[Event "Round 8: Hikaru Nakamura - Fabiano Caru"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [White "Hikaru Nakamura"] [Black "Fabiano Caruana"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Bajarani,Ulvi"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C82"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Open, Dilworth Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/450dtcgH/bnWFf3AZ"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%eval 0.33] } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.12] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.19] } 2... Nc6 { [%eval 0.32] } 3. Bb5 { [%eval 0.25] } 3... a6 { [%eval 0.37] } 4. Ba4 { [%eval 0.31] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.37] } 5. O-O { [%eval 0.29] } 5... Nxe4 { [%eval 0.51] } 6. d4 { [%eval 0.21] } 6... b5 { [%eval 0.2] } 7. Bb3 { [%eval 0.21] } 7... d5 { [%eval 0.43] } 8. dxe5 { [%eval 0.42] } 8... Be6 { [%eval 0.44] } 9. c3 { [%eval 0.47] } 9... Bc5 { [%eval 0.4] } 10. Nbd2 { [%eval 0.27] } 10... O-O { [%eval 0.19] } 11. Bc2 { [%eval 0.13] } 11... Nxf2 { [%eval 0.27] } 12. Rxf2 { [%eval 0.2] } 12... Bxf2+ { [%eval 0.36] } 13. Kxf2 { [%eval 0.34] } 13... f6 { [%eval 0.12] } 14. Nf1 { [%eval 0.22] } { The new fashion to fight against the 9... Bc5 variation. } 14... fxe5 { [%eval 0.43] } 15. Kg1 { [%eval 0.31] } { Black has the rook, two pawns, and the center. White has two pieces against it and the safe king. The evaluation of the variation depends on how the sides will use the advantage. } 15... Qd6 { [%eval 0.57] } (15... Qd7!? { seems a bit more an exact way than 15... Qd6. }) 16. Be3 { [%eval 0.35] } 16... Bf5 { [%eval 0.69] } (16... h6 { gives more chances for Black to equalize. }) 17. Bb3 { [%eval 0.41] } (17. Bxf5!? Rxf5 18. Ng3 Rff8 19. b4 d4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Nxd4 Qe5 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. Nc2 Rad8 24. Re1 Qf6!? { deserves its implementation in the future practice. }) 17... Rad8 { [%eval 0.33] } 18. Qe1 { [%eval 0.53] } { On of the main ideas in these positions: to move the queen to the "f2"-square to capture the "d4"- and "c5"-squares. } 18... Na5 { [%eval 0.17] } 19. Qf2 { [%eval 0.54] } 19... Nb7 $146 { [%eval 0.3] } { defending the "c5"-square. } (19... Nxb3? { opens the "a"-file for the "a1"-rook. } 20. axb3 Rf7 (20... d4 21. cxd4 Be4 22. dxe5 Qg6 23. Kh1 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rd5 25. Qg2 Rxe5 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27. Kg2 $16) 21. Bc5 Qf6 22. Qg3 $18 { 1-0 (51) Malicka,M (2329)-Mei,A (2336) San Jose 2022 }) 20. Re1 { [%eval 0.35] } { Continuing the pressure on the center. } 20... c5? { [%eval 0.85] } { Now, Caruana starts the mistakes. } (20... Rde8 21. Qd2 (21. Ng3 Bd3 22. Qd2 e4 23. Nh4 Qd7 24. Qd1 g6 $132) 21... c6 22. Bd1 a5 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 Bg4 $132) (20... Bd3 { For example, } 21. Qg3 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Na5 23. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Nxb3 25. axb3 c5 $14 { White is better, but Black can hold the game. }) 21. Ng3?! { [%eval -0.1] } { Allows Black to get an initiative and equalize the game. } (21. Qg3 Rde8 $132) (21. Qd2!? { Preparing Be3-f2-g3 and creating the pressure on the "d5"-pawn. } 21... Na5! { Eliminating the attacking bishop. } 22. Nxe5 (22. Bg5 Nxb3 23. axb3 Rde8 24. Rxe5 Rxe5 25. Bf4 Be4 26. Bxe5 Qg6 27. Ng3 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Rxf3 29. Qxd5+ Rf7 $132) 22... Nxb3 23. axb3 Qxe5 24. Bxc5 Be4 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Ng3 Rc8 27. Qe3 b4 $132) (21. Bg5 c4 (21... Rde8 22. Rxe5! Rxe5 23. Bf4 Be6 24. Nxe5 Rf6 25. h4 d4 26. Bxe6+ Rxe6 27. cxd4 Qxd4 28. Qxd4 cxd4 29. Nd2 $14) 22. Bxd8 (22. Bc2 Rde8 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 $132) 22... cxb3 23. Bh4 bxa2 24. Ra1 Bb1 25. Qa7!? { "Fritzy!", how Vishy Anand told once for such a move. } 25... Qc6 (25... Rxf3?? 26. gxf3 Na5 27. Qa8+ Kf7 28. Nd2 Qg6+ 29. Kh1 Qd3 30. Qa7+ Kg6 31. Qg1+ Kf7 32. Qe1 $18) (25... Qg6!? 26. Nxe5 (26. Qxb7 Rxf3 27. Qxd5+ Rf7) 26... Qe6 27. Bg3 (27. Nf3 Na5 28. N1d2 Nc4 29. Qf2 Qg6 30. Bg3 h6 31. Qe1 Re8 32. Qc1 Nxd2 33. Qxd2 a5 34. Qxd5+ Kh7 35. Qxb5 Re3 36. Nd4 a4 37. Qf1 Re7 $44) 27... Na5 28. Nd2 Nc4 29. Qd4 Nxd2 30. Qxd2 h6 $14 { Black survives for some time thanks to the block of the "a1"-rook. }) 26. Bg3 Nc5 27. Bxe5 Rf7 28. Nd4 Qc8 29. Qb8 Qxb8 30. Bxb8 Ne4 31. Bg3 Rf8 32. Ne3 a5 33. Nxd5 Kh8 34. Nf4 a4 $14 { With some draw chances for Black. Black is worse in critical variations, but keeps draw chances. }) 21... Bd3 $132 { [%eval -0.42] } (21... Bg6!? $132 { is also possible. }) 22. Qd2 { [%eval -0.29] } 22... c4?! { [%eval 0.66] } { Pushing the wrong pawn although it is not trivial to understand. The main problem is that the knight on the "c5"-square is not placed as well as it seems. } (22... e4 23. Nh4 (23. Ng5 Na5 24. N3xe4 Bxe4 25. Nxe4 Nxb3 26. axb3 dxe4 27. Qxd6 Rxd6 28. Bxc5 Rd2 29. Bxf8 Kxf8) 23... Qe5 24. Bf2 Rde8 25. Bd1 a5 26. Bg4 g6 27. Be3 Qf6 28. Bg5 e3 29. Bxe3) 23. Bd1 $14 { [%eval 0.8] } 23... Rd7 { [%eval 0.65] } { Moving the rook to the "f"-file since it is impossible to push d5-d4. } 24. Bf2?! { [%eval 0.05] } { The main goal of the White's this and following moves is to weaken Black's structure. } (24. b4 h6 25. Kh1 Re7 26. Bf2 Qf6 27. a4 Nd6 28. Bc5 Re6 29. axb5 axb5 30. Be2 Rfe8) 24... Rdf7 { [%eval 0.24] } 25. Nh1! { [%eval 0.07] } { Defending the bishop on the "f2"-square and freeing the "g3"-square. } 25... e4 { [%eval 0.36] } 26. Nd4 { [%eval 0.07] } 26... Qg6?! { [%eval 0.88] } { Inaccuracy. Nc5 was best. } { Preventing Bg4 but it is a temporary action. } (26... b4 27. Bg4!? $14 (27. cxb4? Qb6 28. Qe3 Qxb4 $132)) (26... Nc5 27. Bh5! (27. Bg4?! { allows } 27... Qg6! 28. Qd1 Qh6 29. Nf5 Qc6 $132) (27. Qe3) 27... Rf6 28. Bg4 $14 { Now, the "g6"-square is unreachable for the black queen. }) 27. h4! $16 { [%eval 0.53] } { The best and tricky move. } 27... Nc5? { [%eval 1.96] } { Caruana doesn't feel the strength of White's threat. In the next moves, it will be seen clearly. } (27... h5 28. Kh2!? b4 29. Be3 $14) 28. h5 $18 { [%eval 1.61] } { Now, the idea is clearly seen: Black's queen is pushed away, remaining the "g4"-square defenseless for the White bishop. After the activation of White's light pieces, Black is lost. Except slight inaccuracies, Nakamura shows a top technique of advantage realization in the following moves. } 28... Qd6 { [%eval 1.88] } 29. Bg4! { [%eval 1.89] } { Activating the bishop. } 29... h6 { [%eval 2.27] } 30. Qe3! { [%eval 2.24] } { Threating Nf5. } 30... Qf4 { [%eval 1.95] } 31. Qxf4 { [%eval 2.03] } 31... Rxf4 { [%eval 2.24] } 32. Ne6! { [%eval 1.97] } { Trading the central "d"-pawn with the border "h"-pawn. } 32... Nxe6 { [%eval 2.15] } 33. Bxe6+ { [%eval 1.98] } 33... Kh7 { [%eval 2.12] } 34. Bxd5 { [%eval 1.94] } 34... R8f5 { [%eval 2.07] } 35. Bc6 { [%eval 2.59] } 35... Rxh5 { [%eval 2.08] } 36. Bd4 { [%eval 2.28] } { Now, it is the turn to activate the knight. } 36... Rhf5 { [%eval 2.21] } 37. Nf2 { [%eval 2.1] } 37... Rf7 { [%eval 2.11] } 38. b4 { [%eval 2.08] } 38... h5?? { [%eval 4.51] } { Blunder. e3 was best. } (38... e3 39. Nxd3 cxd3 40. Bxe3 Re7 41. Bf2 Rxe1+ 42. Bxe1 g6 43. Bd2 Rf6 44. Bf3 Re6 45. Kf2) 39. a4? { [%eval 2.47] } { Mistake. Be8 was best. } { Opening the queenside. } (39. Be8 e3 (39... R7f5 40. Be3 $18) (39... Rf8 40. Bxh5 Rh4 41. Bd1 Kg6 42. g3 Rhh8 43. Ng4 Rh7 44. Ne5+ Kg5 45. a4 a5) 40. Bxe3 Re7 41. Bxh5 Rf6 42. Nxd3 cxd3 43. Bd2 Rxe1+ 44. Bxe1 $18) 39... bxa4 { [%eval 2.13] } 40. Bxa4 { [%eval 2.46] } 40... h4 { [%eval 3.03] } 41. Be3?! { [%eval 1.91] } { Inaccuracy. Bc6 was best. } (41. Bc6) 41... R4f5 { [%eval 2.12] } 42. Ra1 { [%eval 2.34] } 42... h3 { [%eval 2.39] } 43. Ra2! { [%eval 2.24] } { Defending the knight. } (43. Nxh3?? { doesn't work due to } 43... Rf1+ 44. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 45. Kh2 Re1 $132) 43... hxg2 { [%eval 2.28] } 44. Bd1! { [%eval 2.55] } { Defending the "f3"-square to prevent Rf5-f3. } (44. Kxg2 Rf3 $132) 44... R7f6 { [%eval 2.81] } 45. Bg4 { [%eval 2.79] } 45... Rd5 { [%eval 2.77] } 46. Kxg2 { [%eval 2.91] } { Now, everything is ready to activate the king. White makes its pieces better in the following moves. } 46... Rg6 { [%eval 2.57] } 47. Kg3 { [%eval 3.22] } 47... Bf1 { [%eval 2.36] } 48. Bd4 { [%eval 3.36] } 48... Bd3?! { [%eval 4.33] } { Inaccuracy. Rd8 was best. } (48... Rd8 49. Kf4) 49. Kf4 { [%eval 3.87] } 49... Kg8 { [%eval 4.5] } 50. Bf5 { [%eval 4.23] } 50... Rh6 { [%eval 5.09] } 51. Ng4 { [%eval 5.35] } 51... Rhd6 { [%eval 5.37] } 52. Ne3 { [%eval 5.56] } 52... Rb5 { [%eval 5.84] } 53. Bc5 { [%eval 5.11] } 53... Rf6 { [%eval 5.55] } 54. Ke5 { [%eval 5.34] } 54... Kf7 { [%eval 5.65] } 55. Nd5?! { [%eval 4.3] } { Inaccuracy. Rf2 was best. } (55. Rf2 Kg8 56. Be6+ Kh7 57. Nf5 e3 58. Rh2+ Rh6 59. Nxh6 gxh6 60. Bf5+ Kg8 61. Rg2+ Kh8) 55... Rxf5+ { [%eval 3.74] } 56. Kxf5 { [%eval 3.82] } 56... e3+ { [%eval 3.78] } 57. Ke5 { [%eval 4.52] } 57... e2 { [%eval 4.36] } 58. Bf2 { [%eval 4.27] } 58... Rb8 { [%eval 4.53] } 59. Be1?! { [%eval 3.47] } { Inaccuracy. Rxa6 was best. } (59. Rxa6 Re8+ 60. Kd4 Re4+ 61. Kc5 e1=Q (61... Re5 62. Ra7+ Kg8 63. Kd6 Rh5 64. Ra1 Kf7 65. b5 Be4) 62. Bxe1 Rxe1 63. b5 $18 { is one of the ways leading to the victory. }) 59... Re8+ { [%eval 2.25] } 60. Kf4?! { [%eval 1.68] } (60. Kd4! $18 { is more exact way. }) 60... g5+! { [%eval 1.73] } { Pushing the king away from the queenside. } 61. Kg3 { [%eval 1.56] } (61. Kxg5?? { loses the knight after } 61... Re5+) 61... Re6? { [%eval 3.12] } { Mistake. Re5 was best. } (61... Re5) 62. Kf2 { [%eval 2.75] } 62... Rh6 { [%eval 1.95] } 63. Ke3 { [%eval 1.36] } 63... Re6+ { [%eval 1.87] } 64. Kf2 { [%eval 1.99] } 64... Rh6 { [%eval 2.95] } 65. Ne3 { [%eval 2.57] } 65... Rf6+? { [%eval 2.89] } { Black missed the last chance to create some obstacles. } (65... Rh1 66. Ng2 g4 67. Kg3 Be4 68. Rxe2 Bf3 69. Rf2 Ke6 70. Rxf3 (70. Bd2?? { allows Black to equalize with } 70... Ke5! { the threat is Rh1-h3# } 71. Rxf3 gxf3 72. Kxf3 Rh3+ 73. Ke2 Ke4) 70... gxf3 71. Kxf3 Ke5 72. Bg3+ $18) 66. Kg3 $18 { [%eval 3.02] } { Now, White has no difficulties. } 66... Rf1 { [%eval 2.96] } 67. Ng2 { [%eval 2.84] } 67... Rf6? { [%eval 4.6] } { Mistake. Rh1 was best. } (67... Rh1 68. Bf2) 68. Bf2 { [%eval 4.37] } 68... Kg6 { [%eval 4.36] } 69. Ra5 { [%eval 4.81] } 69... Re6 { [%eval 5.06] } 70. Ne1 { [%eval 5.1] } 70... Bf5 { [%eval 5.27] } 71. Nf3 { [%eval 5.59] } 71... Rd6 { [%eval 5.38] } 72. Nd4 { [%eval 5.1] } 72... Bd3 { [%eval 5.47] } 73. Re5 { [%eval 5.31] } 73... Kf6 { [%eval 5.25] } 74. Nf3 { [%eval 5.25] } { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0