Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
28 Mar — 16 Apr 2026
Location
Paphos, CY
Field
8 players
Format
Double round-robin
Time control
Classical
Rounds
14 · 14 played
Decisive
32%
Avg. rating
2749

Round 14 · 15 Apr 2026

Bluebaum — Giri

The Matchup

White
Matthias BluebaumCredit
🇩🇪GER
6th · 6.0

Matthias Bluebaum

4 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½L
Elo2698

Germany's leading grandmaster, known for disciplined classical technique, subtle maneuvering, and patient endgame grinding.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
Anish GiriCredit
🇳🇱NED
2nd · 8.5

Anish Giri

1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½W
Elo2753

Dutch chess's perennial contender, valued for creative opening ideas, rapid adaptation, and razor-sharp theoretical preparation.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 6: 1/2-1/2 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation. Read the annotated game →

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments

Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Alekhine Variation
BlackGiriNED2753
WhiteBluebaumGER2698
B
+0.3W

Classical factors on this position

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Checks, captures, and threats for the side to move

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The Moves

Other lines considered

From the crossroads before this move — engine and player perspectives.

Tempting traps

b5b7b5
+0.8433%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD33% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

What changed

Attacking
Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Nce4Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Bd6 is active

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

e5e6e5
+1.4013%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Critical reply

O-O-OCritical

Critical line

After critical line

White king under attack

More active pieces for Black

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Nb4c6b4
-0.0430%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD30% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Qb1Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Check in the air: Nc2+Nb4 is active