[Event "Casablanca Chess 2024"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2024.05.18"] [Round "01"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Amin, Bassem"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2746"] [BlackElo "2583"] [TimeControl "900+10"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C52"] [Opening "Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Slow Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [StudyName "Casablanca Chess 2024"] [ChapterName "Nakamura, Hikaru - Amin, Bassem"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/pW48HFwg/I3j1R4EV"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 3... Bc5 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 4. b4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 4... Bxb4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 5. c3 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 5... Ba5 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 6. O-O { [%clk 0:15:10] } 6... Qf6 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 7. d4 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 7... Nge7 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 8. Bg5 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 8... Qd6 { [%clk 0:00:00] } 9. Qb3 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:15:10] } 10. Rd1 { [%clk 0:15:10] } 10... Bb6 { [%clk 0:11:56] } 11. Bf1 { [%clk 0:15:06] } (11. Na3 { was Carlsen's choice. }) 11... exd4 { [%clk 0:11:56] } 12. cxd4 { [%clk 0:10:38] } 12... Ng6 { [%clk 0:10:49] } 13. Nc3 { [%clk 0:10:36] } 13... Nxd4 { Black's last move, and White's response, were both played instantly. But now, Nakamura slows down, taking two minutes before the temporary Exchange sac. Why? First, it's not like 14. Nxd4 is bad, so he's making sure he is not taking unnecessary risk. But, second, it's likely that he had somewhat assumed that his d4-pawn was "untouchable" given the tactical problems Black was going to face. In other words, Amin is about to face Nakamura's two most terrifying assets (calculation + intuition) in tandem. } { [%clk 0:10:49] } 14. Rxd4 { [%clk 0:08:42] } (14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Nb5 Qc5 16. Rxd4 Qxg5 17. Nxc7 Rb8 18. Nb5 d6 { and Black is up a pawn, and certainly no worse. }) 14... Bxd4 { [%clk 0:10:57] } 15. Nb5 { [%clk 0:08:49] } 15... Bxa1 { [%clk 0:08:52] } (15... Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Qb6+ 17. Be3 Qa5 { leaves Black ahead materially, with three pawns and a rook for the two minor pieces. But those pieces are so behind in development! } 18. Rc1 { White is having all the fun. It's lines like this that really show Nakamura's strength, as he is able to intuit the superiority of his pieces without having to calculate everything fully. }) 16. Nxd6 { [%clk 0:08:53] } 16... cxd6 { On paper, Black has gained more than enough material for the queen, but, again, what's that material doing? } { [%clk 0:07:36] } 17. h4 { [%clk 0:07:48] } 17... d5 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 18. Qd1 { [%clk 0:07:44] } 18... Bb2 { [%clk 0:03:38] } 19. Qb3 { [%clk 0:07:31] } 19... Ba1 { [%clk 0:02:55] } 20. Qb1 { [%clk 0:07:37] } 20... Bc3 { [%clk 0:02:51] } 21. Qc1 { [%clk 0:07:45] } 21... d4 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 22. h5 { [%clk 0:07:19] } 22... Nh8 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 23. e5 { [%clk 0:06:25] } (23. Bf6!! { is the engine's very cruel improvement. } 23... Re8 24. Qg5 Ng6 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Bxd4 $18 { when Black is no further along in development but no longer has a material advantage to hide behind, either. }) 23... Re8 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 24. Bf6 { There it is! } { [%clk 0:06:18] } 24... h6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 25. Qf4 { [%clk 0:06:18] } 25... Bb4 { [%clk 0:01:04] } 26. Bd3 { [%clk 0:05:33] } 26... d5 { [%clk 0:00:19] } 27. Bxg7 { [%clk 0:05:21] } 27... Kxg7 { [%clk 0:00:18] } 28. Qf6+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:05:29] } 1-0