Last time, we left off Sina Movahed’s kingside attack in this position, after Black’s pawn break 11…d5?!. Best continuation after the diagram!
The strongest response is to go forward with 12.g5!, opening Black’s kingside. This exploits the presence of the h6-pawn to guarantee that lines will open. White’s plan is simple, easy to execute, and puts Black under pressure. I think these factors explain the young GM’s attraction to the line.
Black understandably captured the pawn with 12…hxg5, although it looks like 12…Nh5 deserved attention. White took 13.Nxg5, with the following position.
Here the engine identifies 13…a5! as the best try, intending …a4. White can prevent this with 14.a4! Himself. After 14…b4 15.Rg1! goes back to the attack.
The game went 13…Qd6?! 14.Rg1 Rad8 15.Qf3
From here the queen creates possibilities of taking on f6, using a possible future pin on the g7-pawn. It can also shift to the g-file and play for checkmate on g7. This already seems impossible to defend in a blitz game. 15…d4! was Black’s only chance, avoiding giving White’s knights access to e4. Then 16.c4! would keep the center closed, allowing White to concentrate on the kingside attack.
15…dxe4? was played; in a difficult position, Black collapses. 16.Ndxe4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4
If Black played the natural 17…Qe7 here, what would be the quickest win for White? Check back in two days to see the finish!