[Event "Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.05.09"] [Round "4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Rafael"] [PlyCount "139"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] {[%evp 0,139,15,27,27,20,29,12,8,6,34,12,16,6,9,-14,25,3,-11,5,5,2,-1,7,6,3,10,4,0,4,-4,-4,-6,9,42,2,14,7,4,5,14,8,27,8,8,0,5,0,8,3,25,3,23,5,15,10,16,16,8,9,9,17,27,27,14,22,25,25,17,22,29,25,36,32,29,29,20,21,16,16,31,10,53,41,49,34,41,47,47,69,83,83,77,77,83,91,80,80,84,83,142,134,128,147,149,142,149,148,148,148,148,150,156,159,159,157,213,210,202,205,248,215,235,274,266,290,273,123,123,123,134,128,225,186,183,192,290,318,642,665,721,423]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Nf3 Be6 11. b3 a6 {Caruana probably didn't expect this move, since he had to take some time to think after seeing it.} (11... O-O {was played by Nepomniachtchi in 2022 in a Titled Tuesday game against Melkumyan.}) 12. Bd3 (12. Bxc6+ {It seems that the pressure on the hanging pawns is not enough to justify this exchange. Black is fine after} bxc6 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Rc1 c5) 12... Ne5 {All this was played fast by Nepomniachtchi. He must have studied this line during his world championship match preparation.} 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb2 Rc8 (14... O-O {It's important to check this move as we can have a transposition to the game later on.} 15. h3 {A useful move to avoid a sacrifice on h2 or a piece going to g4.} Rc8 16. Rc1 Qa5 17. Qe1 Rfd8 $2 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (17... Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Forces an immediate draw.} 18. Nxe4 Qxe1 19. Rfxe1 Bxb2 (19... dxe4 20. Bxe5 exd3 {also equalizes.}) 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Ng5 h6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 {with a drawn endgame.}) 18. f4 $1 {[%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bd6 19. Ne4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Qxe1 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rfxe1 {with a clear advantage for White in Niemann-Tari, FTX Road to Miami 2022.}) 15. Rc1 O-O 16. f4 {If we consider that 16.h3 leads to a known position, then this is the first new move of the game. It's reasonable to assume that both players were out of book at this point.} (16. h3 {Transposes to Niemann's game.}) 16... Bc7 {Black has many decent options.} (16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Ne4 18. Bd4 (18. Bb4 Qb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}) 18... f6 {Despite White's bishop pair, the knight is very strong on e4 and the position is roughly equal.}) (16... Bb8 {This retreat seems more natural to me than the one played in the game.}) (16... Bd6 {is also possible.}) 17. Ne2 (17. Na4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This move is more dangerous for Black.}) 17... Bb6 18. Bd4 (18. Nd4 {It makes sense to preserve the bishops on the board, although the game remains balanced.} Re8) 18... Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qa5 {If the f-pawn was on f2, and this is a big \"if,\" White would have a stable small advantage, although the position is totally defensible even then. With the pawn on f4, Black has good counterplay and no problems whatsoever. This, however, doesn't mean the position is drawn. The game continuation reminds me of one of the best Karpov games. Little by little, with patience, careful play, and never agreeing to a draw, Caruana gives a masterclass on endgame technique.} 20. Qe2 Rfe8 21. h3 $1 {[%c_effect h3;square;h3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A good prophylactic move.} Bd7 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Qb2 Qc5 24. a4 a5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 25. Qd2 b6 26. Rb1 Qa3 27. Kh2 h6 28. Rb2 Qe7 29. Rc2 Rc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black has a comfortable position.} 30. Nf3 Rxc2 31. Bxc2 Qc5 32. Bd3 Kf8 33. Nd4 Kg8 34. Kg1 Kf8 {A tacit draw offer, refused by Caruana's next move.} 35. Kf2 Ke7 36. Qb2 Kf8 37. Nc2 {An important moment, as the character of the game now changes. White wants to bring the queen to e5.} Ne4+ {This is not necessary, and I think it makes the defense a bit more difficult.} (37... b5 $2 {[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is a logical move, but there's a pretty refutation.} 38. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} axb4 39. a5 $1 {[%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The b4-pawn will be captured and suddenly White is winning.}) (37... Ne8 $5 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This is a good move—the knight heads to d6.} 38. Qe5 Qd6 39. Qxd6+ Nxd6 40. Nd4 Ke7 {with a drawish endgame.}) (37... Qd6 38. Qd4 Ne8 {is also good—in this case the knight goes to c7 and then e6.}) 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Nd4 {White's knight is very strong, and his position is easier to play, but Black has an active queen and no weakness.} Bc6 40. Qe2 Qc3 41. Qa6 Qd2+ $6 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (41... Qb2+ $1 {[%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the best move and leads to a draw by force after some interesting complications.} 42. Kg3 {The only winning attempt.} (42. Ne2 $2 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} Qxb3) (42. Kf1 Qc1+) (42. Kg1 Qc1+) 42... Qd2 $1 {[%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Forced, but enough.} 43. Nxc6 Qxe3+ 44. Kg4 (44. Kh2 $2 {[%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] loses to} Qxf4+ 45. Kg1 Qc1+ {and the knight is captured.}) 44... g6 $1 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (44... h5+ {is also possible:} 45. Kxh5 g6+ 46. Kg4 Qf2 47. Qc8+ Kg7 48. f5 {Black can also achieve a draw here, but it's more difficult.}) 45. Qc8+ Kg7 46. Qc7 Qf2 $1 {[%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 47. Qe5+ Kh7 48. g3 $1 {[%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White's king is in danger, but there's nothing more than a draw, for instance:} f5+ 49. Kh4 Qe2 50. Qe7+ {with perpetual check.}) 42. Ne2 Qb4 (42... Qd8 {is more accurate.} 43. Nd4 Bd5 {with excellent drawing chances, although White can play forever.}) 43. Qc8+ Be8 44. Qc2 {Nepomniachtchi thought for a long time here, an indication that he was not feeling comfortable with the position. He will start making mistakes now.} Bd7 $2 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (44... f5 {It seems to me this is the best way. The bishop might go to f7.} 45. Nd4 g6) 45. Nd4 {The position is already very dangerous for Black. The computer suggests giving up the e4-pawn immediately. But the computer is a machine, and humans have hearts—it's not so easy to part with what is yours.} f5 $2 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} (45... Kg8 $1 {[%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 46. Qxe4 Be6 47. Qd3 Bd5 48. e4 Bb7 {Black has a long suffering ahead.}) 46. Qc7 $1 {[%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White is winning. Strategists say that the queen and knight work well together. This is a textbook example.} Qd2+ (46... Ke8 47. Qb8+ Kf7 (47... Ke7 48. Qe5+ Kf7 49. Nxf5) 48. Qd8 Qd2+ 49. Ne2 {Black's position collapses.}) 47. Ne2 {The b-pawn is lost.} Be6 48. Qxb6 Kf7 49. Qd4 Qa2 50. Qa7+ Kg8 51. Qa8+ Kh7 52. Qxa5 Kh8 (52... Qxb3 53. Nd4 {wins easily.}) 53. Qd8+ Kh7 54. Qa5 Kh8 55. b4 $1 {[%c_effect b4;square;b4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bc4 56. Qd8+ Kh7 57. Qd1 Bb3 58. Qd7 Be6 59. Qb5 Kh8 60. Qc5 $1 {[%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The a-pawn is not necessary. What White needs is to get rid of the annoying pin on the knight.} g6 (60... Qxa4 61. Nd4) (60... Bc4 {loses to} 61. Qc8+ Kh7 62. Qxf5+ Kh8 (62... g6 63. Qd7+ Kh8 64. Qd1) 63. Qg4 Qxa4 64. Qc8+ Bg8 65. Qf8) 61. Ke1 Kg8 62. Qd6 Kf7 63. Qd2 {There are other ways to win, but Caruana's choice is safe and good. The b-pawn is enough.} Qxa4 64. Nd4 {Finally, the knight returns to its dream place.} Bc4 65. Kf2 h5 66. Kg3 Qa3 67. b5 Qd3 68. Qc1 $1 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} Bxb5 69. Qc7+ Kf8 70. Qc5+ {A brilliant technical win by Caruana, a player who never ceases to amaze me.} 1-0