[Event "FIDE World Championship"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/1NIB7sSp/FPoHYMUr"] [Date "2021.11.28"] [Round "3"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [BlackElo "2855"] [Annotator "Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C88"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/1NIB7sSp/FPoHYMUr"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 { This is a different sideline (to the main 8.c3) that both players are highly familiar with. Both players played this line successfully. Magnus has games in this line with both colors which suggests that Ian's team is really well prepared and confident to enter this territory. } (8. h3 { This move was played by Ian in the round 1 of the WC. }) 8... Bb7 { A popular move nowadays. Black is finishing up the development of his pieces, while keeping the pawn tension on the queen side. } (8... b4 { This is the main move. Ian has faced it at least two times, against GM Wesley So (2019) and GM Ding Liren (2019). Both games continued as followed: } 9. d4 d6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 (11. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 12. Nxf3 Bb7 13. Qd3 Nd7 14. Be3 Bf6 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 { Nepomniachtchi, I. - So, W., 1-0, Jerusalem FIDE Grand Prix, 2019, https://lichess.org/gmWSzcez }) 11... dxe5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nd2 Bc5 14. Nf3 Ng4 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Rd6 { Nepomniachtchi, I. - Ding Liren, 1/2-1/2, chess.com Speed 2019, https:// lichess.org/UL3uJiK9 }) (8... Rb8 { Less popular but most recently played move by Magnus against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda during the 2021 World Cup. The idea is to go for a delayed Marshall Gambit. } 9. c3 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 c6 14. d4 Bd6 15. Re1 Qh4 { Duda, J. - Carlsen, M., 1/2-1/2, FIDE World Cup 2021, https://lichess.org/NkB0bejl }) 9. d3 (9. axb5?! { Trading the pawns and rooks is helpful for Black who will control the a-file and enjoy more space that is usual in these variations. } 9... axb5 10. Rxa8 Qxa8 $10 { Given the today's press conference topic of draws and people's disinterest in quick draws, I found a cool repetition in this line! :D } 11. d3 Na5 12. Ba2 Nc6 13. Bb3 (13. Bd5 { Giving up a pair of bishops is risky. Black can be the one who starts pushing along the diagonals. } 13... Nxd5 14. exd5 Nb4 15. Nxe5 Nxd5 16. Nxd7 Re8 $13) 13... Na5 $10) 9... d6 (9... Re8 { Based on Magnus's post game comment, this move makes sense to play immediately so Black is not committing to d6 and instead keeping an option to play d5 at once. } 10. Bd2 b4 11. Bg5 Na5 12. Ba2 h6 13. Bh4 d6 14. Nbd2 c5 { Aronian, L. - Carlsen, M., 0-1, Aimchess US Rapid KO 2021, https://lichess.org/8AZTl7NV }) 10. Nbd2 Re8?! { Magnus trying to deviate from the typical lines to "get a game." For we mortals, it looks like a normal move. However, Magnus had his own thoughts about it after the game: ". ..Re8 is a really really dumb move, because usually you try to go ...Re8 without ...d6." } (10... Na5 { The old-fashioned and most frequently played move which attacks the bishop and starts the pawn avalanche with c5-move. }) (10... Nd7!? { Modern theory enjoys this knight transfer to c5-square, challenging the a4-pawn and potentially freeing the f-pawn to advance. } 11. c3 Nc5 12. Bc2 (12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Bc2 b4 { Nakamura, Hi - Topalov, V., 1/2-1/2, Riga FIDE Grand Prix 2019, https://lichess.org/PpbtupiF }) 12... Nxa4 13. Bxa4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 Kh8 { Sethuraman, S. - Swayams, M., 1/2-1/2, chess.com IoM Masters, 2017, https://lichess.org/qpoNUHoh }) 11. Nf1 { Ian is continuing with his typical plan to transfer the knight to f1 and then either to g3 or e3. The goal for the knight is to target the weak light squares reaching d5/f5 square. } 11... h6 { A very logical move to take control of the g5-square. } (11... Bf8?! { It is risky to allow the pin on f6-knight because it will restrict black knight and the overall potential plans in the position. On the other hand, White's bishops are active and after the knight transfer there will be many cool opportunities for White. } 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 $16 g6 14. Ne3 Bg7 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Ng4 Bg7 19. Qd2 h5 20. Nh6+) 12. Bd2 { Ian played this move relatively fast suggesting that his team is strong in anticipating Magnus' deviations from the main lines. The idea behind this move is to stop Na5, and draw attention to the queen side. } 12... Bf8 { Now this move is possible. } 13. Ne3 Ne7!? { Multipurpose move. Black wishes to control the d5/ f5 squares, free up c-pawn for advancement, and knight transfer to f4-square. } 14. c4! { I like this move for Ian. White's pieces want more space for maneuvering! This move forces opening of the queen side, allowing for dangerous ideas via a2-g8 diagonal, or via the semi-open files. Overall the position is starting to feel much more comfortable for White. I especially feel sorry for the bishop on f8 and rook on e8. } (14. g4!? { A move suggested by GM Giri's engine. It's likely we will see this exciting idea in the future! }) 14... bxc4 15. Nxc4 { Both captures have its own advantages. Taking with the knight allows for Na5 options or even a sneaky sacrifice! } (15. Bxc4 Qd7 16. b4 (16. Bxf7+? Kxf7 17. Qb3+ Kg6 18. Qxb7 Reb8 $19) 16... Ng6 17. Qb3 { and the fight would continue with a complicated position. }) 15... Nc6 { A very logical move, the knight now defends a5 square and tricks on e5. The knight is also looking at the d4-square. } (15... Rb8?! 16. Ncxe5! { This is what I meant in the previous comment. Suddenly the White's pieces are living to their potential. } 16... dxe5 17. Nxe5 Ned5 $7 { Only response to keep the game in balance! } (17... Kh7? 18. Bxf7 Qd6 19. Bc3 (19. Bxe8 { White is also better when recapturing immediately; however, I prefer to wait with it. } 19... Qxe5 20. Bf7 $16) 19... Red8 20. d4 Nxe4? 21. Qc2 g6 22. Rxe4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Bg7 24. Re1 $18 { It's kind of crazy that computer evaluates this position as +5 for White. However, White's pieces are fantastic and after h4-h5 plan, or Re3-Rg3 lift, Black will be KO. }) 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. Bc3 $14) (15... Bc8!? { This is a typical idea in several Ruy Lopez lines. Black wishes to reroute the bishop to a2-g8 diagonal, and hopefully trade the White's dangerous one. }) 16. Rc1 a5 { Magnus spent ~13 minutes on this move and so it's unclear if he was recalling his preparation or simply thinking over the board. Either way, it's computer's #1 move! After the game, Ian said: "...a5 from Magnus is positionally truly questionable. Seems like some precise moves get Black to be close to equality." } (16... d5 { Another option for Black. It's easy for us to analyze this with a computer and see that it is okay; however, it looks fairly scary for me on first look. Opening up the center when White's rooks and pieces are all well developed compared to Black's... this is just risky. } 17. exd5 Nd4! { Delaying the recapturing on d5 because it won't go away, and instead attacking the b3-bishop. } 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Rxe8 Qxe8 20. Na5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 $14) 17. Bc3 Bc8!? { Here we go with the bishop transfer from not a very useful h1-a8 diagonal to a more promising a2-g8 diagonal. } 18. d4 { Ian is choosing to open up the center as his pieces seem to be ready for this break. } (18. Qd2 Be6! 19. Nxa5 Bxb3 20. Nxb3 Rxa4 $10) (18. Na3!? { A cool idea suggested by GM Judit Polgar. This calm moves avoids simplifications on d4 and instead plans to go to b5-square. Also, the other knight can transfer to c4-square via Nd2-Nc4. White seems to have a good time here while maneuvering with pieces. } 18... Bg4 19. h3 Bh5 20. g4 Bg6 (20... Nxg4?! 21. hxg4 Bxg4 22. Nc2 $14 { and this does not look so dangerous for White, as Black cannot easily transfer its rooks or other pieces to the kingside. }) 21. Nh4 Bh7 22. Nf5 d5 23. Nb5 $14 { White's pieces look great! }) 18... exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Be6 { The bishop is successfully rerouted to the dangerous diagonal a2-g8. Visually speaking, White is enjoying some advantage: White queen is centralized, rooks are developed, both bishops have a nice diagonal, and the knight is also pretty cool on c4. However, a closer examination seems to suggest a balanced play. It's just not that simple for White to continue here. Capturing on a5 is risky, and otherwise Black's next idea is to play d5-move. } 21. h3 { A useful non-committing move for White. It seems like Ian want Magnus to push d5. } (21. Nxa5 { Another risky option for White is capturing with the knight. } 21... c5! 22. Qd2 (22. Qd3? Rxa5 23. Bxe6 Rxe6 24. Bxa5 Qxa5 { With weak dark square and Black's two pieces for a rook, it's safe to say that Black is winning here. }) 22... Bxb3 23. e5! (23. Nxb3? Nxe4 $17) 23... Bxa4 24. exf6 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 g6 $10 { and Black's central pawns counter White's strong f6-pawn. }) (21. Rcd1 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 $13) (21. Bxa5? Bxc4! { This capture does not work. Black will enjoy the extra piece. } 22. Qxc4 Rxa5 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Rxc7 Rae5 $19) 21... c6 { Magnus is choosing to keep the tension in the position. } (21... d5!? { With this move, Black needs to be ready to sacrifice its pawn on a5 and his compensation will be sufficient. } 22. exd5 (22. Nxa5? c5! 23. Qd3 d4! 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Bd2 Rxa5 26. Bxa5 Qxa5 $19) 22... Qxd5 23. Qxd5 Nxd5! 24. Bxa5 (24. Be5 Nb4 $13) 24... Nf4! { This knight is clearly annoying for White, threatening forks on d3, or e2 in the future. } 25. Rc3 g5 $13) 22. Bc2 { This bishop does not have much use on it's previous diagonal and so this new diagonal b1-h7 is more promising. } 22... d5 { Black does not have any other preparatory moves, and so it is time to break in the center. } 23. e5 { Ian is going for trades and hoping for a better pawn structure at the end of it. } (23. exd5 { This trade does not give anything to White. } 23... Nxd5 (23... Qxd5 24. Qxd5 Nxd5 25. Bxa5 { Capturing this pawn is risky. } 25... Nf6! { And White has suddenly some issues with the pieces. }) 24. Qd3 g6 { and Black is also okay here. } 25. Be5 Nb4 $10) 23... dxc4 (23... c5 { This push is gives a complicated position for Black and so I understand that Magnus preferred the simplifications on the board. } 24. Qd3 dxc4 (24... Ne4?! 25. f4 g6 26. Rxe4 dxe4) 25. Qxd8 Rexd8 26. exf6 gxf6 { and here we see how the pawn on c5 is not only blocking its bishop on f8, but also losing the control of d5-square that could be useful in the future. }) 24. Qxd8 Rexd8 { Capturing with the e-rook because the other needs to protect the pawn on a5. } 25. exf6 Bb4! { Going to destroy the White pawn structure as well. } (25... gxf6?! { Automatic recapturing is very dangerous. White could try here for some attack on the kingside. } 26. Bxf6 Rd2 27. Re3) 26. fxg7 Bxc3 27. bxc3 Kxg7 $10 { This position does not look particularly appealing for Black due to his 5 isolated pawns. However, when you have the skills of #1 player in the world, it's easier to play this position. Magnus commented: "I wasn't thrilled to have this ending, but I felt that it was generally well in the drawing range." } 28. Kf1 { Ian knows that centralizing king is one of the most important rules in the endgame. White is also ready to respond to Black's Rd2 with Re2, blocking any danger on the 2nd rank. } 28... Rab8 { A very natural move - rooks love open files. } 29. Rb1 Kf6 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Rb1 Rxb1+ 32. Bxb1 Ke5 { King is in the center and now it looks very safe for Black. The game finished shortly. } 33. Ke2 f5 34. Bc2 f4 35. Bb1 c5 36. Bc2 Bd7 37. f3 Kf6 38. h4 Ke5 39. Kf2 Kf6 40. Ke2 Ke5 41. Kf2 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2