Leela promotes to round of 16 in TCEC Cup with 2 nice wins!

Leela after 6 consecutive draws in the series of games against Laser(division 1 engine) she won last 2 games so she promoted to next round where she will face Ethereal(premier division engine) that beat Rodent(division 4 engine) easily with 5-0 and promoted too. The games against Ethereal will probably take place on this Sunday.

Leela’s performances generally seem very odd, since when she is playing top engines like Stockfish and getting countless draws with performances like around 40 Elo short of Stockfish(like it is on TCEC bonus games) you expect to crush weaker engines. But this doesn’t really happen.
It’s a general observation that Leela underperforms against weaker engines and a good analysis of this can be found HERE where it was found that the usual Elo curve does not fit Leela’s results well.

Here are the first 6 games that all ended in a draw.

[Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Laser 250918”] [Black “Lc0 18.11248”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “A30”] [WhiteElo “3241”] [BlackElo “3247”] [PlyCount “246”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. c4 c5 2. g3 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O Qb6 6. e3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. c5 Qd8 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Re1 a5 12. Na4 Bd7 13. Nb6 Ra7 14. Bg5 Be8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bf1 Qb8 17. Rc1 h6 18. Bb5 Bd8 19. Na4 Ra8 20. Rc3 Qc8 21. a3 Bc7 22. Kg2 Qd8 23. Bd3 Qf6 24. Bc2 g5 25. h3 Kh8 26. Nb6 Rd8 27. Rd3 h5 28. Qd2 Rg8 29. Ba4 h4 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 31. Ne5 Be8 32. Rf3 Qg7 33. Kg1 hxg3 34. fxg3 Rf8 35. Ng4 f5 36. Rxe6 Bxb6 37. Qe3 fxg4 38. Rxf8+ Qxf8 39. Qxg5 Kh7 40. Qh4+ Kg7 41. Qxg4+ Kh8 42. Qg5 Kh7 43. Rf6 Bf7 44. Rxb6 Re8 45. g4 Re4 46. Rxb7 Qe8 47. Qf6 Kg8 48. Kg2 a4 49. Kg3 Re6 50. Qf5 Kf8 51. Qf4 Kg7 52. Qg5+ Kf8 53. Kh4 Rg6 54. Qe5 Qxe5 55. dxe5 Rc6 56. Rb4 Ke7 57. Kg5 Rxc5 58. Kf4 Rc1 59. Rxa4 Rf1+ 60. Ke3 Re1+ 61. Kd2 Rb1 62. h4 Ke6 63. Ra7 Rg1 64. g5 Rg2+ 65. Ke3 Rg4 66. a4 Bh5 67. a5 d4+ 68. Kd2 Rxh4 69. a6 Bg6 70. Ra8 Rh2+ 71. Ke1 Rh1+ 72. Kd2 Rh2+ 73. Ke1 Kxe5 74. a7 Rh1+ 75. Kd2 Rh2+ 76. Ke1 Rh1+ 77. Kd2 Ra1 78. Rg8 Be4 79. Re8+ Kf5 80. Rf8+ Kg6 81. Rf4 Bg2 82. Rg4 Bh1 83. Rxd4 Rxa7 84. Rd6+ Kf5 85. g6 Rg7 86. Ke3 Ke5 87. Rd2 Bd5 88. Rf2 Bc4 89. Rd2 Bb3 90. Rf2 Bc4 91. Rd2 Bd5 92. Rc2 Bb3 93. Rf2 Bg8 94. Rd2 Bc4 95. Rg2 Bg8 96. Rh2 Rb7 97. Rc2 Rb3+ 98. Rc3 Rb8 99. Kf2 Kd4 100. Rh3 Be6 101. Rf3 Bd5 102. Rf4+ Ke5 103. Rg4 Be6 104. Rg5+ Kf6 105. Rg3 Kg7 106. Ra3 Rf8+ 107. Ke2 Rd8 108. Kf2 Rd7 109. Kf1 Rd2 110. Ke1 Rd5 111. Re3 Rd6 112. Rc3 Rd7 113. Ra3 Kg8 114. Ke2 Kg7 115. Kf2 Rd8 116. Ra7+ Kf6 117. Kf3 Ke5 118. g7 Bg8 119. Ra5+ Kf6 120. Ra6+ Ke5 121. b4 Rb8 122. Kf2 Kf5 123. b5 Rxb5 1/2-1/2 [Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Lc0 18.11248”] [Black “Laser 250918”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “A30”] [WhiteElo “3247”] [BlackElo “3241”] [PlyCount “416”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. c4 c5 2. g3 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 O-O 9. Rd1 Qc8 10. b3 Na6 11. Bb2 Nc5 12. Rac1 d6 13. b4 Nce4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Bh3 Bb7 16. Qe3 Qc6 17. Bg2 Rfc8 18. b5 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. a4 Rd8 21. Nd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rd7 24. h4 h6 25. Rg4 Kh8 26. Rd4 Rc8 27. Qd3 Qc5 28. Qd2 Kg8 29. Rc2 Rdd8 30. Qd3 Rc7 31. Rc1 Rb7 32. e3 Rbd7 33. e4 Rc8 34. Rc2 Rdd8 35. Rc1 Rc7 36. Rc2 Rdd7 37. Qc3 Rc8 38. Qd3 Rcc7 39. Qd2 Rd8 40. Rc1 Rcc8 41. Qd3 Rc7 42. Qc3 Rdc8 43. Rcd1 Rd8 44. Qf3 f6 45. Qg4 Kf7 46. Qf3 Kg8 47. Qg4 Kf7 48. h5 Re7 49. Qg6+ Kf8 50. Qg4 Kf7 51. R1d2 Kf8 52. R4d3 Kg8 53. Rd1 Qb4 54. R3d2 Kh8 55. Qf3 Red7 56. Qg4 e5 57. Qe6 Qxa4 58. f3 Qb4 59. Kh3 Qa3 60. Rd3 Qc5 61. Ra1 Qc7 62. g4 Re7 63. Qd5 Qc8 64. Rda3 Rdd7 65. Kg3 Rc7 66. Ra4 Qd7 67. R1a2 Kh7 68. Qd1 Re8 69. Qd3 Qe7 70. Qa3 Ra8 71. Rd2 Rd8 72. Rd5 Rdd7 73. Qd3 Rc5 74. Ra1 Qd8 75. Ra3 Rcc7 76. Ra2 Kg8 77. Rc2 Rc8 78. Kf2 Kh8 79. Kg3 Kh7 80. Rd2 Qc7 81. Rc2 Rdd8 82. Kg2 Qd7 83. Ra2 Rc7 84. Kg3 Qe6 85. Kh3 Kg8 86. Kg2 Rcd7 87. Kg3 Kh7 88. Rc2 Rc8 89. Kg2 Rdd8 90. Kg3 Rc7 91. Ra2 Qf7 92. Ra1 Qe7 93. Ra4 Qe6 94. Ra2 Qd7 95. Ra1 Qe7 96. Ra4 Rdd7 97. Ra2 Rc5 98. Kh3 Rdc7 99. Ra4 Qf7 100. Kg3 Rxd5 101. Qxd5 Qd7 102. Ra6 Rc8 103. Ra2 Rc5 104. Qa8 Rc7 105. Ra6 Rb7 106. Ra1 Rc7 107. Ra6 Rxc4 108. Rxa7 Rc7 109. Rxc7 Qxc7 110. Qc6 Qa7 111. Qxd6 Qa5 112. Qd3 Qe1+ 113. Kg2 Qc1 114. Kf2 Qc5+ 115. Kf1 Qc1+ 116. Ke2 Qb2+ 117. Kf1 Qa1+ 118. Kf2 Qc1 119. Ke2 Qb2+ 120. Kf1 Qa1+ 121. Kf2 Qa2+ 122. Ke1 Qf7 123. Kd2 Qc7 124. Qc3 Qd6+ 125. Ke2 Qe6 126. Qc2 Qd7 127. Qc4 Qd6 128. Qc3 Qe6 129. Qc2 Qd6 130. Qd3 Qb4 131. Qd7 Qb2+ 132. Kf1 Qb1+ 133. Kf2 Qc2+ 134. Kf1 Qb2 135. Qf5+ Kh8 136. Qd7 Qa3 137. Ke2 Qb2+ 138. Kd3 Qb1+ 139. Kc4 Qa2+ 140. Kb4 Qb1+ 141. Kc3 Kh7 142. Qf5+ Kh8 143. Qd7 Qa1+ 144. Kb3 Qb1+ 145. Kc4 Qa2+ 146. Kc3 Kh7 147. Kb4 Qc2 148. Qc6 Qb2+ 149. Kc4 Qd4+ 150. Kb3 Qd1+ 151. Kb4 Qxf3 152. Qxb6 Qxe4+ 153. Ka5 Qxg4 154. Qc6 e4 155. Qd5 Qf4 156. b6 e3 157. b7 Qc7+ 158. Ka6 Qf4 159. Ka5 f5 160. Qe6 e2 161. Kb5 Qh2 162. Qg6+ Kg8 163. Qe8+ Kh7 164. Qg6+ Kg8 165. Qe8+ Kh7 166. Qe6 Kh8 167. Qe7 Kh7 168. Qe6 Qc7 169. Qxf5+ g6 170. Qxg6+ Kh8 171. Qe8+ Kg7 172. Qg6+ Kf8 173. Qxh6+ Kg8 174. Qg5+ Kf7 175. Qg6+ Ke7 176. Qg7+ Kd8 177. Qf8+ Kd7 178. Qf7+ Kd8 179. Qf8+ Kd7 180. Qf7+ Kd8 181. Qf6+ Kd7 182. Qf5+ Kd8 183. Qf6+ Kd7 184. Qd4+ Ke7 185. Qg7+ Kd8 186. Qh8+ Ke7 187. Qh7+ Kd8 188. Qg8+ Ke7 189. Qg5+ Ke6 190. Qe3+ Kf7 191. Qf3+ Kg7 192. Qg4+ Kf7 193. Qf3+ Kg7 194. Qg4+ Kf7 195. Qf5+ Kg7 196. Qg6+ Kf8 197. Qf6+ Kg8 198. Qg5+ Kf7 199. Qd5+ Ke7 200. Qe4+ Kf8 201. Qf5+ Ke7 202. Qe4+ Kf8 203. Qf5+ Kg7 204. Qg6+ Kf8 205. Qh6+ Kg8 206. Qe6+ Kg7 207. h6+ Kh7 208. Qe4+ Kxh6 1/2-1/2 [Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Laser 250918”] [Black “Lc0 18.11248”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “A00”] [WhiteElo “3241”] [BlackElo “3247”] [PlyCount “92”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. a3 e6 4. e3 c5 5. bxc5 Bxc5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. c4 Nc6 8. d4 Be7 9. Bd3 Na5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Ne5 b5 12. Bc3 a6 13. Nd2 Bd6 14. Bxa5 Qxa5 15. O-O Be6 16. a4 b4 17. Nb3 Qb6 18. a5 Qb7 19. Rc1 Rfc8 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8 21. Qe2 Rc3 22. Bxa6 Qc7 23. Qa2 Bxe5 24. dxe5 d4 25. exf6 Rxb3 26. Qa4 gxf6 27. exd4 Qc3 28. Be2 Kg7 29. a6 Ra3 30. Qb5 b3 31. d5 Bc8 32. d6 Bxa6 33. Qe8 Bxe2 34. Qxe2 Ra1 35. d7 Qd4 36. Qf3 b2 37. Qg3+ Kh6 38. Qh3+ Kg6 39. Qg3+ Kh5 40. Qf3+ Kg5 41. Qg3+ Kf5 42. Qh3+ Kg5 43. Qg3+ Kh5 44. Qf3+ Kh6 45. Qh3+ Kg7 46. Qg3+ Kh8 1/2-1/2 [Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Lc0 18.11248”] [Black “Laser 250918”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “A00”] [WhiteElo “3247”] [BlackElo “3241”] [PlyCount “51”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nbd7 4. b5 a6 5. a4 e6 6. e3 Bd6 7. c4 O-O 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Be2 Ne5 11. Bxe5 Bxe5 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. bxa6 d4 14. Na3 bxa6 15. Rc1 c5 16. O-O Bf5 17. Qa2 h6 18. Nc4 Re8 19. Qa3 Rc8 20. a5 Nd5 21. Bf3 Nb4 22. Nb6 Rc7 23. Na8 Rc8 24. Nb6 Rc7 25. Na8 Rc8 26. Nb6 1/2-1/2 [Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Laser 250918”] [Black “Lc0 18.11248”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “B22”] [WhiteElo “3241”] [BlackElo “3247”] [PlyCount “74”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Ng5 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Qh5 g6 8. Qf3 Qxg5 9. Bxd5 Nd8 10. O-O Qe7 11. Re1 Be6 12. Rxe5 Bg7 13. Re3 O-O 14. Bc4 Qd7 15. Na3 a6 16. d3 Rc8 17. Bxe6 Nxe6 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. h4 b5 20. Nd2 Qd8 21. h5 Rc7 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Qh3 Rc6 24. Qg3 b4 25. Nc4 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxc3 27. Rb1 Bg7 28. Qg4 Nd4 29. Rh3 Bf6 30. Bf4 Re6 31. Re3 Qd5 32. Rb6 Kg7 33. Rexe6 Nxe6 34. Rd6 Qb7 35. Rb6 Qd5 36. Rd6 Qb7 37. Rb6 Qd5 1/2-1/2 [Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Lc0 18.11248”] [Black “Laser 250918”] [Result “1/2-1/2”] [ECO “B22”] [WhiteElo “3247”] [BlackElo “3241”] [PlyCount “175”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 e5 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. exd5 e4 6. Ne5 Bd6 7. d4 O-O 8. Bf4 cxd4 9. cxd4 b5 10. Bb3 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Bb4+ 12. Nc3 Qxd5 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 f6 15. Ng4 Bxg4 16. Qxg4 Nc6 17. Rfb1 b4 18. cxb4 Nxd4 19. Rb2 Rfd8 20. Rd2 Qc4 21. a3 Rd5 22. Qd1 Rad8 23. Qf1 Qc3 24. Rad1 g5 25. Be3 Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Rxd2 27. Rxd2 Rxd2 28. Bxd2 Qxd2 29. fxe4 Qc3 30. Qa6 Qe1+ 31. Qf1 Qxe4 32. Qd1 Kg7 33. h3 Qf5 34. Qa4 Qxh3 35. Qxa7+ Kg6 36. Qd4 Qxa3 37. Qe4+ Kg7 38. Qb7+ Kg6 39. Qe4+ Kh6 40. b5 Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Qb2 42. Qc6 Qd4 43. Qe6 Kg6 44. b6 Qb4 45. Qe8+ Kh6 46. Qe6 Kg6 47. Kf3 Qb5 48. Qg8+ Kh6 49. Qd8 Qf5+ 50. Ke3 Qf4+ 51. Ke2 Qe4+ 52. Kf1 Qb1+ 53. Kg2 Qe4+ 54. Kh2 Kg6 55. Qg8+ Kh6 56. Qb3 Qb7 57. Kg1 Kg7 58. Qb4 Kg6 59. Qc5 Qf3 60. Qc2+ f5 61. Qa4 Kf7 62. Qd7+ Kg6 63. b7 Qg4+ 64. Kh2 Qh5+ 65. Kg2 Qg4+ 66. Kf1 Qc4+ 67. Ke1 Qc3+ 68. Kd1 Qb3+ 69. Kd2 Qb2+ 70. Kd3 Qb3+ 71. Ke2 Qc2+ 72. Kf3 Qe4+ 73. Kg3 Qf4+ 74. Kg2 Qe4+ 75. Kf1 Qb1+ 76. Ke2 Qc2+ 77. Kf3 Qe4+ 78. Kg3 Qf4+ 79. Kg2 Qg4+ 80. Kh1 Qf3+ 81. Kg1 Qg4+ 82. Kf1 Qc4+ 83. Ke1 Qc3+ 84. Kd1 Qb3+ 85. Kc1 Qc3+ 86. Kb1 Qb3+ 87. Ka1 Qa3+ 88. Kb1 1/2-1/2

And here are the 2 wins of her:
Game 7:

[Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Laser 250918”] [Black “Lc0 18.11248”] [Result “0-1”] [ECO “C07”] [WhiteElo “3241”] [BlackElo “3247”] [PlyCount “157”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 {First 2 moves were forced as TCEC uses predefined openings.} 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 {Laser goes for the open variation and chooses wisely as Leela on open positions is not that strong as with closed one’s.} exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Be3 Rc8 {All normal theory till now. Position with open center is never a plus for Leela since she has much less chances to outsmart the opponent with its superior Pawn and piece play. Now the classic battle with the isolated d-Pawn begins. That Pawn supports and strengthens the whole center of black but it’s weak as it’s isolated.} 13. c3 a6 14. h3 $6 {Perhaps Laser did not want Ng4 to threaten Bishop on e3 but why black should play such a move anyway? Better was to focus on Queenside or in the center.} Bf8 15. a3 b5 { Keeping under control the Queenside now.} 16. Bd4 Nfe4 17. Qc2 Ne6 18. Rad1 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qd7 {[%csl Gc8,Ge8][%cal Ge8c8,Gc8e8]} 20. Ne3 Rcd8 21. Re2 g6 22. Nb3 Nf6 23. Qd2 Qc8 {Position is equal. Both sides have some play. White can target the d-Pawn while black can use its Bishop’s power from distance and the nice e4 outpost for his Knight to make some play.} 24. Nc2 Re4 25. Rxe4 Nxe4 26. Qf4 Rd6 27. f3 Nc5 28. Nbd4 Qd7 29. Qe3 Na4 {[%csl Rb2]} 30. Rb1 Bg7 31. Nb4 Nc5 32. Nbc2 Bf6 33. Re1 Na4 34. Rb1 h5 {Blacks starts to look better and better since d-Pawn is not in any danger now and white has not any target. Leela very slowly outplayed Laser from now on.} 35. Kh1 {In this difficult for white position Laser has no plan so it started a dance of Kg1-h1-g1 moves.} Nc5 {[%cal Ra4c5,Rc5e6,Re6f4]} 36. Re1 Ne6 37. Qd2 Bg5 38. Qf2 h4 {[%csl Rg3] Obtaining a very strong control of g3.} 39. Rd1 Nf4 40. Nb4 Kg7 41. Qe1 Nh5 42. Kg1 Qc7 43. Qf2 Nf4 44. Kh1 a5 45. Nbc2 Rb6 46. Kg1 Kg8 {For some reason both CFish running on 88 cores that was kibitzing in the game and Leela, liked that move and rated it as best. Perhaps some tactical lines to avoid checks with Qd4? Only engines know.} 47. Kh1 Nh5 48. Ne3 Qc5 49. b4 axb4 50. axb4 Qd6 { Black is clearly better but it’s not easy to convert his advantage.} 51. Kg1 { Laser continues with these Kg1-h1 moves. Question is was he should do instead? It’s not easy to find a good plan for white as black can progress with various ways and so the defensive plan is not clear.} Nf4 (51… Ra6 $1 {No need for further thinking about it. Text move is also strong.}) 52. Ng4 Ra6 53. Kh1 Qb8 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gb8a8,Ga6a2,Rf4g2]} 54. g3 $2 {While the position was already very tough to play for white, Laser makes a mistake and now its position collapses quickly.} hxg3 55. Qxg3 Qd8 {[%cal Rg5h4]} 56. Qh2 (56. Nxb5 Ra2 57. Nd4 Nh5 58. Qe1 Kh7 $3 $19 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gd8c7,Gc7h2,Ga2h2,Gh5g3]}) 56… Nh5 57. Qf2 Bh4 58. Qg2 Bg3 {[%csl Rf2,Gg3,Rh2,Gh5] White gets an impossible position to defend now.} 59. Ne3 Bf4 60. Nf1 Qc7 61. Qe2 Qxc3 62. Qc2 (62. Nxb5 Qf6 63. Nd4 Be5 64. Qe3 Ra2 $19) 62… Qc4 63. Qxc4 bxc4 64. Ne2 Bh6 {[%csl Gc4,Gd5,Re2,Rf1][%cal Gh6c1,Ga6a2] Black is winning. Knights look terrible.} 65. Kg1 (65. Rxd5 Ra1 66. Kg2 Ra2 67. Rd8+ (67. Re5 Nf4+ 68. Kf2 Nd3+ {[%csl Re5,Rf2]}) (67. Kf2 Rxe2+ 68. Kxe2 Nf4+ {[%csl Rd5,Re2]}) 67… Kg7 68. Kf2 c3 69. Rc8 Nf4 70. Nfg3 c2 $19) 65… Ra2 66. Nc3 Ra3 67. Nxd5 c3 68. Nfe3 Nf4 69. Nc2 Ra2 70. Nde3 Nxh3+ 71. Kf1 Kg7 72. b5 Rb2 73. Rd4 Bxe3 74. Nxe3 c2 75. Nxc2 Rxc2 {[%csl Rh3] White is a Knight down so it’s easy 0-1.} 76. Rb4 Ng5 77. b6 Rc8 78. Ke2 Rb8 79. Rb1 0-1

Game 8:

[Event “TCEC Cup - Round 1 - Match 7”] [Site “http://tcec.chessdom.com”] [Date “2018.10.08”] [Round “1”] [White “Lc0 18.11248”] [Black “Laser 250918”] [Result “1-0”] [ECO “C12”] [WhiteElo “3247”] [BlackElo “3241”] [PlyCount “78”] [EventDate “2018.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 {Same opening as previous game of course with reversed colors.} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 {Leela knows very well to play this variation. It’s been a very long time since she lost from this position and in most time she wins but by usually playing Bh4. Here she prefers Bd2 which is also normal of course.} 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 {This strange looking King move is actually very normal in this opening as the King can’t castle and this is a fine way to address g7 Pawn weakness.} 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 c5 {The normal freeing move for black in French. Black should get counterplay in Queenside or else he will lose.} 11. h4 {Still theory but it’s interesting Leela can find this by herself. Of course Leela is probably the strongest engine with handling Pawns so that maybe was expected.} c4 {This is to remove the Bishop from the nice d3-h7 diagonal but now Queenside looks safe enough for white and the only chance of black is to create counterplay with b5->b4.} 12. Be2 Bd7 13. a4 {Trying to kill all counterplay attempts.} Nc6 14. Nh3 $1 {Leela was already showing for 5 moves scores of +0.50 for white believing white stands slightly better and for the last 2 moves showed +0.90 believing white is better, while the kibitzing Cfish(a Stockfish clone that handles 7 piece endgame tablebase better) on 88 cores was showing 0.00 scores. After this move Cfish wake up a bit and showed +0.28 after 4…Qa5. Worth noting that Cfish preferred 14.Qf4 instead of 14.Nh3 of Leela while having on its PV for 15th move a Nf3 move which was not nearly as strong as Nh3 since Nh3 give the chance for Nf4->Nh5. Leela was constantly much more aware on the situation from the 88 core CFish monster! Cfish had about a 3 moves lag behind Leela, while Laser was blind for most of the game till it was too late.} Qa5 15. Rhb1 $1 {Killing any hopes for counterplay in the Queenside. Now white has the luxury to play in Kingside.} b6 16. h5 $1 {Leela played this with a +1.34 score for white! Cfish after Leela played that jumped to +0.80 too while Laser remained in a calm 0.00 believing game was equal not judging correctly the severity of its position.} Kg8 17. Qf4 Rh7 18. Qe3 {[%cal Gf2f4,Gg2g4]} f6 19. Rb5 Qa6 20. Nf4 Re8 (20… fxe5 21. dxe5 $16 {Same as main line.}) 21. Rbb1 fxe5 22. dxe5 Qa5 23. Rb5 Qa6 24. Bg4 Nb8 25. Qh3 {[%csl Ra6,Rb8,Gf2,Gf4,Gg2, Gg4,Gh3,Gh5,Rh7] This is essentially over, black can’t play this. A true miniature. Black’s Rook on h7 is useless, Knight on b8 is also badly placed, black’s Queen out of play while white has a full army on the Kingside free to move. 1-0} Qc8 26. Rab1 {[%cal Ga4a5]} Qc7 27. Ng6 Na6 28. Rxd5 Nc5 (28… exd5 29. Bxd7 {[%csl Re6,Re8][%cal Gh3e6]} Rd8 30. Qe6#) 29. Rd4 Rh8 30. a5 b5 31. Qe3 Qxa5 32. Bf3 Qc7 33. g4 Bc6 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Rg1 Rh7 36. Ke2 Na4 37. Rgd1 Rh8 38. Rd8 Kh7 39. Nxh8 Rxh8 1-0

The schedule of TCEC Cup: