[Event "Grand Chess Tour: Sinquefield Cup 2024"] [Site "St. Louis, USA"] [Date "2024.08.28"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [BlackElo "2746"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Annotator "GM Rafael Leitao-CB-Stockfish 16.1"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined"] [StudyName "SINQUEFIELD CUP 2024 - ROD 9"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Giri, Anish"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/3O9dZ81L/J2smxFBt"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%eval 0.12] } 1... Nf6 { [%eval 0.21] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.23] } 2... e6 { [%eval 0.25] } 3. g3 { [%eval 0.11] } 3... d5 { [%eval 0.17] } 4. Bg2 { [%eval 0.13] } 4... Be7 { [%eval 0.21] } 5. O-O { [%eval 0.25] } 5... O-O { [%eval 0.2] } 6. d3 { [%eval 0.0] } { I didn't know this move, which is humble in appearance, but this position has been tried many times by strong players, although overwhelmingly in rapid or blitz games. } 6... c5 { [%eval 0.0] } { The main move. } (6... dxc4?! { It is not a good idea to open the Catalan bishop's diagonal, even if it is to exchange queens. } 7. dxc4 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 { with a clear advantage for White. }) (6... b6 { has also been tried by strong grandmasters. }) 7. Ne5!? { [%eval -0.17] } { A trendy move. Giri faced this move in a classical game this year. } (7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bg5 d4 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Nf4 Bg6 16. Rc1 Bb6 17. Nh4 Rc8 18. Nhxg6 hxg6 19. Qb3 Qd6 20. h4 Rfe8 21. Bf3 Rc7 22. Kg2 Ne5 23. Be4 Rce7 24. Qd5 Qf6 25. Qb5 Qd6 26. Rc2 Ng4 27. Bf3 Ne5 28. Rfc1 Nxf3 29. exf3 Re5 30. Rc8 Rxb5 31. Rxe8+ Qf8 32. Rcc8 Qxe8 33. Rxe8+ Kh7 34. Nd3 Ra5 35. a3 Rb5 36. b4 a5 { 0-1 Svidler,P (2698)-Sarana,A (2717) FIDE World Bl Team Final blitz 2024 (2.2) }) 7... Nbd7 { [%eval 0.09] } (7... Qc7 { I'm curious to know what Caruana has prepared here. } 8. f4 Rd8 9. Nc3 a6 10. Qe1 b5 (10... d4! { is stronger. }) 11. cxb5 (11. g4 { is recommended by the computer as a better option. }) 11... axb5 12. Nxb5 Qb6 { with compensation for the sacrificed pawn in Yu-Giri, Shenzhen 2024. }) 8. Nxd7 { [%eval 0.06] } 8... Bxd7 { [%eval 0.08] } (8... Qxd7 { is less accurate, as the pieces are not well-placed and White can play the same } 9. e4 { with some pressure: Matlakov-Maghsoodloo, H $146-ch Rapid Ajka 2023. }) 9. e4 { [%eval 0.14] } 9... dxe4 { [%eval 0.15] } (9... Bc6 { is also possible without exchanging pawns. White can play in the same style with } 10. Qe2) 10. dxe4 { [%eval 0.08] } 10... Bc6 { [%eval 0.1] } 11. Qe2 { [%eval 0.16] } 11... Nd7 { [%eval 0.13] } 12. f4 { [%eval 0.11] [#] White's position already seems comfortable to me here, with more space. } 12... a6 $146 { [%eval 0.22] } { A new move. } (12... e5 13. Nc3 Qc7 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Bd6 16. f5 f6 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Be4 a6 19. a5 Rab8 20. g4 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 22. h4 Rb4 23. g5 Nb6 24. Bd2 Rxb2 25. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 26. Rxb1 Rb8 27. Kh1 { 0-1 Vakhidov,J (2599)-Weishaeutel,M (2389) Titled Tue 21st May Late 2024 (7) }) (12... Qc7 13. Nc3 Rad8 14. b3 (14. Be3 Bf6 15. e5 Bxg2 16. Qxg2 Be7 17. Qe4 a6 18. Rae1 Rde8 19. Qg2 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Bc1 Qd7 22. Rd1 Qc8 23. b3 Bd8 24. Bb2 e5 25. fxe5 Rxe5 26. Ne4 Rxe4 27. Bxf6 Ree8 28. Qd5+ Kh8 29. Be5 Bf6 30. Bxf6 Rxf6 31. Rxf6 gxf6 32. Qf3 Kg7 33. Rd6 Re6 34. Qg4+ Kf7 35. Kf2 Ke7 36. Rd5 Kf8 37. Qf5 Qe8 38. Qd3 Kg7 39. Rxc5 Re7 40. Rd5 Qc6 41. Rh5 Re4 42. Qd2 { 1-0 Bernadskiy,V (2530)-Gavrilescu,D (2526) Rubinstein Memorial 59th 2023 (3) }) 14... Rfe8 15. Bb2 Nf8 16. h4 Rd7 17. h5 Red8 18. Nd5 exd5 19. exd5 Ne6 20. Be5 Bd6 21. h6 Nd4 22. Qg4 f5 23. Qg5 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Qxe5 25. Rae1 Qd6 26. Re3 Qxh6 27. Qxh6 { ½-½ Tsolakidou,S (2427)-Socko,M (2396) Holuj-Radzikowska POL-ROW 2023 (3.3) }) 13. a4 { [%eval -0.04] } { Useful prophylaxis against b7-b5. } (13. Nc3 { Here Black can play the typical pawn sac: } 13... b5!? 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5 Qb6 { with active play. }) 13... Qc7 { [%eval 0.23] } 14. Nc3 { [%eval 0.24] } 14... Bf6 { [%eval 0.32] } { A useful move to tempt White into playing e4-e5, exchanging the light-squared bishops. Otherwise White can put the bishop on e3, develop the a1-rook, and it's not clear what Black can do in the meantime. } 15. e5 { [%eval 0.29] } 15... Bxg2 { [%eval 0.3] } 16. Kxg2 { [%eval 0.21] } 16... Be7 { [%eval 0.2] } 17. Bd2 { [%eval 0.17] } { The idea is to play Ne4 and put the bishop on c3. } 17... Rae8 { [%eval 0.17] } { The rook is placed on this square in anticipation of the plan with f7-f6 (or f5), when the rook has the function of protecting the pawn on e6. } 18. Ne4 { [%eval 0.21] } { An important moment in the game. } 18... Qc6?! { [%eval 0.89] } { Inaccuracy. Nb8 was best. } { The wrong plan. } (18... Nb8 19. Bc3 Nc6 20. Nf6+ { This looks really dangerous, but it's not so bad after } 20... Bxf6 21. exf6 Nd4!) 19. Qf3 { [%eval 1.02] } 19... f5 { [%eval 1.01] } { Black needs to do something. } 20. exf6 { [%eval 0.98] } 20... gxf6 { [%eval 1.5] } (20... Nxf6 { is not better. The pawn on e6 will be a cause of suffering after } 21. Ng5) 21. Bc3 { [%eval 1.31] } 21... f5 { [%eval 1.18] } 22. Rfd1?! { [%eval 0.85] } { This is not the most accurate. } (22. Nd2?! { is not so clear after } 22... Bf6 (22... Qc7)) (22. Ng5! { is the best move: } 22... Bxg5 (22... Qxf3+ 23. Nxf3 { with a much better endgame for White, thanks to the better pawn structure. }) 23. fxg5 { The bishop is very strong and the endgame is worse than it looks. The computer already considers White's advantage decisive. }) 22... Nb6 { [%eval 0.86] } { The best defense. } (22... fxe4?? { ends in mate after } 23. Qg4+) (22... Qxe4? { loses after } 23. Qxe4 fxe4 24. Rxd7) 23. Nd2 { [%eval 0.94] } 23... Qxf3+ { [%eval 0.86] } 24. Kxf3 { [%eval 0.94] } 24... Rd8 { [%eval 0.99] } 25. Ke2 { [%eval 0.84] } { The endgame is still much better for White. } 25... Rd6 { [%eval 0.84] } 26. a5 { [%eval 0.77] } 26... Nd7 { [%eval 0.97] } 27. Ne4!? { [%eval 0.74] } { A flashy move, but not the best one. } (27. Nf3! { is simpler and better. White fights for the d-file and the pawn on e6 demands attention. }) 27... Rxd1 { [%eval 0.7] } (27... fxe4? 28. Rxd6 Bxd6 29. Rd1 { White regains the piece with a decisive advantage. }) 28. Rxd1 { [%eval 0.74] } 28... Rd8 { [%eval 0.81] } 29. Nd6 { [%eval 0.52] } (29. Ng5 { is possible, but Black is still holding after } 29... Nf8) 29... Nf6?? { [%eval 2.32] } { Blunder. Bxd6 was best. } { This move leads by force to a winning advantage for White. There are two better alternatives. } (29... Bxd6 30. Rxd6 Kf7) (29... Nb8! { is even better, forcing a draw after } 30. Nxb7 Rxd1 31. Kxd1 Nc6 32. Be1 Nd8! 33. Nxd8 Bxd8 34. Bf2 Be7 { despite being a pawn down, Black has a fortress, for instance: } 35. Kc2 Kf7 36. Kb3 Ke8 37. Ka4 Kd7 38. Be1 Kc6 39. b4 cxb4 40. Bxb4 Bf6 { with a draw. }) 30. Bxf6 { [%eval 2.61] } 30... Bxf6 { [%eval 2.26] } 31. Nxb7 { [%eval 1.9] } 31... Rxd1 { [%eval 1.69] } 32. Kxd1 { [%eval 1.87] } 32... Be7 { [%eval 2.71] } { The knight is trapped on b7, but the c-pawn goes forward. } 33. b4! { [%eval 2.43] } 33... cxb4 { [%eval 2.26] } 34. c5 { [%eval 2.04] } 34... Kf7 { [%eval 1.75] } 35. Kc2 { [%eval 2.69] } 35... Ke8 { [%eval 2.63] } 36. c6 { [%eval 2.38] } { Black is paralyzed—the only question remaining is how White can break down the defense. } 36... Bf8 { [%eval 2.11] } 37. Kb3 { [%eval 2.05] } 37... Be7 { [%eval 2.07] } 38. Kc4 { [%eval 1.77] } 38... h5? { [%eval 3.74] } { Mistake. Bf8 was best. } (38... Bf8 39. c7) 39. Kd3 { [%eval 3.32] } 39... Bf8 { [%eval 3.13] } (39... h4 { doesn't help: } 40. gxh4 Bxh4 41. Nc5) 40. Kd4 { [%eval 2.94] } 40... Bg7+?! { [%eval 4.35] } { Inaccuracy. Be7 was best. } (40... Be7 41. Ke5 b3 (41... Bd8 42. Kxe6 Bc7 43. Nc5 Kd8 44. Kd5 Kc8 45. Kc4 Bxa5 46. Nxa6) 42. Kxe6 Bd8 43. Nd6+ Kf8 44. Nc4 Ke8 45. Kd6 { followed by the c6-c7. }) 41. Kc5 { [%eval 4.18] } 41... Bf8+ { [%eval 4.81] } (41... b3 42. Kd6 { and the pawn promotes: } 42... b2 43. c7 b1=Q 44. c8=Q+ Kf7 45. Qxe6+ Kf8 46. Nc5 { with an easy win. }) 42. Kb6 { [%eval 4.75] } 42... b3 { [%eval 5.46] } 43. c7 { [%eval 5.39] } 43... Kd7 { [%eval 5.38] } 44. Nc5+! { [%eval 5.17] } { This is the point of White's play. The dangerous b-pawn is captured. } 44... Kc8 { [%eval 4.71] } (44... Bxc5+ 45. Kb7!) 45. Nxb3 { [%eval 5.3] } 45... Bd6 { [%eval 5.22] } 46. Nd4 { [%eval 5.11] } 46... Bxc7+ { [%eval 5.01] } 47. Kxa6 { [%eval 4.56] } { 1-0 White wins. } { PRECISÃO LICHESS.ORG: BRANCAS 97% PRETAS 91% PRECISÃO CHESS.COM: BRANCAS 96.4 PRETAS 90.5 } (47. Kd7 Kb5 { The a-pawn decides }) 1-0