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Fabiano Caruana vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Tata Steel Masters (2021), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 7, Jan-23
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation. Poisoned Pawn Accepted (B97)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 7s/ply)better is 10.f5 Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Be2 Be7 14.O-O = 0.00 (35 ply) 10...Nbd7 ⩱ -0.65 (26 ply)= +0.24 (18 ply) 13...cxd5 14.O-O h6 15.Bh4 dxe5 16.Rb3 Qa4 17.c4 Bd7 = 0.00 (27 ply) ± +1.56 (25 ply) 14...h6 15.Rb3 Qa4 16.Bh4 fxe6 17.Bh5+ Kd7 18.O-O c5 ⩲ +1.29 (26 ply) ± +2.10 (29 ply) 17.Rb3 Qc5 18.Bf7 Kc7 19.O-O Rb8 20.Rff3 Rxb3 21.Rxb3 ± +1.98 (29 ply) ⩲ +1.10 (28 ply) 21...Kc7 22.Be1 Bb7 23.Ke2 Bxf3+ 24.Kxf3 Be7 25.Ba5+ Kc6 ⩲ +0.90 (22 ply)better is 22.Rb6 h5 23.Bh4 Bh6+ 24.Kd3 Ke7 25.Bg3 Rd8 26.h3 h4 ± +1.78 (28 ply) ⩲ +1.28 (28 ply) 24...Rh6 25.Bg3 Rc7 26.Kd3 a5 27.Kc4 a4 28.Bd5 g5 29.Bf3 ± +2.22 (24 ply)better is 25.gxh5 g5 26.Bg3 Bd8 27.Rhb1 Bxb6 28.Rxb6 d5 29.Rc6 Kd8 +- +3.79 (27 ply) ± +2.20 (27 ply) after 25...hxg4 26.hxg4 Rxh1 27.Bc6+ Kf8 28.Bxh1 a5 29.Bxd6 26...Kf8 27.Bf4 a5 28.gxh5 gxf5 29.Re1 Kg7 30.Rg1+ Kh7 ± +2.50 (25 ply)+- +3.58 (30 ply)37...Rf2 38.Ke4 Re2+ 39.Kf3 Re1 40.a4 Rf1+ 41.Ke4 Re1+ +- +7.62 (32 ply)1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35435 more games annotated by Stockfish]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: The new (to the database) move consists of 12.e5, which certainly looks logical, but the surprising (to me) move consists of 14.e6!?, which certainly looks insane. Just another example of why no one should play either side of the Sicilian Poisoned Pawn. Just too dangerous.
Jan-25-21  Rat1960: Nick de Firmian (GM) played 12. ... dxe5 at the Chicago Open 1996. I would have replied 14. ... Bxe6
Figuring ...Qc5 to either 0-0 or Rb3
Jan-25-21  Rat1960: I guess 14. e6 Bxe6 15. f5 looks pretty lively when the open files, king in the middle but for three pawns is exciting stuff. 15. ... Bxf 16. 0-0 Qc5+ 17. Kh1
Jan-26-21  Cedroke: 2 losses now in the Najdorf or should we say... Nie, nie dorf. xD
Jan-26-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  sakredkow: <Just another example of why no one should play either side of the Sicilian Poisoned Pawn. Just too dangerous.> And if I'm not mistaken for years the party line on the Poisoned Pawn was "Nothing to see here - it's all been worked out to a draw." I love this game.
Feb-05-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Always fun to see a king dominate a blocked position.
Nov-10-21  qqdos: <An Englishman> This game was published by Chess Informant in Volume 147 with relatively sparse analysis by Jon Speelman, guesting as special commentator. He gave "14.e6!N This vicious blow destroys Black's position." By move 21 he thought the e-pawn was so strong that White has a huge advantage. The story does not stop there! In Volume 148, the game was chosen as top Theoretical Novelty. On to Volume 149, where we find the poison pawn game between the same 2 players - Yekatrinburg, 2021 - being awarded both Best Game and top Theoretical Novelty - a very rare event!
Nov-10-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: After 20.Bf3 both of black's bishops and rooks are stuck behind the lines, with an offsides king in the way. Great opening by Caruana. The last move was the perfect place for MVL to resign, that endgame position is the culmination of all the maneuvering after move 20.
Nov-10-21  qqdos: <An Englishman> This game was published by Chess Informant in Volume 147 with relatively sparse analysis by Jon Speelman, guesting as special commentator. He gave "14.e6!N This vicious blow destroys Black's position." By move 21 he thought the e-pawn was so strong that White has a huge advantage. The story does not stop there! In Volume 148, the game was chosen as top Theoretical Novelty. On to Volume 149, where we find the poison pawn game between the same 2 players - Yekatrinburg, 2021 - being awarded Best Game and top Theoretical Novelty - very rare event!
Dec-12-21  Albertan: This game is analyzed by GM Jan Gustafsson in a video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lK...

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