[Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Rapport, Richard"] [Black "Firouzja, Alireza"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B53"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2793"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,120,19,19,44,41,68,51,51,46,28,22,30,22,22,-7,-7,-5,-5,-4,-4,-4,9,4,4, 1,28,25,28,17,29,23,27,13,13,12,7,-12,22,22,38,38,38,38,31,31,31,36,38,25,54, 27,26,26,26,37,37,14,34,34,43,50,87,84,84,84,157,157,150,153,167,173,152,138, 139,137,165,110,159,185,185,185,185,185,185,185,164,159,167,167,167,159,167,95, 159,84,81,86,99,90,90,90,96,77,103,93,109,61,61,59,50,43,56,52,47,33,22,12,27, 15,15,2,1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {The Chekover system is a lively alternative to the usual 4.Nxd4 variations. We can always count on Rapport for something entertaining.} Nc6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. c4 e5 8. Qd3 Ne7 9. c5 {This isn't unknown, but it is rather amusing after yesterday's game, when Rapport fell prey to this very idea in a similar structure.} Ng6 ({ Firouzja's move is the most common, but in the one game involving super-GMs (granted, it was a rapid game) Black chose} 9... d5 {instead.} 10. Nxe5 f6 11. Nf3 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bf5 13. Qe3 Qd3 14. Nc3 O-O-O 15. Qxd3 Bxd3 16. Bd2 Nf5 17. b4 Re8+ 18. Kd1 g5 19. Ne1 Bc4 20. Na4 Kb7 21. Nb6 Bf7 22. Bc3 Be7 23. Nf3 Bd8 24. Re1 Bxb6 25. cxb6 Rxe1+ 26. Kxe1 Re8+ 27. Kf1 Bc4+ 28. Kg1 Re6 29. a4 Kxb6 30. a5+ Kc7 31. Re1 Kd7 32. Rxe6 Kxe6 33. g4 Nh4 34. Nd4+ Kd7 35. f3 Ng6 36. Nf5 Ke6 37. Kf2 Nf4 38. Nd4+ Kd7 39. Nf5 Nd5 40. Bd2 Bd3 41. Nd4 Bg6 42. Nb3 Kd6 43. Nc5 Nc7 44. h4 Ne6 45. hxg5 f5 46. gxf5 Bxf5 47. Nxa6 Bd3 48. Nc5 Nxc5 49. bxc5+ Kxc5 50. Ke3 Bc2 51. Kf4 Kd6 52. a6 Kc7 53. Be3 {1-0 (53) Nakamura,H (2750)-Xiong,J (2685) Chess.com INT 2022}) 10. cxd6 Qxd6 11. Qxd6 Bxd6 12. Be3 $146 a5 13. O-O f6 14. Rc1 Ra6 15. Nbd2 Be6 $11 {If White can neutralize Black's light-squared bishop and keep his a- and b-pawns safe while hammering away at c6 (and possibly c5) he'll be in business, but that's a lot of "ifs".} 16. Ne1 (16. Nc4 Be7 17. Nb6 {is a very direct plan. White gets the c-pawn, though not without allowing Black sufficient compensation after} a4 18. Rxc6 Kf7 {followed by ...Rb8, e.g.} 19. Rc7 Rb8 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxb2 $11 { So much for the extra pawn.}) 16... Kf7 17. Nd3 Rd8 18. Kf1 Bb4 (18... h5 $142) (18... a4 $142) 19. Ke2 $14 Nh4 (19... Rb8 $142) 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. g3 Ng6 22. Bc5 Rb8 23. a3 (23. Bd6 Rb5 24. a4 bxa3 25. Rxa3 $14) 23... bxa3 24. Rxa3 Rba8 (24... Rxa3 $142) 25. Nc4 (25. Rca1 Rxa3 26. Rxa3 Rxa3 27. bxa3 Nf8 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Kd3 Ke7 30. Nc4 Kd7 31. Kc3 c5 {The pawn ending would be dead lost for Black, but with the minor pieces on it seems to be drawn.}) 25... Bxc4+ 26. Rxc4 Nf8 27. Rb3 (27. Rxa6 Rxa6 28. Kd3 Ne6 29. Be3 g5 30. h3 Ra2 31. Kc3 Nd4 32. Bxd4 exd4+ 33. Rxd4 Ra1 $11) 27... Ne6 28. Rb7+ Kg8 (28... Kg6) 29. Be3 Rd8 (29... h5 $142) 30. f4 Nd4+ $2 {Until now, all of the inaccuracies were subtle and difficult to explain and exploit. This move, by contrast, is a clear error. } (30... h5) 31. Bxd4 exd4 (31... Rxd4 $2 32. Rxd4 exd4 33. Kd3 c5 34. Kc4 Rc6 35. e5 fxe5 36. fxe5 h5 37. h4 g6 38. Kd5 Rc8 39. e6 d3 40. Kc4 d2 (40... Rd8 41. Rd7 $18) 41. Rd7 Rc6 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Rxd2 Rxe6 44. Kxc5 Re3 45. Rg2 Kf6 46. b4 $18) 32. Kd2 $16 {Black has three problems: d4 can be weak, c6 can be (is) weak, and he will have problems on his second rank.} Ra1 $2 (32... h6 { may be best, preparing a king journey off the back rank.}) 33. Rxc6 $18 { Now it should be over, but the birthday boy gave himself a present with his resilient defense.} Rh1 34. Rcc7 Rxh2+ 35. Kd3 g6 36. e5 fxe5 37. fxe5 Rh3 38. Ke4 $6 (38. Rg7+ Kh8 (38... Kf8 $2 39. Rbf7+ Ke8 40. e6 $18 {and it's mate once the spite checks come to an end.}) 39. Rgd7 Rxg3+ 40. Kxd4 Rxd7+ (40... Re8 41. Rxh7+ Kg8 42. b4 $18) 41. Rxd7 Kg8 42. e6 Kf8 43. b4 Rg5 44. Rxh7 $18) 38... Rxg3 39. Rg7+ Kh8 40. Rxh7+ Kg8 41. Kf4 Re3 $1 42. Rbg7+ Kf8 43. Rf7+ ( 43. Rb7 {- See 45.Rb7.}) 43... Kg8 44. Rfg7+ Kf8 45. Rf7+ $2 (45. Rb7 Kg8 46. Rhg7+ $1 Kh8 47. Rge7 $1 {The primary idea is to play e6, Rh7+, Rbg7+, and e7+. } Rh3 48. e6 $1 d3 49. Rbd7 Rb8 50. Kg5 Rh1 51. Kxg6 Rg8+ 52. Kf6 Rf8+ 53. Ke5 Rh2 54. Kd6 d2 55. Kc7 d1=Q 56. Rxd1 Rxb2 57. Red7 {and White wins. Not the most obvious winning line ever.}) 45... Kg8 46. Rhg7+ Kh8 47. Rxg6 Re2 $1 48. e6 Re8 49. Rh6+ Kg8 50. Rg6+ Kh8 51. Rff6 Re7 $2 (51... d3 52. Kf5 Rg8 $1 { The only move. White has no interesting tries at this point.} (52... d2 $4 53. Rh6+ Kg7 54. Rfg6+ Kf8 55. Rh8+ Ke7 56. Rg7+ Kd6 57. Rd7+ Kc6 58. Rxe8 $18)) 52. b4 $2 (52. Kf5 $1 {wins.} d3 (52... Rg7 53. Rxg7 Kxg7 54. Rf7+ Kg8 55. Rd7 {wins.} Kf8 (55... Rxb2 56. Rd8+ Kg7 57. e7 $18) 56. b4 $18) 53. Rg1 $1 d2 54. Rh1+ $1 Kg8 55. Rfh6 $1 Rf2+ 56. Ke5 Kg7 57. Rh7+ Kf8 58. Rh8+ Kg7 59. Kd6 $1 $18) 52... d3 $1 53. Rg3 d2 54. Rh6+ Rh7 55. Rxh7+ Kxh7 56. Rd3 Kg6 57. Kf3 Rxe6 58. Rxd2 Kf6 59. Kf4 Re1 (59... Ke7 {followed by ...Rd6 (rinse and repeat, shuffling the Black king closer and closer to the pawn) seems simplest to me, but Black is not lacking in ways to make an easy draw.}) 60. Rd4 Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2753"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "149"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 ({It's a relief that Nakamura isn't trotting out the Matrix - at least not yet.} 2. Qh5 $6) 2... Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8. d4 c6 9. dxe5 cxb5 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O O-O {Black's results in this Berlin line have been pretty good. In practice, the bishop pair have compensated for his ugly queenside structure. Here, at the end of the forcing play, the road diverges, with White choosing between 12.a4 (originally the most popular move), 12.Nf3 (the computer's choice and the current favorite), and the Matrix-y 12.Qh5 (chosen only once before, but in a game Nepo won against Aronian). Nakamura goes for the latter.} 12. Qh5 Qc6 ( 12... d5 $1 $146 13. Qxd5 (13. exd5 Bf5 14. Nf3 Rfe8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Bd3 17. Rfd1 (17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. Rad1 g6 19. Qg5 Qxg5 20. Nxg5 Rxd5 $11) 17... Rxe3) 13... b4 ({There are other possibilities. Here's an interesting one:} 13... Re8 14. Qxb5 Bg4 15. h3 a6 16. Qc4 Bd7 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. Qf3 Qg6 19. b3 Bb5 20. Re1 f5 $44) ({And another:} 13... Bg4 14. Nb3 Qg6 (14... Be2 $2 15. Bg5 $16) 15. Qxb5 Rfe8 16. Kh1 a6 17. Qg5 Qxe4 18. f3 Qe2 19. Bf4 Bd7 $44) 14. cxb4 Be6 15. Qxb7 Rad8 16. Qa6 Bg4 17. Kh1 Qh4 $44 {Black's huge lead in development and the lack of defenders around White's king is enough to make up for even a three pawn deficit.}) 13. Re1 $1 $146 {+/=} (13. Nf3 d6 14. Re1 f6 15. Be3 a6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qd5+ Rf7 18. Rad1 Bg4 19. Qxd6 Qa5 20. Qd5 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Re8 22. f4 g6 23. e5 Qb6 24. Rd4 fxe5 25. Rxe5 Ref8 26. Re7 Kg7 27. Qe5+ Qf6 28. Rdd7 Rxe7 29. Rxe7+ Kh6 30. Qc7 Rh8 31. h3 Qf5 32. Kh2 Qc2 33. Qc5 {1-0 (33) Nepomniachtchi,I (2784)-Aronian,L (2781) Chess.com INT 2020}) 13... Re8 (13... d6 $142) (13... f5 $142) 14. Nf3 $16 d5 (14... Rxe4 $4 15. Bf4 $1 {Threatening 16.Rxe4 Qxe4 17.Re1, winning.} d5 16. Ng5 $18 {White wins at least the exchange.}) (14... h6 15. Bd2 $16) 15. exd5 $6 (15. Qxd5 $142 Be6 16. Qxc6 bxc6 17. Be3 $16) 15... Rxe1+ 16. Nxe1 Qc4 17. h3 Bd7 (17... Qe4 $1 {Here the queen is disruptive, and if challenged she will be well-placed on the kingside, e.g. after} 18. Nf3 Bd7 19. Qe5 Qg6 $11 {/+/=}) 18. Qf3 $1 Re8 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 $14 Re5 $6 (20... h6 $142) (20... b6 $142) (20... b4 $142) 21. d6 $2 (21. Rd1 $1 $16 {/+- is best, and gives White a large advantage. The critical point is that Black cannot reestablish material equality by taking on a2:} Qxa2 $2 22. Nd3 $1 Rxd5 $8 (22... Rf5 $2 23. Qg3 h6 24. e4 $18 {White's center is far too strong.}) 23. e4 Rd6 24. Nc5 $1 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 {wins, as} Be8 26. Qd8 Kf8 27. Nd7+ {mates. The bishop cannot be saved after White's 25th move.}) 21... Qd5 ( 21... Rd5 $11) (21... Bc6 $11) 22. Rd1 Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Rxe3 24. Rd5 f6 25. Rc5 Re6 26. Rc7 Rxd6 27. Rxb7 a6 $11 {Radjabov should hold this. Nakamura keeps grinding away though, and it pays off.} (27... a5 $11) 28. Nd4 h5 (28... g5) 29. h4 g5 30. g3 Kf7 31. Kf2 Kg6 32. Ke3 Rd5 (32... Be6) 33. Ra7 Rd6 34. b3 Be6 35. Rc7 Rd5 $2 {Too clever by half, as they say across the pond. Sure, 36.Nxe6 isn't a problem thanks to the obvious 36...Re5+, but what about 36.Rc6? I don't know if Radjabov was being cute for its own sake - if so, that's not very smart. But it's also possible that he didn't want to wait around forever while Nakamura tried this, then that, then the other thing, and looked for a way to activate his pieces. That, by contrast, is usually a good strategy. It just doesn't work out in this case.} (35... Bg4 {or pretty much any sane bishop move would maintain complete equality.}) 36. Rc6 $1 $16 Re5+ 37. Kf2 Bd7 38. Rxa6 gxh4 39. gxh4 Re4 {Of course 40.Kg3 is poor for multiple reasons - 40. ..Rg4+ and 40...Re3+, for starters. 40.Nf3 is also ineffective, thanks to 40... Bg4. Unfortunately for Radjabov, White has other ways to play for an advantage that don't require trying desperately to save the h-pawn.} 40. Rd6 $1 Bc8 41. Rd8 $1 Bg4 {So much for winning the h-pawn. Meanwhile, Black's b-pawn is ready to drop, though not right away because of 42...Re2+.} (41... Bb7 $2 42. Rg8+ Kh7 43. Rb8 Bd5 44. Rxb5 $18) 42. Rd5 $2 (42. b4 $1 $18 {is best, fixing the weakness on b5, preventing ...b4 (in case White's rook leaves the protection of the knight), and brings the pawn one square closer to queening.}) 42... Bc8 $2 (42... f5 $1 $16) 43. Rc5 $2 (43. Rd8 Bg4 44. b4 $1 $18) 43... Bd7 44. Rc7 Be8 45. Nf3 {White has kept the h-pawn, but Black has in turn stabilized the queenside and is ready to pursue counterplay with ...Kf5-f4.} Re6 $2 {Or at least he should have been!} (45... Kf5 $1) 46. Ra7 $2 (46. Rc8 $1 Kf7 47. Rc5 Ra6 (47... Kg6 48. c4 $18 {This is an idea we'll see again.}) 48. Rxh5 Rxa2+ 49. Ke3 $18) 46... Re4 $2 (46... Rc6 $1 47. Re7 Bf7 48. Re3 Ra6 $1 49. Re2 Rc6 50. Rc2 Re6 $1 $16 {/+/= keeps the game alive.}) 47. Ra8 Kf7 48. Rd8 Re7 49. Rd2 Re4 $2 (49... Kg6 $8 50. Rd5 Ra7 (50... Rc7)) 50. Rd5 Kg6 51. a3 $2 (51. Rc5 $1 {Next up, c3-c4 and the connected passers will bring home the point. Black can resist with} Bd7 52. c4 b4 $1 {, but I think White is still winning after} 53. Rd5 Bg4 54. Nd4 {and the advance of the c-pawn.}) 51... Re7 52. Nd4 Re4 53. Nxb5 Rxh4 54. Nd4 Rh2+ $6 (54... Bf7 $16) 55. Kg3 Rd2 56. c4 Rd3+ 57. Kh4 (57. Kf2 $142 h4 58. Rd8 Kf7 59. c5 Rc3 60. c6 Bxc6 61. Rc8 Rd3 62. Nxc6 Rxb3 63. Ra8 {The a-pawn survives, but I don't think White will win this.}) 57... Bf7 $2 {Clever, but inferior.} (57... Rc3 $3 {keeps everything frozen: Black will take on a4 if White pushes the a-pawn. This is a draw, if Black plays correctly.}) 58. Rd8 $1 (58. Rd6 $4 Be6 $3 $11 {is a nice trick.}) 58... Rd1 59. a4 Rh1+ 60. Kg3 h4+ 61. Kg2 $2 {Not a good square for the king, for several reasons.} (61. Kf4 $142 $18) (61. Kf2 $142 $18) 61... Rc1 $2 (61... Rb1 $1 {is the only move.} 62. a5 (62. Kf2 Rb2+ $1 $11) 62... Kg5 $1 {Likewise.} 63. a6 Ra1 $8 64. Nf3+ Kf4 $8 65. Rd6 Ra2+ $8 66. Kh3 f5 $8 67. Nxh4 Bh5 $8 { One forced move after another for Black. Now he even threatens mate!} 68. Rd4+ Kg5 69. Rd5 Bg4+ 70. Kg3 Rxa6 71. Nf3+ {Black's problems aren't yet over; more only-moves are required.} Bxf3 $8 72. Kxf3 Rh6 $1 73. b4 Rh4 $1 74. Rc5 Rh3+ $1 $11 {followed by ...Rb3 and the continuation of his kingside counterplay. Finally, Black is safe.}) 62. a5 $18 {From here, Nakamura finishes in good style, giving Radjabov no further chances to save or even seriously complicated the game.} Kh5 (62... Kg5 63. Kf2 $1 Bg6 (63... h3 64. Kg3 $18) ( 63... Kg4 64. Rf8 $18) 64. a6 Ra1 65. c5 $1 Be4 (65... Rxa6 66. c6 Ra7 67. Ne6+ Kg4 68. c7 $18) 66. c6 Bxc6 67. Nxc6 Rxa6 68. Nd4 $18) (62... Bxc4 63. bxc4 Rxc4 {Unlike the conjectural variation given above (57.Kf2), here White's a-pawn clearly decides the game.} 64. a6 Ra4 65. Ra8 $18 {White will play a7, Nb5/c6, move the rook and promote the pawn.}) 63. Kf2 $1 Kg4 64. Rf8 $1 h3 $1 65. Rxf7 $1 {Not afraid.} h2 66. Rg7+ (66. Rh7 h1=Q 67. Rxh1 Rxh1 68. b4 $18 { wins, but Nakamura's approach avoids any potentially tricky imbalances.}) 66... Kf4 67. Ne2+ Ke5 68. Ng3 Rc2+ (68... h1=Q 69. Nxh1 Rxh1 70. a6 Ra1 71. a7 { will be trivially easy for White to win.}) 69. Kf3 Rc3+ 70. Kg2 Rxb3 71. a6 Ra3 72. a7 Kd4 73. Nf5+ Kxc4 74. Rb7 $1 Kc5 75. Ne7 {White will promote after Nc8 and Rb8.} 1-0 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2766"] [BlackElo "2783"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] {[%evp 0,65,19,19,16,12,8,26,19,19,17,5,4,8,24,28,30,-6,-3,-2,2,-11,65,47,64, 58,48,22,24,14,49,-34,-16,-46,-33,-87,-75,-75,-75,-70,-70,-70,-70,-108,-100, -92,-92,-114,-114,-106,-104,-117,-126,-121,-149,-212,-168,-130,-98,-98,-83,-98, -98,-83,-119,-151,-119,-119]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 (6... a5 {is also popular.}) 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 h6 {This might seem like a harmless transposition - see the next note - but White must pay attention to his move order.} ({When Black starts with castling, White then plays h3 to prevent the pin, and Black reciprocates in kind. Play goes typically goes like this:} 8... O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 {and so on.}) 9. Nbd2 {Now if Black castles, White will play 10.h3 and transpose to the 8...0-0 line given above.} (9. h3 $2 {would be the product of carelessness. Black's ...h6 isn't only about prophylaxis, but can support aggression:} g5 $1 $15 {/-/+ gets kingside play going, with White's h-pawn serving as a hook to help Black open up the kingside.}) 9... g5 $5 { It's not as dangerous here as it would be in the 9.h3 line, but that doesn't mean it's harmless.} 10. b4 {There doesn't seem to be any consensus about What Black should play now. There have been some recent games with 10...Nh7, and there have been plenty of games with 10...g4 and 10...Nh5. 10...Ne7 is rarer, but was tried in a recent super-GM game. And in this game, Caruana plays something completely new.} Ng4 $146 {This is an obvious move on one level, but it's also very risky. Or at least, it would be risky for Caruana (or any other human) trying to play this with nothing but his wits about him. When one goes spelunking with the engine, however, it seems to work out, and the variations are spectacular.} (10... Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 g4 14. Nd2 h5 15. d4 h4 16. Qb3 Rh7 17. g3 Kf8 18. b5 Bd7 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Rab1 a5 21. Bf1 Rh5 22. Bg2 Nh7 23. Qd1 Nf6 24. Ndc4 Qe8 25. Ra1 Be6 26. Qe2 Qc8 27. Rab1 Bd7 28. Nf5 Qa6 29. dxe5 dxe5 30. Qa2 Kg8 31. Nce3 Qc6 32. Qa3 Qxa4 33. Ne7+ Nxe7 34. Qxe7 Qc6 35. Nf5 Qe6 36. Qc5 a4 37. Qxc7 Rc8 38. Rb8 Rxb8 39. Qxb8+ Kh7 40. Qf8 Ne8 41. Rb1 Qa2 42. Rb8 hxg3 43. Nxg3 Rh6 44. Nf5 Rg6 45. Qe7 Nf6 46. Rf8 Be6 47. Qd8 Ng8 48. Rxg8 {1-0 (48) Nepomniachtchi,I (2773)-Grischuk,A (2742) Chess.com INT 2022}) 11. Re2 Qf6 12. Qe1 (12. d4 $1 {This is the key move, after which Black has to play like a genius (or rather, memorize a set of crazy computer variations). I strongly recommend that you take a deep dive into this analysis. The lines are beautiful and overwhelming, and give a glimpse into the depth of preparation these guys do - certainly that Caruana does. I have no doubt that Caruana and his helpers have all of this in their files, and more besides - I'm just giving the highlights and generally restricting myself to the main line.} exd4 (12... O-O $2 13. b5 axb5 14. axb5 exd4 $1 15. Rxa7 $1 Rxa7 $1 16. bxc6 dxc3 17. Nf1 bxc6 18. e5 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. Qe1 $16 {Black has a rook and four(!) pawns for a bishop and knight, but all of his pawns west of the f-file seem destined for a brief life and a painful end.}) 13. e5 $1 {Otherwise, White is even losing.} Ngxe5 $1 (13... dxe5 $2 14. Ne4 Qg6 15. b5 Bf5 16. Bd3 {Black is in deep trouble here, and can only play for tricks.} Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxf2 $1 18. Kxf2 d3+ 19. Ke1 dxe2 20. Qd3 $1 Qe6 21. bxc6 Rd8 22. Qxe2 $18 {The tricks are more or less over, and so are Black's hopes. You might be wondering about ...f5 and ...e4 though, so let's continue:} f5 23. Bc2 e4 24. cxb7 $1 Qf6 25. Kf1 Kf8 26. Nd4 $18) 14. cxd4 Bxd4 15. Ne4 $1 Nxf3+ $1 {Otherwise Black loses material, but opening the e-file looks insane.} 16. gxf3 Qg6 17. Nxd6+ Kf8 18. Nxf7 Rh7 19. b5 $1 axb5 (19... Bxa1 $4 20. Ba3+ Kg7 21. Qxa1+ Qf6 22. Bb2 $18) 20. Ba3+ Kg7 21. axb5 g4 $1 22. Bd3 $1 {The best way to cope with Black's threats down the g-file, though there is a nutty alternative.} (22. f4 $2 g3 $1 $19) (22. Ng5 $5 {isn't so bad. } Rxa3 (22... Qxg5 23. f4 $1 Qxf4 24. Bf8+ Kf6 25. Rxa8 Ne5 (25... g3 26. Ra3 gxf2+ 27. Kf1 Ne5 28. Rxe5 Kxe5 29. Qe2+ (29. Qh5+ Bf5 $8 30. Qe8+ $8 Kf6 $8 31. Qd8+ $8 Ke5 32. Qd5+ Kf6 33. Qd8+ Kg6 34. Qe8+ Kf6 35. Qd8+ Kg6 36. Qe8+ Kg5 37. Be7+ Rxe7 38. Qxe7+ Bf6 39. h4+ Qxh4 40. Qe3+ Qf4 41. Qxf4+ Kxf4 42. Kxf2 $11) 29... Kf6 $1 30. Rf3 Bh3+ $8 31. Rxh3 Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Qg1+ 33. Kf3 Rf7 $1 34. Ke4 $8 Rxf8 $8 35. Rf3+ Kg7 36. Rxf8 Kxf8 37. Qf3+ Ke8 38. Qf7+ Kd8 $11 {White can give perpetual check, but that's it.}) 26. Rxe5 g3 27. Kh1 $3 g2+ ( 27... Bg4 $5 28. hxg3 Bf3+ 29. Kh2 Qh4+ $1 30. gxh4 Bxe5+ 31. Kh3 Bxd1 32. Re8 $11 {is equal, but not 0.00 equal.}) 28. Kxg2 Bxe5 29. Qd8+ Kg6 30. Qe8+ Kf6 31. Qd8+ Kg6 $11) 23. Rxa3 hxg5 24. bxc6 Qd6 $8 25. Re7+ $8 Kf6 $8 26. Rxh7 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Qxd1 28. Rxc7 Qd6 29. Rxc8 Qxa3 30. cxb7 Qxf3+ 31. Kg1 Qxb7 32. Rf8+ Kg6 33. Bd3+ Kg7 34. Rf2 Qb3 35. Be2 g3 36. hxg3 Qxg3+ 37. Rg2 $11 { is drawn, though Black can pretend to play for a win.}) 22... Qxf7 23. Bf8+ Qxf8 24. Rxa8 Qxf3 ({Herrera:} 24... Ne5 $2 25. Be4 Qd8 26. Rd2 gxf3 27. Kh1 Qg5 28. Qg1 Qxg1+ 29. Kxg1 Bxf2+ 30. Rxf2 Rh8 31. b6 cxb6 32. Rc2 Nc6 33. Bxf3 $18) 25. Bc2 {My analysis from here focused on 25.Be4; Alex (Herrera) supplied the 25.Bc2 line that follows:} (25. Be4 Bxf2+ 26. Kf1 Qf4 27. Kg2 Bf5 $1 28. Bxc6 bxc6 29. Rxf2 Qe4+ 30. Kg1 cxb5 31. Ra6 Qb1 32. Qxb1 Bxb1 $11) 25... Rh8 26. bxc6 Rd8 27. Qd3 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Rxd3 29. Rxf3 Rxf3 30. Rxc8 bxc6 31. Rxc7+ Kf6 32. Rxc6+ Kg5 $11 {A draw, but Black might have to suffer in a human game.} ) 12... Qg7 13. Nf1 O-O 14. Ng3 Ne7 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 $1 {Equalizing.} ( 16... Bxd4 $2 17. Ra3 $1 Ba7 18. Bb2 Ne5 19. Qa1 $16 {/+-}) 17. Ra3 (17. Bb2 $142 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 20. Rc1 Qf6 21. Bb3 c6 22. Rd2 Ne5 23. Qe3 $44) 17... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 (18. Rd2 $142 Nxf3+ 19. Rxf3 Ne5 20. Rc3 $11) 18... Bxd4 $15 19. h3 Ne5 20. Ba2 (20. Bd5 $142) 20... c5 (20... Be6 $142 $15) 21. bxc5 (21. Bd5) (21. Be3) 21... Bxc5 (21... dxc5 {looks good, too, hoping to create an avalanche of queenside pawns.}) 22. Rb3 (22. Qd1) 22... b5 $1 { Taking advantage of White's unprotected bishop on a2.} 23. Nf5 Qf6 $15 (23... Bxf5 24. exf5 bxa4 25. Rg3 Qf6 $15 {is also possible. White has a lot of pieces aimed at the kingside, so this doesn't seem as safe for Black as your computer will initially tell you.}) 24. Kh2 $6 {Creating the option of f4, but there was something to be said for the immediate 24.h4.} (24. h4 $142 $1 Bxf5 ( 24... gxh4 25. Rh3 Bxf5 26. exf5 Rae8 (26... Rab8 27. Re4 Rfc8 28. Bd2 bxa4 29. Rexh4 Rb2 30. Bb1 a3 31. Rxh6 Ng4 $1 {Computers, gotta love 'em.} 32. Rxf6 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2 Rxb1+ 34. Qf1 a2 35. Ra3 Nxf6 36. Rxa2 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Rc5 38. Rxa6 Rxf5+ $11 {At the end of this fantasy, Black is a pawn up but the ending is a draw.}) 27. Bb2 Qxf5 28. Rxh4 Nd3 29. Rxh6 $1 Nxb2 (29... Nxe1 $4 30. Rh8# ) 30. Rxe8 Bxf2+ 31. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Rxe8 33. Rxd6 (33. axb5 Nd1+ 34. Kf3 Nc3 35. Bb3 Nxb5 36. Bc4 Rb8 $15) 33... Nxa4 34. Rd7 Rf8 35. Ra7 Nc5 36. Ke3 b4 37. Bc4 Re8+ 38. Kf3 Rf8 39. Ke3 $11) 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. exf5 g4 27. Bf4 $44) 24... bxa4 (24... Be6 $142 25. Rg3 Kh7 $17) 25. Rg3 Kh7 26. Qd1 ({You might be tempted by} 26. Nxh6 $2 {, but it doesn't work.} Qxh6 (26... Kxh6 $4 27. Bxg5+ Qxg5 28. Rxg5 Kxg5 29. f4+ $1 $18 Kxf4 30. Qg3#) 27. Bxg5 Qh5 28. f4 Rg8 $1 29. Rd2 Be6 $19 {White has nothing.}) (26. f4 $1 {, by contrast is good - and wasn't this the point of 24.Kh2?} gxf4 27. Bxf4 Bxf5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. exf5 Qf4 30. Re4 Bf2 31. Rxf4 Bxe1 32. Rgf3 Rac8 33. Rxa4 a5 34. Rc4 {My assumption is that White should draw this.}) 26... Bd7 27. Rc2 Bxf5 28. exf5 Rab8 29. Qh5 Rg8 30. Bb2 {White threatens to take on e5 and then on f7. Caruana decided to play it safe and allow Nepo to force a draw. He could have won, however.} (30. f4 gxf4 31. Rxg8 Rxg8 32. Bxf4 {should be winning for Black after} Nd3 $19 (32... Rg7 $17 {/-+ may surrender some of the advantage, but it's a good, solid move that will probably win in the long run.})) 30... Rge8 $2 (30... Rxb2 $1 31. Rxb2 a3 32. Rb7 (32. Rc2 Qxf5 {leaves Black with three pawns for the exchange, pressure against f2, and a pawn on a3 that won't become a queen but will tie White up a bit to make sure that it stays on a3.} 33. Qd1 Kg7 $19) 32... Bxf2 $1 33. Rxa3 (33. Bxf7 $2 Bxg3+ 34. Kxg3 Rg7 35. Bg6+ Nxg6 36. Qxg6+ Qxg6 37. fxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rb6 Ra7 39. Rxd6+ Kf5 40. Rd4 Rb7 $19) (33. Rc3 $6 d5 $1 34. Qe2 (34. Rcc7 Kh8 $19) 34... Bd4 $19) 33... d5 $1 {Defending the a-pawn, blocking the attack on f7, and clearing c6 and especially d6 for the black queen.} 34. g3 (34. Bxd5 $2 Qd6 $19) 34... Qc6 35. Qe2 {Best.} Qxb7 36. Qxe5 Ba7 $1 { A strong move. One idea is to play ...Qb6, threatening ...Qg1#.} 37. Rb3 Qc6 38. Rb2 Rd8 39. f6 (39. Qe7 Rd7 $19 ({or} 39... Bg1+ 40. Kh1 Rd7 $19)) 39... Kg8 $1 40. Qe7 Bg1+ $1 41. Kh1 Bb6 42. Re2 Qc1+ 43. Re1 Qc8 44. Kg2 Qc2+ 45. Qe2 (45. Re2 Qc1 46. Re1 Qb2+ 47. Re2 Qa1 $19) 45... Qxe2+ 46. Rxe2 Kf8 $19) 31. Bc1 $2 (31. Bc3 $1 {was better, maintaining the bind.}) 31... Rg8 32. Bb2 Rge8 $2 (32... Rxb2 $1 $19) 33. Bc1 1/2-1/2 [Event "FIDE Candidates 2022"] [Site "Madrid"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Duda, Jan-Krzysztof"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2750"] [BlackElo "2806"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2022.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5 8. h3 h6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 {This used to be automatic, but lately players have experimented with other moves, including especially 10...Nd7.} 11. Nf1 Qa7 12. Re2 (12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Ne7 14. a4 Ng6 15. Bc4 {has been tested a lot - two Ding games follow:} Bxc4 16. Nxc4 Rfe8 (16... Qa6 17. g3 Rfe8 18. Qb3 Nf8 19. Qb5 Ne6 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 Qxb5 22. axb5 b6 23. Ncd2 a4 24. Nb1 d5 25. exd5 Ng5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 28. Nxf3 Re2 29. Rxa4 Rxb2 30. Ra8+ Kh7 31. Ne5 Rxb5 32. Nxf7 Rxd5 33. g4 g5 34. Rc8 Rxd4 35. Rxc7 Rd7 36. Rxd7 Nxd7 37. Nd6 Kg6 38. Kg2 Ne5 39. Kg3 Nd3 40. f3 h5 41. h4 hxg4 42. fxg4 gxh4+ 43. Kxh4 Ne5 44. Kg3 {1/2-1/2 (44) Carlsen,M (2837)-Ding,L (2774) Saint Louis 2017}) 17. Qc2 Qa6 18. g3 Rad8 19. Ne3 c6 20. Kg2 d5 21. Nf5 b6 22. Re2 Qc8 23. Rae1 Qe6 24. N3h4 Nxh4+ 25. Nxh4 dxe4 26. dxe4 g6 27. Nf3 Kg7 28. Rd1 Rxd1 29. Qxd1 b5 30. Qc2 Nd7 31. b4 Ra8 32. axb5 cxb5 33. bxa5 Rxa5 34. Qb2 Nf6 35. Qb4 Qc4 36. Rb2 Qxb4 37. Rxb4 Nd7 38. c4 bxc4 39. Rxc4 Nf6 40. Rb4 Rc5 41. Ra4 Rb5 { 1/2-1/2 (41) Leko,P (2663)-Ding,L (2791) chess24.com INT 2020}) (12. d4 { is another option, and again, two of Ding's games in this line will be included:} exd4 13. Bxc6 dxc3 14. Ba4 Bxf2+ 15. Kh2 Bxe1 (15... d5 16. e5 Ne4 17. Be3 c5 18. Bxf2 Nxf2 19. Qc2 cxb2 20. Rab1 c4 21. Qxb2 Nd3 22. Qc3 Nxe1 23. Rxe1 Qc5 24. Rb1 Bf5 25. Rb5 Qc7 26. Ne3 Be4 27. Nd2 Rae8 28. Nxe4 Qxe5+ 29. Qxe5 Rxe5 30. Bc2 f5 31. Nxc4 Re7 32. Rxd5 fxe4 33. Ne3 b6 34. Rb5 Rb8 35. Nf5 Rc7 36. Bxe4 Rc5 37. Rb3 Re5 38. Bd3 Rd8 39. Ng3 Rd4 40. Be2 Rb4 41. Rd3 b5 42. Bh5 Kh7 43. Rd6 Rg5 44. Be2 Kg8 45. Bd3 Kf8 46. Nf5 Rb2 47. Be4 g6 48. Rf6+ Ke8 49. Bc6+ Kd8 50. Nd4 Ke7 51. Re6+ Kf7 52. Rd6 Rxa2 53. Nxb5 Rb2 54. Rd7+ Kf6 55. Nc3 Ke6 56. Rd3 h5 57. Bd5+ Ke7 58. Bf3 Re5 59. Rd4 Kf8 60. Rd8+ Kg7 61. Ra8 Rf5 62. Be4 Rg5 63. Ra7+ Kh6 64. Ra6 Rd2 65. Bf3 Rf5 66. Be4 Rg5 67. h4 Rg4 68. Kh3 Rd4 69. Bf5 Rxh4+ 70. Kg3 Kg5 71. Bxg6 Rhg4+ 72. Kh2 a4 73. Bh7 h4 74. Rg6+ Kh5 75. Re6 a3 76. Bf5 Rg5 77. Be4 Ra5 78. Bf3+ Kg5 79. Re2 Rd3 80. Rc2 Rxc3 81. Rxc3 a2 82. Rc1 a1=Q 83. Rxa1 Rxa1 84. Bc6 Kf4 85. Bb7 Rc1 86. Bd5 Rc2 87. Be6 Rc3 88. Bd7 Rg3 89. Bh3 Ke3 90. Kg1 Ke2 91. Bc8 Ra3 92. Bg4+ Ke3 93. Kh2 Kf2 94. Bf3 Ra1 95. Bb7 Ra7 96. Bd5 Ke3 97. Bc6 Kf4 98. Bd5 Ra3 99. Be6 Rg3 100. Bh3 Ke3 101. Kg1 Rg7 102. Be6 Re7 103. Bh3 Rc7 104. Be6 Rc6 105. Bd7 Rd6 106. Bc8 Rd8 107. Be6 Rd6 {1/2-1/2 (107) Anand,V (2767)-Ding,L (2805) Stavanger 2019}) 16. Qxe1 d5 17. Be3 Qa6 18. e5 Ne4 19. bxc3 Qc4 20. Bb3 Qxc3 21. N1d2 a4 22. Rc1 Qa5 23. Bc2 Bf5 24. Qh4 Rfe8 25. Qf4 Bg6 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Bxe4 Bxe4 28. Qxe4 c6 29. a3 Re6 30. Rc4 Qd5 31. Qxd5 cxd5 32. Rd4 Rb6 33. Rxd5 Rb3 34. Bc5 Rb5 35. Nd4 Rba5 36. Nf5 Kh7 37. Ne7 Rb5 38. Bb4 Rxd5 39. Nxd5 Re8 40. Bd6 Ra8 41. Kg3 Ra6 42. Nb4 Rb6 43. Kf4 f6 44. Ke4 fxe5 45. Kd5 Rb5+ 46. Kc4 Ra5 47. Bc7 Ra8 48. Bxe5 g5 49. Nd5 h5 50. g3 Kg6 51. h4 Kf5 52. Bf6 Rc8+ 53. Kb4 Ke6 54. Ne7 gxh4 55. gxh4 Rc1 56. Bg5 Rb1+ 57. Kxa4 b5+ 58. Ka5 Rb3 59. Kb6 Rxa3 60. Kxb5 {1/2-1/2 (60) Alekseenko,K (2671)-Ding,L (2811) Khanty-Mansiysk 2019}) 12... a4 13. Ng3 Qa5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Bd2 $146 (15. Nh4 {was the hitherto the most common move, and when it wasn't played}) (15. d4 { was.}) 15... Bb6 (15... Qa6) ({and} 15... Qb5 {also make sense.}) 16. Qc2 Kh7 17. c4 Qa7 (17... Qa6 {makes some sense, so that if the queenside closes or the kingside opens the queen can retreat to c8.}) 18. Bc3 Ng8 (18... c5 $1) 19. Rd2 (19. b4 $1) 19... c5 $1 $15 {It looks disgusting - Black lines up his pieces on the diagonal to f2, and then slams the door shut on said diagonal with ...c5?! - but it also slams the door on several of White's pieces and his possibilities for queenside play. As for the ...Bb6, there are still ways for it to rejoin society, either with ...Ba5 or by heading in the other direction after ...c6.} 20. Rf1 {Of course, White immediately turns his attention to the kingside, looking to break with f4 while Black's army slumbers on the queenside.} c6 21. Nh2 f6 $1 22. Re2 {White decides to keep building before making the break, but it's not clear that he should wait.} (22. f4 $142 exf4 23. Rxf4 d5 24. Rdf2 d4 {Not the only move.} 25. Bd2 Bc7 (25... Ne7 26. R4f3 Ng6 27. Nh5 $11) 26. R4f3 Qb8 27. Nhf1 Ne7 28. Nh5 Be5 $15 {Black may be slightly better, but the evaluation is nearly meaningless. What will count is Black's defensive skill as White builds on the kingside and tries to break into the position with an eventual g4-g5.}) 22... Qd7 $1 23. Bd2 g5 $2 { This makes it very hard for White to break through on the kingside. The underappreciated problem, however, is that it's now also very difficult *for Black* to do anything useful on the kingside, and so White turns his attention back to the other flank.} (23... Ne7 24. f4 exf4 25. Bxf4 Ng6 $17 (25... d5 $17 )) 24. Rb1 $1 $11 Ne7 (24... Kg6 $1 $11 {is best, intending ...h5.}) 25. b4 $14 axb3 26. Rxb3 Bc7 27. Be3 $11 (27. Re1 $142 {was better, as the rook has more possibilities in the near future than the bishop.}) 27... Qe8 $6 {Perhaps looking to play ...h5, but it was better to employ the king to that end.} ( 27... Kg6 $11) (27... Ng6 $11 {is also very sensible, heading for f4.}) 28. Rb7 $14 {/+/-} Qd8 (28... Qc8) 29. Qd1 $1 Bc8 30. Rb3 Qe8 31. Reb2 Qg6 32. Nhf1 ( 32. Rb7 $5 Bxb7 33. Rxb7 Rac8 {White has at least full compensation for the exchange after, say,} 34. Qf3 {, but Duda prefers to keep maneuvering.}) 32... Rf7 33. Qe2 Kg8 34. Bd2 $6 {Working out what exactly is going on with this waiting game is very difficult, even with the help of an engine. White's move makes sense, clearing e3 for the f1-knight, but the bishop's retreat takes its eye off the c-pawn, and we'll see why that's important very soon.} (34. a3 f5 35. Nxf5 Nxf5 36. exf5 Bxf5 37. g4 Be6 38. Ng3 {and here - compare the game -} d5 {allows} 39. Bxc5 {. Black does have a fair amount of activity after} e4 40. dxe4 dxc4 41. Re3 Bf4 {, but White enjoys a meaningful advantage after 42.Rf3 or the exchange sac options 42.Rd2 and 42.Nf5.} 42. Rf3 $16) 34... f5 $1 35. exf5 Nxf5 36. Nxf5 Bxf5 37. Ng3 (37. g4 Be6 38. Ng3 {was effective in the 34. a3 line, but here Black can play} d5 $11 {, with equality.}) 37... Bc8 { Black believes in his fortress, and so does Duda. The engine is skeptical, but when you look at the lines it comes up with it's easy to be skeptical about its skepticism.} (37... d5 $1 $11) 38. Be3 Kg7 39. Nh5+ Kg8 40. Ng3 Kg7 41. Nh5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2