Hikaru vs Firouzja2003: game review

25…Nc5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moving away uncovers the bishop on b7, which now hits the queen on f3.
• Shores up the bishop on b7, which was under as much attack as it had defence (1 against 0).
• The next best move, 25…b3, would drop Black's winning chances from 71% to 55% (−0.54).
• 25…Nc5 threatens …Bxf3, winning the queen for a bishop, and gets the knight out of the way of Rxe4.
• It threatens …Bxf3, winning the queen for a bishop, so White has to spend the next move on it.
• White was threatening Rxe4, winning a bishop. The knight steps away.

34…Na4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the queen.
• Moves the attacked knight to safety.
• The next best move, 34…Bh4, would drop Black's winning chances from 83% to 65% (−1.73).
• 34…Na4 threatens …Nxc3, winning the queen for a knight, and gets the knight out of the way of bxc5.
• It threatens …Nxc3, winning the queen for a knight, so White has to spend the next move on it.
• White was threatening bxc5, winning a knight. The knight steps away.

73.Rd8+! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The rook takes the half-open d-file.
• Gives check, so the reply is forced.
• The next best move, 73.Bh6, would drop White's winning chances from 77% to 50% (0.00).
• 73.Rd8+ wins a pawn, picking it up with 74.Rxd4+.
• Sets up a sequence and wins a pawn once the captures settle, picking it up with 74.Rxd4+.
• Black answers 73…Kc4.

87.Ra2 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 89% to 8%.

• Black answers 87…Rxf4, which takes the bishop on f4.
• Better was 87.Be3 (+5.65): the bishop joins the attack: it now hits 2 squares around the Black king.

Better: 87.Be3 wins a pawn, picking it up with 88.Bxg5. After 87…g5 88.Bxg5 Kf2 89.Kh2 f4 90.Bxf4 Rg8, White comes out two pawns up (+5.65).

87…Ke1 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 92% to 7%.

• White answers 88.Kg2.
• Better was 87…Rxf4 (−6.49), which takes the bishop on f4.

Better: 87…Rxf4 stops Be3. After 88.gxf4 e3 89.Rh2 e2 90.Rh1+ Kf2, Black is two pawns down (−6.49).

91.Ra4 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 89% to 8%.

• Black answers 91…Rxf4, which takes the bishop on f4.
• After Rxf4, Black wins 3 points of material within 2 moves.
• Better was 91.Be3+ (+5.71), which gives check, so the reply is forced.

Better: 91.Be3+ gives check. After 91…Kf1 92.Ra2 f4 93.Ra1+ Ke2 94.Bxf4 Kf2, White comes out a pawn up (+5.71).

91…Kf3 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 92% to 9%.

• White answers 92.Ra3+, which gives check, so the reply is forced.
• Better was 91…Rxf4 (−6.66), which takes the bishop on f4.

Better: 91…Rxf4 shores up the e4 pawn and takes the bishop on f4. After 92.Ra2+ Kf3 93.gxf4 e3 94.Rg2 e2, Black is two pawns down (−6.66).

95.Rxe3+ is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 94% to 8%.

• Black answers 95…Kxe3, which takes the rook on e3.
• After Kxe3, Black wins 5 points of material within 2 moves.
• Better was 95.Bh2 (+7.35), which moves the attacked bishop to safety.

Better: 95.Bh2 gets the bishop out of the way of …fxg3. After 95…Ke4 96.Ra4+ Kf5 97.Bxf4 e2 98.Bd2, White comes out a pawn up (+7.35).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 6…Qa5: 12 moves in all, 6 by White and 6 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 6…Qa5: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.