[Event "US Masters 2024"] [Site "Charlotte"] [Date "2024.11.27"] [Round "01"] [White "Tari, Aryan"] [Black "Andersen, Gunnar"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2628"] [BlackElo "2227"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B30"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "2024 US Masters"] [ChapterName "Tari, Aryan - Andersen, Gunnar"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/p6WHvngL/7Z1EjWcC"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:58] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:29:02] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:30:54] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:29:16] } 3. Bb5 { [%clk 1:31:10] } 3... e6 { [%clk 1:29:37] } 4. Bxc6 { [%clk 1:31:25] } 4... bxc6 { [%clk 1:30:01] } 5. d3 { [%clk 1:31:48] } 5... Qc7 { [%clk 1:30:08] } 6. O-O { [%clk 1:31:47] } 6... e5 { [%clk 1:28:34] } 7. c3 { [%clk 1:31:51] } 7... Nf6 { [%clk 1:27:03] } 8. d4 { [%clk 1:31:10] } 8... cxd4 { [%clk 1:25:36] } 9. cxd4 { [%clk 1:31:34] } 9... exd4 { [%clk 1:25:17] } 10. Qxd4 { The first move out of preparation took Tari more than 20 minutes to decide on. } { [%clk 1:09:43] } 10... Qb6 { [%clk 1:15:10] } 11. Qe5+ { [%clk 0:42:42] } 11... Be7 { [%clk 1:15:00] } 12. Be3?! { [%clk 0:43:06] } 12... c5! { Suddenly, Black is better. The queen is well-placed on the b6-square and ... d7-d6 is coming next. The queen might need to retreat to the c3-square, so there is not even an easy move like Nb1-c3 for White. } { [%clk 1:09:05] } 13. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:38:42] } 13... d6 { [%clk 1:06:51] } 14. Qc3 { [%clk 0:39:08] } 14... O-O { White's e4-pawn is a bit vulnerable, and the b2-pawn can become a target too. In contrast, it is hard to attack the backwards d6-pawn, and so Black's pieces more than compensate for the slightly awkward structural issues. } { [%clk 1:03:53] } 15. Bg5 { [%clk 0:37:15] } 15... Re8 { [%clk 0:53:47] } 16. Qc2 { [%clk 0:36:06] } 16... Be6 { [%clk 0:49:34] } 17. Rfe1 { [%clk 0:33:47] } 17... h6 { [%clk 0:47:54] } 18. Bh4 { [%clk 0:33:25] } 18... a5 { Black plays against b2-b3, keeping pressure along the half-open b-file. } { [%clk 0:43:35] } 19. Nc4 { [%clk 0:31:13] } 19... Qa6 { [%clk 0:42:08] } 20. Nfd2 { [%clk 0:21:34] } (20. b3 a4 { leaves Black with ideas of ... d6-d5 as well. }) 20... a4 { [%clk 0:38:35] } 21. h3 { [%clk 0:21:19] } 21... Rab8 { [%clk 0:35:06] } (21... d5!? { was also interesting. }) 22. Bg3 { [%clk 0:18:44] } 22... Rb4 { The rook is off the b8-square before White's g3-bishop can use the pin on the d6-pawn. } { [%clk 0:32:34] } 23. Rac1 { [%clk 0:18:56] } 23... Rd8 { [%clk 0:29:38] } 24. e5 { Black has forced the Norwegian GM to make the difficult decision and spend his own time on the clock doing so. } { [%clk 0:12:49] } 24... dxe5 { [%clk 0:29:26] } 25. Bxe5 { [%clk 0:13:17] } 25... Nd7 $15 { With the bishop pair and the a4-pawn usefully keeping White's b2-pawn exposed, Black's two isolated queenside pawns are not actually a disadvantage here. } { [%clk 0:28:22] } 26. Bc7 { [%clk 0:12:38] } 26... Re8 { [%clk 0:24:33] } 27. a3 { [%clk 0:12:54] } 27... Rb7 { [%clk 0:23:36] } 28. Bg3 { [%clk 0:13:02] } 28... Rd8 { [%clk 0:20:54] } 29. Ne4 { [%clk 0:11:20] } 29... Bxc4 { Black decides that simplifying into a position where he cannot be worse is the most practical choice. } { [%clk 0:17:34] } (29... Nf6!? 30. Nxf6+ Bxf6 31. Be5 Bg5 { makes good use of the dark-squared bishop. With h2-h3 played, f2-f4 is too weakening against ... Bg5-h4, so } 32. Ne3 { is necessary, and after } 32... Rd3 33. Qe2 c4 $15 { Black keeps chances even as White's pieces get closer to coordinating with the e5-bishop. }) 30. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:11:48] } 30... Qxc4 { [%clk 0:17:57] } 31. Rxc4 { [%clk 0:12:15] } 31... Rxb2 { [%clk 0:18:01] } 32. Rxa4 { [%clk 0:12:38] } 32... Nb6 { [%clk 0:17:24] } 33. Ra6 { [%clk 0:10:52] } 33... Nd5 { [%clk 0:14:54] } 34. Ra7 { [%clk 0:08:24] } 34... c4 { [%clk 0:11:34] } 35. Rd1?! { [%clk 0:08:53] } (35. Be5 { covering the c3-square was more accurate. }) 35... Kf8 { [%clk 0:10:30] } 36. Ra5? { Here, a draw was agreed. Black was unable to fully evaluate 36. ... c3 and did not think his position was better after any other move. But it turns out that 36. ... c3 wins. } { [%clk 0:05:17] } (36. Be5 { was again better. }) 36... c3 37. Rc1 c2 38. Kh2 Ra2 $19 { Black simply goes after the a3-pawn, as a3-a4 is met by ... Be7-a3. } 1/2-1/2