswanderung nach h5 plus g3-g4}) 46. h5 $1 g5 47. Ra5+ Ke6 48. Rc5 $18) (
39... Kf6 $2 40. Kf4 $1 g5+ (40... Rc8 41. c7+ Ke7 42. Rc6 $18) (40... h6 41.
h4 Ke6 42. Rb6 Kf6 43. Ke3 Ke5 44. h5 $1 gxh5 (44... g5 45. Rb5+ Kd6 (45... Ke6
46. Rc5 $18) (45... Kf6 46. Rc5 $18) 46. Rxf5 $18) 45. Rb5+ Kd6 (45... Kf6 46.
Rc5 $18) (45... Ke6 46. Rc5 $18) 46. Rxf5 Ke7 47. Rc5 $18) 41. Ke3 Ke5 42. Ra5+
Kd6 (42... Ke6 43. Rc5 $18) 43. Rxf5 $18) (39... g5 $2 40. g4 $1 f4 (40... Kf6
41. gxf5 Kxf5 42. Ra5+ Kf6 43. Rc5 $18) (40... h6 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Ra5+ Ke6
43. Rc5 $18) 41. Ra5 Rxc6 42. Rxg5 $18) (39... Rc8 $2 40. c7+ (40. Kf4) 40...
Kd7 41. Ra7 $18) 40. h4 (40. Rb6 Rc8) 40... Rc8 41. Ke3 Rc7 42. h5 $5 {There
is no other way to make progress here. Anders ist hier kein Fortschritt zu
erzielen.} (42. Rb6 Rc8) 42... gxh5 (42... Rc8 $2 43. h6 $1 Rc7 44. Rb6 Rc8 45.
Rb5+ Kd6 46. Rb7 Rh8 47. Kd4 Kxc6 48. Ra7 Kd6 49. Ra6+ Ke7 50. Ke5 $18) 43.
Ra5+ (43. Kf3 $6 Kd6 (43... Ke6 44. Kf4 h6) 44. Kf4 h6 45. Kxf5 Rf7+ 46. Kg6
Rxf2 $11) 43... Kd6 $1 (43... Ke6 $2 {This again lets the opposing rook get
behind its passed pawn with the well-known consequences: Lässt den
gegnerischen Turm wieder hinter seinen Freibauern mit den bekannten
Konsequenzen:} 44. Rc5 Kd6 45. Kd4 f4 46. Rxh5 fxg3 (46... Rxc6 47. Rh6+ Kd7
48. Rxc6 Kxc6 49. g4 $8 $18) (46... Kxc6 47. Rc5+ Kd6 48. Rxc7 Kxc7 49. g4 $8
$18) 47. Rh6+ Ke7 48. fxg3 $18) 44. Rxf5 (44. Kf4 Rxc6 45. Kxf5 h6 46. Kf6 h4
47. gxh4 Kd7+ 48. Kf5 Ke7 $14 {/= /=}) 44... Kxc6 {and - as so often in this
type of endgame with f- and g-pawns against h-pawn - the defending side can
hold out here too, e.g.: und - wie so oft in diesem Endspieltyp mit f- und
g-Bauern gegen h-Bauer - kann die Verteidigung sich auch hier behaupten, z.B.:}
45. Rxh5 (45. Kf4 Kd6 46. Kg5 Ke7 (46... Ke6 47. Rf4 Ke7 48. Kxh5 (48. Kh6 Ke8
$11) 48... Rc6 $11) 47. Kxh5 (47. Kh6 Ke8 (47... h4 $1 48. gxh4 Rc4 49. h5 Ke6
$11) 48. Kxh5 (48. Rxh5 Kf8) 48... Rc6 $11) 47... Rc6 $11) 45... Kd6 $1 {
When Tablebase is asked about 7 piece endings, this is the only way for Black
to hold the draw!! Wie eine Tablebase-Anfrage für 7-Steiner ergab, hält
Schwarz allein hiermit das Remis!} 46. Kf4 (46. Rh6+ Ke5 47. f4+ Kf5) 46...
Rf7+ (46... Rg7) 47. Kg5 (47. Rf5 Rg7 48. g4 Ke6 49. Kg3 Ra7 50. Kh4 Ke7 51. f4
(51. Kh5 Ra6) 51... Ra1 52. Rh5 Kf6 53. Rh6+ Kg7 54. Kg5 Ra5+ 55. f5 Rb5 56.
Ra6 Rc5 57. Ra7+ Kg8 58. Ra6 Rc4 $11) 47... Ke7 48. f4 Kf8 49. Rh6 Kg7 50. Ra6
Rc7 51. g4 Rc5+ 52. f5 Rb5 53. Ra7+ Kg8 {and as previously = und wie zuvor =})
({(2)} 36... Rd5 $5 {also seems to work: scheint auch zu funktionieren:} 37.
Rc6 (37. c6 $6 {is relatively weak and allows Black to get his rook to an
ideal position without any loss of tempo: ist relativ schwach und erlaubt es
Schwarz, seinen Turm ohne Tempoverlust in eine Idealstellung zu bringen:} Rc5 {
and e.g. und z.B.} 38. Kg2 Kf7 39. Ra7+ (39. Kf3 Ke6 40. Kf4 Rc2 $11) 39... Ke6
40. Rc7 Ke5 41. h4 $11 (41. Kf3 Rc3+ 42. Ke2 Kd6 $11)) 37... Kf7 38. Rc7+ Ke6
39. Kg2 (39. Kf1 $6 f4 $1 $132 (39... Re5 $143 40. f4 Rd5 41. Ke2)) 39... f4 $5
40. gxf4 Kf5 41. Kf3 Rd3+ 42. Ke2 Rc3 43. Kd2 Rh3 44. Rf7+ Ke6 45. c6 Rxh2 46.
Ke2 Rh1 47. c7 Rc1 48. Rxh7 Kd6 (48... Rc2+ 49. Kd3 Rc1) 49. Rg7 (49. Kf3 Ke6)
49... Ke6 50. Kd3 (50. Rxg6+ $2 Kf7 $11) 50... Rc5 51. Kd4 Rc1 $14) 37. Kg2 Rc1
38. Rc6 Kf7 39. Kf3 g5 {In the despairing search for counterplay the text move
is just as typical for this position as it is provocative. Moreover Black is
probably fighting for a lost cause! In any case, the following apparently
"sounder" defences turn out in the long run to be insufficient: Auf der
verzweifelten Suche nach Gegenspiel ist der Textzug für diese Stellung ebenso
typisch wie provokant. Indes kämpft Schwarz vermutlich bereits für eine
verlorene Sache! Jedenfalls erweisen sich auch die folgenden scheinbar
"solideren" Verteidigungen am Ende als unzureichend:} ({(1)} 39... Ke7 40. Rc7+
(40. Kf4 $2 {is premature on account of  ist voreilig wegen} Kd7 41. Ra6 {
, see 41.Ra6 etc. , siehe 41.Ra6 etc.} (41. Rd6+ Ke7 42. Rc6 Kd7 43. Ra6 {
, see 41.Ra6 etc. , siehe 41.Ra6 etc.}) 41... Rxc5 42. Kg5 (42. Ra7+ Ke6 43.
Rxh7 Kf6 $14 {/=}) 42... f4+ $1 43. Kxf4 Rh5 44. h4 Ke7 $14 {/= /=}) 40... Kf6
41. Ke3 Ke5 42. h4 Rc3+ 43. Kd2 {and then e.g.: und nun z.B.:} Rc4 (43... Rf3
44. Re7+ Kf6 (44... Kd5 45. Ke2 Rc3 46. Rxh7 f4 (46... Rxc5 47. Re7 $1 Rc6 48.
Kf3 $18) 47. gxf4 Rxc5 48. Re7 $1 Rc1 (48... Kd6 49. Rg7) 49. Kf3 Rh1 50. Rg7
Rxh4 51. Rxg6 $18) 45. Re2 Ra3 46. Re3 $1 {and with the manoeuvre Re2-e3-c3
things have practically worked out again: und mit dem Manöver Re2-e3-c3 ist
die Chose praktisch wieder gelaufen:} Ra5 47. c6 Ra2+ 48. Kc1 Ra7 49. Rc3 Rc7
50. Kd2 {etc. +-}) 44. Kd3 Rc1 45. c6 Ke6 (45... Kd6 46. Rxh7 Rxc6 47. h5 Ke6 (
47... gxh5 48. Rh6+ Kd7 49. Rxc6 Kxc6 50. Kd4 f4 (50... Kd6 51. f4 $8 Ke6 52.
Kc5 $18) 51. Ke5 $1 $18) 48. Rh6 Kf7 49. Rxg6 Rxg6 50. hxg6+ Kxg6 51. f4 $18)
46. Rxh7 Rxc6 47. h5 $18) ({(2)} 39... Rc2 40. Ke3 Ke7 41. Rc7+ Ke6 42. h4 {
and then e.g.: und nun z.B.:} Ke5 (42... f4+ 43. gxf4 h5 (43... Kd5 44. Rd7+
Ke6 45. Rd6+ Ke7 46. Kd4 $18 {and things continue: und weiter:} Rxf2 47. Ke5
Rh2 (47... Rc2 48. Kd5) 48. Rb6 Re2+ (48... Rxh4 49. Rb7+ Kd8 50. Kd6 Ke8 51.
c6) 49. Kd5 Rd2+ 50. Kc6 Rf2 51. Rb7+ Ke6 52. Rxh7 Rxf4 53. Kb5 Rf1 54. c6) 44.
Rc6+ Kf5 45. Rc8 $18 {Things might continue: Weiter könnte folgen:} Kf6 (45...
Kg4 46. c6 Kxh4 47. c7 Kg4 (47... Rc1 48. Ke4) 48. f5) 46. Kd4 Ke6 47. c6 Rc1 (
47... Kd6 48. Rg8) 48. f5+ gxf5 (48... Kxf5 49. Kd5) 49. Rh8) 43. f4+ Kd5 44.
Rd7+ Ke6 45. Rd6+ Ke7 46. Kd4 Rg2 47. Ra6 Rxg3 48. Ra7+ Ke6 49. Rxh7 $18 {
and wins, e.g. und gewinnt, z.B.} Rg1 (49... Rg4 50. c6 Rxf4+ 51. Kc5 Rf1 52.
c7 Rc1+ 53. Kb6 Rb1+ 54. Ka7 Rc1 55. Kb7 Rb1+ 56. Kc8 Rb4 57. Rh6 Kf7 58. h5
gxh5 59. Kd7 Rd4+ 60. Rd6 $18) 50. Kc4 Rc1+ 51. Kb5 Rb1+ 52. Kc6 Rb4 53. Rh6
Rxf4 (53... Kf7 54. h5) 54. Rxg6+ Kf7 55. Rd6 Rxh4 56. Kd7 $8 Rc4 57. c6 $8 f4
58. c7 f3 59. Rd3 {etc. usw.}) 40. Ke3 Rc3+ (40... Rc2 41. Rc7+ Kf6 42. c6 Ke5
(42... h6 43. Kd3 Rc5 (43... Rc1 44. Kd4 $18) 44. f4 $18 (44. Kd4 $18)) 43.
Re7+ Kd5 44. Rxh7 Rc3+ 45. Kd2 Rxc6 46. Rh5 Rg6 47. f4 $18) 41. Kd4 $1 {
The invasion by the white monarch cannot be stopped. It is noticeable how, in
comparison to the variations above, its counterpart remains stuck on the 7th/
8th ranks. leads to the game by transposition of moves. Die Invasion des
weißen Monarchen ist nicht zu stoppen. Es ist auffällig, wie hier sein
Antagonist im Vergleich zu den obigen Varianten auf der 7./8. Reihe stecken
bleibt. führt unter Zugumstellung zur Partie.} ({But not Jedoch nicht} 41. Kd2
$2 {on account of wegen} Rf3 42. Ke2 Rc3 43. Rc7+ Ke6 44. c6 Ke5 (44... h5) 45.
Re7+ Kd4 (45... Kd6 $2 46. Rxh7) 46. c7 h6 $14) 41... Rf3 42. Ke5 $1 (42. Rh6
$2 Rxf2 43. c6 f4 44. Rxh7+ Kg6 45. Rh8 Rc2 $11) 42... Rxf2 43. Rf6+ Ke8 ({
More resistance can be offered with Mehr Gegenwehr leistet} 43... Ke7 $142 {
, for instance: , man sehe:} 44. Rh6 (44. Rxf5 $2 Rxh2 45. Rxg5 Kd7 $11) 44...
Kf7 (44... f4 45. Rxh7+ Kd8 46. Rh5 Re2+ (46... f3 47. Ke4 g4 48. Kf4 $18) 47.
Kd6 Rd2+ 48. Kc6 $18) 45. c6 f4 (45... Rc2 46. Kxf5 $18) 46. gxf4 gxf4 47. c7
Rc2 {and now?  und nun?} 48. Rh3 $8 {!!} (48. Kd6 $2 f3 49. Rxh7+ Kg6 50. Rh3
f2 51. Rg3+ Kh5 52. Rf3 Rd2+ 53. Ke7 Re2+ 54. Kd7 Rd2+ 55. Kc8 Rc2 $11) (48.
Rxh7+ $2 Kg6 49. Rd7 f3 50. Rd6+ Kg5 51. Rd5 f2 52. Kd6+ Kg4 53. Rc5 Rxc5 54.
Kxc5 f1=Q 55. c8=Q+ Qf5+ $11) 48... Ke8 (48... h5 49. Kd6 Kg6 50. Rd3 $18) 49.
Kd6 Rd2+ 50. Kc6 Rc2+ 51. Kb7 Rb2+ 52. Kc8 $18 {and then, e.g. und weiter z.B.}
Rb1 53. Rh5 Ke7 (53... f3 54. Re5+ Kf7 55. Rf5+) 54. Rxh7+ Ke6 55. Kd8 Rd1+ 56.
Ke8 Rc1 57. Re7+ Kf6 58. Kd8 Rc3 59. Rd7) 44. Rxf5 Rxh2 45. Kd6 $8 $18 (45.
Rxg5 $2 Kd7 $11 {as usual. wie gehabt.}) 45... Rd2+ 46. Kc7 Rd7+ 47. Kb6 g4 48.
Re5+ Kd8 49. Rg5 Rd3 50. Rg8+ Ke7 51. Rxg4 Rb3+ 52. Kc7 Kf6 53. c6 {A highly
interesting and extremely instructive study of this endgame with the extra
pawn on c5 or c6. Eine hochinteressante, äußerst instruktive Studie zu
diesem Turmendspiel mit dem Mehrbauern auf c5 bzw. c6.} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Lenderman,A"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Hello everyone and welcome to the round one Game of the Day at the Gashimov
Memorial. Today the choice was relatively straightforward, since the game
So-Mamedyarov was the game with by far the most fireworks. So, let's get to it.
} 1. e4 e5 {The first interesting choice. Mamediarov is capable of playing
almost any first move, but in this game he goes for the most common at the
elite level, 1...e5 against 1.e4.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {A slight surprise, since
Wesley more commonly chooses the Ruy Lopez or the Italian game these days.}
exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. Nd2 {8.c4 is more common,
but probably Mamedyarov wasn't surprised by 8.Nd2, since it has also become
popular of late, Also, Wesley himself played it in the 2015 Tata Steel against
Levon Aronian.} (8. c4 {is more common, after which Black can reply with both
8...Ba6 followed by ...Nb6, or 8...Nb6 straight away, with both having their
pluses and minuses.}) 8... a5 $5 {Not yet a novelty, but already we're in
rare-move territory. The most common for Black is 8...g6. Aronian tried 8...
Rb8!?} (8... g6 {is also a highly theoretical debate after} 9. c4 (9. Nf3 $5)
9... Nf4 (9... Ba6 $5)) (8... Rb8 {was played by Aronian and it seems like it
also got him a decent position. However, I'm sure Wesley analysed this
position quite deeply and had something better prepared in the event of ...Rb8}
9. c4 Nf4 10. Qe3 Ng6 11. f4 f6 (11... d6 {Perhaps that was stronger.}) 12.
Qxa7 Rb7 13. Qf2 fxe5 14. f5 Nf4 15. Qf3 (15. a3 $5 Qf7 16. g3 Nh5 17. b4)
15... Qf7 16. g3 Nh5 17. Be2 Nf6 18. g4 d5 19. g5 e4 (19... Ne4 $5) (19... Nd7)
20. Qh3 Ng8 $4 {A strange blunder.} (20... Nd7 21. Bh5 g6 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23.
Qxh8 Nc5 24. O-O Bxf5 $44 {was still very complex.}) 21. Bh5 g6 22. fxg6 Bxh3
23. gxf7+ Kd7 24. fxg8=Q Rxg8 25. Rg1 $18 {1-0 (54) So,W (2762)-Aronian,L 
(2797) Wijk aan Zee NED 2015. And White later on converted his extra piece.})
9. c4 {Wesley has his first big think here, for around 10 minutes, which
indicates he was at least a little bit surprised by the a5 move, or maybe he
was just trying to recall his preparation. Wesley goes for the principled
approach. It does seem like the only really logical move though, since sooner
or later c4 probably has to be played. The interesting thing though, is now
White transposes into a lot of lines with 8.c4 rather than 8.Nd2, and it's
possible that Mamedyarov tricked Wesley out of his preparation.} Nb6 10. b3 {
And now, a big 30-minute think on the b3-move. Probably Wesley saw the dangers
of this move, since it was relatively easy to anticipate Black's replies after
b3. However, it's possible that Wesley just couldn't find a great alternative
to it. Or maybe he evaluated the position down the line as a position with
good compensation for a pawn, which certainly has its merits as well.} (10. Qe3
) (10. Qe4) (10. g3 {are all adequate solutions but also are slightly less
ambitious and give Black easier play.}) 10... a4 11. Bb2 axb3 12. axb3 Rxa1+
13. Bxa1 Qa3 14. Qd1 {Of course... only move.} (14. Bc3 $4 Qc1+) (14. Bd4 $6
Bb4 15. Qd1 c5 16. Be3 Qb2 $15 {and Black has pressure.}) 14... Bb4 15. Bd3 {
When White played 10.b3 he probably had to foresee up to 15.Bd3 and see he's
at least ok in all the lines. That, as well as comparing to other possibilites
on move 10 explain the 30-minute think on that move.} (15. Be2 $2 {isn't
effective since then after} Qa5 $17 {White can't easily break the pin.}) 15...
Qa5 {Mamedyarov is still playing extremely fast which shows he's still in
preparation. Though while I'm analyzing with perhaps a weaker engine than
Mamedyarov, I'm wondering if it's just my engine being not so strong, or
perhaps Mamedyarov slightly confused his preparation, since it seems to me
that 15...Qa2 is a serious alternative that might even be stronger.} (15... Qa2
$5 16. Bd4 (16. Ke2 d5 {Now ...d5 seems very strong for Black.}) 16... O-O 17.
Be3 {and perhaps now} Qa5) 16. Ke2 $5 (16. Bd4 $5 {might be also very
interesting, trying to play Qc2.} O-O (16... Bc3 17. Bxc3 Qxc3 18. Qe2 O-O (
18... Qa1+ $6 19. Bb1) (18... Qc1+ 19. Qd1 Qc3 $11) 19. O-O Re8 $11 {with
comfortable equality.}) 17. Qc2) 16... d6 {Mamedyarov's first big think of the
game for around 10 minutes.} 17. Qc2 $1 {A very interesting positional pawn
sacrifice, which was the main point of Ke2, and possibly planned all along
when 10.b3 was played.} (17. exd6 $2 O-O $40 {is extremely dangerous for White.
}) 17... dxe5 18. Bb2 Qc5 $1 {Getting his queen out of the danger zone. This
move cost Mamedyarov 40 minutes thought.} (18... Nd7 19. Ra1 Qc5 20. Bf5 $44)
19. Nf3 Bg4 {This was a critical position, which probably Mamediarov seriously
thought about even before 18...Qc5, when he thought for 40 minutes. Here Black
has many interesting choices, but possibly ...Bg4 wasn't objectively the
absolute best.} (19... Qe7 {would allow a slightly annoying move,} 20. Be4 Qe6
21. Ng5 Qh6 22. h4 $44 {with good compensation for White since Black is a
little bit tied down here.}) (19... g6 $1 {At a high depth the computer really
screams for this move, but it seems like a very difficult move to play during
the game. Sure, it defends the pawn but it seems meaningless and seems like
the e5-pawn is hanging. However Black is doing well in all the lines here.} 20.
Nxe5 (20. Bxe5 O-O {is even more dangerous for White.} 21. Bf4 Qe7+ 22. Be3 Nd7
23. Rd1 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. h3 Bc5 $15) (20. h4 Bg4 {But now that the
h7-pawn is protected, the Bg4-move is strong.} 21. h5 $1 Rf8 $1 22. Kf1 Nd7 {
and even though White has compensation, it looks like Black is to be preferred
slightly.}) 20... O-O {It's a tricky position but Black seems better here.} 21.
Be4 (21. Nf3 Re8+ 22. Kf1 Bg4 $36) 21... Re8 22. Rd1 f6 23. Bxg6 Rxe5+ 24. Kf1
Rg5 25. Bxh7+ Kf7 $17) (19... h6 $6 {isn't nearly as effective as g6.} 20. Nxe5
O-O 21. Rd1 Re8 22. Bh7+ Kf8 23. Qe4 Nd5 24. Kf1 $11 {With a mess, which is
likely going to end in a pereptual check.}) 20. Bxh7 Nd7 (20... Qe7 21. Be4 (
21. Bf5 $6 {doesn't work so well anymore for White.} Bxf3+ 22. Kxf3 g6) 21...
Qe6 22. h3 Bxf3+ 23. Kxf3 g6 24. g4 $11 {with dynamic equality.}) 21. Bf5 Bxf3+
$1 {The only move not to be clearly worse.} (21... Bxf5 $6 22. Qxf5 g6 23. Qg4
{lets White keep a very important knight on f3 which is very annoying for
Black to deal with.} Qe7 24. Rd1 Bd6 25. b4 $1 Bxb4 (25... c5 26. bxc5 Nxc5 27.
Qc8+ Qd8 28. Qxd8+ Kxd8 29. Nxe5 Re8 30. Kf3 $16) 26. Nxe5 $1 $18) 22. Kxf3 $5
(22. gxf3 g6 (22... Nf6 {would be quite good for Black.})) 22... g6 23. Bxd7+ (
23. Ra1 $5 Rh4 $1 24. Kg3 Rd4 $3 25. Bxd4 Qxd4 26. Ra8+ Ke7 27. Bxd7 Qf4+ 28.
Kh3 Qh6+ 29. Kg3 Qf4+ {would not be forced but would be a very interestling
sample line leading to perpetual check.}) 23... Kxd7 24. Qe4 (24. g3 {In
retrospect g3 might've been safer, to tuck the king in on g2, and not have to
worry about it being under attack. I think only White can be better here.})
24... Re8 25. Ke2 {Still objectively ok, but in my opinion playing a little
bit with fire.} (25. g3) 25... Kc8 {Black does the right thing and gets his
king into safety. It becomes easier for Black from here on, especially in time
pressure, which makes it no surprise that White is the one who cracks in the
end since his position in my opinion is now a little bit more difficult to
play despite the position being objectively equal.} 26. Rd1 f5 27. Qh4 (27. Qe3
$5) 27... Qe7 28. Qg3 ({Of course} 28. Qxe7 {is safer, after which White
doesn't really risk losing, but White continues to play very ambitiously and
is taking some risks.}) 28... g5 29. Bc3 Bc5 30. Bd2 $6 {And now with low time,
White makes the first objective inaccuracy of the game. The bishop ends up
being misplaced on d2, while ...f4 is a move Black wants to play anyway in
many lines.} ({Either} 30. b4 $5 Bxb4 31. Bxb4 Qxb4 32. Qxg5 Qxc4+ 33. Ke1 $11)
({Or} 30. Ra1 $11 {would still keep the game balanced.}) 30... f4 $1 {Now
Black starts to seize the initiative.} 31. Qh3+ Kb7 $6 {Now Black errs in
return.} (31... Kb8 $1 32. b4 Bd4 33. b5 e4 {and now bxc6 comes without check
and Black's initiative is quicker.} 34. Qb3 (34. bxc6 $6 e3 $1 35. fxe3 (35.
Rb1+ Ka8 {doesn't really help White.}) 35... Qe4 $3 {and Black has a decisive
attack.} 36. Qf3 Qc2 37. Rc1 Qa2 38. e4 Be3 $19) 34... c5 (34... Bb6 $5 35.
bxc6 Qe5) 35. b6 c6 36. Qa2 Qf7 {and Black has very strong initiative which
means White has nothing better than to go into an unpleasant endgame with...}
37. Qa7+ Qxa7 38. bxa7+ Kxa7 $15 {where White maybe can draw but has to work
for it.}) 32. b4 Bd4 33. Qd3 $6 {In time pressure it's understable that
mistakes start coming in bunches, even amongst elite players when the position
is so sharp.} (33. b5 $1 {White can create enough counterplay here.} e4 (33...
cxb5 34. Rb1 $1 c6 35. cxb5 c5 36. Qf5 {and it's still a mess.} (36. Qh6 Qe6))
34. bxc6+ Kxc6 35. Qb3 Bb6 36. Qa4+ Kb7 37. Ra1 Qc5 38. Qa6+ Kc6 39. Qa4+ $11)
33... Rd8 (33... Qd7 {might've been slightly more precise.}) 34. b5 Qe6 (34...
cxb5 {might've objectively worked though it's hard to blame Black for not
going for this in time pressure. Variations that arise here are very complex
and almost impossible to work out precisely in time pressure.} 35. Rb1 e4 $1
36. Rxb5+ Bb6 37. Qc2 e3 $5 (37... Qe6 38. c5 (38. Kf1 Kc8 39. c5 Qc6 $1 $17)
38... f3+) 38. fxe3 fxe3 39. Be1 Qe8 $1 {and Black still might be slightly
better.}) 35. bxc6+ Kxc6 36. f3 Rb8 37. Be1 g4 38. Rd2 gxf3+ 39. Qxf3+ $4 {
And now comes a shocker. Just two moves before making time control, Wesley So
makes a game losing blunder. It goes to show us that we're all human, and when
we're under pressure most of the game and have to work hard, at some point
people crack, even the best of the best.} (39. gxf3 $11 {would still be equal.}
) 39... e4 {And White resigned. I'm not exactly even sure what Wesley missed.
Maybe he forgot about the c4-pawn being hanging. Either way, despite the fact
that this great battle between two great fighters ended prematurely, I still
really enjoyed commentating on this game, since there were a lot of
interesting moments starting with the opening stage, and throughout the whole
game.} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4 ({
I find it interesting comparing the following game with the line given in the
comments to 9.Be3 below:} 8. Bb3 h6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nf1 g4 11. N3d2 h5 12. Nc4
h4 13. Be3 h3 14. g3 d5 {As Irina told me after the game, this whole variation
was some sort of bluff, but she relied on the fact that the refutation is not
easy to find for White.} 15. Na3 (15. exd5 $1 Qxd5 16. f3 $1 gxf3 17. Qd2 Ng4
18. Nxe5 f2+ 19. Qxf2 $1 $18) 15... d4 16. Bg5 Rh5 17. Qd2 Nxe4 18. Bxd8 Nxd2
19. Nxd2 Kxd8 $17 {Klinova-Bulmaga, Baku 2016.  Unlike in the game below, the
c4-square is available for the knight.}) 8... h6 $5 {Dubois,S-Steinitz,W
British CA-05 Casual Games 1862 0-1 This may mean many things. Black may only
wish to avoid Bg5 or Ng5, which are not dangerous at this point in the game,
or wait for White to disclose his cards by playing a useful move before
castling. But most likely Black may wish to start a kingside attack in the
spirit of, for instance,} ({The main line goes} 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 Ng4 10.
Re2 Kh8 {Topalov,V (2761)-Nakamura,H (2787) Leuven 2016 CBM 173 [Besenthal,K] 
(1-0, 45)}) 9... h6 (9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 {Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772)
New York 2016 CBM 176 [Navara,D] (1/2-1/2, 84)}) 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12.
Ng3 c6 {Giri,A (2793)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] (1/
2-1/2, 53)}) 9. Be3 $5 $146 {Aticipating Black's planned attack, White decides
on neutralising the annoying pressure along the g1-a7 diagonal.} ({Here is a
recent example when the kingside plan was successful:} 9. Nbd2 g5 $5 10. Nf1 ({
Actually it makes sense keeping the knight on d2 so as to be able to answer
the later ...Nxe4 with Nxe4. For instance:} 10. b4 g4 11. Nh4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4
Qxh4 13. d4 f5 14. Ng3 e4 15. b5 {The a7-bishop is passive and the king is
exposed in the centre.}) 10... g4 11. Nh4 (11. N3d2 h5 12. Ne3 h4 {[%cal Gg4g3,
Ga7g1]}) 11... Nxe4 12. dxe4 Qxh4 13. Be3 Be6 {Anand,V (2770)-Wei,Y (2694)
Leon 2016 (½-½, 45), with an extra pawn and adequate play for Black.}) 9...
Bxe3 10. Rxe3 O-O ({Actually there are no obvious reasons for refraining from
the initial plan (if this was the plan, indeed). The exchange of bishops has
only increased Black's stability on the dark squares without reducing the
impact of the pawn attack too much:} 10... g5 11. d4 g4 12. Ne1 h5 13. Nc2 h4
14. Nd2 Nh5 $13) 11. Nbd2 Re8 {Taking the usual measures against d3-d4.} ({
Due to the exposed rook on e3, Black could think of breaking in the centre
himself:} 11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Re4 $5 {This practically wastes a tempo,
but it more or less forces Black into exposing one of his pieces.} (13. Re1 Nf4
14. Nxe5 $2 Qg5 $19) 13... Bf5 (13... Nf4 14. Nxe5 Qg5 15. Rxf4 Qxf4 16. Ng6
$16) (13... Re8 14. d4 $14) (13... Qd6 14. Re1 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Gd2e4] will
retrieve the tempo on the next move with Ne4.}) 14. Re1 Nf4 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 (
15... Qg5 $2 16. Qf3 $16 {is good for White as with the bishop on f5 the
e5-knight is not hanging any more.}) 16. Rxe5 Bxd3 17. Qf3 Qf6 18. Re3 Bxc4 19.
Nxc4 {with just some symbolic initiative for White.}) 12. d4 {The most active
move but} (12. Qb3 Re7 13. a5 {would have offered White a small plus, delaying
the central committment.}) 12... exd4 $5 {An enterprising move.} ({If Black
wanted to play ...Bc8-g4, it is better, indeed, to release the tension first.
If} 12... Bg4 13. Qb3 Qd7 14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Rd3 Qe7
17. Qxb7 $14) 15. Rd3 Qe7 16. Qxb7 Na5 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. cxb4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bxf3
(19... Nxe4 20. Nfxe5 $16) 20. gxf3 {Defending e4.} Rab8 21. Rb3 Nh5 22. Rc1
$14 {Black's structure is imperfect but he is a pawn up after all and Black
also has weaknesses on the queenside.}) 13. cxd4 Bg4 {This will eventually
lead to an interesting structure.} (13... d5 {is playable, but Black is mainly
struggling a bit:} 14. exd5 Rxe3 15. fxe3 Nxd5 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. e4 Nb6 18. Qe3
Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb4 {White's chances to put his impressive centre into motion
are slightly marred by his queenside weaknesses.}) 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Bd3 {
The most solid move.} (15. e5 {leads to simplifications and approximate
equality:} Na5 16. Bxf7+ Qxf7 17. Qxf7+ Kxf7 18. exf6 Rxe3 19. fxe3 Kxf6 $11) (
15. a5 Bxf3 {wins one of the central pawns.}) 15... d5 16. e5 (16. exd5 {
only makes sense if White goes for the b7-pawn but this is dubious:} Nxd5 17.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 18. Qxb7 Ndb4 19. Be4 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nxd4 $15 {Black has two
excellent knights, dominating the board.} 21. Qxb4 $2 Nc2 22. Qc4 Nxa1 {
[%csl Gd2][%cal Ge1g1]}) 16... Nh5 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gh5f4,Gf4e6] Black
concentrates his forces on the kingside, believing in his attacking chances.} (
16... Ne4 {is not an entirely sound pawn sacrifice:} 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4
Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxd4 20. Qxb7 $14) 17. g3 {[%csl Gh5]} f5 {Adding more strategic
tension.} ({A player with a cautious style might have considered} 17... g6 {
[%cal Gh5g7,Gg7e6]}) 18. Ree1 {By keeping the kingside closed Kramnik shows
that he believes in his space advantage, but takes up the risk that Black's
slow attack would prevail.} (18. exf6 {is simpler and not necessarily less
strong.} Rxe3 19. fxe3 Bxf3 {Clearing the g4-square for the knight in view of
the possible sequence below.} (19... Nxf6 $2 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nh7 22. Qxb7
$18) 20. Nxf3 Nxf6 21. Ne5 (21. e4 Qg4 22. Rf1 Rd8 {allows Black to complete
his development with effective pressure against the white centre.}) 21... Nxe5
22. dxe5 Ng4 23. Qxb7 {Black has obvious chances for kingside counterplay but
the plan of grabbing a6 and advancing his own pawn is simple and relatively
quick.}) 18... a5 19. Rac1 $6 {After this indiferrent move, allowing the
c6-knight's activation, Black can solve a big part of his problems.} ({The
only way to prevent Black's next move was} 19. Bb5 {Kramnik might have feared
moving with the bishop far from the kingside (with the possible plan of
exchanging it on c6) but it seems that he could have maintained the control:}
f4 20. Rac1 Qe6 21. Rc5 Rad8 ({White seems to be a bit hanging after} 21... Rf8
22. Rxd5 Kh8 {but} 23. Bc4 $16 {consolidates.}) 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qc3 $16 {
Black's queenside will soon be in ruins and there is no obvious way of
including the passive knight in the attack.}) 19... Nb4 {Black is rock solid
and safe on the queenside and the main events will most likely take place on
the opposite wing.} 20. Bf1 {This passive move absolves Black of any problem.}
(20. Bb1 {inhibits ..f5-f4 but allows the active} Ra6 (20... f4 $6 {[%cal
Gb1g6]} 21. e6 $1 Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Bg6 $16) 21. Kg2 f4 22. Ng1 g5 $132) ({
Kramnik misses the last chance for figthing for the initiative:} 20. e6 $5 Qd6
$5 (20... Rxe6 21. Ne5 Qe7 ({In principle d6 is a better square for the queen,
but} 21... Qd6 {allows} 22. Ndc4 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gc4e3]} dxc4 $2 23. Bxc4
$18) 22. Bb1 Bh3 23. Ndf3 {[%cal Yf3h4]} g5 24. Nd3 Nf6 25. Nc5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1
Ne4 27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $36) 21. Kg2 $5 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gh2h3]} (21. Ne5
Bh3 22. Ndf3 Rxe6 23. Nh4 g6 {With the queen on e7 the g6-pawn would be
hanging.})) 20... f4 {[%cal Ge8e7,Gc7c6,Ga8f8,Gg7g5] Black's initiative
threatens to become concrete.} 21. e6 {After Black cleared the path backwards
for his bishop this is less strong than one move earlier, allowing White only
to avoid the worse of it.} Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Qf3 {Retrieving the pawn.} Nf6
24. Qxf4 c6 25. f3 Nd7 26. Nb3 Rf8 27. Qe3 Bf5 28. Qd2 $11 {White has an
advantage on the right half of the board, but Black is better on the queenside.
The position remains complicated but balanced.} Na2 {The move repetition
initiated by this move may hint at Mamedyarov's wish to reach a draw.} ({
But Black could have also played some consolidating moves for instance} 28...
b6 29. f4 Rae8) ({or} 28... g5 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 b6 $11) ({He could have
also embarked on the strategically riskier but also promising} 28... Nxe5 29.
dxe5 Qc7 30. Nd4 Qb6 {[%cal Gf5h7] It is far from clear whose pawns are
stronger but the b4-knight surely plays an important part.}) 29. Ra1 Nb4 30.
Nxd7 $2 {A serious concession. The knight was a dominant piece restricting
Black's possibilities. In the last line above the exchange on e5 freed the
d4-square for the reserve knight. Kramnik will later install a rook on e5, but
this will put less pressure on Black, who will be able to exchange only when
the circumstances are ripe for it.} Bxd7 31. Qc3 b6 $1 {A move with long term
consequnces. For the time being Black restricts the b3-knight, but in the long
run it will allow ...Rxe5 and if dxe5 then ...c6-c5.} 32. Re5 Rae8 33. Rae1 Qg6
34. Nd2 Qc2 {[%csl Ga4,Gd4]} 35. f4 Rxe5 36. dxe5 Be6 37. Qxc2 Nxc2 38. Rc1 Nb4
39. Nf3 c5 $15 {Black's pawns are more mobile than White's and both his minor
pieces more active.} 40. h4 {If Black would play '''h6-h5 the structure on the
opposite wings would be almost symmetrical (with the main difference that
Black has not played ...d5-d4). But of course it makes no sense offering the
white knight such a good square on g5.} Kf7 41. h5 {Strategically correct but
concretely losing a pawn.} Bg4 42. Nh4 Bxh5 43. Nf5 Bg4 44. Ne3 Bd7 45. Bg2 (
45. f5 Bxa4 $19) 45... d4 {Exchanging the b6-pawn for the a4-pawn.} ({Keeping
the tension was also possible as the maximum White could achieve on the
kingside after losing the h5-pawn was pushing his central pawns to f5 and e6,
thus allowing Black to block them:} 45... Bc6 $17 46. f5 $6 Re8 47. e6+ Kf6 $19
) 46. Nc4 Bxa4 47. Nxb6 Bc2 48. Nc4 d3 $6 {Conceding the control over e3 and
restricting his own bishp too soon.} (48... a4 $1 $17 49. Bf3 Ke7 {[%cal Gg7g5]
} 50. Na3 d3 51. Kf2 Rd8 52. Bd1 Rb8 {[%cal Gb4a2]}) 49. Nd2 $6 (49. Bf3 $1 {
[%csl Gd1] offered good chances for a fortress.} Ke6 50. Kf2 d2 {[%cal Gb4d3]}
(50... g5 51. Ke3 {[%csl Ge3][%cal Gd4d3]}) 51. Ra1 $1) 49... a4 50. Kf2 c4 {
The pawn is temporarily taboo, but later it will be vulnerable.} (50... Ke6 $5)
51. Ke3 (51. Nxc4 d2 $19) 51... Rc8 52. Ne4 Kf8 53. Nc3 Rb8 54. Rf1 $6 {
White's counterplay is too slow. He should have kept his majority as a latent
threat and taken preventive measures to save the b2-pawn.} (54. Bf3 $5 {
[%cal Ge3d2]} Na6 $6 55. Bd1 $1) 54... Na6 55. f5 Rxb2 56. f6 $2 (56. Bd5 $5
$17) 56... Nc7 $19 57. Bh3 d2 $1 58. Bg4 (58. Kxd2 Bd3+ 59. Kc1 Rc2+) 58... a3
59. e6 gxf6 60. Rxf6+ Kg8 61. e7 a2 62. Ra6 d1=Q 63. Nxd1 Bxd1 64. Ra8+ Kg7 65.
Bxd1 Rb1 66. Rxa2 Rxd1 67. Ra7 Ne8 68. Ra4 Rd3+ 69. Kf4 c3 0-1

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2017.05.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2017.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. a3 Bd6 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 a6 12. a4 Qe7 13. Rb1 {The idea of this
move is the following: White wants to play b4-b5, in the event of ...a6xb5
recapture with the a-pawn, cutting off and thus weakening Black's d5-pawn); if
Black prefers ...a6-a5, White will come back to the plan of the exchange of
dark-squared bishops (Rb1-a1 and Bc1-a3). Such a favorable modification of the
pawn structure will be worth two tempi.} (13. Ba3 {[%cal Yb4b5] is a more
straightforward plan. In that case, however, b4-b5 is not so powerful since
after ...a6xb5 White will have to recapture with the knight, and Black's d5
pawn will not be weak:} Rfd8 (13... Rfb8 $5 14. Rfb1 c5 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. dxc5
Nxc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Ne2 a5 19. Ned4 g6 20. Rc1 {1/2 (20) Korobov,A (2700)
-Laznicka,V (2676) Poikovsky 2015}) (13... c6 $5 14. Rfc1 Rab8 15. b5 axb5 16.
Bxd6 Qxd6 17. axb5 c5 18. Bf5 Ra8 19. Qb2 g6 $11 {1/2 (23) Schloesser,F (2475)
-Mannermaa,J (2500) ICCF 1997}) 14. b5 (14. Rfe1 Nf8 15. b5 Bxa3 16. bxa6 $5
Bxa6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. Rxa3 c5 19. Ra2 Ne4 $11 {1/2 (49) Jussupow,A (2655)
-Timman,J (2620) Linares 1992 Candidates [Jussupow,A]}) 14... Bxa3 15. bxa6
Bxa6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. Rxa3 c6 18. Ra2 Rda8 19. Rc1 h6 20. Rac2 Qd6 $11 {
1-0 (42) Jussupow,A (2655)-Benjamin,J (2610) Amsterdam 1994 CBM 043 [Jussupow,
A]}) (13. b5 axb5 14. Nxb5 {turns out to be a bit premature as Black obtains
counterplay by means of} c5 $1 15. Ba3 (15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bf5 c4 17. Qc2 Rfe8
18. Bb2 Bc8 {1/2 (18) Gligoric,S (2565)-Stean,M (2530) Vienna 1980}) 15... Ba6
$1 16. Rfd1 (16. Bf5 Bxb5 17. Qxb5 g6 18. Bc2 (18. Bh3 {1-0 (60) Korobov,A 
(2547)-Yuferov,S (2407) Moscow 2007} Rfd8 {[%cal Yf6e4,Yc5c4]}) 18... Rfc8 19.
Qe2 Ne4 20. Bb2 c4 21. Rab1 Bb4 22. Ba1 Ndf6 $15 {1/2 (46) Vitiugov,N (2703)
-Wang,H (2739) St Petersburg 2012}) (16. Rfb1 g6 17. Qd1 Bxb5 18. Bxb5 c4 19.
Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Nd2 $1 Rfc8 21. Rc1 Kg7 22. Nb1 Nf8 $132 {1/2 (56) Beliavsky,A 
(2620)-Hracek,Z (2625) Polanica Zdroj 1996}) 16... Bxb5 17. Bxb5 c4 18. Bxd6
Qxd6 19. Qa3 Qe6 20. Qb4 Ra5 21. h3 h6 22. Rab1 Rfa8 23. Rdc1 Ne4 $132 {
0-1 (58) Kazhgaleyev,M (2594)-Neiksans,A (2628) Baku 2016}) 13... c6 {
Preventing White's plan but shutting in his own b7-bishop. White now obtains a
possibility to prepare and push e3-e4. Other popular moves:} (13... Ne4 {
(premature)} 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Qxd5 Nc3 16. Qb3 Nxb1 17. Qxb1 h6 18. b5 axb5
19. axb5 Rfd8 20. e4 Nf8 21. e5 Ba3 22. Be3 Qb4 23. Qc2 $44 {0-1 (52)
Khismatullin,D (2658)-Dvoirys,S (2533) Ekaterinburg 2013}) (13... Rfe8 14. b5
axb5 15. axb5 Ne4 {(now possible)} (15... Qe6 $5 16. Ng5 Qe7 17. f4 Ba3 18. Bd2
h6 19. Nf3 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. fxe5 Qe6 23. Be1 Bc1 24. Bf2 Qxb3
25. Rxb3 Ra3 26. Rxa3 Bxa3 27. Rb1 Ra8 $13 {1-0 (64) Korobov,A (2699)-Efimenko,
Z (2652) Konya 2015}) 16. Nxd5 $5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Nc3 18. Qb3 Nxb1 19. Qxb1 (19.
Bxb1 Nf6 20. e4 $1 Nxe4 21. Re1 Qe6 22. Qxe6 Rxe6 23. Bxe4 Ra1 24. Ng5 Re7 25.
Bxh7+ Kh8 26. Rf1 $13 {1-0 (50) Demuth,A (2515)-Navara,D (2751) Montpellier
2015}) 19... Nf6 {(that's the difference from 13...Ne4: e3-e4 has been
"prevented")} 20. e4 {(still!)} Nxe4 21. Re1 f5 22. Ng5 Kh8 (22... h6 $5 23.
Nxe4 fxe4 24. Bxe4 Qf6 25. Bb2 Rad8 $13 {R.Kasimdzhanov}) 23. Bxe4 Qf6 $1 24.
Qb3 (24. h4 fxe4 25. Rxe4 Qg6 $17 {0-1 (41) Onischuk,A (2641)-Kasimdzhanov,R 
(2674) Moscow 2002}) 24... h6 25. Nf7+ Kh7 26. Ng5+ $1 Kh8 $1 $11) 14. a5 (14.
Re1 Ne4 15. b5 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 cxb5 17. axb5 a5 18. Qb3 Nf6 19. Ra1 Ne4 $15 {
1/2 (45) Papa,S (2411)-Graf,A (2646) Germany 2004}) (14. Bf5 g6 15. Bh3 b5 16.
axb5 axb5 17. Ng5 Nb6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Re1 Qc7 20. Ncxe4 Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Nd5 22.
Bd2 Bxh2+ 23. Kh1 Bd6 $15 {0-1 (41) Pavlovic,M (2480)-Huzman,A (2475) Vrnjacka
Banja 1991}) (14. Nd2 a5 $1 15. bxa5 c5 (15... Rxa5 16. e4 dxe4 17. Ndxe4 c5
$11 18. d5 $6 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 {1/2 (26) Gajewski,G (2567)-Palac,M (2586) Zagreb
2011} Ba6 20. Rd1 f5 21. Bc2 c4 22. Qb2 Be5 $36) 16. a6 c4 17. axb7 cxb3 18.
bxa8=Q Rxa8 19. Rxb3 Bb4 20. Ndb1 g6 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22. Nxa3 Nf8 23. Nc2 Rc8 24.
Rfb1 Ne6 $11 {1/2 (43) Korobov,A (2671)-Babula,V (2572) Czechia 2012}) 14...
Rfb8 $146 {Hardly a successful novelty. The rook goes too far away from the
kingside.} (14... b5 15. Nd2 h6 16. Re1 $5 {[%cal Yh2h3,Ye3e4]} (16. e4 $143
dxe4 17. Ndxe4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Nf6 19. Re1 Bc8 20. Bd2 Be6 21. Qc2 Nxe4 22. Bxe4
Rac8 $11 {1/2 (31) Giorgadze,G (2610)-Wintzer,J (2351) Sanxenxo 2007})) (14...
bxa5 $5 15. bxa5 Rab8 16. Qa2 c5 17. Ba3 (17. Rxb7 $5 Rxb7 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19.
Qxd5 Nf6 20. Qa2 $44) 17... c4 $1 (17... cxd4 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. exd4 Ne4 20.
Rfc1 Rfc8 21. Nd1 $14 {1-0 (34) Vitiugov,N (2604)-Iljin,A (2529) St Petersburg
2007}) 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc2 g6 20. Rb2 Ba8 21. Rfb1 Rxb2 22. Rxb2 h6 23. h3
Rb8 $11 {0-1 (39) Milani,O (2071)-Sacerdotali,S (2144) Lechenicher
SchachServer 2011}) 15. axb6 {While Black is recapturing this pawn, White
pushes e3-e4.} Bc8 $6 (15... Nxb6 16. e4 $1 dxe4 17. Nxe4 $1 Nxe4 18. Re1 Nd5
19. Bxe4 Qc7 20. Bd2 $14) (15... a5 $5 16. Na4 $5 Bxb4 17. Bd2) 16. Qc2 $1 {
[%mdl 32]} Nxb6 (16... Bxb4 17. Na4 Nxb6 18. Ne5 Nxa4 19. Nxc6 Qe8 20. Rxb4
Rxb4 21. Nxb4 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Rd5]}) (16... Rxb6 17. Bd2 Rxb4 18. e4 $1 $36) 17.
e4 $1 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 h6 20. Re1 $16 {[%csl Ra8,Rb8][%mdl 128]} Qc7
21. Bh7+ $1 {Better than} (21. Qxc6 Qxc6 22. Bxc6 Bb7) 21... Kf8 22. Ne5 $40
Nd5 (22... Be6 23. Ng6+ $1) 23. Nxf7 $1 {[%mdl 64]} Qxf7 24. Bg6 Bf5 (24... Qd7
25. Re8+ Qxe8 26. Bxe8 Kxe8 27. Qxc6+) 25. Bxf5 Nxb4 26. Qe4 Nd5 (26... Re8 27.
Be6 Qf6 $140 28. Rb3 $18) 27. Be6 Qf6 {It was relatively better (although
quite hopeless) to give up the exchange:} (27... Re8) 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. Qh7 g5
30. Qg8+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 {The Ragozin: known to me as the
opening which won Jonathan Hawkins his first British national title.} 5. cxd5 {
5.Bg5 and 5.e3 are also played.} exd5 6. Bf4 (6. Bg5 {is the main move, and
after} h6 7. Bh4 c5 {the current fashion is for the ambitious} 8. dxc5 $5) 6...
Ne4 7. Qa4+ {A second minor move in a row by Peter Svidler lands him not in
completely new territory but certainly in slight danger.} (7. Rc1 {was a more
solid move in an obvious ideological precedent.} Nc6 8. Nd2 g5 9. Be3 Nxc3 10.
bxc3 Bd6 $132 {Svane,R-Socko,B Germany 2016}) 7... Nc6 8. Rc1 O-O 9. g3 (9. h4
{was necessary if a little uncomfortable. There could follow} Bg4 10. e3 Qe7
11. Be2 $11) (9. e3 g5 10. Bg3 h5 11. h4 g4 12. Ne5 Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3 (13. bxc3
Nxg3 14. fxg3 Qe7 $17) 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bf5 $15 {Ermenkov,
E-Shyam,S Albena 2015}) 9... g5 10. Be3 f5 (10... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 f5 {was a
marginally more precise order.}) 11. Bg2 {Kind of a wasted move since White
will never get to castle.} (11. Bd2 $5 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 {was an additional option
granted by Black's last.}) 11... f4 {[%emt 0:35:06]} 12. gxf4 {[%emt 0:35:56]}
(12. Bd2 {can be met in various ways, including} g4 13. Ne5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxd2
15. Kxd2 Nxe5 16. dxe5 fxg3 $15) 12... Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} 13. bxc3 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 14. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Kh8 $1 $17 {
[%emt 0:03:03] The absolute best move. After less than 15 moves White has no
castling prospects and is close to lost.} 15. Qb3 $2 {[%emt 0:35:15] Not
helping.} (15. Rg1 Be6 16. Bf1 {is one way of trying to get belated
counterplay.}) ({After} 15. O-O Qf6 $1 {White will be unable to form a
coherent defence against doubling on the g-file.}) 15... Na5 {[%emt 0:03:05]
Unfortunately, this natural move gains a great many tempi.} 16. Qc2 {[%emt 0:
06:27]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:47] The obvious threat is ...Bg4 trapping the
d2-bishop, but there are others.} 17. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:32]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:07:46]}
(17... Qe7 {is most favoured by machines, which want to continue ...Bf5 and ...
Rae8, but it is much of a muchness by now.}) 18. Ne5 {[%emt 0:04:30]} Nxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} 19. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:01:20]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:34]} (19... dxe4 20.
Bxf4 Ng6 21. Bg3 {is also dead, but the game might last a bit longer since
White has a good bishop.}) 20. Bxf4 {[%emt 0:07:49]} Qxf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 21.
Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:28] It's a clear piece and maybe even
more. A shame that Svidler was not able to demonstrate his usual good chess
today.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Quintiliano,R} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {This is not part of
Mamedyarov's main repertoire, but as in the past he had worked as Karjakin's
second he tried surprising him.} 4. c3 {Quintiliano,R: 'Karjakin had faced
this line two years ago against Carlsen. This time he goes for the main move.'}
a6 5. Bxc6 $5 (5. Ba4 d6 {may transpose to a Steinitz Variation Deferred,
which I have started examining in a first article published on this same DVD
and which has occasionally been played by Mamedyarov.}) 5... dxc6 6. d4 (6.
Nxe5 {offers Black excellent play:} Qg5 7. d4 (7. Nf3 Qxg2 8. Rg1 Qh3 9. d4 Nf6
$36) 7... Qxg2 8. Qf3 Qxf3 9. Nxf3 Bg4 (9... f5 $5) (9... Nf6 10. Nbd2 c5 $15)
10. Ne5 Be6 11. Be3 Bg7 12. Nd3 O-O-O 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. f3 Rhe8 15. h4 Nh5 16.
Kf2 f5 $11 {Bortnyk,M (2416)-Bogdanovich,S (2590) Lutsk 2016 (0-1, 62)}) ({
A different move order, with possible transposition to deviations from the
game line is} 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 ({After having weakened the light
squares with c2-c3 it does not make sense taking back with pieces:} 8. Nxd4 c5
9. Nb3 b6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Bg5+ f6 12. Rd1+ Bd7 13. Bf4 Kc8 14. Na3 Be6 15.
Nc2 Ne7 16. Rd2 Nc6 $15 {Zapata,A (2420)-Bruzon Batista,L (2650) Medellin 2017
(0-1, 38)}) 8... Ne7 9. Nc3 Bg4 {This is a position which Mamedyariv was
probably heading for in the game.} 10. Be3 (10. Bf4 O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3
Bxd4 13. Rad1 c5 14. b4 b6 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. Na4 Qe8 {Black's position is more
resilient than it may look at first sight.} 17. Qa3 Qc6 18. Rxd4 cxd4 19. Qxe7
Rfe8 20. Qa3 Rxe4 21. Rc1 Qe8 $13 22. Bxc7 $2 d3 $19 {Volokitin,A (2652)
-Stevic,H (2539) Celje 2004 (½-½, 46) The d-pawn is too strong now}) 10...
O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 f5 13. Bg5 {Chandler,M (2535)-Spassky,B (2610) Vienna
1986 (½-½, 18)} fxe4 14. Qxe4 Rf7 $11 15. Rfe1 Qd7 16. Bxe7 Re8) 6... exd4 7.
cxd4 ({Once again, it makes no sense transpsoing to an Exchange Spanish
structure:} 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Be3 O-O-O 10. Nd2 c5 11. N4b3 b6 12.
O-O-O Re8 13. f3 h5 14. h4 a5 15. Nf1 Bg7 16. Nbd2 Ne7 17. Bf4 Be6 18. a3 Nc6
19. Ne3 Ne5 20. Kc2 a4 $15 {Stanojoski,Z (2415)-Romanov,E (2636) Skopje 2014 
(0-1, 57)}) 7... Bg4 {Mamedyarov confessed that he did not remember what he
had analysed exactly.} ({He thought it could have been} 7... Bg7 {but then
White can avoid a transposition above with} 8. h3 $5 Ne7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O h6
11. Bf4 g5 12. Be5 Ng6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. d5 $14 {Naiditsch,A (2710)-Stevic,H 
(2616) Bol 2014 (1-0, 40)}) 8. Qb3 $5 $146 {Karjakin thought for a long time
before delivering his novelty. Mamedyarov took it as a sign that the position
was not familiar to his opponent, while Karjakin refrained from any comment.} (
8. Be3 Bg7 9. Nc3 {would transpose above.}) 8... Bxf3 9. gxf3 Bg7 10. Be3 (10.
Qxb7 {Quintiliano,R} Ne7 $44 {looks pleasant for Black, his development is
almost finished while White has only made moves with the queen.}) 10... Ne7 11.
Nc3 {For the time being both sides are interested in completing their
development, ignoring the hanging pawns. But now Mamedyarov felt he should
take a concrete decision.} Bxd4 ({He disliked} 11... O-O 12. O-O-O {with
serious attacking chances.}) 12. Bxd4 $6 {This activates Black's play leaving
White in a dangerous position.} ({Mamedyarov suggested} 12. O-O-O $1 {, very
much in his style and seemingly the best objectively.} c5 (12... Bxe3+ $6 13.
fxe3 Qc8 14. h4 {offers White too great an attack for the pawn:} h5 15. Ne2 $1
O-O 16. Nf4 $16 {Black's kingside is under serious pressure and his knight has
no good squares.}) 13. Ne2 Nc6 14. Qxb7 Na5 {Karjakin refrained from this line
when reaching this position but actually White seems to keep an edge:} 15. Qd5
Qxd5 16. exd5 Bxe3+ {Otherwise the c5-pawn would be lost, with just some
compensation for Black on account of the weak kingside pawns.} 17. fxe3 Nc4 18.
Nc3 $14 {With the better structure for White.}) (12. Rd1 $6 {is less effective:
} c5 13. Qxb7 (13. Ne2 Nc6 14. Qxb7 Na5 {is less favourable for White than in
the similar line above as after} 15. Qd5 Qxd5 16. exd5 {Black has} Bxb2 $1)
13... O-O 14. Ne2 (14. Na4 Qd6 15. Nxc5 Nc6 $15 {was indicated by Mamedyarov})
14... Qd6 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Rxd4 Qf6 17. Qxc7 Nc6 18. Rd1 Qxf3 {with a
probable draw:} 19. O-O Rfe8 ({More restrictive than} 19... Qxe4 20. Qf4 Qxf4
21. Bxf4 {which should also be equal.}) 20. Qxc6 Qg4+ {with a perpetual.})
12... Qxd4 13. Qxb7 O-O 14. Qxc7 {The only reason why White is not lost here
is that the black knight is passive. But still, Black has a dangerous
initiative against the uncastled enemy king.} Rab8 ({Actually now was the
moment when Black could activate his knight with:} 14... Nd5 $1 15. Nxd5 $1 (
15. exd5 Qd3 16. Nd1 Rab8 $1 {This was indicated by Mamedyarov as leading to a
draw, but he underestimated Black's attack:} 17. b3 Rfe8+ 18. Ne3 {He probably
considered only the sacrifice on e3 leading to a perpetual after the weakening
of the c3-square. But the next move brings new resources into the attack.} Rb4
$3 19. Qxc6 Rxe3+ 20. fxe3 Qxe3+ 21. Kd1 Rd4+ 22. Kc2 Rd2+ 23. Kb1 Qd4 24. Qc2
Rxc2 25. Kxc2 Qxd5 $17) 15... cxd5 16. Qc3 {With a probable draw according to
Mamedyarov.}) 15. O-O Rxb2 16. Qxe7 {Karjakin confessed that he played this
aiming to ensure a draw. His decision was correct but he played inaccurately
later.} ({While I was watching the game live my main candidate was:} 16. Nd1
Rd2 17. Ne3 $11 {which seems to be safe enough, as Black still has problems
with his knight.}) 16... Qxc3 17. Kg2 Rc2 18. Rad1 ({Karjakin complained that
he did not insert} 18. h4 h5 {before playing in similar way to the game. The
difference is that after} 19. Rad1 Rxa2 20. Rc1 Rc2 21. Rxc2 Qxc2 22. Ra1 Qc4
23. Qb7 Qb5 24. Qxa6 $11 {[%csl Gg5] Black has no check on g5. But even after
the last move he should not be in danger yet.}) 18... Rxa2 19. Rc1 Rc2 20. Rxc2
Qxc2 21. Ra1 Qc4 22. Qb7 $6 {Only this move causes White problems.} ({He need
not have forced matters as Black is poorly coordinated. There are several
neutral moves such as} 22. Ra5 $11 {, preventing ...Qb5, most of them leading
to dynamic equality. If Black tries activating his rook White would have
chances for a perpetual.}) 22... Qb5 23. Qxa6 Qg5+ $1 24. Kf1 Qf6 25. Kg2 Rb8
$15 {Due to his passed pawn and the exposed position of the enemy king Black
has some chances now.  Quintiliano,R: 'Since from Alekhine's games, we know
how powerful the combination Q+R can be in such endgames. The king's safety is
a very important factor here, and this means that White's king's vulnerability
gives Black better chances.'} 26. Ra5 $6 {Trying to defend the fifth rank. 
Quintiliano,R: 'Karjakin is for sure one of the best players (and probably the
best) in the subject of offering long resistance in difficult positions. But
here White should had gone for active defence. But even knowing it, the
sequence requires precise calculation.'} ({It was better to defend the third
rank with} 26. Ra3 $5 {but one needs good nerves to play the position after}
Qg5+ (26... Rb5 {Quintiliano,R} 27. Qc8+ Kg7 28. Ra8 $3 {[%cal Gc8h8] as said
before, the king's safety is the most important factor in such positions!} Rg5+
29. Kf1 Kh6 (29... Qxf3 30. Qf8+ Kf6 31. Qh8+ Ke6 32. Qd4 $1 $18 {[%cal Ga8e8]
with a beautiful and geometrical win}) 30. Qf8+ Kh5 31. Qh8 $1 Qxf3 32. Qxh7+
Kg4 33. h3+ $1 {forcing the exchange of queens and going to a rook endgame
that should be drawish} Qxh3+ 34. Qxh3+ Kxh3 35. Rf8 $11) 27. Kh3) 26... Rb3
27. Qc8+ {Quintiliano,R: 'And this allows another idea for Black.'} (27. Qe2
$142 {Quintiliano,R} h5 $15) 27... Kg7 28. Qg4 Rb5 $1 $17 {Overlooked by
Karjakin. Black gets a very promising queen ending now.  Quintiliano,R:
'Mamedyarov shows excellent technique in the transformation of advantages, and
also flexible thinking. With the white pieces close to the king, a direct
attack wouldn't be so effective anymore, but instead Black can play this queen
endgame with a definite advantage and good winning chances.'} 29. Rxb5 cxb5 30.
Qd7 Qg5+ 31. Kf1 {Both players agreed that from a practical point of view
Black should win this ending but Mameduarov was not happy with his play in the
next phase.} Qe5 (31... Qc5 {seems a better way to ensure the advance of the
pawn.}) 32. h4 (32. Qd2 Qc5 (32... Qxh2 33. Qb2+ {retrieves the pawn.}) 33. Qa5
{would have caused more problems.}) 32... b4 33. Qb7 Qc3 34. e5 b3 {The pawn
has advanced much faster than White would have liked it. His only chances are
connected with e5-e6, but this needs preparing.} 35. Kg2 (35. e6 $2 Qc4+) 35...
Qc4 36. Qb6 h6 37. Kg3 Qd5 38. f4 Kh7 39. Qb8 Qc4 (39... Qd3+ 40. f3 Qe3 41.
Qf8 Qa7 42. Qb4 Qg1+ 43. Kh3 Qe3 $17 {would be almost an exact transposition
to the later phase of the game, with the difference that the black king is on
h7 instead of g7.}) 40. f3 {Quintiliano,R: 'Seemingly, White would have to
play this move sooner or later.'} Qc3 41. Qf8 Qc4 42. Qb8 Kg7 43. Qb6 Qd5 44.
Qb8 Qd1 45. Qb7 Qg1+ 46. Kh3 Qe3 47. Kg2 Qe2+ 48. Kg3 Qe1+ 49. Kg2 $2 {
Karjakin rightly criticised his move.} ({He recommended} 49. Kh3 Qe3 50. Kg2 {
when due to the permanent threat e5-e6 White should hold.}) 49... Qe3 $1 {
Overlooked by Karjakin.  Quintiliano,R: 'Reaching the same position as on move
47, but with White to move.'} 50. Qb4 (50. Kg3 g5 51. hxg5 hxg5 52. fxg5 Qxe5+
53. Kg2 b2 $19 {and with the white king exposed the pawn would promote soon.})
50... g5 $1 {The best chance, weakening the enemy king.} 51. hxg5 hxg5 52. fxg5
Qe2+ 53. Kg3 Qxe5+ $6 {Letting the favourable moment slip away.} (53... b2 $1 {
would have more or less won. White could try} 54. e6 {but after} Qe5+ 55. Kg2
fxe6 {the danger of a perpetual would disappear. Black would activate his king
with ...Kg6 with every chance to win.}) 54. Kf2 (54. Kg4 b2 $19) (54. f4 $5 Qd5
55. Qc3+ Kh7 56. Qf6 $11) 54... Qh2+ (54... b2 55. f4 $1 b1=Q 56. Qxb1 Qxf4+
57. Ke2 Qxg5 58. Kf3 $11) 55. Ke3 Qg1+ 56. Kf4 Qc1+ 57. Kg4 Qe3 58. Kg3 $2 {
Hard to say why Karjakin left his pawn under attack.} (58. f4 $11) 58... Qxg5+
59. Kf2 Qd5 60. Ke3 Kg6 {The rest is a matter of relatively simple technique.
The king is heading for the queenside, being sustained by the perfectly
centralised queen.} 61. Ke2 Kf6 62. Ke3 Ke6 63. Qb6+ Kd7 64. Qa7+ Kc6 65. Qa6+
Kc5 66. Qa4 Qc4 67. Qa5+ Kc6 68. Qa1 Kb5 69. Qb2 Kb4 70. Kd2 Qf4+ 71. Ke1 Qh4+
{White loses his queen or gets mated so Karjakin resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 {When Fischer took the Semi-Tarrasch
into his repertoire, he also experimented with this anti-Karlsbad move order.
It could lead to a transposition to the Semi-Tarrasch, but also lead to
independent play, as in this game.} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 ({Deviating
from his previous win over Kramnik after} 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+
10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O h6 {Mamedyarov,S (2756)-Kramnik,V 
(2783) Shamkir 2015 CBM 166 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 76), featuring a complicated
battle.}) {The last move bears some optical similarity to the Grünfeld 8.Rb1
system, but the main idea is different. The rook prevents an early ...Bb4+
forcing the exchange of bishops, while in the Grünfeld it just removes the
queen from the bishop's range. In both cases, the rook also puts some pressure
on b7 but the move itself delays White's kingside development.} 7... Be7 8.
Bb5+ $5 {Forcing Black to deviate from the most natural way of developing,
based on ...Nc6 and ...Bb7.} ({There have been a few recent high level games
with the more neutral} 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 Nc6 (9... Qc7 {Matlakov,M (2728)
-Aronian,L (2799) Tbilisi 2017 CBM 181 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 27)}) 10. O-O b6 11.
Bf4 (11. d5 {Svidler,P (2749)-Hou,Y (2666) Geneva 2017 CBM 180 [Roiz,M] (1-0,
31)}) 11... Bb7 {Svidler,P (2755)-Radjabov,T (2710) Moscow 2017 CBM 179 
[Krasenkow,M] (½-½, 31)}) 8... Bd7 {Kramnik decides to keep the possibility
of ...Nc6, with pressure on d4. Even though d7 is in principle not the best
square for the bishop, after the enemy bishop's retreat it will count as a
whole tempo in the race for development.} (8... Nd7 {is aimed at keeping Black;
s play more flexible but the overall impression is that his position remains
more passive. Here is a brilliant attacking example.} 9. a4 O-O 10. Nf3 Nf6 (
10... b6 {would have two main drawbacks. It would expose the queenside to
a4-a5 and face the knight with the risk of being left out of play after e4-e5.
But the game manoeuvre is time consuming and will allow White develop his
initiative in the centre.}) 11. Bd3 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O Bd7 14. Re1 $14
Rad8 $2 {A natural developing move, which... immediately puts Black in a
critical position.} (14... cxd4 {opens the c-file for White, offering him
strong queenside pressure.} 15. cxd4 Rad8 16. a5 $16) ({With hindsight, it was
essential to take the d5-square under control with} 14... Bc6 $14) 15. e5 Nd5
16. c4 Nb4 17. Bxb4 cxb4 18. d5 $16 {WHite has a crushing space advantage and
unsurprisingly the next move will allow him to start a thematic attack.} Bc5
19. Bxh7+ $1 {This classical sacrifrice is a rare guest in modern high level
tournaments.} Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kh6 21. Qg4 exd5 22. Qh4+ Kg6 23. Qh7+ Kxg5 24.
Qxg7+ Kh5 25. g4+ Bxg4 26. Qh7+ Kg5 27. h4+ Kf4 28. Qh6+ {1-0 Wojtaszek,R 
(2716)-Naiditsch,A (2706) Trzcianka 2014} Kf3 29. Rb3+ {and mates next.}) 9.
Bd3 (9. Bxd7+ {frees Black's position and speeds up his development.} Nxd7 {
Now that Bxh7+ is not available anymore this looks correct.} 10. Rxb7 cxd4 11.
cxd4 Nb6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Hou,Y (2652) Moscow 2017 (0-1, 60) Black
soon had to sacrifice the exchange on e7, but Black managed to defend.}) ({
This will eventually cause a new tempo loss, but} 9. Be2 {runs into} Bc6 {
forcing the unnatural} 10. Bf3 {when Black has several ways of developing his
initiative, for instance} cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa6 13. Ne2 Bb5 $132) 9...
cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 {Black keeps developing as White does not have the time to
take on b7 due to his hanging (more important) pawn on d4.} 11. Be2 $5 $146 {
Defending the bishop and keeping it safe from the knight's attack, but just
throwing away another tempo.} (11. Nf3 {allows Black more or less ot force the
exchange of bishops with} Nb4 12. O-O (12. Be2 {wastes a tempo and places the
bishop on a vulnerable square:} Nxa2 13. Bd2 a5 {Ensuring the knight's retreat.
} 14. Rxb7 Qc8 15. Rb2 Nc3 {exchanging one of the bishops with excellent play.}
) 12... O-O (12... Nxa2 {is dangerous now.} 13. Bd2 a5 14. Rxb7 Qc8 {First of
all, ...Nc3 is not a problem for White in the event of a rook retreat anymore
and secondly} 15. Rxd7 Qxd7 16. d5 {is likely to offer him dangerous
initiative for the exchange.}) 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Be3 Rc8 15. a3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 f6
17. Nf3 Bc6 $15 {Poghosyan,S (2256)-Harutyunian,T (2520) Yerevan 2017 (0-1, 27)
with excellent play for Black due to his strong bishops and good control in
the centre.}) 11... Rc8 12. Nf3 {White finally tries catching up in
development, but Black can start the typical semi Tarrasch simplification plan
already.} (12. Rxb7 $2 Nxd4 $1 $17) 12... Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Bb4 14. Rb2 ({In one of
the semi-Tarrasch lines with similar black queenside play White reacts with} 
14. d5 {but here Black is a couple of tempi up and his bishop stands well on
d7, neutralising the central pawn. For instance} exd5 15. exd5 Bxd2+ 16. Qxd2
Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Na5 18. Rhc1 Ke7 $11) 14... Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Na5
$11 {The game has reached a typical Grünfeld/Semi-Tarrasch ending. WHite has
more space but after exchanging two minor pieces Black has comfortable
development. In the long run, he can count on using his queenside majority and
the weak c4-square.} 17. Rbb1 {Preparing to start the fight for the c-file.} (
17. Ne5 f6 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 {would just help Black complete his development.})
17... Ke7 18. Rhc1 f6 {Restricting the enemy knight and taking measures
against the potential plan e4-e5 followed by a knight transfer to d6. This is
actually the start of a phase in which both sides will be concerned with
gaining space and control on both wings. Logically so, since breaks in the
centre are likely to favour the opponent.} 19. h4 Rhd8 20. Bd3 a6 21. Ke3 b5
22. g4 {Among others, an anticipation of ...Be8-h5.} Be8 {Black has completed
his global regrouping harmoniously. True to his (not always objective)
optimism displayed at the Candidates, Kramnik already thought he should start
playing for a win.} 23. Ng1 {White also has ambitions. The knight retreat
clears the path for the f-pawn, allowing a massive pawn attack and prepares to
block the c4-pawn with Ne2-c3 after ...Nc4+ followed by exchanges on c4.} Nc6 {
Planning to attack d4 with all available forces.} ({Due to the relative
weakness of the f4-square} 23... e5 $11 {comes strongly into consideration.
Whatever White does Black gets good control on the dark squares. For hidden
tactical reasons, Kramnik's plan fails to cross Mamedyarov's intentions.}) ({
But} 23... Nc4+ $2 {would justify White's last move after} 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25.
Rxc4 bxc4 26. Ne2 $16 {[%cal Ge2c3]}) 24. Ne2 Rd6 25. Rd1 $6 {Prematurely
switching to defence.} ({True,} 25. a4 {is ineffective due to} bxa4 26. Bxa6
Ra8 27. Bb7 Ra7 {(Kramnik) when the passed a-pawn ensures Black at least equal
play.}) ({But White should have continued his attack with} 25. f4 $1 {since}
Rcd8 $6 {is ineffective because of} 26. Rc5 $3 $16 {Taking the d5-square under
control. White plans to increase his space advantage with h4-h5 and e4-e5 and
the tactical point is that} Nxd4 $6 {loses material to} (26... Kf8 {makes the
threat ...Nxd4 real and the point behind White's last move is revealed after}
27. e5 $1 {forcing Black to release the pressure on d4.}) 27. Rc7+ Kf8 28. e5
Rd5 29. Be4 $16) 25... Rcd8 26. Bc2 Na5 27. Bd3 Nc6 28. Bc2 $11 h5 $5 {The
same optimistic approach. For the time being Kramnik stays within the limits
of tolerable risk.} 29. g5 fxg5 (29... Na5 $11 {, returning to the move
repetition plan was still possible.}) 30. e5 R6d7 31. hxg5 {White's space
advantage has turned even more impressive but Kramnik had put (too) big hopes
into his passed pawn.} h4 $4 {Showing a complete loss of objectivity. Where is
this pawn going to all by itself?} ({Once again} 31... Na5 {would have ensured
the equality as White's avoiding the repetition would offer Black counterplay:}
32. f3 Nc4+ 33. Kf2 Rc7 34. Bd3 Bc6 $132 {threatening ...Rf8.}) 32. g6 $2 {
Strategically a desirable move, but concretely an inaccuracy, allowing Black
one more chance to return onto the right path.} ({Since Black is not
threatening much, White should have eliminated once and for all the
counterplay around the c4-square with:} 32. Rbc1 $1 Na5 ({Or if} 32... h3 33.
Bb3 {Black's lack of space prevents him from keeping the pressure on d4, so
after} Na5 34. Rh1 {he simply loses the daring pawn.}) 33. Bd3 Bh5 34. f3)
32... Na5 $1 ({Kramnik thought} 32... h3 {would offer better chances "for an
advantage" but delaying the queenside counterplay once again dooms the h-pawn:}
33. Rbc1 h2 34. f4 $16 {Now that g6 is attacked, White needs to clear the
c-file with Be4, but first he has to prevent ...Nxe5.} h1=Q {fails to bring
any relief:} 35. Rxh1 Nxd4 36. Nxd4 Rxd4 37. f5 exf5 38. Bxf5 $18 {with a
decisive attack based on Rc7+ and Rh8/h7.}) 33. Rbc1 {It is Mamedyarov who
does not agree to a draw, but the position remains balanced.} Rc7 ({If} 33...
Nc4+ 34. Kf4 {the king is safe as Black cannot play ...Rf8 soon.}) 34. Bd3 Rdc8
$2 (34... Nc4+ $6 35. Bxc4 Rxc4 36. Rxc4 bxc4 37. Rh1 Bxg6 38. Rxh4 $14 {
[%cal Ge2c3] offers White the more pleasant play.}) ({From the wide range of
lines suggested by Kramnik as ways to prove an advantage, the best chance 
(actually mainly for... equality) was} 34... Rxc1 35. Rxc1 Bc6 36. Be4 (36. Nf4
{is safer:} Rh8 37. Bf1 Nc4+ 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rxc4 Kd7 $11 {with adequate
compensation for the pawn.}) 36... Nc4+ 37. Rxc4 {Actually the analysis was
abruptly interrupted here as Kramnik switched to something different.} bxc4 38.
Bxc6 h3 39. Nc3 h2 $15 {The rook is at least as strong as the minor pieces,
since the black passers need permanent surveillance and d4 is hanging.}) 35.
Rxc7+ Rxc7 36. Rh1 Nc4+ 37. Kf4 $18 {White wins a pawn and keeps his huge
space advantage.} Nb2 ({Kramnik put the blame for his loss on an optical
illusion. When entering this line he initially thought his rook would be on c8
so after} 37... Bc6 38. Rxh4 {38...Rf8+ he would have got the initiative. But
Mamedyarov rightly pointed out that even in such a hypothetical case White
would retain a big advantage with 39.Kg5 Rxf2 40.Nf4, protecting the king
against checks and threatening Rh7.}) 38. Be4 b4 39. Rxh4 Nd1 40. f3 (40. Rh7
$18 Kd8 41. Kf3 {[%cal Ge2f4]}) 40... Nc3 41. Nxc3 bxc3 42. Rh2 $5 {A patient
move, neutralising Black's chances for counterplay.} (42. Rh7 Kd8 43. Bc2 Rb7
44. Rh8 Ke7 45. Ke3 Rb2 46. Be4 Rg2 $132 {Mamedyarov}) 42... Rc8 43. Ke3 Bb5
44. f4 Bc4 45. Rh7 Rg8 46. a3 ({The post mortem concluded that the thematic} 
46. d5 {would be premature as it offered Black saving chances after} exd5 47.
Bc2 Ke6 48. Kd4 Rf8 49. f5+ Rxf5 50. Bxf5+ Kxf5 {but White wins with} 51. Rh2 {
since} Kxg6 52. Rf2 {leaves the king cut off from the e-pawn.}) 46... a5 (46...
Bb3 47. Kd3 $18) 47. Bc2 (47. d5 $1 $18) 47... Kd7 48. d5 $5 {Clearing the
king's path.} ({But the simple} 48. Ke4 {planning Rc3 is at least as effective
as it does not give away the d-pawn.}) 48... Bxd5 49. Kd4 Ba2 50. Kxc3 Kc6 51.
Rh2 Kc5 {Black has achieved some counterplay, but due to White's huge space
advantage it will not be enough to save the game.} 52. Rd2 Rh8 {Making the
third rank check a first priority.} (52... Rf8 53. Rd7 Rxf4 54. Rxg7 $18) 53.
Rd7 Rh3+ 54. Kb2 Bd5 55. Rxg7 Kd4 (55... Rg3 56. Rd7 Kd4 57. g7 Rg2 58. a4 $3 {
A subtle move preparing the decisive f4-f5.} ({The post mortem went} 58. f5
Kxe5 59. fxe6 Bxe6 60. Re7 {concluding that White wins due to the threat Rxe6+
followed by g8Q and Bb3+, but} a4 $3 $11 {prevents Bb3, saving the game.})) 56.
Rh7 Rg3 57. Rh5 Rg2 58. Rg5 Rf2 59. g7 Be4 60. g8=Q Rxc2+ 61. Kb3 {Black's
perfect coordination does not compensate for the huge material disadvantage,
of course.} Rc3+ 62. Ka4 Rc5 63. Rg2 Bf3 64. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3
c5 9. Re1 {Not the most popular move but it has been played by some of the top
GMs.} Nc6 10. Bb2 (10. e4 {looks natural; then after} Bg4 11. Bb2 (11. Nc2 Qa5
12. Bb2 Rfd8 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qa4 $132 {0-1 (24) Lindstrom,A (1932)
-Akesson,R (2451) Vaxjo 2015}) (11. d5 Ne5 12. Rb1 e6 13. c4 Qa5 14. Re3 Bh6
15. Reb3 Bxc1 16. Qxc1 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 18. Rxf3 Nxe4 $11 {1/2 (37) Banusz,
T (2612)-Ceschia,I (2229) Nova Gorica 2016}) {Black's most logical reply is}
11... Ne8 $5 {Black obtained an excellent position in the following game:} 12.
e5 ({or} 12. Nc2 Nd6 13. Rb1 {1/2 (44) Tadic,B (2513)-Djukic,N (2539) Cetinje
2013} Nc4 14. Ba1 Qa5 $132) 12... Nc7 13. h3 Bf5 14. Qe2 Qc8 15. Kh2 cxd4 16.
cxd4 Nb4 17. Red1 Ncd5 18. Nh4 Be6 19. Rdc1 Qd7 20. Nc4 Rac8 {0-1 (89) Saeed,I
(2428)-Tomczak,J (2596) Warsaw 2017}) 10... Nd5 (10... Qb6 11. Nc4 Qa6 {
is probably worse although it has been seen in a number of games. Grandmasters
usually reply} 12. Ncd2 {[%cal Yd2b3]} (12. Nce5 $5 {is possible, too; here is
the latest game:} Bf5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qc1 Be4 15. Ba3 Nd7 16. Bh3 Bf5 (16...
Bxf3 $142 17. Bxd7 Bxe2 18. Bxc5 Rfd8 19. Bh3 e6 $14) 17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. e4 $16
{1-0 (38) Petrosian,T (2609)-Darini,P (2478) Sharjah UAE 2018}) {e.g.} 12...
Rd8 13. e4 (13. e3 $5) (13. Bf1 $5) 13... Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Nd7 16. Bf1
Qa5 17. d5 $14 {1/2 (35) Wen,Y (2618)-Zhao,Y (2195) Shijiazhuang 2015}) 11. Qc2
{A quiet continuation.} (11. Nc4 Nb6 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. Rb1 Qa6 14. Qb3 Be6 15.
Qa3 Qxa3 16. Bxa3 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. cxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxe7 Bxa2 20. Rxb7 Rfe8
$11 {1-0 (34) Atakisi,U (2373)-Strugnell,C (2271) Paracin 2017}) (11. Rb1 cxd4
12. cxd4 Nb6 13. e4 {- see 11.e4}) (11. e4 {is the most principled:} Nb6 12.
Rb1 (12. d5 Na5 $1 13. Rb1 Nac4 14. Nxc4 Nxc4 15. Ba1 e6 16. Bf1 exd5 17. exd5
Nd6 18. c4 Bg4 19. Qb3 Bxa1 20. Rxa1 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Re8 $11 {1/2 (45) Bellia,F 
(2452)-Valsecchi,A (2466) Milan 2015}) (12. h3 Na5 13. Bf1 (13. Rb1 {1/2 (45)
Efimenko,Z (2655)-Salem,A (2608) Warsaw 2016} Bd7 $11) (13. Qd3 Na4 14. Bc1 Bd7
15. Rb1 Rc8 16. Bd2 a6 17. d5 b5 $132 {0-1 (43) Socko,B (2593)-Salem,A (2638)
Riadh 2017}) 13... Be6 (13... Bd7 $5) 14. d5 Bd7 15. Rc1 e6 16. Qd2 c4 17. Rcd1
exd5 18. exd5 Qc7 $11 {0-1 (55) Picard,R (2326)-Tari,A (2510) Vienna 2015})
12... cxd4 $1 (12... Na5 13. Ba1 Bd7 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. d5 c4 16. Nd4 Rc5 17. Qe3
Na4 18. Rb4 $14 {1-0 (38) Eljanov,P (2717)-Tari,A (2518) Germany 2016}) (12...
Bg4 13. d5 Ne5 14. c4 e6 15. Qb3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 exd5 17. exd5 Re8 18. Bg2 Qd7
19. h3 Qf5 20. g4 Qf4 21. Re4 Qd2 22. Bc1 Qa5 23. Be3 $14 {1-0 (42) Meier,G 
(2647)-Van Wely,L (2656) chess.com INT 2018}) 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Nc2 (14. d5 Bxb2
15. Rxb2 Ne5 16. Qb3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Rc8 19. h4 Qd6 20. Kg2 Qe5
21. Qe2 f5 $11 {1-0 (74) Giri,A (2776)-Grandelius,N (2573) Doha 2014}) 14...
Nc4 15. Bc3 Qd7 16. Qe2 Nb6 (16... Rac8 $5 17. Qxc4 $140 $2 Nxd4 $1) 17. Red1
Rac8 18. Ne3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Na4 20. Ba1 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 $13 {0-1 (49)
Khismatullin,D (2617)-Lugovskoy,M (2436) Sochi 2016}) 11... cxd4 $146 {[%mdl 8]
} (11... Nb6 12. Rad1 Bf5 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Qc8 16. Bg2 $14 {
0-1 (67) Dreev,A (2652)-Puranik,A (2509) Bastia 2017}) 12. Nxd4 {A harmless
recapture leading to a symmetrical pawn structure.} (12. cxd4 {is not
dangerous, either, due to} Bg4 $132 {[%cal Yd8a5,Ya8c8]}) 12... Nf6 $5 13. Nxc6
bxc6 14. c4 (14. Bxc6 Rb8 {[%cal Yc8f5,Yf6g4,Yd8a5,Gb8b2] is quite risky for
White.}) 14... Bf5 $5 15. Qc1 (15. e4 Be6 16. e5 Nd7 17. Bxc6 Rc8 $44) 15...
Qc7 $11 16. Nc2 Rab8 17. Bc3 Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Ne8 19. h4 c5 20. Red1 Bxc3 21. Qxc3
Nf6 {White's bishop is not stronger than Black's knight because the position
is not open enough, and White's c4-pawn is fixed on a light square.} 22. Bf3 h5
23. Rab1 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Rb8 25. Rb5 Ne8 26. Qe3 Rxb5 27. cxb5 Nd6 28. a4 c4 29.
Kg2 c3 30. Bc6 Qa5 31. Qc5 a6 32. e4 axb5 33. axb5 Kh7 34. e5 Nxb5 $4 $138 {
A tactical oversight.} ({After} 34... Nf5 {passed pawns of both sides are
equally strong, and the game should end in a draw, e.g.} 35. Be4 e6 36. Bd3 Kg7
{and} 37. Qc6 $2 {is bad due to} Nd4) 35. e6 $1 {[%mdl 64] Black overlooked
this blow under time pressure.} (35. Bxb5 $2 c2 36. e6 {(too late)} c1=Q 37.
Qxc1 Qxb5 38. exf7 Qd5+ $11) 35... Qa3 (35... fxe6 36. Qxe7+ Kh6 37. Qf8+ Kh7
38. Qf7+ Kh8 39. Qf6+ Kh7 40. Be4 $18) (35... c2 36. exf7 $18) 36. Qxb5 c2 37.
exf7 Kg7 38. Be4 $1 c1=Q 39. Qe8 {Black's pair of queens is useless.} 1-0

[Event "Biel GM 51st"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2018.07.31"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2842"]
[Annotator "Mamedyarov,S"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2018.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The tournament situation obliged Carlsen to play for the full point. As fror
me conversely, I was hoping that this situation would give me additional
prospects and thus early on the hope of winning the tournament and I waited
for my chance...   Die Turniersituation verpflichtete Carlsen, auf den vollen
Punkt zu spielen. Ich meinerseits hoffte im Umkehrschluss darauf, dass diese
Lage mir zusätzliche Aussichten geben wird, diese Partie und somit vorzeitig
auch das Turnier zu gewinnen, und wartete auf meine Chance...} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. e3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5
10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Ne5 Qd6 12. Nc4 $1 {With this move White maintains the
tension (both on the board and also psychologically) .  Mit diesem Zug hält
Weiß die Spannung (sowohl auf dem Brett, als auch die psychologische)
aufrecht.} Qc7 13. d5 Rd8 ({The move Der Zug} 13... Ne5 {is quieter and safer 
(after the game Carlsen expressed the same opinion), but Black had to take
something of a risk. ist ruhiger und sicherer (nach der Partie äußerte
Carlsen die gleiche Meinung), aber Schwarz musste etwas riskieren.} 14. Qc2 Bd7
15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bd2) 14. Bd2 $1 Nb4 $6 ({The correct move is Richtig ist} 
14... Ne5 {and after und nach} 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bc3 {the position is more or
less level. ist die Stellung etwa ausgeglichen.}) 15. Bxb4 ({During the game I
invested a lot of time in In der Partie investierte ich sehr viel Zeit in} 15.
e4 $1 {I felt that it should lead to an advantage for White, but in the long
run I did not manage to evaluate the position which arose after it - Ich
fühlte, dass es zum weißen Vorteil führen soll, aber letztendlich ist es
mir nicht gelungen, die daraus resultierende Stellung einzuschätzen -} b5 16.
Bf4 $1 e5 (16... Qb7 17. Ne5 g5 (17... f6 18. Nd3 $16) (17... c4 18. a3 Bxe5
19. Bxe5 Nd3 20. Bc3 $16) 18. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 19. Bxg5 Qb6 (19... c4 20. e5 Bf5
21. Qf3 $1 Kg6 22. g4 Bd3 23. e6 Rf8 24. Qh3 h6 25. Rad1 $1 Kxg5 26. Qh5+ Kf4
27. Rde1 Nc2 28. g5 Nxe1 29. Rxe1 Qb6 30. Qh4+ Kf5 31. Qh5 Kf4 32. Bf3 $1 (32.
h3 Qxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Bd4+ 34. Re3 Bxe3+ 35. Ke1 Ke5)) 20. a3 Na6 21. e5) 17. d6
$16 {- this is precisely the move I missed when calculating. Pity! - gerade
dieser Zug ist mir bei dem Berechnen entgangen. Schade!}) 15... cxb4 16. Rc1 a5
(16... Bd7 17. Qd2 a5 18. e4 {and White had no problems. und Weiß hat keine
Probleme.}) 17. a3 bxa3 18. bxa3 a4 $1 {A very strong reply! Black prevents
a3-a4. Sehr starke Erwiderung! Schwarz unterbindet a3-a4.} 19. Qd3 ({Playing
Zu Spielvereinfachung und Ausgleich hätte} 19. Qd2 $1 Qc5 20. Qa2 Bd7 21. Ne5
Qd6 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Rfd1 {would have sufficed to simplify the game and
equalise. But I found a more interesting idea which also better suited my
style. gereicht. Aber ich fand eine interessantere Idee, die auch meinem Stil
besser entspricht.}) 19... Bf5 {After this move White gets more active play.
After the game Carlsen explained that he had overlooked 21.Qe3. Nach diesem
Zug bekommt Weiß aktiveres Spiel. Nach der Partie erklärte Carlsen, dass er
21.Qe3 übersah.} ({There was the very strong Sehr stark war} 19... Rb8 $1 {
and after und nach} 20. f4 Bd7 21. Ne5 Qd6 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. e4 {the position
is close to equality. ist die Stellung dem Ausgleich nahe.}) 20. e4 Bd7 21. Qe3
Ra6 22. e5 $1 {Now Black has to be very prcise so as not to fall into a bad
position. Jetzt muss Schwarz sehr genau agieren, um nicht in eine schlechte
Lage zu geraten.} b5 $1 23. d6 Qb8 $1 (23... exd6 24. Nxd6 Qa7 25. Qg5 Rf8 26.
Bd5 {with a powerful attack. mit gewaltigem Angriff.}) 24. dxe7 Re8 25. Rfd1 $1
Rxe7 26. Qc5 $1 {Magnus obviously missed this move. At this moment he began to
feel ill at ease, because his position appeared unpleasant to him.  What do
you think: which reply would now allow Black to hold his position? Dieser Zug
ist Magnus offensichtlich entgangen. In diesem Moment fing er an, sich unwohl
zu fühlen, weil ihm seine Stellung unangenehm schien.  Was meinen Sie: welche
Antwort würde dem Schwarzen jetzt erlauben, seine Stellung zu halten?} Qf8 (
26... Qd8 $2 27. Qxb5 $1) (26... Qe8 27. Nd6) (26... Bf8 $1 {The only move
which preserves Black from a bad position. Der einzige Zug, der den
Nachziehenden vor einer schlechten Position bewahrt.} 27. Nd6 Re8 $1 28. Bd5
Bxd6 29. exd6 Rc8 (29... Rxd6 $4 30. Bxf7+ $18 (30. Qxd6 $2 Re1+ $1) 30... Kxf7
31. Rxd6 $18) 30. Bxf7+ (30. Qc7 Rxc7 31. dxc7 Qf8 $1 (31... Qc8 32. Bb7) 32.
Bxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxd7 Qxd7 34. c8=Q+ Qxc8 35. Rxc8+ Kg7 36. Rb8 Rd6 37. Rxb5 Rd3)
30... Kxf7 31. Qd5+ Kf8 32. Qe5 Rxc1 (32... Kg8 33. Rc7) 33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Qxh7+
Kf8 35. Qh8+ $11 {Of course it is anything but simple to find all this over
the board. Selbstverständlich ist es alles andere als leicht, das alles am
Brett zu finden.}) 27. Ne3 $1 {Magnus had also overlooked this continuation.
Auch diese Fortsetzung hat Magnus übersehen.} (27. Nb6 Bg4 28. Re1 Rea7) 27...
Be6 (27... Bxe5 $2 28. Rxd7) 28. Qxb5 Raa7 29. Nd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Reb7 31. Qd3
Rb8 32. h4 Qe8 33. Qd4 (33. Bh3 $1 {This option, which I did not notice during
the game, gives White a clear advantage. Diese Option, die ich während der
Partie nicht bemerkte, gibt dem Weißen klaren Vorteil.} Bxe5 (33... Qe7 34. h5
$16) 34. Re1 Re7 (34... f6 35. f4 Bd4+ 36. Kf1) 35. Bd7 Bb2 36. Bxe8 Rxe1+ 37.
Kg2 Rexe8 38. h5 $16) 33... Qe7 34. f4 $6 {I felt a strong desire to win this
game and decided to play sharply, but by doing so reduced White's advantage.
Ich verspürte den starken Wunsch, diese Partie zu gewinnen, und habe mich
entschlossen, scharf zu spielen, aber dabei reduziert sich der weiße Vorteil.}
({The correct way was the simple continuation Richtig war die einfache
Fortsetzung} 34. Rc4 Bf8 35. Kh2 {and White is clearly superior. und der
Anziehende steht klar überlegen.}) 34... Bf8 35. Kh2 Rab7 ({The best defence
consisted of Die beste Verteidung bestand in} 35... Rc7 $1 {but it was not so
easy to find in time trouble: , die aber in Zeitnot nicht so leicht zu finden
war:} 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. Rd7 Qc2 38. Qd5 Qf5 $1 {(the point behind Black's idea
- the rook is brought to the second rank) (die Pointe der schwarzen Idee - der
Turm wird auf die zweite Reihe gebracht)} 39. Rc7 Rb2 40. Qc4 Bxa3 41. Qxa4 Bb4
{with good drawing chances, e.g. mit guten Remisaussichten, z. B.} 42. Qa8+ Kg7
43. Qa1 Rd2 44. e6+ Kh6 45. exf7 (45. Rxf7 Rxg2+ $1 46. Kxg2 Qe4+ $11) 45...
Qd5 46. Qf1 Bf8 47. Kh1 Qd6 48. Rc6 Rd1 49. Rxd6 Rxf1+ 50. Bxf1 Bxd6 $11 {
- to calculate all this to the end you need to have a brain like a computer :)
- um das alles bis zum Ende auszurechnen, muss man funktionieren wie ein
Computer :)}) 36. Qxa4 {I was already short of time here and did not want to
take any risks, so I simply cashed in on the a4-pawn - it is not easy for
Black to hold this position. But objectively speaking my decision was wrong.
Hier hatte ich bereits wenig Zeit und wollte kein Risiko eingehen, somit
kassierte ich einfach den Bauern a4 - es ist für Schwarz nicht einfach, diese
Position zu halten. Aber objektiv gesehen war meine Entscheidung falsch.} ({
But there was the very strong Sehr stark war aber} 36. Rd6 $1 Rb2 (36... Rc7
37. Rxc7 Qxc7 38. Rc6 $1 Qd8 39. Bd5 Bxa3 40. e6 $18) 37. Kh3 $1 $18 {
(unfortunately I did not discover this move when calcualting the variations) 
(diesen Zug habe ich bei dem Variantenberechnen leider nicht entdeckt)} R8b3
38. Rc8 Re2 39. Rxf8+ $1 Kxf8 40. e6 f6 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. Rd7 $18) 36... Qxa3
37. Qxa3 Bxa3 38. Rcd1 Be7 39. Kh3 (39. h5 gxh5) 39... Rc7 40. h5 $1 {The
strongest continuation which gives my opponent the maximum of defensive
difficulties to overcome. Die stärkste Fortsetzung, die dem Gegner maximale
Verteidigungsschwierigkeiten bereitet.} gxh5 $1 41. f5 f6 42. e6 $1 (42. Rd7
Rxd7 43. Rxd7 Kf8 44. e6 {- here Black hangs on easily. - hier behauptet sich
Schwarz leicht.}) 42... Rb3 $1 {Carlsen chooses the best defence. Carlsen
verteidigt sich optimal.} 43. Rd7 Rbc3 44. Ra1 Kg7 45. Ra8 Kh6 {Black can hold
by playing only moves. In my calculations I thought that this position is won
for White, but in reality that does not seem to be the case.  Schwarz hält
sich mit einzigen Zügen. Bei meiner Vorausberechnung dachte ich, dass diese
Stellung für Weiß gewonnen ist, aber in Wirklichkeit scheint es nicht der
Fall zu sein.} 46. Re8 (46. Be4 Re3 47. Rxc7 Bd6 48. Rd7) 46... Bb4 47. Rb8 Be7
48. Be4 {By this point I had already understood that the position, objectively
speaking, is drawn; nevertheless I kept on looking for chances to win the game.
Zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte ich bereits verstanden, dass die Position objektiv
gesehen Remis ist, nichtsdestotrotz suchte ich weiterhin nach Chancen, die
Partie zu gewinnen.} R3c4 {This does not yet throw away the draw. Das wirft
das Unentschieden noch nicht weg.} (48... Re3 $3 49. Rxc7 Bd6 50. e7 Rxg3+ $11
51. Kh4 Rg4+ 52. Kh3 Rg3+ $11) 49. Bd5 R4c5 50. Rb7 Rxd7 51. Rxd7 Ra5 (51...
Bf8 $1 52. Kg2 (52. Rf7 Bd6 53. Ba8 Re5) 52... Rb5 $1 (52... Ra5 53. Be4 Ba3
54. Rf7 $16) 53. Kf3 (53. Be4 Ba3) 53... Ba3 $1 54. Ke4 Rb4+ 55. Kd3 Rg4 $11
56. e7 Rxg3+ 57. Kc2 Bxe7 58. Rxe7 h4 $11) 52. Bc6 $2 (52. Bc4 $1 $18 Rc5 53.
Bd3 Rc3 54. Rxe7 $3 Rxd3 55. Re8 {- it is hard to believe but this position is
a win - - kaum zu glauben, aber diese Position ist gewonnen -} Re3 (55... Kg7
56. Rc8 Re3 57. Kh4 Re5 58. Ra8 Re1 59. Kxh5) 56. Rg8 Re2 57. g4 hxg4+ 58. Kg3
Kh5 59. Rxg4 Re1 60. Kf3 Rb1 61. Rg7) 52... Ba3 53. Rf7 Re5 (53... Rxf5 $1 {
Magnus suggested this reply after the game. He was probably correct - the
position which arises in this case appears rather to be drawn. Diese Antwort
schlug Magnus nach der Partie vor. Wahrscheinlich hatte er recht - die in
diesem Fall entstehende Position scheint eher Remis zu sein.} 54. e7 Bxe7 55.
Rxe7 Rc5 56. Be4 f5 57. Bd3 Rd5 58. Re3 Kg6 59. Rf3 Kg5 60. Bc2 Ra5 61. Rf1 Rd5
) 54. Kh4 $1 {Carlsen did not consider this possibility. Diese Möglichkeit
hat Carlsen nicht in Betracht gezogen.} Bc1 $4 (54... Bb4 $1 55. Rxf6+ Kg7 56.
Rf7+ Kh6 $1 {- it is hard to believe but this position is probably a draw -  -
schwer zu glauben, aber diese Stellung ist wahrscheinlich Remis -} 57. Bd7 Re3
58. f6 Kg6 {and White can make no further progress. und Weiß kommt nicht
weiter.}) 55. e7 {1-0 (55) Mamedyarov,S (2801)-Carlsen,M (2802) Biel 2018 EXT
2019 [Mamedyarov,S]} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 6th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.08.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2018.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qc2 {A rare move order.
White delays the development of his b1 knight: it will come out to c3 or d2,
depending on the situation. More common moves:} (6. Nc3 {(which leads to a
normal Queens Gambit Declined)}) (6. Bd3 {but after} dxc4 {Black gains a tempo}
) (6. Nbd2 {, to which} Nbd7 {, followed by ...b7-b6 or ...c7-c5, is rather
satisfactory for Black.}) 6... h6 (6... Nbd7 7. Nc3 {- D61, a well-known line.
However, it hardly suits those who play the Tartakower System.}) 7. Bxf6 (7.
Bh4 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nc3 Bb7 $11 {- D58}) 7... Bxf6 8. h4 $5 {
This strategy (an early kingside attack) has recently become popular in the
Tartakower system.} (8. Nc3 {- D55}) 8... g6 (8... c5 9. g4 $1 Nc6 10. g5 Nb4
11. Qd2 hxg5 12. hxg5 Bxg5 13. dxc5 a5 14. a3 Nc6 15. Nc3 $16 {1-0 (27) Li,S 
(2512)-Wu,X (2257) Wuxi 2016}) 9. Nc3 c5 {A logical counterblow in the centre
in reply to a flank attack.} (9... c6 {looks solid but White keeps the
initiative:} 10. O-O-O (10. g4 Bg7 11. O-O-O (11. Ne5 Nd7 12. f4 Nxe5 13. fxe5
c5 14. O-O-O cxd4 15. exd4 Bd7 16. g5 h5 17. Rh2 Qa5 18. Kb1 dxc4 19. Bxc4 Rac8
$132 {1/2 (41) Hakobyan,A (2545)-Poghosyan,S (2301) Yerevan ARM 2018}) 11...
Nd7 12. Kb1 Re8 13. Bd3 dxc4 14. Bxc4 b5 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. g5 h5 18.
Rhg1 c5 19. dxc5 Rec8 $132 {0-1 (40) Kanep,M (2492)-Zumsande,M (2490) Finland
2016}) 10... Nd7 11. e4 (11. Kb1 Bg7 12. Bd3 a6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. e4 dxe4 15.
Bxe4 Qb6 16. g4 Rd8 17. Na4 Qa5 18. g5 h5 19. Nc5 Rb8 $13 {0-1 (58) Jakovenko,
D (2738)-Bacrot,E (2704) Montpellier 2015}) 11... Bg7 12. h5 (12. cxd5 $5 cxd5
13. e5 a6 14. Bd3 b5 15. Kb1 Bb7 16. Ne2 Qe7 17. Nf4 Rfc8 18. Qe2 b4 19. Rc1 a5
20. Bb5 $14 {1-0 (43) Lerner,K (2525)-Polovodin,I (2435) Tallinn (Estland) 1983
}) 12... g5 13. Kb1 g4 {, and now White should have played} 14. Nh4 $36 ({
instead of} 14. Nh2 c5 15. dxc5 d4 16. Nb5 Nxc5 17. e5 Bxe5 18. Nxg4 Bg7 $13 {
0-1 (46) Kanep,M (2531)-Akobian,V (2618) Caleta 2011})) 10. dxc5 dxc4 11. h5 g5
12. Bxc4 Qa5 13. Rc1 (13. O-O $5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Qxc5 15. Qe4 {looks more
promising. After the possible} Qc6 (15... Nd7 $6 16. Bxe6 $1) 16. Qd3 Nd7 17.
Rfd1 {White keeps some pressure.}) 13... Nd7 $6 (13... Qxc5 $142 {then
developing the knight to c6, and Black should equalise.}) 14. O-O Bxc3 (14...
Nxc5 15. Nd4 $36) (14... Qxc5 $5 15. Ne4 Qa5) 15. Qxc3 Qxc3 16. Rxc3 Nxc5 17.
Ne5 $14 {Wtite has the better prospects here, due to his development advantage
and weakness of Black's kingside.} b6 18. f4 Ne4 $6 {Black pushes White's rook
to a more active position.} (18... a5 $142 $14) 19. Rd3 $16 {[%csl Gd3]} Ng3 $6
{This is senseless but it is not easy to find a good move.} ({Maybe} 19... Rb8
{recommended by chesspro.ru, was the lesser evil.}) 20. Rf3 Ne4 21. Rd4 Bb7 22.
f5 $1 $40 Nf6 23. Rf1 Rae8 24. fxe6 fxe6 25. Ng6 Rf7 26. Ne5 Rff8 27. Rd6 Bd5
28. Rxf6 Rxf6 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rxf6 Rxe5 31. Rxh6 {[%mdl 4096] As a result of
White's attack, he has won a pawn.} Rxe3 32. Rg6+ Kh7 33. Rxg5 $6 (33. Kf2 $1
Re5 34. Kf3 {(recommended by chesspro.ru), with the idea of g2-g3 and Kf3-g4,
and Black can hardly survive, e.g.} d4 (34... Rf5+ 35. Kg4 Rf2 36. g3 Rxb2 37.
Kxg5 Rxa2 38. h6 $18) (34... b5 35. b4 $1) 35. Rd6 Re3+ 36. Kg4 d3 37. a4 $1
Re2 38. g3 $1 {(chesspro.ru), and White should win.}) 33... Re2 34. Rxd5 Rxb2
35. Kh2 {White gives his material advantage back but prepares the advance of
his pawns. They will be stronger than Black's pawns as they are supported by
White's king. However, this advantage proves insufficient for a victory.} (35.
a4 Kh6 $1 36. Kh2 Ra2 37. Kh3 Rxa4 38. g4 Ra1 {- see below}) (35. g4 Rxa2 36.
g5 Ra5 $1 37. Rd7+ Kg8 $11) 35... Rxa2 36. Kh3 a5 $2 {But this is wrong. Black
should have stopped White's pawns:} (36... Kh6 $1 {[%cal Ra2a5]} 37. g4 Ra1 $1
{(indicated by chesspro.ru), e.g.} 38. Kh4 (38. Rd6+ Kg5 39. Rg6+ Kf4 40. h6
Rh1+ 41. Kg2 Rh4 42. g5 b5 43. Rg7 b4 44. h7 b3 45. g6 Kf5 {and White has no
time to queen his pawns}) 38... Rh1+ 39. Kg3 Rg1+ 40. Kf3 Rf1+ 41. Kg2 Rc1 42.
Rd6+ Kg5 43. Rg6+ Kf4 44. h6 Rc2+ 45. Kh3 Rc1 46. Kg2 Rc2+ 47. Kf1 a5 48. g5
Rh2 {, and White can't win.}) 37. g4 a4 (37... Kh6 38. Kh4 Rh2+ 39. Kg3 Rc2 40.
Rd6+ $18) 38. g5 a3 39. Rd7+ Kg8 40. Rd8+ Kh7 41. Rd7+ Kg8 42. Rd8+ Kh7 43. g6+
Kh6 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45. Rh7+ Kg8 46. Ra7 Ra1 47. Kg2 {[%cal Rh5h6]} Rc1 48. h6 Rc8
49. Rxa3 b5 50. Ra7 Rb8 51. Kg3 (51. Kg3 b4 52. h7+ Kh8 53. Kg4 (53. Rf7 {
(threatening 54.g7+ Kxh7 55.Rf8)} Rc8 54. Rb7 {is winning, too}) 53... b3 54.
Kg5 b2 55. Kh6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 7th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2019.06.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Lupulescu,C"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2019.06.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {This move order most likely aiming for a Sveshnikov is
quite rare in Mamedyarov's repertoire lately - the last time he used it was in
a rapid playoff against Caruana back in 2016.} 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O
Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 O-O 8. h3 (8. d4 {The direct approach doesn't offer many
chances for advantage because Black still has the Bg4 resource} cxd4 9. cxd4 d5
10. e5 f6 11. Qc2 Bg4 12. Nbd2 Qb6 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Nf5 $13 {Lupulescu,C 
(2617)-Fier,A (2570) Rio Achaea 2018 is one example where White didn't achieve
much.}) 8... f5 (8... d5 {used to be fashionable but Black was not entirely
satisfied for example} 9. d3 c4 10. dxc4 dxe4 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Rxe4 e5 13. Re1
f6 14. Nbd2 Nf7 15. Ne4 f5 16. Neg5 e4 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Bg5 Rd3 19. Nd4 Ba6
20. b3 c5 21. Ne2 $14 {1-0 (58) Anand,V (2776)-Gelfand,B (2743) Moscow 2016})
9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 {Basically White tries to play against Black's light squared
B and damaged structure on the queenside while Black should strive for
activity.} Rb8 11. b3 d6 12. Bf4 {The point e5 is a key square in this
position. If White could control it, then he would have the upper hand.} (12.
e6 $2 Ne5 {would just lose a pawn.}) 12... h6 {A logical novelty.} (12... Qc7
13. Qe2 Nd8 14. Nbd2 Ne6 15. Qe3 Nxf4 16. Qxf4 {and Black looked suspicious in
Inarkiev,E (2702)-Gelfand,B (2729) Nazran 2017, ½-½ (49).}) 13. h4 (13. e6 $2
Nh8 14. h4 Rf6 {again loses the e6 pawn.}) 13... e6 14. exd6 (14. Qd2 g5 15.
hxg5 hxg5 16. Nxg5 dxe5 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Qh4 20. Re3 Rg8 {
is looking quite dangerous for White}) 14... g5 15. Be5 {The most sensible
approach leading to mass simplification.} Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxd6 17. Qe2 Bxe5 18.
Qxe5 Qxe5 19. Rxe5 Rd8 20. Rxc5 Rxd3 21. Na3 {After a long forced sequence we
get to a complex endgame. If White's N had a way to realistically settle on e5
Black would be busted. As it is, the chances are roughly level.} Bd7 22. Ra5 (
22. Nc4 Rxc3 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. Ra5 Rb7 25. Rd1 {gave White no more than
compensation.}) 22... Rb7 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. c4 (24. Rc1 Kg7 25. Nc4 Kf6 26. Ne5
Rd5 $13 {- again White cannot keep his stallion on e5 for long.}) 24... Kg7 25.
c5 Kf6 26. Nc4 e5 27. Nd6 Rc7 {White managed to get his N to a more active
post on d6 but in the meantime also Black managed to activate his K.} 28. f3
Ke6 29. Re1 Rd5 30. b4 {A risky strategical decision preparing to self-block
the Ra5.} (30. Kf2 {was normal with an even game}) 30... Rd4 31. a3 $6 ({
It was not too late for} 31. Ra3 f4 (31... Rxb4 $2 32. Rae3 e4 33. fxe4 f4 34.
Rh3 $16 {[%cal Gh3h7]}) 32. Rb3 $13) 31... g4 {Now, at least in practical play,
Black is getting some chances.} 32. Ra6 Kd5 33. Nf7 $4 {A terrible blunder.} (
33. fxg4 Rxg4 34. Rf1 Kd4 $1 (34... e4 35. Rd1+ Ke5 36. Nc4+ $13) 35. Ra4 (35.
Nxf5+ Bxf5 36. Rxf5 e4 $17 {[%csl Ya6]}) 35... Rf4 (35... Kc3 36. Rf3+ Kc2 37.
Nxf5 Bxf5 38. Rxf5 e4 39. b5 $1 $11) 36. Rxf4+ exf4 37. Kf2 Be6 38. Ra6 Bd5 39.
Nxf5+ Ke4 40. Nd6+ Ke5 {[%csl Yg2] White still has a long struggle ahead.})
33... e4 {This is what Anand missed.} ({White was counting on} 33... Bc8 34.
Rxe5+ Kc4 35. Nd6+) 34. fxg4 {Ending the suffering.} ({After} 34. fxe4+ fxe4
35. Nd6 g3 $19 {[%cal Ge4e3] White would not survive for long either.}) 34...
Bc8 {White loses at least a piece. A very complex struggle that ended quite
abruptly.} 0-1

[Event "Riga FIDE GP"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "2019.07.22"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Pelletier,Y"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Qd7 8.
Qa3 {Maxime Vachier-Lagrave plays exclusively the Grunfeld against 1.d4.
Despite his phenomenal knowledge and experience, he is clearly a fixed target
and sometimes fails pray to clever preparation by his opponents. Exactly this
happens in this encounter. Using an earlier game Bogner-MVL, Shakhriyar
Mamedyarov finds a little deviation somewhere, which he hopes to have escaped
the attention of the French champion.} b6 9. Nf3 Bb7 ({Together with his
second Etienne Bacrot, MVL repaired the line for the tie-break matches. In two
games there, he preferred} 9... c5 10. Bd3 Nc6 {and clearly solved his opening
problems.}) 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O c5 12. Bf4 ({The aforementioned game
Bogner-MVL (Bundesliga 2015) went} 12. Rd1 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Bb2 e6 {
with equal chances}) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 (13... e6 14. Rac1 {is not
entirely satisfactory}) ({, but} 13... Bxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. Qxe7 Qxd3 16.
Qxb7 Na6 {was a straight-forward attempt to solve Black's problems. Yet, after}
17. Rfd1 Nc5 18. Rxd3 Nxb7 19. Ra3 $5 {, things are not so easy.}) 14. d5 Na5
15. Rac1 Rfc8 16. h3 $5 {This quiet little move shows how difficult Black's
position in fact is. The French player tries to disentangle with} e6 17. d6 f6
{[%cal Ge6e5] , but underestimates the consequences of} 18. e5 Bxf3 19. exf6 $1
{, when he is already in big troubles.} Bxf6 (19... Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Bxf6 21. Ba6
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 e5 23. Rc7 Qe6 24. Bd2 $18) 20. gxf3 e5 21. Bd2 Rxc1 (21... Kh8
22. Ba6 $16) 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Kg2 ({MVL was hoping for} 24. Bxa5
bxa5 25. Qxa5 Qc1+ {, when things aren't over yet. But Mamedyarov leaves the
knight on the rim and increases the pressure.}) 24... Bd8 25. Be4 Qe6 26. Qd3
Kg7 27. Bc3 Qf6 28. Kf1 {At first sight, it may seem strange to resign here
already, but Black is completely tied. White will soon win e5 and launch the
final attack.} 1-0

[Event "Bucharest Superbet Classic"]
[Site "Bucharest"]
[Date "2021.06.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Giri,Anish"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2021.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 203"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {The Berlin is a very rare guest in the
practice of Shakhriyar. I thought he has never played it before, but upon
checking the database, was reminded that in fact he did, a few years back in
the World Cup against Karjak as well as Hou Yifan. Still, Fabiano was
certainly taken aback with this.} 4. d3 {Against me, Fabiano tried 4.0-0 Nxe4
5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qe2!?, but against a well prepared opponent,
it is no wonder that Fabiano decided not to repeat that and try something else.
} Bc5 5. Nc3 {A relatively rare move that Fabiano played a few times before.
By this point, I don't think there is a variation against the Berlin that
Fabiano hasn't tried.} Nd4 {Shakhriyar responds quickly and energetically.} 6.
Ba4 {White has a few options here, but this one is not the most critical.
Fabiano probably wanted to get Shakh out of book and not test him in the
complications after 6.Nxe5.} c6 7. O-O d6 {It is often the question in these
positions, who will trade the knights first.} 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. h3 {This is
waving a red flag in front of a bull and could actually have been a brilliant
trap...} g5 $6 {Shakh goes for it. It is a common theme that when White has
castled and gone for the luft with h3, Black can often punish that with the
hyper-aggressive g5 push. The most recent famous example that comes to mind is
Aronian-Kramnik from the Berlin Candidates 2018, where I was seconding Kramnik
and was thrilled to see him cruise against such a formidable opponent in such
a spectacular style. I loved this push here as well, but when checking the
game with the computer afterwards, I was surprised to notice a major flaw.} 10.
Ne2 $2 {Surprisingly, Fabiano misses it as well. Now the g5 push is justified.}
(10. Nd5 $1 {I don't recall seeing such a resource, but it works perfectly
here. The threat is Bxg5, but also c3, getting rid of the important dark
squared bishop.} Rg8 {Is objectively best, probably, but now White gets rid of
the powerful bishop.} (10... Bd7 {was Shakh's original intention, but it fails
to work.} 11. Bxg5 $1 cxd5 {and now the immediate Qf3! or 12.Bxd7+ first wins
back the piece with dividends and it is White that remains on top in the end..}
) 11. c3 Bb6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Be3 {and White doesn't have much to fear.
Without the bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal, the g4 push alone lacks punch, as
after h4, g3 doesn't come with the same force, as there is no pressure on the
f2 pawn at all.}) 10... Bb6 11. c3 $6 {This feels too slow. Probably Fabiano
just didn't see anything better and decided to start defending.} (11. Ng3 $5 {
looks more natural.} g4 (11... Rg8 {is more solid, but then White has good
chances to weather the storm with 12.Be3.}) 12. Bg5 {Fabiano may have
underestimated this move and was only worried about 12.h4? Nh5!!. Now it's a
mess.} (12. h4 Nh5 $1)) 11... Rg8 12. d4 {White is hoping for some trades and
some kind of safety.} Nxe4 13. Bc2 d5 14. Bxe4 $6 {Understandable temptation
to cut your losses and try to defend the endgame, but the endgame is too
unpleasant and it was probably more promising to fish for chances in the muddy
waters after 14.dxe5!?.} dxe4 15. dxe5 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 g4 $1 {In the endgame too,
the g-file is an issue for White.} 17. h4 g3 18. Nd4 {Fabiano must have missed
or underestimated Shakh's next move.} (18. Be3 $5 {would offer better saving
chances, as the move in the game meets a mighty reply.}) 18... Bd8 $1 {
Brilliant. As soon as I saw it, it was clear that Fabiano is in a serious
trouble. It is key to prevent Bg5 and stabilize the dark squares on the
kingside. Now White can only do at a cost of a pawn, if not two.} 19. fxg3 Rxg3
20. Re1 $2 {After a long think Fabiano comes up with what looks like a very
good attempt at trying to settle for some worse but defendable position, but
as Shakh continues with perfect moves, this just leads to a lost position. It
is hard to suggest something, as White is clearly worse everywhere, but
something else should have been played.} Rg4 $1 21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 Ke7 $1 {
The g5 pawn is doomed and there is no rush picking it up. Bd7 and Rag8 are
inevitable.} 23. Rad1 Bd7 $1 24. e6 {out of desperation Fabiano is trying to
setup some last line of defense, but this doesn't help.} fxe6 25. g6 hxg6 26.
Nb3 {I thought the point was to bring the knight to e3 and hope for some sort
of a fortress, but with the rooks on the board, being two pawns down, this is
unrealistic. Fabiano tries to regain the e4 pawn, threatening Nc5 and Nd2, but
it doesn't work either.} (26. Nc2 c5 27. Ne3 Rh4 28. Kf2 Bb5 {provoking c4,
which would be a weakness. Black should convert such a position, slowly but
surely.}) 26... e5 {the bishop comes to the rescue with Bf5! and turns out the
b7 pawn is not hanging because of Rb8-xb2 in the end.} 27. Na5 Be6 $1 {cutting
the path back. The b7 pawn is not hanging, once again, because of Rb8-xb2.} 28.
Rd2 Rb8 {The rest is easy.} 29. b4 Kf6 30. a4 Rg3 31. Rxe4 $2 {This loses
without much resistance.} (31. Rf2+ {was a little tougher, but it is still
losing, obviously.} Bf5 32. Rxe4 Ke6 33. Rc4 b6 $1 {This is a pretty clean
solution.} 34. Nxc6 Kd5 $1 {simplifying into a technically won endgame.}) 31...
Bd5 {The c3 pawn will fall on the next move and the knight on a5 is completely
out of play.} 32. Rh4 Rxc3 33. Rh7 b6 {this allows some sort of a tactical
trick, but in the end Shakh converts it cleanly and with some margin as well.}
34. Nxc6 {It doesn't quite work. White is still a pawn down, even if he wins
the piece back, but also Black will have some time to do some more damage.}
Bxc6 35. Rc7 Rc1+ 36. Kf2 Rf8 {There are many ways to force a won rook endgame
and what Shakh does wins as well.} 37. b5 Ke6+ 38. Kg3 Rc3+ 39. Kh2 {From the
body language it seemed as though Shakh has briefly missed something, but
after recomposing himself, he found a clean solution.} Rh8+ 40. Kg1 Rh1+ $1 {
This forces a won rook endgame. White gets back one pawn in the end, but the
king is cut off way too far.} 41. Kxh1 Bxg2+ 42. Rxg2 Rxc7 43. Rxg6+ Kd5 {
The rook endgame is hopeless and Black is threatening to gobble up the
queenside pawns eventually.} 44. a5 Kc5 45. axb6 axb6 46. Re6 Kxb5 47. Rxe5+
Rc5 {With the king on h1, this is not even close.} 48. Re1 Rg5 {The king is
cut off too far away and Black will push his b-pawn. The winning idea here is
that Black will get b5, then play Kc5, white will have to start giving checks
Rc1+ Kd4 Rb1 Kc3 Rc1+ Kb2 and b4 next.} 0-1

