[Event "2022 Summer GM A"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/study/iJ58YOrj/r4q72yHW"]
[Date "2022.07.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shankar, Gauri"]
[Black "Zhou, Liran"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Tillis,Bryan"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "E15"]
[Opening "Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Check Variation, Intermezzo Line"]
[Source "https://lichess.org/study/iJ58YOrj/r4q72yHW"]
[Orientation "white"]
{ Round 8 of 9, in order to make a GM norm two back to back wins are needed in
a very strong tournament. The silver lining is a single draw in two games
clinches an IM norm, what would you do? }
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 { Black
chooses a very solid opening with the Queen's Indian Defense. } 4. g3 Ba6 { The modern approach to the opening that gives White some room to go wrong.
Staying flexible is in the author's opinion very important in a high stress
norm situation. Black needs to feel out whether or not to risk it or go for a
more solid continuation for a draw. } (4... Bb7 { This is the old mainline which
is still quite popular. } 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 { 1/2-1/2 (39)
Sjugirov,S (2696)-Durarbayli,V (2638) Chess.com INT 2022 }) 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 (7. Bg2 { This is most popular in the database. } 7... c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 { This line has a very solid reputation. }) 7... O-O 8. e4 d5 { An absolute must in the position. } 9. cxd5 Bxf1 10. Kxf1 exd5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Kg2 c5 { Black is clearly well prepared here, though there are other
options. } (12... Qd7 { The main move in practice. } 13. Re1 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Nc6 15. Qd3 Nd8 { The knight needs to route to the most flexible square. } 16. b4 Ne6 { With a balanced game. }) 13. Qe2 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Nc6 15. Rhd1 Qd7 16. Rac1 Rac8 (16... a5 { It is hard to argue with the text move but this has the potential to
favorably alter the pawn structure in the future. }) 17. Bb2 Rfd8 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Ba3 a5 { The only blemish on an otherwise near perfect game by Black. } (19... Nb8 20. h4 Qe6 { Black is completely fine here. }) 20. e6 { After this nice
move White has a small plus in the position. } 20... fxe6 21. Bxc5 Bf6 22. Bb6 Rf8 23. Rc5 Be7 24. Rc2 Rf5 25. Rdc1 Ba3 (25... e5 { This is far more complicated but
also good. }) 26. Nd4 Bxc1 27. Nxf5 Bg5 28. Nd4 Nxd4 29. Rxc8+ Qxc8 30. Bxd4 Bf6 31. Bb6 Bc3 32. Qg4 { A model game from Black who needed more than anything not
to lose. This game clinched the IM norm with a round to spare. } 1/2-1/2