The following game was examined, the game 57 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. Paul Benson. * * * Annotated game. White: Vachier-Lagrave, 2696. Black: Dzagnidze, 2518. Event: Gibtelecom 2009. Result: 0-1 in 57 moves. Opening: Sicilian, B31. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 | The presence of a knight on c6, instead of a pawn on d6, means this is not a standard Dragon Variation. The white knight is now threatened, a decision must be made by white. || 6. Nb3 | Instead either the much more popular, 6. Be3, or, 6. Nde2, are also played here. || 6. ... d6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O O-O | The position could be considered as a reverse English, with white having an extra tempo on the main lines of the black side of games beginning, 1. c4 e5. || 9. Re1 | Other choices for white here are, 9. Be3, 9. Bg5, 9. Kh1, and, 9. f4. || 9. ... Be6 | Now black has 3 pieces supporting the natural central pawn break, d5. || 10. Bg5 | The only other serious choice for white here is, 10. Bf1. || 10. ... a5 | Expanding on the queenside in a different manner from the usual plan of pawns, a6, and, b5. || 11. a3 | The alternative, 11. a4, prevents black from gaining further space, but permits a black knight to use the b4 square. || 11. ... a4 12. Nd2 Ra5 | Perhaps not the most obvious square for a rook, but it brings a powerful influence to the centre. || 13. Be3 d5 | The thematic central break, which also leads to the g7 bishop coming to life. || 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 | A favourable formation of doubling down a file, the lesser value rook ahead of the greater value queen. || 16. c3 Ne5 17. Bd4 | White intends to neutralise the potential of the black g7 bishop. Black has other ideas. || 17. ... Rxd4 | Is this exchange sacrifice sound? Perhaps Fritz can calmly produce reams of analysis to judge it, but a living breathing human opponent is a different matter. All of the practical chances of achieving a win are in black's favour, white has no means of fighting for control of the dark squares. || 18. cxd4 Qxd4 19. Nf1 Nc6 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 | The g7 bishop is not going to be denied activity, now there are some tricky moments ahead for both players to calculate. || 21. Bb5 | White can not save the b2 pawn. If, 21. Rab1, simply, 21. ... Bf5, forces the defender away and also prevents white from achieving any play down the b-file later on. || 21. ... Bxb2 22. Rab1 Bc3 | Black must resist, 22. ... Bxa3 23. Bxa4, when the dangerous advanced black a-pawn is eliminated. White has no easy means to challenge the black dark square bishop, in particular trying to cover the potential promotion a1 square, so keeping the black a-pawn is vital to the plan. || 23. Rec1 Bf5 | Attacking the white b1 rook, which has no safe squares available. It seems as if black is going to regain an exchange with a little profit. || 24. Bxc6 bxc6 | A good chance for black to go wrong here was, 24. ... Bxb1 25. Bf3, and black has both bishops attacked and no means to protect both, so black would be losing a piece. The piece trade on c6 has lengthened the b-file for the white b1 rook, so white is not actually losing an exchange at all. || 25. Rb7 Bd4 | Backwardly protecting the a7 square, black must keep the advanced a4 pawn to retain any winning chances. || 26. Rxe7 | Avoiding the disastrous, 27. Rxc6 Be4, when white loses an exchange. || 26. ... Rb8 | White now has to be aware of dangers on the back rank. There is also the possibility of black taking control of the white 2nd rank to be considered. It is said that 2 bishops and a rook can adequately counter 2 rooks and a knight, and this game does everything to support such a view. || 27. Ree1 | Protecting the back rank as, 27. Rxc6 Rb1 28. Rec7 Bb2, and white is struggling to defend against the black threat of, Bd3, winning a piece. If 29. Rd6 Be5 costs an exchange. || 27. ... c5 | Now the black c-pawn also becomes a threat, and there is also still the problem of how to defend the white a3 pawn. || 28. Ng3 | The knight must get over to the queenside as quickly as possible. || 28. ... Bd3 29. Ne2 Bb2 | Trading one advantage for another. The c5 pawn is offered in order to create a dangerous passed a-pawn, which will soon cost white a piece. || 30. Rxc5 Bxa3 | Creating 2 threats at once, the attack on the white c5 rook is obvious, but there is also the threat of, Bxe2, and the white e1 rook can not recapture as mate will occur with, Rb1+. White has only one move to save both pieces. || 31. Re5 Bb2 33. Nc3 Kf8 | To prevent white from trading a pair of rooks with, Re8+, which would make the white defensive task easier. || 34. Nxa4 | Saving time and energy. The black a-pawn will cost material in the long run, this ensures it is for the knight and not a rook. || 34. ... Bxa4 | So, black has a pair of bishops for a rook. White must seek an exchange of rooks to reduce the pressure, black needs the rook in order to produce a double attack on a targeted pawn. Should black actually win a pawn, the f-pawn being the most likely target, then white will be losing. While both players are pursuing their aims, black must also avoid any pawn exchanges. || 35. h4 h5 36. Re4 | Perhaps, 36. R3e2, taking control of the white 2nd rank and forcing black to evict the rook from the rank would offer a defence. It is not obvious how black can displace the white 2nd rank rook for her own rook, which is necessary to be part of the pressure against the white f-pawn. || 36. ... Bc2 37. Rc4 Bf5 38. g3 Bf6 39. Ra4 Rb2 | The white f-pawn is announced as the target. Note that white can not hope to offer a defence from a rook on f1, as black can push it away with the light square bishop landing on the f1-a6 diagonal. || 40. Ra8+ Kg7 | The black king is now safe from rook checks. White seeks to double rooks down a file in order to take control of the 2nd rank, while black shuffles the bishops in order to maintain the rook on the white 2nd rank. || 41. Rae8 Be6 42. Rd1 Bc3 43. Red8 Ba5 44. R8d4 Bg4 45. Rc1 Bd2 46. Ra1 Bc3 47. Rc4 Be5 48. Rac1 Bf5 49. Re1 Bd3 50. Ra4 Bb5 | The beginning of a favourable bishop alignment which forces white to defend the f-pawn in a very uncomfortable manner. || 51. Rae4 Bc7 52. Rc1 Bb6 | Now that the b5 bishop is controlling, e2, and, f1, there is only one way to defend the doubly attacked white f-pawn. || 53. Rf4 f5 | The black king is not exposed by this advance. Now black plans to put the unfortunate white f4 rook into a cage from which it will not escape. || 54. Rd1 Bc6 55. Rc1 Be4 | Caged! Now all it needs is for the dark square bishop to find a means of attacking the white f4 rook, the white c1 rook can not prevent this. || 56. Re1 Rb4 | Keeping it under control right to the end. Black wishes to win rook for bishop without losing a pawn in the process. || 57. Rc1 Bd4 | The white c1 rook can not prevent, Be5, black is about to be a bishop up without any compensating complications. If, 58. Rc7+ Kh6 59. Re7 Rb1+ 60. Kh2 Rh1+ is mate. || White resigns, 0-1 * * * ## Unannotated game. White: Vachier-Lagrave, 2696. Black: Dzagnidze, 2518. Event: Gibtelecom 2009. Result: 0-1 in 57 moves. Opening: Sicilian, B31. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nb3 d6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Bg5 a5 11. a3 a4 12. Nd2 Ra5 13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. c3 Ne5 17. Bd4 Rxd4 18. cxd4 Qxd4 19. Nf1 Nc6 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Bb5 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Bc3 23. Rec1 Bf5 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Rb7 Bd4 26. Rxe7 Rb8 27. Ree1 c5 28. Ng3 Bd3 29. Ne2 Bb2 30. Rxc5 Bxa3 31. Re5 Bb2 32. Re3 Bc2 33. Nc3 Kf8 34. Nxa4 Bxa4 35. h4 h5 36. Re4 Bc2 37. Rc4 Bf5 38. g3 Bf6 39. Ra4 Rb2 40. Ra8+ Kg7 41. Rae8 Be6 42. Rd1 Bc3 43. Red8 Ba5 44. R8d4 Bg4 45. Rc1 Bd2 46. Ra1 Bc3 47. Rc4 Be5 48. Rac1 Bf5 49. Re1 Bd3 50. Ra4 Bb5 51. Rae4 Bc7 52. Rc1 Bb6 53. Rf4 f5 54. Rd1 Bc6 55. Rc1 Be4 56. Re1 Rb4 57. Rc1 Bd4 White resigns, 0-1 * * *