Something to Look Forward to

Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov – Fabiano Caruana
Candidates Tournament; Berlin, March 22, 2018
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. 0-0 Rb8 7. e3 Be7 8. Nfd2 e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Nxc4 Be6. This position usually occurs with Black’s a-Pawn on a6 and dark-squared Bishop on f8; for instance: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 a6 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. e3 Rb8 8. Nfd2 e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 h5 13. f3 Rb4 14. fxg4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rxc4 17. Bd2 Rxg4 18. Ba5 Bc5 19. Kf2 Bb6 20. Bc3 Rg6 21. Kf3 Re6 22. Rd3 O-O 23. Rad1 f6 24. Rd8 h4 25. gxh4 fxe5+ 26. Ke4 Rh6 27. Be1 Rg6 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Bg3 Rg4+ 30. Kf5 Rc4 31. e4 Bd4 32. Bxe5 Bxe5 33. Kxe5 Rc2 34. Ke6 Kg8 35. e5 Rxb2 36. Ke7 c5 37. e6 c4 38. Kd7 c5 39. e7 Rb7+ 40. Ke6 1 : 0 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Mamedyarov, 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games, Blitz Event, 淮安 (Huái’ān) 2017. 12. Nbd2!? If nothing else, Mamedyarov is showing he has belligerent intentions. The dictate of theory did not promise anything interesting: 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Nbd2 Bb4 14. e4 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 Nxe5 16. f4 Nd3 17. f5 Nxc1 18. Raxc1 Bxf5 19. exf5 Rxd2 20. Rxc6 Kd7 21. Rfc1 ½ : ½ van der Stricht – Hausrath, Belgian Nationale Interclubs 2007-2008, Ghent 2008. 12. ... h5!? 13. f3 Qd3!? The alternative was 13. ... h4!? 14. fxg4 hxg3 15. Qf3 Rxh2∞ with a very unclear game, but I guess a good compensation for Black. 14. fxg4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qxc4 16. gxh5 Qe6 17. Qf3 Rb5 18. Qf5 Rxe5 19. Qxe6 Rxe6 20. Rf5 Rd6 21. Kg2 Rd1. Black has excellent compensation for the Pawn due to his dynamic advantage in development. 22. b3 g6. Obviously after 22. ... Ba3? 23. Rf1! White would be only too happy to exchange a pair of Rooks and cash in on his extra Pawn. 23. Re5 (Δ Re5xe7+) 23. ... c5!? 23. ... Rxh5 24. Rxe7+ Kxe7 25. Ba3+ Rd6 equalises almost immediately, but apparently Black aims for something more. 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. e4

25. ... Rh7! Intending ... Rh7-f7-f1. 26. h4! Rf7 27. Kh3 Rff1 28. Bg5 Rxa1 29. Rxe7+ Kf8 30. Rxc7 Rxa2. The situation has turned around quite significantly. Now Black is the Exchange up for a Pawn, but White has gained more than enough to repay himself. 31. Be7+ Kg8 32. Rc8+ Kg7 33. Bxc5 Re2 34. e5 Rd1 35. Re8 Rd5 36. Bd6 Re3. Of course, not 36. ... Rxd6?? because of 37. Re7+ followed by e5xd6. 37. Re7+ Kg8 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Re7+ Kg8 40. b4 Rdd3! Black draws by force. 41. Kg4 Rxg3+ 42. Kf4 Rgf3+ 43. Ke4 Rfe3+ 44. Kf4 Rf3+ 45. Kg5 Rf7 46. e6! No one can say Mamedyarov did not do his best to win! 46. ... Rd5+ 47. Kxg6 Rxd6 48. Rxf7 Rxe6+ 49. Rf6 Re4 50. b5 Rxh4 51. Ra6 Rh7 52. b6 Rg7+ 53. Kh6 Rh7+ 54. Kg5 Rg7+ 55. Kf5 axb6 56. Rxb6 Rf7+ 57. Rf6 Rxf6+ 58. Kxf6 ½ : ½.