Shamsiddin Vokhidov vs Aram Hakobyan: game review

16.Qg2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Moves the attacked queen to safety.
• Shores up the h2 pawn, which was under as much attack as it had defence (1 against 1).
• The next best move, 16.Qh1, would drop White's winning chances from 48% to 21% (−3.65).
• 16.Qg2 stops the mate threat …Bxf3.
• Black was threatening …Bxf3, with mate in 2. Qg2 takes care of it.
• Black answers 16…Qh5.

30.Ra2! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Brings the rook, White's least active piece, into play (from 1 to 5 usable squares).
• The next best move, 30.Nd2, would drop White's winning chances from 50% to 38% (−1.28).
• 30.Ra2 brings the passive rook into play.
• Black answers 30…Rd8, winning a pawn.
• Engine line: 30…Rd8 31.Ke2 bxc3 32.Rc2 g6 33.Nxc3 Rb8 (+0.01).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 15.Qf3: 29 moves in all, 15 by White and 14 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 15.Qf3: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.