Praggnanandhaa R vs Hikaru Nakamura: game review

24.Bxc5 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 45% to 35%.

• Black answers 24…Bxc5, which takes the bishop on c5.
• After Bxc5, Black wins 3 points of material within 2 moves.
• Better was 24.Nc3 (−0.55), which attacks the rook on a2, which is undefended.

Better: 24.Nc3 threatens Nxa2, winning a rook. Engine line: 24…Rb2 25.Nd1 Rb5 26.Nf3 Qf8 27.Nd4 (−0.55).

24…Bxc5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the bishop on c5.
• The next best move, 24…Bxb5, would drop Black's winning chances from 65% to 50% (−0.04).
• 24…Bxc5 trades bishops.
• Trades bishops.
• The bishop on c5 can be taken by the rook on c1.
• White answers 25.Rxc5, taking back and pinning the bishop on c6 to the queen, leaving Black with no bishop pair.

31…Qa4 lets the win slip: 31…Ra3 kept Black winning. Black's winning chances go from 77% to 62%.

• White answers 32.Qd3, which protects the knight on e4, which was hanging.
• Better was 31…Ra3 (−3.26), which attacks the queen.

Better: 31…Ra3 threatens …Rxc3, winning the queen for a rook. Engine line: 32.Qd2 Nd7 33.Rxc6 Nxe5 34.Rc8+ Kh7 (−3.26).

33.Rc4 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 36% to 21%.

• Black answers 33…Qa6, which moves the attacked queen to safety.
• After Qa6, Black wins 1 point of material within 6 moves.
• Better was 33.Nf6+ (−1.60), which gives check, so the reply is forced.

Better: 33.Nf6+ gives check. Engine line: 33…gxf6 34.Qxd7 f5 35.Qd8+ Kh7 36.Qe7 (−1.60).

33…Qa7 misses the chance 33.Rc4 gave: 33…Qa6 would have punished it. Black's winning chances go from 79% to 48%.

• White answers 34.Rd4: the rook takes the open d-file, aiming at the knight on d7.
• Better was 33…Qa6 (−3.63), which moves the attacked queen to safety.

Better: 33…Qa6 wins a pawn, picking it up with 34…Qxd3, and gets the queen out of the way of Rxa4. After 34.Rc3 Qxd3 35.Rxd3 Nxe5 36.Rd8+ Kh7, the queens come off and Black comes out a pawn up (−3.63).

34.Qd6 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 52% to 39%.

• Black answers 34…Ra4.
• Better was 34.Rd4 (+0.21): the rook takes the open d-file, aiming at the knight on d7.

Better: 34.Rd4 threatens Rxd7, winning a knight, and stops …Nxe5. After 34…Nf8 35.Rd8 Qe7 36.Qd6 Qxd6 37.exd6 f5, the queens come off (+0.21).

36…Kh7 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 61% to 9%.

• White answers 37.Qxd7, which takes the knight on d7.
• After Qxd7, White wins 5 points of material within 4 moves.
• Better was 36…Rb2 (−1.22): the rook takes the open b-file.

Better: 36…Rb2 threatens …Qb1+, winning a rook, picking it up with 38…Rxb4, and takes the open b-file. After 37.Rxb2 Qxb2 38.f4 Qb1+ 39.Kf2 Qxe4 40.Qxd7 Qc2+, the rooks are traded (−1.22).

37…c5 is a mistake: Black's winning chances go from 8% to 0%. It allows mate in 4.

• White answers 38.Nf6+, which gives check, so the reply is forced.
• The pawn on c5 can be taken by the knight on e4.
• Better was 37…Rxe4 (+6.67), which takes the knight on e4.

Better: 37…Rxe4 stops the mate threat Nf6+. After 38.Rxe4 Qb1+ 39.Re1 Qf5 40.Qxc6 Qd3+, Black is a piece down (+6.67).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 8.Nb3: 15 moves in all, 8 by White and 7 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 8.Nb3: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.