[Event "FIDE World Cup 2013"]  [Site "Tromso NOR"]  [Date "2013.08.21"]  [Round "4.2"]  [White "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]  [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "72"]  [EventDate "2013.08.11"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   {Julio Granda Zuniga is a player that I truly admire, for his creative powers.  I was a bit surprised that it took him such a long time to play the idea that  I considered to be the only one worth of attention.} 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 c5 3. c4  d4 4. d3 Nc6 5. e4 $5 e5 6. Ne2 Be7 7. f4 h5 $1 ({After} 7... Nf6 8. h3 {it is  no longer clear how Black will meet the White pawn-mass. It is a mistake to  play} O-O 9. O-O {since this will leave White with quite a few extra tempi  compared to a standard Kings Indian (where the f-pawn can only be move after a  knight has been removed from f3 (f6). Caruana's move can be considered the  standard reaction.}) 8. h3 h4 9. g4 g5 $1 (9... Nf6 $5 10.  O-O g5 11. fxg5 Nh7 12. Nd2 Nxg5 {is similar to the game, but will make it  harder for White to play Rf5 and then - after Bxf5 and exf5 - plant a knight  on e4 without allowing for further exchanges.}) 10. fxg5 $1 (10. fxe5 Nxe5 {is  absolutely horrendous for White. The bishop on g2 is dead, dead, dead and then  we get to the bad stuff...}) 10... Bxg5 11. O-O f6 12. Nd2 Nge7 {So far, so  good, but when I saw White's next move I turned over my coffee cup in horror.}  13. Nb3 $5 {Really, unless White can break the blockade on the kingside, or  get in b2-b4 under favourable circumstances, then defeat becomes almost  certain. The move in the game is a bit ugly, but there is a deep reason for it:  } ({I would very much like to play} 13. Rf5 $5 {here, but there is a downside  to this. Can you see it?} Bxd2 $1 {It is important to remove the knight that  can go to the (soon occuring) e4-square.} (13... Ng6 $5 14. Nf3 $1 Bxf5 15.  exf5 Bxc1 16. Qxc1 Nge7 17. Nd2 {and White has excellent compensation when the  knight reaches e4.}) (13... Be3+ 14. Kh1 Nxf5 15. exf5 Bd7 16. Ne4 Bxc1 17.  Nxc1 $1 {A sample line to show how strong the White initiative is:} Qe7 18. a3  Kd8 19. Qe1 a5 20. Nb3 b6 21. Nbd2 Kc7 22. Nf3 Rag8 23. Nxh4 Be8 24. Kg1 Kb8  25. Nf3 {and the Black king is very vulnerable to a well timed b2-b4, whereas  the White king is sitting safe in his castle.}) 14. Bxd2 Nxf5 15. exf5 Bd7 {  Now Ne2 is too far away from e4 and Black is planning Nc6-d8, followed by Bc6.  This is a plan that will easily defuse the White initiative.} 16. Qe1 Qe7 17.  a3 a5 18. b3 Nd8 $15) 13... Qd6 14. Rf3 $2 {This makes no sense and makes even  less sense that such a strong intuitive player as Granda Zuniga should play  this way. To me there is only one move here:} (14. Rf5 $1 {(now, there is no  Bxd2!)} Bxc1 {This is more or less forced.} 15. Rxc1 Nxf5 $1 (15... Bxf5 $6 16.  exf5 Nc8 17. Nd2 Nb6 18. a3 {with very nice compensation.}) 16. exf5 Bd7 17.  Nd2 Nd8 18. Bd5 Bc6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Kh2 Rc8 21. Ng1 Nf7 22. Nf3 Nd6 23. Nfd2 {  with a mess. I would possibly avoid such a line in a correspondence game, but  in a live game I would be quite happy to play the White side here.}) 14... Ng6  15. Qf1 ({Now it is too late for} 15. Rf5 {due to} Bxf5 16. exf5 Nf4 $1) 15...  O-O {The rest will be suffering for White, unless there is a way to create  some mess. Black has space, a clear plan in b7-b5 and White has a bunch of  pieces that do not coordinate.} 16. a3 Be6 17. Nd2 a6 18. Rf5 {Too late. Now  there is not even a reason to take the rook.} Rae8 {This move does not do a  lot to inoculate Black against future tactics.} ({Instead} 18... Kg7 {seems  like a good idea. Among other things; the h-pawn will be easier to protect and  the king is no longer vulnerable to checks on the white squares (d5).}) 19. Kh1  b5 20. cxb5 $6 (20. b3 {is more resilient.}) 20... axb5 21. Nf3 Bxf5 $2 ({Here  the computers suggestion} 21... Bxc1 $1 22. Rxc1 c4 {seems convincing. Black  is positionally winning.}) 22. exf5 Nf4 23. Nd2 {This position is quite tricky  to play for Black. When the knight lands on e4 it will radiate power in all  directions.} Qc7 (23... Nxd3 24. Ne4 Qd7 25. Bxg5 fxg5 26. Nc1 Nf4 27. Nxc5 Qc7  28. N1d3 {and again Black has some quite nasty counterplay.}) (23... Nxe2 24.  Qxe2 Bxd2 25. Bxd2 {and the bishops are a source of power, while the h-pawn is  weak.}) (23... Nxg2 24. Ne4 Qe7 25. Qxg2 {and the knight on e4 is a monster.})  24. Ne4 Na5 {The position is still highly unclear.} 25. Bxf4 $6 ({Here} 25.  Nxf4 $1 Bxf4 26. Qe1 Bxc1 27. Rxc1 Nb3 28. Rc2 (28. Qxh4 $5 Nxc1 29. Nxf6+ Rxf6  30. Qxf6 e4 31. Qg6+ Kf8 32. Qf6+ Qf7 33. Qh8+ Ke7 34. Qe5+ Kd7 35. Qxc5 {and  White has perpetual checks.}) 28... Qh7 (28... c4 29. Qxh4) 29. g5 $5 fxg5 30.  Nxg5 Qxf5 31. Bd5+ Kg7 32. Qxh4 Qf1+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+ 34. Qxf4 Rxf4 35. Bxb3 c4 36.  dxc4 bxc4 37. Bxc4 Kf6 38. Rg2 e4 {This is unpleasant for both.}) 25... exf4 ({  After} 25... Bxf4 26. Nxf4 exf4 27. Qf2 {White is very much still in the game.}  ) 26. Rc1 $2 (26. b4 $5 Nb3 27. Nxg5 fxg5 28. Bd5+ Kg7 29. Bxb3 Re3 30. Bd5 Qd6  31. Bg2 c4 32. Ng1) (26. Qd1 $1 {would have left everything still to be played  for.}) 26... Nb3 27. Rc2 c4 {Now Black is in control again.} 28. Ng1 Nc5 29.  Nxc5 Qxc5 30. dxc4 Re3 $1 31. b4 Qc7 {The combination of the active rook and  passed pawn on d4, spells doom for White.} 32. Bd5+ Kh8 33. Rd2 $2 ({The  engive prefers} 33. c5 {although} d3 34. Rc1 Rd8 35. Bf3 Qe5 36. c6 d2 37. Rd1  Qc3 {still wins for Black.}) 33... f3 $1 34. Rxd4 Qg3 35. Nxf3 Rfe8 36. Rd1 Re2  {There is no defence against Re2 or Bf4.} 0-1   

   [Event "Manhem Chess Week 2013"]  [Date "2013.08.11"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Wallace, John-Paul"]  [Black "Rozentalis, Eduardas"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A17"]  [PlyCount "74"]  [EventDate "2013.??.??"]  [SourceDate "2011.03.24"]   {John-Paul is an International Master from Australia who quit playing for a  long time and now - hopefully - is back in the game. He played quite a few  exciting games of high quality, but stumbled when it came to bringing the fish  to the shore (seems I am into fish related analogies today).} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4  e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 d5 $1 8. O-O O-O ({It is no  good to play} 8... d4 $6 {At first it seems that} 9. Na4 Qe7 10. d3 {leaves  the queen on b3 and the knight on a4 less than optimally placed, but the  bishop on a5 is not such a jolly fellow either. A possible continuation is:}  Nd7 11. e3 $5 (11. Qc2 O-O 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. b4 e5 $1 14. bxc5 Qxc5 15. Rb1 {  with some initiative for White.}) 11... e5 12. exd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Qc2  {and as it turns out; the knight on a4 will help White develop a strong  initiative on the queenside.}) 9. d3 h6 $1 {It is important for White to stop  Bc1-g5 in order to be able to hold on the flexible centre. The kind of  scenario analysed after 8...d4, generally favours White since the bishop on g2  will become very strong in either a Modern Benoni-, or a Benko-structure.} 10.  Bf4 (10. cxd5 exd5 11. Na4 Qe7 (11... b6 $5) 12. Qc2 Re8 13. e3 Bb6 14. b3 {  was unclear in Batsiashvili, - Arabidze, European Ind w 2012.}) 10... Re8 11.  Ne5 (11. Na4 b6 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. e3 $6 (13. Nc3) 13... g5 $1 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15.  Be5 Ng4 16. Bc3 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 dxc4 18. dxc4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qe7 {and Black had  some initiative on the white squares and the kingside, in Topalov,V (2711)  -Kramnik,V (2802)/Dortmund 2001.}) 11... Nd4 $1 {This is more better than} (  11... Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... Ng4 $1 13. Bf4 d4 14. Na4 e5 15. Bc1 Bb6 16. Qc2  Rb8 17. b4 Bd7 $132) 13. Bd6 {with an advantage for White in Filippov,V (2595)  -Kiriakov,P (2495)/Krasnoyarsk 1998.}) 12. Qd1 Bc7 {This is where the game  becomes interesting!} 13. e3 $1 {This is a strong move. John-Paul starts a  forced sequence that will bring all his pieces to life.} Nf5 14. g4 $5 {This  move is quite ambitious and has a double purpose; the bishop gets a retreat on  g3 and a future h4 and g4-g5 becomes a possibility.} ({The sane would play} 14.  Ng4 e5 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. e4 exf4 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. gxf4 {which  leads to something resembling equality.}) 14... Nh4 15. Bh1 Nh7 $3 {This is a  magnificent move. I walked past the board at this stage and came to the  superficial conclusion that Black is already better.} 16. Bg3 Ng5 17. h3 $3 {  Another beautiful move that, for the price of a pawn, solves the main problem  of the White position, that the king has nowhere to go.} Nxh3+ $6 {After this  slight mistake White takes a firm hold on the initiative.} (17... Bxe5 18. Bxe5  dxc4 19. Bg3 cxd3 20. f4 Nxh3+ 21. Kh2) ({The critical continuation is} 17...  d4 $1 {when} 18. Nb5 (18. exd4 cxd4 19. Ne4 Nxh3+ 20. Kh2 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 Ng6 22.  Bg3 Nhf4) 18... Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Ng6 20. Bc7 $1 (20. Bg3 e5 {and Nb5 is in  trouble.}) 20... Qd7 {forces White to fight for a draw. You may analyze this  further on your own. Maybe I have missed something better for White earlier?!})  18. Kh2 Ng5 19. Nb5 $1 {This move ruins the coordination of the Black pieces  and makes it less attractive for Black to exchange the bishop on e5 (as this  would allow White to place the knight on d6 or c7 later).} Bb8 20. f4 $1 Nh7 ({  It might be better to play} 20... a6 $5 21. fxg5 axb5 22. gxh6 gxh6 23. Nxf7  Bxg3+ 24. Kxg3 Qc7+ 25. Kh3 Nf5 $1 {with complications.}) 21. b4 $1 {White has  fantastic compensation for the missing pawn.} a6 22. Nc3 d4 $6 {This move is  "aji keshi", to use a Go-term. Later, it will be important for Black to have  different options with the d-pawn.} ({The engine claims that} 22... cxb4 23.  axb4 Ng6 {is a little better for Black. To me, it seems like White has  excellent compensation after} 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. Bf3) 23. Ne2 $1 Ng6 24. bxc5  dxe3 25. d4 $1 Bxe5 26. fxe5 Qg5 27. Ng1 $1 Rd8 28. Nh3 Qe7 {Now Black  threatens to destroy the White centre with e3-e2 on the next move. How would  you respond?} 29. Re1 $6 {Chess at this level does not allow for mistakes. So  far John-Paul has played a brilliant game, but now he stumbles. Instead:} (29.  Qd3 $1 e2 30. Rfe1 Qxc5 $5 (30... Bd7 31. Bxb7 Rab8 32. Be4 Ba4 33. Rab1 Bd1  34. c6 $1 {is hopeless for Black.}) 31. Qxg6 Rxd4 32. Qh5 {would have left  Black with inadequate compensation for the piece.}) 29... Bd7 30. Bxb7 $2 {  After this - second - mistake, Black is already better.} ({The best chance was  } 30. Qb3 {when} Bc6 31. d5 exd5 32. cxd5 Nxe5 33. dxc6 bxc6 {is quite unclear.  }) 30... Ba4 {White's whole game is built on those central pawns and when they  fall, so does White.} 31. Qf3 Rab8 32. c6 Rxd4 33. Qxe3 Rxg4 ({There is  something to be said for} 33... Rbd8 {, but Rozentalis choice is both strong  and practical.}) 34. Nf2 Rxg3 35. Qxg3 Qc7 36. Qg2 $2 {It is a bit harsh to  critizise White here, since his mission is far from enviable. However, after} (  36. Rab1 Ng5 37. Nh3 {there is still hope.}) 36... Ng5 37. Nd3 Nh4 {and White  resigned.} 0-1   

   [Event "41st GM Dortmund GER"]  [Site "Dortmund"]  [Date "2013.08.01"]  [Round "6"]  [White "Naiditsch, A."]  [Black "Adams, Mi"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D53"]  [WhiteElo "2710"]  [BlackElo "2740"]  [PlyCount "52"]  [EventDate "2013.??.??"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 ({It is interesting to compare} 4. Nf3 Be7  5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3 Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. c6 Nb8 11. Ne5 Bd6  $1 12. Qa4 f6 $1 {with the lines - given below - where Black has played h7-h6.}  ) 4... Be7 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. e3 h6 $5 {This is a somewhat uncommon move.} (6... O-O  7. Rc1 c6 {is the main line.}) 7. Bh4 ({It is quite interesting for White to  play} 7. Bf4 {, in effect transposing to the Bf4-variation, a tempo down. This  loss of tempo has some interesting consequences:} O-O 8. c5 Nh5 (8... c6 9. h3 {  and again, h6 might turn out to be a bad move if White, for instance, chooses a  plan involving g2-g4.}) 9. Bd3 Nxf4 10. exf4 b6 11. c6 Nb8 {is nothing for  White when the h-pawn is still on h7. Here, however, play becomes quite  interesting.} 12. Ne5 f6 (12... Bd6 13. Qa4 a5 14. Bb5) 13. Ng6 Re8 14. Qa4 Qd6  15. Rc1 Nxc6 16. Bb5 Bd7 17. Ne2 Qb4+ 18. Qxb4 Bxb4+ 19. Kd1 Ne5 20. Bxd7 Nxd7  21. Rxc7 Nf8 {with approximate equality. This is just one line, but you can be  sure that there are many a line like this, where h6 makes a World's difference.})  7... O-O 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. a4 c5 11. O-O cxd4 12. exd4 Nb6 13. Bd3 $5  ({This is less common than} 13. Bb3 {; a move that aims at controlling d5 for  a bit longer time. In Kempinski,R (2600)-Jakubowski,K (2502)/Warsaw POL 2011,  play continued:} Bd7 14. Ne5 Bc6 15. Re1 Nbd5 16. Rc1 Rc8 (16... Re8) 17. Bc2  Re8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qd3 Nb4 ({Black should play} 19... g6 $1 {since} 20. Nxg6  Nb4 $1 21. Qg3 fxg6 22. Qxg6+ Bg7 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Be4 Qg5 25. Re3 Re7 {is a  dead end for White.}) 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Be4 Qxd4 22. Rcd1 Qxe5 23. Bxc6 Nxc6 24.  Rxe5 Bxe5 25. Rd7 Ne7 26. Qd3 {with some advantage for White.}) 13... Nbd5 14.  Ne5 Nb4 {If we compare the alternatives on move 13, we now come to the real  difference. Here White has to either part with the bishop pair (bad), or block  Ra1 from reaching c1. Still, Ra1-c1 is not the only possible way to activate the  rook...} 15. Bb1 Bd7 16. Ra3 $5 Bc6 ({Black can also consider} 16... Be8 17.  Bxf6 (17. Rb3 a5 18. Nb5 Nfd5) 17... Bxf6 18. Ne4 Be7 {which seems fine for  Black. Now} 19. Rg3 f5 $1 20. Nc3 Rf6 {even leaves the initiative with Black.})  17. Ne2 Nd7 18. Bxe7 ({The engine likes} 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bg3 {which would  not have been such a bad idea if White already had played a4-a5. However here  it is too late:} a5 $1 {and the black forces are well coordinated.}) 18... Qxe7  19. Rg3 Rfd8 $1 {Now we come to the part of the game that made me decide to  comment on it. Michael Adams is a really cool defender. He does not waste  energy on unimportant moves and is not afraid of "ghosts" (moves that seem  dangerous, but that really aren't).} 20. Qc1 Kf8 $5 {This is an ambitious move,  a real challenge. From now on it is important for Black to correctly assess  the consequences of B-g6 on every move. The simple solution seems to be} (20...  Nxe5 21. dxe5 Kh8 {, but then} 22. Qf4 Rd7 $6 23. Qg4 $1 Qf8 24. Nf4 Rad8 25.  Nh5 g5 26. h4 {is really dangerous for Black. There might be a better defence  on move 22, but it still seems cooperative to take on e5, removing the  weakness on d4, right? Adams's move refuses to simplify matters and leaves White  with some difficult choices to make.}) 21. Bh7 $2 {Naiditsch must have seen a  ghost and loses the plot immediately.} ({The critical line starts with} 21. f4  $1 {and now Black has to tread carefully:} {After} Rac8 $1 (21... a5 $6 22. Bg6  f5 23. Bxf5 Nxe5 24. fxe5 exf5 25. Rxf5+ Ke8 26. e6 Be4 27. Rf7 Qxe6 28. Rfxg7  Nd5 29. Nc3 Rac8 30. Qd2 {and Black is walking on a tight rope.}) (21... Nd5 $6  {bringing a defender closer to the action} 22. Qc2 $1 {...but leaving White  with a route to h7...} (22. f5 $6 Nxe5 $1 23. dxe5 exf5 24. Rxf5 Bd7 25. Rf2  Rac8 $15) 22... N7f6 23. f5 $1 exf5 24. Qxf5 Bxa4 25. Nc3 Bc6 26. Ba2 {with  huge pressure.}) 22. Qd2 Nd5 23. Nc3 (23. Bg6 f5 24. Bxf5 Nxe5 25. fxe5 exf5  26. Rxf5+ Ke8 {is just good for Black.}) 23... Qb4 $1 {A wonderfully logical  move that takes aim at the main weakness in the White position; d4.} 24. Qf2 (  24. Ba2 f5) 24... f5 {and the position is highly unclear.}) 21... Nf6 22. Nf4 (  {White has nothing to gain from} 22. Bg6 Be8 $1) 22... Be8 $1 23. Rf3 $6 {  White has lost the momentum and is desperately looking for a way to contain  the damage. Not an easy thing to achieve when the forces are in complete  disarray.} ({After} 23. Bg6 Qd6 $1 {Black removes the queen from the  Ng6+-tricks and can look to the future with optimism. A possible continuation  is} 24. Bb1 Nc6 25. Nc4 Qxd4 {and White has nothing to show for the pawn.}) ({  White's best chance - according to the engine - is} 23. Qc4 Nxh7 24. Neg6+ fxg6  25. Nxe6+ Kg8 26. Nxd8+ Kh8 27. Ne6 Bf7 28. Qc5 Qxc5 29. Nxc5 {although Black  is much better here.}) 23... Nc6 24. Rd1 (24. Nxc6 Bxc6 25. d5 Rxd5 $5 26. Nxd5  Bxd5 {and Black wins.}) 24... Rxd4 25. Rxd4 Nxd4 26. Rd3 Nc6 {White is a pawn  down and has no way to save the bishop on h7. 0-1}   

   [Event "Visma GM"]  [Site "Växjö"]  [Date "2013.07.01"]  [Round "6"]  [White "Blomqvist, E."]  [Black "Smith, Ax"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A04"]  [WhiteElo "2480"]  [BlackElo "2460"]  [PlyCount "171"]  [EventDate "2013.??.??"]   1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 (4... Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 {intending  to play d4-d5 at an opportune moment, is a bit better for White.}) 5. d4 cxd4  6. exd4 d5 {This line does not have the most positive reputation, but  considering how well prepared Axel Smith generally is, I'd say that he was  well prepared for what would come.} 7. cxd5 ({The main alternative is} 7. Bg5 {  when Lenier Dominguez has done quite well lately with} Be6 8. Bxf6 exf6 {Here  White can try either} 9. c5 {or} (9. Be2 {, but Black has good chances in  either case. It seems to me that Blomqvist's choice is the more challenging  one.})) 7... Nxd5 8. Qb3 Nxc3 9. Bc4 $1 Nd5 ({Black can also play} 9... e6 10.  bxc3 Bg7 11. Ba3 Bf8 {when} 12. Bxf8 Kxf8 13. O-O Kg7 14. Qb5 $5 {(stopping  b7-b6)} Qc7 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Rfd1 b6 17. c4 Ne7 18. Qb2 Kg8 $6 19. Ne5 {was a  bit better for White in Aronian - Stevic, Porto Carras 2011.}) 10. Bxd5 e6 11.  Bxc6+ bxc6 {This is an interesting position where Black has the bishop pair,  but also suffers from some very weak dark squares. Blomqvist is masterful in  the way he exploits these dark squares.} 12. O-O Qd5 ({It is not obvious to me  why} 12... f6 {is much less played.}) 13. Be3 $5 {Blomqvist decides to walk in  the footsteps of Anish Giri, who played in the same way against Axel Smith in  Reykjavik, earlier this year. Apart from this move, White has a lesser ocean  of moves to chose from here. Among others:} (13. Qc3 f6 $1 {This  simultaneously defends e5 and g5 and prepares Kf7, Be7, followed by g6-g5.}  14. Bf4 {The bishop is not very well placed here, but it takes away the  b8-square from the black rook. I believe the right plan here for White must  involve a re-routing of the knight on f3 (that has become quite purposeless  after f7-f6). How exactly it should be done; that I do not know.} g5 15. Bg3  Be7 16. Rfe1 Kf7 $1 {Black only has one real weakness now; the pawn on c6.} 17.  Rac1 Bb7 18. Re3 Rhe8 19. Qb3 ({It is too late to play} 19. Ne1 {due to} Rac8 {  when} 20. Nd3 c5 21. dxc5 $4 Qxg2# {would be embarrassing.}) 19... c5 $1 20.  Qc2 Qf5 $1 21. dxc5 Qxc2 22. Rxc2 Rec8 23. Rec3 Be4 24. Rc1 Bxf3 25. Rxf3 (25.  gxf3 e5 {and White will have to finish the game without the bishop on g3.})  25... Rxc5 26. Rxc5 Bxc5 27. Rc3 $6 Bd4 28. Rc7+ Kg6 {and Black slowly got the  upper hand in Pantsulaia,L (2575)-Short,N (2698)/Istanbul 2012.}) 13... Qxb3  14. axb3 Bb7 15. Rfc1 {White has a very small advantage here, mainly because  Bb7 is very passive, but also because the dark squares are weak. What I really  like about Blomqvist's games are that - unlike many other young players - he  can truly play the endgame, and in such a manner that no one goes safe.} Bd6 ({  Or} 15... f6 16. Nd2 {and the knight is headed for c4 anyway.}) 16. Ne5 O-O ({  Axel deviates from his earlier encounter with Anish Giri, from Reykjavik, 2013  } 16... Ke7 17. Nxc6+ ({It seems better for White to play} 17. Ra4 $5 Rhc8 (  17... f6 18. Nxc6+ Bxc6 19. Rxc6 a5 20. Rb6 {leaves White with a small but  clear advantage.}) 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Bd2 {with similar play to the game. The  question is whether the king is better or worse on e7? It seems to be better,  no?}) (17. b4 $2 {is a pawn that cannot be taken, but apart from this it does  nothing to improve the White position. The main downside is that White can  forget about the Ra1-a4-b4 maneuvre for all future.}) 17... Bxc6 18. Rxc6 a5  19. Bd2 Rhb8 20. Rxa5 Rxa5 21. Bxa5 Rxb3 22. Rc2 Rd3 {was almost dead equal. I  wonder whether Axel decided to avoid this line because he feared a preparation,  or whether he thought that the king was just better off on g8 than on e7?!})  17. Ra4 $1 {This is a multipurpose move that prepares to further attack the  a7-pawn, defends the d4-pawn and gives White the option of playing Rb4 in case  Bd6 leaves the f8-a3-diagonal.} Rfc8 18. Nc4 $1 {The knight keeps an eye on  four important dark squares from here and makes it harder for Black to achieve  a break that would set the bishop on b7 free.} Bc7 (18... Be7 $5 {makes it  harder for White to reroute the bishop to c5, but White still has the  initiative, and not just any initiative at that; it is the kind that just goes  on, and on, and on.}) 19. Bd2 $1 {...heading for c5.} Kf8 ({At first it seems  better to play} 19... Rd8 {, but then you discover} 20. Ba5 $1 Bxa5 21. Nxa5  Rab8 22. f3 {when Black is far from solving the problem of the horribly  passive bishop on b7.}) 20. Rca1 a6 21. f3 {"Do not hurry", is a quote that  you have often heard. But, what does it really mean? Here, where Black is  completely passive (this is important), White does indeed not have to hurry.  Since 21.Bb4+ does not going anything immediately, Blomqvist makes a move that  further improves his position (removes mating themes from the back rank; opens  the way for the king to e3; and stops c6-c5/Bb7xg2-ideas).} Rd8 22. Bb4+ Ke8  23. Bc5 {Houdini evaluates this position as only slightly worse for Black.  From a practical point - however - it is clearly horrible for Black.} Rd5 24.  Ne3 Rdd8 ({I would play} 24... Rh5 {here. Not because it is a better move, but  because it gives White something more to think about.}) 25. Kf2 f6 26. Re1 Kf7  27. Nc4 Rd7 28. h4 Re8 29. Re2 ({Axel has defended very well up to this point.  My engine's first choice} 29. Rb4 Bc8 30. Nb6 Bxb6 31. Rxb6 Bb7 32. b4 {is  clearly silly. How will White make progress?}) 29... e5 $6 {This is exactly  what White i hoping for. Suddenly Black will have more than one weakness, which will clearly improve White's winning chances.} ({It is better to play}  29... h5 {when there are no weaknesses on the kingside and Black can concentrate on defending the queenside. Although White is  still better I find it hard to believe that it can be won against a decent  defence.}) 30. Rb4 $1 Bc8 31. dxe5 fxe5 $6 {Ouch! Now the Black position  becomes even more ugly. In a passive and slightly worse position like this, it  is important to constantly search for possibilities to simplify the position.  Here, one such chance is:} (31... Bxe5 $1 32. Nxe5+ (32. Nb6 a5 $1) 32... Rxe5  33. Rxe5 fxe5 34. Rb8 Rd2+ $1 35. Ke3 Rc2 36. Rxc8 (36. b4 Bd7 37. Rh8 Kg7 38.  Ra8 Be6 39. g4 Rxb2 40. Bd6 Rb3+ 41. Kf2 Bd5 {and the Black pieces are no less  active than their White counterparts.}) 36... Rxc5 37. Kd3 h5 {This rook  endgame is a bit better for White, but Black should be able to draw it.}) 32.  Bb6 $1 Bd6 33. Ra4 $5 (33. Nxd6+ Rxd6 34. Bc7 Rd5 35. Rb8 Rb5 36. Rxb5 cxb5 37.  Bxe5 {wins a pawn, but hardly the game after} a5 $1) 33... Bb8 $1 34. Nd2 Rd3  35. Rc4 Bd7 36. b4 Bd6 37. Ne4 Be7 38. g3 Rc8 (38... Rd1 $1 39. Bc7 Bf8 {is  passive, but leaves Black with more chances of survival.}) 39. Bc5 $1 {Now  things turn from bad to worse. It is clearly in White's interest to exchange  the dark squared bishops.} Re8 40. Bxe7 Rxe7 41. Nc5 Rd1 42. Nxa6 Bf5 43. Nc5 (  {I do not see the reason why White cannot just play} 43. Rxc6 $1 {After} Bd3  44. Re1 Rxe1 45. Kxe1 Bxa6 46. Rxa6 Rb7 47. Ra4 Ke6 48. Ke2 Kd5 49. Kd3 {White  is close to winning.}) 43... Bh3 44. Rce4 Rf1+ 45. Ke3 Rb1 $6 (45... Bf5 $1 46.  Rc4 Be6 47. Nxe6 Rxe6 48. Rec2 Rf6) 46. g4 $1 Bf1 47. Rd2 Bb5 {One might think  that Black can be happy for finally stabilizing the bishop, but now there are  weaknesses around the black king.} 48. Kf2 $1 {This keeps all the trumps.  After} (48. Nd7 $5 Re1+ 49. Kf2 Rxe4 50. fxe4 g5 51. h5 Re6 52. Ke3 h6 {White  is clearly better, but there is a weakness on g4 and e5 can no longer be  attacked.}) 48... Rf1+ 49. Kg2 Rb1 50. Nd7 Kg7 51. Nxe5 Ra7 52. Kg3 Ra2 53. Rf4  $2 ({Here White can win with a direct attack:} 53. Rd7+ Kf8 54. Rd8+ Kg7 55.  Nd7 Bc4 56. Re7+ Bf7 57. Rf8) 53... Ra7 54. Rfd4 Re1 55. Rd7+ Rxd7 56. Nxd7 (  56. Rxd7+ $5 Kf6 57. f4 Re3+ 58. Kf2 Re4 59. Kf3 Rxb4 60. Rxh7 {is also  winning.}) 56... h6 57. Nc5 {The rest is rather simple.} Bc4 58. Rd7+ Bf7 59.  Rc7 Rg1+ 60. Kf4 Rb1 61. b3 Rd1 62. Ke3 Rd6 63. Ne4 Re6 64. Kd4 Kf8 65. Kc5  Re5+ 66. Kxc6 Bxb3 67. Nc5 Re3 68. b5 Bd1 69. b6 Bxf3+ 70. Kd6 Kg8 71. b7 Bxb7  72. Rxb7 Rh3 73. Ne4 h5 74. g5 Kf8 75. Ke6 Re3 76. Ke5 Re1 77. Kf6 Ke8 78. Re7+  Kf8 79. Re5 Rf1+ 80. Kxg6 Rf7 81. Kxh5 Rh7+ 82. Kg4 Ra7 83. h5 Ra1 84. Kf5 Rf1+  85. Kg6 Rf6+ 86. Kxf6 {1-0}