[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ {If Black intends to play the ...Bxd2+
Bogo-Indian (a specialty of Ulf Andersson, which speaks about the rock-solid
nature of the variation), this is the most restrictive move order.} (3... d5 {
. prematurely defining the structure in the centre,} 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ {
is considered to be less accurate, because it gives White the additional
possibility of} 6. Nxd2 (6. Qxd2 {would transpose to the game.}) 6... O-O 7.
Ngf3 c6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qc2 {, preparing e2-e4.}) 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 {The
most active continuation, retaining the possibility of developing the knight
to c3.} (5. Nxd2 {speeds up the queenside development, but once the control
over the d5-square and the pressure along the d-file have been weakened, Black
can switch to a dark-squared strategy>} d6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Ngf3 c5 $5 {The
favourite continuation of Ulf Andersson.} 8. O-O Nc6 ({Abstractly speaking, I
like this better than Andersson's more recent choice:} 8... cxd4 {, which
releases the tension in the centre too soon to my taste. Maybe he wanted to
play more provocatively, in order to generate some winning chances.} 9. Nxd4
Qb6 10. N2b3 Rd8 $132 {Nyback,T (2563)-Andersson,U (2565)/Germany 2006/CBM (1/
2, 19)}) 9. Nb3 ({It can be felt that this knight does not have favourable
squares.} 9. e3 {is also harmless:} cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. exd4 Qb6 12. Nb3 Bd7
13. Qd2 {1/2 Tukmakov,V (2550)-Andersson,U (2630)/Wijk aan Zee 1984/MCL}) 9...
Qe7 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. Rad1 b6 12. Nc1 Rac8 13. b3 {White has more space, but his
coordination is far from perfect.} e5 $1 {A well-timed start to strategic
counterplay on the dark squares.} 14. d5 Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Qd3 Rfe8 17.
Rde1 Ng4 18. h3 {1/2 Nikolic,P (2625)-Andersson,U (2620)/Ter Apel 1994/CBM. I
guess that a more aggressive player would have kept playing, because Black's
position is very active:} Ne5 19. Qc2 (19. Qd2 b5 $15) 19... Qf6 $15 {[%cal
Gb6b5]} (19... b5 20. e4) 20. e4 $2 Nf3+ $1 $19) 5... d5 (5... d6 {is held to
be less adequate here. I am not an expert in this line with Black and have had
this type of position with White several times. However after a brief
examination of what is considered to be the main line I could not find a clear
reason why Black should be worried:} 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Nc3 e5 9. O-O Bg4
10. d5 Ne7 11. Ne1 Qd7 {A natural developing move, preparing the exchange of
bishops, which would simplify Black's problems of coordination given his
relative lack of space.} (11... c6 {may be premature:} 12. dxc6 $5 bxc6 13. Nd3
Qc7 14. Rac1 Be6 15. b3 Rab8 16. Kh1 Rfe8 17. e4 c5 18. f4 Nc6 19. Nd5 $36 {
Kortschnoj,V (2595)-Larsen,B (2560)/Hastings 1988/CBM (1-0, 44)}) ({Black is
not well prepared for the KI type of counterplay:} 11... Nd7 12. Nd3 f5 13. f3
Bh5 14. e4 Bg6 15. f4 $1 $14 {Belavenets,S-Kaiev,L/Kiev 1938/EXT (1-0, 41)})
12. e4 Bh3 13. Nd3 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 c6 $1 {Now is a good moment to open the
c-file.} 15. f3 cxd5 16. cxd5 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 {1/2 Kharitonov,A (2550)-Loginov,V
(2525)/Kazan 1995/CBM. Black seems to be absolutely fine here.}) 6. Bg2 c6 7.
Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O b6 {Black usually plays this move only after castling.} (8...
O-O 9. Qc2 (9. Rc1 {may well transpose to our main game.}) 9... b6 10. Nbd2 {
(We can see that White has lost a whole tempo if compared to the line from the
note to 3...Bb4+)} Bb7 11. b4 a5 12. a3 axb4 (12... Qe7 13. c5 {Dautov,R (2617)
-Short,N (2684)/Bled 2002/ EXT 2003/[Dautov] (1/2, 26)}) 13. axb4 dxc4 14. Nxc4
c5 {Van Wely,L (2575) -Andersson,U (2630)/Ter Apel 1995/CBM 047/[Hansen,LB] (1/
2, 37)}) 9. Rc1 {(N) Strictly speaking, this is a novelty, but it may have
transposed later.} (9. a4 O-O 10. Rc1 a5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nc3 Ba6 $11 {
Hammer,J (2633) -Mchedlishvili,M (2628)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (1/2, 31)}) (9. b3
Bb7 10. Nc3 h6 11. Rac1 O-O 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nd6 Qb8 15. Nxb7 (15.
Qb4 {is slightly more consistent:} a5 16. Qa3 Rd8 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne8 19.
Nxb7 Qxb7 {White is slightly more active, but Black needs just a couple of
tempi to get his knight into play.}) 15... Qxb7 16. Rc2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Ne4 18.
Qd3 a5 $11 {Shen,Y (2452) -Chiburdanidze,M (2514)/Jermuk 2010/CBM 137 Extra (1/
2, 21)}) 9... Bb7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 $146 {(!?) Although the position after White's
previous move has never been seen in practice, we can state that only Black's
last move is a conceptual novelty. I find the exchange on e5 premature,
because it allows White define his plan for the next phase of the game.} (10...
O-O {would transpose to a position that has occured in practice already.} 11.
cxd5 cxd5 12. Nc3 $5 $146 {This looks like the most logical mve to me,
although Black's defensive resources are not to be underestimated.} (12. Nd3
Qe7 13. Rc7 Rfb8 14. Na3 Ne8 15. Rc2 Rc8 $11 {Cornette,M (2543)-Chernuschevich,
A (2497)/Belfort 2010/CBM (1/2, 17)}) (12. Nc6 Bxc6 13. Rxc6 Rc8 14. Rxc8 Qxc8
15. Nc3 Qb8 16. e3 Rc8 17. Rc1 Ne8 18. b3 Nd6 $11 {Atalik,S (2584)-Stojanovic,
D (2473)/Sarajevo 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2, 55)}) 12... Qe7 (12... Rc8 $6 {
[%csl Ga7]} 13. Nb5 $16) (12... a6 {[%csl Gb6]} 13. Na4 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15.
Qd4 $14) (12... Nxe5 $6 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4 a5 15. Nb5 {transposes to the game.
}) 13. Nb5 a6 14. Rc7 Rfb8 $1 {It may seem that White is about to lose his
initiative, but the tactical resources have not been exhausted yet:} 15. Qg5 {
[%cal Gc7d7,Gg5e7]} h6 ({It is important to drive the enemy queen away from
the control of the c1-square:} 15... Qb4 $2 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Rxd7 Qxb2 18. Rc1
$1 $18 {[%cal Gc1c7]}) 16. Qh4 Qb4 {[%cal Gb4b5] The only way to stay alive.} (
16... Qd8 $2 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Qxd8+ Rxd8 19. Nd6 $1 $18 {[%csl Gb7]}) 17. Nxd7
$1 (17. Nd3 $5 {is elegant, but harmless:} Qe7 (17... Qxb5 $2 18. a4 Qb3 19.
Rc3 $16) 18. Na3 (18. Ne5 Qb4 {leads to a repetition.}) 18... Qd8 $11) 17...
Nxd7 18. Rxd7 Qxb2 (18... Qxb5 $2 19. Qe7 $18) (18... Bc6 19. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7 20.
Nc7 $36) 19. Nd6 $3 ({Possibly not the only way.} 19. Re1 Qd2 20. Kf1 Bc6 21.
Rxf7 Kxf7 22. Nc7 Ra7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qe5 Kh8 25. Nxe6 $44) 19... Qxa1+ 20.
Bf1 Bc6 $8 21. Rc7 Be8 $8 22. Qf4 {[%cal Gd6e8,Gf4f7,Gf7g7]} Kh8 ({The only
reasonable alternative is} 22... Kh7 {, but the king is safer on h8.}) 23. e3
$1 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gg1g2]} (23. Nxe8 $2 Rxe8 24. Qxf7 Qxd4 $19) 23... Qe1 24.
Kg2 {[%cal Gf1d3] /\Bd3->} Qd2 25. Nxf7+ Bxf7 26. Rxf7 $36 {In any case, play
would have been double-edged, which will not be the case in the game.}) 11.
dxe5 Nd7 12. f4 O-O {Now and on the next move, Black cannot avoid passive
symmetry.} (12... dxc4 $6 13. Rxc4 $16 {[%cal Gc4d4,Gd4d6,Gb1c3,Ga1d1]}) 13.
cxd5 cxd5 (13... exd5 $6 14. Nc3 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Nc5 (14... f6 15. e6 Nc5 16. f5
$16) (14... f5 15. b4 $16) 15. b4 Ne6 16. b5 c5 17. Rd1 $1 $16 {[%csl Gd5]} (
17. Nxd5 $6 Nd4 18. e4 Nxb5)) 14. Na3 a5 {Aiming to consolidate the knight on
c5, but this will have a temporary character.} (14... Nc5 15. b4 Ne4 16. Bxe4
dxe4 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Nc4 (18. Rc7 Bd5 19. Kf2 a5 $132) 18... Bd5 19. Kf2 $16
{[%cal Gf2e3,Gc4d6]}) 15. Nb5 Nc5 (15... f6 $2 16. Nc7 $18) 16. Rc2 $1 {
White's play in this game is highly instructive. Having achieved a stable
advantage, he improves his position slowly, without forcing the events. I
cannot help thinking that Grischuk may have inspired by the game Kortschnoj,V 
(2617)-Grischuk,A (2669)/Biel 2001/CBM 085/[Tyomkin,D] (1-0, 49), in which
similar domination against the bad bishop was carried out.} f6 17. Qe3 fxe5 18.
Qxe5 Rf5 19. Qd6 {/\Rxc5} Rf6 20. Qe5 Rf5 21. Qe3 Qe7 22. Nd4 Rff8 23. Rac1 {
After a series of more or less forced moves, White finds a good moment to
complete his regrouping.} Qd6 24. b3 $1 {Preparing to dislodge the enemy
knight with a3 and b4.} ({The tempting} 24. Rxc5 {does not bring the desired
effects:} bxc5 25. Qxe6+ Qxe6 26. Nxe6 Rfc8 (26... Rfe8 $2 27. Nc7 $16) (26...
Rf6 27. Nc7 Rd8 28. Rxc5 $14) 27. Rxc5 Rxc5 28. Nxc5 Bc6 $11 {Having exchanged
a rook, Black is out of danger.}) 24... Rfe8 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 25. Qe5 $1 {
An accurate evaluation of the position. White needs to block the centre. Given
the danger of an intrusion along the c-file and the weakness of the e6-pawn,
Black will not be able to attack the relatively weak e5-pawn.} Qxe5 (25... Qe7
26. a3 $16) 26. fxe5 Bc8 $5 {[%csl Ge6] Since this bishop is passive anyway,
Black intends to use it for defensive jobs.} 27. Rc3 $1 {White gets ready for
a rapid transfer of the rooks from the c-file to the f-file.} ({There was
nothing wrong with the alternate move order:} 27. a3 Bd7 ({He may have wished
to avoid} 27... a4 28. b4 Nb3 {, but after} 29. Rd1 $16 {White consolidates
his advantage.}) 28. Rc3) 27... Bd7 28. a3 Rac8 29. Bh3 Kf7 30. b4 {Finally.
Black is helpless against White's strong initiative.} axb4 31. axb4 Na6 32.
Rf1+ Ke7 (32... Kg8 33. Ra3 Nxb4 34. Ra7 Rcd8 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxe6+ Rxe6 37.
Nxe6 Rf7 38. Rb1 $16) 33. Rcf3 Rf8 34. Rxf8 Rxf8 35. Rxf8 Kxf8 36. Bxe6 {
White has won a pawn, but Black still has some hopes, because his king is
better centralised than his rival. Grischuk's accurate play in the next phase
of the game proves that Black's counterplay is illusory, though.} Be8 (36...
Ke7 37. Bxd7 Kxd7 38. b5 Nc5 39. Kf2 Ne6 40. Ke3 $18) (36... Bxe6 37. Nxe6+ Kf7
38. b5 Nb4 39. Nd4 $18) 37. Nc2 Nc7 38. Bf5 g6 39. Bd3 Ke7 40. Nd4 Ne6 41. Nf3
Nd8 42. Kf2 Nc6 43. b5 Nd8 44. Ke3 Ne6 45. h4 $5 {White is in no hurry and is
enjoying his advantage.} (45. Nd4 {also is winning.} Bd7 46. Nxe6 Kxe6 47. Kd4
Bc8 48. e3 {[%cal Gd3f1,Gf1g2,Gf1h3]} Bb7 49. h4 $40) 45... h6 (45... Nc7 46.
Nd4 $18) (45... Bd7 46. Nd4 $18) 46. Nh2 (46. Nd4 $18) 46... Nc7 47. Ng4 Nxb5 (
47... h5 48. Nf6 $18 {[%csl Gd5,Gg6,Gh5]}) 48. Nxh6 Ke6 49. Ng4 d4+ 50. Kd2 Na3
51. e3 dxe3+ 52. Kxe3 b5 53. Kd4 b4 54. Nf6 Ba4 55. Nd5 b3 56. Nf4+ Kf7 57. Kc3
Nc2 58. Bxg6+ Kg7 59. Bxc2 bxc2 60. Kd2 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Milos,G"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. g4 {This is as good as 9.0-0-0 and 9.Bc4.} ({An important detail to
understand the variations without Bc4 is} 9. O-O-O Nxd4 (9... d5 {is
considered the move.}) 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Kb1 $1 {A very important move
preventing Black's idea ...Qa5-Rfc8.} Qa5 $2 12. Nd5 Qxd2 13. Nxe7+ $16) 9...
Nxd4 (9... Be6 {is an important alternative here,} {the modern game
Short-McShane 2010 followed} 10. Nxe6 (10. O-O-O {was the choice of Anand
against Kasparov in their match of 1995. Theory considers the position as
equal after} Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 $1 12. Kb1 {Threatening Nd5.} Rfc8 13. a3 (13.
Nd5 Qxd2 14. Nxe7+ $2 Kf8 {winning a piece.}) 13... Rab8) 10... fxe6 11. O-O-O
Rc8 12. Bc4 Qd7 13. Bb3 Na5 14. h4 Nc4 15. Qd3 Qc6 {with a double edged
position.}) 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Nd5 $1 {Karpov played this good idea against
Mestel in 1982. This is probably the only way to get an advantage.} (11. O-O-O
Qa5 $1) 11... Bxd5 12. exd5 Qc7 13. h4 Rac8 14. Rh2 $1 {Very good. Protecting
c2 and preparing to double in the h-file later.} (14. O-O-O $2 Nxd5) 14... e5 {
It is difficult to suggest another move for Black.} (14... Nd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7
16. O-O-O {followed by h5 with a strong attack.}) 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. O-O-O $1 {
An important detail.} ({The natural} 16. h5 {would be answered with} d5 $1 {
Mestel played ...Qc6 and lost against Karpov.} 17. O-O-O Ne4 18. fxe4 Bxd4 {
with good play for Black.}) 16... e5 {It seems that occupying the center with
pawns is not important in this position.} ({Black should play} 16... Nd5 $1 17.
Bxg7 (17. h5 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 g5) 17... Qxg7 {as in the game Oll-Georgiev Ki,
Biel, 1993. Black's king is more protected here and there is an importante
defensive idea here after} 18. h5 g5 $1) 17. Be3 Qf7 18. Kb1 d5 {Continuing
with the occupation of the centre.} ({An important and probably better option
was} 18... Nxg4 19. fxg4 Qxf1 {winning a pawn, but White can continue his
attack and is better after} 20. h5) 19. h5 e4 (19... d4 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Bh6 {
is excellent for White.}) (19... Nxg4 {is worse here than before.} 20. fxg4
Qxf1 21. Qxd5+ Qf7 22. hxg6 (22. Qd6 {is also good.}) 22... hxg6 23. Qxf7+ Rxf7
24. Bxa7 {with a clear pawn up.}) 20. hxg6 {This is good and human.} ({The
computer already gives a decisive advantage to White after the strange} 20. h6
Bh8 21. g5 Nh5 (21... Nd7 22. Rf2 exf3 23. Rxf3 Qxf3 24. Bg2 Qf5 25. Bxd5+ Rf7
26. Bxf7+ Qxf7 27. Qxd7) 22. Bh3 Rcd8 23. fxe4) 20... hxg6 21. Be2 Qe6 (21...
exf3 22. Bxf3 Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 {is a better defence but White is much better
after} 24. Rhh1 $1 {protecting the first rank and threatening Qh2.} (24. Rdh1
$2 Qf1+)) 22. Bd4 Rc7 23. Rdh1 {This is a dream for White. All pieces playing,
decisive attack and the king is completely protected.} Rff7 24. a3 {
Prophylaxis protecting the eight rank. Qg5 wins immediately.} b6 25. fxe4 {
From now on Grischuk plays perfectly until the end. There were other ways to
win but he gave no chances to his opponent.} Qxe4 (25... Nxe4 26. Rh8+ Bxh8 27.
Rxh8#) 26. g5 Nh5 (26... Nh7 27. Rh4 $1 (27. Rxh7 Qxd4) 27... Qe6 28. Rxh7 {
winning a piece.}) 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Bxh5 gxh5 29. Rxh5 Qc4 {Nakamura tries
some ideas but the position is completely lost.} 30. Qd1 Qe4 31. g6 Rfe7 (31...
Kxg6 32. Rg1+ Kf6 33. Rh6+ Ke5 34. Re1) 32. R5h4 Qe5 33. Rh7+ Kg8 34. R7h5 Qe4
35. Qd2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {Perhaps Vassily wanted
to avoid the Maroczy System in the event of 4...g6 5.c4. However, this line
looks a little bit weird, it could have been met effectively by 6.Nxc6.} 6. Be3
(6. Nxc6 {looks very attractive} bxc6 ({if} 6... dxc6 $6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bc4
Ke8 9. e5 Nd7 10. f4 {The computer considers the position to be absolutely
equal, but by human measures, in my view, it is more pleasant for White.}) 7.
e5 Ng8 8. Bc4 Bg7 9. Qf3 $1 {forces some weaknesses in Black's position.} f5
10. Bf4 e6 11. O-O-O {White has a huge advantage in development, and} (11. O-O
{is also nice.})) 6... Bg7 {Now one of the main line has arisen.} 7. Bc4 Qa5 (
7... O-O {is more popular.}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Bb3 (9. Nb3 {is another main line.})
9... d6 10. Nd5 {A rare, but ambitious move.} (10. h3 {is more popular amongst
the top players, for example:} Bd7 11. Re1 Rfc8 12. Qe2 Qh5 13. Nf3 h6 14. Rad1
g5 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 $1 Bxb2 17. Rb1 Bc3 $1 18. Rxb7 Bxh3 19. Nxg5 $1 Qxe2
20. Rxe2 Bg4 21. Nf3 e6 22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. Bxh6 {Carlsen-Radjabov, Medias 2010;
with a slight advantage.}) (10. f3 {was also played. This is a slightly
strange Dragon in which White has castled on the kingside.}) 10... Re8 {
A cold-blooded answer.} ({The natural} 10... Nxd5 {is also possible} 11. exd5
Ne5 (11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bf5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Re1 $14 {Hrabusa-Petrik, Banska
Stiavnica 2010. Thanks to the d5 P White has gained some space.}) 12. h3 Nd7 $5
{A very strange move, because the e5 N looks the only active piece in Black's
position and suddenly he retreats with it. But if we analyse deeply, that N
can be in trouble after f4.} 13. c3 Nf6 14. c4 Bd7 15. Qd3 (15. Re1 Rfe8 16.
Bd2 Qc5 17. Bc3 a6 18. Rc1 {+/=/= Williams-N.Pert, Canterbury 2010}) 15... Rfc8
16. Rfe1 Kf8 {(Bazeev-Gladyszev, St Petersburg 2011)} 17. Re2 $14 {and White
can improve his position.}) 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. c3 Ne5 {The plan is Ng4.} (12...
Bd7 13. f4 Qc7 (13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 ({after} 14. cxd4 {Black could equalise in
the game.} e6 15. e5 Bg7 16. Rc1 Bc6 17. Qd3 Rac8 18. Rfd1 Bd5 $11 {Basov-Hase,
corr 2003}) 14... Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Qc5 16. Rad1 Bb5 17. Rf2 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Kg7 19.
e5 dxe5 20. fxe5 f6 $5 (20... f5 {(Pavasovic-Barle, Bled 2008)} 21. Bd5 $14))
14. Qf3 ({The computer suggests} 14. Nb5 Qd8 15. Qd2 a6 16. Na3 {but this is
not a human plan to transfer the N from d4 to a3.}) 14... Na5 15. f5 Nxb3 16.
axb3 Kh8 {A strange move, but it is not so easy to find a useful plan for
Black.} 17. fxg6 fxg6 18. Qg3 $14 {Philippe-Maze, Belfort 2012; with slightly
better chances for White.}) 13. h3 Qa6 $5 {A very interesting move connected
with the next move.} 14. Nc2 Nd3 $146 {The first new move in the game, Black
immediately tries to exploit White's weak squares.} (14... Qc6 $6 15. Nb4 $1 (
15. Bd5 Qc7 16. Qe2 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nd4 Qc8 19. Rad1 $14 {Lacasa
Diaz-Raineri de Luca, Sitges 2002}) 15... Qxe4 16. Bd5 Qf5 17. f4 Nc6 18. Nxc6
bxc6 19. Bxc6 $16) 15. Qf3 (15. Qd2 $5 {was also interesting} Nxb2 $2 16. Nb4
Qa3 17. Rab1 Na4 18. Nc2 $18) 15... Be6 ({Here also} 15... Nxb2 $2 {is too
dangerous, because} 16. Nb4 Qa5 17. Nd5 $18) 16. Bd4 ({In the event of} 16.
Bxe6 fxe6 {is not a real weakness in Black's position.}) 16... Bxd4 17. Nxd4
Bc4 18. Rfb1 $5 {A very creative idea, White had to protect the b2 P and we
will see a few moves later, the R on a1 can be very useful.} Ne5 19. Qe3 Bxb3 (
{I think} 19... Rac8 {is more logical, because now the a1 R is out of play.})
20. axb3 {Now we can understand 18.Rfb1.} Qb6 21. Ra3 a6 22. Rd1 Rac8 23. Nc2
Qxe3 24. Nxe3 {This endgame gives a slight advantage for White and in a
practical game it is easier to play.} Nd7 25. f3 Kf8 26. Kf2 Rc6 27. g4 e6 28.
h4 Ke7 29. Ra5 Rec8 30. Kg3 h6 31. Rd2 Nc5 32. Ra3 a5 {An unexpected decision.
Black doesn't want to allow b4, but the a5 P and the b5-square can be a
weakness later.} 33. Nc2 $1 {Immediately heading to b5 square.} Ra6 34. Rd1
Rca8 35. Nd4 Kd7 36. Nb5 e5 $2 $138 {A mistake in big time trouble.} (36... Rb6
{was the best and after} 37. c4 a4 {and maybe Black can hope for some
counterplay.}) 37. b4 $1 axb4 38. cxb4 Ne6 39. Nxd6 {And here Ivanchuk lost on
time, but the position is already bad.} (39. Nxd6 Ke7 (39... Rxa3 40. bxa3 Nd4
41. Nb5 Ke7 42. Nxd4 exd4 43. Rxd4 Rxa3 44. Rd5 $16 {very close to a winning
endgame.}) 40. Nc4 f6 41. Rd5 $16) 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 20th"]
[Site "Loo"]
[Date "2013.04.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2013.04.07"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Saratov Economist SGSEU"]
[BlackTeam "Ekaterinburg Malakhit"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Nb3 Ne5 8. e4
Bb4 9. Qe2 d6 10. Bd2 O-O 11. O-O-O a5 12. f4 a4 13. Na1 Nc6 14. Nc2 a3 15. b3
d5 16. Bg2 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Ng4 19. Qf3 e5 20. f5 Nf6 21. Bg5 Qc5
22. Kb1 b6 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Rd5 Qe7 25. Rhd1 Ra5 26. Qe3 Nd4 27. Nxd4 exd4 28.
R1xd4 Bxf5 29. Rd6 Bg6 30. g4 Rc8 31. h4 h5 32. gxh5 Rxh5 33. Bh3 Re8 34. Qg3
Qe5 35. Qg4 Qh2 36. Qg2 Qxg2 37. Bxg2 Rxh4 38. Kc1 Rc8+ 39. Kd1 Kg7 40. Rd2 Rc3
41. Rxb6 Bh5+ 42. Ke1 Rf4 43. Rd5 Re3+ 44. Kd2 Rg3 45. Rxh5 Rf2+ 46. Ke1 Rgxg2
47. Rd5 Rxa2 48. Kf1 Raf2+ 49. Ke1 Rb2 50. Kf1 a2 51. Ra6 Rh2 52. Kg1 Rhd2 0-1

[Event "Thessaloniki FIDE GP"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "2013.05.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "241"]
[EventDate "2013.05.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4
Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 10. Na3 O-O 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. Bc2 exd4 14. Nbxd4
Nxd4 15. cxd4 Re8 16. Re1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nh5 18. Ba4 Rf8 19. Bc6 Qf6 20. Ra4 Nf4
21. Kh1 d5 22. exd5 Ng6 23. Re4 Ne7 24. Rc4 Qd6 25. Bf4 Qd8 26. Bg5 f6 27. Bf4
Nxd5 28. Bxd5+ Qxd5 29. Qe2 Rf7 30. Kg2 Rbf8 31. Qc2 g5 32. Be3 Ra8 33. b3 Kg7
34. Rc6 Ra5 35. Qc4 Rb5 36. h4 h6 37. Rce6 Ba5 38. Re8 c6 39. Ra8 Bb4 40. Re6
gxh4 41. Qxc6 Qxc6 42. Rxc6 Bf8 43. Rc3 Rfb7 44. Rcc8 Be7 45. Rg8+ Kf7 46. Rh8
h5 47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rh6+ Kf7 49. Rah8 Bf8 50. Rxh5 Rxh5 51. Rxh5 Rxb3 52. Rxh4
Rb5 53. Kf1 Ke6 54. Ke2 Bd6 55. Kd3 Rb3+ 56. Kc4 Rb4+ 57. Kc3 Rb5 58. Rh6 Ra5
59. Kd3 Bf8 60. Rh8 Bd6 61. Kc4 Ra4+ 62. Kb3 Ra3+ 63. Kb2 Ra5 64. Bd2 Rf5 65.
Rh3 Bf4 66. Be3 Bd6 67. Kc3 Ra5 68. Rh6 Ra3+ 69. Kc4 Ra4+ 70. Kd3 Bf8 71. Rh5
Ra3+ 72. Ke4 Ra4 73. f4 Be7 74. Rb5 Bd6 75. f5+ Kd7 76. Rb7+ Ke8 77. Kd5 Be7
78. Rb5 Ra2 79. Rb8+ Kd7 80. Rb7+ Ke8 81. Ke4 Bd6 82. Kd3 Ra5 83. Ke4 Ra2 84.
f3 Be7 85. Bf4 Ra4 86. Bd2 Kd8 87. Kd5 Ke8 88. Rb5 Kd7 89. Ra5 Rxa5+ 90. Bxa5
Ba3 91. Bb6 Bc1 92. Bc5 Be3 93. Bb4 Bf2 94. Bf8 Be3 95. Bc5 Bg1 96. Ba3 Be3 97.
Ke4 Bd2 98. Bc5 Ke8 99. d5 Kd7 100. Be3 Ba5 101. Bd4 Bd8 102. Bc3 Be7 103. Kf4
Bd6+ 104. Kg4 Ke7 105. Bd2 Bc5 106. Bf4 Bb4 107. Kh5 Kf7 108. Bg3 Bc5 109. d6
Bd4 110. Bh4 Bb6 111. d7 Bd8 112. Kh6 Ba5 113. Be1 Bb6 114. Bb4 Bd8 115. Kh5
Kg7 116. Bd6 Kh7 117. Kh4 Kh6 118. Kg4 Kg7 119. Kf4 Kh6 120. Ke4 Kg5 121. Bf4+
1-0

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Ba4 {A rare move. It's idea will
be clear after the next move.} (5. c3) ({and} 5. Re1 {are the main lines.})
5... a6 6. c4 Ng6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qc7 $146 {A very logical novelty.
Grischuk doesn't hurry with the development of his f8 B.} (8... Be7 9. Nc3 O-O
10. Be3 Nce5 11. Bb3 d6 12. f4 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qh5 Qc7 (14... f5 $6 15.
Rad1 $36 {Vezzosi-I.Nemet, Forli 1993}) (14... c5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Rf3 $40) 15.
Rad1 $14) 9. Be3 Bd6 {A typical move in the Paulsen line.} 10. g3 $5 {Kamsky
sacrifices a P. He hopes for nice development at the expense of the c4
"poisoned" P.} (10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. g3 O-O {was another possibility.}) 10... Nxd4
11. Qxd4 ({In the event of} 11. Bxd4 O-O 12. Nd2 Bc5 ({or} 12... Be5 {Black
has good play on the dark squares.})) 11... Be5 12. Qd2 Qxc4 {Grischuk takes
up the gauntlet.} 13. Bc2 Qc7 $1 {The good move. Now Black theatens with Bxb2.}
(13... Bxb2 $2 {loses by} 14. Bd3 $1 $18) (13... O-O 14. f4 Bxb2 $2 {also
doesn't work in view of} 15. Bd3 $18) 14. Bb3 O-O 15. f4 Bf6 16. e5 {White has
gained some space, he has a good compensation for the P.} Be7 17. Nc3 b5 18.
Rac1 Qb8 19. Ne4 Bb7 20. Nd6 (20. Nc5 $5 {was also possible} Bxc5 21. Bxc5 Rc8
$13 {with a double-edged fight.}) 20... Bxd6 21. exd6 Rc8 22. h4 h6 {Prepares
for h5.} 23. Rxc8+ (23. h5 $6 {is dubious, as} Nf8 {followed by Nh7-f6.}) 23...
Qxc8 24. Rc1 Bc6 {Otherwise Rc7 can be unpleasant.} 25. Rc5 {Now White
threatens with f5.} Qe8 26. Bd4 (26. f5 $2 {is bad, because of} exf5 27. Rxf5
Qe4 $1 {This is the point of 25...Qe8!} 28. Bxf7+ Kh7 29. Bxg6+ Kxg6 $19 {
and White's position is hopeless.}) 26... a5 27. a3 Qb8 28. Be3 Qe8 29. Qd4 (
29. Bd4 {is repetition of moves.}) 29... Nf8 30. Bd2 {Prepares for Bc3.} (30.
f5 exf5 31. Rxf5 Ne6 {and suddenly the N becomes very active.}) 30... Nh7 {
And only now} 31. f5 (31. Bc3 {is too slow, because} Nf6 32. g4 $2 b4 $1 $19)
31... Bd5 $5 {An interesting sacrifice to open the e-file.} (31... a4 32. Bc2
Rc8 $13) 32. Bc2 {Kamsky doesn't capture the P.} (32. Bxd5 exd5 33. Qxd5 (33.
Bc3 Nf6) 33... Nf6 34. Qe5 Ne4 35. Bc3 Qxe5 36. Rxe5 Nxc3 37. bxc3 Ra6 38. Rxb5
Rxd6 39. Rxa5 Kf8 $11 {Black will gain back the P. The R endgame is completely
draw.}) 32... b4 33. g4 $6 {An ambitious move, but it leaves some weaknesses
on the kingside.} (33. fxe6 {leads to a draw by} fxe6 34. Bxh6 gxh6 35. Qg4+
Kh8 36. Qd4+ $11 {with perpetual checks.}) 33... Qd8 $1 34. fxe6 $2 {A real
mistake. The exchange of f5 and d7 P only helps for Black.} ({White should
keep the tension with} 34. Be1 Rc8 35. axb4 axb4 36. Qxb4 Rxc5 37. Qxc5 {
nearly equal position.}) 34... dxe6 35. g5 hxg5 36. hxg5 $2 {Loses immediately,
but it was already difficult for White.} ({The cool-blooded computer move} 36.
Qe5 {gave the best chances} Nf6 37. hxg5 Ng4 38. Qd4 Qxd6 39. Bf4 Qd8 40. Bd1
Bb7 41. Qxd8+ Rxd8 42. Bxg4 Rd4 $15) 36... Qxd6 $6 {An inaccuracy.} ({The
simple} 36... Nxg5 $1 $19 {wins immediately.}) 37. Bf4 Qa6 $2 {Another mistake,
probably in time trouble.} ({The pretty} 37... Nxg5 $1 {was the strongest reply
} 38. Qxg7+ (38. Bxg5 $2 Qg3+ $19) 38... Kxg7 39. Bxd6 Ra6 40. Be5+ f6 41. Rc7+
Nf7 $17 {and Black is better.}) 38. Kf2 (38. Bd3 $142 Qa7 39. Rc8+ Nf8 40. Qxa7
Rxa7 41. Bd6 Ra8 42. Rxa8 Bxa8 43. axb4 axb4 44. Bxb4 $11 {with a drawish
endgame.}) 38... Rc8 (38... Nf8 $5 {was another interesting option.}) 39. axb4
{And here Kamsky lost on time, however White is very near to equalising.} (39.
axb4 axb4 40. Qd3 Rxc5 41. Qxa6 Rxc2+ 42. Ke3 b3 43. Qb5 {and White can hold
his position.}) 0-1

[Event "Beijing FIDE GP"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2013.07.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2013.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. d3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Rfd1 Bf8
15. Rc3 h6 16. Rdc1 Rc8 17. Bh3 Rb8 18. Bf5 g6 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. dxe4 Qd7 21.
Kg2 Qe6 22. b4 Qg4 23. Qc2 Qe6 24. Qa4 Qg4 25. Qc2 Qe6 26. h3 g5 27. Qa4 Qg6
28. Nd2 Rbd8 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. Rxc6 Re6 31. Rc4 h5 32. Nf3 Be7 33. Nd2 g4 34.
h4 Bf8 35. Qc2 c6 36. Nf1 Red6 37. Bg5 R8d7 38. Be3 Re6 39. Rc3 Rd8 40. Nd2 Bg7
41. Rc5 Bf8 42. Ra5 c5 43. bxc5 Rc6 44. Ra4 Qe6 45. Rc4 Rc7 46. Nb3 Qc6 47. a4
Rb8 48. Qc3 Qe6 49. Nc1 Rb2 50. Qxb2 Qxc4 51. Qxe5 Rc6 52. Qd5 Qxa4 53. Nd3 Re6
54. Bd4 Bg7 55. e5 Bh6 56. Nf4 Bxf4 57. gxf4 Qc2 58. e4 Qd1 59. f5 Re8 60. e6
Qf3+ 61. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Both players are big
experts in the Najdorf opening.} 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bc1 ({White wants to avoid the} 
7. Bg5 {line. He simply repeats and then chooses another move in the starting
position of the Najdorf.}) 7... Nf6 8. h3 e5 9. Nb3 (9. Nde2 {is more common,
but Topalov wanted to transpose to the 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 line.}) 9... Be6
10. Be3 {After a interesting move order, we are now in the B90 line with h3.}
Be7 11. f4 {This is the point of the move h3. Black can't play ...Ng4 and the
structure is changing.} exf4 12. Bxf4 Nc6 13. Qe2 Nd7 {A logical decision.
First Black would like to place a knight on the e5-square, and only then will
he castle.} ({Last year Grischuk had played this position with White:} 13...
O-O 14. O-O-O Ne8 15. Kb1 Bf6 16. Qe3 Rc8 17. g4 Be5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. g5 b5
20. h4 Qc7 21. Nd4 $14 {with a comfortable middlegame for White,
Grischuk-Swiercz, Tromso 2013.}) 14. O-O-O Nce5 {More exact than 14...Nde5
because after ...Rc8 Black wants to threaten the typical exchange sacrifice ...
Rxc3.} 15. Nd5 (15. Kb1 {is more popular.}) 15... Bxd5 16. Rxd5 O-O 17. Kb1
$146 {A completely acceptable novelty by Topalov.} ({Before} 17. h4 {was tried,
} Rc8 18. g4 Qc7 19. g5 Nb6 20. Rd4 (20. Rd1 $5) 20... a5 $1 {/\ a4-a3} 21. Rh3
(21. Nxa5 Ra8 $36) 21... a4 22. Na1 (22. Rc3 $2 {does not work because of} axb3
$1 23. Rxc7 bxa2 $19 {and White can't avoid ...a1Q.}) 22... f6 $1 $132 {
with a double-edged battle in Shirov-Gelfand, Chalkidiki 1993.}) 17... Qc7 18.
Rd1 {A useful prophylactic move. White simply avoids falling prey to the move .
..Nb6 with tempo; moreover the rook was attackable in the centre.} Nb6 19. h4 {
White prepares Rh3.} ({In the event of} 19. g4 Nec4 20. g5 (20. Bc1 Bf6) 20...
Rac8 21. Bc1 Na4 $13 {with an unclear fight.}) 19... Nec4 20. Rh3 Bf6 21. c3 ({
The solid} 21. Bc1 {was also an option} Rfe8 22. h5 $1 (22. Nd4 $2 {does not
work because of} d5 $1 $15) 22... Rac8 (22... d5 23. h6 $1 Rxe4 24. Qf2 {
and White has some play for the pawn, but still this is a double-edged fight.})
23. h6 g6 $13) 21... Rfe8 {The most logical move.} 22. Nd4 Qc5 23. Nf5 $6 {
An inaccuracy, which allows Black's following reply.} (23. Qd3 {, stepping out
of the pin, was easier} d5 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Bc1 Ne5 $13) ({Or} 23. Bg5 {
as suggested by Mr. Houdini,} Bxd4 (23... Bxg5 $2 24. hxg5 Qxg5 25. Nf5 $16) (
23... Be5 24. Nf5) 24. cxd4 Qc6 {with a very difficult middlegame.}) 23... d5
$1 {The strongest move. Now White has to face some dangerous threats.} 24. e5
$1 {The best reply, White wants to close the e-file for a while.} Bxe5 ({
Probably} 24... Nxe5 $1 {was more accurate} 25. Re1 (25. Bc1 $5 {is a typical
computer move; the Ne5 doesn't have a good move.} Nec4 26. Qh5 Re6 27. Rg3 g6 {
and Black looks nicely placed.}) 25... Qc6 {and Black is a healthy pawn up.})
25. Qg4 g6 26. h5 ({In the event of} 26. Nh6+ Kg7 ({or} 26... Kf8 27. Qf3 Re7 {
with a very complicated middlegame.})) 26... Qf2 $1 {Black's queen is very
powerful on f2.} 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Bc1 f5 {The only move, otherwise Rf3 would
have followed.} 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. Rxf3 (30. gxf3 Re6 {and the Nh6 can't come
back.}) 30... Rad8 31. g4 {Of course White has to organise some help for the
Nh6.} d4 32. hxg6 $6 {A small inaccuracy.} (32. gxf5 {was correct} dxc3 33.
fxg6 $1 {Now we see the point of keeping the h-pawn. White is threatening to
play Rf7+ followed by Rxh7 and mate.} Nd2+ 34. Bxd2 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 cxd2 36. Nf5+
{followed by Kc2 with a nearly equal endgame.}) 32... hxg6 33. Rfd3 $2 {
The decisive mistake, but} (33. gxf5 {wasn't as good as one move earlier,
because} dxc3 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. bxc3 Rd1 $15 {and Black is slightly better.})
33... Nd5 $1 $19 {The best move, now Black simply threatens to play Bf4 and
the Nh6 is trapped.} 34. cxd4 Bf4 35. Bxf4 Nxf4 36. Rf3 Re1 $1 {A great
victory by Grischuk!} 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 e5 8. Nf3
Nc6 {The history of this line is closely connected with the discussion around
the move 8..exd4. The knight development is positionally more sound and it has
gained attention in the last two years.} (8... exd4) 9. Bg5 (9. d5 Nb8 10. Bd3
Nd7 11. O-O h6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. Bc2 b6 14. Rb1 Kf8 15. Be3 g6 16. Nd2 Qd8 17. f4
Kg7 18. f5 Nf6 19. Rf1 $11 {1/2 (23) Naiditsch,A (2698)-Fedorchuk,S (2634)
Belfort 2012}) (9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Qxe5 Qxe5+ 12. dxe5 Bf5 13. Be2
O-O-O 14. g4 Bc2 15. O-O Rhe8 16. Re1 Bc5 17. Bf1 f6 18. Bf4 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Rd2
20. Bg3 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Bg6 $11 {1/2 (45) Socko,B (2636)-Lysyj,I (2633) Moscow
2012}) (9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Qe2 Bd6 11. Bg5 Qe6 12. Nd4 Nd3+ 13. Kd2 Qxe2+ 14.
Kxe2 Nc5 15. f3 O-O 16. Kf2 Na4 17. Nb3 Be6 18. Rc1 Ba3 19. Rc2 Bf5 $15 {
0-1 (37) Kosten,A (2493)-So,W (2653) Belfort 2012}) (9. Be2 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb4+
11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 O-O 13. h3 Rd8 14. Rd1 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 c5 16. O-O Rxd4 17.
Qb2 Bd7 18. Rxd4 cxd4 19. Rd1 Bc6 20. Qxd4 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 $11 {1/2 (64)
Nikologorskiy,K (2400)-Shomoev,A (2571) St Petersburg 2012}) 9... Qg6 10. d5 {
Grischuk knows enough to accept the compromised position of the central pawn
structure. Black is falling behind in development with the hope of surviving
the worst and getting good prospects.} (10. dxe5 Bg4 11. Be3 Be7 12. h3 Bf5 13.
Nd4 Rd8 14. Be2 Nxe5 15. g4 Be4 16. f3 Bd3 17. O-O O-O 18. f4 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Qd3
20. fxe5 Rxd4 21. Qxd3 Rxd3 22. Bd4 c5 $17 {1/2 (53) Reinderman,D (2543)
-Nyback,T (2634) Beijing 2008}) 10... Nb8 (10... Ne7 11. Qa4+ c6 12. Be3 f6 13.
Rd1 Qf7 14. Be2 g6 15. O-O Bg7 16. Bc5 Bd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. d6 Qd8 19. c5 O-O
20. Qb3+ Kh8 21. Qxb7 $16 {1-0 (38) Reinderman,D (2597)-Buscher,M (2334)
Germany 2012}) 11. h4 $5 {The advance of the h pawn is not so unusual in
various lines. White would like to support the bishop on g5 and pester the
black queen on the tricky square g6.} (11. Bd3 Bf5 12. Qa4+ Nd7 (12... c6) 13.
O-O Bd6 14. Bxf5 (14. Nh4 Qxg5 15. Nxf5 Kd8 16. Rab1 Nc5 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Qa5+
Kc8 19. Rb5 Qe7 20. Bf5+ Kb8 21. Rfb1 $11 {1-0 (26) Williams,S (2515)-Faisal,A
(2255) Al Ain 2012}) 14... Qxf5 15. c5 Bxc5 16. Nxe5 f6 17. g4 Qxe5 18. Rae1
O-O-O 19. Rxe5 Nxe5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Kb8 {1-0 (36) Kortschnoj,V (2645)
-Ashley,M (2460) New York 1996}) (11. Qd2 Bd6 12. Bd3 Qh5 13. Be3 Na6 {1/2 (13)
Abasov,N (2465)-Sadorra,J (2551) Richardson 2013}) (11. Be3 Nd7 12. Qa4 c6 13.
Qa5 b6 14. Qa4 Bb7 15. Bd3 e4 16. Bc2 Bc5 17. Nd4 Ne5 18. Nxc6 Nxc6 19. Bxc5
bxc5 20. O-O O-O 21. dxc6 Bxc6 $15 {0-1 (32) Bu,X (2662)-Wei,Y (2530) China
2013}) 11... Nd7 (11... h6 12. Qe2 hxg5 13. Nxe5 Qh5 14. g4 Bxg4 15. Nxg4+ Kd8
16. Bg2 (16. Ne5 gxh4 17. Bh3 f6 18. Nf3 Bd6 19. Kf1 $11) 16... gxh4 17. d6 Nc6
18. O-O-O cxd6 19. Rd5 f5 20. Bf3 Qe8 $17 {0-1 (43) Steingrimsson,H (2556)
-Lysyj,I (2656) Plovdiv 2012}) 12. Bd3 (12. h5 Qd6 (12... Qe4+ 13. Be2 h6 14.
Be3 Be7 15. O-O O-O $11) 13. Nd2 Nc5 14. Nb3 Be7 15. Be3 b6 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17.
Rb1 O-O 18. h6 g6 19. Rb5 Qa6 20. Be2 Bd7 21. Rxc5 {1-0 (42) Najer,E (2640)
-Ovetchkin,R (2499) Sochi 2012/} Bxc5 22. Bxc5 Rfb8 $15) 12... e4 {Anybody
hoping to find out if the best players in the world are also humans should
look at this battle. Aronian becomes blind to the biggest danger and bravely
accepts the invitation to the first real conflict. In my humble opinion it has
to be more promising to avoid the premature battle and retreat with the queen
to d6.} (12... Qd6 13. O-O h6 14. Be3 (14. Bd2 Be7 15. Qe2 b6 16. h5 Bb7 17.
Rfe1 $14) 14... Be7 15. Re1 b6 16. c5 bxc5 17. Bb5 O-O 18. Bc6 Rb8 19. Nd2 f5
20. Bf4 Qg6 21. Nc4 Bd6 22. Bxd7 exf4 $11 {1/2 (44) Zaslavsky,M (2450)-Bulmaga,
I (2307) Plovdiv 2012}) 13. h5 Qf5 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (13... Qa6 14. Bxe4 h6 15.
Be3 Qxc4 16. Bd4 (16. Qd4 Qxd4 17. Bxd4 Nf6 $11) 16... Be7 17. Nd2 Qa6 18. Qf3
$14) 14. Rh4 $1 {[%mdl 4] The game has finished before it could start in
earnest. Black's queen is terribly exposed, unfortunately the same goes for
the his vulnerable king on e8.} exd3 (14... Nc5 15. Bxe4 Qd7 (15... Nxe4 16.
Qe2 $18) 16. Qe2 $18) 15. Rf4 Nc5 16. Rxf5 Bxf5 17. Nd4 Bd7 {In all honesty
some players would be willing to give up with black pieces, but Aronian fights
on. We all know, that no game was ever won or drawn with the act of resigning.}
(17... h6 18. Be3 Bd7 19. Nb3 $18) 18. Kf1 (18. Nb3 Ne4 (18... Ba4 19. Qf3 Bxb3
20. Qe3+ Kd7 21. Qh3+ Ke8 22. axb3 $18) 19. Bf4 Bd6 20. Qxd3 O-O 21. Bxd6 Rfe8
22. Kf1 $18) 18... Bd6 19. Nb3 f6 (19... Ne4 20. Be3 O-O 21. Qxd3 $18) 20. Be3
{The absence of material is bad enough for the defender, but he also has to
finish the development of his pieces.} (20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. fxe3
O-O-O 23. Qxd3 $18) 20... b6 21. Nxc5 bxc5 22. Qxd3 O-O 23. Qd2 $1 {Grischuk
might be somewhat undisciplined in his life, but what he does not lack is a
true chess gift. With unmistakable clarity White realised that the black
position will fall apart after the demise of the c5-pawn.} Be8 (23... h6 24.
Bf4 Rfe8 25. f3 $18) 24. h6 g5 (24... Bg6 25. f3 Rfe8 26. Bf4 $18) 25. Qb2 Bd7
26. Qa3 Rfe8 27. Bxc5 {In a hopeless position Black retains lot of freedom.
Nothing he will try can really demage his chances any more.} (27. Kg1 Bf8 28.
Bxc5 Bxh6 29. Qa6 Bg7 30. Bd4 $18) 27... Bh2 (27... Bxc5 28. Qxc5 Rac8 29. Qxa7
$18) 28. Re1 Bf5 29. Rxe8+ (29. Re3 Bf4 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Be3 $18) 29... Rxe8
30. Be3 {With mating ideas prevented, White could as well being challenging
Black to a timely resignation. In chess players are not supposed to talk, so
it is up to Aronian to decipher the message in time.} Kf7 (30... Bd3+ 31. Ke1
Be5 32. Kd2 Bf1 33. g3 $18) 31. Ke2 Be5 32. Kd2 (32. Qxa7 Re7 33. a4 c6 34. Qb6
$18) 32... Bg4 (32... Ra8 33. g3 a5 34. f4 gxf4 35. Bxf4 Bxf4+ 36. gxf4 a4 37.
Qc5 $18) 33. Qxa7 Kg6 (33... Re7 34. Qb7 Bd7 35. g3 $18) 34. a4 {The march of
White's a pawn could be called a simple winning method, it definitely is a
very efficient one.} Kxh6 35. a5 c6 36. dxc6 Rc8 37. f3 Bf5 (37... Be6 38. Qb7
Rd8+ 39. Kc1 Bc8 40. Qf7 $18) 38. g4 $1 Be6 (38... Bg6 39. Qd7 Rc7 40. a6 $18)
39. Qe7 {The disparity in coordination of pieces between players is becoming
simply too big to bear.} Bxc4 (39... Rxc6 $2 40. Qf8+ Kg6 41. Qe8+) 40. Bd4 (
40. Bd4 Bxd4 41. cxd4 Kg6 42. c7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Bg4 11. d5 Nd7 {This move is not considered the
most accurate in the present position, and this game doesn't change that
conclusion.} ({For} 11... Bxf3 {see Caruana - Rodstein in CBM 144.}) 12. c4 (
12. Ng5 Nb6 13. c4 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 h6 15. h3 Bd7 16. Nf3 Rac8 17. Bd3 {1-0 (49)
Juhasz,K (2343)-Zsirai,P (2207) Budapest 2013} e6 $11) 12... Qa3 (12... Qxd2+
13. Nxd2 {[%csl Rg4] (the reason why Black should rather eliminate this knight
earlier)} f5 14. f3 f4 15. Bf2 Bh5 16. Be2 g5 17. h4 $36 {1-0 (37) Khenkin,I 
(2634)-Leniart,A (2390) Tromsoe 2009}) (12... Qa4 13. Ng5 (13. Ng1 $142 {
[%cal Rh2h3]} Nb6 (13... f5 14. f3) 14. h3 Bd7 15. Nf3 $14) 13... h6 14. h3 Bh5
15. g4 hxg5 16. gxh5 f5 (16... Nf6 $1 $132) 17. Bxg5 fxe4 18. hxg6 Ne5 19. Be2
$14 {1-0 (51) Kotanjian,T (2552)-Kviriashvili,I (2258) Tbilisi 2009}) (12...
Qb6 13. Be2 Qb4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 a6 16. Be2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 $14 {0-1 (47)
Cebalo,M (2510)-Tseshkovsky,V (2530) Banja Luka 1981}) 13. Be2 $1 (13. Ng1 f5
$1 14. f3 fxe4 $1 15. fxg4 Bd4 $1 16. Bxd4 cxd4 $40) (13. Ng5 h6 (13... Nb6 14.
h3 Bd7 15. Bd3 Na4 16. O-O a6 17. Nf3 b5 18. Bh6 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 f6 20. Bc2 $14 {
1-0 (27) Sherbakov,R (2559)-Kachar,V (2390) Moscow 1999}) (13... f6 {1-0 (33)
Grigore,G (2445)-Ionescu,D (2335) Bucharest 1995} 14. Nxh7 Kxh7 15. h3 Bh5 16.
g4 Ne5 17. Be2 $14) 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nf3 (15. g4 hxg5 16. gxh5 Nf6) 15... g5 16.
Be2 Bg6 17. Bd3 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Rxf5 20. Nh2 Qb4 $11 {1/2 (42)
Moradiabadi,E (2578)-Nguyen,N (2633) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010}) 13... Bxf3 (13...
Nf6 14. Bd3) 14. Bxf3 Bd4 $5 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. O-O Ne5 17. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3
Qxf3 19. Rc3 $14 {White has obtained a strong, firmly protected pawn centre,
which hardly compensates for the absence of his g-pawn near his king.} Qe2 20.
f4 {Going for the kingside attack is a good practical decision. It is
difficult for a human to parry it even if chess engines do it successfully.} (
20. c5 $5 Qxa2 21. Rfc1 {[%csl Gc5] was another option.}) 20... Qxa2 21. f5 b6
22. e5 Qb2 {Pinning this rook is the best employment for Black's queen.} 23.
Kh1 Qe2 (23... b5 {[%cal Yb5b4]} 24. Qe3 bxc4 $4 25. f6 $18 {[%cal Re3h6]}) 24.
Rf2 Qe1+ 25. Kg2 Rac8 26. Rf1 Qe2+ 27. Rf2 Qe1 28. Rg3 (28. d6 $5) 28... Qb4 $1
{[%mdl 256]} 29. d6 Rxc4 (29... exd6 $5 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rxf8+ Rxf8 32. exd6
Qc5 $11) 30. Qd3 Rg4 (30... Rd4 $142 31. Qc2 Rc4 $11) 31. d7 $2 (31. fxg6 $1
hxg6 32. d7 Kg7 $1 (32... Rd4 $2 33. Rxg6+) (32... Qd4 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. e6 $1
Kg7 35. Rc3 $18) (32... Rd8 33. e6 f5 34. Rc2 {[%cal Rc2c8]} Kg7 35. Qc3+ Qxc3
36. Rcxc3 $18) 33. e6 f5 34. Rxg4 Qxg4+ 35. Kf1 $16) 31... Rd4 32. Qf3 $2 (32.
Qc2 $8 Qb5 $1 (32... Rc4 $2 33. fxg6) 33. fxg6 Qd5+ 34. Kf1 Qxd7 35. gxf7+ Kh8
{and White must fight for equality.}) 32... e6 $1 33. f6 Rxd7 $19 {White's
attack is now over, and he is 3 pawns down.} 34. Qe3 Rfd8 35. Qh6 Qf8 36. Qg5
h6 37. Qe3 Kh7 38. Rh3 h5 39. Rg3 Qh6 40. Rg5 Rd3 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 30th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2014.09.17"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Chirila,C"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2014.09.14"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg"]
[BlackTeam "Malachite Sverdlovsk Region"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

{I will not comment on the opening too much, it does not belong to our topic} 
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {The Schveshnikov, an
opening that has not been in the spotlight recently, even so it still remains
an extremely theoretical and classic opening.} 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5
9. Nd5 (9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 {is the other main option to combat
this opening}) 9... Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 (11. c4 {this move seems to have
gotten all the attention recently. I like to think white maintains a nice,
long lasting advantage due to his massive control of the d5 square and the
potential that it offers.} b4 12. Nc2 a5 13. g3 O-O 14. h4 Be6 15. Bh3 $14)
11... Rb8 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Nxb4 15. cxb4 O-O 16. Rxa4 a5 17. b5
Bd7 18. Nc3 d5 $5 (18... Qb6 {this is the main line in this position, the game
continuation is clearly something Grischuk had deeply analyzed at home} 19. Bc4
Kh8 20. O-O f5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Qe2 Rbc8 23. Kh1 Bd7 24. f3 {was seen in
Dominguez Perez, L- Frolyanov,D 1-0 just a few months ago}) 19. Nxd5 (19. exd5
e4 20. Be2 (20. Rxe4 $5 f5 21. Rd4 Bf6 {black clearly has enough compensation
for the material deficit, Dominguez was clearly not in the mood to check
Sasha's home recipes}) 20... e3 21. f3 Bh4+ 22. g3 Bf6 23. O-O Bxc3 24. bxc3
Bxb5 $11) 19... Be7 20. Qb3 Bb4+ 21. Nxb4 axb4 22. Bc4 Bxb5 23. Bxb5 Rxb5 24.
O-O {the position is fairly equal, it is clear that black has a slight
pressure but with good care white should not have trouble maintaining equality}
Qd4 25. Re1 g6 26. g3 Rc8 27. Raa1 Kg7 28. Rad1 Qc4 29. Qxc4 Rxc4 {the
position is completely equal, Dominguez starts to relax thinking that any move
will maintain the balance.} 30. Rd7 $2 {first innacuracy} (30. Rd2 {it is very
important to firstly take control of the second rank} Rbc5 31. Kf1 h5 32. h4
Kf6 33. Re3 Ke6 34. Ke2 f5 35. exf5+ gxf5 36. Red3 $11) 30... Rc2 31. b3 (31.
Ra1 {already a desperate solution, but probably the best} Rb6 (31... Rxb2 $2
32. Raa7 Kf6 33. Rxf7+ Ke6 34. Rfe7+ Kd6 $11) 32. Raa7 Rf6 33. f4 g5 $1 (33...
exf4 34. e5 Rf5 35. e6 fxg3 36. Rxf7+ Kh6 37. hxg3 Re5 38. Rf2 Rc1+ 39. Kg2
Rxe6 $15) (33... Rxb2 34. fxe5 Rff2 35. e6 $11) 34. fxe5 Rff2 35. e6 Rg2+ 36.
Kf1 Rcf2+ 37. Ke1 Rxb2 38. Kf1 Rxh2 39. Kg1 $11 {white will hold, it is
extremely important to always look for counterplay in such situations. But as
expected, once the character of the position has changed it's extremely hard
to make the proper adjustments to your playing style.}) 31... Rb2 32. Re3 Rb6
$1 33. Rf3 Rf6 34. Rdd3 h5 {black is slowly squizing his opponent, exerting an
enormous pressure} 35. h3 (35. h4 Re2 36. Rxf6 Kxf6 37. Re3 Rb2 {with a
similar position as in the game, with the pawn on h3 white tries to maintain
the flexibility of his structure}) 35... Re2 36. Rxf6 Kxf6 37. Re3 (37. Rd6+ {
white could have tried a more active defense, but black still keeps a strong
advantage} Ke7 38. Rb6 Rxe4 39. h4 f6 40. Kg2 Rd4 41. Kh2 g5 42. hxg5 fxg5 43.
Kh3 h4 44. Kg2 Kd7 45. Kh3 (45. Rg6 hxg3 46. Rxg5 gxf2 47. Kxf2 Kd6 $16) 45...
Kc7 46. Rb5 Kd6 47. f3 Ke6 48. Rb6+ Kd5 49. Rb5+ Kd6 $16) 37... Rb2 38. Rf3+
Ke6 39. g4 Rb1+ 40. Kg2 h4 {its important to fix another possible weakness on
h3} 41. Rd3 (41. g5 Ke7 42. Rd3 (42. Kh2 Rc1 43. Kg2 Rc3 44. Re3 Rxe3 45. fxe3
f6 $19) 42... f6 43. gxf6+ Kxf6 44. Kf3 Kg5 $17) 41... f6 42. Kf3 f5 43. exf5+
gxf5 44. gxf5+ Kxf5 45. Ke2 Rb2+ 46. Kf1 Ke4 $19 {position is hopeless, the
passivity of white's pieces is simply too much} 47. Re3+ Kd4 48. Rf3 e4 49. Rf4
(49. Re3 Rd2 50. Ke1 Rd3 51. Ke2 Rxe3+ 52. fxe3+ Kc3 $19) 49... Rxb3 50. Rxh4
Rd3 51. Rh8 b3 {A brutal example of how the most guiltless innacuracies will
be taxed by a motivated opponent that knows his endgame theory. White simply
forgot to defend his second rank with Rd2, which in my opinion was the fatal
mistake in a completely equal position.} 0-1

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2014.10.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2844"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2014.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 {Just one of Black's ways of reacting to White's
fashionable last move.} ({If Black wishes to avoid transposing to a King's
Indian, the usual way to do it is} 3... d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7.
Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Qd6 10. Nb5 Qd7 11. Kb1 (11. f4 {Wojtaszek,R (2716)
-Safarli,E (2656) Shamkir 2014 (1-0, 36)}) 11... Rd8 12. d5 a6 13. Nc3 Na5 (
13... Qe8 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Caruana,F (2791) Stavanger 2014 CBM 161 [Krasenkow,
M] (1/2-1/2 , 67)}) 14. Qc1 {Giri,A (2745)-Gelfand,B (2753) Tromso 2014 CBM
162 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 80)}) (3... e5 $5 {is occasionally played, too}) ({
And lately} 3... Nc6 4. Nc3 d5 {has come into the limelight as in Vallejo Pons,
F (2698)-Le,Q (2710) Tromso 2014 CBM 162 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 38)}) 4. dxc5 $5 {
A rare move with a long history behind, though. The first game with it dates
back to 1953!} ({It is worth mentioning that an earlier game between the same
players but with reversed colours continued in the spirit of the Volga/Benko
Gambit:} 4. d5 b5 5. e4 Bg7 6. cxb5 a6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Nh3 d6 9. Nf4 Nbd7 10. Be2
axb5 11. Nxb5 Ne8 12. O-O Ba6 13. Kh1 Nc7 14. Nc3 Qb8 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Nfe2
Nb5 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Qd3 Ra5 19. Rab1 Ne5 20. Qc2 Nxc3 21. Nxc3 Qb4 $44 {
Grischuk,A (2760)-Caruana,F (2700) Plovdiv 2010 (1/2-1/2, 36). As we wil see,
there will be Volga/Benko elements in our main game, too, even though the
structure in the centre will be quite different.}) 4... e6 $5 $146 {This
interesting novelty completely changes the character of the play with respect
to the previous games. But when I first saw it, I could not help remembering
how my former trainer, the late GM Theodor Ghitescu, used to define chess
patzers: "...g6 and ...e6 players"! I assume he had seen some unfortunate
combinations of these moves on the lower boards of our national team
championship which made him issue this definition, but it may also have been
some sort of well masked display of envy with respect to Florin Gheorghiu and
Mihai Suba, our by far strongest players in the '70s and the '80s. Gheorghiu
constantly played the Paulsen Kan Hedgehog with ...g6 and Suba used to answer
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 with 4...g6!?} ({And since I have mentioned
Ghitescu, here is a game of his from this position:} 4... Na6 5. Nc3 Nxc5 6. e4
d6 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 a6 9. Rc1 h5 10. Nge2 h4 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. Nec3 Nxd5 13. cxd5
Bd7 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O h3 16. g3 Qb8 17. b4 Na4 18. Nxa4 Bxa4 19. f4 $14 {
Ghitescu,T-Ghinda,M Sinaia 1975 (1-0, 41)}) (4... Qa5+ {has been played in a
few games.} 5. Nc3 Qxc5 6. e4 {White has build up the Maroczy bind, but will
need to find a coherent way to complete his development in order to have any
chance of claiming an advantage.} d6 ({It seems to be useful to defend the
queen, since after} 6... Bg7 7. Qd3 Nc6 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 d6 10. Nge2 O-O 11.
Nf4 {Sliwa,B-Filip,M Gotha 1957 (1/2-1/2, 38). White retained his space
advantage with a normal development and very few chances for Black to get any
counterplay.}) 7. Na4 (7. Qd3 Nc6 8. Be3 Nb4 $1 {This is the moment when it is
important that the queen is defended.} 9. Bxc5 Nxd3+ 10. Bxd3 dxc5 11. e5 Nd7
12. f4 Bh6 13. Nd5 Rb8 14. g3 f6 $11 {Gurevich,D (2575)-Gulko,B (2635)
Beersheba 1993 (1/2-1/2, 19)}) 7... Qh5 (7... Qa5+ 8. Bd2 Qd8 9. Ne2 Nc6 10.
Nac3 Bg7 11. Nf4) 8. Ne2 Bh6 9. Nf4 Qe5 10. Nd3 Qh5 11. Nf4 Qe5 12. Nd5 Bxc1
13. Rxc1 Nxd5 14. cxd5 O-O 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Nc3 $14 {Giri,A (2745)-Matamoros
Franco,C (2525) Tromso 2014 (1-0, 51)}) 5. Be3 {The only reasonable way to
defend the pawn. It has the drawback of blocking the development of the other
bishop, though.} (5. b4 $6 {is completely inadequate due to} a5 $1 $15 {
[%csl Gc5]}) ({The attempt to prove the combination of ...g6 and ...e6 wrong,
in accordance with Ghitescu's definition, fails due to White's poor
development:} 5. Nc3 Bxc5 6. e4 (6. e3 d5) 6... Nc6 {If White could get
developed in time, the move ...g6 would surely be harmful, but concretely
Black is just in time to start strong counterplay in the centre.} 7. a3 (7. Nh3
d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. exd5 Nd4 {[%csl Gd5,Ge1]} 10. Be3 $6 Qe7 $1 $17) 7... d5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. b4 Bb6 10. exd5 Nd4 11. Nge2 Nf5 $44 {[%csl Ge1]}) 5... b6 $3 {
Here it is, the Volga Gambit spirit! Rather than retrieving the pawn, Black is
interested in opening files and diagonals for rapid queenside development.} (
5... Na6 {would retrieve the pawn but allow White retain a small edge.} 6. Nc3
Nxc5 7. Qd2 $1 ({It makes no sense to drive the knight away since this piece
is a slight source of worries for Black, being kind of hanging on c5.} 7. b4
Na6 8. a3 Bg7 9. Qc2 d5 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Bf2 Bd7 $132) 7... b6 {In order to
play ...Bg7, Black needs spending a tempo on defending the knight.} 8. Rd1 Bg7
9. Bg5 O-O 10. e4 $14) 6. Nc3 {White, too, aims for rapid development. But the
last move looks more like an acceptance of the fact that after Black's last
move White has no advantage at all.} (6. cxb6 axb6 7. Nc3 Ba6 {would transpose
below.}) 6... Ba6 $5 {To tell the truth, Black does not seem to need such
radical measures anymore.} ({Retrieving the pawn ensures him excellent play:} 
6... Bxc5 7. Bxc5 bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Nh3 Rb8 10. Qd2 O-O 11. Be2 d5) 7. cxb6
axb6 8. Bg5 {Sticking to the material advantage would offer Black ample
compensation. Here are just a few suggestive lines:} (8. b3 Nc6 {This
developing move keeps the main threats, ...Bb4 or ...d5, in reserve. If White
moves with his e3-bishop in order to continue his development, ...Bb4 would be
unpleasant. Otherwise, ...d5 would threaten the fork ...d4} 9. Rc1 (9. Bf4 Bb4)
9... Bb7 {[%csl Ga2][%cal Gf8b4]} 10. a4 d5) (8. Qb3 Bc5 (8... Nc6 9. Bxb6 Qc8
$44) 9. Bxc5 bxc5 {White faces a dilemma. e2-e4 would weaken the d4-square
while otherwise ...d7-d5 is hard to stop.} 10. e4 (10. e3 Nc6 11. Rd1 O-O 12.
Nh3 Ne5 $36 {[%cal Gd8a5,Gf8b8,Gd7d5]}) 10... Nc6 11. Qd1 O-O 12. Nh3 Nd4 13.
Bd3 d5 $36) (8. Na4 Bxc4 (8... b5 9. Nb6 Ra7 10. c5 d5 11. Rc1 Nc6 {The
b6-knight is somewhat out of play and Black's centre may become threatening.})
9. Nxb6 Nd5 10. Nxc4 Qh4+ 11. Bf2 Qxc4 12. Qd4 Qb4+ $5 {The best way of
maintaining the initiative.} 13. Qxb4 Nxb4 {[%cal Gb4c2,Ga8a2]}) 8... h6 9. Bh4
g5 10. Bf2 {The bishop has reached this safe square after having provoked the
weakening of the black kingside. But White's main problem is his delay in
development, which offers Black great play in any case.} Bxc4 11. e4 Bxf1 12.
Kxf1 {Even though pawns are equal now, the last exchange once again reminds us
of one of the main lines of the Volga/Benko Gambit.} Nc6 13. Nge2 Bc5 14. Nd4
Qe7 {The position has more or less settled down, but evaluating it properly
implies taking into account several aspects. White's development is typical
for the Sicilian defence (which he had aimed for with 4.dxc5) but his main
problem is getting the king out of the way of the major pieces. This can be
achieved with either g2-g4 followed by Kg2 or Kfe-e2, Re1, Kf1-g1. Both plans
are time consuming and with ...d7-d5 in the air one would expect certain
dangers for His Majesty. An additional plan would be fighting against the
c5-bishop with a2-a3 and b2-b4, but this would not do much for his kingside
development. Black has comfortable development, but still needs to decide
between castling right away or spending some time with ...Kf8-g7 in order to
avoid problems along the h-file. His structure is flexible enough, but he
should not forget that there are several weak dark squares in his structure, 
(Xf6, d6, b6).} 15. Ncb5 {Consolidating the d4-square before switching to the
aforementioned queenside plan. This move has the drawback of spending yet
another tempo with the development incomplete.} (15. a3 $5 {is an important
alternative. If Black plays like in the game White would have chances for
retaining an edge.} Kf8 ({And just as in the game,} 15... O-O $1 {looks better,
although White would have to take into account} 16. g4 $13 {[%cal Gh2h4,Gf1g2]
with sharp play.}) 16. b4 {The merit of this plan is that after the inevitable
Bf2xd4 the king will get the relatively comfortable f2-square.} Nxd4 (16...
Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 $14) 17. Bxd4 (17. e5 $5) 17... e5 (17... Bxd4 18.
Qxd4 Kg7 19. Kf2 $14) 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. b5 $14 {[%csl Ga3,Gb5,Rd5]}) 15... Kf8
{Not a bad move, but it offers White the time to carry out his idea under
acceptable circumstances.} (15... O-O $5 16. h4 ({Black's last move may have
been aimed at inhibiting the plan based on} 16. g4 {but it seems that he would
get a great game after} Nxd4 17. Nxd4 d5 18. e5 Nd7 19. Nc6 Qe8 20. h4 f5 {
[%csl Gf1]}) 16... g4 17. a3 Rac8 18. b4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Ne5 $132 {[%csl Gf1]})
16. a3 (16. g4 h5 $17) (16. h4 g4) 16... Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Kg7 18. b4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4
{White has eliminated the enemy bishops, but his chances of taking advantage
of the weakness of the dark squares are not too high due to his poor
development.} e5 $5 {Switching back to the Volga Gambit mode.} (19... d5 $5 20.
exd5 Rhd8 $1) 20. Bxb6 Qe6 21. Be3 {In view of the predictable ...d7-d5, the
bishop is exposed on this square.} ({But} 21. Bc5 {would have failed to keep
things under control due to} d6 $1 22. Qxd6 Qc4+ 23. Kg1 $8 (23. Kf2 Qc2+ 24.
Kg1 Rhd8 25. Qc6 Rd1+ 26. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 27. Kf2 Qd2+ 28. Kf1 Rxa3 $19) 23... Qc3
24. Qd1 Rhd8 25. Qc1 Qxc1+ 26. Rxc1 Rxa3 $11) 21... d5 $44 {Black has
excellent compensation for the pawn and White needs to display certain
accuracy to avoid problems.} 22. Qb3 (22. exd5 Nxd5 {[%csl Ge3]}) 22... Rhb8 $6
{In the Volga/Benko Gambit this is the most common way of using the rooks, but
here there are things to do in the centre as well. The last move offers White
chances to complete his development while keeping his extra pawn.} (22... Qa6+
23. Kf2 {White needs to spend a tempo on connecting his rooks.} (23. b5 $2 Rhb8
$1 24. a4 $2 Rxb5 $1 $19) 23... dxe4 24. b5 {[%cal Ga3a4]} Rhb8 25. a4 exf3 26.
gxf3 Qc8 27. Kg2 Qf5 {[%cal Gg5g4] Due to the vulnerability of the white king,
Black should count on at least a draw by perpetual.}) (22... Rhd8 $5 {also
looks more to the point than the game move, since the d-file is more important
than the b-file.}) 23. Ke2 $6 (23. exd5 $1 Nxd5 24. Kf2 $5 $14 {[%cal Gh1d1]} (
24. Bd2 Nxb4 $3 25. Qxe6 fxe6 $11) (24. Rd1 Qa6+ 25. Kf2 Nf4 26. Rd2 Qxa3 27.
Rb1 $11)) 23... Qa6+ 24. Qd3 Qe6 ({Without queens, the structure resulting
after} 24... dxe4 25. Qxa6 Rxa6 {looks dangerous for Black. The white king is
safe and the queenside pawns are threatening.}) 25. Qb3 Qa6+ 26. Qd3 Qe6 27.
exd5 $5 {Continuing the fight rather than accepting a draw by repetition.} (27.
Qb3 $11) 27... Nxd5 28. Kf2 Rd8 {Finally correcting the rook's position, but
time is important in such situations.} 29. Qc4 $6 {The queen is exposed here
and it does not defend the bishop.} (29. Qb3 Qf5 30. Rhe1 $14) 29... Qf5 $132 (
29... Rdc8 $5 30. Bc5 Nxb4 $1 31. Qxe6 Nd3+ 32. Ke3 fxe6 $11) 30. Rhe1 (30.
Rhd1 Nxe3 31. Kxe3 Rxa3+ $1 $36 {[%csl Ge3]}) (30. Qe4 Qxe4 $5 31. fxe4 Nc3
$132) 30... Rac8 {With all his pieces on active squares, Black has at least
enough compensation for the pawn.} 31. Bc5 (31. Qe4 Rc2+ 32. Kg1 (32. Re2 $4
Rxe2+ 33. Kxe2 Nc3+) 32... Qxe4 33. fxe4 Nxe3 34. Rxe3 Rdd2 35. Rg3 Rb2 $5 $11)
31... Nf4 {[%csl Rc5,Re1,Rf2][%cal Gf4d3]} 32. Kg1 $2 {Ironically, occupying
what looks the safest square for the king is the decisive mistake.} ({For
reasons that will be revealed soon, it was essential to defend the e1-rook:} 
32. Kf1 Rd2 33. Ra2 Rxa2 34. Qxa2 Qd3+ 35. Kg1 Qc3 $44) 32... Rd2 33. Ra2 Nxg2
$1 $19 {This is the point! With the king on f1 this move would have been
impossible.} 34. Rxd2 Nxe1 35. Rf2 Nxf3+ 36. Kg2 e4 {Black is a pawn up and
retains dangerous threats. Engines are not too enthusiastic about Grischuk's
play in the next phase, since he repeatedly chooses -3.00 or -4.00
continuations when there were -9.00 alternatives. But this does not have any
meaning, the main thing is that Black's win will not be in any shadow of doubt
until the end.} 37. Re2 Re8 (37... Rd8 $1 $19 38. Qc3+ (38. Qxe4 Nh4+ 39. Kg3
Rd3+) 38... f6 39. Qc2 Nh4+ 40. Kg1 Qh3) 38. a4 (38. Bf2) 38... Qf4 (38... Rd8)
39. Kh1 Rd8 40. Qc3+ f6 41. Qc2 Rd3 42. a5 Ne1 43. Rxe1 Rd2 44. Qxd2 Qxd2 45.
Re3 f5 46. Kg1 Qa2 47. Re1 f4 48. a6 e3 49. Bd4+ Kg6 50. Ra1 Qf2+ 51. Kh1 Qf3+
52. Kg1 Qg4+ 0-1

[Event "Baku FIDE GP"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2014.10.14"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.10.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 {Black gives White a chance to transpose to the Sicilian.} 2. e4 {
White takes this chance.} d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 {This line
is very popular nowadays.} e6 {Black chooses the Scheveningen setup.} 7. g4
Nfd7 {Black immediately prepares for g5. 7...d5 is more popular, which leads
to positional play.} 8. g5 (8. Bg2 {is more popular. Here is an example:} Be7
9. Be3 Nc6 10. h4 Nde5 11. g5 Bd7 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. b3 $13 {Anand-Topalov,
Khanty-Mansiysk 2014}) 8... b5 {Black wants to develop the queenside first.} (
8... Be7 {is also possible.}) 9. a3 {White decides to prevent ...b4.} (9. Bg2
Bb7 $13) 9... Bb7 10. h4 Be7 11. Be3 O-O 12. f4 $146 {This is the novelty.} (
12. Qd2 {was played before:} Nc6 13. O-O-O Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rc8 15. Rg1 Ne5 16.
Qe3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. f4 $36 {White had a nice position in Vallejo
Pons-Topalov, Leon 2012}) 12... Nc6 13. Rh3 {White goes off the diagonal of
the B and defends the f3-square after an eventual Nce5.} ({In the event of the
more natural} 13. Qd2 {Black can play} Nc5 (13... Rc8) 14. Bg2 Nxd4 (14... Na5
15. b3) 15. Bxd4 Rc8 {and Black wants to follow up with ...a5.} (15... a5 16.
Bxc5 $1 dxc5 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Nxb5 $14) {White can't play} 16. O-O-O {
because of} a5 $1 $40) 13... Rc8 (13... Nc5 {was also possible with the plan of
} 14. Qe2 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 e5 $13) 14. f5 ({In the event of} 14. Qd2 {Black has
nice counterplay after} Nc5 (14... Nxd4 $5 15. Bxd4 e5) 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bg2
a5 $1 $132) (14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Qd2 Nc5 {transposes to 11.Qd2.}) 14... Nxd4 (
14... Nce5 {was a very active move} 15. Qd2 (15. fxe6 {is met by} Rxc3 $1 16.
bxc3 Nc5 $36) 15... Nc4 16. Bxc4 Rxc4 $13) 15. Qxd4 Nc5 {Black places the N on
c5, as it's attacking the centre and defending e6.} (15... Ne5 {would be worse}
16. O-O-O $14) 16. Bd2 (16. Rg3 Re8 $13) 16... Re8 {Black chooses a solid
preparatory move, but there were more aggressive possibilities.} (16... e5 17.
Qe3 $14) (16... exf5 {was a very interesting try to open the position, but
after} 17. exf5 f6 18. b4 $1 {White seems to be fine in this extremely
complicated position} Nd7 19. g6 $13) (16... f6 {also seems promising; White
has to play} 17. b4 $1 {otherwise the position falls apart} fxg5 (17... e5 18.
Qe3 Nd7 ({After the P sacrifice} 18... d5 {White plays} 19. exd5 Nd7 20. O-O-O
Nb6 21. Qf2 $1 $14 {with the plan of} Nxd5 22. Be1) 19. O-O-O (19. g6 hxg6 20.
Rg3 Nb6 $1 {with a very difficult position}) 19... Nb6 $13) 18. hxg5 $1 (18.
bxc5 $2 g4 $17) (18. Bxg5 Nd7 $132) 18... Nd7 19. fxe6 Ne5 $13) (16... d5 {
was also very good} 17. exd5 exd5 18. O-O-O Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 $11) 17. O-O-O ({
The P sacrifice with} 17. f6 {also came into consideration} gxf6 18. O-O-O $44)
17... Qc7 (17... d5 {was also good with the plan of} 18. exd5 exf5 $1 (18...
exd5 19. Bf4 $1 $40) 19. Re3 Qc7 (19... Bd6 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Bf4 Qe7 22. Kb1
Re8 23. a4 $1 $36) 20. Qe5 (20. Bd3 g6 $13) 20... Ne4 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Nxe4
fxe4 23. Bg2 Bxd5 24. Ba5 Rd7 25. Bxe4 Be6 $11) 18. f6 (18. Bd3 {was also
possible; a possible line is} exf5 19. exf5 d5 20. Kb1 $13) 18... Bf8 {This
move is the simplest and the strongest.} (18... e5 {was also interesting} 19.
Qe3 Nxe4 $1 20. Bd3 $3 (20. fxe7 d5 $1 $36) 20... Nxc3 (20... Nxd2 21. Qxd2 Bf8
(21... Qd7 22. Rg3 Bd8 23. Be2 $36) 22. fxg7 Bxg7 23. Bf5 e4 $1 24. Bxc8 Qxc8
25. Re3 Qc5 26. Kb1 $14 {and the position is very unclear, but White has the
better chances}) 21. Bxc3 d5 (21... Bf8 22. h5 $40) 22. Bxe5 (22. fxe7 {
leads to a forced draw after some only moves} d4 23. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 24. Rxd4 $1
exd4 25. Qxd4 f6 26. gxf6 Qc4 $1 27. Qf2 Qf7 $1 28. Rg3 Rxc3 $1 (28... Rg8 {
loses to} 29. Qf5+ g6 30. Qg5 Be4 31. Qf4 $18 {and Black destroys because of
the passed Ps}) 29. Rxg7+ Qxg7 30. fxg7 Rf3 31. Qg1 Bc6 32. h5 Rf6 33. Qg5 Rh6
34. Qf5+ Kxg7 35. Qg5+ $11) 22... Bd6 23. Bxd6 Rxe3 24. Bxc7 Rxh3 25. Bf5 Rxa3
(25... Rxc7 26. Re1 Rh1 27. Rxh1 gxf6 28. gxf6 Rc6 29. Rg1+ Kf8 30. Bxh7 $14)
26. bxa3 Rxc7 27. Re1 Bc6 28. Kb2 $14) 19. Bd3 (19. Bg2 {was also possible,
the bishop may be more harmonious on g2, but Black has the strong} a5 $1 (19...
d5 20. exd5 exd5 21. Bf4 $36) 20. Kb1 e5 $1 21. Qe3 Ne6 $1 {with a good play})
19... Qb6 {Black wants to play Nb3...} (19... d5 $1 {was the most principled
and the best move} 20. exd5 exd5 (20... Nxd3+ 21. Rxd3) 21. Bf5 $1 Ne6 (21...
Ne4 $5 22. Bxc8 Bc5 {is also good}) 22. Qg1 Qe5 (22... d4 $5) 23. Bxe6 Rxe6
$132) (19... Red8 {was also good to prepare ...d5.}) {, but White has} 20. Kb1
$1 {...which parries this threat.} Na4 $1 {Black decides to exchange the Qs to
relieve the pressure.} 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Ne2 ({The suggestion of the computer
can hardly promise anything after} 22. Be2 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5 25.
fxg7 Bxg7 $11) 22... Nd7 (22... Nc4 {was also possible.}) 23. Rf1 Ne5 $6 {
Black's N isn't doing much on e5.} (23... Nc5 $1 {was very strong to attack
White's e4-pawn} 24. fxg7 (24. Ng3 d5 25. exd5 Bxd5) 24... Bxg7 $132) 24. Nf4
Nd7 (24... Red8 25. Bc3 $14) 25. Nh5 $1 {White is provoking Black to weaken
his kingside, to be able to attack it with h5.} (25. fxg7 {also came into
consideration if White doesn't want to allow ...g6} Bxg7 26. Nh5 $14) 25... g6
26. Nf4 ({The computer gives} 26. Ng3 {as the best move, when the only
possibility is} h5 $1 27. gxh6 Kh7 28. Bg5 Nc5 29. h5 $14 {and White's
position is promising}) 26... Nc5 (26... h5 $2 {loses to} 27. Nxg6 $1 $18) 27.
h5 $1 (27. Re1 {was also possible, but Black can play} h5 {or} (27... Nxd3 28.
cxd3 {followed by} h5) (27... d5 {is bad because of} 28. h5 $1 $36)) 27... gxh5
$2 {After this move White is winning.} (27... Nxe4 {was much better} 28. hxg6
hxg6 29. Rh2 $1 Nxd2+ 30. Rxd2 e5 $1 ({If Black doesn't want to allow White to
play Nxg6, he can try} 30... Rc7 {, but White has} 31. Rh2 $1 {when he makes
use of the h-file}) 31. Nxg6 e4 32. Nxf8 Rxf8 33. Be2 $14) 28. Re1 $1 e5 29.
Nxh5 d5 30. Ng3 $1 {White's position is already winning.} Rcd8 $2 {This move
allows White an immediate win.} (30... Nxd3 {was better, but} 31. cxd3 dxe4 32.
g6 $1 fxg6 33. f7+ Kxf7 34. Rxh7+ Bg7 35. Bh6 $18 {also loses.}) 31. Reh1 h6
32. Nf5 dxe4 33. Nxh6+ Kh7 34. Nxf7+ {White has many ways to win in this
position, but there was a mate in 4.} (34. Nf5+ $1 Kg6 35. Ng3 $1 exd3 36. Rh6+
Bxh6 37. Rxh6#) 34... Kg6 35. Nxd8 Rxd8 36. Ba5 Rxd3 (36... exd3 37. Bxd8 Bxh1
38. Rxh1 $18) 37. cxd3 exd3 38. Rh6+ (38. Rg1 $18) 38... Kxg5 39. Bd2+ Kf5 40.
Rf1+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D83"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. c5 {The whole
6...Be6!? line and particularly this continuation (probably too risky for
White as he will hardly be able to hold his outposts in the centre) was
examined in annotations to the stem game Wang Yue - Carlsen (see CBM 133).
White's later attempts to create problems for his rival have been equally
unsuccessful.} c6 8. Bd3 (8. h3 b6 9. b4 Ne4 10. Nf3 (10. Bd3 a5 11. Na4 {
0-1 (63) Jumabayev,R (2525)-So,W (2652) Istanbul 2012} b5 12. Nb6 Ra7 $13)
10... a5 11. Na4 {1-0 (17) Timoscenko,G (2494)-Michalik,P (2330)/Banska
Stiavnica 2006/CBM 113 ext} b5 12. Nb6 Ra7 $13) (8. Nf3 Bg4 9. Qb3 (9. Be2 Nbd7
10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Re8 12. O-O e5 13. Bh2 exd4 14. exd4 {0-1 (60) Ghaem
Maghami,E (2582)-Volokitin,A (2638) Dubai 2014} Nf8 $132) 9... b6 10. cxb6 axb6
11. Ne5 Be6 12. Be2 Nfd7 13. Nf3 {1-0 (47) Mastrovasilis,A (2547)-Erdogdu,M 
(2423) Aix-les-Bains 2011} Bg4 $11) 8... Bc8 {A fresh idea. Black's bishop
simply frees the way for his e-pawn without trying to gain anything else. Now,
compared to the positions common for the Chebanenko Defence (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.
Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.c5), he has lost a tempo but his pawn is still on a7, which
enables him to push ...b7-b6, and in the event of c5xb6 - a7xb6. Practice has
seen the following alternatives:} (8... Bg4 9. f3 (9. Qc2 Nfd7 $5 10. Bxb8 $6 (
10. h3 e5 11. Bxe5 Nxe5 12. hxg4 Nxg4 $11) 10... Nxb8 $1 11. h3 Bc8 12. f4 b6
13. Na4 e5 $1 14. dxe5 f6 15. exf6 Qxf6 $40 {1/2 (58) Wang,Y (2736)-Carlsen,M 
(2772) Nanjing 2009 CBM 133 [Krasenkow,M]}) (9. Nge2 $5) 9... Bc8 10. Nge2 Nbd7
11. O-O e5 12. Bg5 Qc7 (12... exd4 $5 13. exd4 Re8 $11 {[%cal Yd7f8,Yf8e6]})
13. b4 Re8 14. Qd2 Nf8 15. Bh4 Nh5 16. g4 Nf6 17. Bg3 N8d7 18. Kg2 Qd8 19. h3
h5 $132 {1-0 (36) Kovalenko,I (2637)-Kulaots,K (2568) Vilnius LTU 2014}) (8...
b6 9. b4 a5 10. Na4 $5 (10. a3 axb4 11. axb4 Na6 12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. Nf3 bxc5 14.
bxc5 Bg4 15. Qd3 Qa8 16. Ne5 Bf5 17. Qd2 Nh5 $15 {1-0 (44) Zhao,X (2567)-Bok,B
(2560) Wijk aan Zee 2014}) 10... b5 11. Nb6 Ra7 $13) (8... Nbd7 $5 9. h3 (9.
Nge2 Nh5 10. b4 f5 11. Bg3 {1-0 (42) David,A (2588)-Bezemer,A (2351) Belgium
2011} Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bf7 {[%cal Ye7e5]} 13. f4 Nf6 $132) 9... Ne4 (9... Bf5 10.
Bxf5 gxf5 11. g4 $36 {1/2 (40) Krush,I (2455)-Nebolsina,V (2310) Moscow 2010})
10. Nge2 f5 11. O-O Bf7 12. Na4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. f3 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 Nf6 $11 {
1-0 (42) Almeida Quintana,O (2576)-Asis Gargatagli,H (2420) Barcelona 2011}) 9.
h3 (9. Nf3 Bg4 {is good for Black despite the loss of time;}) (9. b4 b6 10.
Nge2 Nfd7 11. O-O e5 12. Bg3 a5 13. b5 bxc5 14. bxc6 Nxc6 15. Nxd5 {1/2 (30)
Karner,C (2339)-Kreisl,R (2408) Steyregg AUT 2014} exd4 16. exd4 Nxd4 $13) 9...
Nfd7 $1 {[%mdl 32] The key move of Black's plan.} 10. Nf3 ({To} 10. Bg5 {
(preventing ...e7-e5)} b6 $1 {looks quite timely:} 11. cxb6 (11. b4 a5 12. b5
bxc5 13. bxc6 Nxc6 14. Nxd5 Bb7 $132) 11... axb6 12. Nf3 Ba6 $11) 10... e5 $1 {
This break solves Black's problems.} 11. dxe5 Nxc5 12. Bb1 Nbd7 13. b4 $6 (13.
O-O $142) 13... Ne6 14. O-O (14. Bh2 Ng5 $1 15. Nxg5 Qxg5 16. O-O Qe7 {[%cal
Re7b4,Rd7e5]}) 14... Nxf4 15. exf4 Nb6 $15 {^^} 16. Qd4 (16. Re1 $142) 16... f6
$1 17. b5 Nc4 (17... fxe5 $142 18. Nxe5 (18. fxe5 $4 Rxf3 19. gxf3 Qg5+ 20. Kh1
Bxh3 21. Rg1 Qh5) 18... Nc4 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Bd3 {- game}) 18. bxc6 bxc6 19.
Bd3 fxe5 20. Nxe5 $6 (20. fxe5 $1 Rxf3 21. Bxc4 $13) 20... Bxe5 $1 {[%mdl 64]}
({A tactical solution, which is better than} 20... Nxe5 21. fxe5 Qb6 22. Ne2
Bd7 $15) 21. fxe5 Nd2 22. Rfd1 (22. Rfe1 Qg5 23. Kh1 (23. Qe3 Nf3+ 24. Kh1 Qh4
25. gxf3 Bxh3 $19 {[%cal Rd5d4] ->}) 23... Nf3 $1 24. gxf3 Bxh3 25. Rg1 (25.
Bf1 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rf4) 25... Qh6 $19) 22... Qg5 23. Qe3 $1 (23. Kh1 Nf3 $1 24.
gxf3 Bxh3 $19) (23. Kh2 Bxh3 $1 24. Kxh3 Nf3 $1 ({even better than} 24... Rf4)
25. gxf3 Rxf3+ 26. Kh2 Raf8 $19 {[%cal Rf8f4,Rf3f2]}) 23... Nf3+ 24. Kh1 Qxe3
25. fxe3 Nxe5 {Black has won a pawn...} 26. e4 d4 27. Na4 Rb8 $1 {... and
gladly gives it back!} 28. Bc4+ Kg7 29. Rxd4 $2 {It was better to decline the
offer:} (29. Nc5 Rf2 $140 30. Be6 $1 {- White may survive here.}) 29... Rb4 30.
Nc5 Rf2 31. a3 Rbb2 {[%cal Gb2f2,Gf2g2]} 32. Na4 $1 (32. Bf1 $2 Bxh3) 32...
Bxh3 $1 33. Nxb2 Bxg2+ 34. Kh2 Rxb2 35. Kg3 g5 $17 {Black has two connected
passed pawns and a strong centralised knight for the exchange. It is
practically impossible for White to organise a successful defence.} 36. Rcd1 (
36. Bf1 Bxf1 37. Rxf1 h5 38. Rf5 $140 $6 h4+ 39. Kh3 Rb3+ 40. Kg2 h3+ 41. Kh1
Nf3) 36... h5 37. R4d2 Rxd2 38. Rxd2 Bxe4 $19 39. Re2 h4+ 40. Kf2 Ng4+ 41. Kg1
Nf6 42. Be6 Kg6 43. Re1 Bf3 44. Re5 g4 45. Bf5+ Kh6 46. Bd3 Bd5 47. Bf1 g3 48.
Bh3 Ne4 49. Be6 Nf2 50. Bxd5 cxd5 51. Kg2 d4 52. Rd5 d3 53. a4 a5 54. Kf3 Kg6
55. Rd8 Kf7 56. Rd4 Kf8 57. Rd5 Ke8 58. Rd4 Ke7 59. Rd5 Kf6 60. Rd6+ Kf5 61.
Rd4 Ke6 62. Rd8 Ke5 63. Rd7 h3 $1 64. Kxg3 Ne4+ 65. Kf3 h2 66. Kg2 d2 {[%cal
Re4d6]} (66... d2 67. Rd3 h1=Q+ 68. Kxh1 Nf2+) 0-1

[Event "Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2015.05.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.05.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:05]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} c6
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. Bh4 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} g5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 8. Bg3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 9. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:
10]} 10. e5 {[%emt 0:00:08] Grischuk is one of the top experts in the Moscow
Gambit, but he trwas trying this line for the first time! It was somewhat
popular in 2009-2013, but 10.h4 remains the main line. But nobody remembers
that this move was introduced by Garry Kasparov!} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 11. O-O
{[%emt 0:00:15]} ({Possible is} 11. Nd2 Nd7 12. h4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 c5 14. hxg5
cxd4 15. g6 fxg6 16. Bh5 Rg8 17. Qg4 Qe7 18. Bxg6+ Rxg6 19. Qxg6+ Qf7 20. Qxf7+
Kxf7 21. cxd4 Bxg2 22. Rh4 {Salem,A (2469)-Grigoriants,S (2566)/Pardubice 2010,
White stays just slightly better.}) 11... Nxc3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} ({Before
Grischuk|s opponent played here} 11... Nd7 12. Nd2 Qb6 13. a4 a6 14. Nde4 O-O-O
15. Bh5 Rh7 16. axb5 cxb5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. exd6 Nf6 20. Bg4+
Nxg4 21. Qxg4+ Kb8 22. Qf5 {Mamedyarov,S (2742)-Karjakin,S (2727)/Moscow 2008,
with a winning position.}) 12. bxc3 {[%emt 0:02:31]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 13. a4
{[%emt 0:23:34]} a6 {[%emt 0:05:46]} 14. Qb1 {[%emt 0:00:54] A typical
manoeuvre with the idea of recovering the sacrificed pawn.} ({Here} 14. axb5 {
has been tried:} axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Qb1 Bc6 17. Rd1 Nd7 18. d5 Bxd5 19.
Rxd5 exd5 20. e6 Bg7 21. Bd6 Qb6 22. exd7+ Kxd7 {Wukits,R (2293)-Kilgus,G 
(2443)/Vienna 2014 (27), Black's pawn group is very dangerous.}) ({Black was
promised good counterplay after} 14. dxc5 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bxc5 16. axb5 axb5 17.
Rxa8 Bxa8 18. Rb1 Nd7 19. Rxb5 Bc6 20. Ra5 O-O 21. Nd2 Rb8) 14... g4 {[%emt 0:
08:12]} (14... Qd7 {was clearly worse:} 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Bxa8 17. Bxc4)
15. Nh4 {[%emt 0:04:14]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:28:39]} ({The first move to check was} 
15... Be7 16. Ng6 fxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kd7 18. dxc5 Qg8 19. Qb1 Kc8 20. axb5 axb5 21.
c6 Bxc6 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Qxb5 Qe8 24. Qxc4+ Qc6 25. Qxc6+ Bxc6 26. Bxg4 Bd7 {
in this position three pawns for a piece allow White just to hold, not more.})
16. axb5 {[%emt 0:17:05]} ({There was a different way which was not worse:} 16.
Bxc4 Qc8 17. Be2 dxc3 18. axb5 Nd7 19. Rc1 axb5 20. Bxb5 Ra3 21. Qd3) 16... d3
{[%emt 0:03:12]} 17. Bxg4 {[%emt 0:04:40] The position is totally unbalanced,
but in such cases sooner or later the safety of one's own king position will
decide!} a5 {[%emt 0:21:04]} 18. Bf3 {[%emt 0:22:33] The bishop on b7 is too
strong and must be exchanged.} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:05:02]} 19. Nxf3 {[%emt 0:00:26]}
Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} ({A very promising line was} 19... Nd7 20. Nd2 Nb6 21. Ne4
Be7 22. Nd6+ Bxd6 23. exd6 Qg5 24. Qd1 Nd5) 20. Ra4 {[%emt 0:07:32] White has
no other realistic target to attack.} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 21. Qa2 {[%emt 0:00:
09] Black doesn't want to give up his c4-pawn, but maybe he should have.} Nb6
$2 {[%emt 0:02:48]} ({It was necessary to be realistic:} 21... Qxb5 22. Rb1 Qd5
23. Nd2 Be7 24. Qxc4 Qxc4 25. Nxc4 O-O {with good chances to save the game.})
22. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxa5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 23. Qxa5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} 24. Qa2 $1 {[%emt 0:02:40] White understood that the queen has
to be urgently transferred to the other side. The extra pawn does not
guarantee anything, as Black holds an important asset - the passed d3-pawn.}
O-O {[%emt 0:06:23]} 25. Qd2 {[%emt 0:06:47]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 26. Re1 {
[%emt 0:01:06]} Be7 {[%emt 0:07:29]} ({I would try the more active} 26... Rg8
27. Kf1 Rg4) 27. Bf4 {[%emt 0:09:11]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 28. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:
29]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:12:01]} 29. Be3 $6 {[%emt 0:03:14]} ({A better option was to
start with} 29. Rb1) 29... Nd7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 30. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Qxb5 {
[%emt 0:00:08] White gave up the pawn, but now it is time to create some
threats against the opponent's king.} 31. Qf4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bg7 $2 {[%emt 0:
02:33] This move is simply bad. But the endgame would be anyhow better for
White.} (31... Rg7 32. Nd2 Qd5 33. f3 Be7 34. g3 Bg5 35. Qe4+ Qxe4 36. Nxe4 Rg8
37. f4) 32. Qxf7 {[%emt 0:01:29]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33. Nd2 $6 {[%emt 0:01:
23]} ({Better was} 33. Nh4 d2 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Rf1 Nxe5 36. Qc2 Nd3 37. Qxd2)
33... Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 34. Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} (
34... Nb8 $1 {Such backward moves are very difficult to see even for top
players. The threat Nc6-d4 would be very unpleasant.}) 35. Re3 {[%emt 0:04:38]}
({Even better was} 35. Re4 Nf8 36. f3) 35... Rg5 {[%emt 0:03:16]} ({A funny
draw was} 35... Nxe5 36. Rg3 Rf7 37. Qxf7 Nxf7 38. Rxg7+ Kh8 39. Bf6 Qf5 40.
Rg6+ Kh7 41. Rg7+ Kh8 42. Rg6+) 36. Rg3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:02:29]}
({A good chance was} 36... Rxg3 37. hxg3 Nb8 $1 38. f4 Nc6 39. Qc7 Nxd4 40.
cxd4 Qxd4 41. Qxc4) 37. Rxg5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 38. Nxc4 $6
{[%emt 0:01:05] A brave decision in deep time trouble. Grischuk calculated
this very well.} ({A very technical decision would be} 38. h4 g4 39. Kh2) 38...
Kg6 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 39. Qe8+ {[%emt 0:00:11]} Nf7 $4 {[%emt 0:00:25] A
terrible time trouble blunder.} ({After the correct} 39... Kh6 40. Ne3 d2 $1
41. h3 $1 Qb3 42. Kh2 d1=Q 43. Nxd1 Qxd1 44. Qxe6+ {it is probably a draw.})
40. Qg8 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00] A terrible pin - material losses are inevitable!} e5
41. Nxe5+ {1-0 (41) Grischuk,A (2780)-Karjakin,S (2753) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}
1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Wagner,D"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"]

{Grischuk and Anand had both lost the first round, giving their encounter in
round two a certain importance.} 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2.
Bf4 $5 {[%emt 0:00:12] A rare guest in elite tournaments. Nakamura used it
recently to beat MVL at the Fide Grand Prix in Khanty Mansiysk.} d5 {[%emt 0:
01:23]} (2... b6 3. c4 Bb7 4. Nc3 e6 5. a3 d5 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6
9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qa4+ Kf8 11. g3 $14 {1-0 (27) Nakamura,H (2799)-Vachier
Lagrave,M (2754) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 3. e3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:
38]} 4. dxc5 $1 {[%emt 0:02:05] This specific version of the London System is
very rare, but not that harmless, as I expected it to be.} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:30]}
5. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:08] Curiously Anand had already faced exactly the same line
against the same opponent in a Blitz game at Norway Chess. Maybe blinded by
the success of this game he repeats it, though the resulting position looks
rather dangerous for Black and offers improvements for White along the way.}
Qa5+ $2 {[%emt 0:05:31] This move is the origin of Anand's problems in this
game. The queen sortie loses important time, which White can use to unleash a
dangerous initiative.} (5... e6 $1 {Is the correct way to handle this position.
I guess Anand was afraid of having to prove compensation for the pawn against
Grischuk's prep, but anyway this was the way to go. Esprecially after their
encounter in Blitz he should have checked this line more deeply in his
preparation.} 6. b4 a5 7. c3 Bd7 8. Qb3 (8. Nf3 axb4 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. cxb4 b6
11. Ne5 Ba4 12. Qc1 bxc5 13. Nc3 Bd7 14. bxc5 Bxc5 $15 {1/2-1/2 (43) Meister,J
(2464)-Delchev,A (2607) Wunsiedel 2015}) 8... Ne4 $5 (8... Nh5 9. Ne2 Nxf4 10.
Nxf4 g6 11. a4 Bg7 12. Ra2 $14) 9. f3 e5 {Now it's becoming pretty complicated,
but Black is not worse, for example:} 10. fxe4 exf4 11. Ne2 Qh4+ 12. g3 fxg3
13. Nxg3 dxe4 14. O-O Be6 15. Qa4 Rc8 16. Nd2 Be7 $11) 6. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:15]}
a6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 7. Bxc6+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 8. Nf3 $1 {
[%emt 0:00:24] An easy but important improvement. It's already quite difficult
to make good suggestions for Black now, because White can always find ways to
use his development advantage.} (8. Qd4 {happened in their blitz game.} e6 9.
b4 Qa3 10. Nge2 a5 11. Rb1 (11. b5 Bxc5 12. Qa4 Ke7 13. bxc6 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Bd6
$11) 11... axb4 12. Rxb4 Ba6 (12... Nd7 $1 $17) 13. O-O Bxe2 14. Nxe2 Be7 {
with a pleasant position for Black} 15. Bd6 Bxd6 16. cxd6 O-O 17. Ng3 Rfc8 18.
Qd2 Rd8 19. e4 dxe4 20. c4 Qxa2 21. Qxa2 Rxa2 22. Rb6 h5 23. Rxc6 h4 24. Nh1
Rc2 25. Rd1 Ng4 26. c5 e3 27. Rc7 exf2+ 28. Nxf2 Nxf2 29. Rf1 Ne4 30. Rfxf7
Rc1+ {0-1 (30) Grischuk,A (2781)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger 2015}) 8... e6 {
[%emt 0:04:51]} (8... Ne4 $1 {should have been preferred, but it's difficult
to go for it without proper preparation.} 9. Qd4 (9. O-O Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qxc5 11.
Re1 e6 12. e4 Be7 {White's initiative is sufficient for not more than equality.
}) 9... Nxc3 (9... Qxc5 10. Nxe4 Qxd4 11. exd4 dxe4 12. Ne5 $14) 10. bxc3 f6 $1
11. O-O e5 12. Bxe5 fxe5 13. Qxe5+ Kf7 (13... Be7 14. e4 $36 {Although still
very unclear, this definitely looks threatening.} (14. Qxg7 $5 Rf8 15. Qxh7 $40
)) 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Ne6 Ra7 {The position has turned into a mess, but Black
should have enough defensive resources.}) (8... Qxc5 9. Ne5 $1 e6 10. O-O Bb7 (
10... Be7 11. Na4 Qa5 12. c4 $16) 11. Na4 Qa7 12. c4 $36) 9. O-O {[%emt 0:15:
05]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:04:33] White is already at choice now; he has lots of
promising continuations.} ({After the immediate} 9... Bxc5 10. Nd4 $1 {seems
to be annoying, that's the reason, why in the game Anand preferred to protect
c6 first.} (10. Ne5 Bb7 11. a3 Qd8 12. b4 Bd6 13. Nd3 a5 $132) 10... Qb4 11.
Rb1 (11. Nxc6 Qxb2 $1) 11... Qb7 12. b4 Be7 13. Na4 O-O 14. c4 $14) 10. a3 {
[%emt 0:19:45]} (10. Bd6 $5 {is also sensible and better for White.} Bxd6 11.
cxd6 O-O 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 $14) ({When I followed this game
online, the commentators suggested another move, which is also really
dangerous for Black.} 10. e4 $1 Bxc5 11. Nd2 Be7 12. Nb3 Qb6 (12... Qd8 13. e5
$1 Ng8 14. Na4 $16) 13. Re1 O-O 14. Be3 Qd8 15. Bc5 $16) 10... Qxc5 {[%emt 0:
00:48]} 11. Na4 {[%emt 0:00:37]} Qa7 {[%emt 0:02:49]} (11... Qb5 12. c4 $1) 12.
c4 {[%emt 0:01:48]} Be7 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 13. Rc1 {[%emt 0:07:46]} (13. b4 $5
O-O 14. c5 Rad8 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Qe2 $14 {is another strategy, giving White a
good edge.}) 13... Rc8 $2 {[%emt 0:03:05] Black can't bear delaying castling
for so long.} (13... c5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bg5 $14) (13... O-O {was the lesser
evil, allowing the weakening of the structure.} 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Ne5 $14) 14.
cxd5 {[%emt 0:21:36] Grischuk decides two open up the position, which makes
some sense taking into account that the Black king is still stuck in the
centre.} (14. c5 $5 {with the idea of seizing more space and squeezing Black
is pretty good, too.} O-O 15. b4 Rcd8 (15... Rfe8 16. Nb6 Rcd8 17. Ne5 $18) 16.
Nb6 Ne4 17. Nd4 $16) 14... cxd5 {[%emt 0:05:07]} 15. Rxc8+ {[%emt 0:00:28]}
Bxc8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 16. Qd4 $5 {[%emt 0:00:03] An interesting decision. The
queen is the only defender of the queenside, hence it is exchanged.} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:06]} 17. exd4 {[%emt 0:00:27] The queen exchange hasn't eased
Black's problems. His lack of development will cost him and important pawn.}
Bd7 {[%emt 0:07:01]} (17... O-O 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. Nb6 {changes nothing.}) 18. Nb6
{[%emt 0:19:45]} Bd8 {[%emt 0:16:49]} (18... O-O 19. Rc1 Bb5 20. a4 $1 Be2 (
20... Be8 21. Ne5) 21. Ne5 $16 {the white pieces are dominating.}) 19. Nxd7 {
[%emt 0:01:02]} Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 20. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:
37] This gives the pawn at once, but anyway, it was difficult to hold onto it
in the long run.} (20... a5 21. Rc6 Nb6 22. Ne5 a4 23. Nd3 $16) 21. Rc6 {
[%emt 0:03:48]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 22. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:03:49] The rest is
basically a matter of technique.} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 23. Bd2 {[%emt 0:02:28]}
(23. a4 $1 Rc8 24. a5 Bd8 25. h4 {would have been more accurate.}) 23... g5 {
[%emt 0:04:22]} (23... Rc8 $5 24. Bc3 e5 {could have created more problems.}
25. g3 Rb8 26. a4 (26. dxe5 Nc5 $1) 26... exd4 27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Rxb2 29.
Ra7 Ke8 30. a5 $16) 24. h3 {[%emt 0:05:33]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 25. Bb4 {
[%emt 0:02:45]} Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 26. Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:57]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} 27. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:39]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:06:28]} 28. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e5
{[%emt 0:00:17]} 29. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 30. Bb4 {
[%emt 0:01:06]} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 31. Nxe5+ {[%emt 0:01:57]} fxe5 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 32. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} e4 {[%emt 0:03:21]} 33. f3 $1 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
d3+ {[%emt 0:01:46]} (33... e3 34. Kd3 $18 {Black's pawns are safely blocked.})
34. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} exf3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 35. Rf8+ {[%emt 0:00:19] A
severe defeat for Anand caused by poor handling of this rare opening.} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Ne4 {
Not the most common move here but still seen in dozens of games and recently
gaining popularity. It was examined in detail in my annotations to
Topalov-Giri (CBM 151) but a number of games have been played and annotated
since then.} 8. a3 $146 {This new move is hardly dangerous for Black but at
least spoils his preparation.} (8. Nxe4 {- see Eljanov-Andreikin in CBM 167}) (
8. Rc1 {- Giri-Caruana, CBM 166}) (8. Qc2 f5 {- Sjugirov-Jojua, CBM 166} {
It is essential that} 9. Nb5 c6 10. Nc7 $2 {doesn't work due to} e5 $1 11. Ne6
Qa5+) 8... Nxc3 {An obvious exchange, after which 8.a3 is just a loss of a
tempo. However, White's b-pawn moves towards the centre, ready to undermine it
with c3-c4.} ({White's main idea is that after} 8... f5 9. Nb5 c6 10. Nc7 {
is quite possible as} e5 {doesn't work due to} 11. Ne6 Qa5+ 12. b4) ({Black
has a lot of other moves, which may be tested in future:} 8... b6) (8... c6 {
etc.}) 9. bxc3 c6 (9... b6 10. c6 Nb8 (10... Nf6 {is hardly good as White's c6
pawn can't be easily eliminated after, say,} 11. Bd3) 11. Qa4 Bd6 {deserves
attention, with mutual chances, e.g.} 12. Bg3 Bxg3 13. hxg3 Qd6 14. Bd3 h6 15.
g4 Nxc6 16. g5 $44) 10. Qa4 {Preventing 10...b6.} g5 $1 {White's queen has
moved to the queenside so Black starts counterplay on the kingside and in the
centre.} 11. Bg3 f5 12. h3 f4 13. Bh2 e5 $1 14. Be2 e4 15. Nd2 Nxc5 $1 {
[%mdl 512]} 16. dxc5 Bxc5 $44 {Black has sacrificed a piece to support his
pawn avalanche. However, the main drawback of his position is poor development
(Ra8 and Bc8).} 17. O-O $6 {This is risky but awkward moves like} (17. Bg1 {
are hardly promising.}) 17... b5 $2 (17... fxe3 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qb3+ (19.
Qc4+ Qd5) 19... Kg7 20. Be5+ Kg6 {, and White's compensation for the material
advantage is under doubt. It is unclear what Alexander Grischuk had in mind in
that case.}) 18. Qb3 Qe7 (18... fxe3 19. Nxe4 $16) 19. Kh1 $16 {[%csl Rg8]
[%mdl 32] Black's king is weak so he has no sufficient compensation for the
piece.} Be6 (19... fxe3 20. fxe3 Be6 $1 (20... Bxe3 21. Rxf8+ Kxf8 (21... Qxf8
22. Nxe4) 22. Rf1+ Kg8 23. c4 $1 Bxd2 24. cxd5 $18 {->}) 21. a4 $16 {- below})
20. a4 (20. exf4 $5 gxf4 21. Qb2 {[%cal Yd2b3]}) 20... d4 (20... fxe3 21. fxe3
Bxe3 22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 23. Nf1 {[%cal Rf1e3,Ra4b5]} bxa4 (23... d4 24. Qd1 Bf2 25.
cxd4) 24. Qxa4 Bb6 25. Qxc6 Rc8 26. Qb5 Rxc3 27. Rd1 $16 {[%cal Ye2g4] Due to
the unsafe position of his king, Black can't make use of his central pawns.})
21. Qd1 (21. Qb2 d3 22. Bh5 {[%cal Rd2e4,Ra4b5] was even stronger.}) 21... d3
22. Bg4 Bd5 (22... Bxg4 23. Qxg4 fxe3 24. fxe3 Bxe3 25. Qxe4 Qxe4 26. Nxe4
Rxf1+ 27. Rxf1 bxa4 28. Rd1 a3 29. Rxd3 Rf8 30. Rd1 $18) 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Nb3
fxe3 (24... Bb6 25. Nd4) 25. Nxc5 Qxc5 {^^} 26. fxe3 Qxe3 27. Re1 ({Of course,
finding something like} 27. Bd6 Rf2 28. Bc8 $3 Rxc8 (28... Rxf1+ 29. Qxf1 Rxc8
30. Qf5) 29. Rxf2 Qxf2 30. Qg4 {is impossible over the board but the line
brilliantly demonstrates the strength of White's bishops.}) 27... Qf2 28. Bg1
Qf7 (28... Qf6 29. Bc5 $1) 29. Qd2 Qg6 (29... h6 30. Ra6 Kh7 {is hopeless
enough but the text move allows a nice finale.}) 30. Ra6 $1 Rf6 (30... Qxa6 31.
Qxg5+ Qg6 32. Qxd5+ Kg7 33. Bd4+ Kh6 34. Rxe4 $18) 31. Rea1 {It is a pity that
White misses} (31. Rxf6 Qxf6 32. Rf1 $1 ({or} 32. Rxe4 $1 Bxe4 33. Qa2+ Kf8 34.
Bc5+ Kg7 35. Bd4 $18) 32... Qxf1 {(to queen retreats White plays 33.Rf5)} 33.
Qxg5+ Kf8 34. Qxd5 Re8 35. Bh5 {with a decisive attack. The text move doesn't
spoil anything, though.}) 31... Re8 (31... h6 32. Rxa7 Rxa7 33. Rxa7 $18) 32.
Rxf6 Qxf6 33. Rxa7 h6 34. Be3 Qe5 35. Qe1 Bc4 36. Bd4 Qf4 37. Be3 Qe5 38. Bd4
Qf4 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Qa1 b4 (40... b4 41. cxb4 $18 {[%cal Rd4c5]}) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 3rd"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2015.08.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2853"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2015.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Qd3 Nbd7 10. Nd5 O-O {Alexander Grischuk chooses a tricky order of
moves. Now it's hard to suggest anything better than 11.0-0.} ({In case of} 
10... Bxd5 11. exd5 O-O {Black has to deal with a more aggressive approach -}
12. g4 $5) 11. O-O ({After} 11. c4 b5 $1 12. cxb5 axb5 13. O-O Bxd5 14. exd5
Nb6 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. Qxb5 Qa7 $44 {Black had an excellent compensation for a
pawn in 1/2 Svidler,P (2672)-Gelfand,B (2692)/Haifa 2000}) 11... Bxd5 12. exd5
Rc8 $5 {Provoking the c2-c4 advancement.} (12... Nc5 {is much more popuar here.
}) 13. c4 ({Black has nothing to worry about after} 13. a4 Nb6 14. Bxb6 Qxb6
15. a5 Qc7 $132) 13... Ne8 {That move is connected with a typical plan of
regrouping the k-side pieces.} (13... a5 14. Kh1 Re8 15. Rad1 Bf8 16. Nd2 g6
17. b3 Bg7 18. a3 h5 19. f3 b6 20. b4 $14 {1-0 Short,N (2645)-Cheparinov,I 
(2713)/Wijk aan Zee 2008}) 14. Qd2 {An exchange of bishops would definitely
suit Black, so Magnus prevents it for a while.} ({Dubious is:} 14. Bg4 $6 e4 $1
15. Qxe4 Nef6 16. Qd4 Nxg4 17. Qxg4 Ne5 18. Qe2 Nxc4 19. Bd4 Bf6 $15 {0-1
Medvegy,Z (2462)-Shariyazdanov,A (2612)/Oberwart 2000/EXT 2001 (51)}) ({
Black gets a comfortable play after} 14. Rac1 Bg5 15. Nd2 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Nef6
$11 {0-1 Pinter,G (2384)-Seres,L (2444)/Budapest 2000/CBM 079 ext (29)}) 14...
b6 {A double-edged move. Alexander restricts the activity of Nb3, but the
weakness of c6-spot may tell in the long run.} ({Another Najdorf expert
Alexander Areschenko has opted for:} 14... f5 $5 15. f4 g6 16. Na5 (16. Kh1
Nef6 17. fxe5 Ne4 18. Qe1 dxe5 19. Na5 Rb8 20. b4 Bh4 $1 21. g3 f4 $132) 16...
exf4 17. Bxf4 Nef6 $132 {Black had a decent counterplay in 0-1 Hovhannisyan,R 
(2592)-Areshchenko,A (2701)/Martuni 2014}) 15. Rac1 $146 {A natural innovation.
The rook may support he thematic c4-c5 advancement, while the a1-spot is
vacant for the knight's route.} ({The previously played} 15. f4 {should be met
by:} f5 (15... Qc7 16. Rac1 Nc5 (16... Nef6 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Qe1 Bd6 19. Qh4
Rfe8 20. Kh1 $14) 17. Nxc5 bxc5 18. Bd3 $14 {1-0 Tsiros,F (2147)-Marosi,L 
(2211)/Gyor HUN 2014}) 16. Rae1 a5 $132) ({The saim can be said about} 15. Rae1
a5 (15... g6 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. f4 $14) 16. f4 f5 $1 $132 ({Now} 16... g6 $6 {
looks too passive in view of:} 17. f5 Ng7 18. Bd3 Nxf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Rxf5
Rxc4 21. Qe2 $36)) 15... a5 ({The more aggressive way of handling the position
was:} 15... f5 16. f3 f4 17. Bf2 Bh4 18. Bd3 g6 $132 {, but Alexander's plan
wasn't based on the f7-f5 advancement.}) 16. Na1 g6 {An original way of
handling the position. As was mentioned before, Black deviates from the usual
f7-f5 advancement in order to keep the f5-spot vacant for the knight.} 17. b4 (
17. Nc2 Ng7 18. Bh6 (18. Bd3 f5 19. f3 f4 20. Bf2 Bh4 $132) 18... Re8 19. g4 f5
$132) 17... Ng7 ({No doubt, the naive} 17... axb4 $6 {would be strongly met by:
} 18. Nc2 $1 f5 19. Bh6 Rf7 20. Nxb4 Nef6 21. Nc6 $14) 18. bxa5 bxa5 ({It was
possible to exchange the powerful dark-squared bishop at cost of a pawn:} 18...
Nf5 $5 19. Bxb6 Nxb6 20. axb6 Qxb6 21. Nc2 Qa7 $44) 19. Bd3 ({After} 19. Nb3 $6
Nf5 20. Nxa5 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Bg5 22. Nc6 Qb6 23. Rc3 Ra8 {White's position is
getting unpleasant from practical point of view - the extra pawn has no much
value here.}) 19... Nc5 20. Bc2 {That retreat gives Black more time for
activating their pieces.} ({Deserved a serious attention} 20. Rb1 $5 Nxd3 21.
Qxd3 Qc7 22. Rfc1 Rb8 (22... Nf5 23. Bb6 Qd7 24. Nb3 $14) 23. Rb5 Nf5 24. a4
Nxe3 25. Qxe3 {The arising complex position contains strategic risk for both
sides, but White's play seems somewhat easier.}) 20... a4 {A consistent
continuation - the Na1 is out of moves now.} ({However, there was no reasons
for rejecting the more aggressive} 20... f5 $5 21. f3 a4 22. Rb1 Bf6 {and
Black is not worse at the very least.}) 21. Rb1 e4 $6 {A dubious pawn
sacrifice. Perhaps, Alexander has overestimated the effect of knight's
appearance on f5.} (21... f5 $142 22. Rb4 (22. Rb5 $6 Nd7 $1 23. Qb4 f4 24. Bc1
f3 $40) 22... Qa5 23. Rd1 Bd8 $132) 22. Bxc5 ({It was possible to postpone
that exchange:} 22. Qe2 $5 f5 (22... Nf5 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Qxe4 $14) (22... Qd7
23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Bxe4 $14) 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Bxa4 Bf6 25. Nb3 Rc8 26. g3 $14)
22... Rxc5 23. Bxa4 $6 {Returning the favoure. Now Alexander's 21 move fully
justifies.} ({At the same time, after} 23. Qe2 $1 f5 (23... Qc7 24. Bxa4 Rxc4
25. Bb5 Rc3 26. Qxe4 $14) 24. Bxa4 Ra5 25. Bb5 $14 {it would be not easy to
develop an attack, so Black doesn't have a sufficient compensation for a pawn.}
) 23... Rxc4 24. Bc6 Nf5 25. Qe2 Rc3 26. Qxe4 {Finally White has won a pawn,
but now Black's pieces are much more active than before.} Ra3 27. Qe2 ({
Nothing promises:} 27. Nc2 Rxa2 28. Nb4 Ra3 29. Bb5 Bf6 30. Nc6 Qb6 31. Be2 Qc5
$11) ({Another way to protect the Pa2 was:} 27. Qc4 Bf6 28. Nc2 Rc3 29. Qa4 Be5
$44 {, but Black gets a decent compensation either.}) 27... Bf6 28. Nb3 Qe7 29.
Qxe7 ({White hardly may play for a win with such a passive pieces:} 29. Rfe1
Qa7 30. Nc1 Nd4 31. Qe4 Rb8 32. Rxb8+ Qxb8 33. Qe8+ Qxe8 34. Rxe8+ Kg7 $11)
29... Nxe7 30. Nd2 Rxa2 $11 {The extra pawn is gone, so the position is
completely equal now.} 31. Nc4 (31. Ne4 Be5 32. f4 Bd4+ 33. Kh1 Nf5 $11) 31...
Rd8 32. g4 $6 {An over-ambitious decision. White pushes for a win, but
exposing the king that way is risky.} (32. Rfd1 $142 Kg7 33. g3 $11) 32... Bd4
$1 {Immediately exploiting White's inaccuracy. The bishop is coming to c5,
where it will puts a strong pressure on the Pf2. At the same time, White's
bishop is not doing much.} 33. Rbd1 $6 {One more mistake, which leads to a
loss of pawn.} ({It looks like White shouldn't be able to solve the problems
quite easily after} 33. Rb7 Kf8 34. Kg2 g5 35. Kf3 Ng6 36. Ke4 $1 Rxf2 37. Rxf2
Bxf2 38. h3 $11 {activating all the pieces.}) 33... Bc5 34. Rd2 {It is
necessary to exchange the opponent's active rook.} Rxd2 35. Nxd2 Nxc6 36. dxc6
Rc8 37. Ne4 Rxc6 38. Rd1 {The arising endgame must be very unpleasant for
Magnus, but White still has good drawish chances due to a limited material
ballance.} h6 39. h4 Kf8 40. Kg2 Ke7 41. Rc1 {Preventing Black from advancing
the passer for a while.} Rc8 42. Kf3 Ke6 43. Rc2 Rc7 44. h5 $1 {Correctly
swapping more pawn on the k-side.} (44. Rc1 Bb6 45. Re1 Rc2 $17) 44... gxh5 ({
Comparing to the previous note,} 44... Bb6 $6 {can be strongly met by:} 45. Re2
$1 Bd4 46. g5 $1 hxg5 47. hxg6 fxg6 48. Kg4 {and draw becomes unavoidable.})
45. gxh5 Bb6 {Obviously, sooner or later Black has to unpin the bishop.} 46.
Re2 Bd4 $1 {Alexander manages to find an excellent resourse - the bishop's
transfer to e5 would pose White more problems.} 47. Kg3 ({Unfortunately,} 47.
Ng3+ Be5 48. Ra2 Rc3+ 49. Kg2 {leads to a hopeless rook's ending:} Bxg3 50.
fxg3 Rc5 51. g4 f5 $19) 47... d5 (47... f5 $5 48. Ng5+ Kf6 49. Nh3 Rg7+ 50. Kf3
Be5 $17) 48. Nd2+ Kf5 49. Kg2 (49. Nf3 Bf6 50. Ra2 d4 51. Ra5+ Ke4 52. Nd2+ Kd3
53. Nf3 Kc2 $17) 49... Be5 50. Nf3 Bf6 51. Ra2 Rd7 52. Ne1 {Obviously, White's
only plan is to set-up blockade.} Rc7 $6 ({There was no reason to deviate from:
} 52... Kg4 53. Ra6 Bg7 54. Nd3 Kxh5 55. Kf3 Kg5 $17 {grabbing the second pawn,
though White still in the game due to activity of all the pieces.}) 53. Kf3 Bg5
54. Ra5 Ke5 55. Ke2 {Now it is not easy to make any progress.} Ke4 56. Ra4+ d4
57. f3+ Kd5 58. Ra5+ Kc4 ({Correctly rejecting} 58... Rc5 59. Rxc5+ Kxc5 60. f4
Bf6 61. Kd3 Kd5 62. Nf3 Bg7 63. Nh4 $11) 59. Nd3 {Provoking the exchange of
rooks.} ({Possibly,} 59. Ra4+ $5 {would be a better choice from practical
point of view:} Kc3 60. Ra3+ Kb4 61. Ra8 Re7+ 62. Kd1) 59... Re7+ 60. Re5 Re6
$5 {Alexander is trying to change the static character of position.} ({It
looks like White should be able to achieve a draw after} 60... Kc3 61. Rxe7
Bxe7 62. Ne5 Kc2 63. Nd3 f6 64. Nf4 Bd6 65. Nd3 f5 66. Ne1+ Kc3 67. Nd3 {
and White's knight has enough spots.}) 61. f4 $1 {The only move.} ({White
cannot afford changing the pawn structure:} 61. Rxe6 $2 fxe6 62. Ne5+ (62. f4
Be7 63. Kd2 Kd5 $19) 62... Kc3 63. Nd3 Be7 64. Ne5 Bf6 65. Nd3 Bh4 66. Ne5 Bg3
67. Nd3 e5 68. Nc5 Kc4 69. Nd3 Kd5 $19 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gd5e6,Ge6f5]}) 61...
Bf6 62. Rxe6 fxe6 {A critical moment.} 63. Nf2 $2 {A decisive mistake.} ({
The precise} 63. Kd2 {would allow Magnus to save a half point:} Kd5 64. Ke2 Bd8
(64... Ke4 65. Nc5+ Kxf4 66. Nxe6+ Kg4 67. Kf2 Kxh5 68. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 69. Kg2 $11)
65. Kf3 Bc7 66. Nf2 Bd6 67. Nd3 $11) 63... Be7 64. Ng4 ({Hopeless was also:} 
64. Nd3 Kc3 65. Nf2 Kc2 66. Nd3 Bf8 67. Ne1+ Kc3 68. Nd3 Bd6 $19) 64... Kc3 65.
f5 ({Or} 65. Kd1 Bf8 66. Nf2 d3 67. Ng4 Kd4 68. Ke1 Ke4 $19) 65... exf5 66.
Nxh6 Kc2 $1 ({White resigns, in view of:} 66... Kc2 67. Nxf5 d3+ 68. Kf3 Bc5
$19 {[%csl Gc5,Rf5][%cal Gd3d2]}) 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.22"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 {Caruana himself prefers to start with 9.h3 as White.
This is a matter of taste, as there are too many nuances in this endgame.} Ke8
10. h3 h5 {Black's main idea is to block White's pawn majority on the kingside.
The only drawback of this move - the weakening of the g5-square.} 11. Ne2 {
Not the main move, but in general a standard manoeuvre. The knight is heading
to f4, where it will eye up the Ph5 and support the e5-e6 thrust. Nevertheless,
the main move 11.Bf4 seems to pose more problems for Black.} (11. Bf4 Be7 12.
Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. g3 Bxg5 (14... Bc4 15. Rfe1 Rg6 16. Nce4 Rd8 17. Rxd8+
(17. b3 {seems to be more precise.} {The point is that after} Bd5 18. c4 Bxg5
$4 19. Bxg5 {[%csl Rd8] the rook is hanging.}) 17... Bxd8 18. b3 Bd5 19. c4
Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Be6 21. Kg2 c5 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 $11 {½-½ (54) Adams,M (2745)
-Kramnik,V (2769) London 2014}) 15. Bxg5 Rg6 16. h4 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bf4
Nxh4 19. f3 Rd8 20. Kf2 (20. Rde1 Kf7 21. Kf2 Nf5 22. Rh1 Ng7 23. Ne4 Rc8 24.
Nc5 $14 {1/2-1/2 (37) Bacrot,E (2711)-Anand,V (2797) Baden-Baden 2015}) 20...
Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nf5 22. Rh1 Bxa2 23. Rxh5 Be6 24. g4 Nd6 25. Rh7 Nf7 26. Ne3 Kd8
27. Nf5 c5 28. Ng3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (122) Carlsen,M (2863)-Anand,V (2792) Sochi
2014}) 11... b6 12. Bg5 (12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Ned4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Be7 (14... h4 $5 {
is a possible improvement. In some cases the kingside rook may enter the game
via h5.}) 15. Bf4 Rd8 16. Nf5 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Bc8 18. Nxe7 Kxe7 19. Bg5+ Ke6 20.
Bd8 Kxe5 21. Bxc7+ Kf5 22. Bb8 $1 a6 23. Ba7 b5 24. Rd6 Rh6 25. Rd8 Be6 26. b3
$14 {1/2-1/2 (87) Grischuk,A (2763)-Jakovenko,D (2722) Moscow 2012}) 12... Bb7
13. Rad1 $146 ({In the only preceding game Black achieved a good position after
} 13. Nf4 $6 c5 14. Nh4 Nxh4 15. Bxh4 Be7 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 {1/2-1/2 (43)
Volokitin,A (2695)-Hovhannisyan,R (2600) Plovdiv 2012}) 13... Be7 (13... c5 14.
Nc3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 c6 16. Ne4 Be7 {is also perfectly playable for Black.}) 14.
Bxe7 (14. e6 {This idea is standard and always deserves some attention. Black
should reply with} f6 (14... fxe6 $2 15. Nf4 $36) 15. Bf4 c5 $1 (15... Bd6 $6
16. Ng3 $1 Nxg3 17. Bxg3 $14) 16. Bxc7 g5 {with good compensation for the pawn.
}) 14... Kxe7 15. Nf4 c5 16. Ng5 Rh6 $2 {This move appears to be bad enough to
call it a decisive mistake!} (16... Rad8 $2 17. e6 $16) (16... Rhd8 $1 {
was the only right choice. It's psychologically not easy to sacrifice a pawn
in an endgame, so I don't find this move obvious at all.} 17. Nxh5 (17. e6 $2
f6 18. Ng6+ Ke8 {That's why it was important to put the kingside rook on d8.})
17... Ba6 $1 18. Rxd8 (18. Rfe1 $2 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Be2 $17 {[%csl Rd1,Rh5]})
18... Rxd8 19. Rc1 Rd5 20. f4 (20. Nf3 $6 Be2 $15) 20... Rd2 21. Ne4 Re2 22.
Neg3 Nxg3 23. Nxg3 Rd2 24. Nf5+ Kf8 25. Re1 Rxc2 26. Rd1 Ke8 27. Nxg7+ Kf8 28.
Nf5 Ke8 {White doesn't have more than a repetition.}) 17. c3 {As simple as it
is strong. Now White's plan is simple: to put the rook on e1 and push e5-e6.
So, Black's next move is practically forced.} f6 18. exf6+ Kxf6 (18... gxf6 $2
19. Rfe1+ Kf8 20. Nge6+ $18) 19. Nfe6 $1 Rg6 (19... Re8 20. Rfe1 Bc6 21. g3 {
White is in full control.}) 20. f4 Ne3 21. Rd7 {Threatening mate in one, so
Black's reply is forced.} Rxg5 22. Nxg5 Nxf1 23. Kxf1 Rc8 24. g4 {A dream
position for White in the Berlin variation!} hxg4 (24... Bc6 25. Rf7+ Kg6 26.
Kf2 hxg4 27. hxg4 {makes no difference.}) 25. hxg4 Bc6 26. Rf7+ Kg6 27. Kf2 $1
(27. Re7 $6 {would allow} Rf8 {[%csl Rf4] and the white knight will have to go
back to h3.}) 27... Bd5 28. Rd7 Bxa2 {This pawn is of little significance.} (
28... Bc6 29. Re7 $18) 29. Kg3 {All White's forces are superbly coordinated.}
a5 30. Ne4 $1 Bb1 (30... Kh7 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Nh5 Rf8 33. f5 Rf7 34. Rd8+ Kh7
35. Nf4 $18 {[%cal Gf4g6]}) (30... a4 31. f5+ Kh7 32. Kf4 {Slowly, but surely
White will prevail.}) 31. f5+ Kh6 32. Nd2 Bc2 33. Nf3 Be4 34. Ne5 (34. g5+ $1 {
would finish it quicker.} Kh5 35. Kf4 Bxf3 36. Rd2 $1 {[%cal Gd2h2] mating.})
34... Kg5 35. Nf7+ Kf6 36. Kf4 {[%cal Gg4g5] Mating net completed, so Black
has to give up a piece.} Bxf5 37. gxf5 g6 38. fxg6 Kxg6 {If the black king
were on the queenside, Caruana could hope for an escape "à la" Carlsen-Anand,
game seven of the 2014 Wch match, but not this time.} 39. Rd8 {The easiest way.
} Rxd8 40. Nxd8 Kf6 41. c4 Ke7 42. Nc6+ Kd6 43. Ne5 b5 44. Ke4 c6 45. b3 Kc7 (
45... a4 46. bxa4 bxa4 47. Nd3 a3 48. Nc1 $18) 46. Kd3 a4 47. bxa4 Kb6 48. Kc3
Ka5 49. Kb3 {Excellent play by Alexander Grischuk!} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 7th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2015.12.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2015.12.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 $5 {After the game Grischuk mentioned that he had prepared this
move, which mainly leads to original game without much theory. In the past he
had played 1.c4 and his opponents had replied with 1...Nf6 and hence he
couldn't use this idea. But today Anand went 1...e5 and Grischuk could push
his pawn to d3 which is much less common than Nc3, Nf3, g3 or even e3.} Nc6 3.
Nf3 f5 $5 {Seeing that White hasn't gone for the most ambitious move order,
Vishy chooses an aggressive setup.} 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2
O-O 8. Nc3 d6 {Usually in this opening the bishop on b4 takes the knight on c3
and White is left with the dark-squared bishop. But here the knight on c3
remains and it is much more useful than the bishop because the knight can go
to d5 and attack the c7-pawn. If it is taken then after cxd5 the c-file is
opened up and the c7-pawn could become a weakness.} 9. O-O Bd7 (9... Qe8 {
[%cal Ge8h5,Gf5f4,Gc8h3,Gf6g4] is the usual idea in this opening with the plan
being Qh5, f4, Bh3 and Ng4 with a strong attack. But here we can see the
usefulness of the knight on c3.} 10. Nd5 $1 $14 {[%cal Gd5c7]}) 10. Nd5 Nxd5
11. cxd5 Ne7 12. Qb4 $5 (12. e4 $5 c5 $5 $11 (12... f4 $6 13. d4 $1 $14)) 12...
Nxd5 (12... a5 $5 {could have been an interesting option but leads to an edge
for White after} 13. Qxb7 $1 Rb8 14. Qa6 Rxb2 15. Rab1 $1 Rxe2 $2 (15... Rxa2
16. Rfc1 $16) 16. Qc4 $16 {[%cal Gf1c1] The rook on e2 will soon be trapped.})
13. Qxb7 c6 14. Nd2 Nb6 15. Qa6 (15. Bxc6 Rb8 $19) 15... d5 16. Rac1 f4 17. Nf3
Qf6 18. Qa5 {As Grischuk correctly pointed out after the game: Black has a
perfectly sound position. Its only defect is that the knight on b6 is quite
passive. If that were not the case then Black would have had the advantage.}
Kh8 (18... g5 $5 {with a pawn storm on the kingside could have led to a very
tense battle with mutual chances.} 19. d4 $5 exd4 20. Qd2 Rae8 21. b3 $13) 19.
b3 Bg4 20. Qc3 $1 {This move was missed by Vishy. Now the e5-pawn is attacked
and so is the one on c6. Black has to make the concession of giving up his
bishop on f3.} e4 $6 {But Vishy doesn't believe in taking a slightly inferior
position. He tries to complicate matters.} (20... Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Rac8 {would
have been better although here White has a clear edge.} 22. e3 $1 $14) 21. Qxf6
Rxf6 22. Nd4 $1 {The e4-pawn is falling and so is the one on c6. Black has to
play sharply to keep things together.} f3 (22... exd3 23. exd3 Rc8 24. Rfe1 $1
$16) 23. exf3 exf3 24. Bh1 {The bishop on h1 is not going to be trapped
forever. So next up is h3 and the f3-pawn will start to become pretty weak and
as we shall see it will most probably fall.} Rc8 25. Rfe1 h6 {Black takes care
of his back rank and threatens ...c5.} (25... c5 $2 26. Rxc5 $18) 26. b4 $1 {
...c5 is not possible and the knight on d4 sits like a boss.} Na4 27. Re3 Rcf8
28. h3 Bxh3 29. Rxf3 Bd7 30. Bg2 g5 31. Rxf6 Rxf6 {Material is equal but White
is clearly better. Let us try to understand why:  1. The knight on d4 is
excellently posted. In fact Grischuk improves it further with the Nf3-e5
manoeuvre. The knight on e5 is extremely strong hitting the weak c6-pawn.  2.
The bishop on d7 is highly passive and stuck to the task of defending the
sickly looking c6-pawn.  3. The knight on a4 doesn't really have a good square
where it can go to. All these things put together constitute White's clear
edge.} 32. Nf3 $1 {[%cal Gf3e5]} Kg7 33. Ne5 Be8 34. Bh3 h5 35. d4 Nb6 36. Rc3
(36. Rc5 {would have been even stronger as now ...Nc4 is not possible.} Nc4 37.
Nxc4 dxc4 38. Rxg5+ $16) 36... Nc4 $5 {Vishy understands that the knight on e5
cannot be tolerated for long and gets rid of it even at the cost of a pawn.}
37. Nxc4 dxc4 38. Rxc4 Rd6 39. a3 Bf7 40. Rc5 Rxd4 (40... Kf6 41. Bg2 Rxd4 42.
Rxc6+ Be6 $16 {would have made White's task a little more difficult than in
the game.}) 41. Rxg5+ Kf6 42. Rf5+ Kg6 43. Rc5 Rd1+ 44. Kh2 Bd5 45. Bg2 Rd2 46.
Bxd5 cxd5 47. Kg2 {What would be the precise evaluation of this endgame? Is
White winning or Black has decent drawing chances? Let's have a look.} Kf5 {
This move looks completely natural trying to use the king to shepherd home the
d5-pawn.} 48. Ra5 {White meanwhile tries to win the a7-pawn.} (48. Kf3 {
was not yet possible due to} Rd3+ {[%cal Gd3a3]}) 48... Ke4 {Vishy activates
his king and puts all his money on the d4-pawn.} 49. Rxa7 d4 {Of course
White's queenside pawns are extremely threatening, but we cannot discount the
d4-pawn which is just three steps away from queening. White's basic aim should
be to give up both his queenside pawn in order to win the d-pawn. Later the
h-pawn will fall giving White connected passers on the kingside.} 50. b5 (50.
Re7+ $5 Kd5 (50... Kd3 51. b5 Rb2 52. a4 Kc4 53. Rc7+ Kb4 54. b6 Kxa4 55. b7 d3
56. Rd7 d2 57. Rxd2 $18) 51. Kf3 Kc4 52. Rc7+ Kd3 (52... Kb3 53. b5 Kxa3 54. b6
Rb2 55. b7 Rb6 56. Ke4 $18) 53. b5 Ra2 (53... Rb2 54. a4 Kd2 55. Rc5 d3 56. a5
Kd1 57. a6 d2 58. a7 Ra2 59. b6 $18) 54. b6 $1 (54. Ra7 Rb2 55. a4 Kd2 $132)
54... Rxa3 55. Rc8 Rb3 56. Rb8 Kd2+ 57. Kg2 d3 58. b7 Kd1 59. Rd8 Rxb7 60.
Rxd3+ Ke2 61. Re3+ Kd2 62. Re5 $18) 50... Rb2 51. a4 $2 {A pretty bad mistake
by Grischuk which gives Anand excellent drawing chances.} (51. Re7+ $1 {
was a very important check forcing the king on to the d-file.} Kd5 (51... Kd3 {
would be too slow as after} 52. a4 Kc3 (52... Rb4 53. f4 $1 Rxa4 54. b6 Rb4 55.
b7 Kc3 56. Rc7+ Kb3 57. f5 d3 58. f6 d2 59. Rd7 Kc2 60. Rxd2+ Kxd2 61. f7 $18)
53. Rc7+ Kb4 54. b6 Kxa4 55. b7 d3 56. Rd7 $18 {White simply wins.}) 52. Rb7 $1
d3 (52... Ra2 53. Rd7+ $1 Kc5 54. b6 Kxb6 55. Rxd4 $18) 53. b6 d2 54. Rd7+ Kc6
55. Rd8 $1 Kxb6 56. Kf3 $18 {White will win the d2-pawn and later the one on
h5 and will finish off the game.}) 51... Kd3 $2 {An extremely bad move which
throws away the chance given to Anand. He shouldn't have brought the king in
front of the d-pawn. Instead he should have pushed his pawn to d3. After ...
Kd3 the position is just lost because the d-pawn is too slow,} (51... d3 $1 52.
Rb7 Kd4 $1 {The most accurate move to secure the half point.} (52... d2 $2 53.
Rd7 $1 $18 {The king on e4 is cut off from the game.}) (52... Rb4 $5 53. b6
Rxa4 54. Rb8 Rb4 55. b7 d2 56. Rd8 Rxb7 57. Rxd2 Rb1 {Here Black has some
chances to hold because his king is well placed on e4 and can get back to g6
in order to defend the h5 pawn.}) 53. a5 (53. b6 d2 $1 (53... Kc5 $2 54. Rd7 $1
$18) 54. Rd7+ Kc3 55. a5 (55. b7 Rxb7 $19) 55... Kc2 {White doesn't really
have a good move.} 56. Kh3 (56. Kf3 d1=Q+ 57. Rxd1 Kxd1 58. Ke4 Rb5 59. f4 Rxa5
60. f5 Rb5 61. f6 Rxb6 62. Kf5 Ke2 63. Kg5 Kf3 64. f7 Rb8 65. Kxh5 Kxg3 $11)
56... d1=Q 57. Rxd1 Kxd1 58. Kh4 Ke2 59. f4 Kf3 60. Kxh5 Kxg3 61. f5 Rb5 62.
Kg6 Rxa5 63. f6 Rb5 64. f7 Rxb6+ $11) 53... d2 54. Rd7+ Kc3 55. b6 Kc2 $11 {
As we have seen White is lost for a move and the game ends in a draw.}) 52. Rb7
$1 Ra2 53. b6 Rxa4 54. Rb8 {Anand threw in the towel. A very nice game by
Grischuk who started with the non-theoretical 1.c4 2.d3 and later played a
nearly flawless middlegame.} (54. Rb8 Rb4 55. b7 Kd2 56. Kh3 d3 57. f4 Kd1 58.
Rd8 Rxb7 59. Rxd3+ {followed by Kh4 and Rd5 picking up the h5-pawn.}) 1-0

[Event "BL2-Sued 1617"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2016.11.20"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.10.16"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Deizisau"]
[BlackTeam "Viernheim"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 d6 8. Nc3
b5 9. e4 Qa5 10. b4 cxb4 11. Nxb5 Kd8 12. Nfd4 Bxb5 13. Bxb5 b3+ 14. Qd2 Qxd2+
15. Bxd2 b2 16. Rb1 Nxe4 17. Ba5+ Kc8 18. Rxb2 a6 19. Be8 Nc5 20. Bxf7 g6 21.
Ne6 Ra7 22. Nxc5 Rxf7 23. Ne6 Nd7 24. O-O Rf5 25. Rc1+ Nc5 26. Rcb1 Kd7 27. Rb8
Ke7 28. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "Jiayuguan m"]
[Site "Jiayuguan"]
[Date "2017.07.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2017.07.20"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. h4 h6 11. c4 Bf6 12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qe7 14. Qf4
Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Qf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 17. g3 O-O 18. Bg2 Bxc4 19. Bxb7 Rab8 20. Bd5
Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rfe8 22. Ra5 Rb7 23. b3 Re5 24. Ra6 Re2 25. Rf1 Kf8 26. Kd1 Re5
27. Re1 Ke7 28. Kd2 Ke6 29. Re3 f5 30. c4 c5 31. Rd3 Rd7 32. f4 Re4 33. Rd5 Ke7
34. Rxf5 Rd4+ 35. Ke2 Kf8 36. Kf3 Kg7 37. Kg4 Rd2 38. Rd5 Rg2 39. Rd3 Re2 40.
Kf3 Rde7 41. h5 Rh2 42. Kg4 Rd7 43. Raxd6 Rxd6 44. Rxd6 Rxa2 45. f5 f6 46. Rc6
Rb2 47. Rxc5 Rxb3 48. Rc7+ Kf8 49. Rxa7 Rc3 50. Rc7 Ke8 51. Kf4 Kd8 52. Rc6 Ke7
53. g4 Rc1 54. Ke3 Rg1 55. Re6+ Kd7 56. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Jiayuguan m"]
[Site "Jiayuguan"]
[Date "2017.07.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2017.07.20"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 Bd6 7. h3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. Qe2 Re8 10. O-O-O Qe7 11. g4 Nc5 12. Kb1 Na4 13. Nc4 b5 14. Nxd6
cxd6 15. Qd2 c5 16. Nh4 b4 17. Nf5 Qe6 18. Qe2 d5 19. Bd2 d4 20. Rdf1 Rb8 21.
Ka1 Qa6 22. Qd1 Nc3 23. Bxc3 bxc3 24. b3 Rb5 25. Ng3 Ra5 26. Qb1 Ra3 27. f4
exf4 28. Rxf4 Be6 29. Ne2 Rb8 30. Nc1 Qb6 31. h4 a5 32. g5 a4 33. Rhf1 Qa7 34.
R1f2 g6 35. Rf6 axb3 36. cxb3 Bxb3 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 {Even though generally useful, this move is usually played at a
later stage.} (9. Re1 {and}) (9. Nbd2 {are by far more popular.}) 9... Bb7 ({
Once again not as popular as the alternative} 9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 {, aiming
for a Chigorin setup.}) 10. Nbd2 Re8 $146 {Strictly speaking a novelty, but
play could have later transposed to familiar paths.} ({Transposing to an old
Breyer tabyia with} 10... Nb8 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Nc5 13. Bc2 Re8) 11. Ng5 Rf8
12. Re1 {Of course, White is not interested in repeating moves so early.} d5 $6
{After the game, Grischuk criticised this move. True, So's initial intention
obviously was playing the Marshall attack, but opening the centre with loss of
time (...d7-d6-d5) is a bit risky.} (12... h6 13. Ngf3 Re8 {would transpose to
known lines, for instance} 14. Nf1 Bf8 15. Ng3 Nb8 16. Nh4 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18.
Nhf5 {Kasparov,G (2825)-Svidler,P (2690) Linares 1998 CBM 064 [Hecht,H] (½-½,
64)}) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ndf3 {Grischuk was not entirely satisfied with this
move, as he could not find any favourable tactics after it.} ({With hindsight,
} 14. Nde4 {may be, indeed, more precise, sustaining Grischuk's intuitive
evaluation.} h6 (14... Qd7 {allows} 15. Qh5 {, increasing the pressure on e5,
for instance:} h6 16. Nf3 {One point is that} Nf6 {runs into} 17. Nxe5 $1) 15.
Nf3 Qd7 16. a4 ({This is the most precise move order. If} 16. Ng3 Rad8 17. a4 {
Black can play} b4 {as c3 is hanging.}) 16... Rad8 (16... b4 17. a5 $14) 17.
axb5 axb5 18. Ng3 {with certain pressure in the centre.}) 14... Qd7 15. d4 {
The best practical solution. WHite neutralises Black's space advantage and
takes the weak c5-square under control.} ({The pawn is not edible:} 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. Rxe5 f6 $15) 15... exd4 16. cxd4 h6 17. Ne4 Rfe8 $6 {This is the main
reason for Black's ulterior difficulties.} ({He should not have given White
the time to build up his attack by increasing the potential pressure on d4
with:} 17... Rad8 18. Bd2 $6 (18. a4 {is probably better, maintaining the
equality.}) 18... Nf6 $1) 18. Bd2 (18. Qd3 $5 {was an interesting alternative,
mainly directed against Black's freeing ...Nf6.} Ncb4 (18... Nf6 $6 19. Bxh6 $1
) 19. Qb1 Rad8 20. a3 Nc6 21. Qd3 $14 {followed by Bd2 and Bc2.}) 18... Nf6 19.
Rc1 $1 {Taking the weakened c-file under control, which will surprisingly
result in the rook's inclusion in the attack.} ({Grischuk refrained from} 19.
d5 Nxd5 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Bxd5 {due to} Rad8 $11 {exchanging queens and
neutralising White's initiative.}) 19... Nxe4 {Obviously a concession,
allowing the radical activation of the white king's rook. But it is not easy
to suggest anything better.} ({Now and in the near future the pawn is not
edible:} 19... Nxd4 $2 20. Bxf7+ $5 Kxf7 21. Ne5+) ({It is too late for Black
to complete his development as} 19... Rad8 {allows} 20. Rxc6 $1 {threatening
Ne5 and if} Nxe4 21. Bxf7+ $18 {due to his inaccuracy on move 17 Black is
short of just one tempo to get coordinated.}) 20. Rxe4 Bf6 21. Rg4 Kh8 {
Parrying Bxh6 (at least temporarily) but weakening f7 and giving away another
tempo.} ({If} 21... h5 22. Rf4 {the pawn is vulnerable to Rc5. After} Rad8 {
Grischuk intended} 23. Ng5 $5 $18) ({Taking the pawn once again fails to solve
Black's problems:} 21... Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Bc3 c5 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Rxd4
Qe7 ({Actually} 25... Re1+ {is somewhat better, with just a "close to losing"
ending after} 26. Qxe1 Qxd4 27. Rc7 Bd5 28. Rd7 Qe4 29. Qxe4 Bxe4 30. Rxf7 $16)
26. Rd7 Rad8 27. Bxf7+ $1 ({Better than Grischuk's suggestion} 27. Rcc7 $16 {
with a similar ending as above.}) 27... Qxf7 28. Rxd8 $18) 22. Rc5 {Grischuk
confessed he did not calculate anything when playing this move, evaluating the
position in an amusing way: "If there is no win, I could simply quit chess!"
This comment is more instructive than So's complaint that things did not work
out for him tactically. Indeed, all White's pieces are targeting the enemy
king and some of them also control important squares in the defensive area,
making it difficult for Black to get counterplay.} Rad8 23. Qc1 ({White is
confident in the strength of his position and does not hurry with the equally
strong} 23. Bxh6 gxh6 24. Qc1 Bg7 25. Rh5 Qd6 26. Ng5 {Grischuk saw all this,
but thought there might be some incertainty. In fact, White is winning after}
Re7 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28. Bxf7 {[%cal Gg4g6] The threat Rg6 is decisive and} Nxd4
{allows} 29. Rxd4 Qxd4 30. Rxh6+ Bxh6 31. Qxh6#) 23... Nxd4 {There is nothing
else to do against the threat Bxh6.} 24. Nxd4 Re4 {A desperate attempt at
using White's apparent lack of cordination and severe time trouble. But as
mentioned before his pieces not only put pressure on Black, but also fulfil
defensive jobs.} ({If} 24... Bxd4 25. Bxh6 {"White already threatens mate with
checks, for instance"} Re2 26. Bxg7+ Bxg7 27. Rh5+ Kg8 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qh6+
({Personally I calculated} 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Rh8# {MM}) 29... Kg8 30. Qh8# {
(Grischuk).}) 25. Rxc7 Qxd4 26. Be3 ({Grischuk's first intention was} 26. Bc3
Rxg4 27. hxg4 Qe4 28. f3 {but then noticed} Bd4+ {. During the analysis, he
showed} 29. Kh1 $18 {, though. But his move is also winning.}) 26... Rxg4 27.
hxg4 {The attacking b3-bishop safely defends the back rank, an essential
aspect when the rook is far away.} Qe4 28. f3 {White simply wins a piece.} Qb4
29. Rxb7 Bxb2 30. Qf1 f6 31. Qf2 Be5 32. f4 Bd6 33. g5 {Karlovich appreciated
Grischuk's sangfroid when playing this in time trouble. He replied that if
White manages delivering mate, then he might not have to play all the moves
until the control!} Qe4 34. Qf3 Qb1+ 35. Qf1 Qe4 36. Qf3 Qb1+ 37. Kf2 Bb4 38.
Qe2 Qe4 39. Qf3 Qb1 40. Kg3 fxg5 41. Kh2 Qf5 ({Against} 41... Bd6 {Grischuk
had calculated} 42. Rd7 Rxd7 43. Qa8+ Kh7 44. Bg8+ Kg6 45. Qe8+ Kf5 46. Qe6#)
42. Rf7 Qg6 43. fxg5 Bd6+ 44. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. Bb3 b5 8. e4 {
A rare continuation instead of the common} (8. O-O) 8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 (9...
Nbd7 $5 10. O-O Bb7 (10... Bc5 $5) 11. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qb6 13. Nd5 {
1-0 (31) Rasmussen,K (2437)-Matthiesen,A (2282) Aarhus 2003} Bxd5 14. exd5 Kf7
{and White has yet to prove his compensation for the sacrificed piece.}) 10. e5
$146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. O-O {leads to a well-known theoretical position usually
arising from another move order (8.0-0 Bb7 9.e4 cxd4 10.Nxd4).}) 10... Ne4 (
10... Nfd7 11. Bxe6 $1 Nxe5 $1 (11... fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc8 13. O-O $40) 12. O-O
Bc5 13. Bd5 Bxd5 14. Nf5 O-O 15. Nxd5 {is quite dangerous for Black.}) ({
As well as} 10... Bc5 11. Nxe6 $1 Qxd1+ 12. Nxd1 fxe6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Bxe6)
11. O-O (11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O {looks more appropriate as White can make use
of the c-file, e.g.} Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Bxc6 15. Be3 Be7 16. Rac1 Rc8
17. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Yd1c1]}) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. a4 Bc5 {Black decides
to sacrifice a pawn (hoping that White's extra c3-pawn will be insignificant)
but complete his development, which would be a problem if he played} (13... b4
14. a5 $1 $36) ({or} 13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 b4 15. a5 $36) 14. axb5 axb5 (14...
Nxd4 $2 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Ra4 Bxe5 17. Qh5 {(Chesspro.ru)}) 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16.
Nxb5 O-O {[%mdl 512]} ({In the event of} 16... Nxe5 17. Qxd8+ Kxd8 18. Bg5+ f6
19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Ke7 21. Ra1 {Black needs to work a while to equalise.})
17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bf4 h6 19. h4 Ne7 $14 {Here, too, Black should be careful
although a draw is highly likely.} 20. Rd1 (20. Ra1 Bc6 21. Nd6 Rb8 $132) 20...
Rb8 21. Bc4 Bc6 22. Nd4 Be4 23. h5 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Be3 Rc8 26. Re1 Bc4
27. Nf3 Ba3 28. Bd4 Bd3 29. Nd2 Bb2 30. Nf1 (30. Re3 $142 Bf5 31. Nf1 $14)
30... Rc4 (30... Ba6 $5 {[%cal Rb2c3]} 31. Re3 Bc1 $132) 31. Re3 Bf5 $6 (31...
Bxc3 32. Bxc3 Rxc3 {leads to a draw as White is unable to make use of the pin,
e.g.} 33. f4 (33. Kh2 Rc1) 33... Kf8 34. g4 Ke7 35. f5 Ra3 36. Rf3 {and now
even} f6 $11) 32. Ng3 Bh7 33. Kh2 Bc1 34. Re2 Bf4 35. Kh3 Ra4 36. Kg4 Bc1 $6 {
It is more logical to go for an endgame with opposite-coloured bishops. Black
will not get such an opportunity anymore:} (36... Bxg3 37. Kxg3 Bf5 {[%cal
Yg7g6]}) 37. Kf3 $16 Bd3 38. Re1 Bb2 39. Ke3 Bc2 40. Kd2 Bb3 41. Rb1 Ra2 42.
Kd3 Ba4 43. Ne4 Ba3 44. Ke3 Bc2 45. Re1 Bb3 46. g4 Bd5 47. Kd3 Be7 48. Rb1 Ra8
49. f4 Bh4 50. Rh1 Bd8 51. Rb1 Bc7 52. Ke3 Kh7 53. Nd6 Kg8 ({Of course,} 53...
Bxd6 54. exd6 {when White gets another passed pawn, the outlook is poor for
Black despite the opposite-coloured bishops.}) 54. Rb5 Bc6 55. Rb4 Bd8 56. Bb6
Bh4 57. Bd4 Bg2 58. Rb2 Bc6 59. Rb6 Bg2 60. Rb2 Bc6 61. Rb3 Bg3 62. c4 Bh2 63.
f5 exf5 64. Nxf5 $6 {A strange decision giving Black good drawing chances.} (
64. gxf5 $142 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5]} f6 65. Rb6 $16) 64... Kh7 65. Bb2 Re8 66. Nd6
Re7 67. Rb8 f6 $1 68. Rc8 (68. Nf5 Re6) 68... Bh1 $2 (68... Bd7 69. Rc7 fxe5 {
looks ugly but in fact, White can't make progress here. If} 70. c5 (70. Ne4
Bf4+ 71. Kf2 Rf7 72. Nd6 e4 $1) {then} 70... e4 {[%cal Yh2g1]}) 69. Nf5 Rb7 (
69... Re6 {doesn't work anymore:} 70. Nh4 $5 {[%cal Rh4g6]} (70. Rc7 {is
strong, too}) 70... Ra6 (70... Bxe5 71. Ng6 Bxb2+ 72. Kf2 Bd4+ 73. Kg3 Re3+ 74.
Kh4 $18) (70... Bc6 71. Ng6 $18) (70... Rc6 71. Rxc6 Bxc6 72. exf6 $18) (70...
fxe5 71. Ng6 Rxg6 72. hxg6+ Kxg6 73. c5 $18) 71. Ng6 Ra8 72. Rxa8 Bg1+ (72...
Bxa8 73. Kf2 $5 {[%csl Rh2]}) 73. Ke2 Bxa8 74. exf6 gxf6 75. Bxf6 {and White
should win.}) 70. exf6 $2 (70. e6 $1 Rb3+ 71. Bc3 $1 Rxc3+ 72. Kd2 $18) 70...
Rb3+ 71. Bc3 gxf6 (71... Rxc3+ $4 72. Kd4 $18 {[%cal Rd4c3,Rf6g7]}) 72. Kd2
Bf4+ 73. Kc2 Rb8 74. Rxb8 Bxb8 {[%mdl 4096]} 75. Ne7 (75. Bxf6 Bf3) 75... Be4+
$6 (75... Bf3 $142 76. Nd5 Be5 $5 77. Bxe5 fxe5 78. Kd2 ({or} 78. Kd3 Kg7 79.
Ne3 Kf6 80. c5 Kg5 {(Chesspro.ru)}) 78... Kg7 79. Ne3 Kf6 80. c5 Kg5 81. Ke1
Kf4 82. Kf2 Bb7 {- White can't make any progress.}) 76. Kd2 Bf4+ $2 {The way
to a draw was not easy anymore:} (76... Bf3 $1 77. Nd5 Kg7 $3 78. Nxf6 (78.
Bxf6+ Kf7 79. g5 hxg5 80. h6 Kg6) 78... Bf4+ 79. Ke1 Bg3+ 80. Kf1 Kf7 {[%cal
Rg3h4]} 81. g5 hxg5 82. h6 Bf4 $1 {(this bishop must be protected in view of a
possible discovered check)} 83. Kf2 Bb7 84. h7 Kg7 $11) 77. Ke2 Kg7 78. Nf5+
Kf7 79. Bd2 $1 $18 {White wins a second pawn and the game.} Be5 80. Bxh6 Ke6
81. Be3 Bxf5 82. gxf5+ Kxf5 83. h6 Kg6 84. c5 f5 85. Kf3 Kf7 86. Bf4 Bd4 87. c6
Ke7 88. c7 Kd7 89. h7 Kc8 90. Ke2 Kd7 91. Kd3 (91. Kd3 Bf6 92. Kc4 {[%cal
Yc4d5,Yf4e5]}) 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 6th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2018.08.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "2018.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 d5 {This is the most
ambitious setup. Black doesn't fear exposing the Pe5 and aiming for active
piece play.} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 (8. a4 {is another common continuation.}) 8...
Bg4 9. Nbd2 Nb6 {A typical approach - the Bc4 lacks good squares for retreat,
so mostly Black manages to exchange it.} 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 Re8 ({
Akso good enough is} 12... f5 13. Ng3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qd7 15. Bd2 (15. a4 a6 16.
Bxc6 bxc6 {Wei,Y - Vidit,S Abu Dhabi 2016 CBM 172 [Vidit,S]  was fine for Black
}) 15... a6 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 $11 {Nepomniachtchi,I - Karjakin,S
Saint Louis 2017}) 13. Bg5 ({Black shouldn't face any problems also after} 13.
Ng3 Bg6 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. Nh4 a6 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. h4 Bf8 19. h5
Nd7 $11 {Eggleston,D - Postny,E Bad Wiessee 2013}) 13... f6 (13... Qd7 14. Ng3
{could have transposed to a position from the above-mentioned note.} Bg6) 14.
Be3 a6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Ng3 {This seems too passive, even though it was
earlier played by a World Champion.} (16. g4 Bf7 17. c4 Bf8 18. Kh2 a5 19. Rg1
{led to double-edged play.}) 16... Bf7 $146 {This position has been tested a
few times on the top level. Seemingly, Black's pair of bishops more than
compensates for some structural drawbacks.} 17. c4 {This innovation doesn't
change the unfavourable character of play for White.} (17. d4 {Carlsen,M -
Aronian,L Leuven 2016,} {can be well met by} exd4 $1 18. Nxd4 Bxg3 19. fxg3 Nc4
20. Qc1 Qd5 $15 {and White is under definite pressure.}) 17... Bb4 $1 {
Interrupting the coordination between White's pieces.} 18. Re2 ({Hardly better
is} 18. Rf1 Bf8 19. b3 c5 20. Nh4 Nd7 $15) 18... Bf8 19. b3 c5 {Alexander is
reasonably focussed on neutralising any possible counterplay of his opponent.}
({Another promising way of handling the position was} 19... a5 $5 20. d4 e4 21.
Nd2 Bg6 $15 {Black has excellent attacking prospects on the kingside.}) 20. Qe1
(20. Nh4 a5 21. Ne4 Nd7 $15) 20... a5 {Now White is doomed to passive defence.}
21. Rd1 a4 22. Nd2 $6 {This is too passive.} ({After} 22. Ne4 Nd7 {White's
knight would be chased from the centre soon. However, it was still the better
way.}) 22... Qd7 23. Nb1 axb3 24. axb3 Bg6 25. f3 {Hikaru has managed to avoid
the loss of material, but this isn't the real achievement. Black has both the
pair of bishops and a big space advantage.} Rad8 26. Qf2 (26. Nc3 Qc6 27. Ra2
Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Bxd3 $17 {wouldn't yield Hikaru any compebsation for the pawn.})
26... Qc6 27. Red2 Nd7 {Alexander isn't in a hurry. He is intending to reach
the perfect setup and then push f6-f5.} 28. Nc3 h6 29. Kh1 Kh8 30. Nb5 Bh7 {
The last preparations.} 31. Ra2 f5 {Finally it comes!} 32. Bc1 Nf6 (32... Be7
$5 33. Ne2 Qb6 34. Bd2 Ra8 $17) 33. Nc3 $6 ({More to the point was} 33. f4 $1
e4 34. Qf1 exd3 35. Rad2 Ne4 36. Rxd3 Rxd3 37. Rxd3 $15 {, and White partly
manages to activate his pieces.}) 33... Qb7 34. Rb2 g5 {Black's expassion on
the kingside continues.} 35. Rb1 Qc6 36. Bb2 Kg8 37. Nf1 $2 {Suddenly this
natural move turns out a decisive mistake.} ({Had Hikaru played} 37. Ra1 Qb7
38. Qc2 $17 {his position would be very passive, but Black should still find a
way to breakthrough.}) 37... Nh5 $1 {That's the point! Black's knight enters
White's camp with great effect.} 38. Nd5 {This is temporary activity.} (38. Ne3
f4 39. Ned5 Qb7 40. Ne4 Bxe4 41. dxe4 c6 42. Nc3 Qxb3 $19) 38... Qd6 39. Ng3 c6
$1 40. Nc3 ({After} 40. Nxh5 cxd5 41. cxd5 f4 42. Rbc1 Bg6 43. g4 Bxh5 44. gxh5
Qxd5 45. Rc4 Qf7 $19 {White would have too many weaknesses, but maybe it still
was the most stubborn?}) 40... Nf4 {Now the Pd3 falls.} 41. Qf1 Nxd3 42. Nce2
Qe6 ({A more energetic move was} 42... e4 $1 43. fxe4 fxe4 44. Nf5 Qe6 45. g4
e3 $19) 43. Bc3 Rd6 44. Rd2 Red8 45. Rbd1 Bg6 46. Nc1 {Obviously, White cannot
deal with such a powerful Nd3 for too long.} Nxc1 47. Rxd6 Bxd6 48. Rxc1 Rb8 (
48... e4 {was also good enough:} 49. Qe1 e3 $19) 49. Ra1 {A desperate attempt
to complicate matters.} Rxb3 50. Ra8+ Rb8 51. Ra6 Bf8 52. Qe2 Bg7 {Alexander
prefers to cover the long diagonal.} ({Again, a simpler way was} 52... e4 $1
53. fxe4 f4 54. Nf1 Qxe4 $19) 53. Ra7 Re8 54. h4 gxh4 {Now there are 3 extra
pawns!} 55. Nf1 f4 56. Nd2 Re7 57. Rxe7 Qxe7 58. Ne4 {The perfect location of
White's knight makes Black's task much tougher.} Bf7 59. Kh2 h3 {GM Grischuk
gives up one of his extra pawns in order to leave the opponent's king exposed.}
60. gxh3 Qe6 61. Qg2 Kh7 62. Qc2 Kh8 63. Qb2 Kh7 64. Qc2 Qg6 65. Qe2 Be6 66.
Qf1 Bf5 67. Qe2 Qh5 68. Nf2 {Another blunder.} ({In the event of} 68. Qf1 Bxe4
69. fxe4 Qg6 70. Qd3 h5 71. Be1 Bf8 72. Bf2 {Black's position would still be
winning, but some technique is required.}) 68... Qh4 69. Ne4 ({Or} 69. Be1 Qg3+
70. Kh1 Bxh3 71. Qe4+ Kh8 $19) 69... Qxh3+ 70. Kg1 Qh5 {The rest is just na
agony.} 71. Be1 Bxe4 72. Qxe4+ Qg6+ 73. Kh2 Qxe4 74. fxe4 Kg6 75. Kh3 Kh5 76.
Bh4 f3 77. Bf2 Bf6 78. Be1 Bg5 79. Bf2 Be7 80. Be1 Bd8 81. Bg3 Kg5 82. Bxe5 Bf6
83. Bd6 f2 84. Kg2 Bd4 85. Kf1 Kg4 86. Ke2 h5 87. Kf1 h4 88. Bh2 h3 89. Ke2 Be3
0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Nb3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. O-O-O b5 11. a3 Be7 12. g4 h6 13. Bh4 Rb8 14. Be1 g5 15. f5
Ne5 16. h4 Nfxg4 17. hxg5 Bxg5+ 18. Bd2 Bf6 19. Rh5 Rg8 20. Bh3 Qc4 21. Bxg4
Nxg4 22. Qxc4 bxc4 23. Na5 Ne5 24. Bf4 Rg4 25. Bxe5 dxe5 26. Kb1 Rh4 27. Rxh4
Bxh4 28. Nxc4 Kf8 29. fxe6 Bxe6 30. Nxe5 Bf6 31. Nc6 Rc8 32. Nd5 Rxc6 33. Nxf6
Kg7 34. Ne8+ Kf8 35. Nf6 Kg7 36. Nd5 h5 37. b3 Bg4 38. Rg1 Re6 39. Nf4 Rxe4 40.
Nxh5+ Kg6 41. Ng3 Re3 42. Nh1 Kh5 43. Kc1 f5 44. Nf2 Re2 45. Nd3 Kg5 46. Rf1
Re4 47. Kd2 Re2+ 48. Kc3 Re4 49. Kd2 Re2+ 50. Kc3 Re4 51. Rg1 Re2 52. b4 f4 53.
a4 f3 54. b5 axb5 55. axb5 Kh4 56. b6 Re8 57. Rh1+ Kg3 58. Rg1+ Kh4 59. Kd4 Bf5
60. b7 Bxd3 61. cxd3 f2 62. Rf1 Kg3 63. Kc5 Kg2 64. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.18"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3
Bf5 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. Qb3 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 c6 12. Nd2 Ne4 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. bxc3
Rfxd8 15. a4 c5 16. Nf1 Rac8 17. Ng3 Bh7 18. Kd2 Rc7 19. a5 Kf8 20. h4 Nf6 21.
Bf3 Ke7 22. h5 Kd6 23. Ra3 cxd4 24. exd4 Re8 25. Nf1 Be4 26. Ne3 Bxf3 27. Nf5+
Kc6 28. gxf3 Rg8 29. Raa1 Kd7 30. Rag1 Rgc8 31. Rc1 Rg8 32. Rce1 b6 33. a6 b5
34. Re5 Rb8 35. Rg1 Nxh5 36. Rxd5+ Ke6 37. Re5+ Kd7 38. Nxg7 Nxg7 39. Rxg7 Kd6
40. Rh7 b4 41. Rxh6+ Kd7 42. Rd5+ Ke7 43. Re5+ Kd7 44. cxb4 Rxb4 45. Ke3 Rc3+
46. Ke4 Rcc4 47. Rd5+ Ke7 48. f4 Rc2 49. f3 Ra4 50. f5 Re2+ 51. Kf4 Rea2 52.
Rhd6 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 Nc6 8.
Bb5 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Ng5 Be6 11. Nxe6+ fxe6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ke2 Bb4 14.
Na4 Ke7 15. Rd1 Rhd8 16. Rxd8 Rxd8 17. Be3 Ra8 18. Rc1 Kd7 19. Rc4 Bd6 20. b3
Nd5 21. Rxe4 Nxe3 22. Kxe3 Rf8 23. h3 Rf5 24. Ke2 h5 25. Nb2 Bc5 26. Nd3 Kd6
27. h4 Bb6 28. g3 Ra5 29. a4 g5 30. b4 Rd5 31. hxg5 Rxg5 32. a5 Bc7 33. Nc5 e5
34. Re3 Rg4 35. Ne4+ Ke7 36. f3 Rg6 37. Rc3 Kd7 38. Rc1 Bd6 39. Rd1 Kc7 40.
Nxd6 Rxd6 41. Rh1 Rg6 42. Rxh5 Rxg3 43. Rxe5 Kd6 44. Re4 Rg5 45. Rc4 Rg1 46.
Ke3 Kd5 47. Rc5+ Kd6 48. Ke4 Re1+ 49. Kf5 Rb1 50. Rc4 Kd5 51. Re4 c5 52. Re5+
Kd4 53. bxc5 Rb5 54. f4 Rxa5 55. Ke6 Ra6+ 56. Kd7 Rf6 57. c6 Rxf4 58. Ra5 Rf7+
59. Kc8 Kc4 60. c7 Kb4 61. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.24"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4
b4 9. Nfd2 c6 10. Nxc4 Qxd4 11. Rd1 Qc5 12. Be3 Qh5 13. Nbd2 Ng4 14. Nf3 Nxe3
15. Nxe3 a5 16. Nd4 Ba6 17. Rac1 Rc8 18. Bf3 Qg6 19. Be4 Qh5 20. Bf3 Qg6 21.
Be4 Qh5 22. Kg2 Ra7 23. h4 g6 24. f4 Qh6 25. Nb3 Kh8 26. Bd3 Bb7 27. Nc4 c5+
28. Be4 Ba6 29. Nbxa5 Qf8 30. Bf3 Rd8 31. h5 Bf6 32. Rxd8 Qxd8 33. Rd1 Rd7 34.
Rxd7 Nxd7 35. h6 Nb6 36. Ne5 Bxe5 37. Nc6 Nc4 38. Nxd8 Ne3+ 39. Kf2 Nxc2 40.
Nxf7+ Kg8 41. Nxe5 c4 42. Bg4 Nd4 43. Ke1 Kf8 44. Kd1 Ke7 45. e3 Nb3 46. Nc6+
Kf6 47. Nxb4 Bb7 48. Be2 Na5 49. Kd2 Nb3+ 50. Kc3 Nc5 51. a5 Ne4+ 52. Kxc4 Nxg3
53. Bd3 g5 54. fxg5+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Rfd1 Bd5 14. Qd3 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 c6 16. Kg2 Qa5 17. e3 Rfd8 18. Qc4 Rac8 19. Rab1 Nd5 20. Qb3 Qb4 21.
Qc2 a5 22. h4 Nf6 23. h5 Rc7 24. Ne2 Qb6 25. Nf4 Nd5 26. Rbc1 Bd6 27. Nd3 Nb4
28. Qb3 Rcd7 29. Be4 Qc7 30. Rh1 Nxd3 31. Bxd3 Be7 32. Bb1 Qd6 33. Qc2 Bf6 34.
Qc5 Qxc5 35. Rxc5 Rd5 36. Rc4 e5 37. Be4 R5d7 38. dxe5 Bxe5 39. b4 axb4 40.
Rxb4 Ra8 41. Rhb1 Ra7 42. Bf5 Re7 43. Bc8 c5 44. Rb5 Rc7 45. Bxb7 Rxa4 46. Bd5
Kf8 47. f4 Bc3 48. e4 Bd4 49. e5 c4 50. Rb8+ Ke7 51. R1b7 Ra7 52. Bc6 f5 53.
Rxc7+ Rxc7 54. Ba4 Ra7 55. Rb4 Rc7 56. Kf3 Ke6 57. Bc2 Ba7 58. Ra4 Bb6 59. Ke2
Kd5 60. Bxf5 Ra7 61. Rxa7 Bxa7 62. Kf3 Bc5 63. Bh7 c3 64. Kg4 Bf2 65. Bg8+ Kc6
66. Bb3 Kd7 67. Kf3 Be1 68. g4 Bd2 69. Ke4 Ke7 70. Kf5 Be3 71. g5 hxg5 72. Kxg5
Bd2 73. Kg4 Be3 74. Kf3 Bd2 75. h6 gxh6 76. f5 c2 77. f6+ Kf8 78. Bxc2 Bc3 79.
Kf4 h5 80. Bd1 h4 81. Bg4 Ba5 82. Kf5 Bc7 83. e6 Bd8 84. Bh5 h3 85. Bg4 h2 86.
Bf3 Kg8 87. Kg6 Kf8 88. Bc6 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.22"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Rfd1 Bd5 14. Qd3 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 c6 16. e3 a5 17. h4 h5 18. e4 g6 19. Qe3 Re8 20. Kg2 Kg7 21. Rd3 Qb6
22. Rad1 Rad8 23. e5 Nd7 24. Ne2 c5 25. Rb3 cxd4 26. Rxb6 dxe3 27. Rxb7 Nxe5
28. Rxe7 Rxd1 29. Rxe8 Nd3 30. Nc3 Rd2 31. Be2 Nxb2 32. Kf1 exf2 33. Rb8 Rc2
34. Rb3 Kf6 35. Kxf2 Nd3+ 36. Ke3 Nc5 37. Ra3 Ke5 38. Bb5 Rg2 39. Kf3 Rd2 40.
Ra2 Rd4 41. Re2+ Kf5 42. Ke3 Ke5 43. Rf2 f5 44. Rf4 Rd8 45. Rc4 Nb3 46. Ne2 Kf6
47. Rc6 1-0

[Event "Hamburg FIDE GP"]
[Site "Hamburg"]
[Date "2019.11.12"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2019.11.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,125,20,20,29,-11,16,21,80,82,82,27,27,19,37,19,22,3,17,14,28,29,29,16,
16,21,57,7,15,18,12,6,12,39,39,38,42,42,51,51,60,48,16,16,57,57,57,40,40,35,67,
24,50,0,0,0,5,0,0,0,0,0,8,16,24,0,0,0,0,0,21,38,10,0,71,52,46,46,46,49,55,59,
68,64,65,65,68,64,66,56,63,57,57,21,37,57,69,68,68,73,68,66,74,72,146,84,84,76,
148,84,84,84,84,84,129,68,84,84,175,175,175,144,257,256,256,277,320,327]} 1.
Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 $5 e6 6. Bc4 {White refrains
from d2-d4 (which would lead to the Semi-Tarrasch) for the time being but
finally, after some preparation, plays it.} Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 Nc6 (8... b6
9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 Bb7 11. Re1 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. c4 Bf6 15.
Bb2 {1/2 (15) Kuljasevic,D (2549)-Schreiner,P (2482) Balatonszarszo 2017 . Of
course, the position was full of life.}) 9. Rd1 (9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 {again
leads to a position from the Semi-Tarrasch.}) 9... b6 10. d4 {Finally! This
particular position had not been seen in practice before this game but later,
with move transpositions, already known positions can arise.} Nxc3 (10... cxd4
11. exd4 Nxc3 ({or} 11... Bb7 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 Bf6 14. Be3 Re8 15. Rac1 g6
16. Bb5 Re6 17. Qd2 $14 {1/2 (24) Drimer,D-Radulescu,M Bucharest 1960}) 12.
bxc3 {was seen in the following games:} Na5 (12... Bb7 13. Bd3 Qc7 $6 (13...
Qd5 $6 14. Rb1 Na5 15. Rb5 Qc6 16. d5 $1 $18 {1-0 (32) Malich,B (2360)
-Asmundsson,I (2274) Halle 2004}) (13... Rc8 $5) (13... Na5 {- 12...Na5}) 14.
Ng5 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Ne7 16. c4 Ng6 (16... Rfe8 17. Qg4 Ng6 18. Rac1 e5 19. d5 e4
20. Bxe4 h5 21. Qf3 Qe5 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Be3 $16 {1-0 (60) Hausner,I (2410)
-Haselhorst,H (2265) Muenster 1992}) 17. d5 exd5 18. cxd5 Rfe8 19. Qg4 Qd6 20.
h4 Bc8 21. Qd4 Bd7 22. h5 Qe5 23. Qxe5 Nxe5 24. Ba6 $14 {1-0 (37) Pachman,
L-Zita,F Prague 1963}) 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. Bf4 Rc8 (14... Qd5 $6 15. Rab1 Bc6 (
15... Rac8 16. Rb5 Qd8 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Qd6 19. Bf6 $1 $16 {1-0 (26)
Pachman,L-Neikirkh,O Portoroz 1958}) 16. Be5 Ba4 17. c4 Qd7 18. Rd2 Nc6 19. d5
Nxe5 20. Nxe5 $16 {1-0 (27) Stahlberg,G-Szabo,L Helsinki 1952}) 15. Rac1 Bf6
16. c4 Qe7 $6 (16... Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Bxd4 18. Be5 Nc6 19. Bxd4 Nxd4 20. Qe3 Rc5
21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Rxd4 Qg5 $11) 17. c5 Rfd8 18. Bd6 $36 {1-0 (21) Gipslis,
A-Barshauskas,V Riga 1961}) 11. bxc3 Qc7 (11... cxd4 $5 12. cxd4 (12. exd4 {
- above}) 12... Na5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. e4 Rc8 15. Rb1 Bf6 16. Bd2 Nc6 17. e5 Be7
18. Qe4 g6 19. Bh6 Re8 20. h4 Rc7 21. Qg4 $13 {1/2 (21) Khenkin,I (2604)
-Jussupow,A (2582) Altenkirchen 2005}) (11... Bb7 {is hardly a correct pawn
sacrifice (it is more appropriate when White's e-pawn is on e4, and his
position is more exposed):} 12. dxc5 Qc7 13. cxb6 axb6 14. Nd4 Na5 15. Bd3 e5
16. Nb5 Qc6 17. f3 f5 18. e4 f4 19. Bd2 Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Rf6 21. Be1 $14 {0-1 (49)
Schinzel,W (2385)-Pribyl,J (2390) Warsaw 1980}) 12. e4 Rd8 $146 (12... Bb7 {
is more natural and quite satisfactory for Black:} 13. d5 (13. Be3 Rac8 14. Bd3
cxd4 15. cxd4 Ba3 16. e5 Nb4 17. Ng5 h6 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Qh5 Nd5 20. Bd3 Qe7
21. Nh7 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rfd8 $13 {1/2 (40) Byrne,R-Fischer,R New York 1959}) (13.
Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Na5 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bd2 Bd6 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Nd4 Rae8 19. Re1
Nc6 20. exf5 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Bxd4 22. Rac1 Qd6 23. Rc4 Qd5 24. Be4 Qxe4 25. Qxe4
Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Bc5 27. Rxe6 Rd8 28. Re2 Rxf5 $11 {1/2 (44) Pachman,L-Kholmov,R
Bucharest 1954}) 13... exd5 14. Bxd5 (14. exd5 Na5 15. Bd3 Bxd5 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7
17. Rxd5 Rad8 18. Rh5+ Kg8 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 g6 21. Rh4 Rfe8 $11 {1/2 (48)
Rossetto,H-Salomon,J Mar del Plata/ Buenos Aires 1954}) 14... Rae8 15. Be3 (15.
Qe3 Bf6 16. Rb1 Ne7 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. e5 Ng6 19. Qxc5 Nxe5 $17 {0-1 (25)
Belotelov,D (2267)-Groszpeter,A (2502) Pardubice 2003}) 15... Kh8 16. Rac1 f5
17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Be6 Rff8 $11 {0-1 (25) Saemisch,F-Rellstab,L Wesermuende 1948
}) 13. Be3 Na5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. h4 b5 $5 {An active reply to a flank attack.}
16. Bxb5 Bxe4 17. dxc5 Bxf3 $6 (17... Bxc5 $142 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxe4 Qxb5 $11
) 18. Qxf3 Bxc5 19. Bf4 {White keeps the bishop pair and initiative. However,
he had a nice tactical trick:} (19. Bg5 $5 Be7 $140 20. Rd7 $1 Rxd7 21. Bxd7
Rb8 $8 22. Bxe7 Qxd7 23. Bf6 $1 $16 {[%cal Rf3g3]}) 19... Qb7 20. Qe2 Qe7 21.
h5 Bd6 $6 (21... h6 $5) 22. Bxd6 Rxd6 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 {Black has managed to
trade bishops but his knight is out of play. White controls central files and
can attack on the kingside.} 24. Rd1 Qc5 25. Rd7 $1 Qxc3 (25... Rf8 26. h6 $1
$40) 26. Qd1 $6 (26. Qe4 $1 {was more energetic, obtaining full domination:}
Qc1+ (26... Rf8 27. h6 $1 Qc1+ 28. Bf1 Qxh6 29. Rxa7 Qg5 30. Qa4 $18) 27. Bf1
Qc6 28. Qd4 {[%cal Yh5h6]} h6 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Bd3+ f5 31. Rd7 Rg8 32. Qxa7 {
, and White should win.}) 26... h6 27. g3 Rf8 (27... Rb8 $5 28. a4 Nb7) 28.
Rxa7 Nc6 29. Rd7 Ne5 30. Rd8 Qc7 (30... Rxd8 31. Qxd8+ Kh7 32. Qd1 $14) 31.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 {[%mdl 4096]} 32. a4 {As a result of simplifications, White has
obtained an outside passed pawn. It is usually a serious advantage when he has
a bishop against the opponent's knight but less so with queens on the board.
However, Black faces hard defence anyway.} Ke7 33. Be2 Qc3 34. Qb1 Nc6 35. Qb7+
Kf6 36. Bf1 Na5 37. Qd7 g5 38. hxg6 Kxg6 39. Kg2 Kg7 40. Bb5 Qe5 41. Qd3 Qc5
42. Qf3 $1 {White finds a good square for his queen, from which it looks at
both flanks.} Qd4 (42... Qb4 43. Be8 Qe7 $2 44. Bxf7 $1 Qxf7 45. Qc3+) 43. Be8
$1 {The point! Black must exchange queens.} Qd5 44. Qxd5 exd5 45. Kf3 Kf6 46.
Kg4 Ke7 47. Bb5 Kf6 ({According to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave,} 47... Ke6 {,
trying to create counterply with the d-pawn, was better. However, after} 48.
Be2 {Black can hardly survive} ({but not} 48. Kh5 Nc4 $1 49. Kxh6 Kd6 50. Kg5
Kc5 51. g4 d4 52. Bxc4 Kxc4 53. a5 f6+ $5 (53... d3 54. a6 d2 55. a7 d1=Q 56.
a8=Q $18 {_|_}) 54. Kf5 d3 55. a6 d2 56. a7 d1=Q 57. a8=Q Qd7+ 58. Kxf6 Qd4+
59. Kg5 Qxf2 {is a theoretical draw}) {, and if} 48... Nc4 {then} 49. Kh5) (
47... Kd6 48. Kf5 {is poor, too.}) 48. Kh5 Kg7 49. Bf1 Nb3 50. Bg2 $1 {A
clever plan. White forces ...d5-d4, and Black's d-pawn becomes even more
vulnerable.} d4 51. Bf1 Nd2 (51... Na5 52. Kg4) 52. Bd3 Nb3 53. Bf1 Nd2 54. Bd3
Nb3 55. Bb5 f6 (55... f5 56. f4 Na5 57. Bd3 Kf6 58. Kxh6 {is also hopeless:
White plays g3-g4 f5xg4 Kh5xg4, and his king approaches Black's d-pawn.}) 56.
Bf1 Na5 57. Ba6 Nb3 58. Bb5 Na5 59. Kg4 Nb7 60. Kf4 Nc5 61. a5 d3 62. Ke3 d2
63. Be2 $1 1-0

