Grivas on Nepo-Ding 12-13

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Game twelve

Ding, Liren2788

1–0

Nepomniachtchi, Ian2795

FIDE-Wch Astana26.04.2023[Efstratios Grivas]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 (D)

The 'Colle System' is not a frequent quest in top-games. Netherless, soon we will have some transposition. 3...c5 4.Nbd2 cxd4 5.exd4 And we have already a 'Caro-Kann - Exchange Variation', or a 'Reversed Queen's Gambit Declined' - name it as you like, but it is not a ‘Colle System’ anymore! Qc7 5...Nc6 , or 5...Bf5 , have been played more often. 6.c3 Bd7?! (D)

The text looks like an early novelty - a strange development of the c8-bishop. Black tries, probably, to avoid 6...Nc6 7.Bb5 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.0-0 e6 9.Re1 Bd6 10.Nf1 Bh5 11.Ng3 Bg6 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.Bxf5 0-0 14.Bd3 Migot,T-Daulyte Cornette,D Chartres 2022 7...Bd7 7...a6!? Schumacher,P-Pennekamp,M Duisburg Rheinhausen 2007 8.0-0 e6 9.Re1 Arruda Filho,I-Aranha Filho,A Cuiaba 2017. 7.Bd3 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.Ndf3 , could have been played. 7...Nc6 8.0-0 (D)

8...Bg4 Black decided to re-move his bishop, as 8...e6 9.Re1 Bd6 10.Qe2 0-0 11.Ne5 , wasn't that appealing to him. Netherless, the text is logical, but makes the early ...Bd7, stranger.. 9.Re1 e6 10.Nf1 Bd6 This position could have reached with Black on the move. Well, this is quite strange indeed, as it seems that Black wasn’t sure or really prepared to go for this opening/variation. Good questions for the Russian squad and the team of seconds - so many good GMs cannot deliver good stuff? 11.Bg5 0-0! (D)

Black is not afraid of the weakening of his king, as the white forces are a bit far away. 12.Bxf6?! 12.Bh4 Bh5 13.Bg3 Bxg3 14.Nxg3 Bg6 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.h4 , is another way to play. White plans Ne5 and h5, with a kingside initiative. After the text Black gets good play on the g-file. 12...gxf6 13.Ng3 f5! 14.h3! (D)

White must get rid of the pin. 14...Bxf3 Black could also think of 14...f4 15.hxg4 fxg3 16.fxg3 Bxg3 17.Re2 Kh8∞ . 15.Qxf3 Ne7 15...Bxg3? 16.fxg3 Kh8 17.g4± , is obviously not the way to play. And after 15...Kh8 , interesting is 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Qxf5 f6 18.Re6 Rad8 19.Rxf6 Rxf6 20.Qxf6+ Qg7 21.Qe6 . 16.Nh5 Kh8 (D)

17.g4 Ambitious and logical, as White initiates play on the kingside, but he weakens his king as well. The opposite-coloured bishops can also play their role in the coming attacks. Rg8 18.Kh1 Ng6! A small tactic, preserving the dynamic balance - the knight belongs on h4! 19.Bc2? White has already a difficult decision to make. 19.gxf5? Nh4 20.Qe3 exf5 , should be already great for Black. Probably White should accept the fact that he has nothing better 19.Rg1 Bh2 20.Rge1 Bd6= . 19...Nh4 20.Qe3 (D)

20...Rg6! More forces are coming to support an eventual attack! 21.Rg1 f4! 22.Qd3 Qe7 23.Rae1 Qg5 Black already has a good advantage and chances to increase it, as White cannot find counterplay. 24.c4? 24.Bd1 Rag8 25.c4 dxc4 26.Qxc4 a5 , was the right order of moves. 24...dxc4 25.Qc3 25.Qxc4? Nf3-+ , is out of the question. 25...b5 26.a4 b4! 27.Qxc4 (D)

27...Rag8? Probably Black didn't think a bit more deeply and find the tactic which should end the game and the match probably: 27...Nf3! 28.Qc6 Nxe1 29.Qxa8+ Rg8 30.Qe4 Nxc2 31.Qxc2 Qh4-+ . 28.Qc6? (D)

White continues to play wrongly. He should have opted for an equal line starting by 28.Bxg6! hxg6 29.Qc6 gxh5 30.Qxd6 Nf3 31.Qc5! hxg4 32.Qxg5 Rxg5 33.hxg4 Kg7 34.Re4 Nxg1 35.Kxg1 Rxg4+ 36.Kf1 Kf6 37.Ke2= . 28...Bb8? (D)

I.Nepomniachtchi didn't feel like it was his day today! After 28...Nf5! , Black would have been on the top; if not winning already: 29.Rd1 Qh4 30.Qf3 Ng3+!-+ . 29.Qb7? It was L.Diren's turn to kick his chances. After 29.Bxg6! hxg6 29...Nxg6 30.Qb7 Ne7 31.Qxb4 Qd5+ 32.Rg2+- 30.d5! Qxd5+ 31.Qxd5 exd5 32.Nf6+- , game would be nearly over... 29...Rh6? (D)

29...Nf5! , would again pass the advantage to Black: 30.Rd1 Ne7! 31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.d5! Qh4 . 30.Be4 After all the previous multiple mistakes, the position should offer equal chances now! Rf8? But Black continued to play wrong moves. 30...f3! , seems to be a must for continuing the aggressivity on the kingside: 31.Qxf7 Ng2 32.Qxf3! Nxe1 33.Rxe1 Qh4 34.Re2 . 31.Qxb4 A good pawn up for the time being! Qd8 (D)

32.Qc3? 32.d5! e5 32...exd5 33.Qd4+ f6 34.Qxd5± 33.Rc1 a5 33...f5? 34.Qb7!+- 34.Qb7 Ng6 35.Rc6± , was a more straightford continuation. 32...Ng6! (D)

Now Black can still put-up a fight. 33.Bg2 33.Rg2 , was a good try, but if Black plays aggressively he could save the game: a5 34.Bxg6 hxg6 35.d5+ e5 36.Nxf4 Kg8 37.Rxe5! Qf6! 37...Bxe5? 38.Qxe5 Re8 39.Qd4± 38.Re4 Qxc3 39.bxc3 Bxf4 40.Rxf4 Rxh3+ 41.Kg1 Rxc3 42.Rd4 Rd8 . This ending offers extremely small chances to White, despite his extra pawn. 33...Qh4? 33...Bd6 34.Qc6 Rg8∞ , would be a total mess... 34.Re2 (D)

34...f5? The last mistake. Although his position is not great, Black should be stubborn and opt for 34...a5 35.f3 Qd8 36.b4± , or 34...Rg8 35.b4 Qg5 36.Ree1± . 35.Rxe6! Easy and rather effective. Rxh5 There is no salvation anymore: 35...f3 36.Bf1 Rxh5 37.gxh5 Qf4 38.Rg3+- . 36.gxh5 Qxh5 37.d5+ Kg8 38.d6 38.d6 Black resigned: f3 39.Bf1 Qh6 40.d7+- . Probably the worst game of the match, as both sides opted for many serious mistakes. But as the tension and the stakes are high, we shouldn’t really blame them that they are human… 1–0

When Nepo played 34…f5, the move was met with disbelief by grandmasters commenting on the game in live broadcasts and online. 

Typical mistakes by 1600-1900 players

Some mistakes repeat themselves often in amateur games. With themes such as "Miscalculating Forcing Lines", "Being Too Materialistic" and "King Safety" Nick Pert shows you how to avoid making typical mistakes.

Ding Liren was also surprised by the move, as he gave Nepomniachtchi a puzzled look

It was clear that Nepo’s nerves had fallen apart. He could not hide his feelings

Photos for Stev Bonhage for FIDE. Well documented, Stev!

Game 13

Typical opening mistakes

Avoiding mistakes in the opening and even learning from mistakes is a valuable tool to improve your chess. Ruslan Ponomariov, former FIDE World Champion, demonstrates basic patterns that will help you navigate through the game more easily.

Nepomniachtchi, Ian2795

½–½

Ding, Liren2788

FIDE-Wch Astana27.04.2023[Efstratios Grivas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 (D)

8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.Be3 A rear and new move for this match. In game 5 10.a4 , was played. 10...Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.Nbd2 (D)

12...Re8 Preparing to put pressure on the e4-pawn, making any central expansion by d4, difficult for White. 12...Nc6 , is a common move here: 13.d4 exd4 14.cxd4 cxd4 14...Qc7? 15.d5 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5± Ward,S-Duffield,T Dunedin 2008 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Nd7 17.Re1 . 13.a4 Technically a novelty. It is too early for 13.d4 exd4 13...Nc6? 14.d5 Nb8 15.c4± Ramacker,Q-Petr,J Mureck 2009 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bf8 , when Black stands more than fine. 13...h6 (D)

14.d4 Black is ready to face this advance, but there is hardly anything better from White's point of view. But 14.axb5 axb5 , should have been inserted and only now 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 19.Ba4 Rf8 20.Rc1∞ . 14...exd4 15.cxd4 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nc4! (D)

By the text, Black not only brings his rim knight into play, but weakens the e4-pawn as well (after exchanging the d2-knight). 17.Nxc4 17.axb5 Nxe3 18.fxe3 axb5 19.Bd3∞ , should preserve the equality, but White's doubled e-pawns are a permanent weakness, depriving him of any winning thoughts... 17...bxc4 (D)

White’s opening handling cannot be considered a success, by no means. Black has got the position he wanted; a dream one for the black side of the ‘Ruy Lopez’. Although not standing better, he has taken his fair share of counterplay and can grab even more if White doesn’t play carefully. 18.f3? Too hasty. White should insert again 18.Qe2 Rc8 and only now 19.f3 Bf8 20.Nf5 d5 21.Rad1∞ . 18...Bf8! (D)

Now the threat ...d5 is strong. 19.Bf2 White has lost his road and he is in trouble. He might strongly think of 19.Bf4 , although after d5 20.e5 Nd7 21.Re1 Bb4 22.Re2 Qh4 23.g3! Qd8! 24.Kh2 a5 , Black would be on the top. 19...d5! 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Be4 (D)

White is also suffering after 21.Re1 Qg5 22.h4 Qf6 . 21...Re5? After 21...Rb8! , White would be in grave trouble. Probably his best would be 22.Bxd5 22.Qc1 Bd6! 22...Qxd5 23.Qc2 Bc8! 24.Rfd1 Bd7 , as the bishop pair is a strong asset. 22.Rc1 Rc8 (D)

23.Ne2? Decentralising pieces is not a good sign. White could benefit of Black's last move and equalise by means of 23.Qd2 Qf6 23...Bb4 24.Qc2 24.Ne2 Ree8∞ . 23...Qe7? 23...Qe8! (attacking the a4-pawn and allowing the possibility of ...Bc5) stops White from any activity, while the threat ...Rd8 is strong: 24.Re1 24.Qd4 Ne3! 25.Qxe3 25.Bxe3? Bxe4 26.fxe4 Rxe4-+ 25...Bxe4 26.fxe4 26.Bg3? Bc5-+ 26...Rxe4 27.Qf3 Rxe2 24...Rd8 . 24.Qd4! (D)

Now White is once more back into the game. 24...f5 A bit risky exchange sacrifice (how many did L.Ding in this match?!?). 24...Ne3? , now is not working: 25.Qxe3 Bxe4 26.Bg3 Re6 27.Nf4± . But maybe Black should admit his mistake and opt for 24...Qe8 (D)

25.Rxc4 Rxc4 26.Qxc4 Ne3 27.Bxe3 Bxe4 28.fxe4 Rxe4 29.Bd4 Rxe2 30.Bc3= . 25.Bg3! Rxe4?! 25...fxe4 26.Bxe5 exf3 27.Rxf3 Qe6! 28.Rxf8+! Rxf8 29.Ng3 Rf7∞ , was also possible and probably more accurate than the text. 26.fxe4 Qxe4 27.Qxe4 fxe4 (D)

So, Black sacrificed the exchange for the compensation of a pawn and the bishop pair, but his threats are not obvious, at least for the moment. 28.Rfd1 28.Rf5! Nb4 29.b3 g6 30.Rxf8+! Rxf8 31.Rxc4 Nd3 32.Rd4 , gets into a position where only White could have some chances. Returning the extra material is usually a good choice to get an easy game! 28...Nb4?! Activating the bishop by 28...Be7! (D)

Looks like a fair continuation. After 29.Nc3 Nxc3 30.Rxc3 Bf6 31.Rc2 e3 32.Rd6 Be4 33.Re2 Bg5 34.Re6 Bd3 35.R2xe3 Bxe3+ 36.Rxe3 c3 37.bxc3 Rxc3 38.Kh2 Rb3= , the game will end into a draw. 29.Rd7! Bc5+ 30.Kh2 Bc6 31.Rc7! (D)

Exchanging material is a good advice to reduce the opponent's counterplay. Black must be careful, as he could have real chances to lose the game... 31...Rxc7 32.Bxc7 Bd5 33.Nc3 Maybe not the best. After 33.Rd1! Nd3 34.a5! , White would retain some chances to prevail. 33...Nd3 34.Rc2 Bc6! 35.a5 Kf7! (D)

A good idea. Centralising the king can be proven a good help for the black pieces. Although White seem to be in control, nothing seems to be easy by no means. For this reason, I.Nepomniachtchi decided to offer a 'silent' draw by move repetition. 36.Re2 If White wanted to continue the fight he should have opted for 36.Ne2 Bd5 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Bxf4 , but of course, after Ke6 , Black should be fine. 36...Nc1 36...Ke6 , is playable as well. After 37.Nxe4 Bxe4 38.Rxe4+ Kd5 , White should opt for a draw by 39.Re8 39.Re2 Bd4= 39...Nxb2 40.Rd8+ Ke4 41.Re8+ Kd5 42.Rd8+= . 37.Re1 Nd3 38.Re2 Nc1 39.Re1 Nd3 (D)

Draw by threefold repetition. Well, White played the opening poorly, but his opponent didn’t take his chances… ½–½

Photos from Round 13 for FIDE by Anna Shtourman

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