Game summary
Boris Gelfand beat Esipenko, Andrey in 56 moves in round 3 of Nutcracker Rapid 2018 in Moscow, Russia, on 21 December 2018. The opening was the Queen's Indian Defense (E17).
- White
- Boris Gelfand
- Black
- Esipenko, Andrey
- Result
- White won (1-0)
- Event
- Nutcracker Rapid 2018
- Place
- Moscow, Russia
- Date
- 21 December 2018 (2018.12.21)
- Round
- 3.1
- Opening
- Queen's Indian Defense (E17)
- Length
- 56 moves (111 plies)
All moves of Gelfand, B vs Esipenko, Andrey (PGN move text)
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d4 Be7 6.Nc3 Ne4 7.Bd2 Bf6 8.O-O O-O 9.Re1 d6 10.Ng5 Bxg5 11.Bxg5 Qxg5 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 c6 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.Qa4 Qd8 16.Bg2 Qc7 17.Red1 Nd7 18.Rc3 a5 19.Qc2 Rd8 20.e4 e5 21.Rcd3 Nf6 22.Qd2 Re8 23.f3 h6 24.dxe5 dxe5 25.Bh3 Kf8 26.Kg2 Ke7 27.c5 bxc5 28.Qc3 Kf8 29.Qxc5+ Kg8 30.Bd7 Reb8 31.b3 Rb6 32.R1d2 a4 33.bxa4 Rxa4 34.Bc8 Rd4 35.Rxd4 exd4 36.Qxd4 c5 37.Qd8+ Qxd8 38.Rxd8+ Kh7 39.e5 Ng8 40.Bf5+ g6 41.Be4 Rb2+ 42.Kh3 Kg7 43.Rd7 Kf8 44.a4 Ne7 45.Rd8+ Kg7 46.Re8 Nf5 47.Rc8 Nd4 48.Rxc5 Ne6 49.Rc4 Ng5+ 50.Kg4 Rxh2 51.Bc6 Ne6 52.f4 Rd2 53.a5 Nd4 54.Rxd4 Rxd4 55.a6 h5+ 56.Kh3 1-0
About This Game
A full-length game in which Gelfand, B was paired against Esipenko, Andrey at Nutcracker Rapid 2018 in Moscow RUS in 2018. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.
Play followed Queen's Indian Defense (E17) — a strategic battle of pawn structure and piece activity. In these systems both players manoeuvre carefully before committing to a plan.
Running to 56 moves, the game moved through a full middlegame into an endgame. Games of this length show how a small advantage is carried from one phase to the next — useful technique to absorb.
Gelfand, B is one of the grandmasters featured in the RamaChess archive, where you can browse their complete game collection, favourite openings and notable wins. Studying many games by a single strong player is one of the fastest ways to understand practical chess decisions.
Replaying a complete grandmaster game is more valuable than it first appears. You see not just the moves, but the order in which plans are introduced, how both sides react to threats, and where the balance finally tips.
After the contest, Gelfand, B won with the white pieces. Use the board above to replay every move at your own pace, switch to the analyser for engine evaluation of the key moments, or open Practice mode to test your own ideas from any position.
Frequently asked questions
Who played this game?
This game was played between Gelfand, B (White) and Esipenko, Andrey (Black), at Nutcracker Rapid 2018 in 2018.
What opening was played?
The game used Queen's Indian Defense (ECO code E17). A strategic battle of pawn structure and piece activity.
What was the result?
Gelfand, B won with the white pieces.
How long was the game?
The game lasted 56 moves (111 plies).
Can I replay this game move by move?
Yes. Use the interactive board on this page to step through every move, or open the analyser for engine evaluation and Practice mode to play the positions yourself.
Where can I find more games like this?
Browse the full Queen's Indian Defense collection, Gelfand, B's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.