[Event "FIDE Women's Candidates 2024"] [Site "Toronto, Canada"] [Date "2024.04.04"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Muzychuk, Anna"] [Black "Salimova, Nurgyul"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2520"] [BlackElo "2432"] [Annotator "WGM Tatev Abrahamyan"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C43"] [Opening "Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Mez4h4WA/EECnjfW8"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by WGM Tatev Abrahamyan } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Rb1 b6 12. Re1 c6 13. Bg5 Qc7 { A well-known theoretical position. Black has some long-term weaknesses due to the weakened king, but it is hard for White to exploit them. Additionally, the weakness of the king is compensated for by White's compromised pawn structure on the queenside. } 14. c4 Be8 15. Qf3 dxc4 16. Bxc4+ Bf7 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. h3 { Muzychuk blitzed out this whole sequence while Salimova fell 24 minutes behind on the clock. } (18. h4 Qd7 19. h5 Bf8 20. h6 gxh6 21. Bf4 Qxd4 22. Be5 Qc4 23. Rbd1 Re8 24. Ba1 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 c5 26. Re8 Re7 27. Rxe7 Bxe7 28. Qxf5 Qxa2 29. Qg4+ Bg5 30. Qc8+ Kf7 31. Qf5+ Ke8 32. Qc8+ Kf7 33. Qf5+ Ke8 34. Qc8+ { was a draw in Naiditsch – Fridman, Bastia, 2013. }) 18... f4!? { A bit of a commitment. This move blocks the path of the g5-bishop, but at the same time, it allows for the rooks to invade. } (18... Qd7 19. Bf4 { Perhaps she did not like allowing this bishop exchange. } 19... Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Qd5 21. a3 Rd8) 19. Bh4 Bf8 20. Re6 Rc8 21. c4 (21. Rbe1 { looks like a natural move that keeps control of the only open file in the position. }) 21... Qd7 22. Qe4 f3 { Black wants quick counterplay, but she also doesn't have any other useful moves. } 23. Re1 fxg2 24. Bg3 Rd8 25. Rd1 Re7 { Black is happy to exchange the active e6-rook. } 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Qxe7 Bxe7 28. Kxg2 Kf7 { If White was on time to play Be3-e5 followed by f2-f4 and Kf3-e4, she would have some great pressure. However, Black is right on time. } 29. Kf3 Bd6 30. Ke4 Bxg3 31. fxg3 { Now, the game fizzled out to a draw. } 31... Re8+ 32. Kd3 Re6 33. d5 Rg6 34. dxc6 Rxc6 35. Kc3 Ke7 36. Kb4 Rc5 37. Re1+ Kd7 38. Rd1+ Ke7 39. Re1+ Kd7 40. Rd1+ Ke7 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2