Duda, J. – Nakamura, Hi

2730 2019 · Black wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Queen’s Indian Defense, 2019: Duda (2730) against Nakamura (2745), and the game leaves theory early with 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Bb4 and the sharp 7...g5. The queens come off quickly after 14...Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxe5 16.Nxe5, leaving a minor-piece and rook ending where every pawn matters. The engine flags no turning point at all: 86% of White’s moves were at least good, 87% of Black’s. The result comes from accumulation instead — Black’s queenside pawns roll with 34...c4, 38...b4, 40...b3, 41...b2 and 42...c3, while 40.h6 arrives too late. The club takeaway: with no clear blunder on either side, the better passed pawns decide.