S Aswath vs Pranesh M: game review

19…Bb5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moves the attacked bishop to safety.
• The next best move, 19…Bc8, would drop Black's winning chances from 46% to 36% (+1.60).
• 19…Bb5 wins a pawn, picking it up with 20…Bxa4, and gets the bishop out of the way of Nxa6.
• Sets up a sequence and wins a pawn once the captures settle, picking it up with 20…Bxa4.
• White was threatening Nxa6, winning a bishop. The bishop steps away.
• White answers 20.a4, kicking the bishop on b5.

41.Rd3! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The rook takes the open d-file.
• The next best move, 41.Kf2, would drop White's winning chances from 59% to 48% (−0.21).
• 41.Rd3 threatens Rxd1, winning a rook, and stops …Re1.
• It threatens Rxd1, winning a rook, so Black has to spend the next move on it.
• Black was threatening …Re1, winning a knight, picking it up with 42…Rbxe2. Rd3 takes care of it.
• Black answers 41…Rf1, adding pressure on the f3 pawn.

43…Rxd2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the rook on d2.
• The next best move, 43…Rb8, would drop Black's winning chances from 49% to 22% (+3.49).
• 43…Rxd2 trades rooks.
• Trades rooks.
• The rook on d2 can be taken by the king.
• White answers 44.Kxd2, taking back.

44…Rf2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Pins the knight on e2 to the king: it can't move at all.
• The rook reaches the seventh rank, where 2 pawns sit.
• The next best move, 44…Kg7, would drop Black's winning chances from 49% to 37% (+1.48).
• 44…Rf2 wins a pawn, picking it up with 45…Rxg2.
• Sets up a sequence and wins a pawn once the captures settle, picking it up with 45…Rxg2.
• White answers 45.Rd3, leaving Black with an isolated pawn on h3.

50…h2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Pushes the passed pawn to h2, close to promotion.
• Takes g1 away from the knight on e2.
• The next best move, 50…Kg5, would drop Black's winning chances from 50% to 22% (+3.37).
• 50…h2 pushes the passed pawn to h2.
• White answers 51.Ng3, leaving Black with an isolated pawn on h2.
• After 51.Ng3 Kg5 52.Kg2 Kf4 53.Ne4 h1=R 54.Kxh1 Ke3, the pawn promotes on h1 and Black is a pawn down (−0.13).

51.Ng3! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 51.Kg2, would drop White's winning chances from 49% to 9% (−6.23).
• 51.Ng3 prepares Kg2 and Ne4.
• The engine's plan continues with Kg2 and Ne4: this move is the first step.
• Black answers 51…Kg5.
• Engine line: 51…Kg5 52.Kg2 Kf4 53.Ne4 Ke5 54.Nd6 (−0.14).

52.Kg2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the h2 pawn, which is undefended.
• The next best move, 52.Nh1, would drop White's winning chances from 47% to 30% (−2.29).
• 52.Kg2 attacks the h2 pawn, which is undefended.
• Black answers 52…Kf4.
• After 52…Kf4 53.Ne4 Ke3 54.Kxh2 Kd4 55.Kg3, White comes out a pawn up (−0.14).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 12.O-O: 23 moves in all, 12 by White and 11 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 12.O-O: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.