[Event "WR Chess Masters 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.23"] [Round "7"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2736"] [BlackElo "2793"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 {The Queen's Gambit Declined is the most classic of all variations that start with the queen's pawn. It has stood the test of time and has been played by virtually every great chess player in history for about two centuries. Yes, sometimes it's not the most exciting defense, and if you need to win with Black, maybe it's not the most recommended—but we all have flaws, right $2 At the end of the day, there's no better defense than this.} 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 (6... Nbd7 {is the most popular move nowadays.}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5 (8. Qc2 {is the main move.}) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 (10. a3 {is the move played most often, to avoid the check on b4.}) 10... Bb4+ 11. Nd2 Nc6 (11... Qf6 {This was Carlsen's choice in a recent rapid game.} 12. Rb1 (12. a3 {is better.}) 12... Bf5 13. Bxf5 Qxf5 14. O-O Nc6 15. Nf3 Rfd8 {with an equal position in Keymer-Carlsen, Julius Baer GenCup (rapid) 2022.}) 12. O-O Be7 {This is a typical maneuver. Black takes the bishop to f6.} 13. Qb3 {A novelty that will not have much success. Interestingly, the queen, the piece that executes the first new move of the game, will be a constant concern for White during this game.} (13. Rc1 { Nepomniachtchi himself has already played this position as White.} Qb6 14. Qc2 Nb4 $2 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (14... g6) 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Qc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxc7 17. Rxc7 Bd8 18. Bd6 $1 {[%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind; persistent;true]} Bxc7 19. Bxf8 a5 20. Bb1 {White later won in Nepomniachtchi-Nakamura, St. Louis 2019.}) (13. a3 g6 14. Rc1 Bf6 15. b4 Qe7 16. Nf3 Rd8 {Black was close to equality in Caruana-Anand, St. Louis 2018.}) 13... Bf6 14. a3 Qe7 15. Rac1 Be6 {Aronian probably confused his opening preparation since Black played natural moves and already has a comfortable position.} 16. Qb5 {Removing the queen from the x-ray.} Rac8 17. Rc2 a6 18. Qb6 Qd7 19. Nb3 Bd8 20. Qc5 Be7 21. Qb6 Bd8 22. Qc5 Be7 23. Qb6 {Nepomniachtchi now has the option to make a draw with a move repetition, and many players would choose that route. A quick draw with Black isn't a bad day's work, right $2 Hats off to his fighting spirit.} g5 $5 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type; Interesting;persistent;true]} 24. Bg3 Bd8 25. Qc5 Be7 26. Qb6 {The draw is still at hand, but Black decides to play on.} f5 {A risky decision that will be rewarded. As they say, \"fortune favors the bold.\"} 27. f3 (27. Nc5 $1 { [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the best move. After } Bxc5 28. Rxc5 f4 29. exf4 gxf4 30. Bh4 Ne5 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Bb1 d4 {The position is double-edged. Black has active pieces and a passed d-pawn, but his king is open, and White has a dangerous bishop pair.}) 27... Bd8 28. Qc5 Be7 29. Qb6 Bd8 30. Qc5 f4 {No draw $1} (30... Qf7 {is an interesting try since White's queen is in an uncomfortable situation and Black is preparing to move the knight.}) 31. exf4 gxf4 32. Bf2 Be7 33. Qb6 Bd8 {This is the last time the repetition of moves with Bd8-e7 was played. Time to move on $1} 34. Qc5 Bf6 35. Rfc1 (35. Qb6) 35... Qg7 36. Qd6 Rce8 37. Re1 $2 {[%c_effect e1;square;e1;type; Mistake;persistent;true] This is innacurate.} (37. Nc5 {is not the best:} Bh3 38. Bf1 Nd4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 39. Qxd5+ Kh8 40. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 41. Kh1 Be3 {with the initiative.}) (37. Rd1 $1 { [%c_effect d1;square;d1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is an improvement—the position is very sharp. The machine shows some crazy variations, one of them featuring a wonderful combination. Disclaimer: The following moves are not forced, but they illustrate the complexity of the position.} Ne5 (37... Be5 38. Qc5 Bxb2 39. Bxa6 $5 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6; type;Interesting;persistent;true]} Ne5 40. Rxb2 Nxf3+ 41. Kh1 Qxb2 42. gxf3 Qxb3 43. Rg1+ Kf7 44. Qc7+ Re7 45. Qxf4+ (45. Rg7+ Kxg7 46. Qxe7+ Bf7 {This also ends in a draw.}) 45... Ke8 46. Qb8+ {With perpetual check. Typical computer sense of humor.}) 38. Nd4 Bh3 39. Bf1 Kh8 40. Kh1 Rg8 $1 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 41. Bg1 $1 {[%c_effect g1;square; g1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (41. gxh3 $2 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type; Mistake;persistent;true] This loses in spectacular fashion.} Nd3 $3 { [%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Black goes on to remove the defenders of the g-file.} 42. Rxd3 (42. Bxd3 Qg2#) 42... Re1 $3 { [%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Brilliant;persistent;true]} 43. Bxe1 Qg1#) 41... Nd3 $1 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 42. Nf5 $1 { [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Blow after blow $1} ( 42. Rxd3 $2 {[%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Re1 { with a decisive attack.}) 42... Bxf5 43. Bxd3 Rc8 $1 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8; type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Trying to remove the g2-pawn's defense.} 44. Re2 Rce8 $1 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 45. Rc2 Rc8 {With a draw by repetition. Chess really is inexhaustible for the human mind.}) 37... Ne5 {White's position is now on the brink of collapse.} 38. Nd4 $2 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This loses immediately.} (38. Kh1 {is the move suggested by the computer, but it's nearly impossible to play like this.}) 38... Bh3 39. Bf1 Nf7 $1 {[%c_effect f7;square; f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A subtle move that wins material.} 40. Qxd5 Rxe1 41. Bxe1 Bxd4+ {Black is a piece up for only one pawn. The rest is easy for Nepomniachtchi.} 42. Kh1 Bc8 43. Bc4 Re8 44. Bb4 Qf6 45. Bd3 Bc3 $1 { [%c_effect c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A nice move, exploiting the back-rank weakness.} 46. Bxc3 Qxc3 47. g4 (47. Rxc3 Re1+ 48. Bf1 Rxf1#) 47... Qf6 48. Rc7 Re1+ 49. Kg2 Be6 50. Qh5 Qxb2+ 51. Kh3 h6 52. Qg6+ Qg7 53. Kh4 Rh1 0-1