Friday, September 16, 2022

To Castle or Not To Castle

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov
5th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 15, 2022
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Position #590

1. f4 d5 2. g3 f6 3. d4 Nd6 4. Nd3 Ng6 5. Bh3 e6 6. Nhf2 b6 7. Bg2 e5! 8. dxe5 fxe5


Of course, they both could have castled a-side, but thought they did not need such things. What is certain, however, is that Black has already obtained a very comfortable game.
9. e4? It was necessary to exchange on e5, although 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. fxe5 Rxe5⩱ leaves Black with the better Pawns.
9. ... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bd5 11. Nxd6? The interpolation of 11. 0-0-0 0-0-0 may make a little difference, but in the end Black’s superiority should tell.


11. ... Bf3+! A killer zwischenzug, which leaves Black without resource.
12. Kd2 Bxd6 13. Bh3 e4 14. b4. If the Knight moves, then the Queen check at d5 follows.
14. ... Re7 15. Nc5


15. ... Nxf4! 16. gxf4 bxc5 17. bxc5 Bxf4+ 18. Kc3 e3 19. Red1+ Ke8 20. Rxb8+ Qxb8 21. Rd4 c6 22. Kd3 Qb5+ 23. c4 Qb4 24. Kc2 e2 25. Rxf4 e1=N+! 0 : 1. For if 26. Kc1 then 26. ... Nd3+ 27. Kc2 Re2+ 28. Kxd3 Qd2#.

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