This brisk miniature sees Gelfand, B take on Niemann, Hans Moke at Julius Baer Gen Cup D3 L in chess.com INT in 2024. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

From English Opening (A14) the players entered a flexible, manoeuvring struggle where both sides delay direct contact. Openings in this ECO group reward patient build-up and a good feel for pawn structure.

The game was a sharp, short fight of 18 moves. Decisive encounters like this one often hinge on a single tactical oversight or a well-prepared opening idea, making them excellent study material for spotting mistakes early.

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.

When the dust settled, the game was drawn between Gelfand, B and Niemann, Hans Moke. Replay the full game move by move above, analyse it with the engine to find the turning points, and use Practice mode to play out the critical positions yourself.