4/24/2023 – Playing white, Ian Nepomniachtchi simplified the position on move 19 in game 11 of the World Championship match — a decision which led to a quick draw. Nepo still has a 1-point lead over Ding Liren, who will get three more chances to even the score. Tuesday is a rest day in Astana. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
ChessBase is a personal, stand-alone chess database that has become the standard throughout the world. Everyone uses ChessBase, from the World Champion to the amateur next door. It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it.
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.
Looking for a realistic way to play for a win with Black against 1.e4 without taking unnecessary risks? The Taimanov Sicilian is a reliable system, and hence one of the best options out there!
€49.90
It would have been a “freeroll”
Find expert commentary — video and game annotations — by well-known coach and author IM Robert Ris at the end of the article.
Now that Magnus Carlsen has gone into poker, it makes sense that official commentator Daniil Dubov, in his daily recap for FIDE, used the term “freeroll” while analysing game 11 of the World Championship match.
Dubov was referring to Ian Nepomniachtchi’s decision to capture on c4 on move 19, which led to a liquidation of the position and a quick draw. According to Dubov (and Robert Ris, among other commentators), 19.Qe2 would have allowed Nepo to play freely (as in a poker event in which there is no entry fee), since only White can be better in the ensuing positions.
Nepomniachtchi vs. Ding
The draw means Nepo still has a 1-point lead on the scoreboard. Despite the match situation, Nepo mentioned that he was “not completely satisfied” with the draw, although he did describe the result as “acceptable”.
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.
From Ding Liren’s point of view, time is running out, as only three games are left to go in Astana. Luckily for him, he will get the white pieces twice in the final encounters, and both times he will have a rest day prior to those games (i.e. he will get extra time to prepare). When asked about the match situation, Ding noted that he is no stranger to winning on demand in high-profile events:
I think it’s too early to play something like the Sicilian. Still, there are three games ahead. In the Candidates, I won in the last game, so anything can happen in the last three rounds.
Although Nepo’s status as favourite only solidifies with each draw, he still feels that the toughest challenge is yet to come. The Russian noted:
There are three games ahead. I should give it all to do the job. Of course, it’s not over yet.
...to which GM Alex Colovic replied: “Just like Leko”. Colovic was referring to the 2004 match for the world title, when Peter Leko had a 1-point advantage going into the final game against defending champion Vladimir Kramnik. Kramnik won the game and, as per the rules of the match, kept the title.
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.
Of course, nowadays, a tie in the match leads to playoffs, as was seen in 2016 and 2018, when Magnus Carlsen defeated Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana in rapid tiebreakers to keep the title he is now about to give up voluntarily.
Ding Liren and Richard Rapport will get a few more chances to show what they are capable of mustering up opening-wise | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
Expert analysis by IM Robert Ris - Video and annotated game
14.Nf53:07Ne65:3314...Bxf515.exf515.Nxe7+5:18Qxe72416.Bg342Bh51:1217.f34:04f61:0218.h33:34h65619.Kh22:17Bf714:4520.Rad15:17b67:0221.a37:53a54:0622.Ne25:04Rxd110:0823.Rxd111Rd8424.Rd330c58:2525.Qd22:14c610:4426.Rxd8+2:44Nxd8827.Qf418 Hoping for Qb8.b55:0228.Qb83:24Kh738 Black is weak on the dark squares29.Bd614:25 White is more active.Qd72830.Ng36:57Ne61:2731.f41:49h53:3832.c32:21c45932...h4=33.Nf5Bg633.h42:41Qd81034.Qb74:3234.Qxd8simplifiesNxd835.a4Nb736.Ba334...Be84234...Qxd6?35.Qxf7Qxf436.Qxe6+-35.Nf522Qd74936.Qb81:04Qd81:2837.Qxd83:38Nxd8=2 Endgame KBN-KBN38.Nd446Nb733 The position is equal.39.e519Kg81:4640.Kg30Bd7041.Bc79:56Nc54:5442.Bxa541Kf72:1843.Bb45:14Nd313:34 ...c5 is the strong threat.44.e6+15
Deflection44...Bxe66 aiming for ...c5.45.Nxc64 Black must now prevent Nd8+.Bd71:1546.Nd416Nxb21447.Kf32:10Nd37:4348.g31:54Nc13:2649.Ke31:05 Weighted Error Value: White=0.06 (flawless) /Black=0.07 (flawless)½–½
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!
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos 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.
The free app from ChessBase! ChessBase Mobile has everything you need as a chess player on the go:
access your chess data in cloud databases - and 13 million games.
Whether it’s a weak pawn, a vulnerable king, or poor piece coordination, this course will teach you how to pinpoint the critical targets, prioritise your attack, and execute a clear, effective plan.
Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.
€39.90
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.
Pop-up for detailed settings
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, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.
