[Event "Round 8: Alireza Firouzja - Teimour Rad"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [White "Alireza Firouzja"] [Black "Teimour Radjabov"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Bajarani,Ulvi"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/450dtcgH/S6ua1gd7"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. h3!? { A try to move the game away from deeply analyzed theoretical lines. However, the game soon transposes to the variations that are frequently tested in the practice. } 5... h6!? { Preventing White's Bc1-g5 ideas in the future. } 6. c3 d6 7. Nbd2 a6 { Creating the shelter for the dark-squared bishop. } 8. b4 Ba7 9. a4 Be6 10. Bxe6 { It might have been called as the novelty, but the game transposes to the tested variations in the next moves. } 10... fxe6 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Qe8 (12... Nh5 { tested by Radjabov against Ziska. After } 13. Ra2 Qe8 14. Nf1 Nf4 { the game transposed to the current one. }) 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Ra2 Nf4 15. Kh2 Qf7 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 (17. fxe3 Ng6 18. Qb3 Kh7 19. a5 { 1/2 (30) Ziska,H (2533)-Radjabov,T (2758) Khanty-Mansiysk 2019 } { Now, } 19... d5!? { is the best choice, for example, } 20. b5 axb5 21. Qxb5 Qd7 $132) 17... Kh8 18. Ng4 $146 (18. Ng1 { was played previously. According to a database, the following moves were played twice at the same tournament with a difference of one day: } 18... d5 19. Qc2?! (19. g3!? d4 20. gxf4 Qxf4+ 21. Kg2 dxe3 22. Rxe3 $132) 19... d4 $15 20. Nc4 dxc3 21. Qxc3 Nxd3? (21... b5! 22. Ne3 Nxb4 23. Qxb4 Nxd3 24. Qc3 Nxe1 25. Qxe1 Qf4+ 26. Kh1 Qxe4 $15) 22. Qxd3 Nxb4? 23. Qd2 Nxa2 24. Nxe5 Qxf2 25. Re2? (25. Ng6+ Kh7 26. Re2 Qc5 27. Nxf8+ Rxf8 28. Qxa2 $18) 25... Qf6 26. Ngf3 Rad8 (26... b5 27. Qxa2 c5 $14) 27. Qxa2 $16 Kh7 28. Qb1 b6 29. Qc2 c5 30. Qb1? (30. h4 $16) 30... b5 31. axb5 axb5 32. Qxb5 Qf4+ 33. g3 Qc1 $14 34. Kg2 Rb8 35. Qc4 Rb1 36. Qxc1 Rxc1 $14 37. Kf2 c4 38. Re1 Rc2+ 39. Re2 Rc1 40. Ng4 c3 41. Ne3 Rb8 42. Ne1 Rf8+ 43. Nf3 Rb8 44. Nc2 Rb2 45. Nfe1 Rd1 46. Ke3 g5 47. Rf2 Rbb1 48. Re2 Rb8 49. Nd4 Rbb1 50. Nec2 Rg1 51. Kf3 Rbf1+ 52. Rf2 Rxf2+ 53. Kxf2 Rd1 54. Ke3 Rh1 55. Nxe6 Rxh3 56. Kf3 Rh2 57. Ned4 { 1/2 (57) Ganguly,S (2621)-Tabatabaei,M (2587) Makati 2018 / 1/2 (57) Tabatabaei,M (2587)-Wei,Y (2728) Makati 2018 }) 18... Ne7?! { It is unnecessary to move the knight from the center immediately. } (18... Ng6!? 19. Rd2 Rad8 $132) 19. Ng1! { preparing g2-g3 to push the knight back. } 19... Neg6?! (19... Nc6 $132) 20. g3 Nh5 21. Kg2 $14 { Thanks to the control on the both queenside and center, White is better. } 21... Nf6 22. Nf3 { White is not afraid of the trade since the 22... Nxg4 23. hxg4 opens the "h"-file for White. } 22... Qd7 23. Nfh2 (23. Re3!? { deserved an attention. }) 23... Qc6 24. Qb3 Rae8 25. h4?! { The unnecessary push on the kingside. Remember, in most cases, it is not better to play in the side where you are not stronger than your opponent. } (25. b5!? { is a bit premature. } 25... Qd7 (25... axb5 26. axb5 Qd7 27. Ra7 Nxg4 28. hxg4 Rb8 29. Re3 $14) (25... Qc5 26. Nxf6 Rxf6 27. bxa6 bxa6 28. Qc4 Qxc4 29. dxc4 Rf7 30. c5 Rd8 31. cxd6 cxd6 32. Rd1 $14) 26. bxa6 bxa6 27. Qc4 d5 28. Qc5 h5 29. Nxf6 gxf6 $132 30. h4 { Preventing h5-h4. Comparing to the game, it is acceptable now. } 30... Rg8 31. Kh1 Kg7 $132) (25. a5!? $14 { deserves an attention. }) 25... Nh5 (25... Nxg4!? 26. Nxg4 Ne7 { might have been better. But Radjabov avoids trades. }) 26. Re3? { It is easy to lose the sense of danger when the position's characteristics don't change for a long time. The move blocks the "e3"-square, which might have caused the problems for the "g4"-knight if Black had found the right move. } (26. d4! { , for example, } 26... exd4 (26... b5? 27. axb5 axb5 28. dxe5 Nhf4+ (28... dxe5 29. Nf3 $18) 29. gxf4 Nxh4+ (29... Nxf4+ 30. Kh1 $18) 30. Kg3 Ng6 31. Nf3 Nxf4 32. Qc2 $18) 27. cxd4 Qd7 28. Rc2 e5 29. d5 $14 { With the comfortable game on the "c"-file. }) 26... b5? { Missing the good chance to turn up the game. } (26... Nxh4+!? 27. gxh4 Nf4+ 28. Kg1 h5 29. Nxe5 dxe5 30. Nf3 Ng6 31. Qd1 Qxc3 32. Ng5 Nf4 33. Rc2 Qxb4 34. Rf3 $132 { although Black is also OK here. }) (26... Nhf4+!! 27. gxf4 exf4 { , for example, } 28. h5 (28. Rh3 h5 29. f3 hxg4 30. Nxg4 Ne5 $15) 28... Nh4+ 29. Kh3 g5!! { Focusing on the king. } (29... fxe3 30. Kxh4 exf2 (30... Qd7!? 31. Kg3 (31. Nxe3 Qe7+ 32. Kh3 Qg5 $17) 31... Qe7 32. Qd1 exf2 33. Rxf2 Rxf2 34. Nxf2 Qg5+ 35. Kh3 c5 36. Qg4 Qf6 37. Nf3 Qxc3 38. e5 d5 39. bxc5 Qxc5 40. Kg3 b5 41. axb5 Qxb5 42. Qg6 $44) 31. Rxf2 Rxf2 32. Nxf2 Rf8 33. Kg3 $15) 30. Re1! { Trying to close the kingside. } (30. hxg6? Nxg6! (30... fxe3? 31. Kxh4 $132) 31. Re1 f3 32. Kg3 h5 33. Nxf3 (33. Ne3?? h4+ 34. Kg4 Qd7 $19) 33... hxg4 34. Rh1+ Kg8 35. Ng5 (35. Nh4 Nxh4 36. Rxh4 Rf3+ 37. Kg2 Rxd3 38. Rxg4+ Kf7 $19) 35... d5 36. Qd1 Qd6+ 37. Kg2 Qf4 38. Qd2 dxe4 39. Rh6 Qf5 $19) 30... Re7! { with Qe8 ideas capturing the "h5"-pawn. } 31. Qd1 Qe8 32. e5! { Otherwise, Black is winning. } 32... f3 (32... Qxh5 33. Nf6 { The main idea behind 32. e5 } 33... Qg6 34. d4 f3 35. Nf1 (35. Nhg4 h5 36. Ne3 Rxf6 37. exf6 Qxf6 38. Kh2 Qf4+ 39. Kg1 Ng2 40. Ra1 Rg7 41. d5 Nxe1 42. Qxe1 e5 $15) 35... Ng2! { Keeping h6-h5 for the future. } (35... h5 36. Kh2 Ng2 37. Qb1 Rxf6 38. exf6 Qxf6 39. Kg1 $15) 36. Kh2 g4 37. Kg1 (37. Ng3 h5 $17) 37... Rg7 38. Re4 h5 39. c4 d5 40. cxd5 exd5 41. Re3 $132) 33. Nf1 Qxh5 34. Ng3 Qg6 35. Kh2 h5 36. Ne3 g4 37. exd6 cxd6 38. c4 Rg7 $15) 27. Nf3 $14 { Now the game comes back to its usual pace. } 27... Qd7 28. Qd1 (28. c4!? Rb8 29. cxb5 axb5 30. a5 $14 { is an interesting idea. But Firouzja waits for the proper time to change the structure. }) 28... Nf6 29. Nfh2 (29. Nxf6 Rxf6 30. axb5 axb5 31. h5 Ne7 32. d4 exd4 33. cxd4 Nc6 34. Nh4 Nxb4 35. Rd2 $14 { is another option to consider for White. }) 29... Qc6 { Attacking the "c3"-pawn. } 30. Ra3 (30. axb5 axb5 31. Nxf6 Rxf6 32. Rf3 Rxf3 33. Qxf3 Rf8 34. Qg4 Rf6 35. Ra3 Nf8 36. Qe2 $14) 30... Kh7 31. Kg1 { Removing the king away from the diagonal where the black queen is placed. } 31... Rf7 32. axb5 { Now, Firouzja forces the situation. } 32... axb5 33. d4 { Creating the pressure on the center, but weakening the "e4"-pawn. } 33... Ref8! $132 { Forcing White to defend the "f2"-pawn. } 34. Ra2 (34. Nxf6+!? { is an attemption to close the "f"-file but it opens the "g"-file. } 34... gxf6 (34... Rxf6 35. h5 Ne7 36. Ng4 R6f7 37. dxe5 d5 38. Qd4 $14) 35. h5 Ne7 $132) 34... Qc4 35. Rb2 Ra8 { Radjabov wants to use the open file, but White's next move shows him that it is premature to do so. } (35... Nxg4!? 36. Nxg4 exd4 37. cxd4 Ne7 $132 { deserves an attention. }) 36. Rf3 Raf8 37. Re3 { both sides has repeated the position due to their time-troubles. } 37... Ra8 38. Nxf6+!? { Changing the structure. } (38. h5!? { has been another option. } 38... Ne7 39. dxe5 Nxe4 40. exd6 Nd5 (40... cxd6?? 41. Qb1 $18) 41. Qb1 (41. Re1 Ndxc3 42. Qc2 Qd4 43. Kg2 Kg8 44. dxc7 Rxc7 45. Nf3 Qd5 $132) 41... Nxe3 42. Nxe3 Qc6 43. f3 cxd6 44. Nd1! { defending the "c3"-pawn in advance. } (44. Qxe4+ Qxe4 45. fxe4 Rc7 $132) 44... d5 45. fxe4 Kh8 46. exd5 Qxd5 47. Nf2 Rfa7 $132 { The position is complex due to the open position of white king. }) 38... gxf6 39. Nf3 Ne7? (39... f5! { might have lead to the complex game with equal chances. } 40. exf5 exf5 41. dxe5 (41. h5 Ne7 42. dxe5 f4 43. Re1 fxg3 44. fxg3 Rg8 45. Rg2 Qxc3 46. exd6 cxd6) 41... f4 42. e6 Rg7 43. Re1 fxg3 (43... Rf8!? 44. Kh2 Qxc3 45. Rb3 Qf6 $132) 44. fxg3 Nf4 45. Ng5+ (45. Kh2 Nd3 46. Ng5+ Kg8 47. Nf7 Qxc3 48. Nxh6+ Kh7 49. Qh5 Nf4 50. Qf5+ Rg6 51. Qf7+ Rg7) 45... hxg5 46. gxf4 gxf4+ 47. Rg2 Qxc3 48. Qh5+ Kg8 49. Rxg7+ Kxg7 50. Qg4+ Kh8) 40. Nd2 $14 { Now, White has the pressure again } 40... Qc6 41. dxe5! { Destroying Black's structure. Now, both captures have its own drawbacks. } 41... fxe5 { Dramatically reduces the chances of Black to attack on the kingside. } (41... dxe5?! { weakens the queenside. } 42. c4 bxc4 43. b5 Qd7 44. Qc2 Ra1+ 45. Kg2 Nc8 46. Qxc4 Nd6 47. Qe2 Rc1 48. Reb3 $14) 42. Rf3! { Pushing the most active Black piece. } 42... Rg7 { Radjabov decides to keep the rook. } (42... Raf8 43. Rxf7+ Rxf7 44. Qb3 $14 { with a slight advantage. }) 43. Kh2?! { An unnecessary prophylaxis. } (43. Qb3!? $14) 43... Qe8! $132 { Now, White king gets vulnerable due to the sacrifices on the "h4"-square. } 44. Qb3 Qg6 (44... Ng6!? { activating the knight and creating the sacrifice ideas on the "f4"- and "h4"-squares is better. For example, } 45. Nf1 Qe7 46. Kh3 Rag8 47. Ne3 Qe8 48. Ng2 Nf4+ 49. Nxf4 Rf7 $132) 45. Ra2 Rxa2 46. Qxa2 Qg4 47. Re3 Rf7? { Allows White to reduce danger with f2-f3. } (47... Ng6 48. f3 Qh5 49. Qxe6 Nxh4 50. Qh3 Qg5 { leads to the equality. }) 48. f3 $14 Qg6 49. Nf1 { In the following moves, both sides moves its pieces to find the right moment to force a situation. White is better, but Black has good chances to keep the position and draw the game. } 49... Qf6 (49... d5!? 50. Kg2 c6 $14 { deserves an attention. }) 50. Qf2 Rf8 51. Nd2 Ra8 52. Nb3?! { The knight on the "a5"-square will be out of the game. } (52. Qf1 Ra2 53. Re2 $14) 52... Ng6 53. Na5 Rg8?! (53... c5! { might have equalized the game, for example, } 54. Re1 c4 55. Rd1 Ra6 $132) 54. Re1 Qf7 55. Nb3 { Firouzja understands the mistake and goes back with the knight. } 55... Qd7 (55... Nf8!? $132 { with Nd7-b6 is also possible. }) 56. Ra1 { Trying to use the open file. } 56... Rg7 57. Nd2 Ne7 58. Qe3?! { Not feeling the idea of Black. } (58. Nf1!? Ng8 59. Qe2 Nf6 60. Ne3 $14) 58... Ng8! { Moving the knight to the "f6"-square. } 59. Nf1 (59. Kh3 Nf6 60. g4 Qc6 $132 { doesn't change the evaluation. }) 59... Nf6 60. Qe2 Nh5 61. Qf2 Qc6 62. Qe3 Qc4 63. Nd2 Qc6 64. Rg1 Qa8 65. Nf1 Qd8 66. Qf2 Qe8?! { Allows White to regroup his pieces. } (66... Qf8 67. Rg2 (67. Ne3 Qf6 $132 { White cannot progress due to the Nxg3 and Rxg3 ideas. }) 67... Qf6 $132) 67. Ne3 Nf6? { Directly preventing Ne3-g4. } (67... Qf8!? { , for example, } 68. Qe2 Rxg3! 69. Rxg3 Qf4 70. Qe1 Nxg3 71. Ng2 Nf1+ 72. Kg1 Nh2 73. Nxf4 Nxf3+ 74. Kf2 Nxe1 75. Nxe6 Nc2 76. Nxc7 Na3) 68. Qe2 $14 Qh5 69. Kh3? { Allows Nxe4. } (69. Rg2 $14) 69... Kh8? { Missing the chance to equalize. } (69... Nxe4 70. g4 Ng5+ 71. Kg3 Nf7 72. Ra1 (72. Qxb5 d5 73. Qd3+ e4 74. Qd4 Ne5 75. Rf1 exf3 76. Qf4 c6 $132) 72... Qg6 73. Ra7 d5 74. Rxc7 Nd6 75. Rc6 Rd7 $132) 70. Ng4 $14 Qg6 71. Nxf6 Qxf6 { Although White has managed to trade knights, it is still difficult to progress. } 72. Ra1 Qg6 73. g4 Qf7 74. Qe3 Kh7 75. Ra5?! (75. h5!? $14 { closing the kingside deserves an attention. }) 75... Qd7 (75... h5 76. g5 Qe8 $132) 76. Qd3 c6? (76... Qf7! 77. Qe3 h5 78. g5 Qe8 $132) 77. Ra1 (77. c4 { allows Black to create the counterplay with } 77... bxc4 78. Qxc4 Rf7 79. Kg2 h5 80. g5 d5 $132) (77. Kg2! { might have given White a significant advantage. For example, } 77... Rg8 78. Qe3 Rb8 79. Ra6 Rb7 80. h5 Kg7 81. Qd3 Kh7 82. c4 bxc4 83. Qxc4 Rc7 84. Qa2 $16) 77... Qf7 78. Qe3 Qf6 79. Kg3 Rc7 80. Rd1 Rd7 81. Rd2 d5 82. Re2 Rf7 83. Kg2 Kg8 (83... d4!? 84. cxd4 (84. Qf2 dxc3 85. Re3 c5 86. Rxc3 c4 $132) 84... exd4 85. e5 Qxh4 86. Qxd4 h5 87. Re4 Qg5 $132) 84. h5 Kh7 85. Qd3 Kg7 86. Re3 Qf4 { now, the position is completely equal. } 87. Re2 Kf6! { Kg5-h4 threat doesn't allow White to progress. } 88. Qd1 Kg5 89. Re1 Kh4 90. Rh1+ Kg5 91. Re1 Kh4 92. Rh1+ Kg5 93. Re1 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2