[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.10.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Semi-Slav"]
[Black "Modern Anti-Meran tabiya"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D45"]
[Annotator "dkulj"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2021.10.06"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.03.20"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Qe7 11. Rad1 Rad8 12. Rfe1 Rfe8 {[%cal Ye6e5,Yc6c5,Ge3e4]
[#] This flexible tabiya is one of the most popular in the Semi-slav defense,
with hundreds of games being played from it. Both sides have mobilized their
pieces for central breaks - e3-e4 for White and ...c6-c5 or ...e6-e5 for Black.
However, practice has shown that pushing in the center immediately may not be
the best strategy and that it might be more useful to make several useful
waiting moves instead. From White's perspective,} 13. Bf1 {[%cal Gg2g3,Gf1g2,
Ge3e4] is the most flexible option. It opens up the e-file for e3-e4 and
prepares to fianchetto the bishop on g2 in certain cases.} ({In the case of} 
13. e4 {[%cal Ge2d3,Gd3e4]} dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 {[%csl Rb7,Re4] [#]
white queen is a little vulnerable on e4 and Black can take advantage of it in
one of the following ways:} Bb4 $5 {[%csl Re1]} ({or} 15... Nf8 $5 $13 {
[%csl Yb7][%cal Gc6c5,Ye7b7]}) 16. Rf1 Bd6 17. Ne5 f5 $1 {[%csl Re4]} 18. Qe3
c5 $11 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) ({Instead, White would much rather carry out e3-e4 with
the support of the bishop} 13. Bd3 {[%cal Ge3e4,Yc2h7] but in this case Black
is quick with his central counterplay} e5 14. e4 {[%csl Re7][%cal Ye1e8]} dxc4
$1 {[%csl Re1] ensuring that the e-file remains closed.} 15. Bxc4 exd4 16. Nxd4
{[%cal Gd4f5]} g6 $13 {[%cal Gd7e5] [#] and we have a typical Meran structure
with rich middlegame play for both sides.}) (13. g3 {[%cal Ge2f1,Gf1g2] is
another typical waiting move. In Model game 4, we examine} a6 {[%csl Ra7,Yb5]
which is a generally useful multi-purpose waiting move. The idea behind it is
to cover the b5-square in some lines and to prepare ...Bd6-b4.} (13... c5 {
transposes to Model game 2 after} 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf1) ({In the case of the
other pawn break} 13... e5 {is slightly premature in the view of} 14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nb5 $1 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 {[%csl Rd5] when White gets to
exchange a lot of pieces with a tempo.}) (13... Bb4 {is typically an
unpleasant pin that rules out the e3-e4 break, but it is premature here due to}
14. a3 $1 Bxa3 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Ra1 {[%csl Ra7] [#] and now we
see why it was important for Black to start with ...a6 before going ...Bb4.}
Qd6 18. Rxa7 $14 {[%csl Rb7]}) 14. Bf1 e5 ({It is better to continue} 14... Bb4
$1 15. Bg2 dxc4 $1 16. bxc4 c5 $13 {[%csl Yb4,Yb7]}) 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. dxe5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 {[%cal Rc3b5]} 18. Ne2 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Ge2f4] and White
has a typical slight edge against the IQP.}) (13. h3 {is a less popular but
still interesting waiting move for White, which we will examine in Model game
5. Black continued with the waiting game} a6 ({Instead,} 13... c5 $5 14. cxd5
exd5 15. Bd3 a6 $13 {would have lead to a good version of the hanging pawns
structure for him.}) (13... e5 $6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nd4 $16 {
[%csl Rd6][%cal Gd4f5,Gc3b5,Yb2a3]}) {and White continued} 14. e4 $5 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 {[%csl Ra6,Rb6,Yh3] claiming that the inclusion of h3 and
a6 is slightly in his favor due to Black's weaknesses on the queenside.} Bb4
17. Rf1 Bd6 $5 18. Ne5 f5 19. Qf4 c5 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Bd4 $14) 13... c5 (13...
e5 {is another popular option that could lead into a similar structure as in
Model game 4 after} 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 {[%csl
Yd4,Rd5] [#]}) 14. cxd5 exd5 {[%csl Yc5,Yd5][%cal Gc5c4,Gg2g3,Yf1g2] [#] In
this position, White has several ways to deal with Black's hanging pawns. In
Model game 1, we examine the typical plan} 15. Nb5 ({In model game 2, we look
at the more restrained} 15. g3 a6 16. Bg2 {when White waited for a more
appropriate moment to capture on c5. Black wasted no time preparing ...c5-c4
when he played} Rc8 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Gc5c4] [#]}) ({In Model game 3, we look
at an interesting way to regroup our pieces against the hanging pawns:} 15.
dxc5 bxc5 16. Ne2 $5 {[%csl Yb2,Gf5][%cal Ge2g3,Gg3f5] [#]} Bc7 17. Ng3) 15...
Bb8 16. dxc5 bxc5 {[%csl Yc5,Yd5]} 17. g3 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Gf1g2] [#] when
Black displayed excellent strategy with} Ng4 $5 $132 {[%csl Rf2,Rg1][%cal
Gd7f6,Gd5d4,Gh7h5]} *

[Event "Biel 53rd"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "2020.07.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Model game 1: Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Harikrishna,P/dkulj"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,66,7,-19,49,15,19,16,42,16,26,26,38,11,33,-17,33,2,8,13,13,16,16,4,9,
1,12,-23,30,24,24,24,12,2,0,-36,37,4,52,-16,18,-17,29,22,22,-49,79,53,90,35,30,
30,38,-83,-83,-163,-163,-163,-164,-164,-141,-141,-141,-141,-141,-154,-162,-168,
-156]} 1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. d4 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O
8. Be2 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Rfe1 Rfe8 12. Rad1 Rad8 13. Bf1 c5 14.
cxd5 exd5 15. Nb5 Bb8 {More or less forced as Black cannot allow the exchange
of his bishop for White's knight.} 16. dxc5 bxc5 {[%csl Yc5,Yd5]} 17. g3 {
[%cal Gf1g2] [#] This was the critical position. I felt that it was about
equal. Black needs an active plan and, quite importantly, not to exchange too
many pieces.} Ng4 $5 {[%csl Rf2,Gf3][%cal Yg4e5] Putting pressure on the
kingside, while also trying to provoke new weaknesses.} (17... Ne4 18. Bg2 Ndf6
19. Nc3 Bc7 $11 {was also possible. White's play is a bit easier here,
therefore I did not go for this.}) 18. Bg2 (18. h3 Nge5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bg2
h5 $13 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Gh5h4,Yh3h2]}) 18... Ndf6 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Yf6e4] With
the idea to play Ne4.} 19. Nc3 h5 {[%csl Gh5] My idea was to expand the
kingside and keep . ..h4 ready whenever possible. I also wanted to provoke
White to play h3.} 20. Ba3 {[%csl Rc5] White seems to lack a good plan to
improve his position.} (20. Ne2 $2 Ne4 $19) 20... Qc7 {To keep my chances I
decided to play this way.} (20... Ne4 $5 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Nh4 Nxh2 23. Qxc5
Qxc5 24. Bxc5 g5 $11) 21. h3 {[#]} d4 $1 {[%csl Rc2][%cal Gb7g2] A strong
thematic central break. Black has the initiative.} ({It would make much less
sense to exchange a pair of knights with} 21... Ne5 $6 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 23. Ne2
$16 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Yc2c5]}) (21... Nxe3 $2 22. Rxe3 Rxe3 23. fxe3 d4 24. Ne2
$1 $18) 22. hxg4 $2 {This is already a mistake. White had to play exd4 and the
position is about equal.} (22. exd4 $1 Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 {[%csl Gc2][%cal Ye1c2]}
Bxg2 24. Kxg2 cxd4 (24... Ne3+ $5 25. fxe3 Qxg3+ 26. Kf1 Qxh3+ 27. Qg2 Qxe3 $13
{[%csl Rf1]}) 25. hxg4 dxc3 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qxc3 hxg4 $11) 22... hxg4 (22...
dxc3 {I considered this but wrongly judged that White's position is fine.} 23.
gxh5 Qa5 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 (25. Qc1 Rd2 $19) 25... Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Bxf3 27.
Bxf3 Qxa3 28. Qd8+ Kh7 29. Qd3+ Kh6 30. Qxc3 Qxa2 $17) 23. Nb5 $4 {White keeps
the extra piece for a brief moment. His minor pieces are completely
uncoordinated, however.} (23. Nxd4 $1 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 cxd4 25. exd4 Rxe1 (25...
Nd5 $2 {This doesnt work.} 26. Bc5 Ne3+ 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Qxg3+ 29. Kf1
Qxe3 30. Rd3) 26. Rxe1 Rxd4 $11) 23... Qa5 $19 {[%csl Ra3,Rb5,Rf3]} 24. Nfxd4
Bxg2 25. Qxc5 (25. Kxg2 cxd4 {[%csl Ra3,Rb5]} 26. Nxd4 Qxa3 $19) 25... Bb7 {
There is nothing wrong with this move, although Ba8 is winning immediately.} (
25... Ba8 $1 26. Nc3 Qa6 27. Nf5 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Be5 29. Ne7+ Kh8 30. Qxe5 Qxa3
$19) 26. Nf5 $4 (26. Nc3 Qa6 27. Qb5 {This is the difference to 25....Ba8!, as
here the bishop on b7 is hanging.} Qxb5 28. Ndxb5) 26... Rd5 27. Ne7+ Rxe7 28.
Qxe7 Qxb5 $19 29. e4 (29. Qf8+ Kh7 30. Qxb8 Rh5 $19 (30... Rxd1 31. Rxd1 Qc6
$19)) 29... Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Bxe4 31. Re1 Ba8 {Here Anton resigned. Surprisingly
White could continue here for a while. 31...Bb7 was the right move. In this
game I played . ..Ba8 when ...Bb7 was superior, and ...Ba8 when ...Bb7 was
winning :)} 32. Qb4 Qxb4 (32... Qc6 33. Qxb8+ Kh7 34. Kf1 {With White's rook
on d1, Black can simply capture it. Even here Black is winning, but he needs
to play precisely.}) 33. Bxb4 Bb7 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2018.04.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Model game 2: Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Quintiliano,R"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2018.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,114,36,28,28,13,13,13,13,12,38,48,37,16,28,26,43,19,21,17,10,16,8,1,3,
6,5,1,14,12,14,-8,25,11,2,-45,8,8,17,21,7,13,13,23,23,-3,16,-1,48,17,6,-15,-1,
0,28,29,70,50,53,61,61,39,37,54,43,27,101,15,19,19,0,0,15,22,34,-25,-51,-54,
-32,-56,-48,-34,-36,-32,-40,-212,-45,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,
0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Be2 $5
Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. Rfe1 Rfe8 12. Rad1 Rad8 13.
Bf1 {Now this is the right square for this bishop, White is ready for both c5
and e5.} (13. Bd3 {now allows} e5 $1 14. cxd5 (14. e4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1
a6 {is an improved version of the game Kramnik-Topalov, with the rook already
on d8}) 14... cxd5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 {[%csl Yd3] Even in the event of an isolated
pawn arising on d5, the bishop is misplaced} 16. Nd4 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Ne4 $11 {
Gelfand,B (2733)-Anand, V (2786) Dortmund SuperGM 35th 2007 (3) 1/2-1/2}) 13...
c5 (13... e5 $5 {was played by Ding Liren, and seems ok for Black} 14. dxe5 (
14. cxd5 e4 $1 15. Nh4 $6 Bxh2+ $1 16. Kxh2 Ng4+ 17. Kh3 Ndf6 $40 {Pelletier,Y
(2541)-Gelfand,B (2724) Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th 2017 (7) 0-1}) (14. g3 $2
e4 15. Nh4 Qe6 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Qd2 Bb8 19. Rc1 g5 20. Ng2 Qh3 $36
{[%cal Yf6g4] ; Korobov,A (2652)-Ding Liren (2777) 2nd IMSA Blitz 2017 (11.1)
0-1}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 (15. Nd4 dxc4 16. Nf5 Qe6 17. Nxd6 Rxd6 18. bxc4 Rxd1
19. Nxd1 c5 $132 {Van Wely,L (2641)-Anand,V (2790) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2010 (13)
1/2-1/2}) 15... Bxe5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 Rc8 18. Qb1 d4 $1 {probably the
fruit of Ding Liren's preparation} 19. h3 (19. exd4 Bxh2+ $1 20. Kxh2 Ng4+ 21.
Kg3 Qg5 22. f4 Qh5 $13) 19... Ng4 $1 20. hxg4 Qh4 21. f4 dxe3 22. Rxe3 Bxf4 23.
Rh3 Qxh3 $1 24. gxh3 Be3+ 25. Kh2 Bf4+ 26. Kg1 $11 {Wang,H (2698)-Ding,L (2781)
Danzhou 08th 2017 (1) 1/2-1/2}) (13... Bb4 {trying to stop e4, but then} 14. a3
$1 Bxa3 15. Bxa3 Qxa3 16. cxd5 $1 {preventing dxc4 and c5-ideas} exd5 17. Ra1
Qd6 18. Rxa7 $14 {Carlsen,M (2776)-Aronian,L (2750) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2009 (4)
1/2-1/2}) 14. cxd5 exd5 15. g3 {[%csl Yc5,Yd4,Yd5][%cal Gf1g2,Gf1h3,Gc5c4] The
resulting position is a rich positional battle: White has the option of
playing dxc5 in some moment and trying to press against the hanging pawns 
(after bxc5), play against the isolani if Black takes on d4 (or after an
eventual recapture with a piece on c5), and in both cases the bishop might
have an active role being repositioned on g2 or h3. Black also has his
counter-chances, as the hanging pawns seem promising for him, with all his
forces well centralised, and he can prepare the advance c5-c4, making use of
the queenside majority.} a6 (15... Rc8 {is another option, I like this
instructive game of Sasikiran} 16. Qb1 $1 (16. Bh3 $5 c4 $13) 16... cxd4 $6 (
16... c4 $5 17. bxc4 Bb4 $1 18. Nd2 dxc4 19. e4 $1 {leads to many complications
}) 17. Nxd4 Bb4 18. Rc1 Ne5 ({Black is not able to reinforce the pin:} 18...
Ne4 $2 19. Nf5 $1 Qe6 20. Nxe4 {[%cal Yf5g7]} Qxe4 21. Qxe4 dxe4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8
23. Rd1 $16) 19. Bh3 Rcd8 20. Red1 Bc5 21. Bg2 $14 {Sasikiran,K (2684)-Brkic,A
(2530) CRO-chT1A 17th 2008 (5) 1-0 Black should be ok with correct play, but
there's no doubt that White has achieved the ideal position against the
isolani and has good chances of playing with this small advantage -}) 16. Bg2
Rc8 {[#]} 17. Qb1 (17. dxc5 $5 {is an interesting moment to change the
structure} Bxc5 (17... bxc5 $2 18. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Yh4f5]} Qe6 19. Qd2
Nb6 20. e4 $1 d4 21. e5 $1 Bxg2 22. exf6 Be5 23. Nxg2 dxc3 24. Bxc3 Bxc3 25.
Rxe6 Bxd2 26. Rxb6 $16) 18. Rc1 Ne4 19. Qd3 Ndf6 $11 {Swapnil,S (2407)
-Hillarp Persson,T  (2577) Kolkata op 4th 2009 (2) 1/2-1/2 despite the isolani,
Black has an active position -}) 17... h6 $146 {The first new move. Black just
waits for White to define his setup while making an useful move.} (17... Rcd8
$6 18. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Gf5]} cxd4 $2 (18... g6 $142 19. dxc5 {[%cal Gb2h8]}) 19.
Nf5 Qf8 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd4 $16 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Ye1d1] ;Kanarek,M (2484)
-Krzyzanowski, M (2336) Kochan Memorial 25th 2014 (9) 1-0}) (17... c4 {Di
Berardino,D (2492) -Aranha Filho,A (2299) BRA-ch sf Sao Paulo 2010 (2) 1-0} 18.
bxc4 dxc4 19. e4 $36 {[%csl Yd4,Ye4]}) 18. Nh4 (18. dxc5 $5 {was the last
moment to get the hanging pawns structure. It leads to some unbalanced
positions in which it is not easy to know who is better, generally both sides
have chances.} bxc5 19. Nh4 Qe6 {[%csl Ge6][%cal Ye6d5]} 20. Ne2 {[%cal Ge2f4]}
Rcd8 21. Nf4 Bxf4 22. exf4 Qb6 $13 {[%cal Yd5d4]}) 18... c4 $5 {[#] White's
center is not really closed after this move.} 19. Nf5 Qf8 20. Nxd6 $6 {But
Ding Liren missed a good idea.} (20. bxc4 Rxc4 21. e4 $1 {[%cal Ge4e5] was
advantageous for White, since he will end up with a strong passed pawn in the
centre} dxe4 (21... Bb4 22. e5 $1 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. exf6 Nxf6 25. Qxb6 Bc8
26. Rxe8 Qxe8 27. Qa5 $1 $14 {[%csl Gc3][%cal Yf5d6,Yf5e3]}) 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23.
Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 {[%csl Yd4,Gf5][%cal Yd4d5] and White has
some pressure, for example} g6 (25... Nf6 26. Qd3 b5 27. d5 $16) 26. Nxd6 Qxd6
27. Qe8+ Nf8 28. d5 $16) 20... Qxd6 21. bxc4 Rxc4 $11 {[%csl Rb2,Gc4,Gd5][%cal
Gb6b5] Black is ok now and even can look optimistically to the future.} 22. a4
Rec8 23. Rc1 h5 24. h3 Nf8 {[%cal Gf8e6] Black aims to improve his pieces and
then his position also improves.} 25. Qa2 Ne6 (25... h4 $5 {always comes into
consideration.}) 26. Qb3 Qd8 27. Re2 ({White was the one who could had played} 
27. h4 $1 {now}) 27... Bc6 28. Rec2 b5 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Nb1 Ng5 31. h4 Nge4
32. Na3 Qe7 $1 {Topalov played very interesting chess in Shamkir, and it is
not surprising that he's offering this exchange.} 33. Qd3 (33. Nxc4 dxc4 34.
Qa2 Bd5 {[%cal Yb5b4] is more than enough compensation for Black.}) 33... Rxc2
(33... Nd6 $5 {keeping the offer was an option:} 34. Qe2 (34. Nxc4 dxc4 35. Qe2
Bxg2 36. Kxg2 Nd5 $44 {[%cal Yb5b4]}) 34... Rxc2 35. Nxc2 Nc4 $11) 34. Nxc2 (
34. Rxc2 b4 35. Nb1 Qd7 $17) 34... Bd7 35. Qa3 Qe8 36. Nb4 Rc4 $1 37. Rxc4 (37.
Bf1 $2 Nxf2 $1 38. Kxf2 (38. Bxc4 Nh3+ 39. Kf1 bxc4 $19 {[%cal Re8e4]}) 38...
Ng4+ 39. Kg1 Rxb4 $1 $19 {[%cal Ge8e3]}) 37... bxc4 $17 {[%csl Yc4]} 38. Bc1 $1
{[%csl Ye3] Ding Liren has showed excellent defensive skills and fighting
spirit recently, especially in games in which he is inferior. This move is of
a highly prophylactic nature, White frees his queen without fearing Nxf2 ideas,
by overprotecting e3.} Be6 ({If Black had predicted White's plan to weaken the
pressure, he could had considered} 38... Qe6 {and if} 39. Na6 $2 Qg4 $1 {
[%csl Yd1] is winning} 40. f3 Qxg3 41. fxe4 Qe1+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ 43. Kh3 Qg1 $19)
39. Na6 $1 Qb5 40. Nc5 $1 {[%csl Ge4] Considering how unpleasant his position
is, Ding Liren is doing everything possible to release the pressure.} Kh7 41.
Nxe6 {This was a very difficult decision to make.} (41. Nxe4 Nxe4 42. Bxe4+
dxe4 $17 {looks desperate for White, despite the opposite-coloured bishops,
due to his very exposed king's position.}) 41... fxe6 42. Bf1 Nxf2 $2 {This is
beautiful but not enough to win. Many other moves would had kept Black's clear
advantage.} (42... Ng4 $1 {[%csl Yf2] is the most simple, f2 is just dropping}
43. f3 Qb8 $1 {[%csl Gg3] maybe this was missed by the players, although it is
not a difficult move} 44. fxg4 Qxg3+ 45. Bg2 Qf2+ 46. Kh2 (46. Kh1 Ng3+ 47. Kh2
Ne2 $19) 46... hxg4 {[%cal Gg4g3] the attack continues and Black is winning,
for example} 47. Qe7 g3+ 48. Kh3 Qf5#) (42... Qb8 {[%csl Yf2,Yg3]} 43. Qb2 Qc7
$17 {also preserves a clear advantage for Black.}) 43. Kxf2 Ne4+ 44. Ke2 $1 {
Ding Liren shows precision handling the defence.} (44. Ke1 Qb8 $1 {[%csl Rg3]
and Black wins} 45. Kd1 Qxg3 46. Qf8 Qg4+ 47. Ke1 Qxh4+ 48. Kd1 Qg4+ 49. Ke1
Qg3+ 50. Kd1 Qg1 51. Qf4 Ng3 52. Ke1 Qxf1+ 53. Qxf1 Nxf1 54. Kxf1 Kg6 $19 {
[%cal Yg6d3]}) 44... c3+ (44... Nxg3+ 45. Ke1 Nxf1 46. Kxf1 $13) 45. Ke1 Qb1 (
45... Qb8 {now White has} 46. Bd3 $1 {and his position is not worse} Qxg3+ 47.
Kd1 Qxh4 48. Qxc3 Qg4+ 49. Kc2 h4 50. Qc7 $1 h3 51. Qe5 $11) 46. Bg2 $1 {
[%csl Ye4] The powerful knight should be eliminated, and the lone black queen
is not able to win the game by itself.} Qc2 47. Bxe4+ dxe4 48. Kf1 $11 Kg6 49.
Kg1 Kh7 ({Black might try to imitate the famous game Short-Timman Tilburg 1991
and bring the king to help the queen, but then} 49... Kf5 {[%cal Yf5g4,Yg4h3]}
50. Qf8+ $1 {prevents this idea} Kg4 51. Qf4+ Kh3 52. Qf1+ Kxg3 53. Qf4+ Kh3
54. Qf1+ Kxh4 55. Qf4+ $11) 50. Kh1 Kh6 51. Kg1 Kg6 52. Kh1 Qd1+ 53. Kh2 Qe2+
54. Kg1 Qd1+ 55. Kh2 Qe2+ 56. Kg1 Qe1+ 57. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "ESP-chT CECLUB Honor"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2020.09.29"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Model game 3: Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Kapnisis,Spyridon/dkulj"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2020.09.23"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 198 extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.09.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.09.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Taldea Gros Xake"]
[BlackTeam "Silla Bosh Serinsys"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ESP"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

{[%evp 0,91,58,5,13,-17,44,20,30,33,26,26,28,1,25,-17,33,-1,-1,2,3,8,11,14,18,
1,4,-16,51,44,30,32,32,-20,-9,-12,9,-29,-31,-10,-11,-11,24,24,-44,-34,-38,-31,
-17,-14,-14,-11,-11,-31,-13,-66,-13,-46,-47,-47,-36,-44,1,8,26,4,32,25,73,20,
136,102,102,34,50,62,93,91,93,133,115,-4,252,342,342,342,360,200,301,221,219,
219,845,29992]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7.
b3 O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. O-O Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rad8 13. Bf1 {[#]
} c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 (15. Nb5 Bb8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. g3 Ng4 18. Bg2 Ndf6
19. Nc3 h5 $13 {0-1 (31) Anton Guijarro, D (2703)-Harikrishna,P (2719) Biel
SUI 2020}) (15. g3 a6 (15... Rc8 $5) 16. Bg2 Rc8 17. Qb1 (17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Nd4
Be5 19. Qb1 g6 20. Nf3 $14 {1/2 (60) Moroni,L (2536)-Korobov,A (2685) chess.
com INT 2020}) 17... h6 18. Nh4 c4 19. Nf5 $14 {1/2 (57) Ding Liren (2778)
-Topalov,V (2749) Shamkir AZE 2018}) 15... bxc5 (15... Nxc5 {Was Carlsen's
choice not long ago} 16. Qf5 (16. Nb5 $5 Bb8 17. Nbd4 $14) 16... Nce4 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Bb5 Rf8 19. Bd3 g6 20. Qh3 Bb4 21. Qh6 $14 {1/2 (81) Giri,A (2764)
-Carlsen,M (2863) chess24.com INT 2020}) 16. Ne2 $5 {[%csl Yb2][%cal Ge2g3,
Gg3f5] An interesting way to deal with the hanging pawns. The b2-bishop is now
more active and Ng3-f5 threat will force Black to spend some time defending
against it.} Bc7 ({Perhaps it was better to keep the tension with} 16... Qf8 $5
17. Ng3 a6 (17... g6 18. Bb5 $14 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Yb2h8]}) 18. Qc1 $13 {
[%cal Yc1a1]}) 17. Ng3 {[#]} Ba5 {[%csl Yb2][%cal Yb2c3] Black decides to
exchange the annoying Bb2 which is quite understandable. On the other hand the
exchange of light pieces makes the hanging pawns in the center more prone to
attack.} 18. Nf5 Qf8 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Gc3c5,Gc3g7,Gc3a5]
The queen assumes bishop's role on the diagonal while also trying to exploit
dark-square weaknesses that are more pronounced now.} a6 (20... g6 $5 21. Ng3
Qd6 $13 {[%cal Yd6b6,Ya7a5] Transfering the queen to the queenside was a good
choice for black who shouldn't face problems.}) 21. Qa5 {[%csl Ya5][%cal Ya5c7]
[#]} Rc8 22. Rc1 g6 23. Ng3 h5 {[#]} (23... Qd6 $5) 24. Qa4 $1 {[%cal Ga4h4]
White transfers his queen to the kingside with f4 and h4 being the candidate
squares. Note how the thematic ...d5-d4 break is virtually never an issue for
White here. This is because he hasn't weakened his kingside with g2-g3 as in
Model game 1.} Qe7 (24... Qd6 $5 25. Red1) 25. Qf4 {[%csl Yf4]} Nf8 (25... Bc6
$5 26. Red1 a5 $13 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Yc8b8,Ya5a4] Creating counterplay on the
queenside was something to consider.}) 26. Ng5 Ng4 $2 {A provocative move
which the course of the game proves it wrong. Black would like to place his
knight on e5 while kicking out the white knight from g5 by playing f6.
Unfortunately for black he doesn't have enough time to achieve these goals.} (
26... N6h7 $5 27. Nxh7 Nxh7 $13) (26... Kg7 27. e4 $5 dxe4 28. Bc4 Qc7 $1) 27.
e4 $1 {[%csl Rc5,Rd5] White reacts in the best possible way, breaking up the
hanging pawns and forcing Black to play ...d4.} d4 {[#]} 28. e5 $1 {[%cal
Gg3e4,Ge4f6,Ge4d6] White stops Ne5 while creating the serious threat of
bringing a knight to e4 or the bishop to c4.} Ne6 (28... Nxe5 $2 {Accepting
the pawn sacrifice is refuted quite easily.} 29. Rxe5 Qxe5 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31.
Bc4 Qg7 32. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 (32... Qxf7 33. Nxf7+ Kh7 34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. Nxe8+ Rxe8
36. Nd6 $18) 33. Qxh5+ Nh7 34. Nf7+ Kg8 35. Ne5+ $18 {[%cal Ye5g6]}) 29. Nxe6
fxe6 $6 {[#] I think that Black had seen this position before playing 26...Ng4
and evaluated it as good for him.} (29... Qxe6 30. Bc4 (30. h3 Nxe5 31. Nxh5
gxh5 32. Qg5+ Kf8 (32... Qg6 33. Rxe5 $18) 33. f4 Nf3+ 34. gxf3 Qg6 $13) 30...
Bd5 31. h3 $1 (31. Ne4 $2 Bxc4 32. bxc4 Qxe5 $19) 31... Nxe5 (31... Bxc4 32.
hxg4 $18) 32. Ne4 Bxc4 (32... Nd7 33. Nd6 Qxe1+ 34. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35. Kh2 $18) 33.
Nf6+ Kg7 (33... Kf8 34. Rxe5 $1 $18) 34. Nxe8+ Rxe8 35. bxc4 Qd6 {Black has
adequate compensation.}) 30. Ne4 $2 {This perfectly normal move turns out to
be a mistake.} (30. Nh1 $3 {This is the best way to defend f2 against the
threat of Rf8.} Qf8 (30... Rf8 31. Qd2 $16 {[%cal Yh2h3]}) 31. Qg3 (31. Qd2 Qh6
32. Qxh6 Nxh6 33. Bd3 $14) 31... Qg7 32. h3 Nh6 33. Qf4 $16) (30. Rc2 $4 Rf8
31. Qc1 Qh4 32. h3 Nxf2 $19) (30. f3 $2 Rf8 31. Qd2 Ne3 32. Rxe3 dxe3 33. Qxe3
h4 34. Ne4 Bxe4 35. Qxe4 Kg7 $15) 30... Rf8 31. Qg3 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 {[#]} Kh7 $2
{Black loses one important tempo and his position deteriorates quickly.} (32...
Nxf2 $1 {Making the game extremely sharp was Black's only chance since he
faces a lot of problems with his pawn structure and the safety of his king.}
33. Qxg6+ (33. Rf4 Ng4 (33... Rxf4 34. Qxg6+ $1 (34. Qxf4 Rf8 35. Qh6 Qf7 $19)
34... Qg7 35. Qxe6+ Kh7 36. Qxc8 d3 $11) 34. Rxf8+ Rxf8 35. h3 Ne3 36. Qxg6+
Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Be2 $13) (33. Re2 Ng4 34. h3 Ne3 35. Qxg6+ Qg7 36. Qxe6+
Kh8 $13 (36... Kh7 $2 37. Rf2 Rxf2 38. Bd3+ $18)) 33... Qg7 34. Qxe6+ Kh8 35.
Rf4 (35. Ree1 $2 d3 $19) (35. Re2 Ng4 $17 {[%cal Yc8e8]}) (35. Qxc8 Rxc8 36.
Kxf2 Rf8+ 37. Kg1 Qg5 38. Rce1 Qd2 {White is the one who should be careful}) (
35. Rh4 $2 Qg5 36. g3 d3 $19) 35... Qg5 (35... Rxf4 36. Qxc8+ Rf8 37. Qxc5 Nh3+
$11) 36. g3 Rcd8 37. Rxf2 Qe3 38. Rcc2 Rxf2 39. Rxf2 Rf8 40. Bc4 Qxf2+ 41. Kh1
$11) 33. Rc2 a5 34. Bd3 {[%cal Yh2h3] White has a big advantage since Black's
king is not safe and he has a lot of weak pawns.} Rg8 35. h3 Nh6 {[#]} 36. Qf4
$1 $18 {[%cal Yf4d2] White again uses his queen in the best possible way. The
queen is transfered to d2 to put pressure on the weak black pawns while
keeping an eye to the kingside. Black will soon face threats on both flanks
and his position will fall apart.} Kg7 37. Qd2 $1 {[%csl Ra5]} Qd8 38. Ba6 $1 {
[%csl Ra5,Rc5] The most accurate move.} (38. Qc1 $5 {Would win a pawn as well}
Qb6 39. Rxd4 $18) 38... Ra8 (38... Rc6 39. Rxd4 $18) 39. Rxc5 $1 {White
sacrifices the bishop to get an irresistible attack.} Qb6 (39... Rxa6 40. Rxd4
Qe8 41. Rd7+ Nf7 42. Rcc7 Rf8 43. Qf4 $18 {[%cal Yf4f6]}) 40. Qc1 $1 Qxa6 41.
Rc7+ Nf7 42. Qf4 Rgf8 43. Qf6+ Kh6 44. Rxf7 Rxf7 45. Qxf7 d3 46. g4 $1 {
[%cal Yg4g5]} 1-0

[Event "Sheikh Russel International Grandmaster"]
[Site "Jalshahghar, Hotel Purbani In"]
[Date "2021.10.26"]
[Round "8.10"]
[White "Model game 4: Visakh, N R........."]
[Black "Hossain, Enamul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2515"]
[BlackElo "2396"]
[Annotator "dkulj"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2021.10.19"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BAN"]

{[%evp 0,99,28,21,29,12,35,28,38,38,37,37,53,27,34,20,21,5,8,16,16,14,8,10,19,
5,8,-18,-5,-34,-23,-23,-23,-16,-5,-32,-5,-7,-16,-16,-11,-7,-12,-1,22,10,28,-14,
-8,6,0,14,0,0,55,55,58,69,28,0,4,25,22,43,35,24,45,25,18,28,48,32,40,5,-3,0,26,
-19,-13,-11,-5,-33,-22,-25,28,-16,-11,-35,-56,-49,-70,-70,-82,-157,-56,-56,-34,
-32,-32,-31,-31,-15]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2
Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Rad1 Rad8 12. Rfe1 Rfe8 13.
g3 {This move is slightly less flexible than 13.Bf1 but also quite playable.}
a6 {[%csl Ya6,Ra7][%cal Rc3b5] As explained in the introduction, this move is
useful for Black for several reasons.} 14. Bf1 {[%cal Yc3e2,Yf1g2]} e5 {
Black goes for the well-known IQP structure,} ({although it would have been
better to keep the tension with} 14... Bb4 $1 {[%csl Ya6][%cal Ra2a3] and if}
15. Bg2 {then} dxc4 $1 16. bxc4 c5 $13 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Gc5d4] is a good
structural transformation for Black, potentially creating hanging pawns for
White.}) 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 {[%csl Ya6][%cal Rc3b5] [#]
White cannot go Nb5 now, but he has} 18. Ne2 $1 {forcing an important trade of
dark-squared bishops.} Rc8 19. Qb1 Ne4 20. Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Bg2 {We have a
typical scenario on the board - Black has an isolated pawn on d5 but manages
to compensate for it by active piece play in the center and potential kingside
attack. Therefore, his next move} h5 $5 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Gh5h4] [#] makes a
lot of sense. Which plan should White adopt now? In the game, he tried to
simplify matters with} 22. Qa1 {However, transition from middlegame to endgame
is not that promising for White.} ({The right plan was} 22. Rd4 $1 h4 23. Nf4
$14 {[%csl Yd4,Rd5,Yf4][%cal Gb1d1] exerting pressure on Black's main weakness.
}) 22... Qf5 ({Black would have perfectly adequate counterplay in the endgame
thanks to his control over the c-file.} 22... Qxa1 23. Rxa1 Rc2 24. Nd4 Rc3 25.
Rac1 Rec8 26. Rxc3 Rxc3 27. Kf1 a5 $11 {[%csl Yc3,Re1][%cal Gb7a6] and it is
not obvious how White can improve his position.}) 23. Rf1 {Keeping the wrong
strategic direction.} (23. Nf4 {[%csl Rd5,Yf4] was, again, the best way to
play this position.} Rc2 (23... g5 24. Bxe4 $1 dxe4 25. Nxh5) 24. Qb1 Rec8 25.
Bh3) 23... h4 24. Nd4 {[%csl Rd4,Gd5] A tempting move, but it gives Black a
free attack on the kingside. The problem is that the knight stands nicely on
d4 but it does nothing there. It actually belongs on f4 in order to put
pressure on Black.} (24. Nf4 {[%csl Rd5,Yf4]} Nc3 25. Rd4 g5 26. Bh3) (24. gxh4
Qh5 25. Ng3 Qxh4 26. Bxe4 (26. Rc1) 26... dxe4 27. Qxg7+ Kxg7 28. Nf5+ Kf6 29.
Nxh4 Rc2 30. Rd6+) 24... Qh5 25. Rc1 hxg3 ({Black could have taken the
initiative with} 25... Rc5 26. Qb2 h3 $1 $36 {[%csl Ye4,Rg1]}) 26. hxg3 Rcd8
27. Rc7 (27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Kg2 Bc8 (28... Rxd4 29. Qxd4 Qf3+ 30. Kg1 Bc8 31.
Qd1) 29. Rh1 Qg6 30. Rh4 Bg4) 27... Bc8 28. Rfc1 Bh3 29. Qb2 Rd6 30. R7c6 Rxc6
31. Rxc6 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 Bd7 33. Rc1 Qh5+ 34. Kg1 Nf6 35. Nf3 Bf5 36. Nh2 Be4 37.
Qd2 a5 38. Qd1 (38. f3 Bg6 39. g4 Qh4 40. Nf1 $14) 38... Qxd1+ 39. Rxd1 Rc8 40.
Bxe4 Nxe4 41. Rxd5 Rc1+ 42. Kg2 Rc2 43. Ng4 Rxa2 44. Rb5 Rb2 45. Rxb6 f5 46.
Ne5 Rxf2+ (46... a4 $17) 47. Kg1 Re2 48. g4 Re1+ 49. Kg2 Re2+ 50. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2019.10.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Model game 5: Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Sethuraman, SP......"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Vidit,S/dkulj"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2019.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,6,20,20,20,13,1,4,13]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3
Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. b3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Qe7 11. Rad1 Rad8 12.
Rfe1 Rfe8 13. h3 {[#] An over the board improvisation. I wanted to play Bf1,
but at the same time wanted to avoid Black's ideas with e5.} (13. Bf1 {, with
ideas to play e4 or improve the bishop with g3- Bg2, is the most common move.
But in this particular position Black has the idea to react immediately in the
centre:} e5 $1 14. cxd5 (14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nd4 dxc4 16. bxc4 g6 $13 (16... Bb4
17. h3) (16... Bb8 17. f4 Ng6 18. g3 $16)) 14... e4 $1 {The point.} 15. dxc6
exf3 16. cxb7 Bxh2+ $1 17. Kxh2 Qd6+ 18. Kh3 Re5 $3 19. dxe5 Qe6+ 20. Kh2 Qxe5+
21. Kg1 Ng4 {with a mating attack.}) (13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Bb4
16. Rf1 Bd6 {has led to many move repetitions.}) 13... a6 {This creates a
weakness on the queenside. It's probably better to be less committal.} (13...
c5 $5 14. cxd5 exd5 {This looks like a good version of the hanging pawns for
Black since White cannot fianchetto his bishop on g2 anymore.} 15. Bd3 {
[%csl Rh3][%cal Gg2g3,Gd3f1,Gf1g2]} a6 $13) (13... e5 $6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Nd4 $16 {[%csl Yd4]}) 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 {[%csl Ra6,
Rb6,Rb7,Yc4,Yd4]} Bb4 {[%csl Re1]} 17. Rf1 {[#]} Ba3 $6 (17... Bd6 {I judged
that the inclusion of h3-a6 should be in White's favor. However, Black should
have played this as he is still quite solid.} 18. Ne5 (18. Bd3 Nf8) 18... f5
19. Qf4 Nxe5 (19... c5 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Bd4 $14) 20. dxe5 Bc5 21. Bf3 $14 {
[%csl Rb7]}) 18. Bd3 $5 {I played this after a long thought. I wanted to find
a way to punish Black's innaccuracy. Objectively it's not the most precise way.
} (18. Bxa3 Qxa3 19. Ne5 (19. Rfe1 {Computer's top choice! The idea is to
overprotect e2.} Qxa2 20. b4 {followed by c5. White would have enough
compensation for the pawn.} (20. Qf4 $1 {[%cal Gf4c7]} Qxb3 21. Qc7 Ba8 22. Ng5
{[%csl Ra8,Yc7,Rd7,Rd8,Re8] and the engine gives White as better. It was quite
tough to judge this during the game.})) 19... Qxa2) (18. Ba1 Nf8 $132 {
followed by c5.}) 18... Nf6 19. Bxa3 Qxa3 20. Qf4 c5 {[%cal Gb7g2] [#]} 21. d5
$1 {[%csl Rb7][%cal Gf4c7] The point.} exd5 22. Qc7 {[%csl Rb6,Rb7]} Bc8 $6 {
Logical, but not the most accurate.} (22... Rd7 23. Qxb6 Re6 24. Qa7 {with
ideas like Bf5 and Rfe1, I thought White is doing well. But, Black has
sufficient resources:} d4 $1 25. Rfe1 Be4 $1 26. Qb8+ Re8 27. Qf4 Rde7 $1 {
and Black consolidates.}) 23. Qxb6 Be6 $6 (23... Qxa2 {During the game I felt
that taking the pawn is most accurate.} 24. cxd5 Rxd5 (24... Nxd5 25. Qxc5 Qxb3
26. Bc4 $18) 25. Ra1 {I missed this intermezzo.} (25. Bc4 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Qc2 $1
{with enough counterplay.}) 25... Qb2 26. Bc4 Rdd8 27. Ng5 $16) (23... h6 $1 {
Not an easy move to make. It creates a safe haven for the king and at the same
time stops Ng5 ideas.}) 24. cxd5 Bxd5 25. Qxa6 Qxa6 (25... Ra8 26. Qxa3 Rxa3
27. Bb1 c4 28. Nd4 {Compared to the game, Black has more activity.}) 26. Bxa6
Ra8 27. Bb5 Reb8 28. Ba4 {[%csl Ga4] After the game, Sethu confessed that he
had apparently missed this idea. Now White remains a pawn up. However,
converting the extra pawn is still a task.} c4 29. Nd4 cxb3 30. axb3 Rb6 31.
Rfe1 g6 32. Rc1 Rd8 $6 {Allows a favorable exchange of minor pieces.} (32...
Rab8 $142) 33. Nc6 $1 Bxc6 34. Rxc6 Rdb8 35. Rxb6 Rxb6 36. Re5 {If I could get
my bishop to c4, White would be strategically winning.} Rb4 37. g3 $2 {This
allows unnecessary counterplay. Wiser was to play the uglier looking f which
restricts the knight on f6.} (37. f3 {looks ugly, but Black cannot take
advantage of the weaknesses on the dark squares.} Rd4 38. Bb5) 37... Ne4 $1 38.
Rb5 Rd4 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Bc6 {I calculated this far. White of course has good
winning chances, but Black has some counterplay.} Nc5 $1 41. Rb5 (41. b4 $2 Na6
$1 $11) 41... Nd3 $4 {A complete shocker. Once White exchanges rooks, the
extra pawn should be easy enough to convert. For good or worse, Black had to
keep the rooks and create some threats around the White king.} (41... Rd1+ $1
42. Kg2 Nd3 43. Be4 f5 $1 {The key move, forcing White to trade the bishop for
the knight.} 44. Bxd3 Rxd3 45. h4 Kf6 46. b4 Rb3 {I am not sure about the
assesment of this endgame. But definitely, Black has good drawing chances,
compared to the game.}) 42. Rd5 Rxd5 43. Bxd5 f5 44. Kf1 Nb4 45. Bc4 (45. Bb7
Nc2 {and it's not easy to bring in the king because of the fork on d4.}) 45...
Kf6 46. Ke2 g5 47. Kd2 Ke5 48. Bg8 $1 {Emptying the c4 square for the king,
with a tempo.} (48. Kc3 Na2+ $1 49. Kb2 Nb4) 48... h5 49. Kc3 Nc6 50. Bf7 $1 {
Precise. It was still possible to blunder away the win.} ({For example,} 50. b4
$2 Nxb4 $3 51. Kxb4 Ke4 52. Bf7 Kf3 53. Bxh5+ Kxf2 54. g4 f4 $11) 50... h4 51.
gxh4 gxh4 52. b4 Nd4 (52... Nxb4 53. Kxb4 Ke4 54. Bh5 {stops the king from
infiltrating.}) 53. Kc4 Ne2 (53... Nf3 {would require White to be more
accurate:} 54. Bd5 Ng5 55. f4+ $1 Kxf4 56. b5 Ke5 57. Kc5 $18 {The b-pawn is
unstoppable.} Nh7 58. b6) 54. Kc5 $18 {The rest is easy.} Nf4 55. b5 Nd3+ 56.
Kc6 Nb4+ 57. Kd7 Kd4 58. Kd6 Ke4 59. b6 Kd4 60. b7 Na6 61. Bh5 1-0

