[Event "WCh 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.20"] [Round "8"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E28"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [BlackElo "2795"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2023.04.09"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O {Until fairly recently, White would either play 5.Ne2 or 5.Bd3 (followed by either 6.Nf3 or 6.Ne2) here. Now Nimzo players must be ready for two other moves: 5.Bd2, which used to be considered embarrassing even for an amateur to play, and the move in the game:} 5. a3 {This delayed Saemisch has become very popular, and Caruana and Grischuk in particular have climbed on the bandwagon like prospectors learning that gold has been discovered in "them thar hills".} Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d6 ({The immediate} 6... c5 {is the traditional anti-Saemisch recipe, but it's not the only decent move.}) 7. Ne2 ({The point of White's last move is to meet} 7. Bd3 {with} e5 {, looking to play ...e4 unless White stops it with f3 or e4.}) 7... c5 (7... e5 {is playable here, too:} 8. Ng3 Re8 9. Bd3 {and now while 9...e4 is possible Caruana himself preferred the more patient} Nc6 10. O-O b6 {in a recent blitz game:} 11. d5 e4 12. dxc6 exd3 13. Qxd3 Ng4 14. e4 Qh4 15. h3 Ne5 16. Qd1 Be6 17. Re1 Nxc6 18. Be3 Ne5 19. Bd4 Nxc4 20. Qd3 c5 21. Be3 Rad8 22. Qc2 h6 23. a4 d5 24. Rad1 dxe4 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Qxe4 Qxe4 27. Nxe4 Bf5 28. Ng3 Bc2 29. Bf4 Bxa4 30. Re7 a5 31. Ra7 Bc6 32. Nf5 Be4 33. Ne7+ Kh7 34. f3 Ra8 35. Rc7 Bg6 {0-1 Hakobyan,A (2620)-Caruana,F (2766) American Cup Blitz Saint Louis 2023 (9)}) 8. Ng3 Nc6 9. Ra2 {A fairly new move here, first played this past December, but the idea of lifting the rook via a2 in the Saemisch has been around for a very long time. (I can even remember facing it against a club player back in the early '80s.)} (9. Bd3 {used to be automatic.}) 9... b6 $146 ({Predecessor #1:} 9... Na5 10. e4 Nd7 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. O-O Nbxc4 13. Qe2 d5 14. Nh5 f5 15. exf5 exf5 16. dxc5 Qe8 17. Re1 Bd7 18. Nf4 Qf7 19. Qd1 Rae8 20. Rae2 Rxe2 21. Bxe2 Bc6 22. Bh5 Qd7 23. Ne6 Rc8 24. Bg5 g6 25. Nf4 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Bf3 Kg7 28. Nxd5 Ne5 29. Qd4 Nb3 30. Bf6+ Kf7 31. Qxe5 Qxe5 32. Bxe5 Ke6 33. Nb4 Bxf3 34. gxf3 Kxe5 35. c6 bxc6 36. Nxc6+ Kf4 37. Nxa7 Kxf3 38. Nb5 Ke4 39. a4 Kd5 40. Kg2 Kc4 41. Kf3 Nc5 42. Nd6+ Kxc3 43. a5 Kb4 44. Nb7 Na6 45. Kf4 Kb5 46. Kg5 Nb4 47. Kh6 Nd3 48. Kxh7 Nxf2 49. Kxg6 f4 50. Kf5 f3 51. Nd6+ Ka6 52. Nc4 Nh3 53. Kg4 f2 54. Ne3 Ng1 55. h4 Ne2 56. h5 Nc3 57. Kg5 Nd5 58. Nf1 Nc7 59. Kf5 Nb5 60. h6 Nd6+ 61. Kg6 {1-0 Burke,J (2580)-Nyzhnyk,I (2658) Chesterfield SPICE Cup op 2022 (8)}) ({Predecessor #2:} 9... e5 10. d5 Na5 11. e4 Nd7 12. Bd3 Re8 13. O-O Nf8 14. f4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ng6 16. Raf2 Nxf4 17. Rxf4 f6 18. Nh5 Re5 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Rxf6 Bd7 21. Qf3 Ba4 22. Rf7 Kh8 23. Qh3 Qg8 24. Qh6 Rg5 25. e5 Rxg2+ 26. Kh1 Rg1+ 27. Rxg1 Qxf7 28. Bxh7 Qf3+ 29. Rg2 Qf1+ 30. Rg1 Qf3+ 31. Rg2 Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qf3+ {½-½ Hakobyan,A (2620)-Maghsoodloo,P (2728) Airthings Masters Play In Chess.com INT rapid 2023 (7)}) 10. e4 Ba6 11. Bg5 h6 12. h4 {Transposing to another game, believe it or not.} hxg5 $146 (12... Rc8 13. Rd2 Qe7 14. Qf3 Rfd8 15. Rh3 Kf8 16. Qf4 Ke8 17. e5 dxe5 18. dxe5 Rxd2 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Bxf6 e5 21. Qxh6 Qe6 22. Kxd2 Rd8+ 23. Kc1 Ne7 24. Bxe7 Qxh6+ 25. Kc2 Qg6+ 26. Nf5 Qxf5+ 27. Kb2 Kxe7 28. g4 Qxf2+ 29. Kb3 Qxf1 30. Re3 Qb1+ 31. Ka4 Qc2# {0-1 Ilyasli,U (2050)-Samani,Y (2246) Titled Tuesday intern op 16th Mar Chess.com INT blitz 2021 (3)}) ({Interpolating} 12... cxd4 $146 {before taking on g5 makes sense, so that after} 13. cxd4 hxg5 14. hxg5 g6 15. gxf6 Qxf6 {the plan in the game,} 16. e5 $4 (16. Rd2 {is better, with approximate equality in a very sharp position. Among White's ideas is to play Nh5 and to do another rook lift via d3 on the way to the kingside.}) 16... dxe5 17. d5 {, makes no sense as Black's knight can land on d4 instead of e6.} Nd4 $19) 13. hxg5 g6 14. gxf6 Qxf6 15. e5 $1 {In the press conference, Nepo said that this came as a surprise to him.} (15. Rd2 {is possible here as well, when there's nothing wrong with} cxd4 16. cxd4 {, transposing to a position mentioned in the preceding comment.}) 15... dxe5 (15... Qf4 $2 16. Re2 $1 cxd4 17. Re4 $1 Qg5 18. cxd4 $18) 16. d5 {For the moment Black must react to White's immediate threats. What he wants to do, as soon as he has a moment to catch his breath, is to play ...Kg7 and ...Rh8, which will go a long way towards neutralizing White's attacking chances.} (16. Ne4 {is the move that suggests itself, and it's not bad.} Qf5 17. f3 (17. Nd6 Qf6 18. Ne4 Qf5 $11 {is "correct" play, but obviously not going to happen.}) 17... Kg7 18. d5 {Again Black's poor knight is deprived of the d4 square.} exd5 19. cxd5 Bxf1 20. dxc6 Bb5 21. c7 Rh8 22. Rxh8 Rxh8 23. Kf2 Bc6 24. Re2 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Rf8 26. Qd5 Qe6 $11) 16... Ne7 (16... Rad8 {Based on the last note, we can see that although this move makes sense (and is as good as the move played in the game), it doesn't necessarily fit with Black's objectives. If he's going to play ...Kg7 and ...Rh8, then since it makes at least as much sense to recapture on h8 with the rook, there's no obvious reason to take the time to first put it on d8.} 17. Rd2 Ne7 18. d6 Nf5 19. Ne4 {reveals another drawback: the queen must go to g7, which obviously prevents Black from playing ...Kg7. Still, even this is okay for Black - *if* he finds the right plan on move 21.} Qg7 20. g4 Bb7 21. Bg2 Rd7 $1 22. Kf1 $1 Rfd8 23. gxf5 exf5 24. Ng3 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 f4 $1 26. Nf1 Qf6 27. Qg4 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 $11) 17. d6 (17. Ne4 $5 Qf4 18. Bd3 Bxc4 $1 19. g3 $8 Qf5 20. f3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 (21. Rah2 $4 Bxe4 $19 {gives Black's king f6 as a flight square.}) 21... exd5 $8 22. Rah2 $1 dxe4 23. Rh8+ Kg7 24. fxe4 Rfd8 $1 25. R8h7+ $8 Kf6 26. Qe2 Qg5 $8 27. O-O+ Nf5 28. exf5 gxf5 29. Qe4 Kg6 30. Rxf5 $1 Qxf5 31. Rh6+ Kxh6 32. Qxf5 Rg8 $11) 17... Nf5 18. Ne4 Qd8 19. Qd3 {Threatening Qh3, winning.} Kg7 $8 20. g4 Bb7 $1 21. Rh3 (21. d7 {was also possible, e.g.} Qe7 22. f3 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Nd6 24. Qxe5+ f6 25. Qf4 Rh8 26. Rah2 Nf7 27. Rxh8 Rxh8 28. Rxh8 Kxh8 29. Qe4 Kg7 30. Qb7 Qd8 31. f4 (31. Qxa7 Ne5 $11 (31... g5 $5)) 31... g5 32. fxg5 fxg5 $11 {Black will get rid of the d-pawn, and all will be well for him. (If anything, White may have to sweat a little, but not much.)}) 21... Nh4 (21... Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxd6 (22... Nxd6 $142 23. Qxe5+ f6 24. Qh2 Nf7 $8 $11) 23. Rd2 Qc7 24. gxf5 (24. Rhd3 $1 $16 {was missed by Nepo. Black is in some trouble here.}) 24... exf5 $11 {was assessed as fine for Black by Nepo, and he was right.}) (21... Rh8 22. Rxh8 Qxh8 23. gxf5 exf5 24. Ng5 Qh4 {is another good option, when} 25. Qg3 Qxg3 26. fxg3 Kf6 {more or less forces a draw.} (26... Rh8 $11 {is a fine alternative, if Black is feeling ambitious.}) 27. Nh7+ (27. Nh3 Rd8 28. Rd2 Bc6 {is dangerous only for White.}) 27... Kg7 28. Ng5 Kf6 $11) 22. g5 Bxe4 $2 {This should have been the losing move. Nepo chalked it up to suddenly getting ambitious.} (22... Rh8 {maintains a very tense equality. Let's look at a couple of lines, one interesting and one that quickly peters out:} 23. f4 (23. Qg3 Bxe4 24. Rxh4 Bc6 25. Qxe5+ f6 26. Rxh8 fxe5 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 $11) 23... Bxe4 (23... exf4 24. Nf6 Nf3+ 25. Rxf3 Bxf3 26. d7 $1 Bc6 27. Qd6 $1 Qb8 $1 28. Qxc6 Qe5+ 29. Kd1 Rad8 30. Rd2 Qxc3 $11) 24. Qxe4 Qxd6 $1 25. fxe5 Qc7 26. Rxh4 {White must take the piece, as Black will otherwise continue with ...Nf5, with an overwhelming positional advantage.} Rxh4 27. Qxh4 Qxe5+ {There's no perpetual, but Black nevertheless enjoys full compensation.} 28. Re2 Qxc3+ 29. Kf2 Rd8 30. Re3 Qd2+ 31. Be2 Rd4 32. Qg3 Rxc4 33. Qe5+ Kg8 34. Qb8+ Kg7 35. Qe5+ $11) 23. Qxe4 Nf5 24. Rd2 $1 {Nepo completely "forgot" about this move (i.e. he missed or overlooked it), and correctly said in the presser that after this he was lost.} (24. Qxe5+ $2 f6 25. gxf6+ Qxf6 $11) 24... Rh8 ({The normally desirable} 24... Qxg5 {loses directly to} 25. Qxe5+ f6 (25... Qf6 26. Rh7+ $18) 26. Qh2 Rh8 (26... Nh6 27. f4 $18) 27. Rxh8 Rxh8 28. Qxh8+ $1 Kxh8 29. d7 $18) 25. Rxh8 (25. d7 {also keeps a clearly winning advantage.}) 25... Qxh8 26. d7 $2 {White is still better, but this surrenders most of his advantage.} (26. Rd3 $1 {instead leads to a quick win. The threat is Rh3 followed by Qxe5+.} Rd8 (26... Qd8 27. d7 Rb8 (27... f6 28. Qxa8 Qxa8 29. d8=Q $18) 28. Qxe5+ f6 29. gxf6+ Kf7 30. Qxb8 $18) (26... Qf8 27. Rh3 Qxd6 (27... Nxd6 28. Qxe5+ f6 29. gxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rh7+ $18) 28. Qxa8 $18) 27. Rh3 Qf8 28. Qxe5+ f6 29. gxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rh7+ $18) 26... Rd8 27. Qxe5+ Kh7 28. Qh2+ $1 Kg7 29. Qe5+ {Wisely gaining time on the clock - he learned a lesson from the last game.} Kh7 30. Qh2+ Kg7 31. Qc7 $1 Qh4 $5 {Nepo referred to this as a bluff, but this seems mistaken for two reasons. First, he's lost in any case; second, it seems that he thought during the game that was a draw but only realized after making the move (and maybe not until after the game?) that White could win.} ({Trying to be solid with} 31... Qf8 {should eventually lose, so Nepo's all-in approach was a good practical decision.} 32. Kd1 $1 Qe7 33. Kc2 $1 $18 {White's king is now safe from counterattack; next he'll figure out how to make progress.}) 32. Kd1 $2 {It was right to take the rook - there's no perpetual. Ding considered this, but cut his calculations too short, referring to his failure in the previous game where he spent too long thinking about a move during time trouble. So this time he was hasty, and this too wound up hurting him. Now White's advantage is negligible, and Black will survive.} (32. Qxd8 $1 Qe4+ 33. Re2 (33. Be2 {gets nowhere - except as a practical choice to get closer to the time control.} Qh1+ 34. Bf1 Qe4+) (33. Kd1 $4 {is worse, allowing an immediate perpetual.} Qb1+ 34. Ke2 Qe4+ 35. Kd1 Qb1+ $11) 33... Qb1+ 34. Kd2 Qb2+ 35. Kd3 $1 (35. Kd1 {also gets White closer to the time control.} Qb1+ 36. Kd2 Qb2+ 37. Kd3 $1) 35... Qb1+ 36. Rc2 $1 Qxf1+ (36... Qd1+ 37. Ke4 Qxc2+ 38. Bd3 Nd6+ 39. Ke5 Qxd3 40. Qf6+ Kh7 41. d8=Q Nxc4+ 42. Kf4 e5+ 43. Kg4 Qe4+ (43... Qe2+ 44. Kg3 $18 {Finito.}) (43... Ne3+ 44. fxe3 Qe4+ 45. Kg3 Qxe3+ 46. Qf3 Qg1+ 47. Kh3 $18 {is over.}) 44. Kg3 $18 {No more (useful) checks.}) 37. Kd2 Nd6 $1 (37... Qxf2+ 38. Kc1 $18 {and the next check (other than 38...Qxc2+) will be met by 39.Kb1, and it's over.}) 38. Qf6+ Kh7 39. Qf4 $1 Nxc4+ 40. Qxc4 Qxc4 41. d8=Q Qf4+ 42. Kd1 $18 {White will soon put the checks to an end by heading for b2, and the extra rook will put an end to what's left of the fight.}) 32... Qxg5 $11 {/?} 33. Kc2 Qe7 $6 (33... Qh4 $1) 34. Bg2 $6 (34. Bh3 $142) (34. Kb3 $142) 34... e5 $2 {Another mistake, giving Ding a third shot at winning the game.} (34... Nd4+ $1 35. cxd4 Rxd7 36. Qe5+ f6 37. Qe4 Rxd4 38. Rxd4 cxd4 39. Kb3 (39. Qxd4 Qxa3 $11) 39... Qd6 $11) 35. Be4 $1 $18 Nh6 36. Qxa7 Ng4 37. Bf3 $2 {Ding probably thought he was forcing the knight back, and only then would he play Bc6. Instead, he's in for a nasty surprise.} (37. Bc6 $142 e4 38. Qxb6 e3 (38... Ne5 39. Bb5 Nd3 (39... Nxd7 40. Qc7 $18) 40. Qc7 $1 $18 {Black's knight looks terrific, but by itself it can accomplish little.}) 39. fxe3 Nxe3+ 40. Kb3 $18) 37... Nxf2 $3 (37... Nf6 38. Bc6 $18) 38. Rxf2 e4 $11 {Now Black is fine. The d-pawn will disappear, and Black's three connected passers are both dangerous and effective at neutralizing White's bishop.} 39. Re2 f5 40. Qxb6 $1 {Played with four seconds left. Ding had to prepare an adequate reply to 40...Qxd7 to play this with a clear conscience.} Rxd7 (40... Qxd7 {looks great at first, but White is saved with} 41. Rg2 $1 {, and Black must play} Qd6 {(or give check on d3 first, and then retreat to d6) after all, as in the game, with an equal ending once again after} 42. Qxd6 Rxd6 {. Here too White can take on e4 and make a draw:} 43. Bxe4 fxe4 44. Re2 {, and if} Re6 {White's king will do the job:} 45. Kd2 Kf6 46. Ke3 Ke5 47. Rd2 $11) 41. Qb8 Qd6 {Black's threats will be decisive if the queen is not taken.} 42. Qxd6 Rxd6 {Here it's not strictly necessary for White to (immediately) return the piece, but the only one who might win if Black's passers survive is Nepo. So Ding returns the piece and calls it a day.} 43. Bxe4 fxe4 44. Rxe4 Kf6 45. Re8 1/2-1/2