26. Nxe6!?
An interesting sacrifice by Kovalev.
26...Nxe3 27. Rxe3 Bd5 28. Nxd8 Bxc4 29. Nc6 Qd7 30. Rxc4 Re8 31.Nxb4 Bxb4 32. Rxb4 Rc8 33. Rc4 Rxc4 34. Bxc4 Qc7 35. Bxa6 Qxa5 36. Bf1 =
With an equal game, although it seems that white's position is somewhat easier to play.
An interesting sacrifice by Kovalev.
26...Nxe3 27. Rxe3 Bd5 28. Nxd8 Bxc4 29. Nc6 Qd7 30. Rxc4 Re8 31.Nxb4 Bxb4 32. Rxb4 Rc8 33. Rc4 Rxc4 34. Bxc4 Qc7 35. Bxa6 Qxa5 36. Bf1 =
With an equal game, although it seems that white's position is somewhat easier to play.
In the position, Kramnik played 21.Qxe1+?!, trusting that after 22.Qxe1 Bxd3 23.bxa5 his passed d-pawn will provide some winning chances. Wojtaszek got a passed a-pawn, but Kramnik's threat on the d-file forced him to look for perpetual checks. Eventually, the players agreed to a draw.
23...Rac8 24. Qe7 Ba6 25. c6 Re8 26. Qb4 Rxc6 27. Rxc6 bxc6 28. h4 d3 29. Kh2 Kh7 30. Qd6 Re6 31. Qd7 Rf6 32. Qd4 h5=
23...Rac8 24. Qe7 Ba6 25. c6 Re8 26. Qb4 Rxc6 27. Rxc6 bxc6 28. h4 d3 29. Kh2 Kh7 30. Qd6 Re6 31. Qd7 Rf6 32. Qd4 h5=
12...h5!?
Preventing g2-g4 and securing the f5 square for the knight. Though Black has other good alternatives:
A) 12...Nf5 13.g4 Ne7
With the idea of ...h5, attacking the kingside.
B)12...Nc8
Intending Nb6-c4 and ...Rc8.
Preventing g2-g4 and securing the f5 square for the knight. Though Black has other good alternatives:
A) 12...Nf5 13.g4 Ne7
With the idea of ...h5, attacking the kingside.
B)12...Nc8
Intending Nb6-c4 and ...Rc8.
Black is about to play g4, winning the d-pawn after the knight retreats. At this point, it was necessary for Nisipeanu to look for a quick counterattack on the queenside, with 19.b4. The German played 19.Rc3? instead, and allowed his young opponent to take the pawn in the next two moves.
19... g4 20. Nd2 Ncxd4 21. Rec1 Rc8 22. Nf1 Rc6 23. Ng3 Ka8 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25. b4 Rhc8 -+
19... g4 20. Nd2 Ncxd4 21. Rec1 Rc8 22. Nf1 Rc6 23. Ng3 Ka8 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25. b4 Rhc8 -+
Giri 0-1 Kovalev! https://bit.ly/2L2Z7XY
Duda leads on 2.5/3 as Dortmund 2018 is about to cross the halfway mark.
Duda leads on 2.5/3 as Dortmund 2018 is about to cross the halfway mark.
Dortmund R3: 20-year-old Duda beats fellow countryman and defending champion Wojtaszek again to remain the sole leader and enter the world top 20!
12...Qb8
I felt the time still wasn't right for ...b5, so I carried on developing behind the lines. The text prepares to bring a rook to the c-file so that I can ease my cramped position with an exchange of rooks (Sadler).
13.Rac1 Rc8 14.Bb1 cxd4 15.Rxc8+ Qxc8 16.Nxd4 b5!
So here we have it: the standard QGA symmetrical pawn structure.
I felt the time still wasn't right for ...b5, so I carried on developing behind the lines. The text prepares to bring a rook to the c-file so that I can ease my cramped position with an exchange of rooks (Sadler).
13.Rac1 Rc8 14.Bb1 cxd4 15.Rxc8+ Qxc8 16.Nxd4 b5!
So here we have it: the standard QGA symmetrical pawn structure.
18...Ne5
Got my weakness, back to the transit square. The knight is now looking at both f3 and c4 (Sadler).
19.Rac1 a5
Looking for ...b4 to step up the pressure on e4.
20.Ne3 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Qb6 22.Bb1 Rc8-/+.
Got my weakness, back to the transit square. The knight is now looking at both f3 and c4 (Sadler).
19.Rac1 a5
Looking for ...b4 to step up the pressure on e4.
20.Ne3 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Qb6 22.Bb1 Rc8-/+.