Oblivious to the danger who was so close by...

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – Michael Adams
World Chess Federation Grand Prix 2017; first stage; Sharjah, February 21, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nge2 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qd2 Nb6 12. f3. For 12. 0-0 0-0 13. f3 Be6 14. b3 Rac8 15. Rac1 c5 see Hillarp Persson – Merriman, 7th London Chess Classic Open, London 2015. 12. ... Bd7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. g4! Oblivious to the danger who was so close by... On the other hand, 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 c5! (Leitão’s analysis) would not worry Black. 14. ... Nf6 15. Ng3 Ne8 16. Rae1 Nd6

17. e4! Mamedyarov daringly sacrifices the g-Pawn to start a vehement attack on the Kingside. 17. ... dxe4 18. fxe4 Ndc4. If 18. ... Bxg4 then 19. e5 Ndc4 20. Qg2 and White’s initiative more than compensates for the Pawn (Leitão’s analysis). 19. Qc1! Bxg4 20. b3 Rad8. Of course after 20. ... Nd6 21. e5 White’s attack would easily spread its wings. 21. Nf5. Alternatively, a good way to consolidate might have been 21. bxc4 Rxd4 22. Be2± (Leitão’s analysis). 21. ... Bxf5 22. exf5 Qf6 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1 Rfe8 26. f6! Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxc4 28. fxg7 Rd6 29. Rg1? Very natural, but, as Stockfish argues, 29. Qe8+! Kg7 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Rf3! seems to promise much more. 29. ... Rg6 30. Qe5. 30. Rxg6 fxg6 31. Kg2 Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Qf7 would lead to a kind of dynamic balance. 30. ... Qe6. Better seems 30. ... Qd3! (Leitão) in order to answer 31. Rxg6 by 31. ... Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qf3+ with perpetual check. 31. Qb8+ Kxg7 32. Qxa7 Qc4 33. Qe3 b5 34. a3 c5 35. Ne4 f5? Here is when Adams makes his true mistake. After 35. ... b4! White very probably could not have won the game. 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Nxc5+- Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3 Qd1 41. Qe8+ Kf6 42. Nd7+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ 1 : 0. For if 43. ... Kf4 then 44. Qg3+ Ke4 45. Nf6+ Kd4 46. Qd6+.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs. Michael Adams
Photo © Maria Yassakova/Agon Limited