Mahammad Muradli vs Shamsiddin Vokhidov: game review

24.Kg1 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 46% to 25%.

• Black answers 24…Bb7, which moves the attacked bishop to safety.
• Better was 24.Rxc8 (−0.44), which takes the bishop on c8.

Better: 24.Rxc8 threatens Qf8+, with mate in 2. After 24…Qa6+ 25.Rc4 Rxc4 26.Bxc4 Qxc4+ 27.Kg1, the rooks are traded (−0.44).

24…Bb7! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moves the attacked bishop to safety.
• The next best move, 24…Qb6, would drop Black's winning chances from 75% to 64% (−1.52).
• 24…Bb7 gets the bishop out of the way of Rxc8 and threatens …Qe5, winning a bishop for a pawn.
• White was threatening Rxc8, winning a bishop. The bishop steps away.
• It threatens …Qe5, winning a bishop for a pawn, so White has to spend the next move on it.
• White answers 25.Qxh7, winning a pawn.

26…Re2 misses 26…Qc3, which wins material. Black's winning chances go from 92% to 61%.

• White answers 27.Qf4: activates the queen (from 9 to 14 usable squares).
• Better was 26…Qc3 (−6.47): shores up the f6 pawn, which was under as much attack as it had defence (1 against 1).

Better: 26…Qc3 threatens …Re1+, winning the queen and a bishop, picking it up with 28…Rxc1. Engine line: 27.Kf1 Qd3+ 28.Kg1 Qf3 29.Rc7+ Kd8 (−6.47).

28…Rxf2+! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the pawn on f2.
• The rook forks the king and the queen: both can't be saved at once.
• The next best move, 28…exf4, would drop Black's winning chances from 58% to 47% (+0.30).
• 28…Rxf2+ wins a pawn and forks the king and the queen.
• Takes the f2 pawn and wins a pawn once the captures settle.
• Moves the attacked rook to safety.

39.Ba6 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 48% to 31%.

• Black answers 39…Ke5.
• Better was 39.Ke1 (−0.22).

Better: 39.Ke1 prepares Kd2 and Be2. After 39…Bf3 40.Kd2 Bh5 41.Be2 Bxe2 42.Kxe2 Ke5, the bishops are traded (−0.22).

39…Ke5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 39…Bd1, would drop Black's winning chances from 69% to 52% (−0.25).
• 39…Ke5 prepares …f4.
• It prepares …f4: the king covers f4.
• White answers 40.Ke1.
• Engine line: 40.Ke1 f4 41.gxf4+ Kxf4 42.Kd2 Bf5 (−3.36).

40…Ke4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 40…Bh5, would drop Black's winning chances from 90% to 68% (−2.03).
• 40…Ke4 stops Bxf7.
• White was threatening Bxf7, winning a pawn. Ke4 takes care of it.
• The engine's plan continues with …Bxe2 and …f4: this move is the first step.
• White answers 41.Be2.
• After 41.Be2 Bxe2 42.Kxe2 f4 43.gxf4 Kxf4 44.a4, the bishops are traded (−6.25).

41…Bxe2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the bishop on e2.
• The next best move, 41…d3, would drop Black's winning chances from 92% to 79% (−3.56).
• 41…Bxe2 trades bishops.
• Trades bishops: trading pieces when ahead brings the win closer.
• The bishop on e2 can be taken by the king.
• White answers 42.Kxe2, taking back.

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 13.h4: 25 moves in all, 13 by White and 12 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 13.h4: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.