[Event "Wenzhou m"] [Site "Wenzhou"] [Date "2017.08.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Stohl,I/Giri,A"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2777"] [BlackElo "2772"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "96"] [Beauty "7083340620332"] [GameId "2235863732037627"] [EventDate "2017.08.08"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "4"] [EventCountry "CHN"] [SourceTitle "CBM 197"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2020.08.31"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.08.31"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,44,16,11,14,32,29,14,14,12,28,28,20,7,5,-6,7,2,12,-7,2,12,-2,10,9,-9,-9,-28,11,-28,-6,-27,-11,-18,-5,-41,-26,-47,-44,-34,-38,-16,-16,-12,-2,0,0] I had annotated this game in 2017 and I had put so much effort into it that time that there isn't much I can add now, only to confirm that the engines of today agree with all the assesments. Not that surprising, I mean it is 2017 after all, not the 90's or anything.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Philosophically speaking, I always found this move less logical than 3.Bb5, as it doesn't constitute a threat. The f7 point is going to be firmly protected after the eventual 0-0, while in the Spanish Black needs to spend a few tempi protecting the cornerstone of his position, the vulnerable e5 point. The difference between these moves surely runs deeper than this simple logic, but it is a fact that for the moment Black has found various antidotes against the Italian, whereas time and again Black is suffering after 3.Bb5, having to remember 40 moves of opening theory in the Berlin endgame. Nowadays people who don't play 1.e4 and only focus on the closed openings with White are scarce, like endangered species that we have to treat with love and care. "Mr. Dortmund" Vladimir Kramnik, has introduced 1.e4! into his repertoire and although there are a couple of top players who still didn't (remember, love and care!), my opponent in this game, decided to follow in the footsteps of the Russian giant. 1.e4 is new in Ding Liren's opening repertoire.} Bc5 4. O-O ({However, despite the numerous transpositional options, there can be some differences between the text-move and} 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 {, when Black is at a crossroads: In CBM 176 we analysed Topalov-So, London 2016, which went} a6 (5... O-O {I have mentioned} 6. O-O (6. a4 a5 (6... a6 {is less committal, after} 7. O-O d5 $5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Re1 Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nbd2 Nb6 12. Ba2 Qxd3 13. a5 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nc8 16. b4 Ba7 17. Re1 {Black returned the pawn and readily equalised with} Nd6 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfe8 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Kf1 Ne4 22. Bd5 c6 $11 {Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Stavanger 2017}) 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. Nbd2 d6 10. Bg3 Nh7 11. O-O Kh8 12. Qb3 Qe8 13. Rfe1 Bf6 14. Nf1 Ng5 15. Nxg5 Bxg5 16. Ne3 Ne7 17. d4 f6 18. f3 Rb8 19. Bf1 Bxe3+ 20. Rxe3 Bd7 21. Ree1 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Qa3 Bxf1 24. Rxf1 Qb5 25. Rf2 f5 26. Rd2 fxe4 27. fxe4 Ng6 28. h3 {Karjakin,S (2773)-Anand,V (2783) Saint Louis blitz 2017} Qc6 29. d5 Qb6+ 30. Bf2 Rxf2 $1 31. Rxf2 Nf4 32. Qxa5 Ne2+ 33. Kf1 Ng3+ $11) (6. Bg5 h6 (6... d6 7. Nbd2 h6 8. Bh4 g5 $2 {is unlikely to be repeated, after} 9. Nxg5 $1 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Kg7 11. Qf3 Be6 {Carlsen,M (2840)-Karjakin,S (2785) Wijk aan Zee 2017} 12. Bd5 $1 $16 {White would have a powerful attack. For details see the notes in CBM 177 by G.Meier.}) 7. Bh4 {is well met by} Be7 8. Bg3 (8. Nbd2 d6 9. a4 Nh5 $5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14. g4 Nc7 15. Nf5 d5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Qe2 Ne6 18. g3 Re8 19. Kf1 b6 20. Kg2 Bb7 21. Rh2 c5 $132 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2783)-Kramnik,V (2789) Leuven rpd 2017}) 8... d6 9. Nbd2 Na5 (9... g6 10. a3 Nh5 11. Nf1 Kh7 12. Ne3 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. d4 f4 15. Nh4 Nxg3 16. Qc2+ Kh8 17. Ng6+ Kg7 18. Nxf8 Qxf8 19. fxg3 fxe3 20. Rf1 Bf6 21. Qe4 exd4 22. Bd3 Qf7 23. O-O-O e2 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qxh6+ Ke7 $13 {Salem,A (2633)-Inarkiev,E (2727) Moscow 2017}) (9... Nh5 10. Nxe5 $5 $14) 10. Bb5 Nh5 $1 (10... a6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 Bb7 14. Ne3 Re8 15. O-O Bf8 16. Re1 Rc8 17. Bh4 c4 18. Nd2 $1 g5 19. Bg3 d5 20. exd5 Nxd5 21. dxc4 Nf4 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Be4 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3 {Anand,V (2783)-Le,Q (2739) Saint Louis blitz 2017} 25. Ng4 $16) 11. O-O (11. d4 Nxg3 12. hxg3 exd4 $11 {/?}) 11... Nxg3 12. hxg3 a6 13. Ba4 b5 14. Bc2 c5 15. Re1 Be6 16. d4 Qc7 (16... exd4 $142 $1 17. cxd4 Bg4 $132) 17. d5 Bd7 18. b3 Nb7 19. Qe2 Rfc8 20. a4 c4 21. b4 a5 $6 (21... g6 $11) 22. axb5 axb4 {Anand,V (2783)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis blitz 2017} 23. b6 $1 $36) 6... d5 $5 {Last year, here an important game went} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4 (8. Nbd2 Nb6 9. Bb5 Bd6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 f5 13. Ng3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qd7 15. Bd2 a6 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. c4 Na4 19. Bc1 Rad8 20. Nf1 Nc5 $17 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis blitz 2017}) 8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 10. Nxe5 c6 11. Bc4 Bd6 12. a5 $1 Bxe5 (12... Nxc4 $5 13. Nxc4 Bc7 $44) 13. axb6 Qxb6 14. Re1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Bd6 16. Nd2 Nd5 17. Ne4 Be6 18. d4 Rfe8 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Bd3 Nf6 {Anton Guijarro,D (2660)-Howell,D (2684) Minsk 2017} 21. Qf3 Bg4 22. Bf4 $1 $14 {For details see the notes in CBM 179 by Roiz.}) ({After} 5... d6 {White can already play} 6. O-O {without hesitation, possibly transposing into lines from our game.} (6. a4 a6 7. Bg5 {- 5...a6})) 6. a4 d6 7. Bg5 {- 5...a6} ({The bishop sortie doesn't promise White an advantage, but} 7. O-O {is Kramnik-Navara again, after} Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 {we transpose into our game!}) 7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Bh4 {So played} g5 ({A viable alternative is} 9... Qe7 10. b4 (10. O-O g5 11. Bg3 Nd7 12. d4 h5 13. h4 g4 14. Ne1 exd4 15. Nd3 dxc3 16. bxc3 Nce5 17. Nf4 c6 18. Ba2 Nc5 19. Nc4 Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Nd7 21. Nd3 Ne5 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. a5 Be6 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Rb1 Qe7 26. Qb3 O-O-O 27. Bxe5 Rh6 28. Bf4 Re6 $11 {/?, Demchenko,A (2645)-Ragger,M (2656) Linares 2017}) 10... Bd7 11. Rb1 g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 Na5 15. Bd5 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Qf6 17. Qe2 O-O 18. Nh2 c6 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Ba2 Kg7 21. Ndf1 Rfb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Be6 24. Qe2 Bxa2 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Qxa2 Qe6 $11 {/?, Salem,A (2638)-Giri,A (2775) Geneve 2017}) 10. Bg3 O-O 11. O-O Nh7 $5 {and even later Black did well with this idea:} 12. h3 (12. Kh1 Kh8 13. b4 (13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qb3 Bxd4 18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qxa6 h5 20. f4 Rxb2 21. Rad1 h4 22. Bf2 Bg7 $36 {Swiercz,D (2647)-Bacrot,E (2695) chess.com INT rpd 2017}) 13... f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. b5 Ne7 (15... Na5 $142 $5) 16. bxa6 (16. Nxe5 $5 $44) 16... bxa6 17. d4 e4 18. Ne1 Bg6 19. Nc2 Nf6 20. Ne3 a5 21. Bb3 Qd7 $13 {Sethuraman,S (2619)-Yu,Y (2750) Fufeng 2017}) 12... h5 (12... Kh8 $5 13. d4 g4 14. hxg4 Bxg4 15. Be2 (15. dxe5 $5 Nxe5 16. Be2 $13) 15... Rg8 16. Kh1 Qf6 17. d5 Ne7 18. Bh4 Ng5 19. Nh2 Bc8 20. Bg4 Qg6 21. Bh5 Qg7 22. g3 Bh3 $17 {Salem,A (2656)-Ding,L (2760) Sharjah 2017}) 13. Ne1 ({Topalov played} 13. d4) 13... g4 14. h4 Kg7 (14... Ne7 $5 $13 {[%CAl Ye7g6] /?}) 15. d4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nb3 exd4 $6 (17... Nf6 $142 $1 $13 {[%CAl Yf6e4]}) 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 Qf6 20. Nc2 Rae8 21. Ne3 Be4 22. Qb3 Bxd4 23. Rad1 (23. Bd5 $1 $14) 23... Bc5 $2 (23... Bxe3 24. fxe3 Qe7 $13) 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 $40 {Bartel,M (2641)-Brkic,A (2569) Zurich 2016}) 4... Nf6 5. d3 O-O {People who are worried about early Bg5 variations usually postpone the castle, and some are even including an early h6, to remove it out of the position altogether. In my view if one is so afraid of the Bg5 pin, one should stick to the Caro-Kann.} (5... d6 6. c3 {without hesitation, possibly transposing into lines from our game.} Be6 $6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. b4 Bb6 9. Nbd2 a6 10. a4 Qd7 11. Ba3 Ba7 12. b5 Na5 13. Bb4 Bb6 14. Rb1 O-O 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 axb5 17. axb5 Rfd8 18. Qe2 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4]} d5 $6 (18... c5 19. bxc6 Nxc6 20. Bc3 $36) 19. e5 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxe4 Qd5 22. Qc2 Qc4 23. Rfc1 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 $16 {[%csl Ra5,Rb6] Fedoseev,V (2726)-Wang Yue (2699) Dortmund 2017 Black has no compensation for his pawn, moreover his minor pieces are misplaced.}) 6. h3 {The standard 6.c3 is nowadays often met with a direct 6...d5!? and so White is trying various move orders to go around the pawn push in the center. Would I have played 6...d5 against 6.c3 though? I don't know.} ({For} 6. c3 d5 $5 {see above} ({Naturally Black also has the restrained} 6... d6)) 6... d6 ({However, even} 6... d5 {doesn't deserve unequivocal condemnation:} 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 (8. a4 f6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Nb3 Be7 11. Re1 Kh8 12. Bd2 Bg8 13. d4 {Carlsen,M (2832)-Karjakin,S (2781) Paris rpd 2017} Bd6 $11) 8... Be6 $142 $5 (8... Re8 $6 9. Ng5 ({or even} 9. d4 $5 {gives White a notable pull.})) 9. c3 (9. Nbd2 Bb6 10. Bb3 f6 11. Nc4 Qd7 12. Qe2 Rad8 13. c3 Rfe8 14. Nxb6 cxb6 15. Bc2 Kh8 16. Kh1 Bf5 17. Kg1 g5 18. Nh2 Nf4 $36 {Van Foreest,L (2350)-Gustafsson,J (2628) Germany 2017}) (9. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 10. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 $17) 9... Bb6 10. Bb3 f6 $2 {Karjakin,S (2785)-Aronian,L (2780) Wijk aan Zee 2017} (10... Re8 11. Ng5 Qf6 $13) 11. c4 $1 $18 {[%CAl Rc4c5]}) 7. c3 a6 8. a4 Ba7 9. Re1 {With a combined effort by both sides, this position is reached in most of the Italian games at the highest level. The latest trend here is 9...b5, introduced at the top-level by Levon Aronian, playing in the Spanish spirits. Seems rather impulsive to me, but on the other hand, when the rush of Caucasian blood suddenly hits you... we transpose into our game!} (9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 ({But} 11. Nxg5 {is unconvincing:} hxg5 12. Bxg5 Kg7 13. Qf3 Rh8 14. Nd2 Kg6 (14... Qe7 $5 {and White must still prove his compensation.}) 15. Be3 Kg7 {White wants more than repetition after} 16. Bg5 Kg6 17. Be3 Kg7 18. Rae1 ({White wants more than repetition after} 18. Bg5) 18... Be6 $6 (18... Bxe3 19. Qg3+ Kf8 20. fxe3 Rh6 $15) 19. Qg3+ Kf8 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. f4 Rg8 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2767)-Fressinet,L (2672) Doha rpd 2016} 23. Qf2 $44) 11... Nh5 12. Bh2 Nf4 (12... Ng7 13. Kh1 Kh8 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nc3 g4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qh4 21. Ne2 Nxd4 22. Bxb7 Rab8 23. Bxa6 Rxb2 24. Ra3 {½, Johnson,B (2269)-Gabris,V (2343) email 2010} Nxe2 25. Bxe2 Rxf2 26. Rh3 Qg5 $11) 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. Nbd2 Qf6 15. Kh2 Bd7 16. a5 Kh8 17. Qe2 Rg8 18. b4 Ne7 19. Rg1 Rg7 20. Ra2 Rag8 21. Qf1 Ng6 22. Bb3 c6 $132 {Semmler,R (2212)-Mueller,A (2130) email 2011}) 9... h6 ({Recently in St Louis Black tested the less usual} 9... b5 $5 10. Bb3 (10. Ba2 b4 11. Bg5 (11. d4 bxc3 12. bxc3 Re8 13. Be3 h6 14. Nbd2 Na5 15. Rb1 Be6 16. Qc2 Bxa2 17. Qxa2 Bb6 18. Qc2 Nd7 19. Qd3 Qe7 20. Rb2 Nc6 21. Qc4 Na5 22. Qd3 Nc6 {½, Karjakin,S (2773)-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis 2017}) 11... Rb8 12. Nbd2 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Bc4 g5 15. Bg3 Na5 $6 (15... Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Re8 $13) 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. d4 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nh5 19. Bh2 exd4 20. cxd4 Nc6 21. Rc1 Qd7 22. Re3 Rb7 23. Nb3 e5 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25. Qxh5 Kh7 26. Rec3 Nxd4 27. Bxe5 Rxf2 {Harikrishna,P (2737)-Mamedyarov,S (2800) Geneve 2017} 28. Nc5 $1 $18) 10... b4 $5 (10... h6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Be3 Bd7 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Nbd2 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nh5 16. Nf1 Qf6 17. Qd1 b4 18. d4 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nf4 20. Ne3 Qg6 21. Kh2 Re8 (21... exd4 22. cxd4 Nb4 $132) 22. Ba4 $1 $14 {So,W (2810)-Nakamura,H (2792) Saint Louis 2017}) 11. a5 Rb8 12. Nbd2 Be6 13. Bc2 $5 (13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nc4 Qe8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qg6 17. Ncd2 Nh5 18. Qf1 Rb5 19. Kh2 Qh6 20. Kg1 Qg6 21. Kh2 Qh6 22. Kg1 Kh8 23. d4 Nf4 24. h4 g5 $1 25. hxg5 Qh5 26. Qc4 exd4 27. cxd4 Nxa5 {Jakovenko,D (2703)-Aronian,L (2809) Geneve 2017} 28. Qxc7 Rxg5 29. Nxg5 Qxg5 30. Rg3 $132) (13. Bc4 Qc8 14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Nc4 Rb5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Nxe3 bxc3 18. bxc3 Rxa5 19. Rxa5 Nxa5 20. Qa4 {½, Shankland,S (2676)-Tari,A (2593) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017} Nb7 $11) 13... h6 14. Nf1 d5 (14... b3 15. Bb1 d5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Qd6 19. Ra4 Rb5 {Anand,V (2783)-Nakamura,H (2792) Saint Louis rpd 2017} 20. d4 $1 $13 {/?}) 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 b3 17. Bb1 Qd6 18. Qe2 Rbe8 19. Ra3 f5 20. Nxe5 Bd7 (20... Bc5 $5) 21. d4 Nxd4 22. cxd4 Bxd4 23. Rxb3 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2791)-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis 2017} Bxe5 $132) ({Black has lately faced some problems after the other main move} 9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 (11... h6 {- 9...h6 & 10...?e7}) 12. Bf1 (12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15. cxd4 c5 16. d5 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. b4 Qa7 22. Qa1 Qc7 23. Bxh6 cxb4 24. Bxg7 Qxc2 25. Qxf6 {Kramnik,V (2808)-Carlsen,M (2832) Stavanger 2017} Bxf2+ 26. Kh2 Qc3 $14 {/?}) 12... Re8 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 b5 15. b4 Be6 16. Nb3 Qe7 17. Bd2 h6 18. c4 Rac8 19. c5 Bb8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra6 Red8 22. Na5 Qe8 23. Bc3 Nh7 24. g3 Nhf8 25. Rb6 Kh7 26. Rxb8 $1 Rxb8 27. Nxe5 $44 {/?, So,W (2812)-Karjakin,S (2781) Stavanger 2017}) 10. Nbd2 Be6 {'!?' This is a setup that has been played by Kramnik himself in the last couple of years. The main advantage of this system is that there are hardly any move order subtleties and nuances (you can always just go d6, a6, Ba7, 0-0, h6 in any order and then Be6) and the plans are very clear and straightforward. As I am aging as well, these are the things that I start prioritizing. Black seeks active counterplay even at the cost of disrupting his pawn structure.} (10... Ne7 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 13. Bc2 Bd7 (13... b5 14. b4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qd7 16. c4 exd4 17. cxb5 d3 18. Bxd3 Nf4 19. Bf1 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. bxa6 Qf5 22. Ra3 $1 $16 {Karjakin,S (2773)-Svidler,P (2749) Saint Louis 2017}) 14. a5 c6 (14... Bc6 $142 $5) 15. dxe5 $1 dxe5 16. Nc4 Qe7 17. Qd6 Qxd6 18. Nxd6 Re6 19. Rd1 Rb8 20. Kf1 Re7 21. Nc4 Rbe8 22. b3 Be6 23. Nb6 (23. Ba3 $5 $14) 23... Bxb6 24. axb6 Rd7 25. Be3 Rc8 26. c4 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 c5 28. Ne1 {1-0 (43) Vachier Lagrave,M (2791)-So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017} Nf4 $1 $11) (10... Re8 11. b4 (11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11 {is too soft}) 11... Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 (13. Nf1 Ne7 14. Ng3 Ng6 15. d4 Qd7 16. d5 Ree8 17. a5 c6 18. c4 cxd5 19. cxd5 Rac8 20. Qd3 Rc7 21. Bd2 Rec8 22. Nf5 Rc4 23. Rac1 Rxe4 24. Rxc8+ Qxc8 25. Nxd6 Rxe1+ 26. Nxe1 Qd7 $15 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2796)-Carlsen,M (2832) Paris blitz 2017}) 13... Qd7 ({again leads to Karjakin-Navara, where Black's defensive task is far from simple:} 13... d5 14. Nb3 Ne7 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. c4 Qd6 17. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 Qxc5 19. Ba3 Qa5 20. d4 Ng6 21. Bb2 e4 $146 22. d5 Ree8 23. Nd2 e3 24. Rxe3 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Qc5 26. Bd4 Qe7 27. Qf5 c5 28. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 gxf6 31. Rb1 Rb8 32. Ne4 Ne5 33. Nxc5 Rc8 34. Nxb7 Rxc4 35. a5 $36 {Fressinet,L (2662)-Amin,B (2660) Sharjah 2017}) (13... Ne7 14. d4 $5 $146 ({More energetic than} 14. Nf1) 14... Ng6 15. Bb2 c6 16. a5 Qe7 17. c4 exd4 18. Bxd4 Qc7 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. c5 $1 $36 Ra8 21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. e5 $1 $16 {Areshchenko,A (2649)-Onischuk,A (2685) Khanty-Mansiysk 2017 ?} Nxe5 $2 23. Rxe5 Rxe5 24. Nc4) 14. Nf1 Ree8 (14... d5 15. Be3 $1 (15. Ng3 Rd8 16. Qb3 Ne7 17. c4 dxc4 18. dxc4 Nc6 19. Bb2 Qd3 20. Qc3 a5 21. bxa5 Bc5 22. Rab1 Bb4 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24. Red1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Re8 $15 {Sethuraman,S (2623)-Inarkiev,E (2723) Moscow 2017}) 15... Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Rd8 17. b5 axb5 18. axb5 Ne7 19. c4 dxe4 20. dxe4 Ng6 21. Ra7 $36 {Anand,V (2786)-So,W (2812) Leuven blitz 2017}) 15. Ng3 $5 (15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nd8 17. Nc4 Ne6 18. a5 Rad8 19. Rad1 Nf4 20. Kh2 Qc6 21. Qb3 Ng6 22. Kg1 d5 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. d4 exd4 25. Rxd4 Qf5 26. Nce5 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 Qc8 $11 {Van Foreest,J (2551)-Tkachiev,V (2660) Stockholm 2016}) 15... a5 (15... Ne7 16. a5 Rad8 17. c4 c6 18. Bb2 Ng6 19. d4 Bb8 20. Rad1 Qc8 21. Nf5 Bc7 22. Rc1 Qb8 23. d5 Nf4 24. g3 Ng6 25. Qd3 {?, Chigaev,M (2531)-Sychev,K (2449) Moscow 2017}) ({Now is maybe the right moment for} 15... d5 $5 $132) 16. b5 Ne7 17. d4 Ng6 18. Be3 Qe6 19. c4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qe7 21. Ndf5 Qe6 22. Bxa7 Rxa7 23. c5 $36 {Pruijssers,R (2529)-Michalik,P (2584) Germany 2014}) 11. Bxe6 (11. b4 Nh5 12. Nf1 Qf6 13. Ne3 Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Nf4 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Ng6 17. b5 axb5 18. axb5 Nce7 19. Qb3 d5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ncd2 c6 22. d4 Qd6 $132 {Carlsen,M (2832)-Giri,A (2771) Stavanger 2017}) 11... fxe6 12. Nf1 {Ding Liren decided not to go b4 now, nor on the next move, which is a strategic decision that affects the whole game. Most games thus far have continued with b4, gaining space and only later determining the placement of the d2 knight.} (12. b4 Nh5 13. Ra2 {'N!?'} Qf6 14. Nc4 b5 15. Ne3 Bb6 16. Ng4 Qe7 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 {eventually led to a draw in Anand-Carlsen from Stavanger this year (2017).} Rab8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra6 Nd8 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Nf7 23. Qc2 Nf6 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Rc6 Ng5 $132 {Anand,V (2786)-Carlsen,M (2832) Stavanger 2017}) 12... Nh5 {Nh5-f4 is a standard plan and after Qf6, the pressure along the f-file can get mildly annoying for White.} 13. Be3 {'N'} (13. b4 {'!?' [2020- b4 is automatic nowadays]. prevents the following move, but after} Qe8 {we are back in Karjakin-So.} (13... Nf4 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Qf6 16. b5 Ne7 17. d4 Neg6 18. Kh2 axb5 19. axb5 Rxa1 20. Qxa1 Nh4 21. Nxh4 Qxh4 22. Qa2 exd4 23. cxd4 {Leko,P (2693)-Kobalia,M (2628) Tallinn blitz 2016} Qg5 24. g3 Qxb5 $11) 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3 Nf4 16. Rb1 b5 17. Ra1 Qg6 18. Ng3 Qf6 19. Ne2 Ng6 20. Qb3 Kh8 21. Rf1 Rab8 22. g3 Qf7 (22... Nf4 $1 23. gxf4 Qg6+ $36) 23. Nh2 d5 24. Rf3 Qd7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Kg2 Rxf3 27. Nxf3 Rf8 28. Neg1 Ra8 29. Rc1 Qd6 30. Ne1 Nge7 31. Ngf3 Ng8 32. Nc2 Nf6 33. Re1 Rf8 34. Na3 Rb8 35. Nc2 Rf8 $11 {Karjakin,S (2773)-So,W (2810) Saint Louis 2017 This game was played one day later than Ding Liren-Giri.}) (13. d4 Qf6 14. Be3 Nf4 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Re3 Raa8 19. Nh2 Rf7 20. Nf3 Qc5 21. b4 Qh5 22. a5 Raf8 23. Nd4 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 e5 25. Nf5 Kh7 26. Ree1 g6 $11 {Wen,Y (2614)-Lin,C (2526) China 2016}) 13... a5 $5 {At some point I should start pretending that b2-b4 is an idea worth preventing, else it would seem that my opponent had outsmarted me by postponing it.} 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. d4 {Very direct approach, but I had enough experience playing such structures with White to know that there is no need to panic. One thing Black can always do is capture on d4 and plant a knight on b4, but here I like my next move keeping the tension, even more.} ({Another move deserving attention was} 15. g3 $1 {After} Qf6 16. N1d2 Qg6 17. Kh2 {[%CAl Yd1e2,Ye1f1] White will first consolidate his kingside and only then contemplate central or flank activity. However, the position remains balanced after} Raa8 $132) 15... Qf6 16. Re3 (16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxf2+ (17... Qxe5 $5 18. g3 $11) 18. Kh1 Qxf1+ 19. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 20. Qxf1 Ng3+ 21. Kg1 Nxf1 22. Kxf1 dxe5 23. Rd1 $44 {/=}) 16... Nf4 {Here I started liking my position quite a bit. One solid plan is to go Raa8 and Rf7 Raf8, another, more funky is to go Ra6-b6. In any case I expected White here to start with Ng3 or Rc1!?.} 17. h4 $6 {The idea of h4-g3 is often a good one, expelling the annoying f4 knight, but eventually the kingside weaknesses will tell in this game. To prepare g3, White must soften his kingside.} Qg6 (17... exd4 $1 18. cxd4 e5 $1 {was already good at this point, but I was thinking in more conceptual terms and felt there was no need for concrete action with the rook still on a7.}) 18. g3 Raa8 {'!?' While thinking about my opponent's move I realized that probably what I had done is not all too great, as the position after dxe5 started to look rather equal to me. Having said that, my position is still comfortable and considering the proceedings, I don't regret my last two timid moves all too much. Even though the doubled pawns could be real weakness in the future, Giri has sufficient trust in his piece coordination to keep his central outpost.} ({That said, even giving up the centre with} 18... exd4 19. cxd4 {or} Ra6 $5 {[%CAl Ga6b6,Gb6b4] [2020- was also quite interesting] is far from clear.} (19... Nb4 $13)) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. f3 {I was surprised to see this move so quickly. But on the other hand it is probably going to be hard to avoid this move altogether.} (21. Kh2 Rad8 22. Qc2 Nd5 23. Re2 Nf6 {I would seriously consider postponing f3 even here, but with Qh5 and g5 coming up next, he still does not have comfortable life.}) 21... Rad8 {I played this move on general grounds and only later decided not to fight for the d-file and focus all my pieces on the kingside.} 22. Qc2 (22. Qe1 {was similar.}) 22... Nh5 23. Kh2 {A crucial moment in the game. Black is obviously comfortable and the first instinct (at least mine) is to prepare g5, while at the same time keep an eye on the d-file. After quite some thought however, I realized that if I continue this way, let's say with a move like Qf6 followed by g5 or Rd6 followed by Rfd8, the position will eventually simplify and the fun would be over before it had even started. After some more consideration I decided to give up the d-file, keep life in the position and introduce some more ideas on the kingside.} Rf6 $1 {Essentially this decision won me the game.} 24. Rd1 Rdf8 {'!' the point. White's kingside is vulnerable, so Black retains the major pieces to create more pressure.} 25. Rdd3 (25. Kg2 Rf4 $1 $15 {[%CAl Rf4h4]}) 25... Qf7 {25...Qe8 seemed more natural and was my first instinct, keeping an eye on a4 pawn and not allowing the Rd7 tempo, but suddenly I started seeing some cheap tricks involving the weak g3 point and for that I needed the option of Qf7-f6.} (25... Qe8 26. Qd1 g5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Kg2 g4 {was the first plan that came to mind, but I felt that after} 29. Nh2 gxf3+ 30. Rxf3 Qg6 {even though I am on a nice side of things, White would have enough resources to maintain the balance.}) 26. Qd1 $2 {Remarkably, this natural move, which would be the only move against 25...Qe8, is a big mistake here. It is very important for White to be able to meet Rg6 with Qf2. These one-step-at-a-time queen manoeuvres reminded me of the corresponding squares that kings abide to in some pawn endgame studies.} (26. Qd2 $1 {26.Qf2 would be premature in view of g5. Now against both plans, g5 as well as Rg6-xg3, White is able to hold his own.} Rg6 (26... g5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Rd8 {and with a pair of rooks off, it's hard to imagine White not surviving this.}) 27. Qf2 Qf6 {It's possible to prepare a knight or a rook sacrifice even here and Black doesn't seem to run much risk in any of the complications, yet objectively I can't find an advantage either.} 28. Rd7 Nxg3 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 h5 31. Re1 Qg5 32. Kh3 Rf4 33. Red1 {and Black always has a perpetual, for example with Qh4+-Qg5, but I don't see any real ideas to achieve more than a draw.}) ({It was safer to huddle closer to the ? with} 26. Qg2 {However, Black still has} g5 $5 (26... Rg6 27. Qf2 Qe7 28. Rd1 {and} Rxg3 $6 {leads nowhere after} 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Nf4+ 31. Kf1 Rf6 32. Ne2 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke1 $14) 27. hxg5 hxg5 (27... Rg6 28. Qd2 Rxg5 29. Rd8 Nxg3 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Nxg3 Qf4 32. Qf2 Rxg3 33. Qxg3 Qxe3 34. Qxe5 Qf2+ 35. Kh3 Qxf3+ 36. Kh2 $15 {/? should probably be enough for a draw.}) 28. Kg1 g4 29. Nh2 gxf3 30. Rxf3 Qg6 $15 {with nagging pressure.}) (26. Qf2 g5 $36) 26... Rg6 $1 {Introducing an idea of a sacrifice on g3. Ding took his time on the next move and the strength of this idea slowly dawned on both of us.} 27. Qe1 {Step in a right direction. Both natural moves 27.Rd8 and 27.Rd7 were losing by force already.} (27. Rd8 Nxg3 $1 {This simple combination wins.} 28. Nxg3 (28. Rxf8+ Qxf8 29. Nxg3 Qf4 30. Qe1 Qxh4+ 31. Kg2 h5 32. Qf2 (32. Rd3 Qg5 $19 {[%CAl Rh5h4]}) 32... Qf4 33. Kh3 Rxg3+ 34. Qxg3 Qxe3 $17) 28... Qf4 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Qe1 Rxg3 31. Qxg3 Qxe3 32. Qxe5 Qf2+ $1) (27. Rd7 {'?'} Qf6 28. Qe1 Nxg3 $1 (28... Rd8 29. Rxd8+ (29. Rxc7 $2 Nxg3 30. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 31. Kg2 Rd1 $1 32. Qxd1 Qxg3+ 33. Kf1 Qg1+ 34. Ke2 Rg2+ $19) 29... Qxd8 $11) 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Rg5 $1 {'-+!' followed by Rf6-g6 is deadly.} (30... Rff6 $1 {first is just as good.})) 27... Qe7 {'=' Hinting at the inevitable.} 28. Kh3 $2 {Panic. Unable to stop the sacrifice, my opponent allowed it in its best version. This allows a powerful sacrifice.} ({A far more resilient defence was} 28. Qf2 {'?' was the only way to fight on. White's next move is Rd1 so the best thing to do is to nevertheless crush through with} Rxg3 $1 (28... Nxg3 29. Nxg3 Rf4 (29... Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 {[%CAl Yd3d1,Yd1h1]}) 30. Kg2 Rxh4 31. Rd1 Rh5 32. f4 (32. Rh1 Rxg3+ 33. Qxg3 Rg5 $17) 32... exf4 33. Qxf4 e5 34. Qf3 Qh4 35. Qe2 Kh7 $44) 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 (30. Kg1 Nxg3 31. Kg2 {looks clever, except that it's mate after} Qh1+ $1 32. Kxg3 Rf6 $1 33. Qh2 Rg6+ 34. Kh3 Qf1+ 35. Kh4 Rg2) 30... Qg5 $1 {and as the rook is going to swing via f6 or f4, White's best bet is to run with} (30... Nf4+ 31. Kf1 Rf6 32. Ne2 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Qh3+ 34. Ke1 Nxd3+ 35. Rxd3 Rxf3 36. Rd8+ Kh7 37. Rd7 Qh4+ 38. Kd2 $16) 31. Kf1 (31. Kh2 Rf4 32. Nxh5 Rh4+ 33. Qxh4 Qxh4+ 34. Kg2 Qxh5 $17) 31... Nxg3+ 32. Ke1 {when Black has a big advantage with one of the plans h5-h4 or Nh5-Nf4. At this point also 32...c5!? is suggested. Black has fully regained the sacrificed material and the beautiful knight combined with the passed h-pawn are clearly worth more than the exchange.} Nh5 $15 (32... h5 33. Kd1 h4 34. Kc2 $132)) (28. Rd2 $2 Nxg3 $1 (28... Rxg3 $2 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg1 $1 Nxg3 31. Rh2 Qf4 32. Rh3 $19) 29. Nxg3 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Rff6 $19 {[%CAl Rg6g5,Rf6g6]}) 28... Rxg3+ $1 29. Nxg3 Nf4+ 30. Kh2 (30. Kg4 {'??'} Qf6 {is mate on the next move.} 31. h5 Qg5#) 30... Qxh4+ 31. Kg1 Rf6 $1 {White is losing the g3 knight and with it the game. From now on it's the conversion phase.} 32. Rd8+ ({The ? can't escape from the danger zone:} 32. Kf2 $2 Qh2+) 32... Kh7 33. Rd2 Rg6 34. Rg2 (34. Rh2 Rxg3+ 35. Kh1 Qg5 36. Qf1 {is clearly lost for White, the most forcing way being} Ng2 $1 37. Re2 Ne3 38. Qf2 Nd1 $1 39. Qf1 Qf4 $1 40. Rh3 (40. Qxd1 Qxf3+ 41. Rhg2 Rxg2 {loses due to the f3-d1 pin.}) 40... Ne3 41. Rxe3 Rxh3+ 42. Qxh3 Qxe3 {with an easily won queen endgame, two pawns up.}) 34... h5 {There is no need to win back the exchange, though it was already possible at this point to do it the lazy way.} (34... Nxg2 35. Kxg2 h5 36. Re2 Qf4 37. Kh3 Qxf3 {would win easily as well.}) (34... Qh3 $2 35. Rh2 Qxg3+ 36. Qxg3 Rxg3+ 37. Kf2 $16) 35. Rh2 {Giving up the knight prolongs the game.} (35. Kf2 Qh3 $1 36. Qg1 h4 $19) (35. b3 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 Qg5 $19 {[%CAl Rh5h4]} (36... Qf4 37. Kh3 Rxg3+ $19)) 35... Rxg3+ 36. Kh1 Qg5 37. Qf1 {White avoided the immediate checkmate, but sooner or later the inevitable will strike.} h4 38. Re1 h3 39. Rd1 Qh5 {'-+'} 40. Rd7 (40. Rf2 Rg2 41. Rdd2 Qh4 42. Rc2 c5 43. b3 Kg6 $22 44. Ra2 Kg5 45. Rfc2 Qg3 $19) 40... Qxf3+ {The easiest. In the endgame there is no stopping the g-pawn.} (40... Rxf3 41. Qg1 (41. Rf2 Rg3) 41... Ng2 $19) 41. Qxf3 Rxf3 42. Rhd2 Kh6 43. Rd8 (43. Rxc7 g5 {is dead lost.} 44. Rdd7 Rf1+ 45. Kh2 Rf2+ 46. Kg1 Rg2+ 47. Kf1 (47. Kh1 Nh5 $1 $19) 47... Kh5 $19) 43... Kh5 $5 {Bringing all the pieces closer to the action. If Black were to push the g-pawn first, there could be some study like perpetual check motifs appearing, though even that only occured to me because I had seen things go wrong way too often.} (43... g5 44. Rh8+ Kg7 45. Rdd8 Ng6 $1 {does it of course.}) 44. Rh8+ Kg4 45. Rd1 Ne2 {with mate to follow. [2020- this game was played in my match against Ding Liren that I won, just before he started his rise to top 3. He went on to have a over a 100 games streak without a loss, right after this one. An amazing fighter.]} 46. Rg8 g5 47. Rgd8 Rf2 48. R8d2 Kh4 $19 0-1