[Event "Golden Sands, Bulgaria"]  [Date "2014.06.18"]  [Round "9"]  [White "Popovic, Dusan"]  [Black "Grandelius, Nils"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C91"]  [WhiteElo "2537"]  [BlackElo "2587"]  [Annotator "Tiger"]  [PlyCount "88"]  [EventDate "2014.04.10"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   1. e4 e5 {This game was played in the last round of the Golden Sands  Tournament in Bulgaria and Nils needed to win in order to get any significant  prize money. I usually strive for a position with a asymmetrical pawn  structure in such cases, but Nils has belief in his abilities to create  winning chances anyway.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5  7. Bb3 d6 ({After} 7... O-O {White has the option} 8. d4 {that leads to very  forced play. Nils is trying to keep the position as complex as possible.}) 8.  c3 ({Now} 8. d4 Bg4 {forces White to enter the same position that soon arises  in the game, with:} 9. c3) 8... O-O 9. d4 $5 {I have forgotten who this line  is named after.} ({The main line Ruy Lopez starts with} 9. h3) 9... Bg4 10. Be3  (10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 c6 (11... Qc8 {has been doing well lately, intending} 12.  h3 Bd7 {, followed by c6.}) 12. h3 Bc8 13. dxc6 Qc7 {leads to a heavily  analyzed position, that even I have spent some time on (2009). And then, I  never came close to playing it, with neither White nor Black.})  10... exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 Nb6 15. Nbd2 {Theory,  theory, theory...} Rc8 {This move scores well, but both} (15... Nfd7 {and}) (  15... cxd4 {are more common. The exchange on d4 generally leads to positions  where Black is slightly worse, but only so slightly that it can be handled.  Nils is again trying to avoid simplifications. Draw is not on the table. Nils  told me "it was just after 9 in the morning and the odds were 7:1 in favour of  taking a risk". This is the usual case when you are playing for prize money  and Nils continued to carry out this gamble in a truly risky manner.}) 16. h3 (  {Nils mentioned, Ganguly,S (2620)-Azarov,S (2600)/Cappelle-la-Grande Open 2014,  as a source of inspiration:} 16. Bb2 c4 17. bxc4 Nxc4 18. Qb1 $6 {I cannot  explain this...} Qa5 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. e5 Bxf3 21. gxf3 dxe5 22. dxe5 Rb8 {and  Black had a strong initiative.}) 16... Bh5 17. Bb2 c4 $5 (17... Nfd7 18. Rc1 {  has been played twice by Magnus Carlsen in the mid 00's. White should have  some advantage here.}) ({A somewhat improved version of Nils idea was seen in  Grover,S (2460)-Kravtsiv,M (2565)/3rd Chennai Open 2011:} 17... Re8 18. a4 (18.  e5 $5 {looks better.}) 18... c4 19. bxc4 $6 {This is not bad for White, but  the inclusion of Re8 and a4, must clearly be to Black's benefit.} Nxc4 20.  Nxc4 bxc4 21. Bc3 d5 {This is the idea that Nils was aiming at in his  game.} 22. e5 Ne4 23. Rxe4 $5 dxe4 24. Bxe4 a5 $1 25. Bb7 {It's illogical to  move the bishop from its beautiful position.} (25. g4 Bg6 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. d5  Bb4 28. Rc1 Rc5 29. d6 {is a better alternative for White.}) 25... Rb8 26. Bc6  Bb4 $1 {and Black took over the initiative.}) 18. bxc4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20.  g4 (20. Bc3 d5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Rxe4 dxe4 23. Bxe4 {is similar to  Grover-Kravtsiv above.}) 20... Bg6 ({After} 20... c3 $5 21. Bc1 Bg6 22. d5 {  Black needs to get some counterplay before White plays Nf3-d4 and f3, turning  Bg6 into a big pawn.} Rc4 23. Nd4 Re8 24. Qd3 (24. f3 {, cutting the bishop on  g6 out of the game, looks better.}) 24... Qc8 25. Nf5 $6 Bxf5 $6 ({Black loses  his calm. Instead} 25... Bf8 26. f3 Bxf5 27. gxf5 g6 {is a bit better for  Black.}) 26. exf5 Rc5 27. Bb3 {and White was in control and eventually won, in  Kalod,R (2442)-Malinovsky,K (2202)/Czechia 2003.}) 21. d5 $1 Nd7 22. Nd4 {  According to Nils White's play here puts Black out of business (from a  theoretical point of view).} Ne5 $5 {Pressing the "chaos button". A rather  good choice as the alternatives are simply worse without the complexity.} 23. f4  $1 Bh4 $5 (23... Qa5 $5) 24. Re3 ({There is nothing wrong with White's move  here, but it looks safer to play} 24. Rf1 $5 h6 25. Rb1 c3 26. Ba1 Nc4 27. Nc6  Nb2 28. Qf3 $1 {with a big advantage.}) 24... Qf6 $5 {If you say "a", you have  to go "b".} 25. Ne2 h5 $5 ({Here} 25... Nxg4 26. Bxf6 Nxe3 27. Bxh4 Nxd1 28.  Rxd1 {is similar to what could have happened in the game later.}) 26. Bd4 hxg4  27. hxg4 Nxg4 ({Black can also consider to fish in murky waters with} 27... Qe7  $5 28. fxe5 dxe5 29. Bc3 Qa7 30. Qc1 Bg5 31. Kf2 f6 {, intending Kg8-f7,  followed by Rh8. White should be able to defend somehow, but the bind on the  rook is nasty.}) 28. Rh3 $2 {This is completely unnecessary. White should just  keep things simple. Usually you play such a move when the alternatives are bad,  but the only other alternative is good!} (28. Bxf6 $1 {Pretty  obvious, no?} Nxe3 29. Bxh4 Nxd1 30. Rxd1 Rb8 (30... Bh5 31. Kf2) 31. Nc3 Rb2  32. Ba4 {is one of many ways for White to get a huge advantage after 27...Nxg4.  }) 28... Qe7 29. Ng3 f5 $6 {Objectively speaking, this shouldn't work, but  there might have been some additional time trouble involved?!} ({The best move  is} 29... Bf6 {although} 30. Kg2 {, intending to double on the h-file, looks  very dangerous for Black. A possible continuation is} Bxd4 31. Qxd4 f5 $1 32.  Rah1 fxe4 33. f5 {with a balanced chaos. I have analyzed this position another  ten moves without being much the wiser. In the end it seems that one side or  the other will force a repetition of moves.}) 30. exf5 Ne3 31. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 32.  Kg2 $1 Qxf4 33. fxg6 Rce8 34. Bf5 $4 {A grave blunder that loses by force. The  only move was} (34. Nf5 $1 {when} Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Re2 36. Nxh4 (36. Qf1 $1 Rxc2  37. Qxf2 Rxf2 38. Nxh4 $18) 36... Rf3 $3 {wins beautifully for Black (as Nils  pointed out to me). The only problem is that 36.Qf1 wins for White.}) 34...  Bxg3 {The gamble has paid off and Black is on the road to victory.} 35. Be6+  Rxe6 36. dxe6 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 Bf2+ 38. Kh2 Bh4 39. Kg1 Qxg6+ 40. Kh1 Qe4+ 41. Kg1  Bf2+ 42. Kh2 Bd4 43. Qe1 Rf2+ 44. Qxf2 Bxf2 { 0-1 Maybe not the best game, but a  clear sign that Nils has become one of those players who are prepared to go  "all in" in the last round. In the long run this will surely be to his  advantage.}   

   [Event "Visma GM"]  [Site "Växjö"]  [Date "2014.06.27"]  [Round "4"]  [White "Hillarp Persson, Tiger"]  [Black "Smerdon, David"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "E43"]  [WhiteElo "2555"]  [BlackElo "2515"]  [Annotator "Tiger"]  [PlyCount "140"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O O-O 8. Na4  Qe7 $5 {This is a rather old invention that has caught on lately. I was  completely unaware of it.} (8... cxd4 9. exd4 (9. a3 $6 Be7 10. exd4 Bxf3 $1  11. Qxf3 Nc6 {leads to equality (although there are still some tricky lines  here).}) 9... Re8 10. a3 Bf8 {is the main line.}) 9. a3 Ba5 10. Rb1 $5 {This  is the usual way to play against a bishop on a5. Now Black has to watch out  for tactics built on the b2-b4 idea.} ({Here} 10. e4 Nxe4 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Bf4  Rc8 13. Bxe4 Bxe4 14. Bd6 Qf6 15. Ne5 Na6 $6 (15... Nc6 $1 {is recommended by  the engines. After} 16. f4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Qg6 18. Rf2 Bb6 19. Rc1 Qg5 20. Qd2  Qxd2 21. Rxd2 {White has some weird compensation.}) 16. f4 Bc7 17. Bxc7 Rxc7  18. Qd6 Bb7 19. b4 cxb4 20. axb4 Qd8 21. b5 Nb8 22. f5 Rc8 23. fxe6 fxe6 24.  Nc5 {lead to a crushing victory for White, in Gajewski,G (2581)-Olszewski,M  (2517)/Chotowa 2009.}) ({I thought about} 10. Nd2 $5 {during the game, but  didn't see how to continue after} Bc6 {Here, however,} 11. Qc2 {looks like a  decent continuation.}) 10... Rc8 $5 ({After} 10... Ne4 11. Ne1 Bc6 12. f3 Nf6  13. Nc3 d5 (13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 {gives White an excellent version of this  set-up.}) 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Na2 (15. Ne2 $5 Rc8 16. g4 Nbd7 17. Ng2 {also  looks nice for White.}) 15... Bxe1 16. Qxe1 {I slightly prefer White's chances.  }) 11. Ne5 $5 ({After} 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Nxc5 Qxc5 13. b4 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qc6 15.  bxa5 Qxf3 16. gxf3 Nc6 {it is easy to see why 10...Rac8 was a good move. The  pawn on c4 will soon come under fire.}) 11... d5 $5 {I was surprised by this  move during the game, but it is a good move.} ({The engine likes} 11... Nc6 12.  f4 Rab8 {, which makes me suspect that there is something wrong with it. After  something like} 13. Qe2 h5 {(again the engine...)} 14. Nc3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Na5  16. e4 {I'm pretty sure that Black's position is unsurvivable. All in all,  David's choice seems like the strongest.}) 12. cxd5 exd5 ({Both me and my  opponent preferred} 12... Bxd5 {in the post mortem, but then we both had an  exaggerated pessimistic view of the Black position.}) 13. f4 {This throws away  control of the e4-square, yes, but it also cements my knight on e5 and  prepares a rook lift: Rf1-f3-h3/g3.} Ne4 14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. b4 $5 {I just  followed what I had calculated when I played 13.f4. I didn't see that I had a  lot of choice here.} ({After} 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. b4 Rd8 17. Qc2 cxb4 18. axb4  Bxb4 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Qc4+ Bd5 21. Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxb4 Nc6 {the chances are  balanced.}) 15... cxb4 16. f5 $5 ({I actually thought I had a choice here. My  back-up line went:} 16. Bd2 $6 bxa3 ({For some reason I missed} 16... Na6 $1  17. f5 f6 $1 {when White runs into a dead end. Two possible lines are} 18. axb4  (18. Qb3+ Kf8 19. axb4 Nxb4 20. Bxb4 Bxb4 21. Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxb4 fxe5 23. dxe5  Rc2 {and my two passed pawns are difficult to do anything with since my knight  is too passive on a4.}) 18... Nxb4 19. Rxb4 fxe5 20. dxe5 Bxb4 (20... Qxe5 21.  Rd4 Ba6 22. Rf4 Bxd2 23. Qxd2 Qf6 24. Nc3 Bd3) 21. f6 gxf6 22. exf6 Qf7 23.  Bxb4 Kh8 {and, again, my knight on a4 is too far away from the action, leaving  Black with the better chances.}) 17. Bxa5 bxa5 18. Qb3 {with a huge advantage.  It is slightly embarrassing that I missed the sideline on move 16.}) 16... bxa3  ({Neither me, nor my opponent, reflected a lot on} 16... Ba6 {which is the  engine's favourite line. White's best counter seems to be} 17. axb4 (17. f6 $6  {for a human eye this looks quite scary for Black...} gxf6 18. Qg4+ Kf8 19. Qf5  Ke8 $5 20. Ng4 Nd7 21. Rf4 Bd3 22. Ra1 b3 {is winning for Black.}) 17... Bxb4  18. Rf4 f6 19. Qb3+ Kf8 20. Rxe4 fxe5 21. dxe5 Nc6 22. Bb2 {with some kind of  compensation for the piece.}) 17. f6 $1 a2 $5 {!?? I had missed that.} ({  Instead I expected} 17... Qe6 18. Bxa3 {, when I thought my side of the  position to be more attractive.}) 18. fxe7 $2 {A few days after the game the  questions started coming: "Couldn't you have taken on b6 on move 18?" "Yes", I  replied, "but it wasn't stronger than my move in the game", I continued, not  knowing any better. With the help of time and a strong engine I have now come  to the opposite conclusion. Yes, everyone, you were right. Taking on b6 is  stronger:} (18. Rxb6 $3 {and Black is in dire straits:} Qe8 $1 (18... Qc7 19.  Qh5 a1=Q 20. Qg5 {leads to mate in two:} g6 21. Qh6) (18... axb6 19. fxe7 a1=Q  {and now the point of Rxb6 becomes clear: Black's queen is no longer  controlling b3!} 20. Qb3 $1 $18) (18... Qxe5 19. dxe5 Bxb6 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Bb2  {and Black is about to get mated soon:} g6 22. e6 $1) 19. Rxb7 a1=Q 20. Qg4 g6  21. Re7 $1 {Black's problem here is that there is no good way to defend  against Nxf7 and develop the queenside pieces. For instance:} Bb4 (21... Qaxa4  22. Nxf7 Qxf7 23. Qxc8+ {wins immediately.}) 22. Nc5 $1 Bxc5 23. Rxf7 Qxf7 24.  Nxf7 Rc7 25. Nh6+ Kh8 26. Qe6 Nc6 27. dxc5 {and Black is about to run out of  defensive moves.}) 18... axb1=Q 19. Rxf7 {I had "calculated" this to be  winning and I took a long walk around the playing area before returning to my  game.} Qa2 $1 {Not only is this the only move, but it is good too. I had  somewhere seen it in my calculations, but I hadn't come up with a clear  "refutation". Not that there is one. Also, because of my long walk, I was now  down to less than fifteen minutes (+30seconds/move). Still, I just had this  feeling that there should be a win somewhere, if only I could find it. Five  minutes later I was no wiser. Another five, no change. With two minutes left I  played a losing move according to the principle:  I'm-winning-but-can-only-find-a-draw-so-it-must-be-the-move-that-I-did-not-calculate.  Is it a surprise that this principle frequently collides with reality?} 20.  e8=Q+ $2 ({Both} 20. Rxg7+ Kxg7 21. Qg4+ Kf6 (21... Kh8 22. Qxc8+ Bxc8 23.  e8=Q+ Kg7 24. d5 {is dangerous for Black.}) 22. Qxc8 Bxc8 23. e8=Q) ({and} 20.  Bb2 Bd2 $1 (20... Qe6 $2 21. d5 $1) (20... Re8 $2 21. Qg4 Qb1+ 22. Rf1 Qxf1+  23. Kxf1 Rxe7 24. Ba3 Re8 25. Qh5 $18) 21. Qxd2 Qxa4 22. d5 Nd7 23. e8=Q+ Rxe8  24. Rxd7 Rxe5 25. Rxb7 Rg5 26. h4 Rg4 27. d6 Qb5 28. Qd4 Rxg2+ 29. Kxg2 Qe2+  $11 {leads to a draw. But with my attitude towards calculation in this game I  was nowhere near calculating even half of those lines.}) 20... Rxe8 $1 21. Rxb7  $6 ({After} 21. Qg4 Qxf7 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Ba3+ Kd8 25. Nb2 {  White has better chances than in the game.}) 21... Qd5 $1 {Now play becomes  forced for a while.} 22. Qh5 Rxe5 $1 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. dxe5 Nc6 25. Bb2 Re8 26.  Rc7 Re6 27. Nc3 Bxc3 28. Bxc3 h5 $5 {My opponent was a bit worried about me  walking my king to f4 and since he didn't find something else convincing he  decided to make life hard for my king. Now h5-h4 is threatened...} ({I was a  bit worried about} 28... b5 29. Rb7 a6 30. Rb6 {, but missed that} Nd8 31. Rb8  {leads nowhere for Black.}) ({With little time left on the clock it is hard to  find} 28... a5 $1 29. Rb7 Nb4 {when White has to defend with precision:} 30.  Bd4 Nc2 31. Bxb6 Rxe5 32. Ra7 Rb5 33. Bd4 Nxd4 34. exd4 Rf5 35. g4 {and if we  are to believe the engine, I'm supposed to be able to draw this.}) 29. Kf2 h4  30. g3 $1 g5 ({It seems like White survives after} 30... h3 31. g4 b5 32. Rb7  b4 (32... a6 33. Rb6 Kf7 34. Rxa6 b4 35. Bb2 Ne7 36. Ra7) 33. Bxb4 Nxe5 34. Kg3  Rb6 35. Re7 Nc6 36. Re8+ Kf7 37. Rf8+ Ke6 38. Bc3 {although Black keeps the  initiative.}) 31. Kg2 Kf8 32. gxh4 gxh4 33. Kh3 Nxe5 34. Bxe5 Rxe5 35. Rxa7 Re7  36. Ra4 Ke8 37. Rb4 Re6 38. Kxh4 Kd7 39. Kg5 Kc6 40. h4 Kc5 41. Rb1 Kc4 42. Rd1  {Somewhere around here I declined a draw offer, that - it turns out - it would  have been a good idea to accept.} b5 43. h5 b4 44. h6 Re8 45. h7 b3 46. Kg6 b2  47. Kg7 Kc3 48. Rf1 $2 ({This position is almost impossible to play to  pefection with 30 seconds per move, so I will not be too hard on myself for  missing the drawing move:} 48. Rh1 $1 Kc2 49. Rh2+ Kb3 (49... Kc3 50. Rh1 {is  a draw.}) 50. h8=Q $1 Rxh8 51. Rxh8 $1 {This is the point of 48.Rh1. Now Black  has to play some exact moves:} Kc2 52. Rb8 Kd2 $1 53. Rxb2+ Kxe3 54. Kf6 Kf3  55. Ke5 e3 56. Kd4 e2 57. Rxe2 Kxe2 {...}) 48... Kc2 49. Rf2+ Kb3 50. Rf8 ({  After} 50. Rf1 Ka2 51. Rf2 Rb8 52. h8=Q Rxh8 53. Kxh8 Ka1 $1 {Black is winning  because of} 54. Rxb2 Kxb2 55. Kg7 Kc3 56. Kf6 Kd3) 50... Rxf8 51. Kxf8 b1=Q 52.  h8=Q Qd3 53. Kf7 ({I could have put up a better fight with} 53. Qh6 {, but I'm  afraid that it would not have helped me in the long run.}) 53... Qxe3 54. Ke6  Qd3 55. Qb8+ Kc3 56. Qe5+ Qd4 57. Qa5+ Kb3 58. Kf5 $2 ({Here} 58. Qb5+ Kc3 59.  Qa5+ Kc2 60. Qf5 $1 {gives White chances for a draw.}) 58... e3 59. Qb5+ Kc3  60. Qa5+ Kd3 61. Qa6+ Kd2 62. Qa2+ Ke1 63. Qb1+ Kf2 64. Qh1 e2 65. Qh2+ Ke3 66.  Qg1+ Kd3 67. Qb1+ Kd2 68. Qa2+ Ke3 69. Qa5 Qe4+ 70. Kf6 Qh4+ (0-1)   

   [Event "Sveins 6. Minneturnering"]  [Site "Oslo"]  [Date "2013.06.21"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Djurhuus, Rune"]  [Black "Tari, Aryan"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B12"]  [WhiteElo "2455"]  [BlackElo "2354"]  [Annotator "Tiger"]  [PlyCount "48"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 (4... h5 {is more common, when White  usually goes} 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 {intending to use the weak dark squares on the  kingside later.}) 5. Nc3 $6 {This does not seem logical in combination with h4/  h6 since the normal g2-g4, followed by Ng1-e2 and h4 does not work anymore as  g4 can be met with Bh7.} (5. g4 Bh7 6. e6 Qd6 $1 7. exf7+ Kxf7 {is an  interesting line. The king is not in as much trouble as one might expect and  it is not easy for White to meet Nd7, e7-e5, without further weakening the  white squares.}) 5... e6 $1 6. Bd3 $6 {Rune Djurhuus has his own very original  ideas about how to play chess, but here I believe he goes to far; the  combination of Nc3 and Bd3 is not to be recommended.} (6. g4 Bh7 {and Black is  ready to continue with c6-c5.}) 6... Bxd3 7. Qxd3 c5 $1 {If Black waits with  this move, then White has time to play Nce2! so that c5 can be met with c2-c3.}  8. dxc5 {When you cannot support this kind of centre with c2-c3, then it is  often a good idea to take on c5. Here, the point is that 8...Bxc5 is met with  Qg3.} Nd7 $1 9. Qg3 Ne7 10. h5 {This is a sad necessity since White cannot  allow the Black knight to get stabilized on f5 (as would be the case if Black  gets to play h5).} Nxc5 $6 ({It was stronger to play} 10... Nf5 $1 11. Qf4 Bxc5  {, intending f7-f6. In this line Qf4 will find itself in the line of fire,  when the f-file opens.}) 11. Nf3 d4 $1 12. Nd1 {This is ugly. What is that  knight doing?} ({The obvious move is} 12. Ne2 {in order to put pressure on the  d4-pawn. After} Nf5 13. Qg4 d3 14. Ned4 {it is actually not so clear that  Black can get an advantage. The queen is annoying on g4.}) 12... Nf5 13. Qf4  Be7 14. O-O Qd5 $1 {There are three candidate moves in this position: 0-0, Qd5  and Rc8. The first one makes it impossible for Black to play g5 or Bg5 later  (removes "aji", a Go player would say); the second option is good, but it is  not absolutely sure that the rook will be better off on c8 than d8.  Centralizing the queen is an interesting, strong, human option. This shows  that Aryan already has a well developed intuition.} 15. b3 {This is too slow.}  ({White should play} 15. c4 $1 Qe4 ({The point is} 15... Qxc4 16. Ne3 Qd3 17.  Nxf5 exf5 18. Qxd4 {with equality.}) 16. Qxe4 Nxe4 17. g4 {although Black  keeps some initiative after} Nh4 18. Nxh4 Bxh4 19. b3 O-O-O $1) 15... O-O 16.  Bb2 ({White's coordination is null and void after} 16. c4 dxc3 17. Nxc3 Qd3 $1  {, followed by Rfd8.}) 16... Rfd8 17. Re1 Rac8 18. Re2 d3 {This is the start  of un petit combination, but there is much to be said for the squeeze:} (18...  b5 {when White is running out of good moves since} 19. Rd2 $2 {fails due to}  Bg5 $1 20. Nxg5 hxg5 21. Qxg5 Ne4) 19. Rd2 Nh4 20. Nxh4 $2 ({Here it was  better to play} 20. Ne3 Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Qc6 22. Qg4 {although Black keeps some  advantage.}) 20... Bg5 $1 21. Qb4 Na6 22. c4 Qe4 23. Nc3 Qxh4 24. Qxb7 Nc5 {and  White resigned.} 0-1   

   [Event "schaken in Maastricht"]  [Site "Limburg"]  [Date "2014.06.09"]  [Round "7.3"]  [White "Fier, Alexander"]  [Black "Berg, Emanuel"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A45"]  [WhiteElo "2580"]  [BlackElo "2547"]  [Annotator "Tiger"]  [PlyCount "62"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 (3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nf3 {leads to  Bellon-Brynell, from my last article.}) 3... c5 4. e3 h6 5. Bxf6 {Very  unambitious.} ({The usual move here is} 5. Bh4 {when} cxd4 6. exd4 {leads to a  much played position where one of the latest high level examples saw:} b6 7.  Ngf3 Bb7 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O d6 10. Re1 Nbd7 11. a4 a6 12. c3 O-O 13. Nc4 Qc7 14.  Ne3 Rfe8 15. Bc2 Bf8 16. Qe2 Bc6 17. Bd3 Qb7 18. Nc2 e5 {leading to a complex  game that Black eventually won, in Ivanchuk,V (2739)-Carlsen,M (2801)/Moscow  2009.}) 5... Qxf6 6. Ne4 {An odd choice for a last round of an open tournament.  Maybe Fier hoped Emanuel would go berserk, trying to find a way to complicate  the game?} Qd8 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ 9. Qd2 Qxc5 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. e4 O-O  12. f4 d5 $1 13. e5 (13. exd5 exd5 14. Qxd5 Qe3+ 15. Qd2 Qb6 {, followed by  Bf5, Rd8/c8, etc. leaves Black with good compensation for the pawn.}) 13... b5  $5 ({After} 13... f6 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. Nf3 {the position is about balanced,  but White has some structural advantages to be happy for.}) 14. Nf3 a5 15. g4 {  White cannot do without this move in the long run. Playing anything else means  accepting a worse position.} b4 16. Kb1 ({After} 16. g5 h5 {Black threatens to  close the door on the kingside with g7-g6, so White has to continue with} 17.  g6 {, but then} fxg6 {and White does not have a good follow up.}) 16... a4 {  Emanuel does not want to exchange the bishops on a6 before White actually  moves the bishop. a5-a4 will always come in handy.} 17. Bd3 Ba6 $1 18. g5 b3 $1  (18... Bxd3 19. Qxd3 (19. cxd3) 19... Rfc8 20. Rd2 a3 21. b3 hxg5 22. Nxg5 Qc3  23. Qxc3 bxc3 24. Rd3 Ne7) 19. Bxa6 $6 {This move leaves the queen vulnerable  to a quite nasty knight maneuver.} ({With the help of my Silicon Friend I  found} 19. cxb3 axb3 20. a3 Nb4 $1 {a move that it is quite possible that  Emanuel had planned in advance. Then after} 21. Bxa6 Nc2 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. Qxd4  Qc2+ 24. Ka1 Rxa6 25. Rd2 Qg6 {White's position is quite awkward. For instance}  26. h4 h5 27. Rc1 Qf5 {and White will have a hard time protecting the h-pawn  and the king and to keep the d-pawn from advancing at the same time.}) 19...  Rxa6 20. cxb3 axb3 21. a3 Na5 $1 {There it is, the nasty knight maneuver  mentioned earlier. White's position is beyond redemption.} 22. Rc1 ({After} 22.  Rhf1 Nc4 23. Qf2 {Black's most clear cut win is} Qb4 $1 {, when White cannot  play} 24. axb4 {due to} Rfa8 {with check mate on the next move. Also, not  taking the queen is just as hopeless since Black will continue with 24...Rxa3  otherwise.}) 22... Nc4 23. Qd4 Nxa3+ 24. bxa3 Qxa3 25. Qb2 Qb4 {There is a  check looming on e4.} 26. Qd4 Qa3 27. Qb2 Qb4 28. Qd4 Qa5 {Nothing wrong with  taking a few repetitions before going for the kill.} 29. Qb2 Rfa8 30. Nd4 Qb4  31. Nxb3 Ra3 {and White resigned since 32.Rc3 is met with 32...Qe4 and Qxh1. 0-1}