[Event "RUS-chT 17th"]
[Site "Dagomys"]
[Date "2010.04.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.04.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sverdlovsk Ural region"]
[BlackTeam "Khanty Mansiysk Yugra"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 Nc6 7. Be3 e5 8. Nf3
Be7 9. g4 Be6 10. Ng5 h6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Bc4 Qd7 13. h4 b5 14. Bd3 Nd4 15.
Rg1 g5 16. Rh1 Rf8 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. a3 Qb7 19. Rh3 Kd7 20. Kd2 Rf7 21. f3 Raf8
22. Ne2 Nc6 23. c3 Ne8 24. Qh1 Na5 25. Rd1 Nc4+ 26. Bxc4 bxc4 27. Kc1 Nc7 28.
Rh7 Qb8 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Ng1 Qb3 31. Rd2 Qa2 32. Kd1 Qb3+ 33. Ke2 Qb8 34. Kf2
Kc6 35. Kg3 d5 36. Qh6 d4 37. cxd4 exd4 38. Bxd4 Nb5+ 39. Kg2 Nxd4 40. Ne2 Bf6
41. Nxd4+ Kb6 42. Nxe6 Qe5 43. Qg6 Re7 44. Nc5 Qf4 45. Rd5 Ka7 46. e5 Qe3 47.
Qc2 Rxe5 48. Rd7+ Kb6 49. Ne4 Rxe4 50. fxe4 Be5 51. Qf2 Qxf2+ 52. Kxf2 Bxb2 53.
Ke3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 63rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.12.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 bxc6 7. Nc3 d6 8.
Qg3 Qg6 9. Bd2 Ne7 10. f3 Qxg3+ 11. hxg3 Be6 12. O-O-O f6 13. g4 Ng6 14. Na4
Bf2 15. Ba6 Ne5 16. b3 Rb8 17. Rhf1 Bb6 18. g5 fxg5 19. Bxg5 O-O 20. Be2 Nd7
21. Nxb6 axb6 22. Kb2 Nf6 23. Rh1 h6 24. Bd2 b5 25. a3 c5 26. Rh4 c4 27. Bc3
Nd7 28. Rd2 Ne5 29. Bxe5 dxe5 30. Rh5 b4 31. axb4 cxb3 32. Rxe5 Bf7 33. b5 Rfd8
34. Rxd8+ Rxd8 35. Bd3 Kf8 36. Rc5 Rd7 37. f4 Ke7 38. Kc3 bxc2 39. Bxc2 Kd8 40.
f5 Rd6 41. g3 Rb6 42. e5 Be8 43. Ba4 Rb7 44. Kd4 Ke7 45. g4 Kd8 46. Kd5 Ke7 47.
Ke4 Kd8 48. f6 gxf6 49. exf6 Bf7 50. Rc3 Rb6 51. Kf5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 63rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.12.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2010.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Qb4+ 11. Kd1 Nb6 (11... Rb8 12. Qc2 Ne7 13. b3 Bg7 14.
Bd2 Qb6 15. c5 Qb7 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Qc4 Qxc4 18. bxc4 h6 19. h4 d5 20. cxd6
cxd6 21. Bc3 d5 22. Kc2 c5 23. Rab1 O-O 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. cxd5 Nxd5 26. Rd1
Nb4+ 27. Bxb4 cxb4 28. Kb3 Bf8 29. Rd7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2734)-Leko,P (2734)/
Dortmund 2010/Mega2010 Update 32 (57)}) 12. b3 Bg7 13. Qd2 Qe7 14. Bb2 O-O 15.
Kc2 c5 16. h4 d5 17. exd6 Qxd6 18. Bxg7 Qxd2+ 19. Nxd2 Kxg7 {#Not easy to
understand why Svidler accepted to enter this line, since the pawn structure
is shattered and weakened, and there is no obvious compensation for it.} 20.
Ne4 Nd7 21. Rd1 Bb7 22. Nc3 Nf6 23. f3 Rfe8 24. Bd3 a5 25. Rhe1 Bc6 26. Nb5
Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Re8 28. Rxe8 Nxe8 {#} 29. Kb2 $1 {White's plan to bring his king
to a3-a4 and pick up the pawn is straightforward and strong, and forces Black
to play precisely.} Kh6 30. Be2 {#To protect f3 and be able to answer Kh5 with
g3.} Ng7 $2 {A mistake. Black cannot capture the pawn with the king with Kh5,
since White has g3, so he goes for it with his knight instead. The problem is
that this takes far too much time.} ({The immediate} 30... g5 {was necessary.}
31. hxg5+ (31. g3 $2 gxh4 32. gxh4 Kh5) 31... Kxg5 32. g3 Ng7 33. f4+ Kh6 34.
Nxc7 Nh5 $11) 31. Ka3 Nf5 32. Ka4 Nxh4 33. Bf1 Nf5 34. Kxa5 Ne3 35. Nxc7 Nxf1
36. Kb6 Bd7 37. Nd5 Kg7 38. a4 Bc8 39. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d6 4. Nc3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bg5 Be7 8.
O-O-O+ Nbd7 9. Nh3 h6 10. Be3 c6 11. Nf2 Kc7 12. Nd3 b6 13. g3 Ba6 14. b3 Rae8
15. Bh3 Bc8 16. Kc2 Bf8 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4+ Kb7 19. b4 g5 20. Bc1 Ne5 21.
Bxc8+ Kxc8 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Rhf1 Re6 24. Kb3 Be7 25. b5 Rd8 26. bxc6 Rxd1 27.
Rxd1 Rxc6 28. Nb5 Re6 29. e3 a6 30. Nd4 Re5 31. Rf1 Kd7 32. Nf5 Ke6 33. Ng7+
Kd7 34. Nf5 Ke6 35. Ng7+ Kd7 36. Kc2 Ne4 37. Nf5 Ra5 38. Bb2 Rxa2 39. Rd1+ Ke8
40. Kb3 Ra5 41. Nxh6 Nc5+ 42. Kc2 Ra4 43. Nf5 Rxc4+ 44. Kb1 g4 45. Rd5 Ne6 46.
Be5 Rc6 47. e4 f6 48. Bb2 Nc7 49. Rd3 Rc4 50. Rd4 Rxd4 51. Bxd4 b5 52. Nh6 Ne6
53. Be3 Nc5 54. Bxc5 Bxc5 55. Nxg4 Kf7 56. h4 Kg6 57. Kc2 a5 58. h5+ Kg5 59. h6
Bf8 60. h7 Bg7 61. Ne3 Kg6 62. Nd5 Kxh7 63. Nc7 b4 64. Kb3 Bf8 65. Nd5 Kg6 66.
Ka4 Bd6 67. Kxa5 b3 68. Nc3 Be5 69. Kb4 b2 70. Nb1 Kg5 71. Kc4 Kg4 72. Kd3 Kxg3
73. Ke3 Bf4+ 74. Ke2 Bc1 75. Nc3 Kf4 76. Kd3 Kf3 77. Kc2 Bf4 78. Nb1 $4 (78.
Kd3 $11) 78... Kxe4 79. Kxb2 Kd3 80. Kb3 Be5 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Bg4 9. Rc1 (9. Qd2 {looks more accurate to me.}) 9... Bxf3 {The most
"primitive" approach - and it works!} (9... Qa5 {is usually played.}) 10. gxf3
cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. f4 $146 (12. Qd2 {looks the most logical but Black
manages to attack the d4 pawn:} e6 13. Bg2 Nc6 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. f4
Nf5 17. O-O Re8 18. Rfd1 Nd6 $15 {1/2 Sundararajan,K (2449)-Gopal,G (2609)/New
Delhi IND 2010/The Week in Chess 840 (37)}) ({I am curious about what Black
had prepared against} 12. Bc4 $5 Qa5+ 13. Kf1 Nc6 14. d5 Ne5 15. Bb3 Rac8 16.
Kg2 Qa6 17. Qd2 b5 18. Rxc8 Rxc8 19. Rc1 Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Qb4 $14 {
1/2 Gligoric,S (2565)-Beliavsky,A (2590)/Vienna 1980/MCL (75)}) 12... e6 13.
Bg2 Nc6 14. e5 (14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. O-O Nf5 {[%cal Yf5d6] , and White
must probably liquidate into an equal ending by means of} 17. d6 Qxd6 18. Bxb7
Rab8 19. Qxd6 Nxd6 20. Bf3 {- Black's better pawn structure compensates for
White's bishop pair.}) 14... Qa5+ 15. Qd2 Qa6 16. Qe2 Qa5+ 17. Qd2 Qa6 18. Bf1
$6 {Absolutely unjustified. After e4-e5 White has no advantage whatsoever, and
he should have accepted a draw.} Qa4 19. Rc4 Qb5 20. Rc5 (20. Be2 Ne7 $15)
20... Qb1+ 21. Ke2 Qe4 22. f3 Qf5 23. h4 (23. Kf2 Rfd8 $15) 23... Qh5 24. Bf2
$2 {Not a good idea - to leave the king on e2.} (24. Kf2) (24. d5 exd5 25. Rxd5
Rfd8 26. Kf2 $11) 24... Rfd8 {[%mdl 128]} 25. Bh3 Bf8 26. Bg4 {The bishop can
achieve nothing here.} Qh6 27. Rc4 Rd5 {Black quickly creates a decisive
attack on the d4-pawn.} 28. h5 Rad8 29. Rh3 Bc5 30. hxg6 Qxg6 31. f5 exf5 32.
Bh5 Nxd4+ $1 33. Kf1 (33. Rxd4 Qa6+) (33. Bxd4 Qg2+) 33... Nxf3 $1 34. Qxd5
Rxd5 35. Bxf3 (35. Bxg6 Nd2+ 36. Kg2 Nxc4 37. Bxh7+ Kg7 $19) 35... Bxf2 36.
Bxd5 Qg1+ 37. Ke2 Qe1+ 38. Kf3 Qf1 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2814"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In advance of a game with a strong opponent, one usually prepares especially
hard. Alas, though, in this instance, a difficult defeat that I had suffered
against Smeets the previous day had its effect on me. I decided it was better
just to keep a clear head, especially as Magnus usually manages to surprise
his opponents in the opening, in virtually every game.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f4
b5 11. Be3 Bb7 12. a4 exf4 $5 ({Magnus has played this slightly unusual
move-order before. The game Carlsen-Dominguez, 2010, continued} 12... Nb4 13.
Qd2 d5 14. fxe5 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nd4 Nd5 17. Nf5 $14 {and White managed
to win.}) 13. Rxf4 Ne5 {By means of a series of small threats, Black has
managed to equalise.} 14. Qd4 Nc6 15. Qd2 {White has improved the position of
his queen, however, he is not able to strengthen the centre.} Ne5 16. Qd4 Nc6
17. Qd2 Ne5 18. axb5 ({Carlsen had used a lot of time on his last few moves,
and I understood that he was hardly likely to take the repetition of moves,
especially as the tournament situation required him to play for a win.
Naturally, White has many ways to continue the fight, but all involve some
degree of commitment, and even risk. Here is one sample line:} 18. Nd4 Ng6 (
18... b4 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Nxd5) 19. Rff1 Nh4 $5 ({после} 19... b4 20. Nd5
Nxe4 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qxb4 Nh4 23. Nf5 Nxf5 24. Rxf5 Ng3+ 25. hxg3 Qxe3 26.
Bd3 g6 27. Rff1 {Chances are about equal, although White's position is
slightly more pleasant}) 20. Nf3 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Nxh4 Bxh4 {and Black
is fine.}) 18... axb5 19. Re1 $5 ({A prophylactic decision, based on an
oversight. Of course, one can hardly recommend} 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 {and Black has
excellent piece play.}) ({However, the more natural move} 19. Rd1 {hardly
offers more than equality.} Ng6 20. Rff1 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Bxb5 Nh4 {
Now White does not manage to obtain a harmonious setup, with the rook on e2,
which it seems to me, was the idea of 19 Re1.} 23. Rf2 Nf5 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25.
Qxd3 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 Bf6 27. c3 Re8 {with equal play.}) 19... Ng6 20. Rff1 b4 21.
Nd5 Nxe4 ({I could not refrain from this concrete and very tempting
continuation. After the quiet} 21... Nxd5 22. exd5 Bf6 {Black has a solid
position, but it is very hard to achieve anything more.}) 22. Nxe7+ (22. Qd4 $6
Bh4 23. Rd1 Re8 {gives Black a serious initiative.}) 22... Qxe7 23. Qxb4 Nh4 {
Now accuracy is required of White; the black bishop, controlling the long
diagonal, is causing a lot of trouble.} 24. Bf3 Nxf3 25. gxf3 (25. Rxf3 {
gives the black knight a wonderful outpost, so White is forced to spoil his
structure.}) 25... Qd7 $1 {Magnus obviously overlooked this move when playing
19 Re1.} 26. Bf4 $1 ({The only move. Other defences against the threat of Ng3+
fail:} 26. Kg1 Ra4 27. Qb6 Ba6 $1 28. fxe4 Qg4+ 29. Kf2 f5 $19) 26... Ra4 27.
Qb6 Nf6 ({After a 30-minute think, I decided to go for simplifications. At the
board, I could not decide on the computer line} 27... g5 28. c4 Rxc4 29. Na5) (
27... Nf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rxf4 29. Nd4 {leads to equality; the white knight is too
strong.}) 28. Qxd6 Qg4 29. Nd4 Rxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxf3+ 31. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+
33. Kh1 Qc8 {The best practical chance - with White's king so weak, his passed
pawns are not dangerous.} 34. Qf2 ({Premature is} 34. c4 Rd8 35. Qb6 {(with
the idea of Bd6 and c5) because of} Ne4 $1 {and it is difficult for White to
coordinate his forces.}) 34... Qb7+ 35. Kg1 ({White's activity after} 35. Qg2
Qxb2 36. Be5 Qb6 37. Rf1 Nh5 {(or 37...Ne8) does not fully compensate for the
pawn.}) 35... Ne4 ({Taking control of d4 does not work; after} 35... Rd8 $2 36.
Bg5 {White will probably save the game.}) 36. Qd4 Re8 37. Re2 $6 ({Slight
time-trouble starts to have its effect. In a very uncomfortable position,
Magnus decides to play very solidly. It seems that it was better to forget
prophylaxis and push the pawns:} 37. b4 {or 37.c4. Even then, the simple plan
h6, Re6, f5 etc. gives me a very promising position, but even so, White's
chances are improved by his pawns being closer to the 8th rank.}) 37... h6 $1
38. h3 ({It is hard to decide on} 38. Rg2 g5 39. h4 f6 {, but White should
have changed the character of the position.}) 38... Re6 39. Kh2 {The variation
given in the previous note still applies here.} f5 $6 ({A small inaccuracy;
better was} 39... Kh7) 40. b4 $6 ({Carlsen misses a surprsing possibility. It
was necessary to disturb Black's optimal setup by} 40. Qc4 $1 Qf7 (40... Kf7 {
looks somehow unscientific}) 41. Qd5 g5 42. Bb8 {In any event, this way White
can reach an endgame, where he retains definite chances of saving the game:}
Re7 43. Qxf7+ Kxf7 44. Kg2 Kf6 {and although the white pawns are much slower,
I am unable to give a definitive assessment of this position.}) 40... Kh7 {
Now Black just needs not to blow his advantage. White has no counterplay, and
will soon be unable to defend all his weaknesses.} 41. Re3 Rg6 (41... g5 {
is strong:} 42. Be5 Re7 {but I did not want to weaken my king without absolute
necessity.}) 42. Re2 Qb5 43. Re1 {White's play does not look logical, but
adequate alternatives are hard to see.} Rc6 $6 ({I was afraid of selling
myself too cheaply, and not without good reason. After} 43... Qa6 $1 $19 {
White is in complete zugzwang, and in order to continue the fight, he has to
give up a pawn. The text move does not throw away the win, but significantly
complicates Black's task.}) 44. Rxe4 fxe4 45. Qxe4+ Rg6 46. Bg3 Qd7 $1 {
The main thing is not to allow the white queen to the key square d3, from
where it simultaneously pins the black rook, defends his bishop and supports
the advance of the pawns.} 47. h4 h5 (47... Qd2+ 48. Kh1 $1 h5 49. Qf5 Qd1+ 50.
Kh2 Qg4 51. Qxg4 Rxg4 52. c3 Rc4 53. Be1 Kg6 {, probably wins, but I did not
want to leave White with both of his passed pawns.}) 48. c4 ({Desperation.
After} 48. Qe2 Qf5 {the activation of the rooks decides the game, so more
tenacious was}) (48. Qf3 $1 {, and Black has to go into the above variation:}
Qg4 49. Qxg4 Rxg4 50. c3 Rc4 {and so on.}) 48... Qd2+ 49. Kh3 Qc3 50. Qf4 Qxb4
({To my shame, I did not play} 50... Qd3 $1 {because of} 51. b5 Rf6 52. Qe5 Rf5
53. Qb2 (53. Qe6 Rf2 $1) 53... Qxc4 54. b6 {. But this is easily winning
according to the computer: "1. -+ (-5.36): 54...Rb5 55.Qf2 Qe4" etc.}) 51. Qf5
Qxc4 52. Qxh5+ Rh6 {The realisation of the extra exchange does not cause any
problems. The white pawn on h4 will be lost as soon as the queens come off.}
53. Qf3 Qe6+ 54. Kh2 Rf6 55. Qd3+ Rf5 56. Qc2 Qd5 57. Bf2 Kh6 58. Be3+ Kg6 59.
Bf2 Kf6 60. Bg3 Rf1 61. Bf2 Rd1 62. Qc3+ Qe5+ 63. Qxe5+ Kxe5 64. h5 Kf6 {
White cannot even get the ending with rook and h-pawn against bishop, in which
the stronger side only wins with some difficulty.} 65. Bh4+ Kf5 66. Be7 Rd7 {
White resigns} 0-1

[Event "WchT 8th"]
[Site "Ningbo"]
[Date "2011.07.18"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B60"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.07.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Hungary"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "HUN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Bxf6 gxf6 9. Qd2 a6 10. f4 Bd7 11. Be2 h5 12. Rf1 O-O-O 13. O-O-O Kb8 14. Kb1
Be7 15. Rf3 Rdg8 16. Bf1 Rc8 17. Qe1 Nb4 18. Qd2 Nc6 19. a3 Rc7 20. Na2 h4 21.
Rh3 Rcc8 22. Qe1 Qc7 23. Qf2 Ka8 24. Nc3 Na5 25. Nc1 Rh5 26. N1a2 Rch8 27. Be2
R5h7 28. Nb4 Be8 29. f5 Qc5 30. Qf1 Nc6 31. Bxa6 bxa6 32. Nxa6 Qa5 33. Nb5 Bd8
34. Rb3 Bb6 35. Nxd6 Ne5 36. Nxe8 Rxe8 37. Rd6 Ka7 38. Rdxb6 Qxb6 39. Rxb6 Kxb6
40. a4 Rc8 41. Qb5+ 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Bh4 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5+ 10. c3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. O-O Bd6 13. Qf3 Qh5 14. Qxh5
Nxh5 15. f3 Nf4 16. Be4 Bc5 17. Bf2 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Ne2+ 19. Kf2 Nxd4 20. cxd4
Ke7 21. Rfe1 Kd6 22. Re3 Rab8 23. Ra3 a6 24. Rc1 Rhc8 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. f4 Bd7
27. Ke3 f5 28. Bf3 g5 29. h3 Bc6 30. Bxc6 Kxc6 31. Rc3+ Kd6 32. Rb3 Kc6 33. a4
Rg8 34. fxg5 Rxg5 35. Kf3 h5 36. g3 Rg7 37. Re3 Kd5 38. Re5+ Kd6 39. Kf4 Rc7
40. Kg5 Rc4 41. Kf6 Rxd4 42. Rxe6+ Kc7 43. Kxf5 Rxa4 44. g4 hxg4 45. hxg4 Rb4
46. Re2 Kd6 47. g5 Rb3 48. g6 Rg3 49. Re6+ Kd7 50. Rb6 Kc7 51. Rb4 a5 52. Rg4
Rf3+ 53. Kg5 Rf8 54. g7 Rg8 55. Kf6 Kc6 56. Kf7 Rd8 57. g8=Q Rxg8 58. Kxg8 Kc5
59. b3 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2011.09.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.08.28"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. h4 Nc6 8. h5
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Ng5 Qxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. hxg6 hxg6 14. Ne4
Bxe4 15. Bxe4 Rfc8 16. e3 Rc7 17. Ke2 a6 18. g4 e6 19. Ba3 Na7 20. f4 Nb5 21.
Bb2 Nd6 22. Bf3 Rd8 23. Ra2 c4 24. bxc4 Nxc4 25. Ba1 Nd6 26. Rb1 Bf6 27. g5 Bg7
28. Rb6 Rdd7 29. Rb3 Re7 30. d4 Nc4 31. Kd3 Nd6 32. e4 Red7 33. e5 Nc8 34. c4
Ne7 35. Bc3 b5 36. cxb5 axb5 37. Ra8+ Rc8 38. Rxc8+ Nxc8 39. Rxb5 Bf8 40. Rb8
Rc7 41. Bb7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 d6 7. O-O Nge7 {
This solid setup for Black has a great deal of value and is an interesting way
of meeting the English Opening.} 8. b4 {This pawn is completely poisoned, but
the queenside expansion doesn't guarantee White an advantage. Black must be
swift, though, or he will be crushed strategically.} (8. Ne1 {with the idea of
Nc2-e3 is a common idea in this position, but White would definitely omit a3
in that case.}) 8... e4 9. Ne1 f5 10. Bb2 O-O 11. d3 Be6 12. dxe4 (12. Rb1 $5 {
The game seems highly unstable, but I'd prefer White.}) 12... fxe4 13. Bxe4
Bxc4 {This strange looking position is actually not new. It's hard to say
exactly what is going on in this position, but let's give it a try. Black
dreams of pushing forward his d-pawn, causing problems for the white pieces
which currently hold the centre. Black has a nagging pin on the long dark
diagonal. On the other hand, White's pawn structure is slightly healthier. The
next few moves are very key to determine who will win the opening battle.} 14.
Nc2 $6 {The first new move of the game doesn't seem to be particularly
successful. The move does little to impair the advance of the d-pawn.} (14. Nd3
{had been tried before} d5 15. Bg2 Bxd3 16. exd3 (16. Qxd3 $5 c4 17. Qd1 d4 18.
Ne4 {and the pair of bishops does cause the central push some problems.}) 16...
cxb4 17. axb4 Nxb4 18. Qb3 a5 19. Ba3 {and White had some compensation for the
pawn, but it's not clear how much in Zubarev-Borovikov, Ukraine ch 2008.
Notice the recurring theme of the advancing central pawns.}) (14. bxc5 dxc5 15.
Nd3 Nd4 $1 {gives Black a lot of activity, although the position is still
incredibly murky.}) 14... d5 15. Bg2 d4 $6 {Nepo goes for the throat. It was
possible to hold the centre for a little longer.} (15... b6 {and Black's
position must be preferable. His strong pawn centre and greater activity can't
be understimated, and White doesn't have a clear next move.} 16. Ne3 $2 d4 17.
Nxc4 dxc3 {is atrocious for White.}) 16. Ne4 (16. Na4 $2 b6 $1 17. bxc5 $2 b5
$19 {is a nice trick.}) 16... Bxe2 {I don't think any other move made sense
after having played d4 so soon, but who will come out of the tactical melee on
top?} 17. Qxe2 d3 18. Qg4 Bxb2 19. Rad1 Qc8 20. Qxc8 Raxc8 21. Rxd3 cxb4 (21...
c4 22. Rd7 b5 23. Rb1 Bg7 24. Nd6 $14 {is too risky for Black. Despite the
fact that he has a strong passed pawn on c4, White has too much activity and
is currently blocking the advance of the said pawn. Black will be lucky if he
only loses a little bit of material.}) 22. axb4 Rcd8 {The dust has cleared
somewhat and it seems clear that Black got no advantage from the tactical
operations. However he isn't worse either, the game actually looks drawish
because of the opposite coloured bishops. Surely nothing unfortunate could
happen to Kramnik here.} 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rb1 (24. b5 {was more precise,
since now Black does not have ...Nd4, it forces the N to a5 where it would be
quite uncomfortable..} Nd4 25. Rb1 $14) 24... Bg7 25. h4 b5 26. Bf1 a6 27. Nc5
$6 {This is the start of Vlad's downfall. He allows Ian to gather a strong
initiative. It would've been safer to simply play...} (27. Bh3 {and keep an
eye on d2.}) 27... Rd2 28. Ne3 Bd4 29. Ne4 $6 {Backtracking, but it is too
late...} (29. Nxa6 Ne5 30. Bxb5 Nf5 {and for all of White's extra material his
position is very, very dicey. White might not be lost immediately but it seems
incredibly frightening to play this over the board. Let's look at some lines.}
31. Nxf5 (31. Nd1 Ng4 32. Nc5 $1 {This move might be the only one that allows
White to survive, but it isn't natural.} Nxf2 33. Nxf2 Bxf2+ 34. Kh1 {It seems
that white survives this position, but that can only be accurately said with
the help of a computer.} Bxg3 (34... Nxg3+ 35. Kg2 Bxc5+ 36. Kxg3 Bd6+ $11) 35.
Ne4 Rh2+ 36. Kg1 Bf4 (36... Be5 37. Nf6+ Kg7 38. Ng4 $11 {is a nice little
trick forcing further simplifications.}) 37. h5 $1 {and White can definitely
hope to survive this.}) 31... gxf5 $1 32. Kf1 $1 {More computer moves!} (32.
Rf1 $6 Ng4 33. Bc6 Bxf2+ 34. Kh1 Bxg3 {is very dangerous, as the f-pawn is
taboo.} 35. Rxf5 $2 Rh2+ 36. Kg1 Bf2+ 37. Rxf2 Rxf2 $17 {and White might hold
the endgame, but again it looks unlikely.}) 32... Rxf2+ 33. Ke1 Nf3+ 34. Kd1
$11 {and I can't find a forced win for Black. Actually I can't even find an
advantage. But, like most of the variations that start with 29.Nxa6, this
looks ridiculous from the perspective of a human who is in time pressure.})
29... Rb2 30. Rxb2 Bxb2 31. Nc2 Nd5 {The b4-pawn is lost, and the endgame is
most unpleasant. The opposite coloured bishops is the only thing giving White
any hope for a draw.} 32. Nc5 Ndxb4 33. Nxb4 Nxb4 34. Nd3 (34. Nxa6 $5 Nxa6 35.
Bxb5 Nc5 36. Kg2 {I'm not 100% sure on how easy it is to break down this
fortress. It is not easy to coordinate an attack on the white pawns, since
Black's bishop is the wrong color and the bishops can never be forced to be
traded for each other. I guess Vlad didn't see a need for this though.}) 34...
Nxd3 35. Bxd3 {It seems that the opposite coloured bishops are scream DRAW.
However things are not so easy just yet.} Kf7 36. f4 (36. h5 gxh5 37. Bxh7 a5
38. Bd3 b4 {is just hopeless, the bishop must guard the pawns for as long as
possible.}) 36... Ke6 37. Kf2 Kd5 38. Ke2 Kc5 39. Kd2 $2 {This is not the
losing move, but the idea is already incorrect. Kramnik should've immediately
forced the liquidation of the kingside.} (39. f5 {would have drawn.} gxf5 (
39... a5 40. fxg6 hxg6 (40... a4 41. Bf5 a3 42. Be6 hxg6 43. Kd3) 41. Bxg6 a4
42. Kd3 $11) 40. Bxf5 a5 (40... h6 41. g4 b4 (41... Bf6 42. g5 hxg5 43. hxg5
Bxg5 44. Kd3 {and the bishop will keep the pawns under attack from behind,
preventing Black from ever making any progress as he cannot go "around" the
pawns.}) 42. Be6 a5 43. g5 a4 44. Bd7 {is a simple draw.}) 41. Bxh7 a4 42. Kd3
Be5 43. Bf5 Bxg3 44. Bd7 $11) 39... a5 40. f5 $2 {White has played in a very
standard manner so far. He is trying to get rid of all the kingside pawns, but
first he brought his king to catch the queenside pawns. It is hard to believe
that such simple logic would have failed so completely.} (40. g4 a4 41. Bc2 {
might still hold, but it isn't as easy.}) 40... a4 $19 (40... gxf5 $2 {
transposes to the previous line} 41. Bxf5 h6 42. g4 Bf6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5
Bxg5+ 45. Kc2 a4 46. Bd7) 41. Bc2 $2 {White has played in a very standard
manner so far. He is trying to get rid of all the kingside pawns, but first he
brought his king to catch the queenside pawns. It is hard to believe that such
simple logic would have failed so completely.} (41. fxg6 b4 $1 {must have been
what Kramnik missed originally. Black isn't forced to retake on g6 since the B
is neatly controlling the white pawns. On the other hand, no one is able to
catch the queenside pawns anymore.} 42. gxh7 (42. Bc2 b3 43. Bxb3 axb3 44. gxh7
Kb4 $1 $19) 42... Bc3+ 43. Ke3 a3 $19) 41... a3 42. Bb1 gxf5 {Now that the
kingside pawns cannot be exchanged, Black is able to create two passers on
opposite flanks, overburdening the K and the B.} 43. Kc2 Kb4 44. Ba2 Be5 45.
Be6 a2 (45... h5 {was slightly easier.}) 46. Bxa2 Bxg3 47. h5 h6 48. Kd3 Ka3
49. Bd5 b4 50. Kc2 Be5 51. Bb3 f4 52. Bd5 Bf6 53. Kb1 b3 {Black will now
proceed to swing the K to aid the f-pawn after cementing the pawn on b2; there
is nothing White can do about it. There is a saying that it takes more than
one minor mistake to lose a chess game. Kramnik erred several times, and
although he almost scraped a draw, he just erred one time too many.} 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 19th"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2012.04.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2012.04.09"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Saratov Economist"]
[BlackTeam "Tomsk 400"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Re1 h6 11. Rc1 Re8 12. h3 dxc4 13. bxc4 e5 14. Qc2 Qe7 15.
Nh4 Nf8 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. Bxf5 e4 18. h4 b5 19. Ne2 N8d7 20. a4 g6 21. Bh3 Reb8
22. Rb1 Ra7 23. Rb3 Rab7 24. Reb1 h5 25. g3 Nf8 26. Bg2 bxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxb3 28.
Rxb3 Rxb3 29. Qxb3 c5 30. Qc4 cxd4 31. Nxd4 Qb7 32. Bf1 Ng4 33. Qxa6 Qb2 34.
Qa5 Nd7 35. Qc3 Qb8 36. Kg2 Nxf2 37. Kxf2 Bxg3+ 38. Ke2 Bxh4 39. Kd1 Ne5 40. a5
Qb1+ 41. Bc1 Ng4 42. Qb3 Qa1 43. a6 Bg5 44. Nc2 Nf2+ 45. Kd2 Qa5+ 46. Qb4 Qd5+
47. Qd4 Qa5+ 48. Nb4 Be7 49. Bb2 Bxb4+ 50. Kc2 Qa4+ 51. Kb1 f6 52. Qd5+ Kg7 53.
Bb5 Qa5 54. Qb7+ Kh6 55. a7 Be7 56. a8=Q Qb4 57. Qd5 f5 58. Qe5 1-0

[Event "Capablanca Memorial Elite 47th"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "2012.05.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Laznicka, Viktor"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Let's Check"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2012.05.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O c6 8. c4 Qc7
9. Nbd2 a5 10. Qc2 Na6 11. a3 Re8 12. Rfd1 e5 13. c5 e4 14. cxd6 Qxd6 15. Nc4
Qc7 16. Nfe5 Be6 17. f3 exf3 18. exf3 f4 19. Qd2 Nd5 20. Qxa5 b6 21. Qd2 b5 22.
Na5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Ne3 24. Qc3 Nxd1 25. Rxd1 Qb6+ 26. Kh1 Nc5 27. Nxc6 Rac8 28.
Nd4 Na4 (28... Nxb3 29. Qe1 Nxd4 $19) 29. bxa4 $2 (29. Qd2 Nxb2 30. Qxb2 $17)
29... Rxc3 $19 30. Bxc3 bxa4 31. Nxe6 Qb3 32. Rc1 Qxa3 33. Bd2 Rxe6 34. Bxf4
Qb2 35. Bh3 Re7 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37. Bf1 Qb7 38. Rd8 a3 39. Bc4 Qb1+ 0-1

[Event "RUS-CHN Summit 8th"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "2012.07.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2012.07.02"]
[EventType "team-schev"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 b6 8. O-O Bb7
9. b4 Nbd7 10. Ba3 e6 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Qb3 Rfd8 13. Rfe1 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Bf8 15.
e4 b5 16. Bf1 a5 17. Rb1 e5 18. dxe5 Nh5 19. Ne2 axb4 20. Bxb4 c5 21. Bd2 Nxe5
22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Bc3 Qg5 24. Qxb5 Bxe4 25. Rbd1 Rd5 26. Qc4 Rad8 27. Rxd5 Bxd5
28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. hxg4 Ng7 30. Bf6 Ra8 31. Nc3 Bxa2 32. Ra1 Ne8 33. Be5 f6 34.
Bc4+ Bxc4 35. Rxa8 Kf7 36. Bf4 g5 37. Be3 Bd3 38. Ra5 c4 39. Bc5 Bxc5 40. Rxc5
Nd6 41. f3 f5 42. gxf5 Nxf5 43. Ne4 Bxe4 44. fxe4 Nd6 45. Rxg5 Nxe4 46. Re5 Nd6
47. Rc5 Kf6 48. Kh2 h5 49. Kh3 Ke6 50. Kh2 Kf6 51. g3 Ke6 52. Kg2 Nf5 53. Kf2
h4 54. g4 Nd6 55. Kg2 Ne4 56. Rxc4 Ng5 57. Rf4 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 28th"]
[Site "Eilat"]
[Date "2012.10.13"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2704"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2012.10.11"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Saratov Economist"]
[BlackTeam "Baden-Baden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bd2 g6 11. Ne4 O-O-O 12. a4 Ba6 13. Qf3 Re8 14. Bc3 f5
15. Nd2 Bg7 16. c5 Bxf1 17. cxb6 Ba6 18. bxa7 Kb7 19. O-O-O Bxe5 20. Rhe1 Qf6
21. Rxe5 Rxe5 22. Qf4 Rhe8 23. Qb4+ Kxa7 24. f4 Qd6 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 20th"]
[Site "Loo"]
[Date "2013.04.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2013.04.07"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Rostov PGMB"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow ShSM Our Hopes"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O b5 10. f4 Rc8 11. Kb1 Be7 12. h3 h5 13. Bd3 h4 14. Rhe1 Qc7 15.
Qf2 Qb7 16. f5 Bc4 17. Na5 Qa8 18. Nxc4 bxc4 19. Bf1 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Qxe4 21. Bc1
Qb7 22. g4 hxg3 23. Qxg3 Kf8 24. Bg2 Qb6 25. Rg1 Rh7 26. Be3 Qb8 27. c3 Nf6 28.
Rd2 Rd8 29. h4 Qc8 30. Rf1 e4 31. Bh3 d5 32. Bg5 Qc6 33. Rfd1 Re8 34. Bg2 Bd6
35. Qe1 Be5 36. Qe2 Qc8 37. Rf1 Nh5 38. Rxd5 Ng3 39. Qf2 Nxf1 40. Bxf1 Bxc3 41.
Rc5 Qb7 42. Bxc4 e3 43. Qe2 Bf6 44. Bd5 Qe7 0-1

[Event "EU-ch 14th"]
[Site "Legnica"]
[Date "2013.05.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Moiseenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2013.05.05"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 Ne7 6. Bb2 f6 7. Nh4 e5 8. f4
d6 9. O-O Be6 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Kh1 Qd7 12. d3 Nc8 13. Nc3 Be7 14. Qh5+ Bf7 15.
Qf3 O-O 16. Nf5 Nd6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Na4 Nb5 19. Qf2 c4 20. dxc4 Nc7 21. Bc1
Ne6 22. Be3 Rfd8 23. Rad1 Bg6 24. Bc5 Qe8 25. Nc3 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Rxd8
Qxd8 28. Be3 a6 29. h3 h6 30. Qe2 Qa5 31. Qd3 Kh7 32. Kh2 Qb4 33. Kg3 Qa5 34.
Kf2 Qb4 35. Ke2 Qa5 36. Kd1 Qb4 37. Kc1 Qa3+ 38. Kb1 Qa5 39. Kb2 Nf4 40. Qd2
Qc7 41. c5 Ne6 42. Qd3 Qc8 43. Na4 Nf4 44. Bxf4 exf4 45. Nc3 a5 46. Qd6 f3 47.
gxf3 Qxh3 48. Qxc6 Qxf3 49. Qd7 Bh5 50. c6 Bg4 51. Nd5 h5 52. Qf7 h4 53. c7 Qf2
54. c8=Q Bxc8 55. Qh5+ Kg8 56. Qe8+ Kh7 57. Qxc8 f5 58. exf5 h3 59. f6 h2 60.
Qh3+ Kg8 61. Qg4 Qg1 62. Qe6+ Kh7 63. f7 h1=Q 64. f8=Q Qc1+ 65. Kc3 Qa1+ 66.
Kc4 Qh4+ 67. Kb5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch Higher League 66th"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2013.06.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.06.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 d6 7. Be3 Bd7 8. f4
b5 9. a3 Nf6 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Nxg4 12. Bxg4 Qh4+ 13. Kd2 Qxg4 14. Rad1 Qh4
15. Kc1 {Ian Nepomniachtchi: "Bei der Vorbereitung hatte ich eine ähnliche
Stellung auf dem Brett. Weiß hat einen Bauern für sehr starke Initiative
geopfert und es ist nicht klar, wo Schwarz besser spielen kann."} Qd8 16. Rhg1
Rc8 17. f5 e5 ({Ian Nepomniachtchi: "Wahrscheinlich hätte man hier nicht den
e-Bauern ziehen, sondern} 17... Qc7 {mit der Idee ...Dc4 spielen sollen, aber
auch dann ist die schwarze Stellung schwer zu verteidigen."}) 18. Qd3 Bc6 19.
Kb1 Qc7 20. Qe2 Bb7 21. Rd3 Qc4 22. Qg2 g6 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qc7 25. Rc3
Qd7 26. Rxc8+ Qxc8 27. f6 {Weiß hat den Läufer auf f8 eingemauert und spielt
praktisch mit einer Figur mehr.} h5 28. Qd2 h4 29. Ka1 ({Ian Nepomniachtchi:
"Eigentlich wollte ich} 29. c4 {spielen, aber} Qf5+ {gefiel mir nicht."}) 29...
h3 30. c4 bxc4 31. Qb4 Rh4 32. Rc1 Re4 33. Rc3 {Obwohl Weiß zwei volle Bauern
weniger hat, ist es Schwarz, der in Verlustgefahr schwebt. Ian Nepomniachtchi:
"Weiß will den Bauern a6 gewinnen, danach die Damen tauschen und das Endspiel
mit dem eingeschlossenen Läufer auf f8 gewinnen."} Be7 34. fxe7 Kxe7 35. Qb6
Rg4 36. Bh6 Qc5 37. Qb7+ Ke8 38. Rf3 f5 39. Bf8 $3 (39. Bf8 $3 {und Grachev
gab auf, denn nach} Kxf8 40. Rxh3 Kg8 41. Qh7+ Kf8 42. Qh8+ Ke7 43. Rh7# {
wird er mattgesetzt.}) 1-0

[Event "Biel Breisacher Memorial"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2013.07.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Moiseenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2013.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. b3 d6 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qd5 8.
Nf3 Qe4+ 9. Kf1 Qf5 10. Na3 Ba6+ 11. d3 Bd6 12. h3 Ne7 13. Qe1 e5 14. Nd2 O-O
15. Nac4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Qe6 17. Bb2 f6 18. Qe4 Nd5 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Qf3 Bc7 21.
h4 Nb6 22. Nd2 f5 23. h5 h6 24. Rh4 Qd7 25. Qd1 Bd8 26. Rh3 Bf6 27. Ba3 Qd6 28.
Kg1 e4 29. Nf1 Bd4 30. c3 Bxc3 31. dxe4 Qe5 32. Re2 fxe4 33. Nd2 Rd8 34. Qc1
Bd4 35. Nxe4 Rxf2 36. Rxf2 Qxe4 37. Bxc5 Bxf2+ 38. Bxf2 Qe2 39. Qe3 Rd1+ 40.
Kh2 Rd2 41. Qxe2 Rxe2 42. Bd4 Rxa2 43. Rg3 Ra5 44. Rxg7+ Kf8 45. g4 Rd5 46. Bc3
Rd3 47. Ba1 Rd2+ 48. Kg3 Ra2 49. Bf6 Nd5 50. Rg6 Nxf6 51. Rxf6+ Kg7 52. Rg6+
Kh7 53. Rxc6 a5 54. Rc7+ Kg8 55. Kf4 a4 56. b4 Rb2 57. Rb7 a3 58. Kf5 Rg2 59.
Ra7 a2 60. b5 Kf8 61. Kf6 Kg8 62. Kf5 Kf8 63. Ke6 Rb2 64. Kf6 Ke8 65. Kg6 Rg2
66. Kxh6 Rxg4 67. Rxa2 Rb4 68. Re2+ Kf7 69. Re5 Kf6 70. Rc5 Rb1 71. Kh7 Rb2 72.
h6 Rd2 73. Rc6+ Kf7 74. b6 Rd8 75. b7 Rb8 76. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Poikovsky Karpov 14th"]
[Site "Poikovsky"]
[Date "2013.08.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "193"]
[EventDate "2013.08.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 Nc6 7. a3 Bg4 8. h3
Bh5 9. d3 Qd7 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 c6 14. Bb3 Bxf3
15. Qxf3 Rae8 16. Qg4 Qxg4 17. hxg4 g6 18. g3 Kg7 19. Kg2 Bd8 20. f4 Ba5 21.
Re2 h6 22. Kf3 Rh8 23. Rh1 Re7 24. Ba2 Ree8 25. Reh2 Bd8 26. a4 Ba5 27. Rb1 Bd8
28. b4 b6 29. b5 c5 30. Rbh1 Bf6 31. Bd5 Bd8 32. Ke2 Rh7 33. Kf3 Reh8 34. Rh3
h5 35. g5 f6 36. gxf6+ Bxf6 37. Ra1 Bd8 38. Kg2 Rf8 39. Rah1 Rfh8 40. R3h2 Rh6
41. Rf1 Rf8 42. Rhh1 Rhh8 43. Re1 h4 44. Ref1 hxg3 45. Rxh8 Rxh8 46. Kxg3 Rf8
47. Ra1 Rh8 48. Rg1 Rf8 49. Be6 Kf6 50. Bd7 Rf7 51. Bc6 Rh7 52. Re1 Bc7 53. Bd5
Rh8 54. Bb3 g5 55. fxg5+ Kxg5 56. Rg1 Rf8 57. Bd5 Bd8 58. Kh3+ Kf6 59. Rg4 Rh8+
60. Kg2 Rh7 61. Kf3 Ke7 62. Bc6 Kf8 63. Bd5 Ke7 64. Ke2 Kd7 65. Rg8 Kc7 66. Kd2
Re7 67. Kc1 Re5 68. Kb2 Re7 69. Kb3 Re5 70. Rh8 Re7 71. Kc4 Re5 72. Rh6 Kd7 73.
Bg8 Kc7 74. Be6 Be7 75. Bg4 Bd8 76. Bh3 Re7 77. Be6 Re8 78. Kd5 Re7 79. Rg6 Re8
80. Rg1 Re7 81. Ra1 Rg7 82. Bf5 Re7 83. Be6 Rg7 84. Rh1 Re7 85. Rf1 Re8 86. Ra1
Rf8 87. a5 bxa5 88. Rxa5 Kb7 89. Ra1 Bc7 90. Bd7 Rh8 91. Bc6+ Kb8 92. Rf1 Rh5+
93. Rf5 Rh8 94. Rf7 Rh5+ 95. Ke6 Rh6+ 96. Kd7 Rh8 97. Bd5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 {This line is more active than the more common 3...
Bf5, as it immediately puts pressure on White's center. It often leads to
French-like structures, which suits a player like Andreikin who has the French
as his main weapon.} 4. dxc5 (4. c3 {Attempting to treat this position like an
Advance French is not so threatening, since Black has the option of developing
his light-squared bishop.} Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 {and black has a comfortable game.})
4... Nc6 (4... e6 {is the other main line, and now} 5. a3 Nc6 6. Nf3 {would
transpose to the game.}) 5. a3 {This move is quite rare and a bit sneaky. 5.
Nf3 and Bb5 are the most common moves.} e6 {This is a safest option, and the
game transposes into well known territory.} (5... Nxe5 {is the most principled
move, which leads to unclear play.} 6. b4 g6 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Qe2 Bg7 9. Bb2 Bxb5
10. Qxb5+ Qd7 11. Qxd7+ Kxd7 12. Ke2 Bf6 13. Nd2 b6 14. Rd1 bxc5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5
16. Ngf3 Bg7 17. Ne4 e6 18. Nxc5+ Ke7 19. Nd4 Nf6 20. Nc6+ Kd6 21. Na5 Rhc8 22.
Rd3 Nd7 23. Rb1 Ne5 24. Rh3 h5 25. Rd1 Nc6 26. Nxc6 Kxc6 27. Rf3 Rc7 28. Na6
Re7 29. Rb3 Rc8 30. Kd3 Rd7 31. Nc5 Rdd8 32. Ke2 Bf8 33. Rc3 Kb5 34. Kd3 Bxc5
35. bxc5 Kc6 36. Kd4 Rb8 37. Rf3 Rb7 38. Rdd3 Rdd7 39. Rb3 Re7 40. Ke5 Red7 41.
Rxb7 Rxb7 42. h4 a5 43. Kd4 a4 44. c4 Rd7 45. Rf6 dxc4+ 46. Kxc4 Rb7 47. Rf4
Rd7 48. Rf6 Rb7 49. Rf4 Rd7 50. g3 Rb7 51. Rf3 Rd7 52. Rf6 Rb7 53. Rf4 Rd7 54.
Rf3 Rb7 55. Rf4 Rd7 56. Rf6 Rb7 57. f3 Rb3 58. Rxf7 Rxa3 59. Ra7 Rxf3 60. Rxa4
Rxg3 {1/2-1/2 (60) Najer,E (2637)-Landa,K (2639) Germany 2012}) 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7.
b4 Bb6 8. Bb2 {This is the main idea of playing an early a3. White grabs some
space on the queenside and defends the potentially weak pawn on e5.} Nge7 9.
Bd3 Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 {This type of position is extremely common in
these lines, even if this exact position has only been reached in a handful of
games. Black has to put pressure on White's center quickly, or else he'll
simply get overrun.} a5 {Black decides to force White's hand on the queenside.}
12. b5 Nce7 {This is technically a novelty, though I find it is by far the
most logical place for the knight.} (12... Nb8 {was played previously, but
this loosens Black's grip on the center, which should allow White to get an
easy advantage with the typical break c4.} 13. c4 Nd7 14. Nbd2 (14. cxd5 exd5
15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Nc3 {and White is nearly winning.}) 14... Nc5 15. Bf1 Bd7 16.
g3 Qc7 17. Bg2 Rfd8 18. Qe2 Be8 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. h4 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 (20) Fercec,N
(2492) -Bodiroga,P (2405) Sens 2008}) 13. a4 {Up until now, play has been
fairly normal. This is where I believe Black starts to go astray.} Bc5 $6 {
I don't like this idea at all.} (13... f6 {is the standard break in this kind
of position. It looks a bit loose, but I still think Black should give it a
try, as slower plans simply give White time to improve his position.} 14. exf6
gxf6 15. c4 Nf4 (15... e5 {looks nice, but after} 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Bc4 Be6 18.
Nc3 {Black has some issues, for example if} Ngf4 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 (19... Nxd5 20.
Qb3 Rc8 21. Rad1 $18) 20. Nxe5 $1 fxe5 21. Qg4+ Ng6 22. Red1 $18) 16. Bf1 e5 {
and Black is at least getting some play.}) 14. Nbd2 Qb6 15. Rf1 {Black has
forced White's rook to f1, but the queen and bishop look ridiculous now.} Qc7
16. Nb3 b6 17. Re1 {Now that the pressure is off, the rook simply moves back
and it is clear Black's position has only worsened.} Bb4 $2 {Black tries to
force a concession out of White, but this really just loses time.} (17... Bb7 {
I prefer this simple developing move, although Black's position is far from
pleasant.}) 18. c3 Bc5 {White's bishop is blocked, but the pawn on e5 is
difficult to attack anyway and the d4 square will make a nice home for White's
knight.} 19. Rc1 (19. h4 {already looked quite strong, but there is no huge
rush.}) 19... Bb7 20. Nbd4 {The computer doesn't like this approach, but White
simply wants to prevent any ideas of f6. If Black can't get this freeing move
in, an eventual kingside assault will be the end.} Rae8 21. Rc2 {White wants
to get his dark-squared bishop in the game by means of Bc1.} Nf4 22. Bf1 Nf5 {
Black's knights look active, but this is just an illusion, and they get chased
back in short order.} 23. Bc1 Ng6 24. Bd3 {Black's flurry of activity is over,
and now it is White's turn.} Bc8 25. g3 {White prepares the final assault.
Black is helpless..} h6 (25... f6 26. exf6 gxf6 27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Bh6 {does
not help Black's cause.}) (25... Bd7 {trying to play f6 was perhaps Black's
only try, but it looks grim.}) 26. h4 {Now Black has absolutely no defense.}
Qd8 27. h5 Nge7 28. Nb3 $1 {Nepomniatchi is precise to the last. He won't
allow Black to trade any pieces, and now g4 will simply win the knight.} Nxg3 {
Black is desperate, and there was nothing better.} 29. Nxc5 Nxh5 30. Nh2 bxc5
31. Qxh5 {Black has no compensation for the piece and is still getting
attacked. It is only a question of when Andreikin wants to end the suffering.}
c4 32. Bf1 Nf5 33. Ba3 d4 34. Bg2 d3 35. Rd2 Ne7 36. Qg4 {It isn't often you
see a player as strong as Andreikin lose without a fight. Black played too
slowly and once White improved his position enough it was basically over. An
impressive win!} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. f4 {An early f4 has
been a growing trend against the Paulsen. The move is rather committal, but
the idea is quite simple, which is to prepare e5 in response to Nf6.} a6 7.
Nxc6 Qxc6 8. Bd3 b5 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bc5 11. O-O-O Ne7 {All of these logical
developing moves have been played many times.} 12. a3 {This move is the latest
development. The idea is rather simple, which is to discourage b4.} (12. Qh5 g6
13. Qg5 {is another possible continuation, but not everyone wants to go on a
quest with their queen so early.}) 12... O-O (12... O-O-O {has also been tried,
though it isn't for the faint of heart.}) 13. Qh5 {A novelty, and a logical
one. White wants to provoke pawn weaknesses on the kingside.} f6 {Black wants
to respond to e5 with f5 without allowing en passant, but this allows White
another plan of attack.} 14. g4 {The queen on h5 is no prize now, but there is
also no good way to take advantage of it.} Rac8 15. Rhe1 {I'm not sure the
rook does anything special here, but he simply wants to move it off of the
long diagonal.} Qb6 16. Kb1 Bd4 {Both sides have been slowly improving, and
with Bd4 Black hints at an exchange sac on c3.} 17. Ne2 Bf2 {I'm not sure the
rook stands worse on f1 than on e1.} (17... Bc5 {might have been my preference,
planning to play b4.}) 18. Rf1 Rf7 19. Qh3 {White finally decides to extricate
his queen.} Ng6 20. Bc1 {This move strikes me as quite passive.} (20. Bc3 {
threatening e5 looks better to me, and if Black plays d6 then he's weakened
the light squares, in particular e6.}) 20... Bc5 $2 {This is a logical
improving move, but it allows White to play e5.} (20... a5 {Preparing b4 with
this move looks better, as now after} 21. e5 $2 (21. b3 {is likely best,
preparing to answer b4 with a4, with an unclear game.}) 21... fxe5 22. f5 (22.
fxe5 {gives White no threats, so Black can simply push on with} b4 {and the
threat of b3 is actually quite strong.}) 22... exf5 23. gxf5 Nf8 {and I don't
think White has very much compensation. The bishop on f2 is actually quite
annoying!}) 21. e5 $1 {Now White has taken over the initiative.} b4 $6 {
This move doesn't deal with White's main threat.} (21... fxe5 22. fxe5 {
is quite different now, as without the bishop blocking the f-file White
actually has some ideas, the main one being Nf4.}) (21... Qc6 {looks better,
giving Black the defensive resource of Qg2. However, after} 22. exf6 Rxf6 23.
Ng3 $1 {White has a strong attack.}) 22. axb4 Bxb4 (22... Qxb4 {is the better
defense, but after} 23. f5 exf5 24. Rxf5 Be4 {(Black's idea)} 25. Bxe4 Qxe4 26.
Nc3 Qc6 27. exf6 {and Black's position is in shambles due to his pawn
weaknesses and king.}) 23. f5 exf5 24. Bxf5 (24. Rxf5 {Might have been even
stronger, preparing to double rooks and/or play Rh5.}) 24... Nf8 25. exf6 g6 {
Black's only try.} 26. Bd3 Rxf6 27. b3 $1 {White brings his worst piece, the
dark-squared bishop, to the long diagonal where it will be deadly.} Rxf1 28.
Rxf1 Ne6 29. Bb2 Rf8 {Now there are several major errors, I'm guessing due to
time pressure.} 30. Rd1 $2 {Giving up the f-file was completely unnecessary.} (
30. Bf6 {was clearly best, keeping Black passive and preparing g5 next move to
cement the bishop. Keep in mind that Bxg6 is always in the air.}) 30... Rf3 $1
31. Qh4 $2 (31. Ng3 {maintains some advantage, but White's pieces are pretty
awkward now.}) 31... Bc6 $4 (31... Qf2 $1 {and Black is right back in the game.
The idea is that after} 32. Ng3 Rxd3 $1 33. cxd3 (33. Rxd3 Be4 $1 {and Black
may even take over. The bishop is immune to capture due to the stupid queen
hanging on h4.}) 33... Qf3 34. Kc2 Qf2+ 35. Kb1 Qf3 {with a draw.}) 32. Bc4 (
32. Nd4 {was immediately crushing, with the idea that after} Nxd4 33. Bxd4 Qa5
(33... Qxd4 34. Bc4+ $18) 34. Re1 $3 {and White's threats of Re8 and Re5 are
deadly. For example, if} Bf8 (34... Bxe1 {is impossible on account of} 35. Qe7
$1 Rf7 36. Qe8+ Rf8 37. Bc4+ d5 38. Qe5 Kf7 39. Qf6+ Ke8 40. Qxc6+ {and Black
will lose everything with check.}) 35. Re5 Qd2 36. Bc4+ d5 37. Rxd5 Rf1+ 38.
Bxf1 Bxd5 39. Qf6 $18) 32... Bb5 (32... d5 {was best, but after} 33. Rxd5 $1
Bxd5 34. Bxd5 Rf1+ 35. Nc1 {and White's monstrous bishops matter far more than
Black's exchange.}) 33. Nd4 {Now it is over.} Rf7 34. Nxe6 Bxc4 35. Ng5 Re7 36.
Qh3 $1 {The final touch. White threatens Qf3 as well as the simple bxc4 since
the 3rd rank is covered.} (36. bxc4 Bc3 {would not be advised.}) 36... Be2 37.
Qg2 $1 {White threatens a deadly back rank check on a8 in addition to the one
played in the game.} Re8 38. Qd5+ {and Black resigned, seeing that Re6 would
be met with Qxd7 with checkmate soon to follow. Despite the inaccuracies late
in the game, the attack was nicely conducted by Nepomniatchi and it enabled
him to hop over Vitiugov in the standings.} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 g6 7. h4 {White is
playing an early h4 in every opening now, but especially the Grünfeld. Pretty
soon modern theory will progress to playing h4 on move two or three.} Bg7 8. h5
Bf5 {This is kind of a clever, move, not committing his king while developing
a piece. Also, Nb4 ideas are always in the air.} 9. Qb3 Ndb4 10. Kf1 {This
looks kinda sad, but what else? Also keep in mind that since the h1 rook is in
the game, this kind of king move isn't nearly as ugly.} Be6 11. Qa4 Qa5 12.
Qxa5 Nxa5 {Somehow I can't believe this ending can be problematic for Black.
Look at his active pieces!} 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. h6 {This is an interesting try,
attempting to run Black's bishop out of squares.} Bd4 15. Rb1 (15. d3 {I much
prefer, trying to finish his development with Bd2.}) 15... f6 16. Nge4 f5 (
16... c4 {looks simple and strong.}) 17. Nxc5 (17. Ng5 {looks much better than
the text, though after} Bf6 18. d3 Rc8 {followed by Bc6 it is clear Black is
doing fine.}) 17... Bxc5 18. a3 Nd3 $1 {An excellent concept, pitching a pawn
to entomb White's queenside.} 19. exd3 Nb3 {White's opening has been rather
uninspired.} 20. Rh4 Bc6 {Trading these bishops is logical from a positional
point of view, but it also takes up some time.} (20... e6 {was the main
alternative, preventing Bd5 and keeping Black's options open. Now if} 21. Bxb7
Rb8 22. Ba6 Be7 {White either has to retreat the rook into nothingness or sac
an exchange after} 23. Rc4 Nc5 24. Rxc5 Bxc5 25. b4 Bd4 {and I think Black is
definitely better.}) 21. Rc4 Bxg2+ 22. Kxg2 Kf7 23. Ne2 Rhd8 24. Rc3 Nd4 25.
Rxc5 Nxe2 26. Re5 Nd4 27. b4 {Nepomniachti has defended well, and now he's
more or less OK.} Nc6 28. Re3 Rd5 29. Bb2 Rad8 30. Bc3 a6 31. a4 Na7 32. Rbe1
R8d7 33. Re5 Nc6 34. Rxd5 Rxd5 35. Rb1 g5 {White is up a pawn, but as d3 and
h6 are both rather weak, I prefer Black.} 36. Re1 e6 37. Re3 Ne7 38. Be5 Nc6
39. Bc3 e5 40. Re1 g4 41. Rb1 Kg6 42. b5 axb5 43. axb5 Nd8 44. f3 {I'm not
sure about the objective value of this move, but it makes the game messy,
which is usually better for the defender.} gxf3+ 45. Kxf3 Rxd3+ 46. Ke2 e4 47.
Be5 Ne6 (47... Kxh6 {was a simpler continuation, and would have spared Black a
lot of grief.}) 48. Bf4 Rf3 (48... Nxf4+ {is safest but simply isn't enough to
win. Now after} 49. gxf4 b6 (49... Kxh6 50. Rh1+ Kg6 51. Rg1+ Kf6 52. Rh1 Rd7
53. Rh5 {and Black can't make any progress.}) 50. Rc1 Kxh6 51. Rc6+ Kh5 52.
Rxb6 Kg4 53. Rh6 Rb3 54. Rxh7 Rxb5 55. d3 Kxf4 56. dxe4 Rb2+ 57. Ke1 fxe4 58.
Rh3 {with a Philidor draw.}) 49. b6 Nd4+ 50. Ke1 Nc2+ 51. Ke2 Nd4+ 52. Ke1 Rb3
{At this point Kramnik realized he had to win, but even if not I'm sure he'd
have played on.} 53. Rc1 Rxb6 54. Rc8 Ne6 55. Be3 Rd6 {Black is up a pawn, but
winning will be rather difficult, especially since h6 can't be easily won now.}
56. Rg8+ Kf6 57. Rb8 Rd7 58. Kf2 Ke5 59. Ra8 Kf6 60. Rb8 Rf7 61. Ra8 Kg6 62.
Rg8+ Kh5 {Kramnik decides to go for it. I don't see how he could try to make
progress otherwise.} 63. Re8 Nf8 64. Kg2 Kg4 65. Rb8 Ng6 66. Rg8 Rd7 67. Kf2
Kh3 {It looks like Black is making progress, but in fact he has to be very
cautious. Rg7 must always be watched, and the b-pawn isn't so dangerous yet.}
68. Bg5 Ne5 69. Rg7 {I bet Black wishes he took that h6 pawn when he had the
chance.} b5 $2 {As normal as it looks, this move was a major error.} (69... Rd3
{Black had to give up on the h-pawn and start counterplay in the center.} 70.
Bf4 Ng4+ 71. Ke1 Nf6 72. Bg5 Ng4 73. Rxh7 Rxg3 74. Bf4 Rg1+ 75. Ke2 Rg2+ 76.
Kd1 Rf2 {Now Black should draw comfortably, for instance if} 77. Rg7 (77. Bg5
Kg3 78. Rxb7 Rh2 79. h7 f4 80. Rg7 e3 {is also drawn.}) 77... Rxf4 78. h7 Nf2+
79. Ke2 Rh4 80. Kxf2 f4 {it is an easy draw, since White can't support his
h-pawn.}) 70. Ke2 $1 b4 71. Bf4 {This is the problem. Black's pieces are badly
placed and the h-pawn will be a monster.} Nf7 (71... Rd5 {would have resisted
a bit better, though I think White should still win with best play. The
following is one possible continuation.} 72. Rxh7 b3 73. Rb7 Ng6 74. Be3 Rd8
75. Rxb3 Kxg3 76. Bg5+ Rd3 77. Rxd3+ exd3+ 78. Kxd3 Kg4 79. Bf6 Nf8 80. Bg7 Nh7
81. Ke2 Kf4 82. Kf2 {and Black is lost here. The plan for White is to for
Black to go after the d-pawn with his king, and then White will move up his
king to take the f-pawn. After this, despite only having the h-pawn left, the
knight on h7 is trapped.} Ng5 83. Kg2 Nh7 84. Kh3 Kg5 85. d4 Kg6 (85... f4 86.
d5 Kf5 87. d6 Ke6 88. Be5 $1 $18) 86. Kg3 Ng5 87. d5 Nf7 {Black can try to
reposition the knight, but it won't help.} 88. Kh4 Nd6 89. Be5 $1 Ne4 90. Bf4
Nc5 91. d6 {and White can win now by marching the king over to support the
d-pawn.}) 72. Rxh7 b3 73. Kd1 $1 {Once White covers the b-pawn with the king,
the h-pawn will simply start running.} (73. Be5 Rd5 $1 {gives Black some
counterchances.}) 73... e3 74. Bxe3 Rc7 75. Bd4 Kg2 76. Bc3 Kf2 77. Kc1 {
and Black resigned, as once White plays Kb2 he can play Rg7 and h7 at his
leisure. As a result, Nepomniatchi managed to catch Svidler. What a finish!} (
77. Kc1 Kxg3 78. Rg7+ Kf3 79. h7 $18) 1-0

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.04"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2721"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Qe7 7. dxe5 Qxe5 8.
Bg2 d6 9. Bf4 Qe6 10. Rc1 O-O 11. a3 a6 12. O-O Re8 13. Rc2 h6 14. b4 Ba7 15.
Qd3 Qe7 16. h3 Rb8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Bb6 19. e4 Bd7 20. Rfc1 Ba4 21. Rc3
Rbd8 22. Be3 Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Rd7 24. Qd2 Qd8 25. h4 Rde7 26. Rc4 c6 27. Rd4 cxd5
28. Rxd5 Re6 29. Rd4 Qe7 30. Kh2 Bc6 31. Rcc4 Qf6 32. f3 Qe7 33. Rc2 Ba4 34.
Rc3 Bc6 35. Bf1 Rf6 36. Bc4 Rd8 37. Bd5 Bxd5 38. Rxd5 Re6 39. Rcd3 Qf6 40. Kg2
$16 {/+/=} Qa1 $2 41. Rc3 $1 Rde8 42. Qc2 {[%cal Rd5d1]} 1-0

[Event "Poikovsky Karpov 15th"]
[Site "Poikovsky"]
[Date "2014.05.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.05.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Früher galt der Königsindische Angriff eher als Waffe für Theoriefaule, heute
muss man nicht nur Kenntnisse bis weit ins Mittelspiel besitzen, sondern die
Eröffnung kann sogar einige russische Topspieler zu ihren Vertretern rechnen.
Beim Turnier in Poikovsky kam sie auch aufs Brett und brachte den Verlierer
der Partie um den Turniersieg.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3
O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 11. h4 b4 12. h5 a4 13.
h6 g6 14. a3 bxa3 15. bxa3 Ba6 16. N1h2 Rc8 $6 {Der Turmzug stellt keine
Verbesserung gegenüber sofortigem} (16... Rb8 {dar.}) 17. Ng4 Nd4 {Das gilt
als gängiges Verfahren, um die Stellung am Damenflügel noch mehr zu öffnen und
Weiß so vom Angriff am Königsflügel abzuhalten. Allerdings wird der Bauer d4
schwach sein.} 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Bd2 Rb8 20. Ra2 Rb5 21. Qa1 Qb6 22. Bb4 $1 {
Der Tausch der schwarzfeldrigen Läufer macht die schwarze Königsstellung noch
anfälliger. Am deutlichen weißen Vorteil gibt es nun kaum noch Zweifel.} Bc5
23. Nh2 Nb8 24. Bxc5 Qxc5 25. Qc1 Nd7 26. Nf3 Rfb8 27. Qf4 (27. Qg5 {geht auch.
}) 27... Rb2 28. Rxb2 Rxb2 29. Ng5 {Das ist nicht schlecht, aber} (29. Nxd4 $1
{ergibt klareren Vorteil:} Qxa3 30. Bxd5 $1 exd5 ({oder} 30... Qb4 31. Re4 $1 {
und Schwarz steckt in großen Schwierigkeiten.}) 31. e6 fxe6 32. Rxe6 $18) 29...
Qe7 30. Bxd5 $1 $16 Rxc2 ({Nicht} 30... exd5 $2 31. e6 f6 32. exd7 (32. Qc7)
32... Qxe1+ 33. Kg2 Qe7 34. Qc7 {und Weiß wandelt um.}) 31. Bc4 Bxc4 32. dxc4
d3 $6 {Letztlich geht der Bauer verloren.} ({Zäher ist} 32... Nc5 33. Rb1 Nb3 {
aber Weiß sollte sich nach} 34. Ne4 $1 Rxc4 35. Nf6+ Kh8 36. Nd7 $1 Rc8 37. Nb6
Rd8 38. Nxa4 g5 39. Qg4 Na5 40. Nb6 {ebenfalls durchsetzen.}) 33. Rd1 d2 ({
Wieder verlängert} 33... Nc5 {die Partie nur:} 34. Ne4 Nxe4 35. Qxe4 Qc5 36.
Qf3 d2 37. Kg2 {und die Probleme sind am Brett kaum zu lösen.}) 34. Rxd2 $18
Rxd2 35. Qxd2 Nxe5 36. Qb2 Qd6 ({Stattdessen reicht auch} 36... f6 {nicht,
denn nach} 37. c5 $1 Qxc5 38. Qb7 $1 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Ng4+ 40. Kg2 Ne3+ 41. fxe3
Qc2+ 42. Kh3 Qf5+ 43. g4 Qf1+ 44. Qg2 Qxg2+ 45. Kxg2 fxg5 46. Kf3 {ist Schwarz
im Bauernendspiel verloren.}) 37. c5 Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qd5+ 39. f3 Kf8 40. c6 Ke7
41. c7 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 67th"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2014.11.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.11.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nc3 Nh6 6. d3 d4 7. Ne4 Nd7 8. c3 Nf5
9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. e3 Bg7 12. d4 O-O 13. O-O Nb6 14. Nc5 Nd5 15.
Qa4 Nc7 16. Rf2 Ne6 17. Nd3 Bd7 18. Qa3 Nc7 19. Nc5 Nb5 20. Qa4 Rb8 21. Bd2 b6
22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. Rc1 Rfc8 24. b4 Nxd4 25. exd4 Bxd4 26. Bc3 Be3 27. Re1 Qd3
28. Be5 Ra8 29. Qb3 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Qxb3 31. axb3 b5 32. Bd4 a5 33. bxa5 Rxa5
34. Rxe7 c5 35. Bf6 Ra2+ 36. Kf3 c4 37. Bh3 Rf8 38. bxc4 bxc4 39. Rc7 Rxh2 40.
Bf1 1-0

[Event "Beijing Sportaccord Basque"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2014.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.12.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. b3 a5 10. Ba3 Qe6 11. g3 a4 12. Bg2 axb3 13. axb3 Bxa3 14. Rxa3 Rxa3
15. Nxa3 O-O 16. O-O Re8 17. f4 f6 18. Qf2 fxe5 19. fxe5 h6 20. Re1 d5 21. cxd5
cxd5 22. Nb5 Qe7 23. Rc1 Qg5 24. Rxc7 Qxe5 25. Rc1 Qe3 26. Qxe3 Rxe3 27. Rc6
Rxb3 28. Rxb6 Rb1+ 29. Kf2 Rb2+ 30. Kf3 Bd7 31. Rb8+ Kh7 32. Bf1 Rb3+ 33. Kf4
Rb4+ 34. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Beijing Sportaccord Basque"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2014.12.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2014.12.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Nb6 11. b3 Bg7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. h4 a5 15.
Qc2 a4 16. Kb1 axb3 17. axb3 c5 18. Re1 Ra6 19. Bd3 Rfa8 20. h5 Ra2 21. hxg6
hxg6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Kf8 25. Rh5 Qe6 26. Rf5+ Kg8 27. Rg1
Qxg6 28. Rxg6 Rxb2+ 29. Kxb2 Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. f4 d6 32. Kc2 dxe5 33. f5
Nd7 34. Rc6 e4 35. Rxc7 Ke7 36. Rc6 Bd4 37. Re6+ Kd8 38. Rxe4 Bxf2 39. Kd3 Bg3
40. Re6 Be5 41. Ke4 Bf6 42. Kd5 Be7 43. Ra6 Ke8 44. Ra7 Bh4 45. Ke6 Nf8+ 46.
Kd6 Bg3+ 47. Kc6 Bf2 48. Rb7 Bg1 49. Kd6 Bd4 50. Rc7 Kd8 51. Rxc5 Bxc5+ 52.
Kxc5 Kc7 53. Kd5 Nd7 54. b4 Nb6+ 55. Kd4 Nd7 56. Ke4 Kc6 57. c5 Kb5 58. Kd5
Kxb4 59. c6 Nb6+ 60. Kd6 Kb5 61. f6 Nc4+ 62. Ke6 1-0

[Event "Beijing Sportaccord Basque"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2014.12.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.12.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. O-O-O Nb6 12. g5 Nh5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bd7
15. Na5 Qc7 16. Kb1 O-O 17. c4 f6 18. Rc1 b4 19. gxf6 Rxf6 20. Qxb4 Rb8 21. Qd2
Rxf3 22. Be2 Rh3 23. Bxh5 Rxh5 24. Ka1 Rh3 25. Nb3 Ba4 26. Rc3 Qd7 27. c5 dxc5
28. Nxc5 Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qf5 30. Rhc1 h6 31. d6 Kh7 32. Rc7 Rd8 33. Rg1 Rd7 34.
Qg2 g5 35. Bc5 Rf3 36. Qe2 e4 37. Rxd7+ Bxd7 38. Rc1 Bb5 39. Qd2 Rd3 40. Qe1
Qf4 41. Rc3 Rd5 42. a3 Qe5 43. Qf2 Rd1+ 44. Ka2 Qd5+ 45. Rb3 Bc4 0-1

[Event "Beijing Sportaccord Basque"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2014.12.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2014.12.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2 b6 7. c4 Bb7 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. cxd5 Bxd5 10. Qc2 c5 11. e4 Bb7 12. d5 Qc7 13. a4 Rae8 14. Bc4 e6 15.
dxe6 fxe6 16. Rfe1 Kh8 17. Qb3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Bb5 Bc6 21.
Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Qb5 Qb7 23. Qc4 Nd7 24. Rad1 Qc6 25. b3 h6 26. Bh4 Ne5 27. Nxe5
Bxe5 28. Rd3 Qb7 29. f3 Bd4+ 30. Bf2 e5 31. b4 Qf7 32. Rc1 Qf6 33. bxc5 bxc5
34. Rb3 Re7 35. a5 Qg5 36. Rcb1 Ref7 37. Kf1 Qf4 38. Rb8 Rxb8 39. Rxb8+ Kg7 40.
Bxd4 exd4 41. Rb3 Qd2 42. a6 Qd1+ 43. Kf2 Qd2+ 44. Qe2 Qc1 45. Qb2 Qc4 46. Rb5
h5 47. Qb3 Qc1 48. Qd5 Qe3+ 49. Kg3 Qf4+ 50. Kh3 g5 51. g3 g4+ 52. fxg4 Qxg4+
53. Kg2 h4 54. Rb1 h3+ 55. Kg1 Qf3 56. Qg5+ Kh7 57. Qd2 c4 58. e5 c3 59. Qa2 d3
60. Qxf7+ Qxf7 61. Rb7 Kg6 0-1

[Event "Beijing Sportaccord Basque"]
[Site "Beijing"]
[Date "2014.12.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2014.12.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 Nc6 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Be3 Be6 10. Qa4 Nd7 11. Rfd1 Qc8 12. Nd5 Re8 13. Qa3 Nb6 14. Rac1 Ne5
15. b3 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Nd7 17. Bg2 Be5 18. Rc2 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 e6 20. Rd1 Qc7 21.
Rcd2 Red8 22. Qa4 Nf6 23. Qb5 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Rb8 25. Qxc5 Qxc5 26. Bxc5 b6 27.
Bb4 a5 28. Be7 Re8 29. Rd8 Rxd8 30. Bxd8 Nd7 31. c5 bxc5 32. Bxa5 Kf8 33. e3
Ke7 34. Kf1 Nb8 35. Ke2 Na6 36. a3 Kd6 37. Kd3 Bb2 38. Bb7 Nb8 39. a4 Nd7 40.
f4 Bc1 41. Bc3 Kc7 42. Ba6 Nb6 43. e4 f5 44. Be5+ Kd8 45. a5 Nd7 46. Bc3 g5 47.
fxg5 Bxg5 48. Bc4 Nf6 49. exf5 exf5 50. a6 Kc7 51. Ba5+ Kb8 52. Bb6 Nd7 53. a7+
1-0

[Event "EU-ch 16th"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2015.03.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.02.24"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 a6 {This continuation is a bit more accurate on move 9
(see my survey in CBM 142) while now} (10... Bb7 {is common (see my survey in
CBM 144).}) 11. Ng5 $1 {A relatively new but serious attempt to fight for the
initiative. Without ...b5 Be2 it would be a pawn sacrifice due to 10...Bxh2+
11.Kxh2 Ng4+,} (11. Rd1 {leads to one of the main positions of the 9...a6 line.
}) (11. e4 e5 {is not dangerous for Black.}) 11... Qc7 (11... h6 12. Nge4 Be7
13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Bd2 c5 $6 15. dxc5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 f5 17. Ng3 Qxc5 18. Qb3 $16
Qb6 $2 19. Ba5 $1 {1-0 (19) Khairullin,I (2629)-Kjartansson,G (2484) Jerusalem
2015}) (11... Bb7 {needs more analysis; in the following game Black managed to
equalise:} 12. Nce4 (12. e4 $5) 12... Be7 13. Nxf6+ Nxf6 14. Bd2 b4 15. Bd3 h6
16. Nh7 Nxh7 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 Qb6 19. Rfc1 Rac8 20. Qb3 a5 21. Qa4 Rfd8
22. Be1 Rc7 23. a3 c5 $11 {1/2 (55) Pashikian,A (2614)-Hovhannisyan,R (2594)
Yerevan 2015}) 12. e4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} h6 (12... Bxh2+ 13. Kh1 {[%cal Re4e5]
yields White a dangerous initiative for the sacrificed pawn. If} c5 {then} 14.
e5 cxd4 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. f4 $1 Bg3 17. Qd3 dxc3 18. Qxg3 {, and White's
bishop is stronger than Black's pawns.}) (12... e5 {is not enough for equality
either:} 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. f4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 h6 16. Nf3 c5 17. a4 $1 bxa4 18. c4
Bb7 19. Bd3 Nb8 20. Bb2 $36 {1-0 (35) Boruchovsky,A (2501)-Iovcov,V (2224)
Batumi 2014}) 13. e5 $8 ({Of course,} 13. Nf3 $6 e5 {is good for Black.}) 13...
hxg5 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. Bxg5 Qxd4 {Black has won a pawn but White's bishop pair
and development advantage guarantee him excellent compensation.} 16. h4 $5 {
[%mdl 128]} (16. Rfd1 {was more traditional, e.g.} Qc5 (16... Qe5 17. Bh4 {
[%cal Rh4g3]}) 17. Be3 Qf5 18. Bd3 Qe5 19. Bd4 Qc7 20. Ne4 $44) 16... Bb7 17.
Rad1 Qc5 18. Qd2 b4 19. Na4 Qa5 20. b3 c5 21. h5 $1 c4 22. Qe3 {White
complicates the game as much as possible.} ({In the event of} 22. h6 Qd5 23.
Qxd5 exd5 24. bxc4 Rfe8 {, despite the queen exchange, the position remains
tense, too; White keeps an edge due to his bishop pair.}) 22... Qe5 $6 {
This simplification is unfavorable for Black; however, it was very difficult
for him to find a satisfactory defence, e.g.} (22... c3 23. h6) ({or} 22...
cxb3 23. axb3 Qf5 24. Rd4 {- White retains a dangerous initiative in both
cases.}) 23. Qxe5 Nxe5 24. Nb6 (24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. f4 {was very strong, too.})
24... c3 {Black decides to sacrifice an exchange but fails to obtain
sufficient compensation: White's rooks are very active, and Black's passed
pawn can be successfully stopped. White wins without major problems.} (24...
Rab8 25. Bf4 {also leads to material losses.}) ({After} 24... Rad8 25. bxc4 {
White is clearly better, too.}) ({or} 24... cxb3 25. Nxa8 (25. axb3 Rad8 26.
Bxf6 gxf6 27. f4 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Nc6 29. Nd7 $14 {is not too convincing}) 25...
bxa2 26. Nb6 b3 (26... Nd5 27. Nxd5 Bxd5 28. Be7 a5 (28... Rb8 29. Bd6) 29.
Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Bb5 $1 b3 31. Rb1 axb1=Q 32. Rxb1 {[%cal Yb5a4]}) 27. Bf4 $1 Nc6
28. Rd2 {, and White should convert his material advantage despite technical
difficulties.}) 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. f4 Nc6 28. Rd7 Na5 29. Rfd1 Kg7
(29... Rc8 30. g4 {[%cal Yg1f2]}) 30. Rc7 Bd5 31. Kf2 Rd8 32. Bf3 f5 33. Ke3
Rd6 34. Bxd5 exd5 35. Rc5 (35. Kd4 $18) 35... Re6+ 36. Kd3 Nc6 37. Rxd5 Kh6 38.
Rh1 f6 39. g3 Ne7 40. Rd7 a5 41. Rh2 Re1 42. Kc4 Re6 43. Kb5 Nc6 44. Rd1 Kg7 $6
45. h6+ Kh8 46. h7 1-0

[Event "Capablanca Memorial Elite 50th"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "2015.06.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D83"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2015.06.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Nxd5 Qxd5 9. b3 c6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Qd2 Nb6 12. Be2 Rfc8 13. Ng5 Rd8 14. O-O Bf5
15. Bc7 Rf8 16. Bg3 Rfd8 17. Bc7 Rf8 18. Rfd1 Qd7 19. Bg3 Rfd8 20. Qa5 Bg4 21.
Nf3 Qe8 22. h3 Be6 23. Bc7 Rd5 24. Qb4 Rd7 25. Bxb6 axb6 26. Qxb6 Rxa2 27. Bc4
Bxc4 28. bxc4 Ra6 29. Qb1 Qd8 30. c5 Ra5 31. Qc2 Qc7 32. Ra1 e5 33. Rxa5 Qxa5
34. dxe5 Rxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Qxc5 36. Qd7 h6 37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Qxb7 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Qc4
40. Qe7 Qa2 41. Kg3 Qd5 42. Qd6 Qe4 43. Qd4 Qf5 44. Kh2 Qe6 45. g4 Qe8 46. Kg2
Kg8 47. Qe4 c5 48. Qd5 Qe7 49. h4 Bf8 50. h5 gxh5 51. gxh5 Qe8 52. Nd2 Qc8 53.
Qe4 Bg7 54. Nc4 Qe6 55. f3 Qa6 56. f4 Qa2+ 57. Kf1 Qa6 58. Kf2 Qa2+ 59. Kf1 Qa6
60. Ke1 Qa1+ 61. Ke2 Qa6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 {One of the main reasons why Black players have
started playing Be7 before Nf6 is exactly the line that happened in this game
where the knight is developed on e2.} 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3
Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O h6 11. Bf4 Nf8 12. a3 a5 {preventing the
intended expansion with b4.} 13. f3 Nh5 14. Be5 f6 15. Bg3 Nxg3 16. Nxg3 Bd6
17. Rae1 Qc7 18. f4 Be6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Re7 21. h4 $1 {A powerful move
by Nepomniachtchi in order to fix the kingside black pawns. This position
reminds me of the 4th game of the match between Karpov-Kasparov where Karpov
played a beautiful attack on the light squares and Kasparov who had a dark
squared bishop could do nothing about it.} Rae8 22. Rf3 b5 23. h5 b4 24. axb4
Bxb4 25. Re2 Qd6 26. Qd3 Rd8 {Black is trying to break free in this position
with the move c5.} 27. Na4 c5 28. Nxc5 Bxc5 29. dxc5 Qxc5 30. Rc2 $1 {Now in
addition to the weakend light squares, White also has the weak d5 pawn to
attack. Also the bishop on f5 is clearly superior to the f8 knight. All in all
this is a clear advantage to White.} Qb6 31. Kh2 Ne6 32. Rg3 Kh8 33. Qa3 Qb4
34. Qxb4 axb4 {The queens are off the board, hence the danger of a kingside
attack is averted for Black but he is still struggling with all these weak
pawns in the endgame.} 35. Rc6 Nc7 36. Rf3 Nb5 37. Rc5 Nc7 38. Bg6 (38. Rf1 {
Activating the rook while the the c7 knight is defended by the e7 rook would
have been a good idea.} Na6 39. Ra5 $16) 38... Kg8 39. Rc6 Kf8 40. b3 Ne8 $6 (
40... Rb8 $14 {defending the b4 pawn would have improved black chances for a
draw quite drastically.}) 41. Rb6 Rc7 42. Rxb4 {White has won a pawn and kept
complete control over the position.} Nd6 43. Rf1 Ke7 44. Rd1 Rc5 45. Rb6 Rb5
46. Rxb5 Nxb5 47. Kg3 Ke6 (47... d4 48. Kf3 $16) 48. Kg4 Nd6 49. e4 $1 {
Just like in the Caruana game, Kramnik game and now in Nepomniachtchi game the
move e4 was played when black had a pawn on d5! Quite a co-incidence!} dxe4 50.
Bxe4 Rb8 51. Bd5+ Kd7 52. Ra1 {With an active bishop, rook and an extra pawn
it's all over for Black.} f5+ 53. Kh3 Ne8 54. Ra7+ Nc7 55. Bc4 Kd6 56. Ra5 Rf8
57. Kg3 Rf6 58. Kf3 Kc6 59. g3 Ne8 60. Re5 (60. Ra6+ Kc5 61. Rxf6 Nxf6 {
Would not be such a great idea as the h5 pawn hangs.}) 60... Nd6 61. Bd3 Rf7
62. b4 Rb7 63. Rc5+ Kd7 64. b5 Ke6 65. Re5+ Kf6 66. Ke3 Ra7 67. Kd4 Ra3 68. Bc4
{A pretty one sided affair. Naiditsch was never really able to equalise. Nepo
pressed well and was able to take the full point home.} (68. Bc4 Nxc4 69. Kxc4
Rxg3 70. b6 Rg1 71. b7 Rc1+ 72. Kd5 Rb1 73. Kc6 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.16"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.
Be2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. d4 Bf5 11. Qb3 Qc7 12. Ba3 Nd7 13. Nd2 g5 14. Bf3 Rab8
15. Be4 Be6 16. Qc2 h6 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 e6 19. Qf3 Qa5 20. Bb2 Qb5 21.
Rab1 Qa4 22. a3 Rfc8 23. h4 gxh4 24. Qg4 Qc2 25. Nf3 Nf6 26. Qxh4 Qe4 27. Qg3
Qg4 28. Qh2 Ne4 29. c4 Kh7 30. dxc5 Rg8 31. Bxg7 Rxg7 32. Ne5 Qf5 33. Rb2 Rbg8
34. f3 Ng3 35. Ng4 Rxg4 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 d6 5. e3 a6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. a3 h5 8. h3
Ba7 9. b4 h4 10. g4 f5 11. gxf5 Bxf5 12. Qb3 Qd7 13. Bb2 Rb8 14. O-O-O Bd3 15.
Be4 Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Qf5 17. N2c3 b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. d3 Kd7 20. Rdg1 g6 21. Rg5
Qe6 22. Qc2 d5 23. Nd2 Rhf8 24. Nd1 Rf5 25. Rg4 Rbf8 26. Rh2 g5 27. Nb3 Kc8 28.
Nc5 Bxc5 29. Qxc5 d4 30. Qxb5 dxe3 31. Qa6+ Kd7 32. fxe3 Rf1 33. Rc4 Nd5 34.
Re2 R8f3 35. b5 Nce7 36. Kd2 Nb6 37. Rc3 Qd5 38. Qa7 Nc4+ 39. Kc2 Nc8 40. Qb8 {
Eine wilde Stellung. Schwarz öffnet nun die d-Line - für den Gegner.} e4 $2
41. Rd2 $18 Rxd1 {Eine Ausrede, die nicht mehr reicht:} (41... Nxd2 {geht
nicht:} 42. Rxc7+ Kd6 43. Rg7+ Kc5 44. Qxc8+ Kb6 45. Qa6+ Kc5 46. Rc7+) 42.
Rxd1 Nxe3+ 43. Kb1 Qd6 44. Rdc1 Nd5 45. Rc6 Qh2 46. R6c2 Qf4 47. dxe4 Qxe4 48.
Ka1 Nce7 49. Qb7 Re3 50. b6 Re1 51. bxc7 Rxc1+ 52. Rxc1 Nc8 53. Rd1 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. Rb1 e5 8. b4
Be6 9. d3 h6 10. b5 Ne7 11. a4 Qd7 12. Ba3 Rfe8 13. Nd2 Rab8 14. a5 b6 15. Nde4
Nh7 16. axb6 axb6 17. Bb2 f5 18. Nd2 Nf6 19. Ra1 d5 20. cxd5 Nexd5 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. Bxd5+ Qxd5 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. Nxb3 e4 25. dxe4 Rxe4 26. Nd4 Ne8 27. e3
Nd6 28. Rab1 Nc4 29. Rfc1 Nd2 30. Ra1 Bxd4 31. Bxd4 Nb3 32. Rxc7 Nxa1 33. Bxa1
Ra8 34. Bd4 Re6 35. Rg7+ Kf8 36. Rh7 Ra5 37. Rxh6 Rxb5 38. h4 Kf7 39. Rh7+ Ke8
40. Kg2 Kd8 41. h5 gxh5 42. Rxh5 Kd7 43. g4 Rg6 44. g5 Ke6 45. Rh6 Kf7 46. Rh7+
Kg8 47. Rh8+ Kf7 48. f4 Rb1 49. Rc8 b5 50. Rc5 Ra6 51. Rxf5+ Kg6 52. Rd5 b4 53.
Kf3 Rf1+ 54. Ke4 Re6+ 55. Kd3 b3 56. Rb5 Kh5 57. Rxb3 Rd1+ 58. Kc4 Kg4 59. Kd5
Re8 60. g6 Kf5 61. g7 Rd8+ 62. Kc4 Ke4 63. Rb5 Rc8+ 64. Rc5 Rc1+ 65. Kb3 Rb8+
66. Ka2 Rg1 67. f5 Kd3 68. Rc3+ Ke4 69. f6 Rf1 70. Rc7 Ra8+ 71. Ra7 Rc8 72. f7
Kd3 73. g8=Q Rc2+ 74. Ka3 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.06"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Legacy Square"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. g5 Nh5 12. O-O-O Nb6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bd7
15. Na5 Qc7 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Rg1 g6 18. c4 f6 19. Rc1 Bf5+ 20. Ka1 Bd8 21. Nc6
fxg5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Bxb5 Nf4 24. Nxd8 Qxd8 25. Rc6 Qe7 26. Bc4 Kh8 27. Qb4
Rfd8 28. Bb6 Rd7 29. a4 Qf7 30. Qb5 Rb7 31. a5 Bd7 32. Rc1 Rbb8 33. Ba2 Qf5 34.
a6 Nd3 35. Bb1 Qf4 36. Qxd3 Bxc6 37. Rxc6 Qa4+ 38. Qa3 Qxa6 39. Bc7 Qb7 40.
Bxb8 Rxa3+ 41. bxa3 Qxb8 42. Ka2 Kg7 43. Be4 Kh6 44. Rc2 Qb5 45. Rc6 g4 46.
fxg4 Qe2+ 47. Bc2 e4 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.07"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B81"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow Legacy Square"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. g5
Nfd7 9. Be3 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. h4 Nc6 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. Nxc6 Rxc6 14. O-O-O O-O
15. Kb1 Ne5 16. Rh3 Nc4 17. Qe1 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Qc8 19. f4 Bd8 20. f5 Ba5 21. b4
Bb6 22. Red3 exf5 23. exf5 Re8 24. Qd2 Rc4 25. g6 hxg6 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. Nd5
Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxh4 29. Rxd6 Be3 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. Bd3 Bd4 32. Rh1 Qh3 33. Rd1
Qg3 34. Bxg6 Qc3 35. Qxd4 Rxd4 36. R6xd4 Rf8 37. Rh4+ Kg8 38. Rdh1 1-0

[Event "Danzhou 7th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2016.07.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.07.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 {Nepomniachtchi plays the
Scotch regularly and in Danzhou won two games in this line.} bxc6 {Two rounds
later Wang Yue chose the main move 5...Qf6.} (5... Qf6 6. Qf3 dxc6 7. Nc3 Be6
8. a3 O-O-O 9. Be3 Qe5 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. h3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Qf6 13. Qg3 Bd4 14. O-O
Be5 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Rad1 g5 $132 {1-0 (85) Nepomniachtchi,I (2725)-Wang,Y 
(2730) Danzhou 2016}) 6. Bd3 d6 (6... Qh4 7. Qe2 (7. O-O Nf6 8. Qf3 {appeared
in numerous games as well}) 7... Nf6 8. h3 (8. Be3 Bxe3 9. Qxe3 O-O {is
approximately equal}) 8... d5 $1 9. exd5+ Kd8 {At first sight wild play by the
second player, but in fact it leads to a draw, nearly by force!} 10. O-O Bxh3
$1 11. Qe5 $1 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Bd6 13. Qf5 Qh2+ 14. Kf3 Re8 15. Bg5 Qh5+ 16. Kg2
Qh2+ 17. Kf3 Qh5+ $11 {1/2-1/2 (20) Nataf,I (2541)-Istratescu,A (2667)
Saint-Quentin 2014}) 7. h3 $146 {It's hard to understand why this move should
be useful right now. Probably Ian just wanted to deviate from his previous
games, not to check what Ding had prepared at home.} (7. Qe2 Qe7 (7... Nf6 8.
Bg5 Qe7 9. Nc3 Bd4 10. Na4 Qe5 11. Bd2 a5 12. f4 Qe7 13. h3 $14 {1-0 (30)
Nepomniachtchi,I (2710)-Zhigalko,S (2677) Bilbao 2014}) 8. Nd2 Nf6 9. Nb3 Bb6
10. a4 a5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 O-O 13. O-O Be6 $11 {1-0 (61) Nepomniachtchi,I
(2730)-Sargissian,G (2686) Dubai 2014}) 7... Ne7 (7... Nf6 {is perfectly
playable as well.}) 8. Nc3 Ng6 9. Na4 Bd4 10. c3 Bf6 {Black saved his bishop,
while the white knight is misplaced on a4.} 11. O-O Ne5 ({Probably Black
didn't like that after} 11... O-O 12. f4 {his knight has no real prospects.})
12. Be2 ({I guess, after} 12. Bc2 {the Chinese grandmaster planned} g5 $1 {
with good counterplay. After} 13. f4 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Rg8 {the complications seem
to be in Black's favour.}) 12... O-O ({Now} 12... g5 $6 {would be less
effective, as Black is not threatening h7-h5 or g5-g4. The bishop on e2 is
very useful.}) 13. f4 Nd7 14. Qc2 c5 15. Bf3 $6 (15. e5 $1 {is an engine
suggestion, but for a human player this pawn sacrifice looks rather murky.
Objectively, after} dxe5 16. Be3 Qe7 17. Bd3 h6 18. Rae1 {White has wonderful
compensation.}) 15... Rb8 (15... Bb7 16. Be3 Re8 17. Rfe1 Bc6 {The position is
rather equal, but I would prefer to be on the black side.}) 16. Be3 Ba6 (16...
g5 {is a wild engine move, but I doubt that any human player would dare to
play this, weakening his own king. Black's position is okay and such drastic
measures are not necessary.}) 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Bf2 Bb5 19. Rab1 Nb6 20. Nxb6 (
20. Nxc5 $1 {was a better way to exchange.} dxc5 21. e5 Bh4 22. g3 {getting
back the piece. White's kings' shelter will be somewhat weakened, but the pair
of bishops covers it well. Meanwhile, Black's queenside structure is a
disaster.}) 20... axb6 {Black improved his structure and has nothing to
complain about.} 21. Re1 Bc4 22. b3 Be6 23. a4 Rfd8 $6 {After this move
Black's position suddenly starts to deteriorate.} (23... g6 {was far more
useful to secure the dark-squared bishop.} 24. b4 Bg7 25. a5 $140 Qf6 {[%csl
Rc3,Rf4]}) 24. b4 $1 Bc4 $6 ({Again} 24... g6 {was better, but after} 25. a5 {
this pawn is a source of worry for Black.}) 25. bxc5 bxc5 (25... dxc5 26. e5
Bd3 27. Qc1 Bxb1 28. Qxb1 Bh4 29. g3 {and eventually the pair of bishops will
outplay Black's rook + pawn.}) 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. e5 $1 dxe5 28. fxe5 Bg5 (28...
Bxe5 $2 {loses a piece after} 29. Qe4) 29. a5 (29. h4 Bh6 30. Qe4 $16) 29... g6
(29... Qe6 30. Qe4 $16) 30. Qe4 Qe6 31. Bxc5 h5 32. Bd4 Rb3 $6 {It's
understandable that Ding is looking for active counterplay, even though it
doesn't really work.} ({The passive defense after} 32... Kg7 33. Ra1 Ba6 {
is unpleasant, of course.}) 33. Ra1 c5 34. a6 $6 (34. Bxc5 Rxc3 35. Bd4 $1 Rd3
(35... Rb3 36. a6 Bxa6 37. Qa8+ Bc8 38. Bd5 Qd7 39. Rf1 $18) 36. Rb1 {White
has a passed pawn and an attack. 37.Rb8 or 37.Rb6 is coming.}) 34... Bxa6 35.
Qa8+ Qc8 $2 (35... Kg7 $1 {could keep Black still in the game. The variations
are not easy to calculate:} 36. Bd5 (36. Rxa6 $2 Rb1+ 37. Kh2 Qf5 38. Rf6 (38.
Bf2 Bf4+ 39. g3 h4 $1 40. gxf4 Qxf4+ 41. Kg2 Qc1 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg2 Qc1 $11)
38... Bf4+ 39. g3 Bxg3+ $1 40. Kxg3 Qg5+ 41. Kh2 cxd4 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Qa2+
Kg7 44. Qxb1 Qxe5+ 45. Kh1 dxc3 {This position will result in a draw,
considering that the h8 corner is unavailable for White's bishop.}) 36... Qb6
37. Bxb3 (37. Rxa6 $2 Rb1+ 38. Kh2 Bf4+ 39. g3 Qb2+ 40. Bg2 cxd4 41. gxf4 Qc1 {
and it's already White who needs to save himself}) 37... cxd4 38. Qxa6 Qxb3 39.
cxd4 Qe3+ 40. Kh1 Qxd4 {It will be very difficult for White to win this
position. For instance, if we swap queens and e- and f-pawns, the endgame is
theoretically drawish. Therefore, Black has decent chances to save half a
point.}) 36. Rxa6 Rb8 37. Bf2 {Probably Ding just overlooked that he is not
threatening to take white's queen. White is now simply a piece up.} Kg7 (37...
Rxa8 38. Rxa8 $18) 38. Qc6 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Danzhou 7th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2016.07.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "2016.07.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 {The Scotch is an amazingly popular
opening, there are lots of ideas that had been developed including many that
consider 0-0-0 for White. That makes this opening rather interesting lately.}
Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 dxc6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. a3 {This little move had been played
already last year, the idea is to go Be3, which if played at once Black allows
...Bb4, which was played many times in the past.} (8. Be3 Bb4 9. Bd2 O-O-O 10.
Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O Nf6 12. a3 Bd6 13. h3 Nd7 14. Qe2 g5 {It looks like sharp play
where Black can easily get the initiative.}) 8... O-O-O 9. Be3 Qe5 $5 {We can
say that this is a possible improvement.} (9... Bxe3 10. Qxe3 Kb8 11. f4 Qe7
12. Bd3 g5 $1 13. fxg5 h6 14. gxh6 Nxh6 15. O-O-O Ng4 16. Qg3 $5 (16. Qf4 Qd6
$1 {1/2-1/2 (24) Nepomniachtchi,I (2705)-Carlsen,M (2850) Berlin (rapid) 2015})
16... Qg5+ 17. Kb1 Qe3 18. Qxe3 Nxe3 19. Rd2 Rdg8 $11) 10. Bd3 Nf6 {An
alternative was also possible:} (10... g5 11. h4 g4 12. Qf4 Qxf4 13. Bxf4 Bd4
14. Rb1 Ne7 15. h5 {with a complicated endgame ahead of us.}) 11. h3 Nd7 12.
Bf4 Qf6 13. Qg3 Bd4 14. O-O Be5 {Probably best.} (14... Ne5 15. Ne2 Nxd3 16.
cxd3 Qg6 17. Qf3 Bxb2 18. Rab1 Bd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Qe3 Ra4 21. Qc5 {White
has an attack, having reached an opposite coloured bishops position helps here
on that matter.}) 15. Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Rad1 g5 17. Qe3 {A small finesse, first
driving the black king a bit further from the centre...} Kb8 18. f4 gxf4 19.
Qxf4 {And now entering an endgame, obviously the only possible idea for White
here.} Qg7 20. Qf6 Rhg8 21. Qxg7 Rxg7 22. Kh2 {The position is equal, but the
game is still playable for both sides. So from here who plays better the
endgame will win.} c5 $6 {I can't really say it is a mistake, but why to let
the knight come to the f6-square?} (22... Rdg8 23. Rf2 Rg5 24. Bf1 a5 {In my
opinion neither side can improve from here, therefore we can say that the
position is drawish.}) 23. Nd5 $1 c6 24. Nf4 {Now it is a bit easier for White.
} Kc7 25. Be2 Rd4 26. Nh5 Rg8 27. Nf6 Rh8 28. c3 Rd6 29. Kg3 $1 h6 30. Kf4 Ng6+
31. Ke3 a5 32. Nh5 Ne5 33. Nf4 Bb3 $6 {Another imprecise move, collection of
such moves bassically had driven Black to defeat in this game.} (33... Rxd1 34.
Rxd1 Bc4 $1 35. Rf1 Rd8 36. Rf2 a4 37. Nh5 Bxe2 38. Kxe2 b5 {Black has a
weakness on f7 so does White on b2, this is balanced play.}) 34. Rxd6 Kxd6 35.
Nd3 Nxd3 36. Bxd3 Be6 37. Rf4 Ke5 38. Rh4 Kf6 39. Be2 b6 40. Rf4+ Ke5 41. Bf3
c4 42. Rh4 Kf6 $6 {Another inaccuracy.} 43. e5+ $1 Kxe5 44. Bxc6 $14 {Finally
we can say that one side, in this case White, got small pressure in the game.}
f5 45. Bb5 Rg8 46. Bc6 Rg6 47. Bf3 b5 48. Rd4 Rg8 49. Rh4 Rg6 50. Rh5 Bd7 ({
Stepping back looks a bit ugly, but there is no clear way for White to improve,
after all the position is reduced a lot.} 50... Kd6 51. Kd4 Rf6 $14) 51. g4 $1
a4 52. gxf5 Rf6 53. Be4 {Now it is a pawn up.} Be8 54. Rh4 Bd7 55. Bc2 Bc6 56.
Rd4 Rf8 57. Be4 Rc8 58. Bxc6 Rxc6 59. Rd8 {The rook endgame is much better for
White due to his bigger rook activity.} Rb6 60. Rc8 Kxf5 61. Rc5+ Ke6 62. h4
Kd7 63. Kf4 Rf6+ 64. Kg4 Rg6+ 65. Kh5 Rb6 66. Rf5 Ke7 67. Kg4 Rg6+ 68. Kf4 Rb6
69. Re5+ Kd7 $2 (69... Kf7 $1 {The only way to defend, controling the white
king is essential here. The white advantage would have been kept on a minimum.}
) 70. Kf5 $1 $16 {Practically a zugzvang.} Rb8 71. Kg6 Kc6 72. Re2 Rg8+ 73.
Kxh6 {Winning position.} Kd6 74. h5 Rg3 75. Kh7 Rg5 76. h6 Kd7 77. Kh8 Rg6 78.
Kh7 Rg5 79. Re3 Rg2 80. Re5 b4 81. axb4 Rxb2 82. Kg6 Rg2+ 83. Rg5 Rh2 84. h7 a3
85. Ra5 1-0

[Event "Danzhou 7th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2016.07.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Prasanna,V"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.07.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 (8... h5 {is statistically the more popular route for Black but I believe
White does have some chances of an advantage there although the whole
variation is quite complex.}) 9. Qd2 h5 {A rare sibling of the traditional ...
h5.} (9... O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5 {is one of the main lines and is
considered playable for both sides at the moment.}) 10. Be2 (10. Nd5 Bxd5 11.
exd5 Nbd7 {transposes to the game position after} 12. Be2) (10. O-O-O Nbd7 11.
Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Qc7 $1 (12... Nb6 $6 13. Qa5) 13. Kb1 Nb6 14. Qa5 Rc8 15. c3
Bd8 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qa4+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2 (50) Wei,Y (2641)-Zhou,J (2580)
Zhongshan 2014. The chances are balanced in the final position and Black has
emerged with equality from the opening.}) 10... Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 O-O
13. O-O Qb8 {A very common plan nowadays in the Najdorf and sometimes even in
the Ruy Lopez especially in the d6-e5 structure.} 14. Kh1 Bd8 {Nepomniatchi
had already employed the same plan with Black back in 2014 albeit
unsuccessfully.} 15. f4 (15. c4 Bb6 (15... b5 $5 {might have been
Nepomniatchi's planned improvement here.} 16. c5 (16. cxb5 axb5 17. a3 Re8) (
16. Bg5 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bb6 $132) 16... dxc5 17. Nxc5 Bb6 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19. Bxb6
Qxb6 {looks about equal for Black}) 16. Bxb6 Nxb6 17. f4 (17. g4 $5) 17... e4
$13 {1-0 (57) Saric,I (2666)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2735) Poikovsky 2014}) 15... Re8
16. c4 (16. fxe5 {was White's best chance to fight for an advantage:} Nxe5 17.
Nd4 g6 (17... Neg4 18. Bg1) 18. c4 Qc7 {with a complicated game but one which
Black has not fully equalised yet.}) 16... b5 $1 (16... Bb6 17. Bxb6 Nxb6 18.
fxe5 Rxe5 19. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 20. Nd4 $16 {White has more than sufficient
compensation for the exchange.}) 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Nd4 (19. Bg1 {
was White's last opportunity to keep the game complicated and the struggle
going.} Qb7 20. Nd4 Bb6 21. Nxb5 $14 (21. Rxf6 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 gxf6 23. Bxh5 Kg7
24. Rf1 Rh8 $132) (21. Bxb5)) 19... Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Bg1 Qb7 22. Qc2 Ne4
23. Rae1 Qxd5 {Black is better because the central pawns are more dangerous
than White's queenside pawns in the middlegame.} 24. Rf5 Qb7 25. Rb5 (25. Qxc4
{loses to} Ng3+ $19) 25... Qe7 26. Rf1 g6 27. Nf3 Qe6 28. a4 h4 29. Nd4 Qd7 30.
Qxc4 h3 31. Rf4 Nc5 (31... hxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Nc5 {was the better move order.}) 32.
b3 (32. gxh3 Rxa4 33. b4 {gives White some chances of defending.}) 32... hxg2+
33. Kxg2 Rc8 34. Qf1 Bg5 35. Rf3 Ne4 36. Rd3 Qg4+ 37. Kh1 Rc1 38. Qg2 Qh4 39.
Rf3 Be3 {Nepomniatchi is very accurate in converting his advantage} 40. Ne2
Nf2+ 41. Rxf2 Bxf2 42. Nxc1 Bxg1 43. Qg3 Qd4 44. Qxg1 Qd2 {White has no
defense against Black's strong attack. His pieces are completely uncoordinated.
} 45. Nd3 Qxd3 46. Rg5 Re2 {Serious material losses are inevitable for White
and so he resigns.} 0-1

[Event "Danzhou 7th"]
[Site "Danzhou"]
[Date "2016.07.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.07.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3
d6 9. a3 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. Ne2 Re8 12. Ng3 Bf8 13. c3 Qd7 14. d4 Na5 15. Bc2
Nc4 16. a4 Rad8 17. b3 Nb6 18. a5 Nc8 19. d5 c5 20. h3 g6 21. c4 b4 22. Ra2 Bg7
23. Bb1 Ne7 24. Nh2 g5 25. Nh5 Bc8 26. Nxf6+ Bxf6 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Ng4 Rh8 29.
f4 gxf4 30. g3 Ng6 31. gxf4 Qe7 32. Nxf6 Qxf6 33. fxe5 dxe5 34. Rg2 Qd6 35. Rf1
Rde8 36. Kh1 Re7 37. Be3 Rc7 38. Rgf2 Rh7 39. Rf6 Qxf6 40. Rxf6 Kxf6 41. Bxh6
Rxh6 42. Qxh6 Re7 43. h4 Re8 44. Qg5+ Kg7 45. h5 Rh8 46. Bc2 Rh6 47. Bd1 f6 48.
Qg1 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Korobov, Anton"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D95"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd2 {White tries to
prevent ...c5. He puts his bishop on d2 instead of the usual f4-square.} c6 {
Jan prefers to play a good version of the Schlechter variation.} ({At the
moment, Black doesn't have many problems after} 6... c5 7. dxc5 Nc6 {looks a
little bit artificial. I think Black should try to attack the c5-pawn.} (7...
Na6 8. cxd5 Nxc5 9. Bc4 {Black has many ways to get an equal position.} Bf5 (
9... a6 10. a4 b6 (10... Bf5 11. O-O Rc8 12. Qe2 Nfe4 $11) 11. O-O Bb7 12. Be1
(12. b4 $5 Nce4 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Qb3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Qb2
$13) 12... Rc8 (12... b5 $5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Nxb5 Nxd5 16. b4
Na4 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nc7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qa7 $44 {Lenderman,A (2626)-Cumming,R 
(2140) London ENG 2015 1/2 (41)}) 13. Rc1 Qd6 14. Rc2 $6 Rfd8 15. h3 e6 16. Qe2
Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 $15 {Kovalenko,I (2650)-Ruck,R (2568) Bastia
2014 0-1 (55)}) 10. O-O Rc8 11. Qe2 Nfe4 12. Nd4 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Ne4 14. Nxe4
Bxe4 15. Qb4 Bxd4 16. exd4 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxe7 Qxd4 ({In the following
correspondence game Black managed to get a better position after} 18... Rfe8 $1
19. Qa3 a6 20. Qd3 Re4 21. Rad1 Rc4 22. b3 Rcxd4 23. Qf3 h5 24. h3 b5 25. a3
Qd6 26. b4 Qd5 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 $15 {Bradney,R (1979)-Ristea,T (2338) ICCF 2013
0-1 (55); and Black has won this correspondence game. Now White could trade
queens, exchange his 2 queenside pawns for the a6-pawn and find Dvoretsky's
article, in which he explains how to make a draw.}) 19. Qxb7 Rb8 20. Qa6 Rxb2
21. Rad1 $11 {Zhang,Z (2600)-Le,Q (2709) Ho Chi Minh City 2014 1/2 (31)}) 8.
Rc1 Bg4 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ndb4 12. Qe4 Qd7 13. Be2 $6 {Now
Black could regain the pawn.} (13. Rd1 $1 Rfd8 14. Be2 Rac8 15. Qb1 Nd3+ 16.
Bxd3 Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Rxd3 18. Ke2 Rcd8 19. Na4 $16) 13... Bxc3 $1 14. Bxc3 Nxa2
$11 15. Rc2 Nxc3 16. Rxc3 Rfd8 17. O-O Qd2 18. Rc2 Qb4 19. Bf3 {1/2 (19)
Ponomariov,R (2743)-Volokitin,A (2687) Kiev 2013}) 7. Qb3 e6 8. Bd3 {If Black
takes on c4 then there is no difference between 8.Bd3 and 8.Be2; but Bd3
prevents the manoeuvre Ne4, Nd2.} (8. Be2 Ne4 (8... Nbd7 9. O-O Ne4 10. Rfd1
Nxd2 11. Rxd2 Qe7 12. Qc2 b6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5 a6 15. Qc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 Nf6 (
16... Qd8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Qa4 a5 19. Rc2 $14) 17. Rc2 (17. Ne5) 17... Bd7 18.
Qc7 Rfd8 19. Ne5 $2 (19. Rc6 Bf8 20. Rxb6 Ba4 21. Qxe7 Bxe7 22. Nb7 Rdc8 23.
Ne5 $11) 19... Bf8 $1 20. Nexf7 Ne8 21. Qc3 (21. Nxe8 Qxf7 22. Nd6 Qe7 $19)
21... Nxd6 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 $17 {Burmakin,V (2590)-Cori,J (2608) Barcelona 2014 1/
2 (33)}) 9. Rd1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxd2 11. Rxd2 c5 $6 (11... Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. e4
Bb7 {with a roughly equal position}) 12. d5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Qb6 14. Qxb6 $6 {
This is a concession, Black's rook becomes an active piece and the c5-pawn is
protected.} (14. Ng5 $1 Qxb3 15. Bxb3 Nc6 16. Nce4 $14) 14... axb6 15. Ne4 Nc6
16. Nd6 Be6 (16... Ne7 $1 17. Bc4 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. a3 Rfd8 $11) 17. Bxe6
fxe6 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Ng5 Rd7 20. Nge4 $14 {Sivuk,V (2512)-Gupta,A (2633)
Olongapo City PHI 2015 1-0 (41)}) 8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. O-O c5 11. Rfd1
Qe7 $146 (11... cxd4 12. exd4 Nb6 13. Be2 Bd7 14. Ne5 Bc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bf4
Nfd5 17. Bg3 Nc8 18. Qb7 Nce7 19. Nxd5 (19. Ne4 $6 Nf5) 19... cxd5 20. Bc7 Qc8
21. Ba6 Qxb7 22. Bxb7 Rab8 $8 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 $44 {Aleksandrov,A (2595)-Sturua,Z
(2600) Elista 1998 1-0 (54)}) 12. Rac1 b6 13. d5 exd5 14. Bxd5 $5 Rb8 (14...
Nxd5 $6 15. Nxd5 Qd8 16. e4 h6 17. Bc3 $16) 15. e4 Ne5 16. Bf4 Nh5 (16... Nxf3+
$5 17. gxf3 Nd7 18. Bxb8 Nxb8 $44 {Black can create dangerous threats by means
of ...Qh4, ...Be5 and if White plays Ne2 then ...Ba6.}) 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Nxe5
Qxe5 19. g3 {If White wants to get some advantage he needs to grab space.
However Anton took risks because his king became less protected.} Bg4 20. Rd2
$14 Qe7 21. f4 $6 ({White should have preferred} 21. Re1 Rbd8 22. Kg2 Nf6 23.
f3 Be6 24. Red1 $14 {with some pressure.}) 21... Rbd8 22. e5 $6 {Another
careless move.} (22. Qc2 Nf6 23. e5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Qe6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 $11) 22...
Nf6 {With the help of tactical tricks Ian has got an equal position. I think
he could have got more after 22...g5:} (22... g5 $1 23. Ne4 gxf4 24. Nd6 Rd7
25. Qc3 Qg5 $40 26. Ne4 Qg6 $15) 23. Rcc2 (23. exf6 $4 Qe3+ $19) (23. Qc2 $11)
23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Qe6 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Nxg4 {White has no advantage and even
more, Black can create some threats because White's king is exposed.} (26. Qxe6
Bxe6 27. b3 $11 a5 ({or} 27... Rxd2 28. Rxd2 Rc8 29. Kf2 c4 30. bxc4 Rxc4 31.
Ke3 Ra4 32. Rd8 h5 33. Rg8+ $11) 28. Kf2 a4 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. bxa4 Ra8 31. Rb2
Rxa4 32. Rxb6 Rxa2+ 33. Ke3 Rxh2 34. Rb8 h5 35. Rg8+ Kh6 36. Rh8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+
$11) (26. Qc3 Bf5 (26... Qxa2 $4 27. e6 $18) 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29.
Qxd2 Qxa2 30. Qd8 Qb1+ 31. Kf2 Qxb2+ 32. Kf3 Qc3+ 33. Kg2 Qc2+ 34. Kg1 Qb1+ 35.
Kg2 Qc2+ 36. Kg1 $11) 26... Qxg4 27. Kg2 Qf5 $1 {Ian puts some problems to
Anton. For example if he plays 28.Qe3 then ...Rd4 and White needs to make a
choice between 29.Rxd4 cxd, which is really unpleasant or Black will grab the
d-file after ...Rfd8.} 28. Kf3 {Probably Wilhelm Steinitz would have approved
of this move.} (28. Qe3 $6 Rd4 29. Rxd4 $6 (29. Qe2 Rfd8 30. b3 g5 $1 31. fxg5
Qxg5 $15) 29... cxd4 30. Qd2 d3 $17) (28. h4 h6 {and at the right moment Black
will play ...g5.}) ({White should get an equal position after} 28. Qc4 $1 h5
29. Rd6 h4 30. Rcd2 Rxd6 31. exd6 hxg3 32. hxg3 Rh8 33. Qc3+ f6 34. Qf3 $1 $11)
28... h5 $1 29. Qe3 $6 ({Once again Anton should have played} 29. Qc4 $1 Qg4+
30. Kg2 $1 (30. Ke3 h4 31. Qe2 Qe6 32. b3 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 hxg3 34. hxg3 Rh8 $36)
30... h4 31. Qe2 Qf5 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rd2 {and White has almost levelled the
game.}) 29... Qh3 $1 30. Qe2 h4 31. Rxd8 hxg3 32. hxg3 $8 (32. Rxf8 $4 gxh2+
33. Kf2 h1=Q $19) 32... Rxd8 {Objectively White's position is not worse, but
it is not easy to play it, especially in time trouble.} 33. Rd2 Rh8 34. Rd1 $2
(34. e6 Qh5+ $1 35. Kf2 Qxe2+ 36. Kxe2 fxe6 (36... Rh2+ $4 37. Kf3 Rxd2 38. e7
$18) 37. Kf3 Kf6 $17) (34. Qg2 Qe6 35. b3 Rh3 36. Kf2 g5 $40) (34. b3 $1 {
intending e6.} Qh5+ (34... g5 35. fxg5 Qf5+ 36. Kg2 Re8 37. Rd5 Qxg5 38. Qe4
$11) 35. Ke3 $1 (35. Kf2 Qh1 $1 $17) 35... Qf5 36. Kf3 g5 37. Qe4 Qh3 38. fxg5
Qf1+ 39. Kg4 Rh1 40. Qf3 Qh3+ 41. Kf4 $11) 34... Qh5+ 35. g4 Qh4 $2 {Ian could
have won the game after} (35... Qh3+ $1 36. Ke4 Re8 37. Rd7 Qh1+ 38. Kd3 Qc6
39. Rd6 (39. Rxa7 $2 Rh8 $19) 39... Qa4 40. Ke3 g5 41. Qf2 Rh8 $1 $19) 36. Ke4
$2 (36. Qg2 $1 Qe7 37. Rd5 Qb7 38. Kg3 $11) 36... Qe7 37. Kd3 $2 {The decisive
mistake.} Qd7+ $1 38. Ke3 $2 (38. Kc2 {was more stubborn.} Qa4+ 39. Kb1 Rh2 $1
40. Qd3 Qb4 $1 (40... Qxf4 41. e6 fxe6 42. Qd7+ Kh6 43. Qxe6 Qf2 $19 {and
Black should win the endgame.}) 41. Qc3 Qe4+ 42. Ka1 Rc2 43. Qg3 c4 44. Re1 c3
$1 45. bxc3 Qc4 $19) 38... Rh3+ 39. Ke4 Qc6+ {If 40.Rd5 then 40...Qa4+ -+} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. b3 {One of the sharpest positions that can be reached after initial
1.e4 e5. The Scotch is a kind of Sicilian type of chess aimed to sharpen a
position as soon as possible, and not suprisingly, players with such
tendencies often use it. Of course credit for that belongs to Kasparov.} g6 10.
f4 Bg7 {Not the only move here, I will briefly mention some:} (10... d6 11. Qf2
Nf6 12. Ba3 Qe6 13. Be2 dxe5 14. fxe5 Bxa3 15. Nxa3 Nd7 16. O-O Nxe5 17. Nc2
Qe7 18. Rad1 O-O {½-½ (28) Pierron,P-Dailido,S corr. 2015, Black is doing ok
here.}) (10... f6 11. exf6 Qxe2+ 12. Bxe2 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nxf4 15.
Rf1 {Also a known theoretical position, Kasparov played it from the black side.
}) 11. Qf2 Nf6 {Another idea is possible, but doesn't look inspiring though:} (
11... Nb6 12. c5 Bxf1 13. cxb6 Ba6 14. Ba3 d6 15. bxc7 c5 16. Nc3 Qxc7 17.
O-O-O Qa5 18. Na4 $5 Bb5 19. Qe1 Qxe1 20. Rhxe1 dxe5 21. Nc3 Bc6 22. Bxc5 {
It seems that White again has the better chances.}) 12. Ba3 d6 {The
alternative is possible, but so far I don't see how it solves the problems:} (
12... Ng4 13. Qd2 (13. Qe2 Qe6 14. Nd2 d6 15. Ne4 O-O 16. O-O-O Rfe8 17. g3
Nxe5 $1 $17 {1/2-1/2 (46) Luukkonen,T (2185)-Solozhenkin,E (2489) Finland 2007}
) 13... d6 14. Nc3 Qe6 (14... O-O-O 15. O-O-O Qe6 16. exd6 cxd6 17. h3 {
It seems that White has better chances here}) 15. h3 Nxe5 16. O-O-O Bh6 17. g4
O-O 18. g5 Nf3 19. Qf2 Nxg5 20. fxg5 Bxg5+ 21. Kb1 Bf6 22. Bb2 {1-0 (22) Szodi,
S-Herzog,K corr. 2013}) 13. Nc3 O-O $2 {I somehow don't like Black's position
here. An alternative was definitely necessary. but overall it looks to me that
White has the initative.} (13... Qe6 14. O-O-O dxe5 15. g3 $5 Ng4 16. Qd2 Bf6
17. Bg2 Rd8 18. Qe2 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bb7 20. Ne4 Be7 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Nc5 {
White is winning.}) 14. O-O-O Ne8 15. g3 {White is clearly better now.} Bb7 16.
Bg2 f6 (16... Qe6 17. h4 $1 {with a tremendous initiative.}) 17. exd6 Nxd6 $2 {
Losing at once.} (17... cxd6 18. Rhe1 Qc7 19. f5 $1 {White's advantage is
undisputed.}) 18. c5 $1 Nf5 19. Rhe1 Qf7 20. Bf1 $1 {Black is simply losing
his queen.} Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bc4 Rd5 23. Qe2 $1 {A nice and quick win
for Nepo.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 {As far as I know
Black had two traditional move orders. The differences are mainly relevant
from the point of view of the plan based on Bg5 as played in this game.} ({
I usually play} 6... a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 {avoiding the lines
with 10.Bxf6 Bxf6. Here is a relatively recent example in which Black held his
own rather well:} 10. Qd2 Rc8 11. b3 Be7 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Bf4 Ne8 {For the
time being Black's position looks cramped but he will restore his coordination
soon.} 14. Rac1 h6 15. e4 Qc7 16. Qe2 Qb8 17. Be3 Nef6 18. Nd2 Rfe8 19. f4 Qa8
{Grischuk,A (2795)-Perunovic,M (2602) Tromso 2014 (½-½, 32), with a normal
Hedgehog.}) 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 O-O ({The alternative is} 8... d6 9. Bg5 a6 10.
Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012 CBM
147 [Carlsen,M] (1-0, 67)}) 9. Rd1 d6 10. Bg5 {One can play the Hedgehog in
various states of mind. If Black is aiming for a long unforcing fight with
chances to outplay the opponent in the long run, this is not the way of doing
it. But of he mainly wants to equalise and is prepared to abandon the typical
Hedgehog structure the line looks OK. Traditionally, Black was supposed to
land up in a unpleasant position but recent findings have slightly changed
this view.} Nc6 {The natural square for this knight is d7. After the last move
one of the main questions is whether he can relocate it with ...Ne5-d7.} (10...
Nbd7 {allows} 11. Nb5 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 (12... exd5 {Huzman,A (2574)-Adams,M 
(2755) Neum 2000 CBM 080 [Stohl,I] (1-0, 52), offers White a pleasant fight
against the Isolani.}) 13. Nc3 Bc6 {White has achieved a pleasant Catalan
structure but proving a concrete advantage is no trivial matter.} 14. Qc4 Qc8
15. Rac1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. f4 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Bb5 21.
Qa3 Qa6 22. Qxa6 Bxa6 23. e5 Rac8 {Eljanov,P (2717)-Jakovenko,D (2748) Germany
2015 (½-½, 43), and Black managed to hold a draw.}) 11. Qf4 ({More active
than} 11. Qd2 {as faced by Kramnik two rounds earlier:} Qb8 12. Rac1 (12. Bxf6
Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Na5 {does not promise much:} 15. Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2
Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Nde4 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Nxc4 20. b3 Na3 $11 {Mirzoev,A 
(2553)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2557) Milan 2012 (½-½, 31)}) 12... Rd8 13. b3 h6
14. Bf4 Ne5 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb7+ 17. f3 {Black has a proper hedgehog
regrouping and no problems at all.} g5 $6 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Carlsen,M (2733)
Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 (12) 0-1 But this resolute move creates some! Kramnik
might have been "inspired" by the unpleasant experience in} (17... Ng6 18. Be3
d5 $11) 18. Be3 d5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 $6 ({Black should have looked for
complications with} 19... Ne4 $5 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe7 exf3+) 20. Qxg5+ Ng6
21. Nxe6 Rd6 22. Nf4 Ne4 23. Qg4 Nxc3 24. Rxc3 d4 25. Rcd3 Rad8 26. Nd5 Bf8 27.
Rxd4 $16 {Svidler,P (2745)-Kramnik,V (2808) Moscow 2016 (½-½, 66), with four
pawns for a bishop.}) 11... Qb8 12. Bxf6 {Abstractly speaking a concession.} ({
In practice Black has faced problems after the slightly more consistent} 12.
Rd2 Ne5 (12... Na5 $5 $146 13. b3 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rc1 Be7 $11) 13. Nxe5 (
13. Rad1 Nh5 14. Qh4 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxf3 $2 16. Bxe7 {1-0 Pantsulaia,L (2612)
-Solodovnichenko,Y (2587) Konya 2016}) 13... dxe5 14. Qh4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qb7+
16. f3 Rac8 17. Rad1 e4 18. b3 exf3+ 19. exf3 $14 {Karpov,A (2725)-Smirin,I 
(2500) Moscow 1988 (1-0, 46)}) ({The forced sequence after} 12. Nb5 {speaks
volumes about Black's main aim in this line:} Ne5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nxd6 Nxf3+
15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bxb2 17. Rab1 Be5 18. c5 Qc7 19. Qe4 Qxc5 20. Rbc1 Bxd6
21. Rxc5 Bxc5 {and Black held a draw in a series of games, the most recent one
being Khairullin,I (2662)-Lysyj,I (2673) Chita 2015 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 12... Bxf6
13. Rxd6 {This is the difference with respect with 11.Qf4.} (13. Qxd6 {would
just transpose.}) 13... Na5 (13... Nd4 $6 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4 e5 15. Qd2 exd4
16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rd8 19. Nd5 {also offers White a small
edge}) 14... Bxg2 15. Nc2 (15. Ndb5 $5 Bb7 16. Rd3 $14 {is a bit more active.})
15... Bb7 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. R6d3 $14 {Nakamura,H (2816)-Gurevich,D (2472) Las
Vegas 2015 (1-0, 53)}) 14. Rad1 Qc7 (14... Rc8 {is equally good.} 15. c5 $5 (
15. Ne4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Nxc4 $11 {[%csl Gb2] Pantsulaia,L (2615)-Drori,S (2173)
Jerusalem 2015 (1/2-1/2, 48)}) 15... bxc5 (15... Rxc5 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 $14
Bxb2 $4 18. Qxa8 $1 Qxa8 19. Rd8+) (15... h6 16. cxb6 Nc4 17. Rd7 axb6 $44) 16.
Qa4 Nc6 17. Ne4 Be7 {Ghaem Maghami,E (2547)-Papin,V (2506) Rasht 2014 (1/2-1/2,
19)} 18. Rd7 $16) 15. Rd7 Qxf4 16. gxf4 {As in many Catalan lines, the f4-pawn
ensures White better control in the centre than if the queen exchange had
taken place in a different way.} Bc6 $146 (16... Rac8 17. Nd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2
Nxc4 19. b3 Nb2 20. Rc1 Rc5 21. Rc2 Rfc8 22. Rxb2 Bxd4 23. Rd2 Bf6 24. Ne4 R5c7
{Shimanov,A (2639)-Carlsson,P (2436) Atlantic City 2016 (1-0, 66), with a
symbolic advantage to White.}) 17. Ng5 {The rook had no favourable squares for
retreating.} (17. R7d3 Nxc4 $36 {[%csl Gd1,Gd3][%cal Gc4b2]}) (17. Rc7 Bxc3 18.
bxc3 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 20. c5 $5 {Geting rid of the weakness.} bxc5 21. Ne5
$11) 17... Bxd7 $5 {This leads to interesting play with opposite-coloured
bishops.} ({At first sight,} 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nxc4 {looks viable for Black.}
) 18. Bxa8 Bxc3 (18... Rxa8 19. Rxd7 Bxg5 20. fxg5 Nxc4 21. b3 Ne5 22. Rb7 $14)
19. Rxd7 (19. bxc3 $2 Ba4 $19) 19... Bxb2 20. Be4 h6 21. Nf3 Nxc4 22. Rxa7 Rc8
{White's rook is more active and the bishops of opposite colours offer him
chances for an attack if Black plays carelessly. But in principle the position
is balanced.} 23. Kg2 Bf6 24. Bd3 g5 {This shows Kramnik's wish to unbalance
the position.} (24... Nb2 $5 25. Ba6 ({If} 25. Bb5 {the knight can escape the
bishop's domination with} Nd1 {[%cal Gd1c3]}) 25... Rc5 26. Rb7 Ra5 $11) ({
The most solid continuation is} 24... g6 $5 {stabilising the kingside.} 25. a4
Kg7 26. Rb7 (26. e4 Bc3) 26... Nb2 27. Bb5 Ra8 $11) 25. f5 g4 {Another
ambitious move.} (25... exf5 {should lead to a draw:} 26. Bxf5 Rc5 27. Bg4 Ne5
28. Bh5 (28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Bh5 Re7 $11) 28... Ra5 29. Rb7 Ng6 $11) 26. Ne1 e5 {
Black has got a mobile kingside majority and the white knight looks passive.
But Kramnik must have underestimated the subsequent manoeuvre Nc2-b4-d5.} 27.
Nc2 h5 28. Nb4 Kg7 29. Nd5 Bh4 $6 {Black will now be too slow in creating
counterplay.} (29... Nd2 $1 {[%cal Ge5e4,Gc8c1,Gf6h4,Gc1f1]} 30. Nxb6 ({
The same move as in the game does not work so well now:} 30. h3 Rc5 31. Rd7 (
31. e4 Nf3) 31... e4 32. Ba6 Ra5 33. Bb7 Rxa2 34. hxg4 hxg4) 30... Rc1 {
[%cal Ge5e4]} 31. Ra4 Bh4 {[%cal Gc1f1]} 32. Nc4 e4 $1 33. Nxd2 exd3 34. exd3
Rd1 35. Ne4 Rxd3 {and due to the kingside weaknesses White has no realistic
winning chances.}) 30. h3 Rc5 (30... Nd2 31. hxg4 hxg4 (31... Rc5 32. e4 hxg4
33. Ne3) 32. Ra4 $16 {[%csl Ge4,Gg4]}) (30... gxh3+ 31. Kxh3 $16 Bxf2 $6 32.
f6+ Kf8 33. Ne7 Rd8 34. Nf5 (34. Bxc4 $2 b5 $1) 34... b5 35. Rb7 $18) 31. hxg4
$2 {White should not have helped Black to clear the h5-square.} ({He should
have played the same plan as in the game without the pawn exchange:} 31. Nc7 $1
Kh6 32. Ne8 Nb2 33. Nd6 Nxd3 34. exd3 Rc2 35. Nxf7+ Kg7 36. hxg4 hxg4 (36...
Rxf2+ 37. Kh3 Bf6 38. g5 $18) (36... Bxf2 37. g5 $18) 37. Nxe5+ Kf6 38. Nxg4+)
31... hxg4 32. Nc7 Kh6 33. Ne8 Nb2 (33... Nd2 34. Nd6 $16) 34. Be4 ({After the
pawn exchange} 34. Nd6 {is inoffensive:} Nxd3 35. exd3 Rc2 36. Nxf7+ Kh5 $1 $11
) 34... Nd1 35. Nd6 Kg5 (35... Nxf2 $2 36. Nxf7+ Kh5 (36... Kg7 37. Nd8+ Kh6
38. f6 $18) 37. Ra8 $18 {The only way of parrying Rh8 mate is} Bf6 38. Kxf2)
36. Rxf7 Bxf2 $2 {The losing move. Most likely Kramnik overlooked White's 38th
move.} ({After} 36... Nxf2 {the position remains unclear.}) 37. Rg7+ Kf4 {
It looks as if Black's attack is breaking through but...} 38. e3+ $3 {Spoiling
Black's coordination.} (38. f6 $2 Bh4 39. f7 $2 Ne3+ 40. Kh2 Bg3+ 41. Kg1 Rc1#)
38... Kxe3 (38... Bxe3 {dismantles the mating mechanism offering White a
decisive tempo.} 39. f6 Bd4 40. f7 Ne3+ 41. Kh2 Nf1+ 42. Kh1 $18 {In this line
it is essential that there is no check on c2.}) 39. Rxg4 Kd2 (39... Be1 40. f6
$18) (39... Nc3 40. f6 Rc7 41. Bf5 Ra7 42. f7 Ra8 43. Ne8 $18) 40. Bf3 Ne3+ 41.
Kxf2 Nxg4+ 42. Bxg4 {The rest is easy.} Rd5 43. Ne4+ Kd3 44. f6 Ra5 45. Be2+
Kd4 46. f7 Ra8 47. Ng5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. a4 a6 8. h3 O-O
9. Re1 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 d5 14. Nb3 Ne7 15.
exd5 Qxd5 16. c4 Qd6 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 Qxc5 19. Ba3 Qa5 20. d4 Ng6 21. Bb2
Rae8 22. Bc3 Qb6 23. Rab1 Qa7 24. dxe5 Nd7 25. Rbd1 Ndf8 26. h4 Qc5 27. h5 Ne7
28. Re4 Rc6 29. Nd4 Qxc4 30. Nxc6 Qxc6 31. Qd3 b5 32. axb5 axb5 33. Bb4 Qb7 34.
Bxe7 Rxe7 35. Rd4 Rxe5 36. Rd8 Qc6 37. Qd7 Qc5 38. Qc8 Rxh5 39. Rxf8+ Qxf8 40.
Rd8 Qxd8 41. Qxd8+ Kh7 42. Qd7 f6 43. Qxc7 b4 44. Qc2+ Kh8 45. Qc4 Re5 46. g3
Kh7 47. Kg2 b3 48. Qxb3 Kh8 49. Kh3 Rh5+ 50. Kg4 Rg5+ 51. Kh4 Re5 52. f4 Ra5
53. Qc3 Rd5 54. Qb4 1-0

[Event "Sharjah FIDE GP"]
[Site "Sharjah"]
[Date "2017.02.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Silver,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2017.02.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bf5 12. Bg5 {The novelty, at least at
master level or greater. An odd one at first sight as it forces the queen away
to a better square it would normally do anyhow, and invites an attack to be
evicted. However, it will be clear the Russian has this well in mind and plays
very quickly.} Qc7 13. Re1 h6 14. Nh4 Bh7 {[#]} 15. Bxh6 $1 {Not only strong,
but still well part of Nepomniachtchi's preparation as the respective time per
move shows.} Bxh2+ {Unpleasant as the move came, Li Chao spends 26 minutes no
doubt trying to see what trouble he had landed in, and comes up with a good
reply.} ({The obvious question is what prevents him from just taking with} 
15... gxh6 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Bxh2+ (18... f6 19. Re6 {This is
the main computer line, and considering how quickly White was playing, one can
be sure he knew it well and had it prepared.} Nd7 20. Rae1 Nb6 21. Bd3 {
and now the attack is overwhelming. The immediate threat is Re7!} Qd7 22. Qh5 {
and Black must lose material to save the king from an immediate demise.}) (
18... Nd7 $2 19. Bd3 Nf6 20. Qxf6+ {etc.}) 19. Kh1 Qf4 20. Qh3 {and the Bh2 is
trapped. However, as will be clear, this was still the best path for Black.})
16. Kh1 Bf4 {The fatal imprecision.} ({Best was} 16... gxh6 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18.
Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 Qf4 20. Qh3 {and it transposes to the note above.}) 17. Bxg7
$1 Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qd6 21. g3 Bh6 22. Kg2 {With the
obvious idea of Rh1 attacking on the h-file.} b5 23. Bb3 Qg6 24. Qxg6 fxg6 25.
Re7 g5 26. Re6 Kg7 27. Rh1 Rh8 28. Re7+ Kg6 29. Bc2+ ({It is mate in six after
} 29. Bc2+ Kf6 30. Rhe1 g4 31. R1e6+ Kg5 32. Rg6+ Kh5 33. Re5+ Bg5 34. Rexg5#)
1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 g6 7. Ng5 e6 8.
Nge4 f5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Nc3 d4 11. Nd5 Bd6 12. d3 Be6 13. h4 Be5 14. Nf4 Bf7
15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Rc1 b6 17. O-O Bxf4 18. Bxf4 Bd5 19. e4 dxe3 20. fxe3 O-O 21.
Bg5 Qd6 22. e4 Bxa2 23. exf5 gxf5 24. b3 Nd4 25. Bf4 Qe6 26. Re1 Qf7 27. b4 Bd5
28. bxc5 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Rxc5 30. Rxc5 bxc5 31. Qa4 Rc8 32. Kh3 Ne6 33. Re5 c4
34. Qa6 Nxf4+ 35. gxf4 Rc7 36. Re2 c3 37. Qd6 Qd7 38. Rg2+ Kf7 39. Qe5 Qc6 40.
Qg7+ Ke8 41. Re2+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qd3 Be6 10. Bd2 Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nc5 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14. c4 Qc7
15. Rae1 Bd6 16. Qh3 Rfe8 17. Bc3 g6 18. Bd3 Nh5 19. g3 Re7 20. Re2 Rf8 21.
Rfe1 f5 22. f3 Nf6 23. Qh4 Nd7 24. Qg5 Ref7 25. Qd2 Qd8 26. Kh1 Re8 27. a4 h5
28. a5 Kh7 29. Bc2 b5 30. axb6 Nxb6 31. Qd3 Qb8 32. g4 Nd7 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. f4
e4 35. Qh3 Kh6 36. Rg2 Bxf4 37. Bd1 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2017.05.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2017.05.12"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O b5 (9... Be6) ({and} 9... Nbd7 {are also popular lines.}) 10. Nd5
Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Ra7 12. Be3 Be6 13. Qd3 $146 {A novelty by Adams.} (13. Qd2 {
was played by Nakamura,} Rb7 14. Nc3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 (15... Nf6 $5) 16. Qxd5
Qc7 17. c3 Nb6 18. Qd3 Qc4 19. Qc2 Qc6 20. Rfd1 $14 {Nakamura-Popilski, Eilat
2012, with a comfortable position for White.}) 13... Rb7 14. b3 {White
prepares for Nc3-d5, but first he prevents ...Bc4.} Nd7 15. Nc3 Nf6 16. a4 $1 {
The right positional move. White would like to open the a-file for his rook.}
Qd7 ({Black can't close with} 16... b4 $2 {, because of} 17. Qxa6 $1 $16) 17.
axb5 axb5 18. Ra6 {White starts the penetration on the a-file.} Rc8 19. Rfa1 b4
20. Na4 Qc7 21. Ra2 Nd7 22. Qf1 {He goes out from ...Nc5 and prepares for f4.}
Rcb8 {Black controls the b6-square more.} (22... h6 23. f4 $1 Nf6 24. Nb6 $14 {
is unpleasant for Black.}) 23. Qd1 ({Now} 23. f4 $6 {is dubious, as} Nf6 $1 {
and Black looks nicely placed.}) 23... h6 24. h4 Bf8 25. Bf3 $6 {Inaccuracy.} (
25. Nb2 $1 $14 {was better followed by Nd3.}) 25... Nf6 26. Bg2 $2 {An
unexpected decision, Adams went back to g2 with the B. Moreover now Black can
gain the initiative.} ({Still} 26. Nb2 {was important.}) 26... Bd7 $1 {Black
finds a nice bishop manoeuvre.} 27. Nb2 Bc6 $1 {Now White has a big problem
with his e4-pawn.} 28. Nc4 {Still the best chance.} (28. Qd3 $2 {is bad, as}
Bb5 $17) ({or} 28. f3 $2 d5 $1 $17 {and Black is much better.}) 28... Bxe4 29.
Ba7 (29. Nxd6 $2 {does not work, because of} Rd8 $19 {and Black wins.}) 29...
Re8 30. Bb6 Qd7 31. Na5 $6 {A dubious move, but White's position was already
difficult.} (31. f3 Bc6 $17 {is also better for Black.}) 31... Bxg2 32. Kxg2
Rbb8 $19 33. Ra7 Qb5 ({The engine suggests} 33... Qe6 $19 {followed by ...d5.})
34. Bc7 Ra8 35. Nc4 Rxa7 36. Rxa7 Qc5 37. Qa1 Ng4 (37... Qc6+ $1 {was easier,}
38. Kg1 Ng4 $19 {with a completely winning position for Black.}) 38. Bb6 Qc6+
39. f3 e4 $5 40. fxg4 e3+ 41. Kh2 e2 42. Qe1 d5 $1 {This is the point! Black
wins back the piece and he has a pawn on e2.} 43. Be3 dxc4 44. Qxe2 Qe6 45. Qf2
Qxe3 46. Qxf7+ Kh8 47. bxc4 Qe2+ 48. Kh3 Qd1 $1 49. g5 h5 0-1

[Event "WchT 11th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2017.06.19"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B94"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.06.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 ({For many, many years the general trend was that
players avoided the Najdorf and played} 3. Bb5+ {instead. I am happy to notice
that there is an opposite trend now; especially since I always preached to my 
(most ambitious) students that they should either choose the open Sicilian or
play another game altogether.}) 3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {What a lovely
position. The smell of Darjeeling tea in my father's living room, just as it
was the first time I encountered this position, still hovers at the edge of my
nostrils. There is no place for laziness in such a position, for either side.
Black has an extra central pawn and looks forward to exchanges, whereas White
is developing fast and has to keep up the pressure so as not to let Black take
over. In the pre-strong-engine era, White was banging his head against a brick
wall and was close to giving it up in favour of 3.Bb5+, but then the rise of
the engines reversed the trend. Now Black is facing a serious assault in more
than one of the old lines.} 6. Bg5 Nbd7 $5 ({Some years ago everyone played} 
6... e6 {and it just about holds on to its position as the main line. This
spring there was an extensive discussion of the line} 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 {
As far as I know it has not been settled.}) 7. Bc4 (7. f4 Qc7 {gives Black the
option of entering one of the normal e7-e6-lines, but also leaves the option
of e7-e5, which is not at all bad.}) ({Another popular line has been} 7. Qe2 h6
8. Bh4 $1 g6 9. f4 e5 {and it seems that Black is facing some hard times after}
10. fxe5 dxe5 11. O-O-O $1 Qc7 12. Nb3 b5 13. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 14. Nd5 Qd6 15. Na5
$36 Rb8 $6 (15... f6 16. Qf3 $36) 16. Qf3 Bb7 17. Nxb7 Rxb7 18. Be2 h5 19. Kb1
Bg7 20. Rd1 Qe6 21. Qa3 f6 22. c4 b4 23. Qa5 O-O 24. c5 Kh8 25. Bf2 b3 26. Qxa6
bxa2+ 27. Ka1 {1-0 (27) Kasimdzhanov,R (2695)-Zhu,Y (2325) 16th Asian
Continental 2017}) 7... Qa5 {[%cal Ga5g5]} (7... Qb6 {usually induces White to
retreat with the bishop to b3, but another idea that has been around for a
while has suddenly been brought to prefection in the hands of Wei Yi:} 8. O-O
Qxb2 (8... Qc5 9. Bd5 e6 10. Re1 $5 Be7 ({Black is facing a serious assault
after} 10... exd5 11. exd5+ Kd8 (11... Ne5 12. f4) 12. Ne4) 11. Be3 Qa5 12.
Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nxe6 Nc5 14. b4 $1 Qxb4 15. Nc7+ Kd8 16. N3d5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 $18 {
Wei Yi (2705)-Van Wely,L (2695) 79th Tata Steel GpA 2017}) 9. Nd5 Nxd5 10. Rb1
Qc3 11. Bxd5 Qc7 12. f4 e6 13. Re1 $1 Nc5 14. f5 Be7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. fxe6
fxe6 17. Nf5 $1 Qc7 18. Bc6+ Qxc6 19. Nxd6+ Ke7 {Try to find a way to finish
Black off here.} 20. Qg4 $3 Nd7 (20... Kxd6 21. Red1+ Ke5 22. Qg5+ Kxe4 23.
Rb4#) (20... Qxd6 21. Qxg7+ Kd8 22. Red1 $18) 21. e5 {1-0 (21) Wei Yi (2725)
-Xu,Y (2540) 7th HD Bank Cup 2017}) 8. Qd2 e6 9. Bb3 (9. O-O-O b5 10. Bxe6 (10.
Bb3 $1) 10... fxe6 11. Nxe6 b4 12. Nd5 Kf7 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nxf8 Rxf8 (14...
Qxa2 $5 15. Qxb4 a5) 15. Qxb4 Qxb4 16. Nxb4 Nxe4 {Predke,A (2565)-Alekseev,E 
(2610) TCh-RUS Men 2017, was much better for Black.}) 9... Be7 $1 ({It is too
time consuming to play} 9... h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 {After} 11. O-O-O Be7 12. f4 $1 {
Black never really got out of the starting blocks:} Nd7 13. Kb1 Nc5 14. g4 Bd7
15. h4 b5 16. Qg2 b4 17. e5 Rc8 18. exd6 bxc3 19. dxe7 Nxb3 20. axb3 Kxe7 21.
bxc3 Qxc3 22. Rh3 Qc5 23. Rhd3 Rhd8 24. Qd2 Qc7 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 a5 27. f5
exf5 28. Qe2+ Be6 29. Nxf5+ Kf8 30. Rh1 Kg8 31. Rdh3 Rd1+ 32. Qxd1 {1-0 (34)
Amonatov,F (2590)-Salem,A (2591) Tromsoe 2014}) 10. O-O-O ({Now that White has
retreated with the bishop to b3, it seems less dangerous to play} 10. O-O {
There is nothing wrong with neutralising Bb3 with} Nc5 ({, but inserting} 10...
h6 {first might be even better.} 11. Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 $1 $15 {[%cal Gd7c5]})) 10...
h6 $5 {I am sceptical about this move, although it is according to the normal
script.} (10... O-O 11. Kb1 $1 {[%cal Gc3d5]} Qc7 12. h4 (12. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 13.
Nxe6 Qc4 14. Nxf8 Bxf8 15. f3 $14 {[%csl Ge4]}) 12... Nc5 13. f3 b5 {is pretty
similar to what happens in our main game, but with h6 swapped for 0-0. I would
not dare to say that castling is a bad move for Black, but it seems more
flexible to wait until it is necessary.} 14. g4 b4 15. Nce2 Bd7 16. Ng3 a5 17.
Nh5 a4 18. Bc4 Ncxe4 19. fxe4 Qxc4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 {Sandalakis,A 
(2440)-Gu Xiaobing (2320) 33rd Boeblinger Open 2016, was a real mess.}) ({
So, since I might want to play 0-0 later I would rather not play h6 either:} 
10... Nc5 11. f3 Bd7 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. g4 b5 {is therefore, perhaps, the best
setup. After something like} 14. h4 b4 15. Nce2 a5 {Black is making contact
with White's king, so White must act.} 16. Ng3 $1 Nb7 (16... a4 17. Bc4 O-O 18.
Nh5 Ncxe4 19. fxe4 Qxc4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 {and we are back in the
game Sandakis-Gu.}) 17. Rhe1 O-O 18. Nh5 a4 19. Bd5 $1 {with crazy
complications.}) 11. Be3 ({It might seem that White can get a version of
Amonatov - Salem, above, but Black doesn't have to take back with the knight:} 
11. Bxf6 Bxf6 $1 12. f4 Nc5 13. Kb1 Bd7 {with a balanced position.}) 11... Nc5
{Black's grand plan is to play ...Qc7, ...b5-b4 and then ...Nxb3, followed by .
..d5. White gets to do something first.} (11... Ng4 12. f4 Nc5 13. Kb1 Nxe3 14.
Qxe3 Bd7 {I like comparisons, so let's compare this to the line after 11.Bxf6.
It seems that by offering the exchange of the dark-squared bishop in this way
White has won a tempo (by having Black take it) and also the queen is more
active on e3.}) 12. Kb1 Bd7 (12... Nfxe4 $4 13. Nxe4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2 $18) 13. f3
{I was surprised to find no examples of this position in the database. I would
at least have thought that it would have come about via some strange move
order, but no.} Qc7 14. g4 b5 15. a3 $5 {This kind of move is often played to
slow Black's pawns down, but usually after Black has played something like ...
Bb7 (making it harder to play b4 or a5/b4).} ({The more straightforward} 15. h4
b4 16. Nce2 {also looks good. After} a5 17. g5 Nh5 18. gxh6 g6 19. Bg5 {
White has a strong attack.}) 15... Qb7 $1 ({After something like} 15... Rb8 16.
h4 a5 17. g5 Nh5 18. gxh6 g6 19. Bg5 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Na2 {Black is
unhappy about not having the rook on the a-file.}) 16. h4 a5 (16... Nxb3 $6 17.
Nxb3 a5) 17. g5 Nh5 $6 ({I'd rather do just about anything rather than play} 
17... Ng8 $1 {although it might actually be the best move here. Black's
counterplay is coming and it is more important to "hold the lines" on the
kingside, than it is to place the pieces in active places. The engine claims
that} 18. a4 $1 bxa4 19. Bc4 $1 a3 20. Ndb5 $1 {, using the weak b5-square, is
the best. Then} Na4 $1 21. Nxa4 Bxb5 22. Nb6 Bxc4 23. Nxc4 {indeed looks
promising for White.}) 18. gxh6 ({Here White had the fantastic option} 18. Bd5
$3 exd5 19. Nxd5 {which completely ruins Black's coordination. One reason why
this sacrifice works so well, is the stranded knight on h5, another is that
Nf5 comes with terrible force and the last is that Black is unable to play} b4
{, due to} 20. Nxe7 bxa3 21. b3 $1 Nxb3 (21... Kxe7 22. Nf5+ Bxf5 23. Qxd6+ Ke8
24. exf5 $18) 22. cxb3 Kxe7 23. gxh6 {when Black's position is a mess.}) 18...
g6 $6 {When I looked at the game before delving more deeply, I could not
understand where Black went wrong. Every move seems natural and strong. This
is one of those.} (18... b4 19. hxg7 Nxg7 20. Bd5 $1 exd5 21. Nxd5 bxa3 22. Qc3
$1 Rc8 23. Qxa3 $36) 19. Bg5 $6 ({Again White can mix the d5-square and Qc3
with excellent results:} 19. Ba2 $5 b4 20. Nd5 bxa3 21. Qc3 $1 Na4 22. Qxa3 Bf8
23. Rhe1 Rb8 24. Bc1 {and as Black runs out of dynamics, he will be left with
no option but to take material:} exd5 25. exd5+ {and hope to survive after} Kd8
{(althought that is very unlikely).}) 19... f6 $1 {The bishop on e7 is needed
in the defence.} 20. Be3 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. Na2 {Black is actually doing all
right here, but has to walk a narrow line to prove it.} d5 $2 {Black spent
more than half an hour on this move, after which the game can not be saved.} ({
Black should seek immediate counterplay on the a-file with} 22... Qa6 23. Qxb4
Nxb3 24. Qxb3 {I presume Korobov calculated this far and then saw a ghost of
some kind. It is easy to understand.} O-O $1 (24... Kf7 {looks more natural at
first, but after} 25. c3 {Black can no longer play} d5 {since} 26. exd5 Rhb8
27. dxe6+ {just wins for White.}) 25. Nxe6 (25. c3 d5 $1 26. Nb4 Bxb4 27. cxb4
Rfc8 28. Qa3 Qb7 {is more than a little awkward for White.}) 25... Rfb8 $1 26.
Nc7+ Rxb3 27. Nxa6 Rxe3 28. Nc7 {[%cal Gc7d5]} Rxa2 29. Nd5 $1 Ra7 30. Nxe3 Nf4
{and the position is completely unclear. I would prefer to play Black though.})
23. Qg2 {This forces a rapid deterioration of Black's position. Not only is he
forced to reemploy his active a-rook in the defence, but also the king is
forced to f7, which opens up for a world of pain on the a2-g8 diagonal.} Kf7
24. Rhg1 Rag8 (24... Rhg8 25. h7 Rg7 26. Nxe6 $1 Nxe6 (26... Bxe6 27. exd5) 27.
Rxd5 $18 {[%cal Gd5h5]}) 25. Nxe6 $1 {Ah, you again.} Nxe6 26. exd5 Nef4 27.
d6+ Be6 28. Bxe6+ Nxe6 29. dxe7 Qxe7 30. Nxb4 Qxb4 31. Rd7+ Ke8 32. Rgd1 Nf8
33. Qe2 Ng3 34. Bc5+ {A rather sudden end to an interesting game.} 1-0

[Event "WchT 11th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2017.06.23"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.06.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O g6 9. Kh1 Bg7 10. f4 O-O 11. f5 Bb7 12. Qe1 Nd7 13. Bg5 Ne5 14. Rd1 a5 15.
Be2 a4 16. Qh4 Re8 17. h3 Qc7 18. Qg3 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. f6 h6 21. Bh4 Bh8
22. Qf2 g5 23. Bg3 Bxf6 24. Bxe5 dxe5 25. Qe2 Raa8 26. Qh5 Red8 27. Qxh6 Qb6
28. Rf3 Rxd1+ 29. Nxd1 Rd8 30. Ne3 Qxb2 31. Rf1 Qxa2 32. Rxf6 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Qa1
34. Qxg5+ Kf8 35. Rh6 Rh1+ 36. Kg3 Qe1+ 37. Kf3 Ke8 38. Rh8+ Kd7 39. Qf5+ Kd6
40. Rd8+ Kc7 41. Qd7+ Kb6 42. Rb8+ 1-0

[Event "WchT 11th"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2017.06.26"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Silver,A"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2017.06.17"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. g4 Be4 5. f3 Bg6 6. e6 $5 {While this move is
certainly well-represented in the databases, it has never been seen in
grandmaster play. This was not some on-the-spot inspiration, and shows the
Russians plan to give it their all to change the direction of that golden wind.
} (6. Ne2 e6 7. h4 h5 8. Ng3 Qb6 9. a4 a5 10. c3 c5 11. Na3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb4+
13. Kf2 Nd7 {1-0 (50) Shirov,A (2705)-Parligras,M (2650) Porto Carras 2011})
6... fxe6 7. h4 Nd7 $146 {The 'official' novelty.} (7... c5 $5) (7... e5 8.
dxe5 e6 9. h5 Bf7 10. Be3 c5 11. Bb5+ Nc6 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Bf4 Nge7 {1/2-1/2 
(22) Kranjec,T (2157)-Grabner,J (2184) ICCF email 2005}) 8. h5 Bf7 9. f4 {[#]}
e5 {An excellent practical decision. The e6 pawn is unlikely to survive in the
longterm, so Black decides to unload it right away to work on his development.}
10. fxe5 e6 11. Nf3 c5 12. c3 Ne7 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. O-O Qb6 15. Kg2 Rc8 16. a3 {
An interesting idea. not only does it prevent cxd4 cxd4 Nb4, but it also waves
a red flag inviting Black to take on d4.} cxd4 {Black takes! However, he is
walking into a minefield.} 17. cxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Bg6 $1 Qxd1 20.
Bxf7+ Kd8 ({Trying to keep the king on the Bf7 is very risky.} 20... Ke7 21.
Bg5+ Nf6 22. Rxd1 Kxf7 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Be3 {and White is clearly better, up
a piece for two pawns.}) 21. Rxd1 Ke7 22. Rf1 Rc2+ 23. Kh1 Nxe5 24. Bg5+ Kd7
25. Nc3 {Black must now prevent Rae1.} Nxg4 {aiming for ...Rh2+.} 26. Bxe6+
Kxe6 27. Rae1+ Kd6 {[#]} 28. Rxf8 $1 Nf2+ {A miscalculation.} ({Of course not} 
28... Rh2+ $6 29. Kg1 $16) ({Black just need to take back with} 28... Rxf8 $11
29. Be7+ Kd7 30. Bxf8 Nf2+ 31. Kh2 d4 {and the position is not clear as
White's pawns are quickly disappearing.}) 29. Rxf2 $1 $14 Rxf2 30. Nb5+ Kc6 31.
Nxa7+ Kc7 32. Nb5+ Kb8 33. b4 Rf5 34. Be7 Rxh5+ 35. Kg2 d4 36. Nxd4 Rd5 37. Bc5
Rhd8 38. Re4 h5 39. a4 g5 (39... Kc8 $14) 40. a5 ({White should try} 40. Bb6
$16) 40... g4 41. a6 ({Better is} 41. Bb6 $1 $16) 41... bxa6 42. Nc6+ Kc7 43.
Nxd8 Kxd8 $16 44. Kg3 Rf5 45. Kh4 Rd5 46. Re3 Kc7 47. Re7+ Kb8 48. Bb6 Rb5 49.
Bc7+ Ka8 50. Ba5 Rf5 51. Re6 Kb7 52. Rg6 Ka7 53. Rb6 Rd5 54. Rf6 Kb7 55. Rf4
Ka7 56. Kg3 (56. Rf7+ $16 Kb8 57. Rh7) 56... Rd3+ $14 57. Kf2 Rd5 58. Ke3 Re5+
59. Kf2 Kb7 60. Rf7+ Ka8 61. Rg7 Re4 62. Kg3 Re5 63. Kf4 $1 Rd5 64. Ke4 Rb5 65.
Kd4 Rf5 66. Bb6 Rb5 $2 67. Rg8+ Kb7 68. Bc5 Kc7 69. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2666"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Qe2 Re8 8.
Nc4 Nd7 9. Bd2 Nb6 {A rare, but logical move. Black would like to exchange the
active c4-knight.} (9... Bd6 {is more common, for example} 10. O-O-O (10. h4
Nf8 11. h5 Ne6 12. O-O-O c5 13. Qf1 f6 14. Nh4 Nd4 15. c3 Nc6 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17.
exf5 h6 18. g4 Bf8 19. Qe2 Qd7 20. Be3 Rad8 21. Qc2 $14 {Caruana-Karjakin,
Wijk aan Zee 2016, and thanks to the light-squares, White is more comfortable.}
) (10. g4 Nf8 11. Ne3 Ne6 12. Nf5 a5 13. h4 a4 14. Ng5 a3 15. b3 Bc5 16. Nxe6
Bxe6 17. Qf3 Bf8 18. Ke2 c5 $11 {Anand-Giri, Bilbao 2015, with a balanced
middlegame.}) 10... Nf8 (10... b5 11. Ne3 a5 12. Nf5 a4 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 Nc5
15. g4 Be6 16. Kb1 b4 $132 {Caruana-Nakamura, Moscow 2016, and Black has an
attack too.}) 11. Ne3 Be6 12. Kb1 Qd7 13. Ng5 f6 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 15. Nf5 g6 16.
Nxd6 cxd6 17. g3 Nd4 18. Qf1 Qg4 19. Be3 Qf3 20. h4 d5 $13 {Giri-So Wesley,
Leuven 2016, with an unclear position.}) 10. Na5 $146 {The first new move in
the game.} ({The greedy} 10. Ncxe5 $2 {could have been met by} f6 11. Nc4 Nxc4
12. dxc4 Bf5 $1 $17 {and White is in trouble.}) ({Or} 10. Nfxe5 Bd4 11. f4 Nxc4
12. Nxc4 b5 $132 {with a sharp middlegame.}) (10. Ne3 a5 11. h4 Bd4 (11... f6
$5) 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Kb1 f6 14. g4 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Bxg4 16. Rdg1 Bxf3 17. Qxf3
Kh8 18. Qg3 Re7 19. f4 $44 {Howell-Adams, Bournemouth 2016}) 10... Qe7 11. a3
Bd6 12. h4 {An ambitious move. White doesn't play the natural 0-0, he
immediately goes with his h-pawn.} Na4 13. h5 {A brave decision, White
sacrifices the b2-pawn.} Qf8 ({The engine immediately suggests} 13... Nxb2 $5 {
, but this is not a human move. For example} 14. a4 b6 15. Nxc6 (15. Nb3 b5 16.
axb5 cxb5 17. h6 g6 $15) 15... Qd7 16. Nb4 Nxa4 17. h6 Bxb4 (17... g6 $2 18.
Nd5 $1 $16) 18. Bxb4 g6 $15 {and Black looks safe with a pawn up.}) 14. Nc4 b5
15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. b3 Nc5 17. Nh4 {White continues his kingside play.} Ne6 ({
I like the active} 17... d5) ({or even} 17... f5 $5 {too.}) 18. Nf5 c5 19. O-O
Nf4 20. Qf3 g6 $1 {This is the point of Black's previous move.} 21. g3 $1 {
White also increases the tension!} Bxf5 (21... Nxh5 $4 {loses immediately,
because of} 22. Bh6 $18 {and the queen is trapped.}) (21... gxf5 $5 {was the
other option,} 22. gxf4 fxe4 23. Qxe4 (23. dxe4 Kh8 $13) 23... Rb8 $13 {
followed by ...Bb7 with a double-edged fight.}) 22. gxf4 Bd7 23. Kh2 {A
straightforward move, prepares for Rg1.} f6 24. Rg1 Kf7 {Black's idea is
regrouping with ...Qe7, ...Rg8.} 25. Rg3 Qe7 26. Rag1 Rg8 27. R1g2 {White
frees the g1-square for his king.} Rh8 28. Kg1 Rag8 29. b4 c4 30. Be3 Bc6 31.
Rh2 a6 {This move seems useless, but Black can't do anything.} 32. Kf1 ({
Probably} 32. hxg6+ $1 {was stronger,} hxg6 33. Rxh8 Rxh8 34. Qg4 Rg8 35. f5
$40 {with a dangerous attack for Black.}) 32... Qe8 $2 {Too passive.} (32...
exf4 33. Bxf4 Qe6 {was safer.}) 33. Rh4 Qe7 34. fxe5 dxe5 35. d4 $1 {This is
the point! White starts his break-through is the centre.} exd4 36. Bg5 $3 {
A great tactical blow! White doesn't take back the pawn, because the B is
stronger on g5 and he is threatening Rf4.} ({In the event of} 36. Bxd4 g5 $1 {
and it is still not easy to continue the pressure on f6.}) 36... Rf8 37. Rf4
Ke6 38. Qg4+ $1 Kd6 39. e5+ $1 $18 {Another strong reply! White opens the 4th
rank for the R.} Kc7 40. Bxf6 Rxf6 41. exf6 Qf7 42. Rxd4 Qxf6 43. Qf4+ {
White simplifies, Black's position is hopeless.} Qxf4 44. Rxf4 gxh5 45. Rg7+
Kb6 46. Rf6 h4 47. Rh6 Rd8 48. Rf7 h3 49. Rff6 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C87"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 $5 {I have played
many games in this system, and I think it's a great way to play more flexibly
against the Ruy Lopez, without entering forced lines with the standard 6.Re1.}
d6 (6... b5 {is the most common reply} 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {is the move I have
always liked, trying to play c3-Bc2 quickly, without allowing Na5-c5 (which
Black may still play, but he needs to take some care)} (8. a3 {but this is the
current fashion, with numerous games, and a very important recent one} O-O 9.
Nc3 {Here Black has played seven different moves in high-level games! just to
show how rich the position is} Nb8 10. Ne2 Nbd7 11. c3 Bb7 12. Ng3 c5 13. Re1
Rc8 14. Nf5 c4 15. dxc4 Bxe4 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bg5 Nc5 19. Ba2
h6 20. Bh4 g5 21. Bg3 Bh7 22. Qe2 Kg7 23. Rad1 Nfe4 24. Rd5 f5 25. Rxe5 $1 {
a very creative approach by the ex-world champion. He ended up winning the
game on the 42nd move} dxe5 26. Bxe5+ Nf6 27. Qxb5 $40 {1-0 (42) Kramnik,V 
(2811)-Harikrishna,P (2755) Shamkir 2017}) 8... Bd7 9. c3 Na5 (9... O-O 10. Bc2
$1 {stopping Na5-c5, is the main idea. We will get a position very similar to
this current game} Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. Re1 b4 13. a5 g6 14. Bb3 Be6 15. Ba4
Bd7 16. Nf1 $13 {1/2-1/2 (116) Caruana,F (2794)-Svidler, P (2757) Moscow 2016,
with interesting play.}) 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qb8 $1 {an important move to defend
the a8-rook - this was played in the 4th round} (11... Qc7 $6 12. axb5 {
and Black is forced to take with the bishop to avoid b2-b4} Bxb5 13. Re1 $16)
12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 (13. Bxf6 {this move has been tried three times} Bxf6 14.
axb5 $6 (14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Qd5 Qc8 $5 (15... Nb7 $5 16. axb5 Be6 17. Qc6+ Bd7
18. Qd5 Be6 19. Qd1 axb5 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. Na3 Qa5 (21... b4 $5) 22. Nxb5 $1
Bc4 23. Nd6+ Nxd6 24. Qxd6 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 Qb5+ 26. Ke1 $44 {1-0 (61) Navara,D 
(2703)-Caruana,F (2779) Rhodes 2013  with good compensation; Navara went on to
win the game.}) 16. Nxe5 Be6 17. Qd6 Be7 $6 (17... b4 $1 $44) 18. Qd1 Qc7 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Nf3 O-O 21. Nbd2 $16 {1-0 (59) Khairullin,I (2629)-Gustafsson,J 
(2629) Bangkok 2016 and White slowly consolidated.}) 14... axb5 15. dxc5 dxc5
16. Qd5 {now it simply fails for White, and Black achieves an advantage} Qc8
17. b4 (17. Nxe5 $2 {now this loses} Be6 18. Qd6 Ra6 $1 $19 {winning the
knight, this is the difference}) 17... Be6 18. Qxc5 Qxc5 19. bxc5 Kd7 $1 20.
Na3 Kc6 21. Rab1 Rhb8 $17 {0-1 (63) Morozevich,A (2683) -Vitiugov,N (2718)
Novi Sad 2016, with a big advantage in the endgame.}) 13... Be6 14. Nbd2 O-O
15. Re1 (15. h3 {also didn't create problems for Black} Rc8 16. Bg3 cxd4 17.
cxd4 Nh5 $1 18. Bh2 Nf4 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Bd3 Nc4 22. Qe2 Rxa1
23. Rxa1 Bf6 $132 {1/2-1/2 (39) Ponomariov,R (2742)-Caruana,F (2774)
Thessaloniki 2013, and Caruana found enough counterplay.}) 15... cxd4 16. cxd4
Rc8 17. h3 Nc6 $1 {after major simplifications, equality prevailed} 18. axb5
axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. d5 Nb4 22. dxe6 Nxc2 23. exf7+ Kxf7 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (30) Grischuk,A (2761) -Aronian,L (2809) Geneva SUI 2017}) 7. c3 {
allowing him to bring the bishop directly to c2 whenever it's needed.} O-O 8.
h3 Re8 9. Re1 Bf8 10. Nbd2 (10. c4 $5 {An original try from the 2016 world
title challenger. It has been repeated five times already in practice. The
idea is to have harmonious development (Nc3 especially), at the same time
avoiding ...b5. Naturally, the d4-square gets weakened, but h3 is very
important to avoid ...Bg4} Nd7 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Nc3 c6 13. b4 $1 Ng6 14. Bb3 h6
15. a3 (15. d4 $1 $14 {was a very natural way to claim an advantage}) 15... Nf6
16. Ra2 (16. c5 $5 $14) 16... a5 17. Qb1 Nh5 18. Ne2 Qf6 $36 {1-0 (51)
Karjakin,S (2769)-Amin,B (2661) Baku 2016; followed by ...Nhf4. With a couple
of imprecise moves, Karjakin handed over the initiative to Black, but ended up
winning the game.}) 10... b5 11. Bc2 h6 (11... Bb7 {is a good move that was
played against me, and I reacted so poorly that in a few moves I had a bishop
locked in on b1!} 12. a4 $5 (12. d4 $1 {transposes to a Zaitsev line, with the
correct tempi, because even though White played d3 and d4, he also brought the
bishop to c2 (without Bb3)}) 12... h6 13. Nf1 (13. b4 $1 $14 {with the idea of
Nb3}) 13... d5 $1 {Black is doing fine already} 14. Qe2 (14. exd5 Nxd5 15. axb5
axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. d4 $11 {should lead to massive simplifications}) 14...
b4 15. Ng3 (15. a5 $1 $13 {an important move, to avoid my opponent's plan})
15... Na5 $1 {suddenly I have problems to avoid b3, and cxb4 (although
probably necessary), looks ugly as well} 16. Nf5 $2 (16. cxb4 Bxb4 17. Bd2 Bxd2
18. Qxd2 dxe4 19. dxe4 Qxd2 20. Nxd2 Rad8 $36 {and Black has a slight
initiative}) 16... b3 17. Bb1 Bc8 18. N3h4 d4 19. cxd4 exd4 $17 {0-1 (42)
Mekhitarian,K (2544)-Vajda,L (2617) Albena 2013, and it's clear I lost the
game without a chance :).}) 12. a4 b4 13. a5 $1 {A good move to win space on
the queenside - not only the weakness on a6 is now fixed, but most importantly,
there is no ...Na5 anymore (after ...Rb8 let's say).} Rb8 14. Nc4 g6 $6 {
It feels like Black has to play in the centre before White comfortably plays
d4.} (14... Bd7 {was the precedent} 15. Bd2 bxc3 16. bxc3 Qc8 17. Nh2 (17. d4
$5 $14 {was more logical and direct, White keeps a small edge always}) 17...
Be6 18. Ba4 Qb7 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Red8 $1 (20... Bxc4 $2 {this is not
something White should be worried about, because the light squares become a
big problem, and ...d5 will never be played} 21. dxc4 Re6 22. g5 $5 $16) 21.
Bc2 d5 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Ne3 (23. g5 $5 $40) 23... Bb3 (23... Be6 $11) 24. Rb1
Bxc2 25. Qxc2 Qa8 $11 {1-0 (41) Naiditsch,A (2689)-Lenic,L (2625) Reykjavik
2015}) (14... bxc3 15. bxc3 d5 {is a typical reaction in these positions, but
White always has something to play for} 16. exd5 Nxd5 (16... Qxd5 $5) 17. Bd2
f6 18. d4 $5 exd4 19. Rxe8 Qxe8 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 $40 {and White has
propects for an attack on the kingside, with a move like Qf3.}) (14... d5 $5 {
is also possible.}) 15. Bd2 bxc3 16. bxc3 Bg7 17. d4 $1 $14 exd4 18. cxd4 Nb4
$6 (18... d5 $1 {was good, trying to exchange a pair of rooks or a pair of
knights} 19. Nce5 $1 (19. exd5 $6 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Qxd5 $11 {and Black is doing
ok}) 19... Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bb7 21. Ba4 Re6 {looks weird, but whenever White
plays exd5, Black is fine} 22. Rb1 $1 Ba8 $1 $13 {with an unclear position} (
22... Nxe4 $2 23. Nd7 $1 Bxd4 24. Be3 $16)) 19. Bb1 d5 20. Nce5 $1 {
Threatening Bxb4 followed by Nc6.} Re6 (20... dxe4 21. Bxb4 Rxb4 (21... exf3
22. Nc6 $18) 22. Ba2 $1 {nice move} (22. Nc6 $2 Qd6 $1 23. Nxb4 exf3 24. Rxe8+
Nxe8 {and Black has amazing compensation} 25. Qe1 {forced, to defend b4 and
win a tempo on e8} Nf6 $17) 22... exf3 23. Bxf7+ $40 {with a very strong
attack.}) 21. exd5 Nfxd5 22. Qc1 $1 $16 Qf8 23. Be4 {White has a very strong
initiative, safer and better placed pieces.} Rb5 (23... f5 $5 {an ugly
positional move, but perhaps White's initiative had to be parried somehow} 24.
Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qc4 Rb5 {trying to stabilise with ...Qe8} 26. Rab1 Qe8 27. Rxb5
Qxb5 28. Qa2 {threatening Rb1 with deadly effect} Qb7 29. Rc1 $16 {Black still
has problems to coordinate.}) 24. Rb1 c6 (24... f5 {allows a different idea now
} 25. Bxb4 $1 Nxb4 26. Bc2 $1 Nxc2 27. Qxc2 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 {and Black remains
in deep trouble:} Qd6 29. Qb3 $1 Kh7 30. Rc1 Bd7 31. Qb7 $18) 25. Qc4 Qd6 26.
Rb3 $1 {The rook will swing over to the kingside in many lines.} Bf8 27. h4 $5
{Bringing another soldier to the battle, more logical than the unclear 27.
Nxf7!?} (27. Nxf7 $5 {shows White's potential on the kingside} Kxf7 28. Ne5+
Kg8 (28... Rxe5 {doesn't help} 29. dxe5 Qe6 30. Rf3+ Kg7 (30... Ke8 31. Bb1 $1
$18 {followed by the devastating Rf6!}) 31. Bxg6 $1 $18 {f8 falls or White
wins the queen with Rg3}) 29. Bxg6 Rf6 (29... Rxg6 30. Nxg6 Qxg6 31. Rg3 Qxg3
32. fxg3 $18 {should be equally hopeless, with such an open king}) 30. Rg3 Bg7
31. Be4 {threatening Bxb4 Rxb4 Bxd5+! winning a piece} Be6 32. Qc1 $40 {
the attack continues, and should be more than enough since he already has two
pawns for the piece.}) 27... c5 $2 {Black's position was already vulnerable
with the pawn on c6, now it totally collapses - ...cxd4 is not even a threat,
because the c8-bishop is hanging.} (27... Nf6 {The position is difficult
anyway, but this was the last chance for Black to try some regrouping; it
turns out that the knight on d5 is not ideally placed} 28. Bb1 Qd5 29. Qc3 $1 {
threatening Bxh6 and Rxb4} Re8 (29... h5 $2 30. Ng5 Re7 31. Ne4 $16) 30. Bxh6
Be6 31. Rb2 Bxh6 32. Rxb4 $16) 28. h5 $1 $18 g5 29. Bf5 (29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Nxg5
$18 {was also devastating, followed by Rg3 and taking on f7.}) 29... Ne7 30.
dxc5 $1 Rxc5 31. Bxb4 $18 Nxf5 32. Bxc5 Qxc5 33. Qxc5 Bxc5 34. Rc3 {A fine
game by Nepo, now at 3.5/6, trailing by half a point the current three leaders:
Radjabov, Grischuk and Harikrishna!} 1-0

[Event "Geneva FIDE GP"]
[Site "Geneva"]
[Date "2017.07.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Yuffa,D"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Nepomniachtchi decided to use Aronian's own weapon against him.} 1. c4 Nf6 2.
Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 ({Usually
White starts with} 8. d3 O-O {and there White has an interesting and slightly
unexpected idea if Black plays too actively:} 9. Be3 Be6 10. Rc1 f5 {This
active and aggressive move provokes White into a response:} (10... f6 {is
quite solid.} 11. a3 $5 {is a positional trap} Qd7 $1 ({if} 11... a5 12. d4 $1
exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 $16 {Marin - Strambu, 1-0, 2007}) 12. Ne4 Nd5 13.
Bc5 b6 14. Bxe7 Ndxe7 15. Qa4 $11 {and both sides have equal chances}) (10...
Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. Rc3 a6 14. a3 Bf6 15. Rc5 {Tomashevsky -
Karjakin, 2015, and instead of} Nd4 16. Rxd5 Nxe2+ 17. Kh1 Qxd5 18. Nd4 Qxg2+
19. Kxg2 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Qb4 Rab8 22. Re1 $16 {with big chances for
White's success Black should have played 15...Be7, offering a repetition}) (
10... Qd7 11. a3 f6 12. Nd2 Rfd8 {and the computer considers that the position
is absolutely equal}) 11. b4 $5 a6 (11... Nxb4 12. Nxe5 c6 13. Qd2 {is
slightly better for White because of the centre}) (11... Bxb4 $6 {This pawn is
poisoned} 12. Ng5 Bf7 13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. Qb3 $1 Bxc3 15. Rxc3 Nd4 16. Bxd4 exd4
17. Rc5 c6 18. Rxf5 Qe7 (18... Qd7 19. Bh3 Nd5 20. Rf4 $1 $18) 19. Rf4 Rd8 20.
Bh3 Kf8 21. Rxf7+ Qxf7 22. Qa3+ $18) 12. a3 Kh8 (12... Bf6 13. Nd2 $14 {
is slightly better because of space on queenside and the pressure on c-file})
13. Bc5 (13. Na4 Nxa4 14. Qxa4 Bd5 15. Bc5 Bd6 16. Qc2 {Anand - Hammer, 1-0,
2015. The position is almost equal, but in my view it's a bit easier to play
White there which was proved in the game.}) (13. Re1 Qe8 14. Qd2 Bd6 15. Bxb6
cxb6 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4) 13... Bg8 14. e3 $5 Bxc5 15. bxc5 Nd5 16. Qd2 Qe7 {
Caruana - Giri, 1/2, 2014, with mutual chances.}) 8... a5 (8... O-O {is also a
possibility} 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 (10. Rb1 {This is almost useless} f6 $5 (10... a6
11. d3 f6 12. Ne4 Ba2 13. Rb2 Bd5 14. Nc5 {is approximately equal}) 11. d3 a5
12. b5 Nd4 13. Nd2 Qc8 14. e3 Nf5 15. Qc2 a4 {and Black has a slight edge.}) (
10. b5 $5 Nd4 11. Rb1 Nxf3+ {This can be an inaccuracy} (11... f6 $5 $13) 12.
Bxf3 Qc8 13. d3 a5 14. a4 Rd8 15. Qc2 {The position might be equal but it's a
bit more convenient to play White there.}) 10... a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Nd2 c6 13.
bxc6 Nxc6 14. Rb1 a4 {despite the good pawn structure, White has a lack of
space}) 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Be6 11. Rc1 a4 $5 {The most principled and
convincing.} (11... f5 12. Na4 Nxa4 13. Qxa4 $14 {is slightly better for White
because of pressure on the c-file and the threat of an exchange sacrifice on
c6.}) 12. Nd2 ({An attempt to win the pawn immediately leads to sufficient
counterplay for Black:} 12. Bxb6 cxb6 13. Nxa4 e4 14. Ne1 Bg5 15. Rc3 {and
Black at least has a repetition after 15...Bf6} (15. Ra1 exd3 16. Nxd3 Nd4 17.
Nc3 Nb3 $44) (15. e3 $6 exd3 $36)) 12... f5 $146 {It seems to me that this
move is the first inaccuracy for Black. I think that Aronian knew that after
12...Nd5 the position becomes dry and he wanted to create a mess on the board.}
(12... Nd5 {was more solid} 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Qd5 $11) 13.
Bxb6 cxb6 14. Nxa4 Bg5 15. Nc3 e4 16. Rb1 Ne5 (16... Rf7 17. Nc4 Rd7 18. b3 Bf6
19. Nb5 exd3 20. exd3 Nd4 $14 {and the compensation is already sufficient.})
17. Nb3 Ng4 18. Qc2 ({Black aimed for an attack. It was better to terrorise
the knight on g4 immediately:} 18. h3 $5 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 (19. Rxf2 $2 Be3 $17 {
, threating f4}) 19... Qd6 20. h4 $16 {escaping.}) 18... Be3 19. dxe4 $2 {
Blundering.} (19. Bh3 {was the only move to maintain equality:} Nxf2 20. Rxf2
Qd7 21. Rbf1 f4 22. Bxe6+ Qxe6 23. g4 f3 24. exf3 Rxf3 25. Nxe4 Qxg4+ 26. Kh1
Rxf2 27. Rxf2 Bxf2 28. Nxf2 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Rf8 $11) 19... Qg5 $2 {Aronian misses
a beautiful pinning idea:} (19... Nxf2 $1 20. Rxf2 fxe4 21. Rbf1 (21. Nxe4 $2
Rc8) 21... Qc7 $1 {The point of conception. The pair of bishops is pinning all
the white pieces.} 22. Bxe4 (22. Nc1 Bxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 Qc5+ $19)
22... Rxf2 23. Rxf2 Qf7 $1 {...executing ...} 24. Bf3 Bxb3 $17) 20. fxe3 Qxe3+
21. Kh1 Qh6 22. h3 $2 {Wasting the advantage.} (22. h4 {looks a bit more risky
but it works:} f4 23. Qc1 Ne3 24. Rf3 Bxb3 25. gxf4 Nxg2 26. Kxg2 Qxh4 27. f5
$16) 22... Ne3 23. Qd2 f4 24. gxf4 Nxf1 $2 (24... Nxg2 {doesn't make a draw
because} 25. Kxg2 Qxh3+ 26. Kf2 Qh4+ 27. Ke3 Bxb3 28. Qd4 $14 Rad8 29. Qe5 {
looks a bit dangerous, but Black has nothing tangible for the pawn.}) (24...
Rxf4 $1 25. Rxf4 Qxf4 {that's a bit fantastic but Black is ok there a piece
down. White must give up that lead.} 26. Rg1 Bxb3 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. exd5 Nxg2
29. Qc3 g6 30. Rxg2 Rd8 31. Qd3 Re8 32. Qf3 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qc7+ 34. Qg3 Qc4 $11)
25. Rxf1 {Now it's a technical stage. White's central pawn fist is crushing
Black's position.} Bxb3 26. e5 Rae8 (26... Rad8 $5 27. Qe3 Rd7 28. Ne4 Bd5 29.
Nd6 $16 {it's still tough, but not losing yet.}) 27. Ne4 Kh8 28. Kh2 Bg8 29. e3
Re6 30. Nd6 Qh4 31. Qd4 $18 Rg6 32. Rf3 Qe1 33. f5 Rg5 34. h4 Rh5 35. Rg3 Be6
36. fxe6 {This was a game of mutual chances, where Aronian didn't want to
agree to a peaceful flow of the game and played 12...f5!?N. That, probably,
was a mistake despite the less than smooth play of both sides.} 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 (10. a3 {is the main line, but nowadays it is
considered as the drawish line. For instance this game} Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O
Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 a6 (14... d4 $5 15. b5 Na5 16. exd4 Qd5 17. Re1 Rfe8 $6 (
17... Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qxf3 19. gxf3 Nb3 20. Rad1 Nxd4 21. Kg2 Rad8 {Black should
equalise}) 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Rc1 (19. Rb1 $1 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Bxd4
22. Be4 $14) 19... Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Nb3 22. Rc3 Nxd4 $11 {Huebner,R
(2583)-Prusikin,M (2528) Switzerland SUI 2016 1-0 (70)}) 15. Rb1 d4 16. b5 (16.
exd4 Nxd4 17. g4 Bg6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 $11) (16. e4 Bc7 17. Bxc7 Qxc7 18. Rc1 Qe7
$11) 16... axb5 17. Rxb5 Bxf3 18. Qb1 $1 Bc7 $1 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. gxf3 Bxf4 21.
exf4 Ne7 22. Rh5 (22. Be4 f5 23. Bxf5 (23. Bxb7 Rb8 24. Rd1 Ng6 25. Rxf5 Nxf4
26. Qe4 Qh4 27. a4 d3 $1 (27... Nxh3+ $6 28. Kg2 Nf4+ 29. Qxf4 Qxf4 30. Rxf4
Rxf4 31. Rh1+ Kg8 32. Bd5+ Rf7 (32... Kf8 $4 33. Rh8+ $18) 33. Ra1 $16) 28. Bc6
Rxf5 29. Qxf5 Nxh3+ 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kg1 $11) 23... Nd5 24. Rxb7 Nxf4 25. Kh2
Qf6 $11) 22... Ra5 23. Bf5+ (23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24. Re1 Qxa3 25. Qxb7 Kxh7 26. Qxe7
Qxe7 27. Rxe7 Rd8 28. Kf1 d3 29. Ke1 d2+ 30. Kd1 Kg6 $11) 23... Kg8 24. Bh7+
Kh8 25. Bf5+ Kg8 26. Bh7+ {1/2 (26) Inarkiev,E (2727) -Nakamura,H (2786)
Moscow RUS 2017}) 10... Bb4+ 11. Nd2 (11. Ke2 Nc6 12. Qc2 h6 13. Rhd1 Be6 14.
Kf1 Rc8 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Kg1 Ne5 18. Nd4 Ng4 19. Nf3 Ne5 {Bacrot,
E (2700)-Sokolov,A (2594) 1/2 (42) France 2008. Black has got a slightly worse
but very solid position.}) (11. Kf1 {This is a risky continuation. White wants
to play h4, Ng5 and if Black plays ...h6 to prevent Ng5 then he will play Bc2,
Qd3. You can find more about this line if you check the game Jobava,B
-Rustemov Aeroflot op, which is annotated by Rustam Dautov.} Nc6 12. h4 Bd6 13.
Bxd6 Qxd6 14. h5 Qf6 15. Rh4 Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qf6 17. Rf4 Qe7 18. h6 $6 g5 19. Ra4
(19. Rf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Qf6 21. g4 Ne7 22. Nd4 Qxh6 $19 {Adianto,U (2615)
-Mikhalevski,A (2485) Biel 1998 1/2 (57)}) 19... Qf6 20. Bb5 Rd8 {Black will
gain the h6-pawn and White should try to prove that he has enough compensation
for 2 pawns to equalise the game.}) 11... Nc6 12. O-O Be6 {I don't think that
Black should hurry with ...Be6. After Nf3 he could have played ...Bg4. Let's
examine other continuations:} (12... Bd6 {leads to passive and worse positions.
For example} 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Nb3 (14. Nf3 Ne5 (14... Bg4 $2 15. Bxh7+ $16)
15. Be2 Bd7 16. Qd4 Nc6 17. Qd2 Bg4 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. h3) 14... Be6 15. Bb5 Ne5
16. Be2 Rfd8 17. Nd4 Rac8 18. Qb3 b6 19. Rfd1 $14 {Pechac,J (2441) -Nowak,K 
(2318) Rymanow-Zdroj POL 2017 1-0 (49)}) (12... Be7 {I think that this is the
strongest move. The bishop can achieve nothing on b4 and when compared with 12.
..Be6 13.Nf3 Be7 Black can meet Nf3 with ...Bg4. Hikaru played 12...Be7 in his
next game against Magnus Carlsen.} 13. Rc1 (13. a3 Bf6 14. Nf3 (14. Qc2 g6 (
14... h6 {is possible as well}) 15. Rac1 Be6 16. Nb3 Rc8 17. Nc5 Ne5 18. Bxe5
Bxe5 19. f4 Bg7 20. Nxe6 $11 {1/2 (20) Kortschnoj,V (2634)-Kasimdzhanov,R 
(2653) Bled 2002}) 14... Qe7 15. h3 g6 16. Qd2 Be6 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. b4 a6 19.
Rc2 Qd7 20. Rfc1 Bf5 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Bc7 Rd7 23. Bb6 Qe4 24. Rd1 $14 {
Giri,A (2771) -Karjakin,S (2781) Stavanger NOR 2017 1/2 (76)}) 13... Bf6 14.
Nf3 Qe7 15. h3 g6 (15... Be6 $5 16. Qe2 Rac8) 16. Bb5 Bd7 17. Qxd5 Be6 18. Qe4
Bxb2 19. Bxc6 f5 20. Bg5 fxe4 21. Bxe7 Bxc1 22. Bxb7 Bxe3 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24.
fxe3 exf3 25. Bxf3 $14 {Carlsen, M (2822)-Nakamura,H (2792) Saint Louis USA
2017 1/2 (94)}) 13. Nf3 Be7 $146 (13... Bg4 {Black can play ...Be6 and ...Bg4,
but everyone would try to play ...Bg4 in one move.} 14. h3 Bh5 15. Be2 Re8 16.
Rc1 Be7 17. Ne5 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qb6 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Qc2 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 $14 {
Gabriel, R (2255)-Klovans,J (2440) Schwaebisch Gmuend 1993 1-0 (54)}) 14. Rc1
Bf6 15. a3 $5 (15. Qd2 {White could have finished the developing of his pieces
after Qd2, Rd1:} a6 16. h3 Rc8 17. b4 Qe7 (17... d4 18. Rfd1 $1 (18. e4 Be7 19.
a3 Qd7 20. Rfd1 $14) 18... dxe3 (18... Qd5 19. a3 Rfd8 20. exd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4
Qxd4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Qxd4 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 {Black has good
chances to make a draw.}) 19. Qxe3 Qe8 20. Qb6 Bd5 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 $16)
18. a3 Rfd8 (18... d4 $2 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. exd4 Bxd4 21. Bxh7+ $16) 19. Rfe1 h6
20. Bb1 {White is slightly better.}) 15... Qe7 ({Of course Black shouldn't play
} 15... d4 $6 {due to} 16. e4 Re8 17. e5 Be7 18. Nd2 $14) 16. b4 a6 17. h3 {
Now Black is OK.} ({I'm not sure if Black can equalise after} 17. Nd4 $5 Nxd4 (
17... Bxd4 18. exd4 Qf6 (18... Nxd4 $6 19. Be3 Nc6 20. Bc5 $16) 19. Be3 Bf5 20.
Be2 Rfe8 21. Rc5 Rad8 22. Qd2 h6 23. Rfc1 $14) 18. Rc7 Qd8 19. exd4 b5 (19...
Bxd4 $6 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qxd4 b5 22. Rfc1 $16) 20. Qa1 Rc8 21. Rfc1 $14)
17... Rac8 18. Rc5 $5 {After 18.Qd2 the most likely result is a draw. So Ian
chose another move that provokes ...a5.} (18. Qd2 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 h6 {White is
better but Black's position is very solid.}) 18... a5 $5 (18... h6 {was
possible as well:} 19. Qd2 Rfd8 20. Rfc1 Qe8 21. Bb1 Be7 22. Qd3 $1 g6 (22...
Bxc5 $6 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. bxc5 f6 25. Bd6+ Ne7 26. Rd1 $16) 23. Bxh6 d4 24. exd4
Bxc5 25. bxc5 Bd5 26. Nd2 $13) 19. Qb1 axb4 20. axb4 b6 $2 {It is not easy to
understand why Hikaru didn't play 20...h6:} (20... h6 21. Rfc1 Ra8 {Black's
position is not worse, he is threatening ...Ra1} 22. Qb3 (22. b5 Ra1 23. Qxa1 (
23. Qc2 $4 Nb4 $19) 23... Bxa1 24. bxc6 bxc6 25. Rxc6 Bb2 26. Bd6 Qb7 27. Bxf8
Bxc1 28. Rxc1 Kxf8 {White should make a draw.}) 22... d4 23. Bc4 dxe3 24. Bxe3
Bxc4 25. Qxc4 $11) 21. Rcc1 g6 $2 (21... Nxb4 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Bf5 Rc4 24. Ne5
Bxe5 25. Bxe5 $14 {It is obvious that White's position is better but Black's
position is not hopeless.}) 22. Ba6 {White wins an exchange and game is over.}
Nxb4 (22... Bf5 23. Qb3 Ne5 24. Bxc8 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Bxc8 26. Qxd5 $18) (22...
Ra8 23. Rxc6 Rxa6 24. Bd6 Qd7 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 (25... Qxc6 26. b5 $18) 26. b5 $18)
23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Rc1 $18 ({or} 25. Be5 Bxe5 26. Nxe5 $18) 25...
Bf5 26. Qb3 Nd3 27. Rc7 Qd8 28. Bg3 h5 29. Qxb6 h4 30. Bd6 Be4 31. Qc6 Kg7 32.
Rc8 d4 33. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 Na6 7. Be3 c6 8. Rc1 e5
9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Ne8 11. g4 Kh8 12. Be2 f5 13. gxf5 gxf5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15.
Ng5 Qe7 16. Bg4 Bh6 17. h4 Bg6 18. Bh5 Bf5 19. Bg4 Bg6 20. Ne6 Bxe3 21. fxe3
Nc5 22. Nxf8 Qxf8 23. h5 Qh6 24. Qf3 Bd3 25. b4 Na6 26. Kd2 e4 27. Nxe4 Bxe4
28. Qxe4 Nf6 29. Qd4 Re8 30. Be6 Nxb4 31. Rhf1 Rf8 32. Qxb4 Qg5 33. Qd4 Qg2+
34. Kd3 Qg5 35. Rf5 Qg7 36. Rcf1 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 21st"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2017.11.03"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2017.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]
[WhiteClock "0:48:53"]
[BlackClock "0:24:45"]

{Now we shall try and 'compensate' for having 'excessively' praised Duda for
two previous games, and criticised Nepomniachtchi for one...} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8. Ng3 g6 {Chosen by
almost all top players who have reached this position. The rationale is that
White likely wants a queenside fianchetto, and this is best countered by
developing our bishop to the same diagonal.} (8... Be7 {is the most played
move.}) 9. b3 Bg7 10. Ba3 Bf8 11. Bb2 Bg7 12. c4 {Almost universally chosen,
though it seems to not be well understood that c4 in such positions validates
Black's whole construct by weakening the d4 pawn.} (12. b4 $5 b6 (12... O-O $6
13. b5 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 $14 {gives White no trouble at all, since he can choose
not to play c4 if he is afraid of counterplay against d4.}) (12... Nb6 13. b5
Na4 14. bxc6 Nxb2 15. Qb1 Nxd3 16. cxb7 Rb8 17. Qb5+ Qd7 18. Qxd3 Rxb7 19. Ne5
$14) 13. c4 (13. Ne5 $5 Nxe5 (13... Bb7 $1 $11) 14. dxe5 Nd7 15. Qe2 $14 {
Tikkanen,H (2528)-Westerberg,J (2488) Lund 2016}) 13... O-O 14. Bc3 $5 $14 {
Black should still take on f3 at some point, but it can no longer be connected
with re-grouping against the d4-pawn.} (14. a4 a5 $11)) 12... O-O 13. b4 (13.
Qe2 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 c6 15. Rfe1 Qa5 {Huebner,R (2611)-Stojanovic,M (2552)
Switzerland 2015, with good play against the d4-pawn.}) 13... Bxf3 $1 (13... b6
{could again be played, when as above} 14. Bc3 {should be good for White.}) 14.
Qxf3 c6 15. a4 Qc7 {It was necessary to play a little more forcefully, either
now or soon.} (15... Re8 $5 16. Rfe1 (16. Rfd1 Qc7 17. a5 e5 $11) 16... Qc7 17.
Qe2 {White is well advised to stop ...e5, but now comes} a5 18. b5 c5 $132) 16.
a5 a6 $6 (16... Rad8 {calls White's bluff: he actually should not play a6.} 17.
Rfe1 (17. a6 b5 $1 18. cxb5 cxb5 19. Bxb5 Nd5 $11) 17... Rfe8 18. Bc2 e5 $132)
17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Rad1 $14 {Now White has a measure of control
over the position, and his opponent is at risk of slowly suffocating to death.}
Re7 20. Bb1 Nf8 {Thematically trying for ...Red7, ...Ne8-d6-f5, as in
Fernandez-Arkell, 4NCL 2014...} 21. Qf3 $1 Ne8 (21... Red7 22. d5 $1 $14 {
is the problem, but the cure turns out to be worse.}) 22. Ne4 Red7 (22... Nd6
23. Nf6+ Kh8 $14 {should maybe have been chosen.}) 23. Nc5 Re7 24. Qe2 Nd7 (
24... Nd6 25. Bc1 $1 $16 {was the intention, simultaneously threatening Bf4
and d5.}) 25. Nb3 Ndf6 26. Bc1 Red7 27. g3 Bf8 28. Bf4 Qc8 29. Bd2 Bg7 30. Bc3
Re7 31. Qf3 Qc7 32. Bd2 Nh5 33. Bg5 Nhf6 34. Nc5 {As we can see, White has
made a modest gain over the last 10 moves while Black has been stuck without
active ideas.} h6 35. Bf4 Qc8 36. h4 Nh7 37. Be5 (37. d5 $1 $16 {deserved
serious consideration.}) 37... Nef6 38. Na4 Qd7 (38... Nd7 39. Bd6 Ree8 40. h5
$16) 39. Nb6 Qe8 40. c5 (40. Bc2 {White could have hurried a little bit less
with something like this.}) 40... Qf8 41. Bd6 {Cashing in.} Rxd6 42. cxd6 Re8
43. b5 axb5 44. a6 Nd5 $2 $18 (44... Qxd6 45. a7 Qc7 46. a8=Q Rxa8 47. Nxa8 Qa5
{was practically the best chance, but after} 48. Bxg6 fxg6 49. Ra1 $16 {
the outcome is not in much doubt.}) 45. Nxd5 cxd5 46. d7 Rd8 47. axb7 Nf6 48.
h5 Qd6 49. hxg6 Qxd7 50. gxf7+ Kxf7 51. Qd3 Rb8 52. Qg6+ Kf8 53. Bd3 Rxb7 54.
Ra1 Qf7 55. Ra8+ Ke7 56. Ra6 Qxg6 57. Bxg6 Ne4 58. Bxe4 dxe4 59. Rxe4 Kf7 60.
Rexe6 Bxd4 61. Red6 Bc5 62. Rxh6 Bd4 63. Rad6 Kg7 64. Rh5 Bc3 65. Rhd5 b4 66.
Rd7+ Rxd7 67. Rxd7+ Kf6 68. Rd3 Ke5 69. Kf1 Bd4 70. Ke2 Kd5 71. Kd2 Kc4 72.
Rxd4+ {A great display of how to play against the small centre!} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2017.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 12. a5 Rc8 13. Rfd1 Qc7 14. h3 Rfe8
15. Ra3 Nd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qd4+ Kg8 18. Rd2 Qc5 19. Qxc5 Rxc5 20. Nd5 Bxd5
21. exd5 b5 22. axb6 Nxb6 23. Rxa6 Nxd5 24. c3 Nc7 25. Rb6 d5 26. Rb7 e6 27.
Rd3 Na8 28. Rd4 Rc7 29. Rdb4 Kg7 30. f4 Ree7 31. Rxc7 Rxc7 32. Rb8 Ra7 33. b4 {
White kept a slight edge he obtained in the opening until Adams somewhat
impatiently pushed his passed pawn forward.} Nc7 34. b5 Ra8 $1 {Nepo handles
his defensive task with precision.} (34... Ra2 35. b6 Na6 36. Bxa6 Rxa6 37. g4
$16) 35. Rb7 (35. Rxa8 Nxa8 36. Kf2 Kf6 37. Ke3 Ke7 38. Kd4 Kd6 39. c4 dxc4 40.
Bxc4 Nb6 {is impossible for White to win.}) 35... Ne8 {The knight is about to
escape.} 36. c4 $2 {There must have been some mistake in Mickey's calculations.
} ({Still, a draw was well within White's reach:} 36. b6 Ra1+ 37. Kf2 Nd6 38.
Rd7 Ne4+ 39. Ke3 Rb1 40. Bd3 Rxb6 41. Bxe4 dxe4 42. Kxe4) 36... Nd6 {It's all
forced now.} 37. Rc7 dxc4 38. Bxc4 Ra1+ 39. Kf2 Rc1 40. b6 Nxc4 41. b7 Rb1 42.
Rxc4 Rxb7 {Adams had already pulled off a similar escape earlier in the
tournament against Vachier-Lagrave. The rook endgame with 4 vs. 3 on the same
side of the board is drawn under most circumstances, but in this case the
white f-pawn is sticking out, which gives Black a chance.} 43. Ra4 h6 $1 {
Nepo hits on the right plan immediately.} 44. Ra5 Rb2+ 45. Kf3 Rb3+ 46. Kf2 Rd3
47. h4 {Mickey is aiming to trade as many pawns as possible, which is a sound
strategy.} (47. Rb5 Rd5 48. Rb7 g5 49. fxg5 hxg5 {looks more dangerous for
White. Indeed, if Black is allowed to advance his pawns to f4 and e3 he will
win easily, which means White has to act now.} 50. g4 $1 Rd3 51. Kg2 {The only
realistic way for Black to make progress would be to play} Kg6 52. Re7 Rd6 53.
Kf3 f5 54. gxf5+ exf5 {reaching the position similar to the one in the game
continuation.}) 47... Rd5 48. Ra7 g5 49. hxg5 hxg5 50. fxg5 ({One last
alternative was to stay put with} 50. g3 g4 51. Rb7 Rd2+ 52. Kg1 {
Instinctively, experienced players don't like to see their king cut off on the
back rank. There may follow} Kg6 53. Ra7 f6 54. Ra5 Rd5 55. Ra6 Kf5 56. Kf2
Rd2+ 57. Kf1 e5 58. fxe5 fxe5 {and White must defend with} 59. Ra4 Rd4 60. Ra8
Ke4 61. Ke2 Rb4 62. Ra2 {The same position happened in S.B. Hansen-Leko from
Istanbul Olympiad 2012, and Black won.}) 50... Rxg5 51. g3 Kg6 52. Kf3 Rf5+ 53.
Kg2 Rb5 54. Re7 e5 55. Kf2 f6 56. Re8 Kf5 57. Rf8 {Keeping the rook in the
enemy camp to attack from behind is a proven defensive technique.} Rb3 58. Kg2
Rb2+ 59. Kf3 Rb3+ 60. Kg2 Ke6 61. Kf2 Ra3 62. Re8+ Kf5 63. Rf8 Ra7 64. Kf3 Rg7
65. Re8 Kg5 66. Re6 $6 ({There was no reason for Adams to reject} 66. g4 Kg6
67. Ra8 Rb7 68. Rg8+ Kf7 69. Ra8 Rb3+ 70. Kf2 {apart from a superstitious fear
of having his king separated from the pawn.}) 66... Rg8 67. Re7 Kf5 68. Rh7 Ra8
69. Rh5+ Kg6 70. Rh4 $2 ({This was the last call for} 70. g4 $11 {similar to
Serper-Emelin, 1995 with colours reversed.}) 70... f5 71. Rb4 Kg5 {Now the
white rook is too late to check the black king away.} 72. Rb7 (72. Kg2 Ra2+ 73.
Kh3 Kf6 74. Rb6+ Ke7 75. Rc6 e4 76. Rb6 Rf2 77. Ra6 e3 $19) 72... e4+ $1 73.
Ke3 Ra3+ 74. Kf2 Ra2+ 75. Ke3 Kg4 $19 76. Rg7+ Kh3 $1 {Now we can see the
difference compared with the position from the note to White's 47th move. With
the pawns shifted one file toward the centre the Black king can sneak in along
the h-file.} 77. Rg5 Ra3+ 78. Kf2 (78. Kd4 e3 79. Rxf5 Kxg3) 78... Rf3+ 79. Ke1
Kg2 80. Ke2 Rf2+ 81. Ke3 (81. Ke1 e3) 81... Kf1 $1 82. g4 {One last attempt
but it falls way short.} Rf3+ 83. Kd4 e3 84. Rxf5 Rxf5 85. Kxe3 Rf8 {An
excellent technical display from Ian, who seems to be settling down finally
toward the end of his unsuccessful 2017 campaign.} 0-1

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 {As a rule Vishy prefers the move ...e5, but one day
previously the game Anand-Karjakin had been played, in which Sergej
comfortably equalised in one of the sharp variations after 1.c4 Nf6 2.c4 e6. I
could well imagine that my opponent approved of the way to solve the opening
problems demonstrated by Karjakin and that he would now gladly repeat it with
Black - in any case his second move came as no great surprise to me.  In der
Regel bevorzugt Vishy den Zug ...e5, aber einen Tag vorher wurde die Partie
Anand-Karjakin gespielt, in der Sergej nach 1.c4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 in einer der
scharfen Varianten komfortabel ausglich. Ich konnte mir gut vorstellen, dass
mein Gegner den von Karjakin demonstrierten Weg, die Eröffnungsprobleme zu
lösen würdigte und ihn nun gerne mit Schwarz wiederholen würde - in jedem
Fall war für mich sein zweiter Zug keine große Überraschung.} 3. Nf3 d5 4.
e3 (4. d4 Nbd7) 4... a6 $5 {An ambitious plan. Ein ambitionierter Plan.} ({
One more frequently sees Öfter spielt man} 4... c5) ({or oder} 4... Be7) 5. b3
{With the pawn still on d2 the dark-squared bishop will look very good on the
long diagonal. Mit dem Bauern noch auf d2 wird der schwarzfeldrige Läufer auf
der großen Diagonale sehr gut aussehen.} Bd6 (5... c5 6. Bb2 Nc6 {seems to me
to be more logical, but in any case Black's decision is consistent. scheint
mir logischer zu sein, aber die schwarze Entscheidung ist in jedem Fall
konsequent.}) 6. Bb2 O-O 7. g4 $5 $146 {White reveals his aggressive plan! I
made this move which I had already planned rather quickly. Even in the
positions with the black pawn on c6 the thrust g2-g4-g5 often proves itself to
be justified - all the more so for the present position in which the d5-pawn
will be hanging, (which means that for White this action is not linked to any
loss of material for him). Weiß offenbart sein aggressives Vorhaben! Diesen,
schon zuvor geplanten Zug, machte ich ziemlich schnell. Sogar in den
Positionen mit dem schwarzen Bauern auf c6 erweist sich der Vorstoß g2-g4-g5
oft als gerechtfertigt - umso mehr gilt es für die aktuelle Stellung, in
welcher der Bauer d5 hängen wird (was heißt, dass diese Aktion des
Anziehenden für ihn mit keinem Materialverlust verbunden ist).} Nxg4 {I think
this principled continuation is correct. Ich denke, diese prinzipielle
Fortsetzung ist richtig.} ({Neither Weder} 7... Nc6 8. g5 Ne4 9. Rg1) ({
nor noch} 7... dxc4 8. g5 Nfd7 9. Bxc4 Nc6 10. Ne4 {looks satisfactory - in
both cases White has a promising initiative sieht zufriedenstellend aus - in
beiden Fällen hat Weiß vielversprechende Initiative.}) 8. Rg1 f5 {White will
soon be able to exploit this weakening of the e6-square. Diese Schwächung des
Feldes e6 wird Weiß demnächst ausnutzen können.} ({Unclear play followed
Zum unklaren Spiel führte} 8... Nf6 9. cxd5 e5 10. Qc2 Bg4 11. Ng5 (11. Be2
Nbd7 12. O-O-O $13) 11... Bh5 12. Bd3 {. A thorough analysis of this position
can take up several days, so here I will limit myself to only a few possible
variations: . Eine ausführliche Analyse dieser Stellung kann mehrere Tage in
Anspruch nehmen, deshalb begrenze ich mich hier nur mit ein paar möglichen
Varianten:} g6 13. Nce4 (13. Nge4 Nbd7) 13... Nxd5 (13... Nbd7 14. Ng3 $36) 14.
Bc4 Nb6 15. Nxh7 Kxh7 16. Ng5+ Kh6 17. Be2 $1 Qe8 (17... Qxg5 18. Rxg5 Kxg5 19.
f4+ $18) 18. Bxh5 Kxh5 $5 {(Steinitz would be happy) (Steinitz wäre zufrieden)
} 19. f4 N8d7 20. O-O-O Kh6 21. f5 Kg7 22. d4 $44) 9. cxd5 e5 10. h3 Nf6 11.
Ng5 Qe7 12. Qf3 ({There was an alternative in Eine Alternative bestand in} 12.
Ne6 Bxe6 13. dxe6 Nc6 14. Qf3 {- unlike in the game, in this case the option
e5-e4 (see annotation to next move) in would in this case not be available to
Black. - im Unterschied zur Partie stünde dann dem Schwarzen die Option e5-e4
(s. die Anmerkung zum nächsten Zug) in diesem Fall nicht zur Verfügung.})
12... Kh8 {Vishy does not accept the provocative invitation to play e5-e4. Die
provokative Einladung, e5-e4 zu spielen, nimmt Vishy nicht an.} ({But perhaps
this thrust was worthy of consideration: Aber vielleicht war dieser Vorstoß
doch beachtenswert:} 12... e4 13. Qg2 Nbd7 14. O-O-O (14. Ne6 Rf7 {should not
really frighten Black. ist für Schwarz nicht wirklich furchterregend}) 14...
Ne5 15. d3 (15. Kb1 Bd7 16. Be2 Rae8 17. f4 exf3 18. Nxf3 Nxf3 19. Bxf3 Rf7 $13
) 15... Nxd3+ 16. Bxd3 exd3 17. Rxd3 g6 18. h4 Bd7 19. Kb1 Rae8 20. f3 $36) 13.
Ne6 Bxe6 ({It is hard to believe that anybody would decide on Es ist schwer
vorstellbar, dass sich hier jemand für} 13... Rg8 $5 {here. Things could then
continue: entscheiden würde. Weiter könnte dann geschehen:} 14. Qxf5 c6 (
14... Nc6 15. Qf3 Nb4 16. Rc1 $14) 15. f4 (15. e4 cxd5 16. exd5 Nc6 $1 $15)
15... cxd5 (15... Nbd7 16. Bc4 b5 17. dxc6 bxc4 18. cxd7 Bxd7 19. fxe5 Bxe6 20.
exd6 Qxd6 21. Ne4 Qh2 22. Qg5 h6 23. Qg6 Bf7 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25. Nxg3 $16) 16.
fxe5 Bxe5 17. Qxe5 Bxe6 18. Ne2 Nc6 19. Qg5 $14 {- the Bb2 is really scowling
at the opposing kingside. - der Bb2 wirft auf den gegnerischen Königsflügel
einen recht bösen Blick.}) ({In the event of Im Falle von} 13... Rf7 14. Qxf5
Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxe6 16. Qxe6 Bxe6 17. Bc4 {only the hard to find move kann
Schwarz nur mit dem schwer zu findenden Zug} Ra7 {can allow Black to fight on:
weiter kämpfen:} 18. Nb6 Bxc4 19. Nxc4 Nc6 20. Ke2 Ra8 21. Raf1 Kg8 22. f4 $14
) 14. dxe6 Qxe6 (14... Nc6 15. Qxf5 {and thanks to his bishop pair White has a
comfortable advantage. und dank seines Läuferpaares hat Weiß einen bequemen
Vorteil.}) 15. Qxb7 Nbd7 16. Bc4 $6 {This active move is not particularly
effective. The bishop on c4 will soon have to leave its position again, whilst
the e7-square is optimally suited to the black queen - it is correctly placed
there for the exchange of bishops which Black wishes and at the same time
overprotects the g7-point. Dieser aktive Zug ist nicht gerade wirkungsvoll.
Der Läufer c4 wird seine Position bald wieder verlassen müssen, während das
Feld e7 für die schwarze Dame optimal geeignet ist - dort steht sie für den
vom Nachziehenden erwünschten Läufertausch richtig und überdeckt
gleichzeitig den Punkt g7.} (16. O-O-O {would perhaps be somewhat too
optimistic: wäre vielleicht etwas zu optimistisch:} Qe7 17. Kb1 Ba3 18. Ba1
Nb6 $132) ({, but it was worth considering the cold-blooded , aber Beachtung
verdiente das kaltblütige} 16. Bxa6 {, e.g. , z. B.} e4 17. Bc4 Qe8 (17... Qe5
18. f4 $1 exf3 19. Qxf3 Ba3 20. Bxa3 Rxa3 21. Qg3 $14) 18. Qc6 (18. Qb5 Rb8 19.
Qxf5 Ne5 $44) (18. Nb5 Qe7 (18... Bh2 19. Rg2 Nc5 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. Nxc7 Nxb7
22. Nxe8 Be5 23. Nxf6 Bxa1 24. Nd5 $16) 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Qd5 (20. Qb5 $5 c5
21. Qb7 Rfb8 22. Qd5 Qxd5 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Bxg7+ Kg8 25. Be5+ Kf8 26. Bxb8
Rxb8 27. Rg5 Ne7 $11) 20... Qxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Bxg7+ Kg8 23. Bxf8+ Kxf8 24.
Rg5 Ne7 {, and the black knights have several lovely outpost squares. , und
die schwarzen Springer verfügen über mehrere schöne Vorpostenfelder}) 18...
Rb8 19. f4 exf3 20. Qxf3 Ne5 21. Qg2 Qe7 22. Be2 {- Black has sufficient
compensation for the missing pawn. - für den fehlenden Bauern hat Schwarz
keine ausreichende Kompensation.}) 16... Qe7 17. Qg2 Nb6 18. Be2 a5 19. Bb5 {
At last this bishop finds a place from where to come alive. Endlich findet
dieser Läufer seinen Platz im Leben.} ({It is not possible to recommend Nicht
zu empfehlen war} 19. Qg5 $6 a4 (19... g6 20. h4 $36) 20. Rc1 (20. Qxf5 a3 21.
Bc1 e4 $15) (20. bxa4 Nxa4 21. Nxa4 Rxa4 $15) 20... axb3 21. axb3 g6 22. h4 Qe6
23. h5 Rg8 $15) 19... Rad8 $11 {The black pieces are well placed, but the
advantage of the bishop pair and the slightly better pawn structure allow
White to remain optimistic.  Die schwarzen Figuren sind gut platziert, aber
der Vorteil des Läuferpaares und die etwas bessere Bauernstruktur erlauben
dem Anziehenden, seinen Optimismus beizubehalten.} 20. Qg5 g6 {Although this
move weakens the long diagonal it is the safest. Obwohl dieser Zug die große
Diagonale schwächt, ist er der sicherste.} ({The alternative Die Alternative} 
20... f4 {was more risky. war mit mehr Risiko verbunden.} {A possibility then
would be, e.g. Möglich wäre dann z. B.} 21. O-O-O h6 22. Qg6 Ba3 23. Bxa3
Qxa3+ 24. Kb1 Qe7 25. exf4 (25. Bd3 a4 26. exf4 exf4) 25... e4 (25... exf4 26.
Rde1 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. Kc2 $14) 26. f3 exf3 27. Rde1 Qf7 28. Qxf7 Rxf7 29.
Rgf1 Rxd2 30. Rxf3 $14) 21. Qh6 Ng8 22. Qg5 Nf6 {Anand takes the correct
decision, to do without the exchange of queens. Otherwise White could have
concentrated on attacking the isolated queenside black pawns without having to
fear any counterplay.  Anand trifft die richtige Entscheidung, auf Damentausch
zu verzichten. Andernfalls hätte der Anziehende sich dem Angriff den
vereinzelten schwarzen Bauern am Damenflügel widmen können, ohne ein
Gegenspiel fürchten zu müssen.} 23. Rd1 {White resists the almost
unconquerable desire to repeat moves and clears the a1-square for his bishop -
in the hope of becoming active later Weiß widersteht dem fast
unüberwindbaren Wunsch, die Züge zu wiederholen, und macht das Feld a1 für
seinen Läufer frei - in der Hoffnung, später aktiver zu werden.} e4 $6 {
Vishy insists on exchanging the dark-squared bishops, but as a result the Nc3
enters the play forcefully. Vishy besteht auf dem Tausch der schwarzfeldrigen
Läufer, aber dafür kommt der Nc3 jetzt mit großer Kraft ins Spiel.} ({
After Nach} 23... Qe6) ({or oder} 23... Bb4 {the position would remain
dynamically balanced. bliebe die Stellung in dynamischem Gleichgewicht.}) 24.
Qh6 Rg8 25. Ne2 Be5 26. Bxe5 Qxe5 27. Nf4 {This is the position I was aiming
for when I played 23.Rd1. An dieser Stellung orientierte ich mich, als ich 23.
Rd1 zog.} g5 $1 ({There would be the passive but pretty resilient Passiv, aber
ziemlich zäh wäre} 27... Qxb5 28. Nxg6+ Rxg6 29. Rxg6 Rg8 30. Rxg8+ Nxg8 31.
Qe6 Qc5 (31... a4 32. bxa4 Nxa4 33. Rc1 Nb2 34. Qc6 $1 Nd3+ 35. Kf1 $18) (31...
Nd5 32. Qxf5 Ngf6 33. d3 $16) 32. f3 $5 (32. d3 exd3 33. Rxd3 Kg7 {and it
really looks as if Black manages to restore the coordination between his
pieces. und allem Anschein nach gelingt es dem Schwarzen, die Koordination
zwischen seinen Figuren wiederherzustellen.}) 32... exf3 33. Kf2 f4 (33... Ne7
34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. h4 (35. Rg1+ Ng6) 35... Qb5 36. d3 $16) 34. Rg1 (34. Kxf3 fxe3
35. dxe3 Qh5+ 36. Qg4 Qf7+) 34... fxe3+ 35. dxe3 Qf8 {with a tenable position.
mit haltbarer Stellung.}) 28. Rxg5 Rxg5 29. Qxg5 Rg8 30. Qh6 Rg7 $2 {A strange
decision. Eine seltsame Entscheidung.} ({There was no doubt that Black should
have acted in a more enterprising fashion: Zweifelsohne hätte Schwarz
unternehmungslustiger agieren müssen:} 30... Rg1+ 31. Bf1 Nbd7 32. Ne2 Rg6 (
32... Rh1 33. Ng3 Rg1 34. Qg5 $16) 33. Qh4 (33. Qf4 Nd5 $1 34. Qxe5+ Nxe5 35.
Nd4 c5 36. Nxf5 Nf3+ 37. Ke2 Ng1+ $11) 33... Qd6 {and the activity of the
black pieces should be sufficient for equality, e.g. und die Aktivität der
schwarzen Figuren sollte für Ausgleich ausreichen, z.B.} 34. Ng3 (34. d4 Qb4+
(34... exd3 35. Ng3 Ne5 36. Bg2 c5 37. Kf1 d2 38. Qf4 Qd3+ 39. Kg1 Qc2 40. Rxd2
Qxd2 41. Qxe5 $44) 35. Rd2 c5 $13) 34... Ne5 35. Be2 Nd3+ 36. Bxd3 exd3 37. Kf1
(37. Rc1 Qd5 $8 38. Kf1 (38. Rxc7 Qh1+ 39. Nf1 Qf3 40. Ng3 f4 41. Qxf4 Rxg3 42.
Rc8+ Ng8 43. Rxg8+ Rxg8 44. Qe5+ Rg7 $11) 38... Ne4 39. Nxe4 fxe4 40. Qf4 (40.
Rxc7 Qg8 $1 $19) 40... Qh5 $11) (37. Qf4 Qd5 38. f3 (38. Kf1 Ne4 39. Kg1 (39.
Nxe4 fxe4 40. Qf8+ Rg8 41. Qf6+ Rg7 42. f3 Qd7) 39... Ng5 $13) 38... Qc5 $13)
37... Ne4 38. Kg2 Qc6 $11) 31. Bc4 {Now in the event of ...Rg1+ the white king
can simply go to e2. Jetzt kann der weiße König im Falle ...Rg1+ einfach
nach e2 gehen.} Nxc4 ({The exchange of all the minor pieces by means of Der
Tausch aller Leichtfiguren mittels} 31... Nfd5 32. Ke2 Nxc4 33. bxc4 Nxf4+ 34.
Qxf4 Qc5 35. d3 $16 {could not solve Black's problems either konnte die
schwarzen Probleme auch nicht lösen.}) 32. bxc4 Qb2 33. Ke2 a4 34. Ne6 ({
The hasty Das hastige} 34. Rb1 $2 {would throw away all the advantage: würde
den ganzen Vorteil wegwerfen:} Qxb1 35. Qxf6 h6 $1 $11) 34... Rf7 35. Nf4 ({
Here I might almost have decided in favour of Hier hätte ich mich beinahe für
} 35. Nd8 Rg7 36. Rg1 {but at the last moment I discovered the reply
entschieden, endeckte aber im letzten Moment die Erwiderung} Ng4 $1 37. hxg4
Qc2 {and the struggle continues - although in this case too White has an
enormous advantage, his position no longer looks so monolithic. und der Kampf
geht weiter - obwohl Weiß auch in diesem Fall über einen riesigen Vorteil
verfügt, sieht seine Stellung nicht mehr so monolit aus:} 38. f4 Qd3+ (38...
exf3+ 39. Kxf3 fxg4+ 40. Ke2 Qxc4+ 41. Kd1 $18) 39. Ke1 Qxd8 40. Qe6 Qh4+ 41.
Kd1 fxg4 42. f5 $16) 35... Rg7 36. a3 {White prevents a4-a3. At the same time
he somewhat perfects the idea from the previous variation. Weiß verhindert
a4-a3. Gleichzeitig vervollkommt er etwas die Idee aus der vorherigen Variante.
} Ne8 ({In the event of Im Falle von} 36... c5 37. Ne6 Rf7 38. Nd8 Rg7 39. Rg1
{it is no longer helpful to have the idea of locking off the g-file with hilft
die Idee der Abriegelung der g-Linie mit} Ng4 {on account of nicht mehr wegen}
40. Qd6 $18) ({The only possibility of putting up any resistance consisted of
Die einzige Möglichkeit, Widerstand zu leisten, bestand in} 36... Qb6 37. d3 (
37. Rb1 Qxb1 38. Qxf6 h6 39. Qxh6+ Kg8 40. Qe6+ Kh8 41. Qxf5 Rg1 $11) 37...
Qb2+ 38. Rd2 Qc3 39. Ne6 Rg2 40. Qh4 Kg8 41. dxe4 Qxc4+ 42. Kf3 Rg6 43. Rd8+
Kf7 44. Ng5+ Kg7 45. Rd4 Qc6 $16) 37. Qc6 {This eliminates the dangerous
a4-pawn. The rest is a question of quite simple technique and my opponent
decided not to test my ability in that respect. Der gefährliche Bauer a4 wird
damit beseitigt. Der Rest ist Sache der ziemlich einfachen Technik, und mein
Gegner hat sich entschieden, mein Können in dieser Hinsicht nicht zu testen.}
1-0

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2017.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({After 4...Nc6 in today's game, we get a position that is similar to} 
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 {but there is actually a big
difference here, as the knight is more aggressively positioned on c3, than one
would be on f3. One reason is that} 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 {can be met with} 7.
Be2 $5 ({rather than} 7. Nf3 {when} Bg4 {is comfortable for Black.})) 1... c5
2. c3 {At such a high level, this move has mostly been played in blitz games.
It is a I'm-inviting-you-to-a-Slav-with-opposite-colours-move, that is to say
a tricky move against those who don't have the Slav in their repertoire with
either White or Black. Nepomniachtchi hasn't played the Slav for almost a
decade, so it makes a lot of sense for Carlsen to play like this.} d5 {This
move is the equivalent of "calling" in poker. Saying: -So, you want to play
the Slav a tempo up? Go ahead, please.} ({The other respectable continuation is
} 2... Nf6 3. d4 e6 {a setup that Carlsen had a close encounter with only a
short time ago:} 4. Bg5 d5 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 Nc6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O Nd7
10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Ne5 cxd4 12. exd4 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bd7 14. Re1 Rc8 15. Nf3 {
Carlsen,M (2825)-Xiong,J (2630) chess.com IoM Masters 2017, with a promising
position for White,.}) 3. d4 cxd4 {And Black calls again, forcing White to
enter an Exchange Slav, where he is unable to play the most critical lines 
(due to the early development of the knight to f3).} 4. cxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6.
Bf4 Nh5 $5 {Black chooses a rather rare line, probably wanting to avoid a
theoretical battle after} (6... Bf5) ({or} 6... a6) 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. e3 {I often
complain that Bc1-d2 and Bc8-d7 are sad excuses for moves, but here White got
it for free and it does free the c1-square for the rook.} e6 ({Ideally, Black
would like to play} 8... Bf5 {but after} 9. Ne5 $1 {Black has to deal with a
number of annoying ideas, of which g2-g4 is only one.}) 9. Bd3 $1 {If White is
to gain a promising game, then there is no way around playing e3-e4.} (9. Bb5
Bd7 10. O-O Bd6 {and there is no way to make headway on the queenside.}) 9...
Bd6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 {Although this leads to a standard setup for
Black, it was somewhat surprising to me, as it seems that White has gained a
tempo in the process (Bd2).} ({Karpov was one of the greatest handlers of this
structure and I believe that he might have chosen} 11... Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Ne7 $5
13. O-O O-O {After} 14. Qc2 (14. Bxh7+ $2 Kxh7 15. Ng5+ Kg6 16. Qg4 f5) (14.
Ne5 h6 15. Re1 {might be a better setup aiming to lift the rook to the third
rank.}) 14... h6 15. Ne5 Rb8 {, followed by ...b5 and ...Bb7, or just ...Bd7,
Black is doing fine.}) 12. O-O O-O 13. Qc2 {I would not place my queen here,
but Magnus has a 300 ELO-point margin over me, so I guess it is good. Possibly
he wanted to force Black into some kind of concession on the kingside.} (13.
Qe2 {is the natural place for the queen in this structure (as I see it).})
13... h6 ({With the bishop on e7 Black ususally plays} 13... g6 {If White
continues like in the game with} 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. a3 Rc8 16. Nc3 a6 {then it
seems to me that it is harder for White to create threats against Black's king.
} (16... Nd5)) (13... Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 $2 (14... g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1) 15.
Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rfe1 $16) 14. Rad1 Bd7 (14... Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Bc3 Qb6 17.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qd2 Kg7 20. Bb1 {leaves White with a nasty
initiative on the diagonal.}) 15. a3 Rc8 {Black has no complaints after the
opening. The queen seems to be misplaced on c2.} 16. Nc3 $1 a6 {Black is
obviously happy with his position and chooses to play an ambitious plan,
involving b7-b5-b4. Other possibilities were} (16... Nd5) (16... Na5) ({
and my favourite (Karpov-inspired) plan:} 16... Bd6 {intending ...Ne7 and ...
Bc6.}) 17. Qc1 $5 {Magnus finds a way to make the queen's position count for
something. Perhaps he had the whole setup planned and this is indeed the most
challenging idea against h7-h6!?? It seems far-fetched.} Re8 18. Rfe1 Bf8 19.
Bf4 {White has managed to get coordinated and it is time for Black to act
before White starts attacking.} b5 $1 20. Qd2 b4 21. axb4 Nxb4 22. Ne5 $1 ({
Most mortals would hang on to the bishop with} 22. Bb1 {but Carlsen correctly
assesses that it is the dark squares that matter most in the attack.} Nbd5 23.
Ne5 Bb5 {and Black is more than comfortable.}) 22... Nxd3 23. Qxd3 a5 {This is
either a very confident move or a wish to play with fire. White can continue
to build up on the kingside as long as he hasn't lost all control of d5, so
Black's simplest defence is to challenge that:} (23... Bb5 $5 24. Nxb5 (24. Qf3
Bc4 $1) 24... axb5 25. Qxb5 Nd5 {holds no danger for Black. The knight on d5
is wonderful, while White's extra pawn on b2, is a target.}) 24. Qf3 $1 {
Suddenly Black is faced with a series of more serious threats. Both Bf4-g3-h4
and h4 followed by Bg5 can become annoying. The biggest tactical weakness in
Black's position is the pawn on f7, so the best defence probably involves
protecting that pawn once more...} Bb4 $2 {This leaves the king far too
exposed.} (24... Qe7 $1 {, is the right move, in order to be able to move the
knight from f6 without inviting a catastrophe on f7:} 25. Nxd7 Nxd7 (25... Qxd7
$5 26. Bxh6 a4 {followed by ...Nd5, leads to a position that is very hard for
White to win (since all the pawns are on the "wrong colour").}) 26. d5 Nc5 {
is balanced.}) 25. Re3 ({Carlsen's move is not bad at all, but possibly a
stronger one was} 25. Bxh6 $1 {It is quite untypical for such a strong player
to miss such a shot (so perhaps he didn't). The point is that after} Bxc3 26.
bxc3 gxh6 27. Qg3+ {Black cannot go to f8:} Kh7 (27... Kf8 $2 28. Rd3 $1 Bc6 (
28... Ke7 29. Qg7 Rf8 30. d5 $1) 29. Qf4 Ke7 30. c4 {and Black has no defence
against d4-d5.}) 28. Nxf7 Qe7 29. Qd3+ Kg7 (29... Kg8 30. Qg6+) 30. Ne5 {
and Black has no way to avoid giving back material. For instance} Rf8 31. Qg6+
Kh8 32. Qxh6+ Qh7 {and the best way to take the exchange is} 33. Ng6+ Kg8 34.
Qg5 Qh5 35. Qxh5 Nxh5 36. Nxf8 Kxf8 {followed by} 37. d5 $1 {when Black will
not be able to create enough counterplay with the a-pawn. Perhaps Carlsen saw
some of this and decided that he didn't like the look of that a-pawn and that
it was just as good to just build.}) 25... Bxc3 26. bxc3 {This positional
transformation favours White. Now, not only are the threats on the kingside,
but also c4/d5 becomes a factor.} Ba4 $1 {Usually I don't watch the comments
or the inteviews with the players, but this time I was sent a short piece
where Carlsen talked about the game. He was searching to explain his feeling
about the game and he said: "I failed to predict a single one of his moves",
which is a strong indication that he was not his normal self today. Especially
the next few moves are puzzling.} 27. Ra1 $6 {This allows Black to get the
bishop back in the defence.} ({A much stronger move was} 27. Rc1 $1 {when the
bishop is rather weird on a4, whereas} Qxd4 {, doesn't work due to} (27... Rf8
$1 28. Rd3 Nd5 29. c4 $1 (29. Bd2 f6 30. Ng6 Re8 {is not so clear.}) 29... f6
30. Ng4 Nxf4 31. Qxf4 {and the central pawns, combined with Black's awkward
pawn structure, leave White with an advantage.}) 28. Ra1 $1 Qb6 29. Bxh6 $1 {
with disastrous concequences for Black.}) 27... Bc2 $1 28. h3 $5 {Many are
reluctant to play such a move since the rook might go there later. However,
giving the king some breathing space, means that White is more free to use the
rook on a1, as there are no more back rank mates.} Bf5 $2 ({The most tenacious
defence could have led to serious complications:} 28... Nd5 $5 29. Bxh6 Qe7 $1
(29... Bg6 30. c4 Nxe3 31. Bxe3 Bf5 32. c5 Qd5 33. Qh5 Re7 34. Rxa5 f6 35. Ng6
Bxg6 36. Qxg6 Ra8 {is the kind of line that the engines give as "=", but where
it is far easier to play the White side.}) (29... f6 30. Bxg7 fxe5 31. Bxe5 $40
) 30. Bxg7 (30. Qg3 f6 31. Re2 Rxc3 32. Nf3 Qc7 33. Bd2 Qxg3 34. fxg3 Rc6 35.
Rxa5 {is a position where White's extra pawn doesn't count for much.}) 30...
Kxg7 31. Qg4+ Bg6 (31... Kh6 32. Rf3 Bg6 $1 33. c4 Bh5 34. Nxf7+ Qxf7 35. Rxf7
Bxg4 36. cxd5 Bh5 37. Ra7 exd5 38. R1xa5 $11) 32. Rf3 Nf6 33. Qg3 {and White
has dangerous compensation for the piece. Still, it is not clear that White
has a way forward.}) (28... Rf8 29. Rc1) 29. g4 $1 {There were probably a few
who thought that Magnus would win at this stage and I/he would have thought so
too.} Bh7 30. c4 $6 ({It is truly strange that Carlsen didn't play} 30. g5 Nd5
31. Nxf7 $1 {Suffice to say, that White gets a huge attack. After} Qb6 32. Nd6
Nxe3 $1 (32... Rf8 33. Nxc8) 33. Qxe3 h5 34. c4 {White is dominating. It is
quite out of character for Carlsen to miss something like this. It seems like
he wasn't able to think clearly today.}) 30... Nd7 {Although this doesn't
solve all of Black's problems, it is clearly an improvement to be able to
exhange the menace on e5.} 31. Nc6 $2 (31. c5 $1 Nxe5 32. Bxe5 f6 33. Bd6 Ra8
34. Qc6 {would have kept a rather large advantage for White.}) 31... Qf6 32.
Nxa5 Nb6 {Now White's pieces are all in the wrong places. If only one could
play c5 and Na5-c4-d6...} 33. c5 $2 Rxc5 $1 {Missing such a move is truly
demoralizing.} 34. dxc5 $2 {Here Carlsen seems to lose his will to fight. Now
one mistake follows another.} (34. Be5 Qxf3 35. Rxf3 Rc2 {is very unpleasant
for White, but was nethertheless necessary.}) 34... Qxa1+ 35. Kh2 Qxa5 36. Qc6
$2 (36. cxb6 Qxb6 {is no fun for White, but not quite lost yet.}) 36... Qa4 {
Forking the queen and the bishop and the game is over.} 37. Qxa4 Nxa4 38. c6
Nb6 39. c7 f6 40. Rb3 Nc8 {A good day for Nepomniachtchi. He was lucky to
escape and win, but luck usually comes to those who deserve it.} 0-1

[Event "Poikovsky Karpov 19th"]
[Site "Poikovsky"]
[Date "2018.05.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2018.05.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Nf3 {A
relatively rare continuation, which recently was employed by many strong
players.} Bb4 {This position resembles the Romanishin line in the Nimzo-Indian
- Black might heavily damage the opponent's pawn structure, but in this case
White would get control over the dark squares.} ({The alternatives are:} 7...
Bc5 8. e3 Bb4 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Bg2 Be7 11. O-O (11. b3 $5 Rd8 12. O-O d5 13. cxd5
Nxd5 14. Nxd5 Rxd5 15. Qe2 {might still pose Black some problems - the Bc8 is
poor.}) 11... Qxb2 12. e4 d6 13. Rb1 Qa3 $15 {Gelfand,B - Svidler,P Sochi RUS
2018, White didn't have enough play for the pawn.}) ({and} 7... d5 $5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Bg2 d4 10. Na4 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Qb5 12. b3 (12. O-O Bxd2 13. Nxd2 O-O 14.
Rc1 Bg4 $132) 12... O-O 13. O-O Be7 14. Bg5 Bg4 $132 {Svidler,P - Dubov,D
Sochi RUS 2018.}) 8. Bg2 Qc5 $1 $146 {Perhaps this innovation was deeply
analysed by Ian during his home preparation.} ({The previously played} 8... O-O
{doesn't seems to fully solve the problems:} 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Na5 (10...
Qc5 11. Qa4 Re8 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. Qb5 $36 {Harikrishna,P - Vachier Lagrave,M
Palma de Mallorca ESP 2017}) 11. Qa4 $6 ({The lack of a dark-squared bishop
would tell after} 11. Be3 $142 $1 Qc7 12. Bf4 Qxc4 13. Bd6 $36) 11... d6 12.
Be3 Qc7 13. Nd4 a6 $15 {Gelfand,B - Mamedyarov,S Moscow RUS 2018}) 9. Qd3 Ng4 {
Again, the most challenging.} ({In the event of} 9... d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. O-O
Nxc3 12. bxc3 Qxc3 13. Qb1 O-O 14. Bb2 {White's initiative would fully
compensate for the pawn, to say the least.}) 10. O-O Nge5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qc2
Qxc4 {This time Black was able to grab the pawn without exchanging the
dark-squared bishop. Still, the lead in development offers White enough play
for the pawn.} 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bd2 ({Another natural retreat could have
invited major simplifications:} 14. Be3 d5 15. Rac1 Bd7 16. Qd1 Qa6 17. Qd4
Bxc3 18. bxc3 O-O 19. c4 Bc6 20. cxd5 Bxd5 $11) 14... d5 15. Rac1 $6 {This
natural move turns out to be a serious mistake - Black manages to consolidate
and keep his extra pawn.} ({The correct} 15. b3 Qc6 ({Of course, not} 15... Qa6
$2 16. Nxd5 $18) 16. Qb2 Be7 17. e4 d4 18. e5 $44 {would offer White
sufficient compensation for the pawn due to his powerful light-squared bishop.}
) 15... Be7 16. Rfd1 ({In comparison to the aforementioned note, now} 16. b3 {
runs into} Qa6 17. e4 d4 18. Na4 e5 19. Nc5 Qc6 $17 {and Black is just a pawn
up.}) 16... O-O 17. Qb1 $6 {The poor location of White's queen makes it eaiser
for Ian to fully consolidate.} ({A better try was} 17. Be3 Qa6 18. Bd4 Rd8 (
18... Bd7 19. h4 h5 20. f4 $1 $44) 19. f4 Bd7 20. f5 exf5 21. Nxd5 $15 {
maintaining decent drawing chances due to the activity of his pieces.}) 17...
Qa6 18. e4 {Alas, this standard break is coming too late.} ({However, also
after} 18. Be3 Bd7 19. f4 f5 20. Bd4 Bf6 $17 {White wouldn't have much for the
pawn.}) 18... d4 19. Bf1 Qb6 20. Na4 Qd8 21. f4 b6 22. Qd3 {The lack of
harmony in White's camp makes it easier for Ian to convert the extra pawn into
a full point.} ({Possibly, the most stubborn was} 22. b4 $5 Bb7 23. Nb2 Rc8 24.
Bg2 Qd7 25. Nd3 $17 {, and White manages to set up a blockade.}) 22... Bb7 23.
Be1 Rc8 24. h4 {A desperate attempt to complicate matters.} Re8 25. h5 Nf8 26.
Bf2 e5 $1 27. fxe5 {Regaining the pawn is a symbolic achievement - White's
position is ruined now.} Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Ne6 29. Bh3 Qa8 30. Re1 (30. Bxe6 fxe6
31. Qxd4 Bxe4 32. Qd7 Bf8 $19 {was hopeless as the king is too exposed.}) 30...
Rd8 31. b3 Qb8 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. Bxd4 Bc5 $19 {The piece is gone.} 34. Nxc5
bxc5 35. Qc4 cxd4 36. Qxe6+ Kh8 37. h6 Qc7 38. Rf1 Bxe4 39. Qg4 Bg6 40. Qxd4
gxh6 0-1

[Event "Poikovsky Karpov 19th"]
[Site "Poikovsky"]
[Date "2018.05.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B94"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2018.05.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 h6 8.
Bh4 g6 9. Qe2 Bg7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Bb3 Qc7 12. Kb1 Rb8 13. f4 e5 14. fxe5 dxe5
15. Nf3 b5 16. g4 Nb6 17. h3 Na4 18. Rd3 Be6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21.
Bxd5 Nc5 22. Rc3 b4 23. Rc4 Bg7 24. Qe3 Rb5 25. Rf1 Qb6 26. Nd2 Na4 27. Qd3 Nc5
28. Qe2 a5 29. Nb3 Qd6 30. Qe3 Ne6 31. Rc6 Qd7 32. Qd3 Rbb8 33. Nc5 Nxc5 34.
Rxc5 a4 35. Qc4 Kh8 36. Rc7 Qd8 37. Rcxf7 Rxf7 38. Rxf7 Qb6 39. Qf1 Qd4 40. Qd3
Qc5 41. Rf3 Rf8 42. a3 Rxf3 43. Qxf3 bxa3 44. bxa3 Qb6+ 45. Ka2 Qc5 46. Qd3 Bf8
47. Bc4 Kg7 48. Qd7+ Be7 49. Qxa4 Qd4 50. Qa6 Qxe4 51. Bb3 Qf4 52. Qe6 Qf8 53.
Qxe5+ Bf6 54. Qd5 Bh4 55. a4 Qe7 56. a5 Bf2 57. a6 g5 58. Bc4 Ba7 59. c3 Qc7
60. Qg8+ Kf6 61. Qf8+ 1-0

[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 "2018.07.20"]
[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 "RUS-ch 71st"]
[Site "Satka"]
[Date "2018.09.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Khismatullin, Denis Rimovich"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2018.08.24"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[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 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 O-O 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nd7 12. a4 c6 13. a5 Re8 14. c4 dxc4
15. Qxc4 Qc7 16. Bd2 Bd6 17. g3 Nf6 18. Bg5 Ne4 19. Qd3 Nxg5 20. Nxg5 g6 21.
Ne4 Be7 22. Qb3 Red8 23. Rad1 b5 24. axb6 Qxb6 25. Qa4 a5 26. c3 Qb5 27. Ra1
Qxa4 28. Rxa4 c5 29. dxc5 f5 30. Nd2 Bxc5 31. Nc4 Rd3 32. Rc1 f4 33. gxf4 Rf3
34. Rc2 Rxf4 35. Rxa5 Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Kf7 37. Nb3 Bb6 38. c4 Ke6 39. Kg2 g5 40.
Re2+ Kf6 41. c5 Bc7 42. h3 h5 43. Rc2 Ke6 44. c6 Kd6 45. Rd2+ Ke5 46. Rc2 Kd6
47. Nc5 Bb6 48. Na6 Rf7 49. Kg3 Ra7 50. c7 Bxc7 51. Nxc7 Rxc7 52. Rxc7 Kxc7 53.
h4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.27"]
[Round "4.9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Poland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 Bxa2 12. Nxa2 Nc6 13. c4 Nd4 14. Nc3 Nxf3+
15. Qxf3 c6 16. Bd2 Qc8 17. Rfb1 Qe6 18. Qe2 d5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Bg5 dxe4 21.
dxe4 Rfc8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Re1 f6 26. Rac1 Qd6 27.
Qe4 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 f5 29. Qxf5 Qxd5 30. h3 Rf8 31. Qc2 h6 32. Rd1 Qe6 33. Re1
Rf4 34. Qc5 e4 35. Qe3 Qd6 36. g3 Rf3 37. Qxe4 Rxa3 38. Qa8+ Kh7 39. Re8 Qd3
40. Rh8+ Kg6 41. Qe8+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.05"]
[Round "11.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[Annotator "Ganguly, Surya Sekhar "]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 {Nowadays this system in hugely popular. Kramnik mainly tried
e3 setups in almost every possible move order. Magnus went one step further
and even started his first move with 1.e3 thrice :)} Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 {
A lot depends on a player's opening repertoire what setup he will choose here
as anytime it can just transpose with d4. The main idea for White however is
rather not to play d4 and keep the a1-h8 diagonal open for a possible kingside
attack.} 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 (6... b6 {This became popular recently. The idea
is that Black doesn't commit to c5 early in order not to get a hanging or
isolated pawn which typically happens after cd5-ed5-d4 with the pawn on c5.})
7. cxd5 Nxd5 (7... exd5 8. d4 {Is another setup where Black mostly ends up
with either an isolated pawn or hanging pawns. Here the h4 ideas are stopped
which happened in the game but on the other hand White keeps little upper hand
in such structure. This is why b6 instead of c5 have been tried a number of
times as well.}) 8. h4 {A new move based on a well-known idea. White tried
mainly Qc2 followed by h4 in a number of games.} (8. Qc2 Nc6 9. h4 {was first
seen in the Moscow Candidates 2016 between Karjakin - Anand. Then the next
time it occurred after a few months was when Magnus played this against me in
the world rapid 2016 at Doha. This was one of the games in which he started
with 1.e3!?} b6 (9... h6 {was not a good reaction and I immediately got into
serious trouble} 10. g4 $1 Nxc3 11. dxc3 e5 12. g5 h5 13. Bc4 {½-½ (40)
Carlsen,M (2840)-Ganguly,S (2668) Doha 2016 was better for White.}) 10. a3 {
This is an obligation with the queen on c2 hence some players have tried Qb1
instead of Qc2.} (10. Bb5 Ncb4) 10... f5 $132 {1-0 (43) Karjakin,S (2760)
-Anand,V (2762) Moscow 2016}) (8. Qb1 {was tried by Mamedyarov in a blitz game}
b6 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. d4 $6 {1-0 (43) Mamedyarov,S (2801)-So,W (2780) Saint
Louis 2018} cxd4 {[%cal Ge7b4]}) 8... b6 9. Qb1 {So that was the point!
Similar to Magnus idea but with the queen on b1 in order to avoid any Ncb4
tricks.} h6 {After 38 min of thought Bacrot reacted exactly the way I reacted
against Magnus which in my opinion is not the best way to stop White's
initiative here. First of all, Ng5 is not a threat as long as Black keeps his
bishop on c8 thus ready to meet Ng5 with f5. Unless Black plays h6 there is no
g4-g5 attack so there is no need to rush yet. Hence Black can continue
developing on the queenside.} (9... Bb7 $6 {would lead to disaster} 10. Ng5 g6
11. Nxh7 {Probably some other moves are possible too but this is most thematic
and direct} Kxh7 12. h5 f5 13. hxg6+ Kxg6 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Qd1 $1 Bh4 16. Bc4
Nc6 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. g3 $18 {One of the many ways Black can get crushed in
this line.}) (9... Nc6 $1 {This is similar to Karjakin - Anand from Moscow
Candidates 2016 with one exception that white queen is on b1 instead of c2
which means White doesn’t have to waste time with a3 for now.} 10. g4 $5 {
[%cal Gf3g5] Without h6 this looks a bit empty at first sight but things are
not that trivial here.} (10. Ng5 $6 {with the bishop on c8 this makes little
sense} f5 $15) (10. Rh3 f5) (10. Bb5 {This can be one point behind keeping the
queen on b1 but Black has enough resources to stop White's attack.} Nxc3 {
Now this works with the queen on b1! A move that would not have been possible
with the queen on c2 due to Bc6 but now the b1 queen is hanging.} (10... Bb7 $6
{By now we know why Black should not play this move :)} 11. Ng5 $1 g6 12. Nxh7
$1 {of course!} Kxh7 (12... Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Kxh7 14. h5 {would lead to similar
lines given below.}) 13. Nxd5 $1 (13. h5 $2 Nf6) 13... exd5 (13... f5 {This is
the top choice of the computer which shows how pathetic Black's position is.}
14. Nf4) 14. h5 f5 15. hxg6+ Kxg6 16. Qd1 $18) (10... Na5 {These moves are
always psychologically difficult to make. To put the knight on the edge when
White has some potential for attacking on the other wing.} 11. Bd3 (11. Nxd5
exd5 12. Ng5 f5 13. Qd1 Bxg5 14. hxg5 Qxg5 {apparently Black is fine here.})
11... f5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. h5 Bf6 $132) 11. Bxc3 Nb4 12. Rh3 Bf6 {and Black is
doing fine.}) 10... f5 (10... Bb7 11. Ng5 {is always risky.}) (10... Nxc3 11.
Bxc3 f5 {is also doable}) 11. gxf5 Rxf5 12. Rg1 $5 {[%csl Rg7]} Bf6 (12... Rxf3
13. Nxd5 Bf8 14. Qd1 $3 Rf7 (14... Qxd5 15. Bg2) 15. Nf4 $36) 13. Qe4 {In
general, these lines would require a lot more analyses to draw any kind of
conclusion. Anyhow it’s pretty much certain that Nc6 was a far better move
than h6.}) 10. g4 {Just like what Magnus did against me.} Bb7 11. Rh3 $1 Nd7 (
11... Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd7 13. g5 h5 14. g6 Bf6 15. Ng5 $1 Bxg5 16. hxg5 Qxg5 17.
Rg3 {gives White a good attack for a sacrificed pawn.}) 12. g5 h5 13. Bd3 (13.
g6 {The engine prefers this move over Bd3} f5 14. Qd1 N7f6 15. Ng5 Qd6 {
However I don't see why White should aim for this position rather than what he
got in the game.}) 13... Nb4 $6 {This is almost suicidal. The knight is
getting too far away from the game and White's knight on c3 could easily be
more powerful than Black's knight on b4.} (13... Nxc3 {was called for} 14. Bxc3
Qc7 15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. Be4 {White probably still keeps some edge but nowhere
close to what he got in the game.}) 14. Bh7+ $1 Kh8 15. Be4 Nd5 {This already
shows Nb4 was a poor decision.} (15... Bxe4 16. Nxe4 {[%csl Rb4,Ge4] The
difference between the two knights is visible now.}) 16. Ne2 $1 {[%csl Rh5]
[%cal Ge2g3]} f5 $2 {This was truly unthinkable. Now it’s totally lost.} (
16... Bd6 17. Ng3 Bxg3 18. Rxg3 {Depressing position but not dead lost yet.})
17. gxf6 N7xf6 18. Ng5 {[%cal Ge4d5,Ge2f4] Now pretty much anything and
everything will eventually lead to mate.} Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Bxg5 20. hxg5 Nf4 (
20... Qxg5 21. Rg3 {[%csl Rg7]}) 21. Qxb7 {[%csl Rg7]} Nd3+ 22. Kf1 Nxb2 (22...
Rxf2+ 23. Kg1 Qxg5+ 24. Rg3 $18) (22... Qxg5 23. Rxh5+ Qxh5 24. Qxg7#) 23.
Rxh5+ Kg8 24. g6 {[%cal Gh5h8,Gb7h1] Both Rh8 and Qh1 are deadly threats for
which there is no defence. A fantastic miniature by Nepo in an extremely
important match.} 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "WchT 12th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2019.03.07"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.03.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

{[%evp 0,87,80,4,89,-8,5,63,52,24,18,13,-2,-5,22,35,22,15,9,9,11,2,9,-2,-4,-14,
-10,-16,-39,-33,-24,-57,-49,-54,-16,-8,-9,0,0,-1,37,58,59,45,70,83,136,128,120,
80,88,0,65,78,118,130,154,160,156,156,144,133,290,187,174,304,334,350,722,386,
390,252,275,265,264,284,288,220,233,171,276,295,321,323,332,394,405,427,424,
441]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O
Bd6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Re1 c6 {More accurate than} (11...
Qf6 12. Qf3 c6 13. Bf4 {, and White seizes dark squares as in the following
stem game, as well as in many others:} Rae8 14. Qg3 Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qf7 16. g3 g6
17. h4 Rxe1+ 18. Rxe1 Re8 19. Re5 Rxe5 20. Qxe5 Qe8 21. Qc7 $36 {1/2 (32)
Kveinys,A (2520)-Giertz,N (2270) Marbach 1994}) 12. Bg5 (12. c4 Qf6 (12... Qa5
$5) 13. c3 Rfe8 14. Bg5 Qf7 15. Qxf7+ Kxf7 16. Reb1 b6 17. Bd2 dxc4 18. Bxc4+
Be6 $11 {1/2 (26) Rozentalis,E (2581)-Harikrishna,P (2668) Germany 2008}) 12...
Qc7 (12... Qa5 13. Be7 Bxe7 14. Rxe7 Be8 15. Qg5 Bg6 16. h4 (16. Qd2 $5 $14)
16... Qxc3 17. Rb1 Rae8 18. Rbxb7 Rxe7 19. Rxe7 Qa1+ 20. Kh2 (20. Bf1 $1 Qxd4
21. h5 Bf7 22. h6 $40) 20... Qxd4 21. h5 h6 $1 22. c3 (22. Qxg6 $2 Qh4+) 22...
Qxd3 23. Rxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qxh6+ {1/2 (25) Savic,M (2520)-Todorovic,
G (2473) Valjevo 2011}) 13. Re3 (13. Be7 Rfe8 (13... Rf7 $143 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
c4 $14 {B.Predojevic}) 14. Bxf5 $6 (14. Bxd6 Qxd6 $11) 14... Bxh2+ 15. Qxh2
Qxh2+ 16. Kxh2 Bxf5 $15 {1/2 (59) Balogh,C (2527)-Jussupow,A (2583) Bastia 2004
}) (13. c4 {was tested on the very top level but Black successfully held his
ground after} Be8 $1 14. Qh3 (14. Qh4 dxc4 15. Bxc4+ Bf7 16. Bd3 Bg6 17. Re6
Rae8 18. Rae1 Qa5 $1 $132 19. R1e3 Rxe6 20. Rxe6 Re8 $5 (20... Qd5 21. Rxd6
Qxd6 22. Be7 Qc7 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 $14 {1/2 (31) Dominguez Perez,L (2661)-Gelfand,
B (2696) Bermuda 2005 CBM 106 [Huzman,A]}) 21. Rxd6 Re1+ 22. Bf1 Qa6 23. Rd8+
Kf7 24. Rd7+ Kg8 $11) 14... dxc4 (14... h6 $6 15. Bd2 Qf7 16. c5 $1 Bc7 17.
Rab1 Qd7 18. Qf3 $1 $16 {[%cal Gd2f4] 1-0 (55) Adams,M (2719)-Topalov,V (2788)
Dortmund 2005 CBM 108 [Huzman,A]}) 15. Bxf5 (15. Bxc4+ Bf7 16. Be6 g6 17. Re2
Rfe8 18. Rae1 Rxe6 19. Rxe6 Bxe6 20. Rxe6 Qb6 21. g4 Qxd4 22. gxf5 Bc5 $11 {
1/2 (27) Mamedyarov,S (2731)-Gashimov,V (2704) Kallithea 2008}) 15... h6 16.
Be6+ Bf7 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 Bxh2+ 19. Qxh2 Qxh2+ 20. Kxh2 Bxe6 21. Rxe6
Rxf2 22. Re7 {1/2 (22) Vachier Lagrave,M (2718)-Gelfand,B (2758)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2009}) 13... g6 14. Qh4 Rae8 15. Rae1 Rxe3 16. Rxe3 Re8 (16...
Rf7 $5 17. c4 Qa5) 17. c4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] It is time to break in the centre.}
(17. Be7 Rxe7 (17... b5 $5) 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 19. Qxe7 Qc8 (19... b5 $5) 20. Kf1 (
20. c4 $5) 20... Be6 21. h4 Qd7 22. Qf6 Qf7 23. Qe5 $14 {1/2 (49) Fercec,N 
(2495)-Doric,N (2303) Pula 2014}) 17... Rxe3 18. Bxe3 Be8 19. c5 Qe7 $2 (19...
Bf8 $142 $14) 20. Bg5 Qe1+ 21. Bf1 Bf8 22. Be3 $1 {[%csl Re1][%mdl 32] Black's
queen is now cut off the position of his king, and White launches a decisive
attack.} Qa5 (22... b6 23. cxb6 axb6 24. Qd8 $18) 23. Bf4 $1 {[%cal Rf4e5]
stopping ...Qa5-c7} Bf7 24. Qf6 (24. Be5 $5 Bg7 25. Qe7 Bxe5 26. dxe5 $18)
24... Bg7 25. Qd6 (25. Qe7 $5 {[%cal Re7b7]} Bxd4 26. Bd6 Bg7 27. Qxb7 h5 28.
Qxc6 $18) 25... Qe1 (25... Bxd4 26. Qb8+ ({not} 26. Bh6 $2 Kh8) 26... Kg7 27.
Bd6 Bg8 (27... Qd2 $2 28. Qf8+ Kf6 29. Qd8+ Kg7 30. Bf8+ $18) 28. Qxb7+ Kh8 {
[%cal Ra5e1]} 29. Qe7 $1 Qc3 30. Qe8 {, after which White can slowly advance
by means of g2-g3, Bf1-d3, h2-h4 (-h5) etc. while Black is completely passive,
and any attempt of activation fails, e.g.} Kg7 31. g3 h5 32. Bd3 Qd2 33. Qe7+
Kh8 34. Be5+ Bxe5 35. Qxe5+ Kh7 36. Qc7+ Kh6 37. Qxc6 $18) 26. Be3 Bf8 27. Qb8
b6 28. cxb6 axb6 29. Qxb6 $18 Qa1 30. Qa7 c5 31. Qa8 Qe1 32. dxc5 d4 33. Bh6
Be8 34. Qd5+ Bf7 35. Qd8 Qe7 36. Qxe7 Bxe7 37. c6 Bd6 38. g3 Bd5 39. a4 Kf7 (
39... Bxc6 40. Bc4+ Kh8 41. a5) 40. Bb5 Bc7 41. Bf4 Bxf4 42. gxf4 Ke7 43. c7
Bb7 44. a5 1-0

[Event "WchT 12th"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2019.03.11"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.03.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 189"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. d4
g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nd5 13. e6 N7f6 14. c4 bxc4
15. exf7+ Kxf7 16. Nd2 Bh6 17. Ne4 Bxc1 18. Raxc1 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 e6 20. Qxc4
Qg5+ 21. Kh1 Rhd8 22. Rfd1 Rab8 23. b3 Nf4 24. Rg1 Qe5 25. Rce1 Qd6 26. Rg4 Rb4
27. Rxf4+ Qxf4 28. Qxc5 Rb5 29. Qa7+ Kf8 30. Rg1 Rh5 31. Rg3 Qh6 0-1

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.17"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,143,19,38,25,16,14,23,25,0,10,12,19,-11,10,-4,22,18,26,51,45,40,40,40,
40,34,12,29,20,29,39,40,22,9,44,0,86,15,15,16,76,86,90,97,97,96,88,88,59,87,
378,158,158,60,53,62,62,31,31,45,56,47,51,42,44,47,42,53,53,49,73,54,52,61,54,
43,93,70,101,60,101,80,101,101,292,241,321,258,321,138,134,133,150,201,209,212,
212,212,235,243,284,112,219,218,319,252,252,253,236,220,220,212,214,176,190,
206,209,146,158,155,121,164,164,169,178,183,183,183,226,183,183,183,183,183,
183,140,183,204,224,241,304,332,427,424,343,349]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4 {Astonishingly this
continuation has rarely been employed against the main proponent of the
Marshall Counter-attack - against Aronian various questions have been posed in
the central files. Erstaunlich, aber gegen den Hauptverfechter des
Marshall-Gegenangriffs wurde diese Fortsetzung ziemlich selten angewendet -
öfter bevorzugte man gegen Aronian verschiedene Prüfungen in zentralen
Linien.} Nxd4 9. Bxf7+ $5 ({A more popular move is Populärer ist} 9. Nxd4 exd4
10. e5 Ne8 11. c3 {as, e.g., in the game Harikrishna - Aronian (Tata Steel
India blitz, 2018). wie es z. B. in der Partie Harikrishna - Aronian (Tata
Steel India blitz, 2018) gespielt wurde.}) 9... Rxf7 10. Nxe5 Rf8 ({All
attempts to get two pieces for the rook are doomed. Alle Versuche, zwei
Figuren für den Turm zu erhalten, sind zum Scheitern verurteilt:} 10... Ne6
11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5) (10... Nc6 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. e5) (10... c5 11. Nxf7 Kxf7
12. e5) 11. Qxd4 {Peter Leko had to face this somewhat forgotten variation at
least three times with Black. When it became clear to me that even such a
meticulous theoretician had some problems to deal with here, the reputation of
the whole system rose in leaps and bounds. Peter Leko musste gegen diese etwas
in Vergessenheit geratene Variante mindestens drei Mal mit Schwarz antreten.
Als es mir klar wurde, dass sogar so ein sorgfältiger Theoretiker hier mit
einigen Problemen zu kämpfen hatte, stieg für mich die Reputation des ganzen
Systems um das Vielfache.} Bb7 ({Black also has another plan available to him:
Schwarz verfügt auch über einen anderen Plan:} 11... c5 12. Qd1 (12. Qc3 Qc7
13. a4 Bb7 14. axb5 Nxe4 15. Qb3+ c4 16. Qxc4+ Qxc4 17. Nxc4 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8
19. Ncd2 Ra1 $11 {, Kamsky - Anand, Amber-blindfold 2009}) 12... Qc7 (12... Bb7
13. Nc3 {leads to the main game by transposition of moves. führt durch
Zugumstellung zur Hauptpartie}) 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 d5 15. Qh5 dxe4 16. Qd5+
Kh8 17. Qxa8 Bb7 18. Qa7 Ra8 19. Bf4 $5 Qc6 20. Qxa8+ Bxa8 21. Be3 {Ivanchuk -
Leko, Morelia/Linares 2008 , where White's two rooks turned out to be stronger
than his opponent's queen. , und dort erwiesen sich zwei Türme des
Anziehenden stärker als die gegnerische Dame.}) 12. Nc3 c5 13. Qd1 b4 ({
In the event of Im Falle von} 13... Qc7) ({or oder} 13... Qe8 {the struggle
would have less of a forcing nature. It should be pointed out that almost
everywhere Black has considerable compensation for the pawn. wäre der Kampf
weniger forciert. Es sei zu erwähnen, dass Schwarz fast überall
beträchtliche Kompensation für den Bauern hat.}) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bd6
16. c4 ({Here White has mainly played Hauptsächlich spielte Weiß hier} 16. f4
{, after which it is difficult to avoid simplifications: , wonach es schwer
ist, Vereinfachungen aus dem Weg zu gehen:} Bxe5 17. fxe5 (17. Rxe5 d6 18. Re6
Rf5 $11) 17... Qh4 18. Be3 Qc4 19. b3 Qxd5 20. Qxd5+ Bxd5 21. Red1 Be6 22. Bxc5
Rfc8 23. Bxb4 Rxc2 {Amin - Leko, Ningbo 2011 which was soon drawn. mit
baldigem Remis.}) 16... bxc3 ({For the first time in this game Levon had a
long think. It is difficult to explain that - there are no alternatives to
taking en passant. For example, Hier dachte Levon das erste Mal in dieser
Partie lange nach. Schwer zu sagen, womit das zu erklären ist - das Nehmen en
passant hat doch keine Alternativen. Zum Beispiel,} 16... Bxe5 $2 17. Rxe5 Rxf2
(17... Qf6 18. Qe1) 18. Bg5 Qf8 19. Qg4 {, and Black is in a bad way. , und um
Schwarz ist recht schlecht bestellt.}) 17. bxc3 a5 $2 {There are many levels
to this move but it does not correspond to the rhythm of the position.
Although the comfortable a6-square has now become available for the bishop (or
the rook), Black should instead have acted more quickly: the white pieces are
ready to get into the game and then Black's compensation will evaporate.
Dieser Zug ist vielschichtig, aber er entspricht nicht dem Rhythmus der
Stellung. Obwohl für den Läufer (oder den Turm) das bequeme Feld a6 jetzt
zuganglich wird, hätte der Nachziehende statt dessen schneller agieren
müssen: die weißen Figuren sind bereit, ins Spiel zu kommen, und dann wird
die schwarze Kompensation sich in Luft auflösen.} ({The principled
continuation is Die prinzipielle Fortsetzung ist} 17... Qf6 {. After the game
Levon said that he turned it down on account of the variation . Nach der
Partie sagte Levon, dass er darauf wegen der Variante} 18. Ng4 (18. f4 Rae8 19.
Be3 Bxe5 20. fxe5 Rxe5 $11) (18. Nf3 Qxc3 19. Rb1 Rab8 $13) 18... Qxc3 (18...
Qf5 $1) 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Rb6 {with a crushing initiative for White. But a
stronger move is the quiet 18...Qf5! (instead of taking on c3), after which
Black obtains excellent counterplay. mit vernichtender weißer Initiative
verzichtete. Aber stärker ist der ruhige Zug 18...Qf5! (statt des Nehmens auf
c3), wonach Schwarz vorzügliches Gegenspiel erhält.}) 18. Nf3 $5 ({Perhaps
Vielleicht ist} 18. f4 {is better, but I considered that compared to the line
17...Qf6 18.Nf3 Black has in practical terms been gifted a move in the game.
besser, aber mir hat zugesagt, dass im Vergleich zum Abspiel 17...Qf6 18.Nf3
Schwarz in der Partie einen Zug praktisch geschenkt hat.}) 18... Qf6 {The most
logical reply. The threat was c3-c4.  Die logischste Antwort. Es drohte c3-c4.}
19. Bg5 {White plays actively without hanging on to material. Weiß spielt
aktiv, ohne sich ans Material zu klammern.} Qg6 ({As Homer's Iliad taught us,
it is dangerous to accept gifts from Greeks: after Wie die "Ilias" lehrt, ist
es gefährlich, die Danaergeschenke anzunehmen: nach} 19... Qxc3 20. Rb1 (20.
Rc1 Qa3 21. Be7 Bxe7 22. Rxe7 $36) 20... Ba6 21. Rb3 Qc4 22. Be7 Bxe7 23. Rxe7
$16 {the white pieces force their way into Troy. dringen die weißen Figuren
in Troja ein.}) 20. Be7 {The predatory sight sof the black bishops fixed on
the kingside made me nervous, So I considered it urgent to swap off one of
them. Die raubgierigen, auf den Königsflügel gerichteten Blicke der
schwarzen Läufer machten mich nervös, deshalb hielt ich es für dringend,
einen von denen abzutauschen.} Bxe7 21. Rxe7 Qd6 ({It is easy to win the white
pawns, but doing so turns out to have serious consequences. It was perhaps
better to devote his energies to the struggle for the e-file: Die weißen
Bauern sind leicht zu erobern, aber das zu machen erweist sich als
folgenschwer. Vielleicht lohnte es sich, sich dem Kampf um die e-Linie zu
widmen:} 21... Rae8 22. Rxe8 (22. Rxd7 $2 Bc8 23. Rc7 Bh3 $40) 22... Rxe8 23.
c4 d6 24. Nd2 Bc8 25. Nf1 Bf5 $14 {with certain though not quite sufficient
compensation. mit gewisser, obwohl nicht ganz ausreichender Kompensation.}) 22.
Qe2 ({The artificial Das gekünstelte} 22. Qe1 $2 {, so that the queen does
not come under attack in certain variations led to a change of scenery: ,
damit die Dame in einigen Varianten nicht angegriffen wird, führte zum
Kulissenwechsel:} Rxf3 $1 23. gxf3 Qg6+ 24. Kh1 Bxd5 {, and White has to look
for ways of saving the game. , und Weiß muss nach Rettungsmöglichkeiten
suchen.}) 22... Bxd5 (22... Rxf3 $2 {does not work on account of funktioniert
nicht wegen} 23. gxf3 Qg6+ 24. Kh1 Bxd5 25. Rg1 $18) 23. Rd1 Rab8 (23... Bxf3
$6 24. Qc4+ ({The endgame which arises after das nach} 24. Rxd6 Bxe2 25. Rxe2
Ra7 {is rather unpleasant, but in no way hopeless: entstehende Endspiel ist
ziemlich unangenehm, aber keineswegs hoffnungslos:} (25... Rfe8 26. Kf1 $14))
24... Bd5 25. Rxd5 (25. Qxd5+ Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Rfe8 {with good chances of a draw.
mit guten Remischancen}) 25... Qxe7 26. Rxd7+ Qf7 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. a4 $1 $16 {
and the white queen has good reason to hope it will annihilate the opposing
weak pawns. und die weiße Dame hat gute Gründe zu hoffen, die gegnerischen
schwachen Bauern zu vernichten.}) 24. Ne1 $6 ({After Nach} 24. h3 Bxf3 25. Qc4+
Bd5 26. Qxd5+ ({In the event of im Falle von} 26. Rxd5 Rb1+ $1 27. Rd1+ Kh8 {
Black has survived the worst. hat Schwarz das Schlimmste überstanden}) 26...
Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Rf7 28. Re2 {White has a significant advantage in the rook
ending, but with my opponent approaching time trouble I did not want to allow
any simplifications of the position. besitzt Weiß einen bedeutenden Vorteil
im Turmendspiel, aber vor der sich nähernden Zeitnot des Gegners wollte ich
keine Stellungsvereinfachungen zulassen.}) (24. Re5 Bxf3 25. Qc4+ Bd5 26. Rexd5
Qe6 {leads to similar positions: it may be that White's advantage is not
sufficient and that the result will be the appearance on the board of the
well-known drawing position "3 against 2". führt zu ähnlichen
Stellungsbildern: es kann sein, dass sich der weiße Vorteil als nicht
ausreichend erweist und im Endeffekt die bekannte Remisposition "3 gegen 2"
aufs Brett kommt.}) 24... Qc6 $8 25. Qe5 Bf7 {Suddenly this pussy-footing
bishop has taken aim at the a2-pawn and White has to demonstrate incredible
legerdemain so as not to let his advantage finally slip through his fingers.
Plötzlich hat dieser Läufer-Leisetreter den Bauern a2 aufs Korn genommen,
und Weiß muss unglaubliche Fingerfertigkeit demonstrieren, um seinen Vorteil
nicht endgültig zu verschütten.} 26. Rdxd7 ({But Nichts verspricht} 26. Rd6
Qc7 {promises nothing, and Black is close to equality. , und Schwarz ist dem
Ausgleich nahe.}) 26... Rfe8 27. Qf4 (27. Qf5 $142 Rxe7 (27... Qf6 28. Qxc5)
28. Rxe7 Qd5 29. Qf4 Rb7 30. Re2 $14) 27... Qf6 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qd2 Qe6 $2 {
A serious mistake - Black allows the exchange of rooks in circumstances which
are unfavourable to him. Ein schwerer Fehler - der Nachziehende erlaubt
Turmtausch unter für ihn ungünstigen Umständen.} ({After Nach} 29... Qb6 30.
h3 Qb1 31. Rd8 h6 {Black would have been ok. wäre Schwarz in Ordnung gewesen.}
) ({But there is the more accurate Aber noch genauer ist} 29... Qf4 $1 30. Nf3
Qxd2 31. Rxd2 a4 32. a3 Bh5 {with equality. mit Ausgleich.}) 30. Rd8 $14 h6 31.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. a3 {White has a sound extra pawn. As for the knight, it will
find a good square sooner or later. Additionally, Black was in time trouble
which made his task even more difficult. Weiß besitzt einen gesunden
Mehrbauern. Was den Springer betrifft, wird er früher oder später einen
guten Platz finden. Außerdem befand sich Schwarz in Zeitnot, was seine
Aufgabe zusätzlich erschwerte.} Qa4 33. Qc1 Bg6 (33... Bd5 34. Nc2 Be4 35. Ne3
$14) 34. Nf3 Qb3 35. Ne5 Bc2 36. Ng4 {Now the c3-pawn is protected indirectly.
Jetzt ist der Bauer c3 indirekt gedeckt.} a4 (36... Qxc3 $4 37. Ne3) 37. h3 Bf5
38. Ne5 Kh7 39. Kh2 Qa2 40. Kg1 Kg8 {The time control has been reached. Levon
managef to get in his final move literally one second before his clock ran out,
so it does not make much sense to look into the quality of the final decisions
taken by the players.  Die Zeitkontrolle ist geschafft. Levon ist gelungen,
seinen letzten Zug wortwörtlich eine Sekunde vor dem Zeitablauf auszuführen,
deshalb macht es keinen großen Sinn, sich mit der Qualität der letzten
Entscheidungen der Gegner zu beschäftigen.} 41. Qf4 (41. c4 {would also have
very much been in tune with the position, but I wanted to clarify whether my
opponent was going to sacrifice his bishop and thus make it easier for me to
convert my advantage. O sancta simplicitas! wäre auch sehr stellungskonform,
aber ich wollte klären, ob mein Gegner nicht seinen Läufer opfern und mir
damit die Verwertung meines Vorteiles erleichtern möchte. O sancta
simplicitas!}) 41... Qxa3 ({Also after Auch nach} 41... Bc2 42. Qc4+ (42. Qd2
Qb3 (42... Qa1+ 43. Kh2 Bb3 44. h4 $1 Qxa3 45. c4 $1 {with a decisive attack
mit entscheidendem Angriff}) 43. Kh2 $16) 42... Qxc4 43. Nxc4 Kf7 44. f4 Bb3
45. Nd2 {Black's fate would not be enviable. wäre das schwarze Schicksal
nicht beneidenswert.}) 42. Qxf5 Qxc3 (42... Qb3 {would not, on account of the
variation hätte dem Schwarzen wegen der Variante} 43. Nd3 a3 44. Nxc5 Qd1+ 45.
Kh2 a2 46. Qe6+ Kh7 47. Qxa2 Qd6+ 48. g3 Qxc5 49. Qc2+ {have helped Black to
maintain the tension. nicht geholfen, die Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten.}) 43.
Nc6 $2 {"For the first time he cast his net into the sea - but all he hauled
back to the bank was mud." (Here and later Nepomniachtchi quotes from the work
by A. Pushkin "The tale of the fisherman and the fish", in which an old
fisherman after two failed attempts caught a golden fish in his net / Note by
the translater) "Einstmals warf er sein Sacknetz ins Meer aus- doch nur
Schlamm zog das Netz ans Ufer." (Hier und weiter zitiert Nepomniachtchi das
Werk von A. Puschkin "Märchen vom Fischer und dem Fischlein", in dem ein
alter Fischer nach den ersten zwei unglücklichen Versuchen bei seinem dritten
Netzwurf ein goldenes Fischlein fing/ Anm. d. Übers.)} ({As has long been
known mate is of greater value than anything else! It is a pity that I first
found the nice idea Wie es seit langem bekannt ist, besitzt Matt einen
höheren Wert als alles andere! Schade, dass ich die sympathische Idee} 43.
Qe6+ Kh8 44. Ng6+ Kh7 45. Qe8 a3 46. h4 $1 a2 47. h5 a1=Q+ 48. Kh2 {but could
not believe my luck. fast sofort fand, aber an mein Glück nicht glauben
konnte.}) 43... Kh8 44. Qf7 Qb3 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qe4+ Kh8 47. Na5 {After some
tricky manoeuvres White has managed to stop his opponent's pawns. In der Folge
von kniffligen Manövern ist dem Weißen doch gelungen, die gegnerischen
Bauern zu stoppen.} Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qd6+ 49. f4 a3 (49... Qd4 50. Qxd4 cxd4 51.
Kg3 a3 52. Nb3 $18) 50. Qa4 $2 {"Once more he cast his net into the sea - But
all it brought out was seaweed." "Wieder warf er das Sacknetz ins Meer aus -
doch nur Seegras brachte das Sacknetz."} ({It turned out to be anything but
simple to find the continuation Es erwies sich alles andere als einfach, in
der sechsten Spielstunde die Fortsetzung} 50. Nc4 $1 Qa6 51. Ne5 $1 a2 52. Nf7+
Kg8 53. Qe8+ Kh7 54. f5 {in the sixth hour of play. In any case the desire to
liquidate the dangerous pawns is easily achievable. zu entdecken. In jedem
Fall ist der Wunsch, die gefährlichen Bauern zu liquidieren, leicht
nachvollziehbar.}) 50... c4 (50... Qd3 {does not save him either: rettet auch
nicht:} 51. Qb3 c4 52. Qa2 h5 53. Nxc4 h4 54. Qxa3 Qxc4 55. Qf8+ Kh7 56. Qf5+
Kg8 57. Qg5 $18) 51. Qxc4 Qd2 52. Nb3 ({The typical combination when playing
with queens Die für das Damenspiel typische Kombination} 52. Qc8+ Kh7 53. Qf5+
Kg8 (53... Kh8 54. Qf8+ Kh7 55. Qxa3 $18) 54. Nc4 Qb4 (54... Qc3 55. Qd5+ Kh7
56. Qe4+ Kh8 57. Qa8+ Kh7 58. Nxa3) 55. Qd5+ Kh7 56. Qd3+ Kh8 57. Nxa3 {
could have crowned this long suffering game. hätte diese Partie leidgeprüfte
Partie krönen können.}) 52... Qe3 53. Nc1 h5 {Of course Black has no real
chance of saving the day, but such a "psycho-attack" is also a weapon and to
be sure a really effective one.  Selbstverständlich hat Schwarz keine realen
Rettungschancen, aber ein solcher "Psycho-Angriff" ist auch eine Waffe, und
zwar recht wirksame.} 54. h4 $6 ({There was the stronger Stärker war} 54. Ne2
h4 55. Ng1 {, and the knight heads to g5. , und der Springer begibt sich nach
g5.}) 54... Qe7 55. Qc8+ Kh7 56. Qf5+ g6 57. Qh3 Qf7 {Here I was really no
longer amused. Firstly, the ending "queen and g- and h-pawns against queen" is
according to the endgame tablebases fundamentally drawn (although when the
weaker side is being defended by a human, it is practically impossible for him
to achieve this result). Secondly, such series of mistakes and failings seldom
go unpunished.  Hier war ich gar nicht mehr zu Scherzen aufgelegt. Erstens ist
das Endspiel "Dame mit g- und h-Bauern gegen Dame" laut Endspieltabellen
grundsätzlich Remis (obwohl es, wenn die schwächere Seite ein Mensch
vertritt, für ihn praktisch unmöglich ist, dieses Ergebnis zu erreichen).
Zweitens bleiben solche Reihen von Fehlern und Versäumnissen selten
ungestraft.} 58. f5 $2 (58. Qe3 a2 59. Nxa2 Qxa2 60. Qe7+ Kg8 61. f5 gxf5 (
61... Qf7 62. Qxf7+ Kxf7 63. Kg3 $1 $18) 62. Qg5+ {leads to the aforementioned
queen ending with g- and h-pawns against bare queen. führt zum oben
erwähnten Damenendspiel mit den g- und h- Mehrbauern.}) (58. Qxa3 Qxf4+ 59.
Kg1 Qd4+ 60. Kf1 Qf4+ 61. Ke2 Qe4+ 62. Kd1 Qxh4 (62... Qxg2 63. Qe7+ Kh6 64.
Qf8+ Kh7 65. Qf7+ Kh6 66. Qf4+ Kh7 67. Ne2 $18) 63. Qf3 {should bring the win
without major difficulties, whilst according to all appearances the move
played in the game could lead to a sharing of the points. sollte den Gewinn
ohne große Schwierigkeiten bringen, während der Partiezug allem Anschein
nach zu einer Punktteilung führen könnte.}) 58... Qc7+ 59. Qg3 Qxc1 60. Qxg6+
Kh8 61. Qxh5+ Kg7 62. Qg6+ Kf8 63. Qf6+ Ke8 $2 {The wrong square!  Das falsche
Feld!} 64. Qe6+ $2 ({After Nach} 64. Qe5+ $1 Kf7 65. f6 Qh6 66. Qe7+ Kg6 67. f7
Qf4+ 68. Kh3 Qf5+ 69. Kg3 Qxf7 70. Qxa3 {the aforementioned queen ending would
have arisen. wäre der besagte Damenendspiel entstanden.}) 64... Kf8 65. Qd6+
Kf7 66. Qe6+ Kf8 67. Qf6+ Kg8 $1 {There is no need to ask Levon twice - now he
chooses the lesser evil.  Das zweite Mal muss man Levon nicht bitten - jetzt
wählt er das kleinere Übel.} 68. Qe5 Kf7 $2 ({The move Der Zug} 68... Qh6 $1
{looks counter-intuitive, because it leaves the a3-pawn unprotected, but this
is precisely the continuation which forces a draw. An important variation, for
example, is sieht antiintuitiv aus, weil er den Bauern a3 ohne Schütz lässt,
aber gerade diese Fortsetzung forciert Remis. Eine wichtige Variante ist zum
Beispiel} 69. Qg3+ Kf7 $8 70. Qb3+ Ke8 $8 71. Qxa3 Qxh4+ 72. Qh3 Qf4+ 73. Kg1
Qc1+ 74. Kf2 Qd2+ 75. Kg3 Qe3+ 76. Kg4 Qd4+ {, and Black saves the day. , und
Schwarz rettet sich.}) 69. f6 {"And for the third time he cast his net - lo
and behold! the net brought him a little fish, a very rare little fish, a
golden one." "Und zum dritten Mal warf er das Netz aus - sieh, da brachte das
Netz ihm ein Fischlein, ein ganz seltenes Fischlein, ein goldenes."} Qc4 (69...
Qh6 70. Qe7+ Kg6 71. f7 Qf4+ 72. Kh3 Qf5+ 73. Kg3 Qxf7 74. Qxa3 {would be a
relatively better option. wäre eine verhältnismäßig bessere Option.}) 70.
Qe7+ Kg6 71. Qg7+ Kf5 72. Qg5+ {Black resigned. A game characterised by nerves,
well conveying the atmosphere of knockout tournaments. Schwarz gab auf. Eine
von Nervosität sehr kennzeichnete Partie, die die Atmosphäre der
Knockout-Turniere gut überträgt.} ({With the king exiled on the other flank
resistance is futile: Bei dem zum anderen Flügel verbannten König ist
Widerstand sinnlos:} 72. Qg5+ Ke4 73. Qg4+ Kd5 74. Qxc4+ Kxc4 75. f7 a2 76.
f8=Q a1=Q 77. Qf4+ {with an easy win. mit leichtem Gewinn.}) 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.22"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. h3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. Nxf6+ exf6 8.
Bc4 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. a4 Nd7 11. Bf4 Nb6 12. Bb3 Nd5 13. Bh2 Be6 14. Re1 h5 15.
Nd2 f5 16. c3 Bh6 17. Nc4 f4 18. Ne5 Qg5 19. Qf3 Rae8 20. Re2 f6 21. h4 Qf5 22.
Bc2 Qxc2 23. Rxc2 fxe5 24. dxe5 Bg4 25. Qd3 Bf5 26. Qd1 Bxc2 27. Qxc2 Re6 28.
Re1 Bg7 29. c4 Nb4 30. Qd2 Rxe5 31. Rxe5 Bxe5 32. g3 fxg3 33. Bxg3 Bxg3 34.
fxg3 c5 35. Qd7 Rf7 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37. Qxa5 Na6 38. Qb6 Kh7 39. Kg2 Kh6 40. a5
Kh7 41. Qd6 Kg7 42. g4 hxg4 43. Kg3 Kh7 44. Kxg4 Kg7 45. Qe6 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.25"]
[Round "3.6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. Nc3 e5 8.
Qd3 Rc8 9. O-O h6 10. Nd2 Qc7 11. h3 Nf6 12. a4 Be7 13. Rd1 O-O 14. Nf1 d5 15.
exd5 Ne8 16. d6 Bxd6 17. Nd5 Qc6 18. Nfe3 Bc5 19. b4 Bd6 20. c4 b6 21. a5 e4
22. Qd4 Be6 23. axb6 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxd5 25. Rxd5 Bxb4 26. Rxa6 Nd6 27. b7 Nxb7
28. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Moscow FIDE GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.05.29"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.05.17"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. a4 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. O-O h6
9. Re1 O-O 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Nc4 d5 15.
exd5 Qxd5 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Nc4 Qd5 18. Ne3 Qd7 19. b5 Na5 20. c4 Bd4 21. Rb1
axb5 22. axb5 Ree8 23. c5 Nd5 24. Nxd5 Qxd5 25. Nxd4 exd4 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.
Bf4 Re7 28. Qa4 b6 29. c6 Kh7 30. Rb4 Qe6 31. Rxd4 f5 32. Be3 g5 33. Qb4 Rg7
34. Rd8 Nb3 35. Bd4 Re7 36. Qxe7+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.10"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 11. b4 Bxa2 12. Nxa2 Nc6 13. c4 Qd7 14. Nc3 Nd4 15.
Be3 c5 16. Bg5 Rfc8 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Nxd4 cxd4 20. Rc1 f5 21. Qf3
g6 22. h3 Kg7 23. Rfe1 Rab8 24. exf5 Qxf5 25. c5 Qxf3 26. gxf3 Kf7 27. cxd6
Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Ke6 29. Nc7+ Kxd6 30. Nxa6 Ra8 31. Nc5 Rxa3 32. Nb7+ Kd7 33. Nc5+
Kd6 34. Kg2 Be7 35. f4 exf4 36. Re1 Ra7 37. Re4 Kd5 38. Nb3 Bf6 39. Rxf4 Be5
40. Rf8 Ra3 41. Rd8+ Ke6 42. Nxd4+ Bxd4 43. Rxd4 Rb3 44. Kf3 Ke5 45. Ke3 h5 46.
h4 Rb1 47. Re4+ Kd5 48. Kf4 Rg1 49. f3 Kd6 50. Re5 Kc6 51. Rg5 Rb1 52. Rxg6+
Kc7 53. Ke5 Rxb4 54. d4 Rb1 55. d5 b4 56. Rg7+ Kb6 57. Rg8 Kb7 58. d6 Rd1 59.
Rg2 b3 60. Rb2 Kc6 61. Rxb3 Rd5+ 62. Ke4 Rxd6 63. Rc3+ Kb6 64. Kf5 Rd5+ 65. Kg6
Kb5 66. f4 Kb4 67. Rc8 Rd4 68. Kg5 Re4 69. f5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.13"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 e6 7. a4 Nbd7 8. O-O
Nc5 9. a5 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. f3 e5 12. Nb3 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Be6 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15.
Bb6 Qd7 16. h3 h6 17. Nc1 Rc4 18. N1e2 Rfc8 19. Rd2 Rb4 20. b3 d5 21. exd5 Bf5
22. Qe3 Rxb6 23. Na4 Rb4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.15"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 a5 7. b3 c6 8. Nbd2
Bf5 9. Ba3 Re8 10. e3 Qc8 11. c4 Bh3 12. cxd5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Nxd5 14. Rc1 Nd7
15. e4 Nb4 16. Qe2 Qb8 17. Nc4 Qa7 18. Rfd1 Rad8 19. Qe1 c5 20. d5 Nb6 21. Nxb6
Qxb6 22. Qe3 Rc8 23. e5 Red8 24. Bxb4 axb4 25. Rc4 Qc7 26. Qf4 b6 27. Ng5 Rf8
28. Re1 Qb7 29. Qe4 Rcd8 30. a5 bxa5 31. Rxc5 Rc8 32. Rxa5 h6 33. Nf3 Rfd8 34.
e6 f5 35. Qd3 Rc3 36. Qb5 Qxb5 37. Rxb5 Rxb3 38. Ne5 Bxe5 39. Rxe5 Kg7 40. Re2
Kf6 41. Rc2 Rc3 42. Rxc3 bxc3 43. Rc5 c2 44. Rxc2 Rxd5 45. h4 Kxe6 46. Rc8 Kf6
47. Rf8+ Kg7 48. Re8 Rd7 49. Ra8 g5 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ra5 Kf6 52. Ra6+ e6 53.
Rb6 Rd3 54. Ra6 f4 55. gxf4 gxf4 56. f3 Rd2+ 57. Kf1 Rb2 58. Rb6 0-1

[Event "Croatia GCT"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "2019.06.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. c3 d6 6. Nbd2 g5 {The sharp modern
flank treatment of Italian set ups. Modern chess developed really great value
of such attacks, especially in Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's games.} 7. h3 {Trying
to open the h-file.} ({Another way is} 7. Nf1 g4 8. N3d2 (8. Ng1 Na5 9. Bb5+
Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Ng3 d5 12. N1e2 O-O-O 13. Qc2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nc4 15. b3
Nd6 16. f3 h5 17. Bg5 Qe6 18. O-O-O Be7 19. h4 gxh3 20. Rxh3 Rdg8 {with
balanced play, Rozentalis,E (2568)-Krishnater,K (2329) Irakleio GRE 2019}) 8...
Bg7 9. Ne3 h5 10. a4 Qe7 11. a5 a6 12. Ndf1 h4 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15.
exd5 Nd8 16. Bxa6 O-O 17. Bc4 Ra8 18. h3 gxh3 19. gxh3 f5 20. Qd1 e4 21. Kd2 $2
(21. Qe2 $16) 21... Nf7 {Black got serious counterplay, Andriasian,Z (2600)
-Caruana,F (2828) chess.com INT 2019.}) 7... Bg7 ({Too early was} 7... Nh5 8.
g3 Nf6 9. Nf1 Bg7 10. Ne3 Ne7 11. Bb3 c6 12. h4 g4 13. Nh2 h5 14. f3 d5 15.
fxg4 hxg4 16. O-O Be6 17. Nhxg4 Nh5 18. Qf3 Qd6 19. c4 dxe4 20. dxe4 O-O-O 21.
Rd1 Qc5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Nf2 {Black got no real compensation, Dominguez
Perez,L (2739)-Mamedyarov,S (2801) Saint Louis USA 2018.}) 8. Bb3 ({Another
option was} 8. Nf1 O-O 9. Ng3 Ne7 10. Bb3 c6 11. h4 g4 12. Nh2 d5 13. h5 Be6
14. O-O Qd7 15. f4 gxf3 16. Qxf3 Kh7 17. Nf5 dxe4 18. dxe4 Nxf5 19. exf5 Bxb3
20. axb3 Qd5 {with great centralization, Rozentalis,E (2503)-Christiansen,J 
(2515) Gothenburg SWE 2018}) 8... O-O 9. Nf1 Ne7 10. h4 ({This flank activity
should rather be prepared:} 10. Ne3 Be6 11. h4 g4 12. Nh2 h5 13. f3 d5 14. fxg4
hxg4 15. Nhxg4 Nxg4 16. Nxg4 f5 17. Nh6+ Kh7 18. Qh5 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Raxe8 20.
Nxf5 Nxf5 21. exf5 Rxf5 22. Rf1 c6 23. Be3 {Once more , Black got no real
compensation for the pawn, Dominguez Perez,L (2739)-Mamedyarov,S (2801) Saint
Louis USA 2018.}) 10... g4 11. N3h2 d5 12. f3 $6 ({A risky strategy, much more
solid was} 12. Ng3 dxe4 13. Nxe4) 12... Ng6 ({It was possible to start a flank
operation immediately with} 12... gxf3 13. Qxf3 Ng6 14. g3 c5 15. exd5 e4 16.
dxe4 Ne5 17. Qe2 c4) 13. fxg4 ({Not bad was} 13. Nxg4 Nxg4 14. fxg4 dxe4 15.
dxe4) 13... Nxh4 14. g3 Ng6 15. Qe2 ({A very sympathic position for White
would have arisen after} 15. exd5 e4 16. d4 Ne7 17. g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5) 15... a5
16. Bc2 d4 17. g5 ({Not better was the exchange in the center with} 17. cxd4
exd4 18. g5 hxg5 19. Bxg5 a4) 17... hxg5 18. Bxg5 a4 19. c4 Qd6 20. Nd2 {[#]}
Ra6 $5 {The classical transfer of the rook.} ({Here was another good option:} 
20... a3 21. bxa3 Qxa3) 21. Rb1 ({Better was} 21. a3) 21... Nh7 $1 {Exchanging
the important bishop.Then, with the bishop pair, Black will fight for the
control on the king's flank.} 22. Qh5 Nxg5 23. Qxg5 Qe7 $1 {A very smart
decision to swap queens.} ({Better than the sharp and speculative line} 23...
f5 24. Nhf3 Ne7 25. Qh4 Qf6 26. Ng5 Bh6) 24. Qxe7 ({Or} 24. Qh5 Rd8 25. Nhf3
Nf8 26. Nh4 Rdd6) 24... Nxe7 25. Nhf3 f5 26. Bd1 ({Slightly better was} 26. c5
fxe4 27. dxe4 Bf6) 26... Bd7 27. Nh4 {[#]} Bh6 ({A good option was} 27... Rh6)
28. exf5 ({Preferable was} 28. Rf1) 28... Nxf5 29. Ne4 Be3 $1 30. Be2 Rh6 31.
Rh2 Bc6 32. Rg2 Nd6 0-1

[Event "Croatia GCT"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "2019.06.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2819"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2019.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. a5 a6 12. Na3 Nd7 13. Nc4 f5 14. Bb4 Rf6 15.
Qd2 Rg6 16. g3 e4 17. h4 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Na5 Bd7 20. O-O-O Bf6 21. Nc6 Qe8
22. Kb1 Kh8 23. h5 Rh6 24. Qe3 Na4 25. c3 Rxh5 26. Rxh5 Qxh5 27. Be2 Qe8 28.
Kc2 h6 29. Qf4 a5 30. Nxa5 Nxc3 31. bxc3 Ba4+ 32. Kb1 Bxd1 33. Bxd1 Qb5 34. Nb3
Bg5 35. Qxf5 Qf1 36. Qg4 Rf8 37. Kb2 Rxf2+ 38. Bc2 Qc4 39. Qe6 Bf6 40. Qxd6
Rxc2+ 41. Kxc2 Qd3+ 42. Kb2 e3 43. Qe6 e2 44. Ka3 Bg5 45. d6 Qa6+ 46. Kb2 Qd3
47. d7 Kh7 48. c4 Bf6+ 49. Ka3 Qc2 50. Qxf6 1-0

[Event "Croatia GCT"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "2019.06.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. b3
Re8 9. h3 e4 10. Nd2 h5 11. b4 Nf8 12. Re1 Bf5 13. Bb2 Qd7 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15.
cxd5 Qe7 16. Rc1 Nh7 17. Qc2 Qg5 18. Qxc7 Bxh3 19. Bf1 Bf8 20. Qxb7 Nf6 21. Qa6
Bc8 22. Qa4 Bd7 23. Qd1 Bg4 24. f3 exf3 25. Nxf3 Qh6 26. Qb3 h4 27. Ne5 h3 28.
Nxg4 Nxg4 29. gxh3 Nxe3 30. Rc3 Nf5 31. Rd1 Qh5 32. Rf3 Bh6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 47th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2019.07.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2019.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Qd2 Qe8 9. h4 Qa4 10. h5 h6 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Kf1 Bf8 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. Rh3 Nc6
15. Rg3 Kh8 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bd4 Re6 18. Qf4 Qe8 19. Re3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 47th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2019.07.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fridman, Daniel"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2019.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. cxd5
Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qxa2 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Nf3 Nd7 12. Bc4 Nxc5 13. O-O O-O 14. Be5 Bxe5
15. Nxe5 f6 16. Ra1 Qb6 17. Nf3 Kh8 18. Qd4 Qc7 19. e4 b5 20. d6 Qxd6 21. Bxb5
Bb7 22. Qxd6 exd6 23. Nd2 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Rfe1 Bf5 26. Ra6 Rfd8 27. Re7
Rdb8 28. c4 Rb6 29. Rxb6 axb6 30. h3 Ra1+ 31. Kh2 Ra2 32. Kg1 Rb2 33. Re8+ Kg7
34. Rd8 Rd2 35. Rb8 h5 36. Rxb6 h4 37. Rb7+ Kh6 38. Re7 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Rd4 40.
Re1 Kg5 41. Rc1 Rd2 42. Bc6 Bc2 43. f3 f5 44. Be8 Kf6 45. Bc6 Ke5 46. Be8 g5
47. Re1+ Kf4 48. Bf7 Bd3 49. Bd5 Rc2 50. Ra1 Ke3 51. Ra6 Bf1 52. f4 g4 53. hxg4
fxg4 54. Kg1 g3 55. Ra1 Bd3 56. Rd1 Kxf4 57. Re1 Re2 58. Rc1 Ke3 59. Bf3 Rb2
0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Bb4+ 11. Nd2 Nc6 12. O-O Be7 13. Rc1 Qb6 14. Qc2
Nb4 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Qc7 Qxc7 17. Rxc7 Bd8 18. Bd6 Bxc7 19. Bxf8 a5 20. Bb1
Be5 21. b3 Bg4 22. Bc5 Rc8 23. Bb6 Nxa2 24. Bxa2 Rc2 25. Nf3 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rxa2
27. Rd1 Ra1 28. Rxa1 Bxa1 29. Bxa5 f5 30. Kf1 Kg8 31. Ke2 Kf7 32. Kd3 Be5 33.
Bc3 Bd6 34. e4 dxe4+ 35. fxe4 Ke6 36. Bxg7 Bxh2 37. Bd4 b5 38. Bb6 Be5 39. Ke3
Bb2 40. Bd4 Bc1+ 41. Kd3 Ba3 42. Bb6 Bb2 43. Bc7 Bf6 44. Ba5 Be5 45. Bb4 Bf6
46. Bc5 Be5 47. Ba7 Bf6 48. Bd4 Be7 49. Ke3 Bg5+ 50. f4 Be7 51. Bb6 Ba3 52. Kd3
Bc1 53. Bc7 Bb2 54. Bb8 Bf6 55. Ke3 Bb2 56. Be5 Bc1+ 57. Kd3 b4 58. Bb8 Kf6 59.
Bd6 Ke6 60. Be5 Ba3 61. Bd4 Bc1 62. Be3 Bb2 63. Bd2 fxe4+ 64. Kxe4 Ba3 65. Kd4
Kf5 66. Kd5 Kf6 67. Kc5 Kf5 68. Kb5 Ke4 69. Bxb4 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. Bb3
O-O 9. h3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 h6 13. Nf1 d5 14. exd5 Bxd5 15.
Ng3 Nh7 16. a4 Nf8 17. b4 Ng6 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qd7 20. Nd2 Nce7 21. Nb3
Qc6 22. Qd2 Nh4 23. e4 Qg6 24. Kh2 Bc6 25. Nc5 f5 26. exf5 Nexf5 27. Nge4 Bd5
28. Re2 Rad8 29. Rf1 Nd6 30. Qe1 Nhf5 31. a5 Rf8 32. Ref2 Rf7 33. Rf3 h5 34.
Nxa6 h4 35. Nac5 Rdf8 36. Kg1 Qh6 37. Qc1 Ne3 38. Rxf7 Rxf7 39. Rxf7 Kxf7 40.
Qe1 Nxc2 41. Qf2+ Ke8 42. Qxc2 Bxe4 43. Nxe4 Nxe4 44. dxe4 Qe3+ 45. Kf1 Qf4+
46. Qf2 Qc1+ 47. Qe1 Qf4+ 48. Kg1 Kd8 49. Qf2 Qc1+ 50. Kh2 Qxc3 51. a6 Ke8 52.
Qxh4 Qa3 53. Qh5+ Kf8 54. Qf3+ 1-0

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "264"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 e6 9. Bb5 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Na4 Qd6 13. Re1 Rb8 14. Qd1 Ne7
15. b3 Nf5 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. Qc2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rad1 Qf6
21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Rd1 Qe8 23. h3 e5 24. Qc5 a6 25. Qa5 Kg7 26. Rd8 Qe7 27. Nb6
Qxd8 28. Qxe5+ Qf6 29. Qxb8 Be6 30. Qg3 h5 31. Na4 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Qxa2 33. Nc5
Qe2 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qd4 Bd5 36. Nd7 Qe6 37. Nf6+ Kf8 38. b4 Qd6+ 39. Kg1 Ke7
40. Ng8+ Ke6 41. Qf6+ Kd7 42. Qd4 Qb8 43. Nf6+ Ke6 44. Ne4 Bxe4 45. Qxe4+ Kd7
46. Qc4 Qe8 47. Qd4+ Kc8 48. Qb6 Qe1+ 49. Kh2 Qe5+ 50. g3 Qb5 51. Qa7 Qb7 52.
Qc5 Qc7 53. h4 Kb7 54. Qf8 Qd7 55. Kg1 Qd5 56. Kh2 Kc7 57. Kg1 Kd7 58. Kh2 Qc4
59. Kg1 Qe6 60. Qc5 Qe2 61. Qd4+ Ke6 62. Qc5 Qb5 63. Qe3+ Kf6 64. Qc3+ Ke7 65.
Qd4 Ke6 66. Qe3+ Kd7 67. Qa7+ Ke8 68. Qd4 Qd5 69. Qb6 Qc4 70. Qb8+ Ke7 71. Qe5+
Kd7 72. Qb8 Ke6 73. Qe8+ Kf5 74. Qe7 Qd5 75. Qe2 Qb5 76. Qe7 Qc4 77. Qe8 Qe6
78. Qd8 Ke4 79. Qd2 Qc4 80. Qe3+ Kf5 81. Qe7 Kg4 82. Qd7+ Kf3 83. Qd2 f6 84.
Qe3+ Kg4 85. Kg2 Kf5 86. Kh2 g5 87. hxg5 fxg5 88. Qd2 Qd5 89. Qe2 Qd4 90. Kg1
Qxb4 91. Qf3+ Ke5 92. Qxh5 Qb1+ 93. Kg2 Qf5 94. Qd1 a5 95. Qd8 Ke4 96. Qd2 Qd5
97. f3+ Kf5 98. g4+ Ke6 99. Qc2 Kd6 100. Kg3 Qe5+ 101. Kg2 Qf4 102. Qg6+ Kc7
103. Qh7+ Kb6 104. Qb1+ Qb4 105. Qc1 Qc5 106. Qb2+ Ka6 107. Qa2 Qb5 108. Qg8 a4
109. Qa8+ Kb6 110. Qd8+ Kb7 111. Qe7+ Ka6 112. Qf8 Qe2+ 113. Kh3 Qe3 114. Qa8+
Kb5 115. Qb7+ Qb6 116. Qg7 Qc5 117. Qb2+ Ka6 118. Qe2+ Ka7 119. Qd2 a3 120. f4
gxf4 121. Qxf4 Qc3+ 122. Kh4 Qh8+ 123. Kg5 Qg8+ 124. Kh5 Qd5+ 125. g5 a2 126.
Qa4+ Kb6 127. Qb4+ Qb5 128. Qd4+ Ka6 129. Qd8 Qe2+ 130. Kh6 Qe6+ 131. g6 Qh3+
132. Kg5 Qg2+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.14"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Predke, Alexandr"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 O-O 8.
Bf4 Na6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 Nh5 11. Be3 Nb4 12. O-O-O b5 13. Qb3 a5 14. dxc5 Qc8
15. Bxb5 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Rb8 17. a4 Qg4 18. h3 Qf5 19. Qc4 Rfc8 20. Nbd4 Qe4 21.
Qxf7+ Kh8 22. Qc4 Nf4 23. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 24. Kb1 Nc6 25. Qe6 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 Bxe5 27.
g3 Qe4+ 28. Ka1 Rxc5 29. Rhe1 Qb7 30. Nb5 Bf6 31. Rd7 Qf3 32. Qe3 Qf5 33. Red1
Qc2 34. Qa3 Rc4 35. R7d2 Qxa4 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Rxb8 Qxd1+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.18"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C49"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8.
Bg5 Qe7 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 Ne6 11. Bc1 Rd8 12. Qe2 Nf8 13. Nh4 h6 14. a4 c5 15.
h3 cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Ba3 Qc7 18. Bd3 Bd7 19. Qd2 Rac8 20. Bb2 d5 21. exd5
Nxd5 22. Bxd4 Qf4 23. Qxf4 Nxf4 24. Bxa7 Nxd3 25. cxd3 Be6 26. d4 Nd7 27. d5
Bxd5 28. Nf5 Ra8 29. Bd4 Kh7 30. Re7 Nb8 31. Bb2 Nc6 32. Rc7 Rac8 33. Rxc8 Rxc8
34. Rd1 Bb3 35. Rd3 Bc4 36. Rg3 Rg8 37. Nxg7 Ne7 38. Re3 Nd5 39. Re4 b5 40. Nh5
Rg5 41. g4 f5 42. Rd4 fxg4 43. hxg4 Be2 44. Rxd5 Rxg4+ 45. Ng3 bxa4 46. Rd7+
Kg8 47. Kg2 h5 48. f3 Rg6 49. Kf2 Bb5 50. Ra7 Rc6 51. Be5 h4 52. Nf5 Rc2+ 53.
Ke3 h3 54. Nd4 Rc5 55. Rg7+ Kh8 56. Bf6 h2 57. Rg2+ Kh7 58. Rxh2+ Kg6 59. Nxb5
Kxf6 60. Nd4 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.18"]
[Round "3.7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 h6 7. a3 Re8 8. Be3
Bf8 9. Bc4 d6 10. h3 Be6 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. Nd5 Ne7 13. c4 c6 14. Nxf6+ Rxf6 15.
d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Qd7 17. Qc2 d5 18. exd5 cxd5 19. c5 Nc6 20. Rad1 Re8 21. Ne2
Rg6 22. Kh1 Re5 23. b4 a6 24. Rd2 a5 25. Nf4 Rf6 26. b5 Nd8 27. Bd4 Qxb5 28.
Qb1 Qe8 29. Bxe5 Qxe5 30. Rxd5 Qxf4 31. Rxd8 Qc7 32. Ra8 Qxc5 33. Rc1 Rb6 34.
Rxc5 Rxb1+ 35. Kh2 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.18"]
[Round "3.8"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. c3 d6 6. h3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Qe8 8. a4
a5 9. O-O b6 10. Na3 Bb7 11. Bh2 Ne4 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 e5 14. Nb5 Rc8 15.
Rfd1 Qe7 16. Qc2 f5 17. dxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Rd4 Qg5 20. g3 Qh6 21. Kh2
g5 22. Qd1 Rf6 23. f4 Nf7 24. fxg5 Qxg5 25. Rf4 Kh8 26. Qg1 Ne5 27. Raf1 Rh6
28. Rxf5 Qg4 29. Rf8+ Rxf8 30. Rxf8+ Kg7 31. Rf7+ Kxf7 32. Qf1+ 0-1

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Nf1 Nd7 8. Nd5
Nb6 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. c3 O-O 11. h4 b5 12. Bxb5 d5 13. Ne3 d4 14. Nd5 f5 15. Bc4
Kh8 16. Qh5 Be6 17. Bg5 Bf7 18. Qf3 f4 19. Nxe7 Nxe7 20. Bxf7 Rxf7 21. Qh5 Rf8
22. O-O Qd6 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. cxd4 cxd4 25. Rfc1 f3 26. Qg5 Rf6 27. g3 Qd7 28.
Kh2 Re8 29. Rc5 h6 30. Qc1 g5 31. h5 Qf7 32. g4 Rf4 33. Qg1 Qd7 34. Kh3 b6 35.
Rc4 Qb5 36. b3 Ref8 37. Rac1 Qa5 38. R1c2 R8f7 39. Rc6 Kh7 40. Qc1 b5 41. Re6
Qd8 42. Rcc6 R4f6 43. Rxf6 Rxf6 44. Rc7+ 1-0

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.13"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 e5 5. Nxe5 O-O 6. f4 d6 7. Nf3 Nxe4 8.
Nxe4 Re8 9. d3 f5 10. Be2 fxe4 11. dxe4 Na6 12. O-O Nc5 13. f5 gxf5 14. Ng5 Qe7
15. Bh5 Rf8 16. Qd5+ Be6 17. Nxe6 c6 18. Bg5 Qxg5 19. Qxc5 Qe7 20. Qf2 Qxe6 21.
exf5 Qxc4 22. Kh1 Kh8 23. Qg3 Be5 24. Qh3 Rf6 25. Bg6 Qg8 26. Rae1 Raf8 27. Rf3
Kg7 28. Bh5 Qxa2 29. Rb3 Rxf5 30. Rxb7+ Kg8 31. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Rxh7+ Kxh7 33.
Bg6+ Kh6 34. Bxf5 Qg8 35. Qh3+ Kg7 36. Re4 Kf6 37. Rg4 Qd5 38. Rg6+ Ke7 39.
Qh4+ Ke8 40. Qh5 Kd8 41. Qg5+ 0-1

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.16"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 12. Nxf3 Bb7 13. Qd3 Nd7 14. Be3 Bf6
15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 a5 17. h3 Re8 18. Re3 Qf6 19. Qc4 Nc5 20. e5 Qg6 21. Ba2
Bxf3 22. Rxf3 Rxe5 23. Rxf7 d5 24. Qxc5 Qxf7 25. f4 Qxf4 26. Bxd5+ Kh8 27. Rf1
Rxd5 28. Qxd5 Qe3+ 29. Kh2 Qe8 30. Rf5 h6 31. Re5 Qf8 32. Qe4 c6 33. Re6 Rc8
34. Qe5 Kh7 35. Re7 Rd8 36. Qe4+ Kh8 37. b3 Rd4 38. Re8 Rxe4 39. Rxf8+ Kh7 40.
Rf5 Re2 41. Rc5 Kg6 42. Rxc6+ Kf5 43. Kg3 Rd2 44. Kf3 g5 45. g3 Rh2 46. Rc5+
Kg6 47. Rxa5 Rxc2 48. Re5 Rb2 49. Re3 h5 50. g4 hxg4+ 51. hxg4 Kf6 52. Ke4 Rg2
53. Kd5 Rxg4 54. a5 Rg1 55. Kc5 g4 56. a6 Rh1 57. Re8 Rh5+ 58. Kxb4 Rh7 59. Rg8
Kf5 60. Ka5 Kf4 61. b4 g3 62. b5 Kf3 63. b6 Rh5+ 64. Ka4 Rh4+ 65. Ka3 1-0

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Nc6 8.
Be3 Ng4 9. e5 Nxe3 10. fxe3 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 e6 13. h4 Ne7 14. f4 b5
15. Qc5 Nf5 16. Kf2 f6 17. Rd1 b4 18. Qxb4 Rb8 19. Qa3 fxe5 20. dxe5 Qe8 21.
Bg2 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Nxh4+ 23. Kg1 Nxg2 24. Ne4 Rd8 25. Rc1 Qb5 26. Qe7 Rd7 27.
Nf6+ Rxf6 28. Qxf6 Rf7 29. Qd8+ Rf8 30. Qxc7 Rf7 31. Qd8+ Rf8 32. Qe7 h5 33.
Qxe6+ Kg7 34. Rc7+ Kh6 35. Rxh5+ Kxh5 36. Qh3+ 1-0

[Event "Jerusalem FIDE GP"]
[Site "Jerusalem"]
[Date "2019.12.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "2019.12.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ISR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 194"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8.
Bg2 a6 9. Qa4 Rb8 10. Na3 Bc5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rb1 Qb4 13. Qd1 d6 14. Na4 b5 15.
Nxc5 Qxc5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Bg5 Ba6 18. Nc2 b4 19. Nd4 Bb7 20. Rc1 Qa5 21. Bxb7
Rxb7 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qb3 Ra8 24. f4 Qa7 25. e3 Nd7 26. Qd1 Qxa2 27. Qg4+ Kh8
28. Qh5 Kg8 29. Qg4+ Kh8 30. Qh5 Kg8 31. Nb5 Rxb5 32. Qxb5 Qxb2 33. Rb1 Qc2 34.
Rfc1 Qd2 35. Qxb4 Qxe3+ 36. Kh1 Ra2 37. Rc8+ Kg7 38. Rb2 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 Qd1+ 40.
Kg2 Ra1 41. Qb5 f5 42. Qe2 Qd5+ 43. Kh3 Nf6 44. Rbb8 Ra2 45. Rc2 Rxc2 46. Qxc2
Qf3 47. Rb3 Qf1+ 48. Qg2 Qe1 49. Qb2 Kg6 50. Kg2 d5 51. Rb8 Qe4+ 52. Kh3 Qf3
53. Rb3 Qf1+ 54. Qg2 Qe1 55. Qc2 Qf1+ 56. Qg2 Qc4 57. Rb8 h6 58. Kh4 Qd3 59.
Rb2 Ng4 60. Qe2 Qd4 61. Kh3 Qg1 62. Qg2 Qd4 63. Qe2 Qc5 64. Qc2 Qg1 65. Qg2 Qe3
66. Qe2 Qd4 67. Qc2 Ne3 68. Qb3 Nd1 69. Re2 Nf2+ 70. Kg2 Ng4 71. Qb8 Nf6 72.
Qb2 Qc5 73. Rc2 Qe3 74. Re2 Qa7 75. Qa2 Qc5 76. Qc2 Qd6 77. Qb2 Ne4 78. Qd4 Qa6
79. Rc2 Nf6 80. Rd2 Qa5 81. Re2 Qa3 82. Qb2 Qa7 83. Qa2 Qd7 84. Qb2 d4 85. Rd2
Qd5+ 86. Kg1 d3 87. Qe5 Qe4 88. Qxe4 fxe4 89. Kf2 Nd5 90. Ke1 Kf5 91. Rd1 e5
92. Kd2 exf4 93. gxf4 Nxf4 94. Ra1 Ke5 95. Ra6 h5 96. Ra8 f5 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2020.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2020.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 195"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8.
Bf4 Nfg4 9. e3 a6 10. h3 axb5 11. hxg4 Nxc4 12. Rc1 $5 {Although the next 
(half) move is the real novelty, playing 12.Rc1 Anish brought to life a
completely new idea, playing 12.Rc1.} (12. Qb3 d5 13. Bxc4 dxc4 14. Qxb5+ Qxb5
15. Nxb5 Ra5 {was the mainstream theory, with equality.}) 12... d5 $1 $146 {
If you watch the game with an engine, this move is obvious, as it is
immediately shown. However, it involves a temporary piece sacrifice!} ({After} 
12... Qa5 13. b3 Ba3 14. bxc4 Bxc1 15. Qxc1 bxc4 16. e4 $18 {White quickly
took over in Sedlacek,P (2478)-Suarez Sedeno, M (2426) ICCF email 2004, 1-0 
(33).}) (12... Bb4 13. a3 Bxc3+ $1 (13... Nxa3 $2 14. Qb3 $1 Qc5 15. Be5 $3 Nc4
16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bd4 $16) 14. Rxc3 d5 15. Qc2 {looks easier to play for White,
but might be playable for Black.}) (12... Qc6 $2 13. Rh5 $1 {doesn't help
Black.}) ({Finally, of course} 12... Nxb2 $2 {is bad due to} 13. Qb3 $16) 13.
b3 Bb4 $1 {Any knight move would give White huge compensation for the
sacrificed pawn, g4-g5 arriving quite soon.} ({However} 13... e5 {is worth
having a look at:} 14. bxc4 exf4 15. c5 $1 (15. cxd5 $2 Bb4 $1 16. Qd3 Kd8 $1 {
and the c3-knight is in trouble}) 15... Bxc5 16. Bxb5+ Kf8 17. gxf4 d4 18. exd4
Bxd4 {and the position is quite unclear, although Black is on the limit, for
example} 19. O-O (19. a4 $5) 19... Bxc3 20. Rxc3 h5 $1 21. Re1 Bxg4 22. Qa4 Rb8
(22... Rd8 23. Rd3 {helps White}) 23. Rce3 g6 24. Bc4 Kg7 25. Bxf7 Rbd8 $132)
14. bxc4 Ra3 $1 15. Be5 (15. Qd2 $2 Qa5 $17) 15... f6 (15... Qa5 16. Be2 $5 (
16. Ke2 Bxc3 17. cxd5 {would be about equal after} Bd7 {or 17..b4!?}) 16... f6
17. Kf1 $1 bxc4 18. Bd4 Bxc3 19. Rxc3 Rxc3 20. g5 {would be a similar mess to
the game.}) 16. Bd4 Qa5 17. Be2 Bxc3+ 18. Rxc3 (18. Bxc3 $4 Rxc3 $19) 18...
Rxc3 19. Kf1 b4 $5 {Interesting, although other moves weren't too bad either.}
(19... Ra3 $6 20. g5 $1 {would offer White huge compensation.}) (19... bxc4 20.
g5 $1 {with the same ideas to open the black king.}) (19... Rxc4 20. Bxc4 ({or
} 20. g5 $5 {first}) 20... bxc4 21. g5 e5 22. gxf6 exd4 (22... gxf6 $5 23. Qh5+
Ke7 24. Bxe5 Qd2 {also looks like a draw}) 23. fxg7 Rg8 24. Qh5+ Ke7 25. Qg5+ {
with a draw.}) 20. g5 $1 e5 (20... Qxa2 21. gxf6 gxf6 22. Kg2 Qc2 {may also be
playable.}) 21. Bxc3 (21. gxf6 $5 {would likely transpose into the game,
unless Black tries} exd4 {which also looks like a forced draw:} 22. fxg7 Rg8
23. Qxd4 Rc1+ 24. Kg2 Rxh1 25. Qe5+ Kf7 26. Kxh1 Rxg7 27. Bh5+ Rg6 28. Qh8 Bf5
29. Qxh7+ Kf6 30. Qh8+ $11) 21... bxc3 22. gxf6 gxf6 ({Even} 22... O-O $5 {
should be playable.}) 23. Qb1 $5 (23. cxd5 Qxa2 (23... Qc5 $5 24. Bd3 Ke7 $13)
24. Qd3 Bd7 $1 {should be about equal.}) 23... Qc7 $5 {Not the only move.
Clearly, at this stage Nepo has managed to fight Giri's opening preparation
with perfection.} (23... d4 $5 24. exd4 exd4 25. Rh5 (25. Rxh7 $2 Rxh7 26. Qxh7
Bf5 $19) 25... f5 26. g4 Rf8 27. Rxh7 Rf7 $13) (23... dxc4 $5 24. Bxc4 Qc5 25.
Qb3 Bd7 $13) 24. Qd3 $6 (24. Qb5+ Qc6 25. cxd5 Qxb5 26. Bxb5+ Ke7 {and White
should be careful in order to mae a draw.}) (24. Qg6+ $4 {fails:} hxg6 25.
Rxh8+ Ke7 26. Rh7+ Kd6 27. Rxc7 c2 $19) 24... b5 $3 {A very elegant move by
Nepo!} 25. Qxc3 bxc4 26. e4 $1 dxe4 {White is definitely worse now.} 27. Rh4 (
27. Qxc4 Qxc4 28. Bxc4 Bg4 $15) 27... Be6 28. Rxe4 O-O 29. Bxc4 $4 (29. Rh4 $1
Kg7 30. a4 Ra8 31. Qc1 {and White should be able to make a draw.}) 29... Kg7 $1
30. Qb3 $2 {Anish surely assessed that his drawing chances were higher saccing
his queen for rook and bishop, rather than losing a full pawn.} (30. Qb4 Rb8
31. Bb5 Bxa2 $17) 30... Rb8 $1 31. Bxe6 (31. Qa4 Rb1+ 32. Kg2 Bd7 33. Qc2 Qb7
34. Bd3 Rb2 35. Qc3 Bc6 $19) 31... Rxb3 32. Rg4+ Kf8 33. Bxb3 (33. Rg8+ Ke7 34.
Rg7+ Kd6 35. Rxc7 Rb1+ 36. Kg2 Kxc7 $19) 33... Qc1+ 34. Kg2 Qc6+ 35. Kg1 h5 36.
Rg8+ Ke7 37. Rg7+ Kd6 38. Rh7 Qf3 39. Rh8 e4 40. Rd8+ Ke7 41. Bd1 Qc3 $1 (41...
Qf5 42. Rd4 $1 {would make Black's task harder.}) 42. Rd5 h4 43. gxh4 f5 44.
Rxf5 {This looks like the best chance to set a fortress and make a draw. But
Nepo's demonstration is going to be awesome.} Qe1+ 45. Kg2 Qxd1 46. Rg5 Qa1 47.
Rg4 Qb1 48. Rg3 Qxa2 49. Rh3 Qd5 50. Kf1 Qd1+ 51. Kg2 Qg4+ 52. Rg3 Qh5 (52...
Qxh4 $4 53. Kf1 $1 {is indeed a fortress:} Qh5 54. Ke1 Kd6 55. Re3 Kd5 56. Kd2
Kd4 57. Rg3 Qa5+ 58. Ke2 Qa2+ 59. Ke1 Qb1+ 60. Ke2 Qc2+ 61. Ke1 Qc1+ 62. Ke2
$11) 53. Ra3 Qd5 54. Kg1 Kf6 55. Rg3 Qd1+ 56. Kg2 Kf5 57. Rg5+ Kf4 58. Rg3 Qd5
59. Kf1 Qd2 60. Kg2 Qd1 61. Re3 Kf5 62. Rg3 Kf6 63. Rh3 Kg6 64. Rg3+ Kh5 65.
Rh3 Qb1 $1 66. Re3 (66. Rh1 Qb7 67. Re1 Kxh4 $19) 66... Kxh4 {Nepo managed to
win the h4-pawn without allowing the white king to e1/e2.} 67. Rg3 Kh5 68. Rh3+
Kg4 69. Rg3+ Kf4 70. Re3 Qd1 71. Ra3 Ke5 72. Rg3 Kd4 73. Re3 Qd3 $1 {And this
is the difference. Black will soon convert into a winning pawn endgame. A
perfect handling of the game for Nepo, from the opening until the endgame!} (
73... Qd3 74. Rg3 Kc3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2020.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2020.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 195"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,85,19,31,25,28,13,7,51,38,38,9,15,12,12,12,56,67,63,35,49,38,44,50,67,
45,44,17,26,9,23,23,23,23,23,0,14,-31,20,8,2,5,15,18,33,33,33,33,33,2,9,0,18,0,
2,8,33,23,0,-21,55,23,23,23,23,23,107,107,159,159,159,116,159,116,141,131,131,
131,174,239,239,239,239,239,231,239,239,216]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4.
Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 (9. c4 {is more
aggressive.}) 9... Nd6 10. Nf1 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c6 12. Bf4 Na6 {The knight heads
to e6 - a typical manoeuvre in such positions.} 13. h4 $146 {[%mdl 32] A new
plan of a kingside attack. Here is its idea: in order to develop his pieces 
(particularly, to place his queen on d7), Black will have to play ...f7-f6.
Then White plays h4-h5 and (after exchanging Black's d6 knight) places his own
knight on f5. It may not be easy for Black to push it away by ...g7-g6 (at
least, it will be a weakening move), and White will be threatening h5-h6 at
any moment. Other attempts to get an edge have not been successful so far:} (
13. Ng3 Nc7 14. b3 Ne6 15. Be5 Re8 16. c4 f6 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Bxd6 Bxd6 $11 {
1/2 (70) Robson,R (2670)-Deac,B (2613) Douglas 2019}) (13. Re2 Nc7 14. Rae1 Ne6
15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. g3 Qf6 17. c3 Rae8 18. Kg2 Re7 19. Ne3 Qg6 20. Qxg6 hxg6 $11
{1/2 (33) Danin,A (2511)-Volokitin,A (2634) Austria 2019}) (13. Ne3 Nc7 14. Re2
(14. Rad1 Ne6 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. g3 Re8 17. c4 dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qc7 $11 {1/2 (30)
Anand,V (2773)-Vidit,S (2695) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) (14. Nf5 Nxf5 15. Qxf5 Ne6
16. Bg3 Bf6 17. c3 g6 18. Qc2 Ng7 19. Re2 Re8 $11 {1-0 (66) Zhigalko,S (2616)
-Rakhmanov,A (2627) Ankara 2018}) (14. Bxd6 Bxd6 15. Nf5 g6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17.
g3 Rfe8 18. c3 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Re8 $11 {1/2 (25) Buhmann,R (2573)-Bindrich,F 
(2599) Magdeburg 2019}) 14... Ne6 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. g3 Qd7 17. Rae1 Rfe8 (17...
Rae8 18. b3 Nc7 19. c4 Bb4 20. Ra1 f6 21. a3 Be7 22. Rae1 Bd8 $11 {1/2 (31)
Anand,V (2767)-Yu,Y (2738) Stavanger 2019}) 18. h4 Nc7 19. b3 f6 20. c4 Bb4 21.
Ra1 Bf8 22. Rae1 Bb4 23. Rb1 a5 $11 {1-0 (52) Yu Yangyi (2753)-Bai,J (2600)
China CHN 2019}) (13. Qb3 Nc7 (13... Rb8 14. Ng3 Nc7 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 16. Nf5 g6
17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Qd3 Rfe8 $11 {1/2 (21) Kokarev,D (2615)-Ni,H (2671) Riadh
2017}) 14. Ne3 Re8 15. c3 Rb8 16. Re2 Ne6 17. Bg3 Qb6 18. Qc2 Rbd8 19. Nd2 Qa6
20. Nb3 Ne4 $11 {1/2 (49) Romanov,E (2619)-Khismatullin,D (2632) Sochi 2018})
13... Nc7 14. Ng5 Bxg5 ({Of course, it was not easy to "bear" White's g5
knight by playing} 14... g6 {[%cal Yf8e8,Yd8d7]}) 15. Bxg5 f6 16. Bf4 Qd7 17.
Ng3 Rae8 (17... g6 $5 18. h5 Kf7 {[%cal Yf8e8] may be a safer way to contain
White's initiative.}) 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Qh3 Kh8 21. h5 Rxe1+ 22.
Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 {Black has simplified the game but White keeps
pressure thanks to his strong f5 knight.} 24. g4 {Perhaps it was better to
refrain from this move at the moment and play} (24. Kf1 {then a4 etc. White
has no clear plan to improve his position but he can manoeuvre to confuse his
opponent.}) 24... a6 (24... Nd6 $4 25. Qa3) (24... Kg8 $5 {[%cal Yg7g6,Ye8d6]}
25. g5 $140 Qf7 $1) 25. b3 Qe6 26. Ne3 Nd6 27. h6 g6 28. c4 {White tries to
keep tension by all means.} (28. Qg3 Kg8 29. c4 Kf7 {was not dangerous for
Black.}) 28... dxc4 (28... Kg8 $5 29. cxd5 (29. Qg3 Kf7 30. c5 Ne4 31. Qb8 Qe7
$11) 29... cxd5 30. Qf3 Ne4 $11) 29. bxc4 Kg8 {This move is less accurate here
than it was a move earlier.} (29... Nxc4 $2 30. Nxc4 Qxc4 31. Qh2 $1 $18 {
E.Gleizerov}) (29... Nf7 $5 30. Qh2 $140 Qd6) 30. Qh2 Kf7 31. c5 Nb5 32. Qb8
Qd7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (32... Nxd4 33. Qxb7+ Qe7 34. Qxa6 Qe4 $1 (34... Qxc5 $143
35. a4 $14 {[%csl Ga4]}) {looks crazy but there is apparently no way for White
to make progress, e.g.} 35. Qb7+ (35. Qc4+ Kf8 36. a4 f5 $132) 35... Ke8 36.
Qxh7 (36. Qb8+ Kf7 37. Qc7+ Ke8 $1) 36... Ne2+ 37. Kf1 (37. Kh2 Qf4+ 38. Kg2
Qe4+ 39. f3 Qxe3 40. Qxg6+ Ke7 {, and it is White who must secure the draw})
37... Ng3+ $1 38. fxg3 (38. Ke1 Qb1+ 39. Kd2 Ne4+) 38... Qf3+ 39. Ke1 Qxe3+ {
with a perpetual. Of course, such a decision can hardly be taken in a
practical game.}) (32... Qe7 {was a normal move, with good drawing chances
after} 33. Qh8 Ke6 34. Nc2 (34. f4 Kd7) 34... Nc3 {, e.g.} 35. Qg8+ Kd7 36. Qb3
Nb5 37. a4 Nc7) 33. Qh8 Ke6 34. f4 $1 {This is very strong now.} Nxd4 (34...
Qe7 35. f5+ Kd7 (35... gxf5 36. Nxf5) 36. Kf2 {[%cal Rf5g6]} g5 (36... gxf5 37.
Nxf5 Qf7 38. a4 $1 Nc3 39. Nd6 $18) 37. Nc4 Kc7 38. Nb6 Na7 39. a4 a5 40. Qg8
$22 $18) 35. Qg8+ Qf7 36. Qc8+ Qd7 (36... Ke7 37. Qxb7+ Ke8 (37... Ke6 38. f5+)
38. Qb8+ Ke7 39. Qd6+ $18) 37. Qg8+ Qf7 38. Qd8 $1 {[%cal Rd8d6,Rd8d4] The
move Black missed. He loses a piece and the game.} Qd7 (38... Nb5 39. a4 $18)
39. f5+ gxf5 40. gxf5+ Nxf5 41. Qxd7+ Kxd7 42. Nxf5 Ke6 {[%cal Yf5f3]} 43. Ne3
{White has no problems converting his extra piece so Black resigns.} (43. Ne3
Ke5 44. Kf2 Kf4 45. Nc4 Kg5 46. Na5 Kxh6 47. Nxb7 Kg5 48. Nd8 Kf4 49. Nxc6 {
etc.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Ekaterinburg"]
[Date "2020.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 195"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.04.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,79,19,29,30,23,17,17,17,-20,0,3,26,-4,20,28,24,-2,13,18,18,30,19,-3,1,
8,9,17,15,15,23,19,26,-17,-17,3,11,-10,-14,7,-1,-2,-15,-10,-15,-8,-17,-20,-18,
-14,-8,-2,7,14,93,82,41,41,52,66,96,102,108,90,221,193,169,155,158,158,158,171,
149,97,148,186,194,201,199,196,211,211]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4
Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 {A popular plan. White keeps his
bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal, and his knight can go directly to c3 instead of
d2-f1-g3 etc.} O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 {Black gets rid of White's active
bishop.} 11. b4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Nc6 13. Bg5 {White fights for the d5 square for
his knight. This line was recently examined in CBM 194, annotations to
Vachier-Lagrave - Ding Liren by GM Romain Edouard.} Qd7 (13... Ng4 $5 {and}) (
13... Nd7 {are played here, too.}) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 a5 {This is actually
a prophylactical move against a3-a4. Black even agrees to double his kingside
pawns to prevent that.} ({After} 15... Bd8 16. a4 $1 {White keeps initiative
on the queenside.} (16. c4 Nd4 {leads to a position similar to the game but
more solid for Black due to his a6 pawn, e.g.} 17. Ne3 (17. Nxd4 $5 exd4 18.
Rc2 c6 19. Nf4 Bg5 20. Ne2 Bf6 {(R.Edouard)} 21. Nc1 $5 {[%cal Yc1b3]}) 17...
Nxf3+ (17... a5 $5 $11 {R.Edouard}) 18. Qxf3 Bg5 19. Nd5 Rfb8 20. Qg3 Qd8 21.
cxb5 axb5 22. Rc2 {1/2 (71) Motylev,A (2668)-Tomashevsky,E (2706) Izhevsk 2019}
Rb7 $13 {A.Motylev}) 16... Ne7 17. Ne3 (17. Qd2 Nxd5 18. exd5 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5
20. Qc3 Re8 $13 {1/2 (28) Lamard,G (2365)-Gozzoli,Y (2587) Salon-de-Provence
2017}) 17... Rb8 (17... c6 {1-0 (36) Ni,H (2670)-Xu,M (2302) China 2018} 18.
axb5 cxb5 19. Qa1 Qb7 20. c3 $14) 18. axb5 axb5 19. c3 Qe6 20. Ra6 (20. Qb1 d5
21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. Re1 Bf6 24. Rae2 c5 $1 25. Nxe5 cxb4 26. Qxb4
Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Qxd3 $11 {1/2 (34) Anand,V (2785)-Aronian,L (2804) Bilbao 2014
CBM 163 [CB]}) 20... c6 {1/2 (57) Nakar,E (2478)-Viswanadha,K (2372) Forth
Worth 2017} 21. d4 $14) 16. Rb2 {A new idea. White avoids exchanges and
prepares c2-c4.} (16. Nxf6+ {is principled, of course:} gxf6 17. Rb2 (17. Nh4
$6 axb4 18. Nf5 Kh8) 17... axb4 18. axb4 f5 19. Nh4 $1 f4 20. Nf5 Kh8 21. d4 {
leads to a critical position, which happened in a number of games:} f6 (21...
Rg8 22. Rb3 Rg5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 {1-0 (40) Bacrot,E (2722)-Gretarsson,H (2565)
Internet 2018} 24. Qd5 $5 Rag8 25. g3 $14 {R.Edouard}) 22. Qd3 (22. f3 Ne7 $11
{1/2 (34) Bakhmatsky,V (2446)-Kravtsiv,M (2645) Rivne 2016}) 22... Ne7 (22...
d5 $5 {may be enough for equality}) 23. Nxe7 Qxe7 24. Qxb5 exd4 25. Qd3 Qe5 26.
b5 Rfe8 27. b6 cxb6 28. Rxb6 Rac8 29. Rb4 Rc3 30. Qxd4 Rxc2 31. Qd1 $14 {
1/2 (100) Dominguez Perez,L (2751)-Tomashevsky,E (2701) Baku 2014}) ({Other
options:} 16. Ra1 Bd8 17. c3 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Bxe7 19. Qb3 Rfb8 $11 {0-1 (41)
Cornette,D (2391)-Kravtsiv,M (2636) Cappelle-la-Grande 2016}) (16. c4 Ne7 $1
17. Rc2 (17. Qb3 $6 bxc4 18. Nxe7+ Bxe7 19. dxc4 axb4 20. axb4 Qc6 $1 21. Re1
Rxa2 22. Qxa2 Ra8 $15 {1/2 (90) Vachier Lagrave,M (2780)-Ding Liren (2801)
London 2019}) 17... axb4 $5 (17... Nxd5 18. cxd5 axb4 19. axb4 Ra4 20. Qd2 Rfa8
21. Rfc1 Bd8 22. h3 $14 {1-0 Carlsen,M (2837)-Ding Liren (2774) Saint Louis
2017}) 18. axb4 bxc4 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. dxc4 Ng6 21. c5 Rab8 22. cxd6 cxd6 23.
Rc4 Rb5 24. Ne1 d5 25. Nc2 Rd8 26. exd5 {½-½ (26) Hovhannisyan,R (2601)
-Kravtsiv,M (2685) Batumi 2018}) 16... axb4 (16... Bd8 $6 17. c4 $1) 17. axb4
Bd8 18. c4 Nd4 (18... Ne7 $5 {, avoiding doubling pawns, deserves serious
attention.}) 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qc2 Re8 {Black doesn't rush to play ...c7-c6.} (
{In case of} 20... c6 21. Nf4 {[%cal Rc4b5]} Qb7 $5 (21... Rb8 $143 22. Ra1 {
[%cal Ga1a8]}) 22. Ne2 Bf6 23. Rc1 {White keeps some pressure.}) 21. g3 {
A useful luft.} bxc4 {A risky operation. White activates his queen now.} ({
An active waiting move like} 21... Ra3 {was more to the point. If} 22. cxb5
Qxb5 23. Nxc7 {then} Bxc7 24. Qxc7 Rxd3 25. Qxd6 Rxe4 $11) 22. Qxc4 c6 23. Nf4
Bg5 24. Ne2 d5 {That was Black's idea but White obtains a dangerous passed
pawn.} 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Qb3 $14 h5 {Black must create kingside counterplay.}
27. b5 {[%mdl 32] White advances this pawn, with a possible idea to trade it
for Black's 2 d-pawns. In that case, btw., ...h7-h5 can become a weakening
move.} (27. h4 $2 Bxh4 $1 28. gxh4 Rxe2 $1 29. Rxe2 Qg4+) 27... h4 $6 (27...
Rab8 28. b6 Rb7 {was more solid.}) 28. b6 h3 $6 (28... Rab8) 29. Kh1 $1 {
Exactly! White parries Black's threats by setting up his knight on g1, if
necessary. Black's h3 pawn becomes a weakness, instead of strength; moreover,
it will be the classical "second weakness", in addition to White's passed
b-pawn.} Reb8 30. Rfb1 $6 (30. Qb5 {is more energetic:} Qf5 31. Ng1 (31. Nxd4
Qg4 {is less clear}) 31... Rb7 32. Re1 {[%cal Re1e8]} Kh7 33. f4 Bf6 34. Qc6
Rab8 35. Rb3 {, and Black is in trouble.}) 30... Bd8 31. Qb5 {Of course, the
exchange of queens would be deadly for Black.} Qg4 $2 (31... Qf5 $142 $1 32.
Nxd4 Qg4 $1 33. b7 (33. Qxd5 $143 Bf6 $1 34. Rb4 Bxd4 35. Rxd4 Rxb6 $3 36.
Qxa8+ Kh7) 33... Ra7 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxf7 Bf6 $1 (35... Qxd4 $2 36. Qh5+ Kg8
37. Re2 $18) 36. Rb4 Bxd4 37. Qxd5 Ra5 $1 38. Rxd4 Rxb7 $3 39. Qxb7 Qxd4 40.
Qe4+ Qxe4+ 41. dxe4 Ra2 $1 42. Kg1 Re2 43. Kf1 Rxe4 {, and Black miraculously
survives in this endgame, e.g.} 44. Re1 Ra4 45. f3 Kg6 46. Kf2 Kh5 $1 47. Re5+
(47. g4+ Kh4 48. Re5 Ra2+) 47... g5 48. f4 Ra2+ 49. Kf3 Ra3+ 50. Ke4 Rxg3 $3
$11 51. hxg3 $140 h2 52. Rxg5+ Kh6 {[%cal Yh2h1] Finding this over the board
is out of human abilities, of course.}) 32. Qxd5 $2 {White gives his opponent
a second chance.} (32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Qxf7 {was absolutely winning, e.g.} Rxb6 (
33... Bf6 34. Ng1 $18 {[%csl Gb6]}) 34. Rxb6 Bxb6 35. f3 Qg5 36. Nf4 $18 {
[%cal Rf4h3,Rf4d5]} Ra7 37. Ne6 $1) 32... Ra5 $1 33. Qc6 $2 {Consequent but it
was better to turn away:} (33. f3 Rxd5 34. fxg4 $16) 33... Rc5 $2 {Another
miss.} (33... Rxb6 $1 34. Rxb6 Qxe2 $1 {, and White has nothing better than}
35. Rb8 {but after} Re5 $3 36. Rxd8+ Kh7 {[%cal Re2e1,Re2f2] he must play} 37.
Rh8+ (37. Rg1 Qxf2 {[%cal Re5e2,Re5e1] can be even dangerous for him}) 37...
Kxh8 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qxh3+ Kg6 {[%cal Re2d3]} 40. Qf1 Qf3+ 41. Kg1 Re2 $11)
34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Ng1 {White has consolidated his position keeping his passed
pawn.} Rxb6 {A desperate piece sacrifice.} 36. Qxd8 {Perhaps it was
technically better to decline it:} (36. Rxb6 Bxb6 37. Qxf7 $18 {[%cal Yf2f3]} (
{but not} 37. Rxb6 $2 Rc1 38. Qe4+ Qxe4+ 39. dxe4 d3 40. Rd6 Rd1 {, and White
can't untie his pieces})) 36... Rxb2 37. Rxb2 Rc1 38. Qh4+ $8 Qxh4 39. gxh4 Rd1
40. f3 {Black resigned a bit too early.} ({After} 40. f3 f6 ({or} 40... Kh6)
41. Rb4 Rxd3 42. Nxh3 Rxf3 43. Kg2 Rd3 {White still had a lot of work to do to
convert his extra knight.}) 1-0

[Event "Nations Cup Online Prelim"]
[Site "Chess.com INT"]
[Date "2020.05.06"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2020.05.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.06.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.06.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Rest of the World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. Qe2 Qa8 15.
b5 cxb5 16. Qxb5 Ra7 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. cxb6 Nc4 19. bxa7 Qxa7 20. Ne2 Rb8 21.
Qa4 g6 22. Ra2 Qb6 23. g3 Kg7 24. Rc1 Bf6 25. Qd1 Nb2 26. Qc2 Nc4 27. a4 Qb3
28. Qxb3 Rxb3 29. Rd1 h5 30. h4 Nd6 31. Rc1 Nc4 32. Kg2 Rb4 33. Rd1 Nd6 34.
Rdd2 Nc4 35. Rd1 Nd6 36. Kf1 Nc4 37. Rc1 Rb3 38. Ke1 Rb4 39. Raa1 Nd6 40. Rcb1
Rc4 41. Ra2 Nf5 42. Rb5 Bd8 43. Rb7 Nxd4 44. Nxd4 Rxd4 45. Rc2 Kf6 46. Ke2 Rxa4
47. Rc8 1-0

