CATUR LAGI

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An excellent game between chess genius Bobby Fischer and The Greenblatt Chess Program, played in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1977. The Greenblatt Chess Program, a nod to American computer programmer Richard Greenblatt, saw its development begin at M.I.T. in 1966 and was one of the earliest and most influential computer chess programs of its time. This program helped to pave the way for the development of more sophisticated chess engines. Observe how Fischer seizes the initiative in the middle game of the Sicilian Defense, Hyperaccelerated Dragon variation by pinpointing the weaknesses in Greenblatt's camp. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 Ng8 9. f4 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. Bc4 d5 12. Be2 Rb8 13. b3 Ng4 14. Bd4 e5 15. fxe5 O-O 16. Bxg4 Qh4+ 17. g3 Qxg4 18. Qxg4 Bxg4 19. Rf1 Rxf1+ 20. Kxf1 c5 21. Bf2 Bxe5 22. Be1 Rf8+ 23. Kg2 Rf3 24. h3 Rxc3 25. Bxc3 Bxc3 26. Rf1 Bf5 27. Rf2 h5 28. Re2 Kf7 29. Re3 Bd4 30. Rf3 Ke6 31. c3 Be5 32. Re3 d4 33. cxd4 cxd4 34. Re1 d3 35. h4 d2 36. Rd1 Bc3 37. Kf2 Bg4 38. Rh1 Bd4+ 39. Kg2 Kd5 40. a3 Ke4 41. Rf1 Kd3 42. Kh2 Ke2 43. Kg2 Bh3+ 44. Kxh3 Kxf1 45. b4 d1=Q 46. Kh2 Qe2+ 47. Kh3 Qg2

Round 8 game from the Portoroz Interzonal of 1958. It was played between Bobby Fischer and Bent Larsen on August 16th. Larsen played the Dragon variation of the Sicilian Defense. By move 15, Larsen would have to answer the following: "should I capture Fischer's king-bishop and expose my own to capture?" Larsen's chosen path allowed Fischer to maintain what would soon become a star piece in the game. Fischer's king-bishop was an offensive and defensive juggernaut who acted as a catalyst for a kingside attack. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Bb3 Qa5 12. O-O-O b5 13. Kb1 b4 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Rac8 16. Bb3 Rc7 17. h4 Qb5 18. h5 Rfc8 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. g4 a5 21. g5 Nh5 22. Rxh5 gxh5 23. g6 e5 24. gxf7+ Kf8 25. Be3 d5 26. exd5 Rxf7 27. d6 Rf6 28. Bg5 Qb7 29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. d7 Rd8 31. Qd6+

Game between Milko Bobotsov and Mikhail Tal from 1958. In reply to Tal's King's Indian Defense, Bobotsov opts for the Sämisch variation. We observe a case of opposite sides castling in this 30-move encounter. Nowadays it is not so popular a decision for white to castle queenside. There is an important idea to take away from Tal's play in the middlegame. A familiar tactic by white in attempting to take advantage of Tal's unprotected queen on a5 severely backfires in this game. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.Qd2 a6 9.O-O-O Qa5 10.Kb1 b5 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Qxa5 Nxe3 13.Rc1 Nxc4 14.Rxc4 bxc4 15.Nc1 Rb8 16.Bxc4 Nb6 17.Bb3 Bxd4 18.Qd2 Bg7 19.Ne2 c4 20.Bc2 c3 21.Qd3 cxb2 22.Nd4 Bd7 23.Rd1 Rfc8 24.Bb3 Na4 25.Bxa4 Bxa4 26.Nb3 Rc3 27.Qxa6 Bxb3 28.axb3 Rbc8 29.Qa3 Rc1+ 30.Rxc1 Rxc1

Round 5 game from the 2012 Chinese Chess Championship between Ding Liren and Lu Shanglei. The opening is a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Three Knights, Vienna Variation. Ding Liren’s 5th move shows his willingness for gambit play. Lu Shanglei takes him up on this offer, and attempts to defend his kingside that is without a key defender. Ding Liren’s attack is relentless, sacrificing multiple pieces in order to destroy the entire black kingside structure. Ding Liren’s remaining white major pieces and an integral 6th rank pawn secured him a brilliant attack. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Qg4 c5 11. Bh6 Bf6 12. Bd3 Re8 13. f4 g6 14. Bxg6 fxg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kh8 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. fxg5 Re7 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. g6 Nd7 21. Rf3 Nf8 22. Raf1 Nxg6 23. Rg3 Rg7 24. Rxg6

One of Vladimir Kramnik’s best chess games. It was played at 1996 European Club Cup against Boris Gelfand. Kramnik’s final move of this 28-move encounter is one of the most beautiful ways to end a game. What allowed Kramnik to play such a move against Gelfand was in large part related to the positional components during the opening and middlegame phases. It only takes one badly positioned piece to have a bad position. Pay close attention to all the care Kramnik gives to his king knight once the Shabalov Attack is reached. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 b6 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.Qa4 dxc4 13.Qxa6 cxd3 14.Qxd3 O-O 15.g5 Nd5 16.Bd2 f5 17.O-O-O c5 18.Kb1 b5 19.Qxb5 Rab8 20.Qa5 Rb3 21.Ka2 Rfb8 22.Rb1 e5 23.Rhc1 Qe6 24.Ka1 exd4 25.Rxc5 Nxc5 26.Qxc5 Nc3 27.Nxd4 Rxb2 28.Rxb2 Qa2+

The AVRO chess tournament of 1938 was the strongest tournament ever held up to that time. Mikhail Botvinnik was one of the few chess players to achieve a career in another field (Electrical Engineering) while also competing at a world-class chess level. Botvinnik was already an accomplished chess player, and would a decade later build his resume by becoming the 6th world chess champion. Botvinnik's opponent Alexander Alekhine was the current World Chess Champion (4th). The board saw the Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch quickly arrive at a technical position, remaining as such until both players would shake hands. If you're a chess teacher, this instructional game is likely a good candidate to consider sharing with your students for its many technical and teachable moments. 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 b6 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Qa4 Nb8 14. Bf4 Bxb5 15. Qxb5 a6 16. Qa4 Bd6 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Rac1 Ra7 19. Qc2 Re7 20. Rxe7 Qxe7 21. Qc7 Qxc7 22. Rxc7 f6 23. Kf1 Rf7 24. Rc8+ Rf8 25. Rc3 g5 26. Ne1 h5 27. h4 Nd7 28. Rc7 Rf7 29. Nf3 g4 30. Ne1 f5 31. Nd3 f4 32. f3 gxf3 33. gxf3 a5 34. a4 Kf8 35. Rc6 Ke7 36. Kf2 Rf5 37. b3 Kd8 38. Ke2 Nb8 39. Rg6 Kc7 40. Ne5 Na6 41. Rg7+ Kc8 42. Nc6 Rf6 43. Ne7+ Kb8 44. Nxd5 Rd6 45. Rg5 Nb4 46. Nxb4 axb4 47. Rxh5 Rc6 48. Rb5 Kc7 49. Rxb4 Rh6 50. Rb5 Rxh4 51. Kd3

This is a round 1 game from the 51st Biel International Chess Festival (Accentus Grandmaster Tournament) between the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, and David Navara. The opening is a Ragozin with play sharpening after Carlsen's 12.Nb5. With Navara facing the loss of material, he counters with 3 successive punches towards Carlsen's minors. Move 15 would be the great decision point in the game. After considering for approximately 25 minutes, Carlsen concluded the best option was to say goodbye to his own queen. Coordination from then on would be king. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Nd7 11. O-O Nxc5 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nbd4 b5 14. Be2 e5 15. Nc2 Rd8 16. Nxb4 Rxd1 17. Rfxd1 a5 18. Nd5 Qd6 19. Nxe5 Bb7 20. Bf3 Rc8 21. Ng4 Qf8 22. h4 Nd7 23. Rxc8 Bxc8 24. a3 h5 25. Nh2 g6 26. Be2 Ne5 27. Bxb5 Bb7 28. Nc3 Qe7 29. Rd4 Qe6 30. Nf1 Qb3 31. Rd2 Nc4 32. Rd7 Nxb2 33. Rxb7 Qxc3 34. Be8 Kf8 35. Bxf7 Qc6 36. Rxb2 Kxf7 37. Rd2 Qa4 38. Rd3 Qxh4 39. Rd7+ Kg8 40. Rd4 Qe7 41. a4 Qa3 42. g3 Qa1 43. Kg2 g5 44. Nd2 g4 45. Ne4 Qc1 46. Nf6+ Kf7 47. Nxh5 Qc6+ 48. Kg1 Qc1+ 49. Kh2 Kg6 50. Nf4+ Kf6 51. Ng2 Kg5 52. Rf4 Qd1 53. Nh4 Qc2 54. Nf5 Qd3 55. e4 Qd7 56. e5 Qh7+ 57. Kg1 Qg6 58. Nd6 Qe6 59. Rf5+ Qxf5 60. Nxf5 Kxf5 61. f4 gxf3 62. Kf2 Kxe5 63. Kxf3 Kf5 64. Ke3

Garry Kasparov chooses the Evan's Gambit in this game against Viswanathan Anand from the 1995 Tal Memorial Chess Tournament. I could not help but be reminded some of the AlphaZero games when I viewed this game. The idea behind Kasparov's 8th move in particular was what had me wondering...would AlphaZero do the same? 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Be7 6. d4 Na5 7. Be2 exd4 8. Qxd4 Nf6 9. e5 Nc6 10. Qh4 Nd5 11. Qg3 g6 12. O-O Nb6 13. c4 d6 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Bh6 Ncxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Nc3 f6 18. c5 Nf7 19. cxd6 cxd6 20. Qe3 Nxh6 21. Qxh6 Bf8 22. Qe3+ Kf7 23. Nd5 Be6 24. Nf4 Qe7 25. Re1

Round 1 game of Norway Chess 2018 between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. This is Caruana and Carlsen's 2nd tournament encounter since learning they will both be competing in the 2018 World Chess Championship Match come November of 2018. Fabiano Caruana will play challenger to the defending World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. Both Carlsen and Caruana are grinders in the game. They don't mind obtaining the slightest of advantages and slowly pressing. As was the case in their previous tournament encounter, the play in this game stays clear of any great theoretical discussion. I think this is yet another sign of the type of games we're likely to see for their 2018 World Chess Championship Match encounter in November. 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 a5 8. c3 Nbd7 9. exd5 cxd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 Re8 12. Nf1 b5 13. a4 b4 14. cxb4 axb4 15. Ne3 Bb7 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. Qd4 Re7 20. Rac1 Rd7 21. Red1 h6 22. Rc5 Ra5 23. Rxa5 Qxa5 24. h3 Kh7 25. Rc1 Rc7 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Qxb4 Qc1+ 28. Bd1 Ba6 29. Qd4 Be2 30. Kh2 Bxd1 31. Nxd1 Qc7+ 32. Kg1 Qc1 33. b4 e3 34. fxe3 Ne4 35. Qxd5 Nd2 36. Qf5+ Kh8 37. Qg4 f5 38. Qe2 Ne4 39. Qe1 Qa1 40. a5 Nd6 41. Qd2 Nc4 42. Qd4 Qc1 43. Kf1 Nxe3+ 44. Qxe3 Qxd1+ 45. Kf2 Qc2+ 46. Kg3 g5 47. Qe5+ Kh7 48. Kh2 f4 49. Qd5 Qa4 50. Qf7+ Kh8 51. Qg6 Qxb4 52. Qxh6+ Kg8 53. Qxg5+ Kh7 54. Qh5+ Kg7 55. Qg5+ Kh7 56. h4 Qd6 57. Qh5+ Kg7 58. Qg5+ Kh7 59. h5 f3+ 60. g3 f2 61. Qg6+ Kh8 62. Qxd6 f1=Q 63. Qh6+ Kg8 64. Qe6+ Kh8 65. Qe3 Qb5 66. Qc3+ Kh7 67. g4 Qd5 68. Qc7+ Kg8 69. Kg3 Qe6 70. Qd8+ Kh7 71. Qd3+ Kh8 72. a6 Qe5+ 73. Kh3 Qa1 74. Qd8+ Kh7 75. Qe7+ Kh6 76. Qe3+ Kh7 77. a7

Round 2 of the 2023 Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament between Anish Giri and D. Gukesh. The opening is a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Ragozin Defense where Giri gives Gukesh the bishop pair. In exchange for this Giri seeks dynamic play on the kingside which is kickstarted by a queen rook lift. After Gukesh’s 17th move, Giri unleashed a tactical sequence that reminded me of the great Mikhail Tal. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. a3 Ba5 13. exd4 Rd8 14. Rc2 Bd7 15. Re2 Bc6 16. Qc2 Bb6 17. Rfe1 Kh8 18. Neg5 hxg5 19. Rxe6 fxe6 20. Rxe6 Qxe6 21. Bxe6 Bxf3 22. Qf5 Be4 23. Qxe4 Rxd4 24. Qf3 g4 25. Qf8+ Kh7 26. Bf5+ Kh6 27. Bc2

Round 7 game from the 2022 World Rapid Chess Championship between Daniil Dubov and Nihal Sarin. The opening is a Queen’s Gambit Accepted with Dubov offering a pawn to quickly activate his queen-rook towards the kingside for an attack. This offer of a pawn is declined by Sarin who instead elects to continue with development. Sarin’s 17th move is a big blunder, and it must have come as a shock to him when Dubov replied with a flashy final move. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bd3 cxd4 9. a4 bxa4 10. Rxa4 Be7 11. Rxd4 Qb6 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Rh4 Bb7 14. Nc4 Qc7 15. Bd2 O-O 16. Bc3 g6 17. Ng5 Nd5 18. Qh5

Magnus Carlsen of Norway defends his title against challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in Game 2 of the 2021 World Chess Championship match that is being held in Dubai. It's a best of 14 games where the first player to earn 7.5 points earns the lion's share (60%) of a $2.24 million prize pool, and the title of "World Chess Champion". It’s a Closed Catalan where white attempts to embarrass Nepomniachtchi’s light-squared bishop in an Alpha Zero-like manner. An imbalance surfaces at the tail end of the middlegame with Carlsen down not only an exchange, but also a pawn. Would Carlsen’s deeply entrenched knight on d6, and black’s queen bishop still stuck behind its own pawns provide enough compensation for the Carlsen’s material loss? 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. Ne5 c6 9. a4 Nd5 10. Nc3 f6 11. Nf3 Qd7 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 14. e5 Bb7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Nac5 19. Nd6 Nb3 20. Rb1 Nbxc1 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 Rab8 23. Rd1 Ba8 24. Be4 c3 25. Qc2 g6 26. bxc3 bxa4 27. Qxa4 Rfd8 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 Kh8 31. Nd6 Rb6 32. Qxc5 Rdb8 33. Kg2 a6 34. Kh3 Rc6 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 Qc7 37. Qg4 Rxd6 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 Rf8 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4

Round 8 game between Magnus Carlsen and Aryan Tari from the 2020 Altibox Norway Chess tournament. This all Norwegian battle enters a Ruy Lopez with Magnus Carlsen opting for the simple and solid 6.d3. Aryan Tari had many opportunities to change the character of the pawn structure with a capture on a4, but preferred to maintain a solid queenside pawn island. The critical moments mostly occurred before move 20, and it was during this time many different minor pieces battles could have surfaced. Once the position was simplified to one minor piece for each side, it was only a matter of time until the white knight became a powerhorse on the outpost d5. There are plenty of model games highlighting the strategic good knight versus bad bishop in chess literature, and I expect this featured game to be included in future chess books. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bd7 9. c3 Na5 10. Ba2 c5 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nbd2 Rb8 13. axb5 axb5 14. Re1 b4 15. Nc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Qc7 18. Qc2 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd2 Qc6 22. Qa4 Rfb8 23. Nc4 Be7 24. g3 Qc8 25. Qd1 g6 26. Kg2 Bf8 27. Qf3 Rb3 28. Rec1 Qe6 29. Ra7 R8b7 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. Ra1 h5 32. Ra8 Kg7 33. Ne3 Rc7 34. Nd5 Rc8 35. Ra7 Rb8 36. h3 Rd8 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Rd7 39. Ra8 f6 40. g5 f5 41. Qh3 Rf7 42. Re8 Qxe8 43. Qh6+ Kg8 44. Qxg6+ Kh8 45. Nf6

Round 1 game between Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Alireza Firouzja from the 2020 Altibox Norway Chess tournament. The opening is a Caro-Kann, Classical variation, mainline where play turns sharp with opposite sides castling. Firouzja sacrifices a pawn to generate pressure against Duda's king. A tall defensive task awaits Duda, who finds a way to minimize the pressure, and alter the character of the game by sacrificing an exchange. What ultimately results is a time sensitive position with 7 pawns emerging passed, and with both players each under 1 minute on the clock. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 c5 15. Be3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17. Qxb7 Nd5 18. Qa6 Rb8 19. Bd2 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Bf6 21. Nb3 Qc7 22. Rhe1 Rfc8 23. Rc1 Nb6 24. Re4 Nc4 25. Bf4 Qb6 26. Qxb6 Rxb6 27. Be3 Rb4 28. f3 a5 29. Rxc4 Rcxc4 30. Bd2 Rb5 31. Bxa5 Rxh5 32. Rg1 Rb5 33. Bd2 h5 34. c3 g5 35. Kc2 g4 36. Nc1 g3 37. b3 Rc8 38. a4 Rf5 39. Ne2 h4 40. c4 e5 41. Be3 Bg5 42. Bxg5 Rxg5 43. Rh1 Rh5 44. Kc3 f5 45. b4 f4 46. a5 h3 47. gxh3 e4 48. fxe4 g2 49. Rg1 Rxh3+ 50. Kd4 f3 51. c5 Kf7 52. Nf4 f2

Game between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand from Round 1 of the 2019 Altibox Norway Chess Tournament. We observe an English opening with Anand opting for the Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack. An imbalance of minor pieces quickly surfaces, and a critical moment is reached by move 12 where Carlsen plays a zwischenzug in Nxe5. Anand's instinctual reply seems completely natural, but in reality it is a grave mistake which allows the World Chess Champion to both maintain an extremely powerful dark-squared bishop, and play for two results. 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Nxe7 Qxe7 7. Bg5 Nc6 8. Qc3 Ne5 9. Nf3 d6 10. e3 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Bg3 Nd7 14. h4 g4 15. c5 h5 16. Rc1 c6 17. Bd3 O-O 18. O-O Re8 19. Rfd1 Nf6 20. Bb1 Nd5 21. Qc2 e4 22. Rd4 f5 23. a3 Be6 24. Rcd1 Rad8 25. Ba2 Rd7 26. b4 a6 27. a4 Red8 28. b5 axb5 29. axb5 Nf6 30. Rd6 Bxa2 31. Qxa2+ Qf7 32. Qa5 Rxd6 33. cxd6 Qd7 34. bxc6 bxc6 35. Rb1 Rf8 36. Qc7 Rf7 37. Rb8+ Kh7 38. Be5 Nd5 39. Rh8+ Kg6 40. Qb8 Nf6 41. Bxf6 Kxf6 42. Rh6+ Ke5 43. Qh8+

The 2nd of a 2-game exhibition match played at the Manhattan Chess Club New York, 1957 between 14-year-old talent Bobby Fischer, and Max Euwe, the 5th World Chess Champion. This game went unpublished for over 50 years until Frank Brady unearthed Fischer's score sheet of it. Unlike the first game between Euwe and Fischer, this one was a closely contested fight which reached the final phase. Fischer had white, opening with the Ruy Lopez, and in reply Euwe selected an open system. Despite this open choice by Euwe, the game proceeded positionally, where imbalances in material and minor pieces soon surfaced. The game saw Fischer in the driver's seat at the early to mid-game stage, but the Euwe found a way to fight back some in the final phase. What resulted in the end, was a surprise. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Qe2 Nc5 12.Nd4 Nxb3 13.N2xb3 Qd7 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Be3 Qc4 16.Qd2 c5 17.Na5 Qh4 18.Nc6 Rfe8 19.g3 Qh5 20.Nxe7+ Rxe7 21.Bxc5 Rc7 22.Bd4 Bg4 23.f4 Rc6 24.a4 bxa4 25.Rxa4 Rh6 26.Qf2 Bf5 27.Rfa1 Rc8 28.Rb4 Rg6 29.Rb6 Rxb6 30.Bxb6 Qg4 31.Bd4 h5! 32.Rf1 Bd3 33.Re1 Rc6 34.Re3 Be4 35.Qe2 Qf5 36.Kf2 h4 37.Ke1 hxg3 38.hxg3 Rh6 39.Kd2 Bb1 40.Rf3 Rh1 41.Rf1

Garry Kasparov and Lajos Portisch produced one of the greatest games of chess from their round 4 encounter at the Niksic Tournament in 1983. This is one of the best chess games in large part for its combination of a double bishop sacrifice, and king walk. Garry Kasparov is, for a very large number of chess enthusiasts, the best chess player of all time. Only about 2 years after the featured game, Kasparov would become the best chess player in the world, winning the World Chess Championship title in 1985. Kasparov would remain among the best chess players in the world for approximately 20 years, retiring in 2005. The Niksic Tournament of 1983 included 13 other players, namely Bent Larsen, Boris Spassky, Anthony Miles, Ulf Andersson, Mikhail Tal, Jan Timman, Yasser Seirawan, Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Svetozar Gligoric, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian, Predrag Nikolic, Gyula Sax, and Bozidar Ivanovic. One interesting note about Niksic 1983 was that tournament organizers attempted to get Bobby Fischer to compete, but found Fischer's demand of $30,000 too high. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cd5 Nd5 7. e3 Nc3 8. bc3 Be7 9. Bb5 c6 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. c4 cd4 16. ed4 Na5 17. d5 ed5 18. cd5 Bd5 19. Bh7 Kh7 20. Rd5 Kg8 21. Bg7 Kg7 22. Ne5 Rfd8 23. Qg4 Kf8 24. Qf5 f6 25. Nd7 Rd7 26. Rd7 Qc5 27. Qh7 Rc7 28. Qh8 Kf7 29. Rd3 Nc4 30. Rfd1 Ne5 31. Qh7 Ke6 32. Qg8 Kf5 33. g4 Kf4 34. Rd4 Kf3 35. Qb3

Magnus Carlsen of Norway defends his title against challenger Fabiano Caruana of the United States in Game 6 of the 2018 World Chess Championship match that is being held in London. It's a best of 12 games where the first player to earn 6.5 points earns the lion's share of a $1.14 million prize pool, and the title of "World Chess Champion". Both players entered game 6 deadlocked with 2.5 points each. Carlsen, in this classic game 6, tested Caruana for the first time in the match with e4, after having played both d4 and c4 in games 2 & 4 respectively. Caruana, not surprisingly, employed a favorite defense of his in that of the Petrov. A highly atypical 4th move by Carlsen sparked a unusally high number of knights moves after only 14 turns. The middlegame was rich with plans, and the endgame is one which left a lasting impression on all who observed the 6.5 hour battle. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3 [C42 Russian Game: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation] Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nf4 Nc6 7. Nd5 Nd4 8. Nxe7 Nxe2 9. Nd5 Nd4 10. Na3 Ne6 11. f3 N4c5 12. d4 Nd7 13. c3 c6 14. Nf4 Nb6 15. Bd3 d5 16. Nc2 Bd6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. Kf2 h5 19. h4 Nc8 20. Ne3 Ne7 21. g3 c5 22. Bc2 O-O 23. Rd1 Rfd8 24. Ng2 cxd4 25. cxd4 Rac8 26. Bb3 Nc6 27. Bf4 Na5 28. Rdc1 Bb4 29. Bd1 Nc4 30. b3 Na3 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Rc1 Nb5 33. Rxc8+ Bxc8 34. Ne3 Nc3 35. Bc2 Ba3 36. Bb8 a6 37. f4 Bd7 38. f5 Bc6 39. Bd1 Bb2 40. Bxh5 Ne4+ 41. Kg2 Bxd4 42. Bf4 Bc5 43. Bf3 Nd2 44. Bxd5 Bxe3 45. Bxc6 Bxf4 46. Bxb7 Bd6 47. Bxa6 Ne4 48. g4 Ba3 49. Bc4 Kf8 50. g5 Nc3 51. b4 Bxb4 52. Kf3 Na4 53. Bb5 Nc5 54. a4 f6 55. Kg4 Ne4 56. Kh5 Be1 57. Bd3 Nd6 58. a5 Bxa5 59. gxf6 gxf6 60. Kg6 Bd8 61. Kh7 Nf7 62. Bc4 Ne5 63. Bd5 Ba5 64. h5 Bd2 65. Ba2 Nf3 66. Bd5 Nd4 67. Kg6 Bg5 68. Bc4 Nf3 69. Kh7 Ne5 70. Bb3 Ng4 71. Bc4 Ne3 72. Bd3 Ng4 73. Bc4 Nh6 74. Kg6 Ke7 75. Bb3 Kd6 76. Bc2 Ke5 77. Bd3 Kf4 78. Bc2 Ng4 79. Bb3 Ne3 80. h6 Bxh6

Round 1 game from the 44th Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India between India's Vidit Gujrathi and Zimbabwe's Rodwell Makoto. The opening is a sharp King's Indian Defense, Bayonet Attack. Several variations are highlighted during the middlegame, with a primary focus on structural changes. When I initially skimmed through the game, I was surprised to learn that the thematic break in the King's Indian Defense on move 14 was a big blunder! The big question would be however, "How could white punish it?" 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. bxa5 Rxa5 11. a4 Nd7 12. Nd2 Nc5 13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 f5 15. f3 Kh8 16. Ba3 c5 17. dxc6 Nxc6 18. Bd3 Bh6 19. Kh1 Be3 20. Nb5 Bc5 21. Rad1 Nd4 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Bc2 fxe4 24. Bxe4 Qe8 25. Bb2 Qxa4 26. Qd3 Qe8 27. Rfe1 Qf7 28. Bxd4+ Bxd4 29. Qxd4+ Qf6 30. Qxd6 Qxd6 31. Rxd6 Rc5 32. Bd3 Kg7 33. Kg1 Rf6 34. Re7+ Rf7 35. Rxf7+ Kxf7 36. Rb6 Rc7 37. Kf2 Bd7 38. Ke3 Bc6 39. h4 Kf6 40. Be4 g5 41. h5 Ke5 42. Bxc6 bxc6 43. Ra6 c5 44. Ra5 Kf5 45. g4+ Ke5 46. Ra8 Re7 47. Rd8 Kf6+ 48. Kd3 Re1 49. Rf8+

Round 3 game from the 2022 World Blitz Chess Championship between Ivan Cheparinov and Magnus Carlsen. The opening is Closed Catalan with an instructive idea demonstrated by Carlsen on the queenside. After Cheparinov's 10th move, Carlsen's play is nearly impeccable with him basically playing for two results in an opposite colored bishop endgame. Carlsen's accuracy for this 3|2 time control registered a 97% in Stockfish 15.1's eyes. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O a5 7. Nc3 c6 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Ba6 10. Qd3 b5 11. cxb5 cxb5 12. Nxb5 Nc6 13. a4 Qb6 14. Ne5 Na7 15. Bc3 Nxb5 16. axb5 Bxb5 17. Qd2 a4 18. bxa4 Rxa4 19. Rxa4 Bxa4 20. Ra1 Qb3 21. Qb2 Rc8 22. Qxb3 Bxb3 23. Be1 Bd6 24. Rb1 Bc2 25. Rb7 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Ng4 27. f4 h5 28. Bf3 Bf5 29. Bxg4 hxg4 30. Rb2 Rc1 31. Kf2 Kh7 32. Rd2 Rb1 33. Rd4 Kg6 34. Bd2 Be4 35. Be1 Kf5 36. Rd2 f6 37. exf6 gxf6 38. Rd4 e5 39. fxe5 fxe5 40. Rb4 Ra1 41. Rb8 Ra2 42. Rf8+ Ke6 43. Re8+ Kf6 44. Kf1 d4 45. Rf8+ Ke7 46. Bb4+ Ke6 47. Re8+ Kd5 48. Be1 Bf5 49. Rd8+ Ke4 50. Re8 Bd7 51. Rb8 Be6 52. Rb4 Rc2 53. Ra4 Bc4

Round 5 game from the 44th Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India between Zambia's Gillan Bwalya and World Champion Magnus Carlsen. The opening is a Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin variation. As early as move 10, white opts for an unusual defense against Carlsen's x-ray along the c-file. White's decision on move 13 to exchange his light-squared bishop for a knight allowed Carlsen to execute a light-square strategy. The primary weakness on e4 was exploited almost effortlessly. Should it come as a surprise for such a game to end by a light-squared bishop strike? 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qc7 10. Nd2 Nc6 11. O-O Rd8 12. f4 Nd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Qh5 cxd4 15. cxd4 Ne7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bd2 f6 18. Nh4 Be4 19. f5 Rac8 20. Bb4 a5 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Rf4 Rc3 23. Re1 Qxa3 24. Rg4 Rc1 25. Rxc1 Qxe3+ 26. Kf1 Bd3

This game is from the 9th and final round of the 2018 Sinquefield Cup between the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, and Hikaru Nakamura. When a game lasts 97 moves, you can be sure at least a couple interesting variations surface. Carlsen and Nakamura begin quietly out of a Queen's Gambit Declined w/ 5. Bf4. Once Carlsen declines Nakamura's initial offer of a queen exchange, the middle game takes a more dynamic turn. Carlsen's queen drifts towards the kingside, while Nakamura's hunts pawns on the opposite wing. The major piece specific endgame witnesses a brief queen dance, and finishes with a walkathon that is both memorable and instructive. The great Capablanca would be proud! 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Ba6 9. Qe2 Bxc4 10. Qxc4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Rac1 Rc8 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. b3 h6 17. Rfd1 Qb7 18. h3 Rfc8 19. Na4 Nd7 20. Rd2 Nb6 21. Nxb6 Rxb6 22. Rcd1 Bf6 23. Rd7 Qa6 24. Qe4 e5 25. Bxh6 Re8 26. Qg4 Qxa2 27. e4 Qxb3 28. Be3 Rb7 29. R7d6 Be7 30. R6d5 Bf8 31. Bxc5 Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Qe6 33. Qe2 Rd7 34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Rd5 Qc7 36. Qd2 Ra8 37. Rd7 Qc4 38. f3 Qc5+ 39. Kh2 Qc6 40. Rd6 Qc5 41. Ra6 Qe7 42. Qe3 Kh7 43. Kg3 Qb7 44. Qa3 f6 45. Kh2 Qc7 46. Qa1 Qb7 47. Qa5 Qd7 48. Qa2 Qe7 49. Qf2 Qb7 50. Qa2 Qe7 51. Qd5 Rb8 52. Qa5 Rb7 53. Qe1 Qd7 54. Qh4+ Kg8 55. Qf2 Qf7 56. Qa2 Qxa2 57. Rxa2 Kh7 58. Ra6 Kg6 59. h4 Kh5 60. Kh3 Rf7 61. g4+ Kh6 62. Kg3 g5 63. h5 Kg7 64. Kf2 Rb7 65. Ra3 Kh6 66. Ke3 a5 67. Rxa5 Rb3+ 68. Kf2 Rb2+ 69. Kg3 Kg7 70. Ra7+ Kg8 71. Ra1 Kg7 72. Rf1 Ra2 73. Rf2 Ra3 74. Rd2 Ra7 75. Kf2 Kf7 76. Ke2 Rb7 77. Rd3 Ra7 78. Kd2 Ke6 79. Kc3 Ke7 80. Kc4 Rc7+ 81. Kb5 Rc1 82. Rb3 Kf7 83. Kb6 Rc2 84. Kb7 Rc1 85. Kb8 Kg8 86. Rb6 Kg7 87. Rb7+ Kg8 88. Rc7 Rb1+ 89. Kc8 Rb3 90. Kd7 Rxf3 91. Ke6 Rf4 92. h6 Kh8 93. Rb7 Kg8 94. Rg7+ Kh8 95. Kf7 Rxe4 96. Kg6 Ra4 97. Rh7+

Round 5 of the 2014 Bronstein Memorial chess tournament Baadur Jobava (white) of Georgia was paired against Boris Savchenko (black) of Russia. Jobava, one of the most original chess players today, gives up the exchange very early and sets Savchenko many problems to solve. Note how the development for white is smooth with all white minor pieces eventually stepping foot in the enemy camp, whereas black has to make awkward moves to simply try and complete development. The computer evaluation tells us the position is roughly equal, but what it doesn't tell you is that the game is much easier to play for white. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 g6 5. h4 Bg7 6. h5 Nxh5 7. Rxh5 gxh5 8. Qxh5 c6 9. Nf3 h6 10. O-O-O Nd7 11. Qh2 Nf8 12. Bc7 Qd7 13. Be2 Ne6 14. Be5 b5 15. Rh1 f6 16. Bg3 Ng5 17. Ne1 O-O 18. Nd3 Qf5 19. Bf4 a5 20. Nc5 Qh7 21. g4 Qg6 22. Bc7 b4 23. N3a4 e5 24. Nb6 Ra7 25. Bd6 Re8 26. f4 Nf7 27. g5 Nxd6 28. Bh5 Qf5 29. gxh6 Ree7 30. hxg7 Rxg7 31. fxe5 fxe5 32. Nxc8 Nxc8 33. Bg6 Qxg6 34. Qh8+ Kf7 35. Rf1+

Round 2 game from the 6th annual "Rural Credit Cup" held in Danzhou, China easily makes the list of best chess games ever played. 16-year-old super talent Wei Yi of China plays white against Lázaro Bruzón Batista of Cuba. The chess game was played on July 3rd, 2015 and it has already been pegged by many akin a "21st Century Immortal Game", and some reaching as far as a "Game of the Century". This is truly one masterpiece of a game. Wei Yi plays white against Lázaro Bruzón's Sicilian, Classical Scheveningen where play follows theory until move 21. It is not long after that Wei Yi lures Lázaro Bruzón's king straight to the center where a blend of sacrifices to buy time, and successive quiet moves leave the black king position perilous. The meteoric rise of Wei Yi continues to impress the chess world, and talk has already surfaced about him being the future rival to the current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Kh1 O-O 11. Qe1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Qg3 Bb7 14. a3 Rad8 15. Rae1 Rd7 16. Bd3 Qd8 17. Qh3 g6 18. f5 e5 19. Be3 Re8 20. fxg6 hxg6 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. Qh7+ Ke6 24. exd5+ Kxd5 25. Be4+ Kxe4 26. Qf7 Bf6 27. Bd2+ Kd4 28. Be3+ Ke4 29. Qb3 Kf5 30. Rf1+ Kg4 31. Qd3 Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Qa8+ 33. Kg1 Bg5 34. Qe2+ Kh4 35. Bf2+ Kh3 36. Be1

Round 18 of the 2017 Chinese Chess League, played on November 4th. Grandmaster Bai Jinshi played as white against Ding Liren. The opening, a Nimzo-Indian Defense, three knights variation, saw Ding Liren ultimately play the part of some wizard of the game. Many elements of this game reminded me of 13-year-old Bobby Fischer's game against Donald Byrne from 1956, pegged "The Game of the Century". Might this game find its way onto the "Greatest Chess Games of All-Time" list? 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. e3 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Qd3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. Rd1 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Nd2 Nc5 13. Qc2 d4 14. Nf3 e5 15. Nxe5 dxc3 16. Rxd8 cxb2+ 17. Ke2 Rxd8 18. Qxb2 Na4 19. Qc2 Nc3+ 20. Kf3 Rd4 21. h3 h5 22. Bh2 g4+ 23. Kg3 Rd2 24. Qb3 Ne4+ 25. Kh4 Be7+ 26. Kxh5 Kg7 27. Bf4 Bf5 28. Bh6+ Kh7 29. Qxb7 Rxf2 30. Bg5 Rh8 31. Nxf7 Bg6+ 32. Kxg4 Ne5+

An online 3-minute blitz chess game between 7-year-old chess prodigy Tihon Chernyaev (white) from Ukraine, and FIDE Master Eduard Miller (black) from Germany. The opening was a Sicilian Dragon, where the 7-year-old managed to seize an initiative just as his FIDE master opponent was about to pounce on white's ever sensitive square c4. While watching the game live I suspected Tihon Chernyaev's play was strong, and once I checked the moves with an engine afterwards my suspicion was confirmed. Observe a sneak peak into the mind of this 7-year-old chess talent as he delivers a "Very Epic Mate" to his FIDE Master opponent after only 23 moves. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 { B72 Sicilian Defense: Dragon, 6.Be3 } Bg7 7. Qd2 a6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. O-O-O b5 10. h4 Bb7 11. a3 Qc7 12. g4 Nb6 13. h5 Rg8 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. g5 Nfd7 16. Rh7 Ne5 17. Qh2 Kf8 18. Qf4 Qd7 19. Bh3 e6 20. Nxe6+ Ke7 21. Nxg7 Qxh3 22. Qf6+ Kf8 23. Qxd6

8-year-old Tihon Chernyaev from Ukraine achieved an incredible feat when he competed in the Open Under Age 10 Division at the 2018 FIDE Cadets World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships from June 21-25, held in Minsk, Belarus. Tihon Chernyaev entered the Rapid and Blitz events, winning clear 1st in both events with scores of 8/9 and 8.5/9 respectively, thus earning the amazing title "Double World Chess Champion". Tihon's rapid rating of 2143 exceeded his nearest competitor by nearly 300 points, and his blitz rating of 2084 exceeded his nearest competitor by nearly 250 points. Highlighted in this video is Tihon's final round game of the blitz event against the 9.5 year old talent Gordey Kolesov from Russia.1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Be2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. a4 a5 9. b3 Be7 10. Ba3 O-O 11. Qd2 c5 12. Rfd1 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. Ne5 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 dxc4 16. bxc4 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxd2 18. Rxd2 Ne4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Rd6 Bc6 21. Bf3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rxc4 23. Rxb6 Ra8 24. Rb7 Rc5 25. f4 Rc4 26. Rab3 g6 27. Rb8+ Rxb8 28. Rxb8+ Kg7 29. Ra8 Rxa4 30. Kg2 Rxf4 31. Rxa5 Rd4 32. Ra3 Rd5 33. Re3 g5 34. Kg3 Kg6 35. f4 h6 36. h4 gxf4+ 37. Kxf4 Rd4+ 38. Kg3 h5 39. Kh3 Rg4 40. Re1 Kf5 41. Rf1+ Rf4 42. Re1 Re4 43. Rf1+ Kg6 44. Rg1+ Kh6 45. Rf1 Re3+ 46. Kh2 Kg6 47. Rg1+ Kf5 48. Rg5+ Kf4 49. Rxh5 Rxe5 50. Rh7 Rf5 51. h5 Kg5 52. Kg3 e5 53. h6 Kg6 54. Rh8 Rh5 55. Kf3 Rxh6 56. Rg8+ Kf5 57. Rf8 f6 58. Ra8 Rh3+ 59. Ke2 Kf4 60. Ra4+ e4 61. Kf1 f5 62. Ra5 e3 63. Ke1 Ke4 64. Ra4+ Kf3 65. Kd1 Rh1+ 66. Kc2 e2 67. Ra3+ Kf2 68. Ra5 f4 69. Re5 e1=Q 70. Rxe1 Rxe1 71. Kd2 Re7 72. Kd3 f3 73. Kd2 Kg2 74. Kd3 f2 75. Kd2 f1=Q 76. Kc3 Rc7+ 77. Kd4 Qc4+ 78. Ke5 Re7+ 79. Kd6 Re6+ 80. Kd7 Qc6+ 81. Kd8 Re8

Round 1 game of the 2018 Grenke Chess Classic between Fabiano Caruana (white), and Magnus Carlsen (black). This is Caruana and Carlsen's first tournament encounter since learning they will both be competing in the 2018 World Chess Championship Match come November of 2018. Fabiano Caruana will play challenger to the defending World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. In this game Caruana opens with a non-confrontational setup that doesn't acheive any advantage as white, but rather some playable/normal position. Carlsen opts for a King's Indian Defense setup, with play beginning to sharp as early as move 12. We witness multiple structural imbalances, each side obtaining a majority, and an all important minor piece imbalance as well. Once the endgame arrives, and only one rook remains for each player, the quality of the pawns would be king. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 d6 6. Nc3 Nc6 { E61 King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood Variation } 7. d5 Nb4 8. a3 Na6 9. Nd4 e5 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. O-O e5 12. Nb3 c6 13. e4 Nc7 14. f4 Ne6 15. f5 Nd4 16. Be3 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 gxf5 18. exf5 d5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rad1 d4 21. Bg5 Qb6 22. Qc4+ Rf7 23. Na4 Qc7 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Nac5 b6 26. Bxf6 bxc5 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Nd2 Bb7 29. f6+ Kf8 30. Rde1 Re8 31. Ne4 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 c4 33. g4 Rb8 34. Rxe5 Rxb2 35. Rd5 c3 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Rh8 Rbb7 38. Rxh7+ Kg6 39. Rxc7 Rxc7 40. Kf2 c2 41. Rc1 d3 42. Ke3 Rd7 43. Kd2 Kxf6 44. h4 Ke5 45. Rf1 Kd4 46. h5 Re7 47. Rf4+ Kd5 48. Rf1 Kc4 49. Rf4+ Kd5 50. Rf1 Kc4 51. Rf4+ Kb3 52. Rb4+ Kxa3 53. Rc4 Kb3 54. Rc8 a5 55. h6 Re2+ 56. Kxd3 Rh2 57. g5 Rh3+ 58. Kd2 Rh2+ 59. Kd3

Round 2 game from the 2018 Sinquefield Cup between the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, and Sergey Karjakin. When Carlsen and Karjakin competed in the 2016 World Chess Championship match, many games were tightly contested. That match often consisted of Carlsen trying to methodically press a slight advantage, only to have Karjakin find a fantastic defense. The featured game, played at the Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center, took a simliar path as the games from the 2016 World Chess Championship. Endurance would be a big factor in this 88 move encounter which lasted nearly 7 hours. 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. d4 dxc4 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nxc6 Qe8 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Qa4 c5 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Rd1 Nd5 16. Bd4 Rd8 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qc2 Qe7 19. O-O Bh3 20. Rfe1 Rd7 21. Bc3 Re8 22. Rd4 Qg5 23. Qd2 Qxd2 24. Rxd2 Be6 25. Red1 Rde7 26. f3 h5 27. Kf2 f6 28. Rd4 Kh7 29. R1d2 Bf7 30. h3 a6 31. Rf4 Kg8 32. Bd4 Kh7 33. Bc3 Kg8 34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 Kh7 36. Rf5 Rb7 37. Rfxd5 Bxd5 38. Rxd5 Kg6 39. Rc5 Rh8 40. Kg3 Rb6 41. Rxc4 Rh1 42. Rc7 Rc1 43. Rd7 Rc6 44. a4 Rg1+ 45. Kf2 Ra1 46. a5 Ra4 47. Kg3 Rac4 48. Ra7 Re6 49. e4 Rc8 50. Rd7 Rec6 51. f4 R8c7 52. f5+ Kh7 53. Rd8 Rc8 54. Rd3 Re8 55. Rd4 Rc7 56. Kf4 Rce7 57. Rc4 Kh6 58. Kf3 Rd7 59. Bd4 Kh7 60. b4 Rd6 61. Ke3 Kh6 62. Rc1 Kh7 63. Bb6 Rd7 64. Bc5 Red8 65. Rh1+ Kg8 66. Kf4 Re8 67. Re1 g5+ 68. fxg6 Kg7 69. g5 Kxg6 70. gxf6 Kxf6 71. Rh1 Rf7 72. Ke3 Ke6 73. Rh4 Rf6 74. Rh7 Rf7 75. Rh5 Kd7 76. e5 Rf1 77. Ke4 Kc6 78. Rh6+ Kb5 79. Rb6+ Kc4 80. e6 Re1+ 81. Kf5 Rf1+ 82. Ke5 Re1+ 83. Kf6 Rf1+ 84. Kg7 Ra8 85. e7 Re1 86. Kf7 Re4 87. Rd6 Rh8 88. Rxa6

Round 2 game between 17-year old phenom Wei Yi of China, and the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway from the 2016 Bilbao Masters Final. This is their 2nd classical encounter where Wei Yi once again has the white pieces. Instead of a Ruy Lopez this time around, the game enters d4 territory with Carlsen opting for the flexible Modern Defense. A direct line kicks off by move 11 and runs several moves deep to arrive at a queenless endgame where Wei Yi already acquires a passed pawn a single square away from promotion. A pawn one step away will certainly require one's attention and be a number one priority to track down as otherwise restricted pieces would persist. How could Carlsen, if at all, manage to track down that passed pawn? Might Wei Yi stir up some trouble elsewhere while Carlsen is busy hunting a pawn? 1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. f4 b5 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. e5 Bb7 8. Bd3 c5 9. Be4 Bxe4 10. Nxe4 Nh6 11. dxc5 dxe5 12. c6 Nf6 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Nxf6+ exf6 15. c7 Rc8 16. Bb6 Kd7 17. Ba5 Nf5 18. O-O-O Kc6 19. Rd8 Nd6 20. fxe5 fxe5 21. Rd1 Nc4 22. Bc3 Rxc7 23. b3 Ne3 24. Bxe5 Nxd1 25. Rd6+ Kb7 26. Bxg7 Rg8 27. Bd4 Nc3 28. Rb6+ Kc8 29. Be5 Rd8 30. Kb2 Nd5 31. Bxc7 Kxc7 32. Rxa6 Kb7 33. Ra3 Ne3 34. c4 bxc4 35. Ne5 Rd2+ 36. Kc3 Rc2+ 37. Kd4 Nf5+ 38. Kd5 c3 39. Kc5 Nd6 40. Nc6 Ne4+ 41. Kb5 Kc7 42. Ra7+ Kd6 43. Ra4 f5 44. Kb6 Rxg2 45. Rd4+ Ke6 46. a4 Ra2 47. a5 Rb2 48. Kc7 Nc5 49. Rc4 Na6+ 50. Kb6 Rxb3+ 51. Kxa6 Kd5 52. Rb4 c2 53. Ne7+ Kc5 54. Rxb3 c1=Q 55. Rb6 Qc4+ 56. Kb7 Qe4+ 57. Nc6 Qd5 58. Kc7 Qd6+ 59. Kb7 Qd7+ 60. Kb8 f4

Super Grandmaster Wei Yi competes against Grandmaster Bator Sambuev in a Round 1 playoff game from the 2017 FIDE World Cup. Wei Yi entered the World Cup with a peak rating of 2753, which ranks him among the top 15 chess players in the world entering the event. Sambuev, rated 2522, blundered with the black pieces as early as move 10. I found Wei's decision to play Ne4 very instructive, and question in the video why he didn't initiate a forcing sequence to restore the material balance. Wei Yi pounced on Grandmaster Sambuev's move 10 blunder right out of the opening, and obtained an advantage that would only grow. The winner of the 2017 FIDE World Cup cycle earns a ticket into the Candidates chess tournament for the upcoming World Chess Championship. 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 c6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 b5 6. Ne5 Bb7 7. O-O a6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. a4 Ne7 10. Ne4 Nd7 11. Bd2 Bxd2 12. Nd6+ Kf8 13. Nexf7 Qc7 14. Qxd2 Nc8 15. Qf4 Nf6 16. Nxc8 Qxf4 17. gxf4 Rxc8 18. Nxh8 Nd5 19. axb5 cxb5 20. f5 Re8 21. Rfc1 exf5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Rxa6 Rxe2 24. Rd6 Bf3 25. Ra1 b4 26. d5 c3 27. bxc3 b3 28. Rd7 Re8 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. Re7 Rd8 31. c4 Be4 32. Rb7 Bc2 33. Nf7 Rf8 34. Ng5 Rc8 35. Raa7 f4 36. Rxg7+ Kh8 37. Rxh7+ Bxh7 38. Rxh7+ Kg8 39. Rb7

Round 6 game between 17-year supertalent Wei Yi of China, and the Netherlands #1 Anish Giri from the 2016 Bilbao Masters Final. It's a Berlin Ruy Lopez with Wei Yi throwing a bit of a curve ball on move 4. Instead of his usual d3 reply to the Berlin, he castles which invites Giri to enter the open variation of the Berlin. Giri accepts, Wei, Yi chooses a Bf4, Rd1 and Ng5 system, and by move 22 the position is simplified to each side having only 1 piece. Would it be Wei's knight, or Giri's bishop that would prevail in the endgame? 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 h5 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Bf4 Be6 12. Rad1+ Kc8 13. Ng5 Bxg5 14. Bxg5 b6 15. g4 hxg4 16. hxg4 Nh4 17. Bxh4 Rxh4 18. f3 Kb7 19. Kg2 Rah8 20. Rh1 Rxh1 21. Rxh1 Rxh1 22. Kxh1 c5 23. Kg2 Kc6 24. a4 a6 25. Kg3 b5 26. axb5+ axb5 27. f4 b4 28. Ne4 Ba2 29. Nd2 Kd5 30. c3 bxc3 31. bxc3 g5 32. Kf3 Ke6 33. c4 gxf4 34. Kxf4 f6 35. exf6 Kxf6 36. g5+ Kg6 37. Kg4 Kg7 38. Kh5 Kh7 39. g6+ Kg7 40. Kg5 c6 41. Kh5 Kg8 42. Kh6 Gata Kamsky vs Markus Ragger 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Ne4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bc6 dc6 7. de5 Nf5 8. Qd8 Kd8 9. Rd1 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 11. Nc3 h5 12. g3 Be6 13. Bg5 Rg8 14. Kh2 f6 15. ef6 gf6 16. Bf4 Rc8 17. Ne2 Nd6 18. Ned4 Bd7 19. Nh4 Rd8 20. Rd3 Kf7 21. Rad1 Rge8 22. b3 c5 23. Ne2 Bc8 24. c4 Ne4 25. Be3 Rd3 26. Rd3 Bd6 27. Kg2 b6 28. f3 Ng5 29. g4 Bb7 30. Ng3 hg4 31. hg4 Bc6 32. Ngf5 Bf8 33. Kg3 Ne6 34. Bh6 Be7 35. Ne7 Re7 36. Nf5 Rd7 37. Rd7 Bd7 38. Bf4 a5 39. Ne3 a4 40. Nd5 ab3 41. ab3 Bc6 42. Be3 Bb7 43. Kf2 b5 44. Ke2 bc4 45. bc4 Bc6 46. f4 f5 47. gf5 Bd5 48. cd5 Ng7 49. Bc5 Nf5 50. Kd3 Kf6 51. Bb4 Kf7 52. Ba5 Ne7 53. Kc4 Ke8 54. Bc7 Kd7 55. Bb6 Ng6 56. Be3 Ne7 57. Kc5 Nf5 58. Bc1 Kc7 59. Kc4 Kd7 60. Bd2 Kc7 61. Ba5 Kd7 62. Bb6 Ng3 63. Kd4 Nf5 64. Ke5 Nh6 65. Bc5 Ng4 66. Kf5 Nh2 67. Kg6 Nf3 68. f5 Ne5 69. Kg7 Nd3 70. f6

Wei Yi against the "Master of Defense" Sergey Karjakin in Round 11 of the 2017 Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Masters section. What would the result be when play enters the Ruy Lopez, Berlin w/ 4.d3? Karjakin certainly has a vast knowledge of this opening from his recent match with Magnus Carlsen. Wei Yi presents Karjakin with a sharp line, and the big question..., "Who has done their homework?" 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 { C65 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense #2 } 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 8. d4 Bb6 9. O-O dxe4 10. Bg5 c5 11. Nd2 cxd4 12. Nxe4 dxc3 13. Qf3 Bb7 14. Bxf6 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 Qxf6 16. Nd7 Qg6 17. Qxg6 hxg6 18. Nxf8 cxb2 19. Rab1 Kxf8 20. Rfd1 Ke7 21. Rxb2 g5 22. Rbd2 Rh8 23. g3 Rh5 24. Kg2 Kf6 25. h3 Rh6 26. Rd8 Ke7 27. R1d7+ Ke6 28. Rd2 Rf6 29. Rg8 Rg6 30. Re8+ Kf6 31. Rd7

Round 10 game from the 2016 Candidates Chess Tournament between Fabiano Caruana and Viswanthan Anand. What is at stake in this tournament besides a big purse? Well, the winner of this lengthy 14 round event will earn a ticket to challenge the current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in November at the 2016 World Chess Championship match which will be held in New York, United States. Caruana, a half-point behind co-leader Anand going into this round 10 game opts for what seems to be a tournament opening favorite, namely the English, Four Knights. Caruana obtains the bishop pair and a central pawn majority, whereas Anand holds dear to an extra pawn. Caruana, for the first dozen or so moves seems to be more prepared than Anand judging by the clock times, but opening preparation is only 1 of the key ingredients to play a complete game of chess well. Will you be able to correctly answer the pop quiz posed in this video regarding what is the most important square in the middlegame position between Fabiano Caruana and Viswanathan Anand? 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 d5 11. d4 dxc4 12. Qc2 h6 13. Bf4 Ne4 14. Rad1 Bf5 15. Ne5 Nd6 16. e4 Bh7 17. Qe2 Ne7 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qh5 Nef5 20. exf5 Qg5 21. Qxg5+ hxg5 22. f6 Ne4 23. Rfe1 Nxc3 24. Rc1 Nb5 25. Bxb7 Rad8 26. Bc6 Nxd4 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Kf2 Nc2 29. Red1 Be4 30. Nxc4 Re6 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Kg1 Rxf6 33. Rf1

The 13th and final round of the 2023 Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament between Anish Giri and Richard Rapport. The opening is a Sicilian Defense, Richter-Rauzer with Rapport opting for the Dragon Variation. This decision by Rapport to play g6 allows Giri to create several weaknesses in black's camp. In exchange for these weaknesses Rapport obtains the bishop pair. There is a big fight over the d5 square throughout with Giri's queen knight walking away as the MVP. This win by Giri propelled him past Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the tournament standings to become the 2023 Tata Steel Masters Champion. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 g6 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Bc4 Bg7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qd3 Rc8 13. Nd5 Re8 14. c3 Bd7 15. Bb5 Bc6 16. Bc4 Bd7 17. Rfe1 f5 18. Bb3 fxe4 19. Rxe4 Bf5 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Qd2 Be6 22. Rd1 Qd7 23. h3 b5 24. Qf4 Rc5 25. Ne3 Be5 26. Qe4 Kg7 27. f4 Bf6 28. g4 h6 29. Bd5 Bxd5 30. Nxd5 Rc4 31. Qf3 Qe6 32. f5 gxf5 33. Nf4 Qe5 34. Nh5+ Kg6 35. Rxd6 Kg5 36. Rd5 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 Be7 38. Rxf5+ Kh4 39. Qg3+

Round 6 game between Aryan Tari and Alireza Firouzja from the 2020 Altibox Norway Chess tournament. The opening is a Caro-Kann, Exchange variation. Firouzja tries to deploy his queen bishop outside the pawn chain, but Tari’s early questioning of the bishop with h3 kicks it back behind inside. By move 15 Firouzja’s light-squared bishop remained inactive, however this deficiency was compensated by possessing 2 black knights who outweighed their counterparts. What happened next, is a sudden attack that is easy to see coming, but difficult to defend against. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Bg4 6. Qb3 Qc7 7. h3 Bd7 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. O-O e6 10. Re1 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Nbd2 Nh5 13. Qd1 f6 14. Be3 Nf4 15. Bf1 g5 16. c4 Kh8 17. Rc1 Rg8 18. Bxf4 Bxf4 19. b4 Qd6 20. b5 Ne7 21. c5 Qc7 22. g3 g4 23. hxg4 Rxg4 24. Bh3 Rg7 25. Kh1 e5 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Nh2 Qh3 28. Rg1 Rag8 29. Qe2 e4 30. Rc3 Nf5 31. Nxe4 dxe4 32. Qxe4 Bxg3 33. Rg2 Re7 34. Qb1 Rge8

Round 3 game of the 2018 Candidates Chess Tournament between Levon Aronian (white), and Vladimir Kramnik (black). We do not see the famous Berlin Endgame in this game, but rather a brutal attack straight out of the opening. The game is over by move 27! This event consists of 8 participants, namely Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2809), Vladimir Kramnik (2800), Wesley So (2799), Levon Aronian (2794), Fabiano Caruana (2784), Ding Liren (2769), Alexander Grischuk (2767), and Sergey Karjakin (2763). This tournament is being held in Berlin, Germany. The winner becomes the challenger for the World Chess Championship title against Magnus Carlsen in November of 2018. Note: The clock times featured in the video act as a rough estimate of time spent on each move. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 { C65 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense #2 } 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qe7 7. h3 Rg8 8. Kh1 Nh5 9. c3 g5 10. Nxe5 g4 11. d4 Bd6 12. g3 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 Qe7 15. h4 c5 16. Qc4 Be6 17. Qb5+ c6 18. Qa4 f5 19. Bg5 Rxg5 20. hxg5 f4 21. Qd1 Rd8 22. Qc1 fxg3 23. Na3 Rd3 24. Rd1 Bd5 25. f3 gxf3 26. exd5 Qe2 27. Re1 g2+