[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2026.04.01"] [Round "4"] [White "Sindarov, Javokhir"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2745"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackElo "2795"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [TimeControl "40/7200:1800+30"] [Annotator "WGM Katerina Nemcova"] [GameId "2294417332015146"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D26"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation"] [StudyName "2026 Candidates Rounds 1-11"] [ChapterName "Sindarov, Javokhir - Caruana, Fabiano"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/L5mZq8u7/SvencduR"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 (6... a6 { This is the most frequently played move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Fabiano has many games with this line, ranging from U.S. Championships to online blitz. } 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ne5 Ke7 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Nc4 b6 12. Nbd2 a5 { 0-1 Deac,B (2674)-Caruana,F (2784) Titled Tuesday intern op 29th Jul Late Chess.com INT blitz 2025 (8) }) 7. Qe2 a6 { Preparing the ... b7-b5 advance. } 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bd3 { An interesting choice. Sindarov goes for a sideline, likely supported by pre-game preparation. } (9. Bb3 { This is the main bishop retreat, controlling the d5-square for a future d4-d5 advance while keeping the d-file open for the rook. } 9... Bb7 10. Rd1 { This position is well-known, with several possible setups for Black. Plans might include ... Bf8-e7, ... Qd8-c7, or... c5-c4. }) 9... Bb7 (9... cxd4 { Alternatively, Caruana could simplify the central tension and reposition the knight to establish a blockade. } 10. exd4 Nb4 11. Be4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Rfe1 Be7! (14... Kf7? 15. Rac1! $16 { with strong pressure on the black king. The engine evaluates this as winning for White. } (15. Bd2? Qd7 { ½-½ Vetokhin,S (2427)-Paravyan,D (2612) Moscow Aeroflot op-A 2024 (7) }) 15... fxg5? 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Nxg5+ Qxg5 18. Qe8+ Kg8 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Qe6#) 15. Bd2 Ra7!? { At first glance the position looks suspicious for Black, but it holds together well and remains balanced. }) 10. a4!? { Another less common choice within a sideline. Such preparation is key in modern chess, where opponents are rarely surprised in main lines. } 10... b4 (10... bxa4 11. Rxa4 Nb4 12. Bb1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Be7 14. Rd1 Qb6 { 0-1 Adhiban,B (2671)-Van Foreest,J (2609) Hoogeveen m2 2017 (3) }) (10... c4 11. Bc2 b4 12. Ne4 Na5 13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. e4 Qc7! (14... h5?! { 1-0 Svane,R (2616)-Anton Guijarro,D (2625) WchT Rapid London 2025 (7.3) }) 15. Be3 b3 16. Bb1 Bb4 $13 { A complex position where both sides have strengths and weaknesses. }) 11. Ne4 Na5 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. dxc5! $146 (13. Rd1?! { This move appeared in a previous game by weaker players. It is problematic because it allows the ... c5-c4 advance. } 13... Qb6 14. Rb1?! c4! 15. Bxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Be4 17. Ra1 Qb7 18. Ne1 Rg8 19. g3 Bd6 $15 { 0-1 Turna,S (2278)-Banduka,Z (2115) SVK-ch op-A Banska Stiavnica 2007 (9.27) }) 13... Nb3 14. c6! { A home-prepared idea! Sindarov had spent only seven minutes so far, while Caruana had already used nearly an hour at this point. } 14... Bxc6 15. Nd4! { A strong continuation of 14. c6, aiming to activate the dark-squared bishop and complete development quickly. With better development, play becomes much easier. } 15... Nxd4 (15... Nxa1? { This is too greedy. Black is underdeveloped, the king remains in the center, and the knight will struggle to return to the game. } 16. Nxc6 Qb6 17. Nd4 e5 { Hoping to bring the knight back via b3. } (17... Bc5 18. Bc4 O-O 19. b3 Rac8 20. Bb2 $18) 18. a5! Qxa5 19. Qf3! Rc8 20. Qxf6 Rg8 21. Bxh7 $18 { White dominates the board, and the black king cannot find safety. }) 16. exd4 Rg8 { Black looks for counterplay along the g-file. } (16... Qxd4? { This capture is premature. White gains strong compensation through piece activity. } 17. Be3 Qd5 18. f3 Qe5 19. Rac1 Bxa4 20. f4! Qd5 21. Bc4 Qb7 22. f5! e5 23. Ra1 $18 { White has strong compensation via light squares and open files. A win is only a matter of time. }) 17. g3! (17. f3?! Qxd4+! 18. Be3 Qe5 $13 { Black gains valuable time with the extra check and equalizes. White's initiative disappears. }) 17... f5? { A natural-looking move, but the first real inaccuracy. White now has time to improve and maintain pressure. } (17... Qd5?! { Too slow. White retains strong compensation with active pieces. } 18. f3 Qxd4+ 19. Be3 Qe5 20. Rac1 Bxa4 21. Be4! $16) (17... Qxd4! { The only move to maintain balance. } 18. Be3 Qd5 19. f3 f5! { Controlling the e4-square is essential. The position remains complex but objectively balanced. } 20. Bxa6 (20. b3!? { Stockfish prefers keeping the position complicated with another sacrifice! }) 20... Bc5! 21. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 22. Kg2 Ke7) 18. Bc4! { Targeting the e6 pawn and preparing potential d4-d5 ideas. } (18. Bxf5?? Qd5! $19 { A single oversight would allow Black to take over. }) 18... Rg4?! { Another natural move, but inaccurate. Black's pieces lack coordination, while White's are becoming dominant. } (18... Qxd4! { This was the best chance. } 19. Bxe6! Qe4! (19... fxe6? 20. Qxe6+ Be7 21. Qxg8+ $18) 20. Qxe4 Bxe4 (20... fxe4 21. Bf5! Bg7 22. Re1! $18 { Black cannot castle, and the position collapses. }) 21. Bb3 $14 { White is better, but converting still requires precision. }) 19. Be3 Bd5 20. Rac1! { Sindarov continues his development smoothly. } 20... Be7 (20... Bxc4? { Even equal trades favor White here due to better coordination. } 21. Qxc4! Qd7 22. Rfd1 Be7 23. Qb3! $16 { White is fully developed and ready for d4-d5. }) 21. Bxa6 (21. Rfd1!? { Interestingly, Stockfish prefers improving the rook over capturing material. } 21... Kf8 22. Bf4 Kg8 23. Bxd5 Qxd5 24. Qc4! $16 { White aims for a favorable endgame, exploiting the misplaced rook on g4. }) 21... Kf8 22. Bb5 $16 { White is a healthy pawn up and controls the important c-file. } 22... Bf6 23. Rfd1 Kg7 24. Bc6! { A brilliant and precise idea. Removing the bishop allows d4-d5, which would completely collapse Black's position. Accurate calculation was required for this concept. } 24... Ra5 (24... Bxc6 25. Rxc6 Rxa4 (25... Bxd4 26. Bxd4+ Rxd4 27. Qe5+! $18) 26. d5!! exd5 27. Qc2! { Double attack on the rook and f5-pawn. } 27... Ra8 28. Qxf5 Rg6 29. Rxd5 $18 { White plans Rc6xf6 followed by Be3-d4 with a mating attack. White is also a pawn up with strong initiative. }) 25. Bxd5 Rxd5 26. Rc5! { The principle of trading when ahead in material applies at every level — even in the Candidates. } 26... Rd7 (26... Bxd4 27. Rxd5 Qxd5 28. a5!! { What a move! Black's pieces are tied down while White advances the a-pawn. } (28. Bxd4+?? Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Qxd4 30. a5 b3) 28... e5 29. a6 Qa5 30. Qf1! $18 { White prepares Rd1-a1 to support the pawn. Many moves win here. }) (26... Rxc5?! 27. dxc5 $18 { The passed a- and c-pawns will be very difficult to stop. White is winning. }) 27. d5! { Breaking up Black's pawn structure. } 27... exd5 28. Qf3! $18 { White's position is overwhelming. There is no way back for Black. } 28... Bxb2 (28... d4 29. Rxf5 Rg6 30. Bd2 $18) 29. Rcxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Qe8 31. Rxf5 Rg6 32. h4! { Sindarov plans to drive the rook away from the g-file and create mating threats. } 32... Bc3 33. h5 Ra6 34. Qg4+ Kh8 35. Bd4+ f6 (35... Bxd4 36. Qxd4+ f6 37. h6! { Securing the g7-square for future back rank checkmates. } 37... Qf8 38. Rb5 $18 { The position is hopeless for Black: a weak back rank, weak diagonal, and the dangerously advancing a-pawn. } 38... Rxa4? 39. Rb8! Qxb8 40. Qxf6+ Kg8 41. Qg7#) 36. Rc5 { White threatens Rc5-c8 with a decisive skewer. Sindarov wins a crucial game, demonstrating excellent preparation and strong ambition. } (36. Ra8 Rxc3!! 37. bxc3 Bxf6#) 1-0