Njal28 vs nihalsarin: game review

14.Qd2 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 50% to 15%.

• Black answers 14…Rxe1+, which takes the rook on e1.
• After Rxe1+, Black wins 2 points of material within 6 moves.
• Better was 14.Rxe8+ (−0.01), which takes the rook on e8.

Better: 14.Rxe8+ trades rooks and gives check, leaving two replies. After 14…Qxe8 15.a4 Be6 16.Qe1 bxa4 17.Bxe6 Qxe6 18.Bc7, the bishops are traded and White is a pawn down (−0.01).

14…Rxe1+! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the rook on e1.
• The next best move, 14…a4, would drop Black's winning chances from 85% to 73% (−2.66).
• 14…Rxe1+ trades rooks.
• Trades rooks: trading pieces when ahead brings the win closer.
• Gives check, so the reply is forced.
• White answers 15.Rxe1, taking back.

15…a4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the bishop on b3.
• Gains space: the pawn on a4 cramps White's pieces behind it.
• The next best move, 15…Bxh3, would drop Black's winning chances from 85% to 55% (−0.53).
• 15…a4 wins a bishop for a pawn, picking it up with 16…axb3.
• Sets up a sequence and wins a bishop for a pawn once the captures settle, picking it up with 16…axb3.
• White answers 16.d5.

47…Nf5 is a mistake: Black's winning chances go from 94% to 80%.

• White answers 48.Qc5+, which gives check, so the reply is forced.
• Better was 47…Qxf2 (−7.28), which takes the pawn on f2.

Better: 47…Qxf2 threatens …Qxg2#, with mate in 1, and wins a pawn. After 48.Qa7+ Kd6 49.Qb6+ Ke7 50.Qc5+ Ke6, Black comes out a pawn up (−7.28).

55…Ne6 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 83% to 50%.

• White answers 56.Qxd7+, which takes the bishop on d7.
• The knight walks into a pin by the queen on d5.
• After Qxd7+, White wins 3 points of material within 2 moves.
• Better was 55…Ke8 (−4.22), which protects the bishop on d7, which was hanging.

Better: 55…Ke8 protects the bishop on d7. Engine line: 56.Qe4+ Kf8 57.Kg1 Ne8 58.f3 Qd6 (−4.22).

56.Qh5+ is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 50% to 10%.

• Black answers 56…Kf8: the king steps out of check to f8.
• After Kf8, Black wins 1 point of material within 4 moves.
• Better was 56.Qxd7+ (+0.01), which takes the bishop on d7.

Better: 56.Qxd7+ wins a bishop. After 56…Kf8 57.Qc8+ Ke7 58.Qb7+ Kf8 59.Kg2, White comes out a piece up (+0.01).

62…Qe6 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 84% to 51%.

• White answers 63.Qxe6+, which takes the queen on e6.
• The queen walks into a pin by the queen on d5.
• Better was 62…Kf8 (−4.48): the king steps out of check to f8.

Better: 62…Kf8 prepares …Ne7 and …Be8 and steps the king out of check to f8. Engine line: 63.g4 Ne7 64.Qd8+ Be8 65.f5 Qa1+ (−4.48).

63.Qf3 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 49% to 13%.

• Black answers 63…Qe1+: the queen joins the attack: it now hits 3 squares around the White king.
• Better was 63.Qxe6+ (−0.15), which takes the queen on e6.

Better: 63.Qxe6+ trades queens. After 63…Kxe6 64.g4 Ng7 65.f5+ Bxf5 66.gxf5+ Kxf5 67.Kh2, White comes out a pawn up (−0.15).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 8.Bc4: 15 moves in all, 8 by White and 7 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 8.Bc4: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.