Twitch and Shout

Grigoriy Alekseyevich Oparin – Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE Grand Prix 2022; 3rd stage; Pool A; Berlin, March 24, 2022
King’s Indian Defence E73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. h4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. h5 exd5 9. exd5 Re8 10. h6. Dernier cri. 10. ... Bh8 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. b3 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Kf1! Na6?!TN (14. ... Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. Bd2 Qd8 17. Nf3 Nf6 18. Ng5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. g3 Bd4 21. Bf3 Qf6 22. Bg5 Qxg5 23. Bxe4 Bg4 24. f4 Qe7 25. Qd3 Re8 26. Bf3 Qe3 27. Qxe3 Bxe3 28. Bxg4 Bxc1 29. Rh2 f5 30. Re2 Rxe2 31. Bxe2 g5 32. fxg5 Bxg5 33. Bd3 f4 34. gxf4 Bxf4 35. Kf2 Bxh6 36. Kf3 Kg7 37. Bf5 Bc1 38. Bc8 b6 39. a4 Kf6 40. Ke4 a5 ½ : ½ Bacrot – G. C. B. Jones, 26th TePe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament, Malmö 2021) 15. Bd3

15. ... Bg4?! Black seeks rescue in tactical play, since 15. ... Re8 16. a3!⩲/± would leave White with a comfortable edge. 16. f3 Rd4 17. Qe2! If 17. fxg4? then 17. ... Nb4 regaining the Bishop with good play. 17. ... Bd7. 17. ... Nb4 18. Re1! is likely to transpose to the game. 18. Re1 Nb4

19. Bxg6! Nxd5!? A desperate bet, for both 19. ... hxg6 20. h7+ Kg7 21. Qe7 and 19. ... fxg6 20. Qe7 would end in catastrophe for Black.

20. Bxh7+? Too hasty. Much stronger was 20. Bf5! first, to deflect the Bishop from e8: 20. ... Bxf5?? (or 20. ... Bc6 21. Bxh7+! Kxh7 22. Qc2+ winning at once, as Black cannot parry the check by interposing the f-Pawn) 21. Qe8+ followed by mate. 20. ... Kxh7 21. Qc2+ f5. Clearly not 21. ... Kg8?? on account of 22. h7+ Kg7 23. Bh6+ Kf6 24. Qc1! with irresistible attack. 22. cxd5 Be5 23. Ne2. 23. Nh3! may be an easier way of pursuing the same objectives. 23. ... Qa6 24. Kf2 Qd3 25. Qxd3. 25. Qc1! was probably White’s last opportunity of playing for a win. 25. ... Rxd3 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 a5! 28. Rd3 a4 29. Re3 axb3 30. axb3 Ra2 31. Kg1 Ra1+ 32. Kf2 Ra2 33. Kg1 ½ : ½.

In spite of having somewhat misplayed the opening against Oparin, Nakamura managed to save the day eventually and secure a draw. Photo © Niki Riga.