lichess.org
Donate
0Caruana, Fabiano2796
1:30:00
12345678abcdefgh
1Giri, Anish2745
1:30:00
SF 16 · 7MBNNUE
in local browser
1d4...www.chess.com/news/view/2024-superbet-chess-classic-romania-round-91...Nf62c4e63g3d54Bg2Bb4+rafaelA very popular choice in this
particular move order of the Catalan Opening. This check forces White to
transpose the game to a Nimzo-Indian after 5.Nc3, place the bishop in a slightly
worse position with 5.Bd2, or place the knight in an undesirable square after
5.Nd2.
niceguymontywww.chess.com/news/view/2024-superbet-chess-classic-romania-round-9
5Nd2...5.Bd2is played more often.5...O-O6Nf3b67O-OBb78b3...A simple and logical move, preparing to develop the bishop.8.Ne5is the
most popular.
8...Nbd79Bb2Qe710a3Bd611Nh4!?...An interesting move
that shows a small problem with putting the queen on e7. White wants to capture
the pawn on d5 and then place the knight on f5.
11...g6Useful to protect the
f5-square, although it weakens the kingside a little bit.
12b4...A new move.12.cxd5exd513.Nc4is interesting, but afterNe414.Nxd6cxd6The
doubled pawns are not as bad as they look. The knight is strong on e4, and the
position is balanced: Coklin-Broniek, ICCF email 2021.
12...c5This is
forced, otherwise White just plays c4-c5.
13bxc5bxc514cxd5exd5Black
has to capture with the pawn and accept an isolated queen pawn, which is
actually not bad in this position.
14...Bxd5?15.e4wins for White after a
fork with e4-e5.
14...Nxd5?is also bad:15.e4
15dxc5Nxc5Black has
a good version of an isolated queen pawn position, with good piece development.
The game is balanced.
15...Bxc5also leads to equality after16.Nb3Bb6
16Nb3Nfe416...Rab8 and 16...Ba6 are good alternatives.16...Rab816...Ba617Na5!?...They say a knight on the rim is dim, but Giri, a player with
superb positional understanding, places both of his knights on the side. He does
it with clear intentions: the knight goes to a5 to capture the bishop, winning
the bishop pair.
17.Qd4looks tempting, but Black can replyf6defending against the mate. White will try a similar idea later on.
17...Rab818Qd4...The good old queen and bishop battery, forcing Black to move the
pawn to f6.
18...f619Nxb7Qxb720Qd1...A very difficult but necessary
move. The queen feels uncomfortable on d4, with Be5 or Nb3 coming, so White just
goes back, freeing the d4-square for the bishop. The capture on b2 is not so
good for Black, although Caruana plays it anyway.
20.Rab1?Be5
20...Qxb2?!A drastic measure, sacrificing a pawn. This was not really necessary.20...Qb3is possible, offering a queen exchange.21.Bd4f5with equal play.21...Qxd1is less accurate, when White achieves a small advantage in the
endgame after
22.Raxd1
20...Rfd8is my favorite, simply developing the
rook and protecting the d-pawn. The game may continue
21.Rb121.Bd4allows
the unpleasant
Nb3
Qb322.Bd4Qxd123.Rfxd1Kf7with an
objectively equal endgame, although maybe slightly more pleasant for White in a
practical game.
21Qxd5+Kg722Bxe4Rbd822...Qxe2looks very bad, but
it's actually a good choice.
23.Bxg6!Sacrificing the bishop before taking a
piece of the same value. This device is known as a \"desperado.\"
Qe5!23...hxg6?24.Qxd6is much better for White.24.Qxd6!Qxd625.Nf5+Kxg626.Nxd6Rfd827.Nc4Black has good drawing chances in the endgame but will
have to endure prolonged suffering.
23Ra2Qe5Black should exchange
queens.
23...Qb624.Qc4I think White's advantage is bigger with the queens
on the board, as Black's king is not very safe.
24Qxe5Bxe5White is a
clear pawn up, but Black has fair drawing chances.
25Bg2f526Nf3Bf627Rc2Ne428Rfc1Rf7?!This allows Giri to execute a strong knight maneuver.28...Rb8!is better, with good drawing chances. If White tries the same plan
with
29.Ne1Black can tryNc3and if30.Rxc3Bxc331.Rxc3Rfc8!31...Rb132.Kf1Rd8is refuted by33.e4!Rdd134.Re332.Rxc8Rxc8followed by the chase and capture of the a3-pawn, and Black is fine.
29Ne1!...A magnificent positional move, leading the knight to d3. The position is very
difficult to defend now.
29...Re730Nd3Rdd7?The decisive mistake.30...Ng5!Followed by Ne6, is more stubborn.31Bxe4!fxe431...Rxe4loses the
exchange after
32.Nc5
32Nc5Rd633e3...The endgame is technically winning
because the e4-pawn is very weak, apart from White's extra pawn.
33...Rc634a4Kh634...Rec7?loses after35.Ne6+35Nb3...The plan is to exchange one
of the rooks and then attack the e4-pawn.
35...Rb636Nd2Rbe637Rc6!a538Rxe6Rxe639Rc4...The pawn is doomed.39...Rb640Nxe4...The rest is easy
for a player with such remarkable technique as Giri.
40...Be741Rc7Re642Nd2g543Nb3Bb444Nd4Re545g4!...Securing a dream square for the knight
on f5.
45...Kg646Kg2Rd547Kf3Rd848Rc6+Kf749Ne6Rd550Ke4Rd251Nxg5+Ke752f4Ra253Kd5Rxa454Rc7+Ke855Ke6Kd856Rc4...There's
no defense to 57.Nf7 followed by mate.
1-0
White is victorious