Best game of the year?
"Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy"
Siegbert Tarrasch
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The game starts e4, c6 ... the Caro-Kann defense. Fighting strong for the center in every move, black decides to exchange the light square bishop and closes the pawn structure so the bishop pair is somehow neutralized. Wesley So goes for a fast development, and after:
| 7 | 0-0 | Nd7 |
| 8 | exd5 | cxd5 |
| 9 | Rd1 | Nf6 |
| 10 | d4! |
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we can see how d3 is now a very strong place for the white bishop.
They both focus the pieces to control the e5 square, and Re3? is a mistake since this allows black to push e4 controlling the center and threatening the Bishop. 18. Bh6 and now e4 becomes an strong fork which seems to gain a piece ...
Nevertheless, e4?? is a blunder.
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Can you find the mind-blowing plan Wesley got in his mind?
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Though Melkumyan realizes he cannot capture and is forced to move back, Rxe4!! starts the magic and Wesley So begins a massive tactical attack:
Black tries to hold the position but if played with accuracy the game is already lost.
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Can you force black to resign?
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1 - 0
