Nakamura, Hi – So, W.

2777 2018 · Draw

Scotch Game, 2018: Nakamura (2777) against So (2780), two players who know exactly what they are doing. After 11.Qf3 Bd6 and the queen trade on move fifteen, the game turns into a technical exercise where every rook hunts for an open file. The engine flags no turning point at all: the evaluation never swings, in either direction. The numbers back it up — 91% of White’s moves at least good, 97% of Black’s, three inaccuracies on one side and a single one on the other. The rook ending fizzles out after 35...R2c4, drawn. Club takeaway: when nobody errs, there is no turning point to wait for.