source: lichess.org
Greetings to all chess fans! The Tata Steel Chess tournament is ongoing and can be watched live in lichess.com. It's known as the Wimbledon of chess and attracts the strongest players in the world. In round 5, three players, Abdusattorov, Sindarov and Niemann share the lead with 3.5 points each. The standings got shaken in round six as Niemann lost and Sindarov drew his game while Abdusattorov beat Gukesh after the world champion blundered.
With plenty of time remaining, Gukesh blundered with Rg5, leaving his f6 pawn undefended. After Qxf6+ his rook on g5 will be taken leaving him with a piece down.
My favorite game in the tournament so far was Hans Niemann's win against Indian GM Chithambaram Aravindh in round 4. It was an exciting game where Hans sacrificed his queen.
The game started with 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. c4 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 Nc7 7. O-O e5 8. a3 Rb8 9. d3 Be7 10. Nd2 Bd7 11. Nc4 f6 12. f4 b5 13. Ne3 O-O
The position above was still in book move and had been played before. In the next move, Aravindh introduced a novelty with the plan of a king side attack. 14. f5 Nd4 15. g4 Kh8
Removing the King from the a2-g8 diagonal and giving room for his Rook on g8. 16. Bd2 Be8
The bishop doesn't do much on d7. Repositioning it to f7 gives it control of an important diagonal. 17. Ne4 Bf7 18. Bc3?! b4 19. axb4 cxb4 20. Bd2 Bb3 21. Qe1 Ncb5
At this point Black has the advantage. He has a pawn majority on the Queenside while White is nursing a weak pawn on e2. Black's plan is easy. Just push the a pawn and create a passed pawn on the Queen side. 22. Rc1 Bg8 23. Rd1 a5 24. Kh1 Nb3 25. Nc4 Nxd2
Hans took the bishop on d2 to relieve the pressure on his a5 and b4 pawns. 26. Rxd2 b3 27. Qg3 a4 28. g5 a3
The Black pawns are marching on the Queen side. White has to try and counter attack on the King side. 29. e3 fxg5?! 30. Nxe5 Rb6?!
Computer analysis didn't like this move, preferring the more offensive a2. The aim of Rb6 was to defend the sixth rank against possible King side attack. 31. bxa3 Nxa3 32. Rb2 Qe8 33. d4 Nc4 34. Rbb1 b2 35. Rf2 Qc8 36. Rc2? Nxe5
The pawn on b2 is very strong, black can afford to give up his Queen. 37. Rxc8 Rxc8
Black was threatening Rc1+. White can't recapture the Knight on e5. 38. Nc5 Bxc5 39. Be4 Nc4 40. dxc5 Rxc5 41. Qf2 Nd6 42. Bc2 Bd5+
Looks like the game is over for White. Black's pieces are all active while White's rook is passive guarding the b2 pawn. White is hoping for an attack after f6, opening up the black King's position. 43. Kg1 Ne4 44. Qe2? Nc3 45. Qd3 Nxb1 46. f6
Hoping for an attack but Hans quickly douses any hope. 46. ...Rxc2 47. Qxd5 gxf6 48. Qd8+ Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg6 50. Qe8+ Kf5 51. Qd7+ Ke4 52. Qd4+ Kf3 53. Qd1+ Kxe3 54. Qxc2?! Nd2 55. Qc5+ Ke2 0-1
White was hoping for a draw by perpetual check but he soon ran out and the b2 pawn is unstoppable from promoting. A strong showing by Hans Niemann in this game.
Link: https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-chess-2026--masters/round-4/TU7qC17C/Ay87teqm
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