[Event "Candidates Tournament 2020: Round 2 Gam"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/1sG"] [Date "2020.03.18"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/BlueRepublik"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A37"] [Opening "English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/ldhgOlvJ/iBLl1khd"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. h4 { This is interesting try to get attacking position so early in the opening } 6... h6 7. d4 { but now the usual d4 break is played } 7... cxd4 8. Nb5 { note that if e5, then Nd6+ is playable. } 8... d5 (8... e5 9. Nd6+) (8... Qb6 9. a4 a6 10. c5 Qd8 11. Nd6+) 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Nf6 { The pawn on d4 can be recaptured at any time, so instead, Wang Hao tests Giri immediately } 11. Bf4 { making an obvious threat } 11... O-O 12. Qc1 (12. Nc7 Nh5 13. Nxa8 Nxf4 14. gxf4 Bg4 { with compensation }) 12... a6 13. Nbxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Kh7 15. Rd1 Re8 16. Qc7 { Wang Hao's plan is simple: he intends to get Queens off the board, and play against the weak d5 pawn. } 16... Qxc7 17. Bxc7 Bg4 18. f3 Rac8 19. Ba5 Bd7 20. Kf2 h5 21. Bf1 Ng8 22. Bc3 Bh6 23. Rd3 Ne7 24. Rad1 { White clearly has more pressure, and is the only side who can win } 24... Bg7 25. e3 Kg8 26. R3d2 Ba4 27. Re1 { Wang Hao remanuevers, his plan now is to get the dark square Bishops off the board } 27... Bd7 28. Ne2 Rc7 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Nc3 Be6 31. Red1 { White is not much better, but the position is simply passive for Black. } 31... b5 32. a3 Rb8 33. Ne2 a5 34. Nd4 { a nice square for the Knight. } 34... Bd7 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 Ra8 37. Rb2 Ra4 38. Rdb1 { black has got some counterplay } 38... Rb7 39. Rc1 { Rc5 is coming, and the b-pawn can't be held. Giri tries to give it up for activity: } 39... Rba7 40. Nxb5 Bxb5 41. Bxb5 Ra3 42. Be2 Rb7 43. b5 Rb6 { black must simply block the pawn } 44. Rd1 Kf6 45. Rdd2 Rb7 46. Bd3 Nc8 47. e4 dxe4 48. Bxe4 Rb6 49. Rd7 Rc3 50. Rb7 Rxb7 51. Bxb7 Nb6 52. Be4 Ke5 53. Rd2 { This allows Rb3, and for Black to get behind the passed pawn. } 53... Rb3 54. Bc6 Nc4 55. f4+ Kf6 56. Rd8 Rb2+ 57. Kf3 Nd2+ 58. Ke3 Nf1+ { and White's carelessness has left him in a drawn position. White's King can never move to the d-file due to Rd2+ picking up the Rook on d8. After some more shuffling: } 59. Kf3 Nd2+ 60. Ke2 Ne4+ 61. Kf3 { and in this position, the two agreed to a draw. } *