Back Cover

Title page
System of Signs

The Best Game of the Preceding Volume

The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume

THE AMERICAN CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP GM Rafael Leitão

FIDE GRAND PRIX 2022 – BEOGRAD IM Goran Arsović
FIDE GRAND PRIX 2022 – BERLIN GM Elshan Moradiabadi
DEVILRY IN DAVENTRY GM Daniel Gormally
THE SCANDINAVIAN – Part II GM Nigel Davies
THE ALAPIN SICILIAN GM Miloš Perunović
THE SCOTCH GAME GM Krisztián Szabó
THE PILLSBURY ATTACK GM Sabina-Francesca Foişor
NIMZOWITSCH'S LEGACY – The Immobile Double Pawns GM Michael Prusikin
ROGERS’ REMINISCENCES – Balatonberény 1983 GM Ian Rogers
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES – Part IV GM Marian Petrov
FROM THE CHESS INFORMANT ARCHIVES Douglas Griffin

Games
Classification of Openings
A00-A24
A25-A49
A50-A99
B00-B24

2
B25-B49
B50-B74
B75-B99
C00-C24
C25-C49
C50-C74
C75-C99
D00-D24
D25-D49
D50-D74
D75-D99
E00-E24
E25-E49
E50-E74
E75-E99
Index

COMBINATIONS IM Goran Arsović

ENDINGS IM Goran Arsović
TOURNAMENTS

3
4
5
6
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 counterplay
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

7
¯ 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

8
 151/18. A29
Hikaru NAKAMURA 2736 — Andrey ESIPENKO 2714
Berlin 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cd5 Nd5 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qc2!? [8.d3 – 149/10]
8...Nf6 9.a3 N [RR 9.d3 Bg4!? 10.Bg5 Bf3 11.Bf3 Nd4 12.Qc1 Nf3 13.ef3 c6=; 9...h6„] 9...Nd4
[9...Bg4 10.b4 Bd6 11.e3!² Qd7 12.b5 Na5 13.d4!ƒ] 10.Nd4 ed4 11.b4 Bb6?! [11...Be7 12.Na4 Rb8
13.e3 d3 14.Qb1²] 12.Na4² Re8 13.Nb6 ab6 14.e3 d3 [RR 14...de3 15.fe3 (15.de3!?ƒ b5 16.Bb2 c6
17.e4 Be6 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.f4±) 15...b5 16.Bb2 Ra6 17.Rac1±] 15.Qc3 Ne4 16.Qc4 Bf5 17.Bb2 Qd7
18.Be4!? Be4 19.f3 Bc6 20.Rac1 Re7 21.Qf4 f6 22.Rc4 Rd8 23.Rfc1± Qe6

24.b5! Bb5 25.Re4 Qf7 26.Re7 Qe7 27.Rc7 Rd7 28.Rc8 Rd8 [28...Kf7 29.Qf5 Bc6 30.Qh5 Ke6
31.Re8+–]

9
29.Bf6! gf6 30.Qg4 Kf8 [30...Kf7 31.Qh5 Kg7 32.Rd8 Qd8 33.Qb5 Qd6 34.a4 Qa3 35.Kf2+–; RR
30...Kh8 31.Qb4!+–] 31.Rd8 Qd8 32.Qb4 Qe7 33.Qb5 Qa3 34.Kf2! Qc5 35.Qd3 b5 36.Qc3 Qe7
37.Ke2 Kg7 38.Qd4 Qf7 39.Qg4 Kh8 40.Qb4 Qe8 41.Qd6 Qf7 42.Qc5 Qe8 43.g4 Kg7 44.h4 Qd7
45.h5 Kg8 46.h6
1 : 0 Elshan Moradiabadi

10
 151/32. B12
Nidjat MAMEDOV 2604 — Aydin SULEYMANLI 2530
Azerbaijan 2022

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 Qc7 7.Be2 a6 [7...c5 – 151/31] 8.0-0 c5 9.c3
c4 10.Nbd2 h6

11.Ne1! N [11.Re1] 11...Ne7 12.Nc2 g5 13.Ne3 Bg6 14.b3 cb3 15.c4! [15.Nb3 Qc3 16.Bd2 Qc7
17.Bh5©] 15...dc4 [15...ba2 16.cd5 Nd5 17.Nd5 ed5 18.Ra2 Be7 19.Re1 0-0 20.Nf1 (20.h4±)
20...Bb4 21.Bd2 Bd2 22.Rd2 a5 23.Ne3±] 16.Ndc4± Nc6 [16...Bc2 17.Qd2 Nd5 18.Nd5 ed5
19.Ne3 Nb6 20.ab3 Bb3 21.Bb2±; 16...Nf5 17.Nf5 Bf5 18.Qb3 Be4 19.Ba3±] 17.Bb2 [17.d5!?
Nce5 18.de6 fe6 19.Bb2 Nc4 20.Bc4 Rh7 21.Be6+–] 17...b5 18.Nd6 Bd6 19.ed6 Qd6 20.d5 Nce5
21.Qd4 [21.ab3 0-0 22.Qd4 Rfe8 23.f4 gf4 24.Qf4 ed5 25.Qh6 d4 26.Nf5 Qf6 27.Qh3±] 21...0-0
22.f4 [22.ab3 – 21.ab3] 22...gf4 23.Qf4 Nc4 [23...ba2 24.Ra2 h5 (24...ed5 25.Qh6 Rfe8 26.Rf4 f6
27.Rg4!+–) 25.Ba3+–] 24.Qd6 Nd6 25.de6 Rae8 26.Bg4! Nb6 [26...fe6 27.Rfd1+–] 27.ab3 f5
28.Ra6 [28.Bf3 Re6 29.Nd5 Ne4 30.Ra6+–] 28...fg4 29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Rb6 Re6 31.Ng4+– Bf5 32.Ne5
Kg8 [32...Ke8 33.Nf3 Be4 34.Nd4 Rg6 35.Ba3] 33.h3 Bc2 34.b4 Bb3 35.Kh2 Bd5 36.Ba1 Kf8
37.Nd3 Bc4 38.Nc5 Re1 39.Bc3
1 : 0 Goran Arsović

11
B12

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nd2 e6 5.Nb3 Nd7 6.Nf3 Qc7 7.Be2

7...a6 8.0-0 c5 9.c3 1 c4 2 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Ne1 3 Ne7 12.Nc2 g5 13.Ne3 Bg6 14.b3 cb3 15.c4 4 dc4± 5
7...f6 8.0-0 Ne7 6 9.ef6 gf6 10.Nh4 0-0-0 11.Nf5 Nf5 12.c4 Bd6 7 13.cd5 ed5 8 14.Bd3 Ne7 9 15.Qh5 Rdg8² 10
7...c5 8.dc5 11 Bc5 12 9.Nc5 Nc5 13 10.Be3 14 Ne7 11.Nd4 a6 12.a4 Rc8 13.f4 Be4 14.0-0 Nf5 15 15.Nf5 16 ef5= 17

1
9.dc5
a) 9...Bc5 10.Nc5 Nc5 11.Be3 Ne7

a1) 12.Nd4 0-0 13.f4 Be4 14.g4 b5 15.Qe1 Na4 16.Rb1 Nc6 17.b3 Nb6 18.Rc1 Nd7 19.c3 Rac8
20.Qg3 Rfe8 21.h4 Qa5∞ Polina Shuvalova 2489 – Vincent Keymer 2591, chess.com (Internet-m/2-
blitz) 2021;
a2) 12.c4! dc4 13.Qd6 Rc8 (Cem Kaan Gökerkan 2466 – Matthias Blübaum 2674, chess.com
(Internet-blitz) 2021) 14.Bc4 0-0 15.Rac1 Ne4 16.Qc7 Rc7 17.Bb3²;
b) 9...Nc5 10.Nbd4 Bg6 11.c3 Ne7 12.Bf4 Nc6 13.h3 Be7= Ildar Imashev 2268 – Dmitry Darmin
2043, Sterlitamak 2012
2
9...Ne7 10.Nh4 h6 11.Nf5 Nf5 12.Bd3 Ne7 13.Nd2 Nc6 14.Nf3 Qb6 15.Bc2 Rc8 16.a3 Be7 17.Rb1
a5 18.Be3 cd4 19.cd4² Paweł Jaracz 2456 – Magdalena Łysiak-Półtorak 2126, chess.com (Internet-
blitz) 2020
3

12
11.Re1 Ne7 12.Nf1 Bh7 13.Ng3 Nf5 14.Nf5 Bf5 15.h3 Be7 16.Be3 b5 17.Qd2 a5³ Polina
Shuvalova 2489 – Vincent Keymer 2591, chess.com (Internet-m/14-blitz) 2021
4
15.Nb3 Qc3 16.Bd2 Qc7 17.Bh5©
5
15...ba2 16.cd5 Nd5 17.Nd5 ed5 18.Ra2 Be7 19.Re1 0-0 20.Nf1 [20.h4±] 20...Bb4 21.Bd2 Bd2
22.Rd2 a5 23.Ne3±;
15...dc4 16.Ndc4

a) 16...Nc6 17.Bb2 [17.d5!? Nce5 18.de6 fe6 19.Bb2 Nc4 20.Bc4 Rh7 21.Be6+–] 17...b5 18.Nd6
Bd6 19.ed6 Qd6 20.d5 Nce5 21.Qd4 [21.ab3 0-0 22.Qd4 Rfe8 23.f4 gf4 24.Qf4 ed5 25.Qh6 d4

13
26.Nf5 Qf6 27.Qh3±] 21...0-0 22.f4 gf4 23.Qf4 Nc4 [23...ba2 24.Ra2 h5 25.Ba3+–] 24.Qd6 Nd6
25.de6 Rae8

26.Bg4! Nb6 [26...fe6 27.Rfd1+–] 27.ab3 f5 28.Ra6 [28.Bf3 Re6 29.Nd5 Ne4 30.Ra6+–] 28...fg4
29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Rb6 Re6 31.Ng4+– Nidjat Mamedov 2604 – Aydin Suleymanli 2530, Azerbaijan 2022
– 151/32;
b) 16...Nf5 17.Nf5 Bf5 18.Qb3 Be4 19.Ba3±;
c) 16...Bc2 17.Qd2 Nd5 18.Nd5 ed5 19.Ne3 Nb6 20.ab3 Bb3 21.Bb2±
6
8...fe5 9.de5 0-0-0 [9...Ne5?! 10.Nfd4 Bd6

11.g4! Bg6 12.f4 Nc4 13.Ne6 Qb6 14.Nbd4 Bc5 15.Bc4 Bd4 16.Nd4 dc4 17.Qe2 Ne7 18.Be3 c5

14
19.Nf3+– Yaroslav Zinchenko 2547 – Dmitry Elizarov 2356, Voronezh 2010] 10.Nbd4 Ne5 11.Re1
[11.Ng5?! Re8 12.g4

12...h6! 13.gf5 hg5 14.f4 ef5 15.fe5 Qe5 16.Rf2 Bc5 17.c3 Nf6–+ Joshua Friedel 2505 – Giorgi
Kacheishvili 2575, Las Vegas 2010] 11...Nf3 [11...Bd6 12.Ne5 Be5 13.Bg4 Bd4 14.Qd4 Bg4
15.Qg4 Nf6 16.Qe6 Qd7=] 12.Bf3 Qd7 13.Ne6 Be6 14.Re6 Nf6 15.Qe2 Bd6 16.Bg5 Rde8 17.Re1
Re6 18.Qe6 Qe6 19.Re6 Kd7 20.Re1 Re8= Sergey Erenburg 2600 – Aleksandr Lenderman 2553,
USA (Internet) 2010
7
12...Nb6!?
8
13...Bh2 14.Kh1 cd5 [14...ed5 15.Qd3±] 15.Bg4±
9
14...Bh2 15.Kh1 Ne7 16.g3 Bg3 17.fg3 Qg3 18.Bf4 Qh3 19.Bh2 Rdg8 20.Qf3±
10
15...Bf4? 16.Re1 Ng6 17.g3 Bc1 18.Rac1± Evgeny Alekseev 2691 – Denis Yevseev 2531, Russia
2010 – 109/53;
15...Rdg8²
11
8.0-0 c4 9.Nbd2 h6 10.c3 Ne7 11.b3 cb3 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.c4 Na5 14.Qa4 dc4 15.Nc4 Nc4 16.Bc4
Rc8 17.Be2 [17.Bb3 Bd3 18.Rd1 b5 19.Qa6 Nb8 20.Qc8 Qc8 21.Rd3 Nd7 22.d5 ed5∞ Maksim
Chigaev 2565 – Ivan Rozum 2581, Russia 2018] 17...a6 18.d5 Bc5 19.d6 Qb6 20.Bd2 Rc6 21.Rac1
0-0 22.Qh4 [22.Bc3?

15
22...Bf2! 23.Rf2 Qe3 24.Rd1 b5 25.Qd4 Rc3 26.Re1 Bg6–+ Sergei Rublevsky 2689 – Vladimir
Fedoseev 2673, Novi Sad 2016] 22...Qb2 23.Rfe1 f6 24.ef6 Nf6 25.Bc3 Bf2 26.Qf2 Rc3 27.Rc3 Qc3
28.Qd4∞
12
8...Bg4 9.0-0 a6 10.Be3 Bf3 11.Bf3 Ne7 12.c4! dc4 13.Nd2 Nf5

a) 14.c6 bc6 15.Bf4 Nb6 16.Nc4! Nc4 17.Rc1 [17.Qa4 Nd4 18.Bh5 Nb6 19.Qd4 Be7 20.Rac1²
Sergei Movsesian 2670 – Andrey Zhigalko 2554, Saint Petersburg 2007] 17...Nb2 18.Qd2 Ne7
19.Qb2±;
b) 14.Nc4! Ne3 15.fe3 Bc5 16.Nd6 Bd6 17.ed6 Qb6 18.Qd4±
13

16
9...Qc5 10.c3 Ne7
a) 11.0-0 0-0
a1) 12.Re1

a11) 12...Qc7 13.Bf4 Ng6 14.Bg3 Bg4 15.Nd4 Be2 16.Qe2 a6 17.h4 Ne7 18.h5 h6 19.Bf4 Nc6
20.Rad1 Kh8 21.Qe3 Kh7 22.g4 Nd4 23.Rd4² Benjámin Gledura 2605 – Constantin Lupulescu
2631, Magyarország 2017;
a12) 12...Bg4 13.Nd4 Be2 14.Re2 Rfc8 15.h4 Nc6 16.Bf4 Qe7 17.Nf3 b5∞ Chen Fan 2375 –
Alexander Riazantsev 2710, China 2012;
a13) 12...Qb6! 13.Bf1 Nc6 14.Nd4 Bg6 15.Nc6 bc6 16.h4 h6 17.h5 Bh7 18.b3 a5 19.Bf4 Kh8
20.Qd2 c5 21.Re3 a4 22.b4 a3 23.Bd3 Rg8 24.Bh7 Kh7 25.Rb1 Qa6∞ Benjámin Gledura 2613 –
Ferenc Berkes 2658, Budapest 2017;
a2) 12.Bf4 Bg4 13.Re1 Ng6 14.Bg3 b5 15.Rc1 Rac8 16.Qd2 Qb6 17.h3 Bh5 18.Bh2 Bf3 19.Bf3 Rc6
20.Bg3 Rfc8 21.a3 a5 22.h4 Nc5 23.Rcd1 Ne7 24.Qg5 R6c7∞ Sergei Rublevsky 2686 – Victor
Bologan 2687, Russia 2012;
b) 11.Nd4 Ne5 [11...0-0 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Be4 14.0-0 a6 15.a4 Nb8 16.a5 Nbc6 17.Nb3² Wesley
So 2772 – Vincent Keymer 2664, chess.com (Internet-rapid) 2022] 12.Qa4 N5c6 13.Nb5 Qb6
14.Nd6 [14.Be3 Qd8 15.Na7 Qd7 16.Bb5 0-0 17.Qd1 Rfb8 18.b4 d4 19.Nc6 bc6 20.Bc4 c5µ Lei
Tingjie 2488 – Olga Girya 2480, Khanty-Mansiysk 2017] 14...Kf8 15.0-0 h5∞
14
10.0-0 Ne7 11.Bb5 Nd7 12.Nd4 Bg6 13.f4 0-0 14.c3 Nc5 15.Be3 a6 16.Be2 b5 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Qd2
Be4∞ Jonas Buhl Bjerre 2550 – Vincent Keymer 2602, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2021
15
14...0-0 15.c3 Nf5 16.Bf2 Qe7 17.Rc1 f6 18.ef6 Qf6 19.Nf3 Nd6 20.g3 Qg6 21.Ne5 Qe8 22.b3 Nd7
23.Nf3 Nf6 24.Ne5 Nd7 25.Nf3 Nf6 26.Ne5 1/2 : 1/2 Peter Svidler 2747 – Markus Ragger 2655,
Deutschland 2013
16

17
15.Bf2 Qe7 16.a5 [16.Qd2 0-0 17.b4 Nd7∞]

16...g5! 17.b4 Nd7 18.Bd3 gf4 19.Qg4 Ne5 20.Qf4 Bd3 21.cd3 Nd3 22.Qd2 Nf2 23.Nf5 ef5 24.Rf2
0-0 25.Rf5 Rc4=
17
16.c3 0-0 17.a5 Qc6 18.Bd4 h6 19.Rf2 Ne6 20.Ra4 Qc7 21.Bb6 Qe7 22.Bf3 Rc6=

Leinier Domínguez Pérez 2752 – Penteala Harikrishna 2717, Berlin 2022 – 151/31

18
THE AMERICAN CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The American Continental was held in El Salvador during

the first days of May. The tournament guaranteed 4 spots at
the World Cup and after the usual tragedy and drama that
these tournaments always offer the happiest participants
were:
1. Timur Gareyev (USA) - 9½/11
Charismatic, adventurous and easy going grandmaster that
brings to the chessboard his carefree style. His games are
always entertaining and he played a fantastic tournament.
2. Christopher Yoo (USA) - 8/11
15 year old grandmaster managed to achieve another success in his career. I came to know him
recently due to his achievements in online blitz tournaments. I am sure we will hear a lot about him in
the near future.
3. Yasser Quesada Perez (CUB) - 8/11
With 3 grandmasters (if I'm not missing any), the Quesada Perez family is as traditional as it gets.
Yasser played a solid tournament and reamined undefeated.
4. Gregory Kaidanov (USA) - 8/11
Everybody loves to see the veteran fighting his way against the young sharks. I am no exception. The
62 year old grandmaster displayed wonderful fighting chess and played great games.

19
In this article I will show some of my favourite games from the tournament, in chronological order.
We had everything: new opening ideas, fierce attacks, instructive endgames, blood and tears.
Argentina's GM Alan Pichot failed to qualify but showed his usual class during the tournament. I
quite enjoyed his win against my countryman Armen (about whom you will read more in this article)
in the 4th round. I like Alan's opening repertoire very much - agressive and classical.

C88
Pichot, Alan (2652) - Proudian, Armen (2418)
San Salvador, 2022

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

Due to Italian Opening "sickness" I will always give an exclamation mark for this move until further
notice.
3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 b4 9.d3 d6 10.c3 Rb8 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Ba2
c5 13.d4 Qc7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Rd8 16.Qe2 b3 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bb1 White's bishops looks
clumsy, but they are ready to come back to the board.

20
18...Qc7?
18...c4! 19.Qxc4 Bc5 is a better try. Black has compensation. 20.h3 Nh5!
19.Bd3± Now the "Spanish Bishop" is back into the game.
19...Ne8 The first new move, but Black is already lost.
19...a5 20.Bg5 was played in the blitz game Carlsen,Magnus 2714 - Adams,Michael 2729, Moscow
(blitz) 2007
19...Qd6 20.Bc4 Be6 21.Ng5 Bxc4 22.Qxc4± Gormally,Daniel 2484 - Hawkins,Jonathan 2554,
Great Britain (ch) 2015
20.Bc4
20.Bxa6 was simpler. 20...Bxa6 21.Qxa6 c4 22.Be3+-
20...Nd6 21.Bd5 Bf6 22.Nd2 Bb7 23.Bxb3 Nxe4
23...Bg5±
24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Bxf7+ Qxf7 26.Qxe4+- - and White is winning.
26...Qd5 27.Qe2 Qd3 28.Qg4 Rb6 29.Be3 Qd7 30.Qe2 Be7 31.b4 Rg6 32.Red1 Qc6 33.Rxd8+
Bxd8 34.g3 cxb4 35.cxb4 h6 36.b5 Qc3 37.Rc1 Qa5 38.Qd3 e4 39.Qxe4 Rd6 40.Bf4 Rf6 41.Rc8
Kf7 42.Qd5+ Ke7 43.Bd2 Qb6 44.Be3 Qa5 45.Bc5+ Ke8 46.Kg2 axb5 47.axb5 1-0
I am a big fan of chess studies and I couldn't pass the chance to show this endgame where a study-like
draw could be found. I will show some brief comments until we get to the most interesting part.

E08
Sarkar, Justin (2325) - Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535)

21
 San Salvador, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Bf4 b6
10.Nbd2 Ba6 11.Rfc1 Nh5 12.cxd5 Nxf4 13.gxf4 cxd5 14.e3

14...b5?!N
14...Rc8 15.Qa4 Nb8=;
14...Bd6 15.Ne5 Rc8=
15.Nb3
15.Bf1! Rc8 16.Qd3 Nb6 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.b3±
15...Rc8 16.Qd1
16.Qd3 Qb6 17.Bf1²
16...Qb6 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.fxe5 b4 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Rc1 Bc4 21.Nd2 Qa6 22.Bf1 Bxf1 23.Rxc8+
Qxc8 24.Nxf1= The endgame is equal, but the fight continues.
24...Qa6 25.Qb1 h5 26.Kg2 g6 27.b3 Qe2 28.Ng3 Qd2 29.Nf1 Qc3 30.Qd1 Qb2 31.Qd2 Qb1
32.h3 Qe4+ 33.Kg1 Qb1 34.Kg2 a5 35.Qe2 Kg7 36.Nh2 Qe4+ 37.f3
37.Nf3=; 37.Kg1=
37...Qf5 38.f4 Qe4+ 39.Nf3 g5! 40.fxg5 Bxg5 41.Kf2 Bh6 42.Nd2 Qh1 43.Qf3
43.Kg3=
43...Qh2+ 44.Ke1 Bg5 45.Kd1 Kg6 46.Kc2 Qg1 47.Nf1 f6 48.exf6 Bxf6 49.Kd3 Qg5 50.Ke2 Kh6

22
51.Ng3 Qg6 52.Kf2 Bg5 53.Qf8+ Kh7 54.Ne2 Bf6 Cristopher showed great fighting spirit and
posed a number of small problems to his opponent. His effort finally pays out.

55.Nf4? After this natural move, suddenly White is lost.

55.Qd6=; 55.Kf3=; 55.Ng3=; 55.Ke1=
55...Bh4+-+ 56.Kf1 Qb1+ 57.Kg2 Qxa2+ 58.Kh1 Qb1+ 59.Kh2 Qc2+ 60.Kh1 Qd1+ 61.Kh2
Qd2+ 62.Ng2 Qf2 63.Qd6 a4! 64.Qd7+ Kh8 65.Kh1
65.Qe8+ Kg7 66.Qd7+ Kf8 67.Qc8+ Kf7 68.Qd7+ Be7-+
65...axb3 66.Qxe6 Bg5?
Now it's Black's turn to make a mistake. Of course, in the final moments, with the clock ticking and
pressure mounting, anything can happen in a position with so many checks available.
66...Qf3-+; 66...Bg3-+

23
67.Qxd5? This loses.
67.Qe5+! As mentioned, White had a study-like draw beginning with this check. 67...Kh7 (67...Qf6
68.Qb8+ Kg7 69.Qxb4=; 67...Bf6 68.Qe8+ Kg7 69.Nf4!=) 68.Qxg5 Qf7!?

A very clever try, again similar to a study. You can try your hand at this position: what is White's
only drawing move? (68...b2 69.Qxh5+ Kg7 70.Qg5+=) 69.Nh4!!= Opening the path for the queen
and also controlling Black's queen. (69.Nf4? b2 70.Qg1 Qf5-+) 69...b2 70.Qg1 Qe6! 71.Kh2 Qe4
72.Qf2! One more precise move. 72...b1=Q 73.Qf7+= with a draw.
67...b2 68.Qxg5 b1=Q+ 0-1

24
Kaidanov played some crazy attack vs. defence games. This was one of those. Leonel, playing White,
had a great tournament: 6th place and 21 rating points up.

C22
Figueredo Losada, Leonel (2337) - Kaidanov, Gregory S (2556)
San Salvador, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 White's version of the Scandinavian Defence?
4...Nc6 5.Qd3 Bc5 6.Bf4 d6 7.Qd2 O-O 8.O-O-O Be6 9.f3 Somehow it works for White.
9...Nd7 10.Be3
10.Kb1! I always like to start with this move before anything else.
10...a6 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Nge2 b5 13.Nf4 Ne5 14.Ncd5
14.Kb1 was better.
14...Rb8
14...c6! 15.Ne3 (15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Ne3 d5„)

15...Bxa2! I knew the king was important on b1! 16.Qxd6 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 a5 and Black is fine.
15.h4 b4?! An interesting pawn sacrifice, but the computer is not afraid to accept it.
15...c6
16.Nh5? Knight on the rim is dim. Is this true even when you want to checkmate your opponent?
16.Nxb4 a5

25
17.Na6! This is a pretty difficult move for a human. 17...Nxa6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxa6 and Black's
compensation is not enough for equality.
16...c6? This was like adding fuel to the fire.
16...f6!µ was the prophilatic move and Black would prove the old saying. But now the fire starts.
17.Ndf6+! Surely this was expected.
17...Kh8 How should White proceed now?
17...gxf6?? 18.Qh6+-

26
18.f4? A fatal mistake.
18.Qg5! was the way to go. Probably Leonel didn't see a good reply against Black's forced move.
18...Ng6™ But, White can keep the pressure with a standard sacrifice. 19.Nxg7! Kxg7 And there are
two options: 20.Nh5+ (20.e5 h6 21.Nh5+ Kh7 22.Nf6+ Qxf6!? A curious attempt to avoid draw.
23.Qxf6 Nd7 24.h5! Nxf6 25.hxg6+ Kxg6 26.exf6= with an equal endgame.) 20...Kh8 21.Rxd6!
Qxg5+ 22.hxg5 Rfd8 23.Rxc6 Rbc8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Nf6 Nf8 26.b3=
18...Ng4! Now White loses material.
19.Nxh7 Kxh7 20.f5 g6 21.Ng3 gxf5 22.exf5 Bd5 23.Qg5 Rg8 24.Rd4 Qe8 25.Kd2 Qe3+ 0-1
A classical South American clash in the 7th round. This game was a solid performance by the strong
GM Leandro Krysa featuring a nice final touch reminiscent of Mihail Tal.

D60
Krysa, Leandro Sergio (2525) - Salinas Herrera, Pablo Patricio (2534)
San Salvador, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 Not
the most common, but also playable.
9...Nd5; 9...b5
10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Qc2 a6 12.Rfd1

12...Ncd7?! Now Black is in trouble.

12...Qe8! 13.a4 b6 was the best option. 14.Ne5 (14.Bxf6 An interesting game followed this path:
14...Bxf6 15.b4 Nd7= is equal. (15...Bxc3? and here White missed a winning move. 16.Ng5!
(16.Qxc3 Nxa4 and later Black won, Boruchovsky,Avital 2558 - Meleshko,Vladimir 2268, Pardubice

27
(rapid) 2018) 16...f5 (16...g6 17.Qxc3 Nxa4 18.Qf6+-) 17.Qxc3 Nxa4 18.Qe5+-)) 14...Bb7= and
Black's position is fine, Khenkin,Igor 2570 - Siegel,Georg 2490, Neuchatel 1997
13.Nd4
13.Be2± This typical "Karpovian" move, anticipating b5, would be even better. 13...b5? Black can't
play like this. (13...b6? 14.Ne5+-) 14.a4 b4 15.Ne4+-
13...Qa5
13...Qc7 14.Be2 Bd6 was a better try.
14.Bh4
14.Bf4 Re8 15.Nb3±
14...Ne5 15.Be2 Ng6
15...Bd7 16.Bg3²
16.Bg3 Bd7 17.Bf3± The position is a nightmare for Black. Look at the difference between the two
bishop pairs!
17...Ra7
17...Qb6 18.Qb3±
18.Nb3 Qb6 19.a4 Rc8?!
19...e5 was best, freeing the e6-square for the queen. 20.a5 Qe6
20.a5 Qd8 21.Nd4 Rc5 22.Qb3! Rxa5 This loses immediately, but Black's position was hopeless.
23.Rxa5 Qxa5

28
24.Bb8!+- Everybody love long moves! It's impossible not to be reminded of the famous ...Bb1 in
Tal's game against Lev Aronson; Aronson,Lev Abramovich - Tal,Mihail, USSR (ch) 1957. Black
loses material.
24...Ra8 25.Qxb7 Rxb8 26.Qxb8+ Bf8 27.Bc6 Qh5 28.Bxd7 Nxd7 29.Qc8 Nc5 30.Nc6 Qg5 31.f4
Qh4 32.b4 Nb3 33.g3 Qh3 34.Ne7+ 1-0
This game was full of adventure and it was vital to Gareyev's tournament victory.

E51
Gareyev, Timur (2565) - Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535)
San Salvador, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Be7
6...Bxc3+ is more common.
7.Nf3 dxc4
7...b6
8.Bxc4 c5 9.O-O a6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qe2
11.b4 Be7
11...b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4! Nbd7

29
14.e5! The only way to fight for the initiative.
14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nh5 16.Qe4 g6 17.Be2?! This seems a little slow.
17.Bh6 f5!? (17...Re8 18.Rad1=) 18.exf6 Qxf6=
17...Ng7 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Rad1 Nf5 Now Black is in control.
20.Bc1 Qc7 21.f4 Bb6?!
21...Bd4! would be very unpleasant to meet. The point is 22.Rxd4? loses to 22...Nc5-+
22.Bf3?!
22.Bg4!
22...Nc5 23.Qc6?!
23.Qxa8? Rxa8 24.Bxa8 Nb3! and White's position is lost mainly due to the weakness of the f4-
pawn. 25.Be4 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 Qc4-+;
23.Qc2!
23...Qa7! 24.Bg4 Nh4! Now Gareyev will do his best in order to avoid placing the queen on h1!
25.Rd6 Bc7? This move allows an incredible resource.
25...Rab8! was better. 26.Be3 Rec8 27.Qh1 h5 28.Be2 Na4-+ and Black is winning.

30
26.Rdd1?
26.Nd5!! This brilliant move saves White. 26...exd5 27.Rxd5 Ne6 (27...Bb6 28.Be3) 28.Be3 Qb8
29.Rc1! Nf5 30.Bxf5 gxf5 31.Rd7 Rd8 (31...Rc8 32.Rxf7! Kxf7 33.Qd7+ Kf8 34.Qxe6) 32.Re7!©
and White has enough compensation for equality.
26...Rac8?!
26...Bb6!
27.Nd5! The same move again!
27...Bxe5
27...exd5 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Be3 Qb7 30.Qxb7 Nxb7 31.Rxd5 looks dangerous for Black, although
after 31...Rd8! a draw is the most likely result.
28.Qb6 Qa8? A losing move.
28...Qxb6 was forced. 29.Nxb6 Rc6 30.fxe5 Rxb6 31.Be3 Rc6 32.Rc1 Rec8 33.Bg5 Nf5 34.Bf3 R6c7
35.Rfd1 Nd7 36.Bb7! Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Rc2 38.Bxa6 Nxe5 39.Bxb5 Nh4= with a probable draw.
29.fxe5 exd5

31
30.Qf6!+- Chistopher probably missed this devastating move. The game is over.
30...g5 31.Qxg5+ Ng6 32.Bxc8 Rxc8 33.Qg2 Rd8 34.Bg5 Re8 35.Rxd5 Ne6 36.Rfd1 Kh8 37.Bf6+
Kg8 38.Bg5 Kh8 39.Qf3 Kg8 40.Bh6 Qc8 41.Qf6 Qc4 42.Rd7 Rf8 43.h3 a5 44.Kh2 Qb3 45.R1d6
1-0
Pablo Salinas Herrera is a strong and creative grandmaster from Chile. In this game he used good
preparation against the Open Ruy Lopez. Given the popularity of this defence nowadays I suspect
more players will try a similar approach.

C80
Salinas Herrera, Pablo Patricio (2534) - Sarkar, Justin (2325)
San Salvador, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1 A break from the always evolving theory
of the main move - 6.d4.
6...Nc5 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nxe5 Be7 9.d4 Ne6 10.Be3 O-O 11.c4 Re8
11...f6 12.Nf3 f5 is another possibility.
12.Nc3 f6 13.Nf3

32
13...Bd6?!
13...Nf8! is the right way. The path was shown in a recent game: 14.Qb3 Bg4! 15.Qxb7 Qd7 16.d5
Bxf3! (16...Bd6 allowed white some advantage after 17.Nd2! cxd5 18.Qxd5+ Be6 19.Qa5²
Tomczak,Jacek 2584 - Kollars,Dmitrij 2635, Deutschland 2022) 17.gxf3 Bd6! and now White should
be careful. 18.Ne4 (18.c5? Be5) 18...Be5! (18...Rxe4? 19.fxe4 Qh3 20.e5! (20.f4 Qg4+ 21.Kf2 Re8!
©) 20...Bxe5 21.f4 Qg4+ 22.Kf2+-) 19.Qxc6 Qh3 20.Ng3 (20.f4 Ng6!) 20...Ng6 21.d6 Nh4 22.f4
Bxd6= with a good position for Black.
14.Qb3

14...c5?!

33
14...Qd7! This difficult move was the best. The queen heads to f7.
15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5! Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1 Bxc5 18.Ne4 The pair of knights finally gets their revenge
against the pair of bishops.
18...Be7 19.c5+ Kf8 White is clearly better with all the pieces developed and attacking chances.
20.h3
20.Qe3 a5! Black's plan is to develop the rook with Ra6
20.Ng3!?ƒ a5 (20...Bxc5? 21.Qc2+-)
20...Qd7?
20...a5! again this was the best chance.
21.Qe3
21.Ng3!? a5 22.Qc4 Ra6 23.Nd4+-
21...a5 22.Nd4 Ra6

23.g4! A great move, allowing the knight to jump to f5.

23...h5
23...Qd8 was better.
24.c6!? A subtle move, cutting off the rook from the game.
24.gxh5 Qxh3 25.Ng3+-
24...bxc6 25.Nf5 hxg4 26.hxg4

34
26.Nc5! Bxc5 27.Qxc5+ Kg8 28.Ne7++-
26...Qe6
26...Qd8 27.Nh4+-
27.Qh3 Bb4 28.Rd1 Kg8
28...Qxe4 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Qh5++-
29.Rd8+ Bf8 30.Qa3! c5 31.Qxc5 Rd6 32.Nexd6 cxd6 33.Qxc8 Qe1+ 34.Kg2 Qe4+ 35.Kg3 A very
good game! 1-0
One more entertaining game by the veteran GM Kaidanov.

E25
Kaidanov, Gregory S (2556) - Swiercz, Dariusz (2665)
San Salvador, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 This system currently enjoys a new wave of popularity. If you play
this with the white pieces be ready to sacrifice the c4-pawn and a few pieces.
4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.f3 Now we have a transposition to the 4.f3 system.
6.e3
6...d5 7.cxd5 exd5
7...Nxd5 has a better reputation.
8.e3 c4!? A deep, ambitious, complex and outrageous move that has been played famously by
Magnus Carlsen, among others. The point is to avoid the development of White's bishop but its
drawbacks are clear too. Whether you like it or not is a matter of taste.
9.Ne2 Nc6 10.Ng3?! Innacurate.
10.g4! O-O 11.Bg2 is better, just like in the famous Anand,Viswanathan 2775 vs Carlsen,Magnus
2870, Chennai (m/9) 2013 - 119/174

35
10...h5! This is the problem. Swiercz immediately exploits the problems of the g3-knight.
11.h4 Qc7
11...O-O! was more precise. 12.Be2 Qc7! 13.Kf2 Na5 and Black is better.
12.Kf2 Na5
12...O-O 13.e4! dxe4 14.Nxe4=
13.Rb1 O-O?! Now this is a mistake but it's really hard to show why. Hats off to Kaidanov and his
next moves.
13...Nb3; 13...Bd7
14.e4! dxe4

36
15.Rb5!! A brilliant move. Suddenly, the rook joins the attack and Black's king is in danger.
15.Nxe4 Nd5² (15...Nxe4+ 16.fxe4 Nb3)
15...Nb3
15...exf3? 16.gxf3+- and soon the other rook will join in via the g-file.
15...Bd7! was the best move. 16.Rc5 Qb6 17.Nxh5 Nb3 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Bg5 e3+! 20.Kg3! and
White's initiative continues.
16.Nxh5 Nxh5 17.Rxh5 Bd7?! After this White keeps the bishop pair and the position is easier to
play.
17...Nxc1 18.Qxc1 Re8 19.Qe3!±
18.Be3! Rae8 19.f4! f6 20.f5+- Re7 21.Qg4 Be8 22.Rh6! b5 23.h5 a5

37
24.Rg6! What a hero performance by the a1-rook!
24...b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.h6! Bxg6 27.hxg7 Rff7 28.Rh8+ Kxg7 29.Qh4 A wonderful game! 1-0
This game had interesting moments in all phases: a new opening plan, a fighting middlegame and an
endgame tragedy.

B85
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan (2495) - Pichot, Alan (2652)
San Salvador, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.a3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.O-O d6
10.Kh1 a6 11.f4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Qe1 Bb7 14.Qg3 An important tabyia in the Scheveningen
without a4. Pichot is very well prepared and played an almost new plan in such well known position.
14...Ne8!? The point of this "ugly" move is to play ...Bf6 sooner or later. After that either the bishops
are exchanged, bringing some relief to Black's king, or White plays e5 changing the pawn structure
and giving both players additional possibilities.
15.Bd3 This is not the most precise move as Black can proceed with his plan without problems.
15.Rad1! is the best. 15...Rd8 (15...Bf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Be7 18.Qe3² (18.Bd3?! f5! It's important
to avoid this move.; 18.Qf2²)) 16.Qe3 Qb8 17.Bf3 (17.Bd3 is also possible.) 17...Nf6 is better. Time
for the knight to come back. (17...e5? 18.Bb6 Nc7 19.fxe5! (19.Bh5∞ Swiercz,Dariusz 2585 -
Negi,Parimarjan 2631, Bad Wiessee 2011) 19...dxe5 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5± and White has a big
advantage.)
15...Bf6 16.Bxf6
16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5

38
17...Rd8! This is the point. 18.Bb6! Qxb6 19.exf6 Kh8 20.Qg5 Nxf6 21.Rxf6 Rxd3! (21...gxf6
22.Qh6! (22.Qxf6+=) 22...f5 23.Bxf5! Bxg2+! 24.Kxg2 Rg8+ 25.Kf3 Rg7 26.Bd3² with a
complicated position, but the computer prefers White.) 22.cxd3 gxf6 23.Qxf6+ Kg8=
16...Nxf6 Now Black is fine.
17.Rae1 Nh5?! A knight on the rim is dim. Did I mention this before?
17...d5 18.e5 (18.exd5 Nxd5=) 18...Ne4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Rf2 Black will lose the e4-pawn but should
get enough compensation.
17...Nd7! 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nc5= with an equal position.
18.Qh4 g6

39
19.g4?!
19.f5! is very unpleasant for Black. Play might continue: 19...exf5 20.exf5 Rae8 21.Be2! Qd8
22.Qxd8 Rxd8 23.Bxh5 gxh5 24.Re7± with a big advantage.
19...Ng7 20.f5
20.Rf3 f5! and Black is just in time. 21.Rh3 Ne8= 22.gxf5 exf5 23.Kg1 fxe4 24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4
Ra7 although it still seems dangerous for Black after 26.f5!
20...exf5 21.gxf5 Rfe8?!
21...Qc5! 22.f6 Nh5 Black is ok.
22.Nd5?!
22.Re3! is very strong. 22...Nh5 23.Be2 Qd8 24.Qf2± (24.Qxd8 Raxd8 25.Bxh5 gxh5²)
22...Bxd5 23.exd5 Qc5!ƒ Now Black has the initiative.
24.f6?
24.Qb4! This strange move was the best option for White.
24...Nh5?
24...Rxe1! It was important to trade rooks first. 25.Rxe1 Nh5µ and Black has a big advantage. The
difference is that after 26.b4? Qc3-+ Black wins.

40
25.b4! Qc3
25...Qxd5+? 26.Be4 Qd4 27.Bxa8+-
26.Re6! fxe6 27.f7+ Kh8 28.fxe8=Q+ Rxe8 29.dxe6 Qe5 30.Re1
30.Qe4=
30...Qd5+ 31.Kg1 Kg7 32.e7 Nf6 33.Qf4 Nd7 34.Qe3?
34.h4 Ne5 35.Rf1 Nd7=
34...Ne5 Now Black is winning.
35.Be4 Qe6 36.Bg2 Rxe7 37.Rd1 Qf6 38.Qg3 Nc4-+ The natural result is a win for Black, but some
adventures happened, certainly during time trouble.
39.Rf1 Qd4+ 40.Kh1 Ne3 41.Qf2 Nf5 42.Qf3 Qe3 43.Rd1 h5 44.Ra1 Qd2 45.Bh3 Nd4 46.Qd3
Qxd3 47.cxd3 Re2 48.Bg2 Nc2 49.Rg1 Kf6 50.Bb7 Nd4 51.Rf1+ Ke5 52.Rg1 d5 53.Rg5+ Kf6
54.Rg2 Rxg2?
54...Re5-+
55.Kxg2 Nc2 56.Bxa6 Nxa3 57.d4?
57.Kg3!
57...Kf5 58.Kf3 Nc2 59.Ke2 Ke4 60.h4 Nxd4+ 61.Kd2 Nf3+ 62.Ke2 Kf4 63.Kd3 Nxh4 64.Bxb5
Nf3 65.Be8 h4 66.b5 h3 67.b6 Ne5+ 68.Kd4 h2 69.b7 h1=Q 70.b8=Q Qe4+ 71.Kc5 Qc4+ 72.Kd6
d4 73.Qd8 Many moves win here but Alan decided to use a tactical trick to exchange queens and
promote the pawns. Alas, he missed something...

41
73...Qc6+?? 74.Bxc6 Nf7+ 75.Kd5 Nxd8 76.Be8! Now it's a draw.
76...g5 77.Kxd4 g4 78.Kd3 Ne6 79.Ke2 Kg3 80.Bd7 Nc5 81.Bxg4 Kxg4 82.Ke3 1/2-1/2
I will finish this article with 2 games by the Brazilian FM Armen Proudian, who made an IM norm
and almost qualified to the World Cup. Armen - as you surely noted - has Armenian roots, is very
talented and plays for at the IM level for some years now. He took a break from work to play the
Continental and certainly did not regret this decision.

C45
Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535) - Proudian, Armen (2418)
San Salvador, 2022

1.e4 e5 Armen has a solid and classic repertoire, exactly what you should have when you don't have
much time to study openings.
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2 a5!? 8.a4 O-O 9.Be3
9.Bg5 is also critical.
9...Bxe3 10.Qxe3 Nb4 11.O-O-O d5!

This is an important position. I think white should look for an improvement here as the game
continuation leads to an equal endgame.
12.exd5
12.Be2!? New move. Should be analyzed.
12...Bf5 13.Nd4 Nbxd5 14.Nxf5 Nxe3 15.Rxd8 Nxf5 16.Rxa8 Rxa8 17.Bd3 Nd6 This endgame is
not dangerous for Black. Now both players will play very well and equality will remain on the board
for a long time.

42
18.Re1 Re8
18...Kf8= Kopylov,Daniel 2244 - Engel,Luis 2421, Deutschland (ch-U16) 2018
19.Rxe8+ Ndxe8 20.Kd2 Kf8 21.f3 Ke7 22.Ke3 c6 23.h4 Nc7 24.Bc4 Ne6 25.g4 h6 26.Ne2 g6
27.Ng3 Nd5+ 28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.b3 Kd6 30.Ne2 g5 31.h5 Ke5 32.Ng3 Nd4 33.c3 Nxb3 34.Nf5
Nc5 35.Nxh6 Kf6 36.Ng8+ Kg7 37.Ne7 Nxa4 38.Nxd5 Nb2 39.Kd4 a4 40.c4 a3 41.Nb4 Nd1
42.c5 Kh6 43.Kd3 f5 44.gxf5 Kxh5 45.Kd4 Nb2 46.Kd5 Nd3 47.Na2 Kh6 48.Kd4?
48.Kd6 Kg7 49.Ke7 Nxc5 (49...Nf4 50.f6+ Kh7 51.f7 Ng6+ 52.Ke8 Kg7=) 50.f6+ Kg6 51.f7 Nd7
52.Kxd7 Kxf7 53.Kd6 Kf6 54.Kc5 Ke5 55.Kb4 Kf4 56.Kxa3 Kxf3 57.Nb4 g4 58.Nd3=

48...Ne1!-+ Suddenly Black is winning.

49.Ke4 Kg7 50.Nb4 Kf7 51.Na2 Kf6 52.Nc3 Nxf3? A blunder.
Black had a win with 52...Ng2 53.Nd5+ (53.Na2 Nh4-+) 53...Kf7 54.Nc3 Nh4 and now White is in
zugzwang - a pawn will fall. 55.Na2 Kf6-+
53.Kxf3 Kxf5 54.Na2 Ke5 55.Nb4 Kd4 56.Nc2+ Kxc5 57.Nxa3 b5 58.Nxb5 1/2-1/2

B62
Proudian, Armen (2418) - Krysa, Leandro Sergio (2525)
San Salvador, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bb5!? A dangerous move that is
popular nowadays.
7...Bd7 8.Qd3 Be7
8...h6 9.Bh4 g5!? 10.Bxc6! bxc6 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.O-O-O leads to a fresh position with chances for

43
both sides.
9.O-O-O Nxd4!? A rare move, recommended by Shankland in his Sicilian course.
9...O-O 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nb3! and Black has not yet solved his opening problems here.
10.Qxd4
10.Bxd7+ is probably better. Black will have to fight for equality in the endgame after 10...Nxd7
(10...Qxd7 11.Qxd4²) 11.Bxe7 Kxe7! 12.Qxd4 Qb6
10...Bxb5 11.Nxb5 O-O

12.Kb1!N
12.h4?! Qa5„ Popovic,Dusan 2468 - Dardha, Daniel 2532, Roquetas de Mar 2022
12...Qa5!N 13.Qd3 Rfd8?! This natural move is a mistake.
13...a6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd6 Qb6 16.e5 (16.Nc4 Qxf2) 16...Bxe5 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Nxe5 Qxe5=;
13...h6 This is the move Shankland suggests. 14.Bh4 (14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd6 Qb6=) 14...g5! 15.Bg3
Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Qxb5 17.Bxd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6 Rfd8=
14.f4 a6? And this is losing.
14...Qb6²
15.Bxf6 Bxf6
15...gxf6 16.Nd4+-
16.Nxd6+- Qb6 17.e5 Be7

44
18.g4? Now Black gets back in the game.
18.f5! is the simplest. 18...exf5 19.Qd5 Bxd6 20.exd6+-
18...Bxd6 19.exd6 Rd7 20.Rd2 Rad8 21.Rhd1

Timur Gareyev, Christopher Woojin Yoo and Yasser

Quesada Pérez; Photo by ChessDom

21...h5!! This fantastic and forced move allows Black to fight again. It creates space for the black
king and attacks the g4-pawn at the same time.
22.f5

45
22.gxh5 Rxd6 23.Qxd6 Rxd6 24.Rxd6 Qf2=;
22.Qa3 hxg4=;
22.Qd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 hxg4 24.c4²
22...exf5 23.gxf5 Rxd6 24.Qxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Qf2 A
very complex endgame arose.
26.Rd8+ Kh7 27.R8d7 Qxf5 28.Rxb7 Qf2?!
28...h4!
29.b3?!
29.Rbd7! was better. But, we need a computer to discover that.
29...Qxh2
29...h4
30.Rxf7 h4 31.c4 Qe5
31...Qg2=
32.Rf2

32...Kh6? There was no time for this move.

32...g5! 33.Rc2 Qc5! (33...g4? 34.c5+-) 34.Rd5 Qg1+ 35.Kb2 h3 36.Rdd2 Qc5! (36...g4? 37.c5 g3
38.c6 h2 39.c7 h1=Q 40.c8=Q Qb1+ 41.Ka3+-) 37.Rd5= with a draw.
33.Rc2!+- Qc5 34.Rd5 Qg1+

46
34...Qc6! was the best chance.
35.Kb2 h3 36.Rd3! Qf1 37.Rdc3 g5 38.c5 Did a passed pawn ever have such support?
38...g4 39.c6 Qf5 40.c7 Qc8 41.Rd2 Black resigned. 1-0
I wish to congratulate the 4 players that qualified to the World Cup, especially the winner, Timur
Gareyev.

47
RAPPORT WINS BEOGRAD GRAND PRIX

A win with white in the second game of the final gave

Richard Rapport tournament victory at the second leg of
the FIDE Grand Prix in Beograd. Rapport beat Dmitry
Andreikin after rejecting a draw by triple repetition in a
double-edged position. This victory, combined with his
reaching the semifinals in the first leg of the series in
Berlin, places him as a clear favourite to get a spot in the
Candidates Tournament. Rapport's qualification to the
Candidates cannot be fully ascribed to luck by any stretch
of the imagination, though. The Hungarian star did not shy
away from employing his usual creative playing style in the first two legs of the series, and has
demonstrated that he is particularly well-versed in dealing with imbalanced, sharp positions.
The 25-year-old was happy to have scored his greatest success to date in the city where he lives with
his wife, Serbian WGM Jovana Rapport. The ever modest Rapport credited his wife for this
exceptional result: "Usually for me trips are connected to events and results, so of course you have
favourite places, but usually they connect to when you play well... so for me Beograd will actually
not be influenced by this event, as funny as it is, even though this is probably the biggest success of
my career to date. It will still be influenced by my love, my marriage, my life, really, so I'm just
happy that this overall beautiful picture wasn't ruined by chess. She's my only support, actually. I
have to thank her for everything, for putting up with me. I'm very difficult on normal days, but during
tournaments I think it goes to 100 x the volume."
Dmitry Andreikin who finished 2nd, as well as Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier Lagrave retain some
chances to qualify to the Candidates Tournament. However, after the second leg, Richard Rapport and
Hikaru Nakamura are clear favourites.
Now we will present you some of the most interesting games and moments from the Tournament
according to selection of our Editorial Board.

48
Giri dominated his group at the Grand Prix Belgrade, winning two white Italian Games, the one
against Tabatabaei being especially good.

C54
Giri, Anish (2772) - Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623)
Beograd, 2022

Richárd Rapport, Beograd 2022; Photo by Mark

Livshitz, World Chess

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.h3
d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nbd2
8.Re1 Aronian,Levon 2782 - Nakamura,Hikaru 2736,
chess24.com (Internet-m/1-rapid) - 150/108
8...Be6 9.Ne4 Bb6

10.b4!N A novelty! White sacrifices a pawn in order to gain the initiative as quickly as possible. The
ensuing position is extremely sharp and double-edged.
A similar idea is 10.a4 f6 11.b4! a6 12.a5 Ba7 13.Bd2 Kh8 14.Re1 Bg8! (Inferior is 14...Nce7?!

49
15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.bxc5 Bf7 17.Rb1± with White's initiative, as in Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2773 -
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek 2651, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2022) 15.c3 Qd7∞ with an unclear
position.
Previously, White tried 10.Nfg5 Bf5 11.c3 h6 (11...Bg6 12.Qf3 Nce7∞ seems to be a bith stronger
than the game move. (12...Nf6!? 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6∞ Philippe,Christophe 2411 - Robin,Samy 2231,
France 2005)) 12.Ng3 Bg6 13.Nf3 Kh8∞ with a very sharp, double-edged play.
10...Ndxb4
10...a6 11.Neg5 Bc8 (11...Bf5?! 12.Nh4 Bc8 13.Qf3 Nf6 14.c3 h6 15.Ne4²) 12.Re1 f6 13.Ne4 Kh8
14.c3 Be6 15.Bd2²;
10...Ncxb4 11.Nfg5 Qd7 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Rb1©
11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Rb1© h6
Better is ¹12...Nd5 13.c4 Nf6 14.Qe2© and White would have some compensation for the pawn,
while Black retains decent chances of his own.

13.Nxe5! Nxe5 14.Rxb4 a5 15.Rb1 Qh4 16.Qe2 Rad8 17.Kh2 Qe7 18.f4 Nd7 19.Rf3± White has a
clearly better position thanks to his active knight and pressure along the b- and e-files.
19...Nf6 20.Bd2
Giri overlooks a more dangerous 20.c4! Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qd6 22.a4±
20...Qa3 21.Nc3
Or 21.Bc3 Nxe4 22.dxe4 Qa4 23.Rg3 Rf7 24.Be5 Rdd7 25.Rg6±
21...Rde8 22.Qe5 Nd7?!

50
Black can put a better resistance after 22...Rf7 23.Qb5 Rd8 24.Qc4 Qd6 25.Na4²
23.Qb5 Qe7 24.Qc4 Kh8 25.Ne4 c6 26.d4 White has an overwhelming position, controlling the
centre and neutralising the black bishop.
26...Rb8 27.Rfb3 The pressure on the b-file should prove to be of crucial importance.
27...Qd8 28.Qxe6 Bxd4 29.Rxb7 Rxb7 30.Rxb7 Giri capitalises on his edge and reaches a winning
position.
30...Nc5 31.Nxc5 Bxc5 32.Rd7 Qf6 33.Qxf6 Rxf6 34.Bc3
34.Kg3 Bd6 35.a4+-
34...Rxf4 35.Bxg7+ Kg8 36.Bxh6+- White has a winning ending.
36...Ra4 37.g4 Rxa2 38.g5 Rxc2+ 39.Kg3 Be3 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Kg4 Rd2 42.Re8 Bc5 43.Kh5 Rd5
44.Ra8 Bd4 45.h4 Bc3 46.Bf8 Bd4 47.Rc8 a4 48.Ra8 c5 49.Rxa4 Rd8 50.Ra7+ Kg8 51.Be7 Rc8
52.Kg6 c4 53.Rd7 Bh8 54.Bf6 c3

55.Rh7! The only winning move!

55...Bxf6 56.gxf6 Rc6 57.Rd7 Rc8 58.Rg7+ Giri won the game and clinched the top position in his
group.
58.Rg7+ Kf8 59.Rh7 Ke8 (59...Kg8 60.f7+ Kf8 61.Rh8++-) 60.Rh8+ Kd7 61.Rxc8 Kxc8 62.f7+-
1-0

51
 Anish Giri vs Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei, Beograd 2022; Photo by Mark Livshitz, World Chess

Grischuk, Alexander (2764) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2724)

Beograd, 2022

52
21...Qxe1! Apparently Grischuk overlooked this powerful queen sacrifice! The ensuing position is
totally desperate and Andreikin continues with great precision till the end.
21...Bxe6?? 22.Qxe6+! Rxe6 23.Rf8#
22.Rxe1 Bxe6 23.Qe3 Ng4 24.Qd2 Nxh6 25.Be2
25.Qxh6 Bxd5-+
25...Ng7 26.Rf1 Nf7 27.Nf6+ Bxf6 28.Rxf6 Rc5 29.h3 Nh5 30.Bxh5 Rxh5-+ 31.Qf2 Re5 32.Qb6
Re7 33.Rf4 g5 34.Rf2 Rxe4 35.b3 Bd5 0-1
Harikrishna makes a huge blunder in the early phase of the game.

Harikrishna, Penteala (2719) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2726)

Beograd, 2022

53
13.Nxd5?
13.O-O Of course, he could have proceeded with 13...Rd8 (Also interesting is 13...h5!? 14.Qh4 Rc8
15.h3 Ne7∞) 14.b4 Bd6 15.Qf3 Be5 16.Bb2 Nxc3 (16...Qc6?! 17.Rad1 Rc8 18.b5 Qc7 19.Nxd5
Nxd5 20.c4!± with huge plus for White, Tari,Aryan 2639 - Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi 2726, chess24.com
(Internet-rapid) 2021) 17.Bxc3 (17.Nxc3 Rc8 18.Rae1 Bxc3 19.Bxc3 Qc6=) 17...Bxc3 18.Nxc3 Ke7
(Also fine is 18...Qc6= with roughly equal chances.) 19.Rfe1 (19.Rfd1 Qc6 20.Qxc6 bxc6=) 19...Rc8
20.Ne4 Rhd8=

13...Ne4! 14.Qb3 Bxf2+ 15.Kf1 exd5-+ White is completely hopeless.

54
16.Be3 Qf5 17.Nd4 Qf6 18.Nf3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qxb2 20.Re1 Qxc2 21.Kg1 Qc5 22.Nd4 Rc8 23.h4
h5 24.Kh2 Qd6+ 0-1

E48
Rapport, Richard (2763) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2727)
Beograd, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.a3 Bd6 8.Qc2
8.Nge2 Chernin,Alexander 2570 - Kavalek,Lubomir 2560, Subotica (izt) 1987 - 43/713
8...a6
A bit earlier this year Vidit managed to reach equality by going for 8...c6 9.Nge2 Re8 10.Bd2 b6
11.O-O Ba6 12.Kh1 c5 (12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nbd7 14.f3 Qe7=) 13.Rad1 Better is (13.f3 Qc8 14.g4
Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nc6 16.Rad1 Qe6=) 13...Bb7 (13...g6?! 14.Bxa6 (14.Qb1 Bb7= Aronian,Levon 2772
- Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi 2727, Berlin 2022 - 151/183) 14...Nxa6 15.f3 Qe7 16.Be1! Qxe3 17.Bh4
Qh6 18.g3² ƒ) 14.f3 Nc6= Vidit assumed that Rapport was prepared for this continuation so he
changed his game plan a bit.
9.Nge2 Re8 10.O-O b6 11.b4 Nbd7N

11...Bb7 12.Rb1 Qe7 13.h3 Nbd7 14.b5 a5 15.a4 Rac8 16.Qb3 Nf8 17.Nf4 Rcd8

55
18.Ra1! Excellent move! White is preparing Ba3. 18...Bxf4 19.exf4 Ne4 20.Be3² Milov,Vadim 2680
- Riff,Jean Noel 2474, Kemer 2007
12.Nf4
The very same day the following game took place: 12.b5 Nf8 13.f3 Ne6 14.Kh1 Bf8 15.Bb2 axb5
16.Bxb5 Bd7 17.a4 (1/2 : 1/2 Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2652 - Lodici,Lorenco 2537, Cattolica 2022)
and Black could have been slightly better after 17...c6 18.Bd3 c5³
12...Bb7
Black should avoid 12...Bxf4 13.exf4 Bb7 14.Be3 h6 15.h3 Ne4 16.Rfe1² Because White is able to
gain a big advantage thanks to his bishop pair.
13.Rb1 Nf8 14.f3 Ng6

56
15.Nfe2! White avoids the exchange of knights. Rapport is intending to push e4 and make a strong
break in the centre, so he keeps as many pieces on the board as possible.
15...Qe7 16.Ng3 Qd7 17.Nf5² White has a more promising position.
17...Bf8 18.Kh1 Ne7 19.Ng3! Staying focused and consistent!
19...Rad8 20.Nce2 Black cannot prevent e-pawn advance, and it is very difficult to suggest any
improvement for Vidit.
20...Ng6
Maybe, Black could have put stronger resistance after 20...h5 21.Nf4 h4 22.Nge2² with somewhat
more pleasant position for White.
21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 Re6 23.Bb2
Maybe better is 23.d5 Re5 (23...Ree8

57
24.Rxf6! gxf6 25.Nh5+-) 24.Nd4 Rde8 25.Nf3±
23...Ng4 24.Qb3 b5
24...Rf6 25.Bc2±
25.Bc2 Rc6 26.Nf5 Re8 27.Neg3 a5 28.Bd3
Also, White obtains a better position after 28.bxa5 Ra6 29.Bd3 Rxa5 30.h3 Nf6 31.Nh6+ gxh6
32.Rxf6+-
28...Rce6 29.bxa5 c6 30.e5 White has a winning position, and Rapport brings the victory hope.
30...Be7 31.Nh5 Bf8 32.h3 Nh6 33.Nxh6+ gxh6 34.Nf6+ Rxf6 35.Rxf6 Bg7 36.Rf2 Rb8 37.Be4 c5
38.Bxb7 c4 39.Qf3 Rxb7 40.Bc3 1-0
Most likely this was the most significant win in the group stage for Richard Rapport.

58
 Richárd Rapport vs Santosh Gujrathi Vidit, Beograd 2022; Photo by Mark Livshitz, World Chess

D87
Rapport, Richard (2762) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761)
Beograd (m/1-playoff), 2022

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 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Rc3

59
12.Kf1 Ingersol,Harry - Da Costa Junior,Luiz Roberto, corr 2007 - 100/362
12...e5 13.d5 Nd4
Also interesting is 13...b5!? 14.Bd3 (14.Bb3 Nd4 15.Bd2 b4 16.Rc1 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Ba6∞) 14...Nb4
(14...Nd4 15.Qd2 b4 16.Rc1 Bd7 17.O-O²) 15.O-O Nxd3 16.Qxd3 b4 17.Rc2 Ba6 18.Qd2 Rfc8
19.Rfc1 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Bf8∞ (20...Rc8∞)

14.Bd2! Rapport prepared this novelty for his duel against Vachier-Lagrave, an expert in the realms
of the Gruenfeld Defence.
On 14.Qd2 here Black has an efficient reply:

60
14...Bh3! (Black chose the wrong path - 14...Nxe2? 15.Bxe2 Bd7 16.O-O f5 17.Rfc1+- - with a quick
resignation, Bluebaum,Matthias 2647 - Baldauf,Marco 2503, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 15.O-O
Rfc8 16.Nxd4 (16.Rfc1? Rxc4! 17.Nxd4 Rxc3 18.Rxc3 exd4 19.Rc8+ Rxc8 20.Qxa5 dxe3 21.fxe3
Bd7µ) 16...exd4 17.Rc2 Qa4 18.Bb3 dxe3 19.Qxe3 Qa3 20.Qxh3 Rxc2 21.Bxc2 Qxh3 22.gxh3 Rc8=
with equality.
14...Bd7
14...Bg4 15.f3 b5 16.Bd3 Bd7 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Rc1 Qb6 19.O-O² Strong pawn centre guarantee
White some advantage.
15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Rc1 Qa3 17.Qb3! White is trying to force the exchange of queens, so the black d-
pawn becomes even weaker.
Also good is 17.O-O a5 (17...b5 18.Qb3 Qxb3 19.Bxb3±) 18.Qe2 Rfe8 19.Bf4²
17...Qxb3 18.Bxb3 Rae8
18...Rfc8

19.Ke2! Castling is not obligatory, as the white king is not in any serious danger. 19...f5 (19...Bb5+
20.Kf3±) 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Rhe1 h5 22.h3 Bf8 23.Kf3± and Black ends up in a really terrible
situation.
19.f3
Also, good enough is 19.Rc7 Rxe4+ 20.Kd1 Bf5 21.f3 Ree8 22.Rxb7+- The rook on the 7th rank
would secure a huge advantage for White.
19...f5 20.Rc7 Bb5 21.a4 Bd3 22.d6+ Kh8 23.d7 Rb8 24.Bb4 Be5 25.Bxf8 Bxc7 26.Be7 Kg7

61
26...Bd8? 27.Bd6 Ra8 28.Be5+ Bf6 29.Bxf6#

27.e5! Excellent move. Black is unable to solve all the problems he is facing.
27...b5 28.Bf6+ Kf8 29.e6 Bd8 30.Be5 Rb6 31.Bxd4 Rc6 32.axb5 Bxb5 33.Kf2 Ke7 34.Be3 Bb6
35.Rd1 Bxe3+ 36.Kxe3 Rc3+ 37.Kf4 1-0
A brilliant game by Rapport who obviously did some serious preparation for the Beograd Grand Prix.
Most likely, being a citizen of the Serbian capital for some years now gave him special motivation
and boost. The second game against Vachier-Lagrave he managed to draw without much effort. The
final versus Andreikin was the final step.

B46
Giri, Anish (2771) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2724)
Beograd (m/4-playoff-rapid), 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.O-O Nf6 9.Qf3 Bb7
10.Re1 Be7 11.Qg3 h5 A novelty. Nevertheless, White has a more pleasant position thanks to his
better development and safer king.
Most common is 11...g6?! 12.Bh6 Bf8 (12...Nd7?? is losing right away. 13.exd5 exd5 (13...cxd5
14.Rxe6! fxe6 15.Qxg6+ hxg6 16.Bxg6#) 14.Re2 Nc5 15.Rae1 Ne6

62
16.Rxe6! fxe6 17.Qe5 Rg8 18.Qxe6 Rf8 19.Bg5 Rf7 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Qxg6+- and White is winning,
as in Navara, David 2719 - Macieja,Bartlomiej 2613, Greece 2006 - 97/(109)) 13.Qh3 Bxh6 14.Qxh6
Ng4 15.Qf4 Nf6 16.Na4 O-O 17.Nc5 Bc8 18.Rad1² De Vreugt,Denis 2503 - Andersson,Ulf 2594,
Deutschland 2003 - 89/(141), Black is facing a difficult task to equalise.
11...Kf8 12.e5 Nd7 13.Ne2 h5 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Nf3 h4 16.Qg4 a5 17.Bg5 Ba6 18.Rad1²
Perelshteyn,Eugene 2534 - Kovalyov, Anton 2557, Edmonton 2009
12.h3 Kf8 13.Bf4 h4 14.Qf3 Kg8 15.Rad1 Nh5 16.Bh2 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.e5 Qb4 19.Ne2! g6
20.c3
Instead, White should have played a more decisive 20.c4! Qe7 (20...dxc4 21.Qg4±) 21.Qe3 c5
22.cxd5 exd5 (22...Bxd5 23.Nc3±)

63
23.b4! cxb4 (23...c4 24.Bc2±) 24.Nd4 Kg7 25.Be2 a5 26.Bg4± with a clearly superior position.
20...Qe7 21.b4
21.Qg4!? a5 (21...c5 22.b4!±) 22.Nd4 Ng7 23.Nf3 c5 24.Qf4ƒ with some pressure.
21...a5 22.a3 Ba6 23.Nd4 Bxd3 24.Qxd3? A really bad move.
Giri misses the opportunity to gain a huge advantage. 24.Rxd3! axb4 25.axb4 c5 26.bxc5 Qxc5

27.g4! hxg3 28.fxg3 Ng7 29.g4±

24...Qb7?

64
24...axb4 25.axb4 c5 26.bxc5 Qxc5 27.Rb1 Ng7„ Andreikin could reach powerful counter-play by
very simple means.
25.Rb1 Qa6 26.b5 cxb5 27.Rxb5 Ng7 28.Reb1 Qc8 29.Rb6
29.Rb7! Nf5 30.Qd2 Rh5 31.Nf3 White is dominant, due to the poorly positioned black rook.
29...Qc5?!
29...Nf5 30.Nf3² With some edge for White.
30.Qf3 Rf8 31.Rb8 Qxa3
31...Qc7 32.Rxf8+ Kxf8 33.Qf6

32.Rxf8+?!
32.Nb5! This move guarantees White a totally winning position! 32...Qa2 (32...Qc5 33.Nd6 Rxb8
34.Rxb8+ Kh7 35.Rb5 Qa3 36.Rb7 Rf8 37.Nxf7+-) 33.Nd6 Nf5 34.Nxf7! Kxf7 35.R1b7+ Kg8
36.Qg4! Rh6 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Qg5+-
32...Qxf8 33.Nc6?! After one more imprecise move by Giri, Andreikin is back in the game!
Instead, White should proceed with 33.Qf6! a4 34.Nc6 Ne8 35.Qf4! (35.Ne7+ Kh7 36.Qxh4+ Kg7
37.Qb4 g5! with decent drawing chances.) 35...a3 36.Rb8 Kg7 37.Rb7 a2 38.Ra7 Rh5 39.Nd4± Black
will have to suffer for a while if he intends to save the game.
33...Qc5 34.Rb7 Nf5= 35.Ne7+ Kg7

65
36.Nxg6? A terrible blunder that leads to defeat.
A roughly equal position ensues after 36.Nxf5+ exf5 (36...gxf5 37.g4 Qc6 38.Qf4 Qxb7 39.Qg5+
Kf8 40.Qd8+ Kg7 41.Qg5+=) 37.e6 Rf8 38.Rd7 Qc4 39.Ra7 a4 40.Qe3 Qe4 41.Kf1 Qc4+ 42.Kg1
Qe4=
36...Qc6!
36...Kxg6? 37.Qg4+ Kh6 38.Qf4+ Kg6 39.Qg4+=
37.Rxf7+ Kxf7 38.Nxh8+ Kg7 39.Qh5 Qxc3 40.Nf7 Qe1+ 41.Kh2 Qxf2 42.Ng5 Qg3+ 43.Kg1
Qe1+ 44.Kh2 Qxe5+ 45.Kg1 Qe3+ 46.Kh2 Qg3+ 47.Kg1 Qe1+ 48.Kh2

66
48...Qh1+! The simplest and most efficient solution! Andreikin reaches a winning endgame by force.
49.Kxh1 Ng3+ 50.Kg1 Nxh5 51.Nxe6+ Kf6 52.Nc5 Ke5 53.Kf2 d4 54.Ke2 Nf4+ 55.Kf3 Kd5
56.Na4 Ne6 57.g3 hxg3 58.h4 d3 59.Kxg3 Kc4 60.h5 Kb3 61.h6 Nf8 62.Nc5+ Kc2 63.Ne6 d2 0-1

Anish Giri vs Dmitry Andreikin, Beograd 2022; Photo by Mark Livshitz, World Chess

Finally, we will take a look at the game that deciced the winner of the Beograd Grand Prix.

D31
Rapport, Richard (2762) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2724)
Beograd (m/2-playoff), 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.a3

5.Nf3 Radjabov,Teimour 2765 - Carlsen,Magnus 2847, chess24.com (Internet-m1/2-rapid) 2021 -

67
148/135
5...h6 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.e3 c5N A novelty, and apparently stronger move than 7...Bd6.
7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 (8.Bg3 Bf5∞) 8...Qxd6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.Nge2 Re8 11.O-O² with minimal plus for
White.
8.Be5 Be6 9.Nge2 Nc6

10.Nf4
Also, White could try 10.g3!? Bd6 (10...cxd4 11.Bxd4 Bd6 12.Bg2²; 10...Ne4 11.Nf4 Nxc3 12.bxc3
Qa5 13.Qd2 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 c4 17.Qc2²) 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.dxc5 Qxc5
13.Bg2 O-O 14.O-O Rfd8 15.Rc1 Qd6 16.Na4² White has a slightly better position due to the Black's
IQP.
10...cxd4 11.Bxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bd6 13.g3 Rc8 14.Rd1
14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3 Kf7 16.O-O Rc4 17.Qd3 Be5=
14...Qa5 15.Rc1 O-O 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bh3 Kf7 18.O-O Rc4 19.Qd3 Be5 20.Ne2 Rfc8 21.Rxc4
Rxc4= Andreikin finds the way to equality.
22.b4 Qa4 23.Nf4 Bxf4 24.exf4
24.gxf4? Qc2µ
24...Qc6 25.Qe3 Ne4 26.f3 Rc3 27.Qd4 Rc4 28.Qe3 Rc3 29.Qd4 Rc4 30.Qe5 Rapport bravely goes
for complications, avoiding the repetition of moves.
30...Nd2

68
31.f5! Nxf1 32.fxe6+

32...Ke8? Most likely, the importance of the game caused this mistake by Andreikin.
Instead, he could have retained the equality after 32...Ke7! 33.Qxg7+ Kd6 34.Qf8+ (34.e7 Qb6+
35.Kh1 Nxg3+ 36.Qxg3+ Kxe7 37.Qe5+ Kf8 38.Qh8+=) 34...Kc7 35.e7 Qb6+ 36.Kxf1 Rc1+
37.Ke2 Re1+ 38.Kxe1 Qe3+ 39.Kd1 Qd3+=
33.Qxg7 Qb6+
33...Qc7 34.Qg6+ Ke7 35.Bxf1+-
34.Kxf1 Rc1+ 35.Ke2 Re1+

69
35...Rc7 36.Qg8+ Ke7 37.Qf7+ Kd6 38.Qf4+ Kc6 39.Qe5 Re7 40.f4+-
36.Kxe1 Qe3+ 37.Kd1 Rapport manages to evacuate his king and escape a possible perpetual check
threat, thus scoring a crucial win.
37...Qd3+ 38.Kc1+- Qe3+
38...Qxa3+ 39.Kd2 Qxb4+ 40.Qc3+-
39.Kb1 Qd3+ 40.Kc1 Qe3+ 41.Kb2 Qd2+ 42.Ka1 Qc1+ 43.Ka2 Qc4+ 44.Kb2 Qe2+ 45.Ka1
Qf1+
45...Qd1+ 46.Ka2 Qe2+ 47.Qb2+-
46.Bxf1 1-0

Richárd Rapport vs Dmitry Andreikin, Beograd 2022; Photo by Mark Livshitz, World Chess

Sanan Sjugirov Wins GM Tournament

With 6½/9 Sanan Sjugirov convincingly won a strong Grandmaster Tournament in Beograd that was
played in parallel to the FIDE Grand Prix. Nihal Sarin, Velimir Ivic and Nodirbek Abdusattorov
shared places two to four with 5½/9 each. Four Serbian Grandmasters, of whom Robert Markus had

70
the highest rating, met six international grandmasters. Among them were promising young talents
such as Parham Maghsoodloo, Nihal Sarin and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Serbian chess fans put their
hopes on the 18-year-old Velimir Ivic. The top seeds were Parham Maghsoodloo, Sanan Sjugirov and
David Navara.
The following game features the clash of two uprising stars and future top 10 players.

B96
Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701) - Sarana, Alexey (2685)
Beograd, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5
10.a3 Rb8 11.g4
11.Nd5 Bronstein,David 2585 - Gheorghiu,Florin 2530, Petropolis (izt) 1973 - 16/472
11...h6 12.Bh4 Be7 13.Bg2 b4 Black is seeking chances on the queenside, thus reaching a highly
double-edged position. Precise play is much required on both sides.
14.axb4 Rxb4 15.Be1 Qb6 16.Bf2 Rxb2N
Much better is 16...Qc7 17.h4 (17.Bf3 Nb6 18.Na2 Ra4 19.Kb1 d5∞) 17...h5 18.g5 Ng4∞ with
unclear play, as in Magshoodloo's games against Cheparinov some 10 days later.

71
17.Ndb5! Qa5
17...Nc5 18.Kxb2 O-O (18...Nfd7 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 20.Kc1 axb5 21.Qxb5+ Nd7 22.Qxb6 Nxb6
23.h4+-) 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.e5 Nd7 21.Rhe1±
18.Kxb2 Qb4+ 19.Kc1 axb5

20.Kd2! This king walk brings White some advantage.

20.Nb1? Nc5 21.c3 Qa5µ
20...O-O

72
Black can put stronger resistance after 20...g5 21.Rb1 Qc4 22.Rxb5 Qxe2+ 23.Nxe2 gxf4 (23...Nxg4
24.Bd4 e5 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Bc3±) 24.h3 (24.Nxf4 Nxg4 25.Bg3 Bg5 26.h4 Bf6 27.Nd3²) 24...Ba6
25.Rb3 Bxe2 26.Kxe2 O-O 27.Rhb1² with somewhat better position for White.
21.Rb1 Qa5 22.Rxb5
Probably stronger is 22.Qxb5 Qc7 23.h3 g5 24.Ra1 gxf4 25.Ra7 Qd8 26.Rb1²

22...Qc7? The crucial mistake. Black misses the opportunity to generate some counter-chances.
After 22...Qa8 23.g5 (23.h4 Ba6 24.g5 Bxb5 25.Qxb5 Rb8 26.Qe2 Nh7 27.gxh6 Qa5³; 23.Rg1 Ba6
24.e5 d5! 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Rgb1 Bxc3+ 27.Kxc3 Bxb5 28.Rxb5 Qa4 29.Kd2 Rc8 30.Kd1 Qa1+
31.Kd2 Qa4=) 23...hxg5 24.fxg5 Nh7 25.h4 Ba6∞ and Black has solved all of his problems.
23.Ra1 Rd8
Black will suffer after 23...Nc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.e5 Nd7 26.Rbb1+-
24.Ra7+- Qc6

73
25.Nd5! The most efficient finish! Black loses his queen.
25.Nd5 Re8 (25...exd5 26.exd5) 26.Nb4
1-0

74
FIDE GRAND PRIX 2022 – BERLIN
Wesley So wins, Nakamura and Rapport make it to the Candidates

The third leg of the Grand Prix series took place between
March 22nd and April 4th. The following players were in
race for the two available spots at the Candidates
Tournament: Hikaru Nakamura, Levon Aronian, Anish
Giri, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
were the five players who were chasing the two coveted
spots along with Richard Rapport who had already done
well in the past two events. With Rapport having won the
second leg and secured another semi-final finish, he
seemed to be one of the two qualifiers. This speculation got confirmed after the initial drawing of the
lots, when Aronian and Nakamura, who could catch up or surpass Rapport ended up in the same
group.
Things were quite nerve-wrecking for Giri, Dominguez, and MVL and the trio got eliminated at the
hands of Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Wesley So respectively.
Pool A, though, saw a more dramatic turn of events. Nakamura lost an important game to Aronian in
round one and then went on almost losing his 2nd and 3rd games but miraculously saved both. In a
fashion similar to Fischer in 1966 Piatigorsky Cup, Nakamura won all of the games in the return
matches and emerged victorious in pool A. As a result, without the games of semi-final and final
having been played, Nakamura had already netted the ticket for the Candidates along with Richard
Rapport. This raised a thread of criticism on social media where chess fans criticized the qualifying
system. Nevertheless, the games were extremely dramatic and exciting. A true feast to the eyes, one
would say.

75
In the semis, Nakamura dragged Mamedyarov into his speciality, which is rapid chess, and edged the
Azeri GM to become the overall winner of the 2022 Grand Prix. On the other side, So cruised in
game one against Tabatabaei and had things under control in game two until he succumbed to a
tactical oversight and the match went into a tiebreak. In game one of the tiebreak, Tabatabaei came
close to continue his triumphant move by almost beating Wesley, but the Iranian missed several
chances and eventually lost the game and match.

In the final match the players entered tiebreaks without much work in classical games. This time
Wesley So proved to be in a good form and convincingly beat Nakamura in the rapid portion.

I hope you will enjoy my selection of the games and moments from this exciting event in preliminary
stage. I hope FIDE comes up with better plans for the future of this event, which has a lot of
potential!

Dubov, Daniil (2711) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2756)

Berlin, 2022

76
23...Rac8 The opening phase of this game was rich and promised a nice battle. Here Re5 would have
led to some interesting play,
24.Rg2? but Dubov blunders.
24.Re5 Rd5 25.a4 Qd6 26.f4

Black is only fine after 26...Rxc3! 27.Bxc3 Nxf4 28.Qg3 Nxd3 29.Qxg7+ Ke7 30.f3 Qc6 31.Rg6
Nxe5 32.Qxf6+ Kd7 33.Rg7 Qxc3 34.dxe5 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 Qc2+ 36.Kh3 Qf5+ 37.Qxf5 exf5
38.Rxf7+ Ke6 39.Rxa7= This somewhat forced line would have been a worthy fighting draw to

77
watch!
24...g5?!
24...Qd5! 25.Reg1 Qa2!-+ wasn't that obvious because now Rg7 fails to Qd2
25.Rgg1

25...Ke7! Dominguez finds the right plan.

26.Be4 Qd6 27.d5 Kf8?!
27...Nxd5 28.Qxh5 Nf6 29.Qxh6 Qxd2-+ was winning.
28.dxe6 Qxd2 29.e7+ Kxe7 30.Bf5+ Kf8 31.Bxc8 Kg7 Dubov seems to make a comeback but...
32.Bg4? Now it is lost again.
32.Ba6 Nf4 33.Qf1= would have covered d3.
32...Nf4 33.Qf1 Qxc3 34.Re3 Qc2 35.h4 Rd2?
35...Rd4 prevents Qc1 because the f2-pawn is hanging.
36.Qc1 Nd3 37.Qxc2 Nxf2+ 38.Kg2 Rxc2 39.Kg3 N2xg4 40.fxg4 Rc4 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.Kh3 Nd5
Dubov is in clear but: 43.Rf3?? walks into a mating net and after 43...Rc2 It is hopeless now.
44.Kg3 Nf4 45.Rxf4 gxf4+ 46.Kxf4 Rc3 47.Ra1 Rc4+ 48.Kg5 Ra4 49.Kh5 Ra5+ 50.Kh4 Kg6
51.Rc1 Rxa3 52.Rc6+ f6 0-1

A33
Predke, Alexandr (2682) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761)
Berlin, 2022

78
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Ndb5 Ne5 8.Bf4 Nfg4 9.e3 a6
10.Qa4 g5
10...Ra7!? seems like an easier try. 11.h3 axb5 12.Qxb5 Qc6 13.hxg4 Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 Qxh1+ 15.Bf1
Qc6© Gagliardi, Virgilio - Sardella,Antonio, corr 2016
11.Bxe5 Nxe5 12.O-O-O Rb8 13.Nd4 Bg7 14.Qc2

14...O-O? This makes no sense. I wonder what did Vachier-Lagrave miss.

14...Qc7 15.Ne4 b6 16.f4„
15.g4! A well known concept, as White opens the h-file by force.
15...Nxg4? Black succumbs to his fate this way.
Good or bad - Black had to try 15...d5
16.h4 gxh4 17.Rxh4 f5 18.Be2 Nf6 19.e4
19.Nd5! would have been a crushing winning move after 19...Qd8 (19...exd5 20.Nxf5 Rf7 21.Rg1
Kh8 22.Nxg7 Rxg7 23.Rxg7 Kxg7 24.Qf5+-; 19...Nxd5 20.cxd5 d6 21.Bc4 e5 22.Ne6+-) 20.Nf4
Qe7 21.Rg1 b5 22.Rh3± and Kh8 is impossible. Black is busted.
19...Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxd4 21.Rg1+ Kf7 22.c5 Qb4 23.a3 1-0

C67
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761) - Shankland, Samuel L (2704)
Berlin, 2022

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 Kc8 11.g4 Ne7 12.Ng5 Be8 13.f4 f5

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13...c5 Giri,Anish 2780 - Radjabov,Teimour 2765, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2021 - 148/118
14.exf6 gxf6 15.Ne6 Bd7 16.Nxf8 Rxf8 17.f5 h5 18.Kf2 c5 19.Nc3 In a topical line Shankland
unleashes an important, yet well known novelty.

19...b6!N
19...Bc6 20.Re1 Rf7 21.Ne4 hxg4 22.hxg4 b6 23.b3 Ng8 (23...Kb7 24.Bb2 Ng8 25.Kg3 Raf8
26.Rad1 Rg7 27.Kf4 Rh7 28.Rd2 (28.Re2 Rh3 29.Rdd2²) 28...Rh3 29.Rde2 Rf7 30.Re3 Rh4 31.Kg3
Rhh7 32.Nf2 a5 33.Re6 Bd7 34.R6e2 Bc6 35.Nd3 Nh6 (35...Rfg7? 36.Nf4± Caruana, Fabiano 2839 -
Howell,David 2667, London (rapid) 2014) 36.Nf2 Rfg7 37.Bxf6 Nxf5+ 38.Kf4²) 24.Bb2 Nh6=
20.Bf4 Rf7 21.Rd3 hxg4 22.hxg4 Rg7 23.Rad1 Bc6 24.Rd8+ Kb7 25.Rxa8

80
25...Rxg4! The equalizing move. The players know what they are doing even for moves far after this
moment!
26.Rdd8 Rxf4+ 27.Ke1 Nxf5 28.Rab8+ Ka6 29.Ne2 Re4 30.Kd2 Nd6 31.b3 Rh4 32.Rh8 Rxh8
33.Rxh8 Kb7 Black has a fortress. Draw is the inevitable outcome.
34.Nf4 a5 35.Rh7 Kc8 36.Rh8+ 1/2-1/2

Nakamura, Hikaru (2750) - Aronian, Levon (2785)

Berlin, 2022

81
34.d5 The defining moment for Nakamura. In time pressure Aronian misses a chance of drawing this
complex rook ending, thus allowing Nakamura to join the pursue for qualifying in the group stage!

34...Raa8?? Losing move.

34...Ra3! Rook must always stay behind the pawn! 35.Ree7 Rg8 36.d6 Rd3 37.d7 Rd8 38.f4 h5
39.Kf1 Rd6 40.Ke2 Kh6 41.Kf3 Rd1= and White cannot make any progress. It is a well known fact
about double rook endings that it is always good to have one rook active and the other one passive
when one side is in defensive mode.
35.Ree7 h5 36.d6 Rf5 37.Rxg7+ Kh6 38.Rh7+ Kg5 39.d7 Now it is all over.
39...Rd5 40.f4+ Kh4 41.Rg7 Ra4 42.Rc8 Rad4 43.Rxg6 Rxd7 44.Rc1 Rd1 45.Rxd1 Rxd1 46.Rxb6
Kg4 47.Rb8 Kxf4 48.b6 Rd7 49.Rf8+ Ke4 50.Rf3 1-0

82
 Hikaru Nakamura vs Levon Aronian, Berlin 2022; Photo by World Chess

C54
Giri, Anish (2771) - Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623)
Berlin, 2022

Amin Tabatabaei proved to be the sensation in this group. His wins over Vitiugov and Giri put him in
the pole position. Giri, desperate for a win in this game, succumbed to the accurate play of the young
Iranian player.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.Nbd2 d6 7.c3 a6 8.b4 Ba7 9.a4 Ne7 10.Re1
Ng6 11.d4
11.h3 h6 and White does not have anything stronger than playing 12.d4
11...Re8 12.h3 h6 13.Bd3 So far according to the theory.
13...c6 14.Ra3 Maybe Giri counts that ed4 - cd4 will happen at some point. But, what if does not
happen?
14.Qc2 Simple and seems to have been tested in correspondence chess. 14...Be6 15.Bf1 Nh5 16.Bb2
Qd7!? (16...Nhf4 17.c4 seems more appealing. Although this line is not forced by any means.
(17.Kh2)) 17.c4 Nhf4 18.Re3 Rad8 19.b5 (19.c5 is a move worth testing.) 19...Qe7 20.Rb3 Bxd4
21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Bxd4 axb5 23.axb5 Ne5 24.Bb2 c5 25.Nf3 g5 26.Rc1 Ra8 27.Qd1 Red8 28.Rc2

83
Kh7 29.Rbc3 Rg8 30.Kh1 Nfg6 31.g3 Nxf3 32.Rxf3 Ne5 33.Re3 Ra4 34.Rd2 Ra2 35.Qb3 Raa8
36.Rc3 Rg6 37.Qd1 h5 38.Rcc2 Rag8 39.f3 1/2 : 1/2 Tsitsulin,Anton - Markus,Roland, corr 2019/20
14.Bc2 a5 (or 14...d5) 15.bxa5 (15.b5 Qc7 16.Ra3 Rb8 17.Bd3 Be6 18.Nf1 Rbd8 19.Bd2 1/2 : 1/2
Matozo,Paulo Adriano - Burmeister, Ferdinand, corr 2018) 15...Qxa5 16.Rb1 b5 17.axb5 cxb5
18.Bd3 Qxc3 19.Bxb5 Bd7 20.Bxd7 Nxd7 21.Bb2 Qc7 22.Nf1 Rab8 23.Ng3 Rb6 24.Qa4 Reb8
25.Rbc1 Qb7 26.Ba1 Nf4 27.Qd1 Qa6 28.Re3 Qa2 29.Re1 Qa6 30.Re3 Qa2 31.Re1 Qa6 1/2 : 1/2
Williamson,Harvey - Dijon,Jean Michel, corr 2018
14...Qc7 15.Bb2 Bd7 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Raa1 Black's pieces are ready and Tabatabaei goes for the
classical plan.
17...Nh5 18.Bf1 Nhf4

19.h4? That is just loses by force.

19.c4! c5 20.bxc5 exd4 21.c6 Bxc6 22.Nxd4 Ne5„
Black has a better presence in the centre and wins with 19...d5! 20.g3
20.c4 dxe4 21.Nxe5 (21.Rxe4 Bf5-+; 21.Nxe4 f5-+) 21...Nxe5 22.dxe5 e3 23.fxe3 Ng6 24.Nf3 a5
25.b5 Bg4-+ White's structure is on the verge of collapse.
20...Nh3+ 21.Kg2 exd4! Beginning of a beautiful piece sacrifice.
22.cxd4

84
22...Ngf4+! 23.gxf4 Qxf4 24.e5 Bf5 25.Qc3 Re6 Bringing the dudes to the party.
26.Qe3 Rg6+ 27.Kh1 Qg4 28.Ra3 This rook came to a3, went back to a1, and now is back here!
28...f6 29.exf6 gxf6 30.h5 Rg7 - and mate along the g-file after Bb8 is inevitable. The final phase by
Black was flawless! 0-1

85
 Anish Giri vs Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei, Berlin 2022; Photo by World Chess

E20
Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623) - So, Wesley (2778)
Berlin (m/2-playoff), 2022

Wesley cruised in game one and he seemed very well on his way to win the match but then something
curious happened.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.a3 Unsound for the prudent eye of an engine but
Tabatabaei needs a fight!
5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.g3 b6 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.d5
9.O-O Be4 (9...d6 10.d5 transposes to the game.) 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd6
Nc6 14.Qxc5 Qxc3 15.Rac1 Qb2 16.Qe3 d5=
9...d6
9...Re8 Maybe, this was more testing. 10.Nh4 (10.Bg5 h6; 10.O-O exd5 11.Nh4 Ne4) 10...exd5
11.cxd5 Ba6 12.Bf3 d6 13.O-O Nbd7 14.Re1 Bc8 15.Bf4 Ne5 16.Bg2 h6 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Nf3 Re8
19.Nd2 b5„
10.O-O Qe7

86
10...Qc7 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Re1 exd5 13.Nh4 Nd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.cxd5 Nf6 16.Bg5© gives White a
nice compensation, but engines evaluate this line better than the more human 10... Qe7
11.Nh4 Nbd7 12.Re1?! Slow.
12.f4 g6 13.dxe6 Bxg2 14.exf7+ Qxf7 15.Nxg2 Qxc4 16.Ne3„ would have again yield enough
complications sought by Tabatabaei.
12...Ne5 13.e4 Nxc4 14.Bf1 Ne5
14...b5 was much simpler.
15.c4 Ng6 16.Ng2 b5 17.cxb5 exd5 18.exd5 Qd7 19.Ne3 Rfe8?! A bit slow.
19...Ne7 20.Bc4 Rfe8 forces Ned5, in view of which, White must play Rf1
20.Bb2 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxe1 22.Qxe1 Bxd5 23.Rd1

23...Nh4?? At first, both players thought Black is winning here. It turns out just to be a blunder.
23...Qe6 24.Qc3 Ne5 25.f4 Nf3+ 26.Kf2 Nd4 would have kept things in place for Black.
24.Rd3! Qg4
24...Nf3+ 25.Rxf3 Bxf3 26.Qc3+-

87
25.Qc3! By playing only moves, Tabatabaei ends up winning!
25...Be4 The only move that maintains material equality but does not save the game.
25...Nf3+ 26.Rxf3+-
26.Be2! Qg5 27.Rxd6 Nf5 28.Qe5 Qe7 29.Qxe7 Nxe7 30.a4 White's two bishops and the eventual
queenside passed pawn will prove to be too much. Black has no trick to play and Wesley So sees no
point to continue. 1-0

C67
So, Wesley (2778) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2750)
Berlin (m/4-playoff-rapid), 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1

This seemingly benign line is now the hottest response to Berlin Defence at the highest level!
5...Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Ne8 10.d5 Bc5 11.Re1 d6 12.Nc3 Bf5
12...f5 is less convincing. 13.h3 Qh4 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Nf6 16.Nb5 Rf7 17.Rc3 Ne4 18.Qd4
Qd8 19.Ra3² and Black has unresolved issues on the queenside.
13.Bd3 Bxd3
13...Qf6 This seems more natural. But it concedes two bishops, something Nakamura does not like to
do. 14.Ne4!? is an interesting pawn sacrifice. 14...Bxe4 15.Rxe4

88
15...Qxf2+ (15...g6 16.Qe1 Qh8 Engines like this move because it prevents Rh4. (16...Qg7?! 17.Rh4
Qe5 18.Qxe5 dxe5 19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Re1² Robson,Ray 2681 - Shankland,Samuel 2709, USA (m/3-
rapid) 2022) 17.Rh4 Nf6) 16.Kh1 Qf6 17.c3! This strong move by Shevchenko is probably going to
form the future of this opening. (17.Rf4 This correspondence game is important but too dull. 17...Qe5
18.Bd2 g6 (18...Qxb2 This seems bad after 19.c3) 19.Qf3 Ng7 20.Bc3 Qe3 21.Qg4 f5 22.Qh4 Nh5
23.Rf3 Qh6 24.Re1 Rae8 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 - after this White could keep the game going with 26.g4 fxg4
27.Qxg4 Ng7 (Cordes,Tim - Ramos,Francis, corr 2021/22) 28.Qd7 Rf8= And White does not get
more than perpetual.) 17...g6 18.a4!? a6 19.Bh6 Ng7 All moves liked by engines! And after 20.Qe2
Qd8 21.Rf1 Re8 22.Qf3 Qd7 23.Rh4ƒ Shevchenko,Kirill 2647 - Parligras, Mircea-Emilian 2576,
Terme Catez 2021 - 150/118, with annoying initiative.
14.Qxd3 Nf6 15.h3 h6 16.Bd2 White is slightly better thanks to his extra space obtained by the d5-
pawn.
16...Qd7 17.Qf3?!
17.Ne2 Rfe8 18.Ng3 would have added to White's advantage.
17...Bd4 18.Rad1 Rae8 19.Rxe8 Nxe8 20.Qd3

89
20...Bb6?! Bishop needs to go to e5 and Black needs to keep an eye on his kingside. This position is
far more dangerous than it seems.
20...Be5
21.Re1?! letting go of a promising advantage.
21.Ne2 Nf6 22.Bc3 Qd8 23.a4 a6 24.a5 Ba7 25.Ng3± Engines find this almost winning for White!
21...Nf6 22.Ne4 Qf5 23.g4 Qg6 24.Bc3 Nd7 25.Ng3 Qxd3 26.cxd3
The position is equal but it is one of those equal positions that it is hard to hold in a rapid game.
26...g6?! Not losing but this begins a series of inaccuracies on Nakamura's part.
26...Ne5
27.Kg2 Ne5 28.Rd1 Re8?! losing a tempo
28...Nd7=
29.Ne4 Kf8?!
29...Nd7!?
Now Black is losing after 30.Nf6 Re7 31.a4 a5 32.h4
Black is totally tied down. None of his pieces have a decent move.
32...c6? Final losing blunder. Leaving the b6-bishop undefended.
¹32...g5; 32...Nd7
33.Bxe5 dxe5 34.d6+- Re6 35.Nd7+ Kg7 36.Nxb6 Rxd6 37.Nc4 Rd4 38.f3 Kf6 39.b3 b5 40.axb5

90
cxb5 41.Nxa5 h5 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.Kg3 Rd6 44.b4 Kf5 45.Nb3 Rg6+ 46.Kf2 Ra6 47.Na5 Rd6
48.Ke3 Rd4 49.Nc6 Rxh4 50.d4 exd4+ 51.Rxd4 Rh1 52.Rd5+ Kg6 53.Rxb5 h4 54.Ne5+ Kg7
55.Kf4 Rg1 56.Ng4 h3 57.Rg5+ Kf8 58.Rh5 Kg7 59.b5 Rb1 60.Rg5+ Kh7 61.Nf6+ Kh6 62.Ng4+
Kh7 63.Kg3 Rb3 64.Rf5 Kg6 65.Rf6+ Kg5 1-0

Hikaru Nakamura vs Wesley So, Berlin 2022; Photo by World Chess

91
DEVILRY IN DAVENTRY

Daventry, a small market town in Northampton in England,

isn't a likely hotbed of chess but thats where I seem to
spend all my time these days. The Easter congress was first
up and on the tournament list I was down as provisional
third seed, something that I reacted to with frustration. It
was a FIDE rated tournament and I was the top player on
FIDE ratings and had been for years. The reason they
chose to use National ratings rather than FIDE ratings to
rank the field was a convoluted one, but basically boiled
down to grossly underrated players getting into some of the lower tournaments and clearing up the
prize money. What this had to do with the open, I had no idea. In my view it is high time for a
universal rating system and get rid of national ratings altogether, which just confuse the issue.
It was a wise idea to travel down the night before and having already spent many days in the hotel
due to this being the normal venue for 4NCL weekends, and having a lot of time on my hands, I
decided to walk into town which was about half an hour away by foot. It was a pleasant evening
although I had no idea where the town center was, so had to ask this group of girls who looked they'd
just come out of the gym. Up to the right, one of them told me.
So I took in the Italian place. As usual in a busy restaurant when you are there alone, I was mainly
ignored by the staff who seemed to want me out as quickly as possible. No matter, as it was a pleasant
enough meal and an enchanting evening. The weather was warming up, always a good sign for me. I
always seem to play that bit better when the sun is shining.
Many seem to labour under the delusion that chess grandmasters spend all of their time studying
chess. I wish this were true. Of course 5-6 hours are the minimum hours that a chess professional
should spend a day on chess. Why else are you doing chess for a living at all? But the sad reality is
that in my experience, most chess grandmasters do very little chess study at all, and seem to treat
chess as an excuse to avoid working for a living. Those who do work hard tend to stand out and have
much higher ratings.
Fed up with my mediocre results lately where I have shed ratings points to players I really should be
beating, before this tournament I had put some hours in. The work I had done for Simon K. Williams
site G-Chess also gave me a nice option of playing the Richter-Rauzer. This really paid off as both in

92
the tournament itself and the 4NCL weekend some time later, I had two crushing wins.

B62
Han, Yichen (2303) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Daventry, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6

6.Bb5 A slight surprise, but I had covered this on G-chess as well. In my short check before the game
though I hadn't bothered to cover it, and my failing memory was struggling to remember the details.
My opponent had dallied with 6.h4!? and claimed in the post-mortem that the only reasonable reply
was 6...g6 which seemed hard to believe. Is Black already in only-move territory here? But, I was
impressed that he went so deep with his preparation that he already regarded this position as rather
critical. Most chess players these days just pump moves out and hope for the best. 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Be3
h5∞ just seems to lead to an unclear position.
6...Bd7 7.Qd3 e6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O-O h6 10.Bh4 O-O 11.f4
11.Bxc6! Engines love this move and this line in general. They are not bothered about the fact that the

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b-file is now open as they don't see mate there. White can prevent the mate fairly easily and now has
a direct plan of attacking d6. 11...bxc6 12.Nb3 d5 (12...a5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.a4 Rb8 runs into a
powerful resource in 15.Qg3+ Kh7

16.Rxd6! Rg8 17.Qd3 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Be8 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.g3± when Black is under some
positional pressure.) 13.e5 Ne8 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qd4² White has something of a bind.
11...Rc8

12.Nf3? This is a very serious mistake. This game was played in round six and I already had 5/5. A
win would assure me of at worse tied first.

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My opponent though had 4½/5, so a win would turn the tables. Winning this tournament would be a
big early scalp in his very promising young career.
I think we were both a bit nervous and this is the first indication that is exactly what is happening
here. Nf3 is a careless move that allows an immediately decisive counter-attack.
12.Bxc6 Bxc6 13.g4!? was interesting, giving a pawn to open the g-file. (13.Rhg1!? simply planning
g4, was also possible. I think this was mentioned in Michael Adams' column in the Saturday
Telegraph where this game was given.) 13...Nxg4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Rhg1 Nf6 16.Qg3©
12...Nb4! 13.Qe2
13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Nxa2 Bxb5-+ is just a free extra pawn for Black while still retaining attacking
chances.
13...Rxc3! A very easy move for Sicilian players to make, and in fact just winning.
14.bxc3 Nxa2+ 15.Kb2 Nxc3! 16.Kxc3 Qa5+ 17.Kb2 Qb4+ 18.Kc1 Qa3+ 19.Kb1 Qb4+ 20.Kc1
Bxb5
20...Qa3+? I think if this had been the last round I might have considered repeating here, if it ensured
tournament victory. But in truth with such an overwhelming position it would have been rather daft to
take a draw here. 21.Kb1=
21.Qe3 Rc8 Natural moves finish the job.
22.Rd4 Qa5 23.Kb2

23...d5 This was where my work on this line was paying off. I recalled these old games of Kramnik
where he went for this break in the Rauzer and finish his opponents quickly.
24.e5

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24.exd5 Bb4! is also hopeless for White. 25.Rxb4 Qxb4+ 26.Qb3 Rxc2+-+
24...Bb4 25.Be1 Rxc2+
25...Rxc2+ 26.Kxc2 Qa2+ 27.Kc1 Qa1+ 28.Kc2 Ba4+ 29.Kd3 Qd1+ 30.Qd2 Bc2+ 31.Ke3 Ng4#
Would have been an elegant finish.
0-1
Hotel Mercure, Daventry
The next game was played in the 4NCL weekend, in the
same location as the 4NCL tournament which was the
Mercure hotel Daventry, and in the Countryman pub the
night before while quaffing expensive cocktails and
polishing off the delicious panna cotta that was served for
dessert, I suggested to my team that we switch board
orders.
We had become too predictable I reasoned. I always played
on board one, and the other teams could prepare for me too
easily. Besides they had a kid named Tarun on board two, who I had lost to the previous season. So
from a psychological pespective it made sense to play against someone I didn't have a losing record
against, even if this meant playing three blacks in a row.
Anyway I didn't mind about the colours. I never get why people complain about this. I always like
playing with the black pieces as I feel like the pressure is on my opponent and if you are a good
counter-attacking player, as in my best moments I like to think that I am, you generally get chances to
win.

B59
Sarakauskas, Gediminas (2425) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Great Britain, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 Not the most testing way to meet the
Classic Sicilian.
6.Bg5 is the Richter-Rauzer, or as Arnie says in Total Recall, "See you at the party Richter!" Just as
he flings Michael Ironside's severed arms off the lift.
This, or Bc4, have long been considered the most critical ways to meet this opening. The problem
with Be2 and other avoidance systems, is that Black often gets a good version of the Najdorf, not
having to bother with the move ...a6.
6...e5 7.Nb3 Be7
Perhaps the immediate 7...a5 was more resolute, inviting him to insert a4 in response, and only then
playing ...Be7. 8.a4 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Be3 Nb4= Black intends to play ...Be6 and ...d5, or the
immediate ...d5.

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8.g4!? My opponent played this aggressively and firmly and almost banged the clock. Disturbed and
with my ego shaken, I responded just as quickly.
8...h6 9.h4
9.Be3 worried me more in the game. The following plan concerned me: White prevents the ...d5
break with Bf3, perhaps followed by Rg1 and h4, and then castles with Qd2 and 0-0-0. It seemed to
me that any more inaccurate moves, and I could easily come under heavy pressure. 9...Be6 10.Bf3 a5
11.Nd5 (11.a4 Nb4 is easy for Black who intends to play ...d5.) 11...O-O³ is in fact fine for Black
according to the engine, which already starts to favour the black pieces. Maybe this whole way of
playing with Be2 and g4 is just too risky.
9...Be6 10.g5
10.Rg1 d5! of course.
10...hxg5 11.Bxg5 This felt a bit strange to me - that he was switching plans. I thought the idea had
been to play the Rook to g1 and play g5, so that you can take back with the h-pawn. On the plus side
for White, he is ready to quickly castle queenside and if he manages that, the black king could be
stuck in no-mans land. With the g-file already open then castling Kingside looks rather ropey.
11...a5 12.Bb5
My opponent was obviously reluctant to play 12.a4 because 12...Nb4 intending ...d5, is such an
obvious and good reply.
12...Kf8! Now Black is ready with the counterplay, so it was really time to start thinking about
shutting down the queenside.
13.Qd2?
13.a4 Rc8µ already Black has everything you could ask for from the opening.
White's position is "tough to play" as Nakamura might say. 13.Qd3 Nb4 14.Qe2 a4 15.Bxa4 d5µ
remains scary for White.

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13...a4!
White is now in big trouble, and a simple tactical operation grabs Black the advantage 14.Bxa4 Nxe4
15.Nxe4 Rxa4 16.Ng3 A sad admission, played after plenty of thought. Already I had the sense from
his body language that he had given up on the game. That was the problem when you advanced your
pawns forward so readily in the opening, I reasoned. If the attack doesn't come off you are more often
than not just riddled with weaknesses.
16.Bxe7+ Qxe7 17.Nxd6

17...Nd4! trapping the knight on d6, is possibly what my opponent missed.

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16...Bxb3?!
I had seen that 16...f6! 17.Be3 Raxh4 18.Rxh4 Rxh4 would give Black an overwhelming advantage.
Two bishops, extra pawn, better pawn structure, easy play. What more could you want? I'm still not
sure why I didn't play this, to be honest. I guess I was impatient and just wanted to win with direct
play. 19.O-O-O Qa8 20.Kb1 Qa4-+
17.cxb3 Rd4 18.Bxe7+ Nxe7 19.Qc2 Rdxh4 20.Rxh4 Rxh4 21.O-O-O

21...Nc6! At last a sign that I am thinking clearly. It would be easy to continue the lazy theme and
allow my opponent to slowly get back into it. This is the move that Black wants to play as the game
will be won very easily if the knight reaches d4, so you just have to back it up with calculation.
21...g6 22.Qd2 d5 23.Qg5 Qc7+ 24.Kb1 is a line that worried me and why I turned back to ...Nc6.
White is probably still in trouble objectively, but is starting to create annoying counterplay.
22.Kb1
At first I dismissed this line due to the annoying reply 22.Nf5 but this is where the calculation
training was coming in useful. Thinking a little bit deeper, I realized there was a twist here.

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22...Nb4! just wins for Black. 23.Qb1 (23.Qd2 Qc8+ picks up the knight.; 23.Rxd6 Qg5+ 24.f4
Qxf4+ 25.Kd1 Rh1+ 26.Ke2 Rh2+ 27.Ke1 Nxc2+ with mate.; 23.Qc3 Nxa2+-+) 23...Qc8+ 24.Kd2
Rf4 25.Nxd6 Qc5-+
22...g6 23.Ne4 Nd4 24.Qd3 Qd7 25.a3 Rf4 Tightening the grip. Sometimes winning positions can
be just about improving your pieces, not rushing it, relying on the opponent collapsing of his own
accord, which fortunately in the game is exactly what happened.
25...Rh3 At first I thought this to be winning by force and I got quite excited, but then I saw the reply
26.Ng3! which dampened my spirits somewhat. (26.Qc4? Qg4 27.Re1 Rh1! was what raised my
pulse.)
26.Ka2 Kg7
26...Qe6! was perhaps the most accurate, but Black is winning in anycase.
27.Nc3? Desperately going for counterplay, but there is a twist in the tail.
27...Rxf2 28.Rh1 Qf5 29.Qe3

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29...Rxb2+! 0-1

I SUCK AT CALCULATION

I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that calculation is the most important factor in being a good
chess player. Calculation allows you to proceed down these comfortable paths and avenues, that are
denied to you if the calculation is sloppy.
Just look at the following example, played in round four of the Easter congress. Lets go back to that
event.

Bin Suhayl, Ieysaa (2243) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)

Daventry, 2022

101
13...a5
13...c5! was the move I instinctively wanted to play. 14.dxc5 Bxf3! this simple point I missed. (I
spent too long on 14...Nxc5 15.Qxb4 Bd5 before deciding this was unconvincing.) 15.Bxf3 bxa3ƒ
and Black wins material. Reminder - check your variations!
14.Nc4 c5 15.Nce5
Now I spent some more time thinking, and was really unsure about what to play. This is one of the
most difficult situations in chess - a complex middlegame where several plans are tempting but it is
not clear which one you should choose.
What do I do? Do I trade on d4 and then take on e5? Do I put the bishop on d5, or the knight on that
square? Should I throw in ...Rc8 at some point? I really didn't have a clue.
15...cxd4 16.exd4 Bd5 17.Qe3 Ne4 18.Bb5 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bd6 Black has a
comfortable game.
21.Rac1
I now decided to aim for clarity, and head for an endgame. I thought if we both got short of time and
the position remained tricky he could outplay me.
He had already beaten Keith Arkell in the previous round so was a dangerous player, and was
underrated. Although, isn't everybody who is under the age of 25 these days?
21...Bxe5 22.dxe5 Bb3
22...Qh4!?³ is interesting. The position looks dead equal but in fact Black has the advantage here
because:

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1. The bishop on d5 is superior to the bishop on b5 and if White tries to exchange it with something
like Bc6 he might lose coordination:
2. The pawn on b2 is quite weak and can easily drop off in the endgame. The pawn on e5 is also quite
exposed to attack.
23.Qxd8 Rfxd8

24.Rd6! I started to go purple - I had completely missed this earlier. Perhaps, this is when BAD
calculation is useful - if I had seen this annoying Rd6 earlier, I may not have gone for this variation at
all, and perhaps wouldn't have won this game.
Ignorance really is bliss.
24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 Understandably my opponent wished to avoid this variation, when Black is planning
to make luft on the kingside with something like ...h6, followed by ...Rd2 targeting the pawn on b2.
24...Rac8 25.Rcc6 Bd5 26.Rc7 g5 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Bd7?
28.f3! Bb3 29.Bd7! is a much better move order, because the black king won't reach f5.

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28...Kg7! I had to fight my instincts here.
The desire to resolve the tension with 28...Bc6 was almost unbearable. Even in simple endgames with
very little material on the board I wanted to make it as clear as possible. 29.Rxc6 Rxd7 is an endgame
which favours Black, but if we follow the Tarrasch maxim "All rook endgames are drawn" then
White should have enough to hold here. 30.f4 gxf4 31.Rc5 b3 32.Rxa5 Rd2 33.Rb5 Rxb2 34.a5 Kg7
35.a6 Kg6 36.g3 fxg3 37.hxg3= I didn't get this far but the engine regards this as equal.
29.g4? As so often when faced with serious problems, the defending player overreacts.
29.f3 Kg6 30.Kf2 Kf5 31.Bb5 wasn't great but at least White hits f7.
29...Kg6 30.h3 h5 31.gxh5+ Kxh5 32.Kh2 Kg6 33.Kg3 Kf5 34.Bb5 Rf8-+ White has too many
weaknesses and cannot defend.
35.Ra7 Kxe5 36.Kg4 Kf6 37.Rxa5 Rc8 38.h4 gxh4 39.Kxh4 Rc2 40.Kg3 Rxb2 41.Ra6 Rc2 42.Rb6
b3 43.a5 b2 44.Ba4 Rc3+ 45.Kh2 Bb3 0-1
Despite being gnawed by continual doubts I managed to get to 6/6.
My doubts were, whether I was good enough, whether I should be playing chess at all or doing
something else with my life, whether I should visit the pub to the right of the hotel or go to the one on
the left.
One thing I found that I did have was motivation. It had inspired a greater work ethic of late; I was
fed up with dropping rating points to players I considered myself stronger than.
I had a chip on my shoulder and something to prove.
It was clear that my form was better. For one thing I was scoring heavily with Black; I think if you
are thinking superficially it is hard to win games with that colour. I was also winning games quite

104
quickly if my opponents went wrong, another key barometer of form.
Most pleasing of all was the fact that I had won a number of games in the endgame, because that was
also an area that I had struggled in. In the past I had lacked the patience to win dry technical games,
but in truth I was an underrated grinder, both by myself and others. Perhaps the reason I was
calculating slightly better and winning in the endgame was the fact that of late I had forced myself to
solve some endgame puzzles on the computer. Doing this every day had definitely sharpened up the
calculation process.
So round seven loomed but there were some dangerous portents. For one thing, I had slept badly the
night before. Also, I was paired with a dangerous opponent, Mark Hebden, a ferociously competitive
beast.
I also made the mistake of engaging in facebook chat with Keith Arkell just before the game. I should
have switched off from that completely, but instead all I heard was "I do very well against Mark,
don't give him a draw, you'll allow me to catch him up." It's a mistake to discuss possible results with
other players in the tournament just before key rounds. I should have focused on what I was doing
and not felt guilty if I decided to go for a quick draw. In that situation you need total freedom to
operate.
In any case, I didn't need any encouragement, all I cared about was 7/7 because that was the only
result that excited me - a total crush. Besides, my student Zoe Varney had predicted 7/7 before the
tournament, something I had regarded as ridiculous before the event, but now seemed like a realistic
possibility.

E81
Gormally, Daniel (2471) - Hebden, Mark (2448)
Daventry, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 Qa5 He had already done
this against Andrew Ledger in the 2021 British Championships. Mark had lost that game, but not due
to the opening.
Previous round had gone 8...exd5 9.cxd5 Na6 10.Bxa6 bxa6 11.Nge2 Rb8 12.O-O Re8 13.Rab1
Bd7?! played with the intention of placing the bishop on b5, but from there it blocks any play on the
b-file. (For that reason, 13...a5! with the idea of ...Ba6, was better.) 14.Ng3 Qb6?

105
15.Qf4! 1 : 0 Gormally,Daniel 2471 - Fallowfield,Jeremy 2152, Daventry 2022
9.Bf4!? exd5 10.cxd5 Ne8
Just before the game in the hotel room I had panicked and thought "What if he goes for ...Ne8?"
Although I did look at this briefly I was trying to juggle last minute preparation with a desire to get
some much needed rest before the game. Clearly I failed, as I didn't go deeply enough here. After the
game Mark was trying to defend Black's position, saying that it was recommended in a course by
Viktor Bologan, but Black's situation looks rather precarious to me.
It would not be his style to play the passive 10...Rd8 defending the pawn.
11.h4 f5! Of course, he goes for the action move, as that's totally his style. This is where I was really
regretting not going deep enough in my preparation.
12.exf5?!
12.h5! was much more consistent but I miscalculated an important variation, or to be more accurate,
didn't give myself enough time to calculate it properly, mainly because I was too nervous and playing
too quickly. 12...fxe4 13.hxg6 Rxf4

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I saw this and moved on. (13...hxg6 but the danger is over for White and there are a number of decent
choices. 14.Bh6! for example, leaves Black in trouble. (14.Nxe4 Qxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Bg7
offers White decent compensation due to the various weaknesses in the Black position.)) 14.Qxf4!
Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Kf2+- and Black doesn't have time to take the rook on a1 as he will get
mated. Not difficult to go this far was it?
Waiting for the train home the next day, Keith said he would have gone for 12.Bh6!? which would
have killed a lot of his action, if not being quite as consistent as 12.h5. Given the tournament
situation, this would not have been a bad choice at all.
12...Bxf5

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13.g3? Another sign that I wasn't thinking correctly. When you go for the attack and then change
horses midstream and start playing slowly, it never ends well.
13.Bh6! and Black is still struggling; the kingside looks horribly exposed to attack. 13...b5 is a rather
desperate try, but decent moves are hard to come by. (13...Nd7? 14.g4+-; 13...Nf6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7
15.g4 Bd7 16.h5+-) 14.Bxg7 Nxg7 15.Bxb5 Nd7 16.Bxd7 Bxd7 17.Ne4± is pleasant for White.
13.h5 Nd7 14.g4 Bxg4!∞ isn't so clear.
13...Nd7 14.Kf2 Ne5 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.Bh3 Ng7 17.Nge2 Rae8 18.g4 Bd7 19.Kg2 Bb5? This
seems fairly pointless although doesn't change the evaluation of the position. White's position is too
exposed.
20.Ng3 Rf4 21.Nge4 Bd7 22.h5 Ref8?
22...gxh5µ

23.h6? Effectively a resignation move. White is closing the position when he needs to open it!
23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Raf1 is something I think I would have played automatically if I had been thinking
clearly, especially as I was normally quite good at resisting in bad positions. The combination of
sleeping poorly the night before and the nervous tension of the competitive situation, meant that I
effectively sleepwalked through this game.
23...Ne8 24.g5 Bf5 25.Bxf5 R4xf5 26.Raf1 Bf4 The pawn on g5 is snapped off, and with it any
resistance.
27.Qc2 Qd8 28.Ne2 Bxg5 29.N4g3 R5f7 30.Qe4 Nf6 31.Qd3 Nd7 32.Qe4 Re8 33.Qc2 Be3 34.f4
Nf6 35.f5 g5 36.Nc3 Re5 0-1
It is sad that the competitive side of chess has become my bugbear. I feel that I am failing for

108
psychological issues more than anything else. You can accept it, if it's a talent thing. That I'm not
good enough as a chess player.
The truth is though that I'm capable of seeing the variations well enough. It's just that I'm not allowing
myself enough TIME to think things through, due to getting ahead of myself and thinking about the
result.
This is basic psychology but something that I've yet to completely nail down, and because of this last
rounds have often been a problem for me, over the years. Not just last rounds but any rounds, due to
becoming overwhelmed with nerves and failing to think properly.
If the game against Hebden was played in a sleepwalking state, then the one I played in the last round
of the Durham open against Brandon Clarke was no better. I needed a win to get first as Brandon was
on 4/4 and I had already dropped a draw earlier in the event.

D91
Gormally, Daniel (2476) - Clarke, Brandon (2445)
Darlington, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3

4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.e3 was a better move-order which would have cut down on his
options, as Brandon explained to me later (him being a bit of an expert in openings.) 7...b5?! is now
considered somewhat dubious. 8.a4 c6? (8...Bd7) 9.axb5 cxb5? (9...Qd5) 10.Qf3! White is denied
this option once the knight goes to f3.
4...Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bh4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.e3 b5! But, now this is considered slightly better for
Black.
8...Be6 9.Qb1 b6 10.Ng5 Bd5 11.e4 h6 12.Nf3 Be6 13.Be2∞ is just murky.
9.a4 c6 10.Nd2 a6 11.Be2 Nd7 12.Bf3 Bb7 13.O-O O-O 14.Qb1 Rb8 15.Qb2 Re8 16.axb5 axb5
17.Ra7 Qb6 18.Rfa1 e5
We were still following my preparation and I was playing extremely quickly. I was aware that the
computer didn't really rate White's chances here, but I didn't really mind. I thought it was a complex
position where it is very easy for Black to go wrong.
19.h3 Pure competitive angst. I should have slowed down, sat on my hands, anything. I mistakenly
thought that I was still following my preparation. I was, but h3 is a devation from that.
In fact it turns out that h3 wasn't so bad at all, but just that I immediately realized after his reply that I
had got my moves mixed up, and that caused a bad chain reaction.
19.Bg3 f5 20.h3 was actually what I had prepared. I just got the order of the moves wrong, but if you
are relying completely on your memory and not pausing to sort any details out, disasters like this can
happen.
Aware of my memory issues, I had even spent some time trying to memorize these moves in the

109
morning of this game, in anticipation that I might play Brandon. I had got the first few moves down
pat, but clearly the details of later in the line were too murky to me. 20...Ra8 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Bh2
isn't great for White but at least gives some kind of hacking chances.
19...exd4

20.exd4?
20.cxd4! looks scary to allow Black these connectors and for that reason I didn't give it much thought.
Or should I say, the reason I didn't give any of my moves any thought around here, was that I was just
too nervous. When I told Brandon this later, he expressed his surprise. He said I didn't look nervous.
20...c5 21.Bxb7 Rxb7 (21...cxd4 22.Bd5 dxe3 23.Bxf7+ Kh8 24.Qb1 exd2 25.Bxe8² is a crazy line
that might even favour White.; 21...c3 22.Qxc3 cxd4 23.Qc6 dxe3=) 22.Nxc4 bxc4 23.Rxb7 Qxb2
24.Rxb2 cxd4 25.Rd1 d3 26.Rb7=
20...c5! 21.Nxc4 To my horror, as soon as I took on c4, I realized that I had miscalculated, forgetting
that he would remain a pawn up in this line.
21.dxc5 Nxc5 22.Nxc4 Qe6 isn't much fun for White.
21.Bxb7 cxd4! is too easy to find for a Gruenfeld player. 22.Bd5 Qd6-+
21...bxc4 22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Bxb7 cxd4 Earlier I thought this was just equal as I take on d4 and all
the pawns have come off the board, forgetting that he would remain with a pawn on c4.
24.Bg3 My last gamble.
24.cxd4 Bxd4 25.Rd1 Bb2 just looked too easy to play.

110
24...Be5?
I was mightily relieved that he didn't find 24...d3! as that felt like the end of the game to me, but as a
draw assured him of at worse shared first, perhaps he couldn't be bothered to work out the details.
25.Bxb8 Rxb8 (25...Bxc3? also felt winning over the board, but doesn't quite hit the mark. 26.Bf4
Bxa1 27.Rxa1 c3 28.Kf1 d2 29.Bxd2 cxd2 30.Rd1=) 26.Rb1 Bxc3 27.Bd5 Bb2!!

This move is fancy and also does the job. (27...Rd8 28.Bxf7+ Kf8µ is a bit tragic for White.) 28.Rxb2
c3-+
25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.cxd4 Relieved to escape I offered a draw, which was quickly accepted.

111
26.cxd4 Re6 27.Bf3 Rd6 It is hard to find any variations where White is ever better, or ever worse in
fact.
1/2-1/2
Recently I spoke with another player who expressed his disgust at English chess events, saying how
they are badly run and he prefers to play on the continent, where you get a better atmosphere and it
actually feels like you are at a chess tournament. He has a point. England feels like a regressive chess
nation, most of the better players are getting older and aren't getting replaced at a fast enough rate.
I was shocked to find my opponent in the next game which took place in the 4NCL weekend, Tony
Kosten, only rated at 2370. Only a few years ago you could easily find him at 2500+, or maybe it
only feels like a few years ago, and in reality was 20 years or more? Age catches up with us all.

A29
Kosten, Anthony (2371) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Great Britain, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nd5 Bc5

7.b4!? A shock.
7.d3 d6 8.O-O h6 9.b3 was the continuation of my game against Paul Townsend, played later at the
Durham Congress which took place in Darlington, where I had also played Brandon (a game given
earlier.)
This tournament did not get off to a good start when I booked into my accomodation in the Dalesman
pub on the Friday afternoon. This was a fairly rough looking establishment which had three
Staffordshire dogs wandering around the saloon bar when I walked in. They couldn't find my booking
- perhaps there had been some kind of error?

112
On checking my emails, it turned out it was on my end, as I had booked in for the following weekend
by mistake. So I was forced to book into another hotel and pay GBP 40 more. 9...Bb6 is a bit of a
gamble because I wanted to keep the tension. (9...Nxd5 10.cxd5 Ne7 11.d4 exd4 12.Nxd4 I've had
online and White's position is a rock and tough to breakdown, so avoid.) 10.Bb2?! (10.Nxb6! axb6
11.Bb2² is of course what White should go for.) 10...Nxd5! 11.cxd5 Ne7 12.e4 (12.d4 can now be
met by 12...e4 13.Nd2 f5 which was the point of ...Bb6, so Black isn't forced to take on d4.) 12...f5
13.Qc2? (13.exf5! looks ugly but is one of those computer moves which work. 13...Bxf5 14.d4 e4
15.Nd2 and White is very much alive.) 13...fxe4 14.dxe4 Bg4 15.Ne1 c6 16.dxc6 Nxc6 17.Qd2?

17...Qg5! and Paul resigned, as White cannot prevent the eventual infriltration of the bishop to e2, not
without giving up material at least.
7...Nxd5 8.bxc5 Nf6!= 9.O-O Qe7 10.Ba3 e4 11.Ne1 b6

113
12.Nc2?! I was surprised he gave up on the pawn so easily.
12.d4! felt much less clear. 12...exd3 (12...bxc5 13.Bxc5 d6 14.Ba3) 13.Nxd3 Ne4? (13...Ba6)
14.Bxe4 Qxe4 15.cxb6± even favours White.
12...bxc5 13.d3 Rb8 14.dxe4 Nxe4 15.Qd3?
15.Ne3!∞
15...Re8 16.Ne3 Qe5 Around about here I could tell he was a bit uncomfortable. The compensation
for the pawn hasn't really arrived.
16...Nb4 17.Bxb4 cxb4 18.Nd5 Qe5 19.f4 Qe6!µ is keen calculation that passed me by. I had seen
some of this but not the idea of meeting Nc7 with ...Qb6.
17.Bxe4 An admission of failure.
17.Nd5!? Nb4 (17...f5? 18.f3 Nf6 19.Bxc5=) 18.Bxb4 cxb4 19.f4 Qe6µ
17...Qxe4 18.Bxc5 d6 19.Ba3 Qxd3 20.exd3 Nd4 21.Rab1 Bb7 22.Rb2 Nf3+ 23.Kg2 Nd2+
24.Rxb7 Rxb7? The mistake is not for objective value (the move is still winning) but more for the
fact that I allowed him to keep pieces on the board at all.
Around about here his body language gave away what was going on - he was resigned to defeat. This
was the moment to knuckle down and calculate my way to victory. 24...Nxf1! was the cleanest,
which I rather sensed in the game. 25.Rxc7 Nxe3+ 26.fxe3 Rxe3 27.Bxd6 Rb2+ 28.Kh3 h5

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I saw this far and assumed it was winning. But then the demon comes on your shoulder. "Why bother
with this line gorm? He's got two passed-pawns! What a mess! Sure, you are mating him by force.
But surely its better to torture him instead?!" 29.d4 g5 (29...Ree2 30.g4 Re4 (30...hxg4+ 31.Kxg4
Re4+ 32.Kf3 Rxd4 33.c5 Rxa2 34.Ke3 Rb4 35.c6 Ra3+ 36.Kd2 Rd4+-+)) 30.Be5 Ree2-+ White can
resign and a game that ended up lasting six hours, would have ended immediately.
25.Rd1 Nb1 26.Bc1 f6 Weakening the second rank, a first sign that I was uncomfortable in the
technical phase.
26...h5 27.d4 Nc3 28.Rd2 Na4-+ the knight is not great here, but it is enough.
26...Nc3 27.Rd2 Rb1 28.Rc2 Nxa2 29.Rxa2 Rxc1 30.Rxa7 Rc3 31.d4 Rd3 32.d5 Rc8-+ was one way
to simplify and win.
27.h4 Re5?! 28.d4 Ra5

115
29.Re1! Tony is taking any chances going. One thing you do notice when facing stronger players, is
how well they resist in bad positions. You really have to put your boot on their neck, something I
failed to do in this game.
29...Kf7 30.d5 Rb8 31.Nf5 Re8 32.Be3
32.Rxe8 Kxe8 33.Nxg7+ Kf7 34.Ne6 c5-+
32...Na3
32...Nc3! I should have gone for this. One mistake you can make in converting an advantage is trying
to avoid complications altogether. I guess I didn't want to go from a position where I was a clean
exchange up to one which had unbalanced material. But winning is winning! 33.Bd2 Rxe1 34.Bxc3
Re5 (34...Rxa2 35.Bxe1 a5 36.Nd4 a4 37.Nb5 Rc2-+ Black will inevitably win.) 35.Bxa5 Rxf5
36.Bxc7 Ke7 37.f4 looks a bit awkward from afar, except that 37...Rh5 38.Kf3 f5µ will still be good
enough.
33.Rc1 g6 34.Nd4 Rc5 35.Nc2 Ra5
35...Rxc4 36.Nxa3 Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Re2-+ was winning and similar to lines given earlier. Black will
win easily with the rampaging rook.
36.Nd4 Ra4 37.c5 Nc4†
37...Rc4 38.cxd6 cxd6 39.Rd1 a6-+ would have avoided the complications of the game. (39...Nc2
40.Nb5 Nxe3+ 41.fxe3 Rc2+ 42.Kf3 Rb8 43.Nxd6+ Ke7 44.Ne4 f5-+)

116
38.Bf4!
Now I was already short of time (I had burned up most of my time in the technical phase; gaining a
winning position hadn't troubled my clock much at all) and Tony was continuing to cause little
problems. Of course, when you check it with the engine afterwards everything looks very simple, but
over the board you start to see demons.
38...g5 This is not a move I was particularly happy to play because it gives him a route to my
kingside.
38...Nb2? 39.cxd6 cxd6 40.Nb5=;
38...dxc5 39.Nb5 Rd8 40.Nxc7 Rd7-+ should win easily, as there is already a threat of ...g5.
39.hxg5 fxg5 40.Bxg5 Re5 41.Nf3 Rxd5 42.cxd6

117
42...cxd6 Black is still winning but the technical phase of the game has become difficult; more
difficult that it should have been. My king is now exposed and he can cause annoying problems with
his minor pieces combining with the rook.
43.Rh1 Kg7 44.Bh6+ Kg6 45.Bf4 h5 46.Re1 Rxa2 47.Re6+ Kf7 48.Rh6 Kg7 49.Nh4 Re2 50.Rg6+
Kf7 51.Bh6 Re6 52.Rg7+ Ke8 53.Ng6 Just go away already, that was my thoughts in the game. He
continues to find the only way to resist at all. Clearly he is intending to check on g8, and if I go to d7,
then play Nf8. Nf4 is also a threat.
53...Rf5 54.Rg8+ Kf7 55.Rg7+ Kf6 56.Nh4 Ra5! 57.Rc7 Re4
57...Ke5! Just running away with the king would have been wise, but I had forgotten that this move
uncovered an attack on the bishop on h6.
58.Bg7+ Ke6 59.Ng6 Ne5 60.Nf4+ Rxf4? A sign that I was becoming frustrated.
60...Kf5 61.Nxh5 Rc4 62.Re7 Ra2µ Black has lost the h-pawn, but that really isn't important. What is
remaining on the board will be good enough.
61.gxf4 Ng6 62.Bd4 a6 63.Be3 Nh4+ 64.Kh3 Nf5 65.Rh7 h4? 66.Kg4 Ra1 67.Rh8 Rg1+ 68.Kf3?
Getting tired, he is making mistakes as well.
68.Kh3! was already worryingly close to a draw.
68...a5 69.Re8+ Kf7 70.Ra8 h3 71.Rh8 a4 72.Rxh3 a3 73.Rh7+ Ng7 74.Bd4 a2 Mentally I now
chalked up the win. I imagined getting plaudits from my team mates after the game, "Yes, Tony
resisted very well and my technique was shocking guys. But a win is a win." This was a big mistake.
You can never relax, not against a chess warrior like Tony.
75.Ke4

118
75...a1=Q?? Terribly careless.
I am still traumatised that I didn't find the simple win here which I worked out in my head after the
game, while waiting for the taxi to take me to the restaurant: 75...Kg8! 76.Rh6 Re1+ 77.Kf3 Nf5
78.Rh8+ Kf7 79.Bc3 Rc1 80.Bb2 Rb1 and Black will mop up. (80...a1=Q 81.Bxa1 Rxa1 is also good
enough.)
76.Rxg7+
Oh dear. I had missed that one. I now experienced the kind of revulsion and horror that can only be
achieved in a classical game of chess. It's a unique kind of disgust.
76...Rxg7 77.Bxa1= Rg1 78.Bd4 Ke6 79.f5+ Kd7 80.f4 Rg4 81.Bh8 Rg8 82.Bd4 Re8+ 83.Kd5 Rb8
84.Ke4 Rb5 85.Bg7 Rb4+ 86.Bd4 1/2-1/2
Upon the conclusion to this epic game, where even though it was a draw one player feels like a loser
and the other feels like a winner, a feeling of grim, almost unmanagable anger washed over me. Tony
tried to engage me in conversation and I ignored him. He apologised, and then mentioned something
about nearly resigning on move 20. I flung the scoresheet down on the playing hall in pure anger and
walked out of the venue at high speed, stabbing my pen into my right leg as I went.
The next morning while having a bath I saw an ugly red circle around a black mark, so was convinced
I had skin cancer, already forgetting about this pen stab incident. Even now over a week later, I still
have an ugly yellow bruise on my right leg. Nothing is worth this kind of madness, certainly not
chess.

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THE SCANDINAVIAN [B01]
Other White Lines

Part II

In my previous article I examined the Scandinavian with

3...Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6, concluding that it looks like a
useful and little explored weapon for Black. In order to
make it into a complete repertoire against 1.e4, some other
lines need to be considered. Firstly, there are lines where
White plays 3.Nc3 without 4.d4, in which White plays
4.g3 or 4.Bc4. Secondly, there are those in which he omits
3.Nc3 altogether with either 3.Nf3 or 3.d4.
Black gets very reasonable counterchances in all of these
lines, but he does need to know what he's doing. This is especially the case in the lines 3.d4 Nc6
4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 0-0-0 6.Be3 and 6.c4.
The material is divided up as follows:
a) 4.Bc4 and 4.g3
b) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3
c) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.0-0
d) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.Nc3
e) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Be3 & 4.c3
f) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 0-0-0 6.Be3
g) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 0-0-0 6.c4

a) 4.Bc4 and 4.g3

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.g3

120
The fianchetto development of White's bishop aims to create pressure against Black's queenside, it
also suppports a later Bf4, so it certainly has some logic. In response I will recommend set-ups with
...g6, in keeping with my recommended set-up in the previous article.
White can also play 4.Bc4 without putting his d-pawn on d4, but this early commitment of the bishop
allows Black to switch back to an effective set-up with ...a6. For example: 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 a6 (5...c6
6.O-O Bg4 also seems very reasonable.) 6.O-O b5 7.Bb3 Bb7∞ was Ivanovic,Bozidar 2501 -
Benkovic,Petar 2469, Subotica 2003 - 87/(52)
4...Nf6
Black can also play and immediate 4...g6, for example: 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nge2 c6 7.b3 Nf6 8.Bb2 O-O
9.O-O Bf5= was Meurs,Tom 2249 - Danin,Alexandre 2521, Budva 2019
5.Bg2 c6 6.d4 g6 7.Bf4 Qb4 8.Ne2 Bg7

9.Qc1!?
9.O-O O-O 10.a3 Qb6 also leaves Black with a solid position.
9...O-O 10.O-O Bg4 11.a3 Qa5∞

121
This move gave rise to a tough struggle in Topalov,Veselin 2772 - Nisipeanu,Liviu-Dieter 2693,
Sofia 2007 - 100/46

b) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3

5.d4 transposes into the line 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2, and if anything is a more popular move order
for White.
5...Bxf3 This is regarded as Black's best, bringing him full equality.
5...Bh5 and 5...Bf5 have also been used by some strong players, but mainly in blitz and rapid games.
6.Bxf3 Qe6+ This disruptive check is the consistent follow up.
7.Qe2
7.Kf1 O-O-O 8.d3 (8.c3 is well met by 8...Ne5) 8...g6 9.Nc3 Nd4= was equal in Rowson,Jonathan
2569 - Kramnik,Vladimir 2793, London (rapid) 2013
7...Nd4
There is a major alternative in 7...Qxe2+, which has the advantage of avoiding doubled pawns for
either side! Black's space advantage offsets White's posession of the two bishops, but they can
nonetheless become a factor, for example: 8.Bxe2

122
8...Nd4 (8...O-O-O is also possible, for example: 9.c3 e5 10.d3 f5 11.Nd2 g6 12.Nf3 (12.Nc4 Bh6)
12...Bh6= was about equal in Panchanathan,Magesh Chandran 2564 - Kasparov,Sergey 2490,
Ranshofen 2012) 9.Bd1 e5 10.O-O O-O-O 11.d3 g6 12.Re1 Bg7 13.Nd2 Ne7∞ led to a tough
endgame struggle in Nakamura,Hikaru 2708 - Tiviakov,Sergei 2662, Wijk aan Zee 2010
8.Qxe6 Nxf3+ 9.gxf3 fxe6 This endgame should be fine for Black, though it seems helpful to put the
knight on the outpost on f5. The main danger is that his e6-pawn will get targeted along the e-file.
10.Nc3
10.d3 g6 11.Nc3 Nh6 is probably best, bringing the knight to f5.
10.d4 g6 11.Bf4 Bg7 12.c3 Kd7 13.Nd2= was Shahinyan,David 2456 - Quesada Perez, Yuniesky
2598, lichess.org (Internet-blitz) 2020, and now 13...Rf8 14.Bg3 Rf5 15.O-O Nf6 is fine for Black.
10...Nh6 11.Ne4 Nf5 12.c3 e5 13.d3 g6 14.Ke2 Bg7=

123
This position demonstrated a very effective set-up for Black in Kadric,Denis 2547 -
Rakhmanov,Alexander 2629, Skopje 2019

c) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.0-0

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.O-O O-O-O

Castling queenside is the sharpest and most consistent move, though 5...Nf6 has also been played.
6.h3 This is the main point behind 5.0-0, White wants to get the bishop pair and hope for chances in
the middle game.

124
6...Bxf3 The critical move, not losing any time...
... though once again there are alternatives for Black: 6...Bf5?! does not look particularly good after
7.Nc3 Qd7 8.Bb5², as in Yu,Yangyi 2725 - Zhou,Jianchao 2616, China (ch-rapid) 2016
6...h5!? 7.Nc3 (7.hxg4 looks inadvisable, for example: 7...hxg4 8.Nh2 g3 9.fxg3 e6µ puts White in
all sorts of trouble.) 7...Qd6 8.Ne4 Qd5 9.d3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nd4 11.Be3 Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3 was
Miroshnichenko, Evgenij 2618 - Kovchan,Alexander 2577, Al Ain (rapid) 2014, which does not seem
too bad for Black after 12...g6 13.c4 Qf5∞;
6...Bh5!? 7.Nc3 Qd7 8.Bb5 (8.b4!? is probably best ignored, for example 8...Nf6 9.a3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3
Nd4= was fine in Aleksic,Nenad 2371 - Savic,Miodrag R 2519, Srbija 2008) 8...f6 9.d4 e6 10.Be3
Nge7 11.Qe2 Nf5„ gave Black good counterplay in Gvanceladze,Anna 2302 - Hasangatin,Ramil
2502, Serpukhov (rapid) 2018
7.Bxf3 Qd7 8.c3
Allowing Black's knight to come to d4 seems to give White nothing, for example: 8.g3 e5 9.d3 f5
10.Nc3 Nd4 11.Bg2 Nf6= was already quite nice for Black in Sitnikov,Anton 2506 -
Kasparov,Sergey 2521, Donetsk 2011
8...Ne5 It makes sense to eliminate White's bishop pair.
8...e5 9.Re1 Nf6 10.b4 Bd6 11.d3 Qf5 12.Qa4² proved to be very dangerous in Vachier-
Lagrave,Maxime 2742 - Papaioannou,Ioannis 2639, Warszawa 2013
9.d4 Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Nf6
10...Qd5 is also possible, and also give very little advantage for White.
11.Nd2 Qd5 12.Qe2 e6 13.Nf3 Bd6 14.c4 Qe4 15.Be3 c6 16.Rfc1 h6∞

125
At this point position was OK for Black as in Agopov,Mikael 2424 - Galyas,Miklos 2493,
Deutschland 2017

d) 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.Nc3

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.Nc3 This move deserves special coverage, if only
because it was used in a sensational win against Magnus Carlsen.
5...Qd7 6.h3 As is the case after 5.0-0, this is White's main move here.
6.b4 O-O-O 7.O-O e5 8.Rb1 f5 9.d3 Nf6 10.Be3 e4!³ put White in trouble in the game
Sethuraman,SP 2535 - Papaioannou,Ioannis 2597, Kavala 2012
6.d4 e6 (6...O-O-O is strongly met by 7.d5 Nb4 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2, forcing the retrograde 9...Qe8)
7.h3 Bh5 (7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Nxd4 seems possible, for example: 9.Bxb7 Rb8 10.Ba6 Nf6ƒ with active
piece play for Black.) 8.Ne5 Nxe5 9.Bxh5 Ng6 10.a3 Nf6 11.Bf3 c6 12.O-O Bd6∞ gave Black a
solid game in Tsydypov,Zhamsaran 2529 - Nakamura,Hikaru 2746, Saint Petersburg (blitz) 2018
6.O-O O-O-O 7.d3 e5 8.a3 f6 9.b4 Nge7 10.Ne4 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nd4= was fine for Black in
Lupulescu,Constantin 2543 - Ardelean,George-Catalin 2447, Sozina 2004

126
6...Bxf3! As usual this is Black's clearest and most direct response to White's h3...
... and as usual he has alternatives in 6...Bh5 and 6...Bf5
7.Bxf3 O-O-O 8.O-O Nd4
8...e5 has also had some high level support, for example: 9.d3 f5 10.Re1 Re8 11.a3 Nf6 12.b4 Nd4=
gave Black good play in Morozevich, Alexander 2750 - Kramnik,Vladimir 2772, Moscow (blitz)
2009
9.a4!? An interesting attempt to drum up play on the queenside.
9.d3 e6 10.Be3 Ne7 11.Bxd4 Qxd4= was equal in Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime 2721 - Tiviakov,Sergei
2637, Hoogeveen 2010
9...Kb8 10.Nb5 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 a6 12.c4?!
12.Na3; 12.Nc3
12...axb5!
12...e5?! was played in Supi,Luis Paulo 2572 - Carlsen,Magnus 2863, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020
- 144/25
13.axb5 Qd3!µ

127
This leaves White with inadequate compensation for the sacrificed piece.

e) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Be3 & 4.c3

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4

This will usually come to the same thing as 3.Nf3, but it does have some independent significance.
3...Nc6 4.Be3
White has also played 4.c3 after which 4...e5 5.Nf3 (5.dxe5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 Nxe5³ would be
excellent for Black.) 5...exd4 6.cxd4 Bg4 7.Be2 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc4= transposes into a
line of the Scotch Gambit, known to be fine for Black.
4...e5

128
5.Nc3
Other moves are every bit as innocuous, for example: 5.c4 Qa5+ 6.Bd2 Bb4= was Varga,Zoltan 2495
- Savic,Miodrag R 2498, Bosna i Hercegovina 2002
5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 exd4 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.O-O Qh5 9.Nxd4 Bd6= gave Black good play in Lund,Gunnar
2228 - Djurhuus,Rune 2457, Norge 2019
5...Bb4 6.Qd2
White's best is probably 6.Nf3 after which 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 e4 8.Nd2 Nf6= is very comfortable for
Black.
On the other hand 6.a3 is rather bad for White after 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nf6 8.h3 (8.c4 Qa5+ 9.Bd2
Qa4 10.d5 Nd4 11.Bd3 e4³) 8...Bf5 intending ...0-0-0
6...Bxc3
6...Qa5 is less good, White more or less escaping from his plight with 7.dxe5 Nge7 8.a3 Bxc3 (Or
8...Bf5 9.Nf3 Rd8 10.Bd3=, preparing to castle short.) 9.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nxe5 11.O-O-O=,
with approximate equality in the endgame.
7.bxc3 Nf6 8.c4
8.dxe5 is well met by 8...Nxe5, for example 9.O-O-O Qxd2+ 10.Rxd2 Be6 11.Bd4 Ned7= intending
12...c5, leaves Black with a nice structural edge.
8...Qd6 9.d5 Nd4=

129
Gave Black a nice game in Thorhallsson,Throstur 2499 - Forster,Richard 2468, Bermuda 1999

f) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 0-0-0 6.Be3

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 O-O-O 6.Be3 e5 This has become established as
the main line for Black, immediately striking in the centre.
There is an interesting alternative in 6...Nh6!?, aiming to come to f5. After 7.c4 There follows
(7.Nbd2 Nf5 8.c4 Qd6 9.d5 Nxe3 10.fxe3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Ne5³ was already better for Black in
Sohlmann,Jan-Henning 2253 - Geske,Julian 2390, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2013) 7...Qa5+ 8.Nc3
(8.Bd2 Qf5 9.d5 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Ne5∞ would leave Black for choice.) 8...Nf5 9.d5 Nxe3 10.fxe3 e6
11.Ng5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Ne5= was fine for Black in Dominguez Perez,Leinier 2601 - Kogan,Artur
2540, La Habana 2002
7.c4 Qa5+ 8.Bd2

130
8...Qa6! Although humans might balk at having the queen on the same diagonal as the bishop on e2,
engines indicate that this is Black's best.
8...Bb4 9.d5 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nd4 11.Nc3 Qa6! 12.b3 Qa5 (12...Qg6 13.O-O Nf6= also seems fine, for
example Vujic,Mihailo 2311 - Reprintsev, Alexander 2353, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2022) 13.Rc1
f5 14.O-O Nf6= was about equal at this point in Leko,Peter 2751 - Ivanchuk,Vassily 2779,
Mukachevo (m/6-rapid) 2009 - 105/24
9.d5
The point behind Black's last move is that 9.c5 can be met by

131
9...Bxf3! (The immediate 9...b5 can be met by 10.cxb6 (10.d5 Bxf3!? 11.Bxf3 Nd4 12.b4∞)
10...Qxb6 11.dxe5 Bxf3 12.Bxf3², avoiding the shattering of his pawn structure.) 10.gxf3 (10.Bxf3
Nxd4 is unthinkable for White.) 10...b5 11.d5 (11.cxb6 Qxb6 12.dxe5 Bc5³ gives Black excellent
play.) 11...Nd4 12.c6 Nf6! (Even stronger than 12...Rxd5 13.Nc3 Rd8 14.a4 Qxc6 15.axb5 Qb7µ, as
in Dorfanis,Ilarion 2207 - Nikomanis,Andreas 2019, Greece 2008 - 106/(191)) 13.Nc3 Qb6!µ leaves
White in serious trouble.

9...Bxf3! An important point behind Black's last move.

After 9...Nb4?! 10.Qb3±, Black would find himself in trouble.
10.Bxf3
10.gxf3 is no improvement, for example 10...Nd4 11.Rg1 g6³ was nice for Black in
Panagiotakopoulos,Gerasimos 2210 - Azis,Azizis Ektoros 2227, Greece 2013
10...Nd4 11.Be2
Protecting the c-pawn is necessary as after 11.O-O Qxc4 12.Nc3 Nf6µ White was a pawn down for
nothing in Cruz Arias,Juan 2277 - Hasangatin,Ramil 2479, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020
White could also do this with 11.b3, though Black has an excellent game after 11...f5 12.Bc3 (Or
12.Nc3 Nf6) 12...c5! etc..
11...Nf6
11...c6!? is also possible.
12.Nc3
12.O-O Nxe2+ 13.Qxe2 Rxd5!³ left White struggling to recover his lost pawn in Lauridsen,Jesper

132
Morch 2208 - Reprintsev,Alexander 2353, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2022
12...c6
12...Bb4!? seems just as good, for example: 13.O-O (13.a3 can be met by 13...Rhe8, as after 14.axb4
there follows 14...Qxa1 15.Qxa1 Nc2+ 16.Kf1 Nxa1 17.Bd1 c6 18.Ke2 b5ƒ, Black gaining a strong
initiative while White spends time trying to win the knight on a1.) 13...Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nxe2+
(14...Rxd5 15.cxd5 Nxe2+ 16.Kh1 Rd8∞ is also worth considering.) 15.Qxe2 Rxd5 16.Rfe1 Rd7
17.Bxe5 Re8= was about equal at this point in Mirzanurov,Bulat 2238 - Reprintsev, Alexander 2353,
chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2021
13.Rc1
13.dxc6 Qxc6 14.O-O Bc5 also gives Black excellent piece play.
13...Kb8³

Black already had the better position as in Fleites Marti,Yuleikys 2206 - Perez Garcia,Rodney 2436,
Toluca 2009 - 106/(191)

g) 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 0-0-0 6.c4

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 O-O-O 6.c4
Setting up a d4/ c4 pawn duo without further delay.
6...Qf5
Other moves have not done as well for Black, for example: 6...Qh5 is covered in Meijers,Viesturs
2415 - Djurhuus,Rune 2460, Biel (open) 1993 - 58/119

133
6...Qd7 was played in Becerra Rivero,Julio 2544 - Sarkar,Justin 2418, USA (ch) 2007 - 100/44
7.Be3

7...Bxf3! The sharpest and most precise treatment, which is based on a neat tactical trick.
7...Nf6 has also been played but leaves White's pawn centre intact.
8.Bxf3

8...Nxd4! This is the point behind Black's previous move, he will recover the piece and go a pawn
up. However, White gets some compensation because of the insecure position of Black's king.

134
9.Bxd4
After 9.Bg4 Nc2+! 10.Qxc2 Qxg4 11.O-O e6 White had very little compensation in Van Osch,Mees
2288 - Chanda,Sandipan 2593, Hoogeveen 2016
9...Qe6+ 10.Be2 Qe4
Black has a major alternative in 10...c5 for example: 11.O-O (Alternatives are: 11.Qa4 cxd4 12.Qxa7
Qe5³, as in Baron,Tal 2455 - Kurajica,Bojan 2529, Rijeka 2010;, 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.O-O Nf6³ as in
Milov,Leonid 2562 - Pitl,Gregory 2405, Sants 2009; and 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.Nd5 Qd6 13.Qxd4 e6
14.Qxa7 exd5³ as in Jurkovic,Ante 2318 - Nevednichy,Vladislav 2538, Bizovac 2008. Black is better
in each case.) 11...Nf6! More flexible than an immediate capture on d4. 12.Na3 Rxd4 13.Qc2 a6³
gave White very little for the pawn in Baghdasaryan,Vahe 2436 - Tsoi, Dmitry 2361, Moscow 2018
Burgess ("An Idiot Proof Opening Repertoire") points out that 10...Nf6 is another possibility, and it
does seem very reasonable. After 11.Qa4 Rxd4 12.Qxa7 Qb6 13.Qxb6 (13.Qa8+ Kd7 14.Qa4+ c6³
is even better for Black.) 13...cxb6 14.Nc3 e6= is about equal in the endgame.
11.O-O
11.Nc3 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Rxd4 13.Nb5 Rd8 14.Nxa7+ Kb8 15.Nb5 e6³ is just very comfortable for
Black, for example Polasek, Jaroslav 2339 - Neckar,Lubomir 2293, Cesko 2018
And 11.Qa4 Qxd4 12.O-O transposes back into the main line.
11...Qxd4 12.Qa4 e6
12...Qxb2 seems too dangerous after 13.Qxa7 e6 (And not 13...Qxa1 14.Qa8+ Kd7 15.Rd1++-; or
13...Qxe2 14.Nc3+-) 14.Bf3±, with Black's king in deadly peril.
13.Nc3 Qb6 This novelty seems to be Black's best.
13...Bd6 14.Nb5 Qe5! 15.Nxd6+ cxd6 16.Bf3ƒ gives White lasting pressure against Black's king, as
in Milov,Leonid 2495 - Lauer,Moritz 2355, Deutschland 2014
14.b4
White has tried other moves, for example: 14.Rad1 Rxd1 15.Rxd1 Nf6∞ was Brandenburg,Daan 2435
- Tiviakov,Sergei 2634, Hilversum 2008 - 103/60
14.Rab1 seems well met by 14...Qa6 15.Qc2 Bb4
14...Qxb4 15.Qxa7

135
15...Bc5! Another precise move in this sharp line.
15...Qxc3 16.Bf3 Bd6 (16...Qxc4?? 17.Qxb7+ Kd7 18.Rac1+- was Zeberski,Jakub 2437 - Pfeiffer,
Georg 2110, Deutschland 2007 - 103/(60)) 17.Rfd1± was clearly very precarious for Black in
Heberla,Bartolomiej 2556 - Konopka,Michal 2364, Cesko 2019, though maybe he can defend with
17...Kd7 18.c5 Ke7
16.Qa8+ Kd7 17.Rfd1+ Bd6 18.Qa7 Qxc3 This gets a nod of approval from the engine.
18...Ke7= is Haba,Petr 2502 - Milov,Leonid 2515, Deutschland 2012 - 114/31
19.c5 Ke7 20.cxd6+ Rxd6 21.Rxd6 cxd6³

136
This move left Black better in Lyell,Mark 2202 - Juhasz,Armin 2254, Budapest 2014

137
DEVELOPMENTS
2.c3 d5 3.ed5 Nf6!?

Over many years and vast experience of playing the

Sicilian with the black pieces I was quite often facing a
dilemma what to play against the Alapin. Of course, the
Alapin is neither topical nor critical test of the Sicilian
Defence, but an experienced and knowledgeable player can
pose huge problems from the white side. The variation we
are about to explore a bit deeper in this article is yet to be
investigated in detail.
Nevertheless, it was played in games that featured some
elite players, and I also tried the variation in some of my own tournament and rapid games. After 2.c3
d5 3.ed5 Black plays 3...Nf6, thus opting for gambit play and sacrifice of the central pawn. In return
he obtains a highly active piece play, and is sometimes froced to sacrifice another pawn, an exchange,
or even a whole rook in order to maintain the initiative! The rationale for this variation from Black's
standpoint is the ensuing character of play which is usually totally opposite to the one White planned
to achieve with his 2.c3.
Now, let's check some critical lines!

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5

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3...Nf6!?
The first major crossroads. White can be principled and fight for the pawn with 4. Bb5, 4.Qa4 and
4.c4. Also, he can proceed in a more standard way with 4.d4 or 4.Nf3. In that case Black takes on d5
with his knight, and he does not experience any problems in contrast to the 3...Qd5 variation where
his queen is exposed to attack.
4.Bb5+
4.Qa4+ Nbd7

5.c4

139
(The alternative way to protect the pawn is 5.Qb3 g6 White stopped the e6-push, so Black must
fianchetto his dark-squared bishop. 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O b6 9.d3 (After the logical 9.d4
Black returns the pawn. 9...Bb7 10.c4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd5!∞; 9.c4 Bb7 10.Nc3 e6 11.dxe6 fxe6
12.d4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Qd1 Qe7∞) 9...Bb7 10.c4 e6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.Nc3 Ng4© Black has a
full compensation for the sacrificed pawn, and all of his pieces are ideally placed. Of course, White's
position is healthy and the real fight is ahead of us. If White's goes for the careless try to punish Black
with 13.Ng5

13...Nxf2! 14.Rxf2 (14.Nxe6 Qh4-+; 14.Be3 Qe7! Stay cool! 15.Rxf2 Bd4! 16.Bxd4 Qxg5µ)
14...Bd4 15.Nd1 (15.Nce4?! Bxe4 16.Nxe4 Rxf2 17.Nxf2 Qh4 18.g3 Qf6 19.Bf4 g5³) 15...Rxf2
16.Nxf2 Qf6 17.Bf3 Ne5! 18.Qd1 Rf8 19.Kh1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Bxf2∞; 5.d4 Nxd5 6.dxc5 e6 7.b4 g6

140
8.Nf3 Bg7©; 5.Nf3 Nxd5=) 5...b5! One more clever sacrifice! Quite an extraordinary position in the
Alapin after only 5 moves! Now, Black opens the b-file and develops his rook with a gain of tempo.
Also, he frees the b7-square from his light-squared bishop. 6.Qxb5 Rb8 7.Qa4 e6 8.dxe6 fxe6 It is
time to take the stock after 8 moves. Black sacrificed two pawns and got three semi-open files, two
long diagonals (a8-h1 and b8-h2) in return. So, he is able to improve his bishop and three already
developed pieces. At the same time, White won some material, but is seriously lagging in
development. 9.Nf3 A more precise move order for White. (If White develops his queenside knight
first 9.Nc3 then after 9...Bb7 he will experience problems with development on the kingside. 10.d3
Bd6 11.Nf3 (11.h3 The idea of the h3-move is to take away the g4-square from the black knight and
proceed with development with Be3 and 0-0-0. 11...O-O 12.Be3 Ne5 13.O-O-O Rf7!?© with the idea
of Bc6, transferring the rook on the b-file. (13...Nc6© with the Nd4 idea.)) 11...Bxf3! 12.gxf3 O-O©
with the idea of Ne5 and Nh5.) 9...Bb7 10.Be2 Bd6 11.d3 O-O 12.Nc3 (Premature is 12.O-O?! Ng4!
13.Nbd2 (13.h3? Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nh2µ) 13...Bxf3 14.Nxf3

14...Rxf3! 15.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 16.Kh1 Nde5 The threat being Qh4 followed by checkmate. 17.g3 Nxf3
18.Qc6 Nd4 (18...Nge5 19.Qxe6+ Kh8∞) 19.Qe4 h5ƒ) 12...Ng4 (12...Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.O-O
Nh5! 15.Bxh5 Qh4 16.h3 Qxh5 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.dxe4 Rf6=) 13.h3 (13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7
15.Qxa7 (Careless is 15.h3?! allowing a swift punishment. 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nxf2!³ 17.Kxf2?
Rxb2+ 18.Ne2 Qh4+ 19.Ke3 Qg5+ 20.Kf2 Ne5-+) 15...Qd6© The white king must stay in the centre
and cannot escape on any flank. Black is threatening Nde5 or Bf3 followed by Rb2.; 13.Ne4 Bxe4
14.dxe4 Nde5 15.Nxe5 Nxf2 16.Qd7™ Bxe5 17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.Qxe5 Nxh1 The threat is Qh4, so
White must prevent it with 19.Bg5 Qa5+ 20.Bd2 Qd8=) 13...Nge5 (Interesting positions occur after
13...Nxf2!?) 14.Ng5 (14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.O-O Bc7 Black will create a strong battery with Qd6.
16.Nb5 Qe8 17.Qd1 White brings his queen back in defence, while attacking the black c7-bishop.
17...Nf3+ Even though all of the black pieces are aiming at the white king, Black cannot achieve
more than a draw. 18.Bxf3 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Qg6+ 20.Kh1 Qh5 21.Kg2 Qg6+ 22.Kh1 Qh5=) 14...Bxg2

141
15.Rg1 (15.Nxe6? Qh4 16.Nxf8 Rxf8-+) 15...Bf3 16.Nxe6 Qf6 17.Nxf8 (17.Rxg7+ Kh8 18.Nxf8
Qxg7 19.Nxd7 Black has a choice here and can opt for a drawish conclusion, or for attack on the
white king. 19...Qg1+ (19...Nxd3+ 20.Bxd3 Qg1+ 21.Bf1 Re8+ 22.Be3 Rxe3+ 23.fxe3 Qxe3+
24.Ne2 Bg3+ 25.Kd1 Qd3+ 26.Kc1 Qe3+=) 20.Kd2 Nc6→) 17...Nxf8 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.dxe4

19...Ne6© centralised knights, open files towards the white king secure a full compensation for Black.
4.c4 White defends the pawn, but leaves the d4-square and d-pawn permanently weak. 4...e6 5.dxe6
Bxe6 6.Nc3 (After the careless 6.Nf3 Black takes back the pawn right away: 6...Qe7) 6...Nc6 7.Be2
Qc7 Black is intending to castle long, while the queen is eyeballing the h2-square, having in mind
Ng4 and Nd4 idea. (7...g5!? is an interesting move, worthy of deeper analysis. Black is fighting for
the d4-square.) 8.Nf3 O-O-O 9.O-O a6 Important move which prevents Nb5 and secures the queen's
position on c7. 10.Re1 Kb8 11.Bf1 Be7© Black played all the necessary developing and preparatory
moves and is now ready for the kingside initiative.
4.d4 Nxd5

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5.Nf3 (5.dxc5 e6 6.c4 (White cannot keep the pawn after 6.b4?! because of the undermining 6...a5!³
and White will not be able to keep his queenside pawn mass intact.; 6.Nf3 Bxc5 7.Bd3 b6 8.O-O
Bb7∞ Black positioned his pieces in the most harmonious way. After Nd7, 0-0 he should be able to to
fight for the initiative.) 6...Nb4! 7.a3 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 N4c6 9.Be3 (9.Nc3 Bxc5=) 9...Nd7 10.b4 a5
11.b5 Nce5ƒ) 5...cxd4 6.Nxd4 (6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Bb5 e6 8.O-O Bd7 9.Qe4 Be7=) 6...e5 7.Bb5+
(7.Nb5 The threat is Qd5. 7...Be6 8.Bc4 Nf4 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bxe6 Nxe6= Shevchenko, Kirill
2592 - Lagarde,Maxime 2651, europe-echecs.com (Internet-blitz) 2020) 7...Bd7 8.Qe2 Qe7 9.Nf3
(9.Bxd7+ Nxd7 10.Nf3 (10.Nb5?! a6µ Jaksland, Tim 2203 - Warmerdam,Max 2599, Reykjavik
2022) 10...Qe6 11.O-O Bc5∞; 9.Nf5 Qf6 10.Ne3 Nf4 11.Ng4 Nxe2 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7
14.Kxe2 Ke6= followed by Nc6 and Black completes development being ready to push forward his
central pawn (f5, e4).) 9...Bxb5 10.Qxb5+ Qd7 11.Qe2 f6 12.O-O Nc6∞
4...Nbd7 5.d4
5.c4 a6 6.Bxd7+ (6.Ba4 b5! with a familiar motif. 7.cxb5 Nxd5 8.Nf3 N5b6 9.Bc2 axb5∞)

143
6...Qxd7!? An interesting decision. Black is planning to undermine White's centre by means of e6
and b5, thus allowing his queen to exert pressure on the d-file. At the same time, the bishop should
prove to be extremely strong on b7. 7.Nc3 (7.d4 e6 8.dxe6 (8.Be3?! exd5 9.dxc5 dxc4³
Grandelius,Nils 2656 - Carlsen, Magnus 2824, chess24.com (Internet-rapid) 2022) 8...Qxe6+ 9.Ne2
Bd6 Black is in no rush to take back the pawn, so he proceeds with development. 10.O-O O-O 11.d5
Qg4 12.b3 Qh4 13.f4 (13.Bf4 Bxf4 14.g3 Bxg3 15.hxg3 Qh3∞) 13...Re8© The bishop pair and weak
squares on the e-file guarantee Black a full compensation.) 7...e6 8.dxe6 (8.Qe2 Bd6 9.dxe6

9...Qc6! An excellent move - fighting for the initiative. 10.Qf3 (10.exf7+?! Kxf7 11.Qf3 Re8+
12.Kf1 Be6 13.d3 Qb6→ Black is intending to move his king to g8 and free the f-file for the rooks.
Soon enough his attack will become a very serious threat for the white king.; 10.Nf3 Bxe6 11.d3 O-O

144
12.O-O Bg4©) 10...Qc7 11.exf7+ Kxf7 12.h3 Prophylaxis aimed against Bg4. 12...b5! Of course,
Black must not stop! 13.d3 (13.Qxa8 Re8+ 14.Nge2 Bb7 15.Qxe8+ Kxe8 16.O-O bxc4³) 13...Bb7
14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.cxd5 Rhf8 16.Ne2 Kg8 17.O-O Nd7 18.Qe3 Rae8 19.Qd2 Nf6 20.Nf4 Qb7©)
8...Qxe6+ 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Ngxe2 Bf5 11.b3 (11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd3 Black recoups the pawn and
keeps the bishop pair. 13.b3? Bb4µ) 11...O-O-O 12.Bb2 Bd6© followed by Rhe8, Bd3 and b5. White
is a pawn up, but it is a backward pawn on d2. After the activation of the last piece (Rhe8), and
placing the bishop on d3 Black surely has more than enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
5...a6 6.Be2 Nxd5 7.c4
7.Nf3 e6 8.c4 N5f6 9.Nc3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qh4 Nf8! There is no need to castle just yet, so
Black reroutes his knight first. 12.Qg5 Be7 13.Qxg7 (13.O-O Ng6 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Qg3 e5∞)
13...Rg8 14.Qh6 Rxg2∞ In this extremely sharp position both sides have chances of their own.
7...N5f6 8.d5

8...b5!? It is high time for the Benko Gambit!

9.cxb5 Nb6
The alternative is 9...g6 with a highly thematic position in this type of gambit play. 10.Nc3 Bg7
11.Nf3 Nb6 12.Be3 Nbxd5 13.Bxc5 O-O 14.Bd4 (14.O-O Nxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 Black regains the
pawn right away.) 14...Nf4 15.O-O Bb7©
10.bxa6
10.Nc3 Nbxd5 11.Nf3 e6 12.a4 Be7 13.O-O O-O 14.Bd2 Bb7∞
10...Bxa6
After the natural 10...Qxd5 White has a highly unpleasant reply 11.Qb3!

145
11.Bxa6 Rxa6 12.Qe2 Qa8
12...c4!?
13.Nc3 Nbxd5 14.Qb5+ Rc6 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Nf3 f6 17.O-O Qa6∞

I am convinced that this variation is bound to develop further in time to come, being very rich in
possibilities for both sides. Of course, we will be following both the theory and practice seeking new
and fresh ideas.

146
THE SCOTCH GAME [C45]

The Scotch Game was very popular during the 19th

century, but then it was almost forgotten for a long time.
During the 1990s it was resurrected, mostly because
Kasparov started playing it. Lately, Carlsen also played the
Scotch regularly among the top players, so it became
popular again.
Nowadays the 7.Qe2 line is one of the main opening
weapons of Rublevsky. It may seem that Black's situation
is quite secure in the context of fighting for the opening
equality, but it is still up to White to fight for the advantage. Since White is the first to move he can
choose his preferred character of the battle and create chances for the opponent to make mistakes.

7.Qe2/8.Nd2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 d5 7.Qe2

147
7...dxe4 8.Nd2?!

Compared to 8.Nc3 White would like to neutralize 8...Bb4 with c3 in a good moment. However, this
is an inaccurate move.
8...Bb4

9.Bxe4
9.O-O Bxd2 10.Bxd2 O-O 11.Bc4 Bg4 (11...Qd6!? Now, White must try to prove that he has
compensation for the pawn.) 12.Qe3 Re8 13.h3 (Bedoya Ramos,Monica Andrea 1672 - Herrera
Arboleda,Kerly Danna 1903, Ecuador 2014) 13...Bh5∞

148
9...O-O!
9...Nxe4 10.Qxe4+ Qe7 11.O-O (11.c3!? Bf5 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.Nb3 O-O (13...a5 14.Bf4 c5 15.O-
O-O Bg4 16.Rd3 a4 17.Nd2∞) 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Rfe8+ 16.Kd2 cxd6 17.Rae1 c5∞ Li,Bo 2383 -
Vardaan,Nagpal 2129, Balatonlelle 2017) 11...Qxe4 12.Nxe4 Bf5 13.c3 Be7 (13...Bxe4 14.cxb4 O-
O-O 15.Re1 (15.Be3 a6 (15...Kb7 16.f3!? (16.Rfc1 Rd3 (Pezelj,Novak 2447 - Csonka,Balasz 2398,
Srbija 2016) 17.Rd1 Rhd8 18.Rxd3 Rxd3 19.a3 c5 20.Bxc5 Rd2∞) 16...Bd5 17.Kf2 Rhe8 18.Rfe1 h6
19.h4²) 16.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Rd8 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8= Danin,Alexandre 2521 - Kryvoruchko,Yuriy
2683, Budva 2019) 15...Bd5 16.f3 Rhe8 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Kf2±) 14.Re1 O-O-O 15.Bg5 Bxg5
16.Nxg5 Bg6 17.Rad1∞
10.c3
10.Bxc6?!

(Ducarmon,Quinten 2479 - Bacrot,Alexandre 2257, Pro Chess League (Internet-rapid) 2019)

10...Bb7!! What a brilliant tactical blow! Black wants to play ...Re8. 11.Bxb7 Re8 12.Bxa8 Qxa8
13.f3 Nd5 14.c3 Rxe2+ 15.Kxe2 Qe8+ 16.Ne4 f5 17.cxb4 fxe4-+ The white king is weak, so Black
is completely winning.

149
10...a5!! A brilliant tactical move, which nobody played after this game.
10...Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Be7 12.O-O Be6 (12...f5 13.Rd1 Qe8 14.Ng5 Bxg5 (14...Bd6?! 15.Qc4+ Kh8
16.Bf4 Ba6 17.Qxa6 Bxf4 18.Nf3± Li,Bo 2383 - Czebe,Attila 2475, Balatonlelle 2017) 15.Qxe8
Rxe8 16.Bxg5 a5²) 13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Bf4 a5 15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 Bd5∞;
10...Bd6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.O-O Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Qd6+³ Gruber,Theodor - Euwe,Max, Wien 1921
11.cxb4 Ba6 The white king is in the middle, so Black has a really dangerous attack for the piece.
12.Qe3
12.Qf3?! Re8 13.b5 Bxb5 14.a4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bd3-+ Kolin,Julius - Laurencena,Alberto, corr 1987
12...Re8 13.f3 Nd5 14.Qd4 f5µ

8.Be4

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 d5 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Bxe4

150
The simplest continuation, but usually White wants to keep his bishop.
8...Nxe4 9.Qxe4+ Qe7 10.Qxe7+
10.Qe3 Bf5 11.O-O (11.c3?! Bd3! A good move to prevent castling. 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.Be3 Rb8³
and thanks to his pair of bishops Black has a comfortable endgame.) 11...Qxe3 12.Bxe3 Be7 13.c3 O-
O 14.Nd2 Rfb8= Fritsche,Frank - Gierden,Horst, corr 2017/18
10...Bxe7 Black has double pawns on the c-file, but he has the bishop pair which secures a good
compensation.
11.Bf4

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11.O-O Bf5 (11...O-O 12.Re1 Bf6 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Ne4 (Murzin,Volodar 2470 - Makarian,Rudik
2441, Russia 2020) 14...Bd4∞) 12.c3 (12.Bf4 O-O-O 13.Nd2 Bf6³ Granda Zuniga,Julio 2440 -
Ivkov,Borislav 2510, Cienfuegos 1985; 12.Be3 Bxc2 13.Rc1 Bxb1 Usually we like to keep the bishop
pair, but now Black exchanges it for an extra pawn. He is obviously slightly better. (13...O-O-O!?)
14.Raxb1 Kd7 15.Rc2 a5 16.Rbc1 Ra6 17.a4 Rb8 18.Rd1+ Bd6³ Garma, Chito 2342 - Gomez,John
Paul 2450, Makati 2018) 12...O-O (12...O-O-O!? 13.Be3 (Schmid,Hartmut 2211 -
Michalczak,Thomas 2361, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2006) 13...a5³) 13.Bf4 Rfb8 14.b3 Bf6 15.Bxc7
Re8³ 16.Bf4 Re2 17.Be3 h5 18.Rd1 Bc2 19.Rf1 (19.Rc1?

19...Re8! 20.Na3 R8xe3! 21.Nxc2 (21.fxe3 Be4-+) 21...Rxc3 22.Ne3 Rxa2! 23.Rxa2 Rxc1+ 24.Nf1
Bd4-+ Kozak, Adam 2504 - Donchenko,Alexander 2657, Reykjavik 2021) 19...Bd3³
11...Rb8!?
11...Bf5 12.Bxc7 (12.Nd2 O-O-O (12...Bf6 13.O-O-O O-O-O 14.Nb3 Be4∞) 13.O-O-O Be6
(13...Rd5 14.Nc4 Rhd8 15.Rde1 (Matko,Ognjen 2302 - Ivic, Mateo 2229, Hrvatska 2017) 15...Be6∞)
14.Nb3 c5∞) 12...Bxc2 This exchange was obviously favourable for Black. 13.Nc3 O-O 14.Rc1
Probably 14...Bd3!? was ever more accurate, with a little advantage for Black. (14...Bf5 15.O-O Rac8
(15...Bg5 16.Rcd1 Rfe8 17.Rfe1 Bc2∞) 16.Bf4 Bf6 (16...Rfd8 17.Be3 c5 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1
f6∞) 17.b3 (17.Rfe1!?) 17...Rfe8 18.Be3 (Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2751 - Anand,Viswanathan 2783,
Saint Louis (rapid) 2017) 18...Be7 ∆ Ba3∞) 15.f3 Bg5 16.f4 (16.Rd1 Bc2 17.Rd6 (17.Rd7?! Bf5
18.Rd4 Rfe8+µ) 17...Rac8 18.Rxc6 Bf5ƒ) 16...Bh4+ 17.g3 Bf6 18.Kf2 Bd4+ 19.Kf3 c5³
12.b3 Bf6 13.c3 O-O
13...Kd7!? 14.O-O c5 15.Re1 Ba6∞
14.O-O Bf5 15.Bxc7 Rb7 16.Bf4 Re8 17.Be3 (Obolenskikh,Dmitry 2544 - Kollars, Dmitrij 2586,

152
chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020)
17...Rd7„

8.Nc3/9...Bc3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 d5 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Nc3

The most popular and straightforward continuation.

8...Bb4 Now Black is threatening with the winning 9...Bg4.
9.Bxe4

153
9...Bxc3+
9...O-O see next chapters.
10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qxe4+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 The position became pretty drawish.
13.Bf4 Rb8
13...Bf5 14.O-O-O Rhc8 15.Rhe1+ Be6 16.Rd4 Kf8 (16...Rab8 17.Ra4 Rb7 18.c4² Kraus,Tomas
2459 - Reuker,Jari 2410, Ceske Budejovice 2021) 17.Ra4 a6 18.g3 Ra7 19.Be3 Raa8 20.c4 f6 21.Kb2
Rcb8+ 22.Kc3² Paehtz,Elisabeth 2466 - Mammadova,Gulnar 2385, Krasnaya Polyana (m/2) 2021
13...Rd8 14.Bxc7 Rd5 15.O-O f6 16.c4 Rd7 17.Bg3 Rd2© Matyukhin,Sergey - Grigoryev,Valery, corr
2016
13...Re8 14.O-O-O Be6 15.a3 Bd5 16.f3 Kf8 17.Bxc7 Re2 18.Rd2 Rae8 19.Bd6+ Kg8 20.Rhd1 f6
21.Kb2 h5 22.h4 g5© Solodovnichenko,Yuri 2546 - Fressinet, Laurent 2638, France 2021
14.O-O-O
14.Bxc7 Rb2 15.O-O-O Rxa2 This exchange seems to be better for Black. However, the position is
still equal. 16.Rhe1+ Be6 17.Kb1 Ra4 18.f4 f5 (18...Rc8 19.Bd6+ Kf6=) 19.g4 Kf7 20.gxf5 Bxf5
21.Rd4 Rxd4 22.cxd4 Re8 23.Be5= Vykouk,Jan 2430 - Schnider, Gert 2412, Ceske Budejovice 2017
14.Kd2 Rd8+ 15.Kc1 Rb7 16.Re1+ Be6 17.Re4 a5 18.Ra4 Ra8 19.Rb1 Rxb1+ 20.Kxb1= 1/2 : 1/2
Juras,Zvonko - Kudr, Roman, corr 2018
14...Rb7 15.Rd4 Be6 16.Rb4
16.Re1 Rhb8 17.Kd2 Kf8 18.Ra4 Rd8+ (18...Bf5?! 19.c4 Rb2 20.Rc1 R8b4 21.Rxb4 (21.Ra5?! Rxc2+
22.Rxc2 Bxc2 23.Be3

154
23...Ra4! This is the correct move to simplify the position. (23...Rxc4? could have been met by
24.Rc5!+- and suddenly Black is in a losing opposite-coloured bishops endgame, 1 : 0
Mastrovasilis,Dimitrios 2586 - Stany,George Anthony 2494, Arad 2018) 24.Rxa4 Bxa4 25.Bxa7
Ke7=) 21...Rxb4 22.Kc3±) 19.Kc1 Rdb8 20.a3 Rb1+ 21.Kd2 Rd8+ 22.Rd4 Rxd4+ 23.cxd4 Rxe1
24.Kxe1 Ke7=
16...Rxb4 17.cxb4 Bxa2
17...c5!? 18.bxc5 Kd7 19.Rd1+ Kc6 20.Rd3 a6 21.a3 Rb8©
18.Bxc7 Rc8 19.Be5

155
19...c5
19...f6?! 20.Bd4 a6 (20...Ra8 21.Kb2 Be6 22.Ra1 Kd7 (22...a6 23.Bb6 h5 24.Kc3 Kd7 25.g3²) 23.f3
Kc7 24.Re1 Kd6 25.Bc5+²) 21.Kb2 Bd5 22.Ra1 Kd7 (22...Kf7 23.g3 Ra8 24.Kc3 g5 (24...h5
25.Kd3 Ke6 26.c4 Bf3 27.Ke3 Bg2 28.Bb6±) 25.Kd3 f5 26.c4 Be4+ 27.Ke3 g4 28.Bb6 Ke6 29.Ra2
(29.Ra5!? h5 30.Kd4 Kd7 31.Ra2 Bg2 32.Ke5 Be4 33.Rd2+±) 29...Bf3 (Antal,Gergely 2541 -
Stevic,Hrvoje 2602, Magyarorszag 2017) 30.h3!? Kf7 31.h4 Ke6 32.Kf4 Bd1 33.Ra3 Bc2 34.Bc5±)
23.f3 Ra8 24.Kc3 Kc7 25.Re1²
20.Kb2 f6 21.Bc3
21.Kxa2 fxe5 22.b5 Rb8 23.Rb1 e4 24.c4 Rf8=
21...Bd5 22.bxc5 Rb8+ 23.Ka3 Kd7 24.Re1 Kc6©

9...0-0/13...Bc3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 d5 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bxe4
O-O

The most ambitious reply.

10.Bxc6 Rb8 Hoping for 11...Qd6 - winning.
11.O-O Qd6 12.Bb5
12.Ba4?! The bishop is out of play on a4. 12...Ng4! 13.g3 (Morais Carreras,Javier 1958 - Fernandez
Aguilar,Francisco 2080, Sabadell 2016) 13...Qg6! 14.h3 Nf6 15.Re1 (15.Kh2? Qf5!-+)

156
12...Ng4! Black immediately creates counterplay for the pawn.
13.g3

13...Bxc3
13...Qc5 see next chapter.
14.bxc3 Ne5
14...Bb7!? is the alternative choice. 15.Qxg4 Qd5 16.f3 Qxb5 17.Be3 a5 18.Rab1 Qc6 19.Bd4 f6
20.Qh5 Ba6 21.Rxb8 Rxb8 22.Re1 Bc4 23.Re7 Bxa2 24.Qxa5 1/2 : 1/2 Gunkel,Wolfgang -
Hjorth,Jesper, corr 2017
15.Bf4 Rxb5! With this thematic exchange sacrifice, Black starts a long-lasting "light-square" attack
on the king.
16.Qxb5 Nf3+ 17.Kg2

157
17...Qe6! Black manages to tactically save both attacked pieces.
18.Rfd1
18.Kxf3!? is the other option. Objectively, both moves should lead to a draw. 18...Bd7 19.Qe5 Qc6+
20.Ke3 Re8 21.Qxe8+ Bxe8 22.Kd2 f6 The engine usually evaluates the final position of the forced
variation with 0.00, but White's position remains uncomfortable to play because of his weak king.
(Prusikin,Michael) 23.Rfb1 (23.Be3? Bg6 24.f3 Qa4 25.Rfc1 Qd7+ 26.Ke2 Qh3 27.Rh1 Be8-+
Vykouk, Jan 2440 - Kantor,Gergely 2518, Budapest 2018) 23...Qd5+ 24.Kc1 Qh1+ 25.Kd2 Qxh2
26.Be3 Qh5 27.Rb8 Kf7 (27...Qd5+ 28.Kc1 Kf7 29.Rab1 Qxa2 30.R1b7 Ba4 31.Rxc7+ Kg6 32.Rb2
Qa1+ 33.Rb1 1/2 : 1/2 Gutierrez Dopino,Jose Maria - Glaser,Karel, corr 2018/19) 28.Rab1 (28.Rd8
Qa5 29.Rd4 Bc6 30.a4 h5 31.Rb1 g5 32.Rbb4 a6³ Zhak,Boris - Voll,Aleksey, corr 2015/16) 28...Bc6
29.Bxa7 Qd5+ 30.Bd4 Qxa2∞ Iotov,Valentin - Dronov,Aleksandr, corr 2016/17

158
18...c6! The key move which means that the white queen is denied the d5-square.
18...Qe4? 19.Qd5!+-
19.Qa4
19.Qc5? Qe4-+ and there is no Qd5!
19.Qd3? Qh3+ 20.Kxf3 Re8!! 21.Be3 Bg4+ 22.Kf4 h6-+;
19.Qf1?! Re8! 20.Kh1 (20.Kxf3? Qe4#) 20...g5! (20...c5!?) 21.Rd6 Qg4 22.Be3 Qh5 23.Qg2 Bh3-+
19...Nh4+!
19...Qh3+? doesn't work here, because of 20.Kxf3 Re8 21.Be3+- and the g4-square is covered.
20.Kg1
20.gxh4 Qg4+ 21.Kf1 transposes to the main line.
20...Qh3 21.gxh4 Qg4+ 22.Kf1 Qf3! 23.Rd3
23.Qd4? Bg4!-+
23...Qh1+ 24.Ke2 Qxa1 25.Re3
25.Bd6 Re8+ 26.Re3 Rxe3+ 27.fxe3 Qxc3 28.Qe4 Be6 29.Be5 (29.a3? h5! 30.h3 (30.Kd1? Bg4+-+
Rublevsky,Sergei 2683 - Banusz,Tamas 2608, Srbija 2017 - 134/102) 30...Bxh3 31.Qe8+ Kh7
32.Qe4+ f5 33.Qd3 Bg4+ 34.Kf2 Qf6 35.Kg3 c5!µ) 29...Qc4+ 30.Qxc4 Bxc4+ 31.Kd2 Bxa2
32.Kc3©;
25.Qxc6!? Qb1 26.Bd6 Qxc2+ 27.Rd2 Ba6+ (27...Qg6!?) 28.Qxa6 Re8+ 29.Be7 Qe4+ 30.Kd1
Qb1+ 31.Ke2 Rxe7+ 32.Kf3 Qe4+ 33.Kg3= Carrettoni,Angelo - Fedeli,Luciano, corr 2019

159
25...Qb1 26.Qe4 Bg4+ 27.f3 Be6 28.a3 Bd5 29.Qd3 Qa2 30.Kf2 h6 31.c4 Bxc4 32.Qc3 f6∞
Rodriguez Perez,Rene - Weglicki,Slawomir, corr 2020

13...Qc5

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 d5 7.Qe2 dxe4 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bxe4
O-O 10.Bxc6 Rb8 11.O-O Qd6 12.Bb5 Ng4! 13.g3 Qc5

Black keeps the tension as long as possible and exerts some pressure on the white light pieces.
13...Ne5!? was also played in a correspondence game as a good alternative for the text move. 14.Rd1
(14.Bf4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 is transposing to previous chapter) 14...Qe6 15.Bd3 Bxc3 (15...Bc5 16.Be3
Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Rxb2 19.Nd5 Bb7 20.Qa3 Bxd5 21.Qxb2 (1/2 : 1/2 Siikaluoma,Auno
- Perevertkin,Vladimir, corr 2014) 21...Qe4 22.Rxd5 Qxd5=) 16.bxc3 Qf6 1/2 : 1/2 Akwei,Loving -
Sisak,Richard, corr 2018
14.Bd3

160
14...Ne5!?
14...Bxc3 15.bxc3

15...Bd7!?© with an obvious compensation for the pawn. (15...Ne5? 16.Ba3! An excellent reply,
which completely solves White problems. 16...Qxa3 17.Qxe5± and White is active. Moreover, he has
a healthy extra pawn. 17...Be6 18.Rfe1 Qd6 19.a4 Rfd8 20.Rad1 Qc6 21.Bb5 Qb7 22.Rd4 g6 23.Rh4
Qf3 24.Rf4 Qb7 25.Qf6 Qc8 (25...c6? 26.Bd3+- Threatening Bg6! Xiong,Jeffery 2709 - Robson,
Ray 2673, USA (ch-Internet-rapid) 2020) 26.h4±)
15.Ne4 Qc6 16.Ng5 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 g6 18.Qe4 Qf6 19.c3 Bd6 Black's bishop pair obviously gives
compensation for the pawn.

161
20.Qf3 Qd8 21.Ne4 Bb7 22.Qd3 Be7 23.Qxd8 Rfxd8 24.Re1 Bxe4 25.Rxe4 Rd1+ 26.Kg2 Bg5
27.f4 Bf6© Kadonas,Kestutis - Kraujunas,Vladas, corr 2017/18

Conclusion

The Scotch is that particular opening which leads to unusual and original middlegame structures.
Rapid contact between the opposing forces takes place much quicker than in the other open games
which increases the value of every move and requires from both sides tremendous accuracy in a very
early stage of the game. Also, there is another factor to be taken into account. The opening struggle is
also characterised by the fact that positions with castling on the opposite sides arise much more often
in the Scotch than in all the other open games put together. There are no compromises in Scotch
fights and the outcome of the game is often decided by direct attacks against the enemy king.
Therefore, the theoretical knowledge is obviously important for both sides.

162
THE PILLSBURY ATTACK

After my last Informant article about the isolated pawn

(IQP), I thought it was only natural to continue my pawn
structures path. What would be better than another typical
attacking idea going back to the late 1800's which remains
prominent to this day and is something that can be found in
a variety of openings and defences with both colors.
Many of you know about the tragic life of the American
genius Harry Nelson Pillsbury. He was the strongest
American player since Paul Morphy (if we exclude
Wilhelm Steinitz) and went on to win the strongest event of 19th century, the Hastings 1895
Tournament. Pillsbury's win was achieved in one of the most dramatic turn of events as he managed
to surpass everyone after losing in the first round to Mikhail Chigorin. When asked about my favorite
games, I often like to answer that it is the story of that tournament that fascinates me the most and I
cannot make up my mind about one game alone. If there is a story attached to a specific game, or a
specific tournament, I have a better chance of remembering it. Maybe it's just me, but that may be the
reason I chose this topic for the article. I remembered my slow start in the 2017 US Women's
Championship, where I started with 2/4 and ended up with 8/11.
Much like Pillsbury, I wasn't a favorite to win the event. But let us return to the main theme, Pillsbury
and his creative ideas in chess.
Sadly, his short life denied us from seeing a lot of his brilliancy as he died aged only 33. Nowadays,
while we remember Pillsbury for his blitzing reach of the chess Olympus, stellar record against the
2nd World Chess Champion Emmanuel Lasker, and his unfathomable ability to play blindfold games,
almost effortlessly, most professional players remember his contribution to chess theory - the
"Pillsbury Attack".
Harry Nelson Pillsbury
The idea of this attack is typically known to have started from the queen's pawn opening, where
White essays an attack with Ne5 followed by f4 which creates a strong bind on the kingside.
Allegedly, the attack earned its name after Pillsbury's win over Dr. Tarrasch in Hastings where
Pillsbury won a topsy-turvy game in the QGD (Queen's Gambit Declined). However, the name
applies to any queen's pawn opening. In fact, it can be played with reversed- stonewall, Zuckertort-

163
Jussupow system, and the London System, as well as in
both QGD and some lines of the Nimzo-Indian. It can be
seen in the Slav Defence as well.
Of course, it matters how both sides are placing their
pieces and their plans are important.
For the attacking side key ideas involve:
1. The Greek Gift - sacrifice of the bishop from d3
2. The rook lift
3. Ne5 - sacrifice on f7
4. Pawn avalanche on the king side
5. Pawn avalanche even in the endgame (Kan-Riumin)
Defender's key ideas are:
1. Kicking the knight on e5 (e4) with the f-pawn
2. Trading the light (dark)-square bishop on d3 (d6)
3. Occupying the e4 (e5) square
4. Pushing the pawn majority on the queenside
5. Attacking the d4 (d5) pawn
As a general summary of what to expect from the Pillsbury Attack is that the attack is typically very
strong and annoying and it can develop rapidly reaching a decisive advantage if one does not know
how to stop it. Unfortunately, the attack it is not easy to create if the player on the defending side
knows how to meet the idea.

164
The participants of Hastings 1895: Pillsbury is sitting in the middle of the front row-between Lasker and Tarrasch; Photo Horace
F. Cheshire [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

I hope you will enjoy browsing through this collection of ideas starting with Pillsbury, as even if in
the first games and with modern engines more mistakes have been found than those by strong players
of the time, I find studying of the classics very important for development of creative ideas these
days.
After losing the first round to Chigorin in a deep battle in King's Gambit, Pillsbury most likely
wanted blood in this game. He did not cross the Atlantic to just be a 'pawn' in the royals' game
afterall.

D55
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson - Tarrasch, Siegbert
Hastings, 1895

1.d4
1.e4 For reference I added the first game, just in case you may want to revisit his loss. 1...e5 2.f4 Bc5
3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.d3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nd4 9.Qg3 Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1
11.Qxg7 Kd7 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Rf1 Be7 14.Qxf7 Kc8 15.Bg5 Rf8 16.Qe6+ Kb8 17.Bh6 Re8
18.Qxe5 Nd7 19.Qh5 Nb6 20.Bd5 a6 21.Kd2 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Rg8 23.g4 Bb4+ 24.Nxb4 Qd4
25.Nc2 Nxc2 26.Kxc2 Rg6 27.Bd2 Rd6 28.Rf3 Qa4+ 29.Kc1 Qxa2 30.Bc3 Rc6 31.Qxh7 b5 32.Qe7
Qb3 33.Kd2 a5 34.Rf5 Kb7 35.Rc5 Raa6 36.g5 Rxc5 37.Qxc5 Rc6 38.Qd5 Qa4 39.g6 b4 40.g7
bxc3+ 41.bxc3 Qa3 42.g8=Q Qxc3+ 43.Ke2 Qc2+ 44.Kf3 Qd1+ 45.Kg3 Qg1+ 46.Kh4 Qf2+
47.Kh5 Qf3+ 48.Qg4 Qf6 49.Qgf5 Qh6+ 50.Kg4 Qg7+ 51.Qg5 1 : 0 Chigorin,Mikhail - Pillsbury,
Harry Nelson, Hastings 1895
1...d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 Maybe at the time, Tarrasch has not invented his system against the Queen's

165
Gambit just yet, or he just didn't want to employ it in this specific game.
3...c5 The Tarrasch Defence.
4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Rc1
6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 O-O This is the way the theory of this opening has advanced till today. By means of
these simplifying plans QGD is actually a rarity where it once earned its fame!
6...O-O
6...h6 would be transposing, of course. 7.Bh4 dxc4
7.e3 b6 Tarrasch chose the Tartakower-Makagonov-Bondarevsky system.
7...h6 has become an important move for Black in these positions, and it is more of a nuance which
has been adopted more recently. 8.Bh4 b6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bd3 Bb7 leads to similar positions.
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.O-O c5
10...h6 How is this nuance important these days, you may wonder? 11.Bh4 c5

And now, the Pillsbury Attack is not really in the cards, unless White starts with 12.Bf5!? Re8
13.Qc2 Now, of course, Rc8 for Black turns out to be a self-pinning move and we understand the
importance of the bishop on f5. 13...Nh5 (13...Nf8 14.Rfd1 White is better here, dc5 and Ne5 are
both in the cards. This position is one of the reasons Black opts for early dc4 and c5. (14.Ne5 allows
the trades 14...Ne4)) 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Rfd1²
11.Re1?! Being a pioneer is very hard. This is what Kasparov said about this move in his immortal
work, "My Great Predecessors". Pillsbury realizes that Ne5 is premature, but the rook move is simply
a waste of time.

166
11.Ne5?! Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ne4 13.Bf4 Nxc3 and White is left with nothing to play for.
11.Bf5 Re8 12.Qc2 g6 13.Bh3 is the way modern players and engines play, but I am sure the bishop
on h3 wouldn't have felt exciting to Pillsbury.
11...c4
11...Ne4 As Tartakower pointed out, this is a perfectly fine move as well. 12.Bf4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 c4
14.Bf5²
12.Bb1 a6

13.Ne5 Here comes, Harry Nelson!

13...b5
13...Nxe5? 14.dxe5 Nd7 (14...Ne4? 15.Bxe7 Nxc3?? 16.Bxh7++-) 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.f4 Qc5
17.Qg4→ and White's attack is in motion!
14.f4 The Pillsbury Attack, but not in its optimal form. It took a little bit of practice to perfect.

167
14...Re8?! Tarrasch returns the favour by losing a similar tempo.
14...Ne4 would have been the equalizer. 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Re2
pushing the d-pawn feels like the most plausible active play. 18...f5 19.Rd2 Rfd8 20.d5 Rd7 21.Rd4
Rad8 22.Rc2 b4 23.Na4 Rxd5 24.Rcxc4 g5! and the attack would fizzle out soon.

15.Qf3! Now White's attack is in full swing.

15...Nf8 16.Ne2?! Pillsbury was still learning the ropes.
16.Bxf6! removing the pressure from e4. 16...Bxf6 17.Rf1 (17.a3!? preventing the flank attack.
17...Be7 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qh3 Now White, most likely wished he had his rook on f1. Still: Rf1 and f5

168
would allow a good practical play for White.) 17...b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Ng3 a4 20.Nf5 White's attack is
daunting, and it doesn't seem that a decisive attack could be built. However, it is more natural to
chose playing White in this position as HIS play seems more natural.
16...Ne4 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qg3 f6 20.Ng4 Kh8 21.f5! White improves his position,
and though the engines are not so thrilled about this move, it is the only strategically sound move in
this position.
21...Qd7 22.Rf1 Rd8?! A waste of time.
22...a5 Black cannot afford to sit and wait in this position and should immediately start the
counterplay on the queenside, supporting his pawn majority.
23.Rf4 Qd6 24.Qh4?! Pillsbury is making all the attacking moves that make sense, though those are
not necessarily the most accurate ones according to the new engines.
24.a3 is preferred by the engines, to stop Black's counterplay on the queenside.
24...Rde8 25.Nc3? The knight does not belong on the queenside, additionally it helps Black's plan
with b4.
Instead, it had to be brought to the attack with 25.Rf2 followed by Nf4
25...Bd5?
25...b4! 26.Na4 Bd5 27.Nc5 Nd7! and Black' counter-attack on the queenside is just winning.
However, the Pillsbury Attack looked much scarier 127 years ago and Tarrasch tried too much of a
solid approach in this game.
26.Nf2 Qc6 From here on, a consecutive number of blunders turn the game into a highly interesting
fight.
27.Rf1? Unfounded.
27.a3 a5 28.Nxd5 Qxd5 29.Nh3!∞ was a must, as the queen has to retreat and White should remain
happy with equality.
27...b4?!
27...Bf7 28.a3 a5 29.Rxe4 Rxe4 30.Ncxe4 Bd5 31.Nc3 Rxe3 32.Qf4 Re8µ would have led into a
better position for Black.
28.Ne2?
28.Nxd5 Qxd5 29.Nh3 Rc7 30.R4f2 c3 31.bxc3 Rxc3 32.Nf4 and White is back in the game.
32...Qxf5?? 33.Ne2+-
28...Qa4?!
28...c3-+ 29.bxc3 bxc3 30.Rc1 seems just winning. It appears that Tarrasch thought his position was
totally winning. So, he began giving away many chances to his young opponent.

169
29.Ng4 Objectively, White is still losing but now a higher degree of accuracy is needed by Black.
29...Nd7?!
29...Rf7 30.R4f2 Qxa2 31.Nf4 Qa5 would have been winning for Black as 32.Ng6+ Kg8 33.Qg3
Ra7!-+

30.R4f2! Trying to improve the position of his knight and place it on f4.
30...Kg8? This move totally turns things into White's favour.
30...Qxa2 31.Nf4 Now Ng6 is a major surprise and the knight on d7 is blocking the rook on e7.
31...Qa5! 32.Ng6+ Kg8 33.Nxe7+ Rxe7µ is still better for Black despite the material deficit.
31.Nc1? Why?!
31.Nf4 Qb5 (31...Bf7? 32.d5± and both Ne6 or d6 are major threats.) 32.Qg3 Kf8 33.h4→ seems
promising for White!
31...c3 32.b3 Qc6 33.h3 a5 Pillsbury wasted too many tempi and Black is the one holding the
advantage once again.
34.Nh2? This is a little too slow.
34...a4 35.g4 axb3?!
35...h6!? Delaying White's break with g5 would have been important for Black in this position. He
can focus on the queenside after 36.Qg3 axb3 37.axb3 Ra8-+
36.axb3 Ra8 37.g5 White is still losing, but at least he managed to build up an attack.
37...Ra3?!

170
37...fxg5 38.Qxg5 Qf6-+
38.Ng4 Pillsbury followed the rule that once you start something, you have to finish it. Or, a bad idea
is better than no idea at all.
38...Bxb3?? This is the moment Black lost his advantage.
38...fxg5 39.Qxg5 Nf6 was still positionally winning.
39.Rg2! Pillsbury is back into his element.
39...Kh8
39...fxg5 40.Qxg5 Kf8 41.f6+- was the line shown by Tartakower.
40.gxf6

40...gxf6?? Losing blunder and possibly the curse of move 40!

40...Nxf6 41.Ne5 Qb7 42.Ng6+ Kg8 43.Nxe7+ Qxe7 44.Nxb3 Rxb3 45.Kh1 Qf8 would keep Black
in the game.
41.Nxb3
41.Ne5! would have won on the spot. 41...Nxe5 42.dxe5 Rxe5 43.Qh6 and mate is inevitable.
41...Rxb3 42.Nh6 Rg7 43.Rxg7 Kxg7 44.Qg3+! Kxh6
44...Kf8 45.Qg8+ Ke7 46.Qxb3+-
45.Kh1!
45.Rf4?? would have allowed for a perpetual, of course 45...Rb1+ 46.Kg2 Rb2+ 47.Kg1=

171
45...Qd5
45...c2 pushing the pawn doesn't work either, as Black's king will get mated: 46.Rg1 c1=Q 47.Qh4#
Tartakower.
46.Rg1 The rest of the game was just a matter or technique.
46...Qxf5 47.Qh4+ Qh5 48.Qf4+ Qg5 49.Rxg5 fxg5 50.Qd6+ Kh5 51.Qxd7 c2?
51...Rb1+
52.Qxh7# 1-0
A beautiful game that pioneered the Pillsbury Attack.
Let us see, how Harry Nelson worked on perfecting his idea in future games.

D94
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson - Gunsberg, Isidor
Hastings, 1895

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Ne5?! This is just a historical notion to
a great chess event. In the last round Pillsbury needed to win in order to maintain his half point lead
over Chigorin and one point lead over Lasker. Ironically, he had conceded both of his games to his
closest rival. In this tournament he chose his favourite attack at any time he could. His choice against
Gunsberg's Schlechter-Slav was suboptimal, but the final phase of the game is a chess birlliancy
worthy of showing.
7...dxc4
7...c5! would have neutralized all of White's hopes, of course this being one of the ideas we employ
these days.
8.Bxc4 Nd5

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9.f4! Supporting his knight and preparing for the kingside attack.
9...Be6 10.Qb3 b5?
10...Nd7! was the dynamic solution which Gunsberg failed to see. 11.Qxb7?? Nxe5 12.fxe5 Rb8
13.Qxc6 Nb4-+
11.Bxd5 Bxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 Now, of course, Black's approach to go into an endgame, avoided out
typical idea for this article. However, I wanted to show how this pawn structure leads to a much better
endgame.
13.Qxd5 cxd5 14.Nd3 Nd7 15.Bd2² Rfc8 16.Ke2 e6 17.Rhc1 Bf8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Rc1? This
wasn't the correct way to push for the win. Fortunately for Pillsbury, his opponent messed up a little
later.
19.a4!²
19...Rxc1 20.Bxc1 Bd6 21.Bd2 Kf8 22.Bb4 Ke7 23.Bc5 a6 24.b4 f6 25.g4 Bxc5 26.bxc5 Draw
seems to be the likely outcome but...

173
26...Nb8?? A blunder that gives Pillsbury a chance to create one of the most beautiful endgame
studies in a real practical game.

27.f5! g5
27...gxf5 28.gxf5 exf5 29.Nf4+-
28.Nb4 a5 29.c6! Kd6
29...axb4 30.c7+-
30.fxe6!! Nxc6 31.Nxc6 Kxc6 32.e4! dxe4 33.d5+ - and White's connected passers decided the
game!

174
33...Kd6 34.Ke3 b4 35.Kxe4 a4 36.Kd4 h5 37.gxh5 a3 38.Kc4 f5 39.h6 f4 40.h7 1-0

D55
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson - Marco, Georg
Paris, 1900

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5 Nbd7
10.f4 c5 11.O-O In this game, Pillsbury got the chance to demonstrate how venomous his attack
really is, thanks to Marco's slow response.
11...c4?
11...cxd4 12.exd4 Ne4 was the equalizer.
12.Bc2 a6? After this mistake, White has a decisive attack, which Pillsburry executed brilliantly.

13.Qf3! With the e4-square being secure White's attack is unstoppable.

13...b5 14.Qh3 g6 15.f5 b4 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Qh4! Accuracy is important in building the attack, and
Pillsbury didn't miss anything.
17...bxc3 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Rxf6! The beautifully, merciless winning idea.
19...a5 20.Raf1 Ra6 21.Bxg6 fxg6 22.Rxf8+ Bxf8 23.Rxf8+ 1-0
I chose one more game of Pillsbury to demonstrate that his idea works in other set-ups as well. In this
game the opening of choice wasn't the QGD set up, but Pillsbury did achieve a winning position with
complete demonstration of the extent his attack can succeed. Sadly, this game did not yield him a
victory.

D05
Pillsbury, Harry Nelson - Barrett/Claiborne

175
 Richmond, 1901

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.O-O Bd6 7.Bb2 O-O 8.a3 a5 9.Nbd2 Re8

10.Ne5 Similarly to the other games we have seen and to the London System (where the dark-square
bishop finds itself on f4 instead, of course), which has become quite popular these days.
10...Qc7 11.f4 cxd4 12.exd4 Ne7 13.Rf3 Nf5 14.Rh3 h6

15.g4! The badly placed knights and the h6 - hook are just attracting this typical idea.
15...Ne7 16.g5 hxg5 17.fxg5 Ne4 Black is dead lost. It is hard to know what happened to Pillsbury
that made him spoil such a winning position.

176
18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qh5 Ng6 20.Nxg6 fxg6 21.Qh7+ Kf7 22.Bxe4 Ke7 23.Qxg7+ Kd8 24.Qf6+ Be7
25.Qxg6 Ra6 26.Qh5 Qf4 27.Bg6 Rf8 28.Rg3 Around here somewhere he probably panicked, and
got scared of a potential attack to his king and started misplaying to the point that he was lost. I am
not sure how the game got drawn as the final positiion seems winning for Black. Chess historians
could certainly explain this better, there was no other explanation I could come up with. The purpose
this article was to emphasise the power of the Pillsbury Attack and I think I was able to show that
with the games up to this point.
All White had to do here was to regroup a little and with the extra material it shouldn't have been a
problem for Pillsbury to convert the game. 28.Bd3 Qf2+ 29.Kh1+-
28...Qf2+ 29.Kh1 b5

30.Qg4?? Turning the tables.

30.Be4; 30.Rd1
30...Rf4 31.Qxf4 Qxf4 32.Kg1 Bxg5 33.Rf1 Qd2 34.Be4 Ra7 35.Bc3 Qe2 36.Re1 Qh5 37.Bf3 Qh4
38.Re4 Qh6 39.Kh1 Rh7 40.Bxa5+ Ke8 41.Re2 The final position is, of course, winning for Black.
1/2-1/2

D35
Riumin, Nikolay - Kan, Ilia
Moscow, 1936

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.e3 Be7 8.Bd3 O-O 9.Qc2 Re8
10.h3 Nf8 11.Ne5
It is important to note that all the attacks do not work, not all of them lead to mates, but if you are
able to get a better position or endgame because your opponent gave up some strategical edge, you

177
should take advatage of it. This is a game where Black neutralizes White's first wave, but then he
succumbs to White's pawn avalanche.
11...N6d7 12.O-O Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bd6

14.f4! A very important consideration.

14...f6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Rf3 Be6 17.Kh1 White prepares to push his pawns. The e3-pawn is not that
weak. White is only slightly better, but his initiative is there to stay.
17...Re7 18.Rg1 Rae8 19.g4 Bf7?! Black's reaction is a bit slow. This enables White to construct his
long-lasting initiative.
19...Bd7 20.Qf2 c5„
20.Qf2 Kh8?!
20...Nd7 21.f5 Nb6 22.Rfg3 Nc4„
21.h4 a6?!
21...c5; 21...Nd7
22.f5 c5 Black finally got to counterattack the center, but a little too late.

178
23.Ne2! cxd4 24.exd4 Qb4 25.Nf4 Re1 26.Rg3? Squanders most of White's advantage.
White missed this nice opportunity to continue his attack: 26.g5! Rxg1+ 27.Kxg1 Qe7 28.g6 Bg8
29.gxh7 Bxh7 30.h5 Qe1+ 31.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 32.Kf2 Re8 33.Ng6+ Bxg6 34.hxg6+- and White's pawns
dominate Black's knight.
26...Rxg1+ 27.Rxg1 Qe7?! With White's pawn on g5, Black's minor pieces are very badly placed
longterm. Despite ensuring an endgame Black is worse and he succumbed to his fate very soon.
27...h6

28.g5! fxg5 29.hxg5 Qe3 30.Qxe3 Rxe3 31.Kg2 Be8 32.Kf2 Re7 33.Rc1 Bc6 34.Kf3 Rf7 35.Kg4

179
Technically in this position Black is down a knight and a king!
35...Rc7 36.Ne6 Nxe6 37.fxe6 Kg8 38.Kf5 Kf8 39.Ke5 g6 40.Kd6 Re7 41.Bxa6 Ke8 42.Bd3 1-0
I remember as a kid, I found Tony Miles' style to be really amazing, and I figured this was the right
time and article to include one of his games.

E14
Dizdarevic, Emir (2425) - Miles, Anthony (2560)
Biel (open), 1985

1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5 6.b3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.Bb2 Nbd7 9.Nbd2
Throughout the history the Pillsbury Attack has developed, and of course, is not only applicable for
the white pieces. Once the set up is right it can be played from Black side as well.
9...Ne4 10.Qc2 f5

11.Rad1??
11.Ne5 This is the more accurate approach for White in the position, but brilliancies are made when
the opponents make mistakes, or else we couldn't learn from these games. 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 Ndc5
13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Be2 Qg5 15.Ba3 f4 16.exf4 Qxf4 17.Bxc5 bxc5 18.Qc3 Rad8 19.Rad1 Rxd1
20.Bxd1 Rf5 21.Be2 Bc6 22.g3 Qg5 23.Qe3 Qe7 24.f4 exf3 25.Bxf3 Qf7 26.Bg2 Rxf1+ 27.Bxf1
Qf5 28.Bd3 Qg4 29.Be2 Qf5 30.Bd3 Qg4 31.Be2 Qf5 32.Bd3 1/2 : 1/2 Dziuba, Marcin 2568 - Ter
Sahakyan,Samvel 2637, Warszawa (rapid) 2021
11...Nxd2 12.Nxd2 dxc4

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13.Nxc4?? And now comes the Greek Gift!
13.Qxc4
13...Bxh2+! 14.Kxh2 Qh4+ 15.Kg1

15...Bf3!! A brilliant "invisible move" (term used in the famous book by Yochanan Afek and
Emmanuel Neiman "Invisible Chess Moves", which hapens to be one of my favorites) found by Miles
after which White is lost.
GM Dizdarevic might have counted on 15...Bxg2? 16.f3! Bxf1 17.Bxf1 and White's king is super
safe in this position.

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16.Nd2
Only now comes 16...Bxg2! As the Qc2 is now cut-off from White's kingside.
17.f3 Rf6 18.Nc4 Bh3 - and the mate or large material loss is inevitable. 0-1
This nice win by Ivanchuk deserves our attention too.

E52
Ivanchuk, Vassily (2769) - Wang, Hao (2726)
Istanbul (ol), 2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 b6 7.a3!? Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 c6?! This idea
seems a littlle too passive, in my opinion.
8...Ba6 This seems like a better approach for Black as tried in the following game: 9.cxd5 Bxd3
10.Qxd3 Qxd5 (10...exd5 11.c4) 11.c4 Qe4 12.Qxe4 Nxe4 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Nd7 15.Ke2 c5
16.a4 Rac8 17.Rhc1 Rc7 18.a5 Rfc8 19.axb6 axb6 20.f3 cxd4 21.exd4 f6 22.Be3 Rxc4 23.Rxc4 Rxc4
24.Ra7 Nf8 25.Rb7 Rc6 26.Bd2 h5 27.Rb8 Kf7 28.Rb7+ Kg6 29.h4 Kh7 30.Kd3 Ng6 31.g3 e5
32.Bc3 Rd6 33.Ke3 Rc6 34.Kd3 exd4 35.Bxd4 Ne5+ 36.Bxe5 fxe5 37.Ke4 Rg6 38.f4 exf4 39.gxf4
Rc6 40.f5 Kh6 41.Kd5 Rc5+ 42.Ke6 b5 43.Rb8 Kh7 44.Rb7 Rc4 45.Rxb5 Re4+ 46.Kd5? (46.Re5)
46...Rxh4 47.Ke5 Rg4 48.Rb6 h4 49.f6 (49.Rb3) 49...gxf6+-+ Peralta,Fernando 2590 - Iturrizaga
Bonelli,Eduardo 2650, Baku (ol) 2016
9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Qe2!
10.c4 has been tried successfully by White too, taking advantage of the better control of the centre.
10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qc7 12.Be2 Ba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Qd3 Rac8 15.Bd2 Qc4 16.Ke2 Nb8 17.Qxc4
Rxc4 18.Rhc1 Rfc8 19.Rxc4 Rxc4 20.Ne5 Rc8 21.a4 Ne4 22.Be1 f6 23.Nd3 Nd7 24.a5 Rc7 (24...b5)
25.axb6 axb6 26.f3 Ng5 (26...Nc3+ 27.Bxc3 Rxc3 28.Ra7±) 27.Ra8+ Nf8 28.Bb4 1 : 0
Predke,Alexandr 2580 - Movsesian,Sergei 2632, Riga (blitz) 2021
10...Nc6 11.O-O Na5 12.a4 Re8

182
13.Ne5 And here starts the Pillsbury Attack!
13...Ne4 14.f3 First to push back the knight before proceeding with f4. Obviously the c3-pawn is
poisonous.
14.Qc2!? is interesting, but it does not seem fast enough. 14...Bb7 (14...f6 15.f3 fxe5 16.fxe4 exd4
17.e5! ×h7) 15.f3 Nf6 16.Ba3 Rc8 17.Rac1²
14...Nd6
14...Nf6 15.Ba3 Qc7 (15...Bb7?? 16.Bb5+-) 16.g4±
15.Ba3 Bb7
15...f6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6

183
17.f4! f5 (17...fxe5?? 18.fxe5 Qe7 19.Qh5 g6 20.Bxg6+-) 18.Kh1 followed by g4.
16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.f4 g6 Possibly a weakening move, but it isn't easy to find a way to meet the
opponent's attack otherwise.
18.Qg4
18.h4!
18...Nc4 19.Qg3
19.Nxc4?! This isn't the time to go for the pawns on the other side of the board. 19...dxc4 20.Bxc4
Rec8 21.Qe2 Qc6 22.Bd3 Qxc3³;
19.Bxc4!? dxc4 20.Qg5 Qd8 21.Ng4±

184
19...Qc7??
19...Qe7 20.Nxc4 dxc4 21.Bc2! a6 22.h4→
From here it was a matter of technique for Ivanchuk to convert the game and he did it in style!
20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.f5 f6 22.fxg6 fxe5 23.Rf7 Qc6 24.gxh7+ Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Ke7 26.h8=Q Rxh8
27.Qg7+ Kd6 28.dxe5+ Kc5 29.Qe7+ Kd5 30.Rd1+ Ke4 31.Rd4+ Kxe3 32.Qg5+ Ke2 33.Qd2# 1-
0
Let's see what modern theory has to say about the Pillsbury Attack. I chose this game to show that
sometimes the attack could fail.

E51
Keymer, Vincent (2639) - Bjerre, Jonas Buhl (2569)
Terme Catez 150/183, 2021

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd2 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Rc1 Re8 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.O-
O Bf8 11.Ne5 c5 12.f4 Nc6 13.Ne2 Rc8 14.Be1 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nxf7 This leads to a very
interesting, but complicated line. At the first glance it looks winning for White, but it is only a
complicated game for the engines!
16...Kxf7 17.Qb3+ c4! 18.Qxc4+ Kg6 19.f5+ Kh6 20.Bg3

185
20...Ne5! It is very easy to lose in this position with Black.
20...Bd6?! A bit surreal. 21.f6 (21.Nf4?! This gives Black what he wants. 21...Ne5 22.Qe2 Nf3+!
23.gxf3 exf3 24.Qd3 Be4 25.Qb5 Qg5 26.Qd7?? Bxf4-+ Samunenkov,Ihor 2371 - Svane,Frederik
2493, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2022) 21...Ne5 22.Qb3 Rxc1 23.Nxc1 Ng4 24.Qf7 Nxf6 25.Qxb7
Bxg3 26.hxg3 Qe7©
21.Qg8 Be7 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.Bf4+ Bg5 24.Bxg5+ Qxg5 25.Qxe8 Qxe3+ 26.Kh1 Qxe2 This is all
forced so far.
27.Rc1 Nd3 28.Rc6+ Kg5

186
29.Qe7+?? Most likely Keymer forgot his preparation.
29.h3! Bxf5 30.Qe7+ Kh5 31.Qxg7 Qf1+ 32.Kh2 Qf4+ 33.Kg1=
29...Kf4 30.h3 Now it is a little too late.
30...Qe1+ 31.Kh2 Qg3+ 32.Kh1 Nf2+ 33.Kg1 Nxh3+ 34.Kh1 Qe1+ - and the mate is inevitable. 0-
1

E52
Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701) - Firouzja, Alireza (2804)
Warszawa (blitz), 2021

1.d4 Once again following the line from the previous game.
1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd2 d5 6.Nf3 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Rc1 Bb7 9.Bd3 Re8 10.O-O
Bf8 11.Ne5 c5 12.f4 Nc6

13.Ne2!?
13.Nxd5!? At the first sight it looks winning for White, but Black has a strong counter with:
13...Qxd5 14.Bc4

187
14...Qxg2+!! 15.Kxg2 Nxe5+ 16.Kg1 Nxc4 17.Rxc4 Rad8! The attack is gone and White's king
shelter is weakend. Engines confirm that Black's compensation is tangible. In fact, in my opinion it is
Black who has an easier game. 18.Qa4 a6 19.Rcc1 Re6 (19...h6 20.a3 Ne4 21.Be1 Re6 is also good
for Black as White cannot play 22.f5?? due to 22...Ng5!-+) 20.f5 Re4 21.Rf4 Rxf4 22.exf4 Rxd4
23.Qc2 Be4 24.Qd1 Bxf5 Black is not really down that much in material and the game is much easier
for him. 25.Qe2 Bd3 26.Qe3 Ng4 27.Qg3 Be4 28.Qxg4 Rxd2 29.f5 Rd4 30.Ra1 Bc6 31.Qg5
(31.Qh5) 31...h6 32.Qe3 Rg4+ 33.Kf1 Bd6 34.Rd1 Bxh2 35.Rd8+ Kh7 36.Qh3 Rf4+ 37.Ke2 Re4+
38.Kd1 Be5 39.f6 Rf4 40.fxg7 Kxg7 41.Qg3+ Kf6 42.Qd3 Ke7 43.Rc8?? (43.Qe3) 43...Rd4
44.Qxd4 Bf3+ 0 : 1 Budisavljevic,Luka 2454 - Predke,Alexandr 2684, Srbija 2020
13...Rc8

188
14.Be1! Rerouting the bishop to h4 before the rook lift. Maghsoodloo lashes out the right move with
high accuracy. It is possible that he might had this position analysed prior to this game.
14...Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nxf7!? Qd5?! But, this is inaccurate. In the previous game we have seen
how Black should play.
16...Kxf7 17.Qb3+ c4! This was the only way to go. Maybe during the blitz game Firouzja couldn't
recall all the details of this complicated line.
17.Ne5! Though there were still some mistakes on both sides, I really enjoyed the way White
converted this game and hope the readers would as well.
17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Qxa2
18...Qxd1 leads to a much better endgame for White. 19.Rxd1 Ba6 20.Kf2±
19.Bc3 Qd5? The last mistake after which the game seems one sided.
19...Red8! 20.Qe1 b5∞
20.Qe1 b5 21.Rd1 Qc4 22.b4 cxb4 23.Bd4 Rc7 24.f5 Bc8 25.e6 Qa2 26.Qg3 Rb7 27.Nf4 Bd6
28.Qg4 Bxf4 29.Qxf4 Rf8 30.Qe5 Re8 31.Rc1 Qe2 32.Rxc8 Rxc8 33.f6 Qg4 34.f7+ Kf8 35.Bc5+
Re7 36.Bxe7+ Kxe7 37.f8=R Rxf8 38.Qc5+ Kxe6 39.Qxf8 Kd5 40.Qxb4 a6 41.Qd4+ Ke6
42.Qb6+ Kd5 43.Qxa6 Qe2 44.Qb6 Kc4 45.Qd4+ 1-0
Finally, I chose one game to show the latest approch and development in the realm of the Pillsbury
Attack, from the London System with a new development - the h4 idea instead of f4! I personally
suffered a long game in the last US Championship against this early knight jump to e5. It seems it
requires a great care in order to neutralise White's Pillsbury Attack in the London System!

D02

189
 Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2756)
chess.com (Internet-rapid), 2022

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Ne5!?

5.Bxd6; 5.Bg3 are of course the alternatives.
5...O-O 6.Nd2 c5 7.c3 b6
I think that this is a development of the Pillsburry Attack. When f4 takes too long or isn't an option,
this h4 idea becomes the "hot new" line.
7...Nc6 is the alternative idea. 8.Bd3 Qc7 9.Ndf3 cxd4 10.exd4 Ne4 11.Qe2? (11.Bg3) 11...f6
12.Nxc6 Bxf4 13.Nb4 Nxc3 14.Qc2 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.a3 a5 18.Nd3 Bd7 19.Rc1
Qb6 20.O-O Rfe8 21.Rfe1 Bc6 22.Qe2 Bd5 23.Nd2 (23.Nc5) 23...Qxd4 24.Nf3 Qg4-+
Vlasenko,Miroslav 2431 - Le,Tuan Minh 2501, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020

8.h4!? Qc7
8...Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.h5²
9.h5 h6N
A few other ideas have been tried by Black in this position. 9...Nbd7 10.h6 (10.Nxd7 Bxd7 11.Bxd6
Qxd6 12.h6 g6 13.Nf3 Rfc8 14.Bd3 b5 15.Ne5 b4 16.Qf3 Qe7 17.O-O Be8 18.cxb4 c4 19.Bc2 Nd7
20.Nxd7 Bxd7 21.a3 Qg5 22.e4 Bc6 23.e5 Qxh6 24.g3 Qd2 25.Qc3 Qg5 26.Kg2 h5 27.Rh1 Kg7
28.f4 Qe7 29.Rh4 Rh8 30.Rah1 Rab8 31.Kg1? (31.g4) 31...a5 32.bxa5 Qb7 33.f5 (33.R1h2)
33...exf5-+ Bluebaum,Matthias 2660 - Caruana, Fabiano 2835, chess24.com (Internet-m/8-blitz)
2020; 10.Ndf3 Ne4 11.Bd3 f6 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Qc2 Bb7 15.O-O-O Rac8 16.dxc5
Qxc5∞ Mareco,Sandro 2643 - Santos Latasa,Jaime 2640, Mexico City 2022) 10...g6 11.Ndf3 Ne4

190
12.Bd3²;
9...Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.h6 (11.Qf3 Nb8 12.h6 g6 13.e4!± (13.O-O-O± Tabatabaei,Mohammad
Amin 2629 - Real de Azua,Ernesto 2440, chess.com (Internet-blitz) 2020))
9...Nc6 with the idea of Nd7 and f6. 10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.h6 g6 12.Qf3 Bxf4 13.Qxf4 Nd7 14.Nf3 f6
15.Qg3 c4 16.Be2 Bb7 17.O-O Rac8 18.Rfc1 Qc7 19.Qh3 Qd6 20.b3 b5 21.bxc4 dxc4 22.Rab1 a6
23.Nd2 Nb6 24.e4 Rc7 25.Qe3 e5= Naiditsch,Arkadij 2687 - Halkias,Stelios 2585, Doha (rapid)
2016
10.Qf3 Nc6 11.Qg3

11...Ne4?? Although a typical idea, it doesn't seem to work in this position.

11...Ne8 12.Bb5 Ne7 13.Bd3 f6 14.Ng6 Nxg6 15.hxg6 a5„
12.Nxe4 dxe4

191
13.Bb5??
13.Bxh6 is a surprising idea missed by the Iranian grandmaster. 13...f6 14.Qxg7+ Qxg7 15.Bxg7
Kxg7 16.Nxc6 Maybe he feared that his knight would be trapped here, but after 16...Bb7 17.dxc5
Bxc5 18.Nd4+- White saves the knight and with two extra pawns he should be able to win this
position.
13...Ne7 14.Ng6? A mistake that allowed Black to equalise.
14.O-O-O!?

14...Bxf4?? After missing his chance, Black's position collapsed and White was able to convert his

192
advantage.
14...Nf5! 15.Bxd6 Nxd6=
15.Qxf4 Nd5 16.Qxc7 Nxc7 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Bc6 Rb8 19.Nxc8 Rfxc8 20.Bxe4 Ne8 21.Ke2 Nd6
22.Bd3 Kg8 23.g4 Kf8 24.f4 Ke7 25.a4 cxd4 26.cxd4 Rc6 27.Rhc1 Rbc8 28.Rxc6 Rxc6 29.Kd2 a5
30.b3 Rc8 31.e4 Ne8 32.e5 Rd8 33.Ke3 Rc8 34.Bc4 Nc7 35.f5 Nd5+ 36.Bxd5 exd5 37.Kd2 Rc7
38.Rf1 Rc6 39.Rf3 f6 40.Re3 Kf7 41.Re1 Kf8 42.Kd3 Kf7 43.Rb1 b5 44.axb5 Rb6 45.Rc1 Rxb5
46.Rc7+ Kf8 47.Kc3 1-0

193
THE IMMOBILE DOUBLE PAWNS

Aaron Nimzowitsch was one of the greatest thinkers in the history of chess. His contribution to the
development of the game is by no means limited to openings and variations named after him. His
contribution to the understanding of many middlegame structures is also enormous, since he was one
of the first to recognize and explain in his excellent book "My System" that the disadvantage of
doubled pawns in most cases is not that they are directly vulnerable, but rather that they are
immobile. This loss of mobility often creates another problem: the light pieces standing behind the
immobile pawns, especially the bishops, have great difficulty getting into play efficiently.
Basically, this is the main strategic idea of the Nimzo-Indian defence: to cramp the white pieces
behind the fixed pawn formation c3-c4-d5. Let's see how this works in practice.

E41
Johner, Paul - Nimzowitsch, Aron
Dresden, 1926

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3

Nc6 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6
The Huebner Variation, long before the great German was
born! The variation is characterized by the early exchange
on c3 and the play against White's doubled pawns.
9.Nd2!?
9.e4!? Is the main continuation today, but the game move
is also often used to this day. 9...e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nh4
Ng6 12.Nf5 Nf4 13.Bc2∞ L'Ami,Erwin 2627 - Antipov,Mikhail Al 2567, Wijk aan Zee II 2016 -
127/187
9...b6 10.Nb3?! With the idea of preparing e4, but the knight is out of place on b3.
Better suited to initiate the occupation of the centre was 10.Bb2!? Ba6 11.e4 e5 12.d5 Ne7
(12...Na5?! 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.Rae1 Qa4 15.f4 Qxa2 16.Bc1 Nd7 17.Qg4 Qa4 18.Qh3 Rae8 19.f5→)
13.Re1∞ A complicated position with mutual chances has emerged, as in Pauwels,Christophe -
Siigur,Juri, corr 2010/11

194
10...e5 We have now reached the critical position of the opening phase.
10...Ba6!?

11.f4? A serious strategic mistake.

11.e4! Was also appropriate here. 11...h6 12.Re1!? A new move. (12.f4 exd4 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Bb2
Re8 15.Qf3 1/2 : 1/2 Pavlovic,Goran 2355 - Mijailovic,Zoran 2392, Srbija 2019) 12...Re8 13.f3
Nh5∞
11...e4³ With this move, which Johner practically "forced" his opponent to play, Black not only gains
space, but also makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the opponent to bring the c1-bishop into play.
12.Be2

195
12...Qd7!? Nimzowitsch himself praised this move very much. His idea was to fix the white kingside
pawns.
However, this plan doesn't quite seem to work against White's optimal response. So the more natural
move was 12...Ba6! A preferable move with the idea of possibly even exchanging the weak c4-pawn
in order to achieve a light-square blockade in return. 13.g4!? (13.Bd2 Ne7 14.Be1 d5! 15.dxc5
(15.cxd5 c4! 16.Nc1 Nfxd5-+) 15...Bxc4 16.cxb6 Nf5! 17.Bf2 Qxb6µ; 13.d5 Na5! 14.Nd2 1/2 : 1/2
Farago, Ivan 2440 - Cobo Arteaga,Eldis 2395, Cienfuegos 1973. Instead of agreeing to a draw here,
Eldis could have with the "Nimzowitsch plan" achieve a great advantage: (14.Nxa5 bxa5 15.Bd2 Rb8
16.Rb1 Nd7µ) 14...h5! 15.h3 g6 16.Rf2 Qe7 17.Qf1 h4 18.Nb3 Nd7µ The c4-weakness practically
immobilizes White.) 13...h6 14.Bd2 cxd4 15.cxd4 d5 16.c5 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qd7³
13.h3?
With the immediate 13.Bd2 Qf5 14.Be1= was the move 12.. .Qd7 to question.
13...Ne7! 14.Qe1?! Inconsistent.
After 13.h3, 14.g4 was called for. 14...h5! 15.Nd2 (15.g5? Qxh3 16.gxf6 Qg3+ 17.Kh1 Nf5 18.Qe1
Qh3+ 19.Kg1 Ng3-+) 15...Re8! 16.f5 Qd8 17.Rf2 hxg4 18.hxg4 g5 19.Nf1 Nc6µ with a worse but
defendable position.
14...h5!µ From now on White has no counterplay at all.
15.Bd2 Qf5 16.Kh2 Qh7 17.a4 Nf5 18.g3
18.a5 Be6 - wouldn't have changed anything.
18...a5! 19.Rg1 Nh6 20.Bf1 Bd7 21.Bc1 Rac8 22.d5

196
22...Kh8! The final subtlety. Black gains access to the opponent's king by opening the g-file as
planned.
23.Nd2 Rg8 24.Bg2 g5 25.Nf1 Rg7 26.Ra2 Nf5 27.Bh1 Rcg8 28.Qd1 gxf4 29.exf4 Bc8 30.Qb3
Ba6 31.Re2 Nh4 32.Re3 Bc8 33.Qc2

33...Bxh3! 34.Bxe4
34.Kxh3 Qf5+ 35.Kh2 Ng4+-+
34...Bf5 35.Bxf5 Nxf5 36.Re2 h4 37.Rgg2 hxg3+ 38.Kg1 Qh3 39.Ne3 Nh4 40.Kf1 Re8 0-1

E21

197
 Bogoljubow, Efim - Nimzowitsch, Aron
Karlovy Vary, 1929

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 Bxc3+!? 5.bxc3 b6 6.g3?! The worst of all possible reactions.
White's plan should once again be to get the e-pawn to e4 in order to occupy the centre and set up a
long-term attack on the opponent's king. The fianchetto is entirely unsuitable for the implementation
of this plan.
6.Bg5!?; 6.e3!?; 6.Nd2!?
6...Bb7 7.Bg2 O-O Basically, Black should prevent the opponent from exchanging his dark-squared
bishop, which threatens to become a bad piece.
Therefore, here and also in the next couple of moves 7...h6!? was called for.
8.O-O
8.Bg5!?
8...Re8 9.Re1 d6 10.Qc2?! Missing the last chance for playing.
10.Bg5!

10...Be4! It is very important not to allow White to play e4.

At the same time 10...Ne4? 11.Ng5+- can't be the solution from Black's point of view.
11.Qb3 Nc6 12.Bf1 e5 Good enough.
But it would have made a lot of sense to play 12...Na5! in-between move, because there is no good
square for the white queen. 13.Qa4 e5µ

198
13.dxe5? Smashing one's own pawn structure represents the decisive strategic mistake. The isolated
double pawns on the c-file are not "viable" in the long run.
With 13.Nd2 was it still possible to put some resistance.
13...Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5-+ 15.Bf4 Re8 16.f3 Bb7 17.Rad1 Nd7 18.e4 Qf6 19.Bg2 Ne5? To my
knowledge, it was Nimzowitsch who introduced the term prophylaxis in relation to chess, but here his
prophylactic thinking fails him.
19...Bc6-+

20.Rd2? Misses his chance (spoiler alert: several times!).

20.c5! Would have brought Bogoljubow back into the game: 20...g5! (20...dxc5? 21.Bxe5 Qxe5
(21...Rxe5? 22.f4 Re7 23.e5+-) 22.Rd7„) 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Rd7 Re7 23.Red1³
20...Re7?!
20...Bc6!-+
21.Red1?!
21.c5! dxc5 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.f4 Qh5 24.e5 Bxg2 25.Kxg2„
21...Bc6!µ Now Nimzowitsch has everything under his control again.
22.Rf2 Rae8 23.Bf1 h6 Good enough.
Move 23...Nxf3+! 24.Rxf3 g5-+ wins on the spot.
24.Be2 Kh8 25.Qa3 Qe6 26.Qc1
26.Qxa7? Ra8-+

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26...f5-+ By opening the e-file, which Nimzowitsch has been working towards for a long time, the
black rooks also come into play with a decisive effect.
27.exf5 Qxf5 28.Qd2
28.Bxe5 Rxe5-+
28...Qf7 29.Qd4 Ng6
29...Ng4-+
30.Bd3 Nxf4 31.Qxf4 Qxf4 32.gxf4-+ "Show me with one picture how a bad pawn structure looks
like!"
32...Rf8 33.f5 Bd7 34.Rdd2 Bxf5 35.Rfe2 Rxe2 36.Bxe2 Re8 37.Kf2 Re5 38.Rd5 g5 39.Rxe5 dxe5
40.c5 bxc5 41.Ba6 e4 42.a4 Kg7 43.a5 exf3 44.Kxf3 Kf6 45.Ke3 Ke5 46.Bc4 Bg4 47.Ba6 h5
48.Bc4 h4 49.Ba6 Bd1 50.Bb7 g4 0-1

E41
Spassky, Boris (2660) - Fischer, Robert James (2785)
Reykjavik (m/5) 14/572, 1972

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3 Nc6! The exact move order. If Black is aiming for the so-
called Huebner Variation I think it is advisable for him to postpone castling.
6.Bd3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Ne7 10.Nh4!? The main line.
10.O-O The most natural move, but on the other hand it is imprecise: 10...h6! 11.Ne1!? (11.Nh4?! g5
12.Nf5 Nxf5 13.exf5 e4! 14.Re1 Bxf5 15.f3 O-O 16.fxe4 Bg4 17.Qc2 Nd7µ L'Ami,Alina 2359 -
Benderac,Ana 2299, Calvia (ol) 2004) 11...g5 12.g3 Bh3 13.Ng2 Qd7 14.f3 O-O-O³ Kozma,Julius -
Huebner,Robert, CSSR - BR Deutschland (m) 1969

200
10.Nd2!? is an interesting alternative: 10...Ng6 11.h4!? (11.g3 Bh3; 11.h3!? A new move.) 11...Bd7
(11...Nf4 12.Bf1) 12.g3² Li, Chao B 2744 - Rapport,Richard 2675, Tbilisi (m/1) 2017
10...h6
10...Ng6 11.Nf5 might be a little bit better for White.
11.f4!?N Spassky comes up with a novelty, but...
11.f3 g5 12.Nf5 Nxf5 13.exf5 Qe7³ Piorun,Kacper 2580 - Laznicka,Viktor 2673, Deizisau 2014

Fischer is even here well prepared and uncorks an amazing move: 11...Ng6!! A surprising, but
incredibly powerful move. Due to the forced exchange of knights, White's initiative on the kingside is
contained, the position remains closed, which reduces the value of White's pair of bishops. The
resulting defects in Black's pawn structure, on the other hand, are irrelevant because White has no
way to exploit them.
The variation 11...exf4? 12.Bxf4 g5 13.e5!+- shows how quickly Black can lose control when the
position opens up and White's bishops unleash their full power.
12.Nxg6 fxg6 13.fxe5?! A small inaccuracy. White should strive to keep the pawn structure flexible.
After 13.O-O O-O

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14.a4! (14.f5? b5! 15.cxb5 c4 16.Bc2 gxf5 17.exf5 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Qxb5³ Unzicker,Wolfgang 2515 -
Timman,Jan 2620, Wijk aan Zee 1981 - 31/641) 14...a5 15.Ra2 Bd7 16.Raf2 b6 17.f5∞ A complex
position emerged with chances for both sides, Swiercz,Dariusz 2540 - Macieja, Bartolomiej 2636,
Polska (ch) 2011
13...dxe5 14.Be3 b6 15.O-O O-O
Objectively, I think that White should still be able to keep the balance, but his position is awkward to
play.
16.a4 a5! It is important not to let White's isolated a-pawn advance.
17.Rb1 Bd7 18.Rb2 Transferring the rook to f2 looks logical, but maybe it's not the right plan. White
takes the pressure off the b6-pawn, and the rook on f2 is vulnerable, Ng4 will always be up in the air.
18.Be2!? could have been stronger.
18...Rb8
Black ("armed" with an engine) played perhaps even stronger in a later correspondence game:
18...Ng4!? 19.Rxf8+ Qxf8 20.Bc1 Rb8 21.h3 Nf6 22.Be3 g5 23.Bf2 g4 24.h4 Qd6 25.g3

202
25...Kf7!µ Boychuk,Taras - Poleshchuk,Nikolai, corr 2014
19.Rbf2 Qe7³ 20.Bc2 g5
20...Ng4!? 21.Rxf8+ Rxf8 22.Rxf8+ Qxf8 23.Qe2 g5 24.Bc1 Qe8 25.Qd1 Qh5 26.h3 Nf6 27.Qxh5
Nxh5 28.Kf2 Kh7µ
21.Bd2 Qe8 22.Be1 Qg6 23.Qd3 Nh5 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Bd1 Nf4 27.Qc2 The last
mistake in a difficult but still defendable position.
27.Qe3 Qe8 28.Qf2 Kg8 29.Qc2 g4µ

27...Bxa4! A nice tactical blow at the end.

203
27...Bxa4 28.Qxa4 Qxe4-+
0-1

E41
Mesaros, Florian (2449) - Prusikin, Michael (2517)
Lienz 140/186, 2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nf3

5.Ne2! is the best reaction to the move order chosen by Black.
5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.O-O e5! 9.d5
Once again, I think White should keep his pawn structure flexible as possible, e.g.: 9.Nd2 O-O
10.Re1 h6 11.a4!? (11.d5 Ne7 12.e4 g5!? A new move. 13.Nf1 Ng6∞) 11...exd4?! It would have
been better for Black not to accept the pawn sacrifice. (11...Na5) 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Bb2
Bg4 15.Qc1 Ne6 16.Ra3 Nc5 17.Bb1© with excellent compensation for the sacrificed pawn, Bru
Rullo,Llatzer 2273 - Molina Carretero,Daniel 2157, Espana 2020
9...Ne7 10.Nd2
10.e4 h6 11.Ne1 g5 12.Nc2 Ng6∞ Florea,Dan 2235 - Vonthron,Horst 2355, Deutschland 1997
10...O-O 11.Qc2 g6 This is the main line.
But maybe the alternative 11...Ng6!? is even better: 12.f4 (12.f3 Ne8 13.Rf2 f5µ Marinelli,Tullio
2425 - Vallifuoco,Giacomo 2395, Italia 1995) 12...Ng4! 13.Nf3 f5µ Johansson,Viktoria 2155 -
Uskova,Fliura 2260, Jakarta (izt) 1993
12.f4?! This is also the most played move, but it is probably where White's troubles begin.
12.e4?! Nh5³ Gligoric,Svetozar 2565 - Seirawan,Yasser 2510, Baden 1980 - 30/653
12.h3!?
12...exf4

204
13.Rxf4
13.exf4? Bf5! This is the main idea of 11...g6. 14.Rb1 Qd7 15.Nf3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nf5 17.h3 h5
18.Bd2 Rfe8-+ Misanovic,Vesna 2347 - Jaracz,Pawel 2506, Lido degli Estensi 2002
The move never played before: 13.Ne4!? might limit the damage. Here White still has the hope of
being able to activate the dark-squared bishop in the long term. 13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bf5 (14...fxe3
15.Bxe3©) 15.Bxf5 Nxf5 16.Rxf4 Qe7 17.e4 Nh6 18.Bd2 f6 19.Raf1=
13...Ng4³ 14.Nf3
14.h3 Ne5 (14...Nxe3? 15.Qb1±) 15.e4 g5 16.Rf2 N7g6 17.Nf1 Kh8³;
14.Ne4 Kh8 15.Ng3 f6³
14...f6!
14...h6!? 15.h3 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Rf3 f5³ Massimini Gerbino,Massimiliano - Pappier,Carlos
Guillermo, corr 2003
15.h3 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Rf1 f5!³ 18.a4N
The previously played correspondence game was very similar - the mobile black pawn majority on
the kingside decided the game: 18.Bd2 e4 19.Be2 Qd6 20.Be1 g5 21.h4 h6 22.a4 Bd7 23.a5 Rab8
24.Bf2 Rf6 25.Kh1 Qe5 26.Bg1 g4 27.Qd2 (27.Rf4) 27...g3 28.Qe1 Ra6 29.Rf4 Qg7 30.Rf1
(30.Bh5) 30...b6 31.axb6 Rbxb6 32.Rxa6 Rxa6 1/2 : 1/2 Le Duigou,Jean Guy - Schulz,Hans Juergen,
corr 2014/15
18.e4!? f4 19.Qf2 Qc7 20.Qh4 Rf7! 21.g3 g5 22.Qh5 Bd7³
18...a5 Analogous to the Fischer - Spassky game, the white a-pawn should be fixed.

205
19.Bd2 Qd6 20.Rf2
20.Rab1 b6 21.Be1 g5 22.Bg3 Bd7³
20...Bd7 21.Rb1 b6 22.Be2 Rf6 23.Be1 Raf8 Now all the black pieces stand perfectly. Incidentally,
the major pieces cover the backward b6-pawn. Everything is ready for the pawn storm.
24.Rf3
24.e4 f4µ
24...g5 25.Bg3 Ng6 26.Rbf1 Qe7
26...f4!? 27.Be1 e4! 28.Qxe4 Bf5-+
27.e4 f4 28.Be1 h5 29.Rd3 g4 30.Qd1

30...f3!-+ The decisive breakthrough!

31.gxf3 Nf4! 32.Bh4 g3! The cleanest solution. 33.Bxg3
33.Bxf6 Qxf6-+
33...Rg6 34.Kh2 Qg5 Quite sufficient, but unfortunately with this move I missed ending the game
with exactly the same trick as in the Spassky - Fischer game above!
34...Rxg3! 35.Kxg3

206
35...Bxa4!! 36.Qxa4 (36.Qd2 Qg5+ 37.Kf2 Nxh3+ 38.Ke1 Qg3+ 39.Rf2 Qxf2#; 36.Qe1 Qg5+
37.Kf2 Nxh3#) 36...Qg5+ 37.Kf2 Qg2+-+
35.Rg1 Nxh3 36.f4 exf4 37.Bf2 Nxg1 38.Qxg1 Qf6 39.Qe1 Qe5 40.Bf3 Bg4 41.Bh1 f3+ 42.Bg3
f2! 43.Qf1 Qg5 44.Bg2 h4 45.Bxf2 Be2! 0-1

We will conclude the article with some exercises. The two training positions do not come from the
Nimzo Indian, but from the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence, where, with reversed
colors, amazingly similar positions arise.

Runting, Timothy - Moyano Garcia, Ricardo

corr, 1997

207
What is the best way for White to secure his advantage?

Show/Hide Solution

15.e5! After this move the a6-bishop remains "dead" for the rest of the game. 15...Re8 16.Qe4±
Rab8 17.Rcd1 Rb7 18.Bc1 h6 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.Qh5 Kg8 21.Re4 Nf8 22.Rg4 Ng6 23.Rxg6 fxg6
24.Qxg6 Rf8 25.Bxh6 Rf7 26.Re1 Qc8 27.Ng5 Bxg5 28.Bxg5 Qf8 29.Qxe6 Rb8 30.Qd6 Re8
31.Qxf8+ Rfxf8 32.Nxc5 Bc8 33.f4 Bf5 34.e6 1-0

Eger, Axel - Kopelevich, Aleksandr

corr, 2018

208
How should White react to Black`s last move Ba5?

Show/Hide Solution

23.Ba3!! A great positional exchange sacrifice for a total domination over the dark-squares.
23.Rdd1? c4=
23...c4
23...Bxd2+ 24.Kxd2 c4 25.Bd6 Rbb7 26.dxc4 dxc4 27.bxc4 Rfd7 28.Nd3 Rd8 29.Nc5+-
24.dxc4 dxc4 25.Rd6
25.Bd6! seems to be more precise. 25...cxb3 26.Rd3 b2+ 27.Kb1 Ra8 28.Ba3±
25...cxb3 26.Rhd1 Rf8 27.Bc5 a6 28.Nd3 bxc2 29.Kxc2 Re8 30.Rd4 Rb7 31.Nb2 Bc7 32.Nc4 a5
33.f4 Rb8 34.Bd6 Bxd6 35.exd6 Bd7 36.Ne5 c5 37.Rc4 Red8 38.Kc3 Kf8 39.Rd2 Rb6 40.Nxd7+
Rxd7 41.Rxc5 Rd8 42.Rd4 Rdb8 43.Rxa5 Rc6+ 44.Kd2 Rb2+ 45.Ke3 Rg2 46.Rd2 Rxd2 47.Kxd2
Rxd6+ 48.Kc3 Ke7 49.Kc4 Rd1 50.Re5 Kd6 51.a5 Rg1 52.a6 Kc7 53.Re3 Rc1+ 54.Rc3 1-0

209
FEAR IS NOT AN OPTION
Balatonberény 1983

The word on the grapevine, from young English

Internationals Masters such as Glenn Flear, was that the
big open tournament in Balatonbereny, a tourist resort on
Central Europe's biggest lake, was the place to be in late
September 1983. The Balatonbereny International was
sponsored by the Budapest chess club ARTEX, was to
feature a dozen Grandmasters, and offered transport from
Budapest as well as the possibility of title norms. What
could possibly go wrong?
Back in 1983, an open tournament with 12(!) Grandmasters was something special indeed and for
Cathy and I this was to be our first time "Behind the Iron Curtain". Admittedly any prizemoney won
was not allowed to be taken outside Hungary - the Hungarian forint was a non-convertible currency -
though everyone knew that if you hid your forints in your socks you could exchange them for
Western currency at Wien railway station (at 60% of their nominal value).
A large contingent of young Western International Masters headed to Hungary from multiple
directions: many came by train from the Zug Young Masters tournament or other late summer events
around Europe, while Australia's Darryl Johansen, still in London following the Lloyds Bank Open,
hitch-hiked to Hungary.
Cathy and I, also in London, decided to buy a cheap car and drive to Balatonbereny. (Compared to a
train trip, you can pack a lot more luggage in a car, we unwisely surmised.) 260 British pounds
secured an old Austin Maxi, while a further 140 pounds ensured that it was roadworthy.
Best of British - the Austin Maxi
So our Austin left London, took a ferry to Belgique and then approaching the tiny town of Saint-
Ghislain, the engine blew up. The car needed a new engine (which we couldn't afford), but, no need
for panic, we swapped our "new" car for the towing fee - it had four good tyres observed the tow

210
truck driver.
Unfortunately Belgium was in the middle of a general
strike - no trains, buses, anything. Stranded with lots of
luggage we booked a night at the Escargot d'Or Hotel,
Hungary seemed a long, long way away.

Can I Touch You?

We used the foyer telephone to call friends in London,

asking them to contact the Balatonbereny organisers to tell them we would be, at best, very late for
the tournament.
However after the phone call a young man approached us.
"I couldn't help hearing from your phone call that you are on the way to a chess tournament."
"Yes, in Hungary."
"What is your rating?"
"2450."
"2450!! Can I touch you?"
Touching completed, the man, in his early 20s at most, said: "If you are really 2450, I will drive you
to France myself!"
We sat down to play some friendly games. The first I struggled to draw, with every move both Cathy
and I realising that our chances of escaping Belgium were disappearing fast. However the next two
games were massacres, and our new friend, Philippe, was convinced that I might be who I said I was.
The next morning Philippe turned up at the hotel in a two door BMW being driven by a friend and we
headed towards France. After about half an hour, Philippe opened his friend's glove box and pulled
out an enormous knife.
No need for panic. Philippe turned to look at us in the back, while we giggled nervously. "You
laugh?" said Philippe in a new and sinister voice. Panic. We were trapped and terrified, but Philippe
then proceeded to return the knife to the glove box, apparently as surprised as us that his friend would
keep such a deadly weapon on hand.
We arrived in Lille without further incident, many hours too early for our train to Budapest. Our
friends suggested that we all visit a famous bookshop, leaving our bags in the car - and of course
when we returned there was no car and all our bags were gone.
"What tricky guys!" we thought, before noticing that Philippe's friend was just as distressed as us!
Sure enough, the car had been parked in a tow-away zone, and the police returned the car after a long
wait and payment of a large fee. We were dropped off at Gare de Lille, bid our friends goodbye, and,
finally jumped on a night train to Budapest.

211
Upon arrival we travelled from our arrival station Budapest-Keleti pu to Budapest-Deli pu where we
met Johansen along with a group of English players and bought express train tickets to
Balatonbereny. ("What happened to you?," said Johansen. "While I was hitching I was looking out for
your car the whole way!")

Buddy, can you spare a pound?

Balatonberény Railway Station; Photo by Hanneke
van Parreren
The train trip to Balatonbereny in a slow, dilapidated, but
comfortable train was uneventful - until a man carrying a
machine gun entered our carriage.
No need for panic. The man, claiming to be a train guard,
explained, in a combination of Hungarian and sign
language, that we all had the wrong tickets for that train
and would have to pay him an express supplement. This
was clearly untrue - we had already paid an express
supplement - but arguing seemed unwise, particularly as
the guard was only asking for one English pound each.
Tony Kosten, who slept through this encounter, awoke angry that we had paid a pound for him as
well. Kosten insisted that he had the right ticket and would have challenged the guard, but once given
a graphic description of the machine gun, paid up his pound to the person who had covered him.
The express train took only 4 hours for the 166km journey; the clever players who took the
organisers' Chess Bus from Budapest did the trip in just 3 hours!

Resort Living

We arrived at Balatonbereny which looked like little more than a train stop in the middle of nowhere.
By the end of September the tourist season was over and the centre of the town was deserted, with the
town's one restaurant closed. The chessplayers soon realised that they were almost the only people in
town, apart from the hotel staff and a few local residents.
Balatonberény’s Okisz Üdülő Holiday Centre;
Photo by Hanneke van Parreren

Our luxury resort in Balatonbereny was the drab Okisz Udulo Holiday Centre, reopened specially for
the chessplayers. Cathy and I were directed to our very basic room - two single beds, end-to-end, and
a table - which turned out to be already occupied, by spiders.
No need for panic. Arachnophobe Cathy, despite knowing that European spiders were just a weak
imitation of their poisonous Australian cousins, ran out out of the room - and ran into Johansen! Our
compatriot said that his room was covered in dead mosquitos but had no spiders, so Cathy grabbed
his key, gave him ours, and slept soundly.
Fortunately, our apartment-complex had a canteen. Unfortunately, the shortages in Hungary meant

212
that chefs lacked the ingredients (and perhaps the skill) to
create healthy or tasty dishes.
On arriving at dinner, Cathy and I learned that meal tables
were allocated strictly according to tournament registration
and could not be changed. We found ourselves sitting at
table 45 with a serious-looking Dutch couple, Paul van der
Sterren and Hanneke van Parreren. 5 years later we were
again eating together, Cathy and I having bought a flat in
the same apartment block in Amsterdam as our Hungarian
meal companions.
The person we had planned to spend meal times with, our compatriot Johansen, found himself eating
with Englishmen, while the late-arriving Australian teenager Mark Chapman was forced to eat by
himself every day.
Van Parreren: "The food was miserable and the "coffee" is horrible. There was only one small shop in
the hotel, where you could buy milk [plus icecreams and alcohol - IR]. It was not possible to get a
newspaper, not even a Hungarian one."
Kosten: "They didn't have a vegetarian option so Johansen and I used to say "Nem hus" (no meat) but
nobody seemed to understand. I was pretty hungry the whole time but it didn't seem to hinder my play
at all!"

B08
Kosten, Anthony C (2395) - Van der Sterren, Paul (2445)
Balatonbereny, 1983

IM Paul van der Sterren next to Lake Balaton;

Photo by Hanneke van Parreren

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O

Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6
At the time White's system against the Pirc Defence was
frequently seen, having been employed by both Spassky
and Karpov. On the other hand Black's set-up was popular
among the top Dutch players, with Timman, Donner and
the young Van der Sterren having enjoyed successes on the
Black side.
8.Qd2 e5 9.dxe5
A few months earlier Azmaiparashvili had won a famous game against Karpov after 9.d5 Ne7
(Karpov, Anatoly 2710 - Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2455, USSR (ch) 1983 - 35/161) 10.h3 Bd7 11.Rad1

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11...b5!, so Kosten prefers the alternative, not-as-boring-as-it-seems line.
9...dxe5 10.Rad1 Qc8
There is absolutely nothing wrong with 10...Qxd2 11.Rxd2 and then either rook to d8, but van der
Sterren prefers to follow a Donner win.
11.Qc1 Rd8 12.Rxd8+ Qxd8 13.Rd1 Qf8 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3

15...Rd8
"My notes from around 1977, said I should play either 15...a6 or 15...h5, but I had forgotten about
that by 1983," admitted Van der Sterren.

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16.Nb5! Rxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Qb4?
Van der Sterren's deprovement over Donner's 17...Qb8 (actually 18... Qb8, due to a strange move
order - Browne,Walter Shawn 2540 - Donner,Jan Hein 2465, Bristol (TV-m/1) 1979), but it is
tactically unsound. "I was playing for a win to punish my opponent for playing what I considered at
the time a lousy variation against the Pirc - 9.de5 - and as a consequence lost sight of reality,"
admitted Van der Sterren.
18.Nxa7! Barely considered by Black.
He had been expecting 18.Nxc7 Qxb2 when the game is very much alive.
18...Nd4 Van der Sterren's most active option, but it meets a simple response.
18...Nxa7?! 19.Bxa7 Nxe4 (19...b6 also loses to 20.Qd8+) 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Qd8+ Bf8 22.Bc5.
19.c3! Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Qe7 21.Qb3 c6 22.a4 Nh5 23.a5 Qd7 The knight on a7 is still trapped and
Black seems to be stirring up some trouble on the kingside, but it is all a chimera...

24.a6! b5 25.Nxb5! cxb5 26.a7 Qb7 27.Qa2 Qa8 28.Qd5 Position is hopeless for Black. 1-0

Advertising Versus Reality

The field that assembled for the first round was far from the expected array of stars. Among the 104
players in the top section, only three Grandmasters had travelled to Balatonbereny: Jozsef Pinter and
Gyozo Forintos from the home nation, and Czechoslovakia's Jan Plachetka.
With only three GMs, the 20 International Masters taking part had virtually no chance for a
Grandmaster norm, no matter how well they played. Kosten, thanks to a run of seven straight wins,
did manage a fourth and final IM norm, but only played against two GMs - plus multiple future GMs
of course!

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 B78
Hardicsay, Peter (2315) - Tolnai, Tibor (2300)
Balatonbereny, 1983

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.Bc4 Bd7
10.h4 Ne5 11.Bb3 Rc8 12.O-O-O Nc4 A move which has been almost completely superseded by
12...h5.
13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.h5 Nxh5 15.g4 Nf6 16.Nb3!?
Ten years later Anand was to beat Tolnai with 16.Kb1 (Anand, Viswanathan 2725 - Tolnai,Tibor
2490, Hilversum 1993 - 59/253), although 16.Bh6 Nxe4 17.Qe3 was the main line at the time this
game was played.
16...Re8 17.Bh6 Bh8

18.Bg5
18.Qh2 would allow the thematic 18...Rxc3! 19.bxc3 Qc7, when Black is fine. e.g. 20.Bg5 Rc8
21.Bxf6?! Bxf6 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 and White's attack is going nowhere.
18...Qc8 19.Rh4!? Rxc3?!
However here 19...Nxg4! 20.fxg4 Bxg4 is a better way to sacrifice, with a later ...h5 leaving Black's
king very safe.
20.bxc3 Be6 21.Rdh1 Bg7

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22.e5! dxe5 23.Bxf6! Bxf6 24.Rxh7 Qc4! 25.g5?
White cannot yet triple on the h-file due to 25.Qh2 Qf4+ which should have suggested 25.Kb1!,
when the White queen reaching the h-file and creating a mating attack is just a matter of time.
25...Bg7 26.R1h4 e4! 27.Nd4 Qxa2?
27...Qc5! was the right idea, with the point that after 28.Qh2 Qxg5+ 29.Kb2 Qf6 White has no mate.
28.Qh2?
White probably saw 28.Rxg7+! but missed that after 28...Kxg7 29.Nxe6+ Qxe6 White has (29...fxe6
30.Qd4+) 30.Qh2! with mate to follow.
28...Qa1+ 29.Kd2

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29...e3+! Now it seems as if Black's attack will come first, but Hardiscay still had one escape route.
30.Ke2? Equivalent to resignation.
On 30.Kd3! Bc4+! 31.Kxc4 Rc8+ looks very scary, yet after 32.Kd5! the players have nothing better
than 32...Rd8+ 33.Kc4 (An attempt for White to play for a win with 33.Ke4? loses to 33...Rxd4+!
34.cxd4 Qxd4#) 33...Rc8+ with a draw.
30...Bc4+ 31.Kxe3 Qxc3+ 32.Kf2 Bxd4+ 0-1
However norms were not the reason for playing in Eastern Europe.
King: "Tournaments like Balaton were an education. Money-wise, you couldn't make anything but
Hungary was very cheap and I was gaining in experience. For example, watching Joszef Pinter I
realised this guy is very classy. His understanding was really, really good and he picked off the
British hackers Lawton and Kosten. I was introduced to a different style of play."
Only two players from the Soviet Union attended: Natalia Alekhina, who competed in the 26 player
second group, and an unheralded but talented 29-year-old Sergey Arkhipov, who had been posted to
Hungary as a soldier and was therefore not very popular with the locals.
Kosten: "We had a football match one day, Hungary versus the rest, and I remember being shocked at
how all the Hungarians kept fouling Arkhipov!"
King: "It was a 5 a side pitch except we played with about 19 a side - everyone was in there. Bela
Perenyi [the Hungarian IM who died tragically young - IR] was a brilliant player, a superstar, really
talented."
Arkhipov's problems at the hands of Hungarians were not only on the soccer pitch...

A34

218
 Pinter, Jozsef (2525) - Arkhipov, Sergey (2305)
Balatonbereny, 1983

’Lad on Tour’ IM Daniel King

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb4

6.Bc4 Nd3+ 7.Ke2 Nf4+ 8.Kf1 Ne6

9.Ne5!? A move first played by Averbakh,Yuri vs. Bondarevsky,Igor in Moscow 1946 and not
revived until Suba,Mihai 2490 picked it up 35 years later against Bukic,Enver 2480, Tuzla 1981.
At the time this game was played, 9.b4!? cxb4 10.Nd5 was very much the main line, while today the
equally weird 9.h4!? is often seen.
9...Nd7? A new move at the time, but one which Pinter and his team had already refuted at home.
Black has plenty of better options: 9...g6; 9...Qd6, or even the ugly 9...Nc6!? are playable.

219
10.Nxf7!! Kxf7 11.Bxe6+ Kxe6 12.Qb3+ Kf6 Black's king will find no safe home on the queenside
either.
Move 12...Kd6 13.Nb5+ Kc6 walks into 14.Qe6+! Kxb5 15.a4+ when, wherever the king runs,
16.d4 will provide a winning attack.
13.Nd5+ Kf7
13...Kg6 14.Nf4+ also leads to disaster.
14.Nc7+ Kg6 15.Ne6! Qe8 16.Nf4+ Kg5 17.h4+! Kh6
17...Kxf4 leads to a very pretty mate after 18.d3+ Kg4 19.Qd1#!

220
18.Qg3 Here Arkhipov, faced with mate or loss of his queen, resigned. 1-0
18.Qg3 Disingenuously, Pinter later published the game with some extra moves to show off the
spectacular variation: 18...Qg6 19.Qg5+! Qxg5 20.hxg5+ Kxg5 21.Rh5+! Kxf4 22.d3+ Kg4
23.Rg5+ Kh4 24.g3+ (This is where Pinter claimed that Arkhipov resigned.) 24...Kh3 25.Rh5+ Kg4
26.Rh4+ Kf3 27.Rf4#.
By publishing moves that never happened, Pinter could at least claim he was following in the
footsteps of Alekhine, as well as the serial offender Eduard Gufeld.

Polgar the Saviour

There was one special guest brought down by the organisers who made life much easier for the
foreign players: 14-year-old Zsuzsa Polgar, who stayed for the first few days and then returned for the
prizegiving.
Polgar, though rated "only" 2275, had already gained fame by winning the World U-16 Girls
Championship at age 12. However it was her command of multiple languages that made her special in
Balatonbereny.
Polgar helped foreign players with hotel issues, food questions - at breakfast each day players had to
fill out a form choosing all their meals for the following day - and multiple other problems. She also
was frequently seen playing outside the hotel, though that was not without risk.
Flear: "I was playing doubles table tennis with some friends and at some point lurched to one side to
try to get the ball back (as one does!). Unfortunately Miss Polgar was walking in the same place that I
was leaping and I sent her flying. She survived (just about) but after picking herself up was clearly
shaken."

Flear, Glenn C (2380) - Froeschl, Felix (2260)

221
 Balatonbereny, 1983

Black was hoping for 30.Ng4? Rh8!, but instead Flear pounced with 30.e5! dxe5

31.Rxf6!! Kxf6 32.Ng4+

32.Qh7!! was the prettiest finish, but the text move is good enough.
32...Kg7 33.Qxg5+ Ng6 34.Qh6+ Kg8 35.Nf6+
35.Nf6+ It is not worth continuing after 35...Kf7 36.Qh7+ Kxf6 37.Qxc7 This was Flear's fourth's
consecutive win but in the subsequent rounds he surprisingly changed gears, finishing with three

222
short draws to tie for seventh.
1-0
It is hard to a modern reader to understand how cut off Hungary was in those years. Apart from short
wave radio, unreliable in Balatonbereny, newspapers featured cover stories about, say, a newly
released tractor.
When Cathy and I arrived in Balatonbereny, the America's Cup - perhaps the world's most prestigious
yachting race - looked as if it might leave American hands for the first time in more than a century.
The score was 3 : 3 - yet it was impossible to find out whether the Australian yacht had won or lost
the final race.
Finally we decided to call out to sate our curiosity. There was only one telephone on the hotel
premises, in a special office, and all foreign phone calls needed to go via an operator. We approached
Zsuzsa, who had helped us check in and was playing with a ball outside the office. We asked if she
could help with a telephone call to London. Half an hour later Zsuzsa was able to return to her ball
game, having convinced the operator that we were not foreign spies. She handed the phone over to us,
whereupon in a very quick call - at $7 per minute! - we learned that Australia had won the final race,
after which the entire country had taken a holiday.

Pinter!

Pinter was the tournament's top seed, already inside the world's top 50 with a 2525 rating. (2600+ was
a top 10 rating, but a decade later would only give a place in the top 50.)
The 29-year-old from Budapest won the event comfortably, though he suffered a shaky start before
beating and overtaking Vladimir Bukal, then van der Sterren and, in the key match-up, Kosten. Pinter
thereby stopped the Englishman's seven game winning streak and could then draw his way to
tournament victory.

A77
Pinter, Jozsef (2525) - Kosten, Anthony C (2395)
Balatonbereny, 1983

Tournament Winner GM József Pintér; Photo by

Cathy Roger

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Nd2

223
It is hard to overestimate how popular White's system
against the Benoni was from the 1950s until the 1980s;
trusted as a way to shut down Tal, but also employed
(unsuccessfully) by Spassky against Fischer in their 1972
world title match.
10...Nbd7 11.a4 a6 12.Ra3!?
As a result of the Spassky - Fischer game, very strong players - Gligoric was a notable exception -
wanted to further investigate Fischer's idea 12.Qc2 Nh5!? - though modern computers hate
permitting the doubled pawns.
12...b6 At the time, a ...Ra7-e7 plan was considered rather trendy.
The more sober 12...Rb8 is a better move.
13.Qc2 Ra7 14.Kh1?! Too careful.
After 14.h3 Black's knight cannot move to e5 without getting knocked back immediately, while the
thematic 14...g5? would lose to 15.Nc4. As a result, Black's rook on a7 would start to look rather
stupid.
14...Ne5! 15.Nd1 A manoeuvre to secure the f5-square should Black seek to play ...g5.
Both 15.f4 Neg4 16.Nc4 Rae7 and 15.h3 g5 allow Black to achieve normal (and in the first case very
promising) Benoni positions.
15...Rae7 16.f4 Neg4 17.h3 Nh6
17...h5!? 18.hxg4 Nxe4! would be a lot of fun for Black, but of course White need not capture on g4.
18.Bf3

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18...b5 The queenside attack is not really very effective and moreover allows another Benoni theme -
Nb3-a5-c6.
However it would be decades before computers became strong enough to say that 18...Nxd5!!
19.exd5 Nf5! offered great compensation for Black - though of course finishing 0.00 with best play.
19.axb5 axb5 20.Nf2
20.g4 Nfxg4 21.hxg4 Nxg4 is the sacrifice Black has been preparing, so why allow it?
20...Nd7 21.Nb3!

21...c4? This was the last chance for Kosten to be brave.

225
Although the queen sacrifice 21...f5! 22.Na5 fxe4!! 23.Nc6 exf3 24.Nxd8 fxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Rxd8 was
hard to assess, it was also easier for Black to play and even the silicon kibitzers approve.
22.Na5 Nb8 23.Rd1! Ra7 24.Bd2 Bd4 25.Be1 Bb6
25...Bc5 26.Raa1 f5 was a better try, but still promising for White after 27.Nc6!
26.Nc6! Nxc6 27.dxc6 Rxa3 28.bxa3 Qc7 29.Qc1! Starting a series of forcing moves which keep
the c6-pawn alive for long enough to win the game.
29...Kg7
29...Qxc6? loses to 30.f5! Kg7 31.f6+!
30.Qb2+ f6 31.Bc3
There was nothing wrong with 31.Qxb5 either.
31...Ng8 32.Ng4 Bxg4 33.hxg4 Ba5 34.e5! Bxc3 35.Qxc3 fxe5 36.fxe5 d5 37.e6+ Kf8
37...Nf6 38.Rxd5! is also hopeless.
38.Bxd5 Qf4 39.Kg1 Ke7 40.Qg7+ Kd6 1-0

My own result was made up of a disappointing three wins and eight draws - as many draws as I
would play in an average year of tournaments in Australia. I had not yet adjusted to the level of
technique among "average" professionals in Hungary, too often exchanging into slightly better
endgames which could not be won.
Lack of motivation may also have contributed. As van der Sterren later explained: "I was a bit
frustrated with the tournament offering no realistic prospects of a Grandmaster norm and the
somewhat poor food, general level of organisation (plus Glenn Flear pestering me for a short draw in
the last round). However in hindsight it doesn't seem to have been such a bad tournament!"

Dynamite

While mornings could be used for football, exploring the unusual colours for which Lake Balaton is
noted, or even preparation, evenings after the games in Balatonbereny offered very little in the way of
entertainment. Cathy and I would alternate between trying to find Radio Luxembourg on our short-
wave radio and competing with Johansen as to who could remember and sing the most television
theme tunes. Up against a person who knew every version of the Gilligan's Island song, we had no

226
chance, and the Hungarian players in neighbouring rooms probably wished we hadn't tried.
For the British, and others, alcohol was rather important.
King: "For us it was lads on tour - we wanted adventure. Looking for booze one night - we were all
looking for booze in those days - someone said you can buy a Hungarian brandy Palinka in the
village, second house on the right. I knocked on the door and a stocky, busty woman answered the
door. I said "Palinka?" and she replied "Moment". She went to the house next door, came back
without a bottle and looked around. Suddenly she produced a bottle from her bosom and I handed
over a few forints. A dynamite symbol was scratched on the bottle, and it bloody well was dynamite!"

Postscript

After the prizes had been distributed, most of the players jumped on the ARTEX bus back to
Budapest, with many then travelling on to a new tournament or the Bundesliga.
King, with very little money but a week to kill before the Kobenhavn Open, had a trip typical of the
British "lads on tour". After a ride to Frankfurt at 200+ kms per hour in Dario Doncevic's Mercedes,
King was dropped off at a cheap hotel at 3am, only to discover the next morning that the Doncevic
Mercedes, by now far away, had his passport on the back seat. Through an underground network of
chess connections, King managed to alert Doncevic and the passport was returned just in time for
King to jump on a train to Kobenhavn.
Cathy and I hitched a ride to Yugoslavia with Vladimir Bukal and Milan Drasko. At the long border
stop Bukal and Drasko drank a toast to "Solidarnosc!" - they knew, though we did not, that Poland's
Lech Walesa had just been announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner. None of us had any idea that
thanks to Solidarity and multiple other unexpected contributors, the Iron Curtain would be gone in
only six more years.
Balatonbereny, however, remains a tourist resort and is now Hungary's most popular nudist beach!

227
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

Game Changers?

PART IV

The Great Rivalry

The Saint Petersburg 1914 chess tournament was the first

in which Capablanca confronted Lasker under tournament
conditions. This event was arranged in an unusual way:
after a preliminary single round-robin tournament
involving 11 players, the top five were to play a second
stage in double round-robin format, with total scores from
the preliminary tournament carried forward to the second
contest.
Capablanca finished first in the preliminary tournament,
1½ points ahead of Lasker, who was out of practice and had made a shaky start. Despite a determined
effort by Lasker, Capablanca still seemed on course for ultimate victory. But in their second game of
the final, Lasker reduced Capablanca to a helpless position and Capablanca was so shaken by this that
he blundered away his next game to Tarrasch. Lasker then won his final game against Marshall, thus
finishing half a point ahead of Capablanca and 3½ ahead of Alekhine.
Alekhine commented: "His real, incomparable gifts first began to make themselves known at the time
of Saint Petersburg, 1914, when I too came to know him personally. Neither before, nor afterwards
have I seen - and I cannot imagine as well - such a flabbergasting quickness of chess comprehension
as that possessed by the Capablanca of that epoch. Enough to say that he gave all the Saint Petersburg
masters the odds of 5 : 1 in quick games - and won! With all this he was always good-humoured, the
darling of the ladies, and enjoyed wonderful good health - really a dazzling appearance. That he came
second to Lasker must be entirely ascribed to his youthful levity - he was already playing as well as
Lasker."
Capablanca's defeat by Reti in the fifth round was his first in serious competition in eight years.
A group of Argentinian businessmen backed by a guarantee from the president of Argentina,
promised the funds for a World Championship Match between Capablanca and Alekhine in 1927.

228
Since Nimzowitsch had challenged before Alekhine, Capablanca gave Nimzowitsch deadline until 1
January 1927, to provide a deposit in order to arrange a match. When this did not materialize,
Capablanca - Alekhine match was agreed, to begin in September 1927.
In the New York 1927 chess tournament, held from 19 February to 23 March 1927, six of the world's
strongest masters played a quadruple round-robin, with the participants being Capablanca, Alekhine,
Rudolf Spielmann, Milan Vidmar, Nimzowitsch and Marshall, with Bogoljubow and Lasker absent.
Before the tournament, Capablanca wrote that he had "more experience but less power" than in 1911,
that he had peaked in 1919 and that some of his rivals had become stronger in the meantime. But
Capablanca had overwhelming success: he finished undefeated with 14/20, winning the mini-matches
against each of his rivals, 2½ points ahead of second-placed Alekhine, and won the "best game" prize
for the win over Spielmann.
Since Capablanca had won the New York 1927 chess tournament overwhelmingly and had never lost
a game to Alekhine, most pundits regarded the Cuban as the clear favourite in their World Chess
Championship 1927 match. But, Alekhine won the match, played from September to November 1927
in Buenos Aires, by 6 wins, 3 losses, and 25 draws - the longest formal World Championship match
until the contest in 1984/85 between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov. Alekhine's victory
surprised almost the entire chess world.
After Capablanca's death, Alekhine expressed surprise at his own victory, since in 1927 he had not
thought he was superior to Capablanca, and he suggested that Capablanca had been overconfident.
Capablanca entered the match with no technical or physical preparation, while Alekhine got himself
into good physical condition and had thoroughly studied Capablanca's play. According to Kasparov,
Alekhine's research uncovered many small inaccuracies, which occurred because Capablanca was
unwilling to concentrate intensely. Vladimir Kramnik commented that this was the first contest in
which Capablanca had no easy wins. Ludek Pachman suggested that Capablanca, who was
unaccustomed to losing games or to any other type of setback, became depressed over his
unnecessary loss in the 11th game in a grueling endgame featuring errors by both players. The match
became somewhat notorious for its extremely lopsided use of the Queen's Gambit Declined; all games
after the first two feaured this opening, and Capablanca's defeat has been partially attributed to his
unwillingness to try any other openings.

229
Immediately after winning the match, Alekhine announced that he was willing to give Capablanca a
rematch, on the same terms that Capablanca had required as champion - the challenger must provide a
stake of US$10.000, of which more than half would go to the defending champion even if he was
defeated. Previously, Alekhine had challenged Capablanca in the early 1920s, but he could not raise
the money until 1927. After Capablanca's death, Alekhine wrote that Capablanca's demand for a
$10.000 stake was an attempt to avoid challenges.
Negotiations dragged on for several years, often breaking down when agreement seemed in sight.
Their relationship became bitter and Alekhine demanded much higher appearance fees for
tournaments in which Capablanca also played. During his career Capablanca lost only 34 serious
games. He was undefeated from 10 February 1916, when he lost to Oscar Chajes in the New York
1916 tournament, to 21 March 1924, when he lost to Richard Reti at the New York International
tournament. During this streak, which included his 1921 World Championship match against Lasker,
Capablanca played 63 games, winning 40 and drawing 23. In fact, only Marshall, Lasker, Alekhine
and Rudolf Spielmann won two or more games against Capablanca, though in each case, their overall
lifetime scores were negative (Capablanca beat Marshall +20 -2 =28, Lasker +6 -2 =16, Alekhine +9
-7 =33), except for Spielmann acieved an equal score (+2 -2 =8).

D52
Capablanca, Jose Raul - Alekhine, Alexander
Buenos Aires (m/11), 1927

José Raúl Capablanca

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6

5...Be7 in the next game the defending Champion has got no problem to get a good position after the
opening. 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Rc1 c6 8.Qc2 a6 9.a3 h6 10.Bh4 Re8 11.Rd1 b5 12.cxb5 axb5³ (12...cxb5
13.Bd3 Bb7 14.O-O Rc8= 15.Qb1 Qa5 (15...Bxa3 16.Nxb5 Bf8 17.Nc3=) 16.Ne2 Nb6 17.Ne5 Nc4
18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Bh7+ Kf8 20.Nd7+ Ke7 21.Nc5 Qb6 22.a4 (22.Nxb7? Qxb7 23.Bd3 Rc7 It's hard
to imagine Capablanca could lose after 24.Qa2 Rec8 25.b3 Nd6 26.Qd2 Qb6 27.Rc1 Kd7 28.Rxc7+
Rxc7 29.Bb1 Be7 30.Nf4 Kc8 31.Qe2 g6 32.Nd3 Ne4 (32...Qa5 33.Qa2 Rc3=) 33.b4 Rc3? 34.Qb2

230
34...Rc7 (34...Qc7?? Amazing how Black thought this could work. White's move is obvious 35.Nc5
Bxc5 36.dxc5 Qe5 37.f4 Qg7 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Kf2 Qf6 40.g3 g5 41.Rc1 1 : 0 Alekhine,Alexander -
Capablanca,Jose Raul, Buenos Aires (m/12) 1927) 35.Qe2 Nd6 36.Nc5²) 22...bxa4 23.Nxa4 Qb4
24.Nc5=)
6.Nf3 Qa5 7.Nd2 Bb4 8.Qc2 dxc4 9.Bxf6 Nxf6 10.Nxc4 Qc7 11.a3
11.Bd3²
11...Be7 12.Be2 O-O 13.O-O Bd7
13...c5=
14.b4 b6 15.Bf3 Rac8 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Be8
The position is very pleasant and suits the style of the defending Champion. Also, Black is passive
and without active counterplay.
18.g3
18.e4
18...Nd5 19.Nb2?! Qb8? 20.Nd3 Bg5 21.Rb1 Qb7 22.e4
22.Qb3²
22...Nxc3 23.Qxc3 Qe7
23...c5 24.bxc5 Bc6 25.Re1 Qd7=
24.h4 Bh6 25.Ne5 g6

231
26.Ng4? After this move White is slowly losing the thread of the game.
26.Nc4 Bg7 27.e5± is very pleasant for White.
26...Bg7 27.e5 h5 28.Ne3 c5= 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.d5 exd5 31.Nxd5 Qe6 32.Nf6+
32.Rb7 Bxe5 (32...Qxe5 33.Qxe5 Bxe5 34.Ne7+; 32...Rd7 33.Rxd7 Bxd7 34.Nf4 Qe7 35.Nd5
Qe6=) 33.Qe3±
32...Bxf6 33.exf6 Now White has to fight for a draw.
33...Rxd1+ 34.Rxd1 Bc6 35.Re1 Qf5 36.Re3 Capablanca was the best in simple endgames at that
time, but in this match he just didn't played at his very highest level.
36...c4 37.a4 a5 38.Bg2
38.Bxc6 Rxc6 39.Kg2 Rxf6 40.Rf3 Qxf3+ 41.Qxf3 Rxf3 42.Kxf3=
38...Bxg2 39.Kxg2 Qd5+ 40.Kh2 Qf5 41.Rf3?
41.Kg1=
41...Qc5 42.Rf4 Kh7 43.Rd4 Qc6 44.Qxa5 c3 45.Qa7 Kg8 46.Qe7 Qb6 47.Qd7 Qc5 48.Re4 Qxf2+
49.Kh3 Qf1+ 50.Kh2 Qf2+ 51.Kh3 Rf8 52.Qc6 Qf1+ 53.Kh2 Qf2+ 54.Kh3 Qf1+
54...Qf3 55.Rc4 Qf1+ 56.Kh2 Rd8-+
55.Kh2 Kh7 56.Qc4
56.Re7 Qf2+ 57.Kh3 c2 58.Rc7=
56...Qf2+ 57.Kh3 Qg1 58.Re2 Qf1+

232
58...Qh1+ 59.Rh2 Qb7 60.Qxc3 Qd7+ 61.Kg2 Rc8-+
59.Kh2 Qxf6

60.a5??
60.Rc2³
60...Rd8 61.a6 Probably white did not calculate the line until the end.
61...Qf1 62.Qe4 Rd2 63.Rxd2 cxd2 64.a7 d1=Q 65.a8=Q Qg1+ 66.Kh3 Qdf1+ 0-1

A Shocking Defeat

In 1933, Alekhine challenged Max Euwe to a championship match. Euwe, in the early 1930s, was
regarded as one of three credible challengers (the others were Jose Raul Capablanca and Salo Flohr).
Euwe accepted the challenge for October 1935. Earlier that year, Dutch radio sports journalist Han
Hollander asked Capablanca for his views on the forthcoming match. In the rare archival film
footage, in which Capablanca and Euwe both spoke, Capablanca replies: "Dr. Alekhine's game is
20% bluff. Dr. Euwe's game is clear and straightforward. Dr. Euwe's game - not so strong as
Alekhine's in some respects - is more evenly balanced." Then Euwe gave his assessment in Dutch,
explaining that his feelings alternated from optimism to pessimism, but in the previous ten years, their
score had been evenly matched at 7 : 7.
On October 3 1935, the World Championship match began in Zandvoort, Nederland. Although
Alekhine took an early lead, from game thirteen onwards Euwe won twice as many games as
Alekhine. The challenger became the new champion on December 16, 1935, with nine wins, thirteen
draws, and eight losses.
This was the first world championship match in which seconds were officially employed: Alekhine

233
had the services of Salo Landau, and Euwe had Geza Maroczy. Euwe's win was a major upset.
Kmoch wrote that Alekhine drank no alcohol for the first half of the match, but later had a glass or
tow before most games. However, Salo Flohr, who also assisted Euwe, thought that overconfidence
caused more problems than alcohol did for Alekhine, specially knowing that Alekhine himself had
previously said he would win easily.

A90
Euwe, Max - Alekhine, Alexander
Nederland (m/26), 1935

Max Euwe

1.d4 e6 2.c4 This was one of the most important game

towards the end of the match.
2...f5 3.g3
3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7=
3...Bb4+ 4.Bd2
4.Nc3 Nf6=
4...Be7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Nf3 Ne4
7...b6 8.Ne5 c6 9.d5=
8.O-O
8.Nxe4 fxe4 9.Ne5 d6 10.Ng4 e5=
8...b6 9.Qc2
9.Ne1 Bb7 10.f3 Nxd2 11.Qxd2=
9...Bb7 10.Ne5
10.d5 Nxc3 (10...exd5 11.cxd5 (11.Nxd5) 11...Nxc3∞) 11.Bxc3 exd5 12.Nd4²;

234
10.a3 d6 11.b4 Nd7=;
10.Rad1 d6 11.d5 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 e5=
10...Nxc3
10...Nxd2?? 11.Bxb7 Nxf1 12.Bxa8 Nxg3 13.hxg3 c6 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.e4+-;
10...d5 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Bh3±;
10...Nd6 11.c5 (11.Bxb7 Nxb7 12.e4) 11...Bxg2 12.cxd6

12...cxd6! (12...Bxf1?? 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Rxf1+-) 13.Kxg2 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nc6=

11.Bxc3
11.Bxb7 Nxe2+ 12.Kg2

235
12...Nxd4! (12...Nc6 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.Bc3 (14.Bxa8? Nxd4 15.Qd3 Qxa8³ 16.Qxd4 c5+)
14...Nxd4 (14...Rb8 15.Qxe2 Rxb7 16.Qxe6+ Kh8 17.Qxc6+-; 14...Nxc3 15.Bxa8 Qxa8 16.bxc3±)
15.Bxd4±) 13.Qd3 Nbc6 14.Nxc6 dxc6 (14...Nxc6 15.Bxa8 Qxa8) 15.Bxa8 Qxa8 16.Qxd4 c5+-+
11...Bxg2 12.Kxg2 Qc8
12...d6 13.Nd3 Nd7 (13...Bf6 14.e4 fxe4 15.Nf4±) 14.Nf4±;
12...Nc6 13.Nxc6 dxc6 14.e4²
13.d5
13.Rad1 d6 14.Nd3 Nd7 15.Nf4 Nf6 16.d5±;
13.e4 d6 14.Nf3 Nd7 15.exf5 exf5 16.d5±
13...d6 14.Nd3 e5 15.Kh1 c6
15...a5 16.a3 a4=;
15...Qe8 16.b4 Qh5 17.a4 Rf6=
16.Qb3 Kh8 17.f4 e4 18.Nb4 c5 19.Nc2 Nd7 20.Ne3 Bf6 This move gives White a chance to
complicate the game and Euwe went for it.
20...Qe8 21.Rg1 h5= and Black has a good game.

236
21.Nxf5!
21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Qc3 h5=
21...Bxc3 22.Nxd6 Qb8
22...Qc7 23.Nb5+-
23.Nxe4 Bf6 24.Nd2 After the last few forced moves White has got a few pawns for the piece and if
he manages to build a strong centre with e4 he could have some advantage.
24...g5
24...b5 was the most direct attempt for active counterplay. Black has to do something before e4-e5
comes. 25.cxb5 (25.e4 Bd4) 25...g5 (25...a6 26.bxa6 Rxa6)
25.e4 gxf4 26.gxf4 Bd4 27.e5 Qe8
27...Nxe5 28.fxe5 Qxe5 29.Nf3 Qe2 30.Rae1± Qxb2 was another option.
28.e6
28.Rae1 Qh5 29.e6±
28...Rg8
28...Nf6 29.Rae1 Qh5 30.Qf3 Ng4 31.Re2±
29.Nf3?!
29.exd7 Qe2 30.Qf3 Qxd2=;
29.Rae1! Qg6 30.Qf3 Nf6 31.Ne4±

237
29...Qg6 30.Rg1
30.Ng5 Ne5=
30...Bxg1 31.Rxg1 Qf6 32.Ng5
32.exd7 Rxg1+ 33.Kxg1 Qxf4 34.Qc3+ Kg8=
32...Rg7
32...Rg6! 33.Nf7+ (33.exd7 Qxf4 34.Qc3+ Kg8; 33.Qe3 Nf8) 33...Kg7³
33.exd7 Rxd7 34.Qe3 Re7 35.Ne6 Rf8 36.Qe5
36.Qg3
36...Qxe5 37.fxe5 Rf5 38.Re1

38...h6??
38...Rxe6 It is not so hard to find the only defence but Alekhine missed it. 39.dxe6 Kg7 40.Kg2 Kf8
41.Kg3 Ke7 42.Kg4 Kxe6=
39.Nd8
39.d6?? Rxe6 40.d7 Rf8 41.Rd1 Rd8
39...Rf2
39...Rexe5 40.Rxe5 Rxe5 41.Nf7++-
40.e6 Rd2 41.Nc6 Re8 42.e7 b5 43.Nd8 Kg7 44.Nb7 Kf6 45.Re6+ Kg5 46.Nd6 Rxe7 47.Ne4+ 1-0

Rematch

238
The 1937 World Chess Championship was played between Max Euwe and Alexander Alekhine in
Nederland from October 5 to December 4, 1937. Alekhine regained his title in a rematch. This was
the last World Championship where the defending Champion had control of the title and could set
match conditions. Alekhine died in 1946 and FIDE stepped in to take control of the World
Championship. This was also the last World Championship to take place before the outbreak of
World War II. The first player to win six games and score more than 15 points would be champion.
Max Euwe was quick to arrange a return match with Alekhine, something Jose Raul Capablanca had
been unable to obtain after Alekhine won the title in 1927.
Alekhine regained the title from Euwe in December 1937 by a large margin (+10 -4 =11). In this
match Euwe was seconded by Fine and Alekhine by Erich Eliskases. The match was a real contest
initially, but Euwe collapsed near the end, losing four of the last five games. Fine attributed the
collapse to nervous tension, possibly aggravated by Euwe's attempts to maintain a calm appearance.
Alekhine played no more title matches, and thus held the title until his death.

D17
Alekhine, Alexander - Euwe, Max
Nederland (m/2), 1937

Alexander Alekhine

1.d4 Most chess lovers think that Alekhine won the match
easily, but the start of the match was very hard-fought and
Euwe missed good chances in many games.
1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 Euwe won the first game and it
was interesting to see how Alekhine would react to such a
bad start.
4.Nc3 dxc4
4...e6 In game 3 Euwe also had some edge. 5.e3 Nbd7
6.Bd3 Bb4 7.O-O O-O 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.Nd2 e5
11.Bb2 (11.a4 e4 12.Be2±) 11...e4 12.Be2 b5 13.cxb5

239
cxb5 14.a4 bxa4 15.c4 dxc4 16.Nxc4 Pair of bishops and better pawn structure for White secure him
a slight plus. 16...Nb6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Rxa4 Bb7 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.Qb1 Re8 21.Rc1 Qd6 22.Qc2
h6 23.Qc7 Qxc7 24.Rxc7 Rc8

25.Rxc8+ (25.Rxb7 Here White could easily gain a big advantage after 25...Rc2 26.Bh5 Nxh5
27.Rxb6 Nf6 28.h3+-) 25...Bxc8 26.f3 Bb7 27.Kf2 Ne8 28.Ba3 Bd5 29.Be7 f5 30.fxe4 fxe4 31.Bd8
Nd6 32.Bxb6 Nc4 33.Bc7 Kf7 34.h4 g5 35.Bh5+ (35.hxg5 hxg5 36.Bd8 Kg6 37.Bg4 Nd6 38.Bd7
Kh5 39.Be7 Nc4 40.Bb4 Nb6 41.Bf5 Nc4 42.g3 Kh6 43.g4+-) 35...Ke7 36.Bg4 Bb7 37.Be5 Nxe5
38.dxe5 gxh4 39.Kg1 Ba6 40.Kh2 Kf7 41.Kh3 Bf1 42.Bf5 Ke7 43.Kh2 Be2 44.Kh3 Bf1 45.Bxe4
Ke6 46.Kxh4 Kxe5 47.Bf3 Kf6 48.Kh5 Kg7 49.e4 Bd3 50.e5 Bg6+ 51.Kg4 Kf7 52.Bd5+ Ke7
53.Kf4 Bh7 54.g3 Kf8 55.Be4 Bg8 56.Bf3 Ke7 57.Kg4 Ke6 58.Kf4 Ke7 59.Bg4 Bb3 60.Bc8 Kf7
1/2 : 1/2 Euwe,Max - Alekhine,Alexander, Nederland (m/ 3) 1937, D 46
5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5
6.e3 In game 7 Euwe also missed a good chance. 6...e6 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.O-O Bd6 9.Qe2 Ne4
10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Nd2 Bg6 12.e4 Bc7 13.Bb3 (13.Nf3²) 13...O-O

240
14.Nf3 (14.f4? White is not ready to start the attack as his pieces are not active enough. 14...Nf6
15.Bc2 Qxd4+ 16.Kh1 Qb4 17.g4 (17.Ra3 Rad8 18.g4µ) 17...Qc5 (17...Rad8?? 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5
Rfe8 20.Qg2 Qxg4 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Bd1 Qxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Rd4 24.Nf3 Rg4+ 25.Kh3 (Safer is
25.Kh1±) 25...Rd8 26.Bg5 Rb4 27.Bd2 Re4 28.Kg2² (28.Bb3?? Re2 29.Bc3 Rd3 30.Kh4 Rxf3
31.Rxf3 Rxh2+ 32.Rh3 g5+ 33.Kxg5 Rxh3 34.Bd1 Ne4+ 0 : 1 Euwe,Max - Alekhine,Alexander,
Nederland (m/7) 1937, D 19)) 18.Bb1 (18.Bb3 h6-+) 18...Bxf4 19.Rxf4 Qxc1+-+) 14...e5 15.Rd1
exd4 16.Nxd4=
6...e6 7.Bg5 Bb4 8.Nxc4 Qd5 Now the complications are good for Black.
9.Bxf6 Qxc4 10.Qd2 gxf6
Black could get a serious edge after 10...Qb3! 11.Bxg7 Rg8 12.Be5 Nd7 13.Bg3 Nb6 14.e3 Nxa4-+
11.e4 Qb3 12.exf5 Nd7 13.fxe6 White is safe.
13...fxe6 14.Be2 O-O-O 15.O-O e5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Qc1 Bxc3 This move gives White the chance
to activate his pieces and open the b-file.
17...Nd3 18.Bxd3 Rxd3=
18.bxc3 Rhg8 19.Qe3 Kb8 20.g3 Rd7 21.Rab1 Qc2 22.Rfe1 Qd2 23.Qxd2 Rxd2 Black should hold
this in general, but White can play without any risk.
24.f4 Ng6 25.Bc4 Rgd8 26.Re6 R8d6 27.Rbe1 Kc7 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.h4 Kd7 30.Kf2 Ne7 31.Kf3
Nd5
31...f5 32.h5²
32.Bd3 h6 33.Bf5+ Kd8 34.Kg4 White has an easy plan now and should convert.

241
34...Ne7 35.Bb1

35...Ke8?
35...Rd5 36.Re6 h5+ 37.Kh3 Rc5±
36.Kh5 Kf7 37.Ba2+ Kf8 38.Kxh6 Rd2 39.Be6 Rd3 40.g4 Rxc3 41.g5 1-0

242
Viktor Gavrikov — Andrei Kharitonov
55th USSR Championship, Moscow 1988

>The 55th USSR Championship took place in Moscow during July and August of 1988. First place
was shared by World Champion Garry Kasparov and his great rival and predecessor as world title
holder, Anatoly Karpov. One of the most spectacular games in the event was played by grandmaster
Viktor Gavrikov and international master (later grandmaster) Andrei Kharitonov – two highly-gifted
chessplayers who are sadly no longer with us. Their encounter won a special prize from the magazine
64, for the "most fighting draw in the event", and the players annotated the game for that publication.
Viktor Gavrikov was born in Moldavia in 1957. He lived for many years in Lithuania, and then, after
the collapse of the Soviet Union, in Switzerland and Bulgaria. He gained the grandmaster title in
1984, thanks to victories in international events in Leningrad and Naleczow. He made his debut in the
USSR Championship final in 1981, and shared 1st-3rd place in the 52nd Championship (Riga, 1985).
Through that result he qualified for the FIDE Interzonal tournament in Tunis, in which he narrowly
missed qualifying for the Candidates' tournament. Gavrikov was known for the speed of his play, and
also for his exceptional memory, and (at least partly a result) encyclopaedic opening knowledge.
Throughout his career he also had a reputation as a gifted trainer. He passed away in 2016, at the age
of 58.
Andrei Kharitonov was born in the city of Ivanovo, 250km NE of Moscow, in 1959. He showed early
promise as a junior and gained the International Master title at the age of 21, at a time when this was
still relatively rare for players from the USSR. As well as the final in 1988, he also qualified for the
final of the 51st USSR Championship (Lviv, 1984). In 1987, as well as qualifying for the final of the
55th championship, he shared 1st-3rd place at the international Chigorin Memorial tournament, and
also won the championship of the RSFSR (the Russian republic within the USSR). Kharitonov was an
extremely solid player with a very fine positional sense together with excellent endgame knowledge
and technique. In the volumes of Chess Informant one can find well-deserved victories by him over
the likes of Vasyl Ivanchuk, John Nunn and Alexei Shirov. Like Gavrikov, he was a highly-respected
trainer, and the sense of loss was felt by many when he passed away in 2012 at the age of only 52.
The players met in the penultimate round of the USSR Championship in Moscow. The game was
annotated by Kharitonov for volume 46 of Chess Informant; use has also been made of the players'

243
annotations for 64 (No. 21, 1988).

D37
Gavrikov, Viktor (2545) - Kharitonov, Andrei V (2550)
USSR (ch) 46/542, 1988

Viktor Gavrikov (Photo via chesspro.ru.)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 A typical choice for

Kharitonov; throughout his career he had a liking for the
Orthodox Queen's Gambit Declined set-ups.
5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.cxd5 Slightly unusual at
that time, though it later became popular.
Earlier in the same tournament, the game Gurevich,
Mikhail - Sokolov,Andrei had seen a sensational novelty in
the position after the moves 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Qa5. Here,
instead of the tried and tested 10. Rd1, White continued
10.O-O-O (!!). After Gurevich's win in that game
(Gurevich,Mikhail 2630 - Sokolov,Andrei 2600, USSR
1988 - 46/543), and especially after Speelman's succesful
adoption of the move v. Short in the 3rd game of their
Candidates' Semi-final match in London a couple of weeks
later (Speelman,Jon 2645 - Short,Nigel 2665, London
(m/3) 1988 - 46/545), the line became one of the main
battlegrounds in the Queen's Gambit Declined.
8...Nxd5 The correct recapture.
9.Nxd5 exd5 10.a3
After the developing move 10.Bd3 White of course has to reckon with the check on b4.
10...Nc6 11.Bd3 Bb6 Sidestepping the threat of 12.Bh7.
12.O-O Bg4
The alternative 12...d4 has also been seen in many games (among then Gavrikov,Viktor 2542 -
Griffin,Douglas 2412, playchess.com (blitz) 2006 (!), which continued 13.e4 Bg4 14.h3 Qf6 15.hxg4
Qxf4 16.Nh2, etc.).
13.h3 Bh5 14.b4

244
Here Gavrikov writes: "Black stands worse; this position was known to me. One of my games against
Mikhail Gurevich, played three years ago, developed similarly. The main idea is the transfer of the
queen's rook along the route Ra1-a2-d2".
14...Re8
The position was also well known to Kharitonov, who writes: "I had already had this position against
Eingorn (USSR Young Masters' Championship, Odessa 1982). There there followed ( 14...Re8 )
15.g4 Bg6 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Ra2 d4 18.Rd2 Qd5 and a draw was agreed. After 19.exd4 Re4 20.Be3
Rae8 Black has more than sufficient compensation for the pawn."
15.Ra2 d4 "An attempt to rid himself tactically of the weak d-pawn" Gavrikov.
16.b5 Kharitonov: "This move was a surprise for me. Here I thought for a very long time and went in
for a forcing variation in which, however, I had committed a serious oversight..."
16...Bxf3
Black has several alternatives at this point. Thus, possible is 16...Na5, for instance: 17.g4 (17.exd4
Qd5©; 17.Rd2 Qd5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Qxb5) 17...Bg6 18.Bxg6
(18.exd4 Qd5©, as in the above-mentioned game Gavrikov, Viktor 2550 - Gurevich,Mikhail 2435,
USSR (ch-playoff) 1985 - see Chess Informant vol. 40/506) 18...hxg6 19.Nxd4 Qd5© Kharitonov
A decade later, in a game v. Volzhin (Koszalin, 1988), Kharitonov would prefer the alternative
16...Ne5 17.Bxe5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Rxe5 19.exd4 Qxd4 20.Qxb7 Rd8© - Volzhin,Alexander 2530 -
Kharitonov,Andrei V 2570, Koszalin 1998 - 74/(432).
17.Qxf3

245
 Andrei Kharitonov

17...dxe3?
Black should prefer 17...Ne5, when 18.Bxe5 Rxe5
transposes to the Volzhin - Kharitonov game given above.
18.bxc6 Qxd3 19.cxb7 exf2+ 20.Kh2 Kharitonov: "I had
not even considered this move! Because in my preliminary
calculations it seemed to me that I would mate with the
queen on g1."
He had instead expected the line 20.Rfxf2 Qxf3 21.gxf3.
But even this is good for White, thus: 21...Rad8
(Kharitonov analyses 21...Rab8 to a draw after 22.Bxb8
Rxb8 and now 23.Rab2, etc., but instead 23.Rc2! wins
immediately) 22.Kg2 etc.
20...Qxf1
Gavrikov: "Now after 20...Qxf3 21.gxf3 Rad8 (21...Rab8
22.Bxb8 Rxb8 23.Rc2) 22.Rb2! Black has no defence
against the march of the white a-pawn."
21.bxa8=Q Kharitonov: "Thus, White has two queens, but it is still possible to fight. Only I had to
place on the board a new... knight!"
21...Qg1+ 22.Kg3

246
22...f1=N+ 23.Kh4?!
Here, as both players point out, White should have continued 23.Kg4!, thus: 23...h5+ 24.Kxh5 Rxa8
(24...Qc5+ 25.Qad5 g6+ 26.Kg4 Qc8+ 27.Kh4 "and the white king hides from the checks" -
Gavrikov) 25.Qxa8+ Kh7 26.Qd5! "and the black queen and knight are out of play" Kharitonov. As
neutrals, we should however be thankful for Gavrikov's choice, as it led to some remarkable
situations in the actual game!
23...Bd8+ 24.Qxd8 As Kharitonov says, this looks good enough. Remarkably, it is in fact the only
move to avoid defeat!
24.Bg5? leads to a forced win for Black after 24...Bxg5+ 25.Kxg5 (25.Kh5 g6+) 25...Qc5+! and
now: 26.Kh4 (26.Qad5 Re5+; 26.Kg4 Qc4+! 27.Qf4 Qe6+ followed by ...Ra8) 26...Qe7+ 27.Kg4
Qe6+ 28.Kf4 g5+! 29.Kxg5 h6+ 30.Kh4 (30.Kh5 Qg6+) 30...Qe7+!.
White also loses after 24.Kg4?, thus 24...h5+ 25.Kxh5 g6+ 26.Kh6 (26.Kg4 f5#) 26...Qd4 27.Qxd8
Rxd8 28.Qxf1 (or 28.Re2 Qf6, as given by Gavrikov) 28...Rd5! (also possible is 28...Qh8+ 29.Kg5
Qh5+ 30.Kf6 Qf5+ 31.Ke7 Rd7+ 32.Ke8 Qe6#, as given by Kharitonov.)
24...Rxd8 25.Rf2 Though White is temporarily a pawn down, Black's knight is lost. But as before, the
position of the white king allows Black to fight on.
25...f6! 26.Rxf1 g5+ 27.Kh5
On 27.Kg4 Qd4 Black regains the piece.
As Kharitonov points out, 27.Bxg5 gives Black good drawing chances in the rook endgame after
27...fxg5+ 28.Kxg5 Qc5+ 29.Kh4 Rd4+ 30.g4 Qe7+ 31.Qf6 Qxf6+ 32.Rxf6 Ra4.
27...Qc5

247
Now White's bishop has to move, but White has to be careful; thus ( 27...Qc5 ) 28.Bg3?? (or Bh2)
would lose after 28...g4+!.

28.Be3? A mistake, after which a draw becomes likely.

After 28.Bc1! Qc4 29.Kh6 White stands to win. The difference will become clear.
28...Qc4! With the threat of mate on h4.
If now ( 28...Qc4 ) 29.g3??, then 29...Qf7+ 30.Kg4 h5+ 31.Kf5 Rd5+.
While if ( 28...Qc4 ) 29.Qf2, Black forces a draw by perpetual check: 29...Qf7+ 30.Kg4 Qe6+, etc.
White has only one way to play for the win.
29.Kh6 Re8! Now Black threatens 30... Qh4 31.Qh5 Qh5 and 32...Re3 (see the note to White's 28th
move).
30.Bd2 On this square the bishop again proves to be exposed to attack.
Gavrikov suggests that White could all the same consider 30.Bc1, but after 30...Qf7 31.Qd3 Black
can even try 31...Re5, intending ...g5-g4! with the threat of mate on g7.
30...Qf7 31.Qd3
Of course, not 31.Qxf6?? Re6!

248
31...Re2! With two threats: 32...Rd2 and 32...Qf8! 33.Kh5 Qe8! 34.Kg4 (34. Kh6 Re4! and ...Qg6#)
Rg2, etc.
32.Qd8+ Re8 33.Qd3 Re2 34.Qd8+
Here 34.Rb1!? creates the counter-threat of 35.Rb8. But after 34...Qf8+ 35.Kh5 Qe8+ a draw is all
the same forced, since 36.Kg4? loses to 36...Rxg2+ 37.Kf3 Qa8+! Kharitonov.
34...Re8 35.Qd3 Agreed drawn. 1/2-1/2
A terrific battle!

Douglas Griffin (Aberdeenshire, Scotland)

Douglas Griffin in Central Chess Club, Moscow
2019
Competitive player since the age of 12, representing Scotland at all levels from Under-14 to senior
international during 1980-1989. Inactive over-the-board since the mid-1990s, but remains a keen
student of chess history, and diligent collector of classic chess literature in the English and Russian
languages. Chess Informant associate.

249
250
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A00-A24

1. * A07
Repka, Christopher (2508) - Khanin, Semen (2509)
Saint Louis 152/1, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Ne7 6.c4

6.Nbd2 - 123/5
6...dxc4 7.dxc4 O-O 8.Nc3 Nbc6 9.Nd5
9.Rb1
9...h6N
9...Be6 - 152/(1) 10.Ng5 Bxd5 11.cxd5 Nd4 12.e3 Ndf5

13.f4?! (13.Ne4 Nd6 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.e4²) 13...exf4 14.gxf4 h6³ Kosteniuk,A (2516) -Vuppala, P
(2417) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(1) 2022
9...e4!? 10.Ng5 f5 11.f3 h6 12.fxe4!?

252
12...Ne5! (12...hxg5?! 13.Bxg5 fxe4 14.Nxe7+ Nxe7 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bxe7 Re8 17.Bg5 Bxb2
18.Rad1→) 13.Nf3 Nxc4 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Nh4 fxe4 16.Rxf8+ Qxf8 17.Nxg6 Qc5+∞
10.e4 Bg4
10...f5 11.exf5 Nxf5 (11...gxf5?! 12.Nh4 Be6 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.Qc2 Nc6 15.Be3²) 12.Re1 g5
13.h3 Nd6∞
11.Be3 Nd4 12.Bxd4 exd4 13.h3 Bc8
13...Bd7 14.Re1 c5 15.Nd2 Rc8 16.b3 b5 17.Nf4 g5 18.Nd3 Ng6 19.Rc1²
14.Re1 c6 15.Nf4 a5 16.e5→ c5
16...Nf5 17.c5 a4 18.Bf1±
17.e6 f5
17...g5 18.exf7+ Rxf7 19.Nd3 Qc7 20.a4±
18.Ne5± Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qd6 20.Qe2 Ra7 21.Re1 b6 22.h4 Kg7 23.Qd3 h5

253
24.Qd2!+-
24.a4!?±
24...Rh8 25.Bf3 Rh6 26.Nh3
26.Nd5!? Bb7

27.Nf6! Qd8 28.Bxb7 Rxb7 29.Rd5! Nxd5 30.Nxd5 Rh8 31.e7 Qc8 32.Qf4+-
26...Rh8 27.Ng5 Nc6 28.Bxc6
28.Rd5 Qb8 29.Rxf5! gxf5 30.Bxc6 Re7 31.Nh3 Rxe6 32.Qg5+ Kf7 33.Bd5+-

254
28...Qxc6 29.Nf7 Rxf7 30.exf7 Bb7
30...Rf8 31.Qf4 Rxf7 32.Rd5 Bb7 33.f3 Qc7 34.Rd6 Bxf3 35.Ree6
31.Rd5 Rf8 32.Re7 Ba8 33.Qe2 Kh7
33...f4 34.Re8 Rxf7 35.Qe5+
34.Re8 Rxf7 35.Qe5 Rg7 36.Qb8 Qxe8 37.Qxe8 Bxd5 38.cxd5 d3 39.Kf1 1-0

2. A11
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2609) - Sethuraman, SP. (2619)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/2, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Bd6 6.Bb2 e5

6...O-O - 150/1
7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nb5 Nc6 9.Nxd6+ Qxd6 10.Bb5 Nd7 11.O-O O-O 12.Rc1 a6N
12...e4
13.Bxc6
13.Be2 Re8 14.Qc2 Nf8 15.d4 e4 16.Ne5

16...Ne7! 17.Qc5 Qxc5 18.dxc5 f6 19.Ng4 Bd7„ (19...h5?! 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Bxh5©)
13...bxc6 14.Qc2²
14.Nh4!? Nf6 15.f4! e4 (15...exf4 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Rxf4 Qd6 18.Nf3 Bd7 19.Qc2 f6 20.Qc5±)
16.Be5 Qe6 17.Bd4²

255
14...Bb7
14...e4 15.Nd4 Ne5 16.Qc3 (16.Nxc6?! Nd3 17.Qc3 f6 18.Nd4 Bg4! (18...Nxc1 19.Rxc1©) 19.Rb1
a5! (19...Rac8 20.Qa5!²) 20.Qc2 Rac8 21.Bc3 f5→) 16...f6 17.Qa5 Re8 18.Ba3 Qd7 19.Bc5 Nd3
20.Rc3²
15.d4
15.Qf5!? f6 16.Nh4 g6 17.Qg4 f5 18.Qg3 Rae8 19.f4 e4 20.Qg5→
15...e4 16.Ne5 f6?!

16...Qe6 17.f4 exf3 18.Rxf3 Nxe5 19.dxe5²

17.Ba3! Qxa3 18.Nxd7 Rf7 19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Qc3 a5 21.Rc2 Qb4 22.Rfc1 Rc7 23.a3 Qb5
23...Qxc3 24.Rxc3²
24.Rb2 Rb8 25.b4 a4 26.Qc2 Ra8 27.Qe2 Bf5 28.Qh5 Bg6 29.Qg4± Re7 30.h4! Be8 31.Qf4 Rd8
32.Rbc2 Qb8 33.Qxb8 Rxb8 34.Rc3 Ra8 35.f3 f5 36.Kf2± g6 37.Kg3 Kg7 38.Kf4 h6 39.fxe4 fxe4
40.g4 Bd7
40...Kf8 41.Kg3 Rf7 42.Ne6+ Ke7 43.Nf4 Rf6 44.g5 hxg5 45.hxg5 Rf5 46.Kh4±
41.Nxd7 Rxd7 42.Rxc6+- Rf8+ 43.Ke5 Rf3 44.Rc7 Rdf7
44...Rxc7 45.Rxc7+ Kg8 46.b5 Rxe3 47.b6 Rb3 48.b7
45.R1c3 Rg3 46.b5 Rxg4 47.b6 Rg1 48.Rxf7+ Kxf7 49.Rc7+ 1-0

3. A11
Pantsulaia, Levan (2579) - Petriashvili, Nikoloz (2418)

256
 Georgia (ch) 152/3, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.O-O Nbd7 6.Qc2 Nb6 7.a4 a5 8.Na3 Qd5 9.Ne1 Bf5
9...Qh5 - 105/4
10.Bxd5 Bxc2 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.Naxc2 e6 13.d3 Nfd5N
13...Bd6
14.dxc4² Nxc4

15.b3
15.Nd3!? Be7 16.b3 Nd6 17.Bb2 O-O 18.Nd4 Rfb8 19.Ba3 Nf5 20.Nxf5 exf5 21.Bxe7 Nxe7
22.Rab1 Ra7 23.Rfc1±
15...Nd6 16.Nd3 Ne4
¹16...f6 17.f3! e5 18.e4 Nc7 19.Be3 Ne6 20.Rfc1²
17.Nd4± Nec3 18.Bb2?!
18.Re1! c5 19.Nb5 Nxb5 20.axb5 Bd6 21.e4 Nb4 22.Nxb4 cxb4 23.Be3 Ke7 24.Red1 Rhc8 25.b6±
18...c5 19.Bxc3
19.Nb5 Nxe2+ 20.Kg2 Nd4 21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Bd6 23.Rfc1 O-O=
19...Nxc3 20.Nb5 Nxe2+ 21.Kg2 Rb8 22.Ne5 Nd4

257
23.Rfd1!
23.Rad1 f6 24.Nc4 Nxb5 25.axb5 Rxb5=
23...f6
23...Nxb5? 24.Nc6! Rc8 25.axb5+-
24.Nxd4
24.Nc4 e5 (24...Nxb5 25.axb5 Rxb5 26.Nxa5²) 25.f4²
24...cxd4 25.Nc6 Rxb3?!
25...Rc8! 26.Nxa5 Bb4 27.Nc4 Ke7„
26.Rxd4 Rc3 27.Rd8++- Kf7 28.Rc8 Rc5
28...Bb4 29.Ne5+! fxe5 30.Rxh8 h6 31.Ra2
29.Rb1 e5 30.Rb5 Rg8 31.Rxf8+ 1-0

4. A11
Ding, Liren (2799) - Le, Quang Liem (2709)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/4, 2022

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.c4 Bg4 5.Ne5 Be6 6.cxd5 Bxd5 7.Nf3 c5 8.O-O e6 9.Nc3
9.a3 - 76/(8)
9...Bc6 10.Re1!? Be7 11.e4 O-O 12.d4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Na6?!N
13...Bc5

258
14.a3! Rc8
14...Qb6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Qb5 17.Bf1 Qb7 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.b4 c5 20.Qc4! Nb8 21.Nxc5±
15.b4
15.Be3!? Nc5

16.b4! Ncxe4 17.Nxc6 Nxc3 18.Nxd8 Nxd1 19.Nxe6 Nxe3 20.Nxf8 Nc2 21.Rac1 Bxf8 22.Re2
Nd4 23.Rxc8 Nxe2+ 24.Kf1 Nd4 25.Bxb7±
15...Nc7 16.Bb2
16.Bf4 Bd7 17.Qd2 a6 18.Red1 Qe8 19.Rac1±
16...Be8
16...e5 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Bh3! Rb8 19.Na4 Nb5 20.Bxe5 Qxd1 21.Raxd1+-
17.Qb3 Na8 18.Rad1 Qb6
18...Nd7 19.e5 Qb6 20.Ncb5! a5 21.Nd6±
19.e5 Ng4 20.h3 Nh6
20...Nxf2 21.Kxf2 Rd8 22.Na4 Bxa4 23.Qxa4 f6 24.Kg1 fxe5 25.Rxe5 Bf6 26.Rc5 Qd6 27.Qb3
Kh8 28.Kh2+-
21.Ne4 Nc7 22.Nd6 Bxd6 23.exd6 Nd5

259
24.Nxe6!+-
24.g4! Qxd6 25.g5 Qf4 26.gxh6 Qxh6 27.Nxe6! fxe6 28.Rxe6 Qf4 29.Bxd5+-
24...fxe6 25.Bd4 Qxd6
25...Qa6 26.Rxe6
26.Rxe6 Ba4 27.Rxd6 Bxb3 28.Bxd5+ Bxd5 29.Rxd5 b6 30.Rd7
30.g4 Rf3 31.Rd7
30...Nf5 31.g4?
31.Be5+-
31...Nxd4 32.R1xd4 a5 33.Rb7 Rc2 34.Rdd7 Rfxf2 35.Rxg7+ Kf8 36.Rgd7 Ke8 37.Re7+

260
37...Kd8?
37...Kf8! 38.Red7 Ke8 39.Re7+ Kf8 40.Rec7 Rg2+=
38.Rbd7++- Kc8 39.Rc7+! Kd8 40.Rxc2 Rxc2 41.Rxh7 Ra2 42.bxa5 bxa5 43.Ra7 Rxa3 44.Kg2 a4
45.h4 Ke8 46.h5 Ra2+ 47.Kg3 Ra1 48.h6 Rh1 49.h7 Kf8 50.g5 a3 51.g6 1-0

5. A13
Aronian, Levon (2785) - Robson, Ray (2681)
Saint Louis (m/1) 152/5, 2022

1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 d4 4.Nf3 c5 5.O-O Nc6 6.e3 Nf6 7.exd4 cxd4 8.d3 Bd6 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6
Qxf6 11.Nbd2 Qe7 12.Re1
12.a3 - 142/5
12...O-O 13.Nb3 Qf6 14.Nfd2 Bc7 15.a3 a5 16.Nc5 Qe7 17.Na4 Bd7 18.Nb3 b6N
18...Rfd8; 18...Rfb8!? 19.Rc1 Ne5 20.Nac5 Bc6 21.f4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Ng6„
19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.Nxd4 Bb7 21.Nb5 Qd7 22.Qe2

261
22.d4 Qc6 23.d5 Qxc4 24.Nxc7 Qxc7 25.Rc1 Qd8 26.dxe6 fxe6 27.f4 Bd5 28.Qd3 Rb8 29.Nc3 Bb3
30.Qe3 b5=
22...Rad8
22...Bd8!? 23.f3 (23.d4 Qc6 24.f3 Qxf3 25.Qxf3 Bxf3 26.Kf2 Bc6 27.Rad1 Rb8 28.Nac3 Bf6„)
23...Bc6 24.Nac3 Bf6©
23.d4² Qc6 24.f3 Rd7 25.Kg2 Bd8
25...g5 26.h3 h5 27.Nac3 g4 28.d5 gxf3+ 29.Qxf3 Qxc4 30.Rad1 Bd8 31.Re4 Qb3 32.Qxh5ƒ
26.Nac3 Bf6 27.Rad1 Qc8
27...Rfd8 28.d5 exd5 29.Nxd5 Kh8 30.a4 g6 31.Nbc3 Bg7 32.h4±
28.d5 Bxc3 29.Nxc3 exd5 30.Nxd5
30.cxd5!? Qc5 31.Ne4 Qc7 32.Qb5 Rfd8 33.Nc3 Qc8 34.Re4 Rd6 35.Red4 Ba6 36.Qa4 Bb7 37.Qb3
Qd7 38.R1d2±
30...Bxd5 31.Rxd5 Rfd8 32.Qe4± b5?!
32...Rxd5 33.cxd5 Rd6 34.Re2 Qd7 35.Rd2 g6 36.h4±
33.Rxd7 Qxd7 34.c5 b4
34...g6 35.Re2 Qd1 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 Rd2 38.Rxd2 Qxd2+ 39.Kh3 Qd7+ 40.g4 Qd1 41.Qe3 Qf1+
42.Kg3 Qc4 43.Qe4
35.axb4 axb4 36.Qxb4 Qd2+ 37.Qxd2 Rxd2+ 38.Kh3 Rxb2 39.Rc1+- Kf8

262
39...Rb7 40.c6 Rc7 41.Kg4 Kf8 42.Kf5 Ke7 43.Ke5
40.c6 Rb8 41.Kg4 Ke7 42.c7 Rc8 43.Kh5 Kf6
43...Kd7 44.f4 Rxc7 45.Rxc7+ Kxc7 46.f5 Kd6 47.f6 gxf6 48.Kxh6 Ke5 49.h4 f5 50.Kg5
44.Rc6+ Ke5 45.f4+ Kd5 46.Rc1 Kd6 47.f5 Ke5 48.g4 Kf6 49.Rc6+ Ke7 50.f6+ Kd7 51.Rc2 gxf6
52.Kxh6 1-0

6. * A13
Barbosa, Oliver (2505) - Guo, Arthur (2432)
New York 152/6, 2022

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.O-O c5 5.c4 d4 6.e3 Nc6 7.exd4

7.d3 h6 8.exd4 cxd4

9.Bf4!? (9.Re1 - 141/6) 9...Nd7 10.Re1 Bc5

263
11.Na3N (11.Nbd2) 11...a6 12.Nc2 O-O 13.a3 a5 14.b3 Re8 15.Bd2 e5 16.b4² Ding,L (2799)-Anton
Guijarro,D (2694) chess24.com (Int. -rapid) 152/(6) 2022
7...cxd4 8.Re1 Bd6 9.d3 h6 10.b3
10.Na3 - 151/7
10...O-O 11.Ba3 e5 12.b4 Re8 13.b5 Na5N
13...Nb8 14.c5 Bc7 15.Nbd2 Nd5 16.Nc4 Nc3 17.Qb3 Nd7 18.Nfd2±
14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qa4?!
15.Qd2!? b6 (15...Qc7 16.Rxe5 Rxe5 17.Nxe5 a6 18.Qb4) 16.Rxe5 Rxe5 17.Nxe5 Bb7 18.Nf3!
(18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Nc6 Re8 20.a4 Nc5²) 18...a6 19.bxa6 Rxa6 20.Qb2 Nc6 21.Nbd2 Nd7 22.Ne4±;
15.Nbd2 a6 16.a4 Bf5 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.Nh4²
15...b6 16.Qa3 Qb8
16...Qc7! 17.Nxd4 Bb7 18.Bxb7

264
18...exd4! (18...Nxb7 19.Nc6²) 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Bf3 Re1+ 21.Kg2 g5 22.h3 h5©
17.Nbd2 Bb7 18.Re2
18.c5! Bd5 19.Rac1²
18...a6 19.Qb2 axb5 20.Qxb5
20.cxb5 Nd7 21.Rae1 Qc7 22.Nxd4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Nc5∞
20...Bc6 21.Qb2 Nd7 22.Rae1 f6 23.Ne4 Nc5
23...Qc7!? 24.Nh4 Nc5„
24.Nh4 Bxe4

265
25.Rxe4!
25.Bxe4 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 Nb7! 27.Qxb6 Nd6 28.Qxb8 Rexb8 29.R4e2 g5 30.Nf3 Kf7 31.Kg2 Ra3ƒ
25...Nxd3?!
25...Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Nb7 27.f4©
26.Qb1 Nxe1 27.Rxe1→ e4
27...Rd8 28.Qg6 d3 29.Bh3 d2 30.Rd1 Nc6 31.Be6+ Kh8 32.Bf5→
28.Bxe4 Rxe4 29.Qxe4+- Qd8 30.Qg6 Qf8 31.Nf5 Nc6 32.Nxh6+ Kh8 33.Nf7+ Kg8 34.Nh6+
Kh8 35.Nf7+ Kg8 36.Ng5! fxg5 37.Qxc6 Rd8 38.Qxb6 d3 39.Rd1 Kh8
39...d2 40.c5 Qe8 41.Qb3+ Kh8 42.Qe3
40.Qe3 Qf5 41.c5 Qg6 42.c6 Re8 43.Qxd3 Qxc6 44.Qd5 Qf6 45.Kg2 Rf8 46.Rd2 Kh7 47.a4 Re8
48.Qf3 Qe6 49.Rd5 Qc6 50.a5 Rf8 51.Rf5 1-0

7. A13
Gumularz, Szymon (2534) - Socko, Bartosz (2636)
Polska (m/2-rapid) 152/7, 2022

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qc2 c5 8.Nc3 Ra7 9.d4
9.O-O - 64/(12)
9...b5N
9...b6 - 106/275, E 03
10.O-O

266
10.Be3!? Ng4 (10...Rc7 11.Bf4 Ra7 12.O-O) 11.Bg5 f6 (11...Qb6 12.h3 Ngf6 13.O-O Bb7 14.e4!
cxd4 15.Nxd4² ∆Qxd4? 16.Be3+-) 12.Bf4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 e5

14.Nd5! (14.Nc6 Qb6! 15.Nxa7 Qxf2+ 16.Kd2 Qxa7 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Qxc8+ Kf7! (18...Ke7
19.h3 Qd4+ 20.Kc2 Nf2 21.Rhd1 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Qc5+ 23.Qxc5+ Nxc5 24.Be3+-) 19.Bd5+ Ke7∞)
14...exd4 15.Bc7 Bb4+ 16.Kf1 Rxc7 17.Nxc7+ Kf7 18.Qb3+ Kg6 19.Ne6±
10...Bb7 11.Be3! Ng4 12.Bg5 Be7
12...Qa8 13.d5! exd5 14.e4 (14.Qf5 Ngf6 15.e4 dxe4 16.Rad1 Bc6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Ne5±) 14...d4
15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Rfe1++-
13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.a4
14.Ne4!? cxd4 15.Nxd4 O-O 16.Rac1 Nde5 17.b3 Rd8 18.e3²
14...cxd4
14...b4 15.Ne4 b3 16.Qb1 O-O 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Qxc5 19.Qd3±
15.Nxd4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qc5 17.Rfd1 bxa4 18.Qxa4 O-O 19.Ne4 Qh5
¹19...Qb6 20.Rd3 Nge5 21.Rb3²
20.h3 Ngf6 21.Nc6 Rb7 22.Nxf6+ Nxf6 23.Qxa6 Rxb2

267
23...Qb5 24.Qxb5 Rxb5 25.b4 g6 26.Ra7 Nd5 27.Rd4+-
24.Qa3!+- Rbb8
24...Qb5 25.Qxf8+!
25.Nxb8 Rxb8 26.Qa8 Re8 27.Rd8 Kf8 28.Qa3+ Kg8 29.Rad1
29.Rxe8+ Nxe8 30.Qe7 Qd5+ 31.Kg1 Qc6 32.Ra7 Nd6 33.Rd7
29...Qb5 30.Qe7! h5 31.Rxe8+ Nxe8 32.Rd8 Qc6+ 33.Kh2 1-0

8. A14
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2758) - Hakobyan, Aram (2612)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/8, 2022

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.b3 c5 6.Bb2 Nc6 7.e3 O-O 8.c4 d4 9.exd4 cxd4 10.Re1
Bc5 11.d3 Nd7
11...Re8 - 129/(6)
12.Na3 e5 13.Nc2 Re8 14.a3 a5 15.Qd2N
15.Rb1
15...Qb6 16.Rab1!² Be7
16...Nf6 17.b4! axb4 18.axb4 Nxb4 19.Ba3 Rxa3 20.Nxa3 e4 21.Nc2 exf3 22.Rxe8+ Nxe8 23.Bf1
Nc7 24.Nxb4 Bd7 (24...Na6 25.Qe1! Nxb4 26.Qe8+ Bf8 27.Qxc8+-) 25.Qe1±
17.Ba1 f6 18.b4

268
18.Nh4!? Qc7 19.f4 Nf8 (19...exf4 20.gxf4±) 20.Bb2 Be6 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 Ra2 23.fxe5 fxe5
24.Nf3²
18...axb4
18...Qc7?! 19.b5 Nd8

20.Nfxd4! exd4 21.Bxd4 Nf8 (21...Nc5 22.Ne3! Be6 23.Nd5 Qd7 24.Bxc5 Bxc5 25.d4 Ba7
26.Qxa5±) 22.Ne3 Bxa3 23.Nd5 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qd6 25.Bc3 Be6 26.d4±
19.axb4 Nf8 20.b5 Nd8 21.Nb4
21.Nfxd4!? exd4 22.Bxd4 Qc7 23.Ne3 Be6 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.Bxd5+→
21...Be6 22.Qb2
22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Nf7³
22...Ra4
22...Bxb4!? 23.Qxb4 Nd7 24.Rb3 Qc5„
23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.cxd5 Nf7 25.d6 Bxd6 26.Nd2 Bb4 27.Qc2 Rea8 28.Bd5 Bxd2 29.Qxd2 Ne6
30.Rec1 Kh8 31.h4 Nh6 32.Qd1 Nc5?!
32...Nc7! 33.Be4 Ne8 34.Rc8 Rxc8 35.Qxa4 Nf7µ
33.Qc2 Ng4?
33...Ne6 34.Bb2=
34.h5 f5 35.Kg2?

269
35.Bxd4 exd4 36.Qxc5 Qxc5 37.Rxc5 Ra1 38.Rbc1 g6 39.Bxb7+-
35...Ne6 36.Qe2 e4?!
36...h6! 37.Qf3 Rf8 38.Bxe6 Qxe6 39.Qxb7 Qe8!µ
37.dxe4 d3 38.Qf3 d2 39.Rd1 Ra3
39...Nd4 40.Bxd4 Rxd4 41.Qxf5 Nf6 42.Rb2±
40.Qxf5+- Rf8 41.Bxg7+ Kxg7 42.Qxg4+ Kh8 43.Rxd2 Nf4+ 44.gxf4 1-0

9. A20
Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo (2594) - Yuffa, Daniil (2576)
Alicante 152/9, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nd4 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.e3 Bc5 7.Nc3 Qe5 8.f3
8.d3 - 149/6
8...Bxd4N
8...Nf6
9.exd4 Qxd4 10.Qe2 Nf6 11.fxe4 Na6
11...O-O 12.d3 Re8 13.Be3 Qd8 14.h3∞
12.d3 Bg4

13.Be3!?
13.Qf2 Nb4!? 14.Qxd4 Nc2+ 15.Kf2 Nxd4 16.h3 Be6 17.Rb1 O-O 18.Be3 Rfd8=

270
13...Qd7 14.Qd2 O-O-O?!
14...Bf3 15.Rg1 Rd8 16.Qf2 Bg4 17.Bg5 Nb4! 18.h3 Bxh3 19.O-O-O Bxf1 20.Qxf1 Qd4„
15.h3 Bf3
15...Be6 16.O-O-O Qc7 17.Kb1 Qa5 18.b3 Nb4 19.Qb2! c5 20.a3 Nc6 21.Rc1±
16.Rh2!
16.Rg1?! Rhe8 17.g4 Nb4 18.Rg3 Bxe4! 19.dxe4 Qxd2+ 20.Bxd2 Nc2+µ
16...Nb4 17.Rf2 Bh5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Rd1
19.O-O-O Qe6 20.b3 Qe7 21.Qb2 Kb8 22.Kb1 Rhe8 23.Rfd2²
19...Qc7
19...Rhe8 20.a3 Qe7 21.Rxf6! Qxf6 22.axb4±
20.a3 Nxd3+
20...Na2 21.Bf4 (21.Nxa2 Nxe4 22.Bf4 Qb6 23.dxe4 Rxd2 24.Rdxd2±) 21...Qb6 22.Na4 Qb5
23.Qc2+-
21.Bxd3 Qg3

22.Nb5!+- b6
22...cxb5 23.Rc1+ Kb8 24.Bf4+ Qxf4 25.Qxf4+ Ka8 26.Bxb5 h6 27.Rc7
23.Nxa7+ Kb7 24.Nxc6 Kxc6
24...Rd6 25.Nb4 Rhd8 26.Bf4

271
25.Bf4 Qxd3 26.Qc1+ Kb5 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.a4+! Kb4 29.Bd6+ Rxd6 30.Qc3+ Kxa4 31.Qc4+ 1-
0

10. A20
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2776) - Khenkin, Igor (2509)
Deutschland 152/10, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.Qa4 Na6

4...d5 - 151/12
5.a3 Nc7 6.Nc3 f5 7.f3 Nf6 8.Bg2N
8.fxe4
8...d5 9.cxd5 Ncxd5
9...b5 10.Qb3 cxd5 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nh3 Be6 13.Bf4! a6 14.Be5 Qd7 (14...O-O? 15.Ng5±) 15.O-O²
10.fxe4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe4 12.Qc2 Qa5 13.Bb2 Be6 14.Nh3
14.Bxe4 fxe4 15.Qxe4

15...Kd7! 16.Nf3 Bd6 17.O-O Rae8©

14...O-O-O 15.O-O Bc4 16.Ng5
16.Nf2 Nxf2 17.Rxf2 g6 18.Bc1 Bd6 19.Bg5 Rde8³
16...Nd6!³ 17.Nf3 g6 18.Ne5 Bh6
18...Ba6 19.Bc1 Bg7 20.Nd3 Rhe8³

272
19.Bc1 Bxc1 20.Rfxc1 Rhe8 21.Rab1

21...Rxe5!
21...Bd5 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.e3 Qe4 24.Qxe4 Nxe4 25.Kg2 Rd5„
22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Rd1 Bxe2
23...Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Qxa3 25.Rd4 Kc7 26.Qd2 Qa2³
24.Re1
24.Rd4! Qe3+ 25.Kh1 Ne4 26.Qc1! Qxc1+ 27.Rxc1 Rxd4 28.cxd4 Bd3=
24...Qc5+ 25.Kh1 Bc4 26.Rbd1 Ne4 27.Rxd8+ Kxd8 28.Qd1+ Bd5
28...Kc7! 29.Qd4 Qxd4 30.cxd4 Kd6µ
29.Bxe4 fxe4 30.Qd4 Qxd4 31.cxd4 b5 32.Kg1 a5 33.Rb1 Bc4?!
33...Kc7! 34.Kf2 Kb6 35.Ke3 b4! 36.axb4 a4 37.Kd2 a3 38.Ra1 a2 39.Kc3 e3-+
34.Kf2 Bd3 35.Rc1 Kd7 36.Ke3 b4= 37.axb4 axb4 38.Kd2 b3 39.Kc3 Bc2 40.Ra1 Kd6 41.Ra5 h5
42.Re5 e3 43.Rxe3 c5 44.dxc5+ Kxc5 45.Re5+ 1/2-1/2

11. * !N A20
Shankland, Samuel L (2709) - Robson, Ray (2681)
Saint Louis (m/4-rapid) 152/11, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5

4.Nc3 d5 5.Nh3 h6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Qb3 Nf6 8.Nf4 Nc6 9.e3 (9.Nfxd5 - 123/(13)) 9...Bb4 10.Bd2
Bxc3 11.Bxc3

273
11...g5!N (11...g6) 12.Ne2 O-O 13.h3 Rb8 14.g4 b5 15.Qd1 b4 16.Bd2 Ne7 17.Ng3 Ng6 18.Rc1
Nh4 19.Be2 Qb6 20.Rc5

20...Ba6?! (20...Bd7! 21.O-O Rfc8µ) 21.Qa4 Bxe2 22.Kxe2 Qe6 23.Rhc1 Rb6 24.Rc6 Qd7 25.b3
Rxc6 26.Rxc6 Qd8 27.Bxb4 1-0 (27) Hjartarson,J (2465)-Niemann,H (2637) Reykjavik 152/(11)
2022
4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Qe7 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Nh3
7.Bg2 - 102/12
7...cxd5

274
8.Nf4!N
8.cxd5
8...dxc4
8...Bxc3 9.Bxc3 e3 10.Nxd5 exf2+ 11.Kxf2 Ne4+ 12.Ke1 Nxc3 13.Nxc3 O-O 14.Bg2 Nc6 15.Qd2
d6 16.Rf1 Be6 17.b3 Rad8 18.Rd1 Qc7 19.Kf2 Qb6+ 20.Qe3²
9.Nfd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 Qd8
¹11...Qe5 12.O-O-O O-O 13.f4 exf3 14.exf3

275
14...c3! (14...b5 15.f4 Qd6 16.Bg2 Nc6 17.f5 Qh6 18.Qxh6 gxh6 19.Rhe1ƒ) 15.Qxc3 Qxc3+
16.Nxc3 b6 17.Bc4©
12.Bg2 O-O 13.Bxe4 d6 14.Rc1 Nd7
14...Re8 15.Rxc4±; 14...Bh3? 15.Nf4 Bc8 16.Rxc4+-
15.Rxc4 Nf6 16.O-O
16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.O-O Be6 18.Rb4±
16...Nxe4
16...Be6 17.Rd1 Re8 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Rd4 Bxa2 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Bc6 Rf8 22.b4±
17.Rxe4 Be6 18.Rd1 Rc8 19.Nc3 Qb6 20.Rd4 Rc6 21.b3 Qa5 22.Nd5 Qxd2 23.Ne7+ Kh8
24.R1xd2 Rc7 25.Nd5 Rc6
25...Rc1+ 26.Kg2 Rd8 27.e4 g6 28.Ne3 Ra1 29.f4±
26.Nf4 Rd8 27.e4 g5
27...g6 28.Kg2 h5 29.h4 a5 30.Kf3 Kg7 31.Ke3±
28.Nd3
28.Nd5 Kg7 29.Kg2 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 f6 31.f3 b6 32.h4 gxh4 33.gxh4 Kf7 34.Kg3²
28...Kg7 29.f4 gxf4 30.gxf4 Kf8 31.f5 Bc8 32.Kf2± a5 33.Nf4
33.Ne5 Rc5 34.Nc4 d5 35.Ne3 Bd7 36.Rxd5 Rxd5 37.Rxd5 Ke7 38.Kf3+-
33...b5 34.Nd5 b4 35.Nf6 Ke7 36.Nd5+ Kf8 37.R4d3+- Rc1 38.Rh3 Kg7 39.Ke3
39.Rg3+ Kf8 40.f6 Be6 41.Ne7
39...Rg1 40.Rg3+ Rxg3+ 41.hxg3 Bb7 42.Kf4 Re8 43.Rd4 Ra8 44.Ne3 Ra6 45.Nc4 a4 46.Nxd6
axb3 47.axb3 Ba8 48.Ne8+ Kf8 49.Nc7 Ra7 50.f6 1-0

12. A21
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) - Moiseenko, Alexander (2602)
tornelo.com (Int.-rapid) 152/12, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.e3 c6
2...Nf6 - 135/17
3.d4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3N
7.Nf3
7...O-O 8.Nge2 Re8

276
8...Bg4 9.f3 Be6 (9...Bh5 10.O-O-O!? Nbd7 (10...Bg6? 11.Bxg6 exd4 (11...hxg6 12.dxe5)
12.Bxh7++-) 11.g4 Bg6 12.e4 (12.h4 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 b5 14.cxb5 cxb5 15.Qxb5 Rb8 16.Qd3 Qa5
17.Kb1²) 12...d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 b5 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Kb1 b4 17.Ne4±) 10.O-O exd4
11.Nxd4 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Rac1 Nc6 14.Nce2²
9.O-O e4 10.Bc2 d5 11.cxd5
11.Ng3!? Be6 (11...dxc4 12.Ncxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 h5 14.Bc2 h4 15.Ne2 h3

16.f3! hxg2 17.Rf2 Bh3 18.Nf4 Qh4 19.Nxh3 Qxh3 20.Rxg2→ ∆Qxf3?! 21.Rg3 Qd5 22.e4 Qd6
23.Rf1 c5 24.Qg5! Qxd4+ (24...g6 25.Rf6 Re6 26.Rxe6 Qxe6 27.d5 Qd6 28.e5 Qxd5 29.Bxg6 fxg6
30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Qf5+ Qf7 32.Qc8+ Ke7 33.Qxb7++-) 25.Kh1 Nd7 (25...g6 26.Qf4 Qg7 (26...Re7
27.Rxg6+!+-) 27.e5 Nc6 28.Bxg6!+- fxg6 29.Qxc4+ Kh8 30.Rh3+) 26.Rd1 Qxb2 27.Rxd7+-) 12.f3
exf3 13.cxd5! cxd5 (13...fxg2? 14.Rxf6!+-) 14.Rxf3 Nbd7 15.Raf1 Rc8 16.Qd3→
11...cxd5 12.f3 exf3 13.Rxf3 Bg4
13...Be6 14.Raf1 Nbd7 15.Nf4 Rc8 16.Qf2→
14.Rf4 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Nbd7 16.Raf1 Qe7 17.R1f3
17.g4!? h6 18.R1f3±
17...Rac8 18.g4!± Rf8 19.Bb3 Nb6 20.g5 Ne4
20...Nh5 21.Rf5 g6 22.Re5 Qd7 23.Qg2!±
21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Rxf7 Rxf7
22...Qxg5+ 23.Rg3 Qxg3+ 24.hxg3 Rxf7 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Qg4+-
23.Rxf7 Qxg5+ 24.Kh1 Kh8

277
25.Qf1! Qd8 26.Qg1 g6 27.Qf1 Qd6 28.Rxb7 Rf8 29.Rf7
29.Qb5 Nc8 30.Qe5++-
29...Rc8 30.Rxa7
30.Qh3 h5 31.Qh4+-
30...Nd7 31.Qf7 Qb4
31...Qf6

32.Rc7!!+-

278
32.Rxd7 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qe2+ 34.Kg3 Qxe3+ 35.Kg4 h5+
35...Qg1+ 36.Kf4 Qxh2+ 37.Kg5 Qh5+ 38.Kf6 Rc6+ 39.Be6+-
36.Kh4 g5+ 37.Kxh5 Qh3+ 38.Kxg5 Qg2+ 39.Kf6 Rc6+ 40.Be6 Qf2+ 41.Ke7 1-0

13. * A21
Nyzhnyk, Illya (2674) - Dragun, Kamil (2590)
Saint Louis 152/13, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.g3 Bxc3 4.bxc3 d6 5.Bg2 Ne7 6.Nf3 Nbc6 7.O-O O-O 8.d3 Rb8
8...b6 9.Nd2

9...Rb8N (9...Be6) 10.Bb2 f5 11.d4 Kh8 12.f4 e4 13.e3 Na5 14.Rf2 c5µ Martirosyan,H (2633)-
Rakhmanov,A (2640) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(13) 2022
8...h6 - 47/24
9.Nh4N
9.Ne1∞; 9.e4
9...Be6 10.f4 Qd7 11.e4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Bh3
12...b6!?
13.Bxh3 Qxh3 14.c5 Rbd8

279
14...Qd7?!∞
15.d4! Qd7
¹15...b6∞; 15...dxc5 16.d5 Rd7 17.Qa4 Nb8 18.Rae1→
16.d5 Ne5 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Qb3 b6 19.Nf3
19.c6 Qd6 20.c4²
19...Ng6
19...bxc5 20.Nxe5 Qd6 21.Nc4 Qd7 22.Qa3 f5∞
20.c6 Qg4 21.Rae1
21.Nd2!?
21...Rd6
21...h5 22.Nd2 Nf4 23.Kh1 Nd3 24.Re3 Nc5 25.Qc4 Rd6±
22.Qd1 Qc8
22...Rf6±
23.Nd2 Qa6
23...Rdd8 24.a4±
24.Qb3 Rdd8 25.Nc4 Kh8
25...h6!?

280
26.a4 f6 27.Qb4 Qc8 28.a5 h6 29.axb6
29.Ne3 Kh7 30.Ra1 Qh3 31.Qb2+-
29...axb6 30.Ne3 Kh7

30...Qh3 31.Ra1 Ra8 32.c4 Kh7 33.Ra3!?±

31.Nf5
31.Ra1!? Qh3 32.Nf5 Ra8 33.Qc4+-
31...Nh8 32.Ra1 Nf7 33.Ra7 Nd6 34.g4
34.Nxd6 Rxd6 35.c4 Qb8 36.Qa3 Qd8 37.Kg2+-
34...Rf7 35.Kh1
35.Rfa1+-
35...Nxf5
35...Ne8 36.Qb3+-
36.gxf5 Rg8 37.d6 g6 38.Qc4 Rfg7 39.fxg6+ Kxg6 40.Rxc7 Rxc7 41.Rg1+ Kh7 42.Qxg8+ Qxg8
43.Rxg8 Rxc6 44.d7 1-0

14. A21
Sturua, Zurab (2529) - Danielyan, Vahe (2332)
Yerevan 152/14, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.g3 Bxc3 4.bxc3 Nc6 5.Bg2 d6 6.d3 Nge7 7.Nh3

281
7.f4 - 55/(16)
7...f6 8.f4 Be6
8...O-O 9.O-O Be6 10.e4 Qd7 11.f5 Bf7 12.g4 Kh8 13.g5→
9.Nf2N
9.e4 h5 10.f5 Bf7 11.Rb1 b6 12.O-O Qd7 13.Nf2 O-O-O 14.h4 Rdg8 15.Kh2 g5 16.Be3 gxh4
17.gxh4²
9...Qd7 10.Rb1 b6 11.O-O O-O„ 12.Bd2 Rad8
12...exf4 13.Bxf4 Rae8 14.Qa4 Ne5= 15.Qxa7?! N5g6 16.Qa3 (16.Bc1 f5 17.a4 f4©) 16...Nxf4
17.gxf4 Ng6→
13.Rb2

13.e3 exf4! 14.gxf4 f5 15.h3 Rde8 16.Kh1 d5³ (16...Ng6!? 17.Qa4 Nb8! 18.Qxa7 Nh4→)
13...d5?!
13...exf4! 14.gxf4 f5 15.Kh1 Rde8„ (15...Rf6!?)
14.cxd5
14.f5! Bf7 15.cxd5 Bxd5 16.e4 Bf7 17.g4±
14...Bxd5 15.e4 Bf7 16.f5 Na5 17.g4→ g5
17...Kh8 18.Be3 Ng8 19.h4 Qe7 20.Rd2 Rd7²
18.h4± h6 19.Qc1! Kh8 20.hxg5 fxg5

282
21.Bxg5!+- hxg5 22.Qxg5 Bg8 23.Qh4+ Bh7 24.g5 Ng8 25.Ng4 Nc6 26.Rf3! Qe7 27.Bf1 Rd7
28.Rh2 b5 29.Rfh3 a5
29...a5 30.f6
1-0

15. ** A21
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) - Lei, Tingjie (2535)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/15, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 a5 4.a3 Bc5 5.e3 d6 6.Nf3 c6 7.Nc3 Ba7 8.d4 Nd7 9.d5N
9.Be2 - 152/(15) 9...Ngf6 10.b4 (10.O-O - 147/8) 10...O-O 11.O-O

283
11...Re8N (11...Bb8) 12.b5 e4 13.Nd2 d5 14.bxc6 bxc6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Nb5 Bb8 17.a4 Nf8 18.Ba3
Ra6 19.Rc1

19...Bxh2+? (19...h5! 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Rc5 Be6 22.Bxh5 Nd7→) 20.Kxh2 Ng4+ 21.Bxg4 Rh6+
22.Kg1 Qh4 23.f3 Bxg4 24.Bd6 Bd7 25.Qe1 Qh5 26.Bf4 Rg6 27.Nc7 Bh3 28.Bg3 Rd8 29.fxe4 1-0
(29) Gareyev,T (2565)-Krysa,L (2525) San Salvador 152/(15) 2022
9...cxd5
9...Qe7N 10.Ne4 Nc5 11.Ng3 Nf6 12.b4 Nce4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bb2 O-O 15.Be2 f5 16.dxc6 bxc6
17.Qc2

284
17...Rb8? (17...Be6) 18.c5 axb4 19.cxd6 Nxd6 20.axb4± Lorparizangeneh,S (2502)-Kanyamarala,T
(2388) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(15) 2022
10.Nxd5
10.cxd5 Ne7 11.Be2 O-O 12.O-O Nf6 13.e4 Ng6„
10...Ngf6 11.Nc3 Nc5
11...O-O!? 12.Be2 (12.Qxd6? e4 13.Nd4 Bb8-+) 12...e4 13.Nd4 Ne5 14.Ndb5 Bb8 15.O-O d5
16.cxd5 Ra6 17.Nd4 Rb6 18.Qc2 Re8! 19.g3 Bh3 20.Rd1 h5©
12.Be2
12.b4 Nce4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bb2 O-O∞
12...O-O 13.O-O h6 14.Qc2 Bg4
14...e4 15.Nd4²
15.b4 Ne6 16.Rd1 Qe7
16...Qb6 17.Bb2! axb4 18.axb4 Qxb4 19.Ba3±
17.h3 Bh5

285
18.Nh4! Rfd8 19.Nf5 Qf8 20.Nd5
20.Bxh5!? Nxh5 21.Nd5 g6 22.Nfe7+ Kg7 23.Bb2 Nf6 24.c5→
20...Nxd5 21.Bxh5 Nf6 22.Bf3 g6 23.Ng3 Qe7 24.Bb2 Rac8 25.c5 Bb8 26.Qb3 Ng5?!
26...axb4 27.cxd6 Bxd6 28.axb4²
27.cxd6± Nxf3+ 28.gxf3 Bxd6 29.bxa5 h5 30.Rd2 h4 31.Ne4
31.Ne2 Nd7 32.Rad1±
31...Nxe4 32.fxe4 Bc7 33.Rad1 Bxa5 34.Rd5 Rxd5 35.Rxd5 Qe6 36.Kg2 Bd8
36...b6 37.Qd1 Rc5 38.Bxe5 f6 39.Rd8+ Kf7 40.Bf4 Qxe4+ 41.Kh2+-
37.Qxb7 Bf6 38.Rd6! Qxd6 39.Qxc8+ Kg7 40.Qc4
40.Qc2! Qa6 41.a4+-
40...Qd1
¹40...Qd2 41.Qc1 Qd3 42.Kf3±
41.Qd5 Qh5 42.a4+- Qg5+ 43.Kf1 Qh5 44.a5 Qf3 45.a6 Qxh3+ 46.Ke1 Qh1+

286
47.Kd2?
47.Ke2 Qb1 48.Bxe5 Bxe5 49.Qxe5+ Kh7 50.Qd5 Qb2+ 51.Kf3 Qf6+ 52.Kg2 Qxa6 53.Qxf7+
Kh6 54.e5+-
47...Qf1
47...Qb1! 48.Bxe5 Bxe5 49.Qxe5+ Kh7 50.Ke2 Qa2+ 51.Kf3²
48.a7 Qxf2+ 49.Kd3 Qf1+ 50.Kc3 h3 51.a8=Q h2 52.Qe8 Bg5 53.Kb3 h1=Q 54.Bxe5+ 1-0

16. * !N A22
Nyzhnyk, Illya (2674) - Sevian, Samuel (2684)
Saint Louis 152/16, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5

287
4...c6!?
4...b5 - 82/16
5.Ngxe4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5 7.cxd5
7.Ng3

7...h5!N (7...Bc5) 8.e3 h4 9.Ne2 dxc4 10.Nc3 Be6→ 11.d3 cxd3 12.Qxd3 Nd7 (12...Qxd3!?
13.Bxd3 h3 14.g3 Nd7µ) 13.Bd2 Qb6 14.Qc2 O-O-O 15.Na4 Qc7

288
16.O-O-O (16.Be2 Bd6→) 16...Bxa2 17.b3 Ba3+ 18.Nb2 Nc5 19.Bc4 Qb6 20.b4 Bxc4 21.bxc5
Qb3-+ Yang,K (2481)-Beerdsen,T (2508) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(16) 2022
7...cxd5 8.Ng3

8...h5!? 9.e3 h4 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Ne2 h3 12.g3 a6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Qa4N

14.O-O
14...Qf6 15.Qf4 Qe6 16.Nd4 Qg6 17.Qe5+ Be7 18.b4
18.b3 Rh5! 19.Qc7 Bd7 20.Qb7 Rc8 21.Bb2 c5→

289
18...Bd7 19.Bb2 Kd8
19...a5!? 20.b5 Rh5 21.Qc7 Bd6 22.Qb7 Rb8 23.Qa7 c5 24.Nc6 Rc8 25.Qxa5 d4 26.O-O Bxc6
27.bxc6 Bxg3! 28.fxg3 Qxc6 29.Rf2 Ra8-+
20.f4 Qg4 21.f5 Bxb4 22.Rf1

22...Re8
22...f6!? 23.Ne6+ Ke7 24.Qf4 Qxf4 25.Nxf4 Kf7 26.Nd3 Bd6 27.Bd4 Rh5 28.Bc5 Bc7³
23.Ne6+! fxe6 24.Rf4 exf5 25.Rxg4 Rxe5 26.Rxb4= Re4 27.Bd4 c5 28.Bxc5 Rxb4 29.Bxb4 Bb5
30.Bc3 g6 31.Rb1
31.Kf2 Kd7 32.Kf3 Bd3 33.Kf4 Ke6=
31...Kd7 32.Rb4 g5 33.a4 Bc6 34.Kf2 a5 35.Rb1 Bxa4 36.Ra1 Bc2 37.Rxa5 Rxa5 38.Bxa5 g4
39.d4 Ke6 40.Bc7 Be4 1/2-1/2

17. A22
Narayanan, Sunilduth Lyna (2658) - Sankalp, Gupta (2536)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/17, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 c6 5.c5N

5.Ngxe4 - 152/16
5...Bxc5
5...e3!? 6.dxe3 Bxc5 7.Nge4 Nxe4 8.Nxe4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Be7!? (9...Qe7 10.Qc2 Bxd2+ (10...a5!?)
11.Nxd2 O-O 12.g3 d5 13.Bg2 Bg4 14.Nf3 (14.Nb3 Qb4+ 15.Qd2 a5!³) 14...Re8„) 10.Bc3 d5
11.Ng3 O-O 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Be6 14.h4 Qxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Bxa2 (15...b5!? 16.a3 a5 17.Be5 Nd7

290
18.Bd6 Rae8 19.Rc1 f5→) 16.Nd6 Bxd6 17.Rxd6 Na6³
6.Ngxe4 Nxe4 7.Nxe4 Be7 8.d4 d5 9.Nc3 Bd6 10.g3

10...h5!?
10...O-O 11.Bg2 Nd7 12.O-O f5!? 13.Bd2 Nf6 14.e3 Be6„
11.h4 Bg4 12.Bg2 O-O 13.O-O Re8
13...Nd7 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qd2 Rfe8 17.Rfe1 Nf6 18.f3 Be6= 19.e4?! dxe4 20.fxe4
Rad8 21.e5 Ng4³
14.Qd3 Na6 15.a3 Nc7 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nd5
¹17...Qd7„
18.Bg5 Qd7 19.Rfe1 Bf5
19...Re6!?=
20.Qb3 Bxe4
20...Bf8! 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Re6 23.Rxe6 Bxe6 24.Rd1 Re8=
21.Bxe4 Bf8 22.Re2² g6
22...f5 23.Bf3 Rxe2 24.Bxe2 Qf7 25.Bc4 Re8 26.Bf4! g6 27.Be5²
23.Rae1 Re6 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Rxe6 fxe6 26.Qe3 Re8 27.Bf4
27.Bh6! Bd6 (27...Bxh6 28.Qxh6 Qg7 29.Qg5 Qf7 30.Re2 Qf5 31.Qe3 Qg4 32.Qd3 Qf5 33.Qb5
Qf7 34.Re5 Kg7 35.a4±) 28.Bf4 Bf8 29.Qd3 Kh7

291
30.Re5!→
27...Kh7 28.Be5 Bh6 29.Bf4 Bg7!
29...Bxf4 30.Qxf4 Kg7 31.Qe5+±
30.Kg2 a6 31.Qd3 Rc8 32.Re3 Qc6 33.Qe2 Qc2 34.Rxe6 Qxe2 35.Rxe2 Bxd4 36.Rd2 Bf6 37.Rxd5
37.Bg5 Bg7 38.Be3 Kg8 39.Rxd5 Bxb2 40.a4 Rc7 41.Bb6 Re7=
37...Bxb2 38.Rd7+ Kg8 39.Rxb7 Bxa3 40.Rb6 Kh7
40...Kf7 41.Rxa6 Be7 42.Ra7 Ke6²
41.Rxa6 Bb2 42.Ra7+ Kg8 43.Rd7 Bf6 44.Kf3 Re8 45.Rb7
45.Bg5 Rf8 (45...Bxg5 46.hxg5 Re5 47.Kf4 Rf5+=) 46.Bxf6 Rxf6+ 47.Ke3 Rb6 48.Kf4 Rb5=
45...Re7 46.Rb6 Rf7= 47.Ke4 Kh7 48.Be3 Bg7 49.Ra6 Rd7 50.Bc5 Rf7 51.f4 Bc3 52.Rc6 Be1
53.Kf3 Bc3 54.Bd6 Bg7 55.Rc5 Bf8 56.Rc7 Rxc7 57.Bxc7 Kg7 58.Bd8 Kf7 59.g4
59.Bg5 Bd6 60.g4 hxg4+ 61.Kxg4 Bb4=
59...hxg4+ 60.Kxg4 Bb4 61.Kg5 Bd2 62.Bc7 Bc1 63.Be5 Bd2 64.Kg4 Bc1 65.f5 gxf5+ 66.Kxf5
Bd2 67.h5 Bc1 68.Bf4 Bxf4 69.Kxf4 Kg7 70.h6+ Kxh6 1/2-1/2

292
A25-A49

18. * A28
Prozorovsky, Vyacheslav - Ostriker, Jon
corr 152/18, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 d6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 h6 8.g3 Be6
8...O-O - 125/8
9.Bg2 Qd7 10.Rb1 b6 11.Nh4

11...Bg4!?N
11...Bh3 12.O-O Bxg2 13.Nxg2 Nh7 14.Rb2 O-O 15.g4 a6 16.h4 b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Rxb5 Ne7=
12.f3 Be6 13.O-O
13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 Bh3 15.Rb2 O-O-O 16.Nf3 Nh7 17.f5 Bxg2 18.Rxg2 g6 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Qa4=
13...g5 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.exf5

293
15...O-O-O 16.Be3 - 152/18
16.f4N exf4 17.gxf4 g4 18.Be3 Rhg8 19.Qa4 Na5 20.Rb5 g3 21.h3 c5 22.Rfb1 Rde8= Prakash,O-
Fourie, M corr 152/(18) 2022
16...d5
16...Na5 17.g4 (17.Rb5 Rhe8 (17...d5 18.Qa4 a6 19.Rxa5 bxa5 20.Qxa5 Qc6=)) 17...c5 18.Bf2 d5
19.d4 exd4 20.cxd4 dxc4 21.dxc5 Qxd1 22.Rfxd1 Nb3 23.cxb6 axb6 24.Bf1 b5 25.a4 Nd2 26.Rxd2
Rxd2 27.Rxb5 Nd5 28.Bxc4 Rd1+ 29.Kg2 Nf4+ 30.Kg3 Rd2 31.Rc5+ (31.Bxf7 Ne2+ 32.Kg2 Nf4+
33.Kg3 Ne2+=) 31...Kd7 32.Bb5+ Kd6 33.Rc6+ Kd5 34.Rc5+ Kd6=
17.c5 d4! 18.Bf2
18.cxd4 Nd5 19.Qc1 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qxd4µ
18...dxc3 19.f4 exf4

294
20.cxb6
20.Qa4 Na5 21.Qxa5 bxa5 22.Bb7+ Kb8 23.Bc6+ Kc8 24.Bb7+=
20...cxb6
20...axb6 21.Qa4 Nb8 22.Qb3 Ng4 23.Bxb6 cxb6 24.Qxc3+ Qc7 25.Qb3 Ne5 26.Rfc1 Nbc6 27.d4
Rxd4 28.Bxc6 Nxc6 29.Qxb6 Qxb6 30.Rxb6 Kd7 31.Rbxc6=
21.Qb3
21.Qa4 Na5 (21...Nd5 22.Rfc1 Ne5 23.Qa6+ Qb7 24.Rxc3+ Kb8 25.Qxb7+ Kxb7 26.gxf4 gxf4
27.d4 f3 28.dxe5 Nxc3 29.Bxf3+ Ka6 30.Re1 Rhg8+ 31.Kf1 Rd3=) 22.Rb5 Ng4 23.Rc1 Nxf2
24.Rxc3+ Kb8 25.Qxa5 Qd4 26.Rxb6+ Qxb6 27.Qe5+ Qd6 28.Rb3+ Kc8 29.Rc3+=
21...Nd5 22.Rfc1 Kb8
¹22...Na5 23.Rxc3+ Kb8³
23.Bxd5= Qxd5 24.Bxb6 Qxb3 25.Bxd8 Qxb1 26.Rxb1+ Kc8
26...Ka8!? 27.Bf6 Re8=
27.Bf6 Re8 28.Rc1 fxg3 29.hxg3 Ne5 30.Rxc3+ Kd7 31.Kg2

295
31...Kd6
31...Ng4!? 32.Bd4 Ne3+ 33.Bxe3 Rxe3=
32.Kh3 a6 33.Bxe5+ Rxe5 34.Kg4 1/2-1/2

19. * A28
Navara, David (2700) - Nihal, Sarin (2652)
Beograd 152/19, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.bxc3 d6
6...e4 7.Ng5 d5 (7...Qe7 - 22/53) 8.Rb1 Ne7

296
9.cxd5N (9.Ba3) 9...Qxd5 10.Rb5?! (10.h4∞) 10...c5 11.h4 Bd7?! (11...Qc6! 12.c4 h6 13.Nh3 Bg4µ)
12.c4 Qc6 13.Bb2 Bf5 14.Be2∞ Ivic,V (2606)-Niemann,H (2645) Warszawa (blitz) 152/(19) 2021
7.e4 O-O 8.Be2
8.g3 - 143/11
8...b6 9.d3 Nd7 10.O-O Bb7 11.d4N
11.Bg5=; 11.Be3!?
11...Re8 12.Bg5 Ne7

297
13.c5?!
13.Nd2²
13...h6 14.Bh4 Qc8 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Bg3 Ng6 17.Bd3 Nf6 18.Rfe1 Nh5 19.Rac1 Qc7
19...Ba6!?
20.Nd2 Rac8
20...exd4 21.cxd4 Qxc2 22.Bxc2 d5 23.Bb3 Ngf4=
21.Qb2 Rcd8
21...Bc6=
22.a4 Nxg3
22...Ngf4 23.Bf1 d5 24.exd5 Rxd5 25.Nf3 e4 26.Ne5²
23.hxg3 Nf8 24.Nc4
24.a5 bxa5 25.Qa3²
24...Nd7 25.Ne3 Nf6
25...g6 26.Bb5 Bxe4 27.d5 Nc5 28.Bxe8 Rxe8 29.Ra1 Kg7∞
26.d5 Rf8 27.a5 bxa5 28.Qa3 Nd7 29.Ra1
29.Nc4 Ba6 30.Nxe5 Rfe8 31.Bxa6 Rxe5 32.Bd3 Rde8=
29...Nc5 30.Bc2 a4 31.f3
31.Bxa4!? Nxe4 32.Bc2 Nc5 33.Qa5
31...Bc8
31...Ba6 32.Bxa4 Rb8„
32.Bxa4 f5 33.Bc2 fxe4 34.Bxe4 a6
34...Qe7!?=
35.Bc2 Bd7
35...Qe7 36.Qb4 Bd7=
36.Qa5 Qa7 37.Kh2 Bc8
37...Rb8!?=
38.Rab1

298
38...Qe7
38...Qf7!? 39.Qb4 a5 40.Qh4 Qc7=
39.Rb6 Bd7
¹39...h5 40.Qb4 e4 41.Bxe4 h4 42.g4 Qe5+ 43.Kg1 Nxe4 44.Nf1 a5 45.Qxe4 Qxc3=
40.Qb4 Bb5
40...Rf4! 41.Qb1 Rf6 42.Rb8 Rff8=
41.c4 Bd7 42.Nd1 Bf5 43.Bxf5 Rxf5 44.Nf2 Rdf8
44...e4!?=
45.Qd2 Rh5+ 46.Kg1 Rg5 47.g4 Rg6
47...e4 48.f4 Rg6 49.Rc6 Re8 50.Re3 Rf6=
48.Rc6 Rgf6
48...Qb7
49.Ne4 Nxe4 50.Rxe4 Qb7
¹50...Rb8 51.Rxa6 Rb1+ 52.Re1 Qb7 53.Ra8+ Qxa8 54.Rxb1 Rf4 55.Qc2 Qc8=
51.Qa2
51.c5 dxc5 52.Rxc5²
51...Qa7+

299
51...Rf4 52.Rxf4 Rxf4 53.Rxd6 Qb4 54.Rd8+ Kf7 55.Qf2 Rd4 56.Rc8 Qc3 57.Rc6 Qc1+ 58.Kh2
Kg8=
52.Kh1
52.c5 dxc5 53.Qc4²
52...a5
52...Qe7 53.Rxa6 Rf4 54.Qe2 Rxe4 55.Qxe4 Rf4 56.Qe2 Rd4=
53.c5 dxc5 54.Rxe5 Qd7
54...a4 55.d6+ (55.Rxf6 gxf6 56.Re4 a3∞) 55...Qf7 56.Qd2 a3 57.Re7 a2 58.Ra6 Qb3 59.Kh2 Kh7
60.Rxa2 Rxd6 61.Qxd6 Qxa2 62.Qxc5²
55.Rxf6
55.Qc4 R6f7 56.Kh2 Qb7 57.Rxc5 Qb8 58.Qd4 Rf6 59.Qc3 Qd6 60.Kh3 Qa6 61.Qe3 Qb6 62.Re7
Kh8 63.Qc3 Qb4 64.Ra7 Qb1 65.Kh2 Qb4 66.Raxa5+-
55...gxf6
55...Rxf6 56.Qxa5 Qd6 57.Qe1 c4=
56.d6+ Qf7 57.Re6 Kh8 58.Qe2 Rd8 59.Re7 Qd5 60.Re8+ 1-0

20. * !N A29
Robson, Ray (2681) - Aronian, Levon (2785)
Saint Louis (m/2) 152/20, 2022

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 Re8
10.Rc1 Bf8 11.Ne4 a5

300
11...f6 - 104/157
11...Nd4?! 12.Nxd4 exd4

13.e3!± (13.Nc5 Bxc5 14.Rxc5 Bg4 15.Re1 c6²) 13...Bf5N (13...d3) 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Rxc5 Bd3
16.Re1 dxe3 17.dxe3 c6 18.e4 Ba6 19.Qg4→ Caruana,F (2781)-Kevlishvili,R (2494) Saint Louis (m/
3-blitz) 152/(20) 2022
12.Rxc6!N
12.Nc5 a4!∞

301
12...bxc6 13.Nxe5² Bb7 14.e3
14.Qc2! f6 15.Nd3 Nd7 16.Nf4 Qe7 17.e3 Rab8 18.d4±
14...f6 15.Nxc6 Qd7 16.Qc2 Nd5?!
16...Bxc6!

17.Nxf6+! (17.Ng5?! fxg5 18.Bxc6 Qe6 19.Bxe8 Rxe8 20.Qxc7 Rc8µ) 17...gxf6 18.Bxc6 Qe6
19.Rc1 Bd6 20.Qc3 Be5 21.d4 Bd6 22.e4∞
17.Rc1 a4 18.bxa4 Re6 19.Qb3!± Rxc6 20.Nxf6+ Rxf6 21.Qxb7 Ra5
21...Rd8 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.d4+-
22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.Qb8 Qd6 25.Rc6 Qb4
25...Qe7 26.Rxc7 Qd6 27.Rc8+-
26.Qxb4 Bxb4 27.Rxc7+- h5 28.d4 h4 29.gxh4 Kh7 30.Rc4 Be7 31.Bf3 Ra7 32.e4 Nd7 33.h5 Nb6
34.Rc6 Bd8
34...Nd7

302
35.Bd1! Nf6 36.e5 Rd7 37.Rc4 Nd5 38.Bg4 Ra7 39.Bf3 Ra5 40.Kg2 Bh4 41.Bd1 Ra8 42.Kf3
35.Bd1 Rc7 36.Rxc7 Bxc7 37.Kg2 Kh6 38.e5 Nd5 39.Kf3 Nc3 40.Bb3 Kxh5 41.e6 Bd6 42.Ke3
Kg6 43.Kd3 Nb1 44.a5 Na3
44...Kf6 45.Kc4 Kxe6 46.a6 Bb8 47.Kc5+ Kd7 48.Kb6
45.Ba4 Kf6 46.a6 Bb8 47.d5 g5 48.h3
48.f4!? gxf4 49.h4 f3 50.Ke3 f2 51.Kxf2 Nc4 52.h5
48...Ba7 49.f3 Ke7 50.Bc6 Bb6 51.Bd7 Ba7 52.Ba4 Bb6 53.Kc3 Nb1+ 54.Kc2 Na3+ 55.Kc3
Nb1+ 56.Kb4 Kd6 57.e7 Kxe7 58.Kb5 Be3 59.Kc6 Nc3
59...Kd8 60.Bc2 Nc3 61.a4 Na2 62.Kb7
60.Bb3 Kd8 61.a4 Kc8 62.d6 Bf2 63.Bc2 Be3 64.Bb3 Bf2 65.a5 Kd8 66.Bc4 Na4 67.f4 gxf4
68.h4 Nc3 69.h5 Ne4 70.h6 Nf6
70...Ng5 71.Kb7 Kd7 72.a7
71.Bd3 Kc8 72.h7 Nxh7 73.d7+ 1-0

21. !N A29
Kosten, Anthony C (2371) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Great Britain 152/21, 2022

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nd5 Bc5 7.b4
7.O-O - 145/15
7...Nxd5 8.bxc5

303
8...Nf6!N =
8...Ndb4
9.O-O Qe7 10.Ba3 e4 11.Ne1 b6 12.Nc2?!
12.d4! exd3 (12...bxc5 13.Bxc5 d6 14.Ba3²) 13.Nxd3 Ne4 14.Bxe4 Qxe4 15.cxb6²
12...bxc5 13.d3 Rb8 14.dxe4 Nxe4 15.Qd3?
15.Ne3!∞
15...Re8 16.Ne3 Qe5 17.Bxe4
17.Nd5!? Nb4 (17...f5? 18.f3 Nf6 19.Bxc5=) 18.Bxb4 cxb4 19.f4 Qe6µ
17...Qxe4 18.Bxc5 d6 19.Ba3 Qxd3 20.exd3 Nd4 21.Rab1 Bb7 22.Rb2 Nf3+ 23.Kg2 Nd2+
24.Rxb7

304
24...Rxb7?
24...Nxf1! 25.Rxc7 Nxe3+ 26.fxe3 Rxe3 27.Bxd6 Rb2+ 28.Kh3 h5 29.d4 g5 (29...Ree2 30.g4 Re4-+
(30...hxg4+ 31.Kxg4 Re4+ 32.Kf3 Rxd4 33.c5 Rxa2 34.Ke3 Rb4 35.c6 Ra3+ 36.Kd2 Rd4+-+))
30.Be5 Ree2-+
25.Rd1 Nb1 26.Bc1 f6
26...h5 27.d4 Nc3 28.Rd2 Na4-+; 26...Nc3 27.Rd2 Rb1 28.Rc2 Nxa2 29.Rxa2 Rxc1 30.Rxa7 Rc3
31.d4 Rd3 32.d5 Rc8-+
27.h4 Re5 28.d4 Ra5 29.Re1! Kf7 30.d5 Rb8 31.Nf5 Re8 32.Be3

305
32.Rxe8 Kxe8 33.Nxg7+ Kf7 34.Ne6 c5-+
32...Na3
32...Nc3! 33.Bd2 Rxe1 34.Bxc3 Re5 (34...Rxa2 35.Bxe1 a5 36.Nd4 a4 37.Nb5 Rc2-+) 35.Bxa5 Rxf5
36.Bxc7 Ke7 37.f4 Rh5 38.Kf3 f5µ
33.Rc1 g6 34.Nd4 Rc5 35.Nc2 Ra5
35...Rxc4 36.Nxa3 Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Re2-+
36.Nd4 Ra4 37.c5 Nc4†
37...Rc4 38.cxd6 cxd6 39.Rd1 Nc2 (39...a6-+) 40.Nb5 Nxe3+ 41.fxe3 Rc2+ 42.Kf3 Rb8 43.Nxd6+
Ke7 44.Ne4 f5-+
38.Bf4! g5
38...dxc5 39.Nb5 Rd8 40.Nxc7 Rd7-+; 38...Nb2? 39.cxd6 cxd6 40.Nb5=
39.hxg5 fxg5 40.Bxg5 Re5 41.Nf3 Rxd5 42.cxd6 cxd6 43.Rh1 Kg7 44.Bh6+ Kg6 45.Bf4 h5 46.Re1
Rxa2 47.Re6+ Kf7 48.Rh6 Kg7 49.Nh4 Re2 50.Rg6+ Kf7 51.Bh6 Re6 52.Rg7+ Ke8 53.Ng6 Rf5
54.Rg8+ Kf7 55.Rg7+ Kf6 56.Nh4 Ra5 57.Rc7 Re4
57...Ke5! 58.Rxc4 Rxh6 59.f4+ Kd5
58.Bg7+ Ke6 59.Ng6 Ne5 60.Nf4+ Rxf4?
60...Kf5 61.Nxh5 Rc4 62.Re7 Ra2µ
61.gxf4 Ng6 62.Bd4 a6 63.Be3 Nh4+ 64.Kh3 Nf5 65.Rh7 h4 66.Kg4 Ra1 67.Rh8 Rg1+ 68.Kf3?
68.Kh3!³
68...a5 69.Re8+ Kf7 70.Ra8 h3 71.Rh8 a4 72.Rxh3 a3 73.Rh7+ Ng7 74.Bd4 a2 75.Ke4 a1=Q??

306
75...Kg8! 76.Rh6 Re1+ 77.Kf3 Nf5 78.Rh8+ Kf7 79.Bc3 Rc1 80.Bb2 Rb1-+ (80...a1=Q 81.Bxa1
Rxa1-+)
76.Rxg7+! Rxg7 77.Bxa1= Rg1 78.Bd4 Ke6 79.f5+ Kd7 80.f4 Rg4 81.Bh8 Rg8 82.Bd4 Re8+
83.Kd5 Rb8 84.Ke4 Rb5 85.Bg7 Rb4+ 86.Bd4 1/2-1/2

22. A29
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2776) - Keymer, Vincent (2655)
Berlin 152/22, 2022

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O e4 7.Nh4
7.Ng5 - 137/14
7...Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.d4 h6N
9...Re8
10.f3 g5

307
10...e3 11.Qd3! (11.Bxe3 g5∞) 11...Re8 12.Re1 (12.Bxe3 Qe7! 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.e4©) 12...Be6
(12...Qe7 13.Bf1! Na5 14.Ng2±)
11.fxe4!→ gxh4 12.Bxh6 Ng4
12...Nh7 13.Qd3 h3 14.Bh1 Bg4 15.Bxf8 Qxf8 16.Rab1 Rb8 17.e5 dxe5 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Rxb8
Qxb8

20.Rxf7! Nf8 (20...Kxf7 21.Qxh7+ Kf6 22.dxe5+ Kxe5 23.Qg7+ Kf5 24.e4++-) 21.Re7+-
13.Qd2!

308
13.Bxf8 hxg3! 14.Bxd6 cxd6 15.Qe1 gxh2+ 16.Kh1 Qg5 17.Qg3 Na5∞
13...hxg3 14.h3!±
14.hxg3?! f6 15.Bxf8 Qxf8 16.Rf4 Qg7∞
14...Qh4 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.Qf4 Qh7
16...Qh5 17.Qxg3 Nge5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Rf4 Ng6 20.Rf2 Be6 21.e5! Nxe5 22.Bxb7 Rb8 23.Bd5±
17.Qxg3 Nh6 18.c5
18.Rf3 Bd7 19.Raf1 Be8 20.c5! dxc5 21.d5 Qg7 22.Qxg7+ Kxg7 23.dxc6+-
18...Qg7 19.Qxg7+
19.Qh4!? dxc5 20.e3 Bd7 21.Rf3 Re8 22.Raf1+-
19...Kxg7 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.Rab1 Na5 22.Rb5 Nc4 23.Rg5+ Kf8 24.Rh5+- Kg7 25.Rg5+ Kf8
26.Rf4 Ng8 27.Bf3
27.Rh4 Nf6 28.Rh8+ Ke7 29.h4
27...Bd7 28.Bh5 Be8 29.e5 dxe5 30.dxe5 Rc8 31.e6 Nd6 32.Rd5 Rc4 33.Rxc4 Nxc4 34.exf7 Bxf7
35.Bxf7 Kxf7 36.Rd7+

36...Ne7
36...Ke6 37.Rxb7 a5 38.Rb5 Kd6 39.h4 Nf6 40.Rf5 Ke6 41.Rc5
37.Rxb7 a5 38.Rc7 Nd6 39.Ra7 Nc4 40.Rc7 Nd6 41.a4 Ne4 42.Rc4 Ng5 43.h4 Ne6 44.Kf2 Nf5
44...Nd5 45.Rc6 Nf6 46.Ra6 Ne4+ 47.Ke3 Nxc3 48.Rxa5 Kf6 49.h5 Nd1+ 50.Ke4

309
45.h5 Nd6 46.Rg4 Nf5 47.Kf3 Kf6 48.Rg6+ Kf7 49.Ke4 Ne7 50.Rg4 Kf6 51.h6 Ng5+ 52.Kd3
Ng6 53.Kd4 Nf7 54.h7 Kg7 55.Kc5
55.h8=Q+ Nxh8 56.Rg5 Nf7 57.Rxa5 Kf8 58.Ra6 Nf4 59.e3
55...Kxh7 56.Kb5 Nge5 57.Rg1 Nd6+ 58.Kxa5 Ne4 59.Kb4 Nc6+ 60.Kc4 Na5+ 61.Kb5 Nb3
62.Kb4 Nbc5 63.a5 1-0

23. A30
Le, Quang Liem (2709) - Hansen, Eric (2606)
Oslo (m/2-rapid) 152/23, 2022

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 c5 5.O-O g6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Re1 Bg7 8.e4 e5 9.d4! Nc6 10.dxe5
dxe5 11.Nd5 h6
11...O-O - 80/(25)
12.Bd2N
12.b3
12...O-O 13.a3 Qd6
13...a5 14.Qb3 Ra6 15.Rab1 (15.Rad1 a4 16.Qd3 Nd7 17.Bh3²) 15...Bc8 16.Qb5 Bb7 17.Qa4 Re8
18.Rbd1 Nd7 19.h4!?²
14.Rb1
14.Qa4!? Rfd8 15.b4 Nd7 16.Rab1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Rec1 Rdc8² (18...Qf8?! 19.c5!±)
14...Rfd8 15.b4² Nd7

310
16.h4! h5
16...Rab8 17.Bh3 Kh8 18.h5 g5 19.Bc3 Nd4 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.Ba5! Bxd5 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.cxd5²
17.Bg5 f6 18.Be3 Rab8 19.Re2
19.Bh3!? Nd4 20.Nd2 Kh8 21.Kh2 Bc8 22.Rg1! Nf8 23.g4→
19...Nd4 20.Reb2 Bc6 21.bxc5?!
21.a4! Kh8 22.a5±
21...bxc5 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 23.Rxb8+ Nxb8 24.Ne1 Nd7
24...Kh7 25.Bh3 Be8 26.Nd3 Nbc6 27.Qb1²
25.Qb1
25.Bh3 Nb6! 26.Bf1 Bf8 27.Qd2 Kf7 28.Bh6 f5 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.Qh6+ Kg8∞
25...Kf7 26.Nd3 Bf8 27.f4 Qe6?!

27...Bxd5! 28.exd5 Qb6 29.Qxb6 axb6 30.Kf2 Bd6 31.Bh3 f5 32.fxe5 Nxe5 33.Nxe5+ Bxe5=
28.f5!
28.Bxd4!? cxd4 29.f5 gxf5 30.Bh3→
28...gxf5 29.Qd1 Bxd5 30.exd5 Qa6 31.Bxd4 cxd4 32.Qxh5+ Ke7 33.Qxf5 Qxc4 34.Qe6+
34.h5 Qa4 35.Bh3 Qd1+ 36.Kh2 Qc2+ 37.Bg2 a5 38.a4! Qxa4 39.h6 Bxh6 40.Qh7++-
34...Kd8 35.Bh3 Qc7 36.Kg2

311
36.Nb4 Qc1+ 37.Kh2 Qb2+ 38.Bg2 Qxa3 39.Nc6+ Kc7 40.Qe8 Qb2 41.Qd8+ Kd6 42.Nxa7 e4
43.Nc8++-
36...Be7 37.Bf5 Qd6

38.h5
38.Nc5! Qxe6 39.Nxe6+ Kc8 40.h5 Kb7 41.h6+-
38...Qxe6 39.dxe6+- Nb6 40.Nb4 Ke8 41.h6 Kf8 42.Nc6 Nd5 43.Be4 Ne3+ 44.Kf3 Bxa3
44...f5 45.Nxe7 fxe4+ 46.Kxe4 Ng4 47.Nf5
45.e7+ Bxe7 46.Nxe7 a5 47.Nf5 Nxf5 48.Bxf5 Kf7 49.Bc2 a4 50.Bxa4 Kg6 51.Ke4 Kxh6 52.Kf5
Kg7 53.Bb5 Kf7 54.Bd3 Ke7 55.g4 Kf7 56.Be2 Ke7 57.Bc4 1-0

24. A35
Robson, Ray (2676) - Lenderman, Aleksandr (2600)
Saint Louis 152/24, 2022

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.h3
7.cxd5 - 135/21
7...Bg7 8.c5 O-O 9.Bb5 Ne4 10.O-O Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Re1 Bd7
12...Bf5 13.Bg5 Rfe8 14.Qd2 Be4 15.Bf4 Qa5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne5²
13.Bg5N
13.a4; 13.Bd3
13...Rfe8 14.Qd2

312
14.Bh4 b6 15.Bg3 Qc8 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Bf1 Ra3=
14...b6
14...Na5 15.Bf1 (15.Bd3 f6 16.Bf4 e5 17.Bg3 Re7 18.Bf1 Bc6 19.Rad1²) 15...f6 16.Bf4² ∆e5?
17.dxe5 fxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Qxd5+ Be6 20.Bxe5+-
15.Bh6

15...Bh8?!
15...Na5! 16.Bxd7

313
(16.Bf4 Qc8 17.Bxd7 Qxd7 18.cxb6 Nc4 19.Qe2 axb6³) 16...Nc4! (16...Qxd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7
18.Ne5²) 17.Qf4 (17.Bxe8 Nxd2 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Ng5+ Kg8 20.Bxg7 (20.Ne6 Qd7 21.Bxd2 Bf6
22.a4 bxc5 23.Nxc5 Qf5 24.Rab1 Qc2³) 20...bxc5 21.Be5 Qa5∞) 17...Qxd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.cxb6
axb6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Qxe5+ Kg8 22.Rab1 Qc6=
16.cxb6
16.Bf4 Qc8 17.cxb6 axb6 18.Bf1 Na5 19.Rab1 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Qxc4 21.Rxb6 Rxa2 22.Qe3 Rc2
23.Ne5 Bxe5 24.Qxe5 f6∞ (24...Rxc3? 25.Rb8! Rxb8

26.Bh6! f6 27.Qxe7+-)
16...axb6 17.h4 Na5 18.Bd3 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.h5 Bf5 21.Bf4 Qb7 22.Re3 Ra5 23.Rae1² Qa8?
23...e6 24.Ne5 Rea8 25.Nxc4 Rxa2 26.Qd1²
24.Rxe7+- Rxe7 25.Rxe7 Bf6 26.Qe3 Bxe7 27.Qxe7 f6 28.Bh6 Ra7 29.Qxf6 b5 30.Ne5 Qe8 31.d5
Qe7 32.Qb6 Ra8 33.Nc6 Qd7 34.Qxb5 Bd3 35.d6! Qe6
35...Qxd6 36.Qb7
36.Qb7 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 1-0

25. A37
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2651) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701)
Beograd 152/25, 2022

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O e6 7.e3 Nge7 8.d4 O-O 9.Rb1
9.Re1 - 143/17
9...b6 10.b3 Ba6 11.Ba3N

314
11.Re1
11...Rc8
11...Nf5 12.g4 Nh6 (12...Nh4? 13.Nxh4 Qxh4 14.Bxc6+-) 13.h3 f5 14.Nh2 Rc8 15.d5 Bxc3
16.dxc6 Bg7∞
12.Rc1

12...d5!
12...cxd4!? 13.Nxd4 (13.exd4 d5 14.Nb5 dxc4 15.bxc4 Na5) 13...Nxd4 14.exd4 d5 15.Re1 dxc4
16.d5 cxb3 17.Qxb3 Bc4 18.Qa4 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Red1 b5©
13.Nb5 cxd4 14.exd4
14.Nd6 Rc7 15.Nb5 Rd7 (15...Rc8=) 16.Nfxd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Re8 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Re1 dxc4
20.Bc6 Rxd4 21.exd4 Rd8 22.d5 c3 23.Qf3 Bc8!©
14...dxc4 15.bxc4 Na5!³
15...Bh6?! 16.Nd6! Rc7 17.Qa4 Bxc1 18.Rxc1→
16.Qa4 Qe8 17.Nd2

315
17...Rxc4! 18.Nxc4
18.Rxc4 Bxb5 19.Qb4 Nxc4 20.Nxc4 Nf5-+
18...Bxb5 19.Qb4 Nxc4 20.Rxc4

20...Bxc4
20...a5! 21.Qc3 Bxc4 22.Qxc4 b5 23.Qc5 Nf5 24.Bc6 Qb8 25.Qxb5 Nxd4µ
21.Qxc4 Qd7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.d5 Rd8 24.Rc1
24.dxe6 Qxe6 25.Qxe6 fxe6 26.Rc1 Bd4 27.Rc7 b5 28.Bc6 Rf8 29.Bxb5 Rxf2 30.Kh1 Rxa2 31.Bc4

316
Ra1+ 32.Kg2 Re1³
24...exd5
24...e5!? 25.Qc7 Rd7 26.Qc8+ Bf8µ
25.Bxd5 Bf8 26.Qd4 Bg7 27.Qd3
27.Qc4 Rd7µ
27...Bf6 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Rc6 Bd4 30.Rc2 Rd6 31.Kg2 Qd7 32.Bb3 b5 33.Rd2 a5 34.Qf4 a4 35.Bd1
Qc6+-+ 36.Bf3
36.Qf3 Qc5 37.Qe4 Bxf2!
36...Qc5 37.Qe4 b4 38.Qb1 Rf6
38...b3 39.axb3 Qb4 40.Rd3 a3 41.h4 Rf6 42.Qa2 Bb2
39.Qd1 Bc3 40.Rd8 b3 41.axb3 a3 42.Ra8 Rd6 43.b4 Bxb4 44.Qa1+ Kh6 45.Bb7 Qb6 46.Be4 Rd2
47.Qe1 Qd4 48.Ra4 a2 49.Bf3 Rc2 0-1

26. A43
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Fier, Alexandr (2569)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/26, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 O-O 6.Be2 d6 7.O-O Bg4
7...Na6 8.h3 Nc7 9.a4 a6 (9...b6 10.Bf4 a6 11.Re1 Bb7 (11...Rb8 12.e5²) 12.Bc4 Qd7 13.Qd3 Rad8
14.Rab1!?) 10.Bf4 Rb8 11.e5 dxe5 (11...Nfe8 12.Rb1 b5 13.axb5 axb5 14.b4 c4 15.Nd4²) 12.Nxe5
Nfxd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxf7!²
8.h3
8.a4 Na6 9.Re1 Nd7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nc7 12.Be2 ∆ Bf1²
8...Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Na6
9...Nbd7 10.Bf4 Ne8 (10...a6 11.a4 b6 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Qd3!? Qc8 14.Be2²) 11.Qd2 Nc7 12.a4 Re8
13.Be2 a6 14.Bg5²
10.h4!?
10.Be3 - 3/359
10.Be2 Nc7 11.a4 a6 12.Re1 (12.a5 Nb5„) 12...b6 (12...Rb8 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 Rxb6 15.Bf1 Nd7
16.Ra2²) 13.Bg5 Rb8 14.f4 Re8!? (14...Nd7 15.e5) 15.Bf3 Nd7 16.e5 f6∞
10...Nc7

317
11.a4!?N
11.h5 b5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.a4 (13.a3 a5 14.g3 b4 15.Na4 Nb5 16.c3 bxa3 17.bxa3 Rb8„) 13...b4
14.Nb1 c4 15.Nd2 c3 16.Nc4 cxb2 17.Bxb2 Rc8„
11...b6
11...h5 12.g3 Qd7 13.Bg2 Rab8 (13...Ng4 14.Bh3 Rad8 15.Qe2 ∆ f3) 14.Bf4 Rfe8 15.Qd3 Rbd8
16.Nd1!?²
12.Rb1!?
12.h5 Nd7 13.Be2²
12...a6
12...h5 13.g3 Qd7 14.Bg2 Ng4 15.Ra1!? (15.Bh3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qxa4∞) 15...Rad8 16.Qe2²
13.h5 b5 14.h6ƒ Bh8 15.axb5 axb5 16.b4 Nd7 17.Bb2
17.Bd2 Ra3 18.Qe1 c4„; 17.Qd2!? cxb4 18.Rxb4 Qc8!? (18...Ra5 19.Be2 Qb8 20.Qe3²) 19.Be2
(19.Bg4 Na6 20.Rb3 Qb7!? 21.Rxb5 Qc7 22.Bb2 Ne5©; 19.Nxb5 Nxb5 20.Rxb5 Ra4 21.Qe3 Rc4
22.Bb2 Bxb2 23.Rxb2 Rxc2 24.Rxc2 Qxc2 25.Qa7 Rd8 26.Bg4 Qc5!=) 19...Na6 20.Rb3 b4 21.Nd1
Ndc5 22.Re3 Na4 ∆ Nc3„
17...cxb4
17...Ne5!? 18.bxc5 (18.Be2 cxb4 19.Nxb5 Nxb5 20.Bxb5 Qb6„) 18...Nc4 19.cxd6 exd6 20.Qd3
Nxb2 21.Rxb2 Qf6 22.Nd1 Qh4 23.Rb3 Qxh6=
18.Ne2 Ne5 19.Nd4 Qd7

318
¹19...e6 20.Nc6 (20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Be2 Qh4„) 20...Nxc6 21.Bxh8 Kxh8 22.dxc6 Ra6 23.Rxb4
Rxc6∞
20.Be2 Nc4
20...e6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Nf3 Nc6 23.Bxh8 Kxh8 24.Nd4²
21.Bxc4!?
21.Ba1 ∆ Nc6²
21...bxc4 22.Nc6 e5
22...Bxb2 23.Rxb2 f5 24.Rxb4 fxe4 25.Rb7 e6 26.Qd4 exd5 27.Nb4±; ¹22...c3 23.Bc1 f5 24.Rxb4
fxe4 25.Rxe4 e6 26.Nb4²
23.Bc1 b3 24.cxb3 c3
24...Nb5 25.Qg4!± ∆f5 26.exf5 Rxf5 27.bxc4 Nd4 28.Rd1 Nxc6 29.dxc6 Qxc6 30.c5!+-
25.Qd3 f5 26.Bg5
26.Qxc3± ∆Nb5 27.Qd3 Nd4 28.b4 f4 29.Nxd4 exd4 30.f3+-
26...Bf6 27.Bxf6 Rxf6

28.f3?!
28.Ra1! Raf8 (28...Rxa1 29.Rxa1 fxe4 30.Qxe4 Rf7 (30...Qf7 31.Qc4!±) 31.Rc1! Qf5 32.Qxf5 gxf5
33.Rxc3 Nxd5 34.Rg3+! Kf8 35.Rd3± ∆Ne7 36.Nxe5!+-) 29.Ra7 fxe4 30.Qxe4 g5 (30...R8f7
31.Rb7±) 31.Qe3 R8f7 32.Qxg5+ Rg6 33.Qd8+ Qxd8 34.Nxd8 Re7 35.Ra5²
28...g5

319
28...Ne6! 29.Qxc3 Nf4 30.Qc4 Raf8„ 31.Ra1 (31.g3? fxe4! 32.gxf4 Rxf4 33.Nxe5 Qe7-+; 31.b4?!
g5! 32.exf5 Qb7!µ) 31...Qb7 32.g3 Qb6+ (32...fxe4 33.gxf4 Rxf4 34.Qa6! Qxb3 35.Ra3) 33.Kh2
Qe3 34.gxf4 Qxf4+ 35.Kg2 Qg5+ 36.Kf2 fxe4 37.Qxe4 Rxf3+ 38.Qxf3 Rxf3+ 39.Kxf3 Qf4+
40.Ke2 Qe4+=
29.exf5
29.Qxc3 Rxh6 30.b4 Nb5 31.Qe3 Qg7 32.Ra1±
29...Kh8

¹29...Re8 30.Rbc1 Qxf5 31.Qxf5 Rxf5 32.Rxc3 Nxd5 33.Rd3 Nf4 34.Rxd6 e4 35.Nd4 Rd5²
30.g4?!†
30.Ra1!± Raf8 31.Ra7 Rxh6 32.Rc1 Qf7 33.Qxc3 Qxf5 34.Rxc7 g4 35.Re1! gxf3 36.Qxf3 Qxf3
37.gxf3 Rxf3 38.Ra1 Rg6+ 39.Kh2 Rf2+ 40.Kh1 Rf8 41.Ra2+-
30...Rxh6„ 31.Rf2
31.Ra1 Rc8 32.Ra7 Qg7 33.Qxc3

320
33...Nb5! (33...Nxd5? 34.Qa5±) 34.Rxg7 Nxc3 35.Rd7 Ne2+ 36.Kf2 Rh2+ 37.Ke1 (37.Ke3? Nf4-
+) 37...Nf4 38.Rxd6 Nd3+ 39.Kd1 Nb2+ 40.Kc1 Nd3+=
31...Qf7
31...Qg7 32.Qxc3 Nxd5 33.Ra1™ Re8 34.Qc4 Nf4 35.Ra7 d5 36.Qa4! Qf8 37.Nxe5 Rxe5 38.Ra8
Re1+ 39.Rf1 Nh3+ 40.Kg2 Nf4+=
32.Qxc3 Nxd5 33.Qc4™ Kg7 34.Rd2 Nb6?†
34...Nf4 35.Qxf7+ Kxf7 36.Rc1 Ra3 37.Nxe5+ dxe5 38.Rc7+ Kf8 39.Rc8+ Ke7 40.Rc7+=
35.Qxf7+ Kxf7

321
36.Rbd1!± d5
36...Rc8 37.Nb4 d5 38.Nxd5 Nxd5 39.Rxd5 Rb6 40.R1d3±
37.Nxe5+ Ke7
37...Kf8 38.Rc2 Ra7 39.Nc6 Rc7 40.Rdc1 Rd6 41.Nd4+-
38.Kg2 Ra3 39.Rd3 Rf6 40.Kg3+- Kd6
40...Ra2 41.Rc3
41.Nc4+ Kc5 42.Nxa3 1-0

322
A50-A99

27. A54
Basso, Pier Luigi (2600) - Dimitrov, Radoslav (2478)
Cattolica 152/27, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd2 Bf5 6.e3 c6 7.Be2 d5 8.cxd5
8.g4 - 129/28
8...cxd5 9.Qb3 Qd7 10.g4!
10.f3
10...Be6N
10...Bxg4 11.Bxg4 Nxg4 12.Nxd5 f5 13.h3 Nf6 (13...Nh6 14.Nf4 g5 15.Nh5 Qf7 16.Rg1!→)
14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Nc4²
11.g5 Ng8

12.Ndxe4!
12.f3 exf3 13.Nxf3 Nc6 14.O-O Bd6 15.e4 Nge7 16.e5 Bc7 17.Be3 O-O³
12...Nc6 13.Ng3 a6 14.Bd2
14.f4!? g6 15.h4 h6 16.Bd2 hxg5 17.hxg5 Rxh1+ 18.Nxh1 Nge7 (18...b5 19.Nf2±) 19.Na4! Nc8
20.Rc1 b5 21.Qc3! (21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 N8e7 23.Nf2 Kf8±) 21...bxa4 22.Qxc6+-

323
14...b5 15.f4 g6 16.h4 h5 17.Nd1!?
17.f5! Bd6 (17...gxf5 18.Nxh5 Rc8 19.Nd1 f4 20.Nf2 fxe3 21.Qxe3+-) 18.Nxh5! gxh5 19.fxe6 fxe6
20.O-O-O Rc8 21.Kb1 Na5 22.Qc2± b4? 23.Qg6++-
17...Nge7
¹17...Bd6 18.Nf2 Nge7 19.Rc1 Rc8 (19...O-O 20.O-O (20.Bxh5!? gxh5 21.Nxh5 Qb7 22.Qc2 Bf5
23.Qd1©) 20...Rac8 21.Bf3²) 20.Nd3²
18.Nf2 Nf5 19.Nxf5 Bxf5 20.Rc1± Be7 21.Bf3 Be6 22.Nd3 Rd8 23.Qc2 Rc8 24.Ne5 Nxe5
25.Qxc8+ Qxc8 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.fxe5 Be6

28.a3
28.e4!? dxe4 29.Bxe4 Bxa2 30.Kf2 Be6 31.Ra1 Bc8 32.Rc1+-
28...Kd7 29.Bc3
29.Bb4 Bxb4+ 30.axb4 Rc8 31.Kd2 Rc4 32.b3!+-
29...Kc6 30.Bb4 Bd8 31.Kd2 Bc7 32.e4 Rd8 33.Rc1+ Kb7 34.Rxc7+ Kxc7
34...Kxc7 35.Ba5+ Kc8 36.Bxd8 Kxd8 37.exd5
1-0

28. A88
Kociscak, Jiri (2484) - Laznicka, Viktor (2647)
Cesko 152/28, 2022

1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.b3

324
Na6 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Ng5 Bd7 13.Qd2 Rad8 14.Rfe1
14.Rad1 - 49/138
14...h6 15.Nf3 Nc5 16.Rad1 Bc8 17.Qc2 g5N
17...Nce4
18.Nd4
18.e3!? a5 19.Nd4
18...Ng4
18...f4 19.e4! Qf7 20.Nf5 fxg3 21.hxg3 Ng4 22.Nxg7 Qxg7 23.f3 Ne5 24.Ne2!±
19.h3 Ne5 20.b4
20.e3

20...f4!? 21.exf4 gxf4 22.gxf4 Rxf4 23.Nce2 Rf7 24.f4 Qh4! 25.fxe5 Bxh3 26.Qg6 Qf2+ 27.Kh2
Bxg2 28.Qxg2 dxe5 29.Nf3 Qxg2+ 30.Kxg2 Nd3„
20...Ne4
20...Ne6 21.Nxf5 Rxf5 22.Qxf5 Nf4 23.Qe4 Nxg2 24.Qxg2 Nxc4 25.Ba1 d5 26.b5! Rf8 27.bxc6
bxc6 28.Nxd5! cxd5 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Qxd5 Qf6 31.Qc5 Bxh3 32.Qxa7+²
21.Nxe4 fxe4 22.Bxe4 Qf6
22...Qf7! 23.e3 Qxc4 24.Bc3 Bxh3 25.f4 Ng4 26.Bd3 Qf7∞
23.e3² c5

325
23...Nxc4 24.Qxc4+ d5 25.Bxd5+ Rxd5 26.Qc2 Bxh3 27.e4 Rd7 28.e5→
24.f4
24.Bd5+! Kh8 25.bxc5 dxc5 26.f4 cxd4 (26...Nd7 27.Nc6 Qxb2 28.Qxb2 Bxb2 29.Nxd8 Rxd8
30.Be6 Kg7 31.Bxd7 Bxd7 32.Rd6±) 27.fxe5 Qxe5 28.Qg2! Qd6 29.Bxd4±
24...gxf4?!
24...Nf7! 25.bxc5 (25.Nf5 Qxb2 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Ng6+=) 25...dxc5 26.Nc6 Qxb2 27.Ne7+ Kh8
28.Ng6+=
25.exf4 Nf7

326
26.Ba1!± cxd4
26...d5 27.Ne6! Qxe6 28.Bh7++-
27.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 28.Rxd4 Bxd4+ 29.Kg2 Rde8 30.Qd2
30.Qd3 Bg7 31.Re2 Kh8 32.Bf3±
30...Bf6 31.Bd5 Rxe1
31...Kg7 32.a4±
32.Qxe1 b6 33.Qe3 Kg7 34.Qa3 a6 35.Qe3 b5 36.cxb5 axb5 37.Qb6 Bd7 38.Qb7 Rd8 39.g4
39.a4!? bxa4 40.b5+-
39...Be8 40.Kg3 Bc3 41.a3 Be1+ 42.Kg2+- Kf8 43.a4 bxa4 44.b5 Rd7 45.Qa6 Nd8 46.Qxa4 Bf7
47.Bxf7 Rxf7 48.Qd4 Nb7 49.Qh8+
49.g5 hxg5 50.fxg5 Rg7 51.Qf6+ Kg8 52.Qe6+ Kh7 53.Qe4+ Kg8 54.Qxe1 Rxg5+ 55.Kh2
49...Ke7 50.Qxh6 Bd2 51.Qh4+ Kd7 52.Qh5 Ke8 53.g5 Bc3 54.f5 d5 55.f6 Bxf6 56.gxf6 Nd6
57.b6 Kd7 58.b7 Kc7 59.Qe5 1-0

29. A90
Moradiabadi, Elshan (2540) - Stremavicius, Titas (2520)
Saint Louis 152/29, 2022

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.O-O Be7 6.c4 Ne4 7.Ne5
7.b3 - 147/21
7...Nd7 8.f3N

327
8.Nd2
8...Nxe5
8...Nef6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 c6 11.Rc1 Qe8 12.Qc2 Bd6 13.f4²
9.dxe5 Bc5+
9...Nc5 10.Be3!? a5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Qc2 b6 13.Nc3 c6 14.f4 O-O 15.Na4! Nxa4 16.Qxc6 Bd7
17.Qxd5+ Kh8 18.e6 Ra7 19.Rfd1 Bc8 20.Qb5+-
10.e3 Ng5

11.Nc3
11.b4!? Be7 12.Qb3 c6 13.Nc3 O-O 14.Rd1²
11...c6 12.Qc2 Be7 13.Rd1
13.b3 O-O 14.Bb2 Bc5 15.Rae1 b6 16.a3 Be7 17.Rf2²
13...Bd7 14.Rb1 a5 15.Bd2
15.b3 Rg8 16.Ne2→
15...O-O
15...b5 16.cxd5 (16.c5!? Nf7 17.f4 O-O 18.Ne2 Kh8 19.Nd4²) 16...cxd5 17.Rdc1 O-O 18.Ne2! Rc8
19.Qd3 Qb6 20.Nd4²
16.Ne2 Qb6
16...dxc4!? 17.Qxc4 b5 18.Qc3 Kh8 19.Rbc1 b4∞

328
17.Kh1
17.Rbc1 Qa6 18.a4 dxc4 19.Qxc4 Qxc4 20.Rxc4 Rfd8 21.Kf2²
17...Bc5
17...Qa6 18.b3 b5 19.h3²
18.Nd4
18.Rbc1!? ∆Bxe3? 19.c5+-
18...Nf7 19.f4 Rfc8 20.Bc3 Qa7 21.a4 Bb4

21...Qa6 22.Bf1 dxc4 23.e4±

22.b3
22.g4!? fxg4 23.f5 Be8 24.fxe6 Ng5 25.Nf5 Kh8 26.Bxb4 axb4 27.Ne7+-
22...b5 23.Bb2 Qc5 24.Rbc1 bxa4 25.bxa4 Rab8 26.Nb3 Qxc4 27.Qxc4 dxc4 28.Rxc4 Be8 29.Bc3
c5 30.Ra1 Nd8 31.Kg1 Bc6 32.Bxb4 Bxg2
32...Rxb4 33.Nxa5 Bxg2 34.Rxb4 (34.Kxg2 Rb2+ 35.Kg1 Nb7 36.Nxb7 Rxb7 37.Ra2±) 34...cxb4
35.Kxg2 Rc2+ 36.Kg1 Nc6 37.Nxc6 Rxc6 38.Rb1 Rc4 39.Rb3 Rc1+ 40.Kg2 Rc2+ 41.Kh3 Rc4
42.Kh4 h6 43.h3 g6 44.g4 Kf7 45.a5 Rc5 46.Rxb4 Rxa5 47.Rb7+ Kg8 48.Kg3 Rc5 49.Kf3 Rc3
50.Re7 Rc6 51.h4 h5 52.gxh5 gxh5 53.Ke2 Ra6 54.Kd3 Rc6 55.Rb7 Rc1 56.Kd4 Rd1+ 57.Kc5 Rd5+
58.Kc6 Kf8 59.Rh7 Rd1 60.Rd7 Ra1 61.Rb7 Rd1 62.Rh7 Rd3 63.Rxh5 Kg7 64.Rg5+ Kf7 65.Rg3+-
33.Kxg2 Rxb4 34.Rxc5 Rxc5 35.Nxc5 Rb2+ 36.Kf3

329
36...g5
36...Rc2 37.Rd1 Kf7 38.Rxd8 Rxc5 39.Rd7+ Kf8 40.Ra7+-
37.h3 gxf4 38.gxf4 Rc2 39.Rd1 Rxc5 40.Rxd8+ Kf7 41.Rd7+ Kg6 42.Rd6
42.Re7 Rc6 43.Ra7 Rc5 44.Kg3 Rd5 45.Re7+-
42...Kf7 43.Ra6 h6 44.Ra7+ Kg6 45.h4 Rc8 46.Rxa5 Kh5 47.Ra6 Re8 48.Rd6 Kxh4 49.a5 Kh3
50.a6 1-0

330
B00-B24

30. B01
Ali Marandi, Cemil Can (2524) - Hungaski, Robert Andrew (2537)
Saint Louis 152/30, 2022

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.b4 Qxb4 5.Rb1 Qd6 6.d4 c6
6...Qd8 - 144/24
7.Nf3 g6N
¹7...Nf6
8.Bc4 Bg7 9.Ne4 Qc7

10.Ne5! Bxe5
10...e6?! 11.Bf4 Bh6 12.Bg3+-
11.dxe5 Qxe5 12.f3 f6
12...Nf6 13.Bb2 Qf4 14.Nxf6+ exf6 15.Qe2+ Kf8 16.O-O Kg7 17.Rbe1±
13.O-O Nd7 14.Re1 Kf8 15.Kh1
15.Bxg8! Kxg8 (15...Rxg8 16.Bh6++-) 16.Ba3 Qd5 17.Bxe7 Qxd1 18.Rbxd1 Kg7 19.Rd6 f5
20.Nf6+-

331
15...Qc7 16.Qe2
16.Ba3! Nb6 17.Nxf6! Nxc4 18.Nxg8 Nxa3 19.Rxe7+-
16...Kg7
16...b5 17.Bb3 Kg7 18.Ba3 Nf8 19.Rbd1±
17.Bb3
17.Ng5! Nb6 (17...fxg5 18.Qe6+-; 17...Ne5 18.Bf4 b5 19.Nf7+-) 18.Qe6!±
17...Nf8
¹17...Nb6 18.Ba3 h5 19.Rbd1²
18.Ba3 Be6?!
18...h5 19.Rbd1 Rh7 20.h4±
19.Bxe6 Nxe6

20.Nf2?
20.Qc4! Nd8 (20...Nf8 21.Ng5! fxg5 22.Qc3+ Kf7 23.Qxh8+-) 21.Rbd1±
20...Nf4 21.Qc4 e5
¹21...Rd8 22.g3 Nd5 23.Qb3 Qb6 (23...b5 24.Nd3©) 24.Qxb6 Nxb6 25.Bxe7 Rd7 26.Bc5 Nh6
27.Bxb6 axb6 28.Rxb6=
22.Ne4
22.Red1! Re8 23.Ne4 Nh6 24.Nc5 b5 25.Qb3±

332
22...b6?
22...Rd8! 23.g3 b5 24.Rxb5 Rd4 25.Qc3 Nd5 26.Qc5 Nh6 27.Rbb1²
23.Rbd1 b5 24.Qc3 Re8 25.Rd6
25.g3! Ne6 26.Bd6 Qf7 27.Bxe5! Rd8 (27...fxe5 28.Nd6+-) 28.Nd6+-
25...Qf7 26.Rxc6 Nd5 27.Qd2 Nge7 28.Nd6+- Qg8 29.Nxe8+ Qxe8 30.Rd6 b4 31.Bxb4 Qb5
32.Ba3 Rc8 33.Rd1 Rc3 34.Bc1 Re3 35.Rd7 g5 36.Rxe7+! 1-0

31. B07
Lodici, Lorenzo (2545) - Jones, Gawain C B (2666)
Italia 152/31, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nbd2 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bb5+ Bd7

5...Nc6 - 141/28
6.a4 O-O 7.O-O Nc6N
7...a6
8.a5
8.Re1 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5=
8...e5 9.d5
9.Bxc6 Bxc6 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe4=
9...Nb4 10.Bxd7 Qxd7 11.b3 c6
11...b5 12.axb6 axb6 13.Ba3 Na6 14.c4 c5= (14...b5∞)
12.Ba3 Na6 13.Nc4?!
13.c4 Bh6 14.Qe2 Nh5 15.g3 c5=
13...Nxe4 14.Re1

333
14.Nxd6 Nc3! 15.Qd2 e4 16.Ng5 cxd5 17.Ndxe4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Rfd8µ
14...f5?!
14...Nac5! 15.a6 (15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxe4 cxd5-+; 15.Bb2 f5-+) 15...b5 16.b4 bxc4 17.bxc5 Nxc5
18.Bxc5 dxc5-+
15.Nxd6 Nxd6
15...Rfd8 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Nd2 cxd5 18.c4 e3! 19.fxe3 e4 20.Rb1 b6 21.axb6 axb6 22.Nf1 b5∞
16.dxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Bxd6 e4 19.Bxf8 Rxf8
19...Bxa1 20.Rxa1 Kxf8 21.Nd4 Rc8 22.Ra4 Ke7 23.f3 exf3 24.gxf3=
20.Rad1 exf3 21.Re7 Rb8 22.Rdd7?
22.Red7! Nb4 (22...fxg2 23.R1d5 Bf8 24.Rb5 Nc5 25.Rc7 Rd8 26.Rbxc5 Bxc5 27.Rxc5 Rd7
28.Kxg2 Kf7=) 23.Rd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Bf8 25.Rd7 Nxc2 26.Rxb7 a6 27.Ra7 Nb4 28.gxf3 Bc5
29.Rc7 Bd6 30.Rd7 Bc5=
22...Bf6 23.Rxh7
23.Re3 Nc5 24.Rd5 Rc8 25.b4 Na6 26.Rd7 Nxb4 27.Rxb7 Nxc2 28.Reb3 Nb4! 29.gxf3 Nc6µ
23...Nc5 24.Rc7?

334
24.Rdf7 Re8 25.gxf3 Re1+ 26.Kg2 Ne6 27.h4 Nf8! 28.Rxf6 Nxh7 29.Rxg6+ Kf7 30.h5 Nf8 31.Rd6
Re7µ
24...Re8! 25.gxf3 Re1+ 26.Kg2 Ne6!-+ 27.Rxb7
27.h4 Nxc7 28.Rxc7 Re7-+
27...Nf4+ 28.Kg3 Ne2+ 29.Kh3 Rg1 0-1

32. B10
Dimitrov, Radoslav (2478) - Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2652)
Cattolica 152/32, 2022

1.e4 c6 2.Be2!? d5 3.e5 Bf5

3...c5 - 128/44
4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 Bc5
5...c5 6.O-O (6.Na3 Nc6 7.O-O h5 8.c3 Be7 9.Nc2 Nh6∞) 6...Nc6 7.d3 Nh6 8.Kh1 (8.h3 Bg6 9.g4
f6„) 8...Bg6 9.c3 Be7 10.Be3 Nf5 11.Bf2 h5„; 5...h5!? 6.d4 (6.O-O Nh6 7.Kh1 Bg4 8.c3 Nf5 9.d3
c5„) 6...Nh6 7.Nbd2 c5 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Nxc5 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxc5 12.c3 Be4„
6.d4 Bb6

335
7.Be3N
7.O-O c5 8.Be3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 (9.Bf2 Nc6 10.Bb5 Ne7 11.Nxd4 O-O 12.c3 f6∞) 9...Ne7 10.Nd2
Nbc6 11.N2b3 Be4„; 7.c4 dxc4 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Nxc4 O-O 10.O-O Bg4 11.Nd6 Nf5 12.Nxf5 Bxf5
13.Be3 Na6!? 14.Bxa6 bxa6 ∆ Qd5„
7...Nd7 8.O-O Ne7
8...c5 9.c4! Ne7 10.Nc3²
9.Nbd2
9.c3 c5 10.a4 (10.Nbd2 - 9.Nbd2) 10...Bg6 (10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bg6 12.Nd2 O-O 13.N2b3 Nc5
14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.b4 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Be4 17.a5²) 11.b4!? (11.Nbd2 O-O (11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nf5
13.Nxf5 Bxf5 14.Bd4 O-O 15.Nb3 f6 16.exf6 Nxf6 17.a5 Bc7 18.Qd2 Ne4 19.Qe3²) 12.b4 cxb4
13.cxb4 a5 14.b5 f6∞) 11...cxb4 (11...Nf5 12.Bf2 cxb4 13.cxb4 a5 14.bxa5 Bxa5 15.Qb3 O-O
16.Nc3 ∆ Nb5²) 12.cxb4 a5 13.bxa5 Bxa5 14.Qb3 (14.Na3 O-O 15.Nb5 Nb6 ∆ Nc4) 14...Qb6
15.Bb5 O-O„
9...c5 10.c3
10.c4 O-O 11.a3 (11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nd4 Rc8 13.N2b3 Bb6 14.Rc1 Be4∞) 11...Bg6 12.b4 cxb4
13.axb4 (13.c5 Ba5∞ 14.Nb3 bxa3 15.Nxa5 Qxa5 16.Qb3 Qc7 17.g4 b6„) 13...dxc4 14.Nxc4 Bc7
15.Qd2 Nd5 16.Bf2 a6 17.Bh4 Qb8 ∆ b5∞
10...O-O 11.a4 Nc6 12.Nb3
12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Nd4 Bxd4 14.cxd4 Nb4∞
12...cxd4 13.cxd4

336
13.Nfxd4 Be4 (13...Bg6 14.g4ƒ) 14.Bg4 a5 15.Qe1 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Nc5 17.Qg3 Bg6„
13...a5
13...Rc8!? 14.Rc1 (14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nb4 16.Qd2 a5=) 14...f6 15.Qd2 a6 16.Bf2 Be4„
14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nb4 16.Qe2 Rc8 17.Rac1 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 Nb8!? 19.Qb5 N8c6 20.Nc5

20...Na7!?
20...Qc7 21.Nd3 Nxd3 22.Qxd3 Qe7 23.Bd2 f5 24.g3 ∆ Kg2, h3ƒ
21.Nxb7
21.Qd7 Qc8!? (21...Bxc5 22.Qxd8 Rxd8 23.Rxc5 Nac6 24.g4!? b6 25.Rc3 ∆ f5ƒ) 22.Qxb7 Qxb7
23.Nxb7 Nd3 24.Rb1 Rc8 25.b4!? Nxb4 (25...axb4? 26.a5 Bd8 27.Nxd8 Rxd8 28.Rb3+-) 26.Bd2
Nac6 27.Nd6 Ra8 28.Bc3 Kf8=
21...Nxb5 22.Nxd8 Nxd4
¹22...Na7 23.Nb7 Nd3 24.Rc2 Rb8 25.Nd6 Bd8! 26.Bc1 h6 27.f5 Kf8 28.f6 Nxc1 29.Rxc1 gxf6
30.exf6 Rb6 31.Nxf7 Kxf7 32.Ne5+ Kf8 33.Rf1 Bc7 34.Ng6+ Kf7 35.Nh8+ Kf8 (35...Kg8?
36.f7++-) 36.Ng6+=
23.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 24.Nxd4 Rxd8 25.Rc5

337
25.Rc3 Rb8 26.b3 Kf8 27.Kf2²
25...Nd3! 26.Rb5
26.Rxa5 Rc8 27.g3 Nxb2 28.Ra7 g5! 29.f5 exf5 30.Nxf5 Rc1+ 31.Kf2 h5 32.Nh6+ Kg7 33.Nxf7
Kg6 34.e6 d4 35.Ne5+ Kf5 36.Nf3 Kxe6 37.Nxd4+ Kd5 38.Rd7+ Kc4 39.Rc7+ Kxd4 40.Rxc1
Nd3+ 41.Kg2 Nxc1 42.a5 Kc5 43.h3 Nd3 44.a6 Kb6 45.Kf3=
26...Rc8 27.g3 g5 28.f5 Nxe5 29.fxe6 fxe6 30.Rxa5
30.Nxe6 h6 31.Rxd5 Rc1+ 32.Kf2 Rc2+ 33.Ke3 Ng4+ 34.Kd3 Rxh2 35.Rxa5 Rxb2 36.Ra7 Ne5+
37.Ke4 Nf7= ∆ h5
30...Rc1+ 31.Kg2 Rd1 32.Nxe6 g4= 33.h4 Rd2+ 34.Kf1 h6 35.Rb5 Nf3 36.Rb3 d4 37.Nf4 Rd1+
38.Ke2 Rd2+ 39.Kf1 Rd1+ 40.Ke2 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

33. B12
Areshchenko, Alexander (2670) - Bartel, Mateusz (2616)
Deutschland 152/33, 2022

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Nxc6

6.c4 - 148/23
6...bxc6 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.Qe2 e6 9.Nd2 Ne7 10.Nf3 c5N
10...Ng6
11.c3 Nc6 12.O-O Be7 13.Re1 h6 14.h4 Rb8?!
14...a5 15.h5 Qb6 16.Nh2 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Qg4²

338
15.h5
15.Nh2!? a5 (15...Bxh4 16.Qg4 g5 17.Qe2±) 16.Qg4 g6

17.h5! (17.Nf3²) 17...g5 (17...Nxe5? 18.Rxe5 Qxe5 19.Bf4+-) 18.Qe2 Bd7 19.Ng4±
15...Qa5 16.Nh2 Kd7 17.Qg4± Bb7 18.Nf3 g5
18...Ba6 19.Bc2± (19.Bxa6 Qxa6 20.Rd1 Kc7 21.b3 Rhg8∞) 19...Bc4 20.Nd2±
19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Bxg6
20.Bc2 Rbg8 21.Rd1 Nd8 22.b4! h5 (22...cxb4 23.cxb4 Qxb4 24.Nd4±) 23.Qg3 Qa6 24.Bg5±
20...h5
20...Rbf8 21.Qh3 Qb5 22.Be3 Nd8 23.Red1 Kc8 24.Bd3 Qc6 25.b4±
21.Qh3 Qa4

339
22.b4! Rbg8?
22...Rbf8 23.Bd3 cxb4 24.cxb4 Bxb4 25.Rb1 Ba6 26.Bxa6 Qxa6 27.Rd1 Qc4 28.Ng5 Rf5 29.f4±
23.Bf7+- Nd8 24.Bxg8 Rxg8 25.bxc5 d4 26.cxd4 Rg4 27.Rb1 Bd5 28.Rb3 Nc6 29.Be3 Kc7
29...Qxa2 30.Rb7+ Kc8 31.Rxe7! Nxe7 32.Qxh5 Rg8 33.Qf7 Bxf3 34.Qxf3+-
30.Reb1 Na5 31.Rb8 Qc2 32.Qxh5 Qe4 33.Qf7 1-0

34. B12
Adams, Michael (2698) - Salem, AR Saleh (2690)
Malmoe 152/34, 2022

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 Qa5+ 7.Nd2 e6 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.O-O Nf5
9...Qa6 - 133/46
10.Nb3 Qa6 11.Qd1 c5 12.Bg5N
12.dxc5
12...cxd4
¹12...b6 13.c3 (13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.c3 Nc6∞) 13...Nc6 14.a4 Rc8∞
13.Nbxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.a4 Rc8 17.a5 Be7
17...Qd7 18.c3 Be7 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Ra4 Rc5 21.Qe2 a6∞
18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.c3 Qb5 20.Qd4

340
20...Qc5
20...Rc4! 21.Qxa7 Rhc8 22.a6 (22.Qe3 Kf8 23.Qe2 g6 24.g3 Ra8=) 22...R4c7 23.axb7 (23.Qe3 bxa6
24.Qg5+ Kf8 25.Qxh5 Kg8 26.Ra2 Qb3 27.Rfa1 d4 28.cxd4 Rc1+ 29.Kh2 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Qxb2
31.Rxa6 Qxf2=) 23...Rxb7 24.Qa3+ Qc5 25.Qxc5+ Rxc5 26.Ra2 Rc4 27.g3 d4©
21.Qf4 Rhd8?!
21...Kf8 22.Ra4 Kg8 23.Rd1²
22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Qxh5 Kg8 24.Qg5 d4 25.Rfd1 d3

341
25...Rd5 26.b4! Qc4 27.h5 Kh7 28.cxd4 Qxb4 29.Rab1 Qa4 30.Qf4±
26.Ra4! Rd5 27.Rg4 g6
27...Qf8 28.Rd4+-
28.Re4 Qxa5 29.h5 Qd8 30.Qg3+- g5 31.Rg4 Kh8 32.Rxg5 Rc4 33.h6 Qf8 34.Rxd3
34.h7 Qh6 35.Rg8+ Kxh7 36.Re8 Qg7 37.Qh3+ Qh6 38.Rh8+
34...Re4 35.Rh5 a5 36.Rxd5 exd5 37.h7 a4 38.Qg5 1-0

35. B12
Maurizzi, Marc Andria (2489) - Pelletier, Yannick (2555)
Corte 152/35, 2022

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.O-O h6 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.c3 c5
8...a6 - 138/50
9.dxc5 Nc6 10.b4 Ncxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qa4+N
12.f4; 12.Bb5+
12...Nd7
12...Nc6 13.Nb3 Bc2 14.b5 Ne5 15.Bf4 f6 16.Qd4±
13.Nb3 Bc2 14.Be3 Be7 15.Rac1
15.Bb5!? a6 16.c6! bxc6 (16...axb5 17.cxd7+ Kf8 18.Qxb5+-) 17.Bxc6 Rb8 18.Qxa6±
15...Bxb3 16.Qxb3 O-O 17.c4 dxc4 18.Qxc4 Qc7

342
19.Bf4! e5 20.Be3±
20.Bg3 Bg5 21.Rcd1 a5 22.a3 axb4 23.axb4 Rfe8 24.Bf3±
20...Bg5 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.Qg4 a5 23.a3 axb4 24.axb4 Ra4
24...Rfd8 25.Qxg5 Nf6 26.b5±
25.Rc4 Nf6 26.Qxg5 Rd8 27.Bf3?

27.Rfc1 Ra2 28.R4c2 Rxc2 29.Rxc2 Qd7 30.Qc1±

27...b6?
27...b5! 28.Rh4 (28.Rc2 Rxb4=) 28...e4 29.Be2 (29.Bxe4 Rxb4 30.Bf3 Rxh4 31.Qxh4 Qxc5
32.Qf4=) 29...Rxb4 30.Qe3 Rbd4 (30...Rb2 31.c6! (31.Qh3 Kf8 32.Rh8+ Ke7 33.Rxd8 Qxd8 34.Qe3
Qd2=) 31...b4 (31...Qxc6? 32.Qh3 Kf8 33.Qa3++-) 32.Bb5²) 31.Qh3 Kf8 32.Rh8+ Ke7 33.Rxd8
Kxd8 34.Qc3 Qe5 35.Bxb5 (35.c6 Ne8 36.Rc1 Nc7∞) 35...Rd5 36.Qa5+ Qc7 37.Qxc7+ Kxc7
38.Bc4 Rxc5 39.Bxf7²
28.c6+- b5 29.Rh4 Qd6 30.Qg3 Qe6 31.c7 Rc8 32.Rd1 Rxc7 33.Rd8+ Ne8 34.h3 Rc4 35.Bd5 Qe7

343
36.Qg5! 1-0

36. B13
Anton Guijarro, David (2694) - Druska, Juraj (2503)
Terme Catez 152/36, 2022

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Re1
9.Nbd2 - 139/(42)
9...Bf5 10.Bf1
10.Bxf5 gxf5 11.Ne5 e6 12.Nd2 Ne4 (12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5²) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nb3²
10...h6 11.h3 g5 12.Bh2 e6N
12...a5
13.Nbd2 Re8 14.a4 Ne4
14...Rc8 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Ne4 17.a5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 a6 19.Nb3²
15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bb5
16.Nd2 Bg6 17.Nb3 Rc8 18.a5²
16...Qb6 17.Nd2 Bg6 18.Nf1 a6 19.Bd3² Ne7
19...Qxb2? 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21.Qd3 Qb6 22.Qxg6+-
20.Bxg6
20.Re2 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Ng6 22.Ne3 Qc6 23.Ng4 Rac8 24.Qd2²

344
20...Nxg6 21.Qd2 Qc6

21...f5 22.Qd3 Rac8 23.Re2 Qc6 24.Nd2²

22.f4! gxf4
22...Bf6 23.Re2 Re7 24.Ne3! gxf4 25.Ng4 Bg7 (25...Bg5 26.h4! Bxh4 27.Bxf4±) 26.Bxf4 Nxf4
27.Qxf4±
23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Qxf4 e5 25.dxe5 Qc7
25...Re6 26.Ng3 Qb6+ 27.Qd4 Qxb2 28.Nf5 Rae8 29.Rad1±
26.Rad1 Rad8 27.Rd3
27.Ng3 Bxe5 (27...Rxe5 28.Rxe5 Bxe5 29.Qg4+ Kh7 30.Nf5 Rg8 31.Qe2±) 28.Qg4+ Kh7 29.Nf5
Qb6+ 30.Kh1 Qg6 31.Qf3±
27...Rxe5 28.Rxe5 Qxe5 29.Qxe5 Bxe5 30.Ne3 d4 31.Nf5 Kh7 32.Kf2 Rc8 33.cxd4 Rc2+ 34.Kf3
Bf6 35.b3 Kg6 36.Ne3 Rc8 37.a5
37.d5 Bg5 38.g3 Kf6 39.Nc4+-
37...Rc1 38.Nc4 Kf5 39.d5 Be7 40.g4+ Kf6 41.Ke4+- Bd8 42.Kd4 Ke7 43.Re3+ Kd7 44.Rf3 f6
45.Rf5 Rd1+ 46.Kc3 Rc1+ 47.Kb2 Rh1 48.Rh5 f5 49.Rxf5 Rxh3 50.Rf7+ Kc8 51.Nd6+ Kb8
52.Nxb7 Rh2+ 53.Kc3 Bh4 54.d6 Be1+ 55.Kc4 Rc2+ 56.Kd5 Rc1 57.Nc5 Bxa5 58.b4 1-0

37. B15
Kokarev, Dmitry (2576) - Dreev, Alexey (2623)
Russia 152/37, 2022

345
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Ne2 Re8 9.O-O Nd7
9...Qc7 - 51/138
10.Bf4 Nf8 11.Qd2 Be6 12.Rfe1 Ng6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Ng3 Bd5N
14...Rad8; 14...Nf4
15.b3 a5 16.Nf5 Qf4 17.Qxf4
17.Re3!? Rxe3 (17...Be6 18.Rae1²) 18.fxe3 (18.Qxe3 Qxe3 19.fxe3²) 18...Qc7 19.c4 Be6 20.Ng3²
17...Nxf4 18.Bf1 Red8
18...Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Be6 20.Nd6 (20.Ne3 a4=) 20...b6 (20...b5 21.c4 bxc4 22.bxc4) 21.c4 Rd8 22.c5
Kf8 23.g3 Nd5∞
19.g3 Ne6

20.Bc4!?
20.Ne7+ Kf8 21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.Bg2 Rd6=; 20.Ne3 Kf8 21.a4 g6 22.h4 h5 23.Red1 Nc7∞
20...Bxc4?!
20...g6 21.Bxd5 (21.Ne3 f5=) 21...cxd5 22.Ne3 f5 23.f4 b5 24.a4 Rac8 25.Rec1 b4 26.cxb4 Rxc1+
27.Rxc1 Nxd4 28.Rd1 Nxb3 29.Nxd5 Kf8 30.bxa5 (30.b5 Nc5 31.Rd4 Nb3 32.Rd1 Nc5=)
30...Nxa5=
21.bxc4 g6 22.Ne3 b5 23.Reb1
23.d5 Nc7 (23...cxd5 24.cxb5 Rac8 25.Rac1 Rc5 26.a4±) 24.dxc6 bxc4 25.Rad1 (25.Nxc4 Ra6=)
25...Rd3 26.Nxc4 Rxc3 27.Rc1 Rxc1 28.Rxc1²

346
23...Rab8 24.d5 cxd5 25.cxb5
25.cxd5 Nc5 26.c4 b4 27.Nc2 Re8 28.Nd4 Re4 29.Nc6 Ra8 30.Rc1 b3 31.f3 Ree8 32.Rcb1 a4
33.Nd4 bxa2 34.Rxa2 Re3∞
25...Nc5?

25...d4 26.cxd4 Rxd4 27.b6 (27.Nc2 Rc4 28.Ne3 Rd4=; 27.a4 Nc5 28.b6 Nxa4 29.Nc2 Rc4 30.Ne3
Rd4=) 27...Rd6 28.Nc4 Rc6 29.Rc1 (29.Nxa5 Rcxb6=) 29...Nd8 30.Nxa5 Rcxb6=
26.c4! dxc4
26...d4 27.Nd5 Kg7 28.Rd1 d3 29.Rab1 Re8 30.Re1 d2 31.Red1 Ne4 32.Rb2±
27.Nxc4 Nb7 28.Rd1± Kf8
28...Kg7 29.a4 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Nc5 31.Ra1±
29.Kf1 a4 30.Rab1 Ke7 31.Ke2 Ke6 32.Ke3 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 Rc8 34.Rd4 f5 35.Kd3 Rc5 36.Na3
Rc1 37.Rc4! Ra1
37...Rd1+ 38.Kc3 Kd5 39.Kb4 Rd2 40.Rc7+-
38.Rc6+ Kd7 39.Rc2+- Nd6 40.Kd4 f4 41.gxf4 Rd1+ 42.Kc5 Kc7 43.Nc4 Nxc4 44.Rxc4 Rd2
45.a3 Rxf2 46.Rxa4 Rc2+ 47.Kb4 Rxh2 48.Ra7+ Kb6 49.Ra6+! Kb7 50.Rf6 Rc2 51.Rxf7+ Rc7
52.Rxc7+ Kxc7 1-0

38. * B19
Shomoev, Anton (2575) - Faizrakhmanov, Ramil (2480)
Chelyabinsk 152/38, 2022

347
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 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.Nh4!?
14.Ne4 - 125/40
14...O-O-O
14...O-O? 15.Ngf5 exf5 (15...Rfe8 16.Qg3 exf5 17.Nxf5 Bf8 18.Nxh6+ Kh7 19.Nxf7 Kg8
20.Qg6+-) 16.Nxf5 Nd5 17.c4 Bf6 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Bc1±
15.c4 Rhe8
15...Kb8

16.Bc3N (16.Bf4+) 16...Bb4 17.Nf3 (17.c5! Qa5 18.Bxb4 Qxb4 19.Qc2²) 17...Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Qc7
19.Rhe1 Qf4 (19...c5 20.dxc5 (20.d5 exd5 21.cxd5 Nb6

348
22.d6! Rxd6 23.Rxd6 Qxd6 24.Nf5 Qc6∞) 20...Nxc5 21.Ne5 Rhf8 22.a3 a6=; 19...Ng4 20.Rd2 Ndf6
21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.dxe5 (22.Rxe5 Rd7=) 22...Rxd2 23.Qxd2 Rd8 24.Qc3 Nd7=) 20.a3 Qc7 21.Ne5
Rhf8 22.b4 Nb6 23.f4 Nc8 24.Qc2 Nd6 25.Re3 Qc8 26.Rb3 Ka8 27.a4² Idani,P (2621)-Ghosh,D
(2541) Bangladesh 152/(38) 2022
16.Bc3 Bb4N

16...Bf8
17.c5! Qa5 18.Bxb4 Qxb4 19.Qc2 Qa5 20.Nf3 Qc7 21.Nd2! Kb8 22.Nc4 Nd5
22...Rf8 23.Rhe1 Qf4 24.Re3²

349
23.Ne4 b6

24.Rh3! Ka8 25.Rb3

25.cxb6 N7xb6 26.Na5 Ne7 27.Rc3 Rc8 28.Nb3±
25...Rb8 26.cxb6 N7xb6 27.Ne5 Rbc8 28.Rc1+- f6 29.Qxc6+ Qxc6 30.Nxc6 Rc7 31.Nd6 Rf8 32.a4
32.Nb5 Rd7 33.Ra3 Nc8 34.g3
32...Ne7 33.Nxe7 Rxe7 34.a5 Nd5 35.a6 Rd7 36.Ne4
36.Nb5 Rb8 37.Rc5
36...Nf4 37.Nc5 Rd6 38.Re3 Rb8 39.g3 1-0

39. ** !N B22
Indjic, Aleksandar (2605) - Ter Sahakyan, Samvel (2632)
Terme Catez 152/39, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 d6 5.exd6 e6 6.g3 Bxd6 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O b6
8...Nc6 - 98/(81) 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Qc7 12.c4 (12.Nd2 - 98/(81)) 12...Nf6 13.Nc3
Bd7 14.Nb5 Bxb5 15.cxb5

350
15...Rfd8!N

(15...Be5) 16.Qc3 - 152/(39) (16.Qd3N Rac8 1/2 (16) Andersen,M (2582) -Praggnanandhaa,R (2624)
Reykjavik 152/(39) 2022) 16...Nd5 17.Qb3

351
17...Be5 (17...Bc5!?) 18.Bg5 Rd7 19.Rfd1 h6 20.Rac1 Nc3 21.bxc3 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 hxg5 23.c4 Rc8
1/2 (23) Vazquez,G (2545)-Santos Latasa,J (2640) Mexico City 152/(39) 2022
9.d4 Bb7

10.dxc5N
10.Nbd2
10...Bxc5
10...bxc5 11.Qe2 Nc6 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Nbd2 h6 14.Ne4 Bc7 15.c4²

352
11.c4
11.Qe2 Nf6!? (11...Nd7 12.c4 N5f6 13.a3 Rc8 14.b4 Be7 15.Bb2 a5!?„) 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Nbd2
Re8 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Rfe1 h6 16.Bxf6 (16.Bf4?! e5! 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Qxe5 Bxf2+
20.Kh1 Bxg2+ 21.Kxg2 Qc6+ 22.Nf3 Bxe1 23.Qxe1 Re8µ) 16...Nxf6 17.Ne5 Rad8=
11...Nf6
11...Ne7!? 12.Nc3 Nf5 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Bf4 Nc6 15.Ne5 Na5!„
12.Qe2 Nbd7 13.Nc3 Qe7 14.Rd1 Rac8= 15.Bf4

15...e5!? 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Rfe8 18.Re1 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ 20.Qf3 Qxf3+ 21.Kxf3 Bxf2
22.Re2
22.Kxf2 Ng4+ 23.Kg2 Rxe5 24.Rxe5 Nxe5 25.b3 Rd8 26.Nd5 f6 27.Rd1 Kf7 28.h3 h5=
22...Nd7 23.Bxg7
23.Bf4 Bd4 24.Rd1 Bxc3 25.Rxd7 Rxe2 26.Kxe2 Bxb2 27.Rxa7 Bd4=
23...Rxe2 24.Kxe2 Kxg7 25.Kxf2 Rxc4 26.Rd1 Nf6 27.Kf3
27.Ke2 h5 28.Rd8 h4=
27...h5 28.h4 Ng4 29.Rd5 Kh6 30.Ke2 Rc7 31.Kd3 f6 32.Ne2 Ne5+ 33.Ke4 Rc2 34.Nf4 Rxb2
35.Kf5 Rxa2 36.Kxf6 Ng4+ 37.Ke7 Ra5 38.Rd6+ Kh7 39.Rd7 Kh6 40.Rd6+ Kh7 41.Rd7 Kh6
1/2-1/2

40. ** !N B23
Can, Emre (2578) - Kulaots, Kaido (2529)
Fagernes 152/40, 2022

353
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6
2...e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 (5.Bg2 - 35/196) 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nf6 7.Bg5 Nc6 8.Qa4 Bb4 9.Ne2

9...Bxc3+N (9...Bg4) 10.Nxc3 Qe7+ 11.Be2 Be6 12.O-O-O O-O-O?! (12...O-O 13.Qh4 Rfc8
14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bd3±) 13.Bb5 d4 14.Bxc6 dxc3 15.Qxa7 cxb2+ 16.Kb1 Qb4 17.Bf4 1-0 (17) Can,E
(2578)-Volokitin,A (2687) Terme Catez 152/(40) 2022
3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd3 g6 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.O-O Nf6 10.Nd5 O-O
11.Bg5 Ng4
11...Nh5 - 144/(38)
12.h3 e6!
12...h6 13.Bf4 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.c3 e6 17.Ne3 Bg7 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.f4²
13.hxg4 exd5 14.exd5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Rae1 Qxg4

354
17.Bc1N
17.f4 - 152/(40) 17...Bxb2 18.Be7 Rfc8 19.Bxd6 (19.c4 b5! 20.cxb5 Rc3 21.Qe2 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Ba3
23.Bf6 Rd3 24.f5 (24.Rfe1 Kf8³) 24...Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Rxd5 26.g4 Rf8 27.Kg2©) 19...Rc3 20.Qe2

20...Qc8!N = (20...Qxe2; 20...Qf5!?) 21.Rf2 Rc4 22.Be5 1/2 (22) Guseinov,G (2661)-Ter
Sahakyan,S (2632) Terme Catez 152/(40) 2022
17...Qh4
17...Rfe8 18.g3 h5 19.Re4 Qd7 20.Rfe1 Bf6=
18.g3

355
18.f4 Bg7 19.c3 (19.Qe4? Rae8! 20.Qxe8 Bd4+ 21.Qe3 Bxe3+ 22.Rxe3 Qd8 23.Rfe1 Qb6-+)
19...Rae8 20.Be3 a6 21.a4 Qg4„
18...Qh3 19.Re4 Qd7 20.Re2
20.Rfe1 Rfe8 (20...f5?! 21.R4e2 f4 22.Bxf4 Bxf4 23.Re7 Qg4 24.Qd4 Rf7 25.Rxf7 Kxf7

26.Re6! Qg5 27.Qxf4+ Qxf4 28.gxf4±) 21.c4 Bf6 22.b3²

20...Rfe8 21.c4 h5„ 22.Rfe1 h4 23.Kg2
23.Kg2 hxg3 24.fxg3 Kg7„
1/2-1/2

356
B25-B49

41. * B30
Erdos, Viktor (2604) - Babula, Vlastimil (2574)
Corte 152/41, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.O-O a6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Nd5 d6
7...g6 - 151/48
8.Ne3 Nf6 9.c3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5

10...exd5N 11.Re1 Be7 12.Nf5 O-O 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.Bf1 d4 15.cxd4 (15.b4! cxb4 (15...dxc3
16.bxc5 cxd2 17.Nxd2±) 16.Nxd4²) 15...cxd4 16.b3 Nc6 17.Ba3 Re8 18.Qc2² Gabrielian,A (2464)-
Ghaziolsharif,K (2183) lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 152/(41) 2022
11.Be4N
11.Nxd5
11...Be7
11...Bd6 12.h3 Nf6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Nc4±; 11...Nxe3!? 12.fxe3 (12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.dxe3 Qxd1
14.Rxd1 f6 15.Nd2 e5∞; 12.dxe3 Bd7=) 12...Bd6 13.d4 O-O∞
12.d4 Nf6?!
12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 O-O 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.c4 Nxe3 16.Bxe3 Qc7 17.Qf3 Rb8 18.b3 c5 19.Bf4 e5

357
(19...Bd6? 20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Qd3++-) 20.Bd2²
13.Bxc6+ bxc6

14.dxc5! Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Bxc5 16.Ne5± Bb7 17.N3c4 Ne4 18.Be3

18.Nd3 Ba7 19.Bf4±
18...Bxe3 19.Nxe3 f6 20.N5c4 Ke7 21.f3
21.Na5 Rab8 22.Nec4±
21...Nc5 22.Na5 Rab8 23.Rd4 Nd7
23...Ba8 24.Rc4 Nd3 25.Rxc6!±
24.Re1 g6 25.Nec4 g5
25...e5 26.f4 Rhd8 27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Nxe5 fxe5 29.Rh4±
26.Nd6 Ba8 27.Nf5+!+- Kd8 28.Rxe6 Kc7 29.Re7 Rhd8 30.Ng7 1-0

42. B30
Esipenko, Andrey (2723) - Moiseenko, Alexander (2602)
Deutschland 152/42, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 d6 6.e5 f6

6...dxe5 - 118/(49)
7.exd6 e5 8.d3N
8.O-O

358
8...Bxd6

9.Nfd2! Ne7 10.Qh5+ Ng6

10...g6 11.Qf3 Nf5 12.Nc4 Nd4 13.Nxd6+ Qxd6 14.Qd1 O-O 15.O-O Bf5 16.Nc3²
11.Bb2 O-O 12.g3 Be6
12...Ne7 13.Nc3 Nf5 14.O-O-O Nd4 15.Kb1²
13.Na3
13.Nc3 Ne7 14.O-O-O Nf5 15.Qe2 Nd4 16.Qf1²
13...Bf7
13...Bd5 14.Rf1 a5 15.Nac4 a4 16.O-O-O Bc7 17.Rde1 Re8 18.Ne4²; 13...a5 14.Nac4 a4 15.O-O-O
Bc7 16.Ne4 Qe7∞
14.Qe2 Re8 15.Nac4 Be7
15...Nf4 16.Qf1 Ne6 17.O-O-O Nd4 18.h4 Bc7 19.Kb1²
16.O-O-O Nf8 17.h4 Ne6 18.g4 Nd4 19.Qe3 Bf8 20.Rde1 Qc7 21.Rhg1 Bd5 22.Qh3
22.Kb1 a5 23.a4 Bd6 24.g5 f5 25.h5²
22...Rad8 23.Kb1 Kh8 24.Qg3
24.g5 Qf7 (24...f5? 25.c3+-) 25.Qg3 Be7 26.gxf6 gxf6 27.f4 Rg8 28.Qh2±
24...Qf7 25.g5 Nf5 26.Qh3 Nd4 27.Ne4?!
27.Qg3!± - 24.g5

359
27...fxg5?
27...Bxc4 28.dxc4 f5 29.g6! Qe6 (29...hxg6? 30.Ng5 Qf6 31.h5!+-) 30.Nd2 e4 31.c3 Nb5! 32.Bc1
Nd6 33.Nf3 h6 34.Ng5 Qxg6 35.Nxe4 Qh5 36.Nxd6 Rxe1 37.Nf7+ Qxf7 38.Rxe1²
28.hxg5 Qg6 29.Rh1 Bxc4 30.dxc4 Bd6 31.Rh2 Ne6 32.Qg4 Bc7 33.Reh1 Nf8 34.Bc3
34.Nxc5 e4 (34...Bb6 35.Ne4+-) 35.Rh6+-
34...Bb6 35.Ng3 Kg8 36.Nh5 Re7 37.f4 exf4 38.Nxf4 Qe8

39.Rxh7! Nxh7 40.g6+- Nf8

40...Nf6 41.Qh4
41.Qh5 Rd1+ 42.Rxd1 1-0

43. B30
Zhang, Zhong (2640) - Li, Di (2579)
Hangzhou 152/43, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.b3

360
5...Rg8?N
5...a6 - 90/106
6.d4
6.c3 a6 7.Bxc6 Nxc6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Re1+ Be7 12.Nc3±
6...cxd4 7.Bb2 g5?!
7...a6 8.Be2 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4±
8.Nxd4 Ng6 9.Nd2 Qc7 10.Re1
10.Nc4±
10...Nce5 11.Bf1 Bc5
11...b6!?
12.a3 a6 13.b4 Ba7?!
13...Bf8!?
14.c4! d6 15.Rc1
15.N2b3!?
15...Bd7 16.a4?!
16.N4f3 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 e5 18.c5 g4 19.Qf6±
16...g4 17.a5 h5 18.N2b3 Rd8?

361
18...Ba4 19.Rc3 h4±
19.Nb5! Bxb5 20.cxb5 Qe7 21.b6 Bb8 22.Nd4 d5
22...Kf8 23.Qd2 Kg7 24.b5 axb5 25.a6 bxa6 26.Nc6+-
23.exd5
23.b5
23...Qxb4 24.Bc3 Qd6
24...Qa3 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.Qc2+-
25.Qa4+ Qd7 26.Nb5 exd5 27.Bxe5 Nxe5

362
28.Rc7! Bxc7 29.bxc7 f6 30.Qb4
30.Qf4 Qe7 31.cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 32.Nd4+-
30...Qe7 31.cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 32.Nd6 Kd7 33.Qxb7+ Ke6
33...Kxd6 34.Qxa6++-
34.Qxe7+ Kxe7 35.Nb7 Rc8 36.Bxa6 Rc2 37.Ra1 Rc7 38.Kf1 d4 39.Ke1 Ke6 40.Nd8+
40.Kd2
40...Kd7 41.Bb7 Rc2 42.a6 Nd3+ 43.Kf1 1-0

44. * B31
Lupulescu, Constantin (2622) - Nanu, Ciprian Costica (2513)
Romania (ch-rapid) 152/44, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg4

5...Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 O-O 8.Be3 b6 9.Qd2 a5 (9...e5 - 138/(60)) 10.Bh6 Re8 11.e5 Nd5 12.Bxg7
Kxg7

363
13.O-ON (13.Ne4) 13...Nc7 (13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 (14.Qxc3 a4∞) 14...c4 15.Qe3 cxd3 16.cxd3 c5∞)
14.Rae1 h6 15.Nh2 (15.Nh4!? g5 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.h4 f6 18.Re3 Ne6 19.Rfe1ƒ) 15...Be6 16.Ng4
(16.f4 f5!?∞) 16...Bxg4 17.hxg4 Qd7

18.Re4!ƒ Rh8 19.f4! Qxg4 20.f5 Qg5 21.Ref4 (21.f6+! Kg8 (21...exf6 22.exf6+ Kg8 23.Qe2 Qh5
24.Qe1±; 21...Kh7 22.Qe2 h5 23.e6!±) 22.Qe1! e6 23.Rf3 h5 24.Rg3 Qh6 25.Rh4 Nb5 26.Ne4 Nd4
27.Rg5!± ∆Nxc2 28.Qf2 Nd4 29.g4 Rh7 30.gxh5 Nf5 31.hxg6 Qxh4 32.gxh7+ Kh8 33.Qxh4 Nxh4
34.Kf2 Ng6 35.Rxg6 fxg6 36.Ng5+-) 21...gxf5 22.Qf2 e6 23.Ne4

364
23...Qg6? (23...Qd8! 24.g4 Nd5 25.Rf3 Ne7 26.Nd6 Rg8! 27.Kh2 Kh7 28.gxf5 Nxf5 29.Nxf5 exf5
30.Rxf5 Ra7 31.Qf4 Rg6 32.Rxf7+ Rxf7 33.Qxf7+ Rg7 34.Qf6 Qd4=; 23...Qe7?! 24.g4 Nd5 25.gxf5
Nxf4 26.f6+ Kh7 27.fxe7 Nh3+ 28.Kg2 Nxf2 29.Rxf2 Rhg8+ 30.Kh3 Rge8 31.Rxf7+ Kg6
32.Nd6±) 24.Rf3!+- fxe4 25.Rg3 1-0 (25) Lupulescu,C (2622)-Nanu,C (2513) Romania (ch) 152/(44)
2022
6.Nbd2 Bg7 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Nxf3 Nf6 9.O-O O-O
9...Nd7 10.Be3 b6 11.c3 O-O 12.Qc2² - 68/(134)
10.Qe2 Ne8

365
11.e5!?N
11.Be3 b6 12.c3 e5 13.Rfd1 Qe7 ∆ Nc7-e6
11...Nc7 12.h4!?
12.Re1 Ne6 13.b3 Qd5 14.Bb2 Rfe8 15.h4 Rad8 16.Ng5!? Nd4 17.Bxd4 Qxd4 18.g3 Rd5 19.Nf3
Qb2„
12...Ne6
12...h5 13.b3 Ne6 14.Bb2 Bh6!?∞
13.h5 Nd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Re1 Rad8
¹15...Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 (16...Qxh5 17.Qxh5 gxh5 18.Kg2 h4 19.gxh4 Rad8 20.h5²) 17.Bg5 (17.Qf3
Rad8 18.Bg5 f6 19.exf6 exf6 20.Bf4 Qxh5 21.Qxh5 gxh5 22.Re7 Rf7 23.Rae1 Bf8=) 17...Rae8
18.Qf3 Qxh5 19.Qxh5 gxh5 20.Kg2 f6 21.Bf4 h4 22.gxh4 fxe5 23.Bxe5 Rf5=
16.Bg5 Rfe8
16...Rd5 17.c3 Qxe5 18.Qxe5 Rxe5 19.Rxe5 Bxe5 20.Bxe7²; 16...f6 17.exf6 exf6 18.Be3 Qd5
19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Qg4 Kh7 (20...Kf7 21.Bxc5±) 21.Re2 ∆ Rae1²
17.e6
17.h6 Bf8 (17...Bh8 18.g3 Rd5 19.Bf4 Qxb2 20.Rab1 Qxa2 21.Rxb7 a5 22.Ra7²) 18.b3 f6 19.Bd2
Rd5 20.exf6 e6 21.f7+ Kxf7 22.g4²
17...f5∞ 18.h6
18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Rad1 (∆ c3) (19.Qf3 Bf6 20.Be3 Qd5 21.Qh3 Qxe6 22.Bxc5 Qf7 23.Bxa7 Bxb2=)
19...Qxb2 20.Rb1 Qxa2 21.Rxb7 Bc3 22.Rf1 Rd6 23.Rb3 Bg7∞
18...Bh8
18...Bf6 19.Be3 Qe5 20.Rab1 Qxe6 21.Bxc5 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Kf7 ∆ Rd5„
19.Rad1 Qd5
19...Bf6!? 20.c3 Qg4 21.Qxg4 fxg4 22.Bc1 Rd5 23.Re4 Red8 24.Rxg4 Re5! (24...Rxd3 25.Rxd3
Rxd3 26.Be3 Rd1+ 27.Kh2 Rb1 28.Bxc5 Rxb2 29.Rb4²) 25.Ra4 a6 26.g4 Rxe6 27.g5 Be5 28.Be3
Bd6 29.Kf1 Re5 30.Re4 Rf5 31.Ke2 Kf7=
20.c3

366
20...Bf6!
20...Qxa2?! 21.Ra1 Qb3 22.Rxa7 Kf8 23.Ra5 Qd5 24.Qe3 Qxd3 25.Qxc5 Rd5 26.Qa3 Rxa5
27.Qxa5 Qd8 28.Qc5±
21.Bf4
21.Bxf6 exf6 22.d4 Rd6! (22...c4 23.b3²) 23.dxc5 Rdxe6 24.Rxd5 Rxe2 25.Rxe2 Rxe2 26.Rd7 Rxb2
27.Rg7+ Kf8 28.Rxh7 Kg8 29.Rg7+ Kh8 30.Rxg6 Rxa2=
21...b5?!
21...g5 22.Bc7 Rc8 23.c4 Qd4 24.Be5 Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Rf8! 26.Qg3 Qf6„
22.a3
22.g3!? Qxa2 23.Bc7 Ra8 24.Ra1 Qb3 25.Ra3 Qd5 26.Ra6²
22...Qb3 23.Rd2

367
23...Rd5
23...Rf8!? 24.Red1 g5 25.Bc7 Rc8 26.Be5 Qxe6 27.Re1©
24.Qe3
24.Red1!? Kf8 (24...g5? 25.Bxg5+-; 24...Rf8?! 25.c4!± ∆ 25...bxc4 26.dxc4 Rd4 27.Be5! Re4
28.Rd8!+-) 25.g3²
24...Red8
24...a5 25.Qe2!? a4 26.Red1²
25.Qg3 b4?
25...Rf8 26.Bg5 f4! 27.Bxf4 Rf5 28.Rde2 Qa4 29.Be3 Rh5 30.Rf1 Qb3 31.Bf4 a5 ∆ b4„
26.axb4
26.c4! bxa3 (26...Rxd3

368
27.Re3!+-) 27.cxd5 axb2 28.Rb1 Qa2 29.Rdd1 Qxd5 30.d4+-
26...cxb4 27.d4?†
27.c4! R5d6 (27...Rxd3 28.Re3!+-) 28.Bxd6 Rxd6 29.Qf4+-
27...bxc3†
27...a5! 28.Be5 Bxe5 29.Rxe5 a4„
28.bxc3 c5
28...a5 29.Rdd1! (29.Bg5 Bxg5 30.Qxg5 Kf8 31.Qe3 a4„) 29...Rb5 30.Bg5 f4 (30...Bxg5 31.Qxg5
Kf8 32.Qg3! Ke8 33.Qxg6+! hxg6 34.h7±) 31.Bxf4 a4 32.Qf3 Qc4 33.Ra1²
29.Bg5 Bxg5
¹29...f4 30.Bxf4 cxd4 31.Be5 Bxe5 32.Rxe5 Rf8 33.Re1²
30.Qxg5 Kf8

369
31.Qe3!± cxd4
31...c4 32.Rdd1 ∆ Rb1+-
31...Qb8 32.Red1 c4 33.Ra2 a5 34.Rda1 Qb6 35.Qe2 Rb8 36.g3±
32.Rxd4+- Rxd4
32...Rc8 33.Qe2! Rdc5 34.Red1+-
33.Qe5! 1-0

45. B31
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) - Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu (2624)
Oslo (m/1-rapid) 152/45, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Re1 O-O 8.h3 Qc7
8...b6 - 90/111
9.e5 Nd5 10.Nbd2 Nf4

370
11.Ne4!?N
11.b3 b6 12.Nf1 Ne6=
11...Bxe5
¹11...Ne6 12.Neg5 (12.a4 Rd8∞) 12...Nd4 13.Bf4 h6 14.Ne4 b6 15.c3 Ne6 16.Bg3 Ba6 17.Qc2
Qd7 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.c4 Bc8∞
12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Nc3
13.Ng3!? Qc7 14.Bxf4 Qxf4 15.Rxe7 Qf6 (15...b6 16.Re4 Qf6 17.Qd2 Bd7 (17...Qxb2 18.Rae1 Qf6
19.Qh6 Qg7 20.Qf4 Be6 21.h4²) 18.Rae1²) 16.Qe1 b6 17.Re5 Bd7 18.Qc3²
13...Qc7 14.Bxf4 Qxf4 15.Rxe7

371
15...Bxh3! 16.Rxb7
16.gxh3?? Qg5+-+
16...Bc8
16...Bf5 17.Qc1 Qd6 18.Qe3 Rfe8 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.dxe4 Rab8=
17.Re7 Be6 18.Qc1 Qh4
18...Qd6 19.Rb7 Bf5= - 16...Bf5
19.Rc7 c4
19...Rfc8 20.Rxc8+ Rxc8 21.Ne4 Bd5 22.Qe3 (22.Nxc5 Qg4 23.Ne4 Bxe4 24.dxe4 Qxe4=)
22...Bxe4 23.dxe4²
20.dxc4
20.Rxc6 cxd3 21.cxd3 Rad8 22.Qe3 Bd5 23.Rc5 Rfe8 24.Qg3²
20...Qxc4 21.Qe3 Bd5?
21...Qb4 22.b3 Qa5 23.Rxc6 Rac8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Ne4 Qe5 26.Rc1 (26.c3 Bd5=) 26...Bf5 27.f3
Bxe4 28.fxe4 Rc3 29.Qxa7 Rc5 30.Qa8+ Kg7 31.Qd8 Qc3 32.Kf2 h5=
22.Nxd5
22.Rxa7? Rxa7 23.Qxa7 Bxg2! 24.Kxg2 Qg4+ 25.Kf1 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+=
22...Qxd5 23.Rxa7 Rae8 24.Re7
24.Qc3 Re2 25.Ra5! Rxc2 26.Qxc2 Qxa5 27.Qxc6±

372
24...Rxe7 25.Qxe7 Qd4 26.c3²
26.Qb7 Re8 27.c3 Qd2 - 26.c3
26...Qd2 27.Qb7 Re8 28.Qxc6 Re1+ 29.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 30.Kh2 Qxf2 31.Qe8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ f6
32...Kg8? 33.b4 Qxa2 34.b5+-
33.Qe7+ Kh6?
33...Kg8 34.Qb4²
34.b4 Qf4+ 35.Kg1 Qc1+ 36.Kf2 Qd2+
36...Qf4+ 37.Ke2 Qc4+ 38.Kd2 Qxa2+ 39.Kd3 Qd5+ 40.Ke3±
37.Qe2
37.Kf3! Qd1+ (37...Qd5+ 38.Qe4 Qxa2 39.b5+-) 38.Qe2 Qd7 39.c4+-
37...Qf4+ 38.Qf3 Qd2+ 39.Kg3 Kg7 40.a4?
40.Qb7+ Kg8 (40...Kh6 41.Qc6±) 41.Qc8+ Kg7 42.Qc7+ Kg8 43.Qc4+ Kg7 44.Kf3±
40...Qg5+ 41.Kf2 Qd2+ 42.Qe2 Qxc3 43.Qe7+ Kg8 44.a5
44.Qe8+ Kg7 45.Qd7+ Kg8 46.b5 g5=
44...Qd2+ 45.Kg3 g5 46.Qxf6 Qe1+ 47.Qf2 Qxb4 48.Qf5 Qe1+ 49.Kg4 Qb4+?
49...Qe2+! 50.Kxg5 (50.Kh3 Qe7=) 50...Qxg2+ 51.Kf6 (51.Qg4 Qc6 52.Qb4 Kf7=) 51...Qb7™
52.Qg5+ (52.Qe6+ Kf8 53.a6 Qb2+=) 52...Kf8 (52...Kh8?? 53.Qe5 Qf3+ 54.Ke7+ Kg8 55.Qg5+
Kh8 56.Qf6++-) 53.Qc5+ Ke8=
50.Kxg5 Qd2+ 51.Kh5 Qd6 52.g3 Qc6 53.Kg5 Kg7

373
54.Qe5+! Kf7 55.Qf4+ Kg7 56.Qd4+ Kg8 57.Qb6 Qd5+ 58.Kf6 Qf3+ 59.Ke7 Qa3+
59...Qf7+ 60.Kd8 Qf8+ 61.Kc7 Qf7+ 62.Kb8+-
60.Qd6!+- Qf3
60...Qxa5? 61.Qe6+ Kg7 62.Qf6+ Kg8 63.Qf8#
61.a6 Qf7+ 62.Kd8 Qa2 63.Kc7 Qf7+ 64.Kb6 Qb3+ 65.Ka7 Qf7+ 66.Ka8 Qf3+ 67.Kb8 Qb3+
68.Kc8 Qc4+ 69.Kb7 Qb3+ 70.Qb6 Qf3+ 71.Ka7 Qa3 72.Ka8 Kg7 73.a7 Qf8+ 74.Kb7 Qf3+
75.Qc6 Qb3+ 76.Kc8 1-0

46. B31
Swiercz, Dariusz (2656) - Lenderman, Aleksandr (2600)
Saint Louis 152/46, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7 5.O-O e5 6.a3 Nge7 7.Bc4
7.b4 - 97/82
7...O-O 8.d3 d6 9.Rb1 h6 10.b4 Kh7 11.bxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5 b6

374
13.Nxe7N
13.Re1 Be6 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.Bd5 Rac8 16.c4²
13...Qxe7 14.Bd5 Bd7 15.Re1 Rac8 16.Bd2
16.c4²
16...Qd6 17.c4 Ne7 18.Bc3 g5 19.Qc2 Ng6 20.g3 Ne7 21.Qb2 f6 22.Nd2 Rce8 23.Re2
23.a4 Rb8 24.Qb3 g4 25.Nf1²
23...Rb8 24.Qc2 a6 25.Ree1 Kh8 26.a4² Nc6 27.Qb3
27.Nf1 Nd4 (27...Nb4 28.Bxb4 cxb4 29.Ne3 f5 30.Nxf5 Bxf5 31.exf5 Rxf5 32.Re4²) 28.Bxd4 exd4
29.Nd2 a5 30.Rb2 Rfe8 31.Qd1²
27...a5 28.Nf1 Nb4 29.Qd1
29.Ne3!? Nxd3 30.Red1 Nb4 31.Rd2 Qe7 32.Qd1©
29...f5 30.exf5 Bxf5 31.Bxb4 axb4
¹31...cxb4 32.Ne3 Bd7 33.Be4 Rf7∞
32.Ne3 Bd7
¹32...Bg6 33.Be4 Rf7 34.Ra1 Rbf8 35.Ra2²
33.Be4 Qc7 34.Re2 g4 35.Ra2 h5

375
36.h3! Bh6 37.Nd5
37.Qe2 Bxe3 38.Qxe3 Bf5 39.hxg4 hxg4 40.Bd5 Kg7 41.Kg2±
37...Qd8 38.hxg4 hxg4
38...Bxg4 39.f3 Be6 40.Rh2 Bf7 41.Qe2 Rg8 42.Kf2 Qd6 43.Rbh1 Rg5 44.Ne3±
39.Kg2 Kg7 40.Qe2 Ra8 41.Rh1 Be6 42.Raa1 Rh8 43.Nxb6
43.Rh5 Qd6 44.Rah1 Rxa4 45.Ne3 b3 46.Rf5!+-
43...Ra7
43...Qxb6 44.Bxa8 Rxa8 45.Qxe5++-
44.Nd5+- Rf7 45.Rh5 Rhf8 46.Rf1 Bg5 47.Qb2
47.a5
47...Bxd5 48.Qxe5+ Bf6 49.Rg5+ Kh6 50.Rh1# 1-0

47. * B31
Navara, David (2700) - Ivic, Velimir (2610)
Beograd 152/47, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 O-O 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Be3
9.Bxc6 - 143/39
9...Qb6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc1 c4
11...cxd4 12.cxd4 f6 13.exf6 exf6 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3

376
15...a5N (15...Bd7) 16.Rec1 Bd7 17.Ne1 Qb4 18.Qc2 Qb5

19.Qd2 (19.a4 Qb6 20.Nd3 Rfe8 21.Ra3²) 19...Rfb8 20.b3 Bf5∞ Shuvalova,P (2516) -
Maghsoodloo,P (2701) chess. com (Int.-rapid) 152/(47) 2022
12.Nbd2 Nxd2

377
13.Qxd2N
13.Nxd2 Bf5 14.b3 Bd3∞
13...Bf5 14.Bh6
14.Nh4 Be4 (14...Bd3 15.b3 Rfb8 16.Nf3 Be4

17.e6! Bxf3 (17...f6 18.Bf4 Rb7 19.bxc4±) 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.gxf3²) 15.b3 f6 (15...cxb3?! 16.axb3
Qxb3? 17.f3 Bf5 18.Nxf5 gxf5 19.Reb1 Qc4 20.Rb4+-) 16.bxc4 dxc4 17.Bf4 Bd5∞
14...Rfb8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nh4 Bd3

378
16...Be4!? 17.b4 a5 18.a3 Ra7 19.Ra2 Rba8³
17.b4?!
17.b3 a5 18.h3 Qb5 19.Rac1 Rb7∞
17...a5 18.a3 Ra7³ 19.g4
19.Ra2 Rba8 20.Rea1 Be4 21.g3 f6 22.exf6+ exf6³
19...axb4
¹19...Rba8 20.Rac1 Qd8 21.Ng2 axb4 22.axb4 Ra2 23.Qe3 e6³
20.axb4 Rba8 21.Rxa7 Qxa7 22.Ng2 Qa2 23.Qf4?!
23.Qg5 e6 (23...Be4 24.Qxe7 Qd2 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.e6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kg7=) 24.Nf4 Qc2 25.Qf6+
Kg8 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qf6+ Kg8=
23...Qb2 24.e6 f6 25.Qc7 Kf8

26.Qxc6?
26.h4! Qxc3 27.Qxc6 Rd8 28.Qd7! Re8 29.Qxd5 Qxb4 30.g5 fxg5 31.h5∞
26...Ra2-+ 27.Qxd5 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Kg7 29.Qb7 Kh6 30.h4 Bf1 31.Rxf1 Qxf1+ 32.Kh2 Qf2
33.g5+ Kh5 34.Qe4 f5 0-1

48. B32
Grandelius, Nils (2662) - Fedorov, Alexei (2541)
Cesko 152/48, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5 Bxf5

379
10.Bd3 Be6 11.O-O Nf6 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.Ne3
13.Bg5 - 109/76
13...O-O 14.Ned5 Bd8 15.Be3 Kh8N
15...Rc8
16.f4 exf4

17.Rxf4!
17.Nxf4 Bg8 18.Kh1 Ne5 19.b3 Ba5 20.Bd4 Nc6 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Ncd5 Rh6∞; 17.Bxf4 Ne5
18.Bg3 Rf7 19.Kh1 Rc8∞ (19...Bxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Nxd3 22.Rxf7 Qxf7 23.Qxd3 Bf6=)
17...Ne5 18.Ne4
18.Qe2 Rf7 19.Raf1 Nxd5 20.Rxf7 Bxf7 21.Nxd5 Nxd3 22.Qxd3²; 18.Be2 Qe8 19.Qd2 Ng6 20.Rf2
Nxd5 21.Rxf8+ Qxf8 22.Nxd5²
18...Bxd5 19.cxd5 Re8
¹19...Be7 20.Nxf6 (20.Bc2 Nxe4 21.Rxe4 Bf6 22.Qe2 Rac8∞) 20...Bxf6 21.Bf5 Qe7 22.Bd4 b5„
20.Nxf6 Bxf6 21.Bf5 Qe7
21...Qf7 22.Be6 Qg6 23.Bb6 Bg5 24.Rb4 Rf8∞
22.Re4 g6
22...Qf7 23.Bf2 Rf8 24.Bg3 b5 25.Be6 Qa7+ 26.Bf2 Qe7 27.Qe2²
23.Be6 Rf8 24.Qe2 Nf7 25.Rf1± Bg7 26.h4 Ne5

380
26...Rae8 27.Bb6 Nd8 28.Re1±
27.Rc1 b5 28.b3 Qb7 29.h5 gxh5 30.Qxh5 Nd3 31.Rc6 Be5

32.Rxd6! Bxd6 33.Bd4++- Ne5 34.Rxe5! Qg7 35.Re4

35.Bf5 Rxf5 36.Qxf5 Rg8 37.Qe4
35...Rf6 36.Bf5 Raf8 37.b4 R8f7 38.Rg4 1-0

49. B33
Shirov, Alexei (2704) - Fedoseev, Vladimir (2704)
Beograd 152/49, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Ne7 9.c4 Nf5
10.Bd3 g6 11.O-O
11.Qa4 - 53/(157)
11...a6 12.Nc3 Bg7 13.Bxf5 Bxf5 14.Be3 O-ON
14...Rc8
15.Qb3
15.Qd2 Rc8 16.b3 Bd7 17.Ne4 (17.a4 f5 18.f3 Rf7∞) 17...Bf5 18.f3 Bxe4 19.fxe4²
15...Bd3 16.Rfc1
16.Rfd1 e4 17.c5 f5 18.g3 dxc5 19.Bxc5 Rf7³
16...e4

381
16...f5!? 17.Bb6 (17.c5?! f4 18.Bd2 (18.Nd1 e4 19.Bd2 Qg5-+) 18...dxc5-+) 17...Bxc4! 18.Bxd8
(18.Qb4 a5! 19.Bxa5 Qxa5 20.Qxc4 e4µ) 18...Bxb3 19.Be7 Rf7 20.Bxd6 Bc4 21.Re1 e4µ
17.c5 f5 18.cxd6

18...f4?!
18...b5! 19.Bc5 Be5 (19...Rf7³) 20.d7 Rf7 21.a4 Qh4 22.h3 Qf4 23.g3 Qg5µ
19.Bb6 Qg5?
19...Qxd6 20.Bc7 Qd7 (20...Qxc7 21.Nxe4 Qxc1+ (21...Qf7 22.Qxd3 Bxb2 23.d6 Bxa1 24.Rxa1 f3
25.Ng5 Qf5 26.Qc4+ Kh8 27.Qh4 h5 28.Rd1 Rad8 29.gxf3∞) 22.Rxc1 Bxe4©) 21.d6+ (21.Na4 Qb5
22.d6+ Qxb3 23.axb3 e3 24.Rd1 (24.fxe3? fxe3 25.Rd1 Bb5 26.d7 Bf6-+) 24...Bc2 25.d7 Bxd1
26.Rxd1 e2 27.Re1 Rad8 28.Bxd8 Rxd8 29.Nc5 Kf7 30.Rxe2 Bd4 31.Nd3 Rxd7³) 21...Kh8 22.Nd5
f3 23.Ba5 fxg2 (23...Qxd6 24.Rc7 Rad8 25.Bc3 Rd7 26.Bxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qc3+ Kh6 28.Qc1+ Kg7
29.Qc3+ Kh6=) 24.Rc7 Qf5 25.Be1 Be5 26.Qxb7 Bxh2+ 27.Kxh2 Qh5+ 28.Kxg2 Qg4+ 29.Kh2
Qh4+ 30.Kg2=
20.d7! f3 21.d6+ Kh8 22.g3 Qf5

382
22...e3 23.Nd5 (23.Bxe3 Qg4 24.Kh1+-) 23...exf2+ 24.Bxf2 Bf5 25.Nc7+-
23.Nd5! Qh3 24.Ne3 Qxd7 25.Rc7 Qxd6 26.Rac1 Rg8
26...Bb5 27.Rxg7! Kxg7 28.Rc7+ Bd7 29.Nc4 Qd5 30.Ne5! Qxe5 31.Rxd7+ Kh6 32.Be3+ g5
33.Bd4 Qf5 34.Rd6+ Kh5 35.Qb6+-
27.Ba5 Bb5 28.Rxb7 Rac8 29.Rc2?!
29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Bc3 Qf8 (30...Bxc3 31.Qf7+-) 31.Qe6 Bxc3 32.bxc3+-
29...Rxc2 30.Qxc2

383
30...Rd8?
30...Qc6! 31.Qxc6 Bxc6 32.Rc7 Bb5 33.b3 Bd4 34.Bc3²
31.Qb3
31.Bxd8 Qxd8 32.a4+-
31...Rc8?
31...Rd7 32.Bb4 Qe5 33.Bc3 Qd6 34.Rxd7 Bxd7 35.h4±
32.Bc3 1-0

50. B42
Giri, Anish (2771) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2726)
Berlin 152/50, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.Qe2 Ne7
7...Nc6 - 150/41
8.Be3 O-O 9.Bxa7 Rxa7 10.e5N
10.Qe3
10...Nbc6 11.Nc3 d6
11...Ng6!? 12.Bxg6 fxg6 13.O-O (13.g3 b5 14.O-O-O Rc7 15.f4 Ne7„) 13...b5 14.Rad1 Rc7 15.f4
Bb7 16.Ne4 Ne7„
12.exd6 Qxd6 13.O-O-O Qf4+ 14.Kb1 b5 15.g3 Qe5 16.Be4 Qc7 17.f4 Na5
¹17...b4 18.Na4 e5 19.Qf2 (19.fxe5 Nxe5∞) 19...exf4 20.gxf4 Bf5 21.Bxf5 Nxf5 22.Nb6 Nce7∞
18.Nxa5 Qxa5 19.Qh5
19.a3 b4 20.Qe3 Rc7 21.axb4 Qxb4 22.Rd4 Qb8 23.Rhd1 Bb7 24.Rb4 Qc8 25.Rxb7 Rxb7 26.Bxb7
Qxb7 27.b3²
19...f5 20.Bf3
20.Bg2 b4 21.Ne2 Qb6 22.Rhe1 a5 23.Nc1 (23.Nd4 Rd8 24.Nc6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 g6 26.Nxe7+ Rxe7
27.Qe2 Qc5=) 23...Ba6„
20...Rc7 21.Ne2

384
21.Rhe1 Rxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Bg2 Qb4+ 24.Ka1 Qc3+=; 21.Rd3 b4 22.Ne2 e5 23.fxe5 Be6
24.Nc1 Rfc8 25.Nb3 Qxe5 26.Rhd1 h6∞
21...e5! 22.fxe5 Be6 23.Nc1 Rfc8 24.Nb3
24.c3? b4-+
24...Bxb3 25.cxb3 Rc2 26.Qg5
26.Rc1?? Qd2!-+; 26.Rd7 Rxb2+ 27.Kxb2 Qc3+ 28.Ka3 Qa5+ 29.Kb2 Qc3+=
26...Rxb2+ 27.Kxb2 Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qc2+ 29.Ka1 Qc3+ 30.Kb1 Qc2+ 1/2-1/2

51. B45
Harikrishna, Penteala (2719) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2726)
Beograd 152/51, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qd3 d5 7.exd5
7.Bg5 - 56/198
7...Nb4 8.Qg3 Bc5 9.a3 Nbxd5 10.Bb5+

385
10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Nb5 O-O 12.Nc3 Qh5 13.Be2 Qf5 14.Bd3 Qh5 15.O-O Bd7∞
10...Kf8!
10...Bd7 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qe3+ Qe7 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Qxe7+ Bxe7∞
11.Nde2
11.Nb3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be7 13.O-O h5∞
11...Bd7 12.Bxd7 Qxd7

13.Nxd5??N

386
13.O-O h5 (13...Rd8 14.b4 Bd6 15.Qf3 Be5 16.Bb2 Qc6 17.Rad1 Rc8 18.b5 Qd6 (18...Qc5?!;
18...Qc7?! 19.Nxd5±) 19.b6 a6∞) 14.Rd1 h4 15.Qf3 Rh5 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.Nxc5 Qxc5∞
13...Ne4!-+ 14.Qb3
14.Nf6 gxf6 15.Bh6+ Ke8 16.Qf3 Bxf2+ 17.Kf1 f5-+
14...Bxf2+ 15.Kf1 exd5 16.Be3 Qf5 17.Nd4 Qf6 18.Nf3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qxb2 20.Re1 Qxc2 21.Kg1
Qc5 22.Nd4 Rc8 23.h4 h5 24.Kh2 Qd6+ 0-1

52. * B45
Firouzja, Alireza (2804) - Rapport, Richard (2776)
Bucuresti 152/52, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6
10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 12.Nf2 Ba6 13.Kf3 Ne7 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Bxc5 Qxc5 16.Qd6 Qb6 17.Be2
17.b3 - 147/39
17...Rd8 18.b4

18...Nc8N
18...g5 19.fxg5 Ng6 20.g3 Qb8 21.Kg2 Nxe5 22.Bh5+ Ng6∞
19.Qc5
19.Qd2?! c5 20.b5 Bb7+ 21.Kg3 d5³
19...d5 20.exd6
20.Qxb6

387
20...Nxb6 (20...axb6? 21.b5! cxb5 (21...Bb7 22.c5!± bxc5 23.Nd3) 22.cxb5 Bb7 23.Rhc1±) 21.b5
(21.c5 Bxe2+ 22.Kxe2 Nc4∞) 21...Bb7 22.c5 Na4 23.Rhc1 d4∞
20...Nxd6 21.Qe5N

21.Rhc1 - 152/(52) 21...Qxc5 22.bxc5 Nf7 23.Rc3 e5 24.Ra3 Bc8 25.Rxa7 g5 26.g3 O-O 27.Rd1
Rde8 28.fxg5 Nxg5+ 29.Kg2 e4 30.h4 f4 31.gxf4 Ne6 32.Nh3 Rxf4 1/2 (32) Rodriguez Lopez, R-
Moujan,P corr 152/(52) 2022
21...c5! 22.Qxc5
22.bxc5? Qc6+ 23.Kg3 Nf7 24.Qe3 g5!µ; 22.Qxe6+ Kf8 23.Rhd1™ h5 (23...Bb7+ 24.Kg3 Ne4+

388
25.Nxe4 Qxe6 26.Rxd8+ Ke7 27.Rxh8 Bxe4∞) 24.Qe5 cxb4 25.Kg3 h4+ 26.Kh3 Nf7 27.Rxd8+
Qxd8 28.Qc5+ Qe7 29.Qxe7+ Kxe7∞; 22.Qxg7 Nf7 23.b5 (23.Nh3 Bb7+ 24.Kg3 Ke7 25.Ng5
Rdf8∞) 23...Bb7+ 24.Ke3 (24.Kg3?? Ke7-+) 24...e5! 25.Bh5 (25.fxe5?? Qa5! 26.Nd3 Qc3 27.Rac1
f4+ 28.Kf2 Qd4+ 29.Kf1 Rd6!!-+) 25...exf4+ 26.Ke2 Qe6+ 27.Kf1 Qxc4+ 28.Kg1 Rf8∞
22...Rc8
22...Qxc5 23.bxc5 Nb7 24.c6 (24.Rhd1 Ke7=) 24...Na5 25.Nd3 Nxc6=; 22...Bxc4 23.Bxc4
(23.Qxb6 Bd5+ 24.Ke3 axb6=) 23...Qxc5 24.bxc5 Nxc4 25.Rhc1 Na5 26.c6 Rd6 27.c7 Kd7=
23.Qxb6 axb6 24.Rhc1
24.b5 Bb7+ 25.Kg3 (25.Ke3 Nxc4+ 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rhc1 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Kd7 29.Nd3 Ra8
30.Ne5+ Kd8=) 25...Ke7 26.Rhc1

26...g5! 27.fxg5 h6 28.h4 hxg5 29.hxg5 Rcg8 30.Bf3 Bxf3 31.Kxf3 Rxg5∞
24...Bxc4 25.Bxc4
25.a4 Ke7 26.Nd3 Bd5+ 27.Ke3 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Ra8=
25...Nxc4 26.Nd3 Ke7 27.a4 Rhd8 28.Ke2
28.Ne5 Nxe5+ 29.fxe5 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Rd3+ 31.Kf2 Rd2+=
28...Rd4 29.a5 bxa5 30.bxa5 Rcd8 31.Rc3 Re4+ 32.Kf2 Red4 33.Ne5
33.Ke2 Re4+ 34.Kf2 Red4=
33...Nxe5 34.fxe5 R8d7 35.a6 Ra7= 36.Ra5 Rd2+ 37.Kf3 Rb2 38.Rc6 g5 39.Rd6 Rc7 40.Ra3 Rcc2
41.Rdd3 Rf2+ 42.Ke3 Rbc2! 43.Rdb3 Rcd2 44.Rd3 Rc2 45.Rd1 Ra2 46.Rdd3 Rac2 1/2-1/2

389
 53. *** B45
Paravyan, David (2617) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2723)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/53, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6
10.a3
10.c4 - 149/46
10...Ne3
10...a5!? 11.c4 Ne3 12.Qd3 Nxf1 13.Rxf1

13...Ba6N

390
(13...Bb7) 14.b3 - 152/(53) (14.Rf2N Be7 15.Be3

15...c5? (15...Bxc4! 16.Qxd7+ Kxd7 17.Bxb6 Bd5=) 16.O-O-O± Paravyan,D (2617)-Caruana,F

(2786) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(53) 2022) 14...Rb8

391
15.Rf3 - 152/(53) (15.Rb1N Be7 16.g4 O-O 17.g5 Rfd8 18.Ke2 c5 19.Rg1 Qc6= Kruckenhauser,A
(2307)-Dreev,A (2623) chess. com (Int. -blitz) 152/(53) 2022) 15...Qg1+ 16.Kd2 f5 17.exf6 d5
18.Nf2 Qxg2 19.Qe3 dxc4 20.Qa7 Rb7 21.Qxa6 Qxf3 22.Qa8+ Kf7 23.Qxb7+ Kg6 24.Qb6 c5
25.Ke1 Qc3+ 26.Ke2 Qxa1= Padilla,E-Simplina Ubeda,R corr 152/(53) 2021
11.Qd3 Nxf1 12.Rxf1 Ba6 13.c4 f5! 14.exf6 d5 15.f7+!
15.Qc3 dxe4 16.fxg7 Bxg7 17.Qxg7 O-O-O∞; 15.Qh3 O-O-O!∞; 15.Ng5 gxf6 16.Nxe6 Bxc4
17.Qf5 Bxf1 18.Kxf1 Qb5+ 19.Ke1 Qb6=
15...Kxf7

392
16.Ng5+N
16.f5

16...h6! (16...dxe4? 17.Qd7+ Be7 18.fxe6+ Kg8 19.Qxe7+-) 17.Be3 (17.fxe6+ Kg8 18.Be3 dxe4
19.Qxe4 Bc5 20.e7 Bxe3 21.e8=Q+ Rxe8 22.Qxe8+ Kh7 23.Qe4+ Kg8=) 17...Qa5+ 18.Bd2 Qc7
19.fxe6+ Kg8 20.Bc3 Bxc4 21.Rf7 Bxd3 22.Rxc7 dxe4 23.e7 Bxe7 24.Rxe7 Rh7=
16...Kg8 17.Qe2?
17.b3 Re8 18.Ra2 h6 19.Nf3 h5 20.Re2 Rh6∞
17...Re8 18.f5 Bxc4 19.Qh5 Re7-+ 20.fxe6
20.Nxe6 Bxf1 21.Kxf1 Rf7-+
20...g6

393
21.Rxf8+
21.Qg4 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Bg7
21...Kxf8 22.Qg4 Kg7 23.b3 Qg1+ 24.Kd2 Qf2+ 25.Kc3 Be2 26.Qf4 Rf8 27.Qd6 Qf6+ 28.Kc2
Kg8 29.Nf7 Rxe6 30.Nh6+ Kh8 31.Qg3 Ba6 32.Bb2 Re2+ 0-1

54. B47
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Volokitin, Andrei (2681)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/54, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6!? 7.Ndb5 Qb8 8.f4 a6
8...d6 9.Be3 Be7 10.g4!? a6 (10...Nd7 11.h4 a6 12.Nd4 Qc7 13.g5 Na5 14.h5 b5 15.Nf5!→; 10...O-
O 11.g5 Nd7 12.h4 a6 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4! b5 15.a3 Bb7 16.h5ƒ) 11.Nd4

394
11...Nxd4 (11...e5 12.Nf5! (12.Nb3 d5! 13.exd5 exf4 14.dxc6 fxe3 15.Qd4 bxc6 16.O-O-O O-O„)
12...Bxf5 13.gxf5 d5 14.Nxd5 O-O (14...Nxe4 15.Nxe7 Nxe7 16.Qd3 exf4 17.Bd4±) 15.O-O Nxe4
16.Kh1 Qd6 17.Bf3 Nf6 18.c4²) 12.Qxd4 e5 13.Qd3!? (13.Qd1 d5! 14.exd5 exf4 15.Bd4 O-O
16.Qd2 Rd8 17.O-O-O Qc7! 18.Bf3 Bxg4 19.Bxf6 Bxf3 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Rde1 Qd6 22.Rhf1 Bh5
23.Qxf4 f6∞) 13...Bxg4 14.Rg1 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 g6 16.O-O-O©
9.e5!?
9.Nd4 d5 10.e5 Nd7 11.Nb3 b5∞
9...axb5 10.exf6 b4 11.fxg7
11.Nb5
11...Bxg7 12.Nb5 d5 13.O-O

395
13...Bd7N
13...f5?! 14.Bh5+ Kf8 15.c4! bxc3 16.bxc3 Bf6 17.a4±; ¹13...O-O 14.Bd3 f5 15.a4!? Bd7 (15...bxa3
16.Rxa3 Rxa3 17.bxa3 Bd7 (17...Na7 18.a4 Nxb5 19.axb5²) 18.a4 Qa8 19.Ba3 (19.c3 Na7 20.c4
Nxb5 21.axb5 Qa2 22.Re1 dxc4 23.Bxc4 Qxc4 24.Qxd7 Qd4+=) 19...Rd8 20.c3 Na7 21.Bb4 Nxb5
22.axb5 Qa7+ 23.Kh1 Qe3 24.Rf3 Qb6 25.Qe1²) 16.Be2 Rf6 17.Be3 Rg6 18.c4!? bxc3 19.bxc3 Na5
20.Bd4 Qc8 (20...Bxd4+ 21.Nxd4 Qc8 22.Qe1 Nc4 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Qe5 Bc6 25.g3 Be4 26.a5²)
21.Rf3 Nc4 22.Bxg7 Rxg7 23.Bxc4 dxc4 (23...Qxc4 24.Nd4 Rxa4 25.Rxa4 Bxa4 26.Qe1 Rg6
27.Qe5²) 24.Nd4 Bc6 25.Rg3 Rxg3 26.hxg3 Qd7 27.Qh5 Bd5 (27...Qf7 28.Qg5+ Qg6 29.Qxg6+
hxg6 30.Nxc6 bxc6 31.a5²) 28.Kf2 Qe8 29.Qg5+ Qg6 30.Qh4 Qg4=
14.f5ƒ Be5?!
14...exf5 15.Qxd5 Be6

396
16.Qc5! (16.Qd6 Be5!) 16...Qe5 (16...Be5 17.Bf3! Bxh2+ 18.Kh1 Rg8 19.Be3 Ra5 20.Rad1 Rg6
21.Rd3+-) 17.Qd6! Qxd6 18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Bd3 Ne7 (19...b3 20.a4²) 20.Nxb7 Rg8 21.Nd6 Bd4+
22.Kh1 Rg6 23.Nxf5 Nxf5 24.Bxf5 Bxf5 25.Rxf5 Rc8 26.Rd5 Bf6 27.Bd2²
15.h3
15.Bh5! Nd8 (15...O-O 16.f6 Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Ne5 18.Nd4 Bg3 19.Qe2 Ng6 20.Qe3 Kh8 21.Qh6
Rg8 22.Nf3 Qf8 23.Ng5!+-) 16.Nd4 exf5 (16...Qd6 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.fxe6 Qxe6 19.Kh1 O-O
20.Bg4 Qg6 21.Bf5 Qg7 22.Rf3 ∆ Rh3+-) 17.Nxf5 Be6 18.Kh1 Kd7 19.Bd2 Nc6 20.c4!+-
15...Rg8
15...Ra5 16.fxe6 Bxe6 17.Bd3 Rg8 18.Qh5 Qd8 19.Bf4 Bxf4 20.Rxf4 Qg5 21.Qxg5 Rxg5 22.Kf2
Kd7 23.Nd4±; 15...exf5 16.Qxd5 Ne7 17.Qc5 Rg8 18.Kh1!? (18.Bd2 Bh2+ 19.Kh1 Rxg2! 20.Nc7+
Qxc7 21.Qxc7 Bxc7 22.Kxg2 O-O-O 23.Bf4²) 18...Bg3 19.Be3!? (19.Qxb4 Qe5 20.Nc3 Nc6
21.Qxb7 Rb8 22.Qa6 Nd4 23.Bd2²) 19...Bc6 (19...Qe5 20.Rad1! Qxc5 21.Bxc5 Bc6 22.Bxb4 Rxa2
23.Ba3 Bb8 24.Rf2 Rxa3 25.Nxa3 Ba7 26.Rf3 Bxf3 27.Bxf3 Nc6 28.Nb5 Bb8 29.Bxc6+ bxc6
30.Nd4±) 20.Bf3 Qe5 21.c4 bxc3 22.Nxc3²
16.Bg4!?
16.Bh5 Ra5! 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Qe2 Qd8 19.a4!? (19.Kh1 Rxb5 20.Qxb5 Qh4„) 19...bxa3 20.Kh1
(20.Rxa3? Qb6+) 20...Qh4! (20...axb2 21.Bxb2 Rxa1 22.Bxa1 Rg5 23.Nd4 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Rxh5
25.Bxe5 Rh6 26.Bd4±) 21.Bxf7+ Bxf7 22.Nd6+ Kd7 23.Nxf7 Bb8 24.Qf3 Qg3 25.Qxg3 Rxg3
26.Rxa3 Raxa3 27.bxa3 Nd4 28.Ng5 Ne2! 29.Nxh7 Rc3„
16...Ne7?!
16...Ra5 17.fxe6 Bxe6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qh5+ Rg6 20.a4!? bxa3 21.Qxh7 Rg7 22.Qh8+ Kd7
23.Qxb8 Bxb8 24.Nxa3 Ra4 25.Bh6 Rh7 26.Be3 Nd4 27.Bxd4 (27.c3 Ne2+ 28.Kf2 Ng3 29.Rfe1

397
Bd6„) 27...Rxd4 28.Rad1 Ba7 29.Kh1 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Rf7 31.c4 Kc6„
17.fxe6 fxe6
17...Bxe6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Bd2! Bxb2 20.Bf4 e5 21.Rb1! exf4 22.Rxb2 Ra6

23.c4! bxc3 24.Re2!±

18.Qd3! Qc8 19.Nd4 Qc4 20.Nxe6!± Qxd3 21.cxd3 Rxg4?
21...Ra6 22.Bh5+ Ng6 23.Nf4±
22.Rf8# 1-0

55. B48
Grischuk, Alexander (2764) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2724)
Beograd 152/55, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.a3 d6 8.f4 Qc7 9.Bd3
9.Qf3 Be7 - 11/313
9...Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Qf3 Bd7 13.Rae1 Rac8 14.Qg3N
14.g4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Nxg4! 16.Qxg4 (16.Bxg7 f5∞) 16...e5 17.Qg1 exd4 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Qxd4 Bh4
20.Rg1 g6∞; 14.Nde2 b5 15.g4 g6 16.Ng3 Rf8 17.g5 Ne8 18.f5 Ne5 19.Qg2 f6 20.h4 Ng7 21.gxf6
Bxf6 22.h5 Bc6 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.hxg6 Qe7 25.Bh6=
14...Nh5 15.Qf3 g6
15...Nf6
16.f5 Ne5 17.Qh3

398
17...Qd8! 18.fxe6
18.Be2 Nf6 19.fxe6 (19.g4 Rxc3! 20.bxc3 Nxe4„; 19.Rd1 b5∞) 19...fxe6 20.Rd1 Rf8 21.Bh6
(21.Nxe6? Rxc3! 22.Nxd8 (22.bxc3 Qc8-+) 22...Bxh3 23.bxc3 Bg4 24.Bxg4 Nexg4 25.Bb6 Bxd8µ)
21...Rf7 22.Nf3∞
18...fxe6 19.Nxe6 Qa5 20.Nd5
20.b4 Qxa3 21.Nd5 Bf8 22.Ra1 Qb2 23.Rab1 Qa3 24.Ra1=
20...Bd8 21.Bh6??
21.b4

399
21...Qa4! (21...Qxa3?! 22.Bh6 Kh8 (22...Ng7? 23.Nxg7 Bxh3 24.Nxe8+-; 22...Bg5

23.Qxh5!! gxh5 24.Nxg5 Kh8 25.Be2! Re6 (25...Bg4 26.Bxg4 hxg4 27.Rf5 Rxc2 28.Ref1 Rcc8
29.Ne7!+-; 25...Rxc2 26.Bxh5 Rg8 27.Ne7±) 26.Nxe6 Bxe6 27.Ne7±) 23.Rd1! Qb2 24.Be2 Bxe6
25.Qxe6 Bg5 26.Qxc8 Rxc8 27.Bxg5±) 22.Bh6 Ng7 23.Nxg7 Bxh3 24.Nxe8 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Qxe8
26.Rf8+ Qxf8 27.Bxf8 Kxf8∞
21...Qxe1! 22.Rxe1 Bxe6 23.Qe3 Ng4 24.Qd2 Nxh6 25.Be2
25.Qxh6 Bxd5-+
25...Ng7-+ 26.Rf1

400
26.Qxh6 Bxd5 27.exd5 Rxc2-+
26...Nf7 27.Nf6+ Bxf6 28.Rxf6 Rc5 29.h3 Nh5 30.Bxh5 Rxh5 31.Qf2 Re5 32.Qb6 Re7 33.Rf4 g5
34.Rf2 Rxe4 35.b3 Bd5 0-1

56. B48
Raunak, Sadhwani (2619) - Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar (2675)
Sharjah 152/56, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g4 a6 7.Be3 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.Qd2

9...h5!?N
9...b4 - 151/57
10.g5 Ne7 11.Rg1 Ng6 12.f4 Nh4?
12...Bc5 13.O-O-O b4 14.Ne2 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Bb7 16.f5 (16.Qd2 O-O 17.Qxb4 Rfc8 18.c3 Rab8©)
16...Ne5 17.Nd4 Qc5 (17...Qxe4? 18.Qd2+-) 18.g6 fxg6 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.Bh3 O-O 21.Bxe6+ Kh7
22.Rg5 Rad8„
13.Qf2 b4 14.Nd5! exd5
14...Ng6 15.O-O-O! exd5 16.exd5 Qc7 (16...Qa4 17.d6+-) 17.Re1 Be7 18.d6! Qxd6 19.Bc5 Qc7
20.f5+-
15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Qxh4 Bc5 17.Bxc5
17.Rg3! Ra7 (17...O-O 18.Bg2 Qe6 19.Qxh5 g6 (19...Bxe3 20.Rh3+-) 20.Qe2+-) 18.Rd1 Qc6
(18...Qe6 19.f5! Qxf5 20.Qc4 d6 21.Rd5 Qe6 22.Bh3+-) 19.f5 d6 20.f6 gxf6 21.gxf6 Kd8 22.Bxc5
Qxc5 23.Rxd6+! Qxd6 24.Rd3±

401
17...Qxc5 18.Qf2 d6
¹18...Qxf2+ 19.Kxf2 O-O 20.Rd1±
19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.O-O-O Be6 21.Bd3 O-O
21...g6 22.Rde1! Ke7 23.Re5 Rhc8 24.Rge1±
22.f5 Bd5

23.Rge1?!
23.g6! c4 (23...fxg6 24.fxg6 Rf4 25.Rg5 Bf3 26.Rf1+-) 24.Bf1 Rad8 25.Rd4 c3 26.Rxb4 cxb2+
27.Kxb2+-
23...Rfe8 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Bxa6 Re5 26.Bc8
26.Rf1 g6! 27.fxg6 fxg6 28.Rg1 Be6©
26...Bf3 27.Rf1 Bc6
27...Bg4! 28.a4 bxa3 29.bxa3 c4! 30.Kb2 (30.Rf4 c3 31.Kb1 g6=) 30...c3+! 31.Kb3 Rb5+ 32.Ka4
Rb2=
28.Ba6 Kf8 29.Bd3 f6 30.gxf6
30.g6 Ke7 31.Kd2 Rd5 32.Ke3 Re5+ 33.Kf2 c4! 34.Bxc4 Be4=
30...gxf6 31.Kd2 Rd5 32.Rf4 Bb5!= 33.Ke3 Bxd3 34.cxd3 Ke7 35.a3 bxa3 36.bxa3 Kd6 37.a4
Ke5 1/2-1/2

57. B49
Idani, Pouya (2635) - Gukesh, Dommaraju (2659)

402
 Sharjah 152/57, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Ndb5
7.Be3 - 137/(66)
7...Qb8 8.f4 d6 9.Be3 Be7 10.g4 a6 11.Nd4 Nxd4
11...e5!? 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.gxf5 (13.exf5 d5! 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Bh4+ 16.Bf2 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2
O-Oƒ) 13...b5„
12.Qxd4 e5

13.Qd2!?N
13.Qd1
13...Nxg4
13...Bxg4! 14.Rg1 (14.O-O-O Bxe2 15.Qxe2 O-O 16.Rhg1 Rc8 17.Na4 (17.f5 Rxc3! 18.bxc3 Qc7
19.Rd3 Rc8∞) 17...exf4 18.Bd4 Rc6 19.Nb6 Rxb6 20.Bxb6 g6∞) 14...h5 (14...Bxe2?! 15.Qxe2 g6
16.O-O-O O-O 17.f5±) 15.h3 Bxh3 16.Rxg7 Qc7 17.O-O-O→
14.Bxg4 exf4 15.Bxf4
15.Bxc8 fxe3 16.Bd7+! Kxd7 17.Qxe3 Bh4+ 18.Kd2 Bf6 19.Nd5 Qa7 20.Qh3+ (20.Nb6+ Kc7
21.Nxa8+ Qxa8©) 20...Kc6 21.Raf1 Qd4+ 22.Qd3 Qxd3+ 23.cxd3 Bg5+ 24.Ke2 Rhf8 25.h4 Bh6
26.Rh2²
15...Bxg4 16.Qg2 Bh4+?
16...Qc8! 17.Nd5 (17.Rg1 Bh4+ 18.Kd2 h5 19.h3 g5! 20.hxg4 gxf4 21.gxh5 Qc5 22.Nd5 Qd4+

403
23.Kc1 O-O-O∞) 17...Bd8 18.Kd2 (18.Rg1?! Bh5³ 19.Qxg7? Qxc2! 20.Qxh8+ Kd7-+) 18...g6
19.Rae1 O-O 20.Kc1 Re8 21.Bxd6 a5!„
17.Kd2 h5 18.h3 Be6 19.Qxg7

19...Kd7?
19...Rf8 20.Rad1 Qd8 21.Bh6 Kd7 22.Kc1 Rg8 23.Qd4±
20.Rad1 Rg8 21.Qd4 Bg5
21...Bg3 22.Bxg3 Rxg3 23.Kc1 Qc7 24.e5+-
22.Bxg5 Rxg5 23.Kc1 Qc7
23...Ke7 24.Nd5+ Bxd5 25.exd5 Re5 26.Rde1 f6 (26...Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1+ Kd7 28.Qa4+ b5 29.Qf4
Qf8 30.Qf2+-) 27.Rhg1 Kf7 28.Rxe5 dxe5 29.Qb6+-
24.e5 Rd8 25.exd6 Qc5 26.Qf6 Kc8
26...Rf5 27.Qe7+ Kc8 28.Ne4 Qb6 29.Rd3 Kb8 30.Rhd1+-
27.Ne4 Qe3+ 28.Kb1 Rd5 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 30.Qf5+
30.Qe7! Qb6 (30...Rd7 31.Qe8+ Rd8 32.d7+ Kc7 33.Qe5++-) 31.Rd1 Bxe4 (31...Be6 32.b3+-)
32.Qxe4 Rxd6 33.Qf5+ Re6 34.Qxf7+-
30...Be6 31.Qa5 Rd7 32.Re1 Qd4
32...Qxh3 33.Qc5+ Kb8 34.Nf6+-
33.b3

404
33.Qxh5+-
33...Bxh3

34.c3?
34.Nf6! Rxd6 (34...Qxf6 35.Re8++-) 35.Re8+ Rd8 36.Nd5! Qxd5 37.Qxd5 Rxe8 38.Qc4+! Kb8
39.Qxf7 Re1+ 40.Kb2 Bg4 41.a4+-
34...Qd3+ 35.Ka1

35...Qb5!= 36.Qa3

405
36.Qxb5 axb5 37.Nf6 Rxd6 38.Nxh5=
36...Qc6 37.Qa5 Qb5 38.Qa3 Qe5 39.Qc1! Bg2 40.Nd2 Qf4
40...Qxd6 41.Nc4 Qf6 42.Re8+ Rd8 43.Rxd8+ Qxd8 44.Qf4=
41.Re8+ Rd8 42.Qe1 Qxd6 43.Nc4 Qc6 44.Rxd8+ Kxd8 45.Qh4+ f6 46.Qxh5 Bd5 47.Qh8+ Ke7
48.Qg7+ Bf7 49.Kb2 Qc5 50.Qg2 b5 51.Qe2+ Be6 52.Ne3 Qe5 53.Qd2 b4 1/2-1/2

406
B50-B74

58. !N B51
McShane, Luke J (2647) - Keymer, Vincent (2655)
Deutschland 152/58, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qd3 Rc8 9.O-O
Qc7
9...h6 - 140/(62)
10.Rd1 Be6 11.a4 h6 12.Nd2 g6 13.Nf1 f5 14.Ne3

14...Nf6!N
14...Ne7 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Kf7 17.Rb6 Rb8 18.Ned5 Nc8 19.Rb3 fxe4 20.Be3ƒ
15.exf5
15.Ncd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bd7 17.b3 Kf7 18.c4 f4 19.Nf1 Bf5 20.Qe2 Bg7ƒ
15...gxf5 16.Nxf5 d5

407
17.Bf4!
17.Ng3 Qf7 18.Qe2 Bc5ƒ
17...exf4 18.Nd4 Bg8!
18...Bf7?! 19.Re1+ Be7 (19...Kd8 20.Qf5 Bg7 21.Ne6+ Bxe6 22.Rxe6+-) 20.Nf5 Bg6 21.Rxe7+
Qxe7 22.Nxe7 Bxd3 23.Nxc8 Bxc2 24.Ne2±; 18...Kf7 19.Nxe6 Kxe6 20.Nxd5 Qxc2 21.Qh3+ Kf7
22.Nxf6 Kxf6 23.Qh4+ Kg6 24.Qg4+ Kf6 25.Qh4+ (25.Rd4!? Rc5 26.h4→) 25...Kg6=
19.Re1+ Be7?
19...Kf7 20.Re6 (20.Qf5 Bh7 21.Qe6+ Kg7 22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.Qg4+ Kf7 24.Qe6+=) 20...Bg7
21.Qf5 Bh7 22.Rxf6+ Bxf6 23.Qe6+ Kg7 24.Qg4+ Kf7 25.Qe6+=
20.Nf5 Bh7
20...Rh7 21.Nxe7 Rxe7 22.Qg6++-
21.Nxd5?
21.Re6! Rf8 (21...O-O 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Rxe7 Bxd3 24.cxd3+-) 22.Rae1 Rf7 23.Rxf6! Rxf6
24.Ng7+ Kd8 25.Qxh7 Qd7 26.Ne6+ Rxe6 27.Qg8+ Kc7 28.Qxe6+-
21...Nxd5 22.Qxd5 Bxf5 23.Qxf5 Rd8!= 24.Qg6+ Kf8 25.Qf5+ Ke8 26.Qg6+ Kf8 27.Qf5+ Ke8
1/2-1/2

59. * B52
Maurizzi, Marc Andria (2493) - Yilmaz, Mustafa Enes (2624)
Terme Catez 152/59, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.c3 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.d4 Be7

408
7...cxd4 - 151/65
8.e5 dxe5
8...Nd5 9.c4

9...Nb4N (9...Nc7?!) 10.a3 Nc6 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.d5 Nce5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.O-O O-O∞
Matlakov,M (2674)-Sarana,A (2675) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(59) 2022
9.dxe5 Nd5 10.c4 Nb4 11.Nc3N
11.O-O
11...O-O 12.Bf4 Qb6 13.O-O-O Rad8 14.h4 Nb8 15.a3 N4c6 16.Ng5 Rxd1+ 17.Qxd1

409
17...Nd4?
17...Nd7! 18.Qd3 (18.Qxd7 Rd8 19.Nd5 Rxd7 20.Nxb6 axb6=; 18.Qc2 g6 19.Nxh7!? Rd8∞) 18...g6
19.h5 (19.Nf3 h5∞) 19...Ndxe5 20.Qh3 Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Nxc4 22.b4 Qc7∞
18.Qd3 g6 19.Nxh7?
19.h5! Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Nbc6 21.Bf6 Qb3 22.Rd1 Na5 23.Ne4 b6 24.Kb1
19...Rd8!
19...Kxh7? 20.h5 Kg7 (20...Nf5 21.hxg6+ Kxg6 22.g4+-) 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Bh6+ Kf7 23.Bxf8 Bxf8
24.Ne4+-
20.Qe4
20.Kb1 Nb5! 21.Nd5 exd5 22.cxd5 Kxh7-+
20...Kxh7?
20...Nb3+ 21.Kb1 Rd4 22.Qf3 Nd7 (22...Kxh7? 23.h5 g5 24.Bxg5! Bxg5 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.Qe8+
Kh7 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qxg5+-) 23.Nf6+ (23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Re1 Kxh7-+; 23.h5 Nxe5!-+) 23...Nxf6
24.exf6 Bxf6-+
21.h5 Kg8?
21...Kg7 22.Bh6+ Kg8 23.hxg6 f5 24.Qf4 Qb3 25.Kb1 Qc2+ (25...Nc2 26.Bg7 Nxa3+ 27.Ka1
Nc2+ 28.Kb1=) 26.Ka2 Qb3+ 27.Kb1=
22.hxg6 f5 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.g7 Kf7

410
24...Nf5 25.g4 Nxg7 (25...Rd4 26.Rh8+ Kxg7 27.Qh1+-) 26.g5 Bxc3 (26...Bd4 27.Qh7+ Kf8
28.Nb5 Nc6 29.Nxd4 Nxd4 30.Be5+-) 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.bxc3+-
25.Rh7
25.Qh7! Rg8 (25...Bxg7 26.Be5 Rg8 27.Ne4+-) 26.Qh5+ Ke7 27.Re1 Nb3+ 28.Kc2 Bxc3
29.bxc3+-
25...Nf5

26.g8=Q+

411
26.Bc7!+-
26...Kxg8 27.Rxb7 Qa6 28.Rxb8?
28.Bc7 Rd4 (28...Rf8 29.Bxb8 Bxc3 30.bxc3 Qxa3+ 31.Kb1+-) 29.Rxb8+ Kg7 30.Qe1 Qxc4
31.Be5+-; 28.g4+-
28...Rxb8 29.Bxb8 Bxc3 30.bxc3 Qxa3+ 31.Kc2
31.Kd1 Qb3+ 32.Ke2 Kf7=
31...Qa2+ 32.Kc1 Qa1+ 33.Kc2 Qa2+ 34.Kc1 Qa1+ 35.Kc2 1/2-1/2

60. B53
Harikrishna, Penteala (2716) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701)
Deutschland 152/60, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.O-O Nf6 8.h3 O-O 9.Rd1 Nd7
9...Be6 - 140/(64)
10.Nc3

10...h6!?N
10...b6
11.Qf4 g5!? 12.Qg3 Nc5 13.e5
13.Rd5!? f5 (13...Be6? 14.Bxg5!+-; 13...Nb4? 14.Bxg5! hxg5 15.Rxg5 Ne6 16.Rg4+-) 14.Bc4 e6
(14...f4? 15.Rxg5+ Kh8 16.Bxf4 hxg5 17.Nxg5+-; 14...Kh8? 15.Nxg5!+-) 15.Rxf5 Rxf5 16.exf5 d5
17.Be3! dxc4 18.Bxc5 exf5 19.Rd1²

412
13...Bf5?!
13...Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.f4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Qb6 17.Kh2→; 13...Bd7 14.exd6 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4
16.Qh2 Nxc3 17.Re1 exd6 18.Bb2→
14.Be3 Qa5 15.exd6?!
15.h4! g4 16.exd6 Bxc3 (16...gxf3 17.Bxf3 Ne6 18.Rd5 Qb4 19.Rb5 Qxd6 20.Qxd6 exd6 21.Bxc6
bxc6 22.Rxf5±) 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.bxc3 exd6 (18...Qxc3 19.Bd3±) 19.c4±
15...Bxc3 16.dxe7 Rfe8 17.Bxc5
17.bxc3 Ne4 18.Qh2 Nxc3 19.Rd2 Rxe7∞
17...Bxb2
17...Qxc5 18.bxc3 Qxc3 19.h4 Rxe7 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.cxd3 Ne5=
18.Rab1 Qxc5 19.Rxb2 Qxe7
19...Rxe7∞
20.c4
20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 f6!∞
20...Rad8 21.Rd5 Be4 22.Nxg5 hxg5 23.Rxg5+ Bg6
23...Kh8? 24.Rh5+ Bh7 25.Bd3+-
24.Bh5 Qf6
24...Qd6 25.Bxg6 Re1+ 26.Kh2 Qxg3+ 27.Kxg3 fxg6 28.Rxb7 Rd6=
25.Rxb7
25.Bxg6 Qxb2 26.Qf4 Re1+ 27.Kh2 fxg6 28.Rxg6+ Qg7 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7∞
25...Re5! 26.Rxe5 Nxe5

413
27.Be2?
27.Rb5! Re8 (27...Nxc4 28.Bxg6 fxg6 (28...Rd1+ 29.Kh2 fxg6 30.Rc5=) 29.Rb8=) 28.Bxg6 fxg6
29.Rb7∞
27...Nc6?!
27...Rd2! 28.Qe3 Rxa2-+ 29.Rxa7? Nf3+ 30.Bxf3 Qa1+-+
28.Kh2?
28.Bf3! Rd3 29.Rb3 Rd7 30.Be4³
28...Rd2 29.Bf3 Ne5 30.Bd5 Rxf2 31.Rxa7 Rd2
31...Rc2!-+
32.Ra3 Nd3 33.Ra7 Kh7?

414
33...Kf8 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.Ra7 Ne5 36.Ra3 Rf2µ
34.h4?
34.Bxf7! Bxf7 35.Rxf7+ Qxf7 36.Qh4+ Kg6 37.Qg4+ Kh6 38.Qh4+ Qh5 39.Qf6+ Kh7 40.Qe7+
Kg8 (40...Kg6 41.Qe8+ Kh6 42.Qf8+ Kg5 43.Qd8+ Kf4 44.Qd4+ Kf5 45.Qd5+=) 41.Qd8+ Kf7
42.Qd7+ Kf6 43.Qd6+=
34...Nf4 35.Bf3 Nxg2! 0-1

61. B56
Ivic, Velimir (2610) - Ivanisevic, Ivan (2601)
Beograd 152/61, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Bg5 e6 7.Ndb5 Bxb5 8.Bxb5+ Nc6 9.Qe2
9.Qd2 - 100/(130)
9...Be7 10.O-O-O O-O

415
11.Kb1N
11.h4
11...a6 12.Ba4 b5 13.Bb3 Qb8 14.h4 Rc8
14...a5? 15.Bxf6! Bxf6 16.Qxb5 Qc7 17.Na4±; 14...b4 15.Na4 Qb5 16.Qe3²
15.f4 a5! 16.Nxb5 a4 17.Bc4 Ra5?!
17...Na7! 18.Nxa7 Rxa7

19.Bb5! (19.e5 Rb7! 20.exf6 (20.b3 d5 21.exf6 Ba3!∞) 20...Rxb2+ 21.Ka1 a3 22.Bb3 gxf6³) 19...a3

416
20.b3 Rc5 21.c4 d5©
18.Rh3
18.Bxf6! Bxf6 19.c3±
18...h6 19.g4?!
19.a3! d5 20.exd5 exd5 21.Bd3 Re8 22.Re3±
19...d5! 20.exd5 exd5 21.Bd3

21.Bxf6? Bxf6 22.Rxd5 Ne7 23.Rd7 Rxc4 24.Qxc4 Rxb5-+

21...Ne4?
21...Re8! 22.Re3 (22.Qf1 Nxg4 23.Bxe7 Nxe7³) 22...Bc5 (22...d4!? 23.Re6™ Rxb5 24.Bxb5 d3
25.Rxd3 (25.Bxd3 Nd4 26.Bh7+ Nxh7 27.Rxd4 a3 28.b3 fxe6 29.Bxe7 Rxe7 30.Qa6 Qa7³)
25...Qxb5 26.Bxf6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kf8 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.g5∞) 23.Rxe8+ Nxe8 24.Re1 Nd6
25.Nxd6 Bxd6 26.Qe8+ Qxe8 27.Rxe8+ Bf8 28.h5!? hxg5 29.fxg5 d4 30.g6 Ne5 31.Bf5∞
22.c4?!
22.Bxe7! Nxe7 23.c4 Ng6 (23...dxc4 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 (24...Qxf4 25.Bd3 Rd8 26.Re3 Ng3 27.Bc2!
Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1+-) 25.Qxc4 Rxb5 26.Qxe4 Rxb2+ 27.Ka1+-) 24.Bxe4 Nxf4 25.Qd2 dxe4 26.Re3
Ra6 27.Rxe4±
22...Re8?
22...Nd4 23.Qe1 Nxb5 24.cxb5 Ra7 25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Qb4 Qxf4 27.Rhh1 (27.Qxe7?? Qc1+!
28.Rxc1 Nd2+ 29.Ka1 Rxc1+ 30.Bb1 Rxb1#) 27...Ree8 28.a3ƒ; 22...Bf8 23.Bxe4 (23.cxd5? Nb4

417
24.Bxe4 (24.Nd4 Nc3+! 25.bxc3 Nxd5+ 26.Ka1 Nxc3-+) 24...Rxb5-+) 23...dxe4 24.f5 a3 25.b3
Nb4∞
23.Bxe7
23.Bxe4 Bxg5 24.Re3 Bxf4 25.Bh7+ Kf8 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.Qxe8+ Kxe8 28.Rxd5+-
23...Rxe7 24.Re3 Nd4

24...Qxf4 25.Re1 f5 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.gxf5 Qxf5 (27...Qxh4 28.Rxe4+-) 28.a3+-

25.Qe1!+- Nxb5 26.Bxe4 Nd6
26...Rxe4 27.Rxe4 Na3+ 28.Kc1+-
27.Bxd5 Rea7 28.Qc3 Rc5 29.Qd4 Rac7 30.Rde1 Rc8 31.Re7 Qb4 32.a3 Qb8 33.f5 Kf8 34.f6 Rxd5
35.Qxd5 gxf6 36.c5 1-0

62. B59
Sarakauskas, Gediminas (2425) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Great Britain 152/62, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.g4!?
8.O-O - 128/64
8...h6 9.h4
9.Be3 Be6 10.Bf3 a5 11.Nd5 (11.a4 Nb4) 11...O-O=
9...Be6 10.g5

418
10.Rg1 d5!³
10...hxg5 11.Bxg5 a5 12.Bb5 Kf8! 13.Qd2?

13.a4 Rc8µ; 13.Qd3 Nb4 14.Qe2 a4 15.Bxa4 d5³

13...a4! 14.Bxa4 Nxe4 15.Nxe4N
15.Bxe7+
15...Rxa4 16.Ng3
16.Bxe7+ Qxe7 17.Nxd6 Nd4!-+
16...Bxb3?!
16...f6! 17.Be3 Raxh4 18.Rxh4 Rxh4 19.O-O-O Qa8 20.Kb1 Qa4-+
17.cxb3 Rd4 18.Bxe7+ Nxe7 19.Qc2 Rdxh4 20.Rxh4 Rxh4 21.O-O-O

419
21...Nc6!
21...g6 22.Qd2 d5 23.Qg5 Qc7+ 24.Kb1µ
22.Kb1
22.Nf5 Nb4! 23.Qb1 (23.Qd2 Qc8+-+; 23.Rxd6 Qg5+-+ 24.f4 Qxf4+ 25.Kd1 Rh1+ 26.Ke2 Rh2+
27.Ke1 Nxc2+; 23.Qc3 Nxa2+-+) 23...Qc8+ 24.Kd2 Rf4 25.Nxd6 Qc5-+
22...g6 23.Ne4 Nd4 24.Qd3 Qd7 25.a3 Rf4
25...Rh3 26.Ng3!µ (26.Qc4? Qg4 27.Re1 Rh1!-+)
26.Ka2 Kg7
26...Qe6!-+
27.Nc3? Rxf2 28.Rh1 Qf5 29.Qe3 Rxb2+! 0-1

63. B62
Huschenbeth, Niclas (2611) - Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2652)
Deutschland 152/63, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qd3 d6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.O-O-O O-O 9.h4
9.Nb3 - 50/219
9...Bd7

420
10.Be2N
10.Qg3 Nxd4 11.Rxd4 Nh5! 12.Qh2 Nf6 13.Be2 Qc7„
10...Rc8
10...Qb6!? 11.Be3 Qc7„
11.Qg3 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 Qc7?
12...Qa5 13.Rhd1 (13.h5? Rxc3! 14.bxc3 Nxe4-+) 13...Bc6 14.f4 Kh8„
13.h5 d5
13...Qa5 14.f4 Rxc3 15.bxc3 Qxa2 (15...Bc6 16.Bh6 Ne8 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 18.h6 Bf6 19.hxg7 Rc8
20.Bd3!+-) 16.Bh6 Ne8 17.Bxg7 Nxg7 18.h6 Bf6 19.Kd2!+-
14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Be5 Rxc3!
15...Ne8

421
16.Bxg7!! Nxg7 17.h6 Qxd4 18.e5 Bf6 19.Bd3 Rfe8 20.f4+-
16.Qxc3 Nxe4 17.Rxe4! dxe4 18.Bxg7 Qxf2?
18...Bg5+ 19.Kb1 Rc8 20.Bd4! Qc6 21.Qxc6 Bxc6 22.Bxa7 f5±
19.Bxf8 Bxf8

20.h6?
20.Qd2! e3 (20...Bc6 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Rf1!+-; 20...Be8 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Qe5+ Bg7 23.Qxe4+-)
21.Qxd7 Qxe2 22.Qd1 Qc4 23.Kb1 Bh6 24.Qf3±

422
20...Qxe2 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.Qe5+ Kg8 23.Qg5+ Kh8 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qf6+ 1/2-1/2

64. B62
Mastrovasilis, Dimitrios (2621) - Fier, Alexandr (2573)
Italia 152/64, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3 Bd7 8.Ndb5 Nb4 9.Qd1 Qb8
10.Bf4 e5 11.Bg5 a6 12.Na3 b5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nab1

14...d5!?N
14...Bg7 - 150/(54)
15.Nxd5
15.exd5 Bf5 16.Bd3 Nxd3+ 17.cxd3 Rg8©
15...Nxd5 16.Qxd5
16.exd5 f5 17.Be2 Bg7 18.O-O O-O 19.Nd2 e4³
16...Bb4+ 17.c3
17.Nd2?! Qa7 18.Qd3 (18.a3 Bc5 19.O-O-O Be6 20.Qd3 Ke7µ) 18...Ke7³; 17.Nc3 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3
Qc8 19.Qd2 Qc5 20.Be2 Ke7 21.O-O Rhd8©
17...Be6 18.Qd3 Bc5 19.Be2 Qb7 20.O-O
20.Nd2 Rd8 21.Qc2 Rg8 22.g3 Ke7 23.O-O!? Bh3 24.Nf3 Bxf1 25.Rxf1©
20...Rg8 21.Nd2??
21.Kh1 Rd8 22.Qc2 Ke7 23.Nd2 Qc6©

423
21...Rd8 22.Qc2

22...Rxd2! 23.Qxd2 Qxe4 0-1

65. B62
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2609) - Gupta, Abhijeet (2628)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/65, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3 Bd7 8.Ndb5 Nb4 9.Qd1 a6
10.Bxf6
10.a3 - 147/(52)
10...gxf6 11.a3 Nxc2+
11...axb5 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1

424
13...d5! 14.exd5 (14.Bxb5 Bxb5 15.Nxb5 dxe4 16.O-O Be7 17.Rd1 Qc8∞) 14...Bxb4 15.Bd3
(15.dxe6 Bc6ƒ) 15...O-O 16.O-O (16.dxe6 Bxe6 17.O-O Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bc4=) 16...Bxc3 17.bxc3
exd5∞
12.Qxc2 axb5 13.Bxb5 Bxb5 14.Nxb5 Qa5+ 15.Nc3 Bg7N
15...Qa6 16.O-O-O Bg7 17.Kb1 O-O 18.Rd3 Rfc8 19.Rhd1 Rc6 20.Qd2±
16.O-O
16.Rd1

16...f5! 17.O-O fxe4 18.Rxd6 (18.Nxe4 d5∞) 18...Qe5 19.Nxe4 (19.Rb6 e3 20.Rxb7 O-O∞)

425
19...Qxb2∞
16...O-O 17.Rad1 Rfc8?
17...Rfd8! 18.Rd3 (18.Rfe1 Rac8∞) 18...f5 19.Rg3 (19.Qd1 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxb2 21.Nxd6 Bg7=)
19...fxe4 20.Nxe4 Qe5 21.f4 (21.Ng5 h6 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Nxe6+ fxe6 24.Re3 Qxb2 25.Rf3+ Ke7
26.Rg3 Kf7 27.Rf3+ Ke7=) 21...Qd4+ 22.Kh1 Rac8 23.Qb1∞
18.Rxd6 f5?
18...b5 19.Rfd1 Rab8 20.g3 b4 21.axb4 Rxb4±
19.exf5 Bxc3 20.bxc3
20.fxe6 Bg7 21.exf7+ Kh8∞
20...Qxf5
20...Qxc3? 21.Rd8+!+-; 20...Rxc3 21.Qd2 Rxa3 22.Qxa5 R3xa5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Rxe6+-
21.Rd3! Rxa3 22.Rg3+ Kf8

23.Qd2!+- Qc5
23...Ke7 24.Rd1 Qd5 25.Rd3 Qh5 26.Rd7+ Kf6 27.Qd4++-
24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Qh4+ Kd7 26.Rd1+ Kc7 27.Qf4+ e5 28.Qxf7+ Kb8 29.Rb1 Qb6 30.Qxh7 Raxc3
31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.Qh8+ 1-0

66. ** !N B62
Proudian, Armen (2418) - Krysa, Leandro Sergio (2525)
San Salvador 152/66, 2022

426
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bb5!? Bd7 8.Qd3 Be7
8...h6 9.Bh4 g5!? 10.Bxc6! bxc6 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.O-O-O
9.O-O-O

9...Nxd4!?
9...h6 - 149/57
10.Qxd4
10.Bxd7+ Nxd7 (10...Qxd7 11.Qxd4²) 11.Bxe7 Kxe7! 12.Qxd4 Qb6
10...Bxb5 11.Nxb5 O-O

427
12.Kb1!N - 152/66
12.h4?! - 152/(66) 12...Qa5 13.Nc3

13...Rfc8N (13...h6) 14.Kb1 Rc6 15.Qd2 Ra6„ Popovic,D (2468)-Dardha,D (2532) Roquetas de Mar
152/(66) 2022
12...Qa5 13.Qd3

428
13...Rfd8?!N
13...h6 - 152/(66) 14.Bxf6 (14.Bh4

14...g5! 15.Bg3 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Qxb5 17.Bxd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6 Rfd8=) 14...Bxf6 15.Nxd6 Qb6=
Beukes,D (2253)-Sriniaiyer,S (2209) Charlotte 152/(66) 2022
13...a6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd6 Qb6 16.e5 (16.Nc4 Qxf2) 16...Bxe5 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Nxe5 Qxe5=
14.f4 a6?
14...Qb6²

429
15.Bxf6 Bxf6
15...gxf6 16.Nd4+-
16.Nxd6+- Qb6 17.e5 Be7

18.g4?
18.f5! exf5 19.Qd5 Bxd6 20.exd6+-
18...Bxd6 19.exd6 Rd7 20.Rd2 Rad8 21.Rhd1

21...h5!! 22.f5

430
22.gxh5 Rxd6 23.Qxd6 Rxd6 24.Rxd6 Qf2=; 22.Qa3 hxg4=; 22.Qd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 hxg4 24.c4²
22...exf5 23.gxf5 Rxd6 24.Qxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Qf2 26.Rd8+ Kh7 27.R8d7 Qxf5 28.Rxb7 Qf2?!
28...h4!
29.b3?!
29.Rbd7!
29...Qxh2
29...h4
30.Rxf7 h4 31.c4 Qe5
31...Qg2=
32.Rf2 Kh6?
32...g5! 33.Rc2 Qc5! (33...g4? 34.c5+-) 34.Rd5 Qg1+ 35.Kb2 h3 36.Rdd2 Qc5! (36...g4? 37.c5 g3
38.c6 h2 39.c7 h1=Q 40.c8=Q Qb1+ 41.Ka3+-) 37.Rd5=
33.Rc2! Qc5 34.Rd5 Qg1+
34...Qc6!
35.Kb2 h3

36.Rd3!+- Qf1 37.Rdc3 g5 38.c5 g4 39.c6 Qf5 40.c7 Qc8 41.Rd2 1-0

67. B62
Han, Yichen (2303) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Daventry 152/67, 2022

431
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bb5
6.h4!? g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Be3 h5∞
6...Bd7 7.Qd3 e6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O-O h6 10.Bh4 O-O

11.f4
11.Bxc6! bxc6 12.Nb3 d5 (12...a5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.a4 (14.Qg3+ - 145/(53)) 14...Rb8 15.Qg3+ Kh7
16.Rxd6! Rg8 17.Qd3 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Be8 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.g3±) 13.e5 Ne8 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qd4²
- 145/(53)
11...Rc8

432
12.Nf3?N
12.Bxc6 Bxc6 13.g4!? (13.Rhg1!?) 13...Nxg4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Rhg1 Nf6 16.Qg3©; 12.g4
12...Nb4! 13.Qe2

13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Nxa2 Bxb5-+

13...Rxc3! 14.bxc3 Nxa2+ 15.Kb2 Nxc3! 16.Kxc3 Qa5+ 17.Kb2 Qb4+ 18.Kc1 Qa3+ 19.Kb1
Qb4+ 20.Kc1 Bxb5
20...Qa3+? 21.Kb1=

433
21.Qe3 Rc8 22.Rd4 Qa5 23.Kb2

23...d5 24.e5
24.exd5 Bb4! 25.Rxb4 Qxb4+ 26.Qb3 Rxc2+-+
24...Bb4-+ 25.Be1 Rxc2+
25...Rxc2+ 26.Kxc2 Qa2+ 27.Kc1 Qa1+ 28.Kc2 Ba4+ 29.Kd3 Qd1+ 30.Qd2 Bc2+ 31.Ke3 Ng4#
0-1

68. B67
Moussard, Jules (2651) - Vokhidov, Shamsiddin (2536)
Sharjah 152/68, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 Nxd4
10.Qxd4 Be7 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.Qd2
12.g4 - 151/69
12...b5 13.g4 h6 14.Be3 Bc6 15.Rg1 Nd7 16.g5

434
16...hxg5N
16...Ne5
17.Bxg5 g6 18.h4 Ne5 19.Qg2
19.Rg3!? f6 20.Be3 Rxh4 21.f4 Ng4 22.a3∞
19...b4 20.Ne2 Bxg5 21.hxg5 d5 22.f4 Nc4 23.Qf2 Bb7
23...O-O-O∞
24.exd5
24.f5 Rh2 25.Rg2 (25.Bg2 O-O-O∞) 25...Rxg2 26.Bxg2 Qe5 27.Rd4 gxf5 28.exf5 exf5 29.Nf4
(29.Rxc4 dxc4 30.Bxb7 Rd8∞) 29...Qe3 30.Qxe3+ Nxe3 31.Rxb4 O-O-O∞
24...Bxd5 25.Nd4
25.Bg2 Rh2 26.Qg3 Rxg2 27.Rxg2 Bxg2 28.Qxg2 Rd8=
25...O-O-O 26.Bxc4 Qxc4 27.Nb3 Qc7 28.Rd4 a5 29.Rgd1 Rd6 30.Nc1 Rhd8 31.b3 Rc6 32.Nd3
Kb7 33.Ne5 Rc5 34.Nc4 Rc8 35.Ne3 Qc6 36.Qd2 Rc3 37.Rc1
37.Nxd5 exd5 38.Rxd5 Rxc2 39.Rd7+ (39.Qe3 Rc5=) 39...Ka8 40.Qe3

435
40...Rc1+! 41.Qxc1 (41.Rxc1 Qxd7=) 41...Qe4+ 42.Ka1 Rxc1+ 43.Rxc1 Kb8=
37...Rc5 38.Re1 Kb8 39.Nxd5?!
39.a4±
39...exd5
39...Rxd5! 40.Rxd5 Qxd5 41.Qxd5 (41.Qf2 Qc5=) 41...exd5 42.Re5 Rc5=
40.Re2 Qd7 41.Qd1 Qg4 42.Kb2 Qf3 43.Qd3
43.a4 Rd8 44.Kb1 Rdc8 45.Qe1 Rc3 46.Rf2 (46.Kb2 R3c5) 46...Qg3 47.Rxd5 Rxb3+! 48.Kc1 Qe3+
49.Qxe3 Rxe3 50.Kb2 Rc4 51.Rxa5²; 43.Kb1 Qh3 44.Red2 Rd8²
43...Qxd3 44.Rxd3 Kc7 45.a3 bxa3+ 46.Kxa3 Kb6 47.Kb2
47.Re5 Rxc2 48.Rdxd5 R8c5 49.Rxc5 Rxc5 50.Rxc5 Kxc5 51.Ka4 Kb6=
47...a4 48.bxa4 Ka5?!
48...Rc4 49.Rxd5 Rxa4 50.f5 gxf5 51.Rxf5 Rc5=
49.Re5

436
49...Rxc2+?
49...Kxa4 50.Rd4+ Kb5 51.Rdxd5 Rxd5 52.Rxd5+ Kc4! 53.Rd7 (53.Rd6 Re8 54.Rf6 Re7=) 53...Rf8
54.Kc1 f5! 55.Rd6 (55.Rg7 Kd4 56.Rxg6 Ke4=) 55...Rg8 56.Kd2 Kc5 57.Ra6 Kd4=
50.Kb3+- Ka6
50...R8c5 51.Rexd5 Rc3+ 52.Rxc3 Rxd5 53.Re3! Rd4 54.Re5+ Kb6 55.f5 Rg4 (55...gxf5 56.Rxf5 Rg4
57.a5+ Kc6 58.Kc3+-) 56.fxg6 fxg6 57.Re6+ Ka5 58.Rxg6 Rb4+ 59.Kc3 Rxa4 60.Kd3! Kb5
61.Ke3 Kc5 62.Kf3 Kd5 63.Rf6 Ke5 64.Rf8+-
51.Rexd5 Rc1 52.Rd6+! Ka7 53.Rd7+ Ka8

437
54.Rd8!
54.Rxf7? Rb8+ 55.Ka2 Rcb1 56.Rd2 (56.Rf8 Rxf8 57.Kxb1 Rxf4=) 56...R1b4=
54...Kb8 55.Rxc8+ Rxc8 56.Rd7 Rf8 57.Kc4 1-0

69. B72
Shyam, Sundar M (2528) - Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar (2660)
Bangladesh 152/69, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O d5
10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Nxd5
12.Bd4 - 150/63
12...cxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Qxa8 Bf5 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 16.Rd2 Qb8 17.b3 Bc3 18.Bh6+

18...Kg8N
18...Ke8? 19.Rd5 e5 (19...e6? 20.Bb5+ Ke7 21.Bg5+ f6 22.Rd7+ Kf8 23.Bh6+ Kg8 24.Rhd1+-;
19...Bd7 20.Rhd1 Bc6 21.Rd8+ Qxd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.g3+-) 20.Rhd1 Bd4 21.Bg5 f6 22.Bxf6
Kf7 23.R5xd4! exd4 24.Bxd4 Qxh2 25.g3±
19.Rd5?!
19.Rdd1 Qb6©; 19.Rhd1 Bxd2+ 20.Rxd2©
19...Be4 20.Rc5 Bg7
20...Bxg2 21.Rd1 (21.Rxc3 Bxh1 22.h4 Be4³) 21...Bg7 22.Be3 h5³
21.Be3

438
21.Bxg7 Qf4+ 22.Kb2 (22.Kb1 Qxf2 23.Rc4 Kxg7 24.Rxe4 Qxg2 25.Bf3 Qxf3 26.Rhe1 e6³)
22...Qxf2 23.Rc3 Kxg7 24.Bf3 Bf5 25.Rd1 e5 26.Rc4 h5 27.Bd5 Bg4 28.Rd3 Kh6³
21...Bxg2 22.Ba6 Bh3 23.c3 h5
23...Qd6? 24.Rd1! Qxa6 25.Rd8+ Bf8 26.Bh6 Qf1+ 27.Kb2 Qxf2+=; 23...Be5!?
24.Bc4 Bf6
24...Bxc3?! 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Rxc3
25.Rg1

25.Kb2
25...Kh7! 26.Bxf7 Bf5 27.f4?!
27.Rd1 Qxh2 28.Kb2 h4µ
27...Qb7
27...Qd6!?
28.Rxf5 gxf5 29.Bg6+ Kh8 30.Bxf5 Qf3 31.Bd2?!
31.Kd2
31...Bxc3-+ 32.Bxc3+ Qxc3+ 33.Kb1 Qd2 34.h3 Qxf4 35.Bg6 Qe3 36.Rh1 h4 37.Bc2 Qf3 38.Rh2
Qg3 39.Rh1 Qg2 40.Re1 Qxh3 41.Rxe7 Qf1+ 0-1

439
B75-B99

70. B76
Matviishen, Viktor (2507) - Theodorou, Nikolas (2577)
Dulles 152/70, 2022

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 e5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Ne4 Qc7 15.Bc4
15.h4 - 150/65
15...Be6 16.h4 Nf4

17.Qc3N
17.Bd6; 17.Bxe6
17...Red8
17...Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Rad8 (18...Nxg2 19.h5 Nf4 20.h6 Bh8 21.Rd6±) 19.g4ƒ; ¹17...Nxg2 18.h5©
18.g3 Nd5 19.Qa3 h6
19...h5 20.Ng5 Bf5 21.Rhg1±
20.h5 f5
20...g5!?

440
21.Nf2
21.hxg6 fxe4 22.fxe4 Qb7 (22...Rab8 23.Bb3±) 23.Qd3 Rab8 24.b3±
21...gxh5
21...g5!?
22.Rhe1?!
22.Rxh5!?; 22.Bb3!?
22...Qf7?!
22...Kh7!?; 22...a5!?
23.Nd3 Nb6 24.Bb3 Bxb3 25.axb3 Re8∞ 26.f4 Nd7
¹26...e4 27.Ne5 (27.Nb4 Rac8ƒ) 27...Bxe5 28.fxe5 Nd7 29.Rd6©
27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Nf4 Nd7
28...Nf3!?
29.Be7?!
29.Bb4; 29.Rh1
29...Nf6 30.Re6?
30.Bxf6 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Qxf6∞
30...Nd5! 31.Rde1

441
31...Nxf4?
31...h4! 32.Nxd5 (32.Bxh4? Rxe6 33.Rxe6 Bf8 34.Qa4 Nxf4 35.Rf6 Qd5-+) 32...cxd5 33.gxh4 f4
34.Qd6 f3 35.Rf1 (35.Qxd5 f2 36.Rf1 Rad8!-+) 35...Rab8 36.Re3 Rb6! 37.Qd7 Rf6-+
32.gxf4 a5
32...Rad8!?; 32...h4!?
33.Qd6 a4 34.Rg1?
34.Bf6 Rxe6 (34...Bxf6 35.Rg1+™ Bg7™ 36.Reg6 Ra7 (36...Rad8 37.Qxc6 Kh8 38.Rxh6+ Kg8
39.Rhg6=; 36...axb3 37.Rxg7+ Qxg7 38.Rxg7+ Kxg7 39.Qc7+ Kh8 40.Qxc6=) 37.Rxg7+ Qxg7
38.Rxg7+ Rxg7 39.bxa4 h4=) 35.Rxe6 Re8 36.Rxe8+ Qxe8 37.Bxg7 Kxg7 38.bxa4 h4=; 34.b4=
34...axb3 35.Rg2 Ra1+ 36.Kd2 bxc2 37.Kxc2

37...Ra7?
37...Kh7!-+
38.Rxg7+! Qxg7 39.Rg6 Rexe7 40.Qf6= h4 41.Qxf5 Rf7 42.Qg4 Rab7 43.Rxg7+ Rxg7 44.Qxh4
Rg2+ 45.Kc3 Rgxb2 46.Qxh6 R2b3+ 47.Kc4 R3b4+ 48.Kc5 R4b5+ 49.Kd6 Rf7 50.Qg6+ 1/2-1/2

71. B76
Ortiz Suarez, Isan Reynaldo (2531) - Quesada Perez, Luis Ernesto (2515)
Cuba (ch) 152/71, 2022

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.O-O-O d5
10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 e5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Ne4 Qc7

442
15.Kb1?!N
15.Bc4 - 152/70
15...Rd8
¹15...f5 16.Nc3 (16.Nd6? Rd8 17.Nxc8? Nc3+-+) 16...Be6 17.Bc4 Rad8 (17...Red8 - 15...Rd8)
18.Bb3 h6³
16.Bc4 f5 17.Nc3 Be6 18.Bb3 Rd7
18...Bf7=; 18...h5!?
19.Na4! Rad8 20.Qf2 Nf4
20...e4!?; 20...h6!?
21.Rxd7 Qxd7

443
¹21...Rxd7
22.Be3! Bxb3
22...Bf7 23.Nc5 Qe7 24.Bxf7+ Qxf7 25.Nb3²
23.axb3 a5
23...Re8!?
24.Re1
24.Nb6 Qe6 25.Bxf4 (25.Bd2 Nd5 26.Bxa5 Re8© ∆ e4) 25...exf4 26.Re1 Qd6 27.Qe2²
24...Nd5² 1/2-1/2

72. B77
Navara, David (2700) - Can, Emre (2578)
Terme Catez 152/72, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Qa5
10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.O-O-O b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Qb5 16.Rhe1 a5
17.Qe2 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 a4 19.Bc4 Rfc8 20.b3 Rc7
20...Kf8 - 4/519
21.Bb5 axb3 22.cxb3 Ra5 23.Bc4 Rb7 24.g4 Kf8 25.h4 Ne8

444
26.Be3N
26.Bxg7+ Kxg7=
26...Nc7 [∆ Nb5] 27.Rc2
27.Rd3 Nb5 28.Bxb5 Rbxb5 29.Bd2 Ra8 30.Re4 Rab8=
27...Ke8
27...f5!?
28.Bd4
28.g5 Nb5 29.Bxb5+ Rbxb5 30.Rcd2 Kd7=
28...Bxd4 29.Rxd4 h6 30.g5 hxg5
30...h5 31.f4 Kd7 32.Re2 Rb8 33.Rde4 Re8=
31.hxg5 Kd7

445
32.Rcd2
32.Kb2 Rba7 (32...e5 33.dxe6+ Nxe6 34.Bxe6+ Kxe6 35.f4 Rba7 36.Kb1 Rb7=) 33.Kb1 Rb7=
32...Nb5
32...Rb8 33.Rh2 (33.Re4 Rh8 34.Rde2 Re8 35.Rd2 Rh8=) 33...e5 (33...Nb5 34.Bxb5+ Rbxb5=)
34.dxe6+ Nxe6 35.Bxe6+ fxe6 36.Rc4 Rc5 37.Rh6 Rxc4 38.bxc4 Rf8 39.Rxg6 Rxf3=
33.Bxb5+ Rbxb5 34.Kb2 Kd8 35.Rd1 Kd7 36.R1d2 Kd8 1/2-1/2

73. B77
Kadric, Denis (2576) - Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar (2675)
Sharjah 152/73, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7
10.h4 h5 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bh6 c5 14.Bc4 Qb6 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.b3 Be6 17.Nd5?!
17.Rb1
17...Bxd5 18.exd5 e5

446
19.a4N
19.dxe6?! - 64/218
19...Qb4! 20.a5
20.c3 Qa5³
20...e4
20...Rfe8!?
21.c3
21.Qxb4 cxb4 22.Kf2 Nd7ƒ
21...Qb7 22.O-O exf3 23.Qf4
23.gxf3 Rfe8³
23...Ng4
23...Qc7!?
24.Rxf3?!

447
24.gxf3 Ne5 25.Rfe1 Rfe8³
24...Qe7!µ 25.Qg3 Qd7! 26.Rff1?!
26.Qf4
26...Rce8! 27.Rae1 Rxe1
27...Qd8!?
28.Rxe1 Re8 29.Re2 Re5! 30.Rxe5
30.b4!?
30...Nxe5-+ 31.Be2 Qf5 32.c4 Kh7 33.Bf1
33.Bd1 Qb1 34.Qe1 Ng4
33...Qc2 34.Qe3 a6 35.Be2 Qa2 0-1

74. B84
Nasuta, Grzegorz (2518) - Areshchenko, Alexander (2670)
Terme Catez 152/74, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.g4 b5 9.g5 Nfd7 10.a3
Bxg5 11.Qd2 Bf6
11...Bxe3 - 147/62
12.O-O-O Bb7 13.Rhg1

448
13...Nb6N
13...Nc5?; 13...g6; 13...O-O
14.f4 N8d7

15.Nxe6!
15.Nf3!? Qc7 (15...O-O 16.e5! Be7 (16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxd8 Raxd8 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Nxe5
Bxe5 21.Bxb6+-) 17.f5! dxe5 (17...exf5 18.Bd4! Kh8 (18...g6 19.Qh6 Bxf3 20.e6! Bf6 21.Bxf3
Bxd4 22.Rxd4+-) 19.Qf4 Bxf3 20.Bxf3+-) 18.fxe6 Nc5 (18...fxe6 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qe8
21.Bh6 Rf7 22.Bh5 g6 23.Bxg6! hxg6 24.Rxg6+ Kh7 25.Bg7! Rf4 26.Rg5+-) 19.exf7+ Rxf7

449
20.Nxe5 Qxd2+ 21.Rxd2 Rf5 22.Nd3±) 16.Qxd6 Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Nc8 (17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4
19.Rgd1±) 18.Rd2 Bxc3 19.bxc3²
15...fxe6 16.Qxd6 Qe7 17.Bxb6
17.e5!? Qxd6 (17...Nd5? 18.Ne4+-) 18.Rxd6 Be7 19.Rxe6 g6 20.Bxb6 Nxb6 21.Rxb6 Bc5 22.Rxb7
Bxg1 23.Ne4 O-O 24.Nf6+ Rxf6 25.exf6²
17...Nxb6
¹17...Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nxb6 19.Rxe6+ Kf8 20.Rxb6 Bd4 21.Rxb7 Bxg1²
18.e5?
18.Qxb6 Bxc3 19.bxc3 O-O 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.Rd6 Bxe4 22.Bxe6+ Kh8 23.Kb2±
18...Nd5
18...Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Be7 20.Bh5+ g6 21.Rxb6 Bc5∞
19.Nxd5 Bxd5

20.Rxd5!?
20.Qb6 O-O 21.exf6 Qxf6=
20...exd5 21.Qc6+ Kf7 22.Qxd5+ Qe6 23.Qb7+?
23.Qg2 Rhd8 24.Bd3©; 23.Rxg7+!? Bxg7 24.Qb7+ Kf8 (24...Kg6 25.Qg2+ Kf7=) 25.Qxa8+ Ke7
(25...Qe8 26.Qxa6©) 26.Qa7+ Qd7 27.Qg1 Kd8 28.Kb1©
23...Be7 24.Bg4

450
24.Qg2
24...Qc4 25.f5
25.Be2!?

25...Qc5! (25...Qxe2? 26.Rxg7+ (26.Qd5+=) 26...Kxg7 27.Qxe7+ Kg8 28.Qe6+ Kf8 29.Qf6+ Ke8
30.Qe6+ Kd8 31.Qd6+ Kc8 32.Qc6+=) 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qg2+ Kf7 28.Bh5+ Kf8 29.Qxa8+ Kg7
30.Qg2+ Kh6 31.Qh3 Rf8-+
25...Rhc8-+ 26.Kb1 Qxc2+ 27.Ka1 Qc6 28.Bf3 Qxb7 29.Bxb7 Rd8 30.Bxa8 Rxa8 31.Rc1 Rd8 0-1

75. B84
Sevian, Samuel (2684) - Nyzhnyk, Illya (2674)
Saint Louis (m/2-rapid) 152/75, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.O-O b5 8.Bf3 Ra7 9.a4 bxa4?!
9...b4 - 90/197
10.Nxa4 Be7

451
11.Be3N
11.c4
11...Rc7 12.Bd2
12.Nb3 Nfd7
12...Ra7 13.Be3 Rd7 14.Nb3 O-O
¹14...Bb7
15.Bb6 Qe8 16.Na5!± Bd8 17.c4 Qe7 18.b4
18.Qb3
18...Bxb6 19.Nxb6 Rc7 20.b5
20.Qd2!? Nfd7 (20...Nbd7? 21.Na8+-) 21.Nxd7 Nxd7 22.Rfd1 Ne5 23.Be2 Rd7 24.Qd4±
20...e5 21.Nd5
21.Qd3!?; 21.Qd2!?
21...Nxd5 22.exd5
22.Qxd5!?
22...axb5 23.cxb5

452
23...Rc5?!
23...Nd7
24.Nc6?!
24.Qb3
24...Qb7?!
24...Nxc6 25.bxc6 e4 26.Re1 f5²
25.Be2 Qb6 26.Ra8
26.Rc1!?
26...Nd7 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Rxc8?
28.Nxc8 Rcxc8 (28...Rfxc8 29.Ra6 Qb8 30.Bg4 Qxb5 31.Rxd6 R8c7 32.h4±) 29.Ra6 Qb8 30.Rc6±
28...Rfxc8 29.Nxc8 Rxc8= 30.Bg4?
30.Qd2
30...Rc7?
30...Qxb5µ
31.Bxd7 Rxd7 32.Qb3 Rc7 33.Ra1= g6 34.g3 Qd4 35.Rd1?

453
35.Rb1=
35...Rc3! 36.Qb1 Qb6?!
36...Qa4µ; 36...Qc4µ
37.Qb2?!
37.Rd3
37...Rc5?!
37...Qc5!
38.Rb1! Kg7
38...Rxd5 39.Qa2 (39.Qb3 Qb7™ 40.Qf3 e4! 41.Qc3+ Kg8 42.b6 Rd3 43.Qc4©) 39...Rxb5™
40.Rxb5 Qxb5 41.Qxf7 Qb1+ 42.Kg2 Qe4+=
39.Qb3= f5 40.h4 h6 41.Qd3 Kf6 42.Qe3 g5?!
42...Kg7=
43.hxg5+?!
43.h5!
43...hxg5 44.Qf3 Rxb5 45.Rxb5 Qxb5 46.Qh5 Qb1+
46...Qxd5 47.Qh6+ Kf7 48.Qh5+ Ke6 49.Qg6+ Kd7 50.Qxf5+=
47.Kh2 f4 48.Qh6+ Qg6 49.Qf8+ Qf7 50.Qxd6+ Kf5 51.Qh6 Ke4!? 52.Qxg5 Kf3 53.gxf4 exf4
54.Qg2+ Ke2 55.Kg1 f3?

454
55...Qf5=
56.Qg5!+- Qa7 57.Qe5+! Kd2
57...Kd2 58.Qf4+ Ke2 59.Qe4+ Kd2 60.Qxf3
1-0

76. B85
Alekseenko, Kirill (2698) - Caruana, Fabiano (2781)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/76, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Qe1
O-O 11.Qg3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Kh1 Rad8 15.Rae1 Rfe8 16.Rd1
16.Bd3 - 103/(156)
16...Rd7 17.Bf3

455
17...Qd8?!N
17...Red8
18.Qf2?!
18.e5! dxe5 19.fxe5 Nd5 (19...Ne4 20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Qxd4 23.Qf4 Kh8
(23...Qd8 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Nd6 Rf8 26.Qxf8+ Qxf8 27.Rxf8+ Bxf8 28.Kg1 Kg8 29.Kf2+-)
24.Qxf7 Rg8 25.Qxe7 (25.Re1 Qd7) 25...Qxe4 26.Qxe6 Qe2 27.Qf5 h6 28.h3 Re8 29.Rf3±) 20.Ne4
Qc7 (20...g6 21.Bc5±‚) 21.c3±
18...Bf8
18...Qa8!?
19.Rfe1
19.Qg3!?
19...e5! 20.Be3
20.Bb6 Qa8 21.f5 h6∞
20...h6 21.f5

456
21...d5
21...Qa8!?
22.exd5
22.Bb6 Qa8 23.exd5 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Be4 Ree7 26.Rxd5 Rxd5 27.f6 Re6=
22...Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 25.Qf3 Rxd1
25...e4!?
26.Rxd1 Qc8 27.Qe4 f6= 28.h3 Rd8 29.Rxd8 Qxd8 30.c3 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Bd6 32.h4?!
32.b4=
32...h5
32...Kh7!?
33.Qa8+?
33.Bf2=; 33.b4=
33...Kh7-+ 34.Qe4
34.Bf2 e4+ 35.Bg3 Bxg3+ 36.Kxg3 Qg4+ 37.Kf2 Qxh4+
34...a5
34...Qe1!
35.Bf2
35.Bb6

457
35...a4 36.Bg3

36...Bc5! 37.Kh3
37.Be1 Ba7Θ 38.Kh3 Qc1
37...Qh1+ 38.Bh2 Bg1 0-1

77. !N B85
Alekseenko, Kirill (2698) - Gledura, Benjamin (2652)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/77, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Qe1
O-O 11.Qg3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Kh1 Rad8 15.Rae1 Rd7 16.Bf3 Bc6?

458
16...Qc4 - 87/(226)
17.Nd5!!N
17.e5
17...Qd8?!
17...exd5 18.exd5 Rdd8 (18...Bb7 19.Rxe7 Kh8 20.Re3 Re7 21.Rc3 Qd8 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qh4 Ree8
24.Be4 f5 25.Qh6+-) 19.dxc6 d5 20.Re5+-; 17...Bxd5 18.exd5 e5 (18...Qxc2?! 19.dxe6 fxe6
20.Qh3! Qc4 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Bg4+-; 18...Qc4 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.c3±) 19.Bc3 exf4 20.Qxf4 Bd8
21.Re2±
18.Nxf6+
18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.e5+-
1-0

78. B85
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan (2495) - Pichot, Alan (2652)
San Salvador 152/78, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.a3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.O-O d6
10.Kh1 a6 11.f4 Nxd4
11...Bd7 - 113/(79)
12.Bxd4 b5 13.Qe1 Bb7 14.Qg3 Ne8!? [∆ Bf6]
14...Bc6 - 150/71

459
15.Bd3
15.Rad1! Rd8 (15...Bf6 16.e5 (16.Qe3) 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Be7 18.Qe3² (18.Bd3?! f5!; 18.Qf2²))
16.Qe3 Qb8 17.Bf3 (17.Bd3!?) 17...Nf6!? (17...e5? 18.Bb6 Nc7 19.fxe5! (19.Bh5∞) 19...dxe5
20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5±)
15...Bf6

16.Bxf6N
16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Rd8! (17...Be7) 18.Bb6! Qxb6 19.exf6 Kh8 20.Qg5 Nxf6 21.Rxf6

21...Rxd3! (21...gxf6 22.Qh6! (22.Qxf6+=) 22...f5 23.Bxf5! Bxg2+! 24.Kxg2 Rg8+ 25.Kf3 Rg7

460
26.Bd3²) 22.cxd3 gxf6 23.Qxf6+ Kg8=
16...Nxf6 17.Rae1 Nh5?!
17...d5 18.e5 (18.exd5 Nxd5=) 18...Ne4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Rf2=; 17...Nd7! 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nc5=
18.Qh4 g6

19.g4?!
19.f5! exf5 20.exf5 Rae8 21.Be2! Qd8 22.Qxd8 Rxd8 23.Bxh5 gxh5 24.Re7±
19...Ng7 20.f5
20.Rf3 f5! 21.Rh3 Ne8= 22.gxf5 exf5 23.Kg1 fxe4 24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Ra7 26.f5!
20...exf5 21.gxf5 Rfe8?!
21...Qc5! 22.f6 Nh5=
22.Nd5?!
22.Re3! Nh5 23.Be2 Qd8 24.Qf2± (24.Qxd8 Raxd8 25.Bxh5 gxh5²)
22...Bxd5 23.exd5 Qc5!ƒ 24.f6?
24.Qb4!
24...Nh5?

461
24...Rxe1! 25.Rxe1 Nh5µ 26.b4? Qc3-+
25.b4! Qc3
25...Qxd5+? 26.Be4 Qd4 27.Bxa8+-
26.Re6! fxe6 27.f7+ Kh8 28.fxe8=Q+ Rxe8 29.dxe6 Qe5 30.Re1
30.Qe4=
30...Qd5+ 31.Kg1 Kg7 32.e7 Nf6 33.Qf4 Nd7 34.Qe3?
34.h4 Ne5 35.Rf1 Nd7=
34...Ne5 35.Be4 Qe6 36.Bg2 Rxe7 37.Rd1 Qf6 38.Qg3 Nc4-+ 39.Rf1 Qd4+ 40.Kh1 Ne3 41.Qf2
Nf5 42.Qf3 Qe3 43.Rd1 h5 44.Ra1 Qd2 45.Bh3 Nd4 46.Qd3 Qxd3 47.cxd3 Re2 48.Bg2 Nc2
49.Rg1 Kf6 50.Bb7 Nd4 51.Rf1+ Ke5 52.Rg1 d5 53.Rg5+ Kf6 54.Rg2 Rxg2?
54...Re5-+
55.Kxg2 Nc2 56.Bxa6 Nxa3

462
57.d4?
57.Kg3!
57...Kf5 58.Kf3 Nc2 59.Ke2 Ke4 60.h4 Nxd4+ 61.Kd2 Nf3+ 62.Ke2 Kf4 63.Kd3 Nxh4 64.Bxb5
Nf3 65.Be8 h4 66.b5 h3 67.b6 Ne5+ 68.Kd4 h2 69.b7 h1=Q 70.b8=Q Qe4+ 71.Kc5 Qc4+ 72.Kd6
d4 73.Qd8

73...Qc6+?? 74.Bxc6 Nf7+ 75.Kd5 Nxd8 76.Be8! g5 77.Kxd4 g4 78.Kd3 Ne6 79.Ke2 Kg3
80.Bd7 Nc5 81.Bxg4 Kxg4 82.Ke3 1/2-1/2

79. B90
Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2727) - Shirov, Alexei (2704)

463
 Beograd 152/79, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 Nbd7 7.Be2 b5

8.Nd5N
8.a4 - 147/66
8...Bb7
8...e6?! 9.Nc6 Ne5 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.f4±
9.a4!?
9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 10.f3 e5 11.Nf5 d5∞
9...Nc5
9...bxa4 10.Nxf6+ Nxf6 11.f3 Nd7 12.Qa3 e6 13.Qxa4 Be7 14.O-O (14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 O-O
16.Qa4 (16.Rxa6 Rc8 17.Qb5 Rxc2µ) 16...a5∞) 14...O-O 15.Be3²
10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.Qe3 bxa4
11...Nxa4?! 12.c4! (12.Nxb5 Nc5 13.Nc3±) 12...Nc5 13.b4 Nxe4 (13...Nd7 14.cxb5+-) 14.cxb5+-
12.f3 e5 13.Nf5 d5 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.Qf2
15.O-O Rc8 16.Qf2 Qe6 17.Ne3 f5 18.b4 axb3 19.Bc4 Qg6 20.cxb3©
15...e4?!
15...Qe6 16.Bh6 (16.Ng7+ Bxg7 17.Qxc5 Bf8 18.Qf2 Rc8 19.Bd3 Bc5 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Qxe3
Bc6∞) 16...Qxf5 17.Bxf8 Kxf8 18.Qxc5+ Kg7 19.Rxa4 h5 20.Bd3 Qd7∞

464
16.Ne3
16.Ng3!? exf3 17.Bxf3 Qe5+ 18.Be3 Bh6 19.Ra3 (19.Nf5 Bxe3 20.Nxe3 O-O-O 21.O-O²) 19...Nb3
20.Bxb7 Bxe3 21.Qf5 Qxb2 22.Rxb3 axb3 23.Bxa8 Qxc2 24.Qe4+ Qxe4 25.Bxe4 O-O 26.Ke2²
16...Qc6 17.O-O O-O-O
17...Rg8 18.Kh1 O-O-O 19.Nc4±
18.Nc4! Qe6

18...exf3 19.Bxf3 Ne4 20.Bxe4 Qxc4 (20...Qxe4 21.Rxa4+-) 21.Bxb7+ Kxb7 22.Qf3+ Qd5 23.Be3
Qxf3 24.Rxf3 Be7 25.Rxa4±
19.b3!
19.Na5!? exf3 20.Bxf3 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Qe4 22.Be3±
19...axb3 20.cxb3
20.Ra5! Qc6 21.Bf4 Rg8 22.cxb3±
20...Nxb3 21.Nb6+

465
21.Rb1 exf3 22.Bxf3 Qxc4 23.Bxb7+ Kxb7 24.Qf3+ Ka7 25.Rxb3 Bc5+ 26.Kh1 Qd5 27.Be3 Bxe3
28.Qxe3+ Ka8 29.Rb6 Rd6=
21...Kb8?
21...Qxb6! 22.Qxb6 Bc5+ 23.Qxc5+ Nxc5 24.fxe4 Rhg8 25.Rxf6 Bxe4 26.g3 Bd3∞
22.Bf4+ Bd6 23.Bc4 Qe8
¹23...e3 24.Qa2 Qf5 25.Bxd6+ Rxd6 26.Qxb3 e2 27.Bxe2 Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Rxb6 29.Qxf7±
24.Bxd6+ Rxd6 25.Bxb3+- Rg8 26.Nc4 Rd3 27.Bc2 exf3 28.g3 Rc3 29.Na5 Qe2 30.Bxh7 1-0

80. B90
Inarkiev, Ernesto (2659) - Sakaev, Konstantin (2603)
Russia 152/80, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 h6!?

6...g6 - 149/76
7.Be2 e5 8.Nb3 Nc6

466
9.a3N
9.Be3 Be7 10.Nd5 O-O 11.O-O-O (11.Bb6 Qd7 12.O-O Nxd5 13.exd5 Nb8 14.Nd2 Qe8∞)
11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Na5∞
9...Be7 10.f4 O-O 11.f5 b5 12.Be3 Bb7 13.Nd5
13.O-O Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.Bf3 Qc7=
13...Nxd5 14.exd5

14...Nb8

467
14...e4! 15.Qd2 (15.Qxe4?! Re8! 16.O-O Bf6 17.Qf3 Ne5 18.Qf2 Bxd5µ) 15...Ne5 16.O-O Rc8
17.Na5 Ba8³
15.Nd2 Nd7 16.Ne4 Nf6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6∞ 18.Qe4 Qa5+
18...Bh4+ 19.g3 Bg5 20.Bf2 Qa5+ 21.b4 Qc7 22.O-O Qc3 23.h4 Bf6∞
19.Kf2
19.b4 Qc7 20.O-O Qc3 21.Bb6 Rab8 22.Ba7 Rbc8 23.Bd3 Ra8 24.Bb6 Rab8=
19...Rfc8
19...Qa4 20.Bd3 Qxe4 21.Bxe4 Rfc8 22.b3 a5 23.h4 h5∞
20.c3 Qa4 21.Qxa4 bxa4 22.Rad1 Rcb8 23.Rd2 Bc8 24.g4 Bd7= 25.h4 Bd8 26.Bd3 Rb3 27.Kf3
Bb6
27...Rab8 28.Rhh2 Bb5 29.Bb1 Bd7=
28.g5 Bxe3
¹28...h5 29.Bxb6 Rxb6 30.Rc1 Rab8 31.Rcc2 f6 (31...Rb3∞) 32.Rg2 Kf7∞
29.Kxe3 h5 30.Rhh2 a5

31.Rhf2?!
31.Be2! Bxf5 32.Bxh5 Rb5 33.Bd1±
31...Rab8 32.Be4 Rc8 33.Rh2 Rc4 34.Rdf2 Rb7 35.Rf1 Kf8 36.Re1 Ke7= 37.Rg1 Kf8 38.Rf1 Rb8
39.Rff2 Rb7 40.Rh1 Rb8 41.Rhh2 Ke8 42.Kd3 Bb5 43.Ke3 Kd7 44.Bf3 Rh8 45.Rc2 Rc5 46.Rh1
Bc4 47.Rd2 Bb3 48.Rhh2 Kc7 49.Rh1 Kb6 50.Rhh2 1/2-1/2

468
 81. * B90
Paravyan, David (2617) - Chigaev, Maksim (2631)
Russia 152/81, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 h5

6...g6 - 151/ 82
7.Bg5 b5

7...Nbd7 8.Qd2 e6

9.a4N (9.O-O-O) 9...Be7 10.f4 Nc5 11.Bd3 Bd7 12.Rf1 Rc8 13.a5 b5 14.b4?! (14.axb6 Qxb6

469
15.Nb3 a5³) 14...Nxd3+ 15.cxd3 d5! 16.Rb1 (16.exd5 Bxb4-+) 16...dxe4 17.dxe4 Rc4 18.e5 Bc8-+
Nepomniachtchi,I (2773)-Fedoseev,V (2701) chess.com (Int. -rapid) 152/(81) 2022
8.a4N
8.Bd3; 8.a3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 g6 10.Be2 Bb7 11.O-O-O Bg7 12.f4 Qc7 13.Bf3 Nb6∞
8...b4 9.Nd5 Nxe4 10.Bh4
10.Be3 Nc5 11.a5 e6 12.Nb6 Ra7∞
10...Bb7 11.Bc4 Nd7 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.f3

13.f4 g5! 14.Bxg5 Nxg5 15.fxg5 Ne5 16.Bb3 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 e6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxe6 Rc6 20.O-O-
O Qxg5+ 21.Kb1 Kd8∞
13...g5!
13...Rxc4!? 14.Qxc4 Ne5 15.Qe2 Nc5 (15...Bxd5 16.fxe4 Bb7 17.O-O-O g6∞) 16.Nxb4 Qb6 17.c3
a5 18.Qb5+ Qxb5 19.axb5 axb4 20.cxb4 Ned3+ 21.Ke2 Nxb4∞
14.fxe4 gxh4 15.Bxa6 Bxa6 16.Qxa6 Bg7 17.O-O-O e6 18.Nc6

470
18.Nxb4 Nc5 19.Qb5+ Qd7 20.Kb1 Nxa4 21.Qxd7+ Kxd7 22.Rgf1 Rhf8∞
18...Nb8! 19.Nxb8 Rxb8 20.Nf4?
20.Qc6+ Kf8 21.Ne3 Rb6 22.Qc4 b3³
20...O-O 21.Kb1

21...Bxb2!?
21...Ra8 22.Qc6 (22.Qxd6 Qf6-+) 22...Qa5 23.g3 (23.b3 Qe5-+) 23...Qxa4 24.Qxa4 Rxa4 25.Nxh5
Rfa8 26.c3 b3 27.Kc1 Bh6+-+

471
22.g4
22.Kxb2 Qf6+ 23.Kb1 b3! (23...Qxf4? 24.g3 Qe3 25.gxh4+ Kh7 26.Rde1 Qd2 27.Rd1 Qe3 28.Rde1
Qd2=) 24.c3 (24.Nd3 bxc2+ 25.Kxc2 Rfc8+ 26.Kd2 Qg5+-+) 24...Qxf4-+
22...Be5 23.gxh5+ Kh8 24.Rdf1 Ra8
24...b3 25.c3 Qc7 26.Rf3 Qc5-+
25.Qb5 Qe8-+ 26.c4 bxc3 27.Qxe8 Rfxe8 28.Nd3 Bd4 29.Rg5 Rxa4 30.Rb5 Rc8 31.Nb4 Rxb4+!
32.Rxb4 c2+ 33.Ka2 Be3 34.Rb7 c1=Q 0-1

82. * B90
Gordievsky, Dmitry (2559) - Kim, Alexey (2464)
Russia 152/82, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.g4 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Qxd5
11.Be3 - 91/213
11...Bxd5 12.Be3 Nc6 13.O-O-O O-O-O 14.Bb6 Rd6 15.g5 Be6

16.Rg3N
16.Nc5 - 152/(82) 16...Rxd1+ (16...Bf5!? 17.Rxd6 Bxd6 18.Bc4 Nd4 (18...Bg6=) 19.Rd1 Be7 20.h4
Bg4 21.Rg1 Bf5=) 17.Kxd1 Bxc5 (17...Bf5 18.c3 h6 19.Bc4 Bg6 20.h4 Bd6=) 18.Bxc5 Rd8+
(18...Kc7 19.b3 h6 20.gxh6 Rxh6 21.Rxg7 Rxh2=) 19.Kc1 Kc7 20.b3² Esipenko,A (2723)-Lashkin,J
(2386) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(82) 2022; 16.Rxd6; 16.Bg2
16...Rxd1+ 17.Kxd1 Be7

472
17...h6 18.Bh3 (18.g6 f5 19.Bh3 Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Re8=) 18...Bxh3 19.Rxh3 Kd7 20.Be3
Ke6 21.gxh6 gxh6=
18.c3
18.Bg2 h6 19.gxh6 Rxh6 20.Rxg7 Rxh2 21.Bxc6 bxc6=
18...e4
18...Bd8 19.Bxd8 (19.Be3?! Ne7³) 19...Nxd8 20.h4 h6=
19.Nd2 Bd6 20.Rg2
20.Re3 Bxh2 21.Rxe4 h5 22.gxh6 Rxh6 23.Bc4=
20...Bf5
20...Bf4 21.Bc4 Bh3 22.Rg1 Ne5 23.Be2 Be6 24.Be3 Bxe3 25.fxe3 Kd7∞
21.Be2 Ne5 22.Bd4 Rd8 23.h4

23...Ng6! 24.Bxg7?!
24.h5 Nf4 25.Bg4 Nxg2 26.Bxf5+ Kc7 27.Bxh7 Bf4 28.Bxe4 Nh4 29.g6 fxg6 30.hxg6 b5=
24...Nxh4 25.Rg1?!
25.Bg4 Bf4 26.Bd4 Nxg2 27.Bxf5+ Kc7 28.Bxe4 Nh4 29.Bxh7 Bxg5³
25...Bc5 26.Bd4 Bxd4 27.cxd4 Rxd4 28.Ke1 Kd8 29.Rg3 Be6 30.a3 Ke7 31.Bf1 Kd6-+ 32.Re3
Ke5 33.Rc3 Kf4 34.Rc7 Rd7 35.Rc5 Rd5 36.Rc7 Rxg5 37.Rxb7 Rg1 38.Kd1 Nf3 0-1

83. B90
Shevchenko, Kirill (2652) - Volokitin, Andrei (2687)

473
 Deutschland 152/83, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Ng3 Be6
10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 g6 12.a4 Nbd7 13.a5 b5 14.c4 b4 15.Bc2

15.b3 - 142/(75)
15...Qc7N
¹15...Nc5 16.f4 (16.b3 - 142/(75)) 16...Nfd7 17.f5 Bg5 18.Qg4 Bxc1 19.Raxc1 Qe7∞
16.b3 Nc5 17.f4 exf4
17...Nfd7 18.f5 Bf6 19.Bh6 e4 (19...Rfe8 20.fxg6 fxg6 (20...hxg6 21.Nh5! gxh5 22.Qxh5+-)
21.Nh5! gxh5 22.Bxh7+! Kxh7 23.Qxh5+-) 20.Bxe4! (20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Rb1 Re8²) 20...Rfe8
21.Bc2±
18.Bxf4 Nfd7

474
19.Nf5! gxf5
19...Rae8 20.Qf3 gxf5 (20...Ne5 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qg3 f5 23.Bh6±) 21.Bxf5 Nf6 22.Qh3 Kh8
23.Bg5+-
20.Bxf5
20.Qh5!? Nf6 21.Qxf5 Qd7 22.Rae1 Qxf5 23.Bxf5 Bd8 24.Bxd6 Nb7 25.Bxb4±
20...Nf6 21.Rf3 Rfe8
21...Ncd7 22.Rh3 Rfe8 23.g4 Nf8 24.g5 Ng6 25.Be3 Nd7 26.Qh5 Ndf8 27.Bd4 Bd8 28.Rf1+-
22.Qd4 Qa7 23.Be3 Bd8 24.Qf4
24.Rg3+ Kh8 25.Rf1 Rxe3 26.Rxe3 Nxb3 27.Re8+ Kg7 28.Qxa7 Rxa7 29.Rxd8+-
24...Rxe3 25.Rxe3 Ncd7 26.Kh1 Ne5 27.Rae1 Be7 28.g4+- Bf8 29.g5 Nfd7 30.Rh3 Ng6 31.Bxg6
hxg6

475
32.Re7! Bxe7 33.Qh4 Qd4 34.Qxd4 Ne5 35.Qh4 1-0

84. * B90
Ponkratov, Pavel (2641) - Neelash, Saha (2445)
New Delhi 152/84, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Rg1 b5 10.g5 hxg5
11.Nxg5 Bb7 12.Be3 Nbd7 - 152/84
12...Nc6N

13.a4 Qc8 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Nd5 (16.Nxb5 O-O 17.Bc4 Nb4∞) 16...Bd8 17.c3

476
Rathanvel,V (2477)-Vantika,A (2381) Budapest 152/(84) 2022 (17.c3 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 19.Bxb5+
Kf8 20.Bd3 Bxd5 (20...g6∞) 21.Rg4 g6 22.Ra4 Qb7∞)
13.a4 b4 14.Bc4

14...O-O?!N
14...Rf8 - 150/(75)
14...bxc3! 15.Bxf7+ Kf8 16.Bg6 (16.Ne6+? Kxf7 17.Nxd8+ Raxd8 18.bxc3 Bxe4-+; 16.Ba2 cxb2
17.Ne6+ Ke8 18.Nxg7+ Kf8 19.Ne6+ Ke8=) 16...Qc8 17.b3

17...Rh4! 18.Qe2 Qc6 19.Qf3 (19.O-O-O d5 20.Bf5 d4 21.Ne6+ Kg8 22.Rxg7+ Kh8∞) 19...Nc5

477
20.b4 Nxe4 21.Ne6+ Kg8 22.Nxg7 Nd2! 23.Qxc6 Bxc6 24.Nf5 Nf3+ 25.Ke2 Bd5 26.Bh5+ Nxg1+
27.Rxg1+ Kh8 28.Nxh4 Nxh5 29.Ng6+ Kh7 30.Nxe7 Be4∞
15.Nd5 Rc8
15...Nxd5 16.exd5 Rc8 17.b3 Bxg5 (17...Nf6 18.Qd3±) 18.Bxg5 f6 19.Bh6 Rf7 20.Qh5 Qe7 21.O-
O-O±
16.Nxf6+ Nxf6 17.Bb3 d5 18.Qf3! Bc5
18...d4 19.Bd2 Qd7 20.h4±
19.O-O-O Qe7 20.exd5 Rfd8 21.Qf5
21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxe3+ 23.fxe3+-
21...Qd7

22.Ne6!+- Ne8
22...fxe6 23.Qxf6 exd5 24.Rxd5!+-
23.Qxe5 1-0

85. B90
Idani, Pouya (2638) - Mishra, Abhimanyu (2524)
Reykjavik 152/85, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Rg1

478
9...Be6N
9...b5 - 150/(75)
10.g5 hxg5 11.Nxg5

11...Nc6! 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Rxg7 Qb6 14.a4

14.Qd3 Nh5 15.Rg4 Nb4 16.Qe2 Nc6©
14...Qb4 15.a5 d5 16.Ra4
16.exd5 exd5 17.Bd2 (17.Ra4 Qc5 - 16.Ra4) 17...O-O-O 18.Nxd5 Rxd5 19.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 20.c3

479
Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Nh5 22.Rf7 Bxa5∞
16...Qc5 17.exd5 exd5 18.Bg5 O-O-O©

19.Bxf6?
19.Bxa6! bxa6 (19...Rxh3 20.Bf1 Rxc3! 21.bxc3 Ne4 22.Rxe4 dxe4 23.Qg4+ Kb8 24.Bd2 Qd5
25.Qe2 Qxa5=) 20.Qe2 Kb8 21.Qxa6 Rd6! 22.Bxf6 (22.Qd3 Re6∞) 22...Rxf6 23.Rxe7 Qxf2+
24.Kd1 Qg1+ 25.Kd2 Qg5+ 26.Kd1 Qg1+=
19...Bxf6 20.Rf7 Be7 21.Bg2 e4 22.Rf5 Rhf8
22...Rhg8 23.Rxd5 (23.Kf1 Rgf8 24.Nxe4 dxe4 25.Qxd8+ Nxd8-+) 23...Rxg2! 24.Rxc5 Rxd1+
25.Nxd1 Bxc5-+
23.Nxe4 dxe4 24.Rxc5 Rxd1+ 25.Kxd1 Bxc5 26.Bxe4 Bxf2-+ 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.c3 Bg3 29.Rc4 Rf6
30.b4 Kd7 31.Kc2 Rh6
31...Be5 32.Re4 Rf5
32.Rd4+ Kc7 33.Rg4 Rxh3 34.Rg7+ Kb8 35.Rg8+ Kb7 36.Rg7+ Bc7 37.c4 Re3 38.Rh7 Kc8
39.Rh5 Re5 40.Rh8+ Kb7 41.Rh7 Kc8 42.Rh8+ Bd8 43.Kb3 Kd7 44.Rh7+ Be7 45.Rh8 Re3+
46.Ka4 Rc3 47.c5 Bg5 0-1

86. B90
Saric, Ivan (2644) - Aczel, Gergely (2556)
Slovensko 152/86, 2022

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 10.a4 b4
11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.c3 bxc3 14.Nxc3 Be7 15.a5

480
15.O-O - 133/88
15...Nd7 16.O-O Rb8 17.Ra3 Qc8
17...h4 18.g4 Bg6 19.Qe2 O-O 20.Be3 Nc5! 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Qxa6 (22.Ra4 e4 (22...Qd6 23.Re1 e4
24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Bd8∞) 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Bd6 25.Qxa6 Ra8 26.Qd3 Rxa5©) 22...Rxb2
23.Ne4 c4 24.Ra4 Bb4 25.d6 Qd7 (25...Bxe4 26.Bxe4 Bxd6 27.Qxc4 Bb8=) 26.Raa1 c3∞
18.Na4 Rb5

19.Bd2N
19.Rc3 Qb8 20.Rc6 Bd8 21.Bd2 Bxa5 22.Bxa5 Rxa5 23.Qf3 g6 24.Qc3 Rxa4 25.Rc8+ Ke7 26.Rxb8
Rxb8©; 19.Re1 O-O 20.Bf1 Rb4 21.Qd2 Rd4 22.Qc3 Qb7∞
19...O-O 20.b4 Nf6
20...e4!? 21.Qe2 (21.Bc3 Qb7 22.Nb6 Nxb6 23.axb6 Bd8 24.Qxh5 Rxd5 25.Ra5 Bxb6 26.g4 Be6
27.Rxd5 Bxd5 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qg5+ Kh7=) 21...Rxd5 22.Be3 Qb8 23.Qxa6 Qxb4 24.Nb6 Rb5∞
21.Nb6 Qb7 22.Re1

481
22.Qc1 Bd8 23.Qc6 Qb8 24.Nc4 Bd7 25.Qxa6 Bc8 26.Qc6 (26.Qxd6 Bc7 27.Qc6 (27.Qe7 Re8
28.Qxe8+ Nxe8 29.a6 e4! 30.Bxe4 Nf6 31.Bg2 Bxa6 32.Rxa6 Rxd5 (32...Nxd5∞) 33.Bxd5 Nxd5
34.Ne3 Nxe3 35.Bxe3 Bxg3 36.Rfa1 Kh7 37.Ra8 Qd6=) 27...Bd7 28.Qa6 Bc8=) 26...Bd7=
22...Bd8! 23.Nc4?!
23.Rf3 Be4 (23...Bg6 24.Nc4 Qd7∞) 24.Rxf6 Bxg2 25.Rxd6 Bxb6 26.Rxb6 Rxb6 27.axb6 Bxd5
28.Rxe5 Bf3 29.Qe1 Qxb6=
23...Qd7 24.Bg5?!
24.h4 Nxd5 25.Ne3 Nxe3 26.Raxe3 Bh3 27.Bxh3 (27.Be4 Bf5 28.Bg2 Bh3=) 27...Qxh3 28.Qxh5
Qe6=
24...Rxb4 25.Bxf6 Rxc4
25...Bxf6!? 26.Nb6 Qb5 27.Qxh5 g6 28.Qd1 Bg5³
26.Bxd8 Rxd8 27.Qxh5 Rc5 28.g4
28.Bf1 Rb8 29.Bxa6 Ra8 30.Bf1 Rcxa5 31.Rxa5 Rxa5³
28...Bg6 29.Qg5 Rb8³ 30.h4?!
30.Raa1 Qc7 31.Rec1 Bc2³
30...Rb4 31.Rg3 Rcc4 32.Bh3 Be4
32...Rf4! 33.h5 Be4 34.h6 g6-+
33.h5 Bxd5

482
33...f6! 34.Qd2 (34.Qe3 Bxd5-+) 34...Qb7-+
34.h6 f6 35.Qh5?!
35.Qf5 Be6 (35...Qxf5 36.gxf5 Rc7 37.Bg2 Bxg2 38.Kxg2 d5³) 36.Qg6 Qf7 37.Qd3 Rd4 38.Qxa6
gxh6³
35...Bf7 36.g5
36.Qf5 Qd8 37.hxg7 Rf4 38.Qd3 Qc7 39.g5 Qc5µ
36...Bxh5 37.Bxd7

37...Kh7! 38.Bf5+
38.hxg7 Kxg7 39.Kg2 Bg6 (39...Rf4 40.gxf6+ Kxf6-+) 40.Rd1 d5-+
38...g6 39.Bd3 Rf4-+ 40.Ra1
40.Bxa6 Ra4 41.gxf6 Rxa5 42.Bb7 Rxf6-+
40...fxg5 41.Bxa6 Bf3 42.Bf1 g4 43.Bg2 Ra4 44.Rxa4 Rxa4 45.Bxf3 gxf3 46.Rxf3 Rxa5 47.Rd3
47.Rf6 Rd5
47...d5 48.Rh3 Ra1+ 49.Kg2 d4 50.Rb3 Kxh6 51.Rb5 Re1 52.f3 Kg5 53.Kf2 Re3 54.Rb8 e4
55.fxe4 Rxe4 56.Rd8 Kg4 57.Rd6 g5 58.Rd5 Kf4 59.Rd8 Ke5 60.Rd7 Rf4+ 61.Ke2 Kf5 0-1

87. B90
Ponomariov, Ruslan (2636) - Kulaots, Kaido (2527)
Terme Catez 152/87, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7

483
10.Qd2 Nc6 11.Nb3 Nge5 12.f3 Na5
12...b5 - 75/233
13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Nd5 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Rb8

16.h4N
16.Bf2
16...b5
16...g4! 17.Be2 (17.f4?! Nd7 18.c3 b5 19.Bd3 Bb7³) 17...h5 18.c3 gxf3 (18...Bd7 19.a4 e6 20.Nb6
Bh6+ 21.Ke1 f5 22.exf5 exf5 23.Rd1 f4 24.Bf2 Bc6∞) 19.gxf3 Be6 20.Kc2 Kd7 21.a4 f5∞
17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Rxh8+ Bxh8 19.c3 e6?!
19...Bb7

484
20.a4 (20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Nb4 Kd8 22.a4 Bf4+ 23.Kc2 a5! 24.Nd5 (24.Nd3 bxa4 25.Rxa4 Ra8=)
24...Bxd5 25.exd5 b4 26.Bb5 bxc3 27.bxc3 Kc7=) 20...Bxd5 (20...f5!? 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bxb5+ Kf7
23.c4 Bxd5 24.exd5 Nxc4+ 25.Bxc4 Rxb2+ 26.Ke3 f4+ (26...Rxg2 27.Rh1 f4+ 28.Bxf4 gxf4+
29.Kxf4=) 27.Bxf4 gxf4+ 28.Kxf4 Rxg2=) 21.exd5 (21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.exd5 e6 23.dxe6 fxe6=)
21...Nc4+ 22.Bxc4 bxc4 23.Kc2 Kd7=
20.Nb4 a5?!

20...Ra8 21.a4 bxa4 22.Rxa4 a5 23.Ra3 Bb7 24.Nc2²

21.Bxe5! Bxe5

485
21...dxe5? 22.Nc6 Rb6 23.Nxa5+-
22.Nc6 Rb6 23.Nxe5
23.Nxa5 b4 (23...Bd7 24.a3±) 24.Nc4 bxc3+ 25.bxc3 Bf4+ 26.Kc2 Rb8 27.a4±
23...dxe5 24.Bd3 Ke7
24...Kf8 25.Rh1 Kg7 26.Rh5 f6 27.b3 Rb8 28.Ke3²
25.Rh1 Bd7
¹25...b4 26.Rh8 (26.c4 Rc6 27.Rh5 Kf6 28.Rh8²) 26...bxc3+ 27.Kxc3 Ba6 28.Bxa6 Rxa6 29.b3²
26.Rh8 Be8 27.a3
27.Rg8 f6 28.Rg7+ Bf7 29.Rh7±
27...Rb8 28.Rg8 f6 29.Rg7+ Bf7

30.Rh7!± Rb6
30...a4 31.Kc2 Kf8 32.b4 axb3+ 33.Kxb3±
31.Be2
31.Kc2 Rb8 32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 Rb6 34.g4+-
31...Rb8 32.b4 axb4 33.axb4 Rb7 34.g4 Rb8 35.c4+- bxc4 36.Kc3 Ra8 37.Bxc4 Ra3+ 38.Bb3 Ra7
39.b5 Kd6 40.Kb4 Re7 41.b6 1-0

88. * B90
Nestorovic, Nikola (2456) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701)
Deutschland 152/88, 2022

486
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.a4 h6
8...Be7 9.a5 O-O 10.Be2 Bd8 (10...Nc6 - 122/78) 11.Nd2 (11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bg4 (12...f5
13.Nd2 Nd7 14.f3 Bh4+ (14...Nf6 15.c4²) 15.g3 Bf6 16.O-O b6 17.axb6 Nxb6 18.c4 a5∞) 13.O-O
Nd7 14.c4 f5∞; 11.O-O Nc6 12.Bb6 Qe7 (12...Qd7 13.Bxd8 Qxd8∞) 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd8 Nxd8
15.exd5 f5 16.Nd2 Nf7∞) 11...Be6

12.g4?!N (12.Nb3 Qd7 (12...Qc6 13.Bf3 b5 14.axb6 Bxb6 15.Bxb6 Qxb6 16.O-O Nbd7=) 13.O-O
Nc6 14.Bg5 Rc8 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Bd8=) 12...d5

13.g5? (13.exd5=) 13...d4 14.gxf6 Bxf6 (14...dxc3 15.bxc3 Bxf6-+) 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Nd5 Bxd5
17.exd5 Qe5 18.O-O Qxd5µ Ponkratov,P (2635)-Sarana,A (2675) chess.com (Int. -rapid) 152/(88)

487
2022
9.a5 Be6 10.Be2
10.Nd5 - 102/(184)
10...Nbd7 11.O-O Rc8 12.Ne1
12.Nd5!? Nxd5 (12...Qxc2?? 13.Rc1+-; 12...Bxd5 13.exd5 g6 14.c4 Bg7 15.b4²) 13.exd5 Bg4 14.c4
Be7 15.b4 O-O 16.Nd2 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 f5 18.f3²
12...Be7 13.Bf3

13...Qb8N
13...O-O
14.Nd3
14.Nd5 Bd8 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.b3 O-O 17.c4 b6 18.axb6 Bxb6 19.Rxa6 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Rfd8©
14...Rc4 15.Bd2 Qc8 16.Qe1 Bd8 17.b3 Rc6 18.Nb4 Rc5 19.Na4
19.Nd3 Rxa5 20.Na4 Rxa4 21.bxa4 (21.Rxa4 Qxc2³) 21...b6 (21...Qxc2 22.Ra3 O-O©) 22.Bb4 Be7
23.Ba3 O-O 24.Qe2 a5©
19...Rxa5 20.Nd5

488
20...Rxa4!
20...Rxd5!? 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.c4 (22.Qd1 Be7 23.c4 N5f6 24.Re1 O-O 25.Nc3 Re8©) 22...Ne7
(22...N5f6 23.Bb4 Be7 24.Nc3 O-O 25.Qe3²) 23.Bb4 Nf5 24.Be4²
21.Nxf6+
21.bxa4 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bb6©; 21.Rxa4 Bxd5 22.exd5 Qxc2 23.Be3 O-O 24.Qb4 Qc7 25.Rc1 Qb8
26.Ra2 Be7©
21...Nxf6 22.Rxa4 Qxc2

23.Qc1?!

489
23.Qe3 Qc7 24.Rc1 Qb8 25.Ra2 O-O 26.Rac2 Re8 27.h3 Bd7©
23...Qxc1 24.Rxc1 Bd7 25.Ra2 Ke7³ 26.Bb4 Bb6 27.Rd2 Ne8 28.Rcd1 Bc6 29.Kf1 h5
29...Bd4 30.Rxd4 exd4 31.Rxd4 f5³
30.h4
30.Bxd6+ Nxd6 31.Rxd6 Bd4 32.R1xd4 exd4 33.Rxd4 a5 34.Ke2 b5³
30...Rh6 31.Rc2 Nc7 32.Bd2 Rh8 33.Bb4 Nb5 34.Bc3 g6 35.Bb2 a5
35...Nd4 36.Bxd4 Bxd4 37.Rdc1 Bc5-+
36.Rcc1 Bd4 37.Rc2 Ra8 38.Bc1 Nc3 39.Re1 b5-+ 40.Be3 b4 41.Bxd4 Bb5+ 42.Kg1 exd4 43.Rd2
d3 44.Bd1 Nb1 45.Rb2 d2 0-1

89. B90
Ter Sahakyan, Samvel (2632) - Muradli, Mahammad (2537)
Terme Catez 152/89, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Nd5 Bxd5
10.exd5 Nbd7 11.Qd2 g6 12.Be2 Qc7 13.c4 a5 14.a4
14.Rd1 - 118/(78)
14...b6 15.O-O Bg7 16.Rae1 O-O 17.h3

17...Rab8N
17...Nc5; 17...h4 18.Bg5 Nh5 19.Bxh4 Nf4 20.g3 Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2 Bh6©
18.Nc1 Nc5 19.Bd1 Nfd7 20.g4

490
20...f5?!
20...hxg4! 21.hxg4 f5 22.gxf5 (22.Re2 Kf7 23.Bc2 f4 24.Bxc5 Nxc5 25.Rh2 Rh8∞) 22...gxf5 23.Rf2
f4 24.Bxc5 Nxc5 25.Bc2 Kf7 (25...e4!? 26.Bxe4 (26.fxe4? Be5 27.Rg2+ Kf7 28.Rf1 Ke8 29.Rf3
Rh8µ) 26...Rbe8 27.Rfe2 Qd8 28.Qc2 Qh4 (28...Re5 29.Bh7+ Kh8 30.Rxe5 Bxe5 31.Qh2 Kg7
32.Re2 Rh8 33.Rg2+ Kf7 34.Qh5+ Ke7∞) 29.Bh7+ Kh8 30.Rxe8 Bd4+ 31.Kg2 Qg3+ 32.Kh1
Qxf3+ (32...Qh3+=) 33.Qg2 Qh5+ 34.Qh2 Qf3+=) 26.Rh2 Rh8 27.Qg2 Rbg8 28.Bg6+ Kf8 29.Qg4
Bf6 30.Rxh8 Rxh8 31.Nd3 Qd7 32.Qxd7 Nxd7 33.Re2 Bh4 34.Bf5 Nf6=
21.gxh5 gxh5 22.Kh2 f4 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.Bc2 e4?!
24...Bf6 25.Rg1+ Kf7 26.Ne2 Rg8 27.Bf5²
25.Bxe4 Rbe8 26.Bb1 Re3
26...Qf7 27.Re2 Rxe2+ 28.Nxe2 Nb3 29.Qd1 Qe7 30.Bc2 Re8 31.Rf2 Nc5 32.Rg2±
27.Rxe3 fxe3 28.Qxe3 Qf7 29.f4 Re8 30.Qf3 Kf8 31.Ne2
31.Qg3! Qf6 32.Bg6 Re7 33.b3 Qb2+ 34.Kh1±
31...Qf6
31...Nb3 32.Rd1 Qf6 33.Nc3 Bh6 34.Kg2 Re7 35.Qxh5 Bxf4 36.Qf5²
32.Rf2 h4 33.Rg2 Nxa4 34.Bg6 Re7 35.Qg4 Rc7

491
36.Nd4! Qxd4
36...Nc5 37.Re2 Kg8 38.Nf5 a4 39.Re8+ Bf8 40.Kh1+-
37.Re2+- Be5 38.fxe5 Qxg4
38...dxe5 39.Be4 Nc5 40.Rg2 Rf7 41.Qxh4
39.hxg4 Ke7
39...dxe5 40.b3 Nc5 41.Rxe5 Nxb3 42.d6 Rd7 43.Re8+ Kg7 44.Re7+ Rxe7 45.dxe7
40.e6 Rxc4 41.Rf2 Rxg4 42.Rf7+ Ke8 43.Bd3 Rb4 44.Rh7 1-0

90. B90
Xiong, Jeffery (2686) - Nyzhnyk, Illya (2674)
Saint Louis 152/90, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.O-
O-O Qc7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.g3 Be7 13.h4
13.Nd5 - 114/76
13...b5 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 O-O

492
18.Rhe1N
18.g4 hxg4 19.fxg4 Qc4∞
18...g6
18...f5 19.Qd2 Bd8 (19...Bf6∞) 20.f4 Qc4 21.fxe5 dxe5∞; 18...Bd8!? 19.Bd2 Qc4∞
19.f4?!
19.g4 hxg4 (19...Nf6 20.g5 Nd7 21.Nd2²) 20.fxg4 Qc4 21.Qd2 Qxg4 22.h5 (22.Na5 Qh5 (22...f5
23.Nc6 Bf6 24.Rg1 Qh5 25.Rxg6+ Qxg6 26.Rg1 Qxg1+ 27.Bxg1±) 23.Nc6 Rfe8 24.Qa5 Bf8
25.Qxa6 f5 26.Rg1 f4 27.Bd2 Nf6∞) 22...Qxh5 23.Rh1 Bh4 24.Qb4 Rc4 25.Qxd6 Nf6 26.Rc1²
19...exf4 20.gxf4

493
20.Bxf4 Bf6 21.c3 Rfe8 22.a3 Bg7 23.Nd4 Ne5 24.Qf1 Qd7³
20...Qc4!
20...Bxh4?! 21.Rg1 Bf6 22.Bd4 Kg7 23.Rg2 Rfe8 24.Qf3±
21.Qd2
21.Bf2 Qxd3 22.Rxd3 Bf6µ
21...Bxh4 22.Rf1 Rfe8 23.f5 Bf6µ 24.Rf4

24...Qxc2+! 25.Qxc2 Rxc2 26.Kxc2 Rxe3 27.fxg6 fxg6 28.Nd2 Kg7

494
28...Be5 29.Rf3 Re2 30.Rdf1 Rg2 31.R3f2 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 Kg7 33.Ne4 Nf6-+
29.Rdf1
29.Re4 Rxe4 30.Nxe4 Be5-+
29...Re2 30.Kd1 Re7-+ 31.Ne4 Be5 32.R4f3 Nb6 33.Ra3 Bxb2 34.Rxa6 Nxd5 0-1

91. B90
Mista, Aleksander (2541) - Mishra, Abhimanyu (2505)
Charlotte 152/91, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3 Be6 9.Qd2 h5 10.O-O-
O Nbd7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.h4 b5 13.Bg5 O-O

14.g4N
14.a3 - 141/72
14...hxg4 15.fxg4 Bxg4
15...b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bxg4 18.Bxa6 (18.Rc1 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Rxc5 20.Rg1 f5³) 18...Bxd1
19.Bxc8 Bh5 (19...Bf3 20.Rf1 f6 21.Bxd7 Qxd7 22.Rxf3 Qg4 23.Qd1 e4 24.Rf1 Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1
fxg5 26.hxg5 Bxg5 27.c3 bxc3 28.bxc3 Bf6 29.Kc2 Rc8 30.Nd4 Kf7∞) 20.Ba6 f6 21.Be3∞
16.Re1 b4 17.Nd5
17.Nd1 a5 18.Qg2 a4 19.Nd2 Be6 20.Be2 Kh8∞
17...Nxd5 18.exd5

495
18...f6! 19.Rg1?!
19.Be3 a5 20.Ba6 Ra8 21.Be2 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 f5 23.Nd2 Nf6µ
19...Bf5 20.Bh6 Rxc2 21.Rxg7+ Kh8 22.Bd3 Rxd2 23.Bxf5

23...Rg2! 24.Rxg2
24.Nd4 Rxg7 25.Bxg7+ Kxg7 26.Ne6+ Kh6 27.Nxd8 Rxd8-+
24...Rg8 25.Reg1 Rxg2 26.Rxg2 Bf8 27.Be3 Qe8-+ 28.Bg6 Qc8 29.Nd2 Qb7 30.Bf7
30.Be4 Qb5 31.Rf2 Nb6

496
30...Nc5 31.Rg8+ Kh7 32.Rxf8 Kg7 33.Rd8 Qc7 34.Bxc5 Qxd8 35.Bxb4 Kxf7 36.Nc4 Qg8
37.Nxd6+ Kg6 38.h5+ Kxh5 39.Ne4 0-1

92. B94
Gadimbayli, Abdulla (2451) - Navara, David (2700)
Terme Catez 152/92, 2022

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 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bd6 15.Qd2
15.Nd2 - 138/111
15...f5 16.g4 f4

17.g5?!N

497
17.Bd3 Kf7 18.Qe2 g5 19.Qe4 gxh4 20.Qg6+ Kf8 21.g5 h5 22.Bf5 Nc5 (22...Nb6 23.Qf6+ Kg8
24.Qg6+ Kf8=) 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.d6 Bxf5 25.Qf6+ Qf7 26.Qxh8+ Qg8 27.Qf6+ Qf7=
17...hxg5?
17...e4! 18.Nd4 (18.gxh6 O-O 19.Nd4 e3 20.Qg2 Ne5µ; 18.Qd4 Ne5 19.Qxe4 Bf5 20.Qg2 f3
21.Qd2 Nc4 22.Qc3 O-O 23.Bxc4 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 bxc4 25.Nd4 Bf4+ 26.Kb1 hxg5µ) 18...Ne5
19.gxh6 e3 20.Qg2 O-Oµ
18.Bxg5 Nb6 19.Bd3 Bf5 20.Qe2 Kf7
20...O-O!? 21.Nd2 (21.Bh6 e4! 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.Bxe4 Re8 24.Rd4 Be5³) 21...Rac8 22.Bxf5 Rxf5
23.Ne4 Bf8∞
21.Nd4!? Bxd3 22.Rxd3 Nxd5?

498
22...Rae8 23.Ne6 Qc4! 24.b3 Qc8 25.Rhd1 Ba3+ 26.Kb1 Nxd5 27.Rxd5 Qxe6 28.Rd7+ Kg8 29.Qe4
(29.b4 Bxb4 30.Qe4 Bf8 31.Rc7 Rh7 32.Rc6 Qf7 33.Rf6 Qc4 34.Qxg6+ Rg7 35.Qxe8 Qb4+ 36.Kc1
Qa3+ 37.Kb1 Qb4+=) 29...Rxh2 30.b4 Rf8 31.Rd8 Qf5 32.Rxf8+ Kxf8 33.Qc6 Qxg5 34.Qc8+ Kf7
35.Rd7+ Qe7 36.Rxe7+ Kxe7 37.Qb7+ Kf8 38.Qb8+ Kf7=
23.Nf5! gxf5
23...Be7 24.Nxe7 Nxe7 25.Rhd1 Rhd8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Qxe5+-
24.Rxd5 Rae8
24...Rag8 25.Rhd1 Rg6 26.h4 Kg8 27.Qd3 e4 28.Qd4+-; 24...Rac8 25.Rhd1 f3 26.Qf2+-
25.Qd3 e4
25...Ke6 26.Rd1 Rd8 27.Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Qb3+-
26.Qb3
26.Rxf5+ Kg6 27.Qd5 Re5 28.Rxe5 Bxe5 29.Qe6+ Kh7 (29...Kxg5 30.Rg1+ Kh4 31.Qg4#)
30.Rd1+-
26...Kg7 27.Rg1+- Qb6

499
28.Bh6+! Kh7
28...Kf6 29.Rxd6+! Qxd6 30.Bg5+ Kg7 31.Be7+ Qg6 32.Rxg6+ Kxg6 33.Qe6+
29.Rc5! Be5 30.Qh3
30.Qf7+ Kxh6 31.Qxf5
30...Re6 31.Bxf4+
31.Rc7+ Qxc7 32.Qxf5+ Kxh6 33.Qh3#
31...Rh6 32.Qxf5+ 1-0

93. B96
Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701) - Sarana, Alexey (2685)
Beograd 152/93, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5
10.a3 Rb8 11.g4
11.Nd5 - 16/472
11...h6 12.Bh4 Be7 13.Bg2 b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 15.Be1 Qb6 16.Bf2

500
16...Rxb2N

16...Qc7 17.h4 (17.Bf3 Nb6 18.Na2 Ra4 19.Kb1 d5∞) 17...h5 18.g5 Ng4∞
17.Ndb5! Qa5
17...Nc5 18.Kxb2 O-O (18...Nfd7 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 20.Kc1 axb5 21.Qxb5+ Nd7 22.Qxb6 Nxb6
23.h4+-) 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.e5 Nd7 21.Rhe1±
18.Kxb2 Qb4+ 19.Kc1 axb5

501
20.Kd2!
20.Nb1? Nc5 21.c3 Qa5µ
20...O-O
20...g5 21.Rb1 Qc4 22.Rxb5 Qxe2+ 23.Nxe2 gxf4 (23...Nxg4 24.Bd4 e5 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Bc3±)
24.h3 (24.Nxf4 Nxg4 25.Bg3 Bg5 26.h4 Bf6 27.Nd3²) 24...Ba6 25.Rb3 Bxe2 26.Kxe2 O-O
27.Rhb1²
21.Rb1 Qa5 22.Rxb5
22.Qxb5 Qc7 23.h3 g5 24.Ra1 gxf4 25.Ra7 Qd8 26.Rb1²
22...Qc7?
22...Qa8 23.g5 (23.h4 Ba6 24.g5 Bxb5 25.Qxb5 Rb8 26.Qe2 Nh7 27.gxh6 Qa5³; 23.Rg1 Ba6 24.e5
d5! 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Rgb1 Bxc3+ 27.Kxc3 Bxb5 28.Rxb5 Qa4 29.Kd2 Rc8 30.Kd1 Qa1+ 31.Kd2
Qa4=) 23...hxg5 24.fxg5 Nh7 25.h4 Ba6∞
23.Ra1 Rd8
23...Nc5 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.e5 Nd7 26.Rbb1+-
24.Ra7+- Qc6

502
25.Nd5!
25.Nd5 Re8 (25...exd5 26.exd5) 26.Nb4
1-0

94. * B96
Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2672)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/94, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5
10.a3 Rb8 11.g4
11.Nd5 - 16/472
11...Be7 12.Bg2 h6 13.Bh4 b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 15.Be1 Qb6 16.Bf2 Qc7
16...Nc5 17.e5! dxe5 18.Nc6 Rxf4

503
19.Be3N (19.Rhf1

19...Rxf2! (19...Qc7 20.Bxc5 Rxf1 21.Bxe7 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Bb7 23.Bd6 Qb6 24.Ba3+-) 20.Qxf2
Bd7 21.Nxe5 (21.Nxe7 Kxe7 22.Ne4 Na4 23.Qxb6 Nxb6 24.Nxf6 gxf6 25.Rf3 Bc6 26.Rb3 Bxg2
27.Rxb6 Ra8∞) 21...O-O 22.h4 Rb8 23.Nc4 Qb4∞) 19...Rxg4 20.Nxe7 (20.Nxe5 Rg5! 21.Na4 Qc7
22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Bc6+ Kf8∞) 20...Kxe7 21.Qf2 Rc4 22.Na4 Nb3+! 23.Kb1 Rxa4
24.cxb3 Qxb3 25.Bc5+ Ke8 26.Bc6+ Bd7 27.Bxa4 Qxa4? (27...Bxa4 28.Rhf1 (28.Ba3? Ne4-+)
28...Bb5 29.Ba3 Bxf1 30.Rxf1 Qb7∞) 28.Ba3 Qc6 29.Rhg1+- Nd5 30.Rxg7 f6 31.Qa7 Qc7 32.Qxc7
Nxc7 33.Re7+ 1-0 (33) Maghsoodloo,P (2701)-Bok,B (2624) chess.com (Int. -rapid) 152/(94) 2022
17.h4 h5 18.g5 Ng4

504
19.Bg1N
19.Be1 Qc5 (19...Qb6? 20.Nd5! exd5 21.Bxb4 Qxb4 22.exd5+-) 20.Qd2 Nb6 (20...Rb8 21.Na4 Qc7
22.Bf3 Bb7 23.g6 fxg6 24.Qe2 Nf8 25.Nc3²) 21.Nb3 Qc7 22.Rh3 O-O 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Ra4∞
19...Nc5
19...O-O 20.Rh3 (20.Nf5!? exf5 21.Nd5 Qa5 22.Nxe7+ Kh8 23.Nc6 Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Qxb2 25.Nxb4
Qxb4+ 26.Kc1 Nc5³; 20.Bf3 Nb6∞) 20...Nc5 21.f5 g6∞
20.e5 d5?!
20...Bb7! 21.Nf5 dxe5 22.Nxg7+ Kf8 23.Nxh5 Na4! 24.Qxg4 Nxc3 (24...Rxb2 25.Rh3 Bxg2
26.Qxg2 Ba3! 27.Nb5 Rxc2+ 28.Kb1 Rc1+ 29.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 30.Ka2 axb5 31.Qa8+ Ke7 32.Qb7+
Kf8 33.Qa8+ Ke7=) 25.bxc3 Qxc3 26.g6 fxg6 27.Qxg6 Rg8 28.Qh6+ Kf7 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Qh6+=
21.Bxd5

505
21.f5! Bb7 (21...Nxe5 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Bh2 Bd6 24.Rhf1±; 21...Qxe5 22.Nc6 Qxe2 23.Nxe2 Rc4
24.fxe6 Bxe6 25.Nxe7 Kxe7 26.Nc3±) 22.f6 Bf8 23.Nf5! exf5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Bxd5±
21...Bb7!
21...exd5 22.Nxd5 Qb7 23.Nxb4 Qxb4 24.Rh3 Bd7 25.Qe1±
22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Rh3 Rxb2 24.Qf3 O-O 25.Nc6?

25.Qxb7 Rxb7 26.Nc6 Rc8 27.Nxe7+ Rxe7 28.Bxc5 Rxc5 29.Ne4 Ra5 30.Rdd3 Kh7 31.Ra3 Rxa3
32.Rxa3 Rd7 33.Nd6 f6=

506
25...Nb3+! 26.cxb3
26.Kxb2 Nd4+-+
26...Ba3! 27.Rd2
27.Nd4 Rf2+-+
27...Qxb3 28.Rxb2 Qxb2+ 29.Kd1 Qc1+ 30.Ke2 Qxg1 31.Ne4 Qc1 32.Qc3 Qxf4 33.Qc4
33.Qd4 Bb2 34.Nf6+ Qxf6 35.exf6 Bxd4 36.Nxd4 gxf6-+
33...Nxe5 34.Nxe5 Qxe5-+ 35.Re3 Qh2+ 36.Nf2 Rb8 37.Rf3 Rb2+ 38.Kf1 Rb1+ 39.Ke2 Qe5+
40.Ne4 Rb4 41.Qc8+ Kh7 42.Re3 Rxe4 43.Qc3 Rxe3+ 0-1

95. * B96
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Hakobyan, Aram (2612)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/95, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.a3 Nc6
9...Bd7!? 10.Qd2 (10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nc6 12.O-O-O Rc8 13.Nb3 b5 14.Kb1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4
16.Rd4 Rb8„ (16...Qb8)) 10...Be7 11.Bf2 Qc7 12.Be2 Nc6 (12...O-O 13.g4ƒ) 13.O-O-O b5 14.g4 b4
15.axb4 Nxb4 16.g5 hxg5 17.fxg5 Nh5„
10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Be2
11.Qf3 - 113/(92)
11...Be7
11...Bd7 12.Qd3

507
12...Rc8N (12...Be7) 13.O-O-O b5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Kb1 (15.f5! exf5 (15...e5 16.Bh4²) 16.exf5 Be7
17.Bf3 d5 18.Bg3 Qb7 19.Be5²) 15...Qb7 16.Bf3 Be7 17.Rhe1 O-O

18.g4?! (18.Qd4 Rfe8∞) 18...a5 19.Nd5 exd5 20.exd5 Be8µ Bernadskiy,V (2606) -Blohberger,F
(2504) Terme Catez 152/(95) 2022
12.Qd3 Bd7 13.O-O
13.O-O-O b5 (13...Nxd4) 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.f5 O-O∞
13...O-O

14.Rae1!?N

508
14.Qg3 e5 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5 d5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.Kh1 Ne4=; 14.Rad1
14...Rac8
14...Rab8!? 15.Qg3 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Kh1 Rbc8 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Rfd8 20.Be3 Kf8 21.Bd3
Nd4 22.Qh3 b5 23.Bc1 (∆ Re3ƒ) 23...a5 24.Nxb5 Nxb5 25.Bxb5 Qxc2 26.Bxh6 Qxb2 27.a4 gxh6
28.Qxh6+ Kg8 29.Re3 Rc3™=
15.Qg3

15...Qb8
¹15...e5 16.fxe5 (16.Nb3 exf4 17.Qxf4 Ne5 18.Nd4 Rfe8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Qc6 21.Rd1 Bd8!?
22.Kh1 Re6∞) 16...dxe5 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Nd4 19.Bd3 Bxa3 20.Be3 Bc5! 21.Kh1 e4 22.Nxe4
Qxg3 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.hxg3 Nxc2=
16.Bd3
16.Bf3 e5 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5

509
18...exf4! (18...Bd8 19.Nd5 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Qf2 Nxd5 (21...Rc5!?) 22.Bxd5 Bf6 (22...Qc7
23.Be4 Bf6 24.Kh1²) 23.g4ƒ) 19.Qxf4 Ne5 20.Bd4 b5 21.Kh1 Rfe8 (21...b4 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Bd5!
ƒ) 22.Re2 (22.Qd2 Bd8 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Bf6 25.Re3 Nd7 26.Rg3 Kf8∞) 22...Bd8! 23.Rfe1
Bb6 24.Bxb6 Qxb6 25.Nd5 Qd8∞; 16.Be3 b5 17.Bd3 Kh8 18.Nxc6 Bxc6 19.Bd4ƒ ∆b4 20.Nd5!
exd5 21.exd5 Bd8 22.dxc6 Bb6 23.Bxb6 Qxb6+ 24.Qf2 Qxf2+ 25.Kxf2 bxa3 26.bxa3 Rxc6 27.Re7
Nd5 28.Re4 g6 29.Ra4²
16...Nxd4?!
16...Nh5 17.Qf3 Nf6 18.Nxc6 (18.Nb3 b5 19.g4 b4 20.Ne2 e5 21.f5 d5„) 18...Bxc6 19.Ne2 d5
20.e5 Ne4 21.Be3²; 16...e5!? 17.Nxc6 (17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Rfe8 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Be4 b5 21.Nd5
Rc4„) 17...Bxc6 (17...bxc6 18.fxe5 Ng4 (18...dxe5 19.Bxa6 Rcd8 20.b4 Ng4 21.Bc4 Nxf2 22.Rxf2
Qa7 23.Nd1²) 19.Bxa6 Rcd8 20.e6! Bxe6 (20...Nxf2 21.exd7 Qb6 22.Rxf2 Qxa6 23.Nd1±) 21.Bd4
Ne5 22.Nd1²) 18.Nd5!? Bxd5 19.exd5 Nh5 20.Qf3 Nxf4 21.Bf5 Rce8 22.Be3© Ng6!? (22...Bg5
23.h4!) 23.Qh5 Qc7!? 24.Bxh6 gxh6 25.Qxh6 Bf6 26.Rf3 (26.Re4 Qxc2 27.Bxg6 fxg6 28.Qxg6+
Bg7 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.Qe6+ Rf7=) 26...Bg7 27.Qh5 Re7 28.Ref1 e4! 29.Rh3 Rd8 30.Bxg6 Bd4+
31.Kh1 fxg6 32.Qxg6+ Rg7 33.Qh5 Rh7=
17.Bxd4ƒ ×Qb8 17...e5
17...Ne8 18.Nd1!? ∆ Ne3±
18.fxe5 Nh5 19.Qf3 dxe5 20.Nd5± Bg5

510
20...Qd6 21.Bc3 Rxc3 22.Nxc3 Nf4 23.Kh1±
21.h4! Bd8 22.Qxh5 exd4 23.e5 Rc5 24.Qf3 Bc6
24...Qc8 25.Qe4 g6 26.Rxf7! Rxf7 27.e6 Rf5 28.Qg4+-
25.Qf5
25.h5! Bxd5 26.Qf5 g6 27.hxg6+-
25...g6 26.Nf6+ Kg7
26...Bxf6 27.Qxf6 Qd8 28.Qf4 Kg7 29.b4 Rd5 30.Qg3 Qe7 31.Bc4 Rdd8 32.Rf6+-
27.Qf4 Bb5

511
28.h5
28.Bxg6! Bxf1 (28...fxg6 29.Nh5++-) 29.Ne8+ Kxg6 30.Qg4+ Bg5 31.Qe4+ f5 32.exf6+ Rf5
33.h5+ Kxh5 34.Ng7+ Kg6 35.Qxf5+ Kf7 36.Re7+ Kg8 37.Ne6+-
28...Bxd3 29.cxd3 Be7 30.Nd7 Qc8 31.Nxf8 Qxf8 32.hxg6 fxg6 33.Qxf8+ Bxf8 34.e6 Rc7 35.Re4
Bd6 36.b4 Re7 37.g4 Bc7 38.Kg2 a5 39.Rxd4 axb4 40.axb4 1-0

96. B97
Durarbayli, Vasif (2628) - Kaasen, Tor Fredrik (2460)
Terme Catez 152/96, 2022

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3
10.Be2 Nbd7 11.O-O Be7 12.f5 Ne5
12...e5 - 151/96
13.fxe6 fxe6 14.Rb3
14.Kh1
14...Qa5 15.Bh5+ Ng6
15...Nxh5 16.Bxe7 Qc7! (16...Kxe7?? 17.Nd5++-) 17.Bh4 Rf8 18.Nf5! exf5 19.Nd5 Qb8 20.Rc3
Nf6 21.Nc7+ Kd7 22.Rxf5 Qxc7 23.Rxc7+ Kxc7 24.Rxe5 dxe5 25.Qa5+ Kd7 26.Qxe5©
16.Bxg6+ hxg6 17.Nf3

512
17...Rh5N
17...Qc7 18.Nh4 (18.h3 O-O 19.Nh4 Qc5+ 20.Qe3 Kh7 21.Nf3 b5 22.Qxc5 dxc5 23.Bh4 c4
24.Rbb1 Ba3µ) 18...Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Rh5 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nxg6 Qg5 22.Nf4 Qh6 23.h3 e5 24.Ncd5!
exf4 25.Nc7+ Kf7 26.Nxa8 Bxh3 27.gxh3 Rxh3+ 28.Rxh3 Qxh3+ 29.Kg1 Bd4+ 30.Qxd4 Qg3+
31.Kh1 Qh3+=
18.h3?!
18.e5! dxe5 19.Qd3 e4 (19...Kf7 20.g4! Rh8 21.Nh4±) 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Bxe7 Qd5 (21...Kxe7
22.Qxe4 Qc5+ 23.Kh1 Qf5 24.Rxb7++-) 22.g4! Qxd3 23.Rxd3 Rd5 24.Ba3 g5 (24...Bd7 25.Ne5!±)
25.h4! gxh4 26.Ne5 Nf6 27.Rxd5 exd5 28.g5 Nd7 29.Ng6 Nb6 30.Bc5 Nc4 31.Bd4±
18...Bd7 19.Be3 b5 20.Qf2 Qc7 21.Qg3 Kf7 22.Nh4 b4?

513
22...Rxh4! 23.Qxh4 Kg8 24.e5 dxe5 25.Ne4 Qxc2 26.Nxf6+ Bxf6 27.Bg5 (27.Rxf6 gxf6 28.Qxf6
Rf8 29.Qxe5 Rf5 30.Qg3 Be8 31.Qb8 Rf8 32.Qg3 Rf5=) 27...Qc5+ 28.Kh2 Qc4 29.Bxf6 Qxf1
30.Rf3 Qc4 31.Qg5 Bc6 32.Qxg6 Ra7 33.Rf2 Qd4 34.Bxg7 Rxg7 35.Qxe6+ Kh7 36.Qf5+ Kh6
37.Qf6+ Kh7=
23.Nxg6! Bd8
23...bxc3 24.Nxe7 Rf8 25.Bb6 Qc4 26.e5 Rxe5 27.Ng6+-
24.e5! bxc3
24...dxe5 25.Ne4 Ba4 26.Rxb4 Bxc2 27.Rb7+-
25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Qf3?
26.Nh4! Rah8 (26...Rf5 27.Nxf5 exf5 28.Qf2 Be6 29.Rb6 Be5 30.Bd4+-) 27.Rxf6+ gxf6 28.Qg6+
Ke7 29.Qg7+ Ke8 30.Bb6 Qc8 31.Bd4 Rxh4 32.Qg6+ Kd8 33.Qxf6+ Ke8 34.Qg6+ Kd8 35.Bxh8
Rxh8 36.Qf6+ Kc7 37.Qxc3+ Bc6 38.Qg7+ Bd7 39.Rc3++-
26...Rf5 27.Qxa8 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qc4+ 29.Kg1 Kxg6 30.Qf3 Bc6 31.Qg3+ Kh7
31...Kf7 32.Rb6 (32.Qxd6 Qe2 33.Qg3 Bd5 34.Rxc3 Bxc3 35.Qc7+ Kf6 36.Qf4+ Ke7 37.Qc7+
Kf6=) 32...Ke7 33.Rb8 Kd7 34.Qg6 Kc7©
32.Rb6

514
32...Bd5?
32...Be5 33.Qg4 (33.Qf2 Bd5©) 33...Qxg4 34.hxg4 Be4 35.Rxa6 Bxc2 36.Kf2 Bd3 37.Rc6 Be4
38.Rc4 Bd3=
33.Qg4! Qxg4 34.hxg4 Bxa2 35.Rxa6
35.Rxd6 a5 36.g5 Be7 37.Rc6 a4 38.Rxc3 a3 39.Bc5 Bxc5+ 40.Rxc5 Bd5 41.Ra5 a2 42.Kf2±
35...Bb1 36.Rxd6 Bxc2?
36...Kg6 37.g5 Be5 38.Rc6 Bxc2 39.Rc5 Bg3 40.Rxc3 Be4 41.Bd2 Bd6 42.Rc4 Bd5 43.Ra4²
37.g5 Be7 38.Rxe6 Ba3 39.Rc6 Bb2 40.Bd4 Be4 41.Rc7 Kg6 42.Rxg7+ Kh5 43.Rc7 Kxg5
44.Bxc3+- Ba3 45.Bd2+ Kf5 46.Rc4 Bd5 47.Ra4 Bc5+ 48.Kh2 Bd6+ 49.Kh3 Be6 50.g4+ Kf6
51.Kh4 Bc5 52.Bc3+ Kg6 53.Bd4 Be7+ 54.Kh3 Bg5 55.Ra6 Kf7 56.Ra7+ Kg6 57.Kg3 Bd2
58.Rg7+ Kh6 59.Re7 1-0

515
C00-C24

97. ** C07
Azarov, Sergei (2588) - Nihal, Sarin (2646)
Sharjah 152/97, 2022

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.Qe2 e5
9...Qc7 - 116/92
10.exd5 cxd5 11.c4 Ne7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nc4
13.Be4 Nf4 14.Qa6 Bc5 15.O-O Rb8 16.Nb3 Bb6 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Rad1 O-O 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7
20.Qd3+ Kg8 21.Qxd7 Qf6=
13...Bb4+ 14.Bd2 O-O 15.O-O
15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qe4+ Kg8 17.Qxd5

17...a5N - 152/(97) (17...Rb8; 17...Qe7; 17...Bxd2+N 18.Qxd2 Be6 19.Rc1 Rc8 20.b3 Bxc4 21.bxc4
Rc5= Teclaf,P (2537)-Piorun,K (2635) Polska (ch-m/1) 152/(97) 2022) 18.Bxb4 axb4 19.O-O Be6
20.Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.Nxe5 Rd2 (21...Rxa2 22.Rxa2 Bxa2 23.Nc6 Rd2 24.Nxb4 Be6=) 22.b3 Raxa2
23.Rxa2 Rxa2 24.Nd3 Bxb3 25.Nxb4 Rd2 26.Nc6 Bd5 27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Nxd5 Rxd5 29.h4 g5
30.hxg5 Rxg5 1/2 (30) Svanda,O (2310)-Mica,M (2277) Cesko 152/(97) 2022
15...Bxd2 16.Qxd2 Nf4

516
17.Be4N
17.Rfd1 Ba4 18.b3 Qxd3 19.Qxd3 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Bb5=
17...Bb5! 18.Bxa8 Qxa8 19.Ne3 Rd8 20.Qc2 Bxf1 21.Rxf1 h5 22.Qc7
22.Rd1=
22...f6 23.Qc4+ Kh8 24.Qc2 Qb7 25.h3 Rd3 26.Re1 Qe4 27.Kh2 Kh7 28.Rc1 h4 29.b3 a5 30.Qc6
Qg6 31.Qc2
31.Rd1 Rxd1 32.Nxd1 Qb1 33.Ne3 Qxa2 34.Qe4+=
31...f5 32.Kh1
32.Rd1 e4 33.Rxd3 Nxd3 34.Kg1=
32...e4 33.Rg1 Ne6 34.Re1?
34.Kh2 Qf6 35.Rd1 Qe5+ 36.Kh1 Qd4ƒ
34...f4 35.Ng4

517
35...Qf5?
35...f3! 36.gxf3 Nd4 37.Qc8 Nxf3 38.Rc1 Rd2-+
36.Qc6
36.f3! Nd4 (36...exf3?? 37.Rxe6 fxg2+ 38.Kg1!+-; 36...Ng5 37.fxe4 Nxe4 38.Kh2∞) 37.Qf2 e3
38.Qxh4+ Kg6 39.Qe7 Rd2 40.Ne5+ Kh7 41.Qh4+ Kg8 42.Qd8+ Kh7 43.Qh4+=
36...Ng5

36...Rd4 37.Qe8 f3 38.gxf3 Qxf3+ 39.Kg1 Qf5∞

518
37.Qc7??
37.Qe8! f3 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Qe8+ Qf8 (39...Kh7 40.Qh5+=) 40.Qxf8+ Kxf8 41.gxf3 Rxf3 42.Kg2
Rxh3 43.Rxe4=
37...f3-+ 38.Re3 Rd1+ 39.Kh2 fxg2 0-1

98. C10
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2759) - Rapport, Richard (2776)
Bucuresti 152/98, 2022

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e5 f6 5.Bb5 Qd7

5...Bd7 - 126/90
6.Nf3 a6 7.Bxc6 Qxc6 8.O-O

8.Ne2!?
8...Ne7N
8...Bd7? 9.exf6 Nxf6 (9...gxf6 10.Ne5! fxe5 11.Qh5+ Kd8 12.Qxe5+-) 10.Ne5 Qb6 11.a4+-
9.exf6 gxf6 10.Nh4 h5 11.Qf3 Bg7 12.b3
12.Re1! Bd7 13.b3 O-O-O 14.Ba3 Bf8 (14...Rhe8 15.Bxe7 Rxe7 16.Nxd5 Ree8 17.Nf4 Qxc2
18.Rac1±) 15.Bxe7 (15.Qxf6 Nf5!„) 15...Bxe7

519
16.Nxd5! Ba3 17.Nf4 (17.Nxf6 Rhf8 18.Qxc6 Bxc6 19.Rxe6 Bb2 20.Rae1 Bxd4 21.Rxc6 Bxf2+
22.Kxf2 bxc6 23.Re6 Rd6 24.Re8+ Rd8 25.Re6 Rd6=) 17...Qxc2 18.Nxe6 Bxe6 19.Re2! (19.Rxe6
Rxd4„) 19...Qh7 20.Rxe6 Rxd4 21.Rae1±
12...e5! 13.Ba3 Bg4 14.Qg3 Rg8 15.Bxe7
15.Rae1 Nf5 16.Nxf5 Bxf5 17.dxe5 (17.Qf3 Be6 18.dxe5 fxe5 19.Qxh5+ Kd7©) 17...O-O-O 18.Be7
Rde8 19.Qf3 Bg4 20.Qxd5 Qxc3 21.Re3 Qb2 22.h3 Bd7 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Rd1 Rd8 25.Bxd8 Rxd8∞;
15.f4!? exd4 (15...e4 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.f5 Bh6 18.Ng6+ Kd8∞) 16.Rae1 Qxc3 17.Qxc3 (17.Rxe7+
Kd8∞) 17...dxc3 18.h3 O-O-O 19.hxg4 Nc6 20.gxh5 d4∞
15...Kxe7 16.Rae1 e4 17.Na4
17.Nxd5+!? Qxd5 18.Qxc7+ Qd7 (18...Bd7 19.c4 Qc6 20.Qf4 Kf7 21.d5 Qb6 22.Qxe4 Bf8∞)
19.Rxe4+ Kf7 20.Qc4+ Be6 21.Qd3 Bf8∞; 17.Qe3! Kd7 18.f3 exf3 19.Qe7+ Kc8 20.Nxf3 (20.Qf7
Rd8 21.Qxg7 Qxc3 22.Qxf6 fxg2 23.Nxg2 a5!∞) 20...Kb8 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.dxc5²
17...f5 18.f3
18.h3

520
18...f4! 19.Qh2 (19.Qxf4? Raf8 20.Qh2 Bd7 21.c4 Kd8! 22.cxd5 Qxd5 23.Ng6 Rf6 24.Ne5 Bxa4
25.bxa4 Bh6-+) 19...Bd7 20.c4 Raf8³
18...Bxd4+ 19.Kh1

19...f4! 20.Qxf4 Raf8 21.Qd2 Bf6 22.fxe4

22.Qf2 Bg5∞
22...dxe4 23.Rxe4+
23.Nf3 b6 24.Rxe4+ (24.Nd4 Qd5 25.Nf5+ Ke6 26.Qxd5+ Kxd5ƒ) 24...Qxe4 25.Re1 Qxe1+
26.Qxe1+ Kd8 27.Qe4=

521
23...Qxe4 24.Re1 Qxe1+ 25.Qxe1+ Kd8 26.h3 Bxh3! 27.gxh3 Bd4 28.Qd1
28.Ng2 Rf3 29.Qh4+ Bf6 30.Qc4 (30.Qxh5?? Rf1+ 31.Kh2 Be7!-+) 30...Rxh3+ 31.Kg1 Rhg3
32.Qd5+ Kc8 33.Nc5 Rxg2+ 34.Kf1 Rg1+ 35.Ke2 R1g2+=; 28.c3 Rg1+ 29.Qxg1 Bxg1 30.Kxg1
b6=
28...Rg1+ 29.Qxg1 Bxg1 30.Kxg1 Rf4 31.Ng2 Rf3 32.h4 b6= 33.Nb2 Rc3 34.Ne1 Rh3 35.Ng2 Rc3
36.Ne1 Rh3 37.Ng2 1/2-1/2

522
C25-C49

99. C28
Adhiban, Baskaran (2648) - Karthikeyan, Murali (2622)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/99, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5 5.Qf3

5.Nf3 - 150/97
5...d6 6.h3 Be7 7.Nge2 Nxc4 8.dxc4 Be6 9.b3 c6 10.O-O Qd7 11.Ng3

11...Rd8N
11...h5!? 12.Rd1 h4 13.Nf1 Qc7 14.Bg5 Nh5! 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Rd2 O-O-O 17.a4 Qf6 18.Qe3

523
18...Rh6!„ (18...Kb8 19.Rad1 Bc8 20.Ne2 g5 21.Nh2²) 19.Qxa7 Rg6 20.Qa8+ (20.Kh1? Bxh3!-+)
20...Kd7 21.Rxd6+ Kxd6 22.Rd1+ Kc7 23.Qa5+ Kc8 24.Qa8+=; 11...O-O
12.Rd1 O-O 13.Bg5
13.a4!? a5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Rd3² ∆Nxe4?! 16.Ngxe4 d5 17.Nc5 d4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qe2 dxe3
20.Qxe3 Rxd3 21.Qxd3±
13...h6 14.Be3 b6
14...b5 15.cxb5 (15.Nd5?! cxd5 16.cxd5 Bxh3!→) 15...cxb5 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Rc8 18.Qf5 Rc7!
∞
15.a4 d5 16.cxd5
16.Bxh6?! gxh6 17.exd5 cxd5 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nf5 Bg5! 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Qg4 Kh7 (21...Qe6
22.h4 Bb7 23.hxg5 h5 24.Qh3→) 22.c4 Kg6! 23.Nh4+ Kh7 24.Nf5=
16...cxd5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nh5!?±
18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.Nxd5 Bd6 20.c4 Qe6 21.a5 Bc2 22.Rdc1 e4 23.Qh5 Bxb3 24.axb6 axb6 25.Rab1
Ba4 26.Rxb6±
18...Qc6 19.Qg3 g6 20.Nxd5 Rxd5 21.Bxh6 Rfd8
21...Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Qxc2 23.Rd3! Qe2 24.Rf3 Rd8 25.Nf6+±
22.Rxd5 Qxd5

524
23.Bg5
23.Bg7! gxh5 24.Bh6+ Bg4™ 25.hxg4 Kh7 26.Be3 h4 27.Qf3±
23...Bxg5 24.Qxg5 Kf8?!
24...Qd2 25.Nf6+ Kf8 26.a5!?²
25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Qg5+ Kf8 27.Nf6
27.Ng3±
27...Qd2 28.Qxe5
28.a5!? Qxc2 29.Nh7+ Ke8 30.Qxe5²
28...Qxc2 29.Nh7+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ Kf8 31.b4

525
31...Qf5
31...Rd1+! 32.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 33.Kh2 Qxa4 34.b5 Qc2 35.Ne4 Bf5 36.Nd6 Be6=
32.Nh7+ Kg8 33.Nf6+ Kf8 34.f4 Qxe5 35.fxe5 Rd4 36.b5 Ke7
36...Rb4! 37.Rd1 Ke7 38.Ng8+ Ke8 39.Nf6+ Ke7=
37.a5 Bc4 38.axb6 axb6 39.Ra6 Bxb5 40.Rxb6 Bc4 41.Rb4
41.Kf2 Rd2+ 42.Kf3 Bf1 43.Ng8+ Kd8 44.g4 Bxh3 45.Rb8+ Kc7 46.Rf8²
41...Rd1+ 42.Kf2 Rf1+ 43.Ke3
43.Kg3²
43...Ba2 44.Rb6 Re1+ 45.Kf4 Rf1+ 46.Ke3 Re1+ 47.Kf4 Rf1+ 48.Kg3 Rf5
48...Re1 49.Rb5 Ke6 50.Kf4 Rf1+ 51.Kg5 Rf5+ 52.Kh6 Rxe5=
49.Ng4 Be6 50.Rb7+ Kf8 51.Rb8+ Ke7
51...Kg7= 52.Rd8 Rg5
52.Rb5 Bd7 53.Rc5 Ke6 54.h4 Ke7??
54...Be8
55.Ne3+- Rh5 56.Nd5+ 1-0

100. * C42
Fedoseev, Vladimir (2704) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2727)
Beograd 152/100, 2022

526
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.O-O-
O Re8 10.Kb1 Nf6 11.Bd3

11...d5
11...Bd7 - 147/93
12.h3 - 152/100
12.Bg5N h6 13.Bh4 Be6

14.Rhe1 (14.Nd4 Bd7 15.f3 c5 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Bxf5 Qc7∞) 14...c5³ Martinez Alcantara,J (2598)-
Paravyan,D (2617) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(100) 2022; 12.c4; 12.h4

527
12...c5 13.c4N

13.Rhe1
13...b5!
13...d4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 Be6 16.Rhe1 Nd7 (16...b5? 17.Rxe6! fxe6 18.Qe2 Qb6 19.cxb5±) 17.Bxe7
Qxe7 18.Re2²
14.cxd5
14.cxb5?! a6 15.b6 (15.bxa6? Qb6 16.Rhe1 Bxa6µ) 15...Qxb6 16.c3 a5³
14...c4 15.d6
15.Be2 Bb7 16.Ne5 (16.d6 Ne4 17.Qb4 Nxd6 18.Bf4 Qc8!µ) 16...Qd6 17.f4 Bxd5 18.Bf3 Bxf3
19.Qxd6 Bxd6 20.Nxf3 Bb4³
15...cxd3 16.dxe7 dxc2+ 17.Qxc2 Qxe7 18.Rhe1 Bb7 19.Ka1 Be4

528
20.Qd2
20.Qb3 Qb7 21.Bd4 Nh5³
20...Qb7
20...Rad8! 21.Qa5 (21.Nd4 Bxg2 22.Rg1 Bxh3 23.Nc6 Qxe3! 24.Qxd8 (24.Qxe3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1
Rxe3 26.fxe3 h5µ) 24...Qxf2µ) 21...Nd5! 22.Bc5 (22.Qxb5? Nb4-+) 22...Qd7 (22...Qxc5 23.Rxe4
Nb6³) 23.Ng5 Bc2 24.Rc1 Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Bf5µ
21.Nh4
21.Bg5! Bxf3 22.Bxf6 Qc6 (22...Bxd1? 23.Qg5 g6 24.Qh6+-) 23.Qg5 Qxf6 24.Qxf6 gxf6 25.gxf3
Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Rd8 27.Kb1=
21...Qa6?!
21...h6 22.Bd4 Qa6 23.f3 Bh7 24.g4 Rad8 25.Rxe8+ Nxe8 26.Ng2 Nc7µ
22.Qd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 a5 24.b3?!
24.f3 Bd5 25.Nf5 a4 26.Kb1 Bc4 27.Bf2 Nd5 28.Rd1 g6 29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.Ng4 h5 31.Bd4+ Kg8
32.Ne5 Ne3! 33.Rd2 Nd5=
24...a4 25.Kb2?
25.bxa4 Rxa4 26.Rd4 b4 27.Red1 h6 28.Kb2 Kh7³
25...Rec8 26.Rc1 a3+ 27.Ka1

529
27...Nd5! 28.Nf5 Re8?!
28...Rd8! 29.Rd1 (29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.Nd6 Nxe3 31.fxe3 Bxg2-+) 29...Rxd6 30.Nxd6 Nxe3 31.fxe3
Bxg2 32.Nxb5 Bxh3-+
29.Bd2
29.Nxg7! Kxg7 30.Bh6+ Kh8 31.f3 Bxf3 32.gxf3 Re6 33.Rxe6 fxe6=
29...Bxf5 30.Rxd5 Be4 31.Rxb5 Bxg2 32.h4 h6 33.Rg1 Re2 34.Be3 Kh7 35.Rc5
35.Rf5 f6 (35...Rf8 36.Ra5 Ra8=) 36.Rc5 Rd8 (36...Bh3?! 37.Rc7 Rg8 38.Ra7²) 37.Ra5 Ra8 38.Rc5=
35...Bh3 36.h5 Rc8 37.Ra5 Bg4! 38.Rxa3?!
38.b4 Rcc2 39.Rxa3 Be6 40.Ra7 Rb2 41.Bc5 Rxa2+ 42.Rxa2 Rxa2+ 43.Kb1 f6=
38...Bxh5 39.Ra5 g5 40.b4 f5?
40...Rcc2 41.b5 Bf3 42.b6 Kg6 43.Bd4 Rc4 44.Bc5 (44.Rd1 h5µ) 44...f6µ
41.Ra7+ Kg6 42.Ra6+ Kh7 43.Rh1
43.Ra7+ Kg6=
43...f4 44.Bc5?
44.Rxh5 fxe3 45.Rhxh6+ Kg7 46.Rag6+ Kf7 47.Rf6+ Ke7 48.Re6+ Kf7 49.Ref6+ Ke7=
44...Rd8 45.b5 Bf3
¹45...Rdd2 46.b6 Bf3

530
47.Rxh6+! (47.Rc1 Bb7 48.Ra7 Kg6 49.Bb4 Rb2 50.Bc5 Bd5µ) 47...Kxh6 48.b7+ Kh5 49.b8=Q
Re1+ 50.Qb1 Rxb1+ 51.Kxb1 Be4+ 52.Ka1 g4³
46.Rhxh6+ Kg8 47.Rhg6+ Kh7 48.Rgd6 Rxd6 49.Rxd6 Re5= 50.Rd7+ Kg6 51.Rc7 g4 52.b6 g3
53.fxg3 fxg3 54.Bd4 g2 55.Rc1 Re2 56.a3 Rd2 57.Bc5 Bd5 58.Kb1 Be4+ 59.Ka1 Bd5 1/2-1/2

101. * C42
Saric, Ivan (2687) - Rabiega, Robert (2505)
Deutschland 152/101, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Qc2 Na6 10.a3
f5 11.Nc3 Nc7 12.b4 Be6
12...a5 - 88/285
12...Kh8 - 86/(313)
12...Bd7 13.Bb2 Ng5 14.Ne5 dxc4 (14...Bxe5 15.dxe5 f4 16.f3²) 15.Bxc4+ Be6

531
16.Qb3N (16.Na4 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Bxc4 18.Qxc4+ Qd5∞) 16...Kh8 17.Rad1 Bxe5 18.dxe5

18...Nf3+! 19.gxf3 Qg5+= 20.Kh1 Qf4 21.Bxe6 1/2 (21) Saric,I (2687)-Vocaturo,D (2614) Terme
Catez 152/(101) 2022
13.c5 Be7

532
14.Ne5N
14.a4
14...Bg5
14...Bf6 15.Ne2! g6 16.Be3 Ng5 17.f3±
15.f3
15.Bxg5!? Nxg5 16.b5 Bd7 (16...cxb5 17.Nxb5 Nxb5 18.Bxb5±) 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.h4 Ne4 19.Ne2±
15...Bxc1 16.Qxc1 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 f4 18.Ra2
18.a4! a6 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 Nxb5 21.Bxb5 cxb5 22.Qb3 Ra5 23.Rfb1±
18...Qg5?!

533
18...Bf5 19.Bxf5 Rxf5 20.Re2 a6 21.a4 Rf8 22.Rfe1²
19.b5! cxb5
19...Nxb5 20.Qb2 Rab8 21.Bxb5 cxb5 22.Qxb5 Rfc8 23.Re1±
20.Qa5
20.a4!? bxa4 21.Rb1 Bc8 (21...Rfb8 22.Qc2 g6 23.Qxa4 Qf6 24.Rab2±) 22.Rxa4 g6 23.Rba1 a6
24.Rb4±
20...Qe7 21.Rc1 Rfc8
21...Bf7 22.Re1 Ne6 23.Qxb5 Nxd4 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7 25.Qd3+ Kg8 26.Qxd4±
22.Rac2
22.Re2 a6 23.Rce1 Re8 24.a4 bxa4 25.Qxa4±
22...Bd7 23.Qd2 Rf8 24.Nxd7 Qxd7 25.c6 bxc6 26.Rxc6 Ne8 27.Qb4 Nf6
27...Rf6 28.Rxf6 Nxf6 29.Bxb5 Qe6 30.Qd2 a6 31.Bd3±
28.Bxb5 Qf5 29.Rc7 Qg5 30.Qe7 Rab8 31.a4 a6 32.Qe6+ Kh8 33.Qxa6+- h6 34.Qd6 Ng4 35.Rf7!
1-0

102. C43
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2651) - Markus, Robert (2609)
Oesterreich 152/102, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Qf4 Bf5 9.Bb5 Qe7+
10.Be3 Nxb5 11.Nxb5 Qb4+ 12.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13.c3 Bd6 14.O-O-O

534
14.Nxd6+ - 10/264
14...Be6!?N
14...Ke7?! 15.Rhe1 Be6 16.Ng5! (16.Bg5+?! f6 17.Nfd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 fxg5=) 16...h6 17.Ne4!
Be5 (17...Rhd8 18.f4 Rd7 19.Bc5!±) 18.f4 a6 19.Na3 Bd6 20.Nc2 Rhe8 (20...Bxa2 21.Bc5!±)
21.b3±; 14...Rd8 15.Rhe1!? (15.Nxd6+ Rxd6 16.Bf4 Rd7 17.Rhe1+ Kd8=) 15...O-O (15...Be6
16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 O-O 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.a4²) 16.Nxd6 Rxd6 17.Rxd6 cxd6 18.Rd1 Rd8
19.Nd4²; 14...O-O-O 15.Nfd4 (15.Bxa7?! Nxa7 16.Nxa7+ Kb8 17.Nb5 Bf4+ 18.Nd2 c5 19.Na3
Rhe8 20.Nc4 Re2 21.g3 Bh6 22.f4 g5 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rhg1 Be6 25.fxg5 Bg7 26.h4 b5 27.Na5 Kc7³;
15.Nxd6+ Rxd6 16.Rxd6 cxd6 17.Rd1 Kc7 18.Bf4 Rd8 19.c4 b6 20.Rd2 Nb4 21.Nd4 Nd3+ 22.Kc2
Nxf4+ 23.Nxf5 Nxg2 24.Nxg7 Rg8 25.Nf5 Rg6=) 15...Nxd4 16.Nxa7+ Kb8 17.Rxd4 Rde8! (17...c6
18.Rxd6! Rxd6 19.Bf4 Rd8 20.Rd1 Kxa7 21.Bxd6²) 18.Nb5 Bc5 19.Rf4 Bxe3+ 20.fxe3 Bd3=
15.b3

535
15.Nxd6+ cxd6 16.Rxd6 Bxa2 17.Bc5 (17.Kc2 Na5„) 17...O-O (17...Rd8!? 18.Re1+ Be6 19.Rxd8+
Kxd8 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Kd7 22.Re3 Rg8 23.Bxa7 Ra8 24.Bd4 Ra1+ 25.Kd2 Rh1„) 18.Kc2
a5!? (18...Bc4 19.Rxc6 bxc6 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Nd2 Bd5 22.f3 Be6 23.Ra1 Bf5+ 24.Kd1 a5 25.Ra4
c5 26.Nc4²) 19.Ra1 Be6 20.Rxc6 (20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Re1 Rf6 23.Re2 h6 24.Nd2 Rf5
25.Ne4 Rh5 26.h3 Kf7=) 20...bxc6 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.b4 a4 23.Kb2 Ke7 24.Ka3 Kd6 25.Rd1+ Kc7
26.Rd4 Bd5 27.Rf4 f6 28.c4 Bg8 29.Re4 c5„
15...Rd8
15...O-O-O!? 16.Bxa7 (16.Nxd6+ Rxd6 17.Rxd6 cxd6 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.Ng5 d5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Kd2
Kc7=) 16...Nxa7 17.Nxa7+ Kb8 18.Nb5 Bf4+ 19.Kb2 Bg4 20.Nbd4 Rhe8 21.Rhe1 c5©
16.Rhe1 O-O 17.Nxd6
17.Kb2 Bg4 18.Nxd6 cxd6 19.Rd5!? Rfe8 (19...Bxf3 20.gxf3 Rfe8 21.Red1 Re6 22.c4²) 20.Nd4 Ne7
(20...Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Bf5 22.g4²) 21.Ra5 a6 22.Nc2 f6 23.Bb6 Ra8 24.f3 Bd7 25.Rd1ƒ ∆ Nb4
17.h3!? Rd7 18.Nxd6 cxd6 (18...Rxd6 19.Bf4! Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rc8 21.Ng5 Bf5 22.g4 Bg6 23.Rd7
Re8

536
24.Nf3! Re2 25.Nd4 Re7 26.Rd5²) 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Re8 21.Kb2 b6 22.a4 f6 23.Ra1²
17...Rxd6 18.Rxd6 cxd6 19.Rd1 Rd8 20.Nd4
20.h3 f6 21.Kb2 Kf7 22.Nd4 Nxd4 23.Bxd4 Ra8 24.a4 a5!? 25.Be3 Ra6 26.c4 Ke7 27.Rd3 Rc6=
20...Nxd4 21.Rxd4 a6 22.Bf4 d5 23.a4 b5
23...Rc8 24.Kb2 a5 25.b4 f6 26.Kb3 axb4 27.cxb4 Kf7 28.b5²; 23...f6!? 24.Kb2 Kf7 25.Rb4
(25.Ka3 Rc8 26.Kb4 Rc6!? 27.Be3 Rb6+ 28.Ka3 Rc6 29.Rb4 Bc8 30.Kb2 g5∞) 25...Rd7 26.Rb6
(26.Be3 Bf5 ∆ Be4) 26...d4! 27.cxd4 Bd5 28.f3 h5„
24.Kb2 Rc8 25.Bd2 Kf8
25...bxa4 26.Rxa4 Rc6 27.Be3 f6 28.Rb4²
26.axb5 axb5 27.Ka3 Ke7 28.Kb4 Rb8 29.Bf4 Rb7 30.Be3 h5 31.Rd2 g6 32.Bd4 Bf5 33.Bc5+
Ke6 34.Re2+ Kd7 35.h4 Kc6 36.Ra2 Bd3 37.Ra6+ Kc7 38.Bd6+ Kd8 39.f3 Bf1 40.Ra2
40.g4 hxg4 41.fxg4 Be2 42.g5 Bd1 43.Be5 Ke7 44.Rf6 Bc2 45.Bd4 Rb8 46.Bc5+ Ke8 47.Rf2 Bd1
48.Rd2 Bf3=
40...Kd7 41.Bf4 Ke6 42.g4 f6 43.Ra6+ Kf7 44.gxh5 gxh5 45.Rd6

537
45...Ra7
45...Be2 46.Be3 Bxf3 47.Bd4 Ke7 48.Rxf6 Bd1 49.Rf5 Ke6 50.Re5+ Kd6 51.Re1! Bg4 52.Bc5+
Kd7 53.Re5²; 45...Re7! 46.Rxd5 Kg6 (∆ Re1) 47.Bd2 (47.Rd6 Kf5) 47...Re5! 48.c4 bxc4 49.bxc4
Be2 50.Rd6 Kf5=
46.Rxd5
46.Be3 Ra2 47.Bd4 Rh2 48.Rxf6+ Ke7 49.Rf4 Kd6 50.Bf6²
46...Ra2 47.Be3

538
47.Rxh5 Rb2 48.Ka3 Rf2 49.Rd5 Rxf3 50.Bd2 Ke6 51.Rc5 (51.Rd4 Rh3 52.Kb4 Ke5 ∆ Be2„)
51...Rd3 52.Bc1 Be2 53.Kb4 Rd1! 54.Be3 Rb1 55.Ka3 Ra1+ 56.Kb2 Rh1„
47...Rb2! 48.Rxh5
48.Ka3 Rxb3+! 49.Kxb3 Bc4+=
48...Bc4 49.Bd4 Rxb3+ 50.Kc5 Kg6 51.Rh8 Ra3 52.h5+ Kg7 53.Rd8 Kh6 54.Rd6 Kxh5 55.Rxf6
Kg5 56.Rf8 Ra7= 57.Be5 Kg6 58.Rf6+ Kg5 59.f4+ Kg4 60.Kd4 Rf7
60...Ra1=
61.Rg6+ Kf3 62.Rg5 Rd7+ 63.Kc5 Rd5+ 1/2-1/2

103. C45
Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar (2660) - Lalith, Babu MR (2558)
New Delhi 152/103, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 Qe6 9.Nd2 a5
10.c4 Nb6 11.h5 Ba6

12.b3N
12.h6 - 145/97
12...a4 13.Bb2 Bb7 14.g3 Bb4 15.Bg2

539
15...axb3
15...Qh6! 16.Rd1 (16.f4 O-O 17.O-O-O!? (17.O-O d5 18.g4 Qe6 19.f5 Qe7„) 17...axb3 18.axb3 d5
19.exd6 cxd6 20.Qe7 Rab8 21.g4 Bc8„) 16...axb3 17.axb3 Ra2 18.Bd4 O-O 19.Be3 Qe6 20.h6
Qxe5 21.O-Oƒ
16.axb3 Rxa1+ 17.Bxa1 O-O?
17...Qh6! 18.Bb2 (18.Kd1!? O-O 19.Kc2 d5„) 18...O-O 19.Bc1 Ra8 20.O-O Ra2 21.Be4 g6!„
18.O-O± d6
18...d5 19.Nf3 dxc4 20.Nd4 Qh6 21.bxc4 Ba6 22.Qg4±
19.Nf3 f6?
19...Nd7 20.Ng5 Qh6 21.e6 fxe6 22.Qxe6+ Qxe6 23.Nxe6 Ra8 24.Nxc7 Ra3 25.Ne6±
20.Nd4! Qxe5

540
21.Qd1! Qe7
21...Bc5 22.Re1 Bxd4 (22...Qg5 23.Ne6 Qf5 24.Bf3+-) 23.Rxe5 Bxe5 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.c5+-;
21...Qe8 22.Nc2 Bc5 23.b4+-
22.h6 g6 23.Bxc6 Bc8 24.Nc2 d5
24...Bc5 25.b4+-
25.Nxb4 Qxb4 26.Bxd5+ Kh8 27.Bg2 Bf5 28.g4 1-0

104. C45
Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar (2675) - Van Foreest, Lucas (2572)
Sharjah 152/104, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 f6 9.c4 Ba6
10.Rh3 O-O-O
10...fxe5 - 145/98
11.Ra3 Nb4 12.Ra4 Qxe5
12...Qe6 13.a3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Qxc4 15.Bxc4 Nc2+ 16.Kd1 Nxa1 17.exf6 gxf6 18.b4 Bd6 19.Bb2
Be5 20.Nc3²
13.Qxe5 fxe5 14.Bg5 Nc2+
14...Re8 15.Kd1 Bb7 16.a3 Na6 17.b4ƒ
15.Kd1 Nxa1 16.Bxd8 Kxd8 17.Rxa6 Bc5 18.f3

541
18...Rf8N
18...Bd4? 19.Kc1±
19.Ra5
19.Nd2 Rf4 20.Ra5 Bb4 21.Rxe5 Rd4 22.Re2 Rxh4 23.Ne4 h5!∞
19...Bd4 20.Nd2
20.Nc3 Rf4 21.Ne2 Rxh4 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.Kd2 Rh1 24.Bd3 h6∞
20...Bxb2 21.Rxa7 Ke7 22.Rxc7 Bd4 23.Bd3 g6
23...Kd8 24.Rb7 Kc8 25.Rb4 Kc7 26.Ra4 Rb8∞
24.Rb7 Ra8 25.Bb1 Ra4 26.Rb8

542
26...h5?!
26...e4! 27.fxe4 (27.Nxe4 Be5 28.Rb7 Rxc4∞; 27.Bxe4 Rxa2 28.Bb1 Ra3=) 27...Bc3 28.Nf3 Rxc4∞
27.Bxg6 d5
27...Rxa2

28.c5!! Bxc5 (28...d5 29.cxd6+ Kxd6 30.Rb7! c5 31.Nc4+ Kd5 32.Rb6+-) 29.Ne4 d6 30.Rb7+ Kd8
(30...Kf8 31.Ng5+-) 31.Bf5 Rxg2 32.Rd7+ Ke8 33.Nf6+ Kf8 34.Be6 Rg7 35.Nh7+ Rxh7
36.Rxh7+-
28.cxd5 cxd5 29.Rb5 Kf6 30.Bh7 Rxa2 31.Rxd5 Rb2 32.g4

543
32.Bd3! Ke6 33.Rb5 Rxb5 34.Bxb5+-
32...Ke6 33.Bg8+ Ke7 34.Nc4 Rh2 35.g5 Nc2

35...Rxh4 36.Nxe5 Bxe5 37.Rxe5+ Kf8 38.Bd5+-

36.Bh7?
36.Rb5!! e4 37.fxe4 Ne3+ 38.Nxe3 Bxe3 39.Rb7+ Kd6 (39...Kf8 40.Bd5+-) 40.g6 Rg2 41.Bf7+-
36...Nb4 37.Rb5 Rh1+?
37...Na2!
38.Ke2 Rh2+ 39.Kf1 Rf2+ 40.Ke1 Ra2 41.Nxe5
41.Rb7+ Kf8 42.Nd6 Ra1+ (42...Ra7 43.Rb8+ Kg7 44.Be4+-) 43.Ke2 Ra2+ 44.Kf1 Rf2+ 45.Ke1
Rxf3 46.Rb8+ Kg7 47.Be4 Rf4 48.Rb7+ Kf8 49.g6+-
41...Ra1+
41...Kd6 42.Nc4+ Kc6 43.Rb8 Kc7 44.Rf8 Ra1+ 45.Ke2 Ra2+ 46.Kf1 Nd5 47.Be4+-
42.Ke2 Ra2+ 43.Kf1 Rf2+ 44.Ke1 Rb2 45.Kd1 Bc3 46.Nc4 Rh2 47.Rb7+ Kf8

544
48.g6?
48.Be4! Rxh4 49.g6 Rh2 50.Rf7+ Kg8 51.Rd7 h4 52.Ne3+-
48...Rh1+ 49.Ke2 Re1+ 50.Kf2 Re7!= 51.Rxe7 Kxe7 52.f4 Kf8 53.Nd6 Nd5 54.Kf3 Bf6 55.Nf5
Bb2 56.g7+ Bxg7 57.Bg6 Bc3 58.Ng3 Be1 59.Bxh5 Bxg3 60.Kxg3 Nxf4 1/2-1/2

105. C45
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Paravyan, David (2617)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/105, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 g6!?
8...d6 - 148/103
9.Nd2
9.c4

545
9...Ba6! (9...Nb6 10.Bg5 Qb4+ (10...Qe6 11.Bf6 Rg8 (11...Bb4+ 12.Nd2 O-O 13.O-O-O d5 14.Nb3
Nd7 15.Nd4 Qe8 16.Nxc6 Nxf6 17.Nxb4 Qa4 18.exf6 Qxb4 19.h5±) 12.Nd2 d5 13.O-O-O Nd7
14.Nb3 Nxf6 15.Nd4 Qg4 16.exf6+ Qxe2 17.Bxe2 Bd7 18.Nf3±) 11.Nc3 Na4 12.Rh3! Bg7 13.O-
O-O Nxc3 14.Rxc3 O-O 15.Bf6ƒ) 10.Rh3!? (10.h5 O-O-O 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.Nc3 Bg7 13.f4 Rdf8
14.g3 h5 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 g5„) 10...Nb6! (10...Bg7 11.Ra3 Nb4 12.Ra4! Bxe5 13.Kd1!²;
10...Qb4+ 11.Nc3 Bg7 12.a3 Qb6 13.Ne4 O-O 14.Qc2 f5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.c5 Qb7 17.Rb3 Qc8
18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.Bg5²) 11.b3 Bg7 12.Bg5 Qe6 13.Bf6 O-O 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Nc3
Rae8 16.Re3 f6 17.exf6+ Qxf6 18.Rd1 d5 19.Rxe8 Qxc3+ 20.Rd2 Qa1+=; 9.Bg5 Qc5!? (9...Qe6?!
10.c4 Nb6 11.Bf6 Bb4+ 12.Nd2 O-O 13.O-O-O±; 9...Qb4+ 10.c3 Qb6 11.h5 Ba6 12.Qc2 Bxf1
13.Kxf1 Bg7 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.Nd2 Qa6+ (15...O-O 16.Nf3 Rae8 17.Re1 Nf4 18.Kg1²) 16.c4
(16.Kg1 Qe2„) 16...O-O 17.Nf3 Rae8 18.Kg1 Nf4 19.Qd2 Ne6 20.Qxd7 Qxc4 21.Bf6²; 9...f6
10.exf6 Qxe2+ 11.Bxe2 h6 12.Bd2 Nxf6 13.Bc3 Bg7 14.Nd2 O-O 15.O-O-O d6 16.Rde1 Nd5
17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Bf3 Bd7 19.Re4ƒ) 10.c4 (10.h5 Rb8„) 10...Qb4+ 11.Nd2 (11.Qd2 Qxd2+
12.Nxd2 h6 13.cxd5 hxg5 14.dxc6 dxc6 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.Be2 O-O-O„) 11...h6 12.Bf6 Nxf6 13.exf6+
Kd8 14.O-O-O Rb8 15.Nb3 Bd6∞
9...Bg7 10.Nf3

546
10.c4 Ba6 11.Qe4 Nb6 12.f4 d5! 13.exd6 Qxe4+ 14.Nxe4 O-O-O 15.c5 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Nc4 17.Rh3
cxd6³
10...O-ON
10...d6 11.Bg5 Qe6 12.c4 Nb6 13.O-O-O O-O 14.Nd4 (14.exd6 cxd6 15.Qxe6 Bxe6 16.Rxd6
Bxc4=) 14...Qd7 15.h5 c5 16.hxg6 cxd4!? (16...fxg6 17.e6 Qa4 18.e7 Re8 19.Ne6 Qxa2 20.Nxg7
Kxg7 21.Qc2 Bf5 22.Bd3 Bxd3 23.Rxd3 Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Qxh1 25.Qc3+ Kg8 26.Qf6 Nxc4+ 27.Ke2
Qh5+ 28.Rf3 Ne5! 29.Qe6+ Kg7 30.Qf6+=) 17.Qh5 h6 18.Bxh6 Bxh6+ 19.Qxh6 fxg6 20.Qh8+
(20.Rxd4 Qg7 21.Qe3 Bf5 22.c5 Qxe5=) 20...Kf7 21.Qf6+ Ke8 22.Qxg6+ Qf7 23.Bd3 Qxg6
24.Bxg6+ Ke7 25.Rh7+ Ke6 26.exd6 cxd6 27.Rxd4 d5 28.cxd5+ Kd6∞
11.c4
11.h5!? Rb8 (11...Qb4+ 12.Qd2 Qe4+ 13.Be2 Ba6 14.Rh4 Qxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Bxe2 16.Kxe2 Rfe8
17.hxg6 hxg6 18.c4 Ne7 19.Kf1 d6∞) 12.hxg6 hxg6 (12...fxg6 13.Qe4 Rxf3!? 14.gxf3 Bxe5 15.Bc4
d6„) 13.c4 Qb4+! (13...Ba6 14.Qe4! Qb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb2 16.Rc1 Nf6 17.Qh4²) 14.Qd2 Qxd2+
15.Kxd2 Nf4 16.Kc2 Ne6 17.Bd3 c5„
11...Ba6! 12.Bg5

547
12...Qc5?!
12...f6! 13.exf6 Qb4+! (13...Qxe2+ 14.Bxe2 Nxf6 15.O-O-O d6 16.Rhe1 Ne4 17.Be3 c5„) 14.Qd2
Rae8+ 15.Be3 (15.Be2? Rxe2+! 16.Kxe2 Qxc4+ 17.Kd1 Nxf6 18.Ne5 Qb5 19.Re1 d6 20.Nf3 Ng4-
+) 15...Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Nxf6 17.Bd3 d5 18.cxd5 Bxd3 19.Kxd3 Nxd5 20.Rab1 Rb8ƒ
13.Qd2!² Nb6?

13...Bxc4 14.Rc1 Bxf1 15.Rxc5 Bxg2 16.Rxd5 cxd5 (16...Bxh1? 17.Rd3+-) 17.Rg1 Bxf3 18.Qf4 Bh5
19.Bf6 Rfe8 20.Kd2 Re6 21.Rg5!?²
14.b4! Nxc4 15.bxc5 Nxd2 16.Kxd2 Bxf1 17.Rhxf1 Rfb8 18.Rab1+- a6 19.a4 a5 20.Kc2 Bf8

548
21.Be3 d6 22.exd6 cxd6 23.Rxb8 Rxb8 24.Rb1 Ra8 25.Rb6 dxc5 26.Rxc6 Rb8 27.Bxc5 Bg7 28.Bb6
h6 29.Bxa5 Rb2+ 30.Kd3 Rxf2 31.Rc2 Rf1 32.Be1 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Ke2 Rh1 35.Nxg5 Rh5
36.Rc8+ Bf8 37.Nf3 Kg7 38.Bc3+ f6 39.Bxf6+ 1-0

106. C45
Acs, Peter (2565) - Nemeth, Miklos (2468)
Magyarorszag 152/106, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 Qe6 9.Nd2 a5
10.g3
10.c4 - 139/(117)
10...Ba6 11.c4 Nb4 12.Bh3 f5
12...Qg6? 13.Ne4+-
13.O-O

13...Be7N
13...Nc2
14.b3 O-O 15.Bb2 a4 16.Rfc1 axb3 17.Nxb3?!
17.axb3 c5 (17...d5?! 18.Bc3 c5 19.Bxb4 cxb4 20.cxd5 Bxe2 21.dxe6±) 18.Bg2 Rab8 19.f4²
17...c5 18.Bg2 Rab8
18...f4!? 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Na5! fxg3 21.fxg3 Bc8 22.a3 Rxa5 23.axb4 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 cxb4©
19.Ba3?!

549
19.Na5! f4 20.Rc3 c6 21.Kh2∞
19...f4 20.Rc3

20...Kh8?!
20...d6! 21.Re1 dxe5 22.Bc1 fxg3 23.fxg3 Bb7 24.Bxb7 Rxb7µ
21.Re1 Rbe8
¹21...Bb7 22.Bxb7 Rxb7 23.Kg2 fxg3 24.fxg3 Ra8 25.Bxb4 Rxb4ƒ
22.Bc1 fxg3
22...f3!? 23.Bxf3 Rxf3 24.Qxf3 Nxa2 25.Rce3 Bxc4©
23.fxg3 Qb6
23...d5!? 24.cxd5 (24.exd6 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 cxd6³) 24...Qf5 25.Qe4 (25.Qd1 Nd3³) 25...c4 26.Nd4
Qxe4 27.Bxe4 Nxa2

550
28.Ra3! (28.Rc2? Nxc1 29.Rcxc1 Bc5-+) 28...Nxc1 29.d6! cxd6 30.Rxa6 dxe5 31.Ne6 Nd3 32.Bxd3
cxd3 33.Nxf8 Bxf8∞
24.Re3 Qe6 25.Rc3 Qb6 26.Re3 Qe6 27.Rc3 Qb6 1/2-1/2

107. * C45
Khanin, Semen (2509) - Ali Marandi, Cemil Can (2524)
Saint Louis 152/107, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 Qe6 9.Nd2 a5
10.Nf3 Ba6 11.c4 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Nb6 13.b3

551
13...O-ON - 152/107
13...Bxd2+? - 152/(107) 14.Qxd2 d5 15.cxd5

15...cxd5N (15...Qxd5 16.Bxa6 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rxa6 18.Rac1±) 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.Qe2 Ra8
18.Nd4± Tari,A (2654)-Rostovtsev,D (2299) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 152/(107) 2022
14.Bxb4 axb4 15.Qe3 f6 16.Bd3 fxe5?!
16...d5!∞
17.Ng5 Qh6

552
18.Nxh7?!
18.Bxh7+! Kh8 19.O-O d5 (19...Qxh4? 20.g3 Qg4 21.Bc2+-) 20.Bc2 dxc4 21.Rfe1±
18...Qxe3+ 19.fxe3 Rfd8?!
19...Rfb8! 20.Ng5 d5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.h5 (22.cxd5 Nxd5! 23.Rh3 Rf8„) 22...dxc4 23.O-O-O cxb3
24.axb3 Nd5∞
20.Ng5 d5?
20...Rf8 21.h5 d5 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bg6 Rf6 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.Nf7+ Kg8 26.Nxe5 c5±
21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Bg6
22.c5! Nd7 23.Bf5 Kg8 24.Ne6 Rdc8 25.Rh3+-
22...Rf8 23.h5 dxc4 24.Ne6 cxb3 25.h6 Rf1+?
25...gxh6 26.Rxh6+ Kg8 27.Bh7+ Kf7 28.axb3 (28.Nxf8?! Bc4! 29.Ng6 Rxa2 30.Rb1 Re2+ 31.Kd1
Rxe3„) 28...Bb5

29.O-O-O! Nd5 (29...Ra1+ 30.Bb1+-; 29...Rfb8 30.Ng5+ Kg7 31.Rg6+ Kh8 32.Kb2+-) 30.Nxf8
Kxf8 31.Be4 Ra1+ 32.Bb1 Nc3 33.Kb2 Nxd1+ 34.Kxa1 Nxe3 35.Be4±
26.Rxf1 Bxf1 27.hxg7+ Kg8 28.Kxf1 b2
28...bxa2 29.Ke2 b3 30.Rh1+-; 28...Rxa2 29.Re1! Nc4 30.Kg1+-
29.Rd1 Nd5 30.Kf2 Rxa2 31.Bh7+ 1-0

108. C45
Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535) - Proudian, Armen (2418)

553
 San Salvador 152/108, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2 a5!? 8.a4
8.e5 - 122/107
8...O-O 9.Be3
9.Bg5
9...Bxe3 10.Qxe3 Nb4 11.O-O-O

11...d5! 12.exd5
12.Be2!?
12...Bf5 13.Nd4 Nbxd5
13...Bg6
14.Nxf5 Nxe3 15.Rxd8 Nxf5 16.Rxa8
16.Rd2
16...Rxa8 17.Bd3 Nd6 18.Re1

554
18...Re8N
18...Kf8=
19.Rxe8+ Ndxe8 20.Kd2 Kf8 21.f3 Ke7 22.Ke3 c6 23.h4 Nc7 24.Bc4 Ne6 25.g4 h6 26.Ne2 g6
27.Ng3 Nd5+ 28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.b3 Kd6 30.Ne2 g5 31.h5 Ke5 32.Ng3 Nd4 33.c3 Nxb3 34.Nf5
Nc5 35.Nxh6 Kf6 36.Ng8+ Kg7 37.Ne7 Nxa4 38.Nxd5 Nb2 39.Kd4 a4 40.c4 a3 41.Nb4 Nd1
42.c5 Kh6 43.Kd3 f5 44.gxf5 Kxh5 45.Kd4 Nb2 46.Kd5 Nd3 47.Na2 Kh6

48.Kd4?
48.Kd6 Kg7 49.Ke7 Nxc5 (49...Nf4 50.f6+ Kh7 51.f7 Ng6+ 52.Ke8 Kg7=) 50.f6+ Kg6 51.f7 Nd7

555
52.Kxd7 Kxf7 53.Kd6 Kf6 54.Kc5 Ke5 55.Kb4 Kf4 56.Kxa3 Kxf3 57.Nb4 g4 58.Nd3=
48...Ne1!-+ 49.Ke4 Kg7 50.Nb4 Kf7 51.Na2 Kf6 52.Nc3 Nxf3?
52...Ng2 53.Nd5+ (53.Na2 Nh4-+) 53...Kf7 54.Nc3 Nh4 55.Na2 Kf6-+
53.Kxf3 Kxf5 54.Na2 Ke5 55.Nb4 Kd4 56.Nc2+ Kxc5 57.Nxa3 b5 58.Nxb5 1/2-1/2

556
C50-C74

109. C54
Predke, Alexandr (2682) - So, Wesley (2778)
Berlin 152/109, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 O-O 8.h3 Ba7 9.Nbd2 Re8 10.b4
Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.Qc2 h6

13.Rd1N
13.Re1 - 146/108
13...Qd7 14.Nf1 d5 15.Bd2 Rd8

557
16.exd5
16.b5! Ne7 (16...Nb8 17.c4 dxe4 18.dxe4²) 17.c4 dxe4 (17...c6 18.Ng3 Ng6 19.bxa6 bxa6 20.Ba5
Rde8 21.Rab1²) 18.dxe4 Bd4 (18...Qd3 19.Qxd3 Rxd3 20.Be3 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Bxe3 22.Rd8+ Kh7
23.Nxe3²) 19.Rab1 c5 20.Ne3 Nc8 21.Nd5²
16...Nxd5
16...Qxd5 17.Be3 Ree8 18.Bxa7 Nxa7 19.c4 Qd6 20.b5∞
17.b5 Nce7 18.c4 Nf6 19.Bc3 Ng6
19...Bd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Ng3 c5=
20.d4 exd4 21.Bxd4 Bxd4 22.Nxd4 Rd6 23.Ne3 Qe8 24.Nef5 R6d7 25.bxa6
25.c5 axb5 26.c6 (26.axb5?! Qe4! 27.Qxe4 Nxe4 28.c6 bxc6 29.bxc6 Rd5³) 26...bxc6 27.Re1 Qf8
28.Nxc6 Ra8 (28...Rd2 29.Qc1 R8d3 30.a5 b4 31.a6 b3 32.Qc4±) 29.a5!? (29.axb5 Rxa1 30.Rxa1
Rd5=) 29...Ra6 30.Rad1 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 Qa3 32.Nfd4ƒ
25...c5
25...bxa6 26.Re1 Qf8 27.Nc6 Re8 28.Rxe8 Qxe8 29.Rb1 Qe4 30.Qxe4 Nxe4=
26.Re1 Qf8 27.Nf3 bxa6 28.Rab1
28.Qc3 Kh7 29.Qa5

558
29...Nf4! 30.Qxa6 (30.Ne5 Rd2 31.Qc7 Ne2+ 32.Kf1 Nd4∞) 30...Ra8 31.Qc6 Rc8 32.Qb6 Rb8
33.Qa5 Rb2 34.Reb1 Qb8©
28...Rb8 29.Qc3 Rxb1 30.Rxb1 Qd8 31.Qe3 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2

110. C54
Giri, Anish (2772) - Vitiugov, Nikita (2726)
Beograd 152/110, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 a5 9.h3 Be6 10.b3 d5
10...Qb8 - 137/(109)
10...Ba7 - 137/(109)
11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Ne4 Bb6 13.Qd2

559
13...Qc8N
¹13...Re8 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.a4 f5 16.Ng3 Qf6 17.Bb2ƒ
14.Ng3 f6?
14...Qd7 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Rxe5 c6 17.Ba3 Rfe8©
15.d4 Qd7
15...exd4? 16.Nh5! dxc3 17.Qd3 Nce7 (17...Rf7 18.Bxh6!+-) 18.Ba3+-
16.Ba3 Rf7

560
17.Re4
17.Rad1! a4 18.b4 exd4 19.cxd4 Nce7 20.Qc2±
17...a4 18.b4 Nf4 19.Bxe6 Nxe6 20.Rae1
20.d5 Ng5 21.Nxg5 hxg5 22.Rd1²
20...Ng5 21.Nxg5 hxg5 22.b5 Na7 23.h4 Nxb5 24.hxg5 fxg5
24...Nxa3? 25.g6 Re7 26.Qe2 Qd5 27.Rh4+-
25.Qxg5
25.Rxe5 Nxa3 26.Qxg5 Raf8 27.Nh5 c6! 28.Nf6+ Rxf6 29.Re7 Qxe7 30.Rxe7 R6f7=
25...Nxa3
25...Nxc3! 26.Rxe5 (26.Rh4? Bxd4 27.Qh5 Rxf2 28.Kh2 Qc6!-+) 26...Bxd4 27.Rf5 Re8 28.Rxe8+
Qxe8 29.Rxf7 Kxf7 30.Qf4+ Bf6 31.Qxc7+ Kg8=
26.Rh4 Re8
26...exd4 27.Qh5 Rf6 (27...Rxf2 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Kxf2 dxc3+ 30.Kf1 Qf7+ 31.Nf5+-) 28.Qh7+
Kf8 29.Nh5+-; 26...Nc2 27.Qh5 Rxf2 28.Ree4!+-
27.Qh5 Rf6
27...Kf8 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Qxe5 Kg8 30.Qe4+-
28.Ne4 Rf5
28...Rh6 29.Qxh6 gxh6 30.Nf6++-
29.Ng5 Rxg5
29...Kf8 30.Qg6 Ke7 31.Rh7 Rg8 32.Rxg7+ Rxg7 33.Qxg7+ Kd8 34.Qg8+ Qe8 (34...Ke7 35.g4+-)
35.Ne6+ Ke7 36.Qxe8+ Kxe8 37.Ng7++-
30.Qxg5 c5?
30...Nc4 31.Qg6 Nd6 (31...Re6 32.Qf5 Qd5 33.Rh5 Nd6 34.Qh7+ Kf7 35.Rg5 Ne8 36.Rexe5 Rxe5
37.Qh5+ Kf8 38.Rxe5±) 32.Qh7+ Kf7

561
33.Re3! (33.Rxe5?! Rxe5 34.dxe5 Qf5! 35.Qxf5+ (35.exd6 Qxf2+ 36.Kh2 Qg1+=) 35...Nxf5
36.Rxa4 Ke6„) 33...Ke7 34.Qxg7+ Kd8 35.Qxd7+ Kxd7 36.Rxe5±
31.Qg6 Bd8 32.Rh7 1-0

111. C54
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2773) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2759)
Bucuresti 152/111, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6
10.h3 Bh5 11.Bb3 Kh8 12.Ne4 Nd7

562
13.Ng3N
13.Bd5 - 149/107
13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5 15.d4!? exd4 16.Bf4
16.Nh5!? Qh4 (16...Bd6 17.Bf4 Nc5 18.Bd5∞) 17.Bf4 g6 18.Be6 Rad8 19.Bxc7 Qxh5 20.Qxh5
gxh5 21.Bxd8 Rxd8 22.Rad1∞
16...dxc3 17.bxc3

17...g5! 18.Be3
18.Bc1 Nce5 19.Qxb7 (19.Qd1 g4! 20.Bf4 Ng6 21.Bh6 Qh4 22.Qxd7 Qxh6 23.Nxf5 Bxf2+!
24.Kxf2 Qf4+ 25.Kg1 Rxf5³) 19...Nd3 20.Re2 N7e5ƒ
18...Bxe3 19.fxe3 Nde5 20.Qh5 Qf6 21.Rf1 Qg6 22.Qe2 a6
22...f4 23.Bc2 Qg8 24.Nf5 Rae8 25.exf4 Ng6 26.Qb5 Nxf4³
23.Bc2 Ne7 24.Rf2 Rf7
24...g4! 25.h4 Qh6 26.h5 Qg5³
25.Raf1 Raf8
25...g4 26.h4 Raf8 27.Bb3 Rf6 28.Rf4 Qh6 29.h5 Qg5∞
26.Bb3 Rf6 27.Nh5 Rd6 28.g4

563
28...Rd3?!
28...Nd3! 29.gxf5 (29.c4 Nxf2 30.Qb2+ Rdf6 31.Rxf2 c5∞) 29...Nxf5 30.Rg2 Re8 31.e4 Nh6∞
29.Bc2 Rxc3 30.Bxf5
30.Qd2! Qc6 31.Bxf5±
30...Nxf5 31.Rxf5 Rxf5 32.Rxf5 Rc1+ 33.Kf2 Qd6 34.Qb2 Rc5 35.Kg2 h6 36.Rf6 Qd1 37.Rf2
Qd5+ 38.Kh2 Qd6 39.Ng3
39.Kg2 Qd5+=
39...Rb5 40.Qc2 Rd5

564
41.Kg2?
41.Qf5 Rd2 42.Kg1 Rxf2 43.Kxf2=
41...Nd3
41...Rd3! 42.Nf5 Qd5+ 43.Kg3 c5-+
42.Qc3+ Qe5 43.Qa3?
43.Qxe5+ Nxe5 44.Nh5 Ra5 45.Rf8+ Kh7 46.Re8 Rxa2+ 47.Kg3 Ra5 (47...Ng6 48.Rd8=; 47...Nc6
48.Rc8 Rb2 49.Rxc7+ Kg8 50.h4³) 48.Re7+ Kg8 49.Nf6+ Kf8 50.Rxe5 Rxe5 51.Nd7+ Ke7
52.Nxe5 a5³
43...c5 44.Re2
44.Rf5 Qxe3-+
44...Kh7 45.Qa4 Qe6 46.Qc2 b5 47.Nh5 Rd6 48.Re1 Qc4
48...Qg6!-+ 49.Re2 Ne1+
49.Qb1 Qb4 50.Qxb4 Nxb4 51.Rf1 c4 52.e4 c3 53.e5 Rc6 54.Rf7+ Kg8 55.Rd7 c2 56.e6 Rxe6 0-1

112. C54
Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2756) - Caruana, Fabiano (2781)
Saint Louis (m/2) 152/112, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.Re1 Ng4
6...d6 - 151/ 110
7.Re2 Kh8 8.h3 f5 9.Bg5

565
9.hxg4? fxg4 10.Ng5 g3-+
9...Nf6 10.Nc3 d6 11.exf5
11.Nd5 fxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.Bxe6 fxg5∞
11...Bxf5 12.Na4 Bb6 13.Nxb6 axb6 14.d4 h6 15.dxe5

15...dxe5N 16.Bh4
16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Be3 Be4=
16...e4 17.Nh2 Qe8 18.Qe1 Rd8
18...Qg6∞
19.Rd1 Rxd1 20.Qxd1 Be6?!
20...Nh5 21.Re3 g5 22.Bg3 (22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.g4 Nf6 24.gxf5 Qe5∞) 22...Nxg3 23.Rxg3 Qe5
24.Ng4 (24.Qc1 Rd8∞) 24...Bxg4 25.Qxg4 b5 26.Bf1 Nd4∞
21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Bxf6 Qxf6
22...Rxf6 23.a3±
23.c3 e3
23...Ne5 24.Qd4 Nf3+!? (24...Nd3 25.Qxe4 Nxf2 26.Qc2+-) 25.Nxf3 (25.gxf3 Qg5+ 26.Kf1 exf3
27.Re6 Qg2+ 28.Ke1 Qxh2 29.Rxh6+ Kg8 30.Qd5+ Rf7 31.Qd8+ Rf8 32.Rh8+ Kxh8 33.Qxf8+
Kh7 34.Qxf3±) 25...exf3 26.Qxf6 Rxf6 27.Re7 Rc6 28.gxf3±
24.f3

566
24.fxe3 Ne5²
24...Qe6

25.Qb3
25.Qa4! Qg6 (25...Ne7 26.Qe4 Qxe4 (26...Qd6 27.Qxe3 Nd5 28.Qf2±) 27.fxe4±; 25...Rd8 26.Nf1
Rd3 27.Qc2±) 26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.fxe4 Ne5 28.Rxe3 Rd8 29.Re2±
25...Qxb3 26.axb3 Rd8 27.Nf1
27.Rxe3 Rd2=; 27.Ng4 Rd1+ 28.Kh2 Rd2 29.Rxe3 Rxb2=
27...Rd1 28.Rxe3 Na5 29.b4
29.c4 Rb1=
29...Nc4 30.Re2 Rb1 31.Kf2 Nxb2 32.Re8+ Kh7 33.Ne3 Nd3+ 34.Kg3 Re1 35.f4 Nb2 36.Kf2 Rc1
37.f5
37.Re7 Rxc3 (37...c6 38.Nf5 Kg6 39.g4²) 38.Nd5 Nd3+

567
39.Kg3 (39.Ke2 Nc1+ 40.Kf1 Rd3 41.Nf6+ (41.Nxc7 Rd1+ 42.Kf2 Nd3+ 43.Kg3 Nxb4 44.Ne6
Kg6 45.Rxg7+ Kf5=) 41...Kg6 42.Ne8 Kf5 43.Nxg7+ Kxf4=) 39...Rb3 40.Kg4! Kg8!
(40...Nxb4?? 41.Nf6+ Kg6 42.Nh5 Kh7 43.Rxg7+ Kh8 44.Kf5+-) 41.Rxc7 Nxb4 42.Ne7+
(42.Nxb6 Nc2=) 42...Kf7 43.Nf5+ Kf6 44.Nxg7 Nd5 45.Nh5+ Ke6 46.Rxb7 (46.Rh7 Ne3+
47.Kg3 Kf5=) 46...Ne3+ 47.Kg3 Rb2=
37...c6!
37...Rxc3 38.Nd5 Nd3+ 39.Kg3 Rc4! 40.Re7 Kg8 41.Nxc7ƒ
38.Re7 Kg8 39.Rxb7 Rxc3 40.Ke2
40.Rxb6 Nd3+ 41.Kg1 (41.Ke2 Nf4+=) 41...Nxb4=
40...h5 41.g4 hxg4 42.hxg4 Nc4 43.Nxc4 Rxc4 44.g5 Rxb4 45.Kf3
45.g6 Kf8 46.Rf7+ Kg8=
45...c5 46.g6 Kf8 47.Rf7+ Kg8 48.Rb7 Kf8 49.Rf7+ Kg8 50.Re7 Kf8 51.Rb7 Rb1 52.Rf7+ Kg8
53.Rb7 Kf8 54.Rf7+ Kg8 55.Rb7 1/2-1/2

113. * C54
Antipov, Mikhail Al (2615) - Niemann, Hans Moke (2642)
Saint Louis 152/113, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.Nbd2 d6 7.c3 a5 8.h3 h6 9.Re1 Be6 10.Bb5
Nd7

568
10...Ba7 - 150/110
11.Ba4N

11.Nf1
11...Re8 - 152/113
11...Ba7N 12.Nf1 Nc5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bd7 16.Ng3 Re8 17.Qf3 Rb8= Nasuta,G
(2511) -Kosakowski,J (2435) Polska (ch-m/3-rapid) 152/(113) 2022
12.Nf1 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Ne3

569
14...Bxe3! 15.Bxe3 f5 16.Bb3
16.c4 Bf7 17.d4 f4 18.Bc1 Bh5 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.dxe5 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Nxe5 22.Qc3 Qf6∞; 16.d4 e4
17.Nd2 Nb6 18.Bb5 Rf8 19.Bf4 (19.c4 Na7³) 19...Ne7∞
16...Nf6 17.d4 e4 18.Ne5 Bxb3 19.Qxb3+ Qd5 20.Nd7
20.Qxb7 Nxe5 21.Qxd5+ Nxd5 22.dxe5 Rxe5=
20...Qxb3 21.Nxf6+ Kf7 22.axb3 Kxf6 23.Bf4
23.d5 Ne5 24.Bd4 Kf7 25.f3 c5!? 26.dxc6 Nxc6 27.fxe4 Nxd4 28.cxd4 fxe4=
23...Re7 24.b4 g5 25.Bd2 Ree8 26.b5
26.d5 Ne5 27.bxa5 Nc4 28.Be3 Ke5 (28...Rxa5 29.Bd4+ Kf7 30.b3 Rxa1 31.Rxa1 Nd6 32.c4∞)
29.b3 Nxa5 30.Ra3 b6 31.Rea1 Rad8 32.c4∞
26...Ne7 27.c4 b6 28.f3 exf3 29.gxf3 f4 30.d5 Nf5 31.c5
31.Bc3+ Kf7 32.b3=
31...Nd4
31...Rxe1+! 32.Bxe1 bxc5 33.Rxa5 Rb8 34.Bc3+ Nd4 35.Ra6+ Ke5 36.Rxh6 Kxd5 37.Rh5„
32.Rxe8 Rxe8

570
33.Bc3
33.cxb6! Nxf3+ (33...cxb6?? 34.Bc3+-) 34.Kf2! (34.Kh1?? Re2-+; 34.Kg2?? Nxd2 35.bxc7 Re2+
36.Kg1 f3 37.c8=Q f2+ 38.Kh1 Re1+ 39.Kh2 f1=Q-+) 34...Nxd2 35.bxc7 Ne4+ 36.Kg1 Ke7 37.b6
Kd7 38.Rxa5=
33...bxc5 34.Rxa5 Ke5-+ 35.Ra6
35.b4 Kxd5 36.Bxd4 Kxd4 37.bxc5 Kxc5-+; 35.Ra7 Kxd5 36.Rxc7 Nxb5-+
35...h5
¹35...Kxd5 36.Rxh6 Re3-+
36.Rh6 h4 37.Rg6 Kxd5?
37...Kf5! 38.Rg7 Nxb5 39.Rf7+ Kg6 40.Rf6+ Kh5 41.Rc6 (41.Re6 Rxe6 42.dxe6 Kg6 43.Be5 Nd4
44.e7 Kf7 45.Kf2 Kxe7 46.Bxc7 Nc6!-+) 41...Nxc3 42.bxc3 Re3 43.Rxc5 (43.Kg2 Rxc3 44.Rxc7
Kg6-+) 43...Rxf3 44.Kg2 Rg3+ 45.Kh2 Rd3 46.c4 (46.Rxc7 Rd2+ 47.Kg1 Kg6-+) 46...Rd2+
47.Kg1 f3 48.Rxc7 g4 49.hxg4+ Kg6!-+
38.Rxg5+ Kc4

571
39.Rg4?
39.Rh5! Nxb5 (39...Nxf3+ 40.Kg2 Re3 (40...Nd4 41.Rxh4 Re4 42.Rh7 Re2+ 43.Kf1 Rh2 44.Kg1
Nf3+ 45.Kf1=) 41.Rf5 Ne1+ 42.Bxe1 Rxe1 43.Rxf4+ Kxb5 44.Rxh4 Re2+ 45.Kf3 Rxb2 46.Ke3=;
39...Ne2+ 40.Kf2 Nxc3 41.bxc3=; 39...Re3 40.Kg2! Nxb5 41.Rxh4 Nxc3 42.Rxf4+ Kb5 43.bxc3=)
40.Bd2 Nd4 41.Kf1 Nxf3 42.Bxf4=
39...Kd3 40.Kf1 Ke3 41.Rg2 Kxf3 42.Rf2+ Kg3 43.Rg2+ Kxh3 44.Rg5 Nf3 0-1

114. * C54
Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2616) - Niemann, Hans Moke (2656)
Sharjah 152/114, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Re1 O-O 9.h3 b5 10.Bb3 b4
10...h6 - 133/(121)
11.Nbd2 Rb8 12.Nf1
12.a5 Be6 13.Bc4 Qc8

572
14.Ng5N (14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.Nc4 Rb5∞) 14...Bxc4 15.Nxc4 h6 16.Nf3∞ Antipov,M (2615)-
Robson,R (2676) Saint Louis 152/(114) 2022 [Perunovic,Milos]
12...Be6 13.Bc2 h6 14.d4

14...exd4N
14...b3 15.Bb1 exd4 16.cxd4 (16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Re8 18.Ng3 c6∞) 16...d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Ng3
Rb4 19.Be3 f5∞
15.Nxd4

573
15...bxc3??
15...Nxd4 16.cxd4 b3
16.bxc3??
16.Nxc6 cxb2 17.Bxb2 Rxb2 18.Nxd8 Rxd8+-
16...Bd7 17.Be3 Bb6 18.Ng3 Re8 19.Rb1 Ba5?!
19...Ne5 20.f4 Ng6 21.Kh1 Ba5 22.Rxb8 Qxb8 23.Qd3ƒ
20.Rxb8 Nxb8 21.Qd3 Nc6 22.Nxc6 Bxc6 23.Bd4 Bb7 24.Nf5! Bxe4?
24...Bc8 25.Rd1 Bxf5 26.exf5 Qa8 27.Bb3²
25.Rxe4 Rxe4

574
26.Qxa6?
26.Qg3! g6 (26...Nh5 27.Qf3 Rxd4 (27...Re1+ 28.Kh2+-) 28.Nxd4 g6 29.Nc6 Qe8 30.Bb3 Bb6
31.g4 Ng7 32.Bd5+-) 27.Nxh6+ Kf8 28.Nxf7! Kxf7 (28...Re1+ 29.Kh2 Kxf7 30.Qxg6+ Ke6
31.Bf5+ Kd5 32.Qf7+ Kc6 33.Bxf6+-) 29.Bxe4 Nxe4 30.Qf3+ Nf6 31.Bxf6 Qxf6 32.Qd5+ Qe6
33.Qxa5 Qe1+ 34.Kh2 Qxf2 35.Qxc7+±
26...Re1+ 27.Kh2 Bb6?!
27...c5 28.Bxf6 Qxf6 29.Qxa5 g6 30.Qa8+ Kh7 31.Qf8 gxf5 32.g4 Qe5+ 33.Kg2 Qd5+ 34.Kg3
Qe5+ 35.Kg2 Qd5+=
28.Bxf6 gxf6 29.Qc4 Kf8 30.Qh4

575
30...Re5?
30...Bxf2! 31.Qxf2 (31.Qxh6+ Ke8∞) 31...Qe8 32.Qh4 (32.a5 Qe5+ 33.Ng3 h5 34.h4 Ra1∞)
32...Qe5+ 33.Ng3 Qe3 34.Qd4 Qe5∞
31.Qxh6+ Ke8 32.f4 Rc5
32...Re1 33.Qg7 Kd7 34.Qxf7+ Kc8 35.h4+-
33.Qh7 d5 34.Bd1 Kd7
34...Rxc3 35.h4 Rc1 36.Be2+-
35.Qxf7+ Kc8 36.Ne7+ Kb8 37.Qxf6 Qd7 38.Bf3 c6 39.Bg4 Qc7 40.h4 Ba5 41.Qf8+ Kb7 42.Nc8
Rxc3 43.Nd6+ Ka7 44.Nc8+ Kb7 45.Nd6+ Ka7 46.h5 0-1

115. C54
Bacrot, Etienne (2642) - Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/115, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Bg5
7.Re1 a5!? 8.a4 (8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5!? 10.Bg3 Nh7 11.d4 Bb6! 12.dxe5 h5 13.h4 Bg4„) 8...h6
9.Na3!? (9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.Nf1 Ng6 11.Ng3 c6 12.Ba2 Bb6 13.d4 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 exd4
16.Nf5 Ne5 17.Qf4 dxc3 18.Qg3 Nh5 19.Qxc3 Re8∞) 9...Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Nc2 Qe8 12.Be3
Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Qg6 14.Qb3 Nh5!? 15.Kh1 Nf4„ 16.Qxb7 Nxd3 17.Qxc6 Nxf2+ 18.Kg1 Nh3+=
7...h6 8.Bh4 a6 9.Re1
9.a4

576
9...g5!? (9...Ba7 10.Na3!? (10.Nbd2 - 143/104) 10...g5 11.Bg3 Nh7 12.Nc2 h5 13.h4 g4 14.Nh2
Kh8 15.Qd2 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Rfe1∞ ∆ Nf1-e3) 10.Bg3 (10.Nxg5 hxg5 11.Bxg5 Kg7 12.Qf3 Rh8
13.Nd2 Ba7 14.Rae1 Kg6! 15.Be3 Qd7! 16.h3 Nh5 17.g4 Nf4 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Kg2 b5 20.axb5
Ne5³) 10...Nh7!? 11.d4!? exd4 (11...Ba7 12.dxe5 g4 13.Nh4 Nxe5 14.Bb3 ∆ Nd2²) 12.cxd4 Bb6
13.Nc3 Bg4 14.h3 Bh5 (14...Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bxd4 16.Rad1©) 15.Qd3 Nb4 16.Qd2 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Nc6
18.Kg2 (18.Ne2!? Qf6 19.d5 Na5 20.Rfc1! Qxf3 21.Ra3 Nxc4 22.Rxc4 Qh5 23.a5©) 18...Bxd4
19.h4 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Ne5! 21.Be2 gxh4 22.Qxh6 Ng6 23.Rh1 Qg5=
9...Ba7
9...Na5 10.b4 Nxc4 11.bxc5 Na5 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.d4²; 9...g5!? 10.Bg3 (10.Nxg5 hxg5 11.Bxg5
Bxf2+!? 12.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 13.dxe4 Qxg5 14.Re3 Qf4+ 15.Rf3 Bg4=) 10...Ba7 11.Nbd2 Nh7 12.d4!?
(12.h3 h5 13.d4 h4 14.Bh2 g4 15.hxg4 Bxg4„) 12...g4 13.Nh4 exd4 14.cxd4 Bxd4 15.Qc2 Bg7
16.Rad1 Ng5∞
10.Nbd2 g5!?

577
10...Na5 11.d4 Nxc4 12.Nxc4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Qc2 g5 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.Ne3ƒ
11.Nxg5!?N
11.Bg3 Nh7!? ∆ h5∞ (11...Ne7 12.d4)
11...hxg5 12.Bxg5 Kg7 13.Qf3

13.d4 Qd7! 14.h3 Rh8³

13...Rh8!

578
13...Qe7 14.Re3! (14.d4 Rg8 15.Bd5 Bd7 16.Nb3 Nd8 17.Qg3 Kf8 18.Qh4 Rxg5! 19.Qxg5 Ng4∞)
14...Rh8 (14...Bxe3? 15.fxe3 Kg6 16.h4±; 14...Rg8?! 15.Rf1! Be6 16.Qg3! Kf8 17.Rf3→) 15.Rf1
Be6 16.d4 exd4 17.e5 dxe5 18.Qg3!? (18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe7 dxe3 20.fxe3 Bf5! 21.Bd3 Nxe7
22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Qf6+ Kh7 24.Qxf7+ Kh6 25.Qxe7 Bxe3+ 26.Kh1 Bg5 27.Qe6+ Bg6 28.Rf7 Bh4!
29.Rxc7 Raf8=) 18...Bf5 19.Rf3 Nh5 20.Bf6+! Kh7™ 21.Qg5 Qxf6 22.Qxh5+ Kg7 23.Qxf5 Qxf5
24.Rxf5 f6 25.Bb3²
14.Nf1?!

14.d4 Kg6 (14...exd4? 15.e5 Nxe5 16.Rxe5 dxe5 17.Ne4+-; 14...Qe7!? 15.h4 Rh6!) 15.Qg3 Qd7!
16.h3 (16.Bxf6+ Kxf6 17.h3 Ke7 18.Nf3 Qd8! 19.dxe5 Qg8 20.exd6+ cxd6 21.Qxg8 Rxg8 22.g4
Ne5µ) 16...Nh5 17.Qh4 Rh7 (17...exd4 18.e5! Nxe5 19.Bf6! Nxf6 20.Qxh8 Qe8 21.Qh4 dxc3
22.Nf3→) 18.Nf3 Nf4 19.Qg3 Nxh3+ (19...Nh5 20.Nh4+ Kg7 21.Qf3∞) 20.gxh3 Rxh3 (20...Qxh3
21.Nh4+! Kg7 22.Qxh3 Bxh3 23.Re3 Bd7 24.Rf3²) 21.Nh4+ Kg7 22.Qg2 Qg4 23.Qxg4 Bxg4
24.Bf1 Rxh4 25.Bxh4 Rh8 26.Bg3 exd4 27.Be2∞
14...Kg6!
14...Qe7 15.Ng3ƒ; 14...Rh5 15.Qxh5 Nxh5 16.Bxd8 Nxd8 17.Ne3∞
15.h4
15.Qg3?

579
15...Nxe4! 16.Bxf7+ (16.Rxe4 Qxg5 17.Bxf7+ Kf6-+) 16...Kxf7 17.Rxe4 Qg8 18.Rae1 Bf5 19.Rh4
Qg6-+; 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Nxe3 Rh6 17.h4 Kg7! (17...Rxh4 18.Qg3+ Ng4 19.f3 Qg5 20.fxg4 Bxg4∞)
18.g3 Rg6 19.Kg2 Qh8µ
15...Na5?!
15...Bg4!µ 16.Qg3 (16.Bxf6 Qd7! 17.Qg3 Kxf6 18.Ne3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Ke7 20.Rf1 Raf8-+)
16...Qd7! 17.Ne3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Nh5 19.f4 exf4 20.Bxf4 Na5 21.Bd5 c6 22.b4 (22.Bxf7+ Qxf7
23.Rf1 Qe6 24.Bxd6 Kh7!-+) 22...cxd5 23.bxa5 dxe4 24.dxe4 Rhg8-+
16.Ne3! Nxc4 17.dxc4?
17.Nd5! Nd2 18.Qxf6+ (18.Qe2 Ndxe4 19.dxe4 Nxd5 20.Bxd8 Nf4 21.Qf3 Rxd8 22.Kh1 Rh8
23.g3 Nh3³) 18...Qxf6 19.Nxf6 c6 20.Re3! Bxe3 21.fxe3 Be6 22.Rd1 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Rhf8 24.Rf1 f6
25.Nxf6 Rf7 26.Ne4 Rxf1+ 27.Kxf1 d5 28.Nf2 Rf8 29.g3 Kh5 30.Kg2∞
17...Rh5!µ 18.Nf5 Rxg5 19.hxg5 Nh7 20.Nh4+
20.g4 Nxg5 21.Qd3 Kf6 22.Kg2 Qe8! 23.Rf1 Bxf5 24.exf5 Qc6+ 25.f3 e4 26.fxe4 Nxe4-+
20...Kg7 21.Nf5+ Bxf5 22.exf5 Nxg5
22...Qxg5 23.Qxb7 Qh4 24.Re2 Rh8!-+
23.Qxb7 a5
23...Qh8! 24.Re4 (24.f6+ Kg6-+) 24...Rb8! 25.Qxa7 Nxe4 26.Re1 Rxb2-+
24.Rad1 Qb8 25.Qb5
25.Qxb8 Rxb8 26.Re2 Kf6 27.Rd5 Bc5µ

580
25...Bc5 26.Kf1

26.Rd5 Qxb5 27.cxb5 Kf6µ

26...Qh8! 27.Qc6 Qh4-+ 28.g3 Qh3+ 29.Qg2 Qxf5 30.Ke2 Rb8 31.Rd2 Ne4 32.g4 Qxf2+ 33.Qxf2
Bxf2 34.Rf1 Nxd2 0-1

116. ** !N C54
Dubov, Daniil (2720) - Karjakin, Sergey (2743)
lichess.org (Int.-blitz) 152/116, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2 Nxe4 8.d5 Ne7
8...Nxd2 - 124/106
9.O-O Nxd2 10.Nxd2 O-O
10...Bxd2 11.Bxd2 d6

581
12.h4!N (12.Rc1; 12.Re1) 12...O-O 13.h5 h6 14.Qf3© Kosteniuk,A (2513)-Hosseinzadeh,N (2217)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(116) 2022
11.Ne4 d6 12.a3 Bc5

13.Nxc5N
13.Re1
13...dxc5

582
14.b4 - 152/116
14.Bf4N Nf5 15.Rc1 Nd6 16.Bd3 Qf6 17.Qh5 Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5= Kosteniuk,A (2513)-
Alekseenko,K (2698) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(116) 2022
14...cxb4 15.axb4 Nf5 16.Bb2
16.Qc2 Nd6 17.Bd3 h6 18.Bb2 Re8 19.Ra3©
16...Nd6 17.Bd3 Qg5
17...Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5 19.Qg4 Qxd5 20.Ra5 b5 21.Rd1 Qe6 22.Rxb5 Rad8 23.Ra1=
18.Ra3
18.f4 Qg4 19.Qc1 f6 20.Qxc7 Bf5 21.Bxf5 Nxf5∞
18...Bf5 19.Bb1 f6 20.Rg3 Qh4 21.Bxf5 Nxf5 22.Rh3
22.Rg4 Qh5 23.d6 Qf7 24.dxc7 Nh6 25.Rd4 Qxc7 26.Rd7 Qc6©
22...Qe4 23.Re1 Qc4 24.Qh5 Nh6 25.Re7

583
25.Rg3 Qxb4 26.Rxg7+ (26.Bc3 Qf4 27.h3©) 26...Kxg7 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Bxf6+ Rxf6 29.Qxf6+
Kg8 30.Qg5+=
25...Rf7??
25...Qf4! 26.Rf3 (26.Rh4 Qf5™ (26...Qd2? 27.h3 Qxb2 (27...Rad8 28.Bd4+-) 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7
29.Qxh6+ Kf7 30.Qxh7+ Ke8 31.Re4++-) 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Qxh6+ Kf7 29.h3©) 26...Qd2 27.Bc3
Qd1+ 28.Re1 Qc2∞
26.Rxf7 Nxf7 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.Rg3 g5
28...Qxd5 29.Qxg7+ Ke8 30.h4 Kd7 31.Qxf6+-
29.h3 Re8
29...Qxd5 30.Bxf6 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Qd6 32.Qg7+ Ke8 33.h4!+-
30.Bxf6 Re1+ 31.Kh2 Qxd5 32.Rd3 1-0

117. * C54
Jones, Gawain C B (2672) - Adams, Michael (2698)
Great Britain 152/117, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.O-O O-
O 10.a3 Bxd2 11.Bxd2

584
11...Be6N
11...Bg4; 11...h6

- 152/(117) 12.h3N (12.Ba2) 12...Be6 13.Rc1 a6 14.Re1 Qd6 15.Bd3 Rad8 16.Bb1ƒ Kosteniuk,A
(2516)-Grischuk,A (2758) chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(117) 2022
12.Re1 h6
12...Nc3 13.Qc2! Bxc4 14.Ng5 f5 15.Bxc3 Qxg5 16.Bd2 Qg6 17.Qxc4+ Qf7 18.d5 Rad8 19.Re6
Ne7 20.Qxc7 Nxd5 21.Qe5ƒ
13.Rc1 Qd6 14.Qb3 a6 15.Qd3 Rfe8 16.Ne5 Nce7 17.Qf3 c6?!

585
17...Qb6
18.Bd3 Rad8 19.h3 f6

19...Qc7 20.Bb1 f6 21.Nd3 Bf7 22.Nc5 Qc8 23.Bd3²

20.Ng6
20.Nc4! Qd7 21.Qg3 Nf5 (21...Kh8 22.Ba5 Ra8 23.Nd6 Reb8 24.Rxe6! Qxe6 25.Re1 Qg8
26.Qh4±) 22.Bxf5 Bxf5 23.Bxh6 Kh7 24.Bd2²
20...Nxg6 21.Bxg6 Bf7 22.Be4 Qd7 23.h4 Ne7 24.Ba5 Ra8 25.Bb4 Nd5 26.Bd2 Ne7

586
27.Bxh6! gxh6 28.Qxf6 Bd5
28...Qg4? 29.Re3 Ng6 30.Bxg6 Bxg6 31.Rg3 Re6 32.Rxg4 Rxf6 33.h5+-
29.Rc3
29.Qxh6 Bxe4 (29...Qg4 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Rc3 Qg7 32.Rf3+ Bf7 33.Qh5 Rad8 34.Ree3 Rd6
35.Qa5±) 30.Rxe4 Nf5 31.Rg4+ Ng7 32.f3 Qe7 33.h5²
29...Bxe4 30.Rg3+
30.Rxe4 Nd5 31.Rg3+ Kh7 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Qxh6+ Qh7 34.Rxe8+ Rxe8 35.Qg5²
30...Bg6 31.h5 Nf5 32.Qxg6+ Kh8
32...Ng7 33.Rxe8+ Rxe8 34.Qxh6 Re1+ 35.Kh2 Qxd4 36.Qg5 Re4 37.h6 Rh4+ 38.Rh3 Rxh3+
39.Kxh3 Qxb2=
33.Qf6+ Kh7 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Qf6+ Kh7 36.Rxe8 Rxe8 37.Qg6+ Kh8 38.Qf6+ Kh7 39.Qg6+ 1/2-
1/2

118. ** C54
Van Foreest, Jorden (2714) - Navara, David (2700)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/118, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2 Nxe4 8.d5 Nxd2 9.Bxd2
Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Ne7 11.O-O-O
11.d6 - 124/106
11...d6 12.h4

587
12...O-ON
12...Bg4 13.h5 Qd7 14.Qd4 Bxf3 15.gxf3 O-O 16.Bb3©
13.h5 h6 14.Rdg1 c6 - 152/(118)
14...Bg4 15.Rh4→; 14...b5N 15.Bb3 Bg4 16.Nh4

16...c5? (16...Re8 17.f3 Bxh5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.gxf5 Nxf5 21.Bc2 Qf6 22.Bxf5 Qxf5
23.Rxg7+! Kf8 24.Qxh6 Ke7∞) 17.f3 Bxh5 18.g4 Bg6

19.Nf5! f6 (19...Bxf5 20.gxf5 Nxf5 21.Bc2+-) 20.Bc2+- Caruana,F (2792)-Nakamura,H (2736)

chess.com (Int.-m/1-rapid) 152/(118) 2022

588
15.g4

15...f6N
15...cxd5 - 152/(118) 16.Bb3 f6 17.Bc2 Bd7 18.Qd3 Rc8 19.Kb1 Rxc2 20.Qxc2 Qc8 21.Nd4 Bxg4
22.Qxc8 Bxc8 23.Rc1 Nf5 24.Rxc8 Nxd4 25.Rc7 Rf7 26.Rc8+ Rf8 27.Rc7 Rf7 28.Rc8+ Rf8 29.Rc7
1/2 (29) Nielsen,A (2207) -Mannion,S (2271) Praha (open) 152/(118) 2022
16.Nd4 c5?
16...Nxd5 17.Kb1 Kh8 18.f4 Bd7 19.Bxd5 (19.g5 fxg5 20.fxg5 hxg5 21.Rxg5 Rf2! 22.Qxf2 Qxg5³;
19.Nf3 Qb6 20.Nh4 Rfe8∞) 19...cxd5 20.a3 Rc8 21.Ka2©
17.Ne2 Rb8

589
18.Bb3?!
18.Bd3! b5 (18...c4 19.Bb1+-) 19.Bb1 c4 20.Qc2 f5 21.g5 hxg5 (21...Kh7 22.Qd2 Rb7 23.gxh6 gxh6
24.Nf4+-) 22.Rxg5 Nxd5 23.Qd2 Nf6 24.h6 Rb7 25.Rhg1+-
18...b5 19.Bc2 c4 20.f4
20.Bb1±
20...b4 21.g5 b3
21...c3 22.bxc3 bxc3 23.Qxc3! (23.Nxc3 Nf5 24.gxh6 Nxh6 25.f5 Kh7 26.Rg6 Rf7 27.Rhg1∞)
23...Nf5 24.gxh6 Nxh6 25.Nd4 Qb6 26.Kd2 Bg4 27.Rb1 Qa6 28.a3²
22.gxh6 bxc2 23.hxg7 Rf7??
23...Re8! 24.h6 Bf5 25.h7+ Bxh7 26.Rxh7 (26.Qc3 Qc8 27.Rxh7 Kxh7 28.Qxf6 Qh3 29.g8=Q+
Rxg8 30.Qxe7+ Kh8 31.Qf6+ Kh7=) 26...Kxh7 27.Qc3 Kg8 28.Qh3

590
28...Qc8™ (28...Nf5? 29.Rh1! Nxg7 (29...Kf7 30.Qxf5+-) 30.Qh7+ Kf7 31.Rg1 Rg8 32.Nd4 Qb6
33.Qg6++-; 28...Nxd5? 29.Qh8+ Kf7 30.g8=Q+ Rxg8 31.Qh7++-) 29.Qh8+ Kf7 30.Qh5+ Kg8
31.Nd4 Qb7 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.Qh5+=
24.h6 Bf5
24...Kh7 25.Nd4 Qb6 26.Qxc2+ f5 27.Qg2+-
25.h7+ Bxh7 26.Rxh7!+- Kxh7 27.Nd4 Kg8
27...Ng8 28.Qh2+ Nh6 29.Nf5
28.Qh2 Rxg7 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Ne6+ Kf7 31.Qh5+ Kg8 32.Qg4+ Kf7 33.Nxd8+ Rxd8 34.Qe6+
Ke8 35.Qxf6 Nxd5 36.Qe6+ Ne7 37.f5 Kf8 38.Qf6+
38.f6 Nc6 39.Qg4
38...Ke8 39.Qg7 Nxf5 40.Qg6+ Kd7 41.Qxf5+ Kc6 42.Qa5 Rd7 43.Kxc2 d5 44.Kc3 Kd6 45.Kd4
Ke6 46.Qe1+ Kd6 47.Qe5+ Kc6 48.Qb8 a5 49.Qc8+ Kd6 50.Qc5+ 1-0

119. C54
Van Foreest, Jorden (2714) - Hess, Robert L (2591)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/119, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2 d5
7...Nxe4 - 124/106
8.exd5 Nxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.a3 Bxd2 11.Bxd2 Nce7

591
12.h3N
12.Re1
12...c6 13.Re1 Qd6
13...Bf5 14.Qb3 Qb6 (14...Rb8 15.Re2 Qd6 16.Rae1²) 15.Bb4! Rfe8 16.Re5 a5 17.Rae1 Be6
(17...axb4 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Rxe7²) 18.Bxe7 Qxb3 19.Bxb3 Rxe7 20.Ng5²
14.Qb3 a5 15.Ng5 Bf5
15...h6 16.Ne4 Qg6 17.Ng3 a4 18.Qf3 Be6 19.Rac1²
16.Qf3 h6 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Ng6 19.Rae1
19.Rg4!? Rfe8 20.h4 Re6 21.h5 Rf6 22.Qb3 Ngf4 23.Qg3 (23.Qxb7 Rb8 24.Qa7 Rxb2 25.Bxf4 Nxf4
26.Re1 Ne6∞) 23...Nxh5 24.Qe5 Qxe5 25.dxe5 Re6 26.Rh4 g6 27.f4©; 19.Qf5 b6 (19...Nge7
20.Qe5 Qxe5 21.dxe5²) 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.Ba2²
19...Nf6 20.R4e2 Qxd4 21.Ba2 Nd5
21...Qxb2 22.Bxh6 Qb5 23.Qg3→
22.g3 Rfd8?

592
22...Qxb2 23.Bxd5 (23.Bxh6 Qc3 24.Bxd5 Qxf3 25.Bxf3 gxh6 26.Rb2 Rab8 27.Rb6=) 23...cxd5
24.Bb4 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 axb4 26.axb4 Rfd8=
23.h4?
23.Bc3! Qc5 (23...Nxc3 24.Qxf7+ Kh7 25.bxc3 Qf6 26.Qxb7+-) 24.h4 Rf8 (24...Nxc3 25.Bxf7+
Kh7 26.bxc3+-) 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 (25...cxd5 26.h5 d4 27.Bd2 Nh8 28.Re5 Qc6 29.Qg4+-) 26.Qxd5
cxd5 27.h5 Nh8 28.Rd2 Rfd8 29.Red1+-
23...Nf8?
23...Ne5 24.Rxe5 Qxd2 25.R1e2 Qd4 26.Bxd5 Rxd5 27.Re7 Rf8 28.Rxb7²; 23...Qf6! 24.Qg4
(24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Bxh6 d4∞) 24...Nf8 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 26.Bc3 h5 27.Qc4 Qd6∞
24.Bc3 Qc5 25.Re7! 1-0

120. C54
Giri, Anish (2771) - Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623)
Berlin 152/120, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.Nbd2 d6 7.c3 a6 8.b4 Ba7 9.a4 Ne7 10.Re1
Ng6 11.d4
11.h3 h6
11...Re8
11...c6 - 130/109
12.h3 h6 13.Bd3 c6 14.Ra3

593
14.Qc2 Be6 15.Bf1 Nh5 16.Bb2

16...Qd7!? (16...Nhf4 17.c4) 17.c4 Nhf4 18.Re3 Rad8 19.b5 (19.c5!?) 19...Qe7 20.Rb3 Bxd4
21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Bxd4 axb5 23.axb5 Ne5 24.Bb2 c5 25.Nf3 g5 26.Rc1 Ra8 27.Qd1 Red8 28.Rc2
Kh7 29.Rbc3 Rg8 30.Kh1 Nfg6 31.g3 Nxf3 32.Rxf3 Ne5 33.Re3 Ra4 34.Rd2 Ra2 35.Qb3 Raa8
36.Rc3 Rg6 37.Qd1 h5 38.Rcc2 Rag8 39.f3=; 14.Bc2 a5 (14...d5) 15.bxa5 (15.b5 Qc7 16.Ra3 Rb8
17.Bd3 Be6 18.Nf1 Rbd8 19.Bd2=) 15...Qxa5 16.Rb1 b5 17.axb5 cxb5 18.Bd3 Qxc3 19.Bxb5 Bd7
20.Bxd7 Nxd7 21.Bb2 Qc7 22.Nf1 Rab8 23.Ng3 Rb6 24.Qa4 Reb8 25.Rbc1 Qb7 26.Ba1 Nf4
27.Qd1 Qa6 28.Re3 Qa2 29.Re1 Qa6 30.Re3 Qa2 31.Re1 Qa6=
14...Qc7

594
15.Bb2N
15.a5
15...Bd7 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Raa1 Nh5 18.Bf1 Nhf4 19.h4?

19.c4! c5 20.bxc5 exd4 21.c6 Bxc6 22.Nxd4 Ne5„

19...d5! 20.g3
20.c4 dxe4 21.Nxe5 (21.Rxe4 Bf5-+; 21.Nxe4 f5-+) 21...Nxe5 22.dxe5 e3 23.fxe3 Ng6 24.Nf3 a5
25.b5 Bg4
20...Nh3+ 21.Kg2 exd4! 22.cxd4 Ngf4+! 23.gxf4 Qxf4 24.e5 Bf5 25.Qc3 Re6 26.Qe3 Rg6+
27.Kh1 Qg4 28.Ra3 f6 29.exf6 gxf6 30.h5 Rg7 0-1

121. * C67
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Kamsky, Gata (2657)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/121, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5
7...Nf5 8.Nf3 O-O 9.d4 d5 10.Nc3 Bb4 (10...Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.Bb5!? (12.Ne2 Bf5 13.g3 Bf6
14.c3 Qd7 15.Nf4 Rae8 16.Be3 Nd8 17.Bg2 c6 ∆ Ne6∞) 12...Ne7 13.Bd3 Bf6 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qf3
Bg7 (15...Bxd4 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bh6 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Rf7 19.Rad1©) 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bd2 c6 18.Ne2 Nf5
19.g3 Re8 (19...Qb6 20.Nf4 Qxd4 21.Rab1©) 20.h4 Bh6 21.Bxh6 Nxh6 22.c4 Bg4 23.Qf4 Kg7
24.Nc3 Bf5∞) 11.h3

595
(11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nd6 13.Ne5 (13.Bg5 f6 14.Bf4 Na5 15.Bd3 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bf7 18.Nd2
Qd7∞) 13...Bf5 (13...Ne7 14.a4 f6 15.Nd3 a5 16.Ba3²) 14.Bf4 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nc4 16.h3 c5 17.g4
Be6 18.Bg3 f5„) 11...Bxc3N (11...Be6 12.a3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nd6 14.a4 Re8 15.Bd3²; 11...Nce7!?
12.Bd3 c6 13.a3 Ba5 14.Bg5 (14.Bd2 Ng6 ∆ Bc7„) 14...Re8 15.Qd2 h6 16.Bf4 Bb6 17.Ne2 Ng6
18.Bh2 Nfh4 19.Nxh4 Nxh4 20.Bg3 Nf5 21.Bf4 Nh4„) 12.bxc3 Nd6 13.Ne5 Ne7 14.c4 f6 15.c5
fxe5 16.cxd6 Qxd6 17.Rxe5 (17.dxe5 Qb6 18.Be3 Qc6 19.g4²) 17...Nc6 18.Re3

18...Bf5? (18...Qf6 19.Rf3! Bf5 (19...Qxd4 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Bd3 g6 22.Rb1 Kg8 23.Qf3±) 20.c3
Qe6 21.Ba3 Rfe8 22.c4²) 19.Ba3 Qf6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.c3 Be4 22.f3 Qg5 23.Qc1 Bg6 24.Re8!+-
Deac,B (2679) -Nakamura,H (2736) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(121) 2022

596
8.Rxe5 O-O 9.Nc3 Ne8 10.Nd5 Bd6 11.Re1 c6 12.Ne3 Bc7
12...Be7 13.c4 Nc7 14.d4 (14.Nf5 Bf6 15.Nd6 Ne8 16.Nxc8 Rxc8 17.d4 d5 18.c5 b6 19.b4 Nc7 ∆
Ne6) 14...d5 15.cxd5 Bb4 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Qxd2 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Re5 Qd6 20.Bc4 Bd7
21.Rae1 b5 22.Bb3 a5 23.a3 a4 24.Ba2 Rae8=
13.Nf5
13.c4 - 110/174
13...d5 14.Ne7+ Kh8 15.Nxc8

15...Rxc8
15...Qxc8!? 16.Qf3 (16.b3 Qf5 17.Ba3 Bd6 18.Bb2 Qg5 19.Bd3 f5„) 16...Qd7 17.d3 (17.d4 Nd6
18.Bd3 f5 ∆ Ne4) 17...f5!? 18.Bg5 (18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 Nf6 20.Re5 Ng4 21.Re2 Rae8 22.Rae1
Rxe2 23.Rxe2 Kg8=) 18...Nf6 19.Re2 Rae8=
16.d3 f5 17.g3
17.Qf3
17...Nf6
17...f4!? 18.Qg4 Bd6 19.Bxf4 Bxf4 20.gxf4 Rc7 21.Bh3 Rcf7 22.Qg5 Qd6 23.f5 Qb4 24.Rab1 Qa4„
18.Qf3

597
18...Ng4!? 19.d4
19.c3 Ne5 20.Qe2 (20.Qg2 Qf6 21.Be3 g5!?„) 20...Re8! (20...Qf6 21.Bf4²; 20...d4 21.Bf4 Re8
22.Bg2 g5 23.Bd2 g4 24.Qf1 Bb6 25.Re2 ∆ Rae1ƒ) 21.Bf4 Qd7 22.Qd1 (22.Bg2? Ng6µ) 22...g6
23.Bg2 Ng4 24.Qd2 Bxf4 25.Qxf4 a6 26.h3 Nf6 27.g4 Kg7∞
19...Qf6
19...Nf6!? 20.Qxf5 (20.Re2 Ne4 21.Qd3 Qf6 22.f3 Bb6„) 20...Ne4 21.Qh5 Nxf2 22.Bg5 Qd7
23.Be7 g6 (23...Rf5!? 24.Bh3 Nxh3+ 25.Qxh3 Re8! 26.Re3 g6 27.Rae1 Kg8=) 24.Qh4 Rf7 25.Bf6+
Kg8 26.Re2 Rcf8 27.Rxf2 Qe6 28.Bh3 Qe3 29.Kg2 g5! 30.Qg4 Rxf6 31.Rxf6 Rxf6 32.Qc8+ Rf8
33.Qe6+ (33.Be6+ Kg7 34.Qxc7+ Kg6 35.Bg4 Qe4+ 36.Kh3 h5=) 33...Qxe6 34.Bxe6+ Kg7
(34...Kh8 35.Rf1 Re8 36.Bg4 Re4 37.Bh5 Rxd4 38.Rf8+ Kg7 39.Rf7+ Kh6 40.Be2 Rd2 41.Kf1 Bb6
42.Bd3 g4 43.Rxb7) 35.Rf1 Rxf1 36.Kxf1 b6 37.Bc8 c5 38.dxc5 bxc5 39.Bb7 d4 40.Ke2 h5 41.Kd3
h4=
20.c3² Qg6

598
20...Nh6 21.Bxh6 Qxh6 22.Re7 f4 23.Qg4 Qf6 24.Re6 Qf7 25.Rae1²
21.Bh3N
21.Bf4 Bxf4 22.Qxf4 Rce8 23.f3²
21...Qh5 22.Kg2 g5?!
22...Rce8 23.Bd2 Kg8 24.c4

24...Re4! 25.cxd5 cxd5 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qb3+ Qf7 28.Qxb7 Nxf2! 29.Rc1 Qh5 30.Kxf2 Qxh3
31.Qxc7 Qxh2+ 32.Ke3 (32.Ke1 Qg1+ 33.Ke2 Qg2+ 34.Ke1=) 32...f4+ 33.gxf4 Qg3+ 34.Kxe4

599
(34.Ke2 Qf3+ 35.Ke1 e3µ) 34...Re8+ 35.Kd5 Qg2+ 36.Kc4 Qxd2 37.Kb3 Qxd4 38.Qc4+=
23.Bd2 Rf7
23...Ne3+ 24.Rxe3 g4 25.Bxg4 fxg4 26.Qe2 Rce8 27.Re1±; 23...Rf6 24.Bxg4 Qxg4 25.Qxg4 fxg4
26.Bxg5±
24.Re6± Rcf8 25.Rae1 Ne3+ 26.Qxe3 g4 27.Rh6
27.Qh6 gxh3+ 28.Kf1 Qf3 29.Bg5 Kg8 30.Re7 Qd3+ 31.Kg1 Qf3 32.Qxh3+-
27...gxh3+ 28.Kg1 Qg4 29.Qe2
29.Rh4 Qg8 (29...Qg6 30.Qh6+-) 30.Qe6 f4 31.Rg4 Rg7 32.Rxg7 Qxg7 33.Qxh3+-
29...Rg8
29...Qg7 30.Qh5 f4 31.Qxh3 fxg3 32.fxg3 Bd8 33.Rhe6 Bg5 34.Bxg5 Qxg5 35.Re8±
30.f3 Qg7 31.Rxh3 f4 32.g4 Qg6

33.Qe6
33.c4! Rf5 34.Bc3+-
33...Rf6 34.Qd7 Rf7 35.Re7 Rxe7 36.Qxe7 Rg7 37.Qe2 Bd6 38.Be1! Re7 39.Qd1 Qe6 40.Kf1 Re8
41.Bf2 Qg6 42.Rh5 b6 43.Rf5†
43.Bh4 b5 44.Rf5 Rf8 45.Rg5 Qe6 46.Rh5 ∆ Bg5+-
1-0

122. C67
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2671) - Niemann, Hans Moke (2656)

600
 Sharjah 152/122, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4
Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.Nc3 Bxd4 14.Nd5 d6 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bh4 g5 17.Qe4

17...Be5N
17...Bxb2 18.Re1 (18.Rb1 Be5∞) 18...Be5 19.f4 gxh4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bd3 Bf5 22.Qxf5 Qxd5= -
142/119
18.f4 gxh4 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Bd3 Kf8! 21.Rf1 Be6 22.Nxf6! Nxf6 23.Qxe5
23.Qxh4 Kg7 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Bxh7 Qh8™ 26.Bg6+ Ke7 27.Qxe5 Rd8™ (27...a5? 28.g4! Qh4
29.g5 Qg4+ 30.Kh1 Ne8 31.Bf5 Qc4 32.Re1 Ra6 33.Kg1!+-) 28.Bf5 Rd6 29.Bxe6 Rxe6 30.Qxc7+
Nd7 31.Rd1 Qd8 32.Qxb7 Qb6+ 33.Qxb6 Rxb6 34.b3²
23...Kf7 24.Be2 h3
24...Qe7 25.Qh5+ Kg7 26.Qg5+ Kh8 27.Qxf6+ (27.Rxf6 Bxa2=) 27...Qxf6 28.Rxf6 Bxa2=
25.g4

601
25...h6?
25...Bxa2! 26.b3 (26.g5 Qd5 27.Qxf6+ Kg8 28.Rf2 Bc4!∞) 26...Qd6 27.Qxd6 (27.Bc4+ Kg7
28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Qxf6+ Qxf6 30.Rxf6 Rd8=) 27...cxd6 28.g5 a5 29.Bc4+ Kf8! 30.Rxf6+ (30.gxf6
a4 31.Rf5 h6! 32.Rh5 d5! 33.Rxh6 dxc4 34.Rh8+ Kf7 35.Rxa8 cxb3 36.cxb3 Bxb3=) 30...Kg7
31.Rf7+ (31.Rxd6 a4=) 31...Kg6 32.Rf1 a4 33.Ra1 axb3 34.Bxb3 Bxb3 35.Rxa8 Bxc2=
26.g5 hxg5 27.Bh5+ Kg7

28.Qxg5+?
28.c3!! Kh6 (28...Qd5 29.Qxf6+ Kg8 30.Bf3 Qc5+ 31.Rf2 Bf7 (31...Qe3 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Be4+-)

602
32.Be4 Rf8 33.Qh6+-; 28...Bxa2 29.Qxg5+ Kh7 30.Rxf6+-) 29.Be2! Bf7 30.Rxf6+ Bg6 31.Qf5 Qe8
32.Re6+-
28...Kh8 29.Qxf6+
29.Rxf6 Qd4+ 30.Kf1 Bc4+ 31.Ke1 Qe4+ 32.Kf2 Qxc2+∞
29...Qxf6 30.Rxf6 Rg8+ 31.Kf1
31.Rg6 Bxa2=
31...Bxa2 1/2-1/2

123. * C67
Moussard, Jules (2630) - Martirosyan, Haik M (2633)
Terme Catez 152/123, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4
Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.d5 d6 12.Nd2 h6!?
12...c6 - 139/126
13.c3 Bd7 14.Bd3 a5

15.Ne4N

603
15.Qc2
15...Be5N
15...Re8 - 152/(123) 16.Bd2 Nh4 17.Qc2 a4 18.Rac1 Be5 19.f4 Bf6 20.Be3 g6 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6
22.Qf2 Nf5 23.Bd2 h5 24.h3 Kf8 25.Be4 Qh4 26.c4 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 c5 28.dxc6 Bxc6 29.Bc2 h4
30.Bc3 Re6 31.Bxf5 gxf5 32.Rxe6 fxe6 33.Bf6 Be4 34.Bxh4 Kf7 35.a3 Rc8 36.Rc3 Rc6 37.Bd8 Kg6
38.g3 e5 39.Ba5 Kh5 40.Bb4 exf4 41.gxf4 1/2 (41) Coles,J-Esquivel Leon,J corr 152/(123) 2021
15...Be7 16.Bc2 Re8 17.Qd3 g6 18.Bd2 Bf8 19.c4 Bg7 20.Bc3²
16.f4 Bf6 17.g4 Nh4 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5 Be5 20.Rf1
20.Qh5 Nf5 21.Qf3 Nh4=
20...f5 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.Qh5 g6 23.Qe2 Be7?!
23...Bf5 24.Bd2 c6 25.Rae1 cxd5 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Bh6 Rf7∞
24.Bh6 Rf5

604
25.Ng3?!
25.Rae1! Qe8 (25...Rh5? 26.Ng3! Rxh6 27.Qxe7 Rh7 28.Qe3±; 25...Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1 Nf5 27.Qg2 Kh7
28.Bg5±) 26.Rxf5 Nxf5 (26...Bxf5?? 27.Nf6++-; 26...gxf5??

27.Kh1!! fxe4 28.Qxe4 Bf5 29.Rg1+ Kh7 30.Qe6! Bg6 31.Be3 Bg5 (31...Bf8 32.Qg4 Qxe3
33.Bxg6+ Kh8 34.Be4+-) 32.Bxg6+ Qxg6 33.Rxg5 Qxe6 34.dxe6+-) 27.Ng5! Bf6 28.Qd2 Be5
29.Nf3±
25...Rxf1+ 26.Rxf1

605
26...Bg5!
26...Bh3? 27.Bxg6!! Bxf1 (27...Nxg6 28.Qh5 Qe8 29.Qxh3+-) 28.Qh5+-; 26...Bf6? 27.Qf2+-
27.Rf8+ Qxf8 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.Be4
29.Ne4 Bf4 30.Bb5 Bc8 31.Kh1 Kg7=
29...Bh3 30.Qd3 b6 31.a4 1/2-1/2

124. C67
So, Wesley (2778) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2750)
Berlin (m/4-playoff-rapid) 152/124, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4
Ne8 10.d5 Bc5 11.Re1 d6 12.Nc3 Bf5
12...f5 13.h3 Qh4 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Nf6 16.Nb5 Rf7 17.Rc3 Ne4 18.Qd4 Qd8 19.Ra3²
13.Bd3 Bxd3
13...Qf6 14.Ne4!? Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Qxf2+ (15...g6 16.Qe1 Qh8 (16...Qg7?! 17.Rh4 Qe5 18.Qxe5 dxe5
19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Re1²) 17.Rh4 Nf6) 16.Kh1 Qf6

606
17.c3! (17.Rf4 Qe5 18.Bd2 g6 (18...Qxb2 19.c3) 19.Qf3 Ng7 20.Bc3 Qe3 21.Qg4 f5 22.Qh4 Nh5
23.Rf3 Qh6 24.Re1 Rae8 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.g4 fxg4 27.Qxg4 Ng7 28.Qd7 Rf8) 17...g6 18.a4!? a6
19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Qe2 Qd8 21.Rf1 Re8 22.Qf3 Qd7 23.Rh4ƒ
14.Qxd3 Nf6 15.h3
15.Na4 - 118/97
15...h6 16.Bd2 Qd7

17.Qf3?!N
17.Ne2 Rfe8 18.Ng3; 17.Ne4

607
17...Bd4 18.Rad1 Rae8 19.Rxe8 Nxe8 20.Qd3 Bb6?!
20...Be5
21.Re1?!
21.Ne2 Nf6 22.Bc3 Qd8 23.a4 a6 24.a5 Ba7 25.Ng3±
21...Nf6 22.Ne4 Qf5 23.g4 Qg6 24.Bc3 Nd7 25.Ng3 Qxd3 26.cxd3 g6?!
26...Ne5
27.Kg2 Ne5 28.Rd1

28...Re8?!
28...Nd7=
29.Ne4 Kf8?!
29...Nd7!?
30.Nf6 Re7 31.a4 a5 32.h4 c6? 33.Bxe5 dxe5 34.d6+- Re6 35.Nd7+ Kg7 36.Nxb6 Rxd6 37.Nc4
Rd4 38.f3 Kf6 39.b3 b5 40.axb5 cxb5 41.Nxa5 h5 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.Kg3 Rd6 44.b4 Kf5 45.Nb3
Rg6+ 46.Kf2 Ra6 47.Na5 Rd6 48.Ke3 Rd4 49.Nc6 Rxh4 50.d4 exd4+ 51.Rxd4 Rh1 52.Rd5+ Kg6
53.Rxb5 h4 54.Ne5+ Kg7 55.Kf4 Rg1 56.Ng4 h3 57.Rg5+ Kf8 58.Rh5 Kg7 59.b5 Rb1 60.Rg5+
Kh7 61.Nf6+ Kh6 62.Ng4+ Kh7 63.Kg3 Rb3 64.Rf5 Kg6 65.Rf6+ Kg5 1-0

125. C67
Grandelius, Nils (2672) - Howell, David (2646)
Sverige - England (m/1) 152/125, 2022

608
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.a4!? Be7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.d4 Nxd4
8...e4 - 141/(112)
8...exd4 9.Nd5 Re8 10.Bf4 b6 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4©
9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Nd5

10...Re8?
10...Bf6? 11.Bd3 Re8 (11...b6 12.Qg4+-) 12.Bf4 Rxe1+ (12...Re6 13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.a5+-) 13.Qxe1+-
; 10...Bh4! 11.Bd3 (11.Bf4 Nxb5 12.axb5 d6 13.Qxd4 Be6∞) 11...b6 12.Qg4 f5 (12...Bb7? 13.Bh6
Bf6 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Bg5+-) 13.Qxd4 Bb7 14.Bf4 Ne4 15.Bxe4 (15.g3 Ng5! 16.Bxg5 Bxg5
17.Rad1©) 15...fxe4 16.Rxe4 Rf5 17.c4∞
11.Qg4N
11.Bf4
11...f5?
11...c6 12.Bh6 g6 13.Nxe7+ Rxe7 14.Bd3 Ne8 15.Qxd4 d6 16.h4±
12.Qxd4 Bf6
12...Nxb5 13.Qc4! Nd6 (13...Kf8 14.axb5+-) 14.Nxe7+ Kh8 15.Qh4 Nf7 (15...Ne4 16.Rxe4 fxe4
17.Ng6+ Kg8 18.Bg5+-) 16.Ra3+-
13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bc4+ Kh8 15.Rxe8+ Nxe8

609
16.Qe3?!
16.Be3! Qxd4 (16...d6 17.Re1 Bd7 (17...Qxd4 18.Bxd4 Bd7 19.Re7 Rd8 20.h4+-) 18.Qd5+-;
16...Qf8 17.Re1 Nf6 18.Bg5 Ne4 19.Bh4+-) 17.Bxd4 b6 18.Re1 Bb7 19.Re7 c5 20.Be5+-
16...Qf8 17.b3 Nf6 18.Bb2 d5 19.Bd3 c5?!
19...Bd7 20.c4 dxc4 21.Bxc4±
20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Qf3?!
21.Re1 Bd7 22.Qf4 Re8 (22...c4 23.bxc4 dxc4 24.Qxc4+-) 23.Rxe8 Qxe8 24.Qd6+-
21...Be6 22.Bxf5 Bg8 23.Re1
23.h4 Re8 24.a5²
23...Re8 24.Rxe8 Qxe8 25.h4 Qe1+ 26.Kh2 Qe5+ 27.g3 d4 28.Bd3 Bd5 29.Qg4 Be6 30.Qf3 Bd5
31.Qg4 Be6 32.Qf3 Bd5 1/2-1/2

126. C67
Shirov, Alexei (2693) - Navara, David (2693)
Malmoe 152/126, 2022

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
Be7 10.Nc3 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 Bf5 13.Rd1+ Ke8 14.g4 Bc8 15.Kg2 h5 16.f5

610
16...g6N
16...Be7? - 150/119
17.Kf3 gxf5
17...hxg4+! 18.hxg4 gxf5 19.Rh1 (19.g5?! b6 20.Bf4 Bb7 21.Rd2 Ke7 22.Rh2 Ke6³) 19...Bf6
(19...fxg4+ 20.Kg2 f6 21.Be3 Kf7 22.Bf2 g3 23.Bxg3 Bxg3 24.Rxh8 Bxe5 25.Rd1²) 20.Rxh8+ Bxh8
21.Bg5 fxg4+ 22.Kf4 Be6 23.Ne4 b6∞
18.g5 Rg8 19.Be3 Be6 20.Rg1 Rd8 21.Ne2?!
21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Nxd1 b6 23.Nc3 c5 24.b3=
21...Bc4 22.Nd4

611
22.Nc3 Ke7 23.Rad1 Rxd1 24.Nxd1 Ke6 25.b3 Ba6 26.c4 b6³
22...Bxg5! 23.h4?
23.Rxg5 Rxg5 24.Nxc6 Bd5+ 25.Kf4 Bxc6 26.Kxg5 Ke7³; 23.Nxf5 Bd5+ 24.Ke2 f6 25.h4 Bxe3
26.Kxe3 fxe5 27.Rxg8+ Bxg8 28.Rg1 Bf7³
23...Bd5+ 24.Ke2 Bc4+ 25.Kf3

25...f4! 26.Bf2
26.Rxg5 Rxg5 27.hxg5 fxe3 28.Kxe3 c5 29.Nf5 Be6 30.Ng7+ Ke7 31.Nxh5 Rd5µ; 26.Bxf4 Rxd4

612
27.Bxg5 Bd5+ 28.Kf2 Kd7µ
26...c5 27.hxg5 cxd4 28.Kxf4 Be2! 29.Rae1 Bg4 30.b4 Rg6 31.Re4
31.Ke4 Rc6 32.Bxd4 Rxc2-+
31...Rc6 32.Bxd4 Rxc2-+ 33.a4 b6 34.a5 Kd7 35.Be3 Ke6 36.Rc1 Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Rd3 38.Re3 Rd4+
39.Re4 Rd3 40.Re3 Rd4+ 41.Re4 Kd5 42.Rxd4+ Kxd4 43.Bd2 bxa5 44.bxa5 a6 45.Be3+ Kd5 0-1

613
C75-C99

127. C78
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) - Ju, Wenjun (2560)
chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/127, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bb7 9.d3 O-O 10.Bg5
h6 11.Bh4 Rb8
11...Qe7 - 116/117
12.axb5 axb5

13.Nbd2N
13.Re1
13...Bc8 14.h3 Be6 15.Bd5 Bd7 16.b4 Bb6 17.Bb3 g5 18.Bg3
18.Nxg5!? hxg5 19.Bxg5 Kg7 20.Kh1 Qe7 21.d4 (21.f4? Be3!µ) 21...Rh8! 22.f4 Bxh3! 23.fxe5
Bg4+ 24.Kg1 Nxe5 25.Qe1 Ned7 26.Qe3©
18...Nh5

614
18...Qe7 19.Re1 Be6 20.Nf1²
19.Nxe5! Nxg3 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Re1 d5
21...g4 22.d4! (22.Qxg4+ Qxg4 23.hxg4 Ra8 24.Rab1 Ne5 25.d4 Nxg4 26.fxg3 c5=; 22.hxg4 Ne5
23.d4 Qxg4 24.Qxg4+ Nxg4 25.fxg3 c5=) 22...Nh5 23.Nf1 Nf6 24.Ng3 Ne7 25.Qd2 Kh7 26.Bc2
22.exd5
22.Qf3 dxe4 23.Qxg3 e3!? (23...Qxd3 24.Nxe4 Qxg3 25.Nxg3²) 24.Rxe3 Bxe3 25.Qxe3©
22...Ne7
22...Nxb4!? 23.cxb4 Qf5 24.Nf3 Qf6 25.d4 Nf5∞
23.Qg4

615
23...Ngf5??
23...Qd6 24.Rxe7 (24.d4 Ngf5 25.Re5 Nxd4 26.cxd4 Bxd4 27.Qxd4 Nc6 28.Rxg5+ hxg5 29.Qg4
Qe5 30.Ra6 Nd4 31.Ne4 Ra8 32.Nf6+ Kg7 33.Nh5+ Kg8 34.Nf6+=) 24...Qxe7 25.Qxg3 Qe2
26.Ne4 Qb2 27.Re1 Qxb3 28.Qe5 Qc2! 29.d4 f6 30.Qf5 Kg7 31.h4 Rbe8 32.h5 Re7 33.Qg6+ Kh8
34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Qg6+ Kh8=
24.Rxe7! Qxe7 25.Qxf5+- Kg7 26.Ne4 Rbe8 27.d6! Qe5
27...cxd6 28.Ra6 Ba7 29.Bd5
28.g4
28.Qxe5+ Rxe5

616
29.Ng3! cxd6 30.d4 Ree8 31.Nf5+ Kf6 32.Nxd6
28...cxd6 29.Ra6 Bc7
¹29...Qxf5 30.gxf5 Rb8 31.Bd5±
30.Ra7 d5 31.Bxd5 Qxf5 32.gxf5 Bf4 33.Nc5 Re1+ 34.Kg2 Kg8 35.Nd7 Re7 36.Nf6+ Kg7
37.Nh5+ 1-0

128. * !N C80
Salinas Herrera, Pablo Patricio (2534) - Sarkar, Justin (2325)
San Salvador 152/128, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.Re1

6.d4 - 151/131
6...Nc5 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nxe5 Be7 9.d4 Ne6 10.Be3 O-O 11.c4 Re8
11...f6 12.Nf3 f5
12.Nc3 f6 13.Nf3 Bd6?!
13...Nf8! 14.Qb3 Bg4! 15.Qxb7 Qd7 16.d5

617
16...Bd6N (16...Bxf3! 17.gxf3 Bd6! 18.Ne4 (18.c5? Be5) 18...Be5! (18...Rxe4? 19.fxe4 Qh3

20.e5! (20.f4 Qg4+ 21.Kf2 Re8!©) 20...Bxe5 21.f4 Qg4+ 22.Kf2+-) 19.Qxc6 Qh3 20.Ng3 (20.f4
Ng6!) 20...Ng6 21.d6 Nh4 22.f4 Bxd6=) 17.Nd2! cxd5 18.Qxd5+ Be6 19.Qa5² Tomczak,J (2584)-
Kollars,D (2635) Deutschland 152/(128) 2022
14.Qb3 c5?!
14...Qd7!
15.dxc5 Nxc5

618
16.Bxc5!N
16.Qc2
16...Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1 Bxc5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.c5+ Kf8 20.h3
20.Qe3 a5!; 20.Ng3!?ƒ a5 (20...Bxc5? 21.Qc2+-)
20...Qd7?
20...a5!
21.Qe3
21.Ng3!? a5 22.Qc4 Ra6 23.Nd4+-
21...a5 22.Nd4 Ra6

619
23.g4! h5
¹23...Qd8
24.c6!?
24.gxh5 Qxh3 25.Ng3+-
24...bxc6 25.Nf5 hxg4 26.hxg4
26.Nc5! Bxc5 27.Qxc5+ Kg8 28.Ne7++-
26...Qe6
26...Qd8 27.Nh4+-
27.Qh3 Bb4 28.Rd1 Kg8
28...Qxe4 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Qh5++-
29.Rd8+ Bf8 30.Qa3! c5 31.Qxc5 Rd6 32.Nexd6 cxd6 33.Qxc8 Qe1+ 34.Kg2 Qe4+ 35.Kg3 1-0

129. !N C81
Volokitin, Andrei (2687) - Huschenbeth, Niclas (2611)
Deutschland 152/129, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Qe2 Nc5
10.Rd1 Nxb3 11.axb3 Be7 12.c4 b4 13.Nbd2 Qc8?
13...O-O 14.Nf1 Qd7 15.cxd5 (15.h3 - 148/124; 15.Bg5 Rfd8 16.Ne3 d4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Nc2
Bg4=) 15...Bxd5 16.Ne3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Qe6=
14.Nf1 dxc4

620
15.Qe4!N
15.bxc4 a5! 16.Qe4 (16.Ne3 O-O 17.Nd5 Re8∞) 16...Ra6 17.Bg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Bf5 19.Qf4 O-O
20.Ne3 Bg6∞
15...Qb7
¹15...Bd7 16.Ng5! Bxg5 (16...h6? 17.e6!+-; 16...Nd8 17.Ng3 h6 18.Nh7!±) 17.Bxg5 O-O
(17...cxb3 18.Rxd7! Qxd7 19.Rd1! Qe6 20.Rd6 cxd6 21.Qxc6+ Kf8 22.Qxa8+ Qe8 23.Qxa6 dxe5
24.Qc4+-) 18.Qd5 Be8 19.bxc4±
16.Bg5! Na5?
16...Bxg5 17.Nxg5 c3 18.bxc3 bxc3 19.Ng3 c2 20.Qxc2 Nb4 (20...Bxb3 21.Qf5+-) 21.Qb1+-;
16...Rb8 17.bxc4 O-O 18.Ne3 h6 (18...Bc5 19.Nd5±) 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Qxb7 Rxb7 21.Rxa6±
17.Qh4 Bxg5
17...Nc6 18.Ng3 h6

621
(18...Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Ne7 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Qg4+-) 19.Nh5! Kf8 (19...Rg8 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.bxc4+-
) 20.Bxe7+ Nxe7 21.Nd4+-
18.Qxg5+- Nxb3 19.Qxg7 Rf8 20.Ng5 Bd5 21.Nxh7 O-O-O 22.Nxf8 Nxa1 23.Rxa1 Kb8 24.Ne3
c3 25.e6 fxe6 26.bxc3 b3 27.Rb1 a5 28.Nd7+ Kc8 29.Nc5 Qb6 30.Qe7 b2 31.c4 Ba8 32.Qxe6+
Qxe6 33.Nxe6 Rd2 34.Nc5 Bc6 35.Nb3 a4 36.Nxd2 a3 37.Rxb2 1-0

130. *** C82

Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2750) - Caruana, Fabiano (2786)
Bucuresti 152/130, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5
10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bc2 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13.Kxf2 f6 14.Nf1 fxe5 15.Kg1 Qd7
15...Qd6

622
16.Be3 - 152/(130) (16.Ng5 - 146/118; 16.Bg5N e4 17.Nd4 Ne5 18.Ne3 Bd7 19.Bh4∞ Carlsen,M
(2864)-Niemann,H (2642) chess24.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(130) 2022) 16...Rad8 17.Qe1 Bf5

18.Bxf5N (18.Bb3) 18...Rxf5 19.Rd1 h6 20.Bf2 Rf7∞ Caruana,F (2792)-Van Foreest,J (2702) Wijk
aan Zee 152/(130) 2022
16.Bg5
16.Ng5 Bf5 17.Bb3 Rad8 18.Ne3 (18.Be3 h6 19.Nf3 Bg4∞) 18...Ne7 19.Nxf5 Nxf5 20.Nf3 e4
21.Nd4 Ne7∞
16...Rae8

623
16...e4 17.Nd4

17...Nxd4N (17...Ne5) 18.cxd4 Bg4 19.Qd2 Rf7 20.Ne3 Raf8 21.Bh4 Qe6 22.Bb3 c6 23.Rc1 Qg6
24.Bg3 h5 25.Qe1 Bd7= Pasti,A (2398) -Kaktkov,M (2149) Terme Catez 152/(130) 2022
17.Qd2N
17.Bh4 e4 18.Nd4 Bg4 19.Qe1 Nxd4 20.cxd4 e3 21.Nxe3 Qe6 22.Nf1 Be2 23.Bf2 Qh6 24.Ng3
Bd3 25.Qc1 Qf6 26.Nh1 Qf5 27.Bxd3 Qxd3 28.Qxc7 Re2 29.Qd7 Qe4 30.h3 h6 31.Ng3 Qxg2+=
17...d4 18.Ng3?!

624
18.Re1 h6 19.Bh4 Bf5 20.Bxf5 (20.Bb3+ Be6 21.Bc2 Bf5=) 20...Qxf5 21.Bg3∞
18...h6 19.Bh4
19.Bxh6 gxh6 20.Qxh6 Qg7 21.Qh4 Bd5! 22.Ng5 e4 23.N3xe4 Rf5!µ
19...dxc3 20.Qxc3

20...Rxf3??
20...b4! 21.Qe3 Nd4 22.Nxd4 Qxd4! (22...exd4 23.Qd3 g5 24.Ba4! Qf7 25.Bxe8 Rxe8 26.Bxg5
hxg5 27.Qxd4∞) 23.Qxd4 exd4 24.Ba4 c6! 25.Nf1 (25.Bxc6 Rc8 26.Bb7 Rc7 27.Bxa6 g5-+)
25...Bd5³
21.gxf3 Nd4 22.Bd1 Rf8
22...Bd5 23.Ne4 Re6 24.Bg3 Rg6 25.Kg2+-
23.Ne4 Bc4 24.Kg2 Rf4
24...g5 25.Bg3 g4 26.b3! gxf3+ 27.Kf2 Qh3 (27...Bd5 28.Bxe5 Bxe4 29.Qxd4 Qg4 30.Bg3+-)
28.bxc4 Qg2+ 29.Ke1+-
25.Be1!
25.Bg3??

625
25...Qh3+!! 26.Kf2 (26.Kxh3 Bf1#) 26...Qf1+ 27.Ke3 Rxf3+ 28.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 29.Kd2 Qe2+ 30.Kc1
Qxe4-+; 25.Bf2?? Qh3+ 26.Kxh3 Bf1+ 27.Kg3 Nf5#
25...Qf5

26.Nd2!
26.b3? Nxf3! 27.bxc4 (27.Bxf3? Bf1+!-+) 27...Nxe1+ 28.Qxe1 Rxe4 29.Qg3 bxc4©; 26.Ng3? Qe6©
26...e4 27.Bg3
27.fxe4 Rxe4 28.Nxc4 Qd5 29.Bf3 Nxf3 30.Qxf3 Qxc4 31.Kh1+-

626
27...exf3+ 28.Kf2 Rg4 29.Nxc4 bxc4 30.Bxf3 Nxf3 31.Qxf3+- Qc2+ 32.Qe2 Qf5+ 33.Kg1 h5
34.Rf1 Qg6 35.Kh1 h4 36.Bxc7 h3 37.Qf3 Qd3 38.Be5 Rg2 39.Bc3 1-0

131. C83
Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2756) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2776)
Berlin 152/131, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Be3 Be7
10.c3 Na5!?
10...O-O - 149/125
11.Nd4 O-O
11...Nxb3?! 12.axb3 Bd7 13.b4 O-O 14.Nb3±
12.Nd2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 c5?
13...Nxb3 14.Nxb3²; 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.f4 Bd7! 16.f5 c5 17.f6 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Re8! 19.fxe7
Qxe7∞
14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.Qd3 g6
16...Rf5? 17.Bc1 g6 (17...Nxe5 18.Qh3+-) 18.b3 Nxe5 19.Qe2+-
17.Bh6 Rf7

18.Qh3?N
18.b3! Na3 (18...Nxe5? 19.Qg3 Bf6 (19...Nc6 20.Bxg6+-; 19...Bd6 20.f4+-) 20.Rae1 Nd7
21.Rxe6+-; 18...Nb6 19.h4!±) 19.Bd1 Bf8 (19...Bg5? 20.Bg4! Bxh6 21.Bxe6 Ra7 22.Rad1 Re7
23.Bxf7+ Rxf7 24.Qxd5+-; 19...a5 20.Bg4 Ra6 21.h4±) 20.Bc1 b4 21.Bg4 Qe8 22.Qh3 Re7 23.Bg5

627
h5 24.Be2 Rb7 25.c4±
18...Bg5! 19.Bxg5 Qxg5 20.Qxe6
20.b3 Nxe5 21.Qxe6 Nf3+ 22.Kh1 Nh4∞
20...Qxe5 21.Qc6
21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.a4 Raf8 23.axb5 axb5=
21...Raf8 22.Qxc5 Nxb2

23.Bb3
23.Rae1! Qg5 (23...Qh5 24.h3 Nc4 25.Bb3²) 24.Re2 Nc4 25.Rd1 Rd8 26.h3 Kg7 27.Bb3²
23...Nc4 24.Rae1
24.Rad1 Rf5=
24...Rc7!
24...Qxc3 25.Qxd5 Kg7 26.h4ƒ
25.Rxe5
25.Qb4 Qf6=
25...Rxc5 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rxd5 Rxc3= 28.Rd2 Rfc8 29.g3 Rc2 30.Rfd1 Rxd2 31.Rxd2 Rc4 32.Rd3
Kf7 33.Kg2 Ke6 34.Ra3 Rc6 35.f4 Kd5 36.Kf3 h5 1/2-1/2

132. * C83
Idani, Pouya (2635) - Sindarov, Javokhir (2609)
Sharjah 152/132, 2022

628
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7
10.Be3 O-O 11.Nbd2 Bg4 12.h3 Nxd2 13.hxg4 Nxf1 14.Kxf1 Na5 15.Bxd5 c6 16.Be4 Qxd1+
17.Rxd1 Nc4 18.Bc1 Rad8
18...Rfd8 - 149/(125)
19.Re1 c5 20.g3 Nb6
20...h6 21.Kg2 g5 22.b3 Nb6 23.Bb7 a5 24.Bc6 b4∞
21.Kg2

21...Nd5N
21...Rd7 - 152/(132) 22.Bc2 Re8 23.Bf5 Rdd8 24.Be4 Nd5 25.Bd2 c4∞ Harikrishna,P (2719)-
Tabatabaei,M (2623) Beograd 152/(132) 2022
22.g5 Nc7?!

629
22...a5 23.Rh1 g6 24.Nh2 a4 25.a3 b4„
23.Nh4
23.Rh1! g6 24.Nh2 b4 (24...Ne6 25.f4 c4 26.Ng4 Nc5 27.Kf3! Nxe4 (27...Nd3 28.Be3± Nxb2?
29.Bc5!+-) 28.Kxe4 Rd3 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.g4±) 25.Ng4 bxc3 26.bxc3 Nb5 27.c4 Nc3 28.Bf3±
23...Ne6 24.f4
24.Nf5 Bxg5 25.f4 g6! 26.Ne3 Nxf4+! 27.gxf4 Bxf4∞
24...g6 25.Nf3 c4 26.f5 gxf5 27.Bxf5 Rfe8 28.Rh1 Nf8 29.Be3 Rd5?!
29...b4 30.Rh4 bxc3 31.bxc3 Rb8 32.Rxc4 Rb2+ 33.Kh3 Rxa2 34.Nh2 Re2 35.Bf4 Ng6 36.Ng4∞
30.Be4 Rd7 31.Bd4?!
31.Rh6 b4 32.Rxa6 bxc3 33.bxc3 Ne6 34.Nd4± (34.Bc6?! Rd3! 35.Bxe8 Rxe3=)
31...Red8 32.Rh6

630
32...Ne6?!
32...a5! 33.Bc6 (33.Bf5 Rb7 34.Ra6 b4 35.Rxa5 bxc3 36.bxc3 Ne6∞) 33...Ne6! 34.Bxd7 (34.Bxb5
Nxd4 35.Nxd4 Rxd4 36.cxd4 Rxd4=) 34...Rxd7 35.Kf2 b4=
33.Bxh7+?!
33.Be3 Nf8 (33...Bc5? 34.Bxh7+ Kg7 35.Bf4 b4 36.Bf5+-) 34.Rxa6±
33...Kg7 34.Bf5 Nxg5 35.Nxg5 Bxg5 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.e6
37.Rh5 Bc1 38.Bxd7 Rxd7 39.Kf3 Bxb2 40.Ke4 b4 (40...Re7∞) 41.e6 fxe6 42.Rh8+ Kf7 43.Rh7+
Ke8 44.Rxd7 Kxd7 45.cxb4 Ba3 46.Bc3 Kc6∞
37...Rxd4!= 38.exf7+ Kf8 39.cxd4 Rxd4 40.Bg6 Bf6 41.Rh5 Rg4 42.Bf5 Rg5 43.Rxg5 Bxg5 44.Bc8
a5 45.Ba6 Bf6 46.Bxb5 Bxb2 47.Bxc4 a4 1/2-1/2

133. * C83
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761) - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2767)
Beograd 152/133, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7
10.Bc2!? Bg4 11.Qe1

631
11.h3 - 127/126
11...O-ON

11...Nc5
12.Nd4

632
- 152/133
12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Qd7 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 (15.cxd4?! f5! 16.exf6 Bxf6µ) 15...Qe6©;
12.Nbd2N Nc5 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Ne6 15.Nb3 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nd4 Ne6 18.Be3 Rc8
19.Qd2= Ivic,V (2623)-Atalik,S (2459) Srbija (ch-rapid) 152/(133) 2022
12...Nxe5! 13.f3 c5 14.Ne2
14.Bf4 cxd4 15.Bxe5 d3! 16.Bxd3 (16.Bb3 Bh4 17.g3 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.fxg4 Nxg4©) 16...Nc5
17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.fxg4 Nd3 19.Qg3 Nxe5 20.Qxe5 d4!„
14...Bh4 15.Ng3
15.Qd1? Nf2 16.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 Qh4+ 18.Kg1 Nxf3+! 19.gxf3 Bxf3-+
15...Re8 16.fxe4 dxe4 17.Be3
17.Bxe4 f5!? 18.Bxa8 Qxa8 19.Qd2 (19.Qf2? Nd3 20.Qc2 c4 21.Bf4 Bxg3 22.Bxg3 Re2-+)
19...Bxg3 (19...c4 20.Qd4 Nd3 21.Be3 Bf6 22.Qa7 Qc8 23.Bd4 Re7 24.Qb6 Re6 25.Qa7=) 20.hxg3
Nc4 21.Qf4 Re2 22.Rf2 Re1+ 23.Rf1 (23.Kh2? Ne5-+) 23...Re2 24.Rf2=; 17.Qf2 f5©
17...Nd3 18.Bxd3
18.Qd2 Qe7©
18...exd3 19.Qf2 f5 20.Nd2

633
20...Be2
20...g5!? 21.Nf3 (21.h3 f4 22.Bxf4 Be2 23.Be3 Bxf1 24.Ndxf1 Qd5∞) 21...f4 22.Nxh4 Rxe3
23.Nhf5 Re6 24.h3 Be2 25.Nxe2 dxe2 26.Rfe1 Qd5 27.g4 fxg3 28.Nxg3 Rf8 29.Qg2 Qd3∞
21.Rfe1
21.Bxc5 Bxf1 22.Rxf1 Re2 23.Qxf5 Bxg3 (23...Rxd2? 24.Bd4!+-) 24.Ne4! Bh4 25.Nd6 Re7
26.Qxd3²
21...g5 22.Nf3?
22.Qxf5 Rxe3 (22...Bxg3!? 23.hxg3 Rxe3 24.a4 b4 25.Ne4 Ra7 26.Nf6+ Kh8 27.Qxc5 Rae7
28.Qd5∞) 23.Nge4 Bxe1 24.Qe6+ Kh8 25.Qe5+ Kg8 26.Qe6+=
22...f4 23.Nxh4 fxe3 24.Qf5 d2?
24...gxh4 25.Nxe2

634
25...Ra7!! 26.Qxc5 (26.Nf4 d2 27.Rf1 Rf7 28.Qg4+ Kh8 29.Qe2 Qg5 30.Nh3 Rxf1+ 31.Rxf1 Qd5-
+) 26...Rf7 27.Nd4 (27.Qd4 d2 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Rxf1 Qxd4 30.cxd4 Rf8-+) 27...e2 28.Qh5 Rf4
29.Nxe2 (29.Nf3 Re6µ) 29...d2! 30.Red1 Rfe4 31.Nd4 Re1+ 32.Kf2 Rf8+µ
25.Rxe2 d1=Q+ 26.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 27.Nf1 Qxe2 28.Qxg5+ Kf7 29.Qf5+ Kg8 30.Qg5+ Kf7 31.Qf5+
Kg8 32.Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

134. C83
Harikrishna, Penteala (2719) - Giri, Anish (2772)
Beograd 152/134, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5
10.c3 Be7 11.Bc2 d4 12.Nb3 d3 13.Bb1 Nxb3 14.axb3 Bf5 15.Be3 O-O 16.Bd4 Qd5 17.Re1

635
17...b4!
17...Rfd8 - 148/125
18.Bxd3
18.Re3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Rfb8 20.b4 (20.c4 Qd7 21.Bxd3 Rd8 22.e6 Bxe6 23.Ne5 (23.Bb2 Bf5=)
23...Nxe5 24.Bxe5 Bf5=; 20.Bxd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Rxb3 22.Rxa6 Rxa6 23.Qxa6 Rb1+ 24.Re1 Rxe1+
25.Nxe1 Nxd4 26.cxd4 Qxd4=) 20...Bxb4 (20...a5!?) 21.e6 (21.Bxd3 Nxd4 22.Bxf5 Nxf3+ 23.Qxf3
Qxf3 24.Rxf3 Bc5=) 21...fxe6™ 22.Ba2 (22.Rxd3!?∞) 22...Qd7 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Qxd3 Rb5! 25.cxb4
(25.Bc4 Rd8 26.Rxa6 Rd5∞) 25...Rd8 26.Bc4 Bxf3 27.Bxb5 axb5 28.Rxf3 Nxd4∞
18...Bxd3 19.Qxd3 bxc3 20.bxc3 Qxb3

636
21.e6N
21.Qe4 Qc4 22.Nd2 (22.e6 Qxe6 23.Qxe6 fxe6 24.Rxe6 Bd6=) 22...Qe6 23.f4 Nxd4 24.cxd4 a5
25.f5 Qd7∞; 21.Reb1 Qe6 22.Rb7 (22.Ra4 a5 23.Qe4 Rfb8 24.Rba1 Rb5 25.Be3 Qg6 26.g3 Qxe4
27.Rxe4 Kf8 28.Kg2 Ra6 29.g4 Ke8 30.g5 Kd7 31.Raa4 Bc5 32.Bd2 Be7 33.Be3 Bc5 34.Bd2 Be7
35.h3=) 22...Rfc8=
21...fxe6 22.Qe2 a5 23.c4

23...Qxf3!?
23...Rxf3 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 25.Qxc6 Rd8 26.Be3=; 23...Nxd4 24.Nxd4 Qb6 25.Nxe6 Rf7∞

637
24.gxf3 Nxd4 25.Qe4 Nxf3+ 26.Kh1 Nxe1 27.Qxe6+ Rf7 28.Rxe1 Rf8= 29.Rd1 Kh8 30.Rd7 Rxf2
31.Qxe7 Rf1+ 32.Kg2 R1f2+ 33.Kg1
33.Kg3 R2f3+=
33...Rf1+ 34.Kg2 R1f2+ 35.Kg1 1/2-1/2

135. C84
Ivic, Velimir (2610) - Anton Guijarro, David (2694)
Terme Catez 152/135, 2022

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.Bd2
8.a3 - 150/130
8...O-O 9.h3 h6 10.a3 Rb8 11.Nc3

11...a5N
11...Be6
12.Nd5
12.a4 b4 13.Nb5!? d5 14.Re1 dxe4 15.dxe4∞
12...a4 13.Ba2 Bd7 14.Nxe7+ Nxe7 15.Nh4 g5!

638
16.f4!?
16.Qf3 Kg7 17.Nf5+ Bxf5 18.exf5 c5 19.g4∞; 16.Nf3 Ng6∞
16...exf4
16...gxh4? 17.fxe5 Nh7 18.Bxh6 Ng6 19.Qh5+-; 16...gxf4 17.g3! Bxh3 18.gxf4 Bxf1 19.fxe5 dxe5
20.Kxf1©
17.Bc3 Kg7 18.g3
18.Qh5 Ng6 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Qe2 c5 21.e5 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Re8 23.Rae1∞
18...Bxh3
18...gxh4? 19.Rxf4 Ng8 20.Qf3+-
19.Qd2?
19.Ng2 Ng6 20.gxf4 g4 21.Qe2 Kh7 22.Qe3©
19...Ng6 20.Nf5+ Bxf5 21.gxf4

639
21.exf5 Ne5 22.gxf4 gxf4 23.Qxf4 Kh7-+
21...g4
21...Nxf4! 22.Rxf4 (22.exf5 Kh7-+) 22...gxf4 23.Qxf4 Be6 24.Kh2 (24.Kf2 Kg6! 25.Bxf6 (25.Rg1+
Ng4+ 26.Ke2 (26.Rxg4+ Bxg4 27.Qxg4+ Qg5-+) 26...h5 27.Bd2 Rh8-+) 25...Qxf6 26.Rg1+ Qg5
27.Bd5 f5-+) 24...Kh7 25.Bxf6 Qd7-+
22.exf5 Nh4 23.Qh2 b4
23...Nxf5! 24.Qh5 Ng3 25.Qxg4+ Kh7 26.Qh3 b4! 27.axb4 (27.Be1 Nxf1 28.Qf5+ Kg7 29.Kxf1
Qc8-+) 27...Rb5-+
24.axb4 Nxf5 25.Bd5! Kh7
25...Rb5 26.Bc6 Qb8µ
26.Bc6
26.Be4! Nxe4 27.dxe4 Nh4 28.Kf2 Rb5 (28...g3+ 29.Qxg3 Rg8 30.Qd3 Rg2+ 31.Ke1∞) 29.Rh1 Rh5
30.Qg3 f5 31.Rag1∞
26...d5 27.b5 d4 28.Bb4 Re8 29.Rfe1
29.Bxe8 Qxe8 30.Rfe1 Qxb5 31.Re5 Qd7-+
29...Re3 30.Rxe3 dxe3 31.Bc5 Nd4 32.Qg2 Nxc6?
32...Nf3+ 33.Bxf3 gxf3 34.Qxf3 Rxb5 35.Bxe3 (35.Qxe3 Rxb2-+) 35...Rxb2 36.Rxa4 Rxc2-+;
32...e2 33.Re1 Rxb5! 34.Bxb5 Nf3+ 35.Kf2 Qd5 36.d4 Ne4+ 37.Kxe2 Nxc5-+; 32...Rxb5 33.Bxd4
Qxd4 34.Bxb5 Qxb2 35.Rxa4 Qxb5-+

640
33.Qxc6 Nd5 34.b6!?

34.c4! Nxf4 35.Qe4+ Ng6 36.Qf5 Qe8 (36...Kg8 37.Rf1 Qe8 38.Qxg4³) 37.Re1 Qe6 38.Qxe6 fxe6
39.Rxe3³
34...cxb6?
34...g3 35.Kg2! (35.bxc7 Qh4 36.Kg2 Qh2+ 37.Kf3 Qh5+ 38.Ke4 Nxc7 39.Qxc7 Re8+ 40.Kd4
Qf5!µ) 35...Nxf4+ 36.Kf3 cxb6 37.Bxe3 Ng6 (37...Qd5+ 38.Qxd5 Nxd5 39.Bg1³) 38.Qxa4³;
34...a3!! 35.bxc7 (35.bxa3 cxb6 36.Bd6 Qf6! 37.Qxd5 (37.Re1 Qh4-+; 37.Rf1 e2 38.Re1 Qd4+-+;
37.Rb1 Nc3-+) 37...Qxa1+ 38.Kg2 Kg8!-+) 35...axb2 36.Rb1 Nxc7 37.Qe4+ (37.Bxe3 Nd5 38.Bd2
Nxf4!-+) 37...Kg8 38.Bxe3 Qd5 39.Qxd5 Nxd5 40.Bd2 h5-+
35.Bd6= Qh4 36.Qxd5 Qf2+ 37.Kh1 Qh4+ 38.Kg1 Qf2+ 1/2-1/2

136. C88
Stefansson, Hannes (2520) - Ivanisevic, Ivan (2601)
Terme Catez 152/136, 2022

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 Na5!? 9.Ba2
9.axb5 Nxb3 10.cxb3 Bb7 (10...d5!?) 11.bxa6 Bxe4 12.Nc3 Bd3 13.Nxe5 Bxa6©; 9.Nxe5 Nxb3
10.cxb3 Bb7©
9...d5 10.Bxd5
10.exd5 - 103/235
10.d4 - 103/(235)
10...Nxd5 11.exd5 b4

641
12.Nxe5N
12.d4
12...Qxd5 13.d3
13.Qf3?! Qc5!³ 14.Qxa8? Bb7-+
13...Bb7 14.Nf3 Bd6 15.Nbd2 f5 16.Nf1
16.b3 Rf6 17.Bb2 Rg6©
16...f4 17.N1d2 g5 18.Ne4 g4 19.Nfd2 Qh5
19...h5! 20.f3 Rad8! 21.fxg4 b3! 22.gxh5 bxc2 23.Qxc2 Bb4∞
20.Nxd6 cxd6 21.Ne4

642
21.b3 Nc6 22.Bb2 Ne5 23.Ne4 Rae8!∞
21...f3?
21...Rae8! 22.h3 (22.Bd2 Nc6 23.Qc1 g3 24.hxg3 Ne5→) 22...f3 23.Ng3 Qg6 24.hxg4 Nc6!
25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Bf4 (26.Nf5 Ne5 27.Bf4 Nxg4 28.Nh4 Qf6 29.Bg3 Re2∞; 26.Qxf3 Re1+ 27.Nf1
Nd4 28.Qxb7 Ne2+ 29.Kh2 Rxf1 30.Qc8+=) 26...Qxg4 27.Qxf3 Qxf3 28.gxf3 Nd4 29.Bxd6 Nxf3+
30.Kf1 Nh2+ 31.Kg1 Nf3+=
22.Qd2

643
22.gxf3! gxf3 23.Kh1+-
22...fxg2
22...Bxe4! 23.Rxe4 d5 (23...Rae8 24.b3! (24.Qg5+? Qxg5 25.Bxg5 Rxe4 26.dxe4 Rc8„) 24...fxg2
25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Bb2+-) 24.Rxb4 Nc6 25.Rf4 (25.Rb6 Nd4±) 25...Rfe8 26.Qc3! fxg2 27.Bd2 Ne5
28.Qd4 Nf3+ 29.Rxf3 gxf3 30.Bc3 Qg6 31.Qxd5+ Qf7 32.Qg5+ Qg6 33.Qf4±
23.Qxb4 Nc6
23...Rae8 24.Be3+-
24.Qxb7 Nd4 25.Ng3 Ra7
25...Nf3+ 26.Qxf3!+-
26.Nxh5 Rxb7 27.Re4 1-0

137. C93
Lagarde, Maxime (2647) - Brkic, Ante (2599)
Oesterreich 152/137, 2022

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 Re8 10.d4
Bb7 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a3 h6 13.Ba2 Nb8 14.Qb3 Qd7
14...Qe7 15.a4!²
15.Qc2 c5

16.b3?!
16.d5 c4 17.b3 - 118/ 106

644
16...exd4 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.Bb2
18.Nxd4 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20.Qxc6 Bxc6³
18...Nc6

19.b4N
19.Rad1?! b4µ; 19.Nxd4 Ne5 20.Rad1 Rac8 21.Qb1 d5µ
19...Ne5 20.Nxd4 Rac8 21.Qb1 d5! 22.N4f3
22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Ne6

645
23...Ng6! 24.Nxf8 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Rxf8 26.Ne4 Ndf4µ
22...Nxf3+ 23.Nxf3 Nxe4
23...Rxe4! 24.Qd3 (24.Rxe4 Nxe4µ; 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Qd3 f5µ) 24...Qf5 25.Red1 Rd8³
24.Ne5 Qf5
24...Qd6 25.Rxe4 dxe4 26.Bxf7+ Kh7 27.Bg6+ Kg8 28.Bf7+=
25.Rxe4 Qxe4
25...dxe4? 26.Bxf7+ Kh8 27.g4!+-
26.Qxe4 dxe4 27.Bxf7+ Kh7 28.Bg6+ Kg8 29.Bf7+ Kh7 30.Bxe8
30.Bg6+=
30...Rxe8

31.Rd1
31.Nd7 Be7 32.Rc1 Rc8 33.Rxc8 Bxc8 34.Nc5=
31...Be7 32.Ng4
32.Rd7 Bc8 33.Ra7 Bf6 34.Nd3 Bxb2 35.Nxb2 e3 36.Nd3=
32...Rd8 33.Rxd8 Bxd8 34.Ne3 g5 35.Bd4 Kg6 36.Kf1 Bc7 37.Ke2 Bf4 38.Kd2 Bd5 39.g3 1/2-1/2

646
D00-D24

138. * D02
Gretarsson, Hjorvar Steinn (2542) - Willow, Jonah B (2411)
Reykjavik 152/138, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nd7!? 3.d4

3.c4 - 143/4, A
3...Nb6 4.Bg2
4.a4!? a5 5.b3 Bf5 6.Ba3 Nf6 7.Bg2

7...g6N (7...h6) 8.O-O Bg7 9.e3 O-O 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.Rc1 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 e6 14.c4 c6
15.Qc2 Nc8 16.Ne5 Nd6 17.Rfd1² Markus,R (2627)-Nihal,S (2652) Beograd 152/(138) 2022
4...Bf5 5.a4 a5 6.b3

647
6...c6N
6...e6
7.Ba3 Nf6 8.Nbd2
8.c4!? dxc4 9.O-O g6 (9...e6 10.Bxf8 Kxf8 11.bxc4 Nxc4 12.Qb3 Nd6 13.Ne5 Be4 14.Nd2 Bxg2
15.Kxg2→) 10.bxc4 Nxc4 11.Qb3 Nxa3 12.Nxa3 Rb8 13.Ng5 e6 14.e4©
8...e6 9.Bxf8 Kxf8 10.Nh4
10.c4 g6 11.O-O Kg7 12.Qc1 h5 13.h3 Nbd7 14.Qc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Nd2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2²
10...h6 11.O-O Bh7 12.e3 Nc8
12...g5 13.Nhf3 Kg7 14.Ne5 Rf8 15.f4→
13.Nhf3 Ne4 14.Qc1 Qe7 15.c4² Ncd6 16.c5 Nxd2 17.Nxd2 Ne4 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 dxe4
20.Rb1 h5 21.Qc2 f5 22.b4 h4
22...axb4 23.Rxb4 Ra7 24.Rfb1 h4 25.Qb2 hxg3 26.fxg3 Qg5 27.Qf2 Qe7 28.Qf4 Kf7 29.Rf1→
23.b5 Qg5 24.Qe2 Kf7 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.Rb7+ Kg6 27.Rfb1

648
27...hxg3
27...Rh6 28.Rb8 Rxb8 29.Rxb8 hxg3 30.fxg3 Kh7 31.Rc8 e5! 32.dxe5 Re6 33.Kg2 Qg6 34.Qd1 Re8
35.Rxe8 Qxe8 36.Qd6 Qh5=
28.fxg3 Rh3 29.Rb8 Rh8 30.Rxa8 Rxa8 31.Rb6 Rc8 32.Kg2 f4?!
32...Kh7²
33.exf4± Qd5
33...Qf5

649
34.h4! Rd8 35.Rxc6 Rxd4 36.Rd6 Rxa4 37.c6 Ra3 38.Qc4 Kh7 39.Qxe6+-
34.Qg4+ Kh7
34...Kf6 35.Qh4+ Kg6 36.Rb7 e3+ 37.Kg1! (37.Kh3 Rg8! 38.Qg4+ Kf6 39.Qh4+ Kg6=) 37...e2
38.Qg4++-
35.Rb7+- e3+ 36.Kh3 Qxd4 37.Qh5+ Kg8 38.Qf7+ Kh8 39.Qxe6 Rd8 40.Qe7 Rc8 41.Rd7 Qc3
42.f5 Rb8 43.Rd6 Qc2 44.Qe5 Rf8 45.g4 e2 46.Re6 Qd3+ 47.Qe3??

47.Kh4+-
47...Rd8??
47...e1=N! 48.Qxd3 Nxd3 49.Rxc6 Kg8 50.Kh4 Rb8 51.Ra6 Nxc5 52.Rxa5 Ne4 53.g5 Rb2 54.Kh5
Rxh2+ 55.Kg6 Kf8=
48.Qxd3 Rxd3+ 49.Kh4 Rd2 50.Re8+ Kh7 51.Kg5 Rc2 52.h4 Ra2 53.Kh5 Rxa4 54.g5 g6+
55.fxg6+ Kg7 56.Rxe2 Rc4 57.Re7+ Kg8 58.Rc7 1-0

139. D10
Aronian, Levon (2785) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2750)
Berlin 152/139, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Nc3 Qb6 7.Nd5 Qb7 8.Bf4 e5 9.Bxe5 Nd7
10.Bf4 Ngf6 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Nxa8 Qxe4+ 13.Ne2 Qxa8

650
14.Qd2N
14.f3 - 151/143
14...Nd5
14...Nb6 15.d5 (15.Bg5 Bd6 16.f3 Re8 17.Kf2 a6∞; 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.d5 Nfxd5 - 15.d5) 15...Nfxd5
16.Nc3 Bd7 17.Bg3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Be7©
15.Nc3
15.Qa5+ N7b6! 16.Bd2 (16.Qxb5?? a6-+; 16.Qxa7 Bb4+ 17.Bd2 Qc6 18.Qxf7 Re8³) 16...Qc6∞
15...Bb4 16.Be2
16.f3 Re8+ 17.Kf2 a5³
16...Re8 17.Bg3

651
17.O-O Bxc3! (17...Nxf4? 18.Qxf4 Bxc3 19.Bf3 Qb8 20.Qxb8 Nxb8 21.bxc3+-; 17...Rxe2 18.Qxe2
Nxf4 19.Qg4²) 18.bxc3 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 Rxe2 20.Qg5+ Nf6 21.Qxg7 Re6³; 17.Kf1!?
17...N7f6!
17...Nxc3 18.bxc3 Qxg2 19.Qg5+! (19.Rf1 Qf3 20.cxb4 Rxe2+ 21.Qxe2 Qc3+ 22.Qd2 Qxa1+
23.Ke2²) 19...f6 20.Bc7+ Kxc7 21.Qxg2 (21.Rxa7+ Qb7 22.Rxb7+ Bxb7 23.Qxb5 Bxh1 24.Qxc4+
Kd8 25.Kd1 Bd6²) 21...Bxc3+ 22.Kd1 Bxa1 23.Qg3+ Kd8 24.Qd6+-; 17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 N7f6
19.O-O±
18.O-O
18.f3 a5 19.O-O a4© ƒ
18...Ne4 19.Qc2 Bf5
19...Nexc3?! 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Ra2±; 19...Ndxc3!? 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Ra2 Bb4©
20.Bh4+! f6 21.Bf3!
21.Nxb5? Ng3! 22.Qxc4 Nxe2+ 23.Kh1 Bh3!-+
21...Bxc3!
21...g5 22.Nxb5! (22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Nxe4 gxh4∞) 22...Nb6 23.Rxa7 Qb8 24.Bh5 Nd6 25.Qd1 Nxb5
26.Rg7±
22.bxc3 g5
22...a5!?
23.Rfe1

652
23.Qb2!? Qb7 (23...gxh4? 24.Qxb5 Bd7 25.Qxc4±) 24.Bg3 Qb6∞
23...Nf4?
23...Ndxc3! 24.Bg3 b4∞
24.Qa2
24.Ra6!? gxh4 25.Qa2 Nh3+!? 26.gxh3 Rg8+ 27.Kh1™ Ng3+ 28.fxg3 Qxf3+ 29.Qg2+-
24...Qb7

¹24...a5
25.Qxa7
25.Qa5+! Kd7 26.Qxa7 Qxa7 27.Rxa7+ Kc6 28.Ra6+ Kd7 29.Bg3+-
25...Qxa7 26.Rxa7 Re6 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.f3!
28.Rxe4? Bxe4 29.f3 Ne2+ 30.Kf2 Bd3 31.Bg3 Nxc3²
28...Re2!?
28...Rxe1+ 29.Bxe1+-
29.Bf2 b4!? 30.cxb4 c3 31.Rxe2 Nxe2+ 32.Kh1
32.Kf1 Bd3 33.Ke1 Nf4 34.d5+-
32...c2 33.Be3 c1=R+ 34.Bxc1 Nxc1 35.b5+- Kc8 36.b6 Kb8 37.d5 Nd3 38.g4 Bc8 39.Rf7 Ba6
40.Rxf6 Kb7 41.Kg1

653
41.d6!?
41...Bb5 42.Rf5 Nf4 43.h4 Bd3 44.Rf6 Bb1 45.hxg5 Nxd5 46.Rf8 Nxb6 47.f4 Kc6 48.Kf2 Nd7
49.Rf7 Nc5 50.Kg3 Bg6 51.Rf8 Ne6 52.Rg8 Kd6 53.Ra8 Bb1 54.Ra1 Be4 55.Rd1+ Bd5 56.Rd2
Nc7 57.Kh4 Ne6 58.f5 Nc5 59.Kh5 Ke5 60.Kh6 Ne4 61.Rb2 Bc4 62.Rb4 Bd3 63.Rxe4+ Bxe4
64.Kxh7 Kf4 65.Kh6 1-0

140. D10
Shankland, Samuel L (2708) - Bacrot, Etienne (2642)
Beograd 152/140, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.Nc3 b4 6.Nb1 Ba6 7.Qc2 Nf6 8.Nd2 Qxd4
8...c3 - 111/(173)
8...e6 - 111/173
9.Ngf3 b3 10.Nxd4 bxc2 11.f3 e6 12.Nxc2

12...Be7N
12...Nbd7; 12...Nfd7; 12...c3
13.Nxc4
13.Bxc4 Nfd7 14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.Ke2 Nb6=
13...O-O 14.Be3
14.Na5 Bxf1 15.Rxf1 Nfd7 16.Bf4²; 14.Bd2!?; 14.b4!?
14...c5! 15.Ne5?!

654
15.Na5 Bxf1 16.Rxf1 Nfd7 17.Na3²; 15.O-O-O!?
15...Bxf1 16.Rxf1

16...Nfd7!= 17.Nc4
17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.Na3 Rab8 19.O-O-O Ne5 20.Bf4 Bf6=
17...Nc6 18.Ke2 Nb6 19.Nd2
19.Nxb6 axb6 20.b3 Bf6 21.Ra2 Rfd8=
19...Rab8 20.b3 Rfd8 21.Rfc1 f5 22.Rab1 fxe4
22...Rb7!?
23.fxe4 Rb7 24.Ne1 Nd4+
¹24...Nd7
25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Nef3 Rb4 27.Ne5 Rd4?!
27...Rc7
28.Nc6! Rxd2+ 29.Kxd2 Bg5+ 30.Ke2 Bxc1 31.Rxc1 Nd7
31...c4?! 32.Na5
32.Rd1! Nf6 33.Rd8+ Kf7

655
34.Ra8?!
34.e5! Ng8 (34...Ng4 35.h3 Nh6 36.Kd3! (36.Rd3 Kg6 37.Nd8 Re7 38.a5±) 36...Rxb3+ 37.Kc4 Rb2
38.a5+-) 35.Rd3 Kg6 36.Nd8 Re7 37.Rc3±
34...Kg6 35.Rxa7 Rxb3 36.a5
36.Re7!?
36...Nxe4= 37.Re7 Kf6 38.a6 Nc3+ 39.Kd2 Ra3 40.a7 Nb5 41.Rb7 Ra2+ 42.Ke3 Nxa7 43.Rxa7
Rxg2 44.Ra5 1/2-1/2

141. D12
Sikorsky, Horst - Fleetwood, Daniel M
corr 152/141, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.Bd2
9.Qb3 Qc7 10.g3 Bd6 11.Bd2 dxc4 12.Qxc4 e5 13.Rc1 Nb6 14.Qb3 Qe7 15.Kf1 O-O 16.h4 Rfe8
17.Bd3 Nbd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5=
9...Be7
9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Be2 Rc8 13.Qb1 a6 14.h3 c5 15.dxc5 Rxc5 16.b4 Rc7 17.Rd1
Qc8 18.Qb3 Ne5 19.Be1 b6=
10.Qb3 Qc7 11.cxd5
11.h3 - 90/ 323
11...exd5

656
12.h4!?N
12.Rc1 Nb6 13.g3 Qd7 14.a4 Nc8 15.Bf3 Nd6 16.Qc2 a5 17.h4 Qf5 18.Qxf5 gxf5=; 12.g3
12...b5 13.Rc1 Qd6 14.Bf3 b4 15.Ne2 c5 16.g4 c4 17.Qc2 Nb6! 18.Nf4 O-O 19.g5 Nh5 20.Kf1
20.Qd1 Qd7 21.Nxh5 gxh5 22.Bxh5 a5 23.f4 a4 24.Bg4 Qd6 25.Kf2 f5 26.Bh3 Qg6 (26...a3 27.b3
c3 28.Be1 Qe6 29.Bg2 Nc8 (29...Rfe8 30.Rh3 Nc8 31.Qh5 Nd6 32.Ke2 Bd8 33.Kd3 Ne4 34.Kc2
Kf8 35.Qh7 Kf7 36.Bf3 Rg8 37.Bh5+ Ke7 38.Qg6 Ra6=) 30.Qh5 Rd8 31.Qf3 (31.Rh3 Nd6 32.Ke2
g6 33.Qf3 Ne4 34.Qf1 (34.Bf1 Kg7 35.Kd1 Rh8=) 34...Kf7 (34...Kg7 35.Kd1 Rh8=) 35.Kd1
Rh8=) 31...Kf8 32.Qh5 (32.Ke2 Ke8 33.h5 Qa6+ 34.Kf2 Nd6 35.Qg3 Qc6=) 32...Kg8 33.Rh2 Nd6
34.Ke2 Rac8 35.Rh3 Re8 36.Kd1 Rb8²) 27.Bg2 Rfe8=
20...a5 21.Kg2 a4

657
21...Nxf4+? 22.exf4 c3 23.bxc3 bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qd7 25.Qc6+-
22.Nxd5! Nxd5 23.Qxc4 Ra5
23...Rfd8= 24.Qc6 Rab8 25.Qxd6 Rxd6
24.Qc6²
24.a3 Rb8³
24...Qd8 25.a3 Re8 26.Rc2 Kh7! 27.Rh3 f6 28.Bxh5 gxh5 29.e4 Nb6
29...Rf8 30.exd5 Qxd5+ 31.Qxd5 Rxd5 32.Re3 Bd6 33.Re4 bxa3 34.bxa3 Rf5=
30.axb4
30.Bxb4?! Ra8 31.Bd2 Rc8 (31...Bf8 32.Rhc3 Qxd4 33.Be3 Qxe4+ 34.Qxe4+ Rxe4 35.Bxb6=)
32.Qb5 Rxc2 (32...Qd7 33.g6+ Kxg6 34.Rg3+ Kf7 (34...Kh7 35.Qxh5+ Kg8 - 34...Kf7) 35.Qxh5+
Kg8 36.Rxg7+ Kxg7 37.Bh6+ Kh7 38.Bf4+ Kg7 39.Bh6+ Kh7=) 33.g6+ Kg8 (33...Kxg6 34.Rg3+
Kf7=) 34.Qxh5 Bxa3 35.Qh7+ Kf8 36.Bh6 (36.Qh8+ Ke7 37.Qxg7+ Kd6 38.Rf3=) 36...Qc7
37.Qh8+ Ke7 38.Qxg7+ Kd8 39.bxa3 Qxg7 40.Bxg7=
30...Ra8 31.Qb5 g6
31...Qxd4? 32.g6+ Kg8 33.Qxh5 Qxe4+ 34.Rf3 Bd6 35.Qh7+ Kf8 36.Bh6+-
32.Rhc3 Rb8 33.f3 f5
33...Qxd4? 34.Rc7 Rbc8 (34...Qe5 35.Qc6+-) 35.Be1 fxg5 36.Bf2 Qd1 37.Qxb6 Qxc2 38.Rxc2
Rxc2 39.Qb7+-
34.Bf4

658
34.exf5 Nd5 35.Qa6 (35.fxg6+ Kg7-+) 35...Rb6 36.fxg6+ Kh8 37.Qxa4 Nxc3 38.Bxc3 Bf8 39.Rf2
Bg7 40.d5 Rd6 41.Rd2 Rxg6-+
34...Bd6 35.Bxd6 1/2-1/2

142. D15
Lucas, Jonas (2486) - Szuhanek, Ranko (2456)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/142, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.d4 b5 6.c5 Bg4 7.h3

7.Qb3 - 115/ 125
7...Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nbd7

9.a3!?N
9.g4; 9.Bd3; 9.e4; 9.Qg3
9...e5 10.Be2
10.Qg3 g6 11.Bd3 Bg7 12.Ne2 (12.f4?! Nh5 13.Qf2

659
13...Nxf4! 14.exf4 exd4 15.Na2 Nxc5 16.O-O O-O 17.Qc2 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 c5³) 12...Ne4 13.Bxe4
dxe4 14.h4 h5 15.b4 a5 16.Bb2 O-O 17.O-O Qb8!„
10...Be7
10...g6! 11.O-O Bg7 12.Bd1!? (12.Rd1 O-O 13.b4 a5 14.Bb2 exd4 15.exd4 Re8 16.Bd3 Nf8 17.Ne2
Ne4 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rxa4 Qb8 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Ng3 Re7 22.Bc3 axb4 23.Rxb4 Qe8³) 12...a5 13.Bc2
O-O 14.Bd2 Re8 15.Qd1 a4 16.Re1 Nf8 17.Na2 exd4 18.exd4 Ne4³
11.b4 a5 12.Rb1
12.Bb2 O-O 13.O-O Re8 14.Rad1 e4 15.Qg3 h6 16.f4 Nf8∞
12...axb4 13.axb4 O-O 14.g4?!
14.Qg3 exd4 15.exd4 Re8 16.O-O Bf8 17.Rd1 g6 18.Qd3 Bg7 19.Be3 Nf8=
14...Re8
14...Ne8! 15.O-O Nc7 16.Rd1 Re8 17.Qg2 exd4 18.exd4 h6!! 19.Bd3 Bh4 20.Kh1 Ne6 21.Ne2 Nf6
22.Rf1 Ra2 23.Nc3 Ra7µ
15.g5
15.O-O h6 16.Qg2 exd4 17.exd4 Nf8³
15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4 exd4 18.Qxc6
18.Qxd4 Bxg5 19.O-O Bf6 20.Qd2 Qc7 21.Rd1 Rad8 (21...Nf8 22.Qd6 Qc8 23.Bg4 Qb7 24.Bb2
Rad8 25.Qg3 Bxb2 26.Rxb2 Rxd1+ 27.Bxd1 Rd8 28.Bf3 Ng6=) 22.Qd6 Qb7 23.Qg3 h6 24.Bb2
Bxb2 25.Rxb2 Nf6=

660
18...d3?!
18...Ne5! 19.Qe4 Bxg5 20.Bxb5 Re6 21.O-O dxe3 22.fxe3 Rb8 23.Be2 Qe7 24.Rb3 Re8! (24...Nc6
25.Qf5 g6 (25...Rf6 26.Qc2 Rxb4 27.Rxf6 Bxf6 28.Rxb4 Nxb4 29.Qc4 Qe5 30.Kg2 (30.Qxb4 Qg3+
31.Kf1 Bh4 32.Qf4 Qe1+ 33.Kg2 Qxe2+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ 35.Kg2 h5 36.Bb2 Qd2+ 37.Kg1 Qxb2
38.Qxh4 Qc1+ 39.Kg2 Qxc5µ) 30...Nd5 31.c6 g6 32.Bf3 Nc7 33.h4 Ne6 34.h5 Kg7 35.Bd2=)
26.Qd5 Rxb4 27.Bc4 Rxb3 28.Bxb3 Nd8=) 25.Bh5 Bh4 26.Qg2 Rh6 27.Rf5 Qd7 28.Qc2 Rxh5
29.Rxh5 Nf3+ 30.Kf1 Qxh3+ 31.Qg2 Nh2+ 32.Kg1 Bf2+ 33.Kxf2 Qxh5 34.Rd3 Ng4+ 35.Kf1
Qf5+ 36.Ke2 Ne5µ
19.Bf3 Ra2
19...Rc8 20.Qd5 Bxg5 21.Qxd3 Qf6 22.Bg2±
20.Qd5?!

20.Bb2 d2+ 21.Kd1 Rxb2 22.Rxb2 Ne5 23.Qd5 Nxf3 24.Qxf3 Qd3 25.Rxd2 Qb3+ 26.Ke2 Qc4+
27.Ke1 Qxb4 28.Qg4 Qxc5 29.Qd7 Rc8 30.Ke2 b4 31.Kf3±
20...Ne5!!= 21.Qxa2?
21.Be4 Rc2 (21...Qxd5 22.Bxd5 Rc2 23.Kd1 Rd8 24.e4 Rxf2 25.Rb2 Rf3 26.h4) 22.f4 Qxd5 23.Bxd5
Nc4 24.e4 Kf8 25.h4 Bd8 26.Kd1 Ra2 27.Ke1 Rc2=
21...Nxf3+-+ 22.Kd1 Bxg5
22...Qd7 23.Bd2 Qc6 24.Rf1 Ra8 25.Qb3 Ne5 26.Bc3 Qg2 27.Kd2 Nc4+ 28.Kxd3 Ra3 29.Qxa3
Nxa3-+
23.Bb2 Qd7 24.Bc3 Qf5

661
24...Qc6! 25.Rb2 d2 26.Rf1 Nh2 27.Rg1 Qf3+ 28.Kc2 Qf5+ 29.Kb3 Nf3 30.Rd1 Qd5+ 31.Kc2
Qe4+ 32.Kb3 Bf6-+
25.Ra1

25...Nh4?=
25...Bf6! 26.Qa8 Kf8 27.Qc6 Bxc3 28.Ra8 Rxa8 29.Qxa8+ Ke7 30.Qc6 Be5-+
1/2-1/2

662
D25-D49

143. D30
Bin Suhayl, Ieysaa (2243) - Gormally, Daniel (2471)
Daventry 152/143, 2022

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.e3 a6 5.Bd3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 e6 7.O-O b5 8.Be2
8.Bd3 - 124/129
8...Bb7 9.a4 Nbd7

10.Qb3N
10.b3; 10.Nbd2
10...Be7 11.Rd1 O-O 12.Bd2 b4 13.Na3 a5
13...c5! 14.dxc5 Bxf3! (14...Nxc5 15.Qxb4 RRNfe4! (15...Bd5)) 15.Bxf3 bxa3ƒ
14.Nc4 c5 15.Nce5 cxd4 16.exd4 Bd5 17.Qe3 Ne4 18.Bb5 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bd6
21.Rac1 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Bb3
22...Qh4!?³
23.Qxd8 Rfxd8 24.Rd6!
24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 ∆ h6, Rd2 ×b2

663
24...Rac8 25.Rcc6 Bd5 26.Rc7 g5 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8

28.Bd7?
28.f3! Bb3 29.Bd7!
28...Kg7!
28...Bc6 29.Rxc6 Rxd7 30.f4 gxf4 31.Rc5 b3 32.Rxa5 Rd2 33.Rb5 Rxb2 34.a5 Kg7 35.a6 Kg6 36.g3
fxg3 37.hxg3=
29.g4?
29.f3 Kg6 30.Kf2 Kf5 31.Bb5 Kxe5µ
29...Kg6 30.h3 h5 31.gxh5+ Kxh5 32.Kh2 Kg6 33.Kg3 Kf5 34.Bb5 Rf8-+ 35.Ra7 Kxe5 36.Kg4
Kf6 37.Rxa5 Rc8 38.h4 gxh4 39.Kxh4 Rc2 40.Kg3 Rxb2 41.Ra6 Rc2 42.Rb6 b3 43.a5 b2 44.Ba4
Rc3+ 45.Kh2 Bb3 0-1

144. D31
Rapport, Richard (2762) - Andreikin, Dmitry (2724)
Beograd (m/2-playoff) 152/144, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.a3

5.Nf3 - 148/135
5...h6
5...Be6
6.Bf4 Nf6 7.e3

664
7...c5N
7...Bd6
8.Be5!
8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Be2 c4 10.O-O Bd6∞
8...Be6 9.Nge2 Nc6 10.Nf4

10...cxd4!
10...Be7 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Bd3 O-O 13.O-O²

665
11.Bxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4
12.exd4 Qd6 13.Nxe6 Qxe6+ 14.Be2 Bd6 15.O-O O-O=
12...Bd6
12...Rc8!?
13.g3
13.Ncxd5? Nxd5! (13...Bxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.O-O-O∞) 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Rd1 Bb3!-+
13...Rc8 14.Rd1
14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3 Kf7∞
14...Qa5
14...Bxf4 15.Qxf4 O-O=
15.Rc1 O-O 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bh3 Kf7
17...Rfe8=
18.O-O Rc4 19.Qd3 Be5 20.Ne2 Rfc8= 21.Rxc4
21.Rb1!?
21...Rxc4 22.b4 Qa4 23.Nf4 Bxf4 24.exf4 Qc6 25.Qe3 Ne4
25...Re4 26.Qd2 Rc4=
26.f3 Rc3 27.Qd4
27.Qe2?! Rc2 28.Qe3 Qc3 29.Re1 Qxe3+ 30.Rxe3 Rc3 31.Rxc3 Nxc3µ
27...Rc4 28.Qe3 Rc3 29.Qd4 Rc4 30.Qe5 Nd2

666
30...Nf6 31.f5 (31.Re1 Qb6+ 32.Kh1 Rc6 33.f5 Qc7 34.fxe6+ Ke7©) 31...exf5 (31...Qb6+ 32.Kh1
Qc7 33.fxe6+ (33.Qxe6+?! Kf8© ƒ) 33...Ke7©) 32.Bxf5 Qe8=
31.f5!™
31.Rf2? Rc1+ 32.Kg2 (32.Bf1 Qc4-+) 32...Nc4! 33.Qd4 Rd1! 34.Qa7 d4-+
31...Nxf1 32.fxe6+ Ke8?!
32...Ke7 33.Qxg7+ (33.Bxf1? Qb6+! 34.Kh1 Qd4 35.Qf5 Rc7 36.Qf7+ Kd6 37.Qf8+ Re7-+)
33...Kd6 34.Qf8+ (34.Bxf1 Rc1 35.e7 Qc4 36.e8=N+! Ke6 37.Nc7+ Qxc7 38.Qxh6+ Kd7 39.Qh3+
Kd6 40.Qh6+ Kd7=) 34...Kc7 35.e7 Qb6+ 36.Kxf1 (36.Kh1 Nxg3+ 37.hxg3 Rc1+ 38.Bf1 Rxf1+
39.Kh2 Rf2+ 40.Kh1 Rf1+ 41.Kh2=) 36...Rc1+ 37.Ke2 Re1+ 38.Kxe1 Qe3+=
33.Qxg7

667
33...Qb6+?
33...Qd6 34.Qf7+ Kd8 35.e7+ Qxe7 36.Qxd5++-; 33...Qc7 34.Qg6+! (34.Qxh6? Nd2!µ) 34...Ke7
35.Bxf1! (35.Kxf1 Rc1+ 36.Kg2 Qc2+ 37.Qxc2 Rxc2+ 38.Kg1 Ra2-+) 35...Qb6+ 36.Kg2 Qxe6
37.Qxe6+ Kxe6 38.Bxc4 dxc4 39.Kf2 b5 40.Ke3 Kf6=
34.Kxf1 Rc1+ 35.Ke2 Re1+?!
35...Rc7 36.Qh8+ Ke7 37.f4 Qb5+ 38.Ke3 Qc4 39.Qg7+ Kd6 40.Qf8+ Re7 (40...Kc6 41.Qc5+
Qxc5+ 42.bxc5 Kxc5 43.f5 Kd6 44.f6+-) 41.Bg4+-
36.Kxe1+- Qe3+ 37.Kd1 Qd3+ 38.Kc1 Qe3+ 39.Kb1 Qd3+ 40.Kc1 Qe3+ 41.Kb2 Qd2+ 42.Ka1
Qc1+ 43.Ka2 Qc4+ 44.Kb2 Qe2+ 45.Ka1 Qf1+ 46.Bxf1 1-0

145. D36
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2767) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761)
Beograd 152/145, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Be7 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bf4 Nh5
9...a6 - 19/505
10.Nf3 Nxf4 11.exf4 Bd6 12.g3
12.Ne5
12...O-O

668
13.O-O-ON
13.O-O
13...b5
13...a5!? 14.Kb1 a4 15.a3 (15.Nxa4? Qa5 16.b3 (16.Nc3 b5 17.b3 Bb4 18.Ne2 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5µ)
16...Bb4!µ) 15...b5ƒ
14.Ne5 Qc7 15.Kb1 Nb6∞ 16.Rhg1
16.g4 b4 17.Ne2 (17.Na4 Nxa4 18.Qxa4 f6 19.Ng6 Bxg4 20.Nxf8 Bxd1 21.Qxd1 Rxf8ƒ) 17...c5
18.dxc5 Qxc5 19.Qxc5 Bxc5 20.f3∞
16...b4 17.Na4
17.Ne2 a5 18.Rc1 (18.Qxc6?! Qxc6 (18...Bxe5 19.Rc1 Nc4 20.Qxd5 (20.Qxa8 Bf5 21.Qxf8+ Kxf8
22.Bxf5 Bf6³) 20...Be6 21.Qb5 Rab8 22.Rxc4 Bxc4 23.Qxc4 Rfc8 24.Qxc7 Bxc7³) 19.Nxc6 f6µ)
18...f6 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Bd3= ∆fxe5 21.fxe5 Bxe5 (21...Be7 22.Nf4©; 21...Rxf2 22.Rgf1 Rxf1
23.Rxf1 Bh3 24.Rf2©)
17...Nxa4 18.Qxa4 c5 19.dxc5 Qxc5
19...Bxc5 20.Rd2²; 19...Bxe5 20.fxe5 Qxc5 21.Rd2ƒ
20.Nd7
20.Rd2!?
20...Bxd7 21.Qxd7 Rfd8 22.Qf5 g6 23.Qg4 b3! 24.a3 Be7= 25.f5
25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 27.Qxh6+ Kg8 28.Qg6+ Kf8=

669
25...g5 26.f4 Bf6 27.fxg5 hxg5 28.Rg2 Rac8 29.h4™ Qe3 30.Re2

30...Rc1+! 31.Rxc1 Qxd3+ 32.Ka1 Qa6 33.Kb1 Qd3+ 34.Ka1 Qa6 35.Kb1 1/2-1/2

146. D38
Navara, David (2700) - Sarana, Alexey (2685)
Beograd 152/146, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Re8 8.Bd2 Bf8 9.a3 e5 10.dxe5
Nxe5 11.cxd5 Nxf3+ 12.gxf3 Nxd5 13.h4 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qd5

15.Qa4N

670
15.Be2 - 145/125
15...Bd7

16.Qf4!
16.Rd1? Qxf3-+; 16.Qd1 Bc6 17.Qxd5 Bxd5 18.Be2 g6=
16...Bd6 17.Bc4 Bxf4
17...Qf5 18.Qxf5 (18.Qg5 Be5=) 18...Bxf5 19.Rd1 Be5 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.Ke2 Rae8=
18.Bxd5 c6 19.Be4 Bh6
19...Be5 20.O-O-O Rad8 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Rd4 Kf8 23.Rhd1 Ke7 24.Bc2 g6=
20.O-O-O Rad8 21.h5
21.Bd4!?
21...Be6 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.f4 f5 24.Bc2 Bd5?!
24...Kf7
25.Rg1 Be4 26.Bb3+ Bd5 27.Bxd5+ Rxd5 28.Bxg7 Bxg7 29.h6 Rd7

671
30.Rg5! Kh8
30...c5!?
31.hxg7+ Rxg7 32.Rxf5 Rg2 33.Rf7
33.f3!
33...Rg7 34.Rf8+ Rg8 35.Rf7 Rg7 36.Rf5 Rg2 37.f3! Rf2
37...Re2!?
38.Rg5 Rxf3 39.Kd2 Rf2+ 40.Kd3 h6 41.Rg1 a5?!
41...c5
42.Ke4 Rxb2 43.f5
43.Kf5+-
43...b5 44.f6+- Rf2 45.Ke5 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.e4 b3 48.Ke6 b2 49.e5 c5 50.Kf7 Rg2 51.Rh1 Kh7
52.e6 c4 53.e7 Re2 54.e8=Q Rxe8 55.Kxe8 c3 56.f7 c2 57.Rxh6+ 1-0

147. D38
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2767) - Yu, Yangyi (2713)
Beograd 152/147, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 c5 8.cxd5 exd5

672
9.Bd3N
9.Be2 - 80/(443)
9...cxd4 10.Nxd4
10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Ne2 Be6 14.O-O Ke7=
10...Nc6 11.O-O
11.Qb3!?
11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 O-O 13.a4

673
13...Ne5
13...Na5!?; 13...b6!?
14.Be2 Rd8
14...Be6 15.Rb1 (15.Qb3 Rab8 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.f4 Nc6 18.e4 Kh8=) 15...Rab8 16.Rb5 Rfc8=
15.Qb3
15.a5!?
15...Qg6
15...Rb8 16.a5 Bg4 17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.h3 Ne5 19.Rfd1 Nc4=
16.Kh1
16.Qb1
16...Rb8 17.a5 Bg4 18.f3
18.h3 Bxe2 19.Nxe2 Qa6 20.Nf4 Qc4=
18...Bf5 19.Rfd1 Nc6= 20.Rd2
20.Nxf5 Qxf5 21.f4 Qf6 22.Bf3 Ne7=
20...Qg5 21.Rb2?!
21.Nxf5 Qxf5=; 21.f4 Nxd4 22.Rxd4 Qe7 23.Bd3 (23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Qxd5 Be4©) 23...Bxd3
24.Rxd3 b5=
21...Nxd4
21...Bg6!?
22.cxd4 b6
¹22...b5
23.Bd3 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 bxa5 25.Re2 Rdc8

674
26.Qa6! Rc3 27.Qxa5 Rbc8
27...Rxe3 28.Rxe3 Qxe3 29.Qxa7 Rc8 30.h3=
28.Rae1 Rc2 29.h3 Rxe2 30.Rxe2 Qg3 1/2-1/2

148. D38
Nanu, Ciprian Costica (2513) - Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2575)
Romania (ch) 152/148, 2022

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4
7.Bxf6 - 147/140
7...Nbd7
7...O-O 8.e3 Bf5 9.Nd2 g5 10.Bg3 c5!? - 144/135
8.e3
8.Nd2!? - 139/157
8...g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.Nd2 Nxg3 11.hxg3
11.fxg3 Nb6 12.Bd3 Qe7 13.Qf3 h5 14.O-O Bg4 15.Qf2 O-O-O 16.Rac1 Kb8∞ - 121/(138)
11...Nb6
11...c6 12.a3 (12.Qb3 Qe7 13.a3 Bd6 14.Bd3 Nf6 15.Qc2 Bg4 16.Bf5 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Qe6=)
12...Bd6!? 13.e4 (13.Bd3 Nb6 ∆ Be6∞) 13...dxe4 14.Ndxe4 Nb6 15.Qf3 Be7 16.O-O-O Kf8 17.g4
Qc7∞
12.a3

675
12.Bd3 Be6 13.a3 Bd6 14.Qc2 c6 15.Bf5 Qf6 16.g4 O-O-O„; 12.Qc2 Be6 13.Nb3 (13.Bd3 c6 14.O-
O-O Qf6„) 13...c6 14.a3 Bd6 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.dxc5 Nd7 17.Ne2 Qf6 18.Nd4 h5∞; 12.Qb3 Bf8
13.O-O-O (13.e4 dxe4 14.Qb5+ Nd7 15.O-O-O Bg7 16.Ndxe4 O-O 17.f4 c6 18.Qd3 gxf4 19.Qf3

19...Nf6!„ 20.Qxf4 Qe7 21.Bc4 Be6 22.Rxh6 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Bxc4 24.Nf6+ Bxf6 25.Rxf6 Rfe8™
(25...Rfd8? 26.Rh1+-) 26.Qg5+ Kf8 27.Qh6+ Kg8=) 13...Be6 (13...Bg7 14.Bd3 Be6 15.f4ƒ) 14.f4
Qe7!? (14...Qf6 15.a4ƒ gxf4 16.gxf4 a5 17.Bb5+ Kd8 18.Nf3²) 15.f5!? (15.a4 gxf4 16.gxf4 Qb4„)
15...Bxf5 16.Nxd5 Qd6! 17.e4 Bg4 18.Nc4 Qc6!∞ ∆ 0-0-0
12...Bf8!?
12...Bd6 13.Qc2 (13.e4 dxe4 14.Ndxe4 Qe7 15.Bb5+ c6 16.Qe2 Kf8 17.Nxd6 Qxd6 18.Bd3 Be6
19.O-O-O Bd5=) 13...Be6 14.e4 dxe4 15.Ndxe4 c6 16.O-O-O Qe7 17.Nxd6+ (17.Be2 Bc7 18.Nc5
O-O-O 19.Rhe1 h5!?„) 17...Qxd6 18.Ne4 Qe7 19.Qc5 Nd5 (19...Qxc5+ 20.dxc5 Nd7 21.Nxg5 Bd5
22.Nh3 Nxc5 23.Nf4²) 20.Re1!? (20.Bc4 Kd7! 21.Nc3 Nxc3 22.Bxe6+ Qxe6 23.Qxc3 Rhe8
24.Kb1 Kc7 25.d5 Qg6+ 26.Ka2 Rad8=) 20...Kd7 21.Qc2 Kc7 22.Bc4ƒ
13.Bd3 c6 14.Qc2
14.b4 a5 15.bxa5 (15.b5 c5„) 15...Rxa5 16.Qb3 Be7 17.a4 Kf8 18.f3 h5„
14...Be6

676
15.Na4N
15.b4 Bd6!? (15...a5 16.bxa5 Rxa5 17.a4 Nd7 18.O-O Be7 19.Rfb1²) 16.Nb3 Kf8 17.Nc5 Bc8 18.a4
Nd7 19.Bf5 Nf6„; 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Nc5 O-O-O 17.b4 h5!? (17...Nd7 18.a4 Kb8 19.a5 h5 20.Qb2ƒ)
18.a4 Kb8 19.a5 Nc4 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qe2 Qc8„ ∆ h4
15.f4 Qe7 16.O-O-O O-O-O 17.Kb1 Kb8∞; 15.O-O-O Qe7 (15...Qf6!? 16.f4 O-O-O 17.f5 Bd7
18.g4 Kb8 19.Nf3 c5„) 16.Nb3 (16.Bf5 O-O-O 17.g4 Kb8 18.Kb1 Bg7 19.Ne2 Rc8 20.Rc1 Qd7
21.Nb3 Bxf5 22.gxf5 h5„) 16...O-O-O 17.Nc5 Kb8 18.Kb1 Bg7 (18...h5!?) 19.Rc1 h5 20.N3a4
Rh6!?
15...Nxa4 16.Qxa4 h5 17.b4
17.O-O-O h4 18.Kb1 Rg8 19.Rc1 hxg3 20.fxg3 Qb6 (20...Qd7 21.e4! dxe4 22.Bxe4ƒ) 21.Rc3 (21.e4
O-O-O) 21...Be7 22.Nf3 Bf6 (22...Qc7 23.e4 dxe4 24.Bxe4 Bf6 25.Rf1ƒ) 23.Rh6 Bg7 24.Rh5 Bf6
25.Rh7 Qc7„
17...a5
17...a6!? 18.Qc2 Qf6 19.Nb3 Rh6 20.Nc5 Bc8∞
18.b5 c5 19.dxc5
19.b6+ Bd7 20.Bb5 Bxb5 21.Qxb5+ Qd7 22.Qe2 c4!? (22...g4 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Nb3 Bxb6 25.Qb2
Rh6!? 26.Qg7 Qd6 27.Qg8+ Qf8 28.Qg5 a4 29.Nd2 Ba5 30.Rxh5 Rxh5 31.Qxh5 Qg7„) 23.Rxh5
Rxh5 24.Qxh5 Ra6 25.Qxg5 Rxb6 26.Rb1 Rh6 27.Qe5+ Kd8 28.Qb8+ Qc8 29.Rxb7 c3 30.Qa7 c2
31.Qxa5+ Ke8 32.Qb5+ Qc6=
19...Bxc5 20.Nb3
20.b6+ Kf8³

677
20...Bb6 21.Nd4

21...Qf6
21...Rc8!? 22.Be2 Qf6 23.Rd1 Ke7 (∆ h4ƒ) 24.Rxh5?! Rxh5 25.Bxh5 Rc4 26.Qb3 Bxd4 27.exd4
Rxd4 28.Be2 Qe5³
22.Rc1 h4ƒ 23.Nxe6
23.gxh4 gxh4 24.Ne2 h3 25.g3 Qf3 26.Rh2 Ke7 27.Nf4 (27.Qf4 Qh5! 28.Nd4 Rac8 29.Rd1 Bxd4!
30.Qxd4 Bg4 31.Rb1 Bf3µ) 27...d4! 28.exd4 Rad8ƒ
23...fxe6 24.gxh4 Rxh4
24...Rf8! 25.O-O (25.Qc2 gxh4 26.Rh3 Ke7 27.Rf3 Qh8 28.Rh3 Rac8µ) 25...Rh8 26.g3 Kd7! ∆
gh4‚
25.Rxh4 gxh4 26.Qg4 Kd7 27.a4
27.Be2 Rf8 28.Bf3 h3! 29.Qxh3 Rh8 30.Qg4 Rh1+ 31.Kd2 Rxc1 32.Kxc1 Qc3+ 33.Kd1 Bc5!
34.Qa4 Qd3+ 35.Ke1 Bxa3 36.b6+ Kd8³
27...Rf8 28.Rc2 Kd6!µ 29.g3?
29.Qh5 Rf7!? (29...Bc5 30.Qh7!„; 29...Qa1+ 30.Ke2 Qxa4

678
31.Qg5! Qa1 32.Qxh4 Qg7 33.g3 e5³) 30.Kd1 Bc5 31.Bg6! Rf8 (31...Qa1+?! 32.Ke2 Rf8
33.Qxh4∞) 32.Qh7 b6 33.Bd3 Qa1+ 34.Ke2 Qg1 35.Qxh4 Qxg2³
29...Qa1+ 30.Qd1
30.Ke2 Qg1-+
30...Qxd1+ 31.Kxd1 hxg3 32.fxg3 Bxe3 33.Rh2 Rf2
33...Rf3 34.b6 Rxg3 35.Rh7 Bxb6 36.Bb5 e5-+
34.Rxf2 Bxf2 35.g4 Bh4 36.b6 Bd8-+ 37.Ke2 e5 38.Bf5 e4 39.Bc8 Kc6 40.Be6 Bxb6 41.g5 Bd4
42.g6 Kd6 43.Bc8 b5 44.axb5 a4 45.b6 a3 46.b7 Kc7 0-1

149. D43
Fedoseev, Vladimir (2704) - Shirov, Alexei (2704)
Beograd 152/149, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Qd3 b6 6.cxd5

6.e4 - 25/606
6...Ba6 7.Qc2 cxd5 8.Bf4

679
8...Nbd7N
8...Qc8
9.Qa4 Qc8
9...Bc4 10.b3 b5 11.Nxb5 Bxb5 12.Qxb5 Ba3 13.Bd2²
10.Ne5 b5?!

10...Qb7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Nb5 (12.e4 Bxf1 13.Rxf1 dxe4 14.d5 Rc8 (14...exd5 15.O-O-O Rc8
16.Kb1©ƒ) 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Rd1 Be7 17.Qxe4 Qxe4+ 18.Nxe4=) 12...Bxb5 13.Qxb5 Be7=

680
11.Qa5!
11.Qd1?! b4 12.Na4 Qb7ƒ; 11.Nxb5 Bxb5 12.Qxb5 Rb8 13.Qc6 Qxc6 14.Nxc6 Rb6 (14...Rxb2
15.f3ƒ) 15.Nxa7 (15.Rc1 Rxb2=) 15...Bb4+ 16.Kd1 O-O©
11...b4 12.Nb5 Bxb5 13.Qxb5² Qc2
¹13...a6 14.Qa4 Qb7²
14.Nd3 Qc4 15.Qa4! Qxd4 16.Qc6
16.Rc1!?
16...Rd8 17.Bc7 Rc8 18.Qb7 Rxc7 19.Qxc7 Be7?!
19...Qb6 20.Rc1±
20.e3 Qe4

20...Qb6 21.Rc1+-
21.Qxa7?!
21.Qc8+! Bd8 22.Nc5 Qc2 23.Nb7 Qxc8 24.Nd6+ Kf8 25.Nxc8 a5 26.Bb5+-
21...O-O 22.Rc1 b3
¹22...Bd6
23.axb3 Rb8?!
23...e5

681
24.f3 Qh4+ 25.g3 Qh6 26.Be2+-

26...g6?!
26...Rd8!?
27.Ne5! Rxb3 28.Nxd7 Nxd7 29.Qxd7 Bb4+ 30.Kf1 Qxe3?
30...Qh3+ 31.Kf2
31.Rc7 1-0

150. D43
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Bok, Benjamin (2624)
chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/150, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6

6.Bh4 - 149/144
6...Qxf6 7.e3
7.Qb3 - 147/143
7...g6
7...Nd7 8.Bd3 (8.Rc1 - 125/ 134, 135) 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 g6 10.O-O Bg7 11.e4 - 150/155
8.Be2
8.Bd3 - 137/152
8.e4!? - 130/150

682
8...Bg7 9.O-O O-O

10.Ne5!?
10.b4 - 62/(464)
10.e4 - 111/(206)
10...Qe7!?
10...dxc4 11.f4 Nd7 12.Bxc4 Qe7 13.Ne4²; 10...c5 11.cxd5 cxd4 12.exd4 exd5 13.Bf3 (13.Re1 Be6
14.Bf3 Rd8 15.Qb3 Nc6 16.Nxd5 Qh4 17.g3 Qxd4 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Rad1 Qxb2=) 13...Nc6 14.Re1
Qd6 15.Nxf7 (15.Nxd5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.h4 Kg7 18.Qb3 Re8=) 15...Rxf7 16.Bxd5 Bf5
(16...Qf8 17.Qb3 Bxd4 18.Ne4© ∆Be5 19.f4! Bd4+ 20.Kh1ƒ; 16...Qf4 17.Qb3 Qxf2+ 18.Kh1 Nxd4
19.Qc4 Ne6 20.Rxe6 Bxe6 21.Bxe6 Kh8 22.Bxf7 Qxb2 23.Rb1 Qxc3 24.Qxc3 Bxc3 25.Rxb7 g5
26.g3 a5=) 17.g4 Bd7 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Nb5 Qf6 20.Qb3+ Kf8 21.Re3 Bxg4 22.Rae1

683
22...Bd7! (Matlakov,Maxim) (22...Bf5? 23.Nc7+-) 23.Rf3 Bf5 24.Nc7 Nxd4 25.Qa3+ Kg8 26.Nxa8
Nxf3+ 27.Qxf3 Qd8 28.Qxb7 Kh7 29.Re7 Qd1+=
11.f4 dxc4
11...Nd7 12.Qb3 Nxe5 (12...dxc4 13.Nxc4 b6 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Na5! bxa5 16.Qxb7 Rab8 17.Qxa7
Rfc8 18.Ne4 Qd8 19.Rf2²; 12...g5 13.Rae1 gxf4 14.exf4 Nxe5 15.dxe5 f6 16.exf6 Qxf6 17.Kh1 Qd4
18.Rd1 Qb6 19.Qc2²) 13.fxe5 b6 (13...Bd7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.e4²) 14.a4 ∆ a5²
12.Bxc4

12.Ne4 b6 13.Rc1 (13.Nxc4 Rd8 14.Qc2 Bb7 15.Bf3 Na6∞ 16.a3?! c5³) 13...Bb7 14.Bf3 (14.Rxc4

684
c5„ 15.dxc5 Bd5 16.Rd4 Nc6 17.Nxg6 fxg6 18.Rxd5 exd5 19.Qxd5+ Kh7 20.Qxc6 Rac8 21.Qa4
bxc5 22.Bd3 Rb8³) 14...Na6 15.Rxc4 c5„; 12.Nxc4!? Na6!? (12...c5 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Qd8
15.Bf3 Be6 16.Nd6! Qd7 17.Nxb7 Na6 18.f5!? gxf5 19.Nf4 Rab8 20.Qxd7 Bxd7 21.Rad1ƒ) 13.Bf3
(13.e4 Rd8 14.e5 Nc7 15.Ne4 Nb5∞) 13...Rd8 14.a3 Nc7 15.Qe2 Nd5 16.Ne5 c5 17.Rad1 cxd4
18.Nxd5 exd5 19.exd4 (19.Rxd4 Bf5„) 19...h5 20.g4 hxg4 21.Bxg4 Qh4„
12...Rd8N
¹12...c5

13.d5 (13.Ne4?! cxd4 14.Qxd4 Nc6³; 13.Qe2 cxd4 14.exd4 Nc6 15.Rad1 Bd7 16.Kh1 Rad8
17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.f5 gxf5 19.Rxf5 Bc8 20.Rf4 Kh8 21.Qe3 (21.Bb3 f5 22.Qc4 e5 23.dxe5 Rxd1+
24.Bxd1 Qxe5 25.Rf1 c5„) 21...f5 22.Rdf1 Qf6 23.Ne2 c5 24.dxc5 Qxb2∞) 13...Bxe5 14.fxe5 exd5
15.Nxd5 Qxe5 16.Qf3 Nd7! (16...Be6 17.Nf6+ Kg7 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19.Qxb7 Nc6 20.Nd7 Na5
21.Qb5 Rfd8 22.Nxc5 Qb6 23.a4 Qxb5 24.axb5 Nc4 25.e4²) 17.Rad1 (17.Rf2 Rb8 18.Raf1 b5
19.Qxf7+ Rxf7 20.Rxf7 Kh8 21.Ne7 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 bxc4 23.Nxg6+ Kg8 24.Ne7+) 17...Kg7 18.a4
Rb8 (18...Qxb2? 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.Ne8++-) 19.Rf2 a6 (19...b6 20.Bb5 a6 21.Bc6 c4 22.Bxd7 Bxd7
23.Nxb6 Be6 24.Nd7 Bxd7 25.Rxd7 Qe6=) 20.Rdf1 (20.a5) 20...b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qxf7+ Rxf7
23.Rxf7+ Kh8 24.Ne7 Qxe3+ 25.Kh1 bxc4 26.Nxg6+ Kg8 27.Ne7+ Qxe7 28.Rxe7 Nf6 29.Rxf6 c3
30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Rff8 cxb2 32.Rg8+=
13.Ne4ƒ b6
13...Nd7 14.Qb3 Nb6 15.Rf2 Nd5 (15...Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Kh7 17.Raf1 f6 18.Qc2! f5 (18...fxe5?
19.fxe5 Rf8 20.Rxf8 Bxf8 21.Nd6+-; 18...Bd7)) 16.g4ƒ; 13...Rf8 14.Qf3 Nd7 15.Bd3ƒ Nf6 16.Nc5
Nd5 17.Rac1 Nb4 18.Bb1 b6 19.Ne4 Ba6 20.Rfe1 ∆ a3±
14.Qb3

685
14.Qf3! Bb7 (14...Rf8 15.g4± ∆ g5) 15.Qg4±
14...Bb7?

14...Kh7 15.h4 f5 16.h5 gxh5 17.Ng3±

15.Nxf7! Kxf7 16.f5 gxf5 17.Rxf5+ Kg6 18.Bxe6 Bc8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Ng3 Re8
20...Kh7 21.Rf7 Qg5 22.Raf1+-
21.Qc2+- Kh7 22.Re5+ Kh8 23.Rxe7 Rxe7 24.Nf5 Rf7 25.Nxg7 Rxg7 26.Rf1 Nd7 27.Qxc6 Rag8
28.Qxh6+ Rh7 29.Qd6 Rhg7 30.g3 b5 31.Rf5 Rh7 32.Rxb5 Nb6 33.Qf6+ Rgg7 34.Rg5 Kg8
35.Qe6+ Kf8 36.Rf5+ Rf7 37.d5 Rxf5 38.Qxf5+ Rf7 39.Qg5 Nc4 40.e4 Re7 41.Qf6+ Rf7 42.Qd8+
Kg7 43.d6 Kg6 44.d7 Ne3 45.Qg8+ Kf6 46.d8=Q+ 1-0

686
D50-D74

151. D53
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2652) - Fressinet, Laurent (2630)
Deutschland 152/151, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7
10.Qe2
10.O-O - 145/(138)
10...O-O

11.Rd1N
11.O-O Nc6 12.Rfd1 Qb6 13.Nf3 Rfd8= - 143/(144)
11...Qc8
¹11...Qb6 12.O-O (12.g4 Nc6 13.g5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Rfd8 15.Rg1 Be8³) 12...Nc6 13.Nf5!? exf5
14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Rxd7 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Ne5 17.Rd5 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Rac8 19.Qb4 g6=
12.g4?!
12.O-O Nc6 13.Nf3 Rd8 14.e4²
12...Nc6
12...e5 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.gxf5 Qxf5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bd3 e4! 17.Nxe4 Nc6=

687
13.g5 Nxd4?!
13...Nh7! 14.gxh6 (14.Nf3 hxg5 15.Bg3 f5µ) 14...Bxh4 15.Qg4 (15.hxg7 Rd8µ) 15...Bg5 16.hxg7
Rd8µ
14.Rxd4 hxg5 15.Bxg5± b5

15...g6 16.Rh4 Qc5 17.Rg1 Rfd8 18.Qf3±

16.Bb3
16.Rg1! bxc4 (16...Rd8 17.Rf4+-) 17.Qf3 Bc6 (17...Qd8 18.Qh3+-) 18.Bxf6! Bxf3 19.Rxg7+ Kh8
20.Rh4+ Bh5 21.Rxh5#
16...b4 17.Ne4 Nxe4
17...Qc1+ 18.Bd1 Nxe4 19.Bxe7 Rfe8 20.Bxb4 a5 21.Ba3 Nf6 22.Rg1±
18.Bxe7 Re8 19.Bh4 Bc6
19...Nc5 20.Rg1 Nxb3 21.Rxg7+! Kxg7 22.Qg4+ Kf8 23.Bf6+-
20.Rg1+- e5
20...Bd5 21.f3 Qc1+ 22.Bd1 Nd6 23.Bf6 Nf5 24.Rxg7+! Nxg7 25.Rg4
21.Qh5 1-0

152. D60
Krysa, Leandro Sergio (2525) - Salinas Herrera, Pablo Patricio (2534)
San Salvador 152/152, 2022

688
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Be7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5
9...Nd5 - 45/531
9...b5
10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Qc2 a6 12.Rfd1

12...Ncd7?!
12...Qe8! 13.a4 b6 14.Ne5 (14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.b4 Nd7= (15...Bxc3? 16.Ng5!+- f5 (16...g6 17.Qxc3
Nxa4 18.Qf6) 17.Qxc3 Nxa4 18.Qe5)) 14...Bb7=
13.Nd4N
13.Be2± b5? (13...b6? 14.Ne5+-) 14.a4 b4 15.Ne4+-; 13.Bd3
13...Qa5
¹13...Qc7 14.Be2 Bd6
14.Bh4
14.Bf4 Re8 15.Nb3±
14...Ne5 15.Be2 Ng6
15...Bd7 16.Bg3²
16.Bg3 Bd7 17.Bf3± Ra7
17...Qb6 18.Qb3±
18.Nb3 Qb6 19.a4 Rc8?!

689
19...e5 20.a5 Qe6±
20.a5 Qd8 21.Nd4 Rc5 22.Qb3! Rxa5 23.Rxa5 Qxa5

24.Bb8!+- Ra8 25.Qxb7 Rxb8 26.Qxb8+ Bf8 27.Bc6 Qh5 28.Bxd7 Nxd7 29.Qc8 Nc5 30.Nc6
Qg5 31.f4 Qh4 32.b4 Nb3 33.g3 Qh3 34.Ne7+
34.Ne7+ Nxe7 35.Qxf8+ Kxf8 36.Rd8#
1-0

690
D75-D99

153. D85
Ivanisevic, Ivan (2601) - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2651)
Beograd 152/153, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.d5 a6
9...Qa5 - 150/163
10.Be2 Bxc3+ 11.Bd2 Bxa1 12.Qxa1 Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 f6 15.O-O
15.h4 O-O (15...h5!?) 16.h5 g5∞
15...O-O

16.Bh6N
16.Bc4 b5 (16...Qd6 17.Rb1 b5 18.Bb4 Qe5 19.Qxe5 fxe5 20.Bd3 Ra7∞) 17.Bb3 a5 18.d6+ e6
19.Bh6 Rf7∞
16...e5 17.Qb4
17.Qc5 Re8 18.a4 Bd7 19.a5 Bb5! 20.Bxb5 axb5 21.Qxb5 Rxa5 22.Qxb7 Qe7 23.Qb6 Rea8=
17...Rf7
17...Re8 18.f4 b5 19.fxe5 Rxe5 20.Qd4 Qd6 (20...Bd7?! 21.d6±) 21.Bf4 Bd7 22.Bxe5 fxe5 23.Qe3²

691
18.f4?!
18.a4 b5!? (18...a5 19.Qb3 Qd6 20.Rb1 b6! 21.h3 (21.Qxb6? Qxb6 22.Rxb6 Rb7µ) 21...Bd7∞)
19.axb5 axb5 20.Qxb5 Ba6 21.Qb2 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Rfa7 23.h3 Ra1=
18...b5
18...exf4! 19.Bxf4 Bd7 20.a4 (20.Re1 Rc8µ) 20...b5³
19.h3
19.fxe5 fxe5 20.Rxf7 Kxf7 21.h3 Qb6+ 22.Kh2 Bd7∞
19...Bd7 20.Kh2
20.fxe5 fxe5 21.Rxf7 Kxf7 22.Qd6 Qe7 23.Qb6 Qd8 24.Qd6 Qe7=
20...Qe7
20...exf4 21.Bxf4 Qb6 22.Qd2 Rc8 23.Bd1∞
21.Qd2 Qd6 22.Rf3?!
22.fxe5 fxe5 23.Rb1 Rc8∞
22...Re8 23.Rg3?!

23.f5 Kh8 24.Rg3 Rg8 25.Qa5 Bc8 26.fxg6 hxg6µ

23...f5! 24.fxe5 Rxe5 25.Bf4 fxe4 26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.Bd1 Re7 28.Qe3 Kg7 29.Kg1 b4
29...Qxd5 30.Bb3 (30.Qc3+ Qe5-+) 30...Qe5-+

692
30.Be2 Bf5
30...a5-+
31.a3
31.Bxa6 Rc7-+
31...a5-+ 32.h4 Rc7 33.Qg5 Rc3 34.Rxc3 bxc3 35.Qe3 c2 36.Qa7+ Bd7
36...Kg8 37.Qa8+ Kf7 38.Qb7+ Kf8 39.Qa8+ Qe8
37.Qxd7+ Kh6 38.Qc8 Qa1+ 39.Bf1 c1=Q 40.Qf8+ Kh5 41.d6 Kg4 0-1

154. **** D85

Bluebaum, Matthias (2642) - Ivic, Velimir (2610)
Terme Catez 152/154, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.O-O O-O
10.Bxc6
10.d5 - 144/152
10...bxc6 11.Qc2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Bg4 13.Ne5 Qxd4 14.Bb2 Qb6 15.Rab1 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qa5 17.Bc3
Qc5N
17...Qa6
18.Qb2 - 152/154
18.h3N Be6 19.Rfd1

19...Rfd8?! (19...f6 20.Rb7 Rfd8 (20...a5 21.Qb2 Ra7 22.Rb8 Ra8=) 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Qb2 Rd7

693
23.Rxd7 Bxd7=) 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8

21.Qd2! Qd6 22.Qh6 f6 23.e5 Qd3 24.Rb7 Qxc3? (24...Bd7 25.Bb2 Qd5 26.Qh4 Rf8 (26...g5?!
27.Qg3±) 27.Rxa7²) 25.Rxe7 Bf7 26.e6 Rd1+ 27.Kh2 Qe5+ Dubov,D (2711)-Abdusattorov,N (2651)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/(154) 2022 (27...Qe5+

28.g3! Qxe6 29.Rxe6 Bxe6 30.Qe3 Bd5 31.Qe8+ Kg7 32.Qe7+ Kg8 33.g4+-)
18...a5 19.Bd4 - 152/154
19.Rfc1N Qd6 20.Be5 Qd7 21.Qc3 Rfd8 22.Qxc6 Rac8 23.Qxd7 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1

694
24...Bxd7= 25.Bc7 (25.Rd1 Rc8=) 25...Rc8 26.Bf4 Rxc1+ 27.Bxc1 f6 28.f3 Kf7 29.a4 Bxa4 30.Bd2
Bb5 1/2 (30) Andreikin,D (2724) -Shankland,S (2708) Beograd 152/(154) 2022
19...Qb4 20.Qa1

20...Qd6N
20...Qa4 - 152/(154) 21.Bc5 Rfe8 22.Rfe1 Rad8 23.Qe5 (23.a3!?) 23...f6 24.Qg3 Be6 25.a3 Rd7
26.h4 Red8 27.h5 (27.e5 Qg4=) 27...Rd1

695
28.Qc7 (28.hxg6? Rxb1 29.Rxb1 Rd1+ 30.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 31.Kh2 Qh5+ 32.Kg1 Qxc5) 28...R1d7
29.Qg3 Rd1 30.Qc7 R1d7 31.Qg3 1/2 (31) Sevian,S (2684) -Antipov,M (2615) Saint Louis 152/(154)
2022
21.Qc3 Be2 22.Rfe1 Bb5 23.a4 Bxa4
23...Ba6?! 24.Bc5 Qe6 25.Rbc1 Rfd8 26.h3 Bc8 27.Qa3 Rd7 28.Rcd1±
24.Bh8 f6 25.e5 Qd8
25...fxe5 26.Bxe5 Qd5 27.h4² ƒ
26.exf6 exf6 27.Rb7 Rf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7

696
29.h4

29...Qd6?! - 152/154
29...Qxh8!N - 152/(154) 30.Qc4+ Kf8 31.Qxa4 Re8 32.Rxe8+ Kxe8 33.Qxc6+ Kf8= 34.Qc7 Qg8
35.Qxa5 1/2 (34) Prohaszka,P (2573)-Ragger,M (2647) Terme Catez 152/(154) 2022
30.Qc4+ Kf8
30...Qd5 31.Qe2 Kg8 32.Bxf6 c5 33.Qe7 Qd7 34.Qxc5±
31.Re6 Qd5 32.Rxf6+ Ke7?!

697
32...Kg8 33.Qc3 Ra7 34.Qg3 Rd7 35.Qb8+ Rd8 36.Qb2 Qd1+ 37.Kh2 Qd7 38.Rf4 Bb5 39.h5²
33.Qe2+ Kd7 34.Qg4+
34.Qe3!? Qb3 35.Qf4 Qd1+ 36.Kh2 Re8 37.Rf7+ Re7 38.Rf8 Re8 39.Qf7+ Re7 40.Qg8 Qd6+ 41.f4
Kc7 42.Bc3 Kb6 43.Rf6 Qd7 44.Qb8+ Ka6 45.Qa8+ Qa7 46.Qc8+ Qb7 47.Qh8²
34...Ke7 35.Qxa4
35.Qe2+ - 33.Qe2
35...Rxh8 36.Rf3 Rd8 37.Qa3+ Ke6 38.Qe3+ Qe5 39.Qb3+ Qd5 40.Qc3 Qd1+ 41.Kh2 Qd4
42.Qb3+ Rd5 43.g3 Qd1
43...Qc5 44.Re3+ Kf6 45.Qb2+ Qd4 46.Qb8 Rd8 47.Qc7 Rd7 48.Qxc6+ (48.Qxa5 Kg7=)
48...Kg7=
44.Qc3 Rf5 45.Qxc6+ Kf7 46.Qc7+ Kf6 47.Qb6+ Kg7 48.Rxf5 gxf5 49.Qxa5 Qf3
49...Qd7 50.Qc3+ Kg6 51.Qh8±
50.Qe5+ Kf7 51.Kg1 h5 52.Kf1 Qd1+ 53.Kg2 Qd3

54.Qf4
54.Qc7+! Kg8 55.Qb8+ Kg7 56.Qb7+ Kh6 57.Qc6+ Kg7 58.Qf3+-
54...Qc2 55.Qf3 Kg6 56.Qd5 Kf6 57.Qd6+ Kf7 58.Qd7+ Kf6 59.Qe8+- Qd1 60.Qf8+ Ke6
61.Qg8+ Ke5 62.Qg7+ Ke6 63.Qg6+ Ke7
63...Ke5 64.f4+ Ke4 65.Qe6+ Kd3 66.Qd5+ Ke2 67.Qxd1+ Kxd1 68.g4
64.Qxf5 1-0

698
 155. !N D87
Rapport, Richard (2762) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761)
Beograd (m/1-playoff) 152/155, 2022

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 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Rc3
12.Kf1 - 100/362
12...e5 13.d5 Nd4

13...b5!? 14.Bd3 (14.Bb3 Nd4 15.Bd2 b4 16.Rc1 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Ba6∞) 14...Nb4 (14...Nd4 15.Qd2
b4 16.Rc1 Bd7 17.O-O²) 15.O-O Nxd3 16.Qxd3 b4 17.Rc2 Ba6 18.Qd2 Rfc8 19.Rfc1 Rxc2 20.Rxc2
Bf8∞ (20...Rc8∞)
14.Bd2!N
14.Qd2 Bh3! (14...Nxe2? 15.Bxe2 Bd7 16.O-O f5 17.Rfc1±) 15.O-O Rfc8 16.Nxd4 (16.Rfc1? Rxc4!
17.Nxd4 Rxc3 18.Rxc3 exd4 19.Rc8+ Rxc8 20.Qxa5 dxe3 21.fxe3 Bd7µ) 16...exd4 17.Rc2 Qa4
18.Bb3 dxe3 19.Qxe3 Qa3 20.Qxh3 Rxc2 21.Bxc2 Qxh3 22.gxh3 Rc8=
14...Bd7
14...Bg4 15.f3 b5 16.Bd3 Bd7 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Rc1 Qb6 19.O-O²
15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Rc1 Qa3 17.Qb3!
17.O-O a5 (17...b5 18.Qb3 Qxb3 19.Bxb3±) 18.Qe2 Rfe8 19.Bf4²
17...Qxb3 18.Bxb3 Rae8

699
18...Rfc8 19.Ke2 f5 (19...Bb5+ 20.Kf3±) 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Rhe1 h5 22.h3 Bf8 23.Kf3±
19.f3
19.Rc7 Rxe4+ 20.Kd1 Bf5 21.f3 Ree8 22.Rxb7+-
19...f5 20.Rc7 Bb5 21.a4 Bd3 22.d6+ Kh8 23.d7 Rb8 24.Bb4 Be5 25.Bxf8 Bxc7 26.Be7 Kg7

26...Bd8? 27.Bd6 Ra8 28.Be5+ Bf6 29.Bxf6#

27.e5! b5 28.Bf6+ Kf8 29.e6 Bd8 30.Be5 Rb6 31.Bxd4 Rc6 32.axb5 Bxb5 33.Kf2 Ke7 34.Be3
Bb6 35.Rd1 Bxe3+ 36.Kxe3 Rc3+ 37.Kf4 1-0

156. !N D87
Sarana, Alexey (2685) - Ivic, Velimir (2610)
Beograd 152/156, 2022

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 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+ 12.Rc3

700
12.Kf1 - 100/362
12...Bg4!N
12...e5; 12...Rd8
13.f3
13.Qd2?! Bxe2 14.Kxe2 Rad8 15.Rd3 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Bxd4³
13...Rad8! 14.Qd2

14.fxg4? Nxd4!-+

701
14...Be6! 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Rd3
16.O-O Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.Bxd4 e5 19.Qc2 exd4 20.Rc7 e6 21.Rxb7 Rf7 22.Rxf7 Kxf7 23.Rd1
Qb6=
16...Qa6 17.Kf2
17.O-O Ne5 18.Rb3 Nc4 19.Qd3 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qxa2 21.Rxb7 Rb8! 22.Rxe7 Rb2 23.Re1 Rc8
24.Qf4 Rf8 25.Qe3 Rc8=
17...Ne5 18.Rb3 Nc4 19.Qb4 Nxe3
19...Rc8 20.Rc1 (20.Qxb7?! Qxa2 21.Rc1 Nd6 22.Rb2 Qa3µ) 20...Nxe3 21.Rxe3 Rxc1 22.Nxc1 Rc8
23.Ne2 Qxa2 24.Qxb7 Rc2 25.Qxe7 Bh6 26.Qe8+ Kg7 27.Qe7+ Kg8=; 19...b5 20.Qxb5 (20.Qxe7
Rb8 21.Rhb1 Rfe8 22.Qg5 e5 23.d5 Bf8∞) 20...Qxb5 21.Rxb5 Nd6 22.Ra5 Nxe4+ 23.Ke1 Nd6
24.Rxa7 Ra8 25.Rxe7 Nf5 26.Rxe6 Nxe3 27.Rxe3 Rxa2 28.Rd3 Re8 29.Rd2 Ra1+ 30.Rd1 Ra2=
20.Kxe3
20.Rxe3 Qxa2 21.e5 Rc8 (21...Qd5 22.Ra3 Ra8 23.Rc1©) 22.Ra3 Qd5 23.Ra5 Qe4 24.Qxe7 Bh6
25.Ra3 Qd5 26.Qd6 Qxd6 27.exd6 a6 28.Rb1 Rc6 29.Rxb7 Rxd6∞
20...Qxa2 21.Rb2
21.Rhb1 Rd7 22.Qc4 Rd6=
21...Qa6 22.Qxb7?!
22.Qxe7 b5 23.Rc1 Rfe8 24.Qb4 e5 25.Rc7 exd4+ 26.Kd3 Kh8 27.Qxb5 Qa3+ 28.Rb3 Qa1 29.Rb1
Qa2=
22...Qc4 23.Qb4

702
23...Rxd4! 24.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 25.Kd2 Qc7 26.Qxd4 Rd8 27.Qxd8+ Qxd8+ 28.Kc1
28.Ke3 Qa5 29.Rc2 Qb6+ 30.Ke2 Qb3 31.Rhc1=
28...a5 29.h3 a4 30.Rd1 Qc7+ 31.Kb1 Qc4 32.Rc1 Qd3+ 33.Ka2 Kf7 34.Rc5 Kf6 35.Rcb5 g5
36.R5b4 Qa6 37.Ka3 Qd3+ 38.Ka2
38.Kxa4 Ke5=
38...Qa6= 39.Rb5 Qc6 40.Ka3 Qc4 41.Rb6 Kf7 42.R6b4 Qd3+ 43.Ka2
43.Kxa4 Qa6+ 44.Kb3 Qd3+ 45.Ka2 Qa6+ 46.Kb1 Qf1+=
43...Qd7 44.Rc4 h6 45.Ka3 Qd3+ 46.Kb4 Kf6 47.e5+ Kf7 48.Re4 a3 49.Ra2 Qb1+ 1/2-1/2

157. D91
So, Wesley (2778) - Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2761)
Berlin 152/157, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Bg7 5.Nf3 Ne4 6.Bf4 O-O 7.e3
7.Nxd5 - 137/158
7...c5 8.cxd5

703
8...Bf5!? 9.Be5
9.Bc4 cxd4 10.exd4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Be4 12.O-O Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Qb3 Qxb3 15.axb3 e6=;
9.Be2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Be4 12.O-O Bxd5=; 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qxd5 11.O-O Nc6
12.Bxf5 Qxf5=
9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qxd5 11.Qb3 Qxb3 12.axb3

12...cxd4N
12...Bxe5 13.Nxe5 cxd4 14.exd4 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Kd2 a5 (16...Bc6 17.b4 a6 18.c4²) 17.Bd3²
13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.exd4

704
14.Nxd4 Nd7 15.f3 (15.Nxf5+ gxf5 16.Be2 Rfc8 17.c4 a5=) 15...a5! 16.e4 (16.g4 Be6 (16...e5?
17.gxf5 exd4 18.exd4 gxf5 19.Kd2±) 17.Nxe6+ (17.Bb5 Nc5 18.Ra3 Bd7=) 17...fxe6 18.Be2 Nc5
19.Ra3 e5=) 16...e5 17.Nxf5+ gxf5 18.exf5 Nc5 19.Ra3 Rfd8©
14...Nd7 15.Kd2 Rfd8
15...e5!? 16.Bb5 (16.dxe5 Rfd8 17.Kc1 Be4 18.Nd4 Nxe5=; 16.Bc4 Be4 17.Ng5 Bf5 18.f3 Nb6
19.g4 Bd7 20.dxe5 Nxc4+ 21.bxc4 Rfe8 22.f4 Bxg4∞) 16...Nf6 17.dxe5 Ne4+ 18.Ke3 Nxc3 19.Bc4
Rfd8 20.Nd4 Nd5+ 21.Kf3 Ne7=
16.Bd3
16.Bc4 Nf6 17.Rhc1 a6 18.Bd3 Be6 19.Ra3 Bd5 20.Ne1 Bc6=
16...Bxd3 17.Kxd3

17...e5! 18.Rhe1 exd4 19.Nxd4 a6

19...Nc5+ 20.Kc2 a5=
20.Kc2 Rac8 21.Rad1 Kf8
21...Nf6 22.Re7 (22.Kb2 Rd7=) 22...Nd5 23.Rxb7 Rxc3+ 24.Kb2 Rd6=
22.Nf3 Nc5 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.b4 Ne6 25.g3 b5 26.Ne5 Rd6 27.Nd3 Rc6 28.f4 h5 29.Kb3 f6=
30.Rf1 Ke7 31.f5 gxf5 32.Rxf5 h4! 33.gxh4 Rc4 34.Rh5 Re4 35.Nc5 Nxc5+ 36.bxc5 Rc4 37.Rh7+
37.Rh7+ Ke6 38.Ra7 Rxh4 39.Rxa6+ Kd5 40.Rxf6 Rxh2=
1/2-1/2

158. D91
Gormally, Daniel (2476) - Clarke, Brandon GI (2445)

705
 Darlington 152/158, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bh4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.e3 b5 9.a4 c6 10.Nd2
a6 11.Be2 Nd7 12.Bf3 Bb7 13.O-O O-O 14.Qb1 Rb8

14...Nb6 - 41/(545)
15.Qb2N
15.axb5; 15.Rd1
15...Re8 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ra7 Qb6 18.Rfa1 e5 19.h3
19.Bg3 f5 20.h3 Ra8 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Bh2³
19...exd4 20.exd4?

706
20.cxd4! c5 21.Bxb7 c3 (21...cxd4 22.Bd5 dxe3 23.Bxf7+ Kh8 24.Qb1 exd2 25.Bxe8²; 21...Rxb7
22.Nxc4 bxc4 23.Rxb7 Qxb2 24.Rxb2 cxd4 25.Rd1 d3 26.Rb7=) 22.Qxc3 cxd4 23.Qc6 dxe3=
20...c5! 21.Nxc4
21.Bxb7 cxd4! 22.Bd5 Qd6-+; 21.dxc5 Nxc5 22.Nxc4 Qe6³
21...bxc4 22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Bxb7 cxd4 24.Bg3

24.cxd4 Bxd4 25.Rd1 Bb2µ

24...Be5?

707
24...d3! 25.Bxb8 Rxb8 (25...Bxc3? 26.Bf4 Bxa1 27.Rxa1 c3 28.Kf1 d2 29.Bxd2 cxd2 30.Rd1=)
26.Rb1 Bxc3 27.Bd5

27...Bb2!! (27...Rd8 28.Bxf7+ Kf8-+) 28.Rxb2 c3-+

25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.cxd4
26.cxd4 Re6 27.Bf3 Rd6=
1/2-1/2

159. D92
Dreev, Alexey (2623) - Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/159, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Rc1 Be6 7.e3 dxc4 8.Ng5 Bd5 9.e4 h6 10.exd5
hxg5 11.Bxg5 Nxd5 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Bb3 Nc6 14.d5 Nd4 15.O-O Re8 16.h4 Qd7 17.Re1

708
17...Nxb3N
17...Rad8 - 121/164
18.Qxb3 Bxc3?!
18...Rad8 19.Rcd1 Bf6 (19...Qf5 20.Rxe7 Rxe7 21.Bxe7 Rd7 22.Bc5±) 20.Ne4±; 18...a5!? 19.a4
(19.Red1 a4 20.Qb4 Qf5 21.Qb5 Be5∞) 19...Rad8 20.Red1 Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Qxa4∞
19.Rxc3 Nxd5

19...Qxd5 20.Qc2 c6 21.Rg3 Rad8 (21...e5 22.h5+-) 22.Bxe7 Qh5 23.Rge3 Rd7 24.Re5 Qg4 25.Qc1

709
Rd5 26.R5e3±
20.Rg3!± c6
¹20...f6 21.Qc2 Qf5 22.Qxf5 gxf5 23.Bxf6+ Kf7 24.Bg5±
21.h5 e5
21...Kg7 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Rh3 e5 24.Qg3 Qf5 - 21...e5
22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Rh3
23.Bf6! Qf7 24.Bxe5 Re6 25.Rh3 Nf6 26.Ree3 Rd8 27.Bc3 Rdd6 (27...Rxe3 28.Rh8+ Kxh8
29.Qxf7+-) 28.Reg3 Rd5 29.Rh6 Nh7 30.Qb4+-
23...e4
23...Qf5 24.Qg3 Kg7 25.Bh6+ Kf7 26.Qb3 Qd7 27.Re4 b5 28.Rf3+ Kg8 29.Qd3 Re6 30.Rxe5+-
24.Bf6 Qf5 25.Bd4 b6 26.Qg3
26.Rh8+ Kf7 27.Rh7+ Ke6 28.f3 e3 29.Bxe3 Kd6 30.Qa3+ c5 31.Bxc5+ bxc5 32.Qa6+ Nb6
33.Rd1+ Kc6 34.a4 c4

35.b4! cxb3 36.Qb7+ Kc5 37.Rh4! Rac8 38.Qa6 Kc6 39.Rc4++-

26...Rad8 27.Qh4+- Kf7

710
28.Rf3!
28.Rf3 exf3 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Qg7#
1-0

160. D97
Abasov, Nijat (2635) - Puranik, Abhimanyu Sameer (2608)
Sharjah 152/160, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6 8.h3 e5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.e6
Nde5 11.exf7+ Rxf7 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Qb3

711
13...c6N
13...Nd3+ - 115/165
14.Be3 Qe7 15.Rd1 Be6 16.Qc2 Raf8
16...Qh4!? 17.Be2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.Na4 (19.Ne2 Ba6 20.O-O Bxe2 21.Qxe2 Qxe4 22.b3
Re8=) 19...Re8 20.Nc5 Bd5 21.O-O Bxe4 22.Nxe4 Qxe4=
17.Be2
17.Bxa7 Bh6 18.Bd4 Qh4 19.Bc5 Re8 20.Bd4 Ref8= (20...Bf4 21.Ne2 Bg5 22.Ng3 Bf4=)
17...Nc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.b3

19.f3!? Rd8 (19...b5 20.h4²; 19...Qh4+ 20.Qf2 Qh5 21.Qg3²) 20.Kf2 Qh4+ 21.g3 Rxd1 22.Qxd1
Qh5 23.f4 Qa5 24.Qc2²
19...Rxf2!
19...Qb4 20.bxc4 Bxc3+ 21.Kf1 Qxc4+ 22.Kg1 b5∞; 19...Ba6 20.Ne2 Re8 21.f3 Qh4+ 22.Bf2 Qg5
23.Kf1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Be3 Qh4©
20.Bxf2 Rxf2 21.Kxf2
21.Rd2 Rxd2 22.Qxd2 Bxc3 23.Qxc3 Qxe4+ 24.Kf2 Bd5 25.Qg3 Qd4+ 26.Qe3 Qb2+ 27.Qe2
Qxe2+ 28.Kxe2 Bxg2 29.Rh2 Bd5=
21...Qc5+ 22.Ke1 Qe3+= 23.Ne2 Bc3+ 24.Kf1 Qf4+ 25.Kg1 Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

712
E00-E24

161. * E01
Heimann, Andreas (2583) - Gukesh, Dommaraju (2637)
Ciutadella de Menorca 152/161, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Qc2 c5 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qb6
10.e3 exd5 11.O-O Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nc3
13.Rc1 - 151/ 160
13...h5 14.Na4 Qd8 15.b3N
15.Rfc1 - 152/(161) 15...h4 16.Bxb4N (16.b3 Ba3! (16...Bd7∞) 17.Rf1 hxg3 18.hxg3 Ng4→)
16...axb4 17.b3 h3 18.Bh1 Rb8 19.Qxc6 d4 20.Qc5

20...d3 (20...dxe3! 21.Qxe3 Re8 22.Qc5 (22.Rd1 Qa5 23.Qc5 Rb5 24.Qc4 Bg4 25.Rdc1 Rf5 26.Re1
Rfe5 27.Rxe5 Qxe5-+) 22...Ng4 23.Qc4 Nxf2! 24.Kxf2 Qd2+ 25.Kg1 Qe3+ 26.Kf1 Re6-+) 21.Rd1
Bb7 22.f3 (22.Bxb7 Rxb7 23.Rac1 Ne4→) 22...Re8 23.e4 Ba6 24.Rd2 Rc8-+ 25.Qxb4 Rc2 26.Rad1
Qc7 27.Rf2 Nd5 28.Qe1 Qa7 29.a3 Re2 0-1 (29) Karthik,V (2485)-Gukesh,D (2614) Delhi Open
152/(161) 2022
15...h4 16.Bxb4
16.Qxc6 Bd7 (16...Ra6!? 17.Qc2 hxg3 18.hxg3 Ng4∞) 17.Qc2 h3 18.Bf3 Rc8 19.Qd3 Bxd2
20.Qxd2 Bxa4 21.bxa4 Ne4„

713
16...axb4 17.Rfd1 h3 18.Bf3
18.Bh1 Bg4 19.Rdc1 d4! 20.exd4 Qxd4 21.Qxc6 Rac8 22.Qb6 Qd2µ
18...Ng4→ 19.Qxc6 Ne5 20.Qxd5 Qf6 21.Be2 Bg4! 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Rf1 Rad8 24.Qe4
24.Qh5 Ne5 25.Qxh3 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Nd2 27.Kg1 Nxf1 28.Rxf1 Rd2µ
24...Ne5 25.f4 Ng4 26.f5 Qg5 27.Qf4 Qh5 28.e4

28...g5!-+ 29.Qf3
29.fxg6 fxg6 30.Rad1 Rc8 31.Qd2 Qe5
29...Rd2 30.Nb6 Rg2+ 31.Kh1 Rxh2+ 32.Kg1 Rg2+ 33.Kh1 Nf6 34.Nd5 Qxf3 35.Nxf6+ Kg7
36.Rxf3 Kxf6 37.g4
37.Rg1 Rxg1+ 38.Kxg1 Re8 39.Re3 g4 40.Re2 Ke5
37...Rxg4 38.Rxh3 Rxe4 39.Rf1 Re2 40.Rh6+
40.Rh2 Rxh2+ 41.Kxh2 Ra8 42.Rf2 Ra5 43.Kg3 Rxf5
40...Kg7 41.Rh5 f6 42.Rh2 Rh8 43.Rxh8 Kxh8 44.Rc1 Rxa2 45.Rc4
45.Rc8+ Kg7 46.Rc7+ Kf8 47.Rb7 Ra5
45...Rf2 46.Rxb4 Rxf5 47.Rb7 Kg8 48.Kg2 Re5 49.b4 Kf8 50.b5 Re7 51.Rb8+ Kg7 52.Kf3 Re5
52...Re1 53.b6 Rb1 54.b7 f5
53.b6 Rb5 54.Ke4 f5+ 55.Kd4 g4 56.Rb7+ Kh6 57.Ke3 Rb4
57...Kg5 58.Rg7+ Kf6 59.Rh7 Rb3+

714
58.Rb8 Kg7 59.b7 f4+ 60.Ke2 Rb2+ 61.Kf1 g3 62.Rc8 Rxb7 63.Rc4 Rf7 64.Kg2 f3+ 65.Kf1 Rf6
66.Rg4+ Rg6 67.Rf4 g2+ 68.Kg1 Rf6 69.Rg4+ Kh6 70.Kf2 Rg6 71.Rh4+ Kg7 0-1

162. * E01
Parkhov, Yair (2450) - Vocaturo, Daniele (2614)
Terme Catez 152/162, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Qc2 c5 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qb6
10.e3 exd5 11.O-O Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rc1 Rb8 14.Bxb4 Qxb4 15.b3 Be6 16.Nc3 c5 17.Ne2
Rfc8 18.Nf4 c4 19.Nxe6N
19.bxc4 - 151/160
19...fxe6 20.bxc4
20.Bh3 Kf7!? (20...Qd6 21.bxc4 Rxc4 22.Qd1 Rbc8 23.Rxc4 Rxc4 24.Rb1²) 21.bxc4 Rxc4
(21...dxc4 22.Rab1 Qd6 23.Rxb8 Qxb8 24.Qc3 Qb6 25.Qe5 (25.Bf1 Nd5 26.Qc2 c3 27.Qxh7

27...Nxe3! (27...Nf6 28.Qd3²) 28.Be2 (28.Qd3 Nd5 29.Qf3+ Ke7! 30.Qg4 Kf8 31.Bd3∞) 28...Qd4
29.Bh5+ Ke7 30.fxe3 Qxe3+ 31.Kg2 Qd2+ 32.Kh3 Qxc1 33.Qxg7+ Kd6 34.Qd4+ Kc7 35.Qc5+
Kd7 (35...Kb7?? 36.Bf3++-) 36.Qd4+ Ke7 37.Qg7+=) 25...c3 26.Rxc3 Qb1+ 27.Bf1 Rxc3 28.Qxc3
Qxa2) 22.Qd1 Rbc8 23.Rcb1 Qa3 24.Rb7+ R8c7 25.Rab1 Qxa2 26.R1b6 Qc2 27.Bxe6+ Ke7
28.Rxc7+ Rxc7 29.Qxc2 Rxc2 30.Bf5 Rc1+ 31.Kg2 g6 32.Re6+ Kf7 33.Bh3 Rc5=
20...Rxc4 21.Qe2 - 152/162
21.Qd1!?N Rbc8 (21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 h5! 23.Bf1 Qg4 24.Be2 Qf5„) 22.Rab1 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rxc1
24.Qxc1 Qb6 25.Bf3 Kf7 26.h4 (26.h3!?) 26...h6 27.Qc2 Ke7 28.g4 Nd7 29.Qh7 Qb2 30.g5 hxg5
31.hxg5 Qe5 32.Qd3 Qxg5+ 33.Bg2 Qg4 34.e4 dxe4 35.Qa3+ Kf6 36.Qxa5 Ne5 37.Qd8+ Kg6
38.Kf1 e3 39.fxe3 Qc4+ 40.Kg1 Qxa2 41.Be4+ Kf7 42.Qc7+ Kf6 43.Qd8+ Kf7 44.Qc7+ Kf6

715
45.Qd8+ Kf7 1/2 (45) Oparin,G (2685)-Vidit,S (2723) chess.com (Int. -rapid) 152/(162) 2022
21...Rbc8 22.Rxc4
22.Qd1 Qa3„
22...dxc4
22...Qxc4 23.Qd1 Qc2 24.Qd4 a4 25.Bh3 Kf7=
23.Bh3 Rc6
23...Kf7!? 24.e4 c3 25.e5 Qb2 26.Bxe6+! Kxe6 27.Qa6+ Kf7 (27...Kxe5 28.f4+ Kd4 29.Rd1+ Qd2
30.Qd6+ Ke3 31.Rxd2 cxd2 32.Qb6+ Ke2 33.Qa6+ Ke3 34.Qb6+ Kd3 35.Qb1+ Ke2 36.Qb5+ Kd1
37.Qb1+ Rc1 38.Qd3 Nd5 39.Kf2 Nc3 40.Ke3 Nb1 41.Kf2=) 28.Qxc8 Qxa1+ 29.Kg2 Qd1 30.exf6
Qd4 31.fxg7 Kxg7 32.Qf5=
24.Bg2 Rc7 25.Qc2 c3 26.Rb1 Qd6 27.Rd1 Qe5 28.Rd3 g6 29.Bf3 Kg7 30.Kg2 Qf5!µ
30...h5!? 31.h4 Qf5→
31.e4 Qc5 32.Rd1

32...e5
32...Rb7! 33.Qe2 Rb2 34.Qe1 c2 35.Rc1 Rxa2 36.e5 Nd7-+
33.Rc1 Nd7
33...g5 34.h3 h5 35.Qe2 Kg6µ
34.Bg4 Nb6 35.Rd1 Qc6 36.Rd8 h5 37.Bf3 Nd7 38.h4 Nf8-+ 39.Rd5 Ne6 40.Qc1

716
40.Rxe5 Nd4 41.Qd1 Nxf3 42.Qxf3 (42.Kxf3 Qf6+) 42...c2
40...Nd4 41.Bxh5

41...Qf6!
41...gxh5?! 42.Qg5+ Kf7 43.Qxh5+ Qg6µ
42.Bg4 c2 43.Rxa5 Rf7 44.f3 Nxf3
44...Qb6 45.Ra8 Ne2 46.Qxc2 Qg1+ 47.Kh3 Qxg3#
45.Rc5 Nd4 46.Qe1 Qa6 47.Qa1 Qb7 48.Rxe5 Qb1 49.Qxd4 Qf1+ 0-1

163. E01
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) - Le, Quang Liem (2709)
Oslo (m/3-rapid) 152/163, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Bg2 O-O 7.a3
7.Qc2 - 151/160
7...Be7 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Bf4 c6 10.O-O a4N
10...Nh5
11.Nc3 Qa5 12.e4
12.c5 b6! 13.cxb6 Nxb6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.b4 axb3 16.Qxb3 Rfc8 17.a4 Bd8 18.Rfc1 Ba6„
12...dxc4 13.Rad1
13.Rfe1!? Re8 14.e5 Nd5 15.Bg5∞

717
13...Re8
13...b5

14.d5! cxd5 15.exd5 Bb7 16.Rfe1² Qb6?! 17.Ng5 e5 18.Bxe5 Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Bc5 20.Rf5 g6 21.d6!
gxf5 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Qxf5 Kg7 24.Nd5+-
14.Rfe1 Nf8
14...b5 15.d5 b4 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.axb4 Bxb4 18.Bd2 e5 19.Ra1²
15.Ne5 Qa6 16.h4
16.Qe2 b5 17.d5²
16...Ng6 17.Nxg6
17.Bf3?! Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Nd7 19.Bf4 e5! 20.dxe5 Nc5 21.Be2 Be6„
17...hxg6 18.Bg5 Bf8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Ne4 b5

718
20...Qb5 21.Bf1 Qb3 22.Qe2! b5 23.h5→
21.h5! gxh5 22.Qe2 g6 23.g4 h4 24.Bxh4 b4 25.Qf3 bxa3 26.Nf6+ Nxf6 27.Bxf6 axb2 28.Qh3
Bg7 29.Be4 Qb5 30.g5
30.Qh4 c3 31.Kg2+-
30...Qb3 31.Qh4 Bb7 32.Kg2 c5 33.d5! exd5 34.Rh1 1-0

164. E01
Can, Emre (2578) - Brkic, Ante (2607)
Terme Catez 152/164, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.h4 dxc4 9.Qxc4 c5
10.dxc5N
10.O-O - 145/(157)
10...Nxc5 11.O-O

719
11...b5!
11...b6!? 12.Nc3 (12.Ne5? Ba6! 13.Qc2 Bxe2 14.Re1 Bd3! 15.Qd1 Be4 16.Nc3 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Nd3
18.Nxd3 Qxd3 19.Be3 Qf5µ) 12...Bb7 (12...Ba6 13.Qf4 Rc8 14.Rfd1 Bd6 15.Qe3 Bb7 16.Nd4
Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Ng4 (17...Bb8 18.Be1 Ncd7 19.Rac1 h6 20.Qd3 Qe7=) 18.Qg5 Nf6=) 13.Rfd1 Rc8
14.Be3 Qe8! 15.Rac1 (15.Qf4 b5„) 15...Nce4 16.Qb3 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Rxc3 18.Qxc3 Nd5=
12.Qxb5?!
12.Qd4 Bb7 13.Qxd8 Rfxd8 14.Rc1 Ng4!? 15.Ba5 Rdc8 16.Nc3 a6 17.Rd1 Bc6 18.Rac1 Rab8=
12...Ba6 13.Qa5 Bxe2 14.Re1 Bxf3!
14...Qxa5 15.Bxa5 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Rab8 17.b3 Nd3 18.Rd1 Ne5∞
15.Bxf3 Nd3 16.Re2
16.Qxd8 Raxd8 17.Re2 Nxb2 18.Nc3 Nc4 19.Be1 Nd7 20.Nd5 Bc5 21.Nf4 Nde5µ
16...Rc8 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Be3?!

720
18.Kg2 Rb8 19.Ba5 Rdc8 20.Bc3 Bb4!³
18...Ne5! 19.Bb7
19.Nd2 Rxd2! 20.Bxd2 Nxf3+-+
19...Rc7
19...Rd1+ 20.Kg2 Rb8 21.Ba6 Nfg4 22.Bd2 Rb6-+
20.Ba6
20.Bf4 Rxb7 21.Bxe5 Rd1+ 22.Kg2 Nd5-+
20...Rd1+ 21.Kg2 Nd5 22.Bd2 Bf6
22...Bb4 23.Rxe5 Bxd2 24.Be2 Re1-+
23.Re1 Rxe1 24.Bxe1 Nd3 25.Bc3 N3b4 0-1

165. E03
Matlakov, Maxim (2674) - Dreev, Alexey (2623)
Kazan 152/165, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.Nf3 a6 8.Qb3
8.Qc2 - 99/337
8...Ra7 9.O-O b5N
9...Be7 10.Rd1 O-O 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Be3! Qe7 13.Bxc5 Qxc5 (13...Nxc5? 14.Qb6 Ra8 15.Nc3±)
14.Nbd2²; 9...b6 10.Ne5 Nxe5 (10...Bb7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Bxb7 Rxb7 13.d5→) 11.dxe5 Nd7

721
12.Nc3!? Be7² (12...Nxe5?! 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Rxd6! Qxd6 16.Rd1 Qc7 17.Bxe5 Qxe5
18.Qxb6 Qc7 19.Bc6++-)
10.a4! c4?!
10...b4 11.Be3 Nd5 12.Nbd2; 10...Qb6 11.axb5 axb5 12.Na3! (12.Rxa7 Qxa7 13.Qxb5 cxd4
14.Bd2±) 12...Rb7 13.Qc2 c4 14.b3!±
11.Qc2 Qb6 12.b3± Nd5 13.axb5
13.e4 Nb4 14.Qc3 Nf6 15.Ne5 Bb7 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.a5 Qd8 18.Nd2±
13...axb5 14.Rxa7 Qxa7 15.bxc4
15.Nc3!? cxb3 16.Qxb3 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Bb7 18.Ne5! Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qa8 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Be3 Be7
22.Ra1+-
15...Nb4 16.Qb2 bxc4 17.Na3 Ba6 18.Bd2 Nd5

19.Ra1!+-
19.Rc1 Qb6! 20.Qa1±
19...Qb8
19...Qb6 20.Nxc4! Bxc4 21.Ra8+ Ke7 22.Qa3+ Kf6 23.Qc1 h6 24.Ne5
20.Qxb8+ Nxb8 21.e4 Nb6 22.Ba5 N8d7

722
23.Nb1! Bc8 24.Nc3 Be7
24...Bd6 25.e5 Bc7 26.Nd2 O-O 27.Nxc4 Nxc4 28.Bxc7 f6 29.Ra4 Nb2 30.Ra7+-
25.Rb1 Bd8 26.Nb5 O-O 27.Bb4 Bb7 28.Nd2
28.Ne1 e5 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.dxe5 Nxe5 31.Nd6+-
28...c3 29.Bxf8 cxd2 30.Bb4 Nc4 31.Na3 Nxa3 32.Bxa3 Ba5 33.Bf3 Bc6 34.d5 exd5 35.exd5 Ba4
36.Rb7 f5 37.Ra7 Ne5 38.Be2 Nc4
38...Bb5 39.Bd1 Nc4 40.Bc5 Nb2 41.Bf3 Bc3 42.Rb7 Ba4 43.d6 d1=Q+ 44.Bxd1 Nxd1 45.d7+-
39.Bb4 1-0

166. E04
Robson, Ray (2681) - Sevian, Samuel (2693)
USA (m/3-rapid) 152/166, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.dxc5 Qxd1 8.Rxd1 Bxc5 9.Nbd2 c3
10.bxc3 O-O 11.Bb2 Bd7 12.Nb3 Be7 13.c4 Rfd8 14.Nfd4 Rab8
14...Rac8 - 148/167
15.Rac1N
15.Nxc6
15...Nb4
15...Be8 16.Nb5 (16.c5!? Nxd4 17.Rxd4 Rxd4 18.Bxd4 Nd5 19.Na5 b6 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.cxb6 axb6
22.Nc6 Ba3 23.Rc3 Ra8 24.Bxb6 f6 25.Be3 Bf8=) 16...a6 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.N5d4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4

723
Ba3 20.Rc2 a5! 21.Bxf6 Rd1+ 22.Bf1 gxf6 23.Nxa5 Ba4 24.Nb3 f5 25.Kg2 b6©
16.a3
16.Nc2 Nxc2 17.Rxc2 b6 18.Rcd2 Ba4=
16...Nc6 17.Nb5 Be8
17...e5!? 18.a4 Be6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Bxe5 cxb5 21.Bxb8 Rxb8 22.axb5 Rc8 23.Nd4 Bc5 24.e3
Kf8=
18.c5 Rxd1+
18...Nd7 19.a4 a6 20.Nc7 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxc5 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Bxc6 bxc6
25.Rc1²
19.Rxd1

19...b6?
19...Nd8! 20.Be5 Rc8 21.Nd6 Bxd6 22.Bxd6 Bc6 23.Na5 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 b6 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Nb3
Nb7 27.Be5 Kf8=
20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Nxa7± Ba4

724
22.c6! Ne8?!
22...Bd8 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Rd3±
23.Rd7 Kf8 24.Nd4
24.Nd2 Ra8 25.Ne4 Bc2 26.Nc3 e5 27.Nd5+-
24...Rd8 25.Rb7
25.Rxd8 Bxd8 26.Bc3 Bc7 27.Bb4+ Kg8 28.Ndb5+-
25...Bc5 26.Ndb5 Rd2 27.Rb8 Bb3
27...Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Rxb2 29.c7
28.c7 Bd5 29.Rxe8+ Kxe8 30.c8=Q+ Ke7 31.Nc6+ Bxc6 32.Qxc6 Rxb2 33.e3 Rd2 34.a4 Rd5
35.Kg2 Kf6 36.a5 bxa5 37.Nc3 1-0

167. * E04
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2671) - Yilmaz, Mustafa Enes (2631)
Sharjah 152/167, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5

5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2 a5 7.Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 b5 9.a4 c6 10.b3 cxb3 11.Nxb3 O-O 12.O-O b4 (12...Qb6
- 101/409) 13.e4 Nbd7 14.Ne5?!N (14.Rfd1) 14...Nxe5 15.dxe5 Nd7³ 16.Qxc6 Ba6 17.Rfd1

725
17...Nxe5! (17...Ra7 18.Rac1 h6 19.Rd4²) 18.Rxd8 Nxc6 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Rc5?!
(21.Bf1 Bb7 (21...Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Ne7 23.Rb1=) 22.Rc5 Kf8 23.f3 (23.f4 Ne7 24.Rxa5 Bxe4 25.Rb5
Bc6 26.Rxb4 Nd5 27.Rc4 Nb6 28.Rc1 Bxa4µ) 23...Ke7³) 21...Nb8! 22.Rxa5 Rd8 0-1 (22)
Sviridov,V (2569)-Grachev,B (2615) Russia 152/(167) 2022
6.O-O Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc3 b4
9...cxd4 - 125/165
10.Qd3 Rc8 11.Bf4 cxd4
11...Nd5 12.dxc5 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Bxc5 14.Nbd2 O-O 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Nfg5! g6 17.Rad1 Rc7
18.Qh3→
12.Nbd2 Nd5 13.Be5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Be7 15.Rfc1N
15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Ndf3 O-O 17.Nxd4 Bf6 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.e3 Rc4 20.Rad1 Rfc8 21.b3 Rc3 22.Qe2
Qe7 23.Rd2 Rc1 24.Qf3 Qe4 25.Qxe4 dxe4 26.Nb5 Kf8 27.Nd6 R8c2 28.Rxc1 Rxd2 29.Nxe4 Rxa2
30.Nxf6 gxf6=
15...O-O 16.Nb3
16.Rxc8 Qxc8 17.Qxd4 Nb6 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Rc1 Nc5=
16...Bf6! 17.Ng4
17.Qxd4 Ba4 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Nd3 Bb5„
17...Be7
17...Rxc1+!? 18.Rxc1 Bg5 19.Rc2 Ba4 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Qxd4 h5 22.Ne3 Bxb3 23.axb3 Bxe3
24.Qxe3 d4 25.Qd3 Qd6 26.Rc4 Rd8=

726
18.Nxd4 Qb6 19.Ne5

19...Rxc1+
19...Qd6! 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nxd7 Qxd7 22.e3 Bf6=
20.Rxc1 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Bxc8 22.Bxd5
22.Qc2! Bb7 23.Qa4 Nf6 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.Qb5 Qc8 26.Ndc6 Bf8 27.Qa5 a6 28.Qb6²
22...exd5 23.Qf3 Be6 24.Nxe6= 1/2-1/2

168. * E04
Mihov, Filip (2243) - Pert, Nicholas (2546)
Great Britain 152/168, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.O-O Rb8 7.Be3
7.e3 - 148/169
7...Nd5
7...Bd6!? 8.Qc1 (8.Nfd2!?) 8...b5 9.b3 Bb7 (9...O-O!?) 10.bxc4 bxc4 11.Na3 (11.Qxc4 Nb4 -
151/167) 11...c3 12.Qxc3 Nd5 13.Qc1 O-O 14.Nc4 Qd7!? (14...Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Be7 16.a3! Bf6
17.Rfd1 Ne7 18.Nce5²) 15.Bd2 Ba6! 16.Qc2 Ncb4 17.Qb3 Nc6 18.Qa4 Bb5 19.Qc2 Ncb4 20.Qc1
Rfc8 21.Nfe5 Qe8 22.a3 Nc6 23.Nf3 Nb6=; 7...Be7 8.Qc1 Nd5N (8...b5) 9.Qxc4 Nxe3 10.fxe3 O-
O 11.Nc3 Nb4 12.Rac1 c6 13.e4 b5 14.Qb3 c5„

727
15.d5 (15.dxc5 Bxc5+ 16.Kh1 Be7 17.e5 Bb7 18.Rfd1 Qb6 19.a3 Na6 20.Nd4 Bg5„) 15...c4
16.Qd1 exd5 17.exd5 Qb6+ (17...Bf6 18.Nh4 Re8 19.a3 Na6 ∆ Nc5³) 18.Kh1 Bb7 19.a3 Na6
20.Nd4 (20.a4!? bxa4 21.Ne5ƒ) 20...b4?! (20...Nc5 21.Ncxb5 Rfd8 22.Qc2 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5
24.Qxc4 Qb7 25.e4 Nxe4 26.Nc6 Rxb5 27.Qxe4 Bf6 28.b4 Rf8 29.Rfe1 a6 30.a4 Rg5 31.Rcd1 h5∞)
21.axb4 (21.Nf5! Bf6 22.Na4 Qc7 (22...Qa5 23.Nh6+! Kh8 24.Rxf6 gxf6 25.Qd4+-) 23.e4±)
21...Nxb4 22.Nf5 Bf6

23.Qd2!² Deac,B (2679)-Kosteniuk,A (2516) chess.com (Int. -blitz) 152/(168) 2022

8.Bg5
8.Qc1 Nxe3 (8...b5 9.a4 b4 10.Qxc4 Nxe3 11.fxe3 Na5 12.Qd3 Bd6 13.Nbd2 O-O 14.Ne4 Rb6

728
15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.dxc5 Rb8 (16...Qxd3 17.exd3 Rb8 18.c6 Nxc6 19.Rfc1ƒ) 17.Rac1 Qe7 18.c6 Rd8
19.Qc2²) 9.Qxe3 (9.fxe3 g6 10.Qxc4 Bh6 11.e4 (11.Qd3 O-O 12.e4 b6!? 13.Rd1 Ne7 14.Nc3 c5³)
11...O-O (11...Be3+ 12.Kh1 Bxd4 13.Rd1 Bxb2 14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.Na3 Bxa1 16.e5ƒ) 12.Na3 Qe7
13.Nc2 e5 14.e3 a5„) 9...Be7 (9...g6 10.Nbd2 Bg7 11.Nxc4 O-O 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.Rac1 Rd8 14.a3
Bd7 15.b4²) 10.Nbd2 b5 11.b3©
8...Be7 9.Bxe7 Ndxe7
9...Qxe7 10.e4 (10.Qc1 - 151/(167)) 10...Nf6 11.Nbd2 b5 12.Qc1 O-O 13.a4 a6 14.axb5 axb5 15.b3
Rd8 16.e5 Nd5 (16...Ne8 17.bxc4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Qc3 Rd8 (19...c5 20.cxb5 Rxb5 21.Nb3
Rdb4 22.Na5 Qc7 23.Nc6ƒ) 20.c5 Qd7 21.Rfd1©) 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.Qxc4 Qe8!? 19.Ne4 Nce7
20.Nc5 Bd7=
10.e3N
10.Nc3
10...O-O 11.Qe2
11.Qc1!? b5 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 Rb6!? 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.Rd1 Qa8∞
11...b5 12.b3 Ba6

12...cxb3 13.axb3 Rb6 14.Nc3 Nd5 15.Ne4 ∆ Rfc1ƒ

13.Rc1
13.Nc3!? Na5 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nc5 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 c6 17.Rfd1 Nd5 18.Qe1!?©
13...Nb4 14.Nbd2 Nd3 15.Rc2 Nb4 16.Rcc1 c5 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.Nxc4 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nf5 20.Nxf5
exf5 21.Qd2

729
21.Rd1 Qc7 22.Rac1 Rfd8=
21...Qxd2 22.Nxd2 Rfc8 23.a3 Nd3 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Nb3 g6 26.Nd4 Ne5 27.Bf1 Bb7 28.Bg2
Be4 29.Bxe4 fxe4 30.Rb1 Nf3+ 31.Nxf3 exf3 32.g4 Rc3 33.h3 Rxa3 34.Kh2 Ra6 35.Rb7 Ra5
36.Kg3 Kg7 37.Kxf3 h5 38.gxh5 Rxh5 39.Ke4 1/2-1/2

169. E04
Papp, Gabor (2574) - Rabiega, Robert (2505)
Deutschland 152/169, 2022

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Nd7 7.Qxc4 Nb6 8.Qb5 a6 9.Qd3 e5
10.Nxe5 Nb4 11.Qd1 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxd4 14.Be3 Nf5 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nc3 Bc5
17.Nd3
17.e3 - 100/377
17...O-O 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.e3 Rb8N
19...Be6
20.Ke2
20.Kc2 Be6 (20...b5 21.Rhd1 (21.Rad1?! Be6 22.Nd5 a5 23.Nc7 b4 24.Kb1 Rbc8 25.Nxe6 fxe6
26.Rd7²) 21...Bb7 22.Bxb7 Rxb7 23.Rd5 Nh6 24.h3!±) 21.Rhd1 Ne7 22.Rd6²
20...b6
20...g6 21.Rhd1 Be6 22.Nd5 Rfd8 23.Nb6 Nd6

24.Ke1! (24.a3?! Nc4!=; 24.Rac1!? Bxa2 25.Rxc5²) 24...Kf8 (24...Nc4?! 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Nxc4
Bxc4 27.b3 Be6 28.Bxb7±) 25.Rac1 Bxa2 26.Rxc5

730
21.Rhd1 Bb7
21...Be6 22.Bd5! Rfe8 23.Bxe6 Rxe6 24.Rd7 Nd4+ 25.Kf1 Nb5 26.Rad1 Kf8 27.Ne2!²
22.Bxb7 Rxb7

23.Rd2
23.Rd5!? Ne7 24.Rd2 f5 25.Rad1 Rfb8 26.Rd6 Kf7 27.h3 c4 28.g4!ƒ
23...Re8 24.Rad1 Kf8
24...Nd4+ 25.Kf1 Nb5 26.Ne2! Kf8 27.g4 Na7 28.g5 Nc6 29.Nf4 Ne5 30.Ke2±
25.Rd7± Rxd7 26.Rxd7 b5
26...Nd4+ 27.Kf1 Nf3 28.h4
27.Kf3 c4 28.Nd5 Ne7?
28...Re6 29.Kf4±
29.Nxe7+- Rxe7 30.Rd8+ Re8 31.Rxe8+ Kxe8 32.Ke4
32.Ke4 Kd7 33.Kd5 Kc7 34.Kc5 h5 35.e4 (35.a4? c3! 36.bxc3 bxa4 37.Kb4 g5 38.f4 gxf4 39.exf4
Kd6 40.Kxa4 Kc5=) 35...g5 36.f4
1-0

170. E05
Ding, Liren (2799) - Wei, Yi (2729)
Hangzhou (m/1) 152/170, 2022

731
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6
10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Rd1 a5
11...Bd5 - 68/433
12.Nbd2 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Rac1 Qe8N
14...Bb4
15.b3 Rc8

15...Ba3 16.Rc2 Bb4 17.e3 Ne4 18.Qd3 Nxd2 19.Nxd2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 c5 (20...Bxd2 21.Qxd2 c6
22.Rc5²) 21.Nf3 Rd8 22.Qe2 (22.Qe4 Rd5 23.Rdc1 cxd4 24.Nxd4 Ba3 25.Rc8 Qd7) 22...Qe7
23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Rcd2 b6 25.Rd3 Rxd3 26.Qxd3 Qb7=
16.Ne5! Bxg2
16...Bd5 17.Qd3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Bb4 19.Qf3 Nd5 20.Rc2 c6 21.e4 Ne7 22.Ndc4²
17.Kxg2 c5
17...c6 18.e3²
18.Ndf3² Bd6
18...cxd4 19.Qxd4 Ba3 20.Rc4! Rxc4 21.Qxc4 Nd5 22.Rd3 Qe7 23.e4²
19.h4
19.Nd3 cxd4 20.Qxd4 Ba3 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Ra1! Be7 23.Rc1 Qb8 24.Qb6²
19...cxd4 20.Qxd4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Qb8 22.Rc4 Rd8 23.e4

732
23.g4!?→
23...Ne8 24.h5 Nf6?!
24...Bb4 25.Qb6²
25.Qb6 Nxh5 26.Qxa5± Nf6

27.Nxf7! Kxf7 28.e5 Nd5 29.exd6 Qxd6 30.Qe1 Kg8 31.Qe4 Re8 32.b4 Nb6
32...b6 33.a5 bxa5 34.bxa5 Nf6 35.Qc2±
33.Rd4 Nd5 34.Ne5 Rf8 35.a5 Rf5 36.Nd3 Qe7 37.Nc5+- Kf7 38.Rd2 b6 39.Nd3
39.Rxd5! Rxd5 40.axb6
39...Qb7 40.Re2 Rf6 41.axb6 Qa8
41...Qa8 42.Ne5+ Kg8 43.Kg1 Nxb6 44.Ng4
1-0

171. E05
Meskovs, Nikita (2553) - Hammer, Jon Ludvig (2627)
Sverige 152/171, 2022

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.Bg5 Bc6 10.Rd1
b5 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nbd2
12.Nc3 - 147/167
12...g6 13.e3N

733
13.b3
13...Bd5
13...Bg7 14.b3 cxb3 15.Nxb3 bxa4 16.Nc5©
14.b3
14.e4 Bc6 15.b3 cxb3 16.Nxb3 bxa4 17.Nc5 a5 18.Nxa4 Bg7 19.Nc5 Qe7 20.e5 Na6 21.Nd3 Bd5³
14...c5
14...cxb3 15.Nxb3 Nc6 16.Nc5 Qe7 17.h4 Bg7∞ (17...h5 18.Rab1²)
15.bxc4
15.axb5 cxb3 16.Qxc5 Nd7 17.Qc3 axb5 18.Nxb3 b4 19.Qc2 Rc8 20.Qb1 Rc3„
15...bxc4 16.Nxc4

16...Ra7! 17.Rac1?!
17.e4 Bxc4 18.dxc5 Bxa1 (18...Rd7 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Rc1 Nxc5 21.Qxc4 Be7 22.Nd4 Qc7 23.Nb3
Qa7 24.Nxc5 Rc8=) 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Qxc4 Rc7 21.e5 Rd1+ 22.Bf1 Rd5 23.Qh4 Nc6„
17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 cxd4 19.exd4 Rd7³ 20.Ne5 Rxd4 21.Qc5 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Qc8!
22...Qe7 23.Qxe7 Bxe7 24.a5 Rc8 25.Nd7 Nxd7 26.Rxd7 Bb4 27.Be2³
23.Qe3 Qc7 24.Ng4
24.Nd3 Rd8 25.Qc5 Qxc5 26.Nxc5 Rxd1+ 27.Bxd1 Kf8 28.Be2 a5 29.Bb5 Ke7µ
24...Bg7 25.Rc1 Qa5 26.Qf4 Nd7 27.Qd6

734
27.h4 h5 28.Nh6+ Bxh6 29.Qxh6 Qxa4 30.Bxh5 Qe4³
27...Qxa4-+ 28.Rc6 Nb8 29.Rb6 h5! 30.Ne3 Qd4 31.Qc7 Be5 32.Qb7 Nd7 33.Rb4 Qa1+ 34.Rb1
Qa2 35.Rd1
35.Rc1 Qa3 36.Rc4 Rd8 37.Kg2 Bf6 38.Rc6 a5 39.Nc4 Qa2 40.Qc7 h4 41.Qxa5 h3+
35...Nf6 36.Qb4 Rb8 37.Qc5

37...Ba1!
37...Qb2?? 38.Nc4+-
38.Kg2 Kg7 39.Nc4 Bc3 40.Qc7 Rf8 41.h3 Bb4 42.g4 h4 43.Qf4
43.Ne5 Qa5 44.Qxa5 Bxa5 45.Ra1 Bc3
43...Be7 44.Ne5 Qa3 45.Nc6
45.Rd3 Qb4 46.Rd4 Qc5
45...Nh7 46.Nxe7 Qxe7 47.Ra1 Rc8 48.Rxa6 Rc3 49.Rc6
49.Be4 Ng5 50.Qb8 Qc7 51.Qxc7 Rxc7 52.Bc6 e5 53.Kh2 Ne6
49...Ra3 50.Qc1 Qb4 51.Rb6 Qc3 52.Qxc3+ Rxc3 53.Be2 Ng5 54.f3 Rc2 0-1

172. E06
Mareco, Sandro (2653) - Acosta, Pablo Ismael (2448)
Cipolletti 152/172, 2022

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.Nbd2 Bb7 9.Rd1

735
9.e4 - 140/176
9...Na6 10.a3 Rc8 11.b4 Nc7N
11...c5
12.c5 Nd7 13.e4
13.h4!? h6 14.Rb1 f5 15.Nb3²
13...Ba6
13...dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nf6 15.Ne5 Ncd5 16.h4 h6 17.Bd2 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Ba6 19.Rac1±
14.Re1 h6
14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nd5 16.Bg5! f6 17.Bd2 Re8 18.Qb3 Nf8 19.Rac1 Qd7 20.h4!?→; 14...bxc5
15.dxc5 e5 16.Bh3! Ne6 17.Bb2 d4 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Bc1 h6 20.Bd2→
15.Rb1 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nd5 17.Bd2 Qc7 18.a4 Rfd8 19.h4 Bb7 20.Rb3 b5 21.a5
21.Nc3!? bxa4 22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.Rb2 Ra8 24.Qxa4 a6 25.Bf4±
21...Re8

22.Nc3
22.g4! Rcd8 (22...Nf4 23.g5 Nxg2 24.Kxg2 h5 25.Ne5 Rcd8 26.Bf4+-; 22...a6 23.g5 hxg5 24.hxg5
g6 25.Nh2! Kg7 26.Ng4→) 23.g5→
22...N7f6 23.Ne5 Rcd8 24.Ne2
24.Nxd5!? exd5 25.Bf4 Bf8 26.Rbe3±

736
24...Nd7 25.Nf4 Bf6
25...Nxe5 26.dxe5 Nxf4 27.Bxf4 Rd7 28.Bd2 Red8 29.Bc3 a6 30.Be4 Bc8 31.Qe2 Bf8 32.h5 Be7
33.Bc2+-
26.Qe4 Nf8 27.Nh5 Bxe5 28.dxe5 Ng6 29.Rd3
29.Qg4!? Kh8 30.Nxg7 Kxg7 31.Rf3 Kh7 32.Qh5+-
29...Bc8 30.Rd4 Re7 31.Qg4 Bd7

31...Kh7 32.Be4→
32.Nxg7!+- Kxg7 33.h5 Rh8
33...Be8 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Qh4 g5 36.Bxg5 hxg5 37.Qxg5+ Kf8 38.Rh4 Rh7 39.Rxh7 Qxh7 40.Qxd8
34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Qh4 g5
35...Rf7 36.Be4 g5 37.Qh5
36.Rg4 Be8 37.Bxd5 cxd5 38.Bxg5 1-0

173. E08
Bai, Jinshi (2593) - Li, Di (2579)
Hangzhou 152/173, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Qc2 c6 8.Rd1 b6 9.b3 Bb7 10.Nc3
Rc8 11.e4 dxe4 12.Ng5 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Ncxe4
14.Bxe4 - 73/564

737
14...Bxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 f5
16...h6 17.Bb2²
17.Bg2 Qe7 18.a3N
18.Re1 e5!?„ 19.Bb2 e4 20.Rad1 Ne5 21.Rd5 Ng4 22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rcd8
18...Ne5
18...e5 19.Bb2 e4

20.Qd2! (20.b4 Bd6 21.Rd5 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Rad1 Rfd8∞) 20...Rcd8 (20...Ne5 21.Qd5+ Nf7
22.b4 (22.Qxf5?! Ng5 23.Qd5+ Kh8 24.Rf1 a5 25.Rae1 Rcd8 26.Qe5 Qxe5 27.Bxe5 Rd3∞)
22...g6!? 23.Qd2± (23.bxc5? Rfd8)) 21.b4 Nf6 22.Qf4 Nh5 23.Qe5 Qxe5 24.Bxe5 Be7 25.g4!?²
19.b4 Bd6

738
20.Bg5! Qxg5
20...Qc7 21.Rac1 Nf7 22.Bd2 f4 23.Qb3! Qe7 24.Qf3 Ne5 25.Qe4±
21.Rxd6 Qe7 22.Rad1
22.Rd4! Nc6 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Rad1 Rc7 (24...Qc7 25.Rd7!) 25.Rd6 Rfc8 26.Qe2 Rxc4 27.Rxe6 Qf8
28.Rd7±
22...Nxc4 23.Rd7 Qf6™
23...Qg5? 24.Bb7! Nxa3 25.Qa2 Rc1 26.Qxa3+-
24.Qe2 Nxa3?!
24...Ne5! 25.Rxa7 f4 26.Re1 Nc6 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.b5 fxg3 29.hxg3 Rc5 30.Qxe6+ Qxe6 31.Rxe6
Rxb5 32.f4 Ra5 33.Rxa5 bxa5 34.Re5 Ra8 35.a4²
25.Rxa7+- Rc2 26.Qa6 Nc4
26...f4 27.Qxa3 fxg3 28.Qxg3 Rxf2 29.h3 Rf5 30.Kh1 Rg5 31.Qe3
27.Rdd7 Rc1+
27...Kh8 28.Rxg7 Qxg7 29.Rxg7 Kxg7 30.Bf1 Nd2 31.Qxb6 Nxf1 32.Kxf1 f4 33.Qd4+ Rf6 34.gxf4
Kf7 35.b5
28.Bf1 f4 29.Qb7 Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Ne3+ 31.Kg1 Nf5 32.Ra8 fxg3 33.hxg3 h5 34.Rxf8+ Qxf8
35.Qxb6 1-0

174. * !N E08
Gelfand, Boris (2669) - Volokitin, Andrei (2681)
Israel 152/174, 2022

739
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.O-O O-O 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Bf4 b6
9...a5 10.Nbd2 Nh5 11.Be3 f5?! (11...b6 12.Rfd1 Ba6=; 11...a4 - 52/501) 12.Nb3 Nhf6?!

(12...a4 13.Nc1 Nb6²) 13.Nc1!N (13.Rfd1) 13...Ne4 14.Nd3 Bf6 (14...Bd6±) 15.Rac1 Qe7±
Matlakov,M (2674)-Caruana,F (2792) Warszawa (blitz) 152/(174) 2021
10.Nbd2
10.cxd5!?
10...Nh5
10...Ba6 - 64/(447)
11.e3
11.Be3
11...Bb7 12.cxd5 Nxf4 13.exf4 cxd5 14.Rfc1 Rc8

740
15.Qa4!
15.Qd1=
15...a6 16.Bf1?!N
16.Rxc8 Qxc8 17.Bf1 Qc7 18.Bd3 Bd6 19.h4²; 16.Qb3 Rxc1+ 17.Rxc1 Nf6 18.Ne5 Qd6 19.Bf1²;
16.h4
16...b5 17.Qd1
17.Qb3!?
17...Qb6 18.Qb3 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Rc8 20.Re1
20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Qc2 Bb7 22.Nb3 g6=
20...g6
20...Bf8!?
21.Qe3 Rc2
21...Nf6 22.f5 gxf5 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Qg5+=
22.Rb1
22.f5!? gxf5 23.Bd3 Rxb2 24.Bxf5 Nf8 25.h4∞
22...Bf8
22...Rc7!? 23.Ne5 Nf6∞
23.Bd3

741
23.h4!?
23...Rc7 24.h4
24.Ne5!?
24...h5
24...Nf6!?=
25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.fxe5 b4 27.Kh2
27.g4 hxg4 28.h5 a5 29.hxg6 Ba6 30.gxf7+ Rxf7 31.Kg2 Bxd3 32.Qxd3 Bg7 33.Nb3 Bxe5 34.Re1
Bg7 35.Qg6 Rf6 36.Qxg4²
27...a5 28.g4 hxg4 29.Rg1 Ba6 30.Bb1
30.Bxa6 Qxa6 31.Rxg4 Qc6=
30...Kh7??

30...Qb5 31.Re1 b3 32.axb3 Qb8 33.f3 gxf3 34.Nxf3 a4 35.Nd2 f5=

31.h5??
31.Rxg4 Bh6 32.Qf3 Qb8 (32...Bxd2 33.h5 Kg8 34.hxg6+-) 33.h5 Kg8 34.Nb3 Bg7 35.hxg6+-
31...Bh6∞ 32.hxg6+ fxg6 33.f4 Qb5 34.Qg3?
34.Rg2 Rc1 35.Qf2 b3 36.axb3 Qe2 37.Qh4 g3+ 38.Kxg3 Qe1+ 39.Rf2 Qg1+=
34...Qe2+ 35.Rg2 Qd1 36.Bxg6+

742
36.Qxg4 Qxg4 37.Rxg4 Be2 38.Bxg6+ Kh8 39.Rg2 Bxf4+ 40.Kh3 Ba6 41.Kg4 Be3 42.Nb3∞
36...Kxg6 37.Nf3

37...Bxf4!!
37...Kf7 38.Qxg4 Ke7 39.Qh4+ Kd7 40.Qxh6 Qxf3 41.Rg7+ Kc6 42.Qxe6+ Kb7 43.Rxc7+ Kxc7
44.Qxa6 Qxf4+=
38.Qxf4 Rh7+ 39.Kg3 Qxf3+ 0-1

175. * E09
Deac, Bogdan Daniel (2679) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701)
chess.com (Int.-rapid) 152/175, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Qc2 c6 8.Nbd2 b6 9.e4 dxc4
10.Nxc4 Bb7 11.Bf4!?
11.Ne3 - 146/165
11...c5 12.Rfe1 cxd4 13.Nd6 Bxd6 14.Bxd6 d3
14...Rc8 15.Qa4 Nc5 16.Qxd4 Re8 17.e5 Nfe4 18.b4 Nxd6 19.exd6 Nd7 20.Rad1²
15.Qxd3
15.Qc4 Rc8 16.Qd4 (16.Qxd3 Bxe4! 17.Qd4 (17.Rxe4?! Nc5! 18.Qe2 Ncxe4 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rd1
Qc7 21.Nd4 Nc5 22.Nb5 Qb8 23.a3 h6„) 17...e5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Bxe5 Qxd4 20.Bxd4 Bxg2
21.Kxg2 Nd5=) 16...e5 17.Qxd3 Nc5 18.Qd1 Re8=
15...Bxe4 16.Qd4 e5 17.Qa4

743
17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe5 Qxd4 20.Bxd4 Ng5 21.Kg2 Ne6 22.Bc3 Rfd8=
17...Re8 18.Rad1 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 e4

20.Be2!?N
20.Bxe4 Nxe4 21.Rxe4 Rxe4 (21...Nf6!? 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Qxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bb4 h5 25.Kf1 Kh7!?
26.f3 Kg6 (26...g5 27.Rd6 Re6 28.Rxe6 fxe6 29.Ke2 Kg6 30.h3 g4 31.fxg4 hxg4 32.h4 e5=) 27.Bc3
Re7=) 22.Qxe4 Nc5 23.Qf3 Ne6 24.Be5 (24.Be7!?) 24...Qe8 25.h4 Rd8 26.Rxd8 Qxd8 27.Qb7 f6
28.Qc6 (28.Bb8 Nc5! 29.Qxa7 Qd1+=) 28...Nf8 (28...Kf7 29.Bd6!²) 29.Qc4+ (29.Bd6 Qd7=)
29...Kh8 30.Bc3 Qd7 ∆ Ne6=
20...e3
20...a6!? 21.Bxa6 Nb8 22.Bxb8 Qxb8 23.Qc4 Qa7 24.Bb5 Rec8 25.Bc6 Qxa2=
21.f3!?
21.f4 Ne4 22.Bb4 Nd2 23.Bxd2 Nc5 24.Qc2 exd2 25.Rxd2 Qf6=; 21.Bf3 exf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rxe1
23.Rxe1 Rc8 24.Qxa7 Nc5 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rd1 (26.Kg2 g5 27.Rd1 Qe8 28.Qa6 Kg7„) 26...Qe8
(26...Ne4+ 27.Kg2 Qe8 28.Qd7!²) 27.Qa5 h5 (27...g5 28.Qe1!²) 28.Kg2 Ng4„
21...a6 - 152/175
21...b5?!N 22.Qxb5 Qb6 23.Bf4± h6 (23...a6 24.Qxb6 Nxb6 25.Bd3 Nbd5 26.Bg5 h6 27.Bxf6 Nxf6
28.Bc4 ∆ Rd3±) 24.Qxb6 Nxb6 25.Bb5 Re6 26.Rxe3 Nfd5 27.Rxe6 fxe6 28.Be5+- Rc8 29.Bd3!?
(29.f4 Kf7 30.a4+-) 29...Nb4 30.Bg6 1-0 (30) Deac,B (2679)-Kuzmin,R (2355) chess.com (Int. -
blitz) 152/(175) 2022
22.Qa3

744
22.Bxa6 Ra7 ∆ Qa8„
22...b5!
22...Qc8 23.Bf4 Qc5 24.Qxc5 Nxc5 25.b3! (25.Bf1 Na4 26.Re2 b5 27.Rd6 h6∞) 25...Ra7 (25...Re7
26.Bd6 Ree8 27.Bxc5 bxc5 28.Rc1 Nd7 29.Rc3 ∆ Bf1) 26.Rd6 Rd7 27.Rxd7 Nfxd7 28.b4 Ne6
29.Bxe3 b5 30.Rd1 Nf6 31.Kf2²
23.Bc5 Qc8
¹23...Re6 24.Bxe3 (24.Bd4 Qe8 25.f4 Rd8 26.f5 Re4 27.Qxa6 Ne5„) 24...Qe8 25.Bf1 (25.Kf2 Ne5
26.Bd4 h5„) 25...b4 26.Qd3 Ne5 27.Qe2 a5 28.Bh3 Qc6! 29.Bg2 Qe8 30.f4 Nc4! 31.Bxa8
(31.Qxc4 Rxe3 32.Qc1 Rd8!=) 31...Rxe3 32.Qf2 Ng4 33.Rxe3 Ncxe3™ 34.Qe2 Qxa8 35.Rd3 h5=
24.Bxe3² b4
24...Ne5 25.Bd4 Qf5 26.f4 Nc4 27.Qd3 Re4 28.b3 Rd8 29.Qc3! Rdxd4 30.Rxd4 Qc5 31.Rd1 Rxe2
32.bxc4 h5 33.Qd3 Rxa2 34.cxb5 axb5 35.Qe3²
25.Qd3 Nc5
25...Ne5 26.Qb3 Qf5 27.Bf2 a5 28.Kg2²
26.Qd4 Na4
26...Ncd7 27.Bf2 a5 28.Kg2 Qc6 29.Rc1 Qb7 30.Bc4 Rad8 31.Rcd1±
27.Bf2 Rb8 28.Bf1 a5
28...Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Qf8 30.Qc4 Qd6 31.Qc2±
29.g4!?

745
29.Re5 Rd8 30.Qxd8+ Qxd8 31.Rxd8+ Rxd8 32.Rxa5 Nxb2 33.Bb6!± ∆Rc8 (33...Rb8 34.Be2! h6
35.Bd4+-) 34.Bd4 Nd1 35.Rb5 h5 36.Rxb4 Nd5 37.Rb7 N5e3 38.Bd3 Rd8 39.a4+-
29...h6
29...Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Qd8 31.Qe5 Nd7 32.Qf4± ∆Nxb2 33.Rb1 Na4 34.Rd1 Nab6 (34...Nc3
35.Rxd7+-) 35.Bb5 Rc8 36.Bxd7 Nxd7 37.Qf5+-
30.h4 Rd8 31.Qe5 Re8 32.Qxa5 Nxb2 33.Rxe8+ Qxe8
33...Nxe8 34.Rd4 Qc7 35.Qxc7 Nxc7 36.Rd2 Na4 37.Bg3 Rc8 38.Rd4+-
34.Rb1
34.Re1 Qc6 35.Qe5 Rc8 36.g5+-
34...Na4 35.Rxb4 Ra8 36.Qb5 Nc3 37.Qxe8+ Nxe8 38.a3 Nc7
38...Nd5 39.Rd4 Ndc7 40.a4+-
39.Rc4
39.Bg3 N7d5 40.Rb8+ Rxb8 41.Bxb8 f6 42.Bc4+-
39...N7d5 40.Bd3 h5 41.gxh5 f5 42.Bxf5 Rxa3 43.Bg6
43.Rc8+ Kf7 44.Bg6+ Ke6 45.Re8+ Kd7 46.Rg8+-
43...Ra8 44.Kh2 Rf8 45.Bd4 Ne2
45...Rxf3 46.Rc8+ Rf8 47.Rc5!+-
46.Be5
46.Bc5 Rc8 47.Ra4 Rd8 48.Ra7+-
46...Nef4
46...Ne3 47.Rc7 Rxf3 48.Rxg7+ Kf8 49.Be4 Rf2+ 50.Kh3 Nc4 51.Ba1 Nf4+ 52.Kg3! Nxh5+
53.Kxf2 Nxg7 54.Kg3 Nd6 55.Bd3 ∆ Kg4+-
47.Rc7?†
47.Rd4 Nxg6 48.hxg6 Ne3 49.f4+-
47...Nxc7 48.Bxc7 Ne6
48...Nxg6 49.hxg6 Rf6 50.h5 Rxf3 51.Bg3 Rf5 52.Kh3 Rxh5+ 53.Kg4=
49.Be5 Rxf3³ 50.Kg2 Re3 51.Bg3 Re2+ 52.Kf3 Nd4+ 53.Kg4 Rg2 54.Kh3 Rb2 55.Kg4 Rb4
56.Kh3 Rb3 57.Kg4 Ne6 58.Be5 Rb4+ 59.Kf5 Nf8 60.Bf4 Rb5+ 61.Kg4 Nd7 62.h6†
62.h6 Nf6+ 63.Kf3 Rb3+ 64.Kg2 Nd5 65.Bg5 gxh6 66.Bxh6 Rb6 67.h5=

746
0-1

176. E12
Adhiban, Baskaran (2633) - Aryan, Chopra (2592)
Ciutadella de Menorca 152/176, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.e3 Bb4+ 6.Nfd2 O-O 7.a3 Be7 8.Nc3 d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5
10.Nxd5 exd5
10...Bxd5 - 28/601
11.Bd3 c5 12.Nf3
12.O-O
12...Nd7„ 13.h4N
13.Rc1 Nf6 14.O-O Rc8 15.Bf5 Ra8 16.Qc2 Ne4 17.Rfd1 c4 18.Nd2 Nf6 19.Be5 h6 20.f3 b5 21.e4
dxe4 22.fxe4 Re8=; 13.O-O c4 14.Bc2 b5 15.h4 a5 16.h5 h6 17.Ne5

17...Ra6!? (17...Nf6 18.Qf3 Bd6„) 18.Qe2 Rb6 19.Bg3 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Qd7 21.Rad1 b4ƒ
13...cxd4 14.Nxd4
14.exd4 Nf6 15.O-O Ne4 16.h5 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rc1„
14...Nc5 15.h5
15.Bc2 Re8 16.Qg4 Bc8 17.Qg3 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Nc6 Qd7 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.O-O Ba6
22.Rfd1 Be2 23.Rd6 Rac8∞
15...Bf6

747
15...Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 h6 17.O-O Bf6 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.Rd2 Rfd8 20.Nf5 Qe6 21.f3 Rac8=
16.O-O Bxd4 17.exd4 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Qh4 19.Qf3
19.Qf5 Bc8 20.Qxd5 Ba6 21.Bg3 Rad8 22.Qe5 Qxd4=
19...h6 20.Rfe1 Rfe8= 21.Rac1 Re4 22.Be3?!

22.Bd2 Rc8 23.Qf5 Qd8 24.Rxe4 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 dxe4 26.Be3 Bd5 27.Qg4 Kh8 28.Qf5=
22...Bc8! 23.Rc7 Be6 24.Bd2 Rxe1+ 25.Bxe1 Qxd4 26.Bc3 Qh4 27.Qe3 Qe4 28.Qg3?
28.Qxe4 dxe4 29.Kh2 Bg4 30.Re7 Bxh5 31.Rxe4 Bg6 32.Re7 a6³
28...d4 29.Bd2 Qe2 30.Bf4?!
30.Qf3 Qxf3 31.gxf3 Kh7 32.f4 f6 33.Rc6 Bf5 34.Rd6 d3µ
30...Qd1+-+ 31.Kh2 Qxh5+ 32.Kg1 Bf5 33.Be5 Bg6 34.Qf4
34.Qf3 Qxf3 35.gxf3 d3 36.Bc3 Bf5
34...Re8 0-1

177. E12
Le, Quang Liem (2709) - Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2750)
Oslo (m/5-blitz) 152/177, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 Ne4 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Bf4 Bd6 8.Bg3
8.Bxd6 - 55/498
8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 O-ON

748
9...Qf6
10.e3 f5 11.Bxd6
11.Bg2?! f4!³
11...cxd6 12.f4² Nc6 13.Bg2 Rc8 14.Rc1

14...Ne7
14...b5! 15.cxb5 (15.c5 d5 16.b4 Qh4 17.O-O Rf6„; 15.d5 Ne7 16.cxb5 Qa5+ 17.b4 Qxb5 18.dxe6
dxe6„) 15...Qa5+ 16.Rc3 Qxb5 17.d5 (17.Qe2 Qb6 18.O-O d5 19.Rfc1 Rb8„) 17...Ne7 18.Qb3
Qxb3 19.Rxb3 Rc7 20.Kd2 Rfc8 21.Rd1 Kf7 22.Ke1 Rd8!∞
15.h4 Rc7 16.h5 Qc8 17.b3 d5
17...Qa6 18.O-O Qxa3 19.Ra1 Qb4 20.d5 Nc8 21.Qd3©
18.h6 dxc4 19.hxg7 Rf7 20.bxc4 Rxg7 21.Bf1 b5
21...Nd5! 22.Rh6 Kh8 (22...b5!? 23.c5 Kh8 24.Qb3 a6„) 23.Kd2 Ne7 24.Bd3 Ng8 25.Rh2 Nf6∞
22.c5 a6

749
23.Kd2!
23.Be2 d6! 24.Kf1 Kh8²
23...Nd5 24.Bd3 Nf6 25.Qf3 Qd8 26.Ke2± Kh8 27.Qh3?!
27.Rhg1! Qg8 28.Rxg7 Qxg7 29.Qh1!± Qg4+ 30.Kd2 Qg7 31.Rg1 Qf8 32.Ke2
27...d6 28.cxd6 Qxd6 29.Qh4 Rxc1?!
29...Nd5! 30.Qh6 Qe7 31.Kd2 b4=
30.Rxc1 Qxa3 31.Rc6
31.Rc8+! Ng8 32.Qd8 Qa2+ 33.Rc2 Qd5 34.Qxd5 exd5 35.Rc8±
31...Rg6 32.Qh1 Qa2+ 33.Rc2 Qd5 34.Qa1 Rg2?
34...Qg2! 35.Rc8+ Kg7 36.Qa3 Kh6 37.Qe7 Nd5 38.Qh4+ Kg7 39.Qd8 Kh6=
35.Qxa6 b4 36.Rc5 Qd7 37.Rb5
37.Bxf5! exf5 38.Qxf6+ Rg7 39.d5 b3 40.d6+-
37...Nd5 38.Rb7 Qe8 39.Qd6?

750
39.Qa7! Qh5+ 40.Kd2 Rxf2+ 41.Ke1 Qh1+ 42.Kxf2 Qh2+ 43.Ke1 Qg1+ 44.Kd2 Qf2+ 45.Kc1
Qe1+ 46.Kb2 Qc3+ 47.Ka2 Qd2+ 48.Kb3 Qxd3+ 49.Ka4 Qa3+ 50.Kb5 Nc3+ 51.Kc6+-
39...Nf6?
39...Qh5+! 40.Kd2 Rxf2+ 41.Ke1 Qh1+! 42.Kxf2 Qh2+ 43.Ke1 Qg1+ 44.Kd2 Qf2+ 45.Be2
(45.Kc1 Qe1+ 46.Kb2 Qc3+ 47.Kb1 Qxd3+ 48.Kc1 Qxe3+ 49.Kb1 Qe4+ 50.Kc1 Qe3+„)
45...Qxe3+ 46.Ke1 Qg1+ 47.Kd2 Qe3+=
40.Rb8 1-0

178. * E17
Raunak, Sadhwani (2609) - Rozentalis, Eduardas (2517)
Oesterreich 152/178, 2022

1.d4
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Re1 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 Ne4
10.Qc2 (10.Ne5 - 129/175) 10...Nd7 11.Rd1 Ndf6N (11...f5) 12.Bf4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Re8 14.c4 Bd6
(14...dxc4!? 15.Qxc4 Bd5! 16.Qxc7 Qxc7 17.Bxc7 Rac8 18.Be5 Ne4 19.Ne1 Red8 20.Rdc1 f6
21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Bf4 Ba3 23.Nd3 Rc2©) 15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.cxd5 Rc8 17.Qb2 Bxd5 18.Rac1 Qe7
19.Rd2 Be4 20.Rdd1 Bd5 21.Rd2 Be4 22.Rdd1 Bd5 23.Rd2 Be4 1/ 2 (23) Ruck,R (2546)-Horvath,C
(2522) Magyarorszag 152/(178) 2022
1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 Na6

751
8.h4!?
8.Nc3 - 150/169
8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nc3 c5 11.Bf4 Nc7 12.Be5N
12.e3 Ne6 13.Rc1 Nxf4 14.exf4 Re8 15.Ne5 Rc8² (15...cxd4?! 16.Qxd4 Bc5 17.Qd3 Rc8 18.a3 a5
19.Rcd1±)
12...Ne6 13.e3 Ne4
13...Ng4 14.Rc1 Qd7 15.Bh3! h5 16.Bf4 f6 17.Qc2²
14.dxc5 Nxc3
14...bxc5?! 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nd2 f5 17.Bf1 Kh8 18.Nc4 Qe8 19.Qb3 (19.Re2!? Rd8 20.Rd2 Rxd2
21.Qxd2±) 19...Bd5 20.Rad1 Rd8 21.Rd2 f4 22.Red1±
15.Bxc3 bxc5 16.Qa4 Bf6 17.Red1
17.Rad1 Qe7 18.Re2 h6 (18...Rfd8 19.Red2²) 19.Ne1 Rad8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Red2²
17...Qe7 18.Rd2 Rfd8 19.Rad1 h6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Ne1² Rab8?!
21...Rd6 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 Qxb2 25.Nd3 Qb1+ 26.Kg2 Rc8 27.Qc4²
(27.Qxa7? c4„)
22.Qxa7 d4 23.b3
23.Bxb7! Qe7 24.Nf3 Rxb7 25.Qa6 Ra7 26.Qe2 dxe3 27.Rxd8+ Nxd8 28.Qxe3 Ne6 29.a3±
23...Bxg2 24.Nxg2 g5?!

752
24...Qf3! 25.Qa6 dxe3 26.Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.Nxe3 Ne6 28.Qc4 Nd4 29.Qd5 (29.Qxc5? Ne2+ 30.Kh2
Qxf2+-+) 29...Ne2+ 30.Kf1 Nxg3+ 31.Kg1 Ne2+=
25.Qa6! dxe3 26.fxe3
26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Nxe3 gxh4 29.gxh4 Qxh4 30.Qa8+ Kh7 31.a4²
26...Rxd2 27.Rxd2 Rb4?!
27...Qf3!©
28.Rf2 Qe7 29.Qa8+
29.Kh2 Kg7 30.Qd3²
29...Kg7 30.Qd5 Nf8?!
30...c4! 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.bxc4 Qc7 33.c5 Rb5 34.Qf3 Rxc5©
31.Rf5 gxh4 32.gxh4
32.Re5! Ne6 33.Nxh4±
32...Rg4 33.Kf1 Nd7 34.Qf3
34.Nf4! Rxh4 35.Qg2+ Kh7 36.Nh5 Qf8 37.Qf3+-
34...Nf6 35.Ke2?!

753
35.Nf4²
35...Qe4?
35...Qa7! 36.Rxf6 Qxa2+ 37.Ke1 Qa1+ 38.Ke2 Qb2+ 39.Ke1 Qa1+= 40.Kf2? Qxf6-+
36.Qxe4 Nxe4 37.Kf3+- Rg3+ 38.Kxe4 Rxg2 39.Rxc5 Rxa2 40.Kd3 Rb2 41.Rb5 f5 42.Kc3 Re2
43.Rxf5 Rxe3+ 44.Kb2 Kg6 45.Rf4 h5 46.b4 Rd3 47.b5 Rd5 48.Rb4 Kf5 49.b6 Rd8 50.b7 Rb8
51.Kb3 Ke6 1-0

179. E20
Tabatabaei, Mohammad Amin (2623) - So, Wesley (2778)
Berlin (m/2-playoff) 152/179, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.g3
7.e3 - 5/572, E 29
7...b6 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.d5
9.O-O Be4 (9...d6 10.d5 - 9.d5) 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd6 Nc6 14.Qxc5 Qxc3
15.Rac1 Qb2 16.Qe3 d5=
9...d6
9...Re8!? 10.Nh4 (10.O-O exd5 11.Nh4 Ne4; 10.Bg5 h6) 10...exd5 11.cxd5 Ba6 12.Bf3 d6 13.O-O
Nbd7 14.Re1 Bc8 15.Bf4 Ne5 16.Bg2 h6 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Nf3 Re8 19.Nd2 b5„
10.O-O Qe7
¹10...Qc7 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Re1 exd5 13.Nh4 Nd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.cxd5 Nf6 16.Bg5©

754
11.Nh4 Nbd7 12.Re1?!N
12.f4 g6 13.dxe6 Bxg2 14.exf7+ Qxf7 15.Nxg2 Qxc4 16.Ne3„; 12.Bf4
12...Ne5 13.e4 Nxc4 14.Bf1 Ne5
14...b5!?
15.c4 Ng6 16.Ng2 b5 17.cxb5 exd5 18.exd5 Qd7 19.Ne3 Rfe8?!
19...Ne7 20.Bc4 Rfe8 ∆ Ned5
20.Bb2 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxe1 22.Qxe1 Bxd5 23.Rd1 Nh4??

23...Qe6 24.Qc3 Ne5 25.f4 Nf3+ 26.Kf2 Nd4=

24.Rd3! Qg4
24...Nf3+ 25.Rxf3 Bxf3 26.Qc3+-
25.Qc3!™ 25...Be4™
25...Nf3+ 26.Rxf3+-
26.Be2! Qg5 27.Rxd6 Nf5 28.Qe5 Qe7 29.Qxe7 Nxe7 30.a4 1-0

755
E25-E49

180. E25
Kaidanov, Gregory S (2556) - Swiercz, Dariusz (2665)
San Salvador 152/180, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.f3 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 c4 9.Ne2 Nc6
10.Ng3?!
10.g4 - 139/182
10...h5! 11.h4 Qc7
11...O-O! 12.Be2 Qc7! 13.Kf2 Na5³
12.Kf2 Na5
12...O-O 13.e4! dxe4 14.Nxe4=
13.Rb1N
13.Be2
13...O-O?!
13...Nb3; 13...Bd7
14.e4! dxe4

756
15.Rb5!!
15.Nxe4 Nd5² (15...Nxe4+ 16.fxe4 Nb3)
15...Nb3
15...exf3? 16.gxf3+- ∆ Rg1
15...Bd7! 16.Rc5 Qb6 17.Nxh5 Nb3 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Bg5 e3+! 20.Kg3!ƒ
16.Nxh5 Nxh5 17.Rxh5 Bd7?!
17...Nxc1 18.Qxc1 Re8 19.Qe3!±
18.Be3! Rae8 19.f4! f6 20.f5+- Re7 21.Qg4 Be8 22.Rh6! b5 23.h5 a5 24.Rg6! b4 25.axb4 axb4
26.h6! Bxg6 27.hxg7 Rff7 28.Rh8+ Kxg7 29.Qh4 1-0

181. E35
Indjic, Aleksandar (2605) - Maghsoodloo, Parham (2701)
Beograd 152/181, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Nc6 8.e3 g5 9.Bg3 h5 10.Bb5
h4 11.Be5 Rh5N
11...O-O - 148/182
12.h3
12.Ne2!?
12...Bd7 13.Bh2
13.Bxc6!? Bxc6 14.Ne2
13...Qe7! [∆ Nd4] 14.Ne2 O-O-O 15.O-O-O
15.a3 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6=
15...a6 16.Ba4
16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.a3 Bxc3 (17...Bd6 18.Bxd6 Qxd6=) 18.Nxc3 Ne4=
16...Kb8 17.a3 Bd6 18.Bg1?!
18.Bxd6 Qxd6 (18...cxd6!?) 19.f3 Na5=
18...g4
¹18...b5 19.Bb3 g4 20.hxg4 Bxg4³ 21.Nxd5? Nxd5 22.Qxc6 Bxe2 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Qxd5 Bxd1
25.Kxd1 Bc5 26.Qc6 Bxd4-+
19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bb3 Nf6 21.f3 Bf5?!

757
21...Rg5³
22.Qd2 Bg6 23.Bf2?!
23.Bh2²
23...Rdh8 24.Ba2 Qd7 25.Rde1 Na5
25...Ne7=; 25...Na7!?
26.b4?!
26.Bg1 ∆ Bh2
26...Nc6!
26...Nc4?! 27.Bxc4 dxc4 28.e4±
27.Nf4
27.Kb2 a5→
27...Bxf4 28.exf4 Ng8?

28...Bf5ƒ
29.f5! Rxf5
29...Qxf5? 30.Re8+ Ka7 31.Bxd5+-; 29...Bxf5 30.Nxd5±
30.Rxh4 Rxh4
30...Rfh5!?

758
31.Bxh4 Rh5 32.Bg3
32.Bg5!?
32...Nd8?!

32...Nge7!?; 32...b5!?
33.a4!± Ne7 34.b5 Ne6 35.Kb2?!
35.Be5!
35...Ka7?
35...axb5 36.axb5 (36.Nxb5 Nc6∞) 36...Nc8∞
36.Bb3
36.Be5!?
36...Rh8
36...c6!?
37.Be5! Rc8

759
37...Rf8
38.g4!+- c6 39.bxa6
39.f4!?
39...b6 40.a5 b5 41.Na2
41.f4!?
41...c5?! 42.dxc5 Nc6 43.f4
43.Bd6
43...Nxc5
43...Kxa6!?
44.Bd4! Nxd4 45.Qxd4 Bd3 46.Bxd5 Bc4 47.Nb4 Qd6 48.Rd1
48.Re5!?
48...Bxd5 49.Nxd5 Qe6?!
49...Qd8
50.Rc1! Qd6 51.Kb1
51.g5!?
51...b4
¹51...Kb8

760
52.Rc4 Qg6+ 53.Kb2 Qd6 54.Nxb4 Qxd4+ 55.Rxd4 f5 56.g5 Ne6 57.Rd7+ Kb8 58.Nd5 1-0

761
E50-E74

182. E51
Gareyev, Timur (2565) - Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535)
San Salvador 152/182, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.O-O a6
9...Nc6 - 26/(654)
10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qe2
11.b4 Be7
11...b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4! Nbd7 14.e5! Bxf3N
14...Ne8
15.gxf3 Nh5 16.Qe4 g6 17.Be2?!
17.Bh6 Re8 (17...f5!? 18.exf6 Qxf6) 18.Rad1
17...Ng7 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Rad1 Nf5 20.Bc1 Qc7 21.f4 Bb6?!
21...Bd4! 22.Rxd4? Nc5-+
22.Bf3?!
22.Bg4!
22...Nc5 23.Qc6?!
23.Qxa8? Rxa8 24.Bxa8 Nb3! 25.Be4 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 Qc4-+; 23.Qc2!
23...Qa7! 24.Bg4 Nh4! 25.Rd6 Bc7?

762
25...Rab8! 26.Be3 Rec8 27.Qh1 h5 28.Be2 Na4-+
26.Rdd1?
26.Nd5!! exd5 27.Rxd5 Ne6 (27...Bb6 28.Be3) 28.Be3 Qb8 29.Rc1! Nf5 30.Bxf5 gxf5 31.Rd7 Rd8
(31...Rc8 32.Rxf7! Kxf7 33.Qd7+ Kf8 34.Qxe6) 32.Re7!©
26...Rac8?!
26...Bb6!
27.Nd5! Bxe5
27...exd5 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Be3 Qb7 30.Qxb7 Nxb7 31.Rxd5 Rd8!=
28.Qb6 Qa8?
28...Qxb6 29.Nxb6 Rc6 30.fxe5 Rxb6 31.Be3 Rc6 32.Rc1 Rec8 33.Bg5 Nf5 34.Bf3 R6c7 35.Rfd1
Nd7

763
36.Bb7! Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Rc2 38.Bxa6 Nxe5 39.Bxb5 Nh4
29.fxe5 exd5

30.Qf6!+- g5 31.Qxg5+ Ng6 32.Bxc8 Rxc8 33.Qg2 Rd8 34.Bg5 Re8 35.Rxd5 Ne6 36.Rfd1 Kh8
37.Bf6+ Kg8 38.Bg5 Kh8 39.Qf3 Kg8 40.Bh6 Qc8 41.Qf6 Qc4 42.Rd7 Rf8 43.h3 a5 44.Kh2 Qb3
45.R1d6 1-0

183. * !N E52
Aronian, Levon (2785) - Esipenko, Andrey (2723)
Berlin 152/183, 2022

764
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd2 b6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.Qc2
9.O-O - 147/182
9...Re8 10.a3 Bf8

11.Ng5!N
11.O-O-O
11...g6 12.h4 c5?! - 152/183
12...Bg7N 13.O-O-O Ng4?

765
(13...Ba6 14.h5 Bxd3 15.Qxd3→) 14.Nxh7! Kxh7?! 15.h5 Kg8 16.hxg6 f6 17.Rdf1±
Praggnanandhaa,R (2624)-Cornette, M (2569) Reykjavik 152/(183) 2022
13.h5±‚ 13...h6?

13...Re7; 13...Bg7
14.hxg6! hxg5
14...fxg6 15.Bxg6! (15.Nf3!?) 15...hxg5 16.Bh7+ Kf7 (16...Kh8 17.Qg6 Bg7 18.Qf7 Nxh7 19.O-O-
O!+-) 17.Qg6+ Ke7 18.e4!+-
15.gxf7+ Kxf7 16.Bg6+ Ke7
16...Kg8 - 14...fg6
17.Qf5
17.e4!?
17...Bg7 18.e4! Nc6 19.Bxe8
19.Bxg5!?+-
19...Qxe8 20.Nxd5+
20.Bxg5!?+-
20...Nxd5

766
20...Kf7 21.Nxf6! Qe6 (21...Nxd4 22.Nxe8+ Nxf5 23.Nxg7 Nxg7 24.f3+-) 22.Qxe6+ Kxe6 23.d5+
Kxf6 24.dxc6 Bxc6 25.Bc3++-
21.Bxg5+!
21.Rh7? Qf7! 22.Qxd5 (22.Bxg5+? Kf8 23.Qxf7+ Kxf7 24.Bh6 Rg8∞) 22...Kf8 23.dxc5 Ne5!±;
21.Qxd5? Kf8±
21...Kd6
21...Nf6 22.Bxf6+ Bxf6 23.Rh7++-
22.Qxd5+ Kc7 23.Rh7 1-0

184. E53
Howell, David (2646) - Grandelius, Nils (2672)
England - Sverige (m/8) 152/184, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.O-O c5 9.Ne5 Bxc3
10.bxc3 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qa4
12.dxc5 - 22/668
12...Nc7
12...Qc8
13.f3

767
13...a6!?N
13...Re8
14.Bd2
14.Rb1 b5 15.Qa5 Re8=; 14.Qb3 Qd6=
14...Nb5 15.Qb3 Nd6
15...c4 16.Qb2 (16.Qb4 Qc7 (16...Nd6 17.Rfb1 b5 18.a4 Qe7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra5ƒ) 17.Rfb1 Rfb8
18.Be1 Nd6 19.a4 Rb7=) 16...Qc7 17.Rab1 Rab8 18.Be1 Nd6=
16.Be1
16.Rfb1!?
16...c4 17.Qb4 a5 18.Qb1 Nfe8?!
18...b5!?; 18...Qc7!?
19.a4!² f6 20.Ng4 b5 21.axb5
21.e4!?
21...Rb8 22.Bg3
22.e4 Rxb5 23.Qc2²
22...Rxb5 23.Qc2 Qe7
¹23...Rb3 24.e4 f5 25.exf5 Nxf5=
24.Rfe1 Qb7 25.Ra2

768
25.Nf2!?
25...Rb3 26.Rea1 Qe7?!
26...Nb5 27.Be1²
27.Rxa5 h5?!
27...Nb5 28.h4! h5 (28...Nxc3? 29.Ra7 Qe6 30.Bf4!+-) 29.Qf5!±
28.Ra7 Nb7
28...Rb7 29.Rxb7 Nxb7 30.Nf2 Qxe3 31.Qf5! Qxc3 32.Qxd5+ Rf7 33.Rb1 Qa5 34.Qc6+-
29.Nf2 Qxe3

30.Qf5! Rxc3?!
30...h4 31.Bf4+-
31.Qxd5+ Rf7 32.h4+- Qe7 33.Ne4 Rb3 34.Nc5 Rb2 35.Re1 1-0

185. E54
Dubov, Daniil (2711) - Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2756)
Berlin 152/185, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.O-O cxd4 9.exd4 b6
10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rd1 h6 12.a3
12.Bf4 - 149/181
12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nbd7 14.Bd3

769
14...Nd5!?N
14...Re8 15.c4 Qc7 16.Bb2 Ng4 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qh2+ 19.Kf1 Ngf6 20.g4 e5 21.Bf5 exd4
22.Rxd4 Ne5 23.Qg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Ng6 25.Kg3 Re2 26.Bc3 Rae8 27.Rad1 Ne4+ 28.Rxe4 R8xe4
29.Bxe4 Rxe4 30.Rd8+ Kh7 31.Rc8 f6=; 14...Rc8 15.c4 Qc7 16.Bb2 Ng4 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qh2+
19.Kf1 Ngf6 20.Rac1 e5 21.Bf5 Rfe8 22.d5 g6 23.Bxd7 Nxd7 24.Ke2 e4 25.Qg3 Qxg3 26.fxg3 Rc7
27.g4 Rec8 28.d6 Rxc4 29.Rxc4 Rxc4 30.Rc1 Rxc1 31.Bxc1 f6 32.Ke3=
15.Bd2 Qc7 16.Qe4 N5f6 17.Qh4 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qc6 19.Qg3 Nh5 20.Qh3 Ndf6 21.Kh1 Rfd8
22.Rg1 Kf8 23.Rae1 [∆ Re5] 23...Rac8 24.Rg2?
24.Re5 Rd5 25.a4 Qd6 26.f4 Rxc3! 27.Bxc3 Nxf4 28.Qg3 Nxd3 29.Qxg7+ Ke7 30.f3 Qc6 31.Rg6
Nxe5 32.Qxf6+ Kd7 33.Rg7 Qxc3 34.dxe5 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 Qc2+ 36.Kh3 Qf5+ 37.Qxf5 exf5
38.Rxf7+ Ke6 39.Rxa7=
24...g5?!
24...Qd5! 25.Reg1 Qa2!-+ 26.Rxg7 Qxd2
25.Rgg1

770
25...Ke7! 26.Be4 Qd6 27.d5 Kf8?!
27...Nxd5 28.Qxh5 Nf6 29.Qxh6 Qxd2-+
28.dxe6 Qxd2 29.e7+ Kxe7 30.Bf5+ Kf8 31.Bxc8 Kg7 32.Bg4?
32.Ba6 Nf4 33.Qf1
32...Nf4 33.Qf1 Qxc3 34.Re3 Qc2 35.h4 Rd2?
35...Rd4 ×f2
36.Qc1 Nd3 37.Qxc2 Nxf2+ 38.Kg2 Rxc2 39.Kg3 N2xg4 40.fxg4 Rc4 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.Kh3 Nd5
43.Rf3?? Rc2 44.Kg3 Nf4 45.Rxf4 gxf4+ 46.Kxf4 Rc3 47.Ra1 Rc4+ 48.Kg5 Ra4 49.Kh5 Ra5+
50.Kh4 Kg6 51.Rc1 Rxa3 52.Rc6+ f6 0-1

186. E61
Bluebaum, Matthias (2642) - Sebenik, Matej (2510)
Terme Catez 152/186, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 c5 6.d5 h6 7.Bh4 d6 8.Nd2 Qb6 9.Qc2
9.Rb1 - 73/634
9...g5N
9...e5; 9...e6
10.Bg3 Nh5 11.e4 f5 12.Be2 Nxg3
¹12...Nf4 13.Bxf4 gxf4 14.Bd3 fxe4 15.Bxe4 Nd7 16.O-O Nf6 (16...Ne5 17.Ne2²) 17.Bd3 Ng4
18.Nf3 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Qe2²

771
13.hxg3 e6 14.Bd3 Qd8
14...fxe4 15.Bxe4 Na6 (15...e5 16.O-O-O±) 16.a3 Nc7 17.O-O Bd7 18.Rae1±
15.dxe6 f4 16.gxf4 gxf4

17.e5! dxe5
17...Nc6 18.Nf3 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Ne4 Qe5 22.O-O-O+-
18.Nf3
18.Be4 Nc6 19.Bd5 Qe7 20.Qg6 Rf6 21.Qh5 Nd4 22.Nde4±
18...Nc6 19.Nh4! Rf6

772
19...e4 20.Bxe4 Re8 21.Rd1 Nd4 22.Qd3 Bxe6 23.Kf1±
20.Qe2
20.e7! Nxe7 (20...Qxe7 21.Nd5+-) 21.O-O-O Qa5 22.a3 Bg4 23.f3 Bh5 24.Nf5±
20...e4
20...Nd4 21.Qe4 Bxe6 22.Qh7+ Kf8 23.Ng6+ Rxg6 24.Qxg6 Bf7 25.Qe4 Qd7 26.O-O-O±
21.Nxe4 Rxe6 22.O-O-O Qf8 23.Qh5?!
23.Bb1 Nd4 24.Qd3 Qe7 25.Nc3±
23...Ne5
¹23...Re5 24.Qe2 (24.Qg6 Ne7 25.Qd6 Bg4 26.f3 Rd8 27.Qc7 Rd7 28.Qa5 Bh5∞) 24...Nd4 25.Qd2
Qf7 26.Nc3 Bg4 27.Rde1 Rd8 28.Rxe5 Bxe5 29.Nd5 Bf6 30.Be4²
24.Nf5 Nxd3+ 25.Rxd3 Bxb2+
25...Rxe4 26.Nxh6+ Bxh6 (26...Kh7 27.Nf5+ Kg8 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Nd6++-) 27.Qg6+ Bg7
28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Qxe4+-
26.Kc2
26.Kxb2? Rb6+ 27.Rb3 Bxf5 28.Rxb6 axb6 29.Nc3 Qf6 30.Qxh6 Bg6∞
26...Bg7 27.f3
27.Nxg7 Kxg7 28.Rh4 Rf6 (28...Kh8 29.Qg5+-) 29.Nxf6 (29.Rd5+-) 29...Qxf6 30.Rd5+-
27...Ra6 28.Nxg7+- Kxg7 29.Qe5+ Kg8 30.Rh4 Be6 31.Nf6+ 1-0

773
 187. * E63
Indjic, Aleksandar (2621) - Yuffa, Daniil (2597)
Sharjah 152/187, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.d5 Na5 8.b3 c5 9.Bb2 a6 10.Nd2
Rb8 11.O-O b5

12.Qc1!?
12.Qc2 - 98/(417)
12...bxc4N
12...e5 - 152/(187) 13.dxe6 Bxe6N (13...fxe6) 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nce4 Nd5 (15...Ne8 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Rd1 b4 18.Nf1²) 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qb2+ Kg8 18.Nf3 b4 (18...f6 19.Rfd1 Qe7 20.Rd2±) 19.Rfd1
f6 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.e4+- Erdos,V (2607)-Tutisani,N (2442) Terme Catez 152/(187) 2022
13.bxc4 e6
13...e5 14.Nd1 h5 15.Bc3 Bh6 16.Qc2 h4 17.Re1 Bd7 18.e3²
14.Rb1
14.dxe6?! Bxe6 15.Nd1 (15.Nd5? Rxb2!-+) 15...Qd7 16.Rb1 Nc6=
14...Re8 15.Ba1 Rxb1
15...Rb4 16.Rxb4 cxb4 17.Nce4 exd5 18.Nxf6+ (18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qb2+ Kg8
21.a3²) 18...Bxf6 19.cxd5 Bxa1 20.Qxa1 Rxe2 21.Qd4 Qc7 22.Bf3 Re5 23.Qxb4²
16.Qxb1 exd5 17.cxd5 Bf5 18.e4 Bd7 19.h3 Qc7 20.f4± Nh5

774
20...Nb7 21.Kh2 h5 22.f5 g5 23.Qd3±
21.Kh2 f5 22.Re1 Qd8
22...fxe4 23.Ncxe4 Rb8 24.Qc1 Bxa1 25.Qxa1 Bf5 26.Qc3 Bxe4 27.Nxe4 Nb7 28.g4 Ng7 29.f5!
Ne8 (29...gxf5 30.gxf5 Nxf5 31.Nf6+ Kf8 32.Qf3+-) 30.Rf1+-
23.Nd1! Bxa1 24.Qxa1 g5

25.Bf3!+- g4
25...Ng7 26.Ne3 gxf4 27.gxf4 Qh4 28.Ng2 Qh6 29.Qc3 Nb7 30.e5+-
26.Bg2 gxh3 27.Bf3
27.Bxh3 fxe4 28.Nxe4 Bxh3 29.Kxh3
27...Qf6 28.e5 Qg6 29.Bxh5 Qxh5 30.e6 Ba4 31.Ne3 Rb8 32.g4! 1-0

188. * E65
Fier, Alexandr (2573) - Jones, Gawain C B (2666)
Italia 152/188, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 c5 7.O-O Nc6 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.Bf4 Nh5
10.Be3 b6
10...Qa5 - 62/574
11.Qc1 Bb7 12.Bh6 Qe8
12...Qc8 13.Bxg7 (13.Nd5 e6 (13...Re8?! 14.Bxg7 Nxg7 15.Rd1 Nb4 16.e4²) 14.Bxg7 Kxg7
15.Nc3 (15.Qc3+ Kg8=) 15...Nd4=) 13...Nxg7 14.Rd1 f6 (14...Rd8 15.Nd5²) 15.a3²

775
13.Bxg7 Nxg7 14.Nd5
14.Rd1 Rd8 (14...f6= 15.Ne1) 15.Qf4 f6 16.Rxd8 Qxd8 17.Rd1 Qc8=
14...Rd8 15.Rd1 f6 16.Qc3 Qf7 17.Kf1?!N
17.e3 - 152/(188) 17...e6 18.Nf4 Qe7 (18...g5 19.Nd3 Qe7 20.Nd2 Rd7 21.Qc2 Rfd8 22.Ne4 Ne8
23.a3 Kf8=) 19.h4 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rd8 1/2 (20) Arkell,K (2370)-Collins,S (2456) Dublin 152/(188)
2022
17...Nf5 18.e3 e6 19.Nf4

19...g5! 20.Nd3 Rd7

20...h5!? 21.Nd2 (21.h3 Ne5! 22.Nfe1 (22.Ndxe5? Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 fxe5 24.Qxe5 Bxf3 25.Bxf3
Ng7-+) 22...Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Ng6µ) 21...Qg6 22.Nb3 h4µ
21.Nde1 Rxd1?!
21...g4! 22.Rxd7 Qxd7 23.Nd2 Ne5µ
22.Rxd1 g4 23.Nd2 Ne5 24.Ne4
24.Nd3 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Ng6 26.a3 Qb7+ 27.Kg1 Rd8 28.b4 Qc6 29.bxc5 bxc5=
24...Qg6 25.Qc2 Kg7 26.Kg1 Rf7
26...Nh6 27.b3 Ba8 28.Nc3 Bf3 29.Rd2 Nhf7³
27.Nd3?

776
27.Rd2 h5 28.Nd3 Nxd3 29.Qxd3 h4 30.Nc3 h3 31.Bxb7 Rxb7=
27...Nxe3! 28.Nxe5 Nxc2 29.Nxg6 Kxg6 30.Nd6 Rd7 31.Bxb7 Nd4! 32.Be4+ Kg5 33.Nb5
33.Rxd4 cxd4 34.Nb5 a6 35.Bc6 Rd8 36.Na3 d3µ
33...Ne2+ 34.Kf1 Nxg3+ 35.hxg3 Rxd1+ 36.Ke2 Rd7
36...Ra1 37.a3 (37.Nc3 Rc1 38.Kd2 Rg1-+) 37...Ra2-+
37.Bc6 Re7 38.a3 f5 39.b4 Kf6 40.Ke3 Ke5 41.Nc3 h5 42.Ne2 Rh7 43.Nf4 h4 44.gxh4 Kd6
45.Bg2 Rxh4-+ 46.Ke2 Rh2 47.Kf1 Ke5 48.Ne2 Rh8 49.bxc5 bxc5 50.Nc3 Rb8 51.Nb5 a6
52.Na7 Rb1+ 53.Ke2 Rb2+ 54.Ke1 g3 0-1

189. E69
Ftacnik, Lubomir (2507) - Naiditsch, Arkadij (2660)
Oesterreich 152/189, 2022

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.e4 Re8 9.Be3 a6 10.h3 c6
11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c5
12.b4 - 6/747
12...Bf8 13.b4 a5 14.a3 b6 15.cxb6 Ba6

777
15...axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Nxb6 18.Rd1 Nfd7 19.Na4 (19.b5 cxb5 20.Nxb5 Nc4 21.Bg5 Qb6
22.Nc3 Qb2 23.Qxb2 Nxb2 24.Rb1 Nd3 25.Bf1 N3c5=) 19...Nc4 20.Bc5²
16.bxa5?!
16.b5! cxb5 (16...Bxb5 17.Nxb5 cxb5 18.Qd3 Rb8 19.Qxb5 Nxb6 20.Qxa5+-) 17.Nd5 b4
(17...Nxd5 18.Qxd5±; 17...Bd6 18.Rc1±) 18.axb4 Bxf1 19.Bxf1 Bxb4 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Bb5²
16...Bxf1 17.Bxf1 Rxa5 18.Bc4 Bc5 19.Qb3N
19.Bxc5?! Rxc5 20.Qb3 Qxb6! (20...Kg7 21.Na4 Ra5 22.Bxf7 Re7 23.Bc4 Nxe4∞) 21.Bxf7+ Kf8
22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Bxe8 Rxc3 24.Bxg6 Rxf3 25.Bf5 Na4µ; 19.Ng5 Rf8 20.Bxc5 (20.Bxf7+ Rxf7
21.Qb3 Qf8 22.b7 Nb8 23.Bxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd1 Rxc3! 25.Qxc3 Rxb7µ) 20...Rxc5 21.Qd3 Qe7³
19...Kg7
19...Qe7 20.Bxc5 (20.Ng5 Bxe3 21.Bxf7+ Kh8 22.Bxe8 Nxe8 23.Nf7+ Kg7 24.fxe3 Qxf7-+)
20...Nxc5 21.Qb4 Nb7µ
20.Bxf7 Re7 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Ng5
22.Bc4 Qxb6 23.Qa2 Qa7µ
22...Qxb6 23.Na4 Qxb3 24.Bxb3 Ra5 25.Rd1 Nf8 26.Rc1 Rb7 27.Nc5 Rxc5 28.Rxc5 Rxb3-+
29.Rxe5 N6d7 30.Re8 h6 31.Ne6+ Kf7 32.Nc7 Rb7 33.Rc8 Nb6 0-1

190. * E70
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2652) - Jones, Gawain C B (2672)
Deutschland 152/190, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 O-O 7.O-O Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9.d5 Nd4

778
10.Nb5 Nxb5 11.cxb5 f5 12.exf5
12.f3 f4 13.Bf2 Nf6 14.Rc1 g5³ - 57/561
12...gxf5 13.f4N
13.f3 Nf6 14.Nc3 Qe8∞
13...e4N
13...Nf6 - 152/(190) 14.h3 Kh8 15.Bc4 Ne4 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.a4 Qe7∞ Khumalo,K (2138)-Vitiugov,N
(2726) chess.com (Int.-blitz) 152/(190) 2022
14.Bc4 Bxb2 15.Nd4?
15.Rb1 Bg7 (15...Ba3 16.Nd4 Bc5 17.Kh1 Nf6 18.Rb3 Kh8∞) 16.Nd4 Nc5∞
15...Bxa1 16.Ne6
16.Qxa1 Nc5µ
16...Qf6 17.Nxf8

17...Qc3
17...Kxf8! 18.Qxa1 Qxa1 19.Rxa1 a6! 20.bxa6 b6 21.Bb5 Nc5µ
18.Re1 Bb2
¹18...Kxf8 19.Qxa1 Qxa1 20.Rxa1µ - 17...Kf8
19.Ne6 Qxc4?!

779
19...Nf6 20.Bb3 (20.Bd4 Qxc4 21.Bxb2 Bxe6 22.dxe6 Qxe6µ) 20...Bxe6 21.dxe6 d5µ
20.Qh5!= Nf8
20...Bg7 21.Qe8+ Nf8 22.Nxg7 Qxd5 (22...Qc3 23.Bf2 Kxg7 24.Re3 Qc1+ 25.Re1 Qb2 26.Re3
Qc1+ 27.Re1=) 23.Rc1 c5 24.bxc6 Kxg7 25.cxb7 Qxb7 26.Bd4+ Kg8 27.Qd8 e3 28.Qg5+
(28.Qf6?! Ne6 (28...Ng6 29.Qd8+ Nf8=) 29.g4 e2 30.Kf2 fxg4 31.f5 Qf3+ 32.Kg1 Qe4 33.Qh8+
Kf7 34.Qxh7+ Ke8 35.Qg6+ Kf8 36.Qf6+ Ke8 37.Qg6+ Kf8=) 28...Ng6 29.Qd8+ Nf8 30.Qg5+
Ng6=
21.Qg5+ Ng6 22.Qd8+ Kf7 23.Nxc7 Bc3 24.Qe8+ Kg7 25.Qd8 Kf7 26.Qe8+ Kg7 27.Qd8 1/2-1/2

191. E73
Milos, Gilberto (2575) - Supi, Luis Paulo (2581)
Sao Paulo (rapid) 152/191, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Na6 8.h4 Nc5 9.Qc2 c6 10.h5 cxd5
11.cxd5 Qa5 12.Bd2
12.h6 - 148/196
12...Bd7 13.hxg6N
13.h6 Bh8 14.Nh3 Rac8 15.Ng5 Qd8 16.Qd1 a5∞
13...fxg6!
13...hxg6 14.Nh3 Rfc8 15.Ng5 Qd8 16.a4 a5„
14.Nh3 Rac8 15.Ng5 h6 16.Ne6 Nxe6 17.dxe6 Bxe6 18.Bxh6

780
18.Rd1 h5µ
18...Bxh6 19.Rxh6 Kg7 20.Rh4

20.Rh1 Nxe4! 21.Qxe4 Rxc3-+

20...d5! 21.exd5
21.Qb3 d4 22.Qb5 (22.Qxe6 dxc3-+) 22...Qxb5 23.Nxb5 Rc2-+
21...Nxd5µ 22.Qd2
22.Rd1 Nxc3 23.bxc3 Rxc3 24.Qd2 Ra3 25.Qxa5 Rxa5-+
22...Nf4
22...Nxc3 23.bxc3 Qc5 24.Bf3 (24.Qh6+ Kf6 25.Kf1 Rh8 26.Qxh8+ Rxh8 27.Rxh8 Qxc3 28.Rd1
Bxa2-+) 24...Rh8 25.Rxh8 Rxh8 26.O-O-O Rh4µ
23.Bf1
23.Kf1 Qb6 24.Rd1 Rfd8 25.Qe3 Qxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1+ 27.Bxd1 Bc4+ 28.Kg1 Nd3 29.Bf3 b6µ
23...Rfd8 24.Qe3

781
24...Rd3! 25.Qc1 Rd4-+ 26.g3 Re4+ 27.Kd1 Qd8+ 28.Kc2 Bf5! 29.Kb3 Qb6+ 30.Bb5 Rxc3+ 0-1

782
E75-E99

192. E81
Gormally, Daniel (2471) - Hebden, Mark (2448)
Daventry 152/192, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 Qa5
8...exd5 9.cxd5 Na6= 10.Bxa6 (10.Nge2 - 33/127, A 65) 10...bxa6 11.Nge2 Rb8 12.O-O Re8
(12...Qb6) 13.Rab1 a5 (13...Bd7 14.Ng3 Qb6µ 15.Qf4!)
9.Bf4
9.Nge2
9...exd5 10.cxd5 Ne8N
10...Rd8
11.h4
11.g4??
11...f5 12.exf5
12.h5 fxe4 13.hxg6 hxg6! (13...Rxf4 14.Qxf4 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Kf2) 14.Bh6 (14.Nxe4
Qxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Bg7)12.Bh6
12...Bxf5 13.g3
13.h5 Nd7 14.g4 Bxg4; 13.Bh6 b5 (13...Nd7 14.g4; 13...Nf6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.g4 Bd7 16.h5)
14.Bxg7 Nxg7 15.Bxb5-+ Nd7 16.Bxd7 Bxd7 17.Ne4
13...Nd7 14.Kf2

783
14...Ne5! 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.Bh3 Ng7 17.Nge2 Rae8 18.g4 Bd7 19.Kg2 Bb5© 20.Ng3 Rf4 21.Nge4
Bd7 22.h5 Ref8 23.h6?!
23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Raf1
23...Ne8? 24.g5? Bf5 25.Bxf5

25...R4xf5 26.Raf1 Bf4 27.Qc2 Qd8 28.Ne2 Bxg5 29.N4g3 R5f7 30.Qe4 Nf6 31.Qd3 Nd7 32.Qe4
Re8 33.Qc2 Be3 34.f4 Nf6 35.f5 g5 36.Nc3 Re5 0-1

193. E94
Praggnanandhaa, Rameshbabu (2624) - Giri, Anish (2773)
Oslo (m/1-rapid) 152/193, 2022

784
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.O-O Bg4 8.d5 a5 9.h3
9.Bg5 - 151/196
9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Kh8N
10...Na6
11.Bg5 h6 12.Be3 Nbd7 13.a3 Nh7 14.Qd2

14...f5! 15.Bxh6 Qh4 16.Bxg7+ Kxg7 17.exf5

17.Nb5 Ng5! 18.Qe3 (18.Nxc7? Nxf3+ 19.gxf3 Rh8-+) 18...Rac8 19.Na7 Ra8 20.Nb5=
17...gxf5 18.Bd1 f4
18...Kh8!? 19.f4 Rg8 20.Kh1 (20.fxe5? Ng5-+) 20...Rg3 21.Rf3 Rag8 22.Rxg3 Rxg3 23.Bc2
(23.fxe5 Nxe5-+) 23...exf4 24.Ne2 Rxh3+ 25.gxh3 Qxh3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+ 27.Kf2 Qh4+ 28.Kf1
Qh3+ 29.Ke1 Qh1+=
19.Bg4
19.Nb5? f3! 20.Nxc7 Kh8! 21.Bxf3 (21.Nxa8 Ng5-+) 21...Rac8! (21...Rxf3!? 22.Nxa8 Ng5 23.g3
Qh6 24.Rad1 Rxa3 25.Qc1 Nxh3+ 26.Kg2 Nf4+ 27.Qxf4! exf4 28.bxa3 f3+ 29.Kxf3 Qf8+ 30.Kg2
Qxa8 31.Rfe1∞) 22.Bg4 Rxc7 23.Qxa5 Rc5 24.Qe1 Nhf6µ; 19.f3 Ng5 (19...Nc5 20.Na4 b6 21.b4
Nxa4 22.Bxa4 Rf7 23.Qf2 Qh6 24.Bc2 Ng5©) 20.Rf2 (20.Bc2 Qg3 21.Kh1 Qh4©) 20...Nf6 21.Bc2
Nh5©
19...Ndf6©
19...Nc5!? 20.f3 a4 (20...Nb3 21.Qe1²) 21.Qe1 Qh6 22.Ne4 Nb3 23.Rd1 Nf6©

785
20.f3
20.Be6 Ng5 21.f3 Rae8 22.Rae1 Nxe6 23.dxe6 Rxe6∞
20...Ng5 21.Qf2 Qh7 22.Be6 Rae8 23.c5?!
23.Rad1 b6 24.b4 axb4 25.axb4 Rh8 (25...Nxe6 26.dxe6 Rxe6∞) 26.Rfe1 Qg6©
23...Kh8?
23...Nxe6 24.dxe6 d5µ
24.Bg4?
24.Rfe1 Re7 25.cxd6 cxd6 26.Rad1 Qg6 27.Kh2²
24...Nxg4 25.fxg4

25.hxg4 Rf6 26.Ne4 Rh6 27.Qe1 Nxf3+!-+

25...Rf6
25...e4! 26.Qd4+ Kg8 27.Rae1 f3-+
26.cxd6 cxd6 27.h4
27.Rac1 Rg8 28.Nd1 Rgf8 29.Qd2 Kg8µ
27...Rh6 28.h5 Qd7 29.Qh4 Rg8 30.Rac1 b5 31.Nd1 Ne4 32.Nf2 Nxf2 33.Rxf2 Rxg4 34.Rc7
34.Qh3 Rf6 35.h6 Qf5 36.Rc7 Rf8µ
34...Qf5 35.Qe7 Rg8 36.Qf7

786
36...Rf6
36...Qb1+! 37.Rf1 Qxb2 38.Rf2 Qb1+ 39.Rf1 Qe4 40.Rf2 Qe1+ 41.Rf1 Qh4-+
37.Qe7
37.Qd7 Qxh5 38.Rc8 Rxc8 39.Qxc8+ Kg7µ
37...f3 38.Rc3 e4 39.Re3 Rxg2+ 40.Kf1 Qg5 41.Qe8+ Kg7 42.h6+ Kxh6-+ 43.Qh8+ Kg6 44.Qg8+
Kh5
44...Kf5 45.Qxg5+ Rxg5 46.Ke1 Kf4
45.Qxg5+ Rxg5 46.Rh2+ Kg4 47.Rxe4+ Rf4 48.Re6 Rxd5 49.Rg6+ Kf5 50.Rh5+ Ke4!
50...Kxg6?? 51.Rxd5 Rf5 52.Rxd6+ Kg5 53.Rd4=
51.Rhh6 Rd1+ 52.Kf2 Rd2+ 53.Kf1 Rxb2 54.Rxd6 Ke3 55.Rhe6+ Re4 56.Rxe4+ Kxe4 57.Re6+
Kd3 0-1

194. * E94
Giri, Anish (2773) - Van Foreest, Jorden (2714)
Oslo (m/1-rapid) 152/194, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Bg4 8.d5 a5 9.Ne1
9.Be3 Na6 10.Ne1 (10.Nd2 - 151/(196)) 10...Bd7 11.Nd3 h5 12.h3N (12.a3) 12...b6 13.Qd2 Nh7
14.Rae1 Nb4 15.a3 Nxd3 16.Bxd3 a4 17.Bc2 Bf6 18.Qd1 Qe8 19.Qd2 (19.Bh6 Bg7 20.Bxg7 Kxg7
21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 Ng5∞) 19...Qe7 20.Qd1 Qe8= 21.Qd2 Qe7 22.Qd1 Qe8 1/2 (22) Giri,A (2773) -
Van Foreest,J (2714) Oslo (m/3-rapid) 152/(194) 2022
9...Bxe2 10.Qxe2 Na6 11.Nd3 b6N

787
11...Nd7; 11...Nb4
12.Bg5 h6 13.Bd2 Nd7 14.Rab1 Ndc5 15.Nxc5
15.b3 f5 16.f3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Nc5 18.Qe2 Qe7 19.a3 fxe4 20.fxe4 (20.Nxe4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Kh7=)
20...Rxf1+ 21.Qxf1 a4! 22.b4 Nb3 23.Be3 Nd4∞
15...Nxc5 16.Be3 f5 17.Rfd1
17.f3 f4 18.Bf2 Bf6! 19.Kh1 Bh4 20.Bg1 Bg3! 21.b3 Qh4 22.a3 g5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 Nd7∞
17...f4
17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Qg4 Kh7 20.Qxe4 h5∞
18.Bxc5

18...f3!
18...bxc5 19.Qg4 Rf6 20.f3 h5 21.Qh4²
19.gxf3 bxc5 20.Kh1 Kh7© 21.Rg1 h5
21...Bf6!? 22.Rg4 Bg5 23.Rbg1 Qe7©
22.Rbd1
22.Rg2 Rf6 23.Rbg1 Qe8 (23...Bh6? 24.f4! Bxf4 25.Rxg6! Rxg6 26.Qxh5++-) 24.f4 Rxf4 25.Rxg6
Qxg6 26.Rxg6 Kxg6©
22...Bh6 23.Rd3 Qd7 24.Qf1 Rf6 25.Qg2 Raf8 26.Nb5 g5 27.Ra3 R8f7 28.Rxa5 Rxf3
28...g4 29.fxg4 Rxf2 30.Qh3 Bf4 31.Qxh5+ Kg7 32.Rg2 Rf1+ 33.Rg1 Rf2=

788
29.Ra7™ Rxf2 30.Qxf2 Rxf2 31.Rxc7 Qxc7 32.Nxc7 g4
32...Rxb2 33.Ne8 Rxa2 34.Nxd6 g4 35.h3 Be3 36.Re1 Bf4 37.hxg4 Rh2+ 38.Kg1 hxg4 39.Nf5
Kg6=
33.Rg2 Rf7 34.Ne6 Be3 35.h3 gxh3 36.Rg3 Rf1+ 37.Kh2 Bf4 38.Nxf4 exf4 39.Rg5
39.Rxh3 Kg6 40.Rb3 Kg5 41.a4 f3 42.a5 Kg4 43.a6 Re1 44.a7 f2 45.a8=Q

45...Rh1+! 46.Kxh1 f1=Q+ 47.Kh2 Qf2+ 48.Kh1=

39...Re1 40.Kxh3 Rxe4 41.Rxh5+ Kg6 42.Kg4 Rxc4 43.Rg5+ Kf6 44.Rf5+ Ke7 45.Rxf4= Rc2
46.b4 Rxa2 47.bxc5 dxc5 48.Kf3 Rd2 49.Ke4 Rd4+ 50.Ke5 Rxf4 51.Kxf4 Kd6 52.Ke4 c4 53.Kd4
c3 54.Kxc3 Kxd5 1/2-1/2

195. E94
Hjartarson, Johann (2465) - Warmerdam, Max (2599)
Reykjavik 152/195, 2022

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 c6 10.Nc2
Na6 11.Kh1 h6
11...Nc7 - 49/(739)
12.Be3 d5 13.exd5N
13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 Nb4! 15.Nxb4 Rxe3 16.Qd2 Re8 17.Bb5 Bd7 (17...Re5 18.Nd3 Rg5 19.Bc4±)
18.Bxd7 Qxd7 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.a3 Qc7 21.Qf2 a5 22.Nc2 b5 (22...Qc4©) 23.Rd2 (23.Nxb5 Qb7
24.a4 Nxd5©) 23...Qb8©
13...cxd5 14.Bf2

789
14.cxd5 - 13.ed5
14...Nc7 15.c5
15.Re1 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Be6=
15...Bd7
15...Nh5!? 16.Nd4 (16.Qd2 Qg5 17.Be3 Qh4 18.Bf2 Qg5=) 16...Nf4 17.Bb5 Bd7 18.Bxd7 Qxd7
19.Qd2 Nfe6∞ 20.b4 a5 21.a3 Bxd4 22.Bxd4 Nxd4 23.Qxd4 Qe7 24.Rad1 (24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Qxd5
axb4 26.a4 Ra5∞) 24...Qe3
16.Qd2 a5 17.Rfe1
17.Nd4 Ne6 18.Nxe6 Rxe6 19.Nb5 Bc6 20.Nd4 Re8∞
17...Bc6 18.Bf1

18.Nd4 Nd7 19.Rac1 Qg5 (19...h5 20.Ncb5 Nxb5 21.Nxb5 a4∞) 20.f4 Qf6 21.Bg1 a4∞
18...Nd7!
18...Rxe1!? 19.Rxe1 Nd7 20.Rd1 Qg5 (20...Ne6∞) 21.Be3 Qf6 22.Bxh6 Bxh6 23.Qxh6 Nxc5∞
19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Re1 Qf8 21.Bg3 Ne6
¹21...Qd8 22.Bd6 Bf8 23.Ne3 Nxc5 24.Bxf8 (24.Bxc7 Qxc7 25.Nexd5 Qd6³) 24...Kxf8 25.Nexd5
Nxd5 26.Rd1 Nxc3 27.Qxd8+ Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Ke7 29.Ra8 Nd1 30.Rxa5 Nd7³
22.Bd6
22.Nxd5 Qxc5 23.Nce3 Rd8 24.Rc1 Qf8=

790
22...Qd8 23.Nxd5 Ndxc5 24.Ne7+
24.Nce3 Bxd5 25.Nxd5 Bd4 26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Rd1 Nd4 (27...Bf8 28.Qc2 Bg7=) 28.Nc3 Qf8
29.Ne4 b6=
24...Kh7 25.Nxc6?!
25.Ne3 Qe8 26.b4 axb4 27.Qxb4 Ra4 28.Qb1 Qd8 29.Rd1 Qa5 30.Nxc6 bxc6 31.Nc4 Qc3=
25...bxc6 26.b3?

26.Rd1 Na4 27.Ba3 Qxd2 28.Rxd2 Bxb2 29.Bxb2 Nxb2 30.Ne3 Rb8³
26...Ra7! 27.Bf4 Rd7 28.Qe3
28.Qc1 Bc3-+
28...Nd3 29.Bxd3 Rxd3 30.Qe4 Nxf4 31.Qxf4 Rd2-+
31...Rd1 32.Qe3 (32.Qxf7 Qd2-+) 32...Qd5 33.Na3 Qg5! 34.Qg1 Rd2-+
32.Ne3 Rxa2 33.Nc4 Qd3 34.h3 Qc2 35.Rg1 Qxb3 36.Ne5 Ra4 0-1

196. ***** !N E94

Nesterov, Arseniy (2531) - Basso, Pier Luigi (2583)
Bassano del Grappa 152/196, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Na6 8.Be3 Qe7 9.Qc2
9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nd5 Qd8 11.Qc2 c6 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.c5 Nc7 14.Rfd1 Qe7 15.h3 Be6 16.a4 Rfd8
17.Qc3 a6N (17...Bg7 18.Qb4 Rdb8 19.Rd6 Ne8 20.Rd2²) 18.Qb4 Ne8 19.Qb6 Qc7 20.Ng5?!
(20.a5 Qe7 (20...Qxb6 21.axb6±) 21.Rac1²) 20...Qxb6 21.cxb6 Bxg5 22.Bxg5 f6 23.Rxd8 Rxd8

791
24.Be3 Nd6∞ Kantor,G (2587)-Dalaud,D (2293) Terme Catez 152/(196) 2022
9...exd4
9...c6 - 62/603
10.Nxd4 c6 - 152/196
10...Nb4N 11.Qd2 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Qxe4 13.Bf3 Qh4 14.Nb5 Na6 15.Nxa7?! (15.Rac1 h6 16.Rfd1
Rd8 17.b4²) 15...Be5 16.g3 Qf6 17.Nxc8 Qxf3 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Nd5 c6 20.Nc3 Nc5∞
Budisavljevic,L (2509)-Chatalbashev,B (2539) Zagnansk 152/(196) 2022
11.Rfe1
11.Rad1 Re8 12.f3 d5 13.cxd5

13...Nb4! 14.Qd2 Nbxd5 (14...Nfxd5?! 15.Bf2 Nc7 16.a3 Nba6 17.f4±) 15.Bf2 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nd7
17.Rfe1N (17.Qc2 Nc5 18.a4 Bd7 19.Rfe1 Rab8 20.Ra1 b6=) 17...Nc5 18.Bf1 Qc7 19.e5 Ne6=
20.f4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 (21.cxd4 Be6=) 21...Be6 22.Bc4 1/2 (22) Yilmaz,M (2624) -Saric,I (2687)
Terme Catez 152/(196) 2022
11...Re8 12.f3

792
12...d5!N
12...Nc5
13.cxd5 Nb4!N
13...cxd5 - 152/(196) 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.exd5 Qd6 16.Rad1 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Bc4 Qa5 19.Qb3
Bxd4 20.Bxf7+ Kf8 21.Bxe8 Rxe8 22.Kh1 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Qb4 24.Qd3 Nc7 25.Rxe8+ Bxe8 26.Qd8
Ne6 27.Qf6+ Bf7 28.h3 Qe7 29.Qh8+ Bg8 30.Qe5 a6 31.Qb8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ Kf8 33.Qb8+ Kg7
34.a3 Nf8 35.Rd4 Bf7 36.Re4 Ne6 37.Qc8 h5 38.b4 1/ 2 (38) Atkins,A-Jones,C corr 152/(196) 2021
13...Nxd5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Nc6 Qd7 17.Rad1 Bb7 18.exd5²
14.Qd2 - 152/196
14.Qb3N Nbxd5 15.Bf2 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Nd7 17.a4 Nc5 18.Qa3 Bf8 19.a5 Qf6 20.Qb2 h5 21.Rad1
h4 22.Qc1 Kh7 23.Bc4² Aronian,L (2765)-Rapport,R (2776) Warzsawa (blitz) 152/(196) 2022
14...Nbxd5
14...Nfxd5!? 15.Bf2 (15.Bh6 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 c5 18.cxb4 cxd4 19.Qd2 Rd8 20.Rac1
Be6∞) 15...Nxc3 (15...Nc7 16.a3 Nba6 17.Rad1²) 16.bxc3 c5 17.Nb3 Rd8 18.Qc1 Nc6 19.Nxc5 b6
20.Nb3 Be6 21.Qe3²
15.Bh6
15.exd5 Qxe3+ 16.Qxe3 Rxe3 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Nxc6 Bd7 19.Bb5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Kf8©; 15.Bf2
Nxc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.Nc2 Be6=; 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bf2 (16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Qe5 18.Rad1 Nf4
19.Bc4 Be6=) 16...Nc7 17.Rad1 Ne6=
15...Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Qc5= 18.Qd2 Be6 19.Qb2 Rab8= 20.Qb4 Qe5 1/2-1/2

793
 197. E94
Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son (2641) - Priasmoro, Novendra (2501)
Ha Long 152/197, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Na6 8.Be3 c6 9.dxe5 dxe5

10.c5!
10.Qxd8 - 141/197
10...Ng4 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bxa6 bxa6 13.Qb3+
13.Bd2
13...Kh8 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Bc1 Qxc5N
15...Be6 16.Qa3 Qb7 17.Nd2²
16.h3 Nh6 17.Be3 Qe7 18.Qc4
18.Na4 Re8 19.Qc2 f5 20.Rfe1 Nf7 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Nc5±
18...Re8 19.Qxc6 Bb7 20.Qa4 Red8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Rd1
22.Nd2 f5 23.Qa5±
22...Rxd1+ 23.Qxd1 Nf7 24.Bxa7 Bxe4 25.Nxe4 Qxa7 26.Qd5± h6 27.Qe6 Qc7 28.g3 f5 29.Nf6
29.Nc3 Kh7 30.Nd5 Qc1+ 31.Kg2 e4 32.Nd4 Ng5 33.Qd7±; 29.Nh4 fxe4 30.Nxg6+ Kh7 31.Ne7
e3 32.Qxf7 exf2+ 33.Kxf2 Qc2+ 34.Kf3 Qd1+ 35.Kg2 Qe2+ 36.Qf2±
29...Bxf6 30.Qxf6+ Kh7

794
31.Nh4! Nh8 32.Qxa6 f4 33.gxf4 Qc1+ 34.Kg2 Qxf4 35.Qb7+ Nf7 36.Qf3
36.Nf3 e4 37.Nd2 Qg5+ 38.Kf1+-
36...Qg5+ 37.Qg4 Qf6 38.a4+- h5 39.Qf3 Qe6 40.a5 Ng5 41.Qg3 Kh6 42.Kh2 e4 43.b4 Qc6
44.Qe3 Qc8 45.Kg2 Qc4 46.b5
46.Nf5+ gxf5 47.h4
46...Qxb5 47.Qb6 Qe8 48.Nf5+ Kh7 49.Qc7+ 1-0

198. * E95
Anton Guijarro, David (2694) - Kadric, Denis (2573)
Terme Catez 152/198, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 c5 10.Nd2
Kh8
10...Ne8 - 52/645
11.Kh1 - 152/198
11.g4N Ng8 12.Nf3 Nb6! 13.h3 (13.Ne1 f5 14.f3 f4 15.Bf2 h5 16.h3 Nh6 17.Kg2 Bf6³) 13...f5
14.gxf5 gxf5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Ng5 Bh6 17.Qd2 Qd7 18.Kh1? (18.f3 Bxh3 19.Rf2 Nf6³) 18...Bxg5
19.Bxg5 Bxh3? (19...h6! 20.Be3 (20.Bxh6 Qh7! 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Qe3 Bxh3-+; 20.Bh4 Bxh3
21.Rg1 Rf4 22.Bg3 Nxc4-+) 20...Nxc4! 21.Bxc4 Bd3! 22.Qxd3 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg4+ 24.Kh2 Rf3-
+) 20.Rg1 Rxf2 21.Qe3∞ So,W (2778)-Tabatabaei,M (2623) Berlin (m/4-playoff-rapid) 152/(198)
2022
11...Ng8 12.g3 f5N

795
12...Nh6
13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 e4 15.g4
15.Rg1 Bxc3! 16.bxc3 Ndf6 17.a4 Ng4 18.Nf1 Qf6∞
15...Bd4 16.Bxd4+
16.Bg1 fxg4 (16...a6 17.Rc1 Qe7 18.g5 h6 19.Nb3 Bxg1 20.Rxg1 hxg5 21.Rxg5 Ndf6∞) 17.Bxd4+
cxd4 18.Ncxe4 Ndf6 19.Ng5 Qe7 20.Bd3 b5!∞
16...cxd4

17.Ncxe4! fxe4
17...d3 18.Bxd3 fxe4 19.Nxe4 Ndf6 20.g5 (20.Nf2 b5! 21.b3 bxc4 22.bxc4 Qe7∞) 20...Nxe4
21.Bxe4 Ne7 22.Bxh7 Bf5 (22...Kxh7 23.Qh5+ Kg7 (23...Kg8? 24.g6+-) 24.Qh6+ Kf7 25.g6+
Nxg6 26.Qh7+ Kf6 27.f5 Bxf5 28.Rae1 Qe8 29.Re6+ Qxe6 30.dxe6 Rae8∞) 23.Bxf5 Nxf5 24.Re1
Qd7∞
18.Nxe4 Ndf6 19.Qxd4 Re8 20.Nc3 Qb6
20...Rxe2 21.Nxe2 Bxg4 22.Rae1²
21.Qxb6 axb6 22.f5 Ne4 23.Nb5
23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.f6™ Rxe2 25.f7 Bxg4 26.f8=Q Rxf8 27.Rxf8 Kg7 28.Rxg8+ Kxg8 29.Rg1 Re4
30.h3 Rxc4 31.hxg4 Kf7=
23...Re5 24.Nc7 Ra4
¹24...Rb8 25.Rf4 (25.Rae1 Ngf6µ) 25...Bd7 26.Ne6 Ngf6 27.Rg1 Rg8³

796
25.b3 Ra3

26.Nb5
26.Bd3! Ng5 (26...Nc5? 27.f6 Nxf6 28.Rxf6+-) 27.Nb5 Ra8 28.Nxd6±
26...Ra8 27.Nc7 Ra5?!
27...Rb8 28.Kg2 Ngf6 29.h3 Bd7∞
28.Bd3 Ngf6 29.Bxe4 Nxe4
29...Rxe4? 30.g5+-
30.Kg2 Kg8?
30...h5 31.h3 Bd7 32.Rfe1 b5! 33.cxb5 Bxb5! 34.b4 Ra3 35.Nxb5 Rg3+ 36.Kh2 hxg4 37.Nxd6
Rxh3+ 38.Kg2 Rg3+ 39.Kh2 Rh3+=
31.Rfe1 Rc5 32.Nb5+- Re8 33.Kf3 Ng5+ 34.Kf4 Rxe1 35.Rxe1 Nf7 36.Re8+ Kg7 37.g5 1-0

199. E97
Kunin, Vitaly L (2561) - Saric, Ivan (2665)
Oesterreich 152/199, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Nd4
9...Qxd1 - 112/(314)
10.Nxe5
10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Nd5 c6 12.e5 (12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.c5 Rd8 15.Bd3 Qg5 16.Rc1 Bh3
17.Qf3 Be6 18.a3 h5∞) 12...cxd5 13.Qxd4 dxc4 14.Qxd8 (14.Qh4 Be6 15.exf6 Bh8 16.Rfd1 Qb6

797
17.Rd2 Rad8∞) 14...Rxd8 15.exf6 h6 16.fxg7 hxg5 17.Bxc4 Bf5 18.Rfd1 g4=
10...Ne6 11.Qxd8
11.Bh4 Qxd1 12.Raxd1 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxe5 14.Be7 Nd4 (14...Bxb2 15.Bxf8 Kxf8©) 15.Bd3
(15.Rfe1 Re8 16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Rxe2 18.Bxd4 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Be6=) 15...f5! 16.Nc3 Rf7
17.Bg5 (17.Ba3 Be6 18.Rfe1 Bg7=) 17...Ne6=; 11.Bxf6 Qxf6

12.Nf3!? (12.Nd3 Qd4 (12...c6 13.e5 Qe7 14.f4 Rd8 15.Qe1 Nd4 16.Rd1 Bf5©) 13.Qa4 Ng5³)
12...c6 13.Re1 Ng5©
11...Rxd8 12.Nf3 Nxg5 13.Nxg5 h6N
13...Re8
14.Nf3 c6
14...Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nd7 17.Rfd1 Kf8©
15.Rad1 Re8 16.Nd2 Nd7© 17.Rfe1 Nc5 18.Rc1
18.Nb3 Nxe4 (18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxe4 20.Bf3 Bf5 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.f3 Bc2 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Rd7
Re3=) 19.Bf3 Nf6 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.Na5 Rb8∞; 18.f3 Bd4+ 19.Kf1 Be5©
18...a5 19.Bf1?
19.Nb3 Nxe4 (19...Nxb3 20.axb3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Rxe4 22.f3 Re7 23.Kf2=) 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.Rxe8+
Nxe8 22.Na4 Bf5=
19...a4 20.g3 g5
20...Rd8 21.Ndb1 (21.Red1 g5 22.Be2 Be6µ) 21...g5µ

798
21.Kg2
21.h3 Rd8 22.Nf3 g4 23.hxg4 Bxg4 24.Kg2 a3 25.b3 h5µ
21...Rd8 22.Red1 a3 23.bxa3
23.b3?! Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Nxe4 25.Rd3 Bh3+! 26.Kf3 Bg4+ 27.Kxe4 Bxd1-+
23...Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Nxe4 25.Rd3

25...Bh3+! 26.Kg1
26.Kxh3 Nxf2+-+; 26.Kf3 Bg4+!-+
26...Rxd3 27.Bxd3 Nc3 28.Re1 Rxa3 29.Bf1 Bf5 30.c5 Rxa2 31.Nc4 Be6
31...Ne4 32.Nd6 Nxd6 33.cxd6 Rd2 34.Re7 Rxd6 35.Rxb7 Rd1-+
32.Nd6 Rb2 33.f4 gxf4 34.gxf4 Rb4
34...Nb5 35.Bxb5 (35.Bc4 Bxc4 36.Nxc4 Rc2 37.Na5 Nd4-+) 35...cxb5 36.Nxb7 b4-+; 34...Na4!
35.Rc1 Rb4 36.f5 Bd5-+
35.f5 Bd5 36.Bd3 h5?
36...Kg7 37.Ne8+ Kf8 38.Nf6 h5! 39.Nxh5 (39.Rc1 Rb3µ) 39...Rd4 40.Bf1 Rg4+ 41.Kf2 Na4µ
37.h3?
37.f6! Be6 38.Ra1 Ra4 (38...Rg4+ 39.Kf2 Kh8 40.Ra8+ Rg8 41.Rxg8+ Kxg8 42.Nxb7 Nd5 43.Be4
Nxf6=) 39.Rxa4 Nxa4 40.Nxb7=
37...Kg7 38.Re7 Kf6 39.Rxb7 Rxb7

799
39...Rd4 40.Bc2 Na4 41.Bxa4 Rxa4-+
40.Nxb7 h4 41.Kf2 Ke5 42.Ke3 Ne4
42...Nd1+ 43.Ke2 Kd4 44.Bc2 Ne3-+
43.Bc2 f6 44.Ba4 Ng3 45.Na5 Nxf5+ 46.Kf2 Nd4-+ 47.Bd1 f5 48.Nb7 Ne6 49.Ba4 f4 50.Na5
Nd4 51.Bd1 f3 52.Ke3 Nf5+ 53.Kf2 Kf4 54.Ba4 Ng3 55.Bxc6 Ne4+ 56.Kf1 Bxc6 57.Nxc6 Ke3
58.Ne5 Ng3+ 59.Kg1 f2+ 0-1

200. !N E97
Babula, Vlastimil (2568) - Kozul, Zdenko (2619)
Deutschland 152/200, 2022

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 a5 10.Ba3
axb4 11.Bxb4 b6 12.a4 Ne8 13.Qb3 Kh8 14.Nb5
14.a5 - 88/(485)
14...f5 15.a5

15...c6!N
15...bxa5 16.Rxa5 Rxa5 17.Bxa5 fxe4 18.Nd2 Nf5 19.Nxe4²
16.dxc6 Nxc6 17.axb6 Rxa1 18.Rxa1 fxe4 19.Nd2 Bb7
¹19...Nxb4 20.Qxb4 e3 21.fxe3 Qxb6 22.Qa3 Bh6 23.Nf1 Bb7³
20.Rf1?!
20.Nf1 Nxb4 (20...Nd4 21.Qb2 Qxb6 22.Ne3 Bc6 23.Bf1 Qb8 24.Qa3 Nxb5 25.cxb5 Bxb5

800
26.Bxb5 Qxb5 27.Bxd6 Nxd6 28.Qxd6 Qb2 29.Rf1 Qd4=) 21.Qxb4 Qxb6 22.Ne3 h5 23.Qa5 Qxa5
24.Rxa5 Rf7∞
20...Nd4
20...Nxb4! 21.Qxb4 Qxb6 22.Qc3 Bc6 23.Nb3 h5µ
21.Nxd4 exd4 22.c5 d3
22...dxc5 23.Bxc5 Rf5 24.Qc4 (24.Qa3 Qd5 25.Rc1 d3 26.Bf1 Bh6 27.Be3 Bxe3 28.fxe3 Qa5
29.Qb2+ Qe5³) 24...Nd6 25.Qb4 e3 26.Bxd6 exd2 27.Rd1 Qg5 28.Bg3 Rxf2! 29.Bf1! (29.Kxf2
Qe3+ 30.Kf1 Bxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Qxe2+-+) 29...Rf6 30.Rxd2 Bf8 31.Qb2 Bc5 32.Bf2 Rxb6 33.Bxd4+
Qf6 34.Kh1 Bxd4 35.Qxd4=
23.Bd1 Nf6?!
23...Qg5 24.c6! Bxc6 25.Qc4 Bd5 26.Qb5 Be5 27.g3 Nf6 28.Bb3 Bxb3 29.b7 Rb8 30.Nxb3 Qg4
31.Qc6 e3! 32.Qc7 exf2+ 33.Rxf2 Rxb7 34.Qxb7 Qd1+ 35.Rf1 Qxb3=; 23...Bd4 24.Qc4 dxc5
25.Bxc5 Bxc5 26.Qxc5 Rf5 27.Qe3 Nf6 28.f3 Rb5 29.fxe4 Qxb6 30.Qxb6 Rxb6=
24.cxd6
24.Nc4

24...e3! 25.Nxe3 (25.fxe3 dxc5 26.Bc3 (26.Bxc5 Qd5 27.Bf3 Qxc5 28.Bxb7 Rb8 29.Bf3 Nd7 30.b7
Ne5∞) 26...Qe7 27.Bb2²) 25...dxc5 26.Bxc5 Re8 27.Ba3 Ne4 28.Bb2 Bxb2 29.Qxb2+ Qf6
30.Qxf6+ Nxf6 31.Bb3²
24...Bd5 25.Qa3 Qxb6 26.Bc5 Qb7 27.Bb3
27.Ba4 e3 28.fxe3 Bxg2 29.Rf2 Bh3 30.Bd4 Qd5∞

801
27...Ra8 28.Bxd5 Qxd5
28...Nxd5 29.d7 Bf6 30.d8=Q+ Bxd8 31.Bd4+ Bf6 32.Qc5 Rc8 33.Bxf6+ Nxf6 34.Qd4 Qc6
35.Nxe4 Qxe4 36.Qxf6+ Kg8 37.Qd6=
29.Qb4 Kg8 30.Re1 Rd8 31.h3 Bf8 32.Qc3
32.Qd4 Qxd4 33.Bxd4 Ne8 34.Bc5 Nxd6 35.Bxd6 Bxd6 36.Nxe4=
32...Bxd6 33.Bd4 Nh5
33...Bh2+ 34.Kxh2 Qxd4 35.Qxd4 Rxd4 36.f3 exf3 37.Nxf3 Rd8 38.Kg3 Nd5 39.Nd2 Nc3 40.Re7
Ne2+ 41.Kf2=
34.Rxe4 Nf4 35.Kf1 Bb8 36.Be3 Ne2 37.Qc4 Qxc4 38.Rxc4 Be5 39.g3 Nc3 40.Nf3 Bg7 41.Ke1
Nd5 42.Kd2 Rf8 43.Nd4
43.Ne1 Nxe3 44.fxe3 Rf1 45.Nxd3 Rf3 46.Rc8+ Kf7 47.Rc7+ Kg8=
43...Nxe3 44.fxe3 Be5 45.g4 Bxd4 46.exd4 Rf3 47.d5 Kf7 48.Re4 Rxh3 49.d6 Rh2+ 50.Kxd3
Rh1= 51.Kc4 Rd1 52.Kc5 h6 53.Kc6 Kf6 54.d7 Rc1+ 55.Kb7 Rd1 56.Kc7 Rc1+ 57.Kd8 Rd1
58.Ke8 h5 59.d8=Q+ Rxd8+ 60.Kxd8 Kg5! 61.gxh5 gxh5 62.Ke7 h4 63.Rxh4 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

201. * E99
Yunusov, Adkham (2463) - Schaefer, Uwe (2460)
corr 152/201, 2022

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5
11.Nd3 Nf6
11...f4 12.b4 g5 13.a4 h5 14.c5 Nf6 15.a5 - 11...Nf6 (15.Ra3 Kh8 16.a5 Rg8 17.b5 Ng6 18.c6 g4
19.fxg4 Bh6 20.Nf2 Nh4=)
12.a4
12.c5
12...f4 13.b4 g5 14.c5 h5 15.a5
15.Nf2 Kh8 16.a5 Ng6 17.a6 (17.Kh1 Bh6 (17...Rf7 18.Bd2 (18.a6 b6 19.Nb5 Bh6 20.Bd2 Rg7
21.Ra3 Rh7 22.Be1 Bf8 23.cxb6 cxb6²) 18...Bh6 19.a6 b6 20.Nb5 Rh7 21.Ra3 Bf8 22.cxb6 cxb6
23.g3 Bd7±) 18.a6 bxa6 19.Bxa6 g4 20.Nb5 Qd7 21.Qe2 Nh4 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Bxc8 Rfxc8
24.Nxd6 Qxd6 25.Ra6 Qf8 26.Bb2 Bg7∞) 17...bxa6 18.Bxa6 (18.c6 - 150/200) 18...g4 19.Bxc8N
(19.Kh1 Nh4 20.Nb5 Qd7=) 19...Qxc8 20.Nd3 (20.Kh1 Nh4 21.Nd3 gxf3 22.gxf3 Nh7 23.Ne2
Bf6 24.Ng1±) 20...Bh6 21.Kh1 Rg8 22.Rf2 Nh4 23.Qf1 Rg7 24.b5 gxf3 25.gxf3 Ng4 26.fxg4 hxg4
27.Ne2 (27.Ne1 g3 28.hxg3 fxg3 29.Bxh6 g2+ 30.Nxg2 Qh3+ 31.Kg1 Rg3 32.Raa2 Rag8 33.Nd1
Rf3 34.Bc1 Nxg2 35.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 36.Rxg2 Rg3 37.cxd6 cxd6 38.Bg5 Rg4 39.Rf2²) 27...Qe8 28.b6
(28.cxd6 cxd6 29.b6=) 28...axb6 29.Rxa8 Qxa8 30.cxb6 cxb6

802
31.Nexf4!? exf4 32.Bb2 Qa4 33.Nxf4 Qxe4+ 34.Ng2 Qxd5 35.Rf6 Kg8 36.Rf8+ Kh7 37.Bxg7
Bxg7 38.Rf4 Nxg2 1/2 (38) Mayer,R-Dronov,A corr 152/(201) 2020
15...Ng6 16.Nf2 Rf7 17.c6 Bh6

17...Bf8 - 108/301
18.b5
18.Bd2 Rg7 19.cxb7 Bxb7 20.Rc1 Bc8 21.h3 Nh4 22.Nb5 a6 23.Na3 Qe8 24.b5∞
18...Rg7 19.Kh1 Ne7N

803
19...Kh8 20.g4 fxg3 21.hxg3 bxc6 22.dxc6 Be6 23.Nd5 Nf4 24.Bc4 N6xd5 25.Bxd5 Qf6 (25...Qe7
26.Ra3±) 26.Ra2 g4 27.Nxg4 hxg4 28.Rh2 Bxd5 29.exd5 Kg8 30.fxg4 Rf8 31.gxf4 Bxf4±
20.g3± bxc6
20...Ng6 21.Rg1 Kh7 22.Qc2 Kh8 23.Bd2 Qe8 24.gxf4 gxf4 25.Rab1 Qd8+-
21.dxc6
21.gxf4 gxf4 22.dxc6 Bg5 23.Rg1 Be6 24.Qf1 Bh4 25.Bd2 Qc8 26.Rc1 Rxg1+ 27.Qxg1+ Kh7
28.Nd3 Qh8 29.Rb1 Qf8 30.Be1 Bxe1 31.Qxe1 Qh6 32.Qh4 Rg8 33.Rg1 Rxg1+ 34.Kxg1 Qg7+
35.Kf1+-
21...a6
21...Be6 22.Rg1 Qf8 23.gxf4 gxf4 24.Ba3 Kh8 25.Qd3 Qf7 26.Rxg7 Bxg7 27.Qc2 Rg8 28.Rg1+-;
21...Kh8 22.gxf4 gxf4 23.Rg1 Bg5 24.Ba3 Be6 25.Nd3 Qc8 26.Nb4+-
22.gxf4 gxf4 23.Rg1 axb5 24.Bxb5 Bg5 25.Qf1
25.a6 Qe8 26.Bd2 Kh7 27.Qf1 Bh4+-
25...Be6
25...Kh8 26.Bd2 Be6 27.a6 Qg8 28.Be1 Bh4 29.Rxg7 Kxg7 30.Qg1+ Ng6+-
26.Nh3 Bh6 27.Rxg7+
27.a6 Qc8 28.Nf2 Rxg1+ 29.Qxg1+ Kh8 30.Bd2 Bg7 31.Nd3 Qg8 32.a7 h4+-
27...Kxg7
27...Bxg7? 28.Ng5 Bf7 29.Bc4+-
28.Bd2 Qf8

28...Qe8 29.a6 Qf7 30.Ng1 Ng4 31.fxg4 hxg4 32.Be2 Kh7+-

29.Be1
29.a6 Kh8 30.Nf2 Qf7 31.Nd3 Ng4 32.Qe2 Ne3 33.Nb4 Rg8 34.Rg1 Rxg1+ 35.Kxg1 Nc8+-
29...Qf7
29...Ng4 30.fxg4 hxg4 31.Nf2 Qf6 32.Bc4 Bxc4 33.Qxc4 Qg6 34.a6 f3 35.Nd3 Be3 36.Bg3+-
30.Bh4 Ng4 31.fxg4 hxg4 32.Bxe7
32.Ng5?? Bxg5 33.Bxg5 Rh8µ; 32.a6 gxh3 33.Qf3 Kh7 34.Rg1 Ng6 35.Bf2 Ne7 36.a7 Rf8 37.Bf1
Nxc6 38.Bxh3 Nxa7 39.Bxa7 Rg8 40.Ra1 Bxh3 41.Qxh3 Rg7+-
32...Qxe7 33.Nd5 Qf7 34.Qg2 Kh8 35.Nf2 g3 36.Nh3+-

804
36.hxg3? fxg3 37.Nh3 (37.Qxg3?? Rg8-+) 37...Qh5=
36...Rg8 37.Be2 gxh2 38.Qf3 Bxd5
38...Rg3? 39.Qh5 Qxh5 40.Bxh5 Bxh3 41.Kxh2+-
39.exd5 Rg3

40.a6! Rxf3 41.Bxf3 Qg8 42.a7 Qa8 43.Nf2! e4 44.Nxe4

44.Bxe4? Bg7 45.Ra3 Bd4µ
44...Bg7 45.Ra4 1-0

805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
CLASSIFICATION

I – Combinations with mating attack

II – Combinations to reach the draw
III – Other combinations

1. Keymer, Vincent (2664) - Giri, Anish (2772)

chess24.com (Internet-rapid), 2022
Ia

1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Rxf7! Kxf7 2.Rf1+ Nf5 3.Rxf5+ Kg8 4.Ng6! Bxc4 5.Qxc4+ Kh7 6.Qf7 Be7 7.b4
7.Nf4 Kh8 8.Qg6 Bf8 9.b4 Re7 10.d5+-
7...Qd8 8.Ne5 Rf8 9.Qg6+ Kg8 10.Nf7+- Qe8 11.Nxh6+ Kh8 12.Nf7+ Kg8 13.Rh5 Rxf7

814
14.Qh7+ 1-0

2. Cordova, Emilio (2534) - Mareco, Sandro (2643)

Mexico City, 2022
Id

1...? µ

Show/Hide Solution

1...Bg4! 2.f3
2.Bxg4? Qe1#; 2.Bf1 Qxe4 3.Qxb6 Qxd5µ
2...Qe1+ 3.Bf1 Qxe3+ 4.Nf2 Bxf3?
4...Ng5! 5.Qb8 Bxf3 6.gxf3 h3 7.Qg3 Nxf3+ 8.Kh1 Qe1! 9.Qxh3 Qxf2 10.Qg2 Qe3 11.d6 Ne5µ
5.d6?
5.gxf3! Ng5 6.f4 Nf3+ (6...Qxf4 7.Be2 Qc1+ 8.Nd1 Nh3+ 9.Kg2 Nf4+ 10.Kf2 Nxe2 11.Kxe2
Qc2+ 12.Ke1 Qe4+ 13.Kd2 Qd4+ 14.Ke2 Qg4+=) 7.Kg2 Ne1+ 8.Kg1 Nf3+ 9.Kg2 Ne1+ 10.Kg1
Nf3+=
5...Ng5! 6.Qc8 h3!-+ 7.d7 hxg2 8.Bxg2 Qe1+ 9.Bf1 Be2 10.Qc3+ Qxc3 11.d8=Q Qe1 12.Qd4+
Kg8 13.Qd8+ Kh7

3. Ju, Wenjun (2560) - Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2723)

815
 chess24.com (Internet-rapid), 2022
Ig

1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Bxg3! 2.fxg3
2.Rxg3 Rxg3+ 3.fxg3 Rxf1+! 4.Kxf1 Ne3+-+
2...Rxf1+! 3.Kxf1 Qh1+ 4.Ke2 Qe4+ 5.Kf1 Rxd3-+ 6.Qe2
6.Kg1 Qxd4+ 7.Kh1 Qxa1-+
6...Qh1+ 7.Kf2 Qh2+ 8.Kf1 Ne3+ 0-1

4. Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2723) - Le, Quang Liem (2709)

chess24.com (Internet-rapid), 2022
Ig

816
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Nxh3+! 2.gxh3 Qg5+ 3.Kh1 Rxf2 4.Re2

4.Nxe6 Qg3-+
4...Raf8
4...Bg4? 5.Qc1 Qxc1 6.Rxc1 Bxe2 7.Bxe2 Re8 8.Kg1 Rf4 9.e6²
5.Rxf2 Rxf2 6.Qe1 e3-+
6...Qg3 7.Qxf2 Qxf2 8.Nxe6 Qg3 9.Nd4 Qxe5µ
7.Nxe6 Qg3 8.Qxf2 exf2 9.Bg2 Qxe5 10.Rf1 Qxe6 11.Rxf2 h5 12.Rf1 Kh7 13.a5 Qe2 14.b4 b6
15.axb6 axb6 16.Rf3 Kh6 17.Kh2 Qe5+ 18.Kh1 d4 19.cxd4 Qxd4 20.b5 Qd5 21.Rc3 Qxb5 22.Rc6
Qb4 23.Bf3 b5 24.Kg2 Kg5 25.Re6 Qc3 26.Re4 Kf5 27.h4 g5 28.hxg5 Kxg5 29.Re7 b4 30.Rb7
Kh4 31.Re7 g5 0-1

5. Mishra, Abhimanyu (2510) - Hilby, Craig (2434)

Charlotte, 2022
Ig

817
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Nf5!
1.Nd5 exd5 2.exd5+ Kd8 3.Bc3 h6∞ (3...cxb3?! 4.Nc6+ Bxc6 5.dxc6 b2 6.Qe3 Qxc6 7.Ba5+ Rc7
8.Rab1 Qc5 9.Bxc7+ Kxc7 10.Qb3±)
1...exf5 2.Nd5 Qa5
2...Nxd5 3.exd5+ Be6 (3...Kd8 4.Qg5++-) 4.bxc4+-
3.Nxf6+ Kd8
3...gxf6 4.exf5+ Kd8 5.Bxf6+ Kc7 6.Bxh8+-
4.bxc4+-
4.Nd5 f6 5.Bc3+-
4...f4 5.Qxf4 Be7 6.Nxd7 Kxd7 7.e5 1-0

6. Blagojevic, Tijana (2260) - Radosavljevic, Slobodan (2083)

Srbija, 2022
III a

818
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Rhe1!±
1.Bxf7+ Rxf7 2.Rhe1 (2.Nc3 Nb6³) 2...bxa4 3.Re6 Qg7 4.h6 Qf8 5.Nxc6 Bb7 6.Qxg5+ Kh8 7.Ne7
Nc5 8.Re5 f4∞
1...Ne5
1...bxc4 2.Re6 Qd8 (2...Qh8 3.Nxf5+-) 3.Nxc6 Qc7 4.Nc3 Qf4 5.Qc2 Nde5 6.Nd5 Qh4 7.Qxf5+-
2.Bxf7+ Nxf7
2...Rxf7 3.Nc5 f4 4.Ne4 Bf5 5.Nxf5 Qxf5 6.Qc3±
3.Nc5 Rd8 4.Qc3 a5 5.Nce6 Bxe6 6.Rxe6 Rxd4 7.Rxf6 Rxd1+ 8.Kc2+- Rad8 9.h6 b4 10.Rg6+!
Kf8 11.Qg7+
11.Qg7+ Ke7 12.Qf6+ Kf8 13.Rg8+! Kxg8 14.Qg7#
1-0

7. Kovalenko, Igor (2674) - Matlakov, Maxim (2674)

chess.com (Internet-rapid), 2022
III c

819
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Nxf7!
1.Rd1 Qxe5 2.Qxe5 Bxe5 3.Rxd5 Rxd5 4.Bxd5 b5 5.axb5 axb5 6.Kf1=
1...Qxf7 2.Re8+!+- Rxe8 3.Bxd5 Qxd5 4.Qxd5+ Kh8 5.Qc6 Re1+ 6.Kh2 Re2 7.Qxb6 Rxf2 8.Qxa6
g4 9.Qc8+ Kh7 10.Qxc5 1-0

8. Flom, Gabriel (2469) - Smirin, Ilia (2614)

Israel, 2022
III d

820
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Rxh3+!
1...Nd4? 2.Qxg7+ Kxg7 3.Rc3 Nxc2 4.Rxc2 Rxh3+ 5.Kg2 Rd3 6.d7 Bxd7 7.cxd7 Rxd7=
2.Kg2
2.Kxh3 Nf4+-+
2...Rxf3 3.Qxg7+
3.Qxf3 Nf4+ 4.Kf1 Bh3+ 5.Ke1 Qa1+ 6.Kd2 Qd4+-+
3...Kxg7 4.Kxf3 Nd4+-+ 5.Kg3 Nxc6 0-1

9. Paichadze, Luka (2566) - Kacharava, Nikolozi (2480)

Georgia (ch), 2022
III h

821
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Rxc4! 2.Qe4
2.Rxc4 Qxd5-+
2...Rxc1
2...Nxd5-+
3.Rxc1 Nxd5 4.Ba1 Qf5 5.Qd4 f6 6.Rd1 Nf4
6...Rc8 7.a4 Rc2-+
7.Qe3 e5 8.Rxd6 Qb1+ 9.Kh2 Qxa2
9...Qxa1? 10.Qb3+ Kh8 11.Rd1 Qxd1 12.Qxd1±
10.Bc3 Qc4 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.Qc5 Qxc5 13.bxc5 Rc8 14.Be3 Rc7 15.Rxf6 Rc6 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Kg3
Nd5
17...a5 18.Kf3 Kf7 19.g3 Nd5-+
18.Bd2 Kf7 19.Kh4 Nf4 20.Bc3 Kf6 21.g3 Ne2 22.Ba5 Nd4 23.g4 Nb3 24.Bb4 a5 25.Bc3 a4
26.f4 a3 27.fxe5+ Ke6 28.Kg5 Nxc5 29.Kh6 Ne4 30.Ba1 c5 31.h4 c4 0-1

822
823
824
 1. Lei, Tingjie (2535) - Navara, David (2700)
chess24.com (Internet-rapid), 2022
§ 1/a3

1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Kc3!!
1...c5? 2.Kb2 Kd3 3.Kc1=
2.Ka4 h5 3.Ka5 c5-+ 4.Kb5 c4 5.a4 Kd4!
5...Kd3? 6.a5 c3 7.a6 c2 8.a7 c1=Q 9.a8=Q Qb1+ (9...Qc4+ 10.Kb6=) 10.Kc5=
6.a5 c3 7.a6 c2 8.a7 c1=Q 9.a8=Q Qc4+
9...Qb2+ 10.Ka6 Qa3+-+ - 9...Qc4
10.Kb6 Qc5+ 11.Ka6
11.Kb7 Qd5+-+
11...Qa3+ 12.Kb7 Qxa8+ 13.Kxa8 Ke4 14.Kb7 Kf4 15.Kc6 Kg3 0-1

2. Thybo, Jesper Sondergaard (2590) - Ragger, Markus (2647)

Deutschland, 2022

825
 NB 2/d

1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...b3! 2.axb3
2.a3 Nxe4 3.g7 Nf6+ 4.Kg6 Ng8 5.Kf7 Nh6+ 6.Kf8 Kd6 7.g8=Q Nxg8 8.Kxg8 Kd5 9.Nb2 Kd4
10.Nxa4 Kd3 11.Kf7 Kc2 12.Ke6 Kb1! 13.Nb6 Ka2 14.Nc4 b2 15.Nxb2 Kxa3=
2...a3!
2...axb3 3.g7 Ne8 4.Kg6+-
3.Nb4 Nxe4 4.g7 Nf6+ 5.Kg6 Ng8 6.Kf7 Nh6+ 7.Kg6 Ng8 8.Kf7 Nh6+ 9.Ke6 Ng8 10.Nd5+
Kc6 11.Nc3 Kc5 12.Na2 Nh6 13.Kd7 Kb6
13...Ng8 14.b4+ Kc4=
14.b4 Kb5 15.Kc7 Ng8 16.Kd6 Nh6
16...Kc4 17.Ke5 Ne7=
17.Ke6 Kc4 18.Ke5 Kb5 19.Ke4
19.Kd5 - 19.Ke4
19...Kc4 20.Kf4 Kb5 21.Kg5 Ng8 22.Kg6 Kc4 23.Kf7 Nh6+ 24.Ke6 Kb5 25.Kd7 Ng8 26.Kd6
Nh6 27.Ke5 Kc4 28.Ke6 Kb5 29.Kd5 Nf5!

826
29...Ng8? 30.Kd4 Kc6 31.Kc4+-
30.g8=N Ne3+ 31.Kd4 Nc2+ 32.Kc3 Nxb4 33.Nxb4 a2 34.Nxa2 Kc5 35.Nf6 Kd6 1/2-1/2

3. Estrada Nieto, Julian (2253) - Flores Irurso, Paul Josue (1912)

Mexico City, 2022
NB 7/f

1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.Bb1!
1.Bc2 Kc4 2.Bb1 Kc5=
1...Bc8
1...Kc4 2.Ba2+ Kc5 3.Bd5+-; 1...Kd4 2.Kb5 Kc3 3.Kc5 Kb2 4.Bd3 Kc3 5.Bc4 Bxe4 6.Bd5+-
2.Ba2 Bb7 3.Bd5+- Bxd5 4.exd5 Kxd5 5.b7 Ke4 6.b8=Q Kxf5 7.Kb4 Kf4 8.Kc3 1-0

4. Kaczur, Florian (2475) - Lodici, Lorenzo (2545)

Italia, 2022
R 6/b

827
1...? =

Show/Hide Solution

1...Kd7! 2.Re2
2.Rf2 Ke8 3.Rf5 Rg6 4.Rxc5 Rxf6=
2...Rg6! 3.Re7+ Kd6 4.Ra7 Rxf6 5.Rxa6+ Ke5 6.Rxf6 Kxf6 7.Kg4 Ke5 8.a4 Kd5= 9.Kf3 c4
10.bxc4+
10.b4 c3 11.Ke2 Kc4 12.b5 Kb3 13.b6 c2 14.b7 c1=Q 15.b8=Q+ Kxa4=
10...Kxc4 11.a5 Kb5 12.Kf2 Kxa5 1/2-1/2

5. Shomoev, Anton (2578) - Maiorov, Nikita (2456)

Chelyabinsk, 2022
R 6/e

828
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.a4!
1.Ra6 Rb8 2.Ra7! (2.Kg3? Rb7=) 2...Rf8 3.a4 - 1.a4
1...Ke6 2.Rb7 b5 3.axb5 cxb5 4.Rxb5+- Rc8 5.Kf3 f6 6.Kf4 Kf7 7.gxf6 Kxf6 8.Rb6+ Kf7 9.Kf5
Rc7 10.b3
10.f4 Rd7 11.Rc6 Rd5+ 12.Ke4 Rd4+ 13.Ke5+-
10...c4 11.b4 c3 12.f4 h4 13.Kg5 Re7 14.Rc6 Re3 15.Rc7+ Kg8 16.b5 Kh7 17.b6 Re6 18.b7 Rb6
19.Kxh4 Rb2 20.Kg5 Rxc2 1-0

6. Shubin, Kirill (2472) - Artemiev, Vladislav (2700)

Russia, 2022
R 6/i

829
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...a4! 2.Rxc4
2.Ra6 Re5! 3.Ke3 c3 4.Rxa4 Rc5 5.Ra1 Ke6 6.Rc1 c2 7.Kd2 Ke5-+
2...Ra5 3.Kc2 Kd6 4.Kb2 a3+ 5.Ka2 Ra7 6.Rd4+ Ke5 7.Rc4 f6 8.Rb4 Ra6 9.Rc4 Kf4 10.Rb4 Kf3
11.Rd4 Ke3 12.Rc4 Re6-+ 13.Rc3+ Kxe4 14.Kxa3 Rb6 15.Rc4+ Ke3 16.Rc3+ Kd4 17.Rf3 Ke4
18.Rf1 f5 19.Re1+ Kd3 20.Rf1 Rf6 21.Kb2 f4 0-1

7. Quesada Perez, Yasser (2579) - Albornoz Cabrera, Carlos Daniel (2574)

La Habana, 2022
R 7/a

830
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Rg3!
1...Kxh4? 2.Ke3! g5 3.Kf2 Rc1 4.Rb6=
2.Rf8 Kxh4 3.Ke4 g5 4.Rg8 Kg4 5.Rg7 Ra3 6.Rg8 Kh4 7.Kf5 Rf3+ 8.Ke4 g4 9.Rg7 Kh3 10.Rg8
Rf2
10...Ra3 11.Kf4 g3-+
11.Ke3 g3 12.Rg7 Kh2 13.Rg8 Rf7 14.Ke2 g2 15.Rh8+ Kg1 16.Ra8 Rh7 17.Kf3 Kh1 0-1

8. Gupta, Abhijeet (2616) - Jarmula, Lukasz (2434)

Reykjavik, 2022
R 7/h

831
1...? –+

Show/Hide Solution

1...Kg5!
1...Kf5? 2.Rxa6 Rxe3 3.h4! Kg4 4.Rf6 Rf3 5.Rxf3 exf3+ 6.Kf2 Kxh4 7.Kxf3 Kg5 8.a4 bxa4 9.b5 a3
10.b6 a2 11.b7 a1=Q 12.b8=Q=
2.Rxa6
2.Rc7 Kg4 (2...f5? 3.Rg7+ Kh4 (3...Kf6? 4.Rg3! Rxg3+ 5.Kxg3+-) 4.Rh7+ Kg5 5.Rg7+ Kh4=)
3.Rd7 Rxe3 4.Rxf7 Rxa3-+
2...f5
2...Rxe3 3.Ra5 f5 4.Rxb5 Rxa3-+ - 2.. .f5
3.Rb6 Rxe3 4.Rxb5 Rxa3-+ 5.Rb8 Ra2+ 6.Kh3 Kf4 7.b5 Kf3 8.b6 Rb2 9.Kh4 f4 0-1

9. L'Ami, Erwin - Zhu, Jiner (2478)

Wijk aan Zee II, 2022
Q 8/f

832
1.? +–

Show/Hide Solution

1.h5!
1.Qe2 h5!=
1...Qc5
1...gxh5 2.Nh4 Qc5 3.Nf5+ Kf8 4.Qe2+-
2.Qe2 g5 3.Nh2+- f5
3...Ba7 4.Nf1 Qc6 5.g4 Bb6 6.Ng3 Kg8 7.Qd1 Bd4 8.Qd3+-
4.exf5 Qd5+ 5.f3 Qd4 6.Kh3 Qa1 7.Qc4 1-0

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Table of Contents
Back Cover 4
Title page 5
System of Signs 7
The Best Game of the Preceding Volume 9
The Most Important Theoretical Novelty of the Preceding Volume 11
THE AMERICAN CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP GM Rafael Leitão 19
FIDE GRAND PRIX 2022 – BEOGRAD IM Goran Arsović 48
FIDE GRAND PRIX 2022 – BERLIN GM Elshan Moradiabadi 75
DEVILRY IN DAVENTRY GM Daniel Gormally 92
THE SCANDINAVIAN – Part II GM Nigel Davies 120
THE ALAPIN SICILIAN GM Miloš Perunović 138
THE SCOTCH GAME GM Krisztián Szabó 147
THE PILLSBURY ATTACK GM Sabina-Francesca Foişor 163
NIMZOWITSCH'S LEGACY – The Immobile Double Pawns GM Michael
194
Prusikin
ROGERS’ REMINISCENCES – Balatonberény 1983 GM Ian Rogers 210
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES – Part IV GM Marian Petrov 228
FROM THE CHESS INFORMANT ARCHIVES Douglas Griffin 243
Classification of Openings 251
A00-A24 252
A25-A49 293
A50-A99 323
B00-B24 331
B25-B49 357
B50-B74 407
B75-B99 440
C00-C24 516
C25-C49 523
C50-C74 557
C75-C99 614
D00-D24 647

844
D25-D49 663
D50-D74 687
D75-D99 691
E00-E24 713
E25-E49 756
E50-E74 762
E75-E99 783
Index 806
COMBINATIONS IM Goran Arsović 814
ENDINGS IM Goran Arsović 823
TOURNAMENTS 834

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