Tal Memorial Round 2: Giri Slays Gelfand With Black, Anand Bests Mamedyarov

[pgn height=300 layout=horizontal showmoves=figurine initialgame=first initialHalfmove=][Event “10th Tal Mem 2016”]
[Site “Moscow RUS”]
[Date “2016.09.27”]
[Round “2.1”]
[White “Anand, Viswanathan”]
[Black “Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar”]
[Result “1-0”]
[BlackElo “2761”]
[BlackFideId “13401319”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “C92”]
[EventDate “2016.09.26”]
[Opening “Ruy Lopez”]
[Variation “closed, Flohr-Zaitsev system (Lenzerheide variation)”]
[WhiteElo “2776”]
[WhiteFideId “5000017”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 exd4 12.cxd4 Nd7 13.Nf1 Na5 14.Bc2 Bf6 15.Rb1 { Ng3 and Nfh2 are also common here, with good results for White. } 15…c5 16.d5 Nc4 17.b3 Nce5 18.N3h2 Ng6 19.Ne3 Bc8 { A new move at this point. …Bc3 had been seen before and actually seems ok for Black. } ( 19…Bc3 20.Bd2 Bxd2 21.Qxd2 Nde5 { and Black will not be at all unhappy. } ) 20.Bd2 { Clearly familiar with the position, Anand removes …Bc3 as a future possibility. The seemingly more pro-active 20.Nf5 was also an option, here, but it doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. } ( 20.Nf5 Nb6 21.Ng4 Bc3 22.Bd2 Bxd2 23.Qxd2 f6 { and the position is about equal. } ) 20…b4 21.Nhg4 a5 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 { With nicely situated pieces, Black is doing ok here. The problem for White is actually his bishop pair, which are spectators at the moment. } 23.g3 a4 { A very appropriate move at this point. White is obviously looking towards play on the Kingside, therefore Black aiming to generate something on the Queenside is textbook chess. } 24.bxa4 Nde5 25.f4 Nxf4 { Mamedyarov takes the bull by the horns, but really this was the only way to go here in order to prevent White having an initiative. } 26.gxf4 Qxf4 27.Nf1 Qh4 28.Re3 Bxh3 29.Qe2 { This is the crux of White’s position. Anand covers …Nc4 possibilities and Black is struggling to find an active way forward from here. Therefore, he will be likely to seek exchanges, which will favour White and his extra piece at this time. This is exactly what happens. } 29…Qg4+ { It is quite amazing that White’s King is completely stripped, yet totally safe. Trading down is prudent, here, but this is not a happy conclusion. } 30.Qxg4 Bxg4 { And all of a sudden, Black’s situation is not looking healthy. Ok, he achieved 3 pawns in return for his piece, but at the moment it is White who can use his extra piece, whereas Black’s extra pawns are bystanders. } 31.a3 { this is ok, but another option was Rg3. } ( 31.Rg3 Nf3+ 32.Kf2 Nd4 33.Rxg4 Nxc2 34.Ng3 { And White builds up pressure on the Kingside almost automatically. } 34…g6 35.Nh5 Rec8 36.Rh1 { and Black is struggling here. } ) 31…Nf3+ 32.Kf2 Nd4 33.Rb2 { White’s bishops are still thorns in his sides, he doesn’t really want to be taking time out in order to defend them. I think, in hindsight, Anand will be wishing he had gone for 31.Rg3. } 33…bxa3 { Black initiaties exchanges } 34.Rxa3 Nxc2 35.Rxc2 Rxe4 36.a5 { Something has gone very wrong for Black. Earlier in the game, it was he who sacrificed a piece for 3 pawns. However, it is White who is pushing his own pawn — not a good sign. } 36…Bc8 37.Re3 Rf4+ 38.Rf3 Re4 { Black cannot afford to exchange more pieces, with his pawns going nowhere, White’s extra piece becomes more and more decisive as exchanges are made. Not to mention, there is now a White passer to contend with. } 39.Rb2 Ba6 40.Bc3 h5 { This kind of distraction might have been valid a few moves ago, but Anand has this under control now. } 41.Ng3 Rh4 42.Rb6 Rh2+ 43.Kg1 Rc2 44.Nf5 { Covering multiple targets, d6, g7, Ne7+ (therefore …Bxd5 is not an option). } 44…Bc4 { Black fights, but White is in full control of this position. } 45.Re3 { Not Nxg7?? which would be a bit embarrassing after …Bxd5 and …Rg2+. } ( 45.Nxg7 Bxd5 46.Rh3 Rg2+ 47.Kf1 Rxg7 48.Rxh5 ( 48.Bxg7 Kxg7 49.Rxh5 { and White is only marginally better, Black’s pawns and bishops being adequate compensation for his rook. } ) 48…Bc4+ 49.Kf2 { And though White is better, he has it all to do again and it is anything but straight-forward from here. Infact, I think with correct play, Black’s pawns could become more relevant, but the likely result is a draw. } ) 45…Kh7 { With White’s stranglehold on the position, all bases covered, Black does not have very many positive moves. The best he can do is to make …Bxd5 a valid option again by removing the Ne7+ danger. } 46.Rxd6 { Nxg7 was also perfectly fine, just a question of taste. Adding another passed pawn never hurts though. Anand has no trouble converting from here. } 46…Rb8 47.Rb6 Rxb6 48.axb6 Bxd5 49.Nxg7 Rg2+ 50.Kf1 Rg6 51.Nxh5 Bc4+ 52.Kf2 Rxb6 53.Nf6+ Kh6 54.Rg3 { And here, Mamedyarov resigned. There is the threat of mate (via Bd2) to deal with, and for example, after 54…Rd6, White plays 55.Ne4 and then follows with Bg7+. After …Kh5, Nf6+ follows, and then Rg4+ when the black bishop falls. } 1-0

[Event “10th Tal Mem 2016”]
[Site “Moscow RUS”]
[Date “2016.09.27”]
[Round “2.2”]
[White “Gelfand, Boris”]
[Black “Giri, Anish”]
[Result “0-1”]
[BlackElo “2755”]
[BlackFideId “24116068”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “E60”]
[EventDate “2016.09.26”]
[Opening “King’s Indian”]
[Variation “3.g3”]
[WhiteElo “2743”]
[WhiteFideId “2805677”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.e3 d6 7.Nge2 e5 8.O-O exd4 9.exd4 Ne7 10.Bf4 { This appears to be new. } 10…Nf5 11.Qc1 Re8 12.h3 { This in itself might be considered a constrictive waiting move, in order to see what Black’s intentions are, while guarding the g4-square from knight or bishop. Here, however, it comes with a sting of preparing the g3-g4 advance. } 12…c6 { This was always going to be Black’s most contructive option, reinforcing the d5-square before playing d6-d5. } 13.g4 { A moment of satisfaction for Black, the knight was rather imposing, making White go out of his way in order to kick it out. } 13…Ne7 14.Bh6 d5 { The perfect response to White’s undertakings on the Kingside, a counter in the centre of the board. } 15.c5 b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Re1 Bh8 18.Qf4 Nd7 19.Qd2 Nf8 20.Nf4 { Building up nicely on d5, with ideas of b4 and b5. With the open nature of the position, the White d-pawn would then be a very big plus, with the potential to cause chaos in the Black camp. } 20…Ne6 { Giri, very logically, targets the isolated d-pawn. } 21.Nce2 { Nxe6 was also viable, but the problem with that is that Black develops with …Bxe6 while also putting more coverage on d5 and White does not really want that. } 21…c5 { Giri decides to tempt his opponent with a pawn offering. Will Gelfand accept? } 22.dxc5 { This move what not mandatory, after 22.Rad1, for example, Black has some issues. } ( 22.Rad1 { What do you do here if you are Black? The problem is that all of Giri’s pieces have responsibilities and moving one of them would allow White to do something. Exchanging on d4 is not a consideration. …Bb7 looks perfectly respectable to the naked eye, but then comes Nxe6 fxe6, Nf4. It seems that …Rxa2 is actually the only valid continuation, but it gives White great play. } 22…Rxa2 23.Nc3 Ra7 24.dxc5 bxc5 { and now the d-pawn can be taken with complete safety. } 25.Ncxd5 Nxd5 26.Nxd5 Rb7 { After b3 or Qe3, White has a bit of an edge. } ) 22…bxc5 23.Nxd5 { Gelfand accepts the pawn, which is actually not a bad decision as long as he plays accurately. } 23…Bb7 { This is not a bad try, but 23…Nxd5 might have been slightly better. } ( 23…Nxd5 24.Bxd5 ( { if } 24.Qxd5 Rb8 { White finds it a tall order to hang on to b2. } 25.Qxd8 { I don’t think there is anything better than this. } 25…Rxd8 { And I don’t think White would be too satisfied here. } ) 24…Ra6 25.Bc4 Rd6 26.Qe3 { and White is equal at best here. } ) 24.Nec3 { It is hard to see anything wrong with this move, really, but it allows Black some serious play. Ndc3 would see White holding his edge. } ( 24.Ndc3 Qxd2 25.Bxd2 Bxg2 26.Kxg2 Nc6 { and White has a very slight edge here, which Gelfand probably did not think would be enough. } ) 24…Nxd5 { This is the start of a very effective combination. } 25.Nxd5 Bd4 26.Nc3 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 g5 { ! Very nice play from Giri. } 28.h4 { This is one way to try to free the piece, but Rxe6 was also interesting here. } ( 28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Bxg5 Qb6 30.Rc1 { Should see equal chances, but is very unclear. } ) 28…gxh4 29.Ne4 { This falls victim to a rather nasty pin, but it is hard to know what a better move was, here, White’s position has become rather unorganised and holey. } 29…Qd5 30.f3 { Black is definitely calling the shots, here. } 30…Rad8 31.Rad1 Kh8 { Patience from Black — sometimes it can be very productive to play moves such as this. It is what GM John Nunn refers to as “giving the opponent the move”, obligating him/her to find the correct continuation, rather than playing something more dramatic and leading them to it. } 32.Bg5 { An error. This possibly explains Giri’s decision to play …Kh8, having seen earlier in the game that Gelfand was in material-grabbing mood. Here, he goes down that route again, and it is to bite him. } 32…f5 { It’s hard to explain exactly what this move does. It is rather like placing a feather on the bonnet of a car that is balancing over the edge of a cliff. Again, it is placing the onus onto the opponent to find the continuation, and when looking at White’s options, that is a hard ask. } ( { It is possible that White expected } 32…Nxg5 33.Qxg5 Qxa2 34.Qxh4 { and heading to a draw. } ) 33.Bxd8 ( 33.Nc3 h3+ 34.Kg3 Qd6+ 35.Kxh3 Rf8 { and White’s King is in huge jeapordy. The threat is …Nxg5 and …Rf6. } ) ( { White is losing after } 33.Bxh4 fxe4 34.Rxe4 Rd7 ( { Not } 34…Qxa2 35.Bxd8 Rxd8 36.b4 { = } ) ) 33…Rxd8 34.gxf5 { ? The wrong way to go about solving the problem of the knight. Ng5 was playable, but it seems that Qh6 was the best try here. } ( 34.Qh6 fxe4 35.Rxe4 Ng5 36.Rf4 h3+ 37.Kh1 Nf7 { and after Qh5, Black is still better, but White is at least fighting. } ) 34…Qxf5 { Just one way to go, …Rg8+ being the other. } ( 34…Rg8+ 35.Kh1 Qxf5 36.Rf1 Be5 ) 35.Kh1 Rg8 36.Rf1 Be5 { And Gelfand resigned here. There is no respectable answer to Qh3+. } 0-1

[Event “10th Tal Mem 2016”]
[Site “Moscow RUS”]
[Date “2016.09.27”]
[Round “2.3”]
[White “Kramnik, Vladimir”]
[Black “Li, Chao b”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[BlackElo “2746”]
[BlackFideId “8604436”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “C42”]
[EventDate “2016.09.26”]
[Opening “Petrov”]
[Variation “classical attack”]
[WhiteElo “2808”]
[WhiteFideId “4101588”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.Nbd2 Bf5 9.Re1 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 O-O 12.c3 h6 13.Re2 Bd6 14.Qf5 Ne7 15.Qh5 Ng6 16.Bd2 Bf4 17.g3 Bxd2 18.Nxd2 Qg5 19.Qxg5 hxg5 20.Rae1 f6 21.Nf1 Rad8 22.Ne3 Rfe8 23.Nf5 Rxe2 24.Rxe2 Kf7 25.Kg2 Rd7 26.Kf3 Nf8 27.h4 g6 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Ng4 gxh4 30.gxh4 Kf7 31.Nh6+ Kg7 32.Ng4 Kf7 33.Re1 Rd6 34.Ne3 Ne6 35.Rh1 Ng7 36.a4 a6 37.b4 Rd8 38.b5 a5 39.Ng2 Nh5 40.Rb1 b6 41.Rc1 Ng7 42.Rh1 Nh5 43.Re1 Rd7 44.Kg4 Rd8 45.Kf3 Rd7 46.Ne3 Ng7 47.Ng4 Nf5 48.Rh1 Rd8 49.h5 g5 50.Ke2 Rh8 51.Kd3 Nh4 52.f4 Ng2 53.fxg5 Nf4+ 54.Ke3 Rxh5 55.Rxh5 Nxh5 56.gxf6 Nxf6 57.Nf2 Ke6 58.Kf4 Ne8 59.Ng4 Nd6 60.Ne3 Ne4 1/2-1/2

[Event “10th Tal Mem 2016”]
[Site “Moscow RUS”]
[Date “2016.09.27”]
[Round “2.4”]
[White “Svidler, Peter”]
[Black “Nepomniachtchi, Ian”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[BlackElo “2740”]
[BlackFideId “4168119”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “D80”]
[EventDate “2016.09.26”]
[Opening “Gruenfeld”]
[Variation “Stockholm variation”]
[WhiteElo “2745”]
[WhiteFideId “4102142”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Bg7 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.cxd5 c5 7.dxc5 Nd7 8.e3 O-O 9.Bc4 Nxc5 10.Nge2 Qa5 11.O-O Qb4 12.Bb3 Bf5 13.Nd4 Bd3 14.Re1 Rfd8 15.Qd2 a5 16.a3 Qb6 17.Ba2 Rac8 18.Rac1 Ba6 19.Rb1 Bd3 20.Rbc1 Ba6 21.Rb1 Bd3 22.Rbc1 1/2-1/2

[Event “10th Tal Mem 2016”]
[Site “Moscow RUS”]
[Date “2016.09.27”]
[Round “2.5”]
[White “Tomashevsky, Evgeny”]
[Black “Aronian, Levon”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[BlackElo “2795”]
[BlackFideId “13300474”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “D56”]
[EventDate “2016.09.26”]
[Opening “QGD”]
[Variation “Lasker defence”]
[WhiteElo “2731”]
[WhiteFideId “4147235”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Qc2 Nd7 11.Be2 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 dxc4 13.Qxc4 e5 14.O-O exd4 15.Nxd4 Nb6 16.Qc3 Nd5 17.Qb3 a5 18.a3 a4 19.Qc4 Nb6 20.Qc3 Nd5 21.Qc4 Nb6 22.Qc3 Nd5 23.Qc4 1/2-1/2

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