Praggnanandhaa R vs Javokhir Sindarov: game review

13…Qh4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Adds a attacker on the g4 pawn: 2 attackers against 2 defenders.
• The next best move, 13…Bd7, would drop Black's winning chances from 44% to 31% (+2.18).
• 13…Qh4 adds pressure on the g4 pawn.
• White answers 14.Kf1.
• Engine line: 14.Kf1 Bd7 15.Kg2 Bf6 16.Raf1 Rae8 (+0.65).

27…Na6! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moves the attacked knight to safety.
• The next best move, 27…g3, would drop Black's winning chances from 71% to 54% (−0.49).
• 27…Na6 gets the knight out of the way of axb4.
• White was threatening axb4, winning a knight for a pawn. The knight steps away.
• White answers 28.Ng3.
• After 28.Ng3 Nac5 29.Rg2 a4 30.Nf5 Bxf5 31.exf5 Rxf5 32.Nb5, Black comes out a pawn up (−2.51).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 8…a5: 16 moves in all, 8 by White and 8 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 8…a5: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.