chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Hikaru Nakamura vs Alexander Shabalov
7th Foxwoods Open (2005), Connecticut, rd 3, Mar-24
Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange. Positional Variation (D35)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 20 times; par: 47 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 7 more Nakamura/Shabalov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Some games have photographs. These are denoted in the game list with the icon.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-14-05  ashalpha: 20. f4 is a deep move visualizing the eventual Queen trap while threatening mate along the g file. 21..gxh4? 22. e5 gives the piece back with initiative.
Jun-14-05  patzer2: Bravo Nakamura! With an impressive 1. c4! repertoire under development, he shows a level of maturity and skill in the handling of the opening that compliments his already well developed tactical skills and abilities. If he can continue to get such big advantages out of the opening against strong GMs, Nakamura! may soon earn a place among the 2700+ rated GM elite.

With 21. f4! Nakamura puts decisive pressure on the pinned pawn. After the practically forced reply 21...Ng6, his 22. Be1! creates a decisive double attack, threatening to win the Queen as in the game or to win the exchange after 22... Rxd4 23. Bxf7! Nxf4 24. Ne2! Qe5 25. Nxf4! Qxf4 26. Bxg8 Kxg8 .

In addition to 22. Be1!, Fritz 8, at 12 depth, indicates White can also win with 22. fxg5! Nxh4 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxg8+ Rxg8 25. Rxg8+ Kxg8 26. e5 Qb4 27. Qe2 Bg7 28. a3 Qe7 29. Qg4 b5 30. Bb3 Qg5 31. Qc8+ Kh7 32. Qe8 b4 33. axb4 Qg1+ 34. Ka2 h5 35. Bc2+ Kh6 36. Qg8 Ng6 37. Ne4 Qxd4 38. Nd6 Qd5+ 39. b3 Kg5 40. Nxf7+ Kh4 41. Qxg7 .

As a followup to 22. Be1!, White's discovered attack 23. Nd5! snares the trapped Queen after 23...Qxe1+ 24. Rxe1 . If Black tries to complicate with 24... Nxg2, then 25. Nxf6! Nxe1 26. Qf2 Rg6 27. Nh5 f6 28. Qxe1 Rxd4 29. Qf2!! Rxc4 30. Qf5! Rg8 31. Nxf6! Bxf6 32. Qxf6+ Kh7 33. Qf7+ Rg7 34. Qxc4 is decisive.

Jun-14-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  beenthere240: Actually I think if Black tries to complicate with 24. ...Nxg2 then Bxa5 is good enough. Black is busted.
Jun-16-05  Grunfeld: How come the scorecard shows Nakamura's rating as 2752? Is that his USCF rating? His Fide rating can't be that high (yet).
Sep-24-05  tiburon92: That is his USCF rating
Feb-10-06  Shamtesticle: Who is this kid, man? These games
are unbelievable! Actually, after
21...gxh4?, I was looking at 22 Rxg8+
Nxg8 23 Qg2 Ng6 24 Bxf7! when Black
really gets raped. His knights can't
connect! I guess there's often more
than one way to win.
Apr-10-09  computer chess guy: Rybka prefers 21. ♗xf7 ♖g7 22. f4 ♖xf7 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. ♖xg5: Black must move the Queen then White will play e5 .
Aug-03-10  sevenseaman: I strongly feel Hikaru is going places and soon. Every time I see his games I find he is no ordinary GM. There is a vibrancy to his play.
Apr-05-21  paradoxicalenigma: What a great game Hikaru. Bravo

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
21. f4!
from Pinning by patzer2
Best Chess Games of All Time
by Timothy Glenn Forney
22. Be1! threatens to win the Queen or the exchange
from Double Attack by patzer2
pawnstar3's favorite games
by pawnstar3
Notable Nakamura Games
by iron maiden
good tactic
by hartkoka
SpaceCowboy's favorite games
by SpaceCowboy
21. f4!
from Hikaru! by larrewl
This "kid" is very very good. with a 2700+ USCF rating
from kennel46's favorite games by kennel46
Certainly not shabby.
from Nakamura's Noteables voted by members 1/26/08+ by ffpainz
d line
by Tim Walsh
Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange. Positional Variation (D35)
from Carty's white wins queen's gambit declined by Carty
english opening
from benjobench's favorite games by benjobench
Its a Ghetto for Black
from sevenseaman's favorite games by sevenseaman
Notable Nakamura Games
by caracas1970
QGD. Exchange. Positional Var (D35) 1-0 vibrancy to his play
from Naka's Nook Mistook Fredthebear by fredthebear
Best Chess Games of All Time
by JoseTigranTalFischer
QGD. Exchange. Positional Var (D35) 1-0 vibrancy to his play
from .30-30 Winchester Lever-Action Secret 303 Geo SP by fredthebear

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2023, Chessgames Services LLC