[Event "FIDE Candidates 2024"] [Site "Toronto, Canada"] [Date "2024.04.04"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2803"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "2020009"] [BlackElo "2789"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "2016192"] [Annotator "GM Zaven Andriasyan"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B56"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Venice Attack"] [StudyName "FIDE Candidates"] [ChapterName "Caruana vs Nakamura"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/4cmeeRC9/ShPTgE6J"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%eval 0.14] [%clk 1:59:56] } 1... c5 { [%eval 0.17] [%clk 1:59:50] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 1:59:51] } 2... d6 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:59:46] } 3. d4 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 1:59:37] } 3... cxd4 { [%eval 0.13] [%clk 1:59:40] } 4. Nxd4 { [%eval 0.27] [%clk 1:59:34] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.3] [%clk 1:59:34] } 5. Nc3 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:59:30] } 5... e5 { [%eval 0.4] } { This move must've come as a surprise - a rare line that Nakamura has never played before. } { [%clk 1:59:29] } 6. Bb5+ { [%eval 0.68] [%clk 1:55:46] } 6... Nbd7 { [%eval 0.48] [%clk 1:58:59] } 7. Nf5 { [%eval 0.42] [%clk 1:51:39] } 7... a6 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 1:58:16] } 8. Ba4 { [%eval 0.53] [%clk 1:42:19] } 8... b5 { [%eval 0.52] [%clk 1:58:02] } 9. Bb3 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 1:42:16] } 9... Nc5 { [%eval 0.52] [%clk 1:57:57] } 10. Bg5 { [%eval 0.51] [%clk 1:40:36] } 10... Bxf5 { [%eval 0.6] [%clk 1:57:51] } 11. exf5 { [%eval 0.51] [%clk 1:38:42] } 11... Be7 { [%eval 0.64] [%clk 1:57:46] } 12. Bxf6 { [%eval 0.48] [%clk 1:33:12] } 12... Bxf6 { [%eval 0.54] [%clk 1:56:03] } 13. O-O { [%eval 0.41] [%clk 1:22:58] } (13. Qd5 { was played in the 2021 game between Anton Guijarro and Harikrishna which ended in a draw. } 13... O-O 14. Ne4 Qa5+ 15. Ke2 Qb4 16. Kf3 Be7 17. Rhd1) 13... e4 { [%eval 0.4] [%clk 1:53:20] } 14. Nxe4 { [%eval 0.4] [%clk 1:13:23] } 14... Nxe4 { [%eval 0.41] [%clk 1:52:04] } 15. Re1 { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 1:13:03] } 15... O-O { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:51:56] } 16. Rxe4 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 1:13:00] } 16... Bxb2 { [%eval 0.34] [%clk 1:51:42] } 17. Rb1 { [%eval 0.33] [%clk 1:12:58] } 17... Bf6 { [%eval 0.47] } { The computer shows that Black is doing fine. However, in practice, it's difficult to play with Black because the opposite-colored bishops allow White to pressure the f7 square and threaten the black King. } { [%clk 1:47:50] } 18. Qd5 { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:10:20] } 18... Rc8 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 1:41:13] } 19. Qb7 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:57:51] } 19... Rc5 { [%eval 0.46] [%clk 1:06:46] } 20. Qxa6 { [%eval 0.39] [%clk 0:56:30] } 20... Rxf5 { [%eval 0.51] [%clk 1:02:19] } 21. Rd1 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 0:51:45] } 21... d5 { [%eval 0.39] [%clk 0:59:30] } 22. Rb4 { [%eval 0.36] } { Both sides have been playing with fantastic accuracy so far. } { [%clk 0:30:49] } 22... Bc3?! { [%eval 1.22] } { First inaccuracy; it's really difficult to play with Black in this position. } { [%clk 0:39:20] } 23. Rxb5 { [%eval 1.29] [%clk 0:30:26] } 23... Rxf2 { [%eval 1.29] [%clk 0:39:13] } 24. Rbxd5 { [%eval 1.17] [%clk 0:20:08] } 24... Qh4 { [%eval 1.36] [%clk 0:38:42] } 25. Qd3 { [%eval 1.3] [%clk 0:17:37] } 25... Rf6 { [%eval 1.55] [%clk 0:35:57] } 26. g3 { [%eval 1.48] [%clk 0:15:07] } 26... Qb4 { [%eval 1.38] [%clk 0:35:21] } 27. Kg2 { [%eval 1.14] } { A crucial moment - White has great chances to win the game. They need to try and trade off the active rook on f6, which is defending the f7 pawn and creating strong counterplay for Black. } { [%clk 0:12:19] } (27. Rf1 Rxf1+ (27... g6 28. Rd7 $16) 28. Kxf1 Bf6 29. Rd7 $16) 27... Bb2 { [%eval 1.39] [%clk 0:33:45] } (27... g6 { The only move that could save Black. } 28. Rf1 Re8 { Black manages to activate the other Rook, allowing to defend with Re7 when White plays Rd7. }) 28. Rf5?! { [%eval 0.49] [%clk 0:09:21] } (28. Rf1 { was the right move, since it would allow White to continue with Rd7 and attack the f7 square. }) 28... g6 { [%eval 0.92] [%clk 0:22:58] } 29. Rxf6?! { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 0:09:18] } 29... Bxf6 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 0:22:54] } 30. Qf3 { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 0:09:01] } 30... Qe7 { [%eval 0.17] } { The computer no longer sees any way for White to fight for the win here. The white King is also vulnerable to checks. } { [%clk 0:22:50] } 31. a4 { [%eval 0.11] [%clk 0:08:05] } 31... Kg7 { [%eval 0.08] [%clk 0:21:22] } 32. a5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:07:49] } 32... Ra8 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:18:27] } 33. Rd5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:06:46] } 33... Ra7 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:18:22] } 34. Rb5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:05:08] } 34... Qd8 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:16:57] } 35. Rd5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:04:14] } 35... Qc7 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:15:22] } 36. h4 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:03:22] } 36... Rxa5 { [%eval 0.12] [%clk 0:09:07] } 37. Rxa5 { [%eval 0.07] [%clk 0:03:18] } 37... Qxa5 { [%eval 0.06] [%clk 0:09:04] } 38. Qb7 { [%eval 0.06] [%clk 0:03:15] } 38... Qd8 { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 0:08:42] } 39. Qxf7+ { [%eval 0.09] [%clk 0:03:09] } 39... Kh6 { [%eval 0.08] [%clk 0:08:41] } 40. Kh3 { [%eval 0.1] [%clk 0:32:02] } 40... Qe7 { [%eval 0.46] [%clk 0:38:54] } 41. Qc4 { [%eval 0.11] [%clk 0:31:46] } 41... Qe3 { [%eval 0.12] [%clk 0:38:49] } 1/2-1/2