Alina l'Ami en Arica

[Event "Internacional de Arica"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.15"] [Round "9.1"] [White "El Debs, Felipe"] [Black "Cardenas, Pablo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E60"] [WhiteElo "2537"] [BlackElo "2431"] [Annotator "Quintiliano,R"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 {Before the round, Felipe told us he was expecting orthodox systems but, as his opponent employed the Grunfeld before against our friend IM Diego Di Berardino, he had something prepared.} 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 {This was his idea. It is not a critical line at all but White makes Black think twice before going into Grunfeld positions.} O-O 5. Be2 {Here Cardenas started thinking since Black has various possible setups. Finally, he went for a Benoni-like structure.} c5 ({The point behind White's move order is that now} 5... d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4 $1 {and there's no more Nxc3 followed by c5, which is the main purpose of Grunfeld.}) (5... d6 {would be the choice of KID players, naturally} 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 {with interesting positions and chances for both sides}) 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 {Since White is going to play e4 at some point, we can assume that this is a Benoni with a free tempo for Black. Long time ago, I thought this was just good for Black, but after seeing some games, particularly Dreev's, I realized it is not so clear how can Black use this tempo to conduct its typical plans.} 9. Nd2 Na6 { Another possible idea is the classical Nbd7-Re8-a6 set-up.} (9... Re8 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Nbd7 12. h3 Rb8 13. e4 {we can find a lot of games in this position with White to move, but even with the free tempo, Black was unable to accomplish his goals. Two recent examples:} Nf8 $6 (13... Qc7 14. Re1 b6 15. Qc2 Nh5 $6 16. Bxh5 gxh5 17. Nf1 h4 18. Bg5 $16 {;Dreev,A (2673)-Salem,A (2564) Gibraltar Masters 12th 2014 (9) 1-0}) 14. a5 $1 {If Black can play b5 and after axb6 recapture with the knight, controlling the important c4-square, this move is not so dangerous, but after Nf8 it becomes stronger} h6 15. f4 b5 (15... g5 16. fxg5 hxg5 17. Nc4 Nxe4 18. Bh5 $40) 16. axb6 Rxb6 $2 17. e5 $1 dxe5 18. Nc4 $36 {Svidler,P (2740)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2702) RUS-ch playoff 66th rapid 2013 (1) 1-0}) 10. O-O Nc7 11. e4 Re8 12. Re1 {El Debs plays carefully, avoiding b5.} (12. a4 {is another option}) ({but if, for example} 12. h3 $2 b5 $1 {is very good for Black}) 12... Rb8 13. a4 b6 {I think that Cardenas was not familiar with the Benoni ideas, as at this point he had spent a large amount of time already.} (13... a6 {seems to be better} 14. a5 $1 (14. Rb1 { is another idea, but after} b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. b4 c4 $15 {Black is fine}) 14... Bd7 {in these positions, after White tries to fix the queenside with a5, Black can use b5 for his pieces, for example} 15. Qb3 (15. f3 Bb5 16. Nc4 Bxc4 17. Bxc4 b5 $1 18. axb6 Rxb6 $132 {;Smith,A (2506)-Westerberg,J (2489) SWE-chT 1617 2016 (8.1) 1/2-1/2}) 15... Nb5 $1 16. Nxb5 axb5 17. Bxb5 Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Nxd5 $11 {Artemiev,V (2676) -Leko,P (2705) Moscow Nutcracker-A rap rapid 2015 (6.2) 1/2-1/2}) 14. h3 (14. Bb5 $1 {was already good}) 14... Na6 $2 {A severe loss of time. White can now achieve the dream position for White players in Benoni.} (14... a6 {was natural and a better continuation, following the plan of making the b5 break possible.}) 15. Bb5 $1 {El Debs immediately takes his chance.} Re7 16. Nc4 $16 {Because of the strange Nc7-a6 maneuver, White is not only a tempo ahead now - its position is almost winning and Bf4 becomes unstoppable.} Nc7 {Black realizes that is necessary to stay passive to keep d6 protected.} 17. Bf4 {El Debs keeps improving his pieces and increases the pressure.} ({in fact, after the game he told me that he calculated the variation} 17. e5 Nfe8 18. exd6 (18. Bxe8 Nxe8 19. exd6 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Nxd6 21. Bf4 Nxc4 $1 22. Bxb8 Nxb2 $44) 18... Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Nxd6 20. Bf4 $16 {That still looks great for White, but Black can breath again. There is no need to open the position when you can improve your pieces without giving any chances to your opponent.}) 17... Nfe8 18. Bc6 $1 {Instructive use of the light squares by El Debs. The knight comes now to increase the pressure over d6 and Black has no choice but go for unfavourable exchanges.} Bb7 (18... a6 {stops Nb5, but then} 19. e5 $1 dxe5 20. Bg3 {wins by force} b5 21. axb5 axb5 22. d6 $18) 19. Nb5 {White continues its light squares exploitation with a stable advantage.} (19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. e5 $1 {was also very strong} dxe5 21. Bg5 f6 22. d6 $1 $18 {winning material}) 19... Nxb5 (19... Bxc6 {was Black's best chance} 20. dxc6 Ne6 21. Bg3 $16) 20. axb5 Bxc6 21. dxc6 $18 {White is basically winning due to the strong passed pawn, pressure on a7 and d6, better pieces and the e5-idea is still in the schedule too.} Bd4 {Cardenas fought very well during the tournament against very strong players, but this position is too much even for a resourceful player.} 22. Qf3 Ra8 23. e5 $1 {With better development and more space, White opens the position in order to invade Black's camp.} (23. Bg5 f6 24. Be3 $18) 23... dxe5 (23... d5 $142 24. Nd6 Bxb2 25. Rad1 Bd4 26. Qxd5 Nc7 27. Qc4 Ne6 28. Be3 $18) 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. Nxe5 Nc7 ( 25... Qd6 26. Nc4 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qc7 28. Ne5 Qe7 29. Kf1 $1 Qf6 30. Qxf6 Nxf6 31. Rd1 $18 {With a technically winning endgame}) 26. Red1 Qc8 27. Rd7 $1 Qf8 28. Qf6 $1 {White's pressure is just overwhelming.} Rae8 29. Rxa7 {This move was precisely calculated by El Debs.} Nd5 (29... Rxe5 30. Raxc7 Rf5 31. Qd6 $18 ) 30. Qf3 Rxe5 31. Rxd5 Re1+ ({the important tactical detail behind 29.Rxa7 is that} 31... Rxd5 32. Qxd5 Re1+ 33. Kh2 Qb8+ {fails due to} 34. c7 $1) 32. Kh2 Qg7 33. Rad7 1-0

[Event "Internacional de Arica"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.16"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Demchenko, Anton"] [Black "El Debs, Felipe"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B51"] [WhiteElo "2660"] [BlackElo "2537"] [Annotator "Quintiliano,R"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {This game was highly decisive for the final standings. Our good friend GM Felipe El Debs was a draw away from winning the IV Arica International Open! However, there was a last and big obstacle in his way: the Russian top-seed Demchenko.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 ({El Debs is a dragon player who usually goes for} 2... g6) 3. Bb5 d6 (3... g6 {and}) (3... e6 {are the main options}) 4. O-O {The most flexible continuation.} (4. Bxc6+ {is another way, trying to explore Black's last move} bxc6 5. O-O (5. e5 $5 {deserves attention also}) 5... e5 { is another type of play}) 4... Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 Bg4 {This move is very important, as Black is looking for exchanges in order to free up space for the pieces, and to finish the development in a harmonious position.} 8. h3 (8. d4 $5 {looks like the critical continuation.}) 8... Bxf3 (8... Bh5 { would run into the unpleasant} 9. g4 Bg6 10. d4 $1 {White has a nice score here as the initiative is taken very fast.}) 9. Qxf3 e6 (9... g6 {is another way to develop the bishop, which would be natural as well, for a dragon player like El Debs.}) 10. d3 (10. Qg3 $5 {could have been played here already} Nh5 11. Qe3 {the queen's position has been improved, supporting d4-ideas or allowing d3-Nd2-f3}) 10... Be7 11. Qg3 {An original idea, at least on such level.} ({Most games continued with} 11. Nd2) ({or} 11. Be3) 11... O-O 12. Bh6 Ne8 13. Bf4 {White can't keep the bishop on h6.} (13. Nd2 $4 Bh4 14. Qg4 Ne5 $19) 13... Bh4 14. Qe3 {Rather provocative.} (14. Qf3 {was expected}) 14... e5 15. Bh2 f5 $5 {After the game, El Debs confessed he was feeling that his position was really nice after this move. In fact, Black is giving up a lot of light squares, but the pieces are well developed and White is unable to play d4 so easy. It looks like Black has landed in pleasant situation.} 16. exf5 Rxf5 {Demchenko thought for a long time here and came with a surprising decision.} 17. Bg3 $5 (17. g3 {should be the best, but looks strange for the burried Bh2} Bg5 18. Qe2 Rf7 19. Bg2 Nc7 20. Nd2 Bxd2 $1 21. Qxd2 Qd7) 17... Bxg3 18. fxg3 {It is rather difficult, in chess, to find your way on the board when you are not able to understand your opponent's moves. Regarding this game, not only El Debs but also we (Brazilian masters playing in Arica) were very impressed by Demchenko's decision. El Debs told us he barely considered Bg3 as an option, and so did we. This move looks quite peculiar since White is spoiling its own pawn structure. In hindsight, it is easy to change our minds about this but the Russian GM correctly evaluated the consequences in the right moment. Despite the doubled pawns on the kingside, White is ok and can continue playing for centralization, a well timed d4-break and the subsequent invasion on the light-squares. Truly deep!} Qe7 {El Debs regretted his next moves.} ({He correctly claimed that} 18... Rf8 19. Nd2 Nf6 {was a safer path and more solid, and in fact Black has a nice position here} 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Rad1 Rad8 $11) 19. Nd2 Nc7 $6 {Careless and strange as El Debs is always aware of his opponent's ideas.} (19... d5 {or}) (19... Rf7 {were better and would have kept Black in the game.}) 20. d4 $1 {Now it becomes clear that White's strategy was good.} cxd4 (20... Raf8 21. dxc5 dxc5 (21... d5 $5 22. b4 $14) 22. Ne4 b6 23. Rad1 $16) 21. cxd4 {Black is under some pressure and has a lot of options. Such situations are very hard because it is difficult to compare all the positions and understand which is the best one of all.} Qd7 $6 (21... Qf7 $1 {looks risky but it is the best} 22. Nf3 (22. dxe5 Rxe5 23. Qb6 Nd5 24. Qb3 Nf6 $11) 22... exd4 23. Nxd4 Re5 24. Qc3 Rc5 25. Qd2 Qd5 {and Black is fighting well for equality}) 22. Nc4 $6 (22. dxe5 {would give White the advantage} Rxe5 (22... dxe5 23. Bd3 Rff8 24. Nf3 $16) 23. Qb3+ Ne6 (23... Kh8 24. Nc4 {is very unpleasant}) 24. Rxe5 dxe5 25. Nf3 Kh8 26. Qe3 $16) 22... Raf8 $2 {Black misses a good opportunity to turn the tables.} (22... exd4 $1 23. Qb3 {Maybe this was what El Debs worried about but Black has} (23. Qa3 Rd8 { Black is just a pawn up}) 23... Rb5 $1 {stopping all the threats} 24. Qc2 (24. Qa3 Rb4 $1) 24... Rf8 $15) 23. Bd3 {Now Black's position is practically falling apart.} R5f6 (23... Nxd4 $5 {could had offered some practical chances} 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Rf1 $16 Nc2 $2 26. Qe4 $1) 24. dxe5 dxe5 25. Rad1 {White is already winning material.} Qf7 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Qxe5 Re8 28. Qd4 $18 {The position doesn't offer hopes for Black, as besides the material, the king is also exposed and White's forces are strongly centralized.} Rc6 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Be4 {Winning another pawn.} Re6 31. Bxb7 h6 32. Kh2 Kh8 33. Bf3 Qf8 34. Qf4 Qe7 35. Rc1 Ne8 36. Rc8 Kh7 37. Bd5 Re5 38. Bb3 Nf6 39. Bc2+ g6 40. Qc4 Rd5 41. Rc7 Rd7 42. Rxd7 Qxd7 43. Qxa6 Kg7 44. Qd3 Qf7 45. a4 h5 46. a5 {With careful analysis, it is possible to learn a lot from this game!} 1-0

[Event "Internacional Arica"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.12"] [Round "4"] [White "Salinas, Pablo"] [Black "Adly, Ahmed"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A61"] [WhiteElo "2433"] [BlackElo "2637"] [Annotator "Quintiliano,R"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {Open tournaments are the type of events which feature some big surprises sometimes. The Chilean IM Salinas, who almost scored his third GM norm, caused perplexity right in the third day, by defeating two strong GMs in a row: Adly and Mareco. In this game, he embarks on a theoretical discussion and shows nice preparation and sharp tactical vision against the highly experienced and strong Egyptian GM Adly.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 { The Benoni Defence is a signal of a complicated battle ahead.} 6. Nf3 g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 $5 {I haven't seen many of Adly's games but in this tournament I realized he has a dynamic and provocative style, playing unbalanced lines that invite his opponents to take the offensive. And when the tension grows up, he takes advantage of his tactical skills and good calculation.} (7... a6 {is the safer option and after} 8. a4 {Black continues normally with} Bg7) 8. Qa4+ $1 { Salinas is not a player who avoids the fight either.} Bd7 9. Qb3 b5 $1 { The most logical way of making use of the Bd7 move and inviting White to enter complications.} (9... Qc7 {usually leads to advantage for White} 10. e4 O-O 11. Nd2 $1 Nh5 12. Be3 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 (13... gxf5 14. Be2 Be8 15. Nf3 $16) 14. Be2 Nf6 15. Nc4 $14 {Anton Guijarro,D (2630)-Perunovic,M (2624) EU-chT (Men) 20th 2015 (8.2) 1-0}) 10. Bxd6 Qb6 11. Be5 O-O 12. e3 c4 13. Qd1 Rc8 $146 ( 13... b4 {is the main move} 14. Nb1 Rc8 15. Nbd2 Bb5 $13 {Nakamura,H (2791) -Caruana,F (2807) Sinquefield Cup 4th 2016 (6) 1/2-1/2}) 14. a4 $5 {I'm not sure if Salinas was prepared against Adly's novelty, but he keeps playing actively, in the spirit of the position.} (14. a3 {looks good and safer}) 14... b4 15. Nb5 $1 Bxb5 16. Bd4 {Not a necessary intermediate move.} (16. axb5 Nbd7 (16... Qxb5 17. b3 Qxd5 18. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Nbd7 20. Bd4 $14) 17. Bd4 Qxb5 18. b3 $1 Nb6 19. bxc4 Nxc4 20. Rc1 {Black is in trouble with the pinned knight } Qxd5 (20... b3 21. Nd2 b2 22. Rxc4 $16) 21. Bxf6 Nxe3 $1 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. fxe3 Qxd1+ 24. Kxd1 Bxf6 25. Ba6 $1 Rc6 26. Bd3 $14) 16... Qb7 (16... Bxa4 $1 { was a nice solution for Black's problems} 17. Rxa4 Qb7 18. d6 Nbd7 $13) 17. axb5 Nbd7 $6 {Adly keeps playing dynamically, but it was time to regain the material.} (17... Qxd5 18. Be2 (18. Qa4 a5 $5 19. Rd1 Qb7 20. Nd2 c3 $1 21. bxc3 Nd5 $1 $36) 18... Qxb5 19. b3 $1 Qb7 20. Bxc4 a5 21. O-O Nc6 {with a playable position}) 18. d6 $1 {A nice decision, as now the d6-pawn is safe, and after Qxb5 White has always the annoying b3.} Bf8 {Now Black should waste some time and reorganize the pieces in order to take the pawn.} (18... Qd5 { would lead to huge complications} 19. Rc1 Ne4 (19... Nb6 20. Ne5 $1 Ne4 21. d7 $1 Bxe5 (21... Nxd7 22. Bxc4 $18) 22. dxc8=Q+ Rxc8 23. Bxb6 Qxd1+ 24. Kxd1 $1 axb6 25. Bxc4 $1 Rd8+ 26. Ke1 Bxb2 27. Rc2 Nc3 $1 28. Rd2 Ra8 $1 29. Rxb2 Ra1+ 30. Kd2 Rxh1 31. h3 $14) 20. Bxg7 Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Kxg7 22. Nd4 $1 (22. Rd4 c3 $1 ) 22... c3 23. f3 c2 24. Rc1 Nxd6 25. Rxc2 $16) 19. Nd2 (19. h4 $1 {was a good idea} Ne4 (19... Qd5 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Qxd5 Nxd5 22. d7 Rc5 23. g3 $16) 20. h5 $40) 19... c3 20. Nc4 Qxb5 (20... cxb2 $5 21. Bxb2 Qxb5 22. Ra5 Qb7 23. f3 $5) 21. b3 $1 {Securing a nice post for the knight and keeping the d6 pawn protected.} (21. Nb6 c2 $1 22. Qc1 Qc6 23. Nxc8 (23. Nxa8 Bxd6 24. Ra6 Qd5 $1 { and the position is a mess}) 23... Rxc8 24. Ba6 Re8 (24... Qxg2 25. Bxc8 Qxh1+ 26. Kd2 Qxh2 27. Kxc2 $14) 25. O-O b3 $44) 21... Qb8 $2 {Now White can take a strong initiative.} (21... Qd5 $1 {would keep everything under control} 22. Be2 $1 (22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Qxd5 Nxd5 24. g3 Nb6 25. Bg2 Rab8 $13) (22. Rxa7 $4 Rxa7 23. Bxa7 Qxd1+ 24. Kxd1 Ra8 $18) (22. Ra5 Qe4) 22... Qxg2 $1 23. Bf3 Qh3 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 $44) 22. Qf3 $1 Ne8 23. h4 $1 {Suddenly White is starting a strong attack on the kingside.} Nxd6 (23... h5 24. g4 $18) 24. h5 $1 Bg7 $8 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. h6+ {White keeps a very strong attack but there was a direct solution. } (26. hxg6 hxg6 (26... fxg6 27. O-O-O $18) 27. O-O-O Rxc4 28. Bxc4 Ne5 29. Qf4 Nexc4 (29... Ndxc4 30. bxc4 b3 31. Rd5 f6 32. Qh6+ Kf7 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Rxe5 $1 $18) 30. Qh6+ Kf6 31. Qh4+ Ke6 32. bxc4 b3 33. Qg4+ Ke7 34. Qg5+ Ke6 35. Qd5+ Ke7 36. Qe5+ $18) 26... Kf8 27. O-O-O $1 {It is not everyday that one can go for 0-0-0 against the Benoni Defence!} Rxc4 ({The computer indicates an amazing draw starting with} 27... Nc5 $3 {but it is just inhuman} 28. Nxd6 (28. Rxd6 Nxb3+ 29. Kc2 Nd2 $1 30. Qf6 b3+ 31. Kd1 b2 32. Qg7+ Ke7 33. Qf6+ $11) 28... Nxb3+ 29. Kc2 Na1+ $1 30. Kc1 (30. Rxa1 b3+ 31. Kb1 Qxd6 $19) 30... Nb3+ 31. Kc2 Na1+ $11) 28. Bxc4 $18 Ne5 (28... Nxc4 29. bxc4 $1 (29. Rxd7 $2 Ne5) 29... Ne5 30. Qf6 $18) 29. Qf6 Ne4 (29... Nexc4 30. bxc4 Ne8 31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qd4 $18) 30. Rd8+ $1 {A very accurate way to finish the game.} Qxd8 31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qxe5+ Kf8 33. Qg7+ $1 ({of course not} 33. Qxe4 $4 Qd2+ 34. Kb1 Qb2#) 33... Ke7 34. Qxf7+ Kd6 35. Qf4+ Kc5 36. Qe5+ Kb6 37. Qb5+ Kc7 38. Bd5 $1 { Everything is hanging and White is threatening mate in two.} Qf6 39. Qb7+ Kd6 40. Bxe4 {A very complicated game and well played in the critical moments by the Chilean IM!} 1-0

[Event "Arica International"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.14"] [Round "7"] [White "Mareco, Sandro"] [Black "Perez Gormaz, Matias"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2633"] [BlackElo "2411"] [Annotator "Mareco, S"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2010.??.??"] [SourceTitle "Bursa"] 1. Nf3 {facing Matias Perez Gormaz, a young player who achieved his IM title in this tournament.} d5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 Bf5 4. Bg2 {I didn't remember much about this line during the game and that is why I had to spend a lot of time on the opening moves.} Nb4 (4... Qd7 5. O-O Bh3 6. Bxh3 Qxh3 7. c4 e6 8. Nc3 Nf6 (8... dxc4 9. e4) 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bg5 O-O-O 11. Qb3 $2 (11. Rc1 {White is better}) 11... Ng4 $1 12. Rfd1 f6 13. Bf4 g5 14. Bxc7 Kxc7 15. Nxd5+ Rxd5 $4 ( 15... Kb8 $17) 16. Qxd5 Bd6 17. Rac1 Rd8 18. Qa5+ Kd7 19. Qf5+ Ke7 20. e4 Rf8 21. d5 Nd8 22. Rc8 Qh5 23. Rdc1 Re8 24. R1c7+ Bxc7 25. Rxc7+ Kf8 26. Rxh7 Nh6 27. Qxf6+ Ndf7 28. d6 Rxe4 29. d7 Re1+ 30. Nxe1 Qxh2+ 31. Kxh2 Ng4+ 32. Kg2 Nxf6 33. Rxf7+ {1-0 (33) Navara,D (2679)-Biolek,R (2404) Pardubice 2012}) 5. Na3 e6 6. O-O h6 7. Ne5 Nf6 {Perhaps after this move I am slighty better as my position is easier to play.} (7... Bd6 $5 8. c3 Bxe5 9. dxe5 Nc6 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. Nb5 (11. f4 {could be better for White but a very complicated battle would emerge.} h5) 11... Nge7 12. f4 O-O 13. Nd4 Bh7 14. Qa3 a5 15. Be3 a4 16. Rac1 Rd8 17. Rfd1 Nxd4 18. cxd4 Qd7 19. Bd2 Be4 20. Bb4 Nc6 21. g4 Ra6 22. Be1 Rb6 23. Rc5 Ra8 24. b4 Ne7 25. Rdc1 c6 26. Ra5 Rxa5 27. bxa5 Rb5 28. Bf1 c5 29. Rxc5 Rb1 30. Rc1 Rxc1 31. Qxc1 Qb5 32. Qc5 Qb1 33. Bg3 Ng6 {1/2-1/2 (33) Wang, H (2732)-Ding,L (2777) China 2016}) 8. c3 Nc6 ({Against} 8... Na6 {I was going to play with the f3 plan, like in this game:} 9. f3 Be7 10. e4 Bh7 11. Nc2 { I don't like this move} (11. exd5 exd5 12. f4 $5) (11. Qb3) 11... O-O 12. Qe2 c5 13. Kh1 Rc8 14. Bf4 cxd4 15. cxd4 Qb6 16. b3 Rc3 17. Rfd1 Rfc8 18. Ne1 Nb4 19. a3 Nc2 20. Nxc2 Rxc2 21. Qe1 Qxb3 22. Rab1 Rb2 23. Rxb2 Qxb2 24. Rb1 Qxd4 25. Rxb7 Bd6 26. Nxf7 Bxf4 27. gxf4 dxe4 28. Ne5 e3 29. Bh3 Bf5 30. Bxf5 exf5 31. Qg1 Nh5 32. Ng6 e2 33. Ne7+ Kh8 34. Qxd4 e1=Q+ 35. Kg2 Rc2+ 36. Kh3 Qf1+ { 0-1 (36) Rozum,I (2590)-Morozevich,A (2676) Sochi RUS 2017}) 9. Qa4 Bd6 10. c4 $1 (10. Nxc6 Qd7 11. c4 (11. Nc4 Qxc6 12. Qxc6+ bxc6 13. Na5 c5 {is not so clear}) 11... Qxc6 12. Qxc6+ bxc6 13. c5 Be7 14. Nc4 $1 {here White is better but the game continuation is also bringing an advantage.}) 10... O-O {this loses a pawn.} ({Better would have been} 10... Bxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 (11... Nd7 12. cxd5 Nb6 13. Qf4 Nxd5 14. Qa4 $14) 12. f3 Ng5 $2 (12... Nc5 13. Qb5 Nd7 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 $16) 13. h4) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qxc6 Qb8 (12... Bxa3 13. bxa3 $16) 13. c5 (13. Nb5 {would be better but during the game I was thinking about a few tricks involving a queen sacrifice.}) 13... Be7 14. Nb5 Rc8 (14... e5 15. dxe5 Bd7 16. Qxc7 Qxb5 17. exf6 Bxf6 (17... Rac8 18. a4 Rxc7 19. axb5 Bxc5 20. Bf4) 18. a4 {this move is very important because after Qc6, the resulting endgame would be winning for White.}) 15. b3 (15. Bf4 $6 a6 (15... e5 16. dxe5 Bd7 17. Nd4 {this is a nice trick but after Qxb2, the position is only slighty better for White.}) 16. Nxc7 Qxb2 {and it's not so clear}) 15... a6 (15... e5 16. dxe5 Bd7 17. Nd4 $3 {this was my idea during the game} Bxc6 (17... Bf8 { the best move but} 18. Qa6 {is also clearly better for White}) 18. Nxc6 $4) ( 15... a5 16. Ba3 $1 a4 17. b4 e5 18. Nc3 $1 Bd7 19. Nxd5 Bxc6 20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Nxc6 Qb5 22. dxe5 $16) 16. Nc3 Qb4 17. Bb2 a5 18. Rfd1 {Black's problem is that he doesn't have any counterplay.} Bc2 (18... a4 19. Nxa4 e5 20. Nc3 $1) 19. Rd2 Bf5 20. Rad1 Kf8 ({Better would have been} 20... a4 21. Nxa4 Ne4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. f3 Bg6 24. e3 {White is probably still winning but it becomes more difficult.}) 21. e3 Kg8 (21... a4 22. Nxa4 Ne4 23. Re2) 22. h3 h5 23. f3 Bg6 24. Nb5 Rab8 25. Bf1 1-0

[Event "Arica International"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.16"] [Round "10"] [White "Garcia Cardenas, Pablo"] [Black "Mareco, Sandro"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2431"] [BlackElo "2633"] [Annotator "Mareco, S"] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 {This was the last round and I was in a must win situation to have chances for the first prize. My opponent was a strong and solid IM, which is why I wanted to employ a different opening.} (1... Nf6 {this is an important game for positional ideas with the Knight on d6.} 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bg5 (6. Qc2 Na6 7. a3 Nc7 8. Bg5 g6 9. e3 Bf5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Be7 12. O-O O-O 13. b4 Ne4 14. Bf4 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Nb5 17. Qb3 Nxd6 18. a4 a6 19. Ne5 Re8 20. Rfe1 Qg5 21. h3 Kg7 22. Qc2 Re6 23. Rac1 Rae8 24. Qb1 Qh5 25. Qb3 f6 26. Nd3 g5 27. Qd1 Qg6 28. Qc2 R6e7 29. Red1 h5 30. Qb1 h4 31. Qc2 g4 32. Nf4 Qxc2 33. Rxc2 g3 34. Rd3 Kh6 35. Kf1 Kg5 36. Ne2 Nc4 37. Rcc3 Nb2 38. Rd2 Nxa4 39. Rb3 Nb6 40. Ng1 Nc4 41. Nf3+ Kh5 42. Rdd3 a5 43. bxa5 Ra8 44. Rd1 Rxa5 45. Re1 b5 46. Re2 Ra1+ 47. Re1 Rea7 48. fxg3 Rxe1+ 49. Kxe1 Ra1+ 50. Ke2 hxg3 51. Ne1 Ra2+ 52. Kd1 Rd2+ 53. Kc1 Re2 54. Kd1 Rxe3 55. Rxe3 Nxe3+ 56. Ke2 Nf5 57. Nc2 Nh4 58. Nb4 Nxg2 59. Kf3 Nh4+ 60. Kxg3 Nf5+ 61. Kf4 Nxd4 62. Ke3 Nf5+ {0-1 (62) Portisch,L (2600)-Kasparov,G (2775) Skelleftea 1989}) 6... Be7 7. Qc2 g6 8. e3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. Bh6 Ng4 12. Bf4 O-O 13. O-O Re8 14. h3 Ngf6 15. Ne5 Nb6 16. Bg5 Ne4 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Qc2 Nd6 19. Na4 Nbc4 20. Nxc4 Nxc4 21. Nc5 Nd6 22. Rac1 Qg5 23. Qd1 h5 24. Kh1 Re7 25. Nd3 Ne4 26. Nc5 Nd6 27. Nd3 Qf5 28. Ne5 f6 29. Nf3 Rg7 30. Nh2 Re8 31. Kg1 Ne4 32. Qf3 Qe6 33. Rfd1 g5 34. Qxh5 f5 35. Re1 g4 36. hxg4 fxg4 37. f3 gxf3 38. Nxf3 Rh7 39. Qe5 Qc8 40. Qf4 Rf8 41. Qe5 Rf5 {0-1 (41) Bobotsov,M (2455) -Petrosian,T (2645) Lugano 1968}) 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {The first time I am playing this line but I like that it is interesting and flexible.} 4. cxd5 (4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 (5... c6 $5) (5... b6 $5) 6. e3 Nf6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Ne2 b6 10. O-O Ba6 11. f3 Re8 12. Ng3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. Bb2 h5 15. Rae1 h4 16. Nf5 h3 17. gxh3 Ne7 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. c4 dxc4 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Qxc4 Rab8 22. Rf2 Qe6 23. Qxc5 Nd5 24. Rg2 f6 25. Qxa7 Ne7 26. Qd4 Kf7 27. e4 Rb3 28. Rg3 Reb8 29. Bc1 Nc6 30. Qd2 Ne5 31. Qg2 g6 32. Bf4 Nd3 33. Bxb8 Nxe1 34. Qe2 Qb6+ 35. Kf1 Qxb8 36. Qc4+ Kg7 37. Qc6 Nxf3 38. Qd7+ Kh6 39. Rxg6+ Kxg6 40. Qf5+ Kf7 {0-1 (40) Navara,D (2740)-Alekseev,E (2616) Katowice 2017}) 4... exd5 5. Nf3 Ne7 (5... Nf6 {Ragozin}) 6. Bf4 (6. Bg5 h6) 6... O-O 7. e3 Bf5 8. Bd3 ( 8. Nh4 {this move is also a very interesting way to play against my bishop and maybe it is slighty better for White.} Be6 (8... Be4 9. f3 Nf5 10. Nxf5 Bxf5 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Kf2 $14) 9. a3 (9. Bd3 c5 10. dxc5 (10. a3 Ba5 11. dxc5 (11. Nf3 c4 12. Bc2 Nbc6 $13) 11... d4) 10... Nd7) 9... Bxc3+ (9... Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Bd3 $14) 10. bxc3 c5 11. Bd3 $14) 8... c6 9. Bxf5 Nxf5 10. Qb3 Qe7 11. O-O Bd6 (11... Nd7 12. a3 Bxc3 (12... Bd6 13. Rfe1 $5 (13. Qxb7 {during the game I thought that this was good for White} Bxf4 14. exf4 Ne5 {but I didn't see this trick} 15. Qxe7 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Nxe7 $11)) 13. bxc3 Nf6 14. c4 $14) 12. Qc2 (12. Rfe1 $5 Bxf4 13. exf4 Qc7 14. g3 Na6 $13 (14... Nd7 $2 15. Qc2)) 12... g6 13. Bxd6 (13. Rfe1 Nd7) 13... Nxd6 14. Rfe1 Re8 (14... Nd7 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 Qd6 18. Rae1 {equal but very hard to play for more}) 15. b4 Na6 (15... Nd7 16. b5 Nxb5 17. Nxb5 cxb5 18. Qb3 a6 (18... Qd6 19. Qxb5 a6 20. Qb3 b5) 19. Qxd5 Nf6 {During the game, I was preferring White but maybe it is ok for Black.}) 16. Qb3 Nc7 17. a4 a6 {But here I prefer Black because it is possible to do something on the kingside while for white it's not that easy to improve.} 18. a5 (18. Re2 Kg7 19. Rae1 {Perhaps White could have tried a waiting strategy, when it is not so easy for Black to win. But from a practical perspective, I believe that it is a very comfortable situation since only Black can play for a win.}) 18... f6 19. Na4 Kg7 20. Nc5 Qf7 21. Qd3 Re7 22. Ra2 Rae8 23. Rae2 Ne6 (23... g5 24. Nd2 Qg6 25. Qxg6+ hxg6 $15 {slighty better but maybe not so much}) 24. Nxe6+ (24. Nd2 g5) 24... Rxe6 25. Nd2 g5 26. Nf1 (26. Nb3 f5 27. Nc5 Rh6 {with initiative for Black}) (26. e4 {around equal but only Black can apply pressure} Qg6 (26... dxe4 27. Nxe4 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Nxe4 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. Qxe4 Qf8 31. h4 $1 $11 Qxb4 32. hxg5 fxg5 33. Qe5+) 27. f3 h5 $15) 26... f5 27. f3 Qg6 28. Nd2 {the problem for me here was that I was not sure about the way to improve} R6e7 (28... Qh5 29. Nf1) (28... g4 29. f4 Qh5 30. Nf1 {better for Black but not easy to convert.}) 29. Kf1 h5 30. Nb3 h4 31. Nc5 g4 (31... h3 32. g3 Qh5 (32... g4 33. f4 {passive but unclear how to make progress.}) 33. Kf2 Rf7 34. Rf1) 32. f4 Nc4 33. Qc3 Qd6 34. Kg1 Qd8 35. Qd3 Kf6 {I'm definitely not sure about my plan if White waits. Maybe I could try to open the game with b6 or sacrifice an exchange on e4 but it's far from clear.} 36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4+ Rxe4 (37... dxe4 38. Qxc4 Qd5 {better than the game but I understimated this position} 39. Qxd5 (39. Qc3 e3 $1 {the key of the variation} 40. Rxe3 h3) 39... cxd5 40. Rc1 e3) 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Nb2 40. Qc3 {tricky move} dxe4 (40... Na4 $4 41. Qe1 $18) 41. Qxb2 {here the endgame is equal but easier to play for me} g3 (41... Qd5 42. Qc3) 42. Qc3 $2 (42. d5+ Kf7 43. hxg3 hxg3 44. Qb3 Qxd5 45. Qxg3 Qd4+ 46. Kf1 Qxb4 47. Qg5 $1 $11) (42. hxg3 hxg3 43. Qc3 Kf5 44. Qxg3 Qxd4+ 45. Kh2 e3 (45... Qh8+ 46. Kg1 Qh6 47. Qh3+ $11) 46. Qg5+ Ke4 47. Qg6+ Kxf4 48. Qf7+ $11 Ke4 49. Qg6+ Kd5 50. Qg8+) 42... gxh2+ 43. Kxh2 Kf5 44. Qh3+ (44. g3 Qf6 $1 {with the plan of Qh6} (44... hxg3+ 45. Kxg3 Qg8+ 46. Kf2 Kxf4 47. Qc1+ $11)) 44... Kxf4 45. g3+ Ke3 (45... hxg3+ $4 46. Qxg3+ Kf5 47. Qe5+ Kg6 48. Qxe4+) 46. gxh4+ Kxd4 (46... Kd2 $4 47. Qg2+ Kd3 48. Qf1+ $11) 47. h5 Qd6+ 48. Qg3 (48. Kg2 Qh6 {is winning but like all the queen endgames, I need to be careful.}) 48... Qxg3+ 49. Kxg3 e3 50. h6 Kd3 51. h7 e2 52. Kf2 Kd2 53. h8=Q e1=Q+ 54. Kf3 Qe3+ 55. Kg2 Qe4+ 56. Kf2 Qf4+ 57. Kg2 Qxb4 0-1