There seems something very wrong about it

Hikaru Nakamura – Mariya Muzychuk
14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, January 30, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D45

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 h6 8. Rg1 e5 9. Bd2. Here Nakamura played a sideline, if not, indeed, a novelty. For 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb8 11. g5 hxg5 12. Nxg5 e4 13. Bd2 Nb6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Nc7+ Bxc7 16. Qxc7 Qxc7 17. Rxc7 Rc8 see Khismatullin – Jakovenko, 67th Russian Chess Championship, Kazan 2014. 9. ... e4 10. Nh4 g6. Mariya wisely refuses the h2-Pawn since White, after moving his Rook, would be ready to castle long and then eventually storm the (castled) Black’s King. 11. h3 a6. “Posición cómoda para negras”, Venezuelan International Master José Sequera Paolini tweeted. 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. c5 Bh2. “Qué opinan de 14. Rh1 Bc7 15. f3 Nh7 16. Be1?”, wonders Paolini. 14. Rh1 Bc7 15. f3. Well, Nakamura contented him. Now Mariya thought for a long time. 15. ... a5?? Very bad judgment. Paolini suggests 15. ... b4 against which White could play either 16. Nxe4 or 16. Ne2 a5 17. Bg2 – according to him, both are interesting.

16. fxe4! White prepares a powerful positional Knight sacrifice which will give him an overwhelming central Pawn roller and deadly threats against the Black King. 16. ... b4 17. Nxd5! cxd5. Not 18. ... Nxd5 18. exd5 Qxh4 19. d6 threatening both d6xc7 and Qc2-e4+. 18. exd5 Bg3? You probably think it’s strange for her to invite the Knight sacrifice on g6, and you’re right. It’s very strange! 19. Nf3. Nakamura doesn’t even need it. 19. ... 0-0 20. Rg1 Qc7 21. Bc4 Ba6? Just to avoid any doubt about the result. 22. d6. She evidently overlooked White’s next move. 22. ... Bxd6 23. Qxg6+ Kh8 24. Qxh6+ Nh7. Or 24. ... Kg8 25. g5 followed by g5-g6. 25. Ng5 Nf6 26. Rdf1 1 : 0.

Hikaru Nakamura vs. Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: 14th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival (@GibraltarChess)