[Event "2024 FIDE World Championship"] [White "Gukesh D"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Site "Singapore"] [Round "3"] [Annotator "rafael"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.11.27"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [PlyCount "74"] [GameId "2116526480244747"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:1800+30"] 1. d4 {Gukesh changes his opening move after a loss in the first game when facing the French Defense. The die-hard supporters of this defense, of which there are plenty, must be really happy.} Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 {The nuances of opening play in a match are very interesting. Hundreds of hours of analysis are devoted not only by the players who are currently on the board, but by many strong grandmasters, some of whom remain anonymous. New ideas are demonstrated and chess players from all over the world immediately begin to study them, leading to a great advance in opening knowledge.} 4. cxd5 (4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 dxe4 {The Berlin against d4! - Carlsen}) 4... exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Qc2 g6 {Theoretically this is the \"problem\" with White's move order, since Black's bishop can be developed on f5. This position was previously considered harmless for Black, but new ideas have been discovered for White recently.} 7. h3 $5 {A rare move that was played twice by Kramnik in 2023.} (7. Bg5 {is the main move.} Be7 8. e3 (8. e4 {is the old move but doesn't look promising nowadays.} dxe4 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qxe4+ {Here both 10...Qe7 and 10...Kf8 are fine for Black.} Qe7 (10... Kf8)) 8... Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 {without the light-squared bishops White doesn't have much of an advantage.}) 7... Bf5 8. Qb3 Qb6 {The natural reply, but not forced.} (8... Qc7 {is a strange way of defending b7 and it's no surprise that nobody has played it. Considering, however, that the computer likes it, I suppose at some point a human player will try it.}) 9. g4 {The bishop must be chased; otherwise White's opening play is pointless.} Qxb3 {Black has three equally good moves: 9...Qxb3, 9...Be6 and 9...Be4.} (9... Be6 10. Bg2 h5 11. g5 Nfd7 12. O-O {This was played in Kramnik-Nepomniachtchi, Amsterdam Levitov Rapid 2023. Here Blach should go} Qxb3 $1 13. axb3 Na6 {with equality.}) (9... Be4 {has never been played, but it's a fine move:} 10. Bg2 h6 $1 {This is important, preventing g4-g5.}) 10. axb3 Bc2 {A critical move, but I wonder if retreating the bishop to e6 wasn't a more practical choice.} (10... Be6 {is safer and was played in a high profile game. Obviously Guukesh had some new idea in his pocket.} 11. Bg2 h5 12. g5 Nfd7 13. Bf4 Be7 14. h4 O-O 15. Bh3 Bxh3 16. Rxh3 Rd8 17. e3 Nf8 {with equality in Yu-Shirov, FIDE Grand Swiss Douglas 2023.}) 11. Bf4 h5 {Black fights to give the light-squared bishop a way back.} (11... Bxb3 $2 {It's too early to capture the pawn.} 12. Nd2 Bc4 13. Nxc4 dxc4 14. e3 {with a clear advantage for White. This is similar to a Kramnik game that will be mentioned later.}) (11... h6 $5 {is possible, with the idea of playing g6-g5.}) 12. Rg1 {It's important to keep the pawn on g4 in order to restrict the c2-bishop.} hxg4 13. hxg4 Nbd7 $1 {Ding finds a strong novelty, although it took him a long time on the clock.} (13... Bxb3 $2 {is bad:} 14. Nd2 Bc4 15. Nxc4 dxc4 16. e3 Bb4 (16... b5 {can be countered by} 17. Nxb5 cxb5 18. Bg2 {with a winning position.}) 17. Bxc4 {White has a clear positional advantage: Kramnik-Erigaisi, World-chT Rapid Duesseldorf 2023.}) 14. Nd2 {The bishop is stuck on c2, but Ding had foreseen this.} (14. Rc1 Bxb3 15. Nd2 Bc4 16. Nxc4 dxc4 {is a much better version for Black compared to 13...Bxb3. Here Black's chances are not worse.}) 14... Rg8 $1 {The only way to justify 13...Nbd7. Black is right in time to save the bishop. The idea is to play …g6-g5 and bring it back.} 15. g5 $6 {This grants the bishop the f5-square.} (15. Rc1 {seems to me to be a better chance to fight for an advantage.} g5 16. Be3 {now White can try to attack the pawn on g5. Black can return the bishop to e4 or h7.} Be4 (16... Bg6 $2 {loses a pawn after} 17. Bxg5) (16... Bh7 17. Nf3 $1 {Attacking the pawn.} Ne4 $1 {A forced reply.} (17... Bh6 $2 {leads to trouble:} 18. Rh1 $1 Rg6 (18... Nxg4 19. Bh3 $1 {White wins a piece.} Ndf6 (19... Nxe3 20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. fxe3 {Poor bishops on h6. The rook cannot go to g6 due to a knight double.}) 20. Bxg4 Nxg4 21. Ne5 $1 {winning material.}) 19. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nxg4 (20... Nd7 21. Bd4 {White is preparing e3 followed by Bd3.} Bg8 {The bishops hurry to leave the h-file.} 22. e3 Bg7 23. Bd3 Re6 24. Bf5 Re7 25. Rh5 $1 Bxe5 (25... Nxe5 26. Bc5 $1 {wins the exchange.}) 26. Rxg5 Kf8 27. Ne2 {with advantage for White due to the more active pieces.}) 21. Bd4 f6 22. exf6 Nxf6 23. e3 $1 {Preparing Bd3.} Ne4 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Bh3 g4 26. Bg2 Re6 27. Rc5 $1 {White's rooks are very powerful.}) 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Nxg5 Bb4+ 20. Kd1 Bg6 {with decent compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 17. Ndxe4 (17. f3 $6 Bh7 {is good for Black. Now the knight cannot go to f3.}) 17... Nxe4 $1 {The right capture.} (17... dxe4 {leads to an advantage for White after} 18. Bg2 Nxg4 (18... Bb4 19. Bd2 {is also better for White.}) 19. Bd2 $1 {keeping the pair of bishops. The e4-pawn will be captured next.}) 18. f3 {Here all three knight moves are acceptable for Black:} Nxc3 (18... Nef6) (18... Nd6 19. Bf2 {maybe White has a slight plus here. The idea is e3 and Bd3.}) 19. bxc3 a5 $1 {with the idea of a5-a4 and Black is close to equality.}) 15... Nh5 16. Bh2 {White's plan is to play f3-e4.} Rh8 {Great efficiency from the rook. Having done its job on the g8, it's time to go back to an open file.} (16... Be7 17. f3 Bf5 18. e4 Be6) (16... Nb6 17. f3 Bf5 18. e3 (18. e4 Be6 19. Bc7)) 17. f3 $6 {Another innacuracy.} (17. Bh3 {is somewhat better. The game remains complicated and balanced after} Ng7 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Be5 Rh5 20. e4 $1) 17... Ng7 18. Bg3 {The critical moment in the game.} Rh5 $2 {Ding is careless with the c2-bishop. He certainly miscalculated something.} (18... Bf5 {is a solid choice, going back immediately.} 19. e4 Be6 20. exd5 Bxd5 {The safest, but capturing with the pawn is also possible.} (20... cxd5 21. Nb5 {looks dangerous, but Black has no problems after} Rc8 $1) 21. Bc4 Bxc4 22. Nxc4 Nf5 {with a more pleasant position for Black.}) (18... Be7 $1 {is the best. Here Black is fighting for the advantage.} 19. Bf2 (19. Rc1 {is similar:} Bf5 20. e4 Be6) (19. e4 {sharpens the game.} Bxg5 {the position remains complicated, but Black is for choice.}) 19... Bf5 20. e4 Be6 {with a solid and better position for Black.}) 19. e4 {Now the bishop is trapped and will eventually be captured. Black won't have enough compensation for the piece. Although there's still a lot of play left, there is a major shift in the assessment of the position. Furthermore, Gukesh had a large advantage on the clock at this point.} dxe4 $6 {A mistake never comes alone. That is one of the universal chess truths.} (19... Ne6 $1 {is a better chance and the position is still far from clear. The game might continue:} 20. Rc1 Nxd4 21. Bf2 (21. Ne2 $6 Nxf3+ $1 22. Nxf3 Bxe4 {with the advantage for Black.}) 21... Bc5 {It's hard to say if the bishop should go to c5 or g7.} (21... Bg7 22. Rg2 $1 {A subtle prophylactic move.} (22. Ne2 $6 {again allows} Nxf3+ $1 23. Nxf3 Bxe4) (22. Bxd4 {is premature:} Bxd4 23. Rg2 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Bxb3 $1 25. Nxb3 dxe4 26. fxe4 Rh4 {Black has two pawns and positional compensation for the piece. He has decent drawing chances.}) 22... Nxf3+ (22... Bxb3 {is also better for White after} 23. Bxd4 Bxd4 24. Nxb3 Be3 25. Rd1) 23. Nxf3 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Nd2 Bxb2 26. Rc2 Be5 27. Nxe4 {The bishop is stronger than the three pawns. White has good winning chances.}) 22. Rg2 $1 {The same idea we've seen before.} Bd3 $5 {An interesting attempt to complicate the game.} 23. Bxd3 Rh1+ 24. Bf1 (24. Rg1 Rh2 {with a lot of activity.}) 24... Ne5 25. Bxd4 Nd3+ 26. Kd1 Bxd4 27. Rb1 {White has finally managed to stabilize the position and has the advantage.}) 20. fxe4 Ne6 21. Rc1 Nxd4 22. Bf2 $1 {Gukesh plays the reminder of the game with great accuracy.} (22. Ne2 $2 {is wrong:} Nxb3 23. Rxc2 Bb4 24. Nc3 (24. Bf4 Ndc5 {with good compensation.}) 24... Nd4 25. Rc1 Rxg5 {Black has captured the third pawn for the piece.}) 22... Bg7 (22... Bc5 23. Na4 Nxb3 24. Rxc2 {with the advantage for White.}) 23. Ne2 $1 {The only move that leads to an advantage.} (23. Bxd4 $6 Bxd4 24. Rg2 Bxb3 $1 25. Nxb3 Be3 {Black picks up the pawn on g5.}) 23... Nxb3 (23... Nxe2 $6 24. Bxe2 {is even worse.}) 24. Rxc2 Nxd2 25. Kxd2 {Black has two pawns for the piece, but objectively White's position is winning. The pieces have the potential to coordinate, there's the presence of the pair of bishops, Black's king is not very secure and his rooks are unconnected.} Ne5 ({Kramnik} 25... a5 $1 $44) 26. Nd4 Rd8 (26... O-O-O 27. Ke2 {doesn't change the evaluation. The king is unsafe on the queenside.}) 27. Ke2 Rh2 28. Bg2 a6 (28... Ng4 29. Nf3 $1 {Defends everything and attacks the rook and the pawn on a7.}) 29. b3 {Gukesh is not in a hurry. Black has no meaningful plan.} Rd7 30. Rcc1 $1 {Getting ready to improve the rook.} Ke7 31. Rcd1 Ke8 {Ding can only wait.} 32. Bg3 Rh5 33. Nf3 $1 Nxf3 34. Kxf3 Bd4 {Other moves lose as well:} (34... Rxd1 35. Rxd1 Rxg5 36. Bh4 {followed by mate on d8.}) (34... Rxg5 35. Rxd7 Kxd7 36. Rd1+ Ke6 37. Bh3+ f5 38. Re1 {The position opens the pair of bishops will eventually decide the game.}) 35. Rh1 Rxg5 (35... Rxh1 {is more stubborn, but the result would be the same.}) 36. Bh3 f5 (36... Rd8 37. Bh4 {wins material.}) 37. Bf4 Rh5 {Ding lost on time while executing this move.} (37... Rh5 38. Bxf5 $1) 1-0 [Event "Jakarta Indonesia op 3rd"] [White "Short, Nigel D"] [Black "Moiseenko, Alexander"] [Site "Jakarta"] [Round "11"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2013.10.17"] [ECO "B20"] [WhiteElo "2684"] [BlackElo "2703"] [PlyCount "125"] [GameId "2117157158279804"] [EventDate "2013.10.10"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "INA"] [SourceTitle "EXT 2014"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2013.11.20"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.11.20"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 c5 2. b3 d6 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 6. d3 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O d5 10. Qe1 d4 11. Qh4 e5 12. fxe5 Nh5 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8 14. Nbd2 Nxe5 15. a4 Nf4 16. Nc4 Nxf3+ 17. Rxf3 Ne6 18. Bc1 b6 19. Bd2 Rab8 20. Be1 a6 21. Bg3 Rb7 22. h3 f6 23. Bh4 Rf8 24. a5 b5 25. Nb6 g5 26. Bg3 Kf7 27. Rf5 Rd8 28. Raf1 Kg6 29. Nd5 Rf8 30. Bd6 Rff7 31. e5 fxe5 32. Rxf7 Rxf7 33. Ne7+ Rxe7 34. Bxe7 h5 35. Kf2 Bf6 36. Bxf6 Kxf6 37. g3 h4 38. gxh4 gxh4 39. Rg1 Ng5 40. Rg4 Nxh3+ 41. Kf1 Nf4 42. Rxh4 Kg5 43. Rh8 Nd5 44. Ke1 Nb4 45. Kd1 Kf6 46. Rc8 Ke6 47. Rxc5 Kd6 48. Rc8 Nc6 49. Ra8 Nxa5 50. Rxa6+ Nc6 51. Kd2 Kc5 52. Ra8 Nb4 53. Rc8+ Kd6 54. Ke2 Nd5 55. Kf3 Nc3 56. Rxc3 dxc3 57. Ke4 b4 58. d4 exd4 59. Kxd4 Ke6 60. Kc4 Ke5 61. Kxb4 Kd4 62. Ka4 Ke3 63. b4 1-0 [Event "World-chT Rapid"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar"] [Site "Duesseldorf"] [Round "12"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2023.08.28"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2681"] [PlyCount "144"] [GameId "2117182637075259"] [EventDate "2023.08.26"] [EventType "team-swiss (rapid)"] [EventRounds "12"] [EventCountry "GER"] [SourceTitle "CBM 215 Extra"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2023.09.30"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.09.30"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Chess Pensioners"] [BlackTeam "Team MGD"] [WhiteTeamCountry "USA"] [BlackTeamCountry "IND"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Qc2 c6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bf5 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. g4 Qxb3 10. axb3 Bc2 11. Bf4 h5 12. Rg1 hxg4 13. hxg4 Bxb3 14. Nd2 Bc4 15. Nxc4 dxc4 16. e3 Bb4 17. Bxc4 b5 18. Bb3 a5 19. Ke2 Nbd7 20. Na2 Be7 21. Nc1 Ne4 22. Bc2 Ng5 23. Bxg5 Bxg5 24. Be4 Ke7 25. Bxc6 Rac8 26. Bxd7 Kxd7 27. Nd3 a4 28. Nc5+ Ke8 29. b3 axb3 30. Rh1 Rxh1 31. Rxh1 b2 32. Kd2 f5 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. Kc2 Kf7 35. Kxb2 f4 36. Ne4 Be7 37. Rh7+ Ke8 38. Rh8+ Kd7 39. Rxc8 Kxc8 40. Kc3 fxe3 41. fxe3 Kc7 42. Nf2 Kd6 43. e4 Bf6 44. Nd3 Bd8 45. Nb4 Ba5 46. Kb3 Kd7 47. Nc2 Bd2 48. d5 Kd6 49. Nd4 Ke5 50. Nxb5 Kxe4 51. Kc4 Be3 52. Nd6+ Ke5 53. Nb7 Bb6 54. Nc5 Kd6 55. Ne4+ Kd7 56. Nc3 Kd6 57. Nb5+ Kd7 58. Kd3 Bc5 59. Ke4 Bb6 60. Na3 Bc5 61. Nc4 Bf8 62. Ne5+ Kd6 63. Ng6 Bg7 64. Nh4 Bf6 65. Nf5+ Kd7 66. Kd3 Be5 67. Kc4 Bb8 68. Nd4 Be5 69. Ne6 Bd6 70. Kb5 Be7 71. Nd4 Kd6 72. Kc4 Ke5 1/2-1/2