Samuel Sevian vs Wesley So: game review

12…Bxc3! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Takes the knight on c3.
• Lines up bishop and queen on the diagonal, so the two pieces push in the same direction.
• The next best move, 12…O-O, would drop Black's winning chances from 47% to 30% (+2.33).
• 12…Bxc3 trades bishop for knight and lines up bishop and queen on the diagonal.
• Trades bishop for knight.
• The bishop on c3 can be taken by the b2 pawn or the queen on e3.

13…b6! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Protects the a7 pawn, which was hanging.
• Takes c5 away from the White queen on e3.
• The next best move, 13…Ra8, would drop Black's winning chances from 47% to 24% (+3.10).
• 13…b6 stops Qxa7.
• White was threatening Qxa7, winning a pawn. b6 takes care of it.
• White answers 14.c5.

41…e5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 41…Kd7, would drop Black's winning chances from 48% to 31% (+2.13).
• 41…e5 prepares …Kd6 and …e4.
• The engine's plan continues with …Kd6 and …e4: this move is the first step.
• White answers 42.Kb6, uncovering an attack on the e5 pawn.
• Engine line: 42.Kb6 Kd6 43.a6 e4 44.f4 g6 (+0.13).

43…e4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Creates a passed pawn on e4: no enemy pawn can stop it any more.
• Gains space: the pawn on e4 cramps White's pieces behind it.
• The next best move, 43…g5, would drop Black's winning chances from 48% to 12% (+5.51).
• 43…e4 stops fxe5+.
• White was threatening fxe5+, winning a pawn. e4 takes care of it.
• White answers 44.a6.

45.Re5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the e3 pawn, which is undefended.
• The rook takes the half-open e-file.
• The next best move, 45.Rxh5, would drop White's winning chances from 50% to 10% (−5.85).
• 45.Re5 threatens Rxe3, winning a pawn.
• It threatens Rxe3, winning a pawn, so Black has to spend the next move on it.
• Black answers 45…Re1.

46…Rb3! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Protects the e3 pawn, which was hanging.
• The next best move, 46…Re1, would drop Black's winning chances from 50% to 23% (+3.26).
• 46…Rb3 stops Rxe3.
• White was threatening Rxe3, winning a pawn. Rb3 takes care of it.
• White answers 47.Rxh5, winning a pawn.
• After 47.Rxh5 e2 48.Re5 Rb2 49.Ka7 Rc2, Black is a pawn down (+0.04).

48.Re5! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the e2 pawn, which is undefended.
• The rook takes the half-open e-file.
• The next best move, 48.Rb5, would drop White's winning chances from 50% to 2% (−10.33).
• 48.Re5 takes the half-open e-file and attacks the e2 pawn, which is undefended.
• Black answers 48…Rb2.
• Engine line: 48…Rb2 49.Ka7 Rc2 50.a6 Rc7+ 51.Kb8 (+0.07).

62.Ka6! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 62.Rb6, would drop White's winning chances from 88% to 75% (+2.97).
• 62.Ka6 prepares Rb7+, with check.
• It prepares Rb7+, with check: the king covers b7.
• Black answers 62…Rg8.
• After 62…Rg8 63.Rb7+ Kd6 64.Rb8 Rg3 65.a8=Q, the pawn promotes on a8 and White comes out 8 points of material up (+4.84).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 6…Ne4: 12 moves in all, 6 by White and 6 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 6…Ne4: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.