Fedoseev
Abdusattorov
Fedoseev
 
Abdusattorov
 
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1
3
6 turns without comments
4

Fedoseev opts for the catalan opening

We should be able to see a long and complex positional battle now.

-01:-42 g3
4
9
11 turns without comments
10

a typical move!

White seems to be ignoring a threat to his attacked pawn in the bishop's flank, but it is quite common in these kinds of setps. By capturing the free pawn, Black will get into trouble in the long diagonal of White's 'Catalan' bishop.

-04:-47 Qc2
10
12
5 turns without comments
13

A nice re-routing of the knight!

The white knight now aims for the dark squares on the queenside. having completed his development, White has a mild initiative in the position here.

-06:-44 Nd3
13
15
4 turns without comments
15

Black has solved his development problems

With his last undeveloped minor piece too out of the barracks, Black can confidently look forward to the middlegame now. It's even stevens here. We can even say that Black has the psychological advantage of having equalized the game!

-05:-58 Nc6
16
17
3 turns without comments
17

!!GREAT MOVE!!

Black looks like giving up his bishop in the white rook's path, but it is only a pseudo-sacrifice. He is bound to get back the white knight on the bishop's flank soon.

-01:-52 Nxb4
18
24
14 turns without comments
25

The game is moving towards complete equality

After a flurry of exchanges, the position has stabilized into complete equality. But, true to his style, we can expect Abdusattorov to start trying the endgame here, to prove the superiority of his bishop over the opponent's knight.

-04:-20 Rxc3
25
30
11 turns without comments
31

White is trying to create chances on the kingside

Typical of an endgame, White is trying to provoke weaknesses on the kingside. But, in the process, he is weakening his king too!

04:05 h4
31
34
6 turns without comments
34

It's a completely equal endgame now, too

With the exchange of queens, the game becomes even more dry: neither side is in a position to play for any advantage unless helped kindly by their opponents!

-04:-08 Rxb1
35
41
14 turns without comments
42

Fedoseev's committal move

White provokes an exchange, even at the cost of creating an isolated pawn for himself. He probably wishes to create play against the traditional weakness for Black in such positions: the bishop pawn on the second rank.

-03:-01 e4
42
44
5 turns without comments
45

Abdusattorov has a minute advantage!

Though White has created a passed pawn, Abdusattorov might be able to hunt the white king now, with his rook and knight. Suddenly, the game springs to life!

00:-52 d5
45
48
7 turns without comments
49

Desperate measures!

Fedoseev is worried for his king's safety, and rushes his rook to the kingside for defense. In the process, he doesn't mind sacrificing his passed pawn too

02:09 Rc1
49
52
7 turns without comments
53

We enter a Bishop vs Knight endgame!

With the exchange of rooks, the game seems to tilt in Black's favour, but White still has good drawing chances.

05:22 Kxf2
53
79
52 turns without comments
79

Black has an extra pawn once again!

Though Black has captured one of the pawns, the resultant endgame should still be drawn. White has to keep both his king and the bishop protecting the surviving white pawn. But it is easier said than done!

03:49 Nxe4
80
114
70 turns without comments
115

White has a difficult task!

Though the position is objectively drawn, it is an uphill task to achieve the draw in limited time.

01:23 Bc6
115
129
28 turns without comments
129

The game ends in a draw due to the Fifty Moves rule!

02:55 Kf3

A good fighting game!

A complex fight where Abdusattorov held a slight advantage throughout! Even though the position looked equal for much of the duration, Abdusattorov gained a slight advantage in the endgame. However, realizing his problems, Fedoseev dug in, defending doggedly and preserving the draw in a bishop vs. knight endgame.