| DrGridlock: In the post-game interview, Nakamura said that his opening was prepared play, and he was hoping to get this position (after 24 f5): Hikaru Nakamura - Anish Giri
click for larger viewWith the hope of inducing 24 ... Kg7.
Nakamura called this a "human move" with the implication that a human might make it thinking the resulting position was strong, while in reality it was not. Some of the commentators tried to play through variations after 24 ... Kg7, and seemed to agree with Nakamura that after: 25 fxg6 fxg6
26 Rf7+ Kxh6
27 Na4
Black's pieces, "have lost their connection," with the suggestion that black's defense from this position is difficult. Hikaru Nakamura - Anish Giri
click for larger viewBlack's queen has to move somewhere, and cannot continue to defend both the bishop on b7 and the bishop on d4. Analysis by Komodo suggests that black has some better resources in this position than a first blush might indicate. After:
27 ... Qa5
28 Rd1 Rad8
29 Qc1+ g5
30 Rf5
Hikaru Nakamura - Anish Giri
click for larger viewAnalysis by Komodo 5r1 32-bit :
1. ยต (-1.04):
30...Qxf5
31.exf5 c5+
32.Kf1 Rd5
Black has the surprising queen sacrifice Qxf5 which leaves him just fine (both materially and position-wise) for the remainder of the game. While there are some very interesting variations "behind the scenes," Nakamura's opening "home brew" really had no teeth (even if Giri had taken the bait and played 24 ... Kg7 instead of 24 ... c5. There has to be more "sting" in Nakamura's "tail" if he's going to make a strong showing in the Candidate's. | 
Kibitzing
