[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/fhBzjnqz/jruiWaRF"] [Date "2022.06.26"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [WhiteTeam "Hungary"] [BlackElo "2750"] [BlackTeam "Poland"] [Annotator "Aagaard"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C47"] [Opening "Four Knights Game"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/fhBzjnqz/jruiWaRF"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 { The Glek Variation. It is not good at all, but at least manages to avoid too much forcing opening theory. } 4... Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. d3 a5! { This is the best scoring line in the database. Duda knows the theory, but when he has to make moves on his own, he looks inferior to the other players. Rapport clearly noticed this and made the opening choice on this knowledge. Duda once lost a game as a junior after... } (6... h6 7. Na4 Bg4 8. h3 Be6 { 1-0, 30. Dvirnyy - Duda, Chotowa 2010. }) 7. O-O h6 8. b3!? { An original way of getting a random playable position. } (8. Be3 { feels thematic. But after } 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O 10. Nh4 Ne7 $15 { White is going to look for equality in vain. }) 8... O-O 9. h3 Nd4 10. Be3 c6 11. Kh2 Re8 12. a3 { It is hard for White to improve the position. } 12... Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Bxe3 14. fxe3?! { The question mark is for the value of the move, the exclamation mark is for the ambition and later result. But Black is simply better now. } 14... b5 15. g4 Ra7 (15... Be6 $17 { was also good. }) 16. Qg3 h5?! { There is nothing much wrong with this move in principle, but why Black would want to open the position on the kingside is beyond me. Classical middlegame theory says that you should not play on the side of the board where you are weaker. Duda goes for a fistfight with his nose first. } (16... Re6 $17) 17. g5 h4? { Another step in the wrong direction. } (17... Nh7 18. h4 Qb6 { Black is ready for ...g7-g6, ... Nh7-f6, ...Bc8-e6 and later ...Qb6-c5. White does not have a good way to activate his minor pieces or to exploit the limited weaknesses on the black kingside. On the other hand, the white queenside looks exposed and frail. }) 18. Qxh4 Nh7 19. Qg3 Nxg5!? { A sharp decision. } (19... Qxg5!? $15 { was safer, but would not give Black a real advantage. The queen would be needed to invade on the dark squares on the queenside. Still, long term, Black's structure is better. }) 20. h4 Nh7 21. Bh3! { Getting rid of this useless piece of wood makes perfect sense. } 21... Bxh3 22. Rg1! { An important intermediate move. } (22. Kxh3 Re6! $17 { and White is exposed everywhere. }) 22... Ng5? { A complete misunderstanding of the position. I find it hard to believe what he was thinking the bishop was stronger than the knight. Maybe he felt the open g-file was unpleasant, but in the game, the open h-file does not become pleasant either. } (22... g6 23. Kxh3 Nf6 $15 { with ...Kg8-g7 and ...Re8-h8 likely happening afterwards made much more sense. }) 23. hxg5 Bc8 24. Rg2 (24. Kg2!? { was also possible, but after the accurate } 24... Rae7! 25. Rh1 Re6 { Black is fine. }) 24... Rae7? (24... f6 { was possible, but }) (24... Kf8!? { is the thematic move. The king is simply absconding. } 25. Rh1 Ke7 { would be absolutely fine for Black. White can try 25.d4 or 25.a4, but Black also seems fine in those complications. }) 25. Qf3?! { Giving Black a chance for a last desperate attempt. White could have prevented all counterplay with either } (25. Qh4 Re6 26. Qh5! Kf8 27. Rf1 $18) (25. Rf1 Re6 26. Qf3 Qc7 27. Kh1 { with ideas like Qh5 or Rh2. Black does not have a way out for the king. }) 25... g6? { This move is impossible to explain. Black could have stayed in the game with a desperate move: } (25... f6! { and White is only somewhat better after either 26.g6, or } 26. gxf6 Rf7 27. Rag1 Qxf6 28. Qxf6 Rxf6 29. Rxg7+ Kf8 $14 { , when the extra pawn is not that excessive. }) 26. Rh1 $18 f5 27. Kg1 (27. gxf6 Rh7+ 28. Kg1 Rxh1+ 29. Kxh1 Kf7 { is what Duda was probably hoping for. But this is not going to happen. }) 27... b4 28. exf5 gxf5 (28... bxc3 29. fxg6 $18) 29. Ne4! { Black resigned. } 29... fxe4 30. Qh5 Rg7 31. g6 { with mate in a few moves. } 1-0