[Event "FIDE World Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/1NIB7sSp/63R2CC8E"] [Date "2021.11.27"] [Round "2"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2855"] [BlackElo "2782"] [Annotator "Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E05"] [Opening "Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/1NIB7sSp/63R2CC8E"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 { This move was unlikely to be a huge surprise for Magnus, because Ian played this opening a few times recently. However, Ian is known to be a Grünfeld player and this choice is somewhat a surprise. } 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 { Wow! Another expected opening choice. Magnus is choosing to play the Catalan where White gets center with d4 and c4, and fianchettoes its white bishop on g2. Magnus does not play this regularly and so let's see how the game developed! } 4... Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5!? { While it is not the most popular move, it's certainly an aggressive one. Black defends the c4-pawn, and in some lines even sacrifices and exchange (the rook on a8) for activity and control of the center. } (7... a6 { is the most popular continuation that was likely to be expected in this game. Magnus has lot of experience in this line with Black pieces and thus knows what lines are the least comfortable for Black. } 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Rd1 Bd5 (12... a5 13. Nc3 Bd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. Qb3 { Ding Liren - Carlsen, M.., 1/2-1/2, Goldmoney Asian Rapid KO, 2021, https://lichess.org/86nabnTv }) 13. Qc2 a5 14. e4 Bc6 15. Nc3 Na6 16. h4 Nb4 17. Qe2 { Ding Liren - Carlsen, M.., 1-0, Goldmoney Asian Rapid KO, 2021, https://lichess.org/U8XbbGpb }) (7... b6 8. Ne5 Qxd4 9. Bxa8 Qxe5 10. Bf3 Nd5 11. Qxc4 Ba6 $13 { Black is an exchange down for a pawn, but has full compensation! Black's pieces are going to be incredibly active in the center via logical movies such as Nc6-d4, Rd8, c5. Many GMs play this for Black including, GM Aronian, GM Hou, GM Bacrot, and their games are illustrative of White's challenges to play for a win. } { [%csl Ge2][%cal Gb8c6,Gc6d4,Gf8d8] }) 8. Ne5!? { The first unexpected move! It was played ~1200 times online but only once in tournament chess. I would be curious to know if this was home-cooked prep or not. Ian commented on this move at the press conference: "Not the most popular move indeed, but a nice idea behind it." } (8. a4 { This move is by far the most popular one. White targets the b5-pawn and aims to capture c4-pawn in the following moves. However, things are not that one-sided. While the c4-square has been weakened, White's b3-square can also prove problematic later. The b4-pawn can also become annoying for White. } 8... Bb7!? { GM Anish Giri would have expected this move instead, explaining that this line gives the extra pawn back but provides a very solid position. } (8... b4 { The most popular move here, but probably not the most modern one. Anyway, White has a lot of options from which to select: Nfd2, Nbd3, Ne5, Qxc4. If I was Ian, I would love to see } 9. Ne5 (9. Qxc4 { IM Nazi Paikidze played this move against me during the 2016 U.S. Women's Championship. An interesting game followed. } 9... Bb7 10. Bf4 Nd5 11. Ne5 a5 { Paikidze, N. - Nemcova, Kat, 1/2-1/2, ch-USA w 2016, https://lichess.org/ 9eb7wKfX }) 9... Qxd4 10. Bxa8 Qxe5 11. Bf4 Qh5 12. Bf3 Ng4 13. Bxg4 Qxg4 $13 { With enjoyable, yet around equal, position for Black. There is a very recent game: Gelfand, B. - Nihal, Sarin, 0-1, 54th Biel GM Rapid 2021, https:// lichess.org/7OeWMyDd }) 9. axb5 a6 10. Nc3 (10. Qxc4?? axb5 11. Qxb5 Rxa1) 10... axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 Bd5 { This position was played many times this year, mostly ending in a draw. }) 8... c6 (8... Nd5 9. b3 Bb7 10. Bd2 c5 11. bxc4 bxc4 12. Qb2 Qb6 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Nxc4 Nd7 $13 { Adly, A. - Matlakov, M., 1/2-1/2, FIDE Grand Swiss 2021, https://lichess.org/YMO06H1d }) 9. a4 (9. Rd1 { is a logical move. White defends the d4-pawn. }) (9. Nxc6 Nxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 { and Black is doing very well here. The light-squared bishop can be developed on the b7-square, while White needs to figure out how to finish development of the queenside without losing the d4-pawn. }) 9... Nd5 10. Nc3 f6! { Black needs to attack the knight so he can finish developing pieces on the queenside. } (10... b4 { This is an alternative, but it seemed that Ian did not want weaken the c4-pawn. } 11. Ne4 Ba6 12. Nxc4 Nd7 { and the position is complicated with a lot of weak squares everywhere. Computer-wise it's equal. }) 11. Nf3 Qd7 (11... b4 { This move can be thrown here again. }) (11... Bb7? 12. axb5 cxb5 (12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 cxb5 14. Ng5!! $18) 13. Nxb5 $14) 12. e4! { White is forcing the black knight out of the center. } 12... Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 14. e5!? { I like this move. It gives the e4-square to the knight when necessary (Black's ...b5-b4 is still a threat), opens up the h1-a8 diagonal, and potentially it can capture on f6 creating a weak e6-pawn and outpost on the e5-square. } 14... Bb7 { Black is simply continuing with his development. It's a restricted position for Black, but hey, one sometimes needs to suffer a bit when having an extra pawn. } (14... b4 { I will keep mentioning this opportunity :) White has a cool way of responding now and changing the nature of the position. } 15. exf6! Bxf6 16. Ne4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 18. Rb1 { And while Black is two pawns up, White's compensation is apparent. There are many weak pawns and dark squares, and White is the one enjoying developmental advantage and a pair of bishop. }) 15. exf6 Bxf6! (15... gxf6? { This move does not feel good. It takes away breathing space for the black pieces, and the e6-pawn seems even weaker. } 16. Bh6 Rf7 17. b3 { White does not have a direct way of winning it. Instead, White simply wants to start putting pressure on the pawns, and then taking control of weak squares. Such position can be very difficult to play for Black. } 17... Na6 18. Nd2) 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5!? Bxe5! { A great decision! Sometimes it is hard to exchange a dark-squared bishop when there are so many weak dark squares. However, the knight on d3 is excellent and the other knight is also coming into play. The game is turning here. } (17... Nxc1? 18. Raxc1 Qxd4 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Nxc6 $18) 18. dxe5 Nac5! (18... Nab4 19. Be3 { and White is happy to control the dark squares. }) 19. Nd6 (19. Nxc5? { Generally speaking, when knights are connected (defending each other), they're sharing their workload and not being very useful. Therefore, it is not recommended to trade them. Also, White's knight had great potential on the d6-square! } 19... Nxc5 20. Be3) 19... Nb3 20. Rb1? { This move is not the best one, but it's admittedly hard to understand this position, even with the advantage of time and engine. During the press conference, Magnus said that he blundered when allowing ... Nac5 and that later he was "trying to hang in there, not to lose." } (20. Be3! { In order to play this move, one needs to calculate deeply and not be worried about losing yet another pawn on e5. It seems that White is fine though. } 20... Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Nxe5 (21... a6 22. Be4 Nxe5 23. Qh5 Ng6 24. Rd1 { and White has compensation. But again, this risky continuation is really hard to evaluate during a game. }) 22. Bc5! Nd3 23. Nxb7! { and the f8-rook is also attacked. }) 20... Nbxc1 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 Rab8 { The rook is getting ready to be activated via b-file. } 23. Rd1 Ba8 { A logical move, but not the strongest. Black is removing the inactive bishop to spotlight the rook and its control on the b-file. } (23... bxa4! { Very strong! White cannot easily recapture on c4 -- if the queen takes, we get to play ...c6-c5. And if the knight takes, we counterattack via the f-file. } 24. Qxc4 (24. Nxc4 Qf7! 25. Nd6 Ba6!! $17) 24... c5! { and White knight is pinned! } 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Rd2 Rb4 27. Qxc5 Rfb8 $19) 24. Be4 c3?! { I think Black did not want to allow ...Nxc4 with a discovered attack. However, I am not sure I understand this move. } (24... bxa4 { and here's a (crazy) sample line: } 25. Bxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rd4 Qe7 28. Rh4 Qxh4 29. Qxh4 Rxb2 30. Qxc4 { and it should end in a perpetual check given the White knight on d6 is really strong! }) 25. Qc2 (25. bxc3 { It was better to capture immediately. However, the game transposed. } 25... bxa4 26. Qc2 g6 27. Qxa4) 25... g6 26. bxc3 bxa4 (26... Qg7 { The computer does not like capturing on a4 and wishes to preserve the tension, delaying the capture for the best moment while also hoping White will take on b5. } 27. f4 a5 $15) 27. Qxa4 Rfd8 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 { No queen trades! White uses the queen to attack the e6-pawn and to recapture on c5. } 29... Bxe4 30. Nxe4 Kh8 31. Nd6 Rb6 32. Qxc5 { And White is happy knowing this position is not worse. The knight is excellent - defended by a pawn and threatening to attack the black king when allowed. The c-pawn may also advance. } 32... Rdb8 33. Kg2 a6 34. Kh3! { I really like this move. White is removing the king to safety so there are no checks along the diagonal. Now the mission is to transfer the White rook to a better square and maneuver for a while. } 34... Rc6 (34... Qc6!? { is more ambitious and likely to force a draw. } 35. Nf7+ Kg8 36. Qe7 Qf3 37. Nh6+ Kh8 $10) 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 { Yes! Here we go. } 36... Qc7 37. Qg4 { GM Anish Giri was very unimpressed with this move calling it "not a great decision by Magnus" and later added "one that he may regret alter in the match." This move pretty much offers a draw. However, it's hard to judge here as Magnus survived a really tough middle game and maybe he is just happy to move on to the next game. } (37. Ra3!? { This alternative does not allow Rxd6 and thus keeps the game going. } 37... a5? { This normally looking move already brings trouble to Black's position. Black is not in the position to advance this pawn. Instead he should not worsen its position and just wait for the change to capture the knight on d6. } (37... Rf8!?) 38. Qg4 Qd7 39. Rxa5 $16) 37... Rxd6 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 { And this is theoretically a draw. One can obviously try to play for many many more moves. I would have tried as well. However, Black's defense is not difficult as we will see in this game. } 41... Rf8 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2