C45 Nataf, Pavlovic, Radzabov - Fressinet, Lautier, Svidler

[#]1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 ed 4.¤d4 ¥c5

[4...¤f6 5.¤c6 bc 6.e5 £e7]

5.¤c6 £f6 6.£d2 dc 7.¤c3 ¥d4 8.¥c4

[8.¥d3]

8...¤h6 9.O-O ¤g4 10.¥b3 £d6 11.£f4 O-O 12.£d6 cd 13.¥f4 ¤f6 An approximately equal endgame has arisen. After the text move the weak black d6-pawn is being exchanged for the white e4-pawn, and the position is simplified even more. 14.¥d6 ¦e8 15.¦ae1

[The alternative was 15.e5 , which would have led to a complete emasculation of the position.]

15...¥c3 16.bc ¤e4 17.¥b4

17...¥d7 White's two bishops compensate for a spoiled pawn structure. Black is back in development in a degree, and a slight accuracy is demanded from them.

[For example, after 17...a5 unpleasant was 18.f3;

while after 17...¥f5 very interesting was 18.g4!?]

18.f3 ¤f6 19.¦e8 ¦e8 20.c4 b6 21.¦d1 ¥e6 22.¢f2 c5 23.¥c3

23...¦c8! Both sides have been making quite natural moves so far. The last move is not completely obvious. Black plans the set-up with ¢e7, ¤d6 pressurizing the weak white queenside pawns preventing the white bishop from activation after ¥a4. 24.g4 ¢f8 25.a4 a5 26.¥e5 ¤e8 27.c3 g6 The next prophylactic move aimed at preventing the white bishop's activation from c2. Nevertheless...

28.¥c2! White must act energetically; otherwise their pawn weaknesses may become perceptible. 28...¥c4 29.¥e4 ¥b3 30.¦d2 ¢e7

[30...¥a4 31.¥b7]

31.¦b2 c4 32.¦e2 ¢d7 33.¥b7

[33.¦d2 ¢e7 34.¦e2]

33...¦d8 34.¦d2 ¢e7 35.¦d8 ¢d8 36.¥c6 White has obtained sufficient compensation for the pawn but no more than that. 36...¢e7 37.¥d4 ¤c7 38.¥b6 ¢d6 39.¥e4 ¤d5 40.¥a5 ¥a4 41.¥d5 ¢d5 42.¢e3 Draw. [1/2:1/2]

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