Superbet Classic: Caruana outplays Nepo, takes the lead

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
5/10/2023 – Fabiano Caruana became the sole leader at the Superbet Chess Classic after beating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Tuesday’s fourth round. Caruana outplayed Nepo from a mostly balanced position and thus grabbed his second consecutive win with the white pieces. In the other decisive game of the day, Alireza Firouzja got the better of Bogdan-Daniel Deac. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

ChessBase 18 - Mega package ChessBase 18 - Mega package

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

More...

A first for Caruana


Find expert commentary — video and game annotations — by well-known coach and author IM Robert Ris at the end of the article.


Surprisingly, as expressed by the webcast’s commentators, Fabiano Caruana’s victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in round 4 of the Superbet Chess Classic was the first in his career (in a classical game). The elite grandmasters, aged 30 and 32, have played numerous confrontations, including four at all-important Candidates Tournaments. As noted by Caruana, all four of their games in the Candidates were hard-fought, sharp draws.

Despite being two of the best-prepared players in the world, the decisive game on Tuesday had little to do with the opening. A materially balanced position with queen and knight against queen and bishop appeared on the board. It all indicated that a routine draw would follow, as described by Caruana:

For a long time, we were just playing instantly — nothing was happening.

But chess positions often contain hidden resources. Caruana felt he had a small chance to win and began to pose problems to his opponent. Nepo eventually felt the danger and his discomfort began to show in his demeanour. Caruana confessed that converting the advantage was never easy with the queens still on the board, but in the end managed to collect the full point against his famed opponent.

This unorthodox game (for the elite level) follows a trend of players obtaining wins from positions that are often regarded as lifeless or inevitably-leading-to-a-draw. On Monday, Jorden van Foreest defeated Arjun Erigaisi from a drawn rook endgame in Malmö, while Richard Rapport demonstrated a day prior that not all opposite-coloured bishops (with an equal number of pawns) are drawn.

In the other decisive game of the day, Alireza Firouzja got the better of Bogdan-Daniel Deac with the black pieces. Firouzja thus returned to a fifty-percent score — he lost to Wesley So in the first round — while Deac is now in the cellar of the standings.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri held Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to a draw with black | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Caruana 1 - 0 Nepomniachtchi

The following position was reached on move 38, right after the contenders had traded minor pieces on e4. By that point, only four times had the players spent more than ten minutes on a single decision. A draw was certainly regarded as the most probable result.

Caruana vs. Nepomniachtchi

Seven moves later, the white knight reached the strong outpost on d4 and the white queen stood strong on the open c-file. Caruana had reason to be hopeful.

Nepo’s 39...f5, played almost instantly, further deteriorated Black’s drawing chances.

What followed was a manoeuvring masterclass by Caruana, who never let go of his advantage while preventing his opponent from getting counterchances (by, for example, threatening a perpetual check). 

Only on move 70 did Black completely run out of tricks.

70.Qc5+ and Nepo resigned. The bishop will fall and there is no perpetual in sight. 

Superbet Chess Classic 2023

A great shot of the playing hall in Bucharest | Photo: Bryan Adams


Expert analysis by IM Robert Ris

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,157,09954%2422---
1.d4940,74255%2434---
1.Nf3279,27256%2441---
1.c4180,87056%2443---
1.g319,62256%2427---
1.b314,03354%2427---
1.f45,81948%2377---
1.Nc33,70851%2384---
1.b41,73148%2378---
1.a31,17753%2402---
1.e31,05448%2407---
1.d392750%2376---
1.g464846%2360---
1.h443852%2371---
1.c341851%2423---
1.h326055%2413---
1.a410159%2476---
1.Nh38866%2510---
1.f38247%2435---
1.Na33862%2477---
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 4.h3 4...c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 cxd4 8.Nxd4 8.exd4 0-1 (49) Caruana,F (2783)-Van Foreest,J (2678) Chess.com INT 2022 8...Bd7 9.0-0 Bd6 10.Nf3 Be6 10...Bg4 1/2-1/2 (54) Keymer,V (2664)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2773) chess24.com INT 2022 11.b3 a6 11...0-0 12.Bxc6?! 12.Bb2 12...bxc6 1-0 (76) Melkumyan,H (2645) -Nepomniachtchi,I (2793) Chess.com INT 2022 12.Bd3 12.Be2 0-0 12...Ne5?! 13.Bb2 13.Bb2 Qe7 14.Rc1 Rad8 12...Ne5 13.Nxe5 13.Be2? Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 Qc7 13...Bxe5 14.Bb2 Rc8 14...0-0 15.h3 Rc8 16.Rc1 Qa5 17.Qe1 Rfd8?! 17...Ne4 18.f4! Bd6 19.Ne4 Qxe1 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Rfxe1 1-0 (67) Niemann,H (2688)-Tari,A (2672) chess24.com INT 2022 15.Rc1 15.Qd2 0-0 15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 dxe4= 15...h5!? 16.Ne2? Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 Ng4+ 18.Kg1 Qh4 19.Be5 Nxe5 15...Bxh2+? 16.Kxh2 Ng4+ 17.Kg3 Qg5 18.f4 Qh5 19.Rh1 16.Ne2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 15...0-0 15...d4?! 16.Ne2 16.f4 16.Qd2 d4= 16...Bc7 16...Bd6 17.Ne2 Qe7 17.Ne2 17.Na4!? 17...Bb6 17...Bg4 18.h3 Bb6! 18...Bxe2 19.Qxe2± 19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bd4 Qh4! 21.Rf3 Qh2+ 22.Kf1 Qh1+ 23.Ng1 Nh2+ 24.Kf2 Ng4+ 25.Kf1= 18.Bd4 Bxd4 18...Rxc1 19.Qxc1 19.Nxd4 Qa5 20.Qe2 Rfe8 20...Bg4 21.Qb2 21.h3 Bd7 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Qb2 Qc5 23...Qc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25.Rd1 24.a4 a5 25.Qd2 b6 25...Qc3 26.Rb1 Qa3 26...h6 27.b4 axb4 28.Qxb4 27.Kh2 h6 28.Rb2 Qe7 29.Rc2 Rc5 30.Nf3 30.Rxc5 bxc5 30...Rxc2 31.Bxc2 31.Qxc2? Qxe3 31...Qc5 32.Bd3 Kf8 33.Nd4 Kg8 34.Kg1 Kf8 35.Kf2 Ke7 36.Qb2 Kf8 37.Nc2 Ne4+?! 37...Qd6 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Nd4 Bc6 40.Qe2 Qc3 41.Qa6 Qd2+?! 41...Qb2+ 42.Kg3 42.Qe2 Qc1 42...Qd2 43.Nxc6 Qxe3+ 44.Kh2? 44.Kg4 g6 45.Qc8+ Kg7 46.Qc7 Qf2 47.Qe5+ Kh7 48.g3 Qf3+ 49.Kh4 e3 50.Nd4 Qd1 51.Qd5 Kg8 52.Qd8+ Kh7 53.Qd5= 44...Qxf4+ 45.g3 Qd2+ 46.Kg1 Qc1+-+ 42.Ne2 Qb4 42...Qd8 43.Nd4 43.Qc8+ Be8 44.Qc2 44.Nd4 Qd2+ 44...Bd7?! 44...f5 45.Nd4 g6 45.Nd4 f5? 45...Kg8 46.Qxe4 Be6 47.Qc2 Bd5 46.Qc7! Qd2+ 46...Be8 47.Ne6+ Kg8 48.Qxg7# 47.Ne2 Be6 47...b5? 48.axb5 Bxb5 49.Qc5+ 48.Qxb6 Kf7 48...Ke7 49.Qd4 Qxd4 50.Nxd4 49.Qd4 Qa2 49...Qxd4 50.Nxd4 50.Qa7+ Kg8 51.Qa8+ 51.Qxa5 Bxb3 52.Qxf5 Bc4 51...Kh7 51...Kf7 52.Qxa5 Qxb3 52...Bxb3 53.Qxf5++- 53.Nd4 Qb2+ 54.Kg3+- 52.Qxa5 Kh8 52...Bxb3 53.Qxf5+ 53.Qd8+ Kh7 54.Qa5 Kh8 55.b4! Bc4 56.Qd8+ Kh7 57.Qd1 Bb3 57...Bxe2 58.Qxe2 Qxa4 59.Qb2 Qb5 60.Qd4+- 58.Qd7 Be6 59.Qb5 Kh8 59...g6 60.Kg1 59...Bc4 60.Qxf5+ 60.Qc5 60.Kg1!? Bc4 61.Qe8+ Kh7 62.Nd4 60...g6 60...Qxa4 61.Nd4 60...Bc4 61.Qf8+ Kh7 62.Qxf5+ 61.Ke1 Kg8 61...Qxa4 62.Qe5+ 62.Qd6 Kf7 62...Bc4 63.Qxg6+ 63.Qd2 Qxa4 64.Nd4 Bc4 65.Kf2 h5 66.Kg3 Qa3 67.b5 Qd3 68.Qc1! 68.Qxd3? exd3 69.Kf2 69.b6 Bd5 69...d2-+ 68...Bxb5 69.Qc7+ Kf8 69...Kf6 70.Qb6+ Kg7 71.Nxb5 70.Qc5+
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2764Nepomniachtchi,I27952023D40Superbet Classic 20234

Results - Round 4

NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
2764
2
1-0
2
2794
2745
2
½-½
2
2760
2789
½-½
1
2724
2742
1
½-½
2768
2700
1
0-1
1
2785

Standings - Round 4

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
TBPerf.
1
2764
3.0
4
5.00
2949
2
2760
2.5
4
5.00
2855
3
2745
2.5
4
4.75
2861
4
2789
2.0
4
4.00
2756
5
2768
2.0
4
3.75
2753
6
2794
2.0
4
3.25
2750
7
2785
2.0
4
3.25
2743
8
2742
1.5
4
3.25
2683
9
2724
1.5
4
2.50
2664
10
2700
1.0
4
2.25
2574
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

All games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 3 d5 9 2.c4 11 dxc4 3 3.Nf3 6:35 Nf6 16 4.e3 4 e6 4 5.Bxc4 3 c5 21 6.0-0 7 a6 6 7.b3 48 cxd4 7 8.Nxd4 11 Be7 4 9.Bb2 1:00 0-0 11 D27: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical main line: 7 e4!? and 7 a4. 10.Be2 5:04 b5! 1:03       is recently more successful than 10...Bd7. 11.a4 1:13 bxa4 24 White is slightly better. 12.Rxa4 1:12 Bb7 57 13.Nd2 3:56 Nbd7 36 14.Qa1 6:13 Nc5 1:36 15.Ra5 1:40
15...h6N 8:01 Predecessor: 15...Qb6 16.Nc4 Qc7 17.Ra2 Bd5 18.Rc1 Rab8 19.Na5 Qb6 20.Nc4 Qb7 21.Na5 Qb6 0-1 Dreev,A (2606)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2741) Chessable Masters Div 2 Win rapid 2023 (1.2) 16.Rc1 23:30 Rc8 16:38 17.b4 4:26 Ncd7 3:21 The position is equal. 18.Rxc8 31 Qxc8 6 19.Bxa6 12 Bxa6 2:35 20.Rxa6 6
Strongly threatening Nc6. 20...Bxb4 8 21.Nc6 19 Qb7 1:39 22.Bxf6 1:25 Nxf6 51 23.Nxb4 21 Qxb4 7 24.Nf1 14 Rb8 18 25.Ra8 5 Rxa8 6 26.Qxa8+ 4 Qf8 6 27.Qxf8+ 4 Kxf8= 4       Endgame KN-KN 28.f3 4 Nd7 7 29.Kf2 3 Ke7 11 30.e4 4 Nc5 21 31.Ke3 5 Nd7 4 32.Kf2 3 Nc5 4 33.Ke3 2 Nd7 7 34.Kf2 4 Weighted Error Value: White=0.05 (flawless) /Black=0.05 (flawless)
½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2789Vachier-Lagrave,M2742½–½2023D27GCT Superbet Romania 20231.1
Caruana,F2764Deac,B2700½–½2023E21GCT Superbet Romania 20231.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2794Rapport,R2745½–½2023C08GCT Superbet Romania 20231.3
Duda,J2724Giri,A2768½–½2023D20GCT Superbet Romania 20231.4
Firouzja,A2785So,W27600–12023C50GCT Superbet Romania 20231.5
Rapport,R2745Duda,J27241–02023D02GCT Superbet Romania 20232.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2742So,W2760½–½2023D02GCT Superbet Romania 20232.2
Ding,L2789Caruana,F2764½–½2023E05GCT Superbet Romania 20232.3
Giri,A2768Firouzja,A2785½–½2023D10GCT Superbet Romania 20232.4
Deac,B2700Nepomniachtchi,I27940–12023D37GCT Superbet Romania 20232.5
So,W2760Giri,A2768½–½2023C67GCT Superbet Romania 20233.1
Firouzja,A2785Rapport,R2745½–½2023C42GCT Superbet Romania 20233.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2794Ding,L2789½–½2023D35GCT Superbet Romania 20233.3
Caruana,F2764Vachier-Lagrave,M27421–02023E73GCT Superbet Romania 20233.4
Duda,J2724Deac,B2700½–½2023B31GCT Superbet Romania 20233.5
Deac,B2700Firouzja,A27850–12023D12GCT Superbet Romania 20234.1
Caruana,F2764Nepomniachtchi,I27941–02023D32GCT Superbet Romania 20234.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2742Giri,A2768½–½2023C45GCT Superbet Romania 20234.3
Ding,L2789Duda,J2724½–½2023D02GCT Superbet Romania 20234.4
Rapport,R2745So,W2760½–½2023A29GCT Superbet Romania 20234.5
Giri,A2768Rapport,R2745½–½2023C07GCT Superbet Romania 20235.1
Firouzja,A2785Ding,L27891–02023C65GCT Superbet Romania 20235.2
Duda,J2724Caruana,F2764½–½2023C78GCT Superbet Romania 20235.3
So,W2760Deac,B2700½–½2023C54GCT Superbet Romania 20235.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2794Vachier-Lagrave,M27420–12023B22GCT Superbet Romania 20235.5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2742Rapport,R2745½–½2023C18GCT Superbet Romania 20236.1
Deac,B2700Giri,A2768½–½2023B92GCT Superbet Romania 20236.2
Caruana,F2764Firouzja,A2785½–½2023A11GCT Superbet Romania 20236.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2794Duda,J2724½–½2023C42GCT Superbet Romania 20236.4
Ding,L2789So,W2760½–½2023A22GCT Superbet Romania 20236.5
Firouzja,A2785Nepomniachtchi,I27941–02023D04GCT Superbet Romania 20237.1
So,W2760Caruana,F2764½–½2023E05GCT Superbet Romania 20237.2
Rapport,R2745Deac,B2700½–½2023D00GCT Superbet Romania 20237.3
Giri,A2768Ding,L27891–02023C54GCT Superbet Romania 20237.4
Duda,J2724Vachier-Lagrave,M2742½–½2023A09GCT Superbet Romania 20237.5
Caruana,F2764Giri,A2768½–½2023C54GCT Superbet Romania 20238.1
Ding,L2789Rapport,R2745½–½2023C67GCT Superbet Romania 20238.2
Duda,J2724Firouzja,A27851–02023D14GCT Superbet Romania 20238.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2742Deac,B2700½–½2023C54GCT Superbet Romania 20238.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2794So,W2760½–½2023C67GCT Superbet Romania 20238.5
So,W2760Duda,J2724½–½2023C42GCT Superbet Romania 20239.1
Rapport,R2745Caruana,F2764½–½2023A28GCT Superbet Romania 20239.2
Firouzja,A2785Vachier-Lagrave,M2742½–½2023D27GCT Superbet Romania 20239.3
Giri,A2768Nepomniachtchi,I2794½–½2023B33GCT Superbet Romania 20239.4
Deac,B2700Ding,L27890–12023E15GCT Superbet Romania 20239.5

Middlegame Secrets Vol.1 + Vol.2

Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!


Links


Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.