Radoslaw Wojtaszek is the third highest rated player in Poland (and the 93rd highest ranked player in the world) with an elo of 2622. Humpy Koneru ist he highest rated women in India and the fifth highest ranked player in India (337th highest rated player in the world).

The game began with the two GM's playing these moves:

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 d6

Play has tranposed into the Modern Benoni Defense. By playing 2...e6 Wojtaszek avoids having to play against the dangerous Taimanov variation.Black will fianchetto his king's bishop to g7 and castle, playing for an attack on the queenside and the semi-open e-file. White will play for a central initiative.

Koneru continued the game by playing:

5.Nc3

The most often played move for White in this position, preparing to advance her e-pawn to e4. The Polish GM replied:

5...exd5

He plays the main line, reducing the size of Koneru's pawn center.

The game continued with the two players making these moves:

6.cxd5 g6

7.Nd2

For now this knight will help support the advance of her e-pawn to e4. However this knight will soon be moved to c4. [ Analysis:The main line continues with these moves: 7.e4 Bg7 8.h3 0-0 9.Bd3 b5 10.Nxb5 Re8 11.0-0 Nxe4 12.Re1 a6 13.Na3 Nf6] Play in the game continued with Wojtaszek playing:

7...Bg7

The most popular continuation for Black in this position, which indirectly means he is pressuring her weak b-pawn. The next move of the game was:

8.e4

The main continuation for White in this position, reestablishing a pawn center. He next played:

8...0-0

He plays the most often played move for black according to my database.

She continued play by making this move:

9.Be2

A move almost always played by the first player in this position, simply developing another piece to faciliate kingside castling. He next made this move:

9...Re8

Centralizing his rook, which takes pressure off his backward d-pawn, preventing her from advancing her e-pawn to e5 in the future.

The game continued with her playing:

10.0-0

According to my fritz powerbook this is a move almost always played by White in this position. Wojtaszek continued the game by playing:

10...Na6

He intends to transfer this knight to c7 next move.

Koneru next made a pawn move:

11.f3

The main continuation for White in this position. giving support to her e-pawn. The next move of the game was:

11...Nc7

He gains influence over the b5 square and threatens to play ...a6 and then ....b5 gaining queenside counterplay.

She saw his plan coming and played:

12.a4

12...Nd7

He intends to play this knight to e5 which will shield his key d pawn from attack. [ Analysis:According to my database the main continuation in this position is 12...b6 with play usually continuing: 12...b6 13.Nc4 Ba6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Be3 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 a6 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Rab1 Qd7 19.b4 b5 20.Be2 c4]

Returning to the moves played in the game we are analyzing, Koneru continued play by making this move:

13.Nc4

The most popular plan for White in this position, winning a tempo by her attack against his unguarded d-pawn. Wojtaszek next, also made a knight move:

13...Ne5

The only move Black plays in this position in my database (24 games).

The next move of the game was:

14.Ne3

Koneru spends a tempo to avoid the exchange of knights on c4. The players continued to follow known opening theory when he next played: 14...f5

The main continuation for Black in this position, creating tension in the center and threatening 15...f4. She now countered his threat by playing:

15.f4

Koneru plays her pawn to f4-first forcing him to move his knight. [ Analysis:According to my database the most popular move for White in this position is 15.exf5 with play usually continuing: 15.exf5 gxf5 16.f4 Nf7 17.Rf3 ( 17.Kh1 Qf6) 17...Bd7 ( 17...Qf6) ]

The game continued with Wojtaszek playing:

15...Nf7

The only move Black plays in this position in my database. From this square the knight protects his key d-pawn.

Her next move of the game was a capture:

16.exf5

The only move White plays in this position in my database (9 games).She creates an open e-file. He now continued play by using a rare idea:

16...Bd4!?

This move has only been played once before (according to the chessbase online database:[Event "Manila"] [Site "Manila"] [Date "1968.??.??"] [Round "14"] [White "Lim Kok Ann"] [Black "Lobigas, Julian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A79"] [PlyCount "104"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 Nd7 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Ne3 f5 15.f4 Nf7 16. exf5 Bd4 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Rf3 Qh4 19. Kh1 Nh6 20. Bd2 Bg4 21. Rg3 Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Bxe3 23. Bxe3 Nf5 24. Rh3 Qf6 25. Qf2 Re7 26. Re1 Rae8 27. Kg1 Na6 28. g4 Nd4 29. f5 Nb4 30. Rh6 Nd3 31. Qg3 Nxe1 32. Rxg6+ Qxg6 33. fxg6 Nef3+ 34. Kf2 Ne5 35. Bg5 Rf8+ 36. Kg2 Rg7 37. Ne4 Rxg6 38. h4 Rf7 39. Nf6+ Rfxf6 40. Bxf6 Rxg4 41. Kh3 Rxg3+ 42. Kxg3 Nf7 43. b4 Nb3 44. Bc3 c4 45. Kf4 Nc1 46. Ke3 Na2 47. Bd4 Nxb4 48. Bxa7 Ne5 49. Kd4 c3 50. Kxc3 Nxd5+ 51. Kd4 Nf6 52. Bb6 Kf7 0-1) .. Rather than regaining his pawn on f5 he creates a double attack against Koneru's knight, winning a tempo. [ Analysis:In my database the only move I found Black had played in this position was 16...gxf5 ]

Returning to the moves of the Koneru-Wojtaszek game, she next made a capture:

17.fxg6

Koneru goes up a second pawn in material.Junior 9 which is programmed to understand the concept of "compensation" evaluates that Wojtaszek has about 1.5 pawns compensation in this position. Play in the game continued with the Polish GM making this move:

17...Nh6N

He plays a novelty for the position. In the Lim Kok-Lobigas game mentioned above, Lobigas continued with 17...hxg6

Next, the two players made these moves:

18.gxh7+ Kh8

Despite being up 3 pawns, my chess programs evaluate that he has sufficient compensation for the pawns. [ Analysis: 18...Kxh7? 19.Rf3 Qh4 ( 19...Qf6 20.Kh1 Bf5 21.g4 Bxc3 22.Nxf5 Nxf5 23.bxc3 Nh4 24.g5 Qe7 ) 20.Bd2 Bf5 21.Qe1 Qe7 22.Kh1 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Qg7 24.Rg3 Qf6]

19.Kh1

She spends a tempo to break the pin against her knight, and takes the king off the half-open h-file. [Analysis:Junior 9: 19.Bh5 Bxe3+ 20.Bxe3 Rxe3 21.Qd2 Qe7 22.Rae1 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Qxh7 And Black has some compensation for the pawn.]

For his next move Wojtaszek made a capture:
19...Bxe3

The move Junior 9 suggested, preventing Koneru from playing the knight back to c2 where it would have combined for a double attack against his bishop. [ Analysis: Junior 9: 19...Bxe3 20.Bxe3 Rxe3 21.Qd2 Qe7 22.Rae1 Bf5 23.Nd1 Re4 24.Bf3 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Qg7 ]

20.Bh5!?

Rather than exchange bishops on e3 she decides to attack his rook, potentially winning a tempo.Junior 9 evaluates this position as [ Analysis:Junior 9:(a) 20.Bxe3 Rxe3 21.Bd3 Bf5 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.g4 Nh4 24.g5 Qd7 ; (b)Junior 9 and Shredder 8: 20.Bd3 Bf5 ( 20...Ng4 21.g3 Qf6 22.Qc2 Bxc1 23.Qxc1 Bf5 24.Bxf5 Qxf5 ) 21.Bxf5 Nxf5 22.Rf3 ]

The game continued with Wojtaszek's next move being:

20...Qh4!?

Attacking her bishop.
[ Analysis:Junior 9: 20...Qh4 21.f5 Bxf5 22.Bxe8 Ng4 23.h3 Rxe8 24.Qf3 Nf2+ 25.Kh2 Re5 And Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

Koneru's next move of the game was a capture:

21.Bxe3

[ Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 21.g3 Qh3 22.Bxe3 Rxe3 23.Bf3 Bg4 24.Bg2 Qh5 25.Qd2 Rae8 ; Analysis:Junior 9: 21.f5 Nxf5 22.Qf3 Re5 23.g4 Bd7!? 24.gxf5 Rxf5 25.Qe2 Qxh5 26.Bxe3 Qxe2 27.Nxe2 27...Nxd5 ]

His next move was obviously also a capture:

21...Rxe3

Regaining material equality. The game continued with the Indian GM playing:

22.Qd2

Attacking his rook winning a tempo. [ Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:: 22.Qd2 Re7 23.Bg6 Bf5 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Qf2 Qxf2 26.Rxf2 Kxh7 ] He continued play by making the following move:

22...Re7

The lost tempo, however her bishop is enprise so she must spend a tempo to save it, which she did by playing:

23.Bf3

The lost tempo. The Polish GM next played a developing move:

23...Bf5

Developing his bishop which allows him to activate his rook. [ Analysis: (a)Hiarcs 8:Better was 23...Ng4 with this continuation possible: >=23...Ng4 24.g3 Qxh7 25.Rfe1 Bf5 26.Rxe7 Qxe7 27.h3 Qe3 28.Qxe3 Nxe3 And White lacks sufficient compensation for the pawn.; (b)Shredder 8:Better was 23...Nf5 with this continuation possible: 23...Nf5 24.Kg1 Bd7 25.g3 Qxh7 26.Be4 Rae8 27.Rae1 Qg7 28.Qf2 Qd4 29.Bxf5 Bxf5 30.Rxe7 Rxe7 31.Rd1 Qf6 ]

Humpy found and interesting idea for her next move and played :

24.b4!?

Koneru offers a pawn sacrifice.
[ Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:: 24.b4 b6 25.Rae1 Rxh7 26.bxc5 ( 26.g3 Qh3 27.Qb2 Rg7 28.Ne2 Bd3 29.Ng1 Qd7 ) 26...bxc5 27.g3 Qh3 28.Bg2 Qh5 And White has insufficient compensation for the pawn.]

He decided to decline the sacrifice and instead played, for his next move:

24...b6

[ Analysis: (a)If he had taken the pawn play might have continued: 24...cxb4 25.Qd4+ Rg7 ( 25...Kxh7) 26.g3 ( 26.Qxb4 Ng4 27.Bxg4 Qxg4 28.Ra2 Qg6 29.Qxb7 Re8 30.Qxa7 Nb5 31.axb5 Rxa7 32.Rxa7 Qf6 ) 26...Qd8 27.Qxb4 Na6 28.Qd4 Nc5 29.Rae1 Bd3 30.Rg1 Nf5 31.Qb4 a5 32.Qb2 Qf6 ; (b) 24...Kxh7?! 25.bxc5 dxc5 26.Rae1 =; (c) 24...Bxh7?! 25.g3 Qf6 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Rad1 ]

25.Nd1

She intends to move the knight to f2. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8: 25.Rae1 Rae8 26.g3 ( 26.Rxe7 Rxe7 27.g3 Qh3 28.Bg2 Qh5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.Re1 Rxe1+ 31.Qxe1 Qf7 ) 26...Qf6 27.bxc5 bxc5 28.Rxe7 Rxe7 29.Re1 Ng4 30.Kg2 Rxe1 31.Qxe1 Qf7 ] His next move of the game was: 25...Qf6

Attacking her rook winning a tempo.
[Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:: 25...Kxh7 26.bxc5 bxc5 27.g3 Qf6 28.Nf2 Rae8 29.Rac1 ( 29.Ra3 Qd4 30.Qxd4 cxd4 31.g4 Re3 32.Rxe3 dxe3 33.gxf5 exf2 ) 29...Re3 30.Kg2 Qf7 And White lacks sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

Koneru continued play by making this move next:

26.Nf2

Now she threatens to play 27.g4.
[ Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 26.bxc5!? bxc5
( 26...Qxa1 27.cxd6 Rxh7 28.Ne3 Qxa4 29.dxc7 Rg7 And White has sufficient compensation for the pawn.) ] The game continued with Wojtaszek playing:

26...Rae8

Now he threatens to play ...Kxh7 going up a pawn. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:: 26...Bxh7 27.g4 Nf7 (27...Qh4 28.Rae1 Rae8 29.Rxe7 Qxe7 30.bxc5 bxc5 31.Qa5 Qe3 32.Bg2 Re7 33.Qxa7 Qxf4 34.Qb8+ Ne8 ) 28.Ra3 Qh4 29.g5 cxb4 30.Rb3 Rg8 31.Rxb4 Bf5 32.Qd4+ Rg7 33.Qf6 Re3 34.Qxf5 Rxf3 And White has sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

The next move of the game by her was:

27.bxc5

[ Analysis:Shredder 8: 27.g4 Re3 28.g5 Qg6 29.Ra3 Rxa3 30.Qb2+ Qg7 31.Qxa3 Qd4 32.Qc1 Nf7 ] and Wojtaszek also made a capture on his next move:

27...bxc5

He gains a protected passed pawn.
[Analysis:Shredder 8:Better was 27...dxc5 with this continuation possible: >=27...dxc5 28.Rad1 Qd6 29.Bh5 Rd8 30.g4 Bxh7 31.Qb2+ Rg7 32.f5 Qf4 33.f6 Rg5 34.f7+ Rg7 35.Rde1 Nxf7 36.Nh3 Qd4 ]

The game continued with Koneru playing:

28.Rae1

Offering to eliminate all the rooks from play, however this will cost her the h-pawn. [ Analysis: Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:Better was 28.g4 with this continuation possible: >=28.g4 Re3 29.g5 Qg6 30.Bg2 Nf7 31.Rfe1 ( 31.Rae1 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Qxh7 33.Rxe8+ Nxe8 34.Qe3 Bd7 ) 31...Qg7 32.Rxe3 Qxa1+ 33.Qd1 Qa2 34.Rxe8+ Nxe8 ]

Returning to the moves played in the game, the players continued the game by playing:

28...Rxe1
29.Rxe1 Rxe1+
30.Qxe1 Bxh7

Leaving Wojtaszek up a pawn.Her f-pawn is enprise so she has to spend a tempo to save it. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 30...Qd4 31.h3 Nxd5 32.Ng4 Bxg4 33.hxg4 Ne3 34.g5 Nhf5 ]

Play in the game continued with Koneru moving a pawn:

31.g3

The lost tempo. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8 and Shredder 8:Better was 31.Nh3 with this continuation possible: 31.Nh3 Bf5 32.Ng5 Bc2 33.g3 ( 33.Nh3 Qg7 34.g4 Bxa4 35.Ng5 Be8 36.h3 Qf6 ) 33...Nf5 34.Kg2 Kg8 35.h4 Bxa4 ]

He begins to advance his passed pawn. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8,Junior 9 and Shredder 8:Even better seems 31...Nf5!? with this continuation possible: 31...Nf5!? 32.Be4 Bg8 33.Qd1 ( 33.Kg1 Bxd5 34.Qb1 Ne3 35.h3 Qc3 36.Qb8+ Bg8 37.Qb1 d5 38.Bg2 c4 ) 33...Qf7 34.Qg4 Bh7 35.Qg5 Ne3 36.Kg1 Ne8 37.Qd8 Bg6 And White has insufficient compensation for the pawn.]

Returning to the moves played in the game, which continued with Koneru playing:

32.Qb4

Attacking his pawn winning a tempo.
[ Analysis:Shredder 8:Better was 32.Ne4 with this continuation possible: >=32.Ne4 Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Nf5 34.Bg4 Nd4 35.Kg2 c3 36.Bd1 Kg7 37.Kh1 a6 ]

The game continued with his next move being:

32...c3
The lost tempo. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8 ,Junior 9 and Shredder 8:Better was 32...Qa1 with this continuation possible: 32...Qa1+ 33.Kg2 Nf5 34.Qb8+ Bg8 35.Ng4 Qg7 36.Qc8 Nd4 37.Be4 c3 38.Nh6!? Qxh6 39.Qxc7 c2 40.Qc4 ( 40.Qc3 Qf6 41.Bxc2 Bxd5+ ) 40...Qg7 41.Bxc2 Nxc2 42.Qxc2 Bxd5+ 43.Kf1 Bf7 ]

Now a critical moment of the game has been reached, Humpy apparently miscalculated and played:

33.Be4??

Creating the threat of 34.Qb8+ , however this move is a blunder. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8,Junior 9 and Shredder 8:Better is 33.Ne4 with this continuation possible: >=33.Ne4 Bxe4 34.Bxe4 Ng8 35.Qc4 Qg7 36.Bf3 Nh6 ( 36...a5 37.Bd1 Na8 38.Kg2 Nb6 39.Qd3 Qf6 40.h4 Kg7 41.h5 Ne7 ) 37.Qc6 Nf5 38.Be4 c2 39.Qxc2 Ne3 40.Qb1 Qc3 ]

Wojtaszek now took advantage of Koneru's error by playing:

33...Nxd5!

Winning another pawn. She next played:

34.Qb8+

Winning a tempo for the pawn.
[ Analysis: Shredder 8:If 34.Bxd5 c2 35.Nd3 Bxd3 36.Qe1 Ng8 37.Qc1 Qd4 38.Bf3 Qb4 39.h4 Qb1 40.Qxb1 cxb1Q+ ]

The game continued with the Polish Gradmaster making this move:

34...Ng8

The lost tempo. Koneru, possibly in time trouble, makes another oversight when she next played

35.Bxd5??

A blunder. [ Analysis:Hiarcs 8, Junior 9, and Shredder 8:The last chance for counterplay was 35.Bxh7 with this continuation possible: 35.Bxh7 Kxh7 36.Qxa7+ Kh8 ( 36...Nge7 37.Ne4 ; 36...Qe7 37.Qxe7+ Ngxe7 38.Nd3 Nc6 39.Nc1 Nb6 40.a5 Na4 41.Kg2 d5 ) 37.Nd3 c2 38.Qf2 Qa1+ 39.Kg2 Ngf6 ]

Threatening to queen his pawn. Koneru makes another mistake next when she played:

36.Nd3??

[ Analysis:Shredder 8:Better was 36.Qc7 with this continuation possible: 36.Qc7 Qa1+ 37.Kg2 c1Q 38.Qxc1 Qxc1 39.Bf3 Kg7 ] The game concluded with Wojtaszek playing: 36..Qd4