[Event "2022 Summer IM B"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/iJ58YOrj/EBx0RY2j"] [Date "2022.07.28"] [Round "8"] [White "Homa, Seth"] [Black "Wang, Tianqi"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Tillis,Bryan"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D37"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Two Knights Defense, Blockade Line"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/iJ58YOrj/EBx0RY2j"] [Orientation "white"] { We have here another great example of strength by IM Wang. When I was watching this game live I was reminded of the 2014 World Championship. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. b4 (8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 cxb5 13. c6 Qc8 14. c7 b4 15. Nb5 a4 16. Rc1 { A key idea missed in the main game, Vishy went on to win in 1-0 (34) Anand,V (2792)-Carlsen,M (2863) Sochi 2014. }) 8... b6 9. h4 { An interesting move but it does little change the simple plan that Black has in the position. } 9... a5 { Black needs to get rid of the bad bishop, this is the most natural plan. } 10. a3 h6 (10... Ne4 { Is a bit more to the point following 0-1 (42) Shankland,S (2709)-Nakamura,H (2750) Chess.com INT 2022. }) 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. b5 { The idea is the same from the world championship game but here the extra move by White is not beneficial. } (13. Qe2 { This is the machine's first choice line with dynamic equality. } 13... Qa8 14. b5 Ra7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. cxb6 Rb7 17. dxe5 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Bxh6 { With 0.00 as the evaluation. }) 13... cxb5 14. c6 Qc8 15. c7 b4 16. Nb5 a4 17. axb4 (17. Rc1 { This was a must here. } 17... Ne4 18. Ng5 { A very interesting continuation making use of the h-pawn. }) 17... Bxb4+ 18. Ke2 { Black now has a stable plus, IM Wang takes little to no risk for the rest of the game to convert. } 18... Ra5 19. Qd3 Ne4 20. Rhc1 Qa8 (20... e5 { This forcing move is a bit stronger than the main game but stylistically I understand Black's choice. } 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qd7) 21. Rab1 Be7 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Rc8 24. f3 Nf6 25. g4 { White has gotten back to equality and has a clear plan on the kingside. } 25... Ne8 26. g5 h5 27. Rc2 (27. g6 { In order to keep Black on his back foot this needs to be played. }) 27... a3 28. Ra2 (28. g6 { Again, this is a must to generate counterplay in the future. }) 28... Qc6 29. Qb3 Qd7 (29... Nxc7 30. Nxc7 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Qxc7 { The heavies can't do much here for White. }) 30. Kd3 Bd6 31. Nxd6 Nxd6 32. Bxd6 Qxd6 33. Qxb6 Qxc7 34. Qxc7 Rxc7 { Now we enter the best area of IM Wang's game the ending. } 35. Rba1 Rca7 36. Ke2 Kh7 37. Kf2 Kg6 38. Kg3 Kf5 39. Rb1 f6 40. gxf6 gxf6 41. Rb3 e5 { Steady progress towards the creation of a passed pawn. } 42. Rd3 Ke6 { When analyzing games of stronger players I often take note when they keep tension instead of playing a forcing continuation. Silman refers to it in his Complete Endgame Course as "Cat and Mouse". Keep tension for as long as possible to give your opponent more room to go wrong. } (42... e4 43. fxe4+ Kxe4 44. Rc3 f5 { White can do nothing in this line. }) 43. Rb3 exd4 44. exd4 Ra4 45. Rd3 Kf5 46. Re3 Rg7+ 47. Kf2 Rxd4 48. Raxa3 Rxh4 { The last phase will be simplifying the win. } 49. Ra5 Rd4 50. Re8 Kf4 51. Rh8 Rg5 { No weaknesses, no problems! } 52. Rh6 Rf5 53. Ra6 Kg5 54. Rh8 Rd3 55. Rg8+ Kh4 56. Ra4+ d4 57. Ke2 Re3+ 58. Kd2 Rexf3 59. Rxd4+ R3f4 60. Rxf4+ Rxf4 { This becomes a very difficult endgame to win with the defending king on h2. } 61. Ke3 Rf5 62. Rg1 Kh3 63. Ke4 Rg5? { This actually goes from winning to drawing immediately. } (63... Kh2 64. Rg6 Rf1 { Gets the most out of the key squares. } 65. Rh6 Kg3 66. Rxh5 { It is very difficult to consider a line where you give away a pawn. } 66... Re1+ { With the defending king cut off from the pawn the rest will be easy. }) 64. Rf1 Re5+ 65. Kf4 Kg2 66. Ra1 { The game is now over. } (66. Rf2+! { This fantastic move holds for White! }) 66... Re2 67. Ra8 Rf2+ 68. Ke3 Rf3+ 69. Ke2 h4 70. Ra4 h3 71. Rh4 Rg3 72. Rf4 h2 73. Rf2+ Kh3 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1