[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. O-O Ba6 {
A somewhat passive, but very solid choice.} 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 ({The most
common way of handling the position is} 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qa4 Qc8 11. Bd2 Re8 {
, but Black's position still seems very solid. There are some examples from
high-level games:} 12. Rac1 (12. Rfc1 Bf8 13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Qc2 Qb7
16. Bc3 Nfe4 17. b4 Ne6 18. Qb3 Rac8 19. Bb2 b5 $132 {Pein,M - Fressinet,L
England ENG 2018}) 12... Bf8 13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Ng3 Ne4 16. Rfd1 Qb7
17. Be1 Nc7 $11 {Vitiugov,N - Ponomariov,R Tallinn 2016}) 9... Bxd3 10. Nxd3
$146 {This innovation hardly poses Black serious problems, but GM Duda is
trying to play creatively.} ({Previously, White played only} 10. Qxd3 {, but
Black mostly doesn't face problems here. For instance,} Re8 11. Bd2 (11. b3 $5
c5 12. Bb2 cxd4 13. exd4 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Ne4 15. Bb2 {might offer White a very
small advantage.}) 11... c5 12. a3 c4 13. Qf5 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Qc8 {Geirnaert,S -
Bosman,M Netherlands 2016, Black had comfortable play.}) 10... Bxc3 (10... Bd6
$5 {also deserved attention;} 11. b4 c6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. a4 Re8 {with a long
strategic struggle.}) 11. bxc3 Nc6 {The knight heads for c4, but White's pawns
centre is getting stable now.} ({A more precise way was} 11... Re8 $1 12. f3 c5
13. dxc5 (13. Re1 Nc6 14. Bb2 Rc8 $132) 13... bxc5 14. Nxc5 Nc6 $44) 12. Qc2 $6
{After this inaccurate move White's play is slowed down.} ({A much better move
was} 12. f3 Re8 13. Nf2 Na5 14. Re1 Nd7 15. e4 $14 {with excellent prospects
on the k-side.}) 12... Na5 13. Ba3 $1 {The bishop is placed awkwardly, but
Jan-Krzysztof is reasonably focussed on getting rid of the weak Pc3.} ({
Now White isn't in time to push e2-e4:} 13. f3 Re8 14. Nf2 c5 $15) 13... Re8
14. Nb2 Ne4 (14... Rc8 15. c4 dxc4 16. Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 Qd5 18. Rac1 Qxc4 19.
Rxc4 Nd5 20. Rfc1 {would have led to a complex endgame with mutual chances.})
15. Rad1 (15. Bb4 Nb7 16. c4 dxc4 17. Nxc4 c5 {is about equal too.}) 15... Qd7
16. Bb4 Nc6 {This looks like a definite concession, though the position
remains equal.} ({A more complex posiiton would have arisen after} 16... Nb7 $5
17. c4 c6 18. Nd3 a5 19. Ba3 b5 $132) 17. Nd3 Nd6 {An interesting concept!
Vladislav doesn't fear creating the doubled pawns, since the pressure along
the c-file would partly compensate for it.} ({However, objectively it was
better to play} 17... Rac8 $5 18. a4 h5 {maintaining the balance.}) 18. Bxd6
cxd6 19. Qa4 {White is inviting simplifications.} (19. Qb3 $5 Ne7 20. a4 Rec8
21. Ra1 Rc4 22. Ra3 Rac8 23. Qb5 $14) 19... Ne5 20. Qxd7 Nxd7 21. Rb1 Rac8 22.
Rfc1 {This looks too passive.} ({Somewhat more precise was} 22. Rb3 Nf6 23. Rc1
Rc4 24. Ra3 Rc7 25. Kf1 $14) 22... Rc4 23. Kf1 Rec8 (23... Ra4 24. Rc2 Rc8 25.
Ke2 Nf6 26. f3 $14) 24. Rb3 f5 25. Ke2 {There are permanent weaknesses in
Vladislav's camp, so White can push without much risk.} Kf7 26. Kd2 Nf6 27. f3
Ra4 28. Ra1 {White's rooks are also tied to protecting the pawns, but the king
might help to do so.} g5 29. a3 {The next few moves hardly change the course
of the game much.} Nh5 30. Rb5 Ke6 31. Nb4 ({It was worth paying serious
attention to} 31. Rb4 $5 Ra5 32. a4 {, intending to finally swap the rooks.})
31... Nf6 32. h3 h5 ({In his turn, GM Kovalev could have considered} 32... f4
$5 33. Re1 fxe3+ 34. Rxe3+ Kd7 35. Nxd5 Nxd5 36. Rxd5 h6 {, activating the
rooks.}) 33. h4 $1 {An excellent move, that makes Black's pawn chain dicey.}
gxh4 ({After} 33... g4 34. Nd3 Rac4 35. Nf4+ Kf7 36. Rc1 {one of Black's pawns
should fall soon.}) 34. Nd3 Kd7 35. Rb4 Ra5 36. Nf4 Rg8 37. Rb3 $6 {Alas, this
inaccurate move spoils the lion's share of the advantage.} ({A much stronger
one is} 37. a4 $1 h3 38. gxh3 h4 39. Rb5 $16) 37... h3 $1 38. gxh3 h4 {Now
White has also got weaknesses on the k-sde.} 39. Ke2 Rg3 40. Kf2 Ng8 $6 {
This passive move is inviting troubles again.} ({After} 40... Nh7 $1 41. Rg1
Rxg1 42. Kxg1 Nf8 43. Kf2 Ke7 44. Ke2 Kf7 45. Kd3 Ng6 {the problems would be
solved.}) 41. Rh1 Rg7 42. Ng2 {Now Black is doomed to passive defence again.}
Rh7 43. Rg1 Ne7 44. Ne1 Ra4 45. Ke2 Ke6 46. Nd3 Kf6 47. Nf4 Ra5 48. Kd3 ({
It was agood moment for activating the rook:} 48. Rbb1 $5 Rxa3 49. Ra1 Rxa1 50.
Rxa1 $16) 48... Rh8 49. Kc2 Rg8 50. Rxg8 Nxg8 51. Kb2 Ne7 52. Ka2 ({After} 52.
Rb4 Ng6 $1 53. Nxg6 Kxg6 54. f4 b5 {Black should be able to defend.}) 52... Ng6
53. Ng2 Ke6 54. Rb4 Kd7 (54... f4 $5 {was possible, but GM Kovalev is focused
on a waiting strategy now.}) 55. Rb1 Ke6 56. Rg1 Kf6 57. Kb3 Rb5+ 58. Kc2 Ra5
59. Kb3 Rb5+ 60. Ka2 Ra5 61. Ne1 Ra4 62. Kb3 Rc4 63. f4 $6 {Now, when the pawn
structure is fixed, it seems no longer possible to make any progress.} ({
At the same time, after} 63. Kc2 Ra4 64. Kb2 Rc4 65. Nd3 Rc8 66. Kc2 Rc4 67.
Ra1 Rc8 68. a4 $14 {Anton's defensive task wouldn't be easy.}) 63... Rc8 64.
Kc2 Ne7 65. Nf3 Rh8 66. Rb1 Ke6 67. Kd3 Kd7 68. Rg1 (68. a4 Kc6 69. Rg1 Rh7 $11
) 68... Rh7 69. Ng5 Rg7 70. Nf3 Rh7 71. Ng5 Rg7 72. Nf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 {A relatively new move
order in this well-known position, introduced by Magnus Carlsen two years ago.}
({In the event of} 12. g3 Nb6 13. f3 (13. Ne2 {can now be met with} Bb4+ 14.
Kd1 Nc4) (13. O-O-O Nc8) 13... Nc8 14. Kf2 Nd6 {Black rearranges his pieces in
a proper way. A recent example from GM practice:} 15. Rd1 a5 16. b3 Kd7 17.
Bh3+ Kd8 18. Rhe1 f5 19. Ng2 h5 20. Nf4 Bg5 21. Nxg6 fxg6 22. e4 fxe4 23. fxe4
dxe4 24. Nxe4 Rf8+ 25. Kg2 Nxe4 26. Rxe4 Kc7 $11 {1/2 (28) Moiseenko,A (2649)
-Rakhmanov,A (2653) Izmir 2016}) 12... f5 (12... Nb6 {is too late as this
knight can't reach d6 and control the f5-square in time:} 13. Ng3 Bb4+ (13...
Nc8 14. f4 $16 {[%cal Rf4f5]}) 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 $1 Kd7 (15... Nxb2+ 16. Kc2
Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rhb1 c5 19. a3 Ba5 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Nd6+ Kd7 22. Nxb7
$16 {1-0 (29) Holt,C (2561)-Miller,D (2219) Norfolk 2017}) 16. Rb1 Ke6 $6 {
[%csl Re6]} (16... Rhc8 $142 17. Bd3 $14 {M.Marin}) 17. Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 Bf8
19. g4 c5 $6 (19... Kd7 $142 {M.Marin}) 20. Ng2 $1 $16 {[%cal Rg2f4,Rh2h4] 1-0
(50) Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger 2016 CBM 172 [Marin,M]}) (
12... Bb4+ 13. Kd1 O-O-O 14. Ng3 Nf8 15. Ngf5 Ne6 16. Bd3 Ba5 17. Ke2 Rhe8 18.
g3 Bb6 19. Rad1 Kb8 20. Kf1 c5 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Kg2 $14 {M. Marin}) 13. g3 $5
{[%mdl 32] White is not concerned about doubling his pawns as he will dominate
on the dark squares.} (13. Nf3 {is less energetic but possible, too:} Nf6 14.
a3 Bd6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Nh4 Ng4 (16... Ne4 17. f3 Ng5 18. Kf2 Kf6 19. h3 Ne6 20.
Rd1 a5 21. Ng2 Rhe8 22. h4 h6 23. Ngf4 Re7 24. Bh3 Rae8 25. Rhe1 $14 {1/2 (69)
Martinovic,S (2551)-Kovacevic,B (2483) Valpovo 2017}) 17. Ng2 a5 18. f3 Nf6 19.
Nef4 Ne8 20. Bd3 Bc7 21. Rc1 a4 22. Kf2 Ra5 23. h4 h5 24. g4 Ng7 25. g5 $14 {
0-1 (71) Parligras,M (2599)-Kovalenko,I (2644) Gjakova 2016}) 13... Bxh4 (13...
Nb6 14. Nf4 Nc8 15. Bd3 Nd6 16. b4 a6 17. Ke2 Ne4 18. a3 Kd7 19. Rhc1 Rhe8 20.
Nhg2 Nd6 21. h4 h6 22. a4 b5 23. Rc2 Ne4 24. Rac1 Rec8 25. axb5 axb5 26. f3 $14
{1-0 (50) Bai,J (2586)-Sethuraman,S (2633) Chengdu 2017}) (13... Nf6 14. Bh3
Ng4 15. Nf4 Bd6 16. Ke2 a5 17. Kf3 Nh6 18. Bf1 Ng8 19. Bd3 Ne7 {1-0 (74)
Volkov,S (2618)-Rakhmanov,A (2664) Khanty-Mansiysk 2016 , and here White
should have probably played} 20. Kg2 $14 {[%cal Yh4f3,Yh2h4]}) (13... Nf8 $5 {
needs closer examination. In the following games GM Miroslaw Grabarczyk held
his ground:} 14. Ng2 (14. Nf4 Bxh4 15. gxh4 Ne6 16. Be2 Nxf4 17. exf4 f6 18.
Rg1 Rg8 19. Kd2 Kf8 20. Rg3 Be8 21. Bd3 Bd7 22. Re1 Kf7 {1/2 (22) Fedorovsky,M
(2498)-Grabarczyk,M (2441) Germany 2017}) 14... h5 15. h4 Nd7 16. Ngf4 Nf6 17.
Nd3 a5 18. Nef4 Bd6 19. Be2 Ke7 20. f3 Nd7 21. Kf2 Kf6 22. Rhc1 Ra7 23. a4 Re8
{1/2 (23) Ahlander,B (2435)-Grabarczyk,M (2402) Bremen GER 2018}) 14. gxh4 Nf6
(14... Ke7 15. Nf4 h6 16. b4 Nf8 17. Rg1 Kf6 18. h5 Bh7 19. Nd3 $6 (19. b5 $5)
19... Ne6 20. f4 a5 21. b5 cxb5 22. Bg2 Rhg8 23. Kd2 Rad8 24. a3 Ke7 25. Bf3
Rxg1 26. Rxg1 Nc7 27. Rc1 Kd6 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Rg1 {1/2 (29) Moiseenko,A (2648)
-Cyborowski,L (2524) Germany 2016}) 15. f3 {This move is probably unnecessary.}
(15. Rg1 Ke7 16. Nf4 Nh5 17. Be2 Nxf4 18. exf4 h5 19. Rg3 Kd6 20. Kd2 Rae8 21.
Bd3 a5 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. fxe3 b5 24. Rc1 f6 25. Rg1 Rh6 $14 {1/2 (60)
Batchuluun,T (2571)-Usmanov,V (2463) St Petersburg RUS 2017}) (15. Ng3 $5 {
was probably the most promising:} f4 $6 (15... Nh5 $6 16. Be2 $1) (15... Kf8 $5
{[%cal Yf5f4,Ya8e8]} 16. Be2 $5) 16. exf4 Nh5 17. Nxh5 Bxh5 18. Rg1 Kf8 19. Kd2
Re8 20. Bd3 h6 21. Rg3 Re6 22. Rag1 Ke7 23. Rg8 Rxg8 24. Rxg8 Kf6 25. f5 $16 {
1/2 (57) Lorparizangeneh,S (2515)-Usmanov,V (2455) St Petersburg RUS 2017})
15... Ke7 16. Rg1 Nh5 17. Kf2 Rae8 18. b4 f4 {[%mdl 512] This is more to the
point now: Black's bishop becomes active, and White can't push f4-f5 to "kill"
it.} 19. Nxf4 Nxf4 20. exf4 Kf6 21. a4 Bf5 22. Ra2 Re7 23. Re2 Rxe2+ 24. Bxe2
a6 25. Ke3 h6 26. Kd2 Ra8 {Anticipating the opening of the a-file in the event
of b4-b5.} 27. a5 {After this move White can't break through anywhere, and the
game ends in a draw.} Re8 28. h5 Rc8 29. Ke3 Re8+ 30. Kf2 Rc8 31. Ke1 Re8 32.
Kd2 Rc8 33. Bd3 Bxd3 34. Kxd3 Re8 35. h4 Rc8 36. Ke3 Re8+ 37. Kf2 Rc8 38. Re1
Ra8 39. Re5 Rb8 40. Re3 Ra8 41. f5 Rc8 42. Re1 Rd8 43. Kg3 Rc8 44. Kf2 Rd8 45.
Kg3 Rc8 46. Kf2 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 {This move has
become popular in the last 2 years.} (6... Be7 {,}) (6... Bd6) ({and} 6... Nc6
{are still far common lines.}) 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nc3 (9. c4 {is the
most common move, for example:} Nc6 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Rae8
13. Bf4 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Bd6 15. c4 Qh5 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Qa3 Qa5 18. Qxd6 Rxe1+
19. Rxe1 Rd8 20. Re3 h6 $1 $11 {Anand-Wei Yi, Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 9... Nxc3 10.
bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nc6 ({1 year earlier Nepomniachtchi had a game for} 11...
Nd7 12. Rb1 (12. c4 $5) 12... Nb6 13. Qf5 Re8 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bf4 Bd6 $11 {
Nepomniachtchi-Jobava, Tbilisi 2017, with a balanced position.}) 12. Re2 {
A useful move, because later White can double on the e-file with his Rs.} (12.
c4 $5 {was the alternative choice.}) 12... a6 13. Bf4 Qd7 14. Rae1 Rfe8 15. h4
$146 {Novelty by Nepomniachtchi. White has gained some space on the kingside,
opens the back rank and controls the g5-square too.} (15. a4 {was played in a
correspondence game,} Rad8 16. h4 h6 17. h5 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Rxe2 19. Qxe2 Qxd6 20.
Nh4 Qf6 (20... Qd7 $5) 21. g3 Kf8 22. Qd3 Re8 23. Rb1 Na5 24. Qh7 $14 {
Ainutdinov-Farias, ICCF email 2014, with some pressure.}) 15... h6 {Black also
plays a useful move, moreover he avoids the Ng5.} 16. Qe3 $5 {Practically this
is a clever move, because White pins the B and sometimes he can sacrifice on
h6 too. However it is not clear how things will evolve after exchanging on e8.}
b5 ({In the event of} 16... Bf6 17. Qxe8+ Rxe8 18. Rxe8+ Kh7 {and White has
two Rs against the Q, but Black is safe, since it is not easy to break his
position.}) 17. h5 Rac8 18. Nh2 {White prepares for Qg3, Ng4 with some
attacking chances on the kingside.} b4 $2 {This is a logical move to create
weakness in the White's queenside, but here it is a mistake.} (18... Rcd8 {
was better, as} 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Qxh6 Bf8 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Ng4 Rxe2 23. Rxe2
f5 24. Nh6 Qg7 $1 $132 {This is the point of 18...Rcd8, the R is not hanging
on c8 after Qxf5.}) 19. Qg3 $6 {The straightforward continuation, but he
missed the tactical chance.} (19. Bxh6 $1 {was the strongest reply,} gxh6 20.
Qxh6 Bf8 (20... Qd6 $6 {could have been met by the brilliant} 21. Re6 $3 fxe6
22. Rxe6 $18) 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Ng4 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 f6 (23... f5 24. Nh6 $1 Qg7
25. Qxf5 $1 $16 {and White has three pawns for the piece and still he can
continue the pressure.}) 24. Nxf6 Qg7 25. Qf5 Ne7 26. Qe5 $36 {and White has a
promising position.}) 19... Bd6 $6 {Another inaccuracy. At first sight this is
a logical move, because Black would like to simplify the position, however it
allows White's following play.} ({The solid} 19... Kh8 {was important,} 20. Ng4
bxc3 $132 {with a complicated middlegame.}) 20. Ng4 (20. Rxe8+ {leads only to
an equal endgame,} Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Bxd6 cxd6 23. Qxd6 Qe1+ 24. Nf1 Qxc3
25. Qxd5 Nxd4 $11) 20... Kh8 21. Rxe8+ ({Probably} 21. Bxd6 $1 {was more
precise,} Rxe2 (21... cxd6 $6 22. Ne3 $1 $16 {and Black's P structure is bad
enough.}) 22. Rxe2 cxd6 (22... Qxd6 23. Qf3 $14) 23. Qf4 Kh7 {Otherwise Nxh6!}
24. Ne3 $14 {with a comfortable position for White.}) 21... Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8
23. Bxd6 cxd6 24. Qxd6 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Qe6 $1 {A very nice cool-blooded reply!
Black doesn't take anything, just comes back with the Q. After the exchange of
Qs, White has enough weaknesses on the queenside, which gives counterplay for
Black.} (25... Qxc3 $2 {does not work as} 26. Qf8+ Kh7 27. Qxf7 Qxd4 28. f3 $18
{and Black is in big trouble.}) 26. Qf8+ (26. Qxe6 fxe6 $132 {and Black is
fine.}) 26... Kh7 27. Ne3 $1 {White finds his best chance.} bxc3 28. Qc5 Qf6
29. Qxc3 (29. Qxd5 {gave more practical chances,} Nxd4 30. Kg1 $1 Ne2+ 31. Kf1
Nf4 32. Qe4+ Kg8 33. g4 {and still Black needs to play accurate moves.}) 29...
Qxf2 30. Qxc6 Qf4+ 31. g3 Qxe3 32. Qxd5 Qf2+ 33. Kh3 Qxc2 {The natural human
reply.} ({The engine suggests} 33... f5 $11 {and always threatening with
perpetual checks.}) 34. Qxf7 Qc8+ 35. Kg2 Qc2+ 36. Qf2 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 a5 38. a4
Kg8 39. Qa2+ Kf8 (39... Kh8 $1 {was more accurate,} 40. Qc4 Qf3 $11 {and White
can't improve his position.}) 40. Qc4 Qg4 41. Qc5+ Kg8 42. Qd5+ Kh7 43. Kf2 Qd1
44. Qe4+ Kg8 45. Qe6+ $6 (45. d5 $1 {was the most precise reaction,} Qxh5 46.
Ke3 $1 $16 {and White has good chances with his d-P.}) 45... Kh7 46. d5 Qxa4 $2
{Loses immediately, but of course, it is not easy in a practical game.} (46...
Qc2+ {could hold the position, for example:} 47. Kf3 Qb3+ 48. Kg4 Qxa4+ 49. Kh3
Qd1 $11 {and draw.}) 47. d6 Qc2+ 48. Kf3 $2 {The last mistake!} (48. Ke3 $1 {
was the winning move,} Qc3+ 49. Ke4 Qc6+ 50. Qd5 Qa4+ 51. Ke5 Qd7 (51... Qe8+
52. Kf4 $18) 52. Qxa5 $18 {and Black is losing.}) 48... Qd3+ $1 $11 {Giri
finds the best way.} 49. Kg2 (49. Kf2 Qd2+ $11) 49... Qc2+ 50. Kh3 Qc6 $1 {
Another great move!} 51. Qf5+ Kg8 52. d7 Qd6 $1 53. Kh2 a4 $1 {Only move, but
this is the most natural reply.} 54. Qg4 {The last trap.} Kf7 $1 {The black K
simply goes to attack the d7-P.} ({The straightforward} 54... a3 $2 {loses
because of} 55. Qc4+ Kh7 56. Qe4+ $18) 55. Qxa4 Ke7 56. Qe4+ Kxd7 57. Qg4+ Ke8
58. Qxg7 Qd2+ 59. Kh3 Qd7+ $1 {Very precise play, the P endgame is drawish.}
60. Qg4 (60. Qxd7+ Kxd7 61. Kg4 Ke6 62. Kf4 Kf6 63. g4 Ke6 $1 $11 {with a
theoretical drawish P endgame.}) 60... Kd8 {and a draw after a big struggle!}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Bb7 {This is known as the English Defence and is usually
employed by GMs as a fighting weapon as it leads to unclear or imbalanced
middlegames.} 3. d4 e6 4. e4 Bb4 5. f3 {This is the more solid approach as it
takes the sting out of Black's typical undermining move f7-f5.} ({The most
popular move here is} 5. Bd3 {but recent practice is seeing Black getting good
play after} f5 6. Qh5+ (6. Qe2 Nf6 7. Bg5 fxe4 8. Bxe4 Bxe4 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10.
Qxe4 Nc6 $11) 6... g6 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Bg5 fxe4 9. Bxe4 Bxe4 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11.
Qxe4 Nc6 $11) 5... Ne7 {Preparing ...f5.} 6. Bd3 e5 $5 {Knowing that Georg is
a theoretician, there is a good chance that this is still part of Black's prep.
} ({The more logical follow up is} 6... f5 {but it's unpleasant to meet} 7. Bg5
$1 h6 8. Bh4 g5 $6 (8... Qc8 9. Bxe7 Bxe7 10. exf5 $16) 9. Bf2) 7. Nge2 $146 {
This is the new move or deviation of the game.} ({If} 7. a3 {Black gets a nice
version of a Sämisch Nimzo-Indian after} Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nbc6 $1 9. Ne2 d6 10.
O-O O-O $11 {[%cal Gc6a5,Gb7a6,Gf3f4,Gf7f6] ½-½ (86) Klekowski,M (2509)
-Teclaf,P (2373) Katowice 2018}) 7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Nbc6 {Black has found a
good placement for his minor pieces and White isn't able to pose any serious
problems so we can say that the opening is a success for Black.} 9. Nde2 Ne5 (
9... Bc5 $5 10. Na4 (10. a3 a5 11. Na4 d6) 10... d6 $11) 10. a3 Bxc3+ {Black
doesn't mind trading as he has less space.} 11. Nxc3 O-O 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bh4
N7g6 (13... Nxd3+ 14. Qxd3 Ng6 15. Bg3 {transposes.}) 14. Bg3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 d6
16. Nd5 Qd7 {Black has achieved a very solid position.} (16... a5 $5 17. O-O-O
a4 18. Kb1 Ne5 $11) 17. O-O-O Bxd5 18. Qxd5+ (18. cxd5 b5 $1 19. Kb1 b4 $1 20.
axb4 (20. Rc1 Rab8) 20... a5 $40) (18. exd5 b5 $5 $40 (18... Rab8 $40 {[%cal
Rb6b5]})) 18... Qf7 19. Kc2 Ne7 20. Qxf7+ Kxf7 {White has no edge in this
ending despite his bishop due to lack of open lines. Black was never in any
danger playing the ensuing ending especially for an endgame specialist like
Georg.} 21. Kc3 a5 22. b3 Rfe8 23. Rd2 h5 24. h4 g6 25. Rhd1 Nc6 26. Rd5 Re6
27. Bf4 Ne7 28. R5d2 Nc6 29. Rd5 {Wojtaszek couldn't find any way to make
progress without weakening his position, and therefore decided to propose a
peace treaty here, which was willingly accepted by his opponent.} Ne7 30. R5d2
Nc6 31. Rd5 {A nice opening choice as Black by GM Meier against such a
well-prepared opponent and defending champion of the event!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "180"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Re1 g6 7. c3 Bg7 8. Bf1
b5 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb7 11. e5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. a4 b4 14. Nbd2 O-O 15.
Nb3 e6 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. a5 Qc7 18. Rc1 Qb8 19. Qd4 h6 20. Bd2 Rd8 21. Nc5 Nxc5
22. Qxc5 Bf8 23. Qc4 Ne7 24. Nd4 Qa7 25. Be3 Nd5 26. Nxe6 Nxe3 27. Rxe3 Bd5 28.
Nxd8 Bxc4 29. Nc6 Qd7 30. Rxc4 Re8 31. Nxb4 Bxb4 32. Rxb4 Rc8 33. Rc4 Rxc4 34.
Bxc4 Qc7 35. Bxa6 Qxa5 36. Bf1 Kg7 37. b3 Qa3 38. h4 g5 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. g3
Qb2 41. Kg2 Qd4 42. Be2 Qd5+ 43. Bf3 Qb5 44. Kg1 Qb4 45. Bd5 Qd4 46. Bc4 Qa1+
47. Kg2 Qd4 48. e6 fxe6 49. Rxe6 Qc5 50. Kg1 Qd4 51. Re7+ Kf6 52. Rb7 Qd6 53.
Rb5 Qd2 54. Bf1 Ke7 55. b4 Kd8 56. Kg2 g4 57. Kg1 Qd4 58. Rb7 Kc8 59. Rf7 Qxb4
60. Rf4 Qb1 61. Rxg4 Kd7 62. Kg2 Ke7 63. Rf4 Qb7+ 64. Kh2 Qb2 65. Bh3 Qd2 66.
Bg4 Qb2 67. Kh3 Qh8+ 68. Kg2 Qb2 69. Bf3 Qd2 70. Be4 Ke6 71. Kh3 Qb2 72. Kh4
Ke7 73. Kg5 Qe5+ 74. Kh6 Qa1 75. Bg6 Qh1+ 76. Bh5 Qc1 77. Bg4 Qh1+ 78. Kg6 Qc6+
79. Kg7 Qc3+ 80. Kh7 Qa1 81. Kg6 Qa6+ 82. Kg5 Qa8 83. f3 Qg8+ 84. Kh4 Qa2 85.
Rf5 Qh2+ 86. Bh3 Qb2 87. g4 Qh2 88. g5 Qf2+ 89. Kg4 Qg1+ 90. Kh5 Qh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Nc3 Ne4 14.
Qxc4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Be6 16. Bf4 Bxc4 17. Bxe5 c6 18. Rfe1 Rfe8 19. Bd4 Bxe2 20.
a4 a5 21. Kg2 h5 22. f3 Bc4 23. g4 hxg4 24. fxg4 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Bb3 26. Bb6 Bxa4
27. Ra1 Bb3 28. Rxa5 Rxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {There is a good rule to follow
here as Black: If White plays c3, then ...e6 is usually more accurate, while
if White plays c4, then ...g6 is the best setup against the Hedgehog structure.
} 5. O-O ({For example:} 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6
10. f3 O-O 11. O-O {is the main line, when both sides have a number of
alternatives. We saw this position in Kasparov's reappearance in 2017, against
Caruana in a rapid game:} a6 12. Na4 Rab8 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Nb6 Nd7 15. Nxd7
Qxd7 16. Rf2 b5 17. c5 Qa7 18. Rc1 dxc5 19. Bxc5 Qc7 20. f4 Rfd8 21. Qe1 Rd3
22. e5 Qd7 $15 {1-0 (50) Caruana,F (2807)-Kasparov,G (2812) Saint Louis 2017,
when Black is doing perfectly fine: the bishop is out of play on g7 for now,
but he has the control of the central d-file.}) 5... Nf6 6. Re1 Nc6 7. c3 (7.
c4 g6 $1 {[%cal Rf8g7,Rg7d4] Now the move 6.Re1 wouldn't fit in the position,
since White has to try to stabilise the central situation quickly (with d4 and
after the pawns get exchanged, Be3, and preferably f3 to avoid ...Ng4).}) 7...
e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 10. e5 Ng8 $5 {An interesting alternative to the
popular 10...Ne4.} (10... Ne4 {is the main move here, and we achieve a
position that has huge drawing tendencies - an amazing 68.2% draw percentage
over 627 games, according to my Mega Database 2018.} 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Be7
13. Rc1 O-O 14. Rc3 Rfc8 15. a3 Nd8 16. Ree3 Rxc3 17. Rxc3 Rc8 $11 {½-½ (38)
Burg,T (2511)-Shirov,A (2715) Skopje 2015, Black could also have played in
many different ways, but basically nothing is really happening, and the c-file
is a great place to exchange pieces. The only thing White may rely on is
having more space with the e5-d4 structure, but realistically, that is nothing.
}) 11. a3 (11. Nc3 Nge7 12. Ne2 Nf5 13. Nf4 h5 14. h4 Be7 15. g3 O-O-O $1 {
The same idea we see in this game} 16. a3 Kb8 17. b4 Rdg8 18. Ne2 Qd8 19. Bf4
Ka8 (19... g5 $5 {was already possible, with complex play} 20. Nxg5 Bxg5 21.
Bxg5 Rxg5 22. hxg5 h4 $40 (22... Qxg5 $5)) 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Qa4 a6 22. Rb1 Na7
23. Qb3 Rc8 $11 {0-1 (51) Sebag,M (2471)-Radjabov,T (2729) Cap d'Agde 2006,
Black has changed his mind, but also reached a fine position; there are always
weaknesses on White's camp to be worried about, like c4 for example.}) 11...
Nge7 12. Nc3 h5 (12... Nf5 $5 {could have been better at once, since it is not
entirely clear that g4 is good for White:} 13. g4 Nfe7 {[%cal Rh7h5] followed
by h5} 14. Bf4 h5 15. h3 hxg4 16. hxg4 Na5 17. Rc1 Nc4 $15 {½-½ (33)
Bruchmann,S (2304)-Grigorian,S (2345) Germany 2016 and Black should play with
the king in the centre, with the h8-rook already 'developed'.}) 13. Bg5 (13.
Nh4 $5 {[%csl Rf5] a typical move in such positions - the knight looks awkward
on h4, but on the other hand, it stops Black's main plan of playing ...Nf5:}
Nc8 14. h3 Be7 15. Nf3 O-O 16. Qd3 $14 {and without the knight on f5, White
has to be better here.}) 13... Nf5 14. Rc1 Be7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qd3 O-O-O $5 {
An interesting decision! Usually Black castles to the kingside in such
positions, since the c-file is open. But Duda has a strong ...g5-plan coming
quickly. The game becomes tense!} 17. Na4 Kb8 18. Nc5 g5 $1 $132 19. Rc3 $2 {
It's hard to understand this mistake, 19.b4 was still pretty decent for White.}
(19. b4 $1 {was needed} g4 20. b5 Na5 (20... gxf3 $2 21. bxc6 $18 {and White
is simply winning}) (20... Nb4 $5 {sacrificing a pawn for activity} 21. axb4
gxf3 22. Qxf3 Rhg8 {[%cal Rf5h4]} (22... Nxd4 $2 23. Qd3 $1 Nf5 24. Rc2) 23. g3
h4) 21. Nd2 $13 {with complex play.}) 19... g4 20. Nd2 Ncxd4 $17 {And Black
has a huge advantage after taking the central pawn for free, and the
compensation for it is not clear at all.} 21. Rec1 Rc8 22. Nf1 Rc6 23. Ng3 Ka8
$1 {Good prophylaxis!} (23... Rhc8 $2 {wouldn't be precise:} 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25.
Na6+ $1 {[%csl Rc6,Rc8]} Ka8 26. Rxc6 Rxc6 27. Rxc6 bxc6 28. Qc3 $132 {and
White has good counterplay chances.}) 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25. b4 Rhc8 26. a4 b6 {
Having played consistent moves after winning the pawn, Black is close to
deciding the game.} 27. Nb3 Rxc3 28. Rxc3 Rxc3 (28... Kb8 $5 {would be a
subtle and pretty move, bringing the king back to the game.}) (28... Kb7 $4 {
It is never late to go wrong!} 29. Na5+ $1 {and Black is in trouble now:} Kb8 (
29... bxa5 30. Qb5+ Ka8 31. Rxc8#) 30. Rxc8+ (30. Nc6+ {is not better for
White:} Rxc6 31. Rxc6 Qxb4 $132) 30... Kxc8 31. Qa6+ $1 Kd7 32. Nc6 $3 {
an amazing move, forcing Black to resign, since the knight is untouchable:}
Kxc6 (32... Qf8 33. Qb7+ Ke8 34. Qc8#) 33. Qc8+ Qc7 34. b5+ Kc5 35. Qxc7+ $18)
29. Qxc3 Kb7 30. a5 (30. b5 {wouldn't change much:} Qc7 $1 {The knight ending
is easily won. For example:} 31. Qxc7+ Kxc7 32. Kf1 Kd7 33. Nc1 (33. Ke2 $2 Nh4
34. g3 Nf3 $19) 33... Ke7 34. Ke2 f6 $19) 30... Qd7 {[%csl Ra4,Rb5]} 31. Nd4
Nxd4 32. Qxd4 Qc7 {White resigned since a second pawn will be lost, and the
position is hopeless. A nice win for the young Polish star Duda!} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 8. exd4
d5 9. Rc1 Nc6 10. a3 Be7 11. c5 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Be2 Rd8 14. O-O e5 15.
Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxc3 17. Rxc3 d4 18. Rc1 Qxe5 19. Bd3 Bf5 20. b4 a5 21. Re1
Qxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Bxd3 23. bxa5 Rac8 24. Qe7 Ba6 25. c6 Re8 26. Qb4 Rxc6 27. Rxc6
bxc6 28. h4 d3 29. Kh2 Kh7 30. Qd6 Re6 31. Qd7 Rf6 32. Qd4 h5 33. a4 Re6 34.
Kg3 Rg6+ 35. Kf3 Re6 36. Kg3 g6 37. Qa7 Kg7 38. Qd4+ Kg8 39. Qd8+ Kh7 40. Qd4
Re2 41. Qd7 Bc4 42. Qxc6 Rc2 43. Qe4 Rc3 44. Qd4 Rc2 45. Qe4 Rc3 46. Qd4 Rc2
47. Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. c4 ({More energetic than} 4. e3 c5) 4...
dxc4 5. e3 c5 6. d5 {A relatively rare move.} (6. Bxc4 cxd4 7. exd4 {is the
main line.}) 6... Bg7 (6... b5 {looks more ambitious but White regains the
pawn and keeps a small edge after} 7. a4 (7. Nc3 $143 a6 8. a4 b4 9. Ne4 f5 10.
Ng5 Qd6 11. Bxc4 Bg7 $15 {[%cal Yb8d7] 0-1 (32) Poghosyan,S (2260)-Ter
Sahakyan,S (2599) Yerevan 2016}) 7... Bb7 8. axb5 Qxd5 9. Qxd5 Bxd5 10. Nc3 (
10. Nd2 Nd7 11. Ne2 e6 12. Nc3 Nb6 13. e4 Bb7 14. Nxc4 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Bd6 16.
O-O Be5 $11 {0-1 (57) Brumen,D (2368)-Saric,I (2482) Kutina 2006}) 10... Bb7
11. Bxc4 $1 {[%cal Yc4d5]} ({better than} 11. f3 Nd7 12. Bxc4 {0-1 (30)
Collier,D (2175)-Hebden,M (2532) Port Erin 2006} Ne5 $132 13. b3 $140 Bh6 14.
Kf2 O-O-O $1) 11... e6 (11... Bxg2 $2 12. Bd5 $1 Bxd5 13. Nxd5 $18 {[%cal
Rd5c7,Rd5b6]}) 12. f3 Nd7 13. Nge2 Ne5 14. b3 $14 {[%cal Ga1a7]}) 7. Bxc4 f5 (
7... O-O 8. Ne2 Nd7 9. Nf4 Nb6 10. Be2 $5 $14 ({instead of} 10. Bd3 $6 f5 {
[%cal Rb6d5,Rg7b2]} 11. Nc3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxd5 $15 {0-1 (55) Petrosian,K 
(2400)-Farago,I (2520) Germany 1995})) 8. Nc3 Nd7 (8... O-O 9. Nge2 Nd7 10. Nf4
$5 (10. a4 Ne5 11. Ba2 Qb6 12. Qc2 Bd7 $132 {0-1 (31) Bednarek,S (2307)
-Koutoukidis,P (2368) Aghios Kirykos GRE 2018}) 10... Nb6 11. Be2 $14) 9. Nge2
a6 10. a4 Ne5 {So, White has not managed to rearrange his pieces in the best
way (Ne2-f4, Bc4-e2), and Black gets a good position.} 11. Ba2 $6 (11. Bd3 $5 {
was probably better, preventing ...b7-b5 for the time being.}) 11... O-O 12.
O-O Rb8 $6 {Black unnecessarily wastes time.} (12... b5 $1 {was possible at
once:} 13. axb5 $6 (13. Nf4 $5 $15) 13... axb5 14. Nxb5 Ba6 15. Nbc3 Qb6 {
with strong pressure for the sacrificed pawn.}) 13. Ng3 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15.
Qc2 $132 Qd6 16. Nce2 $6 (16. Rac1 $142) 16... b4 ({Black misses a good
opportunity to correct his inaccuracy:} 16... Ra8 $1 $17 17. Nxf5 $140 Bxf5 18.
Qxf5 Qg6 $1 19. Qxg6 Nxg6 $1 {[%cal Rg7b2]} 20. Rfb1 {(otherwise Black takes
on b2, gets two connected passed pawns and a clear advantage)} c4 {, and
White's pieces are almost stalemated.}) 17. Rac1 b3 $6 {This operation allows
White to seize the initiative.} (17... Ba6 $5 $13) 18. Bxb3 c4 19. Bxc4 Rxb2
20. Qd1 Qb4 21. Nd4 $1 {This was probably missed by GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
White temporarily sacrifices a piece but then regains material.} Nxc4 (21...
Rd2 22. Qb3) 22. Nc6 Qc5 $6 (22... Qb5 $142 $1 23. Nxe7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 Rxc8 25.
Nxf5 {and the position remains tense although White, with his three pawns for
a piece, keeps an edge.}) 23. Qa4 $16 {White recaptures the piece and keeps an
extra pawn.} Rd2 (23... Nb6 $2 24. Rxc5 Nxa4 25. Nxe7+ Kh8 26. Rxc8) (23... Rb7
{was passive but more stubborn.}) 24. Rxc4 Qd6 25. Qa7 $1 Bf6 (25... Bd7 26.
Nxf5) 26. Nh5 Kh8 27. Nxf6 exf6 28. Rd4 $18 {The rest is a matter of technique.
A pawn down, with tripled pawns, Black can't survive for long} Rc2 29. Nb4 Rc5
30. Rfd1 Bd7 31. Qa6 Qxa6 32. Nxa6 Rb5 33. h4 Rc8 34. Nb4 Kg7 35. Kh2 Kf8 36.
R1d2 Rcb8 37. Nd3 Ke7 38. Nf4 Rb2 39. d6+ Kf8 40. Nh5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B29"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Nimzowitsch Variation, nowadays played repeatedly by
the Russian GM Alexander Rakhmanov. In the following moves, I will reference
some of the first games in this variation, that was defended mostly by
Nimzowitsch himself and the great Rubinstein.} 3. e5 {I believe this is the
critical move.} (3. Nc3 {is also possible, but Black has been holding without
many problems:} d5 4. exd5 (4. e5 Nfd7 5. e6 $5 fxe6 6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.
O-O g6 9. d4 Bg7 10. dxc5 O-O 11. Re1 Nc6 $13 {0-1 (51) Anand,V (2759)
-Mamedyarov,S (2808) Leuven 2018; with interesting play.}) 4... Nxd5 5. Bb5+ (
5. Bc4 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 O-O 9. Ne5 Qc7 10. Bd3 Nc6 $11 {
0-1 (46) Spielmann,R-Nimzowitsch,A San Sebastian 1911}) 5... Bd7 6. Ne5 $5 {
is one of the most challenging variations} (6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Be2 Nc6 8. d4 cxd4 9.
Nxd4 e5 10. Ndb5 a6 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. Qxd6 Bf5 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 $15 {½-½ (32)
Ponomariov,R (2694)-Rakhmanov,A (2653) Riadh 2017 and Black already has a more
pleasant position}) 6... Nf6 $1 7. Qf3 Qc8 8. a4 e6 $1 (8... a6 $6 9. Bxd7+
Nbxd7 10. Nc4 $1 $14 {[%csl Ra8,Rb7,Rc8] ½-½ (41) Moskalenko,A (2531)
-Rakhmanov,A (2669) Sochi 2017, and Black has some problems developing his
queenside.}) 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. O-O a6 12. Bxd7 Nfxd7 13. Nc4 Nc6 $11 {
0-1 (97) Khanin,S (2450)-Rakhmanov,A (2659) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017}) 3... Nd5 4.
Nc3 (4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 (5. c3 {transposes to the Alapin variation of the
Sicilian}) 5... e6 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. Qe4 d6 8. exd6 Nf6 9. Qh4 Bxd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 
(79) Schlechter,C-Nimzowitsch,A San Sebastian 1912}) 4... e6 (4... Nxc3 $5 {
Is also playable} 5. dxc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 (6. Bc4 d6 (6... e6 $1 {should be played,
Rubinstein's 6...d6 is way too optimistic and risky}) 7. Bf4 dxe5 8. Nxe5 Qxd1+
9. Rxd1 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 a6 11. Bc7 $1 $16 {1-0 (28) Alapin,S-Rubinstein,A
Vilnius (Lithuania) 1912}) 6... e6 {White is better with more space, but Black
may have long-term weaknesses to attack, and White's play is not that
straightforward.} 7. Qd2 h6 8. h4 Qc7 9. O-O-O a6 10. Bd3 b5 11. Be4 Bb7 12.
Qe3 Ne7 $1 {[%csl Rd5] getting a strong hold of the important d5-square, that
will soon be used by the knight.} 13. Kb1 c4 14. Rhe1 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 Qc6 16. Bc1
Qxe4 17. Rxe4 h5 {with a nice blockade on d5} 18. b3 $6 Nd5 19. Bb2 Rc8 $17 {
0-1 (59) Pavlidis,A (2539)-Duda,J (2693) Minsk 2017}) 5. Nxd5 (5. g3 {played
by Reti, doesn't look threatening:} Nc6 6. Bg2 Nxc3 (6... d6 $5 {was also fine}
) 7. bxc3 d6 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. O-O O-O 10. d3 Be7 11. Be3 Bd7 $11 {0-1 (48) Reti,
R-Rubinstein,A Gothenburg 1920}) 5... exd5 6. d4 Nc6 (6... d6 {is not that bad:
} 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. O-O Be7 9. c4 $1 a6 10. exd6 Qxd6 11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. Be3 Qd6
13. Bxc6+ (13. c5 $5 $14) 13... bxc6 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Qxd5 cxd5 16. Rfd1 Be6
17. Rac1 {is slightly better for White, but always unpleasant to defend,
specially after the bishop exchange on the next move, that I feel Black must
avoid.} Bf6 18. Bd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Kd7 20. f4 g6 21. Rc5 Rhc8 22. Ra5 Rab8 23.
Rd2 $14 {1-0 (59) Martinez Alcantara,J (2539)-Slipak,S (2420) Montevideo 2018})
7. c3 {A solid move, avoiding complications, and looking to play against the
isolated pawn. In any case, Black is doing just fine after the opening.} (7.
dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 {used to be the critical move, but Black is holding his
ground after:} (8. Bd3 {seems harmless for Black} d6 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. O-O O-O
11. Re1 h6 12. h3 (12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Bg4 $11 {would be simply equal}) 12...
Bd7 (12... Bxh3 $5 {there is no need for such adventures} 13. gxh3 Qg3+ 14. Kh1
Bxf2 15. Rf1 (15. Bf1 $4 Nd4 $1 $19 {[%csl Re1,Rg1] 0-1 (37) Pinter,E (2212)
-Markos,J (2225) Slovakia 2000}) 15... Qxh3+ 16. Nh2 Bg3 17. Qe2 $13 {feels
better for White, but the position remains complicated}) 13. Be3 d4 14. Bd2
Rfe8 15. a3 Qd5 16. b4 Bd6 17. c4 dxc3 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Bxc3 Be6 20. Be4 Qxe4
21. Qxd6 $11 {½-½ (29) So,W (2792)-Mamedyarov,S (2804) Wijk aan Zee 2018})
8... d6 $1 (8... Qb6 9. Bc4 $1 Bxf2+ 10. Ke2 O-O 11. Rf1 Bc5 12. Ng5 Nd4+ 13.
Kd1 Ne6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Nd6 $5 {With complex play, but White should have the
upper hand, because of the major development issues of the black queenside.})
9. exd6 Qb6 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Rc5f2]} 10. Qe4+ Be6 11. Qh4 (11. d7+ Kxd7 12. Be3
Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qxb2 $1 14. Rd1+ Ke7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (30) De Gleria,F (2420)
-Buenermann,V (2325) Germany 2004 Black is doing just fine.}) 11... Bxd6 12.
Be2 O-O 13. O-O Bf5 14. c3 Rae8 $44 {with good play for Black.}) 7... cxd4 (
7... d6 8. Bb5 Be7 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. Qe2+ {would be similar to the game:} Be6
11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Be3 $14 {should be slightly more pleasant for
White.}) 8. Nxd4 (8. cxd4 $6 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 d6 $11 {and Black
doesn't have any problems.}) 8... d6 (8... Nxe5 $6 {looks way too risky} 9. Bf4
$1 d6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. O-O Be7 12. Qb3 Nc4 13. Rfe1 (13. Bxd7+ $5 Qxd7 14. Nc2
O-O 15. Nb4 $14) 13... O-O 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. Qxb7 Re8 (15... Rb8 $5 16. Qxa7
Rxb2 $13) 16. Nc6 Bxc6 17. Qxc6 Rc8 18. Qa4 a5 19. Rad1 $16 {1-0 (59) Kurnosov,
I (2645)-Arribas Lopez,A (2477) Zuerich 2012}) 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. O-O
(11. Qe2+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 {exchanging queens should be favourable for Black,
who still has a worse structure, but shouldn't suffer much in the endgame.})
11... O-O 12. Nb3 a6 13. Be2 Qc7 14. h3 Rfe8 $36 {Black slowly becomes more
active, and the isolated d5-pawn is no problem at all.} 15. Re1 Re5 (15... Bf5
$1 {trying to find the best setup for the pieces, with the simple Rad8:} 16.
Qxd5 (16. Be3 Rad8 $36 {with at least equality for Black}) 16... Bg6 {
threatening Rad8} 17. Qd1 Red8 $3 (17... Rad8 {is the most logical and also
playable, but there is an issue with the e8-rook hanging:} 18. Bf1 $1 Bh2+ 19.
Kh1 $14 {when Black can't take the queen because of checkmate on e8}) 18. Bd2
Bh2+ 19. Kh1 Bf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 21. Qc1 Qxf2 $15) (15... Rad8 $5 16. Bg5 f6 17.
Be3 Kh8 $11) 16. Be3 Rae8 17. Bd3 g6 (17... Qc8 $1 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Rd7h3]} 18.
Qf3 Bf5 $11 {would be very solid for Black, who is left without any problems.})
18. Qd2 Qd8 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Qe8 23. Qd2 $14
{After a few tiny inaccuracies, now White has a tiny edge, which at the end
shouldn't be much, but there is play because of the weak isolated pawn on d5.}
Be5 24. Be3 (24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. Be2 $11 {these kinds of positions never promise
anything for White, since Black has an active queen and will place his bishop
on either c6 or e6.}) 24... Qe6 25. f4 Bf6 26. a3 h5 27. Bc2 Bc6 28. Bf2 Qe7
29. Bd1 Qe6 30. Bc2 Qe7 31. Bb6 Qe6 32. Qf2 Qe8 33. Qd2 Qe6 34. Bc5 Qe8 {
After some manoeuvering, White loses control with a bad move and suddenly
enters a difficult position:} 35. Qd1 $2 d4 $1 {Kovalev takes the chance! the
d4-pawn is untouchable.} 36. Qd2 (36. cxd4 Qe3+ {[%csl Rf4,Rh3]} 37. Kh2 Bd5 $1
{is the most precise, leaving the c5-bishop out of play and preparing a
devastating attack on the next move.} 38. Qf1 {[%csl Rf4]} Bh4 39. Bd6 Bg3+ 40.
Kh1 Qe6 $1 $19 {[%cal Re6h3,Re6d6]}) (36. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 37. cxd4 (37. Qxd4 Qe1+
38. Kh2 Qe2 $19 {[%csl Rc2,Rg2]}) 37... Qe3+ 38. Kh2 (38. Kh1 $4 {runs into
checkmate} Qxh3+ 39. Kg1 Qxg2#) 38... Qxf4+ 39. Kh1 Qg5 $1 {[%csl Rd5]
attacking g2 and keeping an eye on d5 as well} 40. Qf1 Bd5 $1 $19 {stopping
Bb3 and preparing the devastating ...Qd2 or ...Qe3.}) 36... dxc3 37. bxc3 Qe6 {
[%csl Ra3,Rc3][%cal Re6a2] Now suddenly White is in trouble with the weak
pawns.} 38. Bd4 Bxd4+ 39. cxd4 Qa2 40. Qc3 Qd5 41. Qd2 Qa2 42. Qc3 h4 $1 {
[%csl Rg2]} 43. Kh1 a5 $1 44. a4 {It's always sad to place another pawn on a
light square, but Black had an idea to play ...a4 himself.} (44. Kh2 Qd5 {
[%csl Rg2]} 45. Qd2 a4 46. Kg1 b5 $36 {White has to watch for moves like ...b4
here, trying to put the a-pawn in the 6th rank.}) 44... Qd5 (44... Bxa4 $6 {
should be a relief for White.} 45. Bxa4 Qxa4 46. f5 $1 {In queen endgames, it
is always important to open up your opponent's king.} gxf5 47. Qc8+ Kg7 48.
Qxf5 Qd1+ 49. Kh2 Qxd4 50. Qg5+ Kf8 51. Qxa5 {Black retains tiny chances to
convert this endgame, with such a weak king.} b6 $17) 45. Qd2 b6 (45... Kg7 $5
{could have been more precise} 46. f5 gxf5 47. Qg5+ Kf8 48. Bxf5 Qxd4 $17) 46.
f5 $1 $132 Kg7 47. fxg6 fxg6 48. Bd1 Qf5 49. Kg1 Bd5 50. Bc2 Qf6 51. Qe3 g5 52.
Bd3 Kh6 53. Bc2 Kg7 54. Bd3 Kh6 55. Bc2 (55. Be2 $1 {was better, preparing Bf3
next.} Qf4 56. Qe7 $1 Qxd4+ 57. Kh2 $132) 55... Qf4 56. Qd3 $6 (56. Qe7 $5 {
would force the following queen endgame:} Qxd4+ 57. Kh2 Qf4+ 58. Kg1 Qc1+ 59.
Kh2 Qxc2 60. Qd6+ Kg7 61. Qxd5 {with a long endgame to come, and excellent
drawing chances for White.}) 56... Kg7 $1 57. Qg6+ Kf8 58. Qd3 Kg7 59. Qg6+ Kf8
60. Qd3 Ke7 {The black king slowly escapes from the checks.} 61. Bd1 Qe4 62.
Qd2 (62. Qxe4+ $2 {would lose easily because of the huge weaknesses on the
kingside.} Bxe4 63. Kf2 Kd6 64. g3 Kd5 65. gxh4 gxh4 66. Ke3 Bf5 {[%csl Rh3]}
67. Bg4 Bc2 68. Bd7 Kd6 $1 $19 {Now White loses either a4 (...Bxa4) or h3 (...
Bf5).}) 62... Kd6 63. Bc2 Qf4 64. Qd3 (64. Qxf4+ {is hopeless} gxf4 65. Kf2 Bc6
{[%csl Ra4]} 66. Bb3 Be4 67. Kg1 Kc6 68. Kf2 b5 $1 $19 {with an easy endgame
win.}) 64... Kc7 65. Qh7+ Kb8 $1 66. Qd3 (66. Qh8+ $1 Ka7 67. Qh7+ Bb7 68. Qd3
{had to be tried, keeping an eye on d5 if Black tries to play ...g4 again} g4
69. hxg4 Qxg4 70. d5 $17 {when White survives at least for now.}) 66... g4 $1 {
Finally Black crashes through.} 67. hxg4 Qxg4 {[%csl Rd4,Rg2]} 68. Qg6 (68. Qd2
{doesn't save the day:} h3 $1 69. Bd1 Qxg2+ 70. Qxg2 hxg2 $19 {Again Black
wins the endgame easily after centralising his king.}) 68... Qxd4+ 69. Kh1 Bb7
{Keeping the king safe.} 70. Qe8+ Ka7 71. Bf5 Qd1+ 72. Kh2 Qd6+ 73. Kh1 Qg3 $19
{White resigned, since he is forced to play Qg6, when Black takes on g2,
exchanges queens and wins the endgame with two pawns up. A very resilient game
from Kovalev, who was holding on to a slightly inferior position, took his
chance when it appeared on the board, and was able to squeeze a win against
one of the Top 10 players in the world!} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 c5 8.
Be3 Qc7 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. d5 exd5 12. Qxd5 Nf6 13. Qc4 Bd6 14. Bg5
Qe7+ 15. Kf1 O-O 16. Re1 Qd8 17. g3 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Kg2 Rfd8 20. Re4 Qf5
21. Rd1 Qc8 22. Rd5 Qc7 23. g4 Bf8 24. Rde5 g6 25. h4 Bd6 26. Rd5 Bf8 27. Rxd8
Rxd8 28. h5 gxh5 29. gxh5 Qc6 30. Rg4+ Bg7 31. Rg3 Rd5 32. Qh4 b5 33. b3 Qe6
34. c4 bxc4 35. bxc4 Rd3 36. Rg4 Rc3 37. Qg3 Qf6 38. Qb8+ Kh7 39. Qb1+ Kh8 40.
Qb8+ Kh7 41. Rf4 Qe6 42. Qb1+ Kg8 43. Re4 Qc8 44. a4 Bd4 45. Rf4 Be5 46. Rf5
Bg7 47. Rf4 Be5 48. Rf5 Bg7 49. Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8.
Bd3 h6 9. Bh4 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O-O Nb6 12. Nf3 {This simple move has
recently gained popularity. White doesn't fear ...Bc8-g4.} (12. h3) ({and} 12.
Kb1 {are more common continuations.}) 12... Nf6 (12... Bg4 {was played in the
following well-known game. Black got a decent position but, surprisingly,
didn't find followers:} 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Rc1 Nfd7 ({Black doesn't dare to take
on f3:} 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 O-O-O 16. Rhg1 {, and the g-file becomes an
important factor although practical tests are required here}) 15. Ka1 O-O-O 16.
Nd2 Kb8 17. Na4 Nxa4 18. Qxa4 Qh4 19. Rcf1 Qf6 20. Qc2 Rc8 21. Nb3 Rc7 22. Rc1
Rhc8 23. h3 Be6 $11 {[%cal Yc6c5] 1/2 (64) Aronian,L (2777)-Carlsen,M (2865)
Baden-Baden 2015 CBM 165 [CB]}) (12... Be6 13. Kb1 O-O-O 14. Ne5 Kb8 15. Na4
Nd7 16. Nxd7+ Bxd7 17. Ka1 Bc8 18. Rb1 Nf6 19. b4 $36 {1-0 (42) Urkedal,F 
(2537)-Sylvan,J (2330) Lund SWE 2018}) 13. Kb1 Be6 14. Ka1 {[%cal Yd1b1,Yb2b4]
[%mdl 32]} (14. Nd2 O-O-O 15. Nb3 Kb8 16. Nc5 Nfd7 17. b4 Nc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19.
Ka1 f5 $13 {1/2 (25) Werle,J (2526)-Stern,R (2522) Germany 2018}) (14. h3 {
(unnecessary here) leads to a well-known position from the 12.h3 line.}) 14...
O-O-O 15. Na4 (15. Rb1 $5) 15... Kb8 {Black unnecessarily allows White's
knight to c5.} (15... Nxa4 $5 16. Qxa4 Kb8) 16. Rc1 (16. Nc5 $1) 16... Rhe8 (
16... Nxa4 $1 17. Qxa4 Ne4 {[%cal Ye6f5] , and Black is not worse.}) 17. Nc5
Bc8 18. b4 Ne4 19. a4 Nd6 20. Nd2 Qf6 (20... Qh4 $5 {was probably more
energetic.} 21. g3 Qf6 {is now favourable for Black.}) 21. Rhf1 Bf5 $6 {
Generally speaking, the exchange of bishops is favourable for Black in this
system. Here, however, White destroys Black's queenside and obtains an
advantage.} (21... Nd7 $5 22. a5 a6) 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Qxf5 Nxf5 24. a5 Nd7 $6
(24... Na8 $142 $1 {although after} 25. a6 b6 26. Nd3 {White keeps pressure.})
25. a6 $1 Nxc5 (25... b6 $2 26. Nxd7+ Rxd7 27. Rxc6) 26. bxc5 Kc7 27. axb7 Rb8
28. Kb2 Rxb7+ 29. Kc3 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rc6] Black's queenside pawns (a7 and c6)
are now weak. GM Ian Nepomniachtchi confidently converts his advantage.} Rb5
30. Ra1 Kb7 31. Ra2 Ne7 32. Rfa1 Ra8 33. Nb1 Kb8 34. Ra6 Kb7 35. R6a4 Kb8 36.
Na3 Rb7 37. Ra6 Kc7 38. Nc2 Kd7 39. Nb4 f6 40. f3 {[%cal Re3e4]} f5 {[%csl Re5]
} 41. Nd3 Ke6 42. Ne5 Rc7 43. g4 $1 {White opens up a second front on the
kingside, which Black can't protect as his pieces are tied up.} fxg4 44. fxg4
h5 45. h3 hxg4 46. hxg4 Kf6 47. Rf1+ Ke6 48. Rf7 Rg8 49. g5 Rb7 50. g6 (50. g6
Rc7 (50... Rgb8 51. Rxe7+ $5 Rxe7 52. Nxc6) 51. Kd3 $22 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 d6 ({The traditional main
lines are} 5... O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 ({or} 7. Ne1 Bxc3 8. dxc3) 7... Bxc3 8.
bxc3 {but the English Opening is not flexible from White's point of view only.
Black can also experiment in many ways!}) 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Bxc3 {Black has
waited with this and the next move until White has exposed his d-pawn to the
exchange.} ({Against the flexible} 7... h6 8. Na4 {has been White's main
choice at top level in a couple of recent games..} (8. Nd5 Bc5 9. e3 {
transposes to a tabyia from the 5.Nd5 line.}) (8. Bd2 {is solid but not very
active. Black's most logical continuation is} a5 {as played in a few games.})
8... a5 9. b3 Qe7 (9... Re8 10. Bb2 Bf5 11. e3 {Svidler,P (2757)-Nakamura,H 
(2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Sagar Shah/CB Website] (½-½, 30)}) 10. Bb2 Bc5
11. e3 {Aronian,L (2786)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] 
(½-½, 58)}) 8. bxc3 e4 {The only consequent continuation.} ({If} 8... h6 {
White can consolidate his centre with} 9. e4 {[%cal Gf3e1,Ge1c2,Gc2e3,Gf2f4]
Black's position remains playable, of course, but White's play is preferable.}
Be6 10. Ne1 Nd7 11. Nc2 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Ne3 Bg6 14. Ba3 Kh8 15. Rb1 Rb8
16. Kh1 Nb6 17. Rb2 Qe8 18. c5 $36 {Zvjaginsev,V (2659)-Artemiev,V (2524)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2013 (1-0, 45)}) 9. Nd4 exd3 ({If} 9... Ne5 {White retains
some initiative by provoking radical structural changes:} 10. dxe4 ({Actually} 
10. f4 exf3 11. exf3 $5 $146 {is also promising, even though it is frustrating
that White is basically a tempo down with respect to the line with ...Ne5
after the exchange on d3.} c5 12. Nc2 Re8 13. Ne3 $14 {[%cal Gg3g4,Gd3d4]})
10... Nxc4 11. Qb3) 10. exd3 Nxd4 {The standard reaction in this type of
position. Optically this exchange strengthens White's centre (which would be
absolutely true if he could play d4-d5) but Black will block the double pawns
with ...d6-d5, leaving the final evaluation under some shadow.} (10... Bd7 {
is passive and Black would probably have to take on d4 at some later point
anyway.} 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. h3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 b5 14. Bd2 bxc4 15. dxc4 Bf5 16. Rb3
$14 {Arkhipov,S (2440)-Ilincic,Z (2480) Kecskemet 1990 (½-½, 38)}) (10... Ne5
11. f4 {Now there is no more ...exf3 in the way and this gains space without
waste of time.} Ng6 12. Rb1 c5 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. f5 Ne5 15. Ne3 b6 16. g4 Bb7 17.
Bxb7 Rxb7 18. g5 Ne8 19. h4 $16 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2718)-Savchenko,B (2580)
Sochi 2012 (1-0, 32)}) 11. cxd4 d5 (11... c6 {may be a bit more flexible, as
Bg5 does not make sense before Black has exposed his d-pawn. But it also
offers White a tempo to switch to some other plan.} 12. h3 ({Since in the
lines below I mention Bf4 a couple of times, I would also consider the untested
} 12. Bf4 $5 $14 {as Black cannot really avoid ...d6-d5 in the long run.})
12... Be6 ({This exposes the bishop a bit too early. After} 12... d5 {I would
consider} 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Rc1 $14 {[%cal Gf4e5,Gg3g4]}) 13. g4 d5 14. c5 b6 15.
f4 $1 $14 {Uhlmann,W (2495)-Liebert,H (2395) Germany 1992 (½-½, 55)}) 12. Bg5
{A logical move from the perspective of the fight for the centre. But its
drawback is that it forces matters at an early stage, with the risk of
offering White only the more pleasant side of a draw.} ({Once again the more
neutral} 12. Bf4 {comes into consideration.}) 12... c6 $146 (12... h6 {loses a
pawn without clear compensation.} 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. cxd5 {White's central
pawns are tripled, but Black's problem is that his c7-pawn is vulnerable.} Bd7
(14... Qxd4 15. Rc1 $14 {wins the c-pawn soon.}) 15. Qb3 Rab8 16. Rac1 Qd6 17.
Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Qc4 Bd7 20. Qc5 {[%csl Ga7]} (20. Qxc7 $2 Rc8 $15
{[%cal Rc7f4] wins the queen as if} 21. Qxd6 $2 Rxc1+ 22. Bf1 Bh3 $19) 20... b6
(20... Qa6 21. Qxc7 Rc8 22. Qf4 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Qxd3 24. h3 Qxd4 25. Qc7 $16 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 21. Qxd6 cxd6 22. Rc7 $14 {Malich,B-Hecht,H Skopje 1972 (½-½,
74)}) 13. cxd5 cxd5 {Black has a pawn majority while White does not. But White
is better developed and exerts pressure on d5. Besides, White has the
e5-square for his pieces, while e4 is unavailable for the black pieces. In
principle White's chances are slightly better but in case of simplifications
the tables could turn.} 14. Qb3 (14. Qf3 $5 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 {
Optically this looks pleasant for White as Black's kingside structure is in
ruins. But Kramnik must have thought this to be irrelevant without queens on
board. And yet, White retains some pressure.} 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. Rc3 Rfd8 19. Re1
$14) 14... b6 {Preparing ...Be6.} (14... h6 15. Bf4 $5 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {[%csl
Gd4][%cal Gf8d8]}) 15... Bf5 16. Be5 $14 {[%cal Gh2h3,Gg3g4,Gf2f4]}) 15. Rae1 {
Kramnik chose precisely this rook, in order to maintain the possibility of
f4-f5.} ({Another possible plan was} 15. Rac1 h6 16. Bf4 $14 {and apart from
Be5 White can plan the intrusion to c7.}) 15... h6 {With hindsight, a correct
move, but not the only one.} (15... Be6 $5 16. f4 Qd7 17. Re5 Bf5 18. Bxf6 gxf6
19. Rxd5 Qe6 $44) 16. Bxf6 (16. Bf4 {makes less sense as Black is in time to
defend against the intrusion along the c-file} Be6) 16... Qxf6 17. Re5 Be6 {
Black's position out of the opening is entirely satisfactory.} 18. f4 {Kramnik
must have planned f4-f5 before taking on d5, but if so he probably overlooked
that this would not avoid the exchange of bishops. The way the game went the
last move is just a weakening of the second rank.} ({But the immediate capture
} 18. Bxd5 {does not seem too annoying, either:} Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rac8 20. Rfe1
Rfd8 21. Qe4 Rc2 22. Rf5 Qd6 {and White's extra pawn is not too relevant
despite White's optical domination} 23. Qe7 $5 Rc7 $1) 18... Rac8 19. Rfe1 ({If
} 19. f5 Bd7 20. Bxd5 {Black has} Bc6 $11 {with similar play as in the game.
One important detail is that after} 21. Be4 {Black has} Rfd8 {[%csl Gd4] and
White's position is not as solid as it may seem.}) 19... Rc7 $5 {[%cal Gf8c8]
Defending the seventh rank and clearing the c8-square for the king's rook or
bishop.} 20. Bxd5 (20. f5 Bc8 21. Bxd5 Bxf5) 20... Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rc2 22. Re8 {
The crucial moment. White seems to have some initiative but his weak second
rank restricts his possibilities. Black has to parry Rxf8+ followed by Qa8+
mating soon.} Rc8 $2 {Possibly overlooking the next move.} (22... g6 $44 {
or even}) (22... g5 $5 $44 {would have offered approximately equal chances.})
23. Qd7 $1 $16 {Suddenly Black faces the danger of landing in a very
unpleasant, possibly lost, ending. He can only choose whether it would be a
rook ending or a queen ending or a middlegame with an exposed king. In all the
cases White's double pawns would be strong.} Rd8 $6 (23... Ra8 $6 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Qxe8+ Kh7 27. Qe5 Qg6 {Otherwise White would simply push his
d4-pawn.} 28. Qe4 Kg8 29. Qxg6 $1 {Not an easy decision to take over the board.
Usually, an extra pawn offers a decisive advantage in pawn endings with many
pawns, but here White's pawns are doubled and Black has an outside majority.
But as we will see White's space advantage will incline the balance to his
favour.} fxg6 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. d5 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 $5 {Probably the most
precise, anticipating ...g6-g5.} b5 (33... g5 34. Kf5 $1 {Targeting g7.} gxf4
35. gxf4 b5 36. Kg6 a5 37. Kxg7 {and White wins by just one tempo.} b4 38. f5
a4 39. f6 b3 40. axb3 axb3 41. f7 b2 42. f8=Q+) 34. h4 $1 {Blocking the
kingside and putting Black into zugzwang soon.} a5 35. Kd4 h5 (35... b4 36. Kc4
$18) 36. a3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Kc4 b3 39. Kxb3 Kxd5 40. Kc3 $18) ({The best
chance for survival might have been} 23... Rcxe8 24. Rxe8 g5 (24... Rxe8 25.
Qxe8+ {transposes above.}) (24... g6 25. Kf2 Kg7 26. Ke3 $18) 25. Re4 $5 $16 {
with attacking chances.}) 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Re7 Qc8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Kf2 $18 {
The strength of the double pawns consists of the fact that one could advance
to promotion while the other one would protect the king from checks.} Kf8 (
27... a6 28. Ra7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Kf8 (29... Rxa2 30. Ra8+ Kh7 31. d5 {promotes.})
30. d5 Rxa2 31. d6 Ke8 32. Re7+ Kd8 (32... Kf8 33. Re4 $1 {makes the pawn
unstoppable.}) 33. Rxf7 g6 34. h4 b5 35. h5 gxh5 36. f5 $18 {Black's connected
pawns are too slow.}) 28. Rxa7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Rxh2 30. d5 g5 (30... Ke8 31. d6
Rg2 32. Kf3 Rd2 33. Ke4 Rg2 34. Kd5 Rxg3 35. Kc6 $18) 31. f5 f6 32. d6 Ke8 33.
Kd4 h5 34. Kd5 b5 35. Ke6 Re2+ 36. Kxf6 h4 37. Re7+ $1 {The most convincing.} (
37. Re7+ Rxe7 38. dxe7 hxg3 39. Ke6 g2 40. f6 g1=Q 41. f7#) ({But there was
nothing wrong with} 37. gxh4 gxh4 38. Rh7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Qc1 a5 12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. Nc3 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4
15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. Kxg2 c5 18. Bc3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Rc8 20. Qb1 e5 21.
Bc3 b6 22. Rd1 Qe7 23. Ne4 Qb7 24. f3 Nxe4 25. Qxe4 Qxe4 26. fxe4 Rfd8 27. Rd5
f6 28. Rad1 Be7 29. Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Bxd8 31. Kf3 Kf7 32. Ke3 Ke6 33. Kd3
Kd7 34. Kc4 Kc6 35. b4 axb4 36. Bxb4 h5 37. h3 Bc7 38. g4 hxg4 39. hxg4 Bd6 40.
Bd2 Be7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qd3 {Elimination of the knight on f6 weakens the d5-spot,
but Black has enough resources to survive the temporary crises.} Be7 11. Rd1 {
The immediate knight move to d5 is a bit different, but Chinese players have
demonstrated two different ways of equalising.} (11. Nd5 Bxd5 (11... Nd7 12.
O-O Rc8 13. c3 Nb6 14. Nxe7 Qxe7 15. Rfd1 Nc4 16. Qc2 O-O 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Nd2
Rc5 19. Nf1 g6 20. Qd2 Rd8 $11 {1-0 (51) Zhao,J (2589)-Lu,S (2562) China 2013})
12. Qxd5 Qc7 13. Bc4 O-O 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. c3 Rac8 16. Bd5 Nb6 17. O-O Nxd5 18.
Qxd5 Qc6 19. Qd3 $11 {1/2-1/2 (23) Ni,H (2583)-Xu,J (2617) Taiyuan 2004}) 11...
Nd7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 {This move is a serious concession, but also the reminder
that White's plan of exploiting d5 is a bit one sided. The results for White
are not very encouraging, but even the alternative approach with 12...Rc8
seems to be good enough for keeping the balance.} (12... Rc8 13. c3 Bg5 14. O-O
O-O 15. g3 Nc5 16. Nxc5 Rxc5 17. c4 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Qb6 19. Rb1 Rfc8 $11 {
0-1 (55) Andres Gonzalez,I (2392)-Kovalyov,A (2510) San Sebastian 2007}) 13.
Qxd5 b5 {In order to attack the top 10 in the world a player needs many
qualities, one of them is an independent mind. Giri is pushing the b-pawn
instead of the universally accepted 13...Qc7.} (13... Qc7 14. c3 (14. Qc4 Qxc4
15. Bxc4 Nf6 16. Bd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Rc8 18. c3 g6 19. Ke2 Kd7 20. Rhd1 Ke6 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (42) Vachier Lagrave,M (2766)-Wojtaszek,R (2733) Biel 2014}) (14. Bc4
O-O 15. Qd3 Nb6 16. Nd2 Na4 17. Qb3 b5 18. Bd5 Rac8 19. c3 Nb6 20. Nf1 Bg5 21.
Ng3 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (69) Novikov,S (2564)-Makarov,M (2535) Dagomys 2008}) 14...
Nf6 (14... O-O 15. O-O b5 16. Nd2 Rad8 (16... g6 17. a3 Rab8 18. Rfe1 Rfd8 19.
Qa2 Nc5 20. Bf1 Bg5 21. Nb3 Qc6 22. Na5 Qc7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (52) Carlsen,M (2834)
-Giri,A (2784) Doha 2015}) (16... Nb6 17. Qb3 Qc5 18. a3 $1 Rac8 19. Rfe1 g6
20. Nf1 Kh8 (20... Bg5 21. Qb4 Rfd8) 21. Ne3 f5 22. exf5 Bg5 23. Qb4 $1 $14 {
½-½ (51) Short,N (2706)-Efimenko,Z (2654) Mukachevo 2009}) 17. Bf3 Kh8 18.
Rfe1 Nb6 19. Qb3 d5 $15 {1/2-1/2 (27) Makka,I (2167)-Cramling Bellon,A (1978)
Caleta 2018}) 15. Qd3 O-O 16. O-O (16. Nd2 Rfd8 17. Bf3 b5 18. O-O g6 19. Ra1
Nd7 20. Rfd1 Nb6 21. g3 d5 {0-1 (34) Onischuk,V (2602)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2811)
Bastia 2016} 22. Qe2 $11) 16... b5 (16... Rfd8 17. Bf3 Qb6 18. Rfe1 Rac8 19.
Qb1 g6 20. Na1 Rc5 21. Nc2 $11 {1/2-1/2 (36) Tissir,M (2444)-Kolev,A (2567)
Navalmoral 2007}) 17. Rfe1 Rfd8 18. Bf3 Rab8 (18... g6 19. g3 Bf8 20. Na1 Bh6
21. Nc2 a5 22. Na3 b4 23. Nb5 Qc5 $11 {0-1 (71) Ponomariov,R (2694)-Salem,A 
(2638) Riadh 2017}) 19. Nd2 Nd7 20. Nf1 Nc5 21. Qe2 Bg5 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Qxe3
b4 $11 {0-1 (91) Horvath,A (2459)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2794) Germany 2018}) 14.
Bg4 $6 {Nisipeanu would gladly prove that the vulnerability of the light
square is an issue for Black, but his bishop on h3 will not be on a good spot.}
(14. O-O O-O 15. Qb7 g6 16. c3 h5 17. g3 Qc8 $11) 14... Nf6 15. Qc6+ Kf8 16.
Bh3 g6 17. O-O Kg7 18. Rfe1 {Black has an easy life and in fact better harmony
in his own camp. The reason for White's relative discomfort is to be found in
his very modest minor pieces.} (18. f4 Qb8 19. Rf2 exf4 20. Rxf4 d5 21. Rdf1
Qe5 22. exd5 Bd6 $15) (18. Qb7 Rb8 19. Qa7 Nxe4 20. g3 f5 (20... Nf6 21. Rfe1
Rb6 22. Rxe5 dxe5 23. Rxd8 Bxd8 $15) 21. Bg2 Rc8 $15) 18... Ra7 19. Qc3 Qb6 20.
Qe3 (20. Qd3 Rc7 $15) 20... Qxe3 21. Rxe3 a5 22. a3 Rb8 {Even without the
queens on the board positions with opposite coloured bishops favour the side
with the initiative or the attack. Black is benefitting from an absence of
troubles and is preparing to deliver some for the opponent.} 23. c3 (23. Nc1 b4
24. a4 Rb6 25. Nb3 Rc6 $15) 23... b4 24. axb4 axb4 25. c4 (25. cxb4 Rxb4 26. f3
Ra2 27. Rb1 Bd8 $17) 25... Rc7 26. Nd2 (26. Rc1 Nh5 27. Rc2 Nf4 28. Bg4 h5 29.
Be2 Rbc8 $15) 26... Ne8 27. Ree1 (27. Rd3 Ra8 28. g3 Nf6 29. f3 h5 $15) 27...
Bg5 28. Nf3 Bh6 {Bishops are now symmetrical, but that is the only aspect that
is similar for both sides. Black is putting pressure on White's queenside.} 29.
b3 (29. g4 Bf4 30. Bf1 b3 $15) 29... Ra8 30. Rd5 $2 {[%mdl 2048] White is very
sorry that he can not really benefit from the soft spot on d5, but putting the
rook there does not solve any problem. It was much better to help the stranded
bishop on h3 with a painful, but playable position.} (30. g3 $1 Ra3 31. Rb1
Rca7 $15) 30... Ra3 31. Rb1 Nf6 32. Rxd6 Nxe4 33. Rd8 {It was very difficult
for White to find a way that minimises the damage. The black pieces are all
better and the b3- and f2-squares are too vulnerable for efficient defence.} (
33. Rb6 Ra2 34. Rxb4 Nxf2 $19) 33... Rca7 (33... Ra2 34. Nxe5 Nxf2 35. Rd7 Rxd7
36. Bxd7 Be3 37. Nf3 Nd3+ 38. Kh1 Nc5 39. Bc6 Nxb3 40. g3 Ra1 $17) 34. Nxe5 Nd2
$1 35. Rxd2 {The sad necessity of eliminating the intruding knight speaks
volumes about the crisis in the White's position. The rest of the game will be
technical with Giri converting the advantage. Please note the sad bishop on h3.
..} (35. Rd1 Ra1 36. Bg4 Rxd1+ 37. Bxd1 Ra1 $19) 35... Bxd2 36. Kf1 Ra1 37.
Rxa1 Rxa1+ 38. Ke2 Re1+ (38... Ra2 $5 39. Nd3 Bc3+ 40. Ke3 Ra3 41. Nc5 Bf6 $19)
39. Kxd2 Rxe5 40. Bd7 Kf6 {The bishop and a pawn are no real match for the
rook, but Black has to improve the king first.} 41. Bc6 Ke7 42. f4 Ra5 43. Kd3
Kd6 (43... Ra3 44. Ba4 Ra2 $19) 44. Bd5 Kc5 45. Bxf7 Ra3 46. Bg8 (46. Kc2 Ra2+
$19) 46... Rxb3+ 47. Kc2 Re3 48. Bxh7 {White has to bite the bullet as he at
least attacks the g6-pawn. In other lines Black would coordinate his pieces
with decisive effect.} (48. Kd2 b3 49. Bxh7 Re6 50. Kc3 Rb6 51. Kb2 Kb4 $19)
48... Re2+ 49. Kb3 Rxg2 50. h4 Rg3+ 51. Kb2 b3 52. Ka3 (52. f5 Kb4 53. fxg6
Rg2+ $19) 52... Kxc4 53. Bg8+ Kc3 54. Bxb3 {A heroic feat of defence as the
pesky b-pawn was stopped. The good news ends here as White will lose the
elementary pawn ending.} Kd4 55. Kb4 Rxb3+ 56. Kxb3 (56. Kxb3 Ke4 57. Kc3 Kxf4
58. Kd3 Kg4 59. Ke3 Kxh4 60. Kf3 g5 61. Kg2 Kg4 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 $5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nf6 {Having been considered a sideline
for entire decades, this variation bears Keres' name. The Estonian grandmaster
played it, indeed, on five occasions between 1948 and 1972, always from the 2.
Nf3 move order (and not 2.c4 Bf5). Recently, it has popped up in several top
level blitz and rapid games, more rarely in classical ones.} 5. Nh4 {A typical
4.e3 Slav plan.} ({The old critical line is} 5. Qb3 {but apparently Black is
doing fine:} Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 (7. a3 Na5 8. Qa2 Nc4 9. Bg5 c6 10. e3 Nd6
11. Be2 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 {Grigoriants,S (2564)-Morozevich,A (2683) Moscow 
(blitz) 2016 (0-1, 29)}) 7... Na5 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. e3 Qb6 11. O-O-O
O-O-O 12. Bd3 Bg6 13. Qc2 Nc4 $13 {Wojtaszek,R (2744)-Grischuk,A (2810)
Beijing (blitz) 2014 (½-½ 28)}) 5... Bb4 ({Deviating from two of his own
games in which Nepomniachtchi played} 5... Bg6 6. g3 (6. e3 {may transpose to
the Slav, even though Black could think of something different, as ...c7-c6 is
not forced yet.}) 6... c6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Qd3 (8. Bg2 dxc4 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b3
Qa5 11. Bd2 Bb4 12. Rc1 Nb6 $13 {(½-½, 106) Dubov,D (2701)-Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2751) Moscow (rapid) 2018}) 8... Nbd7 9. Bg2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 Qa5 12.
b3 (12. e4 $5) 12... Rfd8 13. Qc2 Qa6 14. Rb1 dxc4 15. bxc4 Qxc4 16. Rxb7 Bb4
17. Rd3 Nd5 {Gelfand,B (2695)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2751) Moscow (blitz) 2018 (0-1,
46)}) 6. cxd5 (6. Nxf5 exf5 7. e3 {Huzman,A (2557)-Svidler,P (2748) Caleta
2017 CBM 177 [Navara,D] (0-1, 56)}) 6... Qxd5 {Black has given up the centre
for the sake of rapid piece development and control over the light squares.} 7.
e3 O-O (7... c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O {Gelfand,B (2724)-Mamedyarov,S (2772)
Moscow 2017 CBM 179 [Quintiliano,R] (½-½, 22)}) 8. Be2 Ne4 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10.
bxc3 $146 ({The way the game went, this wins a tempo over a previous Nepo game:
} 10. Bxc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be4 12. O-O (12. f3 Qg5 13. g3 Bc6 $132 {is similar
to the game, but the queen is on d1 instead of d2.}) 12... Qa5 13. Qb3 Nd7 14.
Nf3 c5 $11 {(½-½, 23) Gelfand,B (2703)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2757) Jerusalem 
(rapid) 2018}) 10... Nxd2 {Accepting to play with a tempo down.} ({The
alternative was} 10... Nd7 11. f3 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Bg6 13. e4 Qd6 14. O-O c5 {
when it would not be clear whether White's space advantage could yield
anything concrete:} 15. Rfd1 cxd4 16. Qxd4 $5 (16. cxd4 Rac8 {looks normal for
Black.}) 16... Qc5 $5 ({In the absence of queens the same structure as above
could be more promising as White could centralise his king while Black could
not:} 16... Qxd4+ 17. cxd4 Rac8 18. Rdc1 Nb6 19. Kf2 Na4 20. Ke3 $14) 17. Rab1
b6 18. Nxg6 $5 (18. Kf1 Rfd8 19. Nxg6 Qg5 $5 $11) 18... hxg6 19. Kf1 Rfd8 20.
Bb5 e5 (20... Qxd4 21. cxd4 $14) 21. Qd5 Qxd5 22. Rxd5 Nc5 23. Rxe5 Rd2 {
with certain counterplay for the pawn.}) 11. Qxd2 Be4 12. f3 Qg5 13. g3 Bc6 14.
e4 Qe7 ({A strange decision. There is this rule according to which the player
having less space should exchange pieces and I would say this applies to the
queens to the greatest extent.} 14... Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nd7 {looks more
comfortable for Black than the game continuation.}) 15. O-O Nd7 {White has a
clear space advantage but the question about how to advance his pawns remains
open.} 16. c4 {In my view this unnecessarily weakens the d4-square.} ({I would
consider} 16. Rae1 Rad8 17. Bd3 $14 {[%cal Gf3f4,Gh4f3]}) 16... Rfd8 $6 {
Black loses an important tempo in what should be his main plan.} (16... b6 $5
17. Qe3 Bb7 {would keep White's initiative under control, as} 18. f4 $6 {allows
} c5 {when} 19. d5 $6 exd5 20. cxd5 {loses a pawn to} Nf6 21. Bf3 Nxd5 $15) 17.
Qe3 b6 {A bit too late.} (17... e5 18. Nf5 Qf8 19. d5 Ba4 20. Bd1 $14) 18. f4
Bb7 19. Bf3 $1 Nf8 (19... c5 {does not work anymore:} 20. d5 exd5 21. cxd5 Bxd5
22. Nf5 Qe6 (22... Qf6 23. g4 $18) 23. Qc3 Nf6 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. exd5 $16) 20.
Qc3 {[%csl Gb4][%cal Re3g5] Probably not the best, as White wastes a tempo and
weakens the kingside pressure.} (20. Rad1 $5 $14 Qb4 21. Rc1 {[%cal Ga2a3]})
20... Rd7 21. Rad1 Rad8 {White is hanging a bit already.} 22. Rf2 $1 {A very
accurate move, preparing to double rooks and defending on the way the g1-a7
diagonal.. White still retains a slight advantage.} (22. Rfe1 g5 $5 23. Nf5 (
23. fxg5 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Qc5 25. Red1 e5 $132) 23... exf5 24. exf5 Qf6 25. fxg5
Qxf5 26. Bxb7 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Qc5 28. Bd5 (28. Ree4 Ne6) 28... Rxd5 $11 29. Ree4
$8 Ne6 30. cxd5 $8 Qxc3 31. dxe6 $11) 22... Ng6 23. Ng2 f5 $14 {The only way
in which Black can use the slight drawback of Rf2 with respect to Rfe1.} 24. e5
(24. exf5 Bxf3 25. Rxf3 exf5 26. Rfd3 Qf7 27. d5 Re8 {and White's position is
only marginally better.}) 24... Bxf3 25. Rxf3 Qf7 26. Rfd3 Ne7 (26... c6 27.
Ne3 Ne7 {would have been a more restrictive move order.}) 27. Ne3 ({Missing
the chance with} 27. d5 $1 exd5 28. cxd5 Rxd5 (28... Nxd5 29. Qc6 $18) 29. Qxc7
Rxd3 30. Qxd8+ Rxd8 31. Rxd8+ Qf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Kf2 $14 {and the knight
ending could prove dangerous for Black.}) 27... c6 {White's position looks
more active but since d4-d5 is improbable Black is out of danger. Soon he will
completely equalise by starting kingside counterplay.} 28. a4 h6 29. Qb3 Kh7
30. R1d2 g5 $11 31. Qd1 gxf4 32. gxf4 Rg8+ 33. Kh1 Rg7 34. Qf3 Rd8 35. Rg2 Rxg2
36. Kxg2 Ng6 37. Kf1 Qd7 38. Rd1 Qe8 39. Ng2 Qd7 40. Ne3 Qe8 41. Ng2 Qd7 42.
Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. b3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. Bb2 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. g4 h6 10. Rg1 g5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Bf3 O-O-O 14. Bxb7+ Kxb7
15. Qf3+ Qc6 16. Qxc6+ Kxc6 17. Ne2 Rh7 18. Rc1+ Kb7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. h3 Be5
21. Rc2 h5 22. Nc1 hxg4 23. hxg4 Bh2 24. Rg2 Bd6 25. Ke2 Rh1 26. Nd3 Rdh8 27.
Ne1 Be7 28. Nf3 Kb6 29. Ne5 R8h7 30. Nd7+ Kb7 31. Nc5+ Kb6 32. Nd7+ Kb7 33.
Nc5+ Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Ne5 Qc8 8.
Qd3 Nc6 9. Nxd7 Nxd7 10. b3 Be7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Nc3 Rd8 13. Rc1 Nf6 14. Qb1 Qd7
15. d3 Nd4 16. O-O Nd5 17. Rfe1 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Rac8 19. e3 Nf5 20. Red1 b6 21.
Qb2 Bf8 22. Qe2 g6 23. Be1 Qb5 24. Bf1 a5 25. Rc2 Ne7 26. Qg4 Qe8 27. Qa4 Nd5
28. Qxe8 Rxe8 29. a3 Ra8 30. Rb1 Reb8 31. Bd2 b5 32. e4 Nf6 33. Bf4 Rb7 34. Be3
Nd7 35. e5 Rd8 36. f4 Rbb8 37. Bg2 c4 38. dxc4 bxc4 39. Rxc4 Bxa3 40. Rd1 Nf8
41. Rxd8 Rxd8 42. Be4 Rb8 43. Bc2 Nd7 44. Rc7 Nb6 45. Be4 Nd5 46. Bxd5 exd5 47.
Bd4 Kf8 48. Bc5+ Bxc5+ 49. Rxc5 Rxb3 50. Rxa5 Rd3 51. Kf2 Rd2+ 52. Ke3 Rxh2 53.
Rxd5 h5 54. Rd7 Rg2 55. Kf3 Rb2 56. Ra7 Rb3+ 57. Kf2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nb5 Na6 8.
Nc3 Qd6 9. a3 Bd7 10. Nc4 Qxd1+ 11. Nxd1 Nc5 12. Nc3 Na4 13. Nxa4 Bxa4 14. b3
Bd7 15. Bb2 O-O-O 16. Bd3 Nd5 17. O-O-O f6 18. Be4 b6 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Rxd5
Be6 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Nd2 Bd5 23. Nf3 Kc7 24. Rd1 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Bd6 26. h3
Bf4+ 27. Kb1 Re8 28. Rg1 g6 29. Bxf6 Bd6 30. Bb2 Rf8 31. h4 Rxf3 32. h5 gxh5
33. Rg7+ Kc6 34. Rxh7 Rxf2 35. Rxh5 Rf1+ 36. Ka2 Rf2 37. Kb1 Rf1+ 38. Ka2 Rf2
39. c3 a5 40. a4 Re2 41. Rh6 Kc7 42. Rh1 Rg2 43. Re1 Kc6 44. Kb1 Bc5 45. Re6+
Kd5 46. Rh6 Rg1+ 47. Ka2 Rg2 48. Rh4 Bd6 49. Rh5+ Kc6 50. Rh6 Kc7 51. Rh1 Bc5
52. Rh4 Bd6 53. Re4 Rf2 54. Rg4 Kb7 55. Rg1 Bc5 56. Re1 Kc6 57. Kb1 Rg2 58. Re4
Kd5 59. Rh4 Rg1+ 60. Ka2 Rg2 61. b4 axb4 62. cxb4 Bf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {I did not expect this. Vladimir usually chooses
the Berlin Defence.  Das kam für mich unerwartet. In der Regel wählt
Vladimir die Berliner Verteidigung.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 ({The further
course of the game leads us to the idea that with the more usual move order
Der weitere Partieverlauf bringt uns auf die Idee, dass bei der
gewöhnlicheren Zugfolge} 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 (7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9.
Qxd4 d6 $11) {the idea die Idee} 7... b4 {fails to an} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. d4 Bxd4
10. Qxd4 {- in this case the white bishop needs not fear the advance c5-c4.
scheitert - in diesem Fall braucht der weiße Läufer den Vorstoß c5-c4 nicht
zu fürchten.}) 6. c3 b5 ({This year Wojtaszek against Topalov and Carlsen
against Karjakin played In diesem Jahr spielten Wojtaszek gegen Topalov und
Carlsen gegen Karjakin} 6... O-O 7. d4 Ba7 {, although this variation is not
considered to be the safest , obwohl diese Variante nicht als die sicherste
gilt.}) 7. Bb3 (7. Bc2 d5 {leads to very sharp and irrational lines, which, as
I know, have been analysed out to a dtraw. führt zu sehr scharfen und
irrationalen Abspielen, die, wie ich weiß, bis zum Remis ausanalysiert sind.})
7... d6 8. a4 b4 $5 {This move was a revelation for me. Now White's thrust in
the cehtre will follow under less favourable conditions for Black, because in
some variations the b4-pawn will be left hanging. Dieser Zug war für mich
eine Offenbarung. Jetzt wird der weiße Schlag in der Mitte unter für den
Nachziehenden ungünstigeren Bedingungen erfolgen, weil in einigen Varianten
der Bauer b4 hängen wird.} ({Other continuations are seen much more often:
Viel öfter kommen andere Fortsetzungen vor:} 8... Rb8) (8... Bg4) (8... Bb7)
9. d4 Ba7 10. Bg5 ({The exchange of queens looks tempting,but in the
resiulting endgame Black would get counterplay thanks to his active pieces and
the opening of the b-file: Der Damentausch sieht verlockend aus, aber im
danach entstehenden Endspiel bekäme Schwarz dank seinen aktiven Figuren und
dem Öffnen der b-Linie Gegenspiel:} 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8
13. Nd2 (13. Bxf7 Rf8 14. Bd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 a5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rxf1+ 18.
Kxf1 bxc3 $11) 13... Ke7 14. cxb4 Be6 (14... Rb8 15. Bc2 Rxb4 16. b3 $16) 15.
Bxe6 Kxe6 16. b3 Bd4 17. Ra2 c5 18. bxc5 Bxc5 {and after the activation of his
rooks Black should achieve equality. und nach dem Aktivieren seiner Türme
sollte Schwarz Ausgleich erreichen.}) ({The immediate Das unverzügliche} 10.
Bd5 {does not look particularly convincing: sieht nicht besonders überzeugend
aus:} Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxd5 (13... O-O 14. cxb4 Qd6 15.
Nc4 Qxd5 $44) 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Nc6 bxc3 16. Rd1 Be6 17. Nxc3 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bc5
(18... O-O 19. Ba3 Rfe8 20. a5 $14) 19. Bf4 O-O $11) 10... Rb8 11. Bd5 (11.
dxe5 {still does not promise any advantage: verspricht immer noch keinen
Vorteil:} Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Bxf7 bxc3 15. Nxc3 (15. bxc3
Rf8 {with obvious compensation for the pawn mit offensichtlicher Kompensation
für den Bauern}) 15... Rxb2 16. Nd5 Bd4 $5 17. Rad1 (17. Nxf6 h6 $1 18. Bh4 g5
19. Bg3 Rf8 20. Rab1 (20. Rad1 Ke7) 20... Rxb1 21. Rxb1 Rxf7 22. Rd1 Bd7 {
and here it is White who has to be thinking about getting equality und hier
ist bereits Weiß derjenige, der sich um Ausgleich Gedanken machen muss}) 17...
h6 18. Bc1 Rb8 $13) ({At the board the following continuation appeared
interesting to me: Interessant schien mir am Brett die Fortsetzung} 11. a5 $5
O-O 12. Ba4 Ne7 (12... Nxa5 13. cxb4 Nc4 (13... Rxb4 14. Bd2 $16) 14. Qc2 Rxb4
15. Bb3 Nb6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 $16) 13. Nbd2 (13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nbd2 Ng6 {
- in spite of the compromised pawn structure Black has good play - trotz der
kompromittierten Bauernstruktur hat Schwarz vollwertiges Spiel}) 13... Ng6 14.
h3 {It is probably easier to play with White here, but the main battleground
still lies ahead. Es ist wohl leichter, hier mit Weiß zu spielen, aber der
Hauptkampf steht noch bevor.}) 11... Ne7 12. dxe5 ({I took aim at the e5-pawn
without noticing a good "positional" alternative: Ich habe den Bauern e5 ins
Visier genommen, ohne dabei eine gute "positionelle" Alternative zu bemerken:} 
12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Bc4 Ng6 14. Nbd2 O-O 15. a5 {with comfortable play, but here
too, e.g. after mit bequemem Spiel. Aber auch hier steht dem Schwarzen z. B.
nach} {. hat Schwarz z. B. nach} f5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qc2 Kh8 $5 {Black has a
series of interesting alternatives open to him. eine Reihe interessanter Ideen
zur Verfügung.}) 12... Nfxd5 13. exd5 O-O (13... dxe5 $2 14. Nxe5 $18) 14.
exd6 Qxd6 15. c4 Nf5 {Up till this point Kramnik had been playing like
lightning and at this moment already had a few extra minutes - for that reason
alone I had no great illusions about my position. White's pawn centre is very
unstable, and in addition almost all the opposing pieces are involved in the
action.  Bis jetzt spielte Kramnik blitzschnell und sammelte zu diesem Moment
bereits ein paar Bonusminuten ein - allein aus diesem Grund hatte ich
bezüglich meiner Stellung keine großen Illusionen. Das Bauernzentrum von
Weiß ist sehr instabil, außerdem nehmen bereits fast alle gegnerischen
Figuren am Spiel teil.} 16. Nbd2 {Simple and sensible - White completes his
development. Einfach und vernünftig - Weiß beendet seine Entwicklung.} ({
The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 16. Qc1 $5 f6 17. Bf4 Qd7 18.
Nbd2 g5 19. Bg3 {and now both und jetzt benötigt sowohl} h5 ({and also als
auch} 19... g4 20. Nh4 Nxg3 21. hxg3 f5) 20. Ne4 Qg7 21. d6 h4 22. dxc7 Rb6 23.
c5 Re6 {require careful analysis. eine sorgfältige Analyse.}) 16... f6 ({
Of course not Natürlich nicht} 16... h6 $2 17. Ne4 Qg6 18. Ne5 $18) 17. Bh4 {
The critical position. Black has a choice:  a) recover the pawn at once and in
doing so retain the advantage of the bishop pair,  b) break open the centre,
before the white pieces can improve their coordination or  c) complete his
development with natural moves. Die kritische Stellung. Schwarz hat die Wahl: 
a) sofort den Bauern zurückgewinnen und dabei den Vorteil des Läuferpaares
behalten,  b) das Zentrum sprengen, noch bevor die weißen Figuren ihre
Koordination verbessern oder  c) mit natürlichen Zügen die Entwicklung
beenden.} Qf4 $6 {Kramnik chooses the first option. Let us take a look at the
other two possibilities one after the other: Kramnik wählt die erste Option.
Schauen wir uns die zwei anderen Möglichkeiten der Reihe nach an:} ({I. I.} 
17... g5 {During the game this move seemed to me rather committal. After it
Black has no more chances to attack the g2-pawn. Additionally: he was able to
recover the material sacrificed without weakening his position. Nevertheless
the idea of g5-g4 adds to his supply of further options. Während der Partie
schien mir dieser Zug ziemlich verpflichtend zu sein. Danach hat Schwarz keine
Möglichkeiten mehr, den Bauern g2 anzugreifen. Außerdem: er konnte doch das
geopferte Material zurückgewinnen, ohne seine Stellung zu schwächen.
Nichtsdestotrotz bereichert die Idee g5-g4 seinen Vorrat von weiteren Optionen.
} 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Qxg3 (19... g4 20. Ne4 (20. Nh2 {is too passive ist zu
passiv}) 20... Qe7 21. Nd4 $1 (21. Nfd2 $2 f5 $19) 21... Qxe4 ({In the event
of malerische Positionen können im Falle von} 21... Bd7 $5 {picturesque
positions can arise. entstehen} 22. Re1 Qg7 (22... f5 23. Nd2 Qf6 24. N2b3 f4
25. Qd2 $14) 23. Nb5 $5 axb5 24. axb5 Rb7 (24... Ra8 25. d6 c6 26. c5 f5 27.
Qb3+ Kh8 28. b6 fxe4 29. Qxb4 Bf5 30. Qc4 $36) (24... Bb6 25. c5 f5 26. cxb6
fxe4 27. bxc7 Rxb5 28. Rxe4 Rc5 29. d6 Qxb2 $13) 25. d6 c6 26. c5 f5 27. Qb3+
Kh8 28. b6 Bxb6 29. cxb6 fxe4 30. Qxb4 Qe5 $13) 22. Nc6 Bb7 $8 (22... Ra8 {
(22...Rb7 can hardly change matters) (22...Rb7 kann kaum etwas ändern)} 23.
Re1 {and on account of the fork on e7 the black queen is facing the road to
rhe scaffold: und wegen der Gabel auf e7 steht der schwarzen Dame der Weg zum
Schafott bevor:} Qxc4 24. Rc1 Qa2 25. Re2 {winning mit Gewinn}) 23. Nxa7 (23.
Re1 {leads to an amusing draw. führt zu einem witzigen Remisschluss:} Bxf2+
24. Kxf2 Qf5+ 25. Qf3 Qc2+ (25... gxf3 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Nxf5 {with a won
endgame. mit gewonnenem Endspiel}) 26. Qe2 Qf5+ $11) 23... Qxc4 24. Nc6 Bxc6
25. dxc6 Rfd8 26. Qe1 {and thanks to the position of the black king having
become too exposed White can still set his opponent some problems. und dank
der zu offen gewordenen Lage des schwarzen Königs kann der Anziehende dem
Gegner noch Probleme bereiten.}) 20. c5 Qf4 21. Nb3 (21. Rc1 g4 $36) 21... Bb7
22. Na5 (22. c6 Bc8 $36) 22... Ba8 {There is not a nice future in store for
all, but at least one of the black bishops will make the break to freedom. For
example: Eine schöne Zukunft ist nicht für alle vorherbestimmt, aber
mindestens einer der schwarzen Läufer wird in die Freiheit ausbrechen. Zum
Beispiel:} 23. Nd4 (23. c6 g4 $19) 23... Bxd5 24. Ndc6 Rbd8 25. Nxd8 ({the
position with the two knights on the edge which occurs after die Position mit
den beiden Springern am Rand, die nach} 25. Nxa7 {looks too risky for White -
entsteht, sieht für den Anziehenden zu riskant aus -} Bxg2 26. Qb3+ Bd5 27.
Qg3 Qe4 28. Kh2 Rde8 29. Rae1 Qxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 {White's position appears
quite terrible, but the computer holds the draw: Die weiße Stellung scheint
ganz schrecklich zu sein, aber der Computer hält Remis:} 31. Qxc7 Rh1+ ({
or oder} 31... Rfe8 32. N7c6 h5 33. Nd4 (33. Qd6 Rh1+ 34. Kg3 h4+ 35. Kg4 Be6+
36. Kf3 (36. Kh5 Kg7 37. Qc7+ Bf7+ 38. Kg4 Rg1+ $19) 36... Rg1 $3 37. Ke4 Bf7+
38. Kf5 Re6 39. Ne7+ Kg7 40. Qxe6 Bxe6+ 41. Kxe6 h3 42. c6 h2 43. c7 Re1+ 44.
Kd6 h1=Q $19) 33... h4 (33... Rh1+ 34. Kg3 Rg1+ 35. Kh3) 34. Kh3 f5 35. Nxf5
Rh1+ 36. Kg4 Rg1+) 32. Kg3 Rg1+ 33. Kh2 $8 (33. Kh3 $2 g4+ 34. Kh4 h5 $3 35.
Kxh5 g3 $19) 33... Rg2+ 34. Kh3 Re8 35. N7c6 g4+ 36. Kh4 Re1 37. Ne7+ Kh8 38.
Qd8+ Kg7 39. Nf5+ Kg6 40. Ne7+ $11) (25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nxd5 Qe4 27. Nxf6 Qf5 28.
Qe1 Rxf6 29. Rc1 g4 $36) 25... Rxd8 $13 26. Rc1 Qe4 27. f3 Qe3+ 28. Kh2 (28.
Kh1 g4 $19) 28... g4 (28... Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30. Nb7 $14) 29. fxg4 Qh6+ 30.
Kg1 Qe3+ $11) ({II. II.} 17... c6 {The most precise move. With accurate play
the struggle soon ends in a dead draw: Der genaueste Zug. Bei präzisem Spiel
kommt der Kampf schnell zu einem toten Remis:} 18. Rc1 (18. dxc6 Qxc6 {looks
too dominant: the position which has occurred here can serve as a striking
example of the motif "the strength of the bishop pair" sieht zu anmaßend aus:
die in diesem Fall entstehende Position kann als ein anschauliches Beispiel
zum Thema "die Stärke des Läuferpaares" dienen}) 18... cxd5 19. Nb3 $1 dxc4 (
19... d4 20. c5 ({after bei} 20. Qd3 {the play is more complicated ist das
Spiel komplizierter}) 20... Qd5 21. Nbxd4 Nxh4 22. Nxh4 Bxc5 23. Ndf5 Rd8 24.
Qg4 Bxf5 25. Nxf5 g6 26. Rfe1 Qxf5 27. Qxf5 gxf5 28. Rxc5 Rd2 29. b3 Rb2 $11)
20. Qxd6 Nxd6 21. Bg3 Rd8 22. Na5 Ra8 23. Nc6 Rd7 24. Nxa7 Raxa7 25. Bxd6 Rxd6
26. Rxc4 Bd7 27. Rxb4 a5 28. Rb8+ Kf7 29. b3 Rd3 {intending ...Be6. All
variations are logical enough and up to a certain point forced. mit der Idee ..
.Be6. Alle Varianten sind logisch genug und bis zu einem gewissen Grad
forciert.}) ({Moves III-IV. Die Züge III-IV.} 17... Bd7) ({and und} 17... Re8
{are in my opiniion too slow, but on the other hand they do not spoil things.
White's plan is as previously - get the rook to c1 and if possible the knights
to b3 and d4, let the bishop be exchanged on g3. Complicated, double-edged
play with chances for both sides can be expected. sind m. E. zu langsam,
andererseits verderben sie auch nichts. Der weiße Plan ist dabei wie vorhin -
den Turm nach c1 und die Springer möglichst nach b3 und d4 bringen, den
Läufer auf dem Feld g3 tauschen lassen. Man darf kompliziertes
zweischneidiges Spiel mit beiderseitigen Chancen erwarten.}) 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19.
hxg3 Qxg3 20. c5 $1 {The key idea which holds White's plan together. With its
help the dangerous bishop is pacified. Die Schlüsselidee, die das weiße
Konzept zusammenhält. Mit ihrer Hilfe wird der gefährliche Läufer ruhig
gestellt.} Qg6 ({After Nach} 20... Qf4 21. Rc1 {it would be much better for
Black if his g-pawn were already on g5. wäre es für Schwarz viel besser,
wenn sein g-Bauer bereits auf g5 stünde.}) 21. Rc1 $14 {At first we both
considered this position as more or less level. Vladimir was counting on his
bishops, for my part I was hoping to maintain my hanging pawns. But the more I
immersed myself in this position, the rosier White's prospects appeared to me
and the greater my hopes became. And even when analysing it was not easy to
find a satisfactory reaction for Black. Zuerst haben wir beide diese Stellung
für etwa ausgeglichen gehalten. Vladimir rechnete auf seine Läufer, ich
meinerseits wog mich in der Hoffnung, meine hängenden Bauern zu bewahren.
Aber je länger ich mich in diese Position vertiefte, desto rosiger schienen
mir die Perspektiven des Weißen und desto größer wurden meine Hoffnungen.
Und sogar beim Analysieren war es nicht leicht, für Schwarz eine
befriedigende Reaktion zu finden.} Qf7 {A strong move but Black is now going
on the defensive. His queen is no longer as active as previously. Ein starker
Zug, aber jetzt geht Schwarz zur Verteidigung über. Seine Dame ist nun nicht
mehr so aktiv, wie vorher.} ({The move Ganz schlecht wäre} 21... Rd8 $2 {
would be pretty bad: :} 22. d6 cxd6 23. c6 {. .}) ({Nor does the chancy thrust
Auch der Hasardvorstoß} 21... b3 {promise Black an easy life: verspricht dem
Schwarzen kein leichtes Leben:} 22. Nxb3 Bh3 (22... Rb4 23. Nbd4 Bh3 24. Nh4
Qg5 25. Ndf3 $18 {Dexterity, as it were. Fingerfertigkeit, sozusagen.}) 23. Nh4
Qg5 (23... Qe4 24. Qd4 Rfe8 25. Rfe1 Qxd4 (25... Qxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Kh2
Rxb3 28. gxh3 $18) 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nxd4 Bd7 28. Nhf3 Rb8 29. b3 $16) 24. Rc3
$1 $16) ({In the event of Im Falle von} 21... Bh3 22. Nh4 Qg4 23. Rc4 Qxd1 24.
Rxd1 Bc8 (24... Bd7 25. c6 Bc8 26. Ne4 $16) 25. Nb3 {it tuns out that even the
exchange of queens does not make things any easier for Black. stellt sich
heraus, dass auch der Damentausch es dem Schwarzen nicht leichter macht:} (25.
Nf1 Rd8 26. Ne3 $14) 25... c6 26. d6 Be6 27. Rdc1 {and only a miracle can now
help Black to hold on.. und nur ein Wunder kann dem Nachziehenden helfen, sich
zu halten.}) 22. Ne4 (22. Nb3 {was a move I liked less because in the
variation with gefiel mir weniger, weil in der Variante} Bb7 23. c6 Bc8 {
the idea of d5-d6 is obviously less strong. die Idee d5-d6 offenbar an Kraft
verliert.}) 22... Re8 $6 ({The b3-square has remained vacant for the queen,
which turns out to be useful in the following important variation. Das Feld b3
ist für die Dame vakant geblieben, was sich in der folgenden wichtigen
Variante als nützlich erweist:} 22... Bg4 23. Qb3 (23. Qd3 Rbd8 24. Rfd1 Qg6
$132) 23... Rfe8 (23... Rbd8 24. Nd4 $16) 24. Rfe1 {Now by means of Jetzt kann
Schwarz mittels} h6 $1 {Black can organise his resistance properly seinen
Widerstand in Ordnung bringen} ({after nach} 24... Rbd8 25. Nd4 {the
manoeuvrable knights create too many threats and the white pawns remain
unscathed. erschaffen die wendigen Springer zu viele Drohungen und die weißen
Bauern bleiben unversehrt}) 25. Nd4 f5 26. Nd2 (26. Nc6 fxe4 27. Nxa7 Bd7 $13)
26... Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Bxc5 28. Ne6 (28. Nc6 Re8 29. Ne5 Bd6 $5 30. Nxf7 Rxe1+
31. Nf1 Kxf7 $13) 28... Bd6 29. Nc4 f4 30. Nxd6 cxd6 31. a5 (31. Qc4 a5) 31...
Qf6 32. Qc2 {White retains something of an initiative, but with prudent play
Black should be able to hold this position. Weiß behält etwas Initiative,
aber mit umsichtigem Spiel sollte Schwarz diese Stellung halten können.}) 23.
Re1 Bf5 ({Here Hier ist} 23... Bg4 {is no longer as good. nicht mehr so gut:}
24. Qd3 $1 Rbd8 25. Nfd2 ({A weaker move is schwächer ist} 25. Qxa6 Bxf3 26.
gxf3 Qg6+ 27. Kf1 Qh5 28. Kg2 Qg6+ 29. Ng3 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Bxc5 $132) 25... Bc8
26. d6 cxd6 (26... Bb8 27. Qd4 $16) 27. cxd6 {with tangible pressure.
Astonishingly the move 22...Re8 turned out to be a serious inaccuracy. mit
spürbarem Druck. Erstaunlich, aber der Zug 22...Re8 erwies sich als
ernsthafte Ungenauigkeit.}) 24. Ng3 Rxe1+ (24... Bg4 25. Qd3 $16) 25. Qxe1 Bg4
({After Nach} 25... Qxd5 $2 26. Nxf5 Qxf5 27. Qe7 {Black is helpless. ist
Schwarz hilflos.}) ({After other retreats of the bishop too White's advantage
is obvious, e.g. Auch nach den anderen Abzügen des Läufers ist der weiße
Vorteil offensichtlich, z. B.} 25... Bg6 26. d6 cxd6 27. cxd6 Bb6 28. Nh4 Qd5
29. Rd1 Qe5 30. Qxe5 fxe5 31. Nxg6 hxg6 32. b3 $16) 26. Qe4 $16 {Now we can
come to an intermediate evaluation. White has managed to hold his centre and
position his pieces cleverly. After the exchange of rooks Black's back rank
has become a genuine weakness and the breakthrough d5-d6 an extremely
insistent threat. Nun können wir ein Zwischenbilanz ziehen. Dem Weißen ist
gelungen, sein Zentrum zu bewahren und seine Figuren geschickt anzuordnen.
Nach dem Turmabtausch sind die letzte Reihe von Schwarz zur echten Schwäche
und der Durchbruch d5-d6 zu einer äußerst aufdringlichen Drohung geworden.}
h5 27. Nf5 (27. Nh4 {with the same ideas would have been even stronger. mit
den gleichen Ideen wäre sogar noch stärker gewesen.}) 27... Re8 (27... Bxf5
28. Qxf5 Rd8 29. d6 cxd6 30. cxd6 g6 31. Qd3 Bb8 32. Rc6 a5 33. Nd2 $18) 28.
Qd3 Bb8 $2 {As for the question mark attached to this move, I am not quite
certain, but with this defence against d5-d6 Black is too hard hearted in his
treatment of his once frightening bishop . Bezüglich des Fragezeichens bei
diesem Zug bin ich mir nicht ganz sicher, aber bei dieser Verteidigung gegen
d5-d6 benimmt sich Schwarz seinem einst furchterregenden Läufer gegenüber zu
hartherzig.} (28... Qd7 29. N3h4 Re5 30. Ne3 {and White prevents his
opponent's attempts to become active. und Weiß unterbindet die gegnerischen
Versuche, aktiv zu werden.}) 29. N3h4 Be2 {In the absence of better options,
Black drives the opposing queen away from its optimal square. In Ermangelung
besserer Möglichkeiten vertreibt Schwarz die gegnerische Dame von ihrem
optimalen Platz.} 30. Qd2 Bg4 (30... a5 31. d6 cxd6 32. cxd6 $18) 31. Ne3 $2 ({
Of course I did not miss the obvious continuation Selbstverständlich blieb
die offensichtliche Fortsetzung} 31. Qxb4 {but I had been carried away by
manoeuvring and I did not want to change the character of the position. nicht
unbemerkt, aber ich hatte mich vom Manövrieren fortreißen lassen und wollte
den Charakter der Stellung nicht ändern.} {But in reality White had no reason
to avoid the variation In Wirklichkeit aber hatte Weiß die Variante} Qxd5 32.
Qxb8 Qe6 33. Qxc7 Bxf5 34. Nxf5 Qxf5 {: keinesfalls vermeiden müssen:} {
after the further moves nach den weiteren Zügen} 35. c6 Re2 36. Qb6 {he wins
easily. gewinnt er leicht.}) 31... Bd7 $2 (31... f5 $1 {could have made
White's task palpably easier. After the precise reply hätte die weiße
Aufgabe spürbar erschweren können. Nach der präzisen Antwort} 32. g3 {
with the further continuation mit der weiteren Fortsetzung} Ba7 (32... f4 33.
Nxg4 hxg4 34. Qxf4 $16) (32... a5 33. Rc4) 33. Rc4 {White still has agreat
advantage, but a "mechanical" win is no longer there. hat der Anziehende immer
noch großen Vorteil, aber ein "mechanischer" Gewinn ist nicht mehr in Sicht.})
32. Qxb4 a5 (32... f5 33. c6 $18) 33. Qxa5 c6 34. d6 Qb3 35. Qc3 Qxa4 36. Nhf5
Qe4 37. Ne7+ Kh8 38. Qb3 Rf8 39. Qc2 {For the sake of safety White exchanges
queens. Sicherheitshalber tauscht Weiß die Damen.} Qxc2 40. Nxc2 Kh7 41. Nd4 {
Black resigned. It was a very complicated game. The main events happened in
the relatively short section between moves15 and 23, and the nuances of the
struggle between the nimble knights and the mighty bishops only show up under
later analysis. Schwarz gab auf. Das war eine sehr komplizierte Partie. Die
Hauptereignisse fielen auf den relativ kurzen Abschnitt vom 15. bis zum 23.
Zug, und die Nuancen der Kampfes des flinken Springerpaares gegen die
mächtigen Läufer kommen erst beim Analysieren ans Licht.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Trent,L"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Nc3 e5 8.
Qd3 h6 9. Nd2 Rc8 10. Nc4 Be6 11. Ne3 Nf6 12. Bd2 Be7 13. a4 O-O 14. O-O Qd7
15. a5 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 Bf8 17. Be1 Rc6 18. Na4 Qe8 19. c4 Nd7 20. Qc2 Rb8 21. b3
Nc5 22. Nb6 Nd7 23. Nbd5 Qd8 24. Bc3 Qh4 25. f3 Qd8 26. g3 Ra8 27. Kh1 Qb8 28.
Ra2 Rc8 29. Rda1 Rc6 30. Nb4 Rc5 31. f4 f6 32. f5 Bf7 33. Ned5 Qe8 34. g4 Be7
35. Bd2 Bd8 36. Be3 Rcc8 37. Nc3 Rab8 38. Ba7 Ra8 39. Be3 Rab8 40. Nbd5 Kh7 41.
Kg2 Nc5 {We join game of the round after move 42 where it was the young Polish
phenom who had masterfully outplayed the tournament leader to get the
following wonderful position. White has every trump you could hope for in this
line of the Sicilian; a beautifully supported knight on d5, a clamp on the
queenside, a potential break on the kingside and Black has got close to no
active plan. Nepo quite understandbly took drastic measures} 42. h4 b5 {
probably forced, what else?} 43. axb6 Bxb6 44. Nxb6 $6 (44. g5 $1 {with the
bishop having departed d8, this is now an extremely strong move} Bxd5 45. g6+
$1 Kh8 46. Nxd5 $18 {and Black is unlikely to be able to cover the multiple
weaknesses in his position (a6, d6, f6&h6 potential sacrifices etc)}) 44...
Rxb6 45. Bxc5 dxc5 46. Rxa6 {Winning a pawn like this can hardly be
over-criticised, but it does give Black greater chances to counter compared to
the previous line.} Rcb8 47. Rxb6 Rxb6 48. Ra7 Rb8 49. Na4 $6 {a serious
innacuracy} (49. Qd1 $1 Rd8 50. Nd5 $16 {and White maintains control}) 49...
Rd8 $5 {Nepo spots a nice swindle attempt} 50. Nxc5 Rd4 51. Kf3 $2 (51. g5 $1 {
should still be good enough e.g.} fxg5 52. hxg5 hxg5 53. Qc1 {is completely
over}) 51... Qc6 $1 52. Na4 $4 {White completely loses control and misses a
nice shot} Bxc4 $1 {ouch} 53. bxc4 Rxc4 {now White can't simultaneously defend
e4 and a4 and the game simply peters out.} 54. Qb1 Rxa4 55. Rxa4 Qxa4 56. Qd3
Qa1 57. Kg2 Qc1 58. h5 Qf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Trent,L"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik who had the White pieces today was no doubt looking to bounce back
with a win after a rather disappointing loss in the previous round.} 1. Nf3 d5
2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 c5 4. Nbd2 {As we have seen many times before, Kramnik decides
to choose a modest opening setup without delving into deep theory and try to
outplay his opponent from an equal middlegame position.} e6 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4
Bb4 $5 {I like this move and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Giri had
prepared this beforehand. Previously Vlad played this line twice in Zuerich
scoring but has never faced 6...Bb4. The idea is to immediately stifle White's
development and threaten either Bc3 or Ne4-c3.} (6... Nc6 7. Bb2 g6 8. Bb5 Bg7
9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Qb6 11. a4 Bd7 12. c4 a6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. c5 Qc7 15. b4 Ne4
16. Ne5 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 b5 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19. Rec1 Rfc8 20. Rc5 Be8 21. Nd3 Rcb8
22. Bc3 Qd8 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Nc5 Rb6 25. g3 Bd6 26. h4 Bc7 27. b5 axb5 28. Rxa8
Qxa8 29. axb5 Qc8 30. Ba5 Rxb5 31. Bxc7 Qxc7 32. Qg5 Rb8 33. h5 Qd8 34. Qe5
gxh5 35. Ra7 Rb6 36. Qxh5 Kg7 37. Qg4+ Kf8 38. Qf4 Kg7 39. Qg4+ Kf8 40. Kg2 h6
41. Qf3 Kg7 42. Qa3 Qf6 43. Ra8 Bb5 44. Qa5 Bc6 45. Qxb6 Bxa8 46. Qc7 h5 47. f3
Qf5 48. Nd7 Bb7 49. Qc5 Ba6 50. Kf2 Kh7 51. Ne5 Kg7 52. Nd7 Bc4 53. Qf8+ Kh7
54. Ne5 Qc2+ 55. Kg1 Qd1+ 56. Kh2 Qd2+ 57. Kh3 Bf1+ 58. Kh4 Qh2+ 59. Kg5 Qxg3+
60. Ng4 hxg4 61. Qxf7+ Kh8 {1/2-1/2 (63) Kramnik,V (2811)-Nakamura,H (2793)
Zuerich 2017}) (6... Bd6 7. Bd3 b6 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Ne5 Nd7
12. f4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qe7 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Qe8 18.
Qd3 Rc7 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bh3 Re7 22. Nf3 Bc8 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Rae1
Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Ne7 26. c4 Kg8 27. Kg2 Nf5 28. cxd5 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Bc1
Ne7 31. Qe4 Qb5 32. Bf4 Bxa3 33. d6 Nf5 34. Qa8+ Kg7 35. Be5+ f6 36. Qxa7+ Kh6
37. Bf4+ g5 38. Qf7 {1-0 (38) Kramnik,V (2811)-Svidler,P (2747) Zuerich 2017})
7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O Bc3 $5 {Strategically speaking this makes sense.}
10. Bxc3 Nxc3 11. Qe1 Nb4 $1 $146 {It seems as though Black is taking
liberties chasing after the White bishop but with the centre closed he is in
no danger of being attacked. Indeed the engine gives absolutely no advantage
for White at all after this move, making me think that this is more likely to
be home prep than not.} (11... Qb6 12. Qe3 h6 13. a4 Bd7 14. Nb1 Nxb1 15. Rfxb1
a6 16. c3 $14 {1-0 (48) Eidelmann,V (2049)-Gelzenleichter,S (2188) Wingst 2005}
) 12. Nb1 Nxd3 13. Qxc3 Nf4 14. Qe3 Ng6 {After a little knight tour it is
clear that White has achieved zero advantage from the opening. Maybe Giri was
even getting slightly optimistic that he could apply some pressure on the
white position, especially down the c-file.} 15. c4 {Understandable given my
previous comment.} dxc4 16. bxc4 O-O {These hanging pawns are definite targets
now.} 17. Nc3 Bd7 (17... b6 {followed by ...Bb7 was also =/+.}) 18. Rfd1 Rc8
19. Nd2 Nh4 (19... Qh4 $5 20. Rac1 (20. c5 Bc6 $15) 20... b6 $15) 20. Qd3 Nf5
21. Rac1 Qc7 22. d5 {Kramnik decides to try and create some play but Giri
cooly deals with it.} Rfd8 $1 23. h3 (23. dxe6 Bxe6 24. Nd5 Bxd5 (24... Qa5 $5
25. Nb3 Qa3 $15) 25. cxd5 Qxc1 26. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27. Nf1 Nd6 $15) 23... b6 24. Nf3
$5 {A very good move provoking Black into taking material.} Qxc4 $6 {It's
difficult to overly criticise this move but it does seem to give White an easy
route to equality.} ({Better was} 24... Be8 $5 {or}) (24... h6 $5 {maintaining
some tension and forcing White to find more precise moves.}) 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26.
dxe6 fxe6 27. Rd3 $1 {Now White can get coordinated very quickly and should be
able to swap down to very drawish endings.} e5 {Black is pretty much forced to
return material on account of Rcd1 coming next.} 28. Nxe5 (28. Rcd1 Re8 29.
Rxd7 Rxc3 30. Rxa7 e4 31. Ne5 $1 $11 {should be equal.}) 28... Rd4 29. Rf3 {
I can't really tell if Kramnik was being (over)optimistic here or not.} (29.
Rxd4 Nxd4 30. Rd1 Be6 {is level.}) 29... Nh4 30. Re3 Nf5 31. Ree1 Be8 32. Ne4
Ra4 33. Rc7 {Kramnik goes for it.} Rxa2 34. Kh2 h6 35. Ng4 $6 (35. Nf3 Bf7 36.
g4 Nd4 37. Nxd4 Rxd4 38. Rc8+ Kh7 39. Rc7 Kg8 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41. Rc7 {is one
possible repetition.}) 35... Kf8 $1 36. Rec1 $6 {Kramnik is starting to lose
the thread.} Re2 37. f3 $2 Nh4 $2 (37... a5 $19 {and White really has no
threats. Black however will just run his pawns up the board.}) 38. Ngf2 $1 {
Now White can potentially double on the 7th with the black knight no longer
defending the kingside.} Bg6 39. Rc8 $6 (39. Kg1 $1 {had to be found} Bxe4 40.
fxe4 {and White can drum up enough counterplay to equalise.}) 39... Re8 $1 40.
Kg3 Nf5+ 41. Kh2 Nd4 42. R1c3 a5 {Black has successfully coordinated his
forces and is once again winning.} 43. R8c4 Rd8 44. Rc7 Ne6 45. R7c6 Nf4 46.
Rc8 Re8 47. Rxe8+ Kxe8 48. Rc8+ Kd7 49. Rg8 Ne6 {keeping things nice and tidy}
50. Kg3 Kc7 51. h4 Rc2 52. Ra8 Kb7 53. Rh8 Rc6 $1 {Now there is no way to stop
the pawns marching.} 54. h5 Bxe4 55. Nxe4 a4 56. Re8 a3 57. Re7+ Ka6 58. Re8
Ka7 59. Nd2 a2 60. Nb3 Rc3 61. Na1 Rc1 62. Rxe6 Rxa1 63. Re2 b5 64. Kf4 Kb6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "Trent,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. Nc3 $5 {An interesting
move order. The heavily analysed mainline begins with 6.0-0:} (6. O-O dxc4 7.
Ne5 Qd6 8. Na3 Rd8 9. Naxc4 Qa6 10. Qc2 Rxd4 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 13.
Rxd1 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qa5 15. Bf4 Nd5 16. Be4 g6 17. Bh6 Qc5 18. Qd2 Qb4 19. Qc2
Qc5 20. Qd3 Qd6 21. Nc4 Qc5 22. Qf3 c6 23. Bd3 Nf6 24. e4 e5 25. Be3 Qb4 26.
Nxe5 Qxb2 27. Bf4 Be6 28. Rb1 Qxa2 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Kg2 Re8 31. h3 Bxf2 32.
Qxf2 Bxh3+ 33. Kg1 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxe5 35. Bxe5 Ng4+ 36. Kg1 Nxe5 37. Be2 Kg7
38. Rxa7 Kf6 39. Ra5 Bd7 40. Kf2 Ke6 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. Ra1 h5 43. Rd1+ Ke7 44.
Kd4 f6 45. Kc5 Bh3 46. Ra1 Bg2 47. Ra4 Ke6 48. Rd4 Nf3 49. Rd8 Ng5 50. Bc4+ Ke7
51. Rg8 Nxe4+ 52. Kxc6 Nd6+ 53. Kc5 Nxc4 54. Kxc4 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 (54) Kramnik,V 
(2800)-Mamedyarov,S (2809) Berlin 2018}) 6... dxc4 7. Ne5 Qd6 $5 {This idea
was seen most recently played by Mamedyarov in the Candidates (with 0-0
instead of Nc3). Black avoids mass exchanges and puts the queen on a6. Meier,
a strong theoretician, seems to believe that this move order benefits White
and by the looks of this game, he is absolutely right.} 8. O-O $5 (8. Nxc4 {
is most played} Qa6 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. e3 Rb8 11. Qb5 Qxb5 12. Nxb5 Nb4 13. O-O Bd7
14. Nc3 Rfc8 {0-1 (45) Svidler,P (2727)-Kramnik,V (2777) Skopje 2015 CBM 169 
[Roiz,M]; and Black was more than ok and indeed went on to win.}) 8... Qa6 {
So White sacrifices a pawn but has an idea up his sleeve.} 9. a4 $5 {
Threatening to simply play Nb5 and exploit the weakness on c7.} Rd8 $5 (9...
Nc6 $5 10. Nb5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Rd8 12. Qc2 Nd5 13. Qxc4 c6 14. Nd6 Qxc4 15. Nxc4
b6 16. Bd2 Ba6 17. Rfc1 {½-½ (17) Efimenko,Z (2647)-Kravtsiv,M (2623) Lvov
2015 seemed like perfectly acceptable play. It would be interesting to know
what improvement Georg had found.}) 10. Nb5 Ne8 11. Qc2 Nc6 12. Qxc4 $5 Nxd4
13. Be3 Nf5 14. Bc5 Bxc5 15. Qxc5 {White sacrifices another pawn to maintain
decent pressure and it seems to work out very well.} Qb6 (15... Bd7 $5 16. Nxc7
Nxc7 17. Qxc7 Qd6 18. Rfc1 Rac8 19. Qxd6 Nxd6 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 {was a way to
cleanly equalise.}) 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. Rfd1 Nfd6 18. Rac1 $36 f6 19. Nc4 Bd7 $6
(19... Rxa4 $5 20. b3 Rxc4 21. Rxc4 Rd7 $1 22. Nxd6 Nxd6 23. Ra4 Re7 24. Ra8
Re8 {seemed like a decent attempt for Black to construct a fortress of sorts.})
20. Nxc7 $1 Bxa4 21. Rxd6 $1 Nxd6 22. Nxd6 {The point, White wins two pieces
for the rook.} Ra7 23. Nc4 Rd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxd1 {The dust has settled and White
is clearly better. What's more, Georg loves playing these positions so it is
no surprise he managed to convert from here.} 25. Nxe6 Ra1 26. Bd5 Bxe2+ 27.
Kg2 Bxc4 28. Bxc4 Kf7 29. Nd4+ Ke7 30. Nf5+ Kf8 31. b3 Rd1 32. Ne3 Rd2 33. h4
g6 34. g4 Rb2 35. Nd1 Rd2 36. Nc3 Rd4 37. Kg3 Rd8 38. f3 Kg7 39. Kf4 Rd2 40.
Ne4 Rd1 {Black is simply helpless and White can improve his positions slowly
but surely.} 41. h5 b5 42. Be6 Rh1 43. Bd5 b6 44. hxg6 hxg6 45. Nc3 b4 46. Na2
g5+ $2 {A critical mistake under huge pressure.} ({It seems as though Black
still had chances to hold after} 46... Re1 $1 47. Be4 g5+ 48. Kf5 Re3 49. Nxb4
Rxb3 50. Nd5 $16 {and even though this is no fun, Black should probably be
able to hold with correct play.}) 47. Ke3 {Now b4 falls and Black can't even
win the b3-pawn.} Kf8 48. Nxb4 Ke7 49. Be4 {Nd5 is coming next and either b6
or f6 falls so Black understandbly threw in the towel.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Qd3 a6 8. Bf4
c5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O b5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Qd1 Bb7 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Be5 Ng4
15. Bd4 Ne6 16. e3 Nf6 17. Ne2 Nxd4 18. Nfxd4 g6 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Qb3 Qc4 21.
Bh3 Qxb3 22. Nxb3 Bc8 23. Bg2 Be6 24. Nf4 g5 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. Nd4
Kf7 28. Nc6 Rd6 29. Ne5+ Ke8 30. Bh3 h5 31. Bf1 Nd7 32. Rc8+ Bd8 33. Nd3 Nb6
34. Rc2 Ke7 35. b3 Nd7 36. Be2 h4 37. gxh4 gxh4 38. Nb4 Kf6 39. Rc8 Ne5 40. Nd3
Nxd3 41. Bxd3 e5 42. a4 bxa4 43. bxa4 a5 44. Bb5 e4 45. Rc6 Rxc6 46. Bxc6 Ke5
47. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Trent,L"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 {Duda has been known to tinker with the Pirc/Modern Defence, so this
shouldn't have come as a surprise to Anish.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5.
Be3 O-O 6. Qd2 {The so-called "150 attack". This line got its name from the
success of 150s (~1800 players) winning huge on the weekend circuit.} Nc6 $5 {
Very rare and a first for Duda.} (6... Ng4) (6... c6) (6... a6 {are all much
more popular.}) 7. d5 {The acid test when Black plays ...Nc6 before ...e5 in
such structures.} Nb8 8. Bh6 {I have never really believed that Black can get
away with losing two tempi especially when White is able to exchange
dark-squared bishops. That said, Richard Rapport seemed to have no
difficulties in his game in 2016.} e5 $6 {I don't buy this.} (8... c6 9. Bxg7
Kxg7 10. Be2 Qb6 11. Rb1 Nbd7 12. O-O Nc5 13. Qf4 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Ncd7
16. Qg3 a5 17. Be2 a4 18. a3 Qc5 19. Rbd1 Ra5 20. Rd2 Rb8 21. Qh4 h5 22. Kh2
Rc8 23. Rd3 b5 24. Rfd1 b4 25. e5 bxc3 26. exf6+ Nxf6 27. Rxc3 Qb6 28. dxc6
Rxc6 29. Qb4 Rf5 30. f3 Re5 31. Bd3 Qc7 32. Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Re1 Qd5 34. Qc3 Rxe1
35. Qxe1 Qg5 36. Kh1 e5 37. b3 d5 38. bxa4 e4 39. fxe4 dxe4 40. Be2 Qe3 41. a5
Nd5 42. a6 Kh7 43. Qf1 f5 44. Bxh5 Nc3 {1/2-1/2 (44) Xu,Y (2430)-Rapport,R 
(2717) Danzhou 2016}) 9. dxe6 $1 Bxe6 10. Bxg7 Kxg7 11. O-O-O $16 {White has
got everything he wanted.} Nc6 12. h3 Re8 13. g4 {White's play is simple and
quick.} a6 14. Bg2 Nd7 15. Ng5 $1 {With the idea of shoving freddy the f-pawn
up the board. Black is just too slow to get anything meaningful going on the
queenside.} Nb6 16. f4 Nc4 17. Qd3 b5 18. e5 $1 Nb4 {The knights look good but
there's nothing backing them up.} 19. Qg3 d5 (19... c6 20. h4 h6 21. f5 {
is still crushing.}) 20. a3 $6 (20. h4 $1 {is just game over. Black can't stop
White carving open the kingside e.g.} h6 21. f5 hxg5 22. f6+ Kg8 23. hxg5 $18)
20... a5 21. Qh4 $2 (21. h4 $18 {was still good.}) 21... h6 22. Nxe6+ fxe6 23.
Qxd8 Rexd8 {Now things are a lot more complicated.} 24. Rde1 $6 (24. Bf1) (24.
axb4 axb4 25. Nb1 {were more testing ideas.}) 24... d4 $1 25. Nxb5 d3 $5 (25...
Rab8 26. axb4 Rxb5 27. Bf1 Rxb4 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 {is about level.}) 26. axb4 d2+
27. Kb1 dxe1=Q+ 28. Rxe1 Rab8 {Black has won the exchange but White is still
for preference.} 29. Nxc7 Rd2 30. Nxe6+ (30. Be4 $1 {was precise.}) 30... Kf7
31. Bf1 Rxb4 32. Kc1 Rf2 {And White can't hold his pawns.} 33. Nd4 Nxe5 $1 34.
fxe5 Rxd4 35. Bd3 {This position should just be equal. White can't make use of
his additional pawns due to the activity of the black rooks.} g5 36. Re3 Rdf4
37. Be2 Ke7 38. Kb1 Rf8 39. Ka2 R2f4 40. Ka3 Rb8 41. b3 Rc8 42. Bc4 Rcxc4 43.
bxc4 Rxc4 44. c3 a4 45. e6 Rf4 46. Kb2 Rf2+ 47. Ka3 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "208"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 {Back to the old days - This
is called the Sarratt Variation, that is located inside the Haxo Gambit,
itself located inside the Scotch Gambit! What a mix! Jacob Henry Sarratt was a
leading English player from the late 18th century and early 19th century, and
the first professional player to teach in England. He used this move in 1818
against an unknown player and quickly won the game. Sarratt was also known for
his studies in the Muzio Gambit (inside the King's Gambit).} Nh6 {This correct
defence was found only in 1837 by Mr. Ludwig Bledow.} (5... Ne5 $2 6. Nxf7 $1 (
6. Bxf7+ $6 {not the most precise} Nxf7 7. Nxf7 Bb4+ 8. c3 dxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3+
$2 (9... Kxf7 $1 {time is much more important than a pawn in such positions}
10. cxb4 Nf6 $16) 10. Nxc3 Kxf7 11. Qd5+ Kf8 12. Ba3+ d6 13. e5 $18 {1-0 (31)
Cochrane,J-Deschapelles,A Paris 1821}) 6... Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9.
Qxc5 $16 {1-0 (9) Sarratt,J-NN London 1818. Although Black's position is
horrible, since there are dark-square weaknesses and the d4-pawn will fall,
there was no need to resign the game this early, as happened here.}) 6. Nxf7
Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 {Now we have a position similar to the
one mentioned on the 5...Ne5 variation, but there is a big difference, Black
has a developed knight on c6, instead of g8, and that knight also defends the
d4-pawn. Black is doing ok here.} d5 (9... d6 $5 {Only here the aforementioned
Bledow game deviated, and with a fine move!} 10. Qc4+ Be6 11. Qe2 Ne5 $6 (11...
Re8 {would be more logical}) 12. b3 c5 13. f4 Bg4 14. Qb5 (14. Qf2 $1 $16 {
[%cal Ge1g1,Gf4f5]}) 14... Qh4+ 15. g3 Nf3+ 16. Kf2 Qe7 $13 {½-½ (40) Von
Heydebrand und der Lasa,T-Bledow,L Berlin 1837, with complex play}) 10. O-O (
10. exd5 $4 {is naturally very bad, White can't allow the very annoying} Re8+
11. Kd1 Re5 $19) 10... dxe4 11. c3 $1 {Trying to open up the position.} Re8 (
11... Qd6 $5 {is also very solid} 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd6 cxd6 (13... Ne2+ $1
14. Kh1 cxd6 {(stopping Nc3)} 15. Be3 {(threatens Re1)} b6 $1 $11 {[%cal Rc8a6]
}) 14. Nc3 Re8 $2 (14... Bg4 $1 $132) 15. Bf4 (15. Be3 $1 $16) 15... Bd7 16.
Bxd6 Nb5 17. Nxb5 Bxb5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (69) Szalanczy,E (2420)-Molnar,L (2260)
Balatonbereny 1994}) 12. cxd4 {We are still following games from the 1800s!
Urusov played a different move here in 1853, which is also a good alternative:}
Nxd4 (12... Qxd4 $1 13. Qg5 Bf5 14. Bd2 Ne5 (14... Kg8 $1 {was already
perfectly fine for Black}) 15. Bc3 Qd6 16. Qh6 Ng4 $2 {this was a bit excessive
} (16... g5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gd6h6]}) 17. Qxh7+ Ke6 18. Na3 {[%cal Re8h8,Yc3h8]
Black doesn't have access to the h-file now} Re7 $1 19. Qh4 Rd8 $2 {a very bad
move} (19... g5 $1 {was needed} 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Kf7 $132 {[%cal Re4e3]})
20. Nc4 Qc5 21. h3 $1 Nxf2 22. Rxf2 Rd5 23. g4 $18 {1-0 (28) Shumov,I-Urusov,D
St Petersburg 1853}) 13. Nc3 (13. Be3 $5 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 $44) 13... b6 14. Qc4+
Be6 15. Qa4 c5 (15... Qd7 $1 {was good enough for a small edge, but Kramnik
wanted more I guess.}) 16. Nxe4 Bd5 17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4+ Kg7 19. Qc4 Kh8 20.
b4 $1 {Trying to loosen the knight on d4 by attacking its faithful defender,
the c5-pawn.} Rxe4 21. Bb2 Qg8 22. Rf7 {The position remains complex, but it
is very scary to play as Black! with a bishop on b2.} Rf8 $1 23. Rxf8 Qxf8 24.
bxc5 bxc5 25. Rf1 Qe7 {[%csl Rc5] As long as c5 is defended, Black does not
have direct problems. It is important to remember that the white king is also
awkwardly placed.} 26. Qd5 Kg7 27. h3 g5 (27... Re2 {was possible, giving the
pawn back and soon agreeing to a draw after:} 28. Bxd4+ cxd4 29. Qxd4+ Kg8 {
[%cal Ge7e3]} 30. Kh1 Re1 $11) 28. Bc3 a6 29. Kh1 Kh6 30. Rb1 Nb5 $2 {Perhaps
Kramnik was still optimistic about being a pawn up, and blundered. I assume he
missed White's 33th move.} (30... Re6 {would lead to a draw after:} 31. Bxd4
cxd4 32. Qxd4 Re1+ 33. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 34. Kh2 $11) 31. Bf6 $1 {[%csl Re4]} Qxf6 32.
Qxe4 Nc3 {Apparently Black is in great shape here, since after the queen moves,
...Nxb1 happens and there is an additional c-pawn in the queen endgame, with
huge winning chances. But...} 33. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rf6f3,Rf3f6] Probably Kramnik
missed this one, now there is a deadly intermmediate check on b6 after Black
exchanges the queens.} Qxf3 34. Rb6+ $1 Kh5 35. gxf3 $18 {White is winning
here, but he has to be precise. Luckily Black is able to take on a2, which
makes the task much harder.} Nxa2 36. Rc6 $1 {It is more important to take on
c5, the a-pawn will be harder to defend, since the knight likes to work better
with pawns closer to the centre.} Nb4 37. Rxc5 Nd3 38. Ra5 Kh4 39. Kh2 Nf4 40.
Rxa6 Kh5 {Black is very solid, and now White gradually starts the winning plan,
bringing his king to the centre.} (40... Nxh3 $4 41. Rh6#) 41. Rd6 Ne2 42. Rd2
Nf4 43. Kg3 Ng6 44. Rd7 h6 (44... Kh6 $2 {it is very awkward for the king to
stay here.} 45. Ra7 {[%cal Rg3g4]} Ne5 46. f4 $1 gxf4+ 47. Kxf4 Ng6+ 48. Kf5
Nh4+ 49. Kg4 Ng6 50. Ra6 Kg7 51. h4 $18 {[%cal Rh4h5] and White wins by slowly
suffocating his opponent.}) 45. Rf7 $1 {Stopping ...Nf4.} Ne5 (45... Nf4 $4 46.
Rxf4 gxf4+ 47. Kxf4 Kh4 48. Ke4 Kxh3 49. f4 Kg2 50. f5 h5 51. f6 h4 52. f7 h3
53. f8=Q h2 {the pawn reaches the 7th rank, but White's king is way too close
here, making this an easy win. For example:} 54. Qf3+ Kg1 55. Ke3 $1 h1=Q 56.
Qf2#) 46. Rf5 Ng6 47. Ra5 Nf4 48. h4 $1 {The only way to break through.} Ne2+
49. Kf2 Nf4 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ke3 Ng2+ 52. Kf2 {Kovalev played perfectly after
he won the exchange, but now he starts going astray.} (52. Ke4 $1 {was a
forcing win with the king invasion:} Kg6 (52... Kh4 53. Ra8 Nf4 54. Rh8+ Kg3
55. Rf8 {now the king can't move since White sacrifices on f4} Nh3 56. Ke3 Ng1
(56... Nf4 $2 {makes it all easier:} 57. Rxf4 $1 gxf4+ 58. Ke4 $18) 57. Rf7 Nh3
58. Rg7 {[%csl Rg5]} Kh4 59. Re7 Kg3 60. Re4 $1 {It is interesting to note
that the black knight has trouble finding squares.} Kg2 61. Rg4+ Kh2 62. Ke4
Kh1 63. Kf5 $18) 53. Ra6+ Kh5 54. Ra2 Nf4 55. Kf5 Ng6 56. Rh2+ Nh4+ 57. Ke4 Kg6
58. f4 $1 Kf6 59. f5 $1 Kf7 60. Rh1 Kf6 61. Rg1 $1 $18 {winning either the
g5-pawn or the knight.}) 52... Nf4 53. Ra8 $2 (53. Ke3 $1 {there was still
time to go back to the same position.}) 53... Kg6 $1 {Now the endgame is drawn,
and Kramnik doesn't give any chance to his opponent.} 54. Ke3 Ng2+ 55. Ke4 Nh4
$1 {This is the key, the black king stays on the 7th rank, and the visually
awkward knight on h4 controls the super important f5-square. White can't make
any progress!} 56. Ra6+ Kf7 57. Ra2 Kf6 58. Ra1 Ke6 59. Rh1 Ng6 60. Rh6 Kf6 61.
Rh7 Nh4 62. Ke3 Ng6 63. Ra7 Nh4 64. Ra6+ Kf5 65. Kf2 {Black has to watch out
for White's new plan to bring his king to g4 (after giving check in the 5th
rank). Kramnik reacts correctly:} Ng6 $1 {Now the knight is going to e5,
guarding the g4-square.} 66. Kg3 Ne5 {[%csl Rg4]} 67. Ra8 Ng6 68. Rg8 Ne5 69.
Rf8+ Ke6 70. Kf2 Ng6 71. Rb8 Kf5 72. Rb5+ Kf6 73. Ra5 Ne5 74. Ke2 Ng6 75. Ra6+
Kf5 76. Ke3 Nh4 $1 {Going back.} 77. Ra5+ Kf6 78. Ke4 Kg6 79. Ra1 Kf6 80. Rg1
Nf5 81. Rg2 Nh4 82. Rh2 Ng6 83. Rh5 Nf4 84. Rh8 Ng6 85. Rb8 Nh4 86. Rg8 Ng6 87.
Kd4 Kf5 88. Ke3 Kf6 89. Ke4 Kf7 90. Rb8 Nh4 91. Rc8 Kf6 92. Rc1 Ke6 93. Ke3 Kf5
94. Rc5+ Kf6 95. Rb5 Ng6 96. Ke4 Nh4 97. Rd5 Kg6 98. f4 gxf4 99. Kxf4 {Now we
reach a simple theoretical draw: rook vs knight} Kf7 100. Kg5 Nf3+ 101. Kf4 (
101. Kg4 {[%csl Rf3] apparently wins the knight in a few moves, but Black has
a simple tactical resource:} Ke6 $1 $11 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Rf3e5] followed by ...
Ne5.}) 101... Nh4 102. Kg5 Nf3+ 103. Kg4 Ke6 $1 104. Kxf3 Kxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 {Although giving up the centre may be regarded
as a minor concession, White usually does have a space advantage also in other
French lines, as fighting for an opening plus is connected with the e5 advance.
Caruana was especially merciless against the otherwise solid defence in the
recent US-championship:} (3... Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 ({The French
is Meier's main opening and he varies his lines. Four years ago against
Caruana he went} 6... Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11.
Qf2 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qc7 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4
a5 18. Bb5 Ba6 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. g4 a4 21. b3 Qc6 (21... Rfc8 22. f5 Qc6 23.
Rd2 axb3 24. cxb3 Bb5 25. Qe3 Ra3 26. f6 Kh8 27. h4 gxf6 28. Qf3 Kg8 29. exf6
Qa6 30. Qe3 Kh8 {Vavulin,M (2393)-Karpenko,A (2107) Kolomna 2014} 31. Rc1 $1
Ra8 32. Rcc2 $16) 22. f5 Bb5 23. Rd2 axb3 24. cxb3 Ra3 (24... Qa6 25. Qe3 Rfc8
26. f6 Rc7 27. h4 $36) 25. Re1 Rfa8 26. Re3 Rc8 27. Qe1 Rc7 (27... Ra6 $142 $5
28. f6 Qc7 $132 {[%cal Ya6c6]}) 28. Qd1 Ra8 29. Re1 Rac8 30. Qf3 Qa6 31. Red1
Qa3 32. Bb2 Qa6 33. Qe3 Kh8 34. f6 $40 {Caruana,F (2789)-Meier,G (2632)
Dortmund 2014}) 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 b6 ({A new, but risky idea. The standard
continuation is} 8... O-O) 9. Bb5 Qc7 (9... Bb7 $142 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6
12. f5 O-O {is possibly better, but even here the danger is obvious.}) 10.
O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12. f5 c4 13. f6 $1 gxf6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Rhf1 b5 ({
This will be too slow, but White has a strong initiative also after} 15... Be7
16. Bg5 f6 17. Bh4 {[%csl Re6,Re8,Rf6][%cal Yd1e1] /\Rde1}) 16. Qf2 b4 17. Ne2
(17. Ne4 $5 dxe4 18. Ne5 $40 {is even more energetic}) 17... b3 18. Ne5 $1 Bxe5
19. Qxf7+ Kd8 20. dxe5 bxa2 21. Kd2 {[%cal Re2d4]} Rf8 22. Qxh7 $18 {[%csl Gd2,
Rd8] Caruana,F (2804)-Akobian,V (2647) Saint Louis 2018}) (3... Bb4 4. e5 c5 5.
a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 ({The main move is} 6... Ne7 {, but the text has lately
gained some popularity.}) 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. h4 $5 ({Black has recently
done well after} 9. Qd1 b6) ({In CBM 175 Papp recommends} 9. Nf3 Ne7 10. h3 $5
{[%cal Yd4c5]}) 9... Nc6 (9... Qxc2 {deserves attention:} 10. Rh3 Qe4+ $13) 10.
h5 h6 11. Qd1 cxd4 $2 ({Opening the position borders on suicide.} 11... b6 $142
{leads to complex play.}) 12. Nf3 dxc3 13. Bxc3 {[%csl Ra4][%cal Rh1h4]} g5 14.
hxg6 Qe4+ 15. Be2 Qxg6 16. Qd2 Nge7 17. Bd3 $1 Qxg2 (17... Qg7 $142 {is more
tenacious}) 18. Ke2 Qg4 19. Rh4 Qg7 20. Rg1 Ng6 21. Rf4 $1 Nce7 22. Bb4 $18 a5
23. Rxg6 $1 {Caruana,F (2804)-Lenderman,A (2599) Saint Louis 2018}) 4. Nxe4 Nd7
({Both players have had recent experience with the alternative} 4... Bd7 5. Nf3
Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 {and now:} 7. O-O (7. Qe2 Be7 (7... Ngf6 8. Neg5 {[%cal Rg5f7]
is similar, as Black here usually takes on f3. The provocative} h6 9. Nxe6 fxe6
10. Bg6+ Ke7 11. O-O $44 {-> is extremely dangerous.}) 8. Neg5 Bd5 9. c4 Bxf3
10. Nxf3 Ngf6 11. O-O O-O 12. b3 c6 13. Bb2 a5 14. a3 Qc7 15. Rad1 Rfe8 16.
Rfe1 Rad8 17. g3 Bf8 18. Kg2 g6 19. h4 Bg7 20. Bc1 Ng4 21. Bg5 Rc8 22. h5 e5
23. hxg6 hxg6 24. dxe5 Ndxe5 25. Bf4 Qb6 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Bc2 $36 {Dominguez
Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628) chess.com INT 2018}) 7... Ngf6 8. Ng3 g6 ({
A newer idea, which has replaced} 8... Be7 {and}) (8... Bxf3) 9. b3 $5 Bg7 10.
Ba3 Bf8 (10... Bxf3 11. Qxf3 c6 12. c4 Qc7 13. Rfe1 O-O-O 14. Rad1 Kb8 15. Bc1
Ka8 16. b4 h5 17. c5 Bh6 18. Bxh6 Rxh6 19. b5 g5 20. bxc6 Qxc6 21. Ne4 Rg6 22.
Rb1 Rg7 23. Qd1 Nd5 24. Bb5 Qc7 25. Qb3 N7f6 26. Nd6 $40 {Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2729)-Jobava,B (2690) Riadh rpd 2017}) 11. Bb2 Bg7 12. c4 O-O 13. b4 Bxf3 14.
Qxf3 c6 15. a4 Qc7 16. a5 a6 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Rad1 Re7 20. Bb1
Nf8 21. Qf3 Ne8 22. Ne4 Red7 23. Nc5 Re7 24. Qe2 Nd7 25. Nb3 Ndf6 26. Bc1 Red7
27. g3 Bf8 28. Bf4 Qc8 29. Bd2 Bg7 30. Bc3 $14 {/+/-,() Nepomniachtchi,I (2733)
-Duda,J (2706) Heraklio 2017 White gradually increased his advantage and broke
through, see the notes to this game in CBM 182 by Fernandez.}) 5. Nf3 {In the
Rubinstein White has a long-term score of over 60%, this indicates the system
requires a patient defender, who doesn't mind gradually neutralising White's
initial pressure. Even stronger players than Meier take on e4 from time to
time:} ({A rather soft way is} 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 (6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. Qe2 Nxe4 8.
Qxe4 Rb8 9. Bg2 b5 $5 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. Qe2 Nf6 13. c3 a6 14. a4 Bd5
15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qd5+ 17. Qf3 Qxf3+ 18. Kxf3 Bd6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bg5
Bxe5 21. dxe5 Nd5 22. Ra6 c5 23. Be3 Rfc8 $11 {Anand,V (2776)-Meier,G (2648)
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2018}) 6... Ngf6 7. Nxf6+ (7. Ne2 O-O 8. O-O Nxe4 9. Bxe4
e5 $1 10. Qd3 h6 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Bf4 Bf6 14. f3 c6 15. Rad1 Be6
16. b3 a5 17. a4 Nd7 18. Bc7 Re8 19. Nf4 Nc5 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Bb6 Be7 22. Bf2
Bc5 $11 {Aronian,L (2764)-So,W (2778) Leuven blitz 2018}) 7... Bxf6 8. Nf3 O-O
9. O-O e5 $1 10. Be3 exd4 11. Bxd4 c5 12. Be3 $5 $146 (12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Qxd8
Rxd8 14. Ne5 Rb8 15. Rad1 Bf5 16. c3 g6 17. Rfe1 Kg7 18. b4 cxb4 19. cxb4 Be6
20. a3 Bd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Rd3 Nb6 23. Rf3 Rf8 24. Rd1 f6 25. Nd7 Rbd8 $11 {
Kovacevic,A (2488)-Meier,G (2634) Lemgo 2018}) 12... Bxb2 13. Rb1 Bf6 14. Nd2
Bd4 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. Nb3 Nb6 17. Nxd4 Rb8 18. c4 Qc7 19. Rc1 Nd7 20. Qa4 a6
21. Qa3 Qc5 22. Qc3 Nf6 23. Rb1 b5 24. Qb2 Bf5 25. Nxf5 Qxf5 26. Rfc1 Rfc8 $11
{Aronian,L (2764)-So,W (2778) Paris rpd 2018}) (5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Qe2 {prepares
queenside castling, but Black has an effective antidote in} c5 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. Bd2 O-O 10. O-O-O e5 $1 $132 {and now:} 11. Bc3 (11. Qxe5 Bd4 12.
Qa5 Qxa5 13. Bxa5 Bxf2 14. Nf3 Be6 15. Rhf1 Be3+ 16. Bd2 Bxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Bd5 18.
Ne5 Rfe8 19. Re2 Re6 20. c4 Rae8 21. Rf5 {½, Petrovic,D (2591)-Neven,K (2361)
email 2008} Bc6 22. Nxc6 Rxe2 23. Bxe2 Rxe2 24. Nxa7 Rxg2 $132) 11... Qb6 12.
Qxe5 Bxf2 13. Nf3 Bg4 14. Kb1 Rfe8 15. Qf4 Be3 16. Qa4 Bh5 17. Rhe1 Rac8 18.
Ba5 Qc5 19. Bb4 Qc7 20. Bc3 Qb6 21. Ba5 Qc5 22. Bb4 Qc7 23. Bc3 Qb6 {½, Stany,
G (2476)-Meier,G (2657) Biel 2016}) 5... Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5 $5 {An
important theoretical position, here we will check more alternatives in an
attempt to explain White's choice:} ({A deeply analysed branch is} 7. c3 c5 {
and now:} 8. Ne5 (8. Be3 Qc7 {is an independent line after} 9. Bb5+ (9. Ne5 a6
{is another way to reach the main line.}) 9... Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. d5 exd5
12. Qxd5 Nf6 13. Qc4 Bd6 14. Bg5 Qe7+ 15. Kf1 O-O 16. Re1 Qd8 17. g3 h6 18.
Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Kg2 Rfd8 20. Re4 Qf5 21. Rd1 Qc8 22. Rd5 Qc7 23. g4 Bf8 24. Rde5
g6 $11 {Kramnik,V (2792)-Meier,G (2628) Dortmund 2018 Black held the balance
with careful defence.}) 8... a6 (8... Nd7 $2 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Qg4 Kf8 11. O-O
Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Bg5 Bf6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Qh4 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 f6 17. Qh5 g6
18. Qh6+ Kf7 {Kasparov,G (2838)-Ponomariov,R (2727) Linares 2002} 19. Rd2 a6
20. Bd3 $16 {For details see the notes to this game in CBM 088, which already
give 8...a6 as Black's best move.}) 9. Be3 (9. Qa4+ Nd7 10. Be3 {is again only
a transposition after} Qc7 (10... cxd4 $143 11. Bxd4 f6 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. O-O-O
Qc6 14. Qxc6 bxc6 15. Nd2 e5 16. Be3 Bc5 17. Nb3 Bxe3+ 18. fxe3 Kd8 19. Rd6 Kc7
20. Re6 a5 21. Re7 a4 22. Nd2 $16 {Wang,H (2709)-Le,Q (2737) Riadh rpd 2017}))
9... Qc7 10. Qa4+ Nd7 11. Bb5 (11. O-O-O cxd4 12. Nxd7 (12. Bxd4 Bd6 $11) 12...
Bxd7 13. Qxd4 Bc6 14. Be2 Rd8 15. Qg4 h5 16. Qg5 Rd5 17. Rxd5 Bxd5 18. Rd1 g6
19. Qf6 Rh7 20. Bf3 Be7 21. Qd4 Bxf3 22. gxf3 h4 23. Bf4 Qc6 {and White didn't
find anything better than repetition after} 24. Qe5 Qc8 25. Qe4 Qc6 26. Qe5 Qc8
27. Qe4 Qc6 {½, Kasimdzhanov,R (2699)-Meier,G (2648) Sestao 2010}) 11... cxd4
12. Bxd7+ Bxd7 13. Qxd4 {and now:} {Black is close to full equality also after}
Bb5 $5 (13... f6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Qxd7+ (15. Qg4 e5 (15... Kf7 $5 16. O-O Qc6
$132) 16. Qe4 Rd8 $5 17. O-O Be7 18. Bb6 Rc8 19. Rad1 Qc6 $11) 15... Kxd7 16.
O-O-O+ Kc7 $142 (16... Kc6 17. Rd4 b5 18. Rhd1 Be7 19. Rd7 Rhe8 20. b3 $5 (20.
g4 e5 21. h4 g6 22. Kc2 h5 23. gxh5 gxh5 24. b4 a5 25. Kb3 axb4 26. cxb4 Red8
$11 {Dominguez Perez,L (2647)-Nogueiras Santiago,J (2556) Santa Clara 2006})
20... h5 21. h3 e5 22. Kc2 a5 $6 23. a4 {[%csl Ra5]} bxa4 24. bxa4 Bf8 25. g4
hxg4 26. hxg4 Reb8 27. Rf7 Rb7 28. Rxb7 Kxb7 29. Rb1+ Kc6 30. Rb6+ Kd7 31. Kd3
$14 {/+/-, Dominguez Perez,L (2695)-Nogueiras Santiago,J (2559) Havana 2008
White has stablised his advantage and went on to convert it.}) 17. a4 a5 $5 (
17... Bd6 18. a5 $14) 18. Rd4 (18. Kc2 Ra6 19. h4 h5 20. Rd3 Bd6 21. b3 Be7 22.
Rhd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8 Bxd8 $11 {Nekhaev,A (2514)-Belka,W (2494) email 2016}) 18...
Ra6 19. Rhd1 Rd6 ({Also playable is} 19... Bd6 20. Rg4 g6 21. Rh4 Rc6 22. Bd4
e5 23. Be3 h5 24. Rd5 f5 $5 $132 {Morovic Fernandez,I (2550)-Yandemirov,V 
(2356) Moscow 2017}) 20. Rxd6 (20. Rc4+ Rc6 21. Rxc6+ bxc6 22. Kc2 Be7 23. Rd2
Rb8 24. Kd3 Rd8+ 25. Kc4 Rd5 26. b4 axb4 27. cxb4 Kb7 $14 {/=, Zhang,Z (2582)
-Pelletier,Y (2592) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 Black managed to draw the slightly
inferior endgame.}) 20... Bxd6 21. Bb6+ Kc6 22. Bxa5 Ra8 23. b4 Be5 24. f4
Bxf4+ 25. Kb2 b6 26. b5+ Kc7 27. Bb4 {Almasi,Z (2682)-Meier,G (2546) Mainz rpd
2007} Bxh2 28. Rh1 Be5 29. Rxh7 f5 $11) 14. a4 Bd6 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. axb5 axb5
17. Ke2 Qc6 18. Rhd1 (18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Rd1 Be7 20. Qf4+ Bf6 21. g4 Ra4 22. Qf3
Ra2 23. Rd2 b4 24. Qxc6 bxc6 25. cxb4 Rxb2 $11 {½, Istratescu,A (2631)-Meier,
G (2659) Antwerp 2010}) 18... Be7 $5 (18... Rxa1 19. Rxa1 b4 20. Rd1 Rd8 21.
Qh4 (21. Qb6 Qc4+ 22. Ke1 Bc7 23. Qxb7 Rxd1+ 24. Kxd1 bxc3 25. b3 Qd5+ 26. Qxd5
exd5 27. Bd4 Bxh2 28. g3 Bg1 29. Ke2 c2 30. Be3 Ke6 31. Kf1 Bh2 32. Kg2 Ke5 33.
Kxh2 Ke4 34. b4 d4 35. Bc1 Kd3 36. b5 Ke2 37. b6 d3 38. b7 d2 39. Bxd2 Kxd2 40.
b8=Q c1=Q $11 {Guseinov,G (2602)-Meier,G (2638) Marrakesh 2010}) 21... Be7 22.
Qf4+ Kg8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Qxb4 Qxg2 25. Qb5 Qc6 26. Qxc6 bxc6 27. b4 ({
A similar line is} 27. Kd3 Kf7 28. Ke4 Bc7 29. h3 Bd6 30. b4 Ke8 31. Bd2 Kd7
32. c4 Be7 33. b5 cxb5 34. cxb5 Bd6 35. Bc3 g6 36. Be5 Bc5 37. Bg3 Bb6 38. Kd3
Bc5 $11 {Alsina Leal,D (2523)-Meier,G (2653) Pamplona 2009}) 27... Kf7 {
This endgame is better for White, but Black is still able to hold it - after
losing with Dominguez, Meier was willing to play it later on.} 28. Kf3 (28. Kd3
Be7 29. Kc4 Ke8 30. Bc5 Bf6 31. Bd4 e5 32. Be3 e4 33. Bd4 Bh4 34. b5 Kd7 35. b6
g6 36. Kb4 Kc8 37. c4 Be7+ 38. c5 g5 39. h3 h5 40. Kc4 g4 41. hxg4 hxg4 42. Be5
Bh4 43. Bg3 Bf6 $11 {Socko,B (2644)-Meier,G (2638) Lublin 2010}) 28... Bf6 29.
c4 g6 30. Ke4 Bg7 31. b5 cxb5 32. cxb5 Ke7 33. Bd4 Bh6 34. Be3 Bg7 35. Bd4 Bh6
36. Be5 Kd7 37. Kd4 Bf8 38. Bg3 Bb4 39. Kc4 Be7 40. Kd4 Bb4 41. h4 Ba3 42. b6
Kc6 43. Ke5 Bc5 44. Kf6 Bd4+ 45. Kf7 Bxb6 46. Kg7 e5 47. f3 {Dominguez Perez,L
(2721)-Meier,G (2641) Havana 2009} Be3 48. Kxh7 (48. Bxe5 Kd5 49. Bg3 Ke6 50.
Kxh7 Kf5 $11) 48... g5 49. h5 Kd5 50. h6 e4 $11) 19. Qf4+ Bf6 {has proven
itself in email practice:} 20. Qf3 Rhd8 (20... Qxf3+ 21. Kxf3 Kg6 22. Rxa8 Rxa8
23. Rd7 Ra2 24. Bc1 Ra1 25. Bd2 Ra2 26. b4 Rc2 27. Be1 Rc1 28. Bd2 Rc2 29. Be1
Rc1 30. Ke2 Bxc3 31. Bxc3 Rxc3 32. Rxb7 Rc2+ 33. Ke3 Kf6 34. Rxb5 Rb2 $14 {
/=, Mauro,L (2299)-Owens,J (2113) email 2016}) 21. Qxc6 bxc6 22. Rd7+ Rxd7 23.
Rxa8 b4 24. cxb4 Bxb2 25. Rc8 Rb7 26. Bc5 Bc3 27. Rf8+ Kg6 28. Rf3 Be5 29. Kd3
Rd7+ 30. Ke4 Rd5 31. g3 Bd6 $11 {Dronov,A (2675)-Van Oosterom,J (2732) email
2009}) (7. Be3 {is directed against c5, after} Nd5 8. Bd2 c5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 {White wins the tempo back by attacking the Nd5 with} 11. c4 Nb6 12.
Rc1 f6 (12... cxd4 13. c5 Nd5 14. Ne5 $36) 13. O-O $5 (13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O
Rc8 {is soft, the initiative already passed to Black after} 15. Qe2 O-O 16.
Rfd1 e5 17. Bb4 Qe7 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Nd2 Rfd8 20. h4 Qc6 21. c5 Nd5 22. g3 Ne7
23. Ne4 Nf5 $15 {Muzychuk,A (2564)-Meier,G (2628) Jerusalem 2018}) 13... cxd4
14. Re1 Rc8 15. Qb3 Kf7 (15... Be7 16. c5 Rxc5 17. Rxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxe6+ Kd8 19.
Re1 Qd5 20. Qd3 Nd7 $6 (20... Kc8 $142 $1 21. Bf4 Bd6 $132) 21. b4 Bb6 22. a4
a6 $2 (22... Re8 $142) 23. a5 Ba7 24. Bf4 $16 {Caruana,F (2757)-Meier,G (2640)
Baden-Baden 2013 Black is practically paralysed, for details see the notes to
this game in CBM 153 by Caruana.}) 16. Qd3 Kg8 17. b4 e5 18. c5 (18. Nh4 Qe6
19. c5 Nd7 20. f4 Qd5 21. Qf3 Qxf3 22. Nxf3 Kf7 23. fxe5 fxe5 24. Nxe5+ Nxe5
25. Rxe5 Be7 26. Rd5 Rhd8 $11 {Oomen,A (2118)-Schubert,W (2155) email 2014})
18... Nd5 19. Nxd4 $5 exd4 20. Rc4 Rd8 21. Rxd4 Kf7 22. Qc4 b5 23. cxb6 axb6
24. Rd1 b5 25. Qb3 Qc6 26. Be3 Qc3 27. Rxd5 Qxb3 28. axb3 Be7 29. f4 g6 30. g4
Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Rb8 32. Bc5 Rd8 $1 $11 {Frendzas,P (2397)-Bergmann,P (2043)
email 2013}) (7. g3 b6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Be2 (9. a4 a6 10. Be2 Bc6 11. O-O Be7 12.
Ne5 Bb7 13. c4 Nd7 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nxe5 16. dxe5 O-O 17. Rd1 Qe8 18. Be3
Bb4 19. h4 h6 20. Rd4 Bc5 21. Rg4 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Kh8 23. c5 {Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2733)-Meier,G (2655) Heraklio 2017} b5 $5 $11 {The previous encounter of our
protagonists is annotated in CBM 182 by Marin.}) (9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 $5 (9... Qxd7
10. O-O c5 (10... Bd6 {is safer}) 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Bg5 c4 $6 13. Ne5 $1 $32 Qxd4
14. Rfe1 Qc5 15. Rad1 Be7 {Vallejo Pons,F (2700)-Ivanchuk,V (2753) Havana 2014}
16. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 17. Qxe6+ Kg6 18. h4 $1 $18 {[%cal Re1e5,Re6e7]}) 10. O-O Bd6
11. Bg5 Qc8 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Rfe1 h6 15. Bc1 Qb7 16. Rd3 Rad8 17.
Red1 Qa6 18. a3 Qb5 19. b3 Qh5 20. Bb2 b5 21. c4 bxc4 22. bxc4 Rb8 23. Ba1 c6
24. Kg2 Qa5 $11 {Bruzon Batista,L (2664)-Meier,G (2646) Tromsoe olm 2014}) 9...
Bc6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Qd5 (12... Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nd7 14. f4 O-O-O
15. Be3 Nb8 $14 {/=, Vachier Lagrave,M (2718)-Meier,G (2653) Khanty-Mansiysk
rpd 2009 This was played in two rapid games between MVL and Meier, Black held
his fortress in both cases,}) 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Rd1 O-O-O 15. Bg5 $5 (15. Bd2
Ne7 16. c4 Be4 17. Bc3 {½, Vachier Lagrave,M (2718)-Meier,G (2653)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}) 15... Rd7 16. c4 Nb4 17. Rxd7 Bxd7 18. c5 h6 19. Bd2 Nc2
20. Rd1 Nd4 21. Ba6+ Kb8 22. Bxh6 $5 Nf3+ 23. Kf1 gxh6 24. Rxd7 Nxe5 25. Rd4
bxc5 26. Rh4 c6 $13 {Svidler,P (2753)-Meier,G (2628) Jerusalem rpd 2018
Although the position has become more complex, Black is still holding his own.}
) ({Overall the most often played move is} 7. Bd3 {, but nowadays it has lost
most of its appeal:} c5 {Meier has also faced} 8. dxc5 (8. Be3 Qc7 9. Qe2 a6
10. O-O b6 11. c4 Be7 (11... cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bb7 13. Ne5 Bc5 14. Bc3 Rd8 15. Rad1
Bd4 16. Bxd4 Rxd4 17. Bc2 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 O-O 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. Qxg4 b5 21. Bb3
Qe5 22. cxb5 axb5 $11 {Wei,Y (2739)-Ivanchuk,V (2729) Medias rpd 2017}) 12.
dxc5 Bxc5 13. Bxc5 bxc5 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. Ne5 O-O 16. Bc2 Rfd8 17. h3 h6 18. Qe3
Rac8 19. a3 a5 20. Rfe1 Kf8 21. h4 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Be4 23. Nd7+ Nxd7 24. Bxe4 Nf6
$11 {Karjakin,S (2783)-Meier,G (2630) chess.com INT 2017}) 8... Bxc5 9. O-O (9.
Qe2 O-O 10. Bd2 e5 11. O-O-O e4 12. Bxe4 Qe7 13. Rhe1 Qe6 14. Bc3 Nxe4 15. Qxe4
Bxf2 16. Re2 Bb6 17. b3 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 Be6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Re5 f6 21. Rd5 Bg4
22. Rd3 Rad8 23. Nb5 a6 $15 {Dvoirys,S (2552)-Meier,G (2644) Jerusalem 2017})
9... O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 b6 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Be4
Rfd8 16. g3 Rac8 17. Kg2 f5 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1 21. Qxd1
Kg7 22. Qd3 Qe4 $132 {Zherebukh,Y (2621)-Meier,G (2651) Saint Louis 2017}) 7...
Bd6 ({We can find the most games with} 7... Be7 {, but this is not ideal,
mainly because later on Black will have to lose a tempo to recapture with the
B on c5. Also after} 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. dxc5 Qc7 11. Re1 Qxc5 12. Qf3 {
White has unpleasant pressure:} Nd7 13. Bf4 Nxe5 14. Rxe5 Qc6 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7
16. Rh5+ Kg8 17. Qh3 f6 18. Rh8+ Kf7 19. Qh5+ g6 20. Qh7+ Ke8 21. Qxg6+ Kd8 22.
Rd1+ Bd7 23. Rxf8+ Bxf8 24. Qxf6+ Ke8 25. Qg6+ Kd8 {1-0, Gufeld,E (2480)
-Srivastava,Y (2250) Kolkata 1993} 26. Qf7 $18) ({Black can target the Ne5
also with} 7... Nd7 8. Bf4 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 {and now:} Bd7 $5 {deserves attention:}
(9... f6 10. Bg3 (10. Bf4 c5 11. dxc5 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Bxc5 13. Bc4 e5 14. Bd2
Ke7 15. Ke2 Be6 16. Bxe6 Kxe6 17. h4 h5 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Kxe3 Rhd8 20. f3 b5 $1
$11 {/=/+, Karjakin,S (2783)-Meier,G (2630) chess.com INT 2017 The endgame is
already pleasant for Black.}) 10... c5 11. Bc4 $1 cxd4 12. O-O Bd6 13. Re1 Bxg3
14. hxg3 O-O 15. Re4 Kh8 16. Rxd4 Qc7 17. Bb3 e5 18. Rd2 Bf5 19. Qf3 Bg6 20.
Rad1 Rad8 21. Kh2 Rxd2 22. Rxd2 $14 {Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628)
chess.com INT 2018 Meier didn't like this position and deviated later in the
match - see the following note.}) 10. Bd3 Bc6 11. O-O (11. Qg4 h5 12. Qe2 Qd7
13. O-O-O O-O-O $11 14. Kb1 f6 15. Bf4 Bxg2 16. Rhg1 Bc6 17. h4 Bd6 18. Bxd6
cxd6 19. f4 Kb8 20. Rg3 $44 {/=, Timofeev,A (2681)-Ding,L (2530) Sochi blitz
2009}) 11... Qg5 12. f3 Bd6 13. Qe2 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qf4 15. Rab1 O-O-O 16. b4 b6
17. a4 h5 18. a5 h4 $132 {Timofeev,A (2563)-Geivondian,A (2380) Moscow 2018}) (
7... c5 8. Be3 $5 (8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxb5 11. Nxf8 O-O-O $1 $13)
8... cxd4 9. Bxd4 $14 ({or even} 9. Qxd4 $5 {is more pleasant for White.})) 8.
Bg5 {Ian was still following his preparation.} (8. Qf3 {Black would probably
continue} O-O {, he got sufficient counterplay after} (8... c5 $6 9. Bb5+ Ke7
10. O-O cxd4 11. Bf4 g5 12. Bg3 h5 {Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Meier,G (2628)
chess.com INT 2018} {is too risky and gives White a wider choice of promising
continuations:} 13. h4 $5 $16 (13. Nc4 $36) (13. Rad1 h4 14. Nd7 $1 $16) {/\}
13... gxh4 $2 14. Bxh4 Bxe5 15. Rfe1 Qd6 16. Rxe5 $1 Qxe5 17. Bxf6+ Qxf6 18.
Qa3+ $18 {An unforced, but pretty line illustrates the dangers the Ke7 has to
face.}) 9. Bg5 Be7 10. O-O-O Qd5 11. Qxd5 exd5 12. Re1 Bd6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14.
Nf3 Bg4 15. Nd2 Rfe8 16. Bd3 c5 17. f3 Bd7 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Nb3 Be3+ 20. Kb1
Kg7 21. Rd1 Re5 22. c3 Rae8 $132 {Lamson,D-Owens,J (1300) email 2011}) ({After
} 8. Bd3 {the simplest seems to be} c5 $5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qa5+ 11. c3 Qxb5
$11) 8... h6 9. Bh4 O-O {Here we are already in almost uncharted waters.} (9...
c5 $2 {is premature:} 10. Bb5+ Ke7 11. O-O cxd4 12. Qxd4 Qc7 13. Ng4 e5 14.
Nxe5 $1 Rd8 15. Rfe1 Be6 16. Bg3 a6 17. Bd3 $16 {Rogers,I (2575)-Gerber,R 
(2395) Biel 1996}) 10. Bd3 c5 11. Qe2 $5 $146 {[%cal Ye1c1][%mdl 8] An
aggressive novelty, obviously intending 0-0-0.} (11. Ng4 $2 Qa5+ 12. c3 Nxg4
13. Qxg4 f5 14. Qg6 cxd4 $17 {Mueller,C (1976)-Sappok,J (1934) Bayern 2004}) (
11. Nc4 Be7 (11... g5 $6 12. Nxd6 Qxd6 {Fuss,J (1688)-Pieczka,R (1922) Germany
2012} 13. Bg3 Qxd4 14. Qe2 $36 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Rg3e5]}) 12. dxc5 Bxc5 (12...
Qd5 $11) (12... Nd5 $5) 13. O-O (13. Qf3 Qd5 $11) (13. Qe2 Qd4 14. Bg3 Bb4+
$132) 13... b6 {leads to a position, typical for the whole line - Black has
good chances to gradually equalise.}) 11... Qa5+ ({Black avoids} 11... cxd4 12.
O-O-O $44 {Although he has problems with deploying his Bc8 and White's
attacking chances are undeniable, the position remains rather unclear after}
Be7 $13 {or} (12... Qc7 $5)) 12. c3 cxd4 13. Nc4 Qc5 $6 {This will cost Black
precious time.} ({The engine prefers} 13... Qd5 $142 $5 14. Bxf6 (14. O-O-O $6
Be7) 14... gxf6 15. Be4 (15. O-O-O Rd8 16. Be4 Qg5+ 17. Kb1 Bf8 $132 {[%cal
Yf8g7]}) 15... Qc5 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. O-O-O Qe5 20.
Rxd4 Qg5+ 21. Qxg5+ hxg5 22. g3 $14 {/= White has a slight endgame plus, but
after} e5 ({or} 22... f5 {it shouldn't be enough to win.})) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15.
Qg4+ ({A tempting alternative is} 15. b4 Qc6 $8 (15... Qc7 $2 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17.
Qe4 f5 18. Qxd4+ $18) 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Qxd4 Be7 (17... Be5 18. Nxe5 fxe5 19.
Qxe5+ f6 20. Qh5 Qxc3+ 21. Ke2 $16) {, but after the initally optimistic
evaluation the computer promises only a small edge with} 18. Qf4 Kg7 19. O-O
$14) 15... Kh8 16. cxd4 (16. Qh4 Kg7 17. cxd4 Qb4+ (17... Qd5 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19.
O-O $14 {/+/- is no fun either}) 18. Ke2 $1 $36 {is also promising.}) 16...
Qb4+ 17. Kf1 $6 {Makes life easier for the defence.} (17. Ke2 $142 $1 {in the
spirit of the previous note. White's R remain connected, especially Rh1 can be
activated faster and he is on top after} Bc7 18. Qh4 Kg7 19. Rac1 $36) 17...
Bc7 ({If Meier was worried about the oncoming complications, Black also has} 
17... Rg8 18. Qh5 Bf8 19. Qxf7 Qe7 20. Qxe7 Bxe7 $44 {[%csl Gc8,Ge7] The
bishops give him reasonable compensation and he should hold the endgame.}) 18.
Qe4 (18. Rc1 Bd7 ({or even} 18... Rd8 $5 {is at best unclear. The Q can return
to f8 and White has nothing concrete in sight.})) 18... f5 19. Qh4 Kg7 $2 {
[%mdl 8256] A serious tactical mistake in a sharp position - now Black's K
will be too exposed and this is enough to lose the game.} ({He had to play} 
19... Kh7 $1 {[]} 20. g4 b5 $5 (20... Rg8 $143 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Qf6 Be6 23.
Bxf5+ Bxf5 24. Qxf5+ Rg6 25. Rc1 $5 $14) 21. g5 (21. gxf5 bxc4 22. f6+ cxd3 {
is only a draw after} 23. Qe4+ Kh8 24. Qe3 Kh7 $11) 21... Bf4 $1 (21... Rh8 22.
Rg1 $1 h5 23. g6+ $1 fxg6 24. Be2 {[%cal Re2h5] /\Bh5} Bd8 25. Qg3 g5 26. Ne5
$40 {[%cal Rg3f3,Re5f7]}) 22. Qxf4 bxc4 23. Qh4 Qd2 $1 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Be2 (
25. Bxc4 Bb7 {and White should already force a perpetual with} 26. Bxe6 $11 (
26. Rg1 $2 Rac8 $19 {/\} 27. b3 Rxc4 28. bxc4 Qd3+ 29. Ke1 Bf3)) 25... Rb8 26.
Rg1 (26. Rd1 Qf4 27. Rg1 Rxb2 28. Qh5 Kg7 29. g6 c3 $1 $132) 26... c3 $1 (26...
Rxb2 $2 27. Qh5 $1 {and here the threat g6 will cost Black an exchange after}
Kg7 28. g6 Qxe2+ 29. Qxe2 Rxe2 30. Kxe2 $16) 27. Rd1 (27. bxc3 Rb2 28. Qh5 Ba6
$1 $15) 27... Qf4 28. bxc3 Rb2 $44 {[%cal Yc8a6] <=>}) 20. g4 f4 ({Contrary to
the above note, Black has no time for} 20... b5 21. gxf5 bxc4 22. f6+ $18) (
20... Bd8 21. Qh5 Qe7 (21... f4 22. Rg1 Rh8 23. Ne5 Qe7 24. h4 $40 {[%cal
Rg4g5]}) 22. h4 $1 $16 {prevents both Qg5 and Qh4 - White has a powerful
attack.}) 21. Rg1 Bd7 (21... b5 22. g5 h5 23. g6 f5 (23... bxc4 24. gxf7+ Kxf7
25. Bg6+ Kg7 26. Be8+ {or}) (23... f6 24. Qxh5 Rh8 25. Qxh8+ $1 {mates quickly.
}) 24. a3 $18 {[%csl Re7]}) (21... Rh8 22. Qh5 Bd8 23. Ne5 Qe7 {gives White
the forcing solution} 24. g5 $1 hxg5 25. Rxg5+ $1 Qxg5 26. Qxf7+ Kh6 27. h3 Qh5
28. Ng4+ Kg5 29. Qg7+ Kh4 30. Ne5 $18 {[%cal Re5g6,Rd3e2]}) 22. Qh5 $1 {
[%cal Rg4g5] The last accurate move, after which the opening of the <->g is
unavoidable.} (22. g5 $2 h5 {is premature and White must alerady fight for
equality, as the pawn is taboo -} 23. Qxh5 $6 Rh8) 22... Rh8 23. g5 hxg5 (23...
Kf8 {gives White a choice, both} 24. gxh6 $18 {and} (24. g6 $18 {are winning.})
) 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 25. Qf6 $1 Rxh2 (25... Rg8 26. Rxg8+ Kxg8 27. Qh6 $18 (27. Ke2
$18)) 26. Rg7 Be8 (26... Qe7 27. Rg8+ $18) 27. Bh7 $1 (27. Bh7 Qxc4+ (27...
Rh1+ 28. Kg2 Bc6+ 29. f3) 28. Kg1 $18 {In both cases the effective checks are
quickly over.}) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Qxc3 Nxc5 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Be3 Nce4 11. Qe5 Qxe5 12. Nxe5 Nd5 13. Bc1 Bd7 14.
f3 Nc5 15. e4 Nb3 16. Rb1 Nb6 17. Be3 Rc8 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 19. Be2 Ke7 20. O-O
Rhd8 21. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Nc4 23. Bxb3 Nxe3 24. Kf2 Nc4 25. Rc1 Nb6 26. Rxc8
Nxc8 27. e5 f6 28. f4 fxe5 29. fxe5 Kd7 30. Ba4+ Kc7 31. Bb3 Kd7 32. Ba4+ Kc7
33. Bb3 Kd7 34. Ba4+ 1/2-1/2

