We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.
1.c4e62.Nc3d53.d4Nf64.cxd5Nxd55.e4Nxc36.bxc3c57.Rb1Be78.Nf30-09.h4b610.h5h611.Rh3Having said A, White says B.11.Bd3seems less consistent to me. Black can counter it withcxd412.cxd4Nc6Nepomniachtchi - So, Chess24.com (rapid) 2021, but also12...e5!?13.dxe5Na6Aronian - Bosiocic, Moscow (blitz) 201911...cxd4Although this early exchange aim to open the c-file as soon as possible and indeed avoids what was played in Héra - Csonka, it might be a bit premature. Apart from clearing the 5th rank for 5 after possible sacrifices on the kingside, it opens up the long diagonal, so 2 ideas become more dangerous. Having said that, objectively it's fine, but Black needs to follow up with 12.cxd4 7!11...e5?12.Rg3±Goltseva - Lobanova, Chess.com (blitz) 202111...Nd7is covered in the last two games. Two understand its hidden points, first let's check the alternatives.Paradoxically, Black shouldn't develop first with11...Bb7?!, as he loses the option of the e6-e5 freeing break in some positions. He is still okay objectively, but he has to continue very precisely and avoid a number of pitfalls.12.Bd3!I explain below why it's not necessary to include12.Rg3just yet.12...Nd7!12...Nc6?13.Rg3Kh814.Qd2!Rg8Sarana - V. Damjanovic, Belgrade 202315.Kf1!±, just like in the actual game.12...cxd4?!13.cxd4leads to 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 7?! 13.3!12...Kh8?!is too slow.13.Be3Jacobson - Ronka, Chess.com (blitz) 202313.Rg313.Qe2!?13...Kh814.Qd2Black isn't in time to include to include cxd4-cxd4 8, as now g7 is a winning threat.Rg814...cxd4??15.Rxg7Kxg716.Qxh6+Kg817.e5+-15.Kf1!?The engine just calmly wants to bring the king away from the danger zone.15.Qf4was played in both games in the actual position, but the machine finds some amazing counter-resources.cxd4!15...Nf6?!Yakovich - A. Moskalenko, Chess.com (blitz) 202016.e5Nxh517.Rxg7!Rxg718.Qxh6+Kg819.Qxh515...Qf8wasn't too bad either in Travadon - Rakotomaharo, Paris 2021.16.cxd416.Qxf7Nc517.Ne5Bf6!∞16...Rc816...e5!?∞17.Qxf7Rc315...Rc816.Kg1cxd4Black should open up the c-file at some point.17.cxd4Nf618.Qe1!?∞We reach an interesting. Black has survived the first wave of attack and White doesn't have any immediate threats, but Black is also stuck a bit. White has the slow plan of 2, 2 (when the c1 trick isn't a thing anymore) 5, while it's not clear what Black does in the meantime. One thing he probably shouldn't try isWhite should be careful as well:18.Qe2?Nxh519.Rh3Rxc1+!20.Rxc1Nf4-+18.Qe3Rc3!18...Nxh5?!19.Rh3Nf6∆19...Rxc120.Qxc1+-20.Be3Most of the games feature11...Kh8!?, but it doesn't have an independent value.12.Rg3e6-e5 was a threat, so moving the rook is logical.12.Be3e513.Rg3Bh4!14.Nxh4Qxh4∞12.Qd2!?12...Bb712...Nc6?!13.Bb5Bb714.Be3Sarana - Shimanov, Chess.com (blitz) 2022, although 13.2!? or 14.4!? are possibly even stronger.12...cxd4reaches the next note.12...Nd7is covered via 11...7.13.Bd3One potential upside of 11...Kh8 is that in case of13.e5?!Black can still playcxd414.cxd4Nc6, as White has already lost the option of d4-d5. It was played in Iljin - Petrov, Alushta 202313...cxd4!The best moment to include this exchange. White's rook is already on g3 and Black is able to carry out 7 and 8 before White threatens 2 and g7.13...Nc6?and13...Nd7?!were already analysed via 11...7?!14.cxd4- see the game after move 14.14.Rb5!?∞12.cxd4Noone has tried12.Rg3NKh813.Qd2!?An amazing line runs13.cxd4Bb714.Bd3leads to the game via a different move order.13...dxc3Wisest is13...Nd7!, transposing directly to Héra - Csonka14.Qxc3e5!14...Bf6?15.e5Be716.Bxh6!gxh617.Qe3Bg518.Nxg5hxg519.Rxg5+-14...f6?15.Nh4±15.Bxh6!15.Nxe5Bf6∞15...gxh616.Rd1Qe816...Nd717.Nxe5Bf618.Qc6!Qe719.Nxd7Bxd720.Rxd7∞17.Nxe517.Qxe5+?f618.Qf4Bb4+!Black needs to give this check before 18...h5?? 19.5! +-19.Nd2Qxh517...Kh717...Bf618.Rd6!Qe719.Rxf6!?Qxf620.Rf3Qg721.Ng6+!Kg822.Nxf8Qxc3+23.Rxc3Bb7!∞18.Ng6!Rg818...Bc5?!19.Nxf8+Bxf820.a3!±19.Nxe7Rxg320.Qxc8!20.fxg3Be6∞20...Qxc821.Nxc8∞12...Bb7?!While on move 11 developing the bishop was still relatively okay, here it's a serious mistake. White could take advantage of the early cxd4-cxd4 in this case, as explained above.12...Kh8can be played once again with the aim to transpose to some other lines, although it allows13.Be3!?, similarly to Jacobson - Ronka.However, after12...Nd7!I don't see any way for White to make use of the early pawn exchange. Due to potential e6-e5 break, White is forced to transpose into lines that are covered in the remaining games.13.Rg3?!Although it looks very natural, White could have and should have waited with it to see Black's response.13.Bd3!Flexibility is the key here. As we will see, putting the knight on c6 here is almost a suicide, so Black should restrain himself to 7. In that case White is happy to leave the rook on h3, defending the h5 pawn after the subsequent 6.Nd713...Nc6?Remarkably, all 6 games featured this move in the actual position.14.Rg3Only now!Kh8and we are back to the game.13...e5?is just bad without 7.14.Rg3Kh815.Nxe5Qxd416.Bb2Qb4+17.Kf1+-13...Kh814.Kf1doesn't change anything.14.Kf1!14.Bb2?!e5!Black can capitalise on saving on 8.14...Rc815.Bb2!15.Kg1?!Rc3∆16.Bb2Rxd317.Qxd3Nc515...Nf615...e5?!16.Qe2±Here the king is safer compared to 14.216.Qe2Obviously White is happy to have a clearer view for his b2 bishop.13...Kh814.Bd3The creative14.d5?exd515.Qd4?backfired badly afterBf616.e5Nc617.exf6Re8+!-+Hakobyan - Paravyan, Chess.com (blitz) 202314.Bxh6!?only leads to a draw after bothgxh615.Qd2Bg5=and15...Kh716.e5Be4=14...Nc6?Black returns the favour and now he is in huge trouble.With14...Nd7!Black could have achieved an improved version of Yakovich - Moskalenko from 11...7?!. The point is that after15.Qd2Black isn't forced to play the ugly 15...8, but insteadRc8!prevents g7 by tactical means. The current position is covered in Héra - Csonka (14.cxd4 7 15.3), while instead of 15.2, 15.e5 leads to the next game.15.Qd2!White threatens g7, but also covers the b4 square, so the decisive breakthrough is only a matter of time.Starting with15.Kf1+-is also good15...Rg815...Nxd4?16.Nxd4Qxd417.Bb2+-16.Kf1!Evacuating the king before going for d5.16.Bb2?Nb416.d5?exd517.exd517.Bb2?Bb4-+17...Qxd518.Bb2f618...Bb419.Bxg7+Rxg720.Rxb4∞19.Nh4Rge8∞16...Rc816...Qd6?!17.Bb2+-Sorokin - Fus, Brownsville 202316...Bd617.e5+-Bai - Jiang, Montesilvano 202317.d5!exd517...Nb4?!18.Ne5+-18.exd5Nb8?!Black's only chance was18...Qxd519.Bb2f6, but it's understandable that he refrained from it in view of19...Qd6?20.Rg6!+-20.Nh4!Ba621.Ng6+Kh722.Nxe7+Bxd3+23.Rxd3Qxh524.Nxc8Qh1+25.Ke2Qxb126.Nd6+-19.Ne5+-The rest of the game is worth watching.Bxd520.Qf4Nd721.Bb2Nf622.Qf5Qe823.Rg6!fxg624.Nxg6+Qxg625.Qxg6Bc426.Bxc4Rxc427.Re1Bd828.Rd1Rb429.Bc3Rc430.Rd3Rc531.f4Rc632.g4Rc433.Be5Bc734.Rc3Rxc335.Bxc3Rf836.g5Bd81–0