Gaming or nongaming variety

Hikaru Nakamura – 梁世奇 (Awonder Liáng)
62th U.S. Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 21, 2018
King’s Indian Attack A08

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Be7 4. 0-0 d5 5. d3 0-0 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1 b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 Bb7 11. h4 Qc7. A typical position of the King’s Indian Attack, in which, at least from a theoretical standpoint, Black’s preponderance on the Queenside should countervail White’s assault on the Kingside. Here is another convincing example of how such a game may proceed: 11. ... b4 12. Bf4 a5 13. N1h2 Ra6 14. c3 a4 15. a3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Qa5 17. c4 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. h5 h6 20. Ng4 Kh7 21. Bd2 Qd8 22. Bb4 Nc5 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Rc1 Re8 26. Rc4 Raa8 27. Bxc5 Bxc5 28. Re4 Red8 29. Qc1 Bf8 30. Qf4 Qb7 31. Rexd4 Bxa3 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Rxa4 Rxd3 34. Qe4+ Qxe4 35. Rxe4 Bc5 36. Kg2 Rd4 37. Kf3 Rd2 38. Rc4 Bb6 39. Rc6 Rb2 40. Rc8 Rb3+ 41. Kg2 Bd4 42. Rf8 Rb7 43. f4 f5 44. Nh2 Rb2+ 45. Kh3 Rb3 46. Rc8 Be3 47. Rc4 Bg1 48. Rc6 Be3 49. Rc4 Bg1 50. Rc6 Be3 ½ : ½ Nakamura – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Grand Prix 2017, second stage, Moscow 2017. 12. Bf4 Rfc8 13. Ne3 Qd8 14. c3 a5 15. Ng4 Bf8 16. h5 h6 17. Qd2 b4 18. c4 Ne7 19. Nh4 Ra7!? This is a novelty with respect to 19. ... Rab8 20. Rac1 a4 21. Qe2 Nc6 22. cxd5 Nd4 23. Qd1 exd5 24. e6 Nxe6 25. Bxb8 Rxb8 26. Nf3 Bd6 27. Qxa4 Ra8 28. Qb3 Nb6 29. Ra1 c4 30. Qd1 Nc5 31. d4 Nd3 32. Re2 Na4 33. Rb1 Ndxb2 34. Rexb2 Nxb2 35. Rxb2 c3 36. Rc2 Bc6 37. Qb1 Ra3 38. Nfe5 Ba4 39. Rc1 Qc7 40. Bxd5 c2 41. Qb2 Kh7 42. Bb3 f6 43. Nc4 Bxg3 44. Qxc2+ Kh8 45. Nxa3 Bxf2+ 46. Nxf2 1 : 0, Praggnanandhaa – Kumar, 47th Rilton Cup 2017–2018, Stockholm 2017. Thus now, after so much history, finally the game begins: 20. Rad1 a4 21. Ne3 Nb6 22. Qe2 Kh8. Black seems to have neutralised any threat White posed to him in the short term, and probably he is thinking to make his Queenside superiority tell. 23. Nf3 Nc6 24. Rc1 b3!? 25. axb3 axb3 26. Qd1. Nakamura seems to play on psychology to precipitate his very young opponent into the dilemma of playing for a win, or of contenting himself with a honourable draw. After 26. cxd5 Nxd5 27. Nxd5 Qxd5 28. Nd2 Nd4 29. Qf1 Qd7 the game seems quite even, even though a bit easier for Black.

26. ... Nd4. And apparently Nakamura’s speculation worked. 梁世奇 (Awonder Liáng) should have aimed for more by 26 ... Nb4! in order to reply 27. Qxb3 with 27. ... Bc6! (Stockfish). A win was not guaranteed, of course, but White should have to strive hard to save the day. 27. cxd5 Nxd5 28. Nxd4 Nxf4 29. gxf4 cxd4 30. Nc4 Bd5 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. Nd6 ½ : ½.