TATA Steel Masters 2024 Round 3: The Importance of Piece Placement

Overview

Black is having a heyday in Round 3 of the TATA Steel Masters 2024, with 4 "0-1" results this round. The participants are combative as ever, with a tactical slugfest in Maghsoodloo vs Abdusatturov (0-1) and a explosive Italian in Gukesh vs Ding (0-1). Giri takes co-lead alongside Firouzja with 2.5/3, courtesy of his fine win over Donchenko (who is featured for the third time consecutively! see 1st & 2nd times).

Today's catchline is "Better placed pieces win games".

In Ju Wenjun vs Van Foreest, Black's pieces emerged from a tactical skirmish better positioned. The immediate threats posed by the 2 powerful bishops forced Ju Wenjun into making material concessions, and ultimately a game-ending blunder.

On Board 2's Donchenko vs Giri, Black came prepared with an uncommon variation in the Indian game. With greater familiarity in the position, Giri equalised easily into a seemingly innocuous position. However, his better placed pieces allowed for faster and more coherent play, with the full point secured on move 41.

Analysis: Board 1: Ju (2549) - Van Foreest (2682)

The complications start at move 23 but I suggest playing through the game in entirety. Not just because I've annotated the entire game :)

Jorden's play was not showstopping. However, the game is nonetheless instructive as it illustrates how Ju's inability to improve her position handed Jorden the full point. Still, she put up an impressive tussle steeped in explosive tactics.

Analysis: Board 2: Donchenko (2643) - Giri (2749)

I'll leave the opening developments by Giri to the opening aficionados and delve straight into the critical middlegame complications.

Giri's play was almost effortless. The small but consistent improvements eventually snowball into an unstoppable avalanche. Very impressive indeed.

Conclusion:

In Round 4, the bottom 3 players with 0.5/3 Ju Wenjun, Maghsoodloo and Donchenko will be in for more tough fights. Our two co-leaders will also be up against the world's best juniors. I think we are in for much more excitement indeed.

On a personal note, I hope you are enjoying this series and finding it interesting, at least interesting enough to keep reading! Do leave a like and follow me for more as I continue my round by round recap of the TATA Steel Masters.

If you have missed my earlier recaps:
Round 1
Round 2

Photo credits:
1. Photo of Nepo: Lennart Ootes – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024
2. Photo of Ju - Van Foreest: Lennart Ootes – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024
3. Photo of Giri looking for a draw: Jurriaan Hoefsmit – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024