[Event "Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi World Chess Cham"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2021.12.04"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [WhiteTeam "Russia"] [BlackElo "2855"] [BlackTeam "Norway"] [Annotator "wooch"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C88"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/1NIB7sSp/r0VBjIUi"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 { Nepo stays true to this line, which he's used in every White game in this match. It seems to be getting him risk free positions, but Carlsen has been very well prepared, so Nepo is struggling to pose serious problems. } 6... b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 { After going for 8.h3 in the first game, he seems to be leaning towards 8.a4. } (8. h3 Na5 { A very rare and interesting move. Sacrificing the e5-pawn to get the bishop pair and getting in d5, with nice counterplay. I am guessing Nepo did not want to keep playing the endgame that arises and decided to go for this new line. } 9. Nxe5 Nxb3 10. axb3 Bb7 11. d3 d5 12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. Kf1 Rfb8 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 c5 $44 { 1/2-1/2 (2021 WC Game 1) Nepomniachtchi,I (2782)-Carlsen,M (2855) Black proved to have enough compensation and made a draw. }) 8... Rb8 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. d3 (11. c3 { Magnus was able to equalize against this move, so Nepo didn't bother to repeat it. } 11... b4 12. d3 bxc3 13. bxc3 d5 14. Nbd2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Bd6 16. Qc2 h6 17. Nf1 Ne7 18. Ng3 Ng6 19. Be3 Qe8 20. Red1 Be6 { 1/2-1/2 (2021 WC Game 5) Nepomniachtchi,I (2782)-Carlsen,M (2855) }) 11... h6 12. Nc3!? { A new plan. White wants to exchange the c3-knight for the f6-knight, leaving Black with a slightly misplaced knight on c6, and it is sometimes easier to play d4 without the knight on f6 controlling the e4-pawn. } 12... Re8 13. Nd5 Bf8 { Carlsen gives the e7-square for his c6-knight and brings his rook to the e8-square, where it watches over the e4-pawn in case of d4. } 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. c3 Ne7 16. Be3 (16. d4 { I think if Nepo wanted a more complicated game he could have went for this move. I do not see an easy way for Black to simplify and make a draw here, but I do not see an advantage for White either. It is not really possible to play Be6 because of d4-d5. } 16... Ng6 17. Be3 c5 (17... Be6?! 18. d5! $14) 18. d5 $13 { This is a much more double-edged position than the game, and all 3 results are possible. Nepo decided to play safe today instead. }) 16... Be6 { Magnus seems to be getting all his plans on time. His knight is headed towards g6, and Ra8 is possible and so is c5. I think he has clearly solved the opening problem here. } 17. d4 (17. Bc2!? { This was a possibility to keep more pieces, but Nepo seemed to be ok with a draw today. } 17... Ra8 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. d4 $14 { White can try to play d5 followed by Qe2-Bd3, with a lot of game left. I do not think there is much of an advantage, as Black is very solid. }) 17... exd4 18. cxd4 Bxb3 19. Qxb3 Ng6 { Nepo went for trading the pieces, but could have produced a bit of imbalance if he had moved the other rook to c1. } 20. Rec1 (20. Rac1!? { Black cannot play c5, so the only natural move is to take the e4-pawn. } 20... c5 (20... Rxe4 21. Rxc7 $14 { White has hardly anything here, but i'd rather play White with the idea of Ra1 and getting control of the c and a files. }) 21. dxc5 dxc5 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 { The pawn is defended. }) 20... c5! { Nepo has nothing better than to trade pieces and agree for a draw after this move. } 21. e5 Qf5 22. dxc5 dxc5 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Nxe5 { There is nothing to add. This position is a dead draw. } 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Qc3 Qxc3 28. bxc3 Rc8 29. Ra5 Rxc3 30. Rxb5 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc3 32. h4 g6 33. g3 h5 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Ra5 Kf6 36. Rb5 Kg7 37. Ra5 Kf6 38. Rb5 Kg7 39. Ra5 Kf6 40. Ra6+ Kg7 41. Ra7 { A rather uneventful game after yesterday's thriller, which is to be expected. Nepo did not seem to play too ambitiously, but probably needs to take some extra risk to win and come back. I am pretty sure he will take more risks, but only time will tell. } 1/2-1/2