Nakamura, Hikaru – Rapport, Richard

Here we go. The Chigorin defence is rarely seen on top level, if we disregard the games of Richard Rapport.

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Date: February 20, 2017
Location: Sharjah UAE
Tournament: Sharjah Grand Prix 2017
Round: 3.4
Opening: D07 Queen's Gambit Declined Chigorin Defense
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.20"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2692"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 $5 {Here we go. The Chigorin defence is rarely seen on top level, if we disregard the games of Richard Rapport.} 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 { Necessary exchange, getting rid of one defender of the d4 pawn} (4... Qxd5 5. Nc3 {And White is virtually winning already}) 5. gxf3 Qxd5 6. e3 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 {I think this can be regarded as the tabiya of the Chigorin defence. It is obvious that White is better, due to the open b-file, massive centre and bishop pair. I think it goes without saying that White has emerged better out of the opening.} Qd7 {[pgndiagram] A new move. I am not entirely certain of the reasons behind this move. I guess Black's idea is to go for the queenside castling without leaving the h7 pawn hanging.} (9... Qd6 { Is the only move in my database} 10. Rb1 b6 (10... O-O-O {Alas, is now impossible, since f7 is hanging} 11. Qb3) 11. Rg1 g6 12. f4 exf4 13. e4 {And White is better}) 10. Rb1 O-O-O 11. Bg2 {[pgndiagram] Nakamura goes for the logical development without trying to be too smart. I have noticed that he has adjusted his style to be more solid in the last couple of years.} (11. Qb3 {Is playable though} b6 12. Bb5 Kb7 13. Rg1 g6 14. f4 f6 {And I think White's bishop is much stronger on g2 than on b5 in general}) 11... Nge7 {Rappot leaves his pawn on f7 hanging nevertheless} (11... Nf6 {And knight doesn't have anywhere to go from f6} 12. O-O Rhe8 13. Qa4 {And White can start opening the position} Kb8 14. f4) 12. Qb3 {[pgndiagram] Nakamura decides to take the pawn} (12. O-O Ng6 {Preventing f4, is one of the main ideas of the Nge7. Also Nh4 is an option here} 13. f4 Nh4 14. fxe5 Nxg2 15. Kxg2 Nxe5 {Is not very clear}) 12... b6 13. Qxf7 Rhf8 14. Qc4 {[pgndiagram] It is doubtful whether Black has full compensation for the pawn. White has no weaknesses, and he only needs to complete his development to be completely comfortable. I think that Rapport's opening experiment has failed} (14. Qh5 {Keeping the queen in vicinity of the king, might be better try for consolidating the pawn advantage} exd4 15. cxd4 Nxd4 16. exd4 Qxd4 {Is quite dangerous though, especialyl in practical game}) 14... Kb8 15. O-O g5 $2 {[pgndiagram] Actually, in hindsight, it is only with this move that the tide definitely turns toward Nakamura.} ( 15... Ng6 $1 {Would actually be better, since it virtually forces White to play f4 under less favourable circumstances} 16. f4 {White has to play this} Na5 17. Qb5 (17. Qd3 {Is perhaps an option, but it needs more investigating}) 17... exf4 18. Qxd7 Rxd7 19. e4 Nc4 {And suddenly Black has managed to block the position and his knights aren't inferior to the bishops} 20. Bc1 c5 21. Rd1 {And the position is unclear}) 16. Rb5 {Now Black doesn't have the same positional pressure as in 15... Ng6 variation. This move threatens f4 whenever Black moves the e7 knight} Rf6 (16... Ng6 17. f4) 17. e4 h6 (17... exd4 {At this stage hardly any move is good for Black at this point} 18. Bxg5 Rg6 19. Bh4 d3 20. Rd1 {And White is close to winning}) 18. dxe5 {Now it is basically over. White has two clear pawns more and should win easily. But it is never over in chess} Na5 19. Qe2 (19. Qd4 {The computer will finish the game very fast} Rff8 20. Rxa5 bxa5 21. Be3 Qxd4 22. cxd4 {And White's pawns are just gorgeous}) 19... Rc6 20. Be3 Ng6 {[pgndiagram]} (20... Rxc3 {Is just naive} 21. Rxa5 Rxe3 (21... bxa5 22. Qb2+) 22. Qa6 {1-0}) 21. Rd5 Qe7 22. Rfd1 {