[Event "Champions Chess Tour Airthings Masters"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.06"] [Round "1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Gukesh, D."] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2718"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A07"] [Opening "King's Indian Attack"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/f5OBDjty/FXfpmX6d"] [Orientation "white"] { A typical Nakamura rapid game. Maximally flexible opening play allows his opponent a classical space advantage in the center, but with great comes great responsibility. Gukesh has to make a number of committal, forcing decisions. He makes several correct ones to gain an advantage, but one inaccuracy (and missed brilliant intuitive sacrifice) is enough to pass the edge back to Nakamura. Gukesh tries his best, and comes close to pulling out a draw with some dastardly knight play, but misses his one chance to equalize. } 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4 e5 9. e3 Bd6 10. b3 a5 11. a3 Nf8 12. Bb2 Ne6 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. c4 O-O 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. h4 Rfe8 17. g5?! (17. cxd5 { White did not want to slowly concede the center, as Black is too quick to blow it open before White can stabilize and use space advantages on either flank. } 17... cxd5 18. O-O d4 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. Nc4 Rad8 21. Nxa5 e4! 22. dxe4 d3! 23. Qf3 Nxe4! 24. Qh3 (24. Qxe4 Qxh4 $17) 24... d2 25. Rcd1 N6c5 $17) 17... Nf4! 18. Qf1 Nxg2+? (18... e4! { The proper strategy against the uncastled king. It is possible Black did not fully believe in the piece sacrifice, or that he thought it was unnecessary. Which, in a sense, it was, but Black's compensation is clearly excellent. Additionally, White's queen is now well-placed to target the d5-pawn, slowing down Black's activity. } 19. dxe4 (19. exf4? exd3+ 20. Kd1 Bxf4 21. Qxd3 dxc4 22. Qxc4 Rad8 $19) 19... Nxg2+ 20. Qxg2 Nxe4 21. O-O-O Be5 $17) 19. Qxg2 Nh5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rc1 Qe7 22. Qxd5 Bxa3 23. Bxa3 Qxa3 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Rxc5 a4 26. Ke2 axb3 27. Rb1 Ra4 28. Rxb3 Rxh4 29. Rxb7 Rg4 30. Ne4 f5 31. gxf6 gxf6 32. Rcc7 Rg1 33. Nd6 Ra8 34. Nf7 Ng7 35. Rc6 (35. Kf3! { White must anticipate the mating net. } 35... Nf5 36. Rb6 $18) 35... Nf5 36. Rxf6? (36. Kf3! $18) 36... Rf8? (36... Ra2+ $14 37. Kf3 Ra4! { is good for proximate equality, as White cannot get greedy with } 38. Nxe5?? { due to } 38... Nh4+ 39. Ke2 Ra2+ 40. Rb2 Rxb2# { . }) 37. Kf3 Kg7 38. Ng5+ Kxf6 39. Nh7+ Ke6 40. Nxf8+ Kf6 41. Rb6+ Kg7 42. Nd7 Nh4+ 43. Ke4 Rg4+ 44. Kxe5 Nf3+ 45. Ke6 Rg2 46. Rb2 Ng5+ 47. Ke5 Nh3 48. Nf6 Rxf2 49. Rb7+ Kf8 50. e4 Nf4 51. d4 Nd3+ 52. Ke6 Nf4+ 53. Kd6 Ne2 54. Nd7+ Kg7 55. d5 Nc3 56. Nc5+ Kh6 57. Ke5 g5 58. d6 Rd2 59. d7 g4 60. Rb6+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0