Contents

Back Cover
Title page
System of Signs

The Best Game of the Preceding Volume

The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume

Rubinstein French Defence by GM Alexander Morozevich

THE SINQUEFIELD CUP 2015:
Intro by GM Aleksandar Colovic
Strategy by GM Sarunas Sulskis
Tactics by GM Michael Roiz
The New Romantics II by GM Pentala Harikrishna
One Golden Rule - Development by GM Mihail Marin
Shadow Over the Champion by GM Mauricio Flores Rios
Four Chinese Dragons by GM Ivan Sokolov
David Against Goliath by GM Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Makagonov King's Indian by GM Emanuel Berg
Rook Against Bishop by GM Karsten Mueller
The Sicilian According to: by GM Walter Browne
Sicilian 2.c3 (Part VII) B22 by GM Vassilios Kotronias

Games
Classification of Openings
A00-A49
A50-A99
B00-B49
B50-B99
C00-C49
C50-C99
D00-D49
D50-D99
E00-E49
E50-E99
Index

Combinations by GM Branko Tadić

Endings by IM Goran Arsović
Studies by IM Yochanan Afek
Tournaments
SISTEM ZNAKOVA • СИСТЕМА ЗНАКОВ • SYSTEM OF SIGNS • ZEICHENERKLÄRUNG •
SYSTÈME DE SYMBOLES • SISTEMA DE SIGNOS • SPIEGAZIONE DEI SEGNI •
TECKENFÖRKLARING •

 
² white stands slightly better
³ black stands slightly better
± white has the upper hand
µ black has the upper hand
+– white has a decisive advantage
–+ black has a decisive аdvantage
= even
∞ unclear
© with compensation for the material
‰ development advantage
О greater board room
‚ with attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counter play
ʘ zugzwang
# mate
! a very good move
!! an excellent move
? a mistake
?? a blunder
!? a move deserving attention
?! a dubious move
∆ with the idea
™ only move
¹ better is
‡ centre
¸ king's side
« queen's side
× weak point
¬ endgame
® bishops of opposite color
¯ bishops of the same color
º double pawns
¼ passed pawn
> advantage in number of pawns
† time
86/203 Chess Informant
E 12 Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
¦ 3/b Encyclopaedia of Chess Endings
N a novelty
(ch) championship
(izt) interzonal tournament
(ct) candidates' tournament
(m) match
(ol) olympiad
corr. correspondence game
RR editorial comment
R various moves
ª with
– see
 124/5, A09
V.Kramnik 2783 – P. Svidler 2729
Russia 2015

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 g6 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 c5 6.c4 d4 7.b4 Nfd7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.bxc5 0-0 10.d3 Nxc5 11.Nbd2 Rb8
12.Ba3 [12.Nb3 – 8/9] 12...Qa5 13.Qc1N [13.Bxc5] 13...Na4 14.Nb3 Qc7 [14...Qh5!? 15.Qc2 (15.Qg5 Qxg5
16.Nxg5 Nc3 17.Rfe1 Bd7 18.Bc5 b5÷; 15.e3!? dxe3 16.Qxe3 Bxa1 17.Rxa1 Bh3 18.d4©) 15...Bg4 16.Rae1 Nc3
17.Bc5 Rfd8 18.Bxd4 Nxe2+ 19.Rxe2 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Qxf3 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Re3=] 15.Qc2 Bd7 16.Rae1 Rfd8
[16...b6 17.e3 dxe3 18.fxe3 a5 19.d4 Nb4 20.Bxb4 axb4 21.Nbd2 Qa7 22.Qb3 Qa5 23.a3 b5!„ (23...bxa3 24.Qxa3²) ]
17.e3 dxe3 18.fxe3

18...h6?! [18...Bc3! 19.Rb1 (19.Rd1 Nb4 20.Qf2 f6 21.Nbd4 Nc5÷) 19...Nb4 20.Bxb4 Bxb4 21.Nbd4 Bc5÷] 19.d4
Bf5?! [¹19...Be8] 20.e4 Bg4 21.e5! Nb6 [21...Bf5 22.Qe2 (22.Qd2±) 22...Nc3 23.Qe3 Nxa2 24.Nh4±]
22.Nh4! Nxd4 23.Qf2 Qxc4 [23...Be6 24.Nxd4 Bxc4 25.Nb5 Qd7 (25...Bxb5 26.Qxf7+ Kh8 27.Nxg6+ Kh7 28.Nf8+
Rxf8 (28...Kh8 29.Ne6+–) 29.Be4+ Kh8 30.Qg6+–) 26.e6! Bxe6 27.Bh3!+–;
23...Nf5 24.e6! Nxh4 (24...Rf8 25.Re4 (25.exf7+ Rxf7 26.Nxg6±) 25...Nxh4 26.exf7+ Kh8 27.gxh4+–) 25.exf7+ Kh7
26.Rxe7 Rd7 27.f8Q Rxf8 28.Rxg7+ Rxg7 29.Bxf8 Nxg2 30.Bxg7 Qxg7 31.Kxg2+–] 24.Re4+– Be6 [24...Be2
25.Re1+–] 25.Nxd4 Bd5 26.Ne6! Bxe6 27.Rxc4 Nxc4 28.Bxe7 Rd2 29.Qxa7 Bxe5 30.Nf3 Bc7 1-0 Br. Tadic
 124/116 !N C97
S. Karjakin 2757 – SP. Sethuraman 2623
Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7
12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Nf1 Nc4 [13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Ne3 Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bb1 a5 18.a3 Na6 19.b4! axb4 20.axb4
Nxb4? 21.Bd2] 14.Ng3!? [14.b3 Nb6 15.Ne3!? c4] 14...g6 15.b3 [15.d5 – 49/(427)] 15...Nb6 16.Bh6 Rfc8 17.Rc1 a5
18.Qd2!N [18.Bb1] 18...Ne8 [18...a4 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Nf5!‚] 19.Bd3!? c4?! [19...a4 20.b4!²] 20.bxc4 Nxc4
[20...bxc4 21.Bc2²] 21.Bxc4 bxc4 [21...Qxc4 22.dxe5 Be6 23.exd6 Bxd6 24.e5 Be7²] 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Nxe5! Qxe5
24.Qxd7 Rd8 25.Qa4 Rac8 [25...Bc5 26.Be3 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Rac8 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1²] 26.Be3! Nc7 27.Red1
Nb5?! [27...Bh4 28.Bd4!±; 27...Rd3 28.Rxd3 cxd3 29.Rd1 Qb5 30.Qxb5 Nxb5 31.Rxd3 Nxc3 32.Bd2 Nxa2
33.Bxa5±] 28.Qxa5 Bf6 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.f4! Qe8 31.e5 Bh4 32.a4!+– Nd6 [32...Nxc3 33.Qxc3 Bxg3 34.Qxc4+–]
33.Nf1 Nf5 34.Qb5 Qe6 35.a5 g5 36.Bb6 Rb8 37.fxg5 [37.g4+–] 37...Bxg5 38.Re1 [¹38.Rb1] 38...Bd8 39.Rb1 Bc7
40.Nd2 Bxe5 41.Qxc4 Qg6 42.Qg4 Bxc3 43.Nc4 Ne7 [43...Qxg4 44.hxg4 Ne7 45.Rc1+–] 44.Rd1 Qxg4 45.hxg4
Nc6 [45...Ra8 46.Rd8+ Rxd8 47.Bxd8 Nd5 48.Kf1+–] 46.a6 Bb4 47.a7 Rc8 48.Nd6 Ra8 49.Nb5 Nxa7 50.Nxa7 Rb8
51.Bf2 Bf8 52.Nc6 Rc8 53.Nd4 Rc4 54.Nf5 Rxg4 55.Rd8 Rf4 56.Be3 1-0 Br. Tadic
 

C97

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Bd7

• 13.Nf1 Nc4 14.b3 1 Nb6 15.Ne3 2 c4 16.Ba3 3 Rfe8 17.bxc4 4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 19.Qd2 5 Rab8 20.Rad1 Bf8 21.Bb4 Bc6 6 ÷
• ...14.Ng3 g6 7 15.b3 8 Nb6 16.Bh6 Rfc8 17.Rc1 9 a5 18.Qd2 10 Ne8 11 19.Bd3 c4 12 20.bxc4 Nxc4 13 21.Bxc4 bxc4 14 ²

1
14.Ne3 Nxe3 15.Bxe3 Rfe8 16.d5 c4 17.Nh2 a5 18.a3 Rab8 19.Bd2 h6 20.Nf1 Nh7 21.Ne3 Bg5 22.Kh2 Qc8÷
Naroditsky,Daniel 2622 – Glud,Jakob Vang 2531, Helsingor 2015;
 
14.d5 Nb6 15.Ng3 a5 16.Nh2 a4 17.Qf3 Rfc8 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Qd8 20.h4 h5 21.g3 b4„ Gao,Rui 2487 –
Grandelius,Nils 2587, Zlatni Pyasatsi 2014
 
2
15.Be3
a) 15...Rfe8 16.Ng3 Rab8 [16...c4?! 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Nxe5! Be6 19.Nf3± Jones,Richard S 2391 - Hawkins,Jonathan
2480, Amersham 2012] 17.d5 c4÷;
b) 15...Rfc8 16.d5 c4÷
 
3
16.bxc4 Nxc4 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.a4 Rab8 19.Ba3 Rfe8 20.Nd2 g6 [20...Bf8 21.d5 g6 22.Qe2 Rec8 23.Rab1 Rxb1
24.Rxb1 Bh6 25.Rb4² Geller,Jakov 2565 – Krylov,Mikhail 2490, Moscow 2012] 21.Nf1 (21.d5 Nh5³) 21...Bc6=
 
4
17.Qd2!?
a) 17...a5 18.bxc4! [18.b4 d5!„] 18...Nxc4 19.Nxc4 bxc4 (Shirov,Alexei 2710 – Piket,Jeroen 2575, Wijk aan Zee 1998
– 71/374) 20.Rad1²
 
b) 17...Bf8!? 18.Rad1 cxb3 19.axb3 a5 20.dxe5 [20.Rc1 a4 21.bxa4 Nxa4 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.Nd5 Nxd5
25.exd5 f6 26.d6 Qc5 27.Qd3 g6 28.Nd2 Nb2 29.Bb3+ Kg7 30.Qc2 Nc4 31.Ne4 Qc6 32.Rcd1 Rad8÷ Daurelle,Herve
- Godat,Terry, corr. 2009] 20...dxe5 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.Qd6+ Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Nc8 24.Rd2 Bc6= Hauge,Lars Oskar 2316
– Lie,Espen 2449, Oslo 2014
 
5
19.d5 Bf8 20.Nd2 [20.Qe2 Rab8 21.Nd2 Bb5 22.Reb1 Nd7 23.Rb4 Nc5 24.Nxc4 Rec8 25.Rab1 Nd7= 26.Bd3 Nc5
27.Bc2 Nd7 28.Bd3 Nc5 29.Bc2 1/2 : 1/2 Matinian,Nikita 2426 – Stukopin,Andrey 2502, Russia 2012]

a) 20...Rab8 21.Qf3 Rec8 22.Reb1 Ne8 23.Rxb8 Rxb8 24.Qe2 Rc8 25.Rb1² Volokitin,Andrei 2681 – Johannessen,Leif
Erlend 2532 Novi Sad 2009 – 107/(111)
b) 20...g6! 21.Qf3 Nh5 22.Reb1 Rab8 23.Kh2 Nf4 24.h4 h5÷ Kveinys,Aloyzas 2512 – Manca,Federico 2424, Ortisei
2012;
 
19.Rb1 g6!? 20.Nh2 Bc6 21.Qf3 Kg7 22.Qe3 Qa7 23.f4 exd4 24.Qxd4 Bd8 25.Qxa7 Rxa7 26.Bxd6 1/2 : 1/2
Wahls,Matthias 2570 – Huebner,Robert 2615, Muenchen 1992 – 54/(345);
 
19.Ba4 Bb5 20.Bb4 Bf8 21.d5 Qd7 22.Bc2 a5 23.Ba3 Nh5 24.Bc1 g6 25.Rb1 Reb8 26.Be3 Be7 27.Rb2
27...Bd8! 28.Qe2 a4 29.a3 Ba5÷ Svetushkin,Dmitry 2561 – Delchev,Aleksander 2619, France 2011
 
6
22.Qc1 a5÷ Van Kampen,Robin 2570 – Ernst,Sipke 2562, Groningen 2012
 
 
7
14...Rfc8 15.d5 g6 16.Qe2 [16.Nh2 a5 17.a4 bxa4 18.Bxa4 Rcb8 19.Qe2 Bxa4 20.Rxa4 Nb6 21.Ra2 c4 22.Ng4 Nxg4
23.Qxg4 Nd7 24.Qe2 Rc8 25.Be3 Qb7 26.Rea1 Bd8÷ Gullaksen,Eirik T 2387 – Ernst,Sipke 2578, Fagernes 2012]
16...Nb6 17.Nh2 Qd8 18.f4 exf4 19.Bxf4 Nc4 20.Nf3 [20.b3 Ne5 21.c4²] 20...Nxb2 21.Bb3 c4 22.Qxb2 cxb3
23.axb3 Qc7 24.Rac1² David,Alberto 2575 – Ernst,Sipke 2545, Paleochora 2015;
 
14...Rfe8 15.d5 Nb6 16.Nh2 c4
17.f4! exf4 18.Bxf4 Na4 19.Rb1 Nc5 20.Nf3 Qb6 21.Nd4² Ermenkov,Evgenij 2449 – Ibragimov,Ildar 2611, Dubai
2000 – 78/357;
 
14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Rac8 16.Re2 exd4 17.Nxd4 g6 18.b3 Ne5 19.Bb2 Rfe8 20.Qd2 Rcd8 21.Rc1 Qb6 22.Kh1 b4 23.Bb1
Rc8 24.Rd1 Rcd8 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Rf1 Qa5 [26...Nc6?

27.Ndf5! Bxf5 28.exf5± Shabalov,Alexander 2626 – Ibragimov,Ildar 2598, Las Vegas 2007] 27.f4 Nc6 28.Nf3²
 
8
15.d5 Ne8 16.a4 Ng7 17.b3 Na5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bh6 Nb7 20.Qd2 Rfb8 21.b4 f6 22.Nh2 Nd8 [∆ Nf7=]
Dolmatov,Sergey 2615 – Huebner,Robert 2585, Manila (izt) 1990 – 49/(427)
 
9
17.d5 c4 18.b4 a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Ra8 22.Qb2 Qa7 23.Be3 Bd8 24.Rb1 Qa3³ Marks,Ian A 1914 –
Ferguson,Mark 2413, Port Erin 2007
 
10
18.Bb1 c4 19.Be3 cxb3 [19...Rab8 20.Nd2 cxb3 21.axb3 a4„ Rodriguez Cespedes,Amador 2470 - Servat,Roberto
2445, Matanzas 1994] 20.axb3 a4„
 
11
18...a4 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Nf5!‚ Br. Tadic
 
12
19...a4 20.b4!² Br. Tadic
 
13
20...bxc4 21.Bc2² Br. Tadic
 
14
21...Qxc4 22.dxe5 Be6 23.exd6 Bxd6 24.e5 Be7² Br. Tadic
 
21...bxc4 22.dxe5 dxe5

23.Nxe5! Qxe5 24.Qxd7 Rd8 25.Qa4

a) 25...Rac8 26.Be3! Nc7 27.Red1
a1) 27...Nb5?! 28.Qxa5 Bf6 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.f4! Qe8 31.e5 Bh4

32.a4!+- Nd6 [32...Nxc3 33.Qxc3 Bxg3 34.Qxc4+–] 33.Nf1 Nf5 34.Qb5+– Karjakin,Sergey 2757 – Sethuraman,SP
2623, Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 2015 – 124/116;
a2) 27...Bh4 28.Bd4!±;
a3) 27...Rd3 28.Rxd3 cxd3 29.Rd1 Qb5 30.Qxb5 Nxb5 31.Rxd3 Nxc3 32.Bd2 Nxa2 33.Bxa5±;
b) 25...Bc5 26.Be3 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Rac8 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1² Br. Tadic
G. Arsovic
 When 17 year old Alexander Morozevich won his first international tournament in London in 1994 with a 95% score, his striking will to win was epitomised in the English press by the
headline: “He takes no prisoners!”
Since then he has twice been champion of Russia and has remained one of its strongest and most exciting players, whose games are characterised by original opening play followed by
bold middle game planning, laced with a strong undercurrent of tactics.
Morozevich consistently maintains his position in the world chess elite with all-round skills and sees himself as a player of pure classical style. He is highly regarded by his
grandmaster-colleagues as one of the world’s leading trend-setters in opening play, where his distinctive repertoire reflects his self-belief, creativity and independence of thought.
 

DEALING WITH JOBAVA's INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN THE RUBINSTEIN FRENCH C10

the “BAD” FRENCH BISHOP

Though this article may rather upset Baadur and other fans of 4...Bd7 system, the ideas and resources I have found for White will
surely prompt Black to pay serious attention to a new (or old but long-forgotten) weapon which might cause him a lot of trouble.
 
Many consider Baadur Jobava to be one of the most creative players in today’s chess elite. A fair number of fans are attracted by his bold and rather extraordinary ideas, as well as his
choice of virtually forgotten opening lines. Although his experiments with 1.b3 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 haven’t made much of an impression on me personally, they did remind me of the
years of my own youth; moreover I had not previously got around to taking a close look at his daring and innovative ideas in the French Defence, which to this day has served me
faithfully.
 
But now, in this article I have decided to examine in detail one of the various experimental ideas introduced by Baadur. Firstly, because here he very successfully solved Black’s opening
problems against five strong opponents, and secondly because my friend and second Alexander Rustemov is undoubtedly the principal specialist in this particular system. Countless blitz
games as well as quite a few hours spent in over the board analysis have allowed me to form my own view of the variation. In fact, to tell the truth, all this happened some 11–12 years
ago!
 
Naturally, since those times, some assessments and nuances have been subjected to a rethink, while modern computers can and do rewrite entire theory. I think, therefore, the right
moment has come to take a fresh look at the old truths and evaluations. Though this article may rather upset Baadur, my friend Alexander, and other fans of the system for Black, the
ideas and resources I have found for White do not in any way mean that the theoretical debate is over, however they will surely prompt Black to pay serious attention to a new (or old
but long-forgotten) weapon which might cause him a lot of trouble.
 
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 [or 3.Nd2] 3...de4 4.Ne4 Bd7

This somewhat artificial and slow method of developing the bishop on the long diagonal has always puzzled me.
 
In order to achieve the same objective, why doesn’t Black play the more natural 4...b6? According to theory and according to the experts, in this case White has the extremely unpleasant
reply 5.Qf3 after which Black must either close the h1-a8 diagonal with 5...c6, which is quite slow and not aesthetically pleasing, or give up his light-squared bishop after 5...Bb7 6.Nf6
Nf6 7.Qb7 Nbd7, in return gaining some advantage in development which, however, can hardly be exploited in the arising position, thus making the whole operation not very
appealing.
 
After rejecting this, the main move came to be 4...Nd7 – if an immediate development of the bishop doesn’t work, then Black will endeavour to trade minor pieces in the centre and try
to make the ...c7–c5 advance work, postponing the light-squared bishop’s engagement in the battlefield for a more appropriate moment.
 
However, in the meantime, those seekers who abide by the proverb “if at first you don’t succeed, then try, try again” began to advocate 4...Bd7 ” since 4...b6 is no good, and we really
want to develop this bishop, then let’s try 4...Bd7. The disadvantages of such stubbornness are obvious ” Black falls behind in development, and henceforth the bishop on c6 is liable to
be attacked with tempo. Black’s calculation is based on the fact that, overall, his position does not contain any explicit weaknesses and, after overcoming any future assaults by White,
he hopes then to gradually equalize the game due to his successful solution of the problem of the “bad” bishop.
 
5.Nf3
After a reliable way for Black had been found against 5.c4, the move 5.Nf3 became almost an automatic response for White.
 
In the late 90s, the principal guru of this line, GM Rustemov, showed me an amazing opportunity for White – 5.d5 – a move which has virtually never been seen in practice, and also one
which completely changes the course of play.
Together with his coach, A. Zamanskiy, Alexander spent a lot of sleepless nights in the distant polar region of Murmansk, trying to find a reliable antidote to White’s audacious response.
Under the banner “not clear, but most probably no one will play this against us”, their joint analytical work took its place in their paper notebooks, from where it later migrated to the
computer.
 
Indeed, the engines of today consider in great depth the further entropy 5...Qe7 as being one of Black’s best replies, which may send the message that Black is taking quite a risk by just
playing simple moves and not solving the problems posed by White. Detailed exploration of this variation is beyond the scope of our work, though I hope that those who delve deeply
into all of it will take great pleasure in understanding the arising nuances on their own.
 
5...Bc6

6.Neg5
It was precisely this bold move that caught my attention!
Baadur Jobava © Josip Asik

According to main line theory, White usually replies 6.Bd3 Nd7 7.0-0 Ngf6 and only now tries to “guess” which knight
retreat promises more in terms of an opening advantage – 8.Ng3 or 8.Ned2; however if White has to retreat then it is
unlikely that this is the way to place under question the pretentiousness of Black’s development. White has to accept a
“standard” tiny plus, while Black, from his viewpoint, can be happy that he has obtained a very solid position which is
hard to crush and has no obvious weaknesses. It would seem that both sides can be satisfied with such an exchange –
Black has solved the problem of his light-squared bishop and White has gained some opening advantage with an
encouraging 0.30–0.40 on the screen.
 
However, let’s go back to where we started – Black has played slowly and somewhat pretentiously and yet White is
already retreating as early as move 8, and if we seriously want to place the system under a cloud, then we surely have to
move forward instead. It remains to understand only where and at what point. It is this line of reasoning that appears to
be the basis for 6.Neg5 – White’s knight advances to the most active square, immediately creating a strong threat of
Ne5, and it is important that the light-squared bishop can go either to d3, or to c4, depending on the circumstances.
Moreover its appearance on c4 will surprise Black’s supporters a lot, as they have just not got used to seeing it there,
even though it takes up a very active position on this square. In short, if you want to play actively and try to maintain the
initiative, then 6.Neg5 has come just at the right moment.
 
Black has three adequate responses: 6...Bd6, 6...Be7 and 6...Nd7. From my point of view, only one of them – 6...Nd7 –
allows Black to continue his development and more or less counter White’s initiative, while the other two lead to
different long-term concessions – in one case it will be the uncastled black king, and in the other it will be the forced
trade of bishop for a knight in rather unfavourable conditions. Schematically, without going too deeply into the matter, it
will look like this:
 
6...Nd7
[6...Bd6

 
7.Nf7! Surprisingly, this move has not been played at a high level (Anand, Cheparinov and other strong players have invariably chosen 7.Bd3 h6 8.Ne4, but as Black is principled in his
quest to develop the bishop on the long diagonal, we will also be principled in not retreating.) 7...Kf7 8.Ng5 Ke8 (8...Ke7 9.Bc4 Bd5 10.Bd5 Bb4 11.Bd2!
...and it may take a long time to paint more beautiful things but the situation is easier for us to assess – if Black is not an acrobat or a tightrope walker and fails to carry out an analysis of
this position for 3–4 days, then it is very unlikely that he will manage to get out of the opening safe and sound, and even if he manages to do so, then he will still have to fight for a
draw.) 9.Ne6 Qf6 10.Bc4 Qg6 11.Ng5 This is one of those rare occasions when we do not adhere to our principles and temporarily retreat. 11...Nh6 12.0-0 Kd8 13.Re1 I think we can
stop here and summarise. White now obtains an enduring initiative and it is a very difficult task for Black to defend such a position in a practical game;
 
6...Be7

This is Black’s most reliable option, which in practical terms virtually removes the sacrifice on f7 from the agenda. It is not bad at all, provided you understand how to meet 7.Bc4:
Instead of 7...Bg5 there is the better 7...Bd5 (7...Bg5 8.Bg5 Qd6 9.0-0 gives White the advantage of the bishop pair and a very pro-active stance.) and after 8.Bb5 it seems that Black is
compelled to move his pawn, 8...c6, dooming his bishop on d5 to an undesirable trade in the near future. After, for example, 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.0-0
A) in order to avoid the worst, Black should not be over-subtle and just take on f3: 10...Bf3 settling for the slightly worse position after 11.Nf3. The difference is significant when
compared to the main tabiya. Instead of not being so actively placed on g3, White’s knight is now much more active and better placed on f3;
 
B) If instead Black just plays 10...Ngf6 then after 11.c4 Bf3 White has available the additional and more dangerous resource: 12.Qf3;
 
C) The careless 10...h6

...leads to disastrous consequences after 11.Nf7! Kf7 12.Ne5 Ne5 13.de5 when White will either regain his piece by taking the bishop on d5, or after 13...c5 14.Qg4 tie up all Black’s
pieces.]
 
In my opinion 6...Nd7 is the main continuation, although here Black draws fire on himself and should be ready to courageously meet a variety of attacking opportunities by his opponent.
Let’s consider them in order:
 

CHAPTER I 7.Nf7

7.Nf7 A typically automatic reaction, which at first glance looks premature but, as analysis shows, with correct play poses very serious problems for Black.
 
7...Kf7 8.Ng5 Ke8
[Now White has three main options: the somewhat abstract 9.Bd3, the paradoxical 9.Be2 and the most dangerous move – “the Kotronias attack” – 9.Bc4]
 

9.Bc4
[9.Ne6 is just what White should try to avoid, since after 9...Qe7 10.Qe2 Black can either force a draw after 10...Kf7 (or keep the battle raging by 10...Rc8 with good prospects in the
upcoming fight.) 11.Ng5 Ke8 12.Ne6 Kf7=;
 
There is also 9.Bd3

Indeed, whichever bishop move White chooses, Black must respond very carefully and accurately. 9...Qf6 is definitely the best solution. 10.0-0 Bd6 (another possible line of defence is
10...Be7) and although it seems that White will either manage to make the c4 and d5 pushes work, or further pressurise the e6–pawn along the e-file, in reality he does not have time to
do these safely and Black can successfully hold the defence. For example:
 
A) 11.Ne6 Qe6 12.Re1 leads to complex positions after either 12...Be5 or 12...Ne5;
 
B) 11.Re1 Nf8 12.c4 Ne7 and neither 13.d5 nor 13.c5 pay the expected dividends for White. In order to avoid additional risk, in many lines White has to reconcile himself to a draw;
 
If played on the Internet, the curious way of conducting the attack starting with 9.Be2

...would probably have been perceived as a mis-click on the way to d3 or c4, while encountering such a move over the board may unwittingly provoke a desire to check the quantity of
alcohol in the blood of the player of the white pieces. However it would be even more surprising to discover what difficulties Black has to face with such a seemingly unsightly move.
The position is extremely rich in tactical opportunities and at the risk of overloading this article with variations, I will show a few possible scenarios:
 
A) 9...Bg2 There is no room for greed here. After 10.Rg1, in order to avoid the worst, it is better for Black to immediately give back his extra piece with 10...Bb4 reconciling himself to
defending a slightly worse position after 11.c3 Bd5 12.cb4;
 
B) 9...Bd6
 

A too clever attempt to economize on the move ...Qf6 and with the idea of meeting 10.0-0 by an immediate 10...Nf8, leads to a ramshackle position for Black by simple play: 10.Ne6
(10.0-0 Nf8) 10...Qf6 11.d5 Nc5 when even after 12.dc6 Ne6 13.cb7 Rb8 14.0-0 Black’s position looks very splintered.
 
C) 9...Nb6 is another not quite successful attempt. After 10.0-0 Nf6 11.c4 the computer insists that the best solution now is to beat a retreat with 11...Bd7, although this leaves Black
very cramped after the straightforward 12.Bd3. Nevertheless all is not so bad for Black, as he still has two worthy defensive resources.
 
D) 9...Ndf6 10.0-0 Qd5 11.Bf3 Qf5 12.Bc6 bc6

...when instead of the apparently called-for line...

D1) 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Ne6 (14.c4 is met with a counter-strike that amazes by both its audacity and correctness 14...Ng4) 14...Kd7, which leads to a rather unclear position where Black is
 close to finally achieving a coordination of his pieces...
D2) White can opt for the very interesting 13.c4 after which 13...h6 14.Nf3 leads to a complicated position, concealing not a few dangers for Black.
 
E) 9...Qf6 is the most obvious and the most effective move.
E1) Now, in case of 10.0-0

E1a) Black would fail to defend himself with 10...Bd6 (by analogy with the 9.Bd3 variation), due to 11.Re1 when 11...Nf8 no longer works (while 11...Ne7 is met by 12.Ne6) due to
12.d5 Bd5 13.Qd5;
E1b) In a practical tournament game, probably Black would have chosen 10...h6 and after 11.Bh5 g6

12.Ne6! faced serious problems which could not be resolved. To be precise, the analysis shows that after 12...Qe6 (upon 12...Bd6 13.d5 Black remains under crossfire.) 13.Re1 Be4
14.Bg4 Qc6 and Black can barely hold the position;
E1c) When simple resources do not work, then imagination and creativity are there to help, and in this regard the computer is simply irreplaceable; therefore its suggested defence
10...Rd8 is a resource that is hard for the human eye to find. Black intends to protect the weakness on e6 by playing his knight to c5, exploiting the pin on the d-file. After 11.Re1 (11.c3
allows a standard defensive scheme: 11...Bd6 12.Re1 Nf8 since now White does not have the d4–d5 resource.) 11...Nc5 12.c3 h6 and Black manages to eject White’s knight from its
active position.
E2) The preliminary check on h5 only worsens things for White, since after 10.Bh5 g6 11.Bg4 h5 12.Be6 Bh6 his entire construction falls apart.
E3) Here, analysis of this strange move Be2 could be completed if there was not the presence of another strange move at White’s disposal: namely 10.Bg4. The position is extremely
complex and interesting, so without going deep into the woods, let’s schematically present the main directions:
E3a) 10...Bd6

11.Ne6 Ne7 Black has other possibilities as well... 12.Bg5 Qf7 13.Qe2 and here Black either goes in for a very complicated position by 13...Nf6 (or plays the more solid 13...Nf8 14.0-
0-0 Bd5 where other than the repetition of moves arising after 15.Qb5 Bc6 16.Qb3 Bd5 it is hard to find anything special for either side.) 14.0-0;
E3b) 10...Bg2
 

Here greed is not a vice and Black takes everything on offer in an effort to fight for an advantage. However, this entails no small risk. 11.Rg1 (Aesthetic brilliances like 11.Ne6 Bh1
12.Bg5 are simply and forcibly refuted by 12...Bf3! when White collapses.) 11...Bd5 12.Qe2
...and now Black has three main options, all leading to extremely complicated positions:
E3b1) 12...h6 13.Be6 Be7 14.Bd5 hg5 15.Bg5 Qd6 16.Bb3 Kd8 17.Bd2! Bf6 18.0-0-0 Ne7 19.Rg4;
E3b2) 12...Qe7 13.Ne6 Be6 (Actually the computer line, 13...Ngf6 14.c4 Ng4 15.cd5 Ngf6, regardless of zeros on the monitor, would have left White with fewer prospects in the
upcoming game. The dense nature of the centre will gradually choke White’s initiative.) 14.Be6 Kd8 15.Bg5 Ngf6 16.0-0-0 with good compensation for White in a position which is
hard to analyse exhaustively with variations;
E3b3) 12...e5 This is another purely computer revelation. Such an insolent move would hardly occur to any human mind. 13.c4 Bf7
 

E3b31) The venturesome 14.f4 leads nowhere after 14...Bb4 15.Kf1 Nh6 16.de5 Ne5!;
E3b32) 14.Nf7 Qf7 15.de5 Nc5 allows Black to take up a convenient blockading position and after 16.Rg3 h5 17.Bh3 Be7 the tactics always work in Black’s favour;
E3b33) White cannot allow Black to lead him by the nose and capture on d7, as illustrated by the following: 14.Bd7 Kd7 15.de5 Qg6 16.Bf4 Re8 (16...Be6 17.0-0-0 Ke8 also allows
Black to counter White’s threats, but there are very few people who would not have taken the opportunity to gather their pieces together and hide the black king away on the queenside.)
17.0-0-0 Kc8
 Tiger Hillarp Persson © Harald Fietz

Black’s king has found a safe haven, and it would seem the game is over, but still more surprising is that the short
firework that goes off after 18.Qe3 forces Black to find a sequence of seven “only” moves in order to maintain the
advantage and in many cases even not to lose. 18...Bc4 The only move, otherwise Black just loses. 19.e6 Ba2! 20.Qa7
Qb1 21.Kd2 Qb2 22.Ke1 Qa3! This resource is quite difficult to find, but it is the only way to keep the advantage and
after 23.Rc1 Bb4 24.Kf1 Re7! 25.Qa3 Ba3 26.Ra1 Bc4 27.Kg2 Bd5 28.f3 b6 Black has every chance of converting his
extra pawn;
E3b34) 14.Bd2!
Only this move allows the level of intensity of the fight to be maintained. Now the battle moves on to more positional
tracks and the outcome after, for example, 14...Nh6 15.Bh3 Rd8 16.0-0-0, is quite difficult to predict;
E3c) 10...e5 is the last sensible option for Black on move 10. Then 11.0-0 h6 12.Ne6 Bd6 13.Be3! and after 13...Nf8
14.f4 e4 15.f5 a messy position arises on the board which is difficult to assess.]
 
Back to 9.Bc4! According to the databases, this move brought Vasillios Kotronias four easy victories against players
rated 2300–2350 ELO. And if we count blitz games, rapid games, etc, there’s probably a lot more. This move, in my
opinion, is the most natural and dangerous – and Black must be very well prepared to meet it head-on. Moreover, even if
Black is not greedy by nature, regrettably there is no better move for him than to take on g2.
 
9...Bg2 Black’s only move, but that doesn’t mean it is bad!
[RR 9...Qe7? Fier 2571 – N. Getz 2334, Gibraltar 2011 – 111/(123)]
 
10.Rg1
[After 10.Be6 Bb4 11.c3 Bh1 you get the feeling that though White has played very creatively, he has given too much.]
10...Bd5
In tournament practice Black has invariably played this move. I note that this is not the only possibility and Black can defend himself in two other ways: 10...Nb6 and 10...Qe7:
 
[10...Nb6 11.Be6 Bd5 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.Rg3! Only this resource allows White to maintain the initiative. Black now has two other ideas – either to strengthen his position with c6, or to
suddenly transfer his rook to d6 by playing ...Rd8. In both cases White’s initiative looks quite serious.;
 
10...Qe7
Our iron friend’s favourite move – for some reason the majority of computer programs like it. However, even after analysis, I’m not so thrilled by it. 11.Be6 Be4 (The position after
11...Bd5 12.Rg3 Be6 13.Ne6 Qe6 14.Re3 looks quite unclear to a human, but the engine’s evaluation is harsh and disappointing for Black after 14...Qe7 15.Qf3; Another possible
direction is 11...Ngf6 12.Rg2 h6 13.Qe2 hg5 14.Bg5 Kd8 15.0-0-0 which almost by force results in a position in which White has an enduring positional initiative, besides the fact that,
even by moving his king to the queenside, Black is not likely to escape the attack.) 12.Qe2 Bg6 13.Bf4 and although the computer evaluates both positions with defiant zeros after
13...Ngf6 14.0-0-0 h6 15.Nf3 Bf5 16.Bd7 Bd7 or 13...h6 14.Nf3 Bh5 15.0-0-0 Kd8 16.Rd3! g5 17.Bg3 Qh7

...from a purely human point of view, Black’s prospects don’t look so rosy. Very deep analysis of this particular position would possibly show that Black can maintain the balance, but to
opt for such a position in a practical game, you have to be a big fan of this line.]
 
10...Bd5 is conditionally the main move. However we should not be misled by two easy wins by Kotronias:
 
11.Ne6 Be6 12.Be6
A critical position arises, where everything depends on Black’s reply. It is not easy to analyse this position with a computer, since from its viewpoint Black can choose between six
acceptable options, one of which is ...a7–a5. I suggest we leave such extravagant ideas conjured up by the computer and concentrate our research on the most creative continuations. In
my opinion, there are three moves that best match this criteria: 12...Qe7, 12...Bb4 and 12...Qh4:
 
12...Qh4
[12...Ngf6 13.Qe2 is likely to lead to a modification of the 12...Qe7 variation;
 
While 12...Ndf6 13.Qe2 Ne7 doesn’t look so aesthetically pleasing, the computer says it’s quite acceptable;
 
12...Qe7 13.Qe2 Kd8 14.Bf4

14...g6 Therein lies Black’s trick – by leaving the knight on g8, Black has a very unpleasant threat of Bh6. White should not allow the trade of dark-squared bishops, therefore, regardless
of loss of a tempo the bishop comes to g5 after all. (In case of 14...Ngf6 15.0-0-0 Kc8 quite unpleasant is 16.d5 with the direct threat of d5–d6.) 15.Bg5 Ngf6 16.0-0-0 Bg7 17.Rge1
Kc8 18.Qf3!? If White can afford to play in such a leisurely manner, most likely it means that his position is not worse and Black must be very careful;
 
12...Bb4 This check looks strange, but Black is attending to the rapid development of his pieces and to this end is ready even to give up this bishop. 13.c3 Qe7 and here after 14.Rg3 (and
14.Kd2) very strange positions arise. 14...Nf8 15.Re3 Ne6 16.d5]
 
Back to 12...Qh4:
 

The idea belongs to the Swedish grandmaster Tiger Hillarp Persson, who successfully defended Black’s position with this move, all the way back in 2000. Black does not really want to
restrict himself to dour defence and this queen move shows a willingness to engage in a hand-to-hand fight. White’s reaction was absolutely correct.
 
13.Qf3 Ngf6 14.Bf4 g6

But here White failed to appraise the situation correctly and made a very bad trade with 15.Qb7? However, instead of this mistaken capture, he has a much stronger move:
 
15.Kf1
[In the game was played 15.Qb7? Qf4 16.Qa8 Ke7 17.Qc6 Qd4 and soon Black celebrated victory, Jan Sorensen 2399 – Hillarp Persson 2549, Denmark 2000. Since White cannot go
15.0-0-0 because of 15...Bh6, he finds another way to activate the a1–rook.]
 
15...Bd6
[Now White faces the choice between 16.Bg5 and the more forcing 16.Bd6]
 

16.Bd6
[After 16.Bg5 Qd4 we come to a very complex position replete with tactics, though after 17.Re1 (or 17.Rd1; or 17.Qb7) 17...Rf8! I was not able to achieve any tangible results for White.
Here attack and defence complement each other perfectly and computer zeros ultimately appear to be a fair assessment. ]
 
16...cd6 In this line, events are developing rapidly and are partly forced:
 
17.Rg4

17...Qh5
[Greed is inappropriate here, as after 17...Qh2 18.Rf4 Rb8 19.Re1 Black gets into serious trouble.]
 
18.Qb7 Rb8 19.Qc7 Qb5 20.c4 Qb7 21.Bd7
[21.Qd6 Ng4 22.Bd7 Kf7 leads only to a draw.]
 
21...Kf7 22.Qb7
[White has to accept the trade of queens as beauties like 22.Be8 Ke8 23.Re1 Kf8 24.Qd6 Kf7 lead only to a another forced draw. ]
 
22...Rb7 23.Bc6

And here after the accurate...

 
23...Rb6!
Black forces transition to a rook ending after...
 
24.Bd5
...in which White has minimal chances of converting his extra pawn. In this way we can conclude that the play is on a collision course leading either to very complex positions after
16.Bg5 or, after a long forced line, to a position where Black needs to suffer somewhat in order to secure a draw, which will be an unconditional outcome in case of accurate play.
Morozevich
 
 

CHAPTER II 7.Bc4

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 [3.Nd2] 3...de4 4.Ne4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 6.Neg5 Nd7
7.Bc4
[Way back in 2003, my first attempts with 6.Neg5 were linked to 7.Bd3 which I played in numerous blitz games against the guru of this variation – GM Rustemov. Now after 12 years, it
seems to me it is slow and not the optimal way to combine with Neg5. After 7...Ngf6 in the aforementioned blitz games, I have tried all sensible attacking options for White, but gained
almost nothing in any of them. Leading to similar kinds of positions is 7...h6 8.Ne6 Qe7 9.0-0 fe6 10.Bg6 Kd8 11.Re1, after which I’ve always reacted cautiously to the computer’s
optimistic evaluation of equality, as in practical play it is no easy task to defend Black’s position, since his army will be lacking coordination for a long time, during which White will
have a variety of attacking resources.

A) 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Re1 h6! (Just in time. 9...0-0? would be a mistake due to 10.Ne5±) 10.Re6 It would have been objectively better to retreat by Nh3, but, as I have previously mentioned,
retreating would mean breaking with principle. 10...Kf8 This cold-blooded reply parries the attack. After 11.Rd6 cd6 12.Nh3 g5 Black’s chances look better, as in Morozevich 2678 –
Rustemov 2597, Russia 2003;
B) 8.Ne5 looks terrifying, but is in fact only a shot in the air.
8...Ne5 9.de5 Qd5!? (Black reaches an absolutely acceptable position even after 9...Nd5 but he can afford to take up the challenge and proceed to engage the enemy. RR Franssila 2215
– Pihlajasalo 2261, Finland 2012) 10.ef6 Qg2 11.Rf1 gf6 12.Ne6 fe6 13.Qh5 Up to this point things were forced but here it is more accurate to follow the computer’s suggestion of
13...Ke7! (instead of 13...Kd7 as in Morozevich – Rustemov, Russia 2003) when after 14.Be3 Bf3 15.Qc5 Kf7 16.Qc7 Be7 Black’s chances are preferable.
 
C) Mostly I played 8.Qe2 to which the reply was 8...Qe7.

In those years, such a defensive move seemed to me a sign that White’s strategy has been crowned with success, but in fact Black prepares long castling and after ...h7–h6 White’s knight
will inevitably have to retreat. White’s real achievement, if any, is quite small. 9.Ne5 (Drawing fire on himself by 9.0-0 h6 10.Nh3 g5 invariably leads to extremely complicated
positions that I started to like more and more for Black.) 9...Ne5 10.de5 Nd7 11.0-0 h6 12.Nf3
12...Qb4! A great move that establishes harmony among Black’s pieces. Black’s queen threatens to move to g4 and moreover White has constant problems with his pawn on e5
(Morozevich – Rustemov, Russia 2003). Surprisingly, the computers of today have failed to fundamentally strengthen my play from 12 years ago and in my opinion 7.Bd3 is the least
dangerous of White’s active options on the 7th move;
 
On a par with 7.Bc4, the second fundamental and no less dangerous option is 7.Nf7. Since 2007, in blitz games live and on the Internet, I have always played that way, gaining an
impressive 90% of points. However, such-like statistics bear witness not to any “refutation”of this line, but rather to Black not being ready to find the best answer to this principled
White move. Most often, my games in fact have ended after Black’s mistake on the 7th move.]

7...h6
[In two games, Black had memories of 7...Bd6?, but played it at the worst possible moment: 8.Nf7 and it’s already curtains;
 
Four times I encountered 7...Be7? and after 8.Be6! nobody managed to last longer than in a miniature game, RR T. Doehler – Art. Wagner, Germany 1997;
 
The most “fortunate” of all the unfortunate moves is 7...Ngf6 (3 games), but here, as after 8.Nf7 (also after the simple 8.0-0 Black experiences difficulties in finding a suitable answer.)
 Alexander Rustemov © Harald Fietz

8...Bf3! (8...Kf7 9.Ng5 is utterly miserable for Black, Morozevich 2700 – Mesropov 2423, Moscow (blitz) 2010) 9.Nd8
Bd1 10.Ne6 Bc2 11.Nc7 Kd8 12.Na8 Black may retain practical chances of salvation, but objectively the position is
very hard for him;
 
But Black definitely has a stronger way to defend even though his choice is limited to two moves: 7...Qe7 or 7...h6. In
both cases there are many dangers lying in wait, but probably it’s a fair price for his too principled play in the opening.
 
7...Qe7

After the above-mentioned games with the guru, I had a rethink over my attitude to this method of defence and the move no longer seemed awkward to me. The queen “personally”
protects the weak points on e6 and f7 and simultaneously prepares long castling for Black. 8.0-0 0-0-0
The only move, after which White is faced with the question – how can he further develop his initiative? We have vowed not to go back, and h7–h6 is already on the agenda. It seems
that Black has outwitted White, but in fact all the fun is only just beginning. At White’s disposal are three ideas, each with different degrees of ingenuity, two of which do indeed allow
him to count on creating difficulties for Black. Let us deal with them in order:
 
A) 9.b4

...is a creative and consistent move. White continues to go forward. However, if Black avoids the temptation of taking on b4, by playing 9...h6! instead, then after 10.b5 Bd5 11.Bd5 ed5
12.Re1 Qf6, in order to maintain his reputation, White needs to opt for the desperate 13.c4!? (since after 13.Nh3 Bd6 Black safely completes the development of his pieces and does not
experience the slightest difficulty, while strategically White’s play has been simply awful) and in the emerging bright and breezy chaos it is quite difficult to assess the chances of both
sides. For example, after 13...Qf5 White carries out his main idea – a positional piece sacrifice 14.Nf7 Qf7 15.c5 and one thing is for sure about this position – it will not be boring.
 
B) The computer’s move 9.Bd3
 
...is astonishingly strange and inconsistent, but at a great depth our “iron friend” simply insists on it. Therefore, out of respect, we will include it in our analysis, although White will go in
an exclusively backward direction. However, not every retreat is an indication of the failure of one’s own plans – given the fact that Black has castled queenside, White redeploys his
own forces, taking into account precisely this important factor, as all the usual methods of playing this variation for Black do not work with the black king on c8. 9...Ngf6 (If 9...h6

...then White makes a stupendous leap 10.Nh7!! – such a resource is usually missed by the human eye. And after 10...Ngf6 11.Nf8 Rhf8 12.Re1 White switches to positional play and
generally can be satisfied with the results of his operation.) 10.Nd2! Another unusual-looking move, if you think about it, as White again does not develop his pieces harmoniously.
After, for example: 10...h6 (It is important to note that instead of this White need not fear 10...e5 because of the simple 11.Re1) 11.Ngf3 g5 12.Nc4 and Black’s king may soon feel quite
uneasy.
 
C) 9.Re1 It is difficult to say with certainty whether this is the strongest move, but it’s surely the most consistent.
C1) Upon 9...Ngf6 White has quite a large variety of attacking options.
C1a) Let’s start with the already familiar to us 10.b4, whereupon Black is forced to capture: 10...Qb4 (White exploits the fact that after 10...h6 11.b5 Bd5 12.Bd5 Black cannot take on
d5 with a pawn as was the case there, and after 12...Nd5 13.Ne4 White has a serious initiative.) and after 11.Qd3 White has a very serious initiative for the pawn;
C1b) Another possibility that could be dangerous for Black is 10.Bd2 when after a further computer suggestion 10...Qe8 (instead 10...h6 loses to 11.Ne6) 11.b4 White has a strong
initiative at no cost.
C2) Thus Black is virtually forced to respond 9...h6, after which something terrifying happens – White takes on e6: 10.Ne6 fe6 11.Be6 Bf3 12.Qf3 Kb8

I showed this position, as an exercise, to many of my students, mainly those in contention for the GM title. Those who solved the problem without knowing the previous moves, for some
reason were mostly not looking for the best move for White, and were puzzled about how and why White had lost a piece so early in the game. And for those who were more fortunate,
and to whom the previous moves have been shown, well, they naturally understood that White had given up a piece with a reason and if cunning Moro presents this position as an
exercise, it means something is wrong there. In general, almost all of them who were trying to find a solution to the position were quite sceptical about White’s piece sacrifice,
evaluating White’s play to be bordering on bluff and over-confidence.
 
As candidate moves, usually featured were the most obvious: 13.Bf4, 13.Bd2 and 13.c4 (to a lesser extent). Moving further ahead, the students tried somehow to double rooks on the e-
file or to create various single-move threats, which Black managed to parry relatively easy. The general confusion over “what exactly does the grandmaster want from us in solving this
position?– was apparent in virtually all of them. However, White has two very promising plans to develop his initiative, one of which was nevertheless found by a very talented student,
while, for some reason, the other one didn’t spring to anyone’s mind. The secret of the position is that White should not play in the centre and not indulge in single-move threats, but
exploit Black’s present state of under-development by trying to deliver checkmate. In regard to this, pawn moves appear to be the most effective weapon, while the bishop on c1,
depending on the circumstances, can go either to d2 or f4. (Black can start with 12...Ngf6 though it’s hard to believe that he can do without ...Kb8)
C2a) 13.Bd2;
C2b) 13.c4
In itself, this move is easy to spot, but the main thing is to see the idea behind it. In fact its main objective is to meet 13...Ngf6 with 14.c5!. White doesn’t intend to push this pawn
further, but plays for a consistent restriction of Black’s pieces. After Black’s natural response 14...g5 15.Bd2 Bg7 it is very difficult to correctly estimate, many moves ahead, that in this
position White will have strong long-term compensation for the sacrificed piece, albeit in the absence of any obvious immediate threats. With 16.Ba5, parrying the threat of Nc5 with
tempo, White keeps his eye on the black king, and at once prevents the ...c7–c6 push. As both analysis and practical training games showed, it is extremely dangerous for Black to cling
on to his extra piece and it is best to quickly give it back: 16...Rhe8 17.Qb3 Nc5! 18.dc5 Qc5 19.Bb4 Qb6 and after, let’s say, some kind of move like 20.g3, White’s position is a bit
better, but with accurate play Black should be able to maintain the balance.
C2c) 13.a4

In a strange way, this natural attacking move was not chosen by half of the students trying to solve this position. However, the threat of a5–a6 is very unpleasant and forces a reaction
from Black. 13...Ngf6 Already Black cannot afford to delay his development. (After 13...g5 14.a5 a6 15.b4! Black already faces a lot of difficulties because White’s initiative is
developing too rapidly.) 14.a5 Now, as in the case of 14...Qd6, after analysis it can be said that Black is holding his game together, but each time “skating on thin ice”. And I have to add
that defending such a position in a practical game against a strong attacking player is a very ungrateful task. (Again Black has no time for 14...a6 because of 15.b4 so he has to allow a6
and hope for the best by jumping out with his queen, as also in the case of 14...Qb4.)
C2d) To conclude, I note that the most natural and most popular solution is 13.Bf4. After 13...g5 14.Bg3 (14.Bg8 Qf6 is in Black’s favour.) Black plays 14...Qg7

...intending a beneficial exchange by ...Bd6. Now 15.a4 maintains the tension, but already White appears to be the somewhat weaker opponent 15.Bc7 Kc7 16.Qc3 does not lead to
anything substantial after almost any Black response. One of the most beautiful ways to parry White’s attack is by 16...Kb8 17.Qg3 Ne5! 18.Rad1 Bc5! and though White can capture
whatever he wants, it will hardly bring him any desired dividends.)]
 
As we have seen, even by castling long Black has no guarantee of a peaceful life, as White’s attack will overtake him even there. Now the question naturally arises: what happens after
the move ...h6? Well, if White is going to give up material anyway, he should not pull back but try to clarify the situation as soon as possible.

8.Nf7 Kf7 9.d5 It is easy to see that there is no other continuation of White’s attack.
 
9...ed5 10.Bd5 Ke8
[Though Black’s king walk after 10...Bd5 11.Qd5 Kg6 may seem exciting to some adventurous souls, I still do not recommend this kind of play.]
 
11.0-0
Now we come to the most interesting and perhaps the most critical position for an overall evaluation of the entire variation with 6.Neg5. As analysis has shown, Black has only two
acceptable possibilities, 11...Bc5 and 11...Bd6, in all other lines White’s attack will simply increase with far greater force. However, after these two options, the ensuing positions are
extremely rich and eminently practical in nature.
 
It makes no sense to try to exhaust all the possibilities within an already extensive analytical article. I think that any reader who is interested in finding the objective truth will spend quite
a few fascinating hours in analysis, which I hope will bring him genuine delight.
 
11...Bc5
[11...Bd6]
 
After reading this article, I hope that those players who are looking for active play will no longer be confused by Black’s “reinforced concrete” wall arising after ...Bc6–d7. 6.Neg5 is one
of the most adventurous moves – and most dangerous for Black – after which, in the majority of cases, Black finds himself under severe long-term pressure.
 
Nowadays the critical position seems to be the one arising after 6...Bd6 7.Nf7! and following the above main line, or else 6...Nd7 7.Bc4 h6.
 
“The Kotronias Attack” 7.Nf7 also leads to very interesting positions, but generally speaking Black can still claim equal rights in a hand-to-hand fight.
Morozevich

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THE 2015 SINQUEFIELD CUP IS WON BY ARMENIAN GM

ARONIAN, NOT CARLSEN

Out of nowhere, or maybe it’s better to say, out of the Top 10, the mercurial Aronian
made a flamboyant comeback that nobody expected.
The 3rd Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis, the second leg of the Chess Grand Tour, turned out to be the tournament of the
season, even more exciting than is usually to be expected of an elite tournament. Our grandmaster contributors look at
 key games from this important event – from different perspectives.
 
• Sarunas Sulskis selects three games illustrating the execution of strategic themes
• Michael Roiz offers four games of top-level tactical niceties
• Pentala Harikrishna has added one beautiful example to start his New Romantics column
• Mihail Marin was inspired to include two games in his column, and to annotate a number of games in our traditional
section in the second part of Informant.
 

 
Primus inter pares. That is what Botvinnik considered a
World Champion to be – first among equals. However,
I doubt that Botvinnik considered himself to be inter
pares. He was a proven primus.
 
The majority of World Champions before and after
Botvinnik were primuses, but they did have the
occasional period when the pares thought there was no
primus. For example Kasparov’s 50% in Horgen 1995
and his drawing Linares tournaments in 2003-2004
come to mind. It seemed to me that the current World
Champion was immune to suchlike upsets, but Norway
Chess showed that he too has nerves.
 
I expected to see Carlsen dominate in Saint Louis,
thinking that the Norway Chess debacle was just a deviation from the norm. But Carlsen’s tournament was anything but
stable – he suffered another shock in Round 1, again losing to Topalov with White, then he recovered, but collapsed
again, losing to Grischuk (with White!) for the first time in his life. Then he failed to convert a completely winning
position against his “client” Nakamura and finished it off with a listless draw against Anand. Carlsen was no primus in
Saint Louis!

Out of nowhere, or maybe it’s better to say, out of the Top 10, the mercurial Aronian made a flamboyant comeback that
nobody expected. Winning three games (two of them with Black) and drawing the rest, Aronian showed the confidence
of a primus playing with the pares. All of his wins were very impressive, my favourite being his technical win over
Nakamura from a seemingly harmless position. Winning in technical style has always been a mark of good form and it
is wins like this that make you believe in yourself again. Aronian was also full of original ideas and not only in the
openings – see the above diagrams!
 
The pares performed as pares do. Topalov started with 2/2 only to succumb to 0/2 in Rounds 5 and 6. Giri continued his
unbeaten streak and his +1 was as solid as ever. Vachier-Lagrave improved after Norway and his shared second place is
an excellent result. Nakamura continues to impress me, first because of his new-found consistency and second because
of his ability to fight until the end – his last round win against Grischuk was all grit and determination. Grischuk’s
tournament was up and down, he really needs more stability. Anand started with 0/2 and could never get back in the
running after that. Caruana, like Grischuk, needs to restore his consistency, while So can be excused through lack of
experience.
 
One swallow does not make a summer and we will have to see whether Aronian’s comeback makes him a veritable
primus, but in the absence of Carlsen’s customary superiority we now have a lot of pares. Quite an intriguing situation
indeed.
Čolović
A burning desire behind slow manouvering
Do not be deceived by such innocuous-looking moves! Strategic play offers a true
endurance test for the opponent. Deploying the pieces on their best available
squares is the process but the number of moves it takes is quite irrelevant – the win
is the only thing that matters to the professional player.

The Sinquefield Cup 2015, the 2nd leg of the Grand Chess Tour and contested on US soil in Saint Louis, kept chess fans
captivated all over the world. The live broadcasts, together with the professional on-the-spot commentaries, made for
real chess theatre. Undoubtedly the presence of the world champion was equally instrumental in creating such a special
atmosphere.
 
However, in my report I will focus on the last three Nakamura games. On the one hand my choice is purely
coincidental, as I have no intention of singing the praises of the American GM – who eventually found himself tied for
second in the final standings – at the expense of other smart players and the tournament in general. As proof of my
disclaimer you’ll see my presented games end in all possible results, including a loss. On the other hand, as Nakamura
asserted himself in St. Louis as the best US player, confidently finishing ahead of both Caruana and Wesley So, his
performance in the final rounds, full of drama and intensity, helps to paint a fuller picture of the merits and
achievements of his illustrious opponents. My survey runs through the strategic content of the games in question.
 
The game below in fact decided the glorious winner of the Cup.
 C88
Nakamura 2814 — Aronian 2765
Saint Louis 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4

This is a modern trend. So far Aronian has gained a formidable reputation as the finest connoisseur of the Marshall
Attack (8.c3 d5) in the world. Practically invincible in the last decade, the Armenian grandmaster slipped only once last
year (against Caruana). No doubt he has licked that wound, though.
 
8...b4 9.d4 d6 10.de5 de5 11.Qd8 Rd8 12.Nbd2 h6 13.Bc4
Magnus Carlsen inflicted another wound upon Levon two years ago at the Sinquefield Cup. The game went 13.a5 Bc5
14.Bc4 Ng4 15.Re2 Be6 16.Be6 fe6 17.h3 Nf6 18.Re1 Rab8 19.Nc4 Rb5 Carlsen 2862 – Aronian 2813, Saint Louis
2013]
 
I suggest Aronian has learned a strategic lesson concerning the disadvantage of having the doubled e–pawns. Despite
covering the important d5 and f5–squares well and offering play on the f–file, they are awkward and unable to support
each other, and may fall in the long run.
 
13...Bd6
This looks unattractive, but serves to support e5 and enable ...Na5, which would be a perfect place for the black knight,
taking control of both the c4– and b3–squares. In my previous articles I have already mentioned the benefits of
positioning your knight right in front of an enemy pawn.
Well aware of the issue, Nakamura deals with it immediately.
 
14.a5
[An alternative is 14.Nb3, for example 14...Re8 (14...Bg4 15.Be3 Bf3 16.gf3 a5 17.Red1²) 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nfd2 Ng4
17.Bc5]
 
14...Re8
[Aronian has learned the strategy lesson – no more 14...Be6?! 15.Be6 fe6 stuff.]
 
15.Bd3
[RR 15.Nb3 Carlsen 2772 – Leko 2756, Dortmund 2009 – 106/(100); 15.b3 Negi 2642 – Sargissian 2663, Ningbo 2011
– 112/200]
 
15...Nd7
The game has entered the maneuvering stage, which is an acclaimed strength of Aronian. The battlefield of the game is
clearly on the queenside; therefore Black needs to transfer his best resources there.
 
16.b3N
[16.Nb3 Nc5 17.Be3 (17.Nc5 Bc5 18.Nd2 Be6=) 17...Nd3 18.cd3 Be6 19.Nc5 (19.Nfd2 Nb8 20.Rec1 Nd7=) 19...Bc5
20.Bc5 Red8 is just fine for Black; RR 16.Nc4 De Velez – De. Zuev, corr. 2009]
 
16...Nc5 17.Bc4 Be6!
This move displays a deep strategic vision. On the surface, swapping the light–square bishops should favour White, as
he will have a robust knight on c4 and perhaps also be able to bring his rook to d5. Aronian, however, envisions his
rook arriving on b5, where it would pressure the insolent intruder on a5, aided by ...Nb7 if need be.
 
18.Bb2 f6 19.Be6 Re6 20.Nc4 Rb8 21.Nfd2 Rb5!

Here we are! The b5–square makes a perfect outpost for the black rook. First of all, the white minor pieces cannot kick
him out, so he is going to continually bother the a5–pawn. Nakamura's next two moves show very well how powerful
this maneuvre is, as both white rooks will soon be tied down to a passive defence of a5.
 
22.Ra2
[22.Nd6 Rd6 23.Nc4 Rd8 24.f3 Kf7 25.h4 h5³]
 
22...Nb7!
The strategic cooperation of Aronian’s pieces is one to learn from and enjoy. Note that only after allowing his rook to
cross to b5 does he play his knight to b7. Had he played his knight to b7 earlier, his rook wouldn't be able to come to
b5.
 
23.Rea1
Blind defence. As the earlier–mentioned game between Carlsen and Aronian demonstrated, the death of the a5–pawn
may suddenly stimulate the white rooks into action.
[Maybe White could play in more relaxed fashion: 23.Kf1 Bc5 24.f3 Nca5 25.Na5 Ra5 26.Ra5 Na5 27.Ra1 Nb7
28.Nc4 Kf7 29.Ke2 and it should be hard for Black to convert his advantage. But I must admit it’s easy to sacrifice
other people’s pawns.]
 
23...Bc5 24.Kf1 Re7 25.Ke2 Rd7 26.Nf1 Bd4 27.Nfe3

27...Be3!
Such exchanges are hard to execute even for seasoned grandmasters. Bishops are generally perceived to be more
valuable than knights. This doesn’t prevent Aronian from making a hard strategic judgment, which must have surprised
his opponent.
 
Aronian has correctly decided this position is for knights, not bishops. His own knights are pressing hard on a5, whereas
White's have threatened to sneak into d5. White will be left with his bishop blunted by the e5–pawn, unable to take any
effective part in the battle. This is a tough decision by Aronian!
 
28.Ne3
[On 28.Ke3 Black may continue 28...Nd6, dislodging the white knight from its stronghold. 29.Nd2 is met with 29...Rc5
when 30.Rc1 Na5 31.Rca1 falls short to 31...Rc2 –+ 32.Be5 Rd2! 33.Rd2 Nb3]
 
28...Kf7
[As asserted previously, Aronian has learned from his bitter game with Carlsen that the premature capture 28...Nba5
may suddenly engage the dumb white rooks into action on the queenside with 29.h4 h5 30.Nd5©]
 
29.f3 Ke6 30.g4?
Still in an aggressive mood on his home turf, Nakamura pushes his pawn ahead recklessly, leaving behind a big hole on
f4. Aronian immediately begins a redeployment of his knight to take advantage of the American’s strategic
misjudgment.
[¹ 30.h4 h5 31.g3 g6 32.Nc4 Nd6³]
 
30...Nc5
With ...Nc5–e6–f4 or –d4 in mind, according to circumstances.
 
31.Nc4
[31.h4 Kf7 32.h5 Ne6 33.Nd5 Rc5 34.Bc1 Ncd4µ]
 
31...Ke7
The black king liberates e6 for his knight.
 
32.Bc1 Ne6 33.Be3 Ncd4 34.Kf2 Ng5 35.Bg5?!
Nakamura’s frustration at seeing his opponent in the driver’s seat gives rise to another misjudgment.
[Better is 35.Nd2 Rc5 36.h4 Nh3 37.Kg2 Nf4 38.Bf4 ef4 39.Nc4 h5³]
 
35...fg5!
This is another excellent strategic decision, again one to learn from! Despite leaving the e5–pawn isolated, Aronian
opens up the f–file to assault the f3–weakness with the full weight of the coming doubled rooks.
[The soft 35...hg5 36.Rh1 followed by h2–h4 helps White liquidate his h2–weakness in time.]
 
36.Rd1 Ke6!

Note how often Aronian uses the central e6–square for transferring his pieces. His last move is multi-tasking, as the road
to f7 is granted to one of his rooks, whereas the other is discharged from the defence of e5.
 Levon Aronian

37.Rd3 Rf7 38.Ra1 Rb8

The pendulum of the game has suddenly swung to the kingside and both players rush to position their guns there.
[The greedy 38...Nc2? is punished with 39.Rad1 Nd4 40.Ne5]
 
39.Rad1
[39.Kg2 Rbf8 40.Rf1 h5 41.h3 (41.gh5 g4) 41...g6³]
 
39...Rbf8
40.Ne5?
Nakamura commits a final mistake on the last move of the time control. Let’s not forget how slippery this period was
with no increments added!
[The passive 40.Nd2 offered him chances for rather more stubborn defence as 40...Nc2 (40...g6³) 41.Rc1 Nd4 42.Rc5©
allows White some counterplay along the c–file.]
 
40...Ke5 41.Rd4 Rf3‚
Aronian now subjects Nakamura’s king to heavy shelling and soon wraps up the game.
 
42.Ke2
The fire is damn hot! It forces Nakamura to make a long sequence of "only" moves to avert an immediate blast.
[42.Kg2 loses to 42...Rf2 43.Kg1 Rf1! 44.Kg2 R8f2 45.Kg3 Rd1 46.Rd1 Rc2 –+; 42.Ke1 Re3 43.Kd2 Kd4 loses on the
spot.]
 
42...Rf2 43.Ke1™
[43.Kd3 R8f3 44.Kc4 Rc2 45.Kb4 c5 –+]
 
43...Rf1 44.Ke2™ R8f2 45.Ke3™ Rf3 46.Ke2™ R1f2 47.Ke1 Rh2 –+
48.Rd5
[Instead of the futile capture 48.Rb4 Re3 49.Kf1 Rc2 –+ Nakamura prefers to set one last trap.]
 
48...Kf4
[48...Ke4?? allows White to survive, as 49.R1d4 Ke3 50.Rd3 Kf4? (50...Ke4=) costs him a rook. 51.Rf5]
 
49.R1d4 Kg4–+ 50.Rc5
[50.e5 Kf5; 50.Rb4 Rc2 51.e5 Kf5]
 
50...Rg3 51.Kf1 Rc3
0 : 1 Sulskis
White resigned, though the possible line 52.Rdc4 Rhc2, with four rooks beautifully quadrupled on the c–file, would be
very picturesque.
 
 

D37
Carlsen 2853 — Nakamura 2814
Saint Louis 2015

Both players had suffered painful defeats with White in the previous round. This game features the last attempt of the
world champion to stay in the race with Aronian for the Sinquefield Cup.
 
No doubt Nakamura in turn had his own burning ambition, such as coming first among the American players. Also his
very bad record against Carlsen must have put the US grandmaster on alert. He could hardly afford yet more of his own
blood to be spilled. One of the two had to yield ground.
 
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
A Queen’s Gambit Declined is on display. How incredibly modest of Nakamura, who beat So with the black pieces in
an awesome King’s Indian game just two rounds ago! As pointed out already, his very poor personal record against
Carlsen must have been the source of this modesty.
 
4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 0-0 6.a3 c5 7.dc5 Bc5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be2 Ne4
[11...dc4 is another possible line.]
 
12.cd5 Nc3 13.Qc3 Qc3 14.bc3 ed5 15.Rd5 Ba3
It's only natural to want to grab an opponent's loose pawn if you are a pawn down yourself! Moreover, I haven’t seen
anybody eschew it in this particular position. However, the big trouble that Hikaru runs into in just a few moves
apparently calls for hard solutions.
[15...Be6 16.Rb5 b6 is an alternative. Now if White is greedy with 17.a4 (17.Nd4), then 17...Rac8 may offer Black some
strategic compensation: 18.0-0 Na5 19.Nd4 Bd7© and the white pawns on the queenside become weak.]

16.Nd4!
This is an important strategic step. In addition to his rook, White brings another piece to the centre. Black would rather
not take on d4, as this mends White’s pawn chain, but he has little choice, as the variations demonstrate.
 
16...Nd4
[On 16...Be6 the obvious 17.Ne6 may not be the best (but 17.Rb5!? Nd4 gives White an additional option in 18.cd4 b6
19.Kd2 and the powerful Ra1 is coming.) 17...fe6 18.Rd7 (18.Rb5 b6) 18...Rf7 19.Rf7 Kf7 20.Kd2 Bd6!=;
Nevertheless, 16...Rd8? is far worse: 17.Rd8 Nd8 18.Nb5 Bf8 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.Ne6!+–]
 
17.ed4
[17.cd4 allows Black to disturb the white king with 17...Bb4 18.Kd1 a5 when 19.Bd6? is just a blunder due to 19...Rd8]
 
17...b6
[17...Be6 18.Rb5 b6 19.Kd2 is only a transposition.]
 
18.Kd2!
This move is clever strategy; the white king remains in the centre and thus becomes far superior to his counterpart,
which is still well hidden in the castle, although the queens have come off. At the same time Carlsen makes way for the
long–range rook manoeuvre Ra1.
 
18...Be6
[18...Bb7 19.Rd7 Bg2 20.Ra1!+– traps the black bishop: 20...Bh3 21.Rc7 g5 22.Bg3. I feel Carlsen was still in his
preparation, quite possibly aided by Kasparov.]
 
19.Rb5 Bd7 20.Rb3 Be7
Now White is challenged to make a choice between bringing over his rook from one corner to the other and taking
control of a long diagonal with his bishop. Which will it be – rook or bishop?

21.Bf3!
This is the right choice! The long diagonal is paramount.
[If White hesitates he may never get to occupy it: 21.Ra1 Be6 22.Rb2 (22.c4 Bf6„) 22...Bd5]
 
21...Ba4
Nakamura sets up a blockade on the a–file. Under the circumstances it's the most stubborn defence.
[RR 21...Rae8? Atalik 2584 – Lekic 2340, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 – 100/309; After the natural 21...Rac8 22.Ra1±
it’s too late for a blockade. Black’s position is ripe for plunder.]
 
22.Rb2 Rad8 23.Ra1N
[RR 23.Re1 M. Kubik 2178 – Mi. Jaworski 2288, Ostrava 2015]
 
23...b5 24.Bc6
This is a powerful invasion on a long diagonal. In addition to the obvious attack on b5, the move has the less
perceptible, but from the strategic point of view very important, merit of controlling e8.
 
24...a6 25.Bb7!
Magnus insists. Once he succeeds in forcing Nakamura to lift his a–pawn, the b5–pawn will become very vulnerable.
 
25...Bd6 26.Be3 a5
Here we are!
[The tactical attempt to hold the game with 26...f5 probably meets with 27.f4 (27.d5 Be5) 27...Rf6 28.Ba6 Bf4 29.Bb5
Be3 (29...Bb5 30.Rb5 Bh2 31.Bg5+– ) 30.Ke3 Bb5 31.Rb5±]
 
27.Bc6!
The bishop now gets back to its dual role of controlling b5 and e8.
 
27...Rb8 28.d5±
Now the bishop is duly cemented on its outpost!
 
28...Rfd8
The only difficulty for White is the big variety of tempting continuations he faces and this is all rather confusing.
 
29.Kd3
[29.Ke2 Be5; 29.Ba7 Rbc8 30.Bb6 Rc6 (30...Bc7 31.Bc7 Rc7 32.Ke3±) 31.Bd8 Rc5 32.Ba5 Rd5 33.Ke2± and Black's
compensation for the exchange is insufficient.]
 
29...Bf8 30.Bd4
[30.g4±]
 
30...f6 31.Ke4
The c3–c4 threat is now looming.
 
31...Bd6 32.c4
Since White has now reason to hurry, perhaps he could secure his king first: for example, 32.Kf3!? Kf7 33.c4 Bb4 (this
is the only possible defensive bishop setup that Nakamura has clearly foreseen by playing ...Be6–d7–a4) 34.Ba7

Now Black can launch a desperate counterattack with variations that turn wild very fast:
 
A) 34...Bc3 35.Ra4! ba4 (35...Bb2 36.cb5+– ) 36.Rb8 a3! An unbelievable resource! I'm serious, I just don’t believe it;
but who would like to walk in Black’s shoes anyway? (The normal 36...Rb8 loses without much fight to 37.Bb8 a3
38.d6 a2 39.d7 a1Q 40.d8=Q+– and Black has no bothersome checks.) 37.Rd8 a2 38.Be8 (38.Bc5 Kg6 39.Be8 Kh6
40.Be3 g5 41.Bc5) 38...Ke7;
A1) 39.d6 Ke6 (Black’s misery is such that he cannot even afford to kill the enemy rook: 39...Kd8 40.Bc6+– );
A2) 39.Ra8
 Hikaru Nakamura
39...Kd6! would show a lot of patience (39...a1=Q is
false relief: 40.Bc5#) 40.c5 Ke5 41.Bb8 Kd4 (give me
a break!);
 
B) 34...Rbc8 35.cb5 resembles the game (35.Bb6 Rd6)
35...Bb5! 36.Bb5 Bc3 37.Raa2 Bb2 38.Rb2 Rd5
39.Ba4± with some small chances for Black to
survive.]
 
32...Bb4 33.Ba7 f5!
This is a very stubborn defence.
[It’s important to drive the white king away from the
d5–pawn. 33...Bc3 34.Ra4! Bb2 (or 34...ba4 35.Rb8
Rb8 36.Bb8 a3 37.d6 a2 38.d7 f5 39.Kf5 Bf6
40.Be5+– ) 35.cb5 Rbc8 36.b6 leaves Black no hope.]
 
34.Kf3
[On 34.Kf5 Bc3 35.Ra4 (35.Bb8 Bb2) 35...Bb2 36.cb5
Nakamura’s brilliant tactical idea is on display with
36...Rb5! 37.Bb5 Rd5 38.Ke6 Re5 39.Kd6 Rb5=]
 
34...Rbc8
[34...Bc3 35.Ra4! Bb2 (35...ba4 36.Rb8 Rb8 37.Bb8 a3
38.d6 a2 39.d7 Bf6 40.Be5+– ) 36.cb5+– and despite
being the exchange ahead, Black may resign as the c6–bishop blocks it out from the sun.]
 
35.cb5 Bb5!
Again Hikaru finds the most resourceful move.
[35...Bc3 36.Ra4 Bb2 37.b6+– ]
 
36.Bb5 Bc3 37.Rab1 Bb2 38.Rb2 Rd5
On the ropes for quite some time, Nakamura has done everything he can. He has even managed to destroy White’s pawn
centre. But now he is left to struggle against the strength of the bishop pair, well supported by the rook.
 
39.Be3??
This huge strategic error marks the turning point of the game. I can’t believe Magnus didn't understand its implications,
so I tend to believe he just missed his opponent's obvious reply in the heat of battle.
[There were a few ways to keep the rook on the board: 39.Ba4± Rc3 40.Ke2 (40.Be3 Rd4) 40...Re5 41.Kd2 Ra3 42.Bb3
Kf8 43.Bd4 Rb5 44.Kc2 a4 45.Bc4 Rb2 46.Kb2+– ; or 39.Rb3± with the idea 39...a4? 40.Ba4 Ra5 41.Bd7+– ]
 
39...Rb8! This forces the exchange of rooks.
 
40.Bc4 Rb2 41.Bd5 Kh8„
White will sorely miss his last rook. Now the black a–pawn, well supported by an active rook, is running fast. The white
king is too far away to stop it, so the bishops must take this responsibility. They are, however, quite awkward in
handling this task and risk running into double attacks. Suddenly it's now anybody’s game.
[41...Kf8 is asking for trouble: 42.Bc5 Ke8 43.Bd4]
 
42.Bd4 Rb1 43.Ke2 a4 44.g3 a3 45.Kd2 h5 46.h4 Kh7 47.Bc4
[47.Kc2 Re1 48.Kb3?? a2! 49.Ka2 Rd1 –+ is one of many traps Carlsen now needs to carefully watch out for.]
 
47...g6 48.Kc2 Re1
[Perhaps it is also possible to cut off the king with 48...Rb8, for example 49.f4 Rb4 50.Kc3 Rb2„]
49.Be3
[An impatient 49.Kb3? is again punished by 49...a2 50.Ka2 Re4 –+]
 
49...f4 Reducing the number of pawns on the kingside to a minimum, Nakamura steers the game towards a draw.
 
50.Bf4
[After the imprudent 50.gf4?! Rh1 51.Kb3 Rh4 White has to deal with another side runner, now even more dangerous:
52.Ka3 Rh1]
 
50...a2 51.Ba2 Re2 52.Kb3 Rf2²
No doubt White is now in the driving seat, but the limited number of pawns makes Black’s task much easier than that of
White.
 
53.Bb1 Re2 54.Kc4 Kg7 55.Kd5 Re1 56.Bc2 Re2 57.Bd3 Re1 58.Be4 Rd1 59.Ke5 Re1 60.Bd2 Re2 61.Bc3 Kh6
62.Bb4 Rf2 63.Bc5 Rf1 64.Bb4 Rf2 65.Be7 Rf1 66.Bf6 Rg1 67.Bg5 Kg7 68.Bf4 Re1 69.Kd5 Rd1 70.Ke6 Re1
71.Ke5
[71.Be5 Kh6 72.Kd5 g5]
 
71...Re2 72.Kd5 Re1 73.Bd3 Kh7 74.Kd4 Kg7 75.Be3 Ra1 76.Ke4 Ra4 77.Kf3 Ra3 78.Bb5 Rb3 79.Be8 Rb1 80.Bc6
Rb4 81.Bd2 Rb6 82.Bc3 Kh6 83.Bd5 Rb1 84.Kf4 Rf1 85.Ke5 Rg1 86.Bd2 Kg7 87.Bf4 Re1 88.Kd6 Kf6 89.Bf3 Kf5
This is typical of Nakamura; he does not stay put but decides to force the matter through.
 
90.Kd5 Rf1 91.Be4 Kg4! 92.Bg6
[On 92.Ke5 Black may go either 92...Re1 93.Kd4 Rg1 or 92...Rg1 93.Bg6 Rg3 94.Bg5 Ra3 95.Bf5 Kg3=]
 
92...Rf4 93.gf4 Kf4 94.Bh5 Kg3 95.Bd1 Kh4
1/2:1/2 Sulskis
 

B51
Nakamura 2814 — Grischuk 2771
Saint Louis 2015

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3

It may seem odd, but it’s no longer possible to surprise children of the 21st century with such stuff. The d3–square is
just a temporary post for the bishop, before White tucks it into c2.
 
5...Ngf6 6.c3
[It’s easy to become superstitious about 6.Re1, having seen the world champion go astray in the same tournament; after
the ordinary usual preliminary of 6...b5 7.c4, Topalov uncorked the astonishing 7...g5! which proved too hard to handle
even for Magnus.]
 
6...b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.Re1 Rc8
[RR 8...e5 Harikrishna 2706 – Nakamura 2789, Wijk aan Zee 2014 – 119/53]
 
9.a4 b4 10.a5

Alexander Grischuk
Obviously Nakamura is very intent on this flank pawn
advance; it serves at least two strategic issues. First of
all, Bd3–c2–a4 may bother the black king. Less
obviously, but no less importantly, it has the benefit of
restricting any access to b6 for Black's pieces,
especially his knight. Moreover, it shouldn’t be
overlooked that the pawn has just advanced closer to its
promotion square! This last benefit, of course, is
hardest to prove, it may take at least 30 moves to
become relevant.
[10.d4?! is too naive as after 10...cd4 11.cd4 Qc7
12.Bd3 Ne4! Black captures the central pawn.]
 
10...Qc7 Thus Grischuk impedes d2–d4 and a slow
manoeuvring game ensues.
 
11.d3 bc3 12.bc3N
[RR 12.Nc3 J. Saranya 2121 – Tsatsalashvili 2318,
Chennai 2011]
 
12...e6
In playing this cautious move, Grischuk apparently
rejected 12...e5 out of concern for the d5– and f5–
squares.
[However, 13.Nbd2 (but 13.c4 Be7 14.Nc3, heading
straight to d5, may be a serious strategic issue.)
13...Be7 14.Nc4 0-0 15.Ne3 Rfe8 16.Nf5 Bf8
shouldn’t be that worrisome after all.]
 
13.h3

Do not be deceived by such innocuous–looking moves. I can assure you that Hikaru had an inner burning desire to wrest
a win from his opponent, who had a half point lead over him in the standings. The win is the only thing that matters for
the professional player and the move count is just irrelevant. It may come in 80 moves or 120; no need to rush! Now the
opponent is fresh and vigilant, but will he still be the same on move 90?
 
Famed for his remarkable fighting abilities, Nakamura now challenges his opponent to a true test of endurance,
deploying his minor pieces on their best available squares in the process. White has foreseen that placing his bishop on
f4 will bother Black, but not himself after ...Nh5. With the h2–square available to retreat the bishop, such a knight jump
loses its sting.
 
13...Be7 14.Bf4 0-0 15.Nbd2 Bc6
[15...Ne5!?; 15...Rfe8 16.Nc4 Bf8]
 
16.Nc4 Bb5 17.Nfd2
[The premature tactics 17.Nd6?! Bd6 18.Bd6 Qd6 19.e5 lead White nowhere after 19...Ne5 20.Ne5 Rfd8=]
 
17...Rfd8 18.Bg3 Ne8 19.Kh2
[19.Kh1 may seem more graceful in conjunction with 18.Bg3, but the text is more in line with Nakamura’s strategy to
wear down his opponent. The king may drop back to h1 later, which will be helpful in keeping Grischuk in suspense for
a longer time.]
 
19...Rb8 20.Ne3 Ne5 21.Qe2 Nc6 22.Nb3 Ne5 23.Nd2 Nc6
Oddly enough, some on the spot commentators took this repetition of moves far too seriously in considering it as a
prelude to a possible handshake. In line with his strategy to wear down his opponent in all possible respects, Nakamura
has consciously allowed the position to repeat twice, so as to be able to disappoint him on the last step. Such
disappointment doesn't make anybody stronger, does it?
 
24.Ndc4! Nf6 25.Kh1 Ne5 26.f4
Allowing his pawn structure to be fractured involves strategic risks, but how can a man’s bravery be asserted if all risks
are rejected? I believe Hikaru thought a draw with an opponent half a point ahead of him would be as humiliating as a
loss, unless the bare kings are left on the board. Currently, however, there is a load of mating material left.
[26.Ne5 de5 27.Nc4 Bc4 28.dc4 Rb2 gives Black an easy game due to the passivity of both white bishops.]
 
26...Nc4 27.dc4
[27.Nc4?! Bc4 28.dc4 e5 29.f5 Rb2„]
 
27...Bc6
28.Nd1
This doesn’t look like an impressive square for a knight, but it may later be transferred to f2, supporting e4. Meanwhile,
the knight takes care of a possible enemy invasion via b2.
[The “brilliant” 28.Nd5? falls short to 28...ed5 29.ed5 Bd7 30.Qe7 Re8 –+

...when even 31.Bh7 Kh7 32.Qf7 doesn't save the ensnared white queen: 32...Rf8 33.Qe7 Rbe8; 28.Ng4 Ng4 29.hg4 e5
30.f5 Bg5³ isn’t worrisome for Grischuk either: 28.e5? de5 29.fe5 Ne4µ]
 
28...g6 29.Bh2 Nh5
[With all the white pieces on the two back ranks, perhaps he could consider 29...e5!? 30.f5 gf5 31.ef5 Kh8 when both
white bishops are well restricted: 32.Nf2 Rg8 33.Ne4 Rb2‚]
 
30.Qe3 Bh4 31.g3 Be7 32.Kg1
With a white bishop ready to ambush from as deep as h2, it’s actually not easy to believe he has an advantage. However,
 Grischuk refuses to act and thus allows his opponent time to redeploy his minor pieces.
 
32...Re8
[32...e5 33.f5 gf5 (33...Kg7 34.Rf1) 34.Qh6 Nf6 35.Ne3 Kh8 36.Nf5 Rg8 must be OK for Black; the queen will get
kicked out by Rg6 on the next move.]
 
33.e5
White crosses the middle line despite the evident risks on the long diagonal and d–file. On the other hand, a pending
...e6–e5 with the subsequent restriction of the c2–bishop will no longer be an issue. Importantly as well, both the e7–
bishop and the f6–knight are denied access to f6.
 
33...Ng7 34.g4

34...f5?!
Subject to nagging pressure, Grischuk now starts weakening his king.
[After 34...de5 35.fe5 Ba8 36.Nf2 (36.Ra2 Qc6; 36.Qh6 Bf8) 36...Rb2 37.Be4 Bh4 38.Bg3 Bg3 39.Qg3 f5 40.Ba8
Ra8÷ the white knight is unlikely to get to f6 or d6 anytime soon.]
 
35.ef6 Bf6 36.Nf2 Bh4 37.Re2 Bf2 38.Rf2 Rf8 39.Bg3²
Now White is indeed better. He’s got two bishops, while the black e6– and d6–pawns will be kept under pressure by
White’s major pieces. This wouldn’t be too convincing an argument though, if it were not for the possibility of
directing fire on the black king by h3–h4–h5!
 
39...Rbe8 40.Kh2 Rf7 41.Rd1 Rd7 42.Rfd2 Qd8 43.h4!‚ Rf8 44.Rf2
[44.h5 gh5 45.Qd3 Ne8]
 
44...Kh8
[44...Qa5 45.h5 gh5 46.f5 ef5 47.gf5 Re8 48.Qh6 Qc3 49.f6 Ne6 50.Rd6 Qa1 51.Rc6+– ]
 
45.Rb1
This is a decision by a true fighter. Threatening an invasion on b6, Nakamura forces Grischuk to take his pawn on a5.
The moment the black queen gets deflected away from his king, the American grandmaster launches a massive attack
on him.
 
45...Qa5

46.h5! Here we are! A very dangerous attack, incited by the two bishops, commences well past the first time control!
 
46...gh5 47.f5! ef5
[47...hg4 48.fe6 Rf2 49.Qf2 Rd8 50.e7 Re8 51.Qf8+– ]
 
48.gf5 Qd8
Grischuk urgently swings back his queen, but is not able to prevent a terrifying advance of the bold enemy pawn.
[48...Re8 49.Qh6 Qc3 50.f6 seems absolutely crushing, but it might be in appearance only. Black still has 50...Ne6:

A) 51.Bd6 Qd4;
B) 51.Rb3:
B1) 51...Qc4 52.Bg6 (52.Qh5‚) 52...Qb3 53.f7 Rf7 54.Rf7 Qb2 55.Rf2 Qg7=;
B2) 51...Qe1 52.Rb1 Qc3= is a repetition to which neither player could object;
 
C) 51.Qh5 Rg8 52.Rg1 Ng5;
 
D) 51.f7 is met by 51...Rf7! 52.Rf7 Qc2„ 53.Rf2 Qb1 54.Qf6 Kg8 (but not 54...Ng7?? 55.Qf8!) 55.Qf7 Kh8 56.Qf6
drawing.]
 
49.f6! Ne8
[49...Rf6 loses to 50.Rf6 Qf6 51.Rb8! Rd8 52.Qd3 (52.Qf4 Qe7) 52...Kg8 53.Qh7 Kf7 54.Rd8 Qd8 55.Bg6 Ke6
56.Qg7+– ]
 
50.Bh4! Rdf7
[50...Nf6? is suicidal: 51.Rf6 Rf6 52.Bf6 Qf6 53.Qe8 Kg7 54.Rg1 Kh6 55.Qe3]
 
51.Qh6 Rg8
With both kings exposed, a heated battle is now raging.
[The time to launch a counterattack hasn’t come yet: 51...d5?! 52.Bh7! Qd6 53.Bg3 Rh7 54.Bd6 Rh6 55.Bf8 Rf6
56.Bc5±]
 
52.Re1
[On 52.Qh5 d5 loses to 53.Qf7 Qd6 54.Kh3 Bd7 55.Bf5 Bf5 56.Rf5+– ; But with 52...Qc7 Black still struggles.]

52...d5!„ Grischuk now launches a dangerous counterattack.

 
53.Qh5
[53.Re7 Qd6 54.Qf4 Qf4 55.Rf4 Re7 56.fe7 Rg4]
 
53...Qd6 54.Re5
[Nakamura perilously self–pins the rook, but keeps Black under violent pressure; 54.Qe5 Rg4÷]
 
54...d4
[54...Rg4 55.Qf7 Qe5 56.Kh3 Rh4 57.Kh4+– is one of many amazing lines where White is winning.]
 
55.cd4 This allows Black to bring in his queen with great effect.
[The alternative is 55.Bg3 with a maze of breathtaking variations, which are virtually impossible to work through in
time pressure, for example:
A) 55...Nf6 56.Qf7 (Perhaps it makes sense to suppress any instinct to capture and to sac an exchange instead with
56.Rf6!? Qf6 57.Rf5. It now seems that White has the last laugh, but 57...Qg7! 58.Be5 Qe5! turns the tables yet again
after 59.Re5 Rf2 60.Kh3 Bg2 –+) 56...Ng4 57.Kg1 Qh6!! brings us to another amazing position.

Black is a rook down, but it's easy to go wrong for White with limited time on his clock;
 
B) 55...Rg3 56.Qf7 d3 (This is the most dangerous, but other lines are spectacular as well: 56...Rg6 57.Qe7 Rh6
58.Kg3; 56...Rg2 57.Kh3! Rg3 58.Kh4! d3 59.Bd3! Qd3 60.Qf8 Rg8 61.Qg8! Kg8 62.f7) 57.Qe7 Qe7 58.Re7 dc2
59.f7 c1=Q 60.Re8 Be8 61.fe8Q Rg8 62.Qe5+– ]
 
55...Qd4 56.Re7
Great credit must be given to Nakamura for his fearless drive towards a win. He leaves his king to take care of himself!
 
56...Re7
[56...Qa1? loses on the spot to 57.Qh7! Rh7 58.Rh7#; 56...Rg4 57.Qh7! Rh7 58.Rh7 Kg8 59.f7 Kf8 60.fe8=R! Ke8
61.Re7 Kd8 62.Rf8 Be8 63.Rfe8# Quite naturally, Black gave in to a slightly unusual yet powerful attack by three
white rooks!; On 56...Qd6 Grischuk perhaps reckoned on 57.Qe5 Qe5 58.Re5 Rg4 59.Kh3 Now after 59...Bd7

White shouldn’t rush with the obvious 60.Re8? (Instead he can play 60.Bf5±) due to the unobvious 60...Rg8!!µ]
 
57.fe7 Qd6
Naturally enough, Grischuk opens fire on the white king, determined to shoot as many bullets as he can. Most humans,
myself included, would have done the same.
[However, both players missed the inhuman 57...Qg7!

Nakamura admitted he would have been taken aback by this silent move. 58.Bg5 Qe5 59.Kh3 Qc3:
 
A) 60.Kh4 Qc4 61.Bf4 Nf6 (61...Rg7) 62.Qe5;
 
B) 60.Kh2=]
 
58.Kh3! The king runs through the fire.
 
58...Bd7
[On 58...Qe6 only 59.Qf5 keeps the game going (59.Bf5? Qe3 60.Kh2 Qe5= is just a draw.) 59...Qe3 60.Kh2 Qh6
61.Qe5 Ng7 62.Rf4]
 
59.Bf5 Qd3 60.Rf3
He did it!
 
60...Bf5 61.Qf5 Qf5
61...Qd4 62.Bg3+– ]
 
62.Rf5+–

Due to the mighty pawn on e7, White is now winning.

 
62...Kg7 63.Bg3
The text dashes any hopes the knight might have had of joining in the game. Instead of the c5–pawn, Nakamura wants
his rook on f8 for complete control.
[However, 63.Rc5 doesn’t compromise the win either: 63...Nd6 (or 63...Kf7 64.Rf5 Ke6 65.Rf8) 64.Rd5 Nc4 65.Rg5]
 
63...h6 64.Be5 Kh7 65.Rf7 Kg6 66.Rf8!
That’s it!
 
66...Kh7 67.Bf4 a5 68.Bh6
[I don't actually think this pawn is so important: 68.Be3 a4 69.Bc5+– followed by the advance of the c-pawn, but can
well understand the instincts of a man who was in a must-win situation.]
 
68...a4
[On 68...Rg6 White should avoid 69.Re8? (Instead 69.Bc1 wins easily.) 69...Rh6 70.Kg4 Re6]
 
69.Be3 a3 70.Bc5 a2 71.Bd4 Nc7 72.Ba1
[White invites 72...Rg1 73.Rh8 Kg6 74.Rg8 Kf7 75.Rg1]
 
72...Ne8 73.c5 Nc7 74.c6
Black is paralyzed.
 
74...Ne8 75.Kh4
This is the ultimate king advance.
 
75...Nc7 76.Kh5 Ne8

77.c7!
What a wonderful end to the Sinquefield Cup 2015, isn’t it?
[77.Rf7 Rg7! 78.Rf8 Re7 (78...Rg8) 79.Rh8#]
1 : 0 Sulskis

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WILD COMPLICATIONS IN ULTRA-SOLID OPENINGS
The Sinquefield Cup was an extraordinary super-tournament in that most of the
games were not only very sharp but also decisive.

It was truly a gladiatorial feast for the hungry chess public, starting from the very first round where not a single game
ended in a draw. But why was there so much bloodthirsty fighting in the 2015 Sinquefield Cup? In my opinion there
were a couple of reasons: the influence of the present world champion and the inherent dynamics of the tournament.
 
• Almost all the players in this tournament prefer dynamic positions, so their opening choices were usually based on that
preference. In their games against Fabiano Caruana, for example, Alexander Grischuk and Levon Aronian were able to
introduce wild complications even into such a solid opening as the Queen’s Gambit.
• Because of the format of this competition, failure in previous stages still leaves chances for winning the Series, even if
it means taking a lot of risks in the remaining events. For instance, the victory of Levon Aronian makes him one of
leaders in the Grand Chess Tour 2015, even though the previous tournament in Norway was one of the worst in his
career.

C65
Topalov 2816 — Nakamura 2814
Saint Louis 2015

After beating Magnus Carlsen in fine style, Topalov

was able to produce excellent dynamic play against
Nakamura. Unfortunately, Veselin didn’t manage to
win any more games in the event and eventually ended
the tournament with 50%. Nevertheless, Topalov is still
leading in the Grand Chess Tour.
 
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
The ultra-solid Berlin Wall is also a part of Topalov's
repertoire against 1.e4.
 
4.d3 Bc5 5.Nbd2
This is one of many possible setups here.
 
5...d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 Ne7
Vladimir Kramnik introduced this early knight transfer to g6 – a handling of the position that has gained a lot of
popularity.
 
8.d4 ed4 9.cd4 Bb6 10.Re1 Ng6
Quite a rare continuation.
[A few days later Topalov reached this position again, and Caruana went for the most popular line: 10...Bg4 11.h3 Bh5
12.Qb3 (RR 12.a3 Vachier-Lagrave 2754 – Karjakin 2753, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015 – 124/109) 12...d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.a4
a5 15.Qd1 Nb8 16.Nb3 Nbc6 17.Bg5 h6N (17...Nb4 18.Rc1 h6 19.Bh4 c6 20.Be2 Qc7 21.g4 Bg6„ Vachier-Lagrave
2758 – Leko 2723, Beijing (rapid) 2014) 18.Bh4 Qc8 19.g4 Bg6 20.Rc1 Bh7 21.Bg3 Nb4„ Topalov 2816 – Caruana
2808, Saint Louis 2015]
 
11.h3 The g4 square is no longer available for Black’s queen’s bishop, so he should find another way to activate it.
 
11...c6 12.Bd3 Nh5
Hikaru goes for the most ambitious plan. Opening up the f-file may yield Black a lot of counterplay and neutralize
White’s space advantage.
[12...Be6 13.Nf1 Nh5 14.Bc2 Nhf4 15.Ng3 Ba5 16.Bd2 Bd2 17.Qd2²]
 
13.Nc4 Bc7
14.d5!N
With this principled approach, White grabs space and leaves both Black’s bishops in a state of passivity. Topalov’s
novelty seems to be the only way to fight for an advantage.
[In an earlier game Black didn’t experience any problems after 14.Ne3 Nhf4 15.Bc2 d5= Abrahamyan 2322 –
Abdumalik 2379, Chengdu (wtc) 2015]
 
14...Nhf4 15.Bf1
[15.Bc2 cd5 16.ed5 b5 17.Ne3 Bb6„]
 
15...f5?!
The text is a consistent continuation, but it looks like Hikaru has underestimated his opponent's response.
[Correct is 15...cd5 16.ed5 b5 17.Ne3 Bd7„ …18... Bb6]

16.e5! A powerful positional sacrifice.

[After 16.ef5?! Bf5 17.dc6 bc6³ Black has the potential for a dangerous attack.]
 
16...Nd5
Accepting the challenge is practically forced.
[Black’s position looks really poor in case of 16...de5 17.d6 Bb8 18.Bf4 Nf4 19.g3Nd5 20.Re5±]
Veselin Topalov
17.ed6
[Another option to consider is 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.ed6 Bd6
19.Nd6 Qd6 20.Qb3©, but Topalov prefers to put his
dark-square bishop on the long diagonal.]
 
17...Bd6 18.Nd6 Qd6 19.b3
White has full compensation for the pawn. The long
diagonal is seriously exposed by the ...f7–f5 advance,
so the black king is in permanent danger.
 
19...Bd7
Nakamura commits one more inaccuracy.
[Also inferior is 19...f4 20.Bb2 Bf5 21.Qd4 Rf7
22.Bc4ƒ; A better way to organize the defensive setup
is 19...Qf6! 20.Ba3 Rd8 21.Qc2 h6 22.Bb2 Qf7]
 
20.Bb2 Rfe8
[The alternative 20...Rae8 doesn’t really change the
character of the position: 21.Qd4 Qf6 22.Qd2 Qd8
23.Bc4 Be6 24.Rad1ƒ]
 
21.Qd4 Qf6 22.Qd2 Qd6
[Black’s position is also rather unpleasant after 22...Qf8
23.Bc4 Be6 24.Nd4 Qf7 25.Rad1ƒ]
 
23.Bc4 h6
[The lesser evil is 23...Be6 24.Qd4 (24.Nd4!?) 24...Qd7
25.Ng5 Nf8 26.Re5 h6 27.Ne6 Ne6 28.Bd5 (28.Qd3
Nef4 29.Qf5 Qf5 30.Rf5 Re4²) 28...cd5 29.Rd5 Qf7²
White has recovered the pawn but the resulting
simplification definitely suits Black.]
 
24.Qd4 Qf6
Black cannot keep the extra pawn anyway, but the arising endgame is much more unpleasant now.
[Hikaru reasonably deviates from the difficult endgame following 24...Re7 25.Re7 Qe7 26.Bd5 cd5 27.Qd5 Be6
28.Qd4±]
 
25.Qf6 gf6 26.Bf6 Re1
[Possibly Black’s task is somewhat easier after 26...b5!? 27.Bd5 cd5 28.Re8 Re8 29.Rd1 Kf7 For instance, 30.Bb2 Re2
31.Rd5 Be6 32.Rd2 Rd2 33.Nd2 Bd5±]
 
27.Re1 Re8 28.Rd1
[Topalov avoids further simplifications, though 28.Re8 Be8 29.Bb2± also yields White good winning chances.]
 
28...Be6 29.Nd4
[29.Bb2!? Kf7 30.Nd4±]
 
29...Kf7 30.Ne6 Re6 31.Bd4
Obviously, White’s bishops are much stronger than Black’s knights. However, it isn’t easy to make progress, since
Black’s position has no clear weaknesses.
 
31...a6 32.Kf1 Ngf4

33.b4!
White secures the a2-g8 diagonal for the light-square bishop.
[Black’s task is much easier after 33.Be3 b5 34.Bf4 bc4 35.Bd2 cb3 36.ab3 Kg6²]
 
33...Re4 34.f3 Re8 35.g3 Ne6
[35...b5 36.Bb3 Ne6 37.Bf2 Nb4 38.Rd6±]
 
36.Bf2 Rd8 37.Re1 f4?!
Until now Nakamura was defending quite well, but this impatient decision invites more troubles.
[¹ 37...h5 38.Re5 Kf6]
 
38.g4 Ng5 39.Kg2 Re8 40.Rd1
The right choice.
[It is not so easy to make progress after 40.Bd5 cd5 41.Re8 Ke8 42.h4 Ne6 43.Kf1 Kf7±]
 
40...Re5
[Again, the modest 40...Rd8 is better.]
 
41.Bd4 Re8 42.h4
[Also deserving serious attention is 42.Bb6!? Rc8 43.h4 Ne6 44.Bd5 cd5 45.Rd5 Rc2 46.Kf1±]
 
42...Ne6 43.Bf2 Nec7 44.h5
[The main idea behind this move is to free the g5–square for the king; 44.Bc5!?]
 
44...Kf6 45.Kh3 b5
Practically forced – Black can hardly sit and wait.
 
46.Bd4
46...Kg5? The decisive mistake!
[Black can retain decent drawing chances after 46...Kf7! 47.Bd5 Nd5 48.Rc1 Re6]
 
47.Bd5?!
[In turn, Topalov commits a serious inaccuracy; 47.Bb3! wins on the spot: 47...Nb4 (47...Re2 48.Rc1 Ne7 49.Rc5 Ncd5
50.Bd5 cd5 51.Rc7+–) 48.Bf2 Kf6 49.Bh4 Ke5 50.Bf7! Ra8 51.Re1 Kd4 52.Re4 Kc3 53.Be1+–]
 
47...Nd5 48.Rc1 Re6 49.Rc5 Rd6 50.Bg7 Re6 51.Bd4 Rd6 52.a3!
Topalov’s position still seems winning, but now it requires a lot of technical work.
 
52...Re6 53.Rc1 Ne7 54.Bf2 Kf6 55.Bh4 Kf7
[55...Kg7 56.Be7 Re7 57.g5! hg5 58.Rc6 Re3 (58...a5 59.Kg4 a4 60.h6 Kh7 61.Kh5 Rd7 62.Rc5 Rb7 63.Rg5+–)
59.Kg4 Ra3 60.h6 Kh8 61.Kh5 Rd3 62.Ra6 Kh7 63.Ra7 Kh8 64.Rb7+–]
 
56.g5
[There is another good way: 56.Be7!? Ke7 57.g5! hg5 58.Kg4 Kf6 59.Rc3 Rd6 60.Rc5 Re6 61.Rg5 Re3 62.Kf4 Ra3
63.h6+–]
 
56...hg5 57.Bg5 Nd5 58.Kg4 Kg7
[The most stubborn is 58...Rd6, though after 59.Kf5! (It’s better not to enter into a rook ending with 59.Bf4?! Nf4
60.Kf4 Rd3 61.Rg1 Rd4 62.Ke3 Rh4 63.Rc1 a5! 64.ba5 Ra4 65.Rc6 Ra3 66.Kf4 Ra5 and White’s win is problematic.)
59...Re6 60.Rh1 Rd6 61.h6 Kg8 62.Rh2 and White should be able to convert his advantage into a full point.]
 
59.Bf4 Nf4 60.Kf4
This version of the endgame is much worse for Black.
 
60...Rd6 61.Rc3! Kf6
[Also hopeless is 61...Rd4 62.Kg5 Rd5 63.Kg4 Rd6 64.f4 Kf6 65.Re3 Rd8 66.h6+–]
 
62.Kg4+– a5 63.ba5
The rest is quite easy for Topalov.
 
63...Rd4 64.f4 Ra4 65.Rc6 Kg7 66.a6 Ra3 67.f5 b4 68.f6 Kf7 69.h6 Kg6 70.Rc8 b3 71.Rg8 Kf7 72.h7 Ra4 73.Kf3
1 : 0 Roiz
 

E20
wesley So 2779 — Aronian 2765
Saint Louis 2015

Levon Aronian was far from his best in a couple of recent tournaments, but this time his victory was fully deserved. His
performance was full of interesting opening ideas, deep positional understanding, a sense of dynamism, and confidence.
The following game is one of Aronian’s best in the event.
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3
This is one of the sharpest lines in the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
 
4...c5 5.d5 0-0 6.e4 d6 7.Nge2
[7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Nge2 Ne5 9.Ng3 ed5 10.cd5 Bd7 11.a3 Ba5 12.Be2 b5 13.0-0 c4 14.Be3 Bb6„ Nakamura 2772 –
Carlsen 2881, Shamkir 2014 – 120/180]
 
7...a6!?
The text is quite a rare move, which was probably prepared by Levon Aronian at home.
[7...ed5 8.cd5 Nbd7 leads to long, strategic play as in the Benoni.]
 
8.a4
[In case of 8.Ng3 b5 9.Be2 bc4 10.Bc4 (10.0-0 Bc3 11.bc3 ed5 12.ed5 Nbd7 makes White’s centre very unstable, so
Black is doing well here.) 10...ed5 11.Bd5 Nd5 12.Qd5 Ra7 13.0-0 Be6 14.Qd3 Nc6]

8...Ba5!N
Levon comes up with a strong novelty.
[Once again, Black deviates from releasing the pressure in the centre: 8...ed5 9.cd5 Nbd7 10.Ng3 Rb8 11.Be2 b5 12.ab5
ab5 13.0-0 c4„ Bandza 2380 – Ilinsky 2350, Prague 1990]
 
9.Bd2?!
Surprised at a very early stage of the game, Wesley chooses a modest continuation. However, delaying the development
of the kingside pieces leads to unfavourable consequences.
[Hardly better is 9.Bg5?! h6 10.Bh4 ed5 11.cd5 Nbd7³ and White suffers from the misplaced knight on e2; Obviously,
Black's idea is to meet 9.Ng3 with 9...b5! Still, White has to go for that, following with 10.Be2! (The “greedy” 10.de6
Be6 11.cb5 d5 12.ed5 Nd5 13.Bd2 c4 allows Black to seize the initiative.)]
 
9...ed5 10.cd5 Nh5!
Once again, Black’s move is aimed at preventing White from putting his knight on g3.
 
11.g3
White accepts the failure of his setup.
[The drawback of the bishop’s placement on d2 is obvious now, since 11.g4? loses on the spot to 11...Qh4 –+; Hardly
better is 11.Be3 (or 11.Qc2 f5 12.0-0-0 b5ƒ) 11...f5 12.ef5 Rf5 (12...Nd7!?) 13.Ng3 Re5 14.Nge4 Bf5 15.Bd3 c4
16.Bc2 Bb6³]
 
11...Nd7!
[Black correctly rejects 11...f5 12.Bg2 Nf6 13.0-0 fe4 14.Nf4! ef3 15.Bf3, and White gets full compensation for the
missing pawn.]
 
12.Bg2 b5!
Aronian energetically develops his initiative.
 
13.g4?!
This is a brave decision; however, as usually happens, such an active move only invites more problems.
[It is extremely dangerous to grab a pawn: 13.ab5?! ab5 14.Nb5 Bd2 15.Kd2 Ba6 16.Nec3 Qb6ƒ; However, the lesser
evil is 13.Qc2 b4 14.Nd1 f5 15.Nf2³]
 
13...b4
[Possibly it is better to change the order of moves: 13...Qh4! 14.Kf1 b4 and it looks like White has nothing better than
15.Nb1, transposing to the text.]
 
14.Nb1?!
Wesley plays with fire in this game!
[White’s task is easier with 14.gh5 bc3 15.bc3 Qh4 16.Ng3 Ne5 17.0-0 Rb8 18.Rb1 Bd7³]
 
14...Qh4 15.Kf1
15...Ne5!
Aronian comes up with excellent dynamic play! He manages to find the best way of exploiting the lack of harmony in
White’s camp.
 
16.Be1?!
Playing such a horrible position is sheer punishment for a human player, so it's not surprising that So fails to find the
best defence. [Better is 16.gh5 f5 17.Be1 Qe7 18.f4 fe4 19.h3! This precise move enables White to stay in the game,
though Black’s initiative is very powerful after 19...c4 20.Nd2 e3 21.Nf3 Nd3ƒ]
 
16...Qf6 17.gh5 Nf3
Compared with the previous line, White’s king is much more exposed now.
 
18.Bf2 Bg4
[The materialistic approach doesn’t suit Levon’s style, though it definitely deserves attention: 18...Qb2!? 19.Bf3 Qa1
20.Kg2 f5 21.Nd2 Qd1 22.Rd1 fe4 23.Ne4µ]
19.Qc1?
[This natural unpinning move turns out to be the decisive mistake. It is necessary to take care of development with
19.h3 Bh5 20.Nd2 Nd4 (20...Ne5!? 21.Qb3 c4 22.Qe3 Rac8ƒ) 21.e5! de5 22.Ne4 Qb6 23.N4g3 Bg6ƒ]
 
19...Nd4
Levon’s way of handling the position is original and effective!
[The more natural 19...Ne5 20.Qe3 Nc4 21.Qb3 Ne3 22.Qe3 Qb2 23.Bf3 f5! –+ would be the choice of most players.]
 
20.Nd4 cd4
Opening up the c-file offers Black more attacking possibilities.
 
21.e5 de5
[Also good enough is 21...Qf5 and if 22.Nd2 Rac8 23.Qe1 then 23...b3! 24.h3 Qd3 25.Kg1 Be2 –+]
 
22.Nd2 Rac8 23.Qb1
[Alas, this awkward retreat is forced: 23.Qe1 b3–+]
 
23...b3 24.Nb3 Bb6
[Also possible is 24...d3 25.Qd3 Bb6 26.Qd2 e4 27.Kg1 e3 28.Be3 Rc2–+]
 
25.a5 Ba7
White’s position desperately lacks any harmony, so the extra piece has no value.
 
26.Kg1 Bf5 27.Be4
[27.Qe1 e4 28.h3 Rc2 29.Rh2 Rb2 –+]
27...Qg5 28.Kf1 Qf4
[29.Bf5 d3]
An impressive game by Levon Aronian! Wesley’s opening preparation unfortunately turned out to be unsatisfactory for
such a strong tournament.
0 : 1 Roiz
 

E99
Wesley So 2779 — Nakamura 2814
Saint Louis 2015

 
As usual, Nakamura was one of the uncompromising players in the event. He was ready to take a lot of risks and endure
an inferior position in order to fight for a win. Undoubtedly, Hikaru’s tactical skills, together with decent theoretical
preparation, make him exceptionally dangerous against any player!
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5
The chosen opening line usually leads to very sharp ideas, where both competitors have to play very energetically.
 
13.Nd3
This move is aimed at opening up the c-file as soon as possible.
 
13...Ng6 14.c5
[Previously, Wesley has also tried 14.g4 and 14.Rc1]
 
14...Nf6 The knight has done its job on d7, so it comes back in order to support the thematic ...g5–g4 advance.
 
15.Rc1
This position is very tricky. White is much better from the strategic point of view, but his king is in permanent danger.
 
15...Rf7
The f8–square is vacated for the bishop. Black’s setup is quite flexible.
 
16.Kh1
[Another way of handling the position is 16.a4 Bf8 17.a5 White seizes even more space on the queenside, but in many
cases Black can afford to give up a pawn:

A) 17...Rg7 18.cd6 (RR 18.b4 Zhou Jianchao 2660 – Ding Liren 2637, China (ch) 2011 – 111/(301)) 18...Bd6 19.Nc5
Nf8 20.Qb3 g4„ Volokitin 2678 – Kotronias 2599, Moscow 2011;
 
B) 17...h5 18.cd6 cd6 19.Nb5 g4 20.Na7 Bd7 21.Qb3 g3 22.Bb6 Qe7 23.Rc7 Ne8 24.Rd7 gh2 25.Kh1 Qd7„ Meier
2656 – Nakamura 2770, Dortmund 2011]
 
16...h5 17.cd6?!
Releasing the pressure in the centre gives Black more defensive resources on the queenside.
[Most probably, White’s chances in this line are connected with the following complex position: 17.Nb5! a6 (17...g4
18.cd6 cd6 19.Qc2 g3 20.Nc7 Rc7 21.Qc7 Qc7 22.Rc7 gf2 23.Rfc1² Shirov 2701 – Bacrot 2729, Bilbao 2014 –
122/200) 18.Na3 Bf8 19.cd6 Bd6 20.Nc4 g4„ Further practical tests are required for a clear assessment here.]
 
17...cd6 18.Nb5 a6 19.Na3N
[19.Na7?! Bd7 20.Qb3 g4 21.Qb6 Qb6 22.Bb6 h4³ ×Na7 Kjartansson 2447 – Kovalev 2540, Riga 2015]
19...b5!
The light-square bishop is one of Black’s most important attackers, so it definitely makes sense to avoid its possible
exchange.
 
20.Rc6?!
It's hard to believe, but White’s position seems very difficult after this inaccuracy.
[Also, transferring the knight to c6 takes a long time and yields Black excellent counterplay: 20.Nb4 g4 21.Nc6 Qe8
22.Nc2 h4„, but this has to be a better choice for Wesley.]
 
20...g4
Most of White’s pieces are stuck on the opposite side of the board, so the attack is getting very dangerous.
 
21.Qc2
[21.Nb4 g3 22.Bb6 Qf8ƒ]
 
21...Qf8
[Also possible is 21...Bb7, but the rook on c6 can hardly pose Black any problems, since White’s forces cannot support
it. At the same time, the impatient 21...h4?! 22.Bb6 Qf8 23.fg4 Ng4 24.h3 Nf6 25.Bf3² allows White to stabilize the
situation on the kingside.]
 
22.Rc1
[All White’s heavy pieces are quite useless along the c-file, but what else can he do? 22.Nb4 h4 23.Be1 h3 24.gh3 g3‚]
 
22...Bd7 23.Rc7
[23.Nb4 h4 24.Ra6 Ra6 25.Na6 h3‚; 23.Rb6 h4 24.Qc7 g3]
23...Bh6!
[Nakamura’s move is stronger than 23...h4 24.Be1 h3 25.gh3 gf3 26.Bf3 Bh3 27.Qf2, when White's position is
extremely dangerous, though there is nothing concrete yet.]
 Wesley So

24.Be1
[24.Bf1 h4 25.h3 gf3 26.gf3 Nh5‚]
 
24...h4
Now everything is ready for a direct attack.
 
25.fg4
This loses by force, but there is no choice.
25...f3!
Nakamura plays a brilliant move.
 
26.gf3 Ne4!
Of course, Black’s previous move was connected with this tactical shot.
 
27.Rd1
[The knight is poison: 27.fe4 Rf1 28.Kg2 Be3!! 29.Bf1 h3 30.Kg3 Qf1–+; Also hopeless are 27.Rd7 Rf3 28.Bf3 Qf3
29.Qg2 Qd3 –+; and 27.Nb4 Rf3 28.Bd2 Nf2 29.Kg1 e4 –+]
 
27...Rf3 28.Rd7 Rf1 29.Kg2

29...Be3
[An effective end to this excellent game could be 29...h3! 30.Kh3 Rf2 31.Bf2 Qf2! 32.Nf2 Nf4 33.Kh4 Bg5# But
 Black didn't spoil anything.]
 
30.Bg3
[30.Bf1 h3 –+]
 
30...hg3 All Black's pieces are still in the attack. The rest is just agony.
 
31.Rf1 Nh4 32.Kh3 Qh6 33.g5 Ng5 34.Kg4
[34.Kg3 Nf5 35.Rf5 Qh3#]
 
34...Nhf3 35.Nf2 Qh4 36.Kf5 Rf8 37.Kg6

37...Rf6
Not the only, but the most beautiful way to checkmate.
 
38.Kf6 Ne4 39.Kg6 Qg5#
This was a painful loss for Wesley So. The main cause was his unsuccessful opening preparation. Still, Hikaru’s way of
developing the attack makes a big impression!
0 : 1 Roiz
 

B90

Carlsen 2853 — Wesley So 2779
Saint Louis 2015

After losing a disappointing game against Topalov in the first round, the world champion was able to recover and score
a couple of wins. The following game was the most impressive among Carlsen’s victories. Unfortunately for Magnus, a
further defeat against Grischuk denied him any chance of fighting for 1st place and catch Aronian, who was the
undisputed winner of the Sinquifield Cup.
 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3
This time Magnus doesn’t mind entering into a complex and long theoretical line. 6.g3 was Carlsen’s choice against
Grischuk in Norway. Carlsen 2876 – Grischuk 2781, Stavanger 2015.
 
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7
Nowadays 8...h5 is the popular continuation at high-level competitions.
 
9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0
[10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 Bd5 12.ed5 Nb6 13.Bb6 Qb6 was extremely popular some time ago.]
 
10...Be7 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Bd5 13.ed5

13...Nb6
[A serious positional mistake is 13...a5? 14.g5 Nh5 15.Bb5 0-0 (15...a4 16.Nc5! dc5 17.d6±) 16.Kb1±, since White
gets full control over the light squares.]
 
14.Na5
[The principled alternative 14.Qb4 Nfd5 15.Bb6 Nb6 16.f4 also leads to a very complex position, where Black has to
play very precisely in order to maintain the balance.]
 
14...Nbd5 15.Nc4
White deviates from winning the pawn back by means of 15.Nc6 in order to take control over d5.
[After 15...Qc7 16.Nb4 (Black is doing reasonably well after 16.Ne7 Ne3 17.Qe3 Ke7) 16...Nb4 17.Qb4 0-0 18.Qb6
(18.g5 Rfc8 19.Qa4? Rab8 20.Bd3 Nd7‚ Svidler 2728 – Karjakin 2678, Wijk aan Zee 2007 – 99/170) 18...Qc8 19.g5
Nd7„ Black had decent counterplay. Inarkiev 2656 – Sjugirov 2562, Budva 2009 – 105/244]
 
15...Ne3
[Exposing the kingside pawn structure by means of 15...h6 cannot be recommended: 16.h4 Ne3 17.Ne3 d5 18.Nd5 Nd5
19.Qd5 Qd5 20.Rd5 Bf6 21.Ra5² Dominguez 2695 – Predojevic 2651, Sarajevo 2008 – 103/169]
 
16.Ne3 0-0 17.Bc4N
Carlsen comes up with a logical novelty, but it hardly poses Black serious problems.
[In two preceding games White went for 17.h4 a5 18.Kb1 (18.g5!? Nh5 19.Nd5 Rc8 20.Kb1 Rc5 21.Bh3©) 18...Rc8
19.Bd3 Rc5 20.Nf5 As tournament practice shows, White has sufficient compensation for a pawn, but hardly more:
20...Nd5
A) 21.Rhe1 Kh8 22.Bc4?! (¹22.Be4 Nf4 23.Ne7 Qe7 24.Qd6 Qd6 25.Rd6 g6=) 22...Nc3 23.bc3 Rc4³ Shomoev 2571
– Bodnaruk 2425, Saint Petersburg 2012;
 
B) 21.Be4 Nf4 22.Ne7 Qe7 23.Qd6 Qd6 24.Rd6 h5„]
 
Magnus Carlsen
17...Nd7
[A standard way to activate the bishop by means of
17...d5 18.Qe2 (18.Nd5 Nd5 19.Qd5 Bg5 20.Kb1 Qc7
21.h4 Bf4=) 18...d4 19.Nf5 offers White some
initiative: 19...g6 20.Nh6 (20.Ne7 Qe7 21.Rd4 Qc7
22.Rdd1 a5=) 20...Kg7 21.Nf7 (21.Qe5 Kh6 22.g5
Kg7 23.Rd4 Qb6 24.Rd7 Rac8 25.b3 Rc5 26.Qd4 Rd8
27.gf6 Qf6 28.Qf6 Kf6=) 21...Rf7 22.Qe5 Rc8 23.Bf7
Kf7 24.Rd4 Qc7 25.Qe2²;
However, it is possible to postpone the transfer of the
knight and play: 17...Rc8!? 18.Kb1 (18.Ba6?! b3
19.ab3 Ra8ƒ) 18...a5 19.Bb3 Nd7 20.Nf5 Nc5„]
 
18.h4 It definitely makes sense to reduce the activity of
Black’s bishop.
 
18...a5 19.g5
[The more aggressive 19.Nf5 would only simplify
matters after 19...Nb6 20.Bb5 d5 21.Bc6 Rc8 22.Bd5
Nd5 23.Qd5 Qc7=]
 
19...Rc8
[19...Nb6 20.Bd5 Rc8 21.Kb1 transposes to the text.]
 
20.Bd5 Nb6 21.Kb1
White's plan is based on opening up the f-file.
 
 21...Qc7
[The prophylactic 21...Kh8!? 22.Rhf1 Nd5 23.Nd5 f6
24.f4 fg5 25.fg5 Rf1 26.Rf1 Qd7 27.b3 Qe6 leads to a
complex position where White has full positional
compensation, but Black is very solid.]
 
22.Rhf1 Nd5
[22...Qc5!? 23.f4 Nd5 24.Nd5 Bd8 leads to the same type of position, but the queen is somewhat more active on c5.]
 
23.Nd5 Qb7 24.f4 f5
[This decision is practically forced; too passive is 24...Bd8?! 25.h5 (25.fe5 de5 26.Rf5 a4 27.Re5 b3„) 25...a4 26.h6 g6
(26...b3 27.cb3 ab3 28.hg7 ba2 29.Ka1 Re8 30.Qh2+–) 27.Nb4 a3 28.b3 ef4 29.Nd5 Bg5 30.Qg2 Qc6 31.Rf4±]
25.Qe3! In accordance with his style, Carlsen improves his position step by step. Moreover, from a psychological point
of view, Wesley has a tough task ahead since he has no active plans readily available.
 
25...e4 Releasing the tension helps White to develop the initiative.
[Possibly preferable is 25...Rce8!? 26.Qb3 Kh8 27.a3 Qa7„]
 
26.h5 Rc5?
[This natural move turns out to be a serious mistake; much stronger is 26...Bd8!, making the queen useful along the 7th
rank: 27.h6 g6 28.Qb3 Qf7 29.Rd4 Rc5 30.Rfd1 Re8!„]
 
27.h6 g6 28.Qb3! Rf7
[28...Kh8 29.a4 Rb8 (29...Rfc8 30.c3 Bd8 31.cb4 ab4 32.Ne3±) 30.Rd4 Bd8 31.Ne3±]
 
29.a4ƒ Now Black is out of constructive ideas.
 
29...Bd8 30.Rd4
[30.Rd2 Kf8 31.Rfd1 Rc6 32.Ne3 Bc7 33.Rd5ƒ]
 
30...Kf8 31.Rfd1 Rc6
32.Ne3!
The knight has done its job on d5. Now White wins the pawn back and gets a clear advantage.
 
32...Bb6
[32...Qa6 33.Qd5 Rfc7 34.b3±]
 
33.Nc4?! This move could have spoiled a significant part of White’s advantage.
[Simpler and stronger is 33.Rd6! Rd6 34.Rd6 Bc7 35.Rd5 Qc6 36.Rb5 Bf4 37.Nd5 Bc7 38.Qe3!± Black’s passed pawns
are comfortably stopped, so White's position is practically winning.]
 
33...Bd4? Black returns the favour.
[Necessary is 33...Rc4 34.Qc4 Bd4 35.Qd4 Qc7 36.Qd6 Qd6 37.Rd6 Ra7² The ensuing endgame is rather unpleasant
for Black, but his drawing chances shouldn't be underestimated.]
 
34.Na5 Qb6 35.Nc6 Bc5
[35...Qc6 36.Rd4 Rc7 37.Rb4+–]
 
36.Qd5 e3
The passed e-pawn is Black’s only hope, but his king is too weak.
 
37.a5 Qb5
[More stubborn is 37...Qc7 38.a6 Qb6 39.a7 Ra7 40.Na7 Qa7, but after 41.b3 Qf7 42.Qa8 Qe8 43.Qa1! Qf7 44.Qh8
Ke7 45.Kb2+– White’s task is not too difficult.]
38.Nd8!+– Ra7 39.Ne6 Ke8 40.Nd4
[For some reason, Magnus rejected the obvious 40.Nc5! Qc5 41.Qg8 Kd7 42.Qh7 Kc6 43.Qg6 Qa5 44.Qd6 Kb7
45.Qd7+–]
 
40...Qa5 41.Qg8 Kd7 42.Qh7 Kc8 43.Qg8 Kb7

44.c3!
White’s position is still winning, but it requires accuracy.
 
44...bc3 45.Qb3 Qb6
[45...Qb4 46.Qb4 Bb4 47.Rd3+–]
 
46.Qb6 Kb6 47.bc3
Obviously, the h-passer should decide the game.
 
47...Bd4
[Also hopeless is 47...Re7 48.Kc2 Bd4 49.cd4 Kc6 50.Kd3 Kd5 51.Rh1 e2 52.Re1+–]
 
48.Rd4 Kc6 49.Kc2 Ra2 50.Kd1 Rf2 51.Ke1 Kd7
[51...d5 52.Ra4 Kc5 (52...Kb7 53.Ra5+–) 53.Ra8 Rh2 54.Rc8 Kd6 55.Re8+–]
 
52.Ra4 Ke6 53.Ra8 Rh2 54.c4!
As usual, Magnus plays very precisely to the end.
 
54...Kf7 55.Rb8 Ke6 56.Rg8
1 : 0 Roiz

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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
Forget the tabiyas! Any attempt to reinvent a well-known opening means bold moves
– and beautiful, original play.

The New Romantics provides ample evidence that it is not only soccer that can lay claim to being the beautiful game.
As you will see from Pentala’s selection of recent brilliancies, the legacy of the 19th century immortals Adolf
Anderssen and Paul Morphy is still very much alive and kicking today – despite the existence of powerful computer
engines and improved defensive technique!
 
“Chess has lost its sparkle”...“Computers have destroyed creativity in chess”...“The classical masterpieces of yesteryear
had far more artistic content than anything seen today”...are some repeatedly heard criticisms of present-day chess.
 
But are such claims really justified? Well, judging from the brilliant games showcased in this column, the message of
the new generation is: “You cannot be serious! No amount of opening theory or improved defensive technique will
deny us our right of creative expression. We are unstoppable and will continue to thrill the chess world with our
imaginative and spectacular play...”
Harikrishna
 
After losing the World Championship match to Anand, Topalov was out of form for a couple of years as he lost
motivation. However, during the last three years he has been doing extremely well. He climbed up to rank No.2 in the
world. He won the last Grand Prix series and the Norway Classic. We can expect a very exciting Candidates'
Tournament in 2016!
 
Here is a great game with Topalov unloading his home preparation and the world champion reacting in a practical way.
Carlsen almost succeeded in obtaining the better game. He missed Black’s 17th move, which was crucial in the game.

B51
Carlsen 2853 — Topalov 2816
Saint Louis 2015

After Magnus Carlsen’s loss on time in Norway in the

first round against Topalov, the two of them are pitted
against each other again at the beginning of the 2nd
tournament of the Grand Chess Tour! With Carlsen
seeking to take revenge, Topalov is well prepared and
plays an excellent game.
 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5
It is no surprise that Carlsen chooses Bb5; it avoids the
main theory of the Najdorf, which is Topalov’s
favourite opening.
 
3...Nd7
[3...Bd7 and 3...Nc6 are the other moves played in this
position; however, the text is the most ambitious
move.]
 
4.0-0 Ngf6
[Black can also start with 4...a6 here. However, this gives White the additional plan of playing c2-c3 followed by Bc2
and then Re1 as in Nakamura – Grischuk, round 9 of the Sinquefeld Cup: 4...a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.Re1
Rc8 (8...e5 9.d4 Be7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Ng3 Harikrishna 2706 – Nakamura 2789, Wijk aan Zee 2014 –
119/53; 8...c4 9.a4 e5 10.ab5 ab5 11.Ra8 Qa8 12.Na3 Karjakin 2762 – Cheparinov 2672, Rhodes 2013) 9.a4 Nakamura
played a nice game and won.
 
5.Re1 a6 6.Bd3 b5
[RR 6...g6 Iordachescu 2603 – Volokitin 2642, Baku (open) 2014 – 122/(57); 6...Ne5 Safarli 2655 – Darini 2442, Baku
(open) 2014 – 122/(57)]
 
7.c4 g5!N
 Carlsen is following Topalov's play in Saint Louis
A stunning novelty on move 7! Topalov most probably
prepared this at home. From here on the position
becomes unbalanced, which is to Topalov’s liking.
Carlsen on the other hand wants to keep things under
control rather than enter unbalanced positions.
[RR 7...bc4 Safarli 2641 – Grandelius 2603, Dubai
2015; 7...Ne5 Carlsen 2872 – Nakamura 2776, Zurich
(rapid) 2014]
 
8.Ng5 Carlsen accepts the challenge and I think it is the
right decision.
[After 8.cb5 g4 9.Nh4 e6 Black has excellent
compensation for the pawn; or 8.e5 de5 9.cb5 e4
10.Be4 Ne4 11.Re4 Bb7³]
 
8...Ne5 9.Be2 bc4 10.Na3
[10.Nf3 Nd3 11.Bd3 cd3 12.e5 (12.Qb3 Rg8 13.Qd3
Nh5°) 12...Nd5 13.Ng5 Rg8 14.Nf7 Qd7³;
10.Nc3 Rg8 11.d4 cd3 12.Bd3 h6 13.Nf3 Nd3 14.Qd3
Bb7 I prefer the black position here as his pieces are
better placed than White’s.]
 
10...Rg8 11.Nc4 Nc4 12.d4!
Carlsen had this particular sacrifice in mind when he
played 8.Ng5. From a practical point of view it is a
nice decision, though engines discourage this whole
plan. On the other hand when you are met with a
novelty on move 7, one has to decide how to side step
the opponent’s preparation.
 
12...Nb6 13.Bh5!?
[This is not the best move in the position, but
exchanging queens gives Black easy play: 13.dc5 dc5 14.Qd8 Kd8 15.Nf7 Ke8µ]
 
13...Nh5 14.Qh5 Rg7?!
[14...Rg6 15.dc5 dc5 16.Qh7 Be6 –+]
 
15.Nh7 Qd7
[15...Rh7! 16.Qh7 cd4 17.Qh8 e5³]
 
16.dc5 dc5
17.e5?!
[Carlsen misses Black’s 17...Qc6! If not for this move White could play on with equal chances: 17.Nf8 Qh3 18.Qh3
Bh3 19.g3 and White is two pawns up. Even if he loses the knight on f8, he should be able to win one more pawn. I
don’t see a way that Black can win the piece back immediately due to the threat of Bh6. 19...Rc8 20.e5 Rc6 21.Re4÷]
 
17...Qc6 18.f3
[18.Bg5 might be the lesser evil, but Black should be winning anyway: 18...Bb7 19.Nf6 Kd8 20.Rad1 Kc7 –+]

18...Qg6! 19.Nf6 Kd8 20.Qg6 Rg6

The remaining part does not need any comments; Topalov conducts the endgame without any mistakes.
 
21.Ne4 Bb7 22.h4 Rc8 23.h5 Rg8 24.Bd2 Nc4 25.Bc3 Bh6 26.Rad1 Ke8 27.Rd3 Bf4 28.Nf2 Bc6 29.Nh3 Bg3
30.Re2 Bb5 31.Rd1 Bc6 32.Nf2 Be5 33.Ng4 Bc3 34.bc3 Kf8 35.Kf2 Rh8 36.Ne5 Ne5 37.Re5 Be8 38.g4 f6 39.Re6
Bb5 40.Rde1 Rc7
0 : 1 Harikrishna
 
This is an important game from a theoretical point of view as well as the world champion’s first game since his
disastrous result in the Norway Classic. Topalov came up with a nice idea and conducted the whole game very well. It
was clear from the beginning he wanted to take Carlsen into unbalanced positions with wild tactics. It is not only
important to evaluate positions well but also to play positions according to your strengths and your opponent’s
weaknesses!
 
****
 
This game between two Russian prodigies is not complicated like the other ones I have chosen. Bukavshin came up with
an interesting idea in one of the topical variations in the Catalan. I expect his move 7...b6 will find followers soon; it
not only avoids a lot of theory but also gives some chances for Black if White does not react well. In the game
Bukavshin should have played actively; instead, he chose to simplify the position, and with the subsequent exchanges
the game ended in a draw. Both these players have bright futures and we will doubtless be seeing many more
interesting games by them!
 

E06
Artemiev 2671 — Bukavshin 2655
Russia (ch), 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dc4 7.Qc2
Up to this point several top-level games have been played and this is considered quite a solid variation for Black.
[7...a6 is the main move here, while 7...b5 is another move that has become popular.]
 
7...b6!?

I played this position with the white and black pieces a couple of times, but never looked at this move. To my surprise it
has even been played seven times before.
[RR 7...b5 Aronian 2797 – Nakamura 2767, Saint Louis (m/4) 2014 – 122/172; 7...a6 Vachier-Lagrave 2757 – Aronian
2797, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – 123/168]
 
8.Qc4
[8.Bg5 is interesting try to stop Black from playing Bb7: 8...Nd5 (8...Bb7? 9.Bf6 Bf6 10.Ng5+–) 9.Be7 Qe7 10.Nbd2
and now:

Ivan Bukavshin
A) 10...Ba6 11.Rfd1 (11.Nc4 c5 12.Rac1 Rc8÷) 11...c3
12.bc3 Be2 13.Re1 Bf3 14.Nf3 c6 This should be
about equal. White has excellent compensation for the
pawn and Black will return it in order to exchange
pieces;
B) 10...c5 is also interesting;
 
C) 10...Bb7 11.Nc4 Nd7;
 
After 8.Ne5 Nd5 9.Qc4 (9.Rd1 Bb7 10.e4 Nb4 11.Qc4
Nd7 12.Nd7 Qd7 and even though White appears
better here, the position is unclear.) 9...Ba6 10.Qc2 Bf6
Black has sufficient counter chances with ...c7-c5
coming up next.]
 
8...Bb7
Black has achieved an excellent position since he has
not weakened his pawns with ...a7-a6 and ...b7-b5. At
the same time he has developed his bishop to b7.
 
9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.Bg5
[After 10.Ne5 Bg2 11.Kg2 Ne5 12.de5 Nd7 13.f4 c5
Black's position is not only fine, but he can also can
play for an advantage.]
10...Rc8
[Black could try for the advantage with 10...c5!? 11.Rfd1 Rc8 12.Rac1 Qe8!]
 
11.Nb5
[Black was probably hoping to get into the line I mentioned with 10...c5!? after 11.Rfd1 c5, but he chooses the wrong
move order as Vladislav rightly shows with the text move.]
 
11...Bd5 12.Qc2 Be4N
[12...c6 13.Nc3 h6 (RR 13...c5 Ante Brkic 2208 – R. Sertic 2167, Croatia 2000) 14.Bf6 Nf6 15.Rfd1 gives White some
chances.]
 
13.Qc1 c6 14.Nc3 Bg6 15.Rd1 Nd5! 16.Bf4 Nc3
[On 16...h6!? I don’t see any useful moves for White. Black could take on c3 next move and follow with his plan of ...
Be4]
 
17.Qc3 Be4 18.Rac1 b5 19.Qe3 Bd5 20.Qd3 f5
It is amazing how Black’s bishop has travelled from c8–b7–d5–e4–g6–e4–d5 with pawns on b5, c6, e6, and f5! It
appears he wasted a lot of tempi. But the bishop covers very important squares and does an excellent job.
21.Ne5 Ne5 22.Be5
[22.de5 Bg2 23.Kg2 Qd3 24.Rd3 Rc7=]
 
22...Bg2 23.Kg2 Qd5 24.f3 a6
With the idea of ...c6-c5.
 
25.Qb3 Rfd8 26.Qd5 Rd5
[26...cd5 27.Bc7 Re8 28.e3 Bd8 29.Bd6² gives unnecessary chances to White.]
 
27.Rd3
[27.e4 fe4 28.fe4 Rd7=]
 
27...c5 The rest of the game does not require any comments.
 
28.Ra3 Rc6 29.e4 Rd8 30.dc5 Rd2 31.Kh1 fe4 32.fe4 Re2 33.b4 Re4 34.Bc3 Bc5 35.bc5 b4 36.Bb4 Rb4 37.Rb3 Rd4
38.Rb6 Rb6 39.cb6 Rb4 40.Rc8 Kf7 41.Rc7 Kf6 42.b7 Rb2 43.a4 h5 44.Kg1 g5 45.Kf1 e5 46.Ke1 Ke6 47.Kd1 Kd6
48.Rh7 h4 49.Kc1 Rb4 50.gh4 gh4 51.a5 Kc6 52.Rh4 Rb7 53.Rh6 Kc5 54.Ra6 Rh7 55.Ra8
1/2:1/2 Harikrishna
 
From this game we can learn that an early deviation in well-known openings can give good chances. Black not only
equalized quite easily but also with some energetic play he was able to play for an advantage. It is important to keep up
with the latest trends, but it is even more important to come up with new ideas like 7...b6!?
 
****
 
My opponent, Armenian GM Sargissian is an excellent theoretician and also a very solid positional player. It is
surprising to me that he isn’t a 2700 player yet, since he’s the driving force in guiding Armenia to many successes in
Olympiads and other team competitions. He is also Levon Aronian’s second. Together they came up with many
interesting ideas.
 
In this game he correctly judges the initiative and sacrifices two pawns. He missed only one of Black’s moves but it was
a critical one!
 
 E15
Sargissian 2673 — Harikrishna 2740
Spain (tch), 2015

This was a crucial match for our team "Solvay" in the Spanish Team Championship in Linares. The chance was there,
we were one point ahead of three teams. "Solvay" had come close to winning the championship in the past but never
quite made it. So we decided to abandon all calculations and go for "the safest choice" – a win in the last round!
 
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qb3 Nc6 6.Nbd2
[6.Bd2 Bb7 7.d5 Ne7 8.de6 fe6 Caruana 2767 – Karjakin 2766, Russia (tch) 2012]
 
6...Na5 7.Qa4 Bb7 8.Bg2 Rc8!
We are following Feller – Navara game from this year’s French League.
[RR 8...c5 Gelfand 2748 – Karjakin 2767, Tashkent 2014 – 122/(176)]

9.c5N
Sargissian came prepared for this variation. [9.0-0 c5 10.dc5 Bc5 11.b4 Bc6 Feller 2626 – Navara 2751, France (tch)
2015; 9.b4 Nc6 10.Ne5 Bb4 11.Nc6 Bc6 12.Bc6 Bc3=]
 
9...Nc6 10.Ne5 Nd5 11.Nd3
[After 11.e4 Ne5 12.de5 Ne7 13.Qa7 Rb8 14.cb6 Nc6÷ Black's pieces are well placed and he has excellent
compensation.]
 
11...a5!? Sargissian blitzed out the early moves and only started to think here.
 
12.0-0
[On 12.e4 Ndb4 13.Nb4 ab4 14.Nf3 bc5³; or 12.Qc4 Rb8 13.a3 Qc8! with the idea of playing ... Ba6]
 
12...Ba6 13.Ne4
[13.Bd5 ed5 14.Nf3 Be7³; 13.Re1 Be7 14.Ne4 Bd3 15.ed3 0-0 16.Nc3 Bf6=]
13...b5
[I also looked at 13...Bd3, which forces things, but the position becomes drawish: 14.ed3 b5 15.Qb5 Nd4 16.Qc4 Ne2
17.Kh1 Nc1 18.Rac1 Be7= However, I wanted to maintain some chances.]
 
14.Qd1 Nd4 15.Nf4! Nf4 16.Bf4
Sargissian evaluated this position correctly as offering sufficient compensation for the pawn. On the other hand I was
also pleased to get this position as Black has chances to win the game.
 
16...Nc6
[After 16...Nf5 17.Qd2 White opens the queenside as Black’s pieces are not developed yet. White has the advantage
here.]

17.Qb3!
[17.Qd3 Nb4 18.Qc3 Nd5 19.Qa5 Nf4 20.gf4 Bb7 21.Qb5 (21.Rfd1 Be4 22.Be4 Bc5=) 21...Rb8 22.Qc4 Be7°;
 17.Qd2 b4 18.a3 Bc4÷]
 
17...b4
I did not sense the danger when playing this variation. Probably if I had sensed it I would not have played it!
[On 17...Be7!? 18.Rfd1 0-0 19.Nf6 Bf6 20.Bc6 dc6 21.Rd8 Rfd8 and if someone can try to win it is White. However, I
wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be just a draw.]
 
18.Rfd1 Be2 19.Rd2 Bh5

20.g4!! I missed this move.

[Black cannot take on g4 as then White can play Ng3 with tempo as in the following variation: 20...Bg4 21.h3 Bf5
22.Ng3+–]
 
20...Bg6 21.Rad1
[21.Qa4!? Nb8 22.Qa5 Be7 23.Qb4 0-0 is not something White wants after enjoying such a development and space
advantage.]
 
21...Nb8!?
I was really proud of my defence and this particular move. I was even under the impression that I was playing like a
genius! However, I did not see this position from White’s side which might lead to the following conclusion: Black has
only really developed two pieces in 21 moves and one of these was exchanged!
Gabriel Sargissian
22.Qe3
[I had not seen 22.Qc4 which is the computer’s top
choice. White protects the c5-pawn and threatens c5-
c6: 22...Be7 23.c6 d6 24.Rd6!! cd6 25.Nd6 Bd6
26.Bd6; The immediate 22.c6 does not bring any
advantage for White: 22...d6 (22...d5 23.Rd5 ed5
24.Rd5+–) 23.Bd6 Bd6 24.Rd6 Qe7 25.Rd7 Qh4³]
 
Black is completely paralyzed and he cannot castle;
White’s advantage is unquestionable. Whether he will
convert it into a win or not is another story, though.
 
22...Be7 23.c6
[White seems slightly better after 23.Ng5 0-0 24.Bb7
e5 25.Qe5 Bg5 26.Qg5 Qg5 27.Bg5 Rce8 28.Bf4 Be4]
 
23...d5!
Sargissian missed this move in his calculations. [He mainly calculated only 23...d6 24.Bd6 cd6 25.Nd6 Bd6 26.Rd6
Qc7 27.Rd7²]
 
24.Nf6
[24.Rd5 ed5 25.Rd5 Qd5 26.Nf6 gf6 27.Bd5 Rd8µ]
 
24...gf6 25.Bd5 e5?!
[25...ed5! is simple and allows White no chances. 26.Rd5 Nc6 –+]
26.Bf7?
[26.Bh6! gives White good practical chances: 26...Bd6 (26...Rg8 27.Kf1 with idea of playing h4 followed by h5) 27.h4
f5 (27...Qe7 28.h5 f5 29.hg6 hg6 30.g5÷) 28.Qh3÷]
 
26...Kf7 White is totally lost here.
 
27.Rd8 Rhd8 28.Qb3 Kg7 29.Be3 Nc6 30.Rd8 Rd8 31.Qe6 Bf7 32.Qf5 Nd4
0 : 1 Harikrishna
My team won this match 4:2 and we became Spanish team champions. From this game it can be seen that strange
defensive ideas can sometimes bring points. As they are so unexpected opponents can get upset and lose control over
their play.
 
****
 
An interesting idea by Anton on move 7 got the next game off to a rousing start. Salem replied with an exchange
sacrifice and Anton had to face some powerful play. Black later went for tricks and lost the thread of the game.
 
These two youngsters are rapidly improving and I see a bright future for both of them. Salem already won the Asian
continental and slowly, at least partially due to him, chess is gaining popularity in the Emirates. Anton finished second
at the European individual championship when he was just 19! While checking his games, I noticed that he is coming
up with new ideas in many openings and he is quite good at sharp positions.

A34
Anton Guijarro 2626 — A.R. Salem 2615
Martuni 2015

This game took place on the southern shore of Lake Sevan. It is nice that Armenia, where chess is very popular, is
organizing a tournament that includes young players, providing an opportunity to test their skills against top players
from other countries. Many interesting games took place in this tournament and I present one of them.
 
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.e3 e6 6.Nd5
[RR 6.Qc2 Korchnoi 2645 – Pinter 2535, Roma 1982 – 33/72 1982; 6.d4 – D42]
 
6...ed5 7.b4!?N
[RR 7.b3 Gyula Nagy – Eliskases, corr. 1935]

The young Spaniard comes up with a novelty on move 7! If not for this move, 6.d4 and 6. Bc4 are the main choices for
White, while 6.Nd5 does not make any sense.
 
7...c4!? Salem has been progressing well over the last few years. He is very good at dynamic play and spots tactics
easily.
[7...cb4 8.Bb2 Nc6 9.Rc1 is probably what Anton had in mind. White has good compensation in this improved version
of the Benko Gambit!]
 
8.Bb2 Bb4 9.Bg7 Rg8 10.Bb2 Nc6

We have reached a position where Black’s kingside is spoiled; at the same time the rook on g8 is in play and White
needs a tempo to develop his bishop on f1.
 
11.Qc2 The text stops ...Bf5 and threatens to take on h7.
 
11...Rg6 12.Be2 Qe7
[12...Rg2 13.Qh7+–]
 
13.g3 Bh3 14.Nh4

14...0-0-0! This is one of Salem’s specialities: he does not think twice about sacrificing material to obtain the initiative.
 
15.a3
[I certainly prefer Black after 15.Ng6 fg6 since all his pieces are well placed. In particular, the bishops are controlling
important squares.]
 
15...Ba5 16.Ng6 fg6 17.Bc3 Bb6
This is played with the idea of ...d4.
 
18.d4 cd3 19.Bd3 Kb8 20.0-0-0
20...Rf8?!
Threatens ...Rf2 followed by ...Be3.
[He could play 20...d4! 21.ed4 Bd4 22.Kb2 Bg4³, going after the king. Instead, he plays for little tricks.]
David Anton Guijarro © Harald Fietz
21.Rd2 Qa3 22.Qb2 Qe7 23.Kb1 Bc5 24.Ka1 Be6
Black’s one inaccurate move has made the position
unclear and strangely enough White’s king now seems
pretty safe!
 
25.Rb1 Rc8
[25...a5 26.Bc2 b6 27.Ba4 (27.Bb3 Ba3³) Nb4 yields a
Black setup I like; he can slowly improve his position.]
 
26.Bf6 Qd7
[26...Qc7 27.Qb5 Nb4 28.Rb4 Bd7 29.Qb7 Qb7
30.Rb7=]
27.Bb5?!
[This is unnecessary as the bishop was doing well on d3, stopping ...Bf5; 27.Qb5 Bb6 28.Rc1‚]
 
27...Bf5 28.Rc1 Qd6!
[28...Bb6 29.Rdd1 Qe6 30.Bc6 Rc6 31.Qe5²]
 
29.Rc3 Ka8
[Black threatens ...Bb4 (29...Bb4?? 30.Rc6 Rc6 31.Be5+–)]
 
30.Rd1 Bb4 31.Rb3 Qc5 32.Bd3™
[32.Bc6?? Rc6 –+]

32...Be6?!
[Necessary is 32...d4! It is important that Black opens the g8–a2 diagonal for his bishop in order to bring more pieces to
 attack White’s king. However he misses this opportunity and allows White to prevent it once and for all.]
 
33.Bd4! Qa5
[33...Nd4 34.Rb4 Nc6 35.Rb5+–]
 
34.Kb1 Rc7 35.Rc1 Bd6 36.f4 Re7 37.Bf6 Rd7

38.Be5 Ne5 39.Rc8 Bb8 40.Qe5 Qe1 41.Kb2

1 : 0 Harikrishna

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www.chessinformant.org
There is an almost unanimous opinion that, in chess as in other fields, the beginning of the third Millennium features an
explosion of information that is without precedent.
 
To me, this seems a bit exaggerated. I remember that as a kid I found similar statements in many of the opening
monographs of the ’80s, the ’70s and even of the ’50s. Believe it or not, a similar informatics explosion is described in
the introduction of the first edition of Bilguer’s Handbuch, the Chess Encyclopaedia of the 19th century.
 
There is nothing really new in life or in chess. In every game, there comes a moment when a novelty inevitably pops
up, but one cannot be sure that the idea behind it has not been played before.
 
In this column, I will try to highlight the way in which certain strategic and tactical ideas have maintained their
actuality over the decades and sometimes centuries. I invite you to re-discover with me some long forgotten chess from
the past.
Marin
A FEW TWIN GAMES AND ONE GOLDEN RULE —
DEVELOPMENT!
Ever since Botvinnik’s time, chess players of all levels have been preoccupied with
thorough opening preparation. The critical analysis of the existing theoretical and
practical material, combined with the discovery of new original ideas, became
essential in order to not start the middlegame with a marked positional or material
handicap.

While making the analytical investigation easier, computers have also brought in a negative practical problem. We are
all familiar with the feeling that we will never be able to remember the hundreds of lines we go through during our pre-
game preparation. Very much in the general spirit of this column, such a feeling is not new at all. Remembering his only
over-the-board encounter with Fischer, Botvinnik wrote that until his opponent's unpleasant surprise on move 17 he
mainly had to remember his home analysis, adding that this was by no means an easy task.
 
But long before Botvinnik developed his system of working on opening theory, handbooks for beginners (among which
Lasker’s and Capablanca's are the most famous, but far from being the oldest) insisted on adherence to the golden rule
in the first phase of the game: development! Do not repeatedly move the same piece when the majority of one's own
army is placed on the initial squares; do treasure development more than material; and do not open the position, nor
embark on concrete action with an incomplete development. All these are long-known corollaries.
 
By following this golden rule, one can hardly go wrong in the opening. But ignoring by succumbing to such temptations
as winning a pawn or starting an optically promising attack could lead to major setbacks. This classical inheritance
provides us with a wealth of examples illustrating such dangersand, unlike the monstrous mass of ever-growing theory,
requires a moderate effort of memory to provide us with reliable guidelines for conduct of the opening.
 
Forgetting even one of myriads of recently studied variations is understandable and not really uncommon. But ignoring
the morals of classical chess, tightly connected with our own ideas, used to be considered a major chess sin in the pre-
computer era. On top of that, refraining from studying the values of “the reliable past” for the sake of dedicating all our
time to “finding the truth” with the help of computer engines is, how should I say it, a matter of personal choice. In this
article I will try illustrating one by one the need to continually take into account the three corollaries mentioned above.
I happened to be a live commentator on the first rounds in Saint Louis and was highly intrigued by the following game,
which aroused in me a strong feeling of deja vu, even though my perception was somewhat distorted, as you will soon
find out.

A05
Wesley So 2779 — Vachier-Lagrave 2731
Saint Louis 2015

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.g3 Bg7

6.Bg2 c5 7.Qa4
Wesley So played this move after almost ten minutes,
making me wonder whether it was part of his
preparation. It is more likely that when preparing this
anti-Gruenfeld variation he simply was not aware of this
concrete move order. According to the classical
principles, the queen incursion initiated with the last
move is premature. White is incompletely developed
and the old rules say that the queen should be one of the
last pieces to bring into play. But in concrete terms,
there is a strong temptation to use the queen for the
purpose of attacking the relatively weak c5–pawn or
preparing a kingside attack after transferring it to h4. Of
course, the move is not really wrong, even though not the best either. Due to his extra tempo, White has the right to
waste some time in the opening without necessarily being punished for it. But pushing things too far in this direction
can accumulate into an opening fiasco.
 
7...Nc6 8.Ng5
This and the next move were played rather quickly, but they follow the same risky policy.
 
8...e6 9.Nge4

The c5–pawn experiences some discomfort, but the main question remains whether a pawn is worth neglecting the
development that badly.
 
9...Nb6! Dotting the 'i' and crossing the 't': what is the queen doing coming out so early?
 
10.Qb5 White played this consequent move after another roughly ten minutes’ thought.
[The other way of attacking the pawn is 10.Qa3, but the queen would not feel too happy after 10...Bf8 11.b3 (11.Nc5
Nd4ƒ) 11...Be7 (11...Nd4 12.Qb2!) 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nc5 This is risky, but otherwise White’s previous play does not
make any sense. 13...Qd4 14.b4 a5ƒ; By way of suggestion, the engines' slight favourite is 10.Qd1, as if trying to
correct the previous inaccuracies. 10...Qe7!?= …...Nd4]
 
10...c4

11.Na4?
Even though from the classical point of view the entire series of previous moves has been a bit too provocative, only
this last one crosses the border of admissible risk. White once again moves with an already developed piece while half
of his army is still undeveloped.
[The time has come to think of the other pieces, too, abandoning the illusory dreams of winning the c-pawn and not
shying away from temporarily sacrificing one with 11.d3 (↨c1–h6), even though Black would have at least comfortable
play: 11...cd3 (Possibly more principled is to continue developing with 11...0-0 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 f5 14.Nc5 a6 15.Nb7
Bb7 16.Qb6 Qb6 17.Bb6 cd3 18.ed3 Rab8° But 11...cd3 takes a pawn without the involvement of any major
commitment.) 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 f5 14.Nc5 (14.Bg5 Qc7 15.Nf6? Kf7 traps the knight.) 14...de2÷]
 
11...0-0! With this simple and strong move, Black keeps developing without paying attention to White’s over-ambitious
intentions.
 
12.Nb6 ab6!
Black takes his chance to develop his queen’s rook without even moving it, thus proving that ...Nb6 was not a waste of
time.
 
13.Qc4 White has finally won the pawn, but he played most of his moves with only three pieces: the queen and the
knights. It is little wonder that he is in serious trouble already.
 
13...e5
Around this moment I already had the deja vu feeling. In my live comments I referred to an old game, Tatai – Karpov,
in which White got crushed after wasting lots of time to win a pawn. But I added that the opening had been different in
that case, mentioning the move order 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.cd5 cd5 6.Qb3 Nc6! 7.Nd5 Nd4 I later
discovered that I was partly right but also partly wrong.
 
As a commentator, I did not have the right to use any engines, but when one of the spectators asked me why So chose
such an opening line I received the confirmation that White’s position is as precarious as it looks.
 
14.Qc2 White begins a general retreat of the exposed pieces, involving new losses of time.
 
14...Be6N
[14...Nd4 Tatai 2480 – Karpov 2690, Las Palmas 1977 – 23/86]
 
15.Nc3
[15.Qb1 f5 16.Nc3 b5 17.Nb5 (17.Bc6 bc6 is similar to the game continuation; 17.a3 Nd4 ×b3) 17...Bd5 (×Nb5, Bg2,
Rh1) 18.f3 e4 19.fe4 fe4 20.Nc3 (20.Be4 Ra4! 21.d3 Be4 22.de4 Qb6 –+ ×Ke1; 20.a4 Qb6 21.e3 Nb4 –+) 20...Qb6 –
+]
 
15...b5!
Increasing the pressure by exploiting the dynamic force of the double pawns. One of them defends its own knight; the
other questions the stability of the errant white knight. (Ng1–f3–g5–e4–c3).
[The tempting 15...Nd4 16.Qb1 Bb3?! fails to 17.Be4! defending c2 and threatening ab3, thus forcing the enemy
bishop's retreat.]
After the last move White loses ground completely.
 
16.Bc6
White desperately attempts to save the game. He exchanges his strongest piece in order to eliminate the danger of ...Nd4
and ...b4.
[16.Nb5 Nb4 17.Qd1 Bd5! (×Nb5, Bg2, Rh1) 18.f3 Qb6 19.Nc3 Ba2 20.Na2 Na2 21.Rb1 Rfd8 (…...Bh6, ...Nc3) 22.d3
Nc3–+; 16.0-0 b4 17.Nb5 (17.Na4 Nd4 18.Qd1 b3 –+) 17...b3 –+; 16.b4 Nd4!µ (16...Nb4 17.Qb1÷) 17.Qb1 (17.Qb2
e4 18.Be4 Re8; 17.Qd1 Bb3 18.ab3 Ra1 –+) 17...Bf5 18.e4 (18.Be4 Be4 19.Qe4 f5 20.Qb1 e4µ; 18.Ne4 Rc8; 18.d3
e4! 19.Ne4 Rc8 –+) 18...Be6 19.0-0 Qd6µ (…...Rfc8)]
 
16...bc6
17.b3 Bf5
This is the beginning of the end. White has no way of neutralizing the pressure exerted by the enemy bishop.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
18.d3
[18.e4 Bh3µ ×Ke1; 18.Qb2 b4 19.Na4 e4 –+]
 
18...e4! 19.de4 Be4 20.Ne4 Ba1 21.0-0 Re8 –+
Black has won the exchange and remains better coordinated. What is even worse for White is that his a2–pawn is a
permanent source of worries.
 
22.f3 Bd4
[22...f5 –+]
 
23.e3
After this move, the weaknesses of the first and second ranks become an important issue. [23.Kg2 f5]
 
23...Bg7 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.Rd6 c5 26.Rd5
[26.Qc5 Qc5 27.Nc5 Bf8 28.Rc6 Bc5 29.Rc5 Ra2 30.Kf1 Rd8 31.Ke1 Rh2 –+]
 
26...Re5 27.Rd1
[27.Re5 Qe5 28.Nc5 Rc8 29.b4 Bf8 –+]
 
27...c4 28.a3 Re7 29.bc4 Qc4 30.Qd2 Qb3 31.Qd6 Rc8 32.Nf2 Rec7 33.Bd2 Bf8 34.Qd4 Ba3 35.Kg2 Bb2
0 : 1 Marin
Immediately after the round was over I was curious to check Karpov’s game. At first, I thought I was under some sort of
illusion, caused by the late hour in Romania, but then I resigned myself to the obvious. Judge for yourself!
 

23/86 A34
Tatai 2480 — Karpov 2690
Las Palmas 1977

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.Qa4
Later, Karpov developed his initial Informant's comments in his game collection Izbranniie Partii (Selected games)
1969–1977. Here is his somewhat mild evaluation of White’s plan: “An interesting idea. White tries to immediately
take advantage of his slight advance in development and the relative lack of harmony of the black pieces.”
 
7...Nc6 8.Ng5 e6 9.Nge4 Nb6! 10.Qb5 c4 11.Na4 0-0 12.Nb6 ab6 13.Qc4
After mentioning the already familiar elements of the position, Karpov concludes that Black should have a definite
advantage.
 
13...e5
Indeed, it was precisely the same opening, not just a similar position to that from the previous game! My concrete
memory proved wrong, but I was pleased by the way its abstract side worked.
Anatoly Karpov © Harald Fietz
This situation perfectly illustrates the widely known
(but frequently forgotten) truth that those who do not
know history tend to repeat its mistakes.
 
[Karpov confesses that he pondered for about one hour
when choosing between the game move and 13...Bd7
“in order to activate the rook along the c-file as soon as
possible.”]
 
14.Qc2
[14.d3 Be6 15.Bg5! Bc4 (15...Qd7 16.Qc1 Larsen).
There are a few comments by Bent Larsen to this CI
23/86 game. The highly original Danish legend
enjoyed playing systems with a fianchetto and
frequently embarked on provocative operations, so we
can understand, if not his sympathy, at least his
indulgence with respect to White’s plan.) 16.Bd8 Rfd8
17.dc4 f5 18.Nc3 e4°/² Marin; 14.0-0 Be6 “and the
queen has no good squares for retreat”. (Karpov)]
 
14...Nd4
[I slightly prefer Vachier’s non-committal 14...Be6]
 
15.Qb1
[15.Qd1? Be6 …...Nb3, ...Bb3]
 
15...f5 16.Nc3 e4 17.d3
[17.e3 Nf3 (17...Nc6!? …...Ne5) 18.Bf3 ef3 Karpov]
 
17...b5 18.Be3
[18.de4 b4 19.Nd5 fe4! (19...b3 20.0-0 Larsen 20...Ne2
21.Kh1 fe4 22.Nc3 Nc1 23.Qc1 Bc3 24.Qc3 ba2 25.Qc4 Kg7 26.Ra2 Ra2 27.Qa2 Qd4= Marin) 20.Be4 b3 21.Nc3
(21.0-0 Ne2 22.Kg2 Be6 23.Rd1 Ra5 –+) 21...Bf5µ Marin;
18.e3 Nf3 19.Bf3 ef3 20.Nb5 Qa5 21.Nc3 b5µ Karpov]
 
18...b4 19.Nd1 Re8 20.de4 fe4 21.Bd4
[21.Be4? Re4 22.Qe4 Bf5 –+]
 
21...Qd4
Despite the extra pawn, White’s position looks awful. Black has achieved a huge space advantage and White’s army is
confined to the first two ranks.
 
22.a3
[22.Qc2!?; “After 22.0-0 Black has a pleasant choice between 22...Bg4 and 22...Qd2” (Karpov). The latter continuation
seems more promising to me.
 
A) 22...Bd7 23.a3!? b3 24.Nc3 frees White’s play somewhat;
 
B) 22...Qd2 23.Be4 Bh3 24.Bg2 (24.Qd3 Qd3 25.Bd3 Bf1 26.Kf1³ Marin) 24...Bg2 25.Kg2 Re2 26.Qc1 Qd5 27.Kg1
Bd4 “with attacking chances” (Karpov);
 
C) 22...Bg4 23.Re1 Bd7 (23...Qd2 24.Ne3„) 24.a3 Qd2 25.Kf1 (25.Rf1 Bb5µ) 25...Bd4³ ×Nd1 Marin]
 
22...Bg4 23.Qc2
[23.h3 Bf3! Marin]
 
23...Qd3!
[23...Bf3? 24.Bf3 ef3 25.Qb3 Kh8 26.Qf3 Karpov]
24.ed3
[24.Ne3 Qc2 25.Nc2 Bb2 –+ Karpov; 24.Rc1 ba3 –+ Karpov;
24.Qd2 Qd2 25.Kd2 Rac8 (25...Rad8 26.Ke1 Bf3 27.Rg1 Bg2 28.Rg2 Rc8µ Karpov 29.ab4÷) 26.ab4 Red8 27.Ke1
(27.Ke3 Bh6 28.Ke4 Rc4 29.Ke5 Bg7#)27...Rc2 28.h3 Re2 29.Kf1 Bf3µ Marin]
 
24...ed3 25.Kd2 Re2! 26.Kd3 Rd8 27.Kc4
[27.Bd5 Rd5 28.Kc4 Rc2 29.Kd5 Bf3 Karpov]
 
27...Rc2 28.Kb4 Rcd2 29.f3 Bf8 30.Ka5 Bd7!
[×Bg2; 31.Ne3 Bc5 …...Ra8# Karpov]
0 : 1 Karpov, Larsen, Marin
 
I am aware that this is not the most widely known Karpov game, and most of the players born after his glory days would
not care to study Izbraniie Partii 1969”1977. But the next episode, corresponding to the second corollary, has as a
starting point a game played in the most famous world title match ever – the match of the century, Fischer – Spassky
1972. And yet, a strong grandmaster fell into a theoretical trap that he could have avoided had he known the whole
story.
 

14/547 D59
Fischer 2785 — Spassky 2660
Reykjavik (m/6), 1972

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cd5 Nd5 9.Be7 Qe7 10.Nd5 ed5 11.Rc1 Be6
12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8
14.Bb5!±
Fischer's impressive win in this game led to a completely erroneous evaluation of his last move. In fact, as it later turned
out, "?!" is more appropriate.
 
It is worth mentioning that the move had been played only once before, in a game of Spassky’s second in Reykjavik,
Efim Geller. This way, Fischer’s choice looks like an act of courage, since Geller was known for his deep opening
analysis, but the challenger may have relied on the effect of surprise. After all, his main and almost exclusive first move
before Reykjavik used to be 1.e4. Moreover, Spassky was famous for his lack of diligence when preparing, so it was far
from obvious that he would know Geller’s possible improvement.
 
In abstract terms, the idea of the last move is domination of the knight, since the exchange Bb5-d7 would eliminate an
important defender of the c5–pawn, making probable the necessity of weakening the d4–square with a later ...c5–c4.
 
I will not insist on commenting on this game, since the most interesting part of the story comes later.
 
14...a6 15.dc5 bc5 16.0-0 Ra7
[16...Qb7 17.Be2 Nd7]
 
17.Be2 Nd7
[17...a5 18.Rc3!± Gligoric (² Marin) 18...Nd7 19.Rfc1 Re8? (19...Qd8 Marin) 20.Bb5! (± Marin) Furman – Geller
USSR 1970 – 9/471]
 
18.Nd4! Qf8?
[18...Nf6 19.Nb3 c4 20.Qe7 Re7 21.Nd4±]
 
19.Ne6 fe6 20.e4!! d4 21.f4 Qe7 22.e5! Rb8
[22...Nb6 23.Qb3! Nd5 24.f5!]
 
23.Bc4! Kh8
[23...Nb6 24.Qb3!]
 
24.Qh3 Nf8 25.b3 a5 26.f5+– ef5 27.Rf5 Nh7 28.Rcf1 Qd8 29.Qg3 Re7 30.h4 Rbb7 31.e6 Rbc7 32.Qe5 Qe8 33.a4!
Qd8 34.R1f2 Qe8 35.R2f3 Qd8 36.Bd3 Qe8 37.Qe4! [… Rf8] 37...Nf6 38.Rf6 gf6 39.Rf6 Kg8 40.Bc4 Kh8 41.Qf4
[41.Rf7!]
1 : 0 Gligoric, Marin
 
After this game there were rumours that Geller complained about having shown Spassky the refutation of the move
14.Bb5 with 14...Qb7!, expressing his discontent that the World Champion disregarded (or just forgot) his advice.
Before examining the merits of Geller’s move, I would underline once again Fischer's courage when choosing the
opening.
 
To many analysts of that time 14...Qb7 remained clouded in mystery. Isn’t Black just losing a pawn? In his book on the
match Timman provides some analysis to prove the move insufficient for equality. We can understand that when just
one year later the following game started, both players had secrets, hoping to catch the opponent unawares. Only one of
them was right, of course.
 

15/676 D59
Timman 2480 — Geller 2590
Hilversum 1973

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cd5 Nd5 9.Be7 Qe7 10.Nd5 ed5 11.Rc1 Be6
12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8 14.Bb5?! Qb7!N³

Black unpins the c-pawn and threatens to gain space and molest the white queen and bishop with ...c4. This makes the
next sequence more or less forced.
 
15.dc5 bc5 16.Rc5
[With hindsight, it is safer to admit the mistake and lose a tempo with 16.Be2, but even this offers Black excellent play
after, say, 16...a5 followed by ...Nd7 and ...Qb4]
 
16...Rc5 17.Qc5
17...Na6!
One of the most remarkable opening moves I have ever seen and probably a big shock for Timman. Black is not
interested in restoring material equality and, what is even more curious, seems to be heading straight for a position with
a bad bishop versus a good knight!
 
But from the point of view of our main theme the last move is perfectly logical: Black treats his development with the
highest priority and prevents White from castling under favourable circumstances.
 
[Timman had analyzed only 17...a6 18.Bd3 Qb2 19.0-0², but even stronger is 18.Ba4 Qb2 19.0-0, continuing to
dominate the knight and casting serious doubts over Black’s prospects for completing his development adequately.]
 
18.Ba6
[18.Qc6 Qc6 19.Bc6 Rb8! (19...Rc8 20.Ba4=) 20.0-0 Rb2³]
 
18...Qa6 19.Qa3 Qc4 20.Kd2?
[20.Qc3!? Rb8 21.Qc4 dc4 22.b3! cb3 23.ab3 Rb3 24.0-0³]
 
20...Qg4 21.Rg1
21...d4!µ After this thematic break, there can no longer be talk about a bad bishop and a strong knight.
 
22.Nd4
[22.ed4 Rb8! Tying the queen to the defence of the b2–pawn in order to create the deadly threat ...Qf4 23.b3 (23.b4 a5
24.ba5 Qf4 25.Qe3 Rb2 26.Kc1 Qb8 –+ Marin) 23...Qf4 (23...Bd5 –+ Geller 24.Qd6 This is a decisive double attack.
If 24...Rb5 25.a4 Ra5 26.Qd8 Marin) 24.Kc2 Bf5 (24...Bd5³) 25.Kb2 Rc8‚ Marin]
 
22...Qh4 23.Re1 Qf2
[23...Bc4 24.f3! Qf2 25.Kd1 Qg2 (25...Bf1!µ Marin) 26.Qc5!=]
 
24.Re2 Qf1 25.Ne6 fe6 26.Qd6 Kh8µ

Despite his extra pawn, White is in trouble since his king will soon be subjected to a strong attack; this is a typical
theme in positions with major pieces.
 
27.e4 Rc8 28.Ke3 Rf8 29.Rd2 e5! 30.Qe5? Qe1 31.Re2 Qg1 32.Kd3 Rd8 33.Kc3 Qd1! 34.Qb5 Qd4 35.Kc2 a6
36.Qa6 Qc5
0 : 1 Geller, Marin
 
Timman initially published his book only in Dutch, but decades later he released a slightly revised version in English.
After 1972 he had incorporated in his repertoire several ideas from the Reykjavik match and included some fragments
of his later games in the English edition. Of special interest are his games against Geller (such as the two quoted in the
annotations to the 19th game), but there is a suggestive detail. The Hilversum game must have affected Timman to such
an extent, by delivering a painful blow to confidence in his analytical skills, that he did not come up with any
modification to the sixth match game!
 
It must have been hard for him to admit that Geller had been right after all. One way or another, one would expect that
the story of 14.Bb5 ended here, but curiously there are quite a bunch of later games in which White fell into this trap. I
have selected only one of them, in which the player with White had the higher rating.
 

D59
Kuzubov 2603 — Schroll 2410
Plovdiv 2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cd5 Nd5 9.Be7 Qe7 10.Nd5 ed5 11.Rc1 Be6
12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8 14.Bb5
Having been raised in a former Soviet country, Kuzubov surely studied the Reykjavik 1972 games and must have been
impressed by the wealth of Fischer’s ideas. At the same time, the game Timman – Geller must have escaped his
attention.
 
14...Qb7 15.dc5 Rc5 16.Rc5 bc5 17.Qc5 Na6 18.Ba6 Qa6 19.Qa3 Qc4 20.Kd2 Qg4 21.Rg1 d4 22.ed4

22...Bd5
[This is not as strong as 22...Rb8, recommended by Geller, but due to his exposed king White’s position remains
uncomfortable despite his two extra pawns.]
 
23.h3 Qf5 24.Re1 Rb8 25.Qc3
Throwing away a pawn for nothing.
[25.Re3 Bf3 26.Rf3 Qg5 27.Ke2 Qg2°]
 
25...Ba2 26.Re5 Qb1ƒ 27.Qc2 Qf1 28.Ke3 Qg2–+

Black has restored material equality and retains all his positional pluses.
 
29.b4 Be6 30.d5 Rc8 31.Qd3 Bh3 32.d6 Qh1 33.Kf4 g5 34.Ng5 hg5 35.Rg5 Kf8 36.Qh7 Qh2 37.Ke4 Bg2
0 : 1 Marin
 
Returning to the core of the matter, our desire to make development our highest priority should be stronger than any
inhibition caused by material or positional elements (the latter illustrated by the good knight/bad bishop discourse
above).
 
The similarity between the games selected to illustrate the third corollary (do not open the position when incompletely
developed) is more abstract. They are by no means identical, but they have a few concrete issues in common.
 
This game was also played in the first round, on which I commented live.
 

D37
Aronian 2765 — Caruana 2808
Saint Louis 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5
7...Ne4
In this topical variation, 7...c6 and 7...Nh5 are far more frequently seen. The last move corresponds to the spirit of the
Lasker variation, with its same merits and drawbacks. Black frees his position slightly, but somewhat neglects his
development.
 
8.Rc1 Nc3 9.Rc3 b6 10.c6 Nf6 11.a3 a5 12.Bd3
[RR 12.Rc2 Ne4 13.Bd3 Ba6 Giri 2784 – Caruana 2820, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – 123/136]
 
12...Ne4
[12...Ba6 13.Ba6 Ra6 14.Ne5!?]
 
13.Rc2 f6N
[RR 13...Ba6: see 12.Rc2]
 
14.Qe2
14...Bd6
[If Caruana intends to advance his kingside pawns, it is worth doing without the exchange of the dark-square bishops:
14...g5 15.Bg3 h5 Suddenly, White has to come up with something imaginative to save his bishop. 16.Ng1 seems to be
the only way to keep the game going, but after the knight retreat White practically loses two tempi in the race for
development. (16.Nd2 h4 17.Bh4 gh4 18.Ne4 de4 19.Qg4 Kf7 20.Qh5 Kg7 only leads to a draw by perpetual check.)
16...h4 17.f3 Nd6 18.Bd6 Qd6 (18...Bd6 19.f4 e5 20.fe5 fe5 21.de5 Be5 22.Qh5 Qe7 23.Nf3 Bf6 24.Rd2 g4 25.Nd4
Qe3 26.Kd1‚) 19.Qd2 (19.f4 e5 20.Qh5 e4 21.Qg6 Kh8=) 19...e5„]
 Fabiano Caruana

15.0-0 g5 16.Bd6 Nd6

[16...Qd6 17.Nd2²]
 
17.Re1 a4
Black plays a strategic game, gaining space on both wings, but the inevitable opening of the centre makes his position
slightly dangerous in view of his retarded development.
 
18.Nd2 e5 19.e4
From the point of view of our main discussion, this is the critical position. Both players’ choices in such cases consist of
maintaining the tension, releasing it, or putting more wood on the fire. For the underdeveloped player the latter is
absolutely wrong and the second one at least risky.
 
19...f5?!
[Black should release the tension in order to gain time for developing: 19...ed4 20.e5 fe5 21.Qe5 Qf6 22.Qf6 Rf6
23.Nf3 Bf5 24.Bf5 Nf5 25.Ng5 d3 26.Rd2 Rc6 27.Rd3 d4÷; Keeping the tension would not absolve him from
problems: 19...Re8?! 20.Qh5 ed4 21.e5 Bf5 22.Bf5 Nf5 23.Nf3ƒ]
 
20.f3! A calm move, leaving Black with his existing problems.
[20.de5 Ne4„]
 
20...de4?!
[But now, the approach recommended above opens the position too much, yielding White a strong attack. 20...Re8!?
might hold.]
 
21.fe4 Ra5 This move is in a way similar to Aronian’s Rc3–c2.
[Black hopes to activate his rook horizontally, but his chances of doing so are fewer than White’s: 21...ed4 22.e5 Re8
23.Qh5 Nf7 24.Nf3 g4 (24...Be6 25.g4) 25.Nh4 Qg5 26.Qg5 Ng5 27.Rc4²; 21...f4 22.de5 Nf7 23.Bc4²]
 
22.ef5 Nf5
[22...Bf5 23.de5±]
 
23.Bc4 Kg7
[23...Kh8 24.d5 Re8 25.Ne4 Nd4 26.Qh5 Nc2 27.Ng5 Re7 28.Rf1+– ]
 
24.d5!
Leaving the a5–rook out of play and the c8–bishop immobile. By now, it becomes clear that Black will not complete his
development adequately.
 
24...Re8
[24...Qd6 25.Qe5 Qe5 26.Re5 h6 27.Ne4±; 24...Nd6 25.Qe5 Qf6 26.Qf6 Rf6 27.Ne4±]
 
25.Ne4 Nd4 26.Qh5 Nc2
[26...Bf5 finally allows the rook’s activation with 27.Rf2 Bg6 28.Qg4 h5 29.Qg3 g4 30.Nf6+– ]
 
27.Ng5 Bf5 28.Rf1
[28.Qf7 Kh6!]
 
28...Qf6 29.Ne6 Re6 30.Rf5 Qg6 31.de6
[During my live comments I expected 31.Rg5 Re7 32.Rg6 hg6 33.Qg5 Re8 34.Bd3+– but Aronian's continuation also
wins.]
 
31...Qh5 32.Rh5 Nd4 33.e7 Ra8 34.Re5 Re8 35.Re4 Nf5 36.Be6 Nd6
[36...Re7 37.Bf5; 36...Ne7 37.Bd7]
 
37.Bd7 Ne4 38.Be8 Kf6 39.Bg6
1 : 0 Marin
 
Of course, the game was enormously complicated and some of my comments may be a bit dogmatic. But while looking
for Ariadne’s thread, one should refer to such abstract elements as mentioned above. And now let us check the classical
illustration of this pattern.
Even though Steinitz lost both matches against Lasker quite convincingly, he managed to play quite a few good games.
 

D35
Steinitz — Lasker
St. Petersburg 1895/96

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.c5 Ne4
This position surely is similar to that after seven moves in the previous game. Only the moves Nf3 and ...Nbd7 are
missing to make the games identical up to this point.
 
7.Ne4 de4 8.Qc2 f5 9.Bc4 Nc6 10.a3 Bf6 11.0-0-0 Kh8 12.f3 Qe7 13.Bg3

Both sides need two tempi to get fully mobilized (developing one minor piece and bringing the last rook into play) but
there is already some tension in the centre.
 
As in the previous game, Black should choose between maintaining the tension and releasing it.
 
But Lasker chose the third, not recommendable, possibility, animated by the desire of taking over the initiative and
relying on some simple concrete lines.
 
13...f4?
Again the f-pawn, just like Caruana.
[It is not entirely clear if keeping the tension offers Black enough compensation: 13...b6 14.fe4 Bb7 15.Nh3 (15.e5 Bg5
16.Bf4 Bf4 17.ef4 Na5°; 15.ef5 ef5 ×e3) 15...Na5 16.e5 Bg5 17.Bf4÷/²;
The simple 13...ef3 14.Nf3 b6 (…...Bb7) allows Black to soon catch up in development with chances of creating threats
against the exposed white king;
If Lasker really wanted to get an entertaining game, he should have chosen another way of doing it: 13...e5!? Unlike his
move, this has the merit of clearing a path for the c8–bishop, thus bringing Black one step closer to completing his
development. 14.d5 ef3!? 15.dc6 (15.Nf3 e4 16.d6 Qe8÷; 15.gf3 Na5 16.Ba2 b5!? ensuring the knight a jump to c4.
Even if this costs him a pawn, the weakness of White’s queenside light squares offers ample play. 17.Ne2 f4. The game
is a complete mess, but White should refrain from 18.ef4 ef4 19.Nf4 Bf5 with fantastic development for Black.)
15...fg2 16.Qg2 Qc5 17.Qc2 Qe3 18.Kb1 Qc5 Three connected pawns offer Black adequate compensation for the
knight.]

14.Qe4!!
This is the kind of move one tends to overlook when planning a pawn break like ...f5–f4. But for White it is easier to
find, since the alternatives are not too inspiring: [14.Bf4?! e5„; 14.ef4? Nd4 –+]
 
14...fg3 15.hg3
White develops the h1–rook in a similar way as ...ab6 in the first two examples. With his queenside underdeveloped
Black will not be in time to regroup his defenses.
 
15...g6
[15...g5 16.Ne2 Rf7 17.Rh6 Bd7 18.Rdh1 Kg8 19.Bd3‚]
 
16.Qg6 Bd7 17.f4 Rf7
18.g4! Compare with Vachier’s and Karpov’s ...b6–b5.
 
18...Rg7
[18...Rg8 19.Qh5±]
 
19.Qh6!?
[By unpinning his e-pawn, Lasker probably counted on 19.Qh5 e5!„ (…...Bg4) 20.g5 ef4. After the game move this line
is impossible because the queen controls f6. 21.gf6 Qf6; 19.Qc2 Rg4 20.Bd3 Rg7 21.Nf3 Kg8 (21...Rag8 22.g4)
22.Rh6]
 
19...Rg4 20.Bd3 Rg7 21.Nf3 Qf7 22.g4!
The second g-pawn comes into action with decisive effect.
 
22...Rag8 23.g5 Bd8 24.Rh2 Rg6 25.Qh5 R6g7 26.Rdh1 Qh5 27.Rh5 Rf8 28.Rh7 Rh7 29.Rh7 Kg8 30.Rd7 Rf7 31.Bc4
1 : 0 Marin
 
The last thing I would want when writing articles in this series is to fall into the temptation of making them sound like a
well-known author's “tragicomedies,” something based on the aphorism "Everything is funny as long as it happens to
other people!"
 
No, yours truly is not smart enough to make fun of the others, and I am happy to insert a sad episode from my career in
our discussion about development and twin games. This way I could quote from a famous Romanian comedy by
Caragiale: “In this city of morons, among which I am the first one...”
 
The following game was played in the last round of one of the open semifinals of the Romanian individual
championship. I had been leading all through the tournament and a draw would ensure me qualification for the B-
League, consisting of three (sometimes only two) closed tournaments, “populated” by quite a bunch of experienced
masters.
 
In those years, qualifying for the final was not within everybody’s reach and as an unrated 18–year old player I would
be very happy to get at least to the B-League. But insufficient knowledge of (or trust in) the basic rules caused me a
painful failure.
 
 C84
Marin — Hoszu
Romania1983

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d4

At that time, I considered this a dangerous weapon, but now I know it is a premature opening of the centre, inviting
trouble.
 
5...ed4 6.0-0 Be7 7.Re1 b5 8.e5 Ne5 9.Re5 d6 10.Re1 ba4 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Nc6 Bc6 14.Qc6 d5

It is quite clear that Black has no problems at all. White is slightly underdeveloped and still needs a tempo to win the
a4–pawn back. Given the tournament situation, I noticed the newly created “weakness” of the h2–b8 diagonal, which
allowed me to simplify the position even further, failing to understand the essence of the position.
Mihail Marin
15.Bf4?! In the aforementioned handbooks by Lasker
and Capablanca, there is a basic rule indicating that
knights should develop before bishops. Breaking this
rule is especially dangerous when the b-file is open,
since the b2–pawn becomes vulnerable, without the
possibility of defending it with the rook.
[White can probably retain an acceptable position with
15.Qa4 Ne4 16.Nd2 Nc5 17.Qg4, although strictly
speaking the opening experiment can be considered a
complete failure.]
 
15...Bd6 16.Qa4
[White is far from equality after 16.Bd6 Qd6 17.Qd6
cd6 followed by ...Rab8 and ...Rfc8, but maybe this is a
better chance of survival.]
 
16...Rb8!
Here it is! Black gains a tempo for his development by
 attacking the vulnerable pawn.
 
17.Bd6 Qd6 18.b3
There is no acceptable way to defend this pawn, but the
weakness of the long diagonal will make itself felt soon. [For 18.Qd4 see the next game.]
 
18...Rb4 19.Qa3
White is trying to survive on the queenside, but his other wing is completely undefended.
 
19...Ng4 Black gets a decisive attack now.
 
20.g3 Qh6 21.h4 Qf6 22.Rf1 Re4 23.c3
This is the indirect consequence of the premature development of the bishop; it is a necessary loss of tempo in order to
save the rook.
[23.Nd2 Re2 would lose at least a knight, in view of the threat ...Rf2]
 
23...Re2 24.Qc5 Qf3 25.Na3
Finally, White has managed to complete his development, just in time to resign one move later.
 
25...Ne3
0 : 1 Marin
 
What made my loss even more painful was that a few days later I had to go into the army. The federation had managed
to keep my civilian status for the first month, in order to allow me to play Balkaniad and the semifinal, but that was as
far as they could go.
 
For years I thought that this was the worse game ever played, finding it impossible to believe that anyone else could
make such moves as I had done here. Much to my surprise, five years later I found a game published in the Bulgarian
chess magazine Shakhmatnaia Misli, featuring an almost identical scenario. I do not remember the names of the
players, but judging from the year it was played it could well be the following:
 

C84
Palkovi 2425 — Solozhenkin 2400
Naleczow 1988

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d4 ed4 7.Re1 b5 8.e5 Ne5 9.Re5 d6 10.Re1 ba4 11.Nd4 Bd7
12.Qf3 0-0 13.Nc6 Bc6 14.Qc6 d5 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bd6 Qd6 17.Qa4 Rab8 18.Qd4
18...Rb4
[Actually 18...c5 is even stronger: 19.Qd2 (19.Qc3 d4 20.Qa3 Ng4 –+) 19...Rb2 –+]
 
19.Qd3 People never get enough of repeating other’s mistakes.
[Here is a more recent game between two young Italian talents: 19.Qc3 Ne4 20.Qa3 Qb6 21.Nc3 Qf2 22.Kh1

22...Ng3 23.hg3 Rb6 0 : 1 Valsecchi 2342 – Brunello 2455, Italia (ch) 2008]
 
19...Ng4 20.g3 Qh6 21.h4 Qf6 22.Re2
22...Qb2
[22...Rd4! is faster: 23.Qb3 Rd1 24.Kg2 d4 with the deadly threats ...Qc6 and ...Ne3]
 
23.Qc3 Qc3 24.Nc3 c6 And Black confidently converted his extra pawn.
 
25.Rb1 Rb1 26.Nb1 Rb8 27.Nd2 g6 28.Nb3 Nf6 29.f3 Rb4 30.c3 Ra4 31.Kf2 Kf8 32.Ke1 Nd7 33.Kd1 c5 34.Rd2 c4
35.Nc1 Ra5 36.Rb2 Ne5 37.Ke2 Ra3 38.Rc2 Nc6 39.Kf2 Ke7 40.Ne2 Kd6 41.Rd2 Kc5 42.g4 h6 43.Kg3 g5 44.h5
Na7 45.Nd4 Nb5 46.Nf5 Nc3 47.Rc2 d4 48.Nh6 d3 49.Rb2 Ne2 50.Re2 de2 51.Kf2 Re3 52.Ke1 c3
0 : 1 Marin

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THE SHADOW OVER THE CHAMPION

Ever since late 2009, Magnus Carlsen has dominated the chess world by winning
more than half of his classical tournaments, and finishing second in the rest! So
what on earth happened at the Norway Chess?

That’s right! Carlsen’s dominance was a trademark of world chess not only after he was crowned world champion but
years before as well! Aside from finishing third in London 2011, even his “bad” results over nearly six years were good
enough for at least the position of runner-up.
 
Should we look for the reason for his poor result in Norway in his own weaknesses or external factors? After all, at the
present time Magnus' domination in the chess world is being challenged by an increasing number of very strong rivals.
With five players currently above 2800, and Wei Yi crossing the 2700 barrier at only 15 years of age, we can all agree
that chess ability seems to have reached an all time high in 2015, and Carlsen will need to continue improving if he
wishes to be a long-term world No.1.
 
On the other hand, many strong players may agree that
in chess, playing at home, in this case in Stavanger,
Norway, can bring additional stress, without offering
any of the advantages local players usually enjoy in
other sports. The additional pressure and the desire to
live up to expectations probably was the cause, at least
in part, of this surprising result.
 
After suffering a painful defeat against Topalov, due to
being unaware of the changed time control, he suffered
two painful defeats against the Ruy Lopez, at the hands
of Caruana and Anand. Carlsen was later able to
recover with two nice victories over Grischuk and
Aronian, only to fall in the last round against his
compatriot and second Jon Ludvig Hammer. Overall,
he finished in shared 7th and 8th places.

D43
Carlsen 2876 — Topalov 2798
Stavanger 2015

I believe the first round of the event played a key role in

the development of Carlsen's tournament. Right up to
the abrupt end of the game, he played amazing
positional chess and was probably going to score yet
another convincing win from a completely equal
position.
 
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bf6
Qf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Rc1 g6 9.Be2
[RR 9.cd5 Riazantsev 2556 – Filippov 2639, Russia
2004 – 90/379; 9.Bd3 Ivan Sokolov 2670 – Timman
2590, Amsterdam (m/4) 1996 – 68/(378)]
 
9...Bg7 10.cd5 ed5 11.b4 a6N
[RR 11...Qd6 12.b5 Shchekachev 2537 – Bajarani 2424,
Paris 2011 (12.Qb3 W. Fisher – MacKinnon 2029, Philadelphia 2008)]
 
12.a4 0-0 13.b5
After a standard opening, we have reached a critical moment. White carries out the standard minority attack.
 
13...ab5 14.ab5 Qd6 15.0-0 Nb6
The c6–pawn might be structurally weak, but the position is so dynamic that this fact is fairly irrelevant.
[An alternative is 15...Nf6 16.bc6 bc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Ne5 Nd7 19.Nd7 Bd7 with a level game; the c6–pawn is not
easy to attack, for example, 20.Na4 Bf5! 21.Qd1 Rfb8 22.Nc5 Ra2„]
 
16.Qb3 Rb8 17.Nd1 Bf5 18.Nb2 Rfc8 19.Nd3 Bd3 20.Qd3

As usual, Carlsen’s lengthy maneouvres often yield him promising options. Now, he is ready to double rooks on the c-
file, turning the c6–pawn into a real target. The logical response is...
 
20...c5! 21.dc5 Rc5
...where again Black has a statically weak pawn on d5, but there are active options to compensate for that.
 
Veselin Topalov brilliant in Norway
22.h4 Na4
[In case of 22...h5 23.Ng5]
 
23.h5!
White disturbs the peace in Black’s position.
 
23...Rbc8?! This is imprecise.
[Better is 23...Nc3 24.hg6 Qg6 25.Qg6 fg6 26.Bd3
Rd8= with a level game.]
 
24.Rc5 Nc5
[Or 24...Rc5 25.Qa3! Nb6 26.hg6 fg6 27.Bd3²]
 
25.Qc2²

So far there have been no surprises. Carlsen played a normal opening, obtaining a level game. Then he used his
positional skill to obtain a long-term advantage.
 
25...gh5
[The alternative 25...g5 might be even worse after 26.Nd4 Qc7 (or 26...Bf8 27.Bf3 Qd7 28.Qf5! Qf5 29.Nf5±) 27.Nf5
Nd7 28.Qd3 with strong pressure against the d5–pawn.]
 
26.Nd4 Qg6 27.Nf5?!
[Stronger is 27.Rc1 Qc2 28.Rc2 Bf8 29.Bh5² with a comfortable, long-term advantage, the kind Carlsen usually wins
80 percent of the time.]
 
27...Bf8 28.Rd1 Qe6 29.Rc1
[Trying to correct the mistake with 29.Nd4? is met by 29...Ne4! 30.Qb2 Qe5„]
 
29...Nb3! It is possible Carlsen originally missed this resource, which allows Topalov to improve his drawing chances
significantly.
 
30.Qc8 Nc1 31.Qc1 Qf5
With opposite-colour bishops and an open game, there are plenty of resources Black may exploit to get a draw.
 
32.Qc7 Qb1 33.Bf1 d4!

This is an important resource, creating counterplay.

 
34.ed4 Qd1 35.Qe5!
This centralization keeps the game alive. It is unclear how White will break through the defence, but at least this move
does not give Black any immediate opportunities to equalize.
[Capturing the b7–pawn immediately with 35.Qb7? is a bad idea, since after 35...Qd4 36.g3 h4 37.Qf3 Bc5=, the b5–
pawn cannot advance any further.]
 
35...Bg7 36.Qe8 Bf8 37.Qd8 Kg7?
This mistake is what Carlsen was waiting for!
[More stubborn is 37...Qg4! 38.Qd5 b6 39.Bc4 Qg6 when Black’s position is rock solid, as the b6–pawn cannot be
captured, and the d-pawn cannot reach d6.]
 
38.Qd5 b6 39.Qe5!
This check is the key, and after...
 
39...Kg8 40.Qf6
...the b6–pawn is falling.
 
40...Bg7 41.Qb6 Bd4
[In case of 41...Qd4 42.Qb8 Bf8 43.b6 Qd6 44.Qc7!? Black’s position is delicate.]
 
42.Qh6
White is a clear pawn up, and Black’s h5–pawn will be an easy target. Carlsen has serious winning chances, but there
are still plenty of technical difficulties to overcome.
 
42...Qg4 43.Qd6 Qd1 44.Qd8 Kh7?
This leaves the f7–pawn unprotected.
[Far more stubborn is 44...Kg7! 45.Qc7 Qb1, halting the b-pawn.]
 
45.Qc7! White threatens the f-pawn, and prepares to advance the b-pawn.
[He isn’t ready to push with 45.b6?? due to 45...Bf2! 46.Kf2 Qd8 –+]
 
45...Kg7 46.b6 Qg4 47.b7+–
Now that White has pushed his pawn all the way to b7, this ending should be winning. Still, the position is extremely
complex.
 
47...Qh4 48.g3
[Of course not 48.b8=Q?? Bf2#]
 
48...Qf6 49.Qc2 Qe5 50.Qd3 Ba7 51.Qf3 Qf6 52.Qe2 Qc3 53.Kh2 Qd4 54.Qf3 Bb8
[The try 54...Qg4? loses to 55.Qc3 Kg8 56.Qc7 Qb4 57.Bc4+– ]
 
55.Kh3 Bc7 56.Be2 White is eyeing the h5–pawn.
 
56...Bb8 57.Bd1
[57.Kg2, attempting to protect f2 in order to capture h5, is met by 57...h4! 58.gh4 Qh4, which should be a draw.]
 
57...f5!
This is an excellent practical resource, forcing the course of events.]
[A waiting move like 57...Kg8?! is met by 58.Bb3 Qd7 59.Kg2 Qc7 60.Bd5+– and the h5–pawn is lost.]
 
58.Be2 f4 59.Qh5
[An interesting option is 59.gf4!? Bf4 (On 59...Qf4? 60.Qf4 Bf4 61.Bh5 Kf6 62.Kg4 Bb8 63.f4+–

...the ending is winning since the black bishop cannot stop both pawns from one and the same diagonal. White will
place his f-pawn on f5, his bishop on e6, and then will march decisively with his king through h6, all the way to c8.)
60.Qg2 (60.b8=Q?! Qd7 61.Kg2 Bb8=) 60...Kf6 (or 60...Kh6 61.Qc6 Kg5 62.Qe8 and White will win a second pawn,
as in the main line, since 62...Qf2? is met by 63.Qe7 Kh6 64.Qf6 Kh7 65.Bd3 Kg8 66.b8=Q Bb8 67.Qf2+– ) 61.Bh5
Qd3 62.Kh4 (but not 62.Qf3? Qf3 63.Bf3 Kg5!=
...which is a draw, as the black bishop stops both pawns from the same diagonal.) and at this point matters aren’t quite
clear. But it seems Black is unable to save the game, for example 62...Qf5 63.Qg4! Bb8 64.Qf5 Kf5 65.Bg4 Kg6 (or
65...Kf4 66.Kh5+– ) 66.Bh3 Bc7 67.Kg4 Bb8 68.f4+– winning, because the bishop can’t stop both pawns from a
single diagonal.]
 
59...Qf2 60.Qg5 Kf7
And at this point, to the surprise of everyone, Magnus Carlsen lost on time!
0 : 1 Flores Rios
 
 
Elite tournaments such as this one grant additional time after the 60th move, but this year the rules in Norway Chess
changed. At the beginning of the round it was announced the time control would be 2 hours for 40 moves, and then an
additional 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move until the end of the game. Carlsen was late for the game, and missed
this crucial announcement (?!?). The position, however, is extremely complicated even with the help of top engines.
Let us examine it carefully:
 
[For simplicity, it’s best to begin analyzing 60...Kf8? White is winning after the sequence 61.Qf6 Kg8 62.Bc4 Kh7
63.Qf7
We have reached a position to remember; in fact this is White’s only winning position, and we will refer to it later. The
winning sequence is: 63...Kh6 (63...Kh8 64.Qg8#) 64.Qf8 Kg5 (64...Kg6 65.Bd3 Kh5 66.g4 Kg5 67.Qg7#) 65.Qg7
Kf5 (65...Kh5 66.Bf7#) 66.g4 Ke4 67.Qg6! and now it finally becomes clear that Black is either losing his queen or
getting checkmated: 67...Kf3 (67...Kd4 68.Qb6+– ; 67...Ke5 68.Qe6 Kd4 69.Qb6+–; 67...Ke3 68.Qd3#) 68.Qc6
Ke3 69.Qc5 Kf3 70.Qd5 Ke3 71.Qd3#;
 
Now let’s analyze Topalov’s reply 60...Kf7! The only winning move is 61.Bc4! (any other try, like 61.Qh5? Ke7=
leads nowhere, as the black king simply runs into open space, and with such a simplified game there is nothing White
can aim for.) 61...Ke8 (of course not 61...Kf8?? 62.Qf6 Ke8 63.Bb5#) 62.Bb5 Kf7 (in case of 62...Kf8? 63.Qf6 Kg8
64.Bc4 transposes into a position already analyzed in 60...Kf8). Black’s king is in a cage, but even with the help of an
engine, it still took me an embarrassing 20 minutes to find a clear win in all variations. The winning line is 63.Qf5
Kg7 (63...Ke7 64.Qd7) 64.Qd7 Kh6 (in case of 64...Kf6 65.Qd8 Kg6 66.Bd3 Kf7 67.Bc4 Kg6 68.Qe8 Kf6 69.Qe6
Kg5 70.Qe7 Kh6 71.Qf6 Kh7 72.Qf7! transposing to the main line; 64...Kg6 does not help: 65.Qe6 Kg7 66.Qe7 Kh6
67.Qf6 Kh7 68.Bd3 Kg8 69.Bc4 Kh7 70.Qf7+– ) 65.Qe6 Kg7 66.Qe7 Kh6 67.Qf6 Kh7 68.Bd3! Kg8 69.Bc4 Kh7
70.Qf7! and we have reached the position analyzed earlier. The game is over after 70...Kh6 71.Qf8 Kg5 72.Qg7 Kf5
73.g4 Ke4 74.Qg6!+– either checkmating or winning the queen.]
 
Overall, it was a heartbreaking loss for Carlsen, but Topalov certainly deserves to be commended on his ability to
discover ways of complicating the game. He was able to find incredible resources, reminding us that chess is not just
about an absolute black and white truth, but also about putting pressure on your opponent, and inducing mistakes by
forcing him to make difficult decisions.
 
 
Unlike his three other defeats in this tournament, where Carlsen lost due to bad luck (against Topalov), probably a bad
mood (against Anand) and then a bad game plan (against Hammer), I think the next game was lost mostly due to chess
related reasons.
 
Over the past few years, Caruana has proved to have what it takes to defeat Magnus and this game was no exception.
Carlsen’s decision to play the Berlin defence to the Ruy Lopez against him is questionable, as Caruana is arguably the
world’s leading expert in this variation, with plenty of practical experience, and an outstanding record that includes
only one loss against Michael Adams in 2013.
 
 

C67
Caruana 2805 — Carlsen 2876
Stavanger 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Ne4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bc6 dc6 7.de5 Nf5 8.Qd8 Kd8 9.h3 h6 10.Rd1 Ke8 11.Nc3
Ne7
[In a previous encounter, Carlsen tried 11...Bd7 12.Bf4]
 
12.b3 Bf5
[RR 12...Ng6 Kamsky 2705 – Bruzon 2679, Khanty-Mansiysk (ol) 2010 – 110/(177)]
 
13.Nd4 Bh7 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Nce2
[Polgar had previously tried 15.e6, though after 15...Nd5 (RR 15...Nc8 Ju. Polgar 2689 – D. Howell 2644, Warsaw
2013) 16.ef7 Kf7 Black has no problems.]
 
15...Nd5 16.c4 Nb4 17.Nf4 Rg8
[RR17...Be7 18.g4 Rg8 see 18...Be7]
 
18.g4 Na6N
This is Carlsen’s new move in this position.
[or 18...g5?! 19.Nh5 Be7 20.Nf5²; maybe the best option is 18...Be7 19.Nf5 Bg5 20.Rd8 Kd8 21.Nd3 (RR 21.Ng2 S.
Hatzl – S. Hauser, corr. 2011) 21...Nd3 22.Rd1 Kd7 23.Rd3 Ke6 24.Nd4 Ke7 25.Ba3 Ke8 26.Rd1 where Black
continues to be a little worse, but at least he retains his pair of bishops.]
 
19.Nf5²

This knight placement is particularly bothersome to Black, as it blocks one bishop and ties up the other one.
 
19...Nc5 20.Rd8 Kd8 21.Rd1 Kc8
[In case of 21...Ke8 22.Kg2 Ne6 23.Kg3 Bf5 24.gf5 Nf4 25.Kf4 Bc5 26.f3 Ke7 27.h4 the kingside majority continues
to be threatening, since 27...Rd8? is met by 28.f6! gf6 29.ef6 Ke8 30.Rd8 Kd8 31.Bc1 Kd7 32.Kg4 Ke6 33.Bh6 Kf6
 34.h5 which is nearly winning.]
 
22.Ba3!

I might be too pessimistic, but at this point I do not see any clear way for Black to hold the game.
 
22...Ne6?
This move leads by force into a near-lost ending.
[In case of 22...Bf5!? 23.gf5 g6 24.fg6 Ne6 (Another option is to try 24...fg6! but now 25.Kg2 Ne6 26.Bc1 Nf4 27.Bf4
g5 28.Bg3² and White preserves some serious winning chances, for example 28...Rg7 29.Kf3 Rd7 30.Rd7 Kd7 31.Kg4
Ke6 32.f4 gf4 33.Bf4± is likely a win for White.) White can respond with the strong 25.Bf8! Nf4 26.g7 Ne6 27.Kh2
Ng7 28.Bg7 Rg7 29.Rg1! which forces Black into a terrible rook ending after 29...Rh7 (or 29...Rg1? 30.Kg1 Kd7 31.f4
Ke6 32.Kf2 Kf5 33.Kf3 The pawn ending is easily winning.) 30.f4 Kd7 31.f5±;
It is possible that Black’s best strategy is just to wait with 22...b6!? although after 23.Kh2 White may follow with other
progressive moves, like h3–h4–h5.]
 
23.Ne6 Ba3
[23...fe6? loses to 24.Be7!+– ]
 
24.Neg7 Bf8 25.e6!
This is the key move; now the knight is able to escape and White only returns his pawn after damaging Black’s pawn
structure even more.
 
25...Bf5
[Of course not 25...Rg7? 26.e7!+– ]
 
26.Nf5 fe6 27.Ng3±
After the past few forced moves, Carlsen no longer has a pair of bishops, or enough pieces to create complications. He
is unable to make use of his extra pawn on the queenside, while Caruana’s kingside majority can advance easily. This
ending still requires much effort and precision, but it should be technically winning.]
 
27...Be7 28.Kg2 Rf8 29.Rd3 Rf7 30.Nh5 Bd6 31.Rf3!
This precise move makes Black's position collapse.
 
31...Rh7
[Trading rooks with 31...Rf3 32.Kf3 puts Black in a very difficult position, for example 32...Kd7 33.Nf4!, heading
toward d3, in order to control the e5–square: 33...c5 34.Ke4 Ke7 35.Nd3 Kf6 36.f4± where White can improve his
position comfortably with h3–h4, g4–g5]
 
32.Re3!
The text takes advantage of the awkward position of the rook on h7.
 
32...Re7
[The point is that 32...Kd7?? loses to 33.Nf6+– ]
 
33.f4+–
Carlsen’s piece coordination has been destroyed, and he is now unable to react. The rest is quite simple as Caruana’s
kingside pawns begin to roll without opposition.]
 
33...Ba3 34.Kf3 Bb2 35.Re2 Bc3 36.g5 Kd7 37.Kg4 Re8 38.Ng3 Rh8 39.h4 b6 40.h5 c5 41.g6 Re8 42.f5 ef5 43.Kf4
[The direct 43.Kf5!? wins too: 43...Re7 44.Re7 Ke7 45.Ke4 Bd2 46.Nf5 Kf6 47.g7 Kf7 48.Kd5+– ]
 
43...Rh8 44.Nf5 Bf6 45.Rg2

1 : 0 Flores Rios
 
The following game was another strong blow to Carlsen’s confidence. After a good opening and middlegame, he
reached a winning position and surprisingly missed his chances, reaching a drawish ending. This is unlike Magnus, who
almost never misses an opportunity to win.
 
 B51
Carlsen 2876 — Giri 2773
Stavanger 2015

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Nd7 4.c3 Ngf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 e6 8.d4 Bb7 9.0-0 Be7 10.Re1
[RR 10.a4 Svidler 2732 – Grischuk 2797, Baku 2014 – 122/57]
 
10...0-0 11.Nbd2 cd4 12.cd4 Rc8N
[RR 12...Qb6 Kalegin 2477 – Griffiths 2301, Paris 2011; 12...Qc7 13.Nf1 Rfc8 14.Bd3 b4 Rasik 2437 – Laznicka 2667,
Czech 2015 (14...e5 Ter-Sahakyan 2593 – A. R. Salem 2615, Martuni 2015) ]
 
13.Nf1 Re8 14.Ng3 Bf8 15.Be3 Rc7 16.Bd3²

I am often amazed by how Carlsen’s simple openings give him positionally superior games, while avoiding piece trades
or risky variations. This position is ideal for his style.
 
16...e5 17.d5 Nc5 18.Bc2
Black is already experiencing some serious trouble, due to his disadvantage in space and White’s ideally placed pieces.
 
18...b4 This is a sad necessity.
[In case of 18...Qd7 19.Bd2! (heading for a5) 19...g6 (19...Rec8? 20.Ba5±) 20.Rac1 Bg7 21.h3² where Carlsen could
proceed to fight for the c-file while his opponent lacks an active plan.]
 
19.a3!
[Another option is 19.Nd2!?]
 
19...b3
[In case of 19...a5 20.ab4 ab4 21.Ba4 Nfd7 22.Bb5± White dominates the game entirely, and the b4–pawn is likely
lost.]
 
20.Bc5 Rc5 21.Bb3
White is already a pawn up, though there is some compensation at the moment.
 
21...Qb6 22.Bc4 Rec8 23.Bd3 g6 24.Nf1 Bh6 25.Ne3 a5 26.b4!±
Carlsen knows exactly how to consolidate his advantage.
 
26...ab4 27.ab4 R5c7
[27...Qb4?? 28.Rab1+– ]
 
28.b5 Qc5 29.h3?
This move wastes time and does not really help in preventing Black’s counterplay.
[Much stronger is 29.Nd2! threatening Nb3–a5–c6 with a near decisive advantage.]
 
29...Nh5 30.Qb2 Qb6 31.Qb4 Be3 32.Re3 Rc3?!
Imprecise.
[Better is 32...Nf4 33.Bf1 f5 and after 34.Nd2 fe4 35.Ne4 Nd5 36.Qb3 Kg7 Black’s position is no longer so desperate.]
 
33.Rae1 f5!?

The text creates much-needed counterplay, but also exposes the black king dangerously.
[33...Nf4 34.Bf1± to follow with Nd2–c4 does not help; possibly the best move is objectively 33...Nf6 since after
34.Bf1 (instead 34.Ra1! Nh5 35.Qa5±) 34...Re3 35.Re3 the threat Nd2–c4 is very strong. But Black has the resource
35...Bd5! 36.ed5 Nd5 37.Qd2 Ne3 38.fe3 and Black may be able to hold this position.]
 
34.ef5 Nf4 35.Be4 R3c5 36.fg6 hg6
Now White's pawns on d5 and b5 are falling, and it is necessary to take decisive action on the kingside before the
advantage slips away.
 
37.Bg6!
[Simpler is 37.Nh4! Rb5 38.Qa4+– ]
 
37...Rb5
[The bishop is untouchable: 37...Ng6? 38.Qg4 Kf7 (38...Kg7 39.Nh4+– ) 39.Qe6 Kg7 40.Nh4!+– ]
 
38.Qe4??
[The threat is Bf7 but Magnus misses a serious winning opportunity.]
[White is winning after 38.Bf7! Kf7 39.Qe4 Rg8 (39...Kg7 40.Ng5+– ) 40.Qf5 Ke7 (or 40...Kg7 41.Ng5+–) 41.Qf4+–
]
 
38...Rf8!

Suddenly Black’s counterplay becomes very real and White lacks targets. ]
[Any alternative, such as 38...Rb4? loses immediately to 39.Bf7! Kf7 40.Qf5 Kg7 41.Ng5+– ]
 
39.Ne5!? This is a very good practical decision under time pressure. Carlsen changes gear immediately after realizing
the attack has failed, and now he heads by force into an ending with three pawns for a knight.
[But better is 39.Nh4! Bd5 40.Qa4 Rb2 though Black has good counterplay.]
 
39...de5 40.Rg3 Rd5 41.Qb1 Qb1 42.Bb1 Kh8 43.Be4 Rd7 44.Bb7 Rb7 45.Re5
After a long, forced sequence we have reached this ending, where obviously only White can play for a win. It is
necessary to advance the pawns without creating the holes Black needs to block them.
 
45...Rh7 46.Re4 Rhf7 47.Kh2 Kh7 48.Rf3 Kg6 49.h4
[In case of 49.g4 Nh3! forces a draw immediately 50.Rf7 Rf7 51.Kh3 Rf2=]
 
49...Nh5 50.Rf7 Rf7 51.Re2 Nf4 52.Rd2 Nh5 53.g3 Nf6 54.Kg2 Rd7 55.Ra2
It is best to keep the rook on the board while the pawns advance.
[In case of 55.Rd7 Nd7 56.g4 Nf6 57.Kf3 Nd7 58.Kf4 we reach an ending similar to the game. Black needs to be
precise in order to draw.]
 
55...Rd5 56.Ra4 Re5 57.g4
57...Re4! Giri knows what he is doing. After trading rooks the resulting ending requires some precision, but it is a safe
draw with the right method.
[In case of 57...Re6? 58.f3! Carlsen gets to keep rooks on the board, dramatically increasing his winning chances, as he
can advance the pawns without the creation of holes for Giri’s king to exploit. Now the game could continue 58...Re2
59.Kg3 Re6 60.Ra5 Rb6 61.h5 Kh7 62.Kh4 It may be that Black can still hold this, but in practice it isn’t easy, for
example, 62...Rb4 63.Kg5 Rb6 64.f4 Rc6 65.Ra7 Kg8 66.Kf5 Nd5 67.Ra8 Kg7 68.g5! and now the only way for Black
to save the game is finding the sequence: 68...Rc4! 69.h6 Kh7 70.Ra7 Kg8 71.g6 Ne3!= (71...Rf4? 72.Kg5+– )]
 
58.Re4 Ne4 59.Kf3 Nd6 60.Kf4 Nf7 61.Ke4 Kf6 62.f4

Should Carlsen achieve the exact same position one rank further, he would be easily winning.
 
62...Nd6!
This is the only move to save the game.
[In case of 62...Ke6?? White wins easily after 63.f5 Kf6 64.Kf4 Ke7 65.g5 Nd6 66.h5 Kf8 67.h6 Nf7 68.h7 Nh8
69.g6+– ]
 
63.Kd5 Nb5! Again, Giri plays precisely.
[Black also draws after 63...Nf7!; the alternative 63...Ne8? does not look too bad, but after 64.f5!+– all pawns will
reach the 5th rank, deciding the game.]
 
64.h5 Nc3 65.Kd4 Nb5 66.Kc4 Nd6
[The move 66...Nc7?, heading to e6, is nicely refuted by 67.g5 Kf7 68.h6 Ne6 69.g6! Kg6 (69...Kg8 70.f5+– )
70.f5!+– ]
 
67.Kc5 Ke6 68.Kc6
[A futile attempt to drive Black into a blunder with 68.Kd4 runs into 68...Nf7 69.Ke3 Nh6 70.Kf3 Nf7 71.Kg3 Kf6
72.Kh4 Ke6!= since White cannot progress with 73.g5 Kf5 74.h6 due to 74...Kf4! 75.h7 Kf5 76.Kh5 Nh8 77.Kh6
Ng6 78.Kh5 Nh8=]
 
68...Nf7 69.Kc7 Nh6!
Giri forces the creation of a hole for his king to penetrate; the position is obviously drawn.
 
70.g5 Nf7 71.g6
[Or 71.h6 Kf5 72.Kd7 Kf4 73.g6 Nh6=]
 
71...Nh6 72.Kd8 Kf5 73.Ke7 Kf4 74.Kf8 Kg5 75.g7 Kh5 76.g8Q Ng8
1/2:1/2 Flores Rios
 

C95
Anand 2804 — Carlsen 2876
Stavanger 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6

Magnus chooses to avoid the Berlin after such a painful defeat against Caruana.
 
4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.Re1 b5 10.Bc2 Bf8 11.Nf1 g6 12.h3 Bb7 13.Ng3 Nb8 14.d4
Nbd7 15.a4 c5 16.d5
We have transposed to the main line of the Breyer variation, as White used two moves to play d2–d3 and d3–d4, but
saved one tempo by playing Ba4–c2.
 
16...c4 17.Bg5 Bg7
[A far more common alternative is 17...h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 h5 with a complex game.]
 
18.Qd2 Rb8!?
Carlsen again deviates from the usual.
[More common is 18...Nc5 Kuzmin 2575 – Spassky 2655, USSR (ch) 1973 – 16/260]
 
19.Nh2N
[RR 19.Ra3 Nc5 20.ab5 ab5 21.Rea1 ½ : ½ Dueball 2450 – Matanovic 2490, Bath 1973]
 
19...Bc8 20.Ng4 Nc5 21.Nh6!
This weird-looking move actually proves to be effective in forcing Black to surrender his dark-square bishop.
 
21...Bh6
[On 21...Kf8 22.ab5 ab5 23.f4!± Black is in trouble.]
 
22.Bh6 ba4 23.Ra2
[In case of 23.Ba4? Bd7! 24.Bd7 Nfd7 Black intends ...Nd3 with a good position; an interesting option is 23.Be3!? Rb2
24.Bc5 dc5 25.Ra4²]
 
23...a3
Black sacrifices a pawn to open the b-file, as the a4–pawn is of little use otherwise.
[On 23...a5? 24.Ba4 Bd7 25.Bc2± the b2–pawn is protected and the c4–pawn is very weak.]

Viswanathan Anand

24.ba3 Nfd7 25.f4!

A typical idea in this position.
 
25...a5?
[But this is too slow, while 25...Qh4? loses to 26.Bg5 Qg3 27.Re3 and the queen is trapped. Correct is 25...ef4! 26.Qf4
when chances are approximately balanced. White may attack the king and the d6–pawn, but the e5–square and the open
b-file give Black sufficient counterplay, for example, 26...Qf6 (but not 26...Qe7? 27.Nf5!+– ) 27.Qe3 Ne5 28.Rf1 Qe7
29.Bb1!? (White could force a draw with 29.Bg5 Qf8 30.Bh6 Qe7 31.Bg5=) 29...Rb3 30.Raf2 Ra3÷]
 
26.Rf1 f6
Playing this move is equivalent to admitting that Black has lost the initiative.
[It is too late for 26...ef4 27.Qf4 Ne5 (27...Qe7? 28.Nf5+– ) 28.Bg5 Qb6 29.Kh2± with dangerous threats on the dark
squares.]
 
27.f5

Once White has played f4–f5, it becomes obvious he will have a powerful kingside attack.
 
27...Nd3 28.Bd3 cd3 29.Qd1!±
Anand plays a simple but very strong move, clearing the way for Raf2 and Qg4 with a powerful attack.
 
29...Re7
[The materialistic 29...Ba6 can be answered with 30.Qg4! Kf7 (30...g5 31.h4+– ) 31.fg6 hg6 32.Rf3! (In case of
32.Raf2 d2 disrupts the rook’s coordination.) 32...Rb1 33.Kh2 Bc8 34.Raf2+– and White is winning due to multiple
threats, such as Nh5.]
 
30.Raf2 Rf7 31.Qd3 Nc5?
The knight drives the queen to a desirable square, and moves away from the defence.
[It is time to bring the rook to the game with 31...Rb3! as the remaining pieces are needed in the defence. If we follow
the approach in the game with 32.Qf3!? (Another way is 32.h4 Qc7 33.Ne2 Kh8 34.Qf3 with strong pressure.) Black
has the stronger reply 32...Kh8 (but not 32...Ba6, which works just like in the game: 33.Qg4 g5 34.h4! Bf1 35.Rf1 Kh8
36.hg5 fg5 37.f6! Rf6 38.Rf6 Qf6 39.Nf5!+– winning the queen.) 33.Qg4 Nf8 when Black seems to be holding, at least
for now.]
 
32.Qf3 Ba6 33.Qg4 g5
[The try 33...Bc8 does not help due to 34.Qh4! threatening fg6, and after 34...g5 35.Qg4 Kh8 (or 35...Ba6 36.h4,
transposing to the game.) 36.h4+– Black is defenceless.]
 
34.h4!+–
Anand takes advantage of Black’s poor piece coordination; the kingside is without defence.
 
34...Bf1 35.Rf1 Qd7
[In case of 35...Kh8 36.hg5 fg5 37.f6! Rf6 38.Bg7 Kg7 39.Nh5+–]
 
36.hg5 fg5 37.Qh5
White prepares f5–f6.
[The more direct 37.Qg5 Kh8 38.f6 Rg8 39.Bg7 Rfg7 40.fg7 Qg7 41.Qg7 Rg7 might allow some counterplay, or after
42.Rf8 Rg8 43.Rg8 Kg8 44.Kf2 Kf7 45.Kf3 Ke7 some technical difficulties could get in the way of a victory.]
 
37...Kh8 38.f6 Rg8
[On 38...Qa7 39.Bg7 Kg8 40.Kh2+– the threat of Nf5–Nh6 decides the game.]
 
39.Bg7 Rfg7 40.fg7 Qg7 41.Nf5 Qg6 42.Qg6 Rg6 43.Ne7! With this key move, Black cannot avoid material loss.
43...Kg7
[Or 43...Rh6 44.Rf8 Kg7 45.Rc8! Kf7 46.Nf5 Rf6 47.Nd6 Rd6 48.Rc5+– and the connected passed pawns win.]
 
44.Ng6 Kg6
[After 44...hg6 45.Re1 g4 46.Re3 Kf6 47.Kf2 Kg5 48.g3 Kf6 49.Re2+– followed by Ke3 and Rb2–Rb6 leads to
victory.]
 
45.Rf8 a4 46.c4 h5 47.Kf2
[47.Kf2 Ne4 48.Ke3 Kg7 (48...Nf6 49.Rd8+– 48...Nc5 49.Rd8 Nb7 50.Rd7+– ) 49.Rf5 Nf6 50.Rg5+”]
1 : 0 Flores Rios
 
After the rest day, Carlsen was back to his old self, and managed to outplay Grischuk in his usual style; he converted a
microscopic opportunity into a convincing victory.
 
 

B91
Carlsen 2876 — Grischuk 2781
Stavanger 2015

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 b5 9.Nd5
[RR 9.h3 Alekseev 2708 – Dominguez 2708, Biel 2008 – 103/173]
 
9...Nbd7 10.Nec3 Bb7 11.a4 Nd5N
[RR 11...0-0 Lutikov 2410 – Magerramov 2425, USSR 1983; 11...ba4 Mestre Bellido 2317 – E. Colon Garcia 2337,
Spain 2013]
 
12.Nd5 Nf6
[An alternative is 12...0-0 13.ab5 ab5 14.Ra8 Ba8 15.0-0² Adams 2740 – Navara 2724, Biel 2015]
 
13.ab5?!
Carlsen gives up the strong d5–square.
[In case of 13.Ne7 Qe7 14.ab5 ab5 15.Ra8 Ba8 16.Qd3² White preserves an edge, due to his bishop pair and the weak
b5–pawn.]
 
13...Nd5 14.ed5 ab5 15.Ra8 Qa8
[Black has solved all his opening problems, as the d5–square is now occupied by a pawn, and there is potential for
kingside play based on ...f7–f5.]
 
16.Qd3 0-0 17.0-0 Bc8 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Rc1
This piece rearrangement has the sole purpose of fighting for the a-file.
 
19...h6 20.Qd1 Qb7 21.Ra1 Ra8 22.h4 Ra6 23.b3 Bd8
[After 23...Qa8 24.Ra6 Qa6 25.Bf1 Bd8= there are chances for both sides.]
 
24.c4 bc4 25.bc4 Bb6
For the past ten moves we have been navigating a completely balanced game, and many players might just agree to a
draw at this point. However, Magnus wants to prove once again why his endgame ability is second to none. He found
an excellent resource.
 
26.c5!! A double exclamation mark might seem like an exaggeration; however, after analyzing this game carefully and
realizing the depth and consequences of this move, I think it is well deserved.
 
26...Bc5 27.Bc5 dc5 28.d6 Qb6 29.Ra6 Qa6 30.Bd5
Black has been forced away from the peaceful game he had, and now some hard decisions must be made.
 
30...Qc8?
Black assumes a passive role.
[The computer suggests 30...Be8 and after 31.Be4 Bd7 32.Qd5 Qa1 33.Kg2 only the surprising resource 33...g6! allows
Black to maintain the balance: 34.Qc5 Qd4! 35.Qd4 ed4 36.f4 f5 37.Bd5 Kf8 38.Kf2 Ke8 39.Ke1 Bb5=]
 
31.Qb3 Be8
[On 31...Qf8 32.Qb6 Qc8 33.Bb7 Qb8 34.Qc7 Qe8 35.Qc5² the resulting position is similar to the game.]
 
32.Qc3 c4 33.Bc4
[But not 33.Qc4? Qc4 34.Bc4 Kf8 35.Bd5 Bb5 36.f3 Ke8=]
 
33...Bd7 34.Qb3 Qe8 35.Qf3±
In the space of only ten moves, the characteristics of the game have changed entirely. Carlsen sacrificed a pawn for
activity, gained control of the game, and now has recovered the pawn. The resulting position offers great winning
chances for him, and he proceeds to improve his position before taking decisive action.
 
35...Kf8 36.h5 Kg8 37.Qe4 Bc6 38.Bd5! Bd7
[In case of 38...Bd5 39.Qd5 the game is lost, since 39...Qd7 (The even worse 39...Kf8? is met by 40.d7 Qd8 41.Qc5
Kg8 42.Qc8+– ) drops the e5–pawn to 40.Qe5+– ]
 
39.Kg2 Black is running out of waiting moves.
 
39...Kh8
[After 39...Bc8 40.Bc6 Qe6 41.Qd3 Kh8 42.Kg1 Bd7 43.Bd7 Qd7 44.Qd5 f6 the d6–pawn should decide the game:
45.Kg2 Kh7 46.Kf3 Kh8 47.Ke4 Kh7 48.Kd3 Kh8 49.Qc5 Qb7 50.Qc7! Qb1 51.Kc4+– ]
 
40.f4!
Now that all of White’s pieces are optimally placed, the moment has come to break the defence.
 
40...ef4?
Grischuk collapses under pressure.
[Black also loses after 40...f5? 41.Qe5 Qh5 42.Qe7 Kh7! 43.Bf3 (but not 43.Qd7? Qe2 44.Kh3 Qh5 45.Kg2 Qe2=)
43...Qe8 44.Qe8 Be8 45.Bd5! Bd7 (or 45...g5 46.Be6 Kg6 47.d7 Bd7 48.Bd7 and now the critical variation is 48...h5
49.Be8 Kh6 50.Bf7 h4 51.g4! (this is the key) 51...fg4 52.f5 Kg7 53.Bh5 g3 54.Bg4 Kf6 55.Kf3 Ke5 56.Bh3 Kf6
57.Kg4+– ) 46.Kf3 g5 47.Ke3 Kg6 48.Kd4 h5 49.Ke5 h4 50.gh4 gh4 51.Be6! where White wins the race by just one
move after 51...Be6 52.Ke6 h3 53.d7 h2 54.d8=Q h1=Q 55.Qg8 Kh6 56.Qh8 Kg6 57.Qh1+– ; Black could stay in the
game with 40...f6!, although after 41.fe5 fe5 42.g4 Qc8 43.Kg3± White preserves great winning chances.]
 
41.Qe8 Be8 42.Bf7!+–
Everyone saw this move of course, but the key is realizing that the resulting ending wins in every line.
 
42...Bc6 43.Kf2 fg3 44.Kg3 Bd7
[On 44...g5!? 45.hg6 Kg7 White wins easily with 46.Kg4! (but not 46.Kf4?? Kf6! 47.Kg4 Be4 48.Kh5 Bg6! 49.Bg6
Ke6=) 46...Kf6 (46...Bb5 47.Kf5+– ) 47.Kh5 Kg7 48.Be6 Bf3 49.Bg4 Bc6 50.d7 Bd7 51.Bd7+– ]
 
45.Bg6
[Black resigned after 45.Bg6 because all he can do is wait, and he loses after the simple variation 45...Kg8 46.Kf4 Kf8
47.Ke5 Kg8 48.Kd4 Kf8 49.Kc5 Kg8 50.Kb6 Kf8 51.Kc7 Bg4 52.d7 Bd7 53.Kd7 Kg8 54.Ke7 Kh8 55.Ke8! White
wants to bring the bishop to f7 with check 55...Kg8 56.Bf7 Kh8 57.Kf8 Kh7 58.Bg6 Kh8 59.Bf5 and Black is in
Zugzwang. The game finishes with 59...g6 60.hg6 h5 61.g7#]
1 : 0 Flores Rios
 
Like many fans, I often look forward to Carlsen’s encounters against Nakamura. His +11 score against him, without any
losses, is extremely rare at this level. I thought Nakamura might get a chance in this tournament, since Carlsen was not
playing at his best. The game turned out to be an uneventful draw. Black equalized early and despite an imprecision
along the way, Nakamura never faced real chances of losing.
 

D56
Carlsen 2876 — Nakamura 2802
Stavanger 2015

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Be7 Qe7 9.Rc1 c6
10.Qc2
[Nakamura had previously been defeated with 10.Bd3 Nc3 11.Rc3 dc4 12.Rc4 Nd7 13.0-0 e5 14.Bc2 Nb6 15.Rc5 ed4
16.Qd3 g6 17.Bb3 Kg7 (but not 17...Qc5? 18.Qg6 Kh8 19.Qh6 Kg8 20.e4!+– to follow with Ng5) 18.Qd4² Aronian
2801 – Nakamura 2786, Antalya (wtc) 2013]
 
10...Nc3 11.Qc3 dc4 12.Bc4 b6 13.0-0?!
This natural move gives Black enough time to play ...Nd7 and then break up the powerful centre with a timely ...c6–c5.
[A better continuation is 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Be2! (The pressure against the c6–pawn prevents Black from playing the
desirable ...Nd7) 14...Rc8 15.0-0 (or 15.Bh5!?N 15...g6 16.Bf3) 15...Nd7 16.Nd7 Qd7 17.b4 (stopping ...c6–c5) 17...a5
18.a3

White preserved a small plus in the game Huzman 2570 – Ravia 2330, Israel 1996]
 
13...Nd7
[RR 13...Bb7 Hort – Donner, Wijk aan Zee 1970 – 9/467]
 
14.Rfd1 Bb7 15.h3 c5!
With this move, Black manages to relieve his position, equalizing completely.
 
16.d5
[In case of 16.dc5 Nc5 (Another option is 16...Bf3!? 17.gf3 Nc5, although White’s doubled pawns aren’t particularly
weak, and the battle between a bishop and knight in this open position could eventually swing the game in Carlsen’s
favor.) 17.Be2 Rac8= is completely level.]
 
16...ed5N
[RR 16...e5 M. Lj. Tomic 2231 – Mi. Ristic, Belgrade 2007]
 
17.Bd5 Bd5 18.Rd5 Nf6 19.Rd3
In this level position, there is one big strategic element to fight for: the control of the d-file. Unfortunately for White,
after the sequence...
 
19...Rad8 20.Rcd1 Rd3 21.Qd3 Rc8!

...the open file is of little use, and the threat to mobilize the queenside majority with ...c5–c4 and ...b6–b5 needs
attention.
 
22.a4 c4 23.Qc2 Qe4
The position has strong drawish characteristics and Nakamura knows this, but he seeks active moves, as it’s best not to
take chances against Carlsen.
 
24.Nd4 c3 25.Qb3 Qd5 26.Qc2 Qe4 27.Qe4 Ne4 28.b3
The text is a good decision; the c3–pawn is much more of a weakness than a threat.
 
28...Nd2 29.Rc1 a5 30.Rc2 Nb1 31.Rc1 Nd2 32.Rc2 Nb1 33.Nb5! Kf8 34.f3
34...Rd8?! This is a serious imprecision.
[The correct continuation is 34...Nd2!, attacking the b3–pawn:
 
A) After 35.Nd4 Nb1 36.Kf2 Na3 37.Rc1 c2 38.Ke2 Rc3 39.Kd2 the game ends in a repetition with 39...Nb1 40.Ke2
Na3=;
 
B) The critical response is 35.Rc3 Rc3 36.Nc3 when Black needs to play 36...Ke7! (36...Nb3?! 37.Nd5 b5 38.ab5 a4
39.Kf2 a3 40.Nb4² gives White some chances.) 37.b4! (on 37.Nd5 Kd6 38.Nb6 Kc5 it is Black who has winning
chances.) 37...ab4 38.Nd5 Kd6 39.Nb4=]
 
35.Nd4
[An alternative is 35.Kf2!? Ke7 (or 35...Rd2 36.Rd2 cd2 37.Ke2 Ke7 38.f4! (clearing the f3–square) 38...Ke6 39.Nd4
Kd5 40.Nf3 and the d2–pawn is lost.) 36.Nd4 Rc8 is similar to the game.]
 
35...Rc8 36.Rc1 Na3 37.Nc2!²
This is probably what Nakamura missed. Interestingly enough, even in such a drawish position, Carlsen manages to win
the c3–pawn and fight for the win.
 
37...Nc2 38.Rc2 Rc5 39.Kf2 b5!
Trading pawns is the correct approach to minimize losing chances.
 
40.ab5 Rb5 41.Rc3 g6 42.f4 h5 43.Rc8 Kg7 44.Ra8 Rb3 45.Ra5
Unfortunately for Magnus, there are no real winning chances in this position.
 
45...Rb2 46.Kf3 Rb3 47.Ra7 Rc3 48.Re7 Rb3 49.Kg3 Rb2 50.Kf3 Rb3 51.g4 hg4 52.hg4 Rb1 53.Rd7 Rf1 54.Ke4 Rg1
55.g5 Ra1

Despite his extra pawn, White is unable to create any serious threats. The game is easily drawn.
 
56.Ke5 Ra3 57.e4 Ra5 58.Kd6 Ra6 59.Ke5 Ra5 60.Rd5 Ra4 61.Rc5 Ra1 62.Rc2 Rf1 63.Rc7 Re1 64.Ra7 Rg1 65.Ra4
Rf1 66.Ra6 Re1 67.Kd4 Rd1 68.Ke3 Re1 69.Kf3 Rf1 70.Kg3 Re1 71.e5 Re3 72.Kf2 Rb3 73.Rd6 Ra3 74.Rd8 Rc3
75.Ke2 Ra3 76.Rd3 Ra1 77.Ke3 Re1 78.Kd4 Rf1 79.Ke4 Ra1 80.Rd7 Ra4 81.Rd4 Ra5 82.Rc4 Kf8 83.Rc8 Kg7
84.Rc7 Kf8 85.Kd4 Ra4 86.Rc4 Ra5 87.Rc8 Kg7 88.e6 fe6 89.Rc5 Ra7 90.Ke5 Rf7 91.Rc4 Rf5 92.Ke6 Kg8 93.Rc8
Kg7 94.Rc7 Kg8 95.Rc8 Kg7
1/2:1/2 Flores Rios
 

D43
Vachier-Lagrave 2723 — Carlsen 2876
Stavanger 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5!?

Black deviates from mainstream theory.
[The standard continuation is 6...dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 with a dynamic game.]
 
7.Bg3 Ne4
We are essentially in unexplored territory, with only a handful of games played between strong players.
[RR 7...dc4 Sargissian 2676 – Man. Perez Candelario 2537, Merida 2008 – 105/(278)]
 
8.Ne4!?
[White accepts the theoretical challenge but he could hope for a small positional advantage with the more peaceful 8.e3
Qa5 9.Qb3 Nd7 10.Bd3² as in Kashlinskaya 2432 – Shen Yang 2465, Ningbo (m/2) 2015]
 
8...de4 9.Nd2 Qd4

10.e3
[A worthy alternative is 10.Qb3 f5 11.e3 Qf6 12.Be2! (threatening an unpleasant check on h5) 12...h5 13.h4 g4 14.0-0-
0 where Black's lack of development should count for something, although his position seems quite solid so far; On
10.Qc2 f5 11.e3 Qf6 12.Be2 Kf7 13.0-0 Nd7 14.f3!?ƒ White’s initiative should at least be enough for equality.]
10...Qb2 11.Rb1 Qc3
[Taking a third pawn with 11...Qa2? is fatal due to 12.Be5 Rg8 13.Ra1+–]
 
12.Be2N
[RR 12.h4 Ellers 2430 – O. Borik 2416, Germany 2000]
 
12...Nd7
[Attempting to trade queens with 12...Bb4 is met by 13.Rb4! Qb4 14.0-0 0-0 (but not 14...f5? 15.Bh5 Ke7 16.Ne4! fe4
17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Rd1+– with a crushing attack) 15.Ne4 with a powerful attack.]
 
13.0-0 Nc5 14.Nb3 Nd3
[It might be preferable to play 14...Be7!? 15.Nc5 Bc5 16.Bd6 Black is unable to castle, and there is compensation for
the two pawns, although after 16...Bd6 17.Qd6 Qf6 it seems like White has nothing better than 18.Rbd1 Qe7 19.Qe5 0-
0 20.Qe4 e5÷ when the position might be dynamically balanced, but it’s not so easy for White to justify the pawn
sacrifice.]
 
15.Nd2 Nc5
[Protecting the e4–pawn with 15...f5? loses to 16.Bh5 Kd8 (even worse is 16...Kd7? 17.Rb3 Qg7 18.Ne4! fe4 19.Rd3!
forcing checkmate: 19...ed3 20.Qd3 Ke7 21.Qd6 Kf6 22.Be5 Kf5 23.e4 Ke4 24.Qd4 Kf5 25.g4#) 17.Rb3 Qg7
(17...Qa5 18.Ne4!+– ) 18.Nf3 Bd7 19.Rd3! ed3 20.Qd3+– followed by Rd1 and Ne5; 15...Nb2?! could be met by
16.Rb2! Qb2 17.Ne4 where it seems only Black is at real risk, for example 17...Be7 18.Bd6 (18.Nd6!?) 18...Bd6
19.Qd6 Bd7 and now White has plenty of worthwhile attempts, such as 20.Qd3! 0-0 21.Rb1 Qe5 (21...Qa2? 22.Nf6
Kg7 23.Nd7+–) 22.f4! This move is the key, disrupting the defence of the f6–square. 22...gf4 23.ef4 Qf5 (23...Qf4?
24.Rf1+–) 24.Bg4 Qg6 25.Bh5 Qg7 (25...Qf5? 26.g4!+–) 26.Qd7²]
 
16.Nb3 Nd3
[Again 16...Be7!? might be better.]
 
17.Nd2 Nc5

The game ended in a draw by threefold repetition, as neither player has an alternative way to fight for an edge. From a
practical standpoint, this relatively quick draw helped Carlsen save energy for his next game.
 
1/2:1/2 Flores Rios
 
 C90
Carlsen 2876 — Aronian 2780
Stavanger 2015

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.Re1 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6
12.Nf1 h6 13.Ne3 Re8 14.a4 Be6 15.d4

After a very well known opening we have reached the critical moment in this game; the threat d4–d5 forces Black to
release the central tension somehow.
15...ed4 16.cd4 Nb4N
[On 16...cd4 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Qd4² White preserves an edge due to his central control and the weak d6–pawn; RR
16...Nd4 17.Nd4 cd4 18.Qd4 see 16...cd4; Ju. Polgar 2722 – Aronian 2649, Hoogeveen 2003 – 89/320]
 
17.Bb1 ba4
[Black could also maintain the pawn structure and simply play 17...Ng4 18.h3 Ne3 19.Be3, but the knight on b4 is
awkwardly placed and sooner or later it may be necessary to play 19...ba4 20.Qa4 Qc7 21.Rc1²]
 
18.Ra4 Bf8 19.Ra1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.h3
 
21...Qb6? This is a surprising oversight.
[Better is 21...Rc8! 22.Bd2 (22.Nd5? is refuted by 22...Nf2! 23.Kf2 Bd5µ) 22...Nd2 23.Qd2 Qb6 and Black’s resources
are at least good enough for equality.]

Magnus Carlsen in Norway

22.Nd5! Bd5 23.Be4²

White’s centre is quite vulnerable, and having his extra pawn only gives him a small edge.
 
23...Rad8 24.Bd5 Rd5 25.Be3 Red8 26.dc5 Bc5 27.Qb3 Be3 28.Re3 a5
So far Black's active play has allowed him to stay in the game without any issues. One can barely tell Magnus is actually
a pawn up, and now...
 
29.e6!

...is an excellent practical decision. In a position of mutual time trouble, and where he is lacking a clear plan, Carlsen
decides to sacrifice his extra pawn to create a serious permanent weakness on e6.
[Attempting to keep the pawn with 29.Rae1 is met by 29...Rb5! (threatening ...Nd5) 30.Qc4 Nd5 31.R3e2 Rb4!
(31...Rb2?! 32.Rb2 Qb2 33.Rd1 Qb7 34.Qe4²) 32.Qa2 Nf4 and now White’s only move to preserve equality is 33.e6!
Ne2 34.Re2 Qc7 35.Ne5 fe6 36.Qe6 Kh7 37.Qf5 Kg8 38.Qe6=]
 
29...fe6 30.Rae1 R8d6 31.Rc1 Nd3?
This allows a dangerous attack.
[It is necessary to protect the back rank with 31...Rd8 32.Re4 Rf8 33.Rce1 Rf6 34.Rc4² and White’s position is certainly
more pleasant due to the weak e6–pawn.]
 
32.Rc8 Kh7 33.Qa4
33...Qb2?
[More stubborn is 33...Nb4 (blocking the check on e4) 34.Qe8 (threatening Ne5 and Qg8) 34...Rd1 35.Kh2 Rd8 36.Rd8
Rd8 37.Qh5² and Black’s position is extremely fragile.]
 
34.Qe4 Rf5 35.Kh2 Nf4 36.Rc2?
[White is winning after 36.Nh4 Qf2 37.Nf5 ef5 38.Rc2! (but not 38.Qf5? Rg6 39.Qe4 Qg2=) This move is probably
what Carlsen missed: 38...fe4 39.Rf2 Nd3 40.Ra2 Re6 41.Ra5± and White should be able to win after a long fight.]
 
36...Qa1??
Aronian makes a fatal blunder only four moves away from the time control.
[Black is doing fine after 36...Qb4 37.Rc4 Qb8! It takes some creativity to find this move, and the point is that after
38.g4 (or 38.Nh4 Ng6!³) Black can save the rook with 38...Ng6! 39.Kg2 Rf6³]
 
37.g4+– White wins the rook and the game.
 
37...Qf1 38.Ne1 Nh5 39.gf5 ef5 40.Qc4
1 : 0 Flores Rios
 

D30
Hammer 2677 — Carlsen 2876
Stavanger 2015

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6!?

There is nothing obviously wrong with this move, but it is certainly a strange approach. According to my database,
among GM-level games, there are five other more common (and probably stronger) alternatives. Often, high rated
players deviate from mainstream theory when they face much lower rated players with Black.
 
This choice can help to side-step a strong opening preparation, or perhaps an extremely simplified and drawish position
right from the opening. For Carlsen, this issue is particularly difficult, as playing a second rate variation against a player
who is almost 2700 is a very risky business.
 
4.Bg5
[It is possible Carlsen was hoping for 4.g3 dc4 producing the early imbalance he needs in order to play for a win; RR
4.cd5 Ragger 2672 – Nabaty 2580, Warsaw 2013 – 119/131]
 
4...f6!? This is the first time this move has been played by someone over 2200. It is obviously another risky choice,
hoping to complicate the game.
[In case of the more natural 4...Be7 5.Be7 Qe7 6.e3 Nf6 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.Rc1² White has a pleasing, risk-free position.]
 
5.Bd2 dc4N
We have a completely new position after only five moves.
[RR 5...c6 I. Nikolaidis 2565 – Bousios 2190, Greece 1997]
 
6.e3 Nc6
[Black is unable to keep the pawn with 6...b5 due to 7.a4 Bb7 8.ab5 ab5 9.Ra8 Ba8 10.b3 regaining the pawn, and after
10...c5 11.dc5 Bc5 12.Nc3 (12.bc4 b4!) 12...Ne7 13.bc4 bc4 14.Bc4 Qd7 the lack of queenside pawns reduces any
chances of winning for either side. But 15.Qb1! 0-0 16.Ne4 Be4 17.Qe4² certainly allows White to keep up the
pressure; A worthwhile alternative is 6...Qd5 since after 7.a4 Bd7 (threatening ...b7–b5) 8.Nc3 Qc6 9.Bc1 (meanwhile
9.d5!? ed5 10.Nd4 Qd6 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qd5 Nc6 13.Bc4 0-0-0 is nothing special for White.) 9...Bb4 10.Nd2 Bc3
11.bc3 b5 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh4° gives White good compensation for the pawn, but at least Carlsen obtains a complex
position in which he can fight.]
 
7.Bc4

At this point we can say Carlsen has lost the opening battle. He is behind in development, his e6–pawn is weak, and it
will be difficult for him to carry out the standard ...c7–c5 or ...e6–e5 breaks to challenge White's centre.
 
7...Bd6 8.e4
[Another promising approach is 8.Nc3 Nge7 9.Ne4 0-0 10.0-0 Nd5 11.Rc1 Be7 12.Qc2± to follow with Rfe1 with a
very serious advantage.]
8...Nge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qb3
White immediately takes advantage of the weakened e6–pawn.
 
10...Kh8!? Black defends the pawn indirectly.
[The alternative is 10...Qd7 11.a4²]
 
11.Be6 Bh2 12.Kh2 Qd6 13.Kh1 Be6 14.d5 Bg8 15.Qa3!

[Hammer avoids 15.Nc3? f5!µ undermining the d5–pawn; after 15.Qc2 Ne5! 16.Ne5 Qe5 Black has a playable
position.]
 
15...Qa3
[The point is that now 15...Ne5? loses a piece to 16.Bb4+–]
 
16.Na3 Na7
[Somewhat better is 16...Nb8 and after 17.Bb4 Re8 18.Rac1 c6! Black is coming back into the game.]
 
17.Bb4 Rfe8 18.Rac1 Rac8
[On 18...Ng6 19.Rc7! Re4 20.Bc5 Bd5 21.Rd1 Bg8 22.Ba7! Ra7 23.Rd8² Black’s pieces are extremely awkward;
unfortunately 18...c6 is met by 19.d6 Ng6 20.Rfd1² with a strong threat of d6–d7. If the knight were on b8 instead of a7
then ...Nd7 would save the day.]
 
19.Nd4 f5 20.f3 fe4 21.fe4
The central pawns on e4 and d5 might seem vulnerable, but they are in fact quite annoying for Black.
 
21...Ng6 22.Nf5!?
White begins a nice combination.
 
22...Re4 23.Bc3 Bd5?
This decision is hard to understand, as it allows White to gain an exchange.
[23...Ne5? 24.Rfe1!+–; Better is 23...h6! 24.Bg7 Kh7 25.Bd4 b6 and Black is doing fine.]
 
24.Bg7 Kg8 25.Bd4!
This move is the key to the combination; now White has a double threat of checkmating on h6 and taking the knight on
a7.
 
25...Rd4 26.Nd4 Ba2 27.b3 Rd8?
Being the exchange down for a couple of weak pawns, switching to the offense will prove suicidal.
[Correct is 27...c5! and after 28.Rf2 cd4 29.Rc8 Nc8 30.Ra2 where Black has some chances of holding a draw, for
example 30...Nge7 31.Kg1 Nd6 32.Rc2 Nc6! setting up a fortress.]
 
28.Ne6 Rd2 29.Rc3+–
[Or 29.Rc7!?+– The game is technically won, and the rest is simple.]
 
29...Re2 30.Nf4 Rb2 31.Ng6 hg6 32.Rc7 Rb3?
This is the final mistake in an already lost position.
[Better is 32...Nc6 since after 33.Rd1 (still, White is winning after 33.Rb7 Rb3 34.Rb3 Bb3 35.Rf6 Ne5 36.Ra6+–)
33...Bb3 34.Rdd7 Rf2! the back rank checkmate is stopped.]
 
33.Rd1 Nc6 34.Rdd7
Black resigns as the checkmate cannot be stopped without great material loss. This was a painful, self-inflicted loss by
Carlsen. His desperate need to win led him to take too many risks without proper justification.
1 : 0 Flores Rios
 
I believe Carlsen’s poor score at the 3rd Norway Chess was an isolated event, a series of unfortunate coincidences that
do not reflect his high level of play. In spite of his reduced lead over the world No.2, I still do not believe he can be
surpassed by any of his opponents in the near future.
 
If we analyze the games carefully, we can see that he remains technically superior to his contemporaries, probably with
the exception of Caruana. Carlsen’s victory over Grischuk and his games against Giri and Topalov are clear evidence of
this.
 
Unfortunately for him, he did show some signs of being off form, or maybe off balance due to his bad start, when he
missed a clear win against Giri. Other than that, I think his tournament would have been completely different if it had
not been for his first round loss, due to his being unaware of the change in the time control.
Mauricio Flores Rios
 CI Learning Centre

Download free training tests at

www.chessinformant.org

 
 

FOUR CHINESE DRAGONS

Over the last couple of years the chess world has witnessed the emergence of a
powerful group of 2700+ Chinese players. Their names are Li Chao, Ding Liren, Wei
Yi, and Yu Yangyi.

China. There is no other country in the world that has come up with nearly so many 2700+ players in such a short period
of time.
 
Approximately 10-15 years ago I played against the older Chinese top GM generation, Ye Yiangchuan, Xu Yun, Wang
Zili, and Zhang Zhong. Their playing style was similar to today’s top Chinese players; however, their calculation, their
eye for tactics, was not nearly as sharp – not even close!
Gold medal for China at the Chess Olympiad Tromso 2014
There is an in-between generation, with
very strong players such as Wang Hao,
Wang Yue, Bu Xiangzhi, Ni Hua, but
then again, the distinction is clearly
visible.
I would like to shed some light on this
phenomenon through a number of
games. Three of the trademarks of the
“Chinese chess style” are concrete play,
good calculation, and practicality.
These are similar trademarks that we
find with computer engine chess.
 
The impact of computer chess on the
evolution of chess has resulted in
improved calculation, even at the
amateur levels. Thus it is no
coincidence that the evolution of chess
engines coincides with the Chinese
chess revolution.
 
The new Chinese dragons are breaking down all the obstacles in their path, one after the other. They are doing it with
irresistible ease. Soon there won't be anyone who will dare to call their worldwide success a surprise.

LI CHAO

 
A recent match Leko – Li Chao was widely followed and a pre-match opinion of many was “Leko is a smart guy; he
will pick up a lot of ELO points against the heavily over-rated Chinese grandmaster!”
But the match proved this assumption wrong. Li Chao (b. 1989) in the match did not display good preparation or great
strategic play, but he did display great practical strength.
In the third game, Li Chao managed to pinpoint his opponent’s weak psychological spot: Peter likes to have things
under control! Li Chao played an unusual opening. The opening idea in itself will not likely find many followers;
however, Leko was forced to make concrete decisions at an early stage of the game in unknown territory. Instead of
taking the bull by the horns, Leko opted for meek options, landed in trouble early, and lost without a fight.
 

A34
Li Chao 2748 — Leko 2714
Szeged (m/3), 2015

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cd5 Nd5 6.Bg2

g6 7.Ne4N
[7.Qa4 RR Jones 2665 – Eric Hansen 2593, Tromso (ol)
2014 – 121/15]

7...Qb6 Peter reacts in a most natural way.

[This novelty could also be challenged with the risky-looking, but forthright 7...Bf5!? 8.Nc5 (8.d3 Bg7 9.0-0 b6) 8...e5©
White loses a lot of time for the love of Black’s c5-pawn: 9.d4 (9.Nb3 Ndb4 10.d3 e4 11.Bg5 ef3 12.Bd8 fg2 13.Rg1
Rd8ƒ) 9...ed4÷ 10.Nd4 Qa5 11.Kf1 Qc5 12.Nc6 (12.Nf5 Rd8) 12...bc6 13.e4 Qc4 14.Qe2 Qe2 15.Ke2 Bg4 16.f3
Be6]
 
8.0-0 Bg7 9.Qc2 Bf5 10.d3 Be4 11.de4 Ndb4 12.Qa4 Qa5 13.Qd1

A critical moment has arrived. Psychologically wishing to avoid “unnecessary” complications, Leko chooses the path of
least resistance! This causes his downfall.
 
13...0-0?!
[Principled is 13...Rd8! 14.Bd2 (14.Qe1?? Qa6 –+; 14.Qb3? Qa6 with ...Na5 to follow) 14...Bb2 15.a3 0-0 16.ab4 Qa1
17.Qa1 Ba1 18.Ra1 cb4. In over the board play, those positions are never easy to assess. However, it would be strange
if Black, with his queenside army of pawns, runs any risk of being worse! 19.e3 a5 20.Bf1 Rd6³ 21.Bb5 (21.e5 Rd5
22.e4 Rc5 23.Be3 Rc3 24.Bb5 Ra8µ) 21...Rfd8]
14.a3 Na6?! Black continues to follow the "path of least resistance"!
[Principled is 14...Rad8! 15.Qb3 Qa6]
 
15.e5 e6?!
[Better is 15...Nc7, bringing the knight to e6.]
 
16.Qc2²
Now Black is worse and collapses quickly.
 
16...Rac8 17.Qe4 c4 18.Bd2 Qb5 19.a4
19...Qb3 20.Be3 Qb4 21.Rfc1± Na5 22.Bd2 Qb6 23.Ba5 Qa5 24.Rc4 Rc4 25.Qc4 Qc7?
Again, Black prefers to be a “sitting duck.”
[The situation is difficult, but 25...Be5 26.Qb5 (26.Ne5 Qe5 27.Qb5 Nc5) 26...Bc7 is a better defence.]
 
26.Qc7 Nc7 27.Rd1

Now White reaches an endgame two pawns up.

 
27...Nd5 28.e4 Nb4 29.Rd7 a5
[29...Rb8 30.Ng5]
 
30.Rb7+– Nc6 31.Rb5 Rb8 32.Rc5 Rb6
33.Bf1 Bf8 34.Rb5 Rb5 35.Bb5 Nb4 36.Nd2 Be7 37.Kf1 Bd8 38.Ke2 Kf8 39.f4 h5 40.Nc4 Ke7 41.Kd2 Bc7 42.Kc3
Bd8 43.Kd4
1 : 0 Sokolov

 
In the next (fourth) game Li Chao shows great practical strength, winning a clearly inferior position.
 

Leko 2714 — Li Chao 2748

Szeged (m/4), 2015

After White’s superior opening preparation this position was reached. A very likely thought crossing White's mind in a
similar situation is “I am not sure if I will win this; but one thing is certain: no way can I lose!” Beware! In chess, you
can lose any position! Actually, Leko’s position becomes worse in just a couple of moves.
 
26...Qh3 27.Rd3
Black has some counterplay, so actually it is clever of White to trade rooks or queens (any piece trade minimizes
Black’s counterplay). In any phase of technical execution, precision is always a “must”!
[27.Rd4! c5 (27...Qf1 28.Nd2 Qe2 29.Nc4) 28.Rh4 Qe6 (28...Qg2 29.Rh7!) 29.Qe6 Re6 30.Rf4 Re2 31.Ng5 Kd8
(31...Be8 32.Re4) 32.Ne4 with Ng3 to follow, chasing the rook away, and Black has a difficult life.]
 
27...Qg2 28.Qd4 Kb7 29.Nd2 c5=
White’s pieces are clumsy; Black is no longer worse.
 
30.Qf4 Re2
31.f3?
This “winning attempt” allows Black a permanent pin on the second rank.
[It is the right moment for White to admit his faulty technique and opt for a draw: 31.Rg3 Qf2 32.Qf2 Rf2=]
 
31...Bb5!
Black is already better! Because of the pin along the second rank, White is running out of moves. Unable to deal with
the swift change of fortunes, Leko quickly collapses.
 
32.c4?!
This opens an extra diagonal leading to the white king.
[32.Rd5 is probably a better defence.]
 
32...Be8 33.Ka3?
33...Bc6?
[It is not easy to understand why Black refused to play 33...Bg6–+ 34.Rd5 Bc2 (or 34...Qg1)]
 
34.Kb2
[It would be more sensible for White to consider 34.b4 in order to get some "air".]
 
34...Qg7 35.Rc3 a5
White is pinned and “in the box”.
 
36.Nb1 Qh8 37.a4 Be8 38.Na3 Kb6 39.Qg5 Bc6 40.Qf4?!
[40.Qg1]
 
40...Rf2 –+

Black now penetrates to the first rank and delivers mate.

 
41.Qc1
[Or 41.Nb1 Rf3 42.Qd2 Rf1 43.Na3 Qf6 44.Nb1 Rh1 45.Qe2 Qd4 46.Nd2 Qg1 –+]
 
41...Rf3 42.Nb1 Qf6 43.Qd2 Rh3 44.Qe2 Rh1
White is helpless against the black queen.
 
45.Nd2 Qd4 46.Qe3 Qg4
0 : 1 Sokolov
 
 
A “nightmare” defeat for Leko. Li Chao also showed a similar kind of practical strength in game five, saving a difficult
position with White. In the end he won the match 4 : 2.
 

WEI YI

Wei Yi (b. 1999) is youngest of the four dragons and has a very sharp eye for tactics!
 B85
Wei Yi 2724 — Bruzon 2669
Danzhou 2015

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cd4 6.Nd4 Qc7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Kh1 0-0 11.Qe1 Nd4
12.Bd4 b5 13.Qg3 Bb7 14.a3 Rad8 15.Rae1 Rd7 16.Bd3 Qd8?!
This move does not have a good reputation. [16...Re8, in order to be able to answer 17.Qh3 with 17...e5, is considered
the main line here.]
 
17.Qh3 g6 18.f5 e5 19.Be3 Re8?!

[19...Nh5 brings Black better practical results, though White is better after 20.Bh6 Re8 21.a4 as in Kamsky 2725 –
Stellwagen 2612, Wijk aan Zee 2009 – 105/(67)]
Wei Yi
20.fg6!
White goes for a straightforward solution.
 
20...hg6 21.Nd5!N
[RR 21.Bb6 Sredojevic 2396 – Rajkovic 2474,
Vrnjacka Banja 2008]
 
21...Nd5
This allows a king chase!
[Bruzon probably did not like 21...Bd5 22.ed5 Qc7
23.Qg3 Kg7 24.Rf2±]
22.Rf7! Kf7
[22...Nf6 loses to 23.Qe6 Kh8 24.Bg5+– ]
 
23.Qh7 Ke6 24.ed5
Black’s king has to go on the run.
 
24...Kd5
[24...Bd5 loses to 25.Bg6 (25.Qg6? is only a draw. 25...Bf6 26.Bf5 Ke7 27.Bg5 Bg5 28.Qg7 Bf7 29.Qg5 Kf8
30.Qh6=) 25...Bg2 26.Kg2 d5 27.Qf7 Kd6 28.Qe8+–]
25.Be4!!+– This further sacrifice keeps the black king in the centre!
 
25...Ke4 26.Qf7
[26.c4! is a computer-like solution: 26...bc4 27.Qg6 Kd5 28.Qf7 Ke4 29.Qc4 Kf5 30.Rf1 Kg6 31.Qf7#]
 
26...Bf6 27.Bd2 Kd4 28.Be3 Ke4 29.Qb3! Kf5 30.Rf1 Kg4 31.Qd3 Bg2
[31...Rg7 loses to 32.Qe2 Kh4 33.h3 Qd7 34.Kh2]
 
32.Kg2 Qa8 33.Kg1 Bg5 34.Qe2 Kh4 35.Bf2 Kh3

36.Be1!
1 : 0 Sokolov
[The end could be 36...Qa7 37.Kh1 Qb7 38.Rf3 Kg4 39.Qg2 Kh5 40.Qh3]
 
 Wei Yi 2718 — Ding Liren 2757
China (ch), 2015

23...Be6
This looks like a good Berlin for Black. With his next few moves Wei Yi sets the stage for a tactical sequence.
 
24.f4 g6 25.Rf1 Kb7 26.Kg2 Rad8 27.Rd3 h5

Black has pinned White on the d-file and now is planning to open the h-file and double rooks there, in order to get at the
white king. White does not have a “normal” move; if he does not exploit the dynamic potential of his kingside pawns,
he gets the worse game. Wei Yi comes up with a tactical solution that he needed to see well ahead of time!
 
28.Ne6! Rd3 29.Nc5 bc5 30.e6! Rhd8 31.ef7
31...Rd2
[31...Rf8 keeps the rooks on the board. Ding Liren did not like White’s free running connected pawns after 32.f5 gf5
33.Rf5 hg4 34.hg4 Rd2 35.Kh3 Rb2 36.g5; Attempting a perpetual check motif with 31...h4 also does not work for
Black: 32.Rf3! (32.Bg7 Rg3 33.Kf2 Rdd3 34.f8Q Rgf3=32...Rd2 (or 32...R3d7 33.Bf6 Rf8 34.Bh4) 33.Rf2 Rf2 34.Kf2
Rf8 35.f5 and White wins in a similar way to the game.]
 
32.Rf2 Rf2 33.Kf2 Rf8

34.f5!+– Rf7 35.Kg3 gf5 36.g5

 
1 : 0 Sokolov
 

Ding Liren
Ding Liren (b. 1992) is the highest rated Chinese player at the moment. He possesses good opening preparation, a sharp
eye for tactics, and a readiness (like most Chinese players) to enter crazy tactical tussles. Preparing this article, I came
across many excellent and entertaining games (which are a pleasure to play over.).

Ni Hua 2704 — Ding Liren 2755

China 2015

17.Qc2 c6=This is a standard Black KID plan.

 
18.dc6 bc6 19.g4N
[RR 19.Nd2 Levin 2504 – Tuncer 2322, Germany 2015 – 123/(193)]
 
19...d5 20.Nh4
[20.gf5 Bf5 21.Nh4 Bh7 22.Rhg1 likely leads to a repetition of moves by 22...Ng5 23.Qd2 Ne4 24.Qc2=
It is risky for Black to go for more: 24...d4?! 25.Bh6 Ng5 26.Rg5 Bc2 27.Rdg1 Kh7 28.Bg7‚]
 
20...d4
[20...f4! is probably strongest after which White has problems: 21.cd5 (21.f3 Ng3 22.Bc5 e4³) 21...cd5 22.Rd5 fe3
23.Qe4 Be6 24.Nf5 Qc6 25.Bc4 Kh8µ]
 
21.gf5 Nc5

Now comes “hand to hand” combat! Tacticians are at work and they both play logically.
 
22.Rhg1! de3! 23.Rg7!
[23.fe3 Qf7]
 
23...Kg7 24.Rg1
Where should the black king go?
 
24...Kf6!?
[24...Kh8 seems to lead to a draw: 25.Ng6 Kh7 26.f6 e4 27.Nf8 Qf8 28.Qc3 Nd7 29.Rg7 Kh8 30.Rg6 Kh7 31.Rg7
Kh8=; 24...Kh7?? 25.f6 e4 26.Rg7 Kh8 27.Ng6]
 
25.Rg6
[25.f4!?‚ looks promising for White.]
 
25...Ke7 26.Qc3 Bf5

White will be the one to crack!

 
27.Qe5?!
[27.Rg7 Kd6 (27...Kd8?? 28.Qa5) 28.Qe3 Bd7 29.Qd2 Kc7 30.Qa5 Kc8 (30...Kd6 31.b4+– ) 31.Qc5 Rf7 leads to a
zero evaluation.]
 
27...Kd8 28.Qc5 Bg6 29.Ng6?
Very likely in time pressure, White gambles that the many following checks will bring him something.
[He has to fight for a draw with 29.Qd6 Qd7 30.Qf8 Kc7 31.Qf4 Kb7 32.Qe3 Re8³]
 
29...Rf2 30.Ne5 Re2! –+

Black has a decisive material advantage, while White soon runs out of checks.
 
31.Nc6 Kd7 32.Ne5 Ke6 33.Qd5 Ke7 34.Nc6
[Or 34.Qc5 Kf6 35.Ng4 Kg6 36.Qd6 Kf5 –+]
 
34...Kf8 35.Qd6 Kg7 36.Qd4 Kh7 37.Qd3 Qg6
0 : 1 Sokolov
 

Ding Liren 2707 — Aronian 2809

Paris/Saint Petersburg 2013
27...Nd5
White is obviously better and there should be different ways to try to “cash in.” Ding Liren opts for one that is direct
and merciless!
Ding Liren with Chess Informant 121 © Josip Asik
28.Ne3! Nc3 29.Rde1 Bd6 30.ed6 Ne4 31.Qh4 Nd2

32.Nd5! Nf1 33.Nb6 Qa7 34.Rf1 Nf6 35.Be5! Nd5

36.Nd5 ed5 37.Bg7! Kg7 38.Qg5 Kf8 39.Qf6 Kg8
40.Qg5 Kf8 41.Qf6 Kg8 42.Re1 ab4 43.Re5 h6
44.Rh5 Qa3 45.Qh6 f6 46.Qf6
1 : 0 Sokolov
 

Ding Liren 2755 — Amin 2634

Tsaghkadzor (wtc), 124/177 2015
11.e6! fe6 12.Bg6 hg6 13.Qg6 Kh8 14.Ne4 de4N
[14...Nf6! is probably the only way for Black to stay in the game: 15.Neg5 Qe8

16.Ne5 Qg6 17.Ng6 Kg7 18.Ne7 Bd7 19.Bf4 cd4²;

14...Qe8 15.Qh6 Kg8 16.Nfg5 Bg5 17.Qg5 Kh7 18.Qh6 Kg8 19.Qg5 (19.h4? Qf7 20.Rh3 Qh7) 19...Kh7 20.Qh6 Kg8
21.a4! A standard rook lift should do the job: 21...Qe7 22.Ra3 Rf7 23.Nd6 Rg7 (23...Rh7 24.Rg3 Rg7 25.Ne8) 24.Rh3!
wins on the spot. (24.Rg3± Riazantsev 2688 – Vocaturo 2579, Jerusalem 2015 – 124/(177)) 24...Qd6

25.Bg5! with Qh8 and Rf3 to follow and Black gets mated.]
 
15.Qh5 Kg8 16.Bh6 Rf6
[16...Rf7 17.Qg6 Kh8 18.Qf7 Qg8 19.Qe7 ef3 20.gf3 Nc6 21.Qh4+– ]
17.Qg4+– Kf7 18.Ng5 Kg6 19.Ne6 Kf7 20.Nd8 Bd8 21.Qg7 Ke8 22.0-0-0 Be7 23.Bg5 Bf8 24.Qh7 cd4 25.Rd4
1 : 0 Sokolov

D12
Ding Liren 2757 — Wang Hao 2710
China (ch), 2015

 
1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bf3 6.Qf3 e6 7.a3
It is rather unusual that White can afford such a slow move and still fight for an advantage. Obviously Ding Liren did
not want to play the 7.Nc3 Bb4 line.
 
7...Bd6
[RR 7...Nbd7 Ilincic 2548 – Berkes 2618, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2008 – 103/255]
 
8.Nc3 0-0N
[RR 8...Nbd7 Ra. Fridman 2433 – Michielsen 2312, Netherlands 2008]
9.g4 Nbd7 10.h4 e5
[RR 10...Qe7 Hujbert 2439 – Krstulovic 2235, Budapest 2015]
 
11.g5 ed4
[For those players who are interested in theoretical assessments I recommend analyzing the piece sac 11...Re8!?

12.c5 Bc7 13.gf6 ed4 14.Ne2 de3 15.Be3 Ne5]

 
12.ed4 Ne4 13.Ne4
White is now better; however, the speed of execution is impressive!
 
13...Qe7
[Or 13...de4 14.Qc3 with Be3 and 0-0-0 to follow.]
14.c5! Bc7 15.Be3 de4
[15...Qe4 16.Qe4 de4 17.0-0-0±]
 
16.Qf5 b6 17.0-0-0

17...Rab8?!
[17...g6 is arguably the best, though this looks excellent for White after the simple 18.Qh3 (or 18.Qg4 bc5
19.h5)18...bc5 19.h5]
 
18.h5+– bc5 19.dc5 Rfd8 20.Bc4
Black is helpless against the g5-g6 threat.
 
20...Be5
21.b4
1 : 0 Sokolov
 

YU YANGYI

 
Yu Yangyi (b. 1994) is a universal, all-round player. Recently, Yu won two big events: the Qatar Masters and the
Capablanca Elite. I have selected a roller coaster game from Cuba.
 

B33
Nepomniachtchi 2720 — Yu Yangyi 2715
La Habana 2015

 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bf6 Bf6 11.c4 b4
12.Nc2 0-0 13.g3 a5 14.h4 Be6 15.Qd2 Rc8N
Nepo goes for an interesting idea involving castling queenside.
[RR 15...Bd5 Morozevich 2694 – Halkias 2600, Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1) 2011 – 112/(97)]
 
16.Nce3!? Nd4 17.0-0-0 g6 18.Kb1 h5 19.f4 Bg7 20.Bd3 f5 21.Rhf1

In order to create a queenside attack, Yu now sacrifices a pawn. It is an intuitive type of sacrifice; for a human (and even
a computer), it is difficult to fully judge the consequences.
 
21...a4?! 22.fe5 de5
Nepo correctly goes for it!
 
23.Qb4! Rb8 24.Qe7 Qa5 25.ef5
25...Rf7?
[Black has to look for his chances in 25...gf5 26.Nf5 (or 26.Bf5 Bd5 27.Nd5 a3) 26...Bf5 27.Bf5 a3]
 
26.fe6
[26.Qg5!+– is a forced win for White. However, this is a computer kind of a win; for a human it is difficult to calculate
(or evaluate) the following line: 26...Rfb7 (26...gf5 27.Bf5; 26...a3 27.fe6 Rb2 28.Kc1) 27.f6 Rb2 28.Ka1

Strangely, Black’s attack amounts to one big nothing here(!), and this is difficult for a human to see: 28...R2b7
(28...Nb3 29.Kb2) 29.Qg6! White is not scared of Black’s checks. 29...Nb3 30.ab3 ab3 31.Kb2 Qa2 32.Kc3 Qa5
33.Nb4! Qb4 34.Kb2 and now White wins with a mating attack.]
 
26...Re7 27.Ne7 Kh7 28.Bg6 Kh8 29.N7d5 a3
[29...Qa6 30.Bf7 a3 31.b3 Nb3 32.ab3 Qa4 33.Kc1 Qb3 34.Kd2±; 29...Ne6?? 30.Rf5+– ]
 Yu Yangyi © Josip Asik
30.b3?
[Again, the best for White is to ignore Black and take
care of his own business: 30.e7! Rb2 31.Ka1 Rb8
32.e8Q Re8 33.Be8 e4 34.Kb1±]
 
30...Nb3?
[Black could take over with 30...e4!ƒ when his bishop
enters the fray and potential sacrifices on b3 now reach
a different dimension. Also the white king’s escape
route to e4 is now blocked!]
 
31.ab3+– a2 32.Kc2 Qa3
White’s king now runs to the centre safely.
 
33.Kd3! e4 34.Ke4 Qd6 35.Nf4 Qc6 36.Ned5
[36.Rd5 also wins for White: 36...a1=Q 37.Ra1 Ba1 38.e7+– Bf6 39.Bh5]
 
36...Rb3

When you have a passed pawn, push it!

 
37.e7?? There was probably terrible time pressure here and it is difficult to blame Nepo for this blunder. The crucial
square now appears to be g4, and the white king finds himself in a mating net!
[37.Bh5, eliminating the black h-pawn (and only than pushing e7), would lead to a winning position for White: 37...Qc4
38.Kf5 Qc8 39.Rc1 Qb7 40.Bf7+– ]
 
37...Qc4–+ Now (funnily enough), White’s king cannot escape.
 
38.Kf5 Qc8
39.Ne6
[39.Kg5 Qg4# is the point behind the h5-pawn!; or 39.Ke4 a1=Q 40.Ra1 Qc2 41.Nd3 Qd3 42.Kf4 Qg3 43.Ke4
Qe5#]
 
39...Qc2 40.Kf4 Qg6 41.Ng7 Kg7 42.Rfe1 Qf7 43.Ke5 Rb5 44.Kd4
0 : 1 Ivan Sokolov

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DAVID AGAINST GOLIATH
How predictable is the result of a chess game? A difference of 240 FIDE rating points
suggests an 80% success rate for the favourite. Increase the margin and the
anticipated outcome becomes bleak for the underdog.

However, how often do we see major upsets: a dark horse leading the tournament or an unknown teenager coming from
obscurity to crush all opposition? An outsider beating the favourite is a sensational scenario, resembling David versus
 Goliath, which captures the imagination. Why and how does it happen on the chessboard?
 
Let’s remind ourselves of the interpretations of the Biblical story, then draw parallels in chess by considering
psychology and strategies. I will leave it to others to consider the impact of external powers, whether by divine or
wireless intervention.
 
The tale of David and Goliath takes place during a war. David is an unknown shepherd who is too young to join the
army. He volunteers to fight the best soldier of the opposing force to bring about a speedy end to the conflict. His
opponent, Goliath, is over nine feet tall, dressed in full armour and apparently invincible. However, David is confident
in his own ability. He refuses the heavy armour offered to him, preferring his own weapon, which he used to protect his
sheep from the attacks of wild animals. He is aware of the weaknesses and strengths of his terrifying opponent and
chooses his fighting tactics accordingly. Unexpectedly, he delivers a strategically placed blow to Goliath’s weak point,
bringing him to his knees, and with another mighty stroke, using Goliath’s own sword, chops off his head.
 
Using strategic lessons from David against Goliath, I will examine success factors for chess players facing a stronger
and seemingly invincible opponent, by demonstrating four examples from recent tournaments.
The following battle took place at the Dubai Open between the young star of chess superpower Azerbaijan, member of
their Golden European team at Warsaw 2013, and a FIDE Master from the UAE, with a modest rating of 2200.
According to the tournament website, Ishaq Saeed is a former national team player who was making a comeback after
completing his studies in the US.

B14
ISHAQ Saeed 2200 — Safarli 2641
Dubai 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3

The opening is the first battleground and I’ve seen widely
differing views on how each side should approach a
wide gulf in strength. Here White chooses a system that
makes no pretence at an opening advantage but aims to
fight on familiar ground. I noticed that Saeed aimed for
similar positions later in the tournament.
 
Often a lower rated player has much more information
from which to identify strengths and weaknesses.
Advances in chess database features make these easier to
assess. Saeed could have identified that the young
Azerbaijani grandmaster had demonstrated great skill in
the fashionable Ragozin Defence, taking the unprotected
pawn on c4 after 4.Nc3.
 
In general it is very unlikely to see theoretical opening debates in games with opponents so unevenly rated. Perhaps the
lower rated player assumes his opponent has more extensive knowledge and is up to date with the latest developments.
For those reasons he may avoid fashionable variations with a lot of theory. Ironically, the higher rated player, paranoid
about being caught in the opening or following well-trodden paths down drawing lines, might go to extraordinary
lengths to create original or double-edged play. Although the 4.e3 system has not scored as highly as the main lines
4.Nc3, 4.g3 and 4.Bg5, it has been employed from time to time by players like Kramnik, Topalov and Karjakin.
 
4...c5 Safarli maintains symmetry, although he had many options.
[Anand preferred to develop his kingside first: 4...Be7 5.b3 0-0 6.Bb2 c5 Karjakin 2766 – Anand 2770, Khanty-
Mansiysk (ct) 2014 – 120/9, A13; Aronian prioritized the development of his light-square bishop: 4...b6 5.Nc3 Bb7
Kramnik 2787 – Aronian 2830, Khanty-Mansiysk (ct) 2014 – 120/177, E14; Later in the tournament the same opening
brought Saeed a further major success! 4...a6 5.c5 Ishaq Saeed 2200 – Mil. Perunovic 2632, Dubai 2015, D30]
 
5.a3
Although not as popular as the main lines 5.Nc3 and 5.cd5, this may lead to a transposition after 5...Nc6 6.Nc3 or be
connected to the alternative plan of developing the knight on d2.
[In Stavanger Aronian demonstrated classical handling of the isolani: 5.cd5 ed5 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Bd7 Nbd7 8.dc5 Nc5 9.0-
0 Be7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.b3 Aronian 2780 – Caruana 2805, Stavanger 2015, D30; Possibly he noticed Safarli likes to
develop his bishop on b4 and wanted to avoid 5.Nc3 cd4 6.ed4 Bb4, which has a fine reputation.]
 
5...cd4 Since White has spent a tempo on a3 Safarli decides to clarify the central pawn structure.
[5...Nc6 6.dc5 (6.Nc3 a6 I. Saeed 2204 – Sami Khader 2376, Dubai 2015, D40) 6...Bc5 7.b4 Bd6 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Nbd2
Qe7 10.Bd3 dc4 11.Nc4 Bc7 12.0-0 a6 13.Nfe5 Krasenkow 2614 – Grandelius 2581, Stockholm 2014/15, D30]
 
6.ed4 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Bf4
[More popular are 8.Bd3 Zhang Pengxiang 2462 – Galkin 2535, Yerevan 1999 – 77/113 and 8.c5; RR 8.cd5 Lars Bo
Hansen 2565 – Jobava 2601, Skanderborg 2005 – 95/64 ]
 
8...Nc6 9.Rc1 White plays all the possible useful moves without moving the bishop from f1 to avoid conceding a tempo.
 
9...Ne4 Black initiates an exchange of knights and improves his dark-square bishop but neglects queenside
development. White must act energetically to take advantage.
[To my mind the alternative 9...b6 is preferable since after 10.cd5 Nd5 11.Nd5 Qd5 12.Bc4 there is an important check
on e4: 12...Qe4 13.Be3 Bb7 and Black is fine.]
 
10.Bd3 Nc3 11.Rc3 Bf6N
In a game between great masters, the 6th World Champion demonstrated a different approach by releasing central
tension with the exchange on c4. His method of blockading the isolated pawn with the queen was unorthodox.
However, he succeeded in connecting his rooks, placing his pieces harmoniously, and controlling the vital e4-square
with a timely ...f5: 11...dc4 12.Rc4 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qd5 14.Qc2 f5 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Rd1 Rac8 17.Be3 Na5 18.Rc8 Rc8
19.Qe2 Bd6= Keres – Tal, Moscow 1957]

12.h4!
The exclamation mark is for courage! White makes clear his intentions to attack on the kingside. Another drawback of
 9...Ne4 becomes apparent: there are fewer pieces to defend Black’s king. Actually, there is nothing wrong with simply
castling.
[The choice is largely influenced by the style of the player: 12.0-0 g6 (12...Nd4?! 13.Nd4 Bd4 14.Bh7 Kh7 15.Qd4±)
13.Be5 with some pressure.]
 
12...h6?!
Black is at a crossroads in this critical juncture of the game. To understand why, we should consider candidate moves.
[Some accurate calculations are required to reject 12...Nd4?! 13.Bh7! (13.Nd4? e5!µ) 13...Kh7 14.Ng5 Kg8 (14...Kg6
15.Qb1 Nf5 16.h5 Kh6 17.Nf7+–) 15.Qh5 Re8 16.Bd6!+–;
By playing ...g6 or ...h6, as in the game, Black renews his threat to the d4-pawn. However, it creates additional
weaknesses around his king. 12...g6 13.h5!? is a highly speculative, though instructive, continuation that may lead to a
draw by perpetual check! 13...Nd4 14.hg6 Nf3 15.Qf3 fg6 16.Rh7! Bc3 17.bc3 Qf6 18.Rh6 Qc3 19.Ke2 Qb2=;
The move I prefer is the pawn break 12...e5!? After all, play in the centre is the conventional reply to a flank attack,
especially with White’s king still on e1! In addition, Black opens a diagonal for his light-square bishop. The game may
continue 13.de5 d4 14.Rb3 Ne5 15.Ne5 Be5 16.Be5 Qa5 17.Kf1 Qe5 18.Rb5 Qf6= The position has simplified;
however, White still has not developed his h1-rook.]
 
13.Bb1! Emphasizing the downside of 12...h6. Black has to deal with threats along the b1–h7 diagonal.
 
13...Re8 The capture on d4 does not help.
[White initiates a strong attack on the black king: 13...Nd4 14.Nd4 e5 15.Qc2 g6 16.Bh6 ed4 17.Rg3 Qe7 18.Kf1±;
Instead it is worth trying to change the course of events, even though this is not as effective as on the previous move:
13...e5 14.de5 d4 15.Rb3 Ne5 16.Be5 Be5 17.0-0 Bf6 18.h5 with the advantage for White, but at least there is no
immediate mating attack.]
 
14.Ne5 White condemns his opponent to passive defence.
 
14...dc4 15.Qh5 Saeed conducts the attack with remarkable energy and imagination!
 
15...Be5 16.de5 Qd4

We have reached another crucial moment. White’s pieces are assembled on the kingside, ready for a major assault on
the black king. He just needs to safely tuck away his own king. Meanwhile, Black’s queenside is a sorry sight; the a8-
rook and c8-bishop seem destined to play the role of onlookers. Black tries to compensate with queen activity, but
without support from her army the queen alone is no match for the enemy’s well-coordinated forces.
 
17.Rf3 White had to make a choice between equally promising continuations.
[After the natural 17.0-0!? Qf4 18.Rf3 Qf3 19.Qf3 Ne5 20.Qe4 Ng6 21.Qc4 the queen should dominate the rook and
bishop but Black can put up some resistance. The move played in the game defends the f4-bishop and indirectly attacks
the f7-square, putting unbearable pressure on the black king. However, White could resolve the situation by immediate
capture of the h6-pawn. Black is forced to exchange queens on e5, but his king remains vulnerable to the threats of all
White’s pieces: 17.Bh6! Qe5 18.Qe5 Ne5 19.Rg3 Ng6 (19...g6 20.h5 Nd3 21.Bd3 cd3 22.hg6 e5±) 20.h5 gh6 21.hg6
f5 22.Rh6±]
 
Black is confronted with an interesting psychological dilemma. He has a choice between two options, but after each, if
White replies correctly, he has a difficult position.

Ishaq Saeed

17...Qb2
[Apart from grabbing the b2-pawn, Black could defend the f7-square and question White’s intentions with 17...Rf8. The
best option for White is then to bring about an advantageous ending. As this was already available for White on the
previous move, it is difficult to be pragmatic and easy to be tempted into pressing on with the attack. 18.Bh6 (After the
natural looking 18.0-0 Bd7 19.Re1 Black defends successfully with 19...f5! 20.ef6 Rf6 21.Be3 Qd5=) 18...Qe5 19.Qe5
Ne5 20.Rg3]
 
18.0-0+– Nd4
I suspect this is the move on which Black placed his bets.
19.Bh6! White rises up to the challenge and delivers a deadly blow!
 
19...Nf3 20.gf3 Kf8 21.Bg7
The simple retreat to g5 suffices for a win as well: 21.Bg5 f5 22.Bf6! (22.ef6 also wins, but is not as pretty.) 22...gf6
23.Qh8 Kf7 24.Qf6 Kg8 25.Kh1+–, but clearly Saeed was in a creative mood!]
 
21...Kg7 22.Qg5 Kf8 23.Rd1
[A straightforward series of checks brings White the desired result: 23.Qh6 Ke7 24.Qf6 Kd7 (24...Kf8 25.Bg6+–)
25.Qf7 Re7 26.Rd1 Kc6 27.Be4 Kb5 28.Qe7+– Luckily, the game move does not spoil anything.]
 
23...Qb3
[After 23...Qe2 24.Qh6 Ke7 25.Qf6 Kf8 White has an attractive second rook sacrifice to decide the game in his favour.
26.Rd7! Bd7 27.Bg6 Qf3 28.Qf3 Re7 29.Qf6+–]
 
24.Qh6 Ke7 White now gives a few checks, probably experiencing time trouble, and perhaps being a little nervous.
After all, it is not every day that an opportunity to defeat an opponent rated 440 ELO points higher arises.
 
25.Qg5 Kf8 26.Qh6 Ke7 27.Qf6 Kf8 28.Qh8 Ke7 29.Qf6 Kf8 30.Rf1! In fact any other lateral move by the rook wins
the game.
 
30...Qb6 31.Bg6 Qc7 32.h5 Despite being a rook up Black is completely helpless.
 
32...Kg8 33.Bc2 Qd8 34.Qh6 f5 35.ef6 Re7 36.Kh1
1 : 0 Arakhamia-Grant
 
As David trusted his own weapons, so Saeed relied on his pet system. The lower rated player found himself in a position
that suited his style and inspired him to make the most of his abilities. When the opportunity arose he was able to strike
effectively. Saeed succeeded in taking one more mid-2600 GM scalp in Dubai. His performance would have been
fantastic had he not alternated these phenomenal wins with losses against players of mid-2000 ELO strength. This
paradoxical trait (the ability to beat higher rated opponents but lose to lower rated players) is characteristic of highly
aggressive players who are motivated to bring full concentration to important encounters but lack pragmatism on lesser
occasions.
 
On the other hand, for the higher rated player the failure to recognize turning points is primarily the reason for a loss.
 Possibly the lack of complete concentration led him to miss those critical moments.
 
****
 
The Egyptian player Samy Shoker has the reputation of being a giant-killer, having a few scalps under his belt. At the
last World Team Championship two 2600+ GMs fell victim to his magic, including the 2700+ Chinese Yu Yungyi. His
scalps include Mamedyarov and Naiditsch. It is noticeable that he actually has many encounters with much stronger
opposition. One conclusion to be drawn: seek out the experience of playing stronger opponents; you will learn valuable
lessons and the level of your game will undoubtedly improve. Most importantly, you give yourself a chance of glory if
luck smiles on you!
 

B06
Sutovsky 2623 — Shoker 2466
Tsaghkadzor (wtc), 2015

1.e4 g6 Shoker loves to fianchetto his bishop on g7. His openings include the Modern, Dragon Variation in the Sicilian,
King’s Indian, Benoni, and Benko Gambit. All these openings are associated with counterattacking strategies.
 
2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4
Unsurprisingly, Sutovsky goes for the most ambitious set up. Although f2-f4 in the Austrian Attack is more commonly
played on the 4th move, rather than in connection with 4.Be3, it still has its merits here.
 
5...b5 6.Nf3
Another popular move is to first develop the bishop on d3. The text invites the game continuation chosen by Shoker.
 
6...b4
Rarely played. The main line 6...Bb7 7.Bd3 Nd7 leads to a well known critical variation after 8.e5 with multiple games
by strong players. A different approach was demonstrated by Caruana: 6...Nd7 7.Bd3 c5 8.e5 b4 9.Ne4 Nh6 10.c3
(10.dc5 de5 Swinkels 2493 – Caruana 2801 Bilbao 2014) 10...bc3 11.bc3 cd4 12.cd4 Nb6 Lenderman 2598 – Caruana
2839, London 2014]
 
7.Ne2 Bb7 8.Ng3 Nf6
The premature 8...h5 is strongly met by 9.f5! h4 10.fg6! fg6 11.Ne2 Slobodjan 2525 – Azmaiparashvili 2632 Dresden
2007]
 
9.Bd3 h5
You just know it is not going to be a quiet game. Both players are playing aggressively: more common is to continue
development by castling or first ...Nbd7 and ...c5, challenging the white centre.
[RR 9...0-0 Barua 2453 – M. Gurevich 2643, Vlissingen 2006 – 98/58]
 
10.Ng5N A typical reaction. The knight occupies the g5 square, since it can no longer be controlled by the black h-
pawn, from where it closely watches a complex of critical squares around Black’s king: e6 and f7.
[With a knight already on f6, pushing f4-f5 is less effective. One possible variation to illustrate this is 10.f5 h4 11.Nh4
Rh4 12.fg6 fg6 13.e5 Kd7 14.Bg6 Qh8÷;
It is interesting that the position after 9...h5 had already occurred once in Shoker's practice. In my view, his opponent in
the game (played in 2013) chose the best reply: 10.e5!? Nd5 11.Bd2 c5 However, his next move was too impatient:
12.e6?! (12.Ng5 is stronger, with the idea of including the queen in the attack after 12...h4 13.Nf7 Kf7 14.Qg4 Kf8
15.Bg6 Qd7 16.Nf5 Bc8 17.0-0‚) 12...f5! 13.Nh4 Qc8 14.Qe2 Nc6 15.c3 bc3 16.bc3 cd4 17.c4 Nc3 Sosovicka 2188
– Shoker 2497 Al Ain 2013. Black achieved a winning position but at the end erred grossly and lost a game curiously
against an opponent with 300 fewer ELO points!]
 
10...c5 Challenging the d4–pawn since the defender, the f3–knight, moved away.
 
11.dc5 White picks up the gauntlet. Sutovsky must have judged the measured approach of keeping the pawn centre
intact and postponing concrete action until all his forces are mobilized as being too slow.
[Nevertheless, this is not so clear: 11.c3 Ng4 12.Bg1 Qa5 13.Ne2 0-0 14.h3 Nf6 15.d5 with mutual chances; Both pawn
thrusts are tempting but seem a bit premature: 11.f5 leads to wild complications after 11...Ng4 12.fg6 Ne3 13.Qf3 Bd4
14.Nf7 Qa5÷; 11.e5 Ng4 12.Qe2 Ne3 13.Qe3 cd4 14.Qd4 0-0]
 
11...Ng4 12.Bd2 Bd4! 13.c3 Bc5
[Suspicious is 13...Nf2 14.Qb3 Nd3 15.Ke2 0-0 16.cd4²; However, keeping the white king in the centre deserved
attention: 13...Bf2!? 14.Ke2 dc5 15.Bc4 e6 with chances for both sides.]

This is the turning point of the game. The position is very dynamic: the price of each move is high. Both sides have
aggressively positioned knights, i.e. on g5 and g4, attacking the f7- and f2-squares respectively. However, with Black’s
bishop already on c5, it looks as if he has the upper hand in creating threats around White’s king.
 
14.Rf1?! It is hard to believe, but this turns out to be a crucial error. White cannot lose any time and needs to
counterattack by threatening the Achilles heel in Black’s position, the f7-square.
[He should apply pressure along the a2–g8 diagonal immediately: ¹14.Qb3!? d5! (Even with castling Black’s king
finds himself in grave danger: 14...0-0 15.f5! and suddenly the downside of ...h5 becomes apparent: the g6-square is
insufficiently defended. One line, just to illustrate the perils of Black’s position, might go 15...Nf2 16.fg6 Nd3 17.Ke2
Ne5 18.gf7 Nf7 19.Qe6+–) 15.0-0-0! An exchange is a small price to pay for the initiative: 15...Nf2 16.cb4 Bd4 17.f5
All White’s pieces participate in the attack while Black hopelessly lags behind in development.]
 
14...Qb6 Good judgment by Shoker. Black is not tempted by the pawn. Instead he intensifies pressure along the g1–h7
diagonal and cleverly parries White’s main threat.
[Although the alternative: 14...Nh2!? is playable, the position remains very complicated. For example: 15.Qb3 d5
(15...0-0 16.f5 Nf1 17.fg6‚) 16.cb4 Ba7 17.Rh1 Ng4 18.0-0-0÷]
 
15.Qb3
Having lost a tempo by an unnecessary rook move, the queen sortie comes with less effect.
 
15...0-0 16.f5
White goes all out. Unfortunately for him, Black has prepared a perfect antidote.
 
16...bc3
The point! By comparison with the variations starting with 14.Qb3, now queens get exchanged.
 
17.bc3 Nh2 18.Qb6?!
White hopes to take advantage of the open b-file. However, it is stronger to play 18.Rf4!? Nd7 19.fg6 Qb3 20.ab3 fg6
21.Bc4 Kh8 (21...d5 is not as good as in the game, since the bishop on c4 is protected by the b3-pawn: 22.ed5 Ne5
23.Ne6±) 22.Rf8 Nf8 (22...Rf8 23.Nf7 Kh7 24.Ng5=) 23.Bd5 White holds the balance despite being a pawn down. I
suspect Sutovsky was still looking for ways of winning this position, and did not sense in time that he was in danger of
losing and needed to find an equalizer.
 
18...Bb6 19.Rf4 Nd7

Black emerges with an extra pawn and White has yet to prove his compensation.
 
20.Rb1 This is another critical moment of the game. The natural move with the rook occupying an open line turns out to
be a waste of tempo, allowing Black to bring his stranded knight back into action.
[Instead, he should develop the initiative by improving his bishop with 20.Bc4!? Again the diagonal plays an important
role, and again White occupies it just one tempo too late! 20...d5 (The tricky part is to realize that after 20...Ne5 21.fg6!
Nc4 22.gf7 Kh8 23.Nh5, despite the queen exchange White can develop a sudden attack on the black king. The knight
on h2 finds himself cut off from the rest of his pieces.) 21.ed5 (21.Bd5 Bd5 22.ed5 Bc7µ) 21...Ne5 22.Bb3 Nd3
23.Ke2 Nf4 24.Bf4 Ng4 25.d6© The strong bishop on b3 provides sufficient compensation for the exchange.]
 
20...Ng4 21.fg6
[The immediate 21.Bc4 may be more resilient, but Black still replies with 21...d5 (21...Nge5 is met with a treatment
already familiar to us 22.fg6! Nc4 23.gf7 Kh8 24.Nh5) 22.ed5 Nge5 White’s best try here is to again sacrifice the
exchange; however, in comparison to the comment on move 20, the black knight on d7 is more useful than the knight
on h2: 23.Bb3 Nd3 24.Ke2 Nf4 25.Bf4 The position is not trivial even after the best 25...h4. White can stir up some
complications by offering more sacrifices beginning with 26.d6! I will stop my analyses at that.]
 
21...fg6 22.Bc4
[As a desperate attempt, to change the course of events, White can consider an exchange sacrifice: 22.Rg4 hg4 23.Bc4
d5 24.ed5 Rac8 25.Bb3 Nc5 26.N3e4 Ne4 27.Ne4 Ba7 Objectively this should be winning for Black, but I think White
 has more chances to defend here than after the game continuation.]
 
22...d5!µ 23.ed5 Nge5 24.Bf1
[Regrettably for White, after exchanging on f8 and retreating the bishop to b3, in order to keep the d5–pawn protected,
he loses the knight on g3: 24.Rf8 Rf8 25.Bb3 Bf2 26.Ke2 Bg3–+]
 
24...Bd5 25.c4
I am not sure why White decided to offer a second pawn. His position is difficult but it is better to be only one pawn
down rather than two.
 
25...Rf4 26.Bf4 Ba5 27.Bd2 Bd2 28.Kd2 Nc4 29.Bc4 Bc4–+ 30.a3
White continues resisting for a bit too long. Firstly, we have to remember that resigning early in a team competition
rarely has upsides. Secondly, Black still has to coordinate his forces and make his two extra pawns count. Thirdly,
grandmasters do not like losing, especially to much lower rated opponents, and continually look for any chances to
survive.
 
30...Ra7 31.N3e4 Kg7 32.Ke3 Bg8 33.Nf3 Rc7 34.Nd4 Nf6 35.a4 Bd5 36.Ng5 Kh6 37.Nde6 Be6 38.Ne6 Rc4
39.Kf3 Rxa4 40.Rb7 Ra3 41.Ke2 Ra2 42.Kf3 Ra3 43.Ke2 Ra5 44.Kf3 Rf5 45.Kg3 Re5 46.Nd8 Re3 47.Kf2 Ng4
48.Kf1 Re4 49.g3 Ne3 50.Kf2 Nf5 51.Rb8 Rg4 52.Ne6 Kh7 53.Rf8 Ng3 54.Rf7 Kh6 55.Rf8 g5 56.Ra8 Ne4 57.Kf3
Nf6 58.Ra6 h4 59.Ra8 Rg3 60.Kf2 Rb3 61.Nd4 Rb2 62.Kg1 Kg6 63.Nf3 h3 64.Ne5 Kf5 65.Ra5 Rg2 66.Kh1 Ne4
67.Nd3 Kf6 68.Ra6
0 : 1 Arakhamia-Grant
 
My impression of this game is that the rating favourite was defeated in great style as a result of failing to sense the
critical moments in the game. One shouldn’t be too critical of Emil though. “Recognizing the critical turning point in a
game is perhaps the most difficult aspect of chess” writes Yusupov in the highly acclaimed work Training for the
Tournament Player. Moreover, to emphasize the point Artur adds that, according to Spassky, Boris could see only one
slight weakness in Fischer – he did not always sense the critical turning point in the game.
 
On the other hand, Shoker, playing with the black pieces, was able to create a non standard situation on the board where
the price for one mistake was very high. It seems that he gets motivated and raises his game when facing stronger
opposition. Those personal qualities together with his active style make him a dangerous player for anyone. The reverse
might be true as well, as suggested by his occasional losses to much weaker players.
 
****
Facing much lower opposition with the black pieces, grandmasters have to approach the opening wisely. Often they go
out of their way to avoid known drawish variations or accept risk just to get complicated positions with chances to out
calculate their opponent. Sometimes it backfires. There is a delicate balance between overly risky moves that can lead
to losing control compared with too much caution that offers few chances to disturb the equilibrium.
 
In this game behind the white pieces we have an untitled 15-year-old American facing an experienced multiple US
champion, whose best ever rating peaked at 2645.
 

B19
Hilby 2308 — Shabalov 2538
Arlington 2015

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 e6
For some time it was considered that the threat of the white knight occupying the central e5–square had to be stopped
with ...Nd7. However, since this variation received Carlsen’s seal of approval at world championship level it has
 became popular and looks a playable option. Nonetheless it is provocative.
 
8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bd3 10.Qd3 Nd7 11.f4 Bb4 12.Bd2
The text is not as ambitious as the main line, but not too harmless either. 12.c3 Be7 13.Bd2 Anand 2775 – Carlsen 2870,
Chennai (m/2) 2013 – 119/41]
 
12...Bd2 13.Qd2 Ngf6 14.0-0-0 Qc7
A small step off the correct path but not really a mistake.
[In top level games Black almost inevitably castles here: 14...0-0 15.f5 Harikrishna 2726 – Motylev 2698, Biel 2014
(RR 15.Kb1 Yagupov 2460 – Yevseev 2546, Alushta 2002 – 86/96)]
 
15.Ne2 As well as redirecting the knight to a more useful spot, White releases the g-pawn and intends to start a pawn
avalanche on the kingside.
 
15...h5N This prevents g2-g4 but weakens the g5-square. Black hopes to set up a blockade on the kingside.
[RR 15...Rf8 Ca. Neacsu – J. Guilloux, corr. 2003]
If White now plays the cautious 16.Kb1 or the natural looking 16.Rhe1, Black can reply with the instructive manoeuvre
16...Ne4 and than ...Nd6 from where he controls the key square f5 and defends the f7-pawn. Later he can castle long
with a comfortable position.
 
16.f5!?

This is a brave decision! White takes the chance to activate his queen. He both creates his own play and clamps down on
his opponent’s plans.
 
Now that his plan for blockading the kingside is no longer possible, how should Black react to White's pawn sacrifice?
He can accept the challenge and grab the f5 pawn or ignore it and continue with short castling, or exchange knights on
e5 and take the e5-pawn. Which one should it be?
 
16...ef5
I believe this is a key moment in the game. When playing for a win with Black, sometimes you have to take a risk and
hope it all works out.
[In case of 16...Ne5 17.de5 Qe5 18.fe6 0-0! (not 18...Qe6? 19.Nf4+– Qa2 20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.Qd8 with mate.) 19.Nf4
Qf5 the game remains balanced.
 
After castling, White can either take on e6 to transfer to the variation mentioned above or first exchange knights on d7:
16...0-0 17.Nd7 Qd7 18.fe6 Qe6 If we compare this position to the one at the end of the variation above, we see small
differences. The pawn structure is asymmetrical with three black versus two rather vulnerable white pawns on the
kingside. Black’s knight with a fine outpost on g4 looks superior to his adversary. Overall Black has a little pull and
can hope to outplay his lower rated opponent without taking much risk. However, in the variation above the pawn
structure is symmetrical and objectively should be assessed as equal.
 
By comparing these two variations we can draw the conclusion that after 16...0-0 White should take on e6 which,
following the exchange on e5, leads to a simplified position where the most likely outcome is a draw.]
 
17.Qg5 g6
Black holds on to the f5–pawn to keep some imbalance in the position. The safe choice is to return a pawn by castling
short: 17...0-0 18.Qf5 Rfe8 with equality. Shabalov decides to gamble by rejecting continuations that lead to equal
positions.
 
18.Nd7
[A piece sacrifice is unfounded since the king escapes to the queenside: 18.Ng6?! fg6 19.Qg6 Kd8 20.Rhf1 Re8µ]
 
18...Nd7 19.Nf4
White has a safer king, more active pieces, advantage in development and an open e-file for a rook. All this promises
more than sufficient compensation for a pawn.
 
19...Qd8
[In the event of 19...0-0 White has a choice: to take a draw with Ng6 or maintain the pressure with 20.Nh5 Qd8 21.Qg3
Re8 22.d5² Understandably, this is not the choice Shabalov wants to give his opponent. Just to demonstrate the possible
danger, the natural looking 19...Qd6 is met with 20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.d5!+– (indirectly including a second rook into the
attack) 21...c5 22.Re6! fe6 23.de6+–]
 
20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.Qg3 Nf6
[If Black plays 21...Qf6 or 21...Qg7 instead, then the central breakthrough 22.d5 is very strong. With the knight on f6 he
controls the d5-square. Black needs just one more move, say ...Qg7, to consolidate his position and then his extra pawn
will give him an advantage.]
 
What should White play now?
22.Ng6! Beautiful! The timely knight sacrifice destroys the king’s cover.
I cannot imagine it was possible to calculate everything till the end here. I guess a healthy dose of self-belief assisted
Hilby in making this decision and, in fact, the one on move 16 as well!
 
22...fg6 23.Qg6 Rg8
[Alternatively Black can transfer the rook to f7 to protect the knight from the pin along the f-file: 23...Rh7. The way
White can now improve his position is very instructive: 24.d5! not only opening the d-file for the second rook, but also
restricting the Black queen's scope. 24...cd5 25.Re6 Rf7 26.Rf1! The last piece joins in the attack. 26...Rc8 27.Rf5 Rc6
28.Qh6+–]
 
The most resilient defence is 23...Qd6!?, preventing a white rook from appearing on e6. In this case White’s rook will
occupy the e5-square, preparing for the invasion on e6: 24.Re5 Rg8 25.Qf5 Kf7 26.Rf1 Raf8

All the actions are around Black’s knight since it is the only remaining obstacle between White’s heavy artillery and the
black king. How does White continue his attack? 27.d5! forces a rook ending with an extra pawn! 27...Kg7 (27...cd5
28.Rd5 Qc6 29.Rc5! Qd6 30.Rc7+–) 28.Re6 Qd5 29.Rf6 Qf5 30.R6f5 Rf5 31.Rf5 Kh6 32.Rf6± Rg6 33.Rg6 Kg6
34.Kd2 Kf5 35.Ke3 Kg4 36.a4 winning the pawn ending!
 
24.Qf5 Kg7
The familiar motif of clearance along the d-file plays a decisive role after 24...Kf7 25.d5! cd5 26.Rf1! Kg7 27.Qg5 Kh7
28.Qf6 Qf6 29.Rf6 Rg2 30.Rd5+–]
 
25.Re6
[A rook lift is even more powerful: 25.Rd3!. With the black king stripped of pawn cover, White threatens to infiltrate
via e3, f3 or g3. For example: 25...Qc7 26.Re6 Raf8 27.Rde3 Rf7 28.Rf3 Qd8 29.Qe5 Rgf8 30.Rf5 Kh7 31.Rd6+–]
 
25...Re8 26.d5!? Re6?
The decisive mistake. It is still possible to put up tenacious resistance by capturing this dangerous pawn: 26...cd5! Now
White is required to find an amazing, single way to succeed: 27.Rd5 Qd5 28.Qf6 Kg8 29.Qg6 Kf8 30.Rf6! (30.Qf6=)
30...Ke7 31.Rf3! After this incredible backward move Black is unable to simultaneously save both the queen and the
king! 31...Rad8 32.Qg7 Kd6 33.Rd3 Re1 34.Kd2 Re5 35.Rd5 Rd5 36.Ke3 Rd7 37.Qf6 Kc7 With two extra pawns the
queen should prevail over two rooks, although some technique is required.
 
27.Qg5!+– Kh7 28.de6 Qh8 29.Rf1
1 : 0 Arakhamia-Grant
 
Now Black is unable to save his knight and so resigns.
[From the artistic point of view I cannot help but share with you an alternative method that was available to White:
29.Rd7!? Nd7 30.Qh5 Kg7 31.Qf7 Kh6 32.g4 White has sacrificed a rook and a piece. However, he will get it all back
with interest! 32...Rg8 33.g5 Rg5 34.hg5 Kg5 35.ed7+–]
 
The World Open was a highlight of Hilby’s career. Alongside Shabalov he defeated young GM Holt, coincidentally one
of the four victors featured in this article. In addition, draws against legends Yusupov, Yudasin and Stripunsky will
make it very memorable for the talented youngster. He displayed, like David, great confidence against Shabalov, and
relied on his intuition at two critical moments.
Shabalov was also confident, but perhaps he underestimated his opponent as he lost objectivity at a vital point.
 
 
****
The final game is from the US Championships between two grandmasters, although once again there was a sizeable
difference in ratings.
 

D98
Holt 2530 — Wesley So 2788
USA (ch), 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dc4 6.Qc4 0-0 7.e4
Holt is not afraid to enter the Russian System, which has a huge body of theory starting from this position.
 
7...Nc6
Kasparov used to prefer to place the knight on a6. Later it was adopted by Carlsen against Anand in their second World
Championship match: 7...Na6 8.Be2 c5 Anand 2792 – Carlsen 2863, Sochi (m/10) 2014 – 122/(170); Another main
line, 7...a6, is a frequent choice of Gruenfeld expert Peter Svidler.
 
8.Bg5 Once more we see the lower rated player straying away from fashionable opening discussions. Epishin tried this
 continuation on a few occasions about 10 years ago. His main idea was to quickly castle long and throw forward his h-
pawn.
 
[More popular is development of the light-square bishop, 8.Be2, to which Black often replies by developing his own
bishop to g4. However, in the last few years the following gambit line become popular and is debated on the top level:
8...e5!? (RR 8...Bg4 – D98) 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nd4 ed4 11.Qd4]
 
Aronian has found himself on both sides of the barricades, having advocated both the black and white pieces. Not
surprisingly, creative players such as Vacher Lagrave, Nepomniachtchi and Navara took up the idea. Wesley So also
reached this position earlier against Meier (RR Meier 2646 – So 2677, Saint Louis 2012), although by a different move
order. It is hard to tell if So was intending to repeat, but Holt decided not to allow him the opportunity.
 
8...Bg4
[I believe 8...h6!? straightaway, questioning the bishop’s intentions, may be the best reaction.]
 
9.d5 Holt goes his own way: home preparation for his elite opponent?
[A number of previous games by Epishin continued: 9.0-0-0, and this was the only move considered by Avrukh in GM
Repertoire Vol 8; RR Atalik 2584 – Khmelniker 2411, Dresden 2007 – 100/371]
 
9...Na5N
At first sight the immediate capture on f3 is weaker since White captures first on c6, when both the bishop on f3 and
pawn on b7 are under attack. Unexpectedly, the move ...b7-b5 saves the day! The e4 pawn will fall after White captures
on b5. Alternatively it is possible to recapture the bishop immediately.
[Nevertheless, the pawn structure is spoiled and Black finds good squares for his knights: 9...Bf3 10.gf3 (10.dc6 b5!)
10...Ne5 11.Qe2 Nh5 12.Be3 Curiously, this position was reached via a different move order in the game
Tomashevsky 2740 – Khalifman 2632, Moscow 2012. Black found an interesting counterplay based on a pawn
sacrifice: 12...b5!? 13.0-0-0 (13.Nb5 c6! 14.dc6 Nc6 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.Bh3 e6 when control over the weak kingside
squares offers Black sufficient compensation for the pawn.) 13...c6 (13...Nc4 deserves attention) 14.f4 Nc4 15.e5 with
complicated play.]
 
10.Qa4 c6 Now the exchange on f3 would promise White an edge because of the misplaced knight on a5.
 Conrad Holt

11.dc6 Nc6
[Again the intermediate capture on f3 has to be considered: 11...Bf3 12.cb7 (Black is fine after 12.gf3 Nc6) 12...Nb7
13.gf3 Nc5 Black sacrifices a pawn for the initiative. Although White's pawns are doubled on the kingside, he still has
a full extra pawn on the queenside. Given time to finish development, his two bishops and material advantage promise
the upper hand. Black has to hurry: 14.Qb5 (14.Qc2 Ne6 15.Rd1 Qa5 16.Be3 Rab8©) 14...Ne6 15.Rd1 Qc8 16.Bh3
(16.Bf6?! Bf6 17.Nd5 Rb8 18.Nf6 ef6 19.Qe2 Rd8 –+ Despite the reduced material White is paralyzed and unable to
develop his remaining pieces in time.) 16...Rb8 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Be6 fe6 19.0-0 Nh5 Black’s kingside pawn structure is
unusual! But his control over the dark square complex suggests full compensation for the pawn.]
 
12.e5
Accepting the challenge. In case of 12.Be2 Bf3 13.Bf3 Nd7 14.0-0 Nde5 Black will occupy the d4-square and, after
preparation, will play ...e6 to control the d5-square. He has no bad pieces and generally can be happy with the opening
outcome.
 
The following sequence is forced.
 
12...Bf3 13.ef6 ef6 14.Be3 Bh5 15.g4
White wins a piece but the matter is far from clear. It would be very interesting to know if either player anticipated this
turn of events before the game. Nowadays you are never sure how far the players are following their analysis or
creating something new over the board.
 
15...Bg4 16.Qg4 f5 17.Qa4 Re8
[By 17...Bc3 18.bc3 Qd5 Black prevents White from castling short: 19.Rg1 Rfe8. But this allows White to develop his
light-square bishop to the more active c4-square. 20.Bc4 Qe5 21.Kf1 By comparison with the game White’s pieces are
better coordinated.]
 
18.Rd1
[Saving a tempo to develop the kingside does not actually help White; for example, 18.Be2 Bc3 19.bc3 Qf6 20.Kf1 Re4
21.Qc2 Rae8 22.Bf3 Re3!? To sacrifice a rook over the board like this requires, among other qualities, great self-
confidence. One cannot realistically calculate everything till the end here, so you have to rely on intuition: 23.fe3 Re3
24.Qf2 f4 25.Rd1 Qc3 with enough compensation.]
 
18...Bc3 19.bc3 Qf6 20.Be2
This is a critical moment. Time is of the essence.
 
20...b5?
I guess So miscalculated somewhere in the depths of the multitude of variations.
[The correct continuation is 20...Re4!?, bringing in all the pieces before concrete action: 21.Qc2 Rae8. The position
remains very complicated and is extremely difficult to play correctly over the board. Both sides have to make decisions:
some require calculation, others intuition. What makes it especially hard are the many candidate moves to consider on
each turn. Single forced variations would make it easier to decide! Here there is a wealth of fascinating variations but I
will simply provide an impression of the tree without all its many branches. First White has three equally decent
continuations to choose from:
 
A) Let’s start with the obvious 22.0-0. Now Black has a few possible options to consider but I think the following line is
the most promising: 22...Rh4!? (22...Qh4 23.Bf3 Qh3! 24.Bg2 Rg4 25.f3 Rg2 26.Qg2 Qg2 27.Kg2 Re3 and the most
likely outcome is a draw.) 23.Bf3 Ne5 24.Bg2 f4 25.Qa4! Re6 26.Rd4 g5 with a double edged position;
B) Attempts to attack the e4-rook look rather risky; for example, 22.Bd3 Rh4 23.Kf1 f4 24.Bc1 Rh3 and the well
coordinated black pieces exert strong pressure;
 
C) The idea of transferring the bishop onto the kingside is met with a spectacular double rook sacrifice: 22.Bf3 Re3
23.fe3 Re3 24.Kf2 Rc3 25.Qd2 Qh4 26.Kg2, although I cannot see anything better than settling for a draw after
26...Rf3 27.Kf3 Ne5 28.Kg2 Qe4 29.Kf2 Qf3 30.Kg1 Qg4=]
 
Having analyzed the position after the 20th move we see Black holds the balance with full compensation for the
sacrificed piece. But I did not manage to find a win if White defends correctly. I find such variations are the most
challenging to assess and decide on during the game. You cannot see a forced win or loss: sometimes if you find a
perpetual check you can tell yourself, OK at least there is a draw. But that is no consolation if playing in a must win
situation.
 
This is an interesting psychological moment: did So see this option and reject it because it led to a forced draw? Did his
desire to win lead him to lose objectivity and burn his bridges?
 
What sometimes happens is that after devoting time and energy to calculating the most natural move in the position you
find that it does not guarantee the desired result. You can become frustrated and end up playing an inferior move. Loss
 of full concentration for even a fleeting moment can undermine all the hard work that has gone before.
 
21.Bb5!
Precisely executed! Holt takes his opportunity.
 
21...Re4
[Maybe Black was relying on the pin along the e-file but missed that castling is possible: 21...f4 22.0-0! fe3 23.fe3 Qg5
24.Kh1+– and he loses the knight on c6.]
 
22.Qc2 Rae8 Another unfortunate move, putting the rook into a pin, played by inertia.
[22...Rb8 is more tenacious.]
 
23.0-0 Now the big difference is that White gains valuable time from the light-square bishop pin on the knight.
Elimination of Black's final minor piece diffuses the attack and provides White's extra bishop with an excellent outpost
on d4.
 
23...f4 There is nothing better.
[White has an adequate defence to transferring the queen to the kingside. 23...Qh4 24.Qe2!+– White’s queen comes to
the rescue, occupying the e2-square vacated by the bishop.]
 
24.Bc6 Qc6 25.Bd4 f3 26.Qd3+–
With his powerful bishop on d4 and the enemy force reduced, White has nothing to fear.
 
26...Re2 27.a4
The fact that White can take time to play such a slow move shows how safe his position is and that he is confident about
it.
 
27...Qd5 28.Kh1 Qh5 29.Qb5 Qh4 30.Rg1 Rd8 31.Rdf1 h6 32.Qc6 Rd4 33.cd4 Rf2 34.Qe8 Kg7 35.Qe5
1 : 0 Arakhamia-Grant
 
Holt came to this crucial encounter with excellent preparation. Just like David, who picked up five stones, the young US
GM did not come empty handed to the fight but with a new idea in the opening.
In my view the reasons that led to the rating favourite’s defeat included his subjectivity and loss of concentration at the
crucial moment. “The ability to focus one’s thoughts during the decisive moments of a game is just about the most
important quality a chessplayer can possess” – Kasparov.
Keti Arakhamia-Grant © Harald Fietz
When researching the David against Goliath theme I
found many different recommendations. For example:
 
GM Jacob Aagard advised “Play a good solid opening;
play a lot of natural moves; be ready once you get your
chance” in Grandmaster versus Amateur. In my
opinion, this advice easily applies to both sides. The
difference is that for the rating favourite there is only
one satisfactory outcome of the game. By comparison,
the adversary is in a no-lose situation. In the worst case
it is a valuable experience: draw or win is a fantastic
achievement.
IM Simon Webb’s advice in the quirky Chess for Tigers
includes: play actively, randomize, don’t swap
everything off, and be brave!
From the four games examined there are lessons we can
 draw for a lower rated player:
 
• Seek out stronger opposition: enter tournaments where
there is a chance to play GMs.
• Study your opponent to identify weaknesses and
strengths: no matter how strong he is and how well the
weaknesses are hidden, everyone has them.
• Seize the opportunities when they arrive. Higher rated
players will likely try to win at all cost; rating points
are too precious to lose without a fight. He might adopt
a waiting tactic: not doing anything special, waiting
until the opponent makes some concessions and then
masterfully using it to his advantage. If it doesn’t
happen he may lose patience and will break rules and
take risks. This is your moment to shine!
• Higher rated players will have more positions in their
arsenal that they understand and play better, but in random positions everyone can make an error.
• Being confident in your abilities helps massively.
 
Typically the rating favourite plans simply to get a playable position out of the opening by making natural, non-
committal moves and playing a game of cat and mouse. He must beware:
• Loss of concentration at critical moments will spell disaster.
• Sensing turning points is important to maintain objectivity. It is better to accept reality and start again to outplay the
opponent from an equal position than from one that is completely lost.
• Finding the ideal way to disturb the equilibrium requires judgment of the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
Allowed a position that suits them, weak players can find strong moves!
 
Perhaps it shows that there is no single recipe. The exact decision on how to play depends on many factors, including
the styles of both yourself and your opponent. Indeed, chess is a difficult game!
Arakhamia-Grant

CI Learning Centre

Download free training tests at

www.chessinformant.org
THE MAKOGONOV VARIATION

NEW K.I.D ON THE BLOCK!

 
The number of top level games opening with the King’s Indian Defence has decreased significantly since its height of
popularity in the second half of the 20th century, when it was adopted with enormous success by the likes of
Boleslavsky, Bronstein, Geller, Gligoric, Najdorf and even world champions Fischer and Kasparov. Nevertheless such
is the stored-up energy contained within this most attacking of defences that we can still see flashes of brilliance
displayed by its modern day adherents, such as Nakamura, Grischuk, Radjabov, Ding, and Morozevich, to name just a
few.
 
Indeed, as Hikaru Nakamura said after his recent win against Wesley So at the Sinquefield Cup: “...there are many lines
in the King’s Indian where the computer is going to say something ridiculous. I suspect that somewhere around move
20 it’s probably +2, or at least +1. But such positions are so complicated that it’s very easy to go wrong”.
 
Further confirmation of the K.I.D.’s eternal life then followed from Garry Kasparov in his congratulatory tweet to
Nakamura: “The King’s Indian requires the courage of your convictions and courage to ignore machine opinions!”
 
In fact Nakamura’s opening play followed traditional lines formulated over 50 years ago – the so-called Mar del Plata
variation which is essentially a battle between Black’s kingside attack and White’s potential to break through on the
other flank. It was then Hikaru’s ingenious middlegame play that proved decisive.
 
However, recently, there have been exciting new developments in the King’s Indian where innovative play starts within
the first few moves. White plays 6.h2-h3 with the intention of continuing g2-g4 in order to deter Black from his
customary freeing move ...f7-f5.
 

Plan your play with either White or Black!

Mirroring is about two carefully selected annotated games played from the same opening tabiya – a popular and
important opening position, from where play branches out to several topical paths.
 
The goal is to present and explain the main plans and ideas of both sides, conducted as close as possible to their ideal
form. These concepts should serve the reader as a compass, an essential tool to help him navigate the wilderness of the
tropical forests of opening theory.
 
Looking for the “ideal plan” or recipes for quick, “guaranteed” success? Such things do not exist. But our author will
do his best to convey his grandmaster knowledge and top-level experience to you, and be your guiding light.
 
But there is a catch... At first, our author supports White’s cause without any reservations – he is the first player’s best
buddy, his guardian angel. And then, in a sudden twist of fate, he switches sides and becomes a dedicated advocate of
Black’s position, as if he’s playing the game against his reflection in the mirror...

WHITE

E90
Tomashevsky 2716 — Kasimdzhanov 2705
Tbilisi 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3 e5

7.d5
We reach a position that has grown in popularity in
recent years.
White has his usual space advantage, and by playing 6.h3 he avoids ideas involving ...Bg4 by Black. Another idea for
White is to make use of h2-h3 by also pushing g2-g4 at some point. This grabs space on the kingside and is designed to
deter ...f7–f5 which is Black’s most common way to achieve counterplay.
On the downside White’s king often stays in the centre in these lines, which might at some point become an issue.
Another drawback of putting many pawns on light squares is that Black can find suitable counterplay on the dark
squares.
 
7...Nh5!?
This is the most straightforward reaction, looking for quick counterplay by ...f5.
 
8.g3
White plays the current main line, but 8.Nh2 has been slightly more popular over the years.
 
8...f5
[RR 8...Na6 9.Nd2 Qe8 Holt 2530 – Nakamura, 2798, USA (ch) 2015 – 124/193 (9...Bh6 Peralta 2569 – Perez
Candelario 2559, La Roda 2015 – 124/(193))]
 
9.ef5 gf5
 Evgeny Tomashevsky © Harald Fietz
This is the starting position for the column.
 
10.Nh4
The text is the second most popular move after 10.Ng5,
which we will look at in the next game.
 
10...Nf4 Black’s most active reply, but also risky.
[The alternative 10...Nf6 is a more stable and solid
continuation.]
 
11.Bd2! White does not bother about the knight on f4
for the moment but rather prepares castling long to get
his king into safety. Once that is done he can look for
opportunities to open up the kingside.
 
11...Qe7N
[RR 11...Na6 Li Yunshan 1765 – Xu Huahua 2125,
Zhongshan (zt) 2013]
 
12.Qc2 White is now ready for 0-0-0 but also exerts
pressure on the f5–pawn.
 
12...Na6 13.a3
This solid move avoids any complications involving
...Nb4.
 
13...Bd7
Black has completed his mobilisation and is now
slightly ahead in development. However, his pieces are
not ideally placed and regrouping will cost valuable
time.
 
14.0-0-0 Kh8 Black wisely walks his king away from
the g-file to get ready for its opening in case of gf4.
 
15.Kb1!?
This standard move, putting the king on a safer square, is not yet needed.
[The immediate 15.Rg1 is another option.]
 
15...Rae8 16.Re1 Qf6 17.Rg1
White places his rook on this square in anticipation of an opening of the g-file by gf4.
 
17...Ng6
Finally Black decides to retreat his knight from the active f4 square.
 
18.Ng6 Qg6 19.f3
White plays to obstruct the ...e5-e4 advance and also to prepare g3-g4 in order to take control of the e4–square.
 
19...c6
Black seeks counterplay by breaking in the centre. However, he is a bit late.
[The alternative 19...e4! is better, although after 20.f4 White is somewhat to be preferred.]
 
20.g4!
White systematically gains more control over the light squares.
 
20...cd5 21.cd5 Rc8 22.Bd3 Nc5 23.Bf5 Bf5 24.gf5 Qf5 25.Qf5 Rf5
After a few exchanges we have reached an endgame that perhaps doesn’t look all that bad for Black. However, in
positional terms White has a distinct advantage thanks to his better bishop and the e4-outpost for his knight.
 
26.Rg3 Nb3 27.Be3 Nd4 28.Ne4
White’s knight has now taken up its ideal position, where it not only blockades the e5–pawn but also attacks d6.
 
28...Rd8 29.Reg1 Rf7 30.Ng5
In a clearly worse position Black decided to resign.
[There could follow 30...Re7 31.Bd4 ed4 32.Ne6 Rg8 when Black’s position looks horrible and should be lost.
However, by sacrificing his d-pawn he could get out of the pin on the g-file and continue fighting.]
 
1 : 0 Berg

BLACK

E90
Semcesen 2437 — Berg 2553
Sweden (ch) 2015

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5 Nh5!?
I decided to come back to this move, which I had tried against the same opponent in 2011 when I lost. Before this game
I noticed that Semcesen had a 100% score as White in this position, which made my decision quite a challenge.
[7...a5 is the main move, which I’ve played myself on a regular basis, while 7...Na6 is the second most popular choice.]
 
8.g3
This move was also seen in our previous encounter. However, I had expected 8.Bg5, which Semcesen had played in a
few games lately.
 
8...f5!
[This is an improvement on the slightly slow 8...Qe8, which I played in 2011; Semcesen 2480 – Berg 2604, Gothenburg
2011]
 
9.ef5 gf5
So here we are at the ultra-modern tabiya of the King’s Indian Defence.
10.Ng5 The text is the most frequent move, played by Aronian and Radjabov, among others. Apart from attacking the
knight on h5, White also directs his knight towards the e6–square.
 
10...Qe8!? This interesting move has been played successfully by Ding Liren.
[10...Nf6 is the main move.]
 
11.Bg2
White places his bishop on a potentially open long diagonal, preparing 0-0, while Ne6 ideas are in the air.
[RR 11.Be2 Radjabov 2734 – Ding Liren 2732, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – 123/193; 11.c5 Nf6 Aronian 2797 – Ding Liren
2732, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – 123/194 (11...dc5?! Rusev 2548 – Kovalev 2532, Tromso (ol) 2014 – 121/194)]
 
11...Na6!?
[11...e4, as played by Ding Liren in 2013, avoids the tactical complications arising in the present game.]
 
12.Ne6
This is a logical follow-up to White’s last moves.
 
12...Be6 13.de6 e4!
This is necessary in order to cut off White’s strong bishop on g2 and also to round up the e6–pawn. Another plus is that
now Black's bishop on g7 is in action. White has an initiative, but he must use this moment wisely or it can easily slip
away, with Black emerging a pawn up.
 
14.e7! This correct move disrupts Black’s coordination.
 
14...Bc3!
Giving up the second bishop is virtually a necessity. This slows down the play a bit, as White no longer has any knight
jump to d5. Another important detail is that Black now has a retreat for his knight on g7.
 
15.bc3 Rf6
An interesting and rather unusual position has arisen. White now has the bishop pair vs. two knights. The bishops
should normally prove to be stronger, especially if the position opens up. However, a drawback for White is his weak
pawn structure.
 
16.Bg5?!N
This drops any possible White advantage. [16.Qd5! is a stronger option, reserving Bg5 for later; RR 16.g4 Raznikov
2350 – Bakunts 2085, Batumi (EYCC Boys U”18) 2010]
 
16...Re6
[Black can even go for 16...Nc5!?, when after 17.Bf6 Nf6 18.0-0 Qe7© he has sufficient compensation in view of his
better pawn structure and well-coordinated pieces.]
 
17.Qd5 Nc5
[A very interesting alternative is 17...Qg6!?, intending 18.Qb7 Rb8 19.Qa6 Qg5 20.Qa7 Re8 with a strong initiative and
attacking chances on the kingside.]
 
18.Qf5
This is the only move to justify 17.Qd5.
 
18...Nd3!
[Another way to reach a similar endgame is 18...Ng7 19.Qf8 (19.Qg4? runs into 19...Rg6µ) 19...Qf8 20.ef8=Q Rf8. But
here White has the option to castle, which I wanted to avoid.]
 
19.Kf1
[19.Ke2 is more active but also puts the king in a more dangerous situation. Following 19...Ng7 20.Qf8 Qf8 21.ef8=Q
Rf8 22.Be3 Nf5 23.Be4 Nf2!, the complications eventually favour Black, e.g. 24.Bd5 Kg7 25.Be6 Nh1³].
 
19...Ng7 20.Qg4 Qg6
This leads to a safe endgame advantage. [However, I also considered the ambitious 20...Qf7!?³]
 
21.Be3 Nf5
Black is now hoping for an endgame where White only has a single bishop.
 
22.Ke2 Ne3 23.Qg6
[23.fe3 Qg4; 23.Ke3 Re7]
 
23...hg6 24.Ke3
[I was expecting 24.fe3, when 24...Nc5³ retains an endgame advantage for Black thanks to his better pawn structure.]
 
24...Re7

The complications are over and we enter an endgame where Black has superior chances thanks to his better pawn
structure and more active pieces. White will basically have to stick to a wait and see policy, while Black can slowly
manoeuvre and improve his pieces.
 
25.Bf1 Nc5 26.Be2 Kg7 27.h4 Kh6 28.Rhf1 Rf8 29.Rab1 b6 30.Bd1

With time-trouble approaching, the next few moves were played hurriedly so as to meet the 40 move control.
 
30...Ref7 31.Be2 Re7 32.Bd1 Re5
The rook finds a good and flexible square from where it might gain activity along the fifth rank.
 
33.Be2 Na4 34.Rb3 Nc5 35.Rbb1 Rf7 36.Rb2 Ref5 37.Rbb1 a6
Perhaps Black should be a bit more careful with this move as it weakens the support of b6, which in turn makes ideas
involving ...c7-c6 more difficult to carry out.
 
38.Rb2 Rf8
[Here the opportunity 38...Rf3!? comes into serious contention. After 39.Bf3 Rf3 40.Kd2 Rd3 41.Kc2 Na4 42.Rb3 Rf3©

Black has great compensation, despite not having a single pawn for the exchange.]
 
39.Rbb1 R5f6 40.Bd1 R6f7 41.Be2 Rf5 42.Bg4!?
After the time control White sees the idea and doesn’t give Black a second chance for a favourable exchange sacrifice
on f3. With the rook left on b1, White is better prepared.
 
42...Re5 43.Bd1
The time has come to start manoeuvring and find optimal squares for the black pieces. Having considered ideas
involving an exchange sacrifice and assessed them as not giving enough play for a win, I decided to try something else.
 
43...Kg7 44.Be2 Na4 45.Rb3
In this interesting position White’s rook is confined to b3 in order to defend the pawn on c3. An attempt to drive the
knight on a4 away by Ra3 fails to ...Nc5 when the rook is trapped.
 
45...Rf7 46.Rd1 Ref5 47.Rf1 Kh6 48.Bd1 Kh7 49.Be2 R5f6 50.Bd1 Kg7 51.Be2 Kf8!

Finally after a few meaningless waiting moves Black commences a definite plan. His king's position should be
improved and so it heads for e5. Meanwhile, White has to go back and forth with his bishop since both his rooks and
king are reduced to the role of passive defenders.
 
52.Bg4
[52.Bd1 Ke7 53.Bg4 Rf8 will not change much.]
 
52...Ke7 53.Be2 Ke6! 54.Bg4 Ke5
This king move has to be made with care in case there might be a mating combination present somewhere.
 
55.Be2
[55.Rd1 threatens mate on d5 but allows 55...Rf3! 56.Bf3 Rf3 57.Ke2 (or 57.Kd2 Rf2–+) 57...Nc3 58.Rc3 Rc3–+]
 
55...Rf8 56.Bg4 R8f7 57.Be2 c6!

Daniel Semcesen
Black now proceeds to the next stage. As he has
improved the positions of his pieces, it’s time for a
pawn break. Now ...b5 is threatened in order to gain
space on the queenside and to put further pressure on
c3.
 
58.f4
The text is basically forced since passive waiting moves
just allow Black to improve his position further.
 
58...ef3 59.Rf3 b5 60.Rf6 Rf6 61.cb5 ab5 62.c4!
This move gives Black two connected passed pawns but
at least White can now become more active.
 
62...bc4 63.Rb4 Nc3 64.Rc4 Ne2
[64...d5 65.Rf4! Na2 66.Rf6 Kf6 67.Kd4 leads to a
draw.]
 
65.Ke2 d5
Black has two connected passed pawns while White’s passers are under control – the position seems to be winning.
However, it appears the task is not at all easy for Black.
 
66.Rc1!
White defends the first rank and prepares to place his rook behind a passed pawn.
 
66...d4 67.g4 White is creating a passed h-pawn in order to reduce Black's rook to passivity.
 
67...Kd5?!
This is rather too slow. [Better is 67...Ke4!, intending ...d3, when after 68.g5 Re6µ, White’s pawns on the kingside are
blockaded, at least for the time being.]
 
68.Rh1! c5 69.h5 gh5 70.gh5 Rh6
[70...Ra6 71.h6 Ra2 72.Kf3 Ra8 73.h7 Rh8 74.Rh5 Kc4 75.Ke2=]
 
71.Rh4 c4
72.a4??
After a long series of defensive moves White finally slips, making a crucial error.
[Necessary is 72.Rh3!= when covering the check on e3 makes a huge difference, e.g. 72...Re6 73.Kd2 c3 74.Kd3 and
...Re3 is no longer available.]
 
72...Re6 73.Kd2
[This makes the task easy for Black, but 73.Kd1 d3 74.h6 c3 75.h7 (75.Rh1 Rb6–+) 75...c2 76.Kd2 Re1!–+ is not too
difficult to find; (although the careless 76...Re2?? 77.Kd3 c1Q 78.Ke2 leads to a draw.)]
 
73...c3 74.Kd3 Re3 75.Kc2 Re2 76.Kb3 Rb2 77.Ka3 Rb1! The c-pawn is unstoppable now that the first rank is
covered.
 
78.Rh2 d3
 
0 : 1 Berg

CI Learning Centre

Download free training tests at

www.chessinformant.org

So, to conclude: A crystal-clear example of White’s projected plan is shown by our first game where, after ...f5; ef5 gf5
Black, found himself conceding the all-important e4 square to an all-powerful enemy knight after the removal of his f-
pawn by a patiently prepared g2-g4. Black’s problems were compounded by the fact that the second principal feature of
White’s plan became only too apparent: the opening and exploitation of the newly opened g-file.
 
In the second game, White played differently, and after meeting Black’s early ...Nh5 with g3, and his subsequent ...f5
with ef5 gf5, continued with the impatient(!) Ng5 followed by Ne6, and after ...Be6, de6, White’s fianchettoed bishop
on g2 sprung to life and play revolved more around the central squares. Nevertheless Black fought back with an idea
usually only seen in the Four Pawns Attack, i.e. that of playing ...Bc3, deadening White’s queenside pawn structure and
allowing his knight on h5 to occupy the former residence of his fianchettoed bishop on g7, from where it could be
effectively redeployed to e6 or f5. He was then able to gain a superior endgame due to his good knight versus bad
bishop and White’s weakened pawn structure.
 
So, innovative ideas for both White and Black in the venerable King’s Indian Defence – and unleashed when the chess
pieces have hardly come out of the box! We await the future with great interest to see how this “new KID on the block”
is further developed by today’s exciting young generation of creative players.
Berg
How to Win with Rook against Bishop
 
A rook is much stronger than a bishop in a pure endgame as the bishop can visit only half of the squares on the board.
Classic examples of this superiority are Fischer – Spassky (m/21) 1972 – 14/374 and Timman – Velimirovic, Rio de
Janeiro (izt) 1979. But Rubinstein – Tartakower, Vienna 1922, shows that the rook does not always win.
 
I divide the material into four sections:
A Pawnless endgames
B All pawns on one wing
B1 The rook has an extra pawn
B2 Both sides have one pawn
B3 Both sides have two pawns
C Pawns on both wings
 C1 Pawn races
C2 Power play on the weak colour complex
D Endgames with more pieces Pawnless endgames
 

 A. Pawnless endgames

Marin 2583 — Edouard 2597

Benasque 2009

A pawnless endgame is usually drawn. If the defending king is in the safe corner, which the bishop cannot control,
Black draws, but must avoid one trap:
 
102...Bd6?
[102...Bg3 103.Kb6 Ka8 104.Rf3 Bh2 105.Ra3 Kb8 106.Rh3 Bg1 is a standard draw.]
 
103.Kb6! Ka8?!
[103...Ba3!? is more tenacious, e.g. 104.Rd7 Kc8 105.Rd5 Bb2 106.Kc6 Bf6 107.Rf5 Be7 108.Ra5 Kb8 109.Rb5 Kc8
110.Rb7 Bf8 111.Rf7 Bb4 112.Rf4 Be7 113.Rg4 Kb8 114.Rg8 Ka7 115.Rg7+–]
 
104.Ra7 Kb8 105.Rd7
1 : 0 Mueller
 

B. All pawns on one wing

 
B1 - The rook has an extra pawn
 
If the rook has an additional pawn the win is usually easy. But there are important exceptions with a rook’s and a
bishop’s pawn:
 Yu Yangyi 2724 — Wen Yang 2573
China (tch), 2015

The attacker should know the following technique:

 
94.Kb6
[After 94.a4?! Be5 95.a5? Bd4 96.Ka6 Kb8 97.Rb7 Kc8

Black has a fortress as his bishop controls the a7–g1 diagonal and his king b7 and b8.]
 
94...Bh2 95.Ra7 Kb8 96.Rg7
With this maneuver White wins a tempo.
 
96...Ka8 97.a4 Be5 98.Ra7 Kb8 99.Rd7
The manoeuvre repeats itself.
 
99...Ka8 100.a5 Bb8 101.a6 Bh2 102.Ra7 Kb8 103.Rg7 Ka8 104.a7
1 : 0 Mueller
 

Ga. H. Kovacs 2305 — Szurovszky 2255

Hungary (tch), 1997

With the bishop’s pawn the draw also arises if it has advanced too far. Black draws as Del Rio had shown in 1750:
 
96...Be5!
[After 96...Kb8? 97.Rf7 Bh2 98.Kb6 Bg1 99.Ka6 Kc8 100.Rg7 Bd4 101.Rg5 Kb8 102.Kb5 Kc7 103.Rf5 Bg1 104.Rf7
Kc8 105.Rg7 Be3 106.Rg8 Kc7 107.Rg4
the bishop is dominated and Black loses, e.g. 107...Kc8 108.Kc4 Kc7 109.Kd5 Bb6 110.Rg7 Kc8 111.Kd6+–]
 
97.Kc5 Bg3?
Now the bishop has no check on the a7–g1 diagonal.
[97...Kc7 draws due to 98.Rf7 Kc8 99.Kb6 Bd4 the saving check 100.Kb5

100...Be5! 101.Kc5 Bh2!=]

 
98.Rf8 Kc7 99.Rf7 Kc8 100.Kb6 Bd6 101.Rg7
1 : 0 Mueller
 
 
B2 - Both sides have one pawn
 
With blocked pawns it is often better for the defender if the bishop can attack the pawn.

Bjelobrk 2369 — Chen Pengyu 2207

Sydney 2015
137...Bf7!
[137...Bb3? runs into 138.Rg5 Ke6 139.Rh5 Ba2 140.Rh7 Bb3 141.Rb7 Ba2 (141...Bc2 142.Rb6 Ke7 143.Kd5+–)
142.Rb2+–]
 
138.Rb6
[138.Rg5 Kf6=]
 
138...Be6? Black is no longer too careful as the 50 move rule draw is near.
[138...Kd7 139.Rb7 Ke6 140.Ra7 Bg8 141.Rg7 Bf7 142.Rh7 Ke7= 143.Kc6 Ke6 144.Kc7 Bg6 145.Rh6 Kf7 146.Rg6
Kg6 147.Kd6 Kf6 148.Kd5 Kf7 149.Ke5 Ke7=]
 
139.Rb7 Kf6 140.Kd6 Bf7 and drawn by the 50 move rule.
[Otherwise White wins with 141.Re7+–]
1/2 : 1/2 Mueller
 

S. Collas 2306 — J.-M. Degraeve 2555

France (tch), 2015
When the bishop can only defend the friendly pawn the winning chances are often real:
 
64...Kf4 65.Bd7 Kf3 66.Kg1
[66.Ke1 Rb1 67.Kd2 Rg1 68.Bf5 Rg4 –+]
 
66...Rb1
[However, not 66...Rg2 67.Kh1 Rg4? due to 68.Bg4 Kg4 69.Kg2=]
 
67.Kh2 Kf2 68.Be8 Rb8 69.Bf7 Rh8 70.Bh5 Rh5 71.gh5 g4
0 : 1 Mueller
 
The following configuration is very deep and was discussed in the chess press in detail after the famous game Timman –
Velimirovic, Rio de Janeiro (izt) 1979.
 

A. Velikic 2208 — Hasman 2094

Albena 2015
106.Ke6!
The only winning move as Black’s king is imprisoned in the losing zone near the northeast corner.
[106.Ke7? Kf5! 107.Kd6 Bf1 108.Kd5 Bg2 109.Kd4 Ke6 110.Rb6 Kd7 111.Ke5 Bf3 is only drawn.]
 
106...Bf1 107.Ke5 Bg2 108.Ra4 Bf1 109.Ra3 Bg2 110.Rg3 Kh6 111.Kf6 Kh7?!
Now the king is imprisoned near the corner. [111...Kh5 is called for.]
 
112.Rg4 Bf1 113.Rg6
[113.Rh4!? Kg8 114.Kg6 Bd3 115.Kh6 wins quicker as seen later in the game.]
 
113...Bg2 114.Rg5?! Kh6 115.Rg7 Kh5 116.Rg6?! Bf1 117.Rg3 Bg2 118.Kg7 Bf1 119.Rg6 Bg2 120.Rg3 Bf1
121.Kf6 Bg2 122.Rg5 Kh6?!
Again the king heads in the wrong direction. [122...Kh4!? is more tenacious, e.g. 123.Kf5 Bf3 124.Kf4 Be2 125.Rd5
Bg4 126.Rd4 Be2 127.Ke3 Bg4 128.Kf2 Kg5 129.Kg3 Be6 130.Rd2 Bc8 131.Rd5 Kf6 132.Rc5 Bd7 133.Kf4 Kf7
134.Rc7 Ke6 135.Rc3 Kf6 136.Rd3 Be6 137.Rd6 Ke7 138.Ke5 Bg4 139.Rh6 Kf7 140.Rh4 Be6 141.Rf4 Ke7 142.Ra4
Bc8 143.Ra7 Bd7 144.Kd5 Ke8 145.Kd6 Bg4 146.Re7 Kf8 147.Re4 Bc8 148.Kc7 Ba6 149.Rh4 Bf1 150.Rf4+–]
 
123.Rf5 Kh7?! 124.Rh5 Kg8 125.Rh6 Bf1 126.Rh5 Bg2 127.Rh4 Bf1
Now White starts the final winning maneuver:
 
128.Kg6 Bd3 129.Kh6 Bf5 130.Kg5 Bd7 131.Kf6 Bc8 132.Rc4 Ba6 133.Rg4 Kf8 134.Ra4 Bb7 135.Rb4
1 : 0 Mueller
 
 
B3 - Both sides have two pawns
 
The following fortress occurs very often:

Gelfand 2733 — Ivanchuk 2779

Monaco (blindfold), 2011
54.Rc2
[54.h4
 
A) 54...Ba1=;
 
B) 54...Bd4? is a typical mistake: 55.Rc4 Bb2 56.g4 hg4 57.Rg4 Kh7 58.Kf7 Kh6 59.Rg6 Kh5 60.Rg2

and White wins the domination duel in the long run (he mates in 50 moves according to tablebase), e.g. 60...Bc3 61.Rh2
Be1 62.Kf6 Bg3 63.Rh1 Bf2 64.Kf5 Be3 65.Rh2 Bg1 66.Rg2 Bb6 67.Rb2 Bc5 68.Rc2 Be3 69.Ke4 Bh6 70.Rh2 Bg7
71.Kf4 Bf8 72.Kf3 Ba3 73.Ra2 Be7 74.Re2 Bf6 (74...Bh4 is met by 75.Rh2 Kg5 76.Rh1+– Very beautiful!) 75.Kf4
Bd8 76.Rc2! Be7 77.Rd2 Bb4 78.Rd8 Bc3 79.Kg3+–;
 
54.h3 Ba1 55.g4 hg4 56.hg4 Bb2 57.g5 Ba1 58.Rf7 Bb2 59.Rf6

is just met by the calm 59...Kg7!=]

 Vassily Ivanchuk
54...Ba1 55.Rg2 Kg7 56.g4 hg4 57.Rg4 Bc3 58.Rc4
Ba1 59.Rf4 Bb2 60.Rf1 Bd4 61.Rf7 Kg8 62.Rf4 Bc3
63.Rg4 Kg7!
[63...Kh7? 64.Kf7+–]
 
64.Rg2 Bf6 65.Rc2 Ba1 66.Rc7 Kg8 67.h4 Bb2
68.Rc2!?

68...Bd4!
Now this is the only move. Black must indeed by very
careful when defending this fortress.
 
69.Rd2
[69.Rg2 Kh7 70.Kf7 Kh6 71.Rg6 Kh5 72.Rc6 Bf2 73.Kf6 Kh4!=; After 69.Rc4
...the only move is the amazing 69...Be3!! with the point 70.Kf6 Kh7 71.Rg4 Kh6 72.Rg6 Kh5 73.Rg3 Bb6 74.Rh3
Kg4 75.Rh1 Bd8 =]
 
69...Bc3 70.Rd3

70...Be1! Again Ivanchuk is up to the task and finds the only defence.
[The bishop must leave the long diagonal now as 70...Bb2? runs into 71.Rg3 Kh7 72.Kf7 Kh6 73.Rg6 Kh5 74.Rg2 and
wins as seen in the line 54.h4 Bd4?]
 
71.Kf6
[71.Rd4 Kg7 72.Rg4 Kh6 73.Kf6 Kh5 74.Rg6 Kh4 75.Kf5 Bd2=]
 
71...Bh4 72.Kg6 Kf8 73.Rh3 Bd8 74.Rh7 Ke8 75.Kf5 Kf8 76.Ke6 Bg5 77.Rf7 Kg8 78.Rd7 Kf8 79.Rd5 Bc1 80.Rd1
Bb2 81.Rf1 Kg7 82.Rf7 Kg6 83.Rf2 Bc1 84.Rg2 Kh5 85.Kf5 Kh4! 86.Rc2 Be3! 87.Ke4 Ba7 88.Ra2 Bb6 89.Kf4
 Bc7
1/2 : 1/2 Mueller
 
The next configuration contains a surprise, which was uncovered after the six man tablebases appeared. Human theory
had thought that the following position is a fortress, which I had also claimed many times, e.g. in Endgame Corner 70
at ChessCafe:
 

Tiviakov 2480 — R. Korsunsky 2390

Frunze 1989

But White can win, which was first pointed out by Jonathan Hawkins. Either by invading with his king to c6 (this
winning method was known to human theory) or, and this is really amazing, by exchanging pawns with a3–a4 at the
right time:
 
45.Ke4 Bf2 46.Rf5 Bg1 47.Rf1 Bc5 48.Kd5 Be3 49.Rf7 Kb6 50.Rf3 Bg1 51.Rf1
[51.Rf6 Kb7 52.Rf4 Kb6
...is more direct. Now, amazingly, White should exchange pawns with 53.a4!! ba4 54.Ra4 Be3 and now White’s rook
wins a very long domination duel (mate in 73 moves according to the tablebase), e.g. 55.Ra1 Bf2 56.Rf1 Be3 57.Rf6
Kb7 58.Rf3 Bg1 59.Kd6 Bh2 60.Ke6 Kc6 61.Rf1 Bg3 62.Kf5

This is really amazing! White’s king moves to f5 to win the domination fight. Chess really is a rich game! 62...Bd6
63.Rc1 Kb6 64.Ke4 Bc5 65.Kd3 Kb5 66.Ra1 Kb6 67.Kc4 Be3 68.Ra3 Bg1 69.Rg3 Bf2 70.Rf3 Bg1 71.Kb4 Bd4
72.Rb3 Be5 73.Ka4 Ka7 74.Ka5 Bf6 75.Kb4 Kb6 76.Ka4 Ka7 77.Rb4 Be5 78.Kb3 Bd6 79.Rg4 Be5 80.Re4 Bg3
81.Kb4 Kb6 82.Rg4 Bd6 83.Kc4 Bb8 84.Rg6 Kb7 85.Kd5 Bf4 86.Rg4 Bb8 87.Kc5 Ba7 88.Kd6 Bb8 89.Kd7 a5
90.Ke6 Kc6 91.Rc4 Kb5 92.Kd5 a4 93.Rc5 Kb6 94.Kc4 Bf4 95.Rb5 Ka6 96.Kc5 Be3 97.Kc6 Bc1 98.Rb8 Ka5
99.Kc5 Be3 100.Kc4 Ka6 101.Ra8 Kb6 102.Ra4+–]
 
51...Be3 52.Ke4 Bg5 53.Rf5 Bc1 54.Rf2 Bg5 55.Kd4 Bc1 56.Re2 Ka5
[56...Bg5 57.Re6 Kb7 58.Kc5 Bd8 59.b4 Bh4 60.Rb6 Ka7 61.Kc6+–]
 
57.Kc3 Kb6 58.Kd4 Ka5 59.Rc2 Bh6 60.Rg2 Bc1 61.Rc2 Bh6

62.Rc7?!
This allows Black to get back in his house. [62.Rg2 wins more quickly, e.g. 62...Bc1 (62...Bf8 63.Kc3 Kb6 64.Rg6 Kb7
65.b4+–; 62...Ka4 63.Rg6 Bc1 64.Kc3+–) 63.Re2 Kb6 (63...Bh6 64.Kc3 Bg7 65.Kb3 Bf6 66.Re6 Bd4 67.Ka2 b4
68.ab4 Kb5 69.Kb3+–) 64.Kd5 Bg5 (64...a5 65.Kd4 a4 66.Kd5 b4 67.Rc2 Be3 68.ab4 Kb5 69.Rc8+–) 65.Re6 Kb7
66.Kc5 and White’s king invades to c6: 66...Bd8 67.b3 Bg5 68.Rb6 Ka7 69.Kc6+–]
 
62...Kb6 63.Re7 Bc1
[63...Bg5 64.Re6 Kb7 65.Kc5 Bd8 66.b3 Bh4 67.Rb6 Ka7 68.Kc6+–]
 
64.Re6 Kb7 65.Re2
[Even 65.Kc5 is playable: 65...Bb2 66.Re7 Kb8 67.Re3 (67.Kb6? Bd4 68.Ka6 Bc5=) 67...Kc7 68.Rf3 Kb7 69.Rh3
Kc7 70.Rh7 Kb8 71.Kb6+–]
 
65...Kb6?!
Now the bishop is dominated.
[65...Bg5!? 66.Kc5 Bh4 is more tenacious, e.g. 67.a4 ba4 68.Kb4 Bg3 69.Ka4 Bc7 70.Kb4 Bb6 71.Kc4 Kc6 72.Re6
Kb7 73.Kd5 Bf2 74.Rf6 Bg1 75.Rf1 Be3 76.Rf3 Bg1 77.Kd6 Bh2 78.Ke6 Kc6 79.Rf1 Bg3 80.Kf5 and White wins as
shown above; 65...Bf4?! 66.Re7 Kb6 67.Re6 Kb7 68.Kc5 Bg5 69.Rb6 Ka7 70.Kc6+–]
 
66.Kd5 Bg5
[66...a5 67.Kd4 a4 68.Kd5 b4 69.Rc2 Be3 (69...ba3 70.Rc1 ab2 71.Rb1 a3 72.Kc4+–) 70.ab4 Kb5 71.Rc8+–; 66...Ka5
67.Rc2 Be3 (67...Bf4 68.Rc6+–) 68.Rc6 b4 69.ab4 Kb5 70.Rc8 Bf4 71.Rc5 Kb6 72.Kc4+–]
 
67.Re6 Kb7 68.Kc5 Bd8
[68...Bh4 69.Rb6 Ka7 70.Kc6+–]
 
69.b3 Bh4 70.Rb6 Ka7 71.Kc6
White’s king has reached the key square c6 and it is over:
 
71...Bf2 72.Rb7 Ka8 73.Rf7 Bg1 74.Rf4 Ka7 75.a4 ba4 76.Ra4 Bf2 77.b4 Be3 78.b5 Kb8 79.Ra6
1 : 0 Mueller
 
The next example is easier:

Fa. Englert 2333 — Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy 2503

Budapest 2015

82...Rf2!? 83.Bf2 e3 84.Bg1 Kd2 85.Be3 Ke3 86.Kg1 Kf3 87.Kf1 Kg3 88.Kg1 Kh3
0 : 1 Mueller
 
 

C. Pawns on both wings

 
C1 - Pawn races
 
In pawn races the rook is usually also much stronger:

Goganov 2609 — Jakovenko 2745

Khanty-Mansiysk (m/1), 2014
65...Rc8!!
[65...f3? 66.Bc5! Kg3 (66...Kg5 67.Ke4 Re6 68.Kf3=) 67.Kf6 f2 68.Bf2 Kf2 69.e7=;
65...Kg5? 66.e7 f3 67.Bc5 Re7 68.Be7 Kg4 69.Bc5=]
 
66.Kd5 f3 67.Bc5 Kf5!
[Jakovenko’s king must help the rook: 67...Rc5? 68.Kc5 f2 69.e7 f1Q 70.e8=Q=; 67...Kg3? 68.e7 Kf4 69.Kd6 Kf5
70.Kd7=]
 
68.e7 Re8 69.Kd6 Kf6 70.Bd4
[70.Kd7 Kf7–+]
 
70...Kf7 71.Ke5

71...Ra8!
[The rook must again be used actively as the e-pawn cannot be taken directly due to Del Rio’s draw: 71...Ke7? 72.Ke4
Rf8 73.Bf2 Ke6 74.Ke3 Rf5 75.Bg3 Kf6 76.Kf2=]
 
72.e8=Q
[72.Kd6 Ke8–+]
 
72...Ke8!
[72...Re8? 73.Kf4 Rd8 74.Be3=]
 
73.Ke4
[73.Bf2 Ra2 74.Bg3 f2–+]
 
73...Ra4
0 : 1 Mueller
 
Even the following position is won: The defending diagonals of the b4-pawn are all too short:

Ch. Ball 1841 — Ri. S. Jones 2398

Sydney 2015

43...Ke6! 44.Bf4
[44.Bc5?! Rc5 45.bc5 a5–+; 44.Bf8 Rc8 45.Bg7 Kd5 46.Kh3 Kc4 47.g4 Kb4 48.g5 Kc5 49.Kg4 Kd6 50.Kf5 Ke7–+]
 
44...Rd1 45.Be3 Re1 46.Bc5 Kd5 47.g4
[47.Bb6 Re4 48.Ba5 Ke5 49.Kh3 Kf5 50.Kg3 Rc4 51.Kh3 Kf4 52.Kh2 Kg4 53.Kg1 Kg3 54.Kf1 Rc1 55.Ke2 Kg2–+]
 
47...a5 This undermining of the c5-outpost is the point of Black’s strategy.
 
48.Kg2
[48.ba5 Kc5 49.Kg3 Kd6 50.g5 Ke6 –+]
 
48...a4 49.Kf2 Re4 50.g5 a3 51.g6 a2 52.g7 Rg4
0 : 1 Mueller
 
So creating a passed pawn is a strong weapon for the rook:
 

Wojtaszek 2744 — Ding Liren 2732

Wijk aan Zee 2015

61...a5!!
This preparation of the breakthrough ...b6–b5 is the only way to win.
[61...a6? is met by 62.Kf4, for example 62...b5 63.ab5 ab5 64.Ke5 Rb6 65.cb5 Rb5 66.Kd6 Rb2 67.g4 Rh2 68.Kc5
Rh3=]
 
62.Bb7?! Now the resulting black passed pawn is too quick.
[62.Be4! is more tenacious, but does not defend in the long run, e.g. 62...Rd4 (The direct 62...b5? allows the defence
63.cb5 Rd4 64.b6 Ra4 65.b7 Rb4 66.Bc6 a4 67.Ba4 Rb7 68.f4 c4 69.Kf3 Rb4 70.Bc2 Rb2 71.Be4 c3 72.Ke3 Rd2
73.h4=) 63.Bd5 Kg6 (now White is in Zugzwang) 64.h4 (64.Kf2 b5 –+; 64.Be4 Kf6 65.Bd5 Ke5 66.h4 Kf6 67.h5
Kg5 –+) 64...Kf6 65.h5 Kg5 66.Kf2 (66.Kh3 b5 67.ab5 a4 68.b6 Rh4 69.Kg3 Rh5 70.b7 Rh8 71.Be6 Rb8 72.Bc8 a3 –
+; 66.Bc6 Rc4 67.Kf2 Kh5 68.g3 Kg5 69.Ke3 Kf5 70.Kd3 Rb4 71.Bd7 Ke5 72.Kc3 c4 –+) 66...b5
Finally the breakthrough can come. 67.ab5 a4 68.b6 a3 69.b7 Rd2 70.Ke3 Rb2 –+]
 
62...b5! The decisive breakthrough.
 
63.cb5
[63.ab5 a4 –+]
 
63...c4 64.Be4 c3 65.Kf4 Rd2
0 : 1 Mueller

Da. Stojanovic 2498 — d. Sutkovic 2320

Sarajevo 2015
35...a5? This loses valuable time.
[After 35...Kf7 36.Ra6 h5 Black’s counterplay is quick enough, e.g. 37.Rd6 h4 38.a5 g4 39.Rd1 Bg2 40.hg4 h3 41.Kf4
h2 42.Kg3 h1=Q=]
 
36.Ra6 Kg7 37.Ra5 Kg6 38.Rc5 h5
[38...Kh5 39.Rc4+–]
 
39.a5 h4
 
40.Rc4! Strong prophylaxis.
[40.a6? spoils it due to 40...g4 41.hg4 h3 42.Kf4 g2 43.Rc6 Kf7 44.a7 g1Q 45.a8Q Qf1 46.Kg3 Qg2 47.Kh4 Qc6
48.Qc6 Bc6 49.Kh3=]
 
40...Bg2 41.a6 Bh3
[41...Kf5 42.a7 Ke6 43.Ra4 Ba8 44.Rb4 g4 45.Rg4+–]
 
42.Rc6 Kh5 43.a7
1 : 0 Mueller
 
The bishop can win races as well of course:
 

A. Bacsi 1744 — Cem Onur 1670

Budapest 2015

56.Kg5? White rushes.

[After 56.Kg6 f2 57.Rf7 Kg8 58.Rf5 Be3 59.Rf3 Bd4 60.Kg5 Kg7 61.h4 Be3= White is even, but cannot win according
to the tablebase.]
 
56...f2 57.Rc8 Kf7 58.Rc7 Kf8 59.Rc8 Kf7 60.Rc7 Ke6 61.Rc6 Kd5
 
[White resigned as the rook is dominated due to 62.Rc1 Be3–+]
0 : 1 Mueller
 
C2 - Power play on the weak colour complex
 
This is a typical strategy of the rook:
 

Speelman 2603 — I.-A. Nataf 2527

Esbjerg 2001

39.f4! Opening a road for White’s king is more important than the pawn.
 
39...gf4 40.Kf3 Be5 41.Ke4 Ke7 42.Rb1 Kf6 43.Rb6 Ke6 44.f3 Kf6 45.Rc6 Ke6 46.Ra6

Speelman uses the sharp endgame weapon again and again.

 
46...Kf6 47.Kd5 Kf7 48.Ra7 Kf6 49.Rd7 Kg5 50.Rd8

50...Kh4
[50...Kf6 51.Re8 Kf7 52.Re6 Kf8 53.Ke4 Kf7 54.Kf5 Kf8 55.Kg6ʘ (Hazai) 55...Bc3 56.Rd6 Ke7 (56...Be5 57.Rd5
Bc7 58.Rd7 Be5 59.Kf5+–) 57.Rd1 Ke6 58.Kg5 Be5 59.Re1 Kd5 60.Kf5 Bc7 61.Re4+–]
 
51.Rg8 Kh5 52.Rg4 Kh6 53.Ke6 Kh5 54.Kf5 Kh6 55.Rg2 Kh7 56.Rg6 Kh8 57.Ke6 Kh7 58.Kf7ʘ

Now Black loses a pawn first and the game sooner or later:
 
58...Bd4 59.Rd6 Be3 60.Rg6 Bf2 61.Kf6 Be3 62.Kg5 Bd2 63.Rd6 Be3 64.Rd7 Kg8 65.Kf6 Bb6 66.Kg6
1 : 0 Mueller

Jos. Roth 2115 — B. Medak 2396

 Pula 2015

45...Ke5! Black takes control first.

[The hasty 45...Kg3? spoils everything due to 46.Kd2 Rc5 47.Ke3 Rc4 48.Kd3 Rc1 49.Kd4 Kf4 50.Bd5 f5 51.Bc4 Ra1
52.c7 Ra8 53.Kc5 fg4 54.fg4 Kg3 55.Kc6 Kh3 56.Kb7 Re8 57.Bf7 Re7 58.Bh5+–]
 
46.Kd2
[46.Bh7 Rc6 47.Bg8 Rc2 48.Kd3 Rc8 49.Bf7 Rf8 50.Bh5 Rf3 –+]
 
46...Kd4 47.Ke2
[47.Bh7 Rc6 48.Bg8 Rh6 49.Bf7 Rf6 50.Bg8 Rf3 51.Be6 Rh3 –+]
 
47...h6 48.Kf2 Rc1 49.Kg3
[After 49.Ke2 Ke5 (49...Rh1?? 50.Kd2+–) 50.Kd2 Rc5 51.Kd3 Ra5
Black can either win the pawn on h3 or invade with his king, e.g. 52.Bf5 (52.Kc4 Kd6 53.Kd4 Ra2 –+; 52.Ke3 h5
53.Kd2 h4 54.Ke3 Ra3 55.Kf2 Kf4 –+) 52...Kd6 53.Bd7 Ra2 54.Ke3 Rh2 55.Ke4 Rh3 –+]
 
49...Ke3 50.Kg2
[50.h4 gh4 51.Kh4 Kf4 52.Kh3 f6 53.Kg2 Rc5 54.Kh3 h5 55.gh5 Rh5 56.Kg2 Rc5 57.Kh3 f5 –+]
 
50...f6 51.Kg3
[51.Bd5 Kf4 52.Kf2 Rc2 53.Kf1 Rc5 54.Be4 h5 55.Ke1 (55.gh5 f5 56.h6 fe4 57.h7 Rc1 58.Kf2 e3 59.Ke2 Rc2 60.Kd3
Rd2 61.Kc3 Rd8 –+) 55...Ke3 56.Kf1 h4 57.Kg2 Rc1 58.Bd5 Rc2 59.Kf1 Rf2 60.Kg1 (60.Ke1 Rh2 61.Kf1 Rh3 62.c7
Rh1 63.Kg2 Rc1 –+) 60...Rd2 61.Be4 Kf4 62.Kf1 (62.c7 Kg3 63.Kf1 Rd1 64.Ke2 Rc1 –+) 62...Kg3 63.Ke1 Rd4
64.Ke2 Kh3 65.Ke3 Rc4 –+]
 
51...Rg1 52.Kh2 Kf2 53.Bd5 Rg2 54.Kh1 Kg3
0 : 1 Mueller
 
Even the following position is won for the rook:
 

N. R. Vignesh 2399 — Raja Harshit 2154

 Mumbai 2015

50...e3
[50...Bg1 51.Rf1 Be3 52.Kc3 Bb6 53.Kc4 Ba7 54.Kd5 e3 55.Ke4 Kh6 56.Rb1 Bc5 57.Kd3 Ba7 58.Rb5+–]
 
51.Kc3 Ba5 52.Kd3 Bd2 53.Ke2 Kh6 54.Rf6 Kg5 55.Rc6 Kf4
[55...Kh6 56.Rc5 Bb4 (56...g5 57.Re5 Kg6 58.Re3 Be3 59.Ke3 Kf6 60.Kd4+–) 57.Re5 Bd2 58.Kd1 Bb4 (58...Kg7
59.g5 Kf8 60.Re4 Kf7 61.Ke2+–) 59.Re3 Bd6 60.Re6 Bc5 61.Ke2+–]
 
56.Rg6 Kg3 57.Re6 Kh3 58.Kf3 Kh2 59.g5 Kg1 60.g6 Bc3
[60...h3 61.g7 h2 62.g8=Q+–]
 
61.Re3 Bf6 62.Kg4 Kg2 63.Rh3
1 : 0 Mueller
 

D. Endgames with more pieces

With more men on the board the side with the rook often wants to exchange the other pieces into a pure endgame in
order to exploit the monochrome nature of the bishop:

Fa. Englert 2333 — Berczes 2506

Budapest 2015
67...Rgh6 68.Re1
[If White's rook tries to avoid being exchanged Black can utilise the attacking potential of his rooks, e.g. 68.Rf4 R6h4
69.Rf6 Rh1 70.Kd2 Rh6 71.Rf4 R6h2 72.Ke3 Rh3 73.Ke2 R1h2 74.Kd1 Rd3 75.Ke1 Rg3 76.Rf1 Rgh3 77.Rf4 Rh4
78.Rf6 Ke4 –+]
 
68...Rh1 69.Rh1 Rh1 70.Ke2 Ke4 71.Kf2 Rh3 72.Kg2 Rf3 73.Bb4 Rb3 74.Bc3 Rb7 75.Kg3 Rf7 76.Kg4
[76.Kg2 Ke3 –+]
 
76...Rg7 77.Kh5 Kd5 78.Kh6 Rg2 79.Kh5 c5 80.dc5 Kc5 81.Kh4 Kd5 82.Kh5 Rg3 83.Ba5 Rb3
0 : 1 Mueller

CI Learning Centre

Download free training tests at

www.chessinformant.org
Walter Browne

For and Against the Sicilian Defence

When a fellow grandmaster asked Dr John Nunn what opening he should play against
Walter Browne in the next round of a tournament, back came the unexpected reply
“Do not play 1.e4!”. Such was Browne’s awesome reputation for handling the
Sicilian Defence...

Shortly before he passed away in June this year, the 6-time US champion submitted a couple of recent games for
publication in Informant. Two Sicilians – one where he was playing White, the other with Black. Though the opponents
were not grandmasters, the games were nevertheless classic Walter Browne – whose style was forged as a teenager in
1960s New York under the direct influence of Bobby Fischer.
 
In his excellent chess autobiography, published in 2012, The Stress of Chess ...and its Infinite Finesse, thirty percent of
the hundred selected games are Sicilians, two thirds of which are won by Browne – yes, with the black pieces!
Indeed, a study of all these games will serve as a broad education for any aspiring player in how to handle the
exceptionally wide variety of positions that can arise from the opening moves 1.e4 c5.
 
As White, Browne could play slashing attacks, replete with sacrifices of material, to wrap up the proceedings with an
elegant checkmate in the early stages; but then again he might build up his game steadily, first taking the heat out of his
opponent’s attacking options and launching his own offensive only in the later middlegame. As Black, Browne’s policy
was to unbalance the game as soon as possible, perhaps even leaving his king uncastled and advancing one or other (or
both!) of his knight’s pawns, not with reckless abandon but in order to gain space and increase his potential for active
counterplay. Then, in true positional style, he would gradually push his opponent further and further back to the wall,
whilst remaining alert to any timely transposition to a favourable endgame – which he would then conclude with
precise and patient technique, attended by any appropriate tactics that might shorten the opponent’s agony.
 
The two Sicilians illustrate the above themes perfectly and show that even after so-called “retirement age” Walter
Browne remained the consummate professional and a seeker of truth and beauty on the chessboard.
 
Readers may recall that these games have already appeared in Informator 124 in languageless format. However,
Browne’s original annotations, the last he ever wrote, also had verbal comments – and it is these we now reproduce
below. They bring to a conclusion a total of 232 games submitted to us over a 45 year period by a grandmaster who
dominated American chess for a decade after Bobby Fischer’s retirement in 1972.
 

THE SICILIAN ACCORDING TO GM WALTER BROWNE

Although my opposition is a bit weak, most people I believe will find these two games quite instructive. In the second
game I try to answer the eternal question; How strong is the Sicilian centre? In this game it became decisive in the rook
ending.

B79
W. Browne 2432 — G. Bick 2139
Reno – 124/65, 2015

[Annotated by Walter Browne]

 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Ne5 10.Bb3 Bd7 11.0-0-0 Qa5
12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.Bg5 Nc4 14.Bc4 Rc4 15.Nb3
We both zipped out the moves within a few minutes and I was content to play the line I used in the 1970’s! The next
move was a real shock! My first thought is that this youngster is really sticking his neck out. I used at least 20 minutes
looking for a refutation.
 
15...Qe5!?
Actually, I discovered that even the former world champ Misha Tal had played this!
 
16.Rhe1
[This is the best move as nothing is gained by 16.Bf4? Qe6 17.Nd4 Ne4! 18.Ne6 Nd2 19.Bd2 Be6µ; 16.f4 Qc3!!
17.bc3 Ne4 18.Qe3 Nc3 19.Kc1 Na2 20.Kb1 Nc3 21.Kc1 and Black’s having all the fun. According to Stockfish he
can even take the rook with a slight edge: 21...Nd1 22.Rd1 Rac8 23.Rd2 Bf5]
 
16...Bc6
[By far the most popular move in this position is 16...Rc3:
A) 17.bc3 Be6 (17...Rc8?! 18.f4 Qb5 19.e5! leaves Black floundering after 19...Ne8 20.Be7) 18.Be3 Rc8 19.Bd4 Qb5
with approximate equality in Ree 2480 – Tal 2625, Wijk aan Zee 1973 – 15/408;
Walter Browne
B) 17.Bf4! Qe6 18.bc3 Bc6 19.Bh6 Bh6 20.Qh6 Qe5 21.Re3
and exchanging dark-square bishops leaves him grovelling
in an inferior position.]
 
17.f4
[After 17.Bf4 Qe6 18.e5 de5 19.Re5 Qc8 I didn’t dream of
the mundane 20.Na5 (20.Re7 Rc3 21.bc3 Nd5 22.Re5²)
20...Rc3 21.Qc3 Nd7 22.Nc6 bc6 23.Qe1 Ne5 24.Be5±]
 
17...Qe6 18.e5
[18.Nd4 Qd7 (18...Rd4 19.Qd4 Ne4 20.Re4 Bd4 21.Re6 Bc3
22.Re7+–) 19.e5 de5 20.fe5 Nd5. I saw up to this point
where I thought he was okay; indeed, it is equal after
21.Nd5 Bd5 22.e6! Be6 23.Ne6 Qd2 24.Rd2 fe6 25.Re6
Rg4!]
 
18...Ne4N
This is the only move and it is quite okay.
[18...de5 19.Re5 (RR 19.fe5 Ra. Stone 2200 – Al. Gardellini,
Mexico City 1977) 19...Ne4 20.Qd8 Rd8 21.Rd8 Bf8
22.Bh6 Be8 23.Re6+–]
19.Ne4 Re4=
[19...Be4 20.Nd4 Qd5 21.b3 Rc7 22.Qe2 de5 filled my
thoughts, but in all cases he equalizes!]
 
20.Nd4
[20.Nc5 dc5 21.Re4 looked good until I spotted 21...h6 when
I'm lost; 20.Re4 Be4 21.Nc5 is fine if he takes since then I
sac my queen: 21...dc5 (21...Bc2 22.Qc2 dc5 23.Qc5 Rc8 is
 only equal) 22.Qd8 Rd8 23.Rd8 Bf8 24.Bh6, winning.]
 
20...Qd5 21.Re4 Qe4 22.Nc6 Qc6 23.ed6 ed6 24.Be7
[24.f5 might confuse him as he was short on time, but 24...Be5= is more than adequate.]
 
24...Bf8?!
[He misses 24...Re8! 25.Bd6?! (25.Qd6 Qg2 26.Qd7 Qc6 27.Qc6 bc6 28.Bc5=) 25...Rd8 with an unpleasant pin.]
 
25.Bf6 Bg7 26.Bg7 Kg7
In the last two moves you might think that Black has traded bishops and equalized; instead, his king is exposed slightly
and the a- and d-pawns are targets.
 
27.g3² Re8
[27...Rc8 28.Qd4 Kg8 29.c3 Qg2 30.Rd2 Qf1 31.Kc2 Qa6 32.a3 Rc6 33.Rd3 and my centralized queen coupled with
the Re3–e8 threat may entice him to play 33...Qb6 34.Qb6 Rb6 35.b4 Kf8 36.a4 Rc6 37.b5 with a joyless defense. In
fact I’d expect to win.]
 
28.b3 Re6
29.f5!
I attempt to expose his king!
 
29...gf5
[29...Rf6 30.g4 (30...gf5 31.Qg5 Rg6 32.Qf5 with threats similar to the game) 30...Qe4 is a more active defence, though
I maintain an edge with Rg1 or h3.]
 
30.Qg5 Rg6 31.Qf5 Rf6 32.Qg5 Rg6 33.Qf4± Qc5
[33...Rf6 34.Qg4 Kf8 35.Qd4 Qf3 36.Re1 with a superior position, though this is a more active choice.]
 
34.Rf1 Qd5 35.g4 a6 36.h4!
Now in time pressure he realized that his rook is in jeopardy, while ...f6 exposes his second rank.
 
36...Qe6 37.g5 f6?
[He misses the essential 37...h6 38.Qd4 Qe5 39.Qc4 d5 with better survival chances, unlike the text where he becomes
too passive.]
 
38.Qf3
[38.Qb4! Qe7 39.Re1 Qd7 40.Qc3 is a strong option!]
 
38...Qe7 39.Qc3 Kf7 40.Qd3
[I weighed up 40.Re1 Qd7 41.gf6 Rf6 42.h5 but with only a minute left I played the safe move, whereupon all options
are still available after the 40th move.]
 
40...Kg7
[40...h6 41.gh6 Rh6 42.Rg1 Rh8 43.Qc4 Kf8 44.Qc8 wins.]
 
41.Qc3 Kf7 42.Rf5!
[42.Rf4 with the idea of Rc4–c7 is tempting but ...b5 irked me. With the text I guard g5 with the idea of Qf3 and h5.
Plus I prevent perpetuals later and his queen cannot access the e5-square.]
 
42...Qe6
[42...Kg7?? 43.h5 Qe6 44.Qc7 crushes Black!]
 
43.Qf3 Qe1 44.Kb2 Qh4 45.Qb7 Ke8 46.Qd5! fg5
[On 46...Ke7 47.gf6 Rf6 48.Rh5 Qf2 49.Rh7 I either mate or convert to an easily won king and pawn ending.]
47.Qa8 Ke7 48.Qa7 Ke8 49.Qe3
[49.Rf7 allows a queen sac on d4, but even that I will not allow!]
 
49...Kd7 50.Rf7
There will be a mate!
 
50...Kc6 51.Qf3! Kb6 52.Rb7 Kc5 53.Rc7 Kb6 54.Qc6 Ka5 55.Qd5
1 : 0 Browne
 

B90
J. Tao 2176 — W. Browne 2480
Milpitas – 124/72, 2015

[Annotated by Walter Browne]

 
A sharp opening ends in a classic ending! This was a triumph for the central pawns typical of the Sicilian Defence.
 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Be2 Ne5
[10...h5!? 11.Bg4 (11.h4 gh4 12.Bh4 Nc6 13.Nb3 Be6 14.Qd2 Rc8) 11...Bg4 (11...hg4 12.Nf5 Bf5 13.ef5 Qa5) 12.f3
Bd7 13.Bf2 Nc6 14.Qd2 Ne5 15.Nd5 e6 16.Nb6 Qb6 17.Ne6 Nf3 18.gf3 Qb2 19.Ng7 Qg7 20.Bd4 f6 21.0-0-0 0-0=]
 
11.f3 Nbc6 12.Nb3
[12.Bf2 Be6 13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Ne6 fe6 15.Bc4 Na5 16.Bb3 Nb3 17.ab3= Almasi 2615 – Istratescu 2550, Yugoslavia
1997 – 70/(244)]

12...Be6N [RR12...Ng6 Se. Kaphle 2010 – Sarchisov 1746, Germany (ch-U12) 2007]
 
13.h4 Rg8
[13...Ng6!? 14.hg5 hg5 15.Rh8 Bh8 16.Qd2 Nf4 17.Bf4 gf4 18.Qf4 Qb6 19.Qd2 Bc3 20.bc3 (20.Qc3 Rc8 21.a3 a5
22.Kf1 a4 23.Nd2 Ne5 24.Qb4 Qb4 25.ab4 Rc2µ) 20...f6=]
 
14.hg5 hg5 15.Qd2 Rc8
[15...Na5 16.Na5 Qa5 17.Nd5 Qd2 18.Kd2 Rc8 19.c3 Nc4 20.Bc4 Rc4=]
 
16.Nd5 b5 17.Bf2
[17.Qg5!? Nc4 18.Bf4:

A) 18...Kf8 19.Qg7!! Kg7 (19...Rg7 20.Rh8 Rg8 21.Bh6 Ke8 22.Rg8+–) 20.Bh6 Kg6 21.Nf4 Kf6 22.Nh5 Kg6 23.Nf4
is a draw!;
 
B) 18...Nb2 19.Rh7 Bc3 20.Nc3 Rg5 21.Rh8 Kd7 22.Rd8 Nd8 23.Bg5 Rc3 24.Nd4 Nc6 25.Bd2 Rc5÷]
 
17...Nc4 18.Bc4 bc4 19.Nd4 Bd5
[19...Nd4 20.Bd4 Bd4 21.Qd4 Qa5 22.Nc3 Qc5 23.Qc5 Rc5=]
 
20.ed5 Nd4 21.Bd4 Bd4
[21...c3 22.bc3 (22.Bc3 Rc3 23.bc3 Qa5 24.Ke2 Bc3 25.Qd3 Ba1 26.Ra1 g4 27.Qc4=) 22...Bd4 23.Qd4 Qa5 24.Rb1
Rc3 25.0-0 f5 26.Rb8 Kf7 27.Rg8 Kg8 28.Re1=]
 
22.Qd4 Qa5 23.c3
[23.Kf1 Rc5 24.Re1 Rd5 25.Qa7 Qd8 26.Qa6 Rc5 27.Rh7 Qc7 28.Qa8 is about equal.]
 
23...Rc5 24.0-0
 
24.Rh8 Rh8 25.Qh8 Kd7 26.Qh3 Kc7 27.Qh5 Rd5 28.Qf7=]
 
24...Rd5 25.Qc4 Kd7 26.Rf2?!
[26.Rad1 Qb6 27.Kh2 Rf5³]
 
26...e6³ 27.Qe4 f5 28.Qe3 Qc5 29.Re1?
[29.Qc5 Rc5 30.Re2 a5 31.Kf2 a4 (31...Rh8! 32.Rae1 e5 33.Rd2 Ke6 and Black’s centre is more mobile in contrast to
White's feeble queenside!) 32.Rh1 Rb8 33.Rh7 Kc6 34.Ra7 Rcb5=]
 
29...Re5! 30.Qd2 Re1 31.Qe1 g4! 32.fg4 Rg4µ
[32...fg4?! 33.b4:
A) 33...Qh5 34.Qe4 d5 (34...g3 35.Qb7) 35.Qd4=;
 
B) 33...Qb6 34.Kf1 Qb5 35.Kg1=]
 
33.Qd2 Re4 34.a3 f4
White is reduced to passivity as my strong centre expands.
 
35.Kf1 Qc4 36.Kg1 e5 37.Qd1
[37.Kh2 Re3 38.Qc2 Qf7 39.Kg1 Re1 40.Rf1 Rf1 41.Kf1 Qc4 42.Kf2 e4 43.Ke1 Kc7 44.Qd2 e3 45.Qc2 Qd5µ]
 
37...Qc5 38.Kf1 Qc4 39.Kg1 Kc7 40.Rd2 Qc5 41.Rf2?
[41.Kf1 Re3 42.Qh5 Qc4 43.Kf2 Qg8 44.Kf1 with survival chances is best.]
 
41...Re3 42.Kf1 Rg3
[42...Qb5! 43.Kg1 Qd3 44.Rd2 Qg6 45.Rf2 Rg3 46.Qe2 Kb6 47.Rf1 Qd3µ]
 
43.Qb3
[43.Qe2 Qb5! 44.c4 Qb3 45.c5 Rd3 46.Kg1 Qd1 47.Kh2 Qe2 48.Re2 Rb3 49.Kg1 Kc6 50.cd6 Kd6 51.a4 a5 52.Kf2
Kd5 53.Rd2 Kc4 54.Rc2 Kd4 55.Rd2 Rd3 56.Rc2 e4 –+]
 
43...Qb5 44.Qb5 ab5 45.Ke2
[45.Rf3 Rg6 (45...Rf3 46.gf3 d5 47.b3 Kc6 48.Ke1 e4 49.Kd2 e3 50.Ke2 Kc5 51.Kd3=) 46.g3 fg3 47.Kg2 e4 48.Rg3
Rf6 49.Re3 d5µ]
 
45...Kc6 46.Kd2 d5–+ 47.b3
[47.Re2 e4 48.Ke1 Kc5 49.Kf2 Kc4 –+]
 
47...Kc5 48.Kc2 Rg4 49.Rd2 e4 50.b4
[50.Kd1 Rh4 51.Re2 Rh8 52.Rf2 Rh1 53.Ke2 Rc1 54.Rf4 Rc2 55.Kf1 Rc3 56.g4 Rb3 –+]
 
50...Kd6 51.Kb3 e3 52.Rb2 Ke5 53.a4 ba4 54.Ka4 Ke4 55.b5 Kd3 56.b6 f3 57.Ka3 f2 58.b7 f1Q 59.b8Q Qa1
60.Ra2 Ra4
0 : 1 Browne
 
In his glory days, well before the arrival of laptop computers and chess engines, Browne won many international
tournaments, as well as over twenty U.S., American, National and World Opens in the United States. He was inducted
into the Chess Hall of Fame in 2003.
Only a week before he died, he finished in a high place in the National Open, taught at a chess camp, delivered a lecture
and gave a 25-board simultaneous display, all of which he took very seriously.
 
Sadly, the chess world has lost not only a great player, who has left a masterful legacy of model games, but also a
colourful and charismatic chess personality.
 
His quip “If Bobby Fischer is the God of chess, then I’m the Devil!” is well known, but there are many other anecdotes.
 
For example, whilst celebrating his victory in the final banquet at Wijk aan Zee 1974 with bowl after bowl of the
traditional pea soup – each of which in those days was a filling meal in itself – he remarked: “If you want to play like a
king, then you’ve got to eat like a king!”
 
Then, when the prize-giving was over and everyone was leaving, one of the Dutch organisers courteously asked: “Well,
Walter where are you off to next?” And back came the puzzling reply “I’m going after the balloons, the big balloons –
and I don’t mean the ones you blow up!” There was no interpreter present to explain that big balloons meant big bucks
– he was off to Las Vegas for a lucrative poker tournament!
 
But though poker may have been his bread and butter, it was always the intellectual challenge of chess that Walter
Browne respected and loved the most.
C3-SICILIAN

Part VII

 
The pedigree of the author speaks volumes about what the reader is to expect from these articles: apart from being a
very strong and successful active player, GM Vassilios Kotronias is a highly esteemed author and chess analyst, well
known for his deep analytical approach to the opening, who has worked with several top grandmasters, such as Veselin
Topalov, Alexei Shirov and Nigel Short, as well as a trainer for the Greek national team. His name is associated with
deep opening research, inventive new ideas and an unceasing quest for the absolute truth, as can be evidenced from his
various highly regarded opening works to date. Additionally, he is well known for his uncompromising style and
fighting spirit.
 
Vassilios’ competitive successes include ten gold medals in the Greek Championships and first places, clear or shared,
in several strong tournaments all over the world, while he has been a member of the Greek national team for three
decades. Most recently he won the gold medal on his board in the 2013 European Team Championships in Warsaw. He
certainly knows what he’s writing about, too: Vassilios has been a lifelong Sicilian player, and has clearly spent endless
hours throughout his career racking his brains over how to meet the 2.c3 Sicilian in a dynamic and ambitious way. This
series of articles represents the result of his most recent efforts to deal with this problem.
 

CHAPTER 20

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cd4 6.Bc4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cd4 6.Bc4

This old favourite of Sveshnikov’s leads to balanced positions once Black survives the tense opening skirmishes.
 
6...Nb6 7.Bb3 d5 8.ed6 Qd6
A tabiya for the c3 Sicilian; the main issue here is whether Black can bring his king to safety without any unpleasant
happenings, as he is presently lagging in development.
 
9.0-0
The most straightforward and critical move.

[Premature is 9.Na3, trying to take advantage of the queen’s position on d6 by an early Nb5. After 9...dc3! White is
struggling to equalize, as the following lines indicate:
 
A) An inferior version of the endgame is 10.Nb5?! Qd1 11.Kd1 Rb8!
A1) 12.Bf4? cb2 13.Rb1 Bf5 14.Nc7 Kd7 15.Rb2 Rd8 (15...Bg4!µ is even better) 16.Rd2 Kc8 17.Rd8 Kd8 18.Bf7 e5
19.Ne5 Bd6 20.Nc6 Kc7 21.Bd6 Kd6 22.Nd4 Bd7 23.Ke2 Nd5 24.Rc1 Rf8 25.Bd5 Kd5³ saw Black winning in the
end in Rabiega 2477 – Van Wely 2646, Frankfurt (rapid) 2000;
A2) 12.bc3 a6
A2a) 13.Nc7 Kd7 14.Nd5™ (14.Bf4? e5! 15.Ne5 Ne5 16.Be5 Bd6 –+) 14...Nd5 15.Bd5 f6! 16.Be3 e5 17.Rb1 b5
18.a4 Kc7µ;
A2b) 13.Be3 ab5 14.Bb6 e6 15.Ke2 Ra8 16.Rhd1 Ra6 17.Bc7 Be7³;
 
B) 10.Qe2 is an attempt to keep queens on the board...

...but Black seems to be doing more than fine: 10...Bf5 11.Nb5 Qd7 12.Ne5 Ne5 13.Qe5 Rc8 14.0-0 (14.Na7? f6!
15.Qa5 cb2 16.Bb2 Nc4 –+; 14.Nc3 Nc4!) 14...Nc4! (14...Bd3 15.Na7!÷) 15.Bc4 Rc4 In this position Black’s two
bishops and compact kingside pawn structure more than outweigh White’s slight lead in development:
B1) Dismal is 16.b3? f6! 17.Nd6 (17.Qg3? Rg4 18.Qb8 Kf7 19.Nc3 Rg2 20.Kg2 Bh3 21.Kg1 e5 –+) 17...Qd6 18.Qd6
ed6 19.bc4 c2µ when the ending is close to lost for White;
B2) 16.Bf4? led to a disaster after 16...f6 17.Qb8 Rc8 18.Nc7 Kf7 19.Qb7 e5 20.Qb3 Kg6 21.Nd5 ef4 22.Nf4 Kh6 –+
in Palkovi 2420 – Pe. Wells 2495, Budapest 1997 – 77/(128);
B3) White has to play 16.Nc3, after which follows 16...e6

Rogozenko gives an excellent description of the situation on the board: “White is a pawn down, but he has an advantage
in development, which is probably enough to keep the balance. Black has no problems at all, but I am not sure he can
achieve more than a drawish endgame. On the other hand, playing like this with White in general means playing for a
draw”.
17.Re1 17.Be3 a6µ) 17...Rc5 18.Qg3 (18.Qb8 Rc8 19.Qa7 Bc5 20.Qa4 Qa4 21.Na4 Bb4³) 18...f6 19.Bf4 (19.Be3
Bd6!µ) 19...Kf7 20.Rad1 Qc6 21.Bd6 (21.Rd8 Rg8 22.Red1 Be7 23.Rg8 Kg8 24.Bh6 Bg6µ) 21...Rc4
B3a) 22.Bf8? Rg4! 23.Rd6 (23.Qh3 Rg6–+) 23...Rg3 24.Rc6 bc6 25.hg3 Rf8µ;
B3b) 22.h3 e5 23.Bf8 (23.Be5 fe5 24.Qe5 Rc5! –+) 23...Rf8 24.Qe3 a6 25.Rd2° White’s compensation lies in his
excellent control of the d-file and he went on to draw in Le. Vajda 2459 – D. Rogozenco 2562, Bucuresti 2000 –
78/(137);
 
C) 10.Qd6 Hoping that his initiative in the ending will compensate for the missing pawn.

10...ed6 11.Nb5 Rb8 12.bc3 a6! 13.Be3 ab5 14.Bb6 Be6 A rather forced sequence of moves has led to a position with
an extra pawn for Black where White enjoys a slight advantage in development. The first player should now decide
which way to castle.
C1) Inferior is 15.0-0-0?! Ra8!? (15...Be7 16.Rhe1 Kd7 17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Bd4 Rhg8³) 16.Rhe1 Kd7 17.Ng5 Bb3 18.ab3
Be7 19.Ne4 Ra1 20.Kb2 Rd1 21.Rd1 Ke6 22.Re1 f5³ and White does not seem to have full compensation for the
pawn;
C2) 15.0-0!
C2a) Fixing the opponent’s pawn structure by 15...Bb3 may seem a little absurd but there is a certain logic to it: Black
wants to prevent White from exerting pressure on b5. A sample line goes 16.ab3 Kd7 17.Rad1!? (17.Nd4 Nd4 18.Bd4
d5 19.Rfd1 Kc6 20.Rd3 f6 21.Rg3 transposes to 15...Kd7) 17...Be7 18.Rd5 b4 19.cb4 Nb4 20.Rb5 Nc6 21.Rd1 Rhe8
22.Nd2!° with approximately equal chances;
C2b) 15...Kd7 The most natural. Play can proceed 16.Rfb1 (After 16.Nd4 Nd4 17.Bd4 Bb3 18.ab3 d5 19.Rfd1 Kc6
20.Rd3 f6 21.Rg3 h5 22.h4 Rh7 23.Re3 Bd6 24.b4 Rhh8 25.Rae1 Kd7 26.Rd1 Rbe8 27.Red3 Kc6 28.Be3 Rd8 29.Kf1 it
is obviously very hard to break through White’s fortress, but Black has a right to press.) 16...Be7 17.Be6 fe6 18.Rb5
Bf6 19.Rd1 Bc3 20.Be3! Bf6 (20...Rhf8? 21.Bc5) 21.Bf4 Be7 22.Ng5! Rhf8 (Unclear is 22...e5!? 23.Be5 Ne5 24.Re5
Ra8 25.Rb5 Rhb8 26.Nh7 Ra2 27.g3 Kc6 28.Rf5! b5 29.Rf7 Rb7 30.Rg7 b4 31.Rc1!„) 23.Bd6 Bd6 24.Ne4=]
Now we return to our main line 9.0-0:
 
9...Be6!
The standard recipe, blunting the attacking force by exchanging the Bb3. What Black needs to do from now on is bring
his king to safety by castling, but in some cases he can employ other means as well.
 
10.Be6
[10.Na3 can be met in two or three satisfactory ways, but I like most...

10...dc3!? which is natural and strong. Black is two pawns up at the moment and is threatening to exchange queens.
 
A) After 11.Nb5 Qd1 12.Rd1 the threat of mate by Nc7 means that Black’s pawn structure will be ruined, but in an
endgame with an extra pawn that is not of major importance. The following analysis shows how Black should handle
the situation: 12...Rc8 13.Be6 fe6
A1) Unimpressive is 14.Nc3 g6 15.Ng5 Nd8 (15...e5!?) 16.Be3 (16.Nb5 a6 17.Nd4 Bg7 18.Nde6 Ne6 19.Ne6 Bf6
20.Bh6 Bb2 21.Rab1 Na4 22.Rd3 b5 23.Re1 Bf6 24.h4 Nc5 25.Rde3 Ne6 26.Re6 Kf7 27.Bg5 Rhe8 28.Ra6 Ra8= is not
dangerous for Black either.) 16...Bh6! 17.Bb6 (17.Bd4 0-0=) 17...ab6 18.Nge4 (18.Nf3 Bg7 19.Rd3 Rf8!?³) 18...Nc6
19.Rab1 Bg7 20.Nb5 0-0 21.Rd7 Rb8 and Black is at least equal;
A2) 14.bc3 Nc4 (With his knight impressively placed on c4, Black plans ...e5, possibly followed by ...a6, seriously
reducing the scope of the white knights.) 15.Ng5 (15.Re1 e5 16.Na3 is a logical continuation, but after 16...Na3 17.Ba3
g6 18.Ne5 Ne5 19.Re5 Rc3³ Black retains the somewhat better chances.) 15...e5 (15...a6 16.Na3 Na3 17.Ba3 e5
18.Rab1 b5 19.Bc5 g6 20.a4 ba4 21.Rb6 a5 22.Ne4= is close to equal; the a4 pawn will fall and then White’s pieces are
excellently placed overall to cope with Black’s remaining passed pawn.)
A2a) 16.f4? a6 (16...ef4!? 17.Ne6 g5! 18.Nbc7 Rc7µ) 17.Na3 Na3 18.Ba3 ef4 19.Ne6 Nd8 20.Nf4 Rc3 21.Bb2 Rc2
22.Rab1 e6 23.Nh5 Bc5 24.Kh1 Rf8 25.Ng7 Kf7µ leads to insurmountable difficulties for White;
A2b) 16.Ne6 Kf7
A2b1) After 17.Ng5 Kf6! (17...Ke8=; 17...Kg6!? 18.Ne6 h6 is also possible.) 18.Rd3! a6 19.Na3 Nd6 20.Rf3 Kg6
21.h4 h6 22.Ne6, the idea of ...e4 is annoying for White: 22...Kh7 23.Be3 e4 24.Rf4 Ne5 25.h5 Rg8 26.c4 g5 27.hg6
Ng6 28.Rg4 Bg7 29.Ng7 Rg7 30.c5 Nf5³;
A2b2) 17.Nbc7 g6 18.f4 Bg7 Black develops his last minor piece and it is by now evident that the Nc4 severely cramps
White’s movements. 19.fe5 (19.Ng7?? Rc7 –+) 19...N4e5! The best move, keeping e7 protected. Black now plans to
follow up with ...Bf6 and ...g5, freeing g6 for his king. 20.Rf1 Bf6

A2b21) 21.Ng5 Kg8 22.Nd5 h6! 23.Ne4 (23.Nf6?! ef6 24.Ne4 f5µ) 23...Bg7³ is excellent for Black who is ready to
connect rooks by ...Kh7. If 24.Nc5, then simplest is 24...Rh7! 25.Ne6 Bh8³;
A2b22) 21.Bh6 is met by the brilliant retort 21...g5!! (21...Nd8? 22.Ng5 Kg8 23.Nd5ƒ is better for White.) 22.Bg5™
22...Nd8! 23.Nd8 (23.Bf6 ef6 24.Ng5 Kg6 25.Nge6 Ne6 26.Ne6 Rc3µ) 23...Rhd8 24.Rae1!? Rc7 25.Re5 Rd3!³ and
Black had the better chances in Brauning 2290 – Yuri Yakovich 2560, Munich 1991 – 54/153;
 
B) 11.Qe2 It is only natural that White wishes to evade the exchange.
11...Bb3 12.Nb5 (12.ab3 will transpose) 12...Qb8 13.ab3 g6!? My pet line, which guarantees at least equal play for
Black.
B1) Clearly bad is 14.g3? Bg7 15.Bf4 e5µ and Black is about to castle and retain a good extra pawn;
B2) 14.bc3?! Bg7³ is also inadequate;
B3) 14.Rd1 Bg7! 15.Nd6 Kf8 leads to a position where Black has forfeited castling rights but is catching up in
development and has two extra pawns.

B3a) 16.Nf7? Kf7! (16...cb2 17.Bb2 Bb2 18.Qb2 Kf7 19.b4µ/³ is less clear.) 17.Ng5 Kf8! (17...Ke8?! 18.Qe6 Nd8
19.Rd8‚ Kochyev, S. N. Soloviov) 18.Qf3 (18.Qe6 Qe8 –+) 18...Bf6 –+ looks completely winning for Black;
B3b) 16.Ne4™ 16...cb2! (16...h6?! 17.bc3 Kg8 18.h4!° gives White good play for a pawn.) 17.Bb2 Qf4³ White has a
degree of compensation but no more than that. This is how play might go on: 18.b4 a6 19.Nc5 (19.b5?! ab5 20.Ra8
Na8µ) 19...Kg8 20.Nb7 Qc4! 21.Qc4 Nc4 22.Bg7 Kg7 23.Rdc1 N4e5 24.Ne5 Ne5 25.Nc5 Rhb8!³;
B4) 14.Be3! Developing with gain of tempo is the way to create the most difficulties for the second player.
Now 14...Nc8! is the best move, securing a7 and d6. (Instead, 14...Nd5?! 15.Ba7!ƒ is clearly dangerous for Black.)
B4a) 15.Qc4? Bg7 16.Bf4 Nb6!! 17.Bb8 Nc4 18.bc3 (18.Bf4 Nb2 19.Nc7 Kd7 20.Na8 Ra8 –+) 18...Rb8 19.bc4 a6µ
gives Black a large advantage;
B4b) 15.bc3 Bg7 16.Bd4!? (16.Rfd1 a6! 17.Nbd4 N8a7! 18.Ng5 0-0³ 19.Qg4?! Nb5! 20.Nb5 ab5 21.Rac1 Rd8 22.Rd8
Qd8 23.Qf3 Qe8µ was much better for Black in Ge. Gonzalez – Rook, corr. 2010) 16...Nd4 17.cd4 a6 18.Rfc1! 0-0
19.Nc7 Ra7 20.Ne5 Nb6÷ 21.Ra2 Qd8 (21...Na8!?) 22.Qe4 e6 23.Re2 Qd6 24.h4! Na8 25.Nf7! Rf7 26.Ne6 Nb6
27.h5 Ra8 28.hg6 Re7 29.gh7 Kh8 30.Rce1 Rae8 31.Qf5 Nd5 32.b4 b6 33.g3 Qd7 34.Qg6 Nb4 35.Re4 Qc6 36.Qf5
Nd3 37.R1e3 Qc8 38.Qd5 Qc1 39.Kg2 was agreed drawn in Grippo – Beth, corr. 2011, probably in view of 39...Qd2
40.Qf5 Nf2 41.Qf2 Qf2 42.Kf2 Bd4 43.Rd4 Re6 44.Re6 Re6 45.Rd7 a5 46.Ra7 Rh6 47.Rb7=;
B4c) 15.Ra4! Thanks to this powerful move, intending Bf4, White should be able to maintain level chances. 15...Bg7
16.Bf4! e5 17.Ne5! The point, leading to a more or less equal game. (17.Re4 0-0 18.Ne5 Ne5 19.Re5? Be5 20.Be5
fails to the obvious 20...Re8 21.f4 Nb6µ, e.g. 22.Nc3 Qc8 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Rd1 f5 and White has no compensation for
the sacrificed material.) 17...Ne5
B4c1) After 18.Re4 0-0 19.Be5 Be5 20.Re5 cb2 it’s not clear that White has adequate compensation for the pawn. For
example, 21.Re8!? (21.Qb2 a6 22.Na3 Na7! 23.Nc4 Nc6µ) 21...Re8 (21...Qf4!? 22.Rf8 Kf8 23.Qb2 Ne7³) 22.Qe8
Kg7 23.Qe2 (23.Qe4? Nb6 24.Qd4 Kg8 25.Qb2 Qd8µ) 23...Qf4 24.Qb2 Qf6 25.Qf6 Kf6 26.Re1 (26.Rd1 Nb6
27.Nd6 Rd8 28.Ne4 Ke7µ) 26...Ne7! 27.Nd6 b6 28.g4 Nc6 (28...h6 29.h4 Rd8 30.g5 hg5 31.hg5 Kg7 32.Re7 Rd6
33.Ra7 Rd5 34.f4 Rb5 35.Kf2 Rb3 36.Rb7=) 29.f4 Kg7 30.Rc1 Nd4 31.Rc7 a5 32.Nf7 Rf8 33.Ng5 Kg8 34.Nh7 Rf4
35.g5 Rf7 36.Nf6 Kg7 37.Rc8 Nf3 38.Kg2 Ng5 and Black is still struggling to make something out of it;
B4c2) 18.Be5! Be5 19.f4! In this way White opens the f-file and eyes the d6 square which might later on be used by his
knight. A complicated fight arises now. 19...0-0 20.fe5 Nb6

We are at an important crossroads here:

B4c21) After 21.Rh4 I favour 21...c2!! 22.Qe3 (22.e6? Qc8! –+) 22...f5!! when Black stands excellently as the
following sub-division shows:
B4c211) 23.e6? fails to 23...Nd5 24.Qh6 Nf6µ;
B4c212) 23.Nd6?! Qc7 24.Rc1 Rad8 25.Rd4 Nc8!³ leaves White struggling to equalise;
B4c213) 23.ef6 Rf7 is complicated, with White having to avoid several pitfalls in order to draw: 24.Nc3! (24.Nd4 Qc7
25.Rc1 Nd5 26.Qd2 Re8³; 24.Rd4 Qf8³) 24...Qd6

B4c2131) 25.Rhf4 Nd7! (25...Raf8 26.Qc1 Rf6 27.Rf6 Rf6 28.Rf6 Qf6 29.Qc2=) 26.Ne4 (26.Qc1?! Rf6 27.Rf6 Nf6µ
…28.Qc2?? Ng4 –+; 26.R4f2 Raf8³) 26...Qe5!ƒ …27.Qc3 Qc3 28.bc3 Ne5;
B4c2132) 25.Rd4! Qc6 26.Rd2 Qf6 27.Rdf2! Qe7 28.Qe7 Re7 29.Rc2 Rd8 30.Rff2=;
B4c214) 23.Rd4!? Trying to make use of the passed e-pawn in conjunction with the d6 base for the knight. After
23.Rd4!? play is likely to continue 23...Qc8 24.Rc1 Qc5 25.Nd6 Nd5 26.Qd2 (26.Qf2? Nb4µ) 26...Ne7 27.Rc2 Qe5
28.Nb7 (28.Rc7 Rac8=) 28...f4 29.Rc3 Rae8 30.Nd6 Nf5=;
B4c22) 21.Raf4 targets f7 but Black has an adequate reply: 21...c2! (21...Qc8!? should also be sufficient for equality.)

B4c221) 22.e6?? Qf4 –+ and;

B4c222) 22.Nd6?! Qc7 23.Rc1 Nd5 24.Rc4! (24.Rd4? happened in Vysochin 2545 – Halkias 2566, Tanta 2002 – 84/91,
when Black would have been close to winning after 24...Nb4! 25.e6 Qc5 26.Qc4 Qc4 27.Rc4 Rad8 28.Rb4 Rd6 29.Rc2
fe6µ) 24...Qb6 25.Qf2 f6 26.Qb6 ab6 27.e6 Rad8 28.Nb7 Rb8 29.Nd6 Rfd8³;
B4c223) 22.R4f2 The best method of dealing with the monstrous pawn. After 22.R4f2 best play for both sides is as
follows: 22...Nd7 (22...Rc8 23.Rc1÷) 23.e6 (23.Nd6 Qc7) 23...Ne5 24.ef7 (24.e7? Re8 25.Nc3 Qc7 26.Rc1 f5µ)
24...Rf7 25.Rf7 Nf7 26.Qc2 Qe5 27.Qc4! (27.Qf2 Nh6 28.Nc3 Re8=) 27...Rf8 28.h3 Qe3 29.Kh1 Kg7 30.Qc3
(30.Nc7 Ng5=) 30...Qc3 31.bc3 a6 32.Nc7 Rc8 33.Ne6 Kg8 34.c4 a5=;
B4c23) 21.Re4 It makes sense to safeguard the precious e5 pawn.

21...cb2 22.Qb2 (22.Nd6 Qc7 23.Qb2 f6 24.Qd4 fe5 25.Qe5 Rf1 26.Kf1 Rf8 27.Kg1 Nc8=) 22...Qd8! The queen must
be brought to the defence.
B4c231) 23.Ref4?! Nd5! (23...Qe7? 24.Nd6 Nd7 25.Nf7 Qe6 happened in Kryvoruchko 2413 – G. Matjushin 2408,
Ukraine 2004, but here 26.Kh1!! Rae8 27.Qf2!‚ would have brought Black to the verge of disaster.) 24.Rd4 Qb6
25.Nd6 f6µ is better for Black, e.g. 26.Nc4 Qc5 27.ef6 Rf6 28.Rf6 Nf6 29.b4 Qe7 30.Qd2 Ne4 31.Qe3 Re8 and White
is essentially a clear pawn down;
B4c232) 23.Nd6! The right choice.
B4c2321) 23...f6?! 24.Qd4! fe5?? 25.Rf8 Qf8 26.Qe5 is completely lost for Black as his queenside forces can’t
participate in the defence;
B4c2322) I like more the human 23...f5!? ; after 24.Re3 (24.Rb4 Qe7 25.Rb5 Qe6!÷) 24...Qe7 25.h4!? Qh4 26.e6 Nd5
27.Nf7? (27.Rd3! Nc7 28.Nf5!! gf5 29.Qe5 Ne6 30.Qe6 Kh8 31.Rd7=) 27...Qf6! –+ Black went on to win in
Kislinsky 2445 – Alexikov 2404, Ukraine 2006;
B4c2323) 23...Nc8 The computer’s choice. 24.Nc4!? (24.Qd4 Qb6 25.Qb6 ab6 26.Rb4 Nd6= is totally equal.)
24...Nb6 25.Ne3!? h5! Preventing the dangerous Ng4. 26.Qf2!? (26.e6 fe6 27.Rf8 Qf8 28.Re6 Qf7 29.Qe5 Rc8=)
26...Qd3! 27.Qh4 (27.Rf4 Nd5 28.Nd5 Qd5 29.Rf6 Qe5 30.Rf7 Qe8 31.Rf8 Qf8 32.Qd4 Qg7=) 27...Qd8! Not
allowing White any respite to build up an attack. 28.Qg3 (28.Qf2 Qd3=) 28...Qd3™ 29.Rh4 Nd5 30.Nd5 Qd5 31.Rh5
Rad8 32.h4 Qe4„]
 
Now we resume the old main line 10.Be6:
 
10...Qe6
11.Nd4 The logical recapture.
[11.cd4 Rd8 (11...Qd7!? 12.Nc3 e6 13.Qe2 Be7 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Ne5 Ne5 16.de5 Qc6 17.Bf4 Rfd8 18.g3 Rac8=)
12.Nc3 (12.Bf4 Qd7! 13.Nc3 e6= is excellent for Black.) 12...Qc4!? 13.Bf4!? (13.Be3 e6 14.Rc1 Be7³ has been tested
in several games, the verdict being that Black is at least equal.) 13...Nd5 (13...Nd4 14.Ne5°) 14.Be5 f6 15.Bg3 Nc3
16.bc3 Qc3 17.Rc1 Qa5 18.Rb1!? (18.Qb3 Qd5) 18...Rd7 19.Qb3 Nd4 20.Nd4 Rd4 21.Qb7 Kf7= (…...g6, ...h5) looks
at least equal for Black because White has no effective way to attack the black king.]
 
11...Nd4 12.Qd4
The queen joins the action, exerting annoying influence on both sides of the board, but she is not going to stay on d4 for
long.
[12.cd4!? vacates c3 for the knight, but, with so many pieces exchanged, accepting an isolated pawn cannot offer White
any advantage. The best reaction seems to be 12...Rd8 13.Nc3 g6 with very few chances for either side to disturb the
equilibrium:
A) 14.Re1 Rd4! 15.Re6 Rd1 16.Nd1 fe6 17.Be3 Bg7 18.Rc1 Kd7 19.Bb6 ab6 20.Kf1 Ra8 21.a3 Ra5! 22.Nc3 Bd4³ was
slightly better for Black in Sveshnikov 2520 – Dvoirys 2555, Moscow 1990;
 
B) 14.Qf3 should be answered by 14...Qc6 15.Qc6 (15.Qg3 Bg7 16.Bg5?! Rd4 17.Rfe1 Nc8! 18.Bh6 0-0 19.Bg7 Kg7
20.Qe5 Qf6 21.Qc7 Qb6µ left White without serious compensation for the pawn in R. Bergstrom – Yuri Yakovich
2560, Gausdal 1991) 15...bc6 16.Ne2 Bg7 17.Be3 Nd5 when the ending holds good prospects for Black. After 18.Rfc1
the most human method of playing is:

B1) 18...Kd7 when the logical continuation 19.Rc4 Rb8 20.b3 Rb5 21.Rac1 Rc8= left the game level in Kharlov 2425 –
Doroshkievich 2360, Russia 1990;
B2) But there are a couple of other viable possibilities as well: 18...Rd6!? 19.Bd2 Kd7 20.Rc2 (20.Rc4?! Rb8 21.b3 Nb6
22.Rc2 Bd4³) 20...Rb8 21.b3 Re6 22.Kf1 h5÷;
B3) and 18...Ne3 19.fe3 Rd6 20.Rc4 e5 21.Rac1 ed4 22.Nd4 Bd4 23.ed4 0-0=;
 
C) 14.d5!? This dynamic attempt seems best, getting rid of the isolani.

14...Nd5 15.Qd4 The point, winning the pawn back, by hitting simultaneously the rook and a7. 15...Qf6 16.Qa7 Nc3
17.bc3

C1) 17...Qa6! looks like the best way of equalising, by avoiding giving up a pawn. 18.Qa6 ba6 19.Rb1 Bg7 20.c4 Rc8
21.Be3 Thus far we have followed O. Lemmers 2365 – Nijboer 2580, Netherlands 1998. At this point, simple and best
is 21...Rc4 22.Rb8 Kd7 23.Rb7 Rc7 24.Rd1 Kc8 25.Rb6 Rd8 26.Rd8 Kd8 27.Kf1 (27.Ra6 Bd4) 27...Rc4 28.Ra6 Bd4=
with complete equality.;
C2) Also possible is 17...Bg7 18.Qb7 0-0 19.Ba3 (19.Be3 Qc3 20.Qe7 Qa5=) 19...Rb8 20.Qe7 Qc3 21.Qe3 (21.Rae1!?
keeps some fight in the position by denying Black an immediate recovery of his pawn.) 21...Qe3 22.fe3 Rfe8 23.Rab1
Bh6= Doncevic 2340 – D. Komljenovic 2440, Bad Woerishofen 1985 – 39/(191)]
 
12...Rd8
Developing with gain of time and expelling the white queen from her hegemonic position.
 
13.Qh4 The best square for the queen.
[13.Qf4 is a bit artificial and after the logical 13...g6! Black seems to be at least equal.
 
A) Now 14.Na3 Bg7 leads to worse positions for White. For example:

A1) 15.Nb5?! 0-0! 16.Nd4 (16.Na7? Qe2! 17.Be3 Nd5 18.Qf3 Qb2 19.Rab1 Qa2 20.Rb7 Qa6 21.Rbb1 Nc3 22.Qb7
Qd3 –+ was completely losing for White in S. Janovsky 2400 – S. Kiselev 2380, USSR 1988 – 45/(169).) 16...Bd4
17.cd4 Nd5³ …...Rd8–c8, is slightly better for Black according to Piskov and Yanovsky;
A2) 15.Qf3 Rd7 16.Bg5 Qd5! 17.Qd5 Rd5 18.Be3 Na4 19.Rab1 (19.Rfd1?! led to a very difficult ending for White
after 19...Rd1 20.Rd1 Nb2 21.Rb1 Bc3 22.Nb5 Bf6 23.Bd4 Nd3 24.Nd6 Kd7 25.Nf7 Rc8 26.Bf6 ef6 27.Rb7 Rc7
28.Rc7 Kc7µ in G. Dyson – Kuosa, corr 2007) 19...b6 20.Nc2 0-0 21.g3 e5³ can hardly be recommended for White;
A3) 15.Qc7!? This was played in T. O'Donnell 2415 – Tukmakov 2565, Canada 1989 – 48/218. Other moves seem no
better. Instead of 15...Qd5= as played in the game, I like very much the engine’s recommendation of 15...Qe2! 16.g3 0-
0! 17.Qb7 Rd7 18.Qg2 (18.Qc6 Rd5 19.Rb1 Rc8 20.Qb7 Rd7 21.Qg2 Qe6³) 18...Rfd8 19.f3 Qe6° with a very difficult
game for White;
B) After 14.Be3 Bg7 Black is ready to castle so White has to make a crucial decision.
B1) 15.Bb6 Qb6 16.Qa4 Kf8 has been played in a bunch of games but White seems already to be struggling a bit no
matter how he continues:

B1a) After 17.Na3?! Black should take on b2 without hesitation: 17...Qb2! (17...Bf6 18.Nc4 Qc5 19.Qb3 Kg7÷ was
just unclear in Sveshnikov 2535 – Vyzmanavin 2485, Moscow (ch) 1987) 18.Nc4 Qc3 19.Rac1 b5! 20.Qb5 Qd3
21.Qa4 Qd7³ and it is clear that White does not have full compensation for the pawn;
B1b) 17.Rd1 Rd1 18.Qd1 was White’s choice in N. Bouchet 2316 – Karr 2409, France 2007; it seems to me that Black
should have now chosen 18...Be5! 19.Qb3 (19.Qe2 Bf6 20.Na3 Kg7 21.Rd1 Rc8³) 19...Qc7 20.h3 Kg7 21.Nd2 Rd8
22.Nf3 Bf6 23.Rd1 Rd1 24.Qd1 Qc4³ with slightly the better game;
B1c) 17.Qb3 Best. White should be able to equalise provided he exercises some care. A correspondence game
continued 17...Qc7 18.Na3 Bf6 19.Rad1 Kg7 20.Nc4 e6 21.Ne3 h5 22.Qb4 a6 23.h3 b5 24.Qe4 Rd1 25.Rd1 Rd8
(25...Rb8!?³ looks preferable.) 26.Rd8 Qd8 27.Kf1 Qd2 28.Qc2 Qd6 29.Qe4 and White eventually held in Pattrick –
V. Florea, corr. 2008;
B2) 15.Qb4!?

The idea of this move is take on b6 and force doubled pawns, but as we shall see, Black can prevent this without even
entering an ending.
B2a) 15...0-0 16.Bb6 Qb6 17.Qb6 ab6 18.a4 (18.Na3 Rd5 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.Rd5 Rd5 21.g3 b5 22.Rb1 e6 23.Kf1 Kf8
24.Nc2 Ke7 25.Ke2 Kd7 26.Rd1 Kd6 27.Rd3 e5 28.f3 f5 29.Na3 Rd3 30.Kd3 Kc6 31.c4 bc4 32.Nc4 Kc5 33.b3 b5
34.Na3 Bh6 ½ : ½ Ra. Wegner – Frank Mueller, corr. 1989) 18...Ra8 19.Ra3 Rfd8 20.Re1 Be5 21.g3 f6 22.Kg2 Kf7
23.Re2 Rd1= was level in Sveshnikov 2535 – Vasiukov 2510, Moscow 1987;
B2b) A good reply is 15...Nd5!? 16.Qa4 (½ : ½ Joh. Engelen – K. Gavranovic, corr. 2003) 16...Rd7!?

B2b1) 17.Ba7?! 0-0 18.Bd4 Bd4 19.Qd4 Qe2 20.Qd2 (20.c4 e5 21.Qd2 Qc4³) 20...Qg4° leads to dangerous
compensation for Black;
B2b2) 17.Re1 Ne3 18.Re3 Qd5 19.Na3 0-0 20.Ree1 b5! (Also possible is 20...Qf5 21.g4 b5 22.gf5 ba4 23.fg6 hg6
24.Rad1 Rb7 25.Rd2 Rfb8 26.Ree2 Bh6 27.Rc2÷ with an unclear ending where Black’s chances are slightly preferable
from a human perspective; 20...Rfd8 21.Qa7 b5 22.Qa5 b4! 23.Qb4 Rb7 24.Qc4 Rb2 25.Qd5 Rd5 26.Nc4 Rb7=)
21.Qb4!? (21.Qb5 Qb5 22.Nb5 Rb8µ; 21.Nb5 Qc6µ) 21...Rfd8 22.Nc2 e6³ and the onus to prove equality is once
more on White;
 
13.Qb4 is another rather artificial way of stepping out of the attack from the rook. Black should have no problems at all:
13...Qc6!
 
A) The less incisive 14.Nd2 e6

A1) 15.Qe4 Qd5!

A1a) 16.b3 h6!? 17.Qg4!? (17.c4 Qe4 18.Ne4 f5„ ”…...Be7–f6 looks just fine for Black as well.) 17...h5 18.Qe4 Nc8
19.c4 Qe4 20.Ne4 Nd6=;
A1b) 16.a4 Be7 17.a5 Qe4 18.Ne4 Nd5= was okay for Black in Vorotnikov 2475 – Salov 2440, Leningrad 1984 –
37/(163);
A2) 15.Qg4 g6 (15...h5 16.Qg3 h4÷, as played in Hresc 2375 – Vaisser 2505, Cappelle-la-Grande 1987 – 43/185,
would have been unclear after 17.Qh3! according to Psakhis and Vaisser.) 16.Nf3 Bg7 should offer White nothing
special, too; a recent example went 17.Bg5 Rc8 18.Qb4 Nd5 19.Qa3 Qc5 20.Qc5 Rc5 21.Rad1 h6 22.Be3?! (22.Bc1=
looks better) 22...Ne3 23.fe3 Ke7 24.e4 b5 25.a3 a5 26.Rf2 Rhc8 27.Rfd2 R8c7 28.Nd4 b4ƒ with a Black initiative in
Coyne – Jo. De Jong, corr. 2012;
 
B) 14.a4!? A logical move, creating the idea of Qb5 and intending to evict the knight from b6 according to
circumstances.
B1) 14...e6 15.Qb5 occured in Fanouraki – Kasioura 2005, Greece (ch) 1995, when 15...Rd5!? 16.Qc6 bc6 17.a5
(17.Nd2 a5÷) 17...Nd7 18.b4 (18.a6 Nc5 19.Be3 Nb3 20.Ra4 Bc5 21.Na3 Ke7=) 18...a6 19.Na3 Nf6÷ would have
led to a totally unclear ending;
B2) 14...Rd5÷ has been played by Nakamura and deserves analysis;
B3) 14...a6!? stopping once and for all any ideas of Qb5.

B3a) 15.Be3?! Nd5 16.Qc5 Qd7! 17.Qd4 Ne3 18.fe3 Qc7 19.Qg4 e6 (19...g6! 20.Qf3 f5 21.Na3 Bh6³ would have
questioned the correctness of White’s play) 20.Na3 f5 21.Qc4= as played in Sveshnikov 2515 – Pigusov 2545, USSR
1990, is totally harmless.;
B3b) More logical is 15.Nd2 e6 16.Qg4 h5 17.Qe4 Qe4 18.Ne4 f6 19.a5 Nd5 20.Rd1 Be7= and in this equal position
the players agreed to a draw in Cherniaev 2509 – Huzman 2591, Biel 2002;
B3c) 15.Qb3 e6 16.Nd2 Be7 17.Nf3 0-0 18.Re1 Nc4 19.Qc2! h6 20.b3 Na5 21.Be3 Bf6 22.Rac1 Qc7!= was level in
Blatny 2510 – Stohl 2545, Pardubice 1993;
B3d) 14...a6!? seems to be more flexible and thematic than the above continuations and it is not clear how White should
proceed. 15.a5 is a natural continuation, but it offers White no advantage. A typical example of how things can go
wrong for White is 15...Nd5 16.Qa4 Qa4 17.Ra4 e5

B3d1) 18.Re1! f6 (18...Bd6 19.Rd4 Ne7 20.Rdd1=) 19.Rd4 Be7 20.Rdd1 Kf7=;
B3d2) 18.Nd2?! Nf4! 19.Nf3 Ne2 20.Kh1 Nc1 21.Rc1 f6 22.Kg1 Bc5 23.Rc4 Rc8 24.Kf1 Ke7 25.Ke2 Ke6 26.Nd2
h5³ and Black had an edge in Nepomniachtchi 2483 – Arty. Timofeev 2619, Russia 2005, which he eventually
converted into a win;
 
Finally, another move deserving mention is 13.Qe3

...but it should lead to at least equality for Black after 13...Qe3! (13...Qc6 14.Nd2÷) 14.Be3 Nc4, e.g. 15.Ba7 (15.Bc1
e6 16.b3 Ne5 17.Be3 a6³) 15...Nb2 16.Na3 e6
 
A) 17.Nc2 Na4! (17...Rd2 18.Nd4 Ba3 19.Rfb1 Na4 20.Rb7 0-0 21.Nf3 Rc2 22.Nd4 Rd2= ½ : ½ A. Mikhalchisin 2505
 – Ki. Georgiev 2535, Sarajevo 1985 – 39/(191)) 18.Bd4 f6³;
 
B) 17.Nb5 Rd7 18.Bd4! (18.Rab1 Nc4³) 18...f6 19.Rae1 Kf7 20.Re2 Nc4 21.f4=]
 
Returning to 13.Qh4:
 
13...Qe2!
With this move Black impedes White’s development and obtains equal chances.

14.Bd2 Planning to evict the queen by Re1. Other moves are examined just below:

[14.b3?! is too slow and after

A) 14...g6!? 15.Bg5?! White suffered a catastrophe: 15...Rd1 16.Nd2 Ra1 17.Ra1 Bg7 18.Ne4 0-0 19.Be7 Re8 20.Rf1??
(20.f3!=) 20...g5! –+ in M. Morvay 2215 – E. Vegh 2225, Budapest 1982 – 33/(210), but obviously his play could have
been improved at several points;
 
B) 14...e6! 15.Bg5 f6 16.Be3 Kf7 17.Qe4 Nd5ƒ and Black has an initiative.;
 
14.a4?! is a rather pointless move that was used against Sveshnikov himself; this is how the maestro reacted: 14...Nc4!

A powerful move, threatening ...Rd1.

 
A) 15.b3?? Rd1 –+;
 
B) 15.Qf4 f6µ;
 
C) Perhaps 15.h3 might be a better chance, although after 15...e6 16.Bg5 f6! 17.Na3 Ba3 18.Rae1 Qd3! 19.Qh5 (19.Re6
Kf7 20.Bf6 Ke6 21.Bd8 Rd8 –+) 19...Ke7 20.Qg4 e5 21.Bc1 g5 22.ba3 h5µ White should lose all the same;
 
D) Therefore White has only a choice of evils. After 15.Qg5 Sveshnikov continued efficiently by 15...a6! 16.Qg3 e6µ
17.Bf4?? Rd3 18.Be3 Ne3 (18...Bd6 –+ would have been even more crushing.) 19.fe3 Bc5 –+ and White’s position
was already ripe for resignation in Al. Delorme 2251 – Sveshnikov 2535, Cappelle-la-Grande 2009;
 
14.Qg3?! is time consuming.
The idea is to play Nd2, having secured in advance the entrance of the queen to c7 or b8 in case Black wins the two
pieces for his rook, but the plan will never materialise: 14...e5! 15.Be3 (15.Nd2 f6! 16.Qf3 Qf3 17.Nf3 Na4³ gives
Black a better ending) 15...f6 16.Bb6 ab6 17.Na3 Qb2 18.Nc4 Qe2 (18...Qb5!?³)
 
A) 19.Nb6 Kf7 20.Rab1 (20.Rae1 Qd3³) 20...Be7 21.Rfe1 Qd3 22.a4 Qg3 23.hg3 Rd3 24.c4 Bc5 25.Rb5 Bd4 26.Nd5
b6 27.Nb6 Rd2 28.Rf1 Ke6 29.a5 h5! 30.a6 Ra2³;
 
B) 19.Ne3 Kf7 20.Qh3 So far we have been following Menendez Rodriguez – Castellanos Salinas, corr. 2007; here the
obvious 20...Bc5³ gives Black a solid edge;
 
14.Be3!? is interesting and double edged; Black has two ways to cope with it:
 
A) Black may try to take all the material thrown at him by 14...Qb2!?
A1) The rare 15.Qe4!? seems to lead to a draw after 15...f5!? (15...Qa1 16.Bb6 Rd7 17.Qc2! ab6 18.Nd2 Qf1 19.Kf1°
is not worse for White; 15...f6 16.Nd2! Rd2 17.Bd2 Qd2 18.Rfd1 Qc3 19.Rac1 Qe5 20.Qb7 Qa5 21.Rc7 was at least
equal for White in White in Gunkel – M. Chiricuta, corr. 2008; 15...Nd5!? 16.Qa4! Rd7! 17.Na3 Nc3 18.Qa7 e6
19.Nc4 Qb5 20.Nb6 Bc5 21.Bc5 Qc5 22.Qa8 Rd8 23.Qb7 0-0 24.Nd7 Qe7 25.Qf3 Qd7 26.Qc3= looks drawish.)
16.Qf5 Nd5

A1a) 17.Na3 Qa3 18.Rad1 g6 19.Qe5 Qc3 20.Bd4? (20.Rd4 Rg8 21.Rd5 Qe5 22.Re5 b6³ is the lesser evil.) fails to the
brilliant 20...Qc6!! 21.Qh8 Nf4 22.f3 Qc2 –+;
A1b) 17.Nd2!! Ne3 18.fe3 Rd2 19.Qc8 Rd8 20.Qc4 Rd2 21.Qc8=;
A2) 15.Nd2 Rd2 when White has the following options:
A2a) After 16.Bd2 Qd2

A2a1) Too slow is 17.a4?! g5! 18.Qb4 Qd5 19.Rfd1 (19.a5 e6 –+) 19...e6 20.Qb2 Qa5 21.c4 Rg8µ;
A2a2) 17.Rfd1 Qh6 18.Qg3 Qc6 Black is more than okay. For example, 19.Qb8™ (19.Rab1? Nd7 –+; 19.Rd3? f6!
 20.Qb8 Kf7 21.Qa7 Nd5 22.Qd4 e6 23.c4 Nb6 24.Rc1 Bc5 –+ A. Bonatti – M. Chiricuta, corr. 2008) 19...Nc8
20.Qa8™ (20.Rab1?! b6 21.Rd3 e6 22.Qg3 g6 23.Qe5 Rg8 24.Rbd1 Be7µ was close to winning for Black in J. Algaba
– Th. Hynes, corr. 1998) 20...g6 21.Rab1 Bh6 22.Qb7 Qc3 23.Rb3 Qc2 24.Qd7 Kf8 25.Qd4 e5! 26.Qa1 (J.
Skonieczny – Makarczuk, corr. 2000) and here most accurate seems 26...Bg5 27.Rd7 Kg7 28.Rbb7 Rf8 29.Qe5 Bf6
30.Qd5 Ne7 31.Qd3 Qd3 32.Rd3 Rc8 33.g3 a5 34.Rdd7 Rc2³ with the better chances for Black;
A2b) 16.Rab1 It looks more natural to accelerate things by giving up a second pawn. 16...Qa2! The right move,
avoiding opening the c-file. 17.Bd2 (17.Ra1? Qc4 –+ is just lost for White.) 17...Qd2 18.Rfd1 In this position Black has
two good moves, 18...Qc2!?³ and (18...Qe2!?³). In either case White does not have full compensation for the pawn, a
typical example being 19.Qg3 f6 20.Qb8 Kf7 21.Qa7 Nc4 22.Re1 Qd3 23.Qb7 Nd6 24.Qd7 h5 25.Rb8 Kg6 26.Qc6
Qd2 27.Kf1 Nf5µ and Black won in Dainauskas – Proof, corr. 2006);
 
B) 14...e6 This is the safe method, but I am not sure it is the best.

B1) After 15.Qg3?! Nc4! 16.Na3

B1a) I had only analysed the exceedingly cautious 16...Bd6?! 17.Qg7 (17.Bf4?! Bf4 18.Qf4 Na3 19.Qa4 Nb5 20.c4 0-0
21.Qb5 b6³) 17...Be5 18.Qh6 (18.Qg5 Rd5!°) 18...Rg8 (…...Rg2) 19.g3 Ne3 20.Qe3 Qe3 21.fe3 h5° with balanced
play;
B1b) The computer likes 16...Nb2!µ and it can’t be wrong;
B2) 15.Nd2 allows Black to complete his development by 15...Be7 16.Qg3 0-0 when it is clear that he stands no worse.
For example:
B2a) 17.Rfe1 Qd3 18.Bb6 (18.Ne4?! Nc4ƒ; 18.Nf3 Bf6= M. Prizant – Williams, corr. 1992) 18...Qg3 19.hg3 Rd2
20.Ba7 Ra8 21.Be3 Rb2 22.Reb1 Ba3!? 23.c4 h6 24.Rb2 Bb2 25.Rd1 e5= was level in Haba 2370 – Stohl 2465, CSSR
1987 – 43/(185).;
B2b) 17.Bh6 Bf6 18.Rfe1 Qh5 19.Be3 Rd3 20.Qf3 Qf3 21.Nf3= and ½ : ½ Sveshnikov 2535 – S. Kiselev 2395,
Moscow (ch) 1987;
B3) Let’s return to 14...e6. White must act quickly by 15.Bb6!, after which play should continue 15...ab6 16.Na3! Ba3!
17.Qa4 Ke7! 18.Qa3 (18.Qh4!? f6 19.ba3 Rd6 20.Rfe1 Qd2=) 18...Rd6! when Black is not worse in spite of having his
king in the centre. For example:
B3a) 19.c4 Rhd8÷ 20.Rad1?! (20.Rfd1? Qb2! –+; 20.c5? Rd1) 20...Qc4 21.Rc1 Qb5 22.Rc7 R8d7 23.Rd1? Qc5!! –+;
B3b) 19.Rad1 Rhd8 20.Rd4 Qa6 21.Qb4 Qa5 22.Rd6 Rd6 (22...Qb4 23.Re6! fe6 24.cb4 Rd2 25.Rb1 g5 26.h3²) 23.Qh4
g5 24.Qh7 Rd2 25.h4 Rb2 26.Qg8 Qf5 27.Qg5 Qg5 28.hg5 b5= Black should have no difficulty in holding the ending;
 
We will now move on to another main option, namely 14.Nd2

A) I don’t like so much 14...e6

A1) 15.Ne4 Rd1! 16.Ng3 Rf1 17.Nf1 Be7 18.Qg3 0-0 19.Bd2! (19.Bh6 Bf6µ) 19...Rd8 20.Re1 Qa6 21.Bg5 Bg5
22.Qg5 Rc8 23.Ng3 h6„ is at least equal for Black;
A2) 15.Qg3! f6 16.a4! (16.Qc7 Rd7 17.Qb8 Kf7 18.Qa7? Bc5 19.Qa5 Rd5 –+) 16...Kf7 17.a5 Nd5 18.Nf3 when
White may have chances of a small edge;
B) 14...h5!? is possible, when the best White reaction seems to be 15.a4. However...

B1) Weaker is instead 15.h3 g5! 16.Qg3 (16.Qg5?? Bh6 –+) 16...g4„ …17.Nb3 gh3 18.Nd4 Qg4 19.gh3 when an
unclear position arises after either 19...Qe4÷ (or 19...Qg3 20.fg3 e6 21.Bg5 Rd5÷) ;
B2) 15.Ne4 Qg4! (15...Rd1 16.Ng3 Rf1 17.Nf1²) 16.Qg4 hg4 is an ending that shouldn’t be worse for Black; for
example, 17.Be3 (17.Nc5?! Rh5! 18.b4 Nd5³; 17.Bf4 Nd5 18.Bg3 f6 19.Rad1 e5=) 17...Rd5!? (17...Nc4?! 18.Ba7;
17...Nc8!? 18.Rad1 Rd1 19.Rd1 e6 20.Bf4 Rh5= V. Rozenzweich)
B2a) 18.Rfd1 Rdh5 19.Ng3 (19.h3 gh3 20.g3 Nc4 21.Ba7 Ra5 22.b3 Ra7 23.bc4 e6 24.a4 Rh5„; 19.Nc5 e5! 20.Nb7
Rh2 21.Kf1 f5ƒ) 19...Rh2 20.Rd4 (20.Bb6 ab6 21.Rd4 f5 22.Re1 g5‚) 20...e5 21.Re4 Bd6 22.Rd1 f5 23.Rd6 fe4
24.Bb6 ab6 25.Rb6 R2h6 26.Rb7 Rd6 27.Kf1 e3 28.fe3 0-0ƒ;
B2b) 18.Bb6 ab6 19.Rad1! (19.Rfd1 Rdh5 20.h3 gh3 21.g3 R8h6³) 19...Rdh5 20.f3! gf3 21.Rf3 Rh2 22.Kf2 f6 23.Rfd3
R2h4÷;
B3) Therefore, as stated above, White can continue 15.a4!?, resorting to immediate queenside play in anticipation of the
queen exchange on g4. Then the game might continue 15...Qg4 16.Qg4 hg4 17.a5 Nd7! whereupon Black should be
able to attain equality:
B3a) 18.a6 b6 19.Nc4 e6 20.Bf4 Rc8 21.Ne5 Ne5 22.Be5 Rc6 23.Rfd1 (23.Bb8 Bd6!) 23...Rh5!! 24.Bb8 Rb5! 25.Rd2
Rc8 26.Bf4 e5 27.Be3 Be7 28.Kf1 f5 29.f4 gf3 30.gf3 Rc4„ was at least equal for Black in Jo. Peres – Csjernyik, corr.
2004;
B3b) 18.Nc4 e6 19.Bf4 should be no problem either after something like 19...Rh5 20.Rfd1 Rc5 21.Nd6 Bd6 22.Bd6
Rc6=;
B3c) 18.Ne4! Rh5 19.Be3 Re5!? 20.Ra4 g6! 21.Rd1 (21.Ba7 Ra8) 21...f5 22.Ng5 Bh6 23.h4 Bg5 24.Bg5 Nc5= with
equality;
 
C) 14...e5!? appears to be Black’s best move here, intending to reduce the radius of White’s minor pieces by setting up
the structure f6–e5.
C1) 15.Qg3 f6! 16.f4 (16.Qf3 Qf3 17.Nf3 Na4³) 16...ef4 17.Qf4 Bc5 18.Kh1 0-0 19.Ne4 Nd5 20.Qf5 g6 21.Ng3 Qc4
22.Qe4 Qa6 23.Bh6 Rfe8 24.Qf3 Be3 25.Rae1 Bh6 26.Re8 Re8 27.Qd5 Qe6 28.Qb7 f5ƒ gave Black a strong initiative
in Gio. Grasso – Toenisson, corr. 2012;
C2) 15.Ne4 Rd1 16.Ng3 Rf1 17.Nf1 Be7 18.Qg3 0-0 with equality. After the further moves 19.Bd2 f6 20.Re1 Qa6
21.Ne3 Qd3 22.Bc1 Qe4 23.b3 Rd8 24.Qh3 Bc5 25.Qe6 Kf8 a draw was agreed in Myakutin – Dushkin, corr. 2012]
 
Now back to our main line 14.Bd2:
14...h5!?

15.Re1
Acquiescing to playing the endgame looks like the lesser evil.
[After 15.Qg5?! h4 16.Re1 Qh5³ Black stood slightly better in Sveshnikov 2515 – Tukmakov 2550, USSR 1984 –
37/162;
 
15.h3?! is designed to avoid the queen exchange, but Black thereby obtains an initiative:

A) Equality results from 15...e6!? 16.Re1 Qd3 17.Bg5 f6!? 18.Bf6 (18.Re6 Kf7 19.Bf6 Qd1 20.Kh2 Bd6!µ; 18.Bc1
g5!µ; 18.Be3 Nc4÷) 18...gf6 19.Qf6 Rh6 20.Re6 Kd7 21.Qf7 Kc8 22.Rh6 Qd1! (22...Bh6 23.Qe6 Kb8°) 23.Kh2
Bd6=;
 
B) But 15...Nc4! 16.Re1 Qd3 17.Bc1 e6! (17...a6 18.b3 Nd6 19.Qa4 Qb5 20.Qb5= was Sveshnikov 2515 – Salov 2440,
Leningrad 1984 – 38/192) 18.b3 Ne5!

B1) 19.Be3? Be7 20.Qg3 was seen in Sebag 2394 – Cmilyte 2430, Silivri 2003, when 20...Qf5!! 21.Bd4 Nd3 22.Rd1
Nf4 23.Qf3 Rh6!! (23...Nh3!? 24.Qh3 Qh3 25.gh3 e5 26.Rd3 Rh6 27.Nd2 ed4 28.cd4 Rhd6 29.Nf3 f6³) 24.Nd2 Rg6µ
would have been a bonecrusher;
B2) 19.Qf4™ 19...Bd6 20.Ba3 Nc6 (20...Qd5!? 21.Bd6 Nd3ƒ is an alternative) 21.Bd6 Qd6 22.Qd6 (22.Qg5 g6³)
22...Rd6 23.Na3 Ke7³ White’s weakness on c3 makes this ending slightly preferable for Black.]
 
15...Qg4 16.Qg4 hg4 17.Bf4 Nd5 18.Bg3 f6 19.Na3 Kf7 20.Rad1 e5 21.Nc4 Be7 22.a4 g5³/=
This position was a little better for Black in Hayes – Ilyasov, corr. 2012; White managed to draw, but only with very
careful play. The passive Bg3 is the cause of White’s difficulties.
Vassilios Kotronias
 

THE END
PARTIJE • ПАРТИИ • GAMES • PARTIEN • PARTIES • PARTIDAS • PARTITE •
PARTIER •

KLASIFIKACIJA OTVARANJA • КЛАССИФИКАЦИЯ ДЕБЮТОВ • CLASSIFICATION OF

OPENINGS • KLASSIFIZIERUNG DER ERÖFFNUNGEN • CLASSIFICATION DES
OUVERTURES • CLASIFICACIÓN DE LAS APERTURAS • CLASSIFICAZIONE DELLE
APERTURE • KLASSIFIKATION AV ÖPPNINGAR •

 
A00-A49

1. [A09]
Petrosian, Tigran L (2630) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2643)
Martuni 125/1, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 dxc4

4...d4
5.Na3
5.Qa4+ - 10/15
5...Be6 6.Qc2
6.O-O
6...Bd5
6...Bg7 7.Nxc4 O-O=
7.Nxc4 Nc6 8.O-O Bg7
8...Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Nd4 10.Qd3 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Qd5=
9.d3 Bxf3! 10.exf3
10.Bxf3 Nd4 11.Qd1 Nxf3+ 12.exf3 O-O³
10...Nd4 11.Qd1 O-O 12.f4N
12.Re1 Nd5=
12...c6= 13.Bd2
13.b3 Nd5=
13...Nd5 14.Ba5 b6
14...Qd7 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.fxe5 c5=
15.Bd2 a5
15...c5!?
16.a3?!
16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.fxe5 Rc8=
16...a4!³ [×b3, d3] 17.Rb1
17.Be3 Nb3 18.Rb1 b5³17.Bc3³
17...Nb3
17...b5 18.Ne5 Qd6³
18.h4
18.Be3³
18...Qc7
18...b5³
19.Re1
19.Be1!?³
19...Rad8 20.h5 b5 21.Ne5 c5 22.hxg6
22.Bc3 e6 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Qc2³
22...hxg6 23.Qe2
23.Bc3³
23...e6 24.Rbd1 Rd6
24...Rb8!? 25.Qe4 Rfd8µ
25.Bh3?!
25.Kh2³
25...Rfd8
25...Nd4 26.Qe4 Rfd8µ
26.Kh2
26.Bg2 Rb6µ
26...Nd4 27.Qe4 Nf6
¹27...f5! 28.Qg2 Bxe5 29.Rxe5 (29.fxe5 R6d7 30.Bg5 Rf8-+) 29...Qh7 (29...Kf7!? Δ Rh8) 30.Rh1 Nc6µ
28.Qh1?!
28.Qg2µ
28...Nb3
¹28...Nd7 29.Bc3 Nxe5 30.fxe5 R6d7µ
29.Bc3 Nd5 30.Bd2 Nxd2
30...Ne7 31.Bc3 Rb6µ
31.Rxd2 Ne7 32.Rc2 Qb6 33.Qe4 Nf5
¹33...Bxe5 34.Qxe5 (34.fxe5?! Rxd3 35.Qh4 R8d7 36.Bg2 c4-+) 34...Nc6 (34...Rxd3? 35.Qf6! Nd5 36.Rxe6 Qc7
37.Qg5 Kg7 38.Qe5+ Qxe5 39.Rxe5³) 35.Qe3 Nd4 36.Rcc1 b4µ
34.Bxf5
34.Rec1 Bxe5 35.fxe5 Rxd3 36.Rxc5 Rd2 37.Kg2 R8d5µ
34...exf5 35.Qh1?
35.Qe3 Rd5 36.Rec1 Bxe5 37.fxe5 Rxd3 38.Qxc5 Qe6µ
35...Rd5?!
¹35...Bxe5 36.Rxe5 Kg7 37.Qf1 Rxd3 38.Re8 Qd6-+
36.Rce2?
36.d4 c4 37.Rce2 Bxe5 38.dxe5 Kg7µ
36...Qd6?!
¹36...Bxe5 37.Rxe5 Rxd3 38.Kg1 Kg7-+
37.Kg1

37...Qc7??
¹37...Re8 38.d4 Rxd4 39.Qb7 Bxe5 40.Qxb5 Rb8 41.fxe5 Rxb5 42.exd6 Rxd6µ
38.Nf3! [Δ Ng5] 38...f6 39.Nh4!+- Rxd3
39...Kf7 40.g4! Rxd3 (40...fxg4 41.Qe4+-) 41.Nxg6 Rd1 42.Qh5+-
40.Nxg6 Rd1 41.Ne7+ Kf8 42.Qh7 Rxe1+ 43.Rxe1 1-0

2.* [A13]

Skembris, Spyridon (2422) - Gouloutis, Nikolaos (2218)
Anogia 125/2, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 a6 4.Bg2 b5 5.b3 Bb7 6.O-O c5 7.Bb2 Be7 8.Na3!?
8.d3 O-O 9.Nbd2 (9.a3 - 23/(36)) 9...Qb6 10.e3 d6 11.Qe2 Nc6 12.Rab1N (12.d4) 12...Rfd8 13.Rfd1 Rac8 14.d4 Ba8
15.a3 Na5 16.b4!? cxb4? (16...Nxc4 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Bc3©) 17.c5! dxc5 18.dxc5 Qa7 (18...Bxc5
19.axb4+-) 19.axb4 Nc6 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 (20...gxf6 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.exd4 f5 24.Qf4±) 21.Ne4 Be7?!
(21...Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Be7 23.Qc2ƒ) 22.Nd6² Skembris,S (2412)-Gogolis,A (2238) Vrachati 125/ (2) 2015
[Skembris,Spyridon]
8...Qb6 9.d3
9.e3 - 109/6
9...O-O 10.e4 d6 11.Nd2N
11.Qe2
11...Nc6 12.Nc2 Nd7 13.Rb1 Bf6
13...b4!? 14.f4„
14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.a3 b4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.Re1 a5 18.Nf3 Ne5 19.Nh4 Ng6?!
19...a4!? 20.Nxb4!?ƒ (20.d4 axb3 21.Rxb3 Nxc4 22.Rxb4 Qc7„)
20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.e5!² Bxg2
21...dxe5 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Rxe5²
22.Kxg2 Nd7
22...dxe5 23.Rxe5 Qd6 24.d4ƒ
23.exd6 Qxd6 24.d4 Rfb8 25.Qf3 Qc7 26.Ra1 e5?†

26...a4!? 27.c5ƒ (27.Nxb4 Ra7 28.Nc6 Rxb3 29.Ne7+ Kf8 30.Nxg6+ Kg8 31.Qe2 Qb7+ 32.d5 Nf6„)
27.Nxb4! exd4
27...axb4 28.Rxa8+-
28.Nc6‭→ Rf8
28...Rxb3 29.Ne7+ Kf8 30.Nxg6++-28...Nf6 29.Re7 Qb6 30.Nxb8 Rxb8 31.Re5 Qxb3 32.Qxb3 Rxb3 33.Raxa5+-
29.Ne7+ Kh8 30.Re4 Nf6 31.Rh4+ Nh7 32.Qe4+- [Δ Rh7!] 32...Qc5 33.Nxg6+ 1-0

3. [A13]

Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677)
Stavanger 125/3, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d4!? 5.e3

5.a3 - 124/9
5...Nc6
5...c5
6.O-O Bc5 7.b4!? Bxb4 8.exd4 O-O 9.Bb2 Rb8!?N
9...Be7
10.Na3 Bxa3!? 11.Bxa3 Re8 12.Bb2 b5! 13.Bc3
13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 bxc4! 15.Rb1 (15.exf6 Rxb2ƒ) 15...Nd5∞
13...bxc4 14.Qa4 Bd7 15.Qxc4 Nd5
15...Ne7!?
16.Rfb1 Rb6 17.a4 Qb8 18.Re1 a5
18...f6!? 19.Ng5 Ncb4∞
19.Qc5
19.Ne5!? Nxe5 20.Rxe5 Rb1+ 21.Re1²
19...Nxc3?
19...f6!? 20.Bxa5 Nxa5 21.Qxa5 Qb7 22.Qc5 Ra8©
20.dxc3 Rb2
21.Ng5
21.d5! exd5 22.Qxd5 Qb6 23.Nd2!±
21...Qb6 22.Ne4 Ne7 23.Qg5 Ng6 24.h4?!
24.Qc1!±
24...h6?!
24...Bc6 25.Qh5 (25.Qc5 Ne7 (25...Bxe4 26.Qxb6 cxb6 27.Bxe4 Rc8 28.Reb1!²) 26.Qxb6 Rxb6 27.Nd2 Bd5=)
25...h6∞
25.Qg4?!
25.Qc1! Rb8 (25...Bc6 26.Nf6+! gxf6 27.Bxc6+-) 26.Bf1!?±
25...Bc6! 26.h5 Bxe4
26...Nf8? 27.Nf6++-
27.Bxe4 Ne7 28.Qf3 Rd8 29.Rab1 Nd5 30.Rxb2 Qxb2 31.Rb1 Qa2 32.Rb7 Qxa4 33.Bxd5 exd5 34.Rxc7 Qe8=
35.Rc5 a4 36.Rxd5 Rxd5 37.Qxd5 a3 38.Qa5 Qe1+ 39.Kg2 Qe4+ 40.Kh2 Qc2 41.Qxa3 Qxf2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+
43.Kh2 Qf2+ 44.Kh3 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

4. [A14]

Giri, Anish (2773) - Anand, Viswanathan (2804)
Stavanger 125/4, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Nc3 Ba6 10.Qe2 Qd7
10...Rc8 - 3/29
11.Rfd1
11.d4!?
11...Rac8
11...d4 12.exd4 cxd4 13.Ne4
12.Nb5 Rfd8 13.Rac1 dxc4 14.bxc4 Qd3!= 15.Qxd3N
15.Bf1 Qxe2 16.Bxe2 Bb7=
15...Rxd3 16.Bf1 Rd7 17.d4
17.d3 Bb7 18.Be2 Rcd8 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bc6 21.a4=
17...Rcd8 18.a4

18...Bb7
18...Bc8!? 19.d5!? a6 20.dxc6 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rxd1 22.Na7 Rd8 23.Be5 Ne4 24.Bc7 Re8 25.Bxb6 Bd6 26.Bd3 Nc3
27.Bc2©18...h5!? 19.d5 exd5 20.cxd5 Rxd5 21.Rxd5 Nxd5 22.Nxa7 Bb7=
19.d5! exd5 20.Bh3! dxc4 21.Bxd7 Nxd7
21...Rxd7?! 22.Rxd7 Nxd7 23.Rd1²
22.Nd6 Ba6
22...Ba8!? 23.Nxc4 f6 24.Nh4 g6 25.Rd2 Nb4©
23.Nxc4 f6 24.Rd2
24.Nh4!? g6 25.Ng2 Nde5 26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.Nxe5 fxe5 28.Rd1²
24...Bxc4 25.Rxc4 a6 26.Rc1 b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Ba3
28.Rcd1 Nb6 29.Rxd8+ Nxd8∞
28...Kf7
28...b4? 29.Bxb4! Nxb4 30.Rcd1+-
29.Rxd7 Rxd7 30.Bxc5 Ne5!³
30...b4 31.Bxe7 Nxe7 32.Nd4=
31.Nxe5+ fxe5 32.Bxe7 Kxe7 33.Kf1 Kd6 34.Ke2
34.f4!?
34...e4! 35.Rc8 Ra7!
35...Rb7 36.Rf8! b4 37.Kd2 b3 38.Kc1 b2+ 39.Kb1=
36.Kd2?!
36.h4 Ra2+ 37.Ke1 b4µ
36...Ra2+ 37.Kc3 Rxf2 38.Rb8 Rxh2 39.Rxb5 Ke6µ 40.Kd4 Rg2 41.Kxe4 Rxg3 42.Kf4 Rg1 43.Rb6+ Kf7 44.e4 h5?
44...Rf1+! 45.Kg4 Rf6µ
45.Rb7+ Ke6
45...Kg6 46.Rb6+ Kh7 47.e5=
46.Rb6+ Kd7 47.Kf5= Kc7 48.Rb2 Kd7 49.e5 Rf1+ 50.Kg5 Ke6 51.Kxh5 Kxe5 52.Kg4 g5 53.Kxg5 1/2-1/2

5. ** [A20]

Nakamura, Hikaru (2802) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677)
Stavanger 125/5, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.O-O Nb6 7.b3!? Be7 8.Bb2 f6 9.d4
9.Nc3 - 61/30
9...e4!
9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 c6 (11...O-O 12.Nc3 c6 13.Qd2 Be6 14.Qe3N (14.Rfd1) 14...Bf7 15.Rfd1 Qc7
16.Rac1 Rfe8 17.Qf3 Rad8 18.Qf5 Bb4? (18...a6 19.Qa5 Nd5 20.Qxc7 Nxc7 21.Bb6 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bb4=) 19.Bxf6!
Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 a5 21.Qg5 Bg6 22.Bd8 Qf7 23.Bxb6 Bxc3 24.Bf3± Cruz,J (2453)-Dourerassou,J (2415) Montcada i
Reixac 2015 [Tadic,Branko]) 12.Nc3 Be6 13.e4 O-O 14.Ne2 Qd6N (14...Bd6) 15.Qc2 Rad8 16.Be3 Qb4 (16...Qe5
17.Rad1²) 17.Nf4 Bf7 Korpa,B (2433)-Griffith,K (2259) Budapest 2015 [Tadic,Branko] (17...Bf7 18.Bh3±)
10.Ne1 f5 11.f3 exf3 12.Nxf3 Nd5 13.Qd3 O-O 14.e3 Be6 15.a3 Qd7N
15...Qe8!? 16.Nbd2 Nb6 17.Rae1 Bd5 18.e4 fxe4 19.Nxe4 Qg6∞
16.Nbd2 Rad8 17.Rac1 Nb6 18.b4 a6 19.Nb3
19...Na4
19...Bd5!? 20.Nc5 Qc8∞
20.Ba1 Bd5 21.Nbd2
21.Ne5!? Nxe5 22.dxe5 Nb6 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.bxc5 Bxg2 25.Qxd7 Rxd7 26.Kxg2 Nd5 27.Kf3 c6=
21...Qe6 22.Rfe1 Nb6
22...b5!? 23.e4 fxe4 24.Nxe4 Qg6∞
23.e4 fxe4 24.Nxe4 Qg6 25.Qe2 Rfe8?!
25...Qh5 26.Ne5 Qxe2 27.Rxe2 Nxe5 28.dxe5 c6=
26.Ne5 Nxe5
26...Qh6!?
27.dxe5 c6 28.Bd4 Nd7 29.Bf3! Rf8 30.Bh5
30.Bg4!? Kh8 31.Rc3²
30...Qh6 31.Be3
31.Bg4²
31...Qe6 32.Bf4 a5?!
¹32...Qf5 33.e6!? Qxe6 34.Nc3 Qxe2 35.Rxe2 Nf6! 36.Rxe7 Nxh5 37.Nxd5 Rxd5 38.Be3 Rf7 39.Re8+ Rf8 40.Re7
Rf7=
33.Ng5! Qf5 34.Bg4
34.e6!
34...Qg6 35.Bh5 Qf5
36.e6! Nf6 37.Bf7+ Kh8 38.Rf1 Ne4
38...Bb3! 39.Bd6 Qxg5 40.Bxe7 Rd2 41.Rf5 Rxe2 42.Rxg5 Ra8 43.Rxa5 Rxa5 44.bxa5 Bxe6 (44...Ng4!?) 45.Bxe6
Rxe6 46.Bd8²
39.Nxe4 Qxe4 40.Qxe4 Bxe4 41.Be3± axb4?
41...Rc8 42.bxa5±
42.Bc5! Rd2 43.Rfe1+- Bxc5+ 44.Rxc5 Rg2+ 45.Kf1 b3 46.Rxe4 b2 47.Re1 Rxh2 48.Rce5! Rh1+ 49.Kg2 b1=Q
50.Rxb1 Rxb1 51.e7 Ra8 52.e8=R+ Rxe8 53.Rxe8# 1-0

6.* [A22]

Grischuk, Alexander (2781) - Aronian, Levon (2780)
Stavanger 125/6, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.e3 Bb4 4.Nge2 c6 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 Bc7 7.Bb2 O-O 8.Ng3
8.d4 a5N (8...d6 - 106/(6)) 9.b5 d5 10.bxc6 bxc6 11.cxd5 Ba6!? 12.dxc6 Nxc6 13.d5 Ne7 14.e4 Bb6© Adrian,C (2189)-
Karpatchev,A (2473) Plancoet 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
8...d5N
8...Re8 - 97/3
9.cxd5 Nxd5
9...cxd5?! 10.Nb5²
10.Qc2 Nd7 11.Bd3
11.Nxd5!? cxd5 12.Rc1 Bb8 (12...Bd6?! 13.Nf5 Nb6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Qc7ƒ) 13.Bd3 Nf6 (13...e4 14.Be2 Ne5 15.d3
exd3 16.Bxd3 Nxd3+ 17.Qxd3²) 14.O-O∞
11...N7f6 12.O-O Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Be6 14.Rab1 Kh8 15.Rfd1
15.Be2!?
15...Ng4! 16.Nf5
16.h3? Nxf2! 17.Kxf2 Qh416.Be2 Qh4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.Rdc1=
16...g6

17.f3!
17.h3 Nxf2 18.Kxf2 gxf5 19.Bxf5 Rg8‭→
17...Nxh2! 18.Kxh2 gxf5 19.Bxf5 Qh4+ 20.Kg1 Rg8 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qe4! Rxg2+!
22...Qxe4 23.fxe4 Rg4 24.Rf1 Rag8 25.Rf2 h5 (25...Rxe4?! 26.Rf7²) 26.Rbf1=
23.Kxg2 Rg8+ 24.Qg4!
24.Kf1? Qh2! 25.Qg4 Rxg4 26.fxg4 Bd8-+
24...Rxg4+ 25.fxg4 Qxg4+
25...h5!?
26.Kf2 Qh4+ 27.Ke2 Qg4+ 28.Kd3 Qf5+ 29.Ke2 Qg4+ 30.Kd3 Qf5+ 1/2-1/2

7.* [A22]

Grischuk, Alexander (2781) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677)
Stavanger 125/7, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.d3 Be7 7.Nh3
7.Be3 O-O 8.Rc1 Nc6 9.Bxc6!? (9.Nf3 [%emt 0:00:29] - A) 9...bxc6 10.Nf3 Bd6 11.d4N (11.Ne4) 11...exd4 12.Qxd4
c5 13.Qd3 Qf6 14.Bg5 (14.O-O Bf5 15.Qa6 Rfe8 16.b3∞) 14...Qe6 15.Qe4 Qd7 16.O-O Re8 17.Qd3 Iotov,V (2579)-
Sevian,S (2531) Richardson 2015 [Tadic,Branko] (17.Qd3 Qh3ƒ)
7...g5
7...O-O 8.f4!? (8.O-O - 58/(28))
8.Ng1!?N
8.Be3 f5 9.f4 exf4 10.gxf4 g4 11.Nf2 c6∞
8...h5 9.h3 Nc6

9...f6!? 10.Be3 c6∞

10.Bxc6+! bxc6 11.Nf3 f6 12.Be3 Bxh3?!
12...Nd5!? 13.Qc2 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Qd6∞
13.Rxh3 g4 14.Rh1 gxf3 15.exf3 Bb4 16.Qb3 Nd5 17.Bd2
17.O-O-O!? Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Qd5 20.d4±
17...Bxc3 18.Bxc3 Nxc3?!
¹18...Qd6 19.Rh4 O-O-O 20.Rc1 f5 21.Bb4 Qd7 (21...Nxb4 22.Rxb4ƒ) 22.Qa4ƒ
19.Qxc3 Qd5 20.Rc1± h4?
20...Qxf3 21.Qxc6+ Qxc6 22.Rxc6 O-O-O 23.Ke2 (23.Rxf6 Rxd3 24.g4 h4 25.Rf5±) 23...Rd6 24.Rhc1 Rxc6 25.Rxc6±
21.gxh4 O-O-O 22.Qxc6 Qxc6 23.Rxc6 Rxd3 24.Ke2
24.Rxf6 Rhd8 25.Rh2+-
24...Rhd8 25.Rc2+- R3d4 26.h5 R8d7 27.h6 Rh7 28.Rc6
28.Rd2 Rf4 29.Rdd1+- Δ Rdg1-g7
28...Rd6 29.Rxd6 cxd6 30.f4 Kd7 31.fxe5 dxe5 32.f4 Ke6 33.fxe5 fxe5 34.Ke3 Kf7 35.Ke4 Kg8 36.Kxe5 Rd7
37.Rg1+ Kh8 38.Rg7 Rd2 39.Rb7 a5 40.a4 Kg8 41.b3 Rh2 42.Rb6 Rd2 43.Rb5 Rd3 44.Ke4 Rh3 45.Kd4 Kh7
46.Kc4 Rh4+ 47.Kc3 Rh3+ 48.Kb2 Kxh6 49.Rxa5 1-0

8. [A28]

Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2562) - Kovalyov, Anton (2613)
Arlington 125/8, 2015 [Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan; Hosseinzadeh,Nima]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 d6 6.a3

6.g3 - 103/12
6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 h6 8.g3 O-O 9.Bg2 Nd7 10.O-O Ne7N

10...Nc5
11.Nh4!² g5?
11...Rb8 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 f5 14.Rf3! Qe8 15.Rg3 Qf7 16.Be3²11...b6! 12.a4 a5 13.f4 Ng6 14.Nf5 exf4 15.Bxf4 Nxf4
16.gxf4²
12.Nf5 Nxf5 13.exf5 Kg7?
13...Qf6! 14.g4! (14.h4? Qxf5! (14...gxh4? 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Be4 Nxe4 17.dxe4 Kg7 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Kg2 Rg8 20.Qh5
h3+ 21.Kh2 Kg7 22.Rg1 Rh8 23.g4 Kf8 24.Rg3+-) 15.Be4 Qe6 (15...Qf6? 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.Qh5+-) 16.hxg5 Nc5
17.Bg2 Qg6! 18.d4 Nd3!„) 14...Rb8 15.Be3 b6 16.Qa4 a5 17.d4²
14.h4!± Rg8 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.d4
16.Qh5!? Kf8 17.Qh6+ Rg7 18.d4 Qf6 19.Qxf6 (19.Qh3 Kg8 20.Re1 Nb6 21.c5 Rh7 22.Qg4 Bxf5 23.Qxg5+ Qxg5
24.Bxg5±) 19...Nxf6 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Rb1±
16...Qf6 17.g4
17.Qg4!?
17...Qh6 18.Re1! Rh8 19.Kf1?!
19.Re3 Qh2+ 20.Kf1 f6 21.Rg3 Rb8 22.Qb3 Qh7 23.Rh3 Qg8 24.Rxh8 Qxh8 (24...Kxh8 25.Be3±) 25.Be3 Qg8
26.Bf3±
19...Rb8 20.Be3
20.Re3!? Qf6 21.c5 b5! 22.Qd2 Ba6 23.Kg1 dxc5 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.Rg3 c4 26.Qxg5+ Qxg5 27.Bxg5 Nd3±
20...b6

21.Ke2!! Qh2?
21...Bb7! 22.Bxb7 Rxb7 23.Qa4 b5! 24.cxb5 Qh3 25.Rg1 c6! 26.Rab1 Rxb5 27.Rxb5 cxb5 28.Qxb5 Qh2 29.Rg3 Nf6
30.Qb7±
22.Bc6! Rh3 23.Kd2?!
23.Qd3! Nf6 24.Rh1 Rxe3+ 25.Qxe3 Qf4 26.Qxf4 exf4 27.f3+-
23...e4?
23...Rxe3! 24.Kxe3 (24.Rxe3 Qxf2+ 25.Qe2 Qxe2+ 26.Rxe2 Nf6 27.dxe5 dxe5 28.Rxe5 Ba6 29.Bd5 c6 30.Bxc6 Bxc4
31.Rg1 Rc8 32.Bf3) 24...Nf6 25.Qf3 Qf4+ 26.Qxf4 exf4+ 27.Kf3 Ba6 28.Re7 Bxc4 29.Rxc7±
24.Rh1
24.Qe2
24...Qxh1 25.Qxh1 Rxh1 26.Rxh1+- Nf6
¹26...f6 27.Re1+-
27.Bxg5 Nxg4 28.Bxe4 f6 29.Bh4 1-0

9.* [A29]

Anand, Viswanathan (2804) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677)
Stavanger 125/9, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
1.c4 e5 2.g3
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.a3 O-O 9.d3 Be6 10.Be3 Nd5 11.Bd2 (11.Nxd5
Bxd5 12.Qa4∞ - 118/ 16) 11...f6 12.Qc2 Nb6N (12...Qd7) 13.b4 Nd4 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Na4 Bd5 (15...Nxa4 16.Qxa4
Bd5) 16.Nxb6 cxb6 17.Bxd5+ Qxd5 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.Qc7 Rad8 20.Rc2 Kf7 21.Rac1 g5 22.Qxd7 Rxd7 23.Rc7 Rfd8
24.g4 f5! 25.h3 (25.gxf5 Kf6=) 25...b5 26.Kg2 Ke6= Aronian,L (2780)-Hammer,J (2677) Stavanger 2015
[Tadic,Branko]
2...Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.d3 Be7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Rc1 f5 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.O-O Be6 11.b4!?
11.a3 - 115/12
11...a6
11...Bxb4?! 12.Ng5 Bf7 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Qb3ƒ
12.a3 Kh8 13.Na4 Nxa4 14.Qxa4 Bd5 15.Bc5 Bd6N
15...Bxc5!? 16.Rxc5 Qd6 17.Rfc1 Rad8=15...f4!?
16.Qc2 Qf6 17.e4! Be6
17...fxe4 18.dxe4 Be6 19.Be3!? Bg4 20.Nd2 Rad8 (20...a5 21.b5 Nd4 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.Nc4²) 21.Nb3∞
18.exf5
18.d4!? exd4 19.e5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.Bxb7 Rab8 22.Bxa6 f4„
18...Bxf5 19.Be3 a5 20.b5 Ne7
20...Nd4!? 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.a4 Rae8∞
21.Bg5
21.Rce1!?
21...Qf7 22.Qc3 h6 23.Bxe7
23.Be3 Qe6 24.Nh4 Bg4 25.Bxb7 Rab8 26.Be4 g5 27.Ng2 Rxb5 28.Rb1∞
23...Qxe7 24.Nh4 Bxa3
24...Bh7!? 25.Bxb7 Rab8 26.Be4 Bxa3 27.Rc2 g5 28.Ng2 (28.Bxh7 Kxh7 29.Qxa5 Ra8 30.Nf5 Rxa5 31.Nxe7 Bxe7
32.Rxc7 Rf7 33.Rb1 Kg7µ) 28...Rxb5 29.Ne3=
25.Bxb7 Bxc1?
25...Rab8 26.Nxf5 Rxf5 27.Be4 Rf6 28.Rb1 Bb4 29.Qc4 Qc5=
26.Nxf5!± Rxf5 27.Bxa8 Ba3 28.Qxa5 Bc5 29.Be4 Rf8 30.Kg2 Qd6 31.h4 h5?!
31...Bb6 32.Qc3±
32.Qd2 Qf6 33.Qe2 g6
33...Qf7 34.Bf3+-
34.Bxg6! Qxg6 35.Qxe5+ Kg8 36.Qxc5 1-0

10. [A29]

Sulskis, Sarunas (2546) - Kupreichik, Viktor D (2385)
Vilnius 125/10, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas; Tamosiunas,Tomas]

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.O-O Nb6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.e3
8.a3 - 123/18
8...O-O 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4
10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.exd4 c6 12.d5=
10...Be6
10...Bf6 11.Ne4!? Bxd4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bf4©
11.Re1N
11.Bf4
11...Bf6 12.Ne4!?
12.Be3 Nc4 13.d5?! Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nxe3 (14...Bxd5 15.Bc5 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Re8 17.Qf4©) 15.Rxe3 Bxd5 16.Rd3 Bxf3
17.Rxd8 Bxd1 18.Rxa8 Rxa8 19.Rxd1©
12...Bxd4 13.Bg5?!
13.Nxd4 Qxd4 (13...Nxd4 14.Nc5) 14.Qh5© ∆Qe5 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.Nc5±
13...f6 14.Bd2
14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Be3 Qxb2 16.Nc5 Rad8 17.Qc1 Qxc1 18.Raxc1 Bc8 19.Nxb7 Bxb7 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxc6 Rf7
22.Rec1=
14...Bxb2 15.Nc5 Bd5 16.Rb1 Ba3 17.Ne6
17.Nxb7 Qc8 18.Re3! Nc4 19.Rd3 Be4 20.Ne1∞ (20.Ne5!?)
17...Bxe6 18.Rxe6 Bd6 19.Qc2 Qd7 20.Bh3 Nd8
¹20...Qf7 21.Rbe1 Qh5 22.R6e4!© (22.Kg2?? Qxf3+-+)
21.Re4!
21.Ng5 fxg5 22.Rh6 gxh6 23.Bxd7 Nxd7µ21.Rxb6 Nxe6µ
21...f5
21...Qxh3 22.Rh4 Qd7 (22...Qe6 23.Qxh7+ (23.Re1 Qd5 24.Qxh7+ Kf7 25.Rg4 Ne6 26.Bh6 Rg8 27.Qg6+ Ke7
28.Rge4 gxh6 29.Rxe6+ (29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Rxe6 Qxf3 31.Rxd6 (31.Re7 Qh5µ) 31...Rg7-+) 29...Kd7 30.Qf7+ Kc6
31.a4 Nxa4-+ (31...Qxf3? 32.Rc1+ Nc4 33.Rxc4+ Kb6 34.Qxc7++-)) 23...Kf7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.Qh7+=) 23.Qxh7+
Kf7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 (24...Ke7? 25.Re1+ (25.Re4+ Ne6 26.Nd4 Be5 27.Bb4+ c5 28.Nf5+ Kd8 29.Rd1 Nd5 30.Ne3
Nxb4 31.Rxd7+ Kxd7∞) 25...Ne6 26.Nd4 (26.Rhe4 Rae8 27.Rxe6+ Kd8∞) 26...Be5 27.Bb4+ c5 28.Nf5+ (28.Nxe6
cxb4 29.Nxf8 (29.Nxg7) 29...Rxf8 30.f4 Qd4+„) 28...Kd8 29.Rd1 cxb4 30.Rxd7+ Nxd7 31.Rxb4ƒ) 25.Qh7+=
22.Nh4
22.Ne5 Qe6 23.Rbe1©
22...g6 23.Bh6 Rf7
23...Nf7!? 24.Bxf8 Ng5! 25.Bxd6 Nxh3+ 26.Kg2 fxe4 27.Qb3+ Qf7 28.Qxf7+ (28.Bxc7 Ng5) 28...Kxf7 29.Bxc7
Ng5 30.Bxb6 axb6 31.Rxb6 Rxa2 32.Rxb7+=
24.Rbe1
24.Nxf5 gxf5 25.Bxf5 Qxf5 26.Re8+ Bf8 27.Bxf8 Ne6!-+
24...Nc6 25.Qb3
25.Nxf5 gxf5 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 (26...Rxf5? 27.Rg4+) 27.Re8+ Bf8 28.Bxf8 Qxc2 29.Bh6+ Rf8-+
25...Bc5
¹25...Bf8 26.Rd1 (26.Bxf8 Rxf8µ) (26.Bg5 Qd5µ) 26...Qxd1+ 27.Qxd1 fxe4 28.Be3 Re8³
26.Nf3 Rd8?! 27.Ng5 Nd4?
27...Bxf2+!? 28.Kxf2 fxe4+ 29.Kg1™ (29.Nxf7 Qxf7+ 30.Qxf7+ Kxf7 31.Rxe4 Rd4µ) 29...Qd4+ (29...Qd5 30.Be6
Qxb3 31.axb3 Ne5 32.Rxe4‭→ Nbd7 33.Rf4) 30.Kh1 Ne5 (30...Qf2? 31.Rf1+-) 31.Be6! (31.Rf1? Qc4 32.Qxc4
(32.Be6?? Qxf1#)

32...Nbxc4 33.Be6 Nd6-+) (31.Ne6!? Qf2 (31...Qd3 32.Nxd8 Qxd8 33.Be6‭→) 32.Rf1 Rd3
33.Qb5! (33.Rxf2 Rxb3 34.Rxf7 Nxf7 35.axb3 Nxh6-+) 33...Nbd7! (33...Qxf1+ 34.Bxf1 Rxf1+ 35.Kg2+-) 34.Rxf2
Rxf2 35.Kg1 e3µ) 31...Qf2 32.Qc3 Rd7 33.Qb4! (Δ Qf8#) 33...Kh8 34.Bxf7 Rxf7 35.Nxf7+ Qxf7 36.Qxe4+-
28.Nxf7!!
28.Qxf7+ Qxf7 29.Nxf7 Kxf7 30.R4e3 Nc2µ28.Rxd4 Bxd4µ
28...Nxb3
28...Qxf7 29.Re8+ Bf8 30.Rxd8 (30.Qxf7+? Kxf7 31.Rxd8 Nf3+„) 30...Nxb3 31.Bxf8+-28...fxe4 29.Nxd8+!
(29.Bxd7 Rxd7) 29...Nxb3 30.Bxd7 Nd4 31.Be6++-
29.Nxd8! Qxd8
29...fxe4 30.Bxd7 Nd4 31.Be6++-
30.Re8+ Qxe8 31.Rxe8+ Kf7 32.Rh8
32.Rb8 Na5 33.Bd2 Nbc4 34.Bc3±
32...Nd4 33.Rxh7+ Kf6!?
33...Ke6 34.Rxc7+-
34.Bg7+
34.Rxc7 Ne6 35.Rxb7 g5 36.Rxa7 Kg6 37.a4+-
34...Ke6 35.Bxd4 Bxd4 36.Rxc7 Nd5 37.Rxb7+- Bb6 38.a4 Nc3 39.a5 Bd4 40.Kf1 Nd1 41.Ke2 Nxf2 42.Rb4 Bc5
43.Rc4 Ne4?
43...Kd5 44.Rxc5++-43...Nxh3 44.Rxc5+-
44.Rxe4+ 1-0

11. [A30]

Caruana, Fabiano (2808) - So, Wesley (2779)
Saint Louis 125/11, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Bg7 8.Nc3 d6 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.Rac1 Rc8 11.b3 a6
12.Rfd1 O-O 13.Qh4 Re8 14.Bh3 Rc7 15.g4 Qa8?!

16.Bd4!?N
16.g5 Ne4 17.Na4 Nec5 (17...b5 18.Bxd7 Rxd7 19.Nb6 Qd8 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Bd4±) 18.Bxc5 Nxc5
19.Nxb6±16.Nd2 - 104/(159)
16...h6?!
16...b5 17.g5 Nh5 18.Bxg7 Nxg7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5ƒ16...Ne4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.g5 Nxc3 19.Rxc3ƒ
17.g5 hxg5 18.Nxg5 e6 19.Be3! Qb8 20.Bf4 Bf8?
20...Ne5 21.Rxd6 Nh5 22.Rxb6+-20...e5 21.Be3±
21.Rxd6?!
21.Bxd6! Bxd6 22.Rxd6 Rxc4 23.bxc4 Qxd6 24.Qh8+! Kxh8 25.Nxf7+ Kg7 26.Nxd6+-
21...e5! 22.Rxd7 exf4 23.Rcd1 Bg7
23...Kg7!? 24.Be6 Rxd7 25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.Qh7+ Kf6 27.Bxf7 Re5 28.Qxg6+ Ke7 29.Bd5±
24.R7d3
24.Nxf7 Rxd7 25.Bxd7 Kxf7 26.Bxe8+ Kxe8 27.Qg5 Kf7 28.Rd4±24.R7d6 Rce7 25.Na4±
24...Rce7 25.Bg2
25.Bf1!? Δ Nd5
25...Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Nh5 27.Nd5
27.Nge4 Qb7 28.f3±
27...Rxe2 28.Qg4 Qd6 29.Qf3 Qc5 30.R3d2 R2e5 31.h4 b5 32.Rc2 b4
32...Bh6 33.Nh3 a5∞
33.Rcd2 a5 34.Qg4 Bh6 35.Kf1 Rf5
35...Bxg5 36.hxg5 Qc6∞
36.Nf3 Bg7 37.Qg2 a4 38.Rd3 Qa5 39.Ng5 axb3 40.axb3 Bf8 41.Qf3 Bc5 42.Ne4 Kg7 43.Nxc5 Qxc5 44.Rd4 Kh6
45.Qd3
45.R1d3 Kh7 46.Re4 Rxe4 47.Qxe4 Nf6 48.Nxf6+ Rxf6 49.Rd5 Qc8 50.Qf3²
45...Kh7 46.Qf3 Re6 47.Kg1 Qa5 48.Kg2 Kh6 49.R1d3 Qd8 50.Qg4 1/2-1/2
 12. [A30]

Romanov, Evgeny (2613) - Rasulov, Vugar Ural Oglu (2508)
Nakhchivan 125/12, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7 7.Re1 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.dxc3 f5N
9...d6 - 105/(12)
10.Bf4 g5 11.Be5 O-O 12.Rad1 Be4
12...Nc6 13.Bd6 g4„
13.Qd2 Nc6 14.Bd6 Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Qf6
15...Rf7 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Qxe5²
16.b4
16.Qxd7 Rad8 17.Qc7 Rc8©
16...cxb4?
16...g4 17.Nh4 Rf7ƒ
17.cxb4 Rfd8 18.b5² Na5 19.Ne5 Bxg2 20.Nxd7
20.Kxg2 Nb7 21.Qd4 Nc5„
20...Qf7
20...Rxd7 21.Qxd7 Bb7 22.Rd6ƒ
21.Kxg2 Rac8?

21...Nxc4! 22.Qd4∞
22.c5!± bxc5
22...Nb7 23.Qd2!
23.Qa6 c4?
23...Nc4 24.Nxc5 Nb6 25.Nd3±
24.b6
24.Nc5!+-
24...c3 25.bxa7+- Ra8 26.Nb6 Rxd1 27.Nxa8! c2 28.Nc7
28.Qc8+ Kg7 29.Qc3+ e5 30.Nc7+-
28...c1=Q 29.a8=Q+ Kg7 30.Nxe6+ Kh6 31.Nxg5+! Qg6
31...Kxg5 32.h4+ Kg4 33.Qf3#

32.Qxg6+ Kxg6 33.Rxd1 Qxd1 34.Qg8+ 1-0

13.** [A33]

Szuhanek, Ranko (2489) - Kosic, Dragan (2480)
Bijeljina 125/13, 2015 [Szuhanek,Ranko]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.e4 O-O 9.Be2 b6 10.O-O Ba6 11.Be3 Rc8
12.f4 d6 13.Rc1 13...Nd7
13...Bb7 14.Kh1N (14.Bf3) 14...Nb8 15.Qd3 Nbd7 16.Bf3 Qc7 17.Nd2 a6 18.Qe2 Rfe8 19.g4ƒ Bocharov,D (2577)-
Ponkratov,P (2610) Russia (ch-blitz) 2015 [Szuhanek,Ranko]13...Nb8 - 101/(25)
14.Nd2 Bb7N
14...Bf6 ) 15.Nf3 Na5 16.b3 Nc5 17.Nd2 Nd7 (17...d5 18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.e5 d4 20.Nb5 d3 21.exf6 dxe2 22.Qxe2 Qxf6
23.Nxa7 Rcd8 24.Rc2 Qd4+ 25.Qf2 Qd3©) 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.cxb5 d5 20.e5 Be7 21.b4 Nb7 22.Nb3± Nakamura,H
(2802)-Caruana,F (2805) Stavanger (blitz) 2015 [Szuhanek,Ranko]
15.b4 e5 16.Nb3 exf4 17.Bxf4 Nde5 18.Qd2 Re8
18...h6 19.Rcd1ƒ ×d6
19.Nd5 Bf8 20.Qe3 Ne7 21.Nd4 N5g6 22.Qf2! Nxd5 23.exd5 Qf6
23...Nxf4 24.Qxf4 Rc7 25.Bd1! g6 26.Ba4 Re5 27.Bc6 Qe7 28.Nb5 (28.Bxb7 Re4 29.Qf2 Rxb7 30.Rce1 Qe8 31.Rxe4
Qxe4 32.Qf4 Qxf4 33.Rxf4 f5 34.Rf1 Re7 35.Ne6) 28...Rxc6 29.dxc6 Bxc6 30.Nc3 f5 31.Nd5 Qf7 32.Rfe1 Qe6
(32...Bxd5 33.cxd5 Qxd5 34.Rxe5 dxe5 35.Qc4 Qxc4 36.Rxc4 a5 37.bxa5 bxa5 38.a4±) 33.Rxe5 dxe5 34.Qh4 Bxd5
35.cxd5 Qxd5 36.Qc4±
24.Be3 Qe7
24...Qxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Re7 26.Nb5 Ra8 27.Rfe1 Ba6 28.Bd2 Rd7 29.Nd4 Ne5 30.a4 Rc7 31.Nc6±
25.Nf5 Qc7

26.c5! Rxe3?!
26...bxc5 27.bxc5 Bxd5 (27...dxc5 28.d6 Qd8 29.Bc4 Ne5 30.Nh6+ gxh6 31.Bxf7+ Kh8 32.Bxe8 Qxe8 33.Qb2 Bc6
34.Rxf8+ Qxf8 35.Rxc5 Re8 36.Bd4 Kg8 37.Bxe5+-) 28.Rfd1 Bb3 29.Rd3 Be6 30.Nxd6 Bxd6 31.cxd6 Qd7 32.Bc5
Ne5 33.Rg3 Kh8 34.Ba6 Rb8 35.Bb4±
27.Qxe3± bxc5 28.bxc5 dxc5 29.d6 Bxd6 30.Nxd6 Qxd6 31.Bg4 Rc7
31...Qc6 32.Bf3 Qc7 33.Bxb7 Qxb7 34.Rxc5 Rd8 35.Rfc1 h6 36.Rc7 Rd1+ 37.Rxd1 Qxc7 38.Rc1 Qd7 39.Qf3±
32.Rfd1 Qf8
32...Re7 33.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 34.Rxc5 Nf8 35.Rdc1+-
33.Qg3 Re7 34.Rxc5 Qe8 35.Rdc1
35.Rc7 Rxc7 36.Qxc7 Qe4 37.Qg3 Nf8 38.h3 g6 39.Rd8 Qc2 40.Kh2 a5 41.Rxf8+ Kxf8 42.Qb8++-
35...Qa4 36.R1c4 Qa6 37.h4 h6 38.h5 Ne5 39.Bf5! g6 40.hxg6 Nxc4 41.gxf7+ Kxf7 42.Bd3 Qb6 43.Bxc4+ Ke8
44.Qb8+
44.Qg8+? Kd7 45.Qg4+ Ke8=
44...Kd7 45.Bb5+ Ke6 46.Qe5+ Kf7 47.Bc4+ Ke8 48.Qh8+ Kd7 49.Bb5+ Kd6?
49...Ke6 50.Qxh6+ Kf7 51.Bc4+ Ke8 52.Qh8+ Kd7 53.Qd4+ Ke8 54.Bb5+ Kf7 55.a4 Re4 56.Qd7+ Kg8 57.Qf5 a5
58.Qf2 Re1+ 59.Bf1 Rb1 60.Rg5+ Kh7 61.Qxb6 Rxb6 62.Rxa5 Bc6 63.Ra7+ Kg6 64.a5 Rb1 65.Ra6 Rc1 66.Rb6 Kf5
67.a6+-
50.Qd4+ Ke6 51.Bc4+ 1-0

14. [A34]

Anton Guijarro, David (2626) - Salem, AR Saleh (2615)
Martuni 125/14, 2015 [Harikrishna,Penteala]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 e6 6.Nxd5

6.Qc2 - 33/726.d4 - D 42
6...exd5

7.b4!?N
7.b3
7...c4!?
7...cxb4 8.Bb2 Nc6 9.Rc1©
8.Bb2 Bxb4 9.Bxg7 Rg8 10.Bb2 Nc6 11.Qc2 Rg6 12.Be2 Qe7
12...Rxg2? 13.Qxh7±
13.g3 Bh3 14.Nh4
14...O-O-O!! 15.a3
15.Nxg6 fxg6©
15...Ba5 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Bc3 Bb6 18.d4 cxd3 19.Bxd3 Kb8 20.O-O-O Rf8
20...d4 21.exd4 Bxd4 22.Kb2 Bg4µ
21.Rd2 Qxa3+ 22.Qb2 Qe7 23.Kb1 Bc5 24.Ka1 Be6 25.Rb1 Rc8
25...a5 26.Bc2 b6 27.Ba4 (27.Bb3?! Ba3ƒ) 27...Nb4∞
26.Bf6 Qd7?!
¹26...Qc7 27.Qb5 Nb4 28.Rxb4 Bd7 29.Qxb7+ Qxb7 30.Rxb7+ Kxb7=
27.Bb5
27.Qb5 Bb6 28.Rc1±
27...Bf5 28.Rc1 Qd6
28...Bb6 29.Rdd1 Qe6 30.Bxc6 Rxc6 31.Qe5+ Bc7 32.Qxe6 Rxe6 33.Bg7²
29.Rc3 Ka8
29...Bb4? 30.Rxc6! Rxc6 31.Be5+-
30.Rd1 Bb4 31.Rb3 Qc5 32.Bd3
32.Bxc6? Rxc6-+ Δ Ra6
32...Be6
32...d4
33.Bd4 Qa5+
33...Nxd4 34.Rxb4 Nc6 35.Rb5±
34.Kb1 Rc7?!
¹34...Qa4
35.Rc1 Bd6 36.f4 Re7 37.Bf6 Rd7 38.Be5 Nxe5?
38...Qc7 39.Bxd6 Rxd6 40.Rb5±
39.Rc8+ Bb8 40.Qxe5 Qe1+ 41.Kb2 1-0

15. [A34]

Li, Chao b (2748) - Leko, Peter (2714)
Szeged (m/3) 125/15, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 g6 7.Ne4!?N

7.Qa4 - 121/15
7...Qb6
7...Bf5!? 8.Nxc5 (8.d3 Bg7 9.O-O b6) 8...e5© 9.d4 (9.Nb3 Ndb4 10.d3 e4 11.Bg5 exf3 12.Bxd8 fxg2 13.Rg1 Rxd8ƒ)
9...exd4∞ 10.Nxd4 Qa5+ 11.Kf1 Qxc5 12.Nxc6 (12.Nxf5?! Rd8µ) 12...bxc6 13.e4 Qc4+ 14.Qe2 Qxe2+ 15.Kxe2
Bg4+ 16.f3 Be6³
8.O-O Bg7 9.Qc2 Bf5
9...Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Nc5²
10.d3 Bxe4 11.dxe4 Ndb4 12.Qa4 Qa5 13.Qd1 O-O?!
13...Rd8! 14.Bd2 (14.Qe1?? Qa6-+) (14.Qb3? Qa6µ Δ Na5) 14...Bxb2 15.a3 O-O 16.axb4 Qxa1 17.Qxa1 Bxa1
18.Rxa1 cxb4 19.e3 a5 20.Bf1 Rd6 21.Bb5 (21.e5 Rd5 22.e4 Rc5 23.Be3 Rc3 24.Bb5 Ra8µ) 21...Rfd8³
14.a3 Na6?!
14...Rad8! 15.Qb3 Qa6ƒ
15.e5 e6 16.Qc2 Rac8 17.Qe4 c4 18.Bd2 Qb5 19.a4 Qb3 20.Be3! Qb4 21.Rfc1± Na5 22.Bd2 Qb6 23.Bxa5 Qxa5
24.Rxc4 Rxc4 25.Qxc4

25...Qc7?
25...Bxe5 26.Nxe5 (26.Qb5 Bc7²) 26...Qxe5 27.Qb5 Nc5²
26.Qxc7 Nxc7 27.Rd1 Nd5 28.e4 Nb4 29.Rd7 a5
29...Rb8 30.Ng5+-
30.Rxb7 Nc6 31.Rb5 Rb8 32.Rc5 Rb6 33.Bf1 Bf8 34.Rb5 Rxb5 35.Bxb5 Nb4 36.Nd2 Be7 37.Kf1 Bd8 38.Ke2 Kf8
39.f4 h5 40.Nc4 Ke7 41.Kd2 Bc7 42.Kc3 Bd8 43.Kd4 1-0

16. [A34]

So, Wesley (2779) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731)
Saint Louis 125/16, 2015 [Marin,Mihail]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 c5 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.Ng5 e6 9.Nge4 Nb6! 10.Qb5
10.Qa3 Bf8 11.b3 (11.Nxc5 Nd4ƒ) 11...Be7 (11...Nd4 12.Qb2!) 12.O-O O-O 13.Nxc5 Qd4 14.b4 a5ƒ10.Qd1 Qe7
10...c4 11.Na4?
11.d3 cxd3 (11...O-O 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 f5 14.Nc5 a6 15.Nxb7 Bxb7 16.Qxb6 Qxb6 17.Bxb6 cxd3 18.exd3 Rab8©)
12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 f5 14.Nc5 (14.Bg5 Qc7 15.Nf6+? Kf7-+) 14...dxe2∞
11...O-O 12.Nxb6 axb6! 13.Qxc4 e5 14.Qc2 Be6N
14...Nd4
15.Nc3
15.Qb1 f5 16.Nc3 b5 17.Nxb5 (17.Bxc6 bxc6) (17.a3 Nd4) 17...Bd5 18.f3 e4 19.fxe4 fxe4 20.Nc3 (20.Bxe4 Ra4 21.d3
Bxe4 22.dxe4 Qb6-+) (20.a4 Qb6 21.e3 Nb4-+) 20...Qb6-+
15...b5!
15...Nd4 16.Qb1 Bb3?! 17.Be4!∞
16.Bxc6
16.Nxb5 Nb4 17.Qd1 Bd5! 18.f3 Qb6 19.Nc3 Bxa2 20.Nxa2 Nxa2 21.Rb1 Rfd8 22.d3 Nc3-+16.O-O b4 17.Nb5
(17.Na4 Nd4 18.Qd1 b3-+) 17...b3-+16.b4 Nd4µ (16...Nxb4 17.Qb1∞) 17.Qb1 (17.Qb2 e4 18.Bxe4 Re8) (17.Qd1
Bb3 18.axb3 Rxa1-+) 17...Bf5 18.e4 (18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 f5 20.Qb1 e4µ) 18...Be6 19.O-O Qd6µ
16...bxc6 17.b3 Bf5 18.d3
18.Qb2 b4 19.Na4 e4-+18.e4 Bh3µ
18...e4 19.dxe4 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxa1 21.O-O Re8 22.f3 Bd4+
22...f5-+
23.e3
23.Kg2 f5-+
23...Bg7 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.Rd6 c5 26.Rd5
26.Qxc5 Qxc5 27.Nxc5 Bf8 28.Rc6 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Rxa2 30.Kf1 Rd8 31.Ke1 Rxh2-+
26...Re5 27.Rd1
27.Rxe5 Qxe5 28.Nxc5 Rc8 29.b4 Bf8-+
27...c4 28.a3 Re7 29.bxc4 Qxc4 30.Qd2 Qb3 31.Qd6 Rc8 32.Nf2 Rec7 33.Bd2 Bf8 34.Qd4 Bxa3 35.Kg2 Bb2 0-1

17* [A37]

Navara, David (2724) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731)
Biel 125/17, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O Nge7 7.Ne1 a6 8.d3
8.Nc2!? Rb8 9.Rb1 b5 10.cxb5N (10.b4) 10...axb5 11.b4 cxb4 12.Nxb4 Qa5 13.Qb3 O-O 14.Qa3ƒ Klekowski,M
(2475)-Szabo,B (2399) Turkiye 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
8...Rb8 9.a4 d6 10.Nc2 O-O 11.Rb1 a5!? 12.Bg5
12.f4 - 73/(51)
12...f6 13.Bd2 f5 14.f4 Be6 15.Nd5 Nb4N
15...b6
16.fxe5?!
16.Ncxb4 axb4 17.fxe5 Bxe5 (17...Bxd5 18.cxd5 Bxe5 19.e4∞) 18.Bg5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5+ (19.cxd5 Qd7=) 19...Kh8
20.e3 Qe8 21.Bg2 Nc6∞
16...Nbxd5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.exd6 Qxd6 19.Bxa5

19...f4!
19...Ra8 20.Bd2 Rxa4 21.e4∞
20.Qe1 Be5
20...fxg3 21.Qxg3 (21.hxg3 Be5 22.Kh2 Rxf1 23.Bxf1 Nf6-+) 21...Be5 22.Qh4 Rf4 23.Rxf4 Nxf4µ
21.e4
21.gxf4 Nxf4-+
21...fxe3 22.Bc3
22.Nxe3 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 Bd4-+22.Bxd5 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1 Bxd5-+
22...Rxf1+ 23.Bxf1 Re8 24.Na3
24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bg2 e2 26.Qf2 Nf6 27.Ne1 (27.Re1 Bf5 28.d4 Qe6-+) 27...Bf5 28.Rc1 b6µ
24...Nxc3
24...Bd4!? 25.Nb5 Qe5 26.Qe2 Rf8-+
25.bxc3 Bd5 26.Nc4 Bxc4 27.dxc4 Qd2 28.Qe2
28.Rd1 Qxe1 29.Rxe1 Bxc3 30.Re2 Bd2-+
28...Rf8 29.Rxb7?!
29.Qg4 Kh8!? 30.Rd1 Qf2+ (30...Qxc3 31.Be2µ) 31.Kh1 Bxc3 32.Bd3 Qf6µ (32...Qf3+? 33.Qxf3 Rxf3 34.Rf1!=)
29...Bxc3-+ 30.Rb1 Qxe2 31.Bxe2 Rf2 32.Bd3 Rd2 33.Be4 e2 34.Kf2 Ra2 0-1

18.* [A37]

Nakamura, Hikaru (2802) - Grischuk, Alexander (2781)
Stavanger 125/18, 2015 [Stamenkovic,Zoran]

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.a3 Nge7 7.O-O O-O 8.Ne1 d6 9.Nc2 Be6 10.Ne3 Qd7 11.d3 Bh3
12.Rb1 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 f5 14.Ned5 Nxd5
14...Rab8 - 49/(60)
15.Nxd5 Ne7 16.Nc3N
16.Nxe7+ 16...Qxe7 17.e4 Rf7 18.f3 Raf8N (18...h5) 19.b4 h5 20.Rb2 Qe6 21.Rbf2 a6 22.Qe2 f4 23.gxf4 exf4 24.Kh1
Bd4 25.Rg2 Rg7 26.Bb2= Annaberdiyev,B (2234) -Can,E (2547) Turkiye 2015 [Stamenkovic,Zoran]
16...h5
16...f4!?
17.b4 Rf7
17...e4 18.Bb2 cxb4 19.axb4 Rac8 20.Qb3²
18.f3
18.Bg5!? Nc6 19.Qd2 b6 20.Nd5 Nd4=
18...e4!?
19.Bb2?!
19.Qc2!? cxb4 (19...exf3+ 20.exf3 Nc6 (20...Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Nc6 22.Bb2 Kh7 23.Rbe1ƒ) 21.Nd5 Nd4 22.Qd1 Re8
23.Be3²) 20.axb4 Rc8 21.fxe4 (21.Bg5 d5„) 21...b5!„
19...exf3+ 20.Rxf3
20.exf3 f4!ƒ
20...Re8
¹20...cxb4!? 21.axb4 Re8∞
21.bxc5!
21.Qd2 cxb4! 22.axb4 d5 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.Bxg7 Rxg7 25.cxd5 Qxd5³
21...dxc5 22.Qd2 Qe6 23.Re1
23.Qe3=
23...Nc6 24.Nd5 Bxb2 25.Qxb2 Nd4 26.Rf2 b5! 27.Qc1
27.e4 bxc4 28.dxc4 h4ƒ
27...bxc4 28.Qxc4 Nc2
28...Qc6 29.e4 Kg7 30.Rc1 Rc8 31.Kg1 Rd7=
29.Qxc2 Qxd5+ 30.Kg1 Rfe7 31.Rc1!= Re5 32.Qc4 Qxc4 33.Rxc4 Kg7 34.e4 fxe4 35.dxe4 Rxe4 36.Rxc5 R8e7
37.Ra5 R4e5 38.Ra6 R5e6 39.Ra5 Re5 40.Ra6 R5e6 1/2-1/2

19. [A38]

Blagojevic, Dragisa (2506) - Tadic, Branko (2493)
Bosna i Hercegovina 125/19, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 c5 6.Nc3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nc6 8.O-O Qa5 9.Nc2 d6 10.Bd2 Qh5
11.b3?!N
11.e4 - 73/(54)
11...Bh3 12.Ne3
12.f3 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 d5³
12...e6 13.Rc1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 d5 15.Nf4 Qe5
15...Qf5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Qc2 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 d4 19.Na4 Rfe8³ 20.Nc5?! d3! 21.Ncxd3 g5 22.Ng2 Nd4µ
16.cxd5 exd5 17.e3 Rad8 18.Qe2
18.Nb5 Ne4 19.Ne2 Qg5 (19...h5!?ƒ) 20.Rc2 Rfe8³
18...Qf5
¹18...Rfe8 19.Rfd1 g5 20.Nh5 d4 21.Na4 Qf5 22.Rc5 Qg6 23.Nxg7 Kxg7ƒ
19.Nb5
19.Na4 d4 20.Nc5 dxe3 21.Bxe3 Nd4 22.Bxd4 Rxd4 23.Nxb7 Rb8 24.Nc5 (24.Rc7 Rxf4! 25.gxf4 Bf8 (×c5) 26.Rfc1
Nd5 27.Qf3 Nxc7 28.Rxc7 Re8³) 24...Bh6³
19...Rfe8 20.Qd3 Re4
20...Ne4 21.Nd4 (21.Rc2 d4!-+) 21...Nxd4 22.exd4 Nxd2 23.Qxd2 Re4 24.Qa5 b6 25.Qxa7 Bxd4µ
21.Qc2 g5
21...a6 22.Nc3 g5 23.f3 Re5 24.Qxf5 Rxf5 25.Nfe2 d4 26.exd4 Nxd4 27.Nxd4 Rxd4 28.Be1=
22.Ng2?
22.Ne2 Qh3 23.f3 Re5 24.Rf2 g4 25.Nf4 Qh6 26.Nd4 gxf3 27.Bc3!„
22...Qh3 23.f3
23...d4! 24.Rce1?!
24.fxe4? Ng4-+24.Rf2 d3 25.Qd1 a6 26.Nc3 Ree8ƒ
24...d3-+ 25.Qc5 Ne5! 26.Nd4
26.Qc7 Rc8 27.Qxb7 Rc2-+
26...Rexd4 27.Qxe5 Ng4 28.fxg4 Bxe5 29.exd4 Bxd4+ 30.Kh1 Qxg4 31.Re7 Rd7 32.Ne3 Bxe3 33.Rxe3 Rc7 34.Ref3
Qe4 35.Bxg5 Rc2 36.Kg1 Rxa2 0-1

20. [A41]

Porat, Ido (2395) - Vydeslaver, Alik (2395)
Israel 125/20, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.g3 Bxf3 4.exf3 c6

4...d5 - 78/(49)
5.c3 d5 6.Bd3 Nf6?!N
6...e6
7.f4 e6 8.f5!² exf5 9.Bxf5 Be7
9...Bd6 10.Qe2+²
10.Qb3! b6 11.O-O O-O 12.Re1
12.Nd2!? Nbd7 13.Nf3²
12...Re8 13.c4?!
13.Be3 c5 14.Nd2²
13...a6?
13...c5! 14.cxd5 cxd4
14.Nc3± b5
14...dxc4 15.Qxc4 b5 16.Qd3±
15.cxd5 cxd5

16.Bf4?!
16.Bg5! Nc6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.Nxd5 Bxd4 (19...Nxd4 20.Bxh7+±) 20.Qc2±
16...Nc6 17.Rad1 g6?!
17...h6!?
18.Bh3 b4
18...Qb6 19.Be3² (19.Be5!?)
19.Na4 Nh5 20.Bh6?!
20.Be5! Ra7 (20...Nxe5? 21.dxe5+-) 21.Rc1 Na5 22.Qf3±
20...Bf6
20...Qd6 21.Bg2 Rad8 (Δ g5) 22.h4±
21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Be3±
22.Qxd5?? Rd8 23.Qc5 Nxd4-+
22...Rd8 23.Nc5 Na5
23...Ng7 24.Nb7±
24.Qxb4 Nc4 25.Re1?
25.Bc1!+-
25...Rb8 26.Qc3 Rxb2 27.g4?
27.Bf1! Qb5 (27...Rxa2 28.Bh6 Qd8 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.Nb7+-) 28.Nxa6!+-
27...Ng7 28.g5 Bd8„ 29.Bg2??† Qb5??†
29...Ba5-+
30.a4 Qb4?!
30...Qa5„
31.Qxb4 Rxb4 32.Bf4² Nb2 33.Rb1
33.Be5!? Nxa4 34.Nxa4 Rxa4 35.Bxd5²
33...Ne6??
33...Nd3! 34.Rxb4 Nxb4 35.Bd2ƒ
34.Bd2 Rb6 35.Ba5 1-0

21. [A48]

Kelires, Andreas (2426) - Kovchan, Alexander (2591)
Gazi 125/21, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d6 5.c3 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Nh5 8.e4 e6 9.Bc4 a6
9...Qe7 - 36/92
10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 b5N
11...Nxg3
12.Bb3 Nc6
12...Nxg3 13.hxg3 Nd7 14.d5 Nc5 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Bc2 e5∞
13.Nf1 Na5 14.Bc2 f5?!
14...Bb7 15.e5 Nc4 16.Qd3 f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rab1 (18.Rxe6 Bd5 19.Ree1 Nxb2 20.Qf5 Qc8 21.Ne3 Qxf5 22.Nxf5
Rfe8„) 18...Qd7 19.N3d2²
15.exf5 exf5 16.N3d2 g4
16...Nf6 17.f4 Nd5 18.Ne3 Nxe3 (18...Nxf4 19.Bxf4 gxf4 20.Nd5±) 19.Rxe3 g4 20.b4 Nc4 21.Nxc4 bxc4 22.Qe2±
17.f3! c5?
17...Bd7 18.fxg4 fxg4 19.Ne3 Nxg3 20.hxg3±17...Nxg3 18.Nxg3 f4 19.Nh5 Qg5 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.Be4! d5 22.Bc2
Nc6 23.a4 b4 24.fxg4 Bxg4 25.Nf3²
18.dxc5 dxc5 19.fxg4 fxg4 20.Qe2 b4 21.Rad1 Qg5
21...bxc3 22.Nb3 Bd4+ 23.Nxd4 cxd4 24.bxc3+-
22.Ne4
22.Nc4 Nxc4 23.Qxc4+ Kh8 24.Rd5+-
22...Nxg3 23.Nfxg3+- Qe7 24.Qd3 Qa7 25.Kh1 Kh8 26.Nd6
26.Nxc5 Bf6 27.Nh5+-
26...Bf6 27.Nh5 Bg5 28.Qd5 bxc3 29.Nf7+! Qxf7 30.Qxf7 Rxf7 31.Re8+ 1-0
A50-A99

22. [A50]
Howell, David (2698) - Pert, Nicholas (2562)
Great Britain (ch) 125/22, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.d4 g6!? 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.d5!
6.Bg2 Ne4 - 21/(87)
6...Na6!?
6...O-O
7.e4!?N
7.Bg2²
7...Nc5
7...d6 8.Bg2 Nc5 9.Nd4 e5 10.Ndb5²
8.e5 Ng4
8...Nfe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bg2 f5 11.Nd4 O-O (11...Bxe5?! 12.Nxf5 Nxf2 13.Qe2 Rf8 14.Nh4 Nxh1 15.Qxe5±) 12.f3
Nc5 13.f4²
9.Bh3?!
9.Bf4?! d6 10.exd6 Bxc3+!? (10...cxd6=) 11.bxc3 exd6=9.b4!? Na6 10.Bf4 d6! (10...Nxb4? 11.h3 Nh6 12.Qd2 Ng8
(12...Nf5? 13.g4+-) 13.Bg2ƒ) 11.Bh3 h5 12.O-O dxe5∞9.Nh4! f5 10.exf6 (10.f4 d6=) 10...Nxf6 11.Bg2 e6 12.O-O O-
O 13.Bg5²
9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Bh6 d6?!
11...Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 f6 13.O-O e5 14.dxe6 Nxe6 15.Bxe6 dxe6 16.Bg7 Rg8 17.Qxd8+ Rxd8 18.Bxf6=¹11...e6 12.O-O
Qf6 13.Qd2 Rg8 14.Be3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qe7³
12.O-O Bc8
12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Rg8 14.Re1 e5 15.dxe6 Qf6 16.exf7+ Kxf7∞
13.Bg2 Bf5 14.Re1?!
14.g4!? Bd3 15.Re1 Bxc4 16.Rc1! Rg8! (16...Nd3? 17.Qa4+ Qd7 18.Qxc4 Nxe1 19.Rxe1+-) (16...a5? 17.Ne4! Ba6
(17...Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Ba6 19.Rxe5! dxe5 20.d6! exd6 21.Bc6+ Ke7 22.Qf3 f6 23.Bxa8+-) 18.f4+-) 17.f4 Bh8 18.b3
Ba6 19.Re3 Nd7 20.b4 Bc4!∞
14...Qd7?!
14...Nd3 15.Re3 Nxb2 16.Qf1 (16.Qe2? Na4 17.Nxa4 Bxa1 18.Nb2 f6 19.Bg7 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Kf7 21.Bxh8 Qxh8µ)
(16.Qb3 Nd3 17.g4 Nc5 18.Qd1 Bd7 19.f4 Bf6µ) 16...Qd7 17.a4 Bd4 18.Rf3 Bg4³
15.Re3! Bh3
¹15...Rg8 16.Qd2 Na4 17.Nxa4 Qxa4 18.f4 Bh8∞15...a5!?
16.b4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Na6
17...Nb7 18.Qe2²
18.Rb1 c5?
18...Bxc3 19.Rxc3 c5 20.Re3 O-O-O²
19.dxc6 Qxc6+ 20.Kg1?
20.Nd5! Nc7 (20...e6 21.b5 Qxc4 22.bxa6 Qxd5+ 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.f4+-) 21.f4! Bf6

22.Bg7!! (22.g4? Rc8 23.g5 Nxd5 24.cxd5 Qc2+=) 22...O-O-O (22...Bxg7 23.Rxe7+ Kf8 24.Rxc7+-) 23.Bxh8 Rxh8
24.Re4 Kb8±
20...Nc7
20...Qxc4? 21.Rc1 (21.Qa4+ Kd8 22.Rc1 Rc8 (22...Nc7 23.Rxe5 dxe5 24.Bg7 Rg8 25.Bxe5+-) 23.Ne2 Qg4
24.Qxa6+-) 21...Nxb4 22.Re4 Qa6 23.Rxb4+-20...Bxc3? 21.b5 Qc5 22.bxa6±
21.Qd3
21.b5!? Qd7 22.Ne4 Ne6=
21...Ne6
21...Rc8!? 22.b5 Qd7 23.Rbe1 Rg8∞
22.Nd5
22.b5!? Qc5 23.Nd5 Rc8 24.Rd1 f6 25.f4²
22...Rc8 23.Rc1 g5?
23...b5 24.c5 f6∞
24.Ree1?

24.Qf5 Rg8 25.Rf3 Nf4 (25...Nd8 26.Re1! Rg6 27.Ra3 Qb7 28.Rxa7+-) 26.Nxf4 gxf4 27.Bxf4 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 Rg7
29.Rh4 Qd7 30.Qd3±
24...Rg8! 25.Qxh7??
25.c5? bxc5 26.bxc5 Nxc5 27.Qxh7 Rh8 28.Qxh8+ Bxh8 29.Nxe7 Qf3! 30.Nxc8+ Kd7 31.Bxg5 Bb2 (31...Kxc8?
32.Re8+ Kd7 33.Rxh8 Nd3 34.Rd8+ Ke6∞) 32.Nxa7 f6µ25.b5! Qc5 26.h4 Rg6 27.Bxg5 Nxg5 28.hxg5 Kf8∞
25...Rh8!-+ 26.Qe4 Rxh6 27.Qg4 Qd7 28.Rcd1 Rh8
28...f5 29.Qf3 (29.Qxf5 Nd4-+) 29...g4 30.Qxf5 Nd4 31.Qxd7+ Kxd7-+
29.Rxe5!? dxe5 30.Nxb6 f5
30...Qxd1+ 31.Qxd1 axb6 32.Qg4 Rc6-+
31.Qf3
31.Nxd7 fxg4 32.Nxe5 Rd8-+
31...Qc6 32.Qxf5
32.Qxc6+ Rxc6-+
32...axb6 33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Qf5+ Kg8
34...Kg7! - 34...Kg8
35.Qg6+ Kf8
35...Ng7? 36.Rd8+ Rxd8 37.Qxc6 Kf7µ
36.Qf5+ Kg7! 37.Qxe5+ Kg8 38.c5 Rh6 39.a4 Qxa4 40.Ra1 Qxb4 0-1
 23. [A56]
Miron, Lucian Costin (2498) - Efimov, Igor (2409)
France 125/23, 2014 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 e5 5.Nc3 Be7 6.e4 Nbd7 7.g3!?
7.Bd3 - 102/53
7...Nf8 8.Bg2
8.h4!? Bg4 9.Qd3 Ng6 10.Nh2 Bd7 11.Bg2 O-O 12.Nf1² Δ Ne38.Nh4!? g6 9.Ng2 h5 10.h4 (10.f3 h4 11.g4 N6h7
12.h3 Bg5„) 10...a6 11.f3 N8d7 12.Bd3 O-O 13.a3²
8...Ng6 9.O-O
9.Nd2!? Bd7 (9...h5 10.Nf1 Bg4 (10...h4 11.Ne3 hxg3 12.fxg3²) 11.f3 Bd7 12.Ne3 Qc8 13.Qc2² Δ Nf5) 10.Nf1 Qc8
11.Ne3 Bd8!? 12.O-O a6 13.a3 Ba5 14.Bd2 b5 15.b4²
9...h5
9...Bg4 10.Qd3 a6 11.a4 Qc8 12.Nd1²9...Bd7 10.Ne1 a6 11.a4 Qc8 12.Nc2²
10.h4 Bg4 11.Qa4+
11.Qd3 Qc8 12.Ng5 O-O 13.Bd2 Bd8 14.Nd1²
11...Bd7 12.Qc2 Qc8N
12...O-O 13.Ng5 (13.Nh2) 13...Qc8 14.a4² ∆Bd8 15.a5
13.Ne1!?
13.Ng5 a6 14.a4 b6 15.Nd1!? Ng4 (15...b5 16.Ne3²) 16.Bd2 O-O (16...b5?! 17.f3 Nh6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8
20.Bh3±) (16...Rb8?! 17.b3 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.f3 Nh6 20.Nc3 b4 21.Nb5±) 17.Qd3 (17.f3 Nh6 Δ f5) 17...Re8
(17...f5 18.exf5 Bxg5 19.hxg5 Bxf5 20.Be4²) 18.f3 Nh6 19.Nf2 Nf8 20.Bh3²
13...Bd8 14.Nd3 Ba5 15.Ne2!?
15.Bg5 Nh7 16.Be3 O-O 17.f3 a6 18.a4 Bh3∞15.a3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Bh3 17.f3²
15...b5 16.b3 Rb8 17.f4
17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nb2 O-O 19.Nc4 Qa6 20.Bg5 Nh7 21.Be3 Nf6 22.Nxa5 Bxe2 23.Nc6 Rb6 (23...Rb7 24.Rfc1 Bd3
25.Bf1!) 24.f3! Bxf1 25.Bxf1 Qb7 26.b4²
17...bxc4
17...Ng4 18.f5 Nf8 19.Nc3 bxc4 20.Nb2!? (20.bxc4 Nh7 21.Nd1 Qa6„) 20...cxb3 21.axb3 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Bb5
23.Rxa7 Nd7 (23...Bxf1 24.Bxf1²) 24.Nc4 Bxc4 25.bxc4 Ra8∞
18.bxc4
18.Nb2 Bb5! (18...cxb3 19.axb3ƒ) 19.Nxc4 Qa6 20.f5 (20.fxe5 Nxe5) 20...Nf8 21.Nxa5 Qxa5 22.Bf3 N8d7 23.Rd1
Ng4„
18...Ng4„ 19.Bf3 exf4
19...Qa6 20.f5 Nf8 21.Bxg4 hxg4 22.Be3 Nh7 23.Nf2 Nf6 24.Rfb1 (24.Bg5 Nh7 25.Rab1 (25.Nxg4?! Nxg5 26.hxg5
Bd8³) 25...Rxb1 26.Rxb1 Nxg5 27.hxg5 Bd8 28.Nxg4 Bxg5 29.Rb8+ Bd8=) 24...O-O (24...Rb4 25.Rxb4 cxb4 26.c5²)
25.a3 Rfc8!? 26.Kg2 Rb6 27.Bg5 Nh7 28.Nxg4 Nxg5 29.hxg5 Rcb8©19...Qd8!? 20.Bd2 Bxd2 21.Qxd2 Nxh4
22.gxh4 Qxh4© 23.Nc3 Rh6 24.fxe5 Rg6 25.Nf4 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Qh4+=
20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.Nexf4 O-O 22.Nxg6 fxg6 23.Bf4 Bc7 24.Rab1!?
24.e5 Qa6 (24...dxe5 25.Nxe5 Bf5 26.Qc3²) 25.e6! (25.Rae1 dxe5 26.Bxe5 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Bxe5 28.Nxe5 Qa3 29.Qf2
Bf5 30.d6 Qc3 31.Nc6 Rb2„) 25...Bd8 26.Nf2 Bf5 27.Ne4²
24...Rb6 25.Kh2
25.e5 Rxb1 26.Qxb1 Be225.Rbe1 Bh3 26.Rf2 Re8 27.Rfe2 (27.Bd2 Bd8 28.Nf4 g5 29.hxg5 Bxg5 30.Bc3 h4 31.Qd3
Ra6„) 27...Bg4 28.Re3² Δ e5
25...Re8
25...Ra6„
26.Rfe1?
26.Rbe1 Ra6 27.e5 dxe5 28.Bxe5 (28.Nxe5 Bf5 29.Qf2 Bxe5 30.Rxe5 Rxe5 31.Bxe5 Ra4 32.Qe2 Bg4=) 28...Bh3
29.Rg1 (29.Rf2? Bf5µ) 29...Bf5 (29...Bg4 30.Bxc7 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Qxc7 32.Re8+ Kh7 33.Qd2²) 30.Bxc7 Rxe1 31.Rxe1
Qxc7 32.a4 Qf7=
26...Ra6?
26...Rxb1! 27.Qxb1 Ba5 28.Rf1 Rxe4 29.Bxd6 Bf5 30.Qb5 (30.Qb3 Re2+ 31.Nf2 Bh3-+) 30...Re2+ 31.Rf2 Bxd3
32.Rxe2 Bxe2 33.Qxa5 Bf1 34.Qd2 Qh3+ 35.Kg1 Bxc4µ 36.Be5 Qf1+ 37.Kh2 Be2-+
27.Nf2 Bd7 28.Qb3!?
28.Nd3 Ra4 29.e5 Qa6 30.exd6 Rxe1 31.Nxe1 Rxa2 32.Rb2 Rxb2 33.Qxb2 Bxd6 34.Bxd6 Qxd6 35.Nf3 Qf6 36.Qg2=
28...Ra4
28...Rb6 29.Qc3 Qa6 30.Kg1 Reb8 31.Rxb6 Rxb6 32.e5 dxe5 33.Bxe5 Bxe5 34.Rxe5 Qxa2 (34...Rb1+ 35.Kg2 Qf6
36.Qc2=) 35.Re7 Rf6 36.Ne4 Qb1+ 37.Kh2 Qa2+ 38.Kg1=
29.Kg2?!†
29.Kg1 Rb4 30.Qc2 Ra4=
29...Qa6
29...Re7!³ 30.Nd3 Qa6µ
30.Qb7
30...Qa5?†
30...Rc8 31.Qxa6 Rxa6 32.Re2 Rb6 33.Rb3 Ba4 34.Rc3²30...Re7! 31.Qxa6 Rxa6 32.Re2 Bc8 33.Rbe1 Ba5 34.Rb1
Bc7=
31.Bxd6!± Bxd6 32.Qxd7 Rd8 33.Qe6+ Kh7 34.e5 Bb8 35.Ne4+- Rxa2+ 36.Kh3 Qa4 37.Nc3
37.Nf6+ Kh6 38.Nxh5+-
37...Qxc4 38.Nxa2 Qxa2 39.Rb7 Qd2 40.Reb1
40.Rxg7++-
40...Qe2 41.Rxg7+ Kxg7 42.Qe7+ Kh6 43.Qg5+ 1-0

24. [A57]
Fier, Alexandr (2628) - Rambaldi, Francesco (2513)
Biel (open) 125/24, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 g6 5.cxb5 a6 6.e3 Bg7 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.a4 O-O 9.Be2 axb5 10.Bxb5 e6 11.e4 exd5
12.exd5 Re8+ 13.Be3 Ng4 14.O-O Nxe3
14...Rxe3 - 119/21
15.fxe3 Rxe3 16.Qd2 Re8 17.Kh1 h6?!N
17...Na6
18.Rae1 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Na6 20.d6 Nb4?
20...Qf6 21.Ne5 Nb4 22.Nxd7 Qd4 23.Qxd4 (23.Rd1±) 23...cxd4 24.Nd1±20...Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qf6 22.Kg2 Nb4 23.Re7
Qd4 24.Qxd4 cxd4 25.Ne4±
21.Re7 Nc6
22.Rxf7!+- Qe8
22...Kxf7 23.Qd5+ Kf8 (23...Ke8 24.Qg8+ Bf8 25.Qxg6#)

24.Bc4+-
23.Bc4 Kh8 24.Bd5 Rb8 25.Qc2
25.Ne4 Ne5 26.Nf6 Qxf7 (26...Qd8 27.Qxh6+! Bxh6 28.Rh7#)
27.Bxf7 Nxf7 28.Nxd7+-
25...Ne5 26.Re7 Qf8 27.Bxb7 Rxb7 28.Qe2 Nxf3 29.Re8 Nd4 30.Rxf8+ Bxf8 31.Qe8 Kg7 32.Qe5+ Kh7 33.Qxc5
Nc6 34.Nb5 Rb8 35.a5 Re8 36.Qf2 Bg7 37.a6 Rb8 38.a7 Nxa7 39.Qxa7 Rxb5 40.Qxd7 Rxb2 41.g3 Rf2 42.Qe7 Kg8
43.d7 1-0

25. [A62]
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2631) - Zhang, Zhong (2628)
Al-Ain 125/25, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.a4 Na6 11.Re1
11.Nd2 - 92/39
11...Nb4 12.Bf4N
12.e4
12...Ne4
12...Bf5!? 13.Rc1 h6 (13...Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4∞) 14.Nd2 g5 15.Be3 Ng4 16.Nc4 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Bg6∞
13.Nxe4 Rxe4 14.Bg5
14.Nd2 Rxf4 15.gxf4 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Bg7©
14...Qf8 15.Nd2 Re5 16.Bf4 Rxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Ne4 Nxf4 19.gxf4 Bxb2?!
19...Bf5 20.Nc3 (20.Qd5 Re8 21.Nc3 Qe7©) 20...Qe7 21.Qd5 Be6 22.Qd3 Rd8 23.e4 Qd7©
20.Rb1 Bf5 21.Qd5² Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Bc3 23.Red1 b6 24.Qd3 Bb4
24...Bg7 25.Qxd6 Qe8 26.Qd5²
25.Qxd6 Qe8 26.Qd5 Rb8 27.Qd6 Ra8 28.Qd5 Rb8 29.Kf1
29.Qe5 a5 30.Rbc1²
29...a5
29...Qxa4? 30.Ra1 Qc2 31.Rxa7±
30.Rb3! Qxa4
30...Rc8 31.f5 c4 32.Rf3ƒ
31.f5 Re8
31...Rc8 32.fxg6 hxg6 33.Rf3 Qe8 34.Qb7 Rb8 35.Qa7 Ra8 36.Qxb6±
32.Rf3 Rf8
32...Re7 33.Rdd3! Qe8 34.Rde3±
33.fxg6 hxg6 34.h4 Kh8 35.Qe5+
35.h5+-
35...Kg8 36.Qd5 Kh8 37.h5+- g5 38.Qe5+ f6

39.Rd8! Rxd8
39...fxe5 40.Rdxf8+ Kg7 41.R3f7+ Kh6 42.Rh8#
40.Qxf6+ Kh7 41.Qg6+ Kh8 42.Qh6+ Kg8 43.Qxg5+ 1-0

26. [A65]
Tang, Andrew (2387) - Flores Rios, Mauricio (2531)
USA 125/26, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Nge2 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Ng3 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 Ne8 11.Bd3 Nd7
12.O-O Ne5 13.Be2 h5 14.Be3 h4 15.Nh1 f5 16.f4N
16.Qd2 - 120/34
16...Nf7
16...Ng4!? 17.Bxg4 fxg4 18.g3 Qe7 19.Nf2 Nf6 20.Re1 Re8 21.Qd2 Nh5 22.Kg2 Bd7∞
17.exf5 gxf5
17...Bxf5! 18.Re1 (18.Nf2 Nf6 19.g4 hxg3 20.hxg3 Nh6! 21.Re1 (21.g4? Nfxg4! 22.Bxg4 (22.Nxg4 Nxg4 23.Bxg4
Qh4 24.Bxf5 Qg3+ 25.Kh1 Kf7!-+) 22...Nxg4 23.Nxg4 Qh4-+) 21...Qd7 22.Bf3 Rae8 23.Kg2 Re7µ) 18...Nf6
19.Nf2 Nh6 20.Bf3 Qc7 21.a5 Rae8³
18.Nf2 Nf6 19.Qd2 Bd7 20.Nh3 Ng4! 21.Kh1
21.Bxg4? fxg4 22.Ng5 Nxg5 23.fxg5 Bf5µ
21...Nxe3
21...b5! 22.axb5 (22.Bg1! b4 23.Nd1 Re8³) 22...axb5 23.Bg1 (23.Bxb5?? Bxc3-+) (23.Nxb5? Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Qe8-+)
23...b4 24.Rxa8 Qxa8 25.Nd1 Qa2³
22.Qxe3 Bd4
22...Qf6 23.Rae1 Rae8 24.Qf2 b5 25.axb5 axb5 26.Bxb5 Bxb5 27.Nxb5 Qxb2 28.Qxb2 Bxb2 29.Re6!∞
23.Qd2 Qf6 24.Bh5! Qh6
24...b5 25.Bxf7+ Qxf7 (25...Rxf7? 26.axb5±) 26.Ng5 Qg6 27.axb5 axb5 28.Ne6! (×b5, e6) 28...Rxa1 29.Rxa1 Bxe6
30.dxe6 Bxc3 31.bxc3 Qxe6 32.Re1©
25.Bxf7+ Rxf7 26.Rae1 Bf6 27.Ng5 Re7 28.Rxe7 Bxe7 29.Re1 Re8 30.Ne6 Kf7
30...Bd8! 31.Nxd8 Rxd8 32.a5 Kf7 33.Kg1 Qf6∞
31.Nd1
31.Qc2!? Qg6 32.Nd1? h3! 33.g3 Bf6 34.Ne3 Bxe6 35.dxe6+ Rxe6 36.Qb3 Bg7µ
31...Bf6 32.Ne3
32.b4!? h3! 33.bxc5 hxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Bxa4∞
32...Bxe6 33.dxe6+
33.Nc4!?
33...Rxe6 34.Qd5
34.Nxf5?? Qxf4! 35.Ne3 (35.Qd5? Qxf5-+) 35...h3-+
34...Qxf4 35.Nc4
35.Qxb7+? Kg6 36.Qf3 Qxf3 37.gxf3 Bd4-+
35...Be5 36.Nxe5+
36.Nxd6+? Kf8! 37.g3 Qf2 38.Rb1 hxg3-+
36...dxe5 37.Qxb7+ Kf6 38.Rd1?
38.Qb8! Qh6 39.Qc8 Kg5 40.Qxc5 Qf6 41.b4³
38...h3!
38...Qxa4!? 39.b3 Qe8 40.Qh7 Kg5! 41.Rd7 Rg6-+
39.gxh3 e4?
39...Qxa4! 40.Rc1 Qc6+ 41.Qxc6 Rxc6-+
40.Rg1?
40.Qd5!= Δ Qd8
40...Qf3+ 41.Rg2 Ke5
41...Rd6! 42.Qg7+ Ke6 43.Qg8+ Ke5 44.Qh8+ Kd5 45.Qg8+ Kd4-+
42.Qc7+ Kd5 43.Qb7+
43.b4!! cxb4 44.Qa5+ Kc4 45.Qc7+ Kd4 46.Qd8+ Kc4 47.Qc7+= Kb3?? 48.Qc2+ Ka3 49.Qa2#

43...Kc4 44.Qf7 Qd1+ 45.Rg1 Qd5-+ 46.Rc1+ Kb3

¹46...Kb4-+
47.Rxc5 Qxc5 48.Qxe6+ Kxb2 49.Qxa6 Qc1+ 50.Kg2 Qd2+ 51.Kg1 Qd4+?
51...f4! 52.Qb7+ Kc1! 53.Qxe4 Qe3+!-+
52.Kg2 f4 53.Qe2+ Ka3??
53...Kc3! 54.Qe1+ Qd2+ 55.Kf1 f3! 56.Qa1+ Kc4-+
54.Qc2?
54.Qf2! e3 55.Qe2 Qd5+ 56.Qf3 Qd2+ 57.Kf1µ
54...f3+ 55.Kg3

55...Qe5+
55...Qe3! 56.Qd1 (56.a5? Qg5+ 57.Kf2 Qg2+-+) 56...Qg5+ 57.Kf2 e3+!-+
56.Kg4 Kb4?
56...Qg7+! 57.Kf4 Qh6+ 58.Kg4 Qe3-+
57.h4! Qd4 58.Kg3 Qd6+ 59.Kg4 Qg6+ 60.Kf4 Qf6+ 61.Kg3 Qd6+ 62.Kg4 Qd3 63.Qb2+ Kxa4 64.h5 Qe2?!
64...Qe3!? 65.Qa1+ Kb4 66.Qb2+ Kc4 67.Qc2+ Kd4 68.Qd1+ Kc3 69.h6 (69.Kg3? f2+ 70.Kg2 Qe1-+) 69...Qxh6
70.Qe1+! Kd4 71.Qd1+ Ke5 72.Qa1+ Kd5 73.Qa2+=
65.Qd4+= Kb3 66.Kg3?!
66.Qb6+ Kc2 67.Qc5+ Kd1 68.Qg1+ Qe1 69.Qd4+ Kc2 70.Qc4+=
66...Qg2+ 67.Kf4 Qxh2+ 68.Kg4 f2
68...Qe2 69.Kg3! e3 70.Qd5+ Kc2 71.Qxf3=
69.Qd1+ Kc3 70.Qc1+ Kd3 71.Qd1+ Ke3 72.Qc1+ Ke2 73.Qc4+ Ke1 74.Qc1+!
74.Qxe4+?? Kf1 75.Qc4+ Kg1 76.Qc5 Qg2+ 77.Kf5 Kh1-+
74...Ke2 75.Qc4+ Kd2 76.Qb4+ Kd3 77.Qb3+ Kd4 78.Qb4+ Kd5 79.Qb5+ Ke6 80.Qc6+?!
80.Qe8+!=
80...Qd6 81.Qxe4+ Qe5 82.Qc4+ Ke7 83.Kf3 1/2-1/2
 27.* [A65]
Aronian, Levon (2770) - Ding, Liren (2755)
Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 125/27, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Nge2 O-O 6.f3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Ng3 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 h5 11.Bg5 Qc7
11...Qe8 12.Bd3 Nh7 13.Bf4 Qe7 14.O-O Nd7 15.Nge2 (15.Bc2 - 117/27) 15...Ne5 16.Bc2 Bd7N (16...Rb8) 17.Bc1
b5 18.f4 Nc4 19.Qd3

19...b4 (19...f5! 20.Rb1 (20.e5 dxe5 21.d6 Qf7µ) (20.Re1 Nf6 21.Qg3 b4 22.e5 Ng4µ) 20...fxe4 (20...Nf6 21.b3 fxe4
22.Qg3 Nb6 23.Qxg6 Qe8³) 21.Nxe4 Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.b3 Bf5 24.Qd1 Nb6³) 20.Qxc4 bxc3 21.Rb1 cxb2
22.Bxb2 Bxb2 23.Rxb2 Rfb8 24.Rfb1 Rxb2 25.Rxb2 Bg4 26.Nc3 Qf6∞ Aronian,L (2770)-Erdos,V (2613)
Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
12.Be2 Nh7 13.Be3 h4 14.Nf1 f5 15.exf5N
15.Nd2
15...gxf5
15...Bxf5 16.g4! hxg3 17.hxg3 g5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bd3²
16.f4 Nf6 17.Bf2
17...Re8?!
17...Ne4 18.Bxh4 (18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Qd2 Qe7∞) 18...Qa5 (18...Nxc3 19.bxc3 Bxc3+ 20.Nd2 Bxa1 21.Qxa1 Qh7
22.Bg5©) 19.Ra3 Re8 - 17...Re8
18.Bxh4 Ne4 19.Ra3?!
19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.Nd2 Rxf4 21.Bg5 Rb4 22.Ra3!ƒ
19...Qa5© 1/2-1/2

28. [A68]
Papadimitriou, Loukas (2190) - Skembris, Spyridon (2412)
Vrachati 125/28, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.f4 O-O 7.Nf3 Bg4
7...e6 8.dxe6 Bxe6„
8.Be2 e6 9.O-O exd5 10.cxd5
10.exd5 Re8 11.h3 Bf5„
10...Re8 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nbd7
12...Na6!? 13.Rb1 c4 14.Be3 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 f5 16.Qa4 fxe4 17.Be2 Qc7 18.f5©
13.g4 h6 14.h4
14.Qe2 Nb6 15.Rd1 Nh7 16.a4 Bd4+ 17.Kh2 a6 18.a5 Nd7 19.Bg2 g5„
14...a6
14...h5 - 118/32
15.g5 Nh7 16.a4
16.Qc2 b5 17.a4 b4 18.Nd1 Nhf8 19.Ne3 a5 20.Nc4 Nb6∞
16...c4!? 17.Be3 Rc8 18.Bd4 hxg5!?N
18...Bf8 19.Bg4± (19.Bg2)18...Nc5 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qd4+ Kg8 21.Rad1²
19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.hxg5
20.Qd4+ Qf6 21.Qxf6+ Nhxf6 22.hxg5 Nxe4 (22...Nh5 23.Bg4 Rcd8 24.Bxd7 Rxd7 25.Kg2 f6 26.gxf6+ Nxf6 27.Kf3
Rde7 28.Rfe1„)
20...Nc5
20...Qb6+!? 21.Rf2 Qe3 22.Bg4 Qg3+ 23.Rg2 Qe3+ 24.Rf2=
21.Qd4+ f6
21...Kg8 22.Rad1 (22.Qxc4? Nxg5 23.fxg5 Qxg5+-+) 22...b5 23.axb5 axb5© 24.Nxb5 Rb8 25.Na3 (25.Qxc4?!
Nxg5µ) 25...Nxg5 26.fxg5 Qxg5+ 27.Bg2 Rxe4 28.Qd2 Qg4©
22.Qxc4?!

22.Rad1 Nb3 23.gxf6+ Nxf6 24.Qe3 Nd7!? 25.Bg4 Nbc5 26.Qd4+ Nf6 27.Bxc8 Qxc8 28.f5 Nxe4 29.Rf4 Nxc3
30.bxc3 g5 31.Rf3 Re4„
22...Ne6!µ
22...Nxe4 23.Qd4 Ng3 24.Bg4 Nxf1 25.Rxf1©
23.Qb4 a5!? 24.Qxb7+ Re7 25.Qa6
25.Qb5? Nxf4 26.gxf6+ Nxf6 27.Rad1 Rb8-+25.gxf6+ Nxf6 26.Qa6 Nxf4µ
25...Nxf4 26.Nb5?†
26.Bg4 Ra8 27.Qc6 fxg5µ
26...Nxg5-+ 27.Qxd6 Rd7 28.Qa6 Rc2‭→ 29.Nd4 Rd2 30.Be2 Rxd4 31.Bg4 Ngh3+ 32.Kh2 Rd2+ 33.Kg3 f5 34.Rxf4
34.exf5 Qg5 35.f6+ Kh7-+
34...Nxf4 35.exf5 gxf5 36.Rf1
36.Bxf5 Qg5+ 37.Bg4 Rg2+ 38.Kf3 Qxg4+
36...Nh5+ 37.Bxh5 Qg5+ 38.Kf3 Qxh5+ 0-1

29. [A70]
Chatalbashev, Boris (2545) - Cvitan, Ognjen (2495)
Maribor 125/29, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.Bf4 Bg7 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qb3 Qc7 10.e4 O-O 11.Nd2 Nh5
12.Be3 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5
13...gxf5 - 70/75
14.Be2 Nf6 15.Nc4 Ne4 16.O-O Nxc3 17.bxc3 Nd7 18.Bf4 Rf6 19.Bg3 Nb6
19...Bh6 20.Rae1 Raf8 21.a4²
20.Ne3 Bd7 21.a4² Re8N
21...c4
22.a5 Nc8 23.Rfb1 b6
23...Rf7 24.Qxb7 Qxb7 25.Rxb7 Bxc3 26.Ra3 Bb4 27.Ra2 Bc3 28.Ba6²
24.Bb5 Rf7 25.h3 Rfe7
25...bxa5 26.Nc4 Bxb5 27.Qxb5 Rff8 28.Rc1 Qe7 29.Qxa5²
26.Bh4?!
26.axb6 Nxb6 (26...axb6?! 27.Ba6±) 27.Bc6 Kh8 28.Rd1²
26...Re4 27.Ra4
27.axb6 Nxb6 28.Bxd7 Qxd7 29.Bg3 Bh6„
27...bxa5
27...Bxb5 28.Qxb5 bxa5 29.Rxe4 Rxe4 30.Ng4 Kf8 31.Nf6 Bxf6 32.Bxf6 Nb6∞
28.Bxd7 Qxd7 29.Rxe4 Rxe4 30.Qb8
30...Re8??
30...Bxc3 31.Rb7 Rb4! 32.Rxd7 Rxb8 33.Rd8+ Kf7 (33...Kg7 34.Rd7+= (34.g4?! Rb1+ 35.Kg2 Nb6³)) 34.Rd7+=
(34.Nc4?! g5! (34...a4 35.Rd7+=) 35.Bxg5 a4³)
31.Rb7 1-0

30. [A72]
Wang, Yue (2716) - Ding, Liren (2749)
Danzhou 125/30, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.cxd5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nh5
12.Nd2 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Nd7 14.Nc4 Nf6 15.a4N
15.f3 - 2/98
15...b6 16.Qc2 Re8 17.O-O a6 18.Rfe1 Rb8 19.Ne3 Qe7 20.Bd3² h5
21.e5! dxe5
21...Qxe5 22.Qd2! Qd4 23.Nc2 Qg4 (23...Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qg4 25.Ne4±) 24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Re1 Bb7 26.Ne4 Qd7
27.Qxg5±
22.Ne4
22.Nc4!? b5 (22...e4 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Rxe4 Qd8 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8 26.Qd2 Bf6 27.Re1 Qf8 28.Ne5±) (22...Qc7
23.Qd2 e4 24.Nxe4 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Qd8 26.Bf3ƒ) (22...Ng4 23.Rad1 Qf8 24.Bf5²) 23.Nxe5 c4 24.Bf1 Qc5 25.Nc6
Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Ra8 27.Re5!ƒ
22...Ng4?!
22...Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Qd6 24.Rad1©
23.Nxg4 Bxg4
23...hxg4 24.d6 Qd8 25.Bc4 Bd7 26.Rad1±
24.d6 Qd8 25.Bxa6± f5
25...h4 26.Bb5 Rf8 27.Qd2±
26.f3! fxe4 27.fxg4 Qxd6 28.Rad1 Qh6 29.gxh5 e3 30.Qe4! Red8 31.Rxd8+ Rxd8 32.g4
32.Bd3!? g4 (32...Qxh5 33.g4 Qh6 34.Bc4+ Kh8 35.Rxe3 Rd1+ 36.Kf2 Qf6+ 37.Rf3+-) 33.Qxg4+-
32...Qf6 33.Rf1 Rd4
33...Rd1 34.Qxe3 Rxf1+ 35.Bxf1 e4 36.Bc4+ Kf8 37.Qxe4+-
34.Qxe3 Rf4 35.b3 Qd8 36.Rxf4 gxf4 37.Qd3 Qh4 38.Qd5+ Kf8 39.Qd6+ Kg8 40.Qe6+ Kf8 41.Qd6+ Kg8 42.Bc4+
Kh8 43.Qb8+ Kh7 44.Bd3+ Kh6 45.Qd6+ Qf6 46.Qxf6+ Bxf6 47.Kf2+- Bh4+ 48.Kf3 Kg5 49.Be2 Be1 50.Ke4
Bc3 51.Bf3 Bb4 52.Kxe5 Bc3+ 53.Kd5 Bd2 54.Kc6 Ba5 55.Bd1 Kh6 56.b4! cxb4 57.Bb3 Kg5 58.Kd5 1-0

31. !N [A85]
Yang, Darwin (2485) - Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2501)
Dallas 125/31, 2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Qc2

5.Bd3 f5 6.Nge2 Nf6 7.f3 O-O
5...f5 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.cxd5
7.Nge2 - 92/43
7...Nxd5?!
7...cxd5 8.Nb5 Nc6 9.Nxd6+ Qxd6 10.Bd2 O-O=
8.a3!N
8.Nxd5
8...O-O 9.Nf3 Nd7 10.e4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 fxe4 12.Bxe4 Nf6 13.Bg5
13.Bd3 c5 14.O-O Qc7„ 15.Qe2 (15.Bg5 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qxc2 17.Bxc2 Bd7=) 15...b6 16.Bg5 Bb7! (16...Kh8 17.Ne5²)
17.Qxe6+ (17.Ne5 Rae8=) 17...Kh8 18.Ne5 (18.Qh3 Be4! 19.Bxe4 Nxe4 20.Rae1 Rae8©) 18...Ne4! (18...Rae8
19.Qh3 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Ne4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.f4²) 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.f3 Rae8 21.Nf7+! Qxf7 22.Qxd6 Re6 23.Qf4!?
(23.Qg3 Bc6=) 23...Qxf4 (23...Bc6 24.Qxf7 Rxf7 25.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 cxd4 27.cxd4 Kg8 28.Kf2²) 24.Bxf4 Rxf4
25.fxe4 Rexe4=
13...h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qe2! Kh8 16.Bc2!
16.O-O?! e5! 17.d5 cxd5 18.Bxd5 Rb8 (18...e4!?) 19.Nd2 Bc7 20.Ne4 Qe7=
16...Bd7 17.O-O Be8 18.Qe4
18.Ne5! Rd8 19.f4 c5 20.g4 (20.Qe4 Qf5=) 20...cxd4 21.cxd4 (21.Qd3?! g6 22.cxd4 Bc5µ) 21...Qe7!? (21...g6
22.Rab1 b6²) 22.Qe4 g6! 23.Nxg6+ Bxg6 24.Qxg6 Qg7 25.Qxe6 (25.Qxg7+ Kxg7 26.f5 exf5 27.gxf5 Be7=)
25...Bxf4„
18...Qf5 19.Qe2† Qf6 20.Qe4 Qf5 21.Qe2 Qf6
21...Qh5 22.Qe4 Rf5? 23.g4 Qg6 24.Nh4+- Qg5 25.Ng2!1/2-1/2

32. [A88]
Andrejic, Vladica (2268) - Georgiev, Kiril (2607)
Srbija 125/32, 2015 [Andrejic,Vladica]

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3 Na6
10...Ne4?! 11.Nxe4 fxe4 (11...Bxa1? 12.Nxd6±) 12.Nd4²
11.Bb2 Nc5
11...Qe7 - 57/116
12.Qc2
12.Ng5 Qe7 13.Nxe6²
12...Qe7 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Ng5 Bc8N
14...h6
15.b4!? Ne6 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.Nb1?!
17.b5! Qc7 18.c5!? (18.Qa4 Nd7! 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Qxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxc6 Nb6=) 18...dxc5 (18...d5 19.e3) 19.bxc6 bxc6
20.Ba3∞ Δ Na4
17...d5 18.c5 Ne4
18...f4! 19.gxf4 Bf5 20.Qd2 Be4³
19.Nd2 a5 20.a3 Ra8 21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.Nb3 axb4 23.axb4 Ra3?
23...f4! 24.Nd4 Ng5 25.b5∞
24.Nd4 Bd7 25.Qb2!² Raa8
25...Rfa8 26.Ra1²
26.Ra1 Rae8
26...Rxa1 27.Rxa1 f4 28.Bxe4! dxe4 29.gxf4 Rxf4 30.Ra8+ Rf8 31.Qb3+±26...Rab8²
27.e3 g5 28.Ra7 Bc8
28...Rb8 29.b5±
29.f3
29.b5±
29...Nf6 30.Nxc6 Qc7?!
¹30...Rxe3 31.Nd4 (31.f4?! gxf4 32.gxf4 Rfe8 33.Ne5 Nh5!„) 31...f4 32.Nb5±
31.b5 Rxe3
32.f4!± gxf4 33.gxf4 Kh8?!
33...h6 34.Qd4± (34.Kh1!?±)
34.Kh1+- Qg7 35.Ne5 Re8
35...Ng4 36.Qd2 Rxe5 (36...Rb3 37.Bxd5 Rxb5 38.Qd4 Qf6 39.Rg1+-) 37.fxe5 Qxe5 38.Qf4+-
36.c6 Re7 37.Ra8 Re8 38.Rg1 Ng4 39.Bxd5
39.cxb7+-
39...R3xe5 40.fxe5 bxc6 41.Bxc6 Rd8 42.b6 1-0

33.* [A95]
Eljanov, Pavel (2723) - Rapport, Richard (2671)
Biel 125/33, 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Nf3 d5 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 Ne4 9.Bf4
9.Ne5 - 15/98
9...Nd7 10.Rad1 g5
10...Bf6 11.Ne5 Qe7 12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Nxe4N (13.c5) 13...fxe4 14.c5 e5?! (14...Qe8 15.Qc3 b6 16.f3ƒ) 15.dxe5 Bxe5
16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Bxe4 Bh3 (17...Bf5 18.Bxf5 Rxf5 19.Rd3±) 18.Bg2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rae8± Li,C (2728)-Ulybin,M
(2502) Cappelle-la-Grande 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]
11.Be3 Nd6 12.b3 Bf6?!N
12...dxc4?! 13.Bc1! cxb3 14.Qxb3ƒ12...b6 13.Ne5 Bb7∞12...Nf7
13.Bc1! Rf7 14.Ba3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Ne5
16.Ne1!? Qa5 17.Bd6± Δ f3
16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Be7

18.Bd6! Bxd6
18...Bd7 19.f3 exf3 20.Bxf3±18...b6 19.Qc1 h6 20.Qa3ƒ
19.exd6 Bd7
19...Qxd6 20.Qxe4 Bd7 21.Qd4±
20.f3 exf3 21.Bxf3 Qa5 22.c5
22.cxd5!? cxd5 23.Bh5 Rxf1+ 24.Rxf1 Qb6+ 25.Kg2 d4 26.Qd2 Qc5 27.Rc1±
22...b6
22...Raf8 23.Qc1 h6 24.Bh5 Rf5 25.a3 e5 26.b4 Qd8 27.e4!±
23.Bh5 Rxf1+
23...Rf5 24.e4!±
24.Rxf1 Qxc5+ 25.Qxc5 bxc5 26.Rf7 Rd8 27.Re7 e5
27...c4 28.bxc4 dxc4 29.Kf2 c3 30.Ke3 c5 31.Kd3 Bb5+ 32.Kxc3 Rxd6 33.Rxa7±
28.g4!
28.Rxe5? Kg7!∞
28...e4
28...c4 29.bxc4 dxc4 30.Bf7+ Kh8 31.Bxc4±
29.Kf2 a5 30.h3 a4
30...h6 31.Ke3 Kf8 32.Rh7 Kg8 33.Rxh6 Kg7 34.Rg6+ Kf7 35.Rxg5+ Ke6 36.h4±
31.bxa4 c4 32.a5 c3 33.Ke1 c5
33...Rb8 34.Kd1+-
34.a6 e3
34...Bc6 35.a7 Rxd6 36.Rc7+-
35.Rxe3 d4 36.Re7 Bc6 37.a7 Rxd6

38.Re8+?
38.Rc7 Be4 (38...Bg2 39.Bf7+ Kf8 40.Bc4 Rd8 (40...Rb6 41.Rf7+ Ke8 42.Rf3!+-) 41.Rf7+ Ke8 42.Rxh7+-) 39.Bf7+
Kf8 40.Bc4 Rb6 41.Rxc5 c2 42.Bd3+-
38...Kg7 39.a8=Q Bxa8 40.Rxa8 d3
40...Rb6 41.Kd1 Rb1+ 42.Kc2 Rb2+ 43.Kd1 Rb1+=
41.Ra7+ Kh6 42.exd3 Rxd3 43.Ra6+ Kg7 44.Ra7+ Kh6 1/2-1/2
B00-B49

34.* [B06]
Sutovsky, Emil (2623) - Shoker, Samy (2466)
Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 125/34, 2015 [Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan]

1.e4 g6
1...d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be3 b5 5.f4 Bb7 6.e5 Nd7 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Qd2 c5N (8...e6) 9.O-O-O Nh6 (9...cxd4 10.Bxd4
dxe5 11.fxe5 e6 12.Bd3²) 10.dxc5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nf5 12.e6!? Ne5 (12...fxe6 13.Ng5 Bh6 14.h4ƒ) 13.Qf2 Qc7
14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.exf7+ Kxf7 16.Bg5± Roganovic,M (2526)-Mozetic,D (2403) Srbija 2015 [Arakhamia
Grant,Ketevan]
2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.f4 b5 6.Nf3 b4
6...Nd7 7.Bd3 c5 8.e5 b4 9.Ne4 Nh6 10.c3 bxc3 11.bxc3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nb6²6...Bb7 - 73/120
7.Ne2 Bb7 8.Ng3 Nf6
8...h5 9.f5! h4 10.fxg6! fxg6 11.Ne2±
9.Bd3 h5 10.Ng5N
10.f5 h4 11.Nxh4 Rxh4 12.fxg6 fxg6 13.e5 Kd7 14.Bxg6 Qh8∞10.e5!? Nd5 11.Bd2 c5 12.Ng5 (12.e6?! f5! 13.Nh4
Qc8 14.Qe2 Nc6 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 cxd4 17.c4 Nc3-+) 12...h4 13.Nxf7 Kxf7 14.Qg4 Kf8 15.Bxg6 Qd7 16.Nf5
Bc8 17.O-O‭→
10...c5 11.dxc5
11.e5 Ng4 12.Qe2 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 cxd4 14.Qxd4 O-O„11.c3 Ng4 12.Bg1 Qa5 13.Ne2 O-O 14.h3 Nf6 15.d5„11.f5
Ng4 12.fxg6 Nxe3 13.Qf3 Bxd4 14.Nxf7 Qa5∞
11...Ng4 12.Bd2
12...Bd4! 13.c3 Bxc5
13...Nf2 14.Qb3 Nxd3+ 15.Ke2 O-O 16.cxd4²13...Bf2+!? 14.Ke2 dxc5 15.Bc4 e6∞
14.Rf1?!
14.Qb3!? d5! (14...O-O 15.f5! Nf2 16.fxg6 Nxd3+ 17.Ke2 Ne5 18.gxf7+ Nxf7 19.Qe6+-) 15.O-O-O! Nf2 16.cxb4
Bd4 17.f5ƒ
14...Qb6
14...Nxh2!? 15.Qb3 d5 (15...O-O 16.f5 Nxf1 17.fxg6‭→) 16.cxb4 Ba7 17.Rh1 Ng4 18.O-O-O∞
15.Qb3 O-O 16.f5 bxc3 17.bxc3 Nxh2 18.Qxb6?!
18.Rf4!? Nd7 19.fxg6 Qxb3 20.axb3 fxg6 21.Bc4+ Kh8 (21...d5 22.exd5 Ne5 23.Ne6±) 22.Rxf8+ Nxf8 (22...Rxf8
23.Nf7+ Kh7 24.Ng5+=) 23.Bd5=
18...Bxb6 19.Rf4 Nd7 20.Rb1
20.Bc4!? d5 (20...Ne5 21.fxg6! Nxc4 22.gxf7+ Kh8 23.Nxh5ƒ) 21.exd5 (21.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bc7µ) 21...Ne5
22.Bb3 Nd3+ 23.Ke2 Nxf4+ 24.Bxf4 Ng4 25.d6©
20...Ng4 21.fxg6
21.Bc4 d5 (21...Nge5 22.fxg6! Nxc4 23.gxf7+ Kh8 24.Nxh5 Nde5 25.Ke2ƒ) 22.exd5 Nge5 23.Bb3 Nd3+ 24.Ke2
Nxf4+ 25.Bxf4 h4 26.d6!„
21...fxg6 22.Bc4+
22.Rxg4 hxg4 23.Bc4+ d5 24.exd5 Rac8 25.Bb3 Nc5 26.N3e4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Ba7µ
22...d5!µ 23.exd5 Nge5 24.Bf1
24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Bb3 Bf2+ 26.Ke2 Bxg3-+
24...Bxd5 25.c4 Rxf4 26.Bxf4 Ba5+ 27.Bd2 Bxd2+ 28.Kxd2 Nxc4+ 29.Bxc4 Bxc4-+ 30.a3 Ra7 31.N3e4 Kg7
32.Ke3 Bg8 33.Nf3 Rc7 34.Nd4 Nf6 35.a4 Bd5 36.Ng5 Kh6 37.Nde6 Bxe6 38.Nxe6 Rc4 39.Kf3 Rxa4 40.Rb7
Ra3+ 41.Ke2 Ra2+ 42.Kf3 Ra3+ 43.Ke2 Ra5 44.Kf3 Rf5+ 45.Kg3 Re5 46.Nd8 Re3+ 47.Kf2 Ng4+ 48.Kf1 Re4
49.g3 Ne3+ 50.Kf2 Nf5 51.Rb8 Rg4 52.Ne6 Kh7 53.Rf8 Nxg3 54.Rf7+ Kh6 55.Rf8 g5 56.Ra8 Ne4+ 57.Kf3 Nf6
58.Rxa6 h4 59.Ra8 Rg3+ 60.Kf2 Rb3 61.Nd4 Rb2+ 62.Kg1 Kg6 63.Nf3 h3 64.Ne5+ Kf5 65.Ra5 Rg2+ 66.Kh1 Ne4
67.Nd3+ Kf6 68.Ra6+ 0-1

35.* [B12]
Naiditsch, Arkadij (2722) - Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2654)
Dortmund 125/35, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O h6 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.Nb3 g5 9.Ne1 Qc7 10.Nd3
10.Bh5 - 124/38
10...b6 11.Be3 Bg7 12.Rc1

12...Rd8
12...c512...Bg6
13.Kh1N
13.Qe1 - 125/ (35) 13...c5 14.dxc5 Nxe5 15.cxb6 axb6 16.f4 N5c6 17.c3 Qa7 (17...Ra8 18.a3²) 18.Nd4 (18.fxg5 Qxa2
(18...hxg5 19.Qf2ƒ) 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.cxd4 hxg5 21.Qf2ƒ) 18...Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Tsydypov,Z (2398)-Bukavshin,I (2622)
Moscow 2015 [Tadic,Branko] (19.Bxd4 O-O 20.Qf2²)
13...c5 14.dxc5 O-O 15.cxb6 axb6 16.f4 gxf4
17.Nxf4!
17.Bxf4 Ng6 18.Bg3 Be4∞
17...Nxe5 18.Nh5 Nc4 19.Bg1!?
19.Bd4?! e5 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.Bg1 Nxb2µ19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Nd4 Qe5 (20...Bxd4 21.Bxd4 e5 22.Rxf5! Rxd4 23.Nf6+
Kg7 24.Qf3 Nxf5 25.Qxf5 Rfd8 26.Rf1 Kf8 27.Nh7+ Ke8 28.Nf6+ Kf8 (28...Ke7?! 29.Nd5+! R8xd5 30.Qxf7+ Kd8
31.Qg8+ Kd7 32.Rf7+ Kc6 (32...Kd6? 33.Qg6++-) 33.Rxc7+ Kxc7 34.Qg7+ Kb8 35.h3±) 29.Nh7+ Ke8=) 21.Nxg7
Qxg7 22.Qd2∞
19...Bxb2
19...Nxb2 20.Qe1©
20.Nd4! Bg6
20...Bxc1? 21.Qxc1 Kh7 22.Bd3‭→
21.Nf6+ Kg7 22.Rb1 e5 23.Nb5 Qc6 24.a4 Nf5 25.Nh5+ Kh7?!
25...Bxh5 26.Bxh5 Nfe3 27.Bxe3 Nxe3 28.Qe2 Nxf1 (28...Bd4 29.Nxd4 exd4 30.Rf3 Qxc2 31.Qxc2 Nxc2 32.Rxb6=)
29.Rxb2 Qf6 30.Rb1 Nxh2 31.Kxh2∞
26.Qe1 Nce3?!
26...Bd4 27.Bxd4 exd4 (27...Nxd4 28.Nf6+ Kg7 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.Qxe5+-) 28.Rxf5! Bxf5 29.Nxd4 Qg6 30.Nxf5
Qxf5 31.Bd3+-26...Rg8! 27.Bd3 e4 28.Bxc4 dxc4 29.Rxb2 Bxh5 30.Rxf5 c3! (30...Rxg2 31.Nd4! Qg6 32.Rxh5 Rg8
33.Rxh6+ Qxh6 34.Qxe4+ R2g6 35.Rb1±) 31.Nxc3 e3 32.Qf1 Rd2 33.Rxh5 (33.Bxe3 Rgxg2 34.Bxd2 Rxd2+
(34...Rf2+ 35.Kg1 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Qh1+ 37.Kf2 Qxh2+ 38.Ke1 Qg1+ 39.Rf1 Qg3+ 40.Rf2=)) 33...Rdxg2 34.Qf5+
Kh8 35.Rxh6+ Qxh6 36.Rb1 R8g5 37.Qc8+ Rg8 38.Qf5=
27.Rxb2 Nxf1 28.Qxf1± d4 29.Bf3 Qc5
30.Nf6+?
30.Be4! Bxh5 31.Bxf5+ Bg6 32.c3+-
30...Kg7 31.Ne4 Qe7 32.Rb3 Nh4 33.Qe1 f5?!
33...Nxf3 34.Rxf3 f5 35.Nd2 Rfe8„
34.Nd2 Nxf3 35.Nxf3 Rfe8 36.Nh4 Kh7 37.Rh3?
37.Nxg6 Kxg6 38.Rh3 Qf6 39.c3 d3 40.Qd2±
37...Qf6 38.Bf2
38.Nxg6 Qxg6 39.Rg3 Qh5∞
38...Bh5 39.Nf3 Bxf3 40.Rxf3?
40.gxf3 e4 41.fxe4 fxe4 42.Bxd4 Rxd4 43.Nxd4 Qxd4 44.Qf1∞
40...e4µ 41.Rh3
41.Rb3 d3 42.cxd3 exd3 43.Qg1 d2 44.Rb1µ
41...d3 42.cxd3 exd3 43.Qd1 d2 44.Nc3 Re6 45.Qb1 Qxc3 46.Qxf5+ Kh8 47.Rxc3 Re1+ 48.Bg1 Rxg1+ 49.Kxg1
d1=Q+ 0-1

36. [B12]
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731) - Navara, David (2724)
Biel 125/36, 2015 [Stamenkovic,Zoran]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.O-O Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.Nb3 Nf5 9.a4 a6 10.a5 c5 11.c4
11.c3 Rc8 12.dxc5!? (12.Bf4 - 119/(37)) 12...Bxc5 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.Nd4 O-O∞
11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 cxd4 13.Nbxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bc5 15.Qf4 O-O 16.Be3 Rc8 17.Bxc5N
17.b3
17...Rxc5 18.b4 Rc6

19.b5
19.Rfd1 Qc7 20.Bf1 Rc2 (20...Rc8?! 21.b5 Rc5 22.bxa6 bxa6 23.Bxa6 Ra8 24.Qb4! ∆Rxa6 25.Rxd7±) 21.Rac1 Rc8
22.Rxc2 Bxc2=
19...Rc5 20.bxa6 bxa6 21.Rfd1
21.Bxa6 Rxa5=
21...Qc7 22.Bxa6 Rxa5 23.Rxa5 Qxa5 24.Rxd7 Qxa6= 25.h3 h6 26.Kh2 Qc6 27.Rd6 Qe4 28.Qxe4 Bxe4 29.Nd2
Bd5 30.Nf1 Rc8 31.Ne3 Bb7 32.Rd7 Bc6 33.Rd2 Bb7 34.Rd7 Bc6 35.Rd2 Bb7 36.Rd7 1/2-1/2

37. [B14]
Saeed, Ishaq (2200) - Safarli, Eltaj (2641)
Dubai 125/37, 2015 [Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 c5 5.a3

5.dxc5 - D 30
5...cxd4 6.exd4 Be7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.Bf4
8.cxd5 - 95/64
8...Nc6 9.Rc1 Ne4
9...b6 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Bc4 Qe4+ 13.Be3 Bb7=
10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 Bf6N
11...dxc4 12.Rxc4 Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qd5 14.Qc2 f5 15.O-O Bd7 16.Rd1 Rac8 17.Be3 Na5 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Qe2 Bd6=
12.h4!
12.O-O g6 (12...Nxd4?! 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qxd4±) 13.Be5ƒ
12...h6?!
12...Nxd4?! 13.Bxh7+! (13.Nxd4? e5!µ) 13...Kxh7 14.Ng5+ Kg8 (14...Kg6 15.Qb1+ Nf5 16.h5+ Kh6 17.Nxf7++-)
15.Qh5 Re8 16.Bd6!+-12...g6 13.h5!? Nxd4 14.hxg6 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 fxg6 16.Rxh7! Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Qf6 18.Rh6
Qxc3+ 19.Ke2 Qb2+=12...e5!? 13.dxe5 d4 14.Rb3 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qa5+ 17.Kf1 Qxe5 18.Rb5 Qf6=
13.Bb1! Re8
13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 e5 15.Qc2 g6 16.Bxh6 exd4 17.Rg3 Qe7+ 18.Kf1±13...e5 14.dxe5 d4 15.Rb3 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Bxe5
17.O-O Bf6 18.h5±
14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Qh5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qd4 17.Rf3
17.O-O!? Qxf4 18.Rf3 Qxf3 19.Qxf3 Nxe5 20.Qe4 Ng6 21.Qxc417.Bxh6! Qxe5+ 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Rg3 Ng6 (19...g6
20.h5 Nd3+ 21.Bxd3 cxd3 22.hxg6 e5±) 20.h5 gxh6 21.hxg6 f5 22.Rxh6±
17...Qxb2?
17...Rf8 18.Bxh6 (18.O-O Bd7 19.Re1 f5!= 20.exf6 Rxf6 21.Be3 Qd5=) 18...Qxe5+ 19.Qxe5 Nxe5 20.Rg3±17...Re7
18.O-O±
18.O-O+- Nd4
19.Bxh6! Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Kf8 21.Bxg7+
21.Bg5 f5 22.Bf6! (22.exf6) 22...gxf6 23.Qh8+ Kf7 24.Qxf6+ Kg8 25.Kh1+-
21...Kxg7 22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Rd1
23.Qh6+ Ke7 24.Qf6+ Kd7 (24...Kf8 25.Bg6+-) 25.Qxf7+ Re7 26.Rd1+ Kc6 27.Be4+ Kb5 28.Qxe7+-
23...Qb3
23...Qe2 24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Qf6+ Kf8 26.Rd7! Bxd7 27.Bg6 Qxf3 28.Qxf3 Re7 29.Qf6+-
24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ Ke7 27.Qf6+ Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Qf6+ Kf8 30.Rf1! Qb6 31.Bg6 Qc7 32.h5
Kg8 33.Bc2 Qd8 34.Qh6 f5 35.exf6 Re7 36.Kh1 1-0

38. [B14]
Doncea, Vladimir (2421) - Zelcic, Robert (2553)
Skopje 125/38, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 cxd4 6.exd4 Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1
Nf6 12.Bf4
12.Bg5 h6 13.Bf4!? (13.Bh4 Nh5„) 13...Nb4 (13...Bd6 14.Be5²) 14.Bb1 b6 (14...Qb6 15.Qd2 Nc6 16.Bxh6! gxh6
17.Qxh6 Qxb2™ 18.Re3! Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Nxd4 20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.Nd1+-) (14...Nbd5 15.Be5 Bd7!?²) 15.Qd2 Re8
(15...Bb7? 16.Bxh6!±) 16.a3!? (16.Ne5 - 97/315) 16...Nbd5 17.Bxh6!? (17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxh6! Bb7 (18...gxh6?
19.Qxh6+-) 19.Re4 Bf6 20.Rg4 (20.Bg5 Nc7 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rf4 Qh6 23.Rh4 Qxd2 24.Nxd2 Red8©) 20...Ne7
21.Bg5 Nf5 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Be4²) 17...Nxc3 18.Qg5‭→
12...Nb4
12...b6 13.Rc1 Bb7 14.Bb1 Rc8 15.a3 Na5!? (15...Qd7 16.Qd3² ∆Rfd8?! 17.d5!±) (15...Bd6 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6
18.Ne4 Qd8 19.Qd3 g6 20.h4ƒ) (15...Re8 16.Qd3 g6 17.Ba2 Bf8 18.h3 ∆Ne7 19.Bg5 Nf5 20.g4 Nd6 21.d5²) 16.Qd3
(16.Ne5 Nc6 17.Qd3 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 g6 19.Ba2 Qd7 20.Qh3 Nd5 21.Qh6 f6∞) (16.Ba2 a6 (16...Nc4 17.Qe2 Bxf3
18.gxf3 Bd6 19.Bg3²) 17.Ne5 Nc6 (17...b5 18.d5²) 18.d5 Nxe5 19.Bxe5 exd5 20.Qf3 Re8 21.Rcd1 Bf8=) 16...Nc4
(16...Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Qxd4 18.Bd3! Δ Rcd1) 17.Bg5 g6 18.Ba2 Nxb2! 19.Qb5 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Nh5!„ 21.Be3 Bxa3
22.d5! (22.Ne4 Qe8! 23.Qb3 Qa4³) 22...a6!? 23.Qxa6 Bb4 24.dxe6 Rxc3 25.Rxc3 Bxc3 26.Qa3! Bxe1 27.e7=
13.Rc1!?N
13.Bb1 b6 14.a3 Nbd5 15.Be5 Bb7 16.Qd3 g6 17.Ba2 Rc8„13.Ne5!? Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Nd5 (14...Qb6 15.Rad1 Rd8
16.Re3!? Δ Rg3↑) 15.Bg3 f6!? (15...Bd7 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qb3²) 16.Nc4 Nxc3 17.bxc3 b5 18.Ne3 Bd7„13.Bc4 a6!?
(13...b6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Nxf7!? Rxf7 16.Bxe6 Nbd5 (16...Qf8 17.Qb3!) 17.Qf3ƒ) 14.a4 b6 (14...Nfd5!? 15.Bd2 Bd7
16.Ne5 Bc6∞) 15.Ne5 Bb7 16.Nxf7!? Rxf7 17.Bxe6 Qf8 (17...Nbd5!? 18.Qf3 Ra7∞) 18.Be5 Nfd5 19.Ne4 Rd8
20.Ra3 Nc6 21.Bd6!? Bxd6 22.Ng5 Bxa3 23.Nxf7 Re8™ 24.Ng5+ Rxe6 25.Nxe6 Qf5! 26.bxa3 Bc8∞
13...Nxd3 14.Qxd3 b6 15.d5
15.Ng5 h6 16.Nge4 Bb7 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Rcd1 Rc8=
15...exd5!?
15...Nxd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bc7 Qd7 (17...Qe8!? 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.f4 Bf6 21.b3 (21.Qxd5 Be6 22.Qb5
Rac8„) 21...Bb7 (21...d4 22.Be5²) 22.Be5 Bxe5 23.fxe5 Rxe5 24.Rc7 Bc8™ 25.Qc3 Re8 26.Qc6 Be6 27.Rxa7 Rac8
28.Qxb6 Rc1+ 29.Kf2 Rc2+=) 18.Ne5 Qe8 19.Nc6 Be6 20.Be5 f6 21.Nd4 Bc5 22.Bd6 Bxd6 23.Nxe6 Qh5 24.g3
Rfe8 25.Rc6 Rad8=
16.Nd4
16.Bc7!? Qd7 17.Ne5 Qf5!? 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Be6™ 20.Nc6 Qg5 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qe5 Rfe8=
16...Bd7
16...Bc5!? 17.b4 Ba6! (17...Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Be6 19.Nb5 Qd7 20.Nc7 Rac8 21.Be5ƒ) 18.Qxa6 Bxd4 19.Nb5 Nh5™
20.Bc7 Qf6 21.Nxd4 Qxd4 22.a3 Rfe8 (22...Rfc8? 23.Bxb6!±) 23.Qxa7 Qd2!=
17.Bc7 Qxc7
17...Qc8 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.Rxe7 Qc5 20.Re2 Rfe8 21.h3²
18.Nxd5 Qd6 19.Nxe7+
19.Nc6?! Kh8! 20.Ncxe7 Be6 21.Rc6 Qd8 22.Rd1 Re8! 23.Nxf6 Qxd3 24.Rxd3 Rxe7³
19...Kh8 20.Qc4
20.Rcd1 Rae8 21.Qg3 Qc5=20.Qd1 Rfe8 21.Ndc6 Qxd1 22.Rexd1 g6=20.Qc3 Rae8 (20...Ng4 21.g3 Qh6 22.h4 Qf6
23.Nf3²) 21.Ndf5 Bxf5 22.Nxf5 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Qd5 24.g4 h5 25.h3 Rd8=
20...Ng4!?
20...Rae8 21.Ndf5 Bxf5 22.Nxf5 Qd2=
21.Nf3
21.g3 Ne5 22.Qc7! Qxd4 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Rxe5 Be6 25.a4=
21...Be6
21...Qf6 22.Qb4 a5 23.Qd2 ∆Be6 24.Nc6 Bxa2 25.h3 Nh6 26.Nfe5ƒ
22.Qa4?
22.Qd4 Qxe7 23.Qxg4 Qf6 24.Qb4 Bxa2 25.b3 Qb2 26.Nd4 Rfd8 27.Rcd1 a5 28.Rd2 axb4 29.Rxb2 Rxd4 30.Rxa2
Rad8 31.Ra6=22.Qc7!?

22...Rfd8! (22...Qxc7 23.Rxc7 Bxa2 24.Ra1 Be6 25.h3 Nf6 26.Raxa7 Rxa7 27.Rxa7 h6 (27...Rd8 28.Ng5²) 28.Nd4 Rd8
29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Rb7 Rd6 31.b4²) 23.a4 h6 24.b4 Nf6! (24...Qxc7 25.Rxc7 Nf6 26.Nc6²) 25.Ne5 (25.b5 Qxc7
26.Rxc7 Rd7=) 25...Qd2=
22...Nxh2!?
22...Nxf2 23.Qh4 (23.Kxf2 Qxe7µ) 23...Nd3 24.Rc6 (24.Red1 Rfe8 25.Ng5 h6 26.Nxe6 Qxe6µ) 24...Qf4! (24...Qd7?
25.Rexe6 fxe6 26.Ng5 h6 27.Rxe6+-) 25.Qxf4 Nxf4 26.b3 Rfd8 27.Rc2 h6µ
23.Ng6+
23.Nxh2 Qxe7 24.Nf3 Rfd8µ
23...fxg6 24.Nxh2 Qd2 25.Nf3 Qxb2 26.Rc2 Bd7!
26...Qf6 27.Rc6 Bd7 28.Rxf6 Bxa4 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8µ
27.Rxb2 Bxa4µ 28.Re7 Rfe8 29.Rc7 Rec8 30.Re7 Re8 31.Rc7 Rec8 32.Re7 Kg8! 33.Rb4 Bc6 34.Nd4 Bd5 35.Nb5 a5
36.Rd4
36.Rb2 Rc1+ 37.Kh2 Rb8µ
36...Rd8†
36...Bxa2! 37.Rdd7 Kh8 38.Rxg7 Bg8-+
37.Nc7
37.a3 Bc6 38.Nd6 Rab8 39.Rc7 Be8 40.Ra7 Rd7 41.Ra6 g5 42.f3 Kf8µ
37...Bxa2 38.Ra4 Kf8?!
38...Ra7 39.Rxa2 Kf8 40.Rae2 a4 41.R7e4 Rxc7 42.Rxa4 b5µ38...Bb3!? 39.Ra3 Bc4 40.Nxa8 Rxa8 41.Rb7 b5µ
39.Nxa8 Kxe7 40.Nxb6³ Rd1+ 41.Kh2 Rd2 42.Kg1 Be6 43.Rxa5 Rd6 44.Rb5 Rd1+ 45.Kh2 Rf1 46.Rb2 h5 47.Na4
Rc1 48.Rd2 g5 49.Nb2 h4 50.f3 Rf1 51.Nd1 Kf6 52.Nf2 Bf5 53.Rb2 g6 54.Re2 Kf7 55.Ne4 g4 56.fxg4 Bxg4 1/2-1/2

39. [B19]
Hilby, Craig (2308) - Shabalov, Alexander (2538)
Arlington 125/39, 2015 [Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 e6 8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nd7 11.f4
Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 Ngf6 14.O-O-O Qc7
14...O-O - 86/96
15.Ne2 h5N
15...Rf8
16.f5!? exf5
16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qxe5 18.fxe6 O-O! (18...Qxe6? 19.Nf4+- Qxa2 20.Rhe1+ Kf8 21.Qd8++-) 19.Nf4 Qf5∞16...O-O
17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.fxe6 Qxe6∞
17.Qg5 g6
17...O-O 18.Qxf5 Rfe8=
18.Nxd7
18.Nxg6?! fxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kd8 20.Rhf1 Re8µ
18...Nxd7 19.Nf4 Qd8
19...Qd6 20.Rhe1+ Kf8 21.d5! c5 22.Re6! fxe6 23.dxe6+-19...O-O 20.Nxh5 Qd8 21.Qg3 Re8 22.d5²
20.Rhe1+ Kf8 21.Qg3 Nf6
22.Nxg6+! fxg6 23.Qxg6 Rg8
23...Rh7 24.d5! cxd5 25.Re6 Rf7 26.Rf1! Rc8 27.Rxf5 Rc6 28.Qh6++-23...Qd6!? 24.Re5 Rg8 25.Qxf5 Kf7 26.Rf1 Raf8
27.d5! Kg7 (27...cxd5 28.Rxd5 Qc6 29.Rc5! Qd6 30.Rc7++-) 28.Re6 Qxd5 29.Rxf6 Qxf5 30.R6xf5±
24.Qxf5 Kg7
24...Kf7 25.d5! cxd5 26.Rf1! Kg7 27.Qg5+ Kh7 28.Qxf6 Qxf6 29.Rxf6 Rxg2 30.Rxd5+-
25.Re6
25.Rd3! Qc7 26.Re6 Raf8 27.Rde3 Rf7 28.Rf3 Qd8 29.Qe5 Rgf8 30.Rf5 Kh7 31.Rd6+-
25...Re8 26.d5!? Rxe6?
26...cxd5! 27.Rxd5 Qxd5 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.Qg6+ Kf8 30.Rf6+! (30.Qf6+=) 30...Ke7 31.Rf3! Rad8 32.Qg7+ Kd6
33.Rd3±
27.Qg5+!+- Kh7 28.dxe6 Qh8 29.Rf1
29.Rd7+!? Nxd7 30.Qxh5+ Kg7 31.Qf7+ Kh6 32.g4 Rg8 33.g5+ Rxg5 34.hxg5+ Kxg5 35.exd7+-1-0

40. [B19]
Hou, Yifan (2676) - So, Wesley (2778)
Dortmund 125/40, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2
Ngf6 12.O-O-O Be7 13.Kb1 Qb6 14.Ne4
14.Rhe1 - 117/42
14...Rd8 15.c4 O-O 16.Qe2 c5N
16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Nf6 18.Qe2 c5∞
17.Bc3
17...cxd4
17...Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qe2 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Bc5 21.Bxc5 (21.Bxf6 gxf6³) 21...Qxc5 22.Ne5=
18.Bxd4 Qc6 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.g4 Bxd4
20...e5 21.Bc3 Rfe8 22.Rhe1 a6!?∞
21.Nxd4 Qc5 22.Nf3 Nf6 23.Ne5 Rd4 24.Rxd4 Qxd4 25.Rd1 Qf4
25...Qb6 26.Qd2 Ne4 27.Qe3 Nxf2 28.Rd4 Qc7 29.a3ƒ ∆Nh3 30.Nd7 Rd8 31.Qd3! Kh8 32.Nf6!+-
26.Re1
26.f3²
26...Qd4 27.Rd1 Qf4 28.f3 a6 29.a3 Ra8 30.Rd6 Re8 31.Ka2?!
31.Rb6 Re7 32.Ka2 Qd4 33.Rb3²
31...Nxg4! 32.fxg4 f6 33.Rd7 fxe5 34.Rxb7 Qd4„ 35.g5!? hxg5 36.h6 gxh6 37.Qh5= Qxc4+ 38.Ka1 Qc1+ 39.Ka2
Qc4+ 40.Ka1 Qc1+ 1/2-1/2

41. [B21]
Smith, Peyton - Flores Rios, Mauricio (2531)
USA 125/41, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Bc4 a6 6.Nf3 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 8.O-O b4 9.Nd5!

9.Na4 - 36/189
9...exd5 10.exd5 d6
10...Bd6?! 11.Re1+ Kf8 12.Qd4 a5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Bf4 Bxf4 15.Qxf4²
11.Qe1+!?N
11.Re1+
11...Be7 12.Qxb4 Bc8
12...Qc7 13.Be3 Nd7 (13...a5!?) 14.Rac1 Nc5 15.Rfe1 Kf8 16.Ng5 Nf6 17.Qf4 Rc8 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Qxc7 Rxc7
20.Nxf7! Kxf7 21.d6+ Bd5 22.Bxd5+ Nxd5 23.dxc7 Rc8³
13.Bf4 a5!
13...Kf8 14.Rac1 a5 15.Qc3 Nd7 16.Rfe1 Nc5 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.dxc6 Rc8 20.Qc4 Nxb3 21.Qxb3©
14.Qa3
14.Qd4? Nf6µ14.Ba4+ Kf8 15.Qa3 Bd7 16.Bxd6 Bxa4 17.Bxe7+ Nxe7 18.Qxa4 Qd6!³
14...Kf8 15.Rfe1 g5!
15...Nf6? 16.Rxe7! Kxe7 (16...Qxe7?? 17.Bxd6+-) 17.Re1+ Kf8 18.Bxd6+ Kg8 19.Be7 Qd7 20.d6!‭→ Qf5™ 21.Qa4
Nbd7 22.Qc4 h6 23.Qxf7+ Kh7 24.Re2!+- Δ Bc2
16.Bxg5?
16.Rxe7!? gxf4 (16...Nxe7? 17.Bxd6+-) 17.Re4 Qf6 18.Rae1 Nd7

19.g3!! fxg3 20.hxg3 Nc5! (20...Qxf3 21.Rf4 Qxf4 22.gxf4 Nc5 23.Bc2 Nf6 24.b4²) 21.Rf4 Qd8 22.Ne5 Nh6
23.Ba4!?∞16.Bg3 Kg7 17.Rac1 Bf5 (17...h5!?) 18.Nd4 Nh6 19.Ba4 Bf6 20.Nb5 Qb6 21.Nxd6 Qxb2 22.Qf3∞
16...Bxg5 17.Nxg5 Qxg5 18.Qxd6+ Kg7 19.Re3
19.Re8 Nd7!µ (19...Bh3? 20.Qf8+ Kg6 (20...Kf6 21.Re6+! Bxe6 22.dxe6+-) 21.Qxg8+ Rxg8 22.Rxg8+ Kf6
23.Rxg5+-) 20.Re3 (20.Qc6?! Bb7 21.Qxd7 Nf6!-+) 20...Ngf6 21.Rg3 Ng4 22.h3 Ndf6-+
19...h5 20.Rg3 Bg4 21.h3?!
21.f3 Nf6 22.fxg4 hxg4!µ
21...Nf6 22.Re1
22.hxg4 hxg4 23.Re1 Qh4-+
22...h4 23.Rxg4 Nxg4 24.hxg4 Ra6 25.Qc7 Rf6 0-1

42.* [B22]
Adams, Michael (2740) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733)
Biel 125/42, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 c5 2.c3
2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 (3...dxc3 [%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:21] -) 4.e5 Nd5 5.Nf3 e6 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nc6 8.O-O Be7 9.Qe2
O-O 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qc7 13.Qe4 b6 14.Bd3 (14.Bg5!? - 25/367) 14...g6 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Nxg5
Nxe5!? 17.Qxa8 Bb7 18.Qxa7 Ra8 19.Qxa8+ Bxa8 20.Be4 Ng4 21.g3 Bxe4 22.Nxe4 Kg7N (22...Qe5) 23.Rad1 Ne5
24.f4 Ng4 25.Rfe1 Qa7 26.Rd2 b5+ 27.Kg2 (27.Kh1) 27...Ne3+ 28.Kf3 Nd5³ Holtel,J (2264) -Zakhartsov,V (2552)
Dresden 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]
2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 c4 7.Bc2 d5 8.exd6 e5 9.O-O Bxd6 10.d3 cxd3 11.Qxd3 Be6

12.Bb3N
12.Rd1 Be7 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Be4 O-O!? 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qxe5 Rad8! 17.Nbd2 Bd6 18.Qa5 Rfe8©12.Re1 - 71/139
12...Qe7 13.Re1
13.Ng5 Bxb3 14.axb3 f6 15.Ne4 Bc7 16.Qh3∞ Δ Be3-c5 (16.Be3 f5³)
13...Bxb3 14.axb3 O-O 15.Na3 f5 16.Nc4
16.Bg5 Qe6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.Be3 Rd8 19.Qc2 Nd5∞
16...Nxc4 17.Qxc4+ Kh8 18.Bg5 Qf7
18...Qc7!? 19.g3 (19.h3?! e4 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 h6³) 19...e4 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Bc5 22.Qd2 h6 23.Bf4 Rad8
24.Qe2 Qc6=
19.Qxf7 Rxf7 20.b4 e4 21.b5 exf3 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Ra6
23.Re6 Rd7 24.gxf3=
23...h6!
23...Rc8 24.Re6²
24.Rxc6
24.Bc1 Rf6 25.gxf3 Rg6+ 26.Kh1 Bc5 27.Be3=
24...hxg5 25.Rxd6 Rb8= 26.b4 Rc7 27.Rd3 fxg2 28.Re5 Rbc8 29.Rxf5 Rxc3 30.Rdd5
30.Rxc3 Rxc3 31.Rxg5 a6 32.Ra5 Rc4 33.Ra4 a5 34.Rxa5 Rxb4 35.Kxg2 Kh7=
30...g4 31.Kxg2 Rf3 32.Rxf3 gxf3+ 33.Kxf3 Rb8 34.b5
34.Rd4 Rb5= Δ a5
34...Rb6 35.h4 a6 36.bxa6 Rxa6 37.Kg4 Kh7 38.f4 Ra1 39.Rd6 Rg1+ 40.Kf3 Rh1 41.Kg3 1/2-1/2

43. !N [B23]
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2654) - So, Wesley (2778)
Dortmund 125/43, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Qxd7 7.O-O Nc6 8.d3 e6
8...f5!? 9.Qe2 Nh6 10.Nd5 e6 11.exf5 Nxf5 12.c3 O-O 13.Ne3 Rae8
9.f5!?
9.Be3 - 18/326
9...Nge7?!
9...exf5 10.exf5 Nge7 11.fxg6 hxg6 12.Ne4 O-O-O 13.Bf4 Qc7∞
10.fxe6 fxe6 11.Ng5!ƒ Ne5
11...h6 12.Nf7 Rf8 13.Nxh6 Rxf1+ 14.Qxf1 O-O-O²11...Nd8 12.Be3 h6 13.Nf3 O-O 14.d4 cxd4 15.Bxd4²
12.Nb5!N
12.Bf4
12...Qxb5
12...a6 13.Nxe6!+-12...O-O-O 13.d4! Qxb5 (13...cxd4 14.Nxd4±) 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Nf7±
13.Nxe6 Kd7 14.Nxg7 h5?
14...Raf8! 15.a4 (15.Bh6 Rxf1+ 16.Qxf1 N7c6 17.Qf6 (17.b3 Qb4 18.Kh1 Qd4 19.Rc1 Nd8!) 17...Qxb2 18.Rf1 Qxc2
19.Nf5 gxf5 20.Qg7+ Ne7 21.Qxh8 Qxd3 22.exf5 Qd4+ 23.Kh1 Qc4∞) 15...Qb6 16.a5 Qd8 17.b4ƒ
15.a4
15.d4? cxd4 16.Qxd4 Qb6 17.Qxb6 axb6³
15...Qb6
15...Qa5 16.c3 Rag8 17.b4 cxb4 18.d4±
16.a5 Qb5 17.c4 Qc6 18.b4 Rh7
18...Rag8 19.bxc5 Rxg7 20.d4‭→
19.bxc5 Rxg7
19...dxc5 20.d4 Rxg7 21.dxe5+ Kc7 22.Rf6+-
20.Rf6! Nc8
20...Qxc5+ 21.d4 Qxc4 22.dxe5 Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Qxe5 24.Bb2! Qxb2 25.Qxd6+ Ke8 26.Raf1 Rg8 27.Rf7+-
21.d4 Ng4 22.Rf3 Qxe4 23.h3 dxc5 24.dxc5+ Ke8 25.hxg4 Ne7 26.Qf1 Rg8 27.Bb2 hxg4 28.Re1 1-0

44.* [B31]
Giri, Anish (2773) - Grischuk, Alexander (2781)
Stavanger 125/44, 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.O-O Bg7 6.Re1 Rb8!?
6...Nf6 - 123/53
7.h3N
7.c37.e5 Nh6 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Na4!?N (9.Ne4) 9...d6 10.b3 Bg4 11.Bb2 Nf5 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nd4 14.Bxd4 cxd4
15.exd6 Qxd6 16.Nb2 e5 17.Nc4 Qc5 18.Re2 f5 19.Rae1 Rbe8 20.d3= Andreikin,D (2718)-Yu,Y (2715) La Habana
2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]
7...Qc7
7...Bxb2 8.Bxb2 Rxb2 9.d3 ∆Nf6 10.Qc1 Rb8 11.Qh6ƒ7...Nf6 8.e5 Nd5 9.c4 Nc7 10.d4 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Rb7!?∞
(11...O-O 12.Qxa7²)
8.c3 Nf6 9.e5 Nd5 10.c4 Nb4
10...Nf4?! 11.d4 Ne6 12.d5±
11.d4 cxd4 12.a3 Na6 13.Qxd4 O-O
14.c5!ƒ d6
¹14...Qd8 15.Nc3 Nc7 16.Qh4ƒ
15.cxd6 exd6 16.exd6 Qb6 17.Qh4 Nc5 18.Be3
18.Nc3!? Nd3 (18...Ne6 19.Ng5 Nxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxb2 21.Ne4±) 19.Re2±
18...Qxb2 19.Nbd2 Nd7 20.Rab1 Qxa3 21.Rxb8 Nxb8 22.Bh6 Nd7 23.Bxg7
23.Ng5 Nf6 24.Nde4 Qa5 25.Rd1 Nxe4 26.Bxg7 Qxg5 (26...Kxg7 27.Qxh7+ Kf6 28.Nxe4+ Kf5 29.Qh4+-)
(26...Nxg5 27.Bxf8 Kxf8 28.Qd4 Kg8 29.d7 Bxd7 30.Qxd7±) 27.Qxg5 Nxg5 28.Bxf8 Kxf8 29.d7 Bxd7 30.Rxd7±
23...Kxg7 24.Qd4+ Kg8 25.Ne4
25.Ra1 c5! 26.Rxa3 cxd4 27.Nxd4 a6±
25...Re8
25...a5 26.Nf6+ Nxf6 27.Qxf6 Be6 28.Qe7±¹25...Qa5 26.Re3 h6 27.Nf6+ Nxf6 28.Qxf6 Qf5 29.Qc3 c5 30.Ne5 Be6
31.Qxc5ƒ
26.Kh2?!
26.Nfg5! Qa5 27.Re3 Qd5 28.Qa1±
26...a5?
26...Qa5! 27.Re3 h6! 28.Nf6+ Nxf6 29.Qxf6 Rxe3 30.fxe3 Qf5 31.Qe7 a5„
27.Nfg5!+- [Δ Nf6] 27...Rf8
27...Qa2 28.Nc3+- (28.Nxh7!)27...Qb3 28.Nc5+-
28.Nf6+ Nxf6 29.Qxf6 Qa2 30.Re7
30.Nxh7! Kxh7 31.Re4+-
30...Bf5 31.Nxf7!
31.d7!? Qxf2 32.d8=Q Qf4+ 33.Kg1 Qc1+ 34.Kf2 Qc2+ 35.Kf3 Qb3+ 36.Re3+-
31...Qxf7 32.Rxf7 Rxf7 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qxa5 Bd7 35.Qc5 Rf5 36.Qa7 Rf7 37.g4 Kf6 38.f4 Kg7 39.Kg3 Kg8
40.Qe3 Kg7 41.h4 Kg8 42.Qe5 1-0

45. [B33]
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2720) - Yu, Yangyi (2715)
La Habana 125/45, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c4
b4 12.Nc2 O-O 13.g3 a5 14.h4 Be6 15.Qd2 Rc8N
15...Bxd5 - 112/(97)
16.Nce3!? Nd4 17.O-O-O g6 18.Kb1 h5 19.f4 Bg7 20.Bd3 f5 21.Rhf1 a4?!
21...Qe8!?
22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Qxb4! Rb8 24.Qe7 Qa5 25.exf5
25...Rf7?
25...gxf5 26.Nxf5 (26.Bxf5 Bxd5 27.Nxd5 a3 - 26.Nf5) 26...Bxf5 27.Bxf5 a3 28.Be4 Rxb2+ 29.Ka1 Rbb8 30.Rxf8+
Rxf8 31.Qd6±
26.fxe6
26.Qg5! Rfb7 (26...gxf5 27.Bxf5+-) (26...a3 27.fxe6 Rxb2+ 28.Kc1+-) 27.f6 Rxb2+ 28.Ka1 R2b7 (28...Nb3+
29.Kxb2+-) 29.Qxg6! Nb3+ 30.axb3 axb3+ 31.Kb2 Qa2+ 32.Kc3 Qa5+ 33.Nb4! Qxb4+ 34.Kb2+-
26...Rxe7 27.Nxe7+ Kh7 28.Bxg6+ Kh8 29.N7d5 a3

29...Nxe6?? 30.Rf5+-29...Qa6 30.Bf7 a3 31.b3 Nxb3 32.axb3 Qa4 33.Kc1 Qxb3 34.Kd2±
30.b3?
30.e7! Rxb2+ 31.Ka1 Rb8 32.e8=Q+ Rxe8 33.Bxe8 e4 34.Kb1±
30...Nxb3?
30...e4!ƒ Δ Nb3
31.axb3+- a2+ 32.Kc2 Qa3 33.Kd3! e4+ 34.Kxe4 Qd6 35.Nf4 Qc6+ 36.Ned5
36.Rd5 a1=Q 37.Rxa1 Bxa1 38.e7+- Bf6 39.Bxh5
36...Rxb3 37.e7??
37.Bxh5 Qxc4+ 38.Kf5 Qc8 39.Rc1 Qb7 40.Bf7+-
37...Qxc4+-+ 38.Kf5 Qc8+ 39.Ne6
39.Kg5 Qg4#

39.Ke4 a1=Q 40.Rxa1 Qc2+ 41.Nd3 Qxd3+ 42.Kf4 Qxg3+ 43.Ke4 Qe5#
39...Qc2+ 40.Kf4 Qxg6 41.Nxg7 Kxg7 42.Rfe1 Qf7+ 43.Ke5 Rb5 44.Kd4 0-1

46.* [B33]
Giri, Anish (2793) - Carlsen, Magnus (2853)
Saint Louis 125/46, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3
Ne7
11...Bg5 12.Nc2 Rb8 13.a4 bxa4 14.Ncb4 Nxb4 15.cxb4 O-O 16.Rxa4 a5 17.h4 (17.b5 - 108/(49)) 17...Bh6 18.b5 Bd7
19.Nc3 d5N (19...Kh8) 20.exd5 Kh8 21.Be2 f5 22.g3 Qb6 23.O-O Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bc8 25.f4 Rfe8 26.fxe5 Rxe5 27.Qd4
Qf6© Anand,V (2804) -Grischuk,A (2781) Stavanger 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
12.Nc2 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Rb8 14.Nb4 Bb7 15.Qd3 O-O 16.Be2 a5 17.Nd5 b4
17...Bxd5 - 44/(192)
18.O-O bxc3 19.bxc3
19...Bg5N
19...Bxd5
20.Rab1 Qd7 21.Rb3
21.g3 Bc6 22.h4 Rxb1 23.Rxb1 Bd8=
21...Bc6 22.Rfb1 Rxb3 23.Rxb3 g6 24.Rb6 Rc8 25.h3 Bxd5
25...Qd8 26.Ra6 Bb7 27.Ra7 Bc6 28.Ra6 Bb7 29.Ra7=
26.Qxd5 Rxc3 27.Rxd6 Qe7 28.Bd1
28.Rd7 Qf6 29.Bd1 Qf4„ 30.Qxa5 Bh4 31.Qa7 Ra3 32.Qxa3 (32.Qb8+ Kg7 33.Qb2 Qxe4 34.Qxa3 Qe1+ 35.Kh2
Bxf2 36.Rxf7+! Kxf7 37.Bb3+ Kg7 38.Qe7+ Kh6 39.Qf8+ Kh5 40.Bd1+ Kg5 41.Qe7+ Kh6 42.Qf8+=) 32...Qxf2+
33.Kh2 Qf4+ 34.Kg1 Qf2+=
28...Rc7= 29.g3 Kg7 30.Ba4 Bc1 31.Rc6 1/2-1/2

47. [B34]
Milonakis, Georgios (2223) - Skembris, Spyridon (2422)
Anogia 125/47, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.f4
9.Bd4!? ∆Nh6 10.e6 O-O 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Qd4+ f6 13.exd7 Qxd7 14.O-O-O²
9...Nh6
9...f6!?
10.Bc4
10.Qd2 d6!? (10...O-O - 7/329) 11.O-O-O Bg4 12.Be2 Qa5!?„ (12...Bxe2 13.Qxe2²)
10...O-O 11.O-O

11.Qd2 d5„
11...d6ƒ 12.exd6 exd6 13.Qd2N
13.Bd4 Nf5³
13...Ng4³
13...d5!? 14.Rad1 (14.Bb3 d4 15.Rad1 c5 16.Bf2 Ba6-+) 14...Re8! 15.Be2 Qe7 16.Bf2 Qb4µ
14.Bd4 Bxd4+ 15.Qxd4 Qb6 16.Qxb6
16.Rad1 Ne3-+
16...axb6 17.Rfe1 d5 18.Bd3 Be6 19.h3 Nf6 20.a3 Rfe8
20...d4!? 21.Ne4 Nd5 22.Ng5 Nxf4 23.Re4 Nxd3 24.Nxe6 Nc5 25.Nxc5 bxc5³
21.Ne2
21.g4 h5 22.g5 Nd7 23.Kh2 Nc5³
21...Bd7
21...c5 22.Nc3 Rad8³
22.Ng3 Kf8 23.c3 Ra4
¹23...c5
24.Rxe8+ Nxe8 25.Rf1 Nf6
25...Nd6 26.f5„
26.Bc2
26.f5 g5³
26...Ra8 27.Re1 c5ƒ 28.Kf2 Bb5 29.Re5 Rd8 30.Ne2 Rd6 31.Ng3
31.Bb1 h5ƒ
31...h5 32.Re1 h4 33.Nf1 d4µ 34.Bd1
34.cxd4 Rxd4 35.f5 g5µ
34...dxc3 35.bxc3 Bxf1! 36.Kxf1 Nd5 37.c4 Nxf4 38.Bf3 Rd3 39.Rb1
39.a4
39...Rxa3 40.Rxb6?†
40.Bc6
40...Nxh3-+ 41.Rc6 Nf4 42.Rc8+ Kg7 43.Bd5 Rc3 44.Rc7
44.Rxc5 Rc1+ 45.Kf2 Nd3+-+
44...Nxd5 45.cxd5 Rc2 46.d6
46.Rc6
46...Rd2 47.d7 Kf6 48.Ke1 Rd4 49.Ke2 Ke6 50.Ke3 Rxd7 51.Rxc5 Rd5 52.Rc4 Rh5 53.Rc6+ Ke7 54.Rc1 h3 55.g3
h2 56.Rh1 Kf6 57.Kf4 Rh7 58.Kg4 Ke5 59.Kf3 Kd4 0-1

48. [B34]
Jelica, Mara (2203) - Skembris, Spyridon (2426)
Deizisau 125/48, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.f4 Nh6 10.Qf3 O-O 11.Bc4
d5 12.exd6

12.Be2 Bg4 13.Qf2 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bd2 Rb8‭→ (15...e5!?) 16.b3 Bxe2µ (16...Qd6!?‭→)
12...Bg4!?N 13.Qxc6
13.Qf2 exd6µ
13...Rc8µ
13...Nf5!?‭→ 14.Nd5 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Rc8 16.Qa6 e6 17.Ne7+ Nxe7 18.dxe7 Bc3+ 19.Kf1 Qxe7 20.Bd3 e5-+
14.Qa4
14.Qe4 exd6 15.Bb5 Qa5-+14.Qa6 Nf5 15.Bd2 (15.Nd5 Bxb2 16.Rb1 e6 17.Ne7+ Nxe7 18.dxe7 Bc3+ 19.Kf2
Qxe7µ) 15...Nxd6ƒ
14...Nf5
14...exd6!? 15.O-O

15...Qe8!! 16.Qxe8 Rfxe8 17.Ba6 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Rxe3-+

15.Bf2?
15.Bd2 Qxd6 16.Bd3 Nh4‭→ 17.O-O Bd7 18.Qe4 Bc6 19.Qe2 Bd4+ 20.Rf2 Nxg2 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 (22.Bxe4
Nxf4-+) 22...Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Rxc2 24.Bxc2 Qxd2+ 25.Qe2 Rd8-+
15...Nxd6‭→ 16.Bxf7+
16.Bb3 Rxc3-+16.Be2 Bxc3+ 17.bxc3 Bxe2 18.Kxe2 Rc4 19.Qxa7 Nb5 20.Qb6 Nxc3+ 21.Kf1 Qd2 22.Qe3 Qxc2‭→
16...Rxf7 17.O-O Bxc3 18.bxc3 Rxc3 19.Bxa7 Qd7 0-1
B50-B99

49. [B51]
Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Giri, Anish (2773)
Stavanger 125/49, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 e6 8.d4 Bb7 9.O-O Be7 10.Re1
10.a4 - 122/57
10...O-O 11.Nbd2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Rc8N
12...Qc7
13.Nf1 Re8 14.Ng3 Bf8 15.Be3 Rc7 16.Bd3² e5 17.d5 Nc5 18.Bc2 b4
18...Qd7 19.Bd2! g6 (19...Rec8? 20.Ba5) 20.Rac1 Bg7 21.h3²
19.a3!
19.Nd2!?
19...b3
19...a5 20.axb4 axb4 21.Ba4 Nfd7 22.Bb5±
20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Bxb3 Qb6 22.Bc4 Rec8 23.Bd3 g6 24.Nf1 Bh6 25.Ne3 a5

26.b4!± axb4 27.axb4 R5c7

27...Qxb4?? 28.Rab1+-
28.b5 Qc5 29.h3?
29.Nd2!+- Δ Nb3-a5-c6
29...Nh5 30.Qb2 Qb6 31.Qb4 Bxe3 32.Rxe3 Rc3?!
32...Nf4 33.Bf1 f5 34.Nd2 fxe4 35.Nxe4 Nxd5 36.Qb3 Kg7²
33.Rae1 f5!?
33...Nf4 34.Bf1±33...Nf6 34.Ra1 (34.Bf1 Rxe3 35.Rxe3 Bxd5! 36.exd5 Nxd5 37.Qd2 Nxe3 38.fxe3²) 34...Nh5
35.Qa5±
34.exf5 Nf4 35.Be4 R3c5 36.fxg6 hxg6 37.Bxg6!
37.Nh4! Rxb5 38.Qa4+-
37...Rxb5
37...Nxg6? 38.Qg4+- Kf7 (38...Kg7 39.Nh4!+-) 39.Qe6+ Kg7 40.Nh4!+-
38.Qe4??
38.Bf7+! Kxf7 39.Qe4 Rg8 (39...Kg7 40.Ng5+-) 40.Qf5+ Ke8 41.Qxf4+-
38...Rf8!
38...Rb4? 39.Bf7+! Kxf7 40.Qf5+ Kg7 41.Ng5+-
39.Nxe5!?
39.Nh4! Bxd5 40.Qa4 Rb2„
39...dxe5 40.Rg3 Rxd5 41.Qb1 Qxb1 42.Bxb1+ Kh8 43.Be4 Rd7 44.Bxb7 Rxb7 45.Rxe5= Rh7 46.Re4 Rhf7 47.Kh2
Kh7 48.Rf3 Kg6 49.h4
49.g4 Nxh3! 50.Rxf7 Rxf7 51.Kxh3 Rxf2=
49...Nh5 50.Rxf7 Rxf7 51.Re2 Nf4 52.Rd2 Nh5 53.g3 Nf6 54.Kg2 Rd7 55.Ra2
55.Rxd7 Nxd7 56.g4 Nf6 57.Kf3 Nd7=
55...Rd5 56.Ra4 Re5 57.g4 Re4!
57...Re6?! 58.f3 Re2+ 59.Kg3 Re6 60.Ra5 Rb6 61.h5+ Kh7 62.Kh4 Rb4 63.Kg5 Rb6 64.f4 Rc6 65.Ra7+ Kg8 66.Kf5
Nd5 67.Ra8+ Kg7 68.g5 Rc4 69.h6+ Kh7 70.Ra7+ Kg8 71.g6 Ne3+!= (71...Rxf4+? 72.Kg5+-)
58.Rxe4 Nxe4 59.Kf3 Nd6 60.Kf4 Nf7 61.Ke4 Kf6 62.f4 Nd6+!
62...Ke6?? 63.f5+ Kf6 64.Kf4 Ke7 65.g5 Nd6 66.h5 Kf8 67.h6 Nf7 68.h7 Nh8 69.g6+-
63.Kd5 Nb5! 64.h5 Nc3+ 65.Kd4 Nb5+ 66.Kc4 Nd6+
66...Nc7? 67.g5+ Kf7 68.h6 Ne6 69.g6+! Kxg6 (69...Kg8 70.f5+-) 70.f5+!+-
67.Kc5 Ke6 68.Kc6
68.Kd4 Nf7 69.Ke3 Nh6 70.Kf3 Nf7 71.Kg3 Kf6 72.Kh4 Ke6!=
68...Nf7 69.Kc7 Nh6! 70.g5 Nf7 71.g6
71.h6 Kf5 72.Kd7 Kxf4 73.g6 Nxh6=
71...Nh6 72.Kd8 Kf5 73.Ke7 Kxf4 74.Kf8 Kg5 75.g7 Kxh5 76.g8=Q Nxg8 1/2-1/2

50. [B51]
Ter Sahakyan, Samvel (2593) - Salem, AR Saleh (2615)
Martuni 125/50, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.O-O e6 9.d4 Be7 10.Re1
10.a4 - 122/57
10...O-O 11.Nbd2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Qc7 13.Nf1 Rfc8 14.Bd3 e5N
14...b4
15.Ng3
15.d5 Nc5 16.Ng3 (16.Bc2 b4 17.Ng3 g6 18.Be3 a5∞) 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 g6 18.Bg5 Qc2=
15...exd4 16.Nxd4 g6 17.b3 Re8 18.Bb2 Bf8= 19.Qd2 Ne5
19...d5 20.Rac1 (20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Be4 Bb4 22.Qh6 Bf8=) 20...Qb6 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Nf3 N5f6=
20.Rac1?!
20.Bf1 Bg7 (20...h5!? 21.Ndf5 Re6∞ (21...gxf5 22.Qg5++-)) (20...Qd8!?) 21.a4 (21.f4? Ned7µ) 21...bxa4 22.Rxa4
Nfd7∞
20...Qb6 21.Bb1 Nfg4?
21...d5 22.Nc6 (22.exd5 Nxd5³) (22.Nf3 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 dxe4 24.Bxe4 Bg7³) 22...Bxc6 23.exd5 Rad8 (23...Bxd5
24.Bxe5 Bb7 25.Qd4=) 24.Rxe5 Rxe5 25.Bxe5 Rxd5 26.Qe2 Bh6³
22.h3 Bh6
22...Nf6 23.Ndf5 Nfd7 24.Bd4 Qd8 25.Nh6+±
23.f4 Nf6 24.Kh1 Ned7
25.Ndf5! gxf5
25...Bf8 26.e5+-
26.Nxf5 Bf8 27.e5
27.Bd4!? Qd8 28.Qd3 Rc8 29.Qg3+ Kh8 30.Rxc8 Bxc8 31.Qg5 Re6 32.Re3±
27...dxe5 28.fxe5 Nh5 29.Nd6 Re6 30.Qg5+ Ng7 31.Qh4
31.Rcd1 Qf2 32.Nxb7 (32.Bd4 Qxg2+ 33.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Rd8 35.Nf5 Nb8²) 32...Qxb2 33.Rxd7 Qf2 34.Qc1
Nh5 35.Nd8 Re7 36.Qg5+ Ng7 37.Qd2²
31...h6
31...h5 32.Bd4 Qd8 33.Qxd8 Bxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Rxd8 35.Nf5 Ba3 36.Nxg7 Kxg7 37.Rc7±
32.Bd4 Bxd6?
32...Qd8 33.Qxd8 Bxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Rxd8 35.Nf5 Ba3 36.Nxg7 Kxg7 37.Rc7 Nb6 38.Bxb6 Rxb6 39.Kf3±
33.Bxb6 Be7 34.Qf2+- Nxb6 35.Rc7 Rb8 36.Rf1 f5 37.Bxf5 Rxe5 38.Qg3 Bxg2+ 39.Qxg2
39.Kxg2+-
39...Bg5 40.Bb1 Nd5 41.Qc2 Nf5 42.Rxf5 1-0

51. [B51]
Adams, Michael (2740) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731)
Biel 125/51, 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 e5 7.O-O Be7 8.d4 b5 9.Bc2 O-O 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.a4 Rb8
12.Na3 c4 13.Bd2 Re8 14.axb5N
14.b3 - 116/66
14...axb5 15.h3 d5! 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5?
17.exd5 Ng6 (17...Nd3!? 18.Qf1 Bxa3 19.Rxa3 Bf5 20.Rda1 Nxd5 21.Ra7 Qc5∞) 18.Be3 Nf4 19.Bxf4 Qxf4 20.Qd2
Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Bc5 22.Nd4 Bd7©
17...Qxe5 18.f4 Bc5+ 19.Be3

19...Qh5! 20.Rd2
20.g4?! Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Qxg4+ 23.Kh2 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Rg1 Qh5+ 26.Qh3 Re2+ 27.Rg2 Rxg2+
28.Kxg2 Qe2+-+20.Re1 Qxe2 21.Rxe2 Bxe3+ 22.Rxe3 b4 23.cxb4 d4µ
20...dxe4µ
20...Qxe2 21.Rxe2 - 20.Re1
21.Re1 Qxe2 22.Rdxe2 Bxe3+ 23.Rxe3
23...Rb6! 24.Kf2
24.Bxe4? Rbe6-+
24...Bf5 25.Rd1 h5 26.Kg3 g6 27.Rd4 Kg7 28.Kh4 Be6 29.Re2 Rbb8
29...Bd5 30.Re3 Rc8-+
30.Bd1
30.Bxe4 Bd5 31.Bf3 Rxe2 32.Bxe2 Bxg2µ
30...Bf5 31.Bc2 Rec8 32.Re1 Rc5 33.Bd1 Nd5-+ 34.g3 Rh8 35.Nc2 Ne7 36.Rd6 Be6 [Δ Nf5] 0-1

52. !N [B51]
Carlsen, Magnus (2853) - Topalov, Veselin (2816)
Saint Louis 125/52, 2015 [Harikrishna,Penteala]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O Nf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bd3 b5

6...g6 - 122/ (57)
7.c4 g5!N
7...bxc47...Ne5
8.Nxg5
8.e5 dxe5 9.cxb5 e4 10.Bxe4 Nxe4 11.Rxe4 Bb7³8.cxb5 g4 9.Nh4 e6©
8...Ne5 9.Be2 bxc4 10.Na3
10.Nf3 Nd3 11.Bxd3 cxd3 12.e5 (12.Qb3 Rg8 13.Qxd3 Nh5©) 12...Nd5 13.Ng5 Rg8 14.Nxf7 Qd7³10.Nc3 Rg8 11.d4
cxd3 12.Bxd3 h6 13.Nf3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Bb7³
10...Rg8 11.Nxc4 Nxc4 12.d4! Nb6 13.Bh5!?
13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.Nxf7+ Ke8µ
13...Nxh5 14.Qxh5 Rg7?!
14...Rg6 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.Qxh7 Be6-+
15.Nxh7 Qd7
15...Rxh7! 16.Qxh7 cxd4 17.Qh8 e5³
16.dxc5 dxc5 17.e5?!
17.Nxf8 Qh3 18.Qxh3 Bxh3 19.g3 Rc8 20.e5 Rc6 21.Re4∞
17...Qc6 18.f3
18.Bg5 Bb7 19.Nf6+ Kd8 20.Rad1+ Kc7-+
18...Qg6! 19.Nf6+ Kd8 20.Qxg6 Rxg6 21.Ne4 Bb7 22.h4 Rc8 23.h5 Rg8 24.Bd2 Nc4 25.Bc3 Bh6 26.Rad1+ Ke8
27.Rd3 Bf4 28.Nf2 Bc6 29.Nh3 Bg3-+ 30.Re2 Bb5 31.Rd1 Bc6 32.Nf2 Bxe5 33.Ng4 Bxc3 34.bxc3 Kf8 35.Kf2
Rh8 36.Ne5 Nxe5 37.Rxe5 Be8 38.g4 f6 39.Re6 Bb5 40.Rde1 Rc7 0-1

53. [B51]
 Nakamura, Hikaru (2814) - Grischuk, Alexander (2771)
Saint Louis 125/53, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.Re1 Rc8
8...e5 - 119/53
9.a4 b4 10.a5
10.d4?! cxd4 11.cxd4 Qc7 12.Bd3 Nxe4!
10...Qc7 11.d3 bxc3 12.bxc3N
12.Nxc3
12...e6
12...e5 13.Nbd2 (13.c4 Be7 14.Nc3²) 13...Be7 14.Nc4 O-O 15.Ne3 Rfe8 16.Nf5 Bf8„
13.h3 Be7 14.Bf4 O-O 15.Nbd2 Bc6
15...Ne5!?15...Rfe8 16.Nc4 Bf8∞
16.Nc4 Bb5 17.Nfd2
17.Nxd6?! Bxd6 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.e5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Rfd8=
17...Rfd8 18.Bg3 Ne8 19.Kh2
19.Kh1!?
19...Rb8 20.Ne3 Ne5 21.Qe2 Nc6 22.Nb3 Ne5 23.Nd2 Nc6 24.Ndc4! Nf6 25.Kh1 Ne5 26.f4
26.Nxe5 dxe5 27.Nc4 Bxc4 28.dxc4 Rb2∞
26...Nxc4 27.dxc4
27.Nxc4?! Bxc4 28.dxc4 e5 29.f5 Rb2„
27...Bc6 28.Nd1
28.Nd5? exd5 29.exd5 Bd7 30.Qxe7 Re8 31.Bxh7+ Kxh7 32.Qxf7 Rf8 33.Qe7 Rbe8-+28.e5? dxe5 29.fxe5
Ne4µ28.Ng4 Nxg4 29.hxg4 e5 30.f5 Bg5³
28...g6 29.Bh2 Nh5
29...e5!? 30.f5 gxf5 31.exf5 Kh8 32.Nf2 Rg8 33.Ne4 Rb2‭→
30.Qe3 Bh4 31.g3 Be7 32.Kg1 Re8
32...e5 33.f5 gxf5 (33...Kg7 34.Rf1) 34.Qh6 Nf6 35.Ne3 Kh8 36.Nxf5 Rg8„
33.e5 Ng7 34.g4 f5?!
34...dxe5 35.fxe5 Ba8 36.Nf2 (36.Ra2 Qc6) (36.Qh6 Bf8) 36...Rb2 37.Be4 Bh4 38.Bg3 Bxg3 39.Qxg3 f5 40.Bxa8
Rxa8∞
35.exf6 Bxf6 36.Nf2 Bh4 37.Re2 Bxf2+ 38.Rxf2 Rf8 39.Bg3² Rbe8 40.Kh2 Rf7 41.Rd1 Rd7 42.Rfd2 Qd8 43.h4!‭→
Rf8 44.Rf2
44.h5 gxh5 45.Qd3 Ne8³
44...Kh8
44...Qxa5 45.h5 gxh5 46.f5 exf5 47.gxf5 Re8 48.Qh6 Qxc3 49.f6 Ne6 50.Rxd6 Qa1 51.Rxc6+-
45.Rb1 Qxa5

46.h5! gxh5 47.f5! exf5

47...hxg4 48.fxe6 Rxf2+ 49.Qxf2 Rd8 50.e7 Re8 51.Qf8++-
48.gxf5 Qd8
48...Re8 49.Qh6 Qxc3 50.f6 Ne6 51.f7 (51.Qxh5 Rg8 52.Rg1 Ng5µ) (51.Rb3 Qe1 (51...Qxc4 52.Qxh5‭→ (52.Bg6
Qxb3 53.f7 Rxf7 54.Rxf7 Qb2+ 55.Rf2 Qg7=)) 52.Rb1 Qc3=) 51...Rxf7! 52.Rxf7 Qxc2+ 53.Rf2 Qxb1 54.Qf6+ Kg8
(54...Ng7?? 55.Qf8+!) 55.Qf7+ Kh8 56.Qf6+=
49.f6! Ne8
49...Rxf6? 50.Rxf6 Qxf6 51.Rb8+! Rd8 52.Qd3 (52.Qf4 Qe7) 52...Kg8 53.Qxh7+ Kf7 54.Rxd8 Qxd8 55.Bg6+ Ke6
56.Qxg7+-
50.Bh4! Rdf7
50...Nxf6? 51.Rxf6 Rxf6 52.Bxf6+ Qxf6 53.Qe8+ Kg7 54.Rg1+ Kh6 55.Qe3+
51.Qh6 Rg8
51...d5?! 52.Bxh7! Qd6+ 53.Bg3 Rxh7 54.Bxd6 Rxh6 55.Bxf8 Rxf6 56.Bxc5±
52.Re1
52.Qxh5 Qc7∞ (52...d5? 53.Qxf7 Qd6+ 54.Kh3 Bd7+ 55.Bf5 Bxf5+ 56.Rxf5+-)
52...d5!„ 53.Qxh5
53.Re7 Qd6+ 54.Qf4 Qxf4+ 55.Rxf4 Rxe7 56.fxe7 Rg4=
53...Qd6+ 54.Re5
54.Qe5 Rg4∞
54...d4
54...Rg4? 55.Qxf7 Qxe5+ 56.Kh3 Rxh4+ 57.Kxh4+-
55.cxd4
55.Bg3 Nxf6 (55...Rxg3 56.Qxf7 d3 (56...Rg6 57.Qe7 Rh6+ 58.Kg3+-) (56...Rg2+ 57.Kh3! Rg3+ 58.Kh4! d3
59.Bxd3! Qxd3 60.Qf8+ Rg8 61.Qxg8+! Kxg8 62.f7++-) 57.Qe7 Qxe7 58.Rxe7 dxc2 59.f7 c1=Q 60.Rxe8+ Bxe8
61.fxe8=Q+ Rg8 62.Qe5++-) 56.Qxf7 (56.Rxf6? Qxf6 57.Rf5 Qg7! 58.Be5 Qxe5+! 59.Rxe5 Rf2+ 60.Kh3 Bg2+-+)
56...Ng4+ 57.Kg1 Qh6!!∞
55...Qxd4 56.Re7 Rxe7
56...Qa1? 57.Qxh7+! Rxh7 58.Rxh7#

56...Rg4? 57.Qxh7+! Rxh7 58.Rxh7+ Kg8 59.f7+ Kf8 60.fxe8=R+! Kxe8 61.Re7+ Kd8 62.Rf8+ Be8 63.Rfxe8#
56...Qd6+ 57.Qe5 Qxe5+ 58.Rxe5 Rg4 59.Kh3 Bd7 60.Bf5± (60.Rxe8+? Rg8+!!µ)
57.fxe7 Qd6+?!
57...Qg7! 58.Bg5 Qe5+ 59.Kh3 Qc3+ 60.Kh2= (60.Kh4 Qxc4+ 61.Bf4 Rg7∞ (61...Nf6?! 62.Qe5²))
58.Kh3! Bd7+
58...Qe6+ 59.Qf5 (59.Bf5? Qe3+ 60.Kh2 Qe5+=) 59...Qe3+ 60.Kh2 Qh6 61.Qe5+ Ng7 62.Rf4+-
59.Bf5 Qd3+ 60.Rf3 Bxf5+ 61.Qxf5 Qxf5+
61...Qd4 62.Bg3+-
62.Rxf5+- Kg7 63.Bg3
63.Rxc5 Nd6 (63...Kf7 64.Rf5+ Ke6 65.Rf8+-) 64.Rd5 Nxc4 65.Rg5++-
63...h6 64.Be5+ Kh7 65.Rf7+ Kg6 66.Rf8! Kh7 67.Bf4 a5 68.Bxh6
68.Be3 a4 69.Bxc5+-
68...a4
68...Rg6 69.Bc1+-
69.Be3 a3 70.Bxc5 a2 71.Bd4 Nc7 72.Ba1 Ne8
72...Rg1 73.Rh8+ Kg6 74.Rg8+ Kf7 75.Rxg1+-
73.c5 Nc7 74.c6 Ne8 75.Kh4 Nc7 76.Kh5 Ne8 77.c7! 1-0

54. [B51]
Balogh, Csaba (2655) - Ortiz Suarez, Isan Reynaldo (2625)
Tsaghkadzor (wtc) 125/54, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.c4 e5 8.Qd3 h6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.O-O Be7 11.Rd1
O-O 12.c5 dxc5 13.Bxh6 Qc7 14.Bg5 Be6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Rad8N
17...c4 - 88/165
18.Nd2! Be7 19.Ne4 c4 20.Qh3² Rd7?

20...f5 21.d6 Rxd6 (21...Bxd6? 22.Ng5+-) 22.Nxd6 Bxd6 23.Rac1±20...Qd7 21.d6 (21.g4!? f5 22.gxf5 Rxf5 23.d6 Bf8
24.Rac1²) 21...Qxh3 22.gxh3 Bh4 23.Rac1²
21.d6! Rfd8
21...Bxd6 22.Ng5 Re8 23.Rd5+-
22.Rd5 Rxd6 23.Nxd6 Rxd6 24.Rxe5 Rh6 25.Rh5 Rxh5 26.Qxh5 g6 27.Qe2 Bf6 28.Rd1 Kg7 29.g3 Qc6 30.h4 b5
31.Rd2
31.h5 gxh5 32.Qxh5 Bxb2 33.Rd8 Qf6 34.Qh8+ Kg6 35.Rg8+ Kf5 36.Qh5++-
31...b4 32.Rc2 c3 33.bxc3 bxc3 34.Qd3
34.h5 gxh5 35.Qxh5 Qe4 36.Qe2+-
34...a5 35.Re2 Qc5 36.Qe4 Kg8 37.Kg2 Kg7 38.g4! Kg8
38...Bxh4 39.Qe5+ Qxe5 40.Rxe5+-
39.g5 Bg7 40.f4 Bd4 41.h5! gxh5 42.g6 Kg7 43.gxf7 Bf6 44.Qe8 1-0

55.** !N [B51]
Rade, Miroslav (2428) - Palac, Mladen (2561)
Hrvatska 125/55, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.O-O
7.Nc3 Rc8 8.O-O e5 9.Qd3 h6 10.Nd2 Nf6 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.Ne3 Be7 13.a4 Be6 14.Bd2 Qc5 (14...Bc4 - 53/(183))
15.Rfd1 O-O 16.Be1 Rfd8 17.a5 Rc7N (17...Qc6) 18.Na4 Qc6 19.Nb6 Qxe4 20.Qxe4 Nxe4 21.Ned5 Bxd5 22.Nxd5
Rcd7 23.Nb6 Rc7= 24.Nd5 Rcd7 25.Nb6 Rc7 26.Nd5 Rcd7 1/2-1/2 (26) Duda,J (2632)-Artemiev,V (2660) Martuni
2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]
7...e5 8.Qd3 Rc8 9.c4 Qc7
9...b5 - 122/(57)
10.b3
10.Nfd2 b5 11.b3 Nf6 12.Nc3 Be7 13.Ba3 O-ON (13...Qa5) 14.Rac1 Qb6 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Bb4 Bc6 17.a3 Rfd8
18.Rc2 Nd7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Qxd5 Nf6 22.Qd3 Qb7= 23.h3 h6 24.Re1 Rd8 1/2-1/2 (24) Kovalenko,I
(2682)-Cheparinov,I (2683) Warszawa 125/ (55) 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]
10...b5 11.Na3 Qb7 12.Re1 Nf6 13.Bg5 Nh5 14.Rad1 h6 15.Bd2 Nf6?!
15...Be7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bb4 Bc6∞
16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bb4 Bc6?

17...Rd8 18.Nh4!?ƒ (18.h3 Be7 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.Qd6+ Ke8 22.Qxe5+ Kf8 23.Nxb5 Qb8∞)
18.Nd4!N
18.Rc1
18...exd4
18...Bxe4 19.Qxb5+ Qxb5 (19...Qd7 20.f3 Bd5 21.f4+-) 20.Ndxb5 d5 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.f3 Bh7 (22...Bf5 23.Nd6 Ra8
24.Nab5+-) 23.Rxe5±
19.e5+- dxe5
19...Ne4 20.exd6 f5 21.f3+-
20.Rxe5+ Kd7 21.Nxb5! Bxb4
21...Bd5 22.Qf5+ Be6 23.Rxd4++-
22.Qxd4+ Nd5 23.Qg4+
23.Qxb4 Rc7 24.Qg4+ Kd8 25.Qxg7 Re8 26.Nd6+-
23...Kd8 24.Qxb4 Re8
24...Bd7 25.Qa3 (25.Rexd5? Qxd5-+) 25...Qxb5 26.Rexd5 Qb7 27.Rxd7+ Qxd7 28.Rxd7+ Kxd7 29.g3+-
25.Rxe8+
25.Rdxd5+! Bxd5 26.Qd6+ Qd7 27.Qb6+ Rc7 28.Qxc7+ Qxc7 29.Rxe8++-
25...Bxe8 26.Qd6+?!
26.Qa5+ Ke7 (26...Kd7 27.Nc3+-) 27.Qe1+ Kf8 28.Nd6+-
26...Bd7 27.Qf8+ Be8 28.Qxe8+?!
28.a4+-
28...Kxe8 29.Nd6+ Kf8 30.Nxb7 Nc3 31.Rd7 Nxa2 32.Rxf7+??
32.g3±
32...Kg8 0-1

56.* [B53]
Grischuk, Alexander (2780) - Gelfand, Boris (2744)
Khanty-Mansiysk 125/56, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qd3 Nf6 7.Bg5

7...Ng4!
7...e6 - 112/(116)
8.h3N
8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.h3 Ne5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Qxd8+ Rxd8 12.Nd2 b6 13.a4 f6 (13...Rd7!?=) 14.Be3 e6 15.Ke2 (15.a5
bxa5 16.Rxa5 (16.Bxa7 a4³) 16...Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Bb4+ 18.Bd2 Rxd2 19.Nxd2 Bxa5 20.Ke2∞) 15...Bc5?! (15...Rd7
16.f3 (16.a5 b5) 16...Be7 17.Rhd1 Kf7=) 16.a5 Bxe3 17.Kxe3 b5 18.b4 Ke7 19.Nb3 f5 20.f3 h5 21.Rad1² Kovalev,V
(2548)-Wei,Y (2641) Pune 2014 [Arsovic,Goran]8.Nc3
8...Nge5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Qb3 e6 12.Na3
12.Nc3 Rc8 (12...Be7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.O-O-O O-O 15.f4 Nc6 16.Rd3²) 13.O-O-O Nc4∞
12...Be7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qb5+ Nc6= 15.O-O-O O-O 16.Rd2 Rad8 17.Rhd1 a6 18.Qb6 d5! 19.exd5 Rxd5 20.Rxd5
exd5 21.Rxd5 Nb4! 22.Rd1 Nxa2+ 23.Kb1 Nb4 24.Qd6 Qe2 25.Rd2 Qe1+ 26.Rd1 Qe2 27.Rd2 Qe1+ 28.Rd1 Qe2
1/2-1/2

57. [B67]
Kalezic, Blazo (2425) - Djukic, Nikola (2543)
Crna Gora (ch) 125/57, 2015 [Djukic,Nikola]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 b5 10.h4 Be7 11.Nxc6
11.Kb1 - 71/218
11...Bxc6 12.Ne2 Rc8 13.Nd4 Bb7 14.Kb1 O-O 15.Bd3 Nd7 16.g4 d5 17.exd5 Bxd5

18.Be4N
18.Qe3
18...Nb6
18...Nf6!?∞
19.Qe2
19.Qd3 Bc4!? (19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qc7∞) 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Qe4 Bd5 22.Qd3 Bc4=
19...Qd6!?
19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 (20.Nxe6?! Bxc2+ 21.Qxc2 Rxc2 22.Nxd8 Bxg5 23.hxg5 Rf2³) 20...Qc7∞
20.Bxe7
20.Nxb5?! axb5 21.Bxe7 (21.Bxd5?! Nxd5 22.Bxe7 Nc3+ 23.bxc3 Qxe7µ) 21...Bxa2+ 22.Kxa2 Qxe7 23.Qxb5 Rb8ƒ
20...Qxe7 21.g5
21.Qd3 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Nc4∞
21...Bxe4
21...Rfd8!?∞
22.Qxe4
22.fxe4 Nc4∞
22...Nc4 23.c3?
23.Rd3 Qc5 (23...Qb4 24.Nb3∞) 24.Rhd1∞
23...Qc5?
23...b4! 24.Qe1 (24.Nc6? Qc5 25.Nxb4 Nxb2!-+) (24.cxb4 Qxb4 25.Qe2 e5 26.Nb3 a5µ) 24...bxc3 25.Qxc3 Rfd8
26.f4 Qd6 27.Qf3 Qb4µ
24.f4?!
24.a3?! a5‭→24.Rd3! b4 25.Rc1 bxc3 26.Rcxc3 Qb4 27.Rc2∞
24...b4 25.Rh3?
25.cxb4 Qxb4 26.Qe2 Rfd8³
25...bxc3
25...Rfd8!?-+ Δ Nb2
26.Rxc3 Qb4 27.Qg2
27.Nb3 Na3+-+27.Qc2 Na3+-+27.Qe2 Nxb2 28.Rb3 Nxd1-+
27...Nxb2! 28.Rb3
28.Qxb2 Qxc3-+
28...Qxb3! 29.axb3 Nxd1 30.h5
30.Qb7 Nc3+ 31.Kb2 Na4+! 32.Ka3 Nc5-+
30...Rfd8! 31.Nc6
31.Qb7 Nc3+ 32.Ka1 Nd5-+
31...Ne3 32.Qf3 Rd1+ 33.Kb2 Rd2+ 34.Kc1
34.Ka3 Nd5-+
34...Rc2+
34...Rd3! 35.Kb1 Rc7-+
35.Kb1 R2xc6
35...R8xc6 36.Qxe3 R2c3 37.Qd4 Rxb3+ 38.Ka2 Rb8 39.h6 gxh6 40.gxh6 Rc2+ 41.Ka3 Rg2-+
36.Qxe3 Rc3
36...Rb8-+
37.Qb6 a5
37...Rh3-+
38.Qxa5?
38.Ka2 Rc1 (38...h6!?-+) 39.Ka3 Ra1+ 40.Kb2 Rf1-+
38...Rc1+ 39.Kb2 R8c2+ 0-1
 58. [B76]
Karjakin, Sergey (2753) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2799)
Khanty-Mansiysk 125/58, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.g4 Be6 10.O-O-O Nxd4
11.Bxd4 Qa5 12.Kb1 Rfc8 13.a3 Rab8 14.h4
14.Nd5 - 64/(214)
14...b5 15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 Bxd5 17.exd5 a5 18.h5 Nd7 19.g5 Ne5 20.Be2 Nc4 21.Rdd1N
21.Rd3
21...b4 22.a4 Rc7
22...Nb6 23.Bb5²
23.f4

23...Rf8!?
23...Rbc8 24.Bg4 Rb8 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rh3 gxh5 27.Bf5 Rh8 28.b3 Nb6 29.Rxh5 Rc3=23...Bxd4 24.Rxd4 Nb6 25.b3
Rc5 26.Bf3 Rc3 27.Be4 Rg3=
24.Rh3
24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Rd3 Nb6 26.b3 Rc5 27.Bf3 f6=
24...Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Nb6 26.b3
26.Bb5 Rc5 27.Bc6 e6 28.b3 Nxd5 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Rd2©
26...Rc5 27.Rhd3 Rfc8 28.c4 bxc3™ 29.Kc2 Kf8 30.Bg4 R8c7 1/2-1/2
 59. [B76]
Sasikiran, Krishnan (2642) - Feller, Sebastien (2626)
France 125/59, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O Bd7 10.g4 Rc8 11.Kb1
Ne5 12.h4 Qa5 13.Nd5 Qxd2 14.Nxe7+ Kh8 15.Bxd2 Rce8 16.g5
16.Bb4 - 50/236
16...Nxe4 17.fxe4 Rxe7 18.Bb4 Bg4N
18...Rc8
19.Bxd6
19.Be2 Bxe2 20.Nxe2 Nc4 21.b3 a5 22.Bc3 Ne3! (22...Na3+ 23.Kb2 Nb5 24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.a4 Nc7 (25...Rxe4
26.Ng3 Rg4 27.axb5 Rxg3 28.Rxd6 f5 29.Re1!±) 26.Rxd6 Rxe4 27.Rd7 Rxe2 28.Rxc7 b6 29.Rf1²) 23.Rxd6 Rxe4
24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.Nd4 Rfe8=
19...Rd7 20.Bxf8 Bxd1 21.Bxg7+ Kxg7 22.c3 Bf3 23.Nxf3 Nxf3 24.Be2
24.Bb5 Rd2 25.Bc4 Rf2 (25...Ne5 26.Bd5 b6 27.b4ƒ) 26.Bd5 b6 27.b4ƒ
24...Nd2+ 25.Kc2 Nxe4 26.Bf3 Ng3!
26...Nc5 27.b4 Ne6 28.Re1ƒ
27.Re1 h6= 28.b4 Nf5 29.Bg4 hxg5 30.hxg5 f6 31.gxf6+ Kxf6 32.a4
32.Re4 Kg5 33.Bd1=
32...Kg5 33.Bh3 Rh7 34.Bxf5 gxf5 35.Kd3
35.Rg1+ Kf6 36.Kd3=
35...Rd7+ 36.Ke2
36.Kc2? f4-+
36...Re7+ 37.Kf2 Rxe1 38.Kxe1 Kf4
39.Ke2?
39.Kf2? Ke4 40.Ke2 f4 41.a5 (41.c4 Kd4 42.c5 Kc4 43.a5 a6-+) 41...f3+! (41...a6? - 39.Kd2) 42.Kd2 f2 43.Ke2
f1=Q+ 44.Kxf1 Kd3 45.b5 Kxc3-+39.Kd2!! Ke4 40.a5! a6 (40...f4 41.a6 bxa6 42.c4=) 41.Ke2 f4 42.c4 Kd4 43.b5!
Kxc4 44.bxa6 bxa6 45.Kf3=
39...Ke4 40.a5 f4?
40...a6!!-+ 41.Kd2 (41.c4 Kd4 42.b5 Kxc4 43.bxa6 bxa6 44.Kf3 Kb5 45.Kf4 Kxa5 46.Kxf5 Kb4) 41...f4 42.c4 Kd4
43.b5 Kxc4 44.bxa6 bxa6 45.Ke2 Kb5 46.Kf3 Kxa5 47.Kxf4 Kb4 48.Ke3 Kc3
41.c4= Kd4
41...a6 42.b5 Kd4 43.Kf3 Kxc4 44.bxa6 bxa6 45.Kxf4=
42.a6
42.c5 a6 43.b5! Kxc5 44.bxa6 bxa6 45.Kf3=
42...bxa6 43.c5 Kd5 44.Kf3 a5 45.bxa5 Kxc5 46.Kxf4 1/2-1/2

60. [B76]
Caruana, Fabiano (2803) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2799)
Khanty-Mansiysk 125/60, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O d5 10.exd5 Nxd5
11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Bc4 Nb6N
15...Rd8 - 109/132
16.Bb3
16.Nc5 Bf5 17.Bb3 (17.g4?! Rad8 18.Na6 Rxd4 19.Nxc7 Rxc4 20.gxf5 Rc8 21.Na6 Ra4 22.Nc5 Rxa2µ) 17...Rad8
18.Qe3 (18.Qh4!?) 18...Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Qxh2 20.g4 Nd5 (20...Bc8 21.Nd3© ↑) 21.Qd4 (21.Qd2 Qxd2+ 22.Rxd2 Be6
23.Rd4©) (21.Rxd5 cxd5 22.gxf5 Qh1+ 23.Kd2 Qh2+ 24.Kd3 Qd6∞) 21...Be6 22.Re1©
16...Nxa4
16...Bf5 17.g4 Rad8 18.Qe3 Bc8 19.h4 Nd5 20.Qh6 Qf4+ 21.Qxf4 Nxf4 22.Rde1ƒ
17.Qxa4 c5 18.Rhe1
18.h4!? Rb8 19.c3ƒ
18...e6
18...Rb8 19.Qe4 e6 20.Qe5²
19.Qe4

19...Ba6!?
19...Rb819...Bb7 20.Qe5 Qe7 21.h4!?ƒ
20.Bxe6
20.Qe5 Qxe5 21.Rxe5 Rfc8 22.c4ƒ
20...Bb7 21.Bd5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5
22.Rxd5 Qxh2 23.g4
22...Qxh2 23.Qg5 Rfe8 24.Rh1 Qe5 25.Qxe5 Rxe5= 26.Rd7 h5
¹26...Re2
27.g4 hxg4
27...Rg5!? 28.gxh5 gxh5 29.f4 Rf5 30.Rh4 Kg7=
28.fxg4 Re4 29.Rf1 Rf8 30.Rxa7 Rxg4 31.Rc7 c4 32.Kd2 f5 33.a4
33.Kc3 f4 (33...Ra8!? 34.a3 f4 35.Kxc4 g5=) 34.a4 (34.Rxc4 Rg3+ 35.Kd2 g5=) (34.Rf3 Rg3 35.Rxg3 fxg3 36.Rxc4™
g2 37.Rg4 Rf3+™ 38.Kd2 Rf2+=) 34...Rg3+ 35.Kxc4 f3 36.Kd3 f2+ 37.Kd2 Rd8+ 38.Ke2 Re8+ 39.Kxf2 Ree3= Δ
Rgf3
33...c3+ 34.Kxc3 Rxa4 35.b4 Rb8 36.Rd1
36.Rb1 f4 37.b5 f3 38.b6 f2 39.b7 Rf4=
36...Raxb4 37.Rdd7 Rg4 38.Rg7+ Kh8 39.Rh7+ Kg8 40.Rhg7+ Kh8 41.Rh7+ 1/2-1/2

61. [B78]
Kravtsiv, Martyn (2599) - Jones, Gawain C (2647)
Abu Dhabi 125/61, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Rc8 11.Bb3
Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.exd5 a5 16.a3 Kg8 17.Rhe1 Rc5
17...b4 - 118/(65)
18.Re3 b4 19.axb4
19.a4 Qe8! 20.Qe2 Bxa4 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 (21...Qb5 22.Qxb5 Bxb5 23.Ra7²) 22.Qxe7 Bxb3 23.Rd2 Rfc8 24.Kd1 Rxc2
25.Rxc2 Rxc2 26.Ke1 Rc5 27.Qxd6 Rxd5=
19...axb4 20.Qxb4 Qa8 21.Bc4!
21.Kd2
21...Bf5
21...Rb8?! 22.Ra3!±21...Re8 22.Ra3 Qc8 23.Bb3!²
22.Ra3 Qc8 23.b3 Qc7 24.Qd2 Rb8N
24...Rc8
25.Qd4
25.Re1!?
25...Qb6
25...e6!? 26.dxe6 Bxe6 27.Qxd6 Bxc4 28.Qxc7 Rxc7 29.bxc4 Rxc4²
26.Ra2 Qb4 27.g4 Bc8 28.Ra7 Rb7 29.Ra4 Qb6 30.b4?
30.Kb2±30.Ra8 Rb8 31.Rxb8 Qxb8 32.Re1 Rc7 33.Kb2±
30...Rcc7?
30...Qxb4! 31.Rxb4 Rxb4 32.Qe4 Rbxc4©
31.Ba6 Rb8 32.Qxb6 Rxb6 33.Bxc8 Rxc8 34.Kb2+- e6 35.c3 Rc4 36.Ra8+ Kg7 37.dxe6 fxe6 38.Ra7+ Kf6
38...Kh6 39.h4
39.Rxh7 d5 40.h4 Rbc6 41.Rd3 d4 42.cxd4 g5 43.hxg5+ Kxg5 44.Kb3 Kf4 45.Rh5 1-0

62. [B80]
Pruijssers, Roeland (2507) - Van Wely, Loek (2647)
Nederland (ch) 125/62, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.f3 O-O 9.O-O-O a6 10.g4 Nd7 11.h4
Nde5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Be2 Rb8 14.h5
14.g5 - 45/266
14...Qa5 15.g5N
15.h6
15...d5! 16.Qd4
16.Kb1 Ba3 17.Nb5 Qxd2 18.Bxd2 cxb5 19.bxa3 Nc4=16.Bd4 Nd7 (16...Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4∞) 17.h6 e5 (17...g6∞)
18.Ba7 Rxb2! 19.Nxd5! (19.Kxb2? Ba3+ 20.Ka1 Bb4 21.Nb1 Bxd2 22.Nxd2 d4-+) (19.hxg7? Ba3 20.gxf8=Q+ Nxf8
21.Qd3 Rb3+ 22.Kd2 Rxc3 23.Qxc3 Bb4 24.Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25.c3 Qb2+ 26.Ke1 Qxc3+ 27.Kf1 d4-+) 19...Bb4!
(19...Qxd2+ 20.Rxd2 Ba3 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.hxg7+ Kxg7 23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Rd3±) 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.hxg7+ Kxg7
22.Nf5+ Kg8™ 23.Ne7+ Kg7=
16...Bd6
16...f6 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.Qa4 Qc7∞
17.h6?!

17.f4 Nd7 (17...c5 18.Qa4 Qb6 19.Qa3 d4 20.Na4 Qb7 21.fxe5 Be7 22.Nxc5 (22.Bf2 Bd7! 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Qxc5
Qxb2+ 25.Kd2 Rfc8 26.Bxd4 Rxc5 27.Bxb2 Rxb2 28.Ke3 Rcxc2 29.Bxa6 Be8 30.Rd8 Kf8 31.Bd3 Rg2 32.Rc1 Ke7
33.Ra8 Rg3+ 34.Kd4 Rb7=) 22...dxe3 23.Nxb7 Bxa3 24.bxa3 Rxb7 25.Rh3 (25.Bxa6 Rc7 26.Bd3 Bd7 27.Rhe1²)
25...Rc7 26.Rxe3 Rc5 27.Rd4 Rxe5 28.Rg3²) (17...Rb4 18.Qd2 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.Qd3 Bb4 21.Bd4 c5 (21...Bxc3
22.Bxc3 Qxa2 23.h6 g6 24.b3 Rxe4 25.Rhe1‭→) 22.Be5 Bxc3 23.Bxc3 Qxa2 24.exd5 Rxf4 25.h6 g6 26.Qe3 Qa1+!
27.Kd2 Qa4 28.Qe5 f6 29.Qc7 Rf2+! 30.Ke3 Bd7 31.Kxf2 (31.b3 Qg4 32.Kxf2 e5©) 31...e5!!©) 18.h6 e5! 19.Qa4
Qxa4 20.Nxa4 exf4 21.Ba7 Ra8 22.Bd4 Re8∞
17...c5! 18.Qa4™ Qb6 19.hxg7
19.Qa3 d4 20.f4 dxe3 21.hxg7 Kxg7 22.fxe5 Bxe5µ
19...Rd8 20.b3?!
20.Qa3 d4 21.Na4 Qb4 22.g6 Nxg6 23.Bg5 Qxa3 24.bxa3 Rd7µ
20...d4 21.f4 dxe3 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Qc4 Bd7 24.Bh5
24.Na4 Bxa4 25.Qxa4 Kxg7-+
24...Be8! 25.Na4 Bxa4
25...Qc7 26.Qxc5 (26.Rxd8 Qxd8 27.Qxc5 Qd2+ 28.Kb1 Bxg7 29.Nb2 e2 30.Qg1 Bc3 31.Nd3 Rd8-+) (26.Rdf1
Rbc8-+) 26...Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Bxa4 28.Qxc7 Bxc7 29.bxa4 e2! 30.Bxe2 Bf4+ 31.Rd2 a5-+25...Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Qc7
27.Nxc5 (27.c3 e2! 28.Bxe2 Bb5-+) 27...Qa5! 28.a4 e2! (28...Rb4 29.Rd8!? Qxd8 (29...Rxc4?? 30.Rxe8+ Kxg7
31.Nxe6+! fxe6 32.Re7+=) 30.Qxb4 Bxg7 31.Nd3 Qxg5 32.Be2 a5-+) 29.Bxe2 Rb4-+
26.Qxa4 Qc7 27.Rdf1 Rd7-+ 28.Qc4?!
28.Qxa6 Kxg7
28...Bxg7
28...Qa5!
29.c3 Qe5 30.Kb1 Qxc3 31.Qxc3 Bxc3 32.Rh3 Bd4 33.Be2 a5 34.Rfh1 a4 35.Bc4 axb3 36.axb3 Ra8 37.b4 Ra4 0-1

63. [B81]
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro (2669) - Bu, Xiangzhi (2695)
Danzhou 125/63, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 b5 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.O-O Nfd7 10.Re1
10.f4 - 111/96
10...Nc6 11.e5N
11.a411.Nxc6
11...d5 12.Nxc6 Bxc6

13.Ne2
13.Nxd5!? exd5 (13...Rc8 14.Nf4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qc7 16.Nd3²) 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Be7 16.e6 Nf6 (16...Nb6?
17.exf7+ Kf8 18.Qe4+- →) (16...fxe6?! 17.Qxe6 Nf6 18.g5 Qd7 19.gxf6 Qxe6 20.Rxe6 gxf6 21.Bd2±) 17.exf7+ Kf8
18.Qe5 Qd6 19.Qe2 Kxf7 20.g5©
13...Bb7 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.Be3 O-O 16.f4 Qc7
16...b4!?
17.c3 Rae8 [Δ f6] 18.g5 Bb6 19.Kh1 Nc5 20.Rg1 Rc8 21.Rc1 Rfd8 22.h4 Ne4 23.Bf3
23.h5!? Qe7 24.a3 a5 25.Qe1 b4 26.axb4 axb4 27.Nf5 exf5 28.Bxb6 Rd7 29.Bd4ƒ
23...Qe7 24.Rg2
24.Nf5 exf5 25.Bxb6d4!? 26.Bxd8 Rxd8 27.Bxe4 Bxe4+ 28.Kh2 dxc3 29.Qe2 c2 30.Rxc2 Bxc2 31.Qxc2 g6=24.a3 a5
25.Qe1 b4 26.axb4 axb4 27.Nf5 exf5 28.Bxb6 Rd7 29.h5ƒ
24...b4 25.cxb4
25.Nf5 exf5 26.Bxb6 Rd7=
25...Rxc1 26.Qxc1 Qxb4 27.a3 Qc4 28.Qd1 Bxd4
28...a5 29.Rc2 Qa6 30.Kg2ƒ
29.Bxd4 Rc8 30.Be2 Qc1 31.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 32.Kh2 g6= 33.Be3 Re1 34.Bd4 Rc1 35.Be3 Re1 36.Bd4 a5 37.Bb5 Rd1
38.Be3 Re1 39.Bd4
39.Bb6 Rc1 40.a4 Nc5 41.Bxc5 Rxc5 42.b4 axb4 43.Rb2 Bc6 44.Rxb4 Bxb5 45.axb5 Kf8 46.Kg3 Ke7 47.h5 Kd7=
39...Rd1 40.Be3 Re1 41.Bd4 1/2-1/2

64. [B84]
Hovhannisyan, Robert (2611) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2660)
Martuni 125/64, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.f4 Nc6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Qd2 O-O 10.O-O-O Nd7 11.Kb1
Nxd4 12.Bxd4
12.Qxd4 - 81/209
12...b5 13.a3
13.Qe313.Bf313.e5
13...Bb7 14.Rhf1N
14.f5
14...Qc7
14...Rc8!? 15.f5 e5 (15...Nf6 16.Qe3²) 16.Be3 Nf6∞
15.f5 Nf6
¹15...e5 16.Be3 Nf6 (16...Rfc8!?) 17.Bf3 b4!? 18.axb4 Rab8 19.Bg5 (19.Nd5?! Bxd5 20.exd5 Rfc8³ ↑) 19...Bc6
20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qxd6 Qb7©
16.Bf3 Qc4 17.Be2 Qc7 18.Bf3 Qc4 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Be2 Qc7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6
22.Qxd6
22.Bg4! Bxc3 (22...Rae8 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 Bxc3 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.bxc3 e5 27.g3±) 23.Bxe6+ Kh8 24.Rxf8+
Rxf8 25.bxc3 Bxe4 26.Qxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 g6 28.Rd2²
22...Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Bxe4 25.Rxe6 Bxg2 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.c4 bxc4 28.Bxc4 a5= 29.Re2 Bc6 30.Kb2
Ra7 31.Re5 Be8 32.Kc3 Bg6 33.Bd3 Bf7?!
33...Bxd3 34.cxd3 Kf7 35.d4 Kf6 36.a4 g5=33...Kf7 34.Bxg6+ Kxg6 35.Kd4 Kf6=
34.Kd4 h6 35.c4 g5 36.Be4 Rd7+ 37.Bd5 Kg7
¹37...a4
38.Rf5 Be6 39.Rf2 Bh3?! 40.Kc5 h5 41.Kb5 h4 42.Kxa5 g4 43.Kb4 Kh6?
43...Kh6 44.Ra2 g3 45.hxg3 hxg3 46.a4 Rg7 47.Ra1! Kg5 (47...g2 48.Rg1 Kh5 49.a5 Kh4 50.c5 Kg3 51.a6 Kh2
52.Rxg2+! Bxg2 53.Bxg2 Rxg2 54.c6+-) 48.a5 Kf4 49.a6 (49.c5 Ke5 50.Bc6!+-) 49...g2 50.Rg1 Bc8 51.Rxg2 Rxg2
52.Bxg2 Bxa6 53.c5 Bc8 54.c6 Ke5 55.Kc5 Bg4 56.Kb6 Kd6 57.Kb7 Bf5 58.c7 Bg4 59.Kb8 Bf5 60.Bb7+-43...Rd6!
44.Ra2 g3 45.hxg3 hxg3 46.a4 (46.Bg2 Bxg2 47.Rxg2 Rg6 48.c5 Kf7 49.Kb5 Ke7 50.c6 Kd8 51.Kb6 Kc8=) 46...Rg6
47.Ra1 g2 48.Rg1 Rb6+! 49.Kc5 Rb2 50.a5 Ra2 51.Kb6 Rb2+ 52.Ka7 Kf6 53.a6 Ke7 54.Bb7 Kd6 55.Kb8 Rf2!
56.c5+ Kxc5 57.a7 Kd4 58.a8=Q Rf8+ 59.Kc7 Rxa8 60.Bxa8 Ke3 61.Bxg2 Kf2=1/2-1/2

65. !N [B85]
Wei, Yi (2724) - Bruzon Batista, Lazaro (2669)
Danzhou 125/65, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Kh1 O-O 11.Qe1
Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Qg3 Bb7 14.a3 Rad8 15.Rae1 Rd7 16.Bd3 Qd8?! 17.Qh3 g6 18.f5 e5 19.Be3 Re8
19...Nh5 - 105/ (67)
20.fxg6 hxg6
¹20...fxg6 21.a4! (21.Nd5?! Nxd5 22.Rf7 (22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Rd1©) 22...Nf6 (22...Kxf7? 23.Qxh7+ - 20...hg6) 23.Qe6
Kh8 24.Rf1 (24.Bg5 Nh5µ) (24.Bh6 Bf8 25.Qxe8 Qxe8 26.Rxf8+ Qxf8 27.Bxf8 Nxe4!³) 24...Nh5 25.Rxh7+ Kxh7
26.Rf7+ Ng7 27.Qh3+ Kg8 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qh6+ Kf6 30.Qh4+ Kf7 31.Qh7+ Ke6 32.Qh3+! Kf7=) (21.Qe6+
Kh8 22.Rf3 Bc8 23.Ref1 Rb7 24.Qf7 Rf8 25.Qa2²) 21...b4 22.Nd5 (22.Na2!?) 22...Nxd5 23.exd5² ↑
21.Nd5!N
21.Bb6
21...Nxd5?!

21...Bxd5 22.exd5±
22.Rxf7!!
22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Bf5 Rc7! 24.Rd1 Bc4µ
22...Kxf7™
22...Nf6 23.Qe6 Kh8 24.Bg5+-
23.Qh7+ Ke6
23...Kf6 24.exd5! (24.Rf1+? Nf4 25.Rxf4+ exf4 26.Bd4+ Ke6 (26...Kg5?? 27.h4+ Kg4 28.Qxg6+ Bg5 29.Be2+ Kg3
30.Qh5+-)) 24...e4 25.Rf1+ Ke5 26.Qxg6 exd3 27.Qe6#
24.exd5+ Kxd5
24...Bxd5 25.Bxg6+-
25.Be4+! Kxe4
25...Ke6 26.Qxg6+ Bf6 27.Qf5+ Kf7 28.Qh7+! Kf8 (28...Ke6 29.Bf5+ Kd5 30.Bxd7+-) 29.Bh6+ Rg7 30.Rf1+-
26.Qf7 [Δ Bg1]
26.c4! Kd3 (26...bxc4 27.Qxg6+ Kd5 28.Qf7+ Ke4 29.Qxc4+ Kf5 30.Rf1++-) 27.Qxg6+ Be4 28.Rd1+ Kc2
29.Qxe4++-
26...Bf6 27.Bd2+ Kd4 28.Be3+ Ke4 29.Qb3!! Kf5™ 30.Rf1+ Kg4 31.Qd3!
31.c4? (Δ Qd1) 31...Bxg2+! (31...Kh4? 32.h3! Qa8 33.Kh2 Bxg2 34.Bd2!+-) 32.Kxg2 Qa8+ 33.Kg1 Qe4 34.Rxf6
Kh4! (34...Kh5? 35.h3!!+-) 35.Bd2 Qg4+ 36.Kh1™ Qe4+=
31...Bxg2+
31...Rg7 32.Qe2+ Kh4 33.h3 Qd7 34.Kh2 Bxg2 35.Qxg2+-
32.Kxg2 Qa8+ 33.Kg1 Bg5 34.Qe2+ Kh4 35.Bf2+ Kh3 36.Be1!
36.Be1 Qa7+ 37.Kh1 Qb7+ 38.Rf3+ Kg4 39.Qg2+ Kh5 40.Rh3+ Bh4 41.Rxh4#
1-0

66. [B85]
Kraemer, Martin (2577) - Doncea, Vladimir (2421)
Skopje 125/66, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 a6 8.O-O Be7 9.f4 d6 10.a4 O-O 11.Kh1 Bd7
12.Nb3
12.Qe1 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bc6 14.Qg3 g6 15.f5 e5 16.Be3 b5 17.Bh6 Rfc8 18.Bd3 Qb7!? (18...Qd8 - 31/300) 19.Qf3 b4
20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Nxd5 24.Be4 Nc7 25.Bxa8 Nxa8 26.a5 Nc7∞
12...Na5 13.e5 Ne8
13...dxe5!? 14.fxe5 Nd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Qxd5 (16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.c3 (17.Bd3 Qc7 18.Bd4 Be6 (18...Bc5? 19.e6!±)
(18...b5?! 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.e6!) 19.Qh5 g6 20.Qh6 Rfe8 21.a5 Bf8 Δ Bg7) 17...Be6 18.Bd3 (18.Bd4 Qc7 19.a5 Bc5
20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Qd4 Rac8 22.Bd3 Rfe8=) 18...Qc7 19.Bd4 Rfe8 20.a5 Bf8 Δ g6, Bg7) 16...Nxb3 17.cxb3 Be6
18.Qe4 Bxb3 19.Rfc1 Qd7 20.Bg4 (20.Bf3 Qe6 21.Rc7 Rad8! 22.Qxb7 Rfe8 23.Rc6 Bd5 24.Rxe6 Bxb7 25.Rxe7 Rxe7
26.Bg5 Bxf3 27.Bxe7 Rd1+=) 20...Be6 (20...Qd5 21.Bf3 Rad8 (21...Qxe4 22.Bxe4 Rab8 23.Bb6²) (21...Qe6 22.Rc7²)
22.Rc7 Rfe8 23.Qf5 Qe6 24.Qxe6 Bxe6 25.Rxb7 Rd3 (25...Bd5 26.Ra7 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Bb4 28.Rxa6 Rxe5 29.Bg1±)
26.Bf2 Bg5 27.Kg1²) 21.Rd1 Qc6 22.Qxc6 bxc6 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.Rac1 Rf5 25.Rd7 (25.Rxc6 Rxe5 26.Bg1 a5=)
25...Bb4 26.Rxc6 Rxe5 27.Bg1 Re2 28.h3 (28.b3 e5 29.h3 e4=) 28...Rxb2 29.Bd4 Rb1+ 30.Kh2 Bf8 31.Rxe6 Rd1=
14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.Ne4 Qc7 16.a5!²
16.Bd4 - 83/(214)
16...Bc6
16...d5 17.Bb6 Qc8 18.Nd2 f6 (18...Bd8 19.Bf2 Nc7 20.c4) 19.c4 Nc7 20.Nf3±16...Rc8 17.Bb6 Qb8 (17...Qxc2
18.exd6 Bf6 19.Bf3±) 18.c3 Bc6 19.Qd4±
17.Bb6 Qd7
17...Qb8?! 18.Qd4 f5 (18...d5 19.Nc5 Qc8 20.Bf3 g6 21.c4± ∆dxc4 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.Qd7+-) (18...f6 19.exd6 Nxd6
20.Nxd6 Qxd6 21.Qxd6 Bxd6 22.Rad1 Bb8 23.Bc4±) 19.exf6 Nxf6 (19...gxf6 20.Ra3±) (19...Bxf6 20.Qe3 Bxb2
21.Rab1 Bf6 22.Ng5±) 20.Ng5 Qc8 (20...Bd7 21.Bd3±) 21.Rae1 Nd5 22.Bg4 Bxg5 23.Bxe6+ Qxe6 24.Rxe6 Nxf4
25.Re4!±
18.Bf3
18.Qd4!? dxe5 19.Qxd7 Bxd7 20.fxe5 Bc6 21.Bc5 (21.Nc5!? Nc7 22.c4 Rac8 23.b4 Na8 24.Ba7²) 21...Bxc5 22.Nxc5
Rd8 (22...g6 23.Bf3 Ng7 24.c3 ∆Bxf3 25.Rxf3 Nf5 26.b4±) 23.Bf3 Bxf3 (23...Nc7 24.c4 Rd4 25.b3 f6 26.exf6 Rxf6
27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rfd1±) 24.Rxf3 Rd2 (24...Rd5?! 25.b4 Rxe5 26.Nd7 Re4 27.Raf1 f5 28.Nxf8 Kxf8 29.Rf4 Re2
30.Rc4 Rd2 31.g4! g6 32.Re1±) 25.c4 (25.Rb3!?) 25...f6 26.Nxe6 Rf7 27.exf6 Rxb2²
18...Bd8N
18...Rc8 19.c4 f5 20.exd6 fxe4 (20...Bxd6 21.Nxd6 Nxd6 22.b3²) 21.dxe7 Qxe7 22.Be2 Rf6!? (22...e5?! 23.Bg4 Ra8
24.b4!±) 23.Qd4 Rh6 (Δ Qh4) 24.Ra3 Nd6 25.Kg1! (25.Qc5? Bd5!) (25.Bc5 Nf5 26.Qe5 26...e3! 27.Bxe7 Ng3+
28.Kg1 Nxe2+=) 25...Nf5 (25...Rg6 26.Rh3 Nf5 27.Qc3! e3 28.g4) 26.Qc5 Qf7 27.b4²18...f5!? 19.exd6 (19.Nxd6
Bxd6 20.exd6 Rc8 21.b3 Bxf3 22.Rxf3 Rc6„) 19...fxe4 20.dxe7 Qxe7 21.Be2 Nf6!? (21...Rf6 22.Qd4 Rh6 23.Rad1!
Qh4 24.h3 e3 25.Qxe3 Qxh3+ 26.Qxh3 Rxh3+ 27.Kg1 Rg3 28.Rf2 Nf6 29.Bd3²) 22.c4 e5 23.f5 (23.fxe5 Nd7 24.Qd6
Qxe5 25.Qxe5 Nxe5 26.b3 Nd3) 23...Nd7 24.Be3 Nc5 25.b4 Nd3„
19.Bd4

19.Nxd6 Nxd6 20.Qxd6 Qxd6 21.exd6 Bxf3 22.Rxf3 Bxb6 23.axb6 Rfc8 Δ Rc6=19.Qd4 Rc8 20.Rfd1 Bd5 21.Bxd8
Qxd8 22.Rd2 dxe5 23.fxe5 Qc7 24.c3²19.c4 Rc8 (19...Bxb6 20.axb6 Rd8 21.Qe2 f6 22.Rad1±) 20.Rc1!? (20.b3 f5
21.Ng5 Bxg5 22.fxg5 Qe7 23.Qd4 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rc6 25.f4 dxe5 26.fxe5 Nc7 27.Qe3²) 20...Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxb6
22.axb6 Qe7 23.Qd4! (23.Qf3 dxe5 24.fxe5 f5! 25.Bxb7 Rb8 26.c5!? Qxb7 27.Qxb7 Rxb7 28.Rfd1 a5! (28...Nc7
29.bxc7 Rxc7 30.b4 Rb8 31.Rc4²) 29.Kg1 Nc7 30.Rd7 Rf7 31.bxc7 Rxc7 32.Rd6 Rf8! 33.Rxe6 Rb8 34.Rc2 Rb5=)
23...f6 24.b4 ∆fxe5 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Qxe5 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 Nf6 (27...Rxc4? 28.Bd5+-) 28.Bf3 Nd7 29.Qe2 Nxb6 30.c5
Na8 31.Rd1±
19...f5! 20.Nxd6 Nxd6 21.exd6
21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.exd6 Qxd6 23.Ra3 Bc7 24.Rg3 Rf7 25.c3 Qd5 26.Re3 (26.b4 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 e5=) 26...Re8 27.b4 Rd7
28.Qe2 Bd6=
21...Qxd6 22.c3 Bc7 23.Bxc6 Qxc6 24.Qa4
24.Qe2 Rad8 25.b4 Rd5 26.Rae1 Re8 27.Rf3 Bd6„
24...Rfe8 25.Kg1
25.Qxc6 bxc6 26.g3 (26.b4 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 e5=) 26...Rab8 27.b4 e5 28.fxe5 Bxe5=
25...Qd5!?
25...Qxa4 26.Rxa4 Re7=
26.Rad1 Rad8 27.Bxg7 Qxa5 28.Qxa5 Bxa5 29.Bd4
29.Bf6 Bb6+ 30.Kh1 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Kf7 32.Bh4 Kg6=
29...Rd6 30.b4
30.Kf2 Bb6=
30...Bxb4 31.Rb1 a5 32.Rf3 Rd7
32...Rxd4!? 33.cxd4 Rd8 34.Rc1 Rxd4 35.Rc7=
33.cxb4 Rxd4 34.bxa5 Re7= 35.Rb5 h5 36.g3 Rc7 37.Kg2 Kf7 38.Rf2 Kf6 39.Rfb2 Ra4 40.Kh3 h4 41.Rxb7 Rxb7
42.Rxb7 hxg3 43.hxg3 Rxa5 44.Kg2 1/2-1/2

67.** !N [B90]
Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - So, Wesley (2778)
Dortmund 125/67, 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 b5

7...h5 - 124/71
8.g4 b4 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5
10.Qxd5 Ra7 11.Be3 Be6 12.Qd3 Rb7N (12...Rd7) 13.Bg2 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.c4 (15.f4N Qc8 16.f5 Bc4 17.Qd2
Nd7 18.g5 Bd8 19.Rf2 Bb6„ Bailet, P (2518)-Ragger,M (2676) Zillertal 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]) 15...Nd7 16.b3 a5 17.f4
Nc5 18.Qc2 a4∞ Tazbir,M (2518)-Areshchenko,A (2661) Cappelle-la-Grande 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]
10...h5!N
10...Nd7
11.gxh5
11.g5 Be7 12.h4 Bg4 13.Bg2 Nd7∞
11...Rxh5 12.a3
12.Bd2 a5
12...bxa3 13.Rxa3 Nd7 14.Bg2 Nf6 15.O-O Rb8 16.f4 Be7 17.c4 Qb6+ 18.Rf2
18.Kh1 Kf8 19.Rg3 Bf5∞
18...Rh4 19.Rc3 Bd7?
19...Bxh3 20.Bxh3 (20.Rxh3 Ng4 21.Qe1 exf4 22.Nxf4 Qxf2+ 23.Qxf2 Nxf2 24.Kxf2 Rb4³) 20...Ne4 21.Qe1 Nxf2
22.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 23.Kxf2 exf4 24.Nxf4 Bf6 25.Re3+ Kd8 26.Rf3 Bxb2³
20.b3?
20.c5! dxc5 21.fxe5 Ne4 22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.d6 Bh4 24.Ng3±
20...Bxh3! 21.Bxh3
21.Rxh3 Rxh3 22.Bxh3 Ne4-+
21...Ne4 22.Qe1 Nxc3 23.Qxc3 Qxb3µ 24.Qxb3 Rxb3 25.Bc8 e4
25...exf4 26.Rxf4 Rxf4 27.Bxf4 a5µ
26.Bxa6 Bd8! 27.c5 dxc5 28.Rg2 g6
28...Bf6 29.Rg3 Bd4+ 30.Kg2 Rb6µ
29.Rg3 Rxg3+ 30.Nxg3 Rg4 31.Kh2 f5 32.Ne2 Rh4+ 33.Kg2 Bc7 34.Bc8 Kd8
34...Ke7 35.Be3 Bd6µ
35.Be6 Ke7 36.Be3 Bd6 37.Bf2 Rh8 38.Be1 c4 39.Bc3 Ra8 40.Be5 Ra2 41.Kf1 Rd2 42.Bc3
42.Bxd6+ Kxd6 43.Bf7 Ke7 44.Bxg6 Rxd5-+
42...Rd3 43.Ba5 Ba3 44.Bg8 Bd6 45.Be6 Bc5 46.Ke1 Rb3 47.Kd2 Rb2+ 48.Kd1 Bb4! 49.Bxb4+ Rxb4 50.Kc2 Rb3
51.Nc3 e3-+ 52.Bg8 Rb6 53.Ne2 Ra6 54.d6+ Rxd6 55.Bxc4 Kf6 56.Bd3 g5 57.fxg5+ Kxg5 58.Ng3 Rc6+! 59.Kd1
f4 60.Nf1 Rb6 61.Nh2 Kh4 62.Ke1 Kg3 63.Nf1+ Kf3 64.Nh2+ Kg2 65.Nf1 Re6 66.Bc4 Re5 67.Ba6 Ra5 68.Bb7+
Kg1 69.Nxe3 Re5 0-1

68. [B90]
Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2723)
Stavanger 125/68, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.g3 Be6 9.Bg2 b5
9...Nbd7 - 123/78
10.O-O Nbd7 11.Be3 Be7 12.Nd5N
12.Qd2
12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Bf5 14.f4

14...Qc8!
14...Rc8 15.c3 g6 16.a4 O-O 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra6²
15.Rc1 O-O 16.b3 exf4 17.Bxf4
17.Nxf4 h4 18.g4 Bh7∞
17...Qc5+ 18.Nd4
18.Kh1 Bg6 19.c4 Qa3 20.Nd4 bxc4 21.Rxc4 Rfe8∞
18...Bf6 19.Be3
19...Rfe8!
19...Bg6!? 20.c4 Rfe8 21.cxb5 Qb4 22.Nc6 Qxb5„
20.Nxf5 Rxe3 21.Kh1
21.Nxe3 Qxe3+ 22.Kh2 (22.Kh1 Qxg3 23.Qxh5 Be5 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qh5+=) 22...h4 23.Qf3 (23.g4? Be5+ 24.Kh1
Qg3-+) 23...hxg3+ 24.Kh1 Qg5 25.Qf5 Ne5©
21...Re5 22.c4 b4 23.Qxh5 g6 24.Qg4 Rxf5 25.Rxf5 Ne5 26.Rxe5 Bxe5 27.Rf1 Qd4 28.Qxd4 Bxd4= 29.Bf3 Re8
30.Kg2 Re3 31.Rd1 Bc5 32.h4 Kg7 33.g4 Rc3 34.Rd2 Be3 35.Re2 a5 36.Be4 Bd4 37.Bf3 Bf6 38.g5 Bd4 39.Be4 Be5
40.Bf3 Bd4 41.Be4 Be5 42.Bf3 Bd4 1/2-1/2

69.* [B90]
Navara, David (2724) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733)
Biel 125/69, 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 Be7 9.g4
9.f4 - 121/74
9...d5
9...O-O 10.g5 Nfd7 11.h4²
10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bg2 Nxe3 12.Qxd8+ Bxd8 13.fxe3 Bh4+
13...Nc6 14.Nc5 Bh4+ 15.Ke2 Bc4+ 16.Nd3 Rd8 17.b3 Be6 (17...Bxd3+ 18.cxd3 Be7 19.Rac1 Ba3 20.Bxc6+ bxc6
21.Rc2²) 18.Nc5²
14.Kf1 Nc6 15.Nc5 Bc4+
15...O-O 16.Bxc6N (16.Be4) 16...bxc6 17.Rd1 Bc8 18.e4 Rd8 19.Kg2 Kf8 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Rd1 Ke7∞ Aharon,O
(2341)-Kuzubov,Y (2663) Baku 2014 [Pikula,Dejan]
16.Kg1 O-O-O
16...Bg5 17.Re1 O-O-O 18.b3 - 16...0-0-0
17.b3 Bg5 18.Re1 Bh4 19.Rb1!?N
19.Ra1
19...Bg5 20.Kf2 Bh4+ 21.Kf3 e4+
21...Rd2 22.N5e4 Bd5 23.Nxd5 Rxd5 24.c4²21...Bd5+ 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 23.Ne4 g6 24.Rbd1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rd8
(25...Rf8!?) 26.Rxd8+ Kxd8∞
22.Kf4

22.N5xe4 Ne5+ 23.Kf4 Ng6+ 24.Kf3 Ne5+=

22...g5+
22...Rd6!? 23.N3xe4 g5+ 24.Kf5 (24.Nxg5? Rf6+) 24...Rd5+ 25.Kf6 Rg8 26.bxc4™ Rg6+ 27.Kxf7 Ne5+ 28.Ke8
Rd8+ 29.Ke7 Nc6+ 30.Kf7 Ne5+=
23.Kf5 Rhe8
23...Be6+ 24.Nxe6 fxe6+ 25.Kxe4 Rd2 26.Bf3 Kb8 27.Rbc1 Nb4 28.Rhd1 Rh2 29.Rh1 Rd2=
24.Rhd1 Re5+ 25.Kf6 Rg8
25...Rxc5 26.Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.bxc4 Rxc4 28.Nxe4 Rxc2 29.Nd6+ Kc7 30.Be4 Rf2+ 31.Ke7 Nc6+ 32.Bxc6 Kxc6 33.e4
(33.Rxb7? Bg3+-) 33...Re2 34.Rc1+ Kb6 35.Rb1+ Kc6=
26.bxc4 Rg6+ 27.Kxf7 Re7+ 28.Kf8 Rf6+?!
28...Reg7! 29.N3xe4 Rg8+=
29.Kg8 Rg6+
30.Kh8! Rf6 31.Rf1 Bf2 32.Rxf2 Rxf2 33.Rf1 Rxg2?
33...Re8+ 34.Kxh7 Rxg2 35.N3xe4 Re7+ 36.Kg6 b6 37.Nd6+ Kc7 38.Nce4²
34.Rf8+ Kc7 35.Nd5+?
35.N5xe4! Kd7 36.Nf6+ Ke6 37.Ncd5 Rf7 38.Re8+ Kd6 39.Nxh7±
35...Kd6 36.Nxe7 Kxc5 37.Rf5+ Kxc4 38.Nxc6 bxc6 39.Rxg5 Rg3
39...Rxc2 40.Kxh7 Kd3 41.Rh5 Kxe3 42.g5 Rc5 43.Kh6 Kd3 44.g6 Rxh5+ 45.Kxh5 e3=
40.h4 h6?
40...Rxe3 41.Kxh7 Rg3 42.h5 e3 43.h6 Kc3! 44.Kg6 e2=
41.Rg6 Rxe3 42.Kg7 Rg3 43.Kxh6 e3 44.Kg5?
44.g5 Kd5 45.Rg8+-
44...Kd5?
44...Kc3 45.Rxc6+ (45.h5 e2 46.Re6 Kd2 47.h6 e1=Q 48.Rxe1 Kxe1 49.h7 Rh3 50.Kg6 Ke2=) 45...Kd2 46.Rd6+
Kxc2=
45.Kf4
45.Rg8+-
45...Rh3?
45...e2 46.c4+! Kxc4 47.Re6 (47.Rxc6+ Kd5 48.Rc1 Ra3 49.Re1 Rxa2 50.Kf5) 47...Rh3 48.Rxe2 Rxh4 49.Rc2+ Kd5
50.Kf5 Kd6 51.g5±
46.h5 c5
46...e2 47.Rg5+ Kd6 48.Re5+-
47.Rg5+ Kd4 48.Re5 1-0

70. [B90]
Carlsen, Magnus (2853) - So, Wesley (2779)
Saint Louis 125/70, 2015 [Roiz,Michael]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.O-O-O Be7 11.g4 b4
12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb6
13...a5? 14.g5 Nh5 15.Bb5 O-O (15...a4 16.Nc5! dxc5 17.d6±) 16.Kb1±
14.Na5 Nbxd5 15.Nc4 Nxe3
15...h6 - 103/169
16.Nxe3 O-O 17.Bc4N
17.h4 a5 18.Kb1 (18.g5!? Nh5 19.Nd5 Rc8 20.Kb1 Rc5 21.Bh3©) 18...Rc8 19.Bd3 Rc5 20.Nf5 Nd5 21.Be4 (21.Rhe1
Kh8 22.Be4 (22.Bc4?! Nc3+ 23.bxc3 Rxc4³) 22...Nf4 23.Nxe7 Qxe7 24.Qxd6 Qxd6 25.Rxd6 g6=) 21...Nf4
22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 h5„
17...Nd7
17...d5 18.Qe2 (18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Bg5+ 20.Kb1 Qc7 21.h4 Bf4=) 18...d4 19.Nf5 g6 20.Nh6+ (20.Nxe7+ Qxe7
21.Rxd4 Qc7 22.Rdd1 a5=) 20...Kg7 21.Nxf7 (21.Qxe5 Kxh6 22.g5+ Kg7 23.Rxd4 Qb6 24.Rd7 Rac8 25.b3 Rc5
26.Qd4 Rd8 27.gxf6+ Qxf6 28.Qxf6+ Kxf6=) 21...Rxf7 22.Qxe5 Rc8 23.Bxf7 Kxf7 24.Rxd4 Qc7 25.Qe2²17...Rc8!?
18.Kb1 (18.Bxa6?! b3 19.axb3 Ra8ƒ) 18...a5 19.Bb3 Nd7 20.Nf5 Nc5„
18.h4 a5 19.g5
19.Nf5 Nb6 20.Bb5 d5 21.Bc6 Rc8 22.Bxd5 Nxd5 23.Qxd5 Qc7=
19...Rc8
19...Nb6 20.Bd5 Rc8 - 19...Rc8
20.Bd5 Nb6 21.Kb1 Qc7
21...Kh8!? 22.Rhf1 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 f6 24.f4 fxg5 25.fxg5 Rxf1 26.Rxf1 Qd7 27.b3 Qe6©
22.Rhf1 Nxd5
22...Qc5!? 23.f4 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bd8©
23.Nxd5 Qb7 24.f4 f5
24...Bd8?! 25.h5 (25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Rf5 a4 27.Rxe5 b3„) 25...a4 26.h6 g6 (26...b3 27.cxb3 axb3 28.hxg7 bxa2+ 29.Ka1
Re8 30.Qh2+-) 27.Nxb4 a3 28.b3 exf4 29.Nd5 Bxg5 30.Qg2 Qc6 31.Rxf4±
25.Qe3! e4
25...Rce8!? 26.Qb3 Kh8 27.a3 Qa7„
26.h5 Rc5?
26...Bd8! 27.h6 g6 28.Qb3 Qf7 29.Rd4 Rc5 30.Rfd1 Re8!„
27.h6 g6 28.Qb3! Rf7
28...Kh8 29.a4 Rb8 (29...Rfc8 30.c3 Bd8 31.cxb4 axb4 32.Ne3±) 30.Rd4 Bd8 31.Ne3±
29.a4ƒ Bd8 30.Rd4
30.Rd2 Kf8 31.Rfd1 Rc6 32.Ne3 Bc7 33.Rd5ƒ
30...Kf8 31.Rfd1 Rc6 32.Ne3! Bb6
32...Qa6 33.Qd5 Rfc7 34.b3±
33.Nc4?!
33.Rxd6! Rxd6 34.Rxd6 Bc7 35.Rd5 Qc6 36.Rb5 Bxf4 37.Nd5 Bc7 38.Qe3±
33...Bxd4?
33...Rxc4 34.Qxc4 Bxd4 35.Qxd4 Qc7 36.Qxd6+ Qxd6 37.Rxd6 Ra7²
34.Nxa5 Qb6 35.Nxc6 Bc5
35...Qxc6 36.Rxd4 Rc7 37.Rxb4+-
36.Qd5 e3 37.a5 Qb5

37...Qc7 38.a6 Qb6 39.a7 Rxa7 40.Nxa7 Qxa7 41.b3 Qf7 42.Qa8+ Qe8 43.Qa1! Qf7 44.Qh8+ Ke7 45.Kb2+-
38.Nd8!+- Ra7 39.Ne6+ Ke8 40.Nd4
40.Nxc5! Qxc5 41.Qg8+ Kd7 42.Qxh7+ Kc6 43.Qxg6 Qxa5 44.Qxd6+ Kb7 45.Qd7++-
40...Qxa5 41.Qg8+ Kd7 42.Qxh7+ Kc8 43.Qg8+ Kb7 44.c3! bxc3 45.Qb3+ Qb6
45...Qb4 46.Qxb4+ Bxb4 47.Rd3+-
46.Qxb6+ Kxb6 47.bxc3 Bxd4
47...Re7 48.Kc2 Bxd4 49.cxd4 Kc6 50.Kd3 Kd5 51.Rh1 e2 52.Re1+-
48.Rxd4 Kc6 49.Kc2 Ra2+ 50.Kd1 Rf2 51.Ke1 Kd7
51...d5 52.Ra4 Kc5 (52...Kb7 53.Ra5+-) 53.Ra8 Rh2 54.Rc8+ Kd6 55.Re8+-
52.Ra4 Ke6 53.Ra8 Rh2 54.c4! Kf7 55.Rb8 Ke6 56.Rg8 1-0

71. !N [B90]
Kraemer, Martin (2570) - Areshchenko, Alexander (2654)
Deutschland 125/71, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5
g6 12.Be2 Bg7 13.O-O O-O 14.Na5
14.Rac1 - 120/93
14...Rb8 15.c4 e4 16.f4 Ng4 17.Bxg4 hxg4 18.f5

18...Ne5!N
18...Qh4
19.Bg5
19.c5?! dxc5 20.Bxc5 Re8µ19.fxg6 f5! 20.c5 (20.Bd4 Rc8! 21.Nxb7 (21.b3? Nd3 22.Bxg7 Kxg7µ) 21...Nxc4 22.Nxd8
Nxd2 23.Bxg7 Rfxd8 24.Bf6 Nxf1 25.Bxd8 Rxd8 26.Rxf1 Rf8³) 20...Qe8 21.c6 bxc6 22.dxc6 Qxg6ƒ19.Rab1 Nd3
20.Nb3 Be5∞
19...f6 20.Be3?!
20.Bf4 Qb6+ (20...gxf5 21.Nb3 Nxc4 22.Qf2 Ne5 23.Nd4©) 21.Kh1 (21.Be3 Bh6! 22.Bxb6 Bxd2 23.Nb3 Bg5³)
21...gxf5 22.b4∞
20...gxf5³ 21.b4 Qd7 22.Rab1 b6?!
22...Nd3 23.b5 axb5 24.Rxb5 Rf7³
23.Nc6 Nxc6 24.dxc6 Qxc6 25.Rxf5 Qxc4 26.Rd5
26.Qxd6 Qxa2 27.Rbf1 Rbd8 28.Qxb6 Qb3∞
26...Rbc8 27.Rxd6 f5
27...Rc6 28.Rd7 f5 29.a4©
28.g3
28.Rd1! Rc6 29.Rd7 Qe6 30.a4∞
28...Rc6
28...Qc2 29.Rd1 (29.Qd5+ Kh7 30.Rf1 Qc3³) 29...Qxd2 30.R1xd2 Rf6³
29.Rxc6 Qxc6 30.Rc1 Qe6
30...Qf6 31.Qd5+ Qf7 32.Qxf7+ Rxf7³
31.a4© b5
31...Rb8 32.Rc7 b5 33.a5©
32.axb5 axb5 33.Rc5 Ra8 34.Qd5 Ra1+= 35.Kf2 Ra2+ 36.Kf1 Ra1+ 37.Kf2 Ra2+ 38.Kf1 Ra1+ 39.Kf2 1/2-1/2

72.* [B91]
Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Grischuk, Alexander (2781)
Stavanger 125/72, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 b5 9.Nd5
9.h3 - 103/173
9...Nbd7 10.Nec3 Bb7 11.a4 Nxd5N
11...bxa4
12.Nxd5 Nf6
12...O-ON 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 15.O-O² Adams,M (2740)-Navara,D (2724) Biel 2015 [Flores Rios, Mauricio]
13.axb5?!
13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8+ Bxa8 16.Qd3²
13...Nxd5 14.exd5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8„ 16.Qd3 O-O 17.O-O Bc8 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Rc1 h6 20.Qd1 Qb7 21.Ra1 Ra8
22.h4 Ra6 23.b3 Bd8
23...Qa8 24.Rxa6 Qxa6 25.Bf1 Bd8=
24.c4 bxc4 25.bxc4 Bb6 26.c5!! Bxc5 27.Bxc5 dxc5 28.d6 Qb6 29.Rxa6 Qxa6 30.Bd5 Qc8?
30...Be8 31.Be4 Bd7 32.Qd5 Qa1+ 33.Kg2 g6! 34.Qxc5 Qd4! 35.Qxd4 exd4 36.f4 f5 37.Bd5+ Kf8 38.Kf2 Ke8
39.Ke1 Bb5=
31.Qb3 Be8
31...Qf8 32.Qb6 Qc8 33.Bb7 Qb8 34.Qc7 Qe8 35.Qxc5²
32.Qc3 c4 33.Bxc4
33.Qxc4? Qxc4 34.Bxc4 Kf8 35.Bd5 Bb5 36.f3 Ke8=
33...Bd7 34.Qb3 Qe8 35.Qf3± Kf8 36.h5 Kg8 37.Qe4 Bc6 38.Bd5! Bd7
38...Bxd5 39.Qxd5 Qd7 (39...Kf8? 40.d7 Qd8 41.Qc5+ Kg8 42.Qc8+-) 40.Qxe5+-
39.Kg2 Kh8

39...Bc8 40.Bc6 Qe6 41.Qd3 Kh8 42.Kg1 Bd7 43.Bxd7 Qxd7 44.Qd5 f6 45.Kg2 Kh7 46.Kf3 Kh8 47.Ke4 Kh7
48.Kd3 Kh8 49.Qc5 Qb7 50.Qc7! Qb1+ 51.Kc4+-
40.f4! exf4?
40...f5? 41.Qxe5 Qxh5 42.Qe7 Kh7! 43.Bf3 (43.Qxd7? Qe2+ 44.Kh3 Qh5+ 45.Kg2 Qe2+=) 43...Qe8 44.Qxe8 Bxe8
45.Bd5! Bd7 (45...g5 46.Be6 Kg6 47.d7 Bxd7 48.Bxd7 h5 49.Be8+ Kh6 50.Bf7 h4 51.g4! fxg4 52.f5 Kg7 53.Bh5 g3
54.Bg4 Kf6 55.Kf3 Ke5 56.Bh3 Kf6 57.Kg4+-) 46.Kf3 g5 47.Ke3 Kg6 48.Kd4 h5 49.Ke5 h4 50.gxh4 gxh4 51.Be6!
Bxe6 52.Kxe6 h3 53.d7 h2 54.d8=Q h1=Q 55.Qg8+ Kh6 56.Qh8+ Kg6 57.Qxh1+-40...f6! 41.fxe5 fxe5 42.g4 Qc8
43.Kg3±
41.Qxe8+ Bxe8 42.Bxf7!+- Bc6+ 43.Kf2 fxg3+ 44.Kxg3 Bd7
44...g5 45.hxg6 Kg7 46.Kg4! (46.Kf4? Kf6! 47.Kg4 Be4 48.Kh5 Bxg6+! 49.Bxg6 Ke6=) 46...Kf6 (46...Bb5
47.Kf5+-) 47.Kh5 Kg7 48.Be6 Bf3+ 49.Bg4 Bc6 50.d7 Bxd7 51.Bxd7+-
45.Bg6
45.Bg6 Kg8 46.Kf4 Kf8 47.Ke5 Kg8 48.Kd4 Kf8 49.Kc5 Kg8 50.Kb6 Kf8 51.Kc7 Bg4 52.d7 Bxd7 53.Kxd7 Kg8
54.Ke7 Kh8 55.Ke8! Kg8 56.Bf7+ Kh8 57.Kf8 Kh7 58.Bg6+ Kh8 59.Bf5 g6 60.hxg6 h5 61.g7#
1-0

73. [B92]
Nakamura, Hikaru (2802) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2723)
Stavanger 125/73, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Qd3
8.O-O - 124/78
8...b5 9.a4N
9.O-O
9...b4 10.Nd5 Bb7 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Bd2 a5 13.c3 bxc3 14.Bxc3 O-O 15.O-O Nc6 16.Rfd1 Re8?!
¹16...Qb6 17.Nd2 (17.Qb5 Qc7 18.Bf3 Bc8! 19.Rac1 Bd7 20.Qd5 Qb6=) 17...Nd4 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Qb5 Qa7∞
17.Bf3 Be7 18.Qb5 Qc8
18...Ra7 19.Nxa5! Nxa5 20.Bxa5 Rxa5 21.Qxb7±
19.Bg4!
19.Nxa5 Nxa5 20.Bxa5 Bc6 21.Qb4 d5 22.Qd2 dxe4 23.Be2 h6∞19.Bxa5!? Rb8 20.Bc3 Na7 (20...Ba8 21.Qc4 Nd4
22.Qxc8 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Rexc8 24.Nd2²) 21.Qd3 Ba6 22.Qc2 Nc6 23.Rac1²
19...Qxg4 20.Qxb7 Rec8
20...Nb4 21.Bxb4 axb4 22.a5± (22.Qd5±)
21.Nxa5 Nxa5 22.Qxe7 Nb3 23.f3
23.Rab1 Qxe4 24.Qxd6±
23...Qf4 24.Ra3?!
24.Rab1 Nd4 25.Bd2 Qf6 (25...Ne2+ 26.Kh1+-) 26.Qxf6 gxf6 27.a5+-
24...Nd4 25.Raa1
25.Bd2 Ne2+ 26.Kf2 Qxh2 27.Kxe2 Qxg2+ 28.Ke3 d5! 29.exd5 (29.Qxe5 dxe4 30.fxe4 Re8 31.Qf5 Rad8 32.a5 Re6©)
29...e4! 30.fxe4 Qg3+ 31.Kd4 Rxa4+ 32.Rxa4 Qf2+ 33.Kd3 Qf3+=
25...Ne2+ 26.Kh1 Nxc3 27.bxc3 h5 28.Qxd6 Rxc3 29.Qd5 Ra6 30.Qb5 Rac6 31.Qf1?!
31.a5 Rc2 32.Rg1± (32.a6?? Rxg2! 33.Kxg2 Rc2+-+)
31...h4= 32.h3 Rc2 33.Re1 Qd2 34.Red1 Qg5 35.Re1 Qd2 36.Rad1 Qb4
36...Qf2 37.Qxf2 Rxf2 38.Rc1 Rd6=
37.Qd3 Kh7 38.Qd8 Rf6 39.Rc1 Qxa4 40.Rxc2 Qxc2 41.Qd1 Qf2 42.Rf1 Qg3 43.Qd7 Rg6 44.Rg1 Rf6 45.Rf1 Rg6
46.Rg1 Rf6 47.Rf1 1/2-1/2

74. [B92]
 Bauer, Christian (2618) - Gharamian, Tigran (2644)
France 125/74, 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Qd3
8.O-O - 124/78
8...O-O 9.Qg3 Kh8 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.a4N
11.O-O-O
11...h6 12.Be3 b6 13.O-O Bb7 14.f3 d5 15.exd5
15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Bd2 Qc7 18.c3 Bc5+ 19.Nxc5 Nxc5=
15...Nxd5
15...Bxd5 16.Rad1 (16.Nxd5 Nxd5 - 15.Nd5) 16...Bb7 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4²
16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Rad1 Bh4
17...Be6 18.f4 Qc7 (18...Bh4 19.Qf3²) 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd4²
18.Qg4 Be6
18...f5? 19.Qh3 Be6 20.Rd6±
19.Qe4 Bg5
19...Qe7 20.Bc4 f5 21.Qc6 Bxc4 22.Qxc4 f4 23.Bf2 Bxf2+ 24.Rxf2²
20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.f4 exf4 22.Qxf4² Nc5 23.Nd4
23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Nxc5 bxc5 25.Rd6 a5 26.Bb5²
23...Bd7?!
23...Qxf4 24.Rxf4 Bd7 25.Nb3 Be6 26.Nxc5 bxc5 27.b3²23...Qg6 24.Nxe6 Nxe6 25.Qf5²
24.Qxg5 hxg5
25.a5! Na4?!
25...bxa5?! 26.Nb3! Nxb3 27.Rxd7 Nc5 28.Rdxf7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7 Re8 30.Kf1±25...b5 26.b4 (26.Nb3!? Nxb3 27.Rxd7
Nxa5 28.Rfxf7 Rxf7 29.Rxf7²) 26...Ne4 (26...Na4 27.Nf3 Nc3 28.Rxd7 Nxe2+ 29.Kf2 Nc3 30.Nxg5±) 27.Bf3 Rae8
28.Nb3 Bc8 29.Rfe1 Nc3 30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Rd3 Na2 (31...Na4 32.Bc6 Rf8 33.Rd6±) 32.Bc6 Rf8 33.c3±
26.Nf3 Bf5
26...Rfe8 27.Rxd7 (27.Nxg5 Rxe2 28.Nxf7+ Kg8 29.Rxd7 bxa5 30.Rd4 Re7 (30...Nxb2 31.Rh4+-) 31.Rxa4 Rxf7
32.Rxf7 Kxf7 33.Rxa5±) 27...Rxe2 28.Rxf7 bxa5 29.Nxg5 Kg8 30.Rc7+-
27.Nxg5 Bxc2 28.Rc1 Bg6 29.b3+- Nc5 30.axb6 Nxb3 31.Rc7 a5 32.b7 Rab8 33.Bc4 a4 34.Nxf7+ Bxf7 35.Rfxf7
Rxf7 36.Bxf7 Kh7 37.Rc3 1-0

75. [B92]
Mista, Aleksander (2585) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2683)
Warszawa 125/75, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.O-O-
O Qb6 12.Rhf1
12.Qxd6 - 112/143
12...O-O 13.Kb1 Rfd8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Ne7 16.Qa5 Qc6 17.Bf3 Rac8 18.c3 b5N
18...Bg5
19.Qb4 Qb6 20.Na5
20.Qa5 Qb7 21.Qa3 Nc6 22.Na5 Nxa5 23.Qxa5 Rc4 24.Qa3 a5! 25.Rxd6 Rb8ƒ
20...Ng6!
20...Nc6 21.Nxc6 Rxc6 22.Rd5 Rc5=
21.Rd5
21.Bh5 Be7 22.Bxg6 hxg6 23.Rd5 Rc5³
21...Nf4 22.Rd2 Be7 23.g3 Ne6 24.Bg4 Re8 25.Rd5 Rb8 26.Nb3 Nc7µ 27.Rd2

27...a5! 28.Qxa5
28.Nxa5 d5-+
28...Qb7 29.Bd1 Ra8 30.Qb4 d5-+ 31.Nc5 Qa7 32.Qb3 Bxc5 33.exd5 Bd6
33...b4 34.c4 (34.d6 bxc3 35.Rd3 Ne6-+) 34...Red8-+
34.Be2 Reb8 35.a3 Na6 36.Qc2 b4 37.Bxa6 Qxa6 38.Rfd1 bxc3 39.Qxc3 Bxa3 40.d6 Bxb2! 41.Rxb2 Qa1+ 42.Kc2
Rxb2+ 43.Qxb2 Rc8+ 0-1

76. [B94]
Solak, Dragan (2622) - Donchenko, Alexander (2567)
Biel (open) 125/76, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 h6 8.Bh4 g6 9.f4 e5 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.O-O-O
Qc7 12.Nb3 b5 13.Nd5
13.g4 - 117/ 78
13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bd6 15.Kb1N
15.Qd2
15...Kf8
15...O-O 16.g4 Nb6 17.Na5 f5 18.gxf5 Bxf5 19.Bg2
16.g4
16.h3!? Kg7 17.g4 Bb7 (17...h5?! 18.Qf3 Bb7 19.Bd3±) 18.Bg2 a5 19.Nd2²
16...h5
16...Kg7 17.Bg2 Rf8 18.Rhg1 a5 19.Nd2ƒ
17.gxh5?!
17.g5 Nb6 18.Qg2 Bg4 19.Re1∞
17...Rxh5 18.Qe1 a5?!
18...Nb6 19.Rg1 (19.Be2 Rh7³) (19.Bf2 Bf5 20.Bd3 Nc4 21.Bxf5 Rxf5³) (19.Bg3 Bf5 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Re8³)
19...Bf5 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Rc8³
19.Be2
19.Bxb5?! a4 20.Nd2 Rb8 21.Bxa4 (21.Bc6 Ba3 22.Nc4 Bxb2 23.Nxb2 Qb6 (23...a3? 24.Be7+!+-) 24.Qc3 Rxh4
25.Ka1 Qc5³) 21...Rb4 22.Bxd7 Bxd7©19.Nd2
19...a4?
19...Rh7 20.Nd2 Nc5 21.Bxb5 Rb8 22.Bc6²
20.Nd4! exd4
20...Rh7 21.Ne6+! fxe6 22.dxe6 Nb6 23.Rf1+ Kg8 24.Qg3 Rg7 (24...Bb7 25.Bf6+-) 25.Rf6+-20...Rxh4 21.Nxb5 Qd8
22.Nxd6+-
21.Bxh5 gxh5 22.Qe4+- Ra6
22...Nc5 23.Qh7 (23.Qxd4 Be5 24.Qe3+-) 23...Be5 24.Rhg1 Bg4 25.Rdf1+-
23.Qh7 Be5 24.Rhf1 Bg7
24...Nf6 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Rde1+-
25.Rg1 Qe5 26.Rxg7!
26.Rxg7 Qxg7 27.Be7++-1-0

77. [B97]
Adhiban, Baskaran (2646) - Wei, Yi (2706)
Hyderabad 125/77, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.O-O
Be7
11...Qc5 - 36/(341)
12.Kh1 h6 13.Qh3N
13.e5
13...Qc5
13...Nxe4 14.Rb3 (14.Bxe7? Qxc3µ) 14...Qc5 (14...Nxg5 15.fxg5 Qa5 16.g6 Nf6 17.gxf7+ Kxf7 18.Bf3ƒ) 15.Nxe4
Qxd4 16.Bxe7 Kxe7∞ (16...Qxe4?! 17.Re3 Qc6 18.Qh4ƒ)
14.Rbd1 Qc7 15.Bh4 Nc5?
15...Rg8 16.f5 e5 17.Ne6! fxe6 18.fxe6 Nf8 (18...Nb6 19.a4±) 19.Bxf6 Bxe6 20.Nd5! Bxd5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Rxd5
Ne6 23.Qa3²15...b5! 16.e5 (16.Qg3?! g5 17.fxg5 hxg5 18.Bxg5 Rg8³) 16...dxe5 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Qxe6 Qxc3
19.Bh5+ Kd8 20.fxe5 Qc4 21.Qb6+ Qc7 22.Qe6 Qc4=
16.Bxf6 Bxf6

16...gxf6 17.f5 e5 18.Nb3±

17.e5! dxe5
17...Be7 18.f5 exf5 (18...dxe5 19.Nxe6! Nxe6 20.fxe6 Bxe6 21.Qxe6! fxe6 22.Bh5+ g6 23.Bxg6#)
19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Ndb5+-
18.Ndb5!+- axb5 19.Nxb5 Qb6
19...Qe7 20.Nd6+ Kf8 21.fxe5+-
20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.fxe5 Nd7 22.exf6+ Nxf6 23.Qg3 Kf8
23...Rg8 24.Rxf6 Kxf6 (24...gxf6 25.Qxg8+-) 25.Qf4+ Kg6 26.Qxf7+ Kh7 27.Bd3++-
24.Nxf7! Kxf7 25.Bh5+ 1-0
C00-C49

78. [C00]
Svidler, Peter (2739) - Lysyj, Igor (2673)
Russia (ch) 125/78, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

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 Qc7 9.Qe2 b5 10.exd5
10.e5 Nd7 - 124/83
10...exd5 11.a4N
11.d4 Re8³ (11...cxd4)
11...bxa4 12.Rxa4 Re8= 13.Qd1 h6
13...Bd7!?
14.Nb3
14.b3=
14...Be6
14...Bd7
15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Ne5 Nxe5
¹16...Bd6 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Qa1 Bxf4 19.Rxf4=
17.Bxe5 Nd7 18.Bc3 Bf6 19.Qa1! [×a7] 19...a6 20.h3
20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ra5²
20...Rec8 21.Qa3 Ra7 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Ra1 c4 24.Rb4 Qd8 25.Nd4 Bd7?
25...cxd3 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Qxd3²
26.dxc4 dxc4
27.Qa5!± Qe7
27...Qf8 28.c3±
28.Rb6
28.c3!?±
28...Rc5 29.Rb8+ Kh7 30.Qb6 Rac7
30...Rcc7 31.Kh2 Ba4 32.Ra8±
31.c3?
31.Qxa6±
31...Bb5?
31...Bc8 32.Ra8 Nd7 33.Qb4 Ne5 34.Re1 Bb7 35.Bxb7 Rxb7 36.Qa3 Qc7=
32.Rb7 Rxb7 33.Qxb7 Qxb7?
33...Rc7 34.Qf3 (34.Qb6 Rc5 (34...Qe5?! 35.Nf3 Qc5 36.Qxc5 Rxc5 37.Nd4±) 35.Bf3 Bd7²) 34...Qe5²
34.Bxb7 Bd7 35.Bxa6 Bxh3
35...Ne8±
36.Ra4+- Re5
36...g6 37.Bxc4 Kg7 38.Be2+-
37.Bxc4 Re1+ 38.Kh2 Bf1 39.Nf3 Rc1 40.Bxf7 Rc2 41.Ne5 1-0

79.* [C02]
Zhang, Zhong (2628) - Harika, Dronavalli (2509)
Al-Ain 125/79, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.cxd4 Bd7 10.Ra2 Rg8 11.g3
11.h3 - 123/94
11...Rg4 12.Rd2 a5
12...Nxb4 13.axb4 Bxb4 14.Bd3 (14.Be2) 14...Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Rxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.O-O±
13.b5 Re4+ 14.Be2 Qxb5 15.O-O Qb6 16.Bd3 Be7?!N
16...Rg4 17.Bxh7 a4 18.Bc2 Qa5 19.Ne1 Rg7 (19...Rg8!?) 20.Ng2 b5 21.Nf4 b4 22.Nh5 Shirov,A (2691)-Szelag,M
(2456) Deutschland 2015 [Arsovic,Goran] (22.Nh5 b3 23.Nxg7+ Bxg7 24.Bh7 (24.Qg4 bxc2 (24...Bf8©) 25.Qxg7
cxb1=Q 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qf6+=) 24...Bf8©)
17.Nc3
17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Ne1 Bg5 19.Nc2 Ne7 (19...Bxd2?! 20.Nxd2 O-O-O 21.Nxe4±) 20.Ne3 Nf5 21.Re1²
17...Rxd4
17...Rg4 18.Nb5 Na7 19.Nd6+ Bxd6 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Ne5! Rg7 (21...Rxd4 22.Qh5 Qe7 23.Rb1©) 22.Qh5ƒ
18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxh7 Nc6
19...Qb3 20.Rxd4 Qxc3 21.Qg4 O-O-O (21...Qxa3 22.Rd3 Qc5 23.Rf3±) 22.a4©
20.Qh5 Bxa3?

20...Qc5 21.Nb1 Bg5 22.Rc2 Qf8 23.f4²

21.Rxd5! exd5
21...O-O-O 22.Rb5 Qa6 23.Bd3 Qa7 24.Ra1±
22.Nxd5 Qd4 23.Nf6+ Ke7 24.Rd1 Bg4
25.Nd5+!
25.Qxg4? Qxg4 26.Nxg4 a4µ
25...Qxd5
¹25...Kd8 26.Qh4+ Be7 27.Rxd4 Bxh4 28.Rxg4 Bg5 29.h4 a4 30.hxg5 Nxe5 31.Rb4 a3 32.Bb1 hxg5 33.Ba2+-
26.Qh4+ Ke8 27.Rxd5+- h5 28.Qg5 a4 29.Bf5
29.Qg8+ Bf8 30.Bg6! fxg6 (30...Be6 31.Rd6+-) 31.Qxg6+ Ke7 32.Qf6+ Ke8 33.e6+-
29...Ne7 30.Bxg4 Nxd5 31.Qg8+ Bf8 32.Bxh5 Ne7 33.Qxf7+
33.e6 Nxg8 34.exf7+ Kd7 35.fxg8=Q+-
33...Kd7 34.Qf6
34.e6+ Kc6 35.Qf6+-
34...Nc6 35.Qf7+ Be7 36.Bg4+ Kc7 37.f4 Kb6 38.Kg2 Bc5 39.Bf3 a3 40.Bd5 Ra7 41.Bc4 Nb4 42.Qd7 Nc6 43.Qe6
Ra4 44.h4 Ka5 45.Qd5 Kb6 46.h5 Nb4 47.Qd7 Nc6 48.Qe6 1-0

80. [C03]
Korba, Nicky (2133) - Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2501)
Arizona 125/80, 2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 4.c3 c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Bd3

6.Nb3 - 91/233
6...Nf6 7.Qe2 Nc6 8.Ngf3 Qc7 9.O-O O-O 10.e5 Nd7 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Bf4N
12.Bxh7+?! Kxh7 13.Ng5+ Kg6 14.Qd3+ (14.Qg4 f5! 15.Qg3 Qxe5 16.Bf4 Qe2³) 14...f5 15.exf6+ Kxf6 16.Qh3
(16.Nh7+ Ke7 17.Nxf8 Kxf8µ) 16...Nde5 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Nf7 (18...Bxd4? 19.Qh4!) 19.Nh7+ Ke7³12.Re1
12...f6 13.Nbd4
13.Rae1 Ndxe5 14.Nxe5 fxe5 15.Bxe5 Nxe5 16.Qxe5 Qxe5 17.Rxe5 Bd7 18.Nd4 Rae8³
13...Ndxe5
13...Ncxe5? 14.Nxe6+-13...fxe5? 14.Nxe6+-
14.Nb5 Qf7
14...Qb8 15.Nxe5 fxe5 16.Bg3!©
15.Nxe5 fxe5 16.Bxe5 Nxe5 17.Qxe5 a6 18.Nd4
18.Nd6 Bxf2+! 19.Kh1 Qf6 20.Qe2 Bd7³
18...Bc7 19.Qg5 e5 20.Ne2
20.Nb3 Be6
20...Bd7
20...Be6! 21.f3 Qf6µ
21.Qh4 e4 22.Bc2 Rae8?!
22...Bb5! 23.Rae1 Rae8 24.a4 Bc4! 25.b3 Bxe2 26.Rxe2 Re6 27.g3 Qf3-+
23.c4 Re5
23...Re6! 24.f4? dxc4-+ (24...Rh6 25.Qg3 Qh5-+)
24.f4 Rh5 25.Qg3 Qe7!?
25...dxc4 26.Bxe4 b5 27.Rad1³
26.Nc3!?

26.cxd5 Qc5+ 27.Qf2 (27.Kh1 Qxc2 28.Rfc1 Qxe2-+) 27...Qxc2 28.Rac1 Qxb2 29.Rxc7 Rxd5µ (29...Bb5?! 30.Nc3∞)
26...e3!
26...Qc5+ 27.Kh1 Qxc4? (27...d4 28.Nxe4„) 28.Bb3±
27.cxd5?
27.Nxd5 Rxd5 28.cxd5 e2 29.Rfe1 (29.Rfc1 Bxf4 30.Qb3 Qe3+-+) 29...Qc5+ (29...Bxf4?! 30.d6! Qxd6 31.Qd3³)
30.Qf2 (30.Kh1 Qxc2 31.Rac1 Bxf4-+) 30...Qxc2 31.Rac1 Qxc1!! (31...Qd2 32.Rxc7 Rxf4 33.Qxe2+-) 32.Rxc1
Bxf4-+
27...e2 28.Rf3 Bxf4 29.Rxf4 Rxf4 30.Qxf4 e1=Q+ 31.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 32.Qf1 Qxf1+
32...Qh4 33.h3 Qd4+ (33...Bxh3?! 34.gxh3 Qg3+ 35.Qg2∞) 34.Kh2 Re5µ
33.Kxf1 Rxh2-+ 34.Be4 Rh1+ 35.Ke2 Kf7 36.Kd3 Kf6 37.Kd4 b6 38.Bf3 Bf5 39.d6 Ke6 40.Nd5
40.g4 Rh4!-+
40...Rh4+ 41.Kc3 Be4! 42.Nxb6
42.Nc7+ Kxd6 43.Ne8+ Kd7 44.Nxg7 Bxf3 45.gxf3 Rf4-+42.d7 Kxd7 43.g3 Bxf3 44.gxh4 Bxd5-+
42...Bxf3 43.gxf3 Kxd6 44.Nc4+ Kd5 45.Nd2 Rd4 0-1

81. [C07]
Wang, Hao (2704) - Shankland, Samuel L (2656)
Edmonton 125/81, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.O-O
9.Qe2 - 116/92
9...Nf6 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Nf3 dxe4 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 O-O 14.Rd1 Rad8N
14...Rfd8
15.Bd2 c5 16.Qe1
16.Ng5 f5 (16...g6? 17.Qh4 h5 18.Ne4±) 17.Qe2 Rde8 18.h3 Bc6∞
16...Qb8 17.Ba5 Bc7
17...Rc8 18.Qd2 Rc6 19.b3²
18.Bxc7 Qxc7 19.Qe5 Qb6 20.Nd2 Bc6?!
20...f6 21.Qc3 Qb4 22.Qb3 Be8! 23.c3 (23.Qxe6+? Bf7 24.Qe3 Qxb2µ) (23.Nc4 Ba4 24.Qxb4 cxb4=) 23...Qxb3
24.Nxb3 (24.axb3 Bg6∞) 24...Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Ba4 26.Rd6 Bxb3 27.axb3 Rb8=
21.Nc4 Qb4 22.b3² Bd5
22...Rd5 23.Rxd5 Bxd5 (23...exd5 24.Nd6 g6 25.Rd1²) 24.Ne3²
23.Ne3 Bb7 24.Rd6 Rxd6 25.Qxd6 Be4 26.Rd1 a5 27.a4 h6 28.h3 Rb8 29.Qe5 Bg6 30.Kh2 Rc8 31.Qd6 Kh7 32.f3
h5 33.Kg1 Rb8 34.Kf2 Rc8 35.Qd2 Qh4+ 36.Kg1 Qd4 37.Kf2 Qh4+ 38.Ke2 c4
38...Ra8 39.Qc3 Qb4 40.Qe5²38...Qb4 39.Nc4 Ra8 40.Ne5²
39.Qc3?!
39.Nxc4 Rxc4 40.bxc4 Qxc4+ 41.Kf2 Qxa4 42.Rc1±
39...Qg3 40.bxc4 Qc7 41.Qd4

41...Qc6?
41...e5 42.Qd7 (42.Qh4 f6 43.g4 Bxc2 44.Qxh5+ Kg8 45.Rd2 Bb3 46.g5 e4 47.gxf6 Qh2+ 48.Ke1 Qg1+ 49.Ke2
Qh2+) 42...f5 43.Qe6 f4 44.Rd7 Qc5 45.Nf5 Bxf5 46.Qxf5+ Kh6 47.Rd6+ Qxd6 48.Qxc8 Qd4=
42.Qd7± Qc5 43.Rb1 Rc7 44.Qb5 Qd4 45.Rd1 Qc3
45...Qa7 46.Rd8 f6 47.Qb8+-
46.Rd8 Re7 47.Qc5 Qf6 48.Qc8 Kh6 49.Rh8+ Kg5 50.Qc5+ Kh4 51.Kf2 1-0

82. [C07]
Tiviakov, Sergei (2639) - Van Kampen, Robin (2609)
Nederland (ch) 125/82, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5 Nf6 6.Ngf3 Qxc5 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Nbd7 10.a4
10.c4 - 116/93
10...Qc7 11.a5 Nc5N
11...Nd5
12.Bc4 b6 13.a6
13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Nb3 Nxb3 15.Bxb3 Bb7 16.Be3 Qc7=
13...Bd7 14.Nd4
14.b4 Na4 15.b5 Nc3 16.Qd3 Nfd5³
14...Rac8 15.N2f3 Rfd8 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Ne5 Be8„ 18.Bf4 Qa8 19.f3 Nd5 20.Bg3 f6 21.Ng4 e5 22.f4
22.Ne3 Bxb5 23.Bxd5+ (23.Nxd5 Bxc4 24.Nxe7+ Kf8 25.Qxc4 Kxe7 26.Qh4 Kf7 27.Qxh7 Qd5©) 23...Rxd5
24.Qxb5 Rdd8 25.Qc4+ Kh8 26.b4 Nd7∞
22...Bxb5 23.Bxb5 Ne6! 24.fxe5 Nd4 25.Qe4 f5 26.Rxf5 Nxb5 27.c4?

27.Rh5 g6 28.Nh6+ Kg7 (28...Kh8 29.Nf7+ Kg7 30.Nxd8 Rxd8 31.Rh3 Bc5+ 32.Kh1 Ne3 33.Qxa8 Rxa8 34.c3∞)
29.Nf5+ Kg8= (29...gxf5?? 30.Qxf5 h6 31.Qg4+ Kh7 32.Qe6 Bf8 33.Qf5+ Kg8 34.Rf1 Qc6 35.Qf7+ Kh8 36.e6+-)
27...Nd4!-+ 28.Nh6+
28.Rh5 g6 29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.cxd5 Qxd5-+
28...gxh6 29.Qg4+ Bg5 30.Rxg5+ hxg5 31.Qxg5+ Kh8 32.cxd5
32.e6 Ne2+ 33.Kh1 Nxg3+ 34.Qxg3 Rc7-+
32...Rg8 33.Qf6+ Rg7 34.Rd1 Ne2+ 35.Kh1 Qxd5 0-1

83.* [C07]
Nedev, Trajce (2470) - Doncea, Vladimir (2421)
Skopje 125/83, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6
11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qe2 Bc5
12...h6!? 13.g3!? (13.Bd3 Bd6 14.h3 O-O 15.Qf3 Bh2+ (15...b5!? 16.Qxa8 Bb7 17.Qxf8+ Kxf8 18.c3 Qc5„) 16.Kh1
Be5 17.c3 Bd7= 18.Qe3 Bd6 19.Qf3 Be5=) 13...b5 14.Bd3 Bc5 15.Bf4 Qb6 (15...Qd7? 16.Nxb5±) (15...Qa7 16.c3!²
∆Bxd4 17.cxd4 Bb7 18.Be5) 16.c3N (16.Nb3 Bb7 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.a4 b4! 19.Be5 h5!? (19...Qc6 20.f3 O-O 21.Kg2)
20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Be4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 O-O=) 16...Bb7 (16...Bxd4 17.cxd4 Bb7„) 17.Be5 Rd8 18.a4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Qc6
20.f3 bxa4 21.Bc2² Bijaoui,M (2412)-Saric,A (2577) Split 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]
13.c3 b5 14.Bd3
14.Bb3 - 121/(88)
14...h6
14...O-O 15.Bg5 Nd5! 16.Qh5 (16.Bc2 Bb7 17.Rad1 Bd6 18.Nf3 Nf4„) 16...g6 17.Qh4 Bb7! (17...Be7 18.Be4!
(18.Bxe7) 18...Bxg5 19.Qxg5 Bb7 20.h4 Rae8 21.h5ƒ ∆e5 22.Nf5 Nf4 23.Qf6! gxf5 24.h6 Nh5 25.Qxf5 Bxe4
26.Rxe4±) 18.Nf3 (18.Be4 Rfe8! 19.Rad1 Bf8 20.Nc2 Bg7 (20...Ne7) 21.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.Ne3 h5 23.Nxd5 exd5=)
18...Bd6 19.Rad1 Nf4! 20.Be4 (20.Bf1 Nh5∞) 20...Bxe4 21.Rxe4 Nd5 22.Red4 Rac8 23.g3 f6!? 24.Bxf6 Rf7„ Δ Rcf8
15.a4!
15.Be3 O-O 16.a4 e5! 17.Nb3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 bxa4 19.Rxa4 Rb8„
15...Bxd4 N
15...b4 16.Be3 (16.Nf5?! Bb7! 17.Nxg7+ Kf8 18.Nxe6+ (18.Nh5 Rg8) 18...fxe6 19.Qxe6 Qg7 20.Qh3 Qg4³) 16...O-
O (16...bxc3 17.Rac1 Bb4 18.Nf5 Kf8 19.bxc3 Ba3 20.Ra1 Bc5 21.Bxc5+ Qxc5 22.Ne3²) 17.Rac1!? Qb6 (17...Qd6
18.Red1! Bb7 19.cxb4 Bxb4 20.Nc6±) 18.Qf3 (18.a5!? Qb7 19.Bf4²) 18...Bb7 19.Qg3 Rad8 20.a5 Qa7 21.Bxh6 Nh5
22.Qh3 Bxd4 23.cxd4 Qxd4 24.Bf1²
16.cxd4 b4?!
16...bxa4 17.Rxa4 O-O 18.Rc4! (18.Bd2 Bd7!? 19.Rxa6 Rxa6 20.Bxa6 Qb6 21.Be3 Nd5©) 18...Qd6 (18...Qb8 19.Qf3ƒ
∆Bb7 20.Qh3 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Bxc8 22.Bxh6!±) 19.Qf3 Nd5 20.Qg4 (20.Re5!?) 20...f5 21.Qg3 Qxg3 22.hxg3²
17.Bd2
17.a5 O-O 18.Bd2 Qd6 (18...Nd5 19.Rac1! Qxa5 20.Rc5 Qb6 21.Qe4 f5 22.Qe5²) 19.Qf3 Bd7 (19...Nd5 20.Qe4 f5
21.Qe2²) 20.Bxh6 Bc6 21.Qf4 Qd5 22.f3 Rfd8²
17...a5
¹17...Qb8 18.Qe5! Qxe5 (18...O-O 19.Bxh6±) 19.dxe5 Nd5 20.a5 O-O (20...Ke7 21.Re4 Rd8 22.Bf1 Nc3 23.bxc3
Rxd2 24.cxb4 Bd7 25.Rc1±) 21.Re4 Rd8 22.Bf1 Bd7²
18.Rac1± Qd6
18...Qb8 19.Bb5+ Kf8 20.Rc5 Bb7 21.Rec1±
19.Qf3 Nd5
19...Qd5 20.Qg3 Bd7 21.Bc4 Qxd4 22.Be3 Qxb2 23.Re2+-
20.Rc6
20.Bb5+! Bd7 (20...Kf8 21.Bc6 Rb8 22.Rc5+-) 21.Bf4! Qxf4 22.Qxd5+-
20...Qxc6 21.Bb5 Qxb5 22.axb5 O-O 23.Qg3 Kh7 24.Bf4
24.Qd6 Bb7 25.Qd7 Rab8 26.Rc1±
24...Bd7 25.Be5 g6 26.Qf3 f6 27.Bd6 Rf7 28.b6 Bc8 29.Bc5 Kg7
29...Rb7 30.h4 h5 31.g4 hxg4 32.Qxg4 Nxb6 33.Bxb6 Rxb6 34.h5+-
30.h4 h5 31.b3!?
31.g4 hxg4 32.Qxg4 a4 33.h5 g5 34.Qe4+-
31...Ra6 32.g4 hxg4 33.Qxg4 Kh6 34.Rxe6 a4 35.bxa4†
35.b7 Bxb7 36.Rxa6 Bxa6 37.Qe6+-
35...b3 36.Qe2?
36.b7! Bxb7 37.Rxa6 b2 38.Qd1 Bxa6 39.Qd2+ Nf4 40.Qxb2+- (40.Qxf4+? Kg7 41.Qe4 Rb7 42.Bb6 Rxb6 43.Qe7+
Kh6™ 44.Qf8+ Kh7=)
36...Nf4„ 37.Qd2 Bxe6 38.Qxf4+ Kg7 39.d5?!
39.Qe4 Bf5 40.Qe2 Rxa4 41.Qb5 Be4 42.Qxb3 Ra1+ 43.Kh2 Rh1+ 44.Kg3 Rg1+ 45.Kf4 Bb7 46.Bd6 Rh1 47.Kg3
Rg1+=
39...b2 40.Qb4 Rxa4 41.Qxb2 Rg4+ 42.Kf1 Bxd5³ 43.Bd4 Bc4+
¹43...Bb7³
44.Ke1 Re7+
44...Ba6 45.h5! Re7+ (45...gxh5 46.f3 Rg5 47.Qd2=) 46.Be3 gxh5 47.Qa2 Bb7 48.Qa5 Kg6 49.Qa3 Rge4 50.Kf1∞
45.Be3 Rd7
45...Bd5!? 46.Qc3! Rxh4 47.Qc5 Rd7 48.Qb5 Rd6 49.f3 (49.b7? Bf3-+) 49...Rh8 50.Bf4 Re6+ 51.Kf2 Bc6 52.Qc4∞
46.f3 Rxh4 47.b7 Rh1+ 48.Bg1™ Rxg1+ 49.Kf2= Rgd1 50.b8=Q R7d2+ 51.Qxd2 Rxd2+ 52.Kg3 Bf7 53.Qc7 Rd5
54.f4 Rf5 1/2-1/2

84. [C11]
Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2742) - Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2658)
Russia 125/84, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Be3 O-O 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.Qd2 Nbd7N
9...Nc6 - 121/89
10.O-O-O b6 11.h4 Bb7 12.Kb1 a6 13.Ng5 b5?!
13...Qc7 14.Bd3 (14.b4 Rfb8! (14...Bc6!?)) 14...h6 15.b4 Bc6 16.bxc5 bxc5©
14.Bd3
14.b4!? Na4 15.Nxa4 bxa4 16.Qd3 g6 17.Bd4±
14...h6

14...Nxd3 15.Qxd3 g6 16.Bd4±14...g6 15.Nxh7! Kxh7 16.h5 Rh8 17.hxg6+ Kg7 18.gxf7 Kxf7 19.Rhf1±
15.b4! Na4 16.Nxa4 bxa4 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Qd3!± Bxg5
18...Bxb4 19.a3! (19.Bg8?! f5 20.Bxe6 Rb8∞ 21.Nf7+? Rxf7 22.Bxf7 d4! 23.Bxd4 Be4-+) 19...Bc5 20.Bg8 f5 21.exf6
Qb6+ 22.Ka1 Nxf6 23.Rb1±
19.hxg5 a5 20.b5 Qe7 21.Bd4
21.c3 Nc5 (21...Rfc8 22.Qc2 (22.Bd4 - 21.Bd4) 22...Nc5 23.Bd3±) 22.Qd4 Kxh7 23.Qxc5±
21...Rfc8 22.c3 Rab8 23.Ka1 Nc5 24.Qc2 Nb3+
24...Ne4 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.gxh6 g6 27.Ba7 Ra8 28.Bf2±
25.axb3 Qa3+
25...axb3 26.Qxb3 Kxh7 27.Rd2±
26.Qa2 Qxa2+ 27.Kxa2 axb3+ 28.Kb2
28.Kxb3 Kxh7 29.b6±
28...Kxh7 29.Ra1 Ra8 30.Ra4
30.Kxb3 Rcb8 31.b6 Bc6 32.g4+-
30...Kg6 31.gxh6 Rh8
31...gxh6 32.g4 Rc4 33.Kxb3+- (33.f5+!? exf5 34.gxf5+ Kxf5 35.Raa1 Ke6 36.Rxh6++-)
32.Rha1+- gxh6 33.g4 h5 34.gxh5+ Rxh5 35.Rxa5 Rb8 36.Rg1+ Kf5 37.Rg7 Ba6
37...Ke4 38.Rxf7 Bc6 39.b6+- (39.bxc6?? Rh2+=)
38.bxa6 Rh2+ 39.Kb1 1-0

85.* [C11]
So, Wesley (2779) - Volkov, Sergey (2589)
Turkiye 125/85, 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bd3 Qb6 11.Bf2 Bb7
11...b4 - 122/95
12.O-O Rc8
12...Bxf2+ 13.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 14.Rxf2 b4N (14...Nc5) 15.Ne2 Ke7 16.a3 a5 17.Bb5 Nc5 18.Bxc6 Bxc6 19.Ned4 Bd7
20.axb4 axb4 21.Rff1 Rhb8 22.Nd2 f6∞ Ganguly,S (2625)-Pechenkin,V (2314) Edmonton 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]
13.Rae1 g6N
13...Bxf2+
14.f5! gxf5
14...Nd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.fxe6 Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 fxe6 18.Kh1±
15.Bxf5! Bxf2+
15...exf5 16.e6 (16.Nxd5?! Nd4! 17.Nxd4 (17.Nxb6? Nxf3+-+) 17...Bxd5 18.Nxf5 Be6 19.Nd6+ Kd8 20.Nxc8
Kxc8³) 16...Ne7 (16...Nf6 17.exf7+ (17.Nxd5 Bxf2+ 18.Rxf2 Nxd5 19.exf7+ Kd7 - 17.ef5) 17...Kxf7 (17...Kd7
18.Nxd5 Bxf2+ 19.Rxf2 Nxd5 20.Qxd5+ Kc7 21.Ng5+-) 18.Nxd5 Rcd8 19.Nxb6 Rxd2 20.Nxd2+-) 17.exd7+ Kxd7
18.Ne2 Bxf2+ 19.Rxf2 Rhe8 20.c3±
16.Rxf2 Na5?!
16...Qc5 17.Nxd5! Qxd5 (17...exd5? 18.Ng5 Qd4 19.e6+-) (17...Nd8 18.Nf6+ Nxf6 19.b4! Qc3 20.exf6±) 18.Qxd5
exd5 19.Ng5 Nd8 (19...h6 20.e6! fxe6 21.Nxe6 Nde5 22.Nf4±) 20.e6 fxe6 (20...Nxe6? 21.Nxf7+-) 21.Bxe6 Nxe6
22.Rxe6+ Kd8 23.Nf7+ Kc7 24.Nxh8 Rxh8 25.Rf7²
17.Qh6!± d4
17...exf5? 18.e6 Kd8 19.Ng5+-17...Rf8 18.Bxh7±
18.Ne4 exf5
18...Bxe4 19.Bxe4 Nc4 20.Qg7+-
19.Nd6++- Kd8
19...Ke7 20.Qg5+ Kf8 21.Qxf5+-
20.Nxf7+ Kc7 21.e6 Bxf3 22.Qf4+ Kb7 23.exd7 1-0

86. [C15]
Solodovnichenko, Yuri (2592) - Giri, Anish (2776)
France 125/86, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 Nc6 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4

6.e5 - 57/293
6...Bb6 7.Bb2 Nge7 8.g3 h5!?N
8...e5
9.Bg2 h4 10.O-O hxg3 11.hxg3 dxe4?!
11...a6 12.Re1²
12.Nxe4 Nf5
13.c4! Bxd4
13...a5 14.c5 (14.b5 Nce7 (14...Ncxd4? 15.c5 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Ba7 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.g4+-) 15.a4±) 14...Ba7 15.N4c3
Nce7 (15...Ncxd4?! 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Re1 O-O 18.Ne4 Nf5 19.Qh5+-) 16.d5 exd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5±
14.Nxd4 Ncxd4 15.Re1± [Δ g4]
15.g4? Qh4 16.f3 Qh2+ 17.Kf2 Qh4+= (17...Nh4? 18.Qxd4 Qxg2+ 19.Ke3 f6 20.Rf2 Qh3 21.Qc5±)
15...e5
15...Nc6 16.Qxd8+ Kxd8 17.Rad1+ Ke7 18.g4+-
16.Nc5 f6 17.Nxb7
17.f4! Qd6 18.g4 Ne7 19.Nd3 exf4 20.c5 Qd8 21.Nxf4+-
17...Bxb7 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Be4
19.Bd5±
19...Kf8
19...Qd7 20.Bc3 Rd8 21.Qg4±
20.Qd3 g6 21.Rad1 c5
21...Qc8 22.Kg2 Kg7 23.Bxf5 Nxf5 24.Qd7++-
22.Bxf5! gxf5 23.Bxd4 cxd4 24.Qxf5 Kg7 25.Re4 Rh6 26.f4 Qc8 27.Qxc8 Rxc8 28.c5+- Rch8 29.Kg2 Rh2+ 30.Kf3
Ra2
30...R8h5 31.Rc1+-
31.fxe5 Rxa3+ 32.Kf4 fxe5+ 33.Kxe5 Re8+ 34.Kf4 Rf8+ 35.Kg4 d3 36.Rd4 a5 37.b5 Rc3 38.Rd5 Rc4+ 39.Kg5 Rf3
40.b6! Rxg3+ 41.Kf5 Kf7 42.b7 Rf3+ 43.Ke5 Re3+ 44.Kd6 Re6+ 45.Kc7 Re7+ 46.Kb8 1-0

87. [C15]
Hector, Jonny (2485) - Tikkanen, Hans (2529)
Sverige (ch) 125/87, 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.g4 e5

6...Bd7 - 19/ 204
7.h3 h5 8.g5 Bxg5 9.Bxg5 Qxg5 10.Rg1 Qh4 11.Qd2 Ne7 12.O-O-O Bf5N
12...O-O
13.Nb5 Na6 14.dxe5 O-O
14...Qxf2 15.Qg5 Bd7 16.Nbd4 (∆ Rg2) 16...O-O-O!? (16...Nd5 17.Kb1 Nc5 18.Rg2 Qe3 19.Qxg7²) 17.Qxe7 c5
18.Rxg7 cxd4 19.Qxf7 Qxf7 20.Rxf7 d3 21.Nc3ƒ
15.Qf4! Qxf4+ 16.Nxf4² h4?!
16...Nc6 17.Nxh5 Bg6 18.Nf4 Nxe5 19.Be2²
17.Nd4± Bh7
17...Rad8 18.Bc4 Bh7 19.e6 f6 20.Nb3±
18.e6 f6

19.Nb3! Rfd8 20.Rd7+- Kf8

20...Rxd7 21.exd7 Bf5 22.Bc4+ Kh8 23.Bxa6 bxa6 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.Nc5+-
21.Rxe7 Kxe7 22.Rxg7+ Kd6 23.Rxh7 Rh8 24.Rf7
24.Rd7+ Ke5 (24...Kc6 25.Nd4+ Kb6 26.Nd5+ Kc5 27.c3 e3 28.b4+ Nxb4 29.axb4)

25.Rd5+ Kxf4 26.Nd4 e3 27.Rf5+ Ke4 28.f3+ Kxd4 29.c3#

24...Rhg8 25.Kd2 Rg1 26.Bc4 Rb8 27.Ke3 Ke5 28.Rd7 b5
28...Re1+ 29.Kd2 Rg1 30.e7 Re8 31.Ne2+-
29.Rd5#

1-0

88. [C18]
Volokitin, Andrei (2654) - Bajarani, Ulvi (2515)
Warszawa 125/88, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7 7.Qg4 f5 8.Qg3 Nc6 9.Ne2
9.Nf3 - 118/85
9...Kf7 10.h4 Nge7 11.h5 h6 12.Qf3N
12.Qf4 Qa5 (12...Ke8) 13.Bd2 Qa4∞
12...Qa5 13.Kd1
13.g4?! cxd4 (13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Bd2 dxc3 16.Bxc3 Qc7³) 14.gxf5 Nxf5 15.Bh3 Nxe5 16.Qf4 Nc6³13.Bd2
Qa4„
13...Qa4 14.Qf4?!
14.Rb1 cxd4 15.Qf4 g5 16.hxg6+ Nxg6 17.Qd2 d3 18.Qxd3 b6 (18...Ngxe5 19.Qg3 Qg4∞) 19.Nd4 Ngxe5 20.Qe3∞
14...b6 15.Rb1?!
15.g4 Ba6 16.gxf5 Nxf5 17.Ng3 Ne7³
15...Ba6 16.Bb2 Rac8µ 17.g4 cxd4 18.gxf5 Nxf5 19.Ng3 Ne7-+ 20.Bh3

20...Bd3! 21.Qd2 Be4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.cxd4 Rhd8 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Bc3 Qc4 26.Rb3 Nxd4 27.Qf4+ Kg8 0-1

89. [C36]
Rapport, Richard (2671) - Adams, Michael (2740)
Biel 125/89, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Be2!?

5.Bc4 - 109/169
5...Nxd5 6.c4 Ne7
6...Nb4!?
7.Nc3N
7.d4
7...Ng6 8.h4
8.d4©
8...Be7 9.h5 Nh4 10.Nd5!?

10...Nc6
10...Bg5!? 11.h6!? (11.Nxg5 Qxg5 12.d4 Nxg2+ (12...Qxg2? 13.Rxh4 Qg3+ 14.Kd2 Qxh4 15.Nxc7+±) 13.Kf1 Na6
14.Qd3©) 11...Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 O-O 13.d4!? Re8+ 14.Kf1©
11.d4 Nxg2+ 12.Kf1 Ne3+ 13.Nxe3 fxe3 14.d5
14.Bxe3 Bf6 15.d5 Ne7³
14...Nb4 15.a3
15.Bxe3 Bf5 16.Nd4 Qd7 17.a3 Na6∞
15...Na6 16.Bxe3 O-O 17.Qc2
17.h6 g6 18.Qd2 Bf6 19.Bd4©
17...Bg4?!
¹17...h6!? 18.Rg1 Kh8 19.Bd4 Bh3+ 20.Ke1 Bf6∞
18.h6 g6 19.Qc3 Bf6
19...f6 20.b4©
20.Bd4 Be7 21.c5!?
21.Bf2 Bf6 22.Bd4∞21.Re1!?
21...Re8!
21...Qxd5!? 22.Bh8 f6 23.Bc4 Bxf3 24.Bxd5+ Bxd5∞
22.c6 Bf8
22...b5! 23.Bc5 (23.Bxb5 Qxd5-+) 23...f6 24.Bf2 Qc8∞
23.cxb7 Rb8 24.Bxa6
24.Bc4!? Re4 25.Kg2 c5!„
24...Qxd5 25.Kf2 Bxf3 26.Bc4

26...Re2+?
26...Qe4! 27.Rhe1 (27.Bxf7+ Kxf7 28.Qxf3+ Qxf3+ 29.Kxf3 Rxb7µ) 27...Qf4 28.Bxf7+ Qxf7 29.Qxf3 Rxe1 30.Rxe1
c5µ
27.Bxe2 Bxh1 28.Rxh1! Qxh1 29.Qxc7 Qh4+ 30.Kf1 Qh1+ 31.Kf2 Qh4+
31...Rxb7? 32.Qe5 Qh4+ 33.Kg2 f6 34.Qe6+ Rf7 35.Bc4±
32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Kf2 1/2-1/2

90. !N [C41]
Djukic, Nikola (2543) - Draskovic, Luka (2439)
Crna Gora (ch) 125/90, 2015 [Djukic,Nikola]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Nxd4 Be7 6.Bf4 O-O 7.Qd2 d5 8.Ndb5 Bb4 9.exd5
9.O-O-O - 121/94
9...Re8+ 10.Be2 Ne4 11.Qd3 Bf5 12.Qf3
12...Bxc3+!N
12...Nxc3
13.bxc3 Nf6
13...Na6 14.O-O Qxd5 (14...Nf6 15.Bg5²) 15.Rfd1 Qe6 16.Nd4 Qc8 17.Re1²
14.Bg5 Qd7 15.O-O
15.O-O-O Be4 16.Qg3 Bg6∞
15...Nxd5
15...Bg4? 16.Qg3+-15...Be4 16.Qg3 Nxd5 17.Rad1²
16.Rad1
16.c4!? Be4 (16...a6 17.cxd5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Qxb5 19.Qxf5²) 17.Qg3 a6 18.Nd4 (18.Na3 Nb6∞) 18...Ne7 19.Rad1 Nf5
20.Nxf5 Qxf5 21.h4!²
16...c6 17.Nd4
17.c4! Bxc2 18.Rd2 Be4 19.Qg3 cxb5 20.cxd5²
17...Be4 18.Qg3 Qc7! 19.Qxc7 Nxc7 20.Rfe1
20.Rd2 Nd5 21.c4 Nc3∞
20...Nba6
20...c5 21.Nb5 Nxb5 22.Bxb5 Nc6∞
21.Rc1
21.f3 Bg6 22.Kf2 Nc5∞
21...Nc5 22.c4
22.f3 Bg6 23.Bd2∞
22...Bg6
22...Na4 23.Bg4∞22...f6 23.Be3 Na4 24.Bg4∞22...N7e6 23.Be3 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Ne6 25.Be3∞
23.Bg4
23.h4!?∞
23...Ne4
23...N7e6 24.Nxe6 Nxe6 25.Be3∞
24.Bf4 Na6 25.Nf5
25.a3!?∞
25...h5
25...Nb4 26.a3 Nxc2 27.Rxc2 h5 (27...Nf6? 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.f3+-) 28.Bxh5! (28.Bh3 - 25...h5) 28...Bxh5 29.f3 Bg6
30.Nh4 Nc5 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8 32.Nxg6 Nd3 33.Bg3 fxg6 34.h4²25...Bxf5 26.Bxf5 Nc3 27.Kf1 g6 (27...Nxa2 28.Rxe8+
Rxe8 29.Rb1∞) 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Bd3 Nc5 (29...Nxa2 30.Rb1 N6b4 31.Bd2 a5 32.Be2∞) 30.a3 N3a4 31.Re1 Rxe1+
32.Kxe1=
26.Bh3 Kh7?!
26...Bxf5 27.Bxf5 Nc3 28.Kf1∞26...Nb4 27.a3 Nxc2 28.Rxc2 Ng5 29.Ne7+ Rxe7 30.Rxe7 Nxh3+ 31.gxh3 Bxc2
32.Rxb7=
27.a3
27.f3!? Nc3 28.Nd6 Ne2+ 29.Kf1 Nxc1 30.Nxe8 Nxa2 31.Re7ƒ
27...f6
27...Rad8 28.f3 Nc3 29.Kf1²
28.f3 Ng5
28...Nc3 29.Be3!?²
29.Bxg5 fxg5 30.Nd6 Rxe1+ 31.Rxe1 Rd8
31...b6 32.Bc8 Nc5 33.Re2²31...Nc5 32.Re7!? (32.Bc8²) 32...a5 (32...Rd8 33.Nxb7 Nxb7 34.Rxb7²) 33.Bc8 Bxc2
34.Rc7²
32.Nxb7 Rd4
32...Rd2?! 33.Re5±
33.Bc8
33.Be6!? Bxc2 34.Na5²
33...Rxc4
33...Bxc2?! 34.Re5±
34.Na5?!
34.Nd6 Ra4 35.Re7²
34...Ra4 35.Nxc6 Rxa3 36.Nxa7
36.Re5!? Ra1+ 37.Kf2 Ra2 38.Nd4 Nb4 39.Rxg5 Nxc2 40.Be6 Kh6 41.h4 Rb2 42.Nxc2 Rxc2+ 43.Kg3 a6=
36...Nb4 37.Nb5 Ra8
37...Nxc2=
38.Bb7 Rb8 39.Nd6 Nxc2 40.Re5 Kh6 41.Be4
41.Re6!? Rf8 (41...Nd4?! 42.Nf7+ Kh7 43.Nxg5+ Kh6 44.Nf7+ Kh7 45.Rb6²) 42.Rxg6+ (42.Be4 Rf6=) 42...Kxg6
43.Be4+ Kf6 44.Bxc2 Ke5 45.Ne4 Ra8=
41...Nd4 1/2-1/2

91.* [C42]
Leko, Peter (2714) - Li, Chao b (2748)
Szeged (m/4) 125/91, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Be6 9.O-O-O Qd7 10.b3
10.Kb1 - 124/98
10...Bf6N
10...a6
11.h3 h5
11...h6N 12.g4 O-O-O 13.Bg2 Kb8 14.Rde1 a6 15.Re2 d5 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 g6 19.Rhe1 h5 20.f3
Qd6 21.Re5 hxg4 22.fxg4 c6= Dominguez Perez,L (2736)-Vazquez Igarza,R (2581) Espana 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]
12.Bg5 Qe7 13.Bb5 O-O-O 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Rhe1² h4?! 16.Re4 Rh5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Rf4 Rf5 19.Rxf5 Bxf5 20.Qf4
g5
20...Rh8 21.Rd4ƒ c5 22.Ra4 g5!? 23.Nxg5 Rh5 24.Ne4 (24.Nf3? Qxc3µ) 24...Qh6 25.Nd2 Bd7 26.Re4 Qxf4 27.Rxf4
Rg5 28.Rxh4 Rxg2 29.Rf4±
21.Nxg5 Re8 22.Kb2 Qg6 23.Rd2 Bd7 24.Qxh4 f6 25.Nf3 Qxg2 26.Qxf6 Qxh3
27.Rd3
27.Rd4! c5 (27...Qf1 28.Nd2 Qe2 29.Nc4±) 28.Rh4 Qe6 (28...Qg2 29.Rh7!±) 29.Qxe6 Rxe6 30.Rf4 Re2 31.Ng5 Kd8
(31...Be8 32.Re4±) 32.Ne4±
27...Qg2 28.Qd4 Kb7 29.Nd2 c5 30.Qf4 Re2 31.f3
31.Rg3 Qxf2 32.Qxf2 Rxf2=
31...Bb5! 32.c4 Be8 33.Ka3 Bc6?
33...Bg6 34.Rd5 Bxc2-+ (34...Qg1-+)
34.Kb2
34.b4
34...Qg7+ 35.Rc3 a5 36.Nb1 Qh8 37.a4 Be8 38.Na3 Kb6 39.Qg5 Bc6 40.Qf4?!
40.Qg1µ
40...Rf2-+ 41.Qc1
41.Nb1 Rxf3 42.Qd2 Rf1 43.Na3 Qf6 44.Nb1 Rh1 45.Qe2 Qd4 46.Nd2 Qg1-+
41...Rxf3 42.Nb1 Qf6 43.Qd2 Rh3 44.Qe2 Rh1 45.Nd2 Qd4 46.Qe3 Qg4 0-1
C50-C99

92.* [C52]
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2654) - Caruana, Fabiano (2805)
Dortmund 125/92, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4!? Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.dxe5 Bb6 9.a4!?
9.Nbd2 Na5 10.Qb4 Nxc4 11.Nxc4 Bc5 12.Qb3 Ne7 13.O-O O-O 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Bf4N (15.Ba3 - 70/309) 15...Qc7
(15...b5!? 16.Ncd2 Ng6 17.Bg3 a5 18.Nd4 Ba6 19.N2f3 Rfe8 20.Rfe1 Ne5³) 16.Nd4 a6 17.e5 d5 18.Ne3 Be6∞
Rusan,P (2171)-Banusz,T (2586) Arad 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
9...Na5 10.Qa2 Nxc4 11.Qxc4 Ne7 12.Ba3N
12.exd6 cxd6 13.a5∞
12...O-O 13.O-O

13...Re8
13...Ng6!? 14.exd6 cxd6 15.Rd1 Qg4! 16.Qf1 (16.h3 Ne5! 17.hxg4 Nxc4µ) 16...Nf4ƒ
14.exd6 cxd6 15.Rd1 Qc6 16.Nbd2 Be6 17.Qxc6
17.Qd3 Rac8 18.Bxd6 Qxc3³
17...Nxc6 18.Bxd6 Rad8 19.Bb4 Rd3 20.a5
20.Ne1 Rd7 21.Ndf3 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Bb3 23.Ra1 Rd8³ (23...Rxe4? 24.Nd2+-)
20...Bc7 21.Nf1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Nxa5 23.Nd4 Nc4!µ [Δ a5] 24.Nxe6 Rxe6 25.Rd7 Rc6 26.Ng3 g6 27.Ne2
27.Re7 a5 28.Re8+ Kg7 29.Bf8+ Kf6 30.Be7+ Ke6-+
27...a5! 28.Nd4

28...axb4! 29.Nxc6 b3! 30.Rxc7

30.Na7 Nd6!-+
30...Nd6 0-1

93.*** [C54]
Demchenko, Anton (2589) - Georgescu, Tiberiu Marian (2475)
Iasi 125/93, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O

5...a6 - 119/99
6.O-O d5
6...d6
7.exd5 Nxd5
8.a4!?
8.b4 Be7 9.Re1 (9.b5 Na5 10.Bxd5 Qxd5 11.c4 Qd8∞ - 121/101) 9...Bf6 10.a4 (10.b5 Na5 11.Bxd5 Qxd5 12.Bg5
Bxg5 13.Rxe5 Qd6 14.Rxg5 h6 15.Re5 a6„) 10...Ndxb4!? 11.Ba3 e4 12.Rxe4 Bf5 13.Re2 Re8„8.Nbd2 Nb6 9.Bb5 f6
10.d4 exd4 11.Nb3 Qd5! (11...Bd6 12.c4²) 12.Nxc5 Qxc5 13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Nxd4 Qc4=8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5
10.Nbd2 Nb6 (10...Bb6 11.Ne4 f6 12.a4 Kh8 13.a5!? Nxa5 14.b4 Nc6 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.c4 Qd7 17.c5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3
Nxb4 19.cxb6 Nc2∞) 11.Bb5 (11.b4 Be7 12.Qe2 Nxc4 13.Nxc4 f6 14.b5 Nb8 15.d4 a6„) 11...Bd6 12.a4 a6! 13.Bxc6
bxc6 14.Ne4 f5 15.Ng3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qd7 17.c4 Rae8 18.a5 (18.Bd2? e4µ) 18...Bb4 19.Re2 Nc8 20.Nf1 Nd6 21.Bd2
Bc5 22.Rd1 Nf7∞
8...Nb6
8...a5 9.Re1 (9.Nbd2 h6 10.Re1 Nf6 11.h3 Qd6N (11...Re8) 12.Bb5 Bf5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Nc4 Qxd3 15.Qxd3 Bxd3
16.Nfxe5 Bxc4 17.Nxc4² Heimann,A (2551)-Kociscak,J (2474) Zillertal 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]) 9...Nb6N (9...Bg4
10.Nbd2 Bb6 (10...Nb6 11.Bb5²) 11.Ne4 Nce7 (11...f6 12.d4! exd4 13.Qb3) 12.h3²) 10.Bb5 f6 11.Nbd2 Na7 12.d4
exd4 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Nxd4 Nxb5 15.axb5 Rf7 (15...a4 16.h3 Re8 17.Bf4 Bd7 18.Qd3²) 16.Bf4 a4 17.h3 Bd7 18.Qe2
Qc8 19.c4² Kryvoruchko,Y (2692)-Dvirnyy,D (2533) Jerusalem 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]8...Nf6 9.b4N (9.Re1?! Ng4ƒ)
9...Bd6 10.Bg5 (10.Nbd2 a5 11.b5 Ne7 12.Re1 Ng6 13.Ng5 Qe7 14.Nde4²) 10...h6 11.Bh4 Bg4 (11...g5!? 12.Bg3
e4„) 12.h3 Bf5 13.Nbd2 a5 14.b5 Nb8 15.Re1 Nbd7 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Bg3 Bd6 18.Nh4 Bh7 19.Qf3² Popov,I (2647)-
Predke,A (2543) Russia 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]
9.Bb5 a5N
9...Bd6 10.a5 Nd5 11.a6 Qd7 (11...Nce7 12.Nbd2 Ng6 13.Ne4 Ndf4 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 bxa6 16.Bxa6²) 12.axb7
Bxb7 13.Nbd2 a6 14.Ba4 Nb6 (14...Nf4 15.Ne4! (15.Nc4 Nxg2! 16.Nfxe5 Qh3 17.Qf3 Nf4=) 15...Qg4 16.Bxf4
Qxf4 17.Re1²) 15.Bc2 Ne7 16.Re1 Ng6 17.Ne4 Rfe8 (17...a5 18.d4²) 18.b4 Bf8 19.Bd2²9...f6 10.a5 Nd5 11.a6 Nce7
12.d4 bxa6 13.Bc4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Kh8 15.Re1²9...Ne7!? 10.a5 c6 11.axb6 cxb5 12.Rxa7 Rxa7 13.bxa7 Bxa7 14.Nxe5
Bf5 15.Be3 Bb8 16.d4 Re8 17.Na3 b4!?©
10.Nbd2
10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nxe5 Ba6!? 12.Re1 Re8 13.d4 Bf8 14.Nxc6 (14.Be3 f6 15.Nf3 Nd5 16.Nbd2 c5„) 14...Qd5 15.Ne5
f6©
10...f6 11.d4
11.Ne4 Be7 12.Qb3+ Qd5=
11...exd4 12.Nb3 Bd6
12...Be7 13.Nbxd4 Ne5 (13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.Qb3+ Rf7 16.Ne6²) 14.Qb3+ Qd5 (14...Kh8 15.Bf4!²) 15.Qxd5+
Nxd5 16.Nxe5 fxe5 17.Bc4 c6 18.Re1 Bd6 19.Nf3²
13.Nbxd4 Nxd4
13...Ne5!? 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Nxe5 fxe5 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.Qxe6 c6 18.Be2 (18.Bd3 Bc5 19.Qh3 e4! 20.Bxe4 Bxf2+
21.Kh1 Qh4=) 18...Nd5 19.Bf3 Re8 20.Qh3 e4 21.Bh5 Re5„
14.Nxd4 Be5
14...c6 15.Bd3 Qc7 16.Qc2! Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Bf4 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Bg6²
15.Qb3+
15.Qc2!? Bxd4 (15...Kh8 16.Nf3 Bd6 17.Re1! (17.Bd3 Qe8! 18.Bxh7 f5 19.Ng5 Qh5 20.f4 Bd7„) 17...Bd7 18.Bd3
Re8 19.Be3 g6 20.Ng5 Re7 21.Bd4 Kg7 22.Ne4 Be5 23.Nc5²) 16.cxd4 Be6 17.Re1 Bf7 18.b3!? Qxd4 (18...Nd5
19.Ba3 Nb4 20.Bxb4 axb4 21.Re3²) 19.Ba3 Rfd8 20.Rac1 Nd5 21.Re4 Qa7™ 22.Be7©
15...Qd5 16.Qxd5+ Nxd5 17.Bc4 c6 18.Bxd5+ cxd5 19.Nb5 Bd7
19...Bf5!? 20.Rd1 Bc2 21.Rxd5 Rad8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Be3 Rd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bxd1=
20.Rd1 Rfd8!?
20...Rfe8 21.Be3 Bc6 22.g3 g5=
21.Be3 Bc6 22.f4 Bd6
22...Bb8 23.g3 Kf7 (23...Re8 24.Bc5 g5!?) 24.Re1 Re8 25.Bc5 Re4 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Rd1²
23.c4
23.Bb6 Rd7 24.g3 Kf7 25.b3 Ra6 26.Bd4 Bf8 27.Kf2 b6 Δ Bc5=
23...Bxb5 24.axb5 dxc4 25.Bb6 Rd7 26.Rd5 a4= 27.Rad1 a3 28.bxa3 c3 29.Rxd6 Rxd6 30.Rxd6 c2 31.Be3 Rxa3
32.Rd8+ Kf7 33.Rc8 Rxe3 34.Rxc2 b6 35.Rc7+ Re7 36.Rc6 Re6 37.Rc7+ Re7 38.Rc6 Re6 39.Rc7+ 1/2-1/2

94. [C54]
Howell, David (2698) - Hebden, Mark (2500)
Great Britain (ch) 125/94, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Nbd2 O-O 10.O-O Bf5
10...Nxd2 11.Bxd2 Bxd2 12.Qxd2 Ne7=10...Bd7 - 70/311
11.Nb3
11...Na5N
11...a5
12.a3
12.Ne1!?
12...Nxb3 13.Qxb3 Ba5=
13...Be7!?=
14.Be3 Bb6
14...Bg4!? 15.Be2 Bb6=
15.a4 a5
15...c5!? 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Qb4 Ne6=
16.Rac1 Qe7
16...Bg4!?=
17.Ne1 [Δ f3] 17...Rad8 18.f3 Ng5 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Nxd3
20.Qxd3!? f6 21.f4 Ne4=
20...Ne6 21.Qc3 f6
21...Qd7!?
22.Rfe1 fxe5 23.Nxe5 Qh4
23...c6!?=
24.Rcd1 Rfe8 25.Bf2
25.g3 Qe7 26.f4
25...Qg5 26.g3 Qf5 27.Kg2 Ng5
27...Rf8!?=
28.g4!? Qf6 29.Bh4 Qh6 30.Bxg5?!
30.Kg3 Ra8 31.Bxg5 Qxg5 32.Nd7²
30...Qxg5 31.Qe3
31.b4!?
31...Qxe3 32.Rxe3 c5
¹32...g5=
33.Rb3! Bc7
33...Rd6 34.dxc5 Bxc5 35.Nd3 Bb6 36.Re1²
34.Rxb7 Bxe5 35.dxe5 Rxe5 36.Kf2
36.Rb5 d4 37.Rxa5 Kf7²
36...d4
36...h5=
37.Rb5 h5 38.h3 Rf8?
38...d3 39.Rd2 (39.Rxa5? Re2+ 40.Kf1 c4 41.Rf5 Rde8 42.Rf4 Rf8 43.Rxf8+ Kxf8-+) 39...h4! 40.Rxa5 Rde8! 41.f4
Re2+ 42.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 43.Kf3 c4 44.Ra8+ (44.Rc5 Re1 45.Rd5 Rh1 46.a5 Rxh3+ 47.Kg2 Rg3+ 48.Kh2 Re3 49.a6 Re2+
50.Kh3 Rxb2 51.Rd4 d2 52.a7 Ra2 53.Rxd2=) 44...Kf7 45.Rc8 Re1 46.Rc7+ Kf6 47.Rc6+=38...h4 39.Rd2 (39.Rxa5
Rde8 40.Rd2 d3 41.f4 Re2+ 42.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 43.Kf3 c4 44.Rc5 Re1=) 39...Rde8 40.Rxa5 d3= - 38...d3
39.Rxd4!+-
39.Rxa5? Re3 40.gxh5 Rfxf3+=
39...cxd4 40.Rxe5 hxg4 41.hxg4 Rc8!?
41...Rd8 42.Rxa5 d3 43.Ke1 Re8+ (43...d2+ 44.Kd1+-) 44.Kd1 Re3 45.Rf5+-
42.Rd5
42.Ke2 Rc2+ 43.Kd3 Rxb2 44.Rxa5 Rb3+ 45.Kxd4 (45.Kc4!? Rxf3 (45...Rc3+ 46.Kb4 (46.Kxd4 Rxf3 47.Ke5+-)
46...Rxf3 (46...Kf7 47.Rd5 Rd3 48.a5+-) 47.Rd5! d3 (47...Rf4 48.a5 d3+ 49.Kb5 d2 50.a6+-) 48.a5 Kf7 49.a6 Ke6
50.Rd8 Ke7 51.a7+-) 46.Rd5! Ra3 47.Kb4 Ra1 48.Rxd4 Rb1+ 49.Kc5 Ra1 50.Kb5+-) 45...Rxf3 46.Ke5! Rg3 47.Kf5
Rf3+ (47...Kf7 48.Rb5 Rf3+ 49.Kg5 Rc3 50.a5 Rc6 51.Rb7+ Kf8 52.Rb6 Rc5+ 53.Kg6 Rxa5 54.Rb8+ Ke7 55.g5 Kd7
56.Rb7+ Ke8 57.Rxg7 Kf8 58.Rb7+-) 48.Kg5 Rf1 49.Rf5 Rd1 50.a5 Rd6 51.Kf4 g6 52.Rb5 Ra6 53.Kg5 Kh7 54.Rd5
Kg7 55.Re5 Kf8 56.Kh6 Kf7 57.Rb5 Kg8 58.g5 Kf7 59.Kh7 Kf8 60.Rb1 Ke7 61.Rb6 Rxa5 62.Kxg6+-42.Rxa5 Rc2+
43.Ke1 Rxb2 44.Rd5 Rb4 45.a5 Ra4 46.Kd2 Ra3 47.f4 Kf7 48.Rd7+ Kf6 49.Ra7 Ke6 (49...Rf3 50.Ra6+ Ke7 51.f5
Rg3 52.Rg6 Kf7 53.a6 Ra3 54.g5+-) 50.Rxg7 Rxa5 51.Kd3+-
42...Rc2+ 43.Kg3 Rxb2 44.Rxd4
44.Kf4 d3 45.Ke3 Rb4 46.Rxa5 Rd4 47.Kd2 Rf4 48.Kxd3 Rxf3+ 49.Ke4+-
44...Rb4 45.Rxb4?
45.Re4 Kf7 46.Kf4 Rb3 (46...Kf6 47.Rxb4 axb4 48.Ke4!+-) 47.Kg5! Rxf3 (47...Rb4 48.Kf5 Rb6 49.Re5 Rf6+ 50.Ke4
Ra6 51.Kd3 Kf6 52.Kd4 Rd6+ 53.Rd5 Ra6 54.Kc5+-) 48.Re5 Rc3 (48...Ra3 49.Rxa5+-) (48...Rf6 49.Rxa5 Rg6+
50.Kf5 Rf6+ 51.Ke4 Rc6 52.Rf5+ Ke6 53.Re5+ Kd7 54.a5 Kd8 55.Rb5 Ra6 56.Kf5 Ke7 57.Rb6 Rxa5+ 58.Kg6 Ra4
59.Rb7+ Kf8 60.g5 Ra6+ 61.Kh7 g6 62.Rg7 Ra1 63.Rxg6+-) 49.Rxa5 Rc6 50.Rf5+ Ke7 (50...Ke8 51.a5 Ra6 52.Rc5
Kf7 53.Kf5 Ke8 54.Ke4 Kd7 55.g5 g6 56.Kd5 Ke7 57.Kc4 Kd6 58.Kb4 Ra8 59.Rb5 Kc7 60.Rb6 Rf8 (60...Rg8
61.Kc5+-) 61.Rxg6+-) 51.a5 Ra6 52.Rc5+-
45...axb4= 46.a5 b3 47.a6 b2 48.a7 b1=Q 49.a8=Q+ Kf7 50.Qd5+ Kf6
50...Kf8 51.Qf5+ Qxf5 52.gxf5 Ke7=
51.Qd4+ Kf7 52.Qc4+ Kf8!
52...Kf6? 53.Qf4++-
53.Qc5+ Kf7 54.Qf5+ Qxf5 55.gxf5 Ke7!
55...Kf6?? 56.Kf4! (56.Kg4? Ke5 57.Kg5 Kd4 58.Kf4 Kd3=) 56...Ke7 57.Kg5 Kf7 58.f4 Ke7 59.Kg6 Kf8 60.f6
Kg8 61.f7+ (61.fxg7??=) 61...Kf8 62.f5+-
56.Kg4 Kd6! 57.Kh5
57.f6 gxf6 58.Kf5 Ke7 59.Kg6 Ke6 60.f4 f5=
57...Ke5
57...Kd5=
58.Kg5 Kd4! 59.Kf4
59.f6 gxf6+ 60.Kxf6 Ke3=59.f4 Ke4 60.Kg4 Ke3=
59...Kd3 60.Kg3 Ke3 61.Kg4 Kd4 62.Kf4 Kd3 63.Kg4 Kd4 64.Kh5 Ke3 65.Kg6 Kf4 66.Kxg7 Kxf5 67.f4 Kxf4
1/2-1/2

95. !N [C55]
Doncea, Vladimir (2424) - Miron, Lucian Costin (2498)
Romania 125/95, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Bc5 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.Nxd4 O-O 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.f3?!

10.Be3 Qe8 11.Nd2 Nxd2 (11...f5 12.f4 Bb6 13.Nxe4 (13.c3 c5³) 13...fxe4 14.b4 a5 15.a3 Ba6 16.Re1=) 12.Qxd2
Qxe5 (12...Bb6 13.a4 c5 14.Nf3 d4 15.a5=) 13.Nxc6 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Qxb2 15.Ne7+ (15.Rab1 Qa3! 16.Qd4 Ba6³)
15...Kh8 16.Nxd5 Ba6 17.Rfb1 Qe5 18.Qd4=
10...Ba6!
10...f6 - 47/(397)
11.fxe4
11.Re1? Nf2! 12.Qd2 (12.Kxf2 Qh4+ 13.Kg1 Bxd4+ 14.Kh1 Bf2-+) 12...Qh4 13.c3 (13.Qxf2 Bxd4 14.Re3 (14.Be3
Qxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Bxb2-+) 14...Qxf2+ 15.Kxf2 Rab8-+) 13...Nd3 14.Re3 Bxd4 15.cxd4 Qxd4-+
11...Bxf1 12.Kxf1

12...Qh4!N
12...f5 13.exd5 (13.Be3 fxe4+ 14.Kg1 Qe8³) (13.g3 dxe4! (13...fxe4+ 14.Kg2 Qe8 15.Bf4∞) 14.c3 f4 15.gxf4 g5
16.Qg4 Kh8 17.f5 Bxd4 18.cxd4 Qxd4 19.Nc3 Rae8³) 13...Qxd5 14.c3 Qxe5 15.Nf3 Qe4 16.Nbd2 Qd3+ 17.Qe2
Qxe2+ 18.Kxe2 Rad8 19.b4 Rfe8+ (19...Bb6 20.Nc4²) 20.Kd1 (20.Kf1 Be3³) 20...Bf2 21.Rb1! f4 22.c4=
13.Be3
13.Nc3? dxe4 14.Nce2 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 Rfd8 16.b4 Qxh2 17.Bg5 Rd5-+13.b4 f6! 14.bxc5 (14.e6 f5-+) 14...fxe5+
15.Nf3 dxe4µ13.c3 Qxh2 14.Be3 Rae8 15.Nd2 Rxe5 16.N2f3 Qh1+ 17.Kf2 Qxd1 18.Rxd1 Rxe4 19.b4 Bb6 20.Nd2
Re7 21.N2b3 f5³
13...Qxh2
13...Qxe4 14.Bg1 (14.Bf2 Qxe5 15.g3 Rab8 16.b3 Rbe8 17.Nc3 f5³ Δ f4) 14...Qxe5 15.Nd2 Bd6 16.N2f3 Qf4³
14.Nc3
14.c3!?
14...Rae8! 15.Nf3
15.Bg1 Qh1 16.b4 Bb6 17.Qd3 Rxe5 18.Qh3 Qxh3 19.gxh3 dxe4 20.Nxc6 Rf5+ 21.Ke2 Rf3µ
15...Qh1+ 16.Kf2 Bxe3+ 17.Kxe3 Qxg2 18.exd5 cxd5
18...f6 19.e6 cxd5 20.Qxd5 Qh3 (20...Qxc2 21.Re1∞) 21.Kf2 Qxe6 22.Rd1³
19.Nxd5
19.Qxd5 Qxc2 20.Qd2 Qg6 21.Re1 Rd8µ
19...Qg3!?
19...f6 20.Nf4 Qg4 21.Qd5+ Kh8 22.Nd3 (22.Rg1 Rxe5+ 23.Qxe5! Qxf3+ 24.Kxf3 fxe5 25.Rg5 Rxf4+ 26.Ke3³)
22...fxe5 23.Qe4 Rf4 24.Qc6™ Rxf3+ 25.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 26.Kxf3 e4+ 27.Kf2 exd3 28.cxd3³
20.Qd4?
20.Ke2 f6 21.Ne3 (21.Qg1 Rxe5+ 22.Nxe5 (22.Ne3 Qxg1 23.Rxg1 Re7 24.Nh4 Rfe8 25.Nf5 Re5µ) 22...Qxe5+
23.Ne3 f5 24.Kf2 f4 25.Ng4 Qd4+ 26.Kf3 Qd5+ 27.Kf2 h5µ) 21...c6 22.Qd7 fxe5 23.Rf1 e4 24.Nd2 Qg6³
20...f6!-+ 21.Rg1

21.Rf1 fxe5 22.Qe4 Rf4-+

21...Qxf3+! 0-1

96. [C65]
Hou, Yifan (2676) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2783)
Dortmund 125/96, 2015 [Stamenkovic,Zoran]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.d3 h6
6...Re8 - 17/ 283
7.Nbd2 d6 8.O-O Ne7!?N
8...a6
9.d4 a6 10.dxc5?!
10.Bd3 exd4 11.cxd4 Ba7 12.Nb3 Re8 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Nfd2=
10...axb5 11.cxd6
11.Qxb5 Ng6 12.cxd6 cxd6© (12...Qxd6 - 11.cd6)
11...Qxd6 12.Qxb5 Ng6 13.Re1
13.Nc4 Qd3ƒ
13...b6

14.Nc4?
14.Qb4 c5 15.Nc4 Qe6 16.Qb3 Bd7³14.Qf1 Ba6 15.c4 Nf4 16.b3©
14...Qe6 15.Ne3 Nxe4 16.Qd5 Nc5! 17.b4
17.Qxa8 Bb7 18.Qa3 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Nh4 20.Kh1 Nd3-+
17...Bb7 18.Qxe6 Nxe6 19.Nf5?!
19.Nd2 Rfd8 20.Ndc4 f6 21.a4 Nh4 22.f3 Nf4 23.Rf1 Rd3µ
19...Rfd8 20.a4 Rd3 21.Be3 Rxc3 22.a5 Rb3 23.axb6 cxb6 24.Rxa8+ Bxa8 25.Bxb6 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Ng5 27.Kh1 Nxf3
28.Re4 Nf4 0-1

97.*** [C65]
Topalov, Veselin (2816) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2814)
Saint Louis 125/97, 2015 [Roiz,Michael]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nbd2 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.c3 Ne7 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Re1 Ng6
10...Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qb3 (12.a3 - 124/ 109) 12...d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.a4 a5 15.Qd1 Nb8 16.Nb3 Nbc6 17.Bg5 h6N
(17...Nb4 18.Rc1 h6 19.Bh4 c6 20.Be2 Qc7 21.g4 Bg6„) 18.Bh4 Qc8 19.g4 Bg6 20.Rc1 Bh7 21.Bg3 Nb4„
Topalov,V (2816)-Caruana,F (2808) Saint Louis 2015 [Roiz,Michael]
11.h3
11.b3N c6 12.Bf1 Bg4 13.Bb2 Ba5 14.Re3 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 17.d5 c5 18.b4 b6 19.Kh1 Qg5∞
Timofeev,A (2564)-Faizrakhmanov,R (2371) Jerusalem 2015 [Roiz,Michael]
11...c6 12.Bd3 Nh5N
12...Be6 13.Nf1 Nh5 14.Bc2 Nhf4 15.Ng3 Ba5 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Qxd2²
13.Nc4 Bc7

14.d5!N
14.Ne3Nhf4 15.Bc2 d5= Abrahamyan,T (2322)-Abdumalik,Z (2379) Chengdu (wtc) 2015 [Roiz,Michael]
14...Nhf4 15.Bf1
15.Bc2 cxd5 16.exd5 b5 17.Ne3 Bb6„
15...f5?!
15...cxd5 16.exd5 b5 17.Ne3 Bd7„ Δ Bb6
16.e5!
16.exf5?! Bxf5 17.dxc6 bxc6³
16...Nxd5
16...dxe5 17.d6 Bb8 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.g3 Nd5 20.Rxe5±
17.exd6
17.Bg5 Qd7 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Qb3©
17...Bxd6 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.b3 Bd7
19...f4 20.Bb2 Bf5 21.Qd4 Rf7 22.Bc4ƒ19...Qf6! 20.Ba3 Rd8 21.Qc2 h6 22.Bb2 Qf7∞
20.Bb2 Rfe8
20...Rae8 21.Qd4 Qf6 22.Qd2 Qd8 23.Bc4 Be6 24.Rad1ƒ
21.Qd4 Qf6 22.Qd2 Qd6
22...Qf8 23.Bc4 Be6 24.Nd4 Qf7 25.Rad1ƒ
23.Bc4 h6
23...Be6 24.Qd4 (24.Nd4!?) 24...Qd7 25.Ng5 Nf8 26.Re5 h6 27.Nxe6 Nxe6 28.Bxd5 (28.Qd3 Nef4 29.Qxf5 Qxf5
30.Rxf5 Re4²) 28...cxd5 29.Rxd5 Qf7²
24.Qd4 Qf6
24...Re7 25.Rxe7 Qxe7 26.Bxd5+ cxd5 27.Qxd5+ Be6 28.Qd4±
25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Bxf6 Rxe1+
26...b5!? 27.Bxd5+ cxd5 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Rd1 Kf7 30.Bb2 Re2 31.Rxd5 Be6 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Nxd2 Bd5±
27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rd1
28.Rxe8+ Bxe8 29.Bb2±
28...Be6 29.Nd4
29.Bb2!? Kf7 30.Nd4±
29...Kf7 30.Nxe6 Rxe6 31.Bd4 a6 32.Kf1 Ngf4 33.b4!
33.Be3 b5 34.Bxf4 bxc4 35.Bd2 cxb3 36.axb3 Kg6²
33...Re4 34.f3 Re8 35.g3 Ne6
35...b5 36.Bb3 Ne6 37.Bf2 Nxb4 38.Rd6±
36.Bf2 Rd8 37.Re1 f4?!
¹37...h5 38.Re5 Kf6²
38.g4 Ng5 39.Kg2 Re8 40.Rd1
40.Bxd5+ cxd5 41.Rxe8 Kxe8 42.h4 Ne6 43.Kf1 Kf7±
40...Re5
¹40...Rd8
41.Bd4 Re8 42.h4
42.Bb6!? Rc8 43.h4 Ne6 44.Bxd5 cxd5 45.Rxd5 Rc2+ 46.Kf1±
42...Ne6 43.Bf2 Nec7 44.h5
44.Bc5!?
44...Kf6 45.Kh3 b5 46.Bd4+ Kg5?
46...Kf7! 47.Bxd5+ Nxd5 48.Rc1 Re6±
47.Bxd5?!
47.Bb3! Nxb4 (47...Re2 48.Rc1 Ne7 49.Rc5+ Ncd5 50.Bxd5 cxd5 51.Rc7+-) 48.Bf2 Kf6 49.Bh4+ Ke5 50.Bf7! Ra8
51.Re1+ Kd4 52.Re4+ Kc3 53.Be1++-
47...Nxd5 48.Rc1 Re6 49.Rc5 Rd6 50.Bg7 Re6 51.Bd4 Rd6 52.a3! Re6 53.Rc1 Ne7 54.Bf2 Kf6 55.Bh4+ Kf7
55...Kg7 56.Bxe7 Rxe7 57.g5! hxg5 58.Rxc6 Re3 (58...a5 59.Kg4 a4 60.h6+ Kh7 61.Kh5 Rd7 62.Rc5 Rb7 63.Rxg5+-)
59.Kg4 Rxa3 60.h6+ Kh8 61.Kh5 Rd3 62.Rxa6 Kh7 63.Ra7+ Kh8 64.Rb7+-
56.g5
56.Bxe7!? Kxe7 57.g5! hxg5 58.Kg4 Kf6 59.Rc3 Rd6 60.Rc5 Re6 61.Rxg5 Re3 62.Kxf4 Rxa3 63.h6+-
56...hxg5 57.Bxg5 Nd5 58.Kg4 Kg7
58...Rd6 59.Kf5! (59.Bxf4?! Nxf4 60.Kxf4 Rd3 61.Rg1 Rd4+ 62.Ke3 Rh4 63.Rc1 a5! 64.bxa5 Ra4 65.Rxc6 Rxa3+
66.Kf4 Rxa5) 59...Re6 60.Rh1 Rd6 61.h6 Kg8 62.Rh2
59.Bxf4 Nxf4 60.Kxf4 Rd6 61.Rc3! Kf6
61...Rd4+ 62.Kg5 Rd5+ 63.Kg4 Rd6 64.f4 Kf6 65.Re3 Rd8 66.h6+-
62.Kg4+- a5 63.bxa5 Rd4+ 64.f4 Ra4 65.Rxc6+ Kg7 66.a6 Rxa3 67.f5 b4 68.f6+ Kf7 69.h6 Kg6 70.Rc8 b3 71.Rg8+
Kf7 72.h7 Ra4+ 73.Kf3 1-0

98. [C66]
Skembris, Spyridon (2422) - Theodorou, Nikolas (2338)
Anogia 125/98, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.O-O

6.d5 Nb8 7.Bg5!?ƒ
6...exd4 7.Nxd4 Be7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Qf3 O-O 10.Nf5
10.e5 dxe5 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qxc6 Qd6„10.h3 - 113/112
10...Bxf5 11.Qxf5 Qd7 12.Qxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd2!?N Bf6 14.Rae1 Rfe8 15.b3 Re7 16.g3 Rae8 17.f3² h5 18.h4 g6
19.Kg2 Kg7 20.Rd1
20.Ne2!? ∆d5 21.Nc3²
20...Nc5 21.Ne2ƒ

21...a5!!©
21...d5 22.Bb4 Re5 (22...dxe4 23.f4+-) 23.Bxc5 dxe4 24.Bxa7 exf3+ 25.Kxf3 Rxe2 26.Rf2²
22.a4
22.Bxa5 Ra8„
22...d5 23.Bxa5 dxe4 24.f4 Nb7
24...Na6 25.f5!? Re5 26.b4 gxf5 27.Nf4 Kh6 28.b5 cxb5 29.Nd5±
25.Bb4 c5 26.Ba3 Re6 27.f5 Rd6 28.fxg6 fxg6 29.Bc1² e3 30.Rxd6 Nxd6
30...cxd6 31.Rd1±
31.Rd1 Nf5 32.Rd7+ Kg8 33.c3?!† [×b3]
33.Ba3! Nd4 (33...c4 34.Bc5+-) 34.Bb2!!± Rf8 (34...Nxe2 35.Bxf6 Nd4 36.Re7+-) 35.Bxd4±
33...Be5„ 34.b4?
34.Kf3!? Bd6 35.a5 Kf8 36.a6 Ra8 37.Bxe3 Ke8 38.Rh7 Rxa6 39.Bf4 Ra1„
34...cxb4 35.cxb4 Bd6 36.Kf3 Rf8 37.Ke4?!
37.Nf4!? Nxh4+ (37...Bxf4 38.Kxf4! e2 39.Bd2 Nxh4+ 40.Ke3 Nf5+ 41.Kf3 Nd4+ 42.Ke3 Nf5+=) 38.Kxe3 Nf5+
39.Kd3„
37...Ra8µ 38.a5 Bxb4 39.Rxc7 Bxa5 40.Rd7 Be1 41.Kf4 Ra2 42.Kf3 Bb4
42...Bd2!? 43.Rc7 Kf8 44.Rc4 Kg7 45.Rc8 Kf6 46.Rc6+ Kf7 47.Rc4 Ke6 48.Rc6+ Ke5µ42...Bxg3!? 43.Nxg3 Rf2+
44.Ke4 Nxg3+µ
43.Rb7 Bd6 44.Bb2 Ra8 45.g4?!
45.Nd4! Nxg3 46.Kxe3 Rb8 47.Rxb8+ Bxb8 48.Kf3 Nf5 49.Nxf5 gxf5 50.Bd4=
45...hxg4+?!
45...Nxh4+ 46.Kxe3 hxg4µ
46.Kxg4 Be7

47.h5= Ra4+ 48.Kf3 g5

48...gxh5 49.Rb5 Nh4+ 50.Kxe3 Ng2+ 51.Kf2 Nf4 52.Nxf4 Rxf4+ 53.Kg2=
49.Nd4! g4+ 50.Ke2= 1/2-1/2

99. [C67]
Wei, Yi (2718) - Ding, Liren (2757)
China (ch) 125/99, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Bd7 10.Rd1 Be7
11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Nd2 Kc8 14.Nf3 Be7 15.Rd3 h6 16.Nd4 b6N
16...Re8
17.Rf3 Be8 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.b3 Bd7 20.Bb2 Be6 21.Nd4 Bd5 22.Re3 Bc5 23.c4 Be6 24.f4 g6 25.Rf1 Kb7 26.Kg2
Rad8 27.Rd3 h5
27...Bxd4 28.Rxd4 Rdg8!∞
28.Nxe6! Rxd3 29.Nxc5+ bxc5 30.e6! Rhd8 31.exf7 Rd2+
31...Rf8 32.f5 gxf5 33.Rxf5 hxg4 34.hxg4 Rd2+ 35.Kh3 Rxb2 36.g531...h4 32.Rf3! (32.Bg7 Rg3+ 33.Kf2 Rdd3
34.f8=Q Rgf3+=) 32...Rd2+ (32...R3d7 33.Bf6 Rf8 34.Bxh4) 33.Rf2 Rxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Rf8 35.f5+-
32.Rf2 Rxf2+ 33.Kxf2 Rf8

34.f5+- Rxf7 35.Kg3 gxf5 36.g5 1-0

100. [C67]
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731) - Topalov, Veselin (2816)
 Saint Louis 125/100, 2015 [Stamenkovic,Zoran]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 h6 10.Rd1+ Ke8
11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Nd4 Ng6 13.f4 Bc5 14.Be3
14.Ne4 - 71/(333)
14...h5 15.Ne4 Bxd4 16.Rxd4 h4 17.Rad1 Bf5 18.e6!? Bxe6
18...fxe6!? 19.c4©
19.Nc5 Rh5N
19...b6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rd7 Ne7 22.Rxc7 Rf8 (22...Nd5 23.Rxc6 Nxe3 24.Rxe6++-) 23.c4±
20.Nxb7 Rd5?!
20...Rb5 21.Nd8! Rxb2 (21...Bd5 22.c4 Rxb2 23.cxd5 Rxd8 24.Re4+ Kf8 25.f5! Rxd5 26.Rxd5 cxd5 27.Bc5+ Kg8
28.Re8+ Kh7 29.fxg6++-) 22.Nxc6 f5! 23.R4d3!? (Δ Nd4) 23...Bxa2 24.Nd4 Ne7 25.Bc1! Rb1 26.Ba3²
21.b3 Rb8 22.Rxd5 cxd5 23.Nc5 c6 24.Rd4 Bc8
24...Bf5 25.Ra4!?ƒ
25.Ra4 Ra8 26.c4 dxc4?!
26...Ne7 27.Bf2 Nf5 28.cxd5 cxd5 29.Ra5±
27.Rxc4 Bf5 28.Nb7 Kd7 29.Rd4+! Kc7
29...Ke7 30.Na5 Rc8 31.Ra4±
30.Nd6 Bb1 31.Nxf7 Re8
31...Bxa2 32.f5 Ne7 33.Bf4+ Kb6 34.Rb4+ Kc5 35.Bd6+!+-
32.Kf2 Bxa2?!
32...a6
33.f5!+- Nf8 34.Ra4 Bxb3 35.Rxa7+ Kb8 36.Nd6 Rd8 37.Rxg7 1-0

101. [C67]
Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - Carlsen, Magnus (2876)
Stavanger 125/101, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 h6 10.Rd1+ Ke8
11.Nc3 Ne7 12.b3 Bf5
12...Ng6 - 110/ (177)
13.Nd4 Bh7 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Nce2!?
15.e6 Nd5 16.exf7+ Kxf7=
15...Nd5 16.c4 Nb4 17.Nf4 Rg8N
17...Be7
18.g4 Na6
18...g5?! 19.Nh5 Be7 20.Nf5²18...Be7 19.Nf5 Bg5 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Nd3 Nxd3 22.Rd1 Kd7 23.Rxd3+ Ke6
24.Nd4+ Ke7 25.Ba3+ Ke8 26.Rd1²
19.Nf5² Nc5 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Rd1+ Kc8

21...Ke8 22.Kg2 Ne6 23.Kg3 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Nxf4 25.Kxf4 Bc5 26.f3 Ke7 27.h4± ∆Rd8? 28.f6+! gxf6 29.exf6+ Ke8
30.Rxd8+ Kxd8 31.Bc1 Kd7 32.Kg4 Ke6 33.Bxh6 Kxf6 34.h5+-
22.Ba3! Ne6?
22...Bxf5!? 23.gxf5 g6 24.fxg6 fxg6! (24...Ne6 25.Bxf8! Nxf4 26.g7 Ne6 27.Kh2 Nxg7 28.Bxg7 Rxg7 29.Rg1! Rh7
(29...Rxg1? 30.Kxg1 Kd7 31.f4 Ke6 32.Kf2 Kf5 33.Kf3+-) 30.f4 Kd7 31.f5±) 25.Kg2 Ne6 26.Bc1 Nxf4+ 27.Bxf4
g5 28.Bg3²22...b6!? 23.Kh2²
23.Nxe6 Bxa3
23...fxe6? 24.Be7!+-
24.Nexg7 Bf8 25.e6! Bxf5
25...Rxg7? 26.e7!+-
26.Nxf5 fxe6 27.Ng3± Be7 28.Kg2 Rf8 29.Rd3 Rf7 30.Nh5 Bd6 31.Rf3! Rh7
31...Rxf3 32.Kxf3 Kd7 33.Nf4! c5 34.Ke4 Ke7 35.Nd3 Kf6 36.f4±
32.Re3! Re7
32...Kd7?? 33.Nf6++-
33.f4+- Ba3 34.Kf3 Bb2 35.Re2 Bc3 36.g5 Kd7 37.Kg4 Re8 38.Ng3 Rh8 39.h4 b6 40.h5 c5 41.g6 Re8 42.f5 exf5+
43.Kf4
43.Kxf5!? Re7 44.Rxe7+ Kxe7 45.Ke4 Bd2 46.Nf5+ Kf6 47.g7 Kf7 48.Kd5+-
43...Rh8 44.Nxf5 Bf6 45.Rg2 1-0

102. [C78]
Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2632) - Sevian, Samuel (2578)
Martuni 125/102, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.axb5 axb5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.d4 Bxd4
11.Qxd4 d6 12.f4 Nc6 13.Qd3 O-O 14.Nc3 Re8
14...Nb4 - 109/202
15.e5!? dxe5 16.Qxd8 Nxd8!
16...Rxd8? 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf4 Re8 (18...Nfd7 19.Rae1 b4 20.Nd5 Ba6 21.Bxe5 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Nxe5 23.Rxe5+-)
19.Rae1 Nc6 (19...Nfd7? 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.Rxe5 Nxe5 22.Re1+-) (19...Nc4 20.Nxb5! Rxb5 21.Bxc4 Rb7 22.Rxe8+
Nxe8 23.b3±) 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.Bxc7 Nxc7 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 23.Be8 Bf5 24.Bxc6 Bxc2 25.Rf7 Ne6 26.Bxb5±
17.fxe5

17...Rxe5!?N
17...Ng4 18.h3 (18.Nd5 c5 19.Nc7 Re7 20.Nxb5 Be6²) 18...Nxe5 19.Bf4 Ndc6 20.Nd5 Rb7 21.Rae1²
18.Bf4 Rc5
18...Re7?! 19.Nxb5! Rxb5 20.Ra8 Re8 21.Rxc8 Ne6 22.Rxe8+ Nxe8 23.Re1 Nd6 24.Be5²
19.Be3 Rf5²
19...Re5 20.Ba7! Rb7 (20...Ra8 21.Bd4 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Re8 23.Nxb5±) 21.Bd4 Re8 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nd5 Kg7 24.Nxf6
Rf8 25.Rae1±
20.Rxf5 Bxf5 21.Nxb5!?
21.Ba7 Ra8 22.Nxb5 Ne6 (22...Nc6 23.Ra4 Bd7 24.Ra3 Be6 25.Bd4 Rxa3 26.bxa3 Bxb3 27.cxb3²) 23.h3 c6 24.Nd6
Bg6 25.Ra6 h6 26.Ba4 Nd4 27.Kf2²
21...Rxb5 22.Ra8 h6
22...Kf8 23.Rxd8+ Ke7 24.Ra8 Be6 25.Ba4 Bd5 26.Bxb5 Bxa8 27.Be2²
23.Rxd8+ Kh7 24.Rd4?!
24.Bxf7? Rxb224.h3 Kg6 25.Ra8²
24...Ra5
¹24...Re5 25.Bf2 Ne4 26.Bxf7 Nxf2 27.Kxf2 Bxc2=
25.Rd1
25.Ra4 Rxa4 26.Bxa4²
25...Rb5
25...Be6 26.c4 Kg6 27.h3 Ne4=
26.Rc1
26.h3 Be4 27.Rd4 Kg6 28.g4 Re5 29.Bf4 Re7=
26...c5?

¹26...Be6=
27.Bxf7! Ng4
27...Rxb2 28.Bb3! c4 29.Bd4 cxb3 30.Bxb2 bxc2 31.Ra1 Nd7 32.Ra5±
28.Bf4
28.Bd2±
28...Rxb2 29.h3! Nf6 30.Bb3! [×Rb2] 30...Nd7
30...c4 31.Be5 cxb3 32.Bxb2 bxc2 33.Ra1±
31.g4?
31.Bd2 c4 32.Bc3 cxb3 33.Bxb2±
31...c4!
31...Be4? 32.Rd1 (32.Bd2±) 32...c4 33.Bxc4 Nf6 34.c3±
32.Bxc4 Bg6?
¹32...Rb4! 33.Be2 Rxf4 34.gxf5 Kg8²
33.Rd1±
33.c3 Nb6 34.Ba6±
33...Nf6
33...Rb7 34.c3±
34.c3 Be4 35.Rd4
35.Be5!?
35...Rg2+ 36.Kf1 Rc2 37.Bd2 Bg6 38.Ke2 Ne4
38...Rb2 39.Bd3±
39.Rd8 Rb2 40.Bg8+ Kh8 41.Be6+ Kh7 42.Ke3?!
42.h4 Nxd2 43.Rxd2 Rxd2+ 44.Kxd2+-
42...Nf6 43.Kf4 Rb6 44.Bc4
44.Bf5
44...Rc6
44...Bc2±
45.Bb5 Re6 46.Be3+- h5
46...Ne8 47.Bd4 Nc7 48.Bc4 Re4+ 49.Kg3+-
47.g5 Ne4
47...Re4+ 48.Kf3 Re5 49.Bc4 Be4+ 50.Kf2 Nd5 51.h4 Nxe3 52.Kxe3+-
48.Bd4 Nd6 49.Bc6 Nf7 50.Rc8 Re1 51.Rc7 Rf1+ 52.Bf3?
52.Kg3! Nxg5 53.Rxg7+ Kh6 54.Re7 Rf7 (54...Bf7 55.Bg2 Rf5 56.Be3 Kg6 57.h4 Kf6 58.Bxg5+ Rxg5+ 59.hxg5+
Kxe7 60.Be4+-) 55.Rxf7 Nxf7 56.Kf4+-
52...Be4! 53.Kxe4² Nxg5+ 54.Kd5 Rxf3 55.Rxg7+
55.c4 Nxh3 56.Rxg7+ Kh6 57.Rd7 Rf5+ 58.Ke4 Rf1 59.Rd6+ Kh7 60.c5 Ng5+ 61.Kd3 h4 62.c6 Rc1 63.Rf6 h3 64.Be5
Nf3=
55...Kh6 56.Re7
56.Rd7 Rf5+ 57.Kd6 Nxh3 58.c4 Ng5=
56...Nxh3 57.c4

57...Nf4+?
57...Rf5+ 58.Ke4 Rf4+ 59.Ke5 Rf1 60.Be3+ Kg6 61.Re6+ (61.c5 Ng5 62.c6 Nf7+ 63.Kd5 (63.Ke4 Nd6+ 64.Kd5
Rd1+ 65.Kc5 Kf6 66.Rh7 Nf5 67.Bf4 Nd4 68.c7 Ne6+=) 63...Rf5+ 64.Ke4 Nd6+ 65.Kd4 h4 66.c7 Rf7 67.Re6+ Kf5
68.Rxd6 Rxc7=) 61...Kf7 62.Rh6 Re1 63.Kd4 Ng1 64.Kd3 Nf3 65.Rxh5 Ke6=
58.Ke4+- Ng6 59.Ra7 [Δ Be3] 59...Rf4+ 60.Kd3 Kg5 61.Be3 Kg4 62.Bxf4 Kxf4 63.Rh7 h4 64.c5 Kg5 65.Ke4 Nf8
66.Rh8 Ng6 67.Rg8 h3 68.Kf3 Kf5 69.Rxg6 Kxg6 70.c6 1-0

103. [C84]
Anand, Viswanathan (2804) - Carlsen, Magnus (2876)
Stavanger 125/103, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 O-O 8.Nbd2 Re8 9.Re1 b5 10.Bc2 Bf8 11.Nf1 g6
12.h3 Bb7 13.Ng3 Nb8 14.d4 Nbd7 15.a4 c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 Bg7
17...h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 h5∞
18.Qd2 Rb8!?
18...Nc5!?18...Qe7 - 29/257
19.Nh2N
19.Ra3
19...Bc8 20.Ng4 Nc5
21.Nh6+! Bxh6
21...Kf8 22.axb5 axb5 23.f4!±
22.Bxh6 bxa4 23.Ra2
23.Bxa4? Bd7! 24.Bxd7 Nfxd7∞23.Be3!? Rxb2 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Rxa4²
23...a3
23...a5? 24.Bxa4 Bd7 25.Bc2±
24.bxa3 Nfd7 25.f4! a5?
25...Qh4? 26.Bg5 Qxg3 27.Re3±25...exf4! 26.Qxf4 Qf6 (26...Qe7? 27.Nf5!+-) 27.Qe3 Ne5 28.Rf1 Qe7 29.Bb1!?
(29.Bg5 Qf8 30.Bh6 Qe7 31.Bg5=) 29...Rb3 30.Raf2 Rxa3∞
26.Rf1 f6
26...exf4 27.Qxf4 Ne5 (27...Qe7? 28.Nf5+-) 28.Bg5 Qb6 29.Kh2±
27.f5 Nd3 28.Bxd3 cxd3 29.Qd1!± Re7
29...Ba6 30.Qg4! Kf7 (30...g5 31.h4+-) 31.fxg6+ hxg6 32.Rf3! (32.Raf2 d2) 32...Rb1+ 33.Kh2 Bc8 34.Raf2+-
30.Raf2 Rf7 31.Qxd3
31...Nc5?
31...Rb3! 32.Qf3!? (32.h4 Qc7 33.Ne2 Kh8 34.Qf3ƒ) 32...Kh8 (32...Ba6 33.Qg4 g5 34.h4! Bxf1 35.Rxf1 Kh8 36.hxg5
fxg5 37.f6! Rxf6 38.Rxf6 Qxf6 39.Nf5!+-) 33.Qg4 Nf8²
32.Qf3 Ba6 33.Qg4 g5
33...Bc8 34.Qh4! g5 35.Qg4 Kh8 36.h4+-
34.h4!+- Bxf1 35.Rxf1 Qd7
35...Kh8 36.hxg5 fxg5 37.f6! Rxf6 38.Bg7+ Kxg7 39.Nh5++-
36.hxg5 fxg5 37.Qh5
37.Qxg5+ Kh8 38.f6 Rg8 39.Bg7+ Rfxg7 40.fxg7+ Qxg7 41.Qxg7+ Rxg7 42.Rf8+ Rg8 43.Rxg8+ Kxg8 44.Kf2 Kf7
45.Kf3 Ke7
37...Kh8 38.f6 Rg8
38...Qa7 39.Bg7+ Kg8 40.Kh2+-
39.Bg7+ Rfxg7 40.fxg7+ Qxg7 41.Nf5 Qg6 42.Qxg6 Rxg6 43.Ne7! Kg7
43...Rh6 44.Rf8+ Kg7 45.Rc8! Kf7 46.Nf5 Rf6 47.Nxd6+ Rxd6 48.Rxc5+-
44.Nxg6 Kxg6
44...hxg6 45.Re1 g4 46.Re3 Kf6 47.Kf2 Kg5 48.g3 Kf6 49.Re2+-
45.Rf8 a4 46.c4 h5 47.Kf2
47.Kf2 Nxe4+ 48.Ke3 Kg7 (48...Nf6 49.Rd8+-) (48...Nc5 49.Rd8 Nb7 50.Rd7+-) 49.Rf5 Nf6 50.Rxg5++-1-0

104. [C88]
Nakamura, Hikaru (2814) - Aronian, Levon (2765)
Saint Louis 125/104, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]
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 dxe5 11.Qxd8
Rxd8 12.Nbd2 h6 13.Bc4 Bd6 14.a5
14.Nb3 Re8 (14...Bg4 15.Be3 Bxf3 16.gxf3 a5 17.Red1²) 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nfd2 Ng4 17.Bc5ƒ
14...Re8
14...Be6?! 15.Bxe6 fxe6²
15.Bd3
15.b3 - 112/ 200
15...Nd7 16.b3N
16.Nb3 Nc5 17.Be3 (17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Nd2 Be6=) 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 Be6 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 Red8=16.Nc4
16...Nc5 17.Bc4 Be6! 18.Bb2 f6 19.Bxe6+ Rxe6 20.Nc4 Rb8 21.Nfd2 Rb5! 22.Ra2
22.Nxd6 Rxd6 23.Nc4 Rd8 24.f3 Kf7 25.h4 h5³
22...Nb7! 23.Rea1
23.Kf1 Bc5 24.f3 Ncxa5 25.Nxa5 Rxa5 26.Rxa5 Nxa5 27.Ra1 Nb7 28.Nc4 Kf7 29.Ke2³
23...Bc5 24.Kf1 Re7 25.Ke2 Rd7 26.Nf1 Bd4 27.Nfe3

27...Bxe3! 28.Nxe3
28.Kxe3 Nd6 29.Nd2 Rc5 30.Rc1 Nxa5 31.Rca1 Rxc2 32.Bxe5 Rxd2! 33.Rxd2 Nxb3-+
28...Kf7
28...Nbxa5 29.h4 h5 30.Nd5©
29.f3 Ke6 30.g4?
30.h4 h5 31.g3 g6 32.Nc4 Nd6³
30...Nc5 [Δ Ne6-d4] 31.Nc4
31.h4 Kf7 32.h5 Ne6 33.Nd5 Rc5 34.Bc1 Ncd4+µ
31...Ke7 32.Bc1 Ne6 33.Be3 Ncd4+ 34.Kf2 Ng5

35.Bxg5?!
35.Nd2 Rc5 36.h4 Nh3+ 37.Kg2 Nf4+ 38.Bxf4 exf4 39.Nc4 h5³
35...fxg5!
35...hxg5 36.Rh1³ Δ h4
36.Rd1 Ke6! 37.Rd3 Rf7 38.Ra1 Rb8
38...Nxc2? 39.Rad1 Nd4 40.Nxe5=
39.Rad1
39.Kg2 Rbf8 40.Rf1 h5 41.h3 g6³
39...Rbf8 40.Nxe5?
40.Nd2 Nxc2 (40...g6³) 41.Rc1 Nd4 42.Rc5©
40...Kxe5 41.Rxd4 Rxf3+‭→ 42.Ke2
42.Kg2 Rf2+ 43.Kg1 Rf1+! 44.Kg2 R8f2+ 45.Kg3 Rxd1 46.Rxd1 Rxc2-+42.Ke1 Re3+ 43.Kd2 Kxd4-+
42...Rf2+ 43.Ke1™
43.Kd3 R8f3+ 44.Kc4 Rxc2+ 45.Kxb4 c5+-+
43...Rf1+ 44.Ke2™ R8f2+ 45.Ke3™ Rf3+ 46.Ke2™ R1f2+ 47.Ke1 Rxh2-+ 48.Rd5+
48.Rxb4 Re3+ 49.Kf1 Rxc2-+
48...Kf4
48...Kxe4?? 49.R1d4+ Ke3 50.Rd3+ Ke4= (50...Kf4? 51.Rf5++-)
49.R1d4 Kxg4-+ 50.Rc5
50.e5+ Kf5-+50.Rxb4 Rxc2 51.e5+ Kf5-+
50...Rg3 51.Kf1 Rc3
51...Rc3 52.Rdc4 Rhxc2-+0-1

105. [C89]
Lupulescu, Constantin (2631) - Georgescu, Tiberiu Marian (2477)
Romania (ch) 125/105, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.d4!? exd4 11.cxd4
11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bb7„
11...Bg4
11...Bf5 12.Nc3 (12.Nbd2 Bb4 13.a3 Ba5 14.h3 Nf6„) 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bf6 14.Bf4 Na5 (14...Bg4 15.Qd3²)
15.Ne5 Nxb3 16.axb3 Re8 17.c4²11...Bf6 12.Nc3 Nxc3 (12...Nb6!? 13.Ne4 Bg4„) 13.bxc3 Na5 14.Bc2 Nc4 15.Bf4
(15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qd3 h6 17.a4 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Qe4 Rb6=) 15...Bb7 16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qxd1 18.Raxd1
Rad8=11...Bb4 - 94/ (263)
12.h3
12.Nc3 Nb6!? 13.Be3 Bf6 (13...Nc4 14.h3!? (14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nb4„) 14...Nxb2 15.Qe2 Bxf3
16.Qxb2 Bh5 17.Nd5 Bd6 18.Bf4©) 14.Ne4 Bxd4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Qd4=
12...Bh5!?
12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Ndb4 14.Be3 Na5 15.Bd2 (15.Bd1 Nc4 16.Nc3 Nxe3 17.Rxe3 c5=) 15...Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Nc6 17.d5
Nd4 18.Qd3 c5 19.Nc3 Re8 20.Rad1 Qd6 21.b4 cxb4 22.Qxd4 bxc3 23.Bxc3 Bf8 (23...Bf6 24.Qb4²) 24.Re3 Rxe3
25.Qxe3 Rd8=
13.Nc3N
13.Nbd2
13...Nxc3
13...Nb6!? 14.Be3 (14.g4 Bg6 15.Bf4 Nb4 16.Ne5 Bd6 17.Qf3 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Nc4 19.Re2 Nd3„) 14...Na5 (14...Bf6
15.g4 Bg6 16.Ne5 Na5 17.Qf3! Nxb3 18.axb3 Re8 19.Nc6 Qd7 20.Bf4 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Rf8 (21...Rc8? 22.g5 Bd8
23.Nd5+-) 22.Nb4!? a5 23.Nbd5²) 15.Bc2 f5!? 16.Qe2 Nac4 17.a4 Bb4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bg5 Qc8!„
14.bxc3² Bd6?!
14...Na5 15.g4 Bg6 16.Ne5 c5 17.Ba3 b4 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.Bb2²14...Re8 15.g4 Bg6 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Ne5 Bxe5
(17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bc5 19.Qf3²) 18.dxe5 Na5 19.Bd5 c6 20.Bg2 Qc8 21.Bg3² Δ f4
15.g4! Bg6 16.Bg5 Be7
16...Qd7 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qxd1 19.Raxd1±16...Qb8 17.Bd5 Qb6 18.h4 h6 19.h5 Bh7 20.Bh4! Rab8 21.g5 Ne7
22.Bb3±
17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Ne5
18.h4! a5 (18...h5 19.Ne5±) 19.a4 bxa4 20.Bc4 h5 21.Ne5 Qd6 22.gxh5 Bf5 23.Rxa4± ∆Nd5 24.Qf3 Be6 25.h6 gxh6
26.Bd3 Nxc3 27.Kh2+-
18...Kh8! 19.f4 f6 20.Nxg6+ Nxg6 21.f5 Qd6
21...Nh4!? 22.Re6! (22.Qe2 g5!„) 22...c5 (22...Re8 23.d5±) 23.dxc5 Qa5 (23...Qc7 24.Qd6±) 24.Qc1! Nf3+ 25.Kg2
Ne5 26.Qe3 Rac8 27.Rd1²
22.Qf3
22.fxg6! Qg3+ 23.Kf1 Qxh3+ 24.Ke2 c5 25.Kd2 Qh6+ 26.Re3! (26.Kc2 c4 27.gxh7 Qf4„) 26...Rad8 27.Qe2 Rxd4+
(27...Qxg6 28.d5 Rfe8 29.Re1 Qg5 30.c4±) 28.Kc2 Rxg4 29.Bf7±
22...Nf4?!
¹22...Nh4 23.Qf2 g5 24.fxg6 Nxg6 25.Re4 (25.Re6 Nf4!) 25...Qc6 26.Re3 Rae8 27.Rae1²
23.Re4± g5 24.fxg6 Nxg6 25.Re6 Qd8
25...Qf4 26.Rf1 Qxf3 27.Rxf3±
26.Rf1 f5?!
26...Kg7?! 27.Bd5 Ra7 28.Be4 b4 29.d5+-¹26...b4
27.gxf5 Nh4 28.Qe3
28.Qe4 Qg5+ 29.Kh2 Rg8 30.Qe5+ Qg7 31.Rh6+-
28...Rxf5
28...Nxf5 29.Qe5+ Ng7 30.Re7+-
29.Rxf5 Qg8+ 30.Kf2!
30.Rg5 Qxg5+ 31.Qxg5 Nf3+ 32.Kg2 Nxg5 33.Re7 Rf8 34.d5 a5 35.h4±
30...Qg2+ 31.Ke1+- Nxf5 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Qe5+ Kg6 34.Qe6+ 1-0

106. [C89]
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731) - Adams, Michael (2740)
Biel 125/106, 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5
11.Rxe5 c6 12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Be3 Bxd3 17.Nd2 Qf5 18.Bd4 Rae8N
18...Rfe8 - 124/(114)
19.Kg2 h6
19...Qxf3+ 20.Kxf3∞ (20.Nxf3?! Be4)
20.a4 Qxf3+ 21.Kxf3 Re6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Kg2
23.Rxe6 fxe6+ 24.Kg2 c5 25.Ra6 Rd8 26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Rxe6

27...Bc2! 28.Bxc2 Ne3+! 29.Rxe3 (29.Kh3 Rxd2 30.Bb3 Nf1 31.Re1+ (31.Re5+ Kh7 32.Rxc5 Rxf2 33.Rxb5 g5
34.Rb7+ Kg6 35.Rb6+ Kg7 36.Rb7+ Kg6=) 31...Kf8 32.Rxf1 Rxb2=) 29...Bxe3 30.Nf3∞
23...Rfe8 24.Rxe6 Rxe6 25.c4
25.Ra6 Be7=
25...bxc4 26.Nxc4

26...Be4+?
26...Bc7 27.Ne3 Be5 (27...Nxe3+ 28.Bxe3 Be4+ 29.Kf1 Bd5 30.Bxd5 cxd5 31.b4²) 28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.Ra8+ Kh7
30.Bxe5 Rxe5=
27.f3 Bd3 28.Nxd6 Rxd6 29.Kf2 Rd7 30.Ra3 Nc7 31.Be3 Nd5 32.Bc5 f6
32...Kh7 33.h4 h5²
33.Ba4 Bb5 34.Bc2 Nc7
34...Kf7 35.Ra8 (35.Bf5 Rb7 (35...Rc7 36.Bd6 Rb7 37.Bc8 Rb6 38.Ra7+ Kg6 39.Bf8+-) 36.Bc8 Rb8 37.Ra7+ Kg6
38.Be6±) 35...Ne7 36.Bb3+±
35.Bg6 Na6 36.Re3 Rd8 37.Be7 Rc8?
37...Rd2+! 38.Ke1 (38.Kg1 Rd1+ 39.Kg2 Rd2+ 40.Kh3 Bf1+ 41.Kg4 Nc7=) 38...Rxh2 39.Bd6 Rh1+ 40.Kf2 Rh2+
41.Kg1 Re2 42.Rxe2 Bxe2 43.Kf2 Bb5 44.b4±
38.b4 c5?!
38...Nc7 39.Bd6 Nd5 40.Ra3 Bc4±
39.Bf5 Rc6
39...Rc7 40.Bd6 Rb7 (40...Rc6 41.Re8+ Kf7 42.Rf8#)
41.bxc5+-
40.Bd7 cxb4 41.Bxc6 Bxc6 42.Re6 1-0

107. [C90]
Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Aronian, Levon (2780)
Stavanger 125/107, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.Re1 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6
12.Nf1 h6 13.Ne3 Re8 14.a4 Be6 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 Nb4N
16...cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4² - 89/320
17.Bb1 bxa4
17...Ng4 18.h3 Nxe3 19.Bxe3 bxa4 20.Qxa4 Qc7 21.Rc1²
18.Rxa4 Bf8 19.Ra1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.h3 Qb6?
21...Rc8! 22.Bd2 (22.Nxd5? Nxf2! 23.Kxf2 Bxd5µ) 22...Nxd2 23.Qxd2 Qb6„
22.Nxd5! Bxd5 23.Bxe4² Rad8 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 25.Be3 Red8 26.dxc5 Bxc5 27.Qb3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 a5 29.e6!
29.Rae1 Rb5! 30.Qc4 Nd5 31.R3e2 Rb4! (31...Rxb2?! 32.Rxb2 Qxb2 33.Rd1 Qb7 34.Qe4²) 32.Qa2 Nf4 33.e6! Nxe2+
34.Rxe2 Qc7 35.Ne5 fxe6 36.Qxe6+ Kh7 37.Qf5+ Kg8 38.Qe6+=
29...fxe6 30.Rae1 R8d6 31.Rc1 Nd3?
31...Rd8 32.Re4 Rf8 33.Rce1 Rf6 34.Rc4²
32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Qa4 Qxb2?
33...Nb4 34.Qe8 Rd1+ 35.Kh2 Rd8 36.Rxd8 Rxd8 37.Qh5²
34.Qe4+ Rf5 35.Kh2 Nf4 36.Rc2?
36.Nh4 Qxf2 37.Nxf5 exf5 38.Rc2! (38.Qxf5+? Rg6 39.Qe4 Qxg2+=) 38...fxe4 39.Rxf2 Nd3 40.Ra2 Re6 41.Rxa5±
36...Qa1??
36...Qb4 37.Rc4 Qb8! 38.g4 (38.Nh4 Ng6!³) 38...Ng6! 39.Kg2 Rf6³
37.g4+- Qf1 38.Ne1 Nh5 39.gxf5 exf5 40.Qc4 1-0

108. [C92]
Monokroussos, Dennis (2260) - Ipatov, Alexander (2612)
Wheeling 125/108, 2015 [Monokroussos,Dennis]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 a5 10.a4 b4 11.d4 bxc3
12.bxc3 exd4 13.cxd4 d5 14.Ne5 Nb4 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.exd5!
16.Bg5 - 69/(334)
16...Nbxd5
16...Nfxd5 17.Ne4²
17.Nb5N
17.Nxd5
17...c6 18.Na3 Bb4 19.Bd2 c5
19...Nc3? 20.Nxf7 (20.Bxc3 Bxc3 21.Nxf7±) 20...Qxd4 (20...Rxf7? 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Bxc3 Bxc3 23.Qb3++-)
21.Bxc3 Bxc3 22.Qxd4 Bxd4 23.Nd6+±
20.dxc5
20.Nb5²
20...Bxc5 21.Nb5² Re8
21...Nb4 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Bd5 24.Nc3²
22.Qf3
22.Rc1! Rc8 (22...Qb6 23.Qf3 Bb4 24.Nc4 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qc6 26.Bxb4 Nxb4 27.Qxc6 Bxc6 28.Ne5 Bd5 29.Nc7
Rb8 30.Nxd5 Nbxd5 31.Rc1 g6 32.Bxd5 Nxd5 33.Rc5±) 23.Nd3±
22...Ra6?!
22...h6 23.Rad1 Rc8 24.Nd3 Rxe1+ 25.Bxe1²
23.Rad1?
23.Rac1! Rae6 (23...Bb6? 24.Bg5+-) (23...Qb6? 24.Nd7! Rxe1+ 25.Bxe1! Nxd7 26.Bxd5 Bxd5 27.Qxd5 Qc6 28.Rxc5
Qxc5 29.Qxd7+-) 24.Rxc5 Rxe5 25.Rxe5 Rxe5 26.Qg3 Qe7 27.Bxd5 Nxd5 28.Nd4! Re1+ 29.Bxe1 Qxc5 30.Qe5±
(30.Bxa5±)
23...Rae6= 24.Nc4?
24.Bf4 Qb6! (24...Nxf4? 25.Qxf4+-) (24...Qa8 25.Nd4 Bxd4 26.Rxd4 R6e7 27.Bg3 Nb4 28.Qf5 Bxg2 29.Rg4 Bxh3
30.Rxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qg5+ Kf8 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.Qg5+=) 25.Re2 Ne3! 26.Qxe3 Bxe3 27.Bxe3 Qa6! (27...Rxe5
28.Bxb6 Rxe2 29.Bxa5=) 28.f4! h6 29.Rc2 Be4 30.Rc7 R6e7 31.Bf2! Qxb5! 32.axb5 Rxc7 33.b6 Rce7³24.Nd3! Bb6
25.Rxe6 Rxe6 26.Nf4 Nxf4 27.Qxb7 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 Re7 29.Qf3

29...Ng3+! 30.fxg3 Qxd2 31.Kh2 Qe3™= (31...Re1?? 32.Qa8+ Ne8 33.Qxe8+ Rxe8 34.Rxd2+-)
24...Ne4 25.Be3
25.Rxe4 Rxe4 26.Nxa5 Ba8 27.Nc3 Nxc3 28.Qxf7+ Kh8 29.Bxc3 Qg5-+
25...h6?³
25...Qb8! 26.Ncd6! Bxd6 27.Bxd5 Bh2+ 28.Kf1 (28.Kh1 Bxd5 29.Rxd5 Nxf2+! 30.Qxf2 Bg3 31.Qf3 Rf6!
(31...Bxe1? 32.Bf4µ) 32.Qxf6 gxf6 33.Red1 Rxe3 34.Rd8+ Qxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kg7 36.Rd1 Re4-+) 28...Rf6 29.Bxe4
Rxf3 30.Bxf3 Bxf3 31.gxf3 Be5-+
26.Rf1?
26.Bxc5 Ng5
(26...Nxc5 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Ncd6 Rf8 29.Nxb7 Rxf3 30.Nxd8 Rxb3 31.Nxe6 Nxe6 32.Rxd5 Rb4=) 27.Qe3!! Rxe3
28.Rxe3! Ne6³
26...Ng5?
26...Rf6 27.Qh5™ Nxe3 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Nxe3 Bxe3 30.Qe5 (30.fxe3?? Rxf1+ 31.Kh2 Rh1+-+) 30...Bxf2+ 31.Rxf2
Rxf2 32.Nd4 Rc8 33.Ne6! Rf6!-+
27.Bxg5 Qxg5 28.Nxa5 Ne3?
28...Rf6 29.Qg4 Bxf2+ (29...Rxf2?? 30.Qxg5!+-) 30.Rxf2 Qe3 31.Rf1 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 Qe1+ 33.Rf1 (33.Kh2? Qxf2
34.Nxb7 Ne3 35.Qf3 Nf1+ 36.Kh1 Ng3+=) 33...Qxa5 34.Qh5 Qb6+ 35.Kh1 Nf6 36.Qxf7+ Kh7™ (36...Kh8??
37.Rxf6) 37.Bc2+ (37.Rxf6?! Qxf6 38.Bc2+ (38.Qxe8?? Qf1+-+) 38...Be4 39.Qxf6 gxf6 40.Nd6 Bxc2 41.Nxe8 Bxa4
42.Nxf6+ Kg6=) 37...Be4 38.Qc7! Qxc7 39.Nxc7 Rc8 (39...Bxc2? 40.Nxe8 Nxe8 41.a5+-) 40.Bxe4+ (40.Rxf6?
Bxc2=) 40...Nxe4 41.Rf4 Rxc7 42.Rxe4 Rc1+ 43.Kh2 Ra1²
29.Nxb7
29.Qxb7 R6e7 30.fxe3! Qxe3+ 31.Kh1 Rxb7 32.Nxb7 Qxb3 33.Nxc5 Qb4 34.Nd6 Re5 35.Ncb7 Qxa4 36.Nxf7 Re2
37.Nbd6 Qa2 38.Rg1±
29...Rf6 30.Qg3
30.h4! (Ipatov,Alexander) 30...Qxh4 31.Qh3 Qxh3 32.gxh3+-
30...Nxf1
30...Qxg3? 31.fxg3 Nxf1+ 32.Nxc5+-
31.Qxg5 Bxf2+ 32.Kh1
32.Kxf1! hxg5 33.Bxf7+! Rxf7 34.N5d6! Ref8 35.Nxf7 Rxf7 36.Nd8²
32...hxg5 33.Rxf1 Bg3= 34.Rc1
34.Rd1
34...Re3 35.Bc4 Rc6?!
35...g4 36.Nd8 gxh3 37.Nxf7=
36.Bxf7+! Kh8
36...Kh7
37.Rf1
37.Rb1
37...Re7?!
37...g4!=
38.Bd5 Rf6 39.Rc1 Rf5 40.Nc3?†
40.Be6! Rxe6 41.Nd4 Rfe5 42.Nxe6 Rxe6 43.Ra1±
40...Re1+?†
40...Rc7! 41.Bf3 Re5 42.Nd6 Rxc3 43.Rd1 Re1+ 44.Rxe1 Bxe1 45.Ne4 Ra3 46.Kg1 Rxa4 47.Nxg5³
41.Rxe1 Bxe1 42.g4! Re5 43.Nd6 Bxc3 44.Nf7+ Kh7 45.Nxe5 Bxe5 46.a5
46.Bf7 Bc7 47.Kg2 g6 48.Kf3 Kg7 49.Be8 Kf6 50.Ke4 Ke7 51.Bxg6 Bg3 52.Kf5 Bh4 53.a5 Kd7=
46...Kg6 47.Kg2 Kf6 48.Kf3 Bb8 49.Ke4 g6?

49...Ba7!! 50.Bc4 (50.a6 Ke7 51.Kf5 Be3=) 50...Ke7! 51.Kf5 Be3! 52.Kg6 Kd8 53.Kxg7 Bf2!=
50.a6?
50.Bc6!!+- Ke7 (50...Ba7 51.Kd5 Ke7 52.a6 Bf2 53.Ke5 Be3 54.Ba4 Bf2 55.Bc2 Ba7 56.Bxg6 Bf2 57.Bf5 Be3
58.Kd5 Bf2 (58...Kd8 59.Kc6+-) 59.Kc6+-) (50...Ke6 51.Be8 Kd6 52.a6 Ba7 53.Bxg6 Kc7 (53...Bf2 54.Kf5 Bh4
55.a7+-) 54.Kf5 Be3 55.Bf7+-) 51.Kd5 Kd8 52.Ke6 Bg3 53.a6 Bf2 54.Kf6 Be3 55.Kxg6+-
50...Ke7™ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be4 Ba7+ 53.Kc4 Kc7 54.Kb5 Kb8 55.h4
55.Bxg6 Bf2=
55...gxh4 56.Bxg6 Be3 57.Be4 Ka7 58.Bg2 Bg5 59.Bf1 Bf6 60.Kc6 Bg5 61.Kd5 Bd8 62.Ke4 Be7 63.Kf4 Bd8 64.g5
Bxg5+ 65.Kxg5 h3 66.Bxh3 Kxa6 1/2-1/2
D00-D49

109. [D02]
Eljanov, Pavel (2723) - Navara, David (2724)
Biel 125/109, 2015 [Marin,Mihail]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.O-O c6 6.Bf4 O-O 7.Qc1 Bg4
7...Bf5 - 102/348
8.Nbd2 Nh5N
8...Ne48...Nbd7
9.Bg5?!
9.Be3 Qc8 10.c4 Nf6 11.b3∞
9...f6! 10.Be3 e5ƒ 11.h3 Be6 12.g4
12.Nb3 e4 13.Nc5 Bf7 14.g4 (14.Nxb7 Qe7 15.Nd2 Nxg3 16.fxg3 Qxb7³) (14.Nd2 b6 (Δ f5) 15.Ncxe4 dxe4 16.g4 g5
17.gxh5 f5³) 14...b6 15.Nb3 exf3 16.Bxf3 Qd7 17.Kg2 g5 18.gxh5 Be6 19.Rh1 h6ƒ Δ Na6-c7, f5
12...Nf4 13.Bxf4 exf4³ 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nc5 Bf7 16.b3 g5 17.c4 Nd7 18.Nd3 Rae8 19.Re1 h5ƒ 20.gxh5
20.Qc2 hxg4 21.hxg4 dxc4 22.bxc4 Nb6 23.c5 Nd5 24.Rab1 Qc8 25.Nh2 f5³
20...dxc4?!
20...Nb6 21.c5 Nc8 22.b4 Bxh5 23.Rb1 Ne7 24.b5 Nf5³
21.bxc4 Nb6 22.c5 Nd5 23.Qa3?!
23.Nd2! Bxh5 24.Ne4 ×d6
23...Bxh5 24.Nb4
24.Qxa7? Ra824.Rab1!? ∆b5 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Nb4„
24...Nxb4 25.Qxb4 Re7 26.Rab1 Rfe8³ 27.d5 cxd5 28.Nd4 Qd7 29.Qb3 Kh8
29...Bf7 30.Nb5„
30.Qxd5?!
30.Bxd5 g4‭→30.Rbd1!?
30...Qxd5 31.Bxd5 Rd7 32.Bf3 Bxf3 33.Nxf3 Bf8µ 34.c6
34.Rbc1 Rc7µ
34...bxc6 35.Kf1 Kg7 36.Rec1 c5 37.Rc2 Kg6 38.Ne1 f5 39.Rbc1 g4
39...Rh7 40.Kg2 g4 41.hxg4 fxg4 42.Nd3 Bd6 43.Nxc5 f3+ 44.exf3 Rh2+ 45.Kg1 gxf3 46.Ne4 Reh8 47.Ng3 Rg2+
48.Kf1 Bxg3 49.fxg3 Rh1#

40.hxg4 fxg4 41.Rc4 Kg5?!

41...Kf5! 42.Nd3 f3 43.Nxc5 fxe2+ 44.Ke1 Rh7-+
42.Ng2?
42.Nd3! f3 43.Nxc5 fxe2+ 44.Ke1 Rh7 45.Ne4+! Rxe4 46.Rxe4 Rh1+ 47.Kd2 Bb4+! 48.Rxb4 Rxc1 49.Kxe2 Rc2+
50.Ke3 Rxa2 51.Rb8³
42...Rh7?!
42...Rd4!?-+
43.Rxc5+?
43.Kg1! f3 44.Ne3 (44.exf3? gxf3 45.Ne3 Bd6 46.Rd1 Bh2+ 47.Kf1 Be5 48.Rg4+ Kf6-+) 44...fxe2 45.Rxg4+ Kf6
46.Re1=
43...Bxc5 44.Rxc5+ 44...Re5!!
44...Kf6 45.Nxf4³
45.Rxe5+ Kf6 46.Rd5
46.Nxf4 Kxe5 47.Nd3+ Ke4-+0-1

110. [D05]
Korley, Kassa (2435) - Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2562)
Arlington 125/110, 2015 [Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.d4 e6 4.e3 b6 5.Nbd2 Bb7 6.Bd3 d5 7.Ne5 Be7
7...Nbd7 - 6/111
8.f4 O-O 9.Qf3 Ba6 10.Nc6N
10.Bb110.Bc2
10...Qc7 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Bb1?
12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.b3 Qb7 14.O-O Ne4=
12...Nc6³ 13.Kf2! Rac8 14.g4?!
14.Re1! Nd7 15.Kg1 f5 16.b3 Nf6 17.Ba3 Rfd8³
14...Ne8! 15.Qh3
15.Re1
15...g6
15...f5!? 16.gxf5 cxd4 17.exd4 exf5 18.Re1 (18.Bxf5?? Rxf5! 19.Qxf5 Qe2+ 20.Kg1 Nf6-+) 18...Qf6 19.Nf3 Nd6
20.Kg1 Ne4³
16.Nf3 Nd6
16...f6! 17.Re1 Nd6 18.Kg1 e5³
17.Qh6?

17.g5! Ne4+ 18.Kg2 f6 19.gxf6 Rxf6 20.Re1 Nd8 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Ng5 Bb7³
17...f6!µ 18.f5?
18.Kg2 Qd7 19.h3 Nf7 20.Qh4 cxd4 21.exd4 e5!µ
18...Ne4+! 19.Bxe4 dxe4-+ 20.Ne1 exf5 21.gxf5 g5! 22.Ng2 Qd7 23.Bd2
23.Qh3 cxd4 24.exd4 Nxd4!
23...cxd4 24.exd4 Qxf5+
¹24...Nxd4
25.Kg1 e3! 26.Bxe3
26.Nxe3 Qd3 27.Rd1 Rce8! 28.Qh3 Qe2 29.Qg4 Rxe3!
26...Nb4! 27.Bd2
27.cxb4 Qf3! 28.Bd2 Rc2
27...Nc2!
27...Nc2 28.Rd1 (28.Rc1 Nxd4 29.cxd4 Rxc1+ 30.Bxc1 Qf1#)

28...Qf3 29.Rb1 Bb70-1

111. [D07]
Navara, David (2724) - Rapport, Richard (2671)
Biel 125/111, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 e5

5...Bg4 - 49/437
6.dxe5 Be6N
6...Bb4
7.Bg5!?
7.e4 Nxc3 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.bxc3 Bc5 10.Be2²
7...Nxc3 8.Qxd8+ Nxd8 9.bxc3 h6 10.Bh4 Nc6 11.e3
11.e4!? g5 12.Bg3 O-O-O 13.Bb5²
11...Bd5 12.Bb5
12.Be2!? g5 13.Bg3 O-O-O (13...Bg7 14.c4 Be6 15.O-O-O² ↑) 14.h4²
12...g5 13.Bg3 O-O-O 14.O-O a6 15.Bxc6 bxc6!?
15...Bxc6 16.Nd4 Bd5 17.a4 (17.Rfd1 Ba3©) 17...Re8 18.Rfd1 h5©
16.h4
16.h3!?
16...Rg8 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Nd4 c5 19.Nb3 Rg6 20.Rfd1 Be7 21.Rd2
21.Na5!?
21...Rb6 22.Nxc5!

22...Rh6!
22...Bxc5? 23.Rad1 Be7 (23...c6?! 24.c4+-) 24.Rxd5 Rb2 25.Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.a4±22...Rc6 23.Nb3 Rxc3 24.Nd4 Bc4©
23.Rad1™ Rdh8 24.f3 Bxa2! 25.Kf2 Bc4 26.Ne4
26.Rd4 Bb5 27.Ne4 Rh1=
26...Rh1 27.f4?
27.Rd4 Bb3 28.R1d2 a5ƒ
27...gxf4 28.exf4 a5µ 29.f5?!
29.Rd4!?
29...a4?!
29...Bb3! 30.Rxh1 Rxh1µ
30.e6 fxe6 31.f6 Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Bf8 33.Bf4 Bd5?!
33...a333...e5!?
34.Nd2?!
34.Ke3!=
34...Rg8µ 35.g3 Bc5+
35...Rg6!?
36.Be3 Bd6 37.c4 Bc6 38.Ke2 a3?
38...Rxg3! 39.f7 Bf8!µ
39.f7 Rxg3?
39...Rf8 40.Rf1 a2 41.Bd4 e5 42.Be3 Rxf7 43.Ra1 Rh7³
40.Ne4! Rg2+?
40...Bxe4 41.Rxd6 Rf3 42.Rxe6 Rxf7 43.Rxe4 a2 44.Bd4 Rh7! 45.Kf2 (45.Kd2 Rd7!) 45...Rh2+ 46.Kf3 Rh1=
41.Kf1 Bf8
41...Bxe4? 42.Rxd6+-
42.Kxg2 Bxe4+ 43.Kg3² e5! 44.Bg5 a2 45.Bf6 45...Bd3?
45...Bg6? 46.Rd8+ Kb7 47.Bxe5+-45...c5!! 46.Bxe5 Bc2! (46...Bg6? 47.Kg2! Be4+ 48.Kg1 Bg6 49.Bb2+- Δ Re1)
47.Rf1 Kd7²
46.Bxe5+- Bxc4 47.Bf6 a1=Q 48.Rd8+ 1-0

112. [D07]
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733) - Rapport, Richard (2671)
Biel 125/112, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.cxd5 Qxd5 4.e3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3

6.Bd2 - 122/126
6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nf6 8.c4 Qd6 9.d5 Nb8 10.Ne2 O-ON
10...Ne410...Nbd710...Na6
11.Nc3
11.Ng3!? c6 12.e4 b5 13.Bd2²
11...Bf5 12.a4 Na6 13.Ba3 Nb4 14.Be2 a5 15.O-O Rfe8
15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Qd2²15...Rfd8!? 16.Qb3 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.f3 Bg6 19.Kh1²
16.Rc1 c5?!
16...Nd7?! 17.Nb5 Qb6 18.d6!±16...Qe7 17.f3²
17.f3 Bd7
17...e4 18.f4±
18.e4
18.Bb2!?
18...Nh5 19.Nb5 Qh6
19...Bxb5?! 20.cxb5 Nf4 21.Bc4±
20.Rc3 Nf4 21.g3 Nh3+
¹21...Nxe2+ 22.Qxe2 Rad8 23.Bb2²
22.Kh1 Rac8 23.Bd3
23.Bc1 Qf6 (23...Qg6 24.Re3± Δ f4) 24.Re3±
23...Qg6 24.Bb1 h5?!
24...Rcd8!?
25.Qe1
25.f4! Bg4 (25...exf4 26.gxf4 Rxe4 27.Rg3 Bg4 28.Rxg4 hxg4 29.f5 Qh7 30.Bxe4+-) 26.Qe1±
25...Ng5?!
25...Rcd8 26.Re3±
26.Re3?
26.f4! exf4 (26...Nh7 27.Bb2 (27.fxe5 Rxe5 28.Bb2 Rce8 29.Re3 Bh3 30.Bxe5 Rxe5 31.Rf4+-) 27...Bxb5 28.axb5 f6
29.fxe5 fxe5 30.Rf5+-) 27.e5 Qc6!? (27...Bf5 28.Bxf5 Qxf5 29.Nd6+-) 28.Na7 (28.Qd1 Rxe5 29.Na7 (29.gxf4??
Nxd5!-+) 29...Qf6 30.gxf4! (30.Nxc8? Bg4! 31.Qc1 Re2 32.Qxf4 Bh3! 33.Kg1 Rg2+ 34.Kh1 Re2=) 30...Ree8
31.Bb2+-) 28...Nxd5 29.Nxc6 Bxc6 30.Be4! Nxe4 31.cxd5 Bxd5 32.Kg1 Nxc3 33.Qxc3+-
26...Bxb5 27.axb5 f6 28.f4
28.b6!?
28...Nf7 29.Qe2 Nd6
29...Qg4!? 30.Ref3²
30.Bb2 b6?
30...Qg4!²
31.h3?
31.g4!! exf4 (31...h4 32.g5!+-) (31...Qxg4 32.Ref3 Qd7 33.fxe5 fxe5 34.Rg1+-) 32.gxh5 Qh6 33.Ref3 Qxh5
34.Bxf6!+-
31...Rc7 32.Kh2
32.g4! hxg4 33.Rg3! exf4 (33...Qh6 34.Bc1+-) 34.Rxg4 Qh6 35.Rfxf4! Qxh3+ 36.Kg1 a4! (36...f5 37.Rg5! Rce7
(37...Nxe4 38.Rfxf5! Nd6 39.Re5 Rf8 40.Rh5 Qg3+ 41.Kh1+-) 38.Rf3 Qh6 39.Qg2 Rxe4 40.Rxg7+ Kf8 41.Bxe4
Rxe4 42.Rg5+-) 37.Bxf6 a3 38.Rg2 a2 (38...Rf7 39.Rh4 Qxg2+ 40.Qxg2 Rxf6 41.Rg4 Rf7 42.Qh3 Ref8 43.e5! Rf1+
44.Qxf1 Rxf1+ 45.Kxf1 Nf7 46.e6 Nd6 47.Rg3+-) 39.Bxa2 Nxa2 40.Rh4 Qxh4 41.Bxh4 Nc3 42.Qg4 Ncxe4±
32...Rce7 33.f5?!
33.Ref3²
33...Qh7 34.Rg1 Kf7 35.g4 hxg4 36.Rxg4 Rh8 37.Reg3 Ke8= 38.Bc1 Kf8 39.Kg2 Qh5 40.Bd2 Rh7 41.Bc1 Rh8
42.Bd2 1/2-1/2

113. [D10]
Howell, David (2698) - Das, Arghyadip (2457)
Leiden 125/113, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.Nc3 a6 6.axb5 cxb5 7.Nxb5 axb5 8.Rxa8 Bb7 9.Ra1 e6 10.Be2 Nf6 11.Nf3
Nxe4 12.O-O Nc6 13.b3N
13.Be3 - 121/(118)
13...Na5

¹13...Nc3 14.Qc2 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Bb2 Qd5 18.f3 Bc5+ 19.Kh1 O-O 20.Rfd1! Qc6 21.bxc4
bxc4 22.Rdc1²
14.Bxc4!?
14.bxc4 Nc3 15.Bg5! Qb8 (15...f6? 16.Qe1 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2+-) (15...Be7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qc2 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2
Nxc4 19.Ra7±) 16.Qc2 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Nxc4 18.d5!±
14...bxc4 15.bxc4 Nc3?!
15...Nc6?! 16.d5 Nb8 17.Re1 Nc5 (17...exd5?! 18.Qb3! Bc5 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.Rxe3+-) 18.Rb1! Nbd7 19.Nd4±
→15...Be7 16.Qa4+ Nc6 17.Re1 f5 18.Rb1² ↑
16.Qd3
16.Qc2!? Bb4 17.Bd2 Ne2+ (17...Be4? 18.Qb2 Ne2+ 19.Kh1 Bxd2 20.Nxd2+-) 18.Kh1 Bxd2 19.Qxd2 Nb3 20.Qxe2
Nxa1 21.Rxa1±
16...Bb4
16...Bxf3? 17.Qxc3 Be2 18.Re1+-
17.d5 Nb3?!
17...Ba6 18.Ne5 Nxd5 19.Bd2 Bxd2 20.Qxd2 Nxc4 21.Nxc4 Bxc4 22.Rfc1±
18.Ba3! Nc5
18...Qe7 19.Bxb4 Qxb4 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Rae1+-
19.Qe3 Qa5 20.Bb2 N3a4 21.Bxg7 Rg8 22.Bd4+- Rg4
22...Bc3 23.Bxc3 Qxc3 24.Qf4
23.Rfb1 Re4 24.Qg5 Rxd4 25.Nxd4 Bc3 26.Qg8+ Ke7 27.Rxb7+ 1-0

114. [D10]
Adams, Michael (2740) - Eljanov, Pavel (2723)
Biel 125/114, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bg4 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Bd3
Nc6 12.a3 Nh5 13.Be5 f6 14.Bg3
14.Bf4 - 121/121
14...f5 15.Be5 O-O 16.h3 Nf6 17.Bf4N
17.O-O17.Bh217.g4
17...Ne4 18.O-O Rc8 19.Rfc1 Bf6= 20.Qb3 Na5
20...a6!? 21.Rc2 (21.Qxb7? Na5 22.Qa7 (22.Qxa6 Ra8 23.Bc7 Qxc7 24.Nxe4 Qb8 25.Nc5 Rxa6 26.Nxd7 Qe8
27.Nxf8 Rb6-+) 22...Ra8 23.Qc7 Qxc7 24.Bxc7 Nb3µ) 21...Na5 22.Qa2 Nxc3 23.Rxc3 Rxc3 24.bxc3 Ba4=
21.Qa2 Nxc3
21...Qb6!?
22.bxc3
22.Rxc3 Rxc3 23.bxc3 Qc8 24.Qb2 b6=
22...b5
22...Ba4!? 23.Rab1 a6=
23.Nd2
23.Ne5 Bxe5 24.Bxe5 Qe7=
23...Nc4
23...Be7!?
24.a4 a6
24...Nxd2 25.Qxd2 bxa4 26.Ba6ƒ
25.axb5 axb5 26.Bxc4
26.Qc2 Ra8 27.Rxa8 Qxa8 28.Nb3ƒ
26...dxc4 27.Nf3 Bc6 28.Qe2
28.Ne5 Bxe5 29.Bxe5 Qg5 30.Bg3 h5 31.h4 Qg4=
28...Qd5 29.Qf1 Ra8 30.Ne5 Bb7
30...Ra4 31.Nxc6 Qxc6 32.Rab1 Ra2=
31.f3 Be7 32.Bg3 Bg5 33.Qe1 Ra4 34.Rxa4 bxa4 35.Ra1 Ra8
¹35...Bc6 36.Bh4 Bf6 37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.Qg3+ Kh8 39.Nxc6 Qxc6 40.Qf4 Qd7=
36.Bh4! Bh6?!
36...Bf6?! 37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.e4! fxe4 39.Qg3+ Kf8 40.Ng4±36...Bxh4 37.Qxh4 Qa5 38.Ra3 Qb5 39.Kh2²
37.Be7 Bc6

37...Qa5 38.Bc5! Qa6 39.h4±

38.h4
38.Rb1! Be8 (38...a3? 39.Bxa3) 39.e4 Qa5 40.exf5 exf5 41.Nxc4±
38...Be8 39.Rb1?!
39.Bc5²
39...a3! 40.e4 Qa5 41.exf5?!
41.Nxc4∞
41...a2 42.Ra1 exf5 43.Nxc4?!
43.Bb4³
43...Qb5 44.Nd6?!
44.Qe6+ Bf7 45.Qxf7+ Kxf7 46.Nd6+ Kxe7 47.Nxb5 Bc1 48.Rxc1 a1=Q 49.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 50.Kf2 Ra2+ 51.Kg3 Kd7µ
44...Qd5!-+ 45.Qe2
45.Nxe8 Rxe8
45...Bf4 46.Nxe8 Rxe8 47.Rxa2 Kf7 48.Ra7 Bb8 49.Qa2 Qxa2 50.Rxa2 Bg3! 0-1

115. [D12]
Ding, Liren (2757) - Wang, Hao (2710)
China (ch) 125/115, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]

1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.a3 Bd6
7...Nbd7 - 103/255
8.Nc3 O-O
8...Nbd7
9.g4 Nbd7 10.h4N
10.g510.Bd2
10...e5 11.g5

11...exd4
11...Re8!? 12.c5 Bc7 13.gxf6 exd4 14.Ne2 dxe3 15.Bxe3 Ne5
12.exd4 Ne4 13.Nxe4² Qe7
13...dxe4 14.Qc3² Δ Be3, 0-0-0
14.c5! Bc7 15.Be3 dxe4
15...Qxe4 16.Qxe4 dxe4 17.O-O-O±
16.Qf5 b6 17.O-O-O Rab8?!
17...g6 18.Qg4 (18.Qh3 bxc5 19.h5) 18...bxc5 19.h5
18.h5+- bxc5 19.dxc5 Rfd8 20.Bc4 [Δ g6] 20...Be5 21.b4 1-0

116. [D15]
Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2587) - Doncea, Vladimir (2421)
Romania (ch) 125/116, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2
7.e3 Nxf4 8.exf4 b6 9.b4 (9.cxb6 e6 10.Bd3 Bd6 11.g3 (11.f5 - 94/290) 11...c5! 12.f5 Nxb6 13.dxc5 Bxc5=) 9...g6
10.Bd3 Bg7 11.Rc1 (11.Qd2 - 94/289) 11...O-O 12.O-O Qc7!? (12...a5 13.b5 (13.a3 axb4 14.axb4 bxc5 15.bxc5
Ra3„) 13...Bb7 14.Na4 bxc5 15.bxc6!? (15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.Rxc5 cxb5 17.Bxb5 Rc8=) 15...Bxc6 16.Nxc5 Nxc5
17.Rxc5 Qd6 18.Ne5²) 13.g3 (13.Qd2 Bh6 14.g3 bxc5 15.bxc5 f6„ Δ e5) 13...a5 14.cxb6 (14.b5 bxc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5
16.Na4 Nxd3 17.Rxc6 Qb7 18.Qxd3 Bf5 19.Qb3 Rab8 20.Nb6 d4„) 14...Nxb6 (14...Qxb6?! 15.b5!) 15.b5 Bg4
16.Nb1 Nc4!? 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Rxc4 Rac8 19.bxc6 Qd6 20.d5 e6„
7...Nhf6 8.Qc2
8.Rc1 g6 (8...Qc7 9.g3 g6 10.Bf4 Qd8 11.Bg2 Nh5 12.Bg5²) 9.h3 (9.g3 Bg7 10.Bg2 O-O 11.O-O Ne4!? (11...Re8
12.Bf4 Nh5 (12...h6 13.Na4 Ne4 14.Ne5²) 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bd2 Nhf6 (14...f5?! 15.Na4) 15.Na4 Ne4 (15...a5 16.Ne5²)
16.Be3 a5 17.Rc2² Δ Qc1, Rd1) 12.Bf4 Nxc3 (12...f5 13.Na4 Re8 14.Ne5²) 13.Rxc3 (13.bxc3!? Δ c4) 13...f6!?
(13...Re8 14.Re1 a5 15.a4²) 14.Qd2 e5 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Qe7∞) 9...Qc7 (9...Bg7 10.Bf4 O-O 11.e3²) 10.g3 Bg7
11.Bf4 Qd8 12.Bg2 O-O 13.O-O Re8 (13...Nh5 - 98/284) 14.Na4 (14.Re1 h6!? 15.Na4 (15.h4 Ng4 Δ e5) (15.Qb3
g5!? 16.Be3 g4„) (15.Qc2 Nh5 16.Be3 e5) 15...g5 16.Be3 Ne4 17.h4 e5∞) 14...Ne4 15.Re1 (15.Qc2 f6 16.Nd2 Nxd2
17.Bxd2 e5 18.e3 e4„) 15...f6 16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 e5∞
8...Qc7
8...g6 9.g3 (9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Nf6 12.Qc2 Be6 13.Be2 Bg7 14.O-O O-O 15.Rad1 Bd5 16.Ne5 Nd7
17.f4 a5 (17...b6 - 96/279) 18.Bc3 a4„) 9...Bg7 10.Bg2 O-O 11.O-O b6!? (11...Re8 - 118/122) 12.cxb6 (12.b4 a5 13.a3
Re8 14.b5 Bb7∞) 12...Nxb6 13.Ne5 Bf5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxc6 Qd7 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Rfc8 18.Rac1 e6 19.Qb1
(19.Rfd1 Nd5 20.Bxf5 gxf5„) 19...Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Nd5 21.Ne5 Qa4©
9.g3!?
9.Bg5 e5 10.e3 (10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Nxe5 Bxc5=) 10...Nh5!? 11.Bh4 h6„ Δ g59.e4 e5 10.exd5 cxd5 11.b4 (11.O-O-O
exd4 12.Nxd4 Nxc5„) 11...exd4 (11...e4 12.Ng1²) 12.Na4!? (12.Nxd4 b6 13.c6 Ne5 14.Qa4 Bd6 15.Bg5 (15.Ncb5?!
axb5 16.Qxa8 O-O 17.Nxb5?! Qe7 18.O-O-O Ne4µ) 15...Neg4„) 12...Ne4 13.Bd3 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Be7 15.O-O O-O
16.Rfe1 Bf6 17.Rac1 g6 18.a3©
9...e5
9...g6 10.Bg2 (10.Bf4 Qd8 11.Bg2) 10...e5!? (10...Bg7 11.O-O O-O 12.Bf4 Qd8 13.Rad1 Nh5 (13...Re8 14.Rfe1 Nf8
15.Qb3 Ne6 16.Be5²) 14.Bc1 f5 (14...Nhf6 15.Rfe1 Re8 16.Na4²) 15.b4 Qe8 16.Qb3! ¹Nhf6 (16...e5 17.e4±)
(16...h6 17.Na4 e5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Nb6 Rb8 21.Bf3±) (16...Kh8 17.Ng5 e5 18.Bxd5! cxd5 19.Nxd5
f4 20.Nc7 Qe7 21.Nge6 Ndf6 22.Nxf8 Qxc7 23.dxe5 Bxf8 (23...Qxe5 24.Rd8±) 24.exf6 a5 (24...Bh3 25.Rfe1 a5
26.Bxf4 Qc6 27.e4±) 25.Qf3±) 17.Bf4 Ne4) 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Na4 Bf5 14.Qb3 Bg7 15.Bf4 (15.Qxb7
O-Oƒ) 15...Qe6 16.Qxb7 O-O 17.O-O Rfe8 18.e3 Rad8 19.Nc3 Nd7 20.Bd6 Ne5 21.Rad1 Qc8©
10.dxe5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bf4 Nfd7 12.O-O-O g5 (12...Qa5 13.e4 (13.dxe5 Bxc5 14.e4 d4 15.Na4 Ba7 16.e6 fxe6 17.Bd6 e5
18.Bh3 Nf6∞) 13...Ng6 14.exd5 Nxf4 15.gxf4 Nf6 16.Re1+ (16.Qe2+ Kd8 17.Qe5 Bd7 18.d6 b5) (16.d6!? Be6 17.f5
Bd5 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Kb1 O-O-O 20.h4 Kb8 21.Rh3©) 16...Kd8 17.Bg2©) 13.Bxg5!? (13.Bxe5 Nxe5 14.e4 Bg4
15.Be2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 O-O-O∞) 13...Ng6 14.e4 Be7 (14...h6 15.Bd2 Nf6 16.Re1©) 15.Qd2!? (15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Bd3
Nf6 17.e5 Nd7∞) 15...h6 (15...Bxg5 16.Qxg5 h6 17.Qe3! Nf6 18.exd5+ Qe7 19.d6 Qxe3+ 20.fxe3²) 16.Bxh6
(16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Bd3 Nf8∞) 16...dxe4 17.h4! (17.Nxe4?! Nf6) (17.Re1?! Nf6! (17...f5 18.f3©) 18.Bg7 Be6!
19.Bxh8 Nxh8 20.Bg2 O-O-O) 17...Nf6 (17...e3 18.Qxe3 Nf6 19.Be2²) (17...f5 18.h5 Ngf8 19.Bf4ƒ) 18.Bg7 Rg8
(18...Be6 19.Bxh8 Nxh8 20.Bh3) 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nxe4©
10...Ng4?! N
10...Nxe5! 11.Be3 (11.Na4 Ne4! 12.Bg2 (12.Nb6?! Bxc5! 13.Nxa8 Bxf2+ 14.Kd1 Qe7 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bg2 Bf5
17.Qc1 O-O 18.Rf1 Bd4µ) 12...Nxd2 (12...Nxf3+ 13.exf3 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Qe7+ 15.Kf1 Be6 16.Re1 (16.f4 Qf6
(16...O-O-O?! 17.f5!) (16...g6 17.Qc3 Rg8 18.Qa5∞) 17.Re1 Be7 18.h4 O-O³) 16...g6!? (16...Qf6 17.Bh3 Qxf3
18.Kg1) 17.Qd4 (17.Qc3?! d4! 18.Qxd4 Bg7µ) 17...Rg8 18.h4 Bg7 19.Qd2 O-O-O∞) 13.Qxd2 Be7 14.Nd4 (14.Nxe5
Qxe5 15.Nb6 Rb8 16.f4 Qf5 17.Nxc8 Rxc8³) 14...O-O 15.Nb6 Rb8 16.b4 Nd7 17.Nxc8 Rfxc8 Δ b6) 11...Be7 12.Bg2
O-O (12...Nxf3+) 13.O-O Be6 14.Na4 Nxf3+ 15.exf3 Nd7 16.f4 g6„ Δ Bf6
11.e6!?
11.Na4 Ngxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Bg2 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.Bf4²
11...fxe6?!

11...Nxc5 12.Bf4 Bd6 13.exf7+ Kxf7 14.Bxd6 (14.e3 g6 (14...Bxf4?! 15.gxf4) 15.Ng5+ Kg8 16.Rc1 Ne6 17.Bxd6
Qxd6 18.Nf3 d4„) 14...Qxd6 15.Rc1 (15.Bg2 Qg6! 16.Qd2 Re8„) 15...Re8!? (15...Qg6 16.h3! Re8 (16...Qxc2
17.Rxc2 Nf6 18.Nxd5) 17.Qxg6+ Kxg6 18.hxg4 Nd3+ 19.Kd2 Nxc1 20.Kxc1 Bxg4 21.Nd4²) 16.Qxh7 (16.Ng5+
Kf8 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxc5+ Qxc5 19.Rxc5 h6 20.Nf3 Be6 21.a3 Bd5©) 16...Nh6! 17.Bh3 (17.Ng5+? Kf6! 18.Bh3
Kxg5 19.Qxg7+ Qg6µ) 17...Bxh3 18.Ng5+ Kf8 19.Nxh3 d4©
12.Na4!
12.Bh3 Nge5 13.Nxe5 (13.Nd4 Nf6 14.Na4 Nc4 15.Bxe6 Ne4„) 13...Qxe5 14.Na4 Be7 (14...d4 15.O-O Bxc5 16.Bf4
Qd5 17.e4! dxe3 18.fxe3±) 15.O-O Qh5!? (15...O-O?! 16.Bc3 Qh5 (16...d4 17.Bxd4 Qxd4 18.Bxe6+ Kh8 19.Rad1+-)
17.Bxe6+ Kh8 18.Rae1±) (15...Qf6 16.Rae1 O-O 17.e4 e5 18.f4²) 16.Bxe6 Ne5 17.Bxc8 Rxc8 18.Nb6 Rd8 19.f3
(19.Bf4 Ng4 20.h4 O-O„) 19...Nc4 20.Nxc4 dxc4 21.Be3 Bxc5 22.Qe4+ Kd7! 23.Bf2 Bxf2+ 24.Rxf2²
12...b5
12...Nde5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Bh3±
13.cxb6 Qd6
13...Nxb6 14.Ba5 Rb8 15.Rc1+-
14.Bh3 Ndf6
14...Nge5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Bf4+-
15.Rc1 Be7 16.Qxc6+
16.O-O Bd7 (16...O-O 17.Qxc6 Qxc6 18.Rxc6 Rb8 19.Rfc1+-) 17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.b7 Rb8 19.h3+-
16...Qxc6 17.Rxc6 Bd7 18.b7 Bxc6 19.bxa8=Q+ Bxa8 20.Nd4 e5 21.Nf5 Bc6 22.Nxe7 Kxe7 23.Nc5 d4 24.O-O± e4
25.Rc1 e3 26.fxe3 dxe3 27.Bb4 Kf7 28.Nd3 Bb5 29.Rc7+ Kg6 30.Nf4+ Kh6 31.Bxg4 Nxg4 32.Bc3 Nf6 33.h4 Rd8
34.g4 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 g5 36.Bxf6 gxf4 37.Bg5+
37.Be5 Rd7 38.Bxf4+ Kg6 39.Kf3+-
37...Kg6 38.Bxf4 h5 39.gxh5+ Kxh5 40.Bxe3 Bxe2?!
40...Kxh4 41.Kf3 Kh5
41.Kf2 Bb5 42.Kg3 Kg6 43.Rc5 Rh1 44.Rd5 Bc4 45.Rg5+ Kf6 46.b3 Be2 47.Bd4+ Kf7 48.Rf5+ Kg6 49.Rf6+ Kh7
50.Re6+- Bf1 51.Re1 Kg6 52.Bf2 Rh3+ 53.Kg4 Rh1 54.Kf4 Kf7 55.Ke5 Ke7 56.b4 Kf7 57.a4 Bg2 58.Rxh1 Bxh1
59.Kd6 1-0

117. [D15]
Miron, Lucian Costin (2498) - Sanchez, Joseph (2496)
France 125/117, 2014 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.e3 Bf5 6.Be2 e6

6...h6 7.Qb3 (7.h3 e6 8.c5 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.b4 b6 11.Na4 Nbd7 12.cxb6 Ne4=) 7...Ra7 8.cxd5 (8.a4 - 118/119)
8...cxd5 9.Ne5 e6 10.Bd2 Be7 (10...Bd6?! 11.Qa4+) 11.O-O (11.Qa4+ Nfd7 12.Bb5 Ra8 13.f3 f6„) 11...O-O 12.Rfc1
Nfd7=
7.O-O
7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.f4 Bb4 9.O-O O-O 10.Na4 (10.g4 Be4 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.g5 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne8 14.Ba3 Nd6=)
10...Nxe5 (10...Qc7?! 11.g4! Be4 12.a3 Bd6 13.c5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Ne8 15.Nc3±) 11.dxe5 Ne4 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 b5!
„7.Nh4 Be4 (7...Bg6!? 8.O-O (8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Qc2 Rc8 11.O-O dxc4 12.Bxc4 c5 13.d5!? Nb6 14.dxe6
Nxc4 15.exf7+ Kxf7 16.Qb3 b5 17.a4©) 8...Nbd7 (8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nbd7 10.f4 Bh5 11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 c5 13.Nf3
cxd4 (13...Nb6 14.Rd1ƒ) 14.exd4 Be7 15.f5! exf5 16.Re1 Nf8 17.Nh4! Qxd4+ (17...g6 18.d5) 18.Kh1ƒ) 9.c5 (9.Bd2
dxc4 10.Bxc4 c5„) 9...Be7 10.Nxg6 (10.Bd2 e5) 10...hxg6 11.b4 e5 12.Qc2 e4 (12...Qc7 13.f4 e4 14.Bd2²) 13.a4
Nh7!„ Δ Ng5) 8.f3 Bg6 9.Qb3!? (9.Bd2?! dxc4 10.Bxc4 c5) (9.c5 b6„) (9.O-O dxc4 (9...Nbd7 10.c5 a5 11.Bd2²)
(9...b5 10.c5 Nbd7 11.a3²) 10.Bxc4 c5„) 9...b5 10.c5 a5 (10...Nbd7 11.a4 Qb8 12.Na2²) 11.Bd2 (11.Nxg6 hxg6
12.O-O Qc7 13.f4 g5„) 11...a4 12.Qd1 Bh5 13.O-O (13.g3 g5 14.Ng2 Bg7∞) 13...g5 (13...Nfd7 14.g3 Be7 15.Ng2 O-
O 16.Nf4 Bg6 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.f4²) 14.g4 gxh4 15.gxh5 Nxh5 16.Kh1 Rg8 17.Qc2©
7...Bd6
7...h6 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd6!? (9...Bb4 - 124/121) 10.e4 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 O-O 13.Bd2 (13.Bf4 Qc7
14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Rfd1 Nd7 Δ Rfd8, Rac8) 13...Nd7 14.Rad1 Nf6 15.Qe2!? (15.Qe3 b5 16.b3 Qc7 17.Ne5 Rfd8
(17...Rad8 18.f4²) 18.f4 bxc4 19.bxc4 c5„) 15...b5 16.b3 Qc7 17.Rc1 ∆Rfd8 18.h3 Rac8 19.Rfe1 Bf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4
21.Qe5 Qxe5 22.dxe5 Ne8 23.Red1²
8.b3
8.a3 Nbd7 9.b4 Ne4 10.Nxe4 (10.Bb2 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 O-O 13.Qe2 Nb6=) 10...Bxe4 11.c5 Bc7 12.a4 O-
O 13.Bb2 Qe7 14.b5 axb5 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Nd2 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Bxh2+! 18.Kxh2 Qh4+ 19.Kg1 Bxg2 20.Kxg2
Qg5+=8.c5 Bc7 9.Nh4 (9.b4 Nbd7 10.a4 O-O 11.Bb2 h6 12.b5 Ba5 13.h3 Qe7„) 9...Bg6 10.Qb3 Ra7 11.Nxg6 (11.f4
Nbd7 12.Bd2 (12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Bd2 Ne4 14.Be1 g5„) 12...Ne4 13.Nxe4 (13.Be1 Nd2!„) 13...Bxe4 14.Nf3 a5
15.Be1 (15.a4 O-O 16.Be1 b6„) 15...O-O 16.Bd3 a4 17.Qc2 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Qf6 19.g4 Qh6 20.Kg2 f5∞) 11...hxg6
12.h3 g5 13.Qd1 (13.f4 gxf4 14.exf4 Nbd7 15.Qc2 b5∞) 13...Nbd7 14.b4 e5 15.Rb1 (15.a4 Bb8!„) 15...Bb8 (15...b5
16.a4=) 16.e4!? (16.a4 e4„) 16...exd4 17.Qxd4 Be5 18.Qd3 d4 19.Na4 g4„
8...Nbd7 9.Bb2
9.Bd3 Bb4=9.Nh4 Ne4!?
9...b5!?
9...O-O 10.Nh4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.f4 b5 13.c5 Bc7 14.Bd3²9...h6 10.c5 (10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 O-O 12.e4 dxe4
13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 a5 15.Rad1 a4 16.Qc2 axb3 17.axb3 Qc7=) 10...Bc7 11.b4 O-O 12.a4 Qe7 13.b5
Ba5„9...Ne4!? 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Ne5 Qg5 (11...Nf6 12.Qc2² (12.f4)) 12.Qc2 (12.Nxd7 Bh3) 12...Bxe5 13.dxe5
Nc5∞ Δ Nd3
10.Bd3
10.Nh4 O-O!? (10...bxc4 11.Nxf5 exf5 12.bxc4 Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Qb8+ 14.Kg1 Qxb2 15.Qb3! Qxb3 16.axb3 Ke7
17.Ra5²) (10...Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.h3 Qb8 13.Qc2 g5 14.Rfe1 Kf8 15.Bf3²) 11.Nxf5 exf5 12.Qc2 g6„ Δ Qe7
10...Bg6
10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 dxc4 12.bxc4 Nb6 13.Nd2 O-O 14.Rab1 Re8 (14...Qd7 15.Qe2) 15.Qc2 (15.Qe2?! e5³) 15...Nxc4
16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.Na4 Qa5 (17...Rb8!? 18.e4 Nd7 19.g3 Rb5„) 18.Bc3 Qf5 19.Qxf5 exf5 20.Nb6 Nd5 21.Nxa8 Nxc3
22.Nb6 Nxb1 23.Nxc4 Bxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Nc3 25.Na5=
11.h3N
11.Qc2
11...O-O 12.Qc2 Rc8 13.Rfd1
13.c5 Bb8 14.Bxg6 (14.a4 e5) 14...hxg6 15.b4 a5 16.a3 e5=
13...Qe7!?
13...Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Qe7 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.a4 (16.c5 Bc7! 17.a4 b4 18.Qxa6? Ndxc5-+) 16...bxc4 (16...f5!? 17.cxb5 cxb5
18.axb5 axb5 19.Qxb5 Rb8„) 17.bxc4 a5 18.Bc3 Bc7 19.Rdc1 f5 20.Be1 g5„
14.Bxg6 fxg6
14...hxg6 15.e4 dxe4 (15...b4 16.e5 bxc3 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.Qxc3 Ne4 (18...Qc7 19.Ne5²) 19.Qa5²) 16.Nxe4 Nxe4
17.Qxe4 Rfd8 18.Rac1 (18.Qe3 Nf6 19.Ne5 bxc4 20.bxc4 Nd7 21.Nf3 c5=) 18...Nf6 19.Qe2!? (19.Qe3 bxc4 20.bxc4
c5=) 19...bxc4 20.Ne5 Nd5 21.Rxc4²
15.e4 b4 16.e5 bxc3 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.Qxc3 Ne4 19.Qe3
19.Qa5 Rxf3! 20.gxf3 Ng5„
19...Rf5
19...Rf6 20.Rac1 Rcf8 21.Rc2 h6 22.cxd5 exd5 (22...cxd5?! 23.Rdc1 Nb8 24.Rc7±) 23.Rd3!? (23.Rdc1 Qc7! 24.Ba3
R8f7∞) (23.Re1 (Δ Ree2, Ne5) 23...Rxf3!? (23...Kh7 24.Bc1! (24.Ree2 Rxf3 25.gxf3 Ng5 26.f4 Rxf4 27.Qg3 Qf6„)
(24.Ne5 Rxf2 25.Rxc6 Qxc6 26.Nxc6 Rxb2∞) 24...Re8 (24...Rxf3 25.gxf3 Ng5 26.f4 Rxf4 27.Qe7 Nf3+ 28.Kf1±)
(24...g5 25.Qd3²) 25.Rf1 Rfe6 26.Qd3 a5 27.Be3²) 24.gxf3 Ng5 25.Kg2 Rxf3 26.Qe8+ Kh7 (26...Nf8?! 27.Bc1 Rxh3
28.Re5 Qf6 29.f4±) (26...Rf8?! 27.Ba3! Qxa3 28.Qxd7 Ne4 29.Ree2±) 27.Bc1 Rxh3 28.f4 (28.Bxg5?! Qh2+ 29.Kf1
hxg5) 28...Nf6™ 29.Qxc6 Qb4 30.fxg5 Qxe1 31.Kxh3 Qh1+ 32.Kg3 Ne4+ 33.Kf4 Qf1+ 34.Ke3 Qe1+ 35.Kd3
Qf1+=) 23...Qb8 24.Qe1² Δ Re3
20.Rf1
20.Rac1 Rcf8 21.Rc2 h6 (21...g5 22.cxd5 exd5 (22...cxd5 23.Qc1²) 23.Rdc1² (23.Qc1 Qb8! 24.Rd3 h5„) ∆23...R8f6
24.Ne5! Rxf2 25.Rxc6±) 22.cxd5 (22.Rd3!? Δ Qe1) 22...exd5 23.Rdc1 R8f6! (23...Nb8 24.Re1 a5 25.Ree2 Na6 26.Ne5
Nb4 27.Ba3²) 24.Ne5 (24.Qe2 Kh7∞) 24...Rxf2 25.Rxf2 Rxf2 26.Rxc6 Qb4 27.Nxd7

27...Qb7! 28.Ne5 Rxb2 29.Nxg6 Kh7 30.Ne5 Rxa2 31.Qf4 Rf2=

20...Rcf8 21.a4 R8f7
21...Qf4 22.Qxf4 Rxf4 23.Rfc1 R4f6 24.Ba3 Rb8 25.cxd5 exd5 26.b4²21...R8f6!? 22.Ba3 Qb8 23.Rac1 h6 24.cxd5
exd5 25.Rc2 Re6 26.Qd3 a5 27.Rfc1 Qb6 28.Re2 Kh7∞
22.Ba3 Qb8 23.Rac1² h6?!
23...R5f6 24.Rc2²
24.cxd5 cxd5 25.Rc6 Kh7
25...Rxf3 26.gxf3 Ng5 27.f4 Qxf4 28.Qxf4 Nxh3+ 29.Kh2 Nxf4 30.Rxa6±
26.Rfc1 e5 27.Rc8± Qb6 28.R1c6
28.Re8!? exd4 29.Rcc8 Rf8 30.Nxd4±
28...Qa5
¹28...Rxf3 29.gxf3 exd4 30.Qd3 Qa5 (30...Qxc6 31.Rxc6 Ne5 32.Qxa6 Nxf3+ 33.Kf1 Ne5 34.Rc2 d3 35.Qe6!+-)
31.b4 Qxa4 32.Re6! Nef6 (32...Ndf6 33.fxe4 dxe4 34.Qxd4 Qxa3 35.Rxf6 Rxf6 36.Qd8+-) 33.Rxa6 Ne5 34.Rxa4
Nxd3 35.b5 Rb7 36.Rxd4 Ne5 37.Rb4 Nxf3+ 38.Kg2 Ne1+ 39.Kf1 Nd3 40.Rb3±
29.Qe2
29.Bb2 exd4 30.Bxd4 Rf8 31.R8c7 R5f7 32.Qd3+-
29...exd4 30.Rxa6 d3 31.Qxd3 Rxf3 32.gxf3 Qe1+ 33.Qf1 Qxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Rxf3 35.Rc2 Rxb3
¹35...d4 36.Kg2 Rxb3 37.Ra7 Rxa3 38.Rxd7±
36.Bb2+- Rb7 37.Rac6 1-0

118. [D20]
Artemiev, Vladislav (2671) - Motylev, Alexander (2658)
Russia 125/118, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.Bxc4

4.dxe5?! Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 Nc6³
4...exd4 5.exd4 Bd6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.O-O O-O 8.h3 Nc6 9.Nc3 Bf5?!
9...h6 - 107/ 236
10.Bg5
10.Nh4 Bc8=
10...h6
10...Be7? 11.d5±
11.Bh4 g5
11...Be7 12.Re1²
12.Nxg5?!N
12.Bg3 Bxg3 (12...Bg6 13.Ne5²) 13.fxg3 Bg6 14.d5! (14.Ne5 Kg7 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qd2 Qd6=) 14...Ne7 (14...Na5
15.Be2 c6 16.b4 Qe7 17.bxa5 Qe3+ 18.Kh2 Qxc3 19.dxc6 Rad8 20.Qe1 Qxc6 21.Ne5±) 15.g4²
12...hxg5 13.Bxg5 Re8
13...Be7?! 14.Re1 Kg7 (14...Bg6? 15.Rxe7! Qxe7 16.Nd5! (16.Qf3 Nxd4 (16...Kg7?! 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Bxe7 Ndxe7
19.d5! Ne5 20.Qc3 f6 21.Bb3±) 17.Qxf6 Qxf6 18.Bxf6 c5 19.Nd5²) 16...Nxd5 17.Bxe7 Ncxe7 (17...Ndxe7 18.d5
Rad8 19.h4 Kh7 20.Qb3 Na5 21.Qb4 Nxc4 22.Qxe7 Rfe8 23.Qxc7 Nb6 24.d6±) 18.h4 Rad8 19.h5 Bf5 20.Qd2±)
15.Qd2 (15.Qf3 Nxd4 16.Qe3 Nc2 17.Qf3 Nd4=) 15...Rh8 (15...Ng8 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.d5 Nce7 18.Nb5 Ng6 19.Qc3+
Kh7∞) 16.d5 Nxd5 17.Rxe7 Ndxe7 18.Nd5 Qd6 19.Bf6+ Kf8 20.Bxh8²
14.Qd2?!
14.Nd5 Be7 15.Nxf6+ (15.Nxe7+? Qxe7 16.Qf3 Nxd4 17.Qf4 Qe4 18.Qxc7 Nd5 19.Qg3 Bg6 20.Rfe1 Nf3+ 21.Qxf3
Qxc4µ) 15...Bxf6 16.Qh5 Rf8 17.Bh6 Bh7 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Bxf8 Qxf8³14.Rc1 Be7 (14...Kg7 15.Qd2 Rh8
(15...Nxd4? 16.Nd5±) 16.Rfe1 Rh5 17.Be2 Rxg5 18.Qxg5+ Bg6∞) 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qh5 Qd7 17.g4 Bh7 18.g5 Bg7
19.g6 Bxg6 20.Qxg6 Nxd4 21.Rcd1=
14...Nxd4 15.Rad1?!
15.Nd5? Ne4!-+15.Rae1 Qd7 (15...Ne6 16.Nd5 Ne4³) 16.Rd1 Nh7 17.Qxd4 Nxg5 18.Nd5 Re6 19.Nf6+ Rxf6
20.Qxf6 Ne4 21.Qh6 Qe7 22.Rd5 Qe6 23.Qxe6 Bxe6 24.Rd4 Bxc4 25.Rxc4 f5 26.Rd1³
15...c5!µ 16.b4
16.Nd5? Ne4!-+16.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Qe7µ
16...b6 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Be6??
19...Qe7 20.Qd2 Ne4 21.Bxe7 Nxd2 22.Bd5 Bxe7 23.Bxa8 Bg5µ¹19...Be7 20.Nb5 (20.Qe5 Be6 21.Be3 Bxc4
22.Bxd4 cxd4 23.Rxd4 Qb6 24.Rxc4 Qe6µ) 20...Bg6 21.Be3 Rc8 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Bxd4 Rxc4 24.Bxf6 Qxd1
25.Qxd1 Bxf6µ
20.Bxe6 fxe6

20...Nxe6 21.Ne4 (21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rxd6+-) 21...Nxg5 22.Rxd6 Ngxe4 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.f3+-
21.Rxd4! Bh2+?!
21...cxd4 22.Qxe6+ Kg7 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Qh6+ (24.Bxd8 Rxd8 25.Qg4+ Kf7 (25...Kf8 26.Qxd4 Nf4 27.Qf6+ Ke8
28.g3 Nd5 29.Qd4+-) 26.Qxd4 Bc7 27.Qxa7+-) 24...Kf7 25.Qh5+ Ke6 26.Qg4+ Kf7 27.Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Qxd4+-
22.Kxh2 Qxd4
22...cxd4 23.Qxe6+ Kg7 24.Ne4 Qc7+ 25.Nd6 Rf8 (25...Ne8 26.Qe5+ Kg6 27.Qf5+ Kg7 28.Bf4 Nxd6 29.Be5+ Kh6
30.Qf6+ Kh7 31.Qh4+ Kg8 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Qg7++-) 26.Qe5+-
23.Qxe6+ Kg7 24.Ne2 1-0

119. [D26]
Hansen, Curt (2621) - Grandelius, Nils (2623)
Oslo 125/119, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 a6 6.Bxc4 b5 7.Be2 Bb7 8.O-O Nbd7 9.b3 Be7
9...Bd6 - 46/513
10.Bb2 O-O 11.a4 b4 12.Nb1 c5 13.Nbd2 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Bf3 Nd5!?N
15...Bd5
16.Nc4 Bf6= 17.Qc2 Rc8 18.Rfd1 Qc7 19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.Ne2 Bxb2 21.Qxb2 h6
21...Nb6 22.Nxb6 Qxb6 23.Bxb7 Nxb7=21...Nf6 22.Bxb7 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Nxb7=
22.a5?
22.Qc2 a5 23.e4=
22...Nf6
22...Ne7! 23.Bxb7 Nxb7 ×a5
23.Bxb7?!
23.Nb6! Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1=
23...Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Nxb7 25.Ra1?
25.Qa1!? Ne4³
25...Nc5µ 26.Nb6 Rd8 27.Nd4
27.Qc2 Ng4 28.Ng3 (28.g3 Nxf2-+) 28...Qe5µ
27...Ng4
27...e5! 28.Nf5 Rd3-+
28.g3 Nd3 29.Qc2 Qxc2?
29...Qc3! 30.Rf1 Ndxf2-+
30.Nxc2 Ngxf2µ 31.Nxb4 Nh3+ 32.Kg2 Nxb4 33.Kxh3 Rd3 34.Rc1 Rxe3 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Nd7?
36.Nc4! Re2µ (36...Rxb3 37.Rb8 f6 38.Rb7©)
36...h5
36...g5!µ
37.Rb8 Nc6 38.Rb6 Nxa5 39.b4
39.Nc5 g5-+
39...Nc4 40.Rxa6 Rb3 41.Ra4 Ne3 42.Ra5 Kh6 43.Ne5 f6 44.Nf7+ Kh7 0-1
 120.* [D30]
Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677) - Carlsen, Magnus (2876)
Stavanger 125/120, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.Bg5

4.cxd5 - 119/131
4...f6!?
4...Be7 5.Bxe7 Qxe7 6.e3 Nf6 7.Nbd2N (7.Nc3) (7.Qc2) 7...O-O 8.Rc1² Sychev,K (2414)-Vallejo Pons,F (2706)
Moscow 2015 [Flores Rios, Mauricio]
5.Bd2 dxc4N
5...c6
6.e3 Nc6
6...b5 7.a4 Bb7 8.axb5 axb5 9.Rxa8 Bxa8 10.b3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nc3 (12.bxc4 b4!) 12...Ne7 13.bxc4 bxc4 14.Bxc4
Qd7 15.Qb1! O-O 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4²6...Qd5 7.a4 Bd7 (Δ b5) 8.Nc3 Qc6 9.Bc1 (9.d5!? exd5 10.Nd4 Qd6
11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxd5 Nc6 13.Bxc4 O-O-O) 9...Bb4 10.Nd2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 b5 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qh4©
7.Bxc4 Bd6 8.e4
8.Nc3 Nge7 9.Ne4 O-O 10.O-O Nd5 11.Rc1 Be7 12.Qc2± Δ Rfe1
8...Nge7 9.O-O O-O 10.Qb3 Kh8!?
10...Qd7 11.a4²
11.Bxe6 Bxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Qd6+ 13.Kh1 Bxe6 14.d5 Bg8

15.Qa3!
15.Nc3? f5!µ15.Qc2 Ne5! 16.Nxe5 Qxe5=
15...Qxa3
15...Ne5? 16.Bb4+-
16.Nxa3 Na7
¹16...Nb8 17.Bb4 Re8 18.Rac1 c6!
17.Bb4 Rfe8 18.Rac1 Rac8
18...Ng6 19.Rxc7! Rxe4 20.Bc5 Bxd5 21.Rd1 Bg8 22.Bxa7! Rxa7 23.Rd8²18...c6 19.d6 Ng6 20.Rfd1² Δ d7
19.Nd4 f5 20.f3 fxe4 21.fxe4 Ng6 22.Nf5!? Rxe4 23.Bc3 Bxd5?
23...Ne5? 24.Rfe1!+-23...h6! 24.Bxg7+ Kh7 25.Bd4 b6
24.Bxg7+ Kg8 25.Bd4! Rxd4 26.Nxd4 Bxa2 27.b3 Rd8?
27...c5! 28.Rf2 cxd4 29.Rxc8+ Nxc8 30.Rxa2 Nge7 31.Kg1 Nd6 32.Rc2 Nc6!©
28.Ne6 Rd2 29.Rc3+-
29.Rxc7!?+-
29...Re2 30.Nf4
30.Rf6! Δ Rcf3
30...Rb2 31.Nxg6 hxg6 32.Rxc7 Rxb3?
32...Nc6 33.Rxb7 (33.Rd1 Bxb3 34.Rdd7 Rf2!) 33...Rxb3 34.Rxb3 Bxb3 35.Rf6 Ne5 36.Rxa6
33.Rd1 Nc6 34.Rdd7 1-0

121. [D30]
Rapport, Richard (2671) - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733)
Biel 125/121, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 dxc4 6.Qc2 b5 7.a4 c6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.g3 Bb7 10.Bg2 Nd7 11.O-O a5
12.b3 cxb3 13.Nxb3 bxa4 14.Rxa4 Ba6N
14...O-O - 104/(100)
15.Ra2 Bb5³ 16.Rfa1 O-O 17.Nc1
17.e3!?
17...Rc8 18.Nd3 Bxd3
18...c5 19.Nxb4 cxb4 20.Qd2 Ra8 21.e4 Kh8µ
19.Qxd3 c5 20.dxc5
20.d5 Nb6 21.dxe6 (21.e4 f5!?µ) 21...fxe6µ
20...Nxc5 21.Qe3 Kg7
21...Qd6!? 22.Qh6 Ne4µ
22.h4?!
22.Nd4
22...Qd6 23.Rc1 Nd7
23...Nb3!?
24.Raa1 Rxc1+ 25.Rxc1 Bc5 26.Qc3
26.Qd2 Qxd2 27.Nxd2 Rb8µ
26...a4 27.Qa1 a3-+ 28.Rd1 Qc7
28...Qxg3!? 29.Rxd7 Qxf2+ 30.Kh1 Rb8
29.h5 h6 30.Rc1 Qb6 31.e3 Rb8 32.Bf1

32...Bxe3! 33.Rc2 Bc5 34.Rd2 Qb1 0-1

122. [D32]
Hoang, Thi Bao Tram (2303) - Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2548)
Ho Chi Minh City 125/122, 2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.d4 a6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Be2 Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.O-O O-O 10.Qd3
10.a3 - 68/(361)
10...Nc6 11.Rd1 Be6= 12.a3 Ba7 13.b4 Qd6N
13...Qe7!? 14.Bb2 Rfd8! 15.Rac1 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Rac8³) 15...d4! 16.exd4 Nxd4ƒ13...b5
14.Bb2 Rad8 15.Na4
15.Rac1 Bb8 16.Na4 (16.g3!?) 16...Ne4 17.Nc5²
15...Ne4 16.Rac1 Bf5
16...Qe7 17.Nc5! (17.Nd4 Ne5) (17.Bd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Qh4 19.g3 Qf6ƒ) 17...Bxc5 18.bxc5²
17.Qb3
17.Nc5!? Qe7 (17...Ng3? 18.Nxb7! Bxd3 19.Bxd3 Qd7 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.hxg3±) 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bb8=
17...Rfe8 18.Nc5? Bxc5 19.bxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc3 Ne6 21.Bxa6?!

21...d4! 22.exd4
22.Nxd4 Ncxd4 23.Bf1 Bg4 24.Rxd4 Nxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxd4 26.Bxd4 Rc8 27.Rxc8 (27.Rb1 Bf5!µ) 27...Rxc8 28.f3
Be6µ
22...bxa6 23.Qxc6 Qb8! 24.Re1
24.Ba1 Nf4‭→ 25.Re1 Ne2+ 26.Rxe2 Rxe2 27.Qxa6 Qf4!µ24.Bc3 Nf4‭→ 25.Kh1 Be4 26.Qxa6 Nxg2!-+24.Rd2 Nf4
25.Qxa6 Nxg2! 26.Kxg2 Qf4 27.Rc3 (27.Rd3 Qg4+ 28.Kh1 (28.Kf1 Re6-+) 28...Be4-+) 27...Re6-+
24...Qxb2? 25.d5 Nf8 26.Qxa6 Be4!
26...Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Rxd5-+ 28.Qa8„
27.Rcd1 Bxf3 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.gxf3 Qb3 0-1

123. [D35]
Miron, Lucian Costin (2484) - Kovalenko, Igor (2650)
Iasi 125/123, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Qf3 Bg6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Qxf6 gxf6 10.Kd2 Nd7 11.Bd3
Nb6 12.b3 Nc8
12...Ba3 - 61/ (432)12...a5 13.Nge2 Bb4 14.h4 Nc8 15.a3 Bxc3+ 16.Nxc3 Bxd3 17.Kxd3 Rg8 (17...Nd6 18.g4²)
18.e4!? Rxg2 (18...dxe4+ 19.Nxe4 Rxg2 20.Nxf6+ Kd8 21.Nxh7 Kc7 22.h5 a4 23.bxa4 Nd6 (23...Rxf2?! 24.h6)
24.Ra2²) 19.exd5 Rxf2 20.Rae1+ Kf8 21.Rhf1ƒ12...Bb4 13.a3 (13.Nf3 a5 Δ a4) (13.Ne2 Nc8 14.a3 (14.h4 Nd6 15.h5
Bxd3 16.Kxd3 Rg8 17.g3 f5„) 14...Ba5 15.Nf4 Nd6 16.Rac1 O-O-O (16...Kd7 17.h4 Bxd3 18.Kxd3 Bxc3 19.Rxc3
Nb5 20.Rc5! b6 (20...Nxa3 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Ra5²) 21.Rcc1 Nxa3 22.Nh5²) 17.h4 Bxd3 18.Kxd3 Bxc3 19.Rxc3 Nb5
20.Rcc1 Nxa3 21.Nh5 Rhg8 22.Rcg1 f5 23.Ng3 f4=) 13...Bd6!? (13...Bxc3+ 14.Kxc3 a5 15.a4 Nc8 16.Ne2² Δ Nf4)
14.Nf3 O-O-O (14...Kd7 15.Nh4 a5 16.g3 a4 17.b4 Rhe8 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.h4 f5 20.h5²) 15.Nh4 Kb8 (15...Bf8
16.g4²) 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.g4 Nc8 18.h4 h5„ 19.Ne2 Nd6 20.Neg3 hxg4 21.h5 Bh7 22.Rh4 Ne4+ 23.Nxe4 Bxf5 24.Ng3
Be6=12...Kd7 13.Nge2 a5 14.h4 (14.a4 Nc8 15.g4 Bb4!„ Δ Nd6) 14...Rg8 15.Nf4 Bxd3 (15...Bd6 16.Nxg6 fxg6
17.h5²) 16.Kxd3 Bd6 17.Nce2 a4„12...Rg8!? 13.g3 Nc8 14.Nge2 Bh6 15.Rhg1 (15.Nf4 Bxf4 16.gxf4 Bxd3 17.Kxd3
Nd6 - 12...Nc8) 15...Nd6 16.g4 Kd7 17.h4 Rae8„
13.Nge2 Nd6 14.Nf4N
14.Rac1 Kd7 (14...Bh6 15.g4 (Δ Ng3) 15...f5 16.g5! Bf8 (16...Bxg5 17.h4±) 17.f3 h6 18.h4²) 15.Nf4 (15.g4 f5!„)
15...Bh6 16.Nce2 a5 (Δ a4) (16...Ne4+ 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.h4²) 17.a4 Rhg8 18.Rhd1 (18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.h4 f5 Δ Ne4=)
18...Ne4+ 19.Bxe4 (19.Ke1 Ng5! (Δ Ne6) 20.Ng3 Ne6 21.Nfe2 Bf8∞) 19...Bxe4 20.f3 Bg6 21.h4 Bf8 22.h5 (22.g4
Bb4+ 23.Nc3 h6„) 22...Bb4+ 23.Nc3 Bf5 24.g4 Be6 25.Kd3 f5„14.g4!? (Δ Ng3) 14...h5!? (14...f5 15.gxf5 Bxf5
16.Rag1 Kd7 17.Bxf5+ Nxf5 18.Rg5 (18.Rg4) 18...Nd6 19.f3 Re8 20.Rh5²) (14...O-O-O 15.Ng3 Kb8 16.f4 (16.h4
h5„ (16...Bxd3)) 16...Bxd3 17.Kxd3 Re8 18.h3!? (18.Nh5?! f5) (18.Rhg1 Rg8 19.h3 Rg6 20.e4 dxe4+ 21.Ncxe4 Nxe4
22.Nxe4 Rh6 23.Rg3 Rd8 24.Kc4 Re8=) ∆18...Rg8 19.Nh5 Rg6 20.f5 Rh6 21.Ng3 Rh4 22.Rae1 b5 23.a4 b4 24.Nb1²
Δ Nd2) 15.h3 f5 16.f3 fxg4 17.hxg4 h4 18.Raf1 (18.e4 dxe4 19.fxe4 O-O-O„) 18...Bh6 19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Kd3 Bg5
21.Ng1 (21.e4 dxe4+ 22.fxe4 Nf7 23.e5 Rd8„) 21...Be7 (21...O-O-O 22.e4) 22.f4 O-O-O 23.Nf3 Rdg8∞ Δ g5
14...Bh6 15.g3
15.Nce2 O-O-O 16.h4 Bxd3 17.Kxd3 f5 18.f3 Rde8=
15...Bxf4 16.gxf4
16.exf4 Kd7=
16...Bxd3 17.Kxd3 Rg8 18.Rhg1 Rg6 19.f3
19.Rg3 Ke7 20.Rh3 Rh8 21.Rh5 f5=
19...O-O-O„ 20.Rg4
20.Rg3?! Rh6 21.Rg2 Re8 22.Re1 Rh3³20.Rac1 Nf5 (20...Kd7!? 21.e4 dxe4+ 22.fxe4 Rdg8 23.Rge1 Rh6 24.Rc2 Rg4„)
21.b4 b6 22.h4!? h5 23.Ne2 Rxg1 24.Rxg1 Nxh4 25.Rg7 Nxf3 26.Rxf7 h4 27.Rxf6 Rh8 28.Rxc6+ Kd7 29.Rg6 Ne1+
(29...h3 30.Ng3 h2 31.Ke2 Rh3 32.Nh1²) 30.Kd2 Nf3+ 31.Kd3=
20...Re8
20...Rh6 21.Rh1 Re8 22.h4 Kd7 (22...Nf5?! 23.e4) 23.h5 b6 24.Kd2 (24.Rg7? Rxe3+) 24...a5 25.Rg2 Nf5 26.Nd1=
21.Rag1
21.Rc1 Kd7 22.h3!? (22.h4?! Nf5! 23.e4 dxe4+ 24.Nxe4 Kc7 25.h5 (25.Rc5 h5µ) 25...Rh6 26.Rc5 Rxh5 27.Nxf6 Re3+
28.Kc4 Nd6+ 29.Kb4 29...a5+! 30.Rxa5 Rxa5 31.Kxa5 b6+! 32.Kb4 (32.Ka6? Re6 33.Nxh7 Re8-+) 32...Nf5µ)
22...f5 (22...Nf5?! 23.e4) 23.Rg5 Rge6 (23...Reg8 24.Rcg1= Δ h4-h5) 24.Re1 Rh6 25.Rh1 b6 26.a4=
21...Rh6 22.R1g2
22.Rh1? Nf5 23.Nd1 Rh3µ22.Rg8!? Rxh2 23.e4 dxe4+ 24.fxe4 Kd7 25.e5 Rxg8 26.Rxg8 Ne8 27.Ne4© ∆b6 28.exf6
Rh3+ 29.Kd2 Nd6 30.Nxd6 Kxd6 31.f5!=
22...Kd7 23.Rg7 Re7
23...Kc7 24.e4=23...Rh3 24.R7g3 Rh4 25.Rg7 (25.Rg4 Nf5! 26.e4 dxe4+ 27.Nxe4 Rh6³) 25...Kc7 26.Re2 Re7
(26...Kb6 27.f5! h5 28.e4) 27.Rg4! Rh5 28.a4 (28.e4 f5³) 28...a5 (28...Kb6 29.b4=) 29.Rg8 Nf5 30.Nd1 Rh3 31.Rf2=
24.Rg8
24.e4!? Rh3 25.R7g3 Rh4 26.Rf2 (26.Re2!? dxe4+ 27.fxe4 Rxf4 28.Ree3! Δ Rgf3=) 26...h5 27.Rg8! (27.exd5 Nf5³)
27...Rxf4 28.exd5 Nf5 29.dxc6+ Kxc6 30.Ne4 Nxd4 31.Ke3 (31.Kxd4 Rexe4+ 32.fxe4 Rxf2³) 31...Rh4 32.Kxd4 f5
33.Kd3 fxe4+ 34.fxe4 Rhxe4 35.Rxf7=
24...Nf5 25.Nd1
25.e4?! dxe4+ 26.Nxe4 Kc7! 27.Ng3 Nd6³
25...Rh3 26.Rf2 Kc7 27.Kd2 b6
27...Kb6 28.Kd3 Ka5 29.a3 Nd6 30.Nc3
28.Kd3 Kb7
28...c5 29.dxc5 bxc5 30.Ra8 Kb7 31.Rd8=
29.Rd8 a5 30.a4 Kc7 31.Ra8 Nd6 32.Ra7+ Kd8 33.Rxe7 Kxe7 [R 9/h] 34.Nc3 Ke6 35.Ne2 Nf5 36.Ng1?!
36.Nc3 Nh4 37.Ke236.Ng3 Nxg3 37.hxg3 Rxg3 38.Rc2 Kd6 39.Rh2 Rg7 40.Rh5 Ke6 41.f5+ Ke7 42.Rh6=
36...Rh6

36...Rh4!? 37.Ne2 (37.e4 Ne7³) 37...c5 38.Ng3 (38.dxc5 bxc5 39.Nc3 Nxe3!µ) 38...Ne7 39.f5+ Kd6! (39...Nxf5
40.Nxf5 Kxf5 41.dxc5 bxc5 42.Rc2=) 40.dxc5+ bxc5 41.e4 Nc6³
37.Ne2!
37.e4 Nd6! 38.Rg2 Kd7! 39.Ke3 (39.Ne2 Rh3 40.Ng3 dxe4+ 41.fxe4 f5!) 39...Rg6 40.Rg3 dxe4 41.fxe4 f5 42.e5 Ne4
43.Rxg6 hxg6³
37...Kd7
37...c5 38.dxc5 bxc5 39.Nc3 Nxe3 40.Kxe3 d4+ 41.Kd3 dxc3 42.Kxc3 Rh4 43.Kc4=
38.Rg2 Rg6 39.Rg4
39.Rf2 Ne7 40.Nc3 h5!? 41.e4 dxe4+ 42.fxe4 f5 43.exf5 Nxf5 44.d5 c5³
39...Ke6 40.Nc3
40.Ng3? Rxg4 41.fxg4 Nxg3 42.hxg3 f5! 43.g5 f6-+40.Kd2!? h5 (40...Rh6?! 41.e4) (40...Kd6 41.Ng3=) 41.Rxg6
(41.Rg1?! Rxg1 42.Nxg1 Kd6 43.Kd3 Nh4 44.Ke2 c5) 41...fxg6 42.e4 dxe4 43.fxe4 Nh6 44.h3=
40...Rh6
40...h5 41.Rxg6 fxg6 42.e4 Nh4 43.f5+! gxf5 44.exd5+ cxd5 45.Ke3=40...Kd6 41.Kd2 h5 42.Rxg6 fxg6 43.Kd3 Ng7
44.e4 Ne6 45.Ke3 Nc7 46.Ne2! (46.Kd3 Na6) 46...h4 47.Nc3 c5 48.f5! (48.dxc5+ Kxc5 49.Kd3 h3³) 48...gxf5
49.dxc5+ Kxc5 50.Nxd5 Nxd5+ 51.exd5 Kxd5 52.f4=
41.Rg2
41.Rg8!? Rh3 (41...Rxh2 42.Rb8 Rf2 43.Rxb6 Kd7 44.Rb7+=) 42.Rb8 Rxf3 43.Nd1 Rh3 44.Rxb6 Kd6 45.Ra6 (45.b4
axb4 46.Rxb4 Nxd4!³) 45...Rxh2 46.Rxa5 h5 47.Ra7 Ng3 48.Kc3! (48.Rxf7? Ne4-+) 48...Ne4+ 49.Kb4 Ke6 (49...h4
50.Rxf7=) 50.Nc3 Nxc3 51.Kxc3=
41...Rh3 42.Rf2 Nh4 43.Ke2 Ke7
43...c5 44.Nb5 Kd7 45.Nc3!? cxd4 46.Nxd5 Kc6 47.Nxf6 Nxf3 48.Rxf3 d3+ 49.Kxd3 Rxf3 50.Nxh7=
44.Nb1† Kd6 45.Nd2
45.Nc3 Nf5 46.Kd3 Ne7 47.Kd2
45...Nf5
45...c5! 46.dxc5+ bxc5 47.Kd3 (47.e4 Ng6³) 47...f5 48.Ke2 Ng6³ Δ Ne7-c6
46.Kd3
46.Nb1 Δ Nc3
46...Rh6
46...c5³
47.Rg2 Ke7 48.Nb1 Nh4 49.Rg3 Nf5 50.Rg2 Kd6 51.Nd2
51.Nc3
51...Rg6 52.Rg4 c5! 53.Rxg6 hxg6 [NB 2/j]
¹53...fxg6 54.dxc5+ Kxc5 55.e4 Ne7³
54.dxc5+ Kxc5 55.e4 Nh4
55...Ne7 56.f5! g5 (56...gxf5 57.exd5 Nxd5 58.h4) 57.f4! g4 58.exd5 Nxd5 59.Ne4+ Kb4 60.Kc2 Ka3 61.Nf2=
56.exd5 Kxd5 57.Kc3 f5
57...Kc6 58.Kd4 b5 59.Kc3 bxa4 60.bxa4 Kd5 61.Kd3 Ng2 62.f5!=57...Ng2 58.f5! g5 (58...gxf5 59.b4=) 59.b4 Ne3
60.Kd3 Nxf5 61.bxa5 bxa5 62.Nb3=
58.Nc4 Kc5 59.Ne5= f6
59...b5 60.Nd3+ Kb6 61.Ne5 bxa4 62.bxa4 Kc5 63.Nc4=
60.Nd7+ Kc6 61.Nxf6 Nxf3 62.Nh7 Nh4 63.Nf8 Kd6 64.Kd4 Ke7 65.Nh7 Ng2
65...Nf3+ 66.Kc4 Kf7 67.Kd5 Kg7 68.Ng5=
66.Ke5 Ne1 67.Ng5
67.Kd4 Nf3+ 68.Kc4=
67...Nd3+ 68.Kd5 Nxf4+ 69.Kc6 Ne6 70.Nf3 Nc5
70...g5 71.Kxb6 g4 72.Nd2=
71.Nd4 Nd7 72.h3
72.h4 f4 73.Nf3=
72...f4 73.Kc7
73.Nf3=
73...Ne5 74.Kxb6 Kd6 75.Ne2
75.Kxa5? Nc6+-+75.Nb5+ Kd5 76.Nc3+ Kd4 77.Ne2+ Ke3 78.Nxf4 Kxf4 79.Kxa5 Ke4 80.Kb6 Kd5 81.a5=
75...f3 76.Ng3 Nc6 77.Kb5 Kd5 78.Kb6?
78.Nh1!=
78...f2-+ 0-1

124. [D35]
Giri, Anish (2776) - Fressinet, Laurent (2712)
France 125/124, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Nge2 h6 9.Bh4 Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.O-
O O-O 12.Qd2 Re8 13.Rae1 Nb6 14.Nc1 Qg5N
14...Nf6
15.f3 Bf5 16.Bxf5
16.b3 Bxd3 17.Nxd3 Rad8 18.Qf2∞
16...Qxf5 17.e4
17.b3 Rad8 18.Nd3 Nf6 19.Nc5 Qc8=
17...Nc4!
17...Qg6 18.Nd3²17...Qf4 18.Qd1²
18.Qe2
18.Qf2 dxe4 19.fxe4 Qxf2+ 20.Rxf2 Rad8 21.Nb3 Nf6=
18...Qg5 [Δ Nf4] 19.Qf2
19.Nd3 dxe4 (19...Nf4 20.Nxf4 Qxf4 21.b3 Nd6 22.Qd3ƒ) 20.fxe4 Rad8 21.b3 Nb6 22.Qf3 Qf6 23.Ne2 Qxf3 24.gxf3
f5∞
19...Nf4 20.Kh1 Qd8 21.e5 c5?!

21...Rc8
22.b3! cxd4 23.Qxd4 Qg5
23...Ne6!? 24.Qxd5 Nd2 25.Rf2 Rc8 26.Qxd8 Rexd8 27.Nb5 Rd5 28.Nd6²
24.g3 Ne6 25.Qf2 Nb6 26.f4
26.Nb5!?
26...Qe7 27.f5 Ng5 28.Qd4± Rac8
¹28...Rad8 29.Nd3 Qd7
29.Nd3 Red8?!
29...Qd7
30.Nb5! Nc4!? 31.Nf4
31.bxc4 dxc4 32.Nd6! cxd3 33.h4! (33.Nxc8 Qe8! 34.Qf2 Rxc8©) 33...Rc2 34.Qxd3! (34.hxg5? Qxg5 35.Qh4 Qxh4+
36.gxh4 d2 37.Rd1 f6∞) 34...Rc5 35.hxg5 Rxe5 36.Rxe5 Qxe5 37.Nxf7!+-
31...Na3 32.Nd6! Nc2
32...Rc7 33.Nxd5+-
33.Nxc8 Qd7 34.Qd1 Rxc8
34...Nxe1 35.Nd6 Nef3 36.Rxf3 Nxf3 37.Qxf3+-
35.Qxd5
35.Nxd5 Qc6 36.Rf4 Rd8 37.Rc4+-
35...Qxf5
35...Qxd5+ 36.Nxd5+-
36.e6
36.Re2+-
36...fxe6 37.Rxe6 Qxd5+ 38.Nxd5+- Kh7
38...Nxe6 39.Ne7+ Kh7 40.Nxc8
39.Re7 Nd4 40.Rc7 Rd8 41.Nf4 1-0

125. [D36]
Navara, David (2724) - Adams, Michael (2740)
Biel 125/125, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Nh5
9...O-O
10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Nge2 Nb6 12.O-O O-O 13.Rae1 Be6
13...Re8 - 66/348
14.Nc1!?N
14.Ng3 Nxg3 15.fxg3 Rae8=14.Kh1 Nf6=
14...Rad8
14...Nc8=14...Nc4=
15.Nb3 Rfe8 16.Nc5 Bc8
16...Nf6!?
17.b4?!
17.a3=17.Ne2!?=
17...Nc4! 18.Qe2
18.Bxc4 dxc4 19.Qe2 Qg5! 20.f3 (20.N3e4? Qg6 21.f3 b6 22.Na4 f5 23.Nec3 Nf4 24.Qd2 Nd3 25.Re2 Nxb4-+)
(20.Qxc4? Bh3 21.g3 Qf5 22.f3 Bxf1 23.Qxf1 b6 24.Nb3 Qg6µ) (20.N5e4 Qg6 21.Qc2 Bf5 22.f3 Nf6 23.Nxf6+
Qxf6 24.Ne4 Qg6 25.Qxc4 Bxe4 26.fxe4 Rxe4³) 20...b6 21.N5e4 Qe7 22.Qxc4 Be6 23.Qxc6 f5 24.Qb5 a6 25.Qxb6
fxe4 26.Nxe4 (26.fxe4?! Bc4 27.Rf5 Nf6 28.e5 Nd5 29.Nxd5 Bxd5³) 26...Nf6 27.Nxf6+ Qxf6 28.Rf2∞
18...Qg5 19.f4?!
19.Bxc4 dxc4 (19...Bh3?? 20.f4+-) 20.f3 (20.Qxc4? Bh3 21.g3 Qf5 22.f3 Bxf1 23.Qxf1 b6µ) 20...b6 21.N5e4 Qe7
22.Qxc4 Be6 23.Qxc6 f5 24.Qb5 fxe4 (24...a6 25.Qxb6 fxe4 26.Nxe4 Nf6∞) 25.Qxh5 exf3 26.Rxf3 Qxb4=19.Qc2
19...Qh4³ 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.g3?
21.Qxc4 Nxf4! 22.Kh1 Nd5 23.Nxd5 cxd5 24.Qc1 (24.Qb3 Qg5 25.Rf3 Bg4 26.Rg3 Re7 27.Qc3 h5ƒ) (24.Qd3 b6
25.Na4 Bg4 26.Qd2 Qg5 27.Kg1 Bh5³) 24...b6 25.Nd3 Ba6³
21...Nxg3! 22.hxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Kh1?!
23.Qg2 Rxe3! 24.N5e4 (24.N3e4 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Ra3! 26.Rf3 Rxa2+ 27.Rf2 Ra3 28.Rf3 Rxf3 29.Kxf3 b6 30.Na4
Rxd4-+ 31.Nb2 b5-+) 24...Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Bh3+ 26.Kh2 Rd3 27.Rg1 Bf5 28.Rg3 (28.Ng3 Bg4 29.Nge2 h5 30.Ne4
f5 31.Nf2 Rd2-+) 28...R3xd4 29.a4 h5 30.Kg2 g6µ
23...Qh3+ 24.Qh2
24.Kg1 Rd6 25.N5e4 Rg6+-+
24...Rxe3-+ 25.Nd1 Rxe1?!
¹25...Ra3 26.Qxh3 Rxh3+ (26...Bxh3 27.Rf2 b6µ) 27.Kg1 Rg3+ 28.Kf2 Ra3 29.Re2 b6 30.Ne4 Bf5 31.Rg1 Kf8
32.Rg3 Rd3-+
26.Qxh3 Bxh3 27.Rxe1 b6 28.Ne4 Rxd4 29.Kh2 Bf5 30.Ndc3
30.Nec3 Rxf4 (30...Rd3 31.Re3 Kf8 32.Kg3 Rd2 33.Re2 Rd7 34.Ne3 Rd3 35.Kf2 Bh7 36.Ned1 Bg6 37.Re3 Rd4
38.Kg3-+) 31.Re7 (31.Re8+ Kh7 32.Re7 Bg4 33.Ne3 Be6) 31...Rf3-+30.Ndf2 Kf8 31.Kg3 c3 32.Nxc3 Rxb4 33.Re3
Rd4 34.Ne2 Rd2 35.a4 Ra2 36.Nc3 Ra3-+
30...Rd3
30...h5!?
31.b5?!
31.a4
31...cxb5 32.Nxb5 Bd7 33.a4 a6 34.Nc7 Bxa4 35.Nxa6 c3 36.Nb4 Rd4 37.Na2 Rd2+ 0-1

126. [D37]
 Bu, Xiangzhi (2695) - Wang, Chen (2521)
China (ch) 125/126, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Nbd7 5.Bf4 dxc4 6.e3 a6 7.a4 Bd6 8.Bg3 b6 9.e4N
9.Bxc4 - 96/(309)
9...Bb4 10.e5 Ne4 11.Qc2 Bb7 12.Bxc4

12...c5!³ 13.dxc5?!
13.Rd1
13...Qc7 14.O-O Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qxc5 16.Qe2 O-O 17.Bd3 Nxc3 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Qd3 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Kxh7
21.Qd3+ Kg8 22.Qxd7 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxa8 Rxa8µ 25.h3 b4 26.Qb7 Ra2
26...Qf8! 27.Kh2 Nd5 28.Rb1 Rb8 29.Qa6 b3 30.Rb2 Qb4-+
27.Kh2 Qc4 28.Re1 Nd5 29.Qb8+ Kh7 30.Qb7 Kg8
30...Kg6! 31.h4 Qc7 32.Qxc7 Nxc7 33.Rb1 Nd5 34.f3 Kf5µ
31.Qb8+ Kh7 32.Qb7 Kg8 1/2-1/2

127. [D37]
Aronian, Levon (2765) - Caruana, Fabiano (2808)
Saint Louis 125/127, 2015 [Marin,Mihail]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Ne4 8.Rc1 Nxc3 9.Rxc3 b6 10.c6 Nf6 11.a3 a5
12.Bd3 Ne4
12...Ba6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Ne5!?
13.Rc2 f6N
13...Ba6 - 123/136
14.Qe2 Bd6
14...g5 15.Bg3 h5 16.Ng1 (16.Nd2 h4 17.Bxh4 gxh4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qg4+ Kf7 20.Qh5+ Kg7=) 16...h4 17.f3 Nd6
18.Bxd6 Qxd6 (18...Bxd6 19.f4 e5 20.fxe5 fxe5 21.dxe5 Bxe5 22.Qh5 Qe7 23.Nf3 Bf6 24.Rd2 ∆g4 25.Nd4 Qxe3+
26.Kd1‭→) 19.Qd2 (19.f4 e5 20.Qh5 e4 21.Qg6+ Kh8=) 19...e5„
15.O-O g5 16.Bxd6 Nxd6
16...Qxd6 17.Nd2²
17.Re1 a4 18.Nd2 e5 19.e4 f5?!
19...Re8?! 20.Qh5 exd4 21.e5 Bf5 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.Nf3ƒ19...exd4 20.e5 fxe5 21.Qxe5 Qf6 22.Qxf6 Rxf6 23.Nf3 Bf5
24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Nxg5 d3 26.Rd2 Rxc6 27.Rxd3 d4∞
20.f3!
20.dxe5 Nxe4„
20...dxe4?!
20...Re8!?
21.fxe4 Ra5
21...f4 22.dxe5 Nf7 23.Bc4²21...exd4 22.e5 Re8 23.Qh5 Nf7 24.Nf3 g4 (24...Be6? 25.g4) 25.Nh4 Qg5 26.Qxg5+
Nxg5 27.Rc4²
22.exf5 Nxf5
22...Bxf5 23.dxe5±
23.Bc4+ Kg7

23...Kh8 24.d5 Re8 25.Ne4 Nd4 26.Qh5 Nxc2 27.Nxg5 Re7 28.Rf1+-
24.d5! [×Ra5, Bc8] 24...Re8
24...Qd6 25.Qxe5+ Qxe5 26.Rxe5 h6 27.Ne4±24...Nd6 25.Qxe5+ Qf6 26.Qxf6+ Rxf6 27.Ne4±
25.Ne4 Nd4 26.Qh5 Nxc2
26...Bf5 27.Rf2 Bg6 28.Qg4 h5 29.Qg3 g4 30.Nf6+-
27.Nxg5 Bf5 28.Rf1
28.Qf7+? Kh6!
28...Qf6 29.Ne6+ Rxe6 30.Rxf5 Qg6 31.dxe6
31.Rg5 Re7 32.Rxg6+ hxg6 33.Qg5 Re8 34.Bd3+-
31...Qxh5 32.Rxh5 Nd4 33.e7 Ra8 34.Rxe5 Re8 35.Re4 Nf5 36.Be6 Nd6
36...Rxe7 37.Bxf536...Nxe7 37.Bd7
37.Bd7 Nxe4 38.Bxe8 Kf6 39.Bg6 1-0

128.* [D37]
Carlsen, Magnus (2853) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2814)
Saint Louis 125/128, 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 O-O 6.a3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be2 Ne4
11...dxc4
12.cxd5 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 exd5 15.Rxd5 Bxa3
15...Be6 16.Rb5 b6 17.a4 (17.Nd4) 17...Rac8 18.O-O Na5 19.Nd4 Bd7©
16.Nd4! Nxd4
16...Be6 17.Nxe6 (17.Rb5!? Nxd4 18.cxd4 b6 19.Kd2) 17...fxe6 18.Rd7 (18.Rb5 b6) 18...Rf7 19.Rxf7 Kxf7 20.Kd2
Bd6!=16...Rd8? 17.Rxd8+ Nxd8 18.Nb5 Bf8 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.Ne6!+-
17.exd4
17.cxd4 Bb4+ 18.Kd1 a5 19.Bd6? Rd8
17...b6
17...Be6 18.Rb5 b6 19.Kd2 - 17...b6
18.Kd2! Be6
18...Bb7 19.Rd7 Bxg2 20.Ra1!+- Bh3 21.Rc7 g5 22.Bg3
19.Rb5 Bd7 20.Rb3 Be7 21.Bf3!
21.Ra1 Be6 22.Rb2 (22.c4 Bf6„) 22...Bd5²
21...Ba4
21...Rae8? - 100/30921...Rac8 22.Ra1±
22.Rb2 Rad8 23.Ra1N
23.Re1Bc5 24.Ra1 b5 Kubik,M (2178)-Jaworski,M (2288) Ostrava 2015 [Sulskis,Sarunas] (24...b5 25.Bg5±)
23...b5 24.Bc6 a6 25.Bb7! Bd6 26.Be3 a5
26...f5 27.f4 (27.d5 Be5) 27...Rf6 28.Bxa6 Bxf4 29.Bxb5 Bxe3+ (29...Bxb5 30.Rxb5 Bxh2 31.Bg5+-) 30.Kxe3 Bxb5
31.Rxb5±
27.Bc6! Rb8 28.d5± Rfd8 29.Kd3
29.Ke2 Be529.Ba7 Rbc8 30.Bb6 Rxc6 (30...Bc7 31.Bxc7 Rxc7 32.Ke3±) 31.Bxd8 Rc5 32.Bxa5 Rxd5+ 33.Ke2±
29...Bf8 30.Bd4
30.g4±
30...f6 31.Ke4 Bd6 32.c4
32.Kf3!? Kf7 33.c4 Bb4 34.Ba7 Rbc8 (34...Bc3 35.Rxa4! bxa4 (35...Bxb2 36.cxb5+-) 36.Rxb8 a3! (36...Rxb8 37.Bxb8
a3 38.d6 a2 39.d7 a1=Q 40.d8=Q+-) 37.Rxd8 a2 38.Be8+ (38.Bc5 Kg6 39.Be8+ Kh6 40.Be3+ g5 41.Bc5) 38...Ke7
39.Ra8 (39.d6+ Ke6
(39...Kxd8 40.Bc6+-) 40.Bd7+ Kf7 41.Re8 a1=Q 42.Be6+ Kxe8 (42...Kg6 43.d7 Qd1+ 44.Ke4 Qb1+ 45.Ke3! Qc1+
46.Kd3 f5 47.Bxf5+ Kxf5 48.g4+!+-) 43.d7+ Ke7 44.Bc5+ Kxe6 45.d8=Q Kf7 46.Kg4!! Qe1 (46...f5+ 47.Kh5! g6+
48.Kh6+-) 47.Qd7+ Kg6 48.Qf5+ Kf7 49.Qh5+ g6 50.Qxh7+ Ke8 51.Qxg6++-) 39...Kd6! (39...a1=Q 40.Bc5#)
40.c5+ Ke5 41.Bb8+ Kd4) 35.cxb5 (35.Bb6 Rd6) 35...Bxb5! 36.Bxb5 Bc3 37.Raa2 Bxb2 38.Rxb2 Rxd5 39.Ba4±
32...Bb4 33.Ba7 f5+!
33...Bc3 34.Rxa4! Bxb2 (34...bxa4 35.Rxb8 Rxb8 36.Bxb8 a3 37.d6 a2 38.d7 f5+ 39.Kxf5 Bf6 40.Be5+-) 35.cxb5 Rbc8
36.b6
34.Kf3
34.Kxf5 Bc3 35.Rxa4 (35.Bxb8 Bxb2) 35...Bxb2 36.cxb5 Rxb5! 37.Bxb5 Rxd5+ 38.Ke6 Re5+ 39.Kd6 Rxb5=
34...Rbc8
34...Bc3 35.Rxa4! Bxb2 (35...bxa4 36.Rxb8 Rxb8 37.Bxb8 a3 38.d6 a2 39.d7 Bf6 40.Be5+-) 36.cxb5+-
35.cxb5 Bxb5!
35...Bc3 36.Rxa4 Bxb2 37.b6+-
36.Bxb5 Bc3 37.Rab1 Bxb2 38.Rxb2 Rxd5 39.Be3??
39.Ba4± Rc3+ 40.Ke2 (40.Be3 Rd4) 40...Re5+ 41.Kd2 Ra3 42.Bb3+ Kf8 43.Bd4 Rb5 44.Kc2 a4 45.Bc4 Rxb2+
46.Kxb2+-39.Rb3± ∆a4? 40.Bxa4 Ra5 41.Bd7+-
39...Rb8! 40.Bc4 Rxb2 41.Bxd5+ Kh8„
41...Kf8 42.Bc5+ Ke8 43.Bd4
42.Bd4 Rb1 43.Ke2 a4 44.g3 a3 45.Kd2 h5 46.h4 Kh7 47.Bc4
47.Kc2 Re1 48.Kb3?? a2! 49.Kxa2 Rd1-+
47...g6 48.Kc2 Re1
48...Rb8 49.f4 Rb4 50.Kc3 Rb2„
49.Be3
49.Kb3? a2 50.Kxa2 Re4-+
49...f4 50.Bxf4
50.gxf4?! Rh1 51.Kb3 Rxh4 52.Kxa3 Rh1„
50...a2 51.Bxa2 Re2+ 52.Kb3 Rxf2² 53.Bb1 Re2 54.Kc4 Kg7 55.Kd5 Re1 56.Bc2 Re2 57.Bd3 Re1 58.Be4 Rd1+
59.Ke5 Re1 60.Bd2 Re2 61.Bc3 Kh6 62.Bb4 Rf2 63.Bc5 Rf1 64.Bb4 Rf2 65.Be7 Rf1 66.Bf6 Rg1 67.Bg5+ Kg7
68.Bf4 Re1 69.Kd5 Rd1+ 70.Ke6 Re1 71.Ke5
71.Be5+ Kh6 72.Kd5 g5=
71...Re2 72.Kd5 Re1 73.Bd3 Kh7 74.Kd4 Kg7 75.Be3 Ra1 76.Ke4 Ra4+ 77.Kf3 Ra3 78.Bb5 Rb3 79.Be8 Rb1
80.Bc6 Rb4 81.Bd2 Rb6 82.Bc3+ Kh6 83.Bd5 Rb1 84.Kf4 Rf1+ 85.Ke5 Rg1 86.Bd2+ Kg7 87.Bf4 Re1+ 88.Kd6
Kf6 89.Bf3 Kf5 90.Kd5 Rf1 91.Be4+ Kg4! 92.Bxg6
92.Ke5 Re1 (92...Rg1 93.Bxg6 Rxg3 94.Bg5 Ra3 95.Bf5+ Kg3=) 93.Kd4 Rg1=
92...Rxf4 93.gxf4 Kxf4 94.Bxh5 Kg3 95.Bd1 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

129. !N [D38]
Fressinet, Laurent (2712) - Tari, Aryan (2520)
Oslo 125/129, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 Bd7
9...dxc4 - 110/229
10.Qb3 dxc4 11.Qxc4 Bd6 12.O-O e5 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.d5!N
14.Nxd6
14...Nd8
14...b5!? 15.Qc3 (15.Qxb5 Nd4 16.Qa6 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Rab8©) 15...Nd8 16.Rfc1² (16.Rac1²)
15.Rac1! Rc8 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.Qb4 e4
17...b6 18.Qa3±
18.Rxc8 Bxc8 19.Nd4!
19.Nd2?! f5 20.Rc1 Nf7 21.Qc3 Ne5 22.Qc7 Qf6„
19...f5 20.Nb5 a6
20...Bd7 21.Qxd6±
21.Qxd6 Qd7 22.Qxd7 Bxd7 23.Nd6
23.Nd4±
23...Rf6 24.Nc4 b5 25.Na5 Rd6
26.Bd1! Kf7 27.Bb3
27.f3!? Ke7 28.fxe4 fxe4 29.Bb3 Be8 30.Rf4±
27...Ke7 28.Rc1 Be8 29.Rc7+ Rd7
29...Kf6 30.f3 Bf7 31.Rc5±
30.Rc8 Rd6 31.f4 Bf7 32.Rc5 Be8 33.Kf2 Bd7 34.Rc7 g5 35.g3 Rb6
35...Kf6 36.Ke1 Be8 37.Kd2 Bf7 38.Rc5±
36.Ra7 Kd6 37.Ke1
37.fxg5! hxg5 38.h4+-
37...gxf4 38.gxf4+- Ke7
38...Be8 39.Kd2
39.Kd2 Rg6 40.Kc3 h5 41.h4 1-0

130. [D41]
Ni, Hua (2703) - Wang, Yue (2716)
China (ch) 125/130, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 Nc6 8.Bb5 dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ng5 Be6
11.O-O Bb4 12.Ncxe4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Ke7 14.Be3 Rhd8 15.Ba4 Kf8 16.Nc5N
16.a3 - 121/140
16...Bxc5 17.Bxc5+ Kg8 18.a3 Nd4!?
18...Rd5 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Rac1 a5=
19.Rfd1
19...b5!? 20.Bxd4 bxa4 21.Bxa7 Bb3 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8= 23.Be3 f5 24.f3 Kf7 25.Kf2 Rd1 26.Rxd1 Bxd1 27.Bd4 Bb3
28.Be3 Bd1 29.Bd4 Bb3 30.Be3 1/2-1/2

131.*** [D41]
Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2747) - Lysyj, Igor (2673)
Russia 125/131, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+
9...Qa5? 10.Rb1 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 O-O 13.Bb5±
10.Qxd2 O-O 11.Bc4 Nc6
11...Nd7 12.O-O b6 13.a4 (13.Rfe1 Bb7 14.a4 Rc8 15.Bd3 Qc7 16.a5 Rfd8 (16...h6 17.Ra3N (17.h3) 17...Qd6 18.Qb2
Rc7 19.axb6 axb6 20.Nd2² So,W (2779)-Mamedov,N (2597) Turkiye 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]) 17.Ra3 h6 18.h3 Qd6
19.Qb2 Rc7 20.axb6 axb6 21.d5!?N (21.Rb3) 21...Nc5 22.Bb1 exd5 23.e5 Qe7 24.Nd4© Sasikiran,K (2640)-Wang,Y
(2716) Danzhou 2015 [Petronijevic, Zoran]) 13...Bb7 14.Bd3 a5N (14...e5!?) (14...Rc8 - 102/325) 15.Rfc1 (15.Rac1!?)
15...e5 16.d5 Nc5 17.Qe3² Kramnik,V (2783)-Naiditsch, A (2722) Dortmund 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]
12.O-O b6 13.Rad1 Na5 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.h4!?
15.Rfe1 - 95/315
15...Rc8 16.h5 h6
16...Nc4 17.Qe2 Na5 18.h6∞
17.Rfe1 Qe7N
17...Qc7!?17...Nc4 18.Qe2 Nd6 19.e5 (19.Bb1 Re8 20.d5 e5 21.Qb2 Qe7=) 19...Ne8 20.Bb1 Rc3=
18.d5!? Nc4?
18...Rc5 19.Qf4 Rd8 20.Ne5 (20.Bb1 Nc4 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Qg4 Qe8=) 20...Qf6 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Ng4
Kg7 23.Ne3 Bc8 24.g4 Nb7=
19.Bxc4
19.Qe2 exd5 20.exd5 Qxe2 21.Bxe2 Nd6 (21...Rfd8 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.Ne5 Rc5 24.d6 Rd5 25.Rxd5 Bxd5 26.Rd1 Rxd6
27.Ng4 Rd7 28.Ne5=) 22.Ne5 Rfe8 23.Bf3 Rc2=19.Qf4 Nb2 20.Rd2 Nxd3 21.Rxd3 Rfd8 22.d6 (22.Rd4 exd5 23.exd5
Qf6 24.Qxf6 gxf6 25.Re7 Bxd5 26.Rxa7 Bxf3=) 22...Qf6 (22...Qe8?! 23.Ra3 a5 24.Ne5ƒ) 23.Qg3 (23.Qxf6?! gxf6
(×d6) 24.Nh2 Rc5 25.Ng4 Kg7 26.e5 fxe5 27.Nxe5 Kf8³) 23...Rc4 24.e5 Qf5 25.Rd4 Rxd4 26.Nxd4 Qxh5 27.Rc1
Rc8 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8 29.Qc3 Qd1+ 30.Kh2 Bd7 31.Nf3 f5 32.Qc7 Qa4 33.Qd8+ Kh7 34.Qe7=
19...Rxc4 20.Ne5
20.d6 Qf6 21.Rc1! Rxc1 (21...Rfc8? 22.Rxc4 Rxc4 23.d7 Qd8 24.Ne5 Rxe4 25.Rxe4 Bxe4 26.Qc3 Bb7 27.Qd3 a5
28.Qd6+-) 22.Rxc1 Rd8 23.d7 Bxe4 24.Rc8 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Qe7 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.Qd6 g6 28.hxg6 Kg7 29.gxf7 Kxf7
30.f4±
20...Rc5
20...Ra4 21.d6 Qh4 22.Nf3 Qf6 (22...Qd8 23.d7 Bxe4 24.Ne5 Bd5 25.Rc1±) 23.d7 Rd8 24.Rc1±
21.d6 Qd8?!
¹21...Qh4 22.d7 Rd8 23.Qd6 Qf6 (23...Rc2?! 24.g3 Qg5 25.Rd3 Rxa2 26.Qc7+-) 24.f4±
22.Qf4
22.f4 f6 (22...Bc6 23.Nxc6 Rxc6 24.d7 a5 25.Re3 b5 26.Qd4+-) 23.Ng6 Rf7 24.e5 f5 25.Rc1+-
22...f6 23.Ng6 Rf7 24.e5?!
24.Qg4! Bc8 (24...Qe8 25.d7! Rxd7 26.Rxd7 Qxd7 27.Rd1 Qe8 28.Qxe6+!! Qxe6 29.Rd8+ Qe8 30.Rxe8+ Kf7
31.Re7++-) (24...Qd7 25.e5! f5 (25...fxe5 26.Nxe5+-) 26.Qh4 Kh7 27.Ne7 Rf8 28.Rc1+-) 25.e5 f5 26.Qb4 Qg5
27.Qa4+-
24...fxe5

25.Ne7+?
25.Qg4! Rf6 26.Re3 e4 27.Rg3 Rg5 28.Qh3 Ra5 29.Ne7+ Kf8 30.Qg4 Rg5 31.Qh4 Bd5 32.Rxg5 hxg5 33.Qg3+-
25...Kf8?
¹25...Rxe7 26.dxe7 Qxe7 27.Rxe5 Qc7 28.Rde1 Bd5 29.a3 a5 (29...b5 30.a4 a6 31.axb5 axb5 32.Rxd5! Qxf4 33.Rxc5
b4 34.Rxe6±) 30.Qg3 Qc8²
26.Ng6+ Kg8 27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Qg4! Bd5
28...Rxe7 29.dxe7+ Qxe7 30.Rc1±
29.Nxd5?
29.Ng6+! Kg8 30.Rxe5 Qd7 (30...Qxd6 31.Rxe6!! Qd7 32.Re5+-) (30...Kh7 31.Ne7 Kh8 32.Nxd5 exd5 33.Qg6 Qg8
34.Rde1 Rc8 35.Re7 Rcf8 36.d7+-) 31.f4 (31.Re3 b5 32.f4 Bc4 33.Ne5 Rxe5 34.fxe5+-) 31...a5 32.f5 Rxf5 (32...exf5
33.Qe2+-) 33.Ne7++-
29...exd5 30.Rxe5 Qxd6² 31.Rde1!
31.Qg3? Qd8 (31...Rf6 32.Rde1 Rc8=) 32.Rde1 Rc8 33.Qd3 Kg8 34.Rxd5 Qh4 35.g3 Qg4 36.Re4 Qh3=
31...Rf6
31...Qd7? 32.Qg6 Rc8 33.Qh7+-
32.Re8+
32.Re7 Qxe7 33.Rxe7 Kxe7 34.Qxg7+ Ke6 35.Qxa7 Rc6 36.Qa4 Rc4 37.Qe8+ Kd6 38.Qd8+ Ke5 39.f3 Rcc6²
32...Kf7 33.Qa4!?
33.g3!? Rc7 34.Qe2 Qd7²33.R1e7+ Qxe7 34.Rxe7+ Kxe7 35.Qxg7+ Ke6 36.Qxa7 Rc6²
33...Rc7
33...a5 34.Qa3 Rc7 35.Qd3 Qd7 36.Qe2²
34.Qb5
34.Qd4
34...Qc6
34...Qd7 35.Qe2 (35.Qd3 Qxe8 36.Qxd5+ Qe6 37.Rxe6 Rxe6=) 35...Rf4! 36.a3 Re4 37.Rxe4 dxe4 38.Qxe4 Kg8=
35.Qe2 [Δ Qe7!!] 35...Qc5?†
¹35...Rf4! 36.Qd3 Re4 37.R1xe4 dxe4 38.Rxe4 Kg8 39.Rd4 Rc8=
36.g3?
36.Re6 Qc2 37.Rxf6+ gxf6 38.Qe6+ Kg7 39.Qxd5 Qc5 40.Qd8 b5 (40...Rf7 41.Re3 Kh7 42.Qd3+ f5 43.g3±) 41.Qe8
Qg5 42.g3 Rf7 43.Qd8!±
36...Rd7??
¹36...Qd6 37.a4 (37.Kg2 Qd7 38.a4 Qd6²) 37...Qd7 38.Qe5 Rd6 39.Kh2 Rf6 40.Qe3²
37.Re6!+- Rd8
37...Rf5

38.Rf6+! (38.Rd6+-) 38...gxf6 (38...Kxf6 39.Qe6+ Kg5 40.Qg6#)

39.Qe8+ Kg7 40.Qg6+ Kh8 41.Re8+ Qf8 42.Rxf8#
38.Rxf6+! gxf6
38...Kxf6 39.Qe6+ Kg5 40.Re5#

39.Qg4! Rg8
39...Qd6 40.Qg6+ Kf8 41.Re3 d4 42.Rf3 Ke7 43.Qg7+ Ke8 44.Rxf6 Qe7 45.Qg6+ Kd7 46.Rf7+-
40.Qd7+ 1-0

132. !N [D43]
Cabrilo, Goran (2424) - Szuhanek, Ranko (2489)
 Bijeljina 125/132, 2015 [Szuhanek,Ranko]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qb3 Nbd7 8.Bg5 a6 9.e4 h6 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.e5 Nd7
12.Be2 Bb7 13.O-O Be7 14.Rfd1

14.Ne4 - 45/497
14...Qb6!N
14...O-O
15.Rac1?!
15.Qc2 O-O 16.Bd3 (16.Rac1 Rfd8 17.Bd3 c5 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 cxd4 (19...c4 20.h3 Rac8 21.Qg4 Qb8!³) 20.Rxd4
Rac8 21.Rcd1 Nc5 22.Qc2 Rxd4 23.Nxd4 Qb7³) 16...Rfd8 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Be4 Rac8=
15...c5!³ 16.d5 c4 17.Qc2 O-O
17...Bc5? 18.Na4! (18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Na4 Qb5 20.dxe6 Nf8 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Nxc5 Qxc5 23.Nh4 Rb8 24.Qe2 Kg8
25.Nf5 Re8 26.Nd6 Re7 27.b4 Qc6 28.Nxb7 Rxb7 29.Rxc4 Qg6 30.g3 Kh7 31.f4 Ne6 32.a3ƒ) 18...Bxf2+ (18...bxa4
19.dxe6 Qxe6 20.Bxc4 Qg6 21.Qxg6 fxg6 22.Bf7+ Ke7 23.e6 Bd6 24.exd7 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Bxh2+ 26.Kxh2 Kxf7
27.Rc4 Rhd8 28.Rxa4) 19.Kh1 bxa4 20.dxe6 Qxe6 21.Bxc4 Qe7 22.Qxf2 (22.e6 fxe6 23.Rxd7 Kxd7 24.Ne5+ Kc7
25.Qxf2 Rac8 26.Bxe6+ Kb8 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 28.Re1 Qd6=) 22...O-O 23.Bd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rfd8 25.Qd4 a3 26.bxa3
Nf8 27.Rd6 Ne6 28.Qd3²
18.d6
18.dxe6 Qxe6 19.Re1 Rad8 20.Nd4 Qb6 21.Bf3 Bc5µ
18...Bd8 19.b3
19.Re1 f6! 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Rcd1 Nc5 22.Rd2 Rad8 23.Red1 Rd7µ19.Ne4 Qc6µ
19...cxb3
19...Bxf3!? 20.Bxf3 Rc8 21.Qe4 (21.Qe2 Bg5 22.Rc2 Bf4 23.Ne4 cxb3 24.axb3 Bxe5 25.b4 Bd4µ) 21...Rc5 22.b4
Rxe5 23.Qc6 Bg5! (23...Qxc6 24.Bxc6 Nb8 25.Bb7 f5 26.a4 Rf7 27.Bc8 Bg5 28.Ra1„) 24.Rc2 (24.Qxd7 Bxc1
25.Rxc1 Rd8 26.Qc7 Qxd6 27.Qxd6 Rxd6µ) 24...Qxc6 25.Bxc6 Rd8 26.g3 Bf6 27.a4 Rf5 28.Ne4 (28.axb5 Bxc3
29.Rxc3 axb5 30.Ra3 Nb8 31.Bb7 g5 32.Kg2 Kg7³) 28...Nb8 29.Bb7 Rf3 30.Nxf6+ Rxf6 31.axb5 axb5 32.Ra2„
20.axb3 Rc8 21.Qd2™

21.Qb2 Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Nxe5µ

21...Bxf3!?
21...Qa5 22.Qb2 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Bg5 (23...Nxe5 24.Bb7 Bg5 25.Rc2 Rb8 26.Ne4 Qb4 27.Nxg5 hxg5 28.Qxe5 Rxb7
29.d7 Qe7 30.Qd6 Qxd6 31.Rxd6 Rbb8 32.Rc7 e5 33.Rxa6±) 24.Rc2 Bf4 25.Bb7 Rcd8 (25...Rb8 26.Bc6 Nxe5 27.Ne2
Rbc8 28.b4 Qd8∞ (28...Qb6 29.Nxf4 Rxc6 30.Rxc6 Nxc6 31.d7 e5 32.Nd5 Qd8 33.Qc3 Nd4 34.Qc8 Kh7 35.Qb7ƒ))
26.Qa2 Qxa2 27.Nxa2 Bxe5 28.Bxa6 Nf6 29.Bxb5 Rxd6 30.Rxd6 Bxd6 31.Bc4=
22.gxf3
22.Na4 bxa4 23.Rxc8 Bg5 24.Rxf8+ Kxf8 25.Qe1 Bxe2 26.Qxe2 axb3-+22.Bxf3 Bg5-+
22...Nxe5 23.f4 Ng6
23...Bh4 24.Ne4 (24.fxe5 Qxf2+ 25.Kh1 Bg5 26.Qe1 Qxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Bxc1 28.Rxc1 Rc5-+) 24...Nd7 25.Rc7 f5
26.Qc2 fxe4 27.Rxc8 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Rxc8 29.Qxc8+ Kh7 30.Qxd7 Qxe2 31.Rg1 Qf3+ 32.Rg2 Qf1+=
24.Bf3 Qa5 25.d7?!
25.Bb7 Rc5 26.Qd4 Qb6 27.Bg2 Rf5 28.Ne2 Qxd4 29.Rxd4 Bf6 30.d7 Rd8 31.Rc8 Kf8 32.Rd6 Ke7 33.Rxa6 Kxd7
34.Rxd8+ Bxd8 35.Bc6+ Kc8 (35...Kc7? 36.Nd4 b4 37.Nxf5 exf5 38.Be8+-) 36.Ra8+ Kc7 37.Be4 Rf6 38.Nd4 b4
39.f5 Nf4 40.Kf1 Be7 41.fxe6 Nxe6 42.Nxe6+ Rxe6 43.Bd5 Rf6 44.Ra7+ Kd6³
25...Rc7µ 26.Qe3 Nxf4 27.Qxf4 Rxc3 28.b4 Qa3 29.Rxc3 Qxc3 30.Rc1 Qd3! 31.Rd1 Qg6+ 32.Qg4
32.Kh1 Be7 33.Rg1 Qd3 34.Rd1 Qc3 35.Bb7 Rd8 36.Kg2 Qa3 37.Rd4 a5 38.bxa5 Qxa5 39.Qe4 b4 40.Rd3 b3 41.Rxb3
Rxd7-+32.Kf1 Be7 33.Qe4 Qg5 34.h4 Qf6µ (34...Qxh4!? 35.Qxh4 Bxh4 36.Bb7 Rd8 37.Bxa6 Be7 38.Bxb5 Bxb4
39.Rb1 Ba5 40.Ra1 Bb6 41.Ra6 Bd4 42.Rc6 Kf8 43.Rc4 e5 44.Rc8 Ke7µ)
32...Qxg4+ 33.Bxg4 a5 34.bxa5 Bxa5 35.Be2 b4 36.Ra1 Bb6 37.Rc1
37.Rb1 Bc5 38.Bb5 Rd8 39.Kf1 Kf8 40.Ke2 Ke7 41.Kd3 f5 42.Kc4 Bxf2 (42...Bd6 43.h4 g6 44.Rg1 Kf6 45.Rd1 Be7
46.Bc6 Rb8µ) 43.Rxb4 g5 44.Rb2 Be3 45.Kd3 Bf4 46.Bc6 g4 47.Kc4 h5 48.Rf2 Bd6 49.Ra2 h4-+
37...Rd8 38.Bb5
38.Rc8 b3 39.Kf1 (39.Rxd8+ Bxd8 40.Kf1 Kf8 41.Ke1 b2 42.Bd3 Ke7 43.Kd2 Kxd7 44.Kc2 Bf6) 39...Kf8 40.Ke1
b2 41.Rxd8+ Bxd8 42.Bd3 Ke7-+
38...Kf8 39.Rc4 Ba5 40.Rc1 Ke7 41.Ra1?!
41.Ba4 g5 42.Kg2 b3 43.Rb1 Rb8 44.Rxb3 Rxb3 45.Bxb3 Kxd7 46.Kg3 f5µ
41...Bc7!-+ 42.Rb1 Bd6 43.Kg2 Rb8 44.Ba4 Kd8 45.Rd1 Be5 46.Rc1 Bc3 47.Kf3 Ra8 48.Bc6 Ra6 49.Bb5 Ra5
50.Bc6 g6 51.h3 Rh5 52.Kg2 Rc5 53.Ba4 Ra5 54.Bc6 f5 55.Rb1 Ra2 56.Kf3 e5 57.Ke3 Bd4+ 58.Kd3 Ra3+ 59.Kc4
Rc3+ 60.Kd5 Ke7 0-1

133. [D43]
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2723) - Carlsen, Magnus (2876)
Stavanger 125/133, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4

7...dxc4 - 105/(278)
8.Nxe4!? dxe4 9.Nd2 Qxd4 10.e3
10.Qb3 f5 11.e3 Qf6 12.Be2! h5 13.h4 g4 14.O-O-O10.Qc2 f5 11.e3 Qf6 12.Be2 Kf7 13.O-O Nd7 14.f3!?ƒ
10...Qxb2 11.Rb1 Qc3
11...Qxa2? 12.Be5 Rg8 13.Ra1+-
12.Be2N
12.h4
12...Nd7
12...Bb4 13.Rxb4! Qxb4 14.O-O O-O (14...f5? 15.Bh5+ Ke7 16.Nxe4! fxe4 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Rd1+-) 15.Nxe4‭→
13.O-O Nc5 14.Nb3 Nd3
14...Be7!? 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.Bd6 Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Qf6 18.Rbd1 Qe7 19.Qe5 O-O 20.Qxe4 e5∞
15.Nd2 Nc5
15...f5? 16.Bh5+ Kd8 (16...Kd7? 17.Rb3 Qg7
18.Nxe4! fxe4 19.Rxd3+! exd3 20.Qxd3+ Ke7 21.Qd6+ Kf6 22.Be5+ Kf5 23.e4+ Kxe4 24.Qd4+ Kf5 25.g4#) 17.Rb3
Qg7 (17...Qa5 18.Nxe4!+-) 18.Nf3 Bd7 19.Rxd3! exd3 20.Qxd3+- Δ Rd1, Ne515...Nb2?! 16.Rxb2! Qxb2 17.Nxe4
Be7 18.Bd6 (18.Nd6+!?) 18...Bxd6 19.Qxd6 Bd7 20.Qd3! O-O 21.Rb1 Qe5 (21...Qxa2? 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Nxd7+-)
22.f4! gxf4 23.exf4 Qf5 (23...Qxf4? 24.Rf1+-) 24.Bg4 Qg6 25.Bh5 Qg7 (25...Qf5? 26.g4!+-) 26.Qxd7²
16.Nb3 Nd3 17.Nd2 Nc5 1/2-1/2

134. [D43]
Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Topalov, Veselin (2798)
Stavanger 125/134, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Rc1 g6 9.Be2
9.cxd5 - 90/379
9...Bg7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b4 a6N
11...Qd6
12.a4 O-O 13.b5 axb5 14.axb5 Qd6 15.O-O Nb6
15...Nf6 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Ne5 Nd7 19.Nxd7 Bxd7= 20.Na4 Bf5! 21.Qd1 Rfb8 22.Nc5 Ra2„
16.Qb3 Rb8 17.Nd1 Bf5 18.Nb2 Rfc8 19.Nd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 c5! 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.h4 Na4
22...h5 23.Ng5
23.h5! Rbc8?!
23...Nc3 24.hxg6 Qxg6 25.Qxg6 fxg6 26.Bd3 Rd8=
24.Rxc5 Nxc5
24...Rxc5 25.Qa3! Nb6 26.hxg6 fxg6 27.Bd3²
25.Qc2² gxh5
25...g5 26.Nd4 Qc7 (26...Bf8 27.Bf3 Qd7 28.Qf5! Qxf5 29.Nxf5±) 27.Nf5 Nd7 28.Qd3±
26.Nd4 Qg6 27.Nf5?!
27.Rc1 Qxc2 28.Rxc2 Bf8 29.Bxh5²
27...Bf8 28.Rd1 Qe6 29.Rc1

29.Nd4? Ne4! 30.Qb2 Qe5„

29...Nb3! 30.Qxc8 Nxc1 31.Qxc1 Qxf5 32.Qc7 Qb1+ 33.Bf1 d4! 34.exd4 Qd1
RR34...Qe4!?
35.Qe5!
35.Qxb7? Qxd4 36.g3 h4 37.Qf3 Bc5=
35...Bg7 36.Qe8+ Bf8 37.Qd8 Kg7?
37...Qg4! 38.Qd5 b6 39.Bc4 Qg6=
38.Qd5 b6 39.Qe5+! Kg8 40.Qf6 [×b6] 40...Bg7 41.Qxb6 Bxd4
41...Qxd4 42.Qb8+ Bf8 43.b6 Qd6 44.Qc7!?
42.Qxh6 Qg4 43.Qd6 Qd1 44.Qd8+ Kh7?
44...Kg7! 45.Qc7 Qb1
45.Qc7!
45.b6?? Bxf2+! 46.Kxf2 Qxd8-+
45...Kg7 46.b6 Qg4 47.b7 Qh4 48.g3
48.b8=Q?? Bxf2#
48...Qf6 49.Qc2 Qe5 50.Qd3 Ba7 51.Qf3 Qf6 52.Qe2 Qc3 53.Kh2 Qd4 54.Qf3 Bb8
54...Qg4? 55.Qc3+ Kg8 56.Qc7 Qb4 57.Bc4+-RR54...h4!?
55.Kh3 Bc7 56.Be2 Bb8 57.Bd1
57.Kg2 h4! 58.gxh4 Qxh4
57...f5!
57...Kg8?! 58.Bb3 Qd7+ 59.Kg2 Qc7 60.Bd5+-
58.Be2 f4 59.Qxh5
59.gxf4!? Bxf4 (59...Qxf4? 60.Qxf4 Bxf4 61.Bxh5 Kf6 62.Kg4 Bb8 63.f4+-) 60.Qg2+ (60.b8=Q?! Qd7+ 61.Kg2
Bxb8=) 60...Kf6 (60...Kh6 61.Qc6+ Kg5 62.Qe8 ∆Qxf2? 63.Qe7+ Kh6 64.Qf6+ Kh7 65.Bd3+ Kg8 66.b8=Q+ Bxb8
67.Qxf2+-) 61.Bxh5 Qd3+ 62.Kh4 (62.Qf3? Qxf3+ 63.Bxf3 Kg5!=) 62...Qf5 63.Qg4! Bb8 64.Qxf5+ Kxf5 65.Bg4+
Kg6 (65...Kf4 66.Kh5+-) 66.Bh3 Bc7 67.Kg4 Bb8 68.f4+-
59...Qxf2 60.Qg5+ Kf7†
60...Kf7 61.Bc4+! (61.Qh5+? Ke7=) 61...Ke8 (61...Kf8?? 62.Qf6+ Ke8 63.Bb5#)
62.Bb5+ Kf7 (62...Kf8? 63.Qf6+ Kg8 64.Bc4+ - 60.. .Kf8) 63.Qf5+ Kg7 (63...Ke7 64.Qd7+) 64.Qd7+ Kh6 (64...Kf6
65.Qd8+ Kg6 66.Bd3+ Kf7 67.Bc4+ Kg6 68.Qe8+ Kf6 69.Qe6+ Kg5 70.Qe7+ Kh6 71.Qf6+ Kh7 72.Qf7+!)
(64...Kg6 65.Qe6+ Kg7 66.Qe7+ Kh6 67.Qf6+ Kh7 68.Bd3+ Kg8 69.Bc4+ Kh7 70.Qf7++-) 65.Qe6+ Kg7 66.Qe7+
Kh6 67.Qf6+ Kh7 68.Bd3+! Kg8 69.Bc4+ Kh7 70.Qf7+! Kh6 71.Qf8+ Kg5 72.Qg7+ Kf5 73.g4+ Ke4
74.Qg6+!+-60...Kf8? 61.Qf6+ Kg8 62.Bc4+ Kh7 63.Qf7+ Kh6 (63...Kh8 64.Qg8#) 64.Qf8+ Kg5 (64...Kg6
65.Bd3+ Kh5 66.g4+ Kg5 67.Qg7#) 65.Qg7+ Kf5 (65...Kh5 66.Bf7#) 66.g4+ Ke4 67.Qg6+! Kf3 (67...Kd4
68.Qb6++-) (67...Ke5 68.Qe6+ Kd4 69.Qb6++-) 68.Qc6+ Ke3 69.Qc5+ Kf3 70.Qd5+ Ke3 71.Qd3#

0-1

135. [D43]
Kosic, Dragan (2480) - Szuhanek, Ranko (2489)
 Bijeljina 125/135, 2015 [Szuhanek,Ranko]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Rc1 g6 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Bg7 11.O-O Qe7
12.a3 O-O 13.e4N
13.Ba213.Re1 - 62/464
13...Rd8! 14.Ba2?!

14.Qe2 b5 15.Bd3 Bb7∞

14...b6
14...Ne5! 15.Nxe5 Bxe5
16.d5 Qd6 (16...exd5 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Qd6 19.Qf3 Bd7! (19...Bxh2+ 20.Kh1 Be5 21.Rfe1 Be6 22.Rcd1 Kg7
23.Nb4ƒ) 20.Rc7 (20.Rfd1 Bc6 21.b4 a6 22.Bb3 Kg7=) 20...Rab8 21.g3 Be6 22.Ne7+ Kg7 23.Bxe6 Qxe6 24.Re1 Qf6
25.Qxf6+ Kxf6 26.Rc2 Rd7 27.Nc8 Ra8 28.Rec1 Rd3 29.Kf1 Rb3 30.f4 Bd4 31.Rb1 a5³) 17.g3 exd5 18.exd5 cxd5
(18...Qf6 19.Re1 Bf5³) 19.Qd2 Bh3 20.Rfe1 Kh7 21.Nxd5 Be6 22.Red1 Bg4 23.Re1 Bg7³
15.Qe2 Bb7
15...c5 16.Rfd1 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Ne5³
16.Rfd1 Nf6
16...c5 17.d5 Ne5 18.Rc2 Rd6 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.g3∞
17.Ne5 Nd7 18.Nf3 Nf6 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nxd5
20.Ne4 a5 21.g3 a4
20...cxd5 21.Bb1 Rac8 22.Bd3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rc8 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.Qc2 Bb7 26.h4 Qd7 27.b4 Qc6 28.Qxc6 Bxc6
29.b5 Bd7 30.Ne1 Bf8
30...f6 31.exf6 (31.f4 g5 32.g3 gxh4 33.gxh4 Bf8 34.a4 Be8 35.Kf2 Ba3 36.Nc2 Bb2³) 31...Bxf6 32.Nf3 Be8 33.g4 g5
34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Ne5 Be7 36.a4 Bd6=
31.Nc2 Be7
31...g5 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Nb4 f6 34.exf6 (34.Kh2 fxe5 35.dxe5 Bg7 36.Nc6 Bxc6 37.bxc6 Bxe5+ 38.Kh3 Kf7 39.Bb5
Bc7 40.a4 Kf6³) 34...Kf7 35.Kf1 Kxf6 36.Ke2 Be8 37.Kd2 Bxb4+ 38.axb4 e5 39.Ke3=
32.g3 Kg7 33.Kg2 f5 34.f4 g5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.Kh3 Be8 37.g4 fxg4+ 38.Kxg4 gxf4 39.Kxf4 Kh6 40.Nb4 Bg5+
41.Kf3 1/2-1/2

136.* !N [D45]
Nguyen, Anh Khoi (2239) - Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2548)
Ho Chi Minh City 125/136, 2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 O-O 8.Be2 Qe7 9.O-O b6
9...Re8 10.Bb2 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.Rfd1 e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 14.c5! Bc7 15.Nc4² Nd5?!N (15...Ng6) 16.Ba3 Nxc3
17.Qxc3 Qg5 18.Nd6 Bh3 19.g3 Re6 20.d5! cxd5 21.Qb3± Nguyen,A (2239)-Nguyen,D (2516) Ho Chi Minh City (zt)
2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]
10.Bb2 Bb7 11.Rad1 Rfe8 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bf1
13.Bd3 h6!? (13...c5) 14.e4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 b5 16.Bd3 (16.Bf1 e5) 16...e5=13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6
16.Qh4 Bb4! 17.Rf1 Ba3! (17...c5?! 18.a3) 18.Bc3 c5=
13...e5!
13...Bb4 - 107/134
14.cxd5?!
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5=
14...e4 15.dxc6?
15.Nh4 Bxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Ng4+ 17.Kh3 (17.Kg3 Ndf6) 17...Ndf6 18.g3 cxd5! 19.Bb5 g5!‭→
15...exf3 16.cxb7 Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2

17...Qd6+!N
17...Ng4+?
18.Kh3 Re5!
18...Ne5 19.Qf5!?∞
19.dxe5
19.g4 Qe6! 20.dxe5 Qxg4+ 21.Kh2 Qh4+ 22.Bh3 Ng4+ 23.Kg1 Qxh3-+19.Kh2 Rh5+ 20.Kg1 Qh2#

19...Qe6+ 20.Kh2 Qxe5+ 21.Kh3

21.Kg1 Ng4 22.g3 Qh5-+
21...Qh5+ 22.Kg3 Qg4+ 23.Kh2 Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Ng4 0-1

137. [D46]
Ding, Liren (2749) - Gelfand, Boris (2751)
Wenzhou (m/4) 125/137, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.a3 h6
12.Rd1
12.e4 - 104/19
12...a6 13.b4 a5 14.Rb1N
14.bxa5
14...axb4 15.axb4 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bf5 Re8 19.Bd2 Nb6

20.Ne5!?
20.e4 dxe4 21.Ne5!? Qf6 22.Bxe4 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.Bf3©
20...Bxe5
20...Qc7!?
21.dxe5 Rxe5
21...Nc4 22.Bc3 Bc8 23.Ra1 Bxf5 24.Qxf5 Qg5∞
22.Bc3 Re8 23.Ra1© Qe7
¹23...Qg5 24.Bd4 Nc4
24.Bd4 Nc4 25.Qc3 Qg5 26.Bc2ƒ Kg8 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Ra1 Rxa1+ 29.Qxa1 Qg4?†
29...Nd6 30.h3© (30.Qa7 Qd8! (30...Bc8? 31.Qa8 Qg4 32.Qxc6 Qe2 33.h3 Qe1+ 34.Kh2 Qxf2 35.Be5 Bf5 36.Bxf5
Nxf5 37.Qe8+ Kh7 38.Qxf7 Qc2 39.Qxd5 Nxe3 40.Qb7²))
30.h3! Qe2?
30...Qg5 31.Qa7 Bc8 32.Qa8 Qd8 33.Qxc6±
31.Bf5 Nd6?
31...Nd2
32.Bg4+- Qd2 33.Qa7
33.Qa5
33...h5?!
33...Qxb4 34.Qb8+ Bc8 35.Bxc8 Nxc8 36.Qxc8+ Kh7 37.Qxc6
34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.Bxh5?
35.Qf8! f6 36.Be6 Qxb4 (36...Ne4 37.Bf5+) 37.Bf5+ Nxf5 (37...Kh6 38.Qh8+ Kg5 39.g4) 38.Qxb4
35...Ne4 36.Qf4 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 Qxf2 38.Bxf7 Qxf4+ 39.exf4+- Nd6
¹39...Nd2
40.Be6 Bc8?! 41.Bxc8 Nxc8 42.Bc5! Kg6 43.g4 Kf7 44.f5 Kf6 45.h4 Ke5 46.h5 d4 47.Kg3 1-0
 D50-D99

138.** [D52]
Agdestein, Simen (2620) - Hansen, Curt (2621)
Oslo 125/138, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Rc1 Nxc3
8...b6 9.Bd3 h6 10.Bh4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Ba6 12.O-O Ba3 13.Rc2 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 O-O 15.Nd2 Rfe8 16.c4 Bf8N
(16...Be7) 17.Bg3 Rad8 18.Nb3 Qa4 19.Bh4 Rc8 20.Rd1?! (20.Bg3 c5 21.Rfc1∞) 20...c5 21.Bg3 b5! 22.Rdc1 Nb6
23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.dxc5 Nxc4 25.Qb3 Qa5 26.Bd6 Red8µ Smirnov,A (2410)-Ganguly,S (2603) Canberra 2015
[Arsovic,Goran]
9.bxc3 Ba3 10.Rc2 b6 11.e4N
11.Be2 Ba6 12.O-O Bxe2 13.Qxe2 O-O 14.Rd1 Rfe8 15.Bf4 (15.e4 - 119/(148)) 15...Rac8 16.c4 c5N (16...Bf8)
(16...Be7) 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bb4 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.h4 Qa4∞ Ding,L (2755) -Ponomariov,R (2713) Tsaghkadzor
(wtc) 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
11...O-O 12.e5 c5 13.d5 exd5 14.Qxd5 Rb8 15.Be2 h6?

15...Re8 16.O-O (16.Bc4? Nxe5! 17.Nxe5 Be6µ) 16...Nf8 (16...h6? 17.Bc4 Re6 18.Qd3±) 17.Qe4 b5∞
16.Bh4?
16.e6! fxe6 (16...c4 17.Qxa5 bxa5 18.exd7 Bxd7 19.Bc1+-) 17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.Bxh6 Nf6 19.Qe7+-
16...Re8 17.O-O b5³ 18.Rd1
18.Bg3 Nf8 19.Qe4 Be6³
18...Nb6 19.Qe4 Qa4 20.Nd2
20.Bd3 f5 21.Qc6 Be6 22.Qxb5 c4µ
20...Be6?!
20...c4 21.Bh5 f5 22.Qf3 Rxe5 (22...Bd7-+) 23.Bg3 f4! 24.Bxf4 Bb7 25.Qg4 Rxh5 26.Bxb8 Rg5 27.Qe6+ Kh7-+
21.c4?!
21.Bh5 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4³
21...bxc4 22.Rc3 Bd5?
22...Bb4 23.Rcc1 Bxd2 24.Rxd2 c3!-+
23.Qf4?
23.Qg4 f5™ (23...Be6 24.Qg3+-) 24.exf6 Rb7 25.Nf1! Bb2 26.Rxd5! Bxc3 27.Bf3 Rf7 28.Rd6±
23...Bb2-+ 24.Bf6 Bxc3 25.Qg3 g6 26.Qxc3 Nd7 27.Bh4 Rxe5 28.Kf1 Rxe2 0-1

139. [D56]
Gareev, Timur (2579) - Skembris, Spyridon (2422)
Paleochora 125/139, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.g4!? Nd7 11.h4
Nxc3
11...f5 12.g5!?ƒ (12.gxf5 - 116/151) ∆12...hxg5 13.hxg5 (13.Nxe4 fxe4! 14.Nxg5 Nf6 15.Be2 e5„) 13...Nxg5
14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.Qf3 Nf6 16.Ne2!© ∆Qg4 17.Qxg4 Nxg4 18.Nf4 Kf7 19.Be2ƒ
12.Rxc3
12.bxc3 - 112/(243)
12...e5
12...Qb4 13.Qc2² ∆Nf6 14.g5 Ne4 15.a3 Qa5 16.b4 Qd8 17.Rb3
13.g5!?N
13.cxd5 cxd5 14.g5!? (14.dxe5 Nxe5ƒ) 14...h5!? (14...e4 15.Nd2 hxg5 16.Qh5©) 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Qxd5 Nxf3+
17.Qxf3 Qb4 18.Qe2 Bg4©
13...e4!?
13...h5!?
14.Nd2
14.gxh6 exf3∞ 15.hxg7 (15.cxd5 g6³) 15...Rd8 16.h5© (16.Qxf3 Qf6ƒ)
14...hxg5 15.Qh5!?
15.hxg5 Qxg5³15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Qh5 g6„
15...g6!?
15...g4 16.Qxg4 Nb6 17.Qg3 Qf6 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.h5ƒ
16.Qxg5 Qxg5 17.hxg5 Rd8 18.b4
18.f4!? Kg7 (18...exf3 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nxf3 Nf8 21.Bd3±) 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Rc7 Rb8 21.Nb1 Nb6 22.Nc3 Be6
23.Be2 Rdc8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Kd2ƒ
18...Nf8 19.c5
19.f4?! exf3 20.cxd5 (20.Nxf3 Bf5ƒ) 20...cxd5 21.Nxf3 Bf5 22.Bh3 Rdc8!„ 23.Rc5 Bxh3 24.Rxh3 a5!©19.cxd5 cxd5„
19...Bf5 20.Nb3
20.b5 Ne6 21.Rg1 Kg7„
20...Ne6ƒ 21.Rg1
21.Na5 Rab8 22.b5 Rdc8„
21...Kg7 22.Be2 Rac8
22...Rh8!?ƒ 23.Na5 Rab8 24.Rc2 Rh2 25.Rb2 a6 26.a4 Nd8!?ƒ
23.a4 Rc7 24.b5 Rdc8 25.Kd2
25.b6 Re7 26.bxa7 Ra8ƒ
25...Rh8 26.Na1?!
26.b6 Rcc8 27.Na5 Nd8³26.Rcc1 Rh2„26.Na5!? Nd8 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.Rb3 Bc8 29.Rb8 Ne6 30.Nb3 Rb7 31.Rxb7
Bxb7 32.Ke1 Rb8 33.Nd2 Bc8 34.f3 exf3 35.Nxf3 Rb2 36.a5 Ra2 37.Ne5„
26...Rh2³ 27.Ke1?
27.Nc2!? Rxf2 28.a5 cxb5 29.Nb4 a6! 30.Nxd5 Rc8 31.Rc2 Rd8 32.Nb4 Rh8 33.Kc1 Rh3µ
27...Rc8
27...Nxg5!? 28.Nb3!? (28.Rxg5? Rh1+ 29.Kd2 Rxa1-+) (28.b6? Rc8 29.bxa7 Ra8 30.Rxg5 Rh1+ 31.Kd2 (31.Bf1 Bh3-
+) 31...Rxa1-+) 28...Ne6µ
28.Nc2 Rch8 29.Nb4?
29.Rb3 Rh1 30.Rxh1 Rxh1+ 31.Kd2 Nxg5 (31...Rh2 32.a5!?) 32.a5©
29...Nd8?!
29...Rh1! 30.Rxh1 (30.Rf1 Nxg5 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.Nxc6 Nf3+ 33.Bxf3 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 exf3 35.Ke1 (35.Kg1 Bh3
36.Kh2 Bd7+-+) 35...Rh1+ 36.Kd2 Rf1 37.Ne5 Rxf2+ 38.Kc1 g5-+) 30...Rxh1+ 31.Kd2 Rb1 32.Na2 (32.Nc2
Nxg5µ) 32...Nxd4 33.exd4 Rb2+µ
30.a5! Rh1 31.Rxh1 Rxh1+ 32.Kd2 Rb1 33.a6!„
33.bxc6? Rxb4-+33.Nc2?! cxb5 34.Na3 Rb2+ 35.Rc2 Rxc2+ 36.Nxc2 a6 37.Nb4 Be6 38.Kc3 Nc6µ 39.Bxb5 axb5
40.a6 Bc8 41.axb7 Bxb7 42.Nxd5 Kf8-+
33...Rxb4 34.b6 axb6 35.a7 Ra4 36.cxb6 Ne6™ 37.Kc2
37.Rxc6 bxc6 38.b7 Rxa7 39.b8=Q Ra2+ 40.Kd1 Ra1+ (40...Nxg5 41.Qe5+ Kh7 42.Qf6 Ra1+ 43.Kc2 Ra2+ 44.Kd1=)
41.Kd2 Ra2+=
37...Nc7!! 38.Kb3
38.Rxc6 Na8ƒ 39.Rd6 Nxb6 40.Rxb6 Rxa7 41.Kb2 Kf8³
38...Ra1 39.Kb2 Ra4
39...Ra5 40.Rxc6 Na8 41.Rc5©
40.Kb3
40.Rxc6? bxc6 41.b7 Rb4+-+40.bxc7 Rxa7 41.Ra3 Rxa3 42.Kxa3 Kf8 43.Kb4 Ke7 44.Kc5 Kd7 45.Kb6 Kc8 46.Bf1
Bg4 47.Bg2 Be6 48.Bf1=
40...Ra1 41.Kb2 Ra4 42.Kb3 1/2-1/2

140. [D56]
Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2802)
Stavanger 125/140, 2015 [Flores Rios,Mauricio]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.Qxc3
dxc4 12.Bxc4 b6 13.O-O?!
13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Be2! Rc8 15.O-O (15.Bh5!? g6 16.Bf3) 15...Nd7 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.b4 a5 18.a3²
13...Nd7
13...Bb7 - 9/467
14.Rfd1 Bb7 15.h3 c5! 16.d5
16.dxc5 Nxc5 (16...Bxf3!? 17.gxf3 Nxc5) 17.Be2 Rac8=
16...exd5N
16...e5?!
17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Nf6 19.Rd3 Rad8 20.Rcd1 Rxd3 21.Qxd3

21...Rc8! 22.a4 c4 23.Qc2 Qe4= 24.Nd4 c3 25.Qb3 Qd5 26.Qc2 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Nxe4 28.b3 Nd2 29.Rc1 a5 30.Rc2
Nb1 31.Rc1 Nd2 32.Rc2 Nb1 33.Nb5! Kf8 34.f3 Rd8?!
34...Nd2! 35.Nd4 (35.Rxc3 Rxc3 36.Nxc3 Ke7! (36...Nxb3?! 37.Nd5 b5 38.axb5 a4 39.Kf2 a3 40.Nb4²) 37.b4!
(37.Nd5+ Kd6 38.Nxb6 Kc5³) 37...axb4 38.Nd5+ Kd6 39.Nxb4=) 35...Nb1 36.Rc1! (36.Kf2 Na3 37.Rc1 c2 38.Ke2
Rc3 39.Kd2 Nb1+ 40.Ke2 Na3=) 36...Na3 37.Nc2² - 34...Rd8
35.Nd4
35.Kf2!? Ke7 (35...Rd2+ 36.Rxd2 cxd2 37.Ke2 Ke7 38.f4! Ke6 39.Nd4+ Kd5 40.Nf3²) 36.Nd4 Rc8²
35...Rc8 36.Rc1 Na3 37.Nc2!² Nxc2 38.Rxc2 Rc5 39.Kf2 b5! 40.axb5 Rxb5 41.Rxc3 g6 42.f4 h5 43.Rc8+ Kg7
44.Ra8 Rxb3 45.Rxa5 Rb2+ 46.Kf3 Rb3 47.Ra7 Rc3 48.Re7 Rb3 49.Kg3 Rb2 50.Kf3 Rb3 51.g4 hxg4+ 52.hxg4 Rb1
53.Rd7 Rf1+ 54.Ke4 Rg1 55.g5 Ra1 56.Ke5 Ra3 57.e4 Ra5+ 58.Kd6 Ra6+ 59.Ke5 Ra5+ 60.Rd5 Ra4 61.Rc5 Ra1
62.Rc2 Rf1 63.Rc7 Re1 64.Ra7 Rg1 65.Ra4 Rf1 66.Ra6 Re1 67.Kd4 Rd1+ 68.Ke3 Re1+ 69.Kf3 Rf1+ 70.Kg3 Re1
71.e5 Re3+ 72.Kf2 Rb3 73.Rd6 Ra3 74.Rd8 Rc3 75.Ke2 Ra3 76.Rd3 Ra1 77.Ke3 Re1+ 78.Kd4 Rf1 79.Ke4 Ra1
80.Rd7 Ra4+ 81.Rd4 Ra5 82.Rc4 Kf8 83.Rc8+ Kg7 84.Rc7 Kf8 85.Kd4 Ra4+ 86.Rc4 Ra5 87.Rc8+ Kg7 88.e6 fxe6
89.Rc5 Ra7= 90.Ke5 Rf7 91.Rc4 Rf5+ 92.Kxe6 Kg8 93.Rc8+ Kg7 94.Rc7+ Kg8 95.Rc8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

141.* [D58]
Matlakov, Maxim (2694) - Terrieux, Kevin (2439)
France 125/141, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.O-O
Nd7
11...c6 12.Qb3 Re8 13.Rad1 Nd7 14.Rfe1 Nf8 15.e4 Ne6 16.e5 Be7 17.Bd3 (17.a3 - 36/533) 17...c5?!N (17...g6)
18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Qc2 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Bb4 21.a3 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Rc8 23.Qd2² Yilmaz,M (2570)-Batchuluun,T (2499)
Moscow 2015 [Arsovic, Goran]
12.Qb3 c6 13.Rad1 Be7 14.Bd3
14.Rfe1 - 34/528
14...Nf6N
14...Bd6
15.Ne5 Bd6 16.f4 c5 17.Bf5 c4?!
17...Qe7 18.Rf3 Rad8 19.Qc2 Rfe8∞
18.Qc2 a6 19.g4² b5 20.Qg2
20.a3!? Qe7 21.Qg2ƒ
20...b4 21.Ne2 g6

21...Bc8 22.Kh1 Qe7 (22...g6 23.Bc2²) 23.Rg1ƒ

22.g5! hxg5 23.Qxg5 Bxe5
23...Nh7 24.Qg2 Qe7 25.Kh1 a5 26.Rg1±23...Qe7 24.Kh1 (24.Rf3 Nh7 25.Qh6 Qf6 26.Bc2±) 24...Bc8
24.dxe5 Ne4?!
24...Nh7 25.Qg3 a5 26.Nd4±
25.Qg2
25.Qh6! Qe7 (25...gxf5 26.Rf2!+-) 26.Bxe4 (26.Rf3 gxf5 27.Rf2+-) 26...dxe4 27.f5+-
25...Qb6 26.Nd4+- Bc8 27.e6! Kg7 28.Bxe4 dxe4 29.f5 1-0

142.* [D70]
 Bacrot, Etienne (2704) - Krasenkow, Michal (2610)
France 125/142, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O a5
9...Qd6 - 124/148
10.h4 a4 11.h5 Na5 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.Bh6 Nac4N
13...Rf7
14.Bxc4+
14.Qg5 e5 (14...Ra5 15.e5 Rf5 16.Qg3 Bxh6+ 17.Rxh6 Ne3 18.Rxg6+ Kh8 19.Qh4 Nxd1 20.Rh6 Rf7 21.Bd3 Qg8
22.Kxd1 Bf5∞) 15.dxe5 Qxg5+ 16.Bxg5 Bxe5„
14...Nxc4 15.Qe2 Bxh6+ 16.Rxh6 e6 17.Kb1?!

17.f4! Kg7 (17...b5 18.Nf3 Rxf4 19.Rdh1 Rf7 20.e5±) (17...Qd6 18.Nh3 Kg7 19.Rh4±) 18.Rh3 b5 19.g4!± Qf6 20.f5
exf5 21.gxf5 Qg5+ (21...gxf5? 22.Qg2+ Kh8 23.e5+-) 22.Kb1±
17...b5! 18.Nxb5
18.Rh1N Ba6 19.Qf2 a3 20.b3 Nb2 21.Rd2 b4 22.Nd1 Bd3+ 23.Ka1 c5! 24.Nxb2 axb2+ 25.Rxb2 c4µ Simantsev,M
(2462)-Shishkin,V (2507) Police 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
18...Nxb2 19.Qxb2
19.Kxb2 Ba6 20.Ka1 Rb8 21.Qc4 Rf7 22.Rh1 (22.Qxe6 Rb6! (22...Bxb5?? 23.Rxh7+-) 23.Qe5 Rxb5 24.d5 Rc5©)
22...Rxb5 23.Qxe6 Rb6 24.Qe5 a3©
19...Rb8 20.Ka1 Ba6 21.Rh1 Rxb5 22.Qc3 Qd6„ 23.Nh3 Rfb8 24.Nf2?
24.e5 Qb4 25.Rc1 c5! 26.Qxb4 (26.dxc5 Rxc5 27.Qxb4 Rxc1+ 28.Rxc1 Rxb4 29.Ng5 Rc4=) 26...cxb4 27.Rc6 R8b6∞
24...Rb3! 25.Qc5
25.axb3? Qa3+-+
25...Qxc5 26.dxc5 Rb2µ 27.Ng4 h5 28.Nf6+
28.Ne5 a3 29.Nc6 Ra8 30.Rhg1 Bc4 31.Rd7 Rxa2+ 32.Kb1 h4 33.Rxc7 Rb2+ 34.Ka1 g5µ
28...Kg7 29.Nd7 R8b4 30.Ne5 Rf2 31.g3
31.g4 Kf6 32.f4 Rxf4 33.Nd7+ Kg5-+
31...Bc4-+ 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Nxc4 Rxc4 34.Rxc7 Rcc2 35.Rb7 Rxf3 36.Rb8 Kg5 37.Rb5 Rxg3 38.Kb1 Rgc3 39.Rg1+
Kh6 40.Rb6 a3 41.Rxe6 Rb2+ 42.Ka1 Rg2! 43.Re1 Rxc5 44.Ra6 Rc3 45.Kb1 Rb2+ 46.Ka1 Re2 47.Rg1 Rg3 0-1

143. !N [D70]
Adhiban, Baskaran (2627) - Antal, Gergely (2512)
Benasque 125/143, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 Be6
8...Nc6 - 124/148
9.d5 Bc8 10.h4!N
10.Bh610.O-O-O
10...c6 11.Bh6 Qd6?!
11...cxd5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.exd5 h5 14.g4 Rh8 15.O-O-Oƒ
12.O-O-O Bxh6 13.Qxh6 Qf6 14.g4
14.h5 Qg7 15.Qg5 f6 16.Qe3±
14...e6
14...Qg7 15.Qe3 cxd5 16.exd5ƒ
15.h5
15.d6 e5 16.h5 Qg7 (16...Be6 17.hxg6 Qxg6 18.Qe3±) 17.Qe3±
15...Qg7 16.hxg6 Qxh6+ 17.Rxh6 fxg6?!
17...hxg6 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Rd2 Kg7 20.Rdh2²
18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Nh3 Kg7

20.Rxh7+! Kxh7 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Nxe6 Rxf3

22...Rc8 23.f4 N8d7 24.e5 Nf8 25.Nc5 Rc7 26.f5±
23.Nc7 Rf8 24.e5
24.a4 a5 25.Nxa8 Nxa8 26.e5²
24...N8d7 25.e6 Nf6?
25...Ne5 26.Nxa8 (26.Re1 Nf3 27.Re3 Ng5 28.Bd3 Rac8 29.e7 Rxc7 30.exf8=Q+ Kxf8 31.Bxg6 Re7=) 26...Rxa8
27.Re1 Nxg4 28.Ne4 Nd5 29.Nd6 Kf8 30.Nxb7 Ke7 31.Na5 Rc8 32.Ba6 Rc7=
26.e7+- Rfe8 27.Nxa8 Nxa8
27...Rxa8 28.Bc4+!+- Nfd5 (28...Nxc4 29.Rd8++-) 29.Nxd5 Nxd5 (29...cxd5 30.Bb5+-) 30.Bxd5+ cxd5 31.Rxd5+-
28.Bc4+ Kg7 29.g5 Ng8 30.Rd8 Nc7 31.Ne4! Nxe7 32.Rd7 Nd5 33.Bxd5 cxd5 34.Nd6 1-0

144.* [D70]
Lalic, Bogdan (2480) - Nasuta, Grzegorz (2365)
Pardubice 125/144, 2015 [Lalic,Bogdan]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 e5 9.d5 c6 10.h4 cxd5 11.exd5 N8d7
12.h5 Nf6 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.d6 Bd7!?
14...e4 15.O-O-O (15.fxe4 Re8 (15...Ng4 16.O-O-O Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Be6 18.Kb1 Rc8 19.e5 Nd7 20.Nf3 Qa5©) 16.Qd3
Ng4∞) 15...Bf5 16.g4 Be6 17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Rf7 19.Nh3 Nbd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Nxd5 22.Ng5∞
15.O-O-O
15.Nh3!? e4 16.Ng5 exf3 17.O-O-O Rc8 18.Kb1 fxg2 19.Bxg2 h6 20.Bxb6 Qxb6 21.Bd5+ Nxd5 22.Qxd5+ Kh8
23.Rxh6+! Bxh6 24.Qe5+ Kg8 25.Qd5+ Kg7 26.Qe5+=
15...Rc8 16.Kb1 e4! 17.Bh6N
17.fxe4 Ng4 18.Bg5 Qe8 19.Nf3 Rxc3!? (19...Rf7 - 122/(157)) 20.bxc3 Qxe4+ 21.Bd3 Qc6 22.Bc2 Bxc3 (22...Bf5?
23.Nd4! (23.Bxf5) 23...Bxd4 24.Qxd4 Qb5+ 25.Ka1! Bxc2 26.Rxh7! Qe5™ 27.Rdh1 Qxd4 28.cxd4 Rf5 29.Bd8 Nf6
30.Bxf6 Rxf6 31.d7 Nxd7 32.Rxd7+-) 23.Qe2 Rf7©
17...Bxh6N
17...Na4 - 125/ (144) 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5+ Kh8 20.Bxg7+ Kxg7 21.fxe4 Qb6 22.Qe5+ Kg8 23.Qd5+ Kg7
24.Qe5+ Kg8 25.Qd5+ 1/2-1/2 (25) Ding,L (2749)-Gelfand,B (2751) Wenzhou (m/2) 2015 [Lalic,Bogdan]
18.Qxh6 Rf7 19.Nxe4
19.Nh3!? Rxc3!? (19...exf3?! 20.gxf3 Na4 21.Nxa4 Bxa4 22.Rc1! Rxc1+ 23.Qxc1 Qxd6 24.Bc4 Nd5 25.Ng5 Rf5
26.Nxh7±) 20.bxc3 Nfd5‭→ 21.Rc1 Na4 22.Bc4 Qb6+ 23.Bb3 Nc5©19.Qd2!? Rc6! 20.Ka1 Ne8 21.Nxe4 Bf5 22.Bd3
Rd7 23.Ne2 Nxd6=
19...Nxe4
19...Na4 20.Qd2
20.fxe4 Na4

21.Qe3??
21.Qd2! Nxb2!? (21...Qb6? 22.Ka1! Rf2 23.Be2±) 22.Qxb2! (22.Kxb2? Qf6+ 23.Kb3 (23.Kb1 Rc6!‭→) 23...b5!‭→
24.Nf3? Be6+ 25.Kb4 a5+! 26.Kxa5 Ra7+ 27.Kxb5 Qd8-+) 22...Ba4 23.Be2 Bxd1 24.Bxd1 Rf1 25.Qb3+ Kg7
26.Qb2+ Kg8= (26...Qf6?? 27.Qxb7+ Qf7 28.Qxc8 Rxd1+ 29.Kc2+-)
21...Qf6† 22.Qe2-+
22.Qe2 Bc6 23.e5 Qf4-+22.Qb3 Nc5 (22...Rc3!? 23.bxc3 Nxc3+ 24.Kc2 Ba4) 23.Qe3 Qxf1! (23...Nxe4µ) 24.Rxf1
Rxf1+ 25.Kc2 Ra1‭→ 26.Kd2 Rxa2 27.Qh6 Nxe4+ 28.Ke3 Nf6-+1/2-1/2

145.* [D76]
Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2665) - Grandelius, Nils (2623)
Oslo 125/145, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.O-O O-O 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.d4 Nb6 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.d5 Na5 10.e4 c6 11.Bf4 cxd5
12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Nc4 14.b3
14.Qb3 - 109/281
14...Nb6 15.d6 exd6
15...Bxa1 16.dxe7 Qxe7 17.Bd6 Qf6 18.Bxf8 Bc3 19.Bh6 Bg4 20.Qe2²
16.Nd4!?N
16.Rc1 - 16...Bg4 17.Qd2N (17.h3) 17...d5 18.a4 Rc8 19.a5 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Nc8 21.Bc7 Qe7 22.Qxd5 Bh6 23.Rc3 Qa3
24.Qd1 Bg7 25.Qc1

25...Qb4?? (25...Qxc1+ 26.Rxc1 Re8 27.h3²) 26.Rc4 1-0 (26) Fressinet,L (2707)-Bijlsma,N (2298) Helsingor 2015
[Arsovic,Goran]
16...d5 17.Rc1 Bd7 18.Qd2
18.a4 a5 19.Qd2 Qf6 - 18.Qd2
18...Qf6 19.Be3 Qd6 20.a4² Rac8
20...a5 21.Bf4 (21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Ne2²) 21...Qf6 (21...Be5 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.f4 Qd6 24.f5ƒ) 22.Nb5 Bxb5 23.axb5 a4
24.bxa4 Rxa4 25.Rc7²
21.Ne2
21.a5 Na8 (21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Nc8 23.Ne2 d4 24.Nxd4²) 22.Ne2 Bg4 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Bxd5²
21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rc8 23.Rxc8+ Nxc8 24.Bxd5 b6 25.Bf4 Qe7 26.Nc3 Bh3?!
26...g5 27.Be3 h6 28.Nb5²
27.Ne4 Be5?!

27...Bd7 28.Bg5 (28.h4ƒ) 28...Qf8 29.Nf6+ Bxf6 30.Bxf6±

28.Bxf7+! Kg7
28...Kxf7 29.Ng5+ Kf8 30.Nxh3+-
29.Bh6+ Kxf7 30.Ng5+ Ke8 31.Nxh3+- Nd6 32.Qd5 Nf5 33.Bg5 Qd6
33...Bf6 34.Bxf6 Qxf6 35.Qg8++-
34.Qg8+ Kd7 35.Qxh7+ Kc6 36.Qxa7 Qd1+ 37.Kg2 Qxb3 38.Qa8+ Kd7 39.Nf4 1-0

146. [D76]
Doncea, Vladimir (2421) - Drenchev, Petar (2486)
Skopje 125/146, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Re1 a5 11.Ng5 h6
11...e5 12.d5 Qxg5 (12...Nb4 13.e4 h6 14.Nf3 c6 15.a3 Na6 16.Be3! Nc4 17.Qe2 Nxe3 18.Qxe3²) 13.dxc6 Rd8
14.Qc2 bxc6 15.Bxc6 Rb8 16.b3 Ba6 17.Bb2 Bd3 18.Qc1 Qf6 (18...f5 19.Nb5 Qe7 20.Qc3²) 19.Ne4 Qe6 20.Rd1
(20.Qc3?! Nc4!) 20...Be2 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Qc2 Bf3 23.Bb7! Qe7 24.Rc1²11...a4 12.h4 (12.f4 a3„ 13.b4?! Nxd4!)
12...a3 13.b4 h6 14.b5 Na5 15.Nge4 Nac4 16.f4 (Δ h5) 16...h5 17.Qb3 Bf5 (17...Rf8 18.Ng5) 18.Nc5 Ra7 19.N3e4²
12.Nge4
12.Nh3 a4 13.f4 a3 14.Nf2 (14.b3?! Bxh3 15.Bxh3 Nxd4!) 14...axb2 15.Bxb2 Na5 16.Na4 (16.Nce4 Nac4 17.Bc3
Na4 18.Bb4 Be6∞) 16...Nxa4 17.Qxa4 Be6 18.Qc2 c6„
12...e5 13.d5
13.Nb5 exd4 14.exd4 Bf5 15.d5 Nxd5!? 16.Bxh6 Bxh6 17.Qxd5 Qe7 18.Qc5 Bg7 19.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.Nc5 Rae8
21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Nc3 Nd4 23.Nxb7 Ne2+ 24.Nxe2 Rxe2 25.Nxa5 Rxb2ƒ
13...Nb4 14.Nc5

14.d6 f5 (14...cxd6 15.a3 Nc6 (15...d5 16.axb4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 a4 18.Nc5²) 16.Nxd6 Re7 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.Qb3 Rd7
19.Bh3 a4 20.Nxa4 (20.Qa2 e4 21.Bxd7 Qxd7 22.Qb1 f5 23.Rd1 Qf7©) 20...Nxa4 21.Qxa4 f5 22.f3 Kh8 23.Bf1
(23.Rb1 e4 24.fxe4 Ne5„) 23...Ra8 24.Qb5 Ra5 25.Qb3 Rad5©) (14...c6 15.a3 N4d5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Bd2 (17.Qc2
Nf6 (17...f5 18.Nc5 e4 (18...Qxd6 19.e4„) 19.d7 Bxd7 20.Nxb7=) 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 (18...Bxf6?! 19.Rd1²) 19.e4 Qxd6
20.Be3 Qc7³) 17...f5 18.Nc3 Qxd6 19.e4 Nxc3 20.Bxc3 Qxd1 21.Raxd1 f4 22.Bf3!? (22.Bf1 Be6 23.Rd6 Kf7
24.Red1 Bf6³) 22...Be6 23.Rd6 a4 (23...Kf7 24.gxf4 exf4 25.e5„ Δ Rd4) 24.Bd1 Kf7 25.gxf4 exf4 26.e5 Bf5
(26...Red8!? 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Bxa4 g5) 27.Be2 (27.e6+?! Kf8) 27...Kg8 28.Bd3 Bxd3 29.Rxd3 Re6 30.Kg2 Rae8
31.Rd7„) 15.dxc7 (15.Nb5 - 119/151) 15...Qxd1 16.Rxd1 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Nc6 18.b3 (18.Bxg6 Re7 19.Nb5 Bg4 20.Rd6
e4³) 18...Bg4! 19.f3 (19.Rd6 Re6 20.Nb5 Bf8 21.Rxe6 Bxe6 22.Bb2 Rc8³) 19...Bxf3 20.Bxf3 e4 21.Nxe4 Bxa1
22.Nd6 Re7 23.Ba3 Bf6! 24.Bc5 Nc8³
14...Qe7!
14...e4 15.N3xe4 N4xd5 16.a3 Qe7 17.Nd3 Nc4 18.Nec5 c6 19.Rb1=
15.Nd3N
15.N5a4 Nxa4 16.Qxa4 e4! 17.Rd1 (17.Nxe4 Bf5 18.f3 b5 19.Qxb5 Nc2 20.Bd2 Nxa1 21.Rxa1 Reb8 22.Qc6 Bxe4
23.fxe4 Qd6µ) (17.Qd1 Rd8 (17...Bxc3!? 18.bxc3 Nd3 19.Bd2 Qc5 20.Qa4 b5 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.exd4 Nxe1 23.Rxe1
Bb7µ) 18.Nxe4 Nxd5! (18...Bf5) 19.Qe2 (19.Qf3 Nb4µ) 19...Bf5 20.Nd2 Nb4 21.e4 Be6 22.Nf1 c6 23.Be3 (23.Ne3
Bxa2µ) 23...Nd3 24.Reb1 a4µ) 17...Bf5 18.Rd2 Rad8 19.h3 (19.Qxa5 Nd3 20.Qa4 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Rxd5 22.c4 b5!µ)
19...Qc5 20.g4 (20.Qb3 h5 21.g4 hxg4 22.hxg4 Bxg4 23.Nxe4 Qe7µ) 20...Bd7 21.Qd1 f5µ15.a3 N4xd5 16.Bxd5
(16.Nxd5 Qxc5 17.e4 Nxd5 18.exd5 Qd6 19.Be3 b6³) 16...Qxc5 17.e4 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Be6 19.Be3 Qd6 20.Rc1 Bxd5
21.exd5 Red8 22.Qb3 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxc7 b5 25.Rec1 e4³
15...Nxd3
15...e4! 16.Nf4 (16.Nxb4?! axb4 17.Nxe4 Rd8 18.Nd2 Nxd5 19.Qc2 b3! 20.Nxb3 Nb4 21.Qe2 (21.Qb1 Bf5 22.e4
Be6 23.Bd2 Nd3µ) 21...Nxa2 (21...c5!?) 22.Rd1 Nxc1 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Rxc1 c6 25.Nd4 Qb6µ) (16.Nxe4 Nxd3
17.Qxd3 Bf5 18.f3 Rad8 19.Qe2 Nxd5 20.Nf2 Nb4 21.e4 Bc8 22.a3 (22.Be3 b6!µ) (22.Bh3 Bxh3 23.Nxh3 a4³)
22...Nc6 23.Be3 Nd4 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Rac1 h5 26.f4 c6³) 16...g5 17.Nh5 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nd3 19.Rf1 (19.Ba3 Qe5!
20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4 Qf5! 22.Rf1 (22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Qxd3 Qxh5 24.Qxe4 Bf5µ) 22...Qg6 23.f5 Bxf5 24.Ng3 Bg4
25.Bxe4 Bxd1 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Raxd1 Rxe3µ) 19...Nxd5 20.f3 Bf5 21.fxe4 (21.c4 Nc3 22.Qc2 Bg6µ) 21...Bxe4
22.Bxe4 Qxe4 23.c4 Nxc1 (23...Nxe3 24.Nf6+ Kg7 25.Qf3 Qxf3 26.Rxf3 Nc2 27.Nxe8+ Rxe8 28.Rxd3 Nxa1
29.Bb2+ Kg6³) 24.Rxc1 Qxe3+ 25.Kg2 Qe4+ 26.Kg1 Ne3 27.Nf6+ Kf8 28.Nxe4 Nxd1 29.Nf6 Ne3 30.Nxe8 Nxf1
31.Nxc7 Rc8 32.Nb5 Ne3 33.c5 Ng4³
16.Qxd3 e4!
16...c6 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Bxc6 Rd8 19.Qc2 Rb8 20.e4 Qc5 21.Bb5²16...Rd8 17.e4²
17.Qxe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxd5 19.Nd6!
19.Rd1 Nb4 20.Rd2 Bf5 21.Nc5 Nc2 22.g4 Rad8 23.gxf5 Rxd2 24.Bxd2 Nxa1 25.Nxb7 gxf5 26.b3 Nc2 27.Kf1
(27.Nxa5 Rd8µ) 27...f4 28.exf4 Bf8³19.a3 a4 20.Nd6 cxd6 21.Bxd5 Ra5 22.Bf3 Be6³
19...cxd6 20.Bxd5 a4 21.e4
21.Rb1 Ra5 22.Bg2 Be6 23.Bd2 Rb5 24.b3=
21...a3
21...Be6!? 22.Bxb7 Ra5 23.a3 (23.Rd1 Rb8 24.Bd5 Bg4 25.Bd2 Rab5 26.Re1 a3 27.b3 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 g5³) 23...Rb8
24.Bc6 Bb3 25.Bd7 Rc5 26.Bg4 Rc4 27.Bd1 Bxd1 28.Rxd1 Rxe4 29.Bf4 (29.Be3 Be5 30.Bxh6 Rxb2³) 29...Rxb2
30.Bxd6 Bd4 31.Rxd4 Rxd4 32.Be5 Rdd2 33.Bxb2 Rxb2³
22.Rb1 Ra5 23.Bb3= axb2 24.Bxb2 Be6 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Re3 Bxb3 27.Rbxb3 Rxa2 28.Rxb7 Re6 29.Kg2 Rf6
30.Rf3 Ra4 31.Rd7 Rxe4 1/2-1/2

147.* [D78]
Kramnik, Vladimir (2783) - Caruana, Fabiano (2805)
Dortmund 125/147, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 c6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.b3 a4 9.Ba3
9.Bb2 - 70/(424)
9...axb3N
9...Ne49...Re89...Bf5N 10.bxa4 dxc4 11.Nxc4 b5 12.Nb2 Nd5 13.Qd2 Blomqvist,E (2487)-Grandelius,N (2623)
Sverige (ch) 2015 [Arsovic,Goran] (13.Qd2 Qa5! 14.Qxa5 Rxa5 15.Rfc1 b4 16.Nc4 Rxa4 17.Bb2 Nc3 (17...Be6!?∞)
18.Bxc3 bxc3 19.Rxc3 c5 20.e3 Nd7©)
10.axb3 Bf5 11.Nh4 Be6 12.Re1 Ne4 13.Bxe4
13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Qxd4 15.Qxd4 Bxd4 16.Bb2 Rxa1 17.Bxa1 Rd8 18.Nf3 Bg7=13.e3 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Nd7=
13...dxe4 14.Nxe4?!
14.e3 f5 15.f3 g5 16.Ng2 exf3 17.Nxf3 h6„
14...Qxd4 15.Qc2?

15.Qxd4 Bxd4 16.Bb2 Rxa1 17.Bxa1 Bb6 18.Bc3 f6³

15...Bf5!
15...Qb6 16.Bc5 (16.Bb2 Rxa1 17.Bxa1 Qa5∞) 16...Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Qc7=
16.Nxf5 gxf5 17.Ng5
17.Nd2 Qc3! 18.Qa2 Qa5µ
17...Qg4 18.f4 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 h6
19...c5! 20.h3 (20.Bb2 Rxa1+ 21.Bxa1 Nc6µ) 20...Qh5! (20...Qxg3+? 21.Kh1 Qxf4 (21...Qh4 22.Rg1 Kh8 23.Qxf5
Nc6 24.Bxc5∞) 22.Rg1 Kh8 23.Rg4! Qf1+ 24.Rg1 Qf2 25.Rg2=) 21.Qxf5 Nc6µ
20.Nf3 Nd7 21.Rd1 Rxa3 22.Rxd7 Qh3 23.Qc3 e6?!
23...Rfa8 24.Rd1 c5 25.Qe5 e6µ
24.Rxb7 Rfa8 25.Kf2 Ra1 26.Ke3 Rf1 27.Qf6 Rf8 28.Rd7?!
28.Kd4! Qg2 29.Qxh6 Qxe2 30.Qg5+ Kh7 31.Qh5+=
28...Rb1
28...c5 29.Rd2 Rb1 30.Rd3∞
29.Rb7 c5 30.Rb5 Rf1
31.Nd2?
31.Rxc5 Qg2 (31...Rxf3+ 32.exf3 Qxh2=) 32.Qxh6 Qf2+ 33.Kd2 Rd8+ 34.Rd5 Rxd5+ 35.cxd5 Qb6 36.Qg5+ Kf8
37.Ne5 Qd4+ 38.Nd3 Qxd5 39.Qh6+ Ke8 40.Qh8+ Kd7 41.Qf6 Ke8 42.Qh8+=
31...Rc1! 32.Qb2
32.Rxc5 Qxh2 33.Nf3 Qxg3 34.Rc7 Rf1-+
32...Rd1 33.Qc2 Rh1 34.Nf3 Qg2 35.Qc3
35.Rxc5 Rd8-+
35...Rf1 36.Qf6 Rf2 37.Kd3 Rxe2 38.Ng5 Rd2+ 39.Kc3 Rc2+ 40.Kd3 Qd2# 0-1

148. [D78]
Pashikian, Arman (2604) - Krasenkow, Michal (2604)
Yerevan 125/148, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Qb3 O-O 7.Bg2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Bf5 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Qb3 Qb6 11.Re1
11.Qa3 - 116/(153)
11...Qxb3 12.axb3 Rfd8N
12...Bc212...Be6
13.e4 Bg4
13...Be6 14.Ng5! Bxb3 (14...Nf8 15.Nxe6 (15.d5!?) 15...Nxe6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Be3 Nb6 18.d5! cxd5 (18...Nxd5
19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Bxa7 Rd7 21.f4²) 19.Bxb6 axb6 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Nxd5²) 15.Ra3 Bc4 16.b3 Be6 17.e5 Ne8
18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Ne4²
14.Be3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 e5?!
15...Ne8 16.Red1 a6 17.Kg2 Nd6 18.g4²
16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Be2 a6
17...Nd3 18.Red1 Nxb2 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rxa7 Ne8 21.Bb6 Rc8 22.Na4±17...b5 18.Red1 b4 19.Na2 a5 20.f3±
18.Rad1 Ned7 19.f4 Bf8 20.e5± Ne8 21.Ne4 Bb4
21...Be7 22.Bc4 Nc7 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6±
22.Rf1 f5 23.Bc4+ Kg7 24.Ng5 Nc5 25.Kg2 Nc7 26.Rd6!
26.Nf7 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 b5 28.Ng5 bxc4 29.Bxc5 Bxc5 30.Rd7+ Kg8 31.Rxc7 cxb3 32.Nxh7 Bd4 33.Nf6+ Kf8 34.Rb7±
26...Ne4
26...h6 27.Rf6! Rd7 28.Rd1! Re7 (28...Nd5 29.Bxc5 hxg5 30.Bxb4 Ne3+ 31.Kf3 Nxd1 32.Be6+-) 29.Nf3+- Δ Nh4
27.Nxe4 fxe4

28.f5! Rxd6
28...Bxd6 29.f6+ Kh8 30.exd6 Nd5 (30...Rxd6 31.Bf4 Rd7 32.Be5+-) 31.Bh6 Rxd6 32.f7+-
29.exd6 Nd5
29...Bxd6 30.f6+ Kh8 31.Rd1 Be5 32.f7 b5 33.Rd7 bxc4 34.Rxc7 Rf8 35.Bc5+-
30.Bd4+ Kg8 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.Rf6! Rd8
32...b5 33.Bxd5+ cxd5 34.h4! Rd8 35.Rxg6+ Kf8 36.h5 Rxd6 37.Rg5+-
33.Rxg6+ Kf8 34.Re6+- b5
34...Bxd6 35.Rxe4+-
35.Be2 c5 36.Be5 Bd2 37.Bh5 c4 38.d7 Ne7 39.Be8 1-0
 149. [D78]
Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677) - Smirin, Ilia (2663)
Helsingor 125/149, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O c6 6.b3 Ne4 7.d4 d5 8.Bb2 Nd7 9.e3
9.Qc2 - 49/529
9...Ndf6 10.Ne5 Be6 11.Qe2 Nd7 12.Nd3 Ndf6N
12...f5
13.Nf4 Bc8 14.f3 Ng5
14...Nd6 15.Nd2 Nf5 16.Qf2 b6 17.Rfe1 Bb7 18.Rad1²
15.Nc3 h5 16.h4
16.Rad1 Ne6 17.Nd3²
16...Ne6 17.Nd3² Nc7 18.Rad1 a5 19.c5 Nd7 20.Na4 Nb5 21.Ne5 Ra6 22.Nxd7 Bxd7 23.Nb6 Be6
23...Rxb6 24.cxb6 Qxb6 25.g4ƒ
24.Qe1
24.g4!?
24...Nd6
¹24...Rxb6!? 25.cxb6 Qxb6 26.Qf2²
25.Bc3 Qc7 26.e4 dxe4 27.fxe4 Bg4 28.Rd3 Nb5 29.Bb2 e5 30.dxe5 Bxe5 31.Bxe5 Qxe5 32.Qf2 Qe7 33.Bf3 Bh3
34.Rfd1 Nc7?
34...Qf6 35.Qe3 Qe5 36.Be2±
35.Kh2+- Be6
36.Nd7?!
36.Rd7! Bxd7 37.Rxd7 Qe5 38.Nc4 Qe8 39.Rxc7+-
36...Bxd7
36...Rc8 37.Qb2 Ne8 38.Nb6 Rc7 39.Rd8 Kh7 40.Be2 Ra7 41.Qd4±
37.Rxd7 Qe5 38.Be2 Ra7 39.Bc4 Ne6 40.Rf1 Nd8 41.Bxf7+ Kh8 42.Qd2 1-0

150.** [D80]
Arnaudov, Petar G (2461) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2675)
Bulgaria (ch) 125/150, 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nxd5 Qxd5 7.Ne2 O-O 8.Nc3 Qd6
8...Qd8 9.Be2 c6 10.O-O e5 11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.e4 Qe7 13.Be3 Nd7 (13...Re8 - 109/289) 14.Qc2 Nf6N (14...Nc5)
(14...Bg7) 15.Rae1 Re8 16.h3 Be6 17.Na4 Rad8 18.Bc5 Qd7 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.Bxa7 1/2-1/ 2 (21)
Kanep,M (2509)-Gharamian,T (2651) Cappelle-la-Grande 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran] (21.Bxa7 b5 22.Nc5 (22.Nc3 Bxh3!
23.Be3 (23.gxh3? Qd7µ) 23...Be6∞) 22...Bxa2 23.Nd3 Bd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4 25.e5 Ne4 26.Qxc6 Rd8∞)
9.Be2 Na6N
9...c6 - 119/153
10.O-O c5 11.d5 Nc7 12.e4 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Be3
14.Qb3N b5! 15.Nxb5 Nxb5 16.Bxb5 Rab8 17.Qa4 Bd4 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Qe5 20.e4! Qxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxe4 22.Bc4
Rxb2 23.d6+ Kg7 24.Rxf8 Kxf8 25.Re1 Rxg2+ (25...Bc6 26.Rxe7 Rxg2+ 27.Kf1 Rd2 28.Rxa7=) 26.Kf1 exd6 27.Rxe4
Rxh2= Narciso Dublan,M (2529)-Asis Gargatagli,H (2463) Balaguer 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]
14...Rad8 15.Qd2
15.Qb3 Be5 16.g3 a6 17.a4 e6„
15...Be5
15...Be6!? 16.Ne4 Qxd5 17.Qxd5 Bxd5 18.Nxc5 b6 19.Na4 Be6∞
16.g3?!
16.Bh6 Rf7 (16...Bxh2+!? 17.Kh1 Be5 18.Bxf8 Rxf8©) 17.h3 b5∞
16...e6 17.g4?!

17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.Nb5 Qxd5µ

17...Nxd5! 18.Nxd5
18.gxf5 Nxc3 19.bxc3 Qxd2 20.Bxd2 Rxd2 21.Bc4 gxf5 22.Bxe6+ Kg7µ
18...Bxh2+ 19.Kg2 Be4+-+ 20.Kh3 Bxd5
20...exd5-+
21.Qc1
21.f4 Bg2+! 22.Kxg2 Qxd2 23.Bxd2 Rxd2 24.Rf2 Bxf4-+
21...Bf4 22.Qxc5 Qe5 23.Qc3 Qe4 24.Rg1 Be5 25.Qe1
25.Qe1 Rf3+ 26.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 27.Rg3 (27.Kh4 Bf6+-+ 28.g5 Qh5+-+) 27...Bxg3-+0-1

151. [D83]
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2731)
Biel 125/151, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.c5 c6 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Nge2N
9.Qc2 - 107/142
9...Re8 10.f3 Bc8 11.O-O Nbd7 12.Bg5 e5 13.b4 Nf8 14.Bh4 Bh6 15.f4 e4
15...exd4 16.exd4 Bg7 17.h3²15...g5!? 16.fxe5 gxh4 17.Rxf6 Bxe3+ 18.Kh1 Bg4! 19.Qf1 Bxc1 20.Qxc1 Bh5 21.Nf4
Bg6 22.Bf5² ↑
16.Bc2 Bg7 17.b5 Bd7 18.Ba4 Qc8 19.h3 Nh5 20.Rb1² f5
20...Bxh3 21.bxc6 bxc6 (21...Qg4 22.Ng3 Qxh4 23.Nxh5+-) 22.gxh3 Qxh3 23.Bxc6±
21.Qb3 Bf6 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.Qb7 Ne6

25.Nc1! Rb8 26.Qxc8

26.Qxa7 Ra8 27.Qb7 Qxb7 28.Rxb7±
26...Rexc8 27.Nb3 Nc7 28.Na5± Nb5 29.Ne2
29.Bxb5 cxb5 30.Rb3 a6 31.Rfb1±
29...Na3 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 31.Bxc6 Bxc6
31...Rb2 32.Bxd7 Rxe2 33.c6 Rc2 34.Rf2±
32.Nxc6 Rb2 33.Nc3?!
33.Kf2 Nb5 34.a3 Nc3 35.Re1 a6 36.Kf1±
33...Rc2 34.Ne7+ Kf7 35.Ncxd5 Nc4
35...Nxd5 36.Nxd5 Ke6 37.Nb4±
36.Rb1 Nh5?!
36...Ke6 37.Nxf6 Kxf6 38.Nd5+±
37.Nc6+- Nd2 38.Ncb4
38.Ne5+ Ke6 39.Rb7!+-
38...Nxb1 39.Nxc2 Ke6 40.Nc7+ Kd7 41.Nd5 Ke6 42.Ndb4 Nf6 43.d5+ Kd7
43...Nxd5 44.Nd4++-
44.d6 Nc3 45.Nd4 Nfd5 46.Na6 1-0

152.* [D85]
Riazantsev, Alexander (2671) - Navara, David (2751)
France 125/152, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Nd7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 c5 10.O-O Nb6
10...cxd4 - 100/356
11.Qa3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Rd1N
13.Bg5
13...Bxf3
13...Qd6N 14.Qe3 Rac8 15.Ba3 Qf6 16.Rab1 (16.Bc5 Rc7 17.Rab1²) 16...Rc2 17.Bc5ƒ Arnaudov,P (2462)-
Bernadskiy,V (2511) Varna 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]
14.gxf3!? Bxd4
¹14...e6 15.Be3 Qh4 16.Qb3 Bh6∞
15.Bg5 Bxa1 16.Rxd8 Rfxd8 17.Qxe7 Rd7 18.Qa3 Bd4?

18...a6 19.Qb3 Bd4 20.e5 Re8 21.f4²18...Bg7 19.Be3 Rdd8 20.Kg2 Rdc8 21.Qe7²
19.Bb5! Rc7 20.Qd6 Rc5 21.h4 Bxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rxb5 23.Qd4+- [Δ Bh6] 23...Rxg5 24.hxg5 Rc8 25.f4 Rc2+ 26.Kg3
Rxa2 27.f5 gxf5 28.Qd8+ Kg7 29.exf5 Ra4 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qd8+ Kg7 32.Qd3
32.Qd6 Kg8 33.f6 h5 34.gxh6+-
32...h5 33.Kh3 Rg4 34.Qd8 Nc4 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.g6 fxg6 37.Qe6+ Kh7 38.f6 Nd2 39.Qe7+ 1-0
 153. ** [D85]
Matlakov, Maxim (2691) - Wei, Yi (2724)
Ningbo 125/153, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Bb5
8.Qa3 - 123/155
8...c6 9.Be2 O-O 10.Qa3
10.Nf3 c5 11.Qa3N (11.Bb5) (11.Qxd7) 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Be3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Rd1 e5 16.O-O
(16.Nxe5 Qe6 17.Rxd4 Qxe5 18.Qe3=) 16...Re8 17.Rd2 Qe7 18.Qxe7 Rxe7 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Rxd4 Be6 1/2-1/2 (20)
Riazantsev,A (2671) -Grigoriants,S (2594) Russia (ch-rapid) 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
10...b6N
10...Qd6
11.Nf3 Bb7 12.O-O c5 13.d5 e6

14.Be3!N
14.Rd1exd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Bc4 Bxc4 17.Rxd7 Nxd7 18.Bf4 Be2 19.Re1 Rfe8© Lysyj,I (2691)-Wei,Y (2706) China
2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
14...exd5 15.Rad1 d4?!
15...Nc6 16.exd5 Ne7 17.c4 Nf5 18.Bf4²
16.cxd4 Bxe4
16...cxd4?! 17.Bxd4 Qc7 (17...Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxe4 19.Nb5±) 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rc1 Qf4 20.Qc3+ Kg8 21.Ne5!± Δ
Ng416...Qe7 17.dxc5 Nd7 18.Bb5! Nf6 (18...Nxc5?! 19.Rd7±) 19.Bd4±
17.dxc5 Qb7 18.Rfe1 Nd7
18...Bd5 19.Qd3 Be4 20.Qc4²
19.Ba6 Qc7

20.Bb5! Nf6?!
20...Ne5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Rd7! Bxh2+ 23.Kh1 Qe5 24.Bd4 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Qxe1 26.Kxh2±
21.Bd4 Bf5
21...Rad8 22.Be5 Qb7 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Qb2 Qe7 25.Bc3 bxc5 26.Nd2+-
22.c6+- a6 23.Be5 Qc8
23...axb5 24.Qxa8+-
24.Ba4 b5 25.Bb3 a5 26.Qb2 a4 27.Bxf6 Bxf6 28.Qxf6 axb3 29.axb3 Bc2 30.Rd7 Bxb3 31.h4 Ra6
31...h5 32.Ree7+-
32.Ne5
32.Ne5 Qe8 33.Re7 Qc8 34.Nd7 Qxc6 35.Qb2+-1-0

154. [D85]
Nakamura, Hikaru (2799) - Grischuk, Alexander (2780)
Khanty-Mansiysk 125/154, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Qa3 O-O 9.Nf3 b6 10.Bd3 c5 11.O-O
11...Nc6!
11...Bb7 - 123/155
12.Bb5N
12.d5?! e6!³ (12...Na5 13.Bg5 e6 14.Rad1 exd5 15.exd5 h6∞)
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 a6 14.Be3
14.Bb2 axb5! (14...Bb7 15.Bxc6 Qxc6 16.d5 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Qd6 18.Rfd1²) 15.Qxa8 Nb4 16.Qa3 (16.e5? Bb7 17.Qa7
Nd5 18.Qa3 Nf4µ) (16.Rad1 Ba6 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qc7 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Rcd1=) (16.Qb8 Nd3 17.Rab1 Bb7
18.Qg3 Bxe4©) 16...Nc2 17.Qb3 Nxa1 18.Bxa1 Qe6∞
14...Bb7
14...axb5?! 15.Qxa8 Nb4 16.e5 (16.Qb8 Bb7 17.Qf4±) 16...Bb7 17.Qa7 Nd5 18.Qa3±
15.Be2 e6
15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Rad1 e5 18.Nxe5 Qc7 (18...Qe6?! 19.Nxf7! Bc5 (19...Bxf2+ 20.Rxf2 Rxf7 21.Bg4! Qxg4
22.Qb3 Rf8 23.Rd8! Kg7 24.Qc3+ Rf6 25.Rf3! Rf7 26.Rd6 Bxe4 (26...Qh4 27.Rdxf6 Rxf6 28.Qc7++-) 27.Rdxf6 Bxf3
28.Rf4+±) 20.Ng5±) 19.Nxf7! (19.Rxd4 Qxe5=) 19...Bc5 20.Nh6+ Kh8 (20...Kg7 21.Qh3±) 21.Qb2+ Qg7 22.e5
Qxh6 23.e6+ Qg7 24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 25.Rd7+ Kh6 26.Rxb7 Rf6 27.Bc4²
16.Qb3 b5 17.a4 Na7
17...Na5!? 18.Qc3 Nc4 19.Bxc4 Rac8∞
18.Ne5 Qd6 19.Bf3 Nc6= 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Rac1
21.axb5 Bxb5! 22.e5 Qd7=
21...Rac8 22.d5 Bd7 23.axb5 axb5 24.g3 exd5 25.exd5 h5 26.Bd2 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Ra8 28.Bb4 Qe5 29.h4 Ra1 30.Rxa1
Qxa1+ 31.Kg2 1/2-1/2
 155. !N [D85]
Postny, Evgeny (2644) - Mikhalevski, Victor (2571)
Israel 125/155, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.d5 Bxc3+ 11.Bd2
Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Na5 13.h4 Bg4 14.h5 Bxf3 15.gxf3 e5 16.Qc3 Re8 17.Qxc5 b6 18.Qe3 Rc8 19.hxg6
19.Bb519.Kf119.Ba6
19...fxg6
19...hxg6?? 20.Bb5!+-
20.f4 Qf6?

20...exf4! 21.Qxf4 Qe7 (21...Nc4)

21.f5!N →
21.Qh3 - 123/(158)
21...gxf5 22.Rh6?!
22.exf5 Rc7 (22...Qxf5 23.Rb4!+-) 23.Rb4‭→
22...Qg7 23.exf5 Rc3
23...Nc4!„
24.Qxc3 Qxh6 25.Rb4 Qh1+ 26.Bf1 Qxd5 27.Rg4+ Kh8 28.Qc7 Qb7
28...Rg8 29.Rh4 Rg7 30.Qb8+ Qg8 31.Qxe5 Nc6 32.Qc3ƒ
29.Qd6 Qe7 30.Qh6 Rf8?
30...e4!?
31.Bg2! Rxf5?
31...e4! 32.Bxe4 (32.Rxe4? Qg7=) 32...Nc4„
32.Bd5!+- Rf8 33.Qe3! Qf6 34.Qg3 1-0

156. [D87]
Fedoseev, Vladimir (2664) - Wei, Yi (2724)
Ningbo 125/156, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Rc1 Qc7 11.h4
Rd8
11...Qa5 - 117/159
12.h5 b5 13.Bd5N
13.Bb3
13...e6 14.Bxc6 Qxc6 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.f3 a5 17.Kf2 Ba6

18.Qg1!
18.Nf4 Qe8 19.Qb3 c4 20.Qa3 Bb7 (20...e5 21.dxe5 Qxe5 22.Rcd1²) 21.Qb2 Bc6∞
18...b4
¹18...Qc7 19.Bf4 e5 20.Be3 Bf6 21.d5²
19.Qh2 h5 20.Nf4 Qe8 21.Qg3 bxc3
21...Kh7 22.Qg5 Bh6 23.Qxh6+! Kxh6 24.Nxh5+ g5 25.Nf6++-
22.Nxg6
22.dxc5 Rd2+ (22...Qf7 23.Nxg6 Rd2+ 24.Kg1 Re2 25.Ne5+-) 23.Kg1 Rad8 24.Qg5±
22...cxd4
22...Qb5? 23.Qf4 Rd7 24.Rxh5+-
23.Bf4 Qb5 24.e5?
24.Ne5 Rf8 (24...d3 25.Qg5! d2 26.Qxh5+-) (24...Qb2+ 25.Kg1+-) 25.Rxh5 Qe2+ 26.Kg1 Rxf4 (26...Ra7 27.Bh6+-)
27.Qxf4 Qe3+ 28.Qxe3 dxe3 29.Nc6 (29.Rxc3 e2 30.Kf2 Rd8 31.Rc2 Rd1 32.Rxe2 Bxe2 33.Kxe2±) 29...Bb7 30.Rc5
Bxc6 31.Rxc6 Bd4 32.Rc4 e5 33.Kf1±
24...Kf7?
24...Qb2+ 25.Kg1 d3 26.Rxh5 d2 27.Rd1 (27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Rh7 dxc1=Q+ 29.Bxc1 (29.Kh2 Qh1+ 30.Kxh1 Qb1+-+)
29...Qxc1+ 30.Kh2 Qh6+!-+) 27...Qb7 28.Kh2 Bd3 29.Bh6 Bxg6 30.Qxg6 Qf7-+
25.Qg5 Qe2+ 26.Kg3 Rd7

27.Rxh5?
27.Qxh5 Bd3 28.Nh4+ Kf8 (28...Kg8 29.Ng6 Kf7= (29...Rb7 30.Rhe1 Qxa2 31.Bg5∞)) 29.Rce1 Qc2 30.Rc1 (30.Bg5
Rb8 (Δ Rb2) 31.Rc1 Qe2 32.Rce1=) 30...Qxa2 31.Ng6+ Kf7 32.Nh4+=
27...Qd3 28.Nh4 Rg8 29.Kh2 Bh8 30.Qh6 Bg7 31.Qg5 Bc4-+ 32.Re1 Bf8! 33.Qf6+ Ke8 34.Bg5 Be7 35.Qh6 Bf8
36.Qf6 Be7
36...c2 37.Rc1 Be7-+
37.Qh6 Bd5 38.Bf6 Bf8 39.Qf4 Qd2 40.Qxd2 cxd2 41.Rd1 Bb4 42.Bg5 Rxg5! 43.Rxg5 Bxa2 44.Rg8+ Kf7 45.Rb8
Bb3 0-1

157. [D90]
Papaioannou, Ioannis (2633) - Skembris, Spyridon (2412)
Vrachati 125/157, 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 a6 7.Bd3 g6 8.h3!? Bg7
8...Bf5 - 116/126
9.Nf3 O-O 10.Rc1ƒ
10.O-O b5!? 11.Ne5 Bb7„
10...Qb6!?
10...Bf5?! 11.Bxf5 gxf5 12.g4!±10...Re8 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.Nxd5 Nxe5 14.Be2 Qa5+ 15.b4²
11.Qe2
11.O-O Qxb2 (11...Nb4? 12.Qb3±) 12.Na4 Qa3 13.Nb6 Ra7 14.Ne5ƒ ∆Nh5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bh2²11.Na4 Qa5+„
11...Bd7
11...Bf5 12.Bxf5 gxf5 13.g4!‭→ (13.O-O e6∞)
12.O-O Nb4!?N
12...Qa7 13.Ne5 Rfd8 14.Nxd7 Rxd7 15.Na4 Rc8 16.Nc5± ∆Rdd8 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.Bxa6 Qa8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8
20.Qb5+-12...Qd8
13.Bb1

13.Ne5 Nxd3„
13...Ne4!?©
13...Rfc8 14.a3 Nc6 15.b4²
14.Rfd1!
14.Nxe4 dxe4ƒ 15.Bxe4 Bb5 16.Qd1 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 Rac8ƒ14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxe4 Nxf4 16.exf4 Bb5 17.Bd3 Bxd3
(17...Bc6!?©) 18.Qxd3 Rad8„
14...Nxc3
14...Rfc8 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxa2 17.Rc5! Be6 18.Ng5² ∆Bb3 19.Bc2
15.bxc3 Nc6 16.e4!?ƒ
16.c4 dxc4 17.Rxc4 Rac8
16...e6
16...dxe4?! 17.Bxe4±
17.Bd3 Rfe8 18.Rb1
18.Bd6? Nxd4-+
18...Qa7 19.e5!?‭→
19.Bd6 b5 20.a4 Na5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bxb5 Bxb5 23.Rxb5 Nc4©
19...Rac8
19...Na5 20.Qd2 Ba4 21.Rdc1 Bb5!?© 22.Bxb5 axb5 23.Rxb5 Nc4
20.Qd2 Ne7 21.g4
21.Bh6‭→
21...Rc7 22.Bh6 Bb5!?© 23.Qf4
23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Bxb5 axb5 25.Rxb5 Ra8 26.Qf4‭→ ∆Qxa2 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28.Kg2 h6!?© (28...Qc2 29.Rdb1±)
23...Bxd3 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Qf6+
25.Rxd3 Ng8!„
25...Kg8 26.Rxd3 Nc6 27.Qf4‭→
27.h4 Qb8 28.h5 Qd8 29.Qf4 Qe7∞
27...Qb8 28.Ne1?!
28.Qh6 Qd8 29.Ng5 f6 30.exf6 Qxf6„28.Nh2!? ∆Rf8 29.g5 Ne7 30.Ng4 Nf5 31.Nf6+ Kh8 32.h4 Qc8 33.Rb3 a5
34.h5 a4 35.Rb1 Rxc3 36.Rxc3 Qxc3 37.hxg6 Kg7™ 38.gxf7 (38.Qh2 Rh8 39.gxf7 Qc2„ 40.Rxb7 (40.Rf1 Nxd4)
40...Qc1+ 41.Kg2 Qxg5+ 42.Kf1 Qc1+=) 38...Qxd4 39.Qh2 Nh4 40.Qh3 Rxf7 41.Qxe6 Qxe5„
28...Qd8„ 29.Rf3 Qe7 30.h4
30.Nd3 Na5 31.Nc5 Nc4 32.Kg2 a5 33.h4 b6„
30...Rec8†
30...Qxh4 31.Ng2 Qe7 32.g5©30...Qa3!? 31.h5 Qxa2 32.h6 Qxb1 33.Qf6 Qxe1+ 34.Kg2 Kf8 35.Qg7+ Ke7 36.Rxf7+
Kd8 37.Rxc7 Re7-+
31.Nd3„ 1/2-1/2

158. !N [D92]
Eljanov, Pavel (2718) - Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2720)
La Habana 125/158, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.e3 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Ng5 Qa5 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Be2
Ne4 12.O-O Bxc3 13.cxd5 Rad8

13...Bxb2 - 2/597
14.Qc2!N
14.bxc3
14...exd5 15.bxc3 Nxc5
15...Qxc5?! 16.c4 g5 (16...e6 17.cxd5 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 exd5 19.f3 Nd6 20.Rd1±) 17.cxd5! Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Nb4 19.Rc4±
16.Rfd1² Qa4?!
16...e5 17.Bg5 Rd7 18.Bf3 e4 19.Bg4 Rd6 (19...Rdf7 20.Rxd5 Rxf2 21.Be2 Kh8 22.Rf1±) 20.Bf4 Rdd8 21.Be2²
17.Qxa4 Nxa4 18.Bg4!± Rf6
18...Kf7 19.Bc7 Nb2 20.Bxd8 Nxd1 21.Bc7 Nb2 22.Rb1+-
19.Bf3 Kg7 20.Rxd5 Rxd5 21.Bxd5 Rf5 22.c4+- Nb6 23.g4 Rf8 24.Rb1 e5 25.Bg3 Kf6 26.Rb5 Re8 27.h4 h6 28.Rc5
Nb4 29.Bxb7 Nxa2 30.Ra5
30.h5 g5 31.Rc6+ Re6 32.Rc7 Nc3 33.c5+-
30...Nb4 31.c5 Nc4 32.Rb5 a5 33.c6 Nd6 34.Rxa5 g5 35.Rc5 1-0

159. [D97]
Holt, Conrad (2530) - So, Wesley (2788)
USA (ch) 125/159, 2015 [Arakhamia Grant,Ketevan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6 8.Bg5 Bg4 9.d5
9.O-O-O - 100/371
9...Na5N
9...Bxf3 10.gxf3 (10.dxc6 b5!) 10...Ne5 11.Qe2 Nh5 12.Be3 b5!? 13.O-O-O (13.Nxb5 c6! 14.dxc6 Nxc6 15.Rc1 Rc8
16.Bh3 e6©) 13...c6 (13...Nc4!?) 14.f4 Nc4 15.e5„
10.Qa4 c6 11.dxc6 Nxc6
11...Bxf3 12.cxb7 (12.gxf3 Nxc6=) 12...Nxb7 13.gxf3 Nc5 14.Qb5 (14.Qc2 Ne6 15.Rd1 Qa5 16.Be3 Rab8©) 14...Ne6
15.Rd1 Qc8 16.Bh3 (16.Bxf6?! Bxf6 17.Nd5 Rb8 18.Nxf6+ exf6 19.Qe2 Rd8-+) 16...Rb8 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bxe6 fxe6
19.O-O Nh5©
12.e5
12.Be2 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd7 14.O-O Nde5„
12...Bxf3 13.exf6 exf6 14.Be3 Bh5 15.g4 Bxg4 16.Qxg4 f5 17.Qa4 Re8
17...Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Qd5 19.Rg1 Rfe8 20.Bc4 Qe5 21.Kf1²
18.Rd1
18.Be2 Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 Qf6 20.Kf1 Re4 21.Qc2 Rae8 22.Bf3 Rxe3!? 23.fxe3 Rxe3 24.Qf2 f4 25.Rd1 Qxc3©
18...Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 Qf6 20.Be2

20...b5?
20...Re4!? 21.Qc2 Rae8 22.Bf3 (22.O-O Rh4!? (22...Qh4 23.Bf3 Qh3! 24.Bg2 Rg4 25.f3 Rxg2+ 26.Qxg2 Qxg2+
27.Kxg2 Rxe3=) 23.Bf3 Ne5 24.Bg2 f4 25.Qa4! Re6 26.Rd4 g5„) (22.Bd3 Rh4 23.Kf1 f4 24.Bc1 Rh3©) 22...Rxe3+
23.fxe3 Rxe3+ 24.Kf2 Rxc3 25.Qd2 Qh4+ 26.Kg2 Rxf3 27.Kxf3 Ne5+ 28.Kg2 Qe4+ 29.Kf2 Qf3+ 30.Kg1 Qg4+=
21.Bxb5! Re4
21...f4 22.O-O! fxe3 23.fxe3 Qg5+ 24.Kh1+-
22.Qc2 Rae8
¹22...Rb8
23.O-O f4
23...Qh4 24.Qe2!+-
24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Bd4 f3 26.Qd3+- Re2 27.a4 Qd5 28.Kh1 Qh5 29.Qb5 Qh4 30.Rg1 Rd8 31.Rdf1 h6 32.Qc6 Rxd4
33.cxd4 Rxf2 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Qe5+ 1-0

160. [D97]
Lalic, Bogdan (2459) - Sreeves, Clement (2310)
Coulsdon 125/160, 2015 [Lalic,Bogdan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Na6 8.Be2 c5 9.d5 e6 10.O-O exd5 11.exd5 Bf5
12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Nh4!?
13.Qh4 - 77/(471)
13...Bd7 14.Be3
14.h3 Rfe8 15.Be3 Rad8 16.Rd2 Qa5! Δ b5
14...Rfe8
14...Ne8!? Δ Nd6
15.Rab1
15.a3!? Re7!? (15...Qxb2?! 16.Ra2 (16.Rab1) 16...b5 17.Nxb5 Bxb5 18.Rxb2 Bxc4 19.Bxc4 Ng4 20.Rb7 Nxe3 21.fxe3
Re4 22.Bxa6 Rxh4 23.d6±) (15...Rad8)
15...Qb4?!
15...Qa5!? 16.a3 b5 17.Qf4 (17.Nxb5? Re4 18.Qc3 Qb6µ) 17...h6 18.b4 Qxa3 19.Nxb5 Qa2 (19...Qa4 20.Nc3 Qa3=)
20.Nc3 (20.Bc4?! g5 21.Qxf6 Qxc4 22.Qxf7+ Kxf7 23.Nd6+ Kg8 24.Nxc4 Nxb4! (24...gxh4?! 25.bxc5©) 25.Nf3
Bf5 26.Rbc1 Rad8 27.Bxc5 Na2µ) 20...Qa3 21.Nb5=
16.h3N
16.a3
16...Ne4 17.Nb5!ƒ Ng3 18.Bd3™ Bf6
18...Re4? 19.Qxb4 Rxb4 20.Nd6! Rxh4 21.fxg3 Rb4 22.b3 Bd4 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Bxa6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 bxa6 26.Ne4+-
19.Nf3 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Nf5 21.Bd2 Red8
22.Ba5! b6 23.Bc3 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Bxb5 25.Bxb5 Nc7 26.Bc6 Rac8 27.Ne5 f6†
27...Nd6!? 28.a4 Kg7
28.Nc4 Ne7?
28...Nd6 29.Nxd6 Rxd6 30.a4 c4!? (30...Rcd8 31.c4 Ne6 32.Re1 Nd4 33.Re7 Nxc6 34.dxc6 Rxc6 35.Rxa7±)
29.Bb7 Ncxd5
29...Rb8 30.d6 Rxb7 31.Na5! Rbb8 32.dxc7! (32.dxe7? Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Re8 34.Nc6 Nb5 35.Rd3 c4=) 32...Rxd1+
33.Rxd1 Rc8 34.Rd7 Kf8 35.Nb7! Kf7 36.Nd6+ Ke6 37.Nxc8 Kxd7 38.Nxe7+-
30.Bxc8 Rxc8 31.Rd3+- Rc7 32.g3 Kf7 33.a4 Ke6 34.Re1+ Kf7 35.Nd6+ Kg8 36.Red1 1-0

161. [D98]
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733) - Navara, David (2724)
Biel 125/161, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Nd2
9.O-O-O - 117/164
9...Na6 10.h3N
10.f3
10...Nb6 11.Qb3 Be6 12.d5 Bd7 13.Bxa6
13.a4 c6 14.a5 cxd5! 15.exd5 (15.axb6?! d4³) 15...Nc8 16.Bd3 (16.Qxb7 Nc7 17.Qb3 Nd6©) 16...Nd6∞
13...bxa6 14.O-O c6 15.dxc6 Bxc6 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.Rac1 Qb7?!
17...Rfc8 18.Qb4 e6 19.b3 Qb7∞
18.Qb4 Rab8 19.Nb3² Qa8
19...Na4 20.Qxb7 Rxb7 21.Nxa4 Bxa4 22.Nc5! Bxd1 23.Nxb7 Be2 24.b3±
20.Qxe7 Rfe8 21.Qg5 h6
21...Bxe4 22.Nxe4 Rxe4 (22...Qxe4?! 23.Nc5±) 23.Bd4²
22.Qg3 Na4?

22...Bxe4 23.Bd4 Rbc8 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.f3 Bd5 26.Nd4²

23.Nd5! Nxb2
23...Rxe4? 24.Rxc6+-23...Bxd5 24.exd5 Nxb2 25.Rd2 - 23...Nb2
24.Rd2 Bxd5 25.exd5 Rbc8 26.Nc5± Re4?!
26...Na4 27.d6 Nxc5 28.Rxc5 Rxc5 29.Bxc5±
27.d6+- Rc4 28.Rb1
28.Rcc2!? Rxc2 29.Rxc2 Rd8 30.d7 Qc6 31.Rd2+- Δ Qh4
28...R8xc5 29.Bxc5 Qe4
29...Rxc5 30.d7 Bf6 (30...Qd8 31.Re1+-) 31.Qd6 Qc6 32.Qxf6+-
30.Rf1?!
30.Rdxb2 Bxb2 31.Rxb2 Rxc5 32.Rb8+ Kg7 33.d7 Rc1+ 34.Kh2 Qe1 35.Rg8+ Kxg8 (35...Kh7 36.Qf3+-) 36.d8=Q+
Kh7 37.Qgb8+-30.d7! Qxb1+ (30...Bf6 31.Qb8+ Kh7 32.Qe8+-) 31.Kh2 Bf6 32.d8=Q+ Bxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kh7
34.Qe5+-
30...Rxc5 31.d7 Bf6 32.Rxb2
32.d8=Q+! Bxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kh7 34.Qd6 Rg5 35.g4 Qe5 36.Qd7+-
32...Rg5 33.Qb8+ Kg7
34.g3?!
34.Qb7! Qd4 (34...Rxg2+ 35.Kh1 Rg4+ 36.Qxe4 Rxe4 37.Rd1+-) 35.Rbb1+-
34...Qd4 35.Rb4?!
35.Rb7 h5 36.Rc1 h4 (36...Rf5 37.Qxa7+-) 37.Rb4 Qd2 (37...Rxg3+ 38.Qxg3! Qxb4 39.Qd3+-) (37...Qxd7
38.Rxh4+-) 38.Qf4 Qxd7 39.g4± (39.Qxh4 Rc5 40.Rxc5 Bxh4 41.Rxh4±)
35...Qxd7 36.h4 Rf5 37.Rbb1
37.Rc4 Bd4 38.Qb3 Qd6 39.Kg2²
37...Qd2= 38.Rbd1 Qxa2 39.Qxa7 Qc4 40.Qe3 a5 41.Qd3 Qxd3 42.Rxd3 1/2-1/2

162. [D99]
Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2643) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2660)
Martuni 125/162, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Bg4 8.Be3 Nfd7 9.Qb3 Nb6 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.d5
Ne5 12.Be2 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Bh5 14.O-O
14.Rg1 - 93/404
14...Qc8 15.Nb5 Qh3 16.Bd4 Bh6N
16...c6
17.Be5 c6 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.Nd4 Rac8
¹19...Rfc8 20.Rfe1 (20.Bg3!?) 20...c5 21.Bf1 Qh4 22.Bg3 Qg5 23.h4 Qf6 24.e5 Qg7 25.Nb5 Qf8 (25...c4 26.Qa3 a6
27.Nd4²) 26.Kg2²
20.Rfe1!
20.Bg3!? e5 (20...c5 21.Nb5²) 21.Nc2 (21.Bxe5?! c5 22.Nb5 c4 23.Qc3 Rc5©) 21...Rfe8 22.Ne3²
20...c5 21.Bf1 Qh4 22.Bg3 Qg5 23.h4 Qf6 24.e5 Qg7 25.Nb5 c4 26.Qa3 c3 27.Nxc3 Bxf3 28.Rd4?!
28.Rd3 Ba8 (28...Nc4 29.Qxe7 Bd2 30.Ra1±) 29.Qxe7 Nc4 30.e6±
28...e6 29.Qxa7
29.Nb5 Bd5 30.Qxa7 Nc4 31.Bg2 Bxg2 32.Kxg2²
29...Nd5 30.Nxd5 Bxd5 31.Bg2 Ra8 32.Qe7 Rfe8 33.Qf6 Bxg2 34.Kxg2 Rxa2 35.b4 Qf8 36.Red1 Raa8?!
36...Ra4 37.Rd8 Ra8 38.R8d6 Rab8 39.R1d4 Rb5 40.Rd8 Rb8=
37.h5 Rab8 38.Qh4?!
38.hxg6 fxg6 (38...hxg6? 39.Rh1 Bg7 40.Rdh4!+-) 39.Qh4 Bg7 40.Rd7 h6 41.R1d6±
38...Bg7?
38...g5™ 39.Qg4²
39.h6 Bh8 40.Rd6+- f5 41.R1d4 Rb7 42.Bf4
42.Rd7 Rxd7 43.Rxd7 f4 44.Qxf4+-
42...Rb5 43.Qg3 Qe7 44.Rd7 Qf8 45.Qxg6+! 1-0
 E00-E49

163.*** [E01]
Giri, Anish (2773) - Topalov, Veselin (2798)
Stavanger 125/163, 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Rd1 b6 10.b3 a5 11.Bc3 Bb7
11...Ne4 - 109/311
12.Nbd2 c5
12...Qc7 13.Rac1 (13.e4 Rfd8N (13...dxe4 14.Nxe4 c5 15.Nxf6+N (15.Ne5) 15...Nxf6 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Ng5 h6
18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Bf6 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Rd3 a4= Bruzon Batista,L (2669)-Ni,H (2703) Danzhou
2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]) 14.e5 Ne8 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Qb1 Qb8 18.b4 axb4 19.Bxb4 Bxb4 20.Qxb4²
Ftacnik,L (2555) -Hammes,M (2345) Portugal 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]) 13...c5N (13...Rfd8) 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.cxd5
exd5 16.Ne1 Qb8 17.e4 d4 18.Bb2 a4 19.Nd3 axb3 20.axb3 Rc8 21.Ra1 Bc6∞ Bluebaum,M (2600)-Babula,V (2552)
Zillertal 2015 [Milanovic,Danilo]
13.Ne5 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Qc8N
15...Ng4 16.Bb2 Bc5 (16...Rc8 17.h3 Nf6 18.Qd3!?²) 17.e3 Qg5 18.Nf3 Qh6 19.Qe2 dxc4 20.h3! Nf6 21.bxc4²
16.Rac1 dxc4 17.Bxf6
17.Qxc4 Bxg2 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ 20.Qe4 - 17.Bf6
17...Bxf6 18.Qxc4 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ 20.Qe4 Rfb8 21.Rc6 Qd7
21...Rd8 22.Rd6 Qxe4+ 23.Nxe4 Be7 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rxd8+ Bxd8²
22.Rcc1
22.Qf3!? a4 23.Rcc1²
22...Qb7 23.Qxb7 Rxb7 24.Ne4 Be7 25.Nd6 Rd7! 26.Nc4 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 b5 28.Ne5 Bf6 29.Nd7
29.Nc6 a4 30.Rd7 Rc8 31.Na7 Rc2=
29...a4 30.Rc1 axb3 31.axb3 Be7 32.Rc7 Rd8 33.Rb7 Bd6 34.g4
34.f4!? Δ Kf3
34...h5?
34...h6 35.h4 Kh7 36.h5 g6²
35.gxh5 Kh7 36.b4 Bxb4
36...Kh6 37.Nc5 Bxc5 38.bxc5 Rd2 39.Kf3 Rc2 40.Rxb5±
37.Ne5 Rd5 38.Nxf7 Rxh5 39.f4 Kg6 40.Ne5+ Kh7 41.Nf7
41.Rxb5? Bd2! 42.Kf3 (42.Kg3? Rf5) 42...Rh3+ 43.Kg4 Rxh2=
41...Kg6 42.Ne5+ Kh7 43.Nf3! Rf5
43...Kg6 44.Kg3+-
44.Ng5+ Kh6
44...Kg6 45.Nxe6 Rf6 (45...Kf6 46.Nxg7 Rxf4 47.Nh5+) 46.e4+-
45.Kf3 Bd2
45...e5 46.Nf7+ Kh7 47.Nxe5+-
46.e3 b4 47.Nxe6 Rh5 48.Nxg7 Rxh2 49.Nf5+ Kg6 50.Ne7+
50.e4 Rh1 51.Ne7+ Kh6 52.Nd5+-
50...Kf6 51.Nd5+ Ke6 52.Ke4 Rh3 53.Rb6+ Kd7 54.Kd3 Bc1 55.Rxb4 Kd6 56.Kd4 1-0

164.***** !N [E04]
Ulybin, Mikhail (2522) - Zakhartsov, Vladimir (2453)
Dresden 125/164, 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bd7 6.Ne5 Bc6 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.O-O Qd7 9.e3 O-O-O!? 10.Nd2
10.Qa4 Nd5 11.Qxc4 h5 12.Bd2 (12.a3 - 121/(168)) 12...h4 13.Rc1 hxg3 14.hxg3 f5

15.Nc3 - 125/ (164) (15.b4! Kb8?!N (15...g5 - 16.b5 Nce7 17.a4 Kb8 18.a5ƒ Raznikov,D (2484)-Vajda,S (2333)
Zalakaros 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]) (15...Ncxb4 16.a3 (16.Nc3 Kb8 17.Rab1∞) 16...Nc6 17.Nc3 Kb8 18.Qb3
Nb6 19.Ne2 e5 20.Rxc6 bxc6 21.a4 e4 22.a5 Rh6 23.axb6 cxb6 24.f3 exf3 25.Bxf3 g5 26.Bg2²) 16.b5 Nce7 17.a4
Nc8 18.Qb3 Nd6 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Bxc3 Ne4 21.a5 Qd5 22.Qb2 Bd6 23.b6!‭→ Postny, E (2634)-Movsesian,S (2655)
Teplice 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]) 15...g5 16.Qa4 Kb8 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.b4

18...Bd6!N (18...Ne7) 19.b5? (19.Bxd5 Bxg3 (19...f4!?) 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Qxc6 Bxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rh2+ 23.Kf3 Qxc6+
24.Rxc6 Rxd2 25.Rc5=) 19...Ne7 20.f4 (20.Rc3 Rh7µ Δ Rdh8) 20...Ng8! 21.Qb3 Nf6 22.fxg5 Ne4 23.Be1 Qh7-+
Sharevich,A (2267)-Nemcova,K (2279) USA (ch) 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]
10...e5 11.Nxc4 exd4 12.Qb3
12.exd4 - 125/ (164) 12...Qe6 13.Qa4 Rxd4 14.b3 Ne4 15.Bb2 Nc5 16.Qxc6 bxc6 17.Bxd4 Ne4 18.Rae1 f5 19.g4N
(19.f3 - 121/168) 19...Bd6 20.gxf5 Qh6 21.f4 Bxf4 22.Rxe4 Qxh2+ 23.Kf2 Qg3+ 24.Kg1 Qh2+ 25.Kf2 Qg3+ 1/2-1/2
(25) Ulybin,M (2520)-Brkic,A (2607) Biel (open) 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]
12...Nd5 13.Bd2N

13.Rd1 Bc5 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.exd4 c6 16.dxc5 Qf5 17.Bxd5 1/ 2-1/2 (17) Vorobiov,E (2582)-Raznikov,D (2500)
Pardubice 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V] (17.Bxd5 Rxd5 18.Rxd5 cxd5 19.Bf4 Nc6=)
13...h5?!
13...Bc5 14.Rac1 dxe3 15.Nxe3 Bxe3 16.Bxe3 Qe6 17.Bc5 Rhe8 18.Rfd1 Nb6 19.Qxe6+ fxe6 20.Bxc6 bxc6=
14.Rac1 Kb8 15.Rfd1 h4?
15...Qe6 16.Na5 Nxa5 17.Bxa5 Nb6 18.Rxd4 Rxd4 19.Qxe6 fxe6 20.exd4 g5 21.Re1 Bg7 22.Bc3 Re8²
16.Na5 Nxa5 17.Bxa5 Nb6 18.Rxd4 Bd6 19.a4 hxg3 20.hxg3 Qe6 21.Qxe6 fxe6 22.Bc3± e5 23.Rg4 Rd7 24.a5 Nc8
25.Rd1 Re7 26.Be4 a6 27.Kg2 Na7 28.Rd3 Nb5 29.Bd2 Rf8 30.Rg5 Rf6 31.Be1 Rh6 32.g4 c6 33.f3 Bc7 34.Bg3 Ka7
35.b4 Bd6 36.Be1 Kb8 37.Bg3 Rhe6 38.Be1 Rh6 39.Rf5 Kc7 40.Rf8 b6 41.g5
41.axb6+ Kxb6 42.Rd1±
41...Rh5 42.g6 bxa5 43.bxa5 Bc5 44.Rf7 Rxf7 45.gxf7 Bf8 46.Rd1 Nd6 47.Bb4?!
47.Bg3±
47...Rg5+ 48.Kh2 Rh5+ 49.Kg2 Rg5+ 50.Kh2 Rh5+ 51.Kg1 Rg5+ 52.Kf1 Nxe4 53.Bxf8 Rf5! 54.Bxg7 Rxf3+
55.Ke2 Rxf7 56.Bxe5+ Kc8= 57.Rb1 Rf5 58.Rb8+ Kd7 59.Rb7+ Kc8 60.Rb8+ Kd7 61.Rb7+ Kc8 62.Rb8+ 1/2-1/2

165. [E04]
Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (2722)
Dortmund 125/165, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc3!?
9.Qd3 - 123/167
9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Rc8 12.Bf4
12.Qxa7 Bc5 13.Qb7 Nd5 14.Bxd5 Rc7! 15.Qa8 Rc8 16.Qb7 Rc7=
12...Bc5 13.Qd3 Qb6 14.Nd2 O-O 15.Ne4 Nd5N

15...Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Rfd8 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Be4 Bc6 19.Qf3 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 f6 21.g4²
16.Ng5!?
16.Nxc5 Qxc5 17.Be5 Rfd8 18.Rfd1²
16...g6 17.Be5!? Be7
17...f6 18.Bxd5 fxg5! (18...exd5 19.Qxd5+ Kh8 20.Qxd7+-) 19.Bf3∞
18.Nf3 Bc6 19.Qd2 f6 20.Bd4 Qb7 21.Rac1 Rfd8
21...Rcd8 22.Qh6 e5 23.Bxa7 Qxa7 24.Rxc6 Rfe8©
22.Bh3 Bd7 23.Rxc8 Bxc8
23...Rxc8 24.e4 Nb6 25.Bxb6 axb6 26.Rd1 Rc7 27.Qe3²
24.Rc1 Bd7 25.Bc5! Bxc5 26.Rxc5 Rc8
27.b4! Rxc5 28.bxc5 Qc7 29.e4 Ne7 30.Qd4 Kg7
30...Kf7 31.e5 Nc6 32.Qh4 Nxe5 33.Qxh7+ Ke8 34.Qg8+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Ke8 (35...Nf7? 36.Nh4!+-) 36.Nxe5 Qxe5
37.Qxg6+±
31.e5! f5 32.Bg2 h6 33.Qd6± Qxd6 34.exd6 Nc6 35.Ne1
35.Nd2 Kf6 36.Nb3 e5 37.Bxc6 Bxc6 38.Na5 Be8 39.c6 Ke6 40.d7 Bxd7 41.cxd7 Kxd7 42.Kf1±
35...a5?
35...e5! 36.Bd5 (36.Bxc6?! Bxc6 37.Nd3 Kf6 38.Nb4 Be4 39.Na6 (39.c6? Ke6 40.c7 Bb7µ) 39...g5∞) 36...Kf6²
36.Nd3+- b4 37.h4
37.f4 a4 38.Bxc6 b3 39.axb3 a3 40.Bxd7! a2 41.Ba4 a1=Q+ 42.Kf2+-
37...Nd4 38.Kh2 Bb5 39.Ne5 Kf6 40.c6 Bxc6 41.Nxc6 1-0

166. [E05]
Artemiev, Vladislav (2671) - Bukavshin, Ivan (2655)
Russia (ch) 125/166, 2015 [Harikrishna,Penteala]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 b6!?
7...a6 - 123/168
8.Qxc4
8.Bg5 Nd5 (8...Bb7? 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Ng5+-) 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nbd2 Ba6 (10...Bb7 11.Nxc4 Nd7∞) (10...c5!?)
11.Rfd1 (11.Nxc4 c5 12.Rac1 Rc8∞) 11...c3 12.bxc3 Bxe2 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 c6=8.Ne5 Nd5 9.Qxc4 (9.Rd1 Bb7
10.e4 Nb4 11.Qxc4 Nd7 12.Nxd7 Qxd7∞) 9...Ba6 10.Qc2 Bf6„ Δ c5
8...Bb7 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.Bg5
10.Ne5 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.f4 c5∞
10...Rc8
10...c5!? 11.Rfd1 Rc8 12.Rac1 Qe8!∞
11.Nb5
11.Rfd1 c5 - 10...c5
11...Bd5 12.Qc2 Be4N
12...c6 13.Nc3 h6 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.Rfd1²
13.Qc1 c6 14.Nc3 Bg6 15.Rd1
15...Nd5! 16.Bf4 Nxc3
16...h6!?
17.Qxc3 Be4 18.Rac1 b5 19.Qe3 Bd5 20.Qd3 f5 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5
22.dxe5 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qxd3 24.Rxd3 Rc7=
22...Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qd5+ 24.f3 a6 [Δ c5] 25.Qb3 Rfd8 26.Qxd5 Rxd5
26...cxd5 27.Bc7 Re8 28.e3 Bd8 29.Bd6²
27.Rd3
27.e4 fxe4 28.fxe4 Rd7=
27...c5= 28.Ra3 Rc6 29.e4 Rd8 30.dxc5 Rd2+ 31.Kh1 fxe4 32.fxe4 Re2 33.b4 Rxe4 34.Bc3 Bxc5 35.bxc5 b4 36.Bxb4
Rxb4 37.Rb3 Rd4 38.Rb6 Rxb6 39.cxb6 Rb4 40.Rc8+ Kf7 41.Rc7+ Kf6 42.b7 Rb2 43.a4 h5 44.Kg1 g5 45.Kf1 e5
46.Ke1 Ke6 47.Kd1 Kd6 48.Rh7 h4 49.Kc1 Rb4 50.gxh4 gxh4 51.a5 Kc6 52.Rxh4 Rxb7 53.Rh6+ Kc5 54.Rxa6
Rh7 55.Ra8 1/2-1/2

167.*** [E05]
Eljanov, Pavel (2723) - Adams, Michael (2740)
Biel 125/167, 2015 [Marin,Mihail]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4
9.Rd1 Bc6 10.Nc3 a5?! (10...Bb4 11.Bg5 Bxc3 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxc3 (13.bxc3 - 105/297) 13...Rd8N (13...Qe7)
(13...a5) 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Nd7 16.Nxc4 c5 17.a5 Rab8 18.Rac1² Bogdanovski,V (2412)-Savic, M (2509) Veliko
Gradiste 2015 [Marin,Mihail] (18.d5!ƒ)) (10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nc6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.a5 Qb8 14.Qa4 Qb3 15.Qxc6 Bb4
16.Bd2 Bxc3N (16...Rad8² - 35/585) 17.bxc3 Nd5?! (17...Rfb8 18.Rab1 Qa2 19.f3²) 18.Rab1 Qa3 19.Qxc4 Qxa5
20.e4± Mekhitarian,K (2589)-Tang,A (2365) Arlington 2015 [Marin,Mihail]) 11.e4 Na6 12.Ne5 Nb4 13.Qe2 Be8
14.Nxc4± c6 15.Bf4 h6N (15...Ra6) 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.g4 b5 18.axb5 cxb5 19.Na3 g5?! 20.Bg3 Nd3 21.Qxd3 b4 22.e5
Nd7 23.d5+- Van Wely,L (2654)-Brink,B (2302) Vlissingen 2015 [Marin,Mihail]
9...Bc6 10.Bg5 h6!?
10...Bd510...a5
11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nc3 [∆ e4] 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 c6 14.e3
14.Qb3 - 107/(170)
14...a5 15.h4
15.b4 axb4 16.Qxb4 Ra7 17.a5 Be7 18.Qb3 Nd7 19.Ra2 Nf6 20.Rfa1 Nd5
15...Na6 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Qe2 Rad8N
17...Rfd8
18.Ne4 Be7 19.Nd2 Nb4 20.Nc4 Qa6 21.b3 Bf6 22.Rac1 Rd7 23.Be4 Rfd8 24.Qh5 Na2 25.Rc2 Nb4 26.Rcd2 Nd5
27.Rc1!
27.Bb1 Nc3„27.Bc2 Nc3 28.Rc1 b5„
27...Qa7
27...b5 28.Ne5²
28.Bb1
28.Kg2!² ∆c5?! 29.Ne5 Bxe5 30.Qxe5 Qb6 31.dxc5 Qxb3 32.Rd4 Qa2 33.Rc2 Qa3 34.g4‭→
28...Ne7
28...c5! 29.Ne5 Bxe5 30.Qxe5 Qb6„ 31.dxc5 Qxb3 32.Rd4 Qa3 33.Rcd1 Qb3 34.Kg2 (34.Be4? Nxe3! 35.Rxd7
Qxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 37.Kh2 Ng4+-+) (34.g4? Nxe3! 35.fxe3 Qxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 37.Kf2 R8d2+ 38.Kf3 Rf1+
39.Kg3 Rxb1-+) 34...Qb2 35.Kg1= (35.Be4? Nxe3+µ)
29.Rdd1
29.Qxa5 Qxa5 30.Nxa5 e5 31.Nc4 exd4 32.e4²
29...Rd5 30.Qf3 R5d7 31.Nd2 Kf8?
31...Nd5!? 32.Qe4 (32.Ne4 Be7) 32...Kf8! (32...g6? 33.h5+-) 33.Kg2 Qb8 34.Qh7?! g6! 35.Qxh6+ (35.Be4 Bg7
36.Bxd5 Rxd5=) 35...Ke7 36.Bxg6 fxg6 37.Ne4 Rh8 38.Qxg6 Rg8=
32.Ne4 Ng8
32...Nd5 33.Nc5 Rd6 34.Kg2!! (34.e4 Nc7 35.e5 Bxe5 36.Nxb7 Qxb7 37.dxe5 Rxd1+ 38.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 39.Qxd1
Nd5=) 34...Be7 (34...Kg8 35.e4 Nc7 36.e5 Bxe5 37.dxe5 Rxd1 38.Rxd1 Rxd1 39.Qxd1 Qxc5 40.Qd8++-) (34...Ke8!?
35.h5±) 35.e4 Nf6 (35...Nc7 36.e5 Rxd4 37.Bg6 f6 38.exf6 Bxf6 39.Rxd4 Rxd4 40.g4+-) 36.Qe3 Qb8 37.Ba2!! b6
(37...Qc8 38.e5 Rd5 39.b4 Bxc5 40.bxc5+-) 38.e5 Nd5 39.Qf3 bxc5 40.exd6 Bxd6 41.dxc5 Be5 42.Bb1+-
33.Nc5 Rd6 34.Bd3 Be7 35.Bc4 Nf6
36.g4!ƒ b6 37.Nd3
37.Nxe6+ fxe6 38.g5 Kg8 39.gxf6 Bxf6 40.h5²
37...Nd7 38.Nf4 Kg8 39.Qg3 Qb8?!
39...Nf6 40.Bd3 (40.g5 hxg5 41.hxg5 Ne4³) 40...Nd5²
40.g5 hxg5 41.hxg5 b5 42.Bd3 e5 43.Ne2 g6 44.Kg2 exd4 45.e4?!
45.Qh4 Bf8 46.Nxd4±
45...Kf8?
45...Bf8!?∞
46.Rh1
46.axb5 cxb5 47.Qh4 Ke8 48.Qh8+ Nf8 49.Nf4+-46.Qh4+-
46...Ke8 47.Rh8+ Bf8 48.axb5
48.Qf4!+- Re6 49.Qxb8 Nxb8 (49...Rxb8 50.Nxd4 Rd6 51.Nxc6 Rb6 52.Bxb5+-) 50.axb5 cxb5 51.Bxb5+ Ke7
52.Rc7+ Kd6 (52...Nd7 53.Nxd4) 53.Rxf7+-
48...cxb5 49.e5
49.Qf4 Re6 50.Rc7! (50.Qxb8 Rxb8± 51.Nxd4? Rd6 52.Nc6 Rb6) 50...Qb6 51.Qc1!+-
49...Rd5
50.Qf4?
50.Re1!! Rc8 (50...Rxe5 51.f4+-) (50...Nxe5 51.Nxd4+-) (50...Qxe5 51.Nf4 Qxe1 52.Nxd5+-) 51.Kf1!! (51.e6 Qxg3+
52.Nxg3 Ne5 53.Be4) 51...Qc7 52.e6 Qxg3 (52...fxe6 53.Nf4+-) 53.exd7+ Kxd7 54.Nxg3+-
50...Qxe5³ 51.Re1?
51.Qxe5+ Nxe5 52.Be4 R5d6 53.f4 Nd7 54.Bd3 Ke7 55.Bxb5? d3µ
51...Qxh8-+ 52.Nxd4+ Re5 53.Rh1 Qg7 54.Bxb5 Be7 55.Ba4 Rxg5+ 56.Kf1 Qe5 57.Qxe5 Rxe5 58.Rh8+ Bf8
59.Nc6 Rh5 0-1

168. [E05]
Nakamura, Hikaru (2814) - Anand, Viswanathan (2816)
Saint Louis 125/168, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Bd5 11.Qc2 Be4
12.Qd1 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Nbd2 Bc6 16.Nb3 Be7
16...Nbd7 - 81/409
17.Na5 h6 18.Be3 Nd5 19.Bd2 Nb6 20.Bf4 Nd5
21.Ne5N g5
21...Nxf4!? 22.gxf4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Nd7 24.Nd3 (24.Nxb7 Rdb8 25.Nxd7 Rxb7 26.Ne5 Rxb2=) 24...Rab8 25.Rfc1
Bd6 26.b4 Nf6=
22.Bd2 Bf6 23.Nd3 b6 24.Nc4 b5
24...Nd7 25.Rfc1²
25.Bxd5!?
25.Nce5 bxa4 26.Nxc6 Nxc6 27.Rxa4 Nd4 28.Rd1 Rab8„ (28...Nxe2+?! 29.Kf1 Nd4 30.Ba5ƒ Δ Nb4)25.axb5 Bxb5

26.Ba5! Bxc4 27.Bxd8 Bxd8 28.Rfc1 Bxd3 29.Rc8! Bxe2 30.Rxd8+ Kg7 31.Rc1± Δ Rcc8
25...bxc4!?
25...exd5 26.Nce5 bxa4 27.f4∞
26.Bxc4 Bxb2 27.Ra2 Bg7
¹27...Bd4 28.Rc1 Be4∞
28.Rc1 Be8 29.Nc5 Bf8 30.Bd3 Nc6 31.Be4!
31.Nxa6? Rxd3 32.Nc7 Nd4!µ
31...Rdc8 32.Kf1 Ra7 33.Nb3 Rac7 34.Rac2 Bd6
34...Ba3!? 35.Ra1 Bd6=
35.f4 f5?!
35...f6!?¹35...Ba3
36.Bd3 Nb8
36...gxf4?! 37.Bxf4 e5 (37...Bxf4 38.gxf4+-) 38.Bxh6±36...Rb8! 37.Rc3 Bb4 (37...Ba3 38.R1c2 Bb4 39.Rc4 Bxd2
40.Nxd2 gxf4 41.gxf4 Rcc8 42.Rc5±) 38.Rc4 Ba3 39.Nd4 Bxc1 40.Rxc1© ∆Kf7 41.Ba5 Rcc8 42.Bxa6 Nxd4 43.Rxc8
Rxc8 44.Bxc8 Bxa4=
37.Rxc7 Rxc7 38.Rxc7 Bxc7 39.fxg5 hxg5 40.Nc5! Bd6?
¹40...Kf7 41.Bc4±
41.Nxe6 Bxa4 42.Nxg5 Bd7 43.Bc3
43.Bc3 Bc8 (43...Bc7 44.Bc4+ Kf8 45.Ne6++-) 44.Bc4+ Kf8 45.Nf7 Be7 46.h4+-1-0

169. !N [E08]
Giri, Anish (2793) - Grischuk, Alexander (2771)
Saint Louis 125/169, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Rd1 b6 10.Bf4 Ba6 11.b3 Rc8
12.Nc3 dxc4 13.e4 Nh5
13...Qe8 - 106/160
14.Be3 Nhf6 15.h3 b5 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.Rab1
17.Qa4 Bb5 18.Qc2= (18.Nxb5? cxb5 19.Qxb5 Nxe4 20.Ne5 Ndf6³)
17...Qa5
17...Rb8 18.Qa4 Rxb1 19.Rxb1 Qc8∞
18.Bd2 Qa3?!
18...Qc7 19.Bf1 Rfd8 20.Bf4 Qa5=
19.Re1!N
19.Bc119.g4
19...Nb6?!
19...Rb8 20.Re3! Qa5 21.e5 Nh5 22.Ree1ƒ ×Nh5
20.Re3 Rb8

21.Rxb6!?
21.e5!? Nfd7 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Rxa3 Rxb1+ 24.Qxb1 Bxa3 25.Qc2±
21...Rxb6
21...axb6 22.e5 Nd7 23.Nb1+-
22.Na4 Rb1+ 23.Kh2!± c3 24.Rxc3 Qb4 25.Rxc6 Qb5?!
¹25...Bd3! 26.Qxd3 Qxa4 27.Rc7 Bd8 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 29.Qxb1±
26.Ne5! Ra1 27.Bc3 Rf1
27...Rb1 28.Nb2!+-
28.Nb2 Qb7 29.Rxa6!+- Qxa6 30.Nbc4 Nxe4 31.Bxe4 Rb8 32.Bxh7+ Kf8 33.Qe2 Rc1 34.Qh5 1-0

170. [E11]
Lupulescu, Constantin (2635) - Miron, Lucian Costin (2484)
Iasi 125/170, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Nbd7 7.e3
7.b4 a5 8.b5 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Bb2 e4 11.Nh4 Nc5 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.g4 Ke7 14.g5 Ne8∞ Δ h67.b3 b6 8.Bb2 Bb7
9.e3 O-O 10.Bd3 Qe7 (10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.O-O a5∞) 11.O-O e5 12.Bc2 e4 13.Ng5 d5 14.Nh3 Rfd8 15.Nf4 Rac8!?
(15...Nf8 16.f3) 16.Qc3 (16.Rad1 a5 17.Rfe1 c5„) 16...Nf8 17.a4 Ng6„
7...e5 8.Qc2
8.b4 e4 9.Ng1 d5 10.c5 Nf8 11.h3 h5„8.dxe5 dxe5 9.b4 e4 - 70/456 (9...Qe7 10.Qc3 (10.c5!?) 10...b6 11.Bb2 Ne4
(11...Bb7!?) 12.Qc2 Bb7 13.c5!? bxc5 14.Bb5©) (9...b6!? 10.Qc3 Qe7 11.Bb2 Bb7 12.Be2 Ne4 13.Qc2 O-O 14.O-O
c5 15.Rfd1 (15.Rad1 cxb4 16.axb4 a5„) 15...Rad8 16.Bd3 f5„)
8...O-O 9.Be2
9.b3 Re8 10.Bb2

10...b6! (10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Ng4!? (11...Ne4 12.Be2 Qg5 13.O-O Ndf6 14.Nb5 Re7 15.Bd3 c6 16.Nd4²) 12.Be2 Nde5
13.h3 Qh4 14.O-O Nf6 15.Rae1!? (15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qg5 17.Rad1 Bf5 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qd2 Bxh3 20.Bxb7
Rab8 21.Bc6 Qg6 22.Qa5!²) 15...Bd7 16.f4 Ng6 17.Bf3 Nxf4 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Ng6 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Bc6 Re7
22.c5!? Ne5 (22...Rxb3 23.Qc8+ Nf8 24.Bd4ƒ) 23.cxd6 cxd6 24.Rc1²) 11.Be2 Bb7 12.O-O Qe7 13.b4 a5 14.Rfd1 h6
(14...Be4 15.Qc3 Bf5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nh4²) 15.h3 Be4 16.Qc3 Bf5„
9...Re8
10.b3N
10.b4
10...e4 11.Nd2 Nf8 12.Bb2 d5 13.h3 h6
13...Bf5 14.g4 (14.O-O Ne6!?) 14...Be6 15.g5 N6d7 16.h4 c6 17.O-O-O a5 18.Kb1 a4 19.b4 f6 (19...dxc4 20.f3! exf3
21.Bxf3 f5 22.Nxc4²) 20.Rdg1 fxg5 21.hxg5 Ng6 22.f3 exf3 23.Bxf3 Ndf8 24.Ka1!? (24.e4 Nf4„) 24...Bf7 (24...Qd7
25.cxd5 cxd5 26.Nb1²) 25.e4²
14.O-O-O
14.g4 c6 15.O-O-O b5!? 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Bxb5 Bd7©14.O-O Bf5 (14...c6 15.a4 Bf5 (15...a5 16.Ba3²) 16.b4 Ne6
17.b5²) 15.Rfd1 Ne6 16.a4 Ng5 17.Bf1 Qd7 18.cxd5 (18.Rac1 Nf3+!„) 18...Nxd5 19.Nc4 Nb4 20.Qd2 Nd5 21.Ne5
Qe6„14.a4 Bf5 15.Nf1!? (15.O-O Ne6 16.b4 Ng5 17.Rfc1 Bxh3!? 18.gxh3 Qd7©) 15...Ng6 (15...Ne6 16.Ng3 Bg6
17.O-O²) 16.Ng3 Qd7 (16...Be6 17.O-O Qd7 18.Rfc1²) 17.Nxf5 (17.Ba3 Nh4„) 17...Qxf5 18.O-O Nh4 19.Kh1 Qg5
20.Rg1²
14...c6
14...a5 15.cxd5 a4 16.b4 Qxd5 17.Bc4 Qf5 18.d5! Qxf2 19.Rhf1 Qxe3 20.Kb1©
15.Kb1
15.g4 Bd7 (15...b5!? - 14.g4) 16.Rdg1 b5 17.h4 N6h7∞
15...Bd7„ 16.Rde1?!
16.Rc1 a5 17.g4 a4 18.b4 dxc4 19.Nxc4 Be6 20.Rcg1 b5 (20...N6h7 21.h4∞) 21.Ne5 Qd5 22.g5 hxg5 23.Rxg5∞
16...a5
16...b5!? 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Rc1 (18.b4 a5) 18...Rc8 19.Qd1 Qb6 20.b4 Rxc1+ 21.Qxc1 Rc8 22.Qe1 Ne8³ Δ Nd6-c4
17.f3
17.f4
17...b5
17...exf3 18.Bxf3 a4 19.bxa4 (19.b4 b5 20.c5 Ng6 21.h4 (21.e4 dxe4 22.Nxe4 Bf5µ) 21...Ne7! 22.e4 Nxe4 23.Nxe4
Bf5 24.g4 dxe4 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Rxe4 Qd7µ) 19...Ng6 20.h4 Qa5 21.Ka1 Bg4 22.cxd5 (22.e4 Bxf3 23.gxf3 Nf4)
22...cxd5 23.Nb1 Qxa4 24.Qxa4 Rxa4 25.Nc3 Ra5 26.e4 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Nf4 28.Rhg1 Rd8³17...Ng6!? 18.a4 b5!
19.cxb5 cxb5 20.Bxb5 Rc8 21.Qd1 Bxb5 22.axb5 Qd7 23.Qe2 exf3 24.gxf3 Nf4µ
18.cxd5
18.fxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bf5 20.Bd3 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Rxe4µ18.c5 exf3 19.Bxf3 Ng6 20.e4 Nh4 21.Ka1 b4 22.a4 Nxe4
23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Nc4 f5 25.Nd6 Be6!µ 26.Nxe8 Qxe8 27.g4 Bd5 28.gxf5 Nxf5 29.Rhf1 Qf7 30.Ka2 Ne3!-+18.f4
Ng6³
18...cxd5 19.f4 Rc8µ 20.Qd1 b4!?
20...Ng6 21.h4 (21.g4 Nh4µ) 21...Qb6 22.h5 Ne7 23.g4 Rc7 24.g5 Nf5! 25.Nf1 Nh7µ
21.a4 Qb6 22.g4

22...Rc3! 23.Nf1
23.g5 hxg5 24.fxg5 N6h7 25.h4 Rxe3 26.Nf1 Rc3 27.Bxc3 bxc3 28.Ne3 Bxa4 29.Nxd5 Qb7 30.Nxc3 Bxb3 31.Qd2
Ne6 32.d5 e3µ
23...Rec8 24.h4 Ne8! 25.Ka2?!
25.g5 h5 26.Rh2 g6 27.Ka2 Rc2µ25.h5 Nd6 26.Rg1
25...Bxa4! 26.bxa4 b3+ 27.Kb1 Rc2 28.Bb5 Nd6 29.Re2 Nxb5 30.axb5 Qxb5 31.Rhh2 Rxe2
31...R2c6-+
32.Rxe2 Qa4 33.Bc1?
33.Ba1 Rc2! 34.Rxc2 bxc2+ 35.Qxc2 Qb5+µ
33...b2! 0-1

171. [E11]
Quintiliano Pinto, Renato Rodrigues (2429) - Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2570)
Arlington 125/171, 2015 [Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan; Hosseinzadeh,Nima]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 d5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Bxd2 Ne4 8.Bf4 g5 9.Be3 f5 10.g3
10.h4 - 98/376
10...O-O 11.Bg2?N

11.Rd1
11...f4! 12.Bc1 g4! 13.cxd5?
13.Ne5! f3 14.exf3 Nxe5 15.dxe5 gxf3 16.Bf1 c5 17.Bd3 Bd7 18.Qc2„
13...exd5µ 14.Ne5 f3! 15.exf3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 gxf3 17.Bf1 c5!
17...Bf5!? 18.Be3 (18.Bf4 c6 19.Rd1 b5 20.Qd4 Qa5+ 21.Bd2 Nxd2 22.Rxd2 Rae8 23.Kd1 Qb6 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.Bd3
Rxe5 26.Re1 Rxe1+ 27.Kxe1µ) 18...Re8 19.Bd3 Rxe5 20.O-O c6 21.Bd4 Re7 22.Qd1 Rf7µ17...c6 18.Bd3 Bf5 19.Qc2
c5 20.Be3 (20.h4?! Qa5+ 21.Bd2 Qxd2+ 22.Qxd2 Nxd2 23.Kxd2 Bxd3 24.Kxd3³) 20...Rc8 21.O-O-O Qe7³
18.Bf4 Bd7?!
18...Qb6! 19.Qb5 (19.O-O-O? Be6 20.Qc2 c4! 21.Be3 Qa5-+) 19...Qc7! 20.Qd3 (20.Rc1 Bf5 21.Bd3 a6 22.Qa4 c4
23.Bxe4 (23.Bb1? Nc5!-+) 23...Bxe4 24.Qb4 Bd3µ) (20.b4 Be6 21.bxc5 Rac8 22.h4 Nxc5 23.Rd1 d4! 24.Bc4 Qf7
25.Bxe6 Nxe6µ) 20...Qa5+! 21.Bd2 Qd8!µ
19.Bb5 Bxb5?
19...Bf5! 20.Bd3 (20.Rd1 Kh8 21.Bd3 a6³) 20...c4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.h4 Rc8?! 23.h5! d4 24.Rh4! Bf5 25.Rd1 Qb6
26.Qb4³
20.Qxb5 Qb6! 21.Qd3?

21.Qxb6! axb6 22.Rd1 d4 23.O-O (23.Rd3 Rad8! 24.Rxf3 c4 25.Ke2 Rd5 26.Bh6 Re8! 27.Rf4 Rdxe5³) 23...Rxf4!
24.gxf4 Rf8³
21...Qe6?
21...Qxb2! 22.O-O (22.Qxd5+?? Kh8 23.O-O Rxf4!-+) 22...Rad8µ
22.Qxf3?!
22.h4! c4 23.Qxf3 Nc5 24.O-O d4 25.Rad1 Rad8 26.Qh5=
22...Qxe5?!
22...Ng5! 23.Qb3 Nh3 (23...d4!? 24.Qxe6+ Nxe6 25.Rc1!„) 24.Be3 Rf3 25.O-O-O Rd8∞
23.Qe2
23.Qg4+! Qg7 24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 25.f3 Nf6 26.Kd2 b6 27.Rhe1 d4 28.b4ƒ
23...Qf5 24.O-O Rae8 25.Qb5 b6 26.a4?
26.Bh6? a6! 27.Qxa6 Rf6 28.Bf4 Qg6 29.f3 Rxf4 30.fxe4 Rfxe4³26.f3! Ng5 (26...Nf6 27.Rae1 Qd7 28.Qd3 d4 29.Bh6
Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Re8 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8=) 27.Bxg5 Qxg5 28.f4! Qg7 (28...Qe7 29.Rae1 Qxe1 30.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 31.Kf2=)
29.Rad1 Re3 30.Rxd5 Rxg3+ 31.hxg3 Qxg3+=
26...Qg6! 27.Kh1 Qh5! 28.Ra3! d4 29.Qc6?!
29.a5! Kh8 30.axb6 axb6 31.Qd7 (31.Qxb6?? Rxf4! 32.gxf4 d3! 33.Rxd3 Qe2-+) 31...Nf6 32.Qc6 Qd5+ 33.Qxd5
Nxd5µ
29...Qg6!?
29...Rf6! 30.Qd7 Rfe6 31.Kg2 Nf6 32.Qb7 Nd5 33.a5! R6e7 34.Qc6 Nb4 35.Qf3 Qxf3+ 36.Rxf3 Re2 37.axb6 axb6µ
30.Qxg6+ hxg6 31.f3?
31.h4! Nf6 32.Bh6 Rf7 33.Kg2 Re2 34.Rf3 a6 (34...Rxb2? 35.Re1!²) 35.Rb1 Nd5 36.Rxf7 Kxf7 37.Kf3 Re6 38.b3
Rf6+ 39.Kg2µ
31...Nf6
31...g5! 32.fxe4 (32.Bc1 c4!-+) 32...Rxe4 33.Raf3 gxf4 34.b3 Kg7-+
32.a5?!
32.Rd3 Re2 33.Rd2 Rfe8 34.Kg1 Nd5 35.Bg5-+
32...Re2 33.axb6 axb6 34.Ra7 Nd5 35.Bg5 Rxb2 36.Re1 Rxf3 37.Bh6 Ne3 38.Rg7+ Kh8 39.Ra1 Rf1+
¹39...Ra2
40.Rxf1 Nxf1 41.Rxg6 Kh7 42.Rf6 Rxh2+ 43.Kg1 Rxh6 0-1

172.** [E15]
Zakhartsov, Viacheslav V (2548) - Banikas, Hristos (2628)
Paleochora 125/172, 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qb3

5.Qa4 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.dxc5 bxc5 8.Nc3 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Rd1 Qb6 11.Bf4!? d6 12.Rd2 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Rad1
e5

15.Be3!?N (15.Bg5) 15...Bc6?! (15...Nc6!? 16.Nxe5 Bxg2 17.Nd7 Qb7 18.Nxf8 Bh3 19.Nxh7 Kxh7 20.Qc2+ f5
21.f3 Rd8 22.Kf2©) 16.Qc2 h6 17.Nh4!?± Bxg2 (17...Bxh4 18.gxh4 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ 20.f3 Nc6 21.Rxd6 Nd4
22.Qe4± Qxb2 (22...Qxe4 23.fxe4 Rfd8 24.Rd5+-) 23.Rd2 Qb8 24.Qxe5 ∆Re8 25.Qxc5+-) 18.Kxg2! Qb7+ (18...Nc6
19.Nf5 Rfd8 20.Qe4 Bf8 21.Qg4‭→ ∆Kh8 22.Rxd6+-) 19.f3 Nc6 (19...Bxh4 20.gxh4 Nc6 21.Rxd6 Nd4 22.Qe4±)
20.Qe4!± Skembris,S (2422)-Grapsa,G (2065) Paleochora 2015 [Skembris,Spyridon]
5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 Na5 7.Qa4 Bb7
7...c5?! 8.e4 Bb7 9.d5 exd5 10.exd5 Bd6?!N (10...Be7 11.Bd3 O-O 12.O-O d6 13.Re1 Bc8 14.Qc2 Nb7 15.b3 Bg4
16.Bb2± - 116/(168)) 11.Bd3 Qe7+ 12.Kf1 O-O 13.Kg2 Rfe8 14.Qc2± Zakhartsov,V (2548) -Grapsa,G (2065)
Paleochora 2015 [Zakhartsov,Viacheslav V]
8.Bg2 c5 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.O-O Be7 11.Ne5
11.Re1 - 122/(176)
11...Qc7 12.Bxb7 Nxb7 13.Ndf3 Bd6 14.Nd3 O-O

15.Rd1N
15.Re1 Ne4 16.Qc2 Nd8∞
15...Rfc8 16.Qc2 Be7
16...h6
17.Nf4?!
17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.e4 d6 20.Qe2 Na5 21.e5 dxe5 22.Ndxe5=
17...Nd8 18.b3 d6 19.Bb2 h6 20.e4 Nc6 21.Qe2 Nd7 22.h4 Bf6
22...a5 23.Nd3 e5³
23.Bxf6 Nxf6 24.Rd2 a5 25.Rad1 e5 26.Nd5 Nxd5 27.Rxd5 Nd4
27...a4 28.Rxd6 axb3 29.axb3 Nd4 30.Nxd4 Qxd6 31.Nf5 Qf8 32.Rd5©
28.Nxd4 exd4 29.e5 dxe5 30.Qxe5 Qxe5 31.Rxe5 a4 32.Rd3 axb3 1/2-1/2

173.* !N [E15]
Sargissian, Gabriel (2673) - Harikrishna, Penteala (2740)
Espana 125/173, 2015 [Harikrishna,Penteala]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qb3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Na5 7.Qa4 Bb7 8.Bg2 Rc8!
8...c5 - 122/(176)
9.c5N
9.O-Oc5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.b4 Bc6 12.Qa3 Be7 13.Rb1 (13.Bb2 Nxc4 14.Nxc4 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Rxc4 16.Qxa7 Rxb4
17.Be5 O-O 18.Bc7 Qe8 19.Rfb1 d5 20.Rxb4 Bxb4 21.Qxb6 Qa4=) 13...O-O 14.Qd3?

14...Nxc4! 15.Qxc4 (15.Nxc4 Be4-+) 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 (16.Qa6 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rc2µ) 16...Rxc4 17.Nxc4 Qc7-+
Feller,S (2626)-Navara,D (2751) France 2015 [Harikrishna, Penteala]9.b4 Nc6 10.Ne5 Bxb4 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Bxc6
Bc3=
9...Nc6 10.Ne5 Nd5 11.Nd3
11.e4 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ne7 13.Qxa7 Rb8 14.cxb6 Nc6∞
11...a5!? 12.O-O
12.e4 Ndb4 13.Nxb4 axb4 14.Nf3 bxc5³12.Qc4 Rb8 13.a3 Qc8! Δ Ba6
12...Ba6 13.Ne4
13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Nf3 Be7³13.Re1 Be7 14.Ne4 Bxd3 15.exd3 O-O 16.Nc3 Bf6=
13...b5
13...Bxd3 14.exd3 b5 15.Qxb5 Nxd4 16.Qc4 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Nxc1 18.Raxc1 Be7=
14.Qd1 Nxd4 15.Nf4! Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Nc6
16...Nf5 17.Qd2
17.Qb3!
17.Qd3 Nb4 18.Qc3 Nd5 19.Qxa5 Nxf4 20.gxf4 Bb7 21.Qxb5 (21.Rfd1 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Bxc5=) 21...Rb8 22.Qc4
Be7©17.Qd2 b4 18.a3 Bc4∞
17...b4
17...Be7!? 18.Rfd1 O-O 19.Nf6+ Bxf6 20.Bxc6 dxc6 21.Rxd8 Rfxd8
18.Rfd1 Bxe2 19.Rd2 Bh5

20.g4!! Bg6
20...Bxg4 21.h3 Bf5 22.Ng3+-
21.Rad1
21.Qa4!? Nb8 22.Qxa5 Be7 23.Qxb4 O-O∞
21...Nb8!? 22.Qe3
22.Qc4 Be7 23.c6 d6 24.Rxd6!! cxd6 25.Nxd6+ Bxd6 26.Bxd622.c6 d6 (22...d5 23.Rxd5 exd5 24.Rxd5+-) 23.Bxd6
Bxd6 24.Rxd6 Qe7 25.Rd7 Qh4³
22...Be7 23.c6
23.Ng5 O-O 24.Bb7 e5 25.Qxe5 Bxg5 26.Qxg5 Qxg5 27.Bxg5 Rce8 28.Bf4 Be4
23...d5!
23...d6 24.Bxd6 cxd6 25.Nxd6+ Bxd6 26.Rxd6 Qc7 27.Rd7²
24.Nf6+
24.Rxd5 exd5 25.Rxd5 Qxd5 26.Nf6+ gxf6 27.Bxd5 Rd8µ
24...gxf6 25.Bxd5 e5
25...exd5 26.Rxd5 Nxc6-+
26.Bxf7+?
26.Bh6!µ
26...Kxf7 27.Rxd8 Rhxd8 28.Qb3+ Kg7 29.Be3 Nxc6 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Qe6 Bf7 32.Qf5 Nd4 0-1

174. [E16]
Georgescu, Tiberiu Marian (2475) - Oleksienko, Mikhailo (2629)
Iasi 125/174, 2015 [Stoica,Valentin]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 c5 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.Bxb4 cxb4 8.a3 bxa3
8...Qe7 - 111/263
9.Nxa3
9.Rxa3 O-O 10.O-O a5 11.Nc3 Na6 12.d5 (12.Nb5 d6 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Rc8 15.b3 d5=) (12.Qb3 Rc8 13.Rc1
Nb4 14.Na2 Nxa2 15.Qxa2 Nd5„) (12.Qb1 d6 13.e4 Nb4„) 12...Rc8 (12...Nc5 13.Nd4²) 13.Ne5 (13.Nd4 Rxc4
14.dxe6 dxe6 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Bxb7 Nc5 17.Bf3 Rd4„) 13...exd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Re8 16.Qd4 Nb4 17.Rc3
Rc5„
9...d5!?
9...O-O 10.O-O a5 (10...d6 11.b4 (11.d5!? e5 12.Nd2²) 11...Nc6 (11...Nbd7 12.Nb5 Qb8 13.Qd3 Rc8 14.Nd2 Bxg2
15.Kxg2 a6 16.Nc3²) 12.Qb1 a5 13.bxa5 Nxa5 14.Rc1 Ne4 15.Qb4 d5 16.Rab1²) 11.Nb5 Na6 (11...d5 12.Ne5 Nc6
(12...Na6 13.Qa4!²) 13.Qd2 Rc8 (13...Nb4 14.Rfc1² - 12...Nb4) 14.Rac1 dxc4 15.Nxc4 Ba6 16.Ncd6²) 12.Qd2 Qe7
(12...d5 13.Ne5 Ne4 14.Qe3 f6 15.Nd3 Qd7 16.Nf4²) (12...Nb4 13.Rfc1 d5 14.Ne5 Ba6 15.Na3 Rc8 16.cxd5 Nfxd5
17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.Rc1 Qb7 19.Nc2²) 13.Qf4 Bc6 14.Nc3 Qb4 (14...d6 15.Rad1 Nb4 16.e4²) 15.Rfc1 Qxc4 16.Ne5
Qb3 17.Nxc6 dxc6 18.Bxc6 Rad8 19.Qd2 Qb4 (19...Nc5 20.Na4! Nxa4 21.Rxa4ƒ ∆e5 22.Ra3 Qe6 23.d5±) 20.Rd1
Qe7 21.Bg2 Nb4 22.e4²
10.Ne5 O-O 11.O-O² Qe7
11...Nc6 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.e4 Nf6 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Rfd1²
12.cxd5N
12.Qa4 dxc4 (12...a6 13.Rfc1 Nbd7 14.cxd5 b5 15.Qa5 Bxd5 16.Qc7±) (12...Nbd7 13.Nxd7 Nxd7 14.Rfc1 a6 15.cxd5
Bxd5 16.e4 Bb7 17.Rc7 b5 18.Qa5 Rab8 19.Nc2²) (12...Nc6!? 13.Nxc6 Qd7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Rfc1 Rac8 16.b4 Bxc6
17.b5 Ba8 18.Nc2 Rc7 19.Nb4 Rfc8 20.Rxc7 Rxc7 21.e3²) 13.Bxb7 Qxb7 14.Naxc4 Rd8 15.Rfc1 Ne8 16.Qb3 h6
(16...f6? 17.Na5+-) 17.Qb5!?²12.Rc1 Rd8 13.Qa4 dxc4 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Naxc4 Rxd4 (15...Ne8 16.Rfd1 f6 17.Nd3
Nc6 18.e3 Rac8 19.b4 Ne7 20.b5²) 16.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Na6 18.Nd6 Nc5 19.Qc4 Qa6 20.Qxa6 Nxa6 21.Ndxf7
Nc5 22.f3²
12...Bxd5
12...Nxd5 13.Rc1 f6 14.Nd3ƒ Δ e4
13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Qa4
14.e4 Nb4 15.Rc1 f6 (15...Rd8 16.Qb3!) 16.Nd3 N8a6 (16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Nd7 18.Nb5±) 17.Nf4²14.Nb5!? a6
15.Qa4 f6 16.Nd3 Nc6 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.Nc3 Ndb4 (18...Ncb4 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.e4±) 19.Nxb4 Qxb4 20.d5!²
14...Qb4
14...Nb4 15.Nc2! (15.Rfc1 f6) 15...N8a6 16.Nxb4 Nxb4 17.Rfc1 Rfd8 18.e3 a5 19.Nc6²
15.Nb5! a6
15...Qxa4 16.Rxa4 a5 17.Rc1 Nb4 (17...Na6 18.Rac4²) 18.Raa1 N8a6 19.Rc3²
16.Qxb4
16.e4!? Qxa4 17.Rxa4 ∆Nf6 18.Nd6 Ne8 19.Nc8!±
16...Nxb4 17.Rfc1 Rd8
17...f6!? 18.Nc7 Ra7 19.Nxe6 Re8 20.Nc7 Rd8 21.Ra4 a5 22.Nd3 (22.Nb5 Re7„) 22...Nxd3 23.exd3 Rd7 24.Rac4
(24.Nb5 Rab7 Δ Na6) 24...Na6 25.Nxa6 Rxa6 26.Rc7 Ra7²
18.Nd6
18.e3 h6 (18...Nd7 19.Nc7±) (18...a5 19.Rc7) 19.Nc7 (19.Rc7 f6) 19...Ra7 20.Rc4 Nd5 21.Rac1²18.Kg2!? a5 19.Nc7
Ra7 20.Rc4 N8a6 21.Rac1 Nxc7 (21...Na2 22.Nxa6! Nxc1 23.Nc6±) 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Rxc7 f6 24.Nd7²
18...f6! 19.Nb7 Rf8 20.Rc4 Nd5 21.Nd3 Ra7 22.Nd6 Rd7 23.Nc8 Rfd8 24.Rac1
24.e4 b5 25.Rc5 Nc7 26.Nf4 g5=
24...a5
24...Kf7!? 25.b4 a5 26.bxa5 (26.b5 Ne7 27.Nxb6 Rb7 28.Nc8 Rxb5 29.Nxe7 Kxe7=) 26...bxa5 27.e3 Rb7 28.Nc5 Rb4
29.Na7!²
25.e4 Ne7 26.Nf4
26.Nxb6 Rxd4 27.Nc5 Rd1+ 28.Kg2 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 Kf7 30.Nc4!? Nbc6 31.Ra1 Rb8 32.Rd1² Δ Rd7
26...Nxc8 27.Rxc8 Kf7
27...Kf7 28.d5 exd5 29.Nxd5 Rxc8 30.Rxc8 Rb7 31.f4 b5 32.Kf2 Nd7 (32...a4 33.Ke3 b4 34.Rc4 a3 35.bxa3 bxa3
36.Ra4 Rb3+ 37.Kd4²) 33.Ke3 Nb6=1/2-1/2
 175. !N [E17]
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2733) - Eljanov, Pavel (2723)
Biel 125/175, 2015 [Tadic,Branko]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.d5 exd5 8.Nh4 c6 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nf5 Nc7 11.e4 d5
12.Nc3 Bf6 13.exd5 cxd5 14.Bf4 Nba6 15.Re1 Qd7
15...Bc8
16.Bh3 Qd8
16...Ne6? 17.Ne4 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Bc8± - 100/413 (18...Rad8 19.Ng5 Bf6 20.Nxg7! Kxg7 (20...Bxg7 21.Rxe6) 21.Qh5
Bxg5 22.Bxg5 f5 23.Bxd8 Nxd8 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Re7 Ne6 26.Qh4+-)
17.Nd6 Bc6 18.Rc1 Nc5 19.b4!
19.Nf5? d4µ
19...N5e6

19...d4 20.Nce4 Nxe4 (20...Bxe4? 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Bxc7 Qd5 23.Bg2 Rae8 24.Qd3+-) 21.Rxc6 Nc3 22.Qd2±
20.Nce4!N
20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Qh5+ Kg8 22.Bxe6+ Nxe6 23.Rxe6 d4∞
20...dxe4 21.Rxc6 Nxf4 22.gxf4 Ne8
22...Be7 23.Nf5 Ne6 (23...g6!? 24.Qb3 gxf5 25.Rd1 Qb8 26.Bxf5 Rd8 27.Bxh7+ Kg7! 28.Bxe4©) 24.Qxd8 (24.Nxe7+
Qxe7 25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.Rxe4 Rad8 27.Qb3 Qd7 28.Rcxe6 Qd1+ 29.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 30.Kg2 Ra1=) (24.Qg4 Bf6 25.Rxe4
Qd2 26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.Qxe6 Rff8²) 24...Bxd8 25.Rxe4 Bf6 26.Nd6 Nd4 27.Rc7 a5 28.b5 Rfd8 29.Bd7
Ne6 30.Rxe6 Rxd7 31.Rxd7 fxe6 32.Nc4²
23.Nxe4 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Rd8
25.Bd7! Be7 26.b5 g6
26...Nf6 27.Nxf6+ Bxf6 28.Rc7±
27.Kg2 Kg7 28.f5
28.Rd3! Rg8! (28...f5 29.Ng5 Bxg5 30.fxg5 f4 (30...Rf7 31.Bxf5±) 31.Kf3±) 29.Kf3 Kf8 30.Ke2 Rg7 (Δ f5) 31.f5 gxf5
32.Bxf5 Rxd3 33.Kxd3²
28...Nf6
28...gxf5 29.Ng3 Rg8 30.Nxf5+ Kf8+ 31.Kf3 Rg5„
29.Nxf6 Bxf6 30.Rc7 Be5 31.Rxa7 Ra8 32.Ra6 Rfd8 33.Rd5 f6 34.Rd3
34.Rxb6 Rxa2 35.Rb7 Kh6 36.Rd3 Rb2 37.Rh3+ Kg5 38.Rf3± (38.Rxh7 Ra8!„ Δ Raa2)
34...gxf5?
¹34...Rab8 35.Ra7 Ra8! 36.Rda3 Rxa7 37.Rxa7 Kh6±
35.Rda3 Rab8
35...Rxa6? 36.bxa6 Bd6 37.Ra4 Ra8 38.Bc6 Ra7 39.Bb7+-
36.Bxf5 Rg8
36...Rb7 37.Be4!+-
37.Ra7+ Kf8+ 38.Kf1 Rg5 39.Bxh7 Bxh2 40.Rh3 Rg1+ 41.Ke2 Re8+ 42.Kf3 Bd6 43.Be4 Rg7 44.Rh8+ Rg8 45.Rh6
Re7
45...Be7 46.Bd5±
46.Rxf6+ Kg7 47.Rg6+ Kh8 48.Rh6+ Kg7 49.Rxe7+ Bxe7 50.Rg6+ Kh8 51.Rxb6 Rf8+ 52.Ke2 Rxf2+ 53.Kxf2 Bc5+
54.Kf3 Bxb6 55.Kf4 Kg7 56.Ke5 Kf7 57.Kd6 Ke8 58.Kc6 1-0
 176. [E18]
Bukavshin, Ivan (2655) - Khairullin, Ildar (2662)
Russia (ch) 125/176, 2015 [Petronijevic,Zoran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Bd2 d5
8...f5
9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bf4 Nd7 11.Rc1 c5 12.dxc5 Nxc3
12...Ndxc5!?
13.Rxc3 bxc5
13...Nxc5 14.Nd4²
14.Ne1
14.Ne5 Nb6= - 25/(635)
14...Nb6
14...Rc8!?
15.b3!?N
15.Nd3?! c4 (15...Rc8!?) 16.Ne1 d4 17.Bxb7 dxc3 18.Qc2 cxb2 19.Qxb2 Bf6 20.Qc2 Qe7 21.Bxa8 Rxa8³
15...Rc8 16.Rc2
16.Rc1=16.Bh3 f5=
16...Re8
16...Qd7!?
17.Nd3 Ba6= 18.Bh3 Ra8 19.Bg4 c4
19...Bc8!? 20.Bf3 Bf5=
20.Ne5 Bf8 21.Nf3
21.bxc4 g5! 22.Nc6 Qf6 23.c5 gxf4 24.cxb6 axb6 25.Qxd5 Bc5=
21...Bc8
21...Qf6!? 22.Be3 Qg6 23.Bh3 Rad8∞
22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.Be3 Bc5 24.Bxc5
24.Bd4!?
24...Rxc5 25.Qd4 Qc8
25...Qc7!?=
26.Rfc1 Rc6
26...h6!?
27.Qd1
27.a4!? Qa6 28.Qd2 Rd6 29.Qb4 cxb3 30.Rc7 Nxa4 31.Qxb3²
27...Rf6 28.Rd2 h6 29.Rd4
29.e3!? Qh3 30.Nd4²
29...Qa6 30.Rc2 Qa3 31.Rcd2 Rc6 32.Kg2 Rce6
32...Qe7=
33.e3 Re4 34.Qc2 Qa5
34...Qe7=
35.Rd1 Qb4
35...Rxd4 36.Nxd4 g6=
36.Rc1
36.R4d2 Rb8 37.Rb1²
36...Qa3
36...Rxd4 37.Nxd4 Rc8 38.Rd1 g6=
37.Rcd1
37.Rd2 Rc8 38.Qd1²
37...Qb4 38.h3
38.Rxe4 dxe4 39.Ng1²
38...Qa5
38...Rxd4 39.Nxd4 g6=
39.Nh4
39.Rxe4 dxe4 40.Nd2 cxb3 41.Nxb3 Qe5 42.Rd4²
39...Qc5
39...Rxd4 40.Rxd4 Qc5 41.Rd1 Qc8=
40.Nf5² Rxd4 41.Rxd4
41.Qc3!?²
41...Qf8
41...h5²
42.a4!² g6 43.a5 Nd7 44.Nh4 cxb3 45.Qxb3 Nf6 46.Rb4 Qd6?
¹46...Qc5 47.Rb5 Qc4 48.Nf3 Ne4²
47.Rb7?
47.Nf3±
47...Qa6?
¹47...Ne4 48.Qb2 Qa6 49.Rb8 Rxb8 50.Qxb8+ Kg7 51.Qe5+ Qf6=
48.Rb5 Rc8
48...Ne4 49.Nf3 Nc3 50.Rb4!±
49.Nf3± Rc1
49...Kg7 50.Ne5±
50.Nd4
50.Ne5!? Kg7 51.Qb4 Qe6 52.Qb2±
50...Kg7 51.Qb2 Rd1
51...Re1 52.Qd2 Ra1 53.g4±
52.g4! Kh7
52...Re1 53.Qc2 Ne4 54.f3 Nf6 55.Qd2 Ra1 56.h4!±
53.Qb3
53.Qc2 Ra1 (53...Rxd4? 54.Qc7! Kg7 55.Rb7+-) 54.Qc3 Rd1 55.Qc6 Qxc6 56.Nxc6 Ne4 57.Rb7 Kg8 58.Rxa7±
53...Rd2
53...Ra1 54.Qc3 Rd1 55.Qc6±
54.Nf3?
54.Rb7 Kg8 55.Rb8+ Kh7 (55...Kg7? 56.Qb4+-) 56.Qb7 Qxb7 57.Rxb7 Kg8 58.Rxa7 Ne4 59.Ra8+ Kg7 60.a6 Rxf2+
61.Kg1 Ra2 62.a7 Ra1+ 63.Kg2 Ra5 64.Nb5 Rxb5 65.Rb8 Ra5 66.a8=Q Rxa8 67.Rxa8 Kf6±
54...Ra2?
54...Rxf2+!! 55.Kxf2 Ne4+
56.Ke1! (56.Kg1 Qf6 57.Kg2 Qd6=) (56.Kg2 Qd6! 57.Kf1! Qf6 (57...Qg3 58.Ke2 Qxh3! (58...Qf2+? 59.Kd3 Qxf3
60.Qxd5 Nf2+ 61.Kd4 Qf6+ 62.Kc4+-) 59.Kd3 (59.Nd4?? Qg2+ 60.Kd3 Qd2#) (59.Rxd5 Qg2+ 60.Kd3 Qxf3
61.Re5 Nf2+ 62.Kd2 Nxg4=)) 58.Ke2 Nc3+ 59.Kf2 Ne4+=) (56.Kf1 Qf6 57.Ke2 Nc3+ 58.Kf2 (58.Kd2 Nxb5
59.Qxb5 Qxf3=) 58...Ne4+ 59.Ke2 (59.Kg2 Qd6=) 59...Nc3+=) (56.Ke2 Qxb5+ 57.Qxb5 Nc3+ 58.Kd3 Nxb5
59.Nd4 Nd6 60.Nc6 a6! 61.Kd4 (61.Nb4 Nb7 62.Nxa6 (62.Kd4 Nxa5 63.Nxa6 Nb3+=) 62...Nxa5=) 61...f5 62.gxf5
(62.Kc5 Nc4 63.gxf5 gxf5 64.Kxd5 Nxe3+=) 62...Nxf5+ 63.Kd3 Nd6=) 56...Qf6 57.Rxd5! Qxf3 58.Rd4 (58.Rd8 a6
59.Qc4 Qxe3+ 60.Kd1 Qg1+ 61.Kc2 Qf2+ 62.Kc1 Qf6 63.Rd3 Ng5 64.Qc3 Qf4+ 65.Kb2 Qb8+ 66.Ka2 Qe8 67.Rd4
Qe5=) 58...Nc5 59.Qc3 (59.Qc4 Qxe3+ 60.Kd1 Ne6 61.Rd7 Kg8 62.Kc2 Qe5=) 59...Ne4 60.Qc4 Qxe3+ 61.Kd1
Ng5 62.h4 (62.Rd3 Qg1+ 63.Kc2 Qf1 64.Kb3 a6 65.Ka2 Qg2+ 66.Ka3 Qh1 67.Kb2 Qg2+ 68.Kc3 Qf1=) 62...Ne6
63.Rd5! Qf3+ (63...Qg1+ 64.Kc2 Qf2+ 65.Kb3 Qg3+=) 64.Kc2 Qf2+ 65.Kb3 Qg3+ 66.Ka4 Kg8 67.h5 g5 68.Rd1 a6
69.Kb4 Qe5=
55.Rb7!
55.Qxa2? Qxb5 56.Qa3 Kg7 57.Nd4²
55...Qe2
55...Kg8 56.Rb8+ Kg7 57.Qxa2+-55...Kg7 56.Ne5+-55...Ra1 56.Rxf7+ Kg8 57.Rb7 Qf1+ 58.Kg3+-
56.Nd2!!
56.Rxf7+ Kg8 57.Nd2+-
56...Kg8
56...Kg7 57.Qxa2+-56...Qxd2 57.Rxf7+ Kg8 58.Rxf6+-
57.Qxa2
57.Rb8+ Kg7 (57...Kh7 58.Qb7! Kg7 59.Qc8+-) 58.Qb4 Nd7 59.Qc3+ d4 (59...Nf6 60.Qc8+-) 60.Qxd4+ Nf6
61.Ne4+-
57...Ne4
57...Nxg4!? 58.Rxf7!! (58.hxg4? Qxg4+ 59.Kf1 Qd1+=) 58...Nxe3+ (58...Kxf7 59.Qxd5+ Ke7 60.hxg4 Qxg4+
61.Kh2 Qh4+ 62.Kg1 Qg4+ 63.Qg2+-) 59.Kh1! (59.Kg1? Kxf7 60.fxe3 Qxe3+ 61.Kg2 Qe2+=) (59.Kg3? Nf1+
60.Kg2 Ne3+ 61.Kh1+-) 59...Kxf7 60.fxe3 Ke6 61.e4 Qd3 62.Kg2+-
58.Rxf7!! Nxd2 59.Qxd5
59.Qxd5 Qf1+ 60.Kg3 Qg1+ 61.Kh4 g5+ 62.Kh5+-1-0

177. [E20]
Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2548) - Bao, Khoa (2237)
Ho Chi Minh City (zt) 125/177, 2015 [Sadorra,Julio Catalino]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.O-O c5 8.a3!?
8.dxc5 - 42/713
8...cxd4N
8...Bxc3
9.axb4 dxc3
10.Qc2! Bd7
10...cxb2 11.Bxb2 Nbd7 (11...Bd7?? 12.Ng5+-) (11...Nc6 12.b5 Ne7 13.Rfd1 Bd7 14.Qxc4±) 12.Rfd1 Qc7 13.Nd4
11.Ne5 Bc6 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.bxc3© Nd5 14.e4!
14.Rd1 Qf6 15.Bb2 Ne5∞
14...Nb6
14...Nc7 15.Be3 Qc8 16.f4²14...Nde7 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Bf4! e5 17.Be3²
15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Bf4! e5 17.Be3² Nd7?!

18.Qa2!
18.Bh3 Nf6 19.Qe2!? (19.Bc5?! Rfd8=) (19.f3 b5) 19...b5 20.Bg5²
18...b5 19.Qa6± Rfb8 20.Rd5 Qb7 21.Rd6 Ne7 22.Bh3 Qxa6
22...Nf6?? 23.Rd8+ Ne8 24.Rxe8++-
23.Rdxa6
23.Raxa6!? Nf6 24.f3+-
23...Rb7 24.Bxa7 Nb8 25.R6a2 Nbc6 26.Bc5 Rd8 27.Ra8 Kf8 28.Bd6!+-
28.Rxd8+! Nxd8 29.Bc8 Rc7 30.Ra8+-
28...f6 29.Bc8 Ra7 30.R1xa7 Nxa7 31.Bxe7+ Kxe7 32.Rxa7+ Kd6 33.Bb7 1-0

178. [E20]
Bukavshin, Ivan (2655) - Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2759)
Russia (ch) 125/178, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6
11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.c4
15.e4 - 108/150
15...Qxc4 16.e4 Nb6 17.Rdc1N
17.Bb4
17...Qxb3 18.axb3 Bb5 19.Be3© Rfb8 20.Bf1 h6 21.Bxb5 cxb5 22.Ra5 Nd7
22...Nc8!?
23.Rc7 Nf6 24.Raxa7 Rxa7 25.Bxa7 Rd8 26.Rb7

26...Rd7!?
26...Nxe4 27.Rxb5 g5 28.b4 Kg7 29.Kg2 Kg6=
27.Rb8+
27.Rxd7 Nxd7=
27...Kh7 28.Be3 Nxe4 29.Rxb5 g5 30.Kg2 Kg6 31.Kf3
31.Rb8 Rd5 32.b4 Nc3=
31...Nc3 32.Rb8 f5 33.Re8 Kf7 34.Rh8 Kg7 35.Re8 Kf7 36.Rh8 Kg7 37.Re8 Kf7 1/2-1/2

179. [E20]
Grischuk, Alexander (2781) - Topalov, Veselin (2798)
Stavanger 125/179, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 d6 7.Ne2 b5 8.Nf4 exd5
8...e5 - 117/181
9.cxd5 a6N
9...c4
10.Be2 Nbd7 11.O-O c4 12.Be3 Bc5 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 14.b4 cxb3 15.axb3 b4!?
15...Qb6 16.Qd4!? b4 17.Nb1 a5 18.Nd2 Ba6 19.Rfb1²
16.Nb5?!
16.Na4 Nxa4 17.Rxa4 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Bd7 19.Ra2 a5=
16...Qb6 17.Kh1

17.Nd4?! Nxb3 18.Qxb3 Qxd4+ 19.Kh1 a5

17...g5! 18.Qd4
18.Nh3? Bxh3 19.gxh3 axb5-+18.Nd3? Qxb5-+
18...Ncd7
18...Qd8 19.Nd3 Nxb3 20.Qxb4 (20.Qb2 Nxa1 21.Nxb4 Bd7 22.Nd4³) 20...Nxa1 21.Nd4³
19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.Nc7?!
20.Nxd6 gxf4 21.Rfc1 Bd7³
20...Ra7 21.Nb5
21.Rfc1!? gxf4 22.Rc6 Nfd7! (22...Rd8 23.Nb5 Rad7 24.Nd4 Na8 25.Rc4! Rb7 26.Rxa6 Nc7 27.Ra4 Bd7 28.Rcxb4
Rxb4 29.Rxb4 Ra8 30.Kg1 Nfe8³) 23.Nb5 Ra8 24.Nxd6 a5µ
21...Re7
21...Rd7! 22.Nxd6 Rxd6 23.Nd3 Re8 24.Rfe1 Nfd7 25.Nxb4 f5µ
22.Nxd6 gxf4 23.Bxa6 Rd8 24.Bxc8 Rxd6 25.Bf5 Nbd7 26.g3
26.Ra4! Rb6 27.Ra7 Kf8 28.Rc1³
26...fxg3 27.Rg1?
27.hxg3 Ne5 28.Kg2 Rd8³
27...Kf8
27...Nc5!
28.Rxg3
28.hxg3!
28...Nc5 29.Bh3 Re8! 30.Rb1 Nh5! 31.Rg5 Nf4 32.Bf1 Ra8-+ 33.Bc4 Ra2 34.Rg4 Rh6 35.h4 Nfd3 36.Rg2 Rxh4+
37.Kg1 Ra7 38.d6 Rh6 39.Rh2 Rxd6 0-1

180. [E20]
So, Wesley (2779) - Aronian, Levon (2765)
Saint Louis 125/180, 2015 [Roiz,Michael]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 d6 7.Ne2
7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Nge2 Ne5 9.Ng3 exd5 10.cxd5 Bd7 11.a3 Ba5 12.Be2 b5 13.O-O c4 14.Be3 Bb6„
7...a6!?
7...b5 - 117/181
8.a4
8.Ng3 b5 9.Be2 bxc4 10.Bxc4 (10.O-O Bxc3 11.bxc3 exd5 12.exd5 Nbd7∞) 10...exd5 11.Bxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Ra7
13.O-O Be6 14.Qd3 Nc6∞
8...Ba5!N
8...exd5 9.cxd5 Nbd7 10.Ng3 Rb8 11.Be2 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.O-O c4„
9.Bd2?!
9.Bg5?! h6 10.Bh4 exd5 11.cxd5 Nbd7³9.Ng3 b5! 10.Be2! (10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.cxb5 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bd2 c4ƒ)
9...exd5 10.cxd5 Nh5! 11.g3
11.g4? Qh4+-+11.Be3 f5 12.exf5 Rxf5 (12...Nd7!?) 13.Ng3 Re5 14.Ne4 Bf5 15.Bd3 c4 16.Bc2 Bb6³11.Qc2 f5 12.O-
O-O b5ƒ
11...Nd7!
11...f5 12.Bg2 Nf6 13.O-O fxe4 14.Nf4! exf3 15.Bxf3∞
12.Bg2 b5! 13.g4?!
13.axb5?! axb5 14.Nxb5 Bxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Ba6 16.Nec3 Qb6ƒ13.Qc2 b4 14.Nd1 f5 15.Nf2³
13...b4
13...Qh4+! 14.Kf1 b4 15.Nb1 - 13...b4
14.Nb1?!
14.gxh5 bxc3 15.bxc3 Qh4+ 16.Ng3 Ne5 17.O-O Rb8 18.Rb1 Bd7³
14...Qh4+ 15.Kf1
15...Ne5! 16.Be1?!
16.gxh5 f5 17.Be1 Qe7 18.f4 fxe4 19.h3! c4 20.Nd2 e3 21.Nf3 Nd3ƒ
16...Qf6 17.gxh5 Nxf3 18.Bf2 Bg4
18...Qxb2!? 19.Bxf3 Qxa1 20.Kg2 f5 21.Nd2 Qxd1 22.Rxd1 fxe4 23.Nxe4µ
19.Qc1?
19.h3 Bxh5 20.Nd2 Nd4 (20...Ne5!? 21.Qb3 c4 22.Qe3 Rac8ƒ) 21.e5! dxe5 22.Ne4 Qb6 23.N4g3 Bg6ƒ
19...Nd4
19...Ne5 20.Qe3 Nc4 21.Qb3 Ne3+ 22.Qxe3 Qxb2 23.Bf3 f5!-+
20.Nxd4 cxd4 21.e5 dxe5
21...Qf5 22.Nd2 Rac8 23.Qe1 b3! 24.h3 Qd3+ 25.Kg1 Be2-+
22.Nd2 Rac8 23.Qb1
23.Qe1 b3-+
23...b3 24.Nxb3 Bb6
24...d3 25.Qxd3 Bb6 26.Qd2 e4 27.Kg1 e3 28.Bxe3 Rc2-+
25.a5 Ba7 26.Kg1 Bf5 27.Be4
27.Qe1 e4 28.h3 Rc2 29.Rh2 Rxb2-+
27...Qg5+ 28.Kf1 Qf4
28...Qf4 29.Bxf5 d3-+0-1

181. [E25]
 Vitiugov, Nikita (2719) - Khairullin, Ildar (2662)
Russia (ch) 125/181, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 Ne7 10.Be3 O-O 11.Qb3
Qc7 12.Nh3 e5 13.Nf2 Nec6 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Qa4 Be6 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Rb5 b6 18.O-O Rfc8 19.Rd1
19.Rfb1 - 49/(642)
19...Nb7 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Qb4 Qxc3 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.Bxb6 Nxb6!?N
23...Rc623...Raxa3
24.Rxb6 Nc5

25.Nd3
25.Rc6!? Kf8 (25...Nxe4? 26.Ra6!+-) 26.Nd3ƒ (26.Ra1 Bb3 27.Nd3 Nxe4 28.Nxe5 Rxc6 29.Nxc6 Nc3 30.Bf1 Ba2
31.Nb4 Rxa3=)
25...Nd7! 26.Rd6 h6 27.Nb4 Nf8 28.Nc6 Ng6 29.Rd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxd8+
30.Nxd8!?
30...Kh7 31.Rd6 Rxa3= 32.g3 Ra1+ 33.Kf2 Ra2 34.Kf1 Ra1+ 35.Kf2 Ra2 36.Ke3 Ra3+ 37.Kd2 Ra2+ 38.Ke1 Ra1+
39.Kd2 Ra2+ 40.Ke3 Ra3+ 41.Kf2 1/2-1/2

182. [E43]
Chatalbashev, Boris (2516) - Howell, David (2698)
Leiden 125/182, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.e3 Ne4 6.Qc2 Bb7 7.Bd3 f5 8.O-O Bxc3 9.bxc3 O-O 10.Nd2 Qh4 11.f3
Nxd2 12.Bxd2 d6
12...Nc6 - 110/293
13.Rae1 Nd7 14.e4 f4 15.Qa4 Qe7 16.g3 g5!?N
16...e5
17.h4 gxh4 18.gxf4 Kh8 19.Kf2
19.Kh2 Rg8 20.Rg1 Nf6 21.Be3 a6=
19...h3! 20.Ke2 Rg8 21.Rh1
21.Kd1!?
21...Rg3 22.Be3 Nf6 23.Bf2?!

23.d5 e5 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.Bf2 Nh5 26.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 27.Kd1 Nxh1 28.Rxh1 Qg5 29.Bf1 Qe3 30.Rxh3 Qxc3=
23...Nh5! 24.Bxg3 Nxg3+ 25.Ke3?!
25.Kd2 Nxh1 26.Rxh1 Qg7 27.Qd1 Qg2+ 28.Ke3 h2 29.Qf1 Rg8 30.Qxg2 Rxg2µ
25...Qh4!-+ 26.Qb5 e5! 27.Qd7
27.dxe5 Rf8 28.Kd2 (28.Be2 Qxf4+ 29.Kd3 Nxe2 30.Rxe2 Qxf3+) 28...Nxh1 29.Rxh1 Qxf4+ 30.Kc2 Qxf3 31.exd6
cxd6
27...Qxf4+ 28.Kf2 Qd2+! 29.Be2
29.Kxg3 Rg8+
29...Nxe4+ 30.fxe4 Rf8+ 31.Kg3 Bc8! 0-1
 E50-E99

183. [E52]
Cheparinov, Ivan (2690) - Zhigalko, Sergei (2654)
Turkiye 125/183, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.e3 Bb7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Bd6 10.b4 a6 11.Qb3 Qe7
12.Re1
12.b5 - 94/427
12...Nbd7 13.Ra2 Rfe8N
13...h613...Ne413...b5
14.e4 dxe4 15.Ng5

15.Rae2 Qf8 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Rxe4 18.Rxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 a5 20.b5 Re8 21.Rxe8 Qxe8=
15...exd3!! 16.Rxe7 Rxe7 17.Be3?!
17.Bd2 h6 18.Nf3 a5 19.b5 Rae8©
17...Rae8 18.h3 b5!³ 19.Rd2 Nb6 20.Rxd3 Nc4 21.Nf3?
21.a4 h6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Nf3 Nxe3 24.fxe3 Rxe3 25.Nxb5 Bf4³
21...Nxe3 22.fxe3 Rxe3 23.Nd1 Bd5 24.Qc3 R3e7µ 25.Ne5 Bc4! 26.Rf3
26.Nxc4 Re1+ 27.Kf2 Ne4+ 28.Kxe1 Nxc3+ 29.Kf1 Nd5 30.Nxd6 cxd6µ
26...Be2 27.Rxf6 gxf6 28.Qg3+ Kf8 29.Nc3 fxe5-+ 30.Qe3!? [Δ Qh6-g5] 30...Bd3
30...f6
31.Qxd3 exd4 32.Qxh7 Re1+ 33.Kf2 R1e5 34.Qh8+ Ke7 35.Qh4+ Kd7 36.Qg4+ R8e6 37.Nb1 d3 38.Nc3 Ke7 39.g3
c6 40.Qd4 Re2+ 41.Kf3 Rf6+ 42.Kg4 Rg6+ 43.Kh5 Re5+ 44.Kh4 Ke8 0-1

184. [E53]
Caruana, Fabiano (2805) - Hou, Yifan (2676)
Dortmund 125/184, 2015 [Paunovic,Tomislav]

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Nf6 6.e3 c6 7.a4 O-O 8.Nf3 b6 9.cxd5 exd5
9...cxd5 - 97/410
10.Bd3 Ba6 11.O-O c5 12.Ne5 Re8N
12...Bxd3
13.a5 Bxd3 14.Nxd3 Nc6
¹14...Nbd7
15.axb6 axb6 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.Nxc5 Ne5?!
18...Ne4!? 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.c4²
19.Nd3! Nc4 20.Nf4
20.Nb4!?
20...h6 21.Qd4 Re4 22.Qc5 Re5?!
22...Ne5!?
23.f3!± Qa2 24.Qd4 Qa4 25.h4
25.Re1!?
25...Qb5 26.g4 Nd7 27.Nd3 Re6 28.Kg2 Ndb6 29.Nf4 Re5
30.Nh5! Qb1 31.e4!
31.f4?! Rxh5!? (31...Qe4+ 32.Kf2 Qxd4 33.cxd4±) 32.gxh5 Qf5 33.Kg3 Qxh5„
31...dxe4 32.f4! Rxh5 33.gxh5+- Qc2+?!
33...Qb5
34.Kh1 Qe2 35.Rg1 Qf3+ 36.Rg2 g6?!
36...f6
37.hxg6
37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.hxg6
37...Qf1+ 38.Kh2 Qxc1 39.Qf6 1-0

185. [E54]
Bukavshin, Ivan (2655) - Lysyj, Igor (2673)
Russia (ch) 125/185, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Ne5 h6
12.Bh4 Nbd7
12...Be7 - 40/718
13.Nxf7!? Kxf7N
13...Rxf7
14.Bxe6+ Kxe6 15.Qb3+ Kf5 16.Qc2+ Ke6 17.Qb3+ Kf5 18.Qc2+ Ke6 19.Qg6!?
19.Qb3+=
19...Bxc3! 20.bxc3 Re8 21.Rfe1+ Kd5 22.c4+
22.Qxg7 Kc4! 23.Bxf6 Qxf6 24.Qxd7 Bc6 25.Qh3 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Rg8 27.g3 Qf3 28.Qf1+ Qd3 29.Qxd3+ Kxd3
30.Re3+ Kd2µ
22...Kc6
22...Kxd4!?
23.Qg3 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qg8! 25.Rc1
25.Bxf6!? Qxc4! 26.Qf3+ Qd5 27.Re6+ Kb5 28.Qd3+ Kb4 29.Qd2+ Ka4 30.Qc2+ Ka5 31.Qc3+ Ka6 32.Qa3+ Qa5
33.Qd3+ Qb5 34.Qa3+ Qa5 35.Qd3+=
25...Nc5! 26.dxc5 Qe6! 27.Qxg7 Nd7 28.Bg3 Rg8
28...Re8 29.h3=
29.Qc3 Nxc5 30.Re1 Qf5 31.Re7! Qb1+ 32.Re1 Qf5™ 33.Re7 Qb1+ 34.Re1 1/2-1/2

186. [E56]
Khismatullin, Denis (2642) - Khairullin, Ildar (2662)
Russia (ch) 125/186, 2015 [Paunovic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nc6 9.a3 Ba5 10.Qd3 Bb6
10...h6 - 22/669
11.Rd1 cxd4 12.exd4 h6 13.Bf4N
13.Be3
13...Bd7 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Ba2 Ne7 16.Qh3
16.Rac1!? Bc6 17.Bb1 Nf5 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Be5²
16...Re8?!
16...Bc6
17.Rd3!± Ng6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Re1 g5 20.Be5 Qe7 21.Qg3!?
21.Qf3!? ∆Bc6 22.Bxf6
21...Rcd8

22.h4! gxh4 23.Qxh4 Nh7 24.Qg4+- → 24...Bc8 25.Rg3 Ng5 26.Ne4 Bc7 27.Nxg5 hxg5 28.Bb1 1-0

187. [E62]
Indjic, Aleksandar (2553) - Damljanovic, Branko (2562)
Srbija (ch) 125/187, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O c6 7.Nc3 Qa5 8.e4 e5 9.h3 Be6 10.d5 cxd5 11.cxd5 Bd7
12.Be3 Na6 13.Nd2 Rfc8 14.a4N
14.Nb3 - 14/63114.a3
14...Ne8 15.Ra3 Qd8
15...f5 16.exf5 gxf5 (16...Bxf5?! 17.g4 Bd7 18.Nde4±) 17.Nf3 Qd8 18.Ng5²
16.Qe2 Nb4
16...f5 17.Nc4 Qe7 (17...Qc7 18.b3 Nc5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Nb5 Bxb5 21.axb5 Nxb3 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Rxb3 Nd6
24.Ra3²) 18.Rb3²
17.Rc1² f5 18.Rb3
18.Nc4 fxe4 (18...b6 19.Rb3 Na6 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Qxa6 Nd6 23.Rb4²) 19.Nxe4 Bf5 20.Qd2²
18...a5 19.Nc4 Ra6 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Nb5 e4 22.Qd2 Nd3

22...Na2 23.Ra1 Rxc4 24.Rxa2 Ra8 25.Bf1 Rcc8 26.Nc3±

23.Rxd3! exd3 24.Qxd3 Qf6 25.Re1± Qg6 26.Bf4 Bh6
26...Bf8 27.b3 Nc7 28.Nd4±
27.Re7 Rd8
27...Bxf4 28.Rxd7 Bh6 29.Rxb7+-
28.Bxh6 Qxh6 29.Qd4 Qf8
29...Qg5 30.Re1 Bxb5 31.axb5 Raa8 32.Bf3±
30.Rxh7!?
30.Qe3 h6 31.Bf3+-
30...Qf6 31.Rh4 Bxb5
31...Qxd4 32.Rxd4 Rc8 33.Bf1±
32.axb5 Qxd4 33.Rxd4 Raa8 34.Nb6 Rab8 35.Rf4 Ng7 36.Bf1 Kf7 37.Ra4 Re8 38.Rxa5 Re1 39.Ra7 Ke7 40.Nc4?
40.Ra4 Rb1 41.Rb4±
40...Kd7?
40...f4 41.Kg2 (41.g4 Nf5! 42.Na5 Kf6 43.Rxb7 Rxb7 44.Nxb7 Nd4 45.Nxd6 f3 (45...Nf3+ 46.Kg2 Nh4+=) 46.b6
Ne2+ 47.Kh2 Rxf1 48.Ne4+ Ke5 49.b7 Kxe4 50.b8=Q Rxf2+ 51.Kh1 Rf1+=) (41.gxf4? Nf5³) (41.Na5 Kf6 42.b6
fxg3 43.fxg3 Nf5 44.g4 Ne3 45.Kf2 Rxf1+ 46.Kxe3 Re8+ 47.Kd3 Rd1+ 48.Kc4 Re4+ 49.Kc3 Re3+=) 41...f3+
42.Kg1 Nf5 43.Nd2 (43.b6 Rd1 44.g4 Kf6! 45.Ra3 (45.gxf5? Rg8+-+) 45...Nd4 46.Ne3 Rd2 47.Nc4 (47.Nf5 Nxf5
48.Rxf3 Rxb2 49.Rxf5+ Kg7=) 47...Rd1=) 43...Nd4 44.Ra3 Ne2+ 45.Kh2 Rd1 46.Re3+ Kd7 47.Nxf3 Nxg3 48.fxg3
Rxf1∞
41.Kg2 Ne8
41...f4 42.Bd3 (42.g4 f3+ 43.Kg1 Rb1 44.Ne3 Rxb2 45.Ra4±) 42...fxg3 43.fxg3 Rd1 44.Ra3±
42.Bd3 f4 43.g4+- Nc7 44.Nb6+ Ke7 45.Ra4 Rf8 46.Bf5 Rd1 47.Nc8+ Kf6 48.Nxd6 Nxd5 49.Nxb7 Rd2 50.Nc5
Kf7 51.Kf3 Re8 52.Ra7+ Re7 53.Be6+ Kg7 54.b6 1-0

188. [E63]
Dragun, Kamil (2580) - Markowski, Tomasz (2578)
Polska 125/188, 2015 [Dembo,Yelena]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O d6 6.d4 Nc6 7.Nc3 e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Ng4
9...Nd7 - 95/388
10.e4 f5 11.Nd3
11.f3 Nf6 12.Nd3²
11...h6
11...fxe4 12.Nxe4 Bf5 13.Bg5²
12.f3 Nf6 13.f4N
13.Be3!?13.Bd2
13...exf4
13...Nxe4 14.Nxe4 fxe4 15.Bxe4 Bf5„
14.Nxf4 c6?!
14...Ng4 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.dxe6 Rxf1+ 18.Bxf1 Ne5=
15.Kh1?!
15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Qe2ƒ
15...g5
15...fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 g5 18.Ne6 Rxf1+ 19.Qxf1 Bxe6 20.dxe6 Qa5∞
16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.dxe6 fxe4
17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Bxe4 Rxf1+ 20.Qxf1 - 15...fe4
18.Be3 d5 19.Bc5 Rc8
19...b6 20.Ba3 Rc8∞
20.Qb3 Rc7?
20...b6 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.cxd5 Kh8∞
21.Rad1ƒ b6 22.cxd5! cxd5 23.Bxe7 Rxe7

24.Rxf6!
24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Rxd5 Qc8∞
24...Rxf6?
24...Bxf6! 25.Nxd5 Qc8 26.Nxe7+ Bxe7 27.Bxe4 Rf2©
25.Nxd5+- Qf8 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.Bxe4
27.Rd8+! Bf8 28.Bxe4 Kh8 29.Rd7 Qxe6 30.Rh7+ Kg8 31.Bd5 Qxd5+ 32.Qxd5+ Kxh7 33.Qd7++-
27...Kh8 28.Bd5 Rf8
28...Rf2 29.Qe3! Rxb2 30.Bf3+-
29.Qc2 Qf6 30.b3 Qe5
30...Rd8 31.Re1±
31.Qe4?
31.Kg2 b5 32.Qe4+-
31...Rd8
31...Qxe4+ 32.Bxe4 Re8 33.Kg2 Bf6 34.Bf5±
32.Qxe5 Bxe5 33.Rf1! Bd6 34.Rf7± Bc5 35.Rf5?
35.Bc4 g4±
35...Rf8! 36.Re5 Kg7
36...Rf1+! 37.Kg2 Rf2+ 38.Kh3 Be7©
37.Bc4 Rd8
37...Be7²
38.Kg2 Rd2+?
38...Kf6=
39.Kf3 Be7?
39...Rf2+ 40.Ke4 Be7 41.Rd5²
40.Rf5! Bf6
40...Kg6 41.Rf7+-
41.e7! 1-0

189.* [E63]
Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2613) - Vera Siguenas, Deivy Anthoni (2469)
Montevideo 125/189, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 Nc6 7.O-O a6 8.Bf4 Bd7
8...Rb8 9.Rc1 h6 10.h3 g5 11.Bd2 g4N (11...e5) 12.hxg4 Nxg4 13.d5 (13.e3!? e5 14.Nd5 Re8 (14...exd4 15.exd4²
Nxd4?! 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Bxh6±) 15.Bc3²) 13...Nce5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.b3 Bd7 16.Qc2 Qc8 17.Nd1! f5 (17...Bh3
18.Ne3 Bxg2 19.Kxg2±) 18.f4 Ng4 19.Ne3 Bd4 20.Qd3 Bxe3+ 21.Bxe3 Qe8 22.Bf3 Qh5 23.Bxg4 Qxg4 24.Kf2²
Mareco,S (2606)-Supi, L (2424) Sao Paulo 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
9.Rc1 Rb8 10.Qd2
10.e4 - 34/693
10...b5 11.Nd5 Ne4 12.Qc2 f5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxc7! e5N
14...Qxc7
15.Qb3+ Kh8

16.Rxc6! Bxc6 17.Ne6 Qe7?!

17...Qc8 18.Nxf8 exf4 19.Ne6 fxg3 20.hxg3 Bh6 21.d5 (21.Nf4²) 21...Ba8 22.Rd1² Qc4 23.Qd3²
18.Nxf8 Rxf8
18...exf4 19.Ne6 fxg3 20.hxg3 Bf6 (20...Bh6 21.d5 Bd7 22.Rd1±) 21.Rc1±
19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Be3± f4
20...Qb7 21.Rd1 Qa8 22.Ne1±
21.gxf4 exf4 22.Bd4 Nf6
22...Rd8 23.Rd1 Bxd4 24.Rxd4+-
23.Rc1+- Qb7 24.Qe6 Be4 25.Qd6 Qd5 26.Qxf4 1-0

190. [E68]
Rodshtein, Maxim (2678) - Adhiban, Baskaran (2627)
Benasque 125/190, 2015 [Cabrilo,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.b3 Re8 9.e4 exd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Be3 Rb8
12.f3
12.Rc1 - 72/503
12...Ne5 13.a4 Bd7 14.h3N
14.Ra2
14...Qc8 15.Kh2 c5 16.Nde2
16.Nc2 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Bxb5 19.cxb5 Rxb5 20.Rb1 Qe6∞
16...b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Qxd6
18.axb5 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 Rxb5 20.Qxd6 Rd8 21.Qa6 Rxb3=
18...b4
18...c4!? 19.Ba7 Rb7 20.axb5 cxb3 21.Qa6 Nc4©
19.Nb5 Bxb5 20.axb5 Rxb5 21.Rfc1

21...Ned7?!
21...c4! 22.Qd1 (22.bxc4 Rb8! (22...Nxc4 23.Qd3±) 23.Qd2 (23.Qd1 b3³) 23...Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Nxe4 25.Qd5 (25.Bxe4
Rxe4 26.Nf4 b3 27.Rab1 b2 28.Rc2 Rxc4 29.Rxc4 Qxc4³) 25...Bxa1 26.Rxa1 Nc3 27.Nxc3 Rxe3 28.Nb5 Qe6³)
22...c3 23.Nd4 Rb8„
22.Qa6
22.Qd3 Rb8 23.Ra2²
22...Qxa6 23.Rxa6 Nd5 24.Bd2
24.Bf2 Nc3 25.Bf1 Rbb8 26.Kg2 Red8 27.Rd6²
24...Nc3 25.Bf1
25.Nxc3 bxc3 26.Bxc3 Rxb3 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.f4 Rb2=
25...Rbb8 26.Ra7
26.Rd6 Ne5 (26...Nf8!?∞) 27.Bxc3 bxc3 28.Rxc3 c4! 29.bxc4 (29.f4? cxb3µ) 29...Rb2 30.Kg2 f5 31.Rd5 (31.exf5?!
Nf7³) 31...fxe4 32.fxe4 Nf7 33.Rc1 Rxe4 34.c5 Rbxe2+ 35.Bxe2 Rxe2+ 36.Kf3 Ra2=
26...Ne5 27.Ng1
27.Bxc3? bxc3 28.Rxc3 Nc6-+27.Kg2 Nd3 28.Rc2 c4 29.Nc1 Red8µ
27...h6?!
27...c4! 28.bxc4 Red8! 29.Bg5 f6 30.Be3 b3!-+
28.Rc7 Rbd8 29.Bxc3
29.Rc2 Nd3 30.Be3 Nd1! 31.Bxc5 Nxc5 32.R7xc5 Ne3µ
29...bxc3 30.Rxc3 Rd2+ 31.Ne2
31.Kh1 Rf2! 32.Rc1 Rd8µ
31...Nd3 32.Rc4 Ra8!-+ 33.Rd7 Ra1 34.Rd8+ Kh7 35.Rxd3 Rxd3 36.Kg1 0-1

191. [E70]
Donchenko, Alexander (2567) - Fier, Alexandr (2628)
Biel (open) 125/191, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Nc3 c6 6.Be3 d5 7.e5 Nfd7
7...Ne8 - 80/(573)
8.cxd5

8...Nb6! 9.dxc6 Nxc6 10.Qd2 Be6N

10...Bf5
11.Rd1
11.h4 Nc4 12.Bxc4 Bxc4 13.h5 Qa5 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.Nge2 Rad8 16.f4 g5! 17.g3 Nb4 18.O-O gxf4 19.gxf4 Qa6©
11...Nb4© 12.b3 Rc8 13.Bd3 N6d5 14.Nxd5 Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Qxd5 16.Ne2 Bf5 17.Nf4! Qa5+ 18.Qd2 Qa3 19.Nd3
Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Qxa2 21.O-O Rc2 22.Rd2
22.Rf2 Rxf2 23.Bxf2 Rc8 24.f4 Rc2 25.Qf3 e6 26.h3 Rd2 27.Be1 Rxd1 28.Qxd1 Bf8 29.d5 exd5 30.Qxd5=
22...Rxd2 23.Bxd2 Rd8 24.f4 e6 25.Bb4?!
25.Qc3 Qa6 26.Ra1 Qb6 27.Be3 Rd5 28.Ra4 Bf8 29.Rc4 h5 30.h3 Be7∞
25...Qb2 26.Rd1 Bf8 27.Bxf8 Kxf8 28.Qc4 Kg7 29.h3 b5! 30.Qb4?
30.Qd3 b4³
30...Qe2
30...Qc2 31.Rf1 (31.Rd2 Qe4µ) 31...Qd3µ
31.Qd2 Qe4µ 32.Kh1 Rc8 33.Qd3 Qxf4 34.Qxb5 Rc2 35.Qd3 Qf2 36.Qe4 Re2 37.Qb7
37.Qf3 Qxf3 38.gxf3 Rf2 39.Rd3 Kf8µ
37...h5 38.b4 Rb2 39.b5 g5-+ 40.Qe4 Rxb5 41.d5 Rxd5 42.Rxd5 exd5 43.Qxd5 Qf1+ 44.Kh2 Qf4+ 45.Kh1 g4
46.Qd1
46.e6 g3 47.Qd1 fxe6 48.Qd7+ Qf7-+
46...gxh3 47.gxh3 Qe4+ 48.Kg1 Qxe5 49.Qf3 a5 50.Qg2+ Kh8 51.Qa8+ Kh7 52.h4 Qd4+ 53.Kg2 a4 0-1

192. [E90]
Turov, Maxim (2601) - Arsovic, Zoran (2401)
Albena 125/192, 2015 [Arsovic,Zoran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 c6 7.Bg5 Na6 8.g4N
8.Be2 - 110/310
8...d5! 9.Bxf6
9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Be3 f5∞
9...exf6!
9...Bxf6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nxd5 Bg7 12.Nc3²
10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Be2 cxd5
11...f5! 12.g5 cxd5 13.Nxd5 - 11...cd5
12.Nxd5 f5 13.g5?!
13.Ne3 f4 14.Nc2 (14.Ng2 Qe7 15.Kf1 b5! 16.cxb5 Nc7 17.Bc4 Bb7³) 14...Qe7 15.Kf1 b5! 16.cxb5 (16.c5 Bd7
17.Bd3 Bc6³) 16...Nb4© (16...Nc7©)
13...Be6 14.O-O Bxd5 15.cxd5 Nc7³ 16.Bc4 b5 17.Bb3 Nxd5
17...Re4 18.Qd2 Nxd5 - 17...Nd5
18.Qd2 a5
18...Re4!? 19.Rfe1 Nf4 20.h4 (20.Rxe4 Nxh3+ 21.Kg2 fxe4µ) 20...Qd6 21.Re3 a5³
19.a4 bxa4 20.Bxa4 Re6 21.Bb3 Rb6 22.Bc4 Rb4 23.Rac1 Nb6 24.Ba2 Ra4?!
24...Ra7³ Δ Rd7
25.Bb3 Rb4 26.Ba2 Ra4 27.Bb3 Rb4 28.Ba2 1/2-1/2

193.** [E90]
Tomashevsky, Evgeny (2716) - Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2705)
Tbilisi 125/193, 2015 [Berg,Emanuel]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3 f5 9.exf5 gxf5 10.Nh4
10.Ng5 - 123/194
10...Nf4
10...Nf6 11.Bg5N (11.Qc2) (11.Bd3) 11...Na6 12.Bd3 h6 13.Be3 Nh7 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ng5 (15...Nc5N 16.O-O
Ng5 17.Kh2 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bd7 19.Rf2 Qf6 20.Be3 Rf7 21.Raf1² Arnaudov,P (2485)-Nedev,T (2466) FYROM 2015
[Berg,Emanuel]) 16.Kf1 Bd7 17.Kg2 Nc5 18.Qc2 Qf6 19.Rae1 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Rae8 21.Qd2 a6 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Re1
Rxe1 24.Qxe1 b5 25.Qe2 bxc4 26.Qxc4 Qe7∞ Tomashevsky,E (2716)-Giri,A (2797) Tbilisi 2015 [Berg, Emanuel]
11.Bd2! Qe7N
11...Na6
12.Qc2 Na6 13.a3 Bd7 14.O-O-O Kh8 15.Kb1!?
15.Rg1!?
15...Rae8 16.Re1 Qf6 17.Rg1² Ng6 18.Nxg6+ Qxg6
18...hxg6 19.h4 Nc5 20.Bg5 Qf7 21.Be3 e4 22.h5! gxh5 23.Rh1 Bf6 24.Be2 h4 25.Rxh4+ Bxh4 26.Rh1±
19.f3 c6

19...e4 20.f4² (20.fxe4 Nc5 21.Be3 Nxe4 22.Ne2 Ba4! 23.Qc1 (23.Qxa4?! f4 24.Ka2 fxe3³) 23...Nc5∞)
20.g4! cxd5 21.cxd5 Rc8 22.Bd3 Nc5 23.Bxf5 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Qxf5 25.Qxf5 Rxf5 26.Rg3 Nb3 27.Be3± Nd4
27...Rg8 28.Ne4 Bf8 29.Rxg8+ Kxg8 30.Bxa7±
28.Ne4+- Rd8 29.Reg1 Rf7 30.Ng5
30.Ng5 Re7 31.Bxd4 exd4 32.Ne6 Rg8+-1-0

194. [E90]
Ni, Hua (2704) - Ding, Liren (2755)
China 125/194, 2015 [Sokolov,Ivan]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3 f5 9.exf5 gxf5 10.Ng5 Qe8 11.Be2 Nf6
12.Be3 Na6 13.Qd2 Nc5 14.O-O-O h6 15.Nf3 Nce4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qc2 c6 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.g4N
19.Nd2 - 123/ (193)
19...d5 20.Nh4

20.gxf5 Bxf5 21.Nh4 Bh7 22.Rhg1 Ng5 23.Qd2 Ne4 24.Qc2 Ng5= (24...d4?! 25.Bxh6 Ng5 26.Rxg5 Bxc2 27.Rdg1
Kh7 28.Bxg7‭→)
20...d4
20...f4! 21.cxd5 (21.f3 Ng3 22.Bc5 e4³) 21...cxd5 22.Rxd5 fxe3 23.Qxe4 Be6 24.Nf5 Qc6+ 25.Bc4 Kh8µ
21.gxf5 Nc5 22.Rhg1 dxe3 23.Rxg7+
23.fxe3 Qf7
23...Kxg7 24.Rg1+ Kf6
24...Kh7?? 25.f6+ e4 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Ng6+24...Kh8 25.Ng6+ Kh7 26.f6 e4 27.Nxf8+ Qxf8 28.Qc3 Nd7 29.Rg7+
Kh8 30.Rg6 Kh7 31.Rg7+ Kh8=
25.Rg6+
25.f4!?‭→
25...Ke7 26.Qc3 Bxf5 27.Qxe5+?!
27.Rg7+ Kd6 (27...Kd8?? 28.Qa5+) 28.Qxe3 Bd7 29.Qd2+ Kc7 30.Qa5+ Kc8 (30...Kd6? 31.b4+-) 31.Qxc5 Rf7=
27...Kd8 28.Qxc5 Bxg6 29.Nxg6?
29.Qd6+ Qd7 30.Qxf8+ Kc7 31.Qf4+ Kb7 32.Qxe3 Re8³
29...Rxf2 30.Ne5 Rxe2 31.Nxc6+ Kd7 32.Ne5+ Ke6 33.Qd5+ Ke7 34.Nc6+
34.Qc5+ Kf6 35.Ng4+ Kg6 36.Qd6+ Kf5-+
34...Kf8 35.Qd6+ Kg7 36.Qd4+ Kh7 37.Qd3+ Qg6 0-1

195. [E90]
Semcesen, Daniel (2437) - Berg, Emanuel (2553)
Sverige (ch) 125/195, 2015 [Berg,Emanuel]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3 f5! 9.exf5 gxf5 10.Ng5 Qe8!? 11.Bg2
11.c5 - 123/194
11...Na6 12.Ne6 Bxe6 13.dxe6 e4! 14.e7! Bxc3+! 15.bxc3 Rf6 16.Bg5?!N
16.g416.Qd5+!
16...Re6
16...Nc5!? 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.O-O Qxe7©
17.Qd5 Nc5
17...Qg6!? 18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qxa6 Qxg5 20.Qxa7 Re8ƒ
18.Qxf5

18...Nd3+!
18...Ng7 19.Qf8+ (19.Qg4? Rg6µ) 19...Qxf8 20.exf8=Q+ Rxf8∞
19.Kf1
19.Ke2 Ng7 20.Qf8+ Qxf8 21.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 22.Be3 Nf5 23.Bxe4 Nxf2! 24.Bd5 Kg7 25.Bxe6 Nxh1³
19...Ng7 20.Qg4 Qg6
20...Qf7!?³
21.Be3 Nf5 22.Ke2 Nxe3 23.Qxg6+
23.fxe3 Qxg4+³23.Kxe3 Rxe7³
23...hxg6 24.Kxe3
24.fxe3 Nc5³
24...Rxe7³ 25.Bf1 Nc5 26.Be2 Kg7 27.h4 Kh6 28.Rhf1 Rf8 29.Rab1 b6 30.Bd1 Ref7 31.Be2 Re7 32.Bd1 Re5 33.Be2
Na4 34.Rb3 Nc5 35.Rbb1 Rf7 36.Rb2 Ref5 37.Rbb1 a6 38.Rb2 Rf8
38...Rf3+!? 39.Bxf3 Rxf3+ 40.Kd2 Rd3+ 41.Kc2 Na4 42.Rb3 Rf3©
39.Rbb1 R5f6 40.Bd1 R6f7 41.Be2 Rf5 42.Bg4!? Re5 43.Bd1 Kg7 44.Be2 Na4 45.Rb3 Rf7 46.Rd1 Ref5 47.Rf1 Kh6
48.Bd1 Kh7 49.Be2 R5f6 50.Bd1 Kg7 51.Be2 Kf8! 52.Bg4
52.Bd1 Ke7 53.Bg4 Rf8
52...Ke7 53.Be2 Ke6! 54.Bg4+ Ke5 55.Be2
55.Rd1 Rf3+! 56.Bxf3 Rxf3+ 57.Ke2 (57.Kd2 Rxf2+-+) 57...Nxc3+ 58.Rxc3 Rxc3-+
55...Rf8 56.Bg4 R8f7 57.Be2

57...c6! 58.f4+ exf3 59.Rxf3 b5 60.Rxf6 Rxf6 61.cxb5 axb5 62.c4! bxc4 63.Rb4 Nc3 64.Rxc4 Nxe2
64...d5 65.Rf4! Nxa2 66.Rxf6 Kxf6 67.Kd4=
65.Kxe2 d5 66.Rc1! d4 67.g4 Kd5?!
67...Ke4! 68.g5 Re6µ
68.Rh1! c5 69.h5 gxh5 70.gxh5 Rh6
70...Ra6 71.h6 Rxa2+ 72.Kf3 Ra8 73.h7 Rh8 74.Rh5+ Kc4 75.Ke2=
71.Rh4 c4 72.a4??
72.Rh3! Re6+ 73.Kd2 c3+ 74.Kd3=
72...Re6+ 73.Kd2
73.Kd1 d3 74.h6 c3 75.h7 (75.Rh1 Rb6-+) 75...c2+ 76.Kd2 Re1!-+ (76...Re2+?? 77.Kxd3 c1=Q 78.Kxe2=)
73...c3+ 74.Kd3 Re3+ 75.Kc2 Re2+ 76.Kb3 Rb2+ 77.Ka3 Rb1! 78.Rh2 d3 0-1

196. [E90]
Heimann, Andreas (2557) - Andersen, Mads (2467)
Biel (open) 125/196, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.g3 Na6 9.Be3 f5
9...Qe8 - 123/(193)
10.exf5 gxf5 11.Qd2 f4N
11...Nc5
12.gxf4 Nxf4
12...exf4?! 13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qf6 15.O-O-O²
13.Rg1 Kh8 14.O-O-O Qe8?!
14...Bh6 15.h4 Bf5 16.Ng5 Bg6 17.Ne6 Qxh4 18.Nxf8 Rxf8©
15.Ng5 Bf5?!

15...Bh6 16.h4 b6 (16...Qh5? 17.Ne2! Qxh4 18.Nxf4 Bxg5 19.Ng6+!+-) 17.Ne2 Nxe2+ (17...Ng6 18.f4±) 18.Bxe2
Bf5 19.Bd3²15...Bd7 16.Ne2 (16.Re1 Qg6 17.Rg3²) 16...Bf5 (16...Nh5 17.Bg2 Nf6 18.f4±) 17.Nxf4 exf4 18.Bd4
Bxd4 19.Qxd4+ Qe5 20.Qxe5+ dxe5 21.Bd3²
16.Bxf4! exf4 17.Bd3± Qh5
17...Nc5 18.Bxf5 Rxf5 19.Qc2 Qe5 20.Nf3 Qf6 21.Nb5±
18.Bxf5 Rxf5 19.Ne6 Be5 20.Nb5
20.Ne4 Re8 21.Rg4 Qxh3 22.Rdg1+-
20...Rf7 21.Rg5 Qxh3 22.Rdg1+- Qh6 23.f3 Rf6 24.Nbd4 Qh3 25.Qd1 Qh4 26.Rh1 1-0

197.* [E92]
Trifunovic, Miroljub (2232) - Sorgic, Dragan (2198)
Veliko Gradiste 125/197, 2015 [Sorgic,Dragan]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.Bd2
10.Bc1 - 77/560
10...f5 11.h3 Nf6 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Qc1 f4 14.g3 e4 15.Nh4 e3
15...f3N 16.Bf1 (16.Bd1 Kh7 (16...h5 17.Bh6 Qd7 18.Bc2±) 17.Be3 Na6 18.Bc2±) 16...h5 17.Bh6 Qd7 18.Qg5 Qf7
19.O-O-O Re8 20.c5?! (20.Re1 Re5 21.Qd2 Na6 22.Be3²) 20...Re5 21.Qf4 Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Qg7∞ Wunnink,M (2253)-
Wan,Y (2472) Vlissingen 2015 [Sorgic,Dragan]
16.fxe3 fxg3 17.Ng6 g2 18.Rg1 Bxh3 19.Nxf8N
19.Qc2
19...Qxf8 20.Qc2 Ng4 21.O-O-O Nf2 22.Rde1?!
22.Qg6 Nd7©
22...Nd7
RR22...Na6!? 23.Qg6 (23.e4? Nb4 24.Qb1 h5-+) 23...Nc5 24.e4 Ncd3+ 25.Kc2 Nxe1+ 26.Bxe1 Qf4µ
23.e4 Nc5 24.Be3 Qf6 25.Kb1 Nfxe4?!
25...Rf8 26.a3 Qh4µ
26.Nxe4 Nxe4 27.Bd3 Nc5?!
27...Ng5∞
28.Bxc5 dxc5 29.Be4 Qd4
29...Ra6! 30.Re2 (30.Bxg2 Rb6 31.Re2 Bg4 32.Rd2 Bf5 33.Be4 Bxe4 34.Rxg7+™ Qxg7 35.Qxe4 Qh7µ) 30...Qf1+
31.Re1 Qf6=
30.Rd1
30.Bxg2? Bf5 31.Be4 Bxe4 32.Rxg7+ Kxg7 33.Rxe4 Qg1+µ
30...Qe5 31.Ka1 a4 32.a3?!
32.Rde1 Qd4 33.Rd1 Qe5=
32...Ra6?
RR32...Re8 33.Rde1 Qg3 34.d6 cxd6 35.Bd5+ Kf8 36.Rxe8+ Kxe8 37.Qxa4+ Ke7 38.Qa8 Bxb2+ 39.Ka2 Be5
40.Qxb7+ Kf6 (40...Kd8 41.Qb6+=) 41.Qf7+ Kg5 42.Bxg2! Be6 43.Qe7+ Bf6 44.Qxe6 Qf2+ 45.Kb3 Qxg1=
33.Bxg2?
33.Rde1±
33...Bf5 34.Qf2 Rb6 35.Rd2?

35.Bh1 Rb3 36.Rxg7+ Kxg7 37.Ka2 Bg6= 38.Re1 Qg3 39.Qe2∞

35...Rb3?
35...Rxb2! 36.Rxb2 Qc3! 37.Ka2 Qxc4+ 38.Ka1 Qb3-+
36.Ka2 b5 37.Re2
37.Re1 Qf6 38.cxb5 Rxb5 39.Be4+-
37...Qd4 38.Qxd4?!
38.Re8+ Kf7 39.Qxf5+ Kxe8 40.Qc8+ Ke7 41.Qxc7+ Ke8 42.Re1+ Re3 43.Rxe3+ Qxe3 44.Qb8+ Kf7 45.Qxb5 h5²
38...Bxd4 39.Rge1?
39.Bh3+ Bxg1 40.Bxf5 Bd4 41.cxb5=
39...Bd3
39...b4! (Δ Ra3) 40.axb4 cxb4-+
40.Re8+?
40.cxb5 Bxe2 41.Rxe2 Kf8³
40...Kg7-+ 41.R8e7+ Kf6 42.R7e6+ Kg5 0-1

198.* !N [E92]
Hansen, Torbjorn Ringdal (2495) - Forcen Esteban, Daniel (2539)
Sitges 125/198, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]
1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.Bd2
10.Bc1 - 77/560
10...f5 11.h3 Nf6 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Qc1 f4 14.g3 e4 15.Nh4 e3 16.fxe3 fxg3 17.Ng6

17...Re8!
17...Rf717...g2
18.Qc2?!
18.Rg1 Na6 19.Rxg3 Nc5 20.Nf4 Nfe4 (20...Bf5©) 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Rg1 Bf5 23.Bc3 Qh4+ 24.Kd1 Nf2+ 25.Kd2
Ne4+=
18...Na6 19.Rg1?N
19.O-O-O? - 19...Nb4 20.Qb3 (20.Qb1 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Bf5-+) 20...Bf5 21.Nf4 Nd7 22.Na4 Bc2-+ Levin,E (2519)-
Ozolin, M (2384) Samara 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]19.Nf4 Re5! (Δ Bf5) 20.Ne6 Bxe6 21.dxe6 Rxe6 22.Rg1 Nb4 23.Qf5
(23.Qb1 d5ƒ) 23...Re5 24.Qg6 Rg5 25.Qb1 g2³
19...Nb4 20.Qb1
20...Ne4! 21.Nxe4
21.Nf4 Bf5 22.Bg4 Bh7-+
21...Bf5 22.Bxb4
22.Rxg3 Bxe4 23.Qc1 Kh7 24.Bxb4 axb4 25.Nf4 Qh4 26.Kf2 Be5-+
22...Bxe4 23.Bd3 Qf6?!
23...Bxg6 24.Bxg6 (24.Bd2 Bh5-+) 24...Rxe3+ 25.Kd2 Rf3-+23...Qg5 24.Bd2 Qxg6 25.Bxe4 Rxe4-+
24.Rxg3 Bxg6
24...Bxd3 25.Qxd3 axb4µ
25.Bc3
25.Rxg6 Rxe3+ 26.Kd1 Qf3+ 27.Kc2 axb4µ
25...Qh4-+ 26.Kf2?!
26.Kd2 Qxg3 27.Qg1 Bxc3+ 28.bxc3 Qxg1 29.Rxg1 Re7-+
26...Rxe3! 27.Kxe3 Qxg3+ 28.Kd2 Qf2+ 29.Kd1 Bxc3
29...Bxc3 30.bxc3 Re8-+0-1

199. [E97]
Bruzon Batista, Lazaro (2669) - Sasikiran, Krishnan (2640)
Danzhou 125/199, 2015 [Pikula,Dejan]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.a4 a5 10.Ne1 Nd7 11.Nd3 f5 12.f3
Kh8 13.Bd2 c6
13...Ng8 - 122/199
14.Kh1N
14.Rb1
14...Nf6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.c5

16...d5! 17.Nxe5 d4
17...fxe4!? 18.fxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 (19.Nf7+ Rxf7 20.Rxf7 Nxd2 (20...Be6 21.Nxe4 Bxf7 22.Nd6 Be6∞) 21.Qxd2 Nf5
22.Rxg7 (22.g4 Be6 23.Rb7 Bc8=) 22...Kxg7= (22...Nxg7!?)) 19...Bxe5 20.Ng5 Nf5 21.g4 Nh6∞
18.Qb3?!
18.Bc4 dxc3 (18...Ba6 19.Ne2 Bxc4 20.Nxc4 fxe4 21.Nb6 Ra7∞) 19.Bxc3! Qxd1 20.Rfxd1 fxe4 21.Nf7+ Kg8
(21...Rxf7 22.Rd8+ Nfg8 23.Bxf7²) 22.Nh6+=
18...Nxe4!?
18...dxc3 19.Bxc3 Qc7 20.Rad1© (20.Nf7+ Kg8 21.Ng5+=)18...Nfg8! 19.Nd3 (19.Nf7+?! Rxf7 20.Qxf7 dxc3 21.Bf4
cxb2 22.Rad1 Bd7µ) 19...dxc3 20.Bxc3 Qc7³
19.Nxe4 fxe4 20.fxe4?
20.Nf7+ Rxf7 21.Qxf7 e3 22.Be1 Nd5³
20...Bxe5 21.Rxf8+ Qxf8 22.Rf1 Qe8-+ 23.Bh6 Rb8
23...d3 24.Bxd3 Rb8µ
24.Qd1
24.Qc4 Ng8 25.Rf8 Qe6-+
24...Ng8 25.Rf8 Qe7 26.Bc4 Be6
26...Bd7-+
27.Rxb8 Qh4
27...Bxc4 28.Rf8 Qh4 29.Bf4 Bg7-+
28.Qg1 Bxc4 29.Re8 Qxe4 30.Bg5 Kg7 31.Bd2 Bf7 32.Rd8 Nf6 33.Bxa5 Bd5 34.Bd2 Qe2 35.Bg5 Ne4 36.Rd7+
Kg8 37.Rd8+ Kf7 38.Rd7+ Ke6 0-1

200. [E97]
Kovalenko, Igor (2661) - Can, Emre (2555)
Moscow 125/200, 2015 [Arsovic,Goran]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 c6 10.a4 a5 11.bxa5 Qxa5
12.Bd2 c5 13.Kh1N
13.g3 - 79/558
13...Qd8
13...Nh5?! 14.g3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Ng5 (16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Nb5 Qd8 18.Bxh5 Bxa1 19.Qxa1 Ng6 20.Re1²) 16...Nf6
17.f4±
14.Ra3 Kh8
14...Nh5 15.g3 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 (16...gxf5? 17.Nxe5±) 17.Ng5 Nf6 18.g4!±
15.Ne1 Nd7 16.Nd3 Ng8 17.Qc1
17.Nb5 Ra6 18.f4²
17...Ra6 18.Rg1!?
18.Nb5 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.f4 e4 21.Nf2 Ndf6 22.Nd1!²
18...Nb6 19.Nb2 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.f4² Nd7
21...e4 22.Nbd1 Bd4 23.Ne3 Bd7 24.a5 Nc8 25.Nb5²
22.Nb5 Ngf6 23.Nd3 Ne4 24.Be1 Bh6 25.Rf1 Ndf6?!
25...exf4 26.Nxf4 Ne5 27.Nc3²
26.Bh4 Bd7 27.Qb2± exf4 28.Nxf4 Bg7 29.Qc2
29.Ne6 Bxe6 30.dxe6 Re8 31.Rxf5±
29...Qc8 30.Rh3 Re8 31.Bd3 Ng4 32.Nh5
32.Ne6 Bxe6 33.dxe6+-
32...Be5 33.Bxe4 fxe4 34.Qxe4+- Rxa4
35.Rhf3! Bxb5 36.Rf7 Bg7 37.Qf3 Ne5 38.Qg3
38.Qf6! Bxf6 39.Bxf6+ Kg8 40.Rg7+ Kf8 41.Be7#

38...Ng6 39.Bf6 Bxf6 40.Nxf6 Re7 41.Qxg6!

41.Qxg6 hxg6 42.Rxe7+-1-0

201.* [E99]
So, Wesley (2779) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2814)
Saint Louis 125/201, 2015 [Roiz,Michael]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2
g5 13.Nd3 Ng6 14.c5 Nf6 15.Rc1 Rf7 16.Kh1 h5 17.cxd6?!
17.Nb5! a6 (17...g4 - 122/200) 18.Na3 Bf8 19.cxd6 Bxd6 20.Nc4 g4„
17...cxd6 18.Nb5 a6 N
18...g4
19.Na3N
19.Na7?! Bd7 20.Qb3 g4 21.Qb6 Qxb6 22.Bxb6 h4³ Kjartansson,G (2447)-Kovalev,V (2540) Riga 2015
[Roiz,Michael]
19...b5! 20.Rc6?!
20.Nb4 g4 21.Nc6 Qe8 22.Nc2 h4„
20...g4 21.Qc2
21.Nb4 g3 22.Bb6 Qf8ƒ
21...Qf8
21...h4?! 22.Bb6 Qf8 23.fxg4 Nxg4 24.h3 Nf6 25.Bf3²21...Bb7!?
22.Rc1
22.Nb4 h4 23.Be1 h3 24.gxh3 g3‭→
22...Bd7 23.Rc7
23.Nb4 h4 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.Nxa6 h3‭→23.Rb6 h4 24.Qc7 g3∞
23...Bh6!
23...h4 24.Be1 h3 25.gxh3 gxf3 26.Bxf3 Bxh3 27.Qf2∞
24.Be1
24.Bf1 h4 25.h3 gxf3 26.gxf3 Nh5‭→
24...h4 25.fxg4 f3 26.gxf3
26...Nxe4! 27.Rd1
27.fxe4 Rf1+ 28.Kg2 Be3!! 29.Bxf1 h3+ 30.Kg3 Qxf1-+27.Rxd7 Rxf3 28.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 29.Qg2 Qxd3-+
27...Rxf3 28.Rxd7 Rf1+ 29.Kg2 Be3
29...h3+! 30.Kxh3 Rf2 31.Bxf2 Qxf2! 32.Nxf2 Nf4+ 33.Kh4 Bg5#

30.Bg3
30.Bxf1 h3+-+
30...hxg3 31.Rxf1 Nh4+-+ 32.Kh3 Qh6 33.g5 Nxg5+ 34.Kg4
34.Kxg3 Nf5+ 35.Rxf5 Qh3#
34...Nhf3 35.Nf2 Qh4+ 36.Kf5 Rf8+ 37.Kg6 Rf6+ 38.Kxf6 Ne4+ 39.Kg6 Qg5#

0-1
REGISTAR • ИНДЕКС • INDEX • REGISTER • REGISTRE • REGISTRO • REGISTRO •
REGISTER •
 1. Zhang, Zhong (2614) - Tran, Tuan Minh (2455)
Ho Chi Minh City, 2015
Ia

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1.Rxd7! Qxd7 2.Rd1 Qe8

2...Qb5 3.Bxe5+ Ka8 4.Bxh8 Rxh8 5.Qc7 (Δ Na5) 5...Bxb3 6.axb3 g4 (6...Bc5 7.Qxf7+-) 7.Bxg4 Qc5 8.Rd7+-
3.Qxe5+ Ka7
3...Ka8 4.Na5 Qb5 5.Bxb7+ Ka7 6.b3 Qxe5 7.Bxe5+-
4.Qe3+ b6
4...Ka8 5.Bxh8 Qxh8 6.Bxb7+! Kxb7 7.Na5+ Ka8 8.Qe4++-
5.Bxh8 Qxh8
5...g4 6.Bd4 gxf3 7.Bxb6++-
6.Qe4 Bc6 7.Rd7+! Kb8 8.Qe3 Bd8 9.Bxc6 Rxc6 10.Na5! Kc8 11.Rxf7 1-0

2. Carlsen, Magnus (2876) - Giri, Anish (2773)

Stavanger, 2015
Ic
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Bf7+!!
1.Qe4 Carlsen,Magnus 2876 - Giri,Anish 2773, Stavanger 2015
1...Kxf7 2.Qe4 Rg8
2...Kg7 3.Ng5 Bxd5 4.Qf5 (Δ Rg3) 4...Rc7 5.Ne6+! Bxe6 6.Rg3+ Kh6 7.Qg5+ Kh7 8.Qh4++-2...Bxd5 3.Qf5++-
3.Qf5+ Ke7 4.Qxf4 Bxd5 5.Nxe5 dxe5
5...Rxg2+ 6.Kf1+-
6.Rxe5+ Kd8 7.Rd1+-

3. Muzychuk, Mariya (2526) - Koneru, Humpy (2581)

Sochi (wch-m/1), 2015
Id
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Qd2! Rf8 2.Bd5+ Bxd5 3.Qxd5+ Kh8 4.Qf7!

4.Qf7 Rc8 (4...Rg8 5.Qh5#) 5.Re8+ Rxe8 6.Qxe8# 1-0

4. Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2631) - Zhang, Zhong (2628)

Al-Ain, 2015
Id

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1.Rd8! Rxd8
1...fxe5 2.Rdxf8+ Kg7 3.R3f7+ Kh6 4.Rh8#
2.Qxf6+ Kh7 3.Qg6+ Kh8 4.Qh6+ Kg8 5.Qxg5+ 1-0

5. Savina, Anastasia (2429) - Gunina, Valentina (2531)

Russia (ch), 2015
Ie

1...? –+

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1...Rxf7!
1...Kh7? 2.Qd3+ g6 3.Rg3 Rg8 4.Ng5+ hxg5 5.Bxg8+ Kxg8 6.Qxg6++-
2.Bxf7 Ng4! 3.Rg3
3.g3 Rxh3+ 4.Kg2 (4.Kg1 Qc5+ 5.Kg2 (5.Kf1 Rxg3-+) 5...Rh2+ 6.Kf1 Rc2-+) 4...Rh2+ 5.Kf1 Nde5-+
3...Nf2+ 4.Kh2
4.Kg1 Nxd1 5.Qxd1 Qxg3 6.Qxd7 Qb8-+
4...Nxd1 5.Qxd1 Nf6 6.Bg6
6.Be6 Nh5-+
6...Ng4+! 7.Qxg4 Rxg4 8.hxg4 Qd6-+

6. Kamsky, Gata (2670) - Li, Ruifeng (2408)

Rockville, 2015
Ig
1.? →

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1.Bxh7+!
1.O-O-O? Kamsky,Gata 2670 - Li,Ruifeng 2408
1...Kxh7 2.h6!
2.Nxf7 Qd7 3.h6 Ng6 4.Ng5+ Kg8 5.Qh5 Rf6 6.Bxd6 Nxd6 7.Nh7! Raf8 8.hxg7 Qxg7 9.Nxf6+ Rxf6 10.Qh2±
2...Ng6
2...g6 3.Nxf7 Qc7 4.Ng5+ Kg8 5.h7+ Kg7 6.h8=Q+ Rxh8 7.Qf7#
2...gxh6 3.Nxf7 Ng8 4.Bxd6 Qxd6 (4...Nxd6 5.Nxd8 Rxf3 6.Nxb7+-) 5.Nxd6 Rxf3 6.Nxe8 Rf7 7.Nd6±
3.Qg4! Bxe5 4.Bxe5 f6 5.Nf3! Qe7 6.Bf4 Rg8 7.hxg7+ Kxg7 8.Rh6 Kf7 9.Qh5 Ba6 (Δ Bd3) 10.Kd2 Qd7 11.a4‭→ Δ
Nh4

7. Pashikian, Arman (2604) - Krasenkow, Michal (2604)

Yerevan, 2015
III c

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1.f5! Rxd6
1...gxf5 2.Bh6+ Kh8 3.Bg5 Rf8 4.Rd7+-1...Bxd6 2.f6+ Kh8 3.exd6 Nd5 4.Bxd5 cxd5 5.Bh6+-
2.exd6 Nd5
2...Bxd6 3.f6+ Kh8 4.Rd1+- Δ Rd7
3.Bd4+ Kg8 4.fxg6 hxg6 5.Rf6 Rd8 6.Rxg6+ Kf8 7.Re6 b5
7...Bxd6 8.Rxe4+-
8.Be2 c5 9.Be5+-

8. Dubov, Daniil (2654) - Motylev, Alexander (2658)

Russia (ch), 2015
III f
1...? –+

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1...Nxa4! 2.Qxb6
2.bxa4 Qxf2 3.Rxf2 Rxe4-+
2...Nxb6 3.c3 Bd6µ

9. Khairullin, Ildar (2662) - Dubov, Daniil (2654)

Russia (ch), 2015
III g
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Nxe7!
1.Qc2± Khairullin,Ildar 2662 - Dubov,Daniil 2654, Russia (ch) 2015
1...Na4
1...Kxe7 2.Nc6+ Kd7 3.Qxf6+-1...Ncxe4 2.fxe4 Nxe4 3.Qc2+-
2.Ne6+ fxe6 3.Qxf6+ Ke8 4.Qxe6 Qxb2+ 5.Kh3 Qe5 6.Qxe5 dxe5 7.Nc6+-
 1. Shchekachev, Andrei (2552) - Renet, Olivier (2512)
Paris, 2015

NB 0/g

1. ? =

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1.Nd4
1.Kg3? b3 2.Kh2 b2 3.Nc3 Kd6 4.Kg1 Ke5 (0 : 1 Shchekachev, Andrei 2552 - Renet,Olivier 2512, Paris 2015) 5.Kf2
Kd4-+
1...Kd6
1...Kc7 2.Kg1=
2.Nc6! b3 3.Na5 b2 4.Nc4+=

2. Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2677) - Topalov, Veselin (2798)

Stavanger, 2015

NB 1/f2
1. ? =

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1.f5
1.Kc6?? Ke6 0 : 1 Hammer,Jon Ludvig 2677 - Topalov,Veselin 2798, Stavanger 2015
1...gxf5 2.Ke5=

3. Paichadze, Luka (2566) - Bortnyk, Mykola (2550)

Batumi, 2015

NB 4/c
1. ? =

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1.f3!= e3
[1...exf3 2.Kf2 Ke6 (2...Ke4 3.Nf6+) 3.Kxf3 Kf5 4.h4 Be1 5.Nh6+ Ke6 6.h5=]
2.Kf1 Ke6 3.h4 Bg7 4.Ke2 Bf8 5.Kd3 Be7 6.Nh6 Bb4 7.Ke2 Bc3 8.Ng4 Bg7 9.Kd3 Kf7 10.Ke2 Kg8 11.Kd3 h5
12.gxh6 Bd4 13.Ke2 Kh8 14.Kd3 Kh7 15.Ke2 Bc5 16.Kd3 Be7 17.h5! gxh5 18.Nxe3 h4 19.Ng4 h3 20.Ke4 Kg6
½-½

4. Adams, Michael (2740) - Navara, David (2724)

Biel, 2015

NB 6/e

1. ? +–

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1.Bd1!+- Bd8
1...Bb6 2.f5 Kg5 3.Ke5+-
2.Kd5 Kg3 3.f5 Kf4 4.Ke6 Ke4 5.Bc2+ Kd4 6.Kd7! Bb6 7.f6 Kc3 8.Bd1 1-0

5. Kulaots, Kaido (2568) - Sulskis, Sarunas (2556)

Vilnius (zt), 2015

R 0/i
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Rb5+!
1.Ke5? Kxa2 2.Kxd4 Kb2! (2...Kb1? 3.Kc3+-) (2...Kb3 3.Kd3 Kb2 (3...a2? 4.Rb5+ Ka3 5.Kc2+-) 4.Kd2 (4.Rb5+
Kc1!=) 4...a2 5.Rb5+ Ka1!=) 3.Rb5+ Kc2= 4.Ra5 Kb2 5.Rb5+ Kc2 6.Kc4 a2 7.Ra5 Kb2 8.Rb5+ Kc1 9.Rh5 a1=Q
10.Rh1+ Kb2 11.Rxa1 Kxa1 1/2 : 1/2 Kulaots, Kaido 2568 - Sulskis,Sarunas 2556, Vilnius (zt) 2015
1...Kc2!
1...Kxa2 2.Kd5 d3 (2...Ka1 3.Kc4 d3 (3...a2 4.Kb3 Kb1 5.Ka3+ Kc2 6.Kxa2 d3 7.Rc5++-) 4.Kb3 d2 (4...Kb1 5.Rh5
(5.Kxa3+?? Kc2 6.Rc5+ Kb1!!=) 5...Kc1 6.Rh1+ Kd2 7.Rh2+ (7.Kxa3?? Kc2!=) 7...Kc1 (7...Ke3 8.Kc3+-) 8.Kc3
Kb1 9.Rg2+-) 5.Rd5+-) 3.Kc4 d2 (3...Ka1 4.Kb3+-) 4.Rd5+-
2.Kd5 d3 3.Rc5+!
3.Kc4 d2 4.Rd5 d1=Q 5.Rxd1 Kxd1 6.Kb3 Kd2 7.Kxa3 Kc3=
3...Kb2 4.Kc4 Kxa2
4...d2 5.Rd5 Kc2 6.Kb4+-
5.Rb5 Ka1 6.Kb3+- [S. Sulskis]

6. Sasikiran, Krishnan (2682) - Wei, Yi (2706)

Hyderabad, 2015

R 1/j
1. ? =

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1.Kc2!
1.gxh4? e2 2.Re1 Nxf4 3.Kc2 Kf5 4.Kd2 Ke4-+ 5.b4 Kf3 6.a4 Kf2 7.b5 b6 8.Rh1 Ng2 0 : 1 Sasikiran,Krishnan 2682
- Wei,Yi 2706, Hyderabad 2015
1...hxg3
1...e2 2.Rg1 h3 (2...hxg3 - 1...hg3) 3.Kd2 Kf5 4.Kxe2 Kg4 5.Kf2 h2 6.Rd1 Kh3 7.Kf3 Nf6 8.Rc1 Ng4=
2.Rg1 e2 3.Kd2 Nxf4 4.Rxg3 Kf5 5.Rb3
5.Re3=
5...b6 6.Ra3 Ke4 7.Rxa7 Kf3 8.Re7 g5 9.Re3+ Kf2 10.Re4
10.a4 g4 11.Re4 Kf3 12.Re3+ Kf2=
10...Kf3=

7. Ni, Hua (2703) - Sasikiran, Krishnan (2640)

Danzhou, 2015

R 7/g
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Re3! (ʘ) Rb1 2.Rf3+ Kg8 3.Kg6 Rh1

3...Rb3?! 4.Rf7 1 : 0 Ni, Hua 2703 - Sasikiran,Krishnan 2640, Danzhou 2015
4.Rd3 Rg1+ 5.Rg3 Rf1 6.Rg2+-

8. Sedlak, Nikola (2537) - Kadric, Denis (2511)

Paracin, 2015

R 9/f

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1.Ne4! Kd7 2.Ng5 Ke7 3.Nh7 Rh8 4.f8=Q+ Rxf8 5.Nxf8 Kxf8 6.Kc1
6.Be4 Bd7 7.Kc1 Ke7 8.Kd2+-
6...Ke7 7.Kd2 Kd6 8.Ke3 Ke7 9.a3 Kd6 10.Be4 Bd7
10...c5 11.Bf3+-
11.Bf3 Be8 12.g4+- hxg4 13.Bxg4 Bg6 14.c3 Kd5 15.h5 Bh7 16.Bd7 Kc4 17.Bxc6 Kxc3 18.h6 Kb2 19.Be4 Bg8
20.Kd2 Kxa3 21.Kc3 Ka4 22.h7 Bxh7 23.Bxh7 Ka3 24.Bc2 Ka2 25.Be4 Ka3 26.Bb7 1-0

9. Antic, Dejan (2457) - Andonovski, Ljubisa (2290)

Skopje, 2015

Q 4/b

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1...Ke3
1...Ke5? 2.Qb5+ Ke6 (2...Kxe4 3.Qb4+ Ke3 4.Qxf4+ Kxf4 5.Kg6+-) 3.Qe8+ 1 : 0 Antic,Dejan 2457 -
Andonovski,Ljubisa 2290, Skopje 2015
2.Qb3+ Kf2 3.Qc2+ Kg3 4.Qd3+ Kg2= Kosic, Dragan [De. Antic]
 1. Aberman, Viktor & Matdinov, I.
1st Pr. Zhigulevski Zori, 2013

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1.Bd5 Rd4
[1...b6+ 2.Kd6 Rd4 3.Nc6+–]
2.e7+! Rxd5+ 3.Ke6 Re5+!
[3...Ra8 4.Kxd5 Kf7 5.Kd6+–]
4.Kxe5 Kf7 5.Nc4!!
[5.Bb4? b5 6.Nc6 Rd7 7.Bd6 b4! 8.Bxb4 a5! 9.Bd6 a4 10.Kd5 Ke8 11.Ke6 a3 12.Nb4 a2! 13.Nxa2 Rxe7+ 14.Bxe7=]
5...Kxe7 6.Nb6! Kd8 7.Ba5 Kc7 8.Kd5! Kb8 9.Kd6 Ra8 10.Nd7+ Kc8
[10...Ka7 11.Bb6#]
11.Bc7 b5 12.Kc6 Ra7 13.Nb6# +–

2. Minski, Martin & Sonntag, Gunter

HM Zhigulevski Zori, 2013
 Show/Hide Solution
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1.Nf3!
[1.h8=Q+? Kb1 2.Nf3 Bc2+! 3.Ke2 Bd3+ 4.Kd1 Bc2+=]
1...exf3
[1...Rxh3 2.Bg7+ Kb1 3.Nd2#]
2.h8=Q+
[2.Kc1? f1Q+ 3.Qxf1 Rc2+ 4.Kd1 Bxh7 5.Qxf3 Kb1 6.Bg7 Rb2 7.Bxb2 Kxb2=]
2...Kb1 3.Qf1!!
[3.Qxf3? Bc2+! 4.Ke2 f1Q+ 5.Kxf1 Rxh8=] 3...Be2+ 4.Kd2+! Bxf1 5.Qa1+! Kxa1 6.Kc1 Rh7 7.Bd6! Rh5 8.Bxb4
Rb5 9.Bc3+ Rb2 10.Bxb2# +–

3. Afek, Yochanan
2nd Pr. P. Valois MT, 2014
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1.Bh6+!
1.Qb5+? Kg4 2.d7 Rh2+ 3.Rh6 (3.Kg8 Qe4 4.Bh6 (4.Bg7 Rh5 5.Qb3 Qd5+ 6.Qxd5 Rxd5=) 4...Rh5! 5.Qxh5+ (5.Qc4
Qd5+ 6.Qxd5 Rxd5 7.Rc4 Rxd7=) 5...Nxh5 6.d8=Q Qxc6) 3...Rxh6+ 4.Bxh6 Qe7 5.Qg5+ Qxg5 6.Bxg5 Ne6 7.Be7
Kf5=
1...Kxh6
1...Kg4 2.Qxf4+ Qxf4 3.Bxf4 Kxf4 4.Kg7 Ke5 5.Kf7 Kd5 6.d7+-
2.d7+ Ng6+ 3.Rxg6+!
3.Kg8?? Ra8+ 4.Rc8 Qe6+ 5.Qf7 Rxc8+ 6.dxc8=Q Qxc8+ 7.Qe8 Qxe8#
3...Kxg6 4.Qb1+! Rc2!!
4...Kf7 5.Qh7+ Ke6 6.d8=Q Qe5+ 7.Qg7! (7.Kg8 Rg2+ 8.Kf8 Rf2+ 9.Ke8 Qh5+! 10.Qxh5 Rf8+! 11.Kxf8=) 7...Rh2+
8.Kg8+-
5.Qxc2+ Kf7 6.Qh7+ Ke6 7.d8=R!!
7.d8=Q Qd4+! 8.Qxd4=
7...Qe5+ 8.Qg7
8.Kg8? Qg5+=
8...Qh5+ 9.Kg8+-

4. Tarasyuk, Vladislav
Sp. HM P. Valois MT, 2014
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1.c5 Rxb6!
1...Ra8 2.b7 Rb8 3.c6±
2.cxb6 Kxb6 3.a5+!
3.Kb2? Kc5=
3...Kxa5 4.a4!!
4.Kb2? Kb6! 5.Kb3 Kb5 ZZ 6.Kc3 Kc5=
4...Kb6 5.a5+!
5.Kb2? Kc5=
5...Kxa5 6.Kb2 Kb5 7.Ka3 or
7.Kb3
7...Kc5 8.Ka4 Kxd5 9.Kb5 Kd6 10.Kb6!
10.a4? Kc7= (10...Kd7=)
10...Kd7 11.Kb7 Kd6 12.a4 Kc5 13.a5 Kb5 14.a6+-

5. Slumstrup Nielsen, Steffen

1st Comm. P. Valois MT, 2014
1.? =

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1.e5!
1.Kb4? Bd6+ 2.Kxa4 Be7 3.Kb3 (3.Kb5 Ne5) 3...Kb7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Kd4 Kd6 6.Ke3 (6.e5+ Nxe5 7.Ke4 Ke6 8.Kf4
Nf7 9.Kg4 Ke5 10.Kh5 Kf5) 6...Ke5 7.Kf3 Nd6 8.Kg4 Nxe4 9.Kh5 Kf5 10.Kh6 Nc5 11.Kg7 Ne6+ 12.Kf7 Ba3
13.Nf6 Ng5+ 14.Kg7 Bb2-+
1...Bxe5+
1...Nxe5 2.Kb4=
2.Kb4 a3
2...Bd6+ 3.Kxa4 Be7 4.Kb3 Kb7 5.Kc4 Kc6 6.Kd4 Kd6 7.Ke4 Ke6 8.Kf4 Kd5 9.Kf52...Kb7 3.Kxa4 Bg7 4.Kb5=
3.Kxa3 Kb7 4.Ka4!
4.Kb4? Kc6 5.Nf8 (5.Kc4 Bg7 6.Kd3 Kd5 7.Ke3 Ke5-+) 5...Bd6+-+4.Kb3? Bg7 5.Kc4 Kc6 6.Kd3 Kd5 7.Ke3
Ke5-+
4...Bg7
4...Kc6 5.Nf8 Kd6 6.Ng6=
5.Kb5 Kc7 6.Kc5 Kd7 7.Kd5 Ke7 8.Ke4 Ke6 9.Kf4 Bh6+ 10.Kg4 Ke5
10...Ne5+ 11.Kh5 Bd2 12.Ng5+ (12.Nf8+? Kf6) 12...Kf5 13.Nf3 Nxf3=
11.Kh5 Kf5 12.Ng5 Bxg5=

6. Bazlov, Yuri
3rd Comm. P. Valois MT, 2014
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1.Kc4 c2 2.Kb3 Kc1!

2...c1=Q 3.Bd3+ Ka1 4.Bxd4++-
3.Bd3!
3.Bxd4 Kd1= (3...Kd2? 4.Bc3+ Kd1 5.Bc8 c1=Q 6.Bg4#)
3...Kd2 4.Bxc2 d3! 5.Bb1 Ke2 6.Kc3 d2 7.Bd3+! Ke1 8.Bb8! d1=Q 9.Bg3#

7. Pervakov, Oleg & Sumbatyan, Karen

2nd Pr. Dobrescu-80 JT, 2014
1.? =

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1.Bf5
[1.Bg8? d4!-+]
1...d4 2.Nxh5+ Kh6 3.Bd2 Kxh5
[3...e3 4.Bxd3 exd2 5.Be2 Nxh3 6.Nf6=]
4.Bg4+ Kg6 5.Bf5+ Kh5
[5...Kh6 6.h4 Be3 7.hxg5+ Kxg5 8.Bxe4=]
6.Bg4+ Kh6 7.h4 Be3 8.hxg5+
[8.Bxe3? dxe3 9.hxg5+ Kxg5 10.Bd1 Bb1 11.Be2 Bc2 12.Kd4 Kf4-+]
8...Kxg5 9.Be2!! Bxe2
[9...Bxd2 10.Bxd3 exd3 11.Kxd4=]
10.Bxe3+ dxe3 11.Kxe4=

8. Jasik, Andzey
1st Pr. M. Muradov-65 JT, 2015
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1.Nb5!
1.Kb8? Rd7 2.Nb5 Rxd2 3.gxf7 Rf2=
1...Bxb5
1...Rd7 2.Bc3+ Kd5 (2...Kf5 3.gxf7 Rxf7 4.Nd6+) 3.Rd1+ Kc6 4.Nd4+ Kc7 5.gxf7 Rxf7 6.Ne6+ Kc6 7.Nd8++-
2.Kb8! Rd7
2...Re7 3.Re1+ Kf6 4.Bc3+ Kxg6 5.Rxe7+-
3.Rxb5+ Ke4 4.Rb4+
4.Kc8? Rxd2 5.gxf7 Rf2 6.Rxb7 g5=
4...Ke5
4...Kd3 5.Kc8! Re7 6.Kd8 Re2 7.gxf7+-
5.Bc3+ Ke6
5...Kd6 6.Kc8! Rc7+ 7.Kd8 Rd7+ 8.Ke8 Re7+ 9.Kf8 fxg6 10.Rd4++-
6.Rb6+
6.Kc8? Rd3! 7.Re4+ Kd5 8.gxf7 Rxc3+ 9.Kd8 Rf3=
6...Ke7
6...Kd5 7.Kc8!+-
7.Bb4+ Ke8 8.Rf6!! Rd8+ 9.Kc7!
9.Kxb7? fxg6
9...Rd7+ 10.Kb6 zz 10...fxg6
10...gxf6 11.g7+-
11.Rf8#

9. Aliev, Ilham
3rd Pr. M. Muradov-65 JT, 2015

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1.Na6+!
1.Nc6+? bxc6 2.b7 Rh8 3.b8=Q+ Rxb8 4.Ne5 Kc5 5.Nd7+ Kd6 6.Nxb8 Kc7 7.Na6+ Kb6 8.Nb8 Kc7 9.Nxc6 Kxc6=
1...bxa6 2.b7 Rh8 3.b8=Q+!
3.Ne5? Rh2+ 4.Kb1 Rh1+ 5.Kb2 Rh2+
3...Rxb8 4.Ne5 Kc5
4...Rc8?? 5.Nd3#4...Rd8 5.Nc6+ Kc5 6.Nxd8+-
5.Nd7+ Kc6 6.Nxb8+ Kc7 7.Nxa6+ Kb6 8.Nb8
8.b4? Kxa6 9.b5+ Kb6=
8...Kc7 9.Kc3!
9.b4 Kxb8 10.b5 e5=
9...Kxb8 10.Kc4!
10.Kd4? Kc7 11.Kc5 e5=
10...e5
10...Kc7 11.Kb5 e5 12.Kxa5 e4 13.Kb4
11.Kd5!
11.Kb5? e4! 12.Kc4 Kc7 13.Kd4 Kc6 14.Kxe4 Kc5=
11...Kc7 12.Kxe5 Kc6 13.Ke6!
13.Kd4? Kd6 14.Kc4 Kc6 15.Kd4 Kd6=
13...Kc5 14.Kd7! Kb4 15.Kc6 Kxb3 16.Kb5+-

REGISTAR/TEME • ИНДЕКС/ТЕМЬ • INDEX/THEMES • REGISTER/THEMEN •

REGISTRE/THÈMES • REGISTRO/TEMAS • REGISTRO/TEMI • REGISTER/TEMAR •

Battery play: 3

Breakthrough: 8

Chameleon-echo: 6, 7

Domination: 1, 5

Fork: 9

Logical try: 5, 9

Mate: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9

Opposition: 4, 9

Pawn hunt: 6

Phoenix: 3

Sacrificial play: 2, 3, 4, 9

Stalemate: 5

Struggle to secure promotion: 4

Underpromotion: 3

Zugzwang: 8
 
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Vladimir Vuksan
 
Dizajn • Дизайн • Design • Design • Design • Diseño • Grafica • Design •
 
Vladimir Vuksan, Miloš Majstorović
 
Tehnijki urednik • Технический редактор • Technical editor • Technischer Redakteur • Rédacteur technique •
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