Hikaru Nakamura vs Praggnanandhaa R: game review

32.b4 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 42% to 24%.

• Black answers 32…Ra8, which protects the a5 pawn, which was hanging.
• Better was 32.Kg1 (−0.90).

Better: 32.Kg1 prepares Rh3 and Be1. After 32…h5 33.Rh3 h4 34.Be1 Nf8 35.Bxh4 Ne6, White comes out a pawn up (−0.90).

32…Ra8! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Protects the a5 pawn, which was hanging.
• The next best move, 32…axb4, would drop Black's winning chances from 76% to 59% (−0.98).
• 32…Ra8 protects the a5 pawn.
• White answers 33.bxa5, taking the a5 pawn.
• Engine line: 33.bxa5 Rxa5 34.c4 Rxa4 35.cxd5 Rb7 (−3.07).

48…f3+! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• A pawn break: it challenges the g2 pawn to open lines.
• Gives check, so the reply is forced.
• The next best move, 48…Be5, would drop Black's winning chances from 91% to 80% (−3.70).
• 48…f3+ challenges the g2 pawn and gives check.
• White answers 49.gxf3+, taking the f3 pawn and giving check, leaving Black with an isolated pawn on f3.
• Engine line: 49.gxf3+ gxf3+ 50.Kf1 Kf5 51.h3 Kf4 (−6.51).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 9.Kh1: 17 moves in all, 9 by White and 8 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 9.Kh1: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.