[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]
1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... d7d5  4. g2g3  4... d5c4  5. f1g2  5... c7c6 The game begins as a Catalan opening, but now we have a transposition to a line that often occurs in the Semi-Slav move order where White sacrifices the pawn on c4. This leads to extremely complicated and risky positions. 6. e1g1  6... b7b5  7. a2a4  7... c8b7  8. f3e5  8... a7a6  9. b2b3  9... c4b3  10. d1b3  10... d8d4  11. c1b2  11... d4b4  12. b3c2  12... b4c5  13. c2d3  13... f8e7  14. b1d2 This is all theory, and it's best not to go too deep in the moves leading to this position since there's a lot to analyze in the rest of the game. The only thing I can say is that after the move is played, the advantage is already firmly in White's hands, so this is a good moment to look for an alternative. 14... f6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 15. f1c1 There is a very tempting alternative as well. Judging by the time Esipenko thought here, it's clear he was already out of prep. 15... c5b6  16. e5c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent knight sacrifice. The queenside is exposed, and the g- and h-pawns will fall, meaning the black king no longer has a safe haven. 16... b5c4  17. d2c4  17... d5b4 This move gives the piece back and has the appearance of a desperate attempt to get into an endgame, whatever the cost. 18. d3b1 This is a mystery moment for me. Esipenko could enter an endgame with a pawn up and great winning chances, but instead he preferred to play with the initiative in a material-less position. 18... b6c5  19. b2g7  19... h8g8  20. b1h7 [%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is an inaccuracy. 20... g8g7  21. h7g7  21... b8d7 Black's position remains difficult, but not as much as it was before. 22. g7h8  22... e7f8  23. a4a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An important prophylactic move, avoiding a6-a5 and thus leaving the knight on b4 in an unstable situation. 23... a8b8  24. a1b1  24... b7c8  25. b1b2 [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I love this kind of move. White wants to bring the rook to the d-file. 25... c5g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The position is very complicated, and mistakes are inevitable. It is even more difficult to play with Black, as any error is fatal. 26. b2d2  26... b4d5  27. e2e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A natural move but not the best. 27... g5h6 [%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 28. h8a1 [%c_effect a1;square;a1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Again, not the best continuation. 28... d5f6  29. c4d6  29... f8d6  30. d2d6  30... c6c5 Black is fully back in the game. 31. c1b1  31... b8b4 This is inaccurate, as the b4-pawn will become a serious weakness. 32. b1b4  32... c5b4  33. d6c6  33... e8d8 This is forced. 34. a1b2  34... f6g4  35. h2h3  35... h6f6 [%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 36. c6c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 36... f6b2  37. c2b2  37... g4e5  38. b2b4 Both players can breathe a little now as the fireworks are over. White has the advantage in this endgame of a rook and two pawns against a pair of knights. But there are drawing chances. 38... e5c6  39. b4a4  39... e6e5  40. f2f3  40... d8e7  41. g2f1  41... d7c5  42. a4a3  42... c8e6  43. h3h4  43... c6d4  44. g1f2  44... e6b3  45. a3a1  45... b3c2  46. g3g4  46... e7f6  47. f2g3  47... f6g6  48. a1e1  48... c5b3  49. f1a6  49... b3a5  50. f3f4  50... e5f4  51. g3f4 White has some practical chances, but Black should be able to make a draw. 51... d4e6  52. f4e3  52... a5b3  53. a6c4  53... b3d4  54. e1f1  54... c2a4  55. g4g5  55... a4b5  56. f1f6  56... g6g7  57. c4b5  57... d4b5  58. h4h5  58... e6f8  59. f6c6  59... f8e6  60. g5g6 The pawns are disappearing from the board, and it is surprising that White still has real chances to win. 60... b5c7  61. g6f7  61... g7f7 Once again, when analyzing a game by Keymer, a player who seems to have a magical attraction for endgames, I can say: we arrived in a tablebase position, that technological tool that is the joy of chess commentators. Every time I indicate a move with an exclamation mark, it means it's the only way to win or draw. I now focus on the moments where mistakes are made. 62. e4e5 