Pressure, Patience, and a Collapsing Kingside

This high-level battle from Tata Steel 2026 is a wonderful lesson in how quiet pressure can slowly turn into a powerful attack. Nodirbek Abdusattorov shows great patience, steadily improving his pieces and focusing on the enemy king. Gukesh defends carefully for a long time, but one weakening decision changes the course of the game. What follows is a clear demonstration of how fundamentals, not flashy tricks, decide games—even at the very top.

Opening: Solid Foundations

The game begins with 1.e4 e5, the most classical way to start a chess game. Both sides fight for the center right away. After 2.Nf3 Nc6, development comes naturally, and with 3.Bb5, White enters the Ruy López, an opening known for long, strategic battles.

Black plays 3…a6, asking the bishop a question, and after 4.Ba4 Nf6, pressure is put on the e4-pawn. White calmly castles with 5.O-O, keeping the king safe before starting any adventures.

After 5…Be7, both sides are ready for the middlegame. White chooses 6.Bxc6, giving up the bishop pair to damage Black’s pawn structure. After 6…dxc6, Black’s pawns are slightly awkward, especially in the center. This is not an immediate weakness, but it can matter later.

White continues sensibly with 7.d3, supporting the center and opening lines for development. Black responds with 7…Nd7, reinforcing e5 and preparing to reposition pieces. After 8.Nc3 O-O, both sides are fully developed and ready to maneuver.

Slow Maneuvering and Hidden Ideas

With 9.Be3, White improves the bishop and eyes the queenside. Black answers with 9…Re8, supporting the e-pawn and lining up pieces behind the center.

The move 10.a4 prevents Black from expanding comfortably with …b5. Black mirrors this with 10…a5, fixing the queenside structure. These small pawn moves may look harmless, but they define where pieces can and cannot go.

White steps aside with 11.Kh1, a quiet but useful move. It removes the king from checks along the diagonal and prepares a kingside attack later. Black develops actively with 11…Bd6, pointing toward the kingside.

After 12.Ne2, White reroutes the knight toward g3 or f4. Black plays 12…Nf8, a defensive move that shows respect for potential kingside threats. The knight wants to help defend the king.

With 13.Ng3, White’s pieces begin to face the black king. Black counters in the center with 13…c5, challenging space and freeing pieces. After 14.Nd2 Ne6, both sides are maneuvering, improving their worst-placed pieces.

The move 15.Nf5 is an important moment. White plants a knight near the king, aiming at g7 and h6. Black responds carefully with 15…Bf8, choosing safety over activity.

The First Cracks Appear

White continues improving with 16.Nc4, increasing pressure in the center and queenside. Now Black plays 16…f6, a critical decision. This move weakens the dark squares around the king and blocks natural piece coordination. While it looks solid, it creates long-term problems.

White immediately brings the queen into the attack with 17.Qg4, aiming at g6 and h5. Black steps away from danger with 17…Kh8, but the king is starting to feel boxed in.

After 18.Qg3, White keeps pressure without rushing. Black plays 18…b6, preparing to develop the bishop, but this does little to help the king.

The aggressive 19.h4 shows White’s clear plan: open lines on the kingside. Black reacts with 19…g6, but this further weakens dark squares. Each pawn move around the king is like removing bricks from a wall.

With 20.Nh6, White jumps straight into Black’s position. The knight attacks f7 and g8, creating real discomfort. Black defends with 20…Qd7, trying to connect pieces.

After 21.Ng4 Bg7, Black finally brings a defender near the king, but White calmly reinforces with 22.f3, supporting the center and preparing g-pawn advances.

The Position Explodes

Black plays 22…Ba6, activating a bishop on the long diagonal. White answers with 23.b3, controlling key squares and keeping everything solid.

After 23…Rad8, Black’s rooks finally connect. But White now plays 24.h5, the move that opens the position. Black captures with 24…gxh5, but this opens the g-file and exposes the king even more.

White jumps again with 25.Nh6, keeping the attack alive. Black chooses 25…Bxc4, trading pieces to reduce pressure. After 26.bxc4, White’s center stays strong, and open files appear.

Black grabs another piece with 26…Bxh6, but now comes 27.Bxh6, and suddenly White’s bishop dominates the long diagonal, staring straight at the king.

Decisive Mistakes Under Pressure

Black tries to defend with 27…Rg8, but the pieces are overloaded. White calmly improves with 28.Qh2, lining up threats. After 28…Rg6, Black is barely holding on.

Then 29.Qxh5 removes an important pawn and clears the way. Black tries to fight back with 29…Nf4, attacking the queen and bishop. White responds correctly with 30.Bxf4, removing the attacker. After 30…exf4, lines are fully open.

With 31.g4, White pushes forward, opening more files. Black captures with 31…fxg3, but this only opens more lines toward the king.

White centralizes with 32.Kg2, keeping everything protected. Black’s 32…Qd4 looks active, but it is too late.

After 33.Rae1, White brings the last rook into the game. Black plays 33…Kg7, but the king has no safe shelter left.

The central break 34.e5 is crushing. Black’s position collapses under the pressure. After 34…Rh6, White finishes with forcing moves: 35.Qg4+ Rg6 36.Qf5 Rg5 37.Qxf6+, and Black resigns.

Final Position – After 37.Qxf6+

Black’s king is completely exposed, and decisive material loss or checkmate is unavoidable. The attack has succeeded.