nihalsarin vs artooon: game review

25…c3! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes d2 away from the White queen on d1.
• The next best move, 25…b6, would drop Black's winning chances from 50% to 39% (+1.17).
• 25…c3 takes d2 away from the queen.
• White answers 26.Bxb7, winning a pawn.
• After 26.Bxb7 Rd8 27.Bf3 Qxd4 28.Qxd4 Rxd4 29.Rd1 Rxd1+ 30.Bxd1 Ne4, the queens come off and the rooks are traded (−0.01).

47.Rxg7 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 55% to 9%.

• Black answers 47…Kf8, which attacks the rook on g7, which is undefended.
• Better was 47.Kf3 (+0.53): the king steps out of the firing line (fewer enemy pieces aim at it now).

Better: 47.Kf3 steps the king out of the firing line. Engine line: 47…Nd5 48.Ra8 f5 49.Ra7+ Kf8 50.h5 gxh5 51.Nxf5 g6 (+0.53).

47…Kf8! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the rook on g7, which is undefended.
• The next best move, 47…Nxc2, would drop Black's winning chances from 91% to 59% (−0.94).
• 47…Kf8 attacks the rook on g7, which is undefended.
• White answers 48.Rh7.
• After 48.Rh7 Kg8 49.Rh6 Kg7 50.h5 Kxh6 51.hxg6 Kxg6 52.Kf3, Black comes out the exchange plus a pawn up (−6.50).

48…Kg8! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the rook on h7, which is undefended.
• The next best move, 48…Nxc2, would drop Black's winning chances from 90% to 58% (−0.89).
• 48…Kg8 wins a rook for a pawn, picking it up with 49…Kxf7, and stops Rh8+.
• Sets up a sequence and wins a rook for a pawn once the captures settle, picking it up with 49…Kxf7.
• White was threatening Rh8+, with a dangerous check. Kg8 takes care of it.
• White answers 49.Rxf7, taking the f7 pawn, leaving Black with an isolated pawn on g6 and a king with pawns missing from its shelter.

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 5…Bg6: 10 moves in all, 5 by White and 5 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 5…Bg6: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.