[Event "Grand Chess Tour: Sinquefield Cup 2024"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2024.08.19"] [Round "01"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2793"] [BlackElo "2751"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Albin Variation"] [StudyName "2024 Sinquefield Cup"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Firouzja, Alireza"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kueFp0uL/ivyCeUQd"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 2:00:56] } 1... e5 { [%clk 2:00:54] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 2:01:22] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 2:01:20] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 2:01:47] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 2:01:45] } 4. d3 { [%clk 2:02:08] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 2:02:08] } 5. c3 { [%clk 2:02:21] } 5... d6 { [%clk 2:01:01] } 6. b4 { [%clk 2:01:56] } 6... Bb6 { [%clk 2:01:23] } 7. a4 { [%clk 2:02:21] } 7... a5 { [%clk 2:01:48] } (7... a6 { is the main alternative, played with a roughly equal frequency as the text. }) 8. b5 { [%clk 2:02:47] } 8... Ne7 { [%clk 2:02:12] } 9. O-O { [%clk 2:03:07] } 9... O-O { [%clk 2:02:07] } 10. Nbd2 { [%clk 2:03:11] } 10... Ng6 { [%clk 2:02:19] } 11. d4!? { A rare move in this position. By immediately pressuring the e-pawn, White anticipates potential ... Ng6-f4 jumps. } { [%clk 2:03:19] } (11. Bb3 { is the main move, and } 11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Kh2 d5 $10) (11. Ba2 { is also seen somewhat regularly. } 11... Bg4 12. h3 (12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Re1?! Nf4 $17 { is very promising for Black, with a kingside attack incoming. }) 12... Bh5 13. Re1 h6 $10) 11... Bg4 { [%clk 1:59:55] } 12. Qc2 { [%clk 2:03:25] } 12... Qd7 { [%clk 1:59:29] } 13. Re1 { [%clk 2:03:17] } 13... Rfe8 { Played after 18 minutes, and the prudent choice. Presumably, Black was taking time thinking about the fascinating } { [%clk 1:41:49] } (13... Nf4?! { when } 14. dxe5 Bh3!? { is curious. } 15. exf6 (15. gxh3 { can also be played. } 15... Nxh3+ 16. Kf1 Ng4 17. exd6 Nf4 { but only if White pulls the trigger on the necessary } 18. Re2! cxd6 19. Nb3 Nxe2 20. Bxe2 Bxf2 21. Nbd4 $16) 15... Nxg2 16. Kh1 Bxf2 { is wild: } 17. Qd1 Bxe1 18. fxg7 Rfe8 19. Ng5 Nf4 20. Qxe1 Qg4 21. Qg3 { 1 } 21... Qd1+ 22. Nf1 Bg2+ (22... Bxf1? 23. Bxf7+ Kxg7 24. Nf3+ Kh8 25. Qxf4! Bc4+ 26. Ng1 $16 { again White to finally liquidate into a superior position, with two minor pieces for the rook. }) 23. Kg1 Bxf1 24. Bxf7+ Kxg7 25. Qxf4 (25. Bxf4!? Qxa1 26. Kf2 { is apparently equal! }) 25... Bc4+ 26. Kg2 Qe2+ 27. Kh3 Rf8! 28. Bxc4 Qxc4 29. Qg4 Qf1+ 30. Kh4 Qf2+ 31. Qg3 $16 { allows White to liquidate into a superior endgame. }) 14. h3 { [%clk 2:02:59] } 14... Bxf3 { [%clk 1:41:19] } 15. Nxf3 { [%clk 2:03:22] } 15... exd4 { [%clk 1:40:47] } 16. Bb2 $146 { [%clk 2:03:41] } (16. Bg5 { was played in the only game in the database here. } 16... dxc3 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxc3 f5! { Black plays smart, returning the pawn while solving their biggest positional issues. } 19. Bd5 fxe4 20. Rxe4?! (20. Bxe4 d5 21. Rad1! { allows Black to keep the b-pawn, but offers chances of reaching a slightly preferable endgame, e.g. after } 21... c6 22. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 hxg6 24. Ne5 $10 { going after the c-pawn. }) 20... Rxe4 21. Bxe4 Re8 22. Bxb7 Qf5 23. Rf1 Nf4 24. Kh2 d5 $15 { left Black slightly better, although the players eventually drew on move 73 in Benes – Lanz, ICCF, 2019. }) (16. cxd4 { allows } 16... d5! { when White is the one struggling to equalize, thanks in large part to the slight lag in development and vulner } 17. Bd3 (17. exd5 Rxe1+ 18. Nxe1 Bxd4 19. Rb1 $15) 17... Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Rxe4 19. Rxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Re8 21. Qxb7 Bxd4 22. Ra2 $10) 16... dxc3 { [%clk 1:23:37] } 17. Bxc3 { [%clk 2:04:04] } (17. Qxc3 { is also playable. Now, } 17... Ne5? { is worse, as } (17... c6 { is best here, and is also good in the game variation. } 18. Rad1 Qc7 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Ba2 { goes nowhere special after } 20... Re7 $10) 18. Nxe5 dxe5 (18... Rxe5 19. Qg3 $16) 19. Rad1 Qc8 20. Qg3 $16 { is a nice activation of White's pieces. }) 17... Ne5 { [%clk 1:21:44] } 18. Nxe5 { [%clk 2:04:10] } 18... dxe5 { [%clk 1:20:50] } 19. Rad1 { [%clk 2:04:20] } 19... Qe7 { [%clk 1:21:01] } 20. Rd3 { [%clk 2:04:37] } 20... Red8 { [%clk 1:09:34] } 21. Rf3 { [%clk 1:39:11] } 21... Rd7 { [%clk 0:58:53] } 22. Rf5!? { The direct threat is maybe too concrete. White is down a pawn and wants to preserve the bishop pair, so inviting ... Bb6-d4 is not a victory. } { [%clk 1:10:28] } (22. g4 { is the engine's suggestion, with Kg1-g2/h2 to follow. The point is that now } 22... Bd4?! { is met resoundingly by } (22... h6 23. Kh2 Bd4 24. Bd2 $13 { is a favorable position, compared to the game, with the hook on h6 justifying White's bishop's return to the c1-h6 diagonal. }) 23. g5! $16) 22... Bd4 { [%clk 0:58:15] } 23. Bd2 { [%clk 1:10:53] } 23... c6 { [%clk 0:48:17] } 24. bxc6 { [%clk 0:54:49] } 24... bxc6 { [%clk 0:47:38] } 25. Bg5 { [%clk 0:55:09] } 25... Rb8! { The exclamation mark is awarded simply because Black won the game. Compared to the alternative, this keeps more pieces on the board and thus more "life" in the position. } { [%clk 0:25:45] } (25... Rd6 { was the alternative, allowing } 26. Rb1 { when } 26... h6 27. Bxf6 Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Qxf6 29. Rb7 Ra7 $10 { likely leads to a draw, with White regaining the pawn and the two sides headed closer to an opposite-colored bishops endgame. }) 26. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:47:38] } 26... gxf6 { [%clk 0:26:06] } 27. Qc1 { [%clk 0:40:45] } 27... Rb4?! { [%clk 0:17:17] } 28. Bf1? { White missed a very clever rejoinder: } { [%clk 0:33:01] } (28. Qh6!! Rxc4 29. Rf3 { creating a mating net with this backwards move. Now, only } 29... Rc3 { saves the game, but White still has } 30. Ree3! { which results in a superior endgame after best defense from Black: } 30... Rxe3 (30... Bxe3?? 31. fxe3 { wins, as Rf3-g3+ is unstoppable. } 31... Rxe3 32. Rxe3 Qc5 33. Kh2 { and Black is forced to play } 33... Qxe3 34. Qxe3 $18) 31. fxe3 { when Black can stay alive with } 31... Kh8! 32. exd4 (32. Rg3 { allows } 32... Bxe3+ { when } 33. Rxe3 Rd1+ 34. Kh2 Rd8 $15 { might give White compensation for the pawns, but no more. }) 32... Rd8 { The point is that if Black captured the d-pawn, Rf3-g3 still threatened a mate on g7 and Black's pieces were unable to cover the key square in time. } 33. Rf5! { Switching the "focal point," as Vukovic would call it, back to the h7-square. } 33... Rg8 34. dxe5 Rg6 (34... fxe5 35. Qxc6 { also equalizes material and keeps White's pieces preferable. }) 35. Qd2 fxe5 36. Qxa5 $16 { equalizing material with more active pieces and an outside passer. }) 28... Rd6 { [%clk 0:13:23] } 29. Qh6 { [%clk 0:27:45] } 29... Qf8 { [%clk 0:10:46] } 30. Qh5 { [%clk 0:23:46] } 30... Qg7 { [%clk 0:07:43] } 31. Kh2 { [%clk 0:21:04] } 31... Qg6 { Excellent defense from Firouzja, reconfiguring the queen to repel White's forces. But Black is down to 7 minutes (compared to White's 21), and there is no bonus time added on move 40! } { [%clk 0:07:03] } 32. Qf3 { [%clk 0:19:09] } 32... c5 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 33. Rc1 { [%clk 0:17:37] } 33... Rb2!? { [%clk 0:05:13] } (33... Rxa4 { was perfectly playable. }) 34. Qd1 { [%clk 0:12:20] } (34. Qd3! { is a slight improvement, keeping the e4-pawn defended. We'll see why this matters in the note to Black's next move. }) 34... Rdb6 { [%clk 0:02:20] } (34... Kg7! { is an improvement. The point is that now } 35. Rf3? { is refuted by } (35. Qd3 { is better, but now Black has } 35... h5 36. Rf3 (36. Kh1 Qh6 $17) 36... h4 $17 { with a clamp! }) (35. Be2? Bxf2! 36. Qxd6 Rxe2 $40) 35... Qxe4 $19) 35. Be2 { [%clk 0:08:56] } 35... Qh6 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 36. Bb5 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 36... Kf8!? { From here, White equalizes (and maintains an advantage on the clock). } { [%clk 0:01:40] } (36... Rd2! { was best, allowing } 37. Qg4+ { as } 37... Qg6 { invites a welcome trade. } 38. Qh4 Kf8 $15 { leaves Black's rook better-placed on the d2-square than it was in the game. Black can also think about ... Kf8-e7 and ... Rb6-b8-g8 to keep up the attack, due to the control of the g-file. }) 37. Rc2 { [%clk 0:08:06] } 37... Rb4 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 38. Qd3 { [%clk 0:06:52] } 38... Rd6 { For the next 20 moves, the players continue shuffling. White keeps trying to probe, but Firouzja proves resilient (despite having only a minute on his clock and "living on the increment"). } { [%clk 0:01:24] } 39. Bc4 { [%clk 0:06:05] } 39... Ke7 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 40. Qg3 { [%clk 0:05:39] } 40... Rd8 { [%clk 0:01:08] } 41. Qf3 { [%clk 0:05:41] } 41... Qg6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 42. Qe2 { [%clk 0:05:18] } 42... Rdb8 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 43. Bb5 { [%clk 0:05:36] } 43... Rd8 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 44. Qf3 { [%clk 0:05:00] } 44... Rd6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 45. g3 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 45... Qg8 { [%clk 0:01:00] } 46. Kg2 { [%clk 0:05:17] } 46... Rb6 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 47. h4 { [%clk 0:05:13] } 47... Rd6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 48. Qe2 { [%clk 0:05:32] } 48... Rb6 { [%clk 0:01:03] } 49. Kh3 { [%clk 0:04:15] } 49... Qc8 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 50. Kg2 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 50... Qg8 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 51. Kh3 { [%clk 0:04:01] } 51... Qc8 { [%clk 0:01:33] } 52. Qg4 { [%clk 0:04:21] } 52... Rb8 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 53. Bc4 { [%clk 0:04:42] } 53... Qg8 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 54. Qe2 { [%clk 0:04:29] } 54... R8b6 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 55. Bd5 { [%clk 0:04:19] } 55... Rd6 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 56. Rc4 { [%clk 0:04:07] } 56... Qc8 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 57. Qg4 { [%clk 0:04:20] } 57... Qd7 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 58. Qg7 { [%clk 0:04:31] } 58... Kd8? { [%clk 0:00:36] } (58... Rxd5! { is not the kind of move one wants to play with a minute on the clock. Of course, White can't recapture on d5 immediately, as the f5-rook hangs. But after } 59. Qxf6+ Kf8 60. Rxb4 axb4 61. exd5 { , White is up an Exchange, but is still best off forcing a draw after } 61... b3 { with } 62. Qh8+ Ke7 63. Qf6+ $10) 59. Bxf7 { [%clk 0:04:22] } (59. Rxb4 { was best, but required some finesse. } 59... axb4 60. Kh2! { was resourceful, breaking the pin such that the f-pawn is defended. } (60. Kg2 { is less precise, as Black intends ... Rd6xd5 and now gets an extra tempo due to the check on White's king. } 60... Rxd5 61. Rxf6 b3 62. exd5 Qxd5+ 63. Kh2 $16) 60... Rxd5 61. Rxf6 Rd6 (61... b3?? 62. exd5 Qxd5 63. Qf8+ { is simply winning, with the extra tempo compared to the variation where White's king was on the g2-square. }) 62. Rxf7 $18) 59... Kc7 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 60. Qg8 { [%clk 0:04:14] } 60... Bxf2 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 61. Qa8? { [%clk 0:03:45] } (61. Rxb4! axb4 62. a5 $13 { was best, although the position is still unclear. }) 61... Qxf7 { There is no skewer on the seventh rank, as after } { [%clk 0:00:48] } 62. Rxb4 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 62... cxb4 { , Black's bishop defends the a7-square, stopping Qa8-a7+-xf7. } { [%clk 0:01:13] } 63. Rxf2 { [%clk 0:03:16] } 63... Qd7+ { Black is pawn-up with a passed b-pawn and quickly coordinating heavy pieces. White is still equal with best play, but the tides are turning. } { [%clk 0:01:29] } 64. Kh2? { A significant inaccuracy! } { [%clk 0:03:00] } (64. Kg2 { was better, for a subtle reason: } 64... Kb6! { is best, although things are still practically equal. Black cannot win with } (64... Qxa4 { thanks to the following forcing line: } 65. Qa7+ Kc6 66. Qa6+ Kc5 67. Qa7+ Kc4 68. Qc7+ Rc6 69. Qd7 b3 70. Rxf6! { Here's the point, seven moves later! } 70... Qa2+ 71. Rf2 { would be unplayable with White's king on h2. } 71... Qa4 72. Rf6 $10) 65. Qb8+ Ka6 66. Qa8+ Qa7 { With White's rook defended by the king, Caruana can play a more patient move such as } 67. Qf8! { rather than keep checking out of necessity as in the game. } 67... Qc7 68. Rxf6 Rxf6 69. Qxf6+ Kb7 70. Qe6 Qc2+ $10 { is almost certainly drawn. }) 64... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:39] } (64... Qxa4 { also works now: } 65. Qa7+ Kc6 66. Qa6+ Kc5 67. Qc8+ (67. Qa7+ Kc4 68. Qc7+ Rc6 69. Qf7+ (69. Qd7 b3! 70. Rxf6? Qa2+ $19 { is winning now, unlike in the line with 64. Kg2 referenced above. }) 69... Kc3 70. Rf3+ Kb2 $19) 67... Rc6 68. Qf8+ Kc4 69. Qf7+ Kc3 70. Qxh7 Qd1 $17) 65. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:01:01] } 65... Ka6 { [%clk 0:02:05] } 66. Qa8+ { [%clk 0:01:29] } 66... Qa7 { Another benefit to White's king being on g2 is this interposition would not come with tempo on the f2-rook! } { [%clk 0:02:10] } 67. Qc8+ { A necessity because of the hanging f2-rook. This is where Qa8-f8 would have been more pressing, had White had time. } { [%clk 0:01:56] } 67... Qb7 { [%clk 0:02:32] } 68. Qc4+ { [%clk 0:02:10] } 68... Ka7 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 69. Rc2 { [%clk 0:02:35] } 69... Qd7 { White's checks run out, Black's heavy pieces dominate the d-file, and Black threatens a second pawn while gaining a lead on the clock for the first time in the game! } { [%clk 0:03:03] } 70. Qc5+ { [%clk 0:00:32] } 70... Ka6 { [%clk 0:03:26] } 71. Qf2? { Losing on the spot from a difficult position. By giving up the opportunity to play Qc5-c4+, forking Black's king and the b3-square, Black's passer now has a clear path: } { [%clk 0:01:00] } (71. h5! { was the most resilient. } 71... h6 (71... b3? 72. Qc4+! $10) 72. Kg2 Rb6 73. Qf8 Kb7!) 71... b3 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 72. Rb2 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 72... Qxa4 { Black wins a second pawn, and the position is simply lost for White. } { [%clk 0:02:59] } 73. Qf3 { [%clk 0:00:36] } 73... Rb6 { [%clk 0:03:09] } 74. Qd3+ { [%clk 0:00:58] } 74... Ka7 { Black spent over a minute here, belying the difficulty with preventing a perpetual check even though the engine insists this is "simply" winning regardless of what move Black chose here. } { [%clk 0:02:19] } 75. Qd5 { [%clk 0:01:25] } 75... Qa3 { [%clk 0:01:36] } 76. Qd2 { [%clk 0:01:32] } 76... Qb4 { [%clk 0:01:39] } 77. Qd8 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 77... a4 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 78. Rd2 { [%clk 0:02:03] } 78... b2?? { Too hasty! } { [%clk 0:00:43] } (78... Qxe4! { was best: } 79. Rd7+ Ka6 { and, with the a8-square covered, White likely has to try } 80. Qc8+ (80. Rd5 { aims to play Qd8-a8+, however } 80... Qc2+! 81. Rd2 Qc6 { ties everything together beautifully. } 82. Qd3+ Ka7 $19) 80... Kb5 $19 { when the checks run out. }) 79. Rd7+ { [%clk 0:02:16] } 79... Rb7 { [%clk 0:00:40] } 80. Rxb7+?? { Played instantly, despite having over two minutes on his clock! White presumably assumed this was forced, as any other move allows Black's b-pawn to promote. This turned out to only be half true! } { [%clk 0:02:42] } (80. Rd5! { allows Black's b-pawn to promote, but after } 80... b1=Q { , White saves the game with: } (80... Qc4 { , or any other move, gives White enough time to force a perpetual check. } 81. Ra5+ Qa6 82. Rxa6+ Kxa6 83. Qa8+ Kb6 84. Qd8+ $10) 81. Ra5+ { forces } 81... Qxa5 82. Qxa5+ { when White has a perpetual check! } 82... Kb8 83. Qd8+ Ka7 84. Qa5+ $10) 80... Kxb7 { Now, White is lost. } { [%clk 0:01:05] } 81. Qd7+ { [%clk 0:02:45] } 81... Kb6 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 82. Qd8+ { [%clk 0:02:57] } 82... Kb5 { [%clk 0:01:50] } 83. Qd5+ { [%clk 0:02:23] } 83... Qc5 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 84. Qb7+ { [%clk 0:02:19] } 84... Qb6 { [%clk 0:02:34] } 85. Qd5+ { [%clk 0:02:42] } 85... Kb4 { Black's king finds cover around the pawns, and White resigned. } { [%clk 0:02:51] } 0-1