Yangyi Yu vs Xiangyu Xu: game review

46…Rg5+! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The rook takes the half-open g-file, aiming at the king.
• Moves the attacked rook to safety.
• The next best move, 46…Bg6, would drop Black's winning chances from 46% to 6% (+7.28).
• 46…Rg5+ takes the half-open g-file, aiming at the king, and saves the attacked rook.
• Gives check, so the reply is forced.
• White answers 47.Kf2.

51…e4 is a blunder: Black's winning chances go from 40% to 12%.

• White answers 52.Nf8, which attacks the bishop on g6, which is undefended.
• Better was 51…Bc2 (+1.07).

Better: 51…Bc2 stops Nxe5. After 52.Kf2 Rd1 53.Nxe5 Rd4 54.Rb7 Kg8, Black is a pawn down (+1.07).

52.Nf8! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• Attacks the bishop on g6, which is undefended.
• The next best move, 52.Ne5, would drop White's winning chances from 88% to 61% (+1.24).
• 52.Nf8 threatens Nxg6+, winning a bishop and a pawn.
• It threatens Nxg6+, winning a bishop and a pawn, so Black has to spend the next move on it.
• Black answers 52…Bf7.
• After 52…Bf7 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.Rxf7 Ra2+ 55.Kg3, White comes out a piece up (+5.22).

55.Kf4! The only good move here: every alternative is clearly worse.

• The next best move, 55.f4, would drop White's winning chances from 91% to 54% (+0.40).
• 55.Kf4 stops …Rg1+.
• Black was threatening …Rg1+, joining the attack on the king. Kf4 takes care of it.
• The engine's plan continues with Rxh5 and Re5: this move is the first step.
• Black answers 55…h5, winning a knight for a pawn.
• After 55…h5 56.Rxh5 Kxf8 57.Re5 e2 58.Ke3, White is two pawns down (+5.74).

• Both sides followed opening theory up to 14.Qd4: 27 moves in all, 14 by White and 13 by Black.
• Theory runs out after 14.Qd4: too few games between strong players reached this position to go further.