Movers and Shakers

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Santosh Gujrathi Vidit
Asian Nations Chess Cup; Abu Dhabi, April 1, 2016
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 0-0 6. 0-0 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nbd2 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 f5 13. Ng3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qd7 15. a4. The most significant theoretical reference is 15. Nf1 Rae8 16. Be3 Nc8 17. b4 N8e7 18. Nd2 a6 19. Bxc6 Nxc6 20. Nc4 Be7 21. Bc5 Bxc5 22. bxc5 e4 23. dxe4 fxe4 24. Qe3 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. f4 exf3 27. Qxe5 f2+ 28. Kh2 fxe1=Q 29. Rxe1 h6 30. Qd4 ½ : ½ 倪华 (Ní Huá) – Harikrishna, 50th New Year’s Tournament, Reggio Emilia 2007/2008. 15. ... a6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. c4. Another try is 17. Nf1 Rae8 18. Qd1 a5 19. Nd2 e4 20. dxe4 fxe4 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. Nxe4 Qf5 23. Qc2 Nd5 24. Re2 Qh5 25. Kf1 Bf4 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 27. Rd2 Qg6 28. Ng3 Qxg3 29. fxg3 Ne2+ 30. Ke1 Nd4+ ½ : ½ Guido – S. Brunello, 27th International Open, Bratto 2007. 17. ... Rab8. For 17. ... Rae8 18. Nf1 Nc8 see Eggleston – von Bahr, 43rd Rilton Cup, Stockholm 2013/2014. 18. a5. After very long thought. 18. ... Nc8 19. c5 Bxc5 20. Rxe5 Bd4 21. Re1 Nd6 22. Ne2 Rfe8 23. Bf4? 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is already in serious time trouble and lacks the serenity necessary for defending his slightly uncomfortable position. After 23. Rb1 Nf7! is easier to play with Black, but White’s position is quite sound. 23. ... Bxb2 24. Rab1 Nb5 25. Ng3. Clearly not 25. Rxb2?? on account of 25. ... Nd4! winning on the spot. 25. ... Bc3 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Be3 g6 28. Qd1 Bxa5 29. Ra1 Bb6? Thus Vidit lets slip much of his advantage: the immediate 29. ... f4! would have putted Black insurmountable problems. 30. Bxb6 cxb6 31. Rxa6 f4. This is still good, but not so strong as before. 32. Ne2

32. ... f3! The most speculative attempt to win. 33. Nf4?? Zeitnot drama. After 33. Ng3 Nd4 34. Rxb6 Qc7 (34. ... h5!? also deserves consideration), eventually followed by ... Qc7-e5, Black certainly keeps the initiative, but will it be enough? 33. ... Nd4 34. Ra1? As bad as any other move. 34. ... Rf8! 0 : 1.

Venkat Saravanan (‏@reachvsara)