Master Games

US Championship 2016, Rounds 1 thru 5

April 19, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

The 2016 US Championship is being held in St. Louis, Missouri. It has attracted a strong field.

[Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "B01"]  [Opening "Scandinavian defence"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bc4 Bg4 5. f3 Bf5 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. g4 Nb6 8.  b3 Bc8 9. Bb2 Nfxd5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Qe2 e6 12. O-O-O b6 13. Nh3 Bb7 14. f4 Bd6  15. f5 Qe7 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bb2 O-O-O 18. Rhf1 Rde8 19. f6 Qf8 20. g5 h6 21. Rg1  hxg5 22. Nxg5 Rh8 23. h3 Rh6 24. Rdf1 a5 25. Kb1 Kb8 26. Rg4 Rd8 27. h4 Ka7 28.  Be5 Rd7 29. Bb5 Rd8 30. Bxd6 cxd6 31. Bc4 Nc7 32. Nxf7 Qxf7 33. Rg7 Qf8 34. Rxc7  Rxf6 35. Rxf6 Qxf6 36. Qxe6 Qxh4 37. Bd5 Rb8 38. Qf7 Qe1+ 39. Kb2 Qe5+ 40. c3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.2"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D43"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O Bb7 8. b3  cxb3 9. Qxb3 Be7 10. Ne5 a6 11. Rd1 O-O 12. Ne4 Qc7 13. Ng5 a5 14. Bh3 a4 15.  Qc2 Bc8 16. Bf4 Qd8 17. Ng4 g6 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bg7 20. Bg2 Qb6 21. Bd6  Re8 22. Rac1 Qd8 23. Bc5 Ba6 24. Bb4 Qc7 25. d5 exd5 26. Nd6 Qd7 27. Nxe8 Qxe8  28. e4 d4 29. e5 h5 30. f4 f6 31. Rxd4 fxe5 32. fxe5 Bc8 33. Rcd1 Bd7 34. Rd6  Qxe5 35. Qxg6 Qf5 36. Bc3 Qf7 37. Rf1 Qxg6 38. Rxg6 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.3"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "C95"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "closed, Breyer, Borisenko variation"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   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 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.  Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. a4 c6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Nh4 Qd8 21. Qc1 Kh7  22. Nhf5 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Re6 24. Bxh6 Ne8 25. Bg5 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. d5 Re7 28.  g4 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.4"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "C07"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Tarrasch, open variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.  Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Bf1 Bd6 13. Nf5 Bxh2+ 14. Kh1  Kf8 15. Qd4 exf5 16. Qxf6 h6 17. Qd4 Bd6 18. Bc4 Bd7 19. b3 Qc5 20. Qh4 b5 21.  Be3 Qc7 22. Bd5 Bc6 23. Rad1 Kg8 24. Qh5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 g6 26. Qd1 Bf8 27. Bd4  Rh7 28. Bf6 Qb6 29. Bd4 Qc6 30. Bb2 f6 31. Rd8 Rxd8 32. Qxd8 Rf7 33. Re8 Qxc2  34. Ba3 b4 35. Bxb4 Qc1+ 36. Re1 Qc7 37. Qxc7 Rxc7 38. Re8 Rf7 39. Ra8 Kg7 40.  Bxf8+ Rxf8 41. Rxa6 g5 42. b4 Rd8 43. b5 Rd2 44. b6 Rb2 45. g3 Kg6 46. Kg2 h5  47. a4 f4 48. gxf4 g4 49. a5 h4 50. Ra8 Kf5 51. Rh8 h3+ 52. Kg3 Rb3+ 53. Kh2 Rb2  54. a6 Rxf2+ 55. Kg1 g3 56. Rxh3 Kg4 57. Rh8 Rb2 58. a7 Rb1+ 59. Kg2 Rb2+ 60.  Kf1 g2+ 61. Kg1 Kg3 62. Rg8+ Kh3 63. a8=Q 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.5"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D20"]  [Opening "Queen's gambit accepted"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5 4. a4 b4 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. Qf3 c6 7. Ne2 e6 8. e4 Bb7  9. Bg5 Be7 10. Nd2 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. e5 Be7 13. Ne4 O-O 14. Rd1 Ba6 15. Bb3  Nd7 16. Nf4 Qa5 17. Qg3 Nxe5 18. Nxe6 Nd3+ 19. Rxd3 fxe6 20. Re3 Kh8 21. Qe5  Qxe5 22. dxe5 Rad8 23. Bxe6 Rd3 24. Rxd3 Bxd3 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. exd6 Rf6 27. Kd2  Rxe6 28. Kxd3 Rxd6+ 29. Kc2 c5 30. Rd1 b3+ 31. Kc1 Ra6 32. Rd8+ Kh7 33. Kd2 Rxa4  34. Kc3 Ra1 35. Rd2 a5 36. Kxb3 a4+ 37. Kc4 a3 38. bxa3 Rxa3 39. Kxc5 h5 40. Kd4  Ra5 41. Ke4 g6 42. f4 Kg7 43. h3 Kf7 44. Rd6 Ra2 45. g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Ra7 47. g5  Rb7 48. Ke5 Ra7 49. Rf6+ Kg7 50. Rc6 Re7+ 51. Kd6 Re4 52. Rc7+ Kg8 53. Rc8+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.14"]  [Round "1.6"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "0-1"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D43"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O Bb7 8. e4 Be7  9. e5 Nd5 10. Ne4 Nd7 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nd6 Bxg5 13. Nxb7 Qe7 14. a4 Bh6 15. axb5  cxb5 16. Nd6 N7b6 17. Nxb5 Qb4 18. Nd6 Qxb2 19. Ra5 Nc3 20. Qa1 Bc1 21. Qxb2  Bxb2 22. Nd2 Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Rab8 24. N2xc4 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 Bxd4 26. f4 g6 27. Ra2  Nc3 28. Rd2 Bc5 29. Rd3 Na4 30. Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rc2 Bb4 32. Ra1 Nc3 33. Bf1 Nb5 34.  Kg2 Rbc8 35. Rca2 Rc7 36. Ra4 Bc5 37. Ra5 Nc3 38. Rc1 Bb4 39. Ra6 Rd4 40. Nd6  Rd2+ 41. Kh3 h5 42. Ne8 Ne2 0-1   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2656"]  [ECO "C19"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Winawer, advance, poisoned pawn variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "2004887"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 O-O 8. Bd3  Nbc6 9. Qh5 Ng6 10. Nh3 Qc7 11. Be3 c4 12. Bxg6 fxg6 13. Qg4 Qf7 14. Nf4 Ne7 15.  h4 h6 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. g4 b5 18. f3 a5 19. Kf2 Rab8 20. Kg3 Be8 21. Bd2 b4 22.  axb4 axb4 23. Rhb1 Nc6 24. Qe3 b3 25. Bc1 Bd7 26. Ba3 bxc2 27. Rc1 Rfc8 28. Rxc2  Ra8 29. Rca2 Be8 30. Bd6 Rxa2 31. Rxa2 Qd7 32. Qc1 Bf7 33. Qb1 Qe8 34. Qb7 Kh7  35. Ra6 Kg8 36. Bc7 Ne7 37. Bd6 Nc6 38. Kg2 Kh7 39. Kh3 Kg8 40. Kg3 Kh7 41. Nh3  Kg8 42. g5 h5 43. Nf4 Kh7 44. Ng2 Bg8 45. Ne3 Bf7 46. Nc2 Bg8 47. Na3 Bf7 48.  Kf2 Bg8 49. Ke3 Bf7 50. Kd2 Bg8 51. Kc2 Bf7 52. Kc1 Kg8 53. Nb5 Ne7 54. Na7 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.2"]  [White "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2678"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [ECO "A45"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2000024"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 d5 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3  b6 9. e4 Be7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1  Rb8 15. Ke2 Ba6+ 16. Ke3 Rfd8 17. f4 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Bf2 h5  21. b3 Bb5 22. c4 Bd7 23. h3 g6 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Kg7 26. g5 Be7 27. Kd3 Kf8  28. a4 a5 29. Be3 Ke8 30. Bf2 Kd8 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.3"]  [White "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Black "So, Wesley"]  [Result "0-1"]  [WhiteTitle "IM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2477"]  [BlackElo "2773"]  [ECO "B12"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "advance variation"]  [WhiteFideId "25006711"]  [BlackFideId "5202213"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. Ng3 Bg6  9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Be2 Qa5 11. Bd2 Nb4 12. O-O Qb6 13. Bg5 Nc2 14. Rc1 Nxd4 15.  Bxh5 Bxh5 16. Nxh5 Nxe5 17. Re1 Nef3+ 18. gxf3 Rxh5 19. f4 g6 20. Na4 Qb4 21.  Re4 Bg7 22. Nc5 Qxb2 23. Rc4 Rxg5+ 24. fxg5 O-O-O 25. Nb3 Nxb3 26. Qxb3 Qa1+ 27.  Kg2 Rd1 28. Qc2 Kd8 29. Kf3 Ke8 30. Rb4 Rc1 31. Qe2 b5 32. Rb3 Rh1 33. Kg4 Kf8  34. Rg3 Kg8 35. Ree3 Qd4+ 36. Re4 f5+ 37. gxf6 Qxf6 38. f4 Qxh4+ 39. Kf3 Rh2 40.  Qd3 Qh5+ 0-1   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.4"]  [White "Robson, Ray"]  [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2663"]  [BlackElo "2664"]  [ECO "A46"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2023970"]  [BlackFideId "14101025"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 Qe7 8. Ne5  Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. Bh4 f6 14. exf6 gxf6  15. c4 Rg8 16. O-O h5 17. Qd1 Rg4 18. Bg3 Qh7 19. Rc1 a5 20. Re1 Ba6 21. cxd5  cxd5 22. e4 d4 23. Qa4 Bb7 24. Qb3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.5"]  [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2615"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D83"]  [Opening "Gruenfeld"]  [Variation "Gruenfeld gambit, Capablanca variation"]  [WhiteFideId "13300580"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. b3 c5 8. cxd5  Bg4 9. Nge2 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Bxe2 11. Kxe2 Nbd7 12. g3 Nh5 13. Qb4 Nb6 14. Bg2 Bxc3  15. Qxc3 Nxd5 16. Qc5 Ndxf4+ 17. gxf4 Rc8 18. Qd5 Qb6 19. Qxb7 Qe6 20. Be4 Rfd8  21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rd1 Nf6 23. Bf3 Rc2+ 24. Rd2 Rc1 25. Rd1 Rc2+ 26. Rd2 Rc1 27.  Rd1 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.15"]  [Round "2.6"]  [White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2528"]  [ECO "D45"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [Variation "Stoltz variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2021285"]  [BlackFideId "2008572"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. O-O-O  b5 9. cxb5 c5 10. Kb1 Bb7 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Nd4 Qe7 13. f3 Rfc8 14. Be1 Qe8 15.  g4 Bf8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Be2 g6 18. f4 a6 19. Rc1 axb5 20. Bxb5 Qd8 21. Qe2 e5 22.  fxe5 Qxg5 23. Bd2 Qxe5 24. Rcf1 Bg7 25. Be1 Ne4 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Rhg1 Nf6 28.  h4 Nd5 29. Bg3 Qe7 30. Rc1 Nb4 31. Rxc8+ Rxc8 32. h5 Qc5 33. hxg6 hxg6 34. a3  Nd5 35. Bf2 Qb6 36. Ka1 Bxd4 37. exd4 e3 38. Bg3 Qxd4 39. Rd1 Qe4 40. Bd3 Qa4  41. Bb1 Nf4 42. Qg4 f5 43. Bxf5 e2 44. Rb1 Rc3 45. Be6+ Kg7 46. Qxf4 Rxa3+ 47.  bxa3 Qxa3+ 48. Ba2 Qc3+ 49. Rb2 e1=Q+ 50. Bxe1 Qxe1+ 51. Bb1 Qa5+ 52. Ba2 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.1"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2795"]  [ECO "A35"]  [Opening "English"]  [Variation "symmetrical, four knights system"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "2020009"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4 Bd6  9. Bb2 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Rc1 a5 14. Nb5 axb4 15.  Nxd6 Qxd6 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Rb1 Qe7 19. Rb5 Rfd8 20. Nd4 Kg7 21.  Re1 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Bf5 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Be4 25. Qd1 Qb4 26. Rf1 Ra2 27. Qd7  Bg6 28. Bf3 b5 29. h4 Rd2 30. Qh3 h5 31. Qg3 Qd6 32. Qxd6 Rxd6 33. Rd1 Rb6 34.  e4 b4 35. Rd2 f5 36. exf5 Bxf5 37. Bxh5 b3 38. Rb2 Bc2 39. Bf3 Rb5 40. Be2 Rb4  41. Bf3 Rxh4 42. Bd5 Rb4 43. Kf1 f5 44. Ke2 Kf6 45. f4 Ke7 46. Bg8 Kf8 47. Bd5  Kg7 48. Ke3 Kg6 49. Bf3 Kf6 50. Bd5 Kg6 51. Bf3 Rc4 52. g4 Rc3+ 53. Kf2 Bd3 54.  Bd1 Bc4 55. Ke1 Rg3 56. Kf2 Rh3 57. Ke1 Be6 58. Re2 Bc4 59. Rb2 Kf6 60. Kd2 Rd3+  61. Kc1 Rc3+ 62. Kd2 Rg3 63. gxf5 Kxf5 64. Kc1 Kxf4 65. Rh2 Ke3 66. Kb2 Kd4 67.  Rh4+ Kc5 68. Ka3 Bd5 69. Rh5 Kd4 70. Rxd5+ Kxd5 71. Bxb3+ Kd4 72. Kb2 Rg2+ 73.  Ka1 Kc3 74. Ba2 Rg7 75. Bb1 Rb7 76. Ba2 Kc2 77. Bd5 Re7 78. Bg8 Re1+ 79. Ka2 Rh1  80. Bd5 Rh4 81. Bb3+ Kc3 82. Be6 Rf4 83. Bg8 Rf2+ 84. Kb1 Rb2+ 85. Ka1 Kc2 86.  Bh7+ Kc1 87. Bg8 Rb1+ 88. Ka2 Rb8 89. Bf7 Rb2+ 90. Ka1 Rb7 91. Bd5 Ra7+ 92. Ba2  Kc2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.2"]  [White "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D00"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn, Mason variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2047640"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. dxc5 g6 5. c3 Bg7 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Ngf3 Nbd7 8. Nb3  Ne4 9. Qxd5 Ndxc5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nxc5 Nxc5 12. Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Bxe5 14. Nxe5  Rd5 15. f4 Be6 16. Nf3 Na4 17. Nd4 Nxb2 18. Rb1 Na4 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Bc4 Rd6  21. Rxb7 Nxc3 22. O-O Kf8 23. Rc1 Nd5 24. Bb3 Rb6 25. Rxb6 axb6 26. Kf2 Nb4 27.  Kf3 b5 28. Rc5 Nxa2 29. Rxb5 Nc3 30. Rb6 Ra1 31. Bc4 Nd5 32. Rxe6 Nf6 33. Rb6  Rc1 34. Be6 Rf1+ 35. Ke2 Rg1 36. Kf2 Rh1 37. g4 Rxh2+ 38. Kg1 Re2 39. g5 Rxe3  40. gxf6 exf6 41. Kf2 Re4 42. Kf3 f5 43. Rb8+ Kg7 44. Rb7+ Kf6 45. Bd5 Re7 46.  Rb6+ Kg7 47. Rd6 Kf8 48. Be6 Kg7 49. Rc6 Kf6 50. Bc4+ Kg7 51. Rd6 Rc7 52. Be2  Re7 53. Rc6 Kf8 54. Kf2 Kg7 55. Bf3 Kf8 56. Kg3 Kg7 57. Kh4 h6 58. Kg3 Kh7 59.  Bd5 Kg7 60. Kf3 Kh7 61. Kf2 Kg7 62. Bc4 Kh7 63. Be2 Kg7 64. Rc4 Kf6 65. Rc8 Kg7  66. Rd8 Kh7 67. Bf3 Kg7 68. Bd5 Kh7 69. Rd6 Kg7 70. Be6 Kf6 71. Bd5+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.3"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "A13"]  [Opening "English opening"]  [Variation "Agincourt variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Bg2 a6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qb3  Bb7 9. a4 c5 10. d3 Bd5 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Bc6 13. Ne1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Rb8 15.  axb5 axb5 16. Ra6 Qc7 17. Qb3 b4 18. Nb1 Nb6 19. Bg5 Nfd7 20. Nd2 O-O 21. Ne4 h6  22. Be3 Be7 23. Rfa1 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rxa8+ Nxa8 26. Qa2 Nab6 27. Nd2 Qc6  28. Ne1 Qa4 29. Qxa4 Nxa4 30. b3 Nc3 31. Kf1 f5 32. Nc4 Kf7 33. Bd2 Nb5 34. Nc2  Bf6 35. e4 Ne5 36. exf5 exf5 37. Be3 Nd7 38. h4 Ke6 39. Ne1 Nd4 40. Bxd4 Bxd4  41. Nf3 Bf6 42. Ke2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.4"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "C10"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Rubinstein variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.  Be3 Qc7 9. Qd2 Nd5 10. c3 c4 11. Bc2 Bd6 12. Qe2 b5 13. Bd2 Bb7 14. O-O O-O 15.  Qe4 g6 16. Qh4 Bf4 17. Be4 Bxd2 18. Nxd2 Rab8 19. g3 a5 20. Rfc1 Nb6 21. Re1 b4  22. Qh6 Nd5 23. Rac1 bxc3 24. bxc3 Nf6 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Qg5 Kg7 27. Qe5 Qxe5  28. Rxe5 Nd5 29. Nxc4 Rc7 30. Nxa5 Ra8 31. Nb3 Rxc3 32. Re2 Rd3 33. Rb2 Nb4 34.  a4 Nd5 35. a5 Rb8 36. Rcb1 Ra8 37. a6 Rxa6 38. Nc5 Raa3 39. Rb7 Rd2 40. Nxe6+  Kf6 41. Nd8 Kf5 42. Rxf7+ Ke4 43. Re1+ Kxd4 44. Ne6+ Kc4 45. Rc1+ Nc3 46. Rxh7  Kb5 47. Rb7+ Kc6 48. Rxc3+ Rxc3 49. Rc7+ Kd6 50. Rxc3 Kxe6 51. Rf3 Rd4 52. h4  Ke5 53. Kg2 Ke6 54. Kh3 Ke5 55. g4 Rd1 56. g5 Rd6 57. h5 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.5"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "A05"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 c6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. a4 d5  9. O-O Bf5 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nd3 Ne4 12. Nf3 Nd6 13. Rc1 Qb6 14. Nfe5 Rfd8 15. e3  Nxe5 16. dxe5 Ne8 17. Qe2 Nc7 18. f4 f6 19. exf6 exf6 20. Nf2 Re8 21. Rce1 Re7  22. Qd2 Ne8 23. Bd4 Qc7 24. c4 dxc4 25. bxc4 Be6 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. Qe2 f5 28. Bxg7  Kxg7 29. Qb2+ Kg8 30. e4 fxe4 31. Nxe4 Bf5 32. Nf2 h5 33. Qc3 Qb6 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.16"]  [Round "3.6"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D10"]  [Opening "QGD Slav defence"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Nh4  Be4 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. d5 exd5 12. Nf5 g6 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. Bb5 Bf6 15.  Bc3 Kf8 16. O-O Kg7 17. f3 Nxd4 18. exd4 Qd6 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Rae1 Rc8 21. Rxe4  Rc7 22. Bb4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qb6 24. Rxd4 Qxd4 25. Bc3 Rxc3 26. bxc3 Qd6 27. Qxf7+  Kh6 28. Qf8+ Qxf8 29. Rxf8 Kg7 30. Rb8 b6 31. Rb7+ Kh6 32. Rf7 g5 33. Bd3 g4 34.  Kg1 Kg5 35. Rf8 Kh6 36. Ra8 a5 37. Rb8 Kg7 38. Rb7+ Kf8 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Rb7+  Kf8 41. Rxb6 Ne7 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Rxh8 Kxh8 44. Be4 Kg7 45. Kf2 Kf6 46. Ke3 Ke5  47. Bxh7 Nd5+ 48. Kd2 Kf4 49. Kd3 g3 50. hxg3+ Kxg3 51. Be4 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.1"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2795"]  [BlackElo "2787"]  [ECO "B90"]  [Opening "Sicilian"]  [Variation "Najdorf"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e6 7. Be3 h5 8. a4 Nc6  9. Bc4 Qc7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Bb3 Bd7 13. f4 Neg4 14. Kh1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3  Qc5 16. Rad1 g6 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. f5 e5 19. Nf3 gxf5 20. Ng5 f4 21. Rd3 Kb8 22.  Nxf7 h4 23. Nxh8 Rxh8 24. Qf2 Qb4 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 Bxa4 27. Ra3 h3 28. c3  Qb5 29. b3 Bh4 30. bxa4 Qd3 31. g3 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.2"]  [White "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Black "So, Wesley"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2656"]  [BlackElo "2773"]  [ECO "D37"]  [Opening "QGD"]  [Variation "classical variation (5.Bf4)"]  [WhiteFideId "2004887"]  [BlackFideId "5202213"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5  Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf6 12. Be2 Bf5 13. O-O Be4 14. Bxf6  Qxf6 15. Nd4 Ne6 16. Rc1 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rac8 19. f3 Bc2 20. Kf2  Rfd8 21. Ke3 Rc7 22. Kd2 Rdc8 23. Rfe1 Kf8 24. Bb5 a6 25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Bxe8  Kxe8 27. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 28. Kxc2 Kd7 29. Kd3 Ke6 30. Ke3 Kf5 31. g3 h5 32. b4 b5 33.  Kf2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.3"]  [White "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Black "Robson, Ray"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2615"]  [BlackElo "2663"]  [ECO "D45"]  [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"]  [Variation "Stoltz variation"]  [WhiteFideId "13300580"]  [BlackFideId "2023970"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O  dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Rd1 Rc8 12. a3 a6 13. e4 c5 14. Bg5 cxd4 15.  Rxd4 Qc7 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Rxd6 Qxd6 18. e5 Qc5 19. exf6 Bxf3 20. fxg7 Rfd8 21.  gxf3 Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Rd2 23. Qe4 Rxf2 24. Rg1 Qh5 25. Rg2 Rf1+ 26. Rg1 Rf2 27. Rg2  Rf1+ 28. Rg1 Qxf3+ 29. Qxf3 Rxf3 30. Bc2 Rf2 31. Bb1 h6 32. Ne4 Rf4 33. b4 Rd8  34. Nc5 Rf3 35. Be4 Rf2 36. Bb1 Rf3 37. Be4 Rf2 38. Bb1 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.4"]  [White "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2678"]  [BlackElo "2664"]  [ECO "A45"]  [Opening "Queen's pawn game"]  [WhiteFideId "2000024"]  [BlackFideId "14101025"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Bf5 7. c3 e6 8. Qb3  Qc8 9. Nh4 Be4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bd3 Bd6 12. Bxe4 Bxf4 13. Bd3 g5 14. Nf3 g4 15.  Ng1 h5 16. Ne2 Bh6 17. Bb5 a6 18. Bxc6+ Qxc6 19. Nc1 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 Qb5 21. Qc2  O-O-O 22. a4 Qc4 23. b3 Qc7 24. O-O Kb8 25. Qd2 Rd6 26. c4 dxc4 27. Rxc4 Rc6 28.  Rfc1 Rxc4 29. Rxc4 Qd6 30. Qg5 f5 31. g3 e5 32. dxe5 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.5"]  [White "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "D83"]  [Opening "Gruenfeld"]  [Variation "Gruenfeld gambit, Capablanca variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2021285"]  [BlackFideId "2047640"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Be6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.  Nxd5 Qxd5 9. b3 Qa5+ 10. Qd2 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 c6 12. Nf3 Bd5 13. Bc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3  e6 15. b4 a6 16. a4 Nd7 17. Rhd1 Rfc8 18. a5 Bf8 19. Kc3 Nf6 20. e4 Nd5+ 21.  Bxd5 exd5 22. exd5 cxd5+ 23. Kb3 f6 24. Re1 Kf7 25. Bc7 Re8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27.  Bg3 g5 28. Rc7+ Re7 29. Rc5 Re8 30. Rc7+ Re7 31. Rc1 Re2 32. Rc7+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.17"]  [Round "4.6"]  [White "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Black "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "IM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2477"]  [BlackElo "2528"]  [ECO "B19"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "classical, Spassky variation"]  [WhiteFideId "25006711"]  [BlackFideId "2008572"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5  Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Bd6 13. Kb1 Qb6 14. Ne4 Nxe4  15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe1 Qc7 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. c4 Rhe8 19. Bc3 Kb8 20. Ne5 Ka8 21.  g4 Nh7 22. Rd3 Nf8 23. Rhd1 f6 24. Ng6 Nxg6 25. hxg6 Qd7 26. Re3 Re7 27. Re1  Rde8 28. Re4 a6 29. Qd3 Kb8 30. R1e3 Kc8 31. Qe2 Kd8 32. Qf3 Kc8 33. Qe2 Kd8 34.  a3 f5 35. gxf5 exf5 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. d5 cxd5 38. cxd5 Bc5 39. Re5 Qd6 40. b4  Ba7 41. Rxe7 Qxe7 42. Qxe7+ Kxe7 43. Bxg7 h5 44. Be5 h4 45. d6+ Ke6 46. g7 Kf7  47. d7 Bb6 48. Kc2 h3 49. Kd3 f4 50. Bxf4 Kxg7 51. Ke2 Kf7 52. Be3 Bc7 53. Bf4 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.1"]  [White "Shabalov, Alexander"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2528"]  [BlackElo "2795"]  [ECO "A07"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack"]  [WhiteFideId "2008572"]  [BlackFideId "2020009"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Bf5 8. c4  Nbd7 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Rc8 11. Rc1 Nb8 12. Ne5 Nc6 13. e3 h5 14. Qe2 Nxe5 15.  dxe5 Ne4 16. Nb5 Qa5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. f3 Nc5 19. Bc3 Qb6 20. f4 Ne4 21. Bb2 Qa5  22. a4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Kf2 Qc5 27. Qb5 Qxb5  28. Nxb5 Be6 29. b4 a6 30. Nc7 Bd7 31. b5 axb5 32. axb5 e6 33. Ba3 f6 34. Bd6  Kf7 35. h3 fxe5 36. fxe5 Bh6 37. Ke2 Bg5 38. Kd2 Kg7 39. b6 Kf7 40. Na6 Bc6 41.  Nc5 Bd5 42. Ke2 Ke8 43. Bc7 Ke7 44. Kf2 Ke8 45. Ke2 Ke7 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.2"]  [White "So, Wesley"]  [Black "Akobian, Varuzhan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2773"]  [BlackElo "2615"]  [ECO "C10"]  [Opening "French"]  [Variation "Rubinstein variation"]  [WhiteFideId "5202213"]  [BlackFideId "13300580"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 c5 8.  Be3 cxd4 9. Bxd4 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Qc2 h6 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Rd8 14. Ne5  Bd7 15. Qe2 Bc6 16. Rhe1 Bd5 17. c4 Bxg2 18. Bc3 Qb6 19. Rg1 Bc6 20. Nxf7 Kxf7  21. Rxg7+ Kxg7 22. Qxe6 Qxf2 23. Qxe7+ Kg8 24. Bh7+ 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.3"]  [White "Robson, Ray"]  [Black "Lenderman, Aleksandr"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2663"]  [BlackElo "2618"]  [ECO "A07"]  [Opening "Reti"]  [Variation "King's Indian attack (Barcza system)"]  [WhiteFideId "2023970"]  [BlackFideId "2021285"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. h3 Bh5 6. d4 e6 7. c4 Ngf6 8. cxd5  exd5 9. Nh4 Ne4 10. Nc3 Nd6 11. Bf4 Nf6 12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Qa4 O-O-O 14. Rac1 Kb8  15. b4 Ka8 16. Qb3 Nde4 17. g4 Bg6 18. b5 Nxc3 19. Rxc3 c5 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. a4  Ne4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. a5 Qf6 24. Rxc5 Qxf4 25. f3 Qg3+ 26. Ng2 Rhe8 27. a6 Bg6  28. Rxd5 Rb8 29. Rd7 Qe5 30. Rc1 Re7 31. f4 Qe4 32. axb7+ Rxb7 33. Rc8+ Rb8 34.  Rxe7 Qxe7 35. Qd5+ Qb7 36. Qxb7+ Kxb7 37. Rxb8+ Kxb8 38. f5 Kc7 39. fxg6 hxg6  40. Kf2 Kb6 41. Ke3 Kxb5 42. Kd4 a5 43. Ne3 a4 44. g5 Kb4 45. Nc4 f5 46. Kd3 Kb3  47. e3 Kb4 48. Kd4 Kb3 49. Kd3 Kb4 50. Ne5 Kb3 51. Kd2 a3 52. Nf3 a2 53. Nd4+  Kb2 54. Nc2 Kb3 55. Kd3 Kb2 56. Kd2 Kb3 57. h4 Kb2 1/2-1/2   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.4"]  [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2787"]  [BlackElo "2656"]  [ECO "B11"]  [Opening "Caro-Kann"]  [Variation "two knights, 3...Bg4"]  [WhiteFideId "2016192"]  [BlackFideId "2004887"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. g3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. Be3  Nf6 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Na6 11. e5 Nd7 12. Qd1 c5 13. f4 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nb4 15.  Ne2 Qc7 16. c3 Nc6 17. Be3 Rfc8 18. Kh1 b5 19. Rc1 Bf8 20. g4 Bc5 21. Nd4 Qb6  22. Bg1 b4 23. f5 bxc3 24. bxc3 Ncxe5 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. Nxe6 Bxg1 27. Rxg1 Kh8  28. Qxd5 Rab8 29. Rge1 Qb2 30. c4 Rb6 31. c5 Rbc6 32. Rcd1 h6 33. Nf4 Rf6 34.  Nd3 Nxd3 35. Qxd7 Nf2+ 36. Kg1 Rcf8 37. Qd2 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.5"]  [White "Xiong, Jeffery"]  [Black "Kamsky, Gata"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2618"]  [BlackElo "2678"]  [ECO "B03"]  [Opening "Alekhine's defence"]  [Variation "exchange variation"]  [WhiteFideId "2047640"]  [BlackFideId "2000024"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Rc1  O-O 9. b3 Bf5 10. d5 e5 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Nge2 d5 13. c5 Nc6 14. Nd4 Bxd4 15.  Bxd4 Re8 16. cxb6 Qh4 17. Ne2 axb6 18. Qd2 Bf5 19. Kd1 Rxe2 20. Bxe2 Nxd4 21. f3  Qf2 22. Re1 Be6 23. Rc3 Nc6 24. Bf1 Qh4 25. Bb5 Nd4 26. Bf1 Nf5 27. Rd3 d4 28.  g3 Qf6 29. Ke2 Bd7 30. a4 b5 31. a5 Bc6 32. Kf2 Ne3 33. Be2 Rd8 34. Kg1 Kg7 35.  Bd1 Bxf3 36. Bxf3 Qxf3 37. Rexe3 dxe3 38. Qb2+ 1-0   [Event "ch-USA 2016"]  [Site "Saint Louis USA"]  [Date "2016.04.18"]  [Round "5.6"]  [White "Onischuk, Alexander"]  [Black "Chandra, Akshat"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "IM"]  [WhiteElo "2664"]  [BlackElo "2477"]  [ECO "E32"]  [Opening "Nimzo-Indian"]  [Variation "classical variation"]  [WhiteFideId "14101025"]  [BlackFideId "25006711"]  [EventDate "2016.04.14"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6 5. e4 c5 6. d5 Qe7 7. Be2 exd5 8. exd5  Qe4 9. Qd2 Qe7 10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O Bxc3 12. bxc3 d6 13. Re1 Bg4 14. Bd3 Qc7 15.  Nh4 Re8 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Qg5 Bc8 18. Bf4 Nd7 19. Nf5 Ne5 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21.  Bxe5 Qd7 22. Qh4 h6 23. Re1 Qg4 24. Qe7 Qd7 25. Bg3 Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Kf8 27. Re1  Ba6 28. a4 Nf6 29. Bf1 Bc8 30. a5 Bf5 31. Bc7 Nd7 32. f3 h5 33. g3 Rc8 34. Bd6+  Kg8 35. h3 bxa5 36. Ra1 Bc2 37. Rxa5 Bb3 38. Ra3 Bd1 39. Rxa7 Nb6 40. Ra6 Na4  41. Be7 1-0

V. Topalov v. L. Aronian – Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 3

March 14, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

[Event "Candidates 2016"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2016.03.13"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Black "Aronian, Levon"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A10"]  [WhiteElo "2780"]  [BlackElo "2786"]  [Annotator "Sagar Shah"]  [PlyCount "100"]   1. c4 {Topalov plays his first white today and opens with the c-pawn.} Nf6 { Aronian played this quite instantly, so the English Opening wasn't really a surprise for him.} 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nd5 e4 7. Nh4 { This is quite a common position and usually Black replies Re8. But Aronian went for a relatively unknown move which has not been played by any top player. } d6 $5 {This move has been played by Aronian's country-mate Minasian, and it is quite possible that Levon picked it up from him.} 8. Nxb4 (8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. Bxe4 Re8 $1 10. Bg2 Bg4 $1 {Just have a look at the black pieces. This is a completely winning position for Black.} 11. f3 Be6 $19) 8... Nxb4 9. a3 Nc6 10. d3 d5 $1 {A very concrete way to approach the position.} 11. O-O (11. cxd5 Qxd5 $1 12. dxe4 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 Rd8+ 14. Kc2 Nd4+ $36) 11... exd3 12. Qxd3 $6 (12. exd3 $11 {would have given White an entirely viable position, but without any advantage. This was not to Topalov's liking.}) (12. cxd5 {is also fine but does not give an advantage.} dxe2 13. Qxe2 Nxd5 $11) 12... Ne5 13. Qd4 (13. Qc2 Nxc4 14. e4 {is a possible way to play. The queen is of course better placed on c2 than on d4.}) 13... Nxc4 14. e4 Be6 15. b3 Na5 16. Qa4 Nc6 (16... c6 17. Bd2 b6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Qxc6 (19. exd5 cxd5 $17) 19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 Rc8 21. Qa4 Qb6 $17 {is some sort of a computer line showing that even c6 was not so bad.}) (16... c5 {is possible and Topalov as intending to meet it with} 17. b4 cxb4 18. axb4 Nc4 $15 {Black seems to be slightly better.}) 17. Rd1 $2 { [#] This was a big blunder by Veselin, after which he is effectively two pawns down.} (17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bb2 $44) 17... Nxe4 $1 18. Bb2 (18. Bxe4 Qf6 $1 $17 { This move, which attacks the a1 rook, was missed by Topalov.}) 18... Qe7 $17 { Black is two pawns up and with some care he should win the game with ease. Aronian didn't realise his advantage in the best possible manner but it was good enough.} 19. b4 a6 20. Qc2 f6 21. Rac1 Rad8 22. Bf1 Rd7 23. f3 Nd6 24. Re1 (24. Bd3 g5 25. Ng2 Nc4 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Rd1 Qe7 29. f4 { was a line suggested by Aronian in the press conference as better than what Topalov played in the game. But here the computer comes up with an anti-intuitive move that gives Black a strong advantage.} gxf4 $5 {Usually humans would never make such a move because the knight on g2 was passive and on f4 it would sit very nicely. But the engine sees that the knight on f4 cannot do much due to the bishop on f7 and Black has a huge advantage.} 30. Nxf4 Bf7 $19) 24... Qf7 25. Bd3 g5 26. Ng2 Nc4 27. f4 Nxb2 28. Qxb2 Bh3 29. a4 h6 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Ne7 32. Qf2 Nf5 33. Qf3 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re7 35. Rxe7 Qxe7 36. Qh5 (36. Qxd5 {is possible, but after} Rd8 37. Qe4 Qxe4 38. Bxe4 Nd6 39. Rxc7+ Rd7 40. Rxd7+ Bxd7 41. Bd5 Bxb5 $17 {Black should have excellent winning chances.}) 36... Bxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Ne3+ 38. Kg1 f5 39. Qe2 Rf6 40. Qb2 gxf4 41. gxf4 Kh7 42. Kh1 Qg7 43. Qe2 d4 44. Qf3 c6 45. bxc6 bxc6 46. h3 Rg6 47. Rb1 Rg3 48. Qh5 Qd7 49. Kh2 Rg2+ 50. Kh1 Qd5 {One can say that this was a pretty one sided affair and Topalov didn't really have a chance in the game after he was two pawns down.} 0-1

V. Anand v. F. Caruana – Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 3

March 14, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

[Event "Candidates 2016"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2016.03.13"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteElo "2794"]  [BlackElo "2762"]  [Annotator "Sagar Shah"]  [PlyCount "79"]   1. e4 {It worked for him in game one and Vishy continues with 1.e4.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Berlin! I wonder how the a-pawn must be feeling at this point of time. Earlier just about everyone used to pushing it. Now no one really cares about it and goes for Nf6!} 4. d3 {This seems to be Anand's weapon against the Berlin in this event.} Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 $5 {A small change by Anand. In his game against Topalov he had gone Nbd2, whereas here he plays the little rook pawn move. It has two advantages: 1. it stops Bg4 in the future, and 2. it gets Caruana out of his preparation.} Ne7 {Caruana sticks to his plan of transferring his knight to the kingside.} 8. d4 Bb6 9. Bd3 { Definitely more common is Re1. However, Anand played this move quickly. Caruana went into a think after this, which meant that he hadn't really revised the line before the game. The variation with Bd3 is less played than Re1, but it has been essayed by players like Magnus Carlsen and Vasily Ivanchuk!} (9. dxe5 {leads to absolutely othing for White after} Nxe4 $11) 9... Ng6 (9... d5 {was Kramnik's reaction against Carlsen. And after} 10. Nbd2 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 exd4 13. Qc2 h6 14. a4 $5 {we saw an extremely interesting game develop.}) 10. Re1 Re8 11. Qc2 {At this point Anand had used only two minutes of his time while Caruana down by twenty five minutes. The interesting thing is that Anand has already played this opening with black against Michael Adams in 2013.} exd4 $146 {Caruana comes up with a new move, but this is not home preparation. It was played after due thought.} 12. cxd4 c5 {An interesting move by Caruana trying to fight for the dark squares.} 13. dxc5 (13. d5 Ba5 {leads to a very odd kind of a Benoni which should be completely fine for Black.}) (13. e5 $5 {is an interesting move. Although both players rejected it after Nd5, it could be interesting to see a few more moves.} Nd5 { Threatening Nb4.} (13... dxe5 14. dxe5 {looks completely crushing for White as after} Nd7 15. e6 fxe6 16. Bxg6 $18 {Black is busted.}) 14. Bg5 $1 (14. a3 { might be too slow as after} cxd4 {Black is completely fine.}) 14... Qc7 { After the game Fabi said that he was planning to play this move but it wouldn't have been great as White can now play} (14... Nb4 15. Qc3 Qc7 16. Bb5 $13) (14... f6 $6 15. dxc5 $1 dxc5 16. Nc3 $1 Nxc3 17. exf6 $1 gxf6 18. Bxg6 { with a very strong attack.}) 15. Nc3 $1 {The main idea is to connect the rooks on the first rank.} Nb4 (15... Nxc3 16. exd6 $1) 16. exd6 $1 $18 {Not an easy move to see from a distance but now the rook on e8 is undefended.}) 13... Bxc5 14. Nc3 Be6 15. Be3 Qc8 (15... Ne5 $5 {After the game Miroshnichenko suggested this smart move for Black which seems to equalise immediately.} 16. Nxe5 Bxe3 $1 17. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Bxf7 {This looks like a much preferable position for Black than was reached in the game.}) 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Be2 $1 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 {Black has an isolated pawn on d6 while White is relatively solid. This should give White an edge. However, it is not so clear as to how White should proceed.} Rad8 20. Red1 $5 {One of the most difficult questions in the game of chess is where should I place my rooks. In this position White has many options. The most natural of course looks to be Rad1, but Red1 also has its point. Vishy would like to put the a rook on c1.} (20. Rac1 {looks natural. Black could reply with} Qe5) (20. Rad1 {is also answered by} Qe5 21. Qd4 a6 22. Qb4 $14 {when White has an edge.}) 20... h5 $5 21. Qd4 Qg5 22. Qd2 ( 22. Qxa7 Bxh3 $132) 22... Qe5 {I asked Fabiano whether he wanted to play on and that was the reason why he chose Qe5 instead of Qc5. He said his queen was much better placed on e5 than on c5 and Vishy would not have repeated the position again.} 23. Qe3 $1 {Attacking the a7 pawn and getting ready to double rooks on the d-file.} a6 24. Rd4 Bd7 $5 {The bishop wasn't doing much on e6. On c6 it would not only control the d5 square but also attack the one on e4.} 25. Rad1 Bc6 26. g3 Re6 27. Bg2 {White gets ready to start his expansion with f4. Vishy truly has played really well until this point.} h4 {[%cal Gh5h4]} 28. gxh4 $1 {[#] An extremely bold move by Vishy. Usually in chess not many times you will see people taking such a pawn and accepting doubled rook pawns. However, here it is more important to make sure that White is getting in f4 and hence this gxh4 move is very flexible and meets the demands of the position.} (28. g4 $5 {Keeping the pawn structure intact is definitely an idea. But it can be possible that Vishy was afraid of} g5 {When f4 is stopped. However, White should at least be a tad better after} 29. Qd2 $14) (28. f4 $2 Qc5 29. g4 $2 Bxe4 $1 30. Nxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxe4 Rde8 $15) 28... Rde8 (28... Nh5 $2 {Trying to keep an eye on the f4 square loses to} 29. Rd5 $1 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 $18) 29. Bf3 {After the game Vishy thought that this was extremely clever as he was preparing Bg4.} (29. f4 Qc5 $13 {The e4 pawn would be falling in this case.}) 29... a5 30. a4 $6 {Anand wants to stop all these ideas beginning with b5 but this was a crucial loss of time.} (30. Bg4 R6e7 (30... Nxg4 31. hxg4 $16) 31. Rxd6 Nxe4 32. Nxe4 Qxe4 {Should be around equal.}) (30. a3 {was definitely much better remaining flexible.} b5 31. Bg4 $1 $14) 30... Qc5 31. Qf4 (31. Bg4 R6e7 $11) (31. Rxd6 $5 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Qc5 Rde6 34. Qxa5 Nxe4 35. Nxe4 Bxe4 36. Bxe4 Rxe4 {might be an edge for White but will most probably end in a draw.}) 31... Re5 32. R1d3 {Not really sure what this move is all about, but it keeps up the pressure.} (32. Rxd6 Nxe4 33. Nxe4 Bxe4 $11) 32... R8e6 33. Kh2 Qb6 34. Rd2 Qd8 35. Qg3 $6 {This lets Caruana equalise immediately.} (35. h5 $5 Nxh5 36. Bxh5 Rxh5 37. Rxd6 Rxd6 38. Qxd6 Qxd6+ 39. Rxd6 f5 {Black should regain his pawn, but in any case White will maintain a small edge.}) 35... Bxe4 36. Nxe4 Nxe4 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39. Rxd6 Qxh4 40. Qxh4 {and a draw was agreed. It should be said that Anand seemed to be slightly better throughout the game, but was never really able to cash in.} 1/2-1/2

FIDE Candidates Tournament Round 2 Games

March 13, 2016 By Mike 2 Comments

Here are all the games from Round 2 of the Candidates Tournament.

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.1"]  [White "Svidler, Peter"]  [Black "Topalov, Veselin"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2757"]  [BlackElo "2780"]  [ECO "C67"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "Berlin defence, open variation"]  [WhiteFideId "4102142"]  [BlackFideId "2900084"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5  8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 ({Relevant:} 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8  13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qe2 c6 19. Re1  Ng7 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 22. Qf3 f6 23. Nd3 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Qe3 Ng7  26. h3 Kf7 27. Qh6 Kg8 28. Qe3 Kf7 29. Qh6 Kg8 30. Qe3 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 (30)  Carlsen,M (2834)-Kramnik,V (2796) Doha 2015}) 9... Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6  12. Ne3 Be7 13. c4 Nc7 14. d4 d5 15. cxd5 Bb4 $146 ({Predecessor (3):} 15...  Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Bf4 Bf6 18. Be5 Bxe5 19. Rxe5 Re8 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Qb3  Qc6 22. Bb5 Qb6 23. Qxd5 a6 24. Bd3 Be6 25. Qe4 g6 26. d5 Bf5 27. Qe2 Bxd3 28.  Qxd3 Qxb2 29. Re1 Rd8 30. d6 Rd7 31. g3 Qf6 32. Rd1 Qe5 33. Qa3 a5 34. f4 Qe2  35. Qc1 Qe6 36. Qc5 b5 37. Qxb5 Rxd6 38. Qb8+ Kg7 39. Qxd6 Qe3+ 40. Kg2 Qe2+  41. Kg1 Qe3+ 42. Kg2 Qe2+ {1/2-1/2 (42) Carlsen,M (2850)-Caruana,F (2787)  London 2015}) 16. Bd2 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5 19. Re5 Qd6 20. Bc4 Bd7  21. Rae1 b5 22. Bb3 a5 23. a4 bxa4 24. Bxa4 Be6 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Qxa5 Qxd4 27.  Bxc6 Qxb2 28. Bd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 Qf6 30. g3 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.2"]  [White "Aronian, Levon"]  [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2786"]  [BlackElo "2762"]  [ECO "D37"]  [Opening "QGD"]  [Variation "4.Nf3"]  [WhiteFideId "13300474"]  [BlackFideId "5000017"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8.  Nd2 Nd5 9. Bg3 N7b6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Be2 Ba6 12. Nc3 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc3 $146 ({  Relevant:} 13... Bxc5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxc4 Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Rc8 17. Qb3 Bb4+ 18.  Ke2 Qg5 19. Rhc1 h5 20. Ne5 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Bd6 22. h4 Qd8 23. e4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5  Ne7 25. Rc5 Ng6 26. Bg3 Qd4 27. Rc4 Qd7 28. Rc7 Qd4 29. Qc2 Rd8 30. Rc8 Rxc8  31. Qxc8+ Kh7 32. Qc2 e5 33. Kf1 Qd8 34. Qe2 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nxh4 36. Bxe5 Qa5 37.  Bg3 Ng6 38. a3 h4 39. Bd6 Qb6 40. Qd2 Qb3 41. Kh2 h3 42. gxh3 Nh4 43. Qe3 {  Gelfand,B (2735)-Grachev,B (2639) Moscow 2016 1-0 (119)}) 14. bxc3 Bxc5 15. O-O  Rc8 16. Rfd1 Qg5 17. Nf3 Qg6 18. Qd2 Bb5 19. Qe1 Ba4 20. Ne5 Qg5 21. Rd2 Rfd8 {  Black has completely equalised and trades follow to a dead drawn position.} 22.  Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Nxc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Rxc4 26. Rb1 (26. Qxa7 {  is still equal.}) 26... Rc8 27. h3 a6 28. c4 Rxc4 29. Rb8 Rc8 30. Qb6 Rxb8 31.  Qxb8 {The bishops of opposite colours endgame is completely drawn.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.3"]  [White "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Black "Giri, Anish"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2794"]  [BlackElo "2793"]  [ECO "C65"]  [Opening "Ruy Lopez"]  [Variation "Berlin defence"]  [WhiteFideId "2020009"]  [BlackFideId "24116068"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. e4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} e5 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nc6 {[%clk  2:00:00]} 3. Bb5 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nf6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 4. d3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Bc5  {[%clk 1:59:59]} 5. c3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} O-O {[%clk 1:59:59]} 6. O-O {[%clk  1:58:37]} d6 {[%clk 1:59:44]} 7. Nbd2 {[%clk 1:58:34]} Ne7 {[%clk 1:59:23]} 8. d4  {[%clk 1:57:56]} exd4 {[%clk 1:59:09]} 9. cxd4 {[%clk 1:57:53]} Bb6 {[%clk  1:59:01]} 10. Re1 {[%clk 1:57:49]} Bg4 {[%clk 1:58:47]} 11. h3 {[%clk 1:56:50]}  Bh5 {[%clk 1:58:25]} 12. Qb3 {[%clk 1:56:47]} d5 {[%clk 1:58:18]} 13. e5 {[%clk  1:55:47]} Nd7 {[%clk 1:58:08]} 14. Qd1 {[%clk 1:55:43]} f6 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 15.  e6 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Nb8 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 16. Nb3 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Qd6 {[%clk  1:57:51]} 17. g4 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Bg6 {[%clk 1:57:51]} 18. Nh4 {[%clk 0:17:02]}  Nbc6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 19. Bxc6 {[%clk 0:17:02]} Qxc6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 20. Bd2 Bc2  {[%clk 1:22:02]} 21. Qe2 Bxb3 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 22. axb3 Bxd4 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 23.  Bb4 Bc5 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 24. Rec1 b6 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 25. Bxc5 bxc5 {[%clk  1:22:02]} 26. Ra6 Qb7 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 27. Rxc5 Rfe8 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 28. Qb5  Qxb5 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 29. Rxb5 d4 {[%clk 1:22:02]} 30. Nf5 Rad8 {[%clk 1:12:42]}  31. Rxa7 Nxf5 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 32. gxf5 d3 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 33. Ra1 g6 {[%clk  1:12:42]} 34. Rc5 Re7 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 35. Rd1 gxf5 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 36. Rc6 Rd4  {[%clk 1:12:42]} 37. Kg2 Kg7 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 38. Kf3 Kg6 {[%clk 1:12:42]} 39.  Rc4 Rd5 {[%clk 0:59:32]} 40. Rc3 d2 {[%clk 0:59:32]} 41. Re3 Rd6 {[%clk 0:59:32]}  42. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2016"]  [Site "Moscow RUS"]  [Date "2016.03.12"]  [Round "2.4"]  [White "Karjakin, Sergey"]  [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]  [Result "1-0"]  [WhiteTitle "GM"]  [BlackTitle "GM"]  [WhiteElo "2760"]  [BlackElo "2790"]  [ECO "E15"]  [Opening "Queen's Indian"]  [Variation "Nimzovich variation (exaggerated fianchetto)"]  [WhiteFideId "14109603"]  [BlackFideId "2016192"]  [EventDate "2016.03.11"]   1. d4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Nf6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 2. c4 {[%clk 2:00:00]} e6 {[%clk  2:00:00]} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} b6 {[%clk 2:00:00]} 4. g3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Ba6  {[%clk 1:59:59]} 5. b3 {[%clk 2:00:00]} Bb4+ {[%clk 1:58:16]} 6. Bd2 {[%clk  1:59:52]} Be7 {[%clk 1:58:10]} 7. Bg2 {[%clk 1:59:45]} d5 {[%clk 1:57:24]} 8.  cxd5 {[%clk 1:59:41]} exd5 {[%clk 1:56:10]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:59:17]} O-O {[%clk  1:55:59]} 10. Nc3 {[%clk 1:59:13]} Nbd7 {[%clk 1:55:53]} 11. Qc2 {[%clk 1:54:19]}  Re8 {[%clk 1:49:51]} 12. Rfd1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nf8 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 13. Ne5  {[%clk 1:47:43]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 14. Bc1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Ne6 {[%clk  0:20:47]} 15. Bb2 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Bd6 {[%clk 0:20:47]} 16. e3 {[%clk 1:47:43]}  a6 17. Ne2 {[%clk 1:47:43]} c5 18. dxc5 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nxc5 19. Nd3 {[%clk  1:47:43]} Nce4 20. Rac1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Rc8 21. Qb1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Qe7 22. Bd4  {[%clk 1:47:43]} Rxc1 23. Rxc1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} b5 24. b4 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nd7  25. a3 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Nf8 26. Ba1 {[%clk 1:47:43]} Ne6 27. Qa2 {[%clk 1:42:22]}  Bc7 28. Nd4 {[%clk 1:33:12]} Bb6 29. h4 {[%clk 1:33:12]} Nxg3 30. fxg3 {[%clk  1:08:12]} Nxd4 31. Bxd4 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Bxd4 32. exd4 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Qe3+ 33.  Qf2 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Qxd3 34. Rc7 {[%clk 1:08:12]} f5 35. Rxb7 {[%clk 1:08:12]}  h6 36. Bxd5+ {[%clk 1:08:12]} Kh7 37. Bg2 {[%clk 1:08:12]} Re2 38. Bf1 {[%clk  1:08:12]} 1-0

Peter Svidler vs. Veselin Topalov at Candidates Tournament 2016 Round 2

March 13, 2016 By Mike Leave a Comment

This was a hard fought game between two amazing Grandmasters.

Nisha Mohota Wins Indian National Challenges

September 26, 2014 By Mike Leave a Comment

I was reading an article at Chessbase.com regarding Nisha Mohota and it contained a very interesting game. I thought I would share it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Event "41st ch-IND w Challengers, Goa"]  [Site "Mapusa IND"]  [Date "2014.09.09"]  [Round "5"]  [White "Mohota, Nisha"]  [Black "Soumya, Swaminathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D90"]  [WhiteElo "2248"]  [BlackElo "2352"]  [Annotator "Nisha Mohota"]  [PlyCount "105"]  [EventDate "2014.09.07"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "IND"]   {This was the second round of the day. I had a long game in the morning. So  there was hardly enough time for food and rest. All I did as part of my  preparation was thinking for ten minutes as to how I would counter different  systems of my opponent. Soumya, who not only is a very good player (she was  current National Challengers Champion, Former National Premier Champion and  also former World Junior Girl's Champion) and a very good friend of mine but  is also a great human being! This is one of my favourite games in this  tournament and I like this game for its simplicity.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4  g6 {The game transposed to a Grunfeld and this was one of the openings I  expected.} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 {This was the first time I tried this move and  Soumya took some time to make her next move.} c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.  Qxd5 Bxc3+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 11. Nxd2 $14 {White has emerged a pawn  up and Black will have to spend some time trying to get back the pawn.} Be6 12.  e3 O-O 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. a3 a5 {There was no way I could hang on to the pawn, so  I decided to give it in a situation when my centralised king's position will  prove more useful than opponent's castled king.} 15. Bc4 Rxc5 16. Ke2 Bxc4+ 17.  Rxc4 Rxc4 (17... Nd7 $142 {In my post mortem analysis with Soumya we felt that  this is the way for Black to equalise.} 18. Rxc5 Nxc5 19. Rc1 b6 20. Nc4 Nd7  21. Rd1 Rc8 22. b3 Rc7 $11) 18. Nxc4 Nc6 19. a4 {The position is very close to  equality.Only my king is better placed than opponent's.} h5 $2 {I think this  move could have been avoided. I got time to control the open d file.} (19...  Rd8 $142) 20. Rd1 $14 {Now things are getting difficult for Black.} Kf8 21. Rd7  Ra7 $6 {This move was a little unexpected. The rook on a7 looks a bit odd.} (  21... Rb8 22. Rd5 Ra8 23. Rb5 Ra7 $16 {I was expecting the game to go this way  and I thought I will be able to press from here as I have the better placed  pieces.}) 22. Rc7 Kg7 (22... Ke8 23. Nb6 e6 $2 24. Rc8+ Ke7 $4 25. Rxc6 $18 {  This was one of the lines my mind was fantasizing about!!}) 23. Na3 Kf6 24. Nb5  Ra8 25. Rxb7 $16 {Finally I managed to win material but I knew that I still  have to play precisely to win.} Nb4 26. Nc3 Ke6 27. g3 f6 28. Nb5 Rc8 29. Kf3  Nd3 30. Nd4+ Kf7 31. b3 Ke8 32. Ke2 Nb4 33. f4 $5 {This was a multipurpose  move. In some lines that I was calculating the black knight was coming to e5,  in the others Black's ...e5 was also irritating, so this was aimed to stop  them.} Rc5 {Now I felt that it was the right moment to exchange rooks.} 34.  Rb8+ Kd7 (34... Kf7 35. Rf8+ Kxf8 36. Ne6+ $18) 35. Rd8+ Kxd8 36. Ne6+ Kd7 37.  Nxc5+ Kc6 38. Ne6 Kd5 39. Nf8 $18 {I had seen this when exchanging rooks and I  thought it should be easy for me from here.} Ke4 40. Nxg6 Nd5 41. f5 $1 {I  felt that this is the easiest way to win.} Kxf5 42. Nf4 Nc7 43. Kf3 Na6 44. e4+  Ke5 45. Nxh5 Nc5 46. Nf4 f5 47. exf5 Kxf5 48. g4+ Kf6 49. g5+ Kg7 50. h5 e5 51.  Nd5 Nxb3 52. Ke4 Nc5+ 53. Kf5 {Playing and winning on table 1 is always a good  feeling!With this win I emerged as the sole leader at the end of 5 rounds with  5/5. It was very satisfying!} 1-0

The Week in Chess 1037

September 25, 2014 By Mike Leave a Comment

To get this section going I thought I would provide the PGN of The Week in Chess #1037 for your viewing pleasure. Simply click the ellipses (…) above the board to see a listing of the games included in the file. You can select any of the included games for replay here.