[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. d4 e6 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Qb6 7. dxe6 fxe6 8. a4
b4 9. a5 Qd8 10. Bg2 Nc6 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxa8 d5 13. a6 Bd7 14. Bb7 Bd6 15.
Bg5 Nf7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Nd2 O-O 18. O-O Qxb2 19. e4 Qd4 20. exd5 e5 21. Nb3
Qe4 22. Qd3 Qg4 23. f3 Qh5 24. Nd2 Ng5 25. Bc6 Bh3 26. Bb5 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 Rxf3
28. Nxf3 e4 29. Qe3 Nxf3+ 30. Rxf3 Qxf3 31. Qxf3 exf3 32. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Ne4 6. Nxe4 Bxe4 7. Nd2 Bb7 8. e4
g6 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O d6 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. Bg5 Qc8 14. Re1 Re8 15.
Qd2 c5 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Qc7 18. Kh1 Ba6 19. b3 Nf6 20. h3 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1
Re8 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. g4 Qd7 24. Kg2 Nc7 25. a4 Bc8 26. Qe3 Ne8 27. Kf1 Bf6
28. Bf5 gxf5 29. Bxf6 fxg4 30. hxg4 Nxf6 31. Qg5+ Kf8 32. Qxf6 Qxg4 33. Qxd6+
Kg7 34. Qe5+ f6 35. Qe7+ Kg6 36. Qe8+ Kg7 37. Qe7+ Kg6 38. Qe8+ Kg7 39. Qe7+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Adhiban,B"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 {An interesting choice by Nepo to avoid mainstream theory which is
Anish's forte!} ({The only other winner of this round was} 1... c6 2. d4 d5 3.
exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Qc7 6. h3 g6 7. Nf3 Bf5 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. Bf4 Qb6 10.
Bxf5 gxf5 11. Nd3 e6 12. Nd2 Rg8 13. O-O O-O-O 14. a4 Ne4 15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Bxd6
Nxd6 17. b4 Kb8 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Qe3 Ne7 20. f3 Ng6 21. Ne5 f4 22. Qe1 Nf5 23.
Nxg6 Rxg6 24. Rf2 Rdg8 25. c4 Ne3 26. cxd5 Nxg2 27. Qe5 Qxe5 28. dxe5 Ne1+ {
0-1 (28) Van Foreest,J (2612)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee NED 2019}) 2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6 {The fabled Pirc Defence!} 4. Be3 a6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 {This has never
occured in the practice of Giri, while Nepo has some experience in this system
trying out couple of ideas in shorter formats.} Nbd7 (6... Bb7 {is premature
and was convincingly met by} 7. a4 $1 b4 8. Nd1 a5 9. c3 Na6 {
(Fressinet-Nepomniachtchi W Blitz Berlin 2015)} 10. Nf2 $16) (6... Bg7 7. h4 (
7. Bh6 Bxh6 8. Qxh6 Nbd7) (7. a4 b4 8. Nd1 O-O (8... a5 9. c3) 9. Qxb4 c5 10.
dxc5 Nc6 11. Qd2 d5 12. Nf2 Rb8 13. Rb1) 7... h5 8. Nh3 (8. a4 $5 b4 9. Nd1 O-O
$1 10. Qxb4 (10. Bd3 c5 $1 11. dxc5 Nc6 12. Ne2 dxc5 13. Bxc5 Nd7 {with good
compensation for the pawn.}) 10... c5 {with active play for the pawn.}) 8...
Bxh3 9. Rxh3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Nb6 {(Leko-Nepomniachtchi Rapid Beijing CHN 2014)}
({Better was} 10... c6 $5 11. Bd3 Qc7 {followed by c5 with a good game.}) 11.
Bd3 $16) (6... b4 {is even more premature than Bb7 :).} 7. Nd1 a5 8. a3 $1 bxa3
9. Rxa3 c6 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. Ne2 O-O {the simple} 12. O-O {offered a clear
advantage.} ({Comp likes the greedy} 12. b4 {winning the a-pawn.})) 7. O-O-O
Nb6 8. g4 ({Morozevich chose} 8. h4 $5 b4 9. Nb1 a5 {with a complex battle.}
10. g4 (10. Nh3 $5 {offered better chances to fight for advantage.}) ({Comp's
insane preference is} 10. c4 $5 bxc3 11. Nxc3) 10... h5 $1 {A typical idea to
fight against the expansion.} 11. g5 Nfd7 {Black was already superior in 
(Moro-Zvjaginsev Rapid 2018)}) 8... Bb7 ({Nepo missed an interesting
possibility in form of} 8... h5 $1 9. g5 (9. e5 Nfd5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 {with a
nice position for Black.}) (9. gxh5 Nxh5 {now Black can focus on the queenside.
}) 9... Nfd7 10. f4 Bg7 11. f5 gxf5 12. Nh3 (12. exf5 {doesn't work due to} Bb7
13. d5 b4) 12... b4 13. Nd5 fxe4 14. Nxb4 Nf8 {Black comes out slightly better
out of the mess.}) 9. Nh3 (9. a3 {was better although Black could continue in
the same spirit with} h5 $1) 9... Nfd7 10. Be2 e6 {I wonder if this move is
really required.} (10... b4 11. Nb1 a5 {was a better way to fight for the
intiative.}) 11. Bg5 ({More to the point was} 11. Nf2 {though Black is
completely fine after} b4 12. Nb1 a5) 11... Be7 12. Qe3 {Slowly White is
losing track.} Bxg5 ({Once again} 12... b4 $1 {was stronger.} 13. Nb1 h5 $5 {
with better position.}) 13. Nxg5 h6 14. Nh3 Qh4 15. Nf2 O-O-O {Now we have an
equal position according to comp, although I feel black's position is easier
to handle as he has more potential to create something.} 16. f4 {A huge error.}
(16. Nd3 {was better maintaining the balance, though Black can fight for
something with} f5 $5 ({Also possible is the dark-squared positional approach
with} 16... e5 17. d5 Qg5 18. Qd2 {with equal endgame.})) 16... f5 $1 {White's
over extended pawn structure start to feel the heat!} 17. Bf3 b4 18. exf5 {
Desperation.} (18. Nb1 fxe4 {here both} 19. Nxe4 ({and} 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4
Qxg4) 19... Nd5 {looks pretty hopeless for White.}) 18... bxc3 19. fxe6 cxb2+
20. Kb1 Nf6 {White doesn't have enough compensation...} 21. Bxb7+ Kxb7 22. Qf3+
d5 23. Nd3 Ne4 24. Nc5+ Ka7 25. Qa3 Nxc5 26. Qxc5 Kb7 {An important win for
Nepo putting him and Vishy tied for the first spot...although the middlegame
phase could have been played better by both the "Masters"!} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1
Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bb2 Ne7 14. c4 Ng6 15.
Nf1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Ng3 bxc4 18. dxc4 Re8 19. Qc2 Qb8 20. Reb1 Qb7 21. c5
dxc5 22. bxc5 Qc6 23. Rc1 Nd7 24. Ra5 Reb8 25. Ba3 Nf4 26. Nf5 Re8 27. g3 Ne6
28. Kg2 Nf6 29. Re1 Nd7 30. Rc1 Kh7 31. Qc4 Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Ndxc5 33. Bxc5 Ra4
34. Qd5 Qa8 35. Qd7 Kg8 36. Nxe5 Ng5 37. Nc6 Raxe4 38. Nfe7+ Kh7 39. Ra1 Ra4
40. Rxa4 Qxa4 41. Qxe8 Qe4+ 42. Kf1 Qb1+ 43. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Be7 7. c3 O-O 8.
Bc2 c5 9. d4 Be6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nbd2 Qb6 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Bb3
Nf8 15. Bxe6 Nxe6 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 Nxg5 18. Nxg5 a6 19. g3 Rad8 20. Nc4 h6
21. Nf3 Kf8 22. Kf1 Bd6 23. Na5 Rb8 24. Rxe8+ Kxe8 25. Re1+ Kf8 26. Rd1 Ke7 27.
Ne1 Bc7 28. Nc4 b5 29. Ne3 g6 30. Nd3 Bd6 31. Ra1 Rb6 32. c4 b4 33. Ke2 Ke6 34.
Ra5 Rc6 35. Nd5 Nd7 36. f4 f5 37. Kf3 Nf6 38. Ra1 Nxd5 39. Re1+ Ne3 40. Rxe3+
Kd7 41. g4 fxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Rc8 43. Rh3 Rh8 44. Kf3 Ke6 45. Ke4 Kf6 46. Ne5 Re8
47. Rf3 Bb8 48. h4 a5 49. Rf1 h5 50. Rf3 Bc7 51. Rf1 Rd8 52. Nf3 Re8+ 53. Ne5
Rd8 54. Nf3 Re8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Qc7 6. h3 g6 7. Nf3 Bf5 8. Ne5
Nc6 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Nd3 e6 12. Nd2 Rg8 13. O-O O-O-O 14. a4 Ne4
15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Nxd6 17. b4 Kb8 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Qe3 Ne7 20. f3 Ng6 21. Ne5
f4 22. Qe1 Nf5 23. Nxg6 Rxg6 24. Rf2 Rdg8 25. c4 Ne3 26. cxd5 Nxg2 27. Qe5 Qxe5
28. dxe5 Ne1+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "156"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 b5 7. a4 c5 8. axb5
cxd4 9. Nxd4 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qa4 a5 14. bxa6 Nxa6
15. Nde2 Bd6 16. Bxa6 Bxa6 17. Qc2 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Bd3 19. Qd2 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Bc5
21. Qf4 Qxf4 22. Nxf4 Bc2 23. Re1 g5 24. Nh5 Rd4 25. Ng3 Rb4 26. Rc1 Rxb2 27.
Nd1 Rb1 28. Rxc2 Rxd1+ 29. Nf1 Bd6 30. g3 Re1 31. f3 h5 32. Kf2 Ra1 33. Nd2 Be5
34. Nb3 Rd1 35. Rd2 Rb1 36. Nc5 Bc3 37. Rd8+ Kg7 38. Nd3 Ra1 39. Rd7 Ra2+ 40.
Kg1 Ra1+ 41. Kg2 Ra2+ 42. Kh1 g4 43. fxg4 hxg4 44. h3 Ra1+ 45. Kg2 Ra2+ 46. Kh1
gxh3 47. Nf4 Kf6 48. Nxh3 Re2 49. Rd3 Be5 50. Kg1 Rxe4 51. Rf3+ Kg6 52. Rxf7
Bxg3 53. Rf3 Be5 54. Kf1 Rh4 55. Ke2 Bf6 56. Nf4+ Kf7 57. Rf1 Rh6 58. Kd3 Be5
59. Ke4 Bd6 60. Nd5+ Ke8 61. Nf6+ Kd8 62. Rd1 Rh4+ 63. Kf3 Ke7 64. Ng8+ Kd7 65.
Nf6+ Kc6 66. Rc1+ Kb5 67. Ne4 Ba3 68. Rc8 e5 69. Nc3+ Kb4 70. Nd5+ Kb3 71. Rc3+
Ka2 72. Re3 Bb2 73. Re4 Rh6 74. Nb4+ Kb3 75. Nd3 Rf6+ 76. Kg4 Kc2 77. Nxb2 Rf4+
78. Rxf4 exf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. Qxb7 Qd7 14. Qxd7 Nxd7
15. c5 Bxh2+ 16. Nxh2 Ne4 17. Bf4 Rfc8 18. f3 Nef6 19. Re3 Nf8 20. Rd1 Ne6 21.
Be5 Nd7 22. Bd6 Nf6 23. Nf1 g6 24. Ng3 Ne8 25. Be5 a5 26. Ne2 a4 27. Ra3 f6 28.
Bg3 N8c7 29. Bxc7 Nxc7 30. Nc3 Rcb8 31. Rxa4 Rxb2 32. Rxa8+ Nxa8 33. Rb1 Rxb1+
34. Nxb1 Nc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Nge2 exd5 8. cxd5
a6 9. a4 O-O 10. Ng3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bf4 Rb8 13. O-O c4 14. Bxc4 Qb6+ 15.
Rf2 Bd4 16. Qd2 Ne5 17. Bf1 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Bd7 20. Be3 f5 21.
exf5 gxf5 22. Bd4 Nf6 23. Kg1 Rbc8 24. Ra3 Nc4 25. Rb3 b5 26. axb5 Nd2 27. Rb4
Nxf1 28. bxa6 Nxg3 29. hxg3 Rb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Bxf6 Ra8 32. Nd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. b3 e6 6. Ba3 d6 7. e3 Nge7 8. Nge2
O-O 9. O-O Qa5 10. Bb2 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nf4 Rd8 13. Qc1 d4 14. Na4 c4 15.
Re1 dxe3 16. dxe3 Ne5 17. Bc3 Qb5 18. Qa3 N7c6 19. bxc4 Nxc4 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21.
axb3 Bxc3 22. Nxc3 Nd2 23. Ncd5 Nxb3 24. Ra3 Nba5 25. Rea1 Nc4 26. Rc3 N4e5 27.
Nc7 Rb8 28. Nfd5 Kg7 29. f4 Ng4 30. e4 Nf6 31. Kf2 Ng4+ 32. Kg1 Nf6 33. Kf2
Ng4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qc8 8.
Ngf3 e6 9. Bd3 Bh5 10. O-O Bg6 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. Rae1 Be7 13. g3 O-O 14. Ne5
Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. h4 Nc5 17. Qc2 Qc6 18. Re3 Qa6 19. Qb1 Rac8 20. Kg2 b5
21. Bg5 Qb7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Rh1 a5 24. Qd1 b4 25. Qg4 bxc3 26. bxc3 Rb8 27.
h5 g5 28. h6 g6 29. Nf3 Ne4 30. Re2 Nxc3 31. Rc2 Ne4 32. Nd4 Rbc8 33. Nc6 Qa3
34. Rhc1 Kh7 35. Qe2 g4 36. Qxg4 Rc7 37. Qf4 Rfc8 38. g4 g5 39. Qh2 Nd2 40. Rc3
Qa4 41. Qh5 Qe4+ 42. Kh3 d4 43. Rg3 Qf4 44. Rd1 Ne4 45. Rxd4 Nxg3 46. fxg3 Qf1+
47. Kh2 Rxc6 48. Qxg5 Rc2+ 49. Rd2 Rxd2+ 50. Qxd2 Rc1 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bc5 8.
Be2 O-O 9. O-O Bb6 10. a4 Re8 11. Qc2 Qf6 12. Kh1 h6 13. Ng1 Qd6 14. f4 Bxg1
15. Rxg1 exf4 16. d4 Ne7 17. Ba3 Qd8 18. Raf1 Ng6 19. e5 b6 20. Bf3 Ba6 21. Rf2
c5 22. g3 fxg3 23. Rxg3 cxd4 24. cxd4 Rc8 25. Qf5 Bc4 26. Bd6 Be6 27. Qb1 Nf4
28. d5 Nxd5 29. Qg1 Kh8 30. Rd2 Nf4 31. Rd4 Ng6 32. Be4 Rc4 33. Rxc4 Bxc4 34.
Qd4 Be6 35. Bc6 Ne7 36. Be4 Nf5 37. Bxf5 Bxf5 38. Kg1 Be6 39. h4 Qd7 40. Qe4
Rc8 41. h5 Rc1+ 42. Kh2 Qd8 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Nb6 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. e3 e5 10. d5 Na5 11. b3 e4 12. Nd4 Nxd5 13. Nxe4 b6 14. b4 Nxb4 15.
Ba3 c5 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. Bxa8 Ba6 18. Bg2 Bxf1 19. Bxf1 Nb7 20. Bxb4 Bxd4 21.
exd4 cxb4 22. Rb1 Qa5 23. Qd2 b3 24. Qxa5 Nxa5 25. axb3 Rd8 26. b4 Nc6 27. b5
Nxd4 28. Ra1 Rd7 29. Kg2 Rb7 30. Ra2 Nxb5 31. Bxb5 Rxb5 32. Rxa7 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "188"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bg4 9. c3 Nf6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 O-O-O 12. Na3 Ne8 13. c4 Bf8 14. Nc2 Be6
15. b3 Nb4 16. Nxb4 Bxb4 17. Rf1 f6 18. Be3 Ng7 19. c5 Rd3 20. Ne1 Rd7 21. c6
bxc6 22. Bxa7 Kb7 23. Be3 Ra8 24. Nf3 Bf7 25. Rfc1 Ne6 26. Bf1 Nd4 27. Kg2 c5
28. Bc4 Ba3 29. Rd1 Bxc4 30. bxc4 Kc6 31. Nh2 Rd6 32. Bh6 Kd7 33. Ng4 Ke6 34.
Rab1 Bb4 35. Ne3 c6 36. a3 Rxa3 37. Ra1 Nb3 38. Rxa3 Bxa3 39. Rxd6+ Kxd6 40.
Nc2 Bb2 41. Kf1 g5 42. Bf8+ Ke6 43. Ke2 Bd4 44. Ne1 Na5 45. Nd3 Nb7 46. f4 gxf4
47. gxf4 Kf7 48. Bh6 Nd6 49. fxe5 fxe5 50. Be3 Nxc4 51. Bf2 Ke7 52. Nxc5 Bxf2
53. Kxf2 Nb6 54. Kf3 Nd7 55. Nb7 c5 56. Ke3 Kf6 57. Nd6 Kg5 58. Kf3 Nb6 59.
Nf7+ Kf6 60. Nh6 Nd7 61. Nf5 Kg5 62. Nd6 Nb6 63. Nf7+ Kf6 64. Nh6 Ke6 65. Nf5
c4 66. Ke2 Kd7 67. Nh6 Kc6 68. Nf7 Nd7 69. Kd2 Kc5 70. Kc3 Nf6 71. Nxe5 Nxe4+
72. Kc2 Kd4 73. Nd7 Ke3 74. Nf8 h5 75. Ng6 Kf2 76. h4 Kg3 77. Kb2 Kg4 78. Kc2
Nd6 79. Kc3 Nf5 80. Ne5+ Kxh4 81. Kxc4 Kg3 82. Ng6 Kf3 83. Kd3 Ne7 84. Ne5+ Kg2
85. Nf7 h4 86. Ng5 Ng8 87. Ke3 Kg3 88. Ne4+ Kg2 89. Ng5 Kg3 90. Ne4+ Kh2 91.
Kf2 Nh6 92. Ng5 Ng4+ 93. Kf3 Ne5+ 94. Ke4 Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E03"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 {Neither this nor ...Bb4+ is
especially fun for White players looking for a garden-variety Catalan.} 5. Qa4+
(5. Nf3 {tends to be viewed as more testing.} c5 {And this is not the only
move, not by a long way, but I think it could be best.} 6. O-O (6. Na3 Nc6 7.
Nxc4 cxd4 8. O-O Bc5 9. b3 {could be due a revival- trying to keep the long
diagonal as clear as possible.}) 6... Nc6 7. Ne5 (7. Qa4 Bd7 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qd3
(9. Qc3 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Rc8 $11) 9... c4 10. Qd1 Rc8 11. Re1 Be7
$132 {Maybe it's just my contrary streak, but I don't see what White wants to
achieve after e4.}) (7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 O-O {
is a relatively easy Catalan for Black to 'huddle and survive'. The plus-side
being that after he does, he has a slightly better structure to try and work
with. The analogy to Karjakin's line in the 'Korchnoi-Karpov variation' is
obvious.}) 7... Bd7 8. Na3 cxd4 9. Naxc4 Be7 10. Qb3 Qc7 $1 {Now the main line
which leads to a draw runs:} 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Nxc6 Nxf4 13. Nxe7 Nxg2 14. Rfc1
Kxe7 15. Qa3+ (15. Qb4+ Kf6 16. Ne3 Bc6 17. Qxd4+ Ke7 18. Nxg2 f6 $11 {and it
is not clear who benefited from the game having continued.}) 15... Kf6 16. Qf3+
Ke7 $11) 5... Nbd7 6. Qxc4 c5 {I can't be the only person to feel as if it is
already Black playing to be better here. White has never really demonstrated a
way to prevent ...a6 and ...b5 from becoming reality.} (6... Rb8 $5 {is also a
playable move, which says a lot.}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Nc3 a6 9. Qb3 {White's play
does not give the impression of having made any particular preparations for
this opening or this opponent.} Ra7 {The best move on high depth, and a normal
enough one for players on the Black side of the Catalan.} 10. Na4 $5 {This is
at least optimistic.} (10. a4 b6 11. Nf3 Bb7 12. O-O O-O {and Black need not
feel he has made any particular concession in playing ...Ra7- in fact, the
rook might be well placed here after some minor piece trades, and the
a8-square is useful for a Black queen.}) 10... Qa5+ 11. Kf1 b6 {A solid and
sensible move, shoring up the g1-a7 diagonal.} (11... O-O 12. Nf3 b5 {was
plausible, but if by some accident after} 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Qa3 Qxa3 15. bxa3 {
White should manage to play a4, then he will stand better. Furthermore, Black
may need a concrete plan after 14.Qc2.}) 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Nf3 Bb7
15. Bd2 Qb5 16. Nd4 {Trading off the bishop-pair (and improving Black's
a7-rook) has become a sad reality. Black did have an annoying threat of ...Be4,
...Rd7, ...Rfd8.} Qd7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 (17... Qxb7 18. Nf3 Rc8 $15 {could be
slightly better, making it imperceptibly harder for White to finish
development.}) (17... Nxb7 18. Nf3 Rc8 19. Qd1 e5 $1 $40 {also enters into
consideration.}) 18. Nf3 Nce4 19. Rc1 Qd5 20. Bb4 Re8 21. Kg2 Qb5 22. Ba3 (22.
Qc4 $5 {ends White's opening problems for good.}) 22... h5 {A generally good
move- it isn't clear exactly when Black might want an escape square for his
king, or the ...h4 break- but both are on the cards.} 23. Rhf1 {This move
tries to keep both rooks, with the idea of (at some distant moment) doubling
them on the c-file.} (23. Rhd1 Rd7 24. Nd4 Qg5 {will also swap off some rooks.}
) 23... Rd7 24. e3 $6 (24. Rfd1 {admitting his mistake was still good enough
to equalise- usually in such positions, the side with the bishop can afford to
'mess around' more.}) 24... h4 $1 25. Nxh4 Rd2 26. Qc4 Qxc4 27. Rxc4 b5 28. Rd4
(28. Rb4 {might have had to be done.}) 28... Rc2 {White's main problem is that
he can't stop ...Ng4 (possibly as a capture.)} 29. Bb4 $6 (29. h3 g5 30. Nf3 g4
31. hxg4 e5 $17) 29... e5 30. Rd3 Rxb2 31. a3 Ng4 32. Be1 Rc8 33. Nf5 Rcc2 34.
Rd8+ Kh7 {All White's pieces, bar the d8-rook, are stuck on the defensive and
it still isn't enough.} 35. Kh3 Ngxf2+ 36. Kh4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 {Here
various moves exist, of which the main one is ...a6.} (7. Bf4 {is an attempt
to get the same thing without the option of Black playing ...a6 and ...b5-
however, there are similar pawn-sacrifice options that work out well.} Be6 {
This equalises, but can be uninspiring.} (7... c6 8. e4 b5 9. Qb3 {is more
ambitious}) 8. Qxc7 (8. Qd3 c5) 8... Nc6 9. e3 {Now Black needs to be precise.}
Nb4 $1 (9... Rc8 10. Qxd8 Rfxd8 11. Bg3 $14 {seems to give something}) (9...
Qxc7 10. Bxc7 Nb4 11. Kd2 Nbd5 12. Nxd5 Ne4+ 13. Ke1 Bxd5 14. Bd3 Rac8 {
is met by the slightly artificial} 15. Rc1 $1 $14) 10. Qxd8 Rfxd8 11. Kd2 Nbd5
12. Nxd5 Ne4+ 13. Ke1 Bxd5 14. Bd3 $1 {The only move which doesn't instantly
give Black equality.} (14. Be2 Rac8 $15) 14... Nc5 $1 15. dxc5 (15. Be2 Na4 $11
) 15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Rxd3 17. Ke2 Rd5 18. Rac1 Bxb2 19. Rhd1 Bxc1 $1 (19...
Rad8 20. Rxd5 Rxd5 21. Rb1 Ba3 22. Rxb7 Bxc5 23. e4 $1 Rh5 24. Rb5 $14 {
gives White something in the bishop ending.}) (19... Rh5 20. Rb1 Ba3 21. Rxb7
Bxc5 {could just be nothing, but White looks more active.}) 20. Rxd5 Ba3 21.
Rd7 Bxc5 22. Rxb7 $11) 7... Nc6 8. Be2 e5 $5 {Not the main move (those are ...
Bg4 and ...Nd7) so one can assume this was home preparation for a while. Also,
the huge wealth of high-level practice implies the position was well known in
the cloistered elite world, even if Mamedyarov himself hadn't played it.} 9. d5
Nd4 $5 (9... Ne7 10. Be3 c6 11. dxc6 Nxc6 {This kind of thing can arise from
the Pirc as well and tends to be just a little bit unpleasant for Black to
play.}) 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Qxd4 c6 12. Qc4 (12. d6 Re8 13. Qd3 b5 14. f3 Re6 15.
Be3 Rxd6 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. O-O Bd4 $11 {was comfortable for Black in Wang,
H-Vachier Lagrave,M Beijing 2014}) 12... b5 13. Qxc6 Bd7 14. Qd6 Re8 (14... Rc8
$6 15. O-O Rxc3 16. bxc3 Nxe4 {seems appetising, but the activity must be
cashed in too soon after} 17. Qa6 Nxc3 18. Bf3 $14) 15. Bg5 (15. f3 Nh5 16. Be3
(16. g3 f5 17. Bd3 a5 18. Be3 b4 19. Nd1 Nf6 20. e5 Ng4 21. fxg4 Bxe5 22. Qc5
Rc8 23. Qa7 Ra8 24. Qc5 Rc8 25. Qa7 Ra8 26. Qb7 Rb8 (26... Bd4 $5) 27. Qa6 f4
28. gxf4 Bxf4 29. O-O Bxe3+ 30. Nxe3 Rxe3 31. Bxg6 Qg5 32. Qd6 Rd8 33. Bf7+ Kg7
34. Qf4 Qxg4+ 35. Kh1 Qxf4 36. Rxf4 Re2 37. Rg1+ Kh8 38. Rg2 Re1+ 39. Rg1 Re2
40. Rg2 Re1+ 41. Rg1 {was the very messy game Meier,G-So,W Saint Louis 2012})
16... f5 17. Qa3 b4 18. Qxb4 Rb8 19. Qa3 fxe4 20. f4 Qh4+ 21. g3 Nxg3 22. Bf2
Qh3 23. Bxg3 Rec8 24. Bf1 Qg4 25. Be2 Qh3 26. Bf1 Qg4 27. Be2 {1/2-1/2 (27)
Ding,L (2766)-Wei,Y (2706) Wijk aan Zee 2016}) (15. Bd3 {has also been seen in
high-level games.} a5 16. f3 b4 17. Ne2 Bf8 18. Qg3 Qb6 (18... Nxd5 $13) 19.
Bg5 (19. Qg5 $14) 19... Rac8 20. Qf2 Bc5 21. Qh4 Nxd5 22. Bc4 h6 $3 $19 {
Navara,D-Vachier Lagrave,M Germany 2018}) 15... Rb8 (15... b4 {was played in
the pioneer game.} 16. Qxb4 Nxd5 $1 17. Nxd5 Qxg5 18. O-O Rab8 $132 {and Black
gradually wore down his opponent in Miton,K-Vachier Lagrave,M Belfort 2012})
16. a3 a5 17. O-O b4 18. axb4 axb4 19. Nd1 {Still preparation.} (19. Bxf6 Bxf6
20. Ra7 {is a plausible try for a White advantage, even after} Bf5 $3 21. Nb5 (
21. Qxd8 Bxd8 22. Nb5 Rxe4 23. Bd3 Rf4 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Rd7 Bb6 $44) 21...
Rxe4 22. Bd3 {and now a second remarkable move:} Rd4 $3 23. Qxd8+ (23. Bxf5
Rxb5 24. Qxd8+ Bxd8 $15) 23... Rxd8 24. Nxd4 Bxd4 25. Bxf5 Bxa7 26. Be4 $14 {
Black has exceptional co-ordination, but must be aware that in trying to get
the pawn back, his control might worsen.}) 19... Nxe4 20. Bxd8 Nxd6 21. Bc7 Rb7
22. Bxd6 Rxe2 23. Ra8+ Re8 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Re1 {Probably Giri had reached
this position in preparation, but at the board was unable to find ways to
continue.} Bd7 26. Re4 (26. Be5 $5 {should probably be second nature for these
players- once it becomes clear that} Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Rc7 28. Kf1 $14 {doesn't
win a piece. Untangling is, of course, another question entirely, but there is
no way for Black to make headway immediately.}) ({If nothing else, the 'pass'
move} 26. b3 {should be considered.}) 26... Ba4 27. b3 f5 28. Rxb4 Rxb4 29.
Bxb4 Bxb3 30. Nc3 Bxc3 31. Bxc3 Bxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 {So far, par for the
course. The battle in this line has tended to revolve around White's attempts
at playing an immediate d5- as if Black is allowed to play ...d5 himself, the
game is almost certain to be drawn.} Ne8 {Slightly more ambitious (or
'ashamed' at being happy with a draw) than, say, ...Qe8.} 13. d5 b6 (13... c6
14. Nd2 (14. Be3 cxd5 $5 15. Qd2 Nc7 16. Na3 d6 17. Nc2 Bf5 18. Nb4 Be4 {
and Black ultimately managed to maintain his grip on the pawn, against the
laws of physics. McShane,L -Radjabov,T Batumi 2018}) 14... cxd5 15. Nf3 d6 16.
Be3 Nc7 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. g3 Bc6 19. Bg2 Ne6 20. Rd1 Qa5 21. a3 h6 22. Nd4 Nxd4
23. Bxd4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Re8 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Re2 28. b4 Rc2
29. Rxd6 Rxc3 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Rd7 Rxa3 32. Rxb7 $11 {Giri,A -Caruana,F Batumi
2018}) 14. Bf4 Bb7 15. Qd2 h6 16. c4 c6 17. Nc3 {It is at this point that
Kramnik begins playing the chess that we saw in Berlin last year: maximalist
and pushing for the tactics to work, even against an energy gradient.} cxd5 (
17... Bg5 {seems more natural, retaining the connected pawn structure for now,
and preferably until the queens come off.}) 18. cxd5 d6 19. Re1 Nc7 20. Bc4 {
The problem with Black's position here is not that it is worse, but just that
whatever he plays requires a stack of tactics to be present- and adequately
calculated- to avoid major calamity.} Bxc3 $5 (20... Qd7 21. Ne4 Be5 {is still
apparently equal, although human players would instinctively not be pleased at
the presence of Qxh6 motifs.}) 21. bxc3 Qf6 $1 (21... b5 22. Bb3 a5 23. a3 Qd7
$14) 22. h3 Rc8 {But this is a little strange. Clearly, Black wants ...b5 and .
..Na6-c5, but there are a number of answers to this.} (22... b5 23. Bb3 a5 24.
a3 a4 25. Ba2 Re8 $11 {leads to a position where White has no easy way of
freeing both his pieces from defending d5.}) 23. Re4 (23. Be3 $14) 23... b5 24.
Bb3 a5 25. a3 Qf5 (25... Re8 $14 {Compared with a few moves ago, White has the
extra chance of playing f3 so as to improve his structure during the rook
trade, but this isn't enough to make his advantage dramatic (Black could put
his knight on c5 in response.)}) 26. Rd4 Qb1+ {This move might look natural,
but with it, Black passes the point of no return.} (26... Qf6 $14 {was still
possible, albeit now White is in a position to play for a4 or c4.}) 27. Bd1 b4
28. cxb4 Nb5 29. Qd3 Qa1 30. Re4 Bxd5 {Presumably visualised when playing ...
Qb1+, but the follow-up is missing.} (30... Nc3 31. Re1 axb4 32. axb4 $14) 31.
Re1 $1 {As with most computer-precise chess games, it makes very little sense
that White's rook had to go to d4, and then back to e1. However, he is now
very much better, because of Black's total lack of co-ordination.} Bc4 32. Qf5
Rf8 33. Kh2 (33. bxa5 Qc3 34. Re3 Qd4 35. Bh5 {is too much computer chess})
33... g6 (33... Qd4 34. Bc2 g6 35. Qg4 Nxa3 36. Rd1 $1 $16) 34. Qe4 d5 35. Qe7
axb4 $2 {A blunder in a hopeless position.} (35... Qd4 36. Bxh6 Ra8 37. bxa5
Qxf2 38. Bg4 $18 {continues to avoid material loss, but Black's pieces are all
terrible and he must lose soon.}) 36. Be5 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 {Now Black can take his pick
of normal moves, of which ... d6, ...Nf6 and ...Qc7 are the top ones. The
first two transpose to other Sicilians, while the text keeps the game in
Taimanov/Paulsen land.} Qc7 (5... Bb4 $5 {is worth mentioning as a quirk: the
position after} 6. Nxc6 (6. Be2 Nge7 $5) 6... bxc6 7. Qd4 Bf8 {seems oddly
playable for Black.}) 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 b5 $5 {This move gets played every so
often, but ...Nf6 is, for most people, virtually automatic. Like most
sidelines, there is a reason it hasn't caught on, but White has to be very
incisive.} (7... Nf6 8. O-O-O {and now} Bb4 {gets most of the airtime.} (8...
b5 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Nb3 $14)) 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bb7 10. f3 (10. Be5 $5 {
has a critical look to it, trying to make Black spend a tempo on ...d6 before
castling.} Qc6 11. f3 Nf6 12. a3 Rd8 (12... Be7 13. g4 O-O 14. g5 Nh5 15. Kb1
$14 {White has got all 'his' moves in, while a queenside attack from Black is
still a long way off.}) (12... b4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Qg5 $14) 13. g4 d6 14. g5
Nd7 15. Bd4 $40) 10... Nf6 11. Qg5 $6 {With this move, White risks being
slightly worse. It doesn't threaten anything, nor does it in any real sense
tie down the f8-bishop, being that Black can easily dislodge or trade the
queen with ...h6 later.} (11. e5 Nd5 12. Ne4 {trying to win the bishop pair is
indeed worth a closer look, but I think Black is fine after the
precarious-looking} Rc8 (12... Nb4 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. a3 Nd5 16.
Bxg7 $14) 13. Kb1 Nb4 14. Bd3 Bd5 $1 $132) 11... Rc8 $1 {Gaining a tempo.} 12.
Bd3 (12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qxf6 Rg8 $15 {threatens both ...Bg7 and ... b4, while
tying down the f1-bishop.}) 12... h6 $1 {And just like that, Black is
completely fine.} 13. Qg3 Qxg3 14. hxg3 Bc5 {Reaching a standard Sicilian
endgame in which Black's usual plus of the central majority is offset by the
half-open h-file. That being said, I would prefer playing Black.} 15. Ne2 (15.
Bxf6 gxf6 $36 {is not a position the engines understand when they say it's '0.
27'}) 15... Bxd4 16. Nxd4 Ke7 17. Kd2 Rc7 (17... d6 {is tempting, to try and
put the knight on c5. The tempi saved on ...Bc8-d7 mean that Black is able to
think about central breaks, e.g.} 18. c3 Nd7 19. Ra1 Nc5 20. Bc2 Kf6 21. Rhe1
Rhd8 {With ...e5 and ...d5 to come sometime soon.}) 18. c3 Rb8 19. Ra1 Bc8 20.
b4 $5 (20. g4 d6 21. a3 Bd7 22. Nc2 a5 23. Ne3 Bc6 $11 {was a good way to
reach a position where neither side can break}) 20... d6 21. a4 e5 22. Ne2 (22.
Nc2 $5 {is a computer move, preparing various tactics against ...d5 that,
ironically, centre on that same square.} d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. axb5 axb5 25.
Rhe1 Kf6 $6 (25... Be6 $1 26. Rxe5 Kf6 27. Ree1 Nxc3 28. Nd4 Rd8 $1 29. Nxe6
fxe6 30. Rec1 Nd5 31. Rxc7 Nxc7 $11) 26. Ne3 $14 {With the better bishop.})
22... Bd7 23. axb5 Bxb5 24. Rhc1 (24. Ra5 {is rejected by the human eye once
it sees the apparent impossibility of preventing ...Nb6-c4, but} Nd7 (24... d5
25. exd5 Rd8 26. c4 Bxc4 27. Rc1 Rdc8 28. Rc3 Bxd5 29. Bxa6 Rxc3 30. Nxc3 Rd8
31. Ke3 $14) 25. Kc2 $5 {leads to a game- probably a good one for White, since
Black has made no effort to push his still-good central pawns.}) 24... Bxd3 25.
Kxd3 d5 26. exd5 Nxd5 27. Kd2 Rd8 28. Ke1 Rdc8 $1 {Not giving the pawns a
chance to get rolling. If White had time for say Ra5, that would be a problem.}
29. Rxa6 Nxb4 30. cxb4 Rxc1+ 31. Nxc1 Rxc1+ 32. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 {The main
interesting thing about this move is that it isn't ...c5.} 7. Bd3 (7. cxd5 {
This appears natural, but it transpires that ...b6 isn't that much of a
concession in and of itself.} Nxd5 (7... exd5 {is also played, but I believe
the knight on c3 to do more work than its equivalent on f6, not least because
of the a5-e1 diagonal.} 8. Ne5 $14) 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 ({Perhaps cleaner than} 8...
exd5 9. Bd3 c5 {when White can choose his structure: sensible seems} 10. Ne5 {
with slightly better co-ordination.}) 9. a3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 cxd6 11. Rc1 $11) 7...
dxc4 8. Bxc4 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qa4 {At this point, White decided to control
c6 rather than e4 with the queen- it isn't feasible to do both.} (10. Qe2 $5
Qc8 11. O-O c5 12. e4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 {probably peters out after a timely
minor-piece exchange from Black, but he has to set it up first.} Qb7 $6 (13...
Rd8 {seems a better way to prepare ...Nd5}) 14. Rad1 (14. e5 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5
16. Nb5 $14) 14... Rfd8 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Rd7 17. Ndb5 Rad8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19.
e5 Ne8 20. Bxe7 Rxe7 $11 {Kuljasevic,D-Dragnev,V Le Castella 2018}) 10... Qc8 (
10... Nb4 11. O-O Qe8 $1 $11 {is the computer's suggestion, when it is
plausible that Black is trying to be better as well.}) 11. O-O c5 12. Rac1 Qb7
13. a3 {Preparing to restrict the a6-knight further.} Rfc8 (13... Nd5 14. Nxd5
exd5 15. Qb5 $14 {isn't the minor-piece trade Black is looking for: the
hanging pawns are a little clunky right now.}) (13... Nc7 $5 {seems a good bet
for equality, setting up ...Ncd5 unless White ventures} 14. e4 $5 a6 $1 {
when White's centre is under enough pressure from ...b5-b4 and ...Nb5 ideas to
nearly necessitate} 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bxc7 Qxc7 $132) 14. Nb5 {Now it seems to
me that White has a small something.} Nb8 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Ne5 (16. Nd6 Bxd6
17. Bxd6 Nbd7 18. Ne5 {White's bishop is, by a small margin, the best minor
piece on the board; it seems to me that he can probably press.}) 16... Nbd7 17.
Nxd7 ({Now on} 17. Nd6 Bxd6 18. Nxd7 {there follows} Bxf4 (18... Be7 $6 19. Bg5
Qxb2 20. Bxf6 $14) 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Qxf4 Qxb2 $1 {and White has no more than
a draw.}) 17... Qxd7 18. Rfd1 Qc6 $6 (18... Qb7 {maintained equality because
after} 19. Bd6 $2 {there is} a6 $1 $17) 19. Bd6 Qb7 (19... a6 20. Rxc5 $1 axb5
21. Rxc6 bxa4 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Bxe7 Nd5 24. Bd6 $14 {is an unlosable endgame
for White, and a slightly treacherous one for Black.}) 20. Be5 (20. Bxe7 Qxe7
21. h3 $14 {kept a slight plus due to pawn structure.}) 20... Nd5 21. Qg4 g6
22. e4 {Now the pieces are sucked off the board as if by magic.} Qxb5 (22...
Ne3 23. fxe3 Qxb5 {was mildly ambitious and maybe worth a punt if Black was
very keen to play a game.}) 23. exd5 exd5 24. Rxd5 Rd8 25. Rcd1 Rxd5 26. Rxd5
Qc6 27. Qd1 Re8 28. Bc3 Bf6 29. Rd6 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 Rd8 31. Qa6 (31. Qxd8+ Bxd8
32. Kf1 {is only optically better: with the king on c6 Black holds with ease.})
31... Rd1+ 32. Qf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Bxc3 34. bxc3 Kf8 35. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,100,19,38,25,16,16,8,17,17,19,-9,10,7,17,-44,-16,-33,-30,-24,-18,-10,
81,68,50,54,124,55,47,56,65,67,65,61,68,73,73,-50,0,-4,30,16,14,-52,-10,-3,0,
-20,-19,-14,-30,0,7,-15,45,-22,-31,-23,-23,-66,0,0,0,-67,-60,-60,-56,-52,-54,
-54,-51,-44,-44,-41,-44,-54,-52,-52,-65,-61,-32,-32,-42,-160,-181,-230,-256,
-248,-324,-326,-348,-379,-420,-482,-494,-692,-712,-982,-1011,-1022,-1032,-1032,
-1032]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5
{Previously 7...a6 was more usual, but after it recently White has been trying
action on the queenside: 8.a4 Ba7 9.b4 (for example M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin,
5th WCh match game 2016). How effective that is may be undecided; in any case
with the text move Black turns against this plan with the assumption that the
weakening of the b5-square will be unimportant.  Üblicher war bisher 7...a6,
doch hat Weiß in letzter Zeit danach das Vorgehen auf dem Damenflügel
versucht: 8.a4 La7 9.b4 (zum Beispiel M. Carlsen - S. Karjakin, 5. Partie der
Weltmeisterschaft 2016). Wie wirksam dies ist, sei dahingestellt; Schwarz
wendet sich mit dem Textzug auf jeden Fall gegen dieses Vorgehen in der
Annahme, daß die Schwächung des Feldes b5 unwesentlich sein wird.} 8. Bg5 {
This is a sharp plan and so far little experience has been gathered with it.
White allows his queen's bishop to be driven to g3. There it is at first out
of the play and may be exposed to further attacks (by h6-h5 after appropriate
preparation). But White is counting on getting in d3-d4 and that the pressure
against the e5-point will then be important; in addition he wll perhaps be
able to get some advantage out of the weakening of the black kingside whenever
the positioon opens up. There is no way to decide whether the move is better,
worse or just as good as the continuations 8.Nbd2 and 8.h3, which strive
towards more modest goals. Dies ist eine scharfe Idee, mit der bisher wenig
Erfahrung gesammelt wurde. Weiß läßt es zu, daß sein Damenläufer nach g3
getrieben wird. Dort steht er zunächst außer Spiel und mag weiteren
Angriffen ausgesetzt sein (durch h6-h5 nach geeigneter Vorbereitung). Weiß
rechnet aber damit, daß er zu d3-d4 kommt und daß dann der Druck gegen den
Punkt e5 wichtig sein wird; außerdem wird er vielleicht aus der Schwächung
des schwarzen Königsflügels Nutzen ziehen können, wenn die Stellung sich
öffnet. Es ist nicht zu entscheiden, ob der Zug besser, schlechter oder
ebenso gut ist wie die Fortsetzungen 8. Sbd2 und 8.h3, die bescheideneren
Zielen dienen.} h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 ({To the best of my knowledge nobody has
yet tried the sacrifice on g5. It is speculative in nature because White has
no pieces attacking and his pawn on f2 is pinned, so that the dangerous
advance f2-f4 is at first prevented. Nevertheless things are not quite so
clear. Let me give some sample continuations: Das Opfer auf g5 hat meines
Wissens noch niemand probiert. Es ist spekulativer Natur, weil Weiß keine
Figuren im Angriff hat und der Bauer auf f2 gefesselt ist, so daß der
gefährliche Vorstoß f2-f4 zunächst unterbunden ist. Dennoch ist die Sache
nicht so klar. Ich gebe einige Beispielfortsetzungen:} 10. Nxg5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 {
I. I.} Bg4 ({II. II.} 11... Kg7 12. Qf3 Kg6 13. Bh4 ({After Nach} 13. h4 Bg4
14. Bxf6 Qd7 15. Qg3 Kxf6 {Black is winning. steht Schwarz auf Gewinn.}) 13...
Rg8 ({The move Auf} 13... Be6 {is followed by folgt} 14. Qg3+ Kh7 15. Qg5) 14.
Nd2 Be6 {A similar judgement to that for Line I is applicable. Ein ähnliches
Urteil wie unter Abspiel I ist zutreffend.}) 12. Qd2 (12. Bxf6 Bxf2+ 13. Kf1
Bxd1 14. Bxd8 Bxe1 {and Black wins material und Schwarz gewinnt Material})
12... Kg7 ({The move Auf} 12... Kh7 {is followed by folgt} 13. d4 Bb6 14. Na3 {
and White retains pressure. und Weiß behält Druck.}) 13. h3 Be6 14. Bh6+ Kh7
15. Bxf8 Qxf8 {I think that Black is better, but of course matters are not
totally clear. Ich meine, daß Schwarz besser steht, aber ganz klar ist die
Sache natürlich nicht.}) 10... Nh7 {[#] [#]} ({To the best of my knowledge
this is a new move; Black allows the immediate advance d3-d4. The game A. Giri
- P. Eljanov, Stavanger 2016 continued Dies ist meines Wissens ein neuer Zug;
Schwarz läßt den Vorstoß d3-d4 sofort zu. In der Partie A. Giri - P.
Eljanov, Stavanger 2016, folgte} 10... Ba7 11. Na3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nc2 Bg6
14. Bh2 {And White's position should be somewhat more comfortable. Weiß
dürfte etwas bequemer stehen.}) 11. d4 {It is hard to evaluate the
consequences of the move in the game. Die Folgen des Partiezuges sind schwer
zu beurteilen.} Bb6 12. dxe5 h5 {This is Black's plan: he would like to
immediately break open White's kingside. After 12...g4 13.Nd4 Ne5: 14.Nd2
White has a secure and comfortable position.  Dies ist der Plan des Schwarzen:
Er möchte den Königsflügel des Weißen sofort aufbrechen. Nach 12...g4 13.
Sd4 Se5: 14.Sd2 hat Weiß eine sichere und bequeme Stellung.} 13. h4 ({
Continuation I. Die Fortsetzung I.} 13. exd6 h4 14. Be5 g4 {costs White a
piece; after kostet den Weißen eine Figur; nach} 15. dxc7 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 gxf3
17. Bd6 fxg2 {the most he can hope for is equaity. kann er höchstens auf
Ausgleich hoffen.}) ({Continuation II. Auf II.} 13. h3 {is followed by folgt}
g4 14. hxg4 hxg4 15. Nd4 Nxe5 16. Nd2 Qg5 {For Black the position is more
favourable than the one after the immediate 12...g4; it should be more or less
balanced. Die Stellung ist für Schwarz günstiger als die nach sofortigem 12..
.g4; sie dürfte etwa im Gleichgewicht sein.}) 13... Bg4 ({Here Hier
überlässt} 13... g4 14. Nd4 Nxe5 15. Na3 {concedes to White clearly the
better game. The pawn on h4 deprives Black's pieces of the g5-square, and his
kingsde is weakened; after dem Weißen das klar bessere Spiel. Der Bauer auf
h4 nimmt den Figuren des Schwarzen das Feld g5, und sein Königsflügel ist
geschwächt; auf} Ng6 {there comes folgt} 16. Qd2 {with the threat of 17.Qh6.
mit der Drohung 17.Dh6.}) 14. Nbd2 {Once again White plays the sound and
obvious move. Wiederum spielt Weiß den gesunden, naheliegenden Zug.} ({
Otherwise it was worth considering: I. In Betracht kommt sonst: I.} 14. hxg5 {
White allows Black's king's knight to become involved in the play in order to
get rid of one of the doubled pawns. Weiß läßt den Königsspringer des
Schwarzen ins Spiel eingreifen, um einen der stochernden Bauern loszuwerden.} {
After Nach} Nxg5 15. exd6 h4 16. Bh2 Qf6 17. Nbd2 cxd6 18. Be2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3
Ne5 {The position is probably approximately level, although Black's attack
looks threatening. ist die Stellung wohl ungefähr im Gleichgewicht, obwohl
der Angriff des Schwarzen drohend aussieht.}) ({II. II.} 14. exd6 {is more
plausible than 14.hxg5. ist plausibler als 14.hg5.} {After Nach} gxh4 {White
has a choice: kann Weiß wählen:} 15. Bxh4 {cannot be recommended ist nicht
empfehlenswert:} (15. Bh2 Ng5 (15... cxd6 {[#] [#]} 16. Bxd6 (16. Qxd6 Bxf3 17.
gxf3 Qg5+ 18. Kh1 Bxf2 {also with an unclear situation. ebenfalls mit unklarer
Lage.}) (16. Qd3 Kh8 17. Nbd2 Rg8 {and again Black has a dangerous looking
attack. und wieder hat Schwarz einen gefährlich aussehenden Angriff.}) (16.
Qd5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Ne5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Qxe5 Re8 20. Qxh5 Qc7 {Here too the
initiative is on Black's side; White must painstakingly look for a way to draw.
Auch hier ist die Initiative auf Seiten des Schwarzen; Weiß muß mühsam nach
einem Remisweg suchen.}) 16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qf6 {with an unclear position;
Black's attack looks very dangerous. mit unklarer Stellung; der Angriff des
Schwarzen sieht sehr gefährlich aus.}) 16. dxc7 Qf6 ({After Nach} 16... Qxd1
17. Rxd1 Nxe4 18. Rf1 {White effortlessly gets an advantage erhält Weiß ohne
Mühe Vorteil}) 17. Nbd2 h3 18. e5 Qg7 ({After Auf} 18... Qf5 {there follows
folgt} 19. Qb1) 19. Be2 {and it appears that White can successfully ward off
the attack. und es scheint, daß Weiß den Angriff erfolgreich abwehren kann.})
(15. Bf4 Qf6 {wastes time. verschenkt Zeit.}) 15... Bxf3 16. Bxd8 Bxd1 17. Bxc7
(17. Be7 Bg4 18. Bxf8 Nxf8 19. dxc7 Bxc7 {In any case Black is no worse.
Schwarz steht jedenfalls nicht schlechter.}) 17... Bxc7 18. dxc7 Bg4 19. Na3
Rfc8 20. Nb5 Na7 {Black collects White's advanced c-pawn and has the advantage
(P. van der Sterren). Schwarz holt den vorderen c-Bauern des Weißen ab und
hat Vorteil (P. van der Sterren).}) {The move played is the best. Der
gespielte Zug ist der beste.} 14... Nxe5 15. Be2 Nxf3+ ({The continuation Die
Fortsetzung} 15... Ng6 16. hxg5 Nxg5 17. Nh4 {is not much fun for Black. ist
nicht erfreulich für Schwarz.}) 16. Nxf3 Bxf3 {Black logically follows his
attacking plan. Schwarz verfolgt konsequent seinen Angriffsplan.} ({After Nach
} 16... Re8 {White would have a greater choice between simple and comfortable
continuations: hätte Weiß eine größere Auswahl unter einfachen, bequemen
Fortsetzungen:} {I. I.} 17. hxg5 ({II. II.} 17. Qd5 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 gxh4 19. Bf4
Qf6 20. Qf5 {does not set White any problems either. In no way does this mean
that the text move is objectively better than 16...Re8. White has done nothing
wrong and Black certainly does not have an advantage. stellt dem Weißen
ebenfalls keine Probleme. Dies bedeutet keineswegs, daß der Textzug objektiv
besser ist als 16...Te8. Weiß hat nichts falsch gemacht, und Schwarz hat
sicher keinen Vorteil.}) 17... Nxg5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. Bxg4 hxg4 20. Qd5 {
leads to a drawn position. führt zu einer Remisstellung.}) 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18.
Bh2 ({A safer way is Sicherer ist} 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Rxe3 {but the
move in the game is not worse. aber der Partiezug ist nicht schlechter.}) 18...
h3 {[#] [#]} {Black is aiming to get his queen to h4.  Schwarz strebt mit
seiner Dame das Feld h4 an} 19. e5 {White allows Black the queen sortie to h4,
because he would like to immediately open up the position for his two bishops.
Weiß erlaubt dem Gegner den Damenausflug nach h4, weil er die Stellung sofort
für seine beiden Läufer öffnen möchte.} ({I prefer Noch besser gefällt mir
} 19. Bxh5 {I. I.} Kh8 ({II. II.} 19... Qg5 20. Qg4 f5 21. Qxg5+ Nxg5 22. e5
Ne4 (22... dxe5 23. Rxe5 Kg7 (23... Ne4 {is met with wird mit} 24. Rf1 {
. beantwortet.}) 24. Rd1 Kh6 25. Be2 Rae8 {Here too White is marginally better.
Auch hier steht Weiß geringfügig besser.}) 23. Re2 dxe5 24. gxh3 {White has
something of an advantage. Weiß hat etwas Vorteil.}) 20. Qf3 hxg2 21. e5 {
concedes a strong initiative to White. überläßt dem Weißen eine starke
Initiative.}) 19... Qh4 20. Qd2 $6 {From which square should the queen protect
f2? Von welchem Feld aus soll die Dame f2 decken?} ({I 20.Qe2 is not good,
because it blocks the prospects of the rook on e1. After I Nicht gut ist 20.
De2, weil dem Turm e1 die Aussicht versperrt wird. Nach} 20. Qe2 dxe5 {then
führt} 21. Bxb7 ({After Nach} 21. Bxe5 Rae8 22. g3 Qg5 {it is up to White to
find posibilities to equalise. ist es an Weiß, Ausgleichsmöglichkeiten zu
finden.}) 21... Rab8 22. Bc6 e4 23. Bxe4 Nf6 24. Bf3 Ng4 25. Bxg4 hxg4 {
leads to a clearly superior position for Black; the threat is 26...Bf2:+. zu
einer deutlich überlegenen Stellung für Schwarz; es droht 26...Lf2:+.}) ({
II. II.} 20. Qc2 {[#] appears to me, on the other hand, to be more plausible
than the move in the game. Black will have no opportunity to get his queen's
rook to d8 with gain of tempo and the queen often finds the chance to settle
on the nice f5-square. [#] sieht mir dagegen plausibler aus als der Partiezug.
Schwarz wird keine Gelegenheit haben, seinen Damenturm unter Tempogewinn nach
d8 zu bringen, und die Dame findet oft Gelegenheit, sich auf dem schönen Feld
f5 niederzulassen.} dxe5 (20... Ng5 21. Bxb7 hxg2 ({Or Oder} 21... Qg4 22. Qe2
{with good play for White. mit gutem Spiel für Weiß.}) 22. Bxg2) (20... d5
21. Re2 ({After Nach} 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Ng5 {Black has the better game. hat
Schwarz das bessere Spiel.}) 21... c6 22. Qf5 {and White has the initiative.
und Weiß hat die Initiative.}) (20... Rae8 21. Re4 Qg5 22. Kh1 hxg2+ 23. Bxg2
Kh8 24. Rg1 {and the attack has turned towards White. und der Angriff ist auf
Weiß übergegangen.}) 21. Rxe5 Ng5 22. Bd5 Kh8 23. Qf5 f6 24. Re7 {looks
uncomfortable for Black. sieht für Schwarz ungemütlich aus.}) {The move
played leads to a level game. Der gespielte Zug führt zu gleichem Spiel.}
20... dxe5 ({The continuation Die Fortsetzung} 20... Ng5 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Bd5
{is no better for Black than the way the game went. ist nicht besser für
Schwarz als die Partiefolge.}) 21. Rxe5 Rad8 22. Qe2 ({The attempt Der Versuch
} 22. Qh6 Qxf2+ 23. Kh1 Rd6 24. Qxh5 Rg6 25. Qxh3 {is not attractive for White.
ist für Weiß nicht attraktiv.}) ({On the other hand Dagegen kommt auch hier
noch} 22. Qc2 {is still worth considering. After in Betracht. Nach} Ng5 23.
Bxb7 Rfe8 {a ;position arises which should be balanced. entsteht eine Stellung,
die sich im Gleichgewicht befinden dürfte.}) 22... Ng5 23. Bxb7 f6 ({After Auf
} 23... hxg2 {White replies antwortet Weiß} 24. Bxg2 {For the moment there is
no reason for Black to carry out this exchange; the opportunity to do so will
not go away. Es gibt für Schwarz im Augenblick keinen Grund, diesen Abtausch
durchzuführen; die Gelegenheit dazu läuft ihm nicht weg.}) 24. Re7 Rf7 {
Black must render the annoying invader on e7 harmless. White cannot avoid the
exchange, because his queen is still tied to the defence of f2.  Schwarz muß
den lästigen Eindringlich auf e7 unschädlich machen. Weiß kann den Abtausch
nicht umgehen, weil er immer noch mit der Dame an die Verteidigung von f2
gebunden ist.} 25. Rxf7 ({After Auf} 25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Qxe8+ Kg7 27. Rf1 Qg4
28. Kh1 Rd7 {and the threat of 29...Rd1 is annoying. und die Drohung 29...Td1
ist lästig.}) 25... Kxf7 26. Re1 Kg6 {[#] [#]} 27. Qc2+ $2 {White decides to
mark time; but in this sharp position this is fatal.  Weiß entschließt sich
dazu, auf der Stelle zu treten; aber dies ist in dieser scharfen Stellung
fatal.} ({I suggest Ich schlage} 27. b3 {This improves the starting position
for White in possible subsequent endgames.  vor. Dies verbessert für Weiß
die Ausgangslage in eventuell entstehenden Endspielen.} {I. I.} Kh6 ({II. II.} 
27... f5 28. c4 {Now Jetzt scheitert} f4 {fails to an} 29. c5 Bxc5 30. Qc2+ {
In addition, now and then White has the chance to play c4-c5 and then Bh2xc7
or block the d-file for Black's rook with Bb7-d5. Giving up the d4-square is
unimportant; the situation is roughly level. Außerdem hat Weiß bisweilen die
Möglichkeit, c4-c5 nebst Lh2xc7 zu spielen oder die d-Linie mit Lb7-d5 für
den Turm des Schwarzen zu sperren. Die Aufgabe des Feldes d4 ist unwesentlich;
die Lage ist ungefähr im Gleichgewicht.}) 28. g3 Qg4 29. Qe7 Qf5 30. Kh1 {
is something White need not fear. braucht Weiß nicht zu fürchten.}) (27. c4 {
is less precise, because it gives Black the chance to play 27...Kh6. Now after
28.g3 the reply 28...Qd4 is strong. ist weniger genau, weil es dem Schwarzen
Gelegenheit zu 27...Kh6 gibt. Jetzt ist nach 28.g3 die Antwort 28...Dd4 stark.}
) {After the unfruitful check Black has a winning position. Nach dem
unfruchtbaren Schachgebot hat Schwarz eine Gewinnstellung.} 27... f5 {King
moves are of course met with 28.Qf5.  Auf Königszüge folgt natürlich 28.Df5.
} 28. Qe2 ({White is also lost if he does not defend against the threat of 28..
.Qg4, for example Weiß ist auch verloren, wenn er sich nicht gegen die
Drohung 28...Dg4 verteidigt, zum Beispiel} 28. c4 hxg2 {and then: und nun:} {
I. I.} 29. c5 ({II. II.} 29. Bxg2 Qg4 30. Kh1 (30. Kf1 Nf3 31. Bxf3 Qxf3 32. c5
Qh1+ 33. Bg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke2 Bxc5 {is equally hopeless for White. ist ebenso
hoffnungslos für Weiß.}) 30... Nf3 31. Re6+ Kf7 {[#] [#]} 32. Qe2 Nxh2 33.
Kxh2 Qh4+ 34. Kg1 Qxf2+ {and Black wins. und Schwarz gewinnt.}) ({III. III.} 
29. Kxg2 Qg4+ 30. Kh1 Nf3 {leads to Line II: führt zum Abspiel II:} 31. Re6+
Kf7 32. Qe2 Nxh2 33. Bd5 (33. Kxh2 {see above II. siehe oben II.}) 33... Qxe2
34. Rxe2+ Rxd5 35. cxd5 Ng4 {with a winning position for Black. mit
Gewinnstellung für Schwarz.}) 29... c6 30. Bxc6 Bc7 {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) 28... hxg2 $2 ({I Also ineffective is the attempt I
Untauglich ist auch der Versuch} 28... Qg4 {After Nach} 29. Qe7 {White obtains
a perpetual check: erreicht Weiß Dauerschach:} Rd1 ({Or Oder} 29... Ne4 30.
Qe6+ Kg5 31. Qe7+ {etc. usw.}) 30. Qe8+ {etc. usw.}) ({II. There is a win
after II. Zum Gewinn führt} 28... f4 {If White clings on for example with
Wenn Weiß verharrt, etwa mit} 29. b3 {there follows so folgt} (29. Qe7 Bxf2+
30. Kh1 hxg2+ 31. Bxg2 f3 {[#] [#]} ({After Auf} 31... Bg3 32. Re6+ Nxe6 33.
Be4+ {, and White mates; Black must first take control of the e4-square , und
Weiß setzt matt; Schwarz muß zuvor das Feld e4 unter Kontrolle nehmen}) 32.
Qxd8 (32. Bxf3 Bxe1 33. Qxd8 Bg3 34. Qe8+ Kf5 35. Qf8+ Ke5 36. Qe7+ Kf4 37.
Qf6+ Ke3 {, and Black wins. , und Schwarz gewinnt.}) (32. Bf1 Bg3 33. Bd3+ Rxd3
34. Qe8+ Nf7 35. Qg8+ Kf6 36. Qxg3 Qxg3 37. Bxg3 c5 {and Black is winning. und
Schwarz steht auf Gewinn.}) (32. Re6+ Nxe6 33. Qxe6+ Qf6 34. Qe4+ Qf5 35. Bxf3
Qxe4 36. Bxe4+ Kg5 37. Bxc7 Rd2 {and Black wins. und Schwarz gewinnt.}) 32...
fxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Qh3+ 34. Kxf2 Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Nh3#) (29. Rf1 hxg2 30. Bxg2 Rf8 {
and Black's attack breaks through. und der Angriff des Schwarzen dringt durch.}
) 29... hxg2 30. Bxg2 (30. Kxg2 {fails to scheitert an} f3+ 31. Bxf3 Qh3+)
30... f3 31. Qc2+ (31. Bxf3 {is met with wird mit} Bxf2+ {. beantwortet.})
31... Kh6 32. Bf1 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2 Nh3+ 34. Bxh3 Rg8+ {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) {After the move played White can save himself. Nach dem
erfolgten Zug kann Weiß sich retten.} 29. Bxg2 $2 ({But Zum Ausgleich führt} 
29. Kxg2 {leads to equality. I. I.} f4 ({II. II.} 29... Qg4+ 30. Kf1 Qxe2+ 31.
Rxe2 {This endgame is slightly more favourable for White than the one which
arises later in the game. White has no difficulty holding. Das Endspiel ist
noch etwas günstiger für Weiß als dasjenige, welches später in der Partie
entsteht; Weiß hält sich mühelos.}) 30. Qe7 Qg4+ (30... f3+ 31. Kh1 Bxf2 32.
Qxd8 Bxe1 33. Qg8+ Kh6 34. Qf8+ {and White cannot lose. und Weiß kann nicht
verlieren.}) (30... Qxf2+ $2 31. Kh1 {and Black is powerless against the
threat of 32.Rg1. und Schwarz ist machtlos gegen die Drohung 32.Tg1.}) 31. Kh1
Rd1 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Qe5+ {with a draw by perpetual check. mit remis durch
Dauerschach.}) {Now Black can steer the game back into the winning position
already examined above.  [#] Jetzt kann Schwarz wieder in die schon oben
untersuchte Gewinnstellung einlenken.  [#]} 29... Qg4 $2 {But he doesn't do so.
After 29...f4 White once more does not have an adequate defence against the
threat 30...f3 31.Bf3: Bf2:+. The relevant lines have already been mentioned
in the annotation to 28...hg2:. In the endgame which now arises Black has some
slight pressure, but with careful play White should be able to save the day.  
Aber er tut es nicht. Nach 29...f4 hat Weiß wiederum keine genügende
Verteidigung gegen die Drohung 30...f3 31.Lf3: Lf2:+. Die einschlägigen
Abspiele sind schon in der Anmerkung zu 28...hg2: erwähnt. In dem Endspiel,
das jetzt entsteht, hat Schwarz leichten Druck, aber bei sorgfältigem Spiel
sollte Weiß sich retten können.} 30. Kf1 h4 31. b3 ({Other moves are worth
considering, for example: I Andere Züge kommen in Betracht, zum Beispiel: I} 
31. f3 Qa4 32. f4 Ne4 33. Bxe4 Qxe4 34. Qxe4 fxe4 35. Rxe4 Kf5 {Although Black
is a pawn down he is exerting some pressure Obwohl Schwarz einen Bauern
weniger hat, übt er einigen Druck aus.}) (31. Bc6 {is perhaps the most
natural move. ist vielleicht am natürlichsten.} h3 (31... Qxe2+ 32. Kxe2 {
with equality. mit Ausgleich.}) 32. Be8+ Kh6 33. Qxg4 fxg4 34. Bf4 {White is
no worse. Weiß steht nicht schlechter.}) {After the text move the defence
becomes more difficult for White, but with careful play he is in no danger.
Nach dem Textzug wird die Verteidigung für Weiß etwas schwieriger, doch
läuft er bei sorgfältigem Spiel keine Gefahr.} 31... Qxe2+ 32. Kxe2 {32.Re2:
Rd1+ 33.Re1 Re1:+. leads to the same. Auf dasselbe hinaus kommt 32.Te2: Td1+
33.Te1 Te1:+.} Re8+ 33. Kf1 Rxe1+ 34. Kxe1 h3 35. Bd5 {Since the game
continuation is enough to secure the draw, we do not need to investigate
whether White can also put up a defence if he retains the bishop pair by
giving up a pawn: 35.Bc6 Ne4 36.Ke2 Nc3:+ 37.Kf3 Na2: 38.Be5 etc. Da die
Partiefortsetzung zum Erreichen des Unentschieden genügt, braucht nicht
untersucht zu werden, ob Weiß sich auch verteidigen kann, wenn er unter
Aufgabe eines Bauern das Läuferpaar behält: 35.Lc6 Se4 36.Ke2 Sc3:+ 37.Kf3
Sa2: 38.Le5 usw.} Ne4 36. Bxe4 fxe4 {[#] [#]} 37. Ke2 {White takes the light
squares under control as much as possible and arranges the exchange of another
pawn. It is not necessary to look for an alternative to this plausible plan.
Weiß nimmt die weißen Felder so weit wie möglich unter Kontrolle und sorgt
für den Abtausch eines weiteren Bauern. Es ist unnötig, für dieses
plausible Verfahren nach einer Alternative zu suchen.} Kf5 38. f3 c6 ({Black
achieves nothing with Mit} 38... e3 {After erreicht Schwarz nichts. Nach} 39.
a4 c6 40. b4 {he can make no further progress. kann er nicht weiterkommen.})
39. b4 $2 {This is the losing move. Das ist der Verlustzug.} ({There is a draw
after Zum Unentschieden führt} 39. a4 {I. I.} Bc5 {White wants to play 40.b4.
Weiß will 40.b4 spielen.} ({II. II.} 39... c5 40. fxe4+ Kxe4 41. Bd6 Bd8 (
41... Kd5 42. Bg3 c4 43. bxc4+ Kxc4 44. Kf3 {creates just as few winning
chances for Black. verschafft dem Schwarzen ebensowenig Gewinnaussichten.}) (
41... Ba7 42. Bc7 Bb6 43. Bd6 {etc. usw.}) 42. Kf2 Kd5 43. Bxc5 Kxc5 44. b4+ {
and the draw is obvious. und das Remis ist offensichtlich.}) 40. Bc7 {and
Black can make no further progress. und Schwarz kann nicht weiterkommen:} Be7 (
40... Bg1 41. fxe4+ Kxe4 42. Kf1 Be3 43. Bxa5 {with a drawn position. mit
Remisstellung.} Kf3 44. Bc7 {and Black is just plunging into danger.. stürzt
Schwarz nur in Gefahr.}) (40... Bb6 41. Bh2 {and Black has achieved nothing.
und Schwarz hat nichts erreicht.}) 41. fxe4+ Kxe4 42. Kf2 {and Black cannot
hold on to the pawn on a5. und Schwarz kann den Bauern auf a5 nicht halten.}) (
{Nor does an previous exchange on e4 spoil things: Auch vorheriger Tausch auf
e4 verdirbt nichts:} 39. fxe4+ Kxe4 40. a4 {also leads to a draw. führt
ebenso zum Remis.}) 39... a4 {[#] [#]} 40. c4 {White has nothing better; he is
in a sort of zugzwang: Weiß hat nichts Besseres; er befindet sich in einer
Art Zugzwang:} ({I. I.} 40. Bg3 Bg1 41. Kf1 Be3 {Nach Nach} 42. Ke2 (42. fxe4+
Kxe4 43. c4 Kd3 {transposes to the future course of the game. geht in den
späteren Partieverlauf über.}) 42... Bf4 43. fxe4+ Kxe4 44. Bxf4 Kxf4 45. Kf2
Ke4 46. c4 Kd4 {Black wins the pawn ending. gewinnt Schwarz das Bauernendspiel:
} 47. b5 (47. c5 a3 ({But not Aber nicht} 47... Kc4 48. a3 Kb3 49. b5 {and
White wins. und Weiß gewinnt.}) 48. Kg3 Kc4 49. Kxh3 Kxb4 50. Kg3 Kc3 {
and once again White loses the race by some lengths. und wieder verliert Weiß
den Wettlauf um einige Längen.}) 47... cxb5 48. cxb5 Kc5 49. Kg3 Kxb5 50. Kxh3
Kb4 {and obviously White comes up short by several tempi. und Weiß kommt
offensichtlich um einige Tempi zu spät.}) ({II. II.} 40. a3 Bd8 41. c4 ({
After Auf} 41. Ke3 {there follows folgt} Bg5+ 42. Ke2 Bc1) 41... Bf6 42. b5
cxb5 43. cxb5 Be5 44. fxe4+ ({After Nach} 44. Bxe5 Kxe5 45. b6 Kd6 46. Kf2 e3+
{one of Black's passed pawns will queen. wird einer der Freibauern des
Schwarzen zur Dame.}) (44. Bg1 h2 {is hopeless. ist hoffnungslos.}) 44... Kxe4
45. Bxe5 Kxe5 46. Kf3 Kd5 47. Kg3 (47. b6 Kc6 {comes to the same thing. kommt
auf das Gleiche hinaus.}) 47... Kc5 48. Kxh3 Kxb5 49. Kg3 Kc4 50. Kf3 Kb3 51.
Ke3 Kxa3 52. Kd2 Kb2 {White arrives one move too late. The lines given here
are also relevant in the future course of the game. Weiß kommt ein Tempo zu
spät. Die hier angegebenen Abspiele sind auch im weiteren Partieverlauf
einschlägig.}) 40... Bd4 41. fxe4+ ({Delaying the exchange brings no
advantage. After Die Hinauszögerung des Abtauschs bringt keine Vorteile. Nach
} 41. a3 {there is not folgt nicht} Be5 $2 ({but rather sondern} 41... Bb2 42.
b5 cxb5 43. cxb5 Be5 {and Black wins (previous annotation II). und Schwarz
gewinnt (vorige Anmerkung II).}) 42. fxe4+ Kxe4 43. Bxe5 Kxe5 44. Kf3 Kd4 45.
c5 {and White wins (see the previous annotation, I Line 1. brackets). und
Weiß gewinnt (siehe die vorige Anmerkung, I Ab, 1. Klammer).}) 41... Kxe4 42.
Kf1 {It has already been established that 42.b5 cb5: 43.cb5: Be5 is hopeless
for White. 42.a3 is followed by 42...Bb2 43.c5 (43.b5 cb5: 44.cb5: Be5 as
usual) 43...Kd5, and Black wins effortlessly. White tries something different
but that does not save him either.  Es ist schon bekannt, daß 42.b5 cb5: 43.
cb5: Le5 für Weiß hoffnungslos ist. Auf 42.a3 folgt 42...Lb2 43.c5 (43.b5
cb5: 44.cb5: Le5 wie gehabt) 43...Kd5, und Schwarz gewinnt mühelos. Weiß
versucht etwas anderes, aber auch dies rettet ihn nicht.} Kd3 {[#] [#]} 43. b5
cxb5 44. cxb5 Kc4 45. Ke2 Kxb5 46. Kf3 ({On Auf} 46. Kd3 {there follows folgt}
Bb6 47. Kc3 Ba5+ 48. Kb2 Kc6 49. Ka3 Bc7 50. Bg1 Kb5 {and Black wins. und
Schwarz gewinnt.}) 46... Kb4 47. Kg4 (47. Bd6+ {is met with wird mit} Bc5 {
. beantwortet.}) ({And after Und nach} 47. Ke4 Bb6 48. Kd3 Ka3 49. Kc3 Kxa2 50.
Kc2 a3 {White is in zugzwang, since bishop moves are met by 51...Bg1. gerät
Weiß in Zugzwang, denn auf Läuferzüge folgt 51...Lg1.}) 47... Ka3 48. Kxh3
Kxa2 49. Bd6 Kb3 50. Kg2 Bc3 {White resigns. After 51.Kf1 Bb4 52.Be5 a3 and
then Bb4-c3 the a-pawn cannot be stopped.  Weiß gibt auf. Nach 51.Kf1 Lb4 52.
Le5 a3 nebst Lb4-c3 ist der a-Bauer nicht aufzuhalten.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E64"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "261"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 c5 6. d4 d6 7. dxc5 (7. O-O {
is the main move and now most people prefer} Nc6 {over the 'ICC Gambit' line
of ...cxd4 and only then ...Nc6, although the latter is fully playable.
Carlsen has lost a game on the Black side of this, albeit after playing some
rather strange moves. 1-0 (55) Mamedyarov,S-Carlsen,M Biel 2018}) 7... dxc5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Ne5 Ne8 10. Nd3 Nd6 11. Bf4 (11. Nxc5 Nc6 12. O-O Nxc4 {is an
excellent position for calculators, as the possibility of getting a +1
advantage with either side is quite strong.}) 11... Na6 (11... Nxc4 12. Rc1 {
now virtually obliges} Nc6 {in order to keep attacking b2 but defend against
the threat of Nd5. However Black could be slightly worse after} 13. Bxc6 bxc6
14. Na4 $14 {and certainly Carlsen wouldn't enjoy the static disadvantage here.
}) 12. Rc1 {Safest. White's play gives the impression that he's content with a
draw, and to be honest, most players under 2750 would agree with him.} (12. Nd5
Kf8 {covers all bases and Black can continue with ... Bf5 next, completing
development.}) (12. Bxd6 exd6 (12... Bxc3+ $5 13. bxc3 Rxd6 $13 {could well be
a position the engine doesn't get. I wouldn't be surprised if Black were
slightly better here, due to some unstoppable chain of untangling moves.}) 13.
Nd5 Bd7 14. O-O Rab8 $11) 12... Bf5 13. O-O (13. Na4 {sensibly keeps the
a6-knight in place for now, but with so many pieces on the board it isn't
totally surprising that the game would continue, for instance after} Be4 14.
Bxe4 Nxe4 15. O-O Nb4 $11) 13... Bxd3 14. exd3 Nb4 15. Rfd1 Rac8 16. a3 Nc6 17.
Bxd6 (17. g4 {is possible, if rather maximalist. White would like to take on
c6, exchange a pair of rooks, and then play b4 deep into some rook and minor
piece ending. Unfortunately, Black has a few answers, like} e6 18. Bxc6 Rxc6
19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. dxe4 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Bd4 $1 $11) 17... Rxd6 18. Ne4 Re6 19.
Nxc5 (19. Rb1 {It isn't yet advisable to go passive with this many pieces on
the board.} Nd4 20. Nc3 Rc7 21. b4 Ne2+ 22. Nxe2 Rxe2 23. bxc5 Bd4 24. Rxb7
Rxc5 {could still be protractedly unpleasant.}) 19... Re2 20. b4 b6 21. Bxc6
Rxc6 22. Nb3 (22. Ne4 Bd4 {leaves White tied up: Rd2 loses the pawn back, ...
Ra2 follows most moves, and} 23. Re1 {may simply be ignored.} Rb2 $1 $15 (23...
Ra2 24. Nc3 $1 Rxa3 25. Nb5 Rxd3 26. Nxa7 Rf6 27. Re2 $132 {and both sides are
playing on.})) 22... Ra2 23. d4 (23. c5 {was the simplest way to do things:}
Rxa3 24. cxb6 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 $1 axb6 26. Rc8+ Bf8 27. Nd4 Rxd3 28. Nc6 e6 (28...
b5 29. Nxe7+ Kg7 30. Nc6 Rc3 31. Na7 Rxc8 32. Nxc8 Bxb4 33. Na7 $11) 29. Rb8
$11) 23... Rxa3 24. d5 Rc7 25. Nd4 Bxd4 26. Rxd4 Ra4 27. c5 $15 {Leading
almost by force to the 4-v-3 ending that arose in the game.} (27. Rb1 $11 {
is possible, if passive. That being said, the rook on a4 doesn't contribute
much right now.}) 27... bxc5 28. Rdc4 Rd7 29. bxc5 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Rxd5 31. c6
Rd8 32. Ra4 Ra8 33. c7 {White hurries to take the a-pawn, else it might not be
there any longer.} Rc8 34. Rxa7 Kf8 35. g4 f6 36. Kg2 (36. h4 Ke8 37. g5 fxg5
38. hxg5 Kd7 39. Kg2 Rxc7 40. Ra8 {is perhaps the easiest way of setting up a
drawing construct}) 36... Ke8 37. Ra3 Rxc7 38. Ra8+ Kf7 39. Rh8 Kg7 40. Re8 h6
41. Kg3 Ra7 42. Kg2 h5 ({One possibility is to try and arrange to take on h5
with a rook instead. The timeline is roughly as in the main line I give.} 42...
Kf7 43. Rh8 Ra4 $5 44. Kg3 (44. f3 $1 {could be better.} Ra2+ 45. Kg3 Kg7 46.
Re8 Re2 47. h4 {and Black has no time for ...Re5- instead he has to play ...h5
as in the game.}) 44... Kg7 45. Re8 Re4 46. f3 Re5 47. h3 h5 48. gxh5 $2 (48.
Ra8 Rb5 49. Re8 Kf7 50. Rh8 Ke6 $15 {Black has freed his pieces without
structural concessions.}) 48... Kf7 $1 $17 {The position is still a draw, but
has now become difficult.}) 43. gxh5 gxh5 44. h4 e5 45. Rb8 Ra4 46. Kg3 Ra3+
47. Kg2 Kg6 48. f3 Rd3 49. Rb6 Kf5 50. Ra6 Rd8 51. Kg3 Rg8+ 52. Kf2 Re8 53. Kg3
Rd8 54. Kg2 Re8 55. Kg3 Re6 56. Ra8 Rd6 57. Rh8 Kg6 58. Rg8+ Kh7 59. Re8 Kg7
60. Re7+ Kg6 61. Kh3 Kf5 62. Kg3 Rd3 63. Re8 Rc3 64. Re7 Re3 65. Rh7 Kg6 66.
Re7 Rd3 67. Kf2 Kf5 68. Kg3 Rb3 69. Re8 Ra3 70. Re7 Rd3 71. Re8 Rd7 72. Ra8
Rg7+ 73. Kf2 Re7 74. Kg3 Rb7 75. Rc8 Rb1 76. Rc6 Rg1+ 77. Kf2 Rg8 78. Ra6 Rb8
79. Kg3 Kg6 80. Kg2 Rb2+ 81. Kg3 Rd2 82. Kh3 Kf7 83. Ra7+ Ke6 84. Ra6+ Rd6 85.
Ra8 Rd3 86. Kg2 Kf5 87. Ra6 Rd4 88. Kg3 Rb4 89. Ra8 e4 {At some point Black
had to make the decision to transform the game in this way.} 90. fxe4+ Rxe4 91.
Rh8 Kg6 92. Rg8+ Kh7 93. Ra8 Rb4 94. Rc8 Rg4+ 95. Kh3 Rg8 96. Rc1 Ra8 97. Rg1
Rg8 98. Ra1 Kg6 99. Ra5 Rb8 100. Kg3 Rb3+ 101. Kg2 Re3 102. Rb5 Re5 103. Rb8
Kf5 104. Kf3 Ra5 105. Rb3 Ra4 106. Rb5+ Kg6 107. Kg3 Rg4+ 108. Kh3 Re4 109. Kg3
Rg4+ 110. Kh3 Rg1 111. Kh2 Re1 112. Kg3 Re5 113. Rb3 Kf5 114. Kf3 Ra5 115. Rc3
Ra4 116. Rc5+ Kg6 117. Kg3 Rg4+ 118. Kh3 Re4 119. Kg3 f5 120. Rc6+ Kg7 121.
Rc7+ Kf6 122. Rc6+ Re6 123. Rc4 Ke5 124. Rc5+ Ke4 125. Rc4+ Ke3 126. Rc3+ Kd4
127. Rc8 Re4 128. Ra8 Rg4+ 129. Kf3 Ke5 130. Ra5+ Kf6 131. Ra6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bf4 d6 14. Bd3
Be6 15. Nd2 Bg5 16. Qe4 d5 17. Qe5 Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Qd6 19. Qf3 g6 20. Re1 Ng7 21.
Nf1 Re8 22. Ne3 Bf5 23. Bf1 Bd7 24. Qd1 Nf5 25. Nxf5 Rxe1 26. Qxe1 Bxf5 27.
Qe8+ Kg7 28. Qb5 Bc8 29. g3 c6 30. Qe2 Qe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8.
O-O Qe7 9. b4 Bd6 10. a3 a5 11. Rb1 axb4 12. axb4 Be6 13. Re1 Rfd8 14. Qc2 h6
15. Bf1 Ra2 16. Bb2 Qe8 17. Nc4 b5 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. Ra1 Rda8 20. Rxa2 Rxa2 21.
Ra1 Rxa1 22. Bxa1 Qa8 23. Bb2 Qxe4 24. Qxe4 Nxe4 25. Bxb5 f5 26. Bd3 Nf6 27.
Bf1 g5 28. Nc4 Bxc4 29. Bxc4+ Kg7 30. Nd2 e4 31. Bb3 c6 32. h3 h5 33. Kf1 Kg6
34. Nc4 Bc7 35. Na5 Nd7 36. Ba4 Nb6 37. Bxc6 Nxc6 38. Nxc6 Nc4 39. Bc1 f4 40.
f3 exf3 41. gxf3 g4 42. Kg2 Kg5 43. b5 g3 44. Nb4 Ne3+ 45. Bxe3 fxe3 46. Nd3 e2
47. f4+ Bxf4 48. b6 Kf5 49. Kf3 g2 50. Kxg2 Ke4 51. Ne1 Ke3 52. b7 h4 53. c4
Bg3 54. c5 Kd2 55. Nf3+ Kd1 56. c6 Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Nf8 9. O-O Ne6 10. Bh4 g6 11. b4 a6 12. Na4 O-O 13. Nc5 Ng7 14. Rc1 Nfe8
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. a4 Nd6 17. b5 axb5 18. axb5 Bf5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Nf4 Rfb8
21. Re1 Ra2 22. Bf1 h5 23. Ra1 Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Ne4 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rc1 Ne6 27.
Nd3 Bxd3 28. Bxd3 Qc7 29. h3 Kg7 30. Rc3 Rb6 31. Ra3 Rb8 32. Rc3 Rb6 33. Qa8
Qd6 34. Rc1 Qc7 35. h4 Qd6 36. Bf1 Nd8 37. Qa5 Rb3 38. g3 Qf6 39. Qa2 Rb6 40.
Bh3 Qd6 41. Kg2 Qe7 42. Qe2 Nb7 43. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Be7 9. f4 b5 10. e5 b4 11. exf6 bxc3 12. Qxc3 Bxf6 13. g4 h6 14. h4 Bb7
15. Rh2 Qd6 16. Qd2 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Ke7 20. Rhd2 Bc6
21. Bg2 Bxg2 22. Rxd7+ Ke8 23. Rc7 Bf3 24. Rdd7 Bxg4 25. Re7+ Kd8 26. Red7+ Ke8
27. Rxf7 g6 28. Rfe7+ Kd8 29. Red7+ Ke8 30. Re7+ Kd8 31. Red7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. Qc2
c6 9. b3 Re8 10. Ba3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. b4 Nce4 14. Bb2 Nxc3
15. Qxc3 d5 16. Nb3 Nh5 17. Nd4 Nf6 18. a3 Ne4 19. Qc1 dxc4 20. Bxc4 Bd7 21.
Nb3 Bxb2 22. Qxb2 Rad8 23. Rd4 Nd6 24. Bd3 Nf5 25. Bxf5 Bxf5 26. Na5 Be4 27. f3
Bd3 28. Re1 Qf6 29. Rd1 Rxd4 30. Qxd4 Qxd4 31. exd4 Ba6 32. a4 Re6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nb5 Na6 5. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nc3
Nb4 9. h3 Nxd3+ 10. cxd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Qb3 Nd7 13. Rfe1 Rc8 14. Rac1 h6
15. Bg3 a5 16. Na4 Ba6 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bb5 19. Re2 Re8 20. Rec2 Bf8 21.
Nxb6 Qxb6 22. a4 Ra8 23. g4 Qd8 24. axb5 a4 25. Qc3 cxb5 26. Qc6 b4 27. Bc7 Qg5
28. f4 Qg6 29. e4 h5 30. g5 h4 31. Kf2 a3 32. b3 Rec8 33. Qb7 dxe4 34. dxe4 f6
35. Be5 Rxc2+ 36. Rxc2 Re8 37. gxf6 gxf6 38. Kf1 Re7 39. Qc6 Rg7 40. Qxe6+ Kh7
0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nb3 Be7 12. c4 Bd7 13. Bb2 Rfd8 14. Nfd4
Rac8 15. Nb5 b6 16. Nd6 Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Be8 18. Rd3 h6 19. Rad1 Rd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7
21. Rc1 Nc5 22. Nxc5 bxc5 23. Kf1 Rb8 24. Bxc6 Bxc6 25. Ba3 Be4 26. f3 Bb1 27.
Bxc5 Bxa2 28. Bxa7 Rb1 29. Rxb1 Bxb1 30. c5 Kf8 31. Bb8 Ke7 32. Bd6+ Ke8 33. c6
Kd8 34. Kf2 Bc2 35. h4 h5 36. Ke3 Ba4 37. c7+ Kd7 38. g4 g6 39. Kf4 Bb5 40. Kg5
Ba6 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. Bh2 Bxe2 43. Kxh5 f6 44. Kg6 e5 45. Kxf6 Kxc7 46. Bxe5+
Kd7 47. f4 Ke8 48. Bd6 Bh5 49. Kg5 Bf7 50. h5 Bg8 51. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. e3 {This is
a relatively rare move at this juncture. White modestly develops while hoping
that his extra bishop will grant him chances for an advantage when the
position later opens up.} (7. Nf3 {and}) (7. Bg5 {are both far more common. I
have tested both of these moves recently, but Black appears to have worked out
some convincing replies.}) 7... b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Ba6 10. Ne2 (10. Bxa6 {
featured in the game Nakamura-Anand, Norway Chess 2015:} Nxa6 11. Qd3 Qc8 12.
Ne2 c5 13. b3 cxd4 14. exd4 Nc7 {with an equal position.}) 10... c5 11. b3 Ne4
12. Qc2 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. Bb2 cxd4 {Black resolves the central tension but
willingly saddles himself with the famous insolated d-pawn. As compensation,
he is ahead in development and his major pieces will be quick to find good
squares.} 15. Nxd4 Nc5 16. Qd1 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 (17. Qxd4 $2 {would be met
strongly by:} Qg5 $1 $17) 17... Ne6 18. O-O Qh4 19. Bb2 Rad8 20. Rc1 Rd7 21. f4
{Commital, and true to Fedoseev's style. White hints at a kingside attack
though in truth this move is aimed at limiting the scope of Black's knight.} (
21. Qf3 {might have been enough for a small (if somewhat symbolic) advantage:}
Rfd8 22. Rfd1 Qe4 (22... d4 $6 23. g3 Qe7 24. exd4 $14) 23. Kf1) ({moves such
as} 21. Rc3 $5 {were also on the radar.}) 21... Qe7 {This feels slightly too
passive.} ({There was no reason to refrain from} 21... Nc5 $11 {with the
simple idea of bringing the knight round to the newly-created outpost on e4.})
22. b4 $1 {Further restricting the black knight.} f6 (22... d4 {would have
been an immediate attempt to liquidate the centre:} 23. e4 d3 $132) 23. Qb3 Qf7
24. Rfd1 Rfd8 25. h3 (25. Rc6 $1 $14 {would keep an eye on the e6-knight and
prevent Black's next.}) 25... Qg6 $1 26. a4 Qe4 $11 {Now play is balanced.} 27.
a5 bxa5 28. bxa5 Kf7 29. Kh2 h5 30. Bd4 Re7 31. Rc3 Rdd7 32. a6 h4 33. Qb2 Rc7
34. Qf2 Rxc3 35. Bxc3 Rc7 36. Be1 Rc2 37. Rd2 Rxd2 38. Bxd2 Qd3 39. Bb4 Qc4 40.
Be1 Qxa6 41. Qxh4 Qe2 42. f5 Ng5 43. Qg3 $6 {Knowing Fedoseev, he was still
habouring hopes of a victory here. However Black's queen and knight are simply
too active.} ({It would have been pragmatic to try and force an immediate draw:
} 43. Qa4 Qxe1 (43... Nf3+ 44. Kg3 {changes nothing:} Nxe1 45. Qd7+) 44. Qd7+
Kg8 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qh5+ {with perpetual check.}) 43... Kg8 44. Bc3 Qb5 $1 $15
{Vidit prevents any checks and prepares to push his a-pawn.} 45. Qc7 Ne4 46.
Bd4 $6 (46. Ba5 {was safer, blockading the a-pawn.}) 46... a5 $17 47. Qe7 a4
48. Bb2 Qb8+ 49. Kg1 Qc8 50. Kh2 Qb8+ 51. Kg1 Qc8 52. Kh2 Kh7 53. Qa7 Qf8 54.
Bd4 a3 55. Kg1 Qb4 56. Kh2 Qd6+ 57. Kg1 Qb4 58. Kh2 Qb3 59. Qa8 a2 60. Qe8 Qa3
{It is hard to criticise this, as Vidit has played superbly over the past
dozen moves. Black could now have converted his advantage although the winning
concept is still difficult to comprehend, even with engine assistance:} (60...
Qb4 $1 {wins due to a strange type of zugzwang. White cannot give perpetual
check, while it is impossible to keep both his king and bishop on the correct
squares. One sample variation:} 61. Qh5+ Kg8 62. Qe8+ Qf8 63. Qa4 Qb8+ 64. Kg1
Qb1+ 65. Kh2 Nd6 $1 {(preventing Qe8+ ideas and attacking f5)} 66. Qd7 Nxf5 67.
Qe8+ Kh7 68. Qh5+ Nh6 $19 {and with a safe king the path to victory should be
straightforward.}) 61. Ba1 $2 {allowing Black another chance.} (61. Bb2 $1 {
draws, but once again this is difficult for the untrained human eye:} Qd6+ (
61... Qxb2 62. Qh5+ Kg8 63. Qe8+) 62. Kg1 Qb4 63. Qh5+ Kg8 64. Qe8+ Qf8 65. Qa4
$11 {and now, as opposed to the variation with 60...Qb4!, Black cannot gain
time by checking the white king.}) 61... Qd6+ $2 {Letting the win slip for
good.} (61... Qc5 {would win}) ({while} 61... Qb4 {is similar to the
variations above:} 62. Qh5+ Kg8 63. Qe8+ Qf8 64. Qa4 Qb8+ 65. Kg1 Qb1+ 66. Kh2
Nd6 $19) 62. Kg1 Qc5 63. Qg6+ Kg8 64. Qe8+ Qf8 65. Qa4 $1 {Now Black has no
checks so he must abandon the a-pawn. Fedoseev now defends accurately to
ensure the draw.} Qc8 66. Qxa2 Qc1+ (66... Qxf5 {should also eventually lead
to a draw, although Black can press forever.}) 67. Kh2 Qc7+ 68. Kg1 Qc1+ 69.
Kh2 Nd2 70. Bb2 Qe1 71. Qxd5+ Kh7 72. Bc3 Nf1+ 73. Kg1 Nd2+ 74. Kh2 Nf1+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 a5
$5 {A very modern idea in an opening that is evolving day by day. Grischuk is
credited with this plan, although it was played in a slightly different move
order. Black, bizarrely, moves the a-pawn for a second time in three moves. He
argues that White's 'extra' a2-a4 move is not as useful as it looks, and the
tempo was a worthwhile investment as he now takes the b4-square under control.}
(8... Ba7 {and}) (8... h6 {are both regularly seen alternatives.}) 9. h3 h6 10.
Nbd2 Be6 11. Bb5 Na7 12. d4 Nxb5 {This has all been seen before, with most of
the games featuring Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on the White side. There is now a
crossroads:} 13. axb5 {The most natural choice.} (13. dxc5 {Initially seems
innocent, but some strategic complexities lurk beneath the surface:} Na7 14. b3
$1 {An idea of MVL's.} Re8 (14... dxc5 15. Nxe5 $14) 15. cxd6 Qxd6 16. Ba3 {
and White exerts a modicum of pressure. Vachier-Lagrave has scored against
formidable opposition (Grischuk and Karjakin) from this position.}) 13... exd4
14. Nxd4 (14. cxd4 $6 Bb4 $15 {finally shows the idea behind Black's idea of
playing 8...a5. The b4-square is a strong outpost for the bishop.}) 14... Re8
15. Nf1 {Giri follows a game in which Leko beat Kasimzhanov in the 2018
Olympiad.} (15. N2f3 {is also worth considering.}) 15... Bc4 {Anand's prepared
improvement.} (15... Bd7 16. Ng3 c6 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Qf3 d5 19. e5 {
eventually led to a white win in Leko-Kasimzhanov, Batumi 2018.}) 16. Ng3 d5 {
Again this seems to be Anand's preparation, although I still find it hard to
believe he had memorised the entire messy variation that we will see below (if
White had played 20.Qg4).} (16... a4) ({or} 16... Qd7 {would have been
sensible alternatives.}) 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd5 {Anand was
still playing his moves at a brisk pace, which clearly unnerved Giri. Here he
paused for a deep think before opting for a suboptimal move:} 20. Qf3 $6 (20.
Qg4 $1 {was critical, and would have demanded great energy (and accuracy!)
from Anand to prove equality:} h5 $1 21. Qf4 Bd3 {(other moves exist, but this
is clearly the most forcing - in the style of Anand himself)} 22. Re3 Bxb5 23.
Rg3 Rxe5 24. Qf6 Re1+ 25. Kh2 Bf8 26. Nf5 Qe5 {and it appears that Black is
fine, although further analysis shows that the position is still full of
intrigue:} 27. Nh6+ Kh7 28. Qxf7 $1 Qe6 $8 29. Qxh5 gxh6 30. Qxb5 (30. Bxh6 {
leads to a beautiful variation:} Re5 31. Bg5+ Qh6 $8 32. Qf7+ Qg7 33. Qh5+ Qh6
{with a draw}) 30... Bd6 31. f4 Rg8 32. Qd3+ Rg6 33. h4 Qf6 34. h5 Qh4+ 35. Rh3
Bxf4+ 36. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 37. Rg3 Qh4+ 38. Rh3 Qf4+ {with a draw. Could Anand
really have analysed this deeply? Many of the above moves are forced, so it is
quite possible, although it would have been a great feat of memory to get this
far.}) 20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 (21. Rxd4 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Bxb5 $15 {Is very pleasant
for Black due to his superior pawn structure.}) 21... Re6 $1 22. Rf4 {And Giri
offered a draw, which was quickly accepted. To be honest, I would have been
very tempted to continue, as Black appears to be running no risk at all:} (22.
Rf4 Qxb5 $1 23. Qg3 (23. Rxf7 $2 {Perhaps Anand missed that this was
impossible, otherwise he might have played on:} Rg6 $1 $19 {with ...Bxf7 or ...
Bd5 to follow, Black is winning.}) 23... Rg6 24. Rg4 Raa6 $1 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {Mamedyarov reverts to
one of his favourite lines, the Open Spanish.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6
9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 {The old main line. This was debated for decades amongst
top players.} ({However} 10... Be7 {has taken over in popularity in recent
times and is the pet move of Mamedyarov himself.}) 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4
13. a4 Bc5 $5 {A strange idea, as Black will have to lose another tempo with
this bishop. Black has many options in this position, and I guess that this
move was chosen mainly in the hope of surprising Kramnik. It is possible that
Mamedyarov based his preparation on the many correspondence games which have
reached this position.} ({I have tried out} 13... Bb4 {with mixed success}) ({
while} 13... Rb8 {and}) (13... Be7 {are also playable.}) 14. Ne4 Bb6 15. Nfg5 {
White attempts to remove the strong blockader on e6.} Qd5 $1 {Mamedyarov was
still blitzing out his moves.} 16. Nxe6 ({The calm yet mysterious} 16. Re1 {
is the engine's suggestion, although it is unclear why this is an improvement.}
) 16... Qxe6 (16... fxe6 $2 {would be a mistake as it exposes the black king:}
17. Qh5+ g6 18. Nf6+ Kf7 19. Qh4 $18 {with an ongoing initiative.}) 17. axb5 a5
{It is likely that this was still preparation.} (17... Nxb5 {should be fine
too, though} 18. Ng5 {would force Black to be accurate.}) 18. b4 a4 19. Be3 {
Both sides have several options on every move. Unfortunately it is impossible
to cover all the variations.} ({While analysing the position, I stumbled
across one dramatic and fascinating line:} 19. Nc5 Qc4 $5 (19... Bxc5 20. bxc5
Nb3 21. Ra3 O-O 22. Be3 $14) 20. Rxa4 Rd8 21. Bg5 $1 {(willingly allowing ...
Ne2+)} f6 (21... Ne2+ $2 22. Kh1 Rxd1 23. Ra8+ Rd8 24. Rxd8#) 22. exf6 Ne2+ 23.
Qxe2+ Qxe2 24. fxg7 Rg8 25. Bxd8 {and despite the material imbalance, play
should end in a draw:} Rxg7 26. Bf6 Rxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Qg4+ 28. Kh1 Qf3+ 29. Kg1
Qg4+) 19... Qxe5 20. Nc3 Ne6 21. Bxb6 {The game now fizzles out.} (21. Qd5 {
is tempting, but also leads to nothing:} Qxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxe3 23. fxe3 O-O 24.
Ne7+ Kh8 25. Nc6 $11 {it appears that this strong knight paralyses Black's
rooks, but in reality White's broken pawn structure means that he cannot hope
to win.} a3) 21... Qxc3 22. Bc5 Nxc5 23. bxc5 O-O 24. Rxa4 Qxc5 25. Rxa8 Rxa8
26. Qc1 Qxb5 27. Qxc7 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. h3 h6 30. f3 f6 31. Kh1 {A
well-played game by both sides.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C79"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 Nxe4 {This is a pet
line of Rapport's. It has a reputation of being slightly dubious, but in this
game Rapport shows that Black's position is full of resources.} (6... Bd7 {
is the most common move, and one which I have successfully played myself.}) 7.
d4 Bd7 8. Re1 Nf6 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Nxe5 Be8 {
The previous moves are all logical and quite forcing. Indeed, this has all
been seen before in a game of Rapport's.} 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6+ {White shatters
Black's pawn structure at the cost of the bishop pair.} gxf6 15. Ng4 Be7 16.
Nd2 $146 {Blitzed out by Nepomniachtchi.} (16. Na3 {was seen in
Friedel-Rapport, Reykjavik 2018.}) 16... Bd7 17. Ne3 Be6 18. Nb3 Kc8 19. Nd4
Bd7 20. Rad1 a5 $1 {Intending to gain space on the queenside while potentially
activating the rook via a6.} 21. Nd5 Bd8 {Black's pieces are very passive, but
this seems to be a purely temporary state of affairs. At this point
Nepomniachtchi sank into thought but failed to come up with a productive plan.
Indeed, engines initially prefer White by a large margin but after deep
analysis they, too, realise that Black's position is simply too solid.} 22. Nb3
(22. Ne7+ Kb8 {leads nowhere for White. For example:} 23. Nb3 Be6 24. Ng6 Rg8
25. Nf4 Bg4 26. Rd4 a4 27. Nc5 Ra5 $1 $11 {and Black's pieces are springing
into life.}) 22... b6 23. Nd4 a4 24. c4 Ra5 25. f4 c6 26. Nc3 Re8 27. Rxe8 Bxe8
28. Kf2 Bd7 29. Rd3 Bc7 30. Kf3 Rc5 {A slightly odd decision. Black's rook is
poorly placed here.} (30... f5 $11) 31. b3 axb3 32. axb3 f5 33. Re3 Kd8 34. Nd1
b5 35. Rd3 (35. Nc3 {would initiate a short tactical skirmish, but with
accurate play Black should be fine:} Ba5 $1 (35... bxc4 $2 36. b4 {traps the
rook.}) 36. Nc2 Be6 $1 (36... Bxc3 37. Rxc3 $14 {would give White hopes of
exploiting a 'good knight vs bad bishop' scenario.}) 37. b4 Rxc4 $1 38. bxa5 b4
39. Nxb4 Rxb4 $11 {and the game should end in a draw.}) 35... bxc4 36. bxc4
Rxc4 37. Ne3 Ra4 $1 {keeping an eye on the f4-pawn.} 38. Nxc6+ {With pawns
limited to one side of the board, there is not much left to play for.
Impressive composure from Rapport, who showed that his pet line is certainly
playable.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 {
This is the most tricky of White's two continuations. It also scores better
than the alternative.} (7. Nbxd2 {is equally popular and was chosen by Carlsen
in his game against Caruana from Norway in 2018:} a5 8. c3 Nbd7 9. exd5 cxd5
10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nf1 b5 13. a4 b4 14. cxb4 axb4 15. Ne3 Bb7 16. d4
e4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. Qd4 Re7 20. Rac1 $14 {with good compensation
for the pawn in Carlsen-Caruana, Norway Chess 2018 (1-0)}) 7... a5 {A common
idea, although it is unclear whether the insertion of the a-pawn moves is
beneficial for Black.} (7... Qd6 {and}) (7... O-O {are both more popular than
the text.}) 8. a4 O-O ({It is worth pointing out that the natural} 8... dxe4 $6
{is a mistake due to very concrete reasons:} 9. Nxe5 O-O 10. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 11.
dxe4 Qe7 12. Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. f3 $14 {and the material imbalance should favour
White.}) 9. exd5 Nxd5 {After this, Black must play extremely accurately to
maintain the balance.} (9... cxd5 $1 {leads to some fascinating variations
which would justify the inclusion of 7...a5:} 10. Nxe5 Nc6 $1 ({not} 10... Re8
$6 {which leads to a safe advantage for White with natural moves:} 11. d4 Nc6
12. O-O Nxe5 13. dxe5 Rxe5 14. Nc3 $14) 11. d4 (11. Nxc6 Re8+ $36 {is awkward
to meet.}) 11... Qb6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. O-O Ne4 {and Black's active pieces give
him sufficient compensation for the pawn. For example:} 14. Qd1 Rb8 15. Nc3 Nd6
$1 16. Qd2 Nf5 17. Rad1 Ba6 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 $44 {White's bishop on b3 is poor
and the d4-pawn is weak. Black's compensation is undeniable.}) 10. O-O f6 11.
h3 Be6 $6 {Allowing a dangerous initiative.} (11... c5 {looks slightly
counterintuitive, but seems to be Black's best chance to equalise. The idea is
simply to prevent any central pawns (as seen in the game). Surprisingly, White
may continue as if nothing happened:} 12. d4 $5 (12. Nc3 Be6 $11) 12... cxd4
13. Nxd4 $1 Nc6 $1 (13... exd4 14. Qxd4 Be6 15. Rd1 Nc6 16. Qe4 Re8 17. Nc3 $1
$14 {and White will regain his piece thanks to the many pins.}) 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Nc3 Be6 16. Rfd1 Rb8 $11 {and it appears that any simplifications should
lead to a draw.}) 12. d4 {Seizing the moment.} e4 13. Re1 $1 {The point behind
White's last.} Bxh3 (13... Bf5 {would have been a tricky idea:} 14. Nh4 (14.
Qf4 $1 Bg6 15. Nh4 f5 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Na3 $14) 14... Bc8 {with double-edged
play, for example:} 15. Rxe4 $2 f5) (13... f5 $6 14. Ng5 $14 {is simply better
for White.}) 14. Rxe4 $14 Bf5 15. Re2 Kh8 16. Nc3 b6 {This makes sense, but
again Black's plan is very slow.} (16... Bg4 {would have been an interesting
try}) ({while} 16... Na6 17. Rae1 Nac7 {would have kept White's advantage to a
minimum.}) 17. Rae1 Ra7 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Qf4 Bg6 20. c3 Rd7 21. Nh4 Bh5 (21...
Be4 $2 {would have fallen into a well-known tactical motif:} 22. Rxe4 $1 dxe4
$2 (22... g5 23. Qh2 dxe4 24. Ng6+ Kg7 25. Nxf8 Qxf8 26. Rxe4 $18) 23. Ng6+ $1
hxg6 24. Qh4#) 22. Re3 $6 {The first blemish. Radjabov starts to err.} (22. g4
$5 {is difficult to play for a human. It feels that White's advantage can be
nurtured without the need for such risks. However, this was the moment to
strike.} Bf7 (22... g5 23. Qh2 gxh4 24. gxh5 $18 {is hard to evaluate at first,
but White's more active pieces ensure a decisive advantage.}) 23. Nf5 $16 {
and White will soon drum up a big attack.}) (22. Qh2 $1 {is also strong,
eyeing up the black king from afar:} Bxe2 23. Ng6+ Kg8 24. Nxf8 Kxf8 25. Qxh7
$1 Qe8 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Qxe8+ Kxe8 28. Rxe2+ Kf7 29. f4 $16 {with a healthy
extra pawn.}) 22... g5 $1 {Duda doesn't miss his chance to activate his pieces.
} 23. Qf5 Nc6 24. Nf3 Ne7 25. Qb1 {A sign that things have not gone according
to plan. White is forced to retreat.} Ng6 26. Bc2 Rg7 27. Bf5 {Feeling the
tide beginning to turn and lacking a productive plan, Radjabov decides to
repeat moves.} (27. Nh2 $1 $14 {would preserve some advantage, aiming to bring
the knight to fresher pastures.}) 27... Ne7 28. Bd3 Ng6 29. Bf5 (29. Nh2 $14)
29... Ne7 30. Bd3 Ng6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. c3 {This plan is rarely seen at the top level nowadays.} ({
White's set-up is usually associated with keeping the bishop on the a2-g8
diagonal. Therefore} 10. a3 {is more frequently chosen.}) 10... Na5 11. Bc2 c5
12. Nbd2 Re8 13. Nf1 h6 14. Ne3 {Another slightly unorthodox decision from
Shankland.} (14. Ng3 {is almost exclusively played by Grandmasters in this
position. Although White is unlikely to push d3-d4 in the near future, having
already moved the d-pawn, the knight simply feels more flexible on g3. It also
allows the c1-bishop to breathe more freely.}) 14... Bf8 15. b4 $6 {A flawed
plan. Shankland was already beginning to spend considerable time on his moves;
this is rarely a good idea against a player with such vast experience of these
middlegames as Ding.} (15. Nh2 {would at least be consistent with White's
previous moves, aiming for a kingside attack or at least some control over the
light-squares. Now:} d5 $1 16. Nhg4 (16. Qf3 {has also been seen in practice.})
16... dxe4 (16... d4 17. Nf5 {leads to tense play on the kingside.}) 17. dxe4 (
17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. Qe2 $11 {was seen in McShane-Hebden, Hull
2018.}) 17... Nxg4 18. Qxg4 Re6 $132 {and the game goes on.}) 15... cxb4 16.
cxb4 Nc6 17. a3 d5 $1 {Ding is the first to strike in the centre, and now only
Black can hope to claim an edge.} 18. Ng4 $2 {Shankland seemingly cannot
decide on a plan. This would have made more sense a few moves ago.} ({It was
time to accept that the opening had not gone according to plan, and to
simplify:} 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Qxd5 20. Bb3 Qd7 21. Bb2 $11 {White's
isolated d-pawn is balanced out by his strong bishops on b2 and b3.}) 18...
Nxg4 19. hxg4 dxe4 20. dxe4 Qxd1 21. Rxd1 a5 $1 {With simple play, Ding
creates a weakness to attack on the queenside. This is enough to cause
headaches for White.} 22. bxa5 $6 {Too compliant.} (22. Rd7 $5 {would have
been an attempt to confuse matters:} Bc8 23. Rc7 $132) 22... Nxa5 23. Rb1 Bc6
24. Nd2 Red8 25. Kf1 Nb7 26. Rb3 Bd7 (26... Rac8 $1 {would have been a
slightly more accurate move order, avoiding White's option on the next turn.})
27. f3 $6 (27. Nf3 {was White's final attempt to untangle. Black still holds a
big advantage, but it is not easy to convert:} Rac8 (27... Bxg4 $2 28. Rxd8
Rxd8 29. Nxe5 $11) 28. Ne1 b4 29. Rb1 $1 Bb5+ 30. Kg1 Rxd1 31. Bxd1 {and White
is still clinging on.}) 27... Rac8 28. Bb1 {White's pieces are a mess. Black
now profits from their lack of co-ordination:} b4 $1 29. Rb2 {What else?} (29.
axb4 Ba4 $19) 29... Ba4 30. Re1 Rc7 $1 $19 {A classic example of Ding's
calmness. He simply improves a piece while protecting the b7-knight and
threatening to double his rooks.} 31. Ba2 (31. axb4 Rdc8 {traps the c1-bishop.}
) 31... bxa3 32. Rb6 Bc5 33. Rb1 Bc2 $1 {Nice geometry. Black threatens both ..
.Bxb1 and ...Bd3+. A smooth game from Ding, but he was given a helping hand
from his opponent.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Carlsen sticks to his repertoire from the recent World
Championship match.} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 {
The first surprise of the game. Van Foreest is a very principled player who
often favours direct openings, especially with White. However it seems
excessively brave to take on Carlsen in this line. While Van Foreest might
have spent several hours preparing this position, it is likely that Carlsen
and his team (assisted by powerful engines) had spent many weeks analysing the
following labyrinthine varitions for the World Championship. In hindsight it
would have been wiser to choose something which would have been less fresh in
Carlsen's memory.} (7. Bg5 {is the main line of the Sveshnikov Sicilian. Play
could then continue:} a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 {leads to many
long complex variations with chances for both sides.}) 9... Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6
11. c4 ({or} 11. c3) 11... b4 12. Nc2 {with a strategic battle ahead.}) 7...
Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 {This was played twice by Carlsen in his recent match against
Caruana.} (8... Nb8 {also featured in two games from the World Championship
match.}) 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Qb8 {Carlsen shows his ambitious
intentions.} (11... Bf5 {featured in Game 12 of the World Championship, but it
allows a repetition of moves:} 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Qb4 Bf5 14. Qa4 (14. h4 {
was Caruana's choice in the aforementioned game and was also played by Kramnik
at the 2018 Olympiad.})) 12. h4 h5 {With the inclusion of the h-pawn moves it
appears that neither king will find a safe haven on this side of the board.}
13. Be3 a6 14. Nc3 f5 $5 {Not quite a novelty, but Carlsen displays his
opening expertise by unleashing a rare idea.} (14... a5 {was Carlsen's choice
in one of the decisive tie-break games against Caruana:} 15. Qb3 a4 16. Qd1 Be7
17. g3 Qc8 18. Be2 Bg4 19. Rc1 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Qf5 {and despite Carlsen's
victory, White holds the upper hand.} 21. c5 (21. O-O $14 {would have left
White with a long-term edge due to his structural superiority on the queenside.
}) 21... O-O $1 22. c6 bxc6 23. dxc6 Rfc8 24. Qc4 Bd8 25. Nd5 e4 $2 26. c7 Bxc7
$1 27. Nxc7 Ne5 28. Nd5 $2 Kh7 $1 {0-1, Caruana-Carlsen, London 2018.}) 15.
O-O-O $146 {A natural choice, if somewhat risky.} (15. g3 {looks like a safe
option}) ({while} 15. Be2 {is also playable.}) (15. Na4 $5 {was mentioned by
Van Foreest after the game, and indeed this move would have led to interesting
positions which would have suited his style:} f4 $1 16. Bd3 Nxh4 $1 {
(apparently this was suggested by Carlsen in the post mortem. Further proof of
the depth of his preparation)} 17. Rxh4 fxe3 18. Bg6+ Kd8 {with a very
double-edged position. As usual, the engine eventually assesses this as 0.00
but neither king is safe and fireworks are likely to ensue.}) 15... Be7 16. g3
O-O $5 {An interesting pawn sacrifice, most likely still part of Carlsen's
preparation.} (16... e4 {would have been my first thought. Black intends to
land the knight on e5 as quickly as possible.}) ({Meanwhile the immediate} 
16... b5 $5 {is also worthy of consideration.}) 17. Be2 {Now the h5-pawn is
indefensible.} e4 18. Bd4 $6 {A step in the wrong direction.} ({Snatching the
pawn with} 18. Bxh5 {was of course critical:} Ne5 19. Be2 b5 20. cxb5 axb5 $44
{it is clear that Black has compensation here. There is a simple plan of ...
Rf8-c8 and ...Be7-d8-a5 while the white king is a target. However, the b5-pawn
will soon fall and if an attack fails then White should convert his extra pawn.
} 21. Bg5 $1 {looks like White's most accurate move to nullify the black
initiative.}) ({If White was too afraid to capture on h5, then} 18. f4 {
was another option:} exf3 19. Bxf3 Ne5 20. Be2 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Bd4 $132 {
and, compared to the game, Black's e5-knight lacks stability.}) 18... Bf6 19.
Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Qb6 $2 {Van Foreest's plan is understandable; he wishes to
prevent Black from opening the queenside. Unfortunately queens are known to be
poor blockaders, and this short-term measure soon fails.} (20. Bxh5 {was now
essential. Play could continue:} Ne5 21. Be2 b5 22. cxb5 Bxb5 $1 {(forcing the
exchange of White's strong knight)} 23. Nxb5 axb5 24. a3 (24. Kb1 $6 Qa7 $15)
24... Rf8 25. Bxb5 Qc7+ 26. Kb1 Rfb8 $44 {with yet another position that is
difficult to evaluate. Objectively chances are still equal, although in
practical terms it feels easier to play Black.}) 20... Ne5 21. Kb1 Be8 $1 $15 {
Black re-routes the bishop and intends to kick the white queen away from b6.}
22. Rd2 Nd7 23. Qd4 Qc7 24. Nd1 {The start of a poor manoeuvre, but it is not
easy to offer any constructive alternatives. White's position is strategically
dubious - it lacks purpose, while Black can slowly prepare the b7-b5 or f5-f4
pawn breaks.} Ne5 {Black's knight is incredibly powerful here. It simply
cannot be challenged.} 25. Ne3 f4 $1 {Simple and strong.} 26. gxf4 Rxf4 27. Rg1
(27. Ng2 {does not help:} Rf8 28. Qe3 Qf7 29. Rf1 (29. Qxe4 Qxf2 $19) 29... Rc8
$17 {and Black holds an obvious advantage.}) 27... Bg6 28. Ka1 ({It is a sad
situation when the engine suggests jettisoning material with moves such as} 28.
Rxg6 {although Black's conversion task is not so easy:} Nxg6 29. Ng2 Rf5 $17
30. Qxe4 Qf7 31. Bd3 {and the game continues.}) 28... Raf8 29. c5 {Desperation,
but otherwise f2 falls without compensation.} Rxf2 {Black simply gobbles the
pawn.} (29... dxc5 {is also sufficient:} 30. Qc3 Qd6 $17) 30. Qc3 (30. c6 $5 {
would have been my final attempt at creating confusion.}) 30... Qxc5 31. Qxc5
dxc5 32. d6 Kh7 33. d7 Nf3 {Winning material. A brutal victory from Carlsen,
who pounced upon his opponent's indecisiveness to score his first win of the
tournament.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 (6... Nbd7 7. Qe2
h6 8. Bh4 g6 9. f4 e5 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. O-O-O {is the main line worth bearing
in mind when you view the next 4-5 moves of the game.}) 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qe2 h6 9.
Bh4 e5 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Nf5 (11. O-O-O {doesn't work as well here as in the
analogous lines with ...g6.} exd4 12. e5 Be7 13. Rxd4 (13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bxf6
gxf6 15. g3 Be6 $132) 13... O-O 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 $11) 11... Nb6 {
A sign that Black is well-prepared even in this sideline.} (11... g6 12. Ne3
Be7 13. O-O-O b5 {looks more natural but leaves Black worse, e.g.} 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. g3 $14) 12. Qf3 (12. Qd3 Bxf5 13. exf5 Qxd3 14. Bxd3 Bb4 15. O-O Bxc3
16. bxc3 O-O-O 17. Rab1 Rd6 18. Rfe1 $11 {Lomasov,S-Sarana,A Loo 2018}) 12...
Bxf5 13. Qxf5 Be7 14. Bd3 Nfd7 15. Bxe7 (15. O-O Bc5+ 16. Bf2 Qe7 $11) 15...
Qxe7 16. O-O-O O-O 17. Kb1 Nc5 18. Be2 Rad8 19. Qf2 $1 {White has acheived
nothing from the opening; that much is clear. What remains for him to do is to
play suitably circumspect moves so that he doesn't end up worse.} Qc7 20. Qe3
Qc6 21. Rhe1 Rfe8 22. a3 Kf8 {I suppose this move indicates a willingness to
repeat the position by artificial methods if necessary, and the arbiters were
disinclined to stand in the way of the draw anyway. That all being said, could
not Black have played on at the end?} (22... Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Ne6 {makes sense,
with either ...Qc5 or ...Nd4 in the pipeline, when it is hard to see what
White can constructively do. Though, of course, the position is still level.}
24. Nd5 Nd4 25. c3 Nxe2 26. Qxe2 Nc4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. b3 b6 (7...
cxd4 {might be my choice, since (as the next note indicates) it might soon be
too late to play this.}) 8. dxc5 ({In this relative theoretical backwater, the
engines are rather fond of} 8. Ba3 $5 {trying to force an isolated c-pawn on
Black (or else remove his castling rights.)} Nbd7 (8... Bb7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10.
Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bxc5 bxc5 12. Be2 $1 $14) (8... cxd4 9. Bxf8 Kxf8 10. Nxd4 Qe7
$14) (8... Qc7 9. Nbd2 Be7 10. Rc1 Nbd7 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Bb2 $14) 9. d5 exd5
10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Ra7 12. Bb2 $14 {Smirnov,P-Kozionov,K Kazan 2017}) 8...
Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bxc5 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Be2 O-O 13. Nc4 Rfd8 14. Ne1
Bd5 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Nd3 Be7 17. Nce5 ({White avoids the
structure-for-bishop-pair imbalance resulting from} 17. Bd4 Bxc4 18. bxc4 Ne4
$132) 17... Bb7 18. Nc4 Bd5 19. Nd2 Bb7 20. Kf1 h6 21. Bf3 Nd5 22. Nc4 b5 23.
Na5 Ba8 24. a3 ({There was another interesting option for an imbalance, albeit
the other way than before, in} 24. Bxd5 $5 Bxd5 (24... exd5 $1 25. g3 $132) 25.
Nf4 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Bf6 27. Bxf6 Nxf6 28. Ke2 $14) 24... g5 25. h3 f5 26. b4 Kf7
27. Nb3 Bf6 (27... N5b6 {is a lot more natural than the text for me; White
needs to think seriously about why c4 isn't just a weakness.}) 28. Bxf6 Kxf6
29. Nbc5 N5b6 30. Be2 Nc4 (30... Nxc5 31. Nxc5 Bd5 $5 {was possible, inviting
massive simplifications.} 32. Nxa6 Nc4 33. Ra1 Ra8 34. Nc7 Rxa3 35. Nxb5 Rxa1
36. Rxa1 Rb8 37. Nc7 Rxb4 38. Nxd5+ exd5 $11) 31. a4 Ndb6 32. a5 Nd5 33. Nxa6 (
{Svidler mentioned in his commentary that the supercomputers were giving} 33.
Kg1 $5 {which leads to some imbalance as well:} Nxb4 (33... Nc7 34. g4 $14) 34.
Nxb4 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rxc5 36. Nxa6 Rc8 37. Ra1 {with interesting play.}) 33...
Ndxe3+ 34. fxe3 Nxe3+ 35. Kg1 {Avoiding the 2nd rank pin.} (35. Kf2 Nxd1+ 36.
Rxd1 Rc2 $132) 35... Nxd1 36. Rxd1 Rc2 37. Bf3 Be4 $1 {Black has recognised
that the two knights work together quite well, and chooses to swap one of them
off.} 38. Nac5 (38. Bxe4 fxe4 39. Rf1+ Ke7 {will be what Magnus wanted to make
work first, but it doesn't and he must settle for a deeply unnatural draw after
} 40. Ndc5 Rdd2 41. Re1 Rxg2+ 42. Kh1 $11) 38... Bxd3 39. Rxd3 Rxd3 40. Nxd3 e5
41. Bb7 e4 42. Nc5 Ke5 43. a6 Ra2 44. Bc6 ({It is also possible to try and
block the a-file with} 44. Nb3 e3 45. Kf1 {but Black can simply deliver
perpetual check.} f4 46. Na5 Ra1+ 47. Ke2 Ra2+ 48. Ke1 $11 (48. Kf3 $4 g4+ $3))
44... h5 $4 {Black gets ambitious: the spectre of a back-rank mate was just
too tempting. This loses the game after accurate play.} (44... e3 {was more
than enough to draw.} 45. Bxb5 Kd4 {and White will be unable to sustainably
block the a-file, meaning that lines like} 46. Kf1 f4 47. Ke1 h5 48. Be2 Ra1+
49. Bd1 Kc4 50. Na4 Kd3 51. Nc5+ Kc4 $11 {are likely.}) 45. Bxb5 g4 46. hxg4
hxg4 47. Bc4 $1 {An accurate if not especially intuitive move. One of its
chief points is that with the rook on a1, Black isn't able to play ...Kd4.} (
47. Kh2 e3 48. Nd3+ Ke4 $16) 47... Ra1+ 48. Kh2 $1 f4 49. b5 f3 50. b6 Kf4 51.
Nxe4 {Eliminating the ghost of Black's mate-motifs.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 {The 'Kramnik line'.} Be4 (10... Ra7 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3
Nc6 (12... Bd5 13. Qe3 Nbd7 14. Ba5 Bd6 15. Nc3 Bb7 16. Ng5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qa8+
18. Qf3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 $36 {Hammer,J-Ivanchuk,V Plovdiv 2010}) 13. e3 Qa8 14.
Qd1 b4 15. Be1 (15. Qf1 $5 {attracted some attention a while back, as a result
of some games from Giri and others.}) 15... Bd5 16. Nbd2 Nb8 17. Nh4 Bxg2 18.
Nxg2 Nbd7 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 c5 21. Nf4 $14 {Damljanovic,B-Efimenko,Z
Zlatibor 2007}) (10... Nbd7 11. Ba5 Rc8 12. Nbd2 $14) 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Rd1 Qc8
13. Ba5 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 ({The high-level precedent is a game between another
Chinese player and another early post-Soviet grandmaster.} 14... Qxc5 15. Qxc5
Bxc5 16. Nbd2 Rc8 17. Rac1 Nbd7 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Kxg2 $14 {
Wang,Y-Ponomariov,R Medias 2010}) 15. Nbd2 Nbd7 16. Nb3 Ba7 17. Qf4 Nb6 (17...
Bd5 {followed by ...Qb7 might have given White a little bit less to nibble on.}
) 18. Bxb6 Bxb6 19. Rac1 Qe8 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rd8 22. Rxd8 Qxd8 23. Qf3
Qd6 24. Nd3 {It is hard to dispute that White has something, based on the
c-file, but actually improving his play to prosecute that advantage is another
matter.} Nd5 25. Nbc5 a5 26. Ne4 Qb8 27. h4 h6 28. b3 b4 29. Rc4 Rd8 30. g4 Ne7
31. g5 Ng6 32. Qg3 Qxg3+ 33. fxg3 Ne7 34. g4 hxg5 35. Nxg5 Nd5 36. Kf3 Be3 37.
Ne4 g6 38. Nf6+ Nxf6 39. Kxe3 Nd5+ 40. Kf3 Kg7 41. g5 Rh8 42. e3 Nb6 43. Rd4
Nd5 44. Ne5 f6 45. Nc4 fxg5 46. hxg5 Rf8+ 47. Kg4 Rf2 {Now this is dead level.
Black has played precisely, and proven once more the truism that +/= just
means there is a different level of demand on the two players in order to make
a draw.} 48. e4 Nc3 49. Rd7+ Rf7 50. Rxf7+ Kxf7 51. Nxa5 Nxa2 52. Kf4 Nc1 53.
Ke3 e5 54. Kd2 Na2 55. Kd3 Ke6 56. Nb7 Nc3 57. Nd8+ Kd6 58. Nf7+ Ke6 59. Nd8+
Kd6 60. Nf7+ Ke6 61. Nh8 Nd1 62. Ke2 Nc3+ 63. Kd3 Nd1 64. Nxg6 Nf2+ 65. Ke3 Nh3
66. Nf8+ Ke7 67. Nh7 Kf7 68. Kf3 Kg6 69. Nf8+ Kf7 70. Nd7 Nxg5+ 71. Ke3 Ke6 72.
Nb6 Kd6 73. Nc4+ Ke6 74. Nb2 Kd6 75. Nc4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 {I was familiar with this idea which got a boost in
popularity when Topalov introduced it in one of the Norway Blitz events. I had
a short conversation about it with Magnus during that event, who before our
game had told me that he considered to go 3...f5 here. I pushed those devil
thoughts away from me and replied normally.} Nf6 4. d3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. c4 $5 {
very creative, now we land in a variation of some sort of an English, where
white goes e4. True, as the very same Magnus Carlsen showed in his tiebreak
games against Fabiano Caruana, you can play 1.c4 and then e4 or 1.e4 and then
1.c4 it will all boil down to the same thing.} d6 7. h3 O-O 8. Nc3 {very
creative to postpone the short castle. In fact my opponent had to make use of
this nuance later on.} Nd7 {very natural and ambitious. I hesitated quite a
bit, seeing that the variations that arise are going to be very complicated
and as my opponent kept blitzing so far, I was slightly concerned. Yet, I
decided to test my intuition, in hope that at some point his preparation will
end anyway. Another plan that came to my mind was to play for b5, with some a6
Rb8 b5, but it felt like it was from the wrong opera.} 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 f5 ({
Possibly my opponent focussed on} 10... Nc5 {in his preparation, which is also
prefered by the computer originally, though for the human player it is pretty
obvious that the reply} 11. d4 $1 {is critical} exd4 12. Nxd4 {and now both,
the f5 break as well as} Ne5 13. Qe2 $1 Ncd3+ 14. Kf1 $1 {aren't hopeless for
Black, but in both cases Black has something to prove, as structurally he is
not doing all too well.}) 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Qd2 $6 {This move was no longer
blitzed out, yet it was pretty unpleasant, as only here did I realize that
0-0-0 is a serious idea.} Nc5 13. O-O $2 {Now Black gets an excellent position.
Given the pawn structure and having the option of going 0-0-0, White
definitely had to use it.} (13. O-O-O {would pose me far more problems, though
as we were both out of book, I wasn't feeling too hopeless. The position is
highly unclear and extremely difficult to play for both sides.}) 13... Ne6 {
I was quite confused, as it looked to me as though my position is excellent.
In fact already on the next move my opponent makes pretty much a decisive
mistake. Incredible how quickly things went south for White, who was narrating
the opening in this game until just two moves ago.} 14. Nd5 $2 (14. Ne2 {
was a better choice, but still Black is better, after the immediate f4 or the
preparatory Qf6.}) 14... f4 $1 {Fortunately I didn't play the automatic Ne7
and spent enough time sitting on my hands to notice this strong resource, or
rather the follow up to it.} 15. gxf4 Ncd4 $1 {suddenly it turns out that c6
is an unstoppable threat and the tactics just don't work out for white.} 16.
Bxd4 exd4 17. Qa5 $5 {The position is actually already lost for white, but
after a 40 minute think my resourceful opponent came up with a very confusing
defensive attempt.} (17. Rae1 c6 18. Ng5 Nxf4 $1 {is the key variation. Once I
saw this, I realized there was no salvation for White.}) 17... b6 (17... Kh8 $5
{was winning as well.} 18. Rae1 (18. Ng5 Nxg5 19. fxg5 Qxg5) 18... b6 19. Qd2
c6) 18. Qe1 (18. Nxb6 {could be a bit of a shocker but it doesn't work for
about 300 reasons. Two of them are} c6 ({and} 18... cxb6 19. Qd5 Kh8 $1 20.
Qxa8 Nxf4)) 18... c6 19. Ng5 Re8 $1 {I managed to calculate a couple of moves
here and seem to have figured out a win.} 20. Qd1 {Desperate, but there was
actually no defense.} (20. Nxe6 Rxe6 {followed by Rg6 wins for Black.}) 20...
Nxg5 21. fxg5 cxd5 22. Bxd5+ Be6 {White has no compensation neither for the
piece after Bxe6, nor for the bishop pair after the move in the game.} 23. Bxa8
Qxa8 24. Qh5 Bf5 {The rest should have been a little more trivial, but my
conversion wasn't entirely to the point. Fortunately the position remained
objectively winning throughout.} 25. Rad1 Re5 26. Rd2 Qd8 (26... Bxh3 $1 {
was an instant clincher.} 27. Qxh3 Rxg5+ 28. Kh2 Qe8 $1 {my opponent saw this,
but for an older player like myself, such things are already too difficult.})
27. h4 Bh3 {The thing was that I played the previous move with the intention
of winning the exchange and although at this point I already realized that
probably it's stronger not to go for the material, but keep the full control
of the light squares with Qc8, I decided to get it over with.} 28. Qf3 Bxf1 29.
Kxf1 h6 {The reason why I took the exchange was that I could split white's
kingside pawns.} 30. gxh6 Bxh6 31. Re2 Qe7 32. Qg4+ {Now white actually ends
up helping me, as the winning plan in this position in general is to
eventually activate the king, as it is otherwise quite hard to win pawns, as
they will eventually all be places on the light squares and black's extra
bishop is going to be staring into the empty pathways.} Kf7 33. Qf3+ Kg7 34.
Qg4+ Kf7 35. Qf3+ Qf6 $1 {as we were playing on last seconds, it took me some
time to make sure I have all checks under control.} 36. Qb7+ Kg6 $1 {The king
heads towards h5, where it is feeling more comfortable than ever.} 37. Rxe5
dxe5 {white can't capture the queenside pawns, as he is going to get mated,
and otherwise Black plans to place the king on h5 , queen to f4 from where it
threatens to penetrate, and eventually either d3 pawn will fall or some e5-e4
break will seal the deal.} 38. Ke2 Qf4 39. Kf1 Kh5 40. b4 Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Kxh4 42.
Qxa7 {desperate. Now white just gets pretty much mated.} (42. Qe4+ Qf4 43.
Qxf4+ {is actually losing to both captures.} Bxf4 44. Kf3 Kg5 45. Ke4 Kf6 46.
Kd5 Kf5 {is the easiest and now if need be Bd2-Ba5 maneuvre will be
implemented.}) 42... Qg5+ 43. Kf1 Kh3 $1 {The king now joins the attack.} 44.
Qh7 Qh5 $1 {The most elegant. The threat is Qd1 mate, Ke1 fails to Bd2+ and
after Qd7+ both Qg4 as well as Kh2 win trivially.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "187"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Nf3 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. Ne2 {
Philosophically, the position is behaving very similarly to the Four Knights
with 4.Bb5.} Nbd7 ({It is possible to break with} 8... d5 {and indeed I wonder
why Kramnik chose not to.} 9. Bb3 h6 {and White must make a determination
about the centre.} 10. Ng3 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. d4 e4 $1 $36) 10... dxe4 11. Nxe4
Nxe4 12. dxe4 Nd7 $11 {Both active bishops will be opposed quite soon by their
rivals for the same colour-complex, and forced to vacate their 'quite long'
diagonals on pain of being traded.}) 9. Ng3 Nf8 10. c3 Bb6 11. Bb3 Be6 12. a4 (
{I can't help thinking White has something in this position: perhaps} 12. Re1 {
and Nf5.}) 12... d5 $1 13. Bg5 (13. Ng5 {is thematic too, but perhaps not that
effective here.} Bd7 $1 $11) (13. Nxe5 dxe4 14. d4 N8d7 15. a5 $5 Bc7 16. a6
Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. axb7 Rb8 20. Be3 {would be very tempting
if not for} Qd5 $1 $11) 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. d4 Ng6 16. a5 Bc7 17. dxe5
Nxe5 18. Nd4 ({The human eye is drawn to} 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. exd5 cxd5 $44 {
; even if White can't take a pawn, maybe he can magic the g3-knight to d4 and
swap off a pair or two of major pieces. However, this proves impossible.})
18... Rad8 19. f4 Qg6 20. Ngf5 $6 (20. Kh2 dxe4 {ultimately fizzles out after
great complications, though White should still try them.} 21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21...
c5 $5 22. Bf5 Qa6 23. fxe5 Bxe5 24. Qe1 cxd4 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Kh1 $14) 22.
fxe5 c5 23. Qc1 $1 Bxe5 24. Nde2 Rd3 25. Rf4 h5 $1 $11) 20... Nd7 (20... Nc4 $1
$15 {could potentially be a bit stronger}) 21. a6 $6 (21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Nd4 $15
{wouldn't be every Black player's cup of tea.}) 21... Nc5 22. axb7 Nxe4 23. Qg4
Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Qxg4 (24... Qf6 $1 $17 {is more appealing somehow, trying to win
with better piece quality.}) 25. hxg4 Nd2 26. Ba4 $1 {Establishing dynamic
equality-more or less.} Bb6+ (26... Nxf1 27. Kxf1 Re4 28. g3 c5 29. Bb3 $15)
27. Kh2 Nxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Re6 {Possibly thinking that White couldn't take any
pawns.} (28... Re2 {makes a lot more sense, if you've realised that c6 will be
edible in any case.} 29. Nd4 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Rxb2 31. Bxc6 $11 {but Black is the
one playing to win.}) 29. Bxc6 $1 g6 30. Nxh6+ {It transpires that Black
doesn't even have that many ways to win two pieces for a rook, contrary to
appearances.} Kg7 31. Bxd5 Ree8 (31... Kxh6 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. Rd1 $3 $16) 32.
Bxf7 Re2 $6 {A rather exuberant move.} (32... Rh8 33. g5 Rxh6+ 34. gxh6+ Kxf7
35. Rd1 $18) (32... Re7 {Black has played correctly up to this point, but he
should now just eliminate the b7-pawn and move on.} 33. g5 Rxb7 34. Bc4 $11 {
Both sides are playing to win.}) 33. Bc4 Rxb2 34. Nf7 Rb8 35. Ng5 Bf2 36. Bd5
a5 37. Ra1 Rh8+ 38. Nh3 g5 39. fxg5 $6 {Just before the time control. Now
Black equalises.} (39. f5 $16 {was extremely strong and the logical
culmination of what White's been doing for a few moves.}) 39... Bb6 40. Re1
Bc7+ 41. Kg1 Bd6 42. Ra1 $2 {Throwing away the second half-point.} ({It was
time to start playing for perpetual check:} 42. Re6 Rd8 43. Be4 a4 44. Rg6+ Kf7
45. Rf6+ Ke7 46. Nf4 Bxf4 47. Rxf4 a3 48. Rf1 a2 49. Kh2 $1 $11 {with an
unusual mutual impasse.}) 42... Bg3 43. g6 a4 {Now Black should be winning,
but of course this is a tremendously tricky position.} 44. Kf1 Re8 45. Ng5 Re5
$6 {Assuming that the extra material will guarantee a win in case pieces are
traded, but right here that isn't true.} (45... a3 46. Ne4 a2 $3 $19 {was the
key detail to see here.}) 46. Ne4 Rxd5 47. Nxg3 Rdd2 {After this point, the
game never left the drawing margin.} 48. Nf5+ Kf6 49. g7 Kf7 50. Re1 Rxb7 51.
g5 Rd8 52. Ra1 Ra7 53. Ra3 Kg6 54. g4 Kxg5 55. c4 Rb8 56. Ke2 Ra6 57. Kd2 Rg8
58. Kc3 Kxg4 59. Nd4 Rxg7 60. Kb4 Rga7 61. Nb5 Ra8 62. Nc3 Rb8+ 63. Nb5 Rc8 64.
Rxa4 Rxa4+ 65. Kxa4 Rxc4+ 66. Kb3 Rc8 67. Kb4 Kf4 68. Nd6 Rc6 69. Nb5 Ke4 70.
Nc3+ Kd4 71. Nb5+ Kd3 72. Kb3 Rc4 73. Na3 Rc1 74. Kb4 Rh1 75. Nb5 Rh5 76. Nd6
Kd4 77. Nb5+ Kd5 78. Nc3+ Kc6 79. Kc4 Rh4+ 80. Kd3 Kc5 81. Ne4+ Kd5 82. Nc3+
Ke5 83. Nb5 Rg4 84. Nc3 Rb4 85. Ne2 Kd6 86. Nc3 Rh4 87. Ne4+ Ke5 88. Nc3 Rd4+
89. Ke3 Rd8 90. Ne2 Rh8 91. Kd3 Rh3+ 92. Kc4 Rh2 93. Kd3 Rxe2 94. Kxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 {It strikes me that playing the Pirc in
a high-level tournament is just a little disrespectful, though of course chess
is moving in that direction and neither Fedoseev nor Rapport is at all letting
down their brand by doing this kind of thing.} 5. a3 $1 {Regaining the moral
high ground.} (5. Nf3 {is of course the main move.} O-O (5... c5 {exists too,
e.g.} 6. Bb5+ Bd7 (6... Nc6 7. dxc5 (7. e5 Nd7 8. d5 Nd4 9. Nxd4 cxd4 10. Qxd4
O-O 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 12. O-O Qf5 13. Qd1 dxe5 14. fxe5 Qxe5 $15 {Wei,Y-Rapport,R
Yancheng 2016}) 7... O-O 8. O-O $14) 7. e5 Ng4 8. e6 fxe6 9. Ng5 Bxb5 10. Nxe6
Bxd4 {Now White can take the famous draw by perpetual that results from Nxd8,
or head for:} 11. Nxb5 $5 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Bf2+ (12... Qxd2+ 13. Bxd2 Kd7 14. Nec7
a6 15. Nxa8 axb5 $44) 13. Kd1 Ne3+ 14. Ke2 Qxb5+ 15. Kxf2 Ng4+ 16. Kg3 Na6 (
16... Qd7 17. Re1 Nc6 18. b3 Nh6 19. Bb2 $16 {Nakamura,H-Harikrishna,P Biel
2012}) 17. Kxg4 (17. b3 $1 $14) 17... Qd7 $15 {McPhillips,J -Davis,L
Aberystwyth 2014}) 6. a3 Bg4 7. Be2 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 e5 9. fxe5 dxe5 10. d5 c6 11.
dxc6 Nxc6 12. Qxd8 Rfxd8 13. Bg5 Nd4 $11 {Anand,V-Nepomniachtchi,I Moscow 2018}
) 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Be2 (7. d5 Nb8 {does leave White tempi up, but he
will be facing ...c6 and ...Qb6 soon.}) 7... d5 {A principled answer to
White's cautious play.} (7... Bg4 {is fully in the spirit of the position, but}
8. d5 Nb8 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Be3 $14 {now gains too much time.}) 8. e5
Ne4 9. Bd3 f5 (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 {was more standard, and now Black can choose
between the adventurous ...Bf5 and the normal ...c5.}) 10. O-O (10. exf6 exf6
$1 $15) 10... e6 11. Be3 b6 12. Ng5 $6 ({White should resist the temptation to
make everything about the e4-knight, and play around it:} 12. Ne2 $11) 12...
Nxg5 13. fxg5 f4 $6 (13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 d4 15. Ne4 $1 dxe3 (15... fxe4 {
is more human:} 16. Bxe4 dxe3 17. Bxa8 Qxd1 18. Rfxd1 Bxe5 $44) 16. Nf6+ Bxf6
17. exf6 Bb7 $11 {Black is trying to be better, but it may or may not be
working.}) 14. Rxf4 (14. Bxf4 Nxd4 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxd4 Ba6 {is similar
enough}) 14... Rxf4 15. Bxf4 Nxd4 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Qxd4 $14 {White is better
here, but the position is hard to handle. It was probably this that Fedoseev
was banking on.} Ba6 {Now, predictably, White makes a sequence of second-best
moves, and the game slips out of his control.} 18. Qa4 (18. h4 Qe7 19. a4 c5
20. Qd2 $14 {is indicative of how White could maybe try to keep things under
better control}) 18... Bb7 19. Bg3 Qxg5 20. Qd7 Qg4 21. Nb5 Rf8 22. Nxc7 Bc8
23. Qe7 (23. Qb5 Qd4+ 24. Kh1 Bxe5 $15) 23... Qf5 24. Qd6 $2 {In a normal game,
this would have been the final portion of the slide.} (24. h3 Bxe5 25. Bxe5
Qxe5 26. c3 $11 {White just about holds equality due to his active queen and
knight.}) 24... Bh6 25. h3 Be3+ 26. Kh2 Bc5 27. Qc6 Qxc2 $19 {Black is winning,
although nothing is ever guaranteed in chess.} 28. Qb5 Be7 $6 (28... Bd4 {
attacks slightly more pawns.}) 29. Na6 {Now, in a worse position, Jorden
begins playing extremely well.} d4 ({Many players would instinctively snap off
the knight with} 29... Bxa6 {regardless of whether it is actually best; this
mitigates the possibility of future drama.} 30. Qxa6 Qxb2 $17) 30. Nb4 Bxb4 31.
Qxb4 Bb7 32. Rg1 d3 $2 ({Some fraction of Black's edge remains, and can
perhaps be best exploited starting} 32... Qe4 {with some other consolidating
moves to follow (...Bd5.) There is a possibility of continuing with ...Rf1.})
33. Qg4 $1 d2 34. Qxe6+ Kg7 35. Qd7+ Rf7 36. Qd4 Kg8 (36... Qe4 {was best, but
depressing.}) 37. e6 Rf8 38. e7 Re8 39. Rd1 $3 {On move 39, and with a minute
on his clock, the Dutch talent finds this supremely calculated move. Sure, the
position had to be winning, but it takes a special something to notice the
precise sequence of checks needed, under the pressure that undoubtedly was
there.} Qc6 {Played after a long, sad think.} (39... Qxd1 40. Qc4+ {Now there
are 2 important lines. True, ...Bd5 does cut out a later queen-lift along the
4th rank, but in those lines White will be winning even if he chooses to just
win the rook for the e-pawn.} Kg7 (40... Kh7 41. Qf7+ Kh6 42. Bf4+ g5 43. Qf6+
Kh7 44. Qf5+ $1 {This is the main difficult move in the calculation. Though,
saying that, since a perpetual is guaranteed, a certain kind of player would
go for the line even without seeing Qf5.} Kg7 45. Be5+ Kh6 46. Qf6+ Kh5 47.
Qf7+ Kh6 48. Qg7+ Kh5 49. Qh7#) 41. Be5+ Kh6 42. Qf4+ $1 {Avoiding the
blockage on h5.} Kh7 43. Qf7+ Kh6 44. Qf8+ $1 {Either this queen or the next
will deliver a decisive check on f6 or f4; another big check will come from
the g-pawn, and then it will be mate.}) 40. Rxd2 Rxe7 41. Qg4 $6 (41. Bd6 {
is supposedly the best winning line}) (41. Qh4 Rd7 42. Re2 {was given by
Svidler and Gustafsson- not necessarily threatening anything immediately, but
trusting that there will be calculable wins after the inevitable Black
inaccuracies.}) 41... Qe4 42. Qg5 Rd7 43. Rf2 Rf7 44. Qd8+ Kg7 45. Bf4 Qd5 $4 {
Giving White a chance to finish the game.} (45... Kh7 {kept the game going,
and in fact White's activity is now under some kind of control, so it's
possible to envisage him not winning this.}) 46. Qb8 {Here Black resigned.} (
46. Qb8 {threatens Be5 and Qh8. There are a few defenses which it would occur
to a human to play.} Kh7 (46... Rf5 47. Rd2 Qe4 48. Rd7+ Rf7 49. Be5+) (46...
Re7 47. Bd2 $1 {and the long-diagonal check is nevertheless unstoppable;}) 47.
Be5 Qxe5+ 48. Qxe5 Rxf2 $18 {and now a seventh-rank check wins the bishop, so
the game is over.}) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Qa4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. cxd5
Nb6 9. Qd1 cxd5 10. b3 Ne4 11. Bb2 Bf5 12. Nc3 Rc8 13. Rc1 Qd7 14. e3 Bg4 15.
Qd3 Bf5 16. Qe2 Bg4 17. Qd3 Bf5 18. Qe2 Bg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Bf4 Nc6 8. e3
O-O 9. Qb3 Na5 10. Qa3 Nc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. O-O Bd7 13. Ne5 b5 14. Qa6 Qc8 15.
Qa5 Qd8 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Nxb5 e5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Rac1 a6 21.
Na3 Nd3 22. Rc2 Rac8 23. Bg5 Re8 24. Nxc4 h6 25. Bf4 Nb4 26. Rcc1 Nxa2 27. Ra1
Rxc4 28. Rxa2 Be5 29. b3 Rb4 30. Bxe5 Rxe5 31. Rxa6 Rxb3 32. Rd1 Rb4 33. Rd7
Kg7 34. Raa7 Rf5 35. f3 Rb2 36. e4 Rf4 37. e5 Re2 38. Re7 Rf5 39. e6 Kf8 40.
Rxf7+ Rxf7 41. Rxf7+ Kg8 42. Re7 Kf8 43. Rf7+ Kg8 44. h5 gxh5 45. Rf5 Rxe6 46.
Rxh5 Kg7 47. Kf2 Ra6 48. g4 Ra2+ 49. Kg3 Ra3 50. Rd5 Kf6 51. Kf4 Ra4+ 52. Ke3
Ra1 53. f4 Rg1 54. Rd6+ Kg7 55. Kf3 Re1 56. Rb6 Rg1 57. Re6 Ra1 58. Ke4 Ra4+
59. Kf5 Ra5+ 60. Re5 Ra7 61. Rd5 Rf7+ 62. Ke4 Re7+ 63. Kd4 Re1 64. Rd7+ Kf6 65.
Rd6+ Kg7 66. Kd5 Rg1 67. Ke6 Rxg4 68. Rd7+ Kg8 69. f5 Rf4 70. Kf6 Rf1 71. Rd8+
Kh7 72. Rd7+ Kg8 73. Rd8+ Kh7 74. Rd7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Bf4 b6 10. Rd1 Ba6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Bf3 f5
15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Nd2 Qe8 18. Qxe8 Rfxe8 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. Ne5 Rac8
21. Rdc1 Bd6 22. a3 g5 23. Ng4 Bxf4 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Nxf6+ Kf7 26. Nxd5 Rc1+
27. Rxc1 Bxc1 28. Nb4 Bc4 29. Nd3 Bxd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nd5 h6 7. c3 d6 8. h3 Ba7
9. a4 Be6 10. a5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. g4 Nexd5 15.
Kf1 Qd7 16. h4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne7 18. Be2 Qc6 19. Rh3 Qd5 20. Qxd5 Nfxd5 21. Bf3
c6 22. Ra4 b5 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. Re4 Rfe8 25. g5 hxg5 26. Bxg5 f6 27. Bc1 d5 28.
Rg4 Nc4 29. Be2 Ne5 30. Rf4 Kf7 31. h5 Rh8 32. Ra4 a5 33. b3 Rab8 34. Bd1 Rb5
35. Bc2 c5 36. Rah4 c4 37. bxc4 Nxc4 38. Kg2 Rc5 39. Rg3 Rcc8 40. Rhg4 Rcg8 41.
Rh3 Ra8 42. Rhg3 Rxh5 43. Rxg7+ Ke6 44. Ba4 Rah8 45. Bf4 Rh2+ 46. Kf1 Rh1+ 47.
Ke2 Ra1 48. Bb5 Ra2+ 49. Kf1 Rh1+ 50. Kg2 Raa1 51. Bxc4 Nf5 52. Bxd5+ Kxd5 53.
Kf3 Nxg3 54. fxg3 a4 55. Kg4 a3 56. Ra7 a2 57. Kf5 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Ne4 8.
Qc2 Qb4+ 9. Kf1 f5 10. a3 Qe7 11. b4 O-O 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 d6 14. e3 e5 15.
b5 exd4 16. Nxd4 Ne5 17. h3 Kh8 18. Kg1 Nd7 19. Kh2 Nc5 20. Rhe1 Be6 21. a4 a5
22. Nb3 Ne4 23. Qc2 Qf7 24. Rac1 Qg6 25. Nd2 Nxf2 26. Rf1 Ne4 27. Nxe4 fxe4 28.
Bxe4 Qh6 29. h4 Rab8 30. Bxb7 Rxf1 31. Rxf1 Qxe3 32. Bg2 Bg8 33. Rf4 Re8 34.
Bc6 Re6 35. Rf8 Rf6 36. Rxf6 gxf6 37. Qf5 Qe6 38. Qf2 Qe5 39. Qa7 d5 40. Bxd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Nb3 c6 11. Bf4 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Ne4 13. Re2 Na6 14. Rae1
Nc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Nbd2 Bb4 17. c3 Nxd2 18. Rxd2 Bd6 19. Ng5 g6 20. Qh3 h5
21. Rde2 Qc8 22. Qe3 Qf5 23. g3 Kg7 24. h4 Rad8 25. Kg2 a6 26. a4 Rd7 27. Qd2
Qg4 28. Qc2 Rdd8 29. a5 Qd7 30. Qb3 Qc7 31. Re6 Qd7 32. R6e3 Rb8 33. Nf3 Qc7
34. Qa2 Rbd8 35. b4 Qc8 36. Qe2 Qg4 37. Qd3 Qf5 38. Qxf5 gxf5 39. Ng5 Kg6 40.
Kf3 Rg8 41. R3e2 Kf6 42. Re3 Rh8 43. Kg2 Rhg8 44. Kf1 Rh8 45. Nf3 f4 46. gxf4
Kf5 47. Ne5 Rh7 48. Rg3 f6 49. Nd3 Rf8 50. Ree3 Rff7 51. Kg2 Re7 52. Rxe7 Rxe7
53. Kf3 Rf7 54. Rg8 Rh7 55. Rc8 Bc7 56. Re8 Bd6 57. Ra8 Bc7 58. Nc5 Bd6 59. Nd3
Bc7 60. Rf8 Bd6 61. Rg8 Bc7 62. Ra8 Bd6 63. Rg8 Bc7 64. Rg1 Re7 65. Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ {In search of a new weapon
against the Ragozin defence, White revisits the 1930's theory.} ({Both} 5. Bg5)
({and} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 {are topical.}) 5... Nc6 {It's all about the
placement of the black knight ahead of its c-pawn, which according to the
classical principles of the Queens Gambit puts Black in disadvantage.
Vyacheslav Ragozin made an important contribution by arguing the point.} 6. e3
O-O 7. Qc2 {[#] Sooner or later White has to return the queen to her proper
spot, so it can be done right away.} (7. Bd2 {is best answered by the immediate
} dxc4 $1 8. Bxc4 Bd6 {getting ready for e6-e5, which is the main idea in the
Ragozin.} 9. O-O e5 10. h3 a6 11. Qc2 exd4 12. exd4 b5 $1 13. Be2 Nb4 14. Qd1
Bb7 {Yermolinsky-D.Zilberstein, San Francisco 2007}) 7... Re8 {Vidit settles
on one of the most popular choices.} ({Others include} 7... dxc4 {which may
eventually transpose to the game,}) (7... Ne7 {which I view as admission of
guilt, as Black is trying to reposition the "badly placed" knight,}) ({and,
finally my personal favorite} 7... b6) 8. Bd2 Bd6 {Black's idea is to wait for
the white light-squared bishop to come out before taking on c4. I wonder if
it's worth the trouble.} 9. h3 ({The point of Black's early rook move is
visible after} 9. c5 Bf8 {where the threat of e6-e5 forces White into} 10. Bb5
Bd7 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Ne5 {which, incidentally, might not be so bad for him.})
9... a6 10. a3 Bd7 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 h6 {[#] So, Black has won a local
battle for a tempo (Bf1-e2xc4), but what are his accomplishments? The Bd7 move
might have made sense when the white queen was on a4, but now it looks like a
waste of time. In the meantime, thanks to the Re8 move Black must guard the
g5-square before moving the e-pawn forward.} 13. g4 $3 {No matter what your
engines say I absolutely admire Radjabov's concept. If Black can be punished
for his opening transgressions it must be done in a resolute fashion.} (13. O-O
e5 14. Rae1 Qe7 15. Nh4 {Aronian-Giri, 2017}) 13... e5 {A classic strategy of
meeting a flank attack with counterstrike in the centre, but it's wrought with
dangers of opening the diagonal for the white bishop.} (13... b5 14. Ba2 b4 {
deserved attention.}) 14. g5 b5 ({Here and on the next move Vidit should have
tried a a piece sacrifice:} 14... Nxd4 15. exd4 exd4+ 16. Ne2 b5 17. Bd3 hxg5
18. Nxg5 c5) 15. Ba2 exd4 {This will meet with a devastating response. [#]} ({
Still,} 15... Nxd4 16. exd4 exd4+ 17. Ne2 Qe7 18. Nfxd4 hxg5 {was there for
the taking.}) 16. gxh6 $3 {Guess who's coming to dinner - White threatens Qg6!}
dxc3 ({The only way to deal with it was} 16... Bf4 17. O-O-O Bxh6 (17... dxc3
18. exf4 cxd2+ 19. Rxd2 Qe7 20. Qg6 {is White's signature attacking line.}) 18.
exd4 Bxd2+ 19. Qxd2 {and now counterattack -} b4 $1) 17. Bxc3 Be6 ({Now} 17...
Bf4 18. Qg6 Bxh6 {still saves the king, but at the cost of a piece.} 19. Rd1 $1
({Not} 19. O-O-O Qe7 20. Bxf6 {as} Qc5+ 21. Bc3 Be6 {turns the tables.}) 19...
Qe7 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 22. Rxd7 {with large advantage to White.}) 18.
Bxe6 ({Aesthetically White doesn't want to put his rook on a2, but} 18. Rg1
Bxa2 19. Rxg7+ Kf8 20. Rxa2 Be5 21. Ng5 {actually works for him.}) 18... Rxe6
19. Rg1 {[#]} Ne8 {Clearing out that square was one of the ideas of 17...Be6,
but just focusing on the defense isn't going to cut it.} ({Black needed to
introduce an element of counterplay:} 19... Nh5 20. Bxg7 Bg3 $3 {albeit White
has a choice of good responses to it, the most efficient being} 21. Rd1 Qe7 22.
Ke2 Re8 23. Bc3 Rxe3+ 24. Kf1) 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. Rxg7+ Kf8 22. Qh7 {From this
point on White's attack is irresistable.} Qf6 23. Ng5 Rxe3+ 24. Kf1 Nd8 25.
Qg8+ Ke7 26. h7 Bg3 {[#]} 27. Ne4 $1 {Still, Teimour had to see this one and
keep his nerve in the face of time trouble.} Rxe4 (27... Qf3) 28. Rxg3 Rh4 29.
Rd1 {A final stroke in this truly brilliant game. Black is forced to part with
a rook.} Rxh7 30. Re3+ Ne6 31. Qxa8 Rh8 32. Qc6 Kf8 33. Rxe6 Qxe6 34. Rd8+ Kg7
35. Qc3+ f6 36. Qxc7+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 a5 7. Be2 Bd6 8. b3
O-O 9. Bb2 f5 10. Nbd2 Qe7 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. g3 Kh8 13. O-O Rae8 14. Rfe1 {
[#] A reversed Sicilian. The stage is set, and Jorden takes a first step
forward.} e4 $1 15. Nd4 (15. Nh4 Be5 (15... f4 16. Nxe4 fxe3 17. fxe3 Nxe3 18.
Qc1) 16. dxe4 ({The immediate} 16. Ng2 {runs into a tactic based on an
overloaded white queen:} exd3 17. Bxd3 Ndb4) 16... fxe4 17. Ng2) 15... Nxd4 {
Too bad he stopped halfway through.} (15... f4 $3 {[#] would be consistent and
strong.} 16. exf4 (16. dxe4 fxe3 {Nothing to look at here.}) (16. gxf4 Nxf4 17.
exf4 Bxf4 18. Nf1 Bxh2+ 19. Nxh2 Qg5+ 20. Kh1 Rxf2 {is curtains.}) (16. Nxe4
fxe3 17. fxe3 (17. f4 {appears to be White's best choice, but it doesn't
inspire confidence.}) 17... Nxe3 18. Qc1 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Nf5 {is a critical
tempo illustrating the difference between 15.Nd4 and 15.Nh4}) 16... e3 17. Ne4
exf2+ 18. Kxf2 Bxf4 {with a raging attack.}) 16. Bxd4 exd3 17. Qxd3 Bxa3 18.
Bf3 $1 {White has good compensation for a pawn.} Nb4 (18... Nf6 19. Bxb7 Bb4 {
was a safer option for van Foreest.}) 19. Qc3 Nc6 20. Bxg7+ {Sam takes the
game into an endgame, counting on the strength on his kingside pawn formation.}
(20. Rxa3 Nxd4 21. Rxa5 Nxf3+ 22. Nxf3 c6 $11) 20... Qxg7 21. Qxg7+ Kxg7 22.
Rxa3 {[#]} f4 {A logical move, getting rid of a weak pawn.} 23. Be4 (23. Bxc6
fxe3 24. Rxe3 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Bxc6 26. Rxa5 Rd8 {has to be OK for Black.}) 23...
fxe3 24. Rxe3 Rf6 25. Ra1 Bf5 26. Rc1 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Nxe4 Rf5 29. Kg2 {
[#] By all rules this position has to be about equal, but Jorden makes a
typical error on his next move.} Kf7 {Contrary to common wisdom one has to
respect the tactical potential of the remaining pieces. Bringing the king into
the mix is not always a good idea with rooks and knights still present on the
board.} (29... Rb5 30. Rc3 Kg6 31. f4 Rb4 $11) 30. Nc5 $16 Nb4 $6 {Time
trouble induced simplification only makes White's task easier.} (30... b6 31.
Ne4) ({Best was} 30... Nd4 31. Nxb7 Nxb3 32. Rxc7+ Kg6 33. Nd6 Rf6 34. Nc4 Ra6)
(30... Nd8 31. Nxb7) 31. Nxb7 Rxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Nd3+ 33. Ke3 Nxc1 34. Nxa5 Ke6 35.
g4 $2 {[#] Shankland who earlier in the tournament had missed a knight endgame
win against Rapport, almost let it happen again.} ({Whatever happened to good
old centralisation?} 35. Ke4) 35... Na2 $2 {This one is pretty hard to
comprehend.} (35... Ke5 36. h4 c5 $14) 36. Kd4 Nb4 37. h4 Nd5 38. Nc4 Nf4 39.
Ne3 Ng6 ({The defender has to keep his knight active:} 39... Ne2+ 40. Ke4 c5
41. Nc4 Nc3+ 42. Kf4 h6 $16) 40. Nf5 Kf6 41. Ke4 Nf8 42. Ne3 c6 43. Nc4 $18 Ng6
44. g5+ Ke7 45. h5 Nf8 46. Ne5 Ne6 47. Nxc6+ Kd6 48. Kf5 $1 {Nicely calculated
to the end.} Ng7+ 49. Kg4 Kxc6 50. h6 Ne8 51. g6 Kd7 52. Kg5 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 {One of his favorite openings, so no surprise there.} 2. d4 d5 3. e5
c5 {This, however, is new from him, he has only played 3...Bf5 before.} 4. dxc5
e6 5. Nf3 Bxc5 6. a3 Ne7 7. Bd3 Ng6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. b4 Bb6 11. Bxg6
(11. Bb2 Nf4 {transposes to my own game with Black against Vitiugov. I
remembered being quite comfortable in that game.}) (11. Re1 f6 {simpler to play
} (11... Ncxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Bd4 {Now White has several tries:} 14.
Rh5 (14. Nf3 Bxa1 {and now Bxh7+ doesnt work:} 15. c3 $1 (15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.
Ng5+ Kg6 $1 17. Qg4 f5) 15... Bxc3 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Ng5+ Kg6 18. Qd3+ {
The reason for c2-c3.} Kf6 19. Qxc3 Ke7 {and Black escapes, but this is all
inhuman.}) (14. Re3 Bxa1 15. Nb3 Bc3 (15... Bf6 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18.
Rh3 Bh4 19. Rxh4 f6 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Rg4 Rg8 22. Bh6 $18 {wins.}) 16. Bxh7+
Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Rxc3 e5 19. Rg3 Qf6 20. Bh6 g6 21. Bxf8 $11 {is about
equal.}) 14... g6 15. Rb1 gxh5 16. Bxh7+ (16. Qxh5 f5 17. Nf3 {and by clamping
down on e5, White should have enough compensation,} Bf6 18. Bf4 Rf7 19. Ne5 {
for instance} Rg7 {but White isn't better.}) 16... Kxh7 17. Qxh5+ Kg8 18. Nf3
$1 Bxf2+ {The best move, with the obvious stamp of the computer.} (18... Bf6 $2
19. Ng5 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 f6 21. Qg6+ Kh8 22. Rb3 e5 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Bh6 {wins,
due to Rg3+.}) 19. Kxf2 e5 {Now Black can go either ...Qf6 or ...Qb6+-g6 and
so defend,.} 20. Bb2 (20. Qxe5 Qb6+ 21. Be3 Qe6) 20... Qc7 (20... Qb6+ 21. Kf1
Qg6 22. Qxe5 f6 23. Qxd5+ Rf7 24. Re1 Bg4 {also works.}) 21. Qg5+ Kh7 22. Qh5+
Kg8 {is a draw.}) (11... Nf4 12. Nb3 {The point of Re1, White's bishop is well
placed on c1.}) 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. Bb2 Nxe5 (13... fxe5 14. b5 e4 15. bxc6 exf3
16. Nxf3 bxc6 17. Be5 $1 c5 18. Bg3 {and Ne5 is good compensation.}) 14. Bxe5
fxe5 15. Rxe5 Qf6 16. Qe1) 11... fxg6 (11... hxg6 12. c4 (12. Nb3 a5) (12. Rb1
{A good suggestion by the engine.} g5 13. b5 Na5 14. Rb4 $1 {is a clever way
to exploit g5.}) (12. Bb2 g5 13. h3 f5) 12... Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bd4 14. Nxg6 fxg6
15. Ra2) 12. Nb3 Bd7 {I was relieved to see this.} (12... a5 {Here this
bothered me a bit.} 13. b5 a4 $1 {The point.} 14. bxc6 axb3 15. c7 $1 {The
best way to return the pawn.} (15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. cxb3 d4) 15... Qxc7 16. cxb3
Bd7 17. Re1 $11 {White should be able to blockade on d4, but isn't really
better.}) 13. Re1 a5 $6 (13... Rf5 $1 14. c3 (14. b5 Na5 15. a4 (15. Nxa5 Bxa5
16. Bd2 Rc8 17. Bxa5 (17. a4 Rc4) 17... Qxa5 18. a4 Rf4) 15... Nc4) 14... g5
15. Nbd4 Bxd4 16. Nxd4) 14. b5 Ne7 (14... a4 {doesn't work now...} 15. bxc6
axb3 16. cxd7) 15. a4 {Here I started to like my position, since my pawns on
b5 and a4 restrict the Bd7 and I will be able to occupy d4.} Rc8 16. Be3 Bxe3
17. Rxe3 {My optimism notwithstanding, Black is extremely solid here.} Nf5 ({
Both} 17... g5 18. h3 b6 (18... h6) 19. Rd3 h6 {- it's hard for White to make
progress.}) ({and} 17... Rf4 18. Qd2 (18. Nfd4 {White isn't in time with this.}
Nf5 $1 19. Rd3 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Re4) 18... Rb4 $1 {are fine for Black.} (18... b6
19. Nfd4)) 18. Rd3 g5 $2 {A natural move, but an error.} (18... Rf7 19. Nfd2 $5
Qc7 20. c4 dxc4 21. Rc3 Qxe5 22. Rxc4) (18... Nh4 $1 19. Nxh4 Qxh4 20. Qd2 b6)
19. h3 {[%cal Gd1d2,Gd2g5,Gd2a5] Threatening a fork with Qd2.} b6 (19... Qc7
20. c4 Qxc4 21. Nxa5 {is a good swap of pawns for White.}) 20. c4 $1 {The
point.} Rxc4 21. Rxd5 Rf7 22. Rd3 g4 23. Nfd2 {Now its over.} Rb4 24. hxg4 Ne7
25. Nf3 (25. Nc4 Ng6 26. Nbd2 {is even stronger.}) 25... Nd5 26. Nbd4 {Shak
blunders immediately, but the position is won anyway.} Rf4 $2 27. Nc2 $1 Rbe4 (
27... Rxa4 28. Rxa4 Rxa4 29. Rxd5 exd5 30. Qxd5+ Kf8 31. e6 $18) 28. Rxd5 exd5
29. Qxd5+ {Followed by Rd1 collecting the Bd7.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O
d6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Na4 Rb8 11. c4 c5 12. b3 Be7 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Qe1 Nd7 15.
Rd1 Bb7 16. Qc3 Bf6 17. Qd2 Be7 18. Qc3 Bf6 19. Qd2 Be7 20. f4 e5 21. Bc3 Bc6
22. Ba5 Qb7 23. Nc3 exf4 24. gxf4 Rfe8 25. e5 Bxg2 26. Qxg2 dxe5 27. Nd5 e4 28.
Bc3 f6 29. Kh1 Kh8 30. Rg1 Bf8 31. Ne3 Qc6 32. Rd5 Qe6 33. Rh5 Qf7 34. Qh3 g6
35. Rh4 Rb6 36. f5 Ne5 37. Nd5 Rd6 38. fxg6 Nxg6 39. Bxf6+ Rxf6 40. Rxh7+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 d5 6. Qb3 O-O 7. O-O Qb6 8. Nc3
Rd8 9. Bd2 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Be6 11. Qa4 Bf5 12. Rfe1 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ba5 Qa6
15. Qa3 Re8 16. Bf1 c5 17. dxc5 Bxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Nh7 12. h3 h5 13. d4 h4 14. Bh2 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4
16. dxe5 dxe5 17. b4 h3 18. b5 Ne7 19. gxh3 Bxh3 20. Nxe5 Kg7 21. Nxf7 Rxf7 22.
Bxf7 Bxf1 23. Bb3 Bh3 24. Be5+ Nf6 25. Bxf6+ Kxf6 26. Qf3+ Bf5 27. Rd1 Qc8 28.
exf5 Qxf5 29. Ne4+ Kg7 30. Qxf5 Nxf5 31. Rd7+ Kh6 32. bxa6 bxa6 33. Rxc7 Bb8
34. Rf7 Nh4 35. Rf6+ Kg7 36. Kf1 Ra7 37. Rb6 Be5 38. Bd5 Ng6 39. c4 Bd4 40. c5
Nf4 41. Bb7 Nd3 42. Bxa6 Bxc5 43. Re6 Nf4 44. Nxc5 Rc7 45. Re4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bf5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 h6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O
c6 9. Re1 Bh7 10. e4 a5 11. a3 Na6 12. Qe2 b5 13. Rad1 Qb6 14. Bh3 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Rad8 17. Ne5 Bf6 18. Bg2 Nb8 19. c4 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Nd3
Bxb2 22. Nxb2 c5 23. Qe3 Qc7 24. Bf3 Qe7 25. Na4 Na6 26. h4 Qc7 27. Kh2 Qe5 28.
Bg2 Bg6 29. f4 Qc7 30. Bf3 Qa7 31. h5 Bh7 32. Rd3 Rxd3 33. Qxd3 Nb8 34. Qd6 Rc8
35. Rd1 Kh8 36. Qb6 Qe7 37. Nxc5 e5 38. Qd6 Qa7 39. Bg4 f5 40. exf5 exf4 41.
gxf4 Na6 42. f6 Rg8 43. Qxa6 Qxc5 44. fxg7+ Rxg7 45. Rd8+ Bg8 46. Qxh6+ Rh7 47.
Qf6+ Rg7 48. Rd4 Qe7 49. Qxe7 Rxe7 50. Rd8 Re3 51. h6 Re1 52. c5 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 a6 8. a4 h6
9. Nbd2 Ba7 10. h3 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Rb1 Rd8 15. b5
Ne7 16. Nc4 Ng6 17. b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 dxc4 8. Bxc4
c5 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. exd4 Nc6 11. O-O Nh5 12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 Nxd5
15. Nxd5 Nf6 16. Nc7 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Rb8 18. h3 Bf5 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 Be4
21. Rd4 Rfe8 22. Rc7 Rbd8 23. b4 Rd5 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. b5 a6 26. a4 axb5 27.
axb5 Bxf3 28. gxf3 b6 29. Rb7 Re6 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Rb7 Kg6 32. Kg2 Kf6 33. f4
g6 34. Kf3 Rd6 35. h4 Ke6 36. Ke4 f5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. b3 {Home-made chess today.} e6 6.
Ba3 d6 7. e3 Nge7 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Nf5 10. d3 Qd7 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qd2 b6 (
12... Rb8 {is also basically equal, and avoids much of the long-diagonal drama.
}) 13. d4 cxd4 14. exd4 d5 $1 {This had to be precisely calculated, or else
known in advance, and I'm not sure who would go digging so deep in an obscure
opening.} 15. cxd5 Ncxd4 16. dxe6 (16. Nxd4 {is different from the game move
in several key ways, of which White's 19th is the main one.} Nxd4 17. dxe6 Nf3+
(17... fxe6 18. Bxa8 Nf3+ 19. Bxf3 Qxd2 20. Rcd1 Bxc3 $8 21. Rxd2 Bxd2 $8 22.
h4 $14) 18. Bxf3 Qxd2 19. e7 $5 (19. Rfd1 {is possible, but it is White being
careful not to end up worse:} Qxd1+ (19... Qxc1 20. exf7+ Kxf7 21. Rxc1 $44)
20. Rxd1 Bxe6 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Nd5 $11) (19. exf7+ $4 Kxf7 $19 {is stupid
here as the c3-knight is undefended.}) 19... Bh3 $1 {The move which makes
everything fizzle out.} (19... Re8 20. Rfd1 Qg5 21. Bxa8 $16) 20. Rfd1 Bxc3 21.
Rxd2 Bxd2 22. Rd1 Bg5 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. exd8=Q+ Bxd8 $11) 16... Nf3+ 17. Bxf3
Qxd2 18. exf7+ $5 {Making a determination to play interesting chess.} (18. e7
Re8 19. Bxa8 Nxe7 $15 {favours Black now, even though there was no ...Bh3.}) (
18. Bxa8 Bxe6 19. Rcd1 Qxd1 20. Rxd1 Rxa8 $11 {is probably marginally more fun
for Black.}) 18... Kxf7 19. Bxa8 Bf8 $6 (19... Nd4 $11 {was apparently best,
although nerve-wracking to play after} 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Ne4 $44) 20. Rcd1 Bxa3
21. Rxd2 Rxd2 22. Bd5+ Kg7 23. Rd1 Rxd1+ 24. Nxd1 Bc5 {Now the position
slightly favours White, although obviously winning it requires both technique
and luck.} 25. Kg2 Nd4 26. Nec3 b5 27. Ne4 Be7 28. f3 {This move is puzzling,
although almost any legal move guarantees +/ =.} (28. Ne3 $14 {seems cleverer
to me.}) 28... Nc2 29. Kf2 Bd8 30. Nd6 {White either thought he had no
plausible way of winning the bishop-pair, or remembered his reputation...}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c3 c5 4. e3 {As if forcibly reining in his creative
instincts for one game.} e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 b6 7. Qe2 Bb7 8. O-O Be7 (8...
Ne4 $5 {is the most ambitious move, keeping ...f5 and both bishop deployments
firmly on the table.}) (8... Bd6 {is known to be most ambitious- against the
moves White played in the game, Black would be ready with ...e5, and after} 9.
e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 {White as usual gets nothing.} O-O
13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Rad1 Nf6 $11 {Bakre,T-Prathamesh,S Visakhapatnam
2004}) 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rac1 Bd6 {That Black doesn't feel
particularly threatened is evidenced by his choice to move this bishop a
second time.} 12. c4 {The choice between playing c4 and e4 in such positions
is rather nuanced.} (12. e4 e5 $5 $13 {now leads to great mess.}) ({Of course,
there is always the option to not play either pawn break, and instead go for} 
12. Ba6 Qc7 13. Bxb7 Qxb7 {before deciding on} 14. c4) 12... cxd4 13. exd4 Qe7
14. Ne5 Ba3 $5 {Analogous to the last note, Black feels he is now well served
by a bishop trade. White would rather like to shut the h1-a8 diagonal now, to
make Black's remaining bishop worse, but this turns out to be impossible.} 15.
Bxa3 (15. Nxd7 Bxb2 (15... Nxd7 16. Bxa3 Qxa3 17. Qe3 $11 {is also fine}) 16.
Nxf8 Bxc1 17. Nxh7 Bb2 18. Ng5 Bxd4 19. Ndf3 Bc3 $1 $132) 15... Qxa3 16. f4 $5
{A major decision.} ({Probably Kramnik realised that by now the solid option,} 
16. Ndf3 {, still leaves him in a structure which is likely to prove a
long-term vulnerability. Ironically, the position would then become similar to
the Semi-Tarrasch, a line which both players employed in the Berlin Candidates
2018.} dxc4 17. bxc4 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rfd8 {Black has a slight initiative. Plus,
wouldn't White like to have the f5-break available here...?}) 16... g6 17. Ndf3
dxc4 18. bxc4 Qd6 ({The computer suggests} 18... Nxe5 {despite the apparent
advantages of White's pawn recapture: this is because} 19. fxe5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3
Nd5 $1 {exists (due to the c-file pin.) It is an interesting bid to take play
into an endgame, which succeeds, mostly because the alternative is playing a
major-piece-only position with the hanging pawns- this last tending to end
badly.} 21. Be2 (21. Rcd1 Nb4 22. Rf2 Nxd3 23. Rc2 Rc7 24. Qxd3 Qb4 $15) 21...
Qxf3 22. Rxf3 Ne7 {Black is more comfortable, but not better. Both sides could
conceivably outplay the other.}) 19. Qe3 Bxf3 {A classy trade!} 20. Nxf3 Rfd8
21. Rcd1 (21. Rfd1 {might be needed, to allow the d3-bishop to retreat along
the b1-h7 diagonal.}) 21... Nb8 22. Kh1 Nc6 23. Be2 Kg7 24. Qc1 h5 25. Qa1 Ne7
26. Ne5 Nf5 {Now Black is slightly better and has acheived a model position
for play against the hanging pawns.} 27. Rd3 Kg8 28. Bf3 Nd7 29. c5 Qc7 (29...
Qf8 $15 {would be remarkably unpleasant to meet: this motif of attacking a
d4-pawn using a queen from g7 was first used on me in a Fort Knox structure by
old English maestro, Keith Arkell.}) 30. Nc6 Re8 31. Ra3 a5 32. cxb6 Qxb6 33.
Rc1 Nf6 34. Rac3 Nd5 35. Rc5 (35. Bxd5 exd5 36. Rc5 Re2 $17) 35... Nxf4 36. Qc3
a4 37. Qd2 Nd5 38. h3 Kg7 39. Qf2 h4 {Establishing perfect control. Could
Black take over the joint tournament lead...?} 40. Kg1 Rc7 (40... a3 {is the
purist move.}) 41. Qe1 Rec8 42. Bxd5 exd5 43. Qb4 Qa6 $2 {Whoops. This loses
the entire advantage. It is very much an attempt to 'hit a winner'- due to the
tactic Qc3 Ng3!- so the reason for missing White's rejoinder is unclear.} (
43... Qb7 $17 {was an 'unseeable move'.}) (43... Rb8 {likewise- unless you had
appreciated that after} 44. Qxa4 Re8 45. Ne5 Rce7 {White's position was in
fact completely disintegrating. A fact which, regrettably, is not immediately
obvious to me.}) (43... Qxb4 {should be the move you play if you have doubts
about the other tactics: after} 44. Nxb4 Rxc5 45. dxc5 (45. Rxc5 Re8 46. Nxd5
Re2 $17) 45... Nd4 {(Other moves are playable too, e.g. ...d4.)} 46. Kf2 Ne6
47. c6 Nc7 $15 {A Black win is still very much on the cards.}) 44. Ne7 $1 {
Luckily, this 'invisible move' only equalises.} Rxc5 {Black bails out and
doesn't try any more.} (44... Rxe7 45. Rxc8 Qe2 {might be worth playing, but
only by a very confident person and one whose psyche was unaffected by the
recent trauma.}) ({The question is whether} 44... Rxc5 45. Nxf5+ gxf5 46. dxc5
{enables White, in his turn, to play for a win, and the answer is probably no-
after a move that covers the e3-square.} Qd3 $11 {Black will soon remind White
that his king safety is not ideal either, and nor is the d-pawn completely
innocuous.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 (5... b5 $5 {was Black's
previous choice, against a member of present company:} 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 Nb6 8.
Be2 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qd2 O-O 11. Qf4 $40 {Ding,L-Duda,J Batumi 2018}) 6. Bxc4
(6. Bg5 c5 7. e5 cxd4 (7... h6 $5) 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. exf6 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxg5 11.
fxg7 Qxg7 {This position was a tabiya of the early 2010's.} 12. Qd2 $14) 6...
Nxe4 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Bg5 (9. Ne5 a5 (9... Bd6 $1 $146 {seems better})
10. d5 exd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Qxc6+ Bd7 14. Qxd5 O-O 15. Bg5 $14
{Svane,R-Meier,G Dresden 2017}) 9... Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Ne5 Qd6 12. Rfe1 Nd5
13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nxc6 {Commencing an exchanging combination that leaves the
position completely devoid of life.} Qxc6 15. Qxc6 bxc6 16. Bf4 Bf5 17. Bxc7
Rfe8 18. f3 f6 19. Kf2 Kf7 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Re1 Rxe1 22. Kxe1 a6 23. a3 h5 24.
h4 Ke6 25. Bh2 Kd7 26. Bb8 Ke6 27. Bh2 Kd7 28. Bb8 Ke6 29. Bh2 Kd7 30. Bb8 Ke6
31. Bh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nf4 {Continuing a
bizarre fashion from the World Championship match, though it must be said that
trying to find an advantage in this position is a thankless task. Therefore,
you have to respect Nepomniachtchi (also a pioneer of the 5.Bd3 Petroff) for
trying.} Nc6 {Likewise. I'm not certain what's wrong with ...Nf6 or ...c6.} (
6... Nf6 7. Nc3 (7. d4 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Bf5 $11) 7... c6 {would be my choice.} 8.
f3 {and now one high-level game went} g5 $5 (8... Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 d5 10. d4 Bd6
$11) 9. Nd3 Be6 10. b3 Bg7 11. Bb2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O h6 13. Qf2 Ne5 $16 {with an
extremely original mess in Ganguly,S-Abasov,N Ulaanbaatar 2018}) 7. c3 Nc5 8.
d4 Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 Ne6 10. d5 {Usually something has gone wrong if White has
gained tempi and achieved d5 in such positions. The Petroff is so solid that
Black is fine anyway, though. The problem, rather, lay in what happened if
White didn't rush d5.} (10. O-O {doesn't leave Black many good options for
development. The main one that makes sense is} Nxf4 11. Bxf4 Be6 12. Bf3 $14 {
but here I would award White a little something, mostly because he does still
have ways to force through the d5-break, at a moment of his choosing.}) 10...
Nxf4 11. Bxf4 Ne5 {Black is fine now.} 12. Na3 Bf5 13. Nb5 O-O-O $5 {
Sacrificing this pawn does not seem to have been entirely needed, though it is
in principle fine.} (13... Kd7 14. O-O-O a6 15. Nd4 Be4 $11) 14. Nxa7+ Kb8 15.
Nb5 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Bxd3 17. a4 (17. Nd4 Bc4 {regains the pawn.}) 17... Bc4 (
17... Re8+ 18. Be3 Bc4 19. O-O-O Bb3 20. Rd2 g6 {is probably no worse a
version than the next note.} (20... Re5 $5)) 18. O-O-O Bb3 19. Rd2 $1 Bxa4 ({
Bizarrely, the key to Black's position probably lay in the classy} 19... Re8 $1
20. a5 g6 $44) 20. Nd4 {Now this is a little hard to play for Black, mostly
because of the imminent mate threats.} Be7 $1 {Black recognises that the
priority is to exchange off the knight on d4.} 21. b3 Be8 $1 ({In the similar
line} 21... Bd7 22. Ra2 Bf6 23. Kd2 Bxd4 24. Rha1 $16 {Black's king lacks a
flight-square on d7 and probably perishes.}) 22. Ra2 Bf6 23. Rd1 (23. Be3 $14)
23... Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Bd7 25. c4 b6 26. b4 Kb7 $2 ({The even calmer response} 
26... Rhe8 27. c5 Bb5 $1 {was needed in order to fully neutralise White's
advantage. White cannot give mate with a single rook, and there isn't time to
keep both rooks AND double them.} 28. Be3 dxc5 29. bxc5 bxc5 30. Rf4 Bd3 31.
Rxf7 Rxd5 $13 {Black's pieces have acheived a measure of co-ordination.}) 27.
c5 dxc5 28. bxc5 c6 29. cxb6 cxd5 30. Be3 $1 $16 {When playing Kb7, Black must
have underestimated this quiet move.} (30. Rxd5 Be6 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 $14 {is
dangerous, but nowhere near as dangerous as the game.}) (30. Rb4 {is just
misguided:} Ra8 $11) 30... Ra8 31. Ra7+ Rxa7 32. bxa7 Bc6 33. Rg4 ({Engines
start speaking of wins which begin} 33. Rf4) 33... Rg8 34. Kd2 Kc7 $2 {Now the
position becomes definitely lost, due to immediate Rb8 and Bb8-type tactics.}
35. Rb4 $1 Bb7 (35... Ra8 36. Bf4+ Kc8 37. Bb8 $18 {is not really worth
playing on}) (35... Kd7 36. Rb8 Rc8 37. Bd4 g6 38. Ke3 Re8+ 39. Kd3 Rc8 40. f3
Re8 41. Bb2 $18 {Black can prevent White's king from reaching the kingside,
but cannot simultaneously prevent tactics based on Kc5 and perhaps Rb6xc6.})
36. Bb6+ Kc6 37. Ba5 {The bishop is lost.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "168"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Qb3 Ra7 7. Nh4 Bc8 {
This is of course a provocation, but as we shall see, neither unprecedented
nor necessarily bad.} 8. Bd2 (8. Qc2 e6 9. Nf3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 c5 (10... b5 $5
$132) 11. dxc5 Bxc5 $14 {In the symmetrical pawn structure White's advantage
became magnified and he eventually won in Vitiugov,N -Fedoseev,V St Petersburg
2017.}) 8... e6 9. c5 Nbd7 (9... e5 {is possible immediately and this doesn't
lose the bishop-pair, but} 10. Nf3 {then forces Black, if he wants an
independent move, to play the position with opposite-side castling after} e4
11. Ne5 Be7 12. O-O-O $132) 10. Nf3 e5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Na4 Bxc5
$5 {It is an unconventional decision to give up the bishop pair in this way,
with the position quite open and the rook still on a7.} (13... Nxc5 14. Nxc5
Bxc5 15. Bd3 $14 {is likely to just be good for White}) (13... Nxe5 14. Bc3 f6
15. e4 $1 $40 {is not ideal}) 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. Qc2 Ne4 {However, of course, a
big point of Black's play has been that the bishop pair will probably be
returned, barring some largish concessions.} 16. Bd3 ({Let us outline what
Black might have intended after} 16. Bb4 {. Probably he would have continued
chasing the bishop down:} Qb6 {A common theme is that White cannot possibly
allow ...Qa5+.} 17. Qa4 (17. Qb3 Be6 18. Bd3 c5 $11) 17... Bd7 18. Qa5 $5 {
Appearing to save the bishop-pair, but} (18. Qb3 c5) 18... Qxa5 19. Bxa5 b6 $1
{wins it anyway. Now} 20. Bxb6 (20. Bb4 a5 21. Ba3 b5 $15) 20... Rb7 21. Bd4 c5
$1 22. Bc3 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Rb2 24. Bxa6 Ke7 $44 {would probably follow, when
Black has full compensation for the 2 pawns.}) 16... Nxd2 17. Qxd2 O-O 18. O-O
f6 19. exf6 (19. f4 $5 {is apparently most testing, but a human would have
nightmarish visions of his doubled e-pawns being played around with before
being taken at the classiest moment when there is absolutely no compensation.}
fxe5 20. fxe5 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Be6 $44) 19... Qxf6 20. e4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Be6 {
A slightly interesting decision in that Black seems to think the presence of
bishops could favour him.} (21... Bf5 $11) 22. b3 Raa8 23. Qc2 g6 24. Rad1 Rad8
25. Rfe1 {White starts to drift a little bit, leaving his bishop 'biting on
granite'.} Kg7 26. Rd2 Rxd2 27. Qxd2 Rd8 28. Qc2 Qd4 29. h3 Qb4 30. Re2 Bf7 31.
Bf3 Rd4 32. g3 Qd6 33. Kg2 Kg8 34. h4 a5 35. Qb2 b6 36. Qc3 c5 {The position
is still dead level, but Black has improved his position more than White has,
if that makes any sense.} 37. Qe3 Qf6 38. Qc3 Qd8 39. Qe3 Qd6 40. Qg5 Kg7 41.
Qe7 Rd3 (41... Qxe7 42. Rxe7 Rd2 {doesn't threaten the a2-pawn, and so White
has time to get active:} 43. Rb7 $11) 42. Qb7 Qf6 (42... Rxf3 43. Qxf3 Bd5 44.
Re7+ Kh6 45. Re4 $1 $11 {had to be calculated by both sides: Black has nothing.
}) 43. Bc6 Kf8 44. Qb8+ Rd8 45. Qb7 Rd6 46. Bf3 ({With White's sudden flurry
of tricks there may have come the notion that this would be a good time to
encourage trades:} 46. Re4 $1 {and Black needs to stay equal, which he can do
in principled fashion by} Qd8 $1 47. Rf4 Rf6 $11) 46... h5 47. Qa8+ Kg7 48. Qb7
Kf8 49. Qa8+ Qd8 50. Qb7 ({The ending after} 50. Qxd8+ Rxd8 {could not
realistically have been won by either side, but at least Black would be in
more of a position to pretend.}) 50... Rd7 51. Qc6 Kg7 52. Qe4 Rd3 53. Qb7 Qd7
54. Re7 $6 {White is getting tired of playing around, but in playing this
pseudo-active move he forgets that (for tactical reasons) it will not prove
possible to prevent ...c4.} (54. Qxb6 $4 Rxf3 55. Kxf3 $2 Qg4+ 56. Ke3 Qd4+ 57.
Kf3 Bd5+ {is the point.}) 54... Qxb7 55. Rxb7 Rd6 56. Be4 Kf6 57. Kf3 (57. Rc7
a4 {has much the same effect}) 57... c4 58. bxc4 Bxc4 59. a3 Ke5 60. Ke3 Bd5
61. f4+ {Continuing to be accurate. With the slightly more active king it
isn't that surprising that it is Black operating within a greater margin of
error.} ({In the pure rook ending after} 61. Bxd5 Kxd5 {Black would now have
something, although White holds the balance with precise play starting} 62. f3
$15) 61... Ke6 62. Rb8 Bxe4 63. Kxe4 Rc6 64. a4 Rc4+ 65. Kf3 Rc3+ 66. Ke4 Rb3 {
You have to credit Fedoseev with continuing to find ways to play on!} 67. Rg8 (
{White had to take some kind of drastic action, mostly relating to the g-pawn.
There was the choice between the game's mechanism and} 67. Rb7 Kd6 68. g4 $5
hxg4 69. Rg7 Rb4+ 70. Ke3 Rxa4 71. Rxg6+ Kc5 72. Rxg4 Ra1 {, where humans
might hesitate to take on the divided pawns.}) 67... Kf7 68. Rb8 Kf6 69. Rf8+
Ke7 70. Rg8 Rxg3 71. Ke5 Re3+ 72. Kd4 Rg3 73. Ke5 Kf7 74. Rb8 Re3+ 75. Kd4 Re6
{Black manoeuvres, trying to get a better version next time with his rook on
the back rank.} 76. Kd5 Ke7 77. Rg8 Rd6+ 78. Ke5 Kd7 79. Rg7+ $4 {It is here
that White decisively loses the thread.} (79. Rf8 {is a tricky move to make,
simply preparing Rc8+ (a few other moves along the back rank also do this.)
Not least because Black can now try to defend his g-pawn from behind or swap
it for the a-pawn.} Rd1 80. Rg8 Rg1 {I suspect the problem was that with
Black's rook on g3, White knew he would have f5 in similar positions. However,
it turns out that here,} 81. Kf6 $1 Rg4 82. Rg7+ $1 {draws, due to the
discovered-check motif} Kc6 $2 83. Rxg6 Rxf4+ $4 84. Kg5+ $18) 79... Kc6 80.
Rg8 Kc5 $1 81. Rc8+ Rc6 82. Rxc6+ Kxc6 83. Kf6 b5 84. axb5+ Kd6 {White is lost.
} ({The problem is that on d6, Black's king performs all three of the
following duties: 1) Prevents Ke5-d4-c3 etc (unlike Kd7) 2) Catches a rogue
b-pawn in an economical fashion, winning a tempo for the main pawn-race 3)
Wins a critical tempo later on in the pawn race, as we shall see:} 84... Kd6
85. Kxg6 a4 86. f5 a3 87. f6 a2 88. f7 Ke7 $1 {Now if White had Kg7 all would
be well, but now this is met by a coronation with check.}) 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5
Qxd1+ (8... Qc7 9. Nxc4 Qxc5 10. Qb3 (10. Qa4 Nc6 11. Be3 Qh5 $11) (10. b3 Nc6
$1 (10... Rd8 {walks into a surprisingly strong queen sacrifice in} 11. Ba3 $1
Rxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Qh5 13. Bxe7 $16 {Xu,X-Xu,Y Daqing 2018})) 10... Nc6 11. Be3 Nd4
12. Bxd4 Qxd4 13. O-O Qc5 $11 {Black unravels by force with ...Rb8, ...Bd7 etc.
The most testing line is} 14. Rfd1 Bd7 $1 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bb5 $1 17. Rac1
Ba6 18. Nd6 Qb6 $11 {when Black has equalised, albeit the position does not
inspire.}) 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. Nxc4 Nd5 {After this novelty, White
gets to line up various tactics against the minor pieces in the centre.} ({
The key to Black's position seems to be developing to e6 in two moves.} 11...
Bd7 12. Nc3 (12. Rc1 Rac8 {and Black threatens ...b5.}) 12... e5 $1 (12... Rab8
$6 13. Bf4 Rbc8 14. O-O $14 {Horvath,J-Marciano,D Izmir 2004}) 13. O-O Be6 (
13... Rad8 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 gxf6 $132 {might not be as good objectively,
but carries ambition}) 14. Bxc6 (14. b3 Rfd8 15. Bg5 Bd4 16. Rac1 Rac8 $11)
14... Bxc4 15. Bg2 Rac8 16. Rfd1 (16. b3 Ba6 $15) 16... b6 17. Rac1 Bb4 $11) (
11... e5 12. Rc1 $14 {doesn't really work immediately.}) 12. Rc1 b6 13. Nce3
Nce7 (13... Ba6 $5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Bxd5 $14 {is probably not 'full comp' but
is worth considering.}) (13... Rd8 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Nc3 Ne7 16. O-O $14 {
This would ensure that no fewer than 3 world champions held an isolated
queen's pawn in the same round.}) 14. b4 Bxe3 {By now the only move that makes
sense. The remainder of the commentary will consist of minor tries White could
have gone for to increase his small edge.} 15. Nxe3 Ba6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. f3 (
17. e4 Nf6 (17... Ne7 18. a4 $14) 18. f3 $14 {would have cut out Black's ...f5.
}) 17... Bb5 18. Kf2 Rfd8 19. a3 Rd7 20. Rhd1 Ba4 21. Re1 Rad8 22. e4 Nc7 23.
Bf4 Nb5 24. Bf1 h6 25. h4 Nd4 26. h5 f6 27. Bc4 (27. e5 {This is the main
distinct structure White could have played into. I think probably this would
have been a mistake, because after} f5 {the Black knight would have taken a
while to get to d5, but I don't think it can be stopped from doing so.}) 27...
Kf7 28. Re3 Nb5 29. g4 Rd1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1 31. Bb8 a6 32. e5 Rd4 33. Bxb5 Bxb5
34. exf6 gxf6 35. Bc7 Rd2+ 36. Ke1 Rc2 37. Bxb6 e5 {Black has misplaced a pawn,
but it doesn't really matter as all of White's pawns are totally immobilised.
In fact, it's not out of the question for Black to think about winning too.}
38. Bc5 {Intending f4.} Ra2 39. Rc3 (39. f4 exf4 40. Re7+ Kg8 41. Re4 f3 42.
Rf4 Kf7 43. Rxf3 {White has succeeded in setting up a rather contrived
pawn-swap, but he will lose a pawn in the end after} Re2+ 44. Kd1 Re4 $1 $11)
39... e4 40. Bd4 Re2+ 41. Kd1 Rg2 42. fxe4 (42. fxe4 Rxg4 43. Rf3 Rxe4 44.
Rxf6+ Ke7 45. Ba1 Rh4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 a6 {A relatively major trend of the 2010's. Black
threatens to take on d5 and obliges his opponent to enter a Carlsbad structure
in which ...a6 will be useful rather than committal.} 4. cxd5 (4. Nf3 {is of
course playable, but after} dxc4 5. a4 Nc6 6. e4 Na5 7. Be3 $44 {or similar,
the compensation is less clear-cut than in a standard Moscow Gambit.}) (4. e4 {
attempts a favourable comparison to the 3...c6 4.e4!? gambit, but} dxe4 5. Nxe4
Nf6 $11 {was just fine for Black in Roubalik,J-Zilka,S Czech Republic 2018})
4... exd5 5. Nf3 h6 {This is maximalist, and provocative.} ({There isn't much
reason why the} 5... Nf6 6. Bg5 Be6 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 h6 9. Bf4 {of Karjakin,
S-Caruana,F Saint Louis 2018 should scare Black, but if the text can be played,
then it should be.}) 6. Bf4 (6. Qb3 Nf6 7. e4 $5 Nxe4 $1 (7... dxe4 8. Ne5 Be6
9. Qxb7 $18) 8. Qxd5 Qxd5 9. Nxd5 Bd6 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. O-O Nc6
13. Re1+ Kf8 14. Be3 $11 {Here a draw was agreed in Parligras,M-Rakhmanov,A
Banja Vrujci 2017, on the premise that in the absence of queens, the isolated
d-pawn is as weak as the doubled f-pawns.}) 6... Nf6 7. e3 Bd6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9.
Qc2 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. h3 {It might turn out that this move is unnecessary,
because Black wasn't planning ...Bg4 for some time yet.} ({Let us examine:} 11.
O-O Bg4 ({If Black plays} 11... Be6 {with the idea of ... Nbd7 as in the game,
then h3 could have been saved. For instance,} 12. b4 $14) 12. Ne5 c5 $1 (12...
Nc6 13. f4 {should be something for White}) 13. Qa4 $5 (13. Qd2 b5 14. f4 Nc6
15. h3 cxd4 16. exd4 Be6 $132 {with play on both sides of the board}) 13... Be6
14. Qa3 b6 $14 {I think White has a nibble in this Barry-type position. The
computer likes 13...Rxe5, but then Black is really playing for tricks.}) 11...
Be6 12. O-O Nbd7 ({It is reasonable to ask, given the game continuation, why
Black didn't go for} 12... c5 $5 {immediately, so that his knight could use
the c6-square and (probably) ...b5 would still be an option?} 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14.
Rac1 Nc6 15. Rfd1 $14) (12... c6 {is a more aggressive way to handle the
position, inviting White to play b4 at some moment if he wishes, but reserving
options like ...Nd7-b6 in that eventuality. For instance:} 13. a3 Nbd7 14. b4
a5 15. Qb2 b6 $5 $132 {Or ...Nb6.}) 13. a4 (13. Na4 Ne4 $1 {This thematic
counter-blow at first looks impossible, but in fact it's necessary to stop
White developing a choke-hold on c5.}) 13... Rac8 14. Rfc1 c5 {On one hand,
this move usually hands over a slight plus to White for the foreseeable future,
but on the other, Black seems uniquely well placed in this case to carry out
the standard mitigating procedures.} 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Qd1 {
In case of any ...Nce4xf2 type ideas.} (17. Bf5 $5 {seeks to clarify matters a
bit.} Nce4 (17... Ne6 $1 {seems best. Now say} 18. Rd1 {With e4 ideas in the
pipeline.}) (17... Bxf5 18. Qxf5 g6 19. Qc2 Qe5 20. Nce2 $14) 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19.
Qb3 $14) 17... Rc7 18. Bc2 Rec8 19. Nde2 Ne6 20. Bb3 Bc6 21. Nd4 {White
suffers in this phase from a lack of obvious plans, being that d5 is defended
as many times as Black needs. He ends up not finding one, and Black gets to
consolidate further.} Qb4 22. Nce2 Bd7 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 {This is now just dead
equal.} 24. Qe1 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Nc5 (25... Kf8 {Playing this first presents
White with a small strategic problem. If he marks time, then ...Nc5 will come
next.} 26. Rd1 Nc5 27. a5 Ke7 $11) 26. Rc1 a5 27. Bc2 Kf8 28. b3 Na6 29. f3 Nb4
{Starting to give White things to think about. There needs to be, for instance,
a serious response to ...b5, both immediately and in the future.} 30. Kf2 Ne8
31. Ke1 Nd6 32. Bb1 {And this is a tacit offer of a draw.} (32. Kd2 b5 33. axb5
Bxb5 $132 {Black has his targets too.}) 32... Rxc1+ 33. Nxc1 Ke7 34. Bd3 Kf6
35. h4 b6 36. Kd2 Ke5 37. g4 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Nce2 Nxd3 40. Kxd3 Nb7 ({
The attempt} 40... f5 $4 {is hugely ill-advised due to the tactic} 41. f4+ Kf6
42. fxg5+ Kxg5 43. Nf3+ $3 {and White is basically winning.}) (40... b5 $5 {
is playable, though knights tend to be good in close combat such as this.} 41.
f4+ Kf6 42. Nc3 bxa4 43. Nxd5+ Kg7 44. Nb6 $1 (44. bxa4 $6 Bxa4 45. fxg5 Kg6
$15 {is still a draw, but with Black having a very active king and passed
a-pawn it could go wrong.}) 44... Bxg4 45. Nxa4 gxf4 46. exf4 $11 {and there
isn't much left to play for.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 $5 {This move takes an
immediate step off the Ruy Lopez main road. The conventional wisdom is that
the knight should go to d2, and then after 0-0, Re1 and Nd2-f1, it is within
reach of the kingside meadows. If such a move was played by a beginner in the
90s, a stronger opponent would probably have pointed out that it is a mistake 
(although it clearly is not). Still, Spassky used to play this way and in the
last decade, Dominguez Perez has kept it among his big guns.} Bc5 {Black faces
an important choice already here. Should b5 be played or not? Should the
bishop go to c5 or not? 5.Nc3 is obviously not a slower move than the usual 5.
0-0, so Black doesn't have time for extravagant alternatives. When you start
playing chess you clearly prefer c5 to e7, if you are to plonk down the bishop
somewhere, but then later you become aware that the bishop could be vulnerable
to c3/d4 and Nxe5/d4-tricks, so you turn a bit more philosophical about which
"the right square" is for the bishop, and might even swing over to the e7-side.
I sometimes get the feeling that really strong GMs have had the pendulum swing
back to where c5 is the "right square".} ({The other main line goes} 5... b5 6.
Bb3 Be7 (6... Bc5 {Ah, anyway! Clearly the better move order if you prefer to
avoid the exchange on c6.} 7. d3 h6 8. Nd5 Rb8 (8... O-O) 9. c3 d6 10. O-O O-O
{and we come to a position where White has a wide choice. When Carlsen and
Anand played each other in Sinquefield Cup 2017, with opposite colours, their
game reached this position and continued:} 11. Re1 Ba7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3
Re8 14. a4 b4 15. a5 bxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Nd5 Ne7 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6
20. d4 Ng6 21. g3 Qc8 22. Re3 Rb5 23. Nd2 h5 $1 24. h4 Qh3 25. Qf1 Qg4 26. Qe2
Qxe2 27. Rxe2 Re6 {with a balanced game.}) 7. d3 d6 {Black is threatening to
pick up the bishop pair with Na5 next, so White must do something about it.
The usual way is...} 8. a3 O-O (8... Na5 9. Ba2 c5 10. b4 Nc6 11. Nd5 O-O 12.
Be3 cxb4 13. axb4 Bb7 14. O-O Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qd7 16. Qb1 {and although White is
not significantly better, this seems like the kind of position White is
striving for, Rapport,R (2715)-Kollars,D (2530) GRENKE Chess Open 2018.}) 9.
Nd5 Na5 10. Ba2 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 c6 12. Ba2 {This position is hard to avoid for
White in the 5.Nc3-line, so if you intend to play it you should have a look at
it. I'm not entirely clear about what went on in the following game:} Bf6 13.
O-O Re8 14. b4 Nb7 15. c4 Be6 16. Bb2 c5 17. Bc3 Qd7 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Bxe6
Qxe6 20. a4 Qd7 21. axb5 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qxb5 23. Qb1 Rb8 {1/2-1/2 (23) Rapport,
R (2690)-Aronian,L (2785) Sharjah Grand Prix 2017}) ({A third option is to play
} 5... Bb4 {, in analogy to the four knights opening.} 6. O-O (6. Nd5 $5) 6...
O-O 7. d3 {...a6 is not, generally speaking, a move that Black would play in
the four knights, since White would take on c6, but it is not clear to me that
Black has anything to be unhappy about here.} Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 9. Nd2 (9. Bg5 {
is standard in this position, but then it is usual for Black to play Bd7 in
order to prepare for a6, so one might argue that a6 actually is a slight gain
for Black here.} Qe7 10. Re1 (10. Nd2 $5) 10... Nd8 {and suddenly we are in
two-knights-land, by a long detour:} 11. Bb3 Ne6 12. Bh4 Nf4 13. Nd2 b5 14. Nf1
Ng6 15. Bg3 c5 16. Ne3 Qc7 17. h4 Be6 18. h5 Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21.
Bxd5 Rae8 22. h6 Re5 $5 23. hxg7 Kxg7 24. Qd2 Rfe8 {and Black eventually won
this rather unclear position, in Artemiev,V (2705)-Andreikin,D (2715) World
Rapid 2018.}) 9... Re8 10. c4 Bd7 11. f4 Nd4 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 13. c3 Ne6 14. f5
Nc5 15. Nb3 b5 {and Black had managed to land himself in a situation where a6
actually makes sense, in Adhiban,B (2680) -Stevic,H (2585) Tournament of Peace
2018.}) 6. Bxc6 {How very Magnus.} ({After} 6. O-O b5 (6... O-O 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8.
d4 Bd6 9. f4 Neg4 10. h3 Bb4 11. e5 d6 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Qf3 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 b5
15. Bb3 Bb7 16. f5 Re8 17. Bg5 Re2 18. d5 {and instead of taking the pawn, as
in Vishnu,P (2535)-Grandelius,N (2640) CellaVision Cup 2017, Black could have
played} c5 $1 19. Qd3 Qe7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rae1 Re5 {with a balanced game.
I'm prone to put some thought into this move order as (my compatriot) Nils
usually knows what he is doing.}) 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nd5 $5 {is a spectacular way
to try to make more sense of the 0-0 move order...} ({After} 8. d3 {we soon
end up in a position that we looked at after 5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5.}) 8... Nxe4 (
8... h6 9. c3 $1 {and White's d-pawn doesn't have to 'refuel' on d3.}) 9. d3
Nf6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Re1 $44 {Anand,V (2785)-Kramnik,V (2805)
Norway 2017}) 6... dxc6 7. d3 {This position is very similar to one of the
main lines of the Berlin Defence (of the Ruy Lopez); the only difference is
that the pawn is on a6. Usually strong GMs have prefered to play h3, Qe2, or
Nbd2, rather than Nc3, in this position, but Magnus has played a blitz game
earlier where he had exactly the same position (minus a6):} Qd6 {I presume
Vishy was aiming to apply a similar set-up to the one Jakovenko used to win
against Motylev (see comment after 9.0-0).} (7... O-O 8. Be3 (8. Qe2 Re8 9. h3
Nd7 10. Nd1 {can hardly be the hidden meaning behind Nc3...} Nf8 11. Ne3 {
Rapport,R (2675)-Ding Liren (2770) FIDE World Cup 2017}) 8... Bd6 9. Bg5 Re8 (
9... h6 10. Bd2) 10. h3 c5 11. Nd5 Be7 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. O-O h6 14. Be3 Nd7
15. Nd2 Nb8 16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 Nc6 18. Qh5 b6 19. Raf1 Rf8 20. Nf3 Be6 21.
Rh4 f6 22. Qg6 Qf7 23. Qg3 Nb4 24. Bxh6 Nxc2 25. Ne5 fxe5 26. Rxf7 Rxf7 27. Qg6
Bxa2 28. Bg5 Rff8 29. Rh7 Rf7 30. Bf6 {1-0 Carlsen,M (2835)-Karjakin,S (2760)
World Blitz 2017 (with pawn on a7 instead of a6).}) 8. h3 Be6 9. Be3 $1 {
Like I mentioned before; Black's bishop is on the "best square" and White's
bishop has nowhere to go. It's simple maths that White wants them exchanged. 
(Magnus thought about the move for more than 10 minutes, so I guess my logic
is somewhat over simplified...)} (9. O-O O-O-O 10. Ng5 Nd7 11. Kh1 f6 12. Nxe6
Qxe6 13. Ne2 Rhf8 (13... g6 $5) 14. Qe1 g6 15. b4 Bd6 16. Be3 f5 17. f3 f4 18.
Bg1 g5 19. Qf2 b6 20. Rfb1 h5 21. a4 g4 {and Black went on to win, in Motylev,
A (2686)-Jakovenko,D (2747) Yaroslavl 2014 (again with a pawn on a7, rather
than on a6).}) 9... Nd7 10. Bxc5 Nxc5 11. Qd2 {This position seems like
nothing special for White and if Black gets to play Nd7 and c5, then White has
nothing. So the next two moves seem like the only ambitious alternative.} ({
After} 11. O-O O-O-O {White regrets having played h3 when Black launches the
g-pawn.}) 11... Nd7 12. d4 $5 ({I don't see a good way for White to change the
pawn structure after} 12. O-O-O c5 {One can try a plan with Nf3-somewhere,
followed by f4, but it will only give Black a good square for the knight on e5.
}) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 c5 {Slightly surprising and the kind of move one
regrets after losing. It could be taken as a statement, that: "I will take the
d5-square from your knight and then you have nothing." (Although Anand most
certainly would not put it like that.)} 14. Nxe6 fxe6 {Ergo, no d5-square for
White's knight.} 15. O-O-O Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 $1 {The king belongs on e3 where it
is centrally placed and can support White's extra kingside pawn.} (16. Rxd2 {
is not completely bonkers either, since} Ke7 (16... O-O-O $1 {looks sensible,
intending} 17. Rhd1 g5 18. b3 Rhg8 19. Ne2 Rg7 {, followed by Rd8-f8. With
both pairs of rooks still on the board, White's extra kingside pawn doesn't
mean as much.}) 17. Rhd1 Rhd8 18. f4 {, forces Black to play a less than
comfortable endgame.}) 16... Ne5 17. f4 $1 {Only by unsettling this knight,
before it becomes a permanent feature on e5, can Black be challenged.} (17. b3
g5 $1 18. f3 Ke7 19. h4 h6 {is comfortable for Black. White cannot get a
passed pawn without giving Black a ton of activity.}) 17... Nc4+ 18. Kc1 {
King is back where it came from, but the knight is floating without a strong
point.} Ke7 19. b3 Nd6 $1 20. e5 Nf5 21. Ne4 ({There is something to be said
for} 21. g4 $1 {, since it forces Black's hand:} Nd4 (21... Nh4 $2 {fails to
tactics:} 22. f5 $1 exf5 23. Nd5+ Kf7 24. e6+ $1 $18 Kg6 25. Nxc7) 22. Rhf1 (
22. Ne4 Ne2+ 23. Kb2 Nxf4 24. Nxc5 b6 25. Rd7+ Ke8 26. Rd4 Rf8 27. Nd7 Rf7 28.
Nf6+ gxf6 29. Rxf4 Ke7 {is a position that Black can hold, if I haven't missed
something.}) 22... Rhf8 23. Rf2 b6 24. Rdf1 $36 {This looks promising for
White, but I feel that it could be one of those positions that habitual
Berlin-defenders could have all figured out (no, no, that's the position when
the knight is on h4!). Still, Anand avoided something very similar on the
second next move...}) 21... b6 22. g4 Nh4 $1 {The advantage of hanging out on
h4, is that there are no pieces that can push it away. The downside is, you
know, knight on the rim...} (22... Nd4 23. Rhf1 {is similar to the line above,
which means that 21.g4 probably was stronger than 21.Ne4, at least from
Anand's point of view. Perhaps Magnus didn't bother to stop the knight from
going to h4.}) 23. Rhf1 {From now on, life will be hard for Black.} Rad8 $6 ({
Instead,} 23... Rhf8 {holds the balance without too much difficulty:} 24. Rf2 (
24. Rd2 h6 25. Kd1 Rad8) 24... h6 {and I wonder how White will continue?} 25.
Rfd2 (25. Ng3 Rad8 26. Nh5 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 g5) 25... Rad8 $1 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27.
Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Kd2 Ng2 29. f5 exf5 30. gxf5 Nh4 31. Ng3 Nf3+ 32. Ke3 Nxe5 33.
Kf4 Nc6 34. Nh5 Ke7 35. Nxg7 Nb4 {and White should force a draw before things
get out of hand.}) 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. f5 $1 {It seems that White got to play e5,
f4, g4 and f5 a bit too easily. Considering what happens later, I wonder if
Black felt the same thing here?} exf5 26. gxf5 Rf8 (26... Rd5 $5 27. Rf4 Ng2
28. f6+ gxf6 29. exf6+ Kf8 $1 (29... Kf7 30. Rg4 Re5 31. Rg7+ Ke8 32. Ng5 $18)
30. Rg4 Rd4 31. Rxg2 Rxe4 32. Rg7 c4 33. Rxc7 cxb3 34. axb3 Rh4 35. Rc6 b5 36.
Rxa6 Rxh3 {and although Black is struggling, it seems that he has good chances
to hold.}) 27. f6+ gxf6 28. exf6+ Kf7 $6 {This looks natural and Ng5+ can be
met with Kg6. There is only one (well, actually two) problem(s) .} (28... Kd7
29. Rg1 h6 30. Rg7+ Kc6 31. Rh7 Kd5 32. Nc3+ Kd4 33. Na4 Rxf6 34. Rxc7) 29. Rf4
$5 {Forcing Black to block the king's road to the kingside.} (29. Rg1 $5 {
looks even better. The point is that} Rg8 (29... Nf5 30. Ng5+ Ke8 31. Re1+ Kd7
32. Nxh7 Rf7 33. Rf1 Ng3 34. Rf2 Ne4 35. Rf4 Ng3 36. Kd1 Nh5 37. Rf5 Ng3 38.
Rg5 $18) (29... Ng6 30. Ng5+ Ke8 31. Nxh7 Rf7 32. Rxg6 Rxh7 33. Rg8+ Kf7 34.
Rg7+ Rxg7 35. fxg7 Kxg7 36. Kd2 $18) 30. Ng5+ Kxf6 31. Nxh7+ Kf7 32. Rxg8 Kxg8
33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Nd5 {should win for White.}) 29... Ng6 30. Ng5+ Ke8 31. Rf1 h6
32. Ne6 Rf7 33. Rd1 $1 Rxf6 34. Nxc7+ Kf8 35. Nxa6 Nf4 36. h4 Ng6 37. Rh1 Rf7
38. h5 $2 {I cannot see how this helps White. The knight becomes more active
on f4, so why force it to go there?} (38. a4 $1 {One way to make sense of h5
is that Magnus was worried about} Ra7 (38... h5 39. Kb2 Kg7 40. Rd1 Nxh4 41.
Rh1 Nf5 42. Rxh5 {and White has a hard defence ahead.}) 39. Nb8 Rb7 40. Nc6 Rc7
{, but after} 41. Rf1+ Rf7 42. Re1 Nxh4 43. Rh1 {there is no good way to hold
on to the pawn:} Nf5 (43... Rf4 44. Ne5 Kg7 45. Nc4 $18) 44. Ne5 Rg7 45. Nc4 $1
Rg6 $2 46. Rf1 $18) 38... Nf4 39. a4 Ke7 40. Nc7 Kf6 41. Nb5 Kg5 {Black has
almost managed to equalize, or, wait, is it only a mirage? Has the king been
deviously lured away from the queenside, so that White can continue with his
insidious ways? No, not really, but it is still more difficult to play Black.
White's knight is a bit more jumpy for the time being.} 42. Nd6 Re7 43. Kb2 Re6
(43... Nxh5 $1 44. Rg1+ Kf6 45. Rh1 Kg6 46. Rg1+ Kf6 {is very equal indeed.})
44. Nf7+ Kf5 45. Rd1 $1 {To help the knights return to the queenside.} Kg4 46.
Kc3 Kxh5 47. Rh1+ Kg6 48. Nxh6 {So, White is a pawn up again, but the knight
is misplaced. Black needs to find a way to make a net that will keep it from
getting out.} Re4 $1 {This stops the king from advancing further and keeps an
eye on g4, from where Nh6 will try to stage its reentry into the game.} 49. Kb2
(49. Rh2 Nd5+ 50. Kb2 c4 $11) 49... Re2 $1 50. Ng4 Nd3+ $6 {Another slight
mistake puts Black under pressure again.} (50... Kf5 $1 {was the way to keep
the knight in the cage:} 51. Nh6+ Kg6 52. Kb1 Nd5 53. Ng4 Kg5 54. Rg1 Kf4 {
and there is not way for White to gain coordination.}) 51. Kc3 Nb4 $6 {And
with this the pressure becomes quite hard to bear, again.} (51... Ne1 $1 52.
Rh2 Re4 53. Nf2 Re2 54. Kc4 Rxc2+ 55. Kb5 c4 56. bxc4 Rb2+ 57. Kc6 Nf3 58. Rg2+
Kf7 59. Kb7 Ne5 $11) 52. Rh2 $1 Rxh2 53. Nxh2 Kf5 54. Nf3 Ke4 55. Ne1 Kd5 56.
Nd3 Nc6 (56... Na2+ 57. Kb2 Nb4 58. c4+ $1 (58. Nxb4+ $2 cxb4 59. c3 bxc3+ 60.
Kxc3 Kc5 $11) 58... Ke4 59. Nxb4 cxb4 60. Kc2 Kd4 61. Kd2 Ke4 62. Ke2 Kd4 63.
Kf3 Kc3 64. a5 $1 bxa5 65. c5 Kxb3 66. c6 {and White wins.}) 57. Nf4+ $1 Kd6 (
57... Ke5 $2 {loses to} 58. Kc4 $1 Kxf4 (58... Na7 59. Nd5) 59. Kb5 Nb4 60.
Kxb6 Nxc2 61. a5 Nb4 62. Kxc5 {and the knight is unable to stop both pawns.})
58. Kc4 Na7 59. Nd5 Kc6 60. Ne7+ Kd6 61. Nf5+ Kc6 62. Kd3 Kc7 (62... b5 $1 {
is a good start, exchanging one of the pawns.}) 63. Ke4 Nc6 64. Ne3 Kd6 65.
Nc4+ Kc7 66. c3 Ne7 67. Ke5 Ng6+ 68. Kf5 Ne7+ 69. Ke6 Ng6 {On one hand,
Black's position is awful, but on the other; there is no way for White to go
forward.} 70. a5 b5 $4 {A terrible blunder in a drawn position.} (70... bxa5 $1
71. Kd5 (71. Nxa5 Nf4+ 72. Ke5 Ne2 73. c4 Kb6 $11 74. b4) 71... Nf4+ 72. Kxc5
Ne2 73. Na3 Nc1 74. Kc4 Kb6 75. Nc2 Ne2 76. Nd4 (76. Ne3 Nc1) 76... Nf4 77. Nf5
Ne6 {and there is no way for White to make progress.}) 71. Ne3 Nf4+ 72. Ke5 Ne2
73. Nd5+ Kc6 74. b4 Nxc3 75. Nxc3 cxb4 76. Ne2 {a rather tragic end to an
exciting game.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Ne5 O-O 8. Nc3
Bf5 9. O-O Ne4 10. g4 Be6 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. e3 Qd7
15. Bf3 Rab8 16. b3 c5 17. Bb2 c4 18. Qe2 cxb3 19. axb3 Rxb3 20. Rfc1 Rfb8 21.
Bc3 Bd5 22. h3 Qc6 23. Bxd5 Qxd5 24. Qf1 R8b7 25. Be1 h6 26. Qg2 Qb5 27. Qc6
Qxc6 28. Rxc6 e5 29. dxe5 Bxe5 30. Rac1 Rb1 31. Kg2 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Rc7 33. Rb1
Bc3 34. Bxc3 Rxc3 35. Ra1 Rc7 36. h4 g5 37. Kg3 Kg7 38. Ra5 Kg6 39. Ra6+ Kg7
40. h5 Rb7 41. Kf3 Rc7 42. Ra3 Rb7 43. e4 Kf6 44. Ke3 Rd7 45. Ra6+ Kg7 46. f3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 Be6 5. Nd2 c6 6. Ngf3 b5 7. a4 b4 8. a5
Bd6 9. c4 bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Be2 f5 12. O-O Nd7 13. Qa4 c5 14. c4 Nf6 15.
Nb3 Ne4 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Rc8 18. c6 Nc3 19. Qc2 Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 Rxc6 21.
cxd5 Bxd5 22. Nd4 Rc5 23. Qd2 Qg5 24. f3 Rfc8 25. Rfc1 g6 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Rb1
h5 28. Rb8+ Kh7 29. Re8 Qf6 30. Rb8 Qa6 31. Nb3 Bxb3 32. Qd8 Rc1+ 33. Kf2 Qf1+
34. Kg3 f4+ 35. Kxf4 Rc4+ 36. Kg3 Qe1+ 37. Kh3 Rc8 38. Rxc8 Be6+ 39. g4 hxg4+
40. fxg4 Qxe3+ 41. Kh4 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B26"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. d3 Bg7 7. h3 O-O 8. Be3
Rb8 9. f4 Ne8 10. a4 Nd4 11. O-O Nc7 12. g4 a6 13. Rb1 Bd7 14. Ng3 b5 15. axb5
axb5 16. Nce2 b4 17. f5 e6 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Bf4 e5 20. Bd2 Bf6 21. Kh2 b3 22.
Ra1 Bb5 23. Ra3 bxc2 24. Qxc2 Na6 25. b4 Bg5 26. Rf3 Rb6 27. Qa2 Bf4 28. Bxf4
exf4 29. Ne2 Nxb4 30. Qd2 d5 31. Nxf4 Nxd3 32. Nxd5 Qd6+ 33. Rg3 Qxa3 34. Nxb6
Qd6 35. Nd5 Bc4 36. f6 Bxd5 37. Qxd3 Be6 38. Kg1 Bc4 39. Qf3 d3 40. e5 Qxe5 41.
Qe3 Re8 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qa4 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 c6 12. Rd1 Nbd7 13. Bg5 Rc8 14. Nbd2 Bg6 15.
Nb3 Qc7 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Rfd8 18. b4 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 a5 20. a3 Rd8 21. Qe1
Be4 22. Rd1 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 axb4 24. axb4 Nd5 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Qd4 Bxf3 27. Bxf3
e5 28. Qg4 Qe6 29. Qxe6 fxe6 30. Bxd5 exd5 31. f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f4
exf4 9. Bxf4 Nc6 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. g4 O-O 13. g5 Nd7 14. Qe3 Rac8
15. Kb1 Rfe8 16. h4 b5 17. Qg3 Nce5 18. Nd4 Nb6 19. Bh3 Bxh3 20. Qxh3 Nec4 21.
Nd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Nb6 23. Bc1 Nxd5 24. h5 Bf8 25. g6 h6 26. Qg2 Nf6 27. Bxh6
fxg6 28. Rdf1 Qc4 29. Rxf6 Qxd4 30. Rxg6 Kh7 31. Bc1 Qe4 32. h6 Qxg6 33. hxg7+
Kxg7 34. Bh6+ Kf7 35. Rf1+ Qf6 36. Qd5+ Ke7 37. Bg5 Qxg5 38. Rf7+ Kd8 39. Qxg5+
Be7 40. Qd5 Rg8 41. a3 Rg1+ 42. Ka2 Re1 43. Qb7 Rxc2 44. Rh7 Rc7 45. Qxa6 Re5
46. Rh8+ Kd7 47. Qa8 Bf6 48. Rf8 Bg7 49. Rd8+ Ke7 50. Qb8 Rec5 51. Rg8 Ke6 52.
Qe8+ Kd5 53. Qe2 Be5 54. Rb8 Kc6 55. Qe4+ Kd7 56. Qd3 Kc6 57. Qf3+ d5 58. Qh5
d4 59. Qg6+ Bd6 60. Qe4+ 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Vidit,S"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,80,5,0,-36,0,0,-7,-58,-75,-80,-35,-42,-34,-44,-28,-14,14,-11,-4,5,
1,-12,-10,5,-10,14,25,-16,-2,3,23,23,18,22,39,-5,-5,7,-8,28,9,13,69,28,3,29,13,
-16,28,1,4,12,41,101,101,57,101,107] After the end of Tata Steel Chess
Tournament, Kramnik soon announced his decision of retiring from chess.
Although he was far from his best form, I am lucky that I got a chance to play
against the legend himself. In fact, he was the only player from the
participants who I hadn't faced previously. Kurz nach dem Ende des
Tata-Steel-Turniers verkündete Kramnik seine Entscheidung, sich vom Schach
zurückzuziehen. Obwohl er dort bei weitem nicht in Bestform war, hatte ich
das Glück, die Chance zu haben, gegen die Legende selbst zu spielen.
Tatsächlich war er nämlich der einzige von den Teilnehmern, dem ich zuvor
noch nicht am Brett gegenüber gesessen hatte.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. f3 {After a successful first half, I had scored only half a point in the
next three games. (Yes, ironically that half point was against Anish Giri!) So
I very much wanted to get back in the event, and with this move, I was aiming
for an open fight with three results in mind. Nach erfolgreicher erster
Hälfte hatte ich in den nächsten drei Partien nur einen halben Punkt erzielt
(ja, ironischerweise war dieser gegen Anish Giri!). Daher wollte ich unbedingt
ins Turnier zurückkommen, und mit diesem Zug strebte ich einen offenen Kampf
an, mit drei Resultaten im Sinn.} d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 {
I was a bit surprised by this choice. Although this line was used by Carlsen
to defeat Vishy in their world championship match, it never really caught on.
Ich war ein bisschen überrascht von seiner Wahl. Obwohl bei ihrem
Weltmeisterschaftskampf Carlsen mit dieser Variante Vishy besiegt hatte,
setzte sie sich nie wirklich durch.} 8. e3 c4 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. g4 Na5 {Carlsen
went for castles first and then the same plan with Na5-b3. Carlsen wählte
zunächst die kurze Rochade und dann den gleichen Plan mit Sa5-b3.} (10... O-O
11. Bg2 Na5 12. O-O Nb3 13. Ra2 b5 14. Ng3 a5 15. g5 Ne8 16. e4 Nxc1 17. Qxc1
Ra6 18. e5 Nc7 19. f4 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Rxa6 Nxa6 22. f5 b3 23. Qf4 Nc7 24.
f6 g6 25. Qh4 Ne8 26. Qh6 b2 27. Rf4 b1=Q+ 28. Nf1 $4 Qe1 {0-1 (28) Anand,V 
(2775) -Carlsen,M (2870) Chennai IND 2013 0-1 (28) Anand,V (2775) -Carlsen,M 
(2870) Chennai IND 2013}) 11. Bg2 Nb3 12. Rb1 {A novelty for over the board
games. As this game was played on one of the chess on tour days, we had to
leave earlier than usual, and while walking towards the bus, my coach informed
me that the rook on b1 is better placed for a quick e2-e4. That's all I knew
about this line. Eine Neuerung in praktischen Partien. Da diese Partie an
einem der "Chess on Tour"-Tage gespielt wurde, mussten wir früher los als
sonst, und auf dem Weg zum Bus informierte mich mein Coach, dass der Turm auf
b1 besser steht für ein schnelles e2-e4. Das war alles, was ich über diese
Variante wusste.} O-O 13. O-O b5 $6 {This opens the h1-a8 diagonal. Starting
with the counter-intuitive a5 seems better. One advantage is that Black can
play Ra6 and bring the rook in the game. Dies öffnet die Diagonale h1-a8. Mit
dem kontraintuitiven a5 zu beginnen, sieht besser aus. Ein Vorteil ist, dass
Schwarz Ta6 ziehen und den Turm ins Spiel bringen kann.} (13... a5 14. e4 dxe4
15. fxe4 Bxg4) 14. e4 $1 {I played this pawn sacrifice after thinking for 5
minutes. For one pawn White gets a lot of initiative, so it was not hard for
me to convince myself. Peter Leko also remarked in the live commentary that it
doesn't even feel like White is a pawn down! Dieses Bauernopfer spielte ich
nach 5 Minuten Überlegen. Für einen Bauern bekommt Weiß eine Menge
Initiative, daher fiel es nicht schwer, mich dazu durchzuringen. Peter Leko
merkte im Livekommentar auch an, dass es sich nicht mal so anfühlt, als ob
Weiß einen Bauern weniger hat!} dxe4 15. fxe4 Nxc1 {Played instantly. I was a
little surprised by the speed of his play. If it was his preparation, I didn't
understand what I was missing. Sofort gespielt. Ich war ein wenig überrascht
von seinem Tempo. Wenn es seine Vorbereitung war, verstand ich nicht, was mir
entging.} (15... Bxg4 {This felt more natural, but the resulting position
looks ugly. Dies fühlte sich natürlicher an, aber die entstehende Stellung
sieht hässlich aus.} 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qe1 {Getting out of the
pin. Geht aus der Fesselung.} Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Kh8 20. Kh1 {Now I just double
rooks on the f-file and sooner or later play e5. What can Black do? Jetzt
verdopple ich einfach die Türme in der f-Linie und spiele früher oder
später e5. Was kann Schwarz tun?}) 16. Qxc1 Bxg4 17. Nf4 Rb8 18. h3 $1 {
An important point, the immediate e5 would allow ...Nh5 when White loses some
momentum. Eine wichtige Pointe, sofortiges e5 würde ...Sh5 erlauben, wonach
Weiß einigen Schwung verliert.} (18. e5 Nh5) 18... Bd7 {Kramnik after the
game told me that he mixed up his preparation and that he had ...Bc8 in his
notes. Either I don't understand the position, or he mixed up some different
line. White's play is still very very easy. Kramnik erzählte mir nach der
Partie, er hätte seine Vorbereitung durcheinander gebracht und in seinen
Notizen ...Lc8 stehen. Entweder verstehe ich die Stellung nicht oder er meinte
irgendeine andere Variante. Das Spiel von Weiß ist so oder so superleicht.} (
18... Be6 {Dieser Zug ergibt mehr Sinn. Der sofortige Bauernvormarsch lässt
das Zentrum fragil werden. Weiß muss zuerst ein paar Vorbereitungszüge wie
De3-Tbe1 machen und erst dann d5-e5 spielen. This move makes more sense. The
immediate pushing of pawns leaves the centre fragile. White has to first make
some preparatory moves like Qe3-Rbe1 and then play d5-e5} 19. Qe3 $1 (19. d5 $6
Bc8 20. e5 Nd7 21. Qe3 Qb6 {is the point. ist die Pointe.}) 19... a5 20. Kh2
$16 {followed by d5-e5. nebst d5-e5.}) (18... Bc8 19. e5 Nd7 20. Qe3 $16) 19.
e5 $1 {I played this intuitively. Apparently move order is important. If I had
played Qe3 first Black has extra defensive possibilities. Dies spielte ich
intuitiv. Offenbar ist die Zugfolge wichtig. Bei zuerst De3 hat Schwarz
zusätzliche Verteidigungsmöglichkeiten.} (19. Qe3 Kh8 $1 20. e5 Ng8 {Too
cheeky for me to see it. Zu frech, als dass ich es gesehen hätte.}) 19... Ne8
20. Qe3 {Finally, after this move, Kramnik thought for a long time. I feel the
position is already very difficult for Black. I once read an interesting
comment about Fischer's play. " His plans are simple and straightforward but
at the same time very hard to stop" The current position gives a very similar
vibe. I am just going to push my central pawns, and I don't see how Black can
prevent it. Nach diesem Zug verfiel Kramnik endlich in langes Nachdenken.
Meines Erachtens ist die Stellung bereits sehr schwierig für Schwarz. Ich las
einmal einen interessanten Kommentar über das Spiel von Fischer: "Seine
Pläne sind einfach und geradlinig, aber gleichzeitig sehr schwer zu stoppen."
Die aktuelle Stellung verbreitet ein ganz ähnliches Gefühl. Ich rücke
einfach meine Zentrumsbauern vor, und ich sehe nicht, wie Schwarz es
verhindern kann.} Rb6 21. d5 Nc7 22. d6 {Kasparov,G (2595)-Pribyl,J (2390) EU
Team-ch07 Final 1980 (5.8) 1-0 I was aware of the classic, Kasparov-Pribyl
where Kasparov played d7! cutting the board in half. So, the decision to allow
...Ne6 at the cost of dividing the defenses was an easy one to make. Ich
kannte sehr wohl den Klassiker Kasparov-Pribyl, wo Kasparov d7! spielte und
damit das Brett zerteilte. Daher fiel die Entscheidung, ...Se6 zuzulassen, um
dafür die Verteidiger zu entzweien, nicht schwer.} Ne6 23. Nd5 Ra6 24. Rf5 $1
{It was important to stop Qg5. Now I have threats like Rh5-Ne7 Be4. The attack
just plays by itself. Es war wichtig, ...Dg5 zu verhindern. Jetzt habe ich
Drohungen wieTh5-Se7-Le4. Der Angriff spielt sich einfach von selbst.} Qh4 25.
Rbf1 $18 Rxa3 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 {I have threats like Qf3 and
Rf8. Black is not in time to create any counterplay with the rook. Ich habe
Drohungen wie Df3 und Tf8. Schwarz schafft es nicht rechtzeitig, irgendwelches
Gegenspiel mit dem Turm aufzuziehen.} Qh5 29. Qf4 $1 {A cute finish! After the
game, my coach Alon Greenfeld and I were walking down the vibrant streets of
Leiden where suddenly a stranger walked up to us and asked if I am Vidit. Upon
confirmation, he congratulated me on the game and the final move. That's what
makes Tata steel chess such a special event! :) Ein schönes Finale! Nach der
Partie spazierten mein Trainer Alon Greenfeld und ich durch die pulsierenden
Straßen von Leiden, als plötzlich ein Fremder auf uns zukam und fragte, ob
ich Vidit sei. Als ich bejahte, gratulierte er mir zu der Partie und dem
letzten Zug. Das macht Tata Steel Chess zu einem so besonderen Event! :)} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. bxc3 b6 14. Bg5 f6 15.
Bh4 dxc4 16. Qxc4+ Qd5 17. Qe2 b5 18. a4 a6 19. Bg3 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Nd7 21. Qe6+
Qxe6 22. Rxe6 Rfc8 23. Rd6 Nb6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Rxa8 Nxa8 26. d5 cxd5 27. Nd4
h5 28. Rxd5 Nb6 29. Rxb5 Na4 30. Nf5 Nxc3 31. Ne7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,89,32,28,22,13,18,24,24,0,5,17,5,-8,30,5,0,1,-10,-24,-17,-17,-11,-19,
-12,-17,-2,-17,-16,-7,0,-3,0,-20,-24,0,5,7,12,17,26,23,26,35,44,37,41,35,52,52,
70,-10,-3,-11,-17,-5,-9,-17,18,21,24,17,22,53,43,37,30,39,33,40,37,37,40,48,50,
48,62,65,143,169,231,218,268,270,331,379,415,415,419,419,425,492]} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 {One possible idea in the Giuoco
Pianissimo.} Qe7 7. a3 Be6 (7... a6 8. Nxc5 dxc5 9. Be3) 8. Bxe6 Qxe6 9. b4 Bb6
10. O-O O-O 11. c4 Nd7 12. Bb2 Nd4 13. Nd2 f5 14. Rc1 c5 {Sam stays solid,} ({
He must have rejected} 14... f4 $5 {on account of} 15. c5 dxc5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5
17. bxc5 {and now} f3 {meets with} 18. Bxd4 fxg2 19. Kxg2 exd4 20. f4) 15. exf5
Nxf5 16. Ne4 $14 cxb4 $6 {This concession didn't seem forced at all.} 17. Nxb6
axb6 18. axb4 Qg6 {[#] Black has to generate some threats against the white
king.} 19. Ra1 {Perhaps Anish gave too much respect to the Ra2 idea.} (19. Re1
Nf6 (19... Nh4 20. Ng3 Ra2 21. Qb3) 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21. Re4 Raf8 22. f3 $14)
19... Rxa1 20. Bxa1 Nf6 21. Nxf6+ Rxf6 22. Qf3 Nh4 $1 23. Qd5+ Kh8 $5 {[#]
Moving the king away from the centre is risky because the queen can be traded
any moment.} (23... Qf7 24. Qxf7+ Kxf7 25. b5 Rg6) 24. f4 $1 {A beautiful
rejoinder.} h6 $1 (24... Rxf4 25. Rxf4 exf4 26. Qxb7) 25. Qe4 {White is taking
the game into a minor piece ending where he will be the one with winning
chances.} Qxe4 26. dxe4 Rxf4 27. Rxf4 exf4 28. e5 (28. Bd4 {is ineffective on
account of} b5 29. cxb5 Kg8) 28... dxe5 29. Bxe5 Ng6 30. Bc7 b5 31. cxb5 Kg8
32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Kf3 Nh4+ {This appears to have been played too soon. Why
invite the white king forward?} ({A long line,} 33... Ke6 34. Ke4 Nh4 35. Bxf4
Nxg2 36. Bg3 g5 37. Kf3 Nf4 38. Bxf4 gxf4 39. Kxf4 Kd5 {leads to a draw.}) 34.
Kxf4 Nxg2+ 35. Ke5 Ke7 36. Bd6+ Ke8 $1 {A couple of good ones from Sam.} 37.
Ke6 g5 38. Kf6 Kd7 {Shankland enter a line all of us thought would be drawn.} (
38... Nh4 39. Bb8 Kd7 40. Kg7 Nf5+ 41. Kg6 Ke6 42. Bg3 Ne3 43. Kxh6 Kf5 $11)
39. Bf8 Nh4 40. Bxh6 Nf3 41. h3 {A standard way of trapping the knight.} Ng1
42. Bxg5 Nxh3 43. Be3 {The job is done, but the peculiar position of the
queenside pawn prevents White from winning.} Kd6 44. Kf5 Kd5 45. b6 $5 {
A pretty smart choice from Giri.} ({He had no doubt Shakland would have found} 
45. Bc5 b6 $1 {a forced way to eliminate the rest of the pawns.} (45... Kc4 {
is also good enough.} 46. Kg4 Nf2+ 47. Bxf2 Kxb4 48. b6 Kc4 49. Kf5 Kd5 50. Bg3
Kc6 51. Bc7 Kd7) 46. Bxb6 Kc4 47. Bc5 Kxb5 48. Kg4 Nf2+) (45. b6 {In reply
Shankland shockingly resigned the game. Of course, in hindsight we all realize
it doesn't matter how many b-pawns are there, as long as the front one is on
b6.} Kd6 $11 {heading for c8.}) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 e5 6. Qe1 {Kings Indian with
colors reversed.} Be7 7. e4 d4 $5 {Give Jorden credit for entering a full
fight against his still formidable opponent.} (7... dxe4 8. dxe4 Be6 {would be
easier to play for both sides.}) 8. a4 {Now Black needs to be able to figurte
out which system of many he can choose benefits the least from that extra
tempo.} O-O ({A Petrosian treatment, anyone?} 8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5) 9. Na3 Ne8
10. Nc4 Qc7 11. b3 b6 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Qe2 f6 14. Nh4 Nd6 15. f4 Rae8 (15...
Nxc4 16. bxc4 exf4 17. gxf4 Rae8 18. Kh1 Nb4 19. f5 {with the same idea, Ng6
as in the game.}) 16. f5 Bd7 17. Ng6 Rf7 18. Qh5 Bd8 19. g4 Ne7 {[#]} 20. Rf3 (
{Computers sho the ridiculous} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Nh8 $3 {whixh forces Black to
lose the exchange, otherwise} Rff8 22. Rf3 Kxh8 23. Rh3 Kg8 24. Qxh7+ Kf7 25.
Qh5+ Kg8 26. Bf3 {steamrolls him.}) 20... Nxg6 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6 Nxc4 23.
bxc4 Qc8 24. Rg3 Be6 25. Rf1 Qd7 26. Bf3 Qxa4 27. Bd1 Qd7 28. Rh3 Kf8 29. Rh7
Ke7 30. Rxg7 Rxg7 31. Qxg7+ Kd6 32. Qxd7+ Bxd7 {A very complex ending has been
reached. For a while both players did well enough to keep it within the bounds
of equality.} 33. Kg2 a5 34. h4 a4 35. Bc1 Be7 36. Kg3 Ra8 37. Ba3 Rg8 38. Be2
Bd8 39. h5 Be8 40. Kh3 Rh8 41. Bc1 Be7 42. Bd2 Bd7 43. Kg3 Ra8 44. Rb1 {[#]} b5
{An interesting winning attempt.} (44... Kc7 $11) 45. cxb5 a3 46. b6 a2 47. Ra1
Kc6 48. g5 $1 {excellent from Vlad. Finally he gets to activate his LSB} fxg5
49. Bg4 Be8 $2 {A little too much.} (49... Bxg4 50. Kxg4 Kxb6 51. h6 Bf6 52.
Bxg5 Bh8 53. Kf5 Ra7 54. Kg6 Kb5 55. Bd2 {boils down to a draw, as neither
side can queen their pawn.}) 50. Be6 $1 $18 Kxb6 51. Kg4 c4 52. h6 cxd3 53.
cxd3 Bb5 54. Rxa2 Rxa2 55. Bxa2 Bxd3 56. Kf5 Bf8 57. h7 Bg7 58. Bxg5 Bc2 59.
Bd5 {Last preparation before the king march.} d3 60. Kg6 Bh8 61. Kf7 Kc5 62.
Kg8 Bf6 63. Bxf6 d2 64. h8=Q d1=Q 65. Kf7 Bd3 66. Qh2 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,60,31,18,32,-6,3,15,13,14,41,9,12,-56,-28,-33,-38,-26,-23,-35,-41,-46,
-17,-6,-18,-29,-14,-14,2,-13,-1,18,-7,-74,-44,-79,-56,-69,-62,32,-50,-121,-97,
-122,-102,-111,-111,-134,-130,-125,-107,-131,-133,-137,-148,-167,-159,-154,
-162,-215,-231,-437,-458]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6.
Bh4 dxc4 7. a3 $6 {The choice of this risky line is understandable, as
Shakhriyar is still looking for his first win in 2019.} Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nbd7 {[#]
} 9. e3 (9. Qa4 O-O 10. Qxc4 c5 11. e3 b6 {appears safe for Black.}) (9. Nd2 b5
10. a4 c6 11. e4 {is logical, but Black can immediately interfere with White's
plan of e4-e5 and Ne4-d6:} e5 $1) 9... b5 10. a4 c6 11. Qb1 a6 12. Be2 O-O 13.
O-O Qe8 14. Re1 (14. e4 e5 (14... Bb7 {is good enough.}) 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Qc1
Kh7 17. Nh4 $13) 14... Nd5 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. e4 N5f6 17. Bf1 {The white bishop
is very ineffective here, it should have been on c2.} c5 $1 18. Rab1 Qc8 $1 {
Excellent play from Vidit.} 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxb5 Bxe4 21. Qd2 (21. Rxe4 Qc6 {
as the point.}) 21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 Qc6 23. Bxc4 cxd4 24. Qxd4 Rfc8 25. Rb4
Qxf3 $19 {White's position lies in ruin.} 26. Bg3 Ra3 27. Rc1 Nd5 28. Bxd5 exd5
29. Rd1 Nf6 30. Be5 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,99,19,38,60,69,57,50,75,53,48,15,12,23,11,9,45,23,25,39,46,10,29,16,
24,20,19,21,15,34,42,28,74,70,63,56,49,57,72,78,129,109,109,125,112,84,102,43,
17,20,16,76,75,55,71,63,70,77,76,43,43,86,43,9,63,71,56,19,27,28,46,64,69,47,
91,91,119,114,119,106,106,28,128,63,83,128,264,269,269,235,274,268,271,292,285,
283,281,304,305,300,300,295]} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. c3 h6 6.
Be2 Ne7 7. Nbd2 a5 8. a4 Nd7 9. O-O g5 {Maybe it's me, but I cannot wrap my
mind around Black's plan, particularly since he isn't going to castle
queenside because of the a7-a5 weakening move.} 10. Ne1 Qb6 11. Nd3 Bg7 ({Is} 
11... Ng6 12. Re1 c5 {a try here?}) 12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nbc5 Nxc5 14. Nxc5 Qc7 15.
f4 $1 $16 {[#] Of course Nepo plays all the right moves, and very fast at that.
} gxf4 16. Bxf4 b6 17. Nd3 c5 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. Be3 Rac8 $5 {An inspired pawn
sacrifice.} ({When in trouble trade rooks, said J.R. Capablanca.} 19... cxd4
20. cxd4 Rac8 21. g4 Be4 22. Rac1 Qd7 23. Nf4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8) 20. dxc5 bxc5
21. Bxc5 Rfe8 22. Kh1 (22. Qe3 $5 Bg6 23. Bb6 {going after the second pawn.})
22... Ng6 23. Bd4 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Bxe5 Qxe5 26. Bd3 Bxd3 27. Qxd3+ {
[#] Black's got himself a beautiful pawn structure. If he could only get the
queens off he'd go full Rubinstein on his opponent. The sad truth is, with the
queens on, his king is terribly weak.} f5 $6 {I don't like this one at all.} (
27... Kg8 28. Rae1 Qg5 29. Re3 Rc4 30. Rg3 Rg4 31. Rxg4 Qxg4 32. h3 Qxa4 33.
Qg3+ Kf8 34. Qg6 Re7) 28. Rae1 Qg7 29. Qa6 Ra8 30. Qd6 Rad8 31. Qc5 Ra8 32. Re2
Qd7 33. Rfe1 Ra6 34. h3 Rg8 35. b4 $1 axb4 36. cxb4 d4 {The e6-pawn must be
retained at all costs.} 37. b5 Rd6 38. b6 d3 39. Rd2 Rd5 40. Qb4 e5 41. Rc1 $1
Rd4 42. Qa5 Rxa4 43. Qxe5 $18 Re4 44. Qf6 Rg6 45. Rxd3 Rxf6 46. Rxd7+ Kg6 47.
Rb1 Rfe6 48. Rdd1 Re8 49. b7 Rb8 50. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Be2 Bg5 14. O-O Kh8
15. a3 Ne7 16. Ncb4 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. Qd3 Qc8 19. Rad1 a5 20. Qg3 h6 21. h3
Qc6 22. Qd3 Qd7 23. Qg3 Qc6 24. Qd3 Qd7 25. Qg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 a5 8.
a4 Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 O-O 11. O-O dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Nd7 14. Qe3
Re8 15. Rae1 Nf6 16. Re2 e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,141,19,31,14,-14,-11,0,0,6,43,66,55,20,15,4,22,24,11,11,35,6,7,-10,
-13,5,0,1,-12,-21,9,1,-9,-23,-23,-122,65,83,83,86,61,95,90,105,90,104,97,105,
112,95,109,105,105,106,110,102,111,77,111,93,100,98,81,71,108,109,90,90,70,61,
51,86,99,72,60,84,113,85,84,92,93,81,88,68,66,55,47,55,55,55,67,43,66,45,62,47,
68,54,74,76,171,102,137,135,135,152,153,179,197,193,271,271,277,277,266,256,
256,243,256,211,320,298,301,255,269,259,309,256,298,308,302,310,329,313,313,
278,276,287,271,235,295,587,587,587]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4
{Duda stays loyal to his tournament preparation, the Vienna had netted him 2
effortless draws in the tournament already.} 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 $5 {In the
first round Vidit played the traditional 6 Bg5 whereafter Duda surprised with
6...b5!? 7.a4 c5. Magnus follows Duda's game with Mamedyarov, where White
played the now popular pure pawn sacrifice, aiming for quick development.} Nxe4
7. O-O Nf6 $5 (7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 Nxc3 {gives Black even 2 extra pawns, but the
white initiative becomes overwhelming. Danish IM Steffen Pedersen and Swedish
GM Tiger Hillarp Pedersen showed me this idea way before it became popular,
and I managed to win a blitz game agasnt Van Wely in the German Team
Championship before forgetting about it, and being completely lost against
Pedersen himself in an blindfold event in Denmark 2007. Won by Magnus himself,
as it was organised in order to give him training for his first appearance in
the Melody Amber Tournament.} 9. Qb3 Nd5 10. Ba3 Nc6 11. Rfe1 Nce7 12. Bxe7
Nxe7 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 O-O 15. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 16. Rad1 Qf8 17. Ng5 {is the
basic tactical point, and my game against Pedersen from 2007.}) 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9.
Ne5 Rb8 {Obviously the line has evolved, and Black found more sensible
solutions than the early greedy attempts. 9...Rb8 is Caruana's choice against
Aronian from the Norway Chess tournament 2018, but obviously part of the
American's preparation for the candidates tournament. Funnily it was already
played by Magnus' second Laurent Fressinet in 2010, whose loss had nothing to
do with his position after the opening.} 10. Rd1 $5 {Aronian took on c6, and
Halkias played 10.d5. Magnus plays a less direct approach, but blitzed out the
following moves obviously still in his preparation. Duda knew the risks.
Playing Caruana's favourite line, which Magnus obviously must have prepared,
with hindsight might seem like a bad idea, but the young Pole showed numerous
times in Wijk that he is not afraid of a challenge.} O-O 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qxa7
{Quite a typical scenario in modern chess: White threatened a blitz attack by
sacrificing a pawn, Black choose a solid continuation, and now suddenly White
changes gears, now playing for a better pawn structure and a potentially
passed a-pawn.} Bd7 {Threatening a "perpetual" against White's queen with ...
Ra8/...Rb8.} 13. Qa4 c5 14. Qc2 {This is why White included 10.Rd1 0-0, he
needed the rook to protect the d4-pawn.} cxd4 15. Rxd4 Bc5 $6 {Magnus
mentioned in a video interview after the tournament that he recalled asking
some of his second trying to sell him on this concept and he asked why can
black not just go 15...Bc5 followed by 16...h6? Somebody switched on the
engine, and said 17.Bxh6 and 18.Qd2 is +1. But no one told me what this +1
consisted of.} 16. Rh4 $5 {It was notheworthy that the Norwegian supercomputer
"sesse" preferred 16.Rd1, aiming for more positional methods.} h6 $2 {Played
quickly, but walking straight into preparation. Or sort of preparation at
least:} 17. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 18. Qd2 {Blacks problem is that h6 cannot be
protected, and losing it basically leads to mate on h8.} Nh7 $1 {Or 18...Ne8
leading to the same thing.} (18... h5 19. Qg5+ Kh8 20. Ne4 $1 {also causes the
game to end immediately, so Black has to praise himself lucky things are
actually not worse than they are.}) 19. Qxh6 Bxf2+ $1 {Black sacrifices the
bishop to force an exchange of queens. White cannot decline with 20.Kh1 as the
bishop on f2 also threatens the white rook on h4.} 20. Kxf2 Qf6+ 21. Qxf6 Rxb2+
$1 {Not only did Black have a saving check forcing off the queens, but he even
manages to pick up a pawn as well with this intermezzo equalling the material
balance.} 22. Kg1 Nxf6 23. Rf1 $1 {Maybe this position does not look as much,
but White's initiative still is very threatening. As Magnus knew the machines
evaluated the sacrifice on h6 as advantageous for White, and he (correctly)
saw no better option than this, it meant he could enter this seemingly
innocent position with confidence.} Kg7 $5 {Duda realized his problems, and
went for a practical solution.} (23... Ne8 24. Rf3 f5 25. Rg3+ Ng7 {is the
computer's preferred line, but showing a considerable initiative for White
after} 26. Ne2 {followed by 27.Nf4 or 27.Nd4.}) 24. Rf3 {Black's problem is
the safety of his king. Rg3+ basically mating is the immediate threat.} Rg8 25.
Rhf4 $1 {Blacks last move has a dual purpose of providing an escape route via
f8 for the king, as well as then attacking g2 with the rook. White, however,
is just in time to start his own attack in the f-line and Duda is now forced
to give up material.} Bc6 26. Rxf6 $1 ({If} 26. Rg3+ $2 Kf8 27. Rxf6 {Black has
} Rxg3 28. hxg3 Rxg2+ {followed by ...Rc2 winning back the piece.}) 26... Bxf3
27. Rxf3 Rd8 {White has 2 minor pieces for the rook, but the reduced remaining
material as well as Black's activity makes it a kind of 50-50 situation if
Black can manage the draw or not.} 28. Rf2 Rb4 29. Bb5 $6 {Too ambitious. More
stable was 29.Bb3, but Magnus underestimated Black's strong resource at move
30.} Ra8 30. a4 c6 $1 31. Be2 ({Due to} 31. Bxc6 Rc8 $1 {winning a piece, Duda
now manages to push White's bishop away from b5, meaning the knight is forces
to stay at c3 to defend the pawn at a4.}) 31... Ra5 32. Rf3 f5 33. Kf2 Rc5 34.
Bd1 {Defending the pawn on a4, and thus releasing the knight on c3 of its
defensive duties.} e5 $6 {Logical, advancing the pawn exploiting that 35.Rxf5
can be met by 35...Rc3. However, it does weaken the f5 pawn, meaning Black
will have to advance it further and thus allow White's knight to permanently
settle on f4.} 35. Ne2 Kf6 36. Ra3 Rb1 37. Ke1 $1 {A good retreat, defending
the d1 bishop and not fearing 37...Rcd5 due to 38 Nc3! forking the black rooks.
} e4 38. g3 $1 ({Not falling for the trick} 38. a5 $2 Rbb5 39. a6 Ra5 $1 {
winning the white a-pawn.}) 38... Ke5 39. h4 Ra5 40. h5 c5 41. Kd2 c4 42. Kc2
Rb8 43. Kc3 Rb1 44. Kc2 Rb8 45. Kc1 Rb6 46. Bc2 Rd6 47. Nf4 {White's pieces
start landing on their ideal squares, even so breaking Black's resistance is
not at all easy.} Rc5 48. Re3 Kd4 49. Re1 Rh6 $6 {Here Duda did not realize it
was a crucial moment of the game, and just played a common sense move.} ({
He had his chance, as} 49... Kc3 $1 {would ensure counterplay sufficient for
serious drawing chances as after} 50. Ne2+ Kb4 {Black makes it much more
difficult for White to improve his position than in the game.}) 50. Kd2 $1 {
A very strong move either luring Black's pawn to c3, meaning b3 becomes
available for the white bishop, or as in the game, White's king gets to c3.}
Re5 51. Ne2+ Kc5 52. Rh1 $1 {Covering the h5-pawn and thus getting ready for
Kc3.} Re8 (52... Kb4 53. Ke3 $1 {intending Kd4 and Rb1+ becomes decisive.}) 53.
Kc3 Rg8 54. Rb1 $1 Rxh5 55. Bxe4 $1 Re8 56. Nf4 $1 {A fascinating tactical
sequence, despite the limited amount of material. Its end result is just the
elimination of the kingside pawns.} Rg5 57. Rb5+ Kd6 58. Bxf5 Rxg3+ 59. Kd4 $5
{Taking on c4 was also possible, but Magnus' idea with the previous moves was
aiming exactly for this position: material has been reduced even further, but
Black's king suddenly surprisingly finds itself under a devastating attack!}
Rg1 60. Rb6+ Ke7 $1 {The good thing from Black's perspective is that he avoids
getting mated. The problem is that the king ends up too far away from a8.} 61.
Ng6+ Kf7 62. Ne5+ Kg8 63. Nxc4 {Materialistic, at last.} Ra8 64. a5 Ra1 65. Rb5
Ra7 66. Be4 Rc7 67. Rf5 Kg7 68. Bc2 Rc1 69. Kc3 Rf7 70. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 {An
interesting observation was being made by the spectators following the game in
the live chat. This ending is generally a draw as proved by Tablebases. Here,
however, the black king is not close enough to a7, and with his next move
Magnus shuts down any black hope of stopping the a-pawn with his rook from a1:}
71. Na3 $1 {Now White's a-pawn queens trivially, and not wanting the world
champion to end the game by showing his skills mating with knight and bishop,
Duda resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 h6
9. h3 a5 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bb6 14. Ra2 f5 15. Ng3
Qf6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Nh5 Qf7 18. Rxe5 Nxc3 19. Rxe6 Nxd1 20. Re7 Rad8 21. Rae2
Nc3 22. R2e5 c6 23. Rxb7 Nd5 24. Rxf7 Rxf7 25. Re6 Kh7 26. Rxc6 Re7 27. Bxh6
gxh6 28. Bxd5 Rd6 29. Rxd6 Re1+ 30. Kh2 Bc7 31. g4 Bxd6+ 32. Kg2 Kg6 33. Ng3
Bxg3 34. Kxg3 Rd1 35. Bc4 Kf6 36. f3 Rg1+ 37. Kf2 Rh1 38. Kg2 Rd1 39. Kg3 Rg1+
40. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Svidler,P"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the penultimate round of the tournament - in terms of
results, an easy frontrunner for the worst tournament of Vladimir Kramnik's
life. He lost half of the first ten games, with no wins - all the while
completely determined to not allow himself back to the comfort zone of playing
'correct chess'. We've seen this from him before, but this time around, it
utterly failed to work. Knowing what we know now, it's much easier to
understand what he was trying to do, but watching (and commenting on) it live
was a very weird and jarring experience - a player I greatly admired
throughout my career seemingly losing his way. As a slight uptick in his
fortunes, he won in Rd 11, and in the game you have before you, he was playing
an opponent perhaps uniquely suited for him - Vladimir Fedoseev is also a
player who tries his damnedest to stir things up in every game he plays.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 {In most other cases, this
would be very bad news - the Re1 Anti Berlin is perhaps the driest of all the
trendiest openings. However, you could trust these two not to keep it buttoned
up for very long.} 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re2 $5 {
This move has been briefly made famous by Magnus playing it vs Karjakin in
their WC match - and then, somewhat surprisingly, it stayed silent for much of
2017, with no real traction among the top players. However, it is currently
enjoying a bit of a revival - MVL played it in the World R&B in 2017, and
Karjakin himself, Vitiugov, Navara, and Fedoseev himself employed it in 2018 -
with very good results.} Nc4 {The move chosen by Kramnik is also very sensible.
Black uses the fact that the c4 square is available temporarily to make sure
White doesn't have the d4-d5 options available to him, and establishes the
typical symmetry in the center. The knight will go to b6, and from there can
be rerouted to a number of posts.} (10... Nf5 11. d5 d6 12. Nd2 Bg5 13. c3 Bd7
14. Ne4 Bxc1 15. Rxc1 Nh4 16. Qd2 Ng6 {was seen in Vachier Lagrave-Wang Hao,
Riadh 2017}) ({But the main move remains} 10... b6 11. Re1 {, and now Black
chooses between and} Bb7 (11... Re8 12. Bf4 Rxe1 13. Qxe1 Qe7 14. Nc3 Bb7 15.
Qd2 $5 (15. Qxe7 Bxe7 16. a4 a6 {as in Carlsen,M (2857)-Karjakin,S (2769) New
York 2016 should be fine for Black, although Magnus was close to winning later
in the game}) 15... Ne4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Bxc7 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Bxd4 19. c3 Rc8
20. Bf4 Bf6 21. a4 d5 22. Be3 {, and White was a bit better in Navara-Sargsyan,
Batumi 2018}) 12. Bf4 (12. c3 Bg5 13. Na3 Bxc1 14. Qxc1 Qh4 {, and Black was
very comfortable in Karjakin-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 12... Ne4 {, which looks
the most natural. White scored 2.5/3 in the recent games, but I feel it's not
entirely to do with the results of the opening:} 13. Nd2 (13. c3 Bg5 14. Qc1
Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. f3 {- White eventually won in
Vitiugov-Ragger, Germany 2018, but Black has to be completely fine here}) (13.
Be3 Re8 14. Nd2 d6 15. Bd3 Qd7 16. Nf1 c5 $11 {Fedoseev,V (2724)-Karjakin,S 
(2763) Moscow 2018}) 13... Re8 14. c3 d6 15. Bb5 Re7 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. d5 Bf5
18. Bc6 Rb8 19. Qa4 a5 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rxe7 Bxc6 22. Qxc6 Bxe7 23. Re1 $14 {
1-0 (36) Fedoseev,V (2719)-Vokhidov,S (2480) St Petersburg 2018}) 11. b3 Nb6
12. c3 (12. a4 {is well met by} Nd5 $1 (12... d5 13. a5 Nd7 14. c3 Be7 15. Ba3
Bxa3 16. Nxa3 Nf6 17. f3 {is also not horrible, but you can make an argument
this is about as much as you can hope for in this line:}) 13. Re1 d6 $11) (12.
Nc3 d5 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Qd2 Bf5 16. Re1 Qd7 $11) 12... d5 13. Re1
{It feels a bit sad to spend this tempo if White will have to take on e8 next,
but the rook just doesn't belong on e2.} Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. a4 Be6 (15...
Bf5 {was also perfectly fine. However, there is not a lot to be said about
this position is things go according to 'norm'. White generally develops the
c1 bishop to f4, the knight goes to d2 and f3, and the only open file provides
for further simplifications. However, doing things quietly wasn't high on the
list of priorities for this game.}) 16. Na3 {This doesn't create any lasting
harm, but objectively I do believe something along the lines of} (16. Bf4 Qd7
17. Nd2 Nc8 18. Nf3 Nd6 {, and things are very level, was a wiser choice.})
16... Nc8 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Bd3 (18. Nb5 Bd8 {achieves nothing, and White
changes tack.}) 18... c6 19. Nc2 Ne7 20. Qd2 (20. Ne3 {would be a logical
follow up, but it allows} c5 {, and Black is instantly fine}) 20... Bf5 {
I think it's possible to take some stock here. Black has achieved the exact
thing he aims to in these positions - he either trades the light squared
bishops, or forces White to give up the b1-h7 diagonal - and he will have the 
(slightly) better of the remaining bishops. White is still fine, but you can
see the outlines of how Black will be playing for a win later,.} 21. Nb4 {
Swinging this knight over to d3 seems sensible, but resolving the issue of the
f4 bishop should probably take precedence. It's notable that the computer
begins suggesting to move it all the way to a3, for instance:} (21. Bxf5 Qxf5
22. g3 $5 {preemptively safeguarding the kingside from the jumps of the g6
knight} (22. Re1 {(or} Ng6 23. Bd6 h5 24. g3 h4 25. Ba3 h3 26. Ne3) 22... Ng6
23. Bd6 Rd8 24. Ba3 Bg5 25. Qe2 {, and with the bishop out of the way, White
can fight for the control over the e file - or trade along it.}) 21... Ng6 22.
Bg3 ({Sadly, trading all the bishops off is not an options anymore:} 22. Bg5 $2
a5 $1 23. Bxf6 axb4 24. Bg5 bxc3 25. Qxc3 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 Qg4 {and Black is
significantly better.}) 22... Re8 23. a5 h5 24. h3 h4 25. Bh2 {Another five
moves, and Black has assumed control, but the big issue remains - the
structure is so symmetrical, and the material so limited, that it's hard to
make any significant progress.} Bxd3 ({An interesting little turning point. It
makes definite sense to start with} 25... a6 {, and there will be lines where
the a5 pawn will cause White issues, but it also locks the queenside
completely. After} 26. Bxf5 (26. Re1 $2 {would be a mistake:} Rxe1+ 27. Qxe1
Bd8 $1 {, and White's in trouble} 28. Bxf5 Qxf5 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Qxd8 Qb1#)
26... Qxf5 27. Nd3 {White will never have any real active ideas - the knight
on d3 needs to watch for the incursions via the f4 square, and won't really
reach c5 - but there is no way to make inroads, and White should hold
comfortably.}) 26. Nxd3 (26. Qxd3 Bg5 {is not an improvement.}) 26... Qf5 27.
a6 {And Fedoseev bites. This move has obvious merits - in endgames the fixed
pawn on a7 and ideas of Bb8 will be important sources of counterplay - but it
also gives Black new ideas, c6-c5 in particular.} ({After} 27. Qd1 Bg5 28. Ra2
{Black would still struggle to come up with a plan.}) 27... b6 28. Bd6 ({
You can understand why Fedoseev didn't want to wait passively, but the
inclusion of a6 and b6 gave him an option of going for forced lines:} 28. Re1
Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 {would still hold:} Qc8 (29... Qb1 30. Bb8 Qa1 31. Qe2 b5 32.
Kh2 {- a typical idea here, White is more interested in activating his pieces
than in keeping immediate material balance} Qxa6 33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Qxf7 Qa2 35.
Nf3 {, and White is fine now that all of his pieces are in play.}) 30. Qe2 b5
31. Nf3 Qxa6 32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Be5 Qb7 34. b4 {, and once again the piece
activity easily compensates for the loss of the a pawn.}) 28... Bg5 29. Qd1 Qe4
{Black is fully extended, but he's still struggling to make inroads. However,
with time trouble encroaching, White starts to go astray.} 30. Ra2 {A logical
move, but also one that creates a temporary issue with the back rank.} Qe6 $1 {
A very unpleasant move to be facing in time trouble.} 31. Bc7 $2 ({It was easy
to see that} 31. Bh2 {is bad because it allows} c5 $1) ({However, steeling
yourself to play} 31. Qg4 $1 {is not easy. It would have held, though: after
the queen trade the bishop on d6 becomes very good, and} Qxd6 32. Qxg5 Re4 33.
Ra1 $1 {is also fine - White is in time to start fighting for the e-file, and
force more trades.}) 31... c5 $1 {Now White is in real trouble. The bishop on
c7 is badly misplaced, and White is struggling to re-establish coordination.
The immediate threat is 32...Bf6, and the White center will start crumbling.
You also need to watch out for c4 ideas.} 32. Qg4 (32. dxc5 bxc5 33. Nxc5 Qc6 {
loses on the spot.}) 32... Qe7 33. dxc5 ({Perhaps White hoped to play} 33. Bd6
{here, but it runs into} Qxd6 34. Qxg5 c4 $1 35. bxc4 dxc4 36. Qb5 Qe6 $1 37.
Nb4 Nf4 {, and White is under severe pressure on the abandoned kingside.})
33... bxc5 34. Ba5 {This natural move ought to have lost the game quite
quickly, but even after the best} (34. Ra1 $1 Bd2 $1 35. Ba5 $8 Ne5 36. Qf5
Nxd3 37. Qxd3 Bf4 $1 38. Rf1 Qe6 {White is in a lot of pain:} 39. b4 c4 40. Qd4
Bb8 41. Qxh4 Qxa6 {, and the bishop on a5 is a sorry sight.}) 34... Ne5 35.
Nxe5 (35. Qd1 Nxd3 36. Qxd3 Qe1+ 37. Qf1 Bf6 $1 {is hardly an improvement -
the bishop is once again totally out of play, and Black should win comfortably}
38. Ra1 Qe4) 35... Qxe5 36. Ra1 Re6 {Very natural and strong - cutting the d7
square from the queen, improving the rook position, hitting the a6 pawn. But
mainly it's impossible to suggest a move for White.} 37. Rd1 (37. Bc7 Qxc3 $1 {
is hopeless.}) 37... Bd2 $2 {But in severe mutual time trouble, Kramnik goes
for a pretty move which gives White new hope. After the quiet} (37... Be7 $1 {
, creating the unstoppable threat of Bd6, White would be hard pressed to get
to the time control alive.}) 38. Qxh4 Rxa6 (38... Rf6 39. Bc7 $1 {this typical
idea, distracting the queen so that the bishop on d2 can be taken, saves White
here:} Qe2 40. Qg4 $1 Qxf2+ 41. Kh2 $11) 39. g3 $2 {Zeitnot mistakes continue.
Fedoseev decides he needs more breathing space for his king, using the fact
that Qd8+ indirectly protects the bishop on a5. But there is no time for that.
He needed to bring the bishop back into play asap: after} (39. Qd8+ $1 Kh7 40.
Bc7 Qe4 (40... Qe2 {is well met by} 41. Qh4+ Rh6 42. Qg4 $1 Qxg4 43. hxg4 Bxc3
44. Rxd5 $11) 41. Kh2 $1 {(once again recreating the threat of Rxd2)} Qe2 42.
Rg1 Qxf2 43. Qxd5 {White will hold.}) 39... f6 $2 {A very logical move - but a
wrong one. However, it's hard to criticize that decision since the way to
refute it is almost impossible to find on move 40, under severe pressure.} ({
Instead,} 39... Rf6 $1 {would have won on the spot - it turns out that g3 is a
fatal weakness, since the threat of Qe2 is now much much stronger.} 40. Bc7 (
40. Qg4 Be1 $1 {is a variation on the same theme}) 40... Qe2 41. Rf1 Bxc3 {
, and Black will win easily}) 40. Bc7 $2 {This looks very logical, but turns
out to lose by force - and Kramnik won't make any more mistakes. White needed
to play} (40. Qa4 $1 {- but a move like that, voluntarily pinning your own
queen, is extremely difficult to even consider. However, it turns out that
Black can't really improve here:} Qe2 (40... Re6 41. Qg4 {, and White is
suddenly fairly well coordinated}) (40... c4 41. Qd7 $1 (41. Qb5 Re6 42. bxc4
Be3 {is much riskier}) 41... Kh7 (41... cxb3 $2 42. Qc8+) (41... Rxa5 42. Qd8+)
42. Bc7 {, and once again the White pieces start to play together.}) 41. Qg4 $1
{, and the queen triumphantly returns to its best outpost, with equality.})
40... Qxc7 $1 {Seems strange at first - allowing the bishop trade that White
begged for - but the remaining two heavy pieces are enough to create a winning
mating attack.} 41. Rxd2 Ra1+ 42. Kg2 Qe5 $1 {With this move, it becomes
obvious White's pieces are too poorly placed to prevent the incursion along
the 1st rank.} 43. Qf4 $8 (43. Qg4 Qe1 44. Qc8+ Kh7 45. Qf5+ g6 $1 46. Qd7+ Kh6
{is NOT a perpetual}) 43... Qe1 44. Kf3 Qh1+ 45. Kg4 Re1 $1 {This, and the
next move, are the only winning moves Black has - but they're very logical.
The deadly threat of Re4 forces White to make further concessions.} 46. Qd6 ({
We will see the position after} 46. f3 Re5 {later.}) 46... Qe4+ {Black had an
immediate win here:} (46... Re5 $1 47. f4 d4 $3 48. Qd7 (48. cxd4 Re3 {[%emt 0:
00:09] is mate in 9 - the point of including d4 was to deny White the saving
49.Qxd5+ here}) (48. fxe5 Qe4+ 49. Kh5 Qf5+ 50. Kh4 Qg5#) 48... Qe4 {and the
king will get hunted down. But the text move spoils nothing.}) 47. Qf4 Qh1 48.
f3 {A somewhat curious decision not to repeat in a bad position - perhaps
Fedoseev had seen the Re5 f4 d4 line by that point? However, this is also very
bad.} Re5 $1 49. h4 a5 {This move, while perfectly fine, will force Black to
make a couple of precise decisions. Instead, he could have chosen} (49... Qb1
$1 {, which leads to an almost zugzwang position - White has no constructive
ideas at all, and Black will have a choice of winning by going after the king,
or picking up on b3 at his leisure}) 50. Rd3 $1 {Now the threat of Qd2 demands
attention, but Kramnik is more than equal to the task:} Kf7 $1 51. Qd2 (51. Re3
{loses to two very different things: a brute force approach - 51...g5! - wins
the rook, while} Qc1 $1 52. Rxe5 Qxf4+ 53. Kxf4 fxe5+ 54. Kxe5 c4 $1 55. bxc4
a4 $1 {creates an unstoppable passer}) 51... Kg6 $1 {Locking the king on g4
even further.} 52. Re3 $8 (52. Rxd5 f5+ 53. Kf4 Re4+ 54. fxe4 Qxe4#) 52... Rg5+
$1 53. Kf4 (53. hxg5 Qh5+ 54. Kf4 Qxg5#) 53... Rf5+ 54. Kg4 Rg5+ 55. Kf4 Qh3 $1
{After gaining some time, Kramnik goes in for the kill} 56. g4 Qxh4 57. Qc2+
Kf7 58. Re2 g6 (58... Qh3 $1 {, creating an unstoppable threat of Rxg4, was
cuter:} 59. Qb1 (59. Ke3 Rxg4) 59... Rxg4+ $1 60. fxg4 g5+ 61. Kf5 Qh7# {
But Kramnik's move is just as winning.}) 59. Qd1 Re5 60. Rxe5 Qh2+ ({Or} 60...
fxe5+ 61. Ke3 (61. Kxe5 Qf6+ $1 62. Kxd5 Qd8+) 61... d4+ 62. Ke4 Qf2 {, and
White is helpless.}) 61. Ke3 Qxe5+ 62. Kd3 {This endgame has to be winning for
Black if he plays slowly - but the ex-World Champion had a concrete idea when
aiming for it:} d4 $1 {The final blow - creating more threats before White has
time to consolidate} 63. Qd2 {Loses quite simply, but keeping the queens on
didn't give any hope either:} (63. Kc2 dxc3 64. Qd7+ Kf8 65. Qd8+ Kg7 66. Qd7+
Kh6 $19) 63... dxc3 64. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 65. Kxc3 Ke6 66. Kc4 Kd6 {As is often the
case, the side with an extra pawn wins the pawn endgame.} 67. f4 (67. Kb5 Kd5
68. Kxa5 c4 {requires no explanation.}) 67... Kc6 68. f5 gxf5 69. gxf5 Kd6 {
And once again. White resigned. A typical Kramnik game in many respects - a
solid opening, followed by subtly outplaying his opponent from a seemingly
very even position. After the horror show of the first ten rounds of Wijk 2019,
the two wins in a row brought back the memories of Vladimir's best chess.
However, Round 13 did not continue the trend - with White against Shankland,
he pressed very hard, got into trouble, then saved the game by very
resourceful defence, only to throw it all away by declining an obvious draw in
a position he must have known he had no hopes of ever winning. Covering it
live, we were completely flummoxed - why would he do that to himself? And then,
a few days after the event was over, we got our answer. Wijk aan Zee was to be
Kramnik's final classical tournament. Knowing he decided to retire before the
tournament even started, it's much easier to understand the 'all-in' approach
he stuck to throughout the event, even if watching it live was at times
difficult. The announcement also means that, unless he decided to reverse this
decision, the game you've just played thru is the last ever classical victory
Kramnik will produce - a great pity, since the chess world is much the richer
with Kramnik playing well (or, if we're honest, simply playing). It's been a
privilege to watch him play, and sometimes play alongside him - and I'm still
struggling to imagine the chess world without VK in it.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. g4 Be6 8. h3
Nd7 9. Bd3 h5 10. gxh5 Ndf6 11. h6 Nxh6 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Nf3 Bf5 14. Ne5 Bxd3
15. Nxd3 Nh5 16. Bh2 Qxh3 17. O-O-O Qf5 18. Qb3 b5 19. f3 O-O 20. e4 Qxf3 21.
Ne5 Qe3+ 22. Kb1 b4 23. Nxc6 bxc3 24. Nxe7+ Kh7 25. Rhe1 Qf2 26. Be5 f6 27. Bd6
Rfd8 28. Bc5 Qxb2+ 29. Qxb2 cxb2 30. exd5 Rd7 31. d6 Ng3 32. Kxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. h3 e6 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 b5 8. e5 b4
9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 d5 11. Bd3 c5 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 Qa5 14. Bd2 Qa3 15. Qe2
Bh6 16. Rb1 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 c4 18. Bc2 Rb8 19. Rxb8 Nxb8 20. h4 h6 21. h5 g5 22.
Nh2 Nc6 23. Ng4 Na7 24. Bd1 Nb5 25. Rh3 Bd7 26. f4 gxf4 27. Qxf4 Qf8 28. Qf6
Bc6 29. a4 Na7 30. Rf3 Nc8 31. Bc2 Ne7 32. Bg6 Kd8 33. Bxf7 Kc7 34. Qxe6 Nc8
35. Qf6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Bd3 d6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. Nbd2 Qc7 8. c3
e5 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Ng3 b6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bd2 Bb7 14. a4 Rad8 15. Qc1
Kh7 16. b4 d5 17. dxe5 Nxe4 18. Bf4 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Qf4 f5
22. f3 g5 23. Qe3 f4 24. Qf2 fxg3 25. Qxg3 Kg7 26. fxe4 d4 27. cxd4 Rxd4 28.
Rf1 c5 29. bxc5 bxc5 30. Rab1 Bc6 31. Rf5 Re7 32. e5 Qd8 33. Rxg5+ hxg5 34.
Qxg5+ Kh8 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Qg6+ Rg7 37. Qe6+ Rf7 38. Bh7+ Kxh7 39. Qxf7+ Kh8
40. Rb8 Qxb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Qb3 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Rb8 8. a3
Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. Qc2 Qd7 11. Rg1 Na5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. b4 Nc4 14. Nxd5 Nxd5
15. Bxc4 Bh4 16. f5 Rfe8 17. Kf1 Nf6 18. f3 Qc6 19. Kg2 Rbd8 20. b5 Qd7 21. Kh3
g5 22. e4 Qxd4 23. Bxg5 Bxg5 24. Rxg5+ Kh8 25. Rag1 Nxe4 26. fxe4 Rxe4 27. Bxf7
Rh4+ 28. Kg2 Qf6 29. Kh1 Qxf7 30. Qg2 Rhd4 31. f6 Rd1 32. Qf3 Rxg1+ 33. Rxg1
Qd5 34. Qxd5 Rxd5 35. f7 Rd8 36. Rc1 a6 37. bxa6 bxa6 38. Rxc7 Kg7 39. Ra7 Rd1+
40. Kg2 Rd2+ 41. Kg1 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Nf1 c6 11. Bf4 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Na6 13. Ne3 Nc7 14. Rad1
Ne6 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. g3 Re8 17. c4 dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qc7 19. Qa4 b5 20. Qc2 Bf8
21. Ng4 Rad8 22. Re5 h6 23. Re3 Rd6 24. Nge5 Red8 25. Rc1 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 Rxd4
27. Qb3 Rb4 28. Qc3 Rbd4 29. Qb3 Rb4 30. Qc3 Rbd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
exd5 O-O 9. O-O cxd5 10. Qf3 c6 11. Bg5 Bd6 12. Rae1 Rb8 13. Nd1 h6 14. Bxf6
Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. b3 Kg7 17. Ne3 Re8 18. Nf5+ Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Re5 20. Bd3
Bb4 21. Re3 Rxe3 22. fxe3 Re8 23. Rf3 Bc5 24. Kf2 Re5 25. g4 h5 26. gxh5 Rxh5
27. h3 Re5 28. Ke2 a5 29. Kd2 Bb4+ 30. c3 Bc5 31. Ba6 Bb6 32. Bc8 c5 33. Rf5
Kg6 34. Rxe5 fxe5 35. Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Kh8
15. Bg4 Bb7 16. Ncb4 Nxb4 17. cxb4 g6 18. a4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Bc6 20. Be2 Bxa4 21.
Qxa4 f5 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Bd3 Rf8 24. Qxa6 Bd2 25. Qc4 Qc8 26. Qe4 Bxb4 27.
Nxb4 Rf4 28. Qc6 Rfxb4 29. Qxd6 Qf8 30. Qxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 g6 4. Qa4 d4 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 Nd7 7. O-O Nh6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. b4 e5 10. c5 a6 11. Nc4 f6 12. Qb3 Nf7 13. e3 dxe3 14. Bxe3 Kh8 15. Rae1
Re8 16. Na5 Re7 17. d4 e4 18. Nd2 f5 19. d5 cxd5 20. Qxd5 Qe8 21. c6 Nf6 22.
Qc5 bxc6 23. Ndc4 Be6 24. Rc1 Bd5 25. Bd4 Rb8 26. a4 Re6 27. Nb6 Bf8 28. Qc3
Kg8 29. Nac4 Nd7 30. a5 Nd6 31. Nxd6 Bxd6 32. Rfd1 Nxb6 33. axb6 Be5 34. Bxe5
Rxe5 35. Qe3 Qf7 36. Ra1 Qb7 37. Qd4 Re7 38. b5 cxb5 39. Qxd5+ Qxd5 40. Rxd5
Rxb6 41. Rd8+ Kf7 42. Ra8 Ree6 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. Rxh7 b4 45. Rc7 b3 46. Bf1 Rec6
47. Rxc6+ Rxc6 48. Rb1 Rb6 49. Bc4 b2 50. Ba2 a5 51. Kf1 a4 52. Ke2 a3 53. Kd2
Rc6 54. h4 Ke5 55. Re1 Kd4 56. Bb1 Rc3 57. Rh1 Rd3+ 58. Kc2 Rc3+ 59. Kd2 Rf3
60. Ke2 Rd3 61. h5 gxh5 62. Ke1 Rc3 63. Kd2 f4 64. Ba2 e3+ 65. fxe3+ fxe3+ 66.
Ke2 Rc2+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. g4
d5 9. e5 Nfd7 10. g5 Qb6 11. a3 h6 12. Be3 hxg5 13. f5 Nxe5 14. Nxe6 Qxe3 15.
Nxd5 Nf3+ 16. Kf1 Nd2+ 17. Ke1 Nf3+ 18. Kf1 Nd2+ 19. Ke1 Nf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bf4 d6 14. Nd2
Be6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Qd2 c6 17. Bd3 Qd7 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 h6 20. Bf4 g5 21.
Bxf5 Bxf5 22. Bg3 d5 23. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. e4 a6 7. Bxc4 Rb8 8.
Qc2 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Bf4 Rc8 11. d5 exd5 12. O-O-O d4 13. Nxd4 Nh5 14. Be3 c5
15. Nf5 g6 16. Be2 Ng7 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Rxd6 Qe7 19. Rhd1 Bc6 20. Rxd7 Bxd7
21. Nd5 1-0

