Praggnanandhaa R vs Javokhir Sindarov: game review

32.a3 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 61% to 50%.

• Black answers 32…Be7.
• Better was 32.Ba3 (+1.22).

Better: 32.Ba3 prepares Qd2 and Bd5. Engine line: 32…c5 33.Qd2 Qb7 34.Bd5 Qd7 35.c3 (+1.22).

33…Be7 is a mistake: Black's winning chances go from 50% to 39%.

• White answers 34.Qd2.
• Better was 33…Qc5 (0.00): lines up queen and bishop on the diagonal, so the two pieces push in the same direction.

Better: 33…Qc5 threatens …Ne2, winning a bishop, picking it up with 35…Nxc1, and stops Qd2. Engine line: 34.Be3 Nb5 35.Qd3 Qxa3 36.Bxb5 cxb5 37.Qxb5 Bd6 (0.00).

34.Be3 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 61% to 50%.

• Black answers 34…Qc5: lines up queen and bishop on the diagonal, so the two pieces push in the same direction.
• Better was 34.Qd2 (+1.21).

Better: 34.Qd2 threatens Qh6+, with mate in 5. After 34…c5 35.c3 Nb3 36.Qd5 Qe6 37.Be3 Qxd5 38.exd5 Na1, the queens come off (+1.21).

44.Bc4 is a mistake: White's winning chances go from 63% to 50%.

• Black answers 44…Qf8.
• Better was 44.Qf4+ (+1.45): shores up the h4 pawn, which was under as much attack as it had defence (1 against 1).

Better: 44.Qf4+ shores up the h4 pawn and gives check. Engine line: 44…Kg7 45.e5 a3 46.Qf7+ Kh6 47.Bb3 (+1.45).

47.g4 is a blunder: White's winning chances go from 50% to 18%.

• Black answers 47…hxg4, which takes the pawn on g4.
• The pawn on g4 can be taken by the h5 pawn.
• After hxg4, Black wins 1 point of material within 2 moves.
• Better was 47.Kf3 (0.00).

Better: 47.Kf3 prepares e5 and Ba2. Engine line: 47…Be1 48.e5 Kg7 49.Ba2 Kf8 50.Be6 (0.00).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 10.Nc4: 19 moves in all, 10 by White and 9 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 10.Nc4: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.