[Event "Chessable Masters KO"] [Site "chess24.com INT"] [Date "2022.05.23"] [Round "1.12"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2806"] [BlackElo "2759"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 {I respond with 2. Nf3 in 2nd move to avoid openings such as Budapest Gambit, Albin-Counter Gambit, Benko Gambit to not be overwhelmed with opening theory. But if you studied it all then play like GM Ding Liren.} g6 3. Nc3 d5 {This is the Grunfeld Defense, favorite opening of Super GM Peter Svidler, World Champs Anatoly Karpov and the late GM Robert (Bobby) Fischer} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 {We are following the main lines of this opening, watch out for tactics because it can go wild.} Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 ({IF } 8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Be2 Nc6 13. d5) 9. Qd2 O-O (9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 O-O (11... f5 12. Rc1) 12. Rb1) 10. Rc1 {This move is what we study as of now, but later, we will study 10. Rb1.} Rd8 11. d5 {Yes, this is the best way to maintain space at the center.} e6 { Although this is the right move, it allows the white bishop at e3 to penetrate the g5 to d8 dark square, if black responds with f6, creates black weakness.} 12. Bg5 Re8 13. d6 {LET US STOP HERE: ASSESS THE POSITION, SINCE WHITE HAS OVER EXTENDED PAWN AND STILL UNCASTLED. WHAT ARE WHITE'S PLANS? EVALUATE..... ANALYSE IT IN 5 MINUTES....} Nd7 14. Bh6 Bh8 {Black cannot exchange the bishop at h6, because it helps white to establish an attacking position.} 15. h4 { I have asked you a while ago what white's plans are... here it is. White will attack the kingside and will not castle but just side step at f1 square... fantastic idea. This is going to be an exciting match since Super GM Mamedyarov is an excellent tactician.} b5 {Black needs to develop the bishop at c8 to b7 square to pressure the e4 pawn and to complete the development of pieces as well.} 16. h5 {Now, white must continue with the plan and attack accurately because "one mistake" is very costly.} Bb7 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bd3 b4 {Pretty strong move by black but white does not care about the pawn at c3, what he thinks is to continue pressuring the king at g8.} 19. Qf4 c4 ({IF} 19... Bxc3+ 20. Rxc3 bxc3 21. Ne5 c2+ (21... Nxe5 22. Qf6 Nxd3+ 23. Kf1) 22. Ke2 c1=Q) 20. Bxc4 Rac8 21. Ng5 Bf6 ({IF} 21... Nf6 22. d7) 22. Bb3 bxc3 23. Kf1 {Simply side stepping keeps the white king safe. GM Ding Liren is forced to play aggressive at kingside in playing with GM Mamedyarov, otherwise, white just watches black from undermining white's queenside.} Qe5 24. Qxe5 Nxe5 25. Rh3 {AGAIN, WE REACHED THE ENDGAME PART HERE: KINDLY EVALUATE THE POSITION: WHAT ARE THE CANDIDATE MOVES FOR WHITE TO MAINTAIN THE PRESSURE?} Red8 26. f4 { Yes... white must push f4 to unite the pawns.} Ba6+ 27. Ke1 {White king expects an exchange next move.} Nd3+ 28. Rxd3 Bxd3 29. e5 c2 30. Kd2 {Bishop at d3 is much more reasonable to take than the bishop at f6.} Bf5 31. g4 { Wow... what a move... I can't imagine how a 2800 FIDE Rated Super GM decides best in this type of position.} Bxg4 32. Ne4 {Again...refraining from taking the bishop at f6... unbelievable.... There must be a much better plan that white is setting up. Also, there is a danger of taking the bishop at f6 due to Rd6 ch.. then plays Rd1 next...} Bh4 33. Bg5 Bxg5 34. fxg5 Bf5 35. Nf6+ Kg7 { STOP HERE: PLEASE EVALUATE THE POSITION, ANY COMMENTS?} 36. d7 Rc5 37. Rh1 { White must do this to place the king at d2 at c1 square and pressure the king at g7 next move.} c1=Q+ {FORCED MOVE!!} 38. Rxc1 Rxc1 39. Kxc1 {NOW, IF BLACK WILL PLACE THE KING AT E7 LATER, HOW CAN WHITE WIN HERE?} Kf8 40. Kd2 Ke7 41. Kc3 a6 42. Ba4 Bh3 43. Ne4 Bf1 44. Nd6 {VERY NICE.... black cannot exchange at b5 square, due to white will retain the white bishop, still connected at d7 pawn and the chance to push the "a" pawn later.} Bb5 45. Nxb5 axb5 46. Bxb5 Rh8 47. a4 {This is what I am talking about...let us see what comes next...} Rh3+ 48. Kb4 Kd8 49. a5 Kc7 50. a6 Rh4+ 51. Kc5 Rh1 52. d8=Q+ {WOW!!!!!!!!!!} Kxd8 53. a7 Ra1 54. Kb6 {FANTASTIC GAME... SO ENTERTAINING... It's like watching a James Bond movie... full of action... Thank you to Super GMs Ding and Mamedyarov for this wonderful game.... AMAZING!!!!!} 1-0